Hong Kong: Xia Baolong to visit HK

Vice Chairman of the 13th Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference and Director of the State Councils Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Xia Baolong will visit Hong Kong from April 13 to 18.

Mr Xia will attend the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong National Security Education Day activities organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

On behalf of the Hong Kong SAR, Chief Executive John Lee extended his warmest welcome and gratitude for Mr Xias visit.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will make all necessary arrangements and provide full support to ensure the visits smooth delivery.

This story has been published on: 2023-04-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
PLA Eastern Theater Command concludes patrol, military exercises around Taiwan Island

Xinhua) 08:16, April 11, 2023

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. (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. (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). (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. (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. (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). (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. (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). (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. (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. (Photo by Yang Yang/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 74F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 66F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
BRISTOL, Va.  Bristol Virginia school Superintendent Keith Perrigan is moving from one of the smallest divisions in Southwest Virginia to its largest and will take the reins at Washington County.

Perrigan, 50, will succeed Washington County Superintendent Brian Ratliff, who has served for the past decade. Ratliff recently announced plans to retire. Perrigan will take office July 1, after a Monday vote by the Washington County Board of Education.

His commitment to student achievement and his proven record of promoting the school division that he serves, makes him an excellent choice for our school district. We look forward to working with him and continuing our commitment to the students, staff and community in Washington County, Washington County Board Chair Lee Brannon said in a written statement.

The board approved hiring Perrigan during a midday called meeting.

I am extremely humbled and blessed to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading Washington County Public Schools. I will greatly miss the board, students, staff and community in Bristol and will always be grateful for the time I have spent there, Perrigan said in a statement.

However, I am thankful that the Washington County School Board has chosen me to lead the school division that raised me as a student, as a teacher, as an administrator and as a professional. I owe so much to Washington County and cant wait to give back to the division that poured into me during my formative years.

In an email to his current staff, Perrigan wrote, I appreciate all the support you have given me over the last 6.5 years. By staying focused on the goals set by our School Board, together we have achieved so much! I know each of you have always put our students best interests ahead of your own and the results have been amazing.

The Washington County school system has more than 6,750 students attending classes at 15 elementary, middle and high schools plus a career and technical center. The division employs more than 1,000 educators and support staff.

Bristol Virginia Public Schools has about 2,000 students, six schools and about 300 employees.

Perrigan started at Bristol in January 2017, succeeding the late Rex Gearheart, who died in May 2016. He steered the division through the COVID-19 pandemic and led the charge to secure funding for a new elementary school which is now under construction.

He was named Region VII Superintendent of the Year in 2022.

Bristol Virginia Board Chair Randy Alvis said he wishes Perrigan all the best in his new role.

Anytime an educator can go back and lead the school system they grew up in, I think that would be your dream job, Alvis said Monday. Im happy for him. Without him, I dont know that wed have a new elementary school. He really drove that process.

Perrigan is also the founder and president of the Small and Rural Schools Coalition of Virginia.

Hes still working for Southwest Virginia. Hes still working for us, Alvis said. The monies that coalition has brought to our school system, Southwest Virginia and rural Virginia is just tremendous.

Alvis said the city School Board plans to use the Virginia School Boards Association to manage its efforts to search for a replacement.

We will speak Monday with representatives from VSBA and start the process. If it can fit the timeline, we would like to have someone by July 1. Well have to stay on task to get that done but I think its possible to do that, Alvis said.

The 2023-24 school year is expected to be the last with four elementary schools. The new school expected to be ready in summer 2024, which will lead to the closure of Highland View, Washington-Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

Perrigan earned his doctor of education in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech, a master of education in educational leadership from Radford University and a bachelor of arts in history from The University of Virginia at Wise.

He is married to Amy Addison Perrigan, and they have two children, and five grandchildren.
Jester masks stare down from the corners of the room at customers entering St. Marys Tattoo Emporium in Newton. The walls are covered in bizarre sideshow decor, and the open doorway behind the counter is adorned with colorful, multi-patterned drapes pulled open to reveal a room painted purple, covered from floor to ceiling in macabre art.

The renovated shop conjures images of Ray Bradburys tale of a sideshow in Something Wicked This Way Comes, which features an antagonist covered from head to toe in tattoos. Fortunately, St. Marys is not home to The Illustrated Man. In sharp contrast to Mr. Darks tattoos of his victims, one of the shops owners has the word kindness tattooed across his knuckles.

St. Marys Tattoo Emporium recently reopened under new co-owners Mary Geraldine and Steven Busey. Geraldine and Busey worked for the shops previous owner, Margaret Moose, for seven and five years, respectively.

Geraldines tattooing style leans towards neo-traditional, which she said modernizes elements of traditional American tattoos. Where traditional tattoos feature solid blocks of color, neo-traditional tattoos tend to have more depth and texture created by shading techniques.

I do a lot of illustrative style (work), comic book style and botanical illustrations, Geraldine said. Im really big into lines. More recently, Ive started trying to do some black and gray portraits, too.

Cover-ups and watercolor tattoos are two styles Geraldine said she does frequently, by request, but she most enjoys animals and any piece where she can create a filigree effect.

Busey said he most often does black and gray illustrative work that he described as spooky and whimsical pieces featuring bones, mushrooms or pumpkins.

Illustrative realism is Buseys specialty, he said. Its like taking realistic elements and throwing a kind of cartoonish style on it, he said.

Busey said he receives few requests for the styles but he is inspired by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazakis art, as well as Yoshitaka Amano, who designed a number of characters for the popular video game series, Final Fantasy.

Changes to the business

Geraldine said the duo fully remodeled the inside of the store on top of repainting and redecorating. Geraldine and Busey plan to redo the outside of the shop, as well.

Geraldine said one of the goals is to become more involved in the community, and one way she hopes to do that is through fundraising for nonprofit organizations.

Before COVID happened, we had several (fundraisers) lined up, Geraldine said. Ive previously worked with Options Victims Assistance, the domestic violence shelter in Morganton.  Now that things have started loosening up, I would like to get back into doing fundraisers. I have an ongoing offer to that shelter in particular, that if they get residents who have abusers names or trafficking tattoos, that I cover them free of charge with a referral. Id like to do a lot more in the community as far as nonprofit (organizations) go.

Geraldine and Busey said that, before the pandemic, they successfully ran a fundraiser for NC PAWS cat rescue that raised several thousand dollars. They do not recall the exact amount.

The previous owner, Margaret Moose, has a reputation for her work in the tattooing world, which includes opening Newtons first tattoo shop, Geraldine said. Changing the shops name allowed Moose to retire and helped Geraldine and Busey build their own reputations in the community, they said.

The name St. Marys is a combination of Geraldine and Buseys names, they said.

An abbreviation for my name, being Steven, would be St., Busey said. And I jokingly got called Saint Steven in high school for quite a while. I guess it was just my calm and kind demeanor. Mary can be a bit more on the robust side. Shes very passionate, (and) I am too, it just comes out in different ways. Shes more abrasive; Im more subtle, so its a good mixture of the names.

Another change is that the shop is not doing piercings at this time. Geraldine said the reason is that they have not yet found a piercer.

Advice for a first tattoo

Busey said it is important to be well-rested, hydrated and to bring a snack. Tattoo sessions can last several hours. Geraldine said it is important to research artists.

Researching artists is a matter of reviewing portfolios, searching social media and often Google reviews, they said. Many people seeking a tattoo artist also ask their friends, they said.

A lot of artists will work on one person, then their brother or sister will come in. And then, the friend of that brother or sister comes in, and then suddenly you have this network of 20 people that all originated from this one little name tattoo, or a heart or something, Busey said.

Both said that not only is it important to assess skill level, but to assess the artists personality and whether or not it meshes with your own.

Its very much a shared experience, Busey said. So you want to make sure you get along with the person who is working on you.
Alabama (Montgomery): Alabama is 30th in size by land area, with a diverse topography of mountains, valleys and plateaus.

Alaska (Juneau): Alaska is the largest state by land area. It lies at the extreme northwest of the North American continent. The Alaska Peninsula includes 14 large islands, 55 smaller ones and numerous islets.

Arizona (Phoenix): Arizona is known for its deep canyons, high mountains, hot summers and barren deserts.

Arkansas (Little Rock): (Little Rock): Hot Springs National Park features bubbling hot water springs, which used to be popular for its healing properties.

California (Sacramento): California is the most populous state, with 39.03 million people, (Sacramento): California is the most populous state, with 39.03 million people, according to the 2020 census.

Colorado (Denver): This mountainous state encompasses rugged, mountainous terrain, as well as vast plains, desert lands/canyons and mesas.

Connecticut (Hartford): This relatively flat state runs through the central valley and coastal plains. The few hills in the Northwest tend to have hardwood forests. The remaining two-thirds of the state is open land.

Delaware (Dover): As one of the mid-Atlantic states, Delaware is situated almost entirely on the northeastern part of the Delmarva Peninsula, (Dover): As one of the mid-Atlantic states, Delaware is situated almost entirely on the northeastern part of the Delmarva Peninsula, which formed over millions of years of high and low sea level fluctuations that lengthened the peninsula into a major barrier.

Florida (Tallahassee): This peninsula lets you boat in the Gulf of Mexico on the West Coast and dip your toes in the sand of the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast.

Georgia (Atlanta): This southern state is home to five distinct physiographic provinces: the Appalachian Plateau, the Valley and Ridge, the Blue Ridge, the Piedmont Plateau and the Coastal Plain.

Hawaii (Honolulu): The last state to join the U.S. includes misty plateaus, craggy ocean cliffs, tropical coastal areas, lava deserts and lush forests.

Idaho (Boise): Idaho may be best known for potatoes, but it also contains the Snake River, which runs through Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in the United States.

Illinois (Springfield): Illinois lies midway between the Continental Divide and the Atlantic Ocean.

Indiana (Indianapolis): This state borders Lake Michigan in the north-central United States. It's quite flat with a variation in elevation of no more than 600 feet from its highest point.

Iowa (Des Moines): It's all about corn here ... and college football. Iowa was officially designated the Hawkeye State in 1838, eight years before it even obtained statehood.

Kansas (Topeka): This centrally located state is pretty flat and hosts grasslands, fertile soil, badlands, rolling hills, (Topeka): This centrally located state is pretty flat and hosts grasslands, fertile soil, badlands, rolling hills, cuestas and canyons.

Kentucky (Frankfort): Kentucky is the home of horse races and mint juleps. This (Frankfort): Kentucky is the home of horse races and mint juleps. This commonwealth is 37th in land size at just 39,732 square miles (102,907 square kilometers).

Louisiana (Baton Rouge): Louisiana is the only state in the country with "parishes" instead of counties.

Maine (Augusta): Maine is the biggest and easternmost state in New England. It borders the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick.

Maryland (Annapolis): One of the original 13 states, Maryland holds the distinction of being the defining line between north and south, commonly known as the (Annapolis): One of the original 13 states, Maryland holds the distinction of being the defining line between north and south, commonly known as the Mason Dixon Line

Massachusetts (Boston): Another one of the original 13 states, Massachusetts is also a commonwealth.

Michigan (Lansing): Michigan borders four of the five (Lansing): Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes and has more than 10,000 lakes, as well as the longest freshwater shoreline in the world.

Minnesota (St. Paul): Known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," Minnesota has the most named lakes, around 15,291.

Mississippi (Jackson): Other than being one of the hardest states to spell without a jingle, Mississippi is almost entirely within the Gulf coastal plain.

Missouri (Jefferson City): The " (Jefferson City): The " Show-me State " is just about the geographical center of the United States.

Montana (Helena): This western state earns its nickname as "Big Sky Country" thanks to its vast and open spaces. It covers a land area of more than 147,000 square miles, making it the fourth largest state in the nation.

Nebraska (Lincoln): Nebraska is the center of the continental United States and is characterized by rolling hills and expansive plains.

Nevada (Carson City): Nevada includes mountainous regions among vast, semi-arid grasslands and sandy deserts. And of course, (Carson City): Nevada includes mountainous regions among vast, semi-arid grasslands and sandy deserts. And of course, Las Vegas

New Hampshire (Concord): As one of the original 13 states, New Hampshire was the first to declare its independence from England in 1775.

New Jersey (Trenton): The Garden State is the fourth (Trenton): The Garden State is the fourth smallest state by land area.

New Mexico (Santa Fe): This southwestern state has more Ph.Ds. per capita than any other state.

New York (Albany): Most of the state consists of farms, forests, rivers, mountains and lakes. It's home to Adirondack Park, the largest National Park in the contiguous U.S.

North Carolina (Raleigh): This southeastern state is famous for being the home of the first flight.

North Dakota (Bismarck): Among the (Bismarck): Among the quirky sites (or sights) here are the Enchanted Highway , a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures erected along a 32-mile stretch of highway.

Ohio (Columbus): Eight U.S. presidents are from Ohio, and its name derives from the Iroquois word ohi-yo', which means "great river."

Oklahoma ( Oklahoma City ): The Sooner State has the typical southwestern terrain of mesas, canyons and grasslands.

Oregon (Salem): This state borders the Pacific Ocean and is home to Portland, which has more breweries than any other city in the world (60-plus), per capita.

Pennsylvania (Harrisburg): Cheesesteaks, chocolate and steel aside, Pennsylvania, another commonwealth, was the first to have a daily newspaper and a public zoo.

Rhode Island (Providence): Despite being so small, Rhode Island has nearly 1.1 million people.

South Carolina (Columbia): South Carolina was the first state to grow (Columbia): South Carolina was the first state to grow tea leaves in the lush Sea Islands region. The Atlantic Coastal Plain, Piedmont Plateau and Blue Ridge Mountains are its other regions.

South Dakota (Pierre): Perhaps best known for Mount Rushmore in its Badlands, South Dakota actually has (Pierre): Perhaps best known for Mount Rushmore in its Badlands, South Dakota actually has more shoreline than Florida.

Tennessee (Nashville): Tennessee has some of the most varied geographic features in six main land regions: the Blue Ridge, Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region, Appalachian Plateau, Highland Rim, Nashville Basin and the Gulf Coastal Plain.

Texas (Austin): Everything is bigger here, including cattle ranches and cowboy hats. But Texas also has grasslands, rolling hills, lakes, forests and a substantial coastline along the Gulf of Mexico.

Utah (Salt Lake City): Utah is the 13th largest state in the country with 84,899 square miles (219,887 square kilometers) of land. And the federal government owns more than 60 percent of that.

Vermont (Montpelier): Vermont is the home of maple syrup and the birthplace of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

Virginia (Richmond): Virginia stretches along the Atlantic coastline from Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachian Mountains. One of the 13 original colonies, it is home to many of the nation's historic landmarks.

Washington (Olympia): The most northwestern state in the Pacific Northwest shares a border with Canada. This proximity and its (Olympia): The most northwestern state in the Pacific Northwest shares a border with Canada. This proximity and its own islands means it's home to the largest ferry fleet in the U.S.

West Virginia (Charleston): The coal industry has blighted much of the beauty, but West Virginia will forever be the only state completely within the Appalachian Mountain range.

Wisconsin (Madison): This state has shorelines on two Great Lakes (Michigan and Superior) and an interior of forests and farms. It's known for cheese, beer and the Harley-Davidson Museum.
Researchers now know that the Habsburg jaw was a result of inbreeding, which is when close relatives have children together. A team led by genetics researcher Roman Vilas from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain confirmed this in late 2019. In the study, which was published in the journal Annals of Human Biology, they analyzed portraits from 66 members of the Habsburg clan, zeroing in on 15 monarchs who had the family's pronounced jawline and underbite. The team found 18 different abnormalities in the Habsburgs' faces, and used the portraits to calculate the degree to which different members of the Habsburg family were inbred.

The researchers found that Habsburgs had both mandibular prognathism and mandibular deficiency. The effects of intermarriage caused deformities that followed a recessive pattern, and showed up in the lower third of the face.

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Most societies have long held taboos against incest and inbreeding. These prohibitions often are morally based, but we now know there are vital scientific reasons why inbreeding between first cousins or siblings is a bad idea, says Montgomery Slatkin, a retired genetics professor from University of California, Berkeley.

Each of us has two copies of each chromosome. In order for a recessive trait, like blue eyes or Type O blood to show up, a person needs homozygous alleles. That means you need two sets of chromosomes that both carry the same recessive trait.

"Any condition that's recessive, meaning you need both copies of the allele to have the physical defect, are much more common among inbred children than it is among people who are not inbred," Slatkin says. "It's hundreds of thousands times more common."

When you have children with someone who's not closely related to you, usually most of your genes will be heterozygous, which means they carry different traits. When cousins marry, it raises the odds of similar genetic background  and birth defects.

Royals in the Habsburg era tended to ignore the proscriptions against intermarriage and incest, because they were kings and queens after all. They wanted to consolidate power and property, keeping it in the family. Unfortunately that intensified familial genetic defects and flaws too, to the point that Charles II suffered with many maladies.

Now That's Interesting There are still plenty of descendants of the Habsburg family alive today. A prominent family member is Karl von Habsburg, also known as the Archduke of Austria and the leader of the Habsburg-Lorraine family. The 59-year-old does not have the Habsburg jaw. But he made a splash in March 2020 when he revealed to Hello! that he was the first royal to be diagnosed with COVID-19. Fortunately, it was a mild case that he said felt like the flu.

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Originally Published: Jul 16, 2020
During the military show of force around Taiwan, the Chinese navy launched a simulated attack from an aircraft carrier on Monday. The fighter jets were sent from the ship as the conclusion of military exercises around the island, reports CNN.

Taiwans Ministry of Defense reported that in the past 24 hours, four J-15 fighter jets entered the southeastern part of the islands air defense identification zone (that is, they flew into the buffer zone designated by Taiwan that extends beyond the islands airspace). This is the first time such machines have penetrated this area.

The Japanese military leadership confirmed in a press release that 80 fixed-wing aircraft were observed taking off and landing from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong. The ship was stationed in the Pacific Ocean east of Taiwan, from where it launched the J-15s.

Beijing launched the military exercise on Saturday, a day after Taiwan President Tsai Jing-wen returned from a 10-day visit to Central America and the United States, where she met with US Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Something similar happened at the beginning of 2023 and in August 2022: in the latter case, China reacted with a large-scale military exercise to the visit of then US Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan, which operates in a self-governing, democratic system, to be part of its territory, despite the fact that it has never been under Chinese rule, and has been trying to isolate it diplomatically for decades. The Chinese leadership called the operation a stern warning to the islands government. But that did not sway President Caj, who said Saturday that his government would continue to work with the United States and other democracies.

We wrote in detail about the scenarios of a possible Chinese occupation of Taiwan here, and about Taiwans position in the conflict here.
The statement of French President Emmanuel Macron, which he made after his visit to China, caused an uproar within the Western federal system. According to the Guardians summary, Macron told reporters from Les Echos and Politico that Europe should not become a vassal and should avoid getting involved in the conflict between the US and China over Taiwan.

Macron spent three days in China, where he held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, speaking to journalists on the plane home.

Is it in our interest to speed up the Taiwan issue? No. The worst thing would be if we thought that we, the Europeans, had to adapt to the American rhythm and the Chinese overreaction in this matter, explained the French president, adding: it would be a trap for Europe now that it has become more independent in the wake of the Covid epidemic. to get involved in crises that are not ours. If the Taiwan conflict between the US and China flares up, we will have neither the time nor the means to finance our own strategic autonomy, and we will become vassals while we could be the third pole [a vilagrendben]if we had a few years to develop it, he said.

Although the quoted position is in line with Macrons regularly expressed views  that Europe should be more autonomous and less dependent on the United States in the field of defense  the statement upset sentiments on both sides of the Atlantic. Even so, according to Politico, these sentences were even refined compared to the way they were said. The Elysee Palace requested the parts quoted from Macron to be checked before publication and pulled out the sharper wording.

On the American side, Republican Senator Marco Rubio expressed sharp criticism

We need to find out if @EmmanuelMacron speaks for Europe



After his 6 hour meeting in China he told reporters that Europe should create distance with the U.S. & should not get involved in supporting America over China when it comes to Taiwanhttps://t.co/xoFmUGkumH pic.twitter.com/Ps718bXSyn  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 9, 2023

he said: if Macron speaks for all of Europe, the United States should consider focusing its foreign policy efforts more on containing China and leaving the handling of the war in Ukraine to Europe.

Not everyone in Europe was happy with Macrons statement either. German centre-right MP Norbert Rottgen, a member and former chairman of the Bundestags foreign affairs committee, said the sentences had turned Macrons trip into a foreign policy disaster for Europe. According to him, the French president is increasingly isolating himself in Europe with his idea of sovereignty, which he defines as isolation rather than partnership with the USA. Green MEP Reinhard Butikofer, chairman of the Chinese delegation of the European Parliament, had a similar opinion, according to him, Macrons wishful thinking about the EUs strategic autonomy and becoming a third superpower is over the line. He added that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, showed a better alternative in relation to China.

We wrote more about the lessons learned from Macron and Von der Leyens trip to China and the ideas of the French president here.
The worst thing would be for us Europeans to think that we should follow anyone on the Taiwan issue and adapt to the American rhythm and Chinese overreaction

 said the French president in an interview published in the daily Les Echos on Sunday.

The leading French economic newspaper interviewed Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Beijing before the Chinese military began a three-day military exercise in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday after Taiwans president, Cai Jing-wen in the United States, he met with the Speaker of the American House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthywith.

The French president called on Europe to wake up.

Our priority is not to accommodate other peoples schedules in every part of the world

Emmanuel Macron said.

Marco Rubio US Republican Senator responded by saying, if Europe does not take a position between the United States and China on the issue of Taiwan, then America does not have to take a position on Ukraine either.

Norbert Rottgen German CDU representative, member of the Bundestags foreign affairs committee, wrote after the statement that Macron had succeeded in his trip to China

Making it a PR stunt for Chinese President Xi Jinping and a foreign policy disaster for Europe.

He added that the French president is increasingly isolating himself in Europe.

Manfred Weberaccording to the German president of the European Peoples Party, the EU states lose their credibility if they demand sovereignty for Europe on the one hand, and then conclude all economic deals with China, reports Tagesschau.de.

The Chinese leadership will not respect the Europeans in this way

 emphasized the leader of the Peoples Party.

Cover photo: Emmanuel on an official visit to China Macron French President in the company of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, southern China, on April 7, 2023. MTI/AP/SIPA Pool/Jacques Witt
Tests of Australia's resiliency have been flagged by the government. Photo: Shutterstock

The federal government is set to conduct a series of cyber war games with local critical infrastructure firms to test their responses to potentially devastating cyber attacks.

These exercises examining how critical infrastructure operators in Australia would respond to a cyberattack will be run by the federal government over the coming months with companies from the financial sector, banking world, aviation sector and other major industries.

It comes after a series of large-scale data breaches in Australia which have impacted tens of millions of people.

Most recently, Latitude Financial was impacted by a breach which saw the personal information, including passport and Medicare numbers, of 14 million customers stolen.

The government has begun a series of exercises with companies that are important to the functioning of the Australian economy, Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said.

Were conducting exercises where we play through what it would look like to have a major bank, for example, come down in a cyber attack, ONeil said, as The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

How would government work with that company to get services back online? If one of our big four banks is down, who can assist in providing services to those customers? How can we make sure the country continues to function properly while we solve the problem?

The first of these three-hour tabletop exercises was run with representatives from the Reserve Bank of Australia, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and the Australian Federal Police.

It investigated the response to a cyber breach involving the stealing of highly sensitive information and the encryption of networks.

ONeil warned of the significant impact of such a breach occurring in reality.

The groups that are conducting cyber attacks are becoming more professionalised, industrialised, powerful and effective, she said.

[Data breaches are] real and consequentialbut 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.

Consider what damage could be caused if attackers intentionally try to degrade trust in a major system we depend on like telecommunications or banking. We need to plan for utilities to go down, for hospital systems to be under attack.

In a speech last week, the Home Affairs Minister said the recent hacks of Optus and Medibank are the tip of the iceberg.

If every business is a target, every Australian is at risk, ONeil said last week.

And the government response needs to be significant. That means our national choices, our economic prosperity, our peace of mind as citizens and as a nation, are directly threatened by these groups.

This impact to our sovereignty and way of life is why ransomware threat actors are a core national security challenge for Australia.

It was recently revealed that the cyber attack on Latitude Financial had resulted in the breach of the personal information of 14 million customers in Australia and New Zealand, with passport and Medicare numbers caught up.

This came after the cyber attacks on Optus and Medibank late last year, which impacted 9.8 million and 9.7 million Australians respectively.

The federal government is currently working on a revamped cyber security strategy, which will run to 2030.

A government-appointed expert advisory group put forward a number of proposals for this strategy recently to address Australias patchwork cyber policies, including an expansion of the critical infrastructure scheme and a new Cyber Security Act.

ONeil also recently announced the creation of a new National Office for Cyber Security within the Department of Home Affairs, to be led by a national cyber coordinator to act as the spine and strategy for responding to future cyber attacks.
Photo: The Canadian Press Expelled Rep. Justin Pearson waves, Friday, April 7, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn., the day after Pearson and another member of the Tennessee State Legislature were expelled. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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.

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 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 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.

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.
On Saturday, April 1, the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society kicked off a year of 50th anniversary celebrations with a reception to honor the societys founders.

The idea for a museum in eastern Cabarrus County began in 1970 when John Coble, principal of Mt. Pleasant High School asked the local postmaster, Gene Hough, if he knew of an old log cabin that could be moved to the school campus for history studies. They searched for a suitable cabin for years before Dr. R. Brown McAllister suggested using the old Mt. Pleasant Collegiate Institute administration building, located between Main and College Streets in Mt. Pleasant.

On April 1, 1973, the first of a series of meetings for people interested in forming a historical society was held and a month later, the old administration building was purchased for $7,500. and the name Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society was chosen. The first officers of the society were Gene Hough, Hoy Moose, Dr. R. Brown McAllister, Dr. A. L. Barringer, Virginia Smith and Archie Smith.

Descendants of those founders were on hand for the reception on Saturday to witness the dedication of a bench to be installed on the museum campus in recognition of their work. The plaque on the bench will read:

Dedicated to the Founders of the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society on the occasion of the societys 50th anniversary with gratitude for their dedication to the preservation of local history.

A member of the original executive committee, Jessie Blackwelder, was unable to attend the reception due to illness, but current ECHS president Nick Luciano shared her prepared reminiscences of the early days of the society and the of cleaning out the building, which had been vacant and neglected for years. It was nasty, stinking, filthy with waste and bodies of dead birds who had flown in through broken windows and couldnt get out again. In places the mess was two or three feet high. But the work, she said, was gratifying and for the betterment in that today that building houses a museum which welcomes hundreds of visitors each year.

Other scheduled 50th anniversary activities include an art contest, essay contest and a party in August.

The ECHS Museum, 1145 N. College St. in Mt. Pleasant, is open to the public every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition, the society hosts special events, programs, and forums throughout the year. Admission is free, but donations are always appreciated.
COMPANY NEWS: Microsoft Azure customers worldwide now gain access to Newgens OmniDocs to take advantage of the scalability, reliability, and agility of Azure to drive application development and shape business strategies

Newgen Software, a global provider of the NewgenONE  low code digital transformation platform today announced the availability of its content services platform, OmniDocs, in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online store providing applications and services for use on Azure. Newgens customers can now take advantage of the productive and trusted Azure cloud platform, with streamlined deployment and management.

OmniDocs, now commercially available, enables the end-to-end management of enterprise content, from origination to disposition. The platform connects content and processes in a contextually accurate manner and enables organizations to go digital. It comes integrated with smart tools to capture content from multiple sources, manage it in a secure centralized repository, and make information easily accessible for users. It offers flexibility to access or deliver content via mobile and the cloud, creating a highly connected and digital workplace.

With the commercial transactability status, Newgen shall be able to expand its solution portfolio and maximize profitability by entering new markets and optimizing its sales and marketing efforts. This will lead to greater opportunities for up-sell and cross-sell, faster sales cycles, and better marketing insights.

"By collaborating with Microsoft, we will be able to enhance our sales efforts and offer a top-notch solution to our customers that leverages the power of Azure's cloud-based infrastructure, said Rajvinder Singh Kohli, SVP at Newgen Software. Our platform can be leveraged by users to create a boundaryless workplace with anytime-anywhere content access and document management," he added.

Jake Zborowski, General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp., said, Were pleased to welcome Newgen to the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, which gives our partners great exposure to cloud customers around the globe. Azure Marketplace offers world-class quality experiences from global trusted partners with solutions tested to work seamlessly with Azure.

The Azure Marketplace is an online market for buying and selling cloud solutions certified to run on Azure. The Azure Marketplace helps connect companies seeking innovative, cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed solutions that are ready to use.

Learn more about OmniDocs at its page in the Azure Marketplace.

About Newgen Software Technologies Limited

Newgen is the leading provider of a unified digital transformation platform with native process automation, content services, communication management, and AI/ML capabilities. Globally, successful enterprises rely on Newgen's industry-recognized low-code application platform to develop and deploy complex, content-driven, and customer-engaging business applications on the cloud. From onboarding to service requests, lending to underwriting, and for many more use cases across industries, Newgen unlocks simple with speed and agility.

For more details, visit www.newgensoft.com
100 years ago,

April 11, 1923

MATTOON  Two bunches of keys attached to National Bank of Mattoon key tags No. 205 and No. 2386. Finder please return to National Bank of Mattoon and receive award...NEWTON  Fire at the Indianapolis-Effingham division of the Illinois Central railroad bridge, across the Embarrass river, east of Newton, started supposedly by sparks from a passing train, burned two bents or sections of the east side trestle. The morning passenger train was detoured. Newton via Lawrenceville and Olney to Robinson, and presumably other trains will go over that route...MATTOON  Work on remodeling the room at 1901 Broadway is well under way and is expected to be finished in about two weeks. The entire corner is being torn away and will be replaced by a new front, the cost of which will be about $1,500. The work is in charge of S.T. Ellis. The building is the property of Dave Grounds.

50 years ago, 1973

MATTOON  Ray Irey of 2705 Champaign got into his car at 2:54 p.m. Tuesday, turned the ignition and then took a wild ride across Champaign and struck the northeast corner of the Rex Lindsay residence at 2704 Champaign. Irey, who was only planning to back out of his driveway, told police that when he started his car the gas pedal stuck. The car had been worked on earlier at a service station, Irey noted...DALTON CITY  The intersection of Illinois 121 and Illinois 128 at the northwest edge of Dalton City will be made a four-way stop, the District 5 headquarters of the Illinois Department of Transportation at Paris announced today. At the present time traffic on Illinois 121 does not stop at the intersection. "Accidents have been occurring at an abnormal rate at this intersection, so it is being made a four-way stop in an effort to reduce the accident rate," the state department explained...OAKLAND  Oakland Mayor Kenneth Dickerson and City Treasurer Meryl Hanner are unopposed in their bid for re-election on April 17. Both are Citizen's Party candidates. City Clerk Helen Parkes of the Citizen's Party faces People's Party candidate Shirley Willison for city clerk.

25 years ago, 1998

MATTOON  Gene Leblond, under whose leadership Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center experienced a decade of growth, announced Friday that he will resign as the hospital's president and chief executive officer. He has accepted a similar position at Promina Southern Regional Health System in Atlanta. He said a search firm contacted him to see if he was interested in the new position...EFFINGHAM  An Effingham broadcasting company has reached an agreement to purchase WEIL-TV41. Pending final approval by the FCC, Monroe Media will purchase the station from Lightning Broadcasting Co. Monroe Media is an Effingham-based company with local businessman Terry Monroe as primary shareholder. Monroe has named David Gill as the new general manager of the station. Tod Lancaster, primary shareholder of Lightning Broadcasting, said the company decided to sell the station to focus on the company's core business of advertising, design, and web marketing. The price of the station was not released. Founded in 1993, WEIL broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Broadcasting on UHF antennae channel 41, the station is also found on cable channels 20 in Effingham; 19 in Mattoon; 9 in Shelbyville; and 8 in Stewardson, Strasburg, and Windsor...FINDLAY  The bumpy ride into the Lake Shelbyville area should soon be a thing of the past with a project being shared by two state agencies. The Shelby County Board on Wednesday approved a bid of $904,000 from a local construction firm to improve a section of the Findlay Road. Prosser Construction of Shelbyville was the low bidder of three that were submitted in the $1.5 million project to improve 2.9 miles of roadway.
TUESDAY, April 11, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 20% of the American population has had a family member killed by a gun, including by suicide, and 1 in 6 has witnessed a shooting, a new survey found.

The survey -- by nonprofit KFF -- also found about 4% have shot a gun in self-defense and 4% have been injured by a gun.

For Black adults, the numbers were even higher, attesting to greater gun violence in minority communities.

About one-third of Black adults had a family member killed by a gun, compared to 17% of white adults and 18% of Hispanic adults.

Black adults were also about twice as likely as white adults to say they witnessed someone being shot, with about 31% of Black adults reporting this compared to 14% of white adults and 22% of Hispanic adults.

KFF, formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation, surveyed 1,271 adults in English and Spanish between March 14 and 23.

Many survey respondents reported living in fear of gun violence. Many others reported owning guns that are improperly stored.

About a third of both Hispanic and Black adults said they worry daily or almost daily that a family member will become a victim of gun violence. Among white adults, about 10% feel that concern daily.

Parents of children under age 18 are more likely to report this fear, with about 24% of these parents reporting daily worry compared to 15% of other adults.

Among Black adults, 1 in 6 adults does not feel at all safe from guns in their neighborhoods, a far greater segment than the 2% of white people and 9% of Hispanic people who feel that way.

Gun ownership is common, the survey also found.

About 4 in 10 adults, including many with children, say they live in homes that have guns.

Moreover, about three-quarters of people with guns in their homes say they are not stored using common gun-safety practices.

That includes 52% who say their gun is stored near its ammunition and 44% who say the gun is kept unlocked. More than one-third say that a gun in their home is stored loaded.

About one-third of parents in gun-owning households store the weapon in an unlocked location, and approximately the same number store a loaded gun. About 61% admitted storing a gun in the same location as ammunition.

Some have had conversations about guns with health professionals, including their childs pediatrician. About 26% report that their childs doctor has asked about guns in the home and 8% said theyve talked about gun safety. A significantly smaller percentage of people without children in the home said they've talked about guns with their doctor.

More information

The American Academy of Pediatrics has more on gun safety for families.

SOURCE: KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), news release, April 11, 2023
Lincoln is back in the green for the first time in nearly a year.

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department on Tuesday announced that its COVID-19 risk dial is moving into the green range for the first time since last May.

The green position on the dial indicates that the risk of the virus spreading in the community is low. The dial had been in the low yellow range for 11 straight weeks.

Weve seen significant improvement across several key indicators over the past several weeks. With this progress, the risk dial has again reached green, Health Director Pat Lopez said in a news release.

The Health Department reported 126 official cases of COVID-19 last week, the lowest weekly total since the week ending April 23 of last year. The three-week average total of weekly cases dropped to 156, down from 214 the previous three weeks.

The three-week daily rolling average of COVID-related hospitalizations dropped to 30, down from 40 during the three weeks prior.

The Health Department also said the number of virus particles detected in wastewater has remained low over the past several weeks.

There were four COVID-related deaths reported in the past three weeks, compared with only two the previous three weeks. However, there have not been any deaths reported so far in April.

Now that the risk dial is in the green range, the Health Department said it will suspend its weekly COVID-19 updates unless or until conditions change.

Conditions also have continued to improve statewide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,017 COVID-19 cases in Nebraska last week, which is down from more than 1,500 three weeks ago.

The CDC now lists 85 of Nebraska's 93 counties as having low community levels of COVID-19, while the other eight counties are at a medium level.

Photos: A lookback at the scene in Lincoln with much of city shut down for COVID pandemic Finals week Co-teaching City Council distancing Gameday empty Saturday Thank you Bryan West No fans allowed Husker cutouts Arena cleaning Volleyball social distancing Skeleton signs Boo at the Zoo Football Saturday YMCA closed Downtown mask art Marching band competition Outdoor seating East Campus proposed budget cuts Flu shots Coronavirus Bible Anti-mask rally No Football Saturday DMV lines UNL in-person class Iguana's Pub Farmers Market influencers Remote learning Weeping Water vs. Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan City Council First day of middle school Ukulele Class First day of school Pius X volleyball practice Madsen's House of Flowers delivery City Council BLM protest LPS Protest Beach Boys Rally and hearing Lancaster County Super Fair LPS board meeting Meatpacking workers rally Legislature Lincoln Northeast graduation Gov. Ricketts address Legislature Mask Legislature resumes Girls basketball Masked Archie the Mammoth First Jury Trial in Four Months Lincoln Community Playhouse The Kindler Hotel Garth Brooks Drive-In Concert Naturalization ceremony Urban Air Adventure Park Juneteenth Gere Branch Library Music on the Move Pool Reopenings Judiciary Committee Bars Opening in Lincoln LPS Teachers Retirement Holmes Lake Manor Horse Visit Lancaster County Courthouse Campgrounds Church Social Distancing Children of Smithfield Farmers Market Parkview Christian Teacher Appreciation Day Lincoln reopening Mother's Day Lincoln Christian 2020 Seniors Test Nebraska site Selfie wall Drive-Thru Career Fair Center for People in Need food distribution Marathon void Drive-through parade Masks For Truckers Hero Signs BikeLNK disinfecting Teacher and Staff Parade 91-year-old released Food Bank Thank you Virtual City Council Good Friday Music Masks on a walk Watch: A timelapse of the mural at Saro Cider Heroes sign Watch: Hand sanitizer rolls off Innovation Campus assembly line No fun here Inverse Parade Haymarket Empty downtown Tower Square sign Billboard Church services WATCH: Celebrating a birthday with a parade DoorDash StarTran Ridership Simpsons in the windows Drive-thru COVID-19 testing UNL Beekeeping virtual class Lincoln Lutheran Online Teaching Bourbon Theatre Social Distancing Blue for public health Protecting parents Basketball without fans Thanksgiving to go Basketball masks Food donation Sports cleaning Socially distant Santa Christmas tree demand Zoo Lights Clothing drive COVID-19 vaccine Recall Snowplow Santa Christmas Star Santa visit Pandemic Newspaper Basketball fans reduced Outdoor fun COVID Vaccine Basketball masks Trump Rally Mike Hilgers at Legislature's First Day Zoo Bar membership Eviction New high school Ice fishing Danny's closes Expos resume Swim meet Vaccination event Winter bicycling Legislative hearing Biking in snow Snowshoeing
A 20-year-old man who had been incarcerated at Lincoln's community corrections facility is in the wind after he allegedly absconded from state custody while job seeking Monday, according to authorities.

Buay Chuol was an inmate at the Community Corrections Center-Lincoln, a low-level security facility where, with prior approval, inmates are allowed to participate in off-site work opportunities without direct supervision.

Chuol tampered with the electronic monitoring device around his ankle as he was job hunting in Lincoln sometime Monday, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said in a news release.

Authorities are now on the lookout for Chuol, who is 6-foot-1, Black, with black hair, brown eyes and weighs 145 pounds, the department said in a news release.

The corrections department asked anyone with knowledge of the 20-year-old's whereabouts to contact local police or the Nebraska State Patrol.

Chuol had been incarcerated since April 2021, when he was sentenced to three to six years in prison for an attempted robbery in York County, according to the news release.

The former Kearney resident is scheduled for a parole hearing in May.

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
Lincoln City Council members voted Monday to make the city the first one in the state to offer paid parental leave to its employees.

The new policy approved Monday provides employees six weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or fostering of a child.

Paid leave will be available to full-time birthing and non-birthing parents from the time they start working for the city, and on a pro-rated basis to part-time employees who work at least 20 hours a week. The leave can be used over a period of 12 months.

Stacie Bleicher, a retired pediatrician who practiced in Lincoln for 35 years, told the council during a public hearing last week shes thrilled to see Lincoln be a standard for other employers in the community and around the state to support families.

As a pediatrician, she said shes seen the family unit fall apart, and had moms going back to work before they were physically or emotionally ready.

We know the start these kids and these families get from the beginning has a huge impact on the resiliency of the child, and how theyre going to function as community members, she said.

Long term, if we as a community can be more and more supportive of families were going to have more successful young adults ahead of us.

According to MomsRising, a national advocacy group, only 17% of Americans have access to paid family leave through their employer, said Kathie Uhrmacher, chairwoman of Commission on Women and Gender, which advises the mayor and City Council .

In addition to benefits such as improving employees economic security, and the citys employee retention and recruitment, it improves productivity, gives children a health start and lowers the wage gap between men and women, and has even been shown to reduce infant mortality as much as 20%, Uhrmacher said.

If the goal is to support women and keep young people in this community this is a step in the right direction, she said.

Journal Star reporter Matt Olberding contributed to this story.

Most popular boy names in the '00s in Nebraska Most popular boy names in the '00s in Nebraska #50. Cameron #49. Jayden #48. Landon #47. Owen #46. Blake #45. Thomas #44. Luke #43. Wyatt #42. Jonathan #41. Brandon #40. Christopher #39. Evan #38. Cole #37. Elijah #36. David #35. Christian #34. Isaac #33. Gabriel #32. Carter #31. John #30. Connor #29. Jack #28. James #27. Daniel #26. Gavin #25. Hunter #24. Mason #23. Anthony #22. Nicholas #21. Austin #20. Ryan #19. Nathan #18. Dylan #17. Caleb #16. Matthew #15. Benjamin #14. Joseph #13. Jackson #12. Michael #11. Zachary #10. William #9. Noah #8. Logan #7. Andrew #6. Tyler #5. Joshua #4. Samuel #3. Alexander #2. Ethan #1. Jacob
College towns nationwide saw a post-pandemic rebound in populations as students returned to school, according to Census figures.

"Many counties with large universities saw their populations fully rebound this year as students returned." Dr. Christine Hartley, assistant division chief for estimates and projections in the Census Bureaus population division, said in a news release.

Nebraska was no different, with most counties containing a college or university seeing population gains, even those that had lost population the previous year.

For example, Dawes County, home to Chadron State College, saw its population climb to 8,241 last year, an increase of 90 people over the previous year, when it had lost 19 people.

Wayne County, home to Wayne State College, has now seen two straight years of population gains after a slight decline in 2020. The county added 38 people in 2022 year after adding 149 in 2021.

York County, home to York University, added 145 people in 2021 and 106 in 2022.

Seward County, home to Concordia University, saw a population gain of 108 people last year after losing 30 in 2021.

Other counties with four-year colleges that saw population gains in 2022 were Saline, Sarpy, Lancaster, Douglas, Buffalo and Nemaha counties.

The trend was not universal, however. Adams County, home to Hastings College, and Dodge County, home to Midland University, both lost population in 2022 and have dipped below their 2020 Census official populations.

Best big college towns in America Where to find the best big college towns in America #50. Fresno, CA #49. Kansas City, MO #48. Washington, D.C. #47. New Orleans, LA #46. Honolulu, HI #45. Boston, MA #44. San Antonio, TX #43. Chicago, IL #42. Henderson, NV #41. Fort Worth, TX #40. Oklahoma City, OK #39. Anaheim, CA #38. Portland, OR #37. Tulsa, OK #36. Indianapolis, IN #35. Los Angeles, CA #34. San Jose, CA #33. Albuquerque, NM #32. Denver, CO #31. San Francisco, CA #30. Dallas, TX #29. Louisville, KY #28. Philadelphia, PA #27. Lexington-Fayette, KY #26. Virginia Beach, VA #25. Jacksonville, FL #24. Mesa, AZ #23. Nashville, TN #22. Sacramento, CA #21. Omaha, NE #20. Bakersfield, CA #19. Minneapolis, MN #18. Tucson, AZ #17. Charlotte, NC #16. Houston, TX #15. Long Beach, CA #14. Cincinnati, OH #13. Las Vegas, NV #12. El Paso, TX #11. Columbus, OH #10. St. Louis, MO #9. Colorado Springs, CO #8. San Diego, CA #7. Pittsburgh, PA #6. Seattle, WA #5. Atlanta, GA #4. Raleigh, NC #3. Miami, FL #2. Tampa, FL #1. Austin, TX
What little population growth there is in Nebraska continues to occur in the state's largest counties, according to the latest Census figures.

Lancaster County had an estimated 324,756 people as of July 1 of last year, up 1,336 from a year earlier.

That was a better performance than Douglas County, which added only 860 people, for a population of 586,327.

Sarpy County had the most growth, going from 193,798 people on July 1, 2021, to 196,553 as of July 1 of last year, a gain of 2,755.

Together, the three counties added 4,931 people, which is more than 500 more than the state as a whole. State-level population figures were released in December.

There also was growth in the counties surrounding the state's two largest cities. All the counties that are officially part of the Lincoln or Omaha metropolitan areas added people, as did some other counties near or bordering those counties, including Saline and Otoe counties.

David Drozd, director of research and data analytics at Community Health Development Partners in Omaha, said Nebraska's net population gain in each of the past two years has been about half the typical annual gain during the 2010s, and a big reason for the anemic growth is people moving out of the state.

For example, Drozd said Lancaster County had positive domestic in-migration every year during the 2010s (meaning more people moved into the county from out of state than moved to another state) but has had net total domestic outmigration of about 1,000 people over the past two years.

Douglas County averaged a small amount of annual outmigration during the 2010s  about 250 people a year  but that number has ballooned to 3,700 a year over the past two years, he said.

Drozd said there also have been weak migration numbers for almost all of Nebraska's midsized cities, and he noted that Adams, Dakota, Dawson, Hall, Lincoln, Madison, Platte and Scotts Bluff counties all have seen domestic outmigration.

One reason for that is current unemployment rates, he said.

Nebraska's unemployment rate has been at a historically low level of around 2% for several months now, but Drozd noted that the national rate is also historically low at about 3.5%. By contrast, there was a much larger gap between the state and local rates in the years after the Great Recession, which worked in Nebraska's favor.

"The unemployment rate gap and our net migration levels have been highly correlated over time," he said.

A report released recently by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City backs up Drozd's assertions.

The report, titled "Population Growth Needed to Address Labor Scarcity," examines the state's lack of population growth and how it contributes to labor shortages.

It noted that Nebraska's trend of losing people to other states was exacerbated by the pandemic, with the number of states with a net population gain from Nebraska growing from fewer than 25 on average before the pandemic to more than 30 after it started.

The report shows Nebraskans moving south and west during the pandemic. For example, from 2015-2019, an average of 1,670 people moved from Kansas to Nebraska every year, but in 2020 and 2021, that switched the other direction, with 1,336 Nebraskans moving to Kansas each year. Before the pandemic, Nebraska had a net gain of about 970 people a year from Texas. But in 2020 and 2021, a net 3,800 Nebraskans moved to Texas each year.

Other states where there was a sharp trend reversal from people moving to Nebraska to Nebraskans moving to those states include Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Idaho.

The Fed study also found that Nebraska is seeing a net outmigration of all age groups since the pandemic. Before 2020, it had been losing people ages 19-34 and those 55 and older but had been gaining people 18 and younger and those 35-54.

The good news for Lancaster County is that it has continued to see a net gain in both international and domestic migration, even though those numbers have been smaller since the start of the pandemic. The county also continues to see net migration from other areas of Nebraska, including an increase in people moving from Douglas County, according to the Fed study.

Another observation of the Fed study is that Nebraska also is seeing fewer foreign immigrants. It noted that immigration to the state and the nation started to decline in 2017, which is the year Donald Trump became president and instituted stricter immigration policies.

That decline deepened during the pandemic, with 2020 seeing the fewest number of foreign immigrants for at least the past 30 years, according to the study.

"Had Nebraska continued to add residents from abroad at the same rate prior to 2015, population in the state may have increased by an additional 19,000 individuals by 2022," the report said.

The one thing that is keeping the state growing is natural change, meaning there are more births than deaths each year, but even that trend is changing.

"Births have been trending down and deaths up, so our natural changes levels arent as good," Drozd said. "Statewide, the net gain here has been about 5,000 the last two years, about half the typical annual gain in the 2010s."

And as with overall population, the three largest counties are producing all of Nebraska's net natural gain.

In 2022, Nebraska had 5,105 more births than deaths overall, which was about 4,400 less than the combined net births in Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy counties.

Nebraska college towns see strong population growth Most Nebraska counties with a four-year college or university saw strong population growth in 2022, mirroring a national trend.

Where millennials are moving Where millennials are moving Austin, Denver lead list of most popular destinations for millennials Some of the biggest cities in the U.S. see most millennials moving out Data and methodology
The Biden administration is scrambling to assess and contain the fallout from a major leak of classified Pentagon documents that has rattled U.S. officials, members of Congress and key allies in recent days.

The Justice Department is investigating how the trove of highly sensitive documents, which include details about how the U.S. spies on friends and foes as well as intelligence on the war in Ukraine, ended up on social media sites.

But, to date, little is known about who may have been responsible for the leak or how some of the nation's most tightly guarded secrets ended up on social media sites.

The Defense Department is still reviewing the matter and has taken 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 Pentagon has stood up an "interagency effort" to assess the impact of the leak, but U.S. officials and close allies already fear the revelations could jeopardize sensitive sources and compromise important foreign relationships.

Congressional lawmakers have also expressed concerns about the apparent scope of the leak and sensitivity of the documents posted online but largely remain in the dark about what has occurred.

Both House and Senate Intelligence Committee leaders are demanding answers from the Biden administration. House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Mike Turner is scheduled to receive a briefing on Monday and his Senate counterparts have jointly requested one as well.

Here's what we know about the leak so far:

What happened?

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.

A Discord spokesperson confirmed in a statement Sunday that they are cooperating with law enforcement on the investigation.

Those documents discovered on Friday all bore classified markings, some top secret  the highest level of classification.

It is unclear who is behind the leaks and where, exactly, they originated.

What is in the documents?

CNN has reviewed 53 leaked documents, all of which appear to have been produced between mid-February and early March.

They contain a wide range of highly classified information  providing a rare window into how the U.S. spies on allies and adversaries alike.

Some of the documents, which U.S. officials say are authentic, expose the extent of U.S. eavesdropping on key allies, including South Korea, Israel and Ukraine.

Others reveal the degree to which the U.S. 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 U.S. and Ukraine have begun to develop a more mutually trusting relationship over intelligence-sharing.

One document reveals that the U.S. has been spying on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. That is unsurprising, said a source close to Zelensky, but Ukrainian officials are deeply frustrated about the leak.

The U.S. 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."

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 U.S. request for ammunition.

The officials worried that supplying the ammunition, which the U.S. 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.

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.

How are US allies reacting?

While U.S. allies are aware that the U.S. intelligence community collects information on friendly nations, diplomats from some of the countries mentioned told CNN it was frustrating  and harmful to the U.S. reputation  to see that information exposed publicly.

U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S., 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 U.S. assessment pointing to a likely yearlong stalemate revealed publicly," the official said.

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.

Still, Ukraine has already altered some of its military plans because of the leak, a source close to Zelensky told CNN.

U.S. government 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" following the leak, State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Monday.

At the State Department, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has been tapped to lead the diplomatic response, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.

Patel would not go into details about which countries the U.S. has engaged with, only saying "that work is ongoing."

Who is investigating?

The Justice Department has launched an investigation and the Defense Department is also reviewing the matter.

"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 deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement over the weekend. "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 U.S. officials spoke with allies and partners over the weekend regarding the leak, and informed "relevant congressional committees."

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.

The Pentagon team working to determine the scale and scope of the leak includes the Defense Department's legislative affairs, public affairs, policy, general counsel, intelligence and security, and joint staff offices, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Chris Meagher said Monday.

Asked if the government has any sense of who leaked the documents, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said Monday that the Department of Defense had referred the case to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation and directed questions to them.

"I'm not aware that they've come to any conclusions at this point about where they're coming from," Kirby said.

Asked if the administration believed the leak is contained or if there's an ongoing threat, Kirby responded: "We don't know. We truly don't."

___

Photos: In Ukraine, searing images capture a year of war
Photo: Environment Canada

Heavy snow is expected today on Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.

Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning calling for accumulations of up to 15 centimetres and challenging driving conditions.

"The stationary front that brought heavy rain to southeastern B.C. is currently weakening. As of this morning, snow levels have dropped to around 1,500 metres, causing the rain at higher elevations of the highway to transition to snow," the national forecaster advises.

The snowfall is expected to ease this evening.

"Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow."

Meanwhile, as much as 70 mm of rain is forecast other parts of southeast B.C.

Heavy rain is expected in the Boundary, Arrow Lakes, Slocan Lake and Kootenay Lake, West Kootenay, and Elk Valley.

"Rising freezing levels and melting snow may increase river flows and give rise to localized flooding...

"The combination of heavy rain and melting snow may give rise to water pooling and localized flooding in the low-lying areas."

Environment Canada warns heavy downpours may cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.

Watch for possible washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.
Firefighters responding to a mobile home fire in Valparaiso on Saturday night found an unidentified woman dead in the trailer, according to authorities.

Rescue crews with the Valparaiso Fire Department found the Saunders County mobile home, 150 N. Oak St., fully engulfed in flames when they arrived on scene just before 9 p.m. Saturday, the Nebraska State Fire Marshal Agency said in a news release.

Firefighters found one woman and a dog dead inside the mobile home, which was rendered a total loss in the fire, the agency said.

The Saunders County Attorney has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of the woman's death. And the Fire Marshal Agency is still working to determine the cause of the fire.

State Fire Marshal investigators are withholding the woman's name until her identity is confirmed and family is notified, the agency said.

Four years ago: Photos, videos from catastrophic flooding in Nebraska Flooding in Nickerson, 3.13 Flooding in Wahoo, 3.13 Flooding in Nickerson, 3.13 Flooding in Ashland Area, 3.14 Flooding in Ashland Area, 3.14 Flooding, Ashland Flooding, Hooper Flooding, 3.14 Flooding, 3.14 Flooding, 3.14 Flooding, 3.14 Fremont flooding Rescued in boat Spencer Dam Highway flooding Genoa bridge Stranded cattle Flooding, 3.15 Flooding, 3.15 Tuxedo Park in Crete Platte River flooding at I-80 Flooding near Plattsmouth, 3.16 Peru flooding, 3.17 Peru flooding, 3.17 Peru flooding, 3.17 Peru flooding, 3.17 Peru flooding, 3.17 Peru flooding, 3.17 Peru flooding, 3.17 Peru flooding, 3.17 Rescuing calf in Fullerton Nebraska City flooding Cooper plant Water flowing over levee L575 across the river from Nebraska City in Percival, Iowa Steinhart Grain Terminal at Nebraska City By the numbers
OMAHA  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.
"Be true to yourself," Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha says.

"That's my morning star.

"I know whether I've been true if I feel guilty."

Father, husband, educator, mental health professional, that's how he defines himself.

And now he is the senator from Omaha's District 20, filling the seat formerly occupied by Sen. John McCollister, an independent Republican who followed the same path, sometimes splitting with his Republican colleagues in the nonpartisan Legislature on major issues and with a Republican governor who he once worked with as executive director of the Platte Institute, founded by Pete Ricketts.

Fredrickson is a Democrat, but he views McCollister as "a great model" to follow and "that's my goal."

When the time comes to vote on issues in the Legislature, Fredrickson says, "I know in my heart the right thing to do."

There will be "hard choices," he says. "Difficult choices. The question is: Will I be proud of what I did in that moment?"

It has been a contentious legislative session stalled by ongoing filibusters that have tested senators and their relationships with more animosity than camaraderie often on display.

But it has been "an incredible experience" so far, Fredrickson says. "I still pinch myself over being able to work here.

"It's an educational experience. It's a true honor.

"And curiosity is helpful."

Fredrickson says he is both participant and observer, "trying to learn as much as I can."

"Change is growth," he says.

And so is the reality that "what is the best way to solve things has nothing to do with Republicans and Democrats," he says.

They are senators representing Nebraskans together, colleagues.

Two of them that he is quick to point out for praise happen to both be Republicans.

"Sen. (Lou Ann) Linehan, I really like her, I respect her, she is smart and tough as nails, we have a pretty good relationship."

"Sen. (Tom) Brewer, one of our first conversations was about mental health, he has lived remarkable experiences and we have formed an interesting relationship."

"It's a cool experience when we work together and get creative," Fredrickson said. Freshman senators like him are "beginning to find our space, find our voices," he said.

Fredrickson was one of a number of senators who teared up during emotional debate over a bill that would ban a variety of gender-affirming health care procedures for transgender youth.

"I'm aware that I'm the first-ever openly gay person" to serve in the Legislature, he said.

"That was a blatant assault on my community," he said, "and I will fight it in every way I can. That's hard. That legislation is so divisive, so toxic. It's a very dangerous thing to do."

Fredrickson is married and he and his husband have a 4-year-old son.

Debate over the legislation (LB574) introduced by Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha quickly stirred traffic on a suicide-prevention telephone call-in line and prompted Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha to launch a filibuster of the entire legislative session for as long as the bill is alive.

"Let's talk about property taxes and how to provide more health care opportunities and workforce development and education, issues with an impact on Nebraskans," Fredrickson said.

"Let's let people live their lives."

Fredrickson has been an active participant in legislative debates over a variety of issues and often roams the floor, touching base with senators on both sides of the political divide. He's hard to miss at 6-4, towering over a number of his colleagues.

"I reach out," he said. "I go everywhere, not just to natural allies. It's part of my life."

Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session
So the Nebraska GOP has released a statement totally supporting Donald Trump. They claim the indictment against Trump is "politically motivated," a "political hit job," a "cheap political stunt" and "not about justice or the truth but vengeance."

They are "supporting our former President and condemning this unprecedented indictment." Of course they are. It is beyond my comprehension how they can continue to support him. Trump is being indicted on 34 counts, not just one or two! Thirty-four!

I'm pretty sure there is sufficient evidence to warrant all the charges or the indictment would not have been filed. And I guarantee that if it were a Democrat who was being accused of the crimes, it would not have taken this long for an indictment.

It is clear the Nebraska Republican delegation will support anyone in their party no matter how unhinged. (No, the 2020 election was not "stolen" from Trump, as proven over and over again!)

So now we must put up with the ex-president spewing his continued lies and telling everyone about the "weaponization" of the justice system. He probably doesn't even know what that means, as someone in his circle came up with that one!

He will use all outlets to claim he is being unfairly persecuted, and it is all a political stunt because, of course, the Democrats know that he will win in the next election. It's just sad that the Nebraska Republican Party feels the need to cling to someone who is totally out of touch with reality.

Sharon Miller, Lincoln
Children and teenagers in Wisconsin would need parental consent to access social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram under a Republican-authored measure to protect minors from the hugely popular and addictive apps.

Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, unveiled the proposal Tuesday. It would prohibit anyone younger than 18 from using social media between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., require parental consent for minors to create a social media account and allow parents full access to a childs account.

The way it exists now is very much the wild, wild electronic West and both predators and aggressive advertisers have unfettered, unblocked access to our children 24/7, Steffen said. So, providing some guardrails, some controls, parental access and a curfew are a way to address some of that. We have to give our parents a fighting chance and right now they are electronically, technologically outgunned.

Specific bill language was not available Tuesday, but Steffen said the measure is modeled after a recently signed Utah law that creates regulations for social media companies to follow for accounts held by children. That law was signed last month by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox and is expected to face legal challenges before its scheduled to take effect in March 2024.

Similar measures have been proposed in other states, including Arkansas, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana and New Jersey, according to The Associated Press.

Kris Perry, executive director of the nonprofit Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, said proposals like Steffens could address rising concerns over social medias impact on children. Several studies have found that increased social media use is associated with anxiety, depression and obesity in children, particularly girls.

Weve seen a change in the way that children are experiencing childhood as a result of their strong interest in these online platforms and experiences, and the harms  now documented for over more than a decade  run the gamut from cognitive to social, emotional to physical, harms, Perry said.

To limit teens use of social media apps, Steffens proposal would require companies to develop and apply a digital curfew that would lock minors out of their accounts between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The measure also would limit advertiser and outsider access to a minors account, prevent direct messaging from individuals who are not pre-approved by the account holder and bar social media companies from most targeted advertising and marketing efforts directed toward accounts held by minors. Many social media companies, such as TikTok, Snapchat and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, make a large portion of their revenue with targeted advertising.

If the bill were signed into law, social media companies that fail to follow such provisions would face a $100 daily fine for each account that is not in compliance.

As proposed, Steffens measure would not go into effect until August 2024, and anyone with a social media account created before 2019 would not be required to go through the age-verification process.

Enforcement challenges

Its unclear how laws like the one being considered in Wisconsin would be enforced.

The federal Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act prohibits companies from collecting data on children younger than 13 without parental consent. To comply, social media companies already ban kids younger than 13 from signing up to their platforms. But children have easily gotten around the bans, both with and without their parents consent.

In an ideal world, we wouldnt need this legislation, Steffen said. Also in an ideal world, we would not need regulations on youth use of tobacco, alcohol or other things that can harm them. The reality is that parents need some help, too.

As with Utahs law, Wisconsins proposal is likely to face legal and logistical challenges.

Enforcement is going to be the next frontier, Perry said. We know there are harms, we know some of the good solutions, but now we are broaching this topic of, Who is going to enforce it?

To the extent that parents can have a really good, strong, open communication with their children about their digital media usage and can come to an agreement on how to enforce these kinds of rules, it will be so much better than asking a government agency who doesnt know your family, doesnt know your child, to enforce these things, Perry added. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

Increased scrutiny

Wisconsins proposal is the latest example of increased scrutiny of social media apps over concerns about user privacy, hate speech, misinformation and harmful effects on mental health in children.

One of the apps to receive considerable attention is TikTok, an app owned by Chinese company ByteDance that is used by two-thirds of American teens. The social media app has become the target of bipartisan scrutiny due to potential national security risks if used by the Chinese government to influence American users or collect data from millions of devices.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, last month proposed a bill that would provide the U.S. Commerce Department additional powers to regulate and potentially ban social media platforms and apps.

Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, was elected chair of the new Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.

Gallagher, who has been a vocal critic of TikTok and has called for legislation to implement a nationwide ban of the app, said in January the new committee will focus on reclaiming U.S. economic independence in key areas and exposing the Chinese Communist Partys coordinated, whole-of-society strategy to undermine American leadership.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said in January he would ban the use of TikTok on state devices, joining a growing list of states to prohibit staffers from using the social media app on government devices.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

5 takeaways from TikTok CEO's first appearance before Congress Intro 1. Washington has already made up its mind about TikTok 2. TikTok CEO stresses its practices are no different than US tech giants 3. TikTok's impact on children a key point of focus 4. Chew criticized for avoiding questions. TikTok said Congress wasn't interested in his answers 5. Federal government ratchets up its rhetoric
RACINE  The United States flag at the Racine County Sheriffs Office was lowered to half-mast Monday to honor the two police officers killed Saturday in northwestern Wisconsin.

In a news release, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said the office extends its thoughts and prayers to the friends, families and loved ones of the two brave law enforcement officers from the Village of Cameron and the City of Chetek who lost their lives in the service of protecting their communities this weekend.

On Saturday around 3:40 p.m., a Chetek Police Department officer pulled over a vehicle in Cameron. The Chetek officer and an officer with the Cameron Police Department exchanged gunfire with the motorist, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

The two officers died at the scene. Authorities eventually took the motorist to a hospital, where he died.

Gov. Tony Evers identified the officers in a tweet Monday as Emily Breidenbach of the Chetek Police Department and Hunter Scheel of the Cameron Police Department.

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 arrangement have been made.

Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty yesterday, Evers wrote Sunday on Twitter. Kathy and I are praying for the officers families, colleagues, and the Barron County community mourning this tragic loss.

The Caledonia Police Department, Racine Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Waterford Police Department and Sturtevant Police Department are also mourning and honoring the two police officers, according to respective social media posts.

Please keep the friends and family of the Chetek and Cameron Police Officers in your thoughts and prayers, the CPD wrote in the post.

The state DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident. Upon finishing its investigation, the DOJ will turn over its findings to the Barron County District Attorneys Office.

19 photos from Shop with a Cop 2022
1. Yes. Police officers should be the only ones armed in the council chambers. Period.

2. Yes. Such a ban is allowed by state law, and the city council should consider it .

3. No. The possibility of violence is always present, but disarming everyone isnt the answer.

4. No. Its unwise to change the city ordinance based on one unfortunate incident.

5. Unsure. Some steps must be taken, but its hard to say if a gun ban is necessary.

Vote

View Results
Photo: The Canadian Press A woman types on a keyboard in New York on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019. The Northwest Territories government says it spent more than $700,000 to address a cyberattack in November. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Jenny Kane

YELLOWKNIFE - The Northwest Territories government says it spent $716,000 to address a cyberattack in November.

It says it signed two work orders under existing contracts to help with containment, investigation and response efforts.

The territory says the cybersecurity threat was contained and remediated without the exposure of personal or private information.

The cyberattack was made public by Cabin Radio late last week after the local news organization reported that it received an anonymous tip.

The territorial government has released few details, citing confidentiality reasons.

Todd Sasaki, a spokesman for the Department of Finance, did not respond to questions about the date and time the attack occurred and how the territory's information technology systems were affected.

"Keeping the details of cybersecurity events and our response private makes it harder for cyber threat actors to exploit vulnerabilities or discover attack vectors," Sasaki wrote in an email Tuesday.

He added the territorial government actively monitors for suspicious activity and that it "will continue to regularly assess its technologies and capabilities to keep pace with the increasing threats posed by cyber threat actors."

"All organizations are under constant threat if they are connected to the internet as criminals increasingly leverage vulnerabilities in technology and people to obtain confidential and proprietary information," Sasaki wrote.

"When this happens, the GNWT mobilizes all available resources to identify and resolve breaches and takes appropriate steps to prevent similar breaches from happening in the future."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.
LEXINGTON  Nebraska State Troopers, with assistance from the Dawson County Sheriffs Office, arrested a Maryland man after a pursuit on Interstate 80 in Dawson County.

Antoine Geter, 30, of Baltimore, Maryland, 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, according to authorities. Geter was lodged in Dawson County Jail.

At approximately 7:10 a.m. Monday, a Nebraska State Patrol 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 Geter allegedly 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.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks as he meets with Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, not pictured, at the State Department in Washington, Monday. AP-Yonhap



Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Vietnam this week in the latest bid to build relations with a growing U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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. (AFP)




EAU CLAIRE  Experts offer many reasons for the recent drop in U.S. college enrollment, which fell 8% between 2019 and 2022. Fear of amassing student debt. More chances to work right after high school. Refusal to believe college graduates earn much more than high school grads over time (which is statistically true). Worries about fitting into campuses where left-wingers wont tolerate right-wingers, and vice versa. Aversion to long-form reading in a digital age.

Theyre all plausible answers for why some colleges are struggling to fill seats. Heres another possibility: Students arent always thrilled about four more years of classroom or online instruction that fails to expose them to hands-on skills.

A recent forum at UW-Eau Claire, one of the regions leading universities when it comes to getting undergraduate students internships and other career experiences, highlighted some antidotes to the enrollment slump. It also spoke to how colleges can help local economies by keeping talent close to home.

UW-Eau Claire will also host close to 4,000 people this month for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, an event it landed in large part due to its record of matching students with opportunities in areas as diverse as health care, agriculture, materials science, chemistry and engineered systems such as production of circuit boards.

There are no doctoral degree programs at UW-Eau Claire, which is the case at 11 of 13 UW System campuses. However, there are vigorous programs in science and tech for students who range from freshmen to candidates for masters degrees. Two-thirds of all UW-Eau Claire graduates complete at least one internship before graduating; many complete two or more. As a result, almost all Eau Claire graduates (97% in 2022) wind up working or pursuing another degree in their chosen field.

Managers from four companies at the forum Tuesday praised campus efforts to connect students to research opportunities in their companies and well beyond. Those same managers  from Silver Spring Foods, WPC Technologies, Catalytic Combustion Technologies and TTM Technologies  said they value student work and the faculty oversight that often comes with it.

On the faculty end, one department chairman said hands-on work within a company is what many students relish. Nothing motivates them more than industrial projects, said Doug Dunham, chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Projects assigned to students by the four companies included helping to develop specialized paints and coatings for aerospace use, testing how certain natural pathogens affect flavor and nutrition in horseradish, better controlling emissions from kitchen appliances such as ovens, and plating tests for circuit boards.

The Mayo Clinic, which has a strong presence in Wisconsin, also works with UW-Eau Claire students engaged in health studies. That will expand if the Legislature fully approves a five-story Sciences and Health Sciences building to be constructed near the heart of campus. It will include state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories for students, faculty and partnering businesses.

Speaking to the group, Eau Claire Chancellor Jim Schmidt said 225 businesses, nonprofit groups and government agencies have worked with campus science and health departments over the past five years. Thats good for the local economy in more ways that one, Schmidt added. Fewer than 10% of incoming students hail from the Chippewa Valley  but nearly a third stay there once they graduate, most often because they find jobs.

These kinds of hands-on connections arent limited to the UW-Eau Claire campus, of course. Hundreds of students from each of the UW Systems 13 four-year campuses exhibited their work at the March 8 Research in the Rotunda event, held in the state Capitol. Wisconsins technical college system has long worked with private businesses in need of talent, and the states private colleges produce more science and tech graduates than imagined.

Higher education is being tested right now by market and social forces that are difficult to predict and manage. If more campuses touted or expanded opportunities for undergraduates to work in settings outside the classroom, perhaps more high school grads would consider enrolling right away  or coming back to finish a degree.
BARRON  Hundreds of people lined the streets and somberly paid their respects as the flag-draped caskets carrying the bodies of police officers Emily Breidenbach and Hunter Scheel returned home Monday.

Breidenbach and Scheel were killed in the line of duty during a shootout in a traffic stop Saturday in Cameron. Their bodies were taken to Minnesota for autopsies as part of the investigation.

A procession of law enforcement vehicles carried both officers from the medical examiners office in Ramsey County to their respective funeral homes. Officers stood, and will stand, vigil by each officers side until the services are complete.

We are carrying our dead. We are mourning, said Marianna Fuentes. We are holding each other up by the skin of our teeth.

Breidenbach and Scheel were conducting a traffic stop around 3:38 p.m. Saturday when there was an exchange of gunfire, the Wisconsin Department of Justice reported.

Both officers were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect, 50-year-old Glenn Perry, later died at an area hospital. Officials have not released details of what led up to or how the shooting began.

Breidenbach had five years of law enforcement experience, while Scheel had about one year of service under his belt.

Breidenbach was engaged to be married and was daughter of former Chetek Police Chief Robert Breidenbach, who was present for the procession Monday. 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.

Scheels girlfriend, Camryn Gosdeck, wrote a tribute to him on Facebook, describing him as a dedicated partner.

We had so much planned for our future and looked forward to growing old with one another. Because of this, 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, she wrote.

Procession held for officers killed in line of duty Close First responders attend a procession Tuesday for Cameron and Chetek police officers killed in the line of duty on Monday. Both officers' bodies were escorted via a law enforcement procession from the medical examiners office in Ramsey County to their respective funeral homes. About 500 people turned up to the procession of Cameron and Chetek police officers, killed in the line of duty on Monday, including Chetek Mayor Jeff Martin Locals turned up for Cameron and Chetek police officers, killed in the line of duty on Monday. Both officers were escorted via a law enforcement procession from the medical examiners office in Ramsey County to their respective funeral homes. Locals turned up for Cameron and Chetek police officers, killed in the line of duty on Monday. Both officers were escorted via a law enforcement procession from the medical examiners office in Ramsey County to their respective funeral homes. Kids with firefighter hats. Locals turned up for Cameron and Chetek police officers, killed in the line of duty on Monday. Both officers were escorted via a law enforcement procession from the medical examiners office in Ramsey County to their respective funeral homes. First responders turned up to the procession of Cameron and Chetek police officers, killed in the line of duty on Monday.Both officers were escorted via a law enforcement procession from the medical examiners office in Ramsey County to their respective funeral homes. Officers stood, and will stand, vigil by each officer's side until the services are complete. Locals turned up for Cameron and Chetek police officers, killed in the line of duty on Monday. Both officers were escorted via a law enforcement procession from the medical examiners office in Ramsey County to their respective funeral homes. Locals turned up for Cameron and Chetek police officers, killed in the line of duty on Monday. Both officers were escorted via a law enforcement procession from the medical examiners office in Ramsey County to their respective funeral homes. A line of emergency vehicles moves through Barron during a procession Monday as the bodies of police officers Emily Breidenbach and Hunter Scheel were returned. +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8

'Just too young': 2 northern Wisconsin officers slain in traffic stop shootout Chetek and Cameron are reeling after two police officers and a gunman died in a shootout on Saturday afternoon.

Killer of Wisconsin police officers had warrant, history of domestic abuse, authorities say Emily Breidenbach, 32, of the Chetek Police Department and Hunter Scheel, 23, of the Cameron Police Department, were killed in a traffic stop shootout.
A La Farge woman died at the scene of a motorcycle crash after authorities say an Amish buggy crossed into the vehicles path Sunday in the town of Whitestown.

According to a press release from the Vernon County Sheriffs office, at about 4:30 p.m., a motorcycle operated by Joseph Oium, 53, with his passenger, Kim Oium, 54, both of rural La Farge, was traveling northbound on Sandhill Road in the town of Whitestown. A single horse-drawn buggy, occupied by two juveniles, was traveling southbound. The horse became startled, crossed into the path of and struck the oncoming motorcycle. The motorcycle left the roadway, both riders were were ejected, and came to rest along the northbound shoulder.

Kim Oium suffered serious injuries and lifesaving measures were unsuccessful. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the Vernon County Coroners Office. Joseph Oium reported head, back and hand injuries. He refused treatment at the scene, but may have sought medical treatment on his own. The two buggy occupants were not injured.

Assisting the sheriffs office at the scene were Ontario Ambulance, the Ontario Fire Department, the La Farge Fire Department, Gundersen AIR and the Vernon County Coroners Office.

The crash remains under investigation by the sheriffs office and Vernon County Coroner Betty Nigh.
Local leaders and community members gathered Monday to speak to Democratic members of the Wisconsin Legislatures Joint Finance Committee about budget items that are important to the community.

Top issues for La Crosse folks who attended were public education funding, expansion of Medicare, childcare and, of course, the second phase of University of Wisconsin-La Crosses Prairie SpringsScience Center.

The listening session was hosted by Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse, and Sen. Brad Pfaff, D-Onalaska, in conjunction with three Democratic members of the Joint Finance Committee: Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, and Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha.

The Joint Committee on Finance is the next legislative committee that will have input on Gov. Tony Evers 2023-25 biennium budget. The committee will likely begin to debate budget items at the end of this month.

The finance committee has hosted formal listening sessions around the state  but the nearest to La Crosse was in Eau Claire or Wisconsin Dells.

Billings said it was important to have a local session for those who cant get to the sessions that are farther away.

It was really important to me to have Joint Finance Committee members here in La Crosse, listening to western Wisconsin folks and our needs in this part of the state, Billings said.

The listening session was held as a series of roundtable discussions between the legislators and the people, as opposed to having community members testify before the legislators.

Billings said this way is more interactive and organic.

Top issues

Phase II for the Prairie Springs Science Center was a top issue for many who attended the listening session. Last month, Republicans on the building commission voted down all items in the governors capital building budget  which includes all UW System projects.

Goyke said UW System buildings are an important priority for Democrats, especially with the nearly $7 billion state surplus. Goyke said its a priority of the governors to use the surplus on one-time spending needs.

Across the state, as well as in La Crosse, childcare has become less affordable and harder to access. Many would like to see more state support.

Evers budget includes allocating more than $300 million for the Child Care Counts program, which provides financial support for childcare providers. Roys said if that funding doesnt pass, the state could see the closure of 25% of such providers.

Roys said expanding and supporting childcare is not just a workforce issue.

Employers understand how important childcare is, but its also a gender equity issue, Roys said. As someone who wants women to have equal opportunities to succeed, childcare is really important for that.

Funding for public education is another key issue for people in La Crosse. Evers budget proposed $2.6 billion for K-12 schools  the largest increase in funding for K-12 schools in state history.

Roys is hopeful her Republican colleagues will support the budget items for public education, as more people are realizing the funding crisis public schools have been put into due to a lack of underfunding by the state.

One thing I think is really important for people to understand contextually about this budget is over the last several decades, Republicans have ratcheted down their aid for all of our heart institutions, like UW schools, local government, K-12, Roys continued. And at the same time they have ratcheted up their control.

The residents who participated in the listening session said they want to see Medicaid expanded. Part of Evers budget includes expanding Medicaid to 89,700 additional people in Wisconsin through increased reimbursement rates for hospital services, outpatient treatment and expanding Medicaid benefits to include doula services and community health workers.

Roys said this would enable the state to hire more than 10,000 new health care workers, which is critically important as Wisconsin hospitals compete among other states for staff.

Its about making sure that rural hospitals can stay in business, Roys said. Its about making sure that we can actually afford to keep health care providers here instead of just exporting them to other states.
Fave 5: Reporter Kimberly Wethal shares her favorite stories of 2022

In the weeks before I joined the Wisconsin State Journal in September, I was told this: Remember that a higher education institution is like their own city. It has its own character and struggles, defined by the students who learn there and the faculty who teach them.

I have seen this over and over again, and it was particularly clear when I visited UW-Platteville at Richland a week after the University of Wisconsin System ordered degree-fulfilling classes to cease because of low enrollment. During my visit, I found many of the devastated students to be emotionally invested in their campus community  and committed to saving it.

It's why Richland Center grieving the loss of its once-vibrant campus is my top story of 2022.

UW-Madison has its own slate of issues. There, a growing population is pitted against on- and off-campus housing availability. I wrote about the tactics used to clear returning students out of the dorms to make room for freshmen, and the frenzy that ensued as students put their lives on hold to secure housing for next fall.

At Madison Area Technical College, a key issue is how to alleviate barriers their students face just to get into the classroom. Finding adequate child care is one of them  I wrote about the efforts to expand future access at the Goodman South Campus and its four rural campuses.

Much of my beat is hard news, but some of my favorite stories are features of students who make up the character of campus. I wrote about Kirstan Gimse, the student commencement speaker who's achieving her dream of being a scientist that she saw as unattainable.

I'm looking forward to diving deeper into the beat in 2023 and am so grateful for the support of State Journal subscribers that allows me to be one of the few reporters in the state dedicated solely to covering higher education.
State Republicans have revived bills targeting Wisconsins unemployment benefits, including one measure to reduce the number of weekly payments an individual could receive at times of low statewide unemployment.

The package of bills mirrors legislation that passed both chambers last legislative session but ultimately was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers  a sign that the latest proposals could likely be heading for a similar fate.

Republicans unveiled the bills last week after more than 78% of Wisconsin voters approved a nonbinding question on the April 4 ballot asking voters: Shall able-bodied childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits?

State law already requires those receiving unemployment benefits to conduct at least four work-search actions each week in order to receive benefits.

The Assembly Committee on Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities will discuss several of the proposed measures Wednesday.

Among the bills, AB 153 would tie the number of weekly unemployment benefits an individual could receive to the states overall unemployment rate. Currently, an individual can receive up to $370 in weekly state unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. Under the bill, the maximum number of weeks a claimant could receive benefits would be based on the states unemployment rate.

Claimants would receive 26 weeks of benefits if the state unemployment rate was greater than 9%, while the number of weekly benefits would be reduced to as few as 14 weeks if the rate was at 3.5% or lower.

Preliminary data from the state Department of Workforce Development show the states unemployment rate at 2.7% in February.

Other bills include:

AB 147, which would update state statutes for when an individual is discharged from employment for misconduct to also include the destruction of an employers records, theft or unauthorized possession of property, a violation of the employers absenteeism policy or a violation of the employers social media policy. Any individual who is fired for misconduct is not eligible for unemployment benefits.

AB 149 would require employers to inform the state workforce department of any ineligibility questions when notified of a claim for unemployment insurance. The bill would require DWD to consider reports of an individual declining a job offer or failing to attend a scheduled interview when determining a claimants eligibility for benefits.

AB 150 would change references to unemployment insurance in state statutes to reemployment assistance. The bill also would require DWD to enforce federal drug testing requirements for individuals claiming unemployment benefits in certain occupations. An individual who fails a drug test would be ineligible for benefits until certain requalification criteria are satisfied or unless he or she enrolls in a substance abuse treatment program and undergoes a job skills assessment, and a claimant who declines to submit to a test is simply ineligible for benefits until he or she requalifies, according to the bill.

Under the bill, DWD would have to create rules identifying occupations for which drug testing is required.

AB 152 would make various changes to how DWD operates, including implementing identify-proofing measures for benefits recipients, including requiring claimants to provide proof of identity when filing an initial unemployment insurance claim. The bill also would require DWD to expand call center hours if the volume of calls received increases dramatically.

Individuals trying to reach the agency faced considerable delays as a result of a deluge of claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bills targeting Wisconsins unemployment benefits, including one measure to reduce the number of weekly payments an individual could receive at times of low statewide unemployment have been revived by state Republicans.

The package of bills mirror legislation that passed both chambers last legislative session, but ultimately were vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers  a sign that the latest proposals could likely be heading for a similar fate.

Republicans unveiled the bills last week after more than 78% of Wisconsin voters approved a nonbinding question on the April 4 ballot asking voters: Shall able-bodied child-less adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits?

State law already requires those receiving unemployment benefits to conduct at least four work-search actions each week in order to receive benefits.

The Assembly Committee on Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities will discuss several of the proposed measures Wednesday.

Among the bills, AB 153 would tie the number of weekly unemployment benefits an individual could receive to the states overall unemployment rate. Currently, an individual can receive up to $370 in weekly state unemployment benefits for 26 weeks. Under the bill, the maximum number of weeks a claimant could receive benefits would be based on the states unemployment rate.

Claimants would receive 26 weeks of benefits if the state unemployment rate was greater than 9%, while the number of weekly benefits would be reduced to as few as 14 weeks if the rate was at 3.5% or lower.

Preliminary data from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development show the states unemployment rate at 2.7% in February.

Other bills include:

, which would update state statutes for when an individual is discharged from employment for misconduct to also include the destruction of an employers records, theft or unauthorized possession of property, a violation of the employers absenteeism policy or a violation of the employers social media policy. Any individual that is fired for misconduct is not eligible for unemployment benefits.

would require employers to inform the state workforce department of any ineligibility questions when notified of a claim for unemployment insurance. The bill would require DWD to consider reports of an individual declining a job offer or failing to attend a scheduled interview when determining a claimants eligibility for benefits.

would change references to unemployment insurance in state statutes to reemployment assistance. The bill would also require DWD to enforce federal drug testing requirements for individuals claiming unemployment benefits in certain occupations. An individual who fails a drug test would be ineligible for benefits until certain requalification criteria are satisfied or unless he or she enrolls in a substance abuse treatment program and undergoes a job skills assessment, and a claimant who declines to submit to a test is simply ineligible for benefits until he or she requalifies, according to the bill. Under the bill, DWD would have to promulgate rules identifying occupations for which drug testing is required.

would make various changes to how DWD operates, including implementing identify-proofing measures for benefits recipients, including requiring claimants to provide proof of identity when filing an initial unemployment insurance claim. The bill would also require DWD to expand call center hours if the volume of calls received increases dramatically. Individuals trying to reach the agency faced considerable delays as a result of a deluge of claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul on Tuesday joined a multistate coalition of Democratic attorneys general in challenging a Texas district court judges ruling to block access to a commonly used abortion pill.

Kaul, along with 23 Democratic attorneys general, filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit urging the court to stay Texas Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling last week that could restrict access to the abortion medication mifepristone as early as Friday.

The judges ruling, which was appealed Monday by the U.S. Justice Department, comes less than a year after the U.S. Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade dramatically curtailed abortion access in several states, including Wisconsin.

The months following the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade have made it clearer than ever how vital it is for women to have access to the full array of life-saving reproductive health care services  without interference from politicians, Kaul said in a statement. Mifepristone has been used safely for years, and the misguided district court order that would prevent the use of mifepristone must be blocked.

Kacsmaryk on April 7 ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stay its 23-year-old approval of mifepristone, following a lawsuit brought by anti-abortion groups.

Kaul was joined in the brief by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia.
A new report concludes that the University of Minnesota should hire more Native American faculty, offer students more financial support and give back land to atone for its historic mistreatment of the states tribes. Totaling more than 500 pages, the report released Tuesday is the result of a collaborative effort between the council and the university called the TRUTH Project, which stands for Towards Recognition and University-Tribal Healing. The effort has received funding from the Mellon Foundation. Minnesota Public Radio reports that the university thanked researchers in a statement for their truth-telling, saying that it will benefit us all going forward.
FOX POINT, Wis. (AP)  Cardinal Stritch University, a Catholic liberal arts college, is closing, a year after celebrating its 85th anniversary.

I wish there was a different path we could pursue," President Dan Scholz said in a video Monday. "However, the fiscal realities, downward enrollment trends, the pandemic, the need for more resources and the mounting operational and facility challenges presented a no-win situation.

The university was known as St. Clare College when it was started in Milwaukee in 1937 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. It was renamed for Cardinal Samuel Stritch in 1946 and later relocated to northern Milwaukee County.

University trustees recommended closure to the Sisters, and they accepted it, Scholz said.

Enrollment had dropped to 1,400 in 2021 compared to 2,400 in 2018, according to federal data cited by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. There are more than 40,000 alumni.

We are all devastated by this development, but after examining all options this decision was necessary," Scholz said.

He said all programs would end by May 22. The last graduation ceremony will be held on May 21.
Judge Janet Protasiewicz recently secured a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She won in a landslide against a conservative opponent, in part because she implied how she would rule on hot-button issues -- namely abortion and gerrymandering. She is joining a very partisan court, filled with justices who almost always rule in favor of the political party that supports them.
Former Outcome Health CEO Rishi Shah arrives for the verdict in the criminal fraud trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on April 11, 2023. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Five years after the once highflying Chicago tech company Outcome Health began to unravel, a jury has found all three of its former leaders guilty of multiple counts of fraud, while acquitting them of several other counts.

The jury deliberated for about two days before reaching its verdict Tuesday morning. The verdict followed a 10-week-long trial.

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Jury members found Outcome co-founder and former CEO Rishi Shah guilty on 19 of 22 counts. They found co-founder and former President Shradha Agarwal guilty on 15 of 17 counts.

The jury found Brad Purdy, the companys former chief operating officer and chief financial officer, guilty on 13 of 15 counts.

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Some of the counts carry sentences of up to 30 years in prison. Any prison time will be decided during sentencing, but that hearing date has not yet been set.

The verdict represented a stunning fall for the three who were once young stars of Chicagos tech scene. And it may have implications for others in the tech community, with parts of the case focusing on the line between startups typical growing pains and fraud.

A spokesperson for Shah, now 37, said that he hopes to appeal.

Todays verdict deeply saddens Mr. Shah, and he will exhaust every avenue to overturn this result, the spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.

Theodore Poulos, an attorney for Purdy, 33, said in a statement Tuesday: We are profoundly disappointed with the jurys verdict in this complex and nuanced case, particularly given the plethora of evidence adduced at trial, which showed that certain critical information was intentionally withheld from Brad Purdy.

Regretfully, throughout his tenure at Outcome Health, he trusted and believed in his colleagues and failed to ask the questions that a more seasoned executive might have asked, Poulos said. Brad is an extremely honorable and intelligent young man and I have no doubt that he will be a very valuable member of the business world in the future, having learned very hard and costly lessons about that world in this case.

Lawyers for Agarwal, 37, declined to comment Tuesday.

Former Outcome Health President Shradha Agarwal, center left, leaves following the guilty verdict in the criminal fraud trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, on April 11, 2023. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Outcome sold advertising to pharmaceutical companies, with the ads running on TVs and tablets that Outcome installed in doctors offices and waiting rooms. During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Shah, Agarwal and Purdy lied about how many doctors offices had screens and tablets running their content. Prosecutors said they then used those false numbers to overcharge drug companies for advertising, and inflated revenue figures used to get loans and raise money from investors.

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Over the years, Outcome was able to raise nearly $1 billion from lenders and high-profile investors, including a fund co-founded by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and units of Goldman Sachs and Google.

In 2011, Outcome had only 16 employees, but by 2017, the company had grown to more than 500 employees and had a reported valuation of more than $5 billion.

That breakneck growth earned Outcomes founders Shah and Agarwal respect and riches. Shah, who owned 80% of Outcome, was named to the Forbes 400 ranking of richest Americans in 2017, with a net worth of $3.6 billion at the age of 31. Agarwal owned 20% of the company.

Their success, however, began to crumble when a former Outcome analyst contacted the Wall Street Journal, which then ran a 2017 article revealing the alleged problems at Outcome. The company lost business, investors sued and Shah and Agarwal stepped down. In 2019, Outcome, as a company, agreed to pay $70 million to pharmaceutical companies to resolve a federal fraud investigation. The criminal fraud trial that just concluded focused on Outcomes three top executives as individuals.

Throughout the case, defense attorneys placed the blame entirely on a fourth former Outcome employee, Ashik Desai. Desai had already pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud before the trial, and he testified that he falsified screen shots and return-on-investment reports without his bosses knowledge. As part of an agreement with the government, Desai could get a reduced prison sentence for his testimony.

Defense attorneys argued that the defendants trusted Desai, and he repeatedly reassured them that everything was aboveboard whenever questions arose. They argued that Desai was a master con man, who lied to his bosses to further his own career and feed his ego.

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He just lies and lies and lies, Poulos said of Desai during the trial. That is his essence.

Government prosecutors tried to poke holes in the theory that Desai acted without his bosses knowledge by showing communications between the defendants, and, in some cases, Desai, in an attempt to demonstrate that they were aware of underdeliveries to clients and wanted to fire workers who raised concerns.

Prosecutor Matthew Madden ridiculed the idea that Desai, who joined the company when he was 20 years old, was a criminal mastermind capable of completely deceiving his bosses.

The defendants were the CEO, the president and COO/CFO, the top three executives at the company, Madden told jurors during the trial. They ran that business day-in and day-out for years, yet the lawyers have portrayed them as if they were truly clueless about the business they created and ran. ... It is laughable for them to suggest that Ashik outsmarted them.

It was a complex case that featured about 1,500 exhibits, many in the forms of emails, documents, texts and voice messages.

A number of the fraud counts on which the three were convicted were related to checks Outcome accepted for drug companies advertisements despite not playing the drug companies ads on enough screens. Others were related to money Outcome accepted from banks and investors after providing them with false and misleading information, according to prosecutors.

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Shah and Agarwal were also convicted on a handful of counts having to do with an episode in which a newly hired executive left the company after only three weeks in 2017, after becoming concerned with Outcomes business practices. When the executive started raising concerns, Shah and Agarwal exchanged communications about whether to fire him and other employees who had tipped him off. Defense attorneys had argued that Shah and Agarwal were concerned that the executive didnt fit the companys culture, and had been reassured by Desai that nothing was amiss.

The jury also found Shah guilty of two money laundering counts related to $450,000 that prosecutors said he spent to lease a Chicago home, and $65,000 he spent to hire a private jet for a weekend trip. Prosecutors said those dollars were proceeds of the bank fraud.

Throughout the case, prosecutors argued that Outcome leaders believed it was acceptable for startups to fudge numbers and clean up later.

Its an issue that has gained national attention in recent years after the fraud conviction of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, and legal actions surrounding the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX and its founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

Prosecutors highlighted a 2017 voice message from Shah to Purdy, regarding problems with affidavits, return-on-investment reports and forecasting at Outcome.

If you talk to people who were at Google or Facebook from, you know a hundred million to a billion (dollars), they will tell you these are normal things, Shah said. Google data was false and totally crazy in foreign markets in the early years.

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Desai also said during his testimony that Shah had told him it was normal for startups to have messy kitchens.

The verdict Tuesday is a reminder that startups must follow the law, said Ira Weiss, a clinical professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, who was not involved in the trial.

There are limits to fake it til you make it,  Weiss said in an email after the verdict. Outcome Health had clearly gotten to the point where they had made it, and once you get to that point, you must stop faking it.

Shahs attorney, John Hueston, argued during the trial that Outcome was making it until Desai arrived and began faking it, while prosecutors alleged that Outcome had long been engaging in fraud.

Even when they wanted to turn the corner and embark on making it, they knew that the truth about their fraud-filled growth could not see the light of day, not if they wanted to get $1 billion from their lenders and investors, prosecutor William Johnston said during the trial.

Though they were criminally convicted Tuesday, Shah, Agarwal and Purdy still face charges from a civil lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over the fraud allegations. Two other former Outcome employees, Kathryn Choi, a former senior analyst, and Oliver Han, a former analyst, also previously both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and have not yet been sentenced.

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lschencker@chicagotribune.com
Moscow Economic Forum: How Russia Can Create a China Economic Miracle

April 10, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Sergey Glazyev, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Minister for the Integration and Macroeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Commission, addressed a panel discussion on April 4 at the April 4-5 Moscow Economic Forum, entitled, China. Modernization Experience for Russia. He addressed the questions as to whether the process of modernization in China become a winning experience for Russia and where is the key to economic growth.

In brief, Glazyev posed that the Chinese economic success means that it is possible, even if not easy, to manage economies in todays world. China calls what theyve done, Socialism with Chinese Specifics, but it doesnt matter whether the term socialism is used or not. At its core, what they did is that they gave priority to public interests, not just private interests.

Indeed, markets help entrepreneurship, but China used regulation to make the market work for the country. Those who are seeking super-profits got repressed. Strategic priorities are set by government, and the private sector looks to those priorities. Theres intense competition in that sector, and it leads to those who best match the stated priorities being the winners. At this point, Glazyev added, in passing, that India shares some of this approach. He named Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru as being at the core of Indias healthy social values.

What happened to Russia? The shock therapy of the 1990s put Russia behind China.

Russia has implemented all the regulations that were recommended by the Washington financial institutions and the European Economic Commission. Here is the result: China grew five times in terms of GDP, and we grew together with the core of the outgoing world economic structure, at the same pace as the United States and the European Union. We have slid down from the center of the world economy to the raw material periphery.

However, now were entering a new phase, not the American model. Chinas investment policy works. But the question is: Where did China get its loan base from? Monetization is twice as high in China than Europe and the U.S., but somehow they avoid all the bubbles of the West.

Glazyev displayed several charts on how investments work through the physical economy, and made the point that China created a sophisticated managerial system to address this reality. There, monies are not being emitted just to finance a budget, which ties countries up in speculative bubbles. Rather, in China, it is funneled into production growth.

The problem is that the Central Bank of Russia has been emitting rubles to purchase foreign currencies. He linked that act to the erratic behavior of the exchange. By primarily servicing foreign currencies, it imports speculation. But the Chinese approach is possible. Chinas scheme of organizing the financial supply is a good model. Imprudently printing money as in America will merely leave things in the air, unsound, unsupported and unhealthy. We need target-specific loans.

He ended his introductory presentation by holding up his new book, Chinese Economic Miracle. Lessons for Russia and the World (in Russian).

The video of his remarks is dubbed in English; to the left of the first screen, slide the program down to Session No. 2 and click on China. Experience of Modernization for Russia. Glazyevs remarks begin about minute 6.07; In the Program section, there is a writeup of Glazyevs speech (in Russian) with extensive quotes.
Do you need another booster shot? Experts tell the site there may be developments throughout the summer and a new updated booster may be available in the fall. The CDC recommends talking to your healthcare provider about any future vaccine doses. Veuer's Elizabeth Keatinge has more.
LINCOLN  Nebraska Public Transit Week is a celebration and promotion of public transit across Nebraska organized by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) and the Nebraska Association of Transportation Providers (NATP) in cooperation with Nebraskas public transit providers.

Nebraska public transit had over 4 million passenger boardings traveling nearly 10 million miles in 2022 to get Nebraskans where they needed to go. In Nebraska, 5.1% of households do not have access to a vehicle. Public transit options, in both rural and urban communities, are vital to these Nebraskans, as well as those who cannot drive a personal vehicle. Public transit provides Nebraskans a connection to medical care, education, jobs and freedom of mobility in their day-to-day lives.

Nebraska Public Transit Week celebrates urban and rural transit. While urban providers have the largest ridership, they account for only seven of the 60 public transit providers in Nebraska. The 53 rural transit agencies accounted for nearly 43% of all public transit miles traveled. Most rural transit providers offer demand response service, where rides are booked ahead of time and bring passengers to a specific destination, like rideshare programs. In addition to the 60 public transit providers in Nebraska, six agencies operate regularly scheduled intercity routes across the state.

For more information about local providers, visit the Nebraska Public Transit website at nebraskatransit.com. The website includes an interactive map for finding public transit providers, details on events during Nebraska Public Transit Week and information for riders.

During Nebraska Public Transit Week, transit agencies are encouraged to celebrate with their local communities. Nebraskans can join in the events and activities in their area or visit nebraskatransit.com/2023-nptw to download a coloring page, BINGO, crossword puzzle, word find and vote for your favorite agency photo to win a prize.

About the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT)

NDOT provides the best possible statewide transportation system for the movement of people and goods.

About the Nebraska Association of Transportation Providers (NATP)

NATP was formed to promote effective, efficient public transportation throughout Nebraska. NATP supports acceptable public transportation that is accessible to all, particularly older adults, people with disabilities and anyone who would otherwise be without affordable transportation.

For media inquiries and additional information about Nebraska Public Transit Week contact Nebraska Department of Transportation at 402-479-4694 or kari.ruse@nebraska.gov.
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President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday laid the blame on his predecessor, President Donald Trump, for the deadly and chaotic 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan that brought about some of the darkest moments of Biden's presidency.

The White House released a 12-page summary of the results of the U.S. policies around the ending of the nation's longest war, asserting that Biden was "severely constrained" by Trump's decisions.

It does acknowledge that the evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan should have started sooner, but blames the delays on the Afghan government and military, and on U.S. military and intelligence assessments.

SEVERE WEATHER: A tornado ripped through southeastern Missouri before dawn on Wednesday, killing five people and causing widespread destruction as the third in a series of deadly massive storms over the past two weeks struck the nation's heartland. The storms have spawned dozens of tornadoes that have killed at least 63 people.

TRANSGENDER LAWS: In the past week, Republican governors in Indiana and Idaho signed into law bills banning gender-affirming care for minors. More than a dozen other states are considering bills that would prohibit transgender youth from accessing care, even after the approval of parents and the advice of doctors.

MASS SHOOTING: The Justice Department announced Wednesday a tentative $144 million settlement with families and victims of a 2017 mass shooting at a Texas church that was carried out by Devin Patrick Kelley, a former U.S. airman who was able to buy guns despite a criminal history.
LOUISVILLE | 5 KILLED AT BANK

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  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 fi red 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 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.

"That's 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 Deanna 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.

'Irreplaceable'

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 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 the neighborhood where the suspect lived, about 5 miles 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 didn't recall ever meeting the suspect but said it's an unnerving feeling to have lived on the same street as someone who could do such a thing.

"I'm almost speechless. You see it on the news but not at home," Cooper said. "It's 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 fi re 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.

Quick response

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.
Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has been rebuffed in her attempt to stay out of federal prison while she appeals her conviction for the fraud she committed while overseeing a blood-testing scam that exposed Silicon Valleys dark side.

In an 11-page ruling issued late Monday, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila concluded there wasnt compelling enough evidence to allow Holmes to remain free on bail while her lawyers try to persuade an appeals court that alleged misconduct during her four-month trial led to an unjust verdict.

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The judges decision means Holmes, 39, will have to surrender to authorities April 27 to start the more than 11-year prison sentence that Davila imposed in November. The punishment came 10 months after a jury found her guilty on four counts of fraud and conspiracy against the Thearanos investors who believed in her promises to revolutionize the health care industry.

Holmes had accompanied her lawyers to a San Jose, California, courtroom on March 17 to try to convince Davila that various missteps by federal prosecutors, and the omission of key evidence, will culminate in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals exonerating her.

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Holmes prison sentence is scheduled to start roughly 20 years after she dropped out of Stanford University when she was 19 years old to start Theranos in Palo Alto, California  the same city where William Hewlett and David Packard founded a company bearing their surnames in a small garage and planted the seeds of what grew into Silicon Valley.

Holmes could still file another appeal of Davilas latest ruling, a maneuver her co-conspirator at Theranos  Ramesh Sunny Balwani  successfully used to delay his scheduled March 16 date to begin a nearly 13-year prison sentence. But the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last week rejected that appeal, and Balwani is now scheduled to report to a Southern California prison on April 20.

Davila has recommended Holmes serve her sentence in a Bryan, Texas, prison. It hasnt yet been publicly confirmed if that will be the facility where she reports.

Unless she can find a way to stay free, Holmes will be separated from the two children she had leading up to the trial and after her conviction.

Her first child, a boy, was born shortly before her trial began in September 2021. The youngest child, whose gender hasnt been disclosed in court documents, was born at some point after her November sentencing. She conceived both with her current partner, William Billy Evans, whom she met after breaking up with Balwani in the midst of Theranos downfall.

The denial of Holmes request to remain free is the latest twist in a long-running saga that has already been the subject of an acclaimed HBO documentary and an award-winning Hulu TV series.

Although they had separate trials, Holmes and Balwani were accused of essentially the same crimes centered on a ruse touting Theranos blood-testing system as a breakthrough in health care. The claims helped the company become a Silicon Valley sensation that raised nearly $1 billion from investors and at one point anointed Holmes with a $4.5 billion fortune, based on her 50% stake in Theranos.

Holmes also parlayed the buzz surrounding Theranos to speaking engagements on the same stage as former President Bill Clinton and glowing cover stories in business publications that likened her to tech visionaries such as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

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But Theranos technology never came close to working like Holmes and Balwani boasted, resulting in the companys scandalous collapse and a criminal case that shined a bright light on Silicon Valley greed and hubris.
While everyone was focused on this past week's elections and their aftermath, interesting information about Medicaid, the nation's health care program for the poor, went largely unnoticed.

The New York Times ran a detailed report on how Mississippi's refusal to expand Medicaid in the state is driving its already financially shaky rural hospitals out of business.

One rural 208-bed hospital that serves the state's impoverished Delta region, is down to just 13 inpatients. Its intensive care unit and maternity care unit and maternity ward have been closed due to lack of staffing.

All signs, the story said, of a hospital ravaged by too many poor patients who have no health coverage.

The hospital's CEO, resignedly said it had lost $17 million last year alone and is nearly out of its cash reserves, adding, "we're going away, it's happening."

Rural hospitals are struggling all over the nation because of population declines, soaring labor costs and a long-term shift toward outpatient care, the story said. But those problems have been magnified by a political choice in Mississippi and nine other states, all with Republican-controlled legislatures, who have stubbornly refused to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, which became law more than a dozen years ago.

Guess who is one of those states? None other than our own.

While Wisconsin's Badger Care (our name for Medicaid) is somewhat more inclusive than the other GOP-controlled states, tens of thousands of Wisconsin citizens are still left without health coverage and would otherwise be covered if the state Legislature would act.

By spurning expansion, Wisconsin has left already struggling rural hospitals to shoulder the added costs because they cannot legally turn away patients, insured or not.

According to the Times' story, states that opted against Medicaid expansion, or had just recently adopted it (Republican North Carolina took the step two weeks ago) accounted for nearly three-fourths of rural hospital closures between 2010 and 2021, according to the American Hospital Association.

Fortunately, only one rural Wisconsin hospital has been forced to close during those years, but many claim to be hanging by a thread and have had to shut down some services, forcing residents to travel long distances to get care.

Meanwhile, Times' columnist Paul Krugman reported earlier this week that there's a significant difference between the life expectancy in states that have accepted the Affordable Care Act's expanded Medicaid and the few remaining states that haven't.

Ironically, it has been the poorest states that have refused to take the federal funds and have suff ered the biggest drop in life expectancy. Mississippi is the worst. Wisconsin is about in the middle of the 50 states at 77.7 years, but has seen its life expectancy drop 1.6 years between 2019 and 2020.

People who live in our neighbor to the west, Minnesota, which was one of the fi rst to accept Medicaid expansion, can expect to live nearly two years longer.

That makes sense because it's the uninsured poor who put off seeing a doctor while those with coverage are more likely to seek treatment.

Wisconsin legislative Republicans followed then Gov. Scott Walker's lead to spurn the expansion because they believed it would signal support for so-called Obamacare, which they opposed.

Meanwhile the state has lost out on $1.6 billion every two years in federal funds that could go to increase fees to rural hospitals, solving two problems on one fell swoop.

Gov. Tony Evers is trying again in his budget proposal. The question is, will Wisconsin join the 40 other states or stay in bed with Mississippi?

Zweifel is editor emeritus of The Capital Times.
A meeting in which the Madison School Board was to discuss its open records policy was effectively held behind closed doors Monday after a problem with its livestream kept the public from being able to see it.

The meeting was scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday and was legally noticed as a virtual meeting, with only school board members attending in person. But when officials couldnt get the publics livestream for the meeting to start, they decided to proceed with the meeting anyway and post a recording of it later.

Although the meeting was open to the public, due to technical difficulties, we were unable to livestream to YouTube as we have. We are working to post video recordings of the meetings as soon as possible, district spokesperson Tim LeMonds said. He said the problem was on YouTubes end, adding the district has never had the problem before.

Once the meeting began, School Board member Nicki Vander Meulen said she didnt know if it was appropriate to continue without the livestream. She told the Wisconsin State Journal that school district attorney Sherry Terrell-Webb advised the board that as long as the door to the meeting room was open, it was OK  but not ideal  to still hold the meeting.

State law requires that all meetings of all state and local governmental bodies shall be publicly held in places reasonably accessible to members of the public and shall be open to all citizens at all times unless otherwise expressly provided by law. There are some exceptions for closed-session meetings.

Governmental bodies, including school boards, are also legally required to let the public know ahead of time that a meeting is taking place, who will be involved, what will be discussed, where and when the meeting will take place, and if held virtually, how someone can log on to view the meeting.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin Attorney Generals Office said virtual meetings complied with state law, and encouraged virtual options to continue throughout the pandemic to improve accessibility, but said meetings conducted remotely must be reasonably accessible to the public.

The School Board has regularly held virtual meetings since the start of the pandemic, and they are all streamed live on the boards YouTube page. Usually, a mix of board members attends in person and virtually.

The legal notice for this weeks School Board meetings was posted Friday. It states that meetings will be livestreamed via YouTube.

The notice states that Monday nights work group meeting is a virtual meeting via Zoom, and in person for (school board) members only at the Doyle Administration Building.

Its fine if they allow the public to attend remotely, but its not okay that they require the public to attend remotely, if thats indeed what theyre doing, said Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council.

Were at a point in the pandemic where I think people have come to a reasonable expectation that public meetings will be held physically in a place that they can go to, not just online, Lueders said.

Attempt to post

School officials tried to fix Mondays livestream for about a half-hour before deciding to record the meeting and post it later to the School Boards YouTube page, despite questions about whether they could legally proceed. The meeting officially started at 5:27 p.m.

About an hour into the meeting, LeMonds drove to the Doyle building and interrupted to ask the board to pause, post what was already recorded, and discuss the legal question.

LeMonds later said the plan was to post a recording of the first half online and then post a recording of the second half immediately after the meeting was finished. In the meantime, the board continued with the meeting. Neither video had been uploaded by 9 p.m.

The board was also scheduled to hold a virtual meeting afterward, that one in closed session to discuss collective bargaining, which LeMonds said was still going to happen. Though noticed for closed session, governmental bodies are legally required to begin meetings in open session. That part would be livestreamed.

The topic of the night was to be the districts open records policy, amid growing criticisms about transparency.

In the past 19 months, the district has been sued at least six times over public records. The latest lawsuit was filed by LeMonds himself, trying to prevent a complaint his staff filed against him from becoming public through an open records request. Other lawsuits argued that the district is dragging its feet on fulfilling records requests or not releasing records that should be public.

In December, the School Board also suddenly ended a meeting after only 15 minutes because of an issue with the way the meeting was noticed.

Meet Madison's top spellers of 2023 Molly Abel Akins, Simon Vincent Bautista Isabel Branchesi Carter Buchanon Noah Cavanaugh Jo Conti Seralyn Cure Anja DeWald Hugh Downey Grace Haun Silvia Hayden Kelsey Henderson Sophia Holden Jay Jadhav Emmanuel Johnson Vivian Kaufman Cameron Khuy Ava Kramer Henrik Kroning-Knutson Noah Maldonado Risako (Risa) Miura Arnav Nandanwar Ruby Niosi Amy Noh Lars Olson Edward Riek Emma Ruiz Pratham Sanghavi Freya Sherer Nora Smarrella Katelyn Starkenburg Benjamin Tekin Ava Thompson Elicia Traverse Peter Vanduyne Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya Lily Wu
Cycropia Aerial Dance, which has been performing in a giant bur oak tree at Orton Park on the Near East Side for about 28 years, won't be dancing from it this year because the tree is showing its age.

The performances at the Orton Park Festival each summer are the troupe's largest, attended by thousands of people over two nights.

"It's the performance that we all want to do every year," said dancer Nataraj Hauser. "It feeds our soul in a way that a different kind of event might not."

Hauser said Cycropia will still perform at the festival this year but is looking to buy a portable rig it can set up next to the tree, which will remain a theme in the show.

He said they won't even hang lights in the tree. "We're done with that."

Madison Parks Operations Manager Greg Genin said the tree, which sits in the southwest corner of the park, isn't diseased or in danger of being taken down but is being monitored as it nears the end of its life.

He said the Parks Division recently did some pruning of the tree and plans to aerate the soil around it in an attempt to extend its life and keep it healthy and safe.

"But all living things do have a time that they pass," Genin said.

Ann Freiwald, parks planning and development manager, said the land was platted in 1839, so if the tree was there then, it would be at least 184 years old.

"We hope the exact age is less important than the natural beauty of the tree, and the tree can be enjoyed as long as it lives," Genin said.

It's sad when a beautiful tree has to come down, he said, "but we also have to protect the safety of those participating in park activities."

Bur oaks are tolerant of a variety of moisture and soil conditions and adapt well to urban settings, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. They can live for 200 to 300 years.

Andy Ayres, a Parks arborist, said he recently removed a major dead limb from the tree that was about 14 to 16 inches thick. "We're going to keep an eye on it," he said. "We're going to try to do things to improve it."

Two large limbs fell from the tree in a storm within the last year or two, Genin said.

As a smaller park that sees a lot of activity, the soil at Orton is quite compressed, which can affect a tree's health, particularly an older tree like this one, Genin said.

He said the whole park is monitored as a historical site, and the Parks Division is aware of what's going on there. "It's not taken lightly when we have to do work, especially removal of trees in that park."

In 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state, the square block Orton Park sits on became the burgeoning capital city's official cemetery. In 1857, the land that is now Forest Hill Cemetery was purchased for that purpose and 20 years later the buried remains at Orton were removed and reinterred at Forest Hill, according to city records.

In 1883, the site was declared a city park, Madison's first. It was named after Harlow S. Orton, one of Madison's former mayors, then a Supreme Court justice. Orton Park became a Madison landmark in 1975, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Orton Park Festival will mark its 58th year August 25-27, and Hauser said Cycropia will be the weekend's headlining act Friday and Saturday. He said last year the troupe saw audiences of 2,200 to 2,500 on each of its two nights. The tree has become so identified with the troupe that some have taken to calling it "the Cycropia tree," Hauser said.

'That's not good'

In prior years, Cycropia would come the weekend before the show for a quick dress rehearsal. This year, the troupe will set up a large, portable rig on the grass next to their studio, 5048 Tradewinds Parkway, near Toby's Supper Club on Madison's Southeast Side, and won't need to be in the park before the show.

Hauser said the rig will cost about $11,000, and the nonprofit arts group plans to start a fundraiser with a donation button on its website, cycropia.org.

Michael Minardi, an arborist in the city's forestry department, who's been doing Cycropia's rigging on a volunteer basis for about six years, inspected the tree last June and again the first week of August, and gave it a clean bill of health on both visits, Hauser said.

Then, the Sunday before last year's show, as they've done for years, the group ran its guy-wires, also called guy-ropes, from the limbs they were using, back up around the core of the tree and down to another sturdy branch to minimize the strain on any given limb.

That's when one of the dancers "spotted the tree leaking, for lack of a better word, and pointed it out, and we all said, 'Ooh, that doesn't look good,' " Hauser said.

They called Minardi back to take a look and he agreed: "That's not good," Hauser said.

Minardi said the tree has been looking progressively worse over the past four years. The leaking Hauser referred to was bacterial wetwood or slime flux that points to internal damage, Minardi said, adding that the sap pools in defects in the tree and basically ferments.

The tree has also lost multiple limbs over the last few years, he said, and its canopy cover has diminished by about 50%.

"It used to be you couldn't read a book effectively underneath it because it was too shaded," Minardi said. "And now it's just very dappled sunlight. It looks like a tree in the fall."

Victim of own success?

Part of the blame lies in the added traffic the festival brings to the park, which leads to soil compaction that is extremely detrimental to oak trees in particular.

"It's very hard for them to come back from it," Minardi said. "So when you have this large park of mature trees and then you have people dancing and trampling all over the soft ground it's not a good combination."

Madison Parks Superintendent Eric Knepp said he doesn't think the festival does irreparable harm to the park or causes significant environmental degradation.

Knepp said this concern has been raised before and it's true across the park system. There are many parks where crowds or just day-to-day use put pressure on the environment.

"But I think we manage it fairly well there," he said. "No matter what we (do), including keeping every human out of Orton Park, there's no way that the trees will last forever, even without human enjoyment."

On balance, he said, the festival is a good use of the park and lasts only a few days. The unfortunate reality is that Orton and many other parks have 100- to 200-year-old trees that are by definition closer to the end than to the beginning.

Meanwhile, Minardi said he suggested to Cycropia members that if the tree continues its decline, the troupe should "disassociate themselves with the death of the tree."

Cycropia is made up of good people performing an interesting act and is an asset to the city, he said. "I'd hate to see the neighborhood turn against them feeling like they harm the tree somehow."

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described how Cycropia plans to acquire a portable rig to use in its performances instead of the tree. The dance troupe plans to purchase the rig.

Take a look at 'Immersive Van Gogh'
ISRAEL UNREST

JERUSALEM  The Israeli military said three more rockets were launched from Syria toward Israel early Sunday, raising to six the number of missiles fired within hours in a rare attack from Israel's northeastern neighbor.

Israel's army said it was retaliating with artillery strikes on the area in Syria from where the rockets were fired at Israel.

The rocket fire from Syria comes against the backdrop of soaring Israeli-Palestinian tensions touched off by an Israeli police raid on Jerusalem's most sensitive site, the sacred compound home to the Al-Aqsa mosque. That outraged Palestinians marking the holy fasting month of Ramadan and prompted militants in Lebanon  as well as Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip  to fire rockets into Israel.

In retaliation, Israeli warplanes struck sites allegedly linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

In the second barrage from Syria, two of the rockets crossed the border into Israel, with one being intercepted and the second landing in an open area, the military said. In the first attack Saturday, one rocket landed in a field in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Fragments of another destroyed missile fell into Jordanian territory near the Syrian border, Jordan's military reported.

There were no reports of casualties.

A Damascus-based Palestinian group loyal to the Syrian regime claimed responsibility for launching the three missiles Saturday on Israel, Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV reported.

The report quoted Al-Quds Brigade, a militia different than the larger Palestinian Islamic Jihad's armed wing with a similar name,< as saying it fired the rockets to retaliate for the police raid on AlAqsa Mosque.

In Syria, an adviser to President Bashar Assad described the rocket strikes as "part of the previous, present and continuing response to the brutal enemy."

In the occupied West Bank on Saturday, Israeli security forces fatally shot a 20-year-old Palestinian in the town of Azzun, Palestinian health officials said, stirring protests in the area. The Israeli military said troops fired at Palestinians hurling stones and explosive devices. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the Palestinian killed as Ayed Salim.

Over 90 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire so far this year, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups, according to an Associated Press tally. Palestinian attacks on Israelis killed 19 people in that time  including on Friday two British-Israelis shot to death near a settlement in the Jordan Valley and an Italian tourist killed by a suspected car-ramming in Tel< Aviv. All but one were civilians. The latest escalations prompted

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to extend a closure barring entrance to Israel for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip until the Jewish holiday of Passover ends Wednesday night. Over 2,000 police were expected to be deployed in Jerusalem on Sunday. Jerusalem police Chief Doron Turgeman met with his commanders Saturday for a security assessment.

In the northern West Bank city of Nablus late Saturday, a leader of the independent armed group the Lion's Den claimed the group executed an alleged Israeli collaborator who tipped off the Israeli military to locations and movements of the group's members. Israeli security forces targeted and killed several of the group's members in recent months.

Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis gathered Saturday for a weekly demonstration against the government's contentious judicial overhaul plans.
SEVERE WEATHER

During this time of year when volatile weather can often occur, here are seven important things to know about tornadoes.

1 A tornado watch is less severe than a warning

The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when conditions could lead to the development of tornadoes. A tornado watch can last several hours and will be issued in advance of the actual formation of a tornado. During this time, residents of the area should be prepared to seek shelter if conditions worsen.

A tornado warning takes place when a tornado has formed and been detected by radar or sighted by spotters. In this event, people in the designated area should seek shelter immediately. A tornado warning can be issued without a watch being issued first. Warnings are normally issued for about 30 minutes, according to the National Weather Service.

During a tornado warning, residents will be alerted by a siren sounding a single tone.

2 When to expect a tornado

Spring is the peak season for tor nadoes, and April, May and June are the most common months, but they can happen any time there are thunderstorms with strong winds.

Although tornadoes can form at any time of day, most tornadoes take place between 4 and 9 p.m.

3 How clouds c from thunderstorms to tornadoes

Tornadoes come from supercell thun derstorms, and a tornado's power depends on the power of the storm. They often develop from severe thunder-

storms in warm, unstable air ahead of cold fronts. When warm and cool air combine in a storm, warm air rises and cool air falls. This vertical movement creates spin, which leads to the tornado's funnel-like cloud.

But tornadoes can strike any place at any time, explained Jeffrey Frame, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois. Tornado formation is a result of geographic conditions  large bodies of water that provide a source of moisture, like the Gulf of Mexico, can start the process.

4 How severity is measured

The National Weather Service rates tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita scale from an EF-0 to an EF-5. The scale assigns each tornado a rating based on wind speed and related damage. The EF-0 storms have a top 3-second gust speed of 65 to 85 mph, while EF-5 storms reach over 200 mph.

5 When to take shelter

During a tornado warning, experts recommend immediately going to a shelter's lowest level  a basement, closet or center hallway. Windows should be avoided.

If you are in a vehicle during a tornado, the National Weather Service recommends that the best course of action is to drive to the nearest place of shelter.

Skyscrapers aren't immune to tornadoes, either. If you're in a tall building during a severe weather event, it is essential to move to the ground level in a place with no windows.

"Plan ahead," said Robert Trapp, professor of atmospheric sciences at University of Illinois, "If you know that your area is at heightened risk, maybe rethink your plans to go to the movies."

6 How to prepare

Tornado experts recommend making an emergency preparedness kit for your home. The following items are applicable to all human-made or natural disasters:

 Non perishable food and water for several days

 First aid kit, prescription medication, hygiene products 

Flashlight with extra batteries 

Battery-powered or hand crank radio to receive weather information  Phone and phone chargers 

Cash 

Change of clothing

 Sleeping bag or blankets

 Important documents including identification, insurance, etc.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency also recommends preparing a communication plan in case of a major weather event. The National Weather Service advises organizations to hold routine tornado drills and practice emergency procedures regularly.

7 How to prepare your pets

Pets should be placed in crates or kennels and brought with you to your designated tornado-safe area, according to the American Humane Society. If you are able to evacuate, the organization recommends you take your pets with you.

Before the storm, make your tornado shelter safe for pets by removing dangerous items. Also put together a pet emergency preparedness kit in advance of severe weather.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  One of the two Black Democrats who were expelled last week from the GOP-led Tennessee House was reinstated Monday after Nashville's 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 people's house. "Power to the people," he shouted, to cheers. 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 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.
BARRON  Hundreds of people lined the streets of this northwestern Wisconsin community late Monday to pay their respects as the flag-draped caskets of two police officers killed in a shootout with a motorist Saturday were returned home.

Emily Breidenbach and Hunter Scheel were killed in the shooting, which followed a traffic stop in Cameron. Their bodies were taken to Minnesota for autopsies as part of the investigation.

A procession of law enforcement vehicles carried both officers from the medical examiners office in Ramsey County to their respective funeral homes. Officers stood, and will stand, vigil by each officer's side until the services are complete.

We are carrying our dead. We are mourning, said Marianna Fuentes. "We are holding each other up by the skin of our teeth."

Breidenbach and Scheel were conducting a traffic stop around 3:38 p.m. Saturday when there was an exchange of gunfire, the Wisconsin Department of Justice reported.

Both officers were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect, 50-year-old Glenn Perry, later died at an area hospital. Officials have not released details of what led up to or how the shooting began.

Breidenbach, 32, had five years of law enforcement experience, while Scheel, 23, had about one year of service under his belt.

Breidenbach was engaged to be married and was the daughter of former Chetek Police Chief Robert Breidenbach, who was present for the procession Monday. 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.

Scheels girlfriend, Camryn Gosdeck, wrote a tribute to him on Facebook, describing him as a dedicated partner.

"We had so much planned for our future and looked forward to growing old with one another. Because of this, 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," she wrote.

'My heart hurts:' Names of officers killed in shootout during traffic stop Saturday in Cameron released 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.
SEVERE WEATHER

Recent deadly storms unleashed dozens of tornadoes in the United States, mainly in the South and Midwest, killing at least 63 people and damaging or destroying hundreds of homes.

This year's early severe weather, especially in the Midwest, is part of a trend seen over the past few years, according to Bill Bunting, chief of forecast operations at the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.

"We are entering the time of the year where the potential for severe weather increases and much more of the U.S. becomes at risk," Bunting said.

An average of 1,200 tornadoes hit the country every year, and the United States will probably get more killer supercells spawning tornadoes and hail as the world warms, according to a recent study, which also warns that the lethal storms will edge eastward to strike more frequently in populous Southern states like Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

But tornadoes can happen any time of year and have been reported in all 50 states, according to NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory. Here's what you should do if your home is destroyed or severely damaged in a tornado:

Focus on your safety

The word people most commonly use to describe their mindset after a natural disaster is "overwhelmed," according to United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advocates for insurance consumers.

"Our basic guidance is to first focus on you and your family's safety," said Amy Bach, United Policyholders' executive director.

Next, if possible, she recommends photographing and documenting damaged and destroyed property  without entering severely damaged buildings  and determining whether further damage can be prevented through the use of tarps, fans or other methods.

Finding safe and comfortable temporary shelter and getting a copy of your current insurance policy are important next steps. When you're safe, have an idea of the extent of your home's damage, have shelter, and notify your insurance company.

How's your insurance?

Tornado damage is generally covered under homeowner's and renter's insurance policies. But you'll want to read your insurance policy to know your deductible costs and what is covered, Bach said. If damage is minor to moderate, it might not cost as much to repair as the deductible in your policy.

"We tell people not to rush and to instead take stock and get situated before making any decisions," she said. "Know that you'll get solicited (by contractors), and in the first 48 hours, the shock and the trauma generally means you're not in your best decision-making mode."

For temporary, immediate housing, people often turn to a shelter opened by a local government, the American Red Cross or other organizations.

In addition to providing a place to sleep, water and meals, Red Cross services  all of which are free  can sometimes include child care, information about disaster-related resources in the community, and access to case workers to help you with disaster recovery.

People also may need to access insurance to cover longer-term housing, for rebuilding a home and/or replacing belongings, including vehicles.

Keep receipts for hotel bills, clothing and meals while displaced, and take notes on the calls you make to insurance companies, including the numbers you call, the people spoken to, dates and times, and what was said.

Keep up payments

If your residence is temporarily uninhabitable or destroyed, the Red Cross recommends notifying utility companies and other services so they can stop billing you immediately. Paying insurance premiums and rent or mortgage should be your highest priority, according to the Red Cross.

Call any creditors and ask for more time to pay. Most creditors will be willing to work with you, especially if you notify them before a payment is due, the Red Cross said.

Overall, most people have a very steep learning curve after a tornado or other natural disaster because people think they'll be OK if they have insurance.

"But for many people, that's just one piece of getting back as close to where you were," Bach said. "Losing a home is very much like a death in the family."

The Red Cross also has a section on its website dedicated to recovering emotionally after a disaster.

"Try to accept whatever reactions you may have," the organization advises on the website. "Look for ways to take one step at a time and focus on taking care of your disaster-related needs and those of your family."
TWIN FALLS  The school district announced Twin Falls High School Principal Ryan Nesmith will be taking the role of associate superintendent starting July 1.

Nesmith will fill the role being vacated by Bill Brulotte, who is retiring. The announcement was made at Mondays board meeting.

Nesmith has worked in education for 14 years. He started his career teaching science and Spanish for the Kimberly School District in 2009. Nesmith served as vice principal at Burley High School for the 2013-14 school year before joining the Twin Falls School District. Nesmith became the vice principal at Twin Falls High School in 2014 where he served until the 2020-21 school year.

Starting in October 2020, Nesmith served as interim principal at TFHS after then-principal Dan Vogt died suddenly.

Nesmith received a Bachelors in earth science education in 2009 from BYU-Idaho, a Masters in educational leadership from the University of Idaho in 2012, and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership from the University of Idaho in 2019. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Northwest Nazarene University.

Being educated in the Twin Falls School District as a student, I had the opportunity to grow and learn from remarkable educators who not only had an impact on me academically, but were influential throughout my life, Nesmith said in a statement from TFSD. As part of this endeavor, I look forward to working diligently for the students, staff, and community members of this great school district. I believe that the most significant thing a school district can do is to provide a quality education necessary for students to be successful in life.

The associate superintendent is tasked with a wide variety of duties including monitoring, implementing, and supporting federal programs, overseeing student achievement data, and supporting all other district office administrators.
TWIN FALLS  A woman who apparently had a bag of methamphetamine concealed in a body cavity began to overdose when the package began to rip, police say.

Rosenda Catarina Campos, 36, was among five individuals apprehended by a Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office deputy Saturday morning as they traveled on U.S. Highway 93. All five were charged with various offenses.

Campos and Sonya Trujillo, 27, face charges of drug possession and trying to introduce contraband into the county jail, among other charges.

Court records say the two had bags of meth in their vaginal cavities when they were strip-searched, records say, and Campos refused to take the package out.

When deputies began to apply for a search warrant, Campos began vomiting and looked pale, signs that she was starting to overdose, deputies said.

A doctor she was taken to couldnt find drugs in the body cavity, but deputies said she apparently took the package of drugs out of her body while being transported. A deputy, examining the patrol vehicle she was transported in, found a 9.7 gram bag of meth, some of it spilling out of its package, explaining why Campos was beginning to overdose, police reports say.

Campos was later taken to a hospital and evaluated for an overdose, court records say.

A deputy pulled over the SUV the pair were riding in at about noon Saturday when he noticed the SUV with Illinois license plates northbound on High 93 at milepost 41.

The vehicle exited Highway 93 to U.S. Highway 30 but failed to immediately slow down when the speed limit changed to 45 mph.

After a traffic stop, the driver, Michael McClain, 36, consented to a search of the vehicle, and deputies found drugs and a marijuana grinder. A purse police say belonged to Trujillo contained a half-ounce of fentanyl hidden in a lotion container.

Another passenger in the vehicle, Marlow Raymond Campos, 35, was found to have warrants out for his arrest in Canyon County and was charged with a new count of providing false information to a police officer.

Itsel Quintero, 21, was charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and providing false information to an officer.

McClain, the driver, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and posted a $300 bond, records say.
Authors of the book Made in Chicago David Hammond and Monica Eng at RiceN Bread on April 5, 2023, in Wrigleyville. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune)

A new bestselling book shares the stories behind some of the most beloved Chicago food  and one notorious drink.

Co-authors Monica Eng and David Hammond are journalists whove reported on deliciousness for decades. Their debut book Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites digs even deeper.

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Full disclosure: Eng was a Tribune journalist for 16 years, and we co-host the Chewing podcast together. Hammond has written for the Tribune, and weve known each other for many years from the Chicago food website LTH Forum. I also blurbed their book, which you can find on the back cover of the slim paperback filled with color photos.

Its a users guide for Chicago eaters, said Eng, a reporter for Axios who previously worked for WBEZ. Basically something you can put in your backpack or glove compartment or bike satchel, and ride all over Chicago to find out the best way to enjoy it through vernacular foods and the great stories behind them.

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University of Illinois Press imprint 3 Fields Books published Made in Chicago, released March 21. The book is now ranked No. 1 New Release in Travel/Dining Reference and History of Midwestern U.S. on Amazon.

Its also a historical document and snapshot of what people are eating at street level in Chicago in 2023, said Hammond, dining and drinking editor at Newcity. These foods might not be here in 10 years. They may just pop up and go away, although some, like Italian beef, have been around for a very long time.

Each chapter is dedicated to one item, organized alphabetically, so the book begins with the Akutagawa, which is hamburger meat with chopped onions and green pepper, bean sprouts and scrambled egg, served with a side of rice and gravy, writes Eng of the dish at RiceN Bread in Wrigleyville. She traces the origins to Tom Yamauchi, who created the Japanese American- and Hawaii-inspired plate in the late 1960s for his friend George Akutagawa, a regular at the diner formerly known as Hamburger King.

So how did they decide what to include?

It had to have been something invented here that had enduring cultural power and was served in multiple locations, Eng said.

What was one of their most memorable destinations while researching the book?

David and I both really enjoyed going to Home of the Hoagy, Eng said. Because it really is an experience to go and order the sweet steak sandwich, then stand there while everybody is waiting so patiently for an hour plus.

The Philly cheesesteak-inspired sandwich adds a neon green sweet pepper relish, optional hot sport peppers, and the defining sweet sauce, all on a warm steamed bun. The sweet steak, or steak sweet, has largely remained a delicacy within the Black community on the South Side.

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Monica has noticed from the very start the divide between South and North sides, Hammond said. A lot of the foods we examined never make it north of the Eisenhower Expressway.

What was a food they discovered while researching the book that theyve now grown to love?

Heres a strange one, Eng said. Ive lived in Chicago all my life and I have to admit I never had a pizza puff. And now I crave a pizza puff every now and then.

She first revealed the history of the pizza puff, a deep-fried tortilla wrapped around pizza ingredients, as a reporter with Curious City at WBEZ, the public radio station in Chicago.

Taffy grapes were a new one for Hammond. The sweet treats also started in the Black community on the South Side but have spread across the city and suburbs.

Theyre simply green seedless grapes, the tops swirled in either white chocolate or frosting or perhaps even cake, and then sprinkled with nuts, he said. I really liked them once I tried them. Weve even made them at home. Theyre super easy and kind of give you the illusion of having a healthy snack, because its fresh fruit.

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What about recipes in the book?

Davids got quite a few in there, Eng said. Although I have heard from some people saying 14 cups of breadcrumbs might be a lot for 12 shrimp.

Shrimp DeJonghe is the old-school dish that bakes the crustaceans with garlic, butter and, yes, lots of breadcrumbs.

Its the original recipe, Hammond said.

There are many little interesting byways that we uncovered, he added. One that continues to amaze me is Malort. People always want to hear about it. I think its because it has a reputation for being repugnant. And yet its beloved, or at least, enjoyed.

Malort is the bitter booze we love to hate that tastes of grapefruit and gasoline, which can arguably be quite delightful in cocktails.

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CH Distillery now makes Malort in the East Pilsen neighborhood, bringing production back from Florida after 30 years. Owner and head distiller Tremaine Atkinson shared his insight with Hammond for Made in Chicago.

The distiller shared that people always talk about how awful and terrible Malort is, Hammond said. But when theyre talking about experiences with it, theres always some joy in their voice.

It might be kind of a pranksters joy, he noted, as in tricking someone into taking their first shot, then posting a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #malortface.

But still, its entertaining, and its ours, the co-author said. And I think thats important.

$19.95, University of Illinois Press, press.uillinois.edu

More notable new food books and cookbooks by Chicago-area authors, listed in alphabetical order by title:

A new memoir from Iliana Regan zeros in on foraging in ways both big and small  spanning from her European ancestry to her Indiana childhood to her current work running a boutique culinary-focused getaway in the Upper Peninsula. Regan founded the Michelin-starred restaurant Elizabeth in Lincoln Square, but left to open the off-the-grid glamping destination Milkweed Inn with her wife, Anna Regan. The book also delves into Regans gender identity and how it informs her work.

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$27, Agate Publishing, agatepublishing.com

Chicago-based food writer Anupy Singla isnt the first to explore how the convenience of an Instant Pot lends itself to the deep flavors of Indian cuisine. But her latest cookbook, which comes out April 25, adapts its recipes for all sizes of Instant Pots, to ensure that home cooks would get the full, delicious flavor in every recipe, every time, according to publisher Agate Surrey. Singla is a former journalist turned food writer, and founder of Indian As Apple Pie, a website equipped with everything from recipes to her line of sauces and spices.

$21.95, Agate Surrey, agatepublishing.com

Maya-Camille Broussard launched her Chicago bakery, Justice of the Pies, in honor of her sweet-toothed father, a criminal defense attorney. After her socially minded bakery  based in The Hatchery  gained acclaim for delectable renditions such as her salted caramel peach pie and the Fig + Pig Quiche, the James Beard-nominated baker has gone on to star in two seasons of Netflixs Bake Squad reality show. In her debut book, released in October, Broussard shares more than 85 recipes for her best sweet and savory pies, which can also be found at the Daley Plaza farmers market in season. Maya-Camille also tells the stories of heroes outside the kitchen: luminaries who strive for social justice and equity, and shares recipes theyve inspired, writes publisher Clarkson Potter.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

$30, Clarkson Potter, penguinrandomhouse.com

Longtime bakers are likely familiar with the days when faded notecards and county fair cookbooks were the bodies of record for cherished family recipes. Midwest Pie immortalizes those time-tested recipes, while also exploring the origins of the bean pie, the popularity of desperation pies during the Great Depression, the humble origins of the Upper Peninsulas pasties and more. Fire up the oven and get the mixer ready before the book, edited by Meredith Pangrace, is released May 23.

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$18.95, Belt Publishing, beltpublishing.com

A follow-up to Abra Berens Ruffage and Grist books focusing on vegetables and grain, this fruit-forward book features 215 recipes and variations for incorporating fruit into recipes both sweet and savory. Out April 4, the book examines how seasonality plays a part in how fruit can be a perfectly sweet accompaniment to vegetables, soup, roasted pork and more. Berens, a James Beard Best Chef: Great Lakes Award semifinalist for Granor Farm in Three Oaks, Michigan, last cooked in Chicago at the dearly departed Stock Cafe at Local Foods market.

$35, Chronicle Books, chroniclebooks.com

lchu@chicagotribune.com

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.
The countrys pioneering mezzanine investor for small and medium enterprises provided about P300 million to companies engaged in affordable housing and instant credit as it advocates sustainable financial inclusion in the Philippines.



ARQCapital Partners through ARQ SME Business Development Company supported the capital requirements of the Atharra Group for two affordable housing projects in Bohol and fintech startup Advance Tech Lending Inc. for on-demand earned wages platform for salaried employees.



The two companies are among ARQs current portfolio of more than 20 high-growth medium enterprises which includes renewable energy firms CleanTech Global Renewables Inc. and Magnus Renewable Tech Corp. and affordable housing developers Vester Corp. and Investphil Realty.



ARQ is also raising funds to reach its target of P2.5 billion in investments to fund 50 high-growth MEs in the country over the next three years.



ARQ is supporting Atharra and Advance to become significant players in their respective industries, which is consistent with our goal to invest into promising medium enterprises tracking a path of sustainable growth, ARQ founding partner and chief executive Edmund Solilapsi said.

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The countrys first smart capital investor which provides strategic management direction and other business development tools beyond capital has deployed about P1.5 billion to more than 35 investees since 2014.



Solilapsi said ARQ also considered the social impact of investing in Atharra as the property firm provides high-quality affordable homes in Bohol, contributing at least 13 percent of the economic housing need in the island-province.



He said there is a total housing backlog of at least 800,000 units a year in the Visayas and Mindanao based on government data.



Atharra has also shown a six-year track record as a credible and trusted developer of affordable homes under its founder, Darrel Digal, a young and passionate serial entrepreneur, Solilapsi said.



Atharra has built more than 200 housing units in Baclayon and over 50 units in Tagbilaran City under its Atharra Residences brand, while at least 490 units are under construction.



Meanwhile, ARQ forayed into venture debt with Advance, the countrys first on-demand earned wages access provider, as Advance raises funds for its lending activities.



ARQ supports Advances efforts to partner with employers that can extend salary advances to its employees who in turn use them to pay for unscheduled expenses. The instant credit is disbursed in less than a minute through Advances proprietary technology platform.



We have supported credible fintech players in the country since 2019 as we push for responsible and sustainable financial access for Filipinos, Solilapsi said.



He said ARQ supports responsible credit providers with efficient customer acquisition strategy, but mindful of a typical startup burn rate.



ARQ said Advance aims to restore the dignity of employees by giving them financial flexibility to pay their bills or cancel their debts.



By providing financial lifeline to employees, Solilapsi said the company is helping organizations grow, boost employee morale, and enhance their retention and productivity



Advances founders have efficiently streamlined its solution for employees to avail of advances within seconds, staying true to its promise of instant credit, Solilapsi said.



ARQ has provided mezzanine financial services to the underserved SMEs since 2016, bridging the capital gap requirements of high-growth entrepreneurs.



According to ARQ, MSMEs, which make up 99.5 percent of all enterprises in the country and contributed 35.7 percent in gross value added in 2020, received only 4.6 percent of total loans disbursed by the banking system.



ARQ also said that among the ASEAN countries, the Philippines ranked second to the lastahead only of Indonesia in domestic credit to private sector as a percentage of GDP at 52 percent, while its neighbors registered an average of 130 percent in 2020.



ARQ will continue to respond to the need of SMEs for appropriate and sustainable capital during their growth phase, ensuring that these value-adding partnerships will help elevate the financial inclusion of SMEs and push for a sustainable economic growth for the Philippines, Solilapsi said.

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SYDNEYAustralia said Tuesday it was inching closer to stabilizing its fraught relationship with China, as the two countries moved to solve a festering trade dispute over barley exports.

The once-cozy trading relationship has soured in recent years as Australia sought closer military ties with the United States and China vied for influence in the Pacific.

Beijing slapped hefty tariffs on key commodities such as barley, beef and wine in 2020 at the height of a bitter dispute inflamed by Australias former conservative government.

Australia retaliated by complaining to the World Trade Organization, alleging China had breached international obligations by artificially jacking up tariffs without justification.

But the countrys center-left government has adopted a far less confrontational stance since its election in May last year, prioritizing the resumption of trade.

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In the latest sign of thawing tensions between the countries, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia would be temporarily suspending its complaint after China had agreed to review its barley tariffs.

We have made it clear that we believe theres no justification for the measures that China introduced in relation to barley, she told reporters.

We have also made clear that we believe it is in both countries interests for these trade impediments to be removed.

Wong, who visited Beijing in December, said this demonstrated Australia was slowly stabilizing the relationship with China.

The tariffs, as well as an unofficial ban on Australian coal, are estimated to have cost more than Aus$5 billion (US$3.47 billion) in lost revenue from China.

Meanwhile, Beijing has confirmed that Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu will travel to Australia later this week, making him one of the most senior officials to visit in years.

Australia faces a difficult balancing act  China is its largest trading partner, but the United States is a crucial military ally.

Canberra angered Beijing in March by announcing it would purchase nuclear-powered submarines from the United States as part of an ambitious plan to bulk up Western muscle in the Asia-Pacific.

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Knowledge Channel will distribute on-air and online video lessons of My TV School to hone K-3 students interest and mastery of the four macro literacy skills in English

Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) strengthens its advocacy on boosting early childhood development education among Filipino parents and kids by entering a partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and receiving a High Embassy Fund (HEF) Grant from New Zealand.

Knowledge Channel will distribute on-air and online video lessons of My TV School, co-developed by USAID and RTI International with the Department of Education for the Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines (ABC+) project. It aims to hone K-3 students interest and mastery of the four macro literacy skills in English  listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

We thank the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. for taking interest in our initiative to help further promote learning and ensure access to education, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized children in the country. We, at USAID, believe that engaging with private foundations like Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. can help improve and strengthen the quality of education and further encourage investments in the education sector, said USAID acting mission director Rebekah Eubanks.

Meanwhile, through the New Zealand HEF Grant, KCFI will be able to train child development workers, teachers, care providers, and parents of children 3 to 4.11 years old from 11 barangays in Burgos, Ilocos Norte through the Learning Effectively through Enhanced and Evidence-based Pedagogies (LEEP) project. Each barangay will also receive a Knowledge Channel Portable Media Library for early childhood development (KC PML-ECD), containing offline video lessons and resources.

We recognize that this partner (KCFI) is passionate about doing something in the community and we also recognize that this partner has a track record, capability, or capacity. Those are probably the three (3) big things that we look at when we hope to partner with a community, shared New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines, Peter Kell.

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KCFI also continues its partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to co-produce 50 new episodes of Wikaharian, an animated series in Filipino that aims to help young learners, specifically Grade 2 students, improve their foundational skills in reading.

We hope that by bringing these video lessons to more audiences all over the country, we will be making a meaningful contribution to the efforts of schools, teachers, and parents all over the country who are working hard to enrich the learning of their students and children, said KCFI president and executive director Rina Lopez.

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The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold a nationwide job fair and provide government assistance to honor workers on Labor Day, May 1.

The DOLE said all the activities would be held in 16 regional sites, with the National Capital Region (NCR) as the main event site.

The simultaneous job fairs would be held in various SM and Robinsons malls nationwide, while the main job fair site would be in Metro Manila.

In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), the labor department will host the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawa to help workers access commodities at lower prices.

Kadiwa, which is spearheaded by DA, enables the farming community to sell goods directly to consumers without the trader-intermediaries, allowing them to reap higher profits while still offering quality products at an affordable price to consumers.

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The labor department will also lead the payout of assistance/salaries to beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), and Government Internship Program (GIP) across the regions.

Meanwhile, to facilitate employment, simultaneous job fairs will be conducted in various SM and Robinsons malls nationwide, with the main job fair site in NCR.

This early, the Department is encouraging jobseekers to be ready with their application requirements, such as resume or curriculum vitae, certificate of employment for those formerly employed, diploma, and transcript of records.

Other government agencies, such as the DTI, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW); and pre-employment service agencies, like the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and Philippine Postal Corp. will provide services during the event.

This years Labor Day is observed with the theme, Pabahay, Bilihing Abot-Presyo, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss growing military ties with the Philippines on Tuesday in Washington DC (Wednesday in Manila) before heading to Vietnam and Japan days after a new flare-up of tensions with China over Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the Philippines and the United States launched their largest-ever joint military exercises on Tuesday, as the longstanding allies seek to counter growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. US Marines Maj. Gen. Eric Austin, US exercise director and representative for Balikatan, speaks while Philippines counterpart Maj. Gen. Marvin Licudine listens during a press conference on Tuesday. Inset shows US Embassy Charge dAffaires Heather Variava (middle), Lt. Gen. William Jurney, USMC, Maj. Gen. Licudine, and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Andres Centino link arms as a sign of oneness and brotherhood after the opening ceremony of the joint military exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. AFP and Danny Pata

At a joint news conference in Quezon City, both US and PH armies did not address questions about the Taiwan tensions and a possible role for the Philippines if China invaded Taiwan.

Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet jointly in Washington with their Philippine counterparts  Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and DND chief Carlito Galvez, who are already in the US capital  in the first such joint talks in seven years between the United States and its former colony.

Austin confirmed the meeting in a press statement.

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The secretary participates in joint press availability with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and Officer in Charge of the Department of National Defense Carlito Galvez on the outcomes of the U.S-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue at 3:15 p.m. EDT at the Department of State, it said.

The Philippines, Vietnam, and Japan all have longstanding territorial disputes with China that have grown more intense in recent years as Beijing flexes its muscle.

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos  sister of the President  called for certain limits in the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) including those on the number of US troops in the country and the length of their stay.

Marcos, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said having thousands of Americans conducting exercises daily is like the US forces already living in the country.

From what we heard in Ilocos, around 17,000 American troops will come and conduct military exercises every day In my opinion, thats not an exercise anymore. Its like they will live here, is that right? she added.

I think there should be limitations on their numbers and visa validity. It should be cleared if they are allowed for a three-month-visa to 90-day visa to make sure they are not basing here permanently and there are still Filipino soldiers in our bases, Sen. Marcos said.

Signed in 2014, the EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities and allows them to build facilities, and preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels. Permanent basing is prohibited.

Last week, the Philippines announced four more military bases that US forces will be able to use, including one on Luzon Island just 400 kilometers from Taiwan  a stark shift from a previous push by Manila to improve ties with China.

After condemnation from Beijing, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that Manila would not take any offensive actions from the four bases, as well from five others agreed to with Washington in a 2014 agreement.

If no one is attacking us, they need not worry because we will not fight them, Mr. Marcos told reporters Monday.

Months earlier, the United States reached a separate agreement with Japan, a fellow ally on the other side of Taiwan, to disperse US forces across the southern island of Okinawa, another move seen as preparing for a potential Chinese move on Taiwan.

Beijing on Monday completed three days of military exercises said to simulate sealing Taiwan, a self-governing democracy it considers part of its territory (see story on A1  Editors).

The show of force came after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met in California with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who is second in line to the US presidency, in defiance of Beijings warnings.

The United States called for restraint by China but privately some officials were relieved the reaction was more muted than in August 2022, when Beijing fired projectiles around and over Taiwan after McCarthys predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, flew to Taipei.

Its not what it was in August and this could, hopefully, pave the way, lets say, to calming the situation a bit on the Straits between China and the United States, Manalo said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies ahead of Tuesdays talks.

Mr. Marcos last year succeeded President Rodrigo Duterte, who early in his tenure sought closer ties with China.

But experts say the Philippines has increasingly realized that appeasing China has not brought any progress with its giant neighbor to the north, which has ignored a 2016 international court ruling in favor of Manila over Beijings sweeping claims in the South China Sea. AFP with Rey E. Requejo, Charles Dantes, and Butch Gunio

Manila is also aware that if an armed conflict between Beijing and Taipei erupts and intensifies over the Taiwan Strait, there is little chance the country will escape the adverse consequences, Renato Cruz De Castro, an expert at De La Salle University, wrote in a recent essay for the Brookings Institution.

Repercussions could include massive refugee flows, the rapid return of Filipino overseas workers based in Taiwan and the actual spread of the conflict to the Luzon Straits and even northern Luzon, he wrote.

Vietnam, where Blinken will head later this week before traveling to a Group of Seven meeting in Japan, has also sought closer defense cooperation with the United States despite bitter war memories.

Washington and Hanoi are almost completely aligned on the kind of Indo-Pacific we want to see, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, where large countries dont bully small countries.

The leader of another key US ally, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, pays a state visit to Washington on April 26.

The US effort to rally Asian allies comes after French President Emmanuel Macron raised eyebrows following a state visit to Beijing by saying that European allies of the United States should not get caught between Beijing and Washington in the standoff over Taiwan.

President Joe Bidens administration and France played down the remarks but Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Republican, called them a massive propaganda victory for Beijing.

Nearly 18,000 troops are taking part in the annual exercises dubbed Balikatan, or shoulder to shoulder in Filipino, which for the first time will include a live-fire drill in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

The drills follow Mondays conclusion of a three-day Chinese military exercise that simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

Balikatan will include military helicopters landing on a Philippine island off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon, nearly 300 kilometers from Taiwan, and the retaking of another island by amphibious forces.

It will be the first time the exercises have been held under President Marcos, who has sought to strengthen ties with the United States after his predecessor Duterte trashed the alliance.

In order for us to protect our sovereign territory, we really have to drill and exercise how we are going to retake an island thats been taken away from us, Philippine exercises spokesman Col. Michael Logico told reporters after the opening ceremony at a military camp in Manila.

In recent months, Manila and Washington have agreed to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and struck a deal to expand the US forces footprint in the Philippines, which has infuriated China.

About 12,200 American, 5,400 Filipino and just over 100 Australian soldiers will participate in the two weeks of Balikatan exercises  about twice as many as last year.

About 50 leftwing protesters staged a rally outside the opening ceremony venue, calling on the Philippine government to scrap the exercises.

As part of the exercises, troops will stage an amphibious landing on the western island of Palawan, the closest Philippine landmass to the Spratly Islands, where Beijing and Manila have rival claims.

The Americans will also use their Patriot missiles, considered one of the best air defense systems in the world, and the HIMARS precision rocket system, which has helped Ukrainian forces fighting the Russian invaders.

The two armies originally planned to fire live rounds at sea off the northern province of Ilocos Norte, about 355 kilometers from Taiwans south coast, but later on had to move it further down the South China Sea, Philippine Army Maj. Gen. Marvin Licudine said.

The original site was not sufficiently prepared for unloading the needed equipment, he added.

The new venue is less than 300 kilometers east of the Chinese-held Scarborough Shoal.

The exercises will enhance tactics, techniques and procedures across a wide range of military operations, said Philippine military spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar.

Soon after the opening ceremony in Manila, the Philippine defense and foreign ministers will jointly meet their US counterparts in Washington.

The Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday announced that it will be conducting a live-fire exercise using the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank system at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on April 13.

Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the live-fire drills follow Javelin lectures and simulations during the just concluded Salaknib exercises which took place from March 13 to April 4.

The FGM-148 Javelin missile has proven effective in neutralizing tanks and other armored vehicles in the conflict between Russian and Ukraine. The portable anti-tank system has been in service since 1996 and has been continuously upgraded.

Its fire-and-forget design uses automatic infrared guidance that allows the user to seek cover immediately after launch.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Manalo on Tuesday said the goals to achieve long-term economic growth and protect its sovereignty from threats and infringements have galvanized the Philippines strategic partnership with the United States.

In his speech before a forum organized by Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., Manalo pointed out that the high-level visits conducted by Washingtonincluding that of Vice President Kamala Harris, State Secretary Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austinto the Philippines showed how the modern alliance between the two countries will look like, as both sides pursue their shared vision.

Manalo said the socio-economic security and defense capability enhancement will be the focal points of the US-Philippines strategic bilateral relations.

Repeated infringements on the Philippine sovereignty that go against many international laws have led the Philippines to enhance its defense capabilities, Manalo said.

This is why the Philippines continues to fortify its alliance with the US and expand its own capacity by partnering with other countries, such as Japan and Australia, he added.

The Philippines has been clear and consistent about our interest in maintaining the South China Sea as a sea of peace and stabilityand our aim to boost our defense capabilities, including in the framework of EDCA, he said, referring to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States.

He said safeguarding and exercising the Philippines rights over its exclusive economic zone would protect the livelihood of Filipino fishermen and ensure their access to fishing grounds.

Also on Tuesday, Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. urged government agencies and military and police forces in Central Luzon to maintain heightened security amid the deployment of foreign troops in the region for military exercises between the Philippines and the United States.

Presiding over the first quarter meeting of the reorganized Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), Ebdane called on both civilian and military units of the government to anticipate situations that may threaten peace in the region during the visit of foreign troops.  AFP with Rey E. Requejo, Charles Dantes, and Butch Gunio

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Sustainability is fundamental to a financial institutions success. It means being mindful of environmental and social (E&S) well-being in contributing to the economic growth of the country.

Recognizing this, the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has fully embraced sustainability in the Philippine banking industry, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

RCBCs dedication to sustainability has not gone unnoticed. The bank was recently honored at The Asset ESG Corporate Awards 2022 held in February 2023, where it bagged the Platinum Award for creating sustainable value for its investors and stakeholders. This is the Banks second ESG recognition, following last years Gold award, which is an affirmation of RCBCs progressive stance in making sustainability a core part of its business strategy.

For the second consecutive year, the bank was also named as the Best Bank for Sustainable Development by the 2023 Global Banking & Finance Awards. The bank was evaluated on various criteria, such as its sustainable development objectives, sustainable business practices, and sustainable offerings to clients like impact investing, ESG advisory, and sustainable financing solutions. Additionally, the award considered the banks dedication to energy management, reducing its environmental impact, and its stakeholder engagement in promoting sustainable development in the region.

RCBCs environmental and social management system (ESMS) is at the core of the banks sustainable lending practices. The ESMS adheres to the eight Performance Standards of the International Finance Corp. (IFC) and has been in place since 2011. In April 2019, RCBC developed its own Sustainable Finance Framework, a further testament to its commitment to sustainability.

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By implementing the ESMS monitoring mechanism to address potential E&S concerns, RCBC has effectively engaged its clients to take appropriate action, thereby fostering a shared commitment to sustainable practices. Since the implementation of its Sustainable Finance Framework, on the other hand, RCBC has issued $1.4-billion worth of sustainable financing instruments for its green and social assets and has also developed the countrys first Peso Green Time Deposit.

RCBCs green and social assets contribute to the UN SDGs, namely  SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 14: Life Below Water.

One of RCBCs initiatives toward progressive social well-being is the Digital and Customer Centricity Culture Transformation (DC3T), which educates business units to adopt, embrace, and practice a digital mindset and customer centricity. Its ongoing digital and people transformation initiatives aim to create a digital-savvy, innovative, and customer-focused organization.

RCBCs recent recognition by the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) for its human resource management (HRM) performance and dedication to maintaining excellent industrial relations (IR) is also contributing to the UN SDG 8s goal of promoting sustainable economic growth that is characterized by inclusive employment and decent work for all. By investing in HR programs and maintaining exceptional IR, RCBC is not only attending to the well-being of its employees but also promoting advancement in work and economic opportunities within the banking industry. This essentially complements the banks commitment to sustainable business practices in its lending and portfolio growth initiatives.

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We believe that the role of women in agriculture is important. Through this initiative, we want to reach more women farmers in the Philippines and assist them with their needs. Backed by our Buy Local program, we aim to enable inclusive growth by providing equal opportunities to men and women, said Cathy Yang, First Vice President and Group Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.

Agriculture is normally one of the hardest hit industries when typhoons sweep through Philippine provinces.

One of the most heartbreaking truths about farming is that when our lands get flooded due to bad weather, there wont be enough harvest to sell and to feed our families with. As women and mothers, we face this reality and continue working until the storm passes, said Marites Vista, a 52-year old farmer from General Tinio.

To help address the challenges faced by the industry, PLDT and Smarts homegrown advocacy, Buy Local aims to help provide farmers with a sure market for their crops. Through Buy Local, harvested produce from partner farming communities are sold to PLDT and Smarts employees at a more reasonable cost, through the e-commerce platform Cropital. This generates higher profit, with part of the sales eventually going to a sustainability fund.

Cropital is a crowdfunding platform that aims to link smallholder farmers to alternative sources of funding.

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Women farmers have caught up with changing times and are now able to learn new and improved ways towards sustainable farming. We are thankful for the opportunity to become a part of PLDT and Smarts initiative that supports local farming communities, shared 58-year old Felina Rivera, another Buy Local beneficiary.

To date, PLDT and Smart Buy Local has raised over P2M, providing capital support to more than 200 farmers nationwide.

PLDT and Smart prioritize the empowerment of women and communities in their key initiatives. The Group remains committed to helping boost the livelihood and eventually uplift the quality of the lives of Filipino farmers. This is also aligned with the UN SDGs #1 No Poverty and #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth.

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RICHMOND  The organization created to allocate more than a half-billion dollars in settlements between opioid manufacturers and distributors and the state of Virginia has made its first grant award.

Virginias Opioid Abatement Authority announced Monday in a statement that it would be providing nearly $116,000 to Washington County to support the development of the Mended Women Lifestyle Recovery Center, a 54-bed facility near downtown Abingdon that will provide post-detox and early recovery services for women from 16 localities across Southwest Virginia.

The facility is scheduled to open Thursday morning with a ribbon-cutting featuring Attorney General Jason Miyares, who has finalized more than $500 million in settlement agreements to be paid over the course of 18 years  an amount Miyares said could potentially double as additional settlements are reached.

Every community in Virginia has been impacted by the opioid crisis, and my office will continue to demand accountability from those who profited, Miyares said in a release.

Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County, the chairman of the Opioid Abatement Authority, called the grant a great start, noting there were no such facilities for women within 150 miles of the site of the new center. Fairview Housing Management Corporation, the nonprofit with which Washington County partnered on this project, operates a similar center for adult men in Bristol.

We are so pleased that Washington County and its partners are addressing such a significant gap, Pillion said in a statement. Once again, a community in Southwest Virginia is setting the standard for the rest of the state.

Tony McDowell, the abatement authoritys executive director, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the lack of existing services for women in Southwest Virginia makes it particularly difficult to estimate the number of women affected by substance abuse disorders in the region, but that theres a good chance that (the facility) is going to be full shortly after it opens.

Dr. Sarah Melton, the chair of OAAs grants committee, praised the collaborative approach that Washington County took to its grant application. In addition to the OAA award, Washington County also is contributing $200,000 of funding it received directly from the settlements, paired with just over $24,000 of settlement funds from Smyth County. The Wellspring Foundation, a health care-focused philanthropic organization in Southwest Virginia, is giving $200,000 of funding as well, along with additional support from several other donors.

They brought so many partners together from the community as part of this application, Melton said via press release. When you see this kind of collaboration, it provides confidence that these funds are being put to the best possible use.
RICHMOND  Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, who was elected in November to a third term representing her Northern Virginia district, announced Tuesday that she has Parkinsons disease.

Wexton, 54, whose district is anchored in Loudoun and Prince William counties, made the announcement in a Twitter video on World Parkinsons Day.

If theres one thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, its that Parkinsons disease sucks, Wexton said. Im here to tell you that Ive come to learn this first hand. And thats because Ive learned that I, too, have Parkinsons, or what some people call PD for short.

Wexton added: Before I say anything else, let me share this  Im doing well. Ive got a positive attitude, and Ive got the strong support of so many family, friends and loved ones.

Wexton explained that Parkinsons is a movement disorder that starts in the brain and affects peoples bodies in different ways.

Over the past few months, it has primarily affected my speech and how my mouth moves, she said. You may notice I speak more quickly now. It also has affected how I walk and keep my balance.

What Parkinsons is not is an untreatable disease, a cognitive impairment, or a death sentence. So please! You are welcome to empathize, but dont feel sorry for me.

Wexton, a former Loudoun County prosecutor, judge and state senator, told constituents: I hope to keep serving you for many years to come.

Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. have Parkinsons disease and it is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimers disease, according to the Parkinsons Foundation.

The foundation says that, while there is no cure, treatment options include medications, lifestyle adjustments and surgery.

Nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed each year and 10 million people worldwide have the disease, according to the foundation.

Wexton unseated Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-10th, in 2018, then defeated Republicans Aliscia Andrews in 2020 and Hung Cao in 2022.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, said Tuesday: I think its wonderful that she came out and talked about her diagnosis. Importantly, it has impacted some of her movement. I think its helpful for her to really set an example that its a movement disorder, making sure people understand that shes still rocking and rolling in terms of what shes doing in committee. Shes our workhorse on the Appropriations Committee.

Spanberger added: Shes continuing to do a tremendous job and I know her number one commitment is to her constituents and making sure that shes doing right by them. Im proud of her. I know shes a very private person, so it hasnt been easy for her to be public with some personal details, but I hope that if anybodys struggling with a diagnosis that might seem scary, they find some strength in the example that she sets.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said in a statement: Jennifer Wexton is a fighter.

He added: She is a passionate advocate, principled public servant, and wonderful colleague. I know shes going to continue to be a strong fighter to battle Parkinsons and to stand up for Virginias 10th District. Im rooting for her every step of the way.
From 2013 to 2022, McDowell County experienced 12 floods, which is more than what most other surrounding counties have gone through during that time.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Events Database has released an interactive map of all 100 counties in North Carolina. This map shows the number of floods for each county in the state between an almost 10-year period from 2013 to 2022. McDowell is one of the leading counties in the area for flash flooding.

According to this map, other surrounding counties experienced lesser numbers of flooding. They are Buncombe (six), Yancey (one), Mitchell (three), Avery (one), Rutherford (six), Cleveland (three) and Catawba (six). The big exception of the surrounding counties is Burke, which had 20 floods during that time. Caldwell experienced 12, the same number as McDowell.

The counties in North Carolina with the greatest numbers of floods from 2013 to 2022 are New Hanover on the Atlantic coast, which had 46 during that time. Brunswick, which is next to New Hanover, experienced 35 floods.

In the mountains, Watauga County experienced 38 floods from 2013 to 2022, according to the interactive map.

So, what causes counties like McDowell, Burke and Caldwell to have more floods compared to other parts of the state?

Dan Crawley, who works with the Foothills Action Network in addition to The McDowell News, said it has a lot to do with location.

The orientation of the Southern Appalachians and western North Carolinas relatively close proximity to moisture sources like the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico helps make the rain pattern unique to our region, said Crawley.

He added something as basic as the Bermuda High, which is a high pressure system located over the Atlantic Ocean, during the summer can help increase southeast winds from the surface up to about 10,000 feet. Those winds can transport the extra moisture content and then serve as an extra lifting mechanism once they get to the escarpment, which is a long, steep slope at the end of a plateau.

A lot of times in the summer if you have a southeast fetch below 10,000 feet and then very light winds elsewhere, the storms will anchor themselves along the escarpment creating heavy rain amounts, said Crawley.

McDowell Emergency Management Director Will Kehler and his department have years of experience dealing with floods in McDowell County.

With McDowell County being located along the Continental Divide and on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge, this does make the county more susceptible to flash flooding during certain types of weather systems, Kehler told The McDowell News.

Upslope flow, as it is called, is where moisture is pumped in against the Blue Ridge Escarpment.

We commonly refer to this area as the northwest sections of McDowell County including Crooked Creek, Old Fort, P.G., Woodlawn, Little Switzerland, Ashford, North Cove and along the Blue Ridge Parkway, said Kehler. These areas are more susceptible to high rainfall amounts, especially during a tropical storm or hurricane that tracks near western North Carolina. These systems are notorious for dumping 6 to 10 inches of rain in a short period of time. This amount of rainfall normally leads to significant flash flooding, which then triggers swift-water rescues and causes significant property damage.

Groups focus on climate, flood resilience in WNC More than 100 people are gathered this week in Asheville to brainstorm ways to improve flood

During his career with McDowell Emergency Management, Kehler remembers well the damage caused by Hurricanes Frances and Ivan in September 2004, when significant and life-threatening flash flooding occurred across McDowell. Another historic year occurred in 2018, when McDowell County was affected by three storms including Tropical Storm Alberto, Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael. The most recent storm that left a trail of damage occurred in 2021 when Tropical Storm Fred caused significant damage to western North Carolina counties, including McDowell.

Our office continues to lead recovery efforts related to Tropical Storm Alberto and Fred, Kehler told The McDowell News. While tropical systems are the primary cause, its important to remember that slow moving thunderstorms can cause flash flooding as well.

For example, an isolated flood occurred along Locust Cove Road and Buck Creek in August of 2020. More than 4 inches of rain fell in two hours leading to serious damage along Locust Cove Road. This was an isolated flood but one that posed serious risk to life and property, Kehler said.

During the recent Fire and Rescue College, firefighters and rescue workers from various counties took courses in swift-water rescues during a flood. Numerous fire departments in McDowell, along with the Rescue Squad, have swift-water equipment and trained personnel. Flash flooding is one of the most common weather disasters we respond to here, said Kehler.

McDowell Emergency Services encourages local residents to sign up for free emergency alerts via McDowells NIXLE Alert System. You should visit www.nixle.com/ to register.
The Green Book actor whose body was callously dumped on a Bronx sidewalk died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl and cocaine, a city medical examiner autopsy has determined.

Frank Vallelonga Jr.s corpse was found at 3:50 a.m. on Nov. 28 on Oak Point Ave., an industrial street in Hunts Point.

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Police at the time suspected the 60-year-old Vallelonga, whose identity was not immediately known because he had no identification on him, died of an overdose. A medical examiner spokesman on Monday said Vallelonga died accidentally from acute intoxication due to combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine.

Steven Smith, 35, was arrested a day after he allegedly dumped Vallelongas body, driving to the scene in a Hyundai Elantra. He claimed a woman named Pam told him somebody had overdosed in the car and turned to him for help.

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Frank Vallelonga arrives for the U.S Premiere Of "Songs Of Solomon" held at TCL Chinese Theatre on March 29, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

That dude was dead already, driver Steven Smith told cops, according to the criminal complaint against him. He overdosed. I didnt have anything to do with that.

I got the body out by pulling him out of the car he added. I dont know the guy at all.

In January, a warrant was issued for Smiths arrest after he missed an appearance in Bronx Criminal Court on charges including concealment of a human corpse, possession of a stolen vehicle and grand larceny.

Once Smith is located and arrested by police, he will be arraigned on the charges.

Vallelonga was the namesake son of the one-time Copacabana bouncer played by Viggo Mortensen in the Oscar-winning Green Book.

The bouncer, Frank Vallelonga Sr., known as Tony Lip, famously accompanied Black pianist Don Shirley as a bodyguard during a tour through the Jim Crow-era South in the early 1960s. Later, Vallelonga Sr. made an unlikely transformation from doorman to actor  including a recurring role on The Sopranos as New York mob boss Carmine Lupertazzi.

Junior played his uncle Rudy in Green Book and had eight other acting credits, including an appearance on The Sopranos.

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An Instagram photo from 2019, when Green Book won the Best Picture Oscar, shows a tuxedo-clad Frank Jr. hugging Lady Gaga.

The gray 2021 Hyundai Elantra carrying the dead Vallelonga was tied to his Academy Award-winning younger brother Nick Vallelonga, according to court papers. The brother had not given permission for anyone to use the vehicle.

Nick Vallelonga co-wrote the screenplay for Green Book and captured a pair of Oscars as his cinematic star ascended.
The Government of Cape Verde will support 80 of the 163 projects of Cape Verdean artists, in several areas, competing for the call for proposals to Encourage National Artistic Creation for the year 2023, it was announced on Monday.

In a statement, the Ministry of Culture and Industries recalled that the call for proposals, launched from February 14 to March 14, aims to fund the projects or creations of artists and creators residing in the national territory. and that, in total, 163 applications were submitted.

Out of the 163 applications submitted, only 80 were selected. They are all related to the creation of a national cultural agenda, subsequently managed by the Directorate General of Arts and Creative Industries, the statement said.

This state financial support of up to 100 thousand escudos (900 euros) for each project, will cover 70% stage arts works (dance, theater, music, illusionism and stand-up comedy), 28% visual arts (plastic arts and photography) and 2% literature.

The island with the highest number of projects was Santiago, with a total of 79, followed by Sao Vicente, with 29, and Santo Antao, with 25. The selected works are intended to be carried out in the national territory, with the aim of promoting the arts and creative industries, states the announcement of the contest.

This is the first contest of its kind launched this year by the Cape Verdean government, and in evaluating the proposals, criteria such as the artistic quality of the project, the involvement of other professionals working in these sectors, and the viability of the artistic proposal to be implemented in 2023 will be considered.
The National Elections Commission (CNE) of Mozambique launched on Monday a national campaign of electoral civic education, which aims to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of their participation in electoral processes.

The National Elections Commission appeals to the general population for a collaborative participation in this process [] by heeding the messages addressed to them, and therefore participating in voter registration and voting, which is the final object of this process, said Carlos Matsinhe, president of CNE.

He was speaking in Marracuene district, in Maputo province, during the launching of the campaign.

Matsinhe said that the civic education agents will go door to door, to markets, schools, bus stops, and in all agglomerations to take messages about the responsibilities and tasks of the citizen in the electoral processes.

The campaign should also ensure the active participation of citizens in voter registration as a key factor for the voting phase in a conscientious and patriotic manner.

Registration for the municipal elections will run from April 20 to June 3, and voting is scheduled for October 11 in the countrys 65 municipalities, including 12 new ones, which will be voting for the first time.

The budget for this years elections is estimated at more than 14.8 billion meticais (204.7 million euros), he said.

Mozambique enters a new electoral cycle this year, with local elections in October and general elections in 2024.
The volume of Cape Verdes sales of canned and frozen fish, which represent about 80% of the archipelagos exports, amounted in the first month of the year to more than 417 million escudos (3.7 million euros), revealed a statistical report from the Bank of Cape Verde (BCV), which details exports.

This performance, the highest monthly value in more than a year, represents a growth of 745% compared to the 49.3 million escudos (446 thousand euros) in the first month of 2022.

The value of Cape Verdean exports of canned and frozen fish fell 9.5% from January to December last year to 3,796 million escudos (34 million euros), compared to 4,197 million escudos (37.7 million euros) in 2021, according to BCV data.

According to previous data from the National Institute of Statistics of Cape Verde, Spain is the country that buys the most Cape Verdean products, with a share of over 60%, maintaining a strong activity in the canning industry on the islands of Sao Vicente and Sao Nicolau.

This canning industry in Sao Vicente admitted in January 2021 problems in exports, given the lack of an agreement by the European Union for derogation from rules of origin. Without the approval of the new derogation request since 2020, the Cape Verdean canned food exports would have customs charges (because the raw material originates from fishing vessels from other countries), putting the survival of the sector in jeopardy.

The European Commission approved in June 2021 a three-year derogation from the rules of preferential origin in canned tuna, mackerel, mackerel and Jewfish fillets by Cape Verde. In this decision, signed by the President, Ursula Von Der Leyen, it is assumed that the derogation is temporary in nature, for three years, and is subject to improved compliance with the rules of origin applicable to the products concerned and the requirement for administrative cooperation.

According to the same document, the derogation applies, in the first year, to (annual) volumes of 5,000 tonnes of prepared or preserved tuna fillets, 3,000 tonnes of prepared or preserved mackerel fillets, and 1,000 tonnes of prepared or preserved flatfish fillets.
The British consulting company Oxford Economics foresees 2.3% growth for Angola this year, following the 2% economic expansion registered last year, essentially driven by the non-oil sector, which grew 4%.

Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2022 was 3%, slightly better than our estimate of 2.9%; the non-oil economy, which accounts for 75% of GDP, was the main driver of last years economic growth, with a 4% expansion, driven by the easing of measures against the covid-19 pandemic and improved economic policies during the implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, which supported comprehensive growth, the analysts said.

In a commentary on figures released by the Angolan National Statistics Institute (INE) at the end of last month, which report GDP expansion of 2.6% in the last quarter and 3% for the year as a whole, the African department of this London-based consultancy writes that looking ahead to 2023, the forecast points to a decline in oil production, which will drive a modest moderation in economic growth to 2.3% this year, with oil production falling from 1.140 million barrels per day in 2022 to 1.127 million this year.

Regarding the last quarter of last year, the consultants say that the 5% decline from the same period of 2021 was the main obstacle to accelerating growth: INE says that the decline in refining margins and international demand for crude oil negatively affected the Angolan market, added to the slowdown in production, which fell from 8.3% growth in the third quarter of 2022 year-on-year to 0.8% in the last quarter of last year.
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Production of isopeptide-bonded BoNT molecules.(A) Schematic of the structural organization of BoNT/A (upper panel) with additions of the SpyCatcher elements to two botulinum parts (lower panel). (B) Coomassie-stained SDSPAGE showing the purified proteins and spontaneous assembly of isopeptide-bonded BoNT. (C) Coomassie-stained SDSPAGE showing isolation of iBoNT from the unreacted excess of SpyTagHC by gel filtration. (D) Structural models of native BoNT/A (left), non-elongated iBoNT (center), and elongated iBoNT (right) molecules based on known crystal structures (Lacy et al, 1998; Lerman et al, 2000; Li et al, 2014). (E) Coomassie-stained SDSPAGE demonstrating increasing molecular weights of iBoNT molecules compared with the native BoNT/A molecule, in non-reducing (left) and reducing conditions (right). The light chains (asterisks) become separated from the heavy chains (arrowheads) upon reduction in the critical disulphide bond. Credit: Life Science Alliance (2023). DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201631

A team of scientists from the Universities of Sheffield, Reading and University College London (UCL) and US-based biopharmaceutical company Neuresta have created a new, elongated botulinum neurotoxin which can alleviate chronic pain without risk of paralysis or addiction.

Chronic pain is extremely difficult to manage, and currently available drugs are limited by dangerous side effects. Opioids like morphine and fentanyl are the gold standard for short-term pain relief but they cannot effectively treat chronic pain due to the risk of addition, abuse and overdose.

Findings of the new study, published in the journal Life Science Alliance, show that a single injection of the precisely engineered botulinum neurotoxin provides long-lasting relief in mice models, without adverse effects.

The team, led by Professor Bazbek Davletov, Chair of Biomedical Science, and Research Associate Charlotte Leese from the University of Sheffield, developed a new way of rebuilding Botox by using elements of Clostridium botulinum and created a biopharmaceutical with new properties, without unwanted toxic effects.

By breaking down Botox into two separate parts, the team was able to produce them in an optimal elongated configuration, and then put them back together in a Lego-like manner.

Professor Davletov, from the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences, said, "Currently, painkillers can only relieve chronic pain temporarily and often have unwanted side effects."

"A single injection of the new nonparalytic blocker at the site of pain could potentially relieve pain for many months in humans and this now needs to be tested."

"We hope that the engineered drug could improve the quality of life for the millions of people world-wide who suffer from chronic pain."

"The promising results led to transfer of the technology to a US-based biopharmaceutical startup company Neuresta. The Neuresta team is now working on neuronal blockers tailored for various neurological conditions using the new bonding technique."

Professor Davletov added, "This new program of biopharmaceutical development could make it possible to produce a variety of Botox-like medicines in a safer and more economical way."

While current Botox and similar Dysport injections can effectively paralyze muscles, the elongated botulinum biopharmaceutical blocked the pain-linked nerves without causing muscle paralysis.

Botox holds great promise for clinical applications, but its paralytic activity has been a stumbling block for pain relief until now.

The team demonstrated that their newly engineered neurotoxin is a non-paralyzing neuronal blocker in preclinical collaborative studies at the Universities of Sheffield, Reading and UCL.

The method could potentially allow a form of chronic pain relief which could last as long as a single Botox injectionaround four to five monthspotentially helping as much as 20 percent of the population who are thought to be living with chronic pain.

Dr. Maria Maiaru, from the University of Reading, said, "People with chronic pain need new options for managing their symptoms. They need safer and more effective drugs."

"These new Botulinum molecules are effective in reducing pain-like behavior in models of human pain. We believe that this approach could open the way for the development of pain treatment to improve the quality of life of millions of people living with chronic pain."

More information: Charlotte Leese et al, New botulinum neurotoxin constructs for treatment of chronic pain, Life Science Alliance (2023). DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201631
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Culture of testicular cancer cells under Cisplatin at day 28: While the cells on the left almost all dead, individual cells in the right culture treated with the gene scissors also grow under Cisplatin and eventually fill almost the entire Petri dish. Credit: Kai Funke

Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) have now been able to elucidate a mechanism underlying cisplatin resistance in testicular cancer. Using CRISPR gene scissors, they identified the NAE1 gene as its driver. Inhibiting this resistance mediator by adding the NAE1 inhibitor MLN4924 not only restores the effect of cisplatin, but also has an additional killing effect on tumor cells. The study results have now been published in the British Journal of Cancer.

Testicular cancer, also known as testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT), is the most common type of cancer in young men. When treated with cisplatin, the tumor cells stop growing and die. This is because the cytostatic drug causes damage to DNA, the carrier of genetic information, thus stopping the cell cycle.

"The alarm signal is sent 'Attention, repair, do not divide further.' To do this, the cell needs, among others, so-called tumor suppressor genes that put the brakes on precisely this kind of damage and do not release cell growth until it has been repaired," says Prof. Hubert Schorle from the Institute of Pathology at UKB. The chances of cure with this type of chemotherapy are exceptionally high for testicular cancer. However, in some patients the tumor develops cisplatin resistance, which is associated with a reduced survival rate.

Overactive gene NAE1 lifts the cell division brake

To get to the bottom of the causes of cisplatin resistance in testicular cancer, the Bonn research team used CRISPR gene scissors. They used them to activate each gene once in testicular cancer cells. They then treated the genetically modified cell culture with cisplatin and singled out those cells that had survived and in which, as a result, the cytostatic drug was no longer effective.

"By analyzing the DNA of these cells, we found where the gene scissors were active and were able to identify the genes responsible for cisplatin resistance. In addition to genes already known for cisplatin resistance, to our surprise we found the gene NAE1, the regulator of the neddylation cascade," says first author Kai Funke, a Ph.D. student of Prof. Schorle.

A cell must be able to precisely control the type and amount of different proteins. In addition to the regulation of protein production, control over the targeted degradation of proteins is also important. Here, the neddylation cascade marks the proteins destined for degradation.

"It appears that tumor suppressor proteins, which act as brakes on cell growth in the presence of DNA damage, are an important target of neddylation. Accordingly, they are degraded to a greater extent and their braking effect is lifted when the neddylation cascade is overactive due to the upregulated gene NAE1," explains Prof. Schorle, who is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) "Life and Health" at the University of Bonn.

Blockade of neddylation increases cisplatin sensitivity of testicular germ cell tumors

In turn, inhibition of the neddylation cascade leads to an accumulation of suppressor proteins and, consequently, to a halt in cell division. With addition of the NAE1 inhibitor MLN4924, the Bonn researchers therefore observed a re-sensitization to the cytostatic drug in cisplatin-resistant testicular cancer cells. The fact that connective tissue cells were not affected by the treatment gives hope that there might be only weak side effects when applied.

Thus, the Bonn researchers highlight the additive effect of NAE1 inhibition by MLN4924 in combination with cisplatin as a new treatment option for testicular cancer. "We describe here for the first time neddylation as a therapeutic target in testicular germ cell tumors. Inhibition of neddylation is already being investigated in other tumor types in clinical trials. In pancreatic cancer MLN4924 has also been shown to have an additive effect with cisplatin," says Prof. Schorle.

More information: Kai Funke et al, Genome-scale CRISPR screen reveals neddylation to contribute to cisplatin resistance of testicular germ cell tumours, British Journal of Cancer (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02247-5 Journal information: British Journal of Cancer
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Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves depicting the accuracy of the PHQ-9, CESD-R and BDI-II across the full range of each tool with respect to CIS-R diagnostic grouping, in 50 South Asian HD patients. Credit: PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284090

New research from the University of Hertfordshire has underscored the disparities in mental health support for adults with kidney disease, recommending specialist, culturally-adapted approaches for South Asian patients who face barriers in accessing mental health screening and care.

Data shows that up to one in three patients with kidney disease will experience depression at some point. Those who require hospital-based hemodialysisthe most common form of dialysis for people with advanced kidney diseaseare particularly vulnerable to low mood or symptoms of depression, given the nuances of the treatment itself as well as its impact on sustaining everyday life activities.

People of South Asian origin are between three and five times more likely to develop end-stage kidney disease: this group comprises around 5% of the U.K. population, but 12.2% of kidney service users. Despite this, patients from these cultural groups are rarely included in mental health research.

Researchers at the University of Hertfordshirewho have long championed inclusive research at the intersection of kidney care and mental healthhave now conducted a first-of-its-kind study to address this disparity, undertaking assessments with over 200 South Asian dialysis patients and analyzing the results to make a number of specialist recommendations.

The paper, "The use of culturally adapted and translated depression screening questionnaires with South Asian haemodialysis patients in England," published this week in PLOS ONE, highlights the barriers that prevent South Asian patients being effectively screened for symptoms of depression, and the steps that should be taken to identify relevant symptom experiences.

Dr. Shivani Sharma, Associate Professor in Health Inequalities at the University's School of Life and Medical Sciences, co-led the new study with Professor Ken Farrington, Consultant Nephrologist at the Lister Hospital, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. Dr. Sharma explains, "Our study unveiled a number of obstacles to identifying depression in South Asian kidney patients. Language and cultural barriers were a common themefor example, in many South Asian languages, there are no equivalent terms for depression. Where English is a language barrier, even when family members are on hand to translate, these cultural differences in how patients experience and express their symptoms contribute to under-diagnosis."

To overcome these challenges in their study, Dr. Sharma and her team not only provided culturally adapted and translated questionnaires in Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu and Bengali, but also recruited bilingual project staff who became crucial to the study, as only 18% of patients were able to self-complete the study unassisted. This demonstrates that personalized, culturally sensitive support can have a major impact on people's ability to engage meaningfully with screening and support. By doing so, the researchers achieved a 97% consent to research completion rate, which is exceptionally promising to address under-representation in kidney research more generallya key national priority.

Dr. Sharma continued, "I am very proud of this study, which represents a significant step forward in improving access to inclusive care for patients managing multiple disadvantages. We have highlighted that we need to re-imagine what culturally responsive mental health care looks like, and how it is enabled in the context of living with a long-term condition."

More information: Shivani Sharma et al, The use of culturally adapted and translated depression screening questionnaires with South Asian haemodialysis patients in England, PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284090 Journal information: PLoS ONE
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Experts have found that at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, Americans chose not to become pregnant as they grappled with stay-at-home restrictions, anxiety, and economic hardship. Now, a new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine shows that some states actually experienced steeper decreases in fertility than others.

The findings revealed that nine months after the pandemic began, there were 18 fewer births a month per 100,000 women of reproductive age across the U.S. compared with the year before. However, after the second wave in 2021, fertility fell by roughly 9 monthly births per 100,000 women, which was similar to the rate at which national fertility had been decreasing prior to the pandemic.

"Our findings suggest that while the overall national fertility rate rebounded remarkably quickly after the initial COVID-19 wave, the initial declines by state were as polarized as the country as a whole," said study co-lead author Sarah Adelman, MPH, a research associate in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone Health.

According to the state-specific results, New York State experienced a massive fertility rate decline following the first wave, plunging from a pre-pandemic annual trend of 4 fewer monthly births per 100,000 women of reproductive age to roughly 76 fewer monthly births per 100,000 women.

Delaware saw about 64 fewer monthly births for the same number of women and Maryland about 55 fewer monthly births per 100,000 women. Like they had been in New York, annual fertility rate decreases in these states were in the single digits prior to the coronavirus outbreak.

By contrast, following the first wave, Idaho, Montana, and Utah experienced a boost of up to 56 additional births each month per 100,000 women of reproductive age. This is despite the fact that fertility rates in these areas had also been trending downward in the years leading up to the pandemic.

Adelman says that while previous research has documented national fertility-rate declines following COVID-19, the new study, published in Human Reproduction, goes a step further, comparing changes among individual states and examining factors that may account for the different rates.

For the research, the study team analyzed data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Bureau of Vital Statistics, the 2020 U.S. Census, and from the University of Virginia 2021 population estimates, to calculate fertility rate trends after each COVID-19 wave. The team then examined whether coronavirus case rates or other factors were the main drivers of fertility rate changes.

Contrary to their expectation, the severity of the coronavirus wave in each state appeared to have had little bearing on changes in that state's fertility rate, the researchers say. Rather, demographic factors like racial composition and economic factors, including greater income inequality, higher percentage of college-degree earners, and large drops in employment at the start of the pandemic, negatively impacted rates.

The research team then examined states' political leaning and a measure called the social distancing index (SDI), which tracked changes in people's mobility following the first wave. They found that states with stronger social distancing responses and that were politically liberal had larger fertility rate declines following the first wave of the pandemic.

When plotted on a graph, politically liberal places such as New York and the District of Columbia had the highest SDIs and lowest fertility rates, while more conservative states such as Idaho and Montana had the reverse.

"These results suggest that changes in a state's fertility rates were not driven by COVID-19 cases themselves but rather by existing social, economic, and political disparities," said co-lead author Mia Charifson, MA, a doctoral student in the Department of Population Health at NYU Langone.

"While these issues have always been linked with decisions about having children, they were clearly magnified by the pandemic, highlighting the need to address underlying social factors that constrain people's ability to grow their families, especially during times of crisis," added study senior author Linda Kahn, Ph.D., MPH.

Kahn, an assistant professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Population Health at NYU Langone, cautions that since the researchers used state-level, population-wide data in their study, their findings cannot explain choices made by individuals.

Future research, she says, might examine more personal factors that influence decisions around pregnancy during times of crisis, such as student debt, job security, and access to childcare, in addition to existential concerns about climate change and political instability.

More information: Sarah Adelman et al, State-specific fertility rate changes across the United States following the first two waves of COVID-19, Human Reproduction (2023). DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead055 Journal information: Human Reproduction
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Breast cancer cells. Credit: NCI

Olaparib (Lynparza), a targeted cancer drug, has been approved for hundreds of patients with certain breast cancers and prostate cancers in England.

The decision came after NHS England negotiated a discount for the drug from its manufacturer, AstraZeneca.

Previously, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), had not recommended olaparib as a treatment for certain types of breast or prostate cancer because of concerns about its cost-effectiveness.

Now, though, the drug will be made available through the NHS for more patients with inherited mutations in DNA repair genes called BRCA genes. These faults raise the risk of certain cancers, but they can also be targeted with olaparib.

NICE estimates that 300 adults with breast cancer will now be eligible for treatment with the drug, as will around 500 more people with advanced prostate cancer.

"Cancer Research UK-funded scientists played a leading role in the development and testing of olaparib, so this news is really exciting to see," said Martin Ledwick, our chief information nurse.

"The evidence shows that these drugs mean better chances of a good outcome for patients with early-stage breast cancer and advanced prostate cancer related to BRCA gene mutations.

"We hope that today's news will give patients facing these forms of cancer better options for treatment, to give them more time to make memories with the people they love."

Who is olaparib now recommended for?

NICE had already recommended olaparib for some BRCA-linked ovarian cancers that have come back or continued growing after treatment. It is now being made available on the NHS for two extra patient groups with faults in BRCA genes:

HER2-negative breast cancer patients with high-risk, early-stage disease, after chemotherapy and surgery. This group includes people with hormone receptor-positive and triple-negative breast cancer.

Prostate cancer patients whose disease has spread through their body (metastasized), and either returned or grown bigger after being treated with hormone therapy.

Clinical trials have shown that olaparib can extend advanced prostate cancer patients' lives by an average of six months.

When used after surgery and chemotherapy, the drug can also reduce the risk of BRCA-mutant, HER2-negative early breast cancer returning or getting bigger. The NICE committee made their recommendation after looking at evidence from the OlympiA trial, which showed that olaparib reduces the risk of breast cancer returning within four years by nearly a third.

NICE decisions are usually adopted in Wales and Northern Ireland as well as England, so the decision is likely to affect patients in all three nations. Scotland has a separate process for reviewing drugs. The Scottish Medicine Consortium recommended olaparib for a type of advanced prostate cancer in 2021.

How does olaparib work?

Olaparib, which is taken as a pill, is a type of targeted cancer drug called a PARP inhibitor. PARP is a protein that helps damaged cells to repair themselves. Olaparib stops it working.

That means it can be an effective cancer treatment for people who already have faults in genes linked to DNA repair, like BRCA mutations. These affect approximately 1 in 400 people in the U.K.

When BRCA genes are mutated, cancer cells are more reliant on PARP to keep their DNA healthy. So, when olaparib stops PARP from repairing DNA damage, they're more likely to die.

How were PARP inhibitors discovered?

With Cancer Research UK funding and support, Cambridge University Professor Steve Jackson and his research team developed olaparib in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Around the same time, our scientists played an instrumental role in finding the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. This helped make PARP inhibitors, which target BRCA mutations, such a breakthrough.

And while Jackson and his team were working on olaparib, we also helped support the researchers at Newcastle University who discovered and developed a similar PARP inhibitor called rucaparib. One of them, Professor Ruth Plummer, who we still fund, wrote the world's first prescription for a PARP inhibitor in 2003.

Today, these drugs are helping more and more patients. And our researchers are still finding new ways to use them, even for cancers that aren't related to BRCA mutations. A team led by Professor Anthony Chalmers at the University of Glasgow is using olaparib in combination with other drugs to improve how we treat brain tumors.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Controversy surrounds the effects of policies to reduce opioid prescriptions on suicide rates. There are concerns that rapid reductions in prescription opioids might provoke increased suicide risk among people who become desparate after they are taken off opioids.

According to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, however, changes in regional opioid prescribing and regional suicide rates tend to move in the same direction. This relationship held for rates of opioid prescribing, rates of high-dose prescribing and long-term prescribing, and having multiple opioid prescribers. Until now it was not known whether certain opioid prescribing patterns were associated with particularly elevated suicide risk.

Overall opioid prescribing declined for each of the measures during the 20092017 period and the overall rate of total suicide deaths increased from 13.80 to 16.36 per 100,000 persons. By evaluating regional changes, however, the researchers estimate that had opioid prescribing remained constant rather than decreased, the national rate of suicide would have risen even faster than it did.

The findings are published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Alternately, having any opioid prescriptions and having three or more opioid prescribers were each negatively associated with unintentional opioid-related deaths in people in the age ranges of 1024 and 2544. For some opioid prescribing measures, negative associations were also observed with unintentional overdose deaths involving opioids among younger people.

"The relationship between opioid prescribing and suicide risk is a complex one. This is particularly the case when people have their opioids tapered," said Mark Olfson, MD, MPH, professor of epidemiology at Columbia School of Public Health and Elizabeth K Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Law at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

"People can become desperate if their pain is not well controlled. Yet opioids also pose a greater risk of overdose than any other drug class and approximately 40 percent of overdose suicide deaths in the U.S. involve opioids. At a population-level, the national decline in opioid prescribing over last several years appears to have reduced the number of people who died of suicide."

Analyses were based on data from the 20092017 U.S. national IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Database and National Center for Health Statistics mortality data. Information was based on opioid prescription, with high-dose prescriptions (>120 mg/day morphine equivalents), with long-term prescriptions (>60 consecutive days), and with prescriptions from three or more prescribers. For geographic aggregation, the researchers used states and commuting zones as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The researchers looked at opioid prescribing measures for four age groups: 1024, 2544, 4564, and 65 years or older, as well as males and females. Because length of opioid prescribing is strongly associated with persistent opioid use the researchers included a measure of percentage with opioid prescriptions for long-term opioid prescriptions measured at greater then or equal to 60 consecutive days.

Also, because of the association between having multiple opioid prescribers and opioid overdose risk, Olfson and colleagues included a multiple prescriber measure as the percentage with three or more opioid prescribers during a year.

Among individuals in the 45- to 64-year age group, change in regional suicide deaths was positively associated with change in regional opioid prescriptions and change in percentage with at least one opioid prescription. Overall, the association with change in suicide deaths was significantly stronger in the West than in the East or the Midwest.

"If opioid prescribing per capita had held constant from 2009 to 2017, there would have been an estimated 10.5 percent more suicide deaths involving opioids in 2017," noted Olfson. The corresponding estimated percentage increases in opioid-related suicide deaths were 15 percent, 9 percent, 9 percent, and 19 percent, respectively, for at least one opioid prescription, high-dose prescriptions, long-term prescriptions, and three or more opioid prescribers.

In the U.S., geographic regions with the greatest declines in people filling opioid prescriptions also tended to have the greatest declines in total suicide deaths. Had the national decline in opioid prescriptions between 2009 and 2017 not occurred, there would have been 3 percent more suicide deaths overall in the U.S. according to the research team. For four of five prescribing measures, decreasing regional opioid prescriptions were also related to declining total opioid-related overdose deaths.

"Although the present population-level research cannot establish that opioid prescriptions cause deaths by suicide, the results are consistent with the view that opioid prescription policies and practices should give careful attention to possible connections between prescription opioids and suicide risk," noted Olfson.

Co-authors are Timothy Waidmann, and Vincent Pancini, Urban Institute, Health Policy Center, Washington, D.C.; Marissa King, University of Pennsylvania; and Michael Schoenbaum, NIMH, Bethesda.

More information: A study of opioid prescriptions and mortality found population-level evidence linking opioid prescribing to suicide risk, American Journal of Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.22020102 Journal information: American Journal of Psychiatry
Had I been asked to predict Robert Falls final show for the Goodman Theatre, following a 35-year run as artistic director, Id have guessed Anton Chekhovs The Cherry Orchard, the greatest play ever written about the pain  maybe also the opportunity, but mostly the searing pain  of leaving something you deeply love.

No stage director in the history of Chicago, if not America, has revealed in their art a keener awareness of their own narrative trajectory. Falls was never going to go quietly and, frankly, it would have been a colossal disappointment had this giant of Chicago theater chosen to go out with, say, some dumb farce about persons other than himself.

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Thats not to say the man does not have a sense of humor. He does, along with a deep sense of irony about his own significance in this most ephemeral art forms, as practiced in a city perennially teetering at the edge of cultural centrality. So, of course, did Chekhov, a writer with an acute sense of the peskiness of the provincial, which is why the two long have been such a fine match. But never better than in the show you can now see on Dearborn Street.

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Simply put, The Cherry Orchard, as adapted by the director and performed by many of Falls favorite Chicago actors (the ones still alive, at least), is everything I had hoped it would be. Everything and more.

For many in the Goodman audience, the show will seem like rich, lively, emotionally intense Chekhov. But for anyone who has paid close attention to Falls and his body of work at the Goodman? This show has more Easter eggs than a Taylor Swift concert.

Im in the latter camp, of course. Pray, then, your indulgence. I even wondered if Todd Rosenthal had deliberately built the stars of the Chicago flag into his set design and costumer Ana Kuzmanic had incorporated elements of past Falls shows. It is that kind of night.

The most obvious Fallsian figure in this allegory is Lyubov Ranevskaya, played by Kate Fry and conceived by Chekhov as a once wealthy woman unable to resist the passage of time and the arrival of Lopakhin (Kareem Bandealy), a man of much humbler parentage who now has the resources to buy her beloved cherry orchard out from under her and force her to vacate the premises.

Matt DeCaro, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Kate Fry, Alejandra Escalante and Kareem Bandealy in Anton Chekhovs "The Cherry Orchard" at the Goodman Theatre. (Liz Lauren / HANDOUT)

The Cherry Orchard is about how Ranevskaya is forced to leave, along with her mostly unaware daughter Anya (Raven Whitley), her savvier adopted daughter Varya (Alejandra Escalante) and her brother, Leonid (Christopher Donohue), an ineffectual eccentric who manages change very much like Connor Roy in the HBO show Succession. Meaning, better than most. Theres a deceptively complicated set by Rosenthal that comes and, most notably, goes.

Of course, Ranevskaya (not unlike Falls) is surrounded by a retinue of economic dependents, including a governess Charlotta (Janet Ulrich Brooks), a maid Dunyasha (Amanda Drinkall), a perpetual student Petya (Stephen Cefalu), a neighbor (Matt DeCaro) and the house butler Firs, played with enormous sadness and gravitas by Francis Guinan. These could be artistic associates, all searching for new lives. Charlotta at least has some tricks to pull out for the new boss.

The ever-formidable Fry is a sight to behold here. Falls, no doubt aware of the dangers of hubris, has conceived her much like a clown in the final company of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, a once-elegant woman now descending with every beat and smear of her makeup into a kind of self-imposed madness, a tragicomic King Lear on a Russian heath of the nonprofit American theater. With a plethora of fools at her side.

Kate Fry and Christopher Donahue in Anton Chekhovs "The Cherry Orchard" at the Goodman Theatre. (Liz Lauren / HANDOUT)

Bandealy offers a shrewd performance as the harbinger of drastic change in this theater  his work signals both delight and internal guilt, as well it should.

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At one point during Monday nights opening, my head left the Falls issue for a moment to marvel at something else: How could a nation that gave the world the humanistic nuance of Chekhov now be in the thrall of that warmongering bombast Vladimir Putin? Think about that, and whatever is occurring at the Goodman recedes in importance.

Falls, who once spent much time in Moscow, was also conscious of that most undesirable of changes, just as he was his own inability to stop time or return to life his longtime creative partner, Brian Dennehy, who surely would have been on this stage in this of all shows.

To end all these decades of reviews of Falls work at the Goodman, youll have to forgive me some spoilers: I dont think theyll undermine your enjoyment.

At one point, Ranevskaya leads her crew in a long moment of the loudest silence I ever felt in this theater; experience it and you will see what I mean, and what it means.

And, of course, there is the famous ending of the play where the old butler Firs gets accidentally left behind, a denouement that in this metaphoric universe suggests either (a) that Falls now will be discarded under dust covers or (b), that an ever-aging Falls and the weight of his reputation will be sitting in the front row as the new Goodman artistic director, Susan Booth, forges ahead.

Falls does not discourage (b) in the slightest: Firs reappears in a place you dont expect.

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Elvis has left the building.

And if you believe that, youre a fool.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

Review: The Cherry Orchard (4 stars)

When: Through April 30

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Where: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.

Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Tickets: $25-$80 at 312-443-3800 and www.goodmantheatre.org
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

As Americans, we've become accustomed to the nearly unique experience of seeing commercials for medicines like prescription drugs on televisiononly the U.S. and New Zealand allow this kind of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising.

The proliferation of such commercials in recent years has prompted concern among public health experts and consumer advocacy groups alike. Because they emphasize the potential benefits of a product, in this case a drug, some feel that the ads may not provide accurate and balanced information to patients and may also contribute to rising healthcare costs.

In the following Q & A, Glyn Elwyn, MD, Ph.D., MSc, a professor of The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, discusses similar concerns about a new and emerging medical product: multi-cancer early detection tests (MCEDs), which may soon be widely available to consumers.

Elwyn and colleagues Kevin Selby, MD, MAS, from the Center for Primary Care and Public Health at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and Robert Volk, Ph.D., from the University of Texas MD Andersen Cancer Center, talk about the potential benefits and harms of the tests in a recent paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

What was your main goal in publishing this paper?

To alert clinicians to the fact that these tests are coming and they're coming pretty quickly, we think. When they start advertising MCEDs widely to the public, there's likely going to be a surge of interest and high expectations from consumers. But with that interest comes the potential to cause a lot of challenges.

For example, when a new test appears accompanied by direct-to-consumer advertisements, physicians often feel a bit blindsidedespecially in primary care where we're supposed to know a little about many different things. The options feel like, "either I dig in and just say 'no,' or I accept it and write the prescription." The second feels easier because, up front, it's just a "simple" blood test. It's the downstream consequences that are complex.

By helping primary care physicians articulate what an informed patient should know before doing the test, we hope to lessen the shock and make for better conversations.

Can you describe what MCED tests are and how they work?

MCEDs are blood tests that are designed to search for a range of cancersthese tests have been developed to look for about fifty different tumor types at the same time.

MCEDs work by identifying tiny quantities of DNA from cancer cells that float free in the bloodstream and also specific protein biomarkers that have been released into your blood by early-stage cancer cells before any symptoms or signs of disease take place. They use a proprietary computer program that says, "If this protein and this DNA from a cancer cell is present, you might have a cancer of the kidney, for example, or of the thyroidnow you need to look more carefully at those areas." So, it's a signal to look more closely, and not a definitive diagnostic test.

Why are MCEDs so controversial?

While none of these tests are currently approved by the FDA, some are already available commercially through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act. You can order them from a doctor that works in a clinical organization for a cost of around $1,000. There is a worry that they may become widely available before most clinicians are aware of them, and before they become fully tested and are found to be helpful.

We know that regular screenings for some kinds of cancerssuch as colorectal, breast, and cervicalas recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, is warranted because early detection has shown reductions in both incidence and mortality from cancer. These screening methods have been studied in many scientific trials and have been found to be helpful.

One real appeal of MCEDs is that they have the potential to detect cancers that aren't commonly screened for. But we don't know whether early diagnosis of some of these cancers is going to be helpful in the long run. Potential harms might include overdiagnosis, cascades of additional testing, many false positives, increased anxiety, and more expensive care.

Scientists worry about something called "lead-time bias," where tests like this make you aware of the diagnosis but do not change the outcome in the long run. And while these tests are being marketed at a cost of around $1,000, it's not yet clear if insurers will provide any coverage for them.

What do you hope to see happen as a result of your paper?

More discussion about the potential downsides of these tests, and caution on the part of consumers and health professionals. We would suggest that a taskforce needs to look at these and make a policy recommendation about their use.

In addition, I think the development of a shared decision making tool that primary care doctors can use with patients would be very helpful in guiding their conversations about MCEDs. This would help them weigh all of the pros and cons and make an informed decision about whether or not getting one of these tests makes sense for them.

More information: Kevin Selby et al, Multi-cancer Early Detection Tests, Primary Care, and Shared Decision Making, Annals of Internal Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.7326/M23-0067 Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine
Dueling Friday night rulings over the legality and availability of mifepristone, also known as the abortion pill, are the most significant turn yet in whats shaping up to be the biggest fight over reproductive rights in the US since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June. (Mekelburg, 4/11)
TUESDAY, April 11, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnancy-related mortality increased more rapidly in 2021 than in 2020, according to a study published online March 16 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Marie E. Thoma, Ph.D., from the University of Maryland in College Park, and Eugene R. Declercq, Ph.D., from Boston University, assessed national pregnancy-related mortality ratios before (January 2019 to March 2020) and during (April 2020 to December 2020 and 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic overall, by race and ethnicity, and by rural-urban classifications using vital records data.

The researchers found that pregnancy-related mortality was significantly higher in 2021 (45.5 per 100,000 live births) versus during the pandemic in 2020 (36.7 per 100,000 live births) and before the pandemic (29.0 per 100,000 live births). Across all race and ethnicity and rural-urban residence categories, pregnancy-related mortality ratios increased in 2021. The largest increase was seen among American Indian/Alaska Native people (pregnancy-related mortality ratio, 160.8 versus 79.0 per 100,000 live births in April to December 2020; 104 percent relative change). When comparing 2021 to April to December 2020, medium-small metropolitan (52.4 versus 37.7 per 100,000 live births; 39.0 percent relative change) and rural (56.2 versus 46.5 per 100,000 live births; 21.0 percent relative change) areas had a larger increase compared with large urban areas (39.1 versus 33.7 per 100,000 live births; 15.9 percent relative change).

"Pregnancy-related mortality ratios increased more rapidly in 2021 than in 2020, consistent with rising rates of COVID-19-associated mortality among women of reproductive age," the authors write.
Call it lemonade from lemons.

The closing of a 95-bed nursing home in Missoula last summer was bad news for the beleaguered senior-care industry in Montana and for all those seeking places for elderly loved ones. But a Missoula-based nonprofit that provides shelter and services for mothers and children has announced it will be acquiring the facility and expanding.

Mountain Home Montana, currently headquartered at 2606 South Ave. W., is under contract to purchase the former Hillside Health and Rehabilitation facility at 4720 23rd Ave.

Over the next few years, the new building will allow Mountain Home to double its capacity to house people in its residential facility from 25 individuals every year to more than 50.

We are thrilled and inspired to have the support of the former property owner, incredible donors, partners and others to make this dream a reality, said Steph Goble, executive director of Mountain Home. We are seeing record-high referrals of families living without secure housing, access to child care, livable wages or a support network. This project will help us address all these issues with the care that supports moms and their children through the many chapters of parenthood.

The Hillside building is about 41,000 square feet and housed about 80-90 residents at a time when it was an assisted living facility. Mountain Home is currently licensed as a child care facility for 15 kids. Goble said she hopes the new building will allow them to bump that up to 32 and expand the ages they serve.

Were gonna hold on to our current facility, Goble said. We really want to make sure its a strategic transition so its smooth for the families. We know historically that a one-stop shop is whats best for families needing resources.

The nonprofit is under contract to purchase the new building and is in the process of hiring an architect. It hopes to be at full capacity in the new facility in three to five years.

Besides expanded child care, the Hillside property will allow Mountain Home to develop new programs, provide substance use disorder recovery services and function as a community resource hub for other nonprofits. This site has green space and outdoor activities on a more secure and safe campus, according to Goble. It also has easy access to public transportation, schools, a grocery store and employment opportunities.

The nonprofit is one of only a few organizations in Montana that provides long-term, two-generational care for young families. As one of Montanas first trauma-informed child care centers for children ages 0-3, Goble said they serve as a resource for other human service organizations. She added that the transitional residential program, substance use recovery supports, evidence-based supportive education and employment programs are leading models statewide and nationally. Mountain Home has working relationships with over 600 employers and educational institutes to help families achieve their academic goals and find sustainable employment and benefits.

No one in Missoula does what Mountain Home Montana does, said Jamie McConnell, chair of Mountain Homes board. We have grown so much over the past 22 years, but the need for our unique program and services continues to grow. This new property is an exciting opportunity that will allow us to serve even more families.

Goble said Mountain Home has been on the hunt for new space since she came aboard two years ago. She noted that they rely on county, state and federal funding along with an incredible community of donors.

We have about 30-35 families on our waiting list daily, Goble said. We really pride ourselves on being that transitional long-term care, not just a quick homeless shelter. We try to set up families with supports so they dont re-enter poverty. That 30-35 on the waiting list is pretty daunting, so we are excited to answer that call and take referrals from the YWCA and other great organizations in town.
A man will spend five years in custody at the Montana Department of Corrections for running over and killing a woman with his truck in the Missoula WinCo parking lot.

Bradley D. Nagel, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular homicide while under the influence in January, court filings show. On Monday, Missoula County District Judge Robert Deschamps sentenced Nagel to 30 years at the DOC with all but five years of that time suspended.

Nagel was initially arrested in October 2021 after Missoula dispatch received several calls of a vehicle versus pedestrian hit-and-run collision in the parking lot of the Missoula WinCo Foods on South Reserve Street. The victim, Lucille Synek, died at Providence St. Patrick Hospital after she was treated for severe injuries. Surveillance footage showed Synek standing in front of Nagels truck and getting pushed to the side when Nagel drove forward after the two were arguing, according to charging documents.

The loss of my mother has turned my world entirely upside down, Dustin WolfeSynek, Lucilles son, said. Ive lost a big component of my support system, and will never be able to truly live a normal life again at 27 years old.

Syneks loved ones detailed the evening of Oct. 16, 2021, and how they went from finding out about the incident to ending up in the hospital beside Synek in her final hours of life. They described her as an avid motorcycle lover and a woman with a big heart.

I thought shed always be there, but she was taken, Bryan Wolfe, a nephew of Syneks, said. She was taken away from us.

Nagel, who shared a five-year relationship with Synek, cried while Syneks loved ones spoke about the impact her death had on them. When given the chance to address the courtroom, he apologized to Synek's family for taking her life.

Missoula Deputy County Attorney Mac Bloom said at the hearings outset that it was contested, with state prosecution and many of Syneks family members wanting Nagel to serve out his time at the state prison, while Nagels attorneys requested he be sentenced to the DOC. The latter has more rehabilitative methods available to convicts.

I feel for everybody in this room. Its a hard call, I dont know if Im right, Deschamps said after he pronounced the DOC sentence. After the judge's decision, Syneks loved ones became visibly upset in the courtroom with some walking out before the hearing concluded.

In Montana, a vehicular homicide while under the influence charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in the state prison.

Nagel was remanded to the custody of the Missoula County Sheriff.
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.
There were other serendipitous benefits to becoming a B Corp, such as providing a holistic glimpse into the effects of their business practices.

"We had all these different aspects of our business and that was important but the [B Lab] impact assessment looked at everything  from the ratio of CEO pay to the lowest paid worker to using permeable concrete in our parking lots. And the score was interesting because that enabled us to look at where we fall short and make improvements. It also gives us company and friends because we can talk to other businesses that are dealing with the same set of values and challenges we have."

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" " B Corp status has served as a trail marker for Patagonia in helping the company make environmentally sustainable business decisions. Robert Alexander/Getty Images

These days, Stanley calls himself an "evangelist for B Corps."

"(B Corps are) coalescing all of the impulses in business to do the right thing to treat stakeholders, employees, customers, communities and the environment, fairly," he says.

This begs the question: Aside from getting a great product, what happens when a consumer buys a product from Patagonia?

"A couple of things," says Stanley. "We still give 1 percent to environmental causes, grassroots organizations. But we've got a platform now called Action Works so if you lived in Atlanta and you're interested in water issues you can go on the Action Works site and link up with organizations that are active in water issues in the region. What we're trying to do is be a convener of community in some way, both for the environmental community and for the sport communities. You get that but you also get a product that is made with a lot of attention to environmental quality, and the quality of life of the person who produces it."

I think the two things that are essential for business in the world now and that we're facing for the next 50 years or so," he says, "is does the product justify the social-environmental cost? Is it useful? And second, is it made in the right way? So, a jacket will be useful however it's made but it's important in our time to say, how was this made? How were the workers treated? How were the communities affected where these fabrics were created and the garments sewn?"
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
North Carolina School for the Deaf students, faculty and staff along with city and county leaders gathered in the auditorium of the schools main building on Wednesday for the schools 129th annual Founders Day.

On Founders Day, the school remembers its long tradition of deaf education and passes that history down to the next generation of NCSD students.

It is an important time for us, said School Director Mark Patrick. We like to continue to celebrate our heritage and all of the individuals that not only worked so hard to bring this school to fruition, but also at the same time that deaf education continues to live on in such a positive and important way.

He said it is important for students to remember that they are part of a school with such a long history.

We have a 129-year history, Patrick said. The school was established in 1891 and then opened in 1894 to students.

He hopes remembering the schools rich history will help the next generation continue to innovate and encourage them to continue to invest in deaf education for the future. While deaf education methods and theory have changed a great deal over the years, he sees the schools job as reaching students wherever they are.

Deaf education itself has transitioned and transpired from only manual communication to only oral communication forced and then transitioned back to a combination, Patrick said. We feel, to have a strong approach to deaf education, we use all modalities and support the students where they are.

After a brief introduction from Patrick, NCSD student Tie Barnes presented a research project on the schools founding and its founder Edward Goodwin.

Barnes said Goodwin began his career teaching at North Carolinas original school for the deaf and blind in Raleigh. Barnes said it did not take long for Goodwin to become convinced the state needed a school specifically dedicated to deaf students.

While Goodwin worked to secure funding for the school, the city of Morganton donated 100 acres of land for the schools future site. In 1894, when the schools main building was completed, Barnes said Goodwin was named the schools first superintendent, a post he occupied until his death in 1937.

Barnes said it is important to recognize the people, like Goodwin, who made NCSD possible.

Dr. Goodwin devoted his whole life to the North Carolina School for the Deaf, Barnes said. Today is Founders Day, and we are celebrating the 129 years of the founding of this school by Dr. Goodwin. Keep talking about Dr. Goodwin and his stories.

The Founders Day program concluded with the NCSD cheerleaders signing the school song. After the program, students, faculty, visitors and supporters enjoyed social time with cupcakes, popcorn and other refreshments.
Cultural links help to foster stronger bonds

08:18, April 11, 2023 By XU WEI ( China Daily

Art workshops part of broader efforts to enhance China-Arab understanding

For Omani artist Saud Al Hunaini, the trips he made to China for both artistic creation and exchanges have always been "pleasant and eyeopening", allowing him to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and traditions.

"In my opinion, exchanges in art between China and Arab countries are essential for building stronger cultural and humanitarian ties," he told China Daily.

"Art is a universal language that transcends boundaries and enables people to connect and understand each other's cultures. Through cultural exchanges, we can share our respective artistic traditions, learn from each other's techniques, and create new works of art that reflect our shared values and aspirations."

Al Hunaini is among the over 50 Arab artists who recently wrote a letter to President Xi Jinping to share their impressions from participating in the "Silk Road Artists' Rendezvous" visits to China  art workshops first launched by China in 2009 to facilitate trips by Arab artists to better learn about the country and its culture.

The 11 art workshops, which have so far attracted over 100 artists from 22 Arab countries and facilitated the creation of 487 paintings, sculptures and ceramic works, are a microcosm of broader efforts between China and Arab countries to build up mutual understanding and enhance people-to-people exchanges.

A strong level of mutual understanding, broad-based public support for bilateral ties between China and the Arab world, and China's respect for the diversity of civilizations have played an important part in its successful mediation efforts that led to the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, analysts said.

In their letter to the Chinese president, the Arab artists expressed their hope that with Xi's support, cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the Arab world will be more colorful, dialogue between the two civilizations more active and friendship between them more solid.

The reply from the Chinese president, published on April 3, offered the artists "immense pride and happiness", Al Hunaini said.

In his reply, the president welcomed more artists from Arab states to visit China, saying that he hopes they can use their creations to promote cultural exchanges between China and the Arab world and help more Arab people learn about China.

"Culture can connect hearts, and art can interlink the world," Xi wrote in his reply.

"Knowing that the president of China took the time to respond to our letter and acknowledge our message of fostering cultural and humanitarian ties between China and Arab countries was a testament to the value of the workshops," Al Hunaini said.

Nizar Daher, a Lebanese artist who was a co-author of the letter, said in an interview that cultural and artistic exchanges have played a major role in developing bonds of friendship between the Lebanese, Arab and Chinese people.

He underlined the Global Civilization Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in March, as a "realistic vision of cultural pluralism".

The 71-year-old artist said he is embarking on a project to establish a Chinese cultural week program in Lebanon, which includes an art exhibition, a theatrical show and a musical group, in order to bring the two peoples closer.

People-to-people links

The emphasis from the Chinese president on cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Arab countries was also expressed in a reply letter Xi wrote to young people learning the Chinese language in Saudi Arabia, while he was making a four-day visit to the Middle Eastern country in December.

During the visit, Xi and leaders of Arab countries jointly laid out a blueprint for comprehensive cooperation and agreed at the first China-Arab States Summit to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

He called on China and the Arab world to increase exchanges among civilizations to enhance mutual understanding and trust, highlighting the need to increase personnel exchanges, deepen people-to-people cooperation and set an example of inter-civilizational exchanges and mutual learning in the new era.

According to a report on China-Arab cooperation in the new era issued by China's Foreign Ministry in December, cooperation between China and the Arab world has been expanded to youth, religion, political parties, media, education, culture and health.

Mutual learning

China has trained over 25,000 people from Arab countries in various categories and offered 11,000 scholarships to Arab states since 2013, according to the report.

As of October, four Arab countries have included the Chinese language in their national education systems, 15 Arab countries have launched Chinese language majors in their colleges and 13 Arab countries host Confucius institutes.

The two sides have also hosted 24 regular people-to-people exchange events since 2013, including art festivals and forums on women's empowerment.

Tang Zhichao, a researcher of Middle East studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that Xi's recent reply to Arab artists would help usher in new breakthroughs in people-to-people exchanges between China and the Arab world.

Xi's statements in the reply letters are in alignment with the GCI, which stressed the key implications for dialogue and mutual learning between different civilizations, he said.

He explained that even though COVID-19 has posed immense obstacles to people-to-people exchanges between China and Arab countries, the two sides have written new chapters of mutual learning in their joint fight against the pandemic.

The recent China-Arab States Summit has also given fresh impetus to cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides, he said.

"The mutual learning and exchanges between China and Arab civilizations have been a vivid example for the GCI. Such exchanges will be of stronger realistic implications in a turbulent world filled with uncertainties," he said.

Beijing's vision for civilizations and values has been fully displayed in its success in brokering the agreement between Riyadh and Teheran to restore diplomatic and economic ties, Tang said.

The mediation was a process in which the Chinese civilization joined hands with Arab and Persian civilizations in demonstrating the importance of seeking harmony without uniformity and enabling all parties to prosper and flourish together, he said.

Al Hunaini, the Omani artist, said he fully supports the GCI on the basis that "cultural diversity is a strength that should be celebrated and preserved, and that mutual learning and respect are essential for building a peaceful and prosperous world".

"The cultural exchanges between China and Arab countries are a perfect example of this vision in action, and I am honored to be a part of this important initiative," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Golden Brooks might be best known playing Maya on the iconic sitcom Girlfriends." Next up, she stars in the new Disney series Saturdays, which filmed in Chicago. (George McKinley )

Different cities have their own distinct roller skating culture. Chicago-style roller skating is featured in the Disney Channel series Saturdays, starring Golden Brooks as the mom to a 14-year-old looking to create the hottest skate routines at her local rink.

Chicago is the hub for and mecca of a JB (James Brown) style of skating, said Brooks, and let me tell ya, I skated in the 80s and it was different back then! When I booked Saturdays, I was so excited to roller skate again. I thought, how different could it be? Cut to: Um, its different! It was a thing, learning this new style of skating, which is so cool and such a culture and such a vibe in Chicago. They sent us all to skate camp and the kids are phenomenal.

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Brooks might be best known as Maya from the iconic sitcom Girlfriends, but her resume also includes everything from Lincs to Star Trek: Enterprise to Hart of Dixie to Blunt Talk to The Good Doctor.

When asked about a worst moment in her career, she replied: Girl, girl, girl  its actually sad. This is a story where you try to dig yourself out of a mess, but youre sunk. Youre done. And this is a moment where they knew it, and I knew it.

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My worst moment 

My agent called with an amazing script for a movie. It was a big deal because they wanted to see me but I didnt really need to audition, the director just wanted to sit down and talk about the script.

Well, I got the script late. And it just so happened that I got the script right around the time that my daughter had a track meet. And then something was going on with my computer, I couldnt open the link. I had just moved and my Wi-Fi was all jacked up. So I tried to print it and my printer cartridge ran out of ink. It was just a comedy of errors, nothing was working out. I tried to reschedule the meeting and my agent was like, No, theyre going out of town, this is the last day the director can see you.

The cast of Saturdays, from left, back row: Jermaine Harris, Golden Brooks, Omar Gooding, Tim Johnson Jr. Front row, from left: Peyton Basnight, Danielle Jalade and Daria Johns. (Roger Erickson/Disney)

So I wasnt able to read it the night before. The next morning, Im finally able to open the link. Im skimming through the script and its very lofty. Its close to 100 pages. Its a period piece, by the way. Like during the Martin Luther King era. But I thought I could pull it off. Im really good at paraphrasing and filling in the blanks and evading the question and making it seem as if I know whats going on. I have that gift  or so I thought.

Long story short, I get to the audition and I see other actresses there who are very impressive. I was like, oh, wow. This is really a thing! Theyre looking at some heavy hitters.

I go in, meet the director and there are all the pleasantries. The casting director was there and I think a producing partner was there too. They wanted to get my take on the script, so were talking about how I got started in acting and then we get into the role and theyre like, We think you could be right for this. And Im thinking: Wow, Golden, youre really knocking this out of the park, especially for not knowing the script.

Then they said, Tell us which part of the script you think is the most monumental moment for this character. So I said, You know, for me, I really feel its at the end when the character dies. I think that really catapults everything else for her family. Everything shes been working for, at the end, its almost like she knew that this was going to happen to her.

And theyre looking at me.

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And they said, Golden, she doesnt die.

And I said, Oh! Wait  what? (Laughs) Theyre like, No.

And Im like, Oh. Maybe Im thinking of a different character. And theyre like, Yeah, youre thinking of another character. Theres another character in the film who dies. But not me. Because I was skimming it so quickly, I got that completely wrong!

So I said, Oh, Im so sorry. I must have gotten that confused. And theyre like (curtly), Thank you, Golden.

And that was the end of the meeting. Because I knew they knew I wasnt prepared. They didnt take me seriously because they probably thought I didnt take it seriously. And that was that.

From left, the cast of "Girlfriends": Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Reggie Hayes, Persia White and Golden Brooks. (UPN)

I have to say, that was one of my most embarrassing moments. And Ill tell you something else: I never heard from that director again.

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Its not that I didnt take it seriously. I just thought: Im me, Im Golden Brooks  theyll be forgiving. You get a little, I dont want to say cocky. But I was like, sure, I dont know every aspect of the script, but you never know, sometimes you get directors and they dont ask you really in-depth questions. But this director really wanted to do some character analysis.

Theres always going to be that one time when they call your bluff.

What did that feel like in the moment?

You know when your whole body gets hot? And your underarms are really clammy and sweaty? I feel like they could see my heart beating really fast.

That started when I could see in the directors eyes that she was onto me. And thats when I was like, Wow, she is really not feeling me  she knows. So I said to myself: Golden, just get up and say, You know what? Im so sorry, Im not prepared. Just say it, Golden. Im having an out-of-body experience looking at myself saying, Golden, tell the truth. Stop it, stop lying. Walk away with some kind of pride intact. Cmon! (Laughs)

But no, I ignored my inner voice and I was like, Im going to keep doing this because I can do this. I can still win this. This can be recovered. This can be repaired! But it went from bad to worse.

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You know the different stages of grief? Thats what I went through afterward. At first, I was like: How dare she! How dare she put me on the spot like that. So I was angry at the director. How dare you even come at me and make me feel like this. Then I felt doubt: It wasnt that bad, was it? Then I felt sadness: Oh my gosh, I was horrible. Theyre never going to call me in again. And then it just went into acceptance: OK, you know what? They dont want me, I dont want them. It wasnt my best day. Thats fine.

Im normally very fastidious when it comes to being prepared. But every now and then you just cant get it together. It just happens sometimes.

The takeaway 

If you get a script on a Monday and the meeting is on Friday, start working on it as soon as you can  and make sure your Wi-Fi is working!

The thing is, I didnt want to be the actress that comes in and complains: My Wi-Fi went out, my daughter had a track meet, my cartridge ran out of ink, blah-blah-blah. Because that sounds worse. So I picked the lesser of two evils. I was backed into a corner and took my best option. I just didnt know they were going to ask me to do such involved character analysis.

But Ill tell you the beauty of being a good bluffer: That is how you make it in life! Im kidding. But I think I have had to learn how to fit a circle into a square at times and theres something about that tenacity of plowing through. If youre already gifted at something, maybe, just maybe, you can make it work. You have this lofty sense of self and youre thinking, No, I can do that! And sometimes you can. Its like having a gamblers mentality. And theres the adrenaline of seeing if this can go your way.

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The older I get, the more Im a cross your ts and dot your is kind of lady. But I think in the past Ive been a little more of an emotional gambler.

Nina Metz is a Tribune critic

nmetz@chicagotribune.com
The city of Morganton, in conjunction with Summit Community Church, held its annual Easter egg hunt on Wednesday after the event was rescheduled Saturday due to inclement weather. Kids enjoyed playing a variety of games before being let loose to collect the thousands of eggs filled with candy and prizes.
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 wasn't 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.

Read more here:

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Interactive: Find out more about mass killings in the U.S. Interactive: Number of mass killings by year Interactive: Mass killings by location scaled by number of victims Interactive: Search mass killing incidents Interactive: Timeline of mass killings scaled by number of victims killed Interactive: Number of mass killings and victims killed this year compared with previous years Interactive map: People killed by shootings, per 100,000 residents
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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Failure to remain

Debbie Crnkovich, 67, of Butte was booked into the Butte Detention Center on April 6, jailed for failure to stop and remain at the scene of an accident involving injury.

Sunday arrest

Joseph Henson, 43, of Butte was arrested Sunday for violating a protective order and stalking when an order of protection was in place.

Criminal mischief

Jacob Irvin, age 36 of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was arrested and jailed Saturday for criminal mischief and criminal trespass following an incident on the 100 block of North Montana Street.

Recent DUIs

Jeannine Strong, 31, of Butte was arrested last Friday following a traffic stop in the 500 block of South Montana Street. She was jailed for driving under the influence (second offense).

Following a minor accident near the intersection of Galena and Idaho streets, Andrew DeMoney, 32, of Butte was arrested Saturday for a DUI (first offense).

Michael Dunlap, 51, of Butte was booked into the jail Sunday for a DUI (second offense), along with failing to have liability insurance in effect. Dunlap was involved in an accident at the intersection of LaSalle and Montana streets.

On Monday, Jeremy Laughlin, 34, of Butte was arrested on a DUI (first offense) and for having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.

Other reports

A man reported that the passenger-side window of his pickup truck was shattered sometime during the night.

A woman told police that her Social Security card and birth certificate were taken from her apartment at the Napton Apts., 25 E. Granite St.

A truck had one of its tires punctured in the 600 block of South Montana Street.
A biogeochemist and others raise concerns about the EPA's reliance on what they described as an outdated standard for when to remove soils con
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 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.
Tupperware is warning that it might go out of business, despite its leaders previously touting a turnaround from years of declining sales.

In a statement, the 77-year-old food-container and kitchen-equipment company said it might not have enough cash to survive in the near term if it isnt able to amend its credit agreements or get enough capital. It is bringing on financial advisers with the goal of raising more money.

The company has concluded there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern, the statement from Friday said.

In 2019, Tupperware said it employed about 300 people at its headquarters in Central Florida, but in February 2020 that number had fallen to about 250 people.

A Tupperware spokeswoman declined to comment Monday.

Tupperwares stock price was at $1.24 Monday at close, plunging nearly 50% from $2.42 last week.

The company is doing everything in its power to mitigate the impacts of recent events, and we are taking immediate action to seek additional financing and address our financial position, said CEO Miguel Fernandez in the statement.

The business is in discussions with potential investors and financing partners and is looking at other options such as right-sizing efforts or sale-leaseback deals with its real estate.

The company has already moved off all its remaining land in Central Florida, with deals in 2021 and 2020. Tupperware entered an 11-year sale-leaseback agreement for its corporate headquarters in November 2020.

The New York Stock Exchange has also said Tupperware could be delisted after the company did not file an annual report. The company said it expects to file that report within the next 30 days but added there can be no assurance that it will be done at that time.

Tupperware, known for its plastic containers and sales parties, has been attempting to transform itself after years of declining sales.

It has been trying to sell its famous containers, first created by Earl Tupper in 1946, in different ways, with its independent sales force hosting online parties and Target starting to carry its containers last year.

In October 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the company reported its first year-over-year sales increase in a quarter since 2017, as lockdowns and shuttered restaurants sparked demand for food containers.

Fernandez, former global president of Avon Products, was named Tupperwares CEO in March 2020 after Tricia Stitzel stepped down as chairman and CEO in November 2019.

Tupperwares stock fell more than 90% from March 2019 to $2.27 by the time Fernandez was named CEO in March 2020.

After the company reported year-over-year sales growth in the third quarter of 2020, its stock price jumped about 35% that day, hitting $28.80 the day of that earnings call.

But the turnaround doesnt appear to have lasted.

Net sales in 2022 were down 18% year-over-year to $1.3 billion, a statement with a preliminary financial summary showed.

GlobalData Retail analyst Neil Saunders told CNN that consumers are pulling back on home goods and younger shoppers arent fully connecting with Tupperware.
ELKO, Nev.  Anger, devastation, and concern for her patients washed over Dr. Bridget Martinez as she learned that her residency training program in rural northeastern Nevada would be shuttered.

The doctor in training remembered telling one of her patients that, come July of this year, she would no longer be her physician. Martinez had been treating the patient for months at a local health care center for a variety of physical and psychiatric health issues.

She was like, I dont know what Im going to do, Martinez said. It almost set her back, I would say, to square one. Thats so distressing to a patient.

Martinez and three other resident physicians make up more than a third of the family practice providers at a health clinic in Elko, a city of about 20,000 people in the largely rural 500-mile stretch between Reno, Nevada, and Salt Lake City. Another patient cried and said she was unsure who her provider would be once Martinez returned to Reno to finish training.

Established in 2017, the rural family medicine training program in Elko is shutting down for a variety of reasons, including financial struggles, lack of a united support system, and a historical lack of health care investment in the area. Experts say systemic factors are common barriers to establishing and sustaining training programs for doctors throughout rural America.

More than 100 million people, or nearly one-third of the nation, have trouble accessing primary care, according to a recent study published by the National Association of Community Health Centers. This number has nearly doubled since 2014. The pandemic worsened provider shortages nationwide, but the problem is more acute in rural areas, which have long struggled to recruit and retain doctors and other medical professionals. Researchers say the relative lack of providers is one reason people living in rural areas experience worse health outcomes than people who live in urban areas.

Experts say expanding the number of medical residency training programs in rural areas is key to filling gaps in care because many doctors  including more than half of family medicine physicians  settle within 100 miles of where they train. And while the number of training programs has increased in rural areas during the past few years, research shows 98% of residencies nationwide are in urban areas.

Members of Congress have introduced several bills to address the health provider shortage, but they have not yet advanced.

Meanwhile, rural medical training programs need more state and federal investment to grow and remain sustainable, said Dr. Emily Hawes, associate professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine and deputy director with the federal Rural Residency Planning and Development Program.

There have been positive milestones, she said, including provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that created more flexibility in funding and accreditation for rural hospitals that want to establish residency programs.

Congress also created the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, which Hawes helps lead. The initiative funded its first cohort in 2019. Since then, the programs parent agency, the Health Resources and Services Administration, has given more than $43 million to 58 organizations in 32 states to launch rural medical residency programs. As of last fall, the recipients had created 32 accredited training programs in family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, and general surgery, and received approval for more than 400 new residency positions in rural areas.

But its still not enough, Hawes said.

For starters, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services dont reimburse rural hospitals for medical residency programs at the same rate they do urban hospitals, despite rural hospitals facing similar or higher costs. Rural hospitals lower patient volumes and higher rates of underinsured or uninsured patients affect how much the government pays to fund graduate medical education, or GME.

Hawes and other doctors argued in a research paper that rural hospitals participating in resident physician training should be paid the full cost of hosting residents, which amounts to at least $160,000 each annually.

The challenge of paying residents salaries proved to be part of the problem for the program in Elko.

Officials at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital decided, when they launched their residency program six years ago, not to use CMS funds to pay salaries and instead to pay those costs out-of-pocket. That amounted to about $500,000 a year, said Dr. Daniel Spogen, a professor in the Family and Community Medicine Department at the University of Nevada-Reno School of Medicine and director of the medical residency training program in Elko.

In retrospect, Spogen said, he wishes he and other faculty had pushed the hospital to pursue CMS funding, because it would have given the program a stronger financial foundation.

In a February press release, hospital officials said the decision to close the medical training program was difficult but necessary, because of rising costs and increased requirements.

In the end, the community and residents suffer the consequences, Spogen said.

Hawes said rural communities and their resident physicians often benefit mutually: Residents experience a more diverse and involved training than they would in a larger hospital, because having fewer residents and doctors means they can take on bigger tasks. Martinez recalled treating a gunshot wound in the emergency room, something she said she probably would not have gotten to do in a Reno hospital.

Closing any rural medical residency program ends a key opportunity to locate physicians in the areas where theyre most needed, said Hawes. Martinez and her husband, who is also finishing his medical training, had planned to stay in Elko. While thats not off the table, she said, theyre keeping their options open now.

Spogen said people living in Elko will go back to relying on urgent care, which is not a substitute for primary care.

The nearest city with more health care resources, 230 miles away by car, is Salt Lake City. Spogen said the patients he treats through the program dont have the financial resources to go elsewhere.

Rural medical training programs dont have to end in struggle, Hawes said. Part of her job with the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program is to ensure faculty, residents, and hospital leaders have the resources, support, and knowledge they need to sustain their programs.

Spogen estimates that a resident physician brings in about $600 a day for the hospital where they train, resulting in roughly $190,000 in revenue per year.

Experts say when programs succeed, they grow quickly, like the Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education, part of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. When the collaborative was established in 2012, there were 25 rural medical residency training positions in Wisconsin, said Lori Rodefeld, the groups director of rural GME development and support. Last year, the collaborative supported 51 positions  more than double the number from 11 years ago.

In addition, 65% of residents have remained in rural medical practice, Rodefeld said, which is higher than the national average for physicians who did their residencies in rural areas.

Were very, very lucky, Rodefeld said. I dont know of many other states that have this kind of model where they have technical assistance available to multiple existing programs and for those who want to get started.

Martinez and her husband chose Elko to complete their medical residencies because they knew they could help fill a need.

Its almost intoxicating, Martinez said. You dont want to walk away from something like that, especially when you feel so valued.

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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Maria Hernandez, left, 15, stands with her sister as they carry a cross during a blessing ceremony for 13-year-old Adam Toledo on April 21, 2021, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Administrative charges that seek the firing of the officer who fatally shot a 13-year-old boy in the Little Village neighborhood two years ago have been filed by the interim superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

Officer Eric Stillman shot and killed Adam Toledo during a foot pursuit in the Southwest Side neighborhood in March 2021. Body camera footage shows Stillman fired a single shot just moments after the teen tossed a gun and raised his hands to the officer.

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The first status hearing in Stillmans disciplinary case is scheduled for May 1, according to the Chicago Police Board. Interim Chicago police Superintendent Eric Carter filed the administrative charges Monday.

Though still a significant development, the process to bring charges against Stillman was set in motion six months ago. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability  the agency that investigates uses of force by CPD officers  recommended that Stillman be fired for the shooting. Meanwhile, former CPD Superintendent David Brown said the officer should only face a suspension.

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That disagreement triggered a process known as a request for review, in which a single, randomly selected member of the police board would decide whether or not Stillman would face administrative charges and an evidentiary hearing. Board President Ghian Foreman decided in October 2022 that Stillman would indeed face that process.

A March 29, 2021, video image from the body camera of Officer Eric Stillman shows Adam Toledo after he tossed a handgun behind the fence, an action that was not visible on the body camera. (Civilian Office of Police Accountability)

Based on a thorough review of the material, the parties and the public will benefit from a full evidentiary hearing on this matter, and so referring this matter for a hearing before the full police board will be the appropriate next step, Foreman said during the boards October meeting.

Last year, the Cook County states attorneys office announced that it would not bring criminal charges against Stillman. Meanwhile, the teens family filed a 10-county wrongful death lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Stillman and the city.

Attorneys representing Stillman and the city recently filed a motion to dismiss two counts that allege Stillman was insufficiently trained as a police officer, court records show. The next hearing in that case is scheduled for Thursday.

Stillman shot the teen in the early hours of March 29, 2021, after a ShotSpotter alert called officers to the area near the 2300 block of South Sawyer Avenue. Upon arrival, Stillman and his partner chased after Toledo and another man, Ruben Roman, then 21.

Police took Roman into custody after Toledo was shot and he was later charged with three felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and one felony count of recklessly discharging a firearm. He was acquitted of the charges in a bench trial in November 2022.
Texas District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks decision April 7 to rescind the approval of the abortion pill mifepristone dealt a blow to more than just people seeking a medication abortion.

It appears to be the first time a court has directly usurped the FDAs authority to provide the final word on which medicines are safe and effective and, thus, allowed to be sold in the United States. And it could well throw the pharmaceutical industry into turmoil.

If the decision is allowed to stand, it could affect far more than abortion drugs. It will radically alter the process for approving drugs and will kill innovation and hinder bringing new drugs to market, Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLUs Reproductive Freedom Project, told reporters in a briefing April 10. It might also invite what she called fringe groups to challenge any other drug they object to for political reasons.

So youd think challenging the decision would be a top priority for the prescription drug industrys national advocacy group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA. Yet the drug lobby did not join the long list of medical, legal, and academic groups that filed friend of the court, or amicus, briefs in the Texas case.

And since the ruling, PhRMA has declined to weigh in beyond the relatively bland statement it made weeks ago. The FDA is the gold standard for determining whether a medicine is safe and effective for people to use, said Priscilla VanderVeer, PhRMAs vice president for public affairs. While PhRMA and our members are not a party to this litigation, our focus is on ensuring a policy environment that supports the agencys ability to regulate and provides access to FDA-approved medicines.

By contrast, many individual drug companies, as well as the biotech industrys trade group, were quick to decry the ruling. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization said the ruling sets a dangerous precedent for undermining the FDA and creating regulatory uncertainty that will impede the development of important new treatments and therapies.

PhRMAs relative silence is puzzling, said Carole Joffe, a professor at the University of California-San Francisco and an expert on the sociology of reproductive health issues. PhRMA now has to contemplate the politicization of potentially everything. For Big Pharma, one could argue that a Pandoras box has been opened.

Even more puzzling, though, is that PhRMA has only to look at another major health industry player, the physicians major lobbying group, the American Medical Association, for an object lesson in how sitting on the sidelines of a polarizing political issue can cost an industry or profession a chunk of its autonomy.

When it comes to abortion, lawmakers at the state and federal level, not to mention judges, have been essentially practicing medicine without a license for over a half-century, since the decision in Roe v. Wade itself. In that case, seven Supreme Court justices signed on to a framework for pregnancy (dividing it into trimesters) that did not exist before, at least not medically.

The AMA played a major role in making abortion illegal in the 19th century, when it sought to supplant midwives and others whom doctors saw as threats to their economic and professional power. But in the 20th century, the organization was slow to recognize that doctors professional judgments were being supplanted by those of others  lawmakers and judges. The AMA did not even file an amicus brief in the Roe case itself, and for much of the next four decades tried mightily to stay out of the abortion fray, even as warnings grew that medical professionals were losing the right to practice according to the best medical evidence.

After the Supreme Court upheld the first ban on a specific abortion procedure in 2007  a ban the AMA had initially endorsed, then opposed  it was clear that physicians were losing their primacy over the practice of medicine.

Yet the stigma attached to abortion remained. Even after the AMA formally supported abortion rights, the group did as little as possible, said Joffe. Over several decades, most doctors tried to distance themselves from both the abortion issue and their colleagues who performed the procedure, Joffe said.

It wasnt until 2019 that the AMA stepped out of the shadows on the subject of lawmakers interfering in the doctor-patient relationship. Thats when the group filed suit to block two North Dakota abortion laws, which the organization said compel physicians and other members of the care team to provide patients with false, misleading, non-medical information about reproductive health. (A federal judge subsequently blocked the law.)

By the time the Supreme Court was ready in 2021 to take up the Mississippi case that would eventually overturn Roe, the AMA realized what was at stake. The state law being challenged  a ban on all abortions after 15 weeks  threatens the health of pregnant patients by arbitrarily barring their access to a safe and essential component of health care, the AMA said in an amicus brief it filed with two dozen other medical groups.

And after the decision reversing Roe in 2022, the AMAs new president, Dr. Jack Resneck Jr., was quick to lament what had been lost. Medicine is hard, and its hard enough without members of Congress or governors or state legislators or others trying to sit in your exam room with you and second-guess all the decisions that youre making, he told KHNs What the Health? podcast in July.

So the AMA has apparently learned its lesson the hard way. Now the question is whether the drug industry will learn that same lesson  and when.

HealthBent, a regular feature of Kaiser Health News, offers insight and analysis of policies and politics from KHNs chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, who has covered health care for more than 30 years.

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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The feral cat population control and welfare continues to be an important topic for both Muscatines animal-focused organizations and animal lovers alike.

But while It Takes a Village Animal Rescue and Resources is continuing to help keep the local cat population under control with spay and neuter programs, its team is also hoping to help those who choose to take care of these feral cats on a day-to-day basis.

ITAV announced a new program that assists those who go out of their way to care for colonies of stray and feral cats near their homes. With this, ITAV plans to provide not only spay/neuter services to these caregivers in order to keep the colonies from going out of control but also provide food for these cats as well.

Recently, according to ITAV Founder Meagan Koehler, the ITAV team returned from an animal welfare conference where they learned about the best practices within the animal care industry regarding the managing of the uncontrolled surge within community cat populations.

There is not enough room in Iowa shelters to house all of these animals, Koehler said. "Our best hope of getting control of this overpopulation crisis is to spay/neuter these animals, but that is not the only crisis we are facing with these community cats.

In the case of many local colonies, Koehler noted that they are already being cared for by kind-hearted individuals who are willing to provide food, fresh water and safe space for cats to hide away from harsh weather and predators. In these cases, however, the price of caring for so many feral animals can add up fast.

We know that financial resources are tight for everyone now, with the cost of everything seeming to be at a steady climb, Koehler continued. We want to help. We can't house all these cats, but we can help them all. We would like to partner up with those kind and compassionate humans that are already doing the work. Those folks who, all too often, will make sure the animals eat, even at the cost of their own food security.

Koehler said that through this new program, ITAV would focus on the and resources part of its name, which she saw as a commitment to humans. Although the program is still being developed, she encouraged local colony caretakers to reach out to ITAV through Facebook and let them know what their needs are. From there, ITAV will work with these caregivers to figure out how to fulfill these needs.

We want to come up with the solutions to the problems they are seeing firsthand, Koehler said. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. These people are already doing this work, day in and day out. There are steps that we can take, together, to ensure a happier and more humane outlook for the animals in their care. Humans should not have to sacrifice their own meal to feed an animal in need.

At this time, ITAV is also continuing its adoption and fostering program. Anyone interested in adopting one of ITAVs rescued cats can visit them at their new shelter at 1510 Grandview Ave., Suite 1. Those wishing to volunteer at the ITAV spay/neuter clinic or donate to ITAV can do so through links on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ITAVARR. Monetary and supplies donations can also be mailed in (PO BOX 634 in Muscatine) or dropped off in-person at the shelter/clinic.
BERLIN (AP)  Firefighters say they have freed an uncooperative squirrel that was stuck in a manhole cover in western Germany  echoing a similar incident that happened in the same city four years ago.

The Dortmund fire department said it was alerted to a distressed red squirrel by a pedestrian Monday afternoon, after she spotted its head peering out of a hole in the road. The woman covered it with a scarf to calm it down before calling for help.

A crew of firefighters who arrived at the scene carefully removed the manhole cover and tried to free the rodent.

This turned out to be quite complicated as the squirrel was uncooperative, the fire department said.

After further attempts the crew was able to extract the animal unharmed and it vanished up a nearby tree.

Dortmund firefighters have some experience of saving stuck squirrels. In 2019, a similar squirrel rescue drew international attention.

It could not be determined if it was the same squirrel that had to be rescued from the same situation four years ago," the fire department said in a statement.

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Police in Iten have launched investigations into an incident where gun-wielding men reportedly raided Iten County Referral Hospital and escaped with a victim of a bandit attack.

The Nation reports that more than 10 men heavily armed men with AK-47 riffles stormed the facility on Monday at 2 am and took off with the patient who had been shot.

Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner John Korir said the patient was shot on Wednesday at Kapchemutta in Marakwet West when bandits raided the area, injuring three people.

This is very scary and we have launched investigations into the incident. We want to establish why the victim escaped from the hospital in such a manner, Korir said.

The county commissioner said at around midnight, police officers were alerted over the raid and security officers were deployed to the hospital.
Police in Homa Bay County have launched a manhunt for a Bishop accused of burning a human skull at Lwanda Nyamasare beach in Suba North constituency.

The cleric reportedly led his congregation to the beach on Sunday claiming God had directed him to retrieve a human skull from Lake Victoria and burn it immediately.

Citizen reports that the bishop had been invited for Easter prayers at a local church in Gembe West Location on Saturday.

During his visit, the clergyman claimed to have had a vision during prayers to find a skull in the the waters of Lake Victoria within Lwanda Nyamasare beach.

He reportedly told his congregation about the vision and convinced them to follow him to the lake where he retrieved the human skull from the water.

Confirming the bizarre incident, Kasgunga East Sub-Location Assistant Chief Francis Kasuku said the matter was reported to him by Lwanda Nyamasare Beach chairperson Michael Aroko after the bishop and his congregation started burning the skull at the beach.

The administrator informed the police who arrived at the beach to find the bishop had disappeared to an unknown place. Efforts to trace him were futile.

The officers from Mbita Police Station recovered the skull and took it to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital where the morticians confirmed it was a human skull.

The skull is awaiting forensic analysis as investigations continue.
Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has said the Government is ready for a dialogue with the opposition leader Raila Odinga but not on a power-sharing deal.

The CS who was speaking at a church service in Nanyuki on Sunday said that the dialogue should revolve around how to develop the country and at the same time noting the government wouldnt allow anarchy to continue.

What we need is peaceful demonstrations if its a must. We havent refused to hold dialogue with anyone in the country or foreign mediators on how we can work more or how to work differently, said the CS.

What we cant allow is that after we are done with elections, we start another on the streets that is impossible. I want to assure, as Cabinet Secretaries, there will be no power sharing, he added.

At the same time, Members of Parliament (MPs) from Mount Kenya region reiterated that dialogue between the Azimio party leader Odinga was welcome but not power sharing. The MPS said that opposition leaders should respect the constitution.

Our appeal is for people to respect the constitution and elections conducted by citizens. If its about dialogue all the time, I dont see the need for elections. Those who lost the elections should be patient and give us ample time for development, said Simon Kingara, Ruiru MP.

The MP further said that the government should allocate resources based on population across the country for equal development.

Kabete MP Githua Wamucukuru said that if there will be dialogue, the Azimio party leader Raila Odinga should forget Nusu Mkate government.

This issue of being defeated in elections and bringing chaos all the time should come to an end. Since 1997, when he lost, there has been sympathy and accommodation in the government, said the legislator.

The legislator lamented that bursary allocations by the government was not enough and called on other MPs to develop a clear roadmap on how to share the kitty based on the number of people in their Constituency.

Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri said if there will be any dialogue, Mt Kenya region should be prioritized on government resources allocation, noting what the counties were getting was not enough.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has admitted that civil servants and county staff will wait a little longer for their salaries.

During Easter Sunday Church Service in Ngorano PCEA in Mathira Constituency, the DP said the government had to prioritize repaying a foreign debt before disbursing salaries to county governments.

I must admit that we have had delays in remittances to the counties and salaries to our Staff. However, one of the debts we inherited, had matured, and we had to pay, he said adding that he is hopeful the salaries would be disbursed this week.

DP Gachagua blamed the current cash crunch facing the government on the debt burden inherited from former President Uhuru Kenyattas administration.

The DP also mentioned that the problems financial problems facing the Kenya Kwanza administration emanated from the handshake between President Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The problems started when the previous administration agreed to a handshake between them and Opposition leader Raila Odinga, there were no checks and balances on the excesses of the government, and they borrowed excessively, he said.

Gachagua said this is the reason he would never tolerate a handshake agreement with Raila.

I have no problem with Azimio or Odinga, but oppose a handshake and dealing with him is my business. It is my job to ensure President William Ruto is given time and freedom to work hassle-free, he said.

We cannot discuss with a person who has refused to recognise the legitimacy of our government. He must first publicly declare that President Ruto is the duly elected Head of State.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is set to convene a leaders conference to come up with radical measures to eliminate illicit brews and drugs in the central region.

Speaking during a service at PCEA Centre Church in Ngorano, Ruguru Ward, Mathira Constituency, in Nyeri County, Mr Gachagua said President William Ruto had instructed him to organise the meeting bringing together national, county, elected and administrative leaders from the five counties in the former Central Province (Kiambu, Muranga, Nyeri, Nyandarua and Kirinyaga) to come up with recommendations to deal with illicit brews and substances.

The meeting will be held in Nyeri on Friday, April 14, at the County Commissioners office, the Deputy President announced.

He said the political leaders will be joined by security teams from the region, officials from the Ministries of Health and Trade, the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards and the National Authority for Campaign against Drugs (NACADA).

The conference will come up with radical proposals on how to deal with the alcohol menace and abuse of drugs in this region. It will have far-reaching implications. The President is concerned and he has asked me to convene the conference, said the DP.

It was no longer tenable for leaders to look away as alcohol and illicit drugs ravaged the region, the DP affirmed, as he promised thorough measures to rescue the region from destruction.

We cannot, as the leadership, sit back and watch as an entire generation is being wiped out. We have come to the conclusion that this region was targeted for destruction because of its population, its success in business through the introduction of illicit brews and drugs, Mr Gachagua asserted.

The Deputy President said relevant leaders from the region who will miss the conference will have to be answerable to the people.

It will be unforgivable if we just sit back and watch as an entire generation is being wiped out. Friday will be a defining day for the future of this region, he added.

The Deputy President is of the view that the illicit brew dealers target young people between 12 and 30 with the intention of bringing down a whole community.

He said a former powerful Principal Secretary from the region was behind the influx of the illicit brew while intimidating security officers and their administration counterparts.

The region has already lost young people at the expense of a few greedy people who were using their positions in the previous administration to enrich themselves through sales and distribution of the illicit brews, Mr Gachagua observed.

At the Friday meeting, the Deputy President said, security officers will be allowed to participate freely.

If we dont intervene on Friday, in 10 years, the generation will be wiped out. I will take the bull by the horns. I am fearless in such matters. We cannot let 10 people become filthy rich at the expense of our young people, he said.

His sentiments were supported by his Spouse, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, who said she looked forward to the day when the region will be free from alcoholism.

What will make me happy is to see alcoholism and drug abuse being phased out in the region, Pastor Dorcas, who has initiated a campaign to rescue the boychild, said.

Mr Gachagua also said he will convene another conference to discuss the coffee sector from all the coffee-growing counties. The three-day conference to be held in Naivasha is expected to come up with recommendations on how to revive the sector.

We have invited all governors from the coffee-growing region, all senators, MPs, Cabinet Secretaries for Agriculture, Trade and Cooperatives, officials from the Coffee Exchange, Coffee Directorate and farmers to find a long-lasting solution to what ails this sector, the DP said.

-DPPS
A 19-year-old boy who was hospitalized with head injuries sustained during the Azimo la Umoja anti-government protests has succumbed.

Jamleck Mwanza died from a brain hemorrhage at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi where he was receiving treatment.

He sustained the injuries during the anti-government demonstrations on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Mwanzas parents told the media that their son had gone missing for days before they found him at KNH on Saturday, April 1.

I am saddened because he was my first born and I was working hard so that he can go to school, Mwanzas mother said.

The mother called on the government and the Opposition to hold talks to avoid street protests, which claimed the life of her son.

I wish politicians would sit down and talk instead of going to the streets because many people get hurt and some are children.

The family is working to cover the medical bills as they await a postmortem to be conducted on the body.
By Suleiman Shahbal

If you want to understand the perils of uncontrolled privatisation, read Chapter 11 of Naomi Kleins book Shock Doctrine. It describes in chilling detail how key corporations of the Soviet Union were sold for a song and ended up in the hands of a few people who became known as the Oligarchs.

In 1991, Russia President Yeltsin went to Parliament and made an unorthodox proposal. If they gave him one year of special powers, under which he could issue laws by decree rather than bring them to Parliament for a vote, he would solve the economic crisis and give them back a thriving healthy system. What Yeltsin was asking for was the kind of executive power enjoyed by dictators, not democrats, but Parliament was still grateful to the President for his role in resisting the attempted coup.

The answer was yes. Yeltsin could have one year of absolute power to remake Russias economy. This led to the first phase of rapid-fire privatisations where 225,000 state-owned corporations were privatised for a song  and Parliament was absent, silent or deaf by its own democratic consent. While our situation is not so extreme, the Executives demand that Parliament abrogates its oversight role on privatisation of State corporations sounds like Yeltsins demand for carte blanche powers on what to sell.

Russias economy was in dire straits just as we are now. It didnt work in Russia, it wont work here. So, what is Parliaments responsibility on our parastatals and have they executed their mandate effectively? Successive parliaments have failed to stop the rot in parastatals. Parliament set up a Privatisation Commission and those in the private sector derisively called it the graveyard of projects. The commission is bogged down by government bureaucracy, which has effectively neutered its ability to execute its mandate. If we depend on this commission to effectively privatise, then we will still be waiting in 2027.

President Uhuru Kenyatta set up a commission to study our moribund and loss-making parastatals and make implementable recommendations. The Abdulkadir Commission presented an excellent report with excellent policy and business recommendations. The report was not made public and is gathering dust to date. The unequable recommendation is that most parastatals have not fulfilled their promise or mandates and are a waste of public resources and so many must be sold off.

The commission confirmed what is already known; government cannot do business, not in Kenya, US or Europe. Government has no business being in business. Clearly, there is a need to change course. So, what to do? We need to find a middle path between Parliaments right of oversight and the Executives desire for quick fixes to the economy that will lighten the financial burden caused by loss-making parastatals on the exchequer. Government wants to give the mandate of privatisation to the Cabinet Secretary and to the Executive.

Technically efficient, but if unchecked, could lead to the Soviet scenario. If left to Parliament, they will end up bogged in endless debate and Parliament could take years to make any decision, particularly where the parastatal has political implications at the constituency. The middle path is a blend. Let the Executive send to Parliament a list of all parastatals that they recommend for privatisation and why they want to privatise them. Let Parliament approve the list.

Thereafter, appoint independent consultants who will value the corporations and present terms of engagement and the process of how these parastatals will be privatised. The process of privatisation should be managed professionally and transparently, not politically. This is the only way Kenyans will get value for their assets.

The writer is Suleiman Shahbal, the Chairman of Gulf Group.
Former Ald. Daniel Solis, 25th, listens during a meeting of the Chicago City Council in February 2014. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

In October 2016, Daniel Solis, the then-powerful alderman of Chicagos 25th Ward, was talking with a longtime associate at the back of a coffee shop about a potential financial windfall involving a massive $1 billion Chicago Public Schools janitorial services contract.

At the meeting, Democratic political operative Roberto Caldero told Solis he needed his help convincing other aldermen and then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel to steer the contract to a company that had hired Caldero as a consultant.

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So what did you say they would give me? Solis asked Caldero at their table by the mens room. Caldero silently held up both hands and spread his fingers  a gesture that federal prosecutors say meant $10,000.

OK, Solis replied. But youve been saying that a lot.

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The moment, it turned out, was captured on a hidden FBI video camera Solis was wearing as part of his stunning turn as a government mole, which ultimately led to federal corruption charges against not only Caldero, but also two of Chicagos most powerful politicians, 14th Ward Ald. Edward Burke and ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan.

The undercover video was one of several recordings made by Solis that were released to the Tribune for the first time this week ahead of Calderos sentencing on Friday.

Prosecutors are asking for up to about five years in prison on wire fraud charges stemming from Calderos effort to influence the CPS contract as well as a separate scheme to use Solis clout to get a park and street renamed for relatives of a campaign donor.

Solis also recorded Burke and Madigan as part of his unprecedented deal with the U.S. attorneys office, which calls for corruption charges against him to be dropped after his cooperation is over.

Though limited in scope, the recordings of Caldero offer the most detailed look yet at the significance of Solis undercover work, which captured not only audio conversations but also videos showing the facial expressions and other nuances of his targets  including Calderos attempt to avoid saying the bribe amount out loud.

A strikingly similar video shown to the jury in the ongoing ComEd Four bribery trial depicted then-ComEd lobbyist Jay Doherty holding up four fingers to another government informant, Fidel Marquez, allegedly indicating that $4,000 per month was being illegally funneled by the utility to one of Madigans top associates.

In the Oct. 24, 2016, recording at the coffee shop, Caldero said he personally stood to make up to $300,000 a year off the CPS deal, which he referred to as his retirement account, and beseeched Solis to go to bat for his company directly with then-Ald. George Cardenas and Emanuel.

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So, I call George, I talk to the mayor, and I get -- Solis said on the recording, pausing to offer his own ten10-fingered gesture.

Thats all you need to do, Caldero replied.

Neither Emanuel nor Cardenas was accused of wrongdoing.

Caldero, 70, pleaded guilty in September to wire fraud. His attorneys have asked for less than three years behind bars, arguing in a recent filing that he was merely a middleman and has an otherwise positive record of anti-gang work and other youth initiatives important to his community.

Raised in Chicagos Humboldt Park neighborhood, Caldero was a longtime political operative for former U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez dating back to Gutierrezs first run for City Council in the 1980s.

Caldero made headlines after surfacing in an FBI search warrant affidavit made public in 2019 alleging hed arranged for erectile dysfunction drugs and sexual services at a North Side massage parlor for Solis while he was lobbying the alderman on a variety of issues.

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None of those allegations were contained in Calderos plea agreement with prosecutors. However, there was new mention of an elected official, identified only as Public Official A, whom Caldero enlisted to pressure Emanuel to support the awarding of the CPS janitorial contract to Cleveland-based GCA Services Group.

According to the plea, Caldero told an associate to keep Public Official A happy until he met with the mayor, and enlisted another person to supply marijuana for Public Official As birthday in December 2016.

If you can do it, get it done, Caldero asked the unnamed associate in a Dec. 6, 2016, wiretapped call that was also released by prosecutors ahead of Calderos sentencing. I just want to keep him happy.

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Caldero explained on another wiretapped call a few days later that Public Official A had met with Emanuel and that the mayor promised: You will be happy, were going to take care of it, prosecutors alleged in a recent court filing. Caldero also said on that call that Solis had reported the mayor told him the same thing, the filing stated.

Gutierrez, whose birthday is Dec. 10, made a surprise announcement in 2017 that he was not running for reelection for the Congressional seat hed held since 1993.

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Last week, Gutierrez also came up in testimony at the ComEd Four trial, where former McPier boss Juan Ochoa told the jury that he enlisted Gutierrezs help to push for an appointment to the utilitys board of directors.

Gutierrez is not charged with any crime. He has not answered repeated attempts by the Tribune to reach him over the past two years, both by phone and at his Northwest Side home, regarding the various investigations.

The CPS contract fraud scheme, meanwhile, involved Pedro Soto, a chief of staff to former public schools CEO Janice Jackson. Soto pleaded guilty in 2020 to lying to the FBI about whether he passed secret bid information about the $1 billion custodial contract to an operative working for one of the bidders.

According to Calderos plea, he offered Soto a promise of future employment, Champagne and discounted event space for a family gathering, and admission to a museum benefit in exchange for Sotos help landing the contract for GCA Services. The value of the benefits offered to Soto was pegged by prosecutors at $3,000.

In October 2016, Caldero asked Solis to advise and exert pressure on Emanuel to help grease the wheels for Company A, saying that if Solis did so, the company would contribute $10,000 to his campaign fund, according to prosecutors.

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Caldero allegedly kept up the campaign for months, soliciting and delivering at least $5,000 in campaign checks for Solis in exchange for his assistance  with the promise of more.

Im gonna  just (tell Solis), Look, you get (GCA) then Ill raise you another $15,000, but you got to produce, Caldero said on one recorded call released to the Tribune this week. Thats exactly how Im going to get it to (Solis).

Soto, meanwhile, admitted in a plea agreement with prosecutors that he lied to the FBI about his contacts with Caldero, saying hed never discussed privileged information about the janitorial contract bid process with him or what favors he might get in return, court records show.

The contract ended up being awarded to a different bidder. Soto, who cooperated with prosecutors, was sentenced last month to a year and a half of probation by U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman.

At the same time as the school contract scheme, Caldero was also soliciting Solis help on behalf of Individual B, a business owner from Western Springs who was offering up to $100,000 in campaign donations to have Chicago issue an honorary street name for his father and rename a park for his grandfather, according to Calderos plea agreement.

The indictment alleged Caldero told Solis the family wanted to see some action in the City Council before donating money. In October 2016, under the direction of investigators, Solis introduced an ordinance granting the honorary street name, the indictment alleged. The family cut Solis a $5,000 check two months later, according to the charges.

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While the indictment does not name the family, records show the ordinance introduced by Solis that month renamed the 500 block of South Wells Street Honorary Victor J. Cacciatore Sr. Way.

The Tribune has previously identified the park as Oscar DAngelo Park on South Franklin Street. DAngelo, known as the Mayor of Little Italy, was a longtime confidant to former Mayor Richard M. Daley who was disbarred during the Operation Greylord scandal for providing rental cars as gifts to judges, politicians and city officials.

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The search warrant affidavit later made public in the Solis investigation alleged Caldero had solicited campaign donations from the Cacciatore family, which, among other businesses, owns Elgin Sweeping Services, a major street-sweeping company.

At the time, Caldero was representing Elgin Sweeping in its efforts to obtain relief from a change in the citys water billing practices that investigators indicated could have cost the company more than $1 million.

The Cacciatores have not been accused of wrongdoing.

Solis, meanwhile, could be called to testify at Burkes racketeering trial in November, or Madigans trial on similar charges, which is set for April 2024.

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In defending the deal struck with Solis, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu called the ex-aldermans cooperation singular even in a city with a long history of public corruption investigations.

He didnt just talk. He took action, Bhachu told a federal judge last year. He worked with the federal government for six years to expose corruption.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register.

Born in Napa Valley and named after her two daughters Olivia and Grace, Cindy OBrien, a holistic aesthetician and former Hollywood make-up artist, created an ultra-clean beauty brand to quickly transform skin with plant-powered organics, botanicals and science-based actives that are nontoxic to people and the planet, said the release.
The city of Napa Planning Commission recently denied a proposal to transform a three-bedroom, 1,200-square foot house at 962 Jackson Street into a bed and breakfast inn.

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The decision to shoot down the proposed B&B moved forward on a 3-1 vote on Thursday, with commissioner Paul Kelley voting in opposition and commissioner Ricky Hurtado absent.

City staff recommended the denial because they felt the proposal didnt fit the intent of the citys bed and breakfast ordinance. Thats largely because the home didnt lend itself to the reuse owing to its small size, and because the conversion would diminish Napas limited rental housing stock, said senior city planner Michael Allen at the meeting.

Allen went on to say the intent of the ordinance, when it came into effect over two decades ago, was to allow an avenue for renovation and preservation of the citys large, historic Victorian homes, many of which were in a state of disrepair because of the high cost to maintain them.

He proceeded to talk about and show images of several bed and breakfast conversions that had been approved by the city in recent years, noting that all the buildings were large, had many bedrooms and required significant high-cost renovations.

The use of the Jackson Street home for a B&B, Allen said, would be more akin to a short-term vacation rental, which involves renting out a residential dwelling for periods of less than 31 days. (Owing in part to concerns about availability of long-term housing and quality of life for local residents, the quantity of permits for short-term rentals has long been restricted in the city, and illegal vacation rentals that dont have such permits have generally far outnumbered their legal counterparts in Napa.)

Allen also noted that theres less of a need for vacation rental rooms in Napa today than there was when the citys B&B ordinance passed, well before the citys local tourism industry began to boom.

One of the reasons staff was not supportive of this is we felt this is best suited as being a single-family home, Allen said. Not to mention the fact that we have an overabundance of hotels, vacation rentals, and quite a number of bed and breakfasts.

Applicant Robert Devlin said at the meeting that when he first spoke to the citys planning department, there was no mention of anything about the proposed B&B needing to a certain size, just that the property had to be historic. He stated at a previous meeting that owning a B&B is his dream and that he didnt have the money to buy the type of larger house that the city had in the past approved for a B&B conversion.

Hal Leggett, a resident of the neighborhood where the proposed B&B would have gone, also spoke in support of the conversion at the meeting, arguing that some homes that dont fit the citys typical definition of a B&B should be allowed. He noted that the hotel room tax revenue generated by additional B&Bs  known as the Transient Occupancy Tax, or TOT  would benefit the city financially.

Kelley  the sole commissioner who opposed the denial  said nothing in the ordinance specifically prohibited the B&B conversion, so he couldnt make a finding to deny it.

But Allen noted that the approval was ultimately up to the commissions discretion. And to approve the project, the city would have to find the project is in accordance with the citys general plan, which Allen said includes several policies that seek to increase Napas housing stock  developed amid a political environment where the state of California has increasingly been pushing for a greater production of residential units to solve the state's housing crisis.

Kelley added that the citys B&B ordinance should be updated to add more specific language to provide more clarity about which proposals should be approved or denied. And he said he didnt feel the city would lose housing as a result of approving the project, given that the B&B would be required to have an onsite manager living there.

The other commissioners said they agreed with the staff recommendation to deny the project, though several also said they thought the ordinance could use an update.

Commissioner Beverly Shotwell said she preferred that the house stay as a home, which she said would be great for a family. Commission chair Bob Massaro said that he didnt feel comfortable converting what's essentially served as a single-family home to a BNB.

Its clear that we have a huge housing shortage here, Massaro said. And to convert this to a B&B essentially takes it out of for sale or for rent.

The denial decision likely would have been made at a meeting last month, had the city not previously improperly noticed the item by posting the wrong address for the proposed project in both the meeting agenda and in a legal notice in the Napa Valley Register. The commission, once the members became aware of the noticing issue, decided to delay the item to avoid a possible violation of the open meeting law known as the Brown Act.

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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)

A legendary precinct captain for former House Speaker Michael Madigan told jurors in the ComEd Four bribery trial Tuesday that the speaker got him a $45,000-a-year contract with one of the utilitys top lobbyists but made it clear the deal would disappear if he stopped working on campaigns.

Edward Moody, for years one of Madigans top door-knockers, recounted without hesitation the Democratic speakers warning when he told Moody about the arrangement: I control that contract and if you stop doing political work, youll lose that contract.

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That message was reinforced when Moody met with Michael McClain, one of Madigans longtime confidants, at Huck Finn Restaurant on the Southwest Side. Moody testified McClain told him the contract was a hell of a plum and that I owe the speaker big.

Under the deal arranged by the speaker, Moody testified, he spent the next seven years collecting monthly checks from ComEd, funneled through a series of Madigans associates, mostly for doing nothing.

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Moody also said he sought Madigans blessing for two public offices  county commissioner and as recorder of deeds  because politically, he would be the boss and had the power to put a brick on any potential appointment.

Moodys testimony, which came near the end of the prosecutions case in chief, was crucial because hes the only one of the Madigan-approved subcontractors allegedly paid by ComEd to cooperate with the government.

On cross-examination, defense attorneys attempted to paint Moody as an opportunist who told investigators what they wanted to hear because he was scared that he was going to be charged himself.

Moody said he received an immunity letter from prosecutors in exchange for his testimony, meaning if he simply tells the truth the evidence cant be used against him.

Defense attorney Patrick Cotter, who represents McClain, tried to push Moody about why he didnt tell prosecutors in all his debriefings about 200 hours of canvassing he did in Chicago Ridge and other southwest suburbs to see what homeowners thought of ComEds new smart grid program.

Was it intentional, sir? Cotter asked.

No, Moody replied.

Moody said he told prosecutors about the canvassing assignment but didnt recall the amount of time hed actually spent going door to door for McClain because he spends so much time knocking on doors for campaigns.

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Charged in the ComEd Four case are McClain, a retired lobbyist; former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; ex-ComEd executive and lobbyist John Hooker; and former ComEd contract lobbyist Jay Doherty, the ex-president of the City Club civic group.

The indictment alleged the four defendants steered $1.3 million in payments from ComEd to Madigan-approved subcontractors  including Moody  who did little or no work in a bid to win the speakers influence over the utilitys legislative agenda in Springfield.

The indictment also alleged the defendants schemed to hire a clout-heavy law firm run by political operative Victor Reyes and stack the utilitys summer internship program with candidates sent from the 13th Ward.

The four on trial have all pleaded not guilty. Their lawyers have contended the government is trying to turn legal lobbying and job recommendations into a crime.

Madigan and McClain face a separate racketeering indictment that is set for trial next year.

Moody took the witness stand Tuesday in the fifth week of the high-profile trial. After his four and a half hours on the stand, prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber that they plan to rest their case in chief on Wednesday morning.

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Pramaggiores lawyers will then begin their defense, followed by Hooker, Doherty and McClain.

Moodys emergence as a government cooperator sent shock waves throughout Democratic circles, from Madigans base of power on Chicagos Southwest Side to the insiders hanging out in the Illinois Capitols rotunda.

Wearing glasses and a gray suit with a polka-dot tie, he talked in a very relaxed and polished fashion on direct examination, sometimes jumping the gun with his answer before hearing the full question.

Sorry, I feel like Im campaigning, Moody joked after Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur asked him at one point to slow down.

Moody began by telling jurors about growing up in the Chicago area, where he had a variety of jobs before going to work for Madigans political operation.

I worked for White Castles, I worked for a security firm, maintenance, Moody said.

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After moving to Chicagos Southwest Side, he and his twin brother, Fred, when they were in their 20s, would sometimes run into Madigan during their long walks in the West Lawn neighborhood.

My twin brother and I loved to walk. We literally could walk four, five hours at a crack, he said. When theyd bump into Madigan, hed pause to talk politics, Moody said.

He responded well, Moody testified.

Moody said he and his brother volunteered on then-U.S. Rep. Bill Lipinskis campaign for Congress in the early 1990s, helping circulate petitions in his redrawn district that pitted him against another Democratic incumbent, U.S. Rep. Marty Russo.

Shortly after, the twins met with Madigan at the speakers ward office on 65th and Pulaski Road, where it was decided theyd be dispatched as co-precinct captains in the 54th Precinct of the 13th Ward.

Later, after a win for an Illinois House seat in a Republican-dominated suburban district, Madigan met personally with the Moody brothers. He told them they were Off the charts, Moody testified. We did really well.

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Moody said he and his brother eventually were ranked first among the more than 70 precinct captains that handled the ward at the time.

But while he loved campaigning, Moody said there was also a fear component to it that comes with the machine politics.

The speaker had, you know, very high standards, and he could punish you, he said.

Being a precinct captain, Moody said, was really about building relationships and building rapport and almost becoming a member of their family.

But it was also about winning elections, connecting them to city services, county services, state services, he said.

As their successes piled up, Moody said, he was given a variety of politically connected jobs, including with the county highway department and as a jury coordinator for the chief judge in the Bridgeview courthouse.

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He said he did not have to apply for the courthouse job: Madigan got it for me.

I wasnt, like, traditionally interviewed because I already had the job, said Moody, who worked in the Bridgeview branch for 23 years and performed political work in evenings and on weekends.

Ed Moody (left,) Mike Madigan and Fred Moody (right) as seen in a government exhibit presented during the "ComEd Four" trial.

By 2012, however, Moody testified he was looking to boost his overall income and asked Madigan for a lobbyist job. After Madigan failed to respond for several months, Moody said he was insulted and demanded a meeting with the speaker at his ward office.

It was tense, Moody said about the rare, angry confrontation with his boss. I told him I said you know, are you upset with us? What did we do wrong?

Madigan was upset too, Moody said. He said calm down. He said youre gonna get your contract. Youre gonna make your $45,000 a year. Moody testified thats when he was sent to McClain.

Moody said McClain handed him a list of legislators to call and ask if they had any issues with ComEd.

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Madigan was on the list, a point Moody said was odd and foolish because McClain and Madigan knew each other so well. Moody said his instructions included checking in with Madigans hand-picked 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn.

Moody testified that after two years, he received a call from McClain informing him that his payments were going to be moved over to Dohertys contract with ComEd.

I didnt know who he was, Moody said. He said he met with Doherty at Maggianos restaurant, where he was given a manila envelope with invoices Doherty wanted him to use.

He said I was famous, Moody testified about the meeting with Doherty. He told me to keep knocking on doors. Moody said he was paid $4,500 a month by Doherty  a bump up from his contract with McClain  even though Doherty never gave him a single assignment.

On cross-examination, Dohertys attorney, Michael Gillespie, suggested Dohertys knocking on doors comment was referencing the canvassing hed done for McClain about ComEd service.

But Moody testified it was clear he was to continue his political activities for Madigan.

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When Moody was appointed Cook County commissioner in 2016, he had to be moved from Dohertys account because of the potentially bad optics, according to trial testimony.

Over concerns of a conflict with Doherty lobbying county officials, Moody testified he had a conversation with the speaker, who told him to move forward with the appointment and hed find me another contract.

Moody testified his payments were first moved to Shaw Decremer, a Democratic House staffer for Madigan who became a lobbyist. Moody said he not only did absolutely nothing for Decremer, he only actually saw him one time, walking down the street talking on his cellphone.

Moody said Decremer looked busy and only had time to give him a thumbs-up.

[ ComEd Four bribery trial: What you need to know ]

[ ComEd Four trial: Evidence seen and heard by the jury ]

Ed Moody, a longtime precinct captain for former House Speaker Michael Madigan, departs the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after testifying April 11, 2023. He was appointed as a Cook County commissioner in 2016. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Two years later, his contract moved again, this time to lobbyist John Bradley, a former House Democrat whod served on Madigans leadership team, Moody said. Again, he said he didnt do any work for the monthly checks Bradley sent him.

That relationship ended with Moodys ascension to the recorder of deeds position. On Dec. 7, 2018, McClain called Madigan to ask whether they should alter Moodys deal, given his new role in an elective position.

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Yeah that might be a good idea, to pull back, Madigan said on the call, which was played after Moodys testimony.

You want me to call Ed and tell him? McClain asked.

Yeah sure, Madigan replied.

Listen to the audio:

McClain called Bradley the next day, saying, I did talk to Himself about Moody, referring to Madigan by code. And Himself thinks maybe we should stop it.

McClain then suggested Bradley send Moody a check worth a couple of weeks of pay in December and disguise it as a bonus, writing something like, Merry Christmas Ed, from the Bradleys.

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Listen to the audio:
Armenia on Monday became an official donor to the World Banks (WB) International Development Association (IDA) with a paid-in contribution of $1 million, the WB Armenian office informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The decision was made official at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., during which Mher Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, handed over the signed IDA Instrument of Commitment to Akihiko Nishio, World Bank Vice President for Development Finance and Antonella Bassani, the Regional Vice President of the World Bank.

Armenia ratified the Government Act to become an IDA donor on March 10, 2023, only nine years after graduating from being an IDA recipient itself and four years after attaining upper-middle income (MIC) country status. The decision to join was made in the fall of 2022, when Armenia and the World Bank celebrated their 30 years of partnership in Yerevan.

As an upper middle-income country Armenia is no longer eligible for International Development Associations support. We think it is time for Armenia to start helping countries in need of support. This is a wonderful opportunity for Armenia to help low-income countries, on the one hand, and to express gratitude for similar support received in the past, on the other. With this step, Armenia once again, both reaffirms the effectiveness of mutual cooperation with the World Bank, as well as its agreement with the policy implemented by IDA, said Mher Grigoryan, Armenias Deputy Prime Minister.

The World Banks engagement in Armenia started in 1992, one year after the country became independent, with the objective of supporting Armenias transition to a market economy. The early engagement was primarily through IDA credits and stabilization programs, supporting transition reforms. Since then, the World Bank has been supporting institutional reforms and infrastructure investments in a wide range of sectors such as energy, water, and roads, as well as in education, health and social protection.

Armenia has undergone a profound economic transformation since the World Bank started its engagement in the country, allowing it to graduate from IDA recipient to IDA donor in the span of 30 years, said Antonella Bassani, World Bank Vice President for Europe, and Central Asia. Systematic reforms have helped sustain stable economic growth, thereby improving the lives and livelihoods of many people across the country. In the process Armenia has accumulated important knowledge on how to reform which can be of great value to IDA recipients today.

Established in 1960, IDA is the World Banks main instrument for assisting the worlds poorest countries through providing grants and zero to low-interest loans to promote economic development, increase productivity and thus raise standards of living across the globe. Armenia joined IDA in 1993 and, since then, as a beneficiary, has received $ 1.4 billion in financial support.

Armenia joins a global community of donors that enables IDA to provide concessional financing to the worlds 75 poorest and most vulnerable countries to address their development needs, said Akihiko Nishio, World Bank Vice President for Development Finance, who oversees IDA. I commend Armenia for this exemplary step of being an IDA graduate that now wants to give back  a show of global solidarity and international cooperation.

Since joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, World Bank commitments to Armenia have totaled approximately $2.6 billion, supporting 78 projects in areas targeted at boosting small and medium-sized enterprise competitiveness, enhancing human capital and equity, as well as sustainably managing environmental and natural resources.

The World Bank remains committed to being a trusted partner to Armenia and will continue supporting the country on its transformative journey towards a more competitive, green, and digital economy that provides better jobs and opportunities for all its people.
On April 6, a special project  Award moments of reading  was launched at the LOFT Center, Yerevan.

The LOFT Center will start the implementation of the Award moments of reading project from Vanadzor, Lori region, currently home to 5634 registered students from socially disadvantaged families.

The first phase of the project implementation will involve 1000 students from vulnerable families living in Vanadzor, 100 of whom will participate in the project under the funding provided by AraratBank. School-age children will receive deposit gift cards to visit the LOFT Center in Vanadzor and read books in a relaxed environment, interact and share space with peers, take part in events and reap the benefits of the center.

Receiving support from private institutions and their donations was crucial to us, thanks to which every child will be able to attend the center throughout the year and take advantage of facilities and educational and cultural events offered by the center. In this context, AraratBank is our best partner, who at once embraced the project logic and our insights and agreed to reach out to 100 children. As a matter of fact, AraratBank is one of our major donors, said Arevik Hambardzumyan, CEO of the LOFT Centers.

Mher Ananyan, Chairman of the Executive Board of ARARATBANK OJSC said: By participating in the Award moments of reading social and educational project, we are happy to contribute to the decentralization of the project and create an opportunity for children from underprivileged families to gain access to the innovative LOFT Center in Vanadzor, upgraded with advanced technology and software. We believe that all children, regardless of their social status, should have the opportunity to learn and grow.

It is noted that a tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed between the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the LOFT Center. The event was attended by executives and representatives of AraratBank as well as other donor institutions that had provided financial support to the project.
Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) with Armenia,15 patients from the Republican Medical Center of Artsakhwith serious diseases of the oncology as well as pathologies requiring emergency surgical interventions and post- implantation correctionwere transported Tuesday to specialized medical institutions of Armenia, with the mediation and escorting of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

And ten patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with accompanying persons, the Artsakh Ministry of Health informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of Artsakh.

Seven children remain in the neonatal and intensive care units of Arevik Medical Center.

Five patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Center, and one of them is in critical condition.

A total of 305 patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia, with the mediation and assistance of the ICRC.
Former President Donald Trump is escorted to a courtroom, April 4, 2023, in New York. (Mary Altaffer/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 Trumps latest public statements about a criminal case against him in state court show jurors might be harassed if their identities got out.

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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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Trumps lawyers did not respond Monday to requests for comment on Kaplans order.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan, no relation to the judge, said Carroll intends to be present for the entire trial.

E. Jean Carroll, center, waits to enter a courtroom in New York for her defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump, March 4, 2020. (Seth Wenig/AP)

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.

Former President Donald Trumps motorcade leaves the Manhattan Criminal Courts Building in Manhattan on April 4, 2023. Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The former president pleaded not guilty to all counts. (Benjamin Norman/The New York Times)

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.

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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 Trumps statements as attacks against the presiding judge over his criminal case.

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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 Trumps arrest.

In October, Trump underwent a videotaped deposition in which he was questioned about Carrolls 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 Trumps 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.
MedGlobal doctors provide earthquake relief in northern Syria and Turkey, the work was with the mobile clinic in the Killy shelter center north of Idlib in Syria, on Feb. 27, 2023. The mobile clinic provided free medical services, psychological first aid, and detection and follow-up of malnutrition cases for 100 earthquake survivors in the center. (Qusai Shabib)

Just hours after he learned about the devastating Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, Tarek Kabbany was on social media around 3 a.m. and saw a picture of his younger sisters apartment building in southern Turkey destroyed.

By 6 a.m., he received word that his sister and her three kids were missing. At 11 a.m., the Chicago-based doctor was on a flight to Turkey.

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I went right away, Kabbany said. I got there Tuesday night, and you know, the minute you enter the city, you can see its like a city of death. Really, its unbelievable. You will not imagine you can see something like this in your whole life.

Kabbany, his brother-in-law and other friends and relatives spent weeks in Hatay searching for his sister, two nephews and niece. At first, they were hopeful they would find them still alive underneath all of the rubble, just as others had been found amid the aftermath of the earthquakes and aftershocks. But, Kabbany said, every day, our hopes got less and less.

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Kabbanys story is one of many of people who still are struggling to cope and survive after the earthquakes and aftershocks that left tens of thousands dead and millions affected when the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria.

Chicago-based health care workers who rushed to the region have come home sharing stories like a 4-year-old boy who was trapped in the remains of an apartment building for nearly two days and needed to have his left foot amputated because it was completely crushed, or a mother who fled her village with what was left of her family because her village carries the memories of her daughter and her grandkids who were now buried there.

I think stories are the most important because when you hear numbers, especially us in the United States, we cannot imagine these numbers and what it means, said Zaher Sahloul, a doctor at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and St. Anthonys Hospital in Chicago who specializes in pulmonary and critical care.

People who were impacted by the earthquake were about 23 million people. About 200,000 buildings were completely destroyed between Turkey and Syria, he said. Two million people are displaced in Turkey, 300,000 people are displaced in Syria. More than 200,000 people are injured. So, these are huge numbers, but unless you go and talk to people and hear the stories, you cannot put things together. You cannot wrap your mind around these numbers.

Sahloul is the co-founder and president of MedGlobal, a nonprofit started in Chicago in 2017 with teams of health care workers around the world working to improve health care systems, support vulnerable communities and respond in emergencies by providing medical aid and supplies. The MedGlobal team arrived in the region Feb. 21 and split its time between southern Turkey and north and northwest Syria for the roughly 10-day mission.

Sahloul said the goal of MedGlobal and the medical missions is to improve access to health care during disaster situations because children are dying.

Theres no surgeons to operate, Sahloul said. Theres no dialysis, no access to antibiotics or IV fluid. Things we take for granted, like oxygen and ventilators, its not available in some hospitals there. This health care inequity is, I think, one of the worst pandemics the world suffers from, so we try to do our part in bridging the gap by sending doctors, sending technology, providing medications, providing training for doctors and nurses to build resiliency within the communities so they can weather the storm.

While in Syria, he met Hasan, the 4-year-old boy, when he was brought to MedGlobals hospital in Darkush. He and his family were from Salqin, where the first earthquake hit. All of Hasans family members were killed except for his dad, who was outside of their home at the time, Sahloul said. The child was stuck in the rubble for 44 hours.

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The broken building was set to be demolished completely, after it was expected that no one would be found alive, Sahloul said. As the building was about to be taken down by heavy machinery, someone saw a small opening in the rubble from where Hasan was waving.

He was rescued, but his left foot was crushed, Sahloul said, and an orthopedic surgeon on the team had to amputate the foot after it became gangrenous.

Everyone in the medical team who took care of him was traumatized, Sahloul said. He was clearly very scared. Every time his dad left the room, he started to scream. Children were especially traumatized. They were unable to speak, unable to sleep. Theres thousands of stories.

MedGlobal physicians Dr. Zaher Sahloul and Dr. Nahreen Ahmed observe the earthquake's destruction in Jinderes, Syria, on Feb 23, 2023. (Rami Mustafa)

Sahloul met the woman who lost her daughter, son-in-law and grandkids in the city of Idlib, also in Syria, when she came with her husband, who was disabled, her son and his wife. They were struggling to find a tent in one of the temporary camps created for earthquake survivors. Her daughter who was killed was seven months pregnant, Sahloul said. They were all living in another city, Harem, and the woman said she couldnt go back home because it was too painful.

If you look at her face and her sons face, I mean, they clearly have all signs and symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, Sahloul said.

The response to the earthquake was instant for MedGlobal, which already had teams on the ground in both countries over the past few years providing health care to the communities there through mobile clinics, primary health clinics, mental health programs and more. Sahloul said the staff of about 200 people in Turkey and Syria acted right away, providing surgeries for those who were injured, starting up mobile clinics to aid those who were displaced and distributing supplies.

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Sahloul joined the effort as part of the U.S. team of 10 physicians, he said, which included two other Chicago-based doctors, Thaer Ahmad and Imran Akbar.

When we went to these cities, I mean you have block after block of completely demolished buildings, Sahloul said. You see only small pieces of stone, but then you see signs of lives. You see homework, books, pillows, coloring books, toys, blankets, but its like youre going through an apocalyptic scene. Its completely deserted, but you see the signs of lives that were once there. Its beyond description. When you see these things on TV and social media, it doesnt give justice to the amount and the scale of the earthquake and its impact.

The team initially arrived in southern Turkey at ground zero and met with authorities who had asked for help and training on mental health response. The team was able to take some 50 boxes of medical equipment with them, carrying portable ultrasound machines, medications and more.

Sahloul said the process of crossing the border into Syria was not very easy, and it required certain bureaucratic interventions. The teams trip to Syria had to be facilitated by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said. In Syria, the team performed several surgeries, took care of patients in the mobile clinics and hospital emergency rooms. Sahloul said he was doing rounds in the intensive care units at a couple of area hospitals. The medical supplies brought from the U.S. were also able to be donated to different hospitals and mobile clinics in Syria.

MedGlobal has teams on the ground in the Middle East, Latin America and Asia and Europe, in places such as Ukraine, where Sahloul traveled last year on another medical mission in response to the nations invasion by Russia. The nonprofit served about 12 million people in 2022.

Sahloul is originally from Syria and came to Chicago to further his medical training in 1989. He still has family living in Syria. His parents live in Homs, a little over 150 miles from the Turkish border. Sahloul said he was on call at Advocate Christ when he started hearing about the first earthquake and then called his mom, who told him she felt the whole room shaking for about 90 seconds and didnt know what to do.

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He then had his own shaking experience while he was on the medical mission in Syria. He said there were several aftershocks, but one in particular was quite strong. He was in a home on the fourth floor of a building when the whole floor started to shake.

It lasted for five seconds, he said. That was my first experience with an earthquake. The owner of that home works with us through MedGlobal, and he was very scared. His wife was very scared. The kids started crying because they saw what happened in the first earthquake.

As part of the mission of MedGlobal doctors to northern Syria and Turkey, Dr. Thaer Ahmad was providing medical advice, accompanied by other doctors, from the mobile clinic supported in the Kelly Shelter Center, which includes hundreds of families of survivors of the earthquake north of Idlib and Syria on Feb. 27, 2023. (Qusai Shabib)

Ahmad, an emergency medicine doctor who was born and raised in Chicago, said that after speaking to people during the medical mission, it was clear that this tragedy did not leave anybody unscathed.

Youre just seeing people talk about how they were away, for example, from the center of the earthquakes but came back to find that they had lost all of their family members, including extended family, Ahmad said. I think in Turkey and Syria, they place a considerable amount of value in moving as a family unit and kind of maintaining that community of family, and this was a really significant blow to that. It was hard to see. Then you have some of the people who survived dealing with traumatic injuries and watching hospitals overflowed, even with people looking to take care of their chronic diseases, so you just watched the system totally get burdened and stressed and you see that something needs to change.

Kabbany was born and raised in Idlib, Syria, and came to the U.S. in 2011, training in medicine in Washington, D.C., for several years before moving to Chicago nearly three years ago for a fellowship at Northwestern Hospital. He now works as an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist, also at Advocate Christ.

He said he met Sahloul when he started the job at the same hospital. After their trips, the two happened to run into each other at Istanbul Airport and returned to Chicago on the same flight in March. At the airport, they spoke about their respective traumatic experiences with each other.

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I got emotional talking about it, Kabbany said. Even now almost two months later, I still get emotional thinking about everything.

Kabbanys two nephews were 10 and 1, and his niece was 9. Kabbany said the identities of two bodies found in the rubble were confirmed at the end of March to be the 9-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy.

Kabbany said his parents also lived in Hatay, and he stayed with them for about two weeks when they were searching for his sister and her kids. But after a new 6.4 magnitude earthquake centered in Hatay hit on Feb. 20, Kabbany said he had his parents move to another city and got them settled there before he returned to the U.S. He said he and his brother are ultimately planning to try and get his parents to come to the U.S. permanently.

Kabbany said his father was at home in Hatay at the time of the first earthquake and woke up from the shaking, and although many of the interior walls in their building had collapsed, the building itself stayed up, and he was unharmed.

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Kabbanys father immediately thought of his daughter and her family, who were living in one of the citys bigger and newer apartment buildings, Kabbany said. His father thought that if his building was OK, his daughters must be too. When he arrived, however, he saw it had completely collapsed.

At the time, Kabbanys brother-in-law was across the border in Syria for work. Both he and Kabbanys sister were pharmacists. Kabbany said he is one of the strongest people he has ever met and prays he can keep that spirit.

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He built this family with my sister, and now all of a sudden he lost everything, Kabbany said. Its a big tragedy in my family. We are trying to overcome this, my parents, all of us. But we are really, really worried about him.

Kabbany said he last saw his sister in the summer. He would visit once or twice a year, and when he wasnt visiting, they would talk on the phone constantly. His sister was the youngest in the family. He also has an older brother who lives in Ohio. Kabbany said the siblings have always been very close, but his sister was the one to always call.

Shes very caring, he said. Unbelievably caring. Shes been working hard her whole life. She has always been a very strong woman. My sister raised her kids in the middle of a war, and it wasnt easy, and they had to move from Syria to Turkey, but the kids and the family still came out amazing because my sister is very determined and very strong and very smart. And shes not just caring about her family, shes caring about everyone. She used to help everyone.

He said his older nephew was the smartest boy and would always ask for books as gifts when Kabbany would be coming to visit. His niece was very energetic, he said, and the family knew she would create her own path. The 1-year-old boy had just started to have his first steps, Kabbany said, which he was able to see via FaceTime the week before the earthquake. The 1-year-old boys birthday was Feb. 7, the day after the first earthquake.

Its a tragedy for everyone, Kabbany said. Not just my family. But what adds on to it is the ongoing tragedy. Emotionally, people will be suffering for a long time, even if they are OK physically, but emotionally, its so difficult. I dont know how much we all will recover.
The provocation carried out by Azerbaijans Armed Forces is another encroachment on the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, the Foreign Ministry of Armenia said in a statement issued late on Tuesday.

The ministry said that on April 11, around 4:00 p.m., in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, in the area of Tegh village of Syunik region, a group of servicemen of the Azerbaijani armed forces approached the servicemen of the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia under the pretext of clarification of positions on the border, provoked and opened fire with firearms and other weapons of different calibre in the direction of the servicemen and positions of the Armenian armed forces. The servicemen of the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia took retaliatory actions and defended the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, it added.

These aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani side have been carried out despite the readiness to resolve the existing problems through constructive negotiations expressed by the Armenian side earlier.

The provocation carried out by Azerbaijan is another encroachment on the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. This policy of Azerbaijan is not new, it is the continuation of the attacks carried out against the Republic of Armenia in May and November 2021, as well as in September 2022, as a result of which Azerbaijan occupied sovereign territories of Armenia.

It should be stated that the use of force and the threat of use of force are an integral part of Azerbaijan's policy and aim to significantly destabilize the situation in the region and undermine the efforts of mediating partners to continue peace negotiations.

We call on the international community, including all partners interested in stability and peace in the region, to condemn Azerbaijans aggressive actions through targeted statements and clear steps and prevent further escalation of the situation by Azerbaijan,- the statement read.

Armenias Defense Ministry has confirmed that four Armenian soldiers were killed and six others wounded because of the Azerbaijani provocation. The ministry has also published the names of those killed.
Practicing journalism in Cuba can be a hazardous endeavor.

While the Cuban government has barred the legal existence of non-state media for more than 60 years, dozens of new independent outlets have surfaced over the last decade that cover Cuban society extensively.

As Cubans got more access to the internet, more homegrown, online media outlets popped up, said Michael Bustamante, associate professor of history and Emilio Bacardi Moreau Chair in Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami.

Some of the most prominent of these outlets are 14 y Medio, an online newspaper headed by Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez, El Toque, a multimedia platform with diverse news coverage, and El Estornudo, a platform that covers news and culture using a long narrative format.

Many of these news outlets cover issues that the state-controlled media do not, or not in sufficient depth, such as water shortages, neighborhood protests against repeated blackouts, and the scarcity of medical supplies and medicine on the island.

However, the last few years have proven to be very difficult for independent journalists in Cuba.

A crumbling economy that has resulted in food, medicine, and energy scarcity prompted an unprecedented series of protests in the summer of 2021. Since then, the government has hardened its stance against journalists who often criticize state policies or oppose the Cuban government outright.

This state of independent journalism in Cuba will be explored in a presentation and conversation hosted by University Libraries Cuban Heritage Collection on Thursday, April 13, titled, Voices of Change: The Rise of Independent Journalism in Cuba. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Roberto C. Goizueta Pavilion on the second floor of the Otto G. Richter Library.

The presenter will be Elaine Diaz, a visiting associate professor of practice in global communications at the School of Communication. After completing a prestigious Nieman Fellowship for journalism at Harvard, the first Cuban from the island to do so, Diaz founded Periodismo de Barrio in 2015, an independent investigative publication focused on social and environmental issues, including climate change, in Cuba.

Moderating the conversation will be Sallie Hughes, professor and associate dean for global initiatives in the School of Communication. Bustamante, who is also director of academic programs for the Cuban Heritage Collection, and Lillian Manzor, associate professor in the Michele Bowman Underwood Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and faculty lead for the Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, will also participate in the forum.

Many Cuban journalists have been harassed, intimidated, and detained, and some have had their equipment confiscated.

One noted case is that of Lazaro Yuri Valle Roca, who was sentenced to a five-year prison sentence last summer for contempt and sharing propaganda, according to the Cuban government. He had reported on pro-democracy leaflets being thrown from a building in Havana on his YouTube channel.

A number of the non-state outlets in Cuba receive financial support from U.S. government agencies, other governments, or international foundations, which has prompted criticism from the Cuban government, said Bustamante. As a result of the hostility these outlets have faced, many of the newer, more prominent ones have increasingly few correspondents in Cuba and are being run by editors and journalists who have moved outside the island, he added.

There was a more tolerant period for some of these journalists that largely coincided with bilateral rapprochement under the Obama administration, said Bustamante.

Bustamante cites that in the past year members of the news outlet El Toque suffered a continued campaign of denunciation that caused most of its remaining correspondents in Cuba to be pressured to resign.

The Cuban government has also passed a decree that threatens legal action against those who disseminate information online that opposes the social interest, as authorities define it.

This hangs like a Sword of Damocles over the work of journalists, said Bustamante. It is not easy to be a journalist in Cuba.

Register for the event.
10:29





In an Op-Ed in "The Hindu", Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Modi and his government of "systematically dismantling" the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, saying their actions demonstrate a "deep-rooted disdain" for democracy.





She also alleged that the prime minister "ignores" the rising tide of hatred and violence, egged on by BJP and RSS leaders, and has not once called for peace or harmony or acted to reign in the offenders, let alone bring them to justice.





"Religious festivals seem to have become occasions to intimidate and bully others -- a far cry from when they were occasions for joy and celebration. Instead, there is intimidation and discrimination only on account of their religion, food, caste, gender or language," Gandhi said.





Launching a scathing attack on Modi, she said his statements either ignore the most pressing issues of the day or are "platitudes and verbal gymnastics" to distract from these matters.





The Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson said despite the prime minister's best efforts, the people of the country cannot and will not be silenced. Underlining that the next few months will be a crucial test of India's democracy, she said the country is at the crossroads, with the Modi government bent on "misusing every power" and elections approaching in several key states.





"The Congress party will make every effort to take its message directly to the people, as it did in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and will join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution of India and its ideals," Gandhi asserted.





She said the Congress's battle is for safeguarding the voice of people and it understands its solemn duty as the principal opposition party. The former Congress chief added that her party is ready to work with all like-minded political parties to achieve this objective.





In the Op-Ed piece, she said the people of India have learnt that when it comes to understanding the current situation, the prime minister's actions speak far louder than his words.





"His statements -- when he is not venting anger on the Opposition or blaming past leaders for today's ills -- either ignore the most pressing, vital issues of the day, or are platitudes and verbal gymnastics to gloss over or distract from these issues," Gandhi alleged.





Modi's actions, on the other hand, leave little to the imagination on the BJP-led government's true intentions, she said.





"Over the past months, we have witnessed the prime minister and his government systematically dismantling all three pillars of India's democracy -- the legislature, the executive and the judiciary -- with their actions demonstrating a deep-rooted disdain for democracy and democratic accountability," Gandhi alleged.





Pointing to the recent goings-on in Parliament, she alleged that the last session saw a government-led strategy to disrupt parliamentary proceedings and prevent the Opposition from raising issues of grave concern before the country and its people, such as unemployment, inflation and social divisions, and discussing the budget and the "Adani scam", among other vital issues.





Faced with a determined Opposition, the government resorted to unprecedented measures -- expunging speeches, preventing discussions, attacking members of Parliament and finally, disqualifying a Congress MP at a "lightning speed", she said, referring to Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from the Lok Sabha following his conviction by a court in Gujarat's Surat in a criminal defamation case.





As a result, the budget of Rs 45 lakh crore of people's money was passed without any debate, Gandhi said.





"The Narendra Modi government's misuse of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate is well known, with over 95 per cent of political cases filed only against the Opposition parties -- and cases against those who join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) miraculously evaporating," she alleged.





Gandhi also said the prime minister makes grandiose statements about truth and justice even as allegations of financial fraud against his "chosen businessman" are ignored, Interpol withdraws a notice against fugitive Mehul Choksi and the convicted rapists of Bilkis Bano are set free and go on to share a stage with BJP leaders. She claimed that the systematic effort to undermine the credibility of the judiciary has reached a "crisis point", with the Union law minister calling some retired judges "anti-national" and warning that "they will pay a price". This language is deliberately chosen to misguide people, inflame their passions and thereby, intimidate serving judges, the Congress leader said.





Alleging that the media's independence has long been compromised by the political intimidation of the government coupled with the financial might of the BJP's friends, she said evening debates on television news channels have emerged as slanging matches to shout down and silence those who question the Centre.





"Not satisfied with this, the government has armed itself with legal powers by amending the Information Technology rules to remove legal protections for any news which it dislikes under the label of 'fake news'.





The Supreme Court of India has recently made clear that criticism of the government is not a ground for penal action. Is the government listening?" she asked. "No doubt, an army of lawyers from the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) stands ready to harass any platform which publishes criticism of the great leader," she claimed. Asserting that enforcing a silence cannot solve India's problems, Gandhi said the prime minister is silent on legitimate questions on his government's actions, which affect the lives of millions.





She said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not mention unemployment or inflation in her budget speech as if these problems do not exist. Gandhi also said on the live border issue with China, "we have the spectacle of the prime minister in denial about Chinese infiltration, the government blocking discussion in Parliament, while the external affairs minister adopts a defeatist attitude when it comes to China, which is further emboldened in its intransigence". PTI

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said with the Narendra Modi government bent on "misusing every power" and elections approaching in several key states, her party will take its message directly to people and join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution.
Macron hit by pension protests on Dutch state visit

Macron hit by pension protests on Dutch state visit

Protesters disrupted a keynote speech by Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday as his domestic troubles cast a shadow over the first state visit to the Netherlands by a French president in 23 years.



Demonstrators shouted "Where is French democracy?" and unfurled banners at the start of the address in The Hague by Macron, who has faced violent protests and strikes at home over pensions reforms.



The French president is confronting the biggest challenge of his second term over his flagship pension overhaul, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 and demanding people work longer for a full payout.



In The Hague, the demonstrators had stood up in an upper tier of the theatre and shouted "you have millions of protesters in the streets" and held up a banner saying "President of Violence and Hypocrisy".



Macron tried to answer as they heckled, and then after security guards had removed them he hit back by saying that people who do "whatever (they) want" against laws they disagree with "put democracy at risk".



He added that he was "not sure that the tax payer in the Netherlands will accept that we will finance a long social model in France... so I have to do the job back home."



Earlier Tuesday, Macron and his wife Brigitte were greeted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima on their arrival in Amsterdam.



The French leader stood to attention alongside them outside the Royal Palace as a band played the Marseillaise, the French national anthem. He later laid a wreath at the Dutch National Monument.



The visit is meant to highlight a new dynamic between Paris and The Hague after the turning point of Brexit.



In the wake of the speech, France and the Netherlands will sign a "pact for innovation" on Wednesday focusing on cooperation in semiconductors, quantum physics and energy.



They will also work to finalise a defence pact by 2024. (AFP)
San Francisco [US], April 11 (ANI/PRNewswire): IMZO is the World's best platform offering unlimited high resolution images for free. It's a zero subscription, no strings attached model with zero hidden charges. Simply click and download the best creative shots of sizes as large as 8100 x 5400 pixels at 300 dpi. The collection comprises thousands of images across multiple categories such as lifestyle, business, healthcare, technology and more. IMZO has removed the hurdles of getting approvals from the client for purchasing these images, empowering the advertising fraternity. Every single image on IMZO goes through a step-by-step curation process with a selection rate of less than 1%. And this is what makes it different from all the other stock photo websites. "Our mission is to create the World's best collection of free stock images. And by best, we mean absolutely stunning concepts and ideas. In fact, every single image on our website is model released and property released for royalty free commercial usage across the globe."- Olivia Smith, Creative Head, IMZO IMZO promises to stick to the free-to-download model offering unlimited access to its entire collection. Well, everything being offered for nothing in return, www.imzo.com definitely deserves a visit for sure. IMZO is the World's best free stock photography website designed using the insight and experience of veteran creatives from across the globe. Every conceptual shoot is researched by a dedicated team of creative researchers before being shot by ace photographers. Explore www.imzo.com and start downloading unlimited free images. Related links: www.imzo.com Select category links : https://www.imzo.com/search/Concepts https://www.imzo.com/search/Healthcare https://www.imzo.com/search/Couples https://www.imzo.com/search/Finance This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 11 (ANI/PNN): City-based Techno Paints, which is into the manufacturing of paints, is setting up three more plants. These plants, which will come up at Visakhapatnam and Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh and Katny in Madhya Pradesh, will manufacture cement putty, textures, primers and emulsions. "In the first phase, each plant will have an annual capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes. We are investing Rs. 46 crore on the new plants. We are raising the fund through debt. Banks are ready to provide funding", said Akuri Srinivas Reddy, Founder, Fortune Group which owns Techno Paints. Techno Paints currently has three plants in Telangana and one in Andhra Pradesh, with a cumulative annual capacity of 2.50 Lakh metric tonnes. Bags a major project in Telangana: Techno Paints has recently bagged a major, prestigious project from the Telangana government. Under this, the company has taken up the painting works of 26,065 schools under Mana Ooru-Mana Badi and Mana Basti-Mana Badi project. So far, it has completed the painting works of over 2,200 schools. Established in 2001, Techno Paints has so far completed 960 corporate, government and other painting projects. The company, which has an order book of 138 projects now, executed 80 projects during the financial year 2022-23. Over 4,000 painters work directly or indirectly for the company which has 250 employees. It clocked 100 per cent growth in FY23. Eyeing national presence: As a part of its objective to emerge as one of the major players in India's painting sector, Techno Paints is going to expand its retail network across India. With more than two decades of experience in executing major corporate and government painting projects behind it, the company is now making concerted efforts to carve a niche for itself in the retail painting space. As a part of this, it is introducing colour banks technology. "With this, we can immediately supply whatever colour of paint a customer wants. This facility is available with the multinational paints companies only," said Srinivas Reddy. According to him, Techno Paints has started the manufacturing of solvent-based enamel paints in the last financial year. It is making special textures and finishes in collaboration with Italy-based Realto Colours. It is estimated that India's paints and coatings market will reach Rs 62,689 crore this year. It is expected to clock 7 per cent CAGR during 2023-28, according to reports. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
A team of officials from Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) of Telangana on Tuesday visited the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) in Andhra Pradesh to examine the possibility of submitting Expression of Interest (EoI) for its acquisition. On the direction of the Telangana government, a team of SCCL officials visited the plant. As the VSP Chairman and Managing Director was away in Delhi, it called on senior officials of the marketing department. Earlier, Telangana's Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao told media persons in Hyderabad that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has sent a team to the VSP to examine the possibility of bidding for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, commonly referred to as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The Telangana government enjoys a majority stake of 51 per cent in the SCCL while the Centre holds the remaining 49 per cent. KCR, as the Telangana Chief Minister is popularly known, has asked SCCL officials to visit the VSP and prepare a blueprint. The last date for submitting bids for VSP is on April 15. Meanwhile, an organization of VSP employees fighting against its privatisation has welcomed the report that Singareni directors have been invited to participate in EOI. The Ukku Parirakshana Porata Samithi alleged that the Centre is planning to sell VSP to shell companies and if a public sector undertaking comes forward to acquire it, it will be in safe hands. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh's Industry Minister Gudivada Amarnath on Tuesday said that there is contradiction in the stand taken by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government of Telangana on the VSP. "On the one hand, it says it is opposed to privatisation of PSUs while on the other it is trying to acquire VSP," he said and demanded it to clarify its stand on privatisation. "BRS should clarify if it is for privatisation of PSUs or against it. If it is against privatization, how can it bid for VSP," he said. Amarnath stated that the Centre had issued a memorandum one and a half years ago and as per the memorandum, Central or state governments can't participate in bidding. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government has come under attack from opposition parties for its silence over the issue. Amarnath, however, said their stand was clear. "We are against privatisation. Our slogan is Visakha steel is right of Andhras," he said. The minister said Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that his government is opposed to privatisation of the VSP. --IANS ms/vd ( 430 Words) 2023-04-11-20:36:02 (IANS)
The Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook on Sept. 28, 2018. A trial in Cook County Circuit Court will revisit a federal investigation that concluded Sterigenics was responsible for long-term cancer risks up to 10 times higher than what is considered acceptable by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Two Chicago-area companies  Sterigenics and Medline Industries  are facing more stringent air quality regulations and new worker protections after federal officials found higher-than-expected cancer risks in dozens of American communities where ethylene oxide is used to sterilize medical equipment.

Changes in federal policy proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would reduce emissions of the toxic gas by about 80%, in part by requiring dozens of sterilization plants across the nation to cut back on the amount of ethylene oxide used and by mandating more effective pollution control equipment industrywide.

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The new regulations come more than four years after an EPA analysis found that Sterigenics and Medline were responsible for some of the nations highest cancer risks from toxic air pollution.

[ People living near Willowbrook facility face some of the nations highest cancer risks from toxic air pollution ]

Under intense pressure from politicians and community groups, Sterigenics closed a sterilization plant in west suburban Willowbrook during 2019 and took steps to reduce pollution from eight other facilities across the country. A state law prompted by Chicago Tribune reporting required Northfield-based Medline to dramatically reduce EtO emissions at its Waukegan facility.

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EPA officials said other sterilization companies also have reduced emissions in recent years. The new regulations would set uniform pollution standards, require rigorous air quality monitoring and demand more protective gear for workers, agency officials said.

Failing to take action to address these risks is simply unacceptable, Janet McCabe, the agencys deputy administrator, told reporters Tuesday during a media briefing. At EPA, we are committed to following the law and following the science to safeguard public health.

Chemical companies and government health agencies have known since at least the late 1970s that ethylene oxide mutates genes and causes breast cancer, leukemia and lymphomas.

Time and time again, a 2019 Tribune investigation found, the multibillion-dollar chemical industry and its political allies in Washington have thwarted, weakened or delayed efforts to limit exposure to EtO, relying on the same tactics used to stall action on more well-known hazards such as lead and asbestos.

After reviewing studies of animals and sterilization workers, EPA scientists concluded in 2006 that EtO was far more dangerous than previously thought. But it took the agency another decade to formally adopt a more protective limit intended to protect plant workers and neighbors.

Two panels of independent scientists generally agreed with the agencys findings and rejected industry-financed studies that claimed to show EtO isnt harmful at typical exposure levels. Chemical manufacturers and the sterilization industry continue to cite those studies as proof the new regulations arent necessary.

Sterigenics supports EPAs mission and is firmly committed to regulation based on sound science, the company said in a statement that once again criticized what it calls the agencys flawed conclusions about ethylene oxide.

Medline noted in its own statement that the company already reduced its Waukegan emissions by 95%. Our top priority continues to be the safety of our employees, the communities where we operate and the healthcare providers and patients we serve, the company said.

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The Medline Industries facilities is seen May 12, 2021, in Waukegan. People living near Medline Industries in north suburban Waukegan had higher levels of the cancer-causing chemical ethylene oxide in their bloodstream than others who live farther away, according to test results from a federally funded study in 2019. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

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 >

Based on air quality monitoring at parks, schools and homes when Sterigenics still operated in Willowbrook, the EPA concluded the facilitys pollution could trigger more than 10 cases of cancer for every 10,000 people exposed during their lifetimes  a rate 10 times higher than what the agency considers acceptable.

The Willowbrook plant increased the risk of cancer for people living up to 25 miles away, EPA officials said during a 2019 community forum.

[ Jury awards Willowbrook woman $363 million, finds Sterigenics liable for exposing her to cancer-causing ethylene oxide ]

In September, a Cook County jury ordered Sterigenics and two corporate predecessors to pay a Willowbrook breast cancer survivor $363 million for exposing her to ethylene oxide. The Oak Brook-based company later agreed to settle lawsuits filed by nearly 900 other neighbors for $408 million.

Sterilization companies contend they need to continue using ethylene oxide to fumigate about half of the medical devices and related products manufactured in the United States each year. The Food and Drug Administration has been nudging the industry to find safer alternatives.

National and local environmental groups sued the EPA last year demanding more aggressive action to protect Americans from exposure.

Ethylene oxide sterilizers emit harmful air emissions day in and day out, endangering those living, working or going to school nearby, said Celeste Flores, an activist with the nonprofit group Clean Power Lake County. Were looking forward to ensuring that the EPA is held accountable and enacts the strongest protection possible.

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mhawthorne@chicagotribune.com
During the trailer launch event, Salman wowed his fans, as he showcased his washboard abs in front of the media shutting down all the social media trolls.

Several videos from the event are currently getting viral in which the 'Dabangg' actor could be seen unbuttoning his black shirt and showing off his abs to the screaming audience.

https://twitter.com/Salman_ki_sena/status/1645438196438929408

Previously, Salman faced a lot of backlash on social media as few users had commented that the 57-year-old actor's toned physique was a result of visual effects (VFX) and not the gym.

In the video, the 'Kick' actor told the audience, "Tumhare ko lagta hai VFX se hota hain (You think this is done through VFX)" and also hinted that his body was achieved after working out only.

Soon after the video went viral, fans flooded the comment section with red hearts and fire emoticons.

"#SalmanKhan going shirtless live in front of everyone. Big slap on those people who think SK uses vfx in his movies," a user wrote.

Another user commented, "No VFX Real 6 Pack Abs of MEGASTAR Salman Bhai. The OG Bodybuilding Icon of India."

"Look At His Abs Man," a fan commented.

Helmed by Farhad Samji, 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan' stars Salman Khan, Pooja Hegde, Venkatesh Daggubati, Jagapathi Babu, Bhumika Chawla, Vijender Singh, Abhimanyu Singh, Raghav Juyal, Siddharth Nigam, Jassie Gill, Shehnaaz Gill, Palak Tiwari and Vinali Bhatnagar in pivotal roles.

The film is all set to hit the theatres on April 21, 2023.

The almost three-and-a-half-minute trailer showcased Salman in a power-packed avatar who is standing along with his love interest, Pooja Hegde's family who are getting death threats from some goons. He could be heard saying "Jab ek non violent aadmi ke peeche, violent aadmi pad jaaye...tab us non-violent aadmi ke saamne ek boht hi violent aadmi ko khada hona zaroori hai."

Apart from this, he will also be seen in an action thriller film 'Tiger 3' opposite Katrina Kaif which is all set to hit the theatres on the occasion of Diwali 2023. (ANI)
Zeenat Aman's Instagram posts have been gaining popularity with the veteran actor sharing insights about her personal and professional choices. The 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' actor took to social media on Sunday to share her motherhood experience. She wrote, "There's no guidebook in the world that can really prepare you for parenthood. It's exhilarating, overwhelming, joyous, and yes, challenging. Once my children were born, they became my sole priority. And as a single mother to two boys, I felt doubly responsible for my babies. More than anything I wanted to protect them, and shape them to be kind and loving men. My approach to motherhood has always rested on the bedrock of unconditional love. I believe this is what each one of us who chooses to become a parent, owes our children. When I hear of people rejecting their kids for reasons such as their sexual orientation, choice of partner or desired profession, it fills me with sadness and anger. We must accept our children for the individuals they are and support them to meet life as they choose to." https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq3EKvENtgn/ Sharing tips for new parents, the actor said, "My boys are strapping adults in their thirties now, and it feels as though their childhood zipped by before I could catch my breath. So, here are some optional pearls of wisdom for any new parents. Enjoy every moment that you can with your babies, and don't beat yourself up over the small things. A broken plate here or a teacher's note there, hardly signal the end of the world. We don't owe our children perfection, we owe them love, support and guidance." Zeenat posted a beautiful throwback picture in which she was seen holding her two babies in her arms. Sharing the anecdote behind the story, the actor wrote, "I pulled this picture out of a photo album today and had it scanned. It was made in 1990, when Zahaan was not yet one and Azaan was all of three years old. It was taken by the late Gautam Rajadhyaksha, a legendary industry photographer, at the now demolished Searock Hotel in Bandra." Reacting to Zeenat's post, Soni Razdan shared heart emojis. Archana Puran Singh wrote, "I'm discovering a new Zeenat through your posts now Z Love what you wrote here! And right from when you were carrying Azaan... motherhood was a role you were born to and revelled in. I totally agree with your advice to young parents: enjoy every moment with your kids for they grow up all too soon! I do so look forward to "reading" your Instagram posts Zeenat. Much love." Zeenat Aman made her Instagram debut in February and since then grabbing the limelight with her posts. (ANI)
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. --IANS qn/pgh ( 329 Words) 2023-04-10-19:44:02 (IANS)
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." --IANS arc/uk/ ( 416 Words) 2023-04-10-19:50:02 (IANS)
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. --IANS arc/arm ( 402 Words) 2023-04-10-20:30:04 (IANS)
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." --IANS zi/arm ( 171 Words) 2023-04-10-22:34:05 (IANS)
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.

--IANS spr/vd

( 259 Words)

2023-04-10-22:36:05 (IANS)
Upon receiving the information, police personnel reached the spot.

Detailing the incident, a passenger named Prahlad Kumar said, "The train was coming from Kamakhya and before reaching New Jalpaiguri railway station, a few rounds of fire were heard, in which it was found that a man has been killed in the general compartment.

According to the officials, efforts are underway to identify the body.

Further details are awaited.

Earlier on April 1, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) jawan died after being hit by a moving train at Dibrugarh Town railway station, the police said.

Government railway police (GRP) officials said that the deceased RPF jawan has been identified as Havildar Dhankumar Hajong.

Officials said that prima facie it appears to be a case of an accident. Things will however become clear only after investigation.

Mrinal Deka, Sub-Inspector, GRP said, "The body has been sent to Assam Medical College for the post-mortem examination. And we are further probing the incident," (ANI)
The India Central Asia Foundation is organising an international seminar titled "Understanding Central Asian Perspectives on Eurasia" at the India International Centre (IIC) Annexe from April 11-13. 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, an intense tension exists between China and the US over the issue of sovereignty. Naval bases are gradually emerging the Indo-Pacific region. 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 absence of economic interaction. The moot question is, how will the strengthened strategic partnership between Russia and China impact on Central Asia. At the economic level, the Central Asian States are keen to engage with countries in the southern direction in trade and transit. However, their land locked status is a huge connectivity impediment/challenge. At the regional level, the issues at stake are regional cooperation, seeking solutions to migration, trans-boundary 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. 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 policy makers, scholars, etc. It is from these perspectives that The India Central Asia Foundation has organised the international seminar. --IANS san/pgh ( 346 Words) 2023-04-10-23:06:02 (IANS)
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.

--IANS atk/arm

( 174 Words)

2023-04-10-23:18:03 (IANS)
Naturalist Meghan Meredith inspects a beehive at Heller Nature Center on April 6, 2023, in Highland Park. Phil Raines, a beekeeper who has some hives at the nature center, called the impacts that bees face from insecticides "dire." (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune)

Commercial beekeeper Phil Raines says you have to be crazy to want to take care of bees for a living.

Were part of the farming community, but were farmers ugly duckling, he told the Tribune.

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When farmers with pest issues turn to pesticides and insecticides, it poses devastating consequences to both commercial and wild pollinators, Raines said.

Last month, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and attorneys general from 12 other states called for nationwide restrictions by the Environmental Protection Agency on the use of sulfoxaflor, a chemical insecticide they say has toxic effects on bees and other pollinators.

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EPAs own research has shown that sulfoxaflor is harmful to bees, Raoul press secretary Jamey Dunn-Thomason said in a written statement to the Tribune.

According to the EPA, sulfoxaflor is a sulfoximine, a newer insecticide class that was first registered by EPA in 2013. It targets difficult pests such as aphids and tarnished plant bugs.

Sulfoxaflor is useful for killing pests because it targets a specific receptor in insects that mammals dont have, before attacking their nervous systems, according to Sonya Lunder, senior toxics policy expert for the Sierra Clubs Clean Water, Toxic Chemicals, and Climate Resilience Program.

These were replacements to insecticides that were highly toxic to people, Lunder explained. So theyve been heavily marketed as a way to have industrial agriculture production that is healthier, less toxic to humans.

Kris Allen, who leads external communications at Corteva Agriscience, the maker of sulfoxaflor, told the Tribune in a written statement that sulfoxaflor is a critical farming tool backed by rigorous support  more than 100 pollinator studies.

Sulfoxaflor targets only certain insects, reducing impact on beneficial organisms like pollinators and insects that prey on other damaging pests, Allen said.

But Lunder said more subtle and equally concerning impacts to the environment have come into focus over the last decade.

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The EPA released a biological evaluation last month that reported sulfoxaflor poses the risk of extinction to 63 species, and it is likely to harm another 462 endangered species, 314 of them plants.

This isnt the first time the insecticide has attracted attention on the national stage.

Honeybees at the Heller Nature Center on April 6, 2023, in Highland Park. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune)

In 2015, an appeals court overturned federal approval of the insecticide, ruling that it could hasten an already concerning decline in bee populations. A year later, the EPA allowed sulfoxaflor for certain uses  on crops that are not bee-attractive or harvested before bloom, and with limited spraying distances 12 feet from blooming vegetation.

[ Ace Hardware, True Value urged to drop pesticides said to hurt bees ]

Then in 2019, the EPA registered several new uses for sulfoxaflor.

The attorneys general released their letter two weeks ago, following a December 2022 federal appeals court ruling that the EPA broke the law by allowing new uses of sulfoxaflor. The court ordered the EPA to seek public comment.

In their letter, the attorneys general asked for new guidelines on when sulfoxaflor is applied  no spraying while crops are in bloom, and the creation of buffer zones between areas that are sprayed and their surroundings.

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In our comment, we urged EPA to require that labels for sulfoxaflor discuss the importance of limiting pollinators exposure to this pesticide. Furthermore, we asked EPA to make mitigation measures listed on labels enforceable. Lastly, we encouraged EPA to conduct more research into the environmental impacts of sulfoxaflor for other potential harms to pollinators or other species entirely, Dunn-Thomason said.

The EPA did not respond to requests for comment.

With high land prices, unpredictable weather patterns, pests, blight and rising fertilizer costs, small family farmers often struggle in the United States.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of farms in the United States has decreased by nearly 5% over the past 16 years. The USDA reports the average age of all farmers is 57.5.

Pesticides are important to growers, who have to deal with myriad challenges on any given day.

Honeybees work at a hive at the Heller Nature Center on April 6, 2023, in Highland Park. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune)

Naturalist Meghan Meredith walks an area with several beehives at Heller Nature Center in Highland Park. (Shanna Madison / Chicago Tribune)

Beekeeper Raines said its even harder to be a bee farmer. He is the head beekeeper at Raines Honey Farm, which has hundreds of hives in four counties in Illinois and three counties in Wisconsin.

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He reiterated the harmful effects of pesticides on bees and the necessity of these endangered pollinators for lucrative agricultural practices to function.

There are anywhere from $22 (billion) to $38 billion worth of produce and seeds in the United States alone that wouldnt exist if there werent bees to pollinate those crops, he said.

[ More homeowners in Illinois are saying yes to No Mow May and letting lawns grow wild ]

Bees gather pollen from a series of statically charged hairs on their back. They comb their legs through the hairs to pick up the pollen, store it in pouches on their body and then bring it back to their young, said University of Illinois professor of agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences Nicholas Seiter.

In the process of feeding their young, bees carry pollen from flower to flower. Sulfoxaflor disrupts this natural pollination process, say worried beekeepers and pollinator advocacy groups.

With modern farming practices, there are alternatives to dealing with pests rather than throwing more chemicals at them, he said.

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Crop rotation and natural pesticides are among the alternative approaches that have been used for years.

What we call farming today would be unrecognizable to a farmer 50 years ago. Ten thousand acres and a single monoculture, all managed by machines with hardly a person in sight. Occasionally drenched by airplanes full of pesticides, said Lori Ann Burd, environmental health program director and senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the groups that recently challenged the EPA in court.

The Center for Biological Diversity reports that sulfoxaflor can be used on some of the most widely grown crops in the country, including soybeans, corn, alfalfa and cotton. Illinois is the No. 2 corn-producing state in the country and produces 15% of all U.S. soybeans, according to the Illinois Farm Bureau.

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Bees are not essential to corn or soybean pollination processes, according Seiter, the University of Illinois professor. Corn is pollinated by wind and soybeans are self-pollinated. However, research from Iowa State University on both corn and soybean production shows that pollinating insects do help increase crop yields.

Illinois Farm Bureau spokesperson DeAnne Bloomberg said she was unable to recommend any farmers who could speak about this issue.

This is not the first time this collection of states has come together to take climate action, said Lunder, of the Sierra Club.

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This is a group of attorneys general who are flexing their power and voice together to push the EPA to be more precautionary and protective, she said. Theyve done this for a lot of different environmental issues  drinking water, contamination, other types of pollutants, and health protections.

Raines called the impacts that bees face from insecticides dire. He said theres a ripple effect when the EPA backtracks on regulations.

There will be no apples, he said. There will be no cranberries for Thanksgiving dinner.

Editors note: Earlier versions of this story misstated the classification of the insecticide sulfoxaflor. It is a sulfoximine. Also, a description of insecticide regulation and usage was unclear. The EPA regulates the use of sulfoxaflor, and there are no seed-applied sulfoxaflor products available.
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. --IANS sc/pgh ( 421 Words) 2023-04-10-23:28:02 (IANS)
Bommai said that this is the reason BJP is thinking well and talking in detail before releasing the first list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly Elections.

BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday held a meeting with CM Bommai over the Karnataka Assembly election 2023 at his residence in Delhi.

Parliamentary Minister Prahlad Joshi, CT Ravi and members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly were also present at the meeting.

Talking to the media after attending the meeting, Bommai said, "Our party is a democratic party not like the dictatorship party of Congress so we are thinking well and talking in detail before releasing the first list of candidates for Karnataka Assembly Elections."

"Tomorrow, after another internal meeting, Karnataka's list will be released late evening," he added.

CM Bommai said, "BS Yediyurappa has attended many important meetings, he is currently in Bengaluru. We are understanding each and every suggestion very well and after that, the list of Karnataka elections will be released."

Earlier in the day, Former chief minister of Karnataka and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran BS Yediyurappa on Monday said that the party will release the first list of candidates for around 170-180 seats on Monday.

Senior BJP leaders on Sunday attended the CEC meeting for the Karnataka Assembly elections.

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. (ANI)
Rajasthan Congress leader former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot day-long protest fast calling for "action on corruption" will prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the ruling Congress government in the State according to senior BJP leader Rajendra Rathore. Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly said that through his protest fast, Pilot is in fact giving an open challenge to the Congress high command. Rathore alleged that on the pretext of calling out alleged corruption under the Vasundhara Raje-led previous BJP government, Rathore was in fact showing differences between him and chief minister Ashok Gehlot. "Sachin Pilot is giving an open challenge to the high command. His day-long fast will be the last nail in the coffin of the Congress government. Congress has lost its hold across the country," Rathore told ANI. Rathore said, "Congress's high command has become weak in the whole country and has faced two significant challenges in Rajasthan. The first challenge was given by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's faction boycotting a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on September 25. The second challenge is through AAP Sachin Pilot's fast." Rathore said that the people of Rajasthan will bear the brunt of the infighting within the Congress for the next four years as the Chief Minister is busy in maintaining his government and position. Responding to Pilot's allegations of corruption and scams during the tenure of the former chief minister Vasundhara Raje's state government, Leader of Opposition Rathore said, " I was also a part of that government, but why did Sachin Pilot not raise this matter in the budget session of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly till now. Why didn't he raise the matter in the cabinet meeting when he was also the Deputy Chief Minister in the government and why is he raising this matter now after a few months in the elections?" Pilot began his fast at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur today. The former deputy chief minister also took to Twitter to post his salutations on the birth anniversary of social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. (ANI)
The accused was identified as Amandeep, while the deceased was identified as Kuldeep Singh, a resident of South Anarkali, Jagatpuri.

According to the officers, information that a person had been abducted was received around 2.45 pm.

On receiving the information, the police reached the spot and started an investigation.

"CCTV footage available at the location was obtained and examined. It was found that Kuldeep went to a shop in Krishna Nagar on his scooter," an officer said.

"On further analysis of the footage, it was observed that he didn't come out of the shop and it was closed by the suspect around 1.40 pm," the officer added.

The sleuths said suspecting foul play, they broke the lock of the shop and found the deceased's corpse.

A case was registered at Jagatpuri police station.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
A day after being arrested by Punjab Police, Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of fugitive Khalistan leader and 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh was brought to Assam's Dibrugarh Central Jail on Tuesday. Papalpreet was arrested from Amritsar's Kathu Nangal area on Monday. Briefing the media on the capture of Amritpal's close aide, Punjab's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill said Papalpreet was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA). "Papalpreet Singh, the main associate of Amritpal Singh was arrested by Amritsar Rural Police from the Kathu Nangal area. The arrest was made under the National Security Act. Apart from being an associate of Amritpal, he was also wanted in six cases," Gill said, adding that action against him will be taken as per the law. Papalpreet was seen with the fugitive Khalistan leader in several photographs that surfaced after the duo escaped the dragnet cast for them by the state police. In an unverified video on March 30, the 'Waris Punjab De' chief said he was not "a fugitive" and would soon "appear in front of the world". Further, in the video, the veracity of which could not be determined, Amritpal said those who think he ran away from his people or friends should "get that thing" out of their minds. 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 raised an alert and stepped up efforts to track the fugitive radical preacher. Amritpal has been 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 aides, Lovepreet Toofan. (ANI)
An officer said, "The man had called on helpline '112' asking for an ambulance but when he was told to dial '108' he got abusive and threatened to kill CM Shinde."

The police further informed that during the call, his wife took the phone and informed him that her husband is in a drunken state.

"During the call, his wife took the phone and informed the operator that the person is not in his senses and is drunk. Nonetheless, we took serious cognisance of the threat, we launched an investigation. The person was detained today and questioned," the officer said.

Further details are awaited and an investigation is underway. (ANI)
A total of 5675 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in India in the last 24 hours, decreasing marginally from Monday's case count of 5,880, stated a bulletin issued by the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday. India's overall active caseload currently stands at 37,093, with a daily positivity rate of 2.88 per cent and a weekly positivity rate of 3.81 per cent, according to the release. A total of 3,761 recoveries were recorded in the last 24 hours taking the overall count to 4,42,00,079. The recovery rate currently stands at 98.73 per cent. A total of 220.66 crore total vaccine doses (95.21 cr second doses and 22.87 cr precautionary doses) have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive. In the last 24 hours, 358 vaccine doses were administered, the bulletin stated. A total of 92.30 crore tests have been conducted, so far, of which 1,96,796 were conducted in the last 24 hours, it added. Covid infections in the country have seen an upward trend in the past few days, with the daily new cases 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, 6,050 on April 7 and 6155 on April 8. While the overall count of infections dropped to 5,357 on April 9, they rose again to 5,887 on April 10. Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday advised citizens not to panic amid rising Covid cases, saying that they should maintain proper hygiene. IMA, in a statement, said, "Don't panic. We have controlled it before, We will do it now also with your support. Covid cases are rising, but don't panic. Maintain hygiene." Covid-related deaths are mostly being reported in people above 60 years or those with lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, among others, the statement said. It added that the likely reasons behind the rising Covid cases are a lax observance of Covid protocol and Covid-appropriate behaviour. Many people lowered their guard against the coronavirus, it claimed. People with symptoms refused to get tested, which may have allowed the virus to spread undetected and infect more people, added the statement. The statement said, "The vaccination drive has developed a false sense of security, and so we lowered the guard against the infection. The virus that causes Covid, keeps mutating and leading to the birth of new strains such as XBB.1.16. This new variant is believed to be more transmissible as compared to the previous variants, but luckily not so lethal." According to leading epidemiologists and virologists, the new Covid variant -- XBB.1.16 -- could be the reason behind the increase in cases. "People in high-risk groups -- pregnant ladies, those over the age of 60, those with chronic illnesses, and those with underlying health conditions, immunocompromised -- face increased risk of severe illness and death from Covid-19. We need to protect them," read the statement. It added that the rising cases show that the virus is still around and people need to take necessary precautions. "Covid-19 is spreading in our community. Stay safe by taking some simple precautions, the statement said. Further, it stated, "People with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body ache, loss of smell or taste, breathlessness should get tested for corona." The statement further advised people to cough into a bent elbow or tissues and disposing of them in a closed bin, the statement added. The statement added, "Washing hands frequently. Wash all parts of your hands often (at least 20 seconds if using an alcohol-based hand rub, and at least 40 seconds with soap and water)." It also advised people to wear a mask, especially in crowded places. The statement also asked the citizens to avoid crowded places and poorly ventilated settings, to the extent possible. "Ventilation is an important factor in preventing the virus that causes COVID-19 from spreading. Recirculated air from split air conditioning units, fans or any system that runs with a recirculation mode should be avoided where possible, unless, in a single occupancy room with no one else present," it added. The statement also advised citizens to avoid spitting in public. (ANI)
Chhattisgarh Congress leader TS Singh Deo has come out in support of Sachin Pilot who on Tuesday began a day-long fast stating that former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot's action was not against the Ashok Gehlot government but against the BJP government led by previous chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Deo had a day ago told ANI, "I think Sachin Pilot is aware that during elections, he would be answerable for corruption in Vasundhara Raje's government and that the charges would be investigated. In such a situation, Pilot is revolting against the Ashok Gehlot government and is raising his voice so that an inquiry is launched against Raje." Assembly polls in Rajasthan are due to be held late this year. Pilot, a former Union minister, paid floral tributes to social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule before embarking on his fast today. The Congress had a day ago stated that Pilot's fast 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," AICC incharge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said yesterday. BJP leader Rajendra Rathore today said the protest by the Congress against his own government would prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the incumbent Congress government in Rajasthan. Speaking to ANI, Rathore said, "Sachin Pilot has thrown an open challenge to his party high command. His day-long fast will be the last nail in the coffin of the Congress government. Congress has lost its hold across the country." "The Congress has been rendered weak across the country and its high command survived a significant leadership challenge in Rajasthan and is facing another. The first challenge was when Congress MLAs loyal to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot held a separate meeting (amid the high command's bid to install Pilot as CM last year). And the latest challenge before the high command is the ongoing fast by Sachin Pilot," he added. He added, "The boycott of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on September 25 by the Gehlot faction had jolted the high command. And now, Congress's high command has become weak in the whole country and has faced two significant challenges in Rajasthan. The first challenge was given by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's faction boycotting a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on September 25. The second challenge is through AAP Sachin Pilot's fast." He said, "Rathore said that the people of Rajasthan will bear the brunt of the infighting within the Congress for the next four years as the Chief Minister should be busy in maintaining his government and chair." Responding to the allegations of scams by Pilot during the tenure of the former chief minister Vasundhara Raje's state government, Leader of Opposition Rathore said, " I was also a part of that government, but why did Sachin Pilot not raise this matter in the budget session of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly till now. Why didn't he raise the matter in the cabinet meeting when he was also the Deputy Chief Minister in the government and why is he raising this matter now after a few months in the elections?" (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police on a bail plea moved by Pinki Irani in connection with the Rs 200-crore extortion case involving jailed businessman Sukesh Chandrasekhar. The Bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma on Tuesday sought the response of the investigating agency in the matter and listed it for further hearing on May 24. According to Delhi police, Mumbai-based Pinky Irani is a close aide of Chandrashekhar and introduced him to actor Jacqueline Fernandez. The supplementary chargesheet filed against Pinki Irani also mentioned the progress in the investigation through the recording of various statements, including those of Jacqueline Fernandez, and Nora Fatehi, among others. Pinki Irani was arrested by the EOW of Delhi Police in November month of 2022. The court earlier noted the submissions of the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police, stating, "We have arrested the accused to prevent him 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 his presence in the court.Earlier, Delhi Police stated that the accused Pinky Irani used to portray him (Sukesh) to be a business tycoon and facilitated meetings of certain Bollywood celebrities with Sukesh Chandrasekhar. It was also alleged that Pinky Irani was also instrumental in disposing of the amount of money extorted from the complainant and other sources. Earlier, Irani was arrested by the ED but later got bail. While moving for bail, she had stated that the allegations of violation of provisions of PMLA against the applicant are misconceived on facts and untenable in law, which the trial court has failed to appreciate and does not make out any case on facts and law against the applicant under the provisions of PMLA. This ED case is based on an FIR filed by Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Chandrasekhar, who is also accused of cheating and extorting Aditi Singh, wife of a 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. He reportedly persuaded Aditi to transfer money by posing as a central government officer on call, while he was lodged in Rohini jail and promised to secure 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 the jailed businessman 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)
Tension unfolded after clash at Biranpur village in Bemetara district of Chhattisgarh seems to be not settling soon as two more bodies with injuries from a neighbouring village adding to the ongoing controversy. The bodies were recovered from village Korvai under Saja police station limits, said Bemetara Superintendent of Police (SP) Indira Kalyan Elesela. Bodies of two unidentified persons were recovered from a village around 6-7 kilometres from village Biranpur, said the SP. Police have sent the bodies for autopsy and launched a probe for their identification, said the SP, adding that police have launched a probe to find out if anyone is missing in the area. Prima-facie investigation revealed head injuries on the bodies, but more clarity will be achieved after the arrival of the autopsy report, he added. Meanwhile, Bemetara Collector P S Elma confirmed that the deceased persons were identified as Rahim Mohammed (55) and his son Idul Mohammad (35), residents of village Biranpur. Notably, a youth identified as Bhuneswar Sahu (22) was killed after a clash between two communities took place in Biranpur village on April 8. Acting on the incident, police launched a probe and arrested around a dozen of persons in connection with the incident. Against the backdrop of the incident, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called a statewide bandh on April 10. BJP state president for the Chhattisgarh unit Arun Sao supported by a mammoth crowd reached Saja with the demand to meet the family members of youths who died in the clash. As Sao and his supporters were prevented to move forward, they staged a demonstration at Saja. Somehow, they reached Pipariya's turn wherein the mob turned violent and the mob started hurling stones leaving a young journalist injured. Police somehow managed to control the situation by taking BJP leaders into custody. Biranpur village has been transformed into a fortress with heavy deployment of security personnel, including armed personnel of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF). On the third day after the incident, police deployment has been stepped up at the village Biranpur following anticipation about the unfolding of any untoward incident. As a preventive measure, police officials and personnel from neighbour districts, including Raipur, have been roped in here to village Biranpur as a part of a foolproof security arrangement, said a police officer on the condition of not being quoted. Moreover, police personnel equipped with teargas shells were also deployed at the village, the officer added. (ANI)
The election of a new Chicago mayor should be the occasion for the state to restore to Chicago and other Illinois localities their 10% share of state income tax revenues.

That 10% is the local share on which Mayor Richard J. Daley and Gov. Richard Ogilvie agreed in 1969 when lawmakers passed the first state income tax in Springfield. Without that local share, Daley would never have agreed, and the tax would not have been imposed. The state was not giving money to cities; they were sharing in the benefit of the states capacity to raise revenue in this new way.

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According to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, the home rule powers granted to Chicago and other localities excluded the power to impose an income tax. That limitation assumed that cities would continue to get their agreed share of state income tax revenues.

When Richard M. Daley was elected mayor in 1989, he and Gov. James Thompson agreed to a legislative package passed just a month later that included a temporary two-year increase in the state income tax on individuals to 3% from 2.5%. Half of that increase went to localities, so the local share went up.

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Two years later in 1991, the legislature faced a decision on making the tax increase permanent. At one point, House Speaker Michael Madigan suggested that the local share of the increase might be eliminated. Tim Degnan, Chicagos key Springfield representative, immediately went to Pate Philip, the Republican Senate leader, and began negotiating a bipartisan extension that preserved the local share. Madigan quickly retreated, and lawmakers passed the extension with the local share of the total tax at the long-standing 10% level. (The local share was extended initially for just a two-year period and then made permanent two years later. Jim Edgar, the governor at the time, has since disclosed that temporary provision was added at the request of Madigan who wanted to maintain leverage with Daley.)

Fast-forward, not coincidentally, to spring 2011. Daley had announced late the previous year that he was not running for reelection. The race for a new mayor, ultimately won by Rahm Emanuel, was in full swing, but no new mayor was yet in place. The legislature passed an increase in the income tax to 5% from 3%  with no local share of the 2% increase.

I recall looking at the bill introduced in Springfield and thinking the exclusion of the local share must be a mistake that the legislature would correct. But it wasnt a mistake. One person who did not make that kind of mistake and unquestionably knew exactly what was happening was Madigan. Madigan often claimed to care about Chicago, but that was overcome by personal interests, including a long-standing rivalry with Daley. The reduced city share is another legacy of the Madigan era in Springfield that should now be put to rest.

The result of increasing the tax to 5% with no city share of the increase was that the local share of the overall taxes went from the historical 10% down to 6%. The total tax rate has fluctuated slightly in the years since and so has the city share. But with the total tax rate for individuals now at 4.95%, the city share is just slightly more than 6%. The local share of corporate income taxes is slightly higher.

Restoring the local share to its historical 10% would mean real money for Chicago and other localities. Based on total Illinois income tax revenues, the local distribution would increase by about $1.25 billion. The local share is distributed based on population, so Chicago would get more than $250 million.

For the state, the loss of these revenues is easily accommodated in an almost $50 billion annual state budget. To make it easier, the shift back to the historical 10% could be phased in over several years.

For Chicago and other cities, that amount is much more significant. And importantly, it is not a one-shot revenue source but a continuing and growing participation in the strength of the states economy.

Restoring these revenues to Chicago and other cities would contribute to the positive spirit Brandon Johnsons election as mayor has engendered and to his capacity to achieve key elements of his agenda. Sharing these revenues at the historical level with Chicago and other cities that are the states key economic engines would also be good for Illinois as a whole.

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John Schmidt was Mayor Richard M. Daleys transition chief and initial chief of staff in 1989. He later was chair of the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, ambassador and chief U.S. negotiator for the Uruguay Round of global trade talks and the associate attorney general of the United States.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
The famed Gond painting of Madhya Pradesh has received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag. A geographical Indication (GI) tag is a sign used on products which have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. It is used for industrial products, foodstuff, agriculture products, spirit drinks, and handicrafts. GI Tag ensures that no one other than the registered authorised user is allowed to use the name of the popular product. Padma Shri awardee and famous Gond artist Bhajju Shyam said, "Its is a matter of pride for us. With this, the people of tribal and Gond dominant communities will now get direct benefit." Detailing Gond painting, the Padma Shri awardee said, "They tell us about nature, trees, plants, animals, moon, sun, river, drains, God and Goddesses. What foods are fed, how plough is made, how the king used to fight, how the powers of tantra mantra (Black magic) worked, all this is explained through the painting." Dindori collector Vikas Mishra told ANI, "The main source of Gond painting has been Dindori, it has been expanded from place to place in Dindori. Getting the GI tag means that the authority has accepted that its original source is Dindori district." He added that the women and their families in the area who were working on a labour basis, some other people used to get them work and used to pay them as labour, now our authority would be developed in that." "Now we together with NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission) and NULM (National Urban Livelihood Mission) have decided to bring the painting in a cheap model in which we can make greeting cards, mobile covers, bag covers, because every man cannot buy a big painting. We have to work according to the demand and supply of the market," he added. The collector further said, "Gondi painting is not just a medium of employment for us, it is our identity, our respect and our symbol. The whole human life and its journey is shown through the painting. Each painting is a story in itself. We have made Amarkantak the centre of point for its promotion and we are routing the big hotels of Jabalpur as well." Notably, Patangarh village of Dindori district is such a village where there is an artist in every house. Their work is not only famous in the state but also abroad. A physically challenged tribal woman Narbadiya Armo, a resident of Khannat village, does mouth painting. She has been an example and a symbol of willpower for every woman who finds herself helpless. After getting the GI tag, the paintings of Narbadiya Armo will also receive name-fame, identity and fair price. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief Thota Chandrasekhar on Tuesday met Steel Plant Workers Union leaders and extended the party's support to the union's relay hunger strike against the privatization of Vizag Steel Plant. Talking to ANI, Chandrasekhar said, "BRS is opposing privatization of Vizag steel plant. In 2021, the Government of India decided to privatize the Vizag steel plant. This steel plant provides livelihood to lakhs of people including its 30,000 employees. Not just this steel plant, BRS party will oppose privatization of any company." He further added," The joke is that the BJP government is going to make one more steel plant and other assurances under the bifurcation act. Vizag Steel hasn't been given any capital mines. Capital mines are required for the existing plant. Our demand to both the state and central governments is that give financial assistance to the current steel plant." "Privatization is a brutal act. I witnessed the steel plant agitation while studying in the early 60's and 70's Visakhapatnam", Chandrasekhar said. He said that Vizag Steel Plant is a company that has been pushed into losses and the workers here have increased the assets of the steel plant to the tune of three lakh crores. "The central government is conspiring to capture them and is moving to tie it up to Adani", he added. "BRS party is going to contest in all 175 assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh. The ruling party of the state and the opposition party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have failed to fulfil the needs of the State", he said. (ANI)
More than 100 BJP workers were seen marching to the state secretariat in protest against the government.

Police used water canon against the protesting workers when they tried for a 'gherao' (surround) the secretariat.

The police also resorted to a lathi-charge when a section of protestors tried to break police barricades while another started pelting stones against the police.

"The Soren government has failed on every front. Promises made before the elections have not fulfilled. The law and order situation is worsening day by day. This government is only resorting to appeasement. Hence, this protest march and gherao of the secretariat was called to protest the ways of functioning this government," one of the protestors said.

Over 20 protestors were detained during the protests, informed the police. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the youth of the country to visit border villages as part of the 'Vibrant Village Programme' (VVP). Responding to a tweet from Amrit Mahotsav's handle, PM Modi said, "Must have been a memorable experience. I would urge others, particularly the youth of India, to visit border villages. It would acquaint our youth with different cultures and give them an opportunity to experience the hospitality of those living there." Notably, as a part of the initiative, the youth from Odisha is on a visit to Kibithoo and Tuting villages in Arunachal Pradesh. The Twitter handle of Amrit Mahotsav said, "#VibrantVillagesProgram is a great way to embrace cultural & traditional exchanges, celebrate the diversity of our remote border villages and bring them into the national mainstream. As part of this initiative, youth from Odisha is on a visit to Kibithoo & Tuting villages." "Envisioned by Hon'ble PM @narendramodi, the #VibrantVillagesProgram is giving youngsters an opportunity to learn about the lifestyle, tribes, folk music & handicrafts of this northeast region and immerse themselves in its local flavours & natural beauty," another tweet said. "Interaction with Bravehearts of @ITBP_official & other para-military forces is an integral part of the program. It will give youth a real-life understanding of their strategic & combat skills in the face of challenges alongside enjoying artillery displays," stated another tweet. Highlighting the magnificence of border villages, a tweet said, "Our border villages are brimming with beauty and opportunities. #VibrantVillagesProgram will open up avenues for enhancing the quality of life of people living in these regions and enhance their potential for the promotion of sustainable eco-tourism." Notably, 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". 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 Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Stalin led-Tamil Nadu's appeal against the Madras high court order allowing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route marches in the state. A bench of justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal upheld the Madras High Court order which allowed the RSS route march in the state. Dismissing the appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government against the Madras HC order, the top court said, "Therefore, it is not possible for us to find fault with the order passed by the Judge either in the main writ petitions or in the review applications." "Hence all the special leave petitions are liable to be dismissed," the top court said. The top court has observed that the main objection raised by the State before the High Court was that after the imposition of a ban order on another organization, law and order problems cropped up in certain places and that the same led to several cases being registered. The details of those cases are actually furnished in the memorandum of grounds of special leave petition. "But the Chart provided by the State Government shows that the members of the respondent organization were the victims in many of those cases and that they were not the perpetrators," the top court said. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appeared for the petitioners Tamil Nadu, in all the special leave petitions and Senior Advocates Mahesh Jethmalani and Menaka Guruswamy appeared for the respondent RSS. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Government told the Supreme Court that they are not totally against the RSS route march but can't permit it in sensitive locations. The court was hearing the Tamil Nadu government's appeal against the Madras High Court order permitting RSS for its route march in the state. On February 10, Madras High Court directed Tamil Nadu police to grant permission to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to take route marches in various districts across the State on public roads. Recently the Tamil Nadu Government has challenged two orders of the Madras High Court dated September 22, 2022, and November 2, 2022. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Government had also said that they will have a dialogue with the RSS on proposed routes for the march as they are not totally opposed to it. The state government had apprised the court that the government denied holding route marches in the sensitive areas, which have faced PFI incidents and have border areas with disturbances. The lawyer said, "The government had had some intelligence reports." The lawyer for Tamil Nadu Government had stressed that they are not fully opposed to the procession but to the manner in which it is proposed to be done. "They are not able to control terrorist organizations and that is why they want to ban the route march," the lawyer said. Tamil Nadu Government has moved the top court against the Madras High Court order permitting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to take out its route march in Tamil Nadu on rescheduled dates. (ANI)
"In Karnataka, women are 90 per cent happy with the present government (BJP-led government) and they are going to support our party in the upcoming election," Geetha Vivekananda told ANI.

"Our women workers will go to the ground level (Booth level) and will help the women of the state to take benefits of all women-oriented schemes of the government," the President of BJP Karnataka Women Wing said.

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.

Earlier on Monday, BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda held a meeting with CM Basavaraj Bommai over the Karnataka Assembly election 2023 at his residence in Delhi.

Parliamentary Minister Prahlad Joshi, CT Ravi and members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly were also present at the meeting.

Talking to the media after attending the meeting, CM Bommai said, "Our party is a democratic party not like the dictatorship party of Congress so we are thinking well and talking in detail before releasing the first list of candidates for Karnataka Assembly Elections."

"After another internal meeting on Tuesday, Karnataka's list will be released late evening," he added.

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. (ANI)
Delhi Police have arrested three persons, including one 15 year old juvenile, accused of threatening a person on the instructions of Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol Bishnoi in Uttam Nagar, police said on Tuesday. Officials of SP Badli Police Station in Outer North district nabbed the perpetrators on Monday. "On April 10, at around 8 pm, owing to suspicious behaviour, two persons, Jaiveer (27) and a 15 year old juvenile, were intercepted. On interrogation they disclosed that one of their associate, Manoj Salvi, has provided them pistols and cartridges and is standing near Mukarba Chowk Flyover," Delhi Police said, adding that Manoj was also arrested later from the spot. During interrogation they disclosed that they had come to Delhi to threaten one property dealer at his office in Uttam Nagar on the instructions from gangster Anmol Bishnoi, brother of Lawerence Bishnoi. Delhi Police recovered one sophisticated 9 MM Pistol, 14 live cartridges, one additional pistol magazine, and Rs 11,500 from their possession. Responding to this, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Outer North Ravi Kumar Singh said, "We apprehended three people from Mukarba Chowk. It was revealed that those three persons had came after executing a crime in Uttam Nagar. They told us that Anmol had given them a task to threaten one person namely, Radhakrishan Builder. We have arrested them, and recovered one pistol, 14 cartridges and two magazines from their possession." "According to the preliminary investigation it came to know that Anmol Bishnoi is a brother of Lawrence Bishnoi. He used to contact the arrested prepetrators through social media apps," DCP Outer North told ANI. (ANI)
As per a party source, "Home Minister Amit Shah will visit West Bengal on 14th and 15th April. He will address a public rally in Birbhum, hold organisational meetings on 14th April. He will also visit Dakshineswar Temple on Bengali New Year that is on 15th April."

"There will be organisational meetings to discuss the ongoing ground campaigning for upcoming Lok Sabha election 2024. Also, he will review the government policies' reach to beneficiaries", source added.

Shah will visit Bengal at a time when the party is looking to strengthen its organisational machinery ahead of the panchayat election. But the ruling Trinamool Congress declined to attach much importance to the visit. (ANI)
Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region, G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday said that Centre has spent Rs 5 lakh crore in the northeastern region in the last eight and a half years. Speaking at a programme in Agartala, Reddy said, "Government is committed to bring in world-class infrastructure in the north-east. Nearly Rs 78 crore is being spent on railway projects in the north east and soon the region will emerge as the growth region of the country." He also reiterated that this particular region can be a window of South Asia. Later, speaking after inaugurating various developmental projects alongside Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha at the state secretariat, he said that very soon, "ministers from the Centre will visit sensitive border villages bordering China, Myanmar and Bangladesh for necessary action. Under this programme after the minister's visit, senior officers of the Government will do a night halt at these border villages." Besides all this, the CM said, "in coming 500 days' villages will have cell phone connectivity and they will be provided with high-speed internet bandwidth. Soon a Northeast summit will be initiated and a road show in India - Bangladesh will be held there to make the masses aware about the benefits of this prestigious program." It is to be noted that Tripura has been awarded as the best performing State among Northeastern states in the implementation of e-procurement. In this context, Tripura has been rewarded for completing the work within a specified time under the power department's Saubhagya Yojana (ANI)
The conference is part of the calendar of events drawn up by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, under the current Chairmanship of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

"The Ministry of Education, GoI has been designated to organise the Young Authors' Conference with National Book Trust, India, an autonomous organisation, under the Ministry of Education, as the Implementing Agency," Education Ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry said that the theme of the Conference is Civilizational Dialogue amongst the SCO member nations - Perspectives from Young Scholars, with the sub-themes of History and Philosophy, Economy, Religion, Culture, Literature and Science and Medicine.

During the Joint Address of Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for Youth held in 2018, a wide policy framework for the engagement of youth power of the SCO member states was laid down in order to channelise them into a creative and productive path enabling better global understanding and dialogue.

"The two-day SCO Young Authors' Conference will provide a dynamic platform to explore the avenues of modern education, training and advanced training of youth, wider involvement in entrepreneurial activities and innovative projects," Ministry added

During the ongoing "SCO Council of Heads of States" Presidency of India, SCO aims at advancing the theme of 'SECURE' (Security, Economic cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environment), articulated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi initially at the SCO Summit in Qingdao in 2018.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organisation founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001. The SCO currently comprises eight member states (India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). (ANI)
In the wake of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination and amid protests of the Vietnam War, Democrats came to Chicago for their national convention in August 1968. Inside the convention hall, demonstrations erupted and angry words were traded among attendees. Outside the convention hall, rioting by "hippie" protesters took over Chicago and images of police beating the demonstrators were broadcast around the world. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Fifty summers ago, a mule train got caught in a human traffic jam on Michigan Avenue.

The mule train bore a delegation of poor people headed for Chicagos International Amphitheatre, where the Democratic Party was meeting Aug. 26-30 to pick its 1968 presidential candidate. On Wednesday, Aug. 28, the route to the South Side convention center was blocked by Vietnam War protesters and police, until a commanding officer persuaded the demonstrators to open their ranks and let pass the three covered wagons sent to Chicago by a Southern civil rights organization.

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It was a rare moment of civility in a week of bloody battles  between the police, rebels with various causes and unlucky bystanders  that gave Chicago a long-lasting black eye.

No sooner was the mule train on its way than the police waded into the demonstrators with a vigor that shocked guests looking down on the scene from the Conrad Hilton Hotel, the Democrats convention headquarters.

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Many were appalled at what they considered unnatural enthusiasm of police for the job of arresting demonstrators, the Tribune reported of the melee that day. There were cries of Cut it out  dont hurt him  how can you do this! from hotel windows.

Checking into the hotel, a reporter had observed: I think this is going to be a week to remember.

He was prescient. The phrase 68 Convention was about to join Al Capone as mnemonic shorthand for the more notorious chapters of Chicagos history.

Mayor Richard J. Daley tried to nip that usage in the bud, fearing it could take a hit on the citys trade show business. But in a news conference he used a signature malapropism that made the public relations disaster even more memorable.

Gentlemen, get the thing straight once and for all, Daley said. The policeman isn't there to create disorder, the policeman is there to preserve disorder.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 45 Delegates on the Democratic National Convention floor chant "Stop the war" after a speech by Pierre Salinger, President John F. Kennedy's press secretary, on Aug. 28, 1968. Salinger urged adoption of the dove plank on the Vietnam War. (John Austad / Chicago Tribune)

Journalists present must have been tempted to nod in agreement. Two dozen of their colleagues had already reported being injured by the police before the conventions opening gavel fell on Aug. 26.

The violence  a federal investigation later would call it a police riot  wasnt just a headache for Daley. It gave pause to the Tribune, which went into the convention knowing which side it was on.

Across the country and the world, 1968 was a year in which demands for radical change were being pitted against passionate defenses of the status quo. America was bitterly divided over the Vietnam War, and racial tensions were high. The Soviet Union had just led an invasion of Czechoslovakia on Aug. 21. And in April, President Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek re-election.

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The previous year, thousands of disaffected young people had flocked to San Franciscos Summer of Love, making hippie a synonym for subversive in the lexicon of the Tribune  which greeted the 1968 Democratic National Convention by dubbing it The Democratic freak-in at the International Amphitheatre.

The paper reminded readers that Vice President Hubert Humphrey, the partys presumed presidential candidate, once said that if he were a slum dweller, he had enough spark in him to lead a mighty good revolt.

As the convention ended, the Tribune noted that of the 309 people arrested, 136 werent Chicagoans, thus concluding: A sick cause mustered sick people.

But between its forecast and final verdict, the Tribune noted that one of its reporters had to ask a police lieutenant for protection against policemen with night sticks, and joined other media in protesting the police tactics.

The press is not the enemy of the police, an editorial observed. Strong security, however, does not require the police to beat up newspaper reporters and photographers who are lawfully trying to cover a news event.

Chicago was, indeed, on high alert in the summer of 1968. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4 had triggered riots that reduced whole blocks to rubble. The smoke from fires on the West Side could be seen from the Loop, and National Guard troops patrolled upscale lakefront streets.

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A week before the convention, Daley announced the Illinois National Guard was being reactivated to deal with people who might come here to cause trouble  and the police raided a hippie flat in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. A cache of drugs found there was awaiting arriving protesters, the police said. By the Tribunes account, marijuana was stored in a replica of a skull pierced by a knife and labeled Police.

Anti-war activists also were making contingency plans. In New York City, hippies are being told to bring $200 with them to use as bail bond money, the Tribune reported. In Chicago, a cadre of protesters was being taught how to respond if the police tried to thwart their demonstrations.

One drill involves using a pole and their own bodies as a wedge to lead demonstrators in breaking police lines, a Tribune reporter who observed the training sessions in Lincoln Park noted. The demonstration leaders insist the tactic is a defensive one in case police force a confrontation.

No doubt those drills were also being watched by undercover policemen and informers from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Baltimore and New York  that the Tribune said were helping Chicago police keep watch on the protesters.

That prologue prompted television commentators to dub the city Fortress Chicago, and more bad reviews followed from the conventions floor. A security guard, trying to prevent CBS correspondent Dan Rather from interviewing a delegate, punched Rather in the stomach, knocking him down. I think weve a bunch of thugs here, if I may be permitted to say so, Walter Cronkite, the networks anchorman, told his television audience.

On the citys streets, police were playing similarly rough. On the eve of the convention, they fired a barrage of tear gas that forced dissidents from their Lincoln Park encampment. The hippies swarmed south (through) the Old Town district as merchants closed their shops, the Tribune reported. As the crowd passed the corner of Division and Wells streets, several windows were broken and two of the marchers were arrested.

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Poet Allen Ginsberg marched slowly through all the confusion, regally chanting, Ommm.

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The next day, a Tribune reporter saw parents whod come from Iowa farms and Illinois small towns wandering through Lincoln Park. Some asked those with beards and sandals and beads around their necks: Do you know John --- or My daughters name is Mary --- The hippies shake their heads and the parents nod sadly and go to the next group.

The most violent confrontation  the one in which the mule train was entangled  began when a dissident climbed a flagpole in Grant Park, pulled down the American flag and hoisted a red flag. Police rushed him, and were surrounded by other dissidents. A tear gas canister was tossed back and forth by the cops and demonstrators.

The melee spilled out onto Michigan Avenue and through the Loop. Protesters pelted the police with rocks and bottles, and bystanders were sprayed with mace. The police pushed several people through the plate-glass window of the Hilton Hotels Haymarket Lounge.

Film of the encounter was aired in the amphitheater as presidential candidates were being nominated. When Connecticut Sen. Abraham Ribicoff spoke on behalf of South Dakota Sen. George McGovern, he decried the Gestapo tactics the delegates had just seen. Alternately turning ashen and crimson, as the Tribune reported, Daley leaped to his feet and screamed insults at Ribicoff.

How hard it is to accept the truth, Ribicoff replied. A Colorado delegate followed suit, interrupting the vote to ask if there was any law by which Mayor Daley can be compelled to suspend the police state terror of this convention?

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Humphrey won the nomination, but he would go on to lose the general election. Turning his back on reporters at the convention, Daley was heckled as he left the amphitheater floor. The events surrounding the convention would haunt Chicago for years, but on that final day the Tribunes reporter concluded that what transpired between the falls of the gavel made this session of the convention one of wildest since the great, gaudy shows were invented.

rgrossman@chicagotribune.com
In yet another success in its drive against trans-border crimes and narcotics trafficking, and foiling a smuggling bid, Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday apprehended two narcotic smugglers with prohibited Yaba Tablets and cough syrup on Indo-Bangladesh international border. BSF said the smugglers are from Kayeterbari village in the Coochbehar district of West Bengal. The contraband items seized from them cost Rs 9,90,000. The crackdown was done in a special operation launched on 10th April 2023 based on reliable inputs, said officials of the BSF. The consignment was meant to be smuggled from India to Bangladesh. The apprehended smugglers and seized items were handed to the police for further legal action. Considering the vulnerability of the border to heightened activities of drug traffickers and anti-national elements, BSF troops are always on the alert to thwart trans-border crimes including drug trafficking and are making all-out efforts to prevent the commission of such crimes. Smugglers use the porous Indo-Bangladesh border for their illegal activities. So border security forces are on increased alert. Many contraband seizures were made along the Indo-Bangladesh border by the police of the respective border states and BSF in the recent past. For instance, on April 4 apprehending two persons, Assam Police seized 20,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 40 lakh in Assam's Karimganj district along the Indo-Bangladesh border. The seizure was done when the police, based on input, raided a house in the Pirerchowk Chandsrikona area of the district. "When we raided a house owned by Abdul Khaleque, a veteran drug criminal, we recovered 20,000 Yaba tablets weighing about 2.095 kg from the house. We have apprehended Abdul Khaleque and another person named Emamuddin. Our investigation is on," Gitartha Dev Sarma Deputy Superintendent of Police of Karimganj district. (ANI).
Criminal-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed accused in the Umesh Pal murder case will be brought to Prayagraj from Sabarmati Jail on Tuesday, said officials. Police will be taking him to Prayagraj under a production warrant after the consent of the court in a murder case. "It is not right. They want to kill me," said gangster Atiq Ahmed on being taken to UP's Prayagraj from Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail for production in a murder case. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that the government is monitoring the whole matter and the aim is to get the harshest punishment. "We are following the decision of the court, now criminals will not be able to escape in Uttar Pradesh. The government is monitoring the whole matter, and our aim is to get the harshest punishment," he said on gangster Atiq Ahmed to be moved to Prayagraj by UP Police. On March 28, Mafia don-turned-politician, Atiq Ahmed was convicted by an MP-MLA court and sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment in the abduction case of now-deceased Umesh Pal. Earlier on April 9, Delhi Police's Special Cell arrested three people from Delhi in connection with allegedly aiding jailed gangster Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and planning Umesh Pal's murder. The three arrested people were identified as Jawed, Khalid and Jeeshan. Earlier on March 28, the police arrested Khalid and Jeeshan from Delhi and recovered two weapons and live cartridges from the duo. They both have been charged with provisions under the Arms Act. During the course of the investigation, the duo (Khalid and Jeeshan) disclosed that they had also provided shelter to Asad and Gulam, who are wanted culprits in the infamous Umesh Pal murder case by Uttar Pradesh police. Meanwhile, on March 30, the police arrested the third accused Jawed from Delhi who disclosed that Asad and Gulam had also met him after Umesh Pal's murder. The police have arrested all the accused and are in judicial custody. Atiq Ahmed and his family came under the scanner in the Umesh Pal murder case. Atiq Ahmed, who has over 100 cases against him over the last 43 years, has been convicted in the same case. Umesh Pal, a key witness to the murder of BSP leader Raju Pal and one of his two armed security escorts was shot dead in Prayagraj's Sulem Saray area on February 24. Several rounds were fired and bombs were hurled at Umesh and his gunners. (ANI)
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government at the centre and said that Rahul Gandhi was disqualified for asking questions that the BJP could not answer. While addressing a public meeting in Wayanad, Priyanka said, "Rahul Gandhi was disqualified for asking a question that they (BJP) could not answer. The whole government is trying to defend Gautam Adani. The PM is defending Adani." "The BJP is hellbent on turning our democracy on its head. PM is changing his dressing style every day but there is no change in the lifestyle of common people. They are struggling for jobs," she added. Alleging that the country was heading towards dictatorship, Priyanka said, "What has happened to my brother is just a symptom, it is a symptom of how far we are down the path towards dictatorship today. Today the government feels that it can silence any dissent." Heaping praises on Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka said, "You know that he is an honest man, unafraid to speak the truth. You know that he is a brave man undaunted by the powers of those who want to silence him." Mentioning Gujarat Court's judgment on her brother, she said, "Now, a court in Gujarat has passed a judgement after which the government has disqualified him from parliament as your MP. His future as your MP is in the hands of the courts." Notably, Rahul was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha after a Gujarat Court convicted him in a 2019 defamation case for a remark using the surname 'Modi'. The court sentenced the Congress leader to two years imprisonment.The sentence was later suspended for 30 days during which Rahul can appeal against his conviction. "To ask questions, to demand accountability, to raise issues is the job of a parliamentarian," she added. Targeting the central government, she said, "I find it even strange that a whole government, every minister, every MP, even the Prime Minister finds it acceptable and appropriate to malign and mercilessly attack one man just because he asked a question they could not respond to." "Brothers and sisters, the truth is always uncomfortable, especially for those who lie, those who unleash an industrial scale of propaganda against anyone who dares to question them," she added. The defamation case against Rahul Gandhi was filed by former BJP MLA Purnesh Modi. After the disqualification of Rahul's membership from the Lok Sabha, the Congress has been vocal in protests all over the country. The grand old party has been making an effort to rally like-minded Opposition players around it in the wake of Rahul's loss of membership in the Lower House. Rahul's disqualification is the latest in a series of flashpoints between the Congress and the ruling BJP, with a united Opposition calling it a ploy to divert public attention from the Adani issue. Rahul Gandhi was elected to Lok Sabha in 2019 from Wayanad in Kerala. The party has said that it will challenge the Surat court verdict in a higher court. (ANI)
Locals in Leh on Tuesday held a huge protest against the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl on March 29 and demanded the setting up of a fast-track court. The protest was held by the Ladakh Buddhist Association, the Ladakh Gonpa Association and the residents of Ladakh at the historic polo ground Leh. On March 29, a 12-year-old minor girl was allegedly raped by a man and left injured in Leh, Ladakh, police said. Earlier in the day, the Ladakh Buddhist Association, the Ladakh Gonpa Association and the people of Ladakh submitted the Memorandum to Brig (Retd) Dr BD Mishra, Lt Governor Ladakh demanding the establishment of a fast-track Court for speedy trial of the recent rape and attempt to murder Case of a minor Buddhist girl; and also other such cases that are still pending in Courts. "With deep anguish and an extreme sense of dismay the Ladakh Buddhist Association, the Ladakh Gonpa Association and the people of Ladakh from all walks of life and faith assembled at the historic polo ground Leh in a huge rally to protest against the recent incidence of rape and attempt to murder a minor girl and also to show our deep concern for the failure of the legal process to convict and penalize the convicts of juvenile sexual abuse/sodomy cases and also other cases of sexual abuse and murder in Leh," the memorandum reads. These kinds of delays in justice delivery have resulted in the loss of public trust in the justice system and faith in the universality and fairness of law of the land, it reads. "The public is against the sight of some convicts of sodomy and rape, otherwise liable forpenalty under the POCSO act, to spot scot-free. The convicts succeed in shifting cases from Leh to higher courts with ulterior motives and get bail after some time," it further said. It further stated, "We feel that the liberal tradition of using drink and the menace of drug use in UT Ladakh, and also the laxity of law enforcement agencies have played their role in the spread of social vices and also in encouraging the perpetrators of such horrific crimes." "The people of Ladakh request your Excellency to kindly establish a special fast-track Court fordelivery of speedy justice in the present case and also in other such cases that are more than one year old," the memorandum reads. A woman was brutally raped and murdered last year at Leh but the case, in spite of beingvery clear, is still pending to the chagrin of the bereaved and aggrieved family members of thevictim, it further reads. After 48 hours of search, the police arrested the accused Syed Zulfikar Ali Shah alias 'Zulzul' of Thiksey on April 1. Superintendent of Police (SP) Leh-Ladakh, PD Nitya told the media, "The incident happened on March 29. The accused offered the girl a lift to school and instead took her to an isolated place and allegedly raped her". "The victim also suffered a head injury during the incident, and the accused left her thinking that she has died. He was arrested within 48 hours of the incident," she added. The police have registered the case under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with sections 363 (abduction) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, police said. The victim's condition is stable now, the police said. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday paid tribute to the brave heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty during the 1962 war, at Walong War Memorial in Arunachal Pradesh. Shah is on a two-day visit to the Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. On Monday, Shah 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. 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)
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday visited the Nishchintpur railway yard, which will connect Tripura with Akhaura in Bangladesh, to inspect the progress of work as it is very likely to be inaugurated at the end of this year. The inauguration of this international railway project will enlighten and broaden the communication between Bangladesh and India in an enormous way and is believed to enrich the economy of not only Tripura but also the whole North Eastern States. The progress review of the Agartala-Akhaura new rail link project by Union Minister Reddy ensured that the project will be started very soon. Adjacent to this Railway Centre, there will be an integrated check post which will enroute the passengers to the Agartala Akhaura Rail Link station to avail the journey to Kolkata via Dhaka, Bangladesh. The opening of this international yard will shorten the distance of Agartala to Kolkata by 11 hours which is possible by the international rail service which will be via Bangladesh. Thousands of passengers of Tripura and the North Eastern States alongside Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries are anxiously waiting for the grand opening of the same which will facilitate the journey and enrich the mode of communication as much more easy, accessible & affordable by all classes of people. Asked about the new rail link project, Reddy said, "The opening of this international new rail link project will not only ease the journey for the people of Tripura and Northeast but also will help the economy of other Northeast states." "We are expecting this project to be inaugurated by the end of this year and in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina," he added. (ANI)
The results of class VIII was announced in Jammu and Kashmir by the education department on April 10, which revealed an outstanding performance by government school children. As per the education department, over 96.6 per cent of the students achieved success in the exam, with three students from the Gangu area of Pulwama district securing the first, second, and ninth positions at the district level in the eighth-grade examination. All these students are studying at Government Boys High School Gangu. A special function was organized at the school to celebrate their achievements, which was also attended by their parents. The teachers praised the hard work of the students and parents and awarded them with prizes. Speaking to journalists, Muhammad Hussain Malik, who secured first place at the district level, attributed their success to the support of teachers and parents and highlighted the positive behaviour of teachers towards them. Towheed Yasin, who secured the second position, expressed happiness and gratitude towards their parents and school teachers, and emphasized the improved quality of education in government schools, with dedicated efforts by the staff and support from the government in providing facilities for education. Sakina Hasan, who secured the ninth position, also made their school and parents proud with their achievements. Muhammad Hussain, a teacher at the school, credited the students' outstanding performance in the eighth-grade examination to the collective hard work of all teachers. He further emphasized that the quality of education in government schools is better, and encouraged people to enrol their children in government schools. The Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) announced the Class VIII results on Monday for both zones of Jammu and Kashmir. The success ratio of male and female students in the examination was more than 96.6 per cent. The results were announced as per the new National Education Policy 2020, which saw the annual examinations of all classes being held together for the first time in the entire UT of Jammu and Kashmir. In March 2023, the State Council of Educational Research and Training conducted the 8th standard annual examination T2, with a total of 175,547 students participating. Out of them, 169,564 students passed the annual examination, showcasing the academic achievements of the students in the region. (ANI)
Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Surendran on Tuesday made serious allegations against Minister for Public Works Department PA Mohammed Riyas and alleged that the state PWD Minister has links with PFI. "Minister for Public Works Department and Tourism PA Mohammed Riyas has links with religious extremist organizations including PFI. The party has now made him a minister to get votes through the support of Muslim extremist forces," the BJP Kerala State President alleged. The state government has failed to address the developmental backwardness of the state. PM Modi's vision of development can save Kerala, he said. "Is it necessary for the Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition to shudder at the visit of BJP leaders to the homes of Christians on Easter? Why bother when we decide to contact the people? Both fronts think that they have the full rights of minorities. When we come down to the religious minorities, they are spreading evil propaganda. Both see minorities as vote banks." he further stated. "Efforts are being made to reduce the distance between the Muslim community and us (BJP)," he said. Speaking on Christians' vote bank he said, "In Goa, Congress tried and failed. There, Christians voted for the BJP." Earlier on Thursday, BJP's Kerala chief responded to reporters' question on whether Anil Anthony's joining would boost the BJP's prospects in the southern state and boost its acceptability among Christian voters, said, "AK Antony is senior Congress leader, who held key positions in the party. Today, his son Anil Antony took membership in the BJP. More Congress leaders will be joining BJP soon." Hoping for a better vote share in the southern state where the saffron party hasn't yet managed to any significant electoral inroads, the BJP state chief said, "Our vote share in Kerala wasn't much the last time. However, this time we hope to bag a bigger share of Christian votes as the Christian community has demonstrated that it has full faith in Modi-ji's work." "We are running several campaigns in the state. The 'Happy Easter Ghar Ghar Chalo' campaign will be conducted across the state from April 9. During this campaign, we will make an effort to connect Christians with the BJP, which will significantly impact our vote share," he added. (ANI)
Baisakhi or Vaisakhi, which will be celebrated this year on April 14, is one of the most important festivals of the Sikh community. Sikhs have started their preparations for celebrating the festival, which brings hope of prosperity, happiness and wealth. The day marks the anniversary of the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in the year 1699. On this day, Guru Gobind Singh abolished the distinction between higher and lower caste communities. To celebrate the festival, people visit Gurudwaras, seek blessings, and participate in nagar kirtan. 'Kada prasad' is distributed among the devotees. Here are some of the popular Gurudwaras that you can visit during the beginning of the harvest season. 1. Golden Temple Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, is one of the holiest shrines in all of Sikhism. It is located in Amritsar. It is famous for its fully golden dome. 2. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib One of the Sikh pilgrimage centres in Delhi, the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is located on Ashok Road with close proximity to Connaught Place. It is known for its beautiful architecture and peaceful atmosphere. 3. Hazur Sahib Hazur Sahib was built between 1832 and 1837 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It is located on the banks of the Godavari River in the city of Nanded in Maharashtra, India. It is a place where the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, took his last breath. 4. Paonta Sahib Paonta Sahib was built in memory of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of Sikhs. It attracts tourists from all over the world. The Gurudwara has a palanquin "Palki" made of pure gold, donated by devotees. 5. Patna Sahib Takht Sri Patna Sahib, also known as Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji, Patna Sahib, marks the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh. It is known for its religious significance and beautiful architecture. It is located in Patna, Bihar. 6. Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib is a high-altitude Gurudwara located in the Himalayan region. The shrine is surrounded by a scenic glacial lake and seven mountain peaks. The seven peaks around the shrine adorn a Nishan Sahib on their cliff and are a place of spirituality and harmony. So, if you want to start the festival of the harvest season with blessings, then you must visit some of these beautiful Gurudwaras in India. (ANI)
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) legislator S.P. Venkateswaran on Tuesday called upon the Tamil Nadu government to ban Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) as the team does not have a single player from the state. Speaking on the floor of the Assembly, the senior PMK leader said that there are many talented players in Tamil Nadu, but the CSK franchise has not accommodated any of them in its 27-member squad. He also said that CSK is earning huge revenues by using the name of Tamil Nadu, but it has sidelined the Tamil players. PMK is known for taking up issues that concern Tamils, and the latest statement by Venkateswaran is based on the concern that there are no players from Tamil Nadu in the CSK team. --IANS aal/arm ( 150 Words) 2023-04-11-19:26:03 (IANS)
China not source of "debt trap" for African nations: FM spokesperson

Xinhua) 08:19, April 11, 2023

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China is not the source of African countries' "debt trap," but a partner to help them and other developing countries to escape the "poverty trap," a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said Monday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks in response to accusations levelled against China by some senior U.S. officials and World Bank officials regarding Africa's debt issue.

"Those accusations have no factual basis," Wang said. "China attaches great importance to Africa's debt issue and helps African countries to cope with it. China has contributed more to the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) than any other Group of 20 (G20) members."

According to the latest research by the China-Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, China has contributed 63 percent of the debt service suspensions under the DSSI. The research found that China has been active in communicating with other participating parties, and has performed its duties in effectively implementing the DSSI, the spokesperson said.

Wang quoted Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as describing Western governments' concern over the so-called "China debt trap" as an overreaction.

According to him, African nations are rightly unapologetic about their close ties to China. Africa needs the loans and infrastructure. China shows up where and when the West will not or are reluctant.

China has always been committed to providing support for the economic and social development of developing countries, including African countries, Wang said.

It has carried out investment and financing cooperation with other developing countries based on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, and has always done its best to help them reduce debt burdens, he added.

He said some politicians in the United States and other Western countries use various narrative traps to disrupt and undermine the cooperation between China and other developing countries.

"Their gimmicks have been debunked and they now find it more difficult to get audience in developing countries and the larger international community," Wang said.

According to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics, multilateral financial institutions and commercial creditors hold nearly three-quarters of Africa's total external debt. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) account for nearly 70 percent of the total debt held by multilateral financial institutions, the spokesperson added.

Wang said that the United States is the largest shareholder of the World Bank and the IMF, and the financial capital from the United States and Europe is the largest commercial creditor of African countries.

Therefore, he said, the United States is duty-bound to participate in Africa's debt relief.

"We urge the United States to shoulder its responsibilities, and make greater efforts to advance the substantive participation of multilateral financial institutions and commercial creditors in dealing with Africa's debt issue," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford addresses a crowd in 2018 in Detroit outside the Michigan Central train depot about its renovation. (Carlos Osorio/AP)

In discussions about the future of Chicago, Michigans largest city functions as a boogeyman. If were not careful, the chatter often goes, we could end up like Detroit.

But thats an obsolete view of the Motor City, a place that, despite its long struggle in the face of industrial decline, is attracting investment and innovation in a way that could leave Chicago eating its exhaust. Even though it will have a lot less of it.

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Take whats going on at Michigan Central. Thats a 30-acre brownfield site between the Corktown and southwest Detroit neighborhoods, and soon to be anchored by the renovated and re-imagined Michigan Central Station.

The massive Beaux Arts station, once the tallest railway station in the world but abandoned in 1988 and recently best known for so-called ruin porn, was purchased by the Ford Motor Co. Ford has invested more than $1 billion and plans to use the building as a hub for mobility, a newspeak way of saying advances in transportation. Construction on the building is expected to be finished by the end of the year.

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But we got a recent look at the neighboring Book Depository, once Detroits massive main post office and also abandoned in the 1980s. Ford also bought that 260,000-square-foot building, and is integrating it into a campus.

Ford is working with partners like Google on the campus, but the main partner at the Book Depository is a company called Newlab, modeled on MITs Media Lab. Newlab is re-imagining the future of roads and vehicles by giving a variety of independent innovators the space and freedom to develop new ideas and prototypes involving mobility.

Chicagoans might think of it as a transportation version of 1871, the nonprofit digital startup incubator located in the Merchandise Mart and founded by J.B. Pritzker before he became governor. But its operating in a more targeted way and on a bigger scale.

According to Michigan Central CEO Joshua Sirefman, Ford, Google and Newlab (and numerous smaller partners) are building a platform that gives us insight into the potential capabilities of what our roads look like and what they should achieve.

A rendering shows how North Lake Shore Drive might appear at Foster Avenue. (Chicago Department of Transportation)

Which brings us to North DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

The renderings of the planned massive redo, slated for the portion between Grand Avenue and Hollywood Avenue, clearly offers improvements, such as an increase in the size of Oak Street Beach and neighboring parkland and an improved separation between cars, bikes and pedestrians. The renderings look impressive.

Heres the thing, though. At the heart of the revamp is the same old kind of road.

This is a crucial project for Chicago to get right, especially since there surely will be a clash of different stakeholders, and the project is likely to disrupt much of the city for years. Were already reeling from what feels like constant construction on the Kennedy Expressway, the obvious alternate for most people.

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Over Easter weekend, we saw signs already popping up in lakefront condo buildings indicating Near North Side residents are gearing up for a fight for their interests, as they ready themselves for massive construction at their doors.

But as the move toward electric vehicles quickens, the same old kind of road might be shortsighted, especially given how long this project likely will take.

Most transportation experts see near-total vehicle electrification as just a matter of time. Not all that much time, either. Arguably, as quick as DuSable Lake Shore Drive can be rebuilt.

Right now, of course, people charge their electric vehicles at home or at charging stations, with all the associated range anxiety. Ideally, electric cars and trucks would be able to recharge via some kind of wireless device even as they travel or sit parked on the street.

Its hardly science fiction. Michigan already is working on a wireless inroad EV charging network. Michigans Department of Transportation announced in February a five-year pilot project with an Israeli company, Electreon. Already, charging capability is being added into a prototype 1-mile section of a public Detroit roadway by Michigan Central, allowing companies to test the system even as regular cars also use the street.

In essence, inroad copper coil segments buried some 3 inches under the tarmac will use magnetic induction to send energy from the regular grid to an electric car with a receiver unit under its chassis as it merely scoots along the road, or even just parks above one of the underground coils.

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Simply put: Youll be able to park and charge your battery at once (theres a chance for sweet revenge at that notorious meter deal), or just drive along while boosting your juice. Surely, that will be a game-changer for EVs.

Sirefman told us that everything is moving very fast: What are the implications for roads of the massive shift toward electrification. How do we get equitable access to charging? And does a road like Lake Shore Drive become a venue for the next generation of transit? he asked us in what felt like three massively important questions. Charging, he said, will be an inherent part of the structure of a road.

We reiterate: In Detroit, this is happening right now.

Its also happening elsewhere. Sweden powered up the worlds first segment of electrified roadway in 2018, with a stretch of 1.2 miles. Indiana, Florida and Pennsylvania are all either working on or planning roadway electrification projects. Back in 2019, we wrote that the idea of smart-powered lanes intrigues us. It still does, and we think city transportation planners should look into the potential for its inclusion in the DuSable Lake Shore Drive rebuild.

Most nonactivist experts believe that whatever we do in the next couple of decades has to be able to accommodate multiple systems: traditional cars, old-school bikes, new, highly efficient e-bikes and even point-to-point autonomous vehicles, ideally in their own, dedicated lanes where they dont collide with human motorists. But without electricity easily available, none of this will reach its full potential.

Our suggestion is that city planners talk to Detroit  the new Detroit. Michigan Central would be a great place to start.

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DuSable Lake Shore Drive is the premier thoroughfare in the Midwest and an icon throughout the world. We should be building a road for the future.

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.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday launched a strong attack on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and said that the benchmark for the minister is Pakistan. Owaisi's criticism came after Union Minister Sitharaman claimed that "Muslims in India are doing much better than those in Pakistan." Taking to Twitter, Owaisi said, "For the Finance Minister of Vishwaguru, the benchmark is Pakistan! Muslims in India have flourished DESPITE the Sangh Parivar's anti-constitutional ideology, not BECAUSE of it." "For how long are Muslims going to be connected to Pakistan? We are not hostages or mascots against Pakistan. We're citizens. We want to be treated with dignity & justice. If a section of Hindus demand better living standards, will you tell them to shut up because majority of people in Somalia are doing worse?" he said. "The ruling party does not have a single Muslim MP in Lok Sabha. This is damning. But BJP carries it as a badge of honour," Owaisi said in a series of tweets. Nirmala Sitharaman is on a week-long visit to the US, to participate in the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Earlier in the day, responding to Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) President Adam S Posen's query about Muslim minorities in India being subjected to violence, Sitharaman said, "India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world, and that population is only growing in numbers." "If there is a perception, or if there's in reality, their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the state, which is what is implied in most of these write-ups, I would ask, will this happen in India in the sense, will the Muslim population be growing than what it was in 1947?" she added. Reacting to this, the AIMIM chief said, "Populations grow or degrow based on demographic factors, not on the benevolence or malevolence of a government. However, assume that Government has a role, then census after census show a decline in growth of Muslim population in India. Would that mean that the government is malevolent?" "Population growth or decline is not the only measure of treatment of minorities. In today's India Genocidal Dharam Sansad are ignored by govt; ruling party MPs call for economic boycotts & ask people to keep 'weapons'," he tweeted. He further said that just one state of Maharashtra alone had 50 anti-Muslim hate rallies. "The state looks away when Muslims face lynchings & violence. Instead, Muslims have to face bulldozers & false imprisonment from the govt," he said further. Apart from this, Owaisi turned down the invitation of YSRTP Chief YS Sharmila, who asked the AIMIM to be a part of the T-SAVE forum. The AIMIM Chief said, "We have nothing to do with her or her party." Earlier today, YSRTP Chief YS Sharmila wrote to Owaisi and invited his party to be part of the T-SAVE forum and join the fight for the rights of Telangana youth and students. (ANI)
The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women (SCW) has called for action against the Kalakshetra Foundation following complaints of sexual harassment from the students of the institution. The recommendation was made by the SCW Chairperson, A.S. Kumari to the government. She had visited the foundation a few days earlier and had interacted with women students who had complained of sexual harassment by the faculty and guest teachers at the institution. The girl students of the institution had also held day-long protests over the alleged sexual harassment they faced from some members of the faculty. Hari Padman, dancer, and an assistant professor of the Kalakshetra Foundation, was arrested and remanded in judicial custody on charges of sexual harassment. Kumari said that a criminal case should be filed against the repository artists Sreenath, Sai Krishnan and Sanjith Lal and a criminal investigation must be conducted. --IANS aal/bg ( 157 Words) 2023-04-11-19:38:02 (IANS)
The role of a former joint director in the West Bengal Municipal Affairs & Urban Development Department is under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the multi-crore recruitment scam in different municipalities involving real estate promoter Ayan Sil. The ED counsel on Tuesday informed a special PMLA court that the daughter of the said former joint director is engaged in a partnership business with Abhishek Sil, who is the son of Ayan Sil. ED counsel Phiroze Edulji claimed that the probe agency suspects that the proceeds collected from the recruitment scams in both municipalities as well as state-run schools were diverted through this partnership farm, which also has a petrol pump under its ownership. Edulji told the court that next week, besides Abhishek Sil and his mother Kakoli Sil, another close associate of Ayan Sil, Sweta Chakraborty, will be summoned to the court. During the arguments, Edulji also quoted American politician and statesman Theodore Roosevelt (Jr): "A man who has never gone to school may steal a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad." However, Edulji did not specify as to whom did he refer to as the "educated criminal mind". Moving Sil's bail plea, his counsel said that his client be granted bail under any condition, including daily appearance in the court. However, the ED counsel opposed Sil's bail plea, claiming that the real estate promoter needs to be interrogated further to identify the influential people involved in the scam. After hearing both sides, the court rejected Sil's bail plea and extended his judicial custody till April 25. The court also allowed ED to question Sil at the correctional home where he is presently lodged. --IANS src/arm ( 303 Words) 2023-04-11-19:54:04 (IANS)
Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad was on Tuesday again taken from the Sabarmati Central Jail here to UP by a team of Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. Earlier, Ahmad was taken from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj by the Uttar Pradesh Police on March 26 to produce him in court. On March 28, the court sentenced Ahmad and two others to life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case. Ahmad and his aides had abducted Umesh Pal in 2006 and forced him to give a statement in court in their favour. After the sentence was passed, the 60-year-old former Uttar Pradesh MLA and Lok Sabha member was transported back to the high-security jail in Gujarat on March 29. The Supreme Court had ordered Ahmad to be transferred to a high-security jail in Gujarat in April 2019 after he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping of real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal while in jail. Ahmad has been named in over 100 criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case, according to the police. Raju Pal, an MLA from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was shot dead in 2005 in one of murders Ahmad is allegedly involved in. Umesh Pal, a key witness in this murder case, was killed outside his residence in Prayagraj on February 24 this year. Ahmad moved the Supreme Court last month for protection, claiming that he and his family have been falsely accused in the Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj, and that he might be killed in a fake encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police. In his plea, Ahmad had said that the Uttar Pradesh Police were likely seeking his transit remand and police remand to take him from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj and that he "genuinely apprehends that he may be eliminated during this transit period." --IANS janvi/vd ( 322 Words) 2023-04-11-21:10:06 (IANS)
As per reports, Emine Dzhaparova, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister, told mediapersons at an interactive session held at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on Tuesday that India also has a difficult neighbourhood with China and Pakistan and the Crimea episode has a lesson for India too.

"Whenever impunity happens and if it is not stopped, it becomes bigger," Dzhaparova was quoted as saying by reports.

Her comments could be seen as referring to India's territorial disputes with China and Pakistan.

The Ukraine minister's reference to Crimea was in relation to the events preceding the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine last year.

Dzhaparova said that these developments could serve as an example of how to handle "difficult neighbours".

She was further quoted as saying that "Ukraine really wants India and Ukraine to be closer. Yes, there is a history between us. But we want to start a new relationship with India".

--IANS ans/arm

( 193 Words)

2023-04-11-21:32:04 (IANS)
Pawar's statement pertained to the political upheaval in the state in June 2022 caused by a split in the Shiv Sena following which Thackeray, the Shiv Sena President, resigned as the Chief Minister on June 28.

After Pawar's comments to a private Marathi TV channel, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut rushed to meet the NCP chief at the latter's home late on Tuesday night.

What transpired in the 75-minute long meeting is still not clear, though the NCP promptly released photos of Pawar, MP Supriya Sule, Thackeray and Raut, all looking cheerful and relaxed.

"He (Thackeray) should have taken his supporting parties into confidence," Pawar said.

Justifying his stand, Pawar pointed out that the three parties were jointly involved in all this, raising the issue 10 months after the MVA regime was unceremoniously toppled.

"If someone takes the decision to resign, he has the right. But the other partners in the alliance should have been consulted. Taking decisions without discussion has consequences. The fact that there was no discussion at that time cannot be denied," Pawar added.

Interestingly, Pawar's statement came ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on the Shiv Sena split and the related issues.

--IANS qn/arm

( 256 Words)

2023-04-11-22:24:05 (IANS)
As per police officials, two children, a seven and an eight-year-old were tortured and killed by some unknown person in the ADC colony.

The neighbours in a statement said that the parents of the deceased boys were at work and after returning home, they couldn't find the kids at home.

The mother after searching for hours, opened the trunk and found the bodies of eight-year-old Shabir and seven-year-old Owais, as per ARY News.

The bodies were shifted to the Civil Hospital for post-mortem and the local police started searching for the accused murderers and started an investigation.

Recently, a son killed his father over a domestic dispute in Karachi on Sunday, ARY News reported, quoting the police.

The son, according to details, opened fire at his 60-year-old father near the Mahmoodabad Railway track in the limits of Mahmoodabad police station, Karachi. The victim has been identified as Salah Anwar.

The victim's body has been transferred to Jinnah Hospital for further action.

According to police, the accused managed to escape from the scene after the incident, but raids are being carried out at various places for his arrest, ARY News reported. (ANI)

Police officials quoted a preliminary investigation as saying that Anwar's relations with his sons were not 'good' from the past year and a half after he divorced his wife.

The victim and the accused, according to the police, were living in separate houses in the same neighbourhood, and several petitions were received at the police station regarding their dispute before the gruesome murder. (ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday (local time) while speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) on Free Trade Agreements in Washington said that FTAs are being signed in a much "faster" way nowadays and also informed that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations are "going on as we speak." This confirmation comes at a time when a recent report suggested that the FTA talks between the two countries are suspended over the UK's failure to denounce vandalism by Khalistani supporters outside the Indian High Commission in London last month. "Free Trade Agreements are being signed in a much faster way nowadays. We've just concluded one with Australia. Earlier we concluded with UAE, Mauritius and with ASEAN. We have extended quota-free and tariff-free regime to Least Developed Countries," the Finance Minister said. Speaking on India's wish to pursue trade with multilateral groups, she said, "I think India has shown very clearly its initiative is working out well in pursuing with countries and agreeing to have FTA with them. We've had agreements with ASEAN, free trade agreements both in goods and services with ASEAN, we have had with Korea, with Japan. So free trade agreements have bilaterally or with multilateral groups been the route which India has had till before 2014 and now between 2019 and today, we've had at least three major agreements signed. So, we shall proceed in that route, with the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada. All three are happening now as we speak, the negotiations are going on. So we shall go in those preferential routes." Earlier today 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." The India-UK Free Trade Agreement talks were launched on June 17, 2022.Sitharaman further urged World Trade Organisation (WTO) to bring transparency in terms of moratorium. "WTO should be more open about issues. WTO has to be progressive and fair to all members. It has to give voice to all and not just hear but also heed. There's a continuation of a moratorium since 1998 on electronic transmissions despite evolution to digital age. Shouldn't there be a change in WTO policy in terms of moratorium? We don't have to reverse benefits of globalisation but make it more transparent," she added. Sitharaman said that India is poised for a more important role in the global value chains."Given the shocks witnessed due to supply chain disruptions, MNCs have become prudent & are diversifying. India is attractive because of its skilled youth and large domestic market," she added. The Finance Minister further stated that India's growth is sustainable as it attempts to grow its manufacturing sector and not import products that it manufactures. "Catering to the domestic markets became attractive due to the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP)," she said. "India needs to have resilient value chains come to India for which we came up with Production Linked Incentives (PLI)schemes so that those supply chains can thrive in domestic as well as int'l markets. We've incentivised production so that goods produced in India are consumed in India as well as exported to other countries," she added. PLI Scheme has helped increase India's mobile manufacturing capacity, which was almost nil in 2014 and today, India is the second largest manufacturer of smartphones. PLI schemes for 13 sunrise sectors are bringing global value chains into India. Sitharaman also interacted with business leaders and investors. "Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman interacts during a roundtable meeting on the "Investment opportunities for the long term: India on the Rise" with business leaders and investors, co-hosted by @FollowCII and @USIBC, in @USChamber, Washington DC, today," tweeted Ministry of Finance. Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu accompanied Sitharaman an Executive Roundtable hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC) "India on the Rise! Accompanied Finance Minister [?]@nsitharaman for an Executive Roundtable hosted by @USIBC & [?]@FollowCII with a number of leading companies across key sectors. Tremendous energy in the India US economic partnership!" tweeted Sandhu. (ANI)
Hundreds of people held a protest sit-in outside Bajaur Press Club on Sunday against the favouritism and anomalies in the distribution of free flour in the Bajaur region of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, The News International reported. The protesters urged the government and district administration to take action against the accused involved in the misappropriation and unjust distribution of free flour to the people, as per The News International report. The protesters provided evidence of embezzlement in the distribution of free flour. The protesters alleged that their share of flour had been engulfed by corrupt dealers, The News International reported. They called on the district administration to take notice of the unjust distribution of free flour and order investigations into the injustices being faced by the people. Shah Naseer Mastkhel of Awami National Party, Syed Sadiq Akbar, Tehsil Council chairman Said Badshah, Aurangzeb Khan Iqilabi of Pakistan People's Party, Jamaat-e-Islami (youth wing) leader, traders' leaders Shah Wali Khan Alizai, Khan Bahadur, neighbourhood and village council nazims Anwar Hussain, political parties workers, activists and people participated in the sit-in camp, according to the news report. On April 8, a number of people in the Khar area of the Bajaur tribal district held a protest, alleging that deserving families were denied free wheat flour under the government's scheme, Dawn reported. The demonstration was staged at the Civil Colony of Khar amid sloganeering against the food department, flour mills and dealers. The protesters also demanded a crackdown on flour dealers over the irregularity. The protesters said that the Pakistan government's free flour scheme was meant for deserving families, those who really need that commodity, but didn't reach all such people, the Dawn reported. They added that more than 2,000 flour bags had gone "missing" from distribution centres in the district during the last two days, according to Dawn. The protesters blamed the irregularity on the district food controller and his subordinates, dealers of free wheat, and flour mills. They alleged that political and trader leaders were involved in the anomaly. They said the dealers, with the support of the management of local flour mills and officials of the district food department, have deprived several hundred families of needy and poor people of exercising their rights to free wheat flour. The protesters urged the district administration, particularly the deputy commissioner, to ensure the distribution of free flour to all deserving people in the district. (ANI)
The relatives of one of the two alleged robbers, that were killed during the separate police encounters, claimed that the deceased was a class 10 student and was killed in a "fake encounter," reported Dawn. Following the alleged "fake encounter," the relatives staged a protest blocking Burewala Road on Sunday. During the protest, Shakil, father of the deceased Ali Sher, said his son was a Class X student and was picked by police from an examination centre at Machiwal when he was solving the science paper. He alleged that later police killed Dhudi in a fake encounter, adding that no case was registered in any police station against his son, according to Dawn. The protesters appealed to the Punjab Provincial Caretaker government to order a probe into the killing and a murder case against the police officials involved in this "fake encounter". Meanwhile, Machiwal police, who killed the deceased class 10 student, claimed that three motorcyclists snatched a bike from a local trader near Chak 557/EB. The trader informed the police about the incident. The police claimed that they traced the suspects near Chak 4/WB, who opened fire on them that was retaliated. Following the incident, one of the suspects, identified as Ali Sher Dhudi of Chak 19/WB, was found lying dead on the spot, the police claimed. However, the relatives claimed that he was a class 10 student and was killed in a fake encounter, Dawn reported. District police spokesman Adnan said the two accomplices of the suspect fled. He alleged further that the suspect was involved in six dacoity cases in the Machiwal area. DSP Muhammad Saleem claimed that the allegations levelled by Ali Sher's father were baseless. He said the suspect was wanted in half a dozen dacoity incidents occurring in the Machiwal area. Meanwhile, in another "encounter", a suspected robber was killed in Danywal police limits on Sunday morning. According to police, a suspect, Nafees, of Faisalabad, was being taken by a police team for recovery of looted items when near the Shabirabad locality, three accomplices of the suspect opened fire on police, reported Dawn. The police retaliated the fire and after a 30-minute shootout, Nafees was found dead on the spot, while his three accomplices managed to escape. (ANI)
A Parliamentary delegation from the United Kingdom called on Vice President Jagadeep Dhankhar on Tuesday and held discussions on historical, business and people-to-people ties between both countries. Taking Twitter, the Vice President said, "A parliamentary delegation from UK, co-led by Baroness Verma and Lord Karan Bilimoria called on Hon'ble Vice President, Shri Jagadeep Dhankhar today. Discussion touched upon historical, business and people-to-people ties as they resolved to take the India-UK relationship to greater heights." The delegation also met Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Tuesday, and had a discussion on enhancing trade ties, strengthening bilateral agreements, safety and security, and India's G20 leadership. This meeting came amid 'The Times' report, claiming India had stalled negotiations due to its concerns that the British government had failed to condemn the recent attack on the High Commission in London by pro-Khalistan supporters. London-based newspaper, The Times, in its April 10 edition, cited senior British government sources to report that the Indian government has "disengaged" from talks for a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the UK and had made it clear that there would be no progress "without a public condemnation of the Khalistan movement." However, government sources in New Delhi denied the "baseless" report. Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the UK Department for Business and Trade on April 10 said British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly condemned the recent acts of violence at the Indian High Commission in London, adding that Metropolitan Police were reviewing security and changes were being made to ensure safety, Cleverly also said that both UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial Foreign Trade Agreement and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month, the spokesperson said. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement talks were launched on June 17, 2022. 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 Tricolour. 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 wrestling the Tricolour back from the Khalistan supporter. Earlier, India 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," read an official press release by the Ministry 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. (ANI)
Ukraine's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova on Tuesday held a meeting with the European Union's delegation to India and heads of mission of EU member states, thanking them for supporting Kyiv. Taking to her official Twitter handle, Emine Dzhaparova called the support in Global South nations vital for Ukraine. She expressed gratitude to the EU's National Institutes Culture in India for arranging the Future Perfect Festival scheduled to be held in Delhi next month. Dzhaparova on Monday arrived in New Delhi, marking the first official visit of the East European country, since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year. Emine Dzhaparova tweeted, "Began the day with a meeting at @EU_in_India. Thanked partners for standing with #Ukraine all over the world. support in the #GlobalSouth countries is vital. Grateful to @EUNIC_India for promoting culture & arranging the #FuturePerfect Festival in #Delhi next month." In a tweet, the delegation of the European Union to India said the Russian offensive against Ukraine is a "blatant violation of international law". Ever since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, EU nations have been supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions against Russia. The delegation of the European Union to India tweeted, "Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister @EmineDzheppar met with EU & Member States Heads of Mission during her visit to India. The Russian aggression against Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, contravening basic tenets of @UN Charter. We continue to stand with Ukraine." On Monday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West), Sanjay Verma, held a meeting with Emine Dzhaparova and discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward. Taking to his official Twitter handle, 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." Sharing details regarding her meeting with MEA official, Emine Dzhaparova, in a tweet, wrote, "Pleased to have a meeting with Secretary (West) MFA @SanjayVermalFS in New Delhi. Updated on #Ukraine's efforts to fight #russian unprovoked aggression. Invited to join President Zelenskyy's #PeaceFormula & #GrainFromUkraine initiative. Important to have #India on board." In her remarks at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday, Emine Dzhaparova said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of democracy, dialogue and diversification is very important for Ukraine. "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 Volodymyr Zelenskyy 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," Dzhaparova said. "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," she added. (ANI)
According to a statement released by the Netherlands Royal House, Macron's visit reaffirm ties between France and Netherlands and will also help to further deepen their cooperation, including joint efforts by the two countries to make Europe stronger, greener and safer.

The French President will be accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron.

Macron had sparked criticism when during his three-day visit to China, he said that Europe should not become a "follower" of either Beijing or Washington and avoid getting involved in any conflict between the two countries over Taiwan.

Meanwhile, during his upcoming visit to the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will officially welcome President and his wife at Dam Square in Amsterdam

During his April 11-12 visit President Macron is expected to lay a wreath at the National Monument on Dam Square to commemorate the fallen.

He will visit the States General in The Hague and hold a meeting with Jan Anthonie Bruijn, President of the Senate, and Vera Bergkamp, President of the House of Representatives.

The Netherlands King and President Macron will attend a roundtable discussion with CEOs, academics and investors on the importance of strengthening the European ecosystem for deep tech in the context of the European Chips Act and quantum technology. (ANI)
India has rejected China's objections to the visit of Home Minister Amit Shah to Arunachal Pradesh, saying that Indian leaders routinely travel to the state and it is and will always remain an integral part of India. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Tuesday that objecting to such visits "does not stand to reason and will not change the reality". "We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese Official Spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality," Bagchi said. He was responding to media queries regarding the Chinese Official Spokesperson's comments on the visit of the Home Minister to Arunachal Pradesh. China had opposed Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. "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 media outlet, quoted Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin as stating at a news briefing on Monday. Amit Shah on Monday visited Kiboithoo, a border village in Arunachal Pradesh to launch the 'Vibrant Villages Programme'. He said "no one can encroach even needle's tip worth of our land". He also said that no one can cast their "evil eye" on India 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 and night on our borders. Today, we can proudly say that no one has the power to cast an evil eye on us," Shah said. The MEA 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," Bagchi had said in response to media queries. (ANI)
The US Chamber of Commerce's US-India Business Council (USIBC) co-hosted India's Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman for an exclusive member roundtable at US Chamber headquarters in Washington DC, Monday evening in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The roundtable focused on how the US and India could strengthen trade and investment ties amidst a dynamic macroeconomic environment, and India's increasingly important role as a destination for global investment. In addition to Finance Minister Sitharaman, the roundtable was attended by Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to the United States, Ajay Seth, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, V Ananth Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, USIBC Board Chair Edward Knight, members of the USIBC Global Board of Directors, and representatives from companies across key sectors. Finance Minister Sitharaman addressed the roundtable, highlighting opportunities that India, under the current government, is creating for the global industry to participate in the nation's growth story. In her remarks, Minister Sitharaman emphasised that policy consistency and pursuit of reforms despite the pandemic have been a hallmark of the government's approach. The Minister highlighted the impact of digitalisation and economic formalisation at length, stating that India meets the requirements of a fair transparent economy due to its achievements in transitioning to digital payments and integrating the informal sector. In the end, she invited the investor community to participate in and make the most of the opportunities that India has to offer, now and going forward. The Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, also addressed the roundtable attendees and highlighted that as the President of G20, India is committed to multi-stakeholder engagement. He said, "We are trying to be a voice not only for the people who are in the room, but those who are outside of it. The G20 is touching all stakeholders." Ambassador Sandhu commended the US and India's achievement in crossing USD 190 billion in bilateral trade last year. He underscored that the Ministry of Finance seeks the business community's ideas and candid feedback as they seek to continue progress on the economic partnership. Ambassador Atul Keshap, Senior Vice President for South Asia and President of the US-India Business Council at the US Chamber of Commerce spoke on the optimism that industry has on India's reform trajectory: "It was an honour to host India's Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, at the US Chamber of Commerce. We have seen some great achievements on the liberalisation agenda during her tenure--our members are optimistic that continued momentum can yield more concrete results in the ease of doing business and improving India's investment environment and deal flow that can help boost India's GDP and the well-being of all of its people." R Dinesh, President Designate of the Confederation of Indian Industry said, "Policy consistency and the speed of reforms have helped India become the world's fastest-growing major economy even amidst this global turmoil." Dinesh's remarks highlighted how the last Union Budget's focus on MSMEs and capital expenditure has put India on a stronger economic footing and applauded the Finance Ministry's ability to sustain an increase in capital expenditure while managing the current account deficit. Dinesh also recognized the government's efforts to reduce logistics costs stating that "The Prime Minister's Gati Shakti Initiative is creating a virtuous cycle, supporting the growth of the economy while also tackling the cost of doing business." Todd Skinner, President, International of TransUnion, welcomed the Finance Minister to the US Chamber of Commerce and emphasised the importance of industry consultations like the roundtable to facilitating international investment: "The Government of India's dialogue with the private sector shows that it understands business can be a critical partner in India's economic and social development. TransUnion is focused on helping to achieve these goals and working closely with the Finance Ministry, especially in efforts to establish a national financial information registry that supports expanded access to credit." Guru Bandekar, Global Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Carrier, discussed India's importance as one of the key markets and potential growth areas for its HVAC and cold chain solutions. Additionally, he expressed the company's desire to strengthen its business capabilities in India. He said, "Carrier continues to look at India as a strategic market to drive innovation and develop world-class products. We continue to explore opportunities to build upon our long-standing presence in the Indian market." Bandekar also mentioned Carrier's interest in continued consultation with the government in regard to trade facilitation. Industry executives had exchanges with the Finance Minister where they raised opportunities to enhance further India's investment ecosystem, including policies that could deepen India's capital markets and enable Indian start-ups to tap global investment via direct overseas listings. The potential of India's digital public infrastructure such as its Unified Payments Interface was a recurring theme, especially when it encourages and complements private sector innovation. Several companies expressed support for frameworks that would allow the private sector to leverage digital payments data to expand financial inclusion and develop new financial products and credit instruments for the Indian market. USIBC has highlighted the simplification of Know-Your-Customer processes and the establishment of a national financial information registry as critical actions that could further develop India's standard-setting FinTech ecosystem. Earlier this year, USIBC commended several provisions of the Finance Minister's 2023 Union Budget announcement, including the significant increase in capital expenditure, investments into transportation infrastructure, reductions in certain customs levies, and sending dedicated help to India achieve its energy security objectives. The Council underscored that these initiatives, combined with reforms to simplify the indirect tax structure, reduce compliance burden, and promote more efficient tax administration, will continue to make India a more attractive place to do business. (ANI)
The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Delhi on Tuesday gave details of the referendum in Uzbekistan on April 30 to reform the Constitution, update basic laws in the country and explained their significance. Uzbekistan Ambassador to India, Dilshod Akhatov told ANI, "Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has been going through a historical stage of development in recent years. Large-scale reforms are being carried out in all spheres of life and significant results are being achieved. The concept of 'New Uzbekistan' has been formed in the international community." According to the Uzbekistan embassy in delhi, "The Constitutional Commission, which included well-known lawyers, scientists and leading experts in different fields, did a great job of preparing amendments and additions to the current Basic Law. As a result, a draft Constitutional Law on the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan was prepared." There was a demand from Uzbek people behind the referendum, which will help create a new Uzbekistan. Embassy added, "This process takes into account proposals, international standards and foreign experience. During the public discussions of the draft Constitutional Law, more than 222,000 proposals were received, every fourth of them was included in the draft." "The updated Constitution is aimed at creating a strong parliament, a compact and responsible government, as well as an independent and fair judiciary to build a state that serves the people," the embassy of Uzbekistan said. "The powers of the Legislative (lower) chamber and the Senate (upper chamber) are significantly expanded, duplication in the work of the two chambers is eliminated, and their area of responsibility is clearly defined. In particular, the absolute powers of the Legislative Chamber are increased from the current 5 to 12 and that of the Senate from 14 to 18," as per the embassy statement. "Such powers as consideration and approval of the candidature of the Prime Minister, control over the execution of the state budget and consideration of the report of the Accounts Chamber, have been transferred to the Legislative Chamber. The procedure for appointing the Prime Minister to the post is approved after the President submits his candidature to the Legislative Chamber and is approved by the people's deputies," the embassy statement read. "At the same time, the number of members in the Upper House will be reduced from the current 100 to 65 while maintaining an equal representation of the regions through the election of 4 senators from each region, and reducing the number of senators appointed by the President from 16 to 9." Akhatov told ANI that once reforms are done in the constitution, it will also reflect Uzbekistan's relations with our international allies. "After reforms in the constitution, it will impact the relationship of our foreign friends including India. As of now, I can say we have good relations with India economically, culturally and politically," the Uzbek envoy added. (ANI).
Pakistan's biggest benefactor Saudi Arabia has invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his self-exiled elder brother Nawaz to celebrate Eid. This may indicate the reinforcement of close political ties. But economists caution otherwise. Pakistan's economy is "in a tailspin, moving from crisis to catastrophe", renowned US-based economist Atif Miah has warned as the International Monetary Fund's sorely-awaited bailout is nowhere near sight and Saudi Arabia shows a cold shoulder. They say Saudi under Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, insists that its surplus funds, earned from the recent oil money boom in the last year, are not for "free lunch." "There is a very slim chance that Pakistan may be able to win Saudi Arabian support for the resumption of its IMF programme, but if it does, this will be a temporary respite," analyst Mosharraf Zaidi wrote in The News International last week. "Pakistan will not be able to secure any major package of economic support from Saudi Arabia today or in the foreseeable future because the model for such blanket support simply does not exist anymore. Saudi Arabia has changed rapidly and its rulers, whilst maintaining very strong feelings for Pakistan, simply do not have the capacity to continue to allow Pakistani elites (military and civilian) to convert those fraternal bonds into unconditional bailouts," Analyst Zaidi said. Pakistan's renowned US-based economist Atif Miah was invited by former Prime Minister Imran Khan to join his government, but he rejected under pressure as Miah is an Ahmedia, an Islamic minority declared non-Muslim in Pakistan. Various global reports have given warnings that the bailout Pakistan is expecting is nowhere to be seen in the near future. The latest putdown has come from the New York Times on April 3 when it warned that Riyadh will no longer offer funds to Pakistan and others who refuse to reform their economic infrastructures. "The kingdom is still sending money abroad. But much of it is now geared towards international investments for profit and influence and kick-starting new industries at home. The Saudi government has also taken on a role similar to the IMF, which gives it even greater sway over regional politics," the Asian Lite wrote quoting NYT. The changes in Saudi Arabia over the last decade, and especially since the middle of 2017, it said, have rendered traditional ways of working in Riyadh obsolete, the Asian Lite reported. According to analysts, Pakistani military and civilian rulers can continue visiting Riyadh and asking for the same thing over and over again. The absence of the traditional blank cheque from Saudi Arabia should have indicated to Pakistani authorities the drastically different scenario for how this new Saudi Arabia makes decisions. Analysts' comments come amidst unprecedented economic chaos, not just of 15-day foreign exchange reserves, but amidst industrial slowdown, falling exports and shortages of essential commodities. The holy month has seen food riots and even deaths of poor people standing in long queues awaiting relief at government shops. The harsh truth is, Pakistan has neither the bureaucratic capability nor the decisive national leadership to allow for investments from Saudi Arabia or the UAE or Qatar to materialize, analysts suggest. Old Pakistanis trying to scrape the bottom of the barrel have already been relegated to embarrassing caricatures as they continue to Jurassic Park their way around the region and the world. There are lessons from Saudi Arabia that need to be learnt and applied in Pakistan. But an elite that never learns from what is right under its nose is unlikely to benefit from the experience of a true friend, ally and now archetype, beyond its borders, The News International wrote. (ANI)
Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, has been disqualified from being a member of the legislative assembly by the region's High Court for contempt, a move that can be seen as a major setback to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Geo News reported. The high court's decision came after Ilyas was summoned to the Supreme Court and High Court of the region for using a "threatening tone" in one of his speeches. Ilyas was declared ineligible by the court from holding any public office and asked by the Chief Election Commissioner Abdul Rasheed Sulehria to hold polls for a new prime minister. Earlier, PM Ilyas appeared before the high court where he was welcomed by members of the PTI, Geo News reported. A full bench, led by Justice Sadaqat Hussain Raja, conducted the case hearing. During the hearing, the clips featuring the prime minister were played. Ilyas gave an unconditional apology to the court, saying "I apologise unconditionally if any of my words hurt the judge," read a report published in Geo News. The PoK premier was sentenced till the rising of the court. The full bench of the High Court summoned Ilyas on Tuesday in a contempt notice taken on his speech at a public meeting. A two-member bench issued an order on a newspaper clipping citing the prime minister's speech. The decision was taken in a meeting of the judges where the issue was discussed at a considerable length and all of them noted that the overall conduct of the prime minister was contemptuous, the bench stated. The high court registrar had been directed to issue a notice to the prime minister through his principal secretary to remain present physically before the court and explain his position. The registrar had also been directed to fix the matter before the full bench, as per Geo News. A day earlier, Ilyas, had criticised the stay orders issued by the courts and said the practice was affecting the government's performance. The stay orders were a temporary order that must be decided within days but they lingered for years, he added, Geo News reported. (ANI)
The Christians in Pakistan are paying for being a minority in Pakistan. Incidents of minorities being assaulted and tortured keep coming from across Pakistan. Apart from Balochis and Hindus, incidents of targeted killings of Christians have also surfaced. Several Christian organizations, including the Action Committee for Christian Rights, the Overseas Pakistan Christian Alliance, and the Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), held vigils in Europe in response to the recent murder of a Christian priest in Peshawar and the kidnapping of Anita Masih, a 24-year-old Christian from Sindh. She was kidnapped from home in February 2023 by twenty Muslim men and was molested for hours. They were "punishing" the actions of her cousin who allegedly eloped with a Muslim girl, the Baltimore Post Examiner reported. Recently, on International Women's Day, the Aurat March brought together Pakistani minorities to raise awareness about crimes against non-Muslim women. Pakistan's rulers use religion for national cohesion and claim the constitutional role of guarantor of Islamic tenets. Minorities are becoming increasingly vulnerable as a large number of ordinary Muslims justify church attacks and forced conversions as the means to achieving and maintaining sovereignty. Christian girls face forced conversions, and those who resist face beatings, acid attacks, kidnapping, rape, or even murder by Muslim men, the Baltimore Post Examiner reported. A recent report titled 'Conversion without consent' lists over a hundred cases of abduction, rape, and conversion of minor Christian girls between 2019 and 2022. An overwhelming 97 per cent of these attacks took place in Punjab and Sindh. Moreover, the discriminatory attitude of the police and the judiciary adds to the plight. Political and religious organizations support the criminals, making it impossible for the victims to use legal counsel against the perpetrators, the Baltimore Post Examiner reported. In most cases, conciliators coerced the girls into marrying their Muslim kidnappers and rapists, the Baltimore Post Examiner reported. The story of 20-year-old Kainat encapsulates the lives of average Pakistani Christians who pay huge costs to preserve their religious identity. Kainat's mother was kidnapped as a child and forced to convert to Islam by her elderly Muslim abductor, with whom she had four children. While ignoring the risks, Kainat's mother took her children to church and introduced bible reading at home. At the age of fourteen, Kainat's father died, and the family forced her mother to remarry her uncle. They had to stop going to church after their secret visits were discovered. In October 2017, Kainat's relatives attacked her house, and shot her brother in the ribs and lungs., the Baltimore Post Examiner reported. According to the records of Lahore's Madrasa Jamia Naeemia, on average, 55 Christians convert to Islam each month. That is a peek into only one Madrasa in a country with thousands of Madrasas and Mosques. The assistant protocol officer at the Badshahi mosque in Lahore admitted to having converted dozens of Christians on a daily basis. All of these conversions, in the opinion of Joseph Francis, National Director for the Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement, are involuntary. In Pakistan, Christians have one of the lowest literacy rates. The principal of Jamia Naeemia, Raghib Naeemi said that more than 90 per cent of converts are illiterate. Many Christian girls drop out of school due to vulnerability to kidnapping, molestation, and forced conversion. In 2019, the media reported three incidents of school staff coercing Christian students to convert to Islam. Similarly, in 2021, a 12-year-old female Christian was kidnapped and taken to a Madrassa in Khankah Dogran, where she was converted. According to studies, Christian girls suffer acid attacks from Muslim suitors in retaliation for rejection. In February 2023, Kamran Allahbux disfigured Sunita, his 19-year-old Christian neighbour, with acid after she declined a marriage proposal. Sunita's family tried for months to report Kamran to the police prior to the incident, but the authorities ignored them, the Baltimore Post Examiner reported. Julie Aftab, a Christian who fled to the United States, claimed that Muslims attacked her at the age of sixteen for wearing a cross. The attackers grabbed her by the hair and poured acid down her throat. People refused to transport her to the hospital because of her faith, and Muslim doctors refused to treat her. She had lost more than two-thirds of her oesophagus and was missing teeth, gums, an eye, and both eyelids due to acid burn. The Pakistan government views media coverage of crimes against non-Muslims as an attack on Islam and the constitution. To avoid litigation, many organizations self-censor and minorities lose important allies while criminals gain impunity and safe havens. A few weeks ago, Pakistan's censor board banned a documentary on the life of a minor Christian girl from Faisalabad that was scheduled to be released on International Women's Day. The film which received eight international awards violated Pakistani culture by depicting the abduction, involuntary conversion, and marital rape of religious minorities, the authorities said. In 2022, conservative Pakistanis were outraged when the British government sanctioned Mian Mithoo for forcing girls from religious minorities to convert and marry their captors. A few months later, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association invited Mian Mithoo to speak at a seminar titled "Forced Religious Conversion and Its Reality." Mian Mithoo claimed during his speech that young Christian and Hindu girls willingly accept Islam and marry the elderly Muslim men they love to which the audience applauded Mian Mithoo for exposing false accusations and thanked him for his selfless services. The constitution of Pakistan is ambiguous regarding non-Muslim inheritance and divorce rights. The marriage act, inserted into the constitution during the reign of General Zia-ul-Haq, complicates the divorce process for Christians who seek escape from marital cruelty and toxicity. Christian girls who drop out of school and take employment to help families make ends meet are vulnerable to elderly Muslim employers. In February 2023, 60-year-old Rana Tayab of Faisalabad raped and converted his minor Christian servant, Sitara, and claimed her as his second wife. Reporting a similar incident, the Baltimore Post Examiner reported that, in 2021, two Christian sisters, Sajida and Abida aged 28 and 26 respectively, were raped and killed in Lahore by their employer for refusing to convert. Human rights organizations repeatedly request the government to review blasphemy laws, which have become an effective conversion tool. Blasphemy laws are used to settle personal disputes or seize Christians' property. Many Christians convert to Islam to avoid death sentences in blasphemy cases. In 2014, a mob burned a Christian couple in the Kasur district in a brick kiln for blasphemy. The police said that the couple was demanding unpaid wages and the kiln owner used blasphemy to get rid of them. Recently in District Nankana Sahib, a Muslim falsely accused a Christian colleague of blasphemy to secure his job. The contentious blasphemy laws frequently result in premeditated attacks on Christian burial grounds and places of worship. Denying burial grounds and destroying places of worship is a direct violation of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, to which Pakistan is a signatory. During riots, villages inhabited by Christian labourers and harvesters face large-scale demographic shifts, cultural regression, and the seizure of assets. In 2017, a church attack in Quetta killed nine. Likewise, during the Easter celebrations in 2016, a suicide bomber killed seventy Christians and injured 340 others in Lahore. Between 2013 and 2015, four bomb blasts in different churches in Peshawar and Lahore killed and injured over two-hundred Christian worshippers. Moreover, in 2005, a Muslim mob burned down churches, homes, and schools in Sangla Hills, displacing an entire Christian neighbourhood population. Tens of thousands of Christians have fled to India and Western countries in order to escape the unbearable situation. Christians are not allowed to cast ballots in the general election or choose their representatives in the parliament. They are also prohibited from holding the positions of president, prime minister, or commander-in-chief of the nation's armed forces. In October 2022, six UN Special Rapporteurs wrote to Pakistan's government urging them to put an end to the abduction, rape, forced conversion, and child marriage of Christian girls. The Rapporteurs accused Pakistani law enforcement of colluding with the kidnappers and chastised politicians for failing to protect the victims. Pakistan, which takes pride in its democracy, should heed international advice and treat Christians with dignity and equality. (ANI)
After Saint Gobain group met with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in France on Tuesday, Saint-Gobain Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Sreedhar N gave detailed information about the discussion held with the Commerce Minister. While speaking to ANI, Saint Gobain CFO Sreedhar N said that Saint Gobain group has invested a lot in India and India is a very important country for Saint Gobain group. In the last eight years, their investment in India has doubled. "Our confidence has increased even more. Now after meeting the minister, there is confidence because when the government policies are business-friendly, any business is ready to invest," he added. "Our CEO talked to him (Piyush Goyal) and he gave his personal mobile number to him. Such things give you huge confidence. You will see that there will be no dearth of investment, " he added while speaking to ANI. He said that there is a lot of growth in India but the biggest problem is how to avoid Chinese products. Many products come from China at very low prices and because of that, no one invests. There is a risk of this thing which needs to be protected to an extent that new investments are encouraged. Speaking about his company, he said that Saint Gobain has the technology and it has everything to do but one should just get confidence against China's Anit-dump company price. He said that protection from China's Anti-dump policy is essential, it will bring a lot of investment. India is turning towards renewable energy and it should be promoted more. "Saint-Gobain's RD centre in IIT Chennai has only one objective how we can adapt solutions according to the climate conditions of India. We made a new investment in chemicals useful in construction. Which will decrease the need for cement," he added. This summit is very important because communication is very important, he said. He said that many things are being developed in India but people outside don't know about it. Emphasising the importance of the India-France Business summit, he said, "Unless you organize the summit in this way, you will not know the real potential of your country. So in such an environment, such a conversation takes place, big business leaders come and talk to our CEOs sitting here. Talk to the minister. Companies think that it is in their own interest to go and invest in India because it has a lot of potentials." "This is a very good initiative and it should be done more regularly," he added. (ANI)
More than half of U.S. adults recently surveyed said they or a family member have experienced a gun-related incident, according to data published Tuesday by KFF, a nonprofit research organization formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation.

That includes "witnessing a shooting, being threatened by gun, or being injured or killed by a gun," KFF's report said.

Around 1 in 5 adults, or 21%, said they had personally been threatened by a gun, while 19% said they had a family member who was killed by a gun.

Of those surveyed, 17% said they had personally witnessed someone being shot.

The findings come amid a recent wave of gun violence in the U.S. On Monday, a gunman opened fire at the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least five people and injuring nine others, authorities said.

Last week, six people  mostly minors  were shot when a high school senior skip day turned violent on a South Carolina beach. And six people, including three kids, were killed last month when a shooter entered a Christian school in Nashville and began firing.

There have been at least 145 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Within the first 24 days of 2023, the country saw at least 39 mass shootings.

The KFF survey found that 4% of adults reported being injured in a shooting.

Experiences with gun violence are especially common among people of color, the report showed.

"While many factors, such as income, education, age, gender, and where they live can play a role in peoples experiences with gun-related incidents and worries about gun violence, race and ethnicity consistently is one of the strongest demographic predictors of both," the authors of KFF's report wrote.

They added: "Larger shares of Black and Hispanic adults compared to white adults say they frequently worry about themselves or someone they love being a victim of gun violence."

According to KFF's survey, approximately one-third of Black and Hispanic adults said they worried daily or almost daily about themselves or a loved one being a victim of gun violence. By comparison, just 10% of white adults said the same.

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Black and Hispanic adults were also more likely to have witnessed a shooting: 31% and 22%, respectively, compared to 14% of white adults. Black adults were twice as likely to report having a family member who was killed by a gun  34% relative to 17% of white adults.

A vast majority of respondents, 84%, said they take "at least one precaution to protect themselves or their families from the possibility of gun violence," including talking to family members about gun safety.

Around 35% of those surveyed said they avoid places with large crowds, including music festivals, bars and clubs, to protect themselves and their loved ones from a risk of gun violence. Nearly a quarter said theyve avoided public transit for the same reason.

Meanwhile, 29% said they bought a gun for protection from gun violence, while 44% said they have purchased a weapon other than a gun for that purpose  items such as a knife or pepper spray.

Around 41% of those surveyed said their household has a gun. Of that group, three-quarters said at least one gun in their house is "stored in the same location as ammunition, in an unlocked location, or loaded."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
One person was airlifted following a crash in Greene County.

Around 3:00 p.m., Ohio State Patrol responded to a reported crash on U.S. Route 35 near Xenia.

>> Very dangerous, volatile fire burns at Richmond recycling building; Evacuations ordered

A 2006 Chevrolet Trail Blazer was traveling east on U.S. 35 and went off the left side of the roadway into the median. After traveling through the median the Chevrolet traveled across the westbound lanes of U.S. 35 and off the roadway, striking multiple trees, a spokesperson with the Ohio State Patrol told News Center 7.

The driver of the SUV was taken to Jamestown Emergency Center and then later flown to Miami Valley Hospital via CareFlight with life-threatening injuries.

>> 1 killed, 1 injured in 2-vehicle crash at West Carrollton intersection

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

We will continue updating this story as we learn more.
One person was wounded Monday when someone shot into a vehicle in the area of McVicar and East Maumee streets.

Adrian police were dispatched at about 5 p.m. to the area of McVicar and East Maumee for a report of shots fired, a news release said. Officers responded to the scene and located evidence that a shooting had occurred.

While investigating at the scene, the gunshot victim, a 35-year-old man from Adrian, arrived at ProMedica Charles and Virginia Hickman Hospital by private vehicle, police said. The victim was later transferred to another hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his lower body.

Witnesses reported to police that the victim had arrived in a vehicle in the area of Maumee and McVicar and the suspect had fired a handgun into the vehicle. The victim, suspect and several other vehicles then left the area.

During the investigation, detectives witnessed additional vehicles arrive in the area, the release said. Believing that one vehicle might contain the suspect, officers attempted to stop the vehicles, which fled. A brief vehicle pursuit ensued, ending in a foot pursuit during which officers apprehended both of the individuals who fled. A handgun was recovered from the fleeing vehicle.

"At this time, it is not believed that the firearm recovered was used in the original shooting," the release said.

"Witnesses to the incident continue to provide information to the police, and the investigation is ongoing," the release said. "The shooting victim has not cooperated in the investigation thus far."

Several vehicles have been impounded and are being processed for evidence related to the shooting.

Adrian police were assisted by Adrian Township police, Madison Township police, and the Lenawee County Sheriffs Office.

Anyone with information regarding this incident, or any witnesses who have not yet made a statement to police, are asked to contact Detective Kevin Putnam at 517-264-4808 or submit their information via email at APDTips@adrianmi.gov.

This shooting happened about two months after Johnathan Simmons, 27, of Detroit was fatally shot Feb. 13 in an exchange of gunfire between the occupants of two vehicles near the intersection of South Tecumseh and Frank streets. The initial investigation led police to execute a search warrant at a residence in Detroit where evidence related to the shooting was recovered. No arrests have been made in that case, Adrian Deputy Police Chief Larry Van Alstine said in an email.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: 1 wounded in shooting April 10 in Adrian
A 13-year-old Texas girl who went missing in February has been found more than 450 miles away in Mississippi with a man, according to the Perry County Sheriffs Office.

The 27-year-old man, identified as Jessie Thomas Patton, has been arrested and charged with sexual battery and kidnapping, the sheriffs office said in a news release.

Investigators say the missing girl was spotted April 6 walking on Highway 98 across from Perry Central High School. The school is in New Augusta, about 110 miles southeast of Jackson, Mississippi.

Perry County deputies contacted the juvenile at a residence off Highway 98, and after further investigation, they discovered she was reported missing from Houston, Texas, back in February, the sheriffs office said.

The juvenile was transported to Forrest General Hospital to be medically checked, and then she was turned over to Perry County Child Protective Services custody.

Further investigation revealed the girl had been picked up from Texas by Patton in February and brought to the home in New Augusta, officials said.

He was arrested April 7 and remains in the Perry County jail on $250,000 bond, officials said.

Investigators did not report how Patton and the girl met. The investigation has been turned over to the Houston Police Department, officials said.

Parents charged 30 years after trash bag with dead baby found in Mississippi, cops say

Teacher arrested after whacking student on butt and legs with ruler, Florida cops say

Kidnappers tied victim to chair with barbed wire, carved crosses in face, NC cops say
A 15-year-old boy charged as a juvenile in the killing of Manuel Manny Guzman in the bathroom of Kansas Citys Northeast Middle School has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, according to a spokeswoman for the Jackson County Circuit Court.

The guilty plea comes on the eve of the one-year-anniversary of the fatal stabbing. On April 12, 2022, Kansas City police officers found Guzman suffering from fatal wounds after being called there on a reported cutting.

The Office of the Juvenile Officer, which acts as the prosecutor in juvenile criminal cases, initially charged the 15-year-old with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful weapon use. Under a plea agreement, the boy agreed to the lesser charge of manslaughter, which is a class B felony under Missouri law.

The juveniles identity has not been publicized or shared by authorities because of his age.

The killing touched off a response across Kansas City, especially among parents concerned for the safety of their children in Kansas City Public Schools. Among the concerns was how a weapon came to be inside the school building, which has metal detectors.

Manuel Guzmans uncle Juan Guzman questioned security at Northeast Middle School as he shouted at officials on Monday. The LLM on his sign stands for Long Live Manny.

In response, the school district pledged to review its security features.

Family of the slain boy told The Star the pair had fought weeks before the fatal stabbing. The brawl was broadcast over social media and showed two boys, dressed in black, punching one another.

Vicenta Guzman, the boys mother, told The Star last April that she believed the boy who stabbed her son wasnt willing to take that loss of a fight and took his life.

Valerie Hartman, a public information officer for Jackson County, said Tuesday that the 15-year-old would be in court on May 17 for a dispositional hearing where the judge would make a final decision regarding his treatment. He remains in the Juvenile Detention Center.

The Stars Sarah Ritter contributed to this report.
Nineteen suspected Jacksonville gang members are behind bars following a JSO operation targeting gangs, violent crime and narcotics.

Sheriff T.K. Waters says the insane gangster disciples was a local gang operating out of the westside.

The arrests come from what JSO calls operation crown down, a 6-month-long investigation.

Investigators crafted this operation with the intention of arresting as many members as possible, said Sheriff T.K. Waters.

Sheriff T.K. Waters said that the insane gangster disciples or IGD operated out of the west side near 103rd Street and California Avenue.

But he said their local gang branch stemmed from a much larger criminal entity, the gangster disciples, a national gang, based out of Chicago.

These arrests and prosecutions have taken dangerous people off our streets, said State Attorney Melissa Nelson.

Now they face felony charges, some of which include murder, manslaughter stemming from a fentanyl overdose investigation and carjacking.

Law enforcement found 18 total guns and illegal drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.

The murder weapon JSO said was used in the 2022 murder of Devonte Jackson was one of the 18 guns investigators found as part of this operation.

Sheriff T.K Waters has a message for other gangs in the community.

To those gang members that continue to terrorize our community, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office will continue to use all of our resources and those of our partnering agencies to stop your organizations, said Sheriff T.K. Waters.

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Bodies of civilians killed by the occupiers found in Borodyanka a month ago

A total of 1,374 civilians were murdered by Russian troops in Kyiv Oblast, police believe. Most of them, 717 people, were killed with small arms.

Read also: Police identify 91 Russians involved in murdering civilians in occupied town

Another 340 died due to mine-blast and shrapnel injuries, Nebytov said.

The causes of death of 317 more people remain unclear, he added.

Another 279 people are still missing.

Read also: 122 bodies from mass grave in Izyum still unidentified

Some 15 mass graves with 180 bodies were found in Kyiv Oblast, Nebytov said. The largest mass grave was found near church of St. Andrew Pervozvannoho All Saints after liberation of Bucha, a town to the north-west of Kyiv. A total of 116 bodies were exhumed there.

Russian troops had three torture rooms in the town where they imprisoned and killed locals.

Thirty children aged from six months to 17 years were murdered by Russian troops in Kyiv Oblast. Another 43 children were injured, the Kyiv regional police head added.

Read also: Ukrainian OSINT group identifies Russian soldier who stole AirPods in Bucha

The world witnessed evidence of Russian atrocities following the liberation of Kyiv Oblast at the very end of March 2022. Hundreds of people were murdered by Russian troops. The bodies of tortured and murdered civilians were found lying along the street in Bucha, Irpin and along the Zhytomyr highway.

The Ukrainian parliament on April 14, 2022 declared the Russian armys actions to be genocide of the Ukrainian people.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
President Joe Biden. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters.

A federal judge ruled that 200,000 borrowers can move forward with relief in a borrower defense settlement.

Last month, three schools mentioned in the settlement appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

20 GOP-led states filed an amicus brief supporting the schools, arguing Biden doesn't have authority to carry out this relief.

President Joe Biden's broad student-loan forgiveness plan isn't the only relief facing legal challenges.

In 2019, a group of borrowers sued the Education Department over stalled borrower defense claims, which are claims borrowers can file if they believe they were defrauded by the school they attended, and if approved, their debt from the school would be wiped out.

The case, now known as Sweet vs. Cardona, was taken up by Biden's Education Department after it was not resolved under former President Donald Trump's, and the department agreed to a settlement that would give 200,000 borrowers in the case $6 billion in relief. Federal Judge William Alsup signed off on the settlement in November, but in January, three of the schools named in the settlement appealed the decision, requesting the relief remain paused as the legal process plays out.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the schools' request, so they took matters to the Supreme Court last month  and now, 20 Republican-led states are supporting their request that the relief be paused.

"For years, the Secretary defended against these class-action claims. But once the President decided to forgive student debt by executive fiat, the Secretary had a change of heart," the states wrote in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court.

"That settlement showers class members and other borrowers with concessions and handouts beyond what the class members could have dreamt of winning after a trial," they added.

The states are supporting Lincoln Educational Services Corp, American National University, and Everglades College, who argued in their complaint that they were not given "due process" after being included in the settlement, and that all impacted schools "will immediately suffer the stigma of having all BD claims against them summarily grantedwithout any administrative process, judicial factfinding, or reasoned decision on the merits."

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Alsup said a stay is not warranted because former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' "improper delay and suspension of processing claims for debt relief has directly led to a specific economic injury to each class member. Unlawful delay of debt relief results in clear monetary harm."

But the 20 GOP-led states pushed back in their brief, writing that Education Secretary Miguel Cardona overstepped his authority under the Higher Education Act and that borrower defense operates on a "case-by-case basis" and does not allow for widescale relief.

"Settlements like the one approved in this case permit executive agencies to exercise what amounts to legislative power since, using these settlements, agencies can assign themselves authority to take actions Congress never approved," they wrote. "And by acquiescing in orders vacating federal rulesby collusively dismissing cases and appeals, for examplethe executive branch can change federal policy without proceeding through the rigorous notice-and-comment process that Congress has required."

It's similar to an argument opponents of Biden's broader plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt have made. The two conservative-backed lawsuits that paused the implementation of that plan argued that the president did not have the authority to wipe out student loans for millions of borrowers without congressional approval. The Education Department has argued the relief is warranted to help borrowers recover from the pandemic, but critics have been adamant that the law does not permit such a broad scale of relief.

The Education Department has until Wednesday to file a response to the three schools' lawsuit, which currently sits with Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan.

Read the original article on Business Insider
1-in-5-americans-gun-violence.jpg Memorial For Monterey Park Mass Shooting Victims - Credit: Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News/Getty Images

Gun violence is rampant in the United States, and a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation sheds light on the toll the nations addiction to firearms is taking on American families.

The poll found that a majority of adults have personally experienced or have a family member who has experienced a gun-related incident  meaning they have either been threatened with a gun, witnessed someone being injured by a gun, been injured by a gun, or been killed by a gun.

More from Rolling Stone

One in five American adults has a family member who has been killed by a gun, including death by suicide.

The poll also found that gun violence disproportionately affects people of color, with twice as many Black Americans (34 percent) saying they have a family member who has died from gun violence, than white Americans (17 percent.). Sixty-two percent of both Black and Hispanic adults say gun-related activity is a major concern or constant threat, compared to 45 percent for white Americans.

Over half of all adults say gun violence is a constant threat in their local community, with 84 percent saying they have taken at least one precaution to protect themselves or their families from gun violence.

There have been 146 mass shootings in the United States this year, as of Tuesday morning, resulting in over 200 deaths, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The poll comes a day after a shooter killed five people in a Louisville, Kentucky, bank and two weeks after a shooter killed six people, including three children, at a school in Nashville. The massacres have reignited the debate around gun reform, with President Biden calling for Congress to pass gun control measures and Republicans refusing to consider making it more difficult for Americans to acquire high-powered assault rifles designed specifically to kill people en masse.

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Were not going to fix it, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), a staunch defender of gun rights, said on the day of the shooting in Nashville in a rare moment of candor about the GOPs plan, or lack thereof, to address the routine slaughter of children in America.

Republicans have been similarly clueless following the shooting in Louisville on Monday. The shooter no signs up until the morning that he was capable of doing anything like this, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) told Fox News on Tuesday. Comer added that killing five people in a bank was unnecessary.

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
After she watched her son, George, take one of his lessons with Columbus artist Cora King, Lisa Jenkins marveled at what these creative sessions have done for them the past three months as they strive to thrive in this next stage of his life with autism.

God gives us what we need when we need it, Jenkins told the Ledger-Enquirer,  and I needed her, and he needed her.

George, 20, graduated in 2022 from Jordan Vocational High School. As the L-E reported in May, his achievement symbolized the transformation of education for students with autism in the Muscogee County School District. Jenkins went from suing MCSD 16 years ago to praising it, describing Georges journey through the school district as hell and heaven.

Nearly a year later, the Jenkins family and their friends will celebrate George for another milestone: the opening of his art exhibit, The World Through Georges Eyes, in the King Gallery, 3211 Howard Ave., 6-8 p.m. , April 13, on his 21st birthday. All proceeds from sales during the show will go to Easterseals West Georgia, where George has received therapeutic care since he was two years old.

Theyve just been really beneficial, Jenkins said about Easterseals. He has just grown leaps and bounds. Hes been safe there.

Now, the King Gallery has become another sanctuary for George.

Inside an art lesson amid autism

King opened the studio in November, moving from the Highland Galerie to gain more space. The vacant storefront in the 1950s was the home of the Red Jacket Diner, across the street from Jordan Vocational High School.

Georges interest in art emerged during activities at Easterseals and was further developed at Jordan. When those places were closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenkins used art lessons on YouTube to help keep George engaged.

Jenkins connected with King through a mutual friend, Andy Robinson. In the three months George has been taking one-hour weekly lessons with King, Jenkins has seen her son improve his dexterity, speaking, focus and patience, along with his art,

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The biggest thing is to step back and look instead of just doing, Jenkins said.  Shes opened our eyes up a whole lot.

While the L-E visited the studio during one of Georges lessons, King encouraged him with affirmations as he worked on an abstract painting, such as:

Love those decisions youre making.

Oh, wow! I really like that.

I like how you mixed those colors next to the pink. Great contrast.

She asked him to step back from the canvas and consider which tool to use next: a brush, a sponge or a spatula.

Its up to you, she said.

Cora King, left, works with George Jenkins during a recent art lesson. An exhibition of Georges art, The World Through Georges Eyes, opens in the King Gallery, 3211 Howard Ave., with a reception on April 13 from 6-8 p.m. All proceeds from sales during the show will go to Easterseals West Georgia, where George has received therapeutic care since he was 2.

Then, as George paused to consider his options, King suggested, If we feel stuck, lets just flip it, and she turned the canvas 90 degrees.

King noted part of the canvas where George applied a thicker amount of paint. We love the difference, she told him.

After a few minutes of George silently working on his piece, King asked him, Are we done?

George signed his painting, and King declared, Were done! I love it! Great! Im so proud of you!

Gratitude goes both ways

For years, Lisa wondered what outlet could help George express himself.

Who knew it was art the whole time? Easterseals saw it, and (King) is bringing out what I knew he had in him, but I had no clue as a mother how to do this.

Jenkins called King a blessing for constructively guiding her son through his feelings to produce art that brings joy to others as well.

Lisa Jenkins.

Even though your child has special needs, no matter what the disability is, they have value, and they have purpose, and they have feelings and emotions, and they matter, Jenkins said.  Dont stop looking for that nook that theyve got  This is a whole body that has something to offer in this world, and were just finding a piece of it.

Georges behavioral specialist trained King in teaching techniques aligned with the way he learns. She senses her lessons with him have made her a better art teacher for her eight other students.

Theres an element of patience  and also communicating clearly, she told the L-E. I think its just a great practice for me to make sure my volume is good, make sure Im not speaking too fast or too slow.

King, who hadnt previously taught a student with autism, is grateful for her experience with George.

Its a big honor to be trusted and to have the time and the space to work with George, she said.  Hes just very special. Has a great eye for color and an incredibly mature focus.  Im thankful for this whole relationship and very excited about April 13.

Easterseals West Georgia president and CEO Lakisha Taylor appreciates Jenkins for choosing the nonprofit organization to benefit from the art exhibits proceeds.

Lakisha Taylor is the president and CEO of Easterseals West Georgia.

Lisa has been such a strong advocate in this community for children with autism, and shes also very generous, so it didnt surprise me that she would want to do something like that, Taylor said. Were very blessed to be the recipients of it.

Taylor noticed George gravitating toward art activities at Easterseals and the calming effect it has on him.

He liked to see the smiles on other peoples faces when they saw it, she said. Its a beautiful thing to find a way to express yourself. That is huge for the people we serve.

With George, theres always been a concern with expression, healthy expression  So weve done a lot of work around healthy expression and safe expression, and this is like the culmination of that work.
As a public service, The Courier Journal has made this content free. For the latest updates, follow this link.

A fifth person shot Monday morning in downtown Louisville has died, police have confirmed.

Deana Eckert, 57, died Monday night, according to a statement from Louisville Metro Police spokesman Aaron Ellis.

Officials also identified four other people killed in the shooting, who were all employees at the bank. They are:

Eight other people were injured in the shooting, police said. They were transported to University of Louisville Hospital, including two LMPD officers.

The officers included Nickolas Wilt, 26, who was shot in the head and underwent brain surgery at the hospital, officials said. He was reported to be in critical condition. He graduated from LMPD's Police Academy on March 31.

Connor Sturgeon has been identified as the shooter who killed five people inside Old National Bank in downtown Louisville early Monday morning

Dr. Jason W. Smith from U of L Hospital said at a Monday afternoon press conference that of the nine victims taken to the hospital, three were in critical condition and had to receive operative care from the trauma team. Three had been released and three are in the hospital with injuries that were believed to not be life threatening.

The second officer, who was grazed by a bullet, was one of the people released, according to Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini.

Sturgeon, 25, was a graduate of Floyd Central High School and the University of Alabama. According to his profile on LinkedIn, he interned for three summers at the bank before starting a full-time position in June 2021.

He used a rifle and was livestreaming the incident, Louisville Metro Police said at the afternoon press conference.

The White House said President Joe Biden spoke with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday evening about the shooting. Earlier in the day the president issued a statement thanking LMPD for responding to the shooting and asking Republican lawmakers to pass gun control safety legislation.

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A SWAT unit enters 1535 Taylor Ave. during an investigation in the Camp Taylor neighborhood of Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 10, 2023.

"Today is a day that is heartbreaking for our city, for all of us, especially for the people in that office at Old National Bank and their loved ones," Mayor Craig Greenberg said at the Monday afternoon press conference.

Beshear said Elliott was a close friend and that he helped him build his career.

"Today I am hurt and I am hurting," he said. "And I know so many people out there are as well. We lost four children of God today."

Officers responded to Old National Bank on East Main Street about 8:30 a.m. where they encountered gunfire, LMPD Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said during a media briefing Monday morning.

Officers fatally shot Sturgeon in the encounter, police said.

Sturgeon had an address in the Camp Taylor neighborhood in southern Louisville. By noon Monday, police had set up roadblocks on either side of the home. Police wouldn't allow anyone onto that part of the street and canvassed the neighborhood asking residents if they had any sort of video of the street. Late in the day, police entered the home and removed bags of evidence.

Officers will likely be at the scene of the shooting on East Main Street into the night, police said.

The city set up a family assistance center at the Kentucky International Convention Center, 221 S. 4th St., in downtown Louisville. Greenberg said victims and family members could go there to receive updates.

Some of the agencies available to help were the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and LMPD chaplains. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army finished their services at 4 p.m., Monday.

Piagentini visited victims' families at the hospital with Greenberg and council president Markus Winkler. Piagentini spoke with family of the LMPD officer who's in critical condition and was told that doctors are "confident that he'd make it out of surgery."

Piagentini didn't share Wilt's name, but he said the officer undergoing surgery has a brother is currently in the police academy.

"I was pleasantly surprised the first reaction when we walked in the hospital was there was hope. There was hope," he said. "Getting shot, it's never going to be good. But to hear a little hope out of the voices of those who'd been treating him was good. We'll see if that hope plays out."

Beshear came to Louisville after hearing of the shooting. Speaking at an 11 a.m. press conference, he said he two friends killed. He corrected himself at the later press conference in the afternoon, saying only one of his close friends had died and another was injured.

He urged those impacted to get help.

"Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these kinds of tragedies," Beshear said at the morning press conference, who teared up when speaking with the media.

Greenberg thanked the city's first responders.

"Without a doubt, their actions saved lives," he said.

"Everyone around our city, our country, around the world, pray with us for those who are currently at U of L Hospital, injured, fighting for their lives as a result of another act of gun violence," he said.

The scene of a shooting in downtown Louisville on Monday, April, 10, 2023. Louisville Metro Police said that five people were killed and six were injured, including an officer.

Who is the suspected shooter?

The suspected shooter is dead, police said. Connor Sturgeon has been identified as the shooter.

During an 11 a.m. press conference, LMPD's Humphrey said the suspected shooter acted alone and had a connection to the bank as a previous or current employee.

Who are the Louisville shooting victims?

Five people were confirmed dead and six people were transported to University of Louisville Hospital, including two LMPD officers.

Officials identified the four people killed in the shooting. They are:

Josh Barrick

Tommy Elliott

Jim Tutt

Juliana Farmer

Where was the shooting in Kentucky?

It was at the Old National Bank, 333 E. Main St., in Louisville.

What witnesses saw

Terrance Sullivan lives near the building where the shooting occurred and said he was walking home from the gym around 8:30 a.m. when he saw police cars speed the wrong way down Main Street.

About 20 officers got out, rifles raised, and ran into the bank building, he said.

Suddenly, he heard 10 to 15 shots fired and people screaming from within.

"It was a lot of activity for like 20 seconds," Sullivan said. "... The sound is what I keep thinking about. It was so loud. People in my building who were inside could hear it. Being outside on the street as it happened - I've heard gunshots before, but not that many like that."

Reactions from across the country have poured in following the shooting, including from the White House.

"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 Joe Biden said in a Twitter post. "Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?"

He also praised LMPD for its quick response.

Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted: "We grieve for those lost and pray for those wounded in Louisville, the 146th mass shooting in our nation this year."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is from Louisville, said: "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."

We grieve for those lost and pray for those wounded in Louisville, the 146th mass shooting in our nation this year.



We need leaders with the courage to act. We can't fall for a false choice between upholding the 2nd Amendment and saving lives. We can do both.  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 10, 2023

Local officials have also reacted to the incident, including Louisville Metro Council members who condemned the incident and said they would work with Greenberg's administration to prevent events like this from happening again.

Was the JCTC shooting related to this?

Officials have confirmed the Monday morning shooting outside the Jefferson Community & Technical College was unrelated to the shooting in downtown Louisville. One person was killed and another injured in this incident.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Old National Bank shooting: 6 dead, 9 injured in Louisville, KY
Froedtert Health is merging with ThedaCare by the end of 2023, creating a new regional health system in Wisconsin.

Health systems Froedtert Health and ThedaCare will combine by the end of the year, they announced Tuesday.

If approved by regulators, the consolidation would create a new regional health system based in Wisconsin.

Here's what to know about the planned consolidation.

What will the combined health system be called?

Froedtert President and CEO Cathy Jacobson said both the Froedtert and ThedaCare names will continue on, but that it has not been decided what the name of the combined health system would be or what name the hospitals would go by.

"Very quickly we realized that the name Froedtert Health and ThedaCare are trusted names in our communities," said Jim Kotek, the chair of ThedaCare's board of trustees. "We need to figure out ways for those names to continue going forward."

How big will the new health system be?

The consolidation will create a regional health system that includes 18 hospitals and many other health care sites in southeastern, northeastern and central Wisconsin, with combined revenue of more than $4 billion.

The Froedtert system includes Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, the primary teaching hospital for the Medical College of Wisconsin, along with nine other hospitals, including four "micro-hospitals" in Milwaukee's suburbs.

ThedaCare, whose biggest hospitals are in Neenah and Appleton, also has five small, rural hospitals serving Berlin, New London, Shawano, Waupaca and Wild Rose.

What does this mean for my care?

Jacobson, the Froedtert CEO, stressed that the health system will be locally run and based in Wisconsin.

"We want to play a part in making the lives of the people of Wisconsin better," she said.

John Raymond, the president and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin, said the consolidation was "good news" and hoped it would "further advance high quality health care to more people in Wisconsin."

When asked if they anticipated any service cuts as a result of the consolidation, Dr. Imran Andrabi, the CEO and president of ThedaCare, said he hoped to look at how the two health systems complement each other and where there may be opportunities for improving care.

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"Our drivers are bringing comprehensive care close to home, and that should drive us to make the right decisions that we need to make," he said.

Research has found that hospital consolidation often leads to higher prices for patients with no significant improvement in quality of care. This concern has led to more regulatory scrutiny of hospital mergers.

Who will lead the combined health system?

Jacobson, of Froedtert, would serve as CEO of the combined health system for the first six months before she "retires from the organization," she said.

Following her departure, Andrabi, the ThedaCare CEO, would become CEO and president of the combined system.

Jacobson, who has been Froedtert's president since 2011 and CEO since 2012, did not say why she was retiring from Froedtert at this time.

Where will the health system be headquartered?

Jacobson said they have not decided where the headquarters of the system would be. Froedtert Health is headquartered in Wauwatosa and ThedaCare in Neenah.

In mergers generally, the headquarters often go where the larger entity is. But sometimes, merging entities share headquarters, as was the case when Green Bay-based Bellin Health and La Crosse-based Gundersen Health merged.

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: What to know about the consolidation of Froedtert and ThedaCare
Urban combat continues in the eastern city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has released a video showing Ukrainian forces repelling a recent Russian assault.

Source: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

Quote: "Over the course of three hours, six border guards from the Luhansk detachment held their positions and repelled enemy assaults, despite being significantly outnumbered.

A fireteam came to their fellow soldiers aid when the threat of encirclement became imminent."

Details: The State Border Guard Service reported that Ukrainian forces deployed grenade launchers and firearms and repelled the Russian assault; wounded Ukrainian soldiers have been evacuated from the battlefield.

Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the situation in the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast is most complicated. Nevertheless, the Russians do not control the city. Ukraine's defence forces are engaged in fierce battles with the invaders.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!








Russian troops carried out attacks against nine Ukrainian oblasts over the past 24 hours, Ukraine's Defense Ministry media center reported on April 11.

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

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

According to the media center, Russia struck a total of 114 settlements using mortars, tanks, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), drones, and tactical aviation. Forty infrastructure facilities have been hit.

Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast 56 times, firing 285 projectiles from various weapons, according to the regional administration. The attacks reportedly wounded two people in the region and damaged a medical facility, a museum, and an administrative building in the city of Kherson.

Russian attacks injured five civilians in Donetsk Oblast, said Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit more than seven settlements in the region, damaging over 20 houses, outbuildings, seven high-rises, and a gas pipeline, added Kyrylenko.

Russian troops hit three districts in Kharkiv Oblast, damaging a civilian enterprise in the village of Kucherivka and a house in Kupiansk, reported Governor Oleh Syniehubov. There were no casualties in the attacks, he said.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's district of Nikopol was also shelled overnight, Governor Serhii Lysak said on Telegram. No casualties were reported.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration reported that Russia had carried out four air and 66 artillery strikes, seven drone and two MLRS attacks on the region, adding that it received 45 reports about damage to citizens' households and infrastructure sites. The administration didn't provide information on casualties.

In the past 24 hours, Russia shelled four settlements of eastern Luhansk Oblast, the regional administration said on Telegram. It didn't provide information on casualties or damage.

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In Chernihiv Oblast, Russia hit the villages of Kamianska Sloboda and Hremiach close to the Russian-Ukrainian border on April 10, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces. It didn't provide information on casualties or damages.

On April 10, Russian troops launched five attacks against Sumy Oblast, bordering Russia, targeting the communities of Bilopillia, Khotin, Velyka Pysarivka, Myropillia, and Shalyhyne. According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian attacks damaged power lines in Khotin.

In Ukraine's southern Mykolaiv Oblast, Russia struck the Ochakiv and Kutsurub communities on the Black Sea coast several times with MLRS, mortars, and artillery, Governor Vitalii Kim said. No casualties were reported.
US police officer stands in front of a police car. Getty Images

Bonnie Gooch, 78, was charged on Thursday with robbing a bank in Missouri.

Prosecutors accused Gooch of demanding "13,000 small bills" from one of the bank's tellers.

Prosecutors say she wrote a note to the teller that read: "Thank you sorry I didn't mean to scare you."

Prosecutors have accused a 78-year-old woman of robbing a Missouri bank  and they say she slipped the bank teller a note, mid-heist, that included an apology for scaring them.

Prosecutors allege that Bonnie Gooch, who already has two bank robbery convictions, tried to escape with cash from the Goppert Financial Bank in Pleasant Hill, per court documents seen by The Kansas City Star.

Gooch approached the bank's counter on April 5 and slipped the cashier a note that read, in part: "I need 13,000 small bills," per the court documents.

"Thank you sorry I didn't mean to scare you," the note read, per prosecutors.

Prosecutors also allege that Gooch banged on the counter to hurry the teller up, telling them not to count the money and "just give it to her."

Gooch then escaped in a Buick SUV with a handicap registration number, prosecutors said, per the outlet. When police stopped her at a parking lot, they found the cash strewn on the floorboard and noted that the vehicle smelled strongly of alcohol, prosecutors said, per The Kansas City Star.

Pleasant Hill Police Chief Tommy Wright told The Kansas City Star that the case was "unusual" and "sad."

"When officers first approached her, they were kind of confused," he said.

"It's a little old lady who steps out," he added. "We weren't sure initially that we had the right person."

Wright said that the police department is now "working with agencies to figure out what the next steps are."

Prosecutors charged Gooch with one count of stealing from a financial institution, the Pleasant Hill Missouri Police Department said in a Facebook post on April 7. She is in custody at the Cass County Jail, with a bail of $25,000, the police added.

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Gooch has two prior bank robbery convictions  one in 1977 in California and one in the Kansas City suburb of Lee's Summit in 2020, per the Associated Press.

Gooch is scheduled to be arraigned on May 25, per The Kansas City Star.

Representatives for the Pleasant Hill Missouri Police Department and the Missouri courts did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Editor's Note: The photo in this story has been updated to a more relevant image.

Read the original article on Insider
Rodney and Temecia Jackson speak at a news conference on April 6. (NGAN & AFIYA Center via Facebook)

Texas parents Temecia and Rodney Jackson are demanding the return of their newborn baby after she was taken by child protective services in Dallas last month following a home birth.

We just want to notify the world whats going on, Rodney Jackson said during a press conference last week, calling the removal of the couples daughter, Mila, a kidnapping.

Texas CPS declined to comment on the accusations when reached by Yahoo News. Due to CPS cases being confidential by state law, we cannot comment on specific cases, the agency said in a statement.

Mila, their third child, was born on March 21 during a successful home birth with Cheryl Edinbyrd, a licensed midwife who says she has delivered over 100 successful childbirths.

It was a beautiful birth. She was a perfect 6 pounds, 9 ounces, Temecia Jackson said during the press conference.

A few days after Mila was born, her parents took her to a newborn checkup with Dr. Anand Bhatt, their family pediatrician for the last decade. The Jacksons have two older sons.

"Within that visit we were told, Everything is good, she looks great, the only thing is she has jaundice. A couple of hours later, the pediatrician called my phone and wanted us to admit Mila to the hospital, Temecia said.

Jaundice occurs when blood contains an excess amount of bilirubin. For most babies this is not a big deal, it clears out, Tiffany Green, an associate professor in the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Yahoo News. But for a certain small subset of babies, high levels of bilirubin can lead to brain damage, including cerebral palsy and other illnesses.

For the Jacksons, this was a common diagnosis, Many of our friends and family have had jaundice. So we left that visit thinking that everything was fine, Temecia said.

According to Bhatt, Mila had a bilirubin level of 21.7 milligrams. Based on Milas age, any level over 20 milligrams requires treatment, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Bhatt told the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services that a bilirubin level that high is cause for a lot of concern because the bilirubin can cross the blood-brain barrier.

A couple of hours later [on March 24], the pediatrician called and wanted us to directly admit Mila into the hospital, Temecia said. We told him that we would get with our midwife as she is our care provider and figure out exactly what we wanted to do.

The Jacksons and their midwife decided that at-home treatment would be sufficient. It can be treated at home, Tracie Collins, CEO and founder of the National Black Doulas Association, told Yahoo News. Usually its done by sunlight or some form of phototherapy and just adequate feeding and nutrition. So breast milk and breastfeeding flushes the system.

Edinbyrd, the midwife, told CBS News that the bilirubin levels were high but not critical.

Later that night, around 11:30, [the pediatrician] texted and said we are going against what he feels like we should do for our child, Temecia Jackson said. And that if we did not admit her immediately for jaundice he was going to call CPS.

This prompted a turn of events including a welfare check from police and multiple visits from CPS before Mila was eventually taken into protective services.

They [authorities] chose to arrest my husband and take his key and unlawfully come into my home and take my baby from me. When they came in and took her from me, I requested that I needed to see the paperwork, Temecia said.

At the press conference, the Jacksons said the affidavit that gave CPS grounds to remove Mila contained some inaccuracies.

It had [another] woman's name on there and it talks about this woman's criminal history and her past two CPS cases, Minister Dominique Alexander, president of Next Generation Action Network, a social justice organization in Texas thats working with the Jackson family to get Mila back home, told Yahoo News. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson [have] no criminal record and [have never] been investigated by CPS.

Temecia Jackson said she instantly felt as if her child had been stolen from her. My child was removed so quickly because they have this other mothers name listed on this affidavit and she has a history with CPS, she said.

In a statement to Yahoo News, CPS acknowledged that there were inaccuracies in the document. Though there was an initial mistake on the affidavit, due to us being given incorrect information, it has been corrected, the agency told Yahoo News, declining to comment further.

But advocates said the Jacksons were stripped of the right to make their own health care decisions, which is arguably crucial for Black women in childbirth, since theyre three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.

This is trauma, Collins said. Black families are completely justified for feeling the way that they feel. This is only going to further push them away from Western medicine.

Edinbyrd claims that CPS is abusing the Jackson family. There was never an investigation, she said during the press conference. The attack on Black families, bodies, has to stop. Were demanding that Mila be returned home today. Yesterday was too late.

Green says there should be alternatives to CPS. We can have community health workers be liaisons between families and clinicians, to make sure that children are getting the care that they need, she said. [CPS] has been so harmful to children and Black families in particular, it does come off as extreme.

Weve been treated like criminals, Rodney Jackson said. This is a nightmare that I wouldnt wish on anyone.

According to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Black children have the highest risk of being involved in a CPS investigation (compared with white and Hispanic children).

The seizure of a newborn baby from her caring parents reflects the harms inflicted by the child welfare system  what is more appropriately called a family policing system, Dorothy Roberts, director of the Penn Program on Race, Science & Society, told Yahoo News.

It targets Black families for investigation  half of Black children will be subjected to a child welfare investigation before age 18  and child removal and enlists armed police officers to assist caseworkers in separating families. It also turns doctors into state agents for reporting their suspicions of child maltreatment, which has been documented to be shaped by racism, and to deter parents from trusting hospital care, she said.

But if Milas condition had worsened, experts say Bhatt would have been held accountable. If something happens to the baby, the baby gets brain damage, whos accountable for that? It wont be the midwife, Green said.

Currently, Temecia Jackson is still breastfeeding to provide food for Mila during her visits with her child. CPS did not remove her other two children from their home.

If there was any type of area of neglect, they would have removed all of the children, Alexander said.

A court hearing is scheduled for April 20 to determine the next steps in this case. But advocates are saying that even if Mila is returned home soon, the events that unfolded over the last several weeks have been damaging.

That mother and that family are going to have to seek healing because of this traumatic experience, Collins said.
A pack of Mifeprex pills, used to terminate early pregnancies, is displayed in this picture illustration.

A pack of Mifeprex pills, used to terminate early pregnancies, is displayed in this picture illustration. Credit - Caitlin OchsReuters

When a Texas district judge ruled on Apr. 7 that mifepristone, a drug for inducing abortion, should have its approval suspendeddecades after it was grantedthe decision didnt just threaten abortion access. It raised deeper questions about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)s authority and the separation of its regulatory powers from judicial oversight.

The fact that there is judicial second-guessing of the FDAs expertise is frightening, says Ilisa Bernstein, interim CEO of the American Pharmacists Association and a former FDA official who worked at the agency for more than three decades. To know that a judge who has no scientific training or expertise is making these judgments is frightening.

What is scaring doctors and drugmakers alike is the possibility that a judge may be able to suspend the FDAs approval of any drug, no matter how long its been on the market or how safe and effective it is.

A very dangerous precedent

The Texas ruling is the first in which a judges decision questions the FDAs authority since the agency was created by Congress in 1906, when it passed the Food and Drugs Act. This kind of ruling sets a very dangerous precedent for FDAs authority in terms of other medications that might warrant movement into the marketplace, Dr. Jane Henney, who was FDA commissioner when mifepristone was approved in 2000, said during a press briefing. The decision is currently being appealed by mifepristones maker and the U.S. Department of Justice, but if it holds, we would be entering totally uncharted territory.

In order to preserve the FDAs authority over prescription drugs and maintain the integrity of its decisions to approve medications, Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Public Health Law & Human Rights at Georgetown Law, says the appeals court or the Supreme Court (depending on how far the case proceeds) would have to side with the FDA in striking down the judges ruling. If it doesnt, its open hunting season against all FDA approved drugs, he says. The next case could be red state governors or anti-vax advocates challenging COVID-19 vaccines. That would take the nation on a dangerous path.

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The current legal status of mifepristone

The Texas judges decision is under appeal, and theres another curveball: a Washington district court judge issued an opposing ruling in a case filed by attorneys general in 17 states and the District of Columbia questioning FDAs restrictive prescribing policies for the drug. In that decision, the judge ordered the FDA to keep mifepristone on the market.

Since the Texas judge gave the FDA until April 14 to file an appeal, for now, mifepristone is currently legally available, but that could change if the appeals court does not grant a stay blocking the suspended approval.

Henney says that mifepristone was properly reviewed and evaluated based purely on scientific evidence of its safety and efficacya process corroborated by the General Accounting Office, which conducted its own review of the approval in 2008 and concluded that the agency followed standard procedures and was not influenced by political pressure. The drug is very carefully monitored, subject to more prescribing regulations and oversight than most medications. This ruling really upends something that has become a very safe practice in this country, Henney said in a briefing.

Read More: For People With Disabilities, Losing Abortion Access Can Be a Matter of Life or Death

If the appeals fail and the Texas judges ruling stands, removing mifepristone would have a chaos-inducing effect on ob-gyn doctors, said Dr. Jennifer Villavicencio, lead for equity transformation at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, during a briefing. Not only do doctors prescribe mifepristone for abortions in early pregnancy, but they also use the drug in conjunction with surgical abortions in the second trimester to make the operation safer. The combination of mifepristone and another drug, misoprostol, is also to treat miscarriages. Losing the drug would be devastating from a lot of different perspectives, and a lot of patients would need less-optimal regimens to manage pregnancy loss and abortion care, said Villavicencio.

Future concerns for other drugs

Regardless of how this case is resolved, it could embolden states to more aggressively question the FDAs decisions, undermining the agency and promoting a situation where drug approvals could be re-litigated in the courts. The question of who is in control of food and drug regulation is vital to Americas health and safety, says Gostin. Until now, that question has been settled: Congress undoubtedly delegated food and drug regulation to the FDA, and the agencys sole consideration should be the gold standard of scientific evidence, Gostin says. Law and politics should not get in the way. Lay judges shouldnt be second-guessing the decisions of career scientific professionals who have rigorously reviewed the evidence.

More than 250 pharmaceutical and biotech executives signed a letter criticizing the Texas judges action, noting that if upheld, it would deter drug development, since companies must invest billions of dollars to research, develop, and test drugs before they reach market. If courts can dismiss FDA approval decades after the fact without scientific basis, that creates uncertainty for the entire biopharma industry, the letter states. 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.

Read More: Where 2024 Republican Hopefuls Stand on Federal Abortion Restrictions

It means that in order to get a drug approved, companies will not just have to survive often hundreds of millions of dollars and years of FDA testing scientifically, said William Schultz, a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder LLP and former deputy commissioner for policy at the FDA, in a press conference. But then theyll have to survive challenges in court, which could be immediateor, as in this case, 20 years later.

As the legality of the judges decision is hashed out in the courts, physicians and patients are trying to make sense of their ever-changing reproductive rights. We are seeing patients every day and wondering if we can hand the medication over, said Villavicencio. There is a chilling effect as physicians try to explain the situation when they dont fully understand it.

With reporting by Haley Weiss
A decision from a federal court judge in Texas to strip long-standing government approval for a commonly used abortion drug has alarmed abortion rights groups and providers, who are bracing and preparing for whatever could come next.

On 7 April, US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who has a history of right-wing activism, sided with anti-abortion activists in a legal challenge against the US Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, which the agency first approved for use in 2000.

The nations leading abortion rights advocacy groups have roundly condemned the ruling  which uses language from anti-abortion activists and dismisses findings from major health organisations that determined the drug is both overwhelmingly safe and effective  as the case makes its way to a federal court of appeals and, possibly, the US Supreme Court.

The ruling is set to take effect on 14 April unless an appeals court intervenes. The drug remains accessible in the meantime.

Its hard to speculate in a world where all law and fact are thrown to the wind, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a briefing with reporters on 10 April.

The US Department of Justice has appealed the decision, which government attorneys said has upended decades of federal guidance and risks depriving patients of access to this safe and effective treatment, based on the courts own misguided assessment of the drugs safety and efficacy.

Attorneys also are seeking guidance after a duelling federal court decision  issued just 20 minutes after the Texas ruling  told federal agencies to preserve the status quo for FDA approvals.

Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLUs Reproductive Freedom Project, told reporters on 10 April that there is likely to be significant confusion and chaos as providers try to provide the best possible care they can for their patients if the Texas ruling is allowed to stand and access to the medication is thrown into jeopardy.

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Critics blast Texas ruling for inflammatory anti-abortion rhetoric

The judge flat-out ignored evidence and science and instead deferred to anti-abortion activists and arguments from abortion opponents that have been debunked in courts around the country, according to Ms Dalven.

Its no accident this case ended up before a judge that was willing to go wherever the [anti-abortion activists] had led him, she said. Anti-abortion plaintiffs incorporated in a small district of Amarillo, Texas, all but guaranteeing their case would be heard by Judge Kacsmaryk.

In his ruling, delivered on Good Friday, Judge Kacsmaryk used language pulled directly from anti-abortion activists, including referring to abortion providers as abortionists, abortion patients as post-abortive women, and a fetus as an unborn human.

His ruling also appeared to accuse President Joe Bidens administration of promoting eugenics.

The opinion really parrots the vernacular of anti-abortion activists, according to Jenny Ma, senior staff attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights. That is not what a court order should look like. It is now what an impartial judge should say.

Such inflammatory rhetoric signals to an extremist right-wing anti-choice movement, according to Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro Choice America, who called the decision an example of minority rule at its worst.

Following the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade and revoke a constitutional right to abortion care last summer, anti-abortion activists and right-wing legal campaigns took aim at mifepristone, which is used for more than half of all abortions in the US.

The same legal group that backed the effort to overturn Roe is leading the charge against mifepristone.

Erin Hawley, senior counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom and the wife of anti-abortion US Senator Josh Hawley, criticised the FDA and a mail-order abortion regime following the Justice Departments notice of appeal.

The FDA put women in harms way, and the agency should be held accountable for its reckless actions, she said in a statement through the organisation.

Stripping away access to the drug could further erode access to abortion care across the country, even in states where it is legally protected. Its potential removal could be particularly acute in more than a dozen states that have effectively criminalised care or severely restricted access in the months after Roe was overturned.

Mifepristone was approved for use by the FDA in most cases up to 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2000. A vast majority of abortions occur within the first nine weeks. From 2019 through 2020, nearly 93 per cent of all abortions were performed before the 13th week.

Mifepristone is also used to treat miscarriages. Roughly 10 per cent of clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriages, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Health officials and drugmakers warn of impacts beyond abortion care

A ruling to overturn the drugs government approval is a reckless decision that endangers the lives of abortion patients, the public health system and democracy itself, according to Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood.

The decision not only threatens access to abortion care but also could set a precedent to radically alter the process for approving drugs and bringing potentially life-saving drugs to market, opening the door for fringe activist groups to find ideologically aligned judges to deliver favourable rulings, according to Ms Dalven with the ACLU.

That could include federal court challenges to birth control, emergency contraception, or any drug that has drawn political opposition, including vaccines.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on 10 April that the Texas decision is an attack on the FDAs authority that could open the floodgates for other medications to be targeted and denied to people who need them.

A group of more than 400 executives with major drug manufacturers sounded a similar warning in a scathing letter denouncing Judge Kacsmaryks decision.

The decision ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent, said the letter, which was signed by leaders at Pfizer and Biogen, among others.

If courts can overturn drug approvals without regard for science or evidence, the letter said, 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.

(AFP via Getty Images)

The ruling has set a precedent for diminishing FDAs authority over drug approvals, and in so doing, creates uncertainty for the entire biopharma industry, according to the letter.

Dr Jack Resnick, president of the American Medical Association, warned that the Texas ruling presents an extraordinary, unprecedented danger of courts upending longstanding drug regulatory decisions made by the FDA.

Substituting the opinions of individual judges and courts in place of extensive, evidence-based, scientific review of efficacy and safety through well-established FDA processes is reckless and dangerous, he said in a statement.

While some members of Congress have argued that the Biden administration should just ignore the ruling, other Democratic lawmakers and leading abortion rights advocates have instead urged the courts to swiftly overturn the decision.

Ignoring the ruling wont address the drugs future legal issues or other challenges to longstanding FDA approvals, according to Ms Dalven.

In order to protect access to abortion and miscarriage care  the courts need to do their job and reverse this unprecedented and unprincipled decision, she said.
Adil Ray has criticised Laurence Fox after the Lewis star compared insults aimed at him as an actor to Rays own experiences of racism.

On Sunday (10 April), the Good Morning Britain host  who has been vocal about past experiences in which he was the target of racism  responded to a news story about Essex police seizing racially offensive dolls from a pub.

The dolls, traditionally known as golli***s, feature a racist caricature of Black people.

Writing on Twitter, Ray commented: I was called golliw*** at school. Just hearing the word frightens me. I cant think of any good reason why someone on balance might think its ok to display them in a pub.

In response, Fox tweeted: Stay strong bro. I feel your pain. [Theatre critic] Quentin Letts described me as having a face that belonged in the winners enclosure at Aintree in a theatre review once, which, I thought was pretty funny. Also, was chuffed it was the winners enclosure.

Resharing Foxs comments, Ray wrote: And here he comes. Comparing the racism I faced in National Front Birmingham in the 70s with a cruel review he once received. Why does my story of racism trigger him so much? Its as if he takes it personally

Last week, Ray spoke publicly about the recent onslaught of racist comments he has received following comments made by Suella Braverman about British-Pakistani males.

And here he comes. Comparing the racism I faced in National Front Birmingham in the 70s with a cruel review he once received. Why does my story of racism trigger him so much. Its as if he takes it personally https://t.co/A5Cm5fptiR  Adil Ray OBE (@adilray) April 10, 2023

The home secretary recently singled out British-Pakistani men while discussing the governments crackdown on child sexual abuse, saying that they hold cultural values totally at odds with British values.

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Home Office-commissioned research previously found that most group child sex offenders are men under the age of 30, and that the majority were white.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Thursday (6 April), Ray said that hed received nothing but racism following Bravermans comments.

I have suffered since Suella Braverman going onto breakfast television and labelling British Pakistani men  with no caveats, no kindness, no compassion  simply labelling British Pakistani men [as having] an issue when it comes to English white girls. I have suffered nothing but racism for the last seven days, he said.

Kate Garraway said that the racism aimed at Ray had been unsettling and unheard of for him, with her co-host adding: Its really bad. Its coming from all corners.
Florida LGBTQ advocacy groups and lawmakers are gearing up for another uphill battle against Gov. Ron DeSantis and his fellow Republicans as the legislature appears poised to pass an expansion to the controversial state education law restricting talk of sexual orientation and gender identity in public school classrooms.

The states Parental Rights in Education measure, known to critics as Dont Say Gay for its disproportionate impact on LGBTQ students and families, has been the law of the land in Florida for more than a year.

It bars public kindergarten through the third grade teachers from engaging in classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity, and prohibits educators through high school from addressing either topic in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for their students.

In February, 11 Florida House Republicans introduced legislation seeking to expand the laws restrictions through the eighth grade and add provisions that block school districts from adopting policies that require transgender students to be addressed in accordance with their gender identity, even at the request of their parents.

The measure, House Bill 1069, would also add additional restrictions for lessons about human sexuality through high school and require that all school-aged students are taught to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage.

Florida teachers would also be encouraged to promote the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage in reproductive health courses under the bill, which would also extend the ability to challenge school library books considered inappropriate for young readers to individuals nationwide.

State education officials, lawmakers and members of the LGBTQ community have voiced concerns that the proposed legislation, if passed, would worsen social stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ people in Florida, particularly youth.

We want to make sure that every child comes to school feeling loved and supported and cared for and welcomed. Theres great concern that a lot of this legislation going through the legislature in Florida right now does not allow for that to happen, Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar told The Hill.

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At least 10 bills targeting LGBTQ rights are under consideration in both the Florida House and Senate this session, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), including five that would directly impact teachers and LGBTQ students.

Its almost like theyre trying to desensitize teachers in schools so that they cant connect with their students, Spar said of the bills GOP sponsors.

Kids who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community will not feel welcomed, loved and cared for, because people who work in our schools will not be allowed to meet them where they are and support them for who they are, he said.

In March, DeSantis and the state education department unveiled a proposal that would, similar to House Bill 1069, extend the existing laws restrictions to pre-K classrooms.

The administrations proposal, which does not require legislative approval, includes an additional provision that limits instruction related to sexual orientation or gender identity through high school. Lessons on either topic would be permitted under the administrations proposal under certain circumstances, such as when instruction is expressly required by state academic standards or part of a reproductive health course.

A great concern with the expansion of Dont Say Gay is the parameters for discussion on sexual orientation are so broad that teachers may be concerned about even discussing situations where a student might have two moms or two dads.

The concern is that people will interpret it as theyre not allowed to say anything about gay people or gay issues, said Michael LaSala, professor of social work at Rutgers University. Youre going to have students who have been raised by gay or lesbian couples or same-sex couples, or who have parents who are transgender, or gender non-binary, so its going to make them feel if this cant be talked about or acknowledged  its gonna make them feel invisible.

This can have damaging effects on the psyche of these kids because its going to make them feel as if something is wrong with their families, LaSala said.

State Republicans have argued that the legislatures effort to expand the law is benign and not meant to go after LGBTQ youth, but to ensure parents know what is taught to their children.

This bill promotes parental rights, transparency, and state standards in Florida schools. It requires that lessons for Floridas students are age-appropriate, focused on education, and free from sexualization and indoctrination, state Rep. Adam Anderson (R) said.

Opponents of the bill say Republicans are using parental rights as a shield to take over public education.

This has always been about some parents rights, said Brandon Wolf, the press secretary for the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida. Very specifically, its been about some right-wing parents rights to impose their values and beliefs on everyone else.

Equality Florida this year has sent hundreds volunteers to engage with lawmakers in Tallahassee every day this session, Wolf said, in a mobilization effort exponentially larger than that of prior years, when the group dedicated a maximum two days to lobbying efforts at the capitol.

One of the things we recognized in this political climate is that two days is not going to cut it, Wolf said. We have to have a constant presence in the capitol.

Equality Florida will join a number of other Florida LGBTQ rights groups later this month in supporting a coordinated student-led walkout at more than 300 high schools and colleges across the state.

The walkouts are in protest of a slate of anti-LGBTQ bills moving through the legislature this year, said Zander Moricz, the executive director of the Social Equity through Educatiion Alliance, which is spearheading the walkout effort.

This is happening in a way that is so aggressive, that it disrupts the daily experience of every single Florida student educator, said Moricz, who made national headlines last year when he was barred from using the word gay during his high school graduation speech. It is a doomsday scenario.

Florida House lawmakers approved the proposed law on March 31  the International Transgender Day of Visibility  despite an estimated 200 protesters at the capitol, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The expansion is now under consideration in the Florida Senate, where it is expected to pass. DeSantis has voiced support for the measure, calling it curriculum transparency.

With the weight of the governors office behind it, the bill is one hundred percent expected to pass into law, said state Rep. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat and the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Florida Senate.

With a Republican supermajority in the legislature, Jones said it is not likely that legislation to repeal the existing Dont Say Gay law or its expansion will be introduced by Democrats over the next two years.

Democrats do not have any leeway in either chamber because were in the super minority, he said. Jones said he would advise his colleagues against introducing such legislation, unless they are certain it will have enough bipartisan support to pass.

Jones said hes prepared to argue against the bill once it comes up for a floor vote in the Senate, just as he did last year, but for now, hes focused on empowering his community to fight back.

We have to go back to grassroots, Jones said. I know thats what Im doing. I know thats what other legislators are doing; and that is showing people how to create their own groundswell, because politicians are not going to change what were seeing right now. The people will.

Ill remind people that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it always, always, always bends towards justice, Jones said.

Along with grassroots mobilization, organizations such as the ACLU are currently evaluating whether there are grounds for litigation, Kirk Bailey, the political director of the ACLUs Florida affiliate, said.

A lawsuit challenging the states existing Dont Say Gay law filed by Equality Florida last year was dismissed by a federal judge in October.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
One of Daytons major utility provider filed a settlement for their Electric Security Plan that would increase electric rates for consumers once approved, according to some officials.

>> TRENDING: COVID-19 national emergency ended with Bidens signature

AES Ohio filed their settlement with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) that sought to implement a plan for investing in its network to strengthen reliability, protect customers from the volatility of market-based energy prices, and create jobs, the companys spokesperson said.

This comprehensive settlement is a major step in our ability to execute on our strategic plan to strengthen our network, ensuring that critical investments are made to benefit customers today and, in the future, AES Ohio president and CEO Kristina Lund said.

In the submitted Electric Security Plan, the company boasted that their plan would increase support for low-income customers who experience a high percentage of disconnections via economic development, weatherization, and education outreach. The plan was also buttressed by a $150,000 contribution to Gift of Power program through shareholder funds, and an introduction to green energy, according to the spokesperson.

However, opponents to the proposed plan stated that customers would see a rate increase.

The settlements rate increase, if approved by the PUCO, will be a double-whammy for AESs consumers because last years $75 million rate increase will also take effect. The settlements rate increase includes controversial coal plant charges making consumers pay corporate welfare to AES. These subsidies for AES relate to two coal plants (one in Indiana) that are partly owned by AES. Utility lobbying later led to subsidy charges related to those coal plants being included in tainted House Bill 6, Merrilee Embs, spokesperson for Ohio Consumers Counsel Bruce Weston, said.

Furthermore, half a million Dayton-area customers would subsidize nearly10-years of costs of two-aging coal plants in Indiana and Ohio.

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Despite Ohio being a deregulated state for power plants, AES (and AEP and Duke) have been enjoying corporate welfare courtesy of Ohioans who are made to pay subsidies for the so-called OVEC plants, one in Ohio and one in Indiana, Embs said.

Governor Mike DeWine also stated that he does not support the similar subsidy in tainted House Bill 6 for the same coal plants.

The increase in costs was not made available by the commissioner or AES Ohio. However, the originally filed plan was estimated to increase the average customers electricity bill by about $60 a year.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly quoted a former commissioner. The story has been corrected to attribute information to an Ohio Consumers Counsel spokesperson.




Two years of waiting were over.

On a rainy Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tennessee, in a busy gas station parking lot, U.S. Army Platoon Commander Kristen St. Pierre was reunited with someone she hadn't seen since she left Afghanistan in 2019: her military working dog Chase.

"It's amazing to be with him," St. Pierre told CBS News, who didn't know Chase's whereabouts or even if he survived until this past November. St. Pierre cared for Chase during her 2019 tour of duty in Afghanistan and had to leave the dog behind when she deployed. During the fall of Afghanistan in the chaotic weeks and months that followed as U.S. troops withdrew and Afghans fled in droves, Chase disappeared.

"Chase was a piece of home during our time in Afghanistan," said St. Pierre, who said she didn't really realize how difficult saying goodbye would be.

But thanks to a twist of social media fate and the determination of Charlotte Maxwell-Jones, the American founder of Kabul Small Animal Rescue brought the dog and its handler together in a "moment of hope," St. Pierre said.

Kristen St. Pierre reunites with her former military working dog Chase after two years. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Kristen St. Pierre

Through news and Instagram posts, St. Pierre came across Kabul Small Animal Rescue's social media page, where she saw a picture of Chase. St. Pierre immediately contacted Kabul Small Animal Rescue and asked to adopt that dog, and along with Maxwell-Jones, hatched a plan to bring Chase back to the U.S.

Kabul Small Animal Rescue founder Charlotte Maxwell-Jones with Chase upon his rescue. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Kabul Small Animal Rescue

"Since we got him back last November, that's been the plan from Day 1," Maxwell-Jones told CBS upon arrival at Dulles Airport in D.C. But in newly occupied Afghanistan, Maxwell-Jones has learned the Taliban governs under its own rules. They had to re-register again and go to all of the different ministries and make sure the registration was in order.

In 2021, almost all of their staff fled the country and Maxwell-Jones had to rebuild. They are the only animal rescue in Afghanistan, she said, there aren't that many veterinarians. She says the Taliban government supports rebuilding with all-male staff aside from herself and a few foreign women. She and the 85 staff care for 250 dogs, about 70 cats, four tortoises, four chickens, seven sheep and three peacocks. They get asked to care for all sorts of animals, Maxwell-Jones said, and they've been asked to export poisonous snakes and a surrendered fighting camel.

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"We politely declined that one," she said.

Kristen St. Pierre, a female platoon commander for the Georgia Army National Guard, with her bomb-sniffing dog Chase in Afghanistan. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Kristen St. Pierre

To get Chase to the U.S., Maxwell-Jones had to have him microchipped, revaccinated, tested for rabies and have other blood tests. For its rescues, the organization works with the Taliban government to get export permits from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of the Interior, border police and Ministry of Economy, among others.

Then Maxwell-Jones flies the animals into Dubai, and from there they coordinate the flights to D.C, where they have to officially import the animals and go through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where the agency checks the animals for disease before they are released into the country.

The process is exhausting and onerous, Maxwell-Jones say, but she continues because she "believes that animals' lives actually matter just as much as other lives."

In Afghanistan, she says, "There's about 10,000 humanitarian organizations, and when it comes to animals, there's us."

Chase is settling into his new home in Fort Benning, Georgia, where St. Pierre and her husband reside. He still "maintained trust in humans" and loves getting his "belly rubbed," said St. Pierre. She says getting Chase to the United States has been surreal and shows her that "humanity is still occurring in Afghanistan."

Ahmad Mukhtar contributed to this report.

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A drone with an explosive device has attacked the airport of Russian Belgorod, located 30 km from the border with Ukraine, several Russian Telegram channels and Russian media outlets reported immediately on the morning of 11 April.

Source: Russian Telegram channels Baza and Shot; Russian media

Details: It was reported that the attack was conducted in the morning of 11 April.

According to Baza, an unmanned aerial vehicle with an unknown explosive device fell near the fence of Shukhov Airport and exploded.

The explosion damaged the airport's fence and alarm system cable.

It was reported that there were no casualties.

The authorities of Belgorod Oblast have not yet commented on the incident.

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BANGKOK (AP)  Airstrikes by Myanmars military on Tuesday killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony held by opponents of army rule, said a witness, a member of a local pro-democracy group and independent media.

The military is increasingly using airstrikes to counter a widespread armed struggle against its rule, which began in February 2021 when it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 3,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed since then by security forces.

A witness told The Associated Press that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly onto a crowd of people who were gathering at 8 a.m. for the opening of a local office of the countrys opposition movement outside Pazigyi village in Sagaing regions Kanbalu township. The area is about 110 kilometers (70 miles) north of Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city.

About half an hour later, a helicopter appeared and fired at the site, said the witness, who asked not to be identified because he feared punishment by the authorities.

Initial reports put the death toll at around 50, but later tallies reported by independent media raised it to about 100. It was impossible to independently confirm details of the attack because reporting is restricted by the military government.

I was standing a short distance from the crowd when a friend of mine contacted me on the phone about the approach of a fighter jet, the witness said. The jet dropped bombs directly on the crowd, and I jumped into a nearby ditch and hid. A few moments later, when I stood up and looked around, I saw people cut to pieces and dead in the smoke. The office building was destroyed by fire. About 30 people were injured. While the wounded were being transported, a helicopter arrived and shot more people. We are now cremating the bodies quickly.

About 150 people had gathered for the opening ceremony, and women and 20 to 30 children were among the dead, he said, adding that those killed also included leaders of locally formed anti-government armed groups and other opposition organizations.

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The United Nations, United States and others strongly condemned the attack and pledged to work toward holding the military accountable.

This heinous act by the terrorist military is yet another example of their indiscriminate use of extreme force against innocent civilians, constituting a war crime, the opposition National Unity Government said in a statement. The NUG calls itself the country's legitimate government, in opposition to the army. The office being opened Tuesday was part of its administrative network.

The military government's spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, acknowledged in a statement phoned to state television MRTV that the ceremony had been attacked, but accused anti-government forces in the area of carrying out a violent campaign of terror. He said the Peoples Defense Forces  the armed wing of the National Unity Government -- had terrorized residents into supporting them, killing Buddhist monks, teachers and other people, while the military sought peace and stability. He said there was evidence the attack had set off secondary blasts of explosives hidden by the Peoples Defense Forces around the site.

In response to accusations of abuses, the military government often accuses pro-democracy forces of terrorism. But analysts for the United Nations and non-governmental organizations have gathered credible evidence of large-scale human rights abuses by the army, including the burning of entire villages and displacement of more than a million people, triggering a humanitarian crisis.

The death toll from Tuesday's air attack, if confirmed, could be the highest in more than two years of civil conflict that began when the army seized power in 2021. As many as 80 people were killed last October in another government air attack in northern Myanmar on an anniversary celebration of the Kachin ethnic minoritys main political organization, which is also battling the military government.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army takeover triggered widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict.

The army has been conducting major offensives in the countryside, where it has faced some of the toughest resistance in Sagaing, in Myanmars historic heartland. The resistance forces have no defense against air attacks.

In videos of the devastated village seen by AP, survivors and onlookers stumble through the area of the attack amid clouds of thick smoke, with only the skeleton frame of one building still standing in the distance. The videos could not immediately be verified but matched other descriptions of the scene.

Some motorbikes remained intact while others were reduced to their frames or buried under tree branches. In one area, two victims lay close together, one of whom had only one arm still attached.

Another victim lay face down in a small grove by the roadside. A few meters (yards) away, a small torso missing at least one limb could be seen.

In January, Myanmars top leader told the military it needs to take decisive action against those opposed to army rule. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said at a military parade on Armed Forces Day that those who condemned his government showed indifference to violence committed by its opponents.

Resistance forces have been able to prevent the military from taking firm control of large areas of the country, but have a great disadvantage in weapons, particularly in countering air attacks.

Critics of the military government advocate banning or limiting the sale of aviation fuel to Myanmar to cripple the militarys advantage in air power. Many Western nations have imposed arms embargoes on the military government, and the United States and Britain recently enacted new sanctions targeting individuals and companies involved in supplying jet fuel to Myanmar.

The human rights group Amnesty International said in a statement Tuesday that The relentless air attacks across Myanmar highlight the urgent need to suspend the import of aviation fuel. Amnesty reiterates its calls on all states and businesses to stop shipments that may end up in the hands of the Myanmar Air Force.

It also urged the U.N. Security Council to "push through effective actions to hold the Myanmar military accountable, including by referring the situation in the country to the International Criminal Court.

The United Nations said those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice, with U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric stressing that the injured must receive medical treatment, which is often a challenge in these circumstances. Myanmar's government-run hospitals are short on staff and supplies, and opponents of the military avoid them for safety reasons.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns all forms of violence and reaffirms the primacy of protection of civilians, in accordance with international humanitarian law and reiterates his call for the military to end the campaign of violence against the Myanmar population throughout the country as called for by the U.N. Security Council in a resolution adopted last December, Dujarric said.

The U.S. would continue to work with the international community to hold the military government accountable for violations and abuses, the State Department said in a statement.

These violent attacks further underscore the regimes disregard for human life and its responsibility for the dire political and humanitarian crisis in Burma, said Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson at the State Department, using Myanmar's former name.

___

Find more AP coverage of the Asia-Pacific region at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
Every few weeks, the hashtag #WheresTiffanyDover pops up on the more conspiratorial corners of social media.

Ms Dover, a nurse who lives in Alabama, was one of the first US frontline workers to get the Covid vaccine in 2020. As part of campaigns to build trust around the jab, the nurse was filmed getting her shot, but soon became the subject of ravenous conspiracy theorists when she fainted on camera.

Then, the mother and dedicated emergency room nurse seemed to vanish from the public eye, further fuelling baseless speculation about Ms Dover, her hospital, her family, and Covid vaccines at large.

I didnt die that day, Ms Dover told NBC News, in her first extension interview since unintentionally becoming the centre of an anti-vax campaign. But the life I knew did.

The nurse explained to the network that she hadnt had time for lunch the day she got the shot and she remains grateful for the vaccine, even though her experience getting it in the public nearly ruined her life.

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, she said.

Her only regret is not speaking out sooner, she continued.

Tiffany Dover, a nurse manager and mother of two, fainted after receiving her vaccine due to an overactive vagal response (WRCB)

The silence is what flamed this.

As hospital executives at CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga recommended Ms Dover refrain from posting on social media, conspiracy theorists went wild. Soon, Ms Dover was the subject of Facebook groups, social media videos, podcast, QAnon theories. Family members and colleagues were berated with messages, accusing them of conspiring in some kind of cover-up. A colleague, Amber Honea, was accused of being a body-double.

Ms Dover wasnt the only one whose personal experience was swept up in a wave of Covid misinformation.

Claire Bridges, an aspiring model from Tampa, Florida, became another unwitting avatar for the anti-vax movement.

A congenital heart condition exacerbated her experience with Covid, eventually causing her to suffer from rhabdomyolysis, in which damaged muscle tissue poisons the blood, requiring her to have both of her legs amputated below the knee.

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Conspiracy theorists used Ms Bridges story to make false claims about the risk of vaccines overall.

I felt true rage  that someone was telling my story, they didnt even ask permission, they werent even telling it correctly, and they were using it to push a personal agenda, Ms Bridges told HuffPost of the experience. Youre forgetting the fact that Im a human.

My legs were amputated due to COVID/[rhabdomyolysis], not the vaccine, she told the site in January. For anyone who doesnt have any of the facts to say anything different than that, is extremely rude, harmful and disrespectful.
A US judge has granted Alec Baldwin permission not to appear in court for the preliminary hearing relating to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 death of Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust.

The cinematographer died after being hit with a live round fired from a prop gun held by Baldwin.

During the two-week preliminary hearing, due to begin on 3 May, 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.

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.

Alec Baldwin (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

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.

The news comes after the New Mexico district attorney overseeing the case said she would follow a judges order to step down as a prosecutor.

Baldwins attorney had previously called for Carmack-Altwies to be disqualified from the case, claiming as she was too distracted by her role as a state legislator.

Mary Carmack-Altwies announced the appointment of lawyers Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as new special prosecutors in the case.

Additional reporting from PA
Alec Baldwin filed a waiver of appearance for next months preliminary hearing in the fatal on-set shooting of Halyna Hutchins.

"I understand that I am charged with the following offense or offenses under the law of the State of New Mexico: Involuntary Manslaughter  in two alternatives," the filing obtained by Fox News Digital 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 concluded.

ALEC BALDWIN'S 'RUST' SHOOTING: WHERE THE INVESTIGATION STANDS ONE YEAR LATER

The judge in the case approved the waiver, meaning Baldwin will not have to physically appear at the Santa Fe County courthouse on May 3. The preliminary hearing in the case is expected to last two weeks.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Hutchins, who died on Oct. 21, 2021, after a gun that Baldwin was holding fired on the set of "Rust." The 65-year-old is also a producer on the film and has denied he pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Hutchins.

Alec Baldwin is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The actor also waived his first court appearance in February, which legal experts explained at the time was a "routine court proceeding."

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is also charged with involuntary manslaughter. Gutierrez-Reeds preliminary hearing is on May 3 as well.

"Rust" assistant director Dave Halls was also charged with a misdemeanor of negligent use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced in March to six months of unsupervised probation.

Halls' probation includes testifying truthfully at any trials or hearings, a $500 fine, participation in a firearms safety course with proof of completion within 60 days of his plea, no alcohol, 24 hours of community service and no contact with any potential witnesses or co-defendants.

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Baldwins preliminary hearing date comes after a shake-up on the prosecution team.

Alec Baldwin's preliminary hearing is set for May 3, but the court approved his request to waive his in-person appearance.

ALEC BALDWIN SLAMS PROSECUTION OVER 'IMPROPER' PUBLIC STATEMENTS, SAYS RIGHT TO FAIR TRIAL 'THREATENED'

Most recently, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies stepped aside from prosecuting the case to "focus on the broader public safety needs in New Mexico's First Judicial District." Meanwhile, two new special prosecutors were assigned to the case: Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis.

Morrissey and Lewis' appointments came after Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor previously assigned to the case , stepped down on March 14. Reeb's decision to step down came as Baldwin's attorney filed a motion to have Reeb removed from the "Rust" case just days after he was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Baldwin's lawyer argued that Reeb could not simultaneously serve as the special prosecutor and as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives in court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

Last year, Baldwin settled a wrongful death lawsuit with Hutchins family.

Alec Baldwin will resume filming "Rust" in the spring in Montana at Yellowstone Filming Ranch.

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"We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust, including Alec Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions, LLC. As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed," Matthew Hutchins said in a statement to Fox News Digital through his attorney Brian Panish.

Hutchins husband will now serve as an executive producer on the film, which moved production from its original location in New Mexico to a new set on the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana.

Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' movie production found a new home at the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana.

Baldwin is still set to play the lead character in the film, which is set to resume filming soon.
Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh has been assigned to McCormick Correctional Institution in South Carolina near the Georgia border, Fox News Digital has learned.

Murdaugh's new home is a maximum security prison, about 40 miles north of Augusta, Georgia, located on the aptly named road Redemption Way.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections announced last month that Murdaugh, 54, had moved to statewide protective custody due to the notoriety of his case.

"Inmates in this unit have validated protective concerns and are placed in a specialized unit to separate them from the general population," the release says. "Their location is not disclosed for safety and security reasons."

ALEX MURDAUGH TO SERVE LIFE SENTENCE FOR KILLING WIFE, SON IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY

The specialized unit has 28 inmates and Murdaugh is residing in a single 8-by-10-foot cell with his own bed, toilet and sink, officials said. The state prison houses more than 1,200 inmates.

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The disbarred attorney was sentenced last month to two life terms behind bars after he was found guilty of gunning down his wife, Maggie, 52, and his son, Paul, 22, in June 2021 to delay a devastating financial reckoning, according to prosecutors.

He still has a series of upcoming trials stemming from the theft of nearly $9 million from his former law firm and clients.

Alex Murdaugh is led out of the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, on Feb. 27, 2023.

Murdaugh may pick up a new skill at the all-male facility, which employs inmates at its very own factory that produces upholstered furniture and modular office systems in addition to powder coating metal products.

"The modular furniture plant is unique in that, not only does it deliver its goods, but also must install its modular systems," the corrections' website says. "The primary focus on installations is customer service and satisfaction."

CONVICTED KILLER ALEX MURDAUGH SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

The prison also offers an "Operation Behind Bars" program for at-risk youth and adults who can tour the prison and hear from repentant inmates.

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Murdaugh, however, is unlikely to participate in this program. He maintains his innocence and is appealing the verdict.

Alex Murdaugh is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences by Judge Clifton Newman at the Colleton County Courthouse on March 3, 2023, for the murder of his wife and son.

Murdaugh's explosive six-week trial dominated national headlines. The public fascination with the case has led to Murdaugh, who prosecutors dubbed a "family annihilator," receiving a flood of love letters from admirers, FitsNews exclusively reported.

Murdaugh is due back in court April 21 for a status hearing on the 99 financial crimes charges he faces in four counties.

His defense lawyer, Jim Griffin, declined to comment for this article.
An Alexandria man will be sentenced in August after pleading guilty in the 2022 shooting death of Christopher Celestine, 17.

An Alexandria man will be sentenced in August after pleading guilty in the 2022 shooting death of a high school student.

Eric Duane Macon Jr., 26, pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of manslaughter in the March 19, 2022, shooting of Alexandria Senior High School student Christopher Celestine, 17.

Alexandria Police Department officers found Celestine that night in the 700 block of Fred Loop near 7th Street. He had been shot once in his torso and later died at a hospital.

Macon was arrested in early May 2022 after a chase with police as they tried to stop him to arrest him on a second-degree murder warrant. After Macon crashed his car into his own home, police found a 2-year-old child inside the car.

Christopher Celestine death: 14-year-old, 15-year-old arrested in Alexandria shooting that killed 17-year-old

Eric Macon court case: April plea date set for man accused of killing Alexandria Senior High student

He and a 16-year-old male were formally charged with manslaughter in June 2022.

Victim impact statements from Celestine's family will be given on Aug.16, then Macon will be sentenced on Aug. 30.

The 16-year-old, who was 15 at the time of the shooting, is being tried as an adult. A plea date is set for May 10, while the trial is scheduled for July 17.

An unrelated felony charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile against Macon was dropped, according to online Rapides Parish Clerk of Court records.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Eric Macon pleads guilty to 2022 murder of Christopher Celestine, 17
By Josh Horwitz and Josh Ye

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holding Ltd on Tuesday showed off its generative AI model - its version of the tech that powers chatbot sensation ChatGPT - and said it would be integrated into all of the company's apps in the near future.

The unveiling, which came on the heels of the launch of a slew of new AI products by SenseTime this week, was swiftly followed by the government's publication of draft rules outlining how generative AI services should be managed.

In a filmed demonstration, the AI large language model, named Tongyi Qianwen which means "truth from a thousand questions", drafted invitation letters, planned trip itineraries and advised shoppers on types of makeup to purchase.

Tongyi Qianwen will initially be integrated into DingTalk, Alibaba's workplace messaging app and can be used to summarise meeting notes, write emails and draft business proposals. It will also be added to Tmall Genie, Alibaba's voice assistant.

The technology "will bring about big changes to the way we produce, the way we work and the way we live our lives," CEO Daniel Zhang told the livestreamed event.

AI models like Tongyi Qianwen are "the big picture for making AI more popular in the future," he added.

The Chinese internet giant's cloud unit plans to open up Tongyi Qianwen to clients so they can build their own customized large language models and began registrations on Friday.

The draft rules published by the Cyberspace Administration of China said the country supported the technology's innovation and popularisation but content generated had to adhere to "core socialist values" as well as to laws on data security and personal information protection.

Those who fall foul of the rules could face fines or criminal investigation, it added.

The proposed rules, open for public comment until May 10, come as governments around the world are looking at how best to regulate generative AI technology, which has sparked much concern about its ethical implications as well as its impact on national security, jobs and education.

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Italy last month temporarily banned ChatGPT - the chatbot sensation developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI that has sparked the run of companies developing similar products.

Elon Musk and a group of artificial intelligence experts and industry executives have also called for a six-month pause in developing systems more powerful than OpenAI's newly launched GPT-4, in an open letter citing potential risks to society.

Charlie Chai, an analyst from 86Research, said Beijings new rules would potentially slow down progress "in exchange for a more orderly and socially responsible deployment of the technology."

They would also set up obstacles for foreign companies looking to provide AI services in the country, benefiting domestic companies, he added.

China has for years tightly censored its internet and its tech giants are careful to toe the line, especially on topics considered sensitive such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square.

Search engine Baidu's Ernie chatbot - one of several AI models or chatbots revealed or teased by Chinese companies - declined to answer questions on such topics or asked to change the subject when quizzed by Reuters last month. The bot remains open only to trial users at the moment.

Shares in Alibaba rose 1% in Hong Kong trade. Shares in SenseTime, whose new products include an AI chatbot called SenseChat, initially surged but were later flat.

(Reporting by Josh Horwitz in Shanghai and Josh Ye in Hong Kong; Editing by Brenda Goh and Edwina Gibbs)
alvin-bragg-RS-04-1800 - Credit: Cover Images via AP Images

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has sued House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in an effort to stop Republicans for meddling in his case against former President Donald Trump. The New York Times was the first to report the suit.

Bragg and Jordan have been exchanging attacks as the latter has attempted to use his seat atop the House Judiciary Committee to disrupt the formers investigation into Trump. Braggs office charged Trump with 34 counts of felony falsification of business records related to a 2016 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump pleaded not guilty last week.

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In the suit filed Tuesday, Bragg calls Jordans tactics  which have included subpoenas and, most recently, an announcement that the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on crime in New York next Monday  brazen and unconstitutional, and as well as a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack.

Congress has no power to supervise state criminal prosecutions, Bragg writes in the suit, adding that Jordans subpoena threatens the sovereign powers of the States, confidence in the secrecy of grand jury proceedings, and the integrity of an ongoing criminal prosecution.

Jordan responded by arguing the contrary. First, they indict a president for no crime. Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it, he wrote on Twitter.

First, they indict a president for no crime.



Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it.  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) April 11, 2023

The suit seeks to prevent Jordan from enforcing subpoenas related to Braggs investigation. Jordan subpoenaed former New York County Special Assistant District Attorney Mark Pomerantz last week, alleging Pomerantz was searching for any basis on which to bring criminal charges against Trump. Bragg was not happy. The House GOP continues to attempt to undermine an active investigation and ongoing New York criminal case with an unprecedented campaign of harassment and intimidation, his office wrote in response. 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.

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Bragg went after Jordan again on Monday after Jordan announced that hes going to hold a Judiciary Committee hearing on Braggs pro-crime, anti-victim policies in Manhattan next Monday.

Dont be fooled, the House GOP is coming to the safest big city in America for a political stunt, Braggs office wrote, noting that the murder rate in New York City is three times lower than that of Columbus, Ohio, and that if Jordan truly cared about public safety he should take a drive to his home state.

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Click here to read the full article.
Fox News contributor Ted Williams told the right-wing networks viewers that we have to talk about guns following yet another mass shooting on Monday.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, Williams, a defense attorney and former federal special agent, told Fox News Neil Cavuto after the shooting in Louisville, Kentucky.

At least four people were killed after a man opened fire at a bank with an AR-15-style rifle Monday morning, according to law enforcement. It comes two weeks after a massacre at a school in Nashville, Tennessee, that left three 9-year-old students and three adults dead. The shooter in that incident was carrying three guns: an assault-style pistol, a rifle and a handgun.

Just two weeks ago, I stood in front of a camera when you had some kids, some babies, shot in Nashville, Tennessee, with a person who, by the way, had an AR-15, Williams said. And from what weve been told here, Neil, this individual had that same kind of a weapon. And when you look at mental illness ... and that weapon, thats a dangerous concoction, and weve got to do something in this society.

He added that I am sick and tired of reporting on shootings like the ones in recent weeks, and he pushed back on the notion that it was too soon to talk about it.

We have to talk about guns. AR-15s are killing our babies and our citizens in this country, and weve got to do something about it, he said.

Williams on Fox: Im sick and tired of standing in front of a camera.. We have to talk about guns! AR-15s are killing our babies and our citizens in this country and we have to do something about it pic.twitter.com/4ntyPcnuE9  Acyn (@Acyn) April 10, 2023

Later in the segment, Williams called for red flag laws across the country, which work to get guns out of the hands of people deemed a danger to themselves or others.

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Fox News hosts and guests routinely deflect blame to other issues rather than discuss reforms to gun laws in the wake of gun violence. Another guest on the network Monday said the shooting would inevitably trigger discussions about firearms, but added, I hope that the politicians and so-called leaders dont dwell on that right now.

Williams was joined on Cavutos program by former FBI special agent Nicole Parker, who drew backlash after the Nashville attack when she called for better securing of side doors at schools while failing to mention the weapons used in the massacre. The shooter in Nashville shot through locked side doors to enter the school.

Related...
After a teaser last year, Google is ready to help you save space on your phone by shelving unused apps. The company is rolling out an auto-archive feature that removes key parts of apps without erasing personal data. So long as an app is still available on the Play Store, you just have to tap its icon to re-download the missing pieces. This can free as much as 60 percent of an app's space, Google says.

You'll get the auto-archive option if you try to install an app when your device doesn't have enough remaining storage. If you want to look for unused apps, you can visit the Apps section of settings. The software will typically say that it hasn't been opened for more than a few months. Developers have to publish their apps using the App Bundle format for the feature to work, but that shouldn't be an issue as it's been required since 2021.

The concept isn't new. Apple has offered custom recommendations to pull unused apps since iOS 11's release in 2017. However, the addition may be particularly helpful on Android, which powers a wider range of phones, including low-end models. You may not feel as much pressure to upgrade a budget handset if you know you can simply archive apps until you're ready to use them.

Google adds that this could help developers. If users can auto-archive apps, they're less likely to completely uninstall those apps. Creators may be more likely to hold on to users, even if those customers seldomly return.
When Taylor Swift brings her Eras Tour to Florida this weekend, the 11-time Grammy winner may help some dogs find their forever homes in the process.

In honor of Swift's three-show swing through Florida this week, a local animal shelter has named four of its dogs after some of the singer's most popular songs.

The dogs -- named Betty, Karma, Marjorie, and Willow -- will be available for adoption through SPCA Tampa Bay starting on Thursday, the date of Swift's first show in Tampa.

Swift's three Tampa Eras Tour dates on April 13, 14 and 15 are the singer's only stops in Florida.

PHOTO: Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of 'Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour' at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Glendale, Ariz. The city of Glendale was ceremonially renamed to Swift City for March 17-18 in honor of The Eras Tour. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Mana)

On April 15, the day of Swift's final show, SPCA Tampa Bay is also hosting its 32nd Annual Pet Walk, at which there will be a team named Team Swifties.

"If you were left ticketless for any of Taylor Swift's concerts, we invite you to come out and shake it off with SPCA Tampa Bay at Pet Walk instead," the nonprofit organization said in a press release. "We know that feeling all too well."

PHOTO: A local animal shelter in Tampa, Fla., has named four of its adoptable puppies after Taylor Swift songs in honor of her concert stops in Tampa. (SPCA Tampa Bay)

Swift is a known animal lover. Earlier this year, the Williamson County Animal Center in Franklin, Tennessee, named several of its puppies after Swift's songs after she donated money to the shelter.

MORE: Taylor Swift kicks off Eras tour in style: See some of her most standout looks

Betty, Karma, Marjorie, and Willow are just part of how the city is welcoming Swift.

PHOTO: A local animal shelter in Tampa, Fla., has named four of its adoptable puppies after Taylor Swift songs in honor of her concert stops in Tampa. (SPCA Tampa Bay)

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor released a video Monday inviting Swift to be the city's honorary mayor for the day.

She also presented Swift with a key to the city.

#TAMPA are you ready for it? Weve got a reputation to uphold Tag @taylorswift13 if you agree Mayor Swift has a nice ring to it.  #TSTheErasTour pic.twitter.com/bRcjYueC5v  City of Tampa (Taylor's Version) (@CityofTampa) April 10, 2023

MORE: Taylor Swift makes generous donations to food banks amid sold-out Eras tour

"Mayor Swift has a nice ring to it," Castor said in the video. "We can't wait to welcome you and your fans to Tampa, Taylor's version."

Animal shelter names adoptable dogs after Taylor Swift songs ahead of her concert originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
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Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

You do not need another COVID-19 vaccine if youve already gotten a bivalent booster.

FDA officials are deciding whether they will authorize a second bivalent COVID booster dose for high-risk people.

Experts say that the bivalent boosters are still effective and there is no pressing need to create another reformulated booster.

More than six months have passed since updated COVID-19 vaccines with Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike proteins rolled out. Many people are wondering whether its nearly time to get another booster, or whether theyll need to start getting yearly COVID boosters as with annual flu shots.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are said to be weighing whether to authorize a second dose of bivalent COVID boosters for high-risk people. But for the general population, another shot in the near future is unlikely.

Heres what experts want you to know about spring COVID boosters.

Related:Do Bivalent Boosters Protect Against XBB.1.5?

Why You Cant Get Another Bivalent Booster Yet

For the time being, if youve gotten a bivalent booster, youre considered to be up-to-date with your vaccines.

There is no additional need for a booster vaccine if one has already received the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, Gonzalo Bearman, MD, chief of infectious diseases for Virginia Commonwealth University Health, told Verywell.

According to David Dowdy, MD, a professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Healths department of epidemiology, the challenge with a broad recommendation for a second bivalent booster shot is the lack of data.

While there is strong evidence that the current vaccine series is effective against serious COVID illness, Dowdy said that its not entirely clear how helpful another dose of the Omicron-tailored shot would be for high-risk individuals.

Learn More:A Novavax Booster Is Here. But Who Will Get It?

Health officials are monitoring new and changing data on COVID vaccination to help them make recommendations, which are only based on the current situationtheyre not yet at a point where they want people to think about additional boosters as being part of a yearly routine like, say, flu shots are.

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Authorizing another vaccine booster dose for high-risk people would be in line with World Health Organizations (WHO) revised roadmap for COVID-19 vaccination priority.

The WHOs Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recently recommended an additional booster 6 or 12 months after the last dose for high-priority groups, which includes older adults, frontline healthcare workers, people with comorbid or immunocompromising health conditions, and pregnant people.



Do the Bivalent Boosters Still Work?

Recommending another booster dose would not mean that the bivalent boosters are not capable of protecting against COVID-19. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that countries use the bivalent vaccines for primary vaccination, not just for boosters.

The bivalent booster is still effective against the circulating variants of COVID, but a persons immunity can wane over time. Thats why a seasonal or annual booster vaccination might end up being necessary at some point in the future. In fact, the Biden Administration reportedly has plans to roll out another reformulated COVID booster later this year.

I do not see a compelling need to generate new formulations, especially with the burden of COVID-19 declining, Dowdy said. But that doesnt mean there wont be a role for those additional formulations in the future.

Related:Will We Need Annual COVID Vaccines?

For now, getting another bivalent booster dose is not authorized by the FDA. If it has been about six months since your last dose and you want to increase your protection from COVID, experts say you should focus on taking the usual precautions like wearing high-quality face masks, avoiding large indoor gatherings with poor ventilation, and washing your hands often and properly.

Make sure that you dont become a source of infection, Dowdy said. If you are having symptoms of COVID-19or other respiratory illnessesmake sure that you are wearing a mask, and [stay] home when possible.

If youve already gotten a bivalent COVID booster, you might not need an additional booster this spring. An additional dose might be recommended for high-risk people if the FDA signs off.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.
Neighbors in Charlottes Plaza Shamrock Neighborhood have complained for months about cars going too fast after crashes into the community dog park.

It happened again early Sunday morning when someone crashed into the fence at the park.

Liz Monterrey says Sundays incident is the fifth time someone has crashed in the two years she has lived there.

I dont use that dog park because its dangerous, Monterrey said.

The driver in Sundays crash took off after it occurred, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. After a crash that occurred in December, Monterrey started an online petition demanding the city improve safety.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Neighbors fed up after driver plows through dog park fence in east Charlotte

We just want the neighborhood to feel heard and voice their frustrations, Monterrey said.

Daniel Lynn used to take his dog to the community park until the park kept getting destroyed.

I like that its really close and right in the middle of the neighborhood, Lynn said.

The city now says it will soon shut down the dog park to make room for a massive stormwater project. Neighbors had hoped to repurpose the fence for a permanent dog park. But after the last crash essentially destroyed it, they would have to start from scratch.

RELATED: Lawlessness: 9 Investigates a rise in reckless driving on Charlotte streets

Monterrey is concerned that the problems may continue even without the dog park.

As someone that has a child, I do not feel safe walking down the street with my child because people just blow through, Monterrey said.

However, the citys master plan calls for stop signs, crosswalks and speed bumps to slow drivers down on the winding road.

The work isnt slated for another year, but it does give people in the community hope that safer days are ahead.

(WATCH BELOW: After crash into retaining wall, Hampshire Hills residents demand speed bumps)
A woman died late Monday after she ran across Highway 99 directly in the path of a vehicle heading north in a rural area near the town of Pleasant Grove, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The fatal collision occurred about 11:20 p.m. on Highway 99 just south of Highway 70. A 20-year-old Sacramento man was driving a 2007 Infinity about 80 mph north in the far left lane, according to a news release from CHP Yuba-Sutter office.

The CHP said the 59-year-old Antioch woman was on the right shoulder, east of the highways northbound lanes, just south of the Highway 70 overpass.

The woman ran toward the highways median directly in front of the Infinity vehicle, and the driver was not able to avoid hitting the pedestrian, the CHP said. The woman suffered fatal injuries.

The CHP said the collision remained under investigation, and alcohol was not suspected of being a factor in the fatal crash. The CHP did not release the Sacramento drivers name. He was not arrested at the scene, and there was no indication in the news release that he faces criminal charges.

The Sutter County Coroners Office will release the womans name after her family has been notified.

Investigators asked anyone with information about this crash to call the CHP at 530-645-6200.
With the right pesticide and some intervention tricks, you can get ants out of your home  and make them stay out  this spring and summer.

The News & Observer spoke with Sydney Crawley, an NC State professor and extension specialist with expertise in insect and vertebrate pests, to learn why theyre in our spaces and how we can reclaim our homes.

There is some value in making sure that native ants are protected, she said. However, when ants start invading the home, contaminating food and annoying people and pets, I believe that control of some sort is warranted.

Why do ants enter homes?

Ants come inside homes in search of three basic things: food, water and nesting habitat.

Food is the No. 1 reason, and many species of ants love protein, sweets and grease.

Once a foraging ant has found suitable food, they will communicate this to other foragers, usually through a trail pheromone, Crawley said.

This leads more and more workers to the food source, explaining why you may see more ants over time.

How to get rid of ants

The keys for getting rid of ants are: exclude, sanitize and apply pesticides.

Exclude: Caulking or sealing openings that may allow ants inside can prevent invasion. Trimming back ornamental plants and trees that touch the home can also help.

There are many ant species that protect aphids that live in plants in exchange for honeydew. Branches serve as bridges that afford ants a convenient way right into your house, Crawley said.

You should also repair rips in your screens, replace weather stripping and check around electrical conduits to ensure your home is as tightly sealed as possible.

Sanitize: Keep your food sealed. Ants in a home will commonly feed on food crumbs, liquid drippings or debris on dirty dishes.

I see lots of ants in pet bowls, for instance, she said.

Leaky faucets and standing water can attract ants as well. Correct leaky faucets and stagnant drains to keep ants away.

Apply pesticides: Ant baits can help most ant problems. Sugar bait with a toxicant, such as boric acid, typically works well, as many of the ant species that enter homes are sweet-loving ants.

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This will work slowly, as foraging ants take food back to the queen, and you must kill the egg-laying queen to get rid of the colony. If you dont see any reduction in ant activity after a week, it might be because ants are not currently feeding on sweets, so you might have to switch to a protein or fat-based carrier.

The product label should tell you what the bait matrix is and whether it is meant for sweet-loving ants, or others, she said.

Here are some kinds of bait to consider:

Gel baits : You can apply this to the hidden areas of your home.

Granular baits : These can be put into the yard, helping attack the problem from the inside and outside.

General liquid pesticides: Ready-to-use sprays can be applied to the foundation to discourage ants (and other insects) from entering in the first place.

An important note: If you are using bait, do not spray ants or ant trails with chemical products, such as Raid aerosols, to kill them.

This will contaminate the bait, repel ants from it, and you will be starting from square one, she said.

Home remedies for ant removal

Most home remedies are ineffective, Crawley said, including essential oil repellents you may read about online.

I recommend sticking with federally registered products and adhering to the label verbiage for application, she said.

Why are ants important?

While theres no benefit to having ants inside your home, native ant species  when kept outside  are environmentally beneficial.

Ants are predators that can control many nuisance insects in the lawn and landscape. Native ants are important ecosystem servicers, Crawley said.

Triangle Asked & Answered: What do you want to know?

Have a question about something in our community? The News & Observers Service Journalism team wants your questions for our Triangle Asked & Answered series. Reach out to us by filling out this form or by sending an email to ask@newsobserver.com.

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Expert Q&A answered N&O reader questions about recycling in Raleigh. Watch now.

Cardinals sing a sweet song but are fierce fighters. Get to know NCs state bird
There are no standards for what it takes to be a journalist. Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images

Headlines in early March 2023 implied Fox News mogul Rupert Murdoch had made a damning confession. He had affirmed that some of his most important journalists were reporting that the 2020 presidential election was a fraud  even though they knew they were propagating a lie.

It was an admission during pretrial testimony in a libel lawsuit filed against Fox by a voting machine company that says it was defamed by the lie. For journalism practitioners and devotees, the admission should signal the end of the Fox News empire.

Nope. It didnt.

Such a disgraceful demise would seem inevitable when journalists  professionally trained truth gatherers, employed by a news organization, which is an institution that exists to provide truthful information  choose not to do so.

Nope.

Thats because a business that calls itself a news organization actually does not have to be one - but it does have to be a business. Businesses exist primarily to make a profit and doing actual news isnt essential. Adam Serwer, reporting for The Atlantic, wrote sources at Fox told me to think of it not as a network per se, but as a profit machine.

News businesses or profit machines can hire anybody who falls off a turnip truck and label them journalists because the job has no standardized requirements.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists None as requirements for work experience and on-the-job training for journalists but indicates a bachelors degree is typical. Accordingly, the Fox News business people could choose to spread election lies and insist, as court documents indicate, that it made good business sense to do so because much of their audience did not want the actual truth about that topic.

These are some of the troubling takeaways from Murdochs defense of his news business against a libel lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, the company implicated by Foxs election fraud allegations. Fox essentially admits to publishing false information about Dominion, but argues it is nonetheless protected from liability. It is a defense grounded in the First Amendment, which protects press freedom so robustly that it also protects the irresponsible use of that freedom.

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Lachlan Murdoch, left, and his father, Rupert Murdoch, lead the Fox corporation. Jean Catuffe/GC Images

Theres lying  and theres defamation

Murdochs admission was contained in court documents and was revealed in a New York Times story published on March 7, 2023. The story was about the US$1.6 billion libel lawsuit filed against Fox News by Dominion, the company Fox journalists repeatedly - and falsely - accused of rigging the 2020 presidential election to make sure Donald Trump lost.

Internal Fox communications, reported by the New York Times, revealed that network journalists and their news executive bosses knew the 2020 election was not fraudulent, yet continued to allow lies about the election - told by hosts and their guests - to be spread to the public.

Dominion claimed Foxs audience recoiled when its journalists truthfully reported that Trump had lost the election. Dominions attorneys asserted that Fox feared the audience would switch their viewing allegiance to upstart conservative news organizations Newsmax and One America News.

In a March 31, 2023, ruling, the judge hearing the case cited examples of Foxs internal communications that demonstrated how journalism values were supplanted by the language and values of business. Among them was this quote attributed to a Fox Corporation board member: If ratings go down, revenue goes down. The judge also referred to Dominions claim that Fox chose to publish the (false) statements to win back viewers.

Court documents show Dominions attorneys asked Murdoch: What should the consequences be when Fox News executives knowingly allow lies to be broadcast? Murdoch replied: They should be reprimanded, maybe got rid of.

That response aligns with principles widely touted by professional news organizations and established in the ethical practice of journalism. Although journalism scholars and practitioners vary in their definitions of what a news organization is and who can claim to be a journalist, there is firm agreement that reporting facts, or at least making a good faith effort to do so, is an indispensable mandate for both.

Yet Murdoch has not indicated an intention to discipline en masse Fox News employees who violated that ethical principle. Nor is he required to.

Even the Society of Professional Journalists, the nations foremost advocate for ethical journalism, rejects punishments for those who violate its principles. Its ethics code says in part: The code is entirely voluntary.  It has no enforcement provisions or penalties for violations, and SPJ strongly discourages anyone from attempting to use it that way. The organization concedes that news outlets can discipline their own journalists. Because journalists and their employers may be considered to be one entity, any disciplinary action is voluntary self-discipline. Neither journalists nor the news organizations they personify have to be truthful unless they want to.

Lying in the press is unethical but does not necessarily strip liars of the protections provided by the First Amendment. There is an exception to this: the defamatory lie, one that injures a person or organizations reputation. That is what got Fox News sued.

The lawsuit filed by the maker of this voting machine, Dominion Voting Systems, charges that Fox News disseminated lies claiming that Dominion rigged the 2020 presidential election against Donald Trump. AP Photo/Ben Gray

Assumptions fall

Murdochs surprising statements were revealed in the lawsuit because his attorneys sought whats called a summary judgment by the judge to decide the case without a trial, in order to avoid the prospect of facing a jury. That move makes sense given that some law scholars have found that juries rule against media defendants three times out of four.

By law, summary judgment is available only when the parties agree on the material facts of the case.

That meant Fox and Murdoch had to admit to Dominions most damning allegations, including confessing to broadcasting untrue statements and engaging in other unethical journalism practices. Even with those admissions, the First Amendments protection could still give Fox a chance to win the lawsuit - particularly if a jury did not hear the case.

Without reaching trial or a verdict, the Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News lawsuit has already produced some unsettling results. It has challenged journalism disciples assumption that news organizations exist to provide the public with truthful information about the most important issues in their civic lives. It has shaken journalisms faithful who assume that good journalism is never bad for the business of journalism.

Neither assumption is necessarily valid at Fox or anywhere. Anyone can claim to be a journalist, irrespective of their actual function. Any business can claim to be a news organization. Functioning irresponsibly in either role is largely protected by the First Amendment and is therefore optional.

Ethics imposed by independent state bar associations and state medical boards have made professional attorneys and physicians accountable by law as a means of ensuring responsible behavior in their roles, which are considered essential to society. Journalism ethics, which are news organization ethics, are wholly voluntary and can be set aside if they compromise profits.

But if the ethics violations are defamatory, a successful libel lawsuit can impose accountability with a financial cost - money damages.

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: John C. Watson, American University.

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John C. Watson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Democrats announced Tuesday that they will hold their partys 2024 national convention in Chicago, choosing the biggest liberal city in the Midwest as they try to keep the momentum going after a strong midterm election performance in the key battleground region.

Organizers from Chicago, Atlanta and New York spent months lobbying to be the site of the convention, but the final decision lay with President Joe Biden, who is expected to formally launch his reelection campaign in the coming weeks.

Chicago is a great choice, Biden, who was flying to Northern Ireland, said in a statement. Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down."

The Democratic National Committee said its convention would be held Aug. 19-22 and noted that Illinois, along with Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, was part of the critical Midwestern blue wall, which was key to Democrats' success in the 2020 and 2022 elections. That rosy language omits the fact that Michigan and Wisconsin narrowly broke for Donald Trump in 2016, helping the Republican win the White House.

Chicago is solidly Democratic, as is Illinois. But holding the partys presidential nominating gathering in such a pro-union city demonstrates Bidens commitment to organized labor. The move also could counter Republicans, who are holding their 2024 convention in Milwaukee, located in another swing Midwestern state, Wisconsin.

Republican National Committee Chairman Ronna McDaniel blasted Democrats' radical agenda and predicted that voters "will soundly reject whichever out-of-touch liberal the Democrats nominate in Chicago.

The convention will be held at the United Center, home to the NBA's Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. Chicago made sense for logistical reasons, with plenty of hotel space and public transportation.

The city is also home to major Democratic donors who can help with raising money to cover costs of a convention. That includes Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire businessman and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune who has contributed millions to Democratic causes and candidates, and was a major proponent for his city getting the convention.

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The DNC said that Chicago represents the partys diversity and formidable coalition and that the Midwest will showcase President Bidens economic agenda including spending on public works as part of a sweeping bipartisan infrastructure package that cleared Congress in 2021.

The 2020 Democratic convention was supposed to be held in Milwaukee but unfolded virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden delivered a speech accepting his partys nomination that year at a nearly empty convention center in Wilmington, Delaware.

Chicago hosted the infamous 1968 Democratic convention, which is best remembered for a brutal clash between police and protesters opposing the Vietnam War. The last Democratic National Convention in the city was in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was headed to a second term.

Pritzker promised Tuesday that the convention would be an unforgettable event. He had pointed to Democrats' desires to expand their Midwestern electoral gains, particularly in Michigan, where their party held the governorship and won control of both chambers of the Legislature during last falls midterms.

That Chicago beat out Atlanta was nonetheless a surprise given Georgias strategic importance as a swing state. Biden won Georgia two years ago, becoming the first Democrat to do so in a presidential election since Clinton in 1992, and his party now controls both of its Senate seats after wins that drew national attention the last two cycles.

Though Atlanta is as thoroughly Democratic as Chicago and New York, Georgia could very well be a major deciding factor in the 2024 presidential race in a way Illinois will not be.

Still, some top Democrats worried about Georgia's Republican-controlled Legislature and state laws discouraging union membership and LGBTQ rights. There were also concerns about Georgias relaxed firearms laws, especially given the rash of mass shootings around the country  despite gun violence being a persistent problem in Chicago.

But shunning Atlanta for the convention could ultimately serve as a double blow to Georgia, which may also eventually lose its early place in a new Democratic primary calendar.

Biden endorsed moving Georgia to the No. 4 position in a revamped Democratic primary calendar for 2024  changes meant to better empower the partys deeply diverse voter base than the old system, which led off with overwhelmingly white Iowa.

But Republican state officials have balked at the Democrats holding a primary on a date that doesnt coincide with the GOPs 2024 primary.

As Biden prepares an expected reelection campaign, he is already focused on 2024s general election, rather than the primary, facing only token opposition from Democratic challengers Marianne Williamson, a spiritual adviser and author, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist.

New York City and state are also deeply blue in presidential races. But choosing the city for the convention might have helped Democrats in other parts of the state, its advocates said. Those other parts include Long Island, where Republican gains in key congressional districts helped the party flip the House last year.

Supporters of Atlantas bid had argued that the city and the rest of Georgia could help lead a resurgence of Democrats in the South, which remains largely steadfastly Republican.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Tuesday that Biden personally called him to say that Chicago had been chosen.

They said Atlanta was top two in all the nation, we were hoping wed be top one, Dickens told reporters. "But they said next time, maybe.
Native Plant Appreciation Month kicked off April 1, just as regional wildflowers and other plants begin to bloom. This inspired the Columbia Basin Native Plant Society and the local REI to host a presentation on local wildflowers at the Richland Public Library.

The multi-part presentation began with botanist Alexis Sullivan, who went over how to responsibly recreate in our climate. Before going out to find wildflowers blooming, you must first know how to conduct yourself in nature. Sullivan went over the leave no trace principles and essentials for hiking and botanizing.

Sullivan was followed by Janelle Downs, who has been a botanist and plant ecologist for over 40 years. She took attendees on a virtual wildflower walk, pointing out what blooms where in the region.

A bee buzzes past blossoming balsamroot wildflowers on a hillside in south Richland.

Leave no trace

The Leave No Trace organization is focused on educating people on how to care for the outdoors. The organization coined seven principles of leaving no trace, which Sullivan reviewed at the early April event. While neither organization is formerly affiliated with Leave No Trace, many nature-based groups stress these principles. Not all seven principles will apply every time youre looking for wildflowers, but theyre still important to know.

Plan ahead and prepare



To plan ahead and prepare, Sullivan suggests you know before you go. Consider what the goal is, an approximate speed and time, how many people are going and other details, then prepare accordingly.

Travel and camp on durable surfaces



Traveling on durable surfaces is more complicated than people think. Regional wildflowers bloom in a sagebrush steppe habitat, a widespread yet fragile ecosystem, according to the National Wildlife Federation. If you often hike in the area, you may have seen signs reading Dont Bust the Crust. A crust is a symbiotic organism, or a living thing made up of multiple different living species. They can look like a big clump of dirt, making it easy to walk on and destroy an entire ecosystem. Its best to just follow the trail, but if you must leave the trail, step carefully and with purpose.

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Dispose of waste properly



Disposing of garbage properly means more than just plastic. Anything you bring into nature should be taken back out. Even apple cores, orange peels and other things commonly left behind, as it can be unsafe for the nearby flora and fauna. This goes hand-in-hand with principle four, leave what you find.

Leave what you find



Dont pick flowers, take plants home or otherwise disturb nature by moving things, it could also have disastrous impacts in the ecosystem. Every flower picked is a flower that might not get to bloom next year, Sullivan said.

Minimize wildfire impacts

Respect wildlife



When out in nature, you are in wildlifes home. Do not disturb wild animals or their ecosystem.

Be considerate of other visitors





When it comes to being considerate of other visitors, Sullivan offered a few key tips. You should already be removing waste, but definitely clean up after yourself and any animals you bring with you. Check for restrictions before bringing pets. Out of respect for others and for animals, do not bring a speaker to blast music in nature. Downhill hikers should yield to uphill bikers, but botanists yield to everyone since they tend to take their time.

Wildflower hiking essentials

There are ten hiking essentials you should bring with you out into nature. No matter how short or simple your trip is planned to be, always be prepared for the unforeseen:

Navigation capability Headlamp Sun protection First aid Knife or multi-tool Fire starter tools Shelter Extra food Extra water Extra clothes

To get the 14 botanizing essentials, simply add these three things:

Hand lens (or backwards binoculars) Wildflower guide Co-op membership

Rattlesnake Mountain is visible behind a clump of phlox wildflowers blooming on a hill near Benton City.

Regional wildflower blooms

Found in rocky soils like Badger Mountain, Candy Mountain, Saddle Mountains

Bitterroot - Lewisia rediviva - Flowers from April to June

Rock buckwheat, round-head - Eriogonum sphaerocephalum - Flowers from May to July

Thyme buckwheat - Eriogonum thymoides - Flowers from April to June

Hoods phlox - Phlox hoodii - Flowers from April to June

Rosy balsamroot - Balsamorphia careyana - Flowers from April to May

Tri-Citians waiting for hot weather will have to be patient this year. The cooler spring and rain has brought a big crop of wildflowers but it may not be enough to quench drought conditions.

Found in silt loams like McBee Grade, Red Mountain, Badger Mountain

Yellow bells, yellow fritillary - Fritillaria pudica - Flowers from March to June

Careys balsamroot - Balsamorphiza careyana - Flowers from March to July

Silky lupine - Lupinus sericeus - Flowers from May to August

Long-leaf phlox - Phlox longifolia - Flowers from April to June





Thompsons paintbrush - Castilleja thompsonii - Flowers from May to September

Nine-leaf desert parsley, triternate biscuitroot - Lomatium triternatum - Flowers from April to July

Douglas cluster lilly - Triteleia grandiflora var. grandiflower, formerly Brodiaea douglasii - Flowers from April to June

Upland larkspur, common larkspur, Nuttalls larkspur - Delpinium nuttallianum - Flowers from March to August

Woolly pod milkvetch, Purshs milkvetch - Astragalus purshii - Flowers from April to June

Crouching milkvetch - Astragalus succumbuns - Flowers from April to June

Pipers daisy - Erigeron piperianus - Flowers from May to June

Where to find wildflowers

Local expert botanists have several recommendations for regional places to look at wildflowers:

Around Tri-Cities

Badger Mountain

Candy Mountain

McBee Grade

Hanford Reach National Monument

White Bluffs

Amon Creek Preserve

Chamna Preserve

Tapteal Greenway

Horn Rapids Park

Rattlesnake Slope Preserves

Leslie Groves

Greater region

Blue Mountains

Wallula Gap

Vantage

Frenchmans Coulee

Cowiche Canyon

Columbia River Gorge in Washington or Oregon.

More information on each location is available on the Plant Societys website.
A police officer holds crime scene tape at the scene of the Louisville mass shooting. Luke Sharrett/Getty Images

The Louisville bank shooter used a legally-purchased AR-15 rifle in the deadly massacre, police said.

That weapon could one day be auctioned off and back on the streets, thanks to a Kentucky law.

"It's time to change this law," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said on Tuesday.

The Louisville, Kentucky, shooter used an AR-15 rifle legally purchased last week in the Monday morning massacre that left five people dead, police said.

But that weapon could one day be auctioned off and back on the streets, thanks to a Kentucky law  and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Tuesday that it's time that law be changed.

"This may be even more shocking than it is to those of us locally who know this and are dealing with this, but under current Kentucky law, the assault rifle that was used to murder five of our neighbors and shoot at rescuing police officers will one day be auctioned off," Greenburg said during a press conference.

The Democratic mayor continued, "Think about that  that murder weapon will be back on the streets one day under Kentucky's current law."

Under Kentucky law, guns and ammunition that are confiscated or turned over to law enforcement agencies in the state must be handed over to Kentucky State Police for auction to federally-licensed firearms dealers.

Proceeds from the sales are to be used to purchase equipment like police body armor and body-worn cameras.

Kentucky is one of several states that has a law like this on the books.

Greenburg, who said he previously survived a workplace shooting during his campaign, made a policy earlier this year to have the firing pin removed from confiscated guns before they're turned over to the state, rendering them inoperable.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg speaks at a press conference on April 11, 2023. Michael Swensen/Getty Images

"That's all that the current law allows us to do," Greenburg explained. "That's not enough. It's time to change this law and let us destroy illegal guns and destroy the guns that have been used to kill our friends and kill our neighbors."

"Let's change the state laws that would make me a criminal for trying too hard to stop the real evil criminals who are taking other people's lives and who are eager to make a spectacle of mass murder," he said, adding, "The laws we have now are enabling violence and murder."

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In addition to calling for the change of the law, Greenburg called for more gun control in the wake of the mass shooting at Old National Bank that also left nine people, including two police officers, wounded.

The 25-year-old gunman  who was shot and killed by police  had been a current employee of the downtown bank, according to police.

"This isn't about partisan politics. This is about life and death. This is about preventing tragedies," said Greenburg, who added, "This is happening in America everywhere and will keep happening until we say enough and take meaningful action."

Democratic Kentucky Rep. Morgan McGarvey echoed Greenburg's comments, saying, "We need policies in place that will keep this from happening again so that thoughts and prayers do not have to be offered to yet another community ripped apart by the savage violence coming from guns."

McGarvey called for universal background checks for firearm sales and "taking weapons of war off of our streets."

"That is not a political issue," McGarvey said. "But it becomes one when Kentucky Republicans would rather ban books and pronouns and then make Kentucky a sanctuary state for weapons."

Read the original article on Insider
An Arizona man is dead after police say he attacked his stepfather, who grabbed a gun and shot the man in an incident ruled a justifiable homicide.

Police officers in Safford, Arizona, responded to a call that a man had been shot April 5 and arrived to find a male with gunshot wounds and another man with "serious and bleeding" injuries to his face, the Graham County Sheriff's Office said in a press release .

The man with gunshot wounds was identified as 40-year-old Derek Farar, and he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died.

The man with facial injuries was Farars stepfather, 74-year-old Stan French, who was also taken to a nearby hospital.

WHITE HOUSE TAKES AIM AT DESANTIS FOR SIGNING CONCEALED CARRY BILL AFTER NASHVILLE SHOOTING

Derek Christopher Farar, 40, was shot and killed after attacking his stepfather, according to police.

"In the preliminary stage of this investigation, the Sheriffs Office has learned Derek Farar had an active order of protection in place restricting him from contact with Stan French when this incident occurred," the sheriff's office said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"At this point in the investigation, it appears Derek Farar forced his way into Stan Frenchs residence and assaulted him. During the incident, Stan French was able to retrieve a handgun and shot Derek Farar."

MORE AMERICANS LEGALLY CARRYING GUNS DESPITE SLOWEST INCREASE IN CCW PERMITS ON RECORD, EXPERT SAYS

The Gila Herald reported that Farar was arrested a week prior to the shooting on a warrant for charges related to criminal trespassing and threats as part of a disagreement with French.

Farar had an active order of protection prohibiting him from contact with French at the time of the shooting.

"On April 5, 2023, the Sheriffs Office, with assistance from members of the Safford and Thatcher police departments executed a search warrant to further the investigation and process the scene," the press release stated.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Police added in the press release that an autopsy would be conducted on Farar as the investigation continues. It is not believed that French will face charges.
Arnold Schwarzenegger wishes he could be president. (Getty Images)

Arnold Schwarzenegger wishes he had the chance to run for President of America.

The Austrian actor is the former Governor of California but the US constitution bars anybody born outisde of America from running for the office of President.

In a new interview with The Atlantic author Mark Leibovich, the journalist wrote: "If only he could have run for president.

Read more: Arnold Schwarzenegger fans thrilled as Terminator star makes his TV debut

"That remains his recurring lament. Entering the Mr. Universe of political campaigns would have been the logical last rung of his lifes quest for something bigger. Schwarzenegger said he thinks he could win."

Schwarzenegger adds that he would still love to run for office if they changed the constitution even though he is 75 as age is "just a number".

Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was Governor of California. (Getty Images)

Schwarzenegger, a registered Republican, has been increasingly critical of the right wing party and much of its leadership but also denied he was going to become a Democrat: I dont want to join a party that is destroying every single f***ing city.

"Theyre screwing up left and right.

However, the Total Recall actor also teased the idea of joining Joe Biden's cabinet as secretary of state, criticising current holder of the position Anthony Blinken.

He said Blinken was "clearly smart guy, but, I mean, on the world stage, hes a lightweight. He doesnt carry any weight.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2. (Alamy)

In recent months, Schwarzenegger has become increasingly outspoken about the rise of the far right and neo-Nazis across the world.

He has called white supremacists "losers" and compared them to his father Gustav who was a member of the Nazi Party.

Gustav Schwarzenegger joined the SA in 1924 and the Nazi Party after Austria was annexed by Germany. During the Second World War, he was enlisted in the Wehrmacht and fought until he was wounded at the Battle of Leningrad in 1942.

It remains unclear to what extent the elder Schwarzenegger was complicit in Nazi war crimes.

Watch below: Arnold Schwarzenegger visits Auschwitz
The logo of Alibaba Group is seen at its office in Beijing, China.

Chinese technology giant Alibaba has announced plans to roll out its own artificial intelligence (AI) ChatGPT-style product called Tongyi Qianwen.

Its cloud computing unit says it will integrate the chatbot across Alibaba's businesses in the "near future" but did not give details on its timeline.

In recent months, technology companies around the world have unveiled their own so-called generative AI chatbots.

Earlier this year, Alibaba revealed it was working on a rival to ChatGPT.

Tongyi Qianwen roughly translates as "seeking an answer by asking a thousand questions", although Alibaba has not given an English version of the name.

"We are at a technological watershed moment driven by generative AI and cloud computing," Alibaba's chairman and chief executive Daniel Zhang said in as Tongyi Qianwen was launched.

The company said Tongyi Qianwen, which is capable of working in English as well as Chinese, will initially be added to DingTalk, Alibaba's workplace messaging app.

It will perform a number of tasks including turning conversations in meetings into written notes, writing emails and drafting business proposals, the company said.

Alibaba said it will also be integrated into Tmall Genie, which is similar to Amazon's Alexa voice assistant smart speaker.

Interest in generative AI has surged since the release of ChatGPT by Microsoft-backed OpenAI in November.

Generative AI is capable of learning from past data to create content indistinguishable from human work.

ChatGPT can answer questions using natural, human-like language and it can also mimic other writing styles, using the internet as it was in 2021 as its database.

Microsoft has spent billions of dollars on the technology, which was added to its search engine Bing in February.

The US software giant also said it will embed a version of ChatGPT in its Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Alphabet's Google and Chinese technology group Baidu have also announced their own AI models and released similar chatbots.

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On Tuesday, China's cyberspace regulator unveiled draft measures for managing generative AI.

Under the proposed rules, companies would be responsible for the legitimacy of data used to train the technology, the Cyberspace Administration of China said.

The public has until 10 May to give feedback on the proposals.

Last month, a group of high-profile figures in the technology industry called for training of powerful AI systems to be suspended amid fears of a threat to humanity.

Twitter chief executive Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak were among those who signed an open letter warning of potential risks, and said the race to develop AI systems is out of control.

Meanwhile, a recent report by investment bank Goldman Sachs estimated that AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs.

Earlier this month, Italy became the first Western nation to block ChatGPT, with the country's data-protection authority citing privacy concerns.
ARUNDEL, Maine  Residents in Arundel have a new representative on the RSU 21 School Board.

The Arundel Select Board on Monday, April 10 appointed Britney Gerth to fill a vacancy on the School Board. Gerth succeeds Ryan McQueen, who resigned in March after his posts on social media prompted complaints from the public and a denouncement from the district and School Board.

In an email, Gerth said she was humbled and honored by the appointment. She was one of five candidates interviewed by the Select Board for the position. The other candidates included Ariel Taschereau, Kirstin Shapiro, Cathy Bansmer and Charles Bassett.

I am so thrilled to see that Arundel residents stepped up to volunteer to serve our district, Gerth said. The turnout of candidates is an example of our community pride.

Britney Gerth, of Arundel, Maine, has been appointed to the RSU 21 School Board to serve part of an unfinished term.

Gerth is a senior compliance analyst for a large insurance company. She has a son who will be enrolled in the districts pre-K program next year.

She has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Maine at Orono and a master of science degree from Boston University.

The skills acquired during my career that I hope to bring to my role in the School Board include project management, data analytics, critical thinking, policy creation, and a keen understanding of regulatory guidelines, she said.

Previous story: Ryan McQueen quits RSU 21 School Board after 'hateful' social media posts spark complaints

Gerth grew up in southern Maine and returned here with her family after living out of state for several years. She said she and her family chose to live in Arundel, in large part, because RSU 21 has a reputation of excellence. She said she sought the School Board vacancy because she believes public education to be a pillar of a community.

I believe I bring a unique set of skills that can make a positive contribution to the existing School Board, she said. My son will be a part of the graduating class of 2037, and my passion for his education and all of the children of this district are my motivation.

Story continues

More: Old York DAR chapter names Good Citizen award winners

Gerth to run to retain seat in upcoming election

Gerths appointment lasts until the end of the current fiscal year on June 30. She said she is planning to run to keep the seat during the annual town election on June 13, so that she can completely finish the term, which expires in 2024.

Gerth said she plans to be visible and available to members of the community.

I plan to focus on delivering transparency in order to foster open collaboration between community members, the School Board, and educators, she said. My years serving in project management roles has taught me that we can achieve greater as a collective than as an individual. I value diverse experiences and perspectives as a catalyst for driving impactful change.

She said she is most excited to get to know the other School Board members, as well as local educators and members of the community.

I have some learning to do, but I feel confident that I can join this School Board and begin participating without delay, she said. Ultimately, I am honored to have a role in the educational lives of the students in our district.

Gerth is the fourth Arundel resident to serve this particular term on the School Board. Voters elected Todd Shea to the seat in the summer of 2021, but he resigned that fall, citing other commitments. The Select Board appointed Erin Nadeau to the seat, and she served in it until June 30, 2022  at which point, she successfully made the jump to a full term when member Ira Camp opted not to seek reelection. Nadeau now serves as the chair of the School Board.

McQueen was the only candidate to seek the Shea-Nadeau seat during the annual town election last June. Had he not resigned, he would have served through the remainder of the term in 2024.

Bus driver shortage: RSU 21 cancels routes, pick-up, drop-off times impacted

McQueen's resignation avoided recall

In quitting the School Board, McQueen avoided a potential recall effort that had begun against him in Arundel. He resigned on March 22, through a letter in which he wrote, I did not volunteer for this position to be attacked and slandered.

In the days leading up to McQueens resignation, RSU 21 Superintendent Terri Cooper issued a letter to the community in which she said some of McQueens social media posts were brought to the districts attention. Cooper described the posts as hateful toward transgender people, people of color, and women.

The Select Board discussed McQueens resignation during its meeting on March 27 and expressed hopes for the community vetting candidates for office more closely in the future. Board members voted unanimously to appoint Gerth, and Chair Dan Dubois encouraged those who were not selected to consider running for office in the future.

We had some really good candidates, Dubois said. I certainly encourage you to move forward. Its new blood, and I think thats pretty awesome. We like to see that.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Britney Gerth appointed to RSU 21 School Board after resignation
Wagner Center in Russia

With the current intensity of them being annihilated, unless they change their tactics, I think were talking two months, said Cherevaty.

Read also: Russia sending elite units to Bakhmut due to heavy PMC Wagner losses

The official noted thats his personal assessment of the situation.

Being a terrorist organization, they (Wagner PMC) use coercion methods, he added.

Read also: About 6,000 Wagner Group mercenaries fighting in Bakhmut, top US general says

Under the threat of execution, they force their troops to continue attacking, incurring such (staggering) losses.

Read also: Russias airborne troops sent to Bakhmut to reinforce regular army, not Wagner

In mid-January, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said that Wagner recruited 38,244 Russian prisoners for the war, 29,543 of whom were killed, injured, captured, or went MIA in Ukraine.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A map of tribal reservations in Oklahoma before statehood shows the historical Peoria and Ottawa reservations in the northeastern section.

Warning that Ottawa County is facing a public safety crisis, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is urging a state appeals court to decide quickly whether two tribal reservations still exist so prosecutors can sort out criminal jurisdiction.

State prosecutors have been blocked from pursuing charges against Native Americans in some pockets of the county because of conflicting claims about reservation status, and federal prosecutors have refrained from filing charges because of the uncertainty, Drummond told the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Monday.

As such, because of decisions by the Ottawa County District Court, federal prosecutors unwillingness to exercise jurisdiction based on decisions by state trial courts, and uncertainty surrounding jurisdictional boundaries within the county, Ottawa County is suffering from a dangerous gap in criminal justice enforcement, Drummond told the court.

More: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond seeks to drop McGirt-related case pushed by O'Connor

The attorney general filed motions in four different cases currently before the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals asking the judges to expedite their rulings. The cases involve crimes involving Native American defendants that occurred on the historical Ottawa reservation and the reservation created for the Miami and Peoria tribes. The central question in the cases is whether the reservations still exist. The same question is at issue in federal lawsuits filed by the tribes.

Under federal law, crimes occurring on reservations in which the accused is a Native American must be prosecuted in federal or tribal courts.

Cases being dismissed while Ottawa County's status remains unclear, AG says

Since the 2020 ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma  in which the U.S. Supreme Court found the Muscogee (Creek) reservation was never disestablished  the process for reviewing other tribes reservation claims has generally been orderly. As in the McGirt case, a state criminal case would be challenged on the basis that it occurred within a reservation and outside the states jurisdiction, and the state continued to prosecute cases while a decision about the status of a particular reservation was pending. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has affirmed some reservations and rejected others.

Story continues

More: Oklahoma court dismisses case to narrow McGirt ruling

However, in Ottawa County, in northeastern Oklahoma, the state has abandoned some cases before an appeals court has weighed in. Drummond told the appeals court Monday that the district attorneys office or district court judges have dismissed more than 50 serious felony and misdemeanor charges this year and transferred them to tribal authorities while the reservation status is still under court review.

Drummond sent a letter to Ottawa County District Attorney Doug Pewitt last month telling him that he can and must exercise Oklahomas jurisdiction while the court cases are pending.

The state must exercise its presumptive jurisdiction to protect the citizens of Oklahoma, native and non-native alike, unless and until a final decision from the OCCA (Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals), the United States Court of Appeals or the United States Supreme Court tells us otherwise, Drummond told Pewitt.

Drummond said in the letter that his office was initiating appeals of cases being dismissed and would file an extraordinary writ if judges kept dismissing other cases.

Pewitt did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday, and a spokesperson for the U.S. attorneys office in the Northern District of Oklahoma, did not respond to a request for information about its approach to prosecutions on the contested reservations.

It is not clear how close the Oklahoma Court of Appeals may be to deciding the reservation cases. In all four, the last briefs were filed more than a year ago.

At Drummonds urging, the court last month dismissed a case in which the status of the Eastern Shawnee reservation was at issue. Drummond said in that case ambiguities about the land on which the crimes were committed complicated the analysis.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma AG urges court to resolve 'dangerous' McGirt-related gap
(Bloomberg) -- Australia is set to host its first visit by a senior Chinese official in six years, a sign that ties between the nations are warming despite Canberra signing up to the Aukus submarine deal.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu will travel to Australia and Fiji this week for a new round of consultation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Monday at his regular press briefing in Beijing. The visit was at the invitation of the Australian government, Wang added.

Ma will be the first high-level Chinese official to visit Australia since diplomatic ties between the two countries began to deteriorate in late 2017, when Australia introduced anti-foreign interference legislation that Beijing believed targeted the Asian nation.

Former Premier Li Keqiang visited Australia in 2017, while President Xi Jinping has not paid an official visit in almost a decade. Assistant Trade Minister Tim Ayres visited the Boao Forum in southern China last month, while a senior diplomat from Australia was in China for meetings this month.

See: Chinas Australia Ambassador Says Threat of War Not Realistic

The relationship between the two countries worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the Chinese government imposing trade sanctions on Australian exports in 2020 after then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an international investigation into the origins of the virus.

Diplomatic ties have rapidly improved with the election of the center-left Labor government last year. Even the announcement in March of Canberras plan to obtain US nuclear-powered submarines by the early 2030s has failed to derail the warming of diplomatic ties.

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Australian ministers have met with their counterparts over the past year, and some previously restricted Australian exports are now returning to China, including coal shipments. Trade Minister Don Farrell is expected to make a trip to Beijing in the coming months.

Mas visit to Fiji will be the first by a Chinese official since the election of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, an influential Pacific leader who has moved to distance his nation from the Chinese government since coming into office.

--With assistance from Jing Li.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
By Alasdair Pal and Dominique Patton

SYDNEY/BEIJING (Reuters) - Australia has reached an agreement with China to resolve their dispute over barley imports, the two countries said on Tuesday, a latest sign of improving ties between the major commodity trade partners.

Relations between the two had been strained for years, and worsened after Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID, triggering trade reprisals by Beijing including anti-dumping duties on Australian wine and barley.

But tensions have eased since the centre-left Labor party won power last year in Australia. Foreign Minister Penny Wong met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing in December, the first such visit by an Australian minister since 2019.

Chinese purchases of Australian coal resumed in January after almost three years, and imports of beef have accelerated.

Wong said Australia would suspend a case at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over China's anti-dumping and countervailing duties on barley, while China hastens a review into the tariffs.

"China has agreed to undertake an expedited review of the duties imposed on Australian barley over a three-month period, that may extend to a fourth, if required," she told a news conference.

"In return, we have agreed to temporarily suspend the WTO dispute for the agreed review period."

The government expects a similar result in a second dispute on wine tariffs, she added.

BARLEY REBALANCING

China's ministry of commerce, which had imposed the barley tariffs for a five-year period, later confirmed it had reached a consensus with Australia to settle the barley dispute, adding China was willing to work with Australia to address concerns about each other's industries.

On Monday, meanwhile, China had said Ma Zhaoxu, a vice foreign minister, would visit Australia and Fiji this week to hold a new round of "political consultations".

The 80.5% duties on Australian barley all but wiped out imports of the grain by the world's biggest beer market, prompting a formal complaint by Australia to the WTO in 2020.

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Until then imports had ranged between A$1.5 billion ($1 billion) and A$2 billion a year.

The Grain Producers Australia welcomed the move. "This process to reach a resolution would be significantly shorter than if the WTO process continued," said Chairman Barry Large in a statement.

China's duties on Australian barley prompted its buyers to turn to Canada, France and Argentina, while Australian sellers shifted exports to feed barley markets in the Middle East.

That trend could now be reversed.

"Rebalancing is what will happen," Brent Atthill, head of brewing consultancy RMI Analytics, said. "China will have more choices for buying and a better way to manage the war situation in (exporter) Ukraine."

In China, while most maltsters already have enough stocks for this year, resumption of trade in a few months would allow Australia's new barley crop, harvested from October, to reach China at the end of the year, said Yang Zhenglong, general manager at Malteurop China.

"Everybody is waiting for Australian barley to come," he said.

In France, new-crop barley premiums had already plunged at the end of March ahead of talks between China and Australia.

It looks like Australian barley will go back into the Chinese market, which is bad news for other suppliers like France, but also Argentina and Canada, a European trader said.

($1=1.4990 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney, and Dominique Patton, Yew Lun Tian and Ethan Wang in Beijing; additional reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris and Michael Hogan in Hamburg; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and David Holmes)
Karoline Edtstadler

"We have always been as clear as possible, Edtstadler said in an interview with German daily newspaper Tagesspiegel.

Read also: Austria joins Russian war crimes tribunal initiative

Austria is military neutral, but in no sense politically neutral. We stand in solidarity with Ukrainian people, we provide humanitarian and economic support to them, but we do not supply weapons.

The Austrian Parliament declared the country permanently neutral in 1955. This norm is enshrined in the constitution.

"Of course, we have changed since then, especially after joining the European Union in 1995 and gaining obligations to support other countries. All this is possible even though we are neutral," Edtstadler said.

Read also: Austria refuses to train Ukrainian soldiers on Leopard 2 tanks

The neutral status means no foreign military bases are allowed in Austria, and the country is not allowed to be a member of any military alliances.

"Were sticking to that, as before, but we can still provide significant support for Ukraine, the Austrian minister said.

For us, neutrality was the path to freedom and quite identity-forming. In particular, Vienna has established itself as a place of peace negotiations and the seat of international organizations."

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Karoline Edtstadler, the Minister for EU and Constitution in the Austrian government, has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be arrested if he visits the country.

Source: Tagesspiegel, as European Pravda reports

Details: According to Edtstadler, the announcement and issuance of an international arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court means that if Putin "set foot on Austrian soil, he should have been arrested".

"Austria will fulfil its obligations under international and criminal law," she added.

Earlier, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said that it would fulfil its obligations as parties to the Rome Statute and arrest Putin, who will be extradited to the International Criminal Court if he decides to come to the country.

Background: On 17 March, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Affairs.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken believes that European signatories to the Rome Statute should execute the arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and extradite him to the International Criminal Court. At the same time, Hungary, which is a signatory to the treaty, said that it would not do it.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The Brigham Young University campus in Provo is pictured on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. An axolotl named Axel holds onto a jar while he is trapped in a magical cenote in the film Cenote. The BYU animation students who made the film won Best Animation at the College Television Awards. | Yukai Peng, Deseret News

BYU students stole the show at the 42nd College Television Awards with a tale of an adorable axolotl and a tender immigrant family story.

BYU received more nominations than any other university with 13 students nominated for awards nicknamed "Student Emmys" from The Television Academy Foundation.

These students visited Los Angeles for a few days where they got to network with professionals before attending the red-carpet awards show on April 1. The 2023 awards show was the Television Academy Foundation's first in-person event since 2019.

A team of BYU animation students won Best Animation with a film called "Cenote" that follows an axolotl named Axel who gets trapped in a cenote by Mayan magic. This award marks 20 times since 2003 a BYU animation film has been featured at this competition, according to a press release from BYU.

Axel meets a human named Memo who helps him defeat the magic, escape the cenote and get back home. The story was inspired by writer and co-director Daniel Villanueva Avalos' Mexican heritage.

"It's been fantastic. I think it was a shock to win," film director Samantha Barroso said. "It makes all those low lows while working on the film just incredibly worth it to have an outside source say that it's also a good film."

While Barroso and her team felt they had created a great product, she said it was rewarding to be recognized for their hard work and know other people also thought their film was good.

"When they announced that we had won ... we were sitting in a row of all of us that attended and there was an awkward pause before we were like, 'Oh that's us!' Then we all cheered," Barroso said. "I think we were all so worried about not winning that we missed the initial moment of reaction but I wouldn't have it any other way."

There were about 10 students who worked on "Cenote" from beginning to end, through two years of ideas, storyboarding, concept drawing, 3D modeling, rigging, animating and editing.

An axolotl named Axel pushes against a stone that has Mayan runes carved into it in the award-winning short film "Cenote." | BYU Animation Department

Barroso said there were lots of late nights, inside jokes and challenges along the way but she loved working with everyone on the project. In total there were about 30 students who helped create the film.

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"We couldn't have done it without that group of people. I think sometimes because our name is on it people focus on that but there's so many people that I can point to that I think deserve just as much credit," Barroso said.

Barroso graduated in June 2022 and now works for an animation studio in Draper called Studio Zubio. She is grateful for how close-knit the animation program was and for the connections she made through this film.

"You work on a project really closely for two years together through all the highs and the lows and you just build a friendship that lasts beyond just 'this is a project for school,'" Barroso said.

Expressing a story

BYU advertising students won Best Commercial with an eBay commercial titled "Dear Vanessa."

The commercial depicts an older Korean immigrant who purchased a second-hand VHS player off of eBay so he could watch old family videos. He writes a thank you letter to the seller for helping him relive memories of journeying to America and raising his family.

Commercial producer Madi Hill said it was inspired by writer Andrew Rhee's parents who immigrated to the United States and their experience starting life in a new country.

"Winning this was such a recognition of the blood and sweat and tears and all the hours of really long work that our team put into this project," Hill said. "It was such an affirmation of the story we set out to tell ... and really honoring Andrew's parents and the experience of so many immigrants coming to the United States."

In this eBay commercial titled "Dear Vanessa", a man watches old family videos on his TV after buying a second-hand VHS player. BYU advertising students won Best Commercial with this video at the College Television Awards on April 1. | BYU AdLab

The commercial took a core team of four students several months to create. After refining the original idea, the team had to scout locations, find actors and devise the best way to visually depict the story they wanted to tell.

Hill said they had to fly out an actor from California for the commercial because they needed the perfect person to portray the immigrant's story. After two successful days of shooting, the team went to work on editing and finalizing the commercial.

"When you see that first cut, when you see it all put together and this rough idea becomes something and starts to capture this vision and capture this idea. Even when it's in that rough stage in that scrappy stage, seeing that moment just gives you chills where you're like. 'OK, we're on to something.' We are definitely going in the right direction," Hill said.

Hill said it was a huge honor for their project to be recognized at the awards. She said her team was sitting in the audience shaking with nerves before they were announced as the winners.

"I did not even dream of receiving something like this. It was so exciting and unexpected and amazing," she said.

Now graduated, Hill works as an account executive for Energy BBDO in Chicago. She loves using everything she learned in her degree and applying it into her full-time work so she can bring visions to life for brands.

The other two nominations for Best Commercial were also submissions from BYU students. Luke Roberts and Hailey Skinner created a commercial named "Made to Last" and the commercial "Play Your Way  Dungeons & Dragons" was made by Taylor Garrett, Savannah Butler, Alex McBride and Stephanie Blackham.

Students Albert James May and Marcus Weatherred were nominated in Best Drama Series for their short film "Maggie on Stratford Ave."
The area where the shooting took place in a bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on April 10, 2023. Leandro Lozada/AFP via Getty Images

Five people died after a gunman opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday.

An employee of the bank told CNN she witnessed the shooting while on a video call with her team.

Rebecca Buchheit-Sims told CNN she was "in disbelief" as she watched the shooting unfold.

An employee of a Kentucky bank targeted by a mass shooter said she "witnessed people get murdered" while on a video call with co-workers, CNN reported.

Rebecca Buchheit-Sims, a manager with Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, told CNN that she was on a Microsoft Teams meeting with co-workers on Monday morning when the shooting unfolded.

"Shortly after the meeting started, the gunman, which is an employee, started shooting up the conference room," Buchheit-Sims told the outlet. "I witnessed people being murdered. I don't know how else to say that."

"I'm just as much in shock and disbelief and was in disbelief as I watched it unravel," she added.

Officials said that five people were killed after a bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at the downtown branch of the Old National Bank.

The gunman, identified by officials as Connor Sturgeon, live-streamed the attack on Instagram, but was later killed by police at the scene, officials added. The video has since been removed from the platform, Instagram's owner Meta said in a statement.

Sturgeon joined the bank as a full-time employee last year after interning there for three consecutive summers between 2018 and 2020, CNN reported, citing law enforcement officials.

Buchheit-Sims told CNN she knew the suspect even though she didn't directly work with him, describing him as having "a monotone personality" and being "extremely intelligent."

"His temperament is pretty low-key. I've never seen the kid get angry or upset about anything in public," she added. "He was pretty much just relaxed."

Sturgeon had recently been told by the bank that he was going to be fired and had written a note to his parents describing his plans for the attack, CNN reported.

There have been almost 150 mass shootings in the US this year, according to The Gun Violence Archive, which tracks incidents in which at least four people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.

Read the original article on Insider
Joaquin Phoenix in Ari Aster's 'Beau Is Afraid'

Joaquin Phoenix in Ari Aster's 'Beau Is Afraid' Credit - Zoey Kang (A24)

How much do you really want to know about horrormeister Ari Asters preoccupations and anxieties? Thats a question to consider seriously before subjecting yourself to Beau Is Afraid, a bleak black comedy thats very occasionally hilarious, though mostly just tedious. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Beau, whos born into this world in the movies opening scene, escorted by his mothers muffled screams and staticky, ominous-sounding thunder cracks. We cant, at first, see baby or motheronly mysterious, inky darkness punctuated by blurry red flashes. Initially, the infant isnt crying, and presumably not breathing; his mother panics, snapping at the doctors. Then we hear a slap and a yowl, and one mans life begins. Fasten your seatbelts; its going to be a bumpy night.

Beau Is Afraid is three hours of one mans dark night of the soul, a howl of pain that occasionally twists itself into a guffaw. After clambering out of the birth canal and growing to middle ageAster skips large portions of that business, thank GodBeau sits in the office of his shrink (Stephen McKinley Henderson), sharing, in halting language, his feelings about his impending long-distance trip to see his mother. Hes OK with it, he thinks. Or maybe not. Meanwhile, his mother calls his cellphonehe doesnt pick upand we hear the message she leaves, enthusing about her affection for him and making it clear shes excited about seeing him the next day. Whats not to love about this mom? Still, hes going to need help getting through this visit, and Dr. Shrink writes a scrip for a new medicine, with the zippy name Zypnotycril, and warns his patient, more than once, to always take it with water.

Read More: The Artfully Made Hereditary Is the Latest Horror Film to Elevate the Genre

Beau heads home to his apartment in a seedy building in a nightmare version of New York, what tourists imagine the worst of New York to be. The streets are crawling with mentally ill hooligans, many of them naked and dirty, with matted hairjust another day in the nabe. Beaus flat is dismal but tidy. He nukes a frozen dinner (touted on the package as being the best of Hawaiian and Irish cuisine), catches up on the TV news (the city is on the lookout for a violent nutter whos been nicknamed the Birthday Boy Stab Man) and turns in, needing to be up early for his flight. What follows is a cracked symphony of paranoia, in which a belligerent, unseen neighbor repeatedly interrupts Beaus insomnia to complain about how much noise hes making (he is, obviously, making none). He oversleeps and makes a mad dash out the door to make his flight, only to have his luggage and keys snatched away by an invisible thief when hes not looking. Overwhelmed with anxiety, he downs a Zypnotyrcil, only to realize his water has been turned off. And when he dashes across the street to the local bodega, desperately grabbing a bottle of H2O, his credit card is declined. As he struggles to pay by counting out the chicken feed in his pocket, we see the multitudes of street crazies streaming into his apartment building through the front door, which, keyless, he has propped open. Theyre all going to his apartment, naturally, where theyll engage in a destructive hootenanny of debauchery as he watches, helplessly, from the fire escape outside his window.

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Nathan Lane, Joaquin Phoenix, and Amy Ryan in Ari Aster's 'Beau Is Afraid' Zoey Kang (A24)

Thats not the whole plot of Beau Is Afraid; its barely the beginning. This early section is also the most grimly entertaining, if relentless, section of the movie. But its all downhill from there. Beaus adventures include, but are not limited to, a semi-peaceful interlude at the home of a seemingly benign suburban couple played by Nathan Lane and Amy Ryan; a stretch spent with a hippie theater troupe whose plays, staged in the forest, reveal deep truths about his own life; and a reunion with a lost love (played by the always pleasingly wacky Parker Posey), which offers poor Beau an all too fleeting respite from his misery.

How much manicured craziness can one movie hold? Aster is out to test the limits. Beau Is Afraid is Asters third film as a writer-director; its both more ambitious and more tiresome than his earlier pictures, the 2018 grief-horror extravaganza Hereditary and the 2019 pagan-nightmare tableau Midsommar. Guilt, shame, paranoia, Freudian mom issuesyou name it, Aster slaps it up there on the screen, with Phoenix as our jittery naif, stumbling from one traumatic episode to the next. His performance is like a three-hour-long murmur; with his watery eyes and perpetually slack jaw, his Beau looks a little zonked by it all, as if he cant believe all of this is happening to him. By the time his haranguing, perpetually disapproving mother appearsshes played by Patti LuPone, who bites down on every line as if it were a piece of overcooked steakwe see exactly what the problem is. (When in doubt, blame mom.)

Beau Is Afraid is stylish all rightAster cant stay away from style. Groovy low-angle shots, dream sequences rendered in wacky point-of-view perspectives, dreamlike vistas of dark water shot in glimmering light: Aster borrows from the best (Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman) and the worst (Gaspar Noe) in this belabored work of slapstick agony. Its the most magnificent act of oversharing youll see all year, a banquet of all the TMI you can eat, just for the price of a ticket. Though when you think about it, shouldnt Aster be paying us?
A24

Ari Aster was prematurely dubbed a visionary on the basis of Hereditary and Midsommar, two films that were (to put it kindly) steeped in cinemas past. Yet he now convincingly earns that moniker with Beau is Afraid, a horror-comedy thats unlike anything heor anyone else, for that matterhas produced before.

A wildly surrealistic nightmare of primal and modern neuroses, the writer/directors third A24 feature spends not a minute of its daunting three-hour runtime retracing others steps, instead diving deeply and madly into the mindset of its protagonist (and, by extension, its maker). Challenging in the most thrilling ways possible, it plays like a mind-bending Oedipal acid trip of epic proportions.

Beau is Afraid (in theaters April 14 in New York and Los Angeles, and nationwide on April 21) opens with birth as seen from the perspective of a fetusan event of screaming recriminations, terror, illumination and violence that serves as the source of every ensuing insanity. Decades later in an unspecified time, place, and reality that loosely resembles today, Beau (Joaquin Phoenix) visits his therapist (Stephen McKinley Henderson) to discuss an upcoming visit to his domineering Jewish tycoon mother Mona (Zoe Lister-Jones in the past; Patti LuPone in the present). The visit appears to be driven by remorse (he hasnt seen her in months) and fills him with barely suppressed dread.

Beau acts aghast when asked if he ever wished his mother was dead, but hes not totally convincing. That impression is subsequently reinforced whenfollowing an evening during which hes kept awake by a neighbor sending notes under his apartment door to lower the volume of his (non-existent) musiche wakes up late, mysteriously loses his keys, and misses his flight, forcing him to make a brutally uncomfortable phone call during which he breaks the news to his bitterly disappointed, guilt-tripping mom.

A24

A middle-aged loner with thinning gray hair, a slight paunch, and a soft, perpetually nervous voice, Beau is an insecure shut-in. Hes barely subsisting in a metropolitan wasteland defined by shabby storefronts, burned cars, corpses in the street, and nude, stabby serial killers roaming about for victims. In response to his latest failure, Beau gives his new anxiety medication a try, only to forget that he must take it with waterwhich he doesnt have.

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This spurs an excursion outside, which begets chaos and destruction inside his home. His turmoil is then exacerbated when, upon reclaiming control of his apartment, he tries to call his mother back and instead gets a UPS delivery man (a cameoing Bill Hader) whos stumbled upon a shocking scene: Mona lying dead in her home, her skull smashed to smithereens by a falling chandelier.

Beau is Afraid continues Asters fondness for decapitation and cranial destruction, just as it revisits the directors fascination with children mourning their parents. Yet dissimilar to his prior effortswhose familial and folk-horror moves were dully borrowed from genre predecessorsthe film plots, from the outset, a uniquely bonkers trajectory.

In Showing Up, Michelle Williams Brilliantly Taps Into an Artists Inner Hell

Its hysterical tone pitched somewhere between Synecdoche, New York; Alice in Wonderland; and a Looney Tunes cartoon, Asters saga soon thrusts its main character out of the urban and into the suburban, courtesy of a vehicular accident that lands him in the care of a couple, Grace (Amy Ryan) and Roger (Nathan Lane), who nurse him back to health. That they do this in the K-Pop-decorated bedroom of their resentful daughter Toni (Kylie Rogers) would be strange in any other context; here, however, its part and parcel of a story that takes only extreme right turns.

With Roger calling Beau things like My brutha and pal-eo, and he and Grace simultaneously caring for Jeeves (Denis Menochet), a rampaging PTSD-afflicted comrade of their deceased Air Force veteran son, the injured Beau finds himself falling further and further down a rabbit hole of loss, grief, sorrow, shame, and lunacy. Throughout, Aster affixes us to the mans spiraling (and, per the conception intro, fluid-drenched) POV.

Traumatic flashbacks to childhood incidents with his mom, a bathtub, and an attic, as well as a cruise ship romance with teen Elaine (Julia Antonelli) during which Beau is played by Armen Nahapetianunderscore the origins of this schlubs twisted Freudian hang-ups. Ultimately, its revealed that theyre the byproduct of his moms suffocating sexualized clinginess and her story that his father died at the moment of Beaus conceptiona supposed inherited condition that burdens Beau with additional fears of separation from his mom and stunts his maturation and connection to others. (Hence all the moments in which he practically freezes in place.)

A24

Pill-popping, drug-smoking, forest theatrical productions, boat voyages through starry nights and dark caverns, and a battle with a giant cock-and-balls monster ensue, all of them speaking to Beaus consuming angst. True to its title, Beau is afraid of everything (isolation, disconnection, violation, illness, and death), with Aster casting his odyssey as a swirling descent into countless social and psychosexual worries.

Beau is Afraid is sometimes funny and occasionally unnerving, but mostly, its electrifyingly idiosyncratic, never more so than during an extended narration-driven, fairy-tale middle section that concerns a stage showabout a lonely soul who ultimately reunites with his long-lost familythat dreamily echoes Beaus own plight. Aster dramatizes this interlude with impressionistic animation and concludes it with a gorgeous painterly close-up of the aged Beauone of many memorable aesthetic flourishes found in this dazzling journey.

Asters directorial gifts are imposing, and so too is the lead performance delivered by Phoenix, who embodies Beau as a preternaturally dazed and confused man-child incapable of disentangling himself from his mom. In the aftermath (afterbirth?) of the weirdest sex scene in recent memory between its headliner and Parker Posey and set, fittingly and hilariously, to Mariah Careys Always Be My Baby, Mona eventually appears in the imperious figure of LuPone, who rages against her offsprings lifelong disregard for her love and generosity.

A24

In Beau is Afraids closing passages, Aster (via Beau) engages in a form of cinematic self-flagellation, putting his hero on bonkers trial for his damnable sins as a son. In doing so, however, he lets no one off the hook; rather, he posits his narratives central relationship as thoroughly corrosive on both sides, ruining all.

Eliciting laughs of an astonished sort, the willfully unhinged Beau is Afraid is like a funhouse-mirror plunge into Asters psyche, where M.C. Escher, Philip Roth, Grant Wood and The Purge all crazily cohabitate. No matter its many inspirations, though, the auteurs latest is a true American original, and proof that, while the hype surrounding him may have been early, it wasnt wrong.

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Ukrainian aviation

I see three resources that Russia has a limited supply of.

Read also: Three lessons from Ramstein. About Germany, tanks and offensive weapons for Ukraine

The first shortage is a human one. Any war requires professionals to be successful. The Russians lost their military elite in droves when they marched headlong into Kyivs defenses in February, March, and April last year. For example, in Hostomel, they lost an elite paratrooper unit, the preparation of which took 10-15 years. Many such "adventures" happened to similar units. Moreover, we have made many Russian pilots incapable of flying, which is also a resource that is difficult to restore in a year or two.

The second resource is high-tech weapons. Of course, sanctions will not allow stopping the supply of chips to Russia completely, but they are not able to produce missiles in sufficient quantity. This is already visible in the decreased density of shelling. They have dipped far into their missile stockpiles and have depleted some types to 10-12% of pre-war levels. Their strategic reserves are probably at about 30%. Someone will pay for it very soon. The only thing they have enough is the S-300, there are 6,000 or more of them, and they are anti-aircraft missiles, but they use them on a ballistic trajectory and are able to terrorize Kharkiv and other border towns.

The third resource - fortunately, they also are beginning to have ammunition hunger.

We monitor their shots from different types of heavy artillery - their millimeters and calibers. Earlier, they poured up to 60,000 shells on our heads. The front line has undoubtedly narrowed, but they also began to hit less, only 20-30 thousand per day. Intelligence reports and our partners confirm they are running to North Korea, China, and other countries for artillery shells and armored vehicles.

I am convinced that the arms industry will become the number one business.

Earlier, many European countries made the unpleasant discovery that they did not have weaponry in their warehouses. If they did not have them, they were of low quality. I often discovered that this or variant of weapon was not given to us because it was not ready. Europeans are responsible for correcting this.

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That is why NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says in all his speeches - give Ukraine everything you have from your warehouses to repel the enemy. If you do not help Ukraine win now, Russia will come to you, and you will still have nothing to fight with, so invest in Ukraine. He speaks very aptly and makes the right calls.

Today, almost all European countries have launched their defense industries for production and are solving two tasks  to both help us and to restore their stocks so as not to lose the level of their own defense capabilities. Many countries have been living with a pacifist perception of the world, with a philosophy of prolonged peace. For example, Germany reduced its army several times in 20 years. There was an illusion that no one would attack. We are inside Europe, we are surrounded by friends, and we trade with the Russians. Everything has changed for us since 2014. This year was decisive for our partners.

I am convinced that the arms industry will become the number one business. Each country will invest in modern technologies, modern weapons, and the replenishment of stocks. I do not know of a single European country, except for one whose president dreams of cheap Russian gas, which wouldnt expand its military production. Everyone should understand that even after the Ukrainian victory, after this war and the peace restoration, creating a new security architecture in Europe is an urgent issue. The Russians, unfortunately, will not fly into space. They will remain and will hold false thoughts about revenge in their heads, so it is necessary for Ukraine and all countries of the civilized modern world to prepare for it.

Read also: RAMSTEIN AND NATO WILL INCREASE THE SUPPORT OF UKRAINE

Regarding the window of opportunity for Ukraine until autumn. From a military point of view, the window of opportunity is defined by our maximum preparation for a counteroffensive and a clear understanding of what we want to do tactically and strategically, as well as how we will capitalize on the results of our actions. Last summer, I was worried that this "Ukraine fatigue" had appeared and was accumulating in the West. But then there were our counteroffensives in the Kharkiv direction and the liberation of Kherson. People in the West realized that the morale, spirit, and bravery of Ukrainians were so high that they just needed to be strengthened with weapons. Then the Russians would lose this war. This is what many people want.

For example, the Swedes, if I am not mistaken, 98% of them are for the victory of Ukraine, and Norwegians and Danes - are 90% supportive, which is fantastic. The same thing is happening in the United States. To tell you honestly, I was worried about Italy. I did not know what the new Italian government would be like, I was afraid we would lose support, but we see now that Meloni's government is pro-Ukrainian. So, yes, during the American primaries and races, the anti-Ukrainian rhetoric will be visible from some politicians who dream of doing business with the Kremlin as usual. But, I think the candidates supporting Ukraine's victory will win. The United States is a significant partner in this victory, and this victory is entirely achievable.

After this war, we will assuredly be in the European security structures. We will no longer stand alone. Our most valuable asset is the presence of various modern weapons in our military, the mastery of these weapons by our military, and the ability to use them in actual combat, not in some computer games or in training. Our key advantage is the ability to use these weapons against the Russian Federation, NATO's real enemy, as recognized by NATOs Madrid Strategic Concept from last month. We are the only country in the world with significant combat experience in defeating the Russians.

By using the weapons of our partners, we can achieve the interoperability of these weapons. Therefore, the NATO countries will be interested in filling us with these or other systems. The defense industries of the NATO countries will compete about who will be the leading supplier of these weapons, as well as their provision, repair, and maintenance.

For the taxpayers of these countries, the key question should be whose battle tank will be the primary one, whose combat plane will be the primary one, whose combat artillery will be the primary one, whose sniper rifle, grenade launcher, anti-aircraft missile system will be the primary ones in their use for the victory by Ukraine. Because this is what will determine mass production of the future and, let's be honest, where the profits will go.

Read also: A critical moment in the war. Why China started to talk about the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine

This is the largest war since World War II, with all non-nuclear weapons used state against state. But first, it is a war of resources. Russias resources are draining. Ours are, as well, but we have the Ramstein Club, as I call it. It's more than NATO. It's more than 50 countries that already want our victory and invest in it and believe it is realistic. Therefore, it is a war of the Western world's resources against those of the Russian Federation.

The second is the informational component. This war cannot last long because the world knows about its crimes - about Bucha, Irpin, Izyum, Mariupol, and Balakliya. People feel emotionally involved in this war and feel they can influence it. Though, I'm not even talking about the modern technology which allows for precision strikes and balances the lack of manpower. With all of this in mind, I believe this year is the year of victory.

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A split Bellingham City Council voted to criminalize public drug use on its third and final reading of the ordinance Monday night, April 10, paving the way for the rule to take effect in 15 days.

In a 5-2 vote, council members approved an ordinance that makes public use of a controlled substance without a prescription a misdemeanor subject to arrest, in the same way that public use of alcohol and marijuana are civil infractions.

Council members Michael Lilliquist and Kristina Michele Martens voted against the measure.

This is about moving them to dimmer streets where we are not selling $500 lawn chairs. Where are we going to house them? Martens said during the discussion Monday night.

Councilman Skip Williams said that the ordinance was not the war on drugs and that he hoped it could become an off-ramp to sobriety for people addicted to the powerful opioid fentanyl.

Right now, were facing a crisis, Williams said Monday night.

Right now, we dont have the tools. This gives us a tool, he said.

Mayor Seth Fleetwood proposed the ordinance in early March, citing an increase in fentanyl overdoses and complaints from downtown merchants about open drug use and criminal activity.

Were in a crisis that has grown really, really fast, Fleetwood told council members during a committee meeting Monday afternoon.

Were all doing our best, not just on the local level but on the state level to respond to it, Fleetwood said.

Citing Fire Department figures, Fleetwood said that Bellingham is seeing an average of 2.5 overdoses a day, a 70% increase over last year as use of fentanyl has risen.

There were 89 overdose deaths in 2022, up from 50 in 2021, according to the Whatcom County Medical Examiners Office.

A little more than half the overdose deaths were linked to fentanyl each year.

Fleetwood proposed the ordinance in the wake of the 2021 Supreme Court decision in State v. Blake that limits the power of police to arrest people for drug use.

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Earlier Monday, the council discussed how the ordinance would be enforced, and how a proposed drug-diversion program could work.

Fleetwood has proposed a therapeutic court that would help people arrested for drug use get addiction treatment, housing and jobs.

But that court will take months to develop, and Fleetwood said that action to curb open drug use was needed immediately.

In a memo, Fleetwood told the council that police officers will have four options when they see drug use in public:

 Give a verbal warning.

 Cite and release.

 Arrest, process and release.

 Arrest and book at the SCORE jail in King County.

As with many crimes, an officer will have the authority and the discretion to follow any option, Fleetwood said in his memo.

In the interim, the city will use existing programs such as Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, Ground-level Response and Coordinated Engagement to help people who are arrested under the new measure.

I have confidence in the LEAD program and the GRACE program because I helped develop them, Councilman Dan Hammill said.
In the first of a series highlighting talent from the AD PRO Directory, were shining a light on the Chicago interior designers who are at the top of their game. Based in Americas third-largest city, these Midwestern designers have widely varied styles: from bold and bursting with color to chic, minimal, and restrained.

Scroll on to discover the six studios to hire for your next project in Chicago and beyond, and visit their Directory profiles for more images, information, and contact details to get in touch.

Members apply to the Directory, and pay for inclusion after being selected by AD editors

Jessica Lagrange Interiors

Jessica Lagrange Interiors (JLI) has been synonymous with luxury interior design and architecture since its inception in 1998. Today, the firm is recognized for its portfolio of projects that embrace a wide range of periods and stylesalways while reflecting the wants, needs, and lifestyles of its diverse clientele.

Founder and principal Jessica Lagrange is known for her vibrant and personable manner, perceptive insights, and collaborative approach to designqualities that account for the outstanding caliber and cohesive nature of the JLI team. Thanks to JLIs principled approach to design, commitment to collaboration, and ability to synthesize and wield the tools and elements of their trade, the firms work has garnered numerous awards and been featured in myriad show houses and publications. Find out more.

Kadlec Architecture + Design

Photo by Mike Schwartz. Styling by Anita Sarsidi

Kadlec Architecture + Design was founded by Steve Kadlec in 2004 to convene a tightly knit team of designers with exceptional experience. At 10 people, the studio remains deliberately small so that they can work closely to give each project their full and focused attention.

Photo by Richard Powers. Styling by Anita Sarsidi

The Kadlec team has worked on quietly confident and curated spaces with growing families, empty nesters, young professionals, and established executives, shopkeepers, and developers. While each client relationship is its own, every project is connected by a thoughtful, disciplined, and detailed approach. Find out more.

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Paula Interiors

paula-interiors-portfolio-photo1.jpg

Paula Interiors focuses on helping clients create inviting, beautiful, and functional spaces. For the past 12 years, founder Paula Rodriguez has worked on a variety of projects, which include both residential and commercial properties. No matter the size, style, or complexity of design, Rodriguezs clientele have always been most impressed by the personal experience that Paula Interiors provides.

paula-interiors-portfolio-photo4.jpg

Rodriguez strongly believes that an interior designer should not have a specific style or look that is signature to their company. Instead she believes in a style-discovery process, in which the client and designer build a vision collaboratively. Her objective with every project is to transform a space into an innovative room that meets the needs of her clients while still producing a wow factor each time they enter their newly designed space. Find out more.

Studio W Interiors

Based in Hinsdale, a suburb of Chicago, Studio W Interiors is a full-service residential design firm that works on new construction, renovations, and furnishing projects across the US. From concept to completion, the studio works collaboratively with clients and trades to create beautifully designed homes that aim to transcend trends. The defining philosophy that guides the firm is to create a cohesive home that is elevated and inviting with a focus on quality materials.

After studying marketing at Loyola University of Chicago and furthering her eduction in interior design at the School of the Art Institute, Diana Wagenbach began her own namesake company in 2020. Known for her thoughtful design, she works to create spaces that make life feel calm and inspired. She oversees all design projects to ensure they are a reflection of the client while incorporating the firms timeless and organic aesthetic. Find out more.

Summer Thornton Design

Photo by Annie Schlechter

Summer Thornton Design is known for fearlessly bold and colorful interiors. Headquartered in Chicago, the firm works throughout North America, with current projects including the renovation of a Tuxedo Road estate in Atlanta; a Presidio Heights home renovation; a private club in New York City; a Naples, Florida, vacation home addition; a new build in Mexico; and numerous projects in the Chicago area.

Photo by Josh Thornton

Founder Summer Thornton firmly believes that each clients home should be a reflection of their personal styletheir soul, passions, and quirks should be found on the walls and in the furniture throughout the homeso no two projects should ever look alike. With over 100,000 followers on Instagram, her inspiring style has been often imitated, but never replicated. Find out more.

Suzanne Lovell Inc.

suzanne-lovell-inc-portfolio-photo4.jpg Photo by Eric Piasecki

The last of our Chicago interior designers is Suzanne Lovell Inc. (SLI), a preeminent architecture and interior design firm that also features a boutique fine art advisory. Since 1985, SLI has created award-winning projects for residential clients in Chicago and around the world, including Manhattan, Miami, Naples, Palm Beach, Captiva Island, San Francisco, Hilton Head Island, and the South of France.

suzanne-lovell-inc-portfolio-photo2.jpg Photo by Eric Piasecki

An experienced team of professionals well versed in coordinating all aspects of residential projects, the firm creates couture environments through the integration of interior architecture, sophisticated materials, custom furniture, textiles, antiques, and fine art collections that convey each clients distinct personality. Find out more.

Are you looking for an interior designer to hire for your next project? Wherever you are in the US, visit the AD PRO Directory to browse our list of AD-approved designers and find your match

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

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Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi at the "Stranger Things" season 4 premiere. Angela Weiss/Getty Images

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi seemingly announced their engagement on Tuesday.

Since 2021, the young couple has been sporting glamorous looks on red carpets together.

They've also shown their casual couple fashion at spots like Disney World.

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi have been dating since 2021, and they sparked speculation that they're engaged on Tuesday.

Millie Bobby Brown (left) and Noah Schnapp (middle) with Jake Bongiovi (right). Rachel Luna/Roy Rochlin/Stringer/Getty Images

The 19-year-old "Stranger Things" actor previously told Wired that she met Jon Bon Jovi's 20-year-old son through social media.

"We met on Instagram  the old Instagram  and we were friends for a bit, and then, what can I say?" she said.

They then used the platform on Tuesday to seemingly announce that they're engaged. They both posted images of themselves in white outfits with heartfelt captions. Brown is also seen wearing what looks like an engagement ring in her post.

"I've loved you three summers now, honey, I want 'em all ," Brown captioned the post, referencing Taylor Swift's song "Lover."

Representatives for Brown did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

But it was in March 2022 that the couple became red-carpet official with edgy outfits.

Jake Bongiovi and Millie Bobby Brown at the 2022 EE British Academy Film Awards. Joe Maher/Stringer/Getty Images

Brown was almost unrecognizable in a custom Louis Vuitton dress with a velvet peplum bodice and a pleated lace skirt. She also wore long gloves, a silver dagger necklace, and blunt bangs that sat above her eyebrows.

Bongiovi complemented her outfit with a classic tuxedo, white shirt, and oversized bow tie.

The couple opted for chic looks two months later at the "Stranger Things" season four premiere.

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi at the "Stranger Things" season four premiere. Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Wearing Louis Vuitton, Brown walked the red carpet in a strapless white dress with a layer of black tulle across one shoulder.

Bongiovi supported her in a black jacket with waved lapels, dark trousers, and a white turtleneck top.

In September 2022, Brown and Bongiovi showed the casual sides of their styles at Disney World.

Jake Bongiovi and Millie Bobby Brown at Disney World on September 27, 2022. Handout/Getty Images

While Brown paired an orange-print dress with black Fila sneakers, Bongiovi wore pink cargo pants, red sneakers, and a white T-shirt.

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The couple wore the outfits while posing with Stormtroopers at the Galaxy's Edge section of Hollywood Studios.

The couple's latest red-carpet appearance together was in October 2022.

Jake Bongiovi and Millie Bobby Brown at the "Enola Holmes 2" premiere. Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Brown wore a custom Louis Vuitton dress with a halter neck and an open back. It was also adorned with black flower embellishments and a matching floral collar.

Bongiovi, on the other hand, complemented Brown with an all-black tuxedo, undershirt, and shoes.

In what appear to be their engagement photos, Brown and Bongiovi wore matching white ensembles.

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi in an Instagram post shared on Tuesday. Jake Bongiovi/Instagram

Bongiovi paired a white button-up shirt with pants in a similar shade, and Brown wore a see-through beach dress made from lace.

Read the original article on Insider
From Florida to Texas, these Southern states showed out for Travel + Leisures annual It List awards.

Nikolas Koenig

Here at Southern Living, we love to show off the South. From our food to our people, to our beaches, mountains, and every gorgeous landscape in between, we know just how lucky we are to call the South home. So, were always excited when others catch on to our regions magic, and recently Travel + Leisure did exactly that with their It List Awards. The annual compilation recognizes the 100 best new hotels to visit anywhere in the world, and this year, Southern hotels crushed the competition. Eight of the 100 chosen hotels are located in Southern cities and towns.

The competition was steep. Winners included a chic Paris stay with balconies overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a dreamy InterContinental resort bordering one of Thailands most beautiful national parks, and a cluster of tropical villas on the white-sand shores of Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos. But our Southern stays held their own and made a mark in several categories, including Best Beach Getaways, Best Affordable Luxury Stays, Best City Hotels, and Best U.S. Resorts. Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia each nabbed one or two spots on the big list, but we have to give props to Florida for claiming four! If youre looking to update your Southern travel bucket list, start here. These are the best new hotels in the South, according to Travel + Leisure.

Beach Getaways

Courtesy of Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, Florida



Travel + Leisure praised this luxurious pick for its elegant but understated yacht-inspired design, oceanfront views from on-site restaurant Evelyns, and its commitment to honoring the South Florida towns eclectic roots.



Affordable Luxury Stays

Courtesy of Life House South of Fifth

Life House, South of Fifth

Miami, Florida



This intimate boutique hotel in Miamis lively South Beach neighborhood features 26 rooms in a renovated 1930s cottage. The decor is light and airy, the food and drinks from hip eatery Pretty Swell are excellent, and the vibe is always easy and breezy.



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City Hotels

Will Pryce/Mayfair House Hotel & Garden

Mayfair House Miami

Miami, Florida



An iconic Miami hotel made its triumphant return this year after an extensive two-year renovation. Travel + Leisure gave the colorful hotel a shout out for its dramatic plant-filled courtyard and boldly decorated rooms.



Nikolas Koenig

Tampa Edition

Tampa, Florida

Edition Hotels are known worldwide for their high standard of excellence, luxurious rooms, and resort-like atmosphere. With seven dining options, a large gym and spa, and 172 rooms in the heart of Tampas Water Street District, the brands newest addition is no different.



Courtesy of Four Seasons

Four Seasons Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee



Travel + Leisure describes the new Four Seasons, located just off Nashvilles famed Broadway, as the height of contemporary luxury in town, referencing its industrial-chic rooms, spa, rooftop pool deck, and Italian-Southern restaurant Mimo.



Credit: Casey Woods Photography

The Loren at Lady Bird Lake

Austin, Texas



The line between indoors and outdoors blur at The Loren at Lady Bird Lake, where views of Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River make guests one with nature from the moment they step through the hotels welcoming front doors.



U.S. Resorts

Courtesy of Southall

Southall Farm & Inn

Franklin, Tennessee



Far from your average farm stay, Southall blends all the comforts of a modern luxury resort with a thriving agriculture program that lets guests dabble in everything from harvesting honey to planting seeds.



Courtesy of Nicewonder Farm and Vineyard

The Inn at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards

Bristol, Virginia

Were not surprised to see our 2023 Souths Best Hotel getting more well-deserved attention. The Virginia Highlands retreat earns plenty of points for its well-appointed yurts, impressive inn, and on-property vineyard and wine program.

For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Southern Living.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Tuesday proposed new health protections to reduce exposure of U.S. workers and communities to ethylene oxide, a toxic, colorless gas mainly used to sterilize medical equipment and spices.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed rule with new requirements at 86 sterilizer facilities across the country, that if finalized, aims to reduce ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions by 80%.

Long-term exposure to EtO can have health implications, including certain cancers, studies say. The proposed rule is part of President Joe Biden's initiative to cut the death rate from cancer and create new treatments to fight it.

"At EPA, we recognize that ensuring that all people have clean air to breathe is not just an important responsibility and our job under the law, but it's also a moral imperative," Janet McCabe, the agency's deputy administrator, told reporters in a teleconference.

The rules aim to reduce use of EtO at the facilities to 500 milligrams per liter (about a half teaspoon per quarter gallon) while working with the Food and Drug Administration to make sure all sterility requirements are met. An EPA official told reporters that some facilities have already reduced use of EtO to appropriate levels while others use up to twice the proposed amount.

The agency also proposed prohibiting certain uses of EtO where it is used to a lesser extent and alternatives exist, including in museums, archives, beekeeping, cosmetics and musical instruments.

The proposed rule will be open for a 60-day public comment period and the EPA aims to finalize it in 2024.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Amid the failure of Colorado River basin states to come to an agreement over water usage cutbacks, federal officials stepped in on Tuesday with a series of possible solutions.

The Department of Interiors Bureau of Reclamation presented the options  which could either favor priority water users or distribute the burden evenly  in a bid to address a likely future of unprecedented water shortages across the basin, according to the agency.

Presented in a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), the alternatives seek to ensure the integrity and safety of the rivers Glen Canyon and Hoover dam operations from 2024-2026, after current operating guidelines expire.

The Colorado River Basin provides water for more than 40 million Americans, Interior Department Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said in a statement prior to the announcement.

It fuels hydropower resources in eight states, supports agriculture and agricultural communities across the West, and is a crucial resource for 30 Tribal Nations, Beaudreau continued. Failure is not an option.

Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton first called for Colorado River basin states to boost their water conservation commitments last June, leading the states to begin months of deliberations.

Drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin have been two decades in the making, Touton said in a Tuesday statement.

To meet this moment, we must continue to work together, through a commitment to protecting the river, leading with science and a shared understanding that unprecedented conditions require new solutions, she added.

The Colorado River region is divided into Upper and Lower basins. The Upper Basin includes Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, while Nevada, Arizona and California are in the Lower Basin.

After the seven states missed an initial mid-August deadline to present a unified plan, they ultimately agreed to a new target date of Jan. 31  aware that the Bureau would likely present its own alternatives if they again failed to do so.

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What ended up materializing at the end of January were two competing offers: a joint document from six out of the seven states and a separate proposal from California.

The six-state plan would seek to spread the burden for evaporation losses along the river, making California  the rivers biggest user  face the biggest cuts.

Californias proposal, on the other hand, includes larger reductions for Arizona, while relying on voluntary efforts and abiding by the legal terms of a century-old water rights compact.

As the states were deep in negotiations, the Bureau of Reclamation announced in October that it was initiating an expedited, supplemental revision process in parallel.

The agency published a notice of intent at the time that it was preparing an SEIS, which would include potential alternatives to revise the 2007 Colorado River Interim Guidelines.

These guidelines establish the operating criteria for Lakes Powell and Mead  the basins two largest reservoirs, formed by the Glen Canyon and Hoover dams, respectively.

In the absence of consensus among all entities affected by changed operations, the Department must consider the overall conditions in the Basin in order to make the most prudent operational decisions, the draft SEIS states.

To do so, the SEIS analyzes three alternatives, which the agency said reflect the input of basin states, tribes and cooperating local entities.

The No Action Alternative would involve continuing to implement existing agreements that control the Glen Canyon and Hoover dams regardless of deteriorating hydrologic conditions, according to the SEIS.

In the foreseeable scenario of ongoing low-runoff issues and reservoir decline, this status-quo option would not meet the purpose of and need for federal action, as it would fail to protect either dams integrity, the document determines.

Action Alternative 1 assesses the potential impacts of additional Lower Colorado River Basin cuts, based on the historic system of priority water rights  which favor California, as the most senior user.

In this case, Arizona would shoulder the biggest burden in a shortage scenario, in which some 2.08 million acre-feet of reductions would be divided among the Lower Basin states.

This option also models progressively larger additional shortages as Lake Meads elevation declines, as well as even bigger shortages in 2025 and 2026, in comparison to those of 2024.

Action Alternative 2, on the other hand, analyzes the effects of the same 2.08 million acre-feet of reductions  but distributed in equal percentages across Lower Basin states.

The draft SEIS concludes that the Bureau of Reclamation has not identified a preferred alternative at this time, noting that the preferred solution will be revealed in the final version of the statement.

The draft will be available for public comment for 45 calendar days, with the final version anticipated to be released by Summer 2023, according to the Interior Department.

The prolonged drought afflicting the American West is one of the most significant challenges facing our country today, Beaudreau said at a Tuesday press conference, announcing the SEIS.

Everyone who lives and works in the basin knows that one good year will not save us from more than two decades of drought, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The White House on Tuesday announced plans to increase sanctions on drug traffickers and disrupt the movement of fentanyl to respond to the increase of illicit drugs coming into the United States.

The administration is aiming to crack down on drug traffickers by targeting their financial activities and targeting the funds they typically need to operate illicit supply chains

The Biden-Harris Administration will expand its efforts to disrupt the illicit financial activities that fund these criminals by increasing accountability measures, including financial sanctions, on key targets to obstruct drug traffickers access to the U.S. financial system and illicit financial flows, according to a face sheet released by the White House.

The administration plans to strengthen collaboration with international partners on anti-money laundering efforts related to drug trafficking. Additionally, it is using global partners and building a coalition to help develop solutions and it is working to strengthen federal law enforcement coordination at the southern border, the fact sheet said.

And, it will work to strengthen partnerships with the private sector to interdict more illicit substances and production materials.

President Biden will also call on Congress to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I. The Drug Enforcement Agency defines Schedule I as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Fentanyl-related substances are currently temporarily rated as Schedule I, but that measure expires Dec. 31, 2024.

In his State of the Union address earlier this year, Biden had asked for bipartisan action to crack down on fentanyl, including by permanently scheduling it Schedule I.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday called the family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, an American who the U.S. said has been wrongfully detained in Russia.

"We appreciate President Bidens call to us today, assuring us that the U.S. government is doing everything in its power to bring him home as quickly as possible," Gershkovich's family said in a statement shared by Dow Jones, the Journal's parent company.

Just before he boarded Air Force One at Maryland's Joint Base Andrews, Biden told reporters earlier Tuesday morning that he had tried to speak to Gershkovich's family Monday, and he said he would try to call them again from the plane. Biden is flying to Ireland and the United Kingdom as part of a trip this week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement.

Evan Gershkovich. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP - Getty Images)

Biden acknowledged the State Department's formal move Monday to declare that Gershkovich is being wrongfully detained by the Russia government.

"Were making it real clear that its totally illegal whats happening, and we declared it so. It changes the dynamic," Biden told reporters.

The official classification allows Gershkovich's case to be handled by the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department, giving the U.S. additional resources to secure his release. The envoy, Roger Carstens, will work toward Gershkovichs release and maintain contact with his family.

"In addition to being a distinguished journalist, Evan is a beloved son and brother," Gershkovich's family said in the statement Tuesday. "There is a hole in our hearts and in our family that wont be filled until we are reunited. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from his colleagues, friends and everyone standing with Evan and advocating for his immediate release."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged his Russian counterpart, in a rare phone since the Ukraine war, to immediately release Gershkovich, who was detained last week, as well as another imprisoned American, Paul Whelan, the State Department said Sunday, April 2. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP)

Gershkovich was arrested on spying allegations at the end of March. The Journal has denied the espionage charges.

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The White House has also been working to sure the release of Paul Whelan, a businessman and former Marine imprisoned by Russia on suspicion of spying, which he and the U.S. government have denied.

Biden played a critical role in the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was freed from a Russian penal colony in December as a result of the Biden administrations negotiating her release in exchange for an arms dealer.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Biden on Tuesday said that the Russians detaining Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is totally illegal, following the State Department designating him as wrongfully detained.

Were making it real clear that its totally illegal whats happening, Biden said while leaving for a trip to Ireland.

The president added that declaring him as wrongfully detained changes the dynamic.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the wrongfully detained designation on Monday, which officially transfers responsibility of the case to the State Departments Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

Biden also said that he tried to call Gershkovichs family on Monday and missed them, but will try them again while aboard Air Force One.

Gershkovich was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service, the main successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB, in Yekaterinburg on March 30. Russian authorities claim he was allegedly trying to gain access to classified information.

The Biden administration has been working since then to gain access to Gershkovich and to get more information about the arrest.

Both the Biden administration and the Wall Street Journal have rejected the claims that Gershkovich was spying.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Russia's imprisonment of US journalist Evan Gershkovich on spying charges "totally illegal" and told The Wall Street Journal reporter's family he was working for a release.

"We're making it real clear that it's totally illegal what's happening, and we declared it so. It changes the dynamic," Biden, departing Washington for a trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland, told reporters.

The White House said later that Biden had telephoned Gershkovich's family from Air Force One.

The president told them he is "focused on securing Evan's release," as well as that of another detained American, Paul Whelan, from Russia, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

"We are encouraged that the State Department has officially designated Evan as wrongfully detained," the family said in a statement.

"We appreciate President Biden's call to us today, assuring us that the US government is doing everything in its power to bring him home as quickly as possible."

It added: "In addition to being a distinguished journalist, Evan is a beloved son and brother. There is a hole in our hearts and in our family that wont be filled until we are reunited."

Gershkovich, an experienced reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Russia, was detained in Yekaterinburg, some 1,100 miles (1,800 kilometers) east of Moscow on March 29.

Russian news agencies said Friday he was charged with espionage, an allegation denied by Gershkovich and his employer.

On Monday, the State Department formally classified the reporter as "wrongfully detained" -- a status that puts the case in the hands of the special envoy for hostages, Roger Carstens.

However, the Russian authorities continue to deny Gershkovich access to US consular officials, the White House said.

"We want to make sure we get consular access to him, which we haven't had," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

Asked the reason for the delay, Kirby said "it's a question for Russian officials. But it's not for lack of trying, I can assure you that."

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The State Department has sought to get consular access to Gershkovich "since the moment we found out he was detained," Kirby added.

"We're very early in the process here."

sms/sw/mlm
BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP)  President Joe Biden embarked Tuesday on a journey of diplomatic and family celebration, highlighting the U.S. role of 25 years ago in ending deadly bloodshed in Northern Ireland while catching up with distant relatives in the Republic of Ireland. It's his first trip back as Americas president.

Biden arrived in Belfast on Tuesday night and was greeted at the airport by United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He will spend about half a day in the city on Wednesday, holding talks with Sunak before going to Ulster University to mark the Good Friday accord anniversary.

The president will also engage with the leaders of Northern Irelands five main political parties but not as a group, the White House said.

Monday marked a quarter-century since the Good Friday Agreement, signed on that day in April 1998, ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland that killed 3,600 people. Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, is observing the milestone anniversary with a reunion of key players in the peace process along with Bidens visit.

Deep divisions remain over the conflicts legacy, and U.K. authorities in March raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, warning of IRA dissidents opposed to the peace process and set on attacks. Youths threw gasoline bombs and set a police vehicle on fire during a dissident march in Londonderry on Monday.

Biden said last month that nothing would change his travel plans.

They cant keep me out, he said.

The Democratic president will spend four days on the trip in all, including appearances in Belfast, the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland; in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, and in County Louth and County Mayo, on Irelands East and West coasts, respectively. He will also address Irelands Parliament.

In County Louth the 80-year-old will dive into the Irish ancestry of which he is immensely proud and speaks about often.

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Biden will hold separate meetings Thursday in Dublin with Irish President Michael Higgins and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar before the address to Parliament and a dinner banquet. Varadkar visited Biden in the Oval Office last month on St. Patricks Day.

The president will spend Friday, the final day of the trip, in County Mayo, exploring family genealogy and giving a speech about ties between the U.S. and Ireland in front of a 19th century cathedral that the White House said was partly built using bricks supplied by his great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, a brickmaker and civil engineer.

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, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

Ending decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, a period referred to as the Troubles, meant balancing competing identities in the country, which remained in the United Kingdom when the rest of Ireland won independence a century ago. Irish nationalists in the north  most of them Catholic  seek union with the Republic of Ireland, while largely Protestant unionists want to stay with the U.K.

The Good Friday Agreement, struck on April 10, 1998, after almost two years of U.S.-backed talks, committed armed groups to stop fighting, ended direct British rule and set up a Northern Ireland legislature and government with power shared between unionist and nationalist parties.

But Britains exit from the European Union, which left Northern Ireland poised uneasily between the rest of Britain and EU member Ireland, has upset a delicate political balance, including the power-sharing system set up by the peace accord.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has not sat for more than a year, after the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new trade rules for Northern Ireland brought in after Brexit.

A more recent accord between the U.K. and the EU, known as the Windsor Framework, addresses some of the issues that arose around commerce and goods sent across the Irish Sea from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Biden has praised the framework as an important step in maintaining the peace, though Northern Irelands political leaders have called for changes.

Asked as he prepared to leave Washington about his priorities for the trip, Biden said, Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place. Keep the peace. That's the main thing.

Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, said he would expect Biden to use the anniversary to highlight the positive role the U.S. can play in forging peace around the world.

This is a real success, 25 years later, of U.S. diplomacy, where the U.S. was asked and then played a very critical role in bridging the divide between two of its friends and partners, Bergmann said in an interview. I think this is a moment to mark that progress can happen in the world and the United States can play a central role in it.

Excitement over Bidens trip has been growing in the town of Ballina, from which one of the presidents great-great-grandfathers left for the United States in 1850.

Buildings are getting fresh coats of paint and American flags are being hung from shopfronts in Ballina, a bustling agricultural town of about 10,000 residents at the mouth of the River Moy in western Ireland. The center of town already has a mural of a beaming Biden, erected in 2020.

Many people from Ballina and the surrounding County Mayo moved to Pennsylvania in the 19th century, and Ballina is twinned with Scranton, Bidens hometown.

Joe Blewitt, a distant cousin who first met Biden when he visited Ballina as vice president in 2016, told The Associated Press that the U.S. leader pledged to return once hed won the presidency.

He said, Im going to come back into Ballina. And sure to God hes going to come back into Ballina, Blewitt said. His Irish roots are really deep in his heart.

The 43-year-old plumber was among Biden relations invited to the White House for St. Patricks Day last month. Blewitt said it was a surreal experience; it included a half-hour private meeting with Biden.

Biden, who was accompanied on the trip by his sister Valerie and son Hunter, often peppers his public remarks with sayings from his late mother and father, and he regularly quotes Irish poets, including Seamus Heaney and William Butler Yeats. He recently boasted to White House guests that the mansion was designed and built by an Irish American, James Hoban.

Irelands Irish Family History Centre says Biden is among the most Irish of all U.S. Presidents  10 of his 16 great-great-grandparents were from the Emerald Isle. All left for the U.S. during the Great Famine of the mid-19th century, which killed an estimated 1 million people.

___

Lawless reported from Ballina, Ireland.
US President Joe Biden took off from Washington on Tuesday for a trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland, where he will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace deal -- and celebrate his family roots.

Air Force One departed Joint Base Andrews for Belfast, where Biden will be greeted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Before boarding the plane, Biden told reporters that the main priority of his trip was to make sure the "Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place."

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement forged a political power sharing deal between the pro-independence Catholic forces in Northern Ireland and the Protestant British loyalists wanting the province to remain part of the United Kingdom.

The landmark deal was brokered with US help but has come under new strains since Britain exited the European Union, triggering complex questions over how to manage trade over the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. An arrangement called the Windsor Framework was struck in March to resolve that dispute.

Biden is visiting Belfast, then the Irish capital Dublin and also the northwestern town of Ballina where his ancestors lived before emigrating to the United States in the 19th century.

He was accompanied on Air Force One for the trip by his sister Valerie Biden and son Hunter Biden.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden will spend time tracing his family history this week on a trip that includes stops in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Biden departed Tuesday for a trip that will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland. He landed Tuesday evening in Belfast, where he'll meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday. Sunak was among the officials who greeted Biden at Belfast International Airport.

Biden is expected to deliver remarks at Ulster University "marking tremendous progress" since the signing of the peace agreement in 1998, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday at the White House briefing.

"Hell underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities," said Kirby, who dismissed concerns about recent threats of violence in the country, saying Biden is comfortable making the trip.

Kirby added, "President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there."

After his speech in Belfast, Biden will travel to County Louth, on the northeastern coast of Ireland, which was home to his maternal ancestors in the 19th century. Biden's great-grandparents James Finnegan and Catherine Roche lived in the area before Finnegan immigrated with his family to the U.S., settling in Seneca County, New York, when he was 9 years old, a White House official said.

On Thursday, Biden is expected to meet with Irelands president, Michael Higgins, and taoiseach, or prime minister, Leo Varadkar, and address a joint session of the Irish Parliament, Kirby said. That evening, Biden will attend a banquet at Dublin Castle.

Biden is also set to visit County Mayo, on Ireland's northwestern coast, where more of his ancestors, the Blewitt family, are from.

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 17, 2022, US President Joe Biden speaks during the annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. - When a British journalist once asked Joe Biden for an interview, the US president responded with a joke.

"He will meet with relatives, visit places of significance to the Finnegans of County Louth and the Blewitts of County Mayo and discuss how a fierce pride in being Irish and a value system that says everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect have been passed down to each generation," a White House official said.

The visit to County Mayo is expected to include a stop at a genealogical research center. Biden will deliver remarks at St. Muredachs Cathedral, where his great-great-grandfather Patrick Blewitt was baptized in April 1832.

Biden is scheduled to return to the U.S. on Saturday. Asked by reporters Monday whether his trip would include a meeting with King Charles, Kirby indicated that Biden spoke to him by phone last week and informed him that first lady Jill Biden would represent the U.S. at his coronation in May.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A seagull flies in between two tourist buses in Belfast city centre Northern Ireland, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. President Joe Biden is visiting Northern Ireland and Ireland to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. | Christophe Ena, Associated Press

President Joe Biden is heading to Ireland this week to strengthen diplomatic ties, as well as pay homage to his Irish heritage.

One stop on the trip includes the town of Ballina, where his great-great grandfathers left for the United States in the 1850. He made a stop in Ballina when he was vice president in 2016 and visited distant cousin Joe Blewitt, The Associated Press reported.

He said, Im going to come back into Ballina. And sure to God hes going to come back into Ballina, Blewitt told AP. His Irish roots are really deep in his heart.

Biden is first Irish Catholic president to visit Ireland since Kennedy

The last time a president with this much Irish heritage visited the country was John F. Kennedy in the 1960s, per The New York Times.

I think its fair to say that Biden is the most Irish of U.S. presidents, except maybe for Kennedy, Lynne Kelleher, author of a book about Ireland and the White House, told the Times. His interest in Ireland is very genuine.

Bidens trip is not just about family business. He will be in meetings to shore up trade and the Anglo-Irish peace deal of 1998, according to the Times.

What diplomacy meetings with Biden have in Ireland?

His trip will start in Belfast, Northern Ireland  marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that brought an end to 30 years of sectarian violence on the island known as The Troubles, ABC News reported.

He will visit Ireland and Northern Ireland during the trip  the first time a president has visited the regions since the U.K. left the European Union. Ireland is a sovereign nation and continues to belong to the EU, whereas Northern Ireland is part of the U.K. and is now not a part of it, per ABC News.

The region has experienced some tension recently because of the U.K.s exit from the EU. Part of the post-Brexit Withdrawal Agreement effectively established a trade border in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, according to CNBC.

Whilst its positive in many ways  particularly on movement of food and medicines between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it really removes a lot of the frictions  it doesnt deal with all the problems of the Northern Ireland protocol, so Im afraid its unfinished business, Theresa Villiers, former U.K. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, told CNBC.
President Joe Biden spoke to the family of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who the United States says is being unjustly imprisoned by Russia, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.

The president "felt it was really important to connect with Evan's family," Jean-Pierre said.

"We're making it real clear that it's totally illegal what's happening," Biden told reporters on the tarmac as he boarded the plane to depart for a state visit to Ireland.

The Gershkovich family said that it was encouraged by both the State Department's announcement and the president's call.

"We appreciate President Biden's call to us today, assuring us that the U.S. government is doing everything in its power to bring him home as quickly as possible," the statement said. "In addition to being a distinguished journalist, Evan is a beloved son and brother. There is a hole in our hearts and in our family that won't be filled until we are reunited."

The State Department announced on Monday that Gershkovich, who was arrested on espionage charges in late March that the U.S. adamantly denies, is now officially classified as a wrongfully detained American, a designation that grants additional powers and resources to U.S. officials as they work to secure his freedom.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that as of Tuesday, Gershkovich has not been granted consular access.

"When I spoke to Foreign Minister Lavrov about a week ago now--just after Evan was detained--I of course pressed for his immediate release but I also pressed for immediate consular access to him," he said. "The fact that Russia has not granted that access puts it once again in violation of international commitments it's made--commitments that are at the heart of diplomatic relations between countries and the ability of our citizens as well to be able to safely be present in other countries."

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Blinken predicted Russia's refusal to grant consular access would "do even more damage to Russia's standing around the world-- standing that has been in freefall particularly since its reinvasion of Ukraine last year."

John Kirby, the White House's National Security Council spokesperson, said this was just the beginning of what could be a lengthy battle to bring Gershkovich home.

"The determination of wrongful detention, it doesn't start the clock necessarily on communicating with the Russians about getting him released. We're very early in this process here," he said.

American diplomats have still not been able to gain access to Gershkovich in detention -- a violation of longstanding agreements between Russia and the U.S. and international law, according to the State Department.

Blinken and the U.S. ambassador to Russia have both spoken to their counterparts about Gershkovich's case.

Kirby declined to disclose any details about conversations with the Russian government, but he said that officials within the administration were "certainly having discussions about what we can do to get him released."

Russian officials have charged Gershkovich with espionage. Gershkovich denies the charges and his lawyers filed for an appeal, which is scheduled to be heard in Moscow later this month.

ABC's Justin Gomez and Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.

Biden speaks to family of WSJ reporter, says detention by Russia is 'totally illegal' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
President Biden on Tuesday called it completely out of bounds for a federal judge in Texas to invalidate the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) decades-old approval of the abortion medication mifepristone.

My thoughts are its completely out of bounds what the judge did, Biden said when asked about last weeks ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk.

Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000 and has been proven safe and effective. Its one of two medications used to induce a medical abortion in the U.S.

Kacsmaryk ruled Friday in favor of anti-abortion groups, halting the FDAs approval of the drug.

If the decision is upheld, advocates have warned, it could open the door to any third party challenging any medication or treatment that they disagree with, including vaccines for children, AIDS drugs, birth control or hormone therapy.

A separate federal judge in Washington state ruled minutes after Kacsmaryk that the FDA was blocked 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.

The White House on Monday said it would follow the law, rebuffing calls from some for the government to ignore the Texas judges ruling. But the administration is expected to take the fight over mifepristone to the Supreme Court.

We stand by the FDAs approval of mifepristone, and we are prepared for a long, legal fight. Thats what I can say from here, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Thats what we are committed to do  to doing for the providers who are making sure that this is available to women and also for women out there.

The Justice Department on Monday asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to pause Kacsmaryks ruling until the administration can bring its appeal of the decision in full.

Updated at 11:13 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden is spending only one night in Northern Ireland and limiting his meetings with UK and local leaders to a minimum, before he goes on a nostalgia trip to his ancestral homeland.

But Downing Street denies any snub.

Unabashedly touting his Irish-American roots ahead of a likely reelection run, the president is according Prime Minister Rishi Sunak a mere "bi-latte" coffee meeting rather than a full bilateral in Belfast, according to a US official quoted by the New York Times.

The Democrat is also skipping next month's coronation of King Charles III, dispatching First Lady Jill Biden in his place.

But Downing Street points to a recent political summit in California and Biden's acceptance of Charles's invitation to pay a state visit, as proof that the transatlantic relationship is alive and well, even if UK officials balk at calling it "special" anymore.

"You've seen the president's actions during his time demonstrate that we have a close relationship," Sunak's spokesman told reporters on Tuesday.

He noted that as president, Biden's first visit outside North America was to the UK.

"We continue to have an incredibly positive working relationship with the president and the US government."

Nevertheless, the Biden administration has been widely seen as keeping London at arm's length as the UK struggles to carve out a new role since quitting the European Union.

- 'Keep the peace' -

The UK's hopes for a post-Brexit US free trade deal appear dead for now, with the government settling for lower-grade agreements with individual US states that are of more symbolic than commercial value.

The White House made little effort to hide its frustration at the name-calling and brinkmanship that characterised London's dealings with Brussels under Sunak's predecessor, Boris Johnson.

Sunak appears to have turned the page on the UK's relations with the EU by forging a new pact on post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland, called the Windsor Framework.

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But the territory's biggest pro-UK party refuses still to end its more than year-long boycott of the local government in the Stormont assembly.

Before delivering a speech in Belfast Wednesday, Biden is expected to meet briefly with the leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party and others including the nationalist Sinn Fein, which wants reunification with the Republic of Ireland.

On leaving Washington, Biden said his main focus in Belfast was ensuring the Good Friday peace agreement and Windsor Framework "stay in place".

"Keep the peace. That's the main thing," he told reporters.

US political support was key to the peace agreement that ended the three-decade-long "Troubles" in Northern Ireland in April 1998.

But while Bill Clinton worked the phones to help secure the peace deal in 1998, Biden is viewed with distrust by Northern Ireland's pro-UK politicians given his invocations of his Irish heritage.

- Another Kennedy -

Twenty-five years on, UK and some Northern Irish leaders hope for an infusion of US economic support to safeguard the peace through investment, even if Stormont's power-sharing government remains in paralysis.

Sectarian strife has not gone away. Ahead of Biden's trip, masked youths hurled petrol bombs and fireworks at police during an unauthorised nationalist parade in Londonderry/Derry, where the Troubles began in the 1960s.

But the president's delegation -- which includes Joe Kennedy, his newly appointed envoy for Northern Irish economic affairs -- will also see the fruits of the peace agreement.

Biden's five-star hotel in Belfast only opened in 2018, part of a wave of redevelopment that has transformed the city centre after its tragic recent past.

Before 1998, the only place for visiting dignitaries to stay was the nearby Europa, which was attacked so often by the Irish Republican Army paramilitary group that it became known as the most bombed hotel in Europe.

Chris Heaton-Harris, Sunak's secretary of state for Northern Ireland, denied that the short duration of Biden's visit was a missed opportunity.

"I know he also wants to visit other things in Ireland and family," he said.

"But let's make the most of his visit and make it a really positive event on the trajectory of Northern Ireland's continued peace, stability, and actually prosperity as well."

jit/phz/giv
U.S. President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One as he departs for Northern Ireland

U.S. President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One as he departs for Northern Ireland, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 11, 2023. Credit - Jim WatsonAFP/Getty Images

President Joe Biden in a speech in Belfast hailed the dividends of peace that are all around us in Northern Ireland that was brought about by the Good Friday Agreement, as he began a visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the U.S.-brokered peace deal penned on April 10, 1998, that brought a close to three decades of violence between traditionally Catholic republicans and Protestant unionists.

He paid tribute to those who had been involved in brokering the landmark deal and emphasized how important it was to the region. I think sometimes, especially with the distance of history, we forget how hard-earned, how astounding that peace was. It shifted the political gravity in our world, Biden said during his speech.

Bidens visit comes amid political tensions in Northern Ireland, which is currently without a functioning government as the conservative and unionist Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) pulled out last year in protest of post-Brexit trade rules.

Biden referenced the current political standoff, saying he hopes the Stormont Assembly will be restored but added that the U.S. is there for support. Thats a judgment for you to make, but I hope it happens, he said.

Biden will also be visiting the Republic of Ireland where he has family ties and to honor the connections between Ireland and the U.S.

Heres what to know about Bidens visit and Northern Irelands political climate.

Here are details of Bidens visit to Ireland

The President met with the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before traveling to Ulster Universitys new 364 million ($452 million) Belfast campus to deliver his speech where he met with representatives from five of Northern Irelands political parties.

He then traveled to the Republic of Ireland for events in counties Louth and Mayo to meet his Irish family, and in Dublin before his departure Friday.

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His symbolic arrival on the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement underscores his support for the accord and peace and stability in Northern Ireland. He always stresses the fact that he supports the agreement, says Daniel Mulhall, a former Irish ambassador to the U.S. He seems genuinely proud of the role they [the U.S.] played in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement, which was a big success for American foreign policy back in the day.

His visit marks 23 years since President Bill Clinton last embarked on the same trip.

While the relative peace brought about by the historic agreement remains intact, cross-community relations are strained. On Monday, petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle during a parade by dissident republicans in Londonderry. Two weeks ago, the U.K.s domestic counter-intelligence and security agency MI5 said Northern Irelands terrorism threat level had increased.

Hes coming to Northern Ireland at a time where there are some difficulties between the unionist and the nationalists but hell be giving a speech that I daresay will be carefully crafted to hit all the right notes, says Mulhall.

Irish-U.S. relations are often described by the White House as a close partnership, with over 30 million Americans claiming Irish identity. Additionally, Ireland hosts the largest number of American students for study abroad programs, estimated at around 12,000 per year.

Some of the earliest settlers in America came from whats known as Northern Ireland and had a big role in the development of American political life says Mulhall. He adds that since the Good Friday Agreement was brokered with U.S. mediation, successive presidents have tried to do what they could to move Northern Ireland forward in the right direction as they see it.

Read More: If Biden Is Going to Rebuild the International Order, Hell Need a Friend Like the U.K.

As an American who is vocal about his Irish heritage, this trip is also a personal one for Biden. He has spoken about his Irish connections as the great-great-grandson of the Blewitts of County Mayo and the Finnegans of County Louth, who boarded coffin ships to cross the Atlantic more than 165 years ago.

What is the Good Friday Agreement?

The Good Friday Agreementalso known as the Belfast Agreementwas signed on April 10, 1998 bringing to an end decades of conflict known as the Troubles. The political deal brought together nationalists who are aligned with the Republic of Ireland and unionists who want Northern Ireland to remain tied to the United Kingdom. It was approved by a public vote in Northern Ireland. Politicians David Trimble and John Humethe leaders of the Ulster Unionist party and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), respectively, were awarded the Nobel peace prize for their involvement in the pact and role in bringing the two sides together.

The island of Ireland was divided in two after the Irish War of Independence ended in 1921. Northern Ireland remained part of the U.K. when the Republic of Ireland became an independent state. This gave way to political tensions between nationalists and unionists. Spanning from the late 1960s to the late 1990s, armed groups such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) carried out bombings and shootings and British troops were deployed in Northern Ireland. Over 3,500 people died during the conflict.

The Good Friday Agreement states that Northern Ireland will remain part of the U.K. unless the national population vote to change this during a referendum. Northern Irish citizens can hold British or Irish citizenship, or both.

Under the Good Friday Agreement, a devolved government was formed that represented both nationalists and unionists. While the U.K. parliament in Westminster retains some control, the Northern Ireland Assembly, located in Stormont, Belfast, was given command over key legislation such as health and education.

The agreements biggest success was its ability to broadly end three decades of violence. The Good Friday agreement has saved thousands of lives over the last 25 years and you cannot dismiss that, says Mulhall. It hasnt delivered everything that it was meant to deliver but it still delivers the key ingredients, which is peace and a blueprint for the future of Northern Ireland, he adds.

The agreement stipulated that armed groups must dispose of their weapons and those involved in fighting should be released from prison. Britain also scaled back its security arrangements and reduced military presence.

Why does Northern Ireland not have a functioning government?

Since elections in May, Northern Ireland has had no elected government and no annual budget, leaving schools and hospitals without funding; the education department has had to scrap lunch subsidies for schoolchildren from low income households. The DUP has said it will not re-enter power-sharing in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which established a trade border in the Irish Sea between Britain and Northern Ireland. Elections due to take place last November were also pushed back as a result of the impasse.

I know that an election in the coming weeks will not be helpful or welcome. So, I am introducing a bill to create more time for the parties to work together and return to government, as protocol discussions continue, U.K. Northern Ireland Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said in a statement, extending the deadline to form a government by Jan. 19, 2024 or else the British government would be legally obliged to hold an election to the devolved assembly within 12 weeks.
States like California and Washington are rushing to stockpile thousands of abortion pills after a Texas judge suspended FDA approval of mifepristone, which is part of a regimen that constitutes the most common method of procuring an abortion.

The Department of Justice has already asked the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for a stay of Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks nationwide injunction, which is due to take effect one week after his ruling last Friday. Additionally, Judge Thomas Rice of Washington state has issued a competing order that the FDA must maintain the drugs availability in 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia. However, blue states are not waiting for legal resolution to act.

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 treatmentsMedication abortion remains legal in California, explained Newsom in a statement.

California negotiated and purchased an emergency stockpile of misoprostol. More than 250,000 pills have already arrived and 2 million more are able to be purchased through CalRx.

Washington state has purchased 30,000 doses of mifepristone through the states correctional system and an additional 10,000 through the University of Washington, Politico reported.

In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey requested the University of Massachusetts Amherst purchase approximately 15,000 doses of mifepristone to ensure sufficient coverage in the state for more than a year, according to a statement from her office.

Newsom recently led 21 governors, including Healey and Washingtons Jay Inslee, to create the Reproductive Freedom Alliance to strengthen abortion firewalls across America. California has shared the negotiated terms of the misoprostol purchase agreement with all states in the Reproductive Freedom Alliance to secure the drug at a low cost.

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Misoprostol is combined with mifepristone, the primary drug used to obtain an abortion. While mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone and terminates the pregnancy, misoprostol causes contractions to expel the unborn child. However, misoprostol can also be used on its own to procure an abortion.

As blue states announce their plans to fight back, so too are the executives of drug companies throughout the country. A letter signed by over 400 executives includes representatives from Pfizer, which makes a small percentage of the U.S. supply of misoprostol, and many other biotech companies.

The company leaders argued that Kacsmaryks decision would challenge the foundation of the regulatory system for all medicines in the U.S.

As an industry we count on the FDAs autonomy and authority to bring new medicines to patients under a reliable regulatory process for drug evaluation and approval, the statement read. 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.

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 statement continued.

Danco, the maker of Mifeprex, the brand version of mifepristone, has filed an appeal similar to that of the Department of Justice against Kacsmaryks order.

The competing rulings in Texas and Washington make it likely that higher courts will intervene in an expedited fashion.

More from National Review
The Kyiv Oblast police discovered 1,374 bodies of the residents of Kyiv Oblast killed by the occupiers, 195 bodies have not been identified, 279 persons more are considered missing.

Source: Andrii Niebytov, head of the Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in Kyiv Oblast, at the briefing on 11 April, as cited by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "One of the main aspects of the work of the Kyiv Oblast Police is finding the bodies of the citizens killed in occupation. As of today, this number is 1,374 persons. These are the civilians who were killed.

Of them, 717 were killed by small arms, so more than half were consciously shot.

Sadly, 195 bodies are still yet to be identified. The DNA was collected from them, so we urge [citizens] to provide information so that we are able to identify all Ukrainians who were killed in Kyiv Oblast during the occupation."

Details: Niebytov specified that 340 persons died from mine and shrapnel wounds, the cause of death of 317 people is unknown.

He also reported that 279 persons are considered missing under special circumstances.

Quote: "There is information that there are people who are currently on the territory of Russia, they were deported there during the so-called evacuations. We understand that some of these people are in prison, and the Russians are allegedly forming a pool for the prisoners of war swaps."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






The bodies of Chuck Morris, the drummer of electronic jam band Lotus, and his son Charley Morris were found more than three weeks after they were reported missing when they disappeared while kayaking in Arkansas, authorities said.

The Benton County Sheriff's Office began searching for Chuck Morris and his son in the South Lost Bridge Village area of Beaver Lake on March 16, the sheriff's office said in a statement on April 9.

"After 24 days of recovery efforts, the bodies of both Charles Morris IV and Charles Morris V have been recovered thanks to the technology and efforts by all personnel," the sheriff's office said.

Chuck Morris of Lotus performs during the 2013 Hangout Music Festival Kick Off Party (Erika Goldring / Getty Images)

The search team utilized resources like underwater drones to recover the remains in a "challenging environment that exceeded depths of" 180 feet, according to the sheriff's office.

"Our heart goes out (to) the family of Chuck and Charley Morris and we are thankful today that we can help bring closure," the sheriff's office said.

Five days after Chuck and Charley Morris went missing, Lotus said in an Instagram post the band had been hoping for a miracle.

"But at this point, the search for Chuck and Charley has moved to a recovery," the band said, adding, "It is unknown how long these efforts may take. While we are deeply grieving, we plan to celebrate Chuck and Charleys lives, our memories with them, and what they meant to so many people."

The band shared a statement from the Morris family on April 9, stating the body of Charley Morris had been located.

"We have concluded the cause of his death was drowning," the family said. "The teams are still actively searching for Chuck Morris, but we continue to have faith in their work."

One day later, the band added an update: "Chuck Morris was also recovered yesterday. Thanks to the efforts of the local search teams. We appreciate your support at this time."

Lotus announced the band will play four benefit concerts to pay tribute to Chuck Morris and his son, with 100% of the net proceeds going to the Morris family.

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The first two shows will be held in Denver on April 21 and 22, the band said, followed by performances on May 5 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and May 6 in Port Chester, New York, the band said.

Lotus added the band will be postponing their West Coast tour and that they were working on rescheduling their April tour dates.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
First-year Boise School District Trustee Shiva Rajbhandari released a formal apology Monday following the boards executive session for a profane tweet directed at Idaho Gov. Brad Little last week.

Rajbhandari, an 18-year-old senior at Boise High School, criticized Little for signing a law that bans gender-affirming care for Idaho youths who identify as transgender and non-binary.

F--- you @GovernorLittle, Rajbhandari wrote last week. I pray you live a long life so you can bear witness to the pain youve unleashed on Idahos children and families today. When you do die though, Im pissing on your grave.

During a two-part executive session that lasted nearly three hours in total, the board concluded that Rajbhandari violated the Board of Trustees Code of Ethics and an apology would not be sufficient. Rajbhandari agreed to step down from the governance committee and will not attend graduation ceremonies as a trustee.

Mr. Rahjbhandari apologized to the board and the board has accepted his apology. This does not, however, mean that Mr. Rahjbhandari will not face consequences for his actions, the board wrote in a statement. Mr. Rajbhandari has outlined the steps he will take to rebuild trust with the board and the community that are consistent with our districts values of respect, dignity, honesty, responsibility and teamwork.

Rajbhandari has since deleted the profane tweet and released a formal apology in a statement from the board late Monday night.

Im sure everyone here has seen my profane tweet on my personal account toward the governor. I want to address that today, Rajbhandari wrote. To our patrons, Im sorry. Im sorry that I communicated in a way that was crude and cruel and violated your trust in me. To our students, Im sorry. Im sorry that during a time of crisis, I failed to act as a role model for all of you and that I failed to represent the articulate, unrelenting, and kind people that I know all of you to be. To our staff, Im sorry. Im sorry that I failed in my personal life to abide by the same standards that you are asked to abide by.

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And to our board, Im sorry. Im sorry that my actions reflected poorly on each of your characters and values.

Littles signature on House Bill 71 makes Idaho the 10th U.S. state to ban gender-affirming care, according to previous Statesman reporting. Idaho physicians who provide such care to transgender minors could face up to 10 years in prison for violating the law.

Rajbhandari told the Idaho Statesman last week that he did not intend to offend anyone but was unapologetic in my commitment in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and against Littles action.
Taiwanese fisherman Wang Chia-wen contends with Chinese incursions every day, although not usually the kind staged by Beijing's military during its latest round of war games.

Fish stocks around Taiwan's tiny Matsu archipelago, a chain of rocky islands near the Chinese mainland, are crucial for the livelihoods of residents but the intruding crews are eating away at them.

Island authorities are under-resourced and locals say they are helpless to stop the hostile competition that doesn't respect the median line, an unofficial boundary in the Taiwan Strait that Beijing refuses to recognise.

"Everyone is frustrated. It has become a common occurrence," said Wang, 45.

"They come very close to the shore. We can see each other. They act as if they don't see us, but there's nothing much we can do."

The boats are harming livelihoods as well as the seabeds and marine ecosystem of Taiwan, which has one of the world's largest fishing industries, in their search for fish, squid and crabs.

Some officials say it could be part of Beijing's "grey zone" tactics, a non-military means of coercion that keeps pressure on the self-ruled island.

"With any type of grey zone harassment, there's always this component of deniability. It might be civilian, and it might be intentional," said Lii Wen, director of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Matsu office.

Chinese officials have described China as a responsible fishing country that opposes illegal and unregulated fishing.

- 'Every day' -

The Taiwanese coast guard often finds itself chasing Chinese vessels that fish illegally in the sprawling island chain's waters.

But they are regularly too late, locals say, especially if the Chinese boats come at night.

Authorities still managed to expel 1,291 Chinese fishing vessels from its waters last year, according to Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration data.

Such incidents bring both sides into dangerously close contact.

"Any type of accident or unpredictable events could lead to larger tensions or escalate tensions in unexpected ways," said Lii.

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At the sleepy fishing harbour of Qiao Zi on Matsu's Beigan island, crews worked to fix their boats while amateur anglers sat at the end of a small jetty casting their lines into the ocean.

Chiu Ching-chih, clad in stained overalls and black Wellington boots, showed off a fresh catch of seabass jumping around behind him at the end of his working day.

The 51-year-old said Chinese incursions were incessant and islanders felt powerless to stop them.

"It has become very frequent, you can see them every day," he said.

- 'Make ends meet' -

Another threat to their stocks is squid fishing by Chinese light boats, which locals say shine LEDs from Chinese waters that have at times turned Matsu's skies a luminous green.

"There is an indirect impact because they attract the small fish to their side. Big fish from our side will also go to their side," Chiu said.

Crew on Chinese boats have also thrown stones at their Taiwanese rivals, shattering windows, and even cut their expensive nets to gain the upper hand.

"The impact has been very serious. Their fishing nets overlap with ours. They wont cut their own net and they will damage our nets," said Wang's brother, 44-year-old Chia-ling.

A fishing net can cost between 200,000 and 300,000 Taiwanese dollars ($6,560-$9,800).

Other tactics used by the Chinese vessels condemned by the Taiwanese islanders include blast fishing with dynamite that ruins the seabed and the ecosystem below the waves.

Locals compare it to killing the hen to get the egg.

They also accuse the Chinese crews of using electrofishing -- stunning fish to catch them.

With the threat of incursions ever-present, the Matsu locals now question if they will be able to carry on, or even be able to feed their families in the future.

"Illegal fishing in our water does the most harm to us. The catch will become fewer and fewer. We have to make a living too," said Chiu.

He said a kilo of fish can fetch 400 Taiwanese dollars ($13).

"If we are unable to make ends meet, maybe one day we might have to give up fishing."

yan-jfx/ssy/pbt
Commentary: U.S. politicians' "frustration" over Saudi-Iran deal exposes hegemonic mindset

Xinhua) 08:21, April 11, 2023

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the talks between a Saudi delegation and an Iranian delegation in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)

CAIRO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- As world leaders welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran -- two arch-rivals in the Middle East -- some U.S. officials have expressed their displeasure instead of joining the celebration.

In an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, William Burns, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, aired Washington's "frustration" at being left out of regional developments after Riyadh moved to restore ties with Iran and Syria, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Burns' frustration came about a month after the China-brokered Saudi Arabia-Iran talks, during which the two sides agreed to resume diplomatic relations. The two Mideast countries signed a joint statement in Beijing on Thursday to reopen embassies and consulates in their respective countries.

The deal is expected to ease tensions between the two influential Muslim countries, so that they could work together to reduce armed conflicts and restore stability and peace for tens of millions of people in the region.

When most of the world welcome the move, it doesn't seem to be good news for Washington, where any diplomatic effort of China could be interpreted as evidence of malign intent and an attempt to hurt U.S. interests.

Such a mindset has resulted in the indiscriminate use of U.S. power to contain China and sabotage any project that China takes part in, including peacemaking and other initiatives for the world's common good.

In addition to its own harsh sanctions imposed on Chinese technology firms, Washington has also coerced its allies and some other countries to join the sanctions and reject projects in which China had a stake.

In the case of the Saudi-Iranian deal, the United States was not in a good position to broker such a rapprochement as it has no diplomatic ties with Iran.

U.S. politicians refuse to face the reality that they -- after being a key player in the Middle East for decades -- now find themselves absent from an agreement which could bring significant changes in the region.

Moreover, as many analysts have pointed out, Washington may not be very interested in building a peaceful Middle East since it has long taken advantage of the region's conflicts and made a fortune out of it.

By inciting conflict between Iran, against which Washington has already imposed harsh sanctions, and other countries in the region, the United States could make its Mideast allies more reliant on it on security matters, and benefit from this situation by selling weapons to them.

Over the years, U.S. politicians have been trying to shape the geopolitics of the Middle East by aligning with allies, isolating governments they deemed to be hostile, widening the Arab-Iranian and Israeli-Iranian divide through a complex scheme, and entangling the region in its influence.

Yet, these tactics are full of loopholes. Rigorous sanctions on important regional players will leave little room for U.S. policymakers to maneuver when a dialogue is needed, and excessive interference in the crucial decisions of its allies to advance its own interests may backfire.

The Saudi-Iran deal could serve as a reminder for Washington to reconsider its confrontational foreign policy and its zero-sum game approach to international affairs.

U.S. politicians has been obsessed with doing everything it can to help maintain its hegemony, regardless of the consequences of their decisions and actions.

For too long, they have taken it for granted that intimidations, sanctions and other economic penalties are a show of strength. But quite contrary to what they had wished for, keeping doing so would eventually alienate U.S. allies and erode U.S. power in a fast-changing world where most people yearn for pragmatic cooperation instead of confrontations.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
This article was originally published in Daily Montanan.

Amid the national uproar about whether to allow students access to a wide variety of books, the superintendent of a Virginia school district this week proposed a sweeping solution: Get rid of school libraries altogether.

Mark Taylor, who leads the district in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, suggested at a recent school board meeting that eliminating libraries would be a cost-reduction measure, saving $4.2 million in anticipation of $18 million in budget cuts.

But parents were out in force at the meeting, and many decried the idea of cutting libraries, saying they are essential and eliminating them would be a disservice to children. None of the parents or community members were officially allowed to speak at the public meeting, but some stood in the back of the room holding signs with slogans such as We Deserve Better and Fund our Schools!

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And just hours after the raucous meeting, veteran board member Dawn Shelley accused Taylor of using money-saving as a ruse to get rid of books.

I think they think, Well, if we remove the libraries, then we dont have to deal with those books, she said in an interview with Stateline.

Another school board member, Nicole Cole, in a separate interview, agreed that closing libraries is a further attack on our educators, our teachers and its banning books.

Neither Taylor, nor the chair of the school board, returned calls seeking comment. But Taylor told a local television reporter that libraries are not necessarily vital, since whole libraries are available on an app on kids cellphones.

Librarians Decry GOP Moves to Ban Books in Schools

One day after the meeting, Taylor ruled that 14 books that had been challenged by a parent as inappropriate and containing sexually explicit content must be removed from school libraries and declared surplus property. The 14 include Toni Morrisons Beloved and The Bluest Eye, as well as Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, a historical novel set in a Great Depression circus, and Nineteen Minutes, by Jody Picoult, which is about a school shooting. Taylor suggested the books be donated to other libraries.

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According to the local Free Lance-Star newspaper, all the books had been declared appropriate for high school ages after reviews by committees that included parents. But the parent making the initial complaint, the paper said, had appealed that decision.

Related FReadom Fighters Co-Founder on Why School Librarians Matter

Spotsylvania County has been a hotbed of book banning for a couple of years, ever since it passed and then rescinded a plan to remove sexually explicit books from school libraries. One board member apparently suggested burning books as well, according to news reports at the time.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, made parental concern over explicit books in public school curricula one of the elements of his winning 2021 campaign.

Anti-Book Movement

From July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, 138 school districts in 32 states banned books, according to PEN America. These districts represent 5,049 schools with a combined enrollment of nearly 4 million students, the literacy group said.

PEN chalked up the effort to censor books as an outgrowth of both the fight against mask mandates in schools and the move against what opponents call the teaching of critical race theory, a graduate-level course of study that considers the role race has played in historical events and the direction of the country. The PEN report identified at least 50 groups involved in book ban movements, most of which formed since 2021.

The number of school libraries and librarians has been dwindling for decades. Between the 1999-2000 and 2015-16 school years, the latest comprehensive figures available, the number of school librarians dropped 19%, according to a School Library Journal analysis of National Center for Education Statistics data.

Educators Warn Bills to Give Parents More Power Could Push Teachers Out

In Florida, GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, last year signed a law that allows parents to challenge any book on a school shelf and requires all books to be suited to student needs.

Some teachers say theyre not risking trouble. Rather than vet every book in their libraries to see if it meets the vague criteria  and risking a $5,000 fine if the books dont  educators have been pulling down all the books or covering them to prohibit student access.

Some school districts are closing school libraries, removing books or eliminating media specialist positions. In some states, many schools already lack school librarians: The New Jersey Herald reported as many as a fifth of all districts in the state did not have a certified school library media specialist on staff during the 2018-19 school year.

The California Department of Education reported that only about 9% of California schools have a credentialed teacher librarian, full or part-time. Most work in high schools.

In Michigan, 92% of schools dont employ a full-time, certified librarian, according to the education news site Chalkbeat, and the number of school librarians in Michigan declined 73% between 2016 and 2020. Several studies, including one about Michigan, correlate higher reading scores on standardized tests with the availability of libraries and librarians.

Related National Poll Shows Little Appetite for Book Bans

From Personnel Shortages to Legislation

Bills seeking to ban certain books from school libraries are popping up in multiple states this legislative session. In Indiana, a bill to prohibit school libraries from making available any book that contains obscene matter or matters harmful to children, passed the Senate and is under consideration by the House.

A bill in Mississippi that would have banned obscene material from libraries died in February. It also would have set up a Commission on Age Appropriate Literacy to decide what was obscene.

A Missouri bill would set up a procedure by which parents can object to books being used in schools.

A bill in West Virginia would prohibit stocking any book in a school library that contains references to a sex act between persons of the same or opposite sex.

And in Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear allowed an anti-obscenity bill to become law without signing it. The law requires schools to come up with a complaint policy for parents to challenge books and materials as harmful to their kids.

With all the attempts to ban or challenge books, bestselling horror author Stephen King has some advice for curious students. In a tweet, King suggested going to the nearest bookstore or non-school library and find out what they dont want you to read.

Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter.
Boston gave Melvin King a goodbye in the neighborhood he was born in, served in, and died in. The Union Methodist Church in the heart of Bostons South End was filled with the memories of Mel King. A community leader, political activist, author, and educator  but most people say he was best known as a fighter for fairness. Making sure we were centering people in our decisions and that is the beauty and genius of Mel King, said former Mayor Kim Janey.

Rob Hollister remembers working with King years ago on grant-funded projects. He never missed an opportunity to say Hey we have to do better on the equity front, said Hollister. Toni Bee credits King for helping her become the first woman to be elected Poet Populist of Cambridge. He spoke, he taught you how to fish. He told you to pick up the phone and you have an issue you call. So he activated you. He truly affirmed you. And I am so grateful he was in my life, said Bee.

Remembering an icon: Longtime Boston activist Mel King to be laid to rest Tuesday

King is well-known for his role in fighting for affordable housing in the South End. King and his supporters built a temporary tent city on a demolished housing site until the developer agreed to construct new housing, now named Tent City. Annette Griffin came to the funeral to make sure Kings family knew how special of a man he was. Im very honored and Im very proud of him and the work he had done for so many people, said Griffin.

Everyone he touched told us he made you want to do better. Reverend George Woodroof did a brunch at his church in the South End with King. Great sense of humor and similarly he never met a stranger. He was always very kind and very open to everyone and he loved the Boston community and he wanted it to be better for everybody, said Woodruff.

Mel King, civil rights icon and first Black person to run for mayor in Boston, dies at 94

Many dignitaries attended the funeral including Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

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Ioan Watts, nine, fell off a scooter and slipped off a ledge, falling eight foot head first onto hard concrete and fracturing his skull. (Media Wales)

A nine-year-old boy who was in a coma for nearly a month after falling head-first onto hard concrete from his scooter in an eight-foot drop is still recovering six months on.

Ioan Watts was riding around on his scooter outside his home in Bedwas, South Wales, as he waited for his mum and younger brother to get ready for the morning school run.

His mum, Lydia Watts, says a fall from the scooter wouldnt have been a major disaster but the youngster slid and fell off a ledge at height, landing directly on his head on the concrete floor.

The schoolboy was rushed to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where doctors found his brain was swelling and his skull was fractured in multiple places.

After medics stabilised him, he was taken to the paediatric intensive care unit of Noah's Ark Children's Hospital, where he was probably the illest child there for quite some time, his mum said.

Read more: Son speaks of family's heartache after father dies in Peak District fall

Ioan is keen to thank everyone who saved his life and his family are raising funds. (Media Wales)

Rather than getting better, the pressure on his brain continued to increase, and five days after the 3 October accident, doctors decided to perform emergency surgery to save his life.

They needed to remove part of his skull to relieve the pressure on his brain. They said if they didn't operate straight away, he would be gone, said Lydia.

After the operation, doctors and nurses continued to do everything possible to reduce the swelling on his brain, including keeping him at a cool temperature and laying him at an angle.

However, it still wasn't clear if Ioan would survive, and he remained in a coma for around two more weeks.

Read more: Three injured when car crashed into bungalow 'while manoeuvring'

Lydia said: "He was doing very little and they weren't particularly hopeful They said if his heart stopped beating it wouldn't be in his best interest to resuscitate him.

Then little tiny things started happening. His pupils started reacting and his eyes opened a little bit. He started breathing for himself and began to urinate by himself.

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After three-and-a-half weeks, doctors took out Ioans breathing tube, not sure if he was going to breathe for himself, but to the relief of his family, he did.

Read more: Who is on strike today in the UK?

Ioan was in a coma for nearly a month, and doctors weren't sure if he was going to make it. (Media Wales)

Ioan was then transferred to a rehabilitation ward at Noahs Ark, where he stayed for 10 weeks undergoing physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.

His family were basically living at the hospital from October until after Christmas, until he was finally allowed to leave in January.

He couldn't speak or sit up when he first woke up so we didn't know if he was going to be bedridden for the rest of his life, wheelchair ridden or incontinent or if he would ever speak again, but in November, his recovery was so astonishingly quick, Lydia said.

"By the end of November he could walk, talk and play on his Xbox - not quite as he could before as he was still relearning a lot. Now we are four or five months later and he can do almost everything he could do before."

Read more: Shocked litter picker finds four huge live royal pythons in pillowcases dumped by roadside

Staff at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital pose with a healthier Ioan. (Media Wales)

However, Ioan still has a long way to go, and his family have been told it could take two to three years before the full extent of his brain injury is known.

He is in school full-time now, but needs extra support as he struggles with his attention span and impulsivity  shouting inappropriate things.

Lydia says he didnt behave that way before, adding: He was always a very normal, shy, quiet and clever boy, and he is now very different."

His mum added: He doesn't want to be treated any differently than anyone else, he just wants to be normal.

Read more: 'Lucky' teenager rescued from sand after nearly being 'buried alive' on beach

He gets upset sometimes thinking about what happened but we encourage him to talk about it but not to dwell on it too much.

Ioan is very keen on thanking everyone who helped save his life, and Lydia is running the Caerphilly 2k with his eight-year-old brother Rhodri and around 30 friends from school to raise money.

Ioan has already exceeded his target of 1,000, but wants to raise as much as he possibly can, with proceeds split between Noah's Ark Children's Hospital and Wales Air Ambulance.

You can support his fundraiser here.
School Committee member Tracy O'Connell Novick

WORCESTER  School Committee member Tracy OConnell Novick is calling on district administrators to work to ensure that no money from the Worcester Public Schools district is being allocated to Old Sturbridge Village for things like field trips in her agenda item listed for this weeks meeting.

The agenda item was submitted due to O'Connell Novick's concerns with the museums use of state education funds being used to cover operating costs through its ties with Old Sturbridge Academy and the incoming Worcester Cultural Academy Public Charter School.

The committee could vote on Thursday to send the agenda item to administrators to look into diverting district funds.

They are an organization that depends on, generally speaking, admission in order to pay their bills, OConnell Novick said. If they are acting in a way that is, in our estimation, unethical, then something we can do as consumers is say that were not going to spend our money there anymore.

When asking for the district's view on O'Connell Novick's agenda item and whether it supported it, district spokesperson Dan O'Brien provided the following statement:

"Worcester Public Schools is not planning additional field trips to Old Sturbridge Village next year due to the many issues raised in recent months regarding Worcester Cultural Academy, which include conflict-of-interest concerns."

The effort to divert funds away from the museum first came in February when Educational Association of Worcester and the Massachusetts Teachers Association  the local and state educators union  called for a boycott pending an investigation into the financial agreement between the museum and charter schools.

It seems to me that if there was any place in Massachusetts that should take them up on that boycott, it should be the Worcester Public Schools, OConnell said.

Field-trip alternatives to OSV

The agenda item also requests that district administrators look into alternatives for field trips to learn about Massachusetts state history instead of taking students to Old Sturbridge Village.

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When asked if she had any alternative field trip locations in mind, OConnell Novick said she would defer to others like teachers who would know what trip alternatives would match up with what the students need to learn.

There's lots and lots of opportunities for great field trips for Massachusetts state history, she said. Now that we have so much more flexibility around field trips, due to having our own transportation, I think that that just adds to the ability to be more creative.

Concerns about the financial agreement between the museum and the charter schools have been raised previously by the School Committee members, Superintendent Rachel H. Monarrez and the Educational Association of Worcester.

In February, the School Committee called a special meeting to vote on calling the state auditor, the inspector general and the state Ethics Commission to investigate the financial status of the group.

During that meeting, Deputy Superintendent Brian Allen reviewed the financial agreement between the museum and Old Sturbridge Academy, and highlighted a concern about state education funds being used for operating costs.

Despite the call for investigation and concerns about the financial agreement, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 7-4 to award the proposed Worcester Cultural Academy a charter in February.

The day after the vote, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio said she would evaluate the concerns raised by the Worcester School Committee.

When asked if she would be open to sending students to Old Sturbridge Village again if an investigation cleared them of improperly using state education funds, OConnell Novick said she is more concerned with the crux of the issue.

The Department [of Elementary and Secondary Education] itself has allowed for a private institution to, as itself testified, create a financial relationship, she said. This isn't simply an oversight, this is actually something they're depending on as a source of income.

She said that until that issue has been resolved, she would rather the district look at using its own state education funds to be better used elsewhere.

The School Committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Esther Howland South Chamber in City Hall.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester School Committee to weigh boycott of Old Sturbridge Village
A meteorite just slammed into Maine.

The person who finds it can exchange it for a handsome  yet not quite out of this world  reward.

The space rock was seen soaring over the Pine Tree State on Saturday, April 8, according to NASAs Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Lab.

Eyewitnesses report a fireball that was bright even in midday, followed by loud sonic booms near Calais, Maine, according to the agency.

The falling meteorite was observed for just under five minutes before it landed near the U.S.-Canada border.

The crash is the first meteorite fall to be detected by radar in the state, the agency said.

The weather radar that identified the falling space rock, known as NEXRAD, has been in operation since 1996, Marc Fries, a NASA scientist who studies meteorite falls, told McClatchy News.

Since NEXRAD went online Ive found a total of about three dozen meteorite falls, so we have not seen one for all 50 states yet, Fries said.

Following the crash, the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, which houses the largest display of meteorites from Mars and the moon on Earth, announced it is offering $25,000 to the individual who finds the meteorite, Myles Felch, a museum curator, told McClatchy News.

Any specimen brought to the museum has to weigh 1 kilogram or more, Felch said, adding that the rocks texture and chemistry would be analyzed to confirm its authenticity.

As to how difficult it would be to find the meteorite, it really depends, Felch said.

There are many variables at play, he said. If it was a witnessed fall, they can kind of triangulate where it may have landed based on radar and clips captured on dash cams or from someones backyard.

And depending on the composition of the meteorite it could be more difficult or easier to find, Felch said. A metallic meteorite is easier to identify in the field, while a stony (one) can be more difficult for someone who is not experienced with identifying these extraterrestrial objects.

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Surface conditions also factor into the likelihood of finding meteorites, Fries said.

It looks like the fall site is forested, and in previous falls it has proven difficult to find meteorites in (a) forest, Fries said.

Some Maine residents expressed interest in searching for the fallen rock in a Facebook group called Whats Happening Washington County, Maine.

One group member wrote, I recall someone saying they heard something hit their roof. Get outside and find it!

Several other members discussed using metal detectors to attempt to track down the valuable celestial mass.

Not everyone was enthused, though. One Mainer expressed caution, writing, I saw The Blob. Im not picking that up.

Meteorite hunters raced to south Texas after startling boom. Heres what they found

Fireball explodes over Western Canada creating sonic boom in night, onlookers say

Womans body in vehicle at used car lot had likely been there for weeks, NC police say
Brooke Shields has said that the director of The Blue Lagoon has tried to reach out to her following the release of her new Hulu documentary. Theo Wargo/WireImage/Getty Images, Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Brooke Shields has said that Randal Kleiser, who directed "The Blue Lagoon," has reached out to her.

She said she let his call go to voicemail as she's not interested in "bringing any of it back up again."

In her new documentary, Shields accused Kleiser of wanting to exploit her "sexual awakening."

Brooke Shields has said that the director of "The Blue Lagoon" has tried to reach out to her following the release of her new Hulu documentary, in which she has accused him of wanting "to sell my sexual awakening."

In a teaser clip from Tuesday's episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show," the actor and model said she's let Randal Kleiser's calls go straight to voicemail as she's not interested in "bringing any of it back up again."

"Now that the documentary is out, have any of the male directors reached out to you, like Louis Malle and Franco Zeffirelli?" Barrymore asked, referring to the filmmakers behind two of Shields' earliest roles, "Pretty Baby" and "Endless Love."

Shields replied that both had died, but said that Kleiser, the director behind the coming-of-age story, was still alive and had tried to make contact with her.

She said: "I saw his name on my phone, and I was like, 'What do I do?' And I let it go to voicemail because I was like, 'I want to see what the tone is.'"

"He wants to chat. I don't know about what," Shields said of the "Grease" director.

However, Shields indicated that she might not return to call as "I don't feel like bringing any of it back up again."

Speaking generally about Kleiser, Malle, and Zeffirelli, whose films all depicted an underage Shields as an object of sexual desire, she said: "It was about, you know, these males needing me to be in a certain category to serve their story."

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"It never was about me, it was never protective of me. It was fun and loving at times, but I was just there," she continued. "I was a pawn, I was a piece, I was a commodity."

A representative for Kleiser did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Although she was just 15 years old while shooting "The Blue Lagoon," Shields was no stranger to being sexualized, having posed nude in a Playboy publication at age 10 and played a prostitute in "Pretty Baby" at 11.

In "Blue Lagoon," the actor plays the teenage version of a girl who, along with her male cousin (played by an 18-year-old Christopher Atkins), has been marooned since infancy on an idyllic tropical island. As the film unfolds, the two go through puberty together and begin to feel sexual desire for each other, before eventually falling in love and having a baby.

Brooke Shields with director Randal Kleiser and cinematographer Nestor Almendros on set of "The Blue Lagoon." Hulu

Speaking in "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," which was released on April 3, the model and actor said that while she enjoyed the experience of filming the 1980 film in Fiji, she was left feeling exploited by Kleiner.

She said that Kleiner tried to market the movie around her existing sexualized image by making it appear she was experiencing a sexual awakening at the same time as the character she portrayed.

The documentary quoted Kleiser as telling a newspaper: "It's real, she's going from a child to a woman during the filming."

"They wanted to make it a reality show," Shields said in a to-camera interview while discussing the making of the movie. "They wanted to sell my actual sexual awakening."

She explained: "The irony was, I wasn't in touch with any of my own sexuality."

Shields said that being raised Catholic, sex wasn't something she discussed with her parents, former model Teri Shields and Revlon executive Frank Shields, who divorced when she was just 5 months old.

Read the original article on Insider
Brooke Shields in 2023. Mike Coppola/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Brooke Shields and Drew Barrymore commiserated about growing up as child stars.

When asked by Barrymore if her mom ever dated any of her boyfriends, Shields said no.

"She was in love with me... Both of us were cut off from our sexuality," Shields told Barrymore.

Brooke Shields opened up about her experience as a child star during her appearance on Tuesday's episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show," hosted by Barrymore, a former child star herself.

When the "50 First Dates" actor asked Shields if her mother Teri ever dated any of her boyfriends, Shields said no.

"No, because she was in love with me," the "Pretty Baby" star said, according to Page Six.

Shields reportedly went on to add that she was her mother's "main focus" and Teri wasn't interested in dating men during that time period.

"Both of us were cut off from our sexuality," Shields told Barrymore.

"I was going to stay a virgin. She was going to be just Teri Terrific," she added, according to Decider.

And when Barrymore joked that her own mother was so "enamored" with her that she ended up dating Barrymore's former boyfriends, Shields said that she understood the "needy and weird" behavior.

Shields got candid about her upbringing as a child star and model, her relationship with her mother, and her sexual assault in a new Hulu documentary titled "Pretty Baby" (a reference to one of Shields' films as a child actor).

In the two-party documentary, Shields said that she was raped in her early 20s by a powerful Hollywood executive. Elsewhere in the doc, Shields spoke about her infamous 1980 Calvin Klein jeans ad, her experience having sex for the first time, and more.

Read the original article on Insider
Two brothers working for a tree-trimming company had an employee shot to death after he exposed that the pair mistreated co-workers and took $3.5 million from their paychecks in Georgia, federal prosecutors said.

The companys supervisor, Pablo Rangel-Rubio, 53, of Rincon, arranged for his brother Juan Rangel-Rubio, 46, of Rincon, to fatally shoot Eliud Montoya execution-style in 2017, according to officials.

Montoya, a husband and father, blew the whistle on the brothers scheme  which involved hiring people living in the U.S. illegally and underpaying them  by reporting the pair to the federal government, prosecutors said.

The brothers were both Mexican citizens living illegally in the U.S. themselves, according to officials.

In the cases latest development, Juan Rangel-Rubio was sentenced to life in prison on April 10 after prosecutors said he killed Montoya six years ago, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Georgia. Hes the final defendant to be sentenced in the case, prosecutors said.

His sentencing comes after a jury found him guilty on a number of charges in the case, the attorneys office announced on Nov. 1, McClatchy News previously reported.

Eliud Montoya was murdered for doing the right thing and revealing Juan Rangel-Rubios scheme to profit off his use of undocumented workers, U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg said in an April 10 news release.

McClatchy News contacted Juan Rangel-Rubios attorneys for comment on April 11 and didnt immediately receive a response.

Pablo Rangel-Rubio, the former supervisor of Wolf Tree, was previously sentenced to 48 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the retaliation against a witness, prosecutors announced in a Nov. 17 news release.

More on the brothers illegal labor scheme

Juan Pablo-Rubio illegally worked for Pablo Rangel-Rubio at Wolf Tree, a contract tree-trimming service company, according to court documents.

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As a company supervisor, Pablo Rangel-Rubio oversaw all of Wolf Trees employees in the Savannah region, including Montoya, court documents state. Although he had the authority to hire workers, Juan Pablo-Rubio helped him do so.

When the brothers hired people living in the U.S. illegally, Pablo Rangel-Rubio would give them new identities and the social security numbers of other individuals, according to a superseding indictment.

The pair schemed to direct these workers paychecks into their own bank accounts and kept a portion of the earnings for themselves, prosecutors said. Then, the workers were underpaid in cash, the indictment says.

Montoya reports the brothers to federal officials before his death

After Montoya witnessed his co-workers mistreatment, he reported the brothers to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces workplace laws nationwide, on Aug. 17, 2017, the indictment states.

When Pablo Rangel-Rubio learned about this, he wanted to prevent (Montoya) from providing testimony and producing records or documents in an official proceeding conducted by the EEOC, according to the indictment.

As a result, he arranged for Montoyas killing and monitored him with Juan Rangel-Rubio to learn his schedule and typical whereabouts, the indictment says.

Two days after Montoya complained to the EEOC, Juan Rangel-Rubio shot him to death with the help of Higinio Perez-Bravo, 52, of Savannah, who is accused of serving as Juan Rangel-Rubios getaway driver, prosecutors said.

After Montoya was found dead with gunshot wounds in his back, his mother, Avelina Alvares, told WJCL that her son was the familys rock.

He was the only supporter of the family. He sustained all of us. He supported all of us, Alvares told the outlet in an interview in August 2017. I didnt work and I was able to stop working and so did his wife.

Perez-Bravo was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder for hire, prosecutors announced in the Nov. 17 news release. He was paid for his help in connection with the killing, McClatchy News previously reported.

Four other defendants, who werent identified by prosecutors, were previously sentenced to two years in prison in connection with Montoyas killing, according to officials.

Men coerced to work in US werent allowed to eat if they didnt do chores, feds say

Pizza shop owner broke workers teeth, threatened to have employees deported, feds say

Abused woman was forced to be servant of her husbands family for 12 years, feds say

Manager told 13-year-old shed get killed if she refused to work at business, feds say
Lacie Fradet, a project engineer at Motiv Space Systems in Pasadena, with COLDArm, a robotic arm for a lunar rover that's designed to function in the extremely low temperatures of the moon's south pole. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Extreme cold is merciless on machinery. Fluids thicken to useless goo. Rubber seals stiffen and crack.

The problems pile up as the temperature falls. Metal becomes brittle, and wires contract. Batteries stop working, adhesives stop sticking and LCD screens go black as their liquid crystal freezes solid.

And thats just here on Earth.

When NASAs new lunar rover lands on the moons south pole next year, it will encounter a whole new kind of cold.

Temperatures there hover around minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 173 degrees Celsius). In the permanent shadows of polar craters, it can fall to minus 388 F (minus 233 C).

For context, Antarcticas Vostok Station holds the record for the lowest temperature ever recorded on this planet: minus 128.6 F (minus 89.2 C), recorded July 21, 1983. A typical day on the moon is about 150 degrees colder than the coldest it has ever been on Earth.

Previous rovers for the moon and Mars  which is also cold, averaging minus 80 F  have been equipped with built-in heaters that switch on at the start of the lunar or Martian day and take several hours to warm enough for the machines to begin their daily tasks.

That comes at a cost of time and energy, two precious commodities on any space mission. But what if you could build a rover that didnt need warm-up time?

"If youre able to work longer hours in one day, youd be able to get more information, said Lacie Fradet, a project engineer at Motiv Space Systems in Pasadena, which is working with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to make this possible. If they succeed in building an arm that can operate in extremely cold regions, "we will be able to go places we haven't gone before."

The first step toward that vision is materializing in Motivs climate-controlled clean room: a sleek robotic arm whose angles resemble those of a praying mantis.

The Cold Operable Lunar Deployable Arm, or COLDArm, bears a striking resemblance to a praying mantis. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

This is the Cold Operable Lunar Deployable Arm, a robotic arm capable of operating in the cold of the lunar poles. Motiv is building it using parts supplied by JPL in La Canada Flintridge. If COLDArm passes all testing here on Earth, the next goal for the project is to secure a place on NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services, a program that allows U.S. companies to send technology to the moon's surface for testing or to conduct scientific experiments.

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The 6.5-foot (2-meter) arm is only one piece of a future lunar rover, but its a crucial one. The arm is the primary tool for scooping up samples from the moons surface. If it fails, so does the mission.

Motiv previously built the robotic arm on Perseverance, the rover currently exploring Mars Jezero crater. The 7-foot-long arm holds such crucial instruments as SHERLOC, which searches for evidence of past microbial life, and the X-ray spectrometer known as PIXL.

If COLDArm proves successful, it could supercharge the amount of experimentation that can be conducted in the chillier regions of our solar system.

JPL has experience building machines that can function in Martian temperatures as cold as minus 202 F (minus 130 Celsius), said Ryan McCormick, the principal investigator for COLDArm.

But getting even colder, he said, is a big challenge.

Ryan McCormick, JPL's principal investigator for COLDArm, says designing a robotic arm system that can function in the extremely low temperatures of the moon's south pole "is a big challenge." (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Many lubricants and adhesives that function on Mars will degrade in the cold of a lunar night. Certain electronics that worked fine for the Mars rovers  which can take advantage of the heat trapped by the thin Martian atmosphere  wont work on the moon either.

COLDArm incorporates bulk metallic glass, a class of metals whose atomic arrangements more closely resembles that of glass, making them stronger and more durable than steel or ceramic.

Project engineer Lacie Fradet with COLDArm, which is made of bulk metallic glass to improve its function in temperatures as low as minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Bulk metallic glass doesnt require a wet lubricant at its joints. That's crucial, because wet lubricants freeze solid at minus 94 F (minus 70 C)  a practically tropical temperature compared with the chill of the lunar poles. Previous rover arms have had to be built with tiny heaters at each joint to keep the lubricant at a pliable temperature. Bulk metallic glass makes that unnecessary, Fradet said.

In addition, COLDArm's motor controllers have been fitted with an updated voltage converter that can function in extremely cold environments without the added bulk of cables or insulation, McCormick said.

In March, the Motiv team disassembled the arm and tested its various components in a thermal vacuum set below 100 Kelvin, or roughly minus 175 C. (Extreme cold has its own temperature units, with zero Kelvin representing the point at which molecules stop moving.)

A close-up of one of COLDArm's bulk metallic glass joints. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

All of the parts functioned in both the extreme cold and in vibration testing designed to simulate launch conditions, McCormick said. The next step is to reassemble the arm and ensure that it works as a whole in those conditions.

Adding to the complexity is the fact that temperature functions in a completely different way on the moon than it does on Earth, said JPL planetary scientist Laura Kerber. The moon has no air to redistribute heat, so when light hits the moons surface, it gets super hot  up to 250 F at the equator. Without that light, its super cold.

Given the moons position relative to the sun, the interiors of craters at its south pole remain in constant shadow. That makes them about as cold and dark as anything in the solar system.

In those permanently shadowed regions, all they see is the cold of space, Kerber said. Engineering-wise, its so hard to make something that can survive inside those really, really cold, permanently shadowed craters.

Thats a major issue for NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, better known as VIPER, which is scheduled to land at the moons south pole in late 2024 to search for water ice.

The strongest hints of water on the moon are in the deepest-shadowed areas. Those places are too cold for VIPER, but it will skirt around them and collect samples from the surrounding area, where the suggestions of water are weaker but still significant.

Navigating the moons temperature extremes has been a challenge since the earliest lunar missions. Thats a big part of the reason Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin flew 240,000 miles for a relatively short wander around their spacecraft: It was simply too hot at Apollo 11's landing site in the Sea of Tranquility to go any farther.

We were operating in a near-perfect vacuum, with the temperature well above 200 degrees Fahrenheit, Neil Armstrong told NPR in 2010. NASA officials limited our surface working time to 2 hours on that first surface exploration to assure that we would not expire of hyperthermia.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence has not negotiated the free-of-charge supply of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine.

Source: Bulgarian news agency BGNES, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Bulgaria's Ministry of Defence states that such a decision would lead to a decrease in the country's defence capability, contrary to Bulgaria's Constitution and laws.

However, BGNES noted that in pursuance of a parliamentary decision adopted at the end of 2022, the ministry held successful negotiations on the possibility of implementing the so-called "triangular agreements" to replace available weapon systems with those from allied countries without losing defence capability.

Background: Earlier, the media reported that Bulgaria was likely to sell a large amount of ammunition to Ukraine through intermediaries, which could significantly affect the wars course.

Bulgaria's Ministry of Defence has announced that it will transfer old ammunition worth almost 175 million to the state-owned VMZ military plant and receive new ammunition in return.

This decision aims to ensure that a considerable amount of old ammunition from the Bulgarian army's warehouses gets to Ukraine.

Earlier, Euractiv found in its investigation that the supply of weapons to Ukraine worth billions of euros from Bulgaria has not stopped, despite official statements by the authorities in Sofia.

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Bulgaria has six operational MiG-29 aircraft

Bulgaria has said it could agree to replace Ukraines MiG-29s with some of its own modernized ones  although not for free. The country has 16 of such aircraft, although only six of them are airworthy.

In it does so, Bulgaria could remain without aircraft for a year-and-half or even more, as the United States is expected to supply it will F-16s no earlier than 2025, Interfax-Ukraine wrote.

Read also: Russia believed to have sabotaged Slovak MiG-29s provided to Ukraine

Slovakia became the first NATO member to openly supply Ukraine with fighter jets after it sent four Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Kyiv on March 23. They are already defending the skies above Kharkiv, Deputy Parliament Speaker Olena Kondratiuk has said.

Read also: Slovak MiG-29 fighters already protecting skies over Kharkiv, says official

Modernized Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets would be of considerable aid to Ukraine. However, they wouldn't be a game changer at the front line as they lack on-board radar and can't launch modern missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force has said. Ukraine needs modern, multi-role fighter jets, the Ukrainian military has repeatedly stressed to its allies.

Polish President Andrzej Duda announced recently that his country had sent four more MiG-29s to Ukraine.

In total, Kyiv has received eight such aircraft from Warsaw.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
BRUSSELS  Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has again exposed Russia's far-reaching influence over Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian energy sector is dominated by Russia. The defense minister was dismissed in March 2022 for echoing the Kremlin's war propaganda. The country has denied Ukraine's official requests for military aid in fear of pro-Russian parties toppling the already unstable government.

In an exclusive interview with the Kyiv Independent, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Milkov said on April 4 that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has accelerated his country's effort to eliminate Russia's lingering reach.

In November, following months of political turmoil, the country's parliament voted to send military aid to Ukraine.

"Practically, the relations between Bulgaria and Russia are frozen," Milkov said at the NATO Brussels headquarters. "We don't have anything that is part of what has been a cooperation between our two countries."

Despite earlier promises, Milkov said that Bulgaria has not delivered any military aid to Ukraine thus far.

It doesnt help that Bulgaria is entangled in a two-year-old political crisis involving five parliamentary elections and three caretaker governments, which also included pro-Russian politicians.

With the fifth election on April 2 turning into another inconclusive one, the political deadlock has affected Bulgaria's assistance for Ukraine.

And until a government is established, a caretaker one  appointed by the country's President Rumen Radev, whom many see as Kremlin-friendly  is still in power.

According to Milkov, the country has "one big complex of problems that we have to solve," which includes the country's stance on Russia's war against Ukraine.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (R) welcomes Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (L) during a working visit in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 20, 2022. (Borislav Troshev/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Russian influence

For Kyiv, Bulgarias support is important. Bulgaria is among Europe's top producers of ammunition for Soviet-made weapons  which Ukrainian soldiers desperately need amid a long-running shortage.

"The war in Ukraine and the attitude of the political parties towards the war in Ukraine became a kind of self-identification for the political parties," Milkov said.

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"And it was a subject of many discussions during the pre-electoral campaign, the decisions about the help to Ukraine will not wait too long."

Some Bulgarian officials, like Radev, have kept Western allies on alert. The president was vocal in his desire not to send aid to Ukraine.

Another top official, former Defense Minister Stefan Yanev, was immediately dismissed by parliament in March 2022 after declining to describe Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a war.

Bulgaria's political landscape has also been affected by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the successor of the Bulgarian Communist Party, and some Russia-leaning political projects, like the ultranationalist Revival party.

The two pro-Russian parties hold 60 out of 240 seats in the National Assembly, divided among six parties.

Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Milkov appeared rather optimistic about his country's possible change of mind about its military aid to Ukraine.

"I think that Bulgaria as a whole is a predominantly and consensual pro-European country, so I don't have any doubts that the parliament will take the respective decisions (regarding military aid)," Milkov said.

"Of course, this is a complicated issue for every country," he added.

"(The negotiations) are ongoing, and depending on the attitudes of different political parties, we will have a final result."

Energy trap

With Russia deeply dominating the Bulgarian energy sector, Milkov said during the interview that "some derogations" remain despite implementing "100% of the EU sanctions."

"There are only exceptions in some areas where we don't have any other means of supporting our economy," he said.

One major exemption that Bulgaria secured for itself during talks with Brussels is the Neftochim Burgas refinery, the biggest in the Balkans and owned by Lukoil  Russia's second-largest oil producer. The refinery is still operating under its current ownership.

This has helped Russia make substantial money from the energy sector, a significant revenue source for Moscow, even after the EU's blocking of seaborne imports of Russian-origin crude oil  on top of the bloc's $60 per barrel oil cap.

According to S&P Global's data, Bulgaria bought about 150,000 barrels of Russian oil per day in December 2022.

The Russian-controlled refinery in Bulgaria processed over 7 million tons of crude oil in 2022, nearly double the 4.2 million tons processed in 2021.

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

But Milkov insisted that this exemption is crucial to keep the Bulgarian economy afloat and also because "40% of the production of this refinery goes to Ukraine," explaining further that "this is a kind of support to Ukraine."

Data by the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute has shown that Ukraine imported more than 825 million euro worth of fuel from Bulgaria in 2022, which is "a 1,000-fold increase" from the previous year.

The Russian-owned Neftochim Burgas is the only refinery in Bulgaria.

As a result, Ukraine went from being Bulgaria's eighth largest trading partner before the all-out war to third due to fuel purchases, according to the institute's data.

Despite Russia's continuing influence on Bulgaria's energy sector, Milkov said that his country is now "100% independent" from Russian gas, partly due to the launch of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) in 2022, a key gas route connecting several nearby countries.

Bulgaria's state-owned nuclear power plant Kozloduy, which still relies on nuclear fuel from Russia's Rosatom, is taking steps to "diversify" resources, according to the minister.

"So, we have been forced by the political situation and also by the realities to disrupt some links that we had with Russia," Milkov said.

"And this is very important," he added. "Now, we are more independent than we were," even though "of course, we were not ready for this."

This photograph taken on March 17, 2022, shows Bulgaria's sole oil refinery, Russian-owned Lukoil Neftochim Burgas near the city of Burgas on the Black Sea coast. (Nikolay Doychinov/AFP via Getty Images)

Bulgaria's secret aid

Despite being publicly silent, several investigations have revealed that Sofia has been discretely supplying munitions to Kyiv through intermediaries.

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and Finance Minister Assen Vassilev soon confirmed this, telling the Guardian in January that their country provided 30% of the Soviet-caliber ammunition and some 40% of the diesel that Ukraine needed in the first three crucial months of the full-scale war.

According to German newspaper Die Welt's January investigation, Sofia initiated "a procedure for comprehensive military aid to Ukraine" when Petkov traveled to Kyiv on April 28.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the paper that Petkov "decided to be on the right side of history and help us defend ourselves against a much stronger enemy."

Under the covert strategy, implemented in secrecy due to strong pro-Russian ties of some coalition members, Ukraine was reportedly able to receive a large amount of munition early on.

"We knew that the Bulgarian warehouses had a large amount of ammunition we needed, so President (Volodymyr) Zelensky sent me on a diplomatic mission to get the necessary materials," Kuleba told Die Welt about his April visit to Sofia.

Kuleba added that the negotiations were secretly held since it was "a matter of life and death" at the time because of the pace that the Russian forces were advancing last spring.

Milkov, however, said that he was not aware of any weapon or munition deliveries. But he added that he might not know some events that took place before he took office in August.

While Milkov says, Bulgarian Armed Forces are expecting to be rearmed with F-16 fighter jets and more infantry fighting vehicles, among others, everything concerning the aid depends on the parliament's decision.

"For me, it's difficult to say because I haven't seen how the new parliament will work and what would be on the top of its agenda," Milkov said. "So probably we have to wait a couple of weeks more for analyzing the attitudes of the political parties regarding this."

But the minister warned that "there are not many options" on how Bulgaria would be able to help Ukraine due to the limited capacity of its armed forces.

"I can assure you, and I very much regret to say this, but there are not many options for the Bulgarian Armed Forces to deliver support because their capability, their military capabilities are really limited," he added.

Milkov said that Bulgaria needs to increase its own defense spending first and focus on itself to be "ready for any possible development."

To this day, Bulgaria holds its Soviet weaponry  while its neighbors have been modernizing their stocks by sending off the old ones to Ukraine and receiving modern Western-made replacements.

The Bulgarian branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported in late March, quoting the country's president, that Sofia is not considering this due to what he described to be a long wait to receive a modern replacement and "we will have to pay for them."

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Milkov, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, and Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics are seen arriving to the Bucharest Nine ministerial meeting in Lodz, Poland on March 31, 2023. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images)

'Not to repeat our mistake'

Milkov emphasized during the interview that even without military aid, his country would still help Ukraine "the best we can" and for "as long as it takes."

Despite the internal fluctuation, Bulgaria is ranked sixth in terms of donations to Ukraine in relation to its GDP.

Milkov said Bulgaria's humanitarian aid focused on Ukrainians' "most urgent needs," including generators and winter equipment, and medical aid for the army  consisting of about 300 million euros.

But more than all, Milkov said, "the first thing that we can advise Ukraine or someone else who would like to join NATO and the European Union not to repeat our mistakes."

He acknowledged that Bulgaria has "made a lot of mistakes" and "we are still making mistakes" down the road  especially regarding judicial reforms.

"There is some reluctance also of the lawmakers to implement the decisions about increasing the budget spending for defense, and the plans are postponed many times now in times of crisis, we see that this is very dangerous," Milkov said.

"So the commitments that are made and the decisions that are taken must be implemented without delay, without a dubious attitude of the politicians."

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev casts his vote during an early parliamentary elections at a polling station, in Sofia, Bulgaria, on April 2, 2023. (Georgi Paleykov/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The foreign minister, however, doesn't think he has a long time left in his position.

With the new parliament now working to establish a functioning government, Milkov acknowledged that the caretaker government would be dismissed at any moment.

Currently, there is a motion on the table to appoint Milkov as the Bulgarian ambassador to NATO, which he seems interested in.

"If we are able to make our modest contribution to bringing back peace on the continent, I do believe that our job will be done," he said.

"Every attempt to restore and rebuild Russian imperialism is unacceptable for all of us."

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Note from the author:

Hi, this is Asami Terajima, the author of this article.

Thank you for reading my story. I've arrived in Brussels just a few days after leaving the Donbas, and it was quite surreal to go from Ukrainian soldiers telling me how crucial it is for them to receive more advanced tanks  to seeing the reluctance from the Western side to provide what they really need. To help the Kyiv Independent's reporting on the ground and elsewhere, please consider supporting us by becoming our patron.
Solomon

Jay Solomon, president and CEO of Sarasotas Aviva Senior Living, has been appointed to the national board of the Association of Jewish Aging Services. He will serve on the organizations Government and Policy Committees until 2025.

The Association of Jewish Aging Services was founded in 1960 as the North American Association of Jewish Homes and Housing for the Aging. It functions as the central coordinator for senior living communities for Jewish seniors in North America. It promotes and supports senior services in the context of Jewish values through education, professional development, advocacy and community relationships.

The AJAS membership comprises over 95 organizations with Jewish-sponsored senior living communities and outreach programs throughout the United States and Canada.

Solomon also serves as a trustee on the board of Leading Age Florida. He has an extensive background in health care and senior living and has led Aviva since 2017. Aviva is Sarasotas only single-site, nonprofit, rental, senior residential community offering a full continuum of care with independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing facilities.

McClure

Ritchey

Boone

Goodwill Manasota has announced its 2023-2024 board of directors.

Steve Boone is the board chair. New to the board this year are James McClure and Laura Ritchey, who join directors Xtavia Bailey, Betsy Benac, Rich Cautero, Debbie Douglas, Rod Hollingsworth, Eric Kaplan, Laurie OLoughlin, Rob Morris, Allen Weinstein, and Brad West, chair emeritus.McClure is a senior vice president and senior wealth strategist with Northern Trust. He has more than 30 years of financial service experience with an expertise in comprehensive financial planning, estate planning, life insurance planning and investment management.

Ritchey brings a unique combination of strong operations knowledge paired with financial expertise from the diversity of her professional and personal experiences. She began her career in finance before shifting into progressive positions of leadership in supply chain operations. She is currently the chief operating officer at Radial, Inc., a leader in e-commerce solutions for brands.

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Adams

For the second consecutive year, Furniture Specialist Billy Adams was honored with the Top Inside Salesperson Award from JMX Brands, the parent company of the largest online retailer in Amish furniture at https://www.dutchcrafters.com.

Assistant Sales Manager Christeen Jorno presented the award at JMXs 2022 annual award ceremony, sharing that Adams booked 599 orders, which equates to $1,835,216.87!

Originally from Venice, with a background in furniture design, Adams joined JMX Brands as a sales support associate in February 2020. He was quickly promoted to furniture specialist.

***

Easterseals Southwest Florida has appointed two new members to its operating board of directors and three to its foundation board of directors. These new board members bring a wealth of expertise and leadership in their respective fields.

Eric Kaplan and Colby Adams join the operating board.

Kaplan has been a senior financial consultant with Bristol Consultants, LLC since 2003 and with predecessor companies since 1985. He provides consulting services to high-net-worth investors and has expertise in real estate development and operation as well as philanthropic organizations.

Kaplan is a certified public accountant and is a member of the New York, Florida and New Jersey bars.

Adams is a junior at Riverview High School, maintaining a 4.4 GPA. She has experience with children of all ages, including those with disabilities.

She participated in Easterseals STAR Leadership Training Program in 2022, learning leadership skills, communication, patience and the ability to work in a team setting.

Joining the foundation board are R. Dean Hautamaki, MD, Charla M. Burchett and Jenifer Schembri.

Hautamaki is a practicing board certified internal medicine/pulmonary and critical care physician in Sarasota.

Hes an assistant clinical professor of medicine with the Florida State University College of Medicine and has served as chairman for the Department of Medicine and co-director of Critical Care Services within the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Health Care System.

He currently is a director for Fibralign Corp. and First Wave Technologies.

Burchett is a partner in the Sarasota office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where she is a member of the Private Client Services Practice Group. A Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rated attorney, she is a board-certified specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates as certified by the Florida Bar and has an LL.M. in estate planning from the University of Miami.

She has more than 30 years of experience assisting clients through challenging decisions and difficult times to preserve their legacies across generations. She focuses her practice on estate planning, including charitable planning and wealth preservation, estate and gift taxation, estate administration, and trust administration.

Schembri is a principal at the law firm Blalock Walters, P.A., practicing in the Bradenton and Sarasota offices. She is the practice group leader for the estate planning and tax law service groups.

She is board certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in tax law, in addition to having an LL.M. in taxation from the University of Florida.

She has received the AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

Schembri represents both companies and individuals in the areas of individual and business tax planning, entity selection and formation, corporate governance matters, mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning and transitions, charitable planning, tax controversy matters at the federal and Florida levels, and all aspects of estate planning, including trust and estate taxation and wealth preservation.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Aviva CEO named to national board, Inside Salesperson Award from JMX
In new photos captured and posted by photographer @myeyesvisuals, the Jamaican-American rapper and actor Busta Rhymes celebrated his 22-year-old son Trillian Wood-Smiths recent initiation into the Epsilon Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at Lincoln University.

Trevor George Smith, known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is well-regarded in the rap game. The Brooklyn native and father of five has been integral to hip-hop for nearly 30 years now, amassing a net worth of $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. We know him for classics like Break Ya Neck and Woo Ha!! Got You All in Check.

His eldest son, 30-year-old TZiah Wood-Smith, was initiated as a member of the Rho Gamma Chapter at Quinnipiac University in 2012. According to his Linkedin page, TZiah Wood-Smith currently works in the financial services industry since graduating from Quinnipiac University with a bachelors degree in finance.

As the chapter states on its website, Kappa Alpha Psiis the crystallization of a dream. The predominantly Black college fraternity was founded in 1911 on the campus of Indiana University. Its endeavor has since been to foster leadership and service through its membership and instill principles of achievement across its communities.

Trillian Wood-Smith currently attends acclaimed HBCU Lincoln University, where he is now a Spring 2023 initiate of a long line of legendary members of the celebrated fraternity. The achievement is especially poignant as this chapter of the fraternity is one of the most prominent.

The Touch It rapper can be seen beaming with pride, arms wrapped around his sons shoulders, and as the photographer captioned, Proud is not even the word
Police and members of TEXSAR, a search and rescue group, have new leads Tuesday in the search for the body of Everman 6-year-old Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez, who hasnt been seen since November but was not reported missing until March.

Noel was last seen in the weeks after his mother, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, gave birth to twin girls in October, according to police. Noel was present for the births and appeared malnourished and unhealthy around that time, witnesses told police.

A photo inside Charles Parsons home that shows him with Cindy Rodriguez-Singhs children, including Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez in the blue shirt, in Everman, Texas, on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Noel has not been seen since November 2022, and police thoroughly searched the home during their investigation.

Rodriguez-Singh made statements that she thought Noel was evil and possessed by a demon and that she was afraid he might harm his baby sisters, according to police interviews with witnesses.

New leads provided by human remains detection dogs that alerted to multiple areas in the familys back yard have led investigators to believe Noels body may have been kept around the yard and at one point possibly buried there and then concealed in a large carpet that was thrown away hours before the family fled the country on an international flight.

Authorities said in the Tuesday news release that new leads have been found with the help of human remains detection dogs provided by TEXSAR. Based on where the dogs alerted, police believe Noels body was at some point in a make-shift shed that stood where an unpermitted and suspicious concrete patio was built about a month ago.

Items are left for trash pick-up outside of the last known residence of Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez in Everman, Texas, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Some furniture and toys are from the bedrooms Noel and his six siblings shared.

Forensic anthropologists from the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office were called to the residence to dig after the cadaver dogs alerted to the topsoil under the concrete.

On Tuesday, authorities said teams recovered a large indoor-outdoor carpet that was thrown away by Noels stepfather, Arshdeep Singh, the evening before he and Rodriguez-Singh fled the country with six children on a Turkish Airways flight bound for Istanbul, police said in the news release. The family is confirmed to have boarded a connecting flight in Istanbul to India, where Singh is from.

The carpet was at one point used as the base floor for the shed that stood where the patio was later built by a contractor paid by Rodriguez-Singh, according to police. Investigators removed part of the concrete last month in an area where radar detected an anomaly, and later got a warrant to remove the whole patio.

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Authorities began digging up the entire patio Monday in a search that ended early Tuesday without locating Noels remains, police said. The dogs did not alert to dirt deeper than the top layer.

Investigators dig under part of a concrete patio on the property where the family of a missing child lived in Everman, Texas.

Police also began Monday searching wooded areas near the home. Nothing in particular led investigators to search that area except for its proximity to the home, according to the Tuesday news release.

Everman police said that after a 20-hour work day Monday, search teams are taking time off Tuesday while investigators continue working to determine more specific areas to search.

Police said city crews are working Tuesday to clear debris created by the search from the back yard and will begin the process of working with a registered contractor to replace the patio with proper permits and plans.

Police have previously said the man who owns the home, Charles Parson, has been cooperative with authorities.

An Everman police searched the converted, maroon shed behind a larger house that missing 6-year-old Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez and his family lived in on Monday, March 27, 2023. .

Parson told the Star-Telegram on March 28 that he welcomed Rodriguez-Singh into his home nearly 10 years ago when he saw her sleeping in a car out in front of his house. He had two spare bedrooms and told her she and the children could stay there as long as they needed. They stayed until police said they fled the country, even installing a large air-conditioned, one-room shed in the back yard to expand living space. The shed where the family was living was not the same shed that stood where the patio was built.

Inside of the shed identified as the last known residence of Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez, 6, built behind a home in Everman, Texas, on Tuesday, March 26, 2023. Noel has not been seen since November 2022, and police thoroughly searched the home during their investigation.

Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer has described Parson as a generous and kind person who is not suspected of any involvement in the disappearance or death of Noel.

Spencer said at a candlelight vigil Monday night that as police have learned more through the investigation its left him more and more angry or more confused.

Hundreds gathered Monday night to remember and honor missing 6-year-old Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez at a candlelight vigil in Everman.

Investigation and warrants

Around November, the mother began telling various stories to friends and relatives to explain Noels disappearance, police said. Through interviews, cellphone geolocation and other means, investigators have been able to disprove each of those stories, which included Rodriguez-Singh claiming that Noel was with his biological father in Mexico or that she had sold him to a woman in a Fiesta Mart grocery store parking lot, Spencer said.

Investigators also learned that Rodriguez-Singh asked to borrow a friends child to pose as Noel at one of his medical appointments so she could try to keep receiving government benefits for Noel, Spencer said. Investigators learned that Noel, who had serious disabilities including a lung condition, was last seen by a speech therapist in July and missed other doctors appointments around that time.

Witnesses also told police that Noels mom abused the boy and withheld food and water from him because she didnt want to change his dirty diapers. In one incident referenced in a search warrant, Rodriguez-Singhs brother said that she hit Noel in the face with her car keys because the child drank water when she didnt want him to.

Authorities have issued warrants for the arrest of Rodriguez-Singh and her husband, Arshdeep Singh, on felony charges of abandoning and endangering a child. Authorities said they are trying to extradite the couple from India, where they fled in March, days after police began investigating an anonymous tip that Noel had been missing since November.

Police have not released any updates on whether or not the extradition request to the Indian government has been approved or how long they expect an extradition to take.
Dog trainer Jason Pergason with Rebel, a German shepherd he trained for a search team in Ireland Courtesy Jason Pergason

In the hours after a disaster strikes  from events like 9/11 to earthquakes and tornadoes  its common to see rescue dogs treading carefully among the rubble, using their agility and heightened sense of smell to search for survivors. When efforts turn from rescue to recovery, organizers enlist different dogs: those trained to find the remains of people who did not survive.

Cadaver dogs, also known as human remains detection dogs, have become essential in police investigations too when searching for missing persons or evidence of a murder  with or without a body.

It takes a specially trained dog  and a special kind of person  to do the work of searching for human remains, Jason Purgason, who runs Highland Canine Training in North Carolina, told me in a recent interview.

For more than 25 years, Purgason has been training dogs to find all kinds of things, including bumblebees, bat guano, people who are lost or in need of rescue, and, yes, cadavers.

Read on to find out more about training these incredible dogs and the people, usually volunteers, whose grueling work brings challenges and rewards  including closure to families of missing loved ones. (Warning: Some details are gory  but theyre important to be aware of if youre considering becoming a cadaver dog handler yourself.)

What do cadaver dogs do and how do you train them for this work?

Jason Purgason: Human remains detection encompasses three types or aspects of training. The standard cadaver dog, sometimes called a field cadaver dog, is trained to go out and search for, locate, and alert to human decomposition  usually in wooded areas, big fields, national forests, maybe even in people's homes or vehicles or barns.

The second type is called a disaster cadaver dog, and that's similar to the dogs that were used during 9/11, later on in the process. Those dogs are utilized once an operation moves to what is considered a recovery operation and no longer a rescue operation. So their skill level is actually a little higher than those initial dogs I was talking about, in that they can work in even more demanding environments: rubble piles, areas where there's been a natural or man-made disaster, glass buildings, glass structures, that sort of thing.

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And then the third type is the most difficult to train, only because it requires a lot more time and a lot more resources, and that's what is referred to as a water cadaver dog. And that's a dog that will locate decomposition in aquatic environments, lakes, rivers, streams, etc.

OK, how is that even possible? How do you train them to search in water?

The short, very nonscientific version of it is when humans decompose that tissue will off-gas, right? The body will [expel] gas.  Because those gases are lighter than water, they will oftentimes  not always  rise to the top. And now a dog's able to detect that faint smell and be able to sort of narrow down where their body is underwater.

A search team uses a cadaver dog to try to locate the bodies of three missing people at Inner Harbor in Baltimore, March 7, 2004 Greg Fiume / Getty Images

What makes a good candidate for a cadaver dog? Are there specific breeds that are better than others?

Breeds, sex  all that's fairly unimportant. We look for a couple of things. We look for drive  that dog's motivation to engage with prey items, toys, etc., and their ability to hunt for it for extended periods of time. So we throw a toy in tall weeds: How long will they search for it, initially?

And then we look at overall trainability, and we look at overall environmental stability. How do they do in different environments? How social are they? And that's really what's important. Again, size, color, breed  that stuff's not as important, particularly with cadaver dogs.

What about the age of the dog?

Age does play a factor. We like dogs that are usually between a year to 2 years old. Can we train a 5-year-old dog? Yes. But you know, that's a lot of time and resources going into a dog that is probably going to have a fairly short working life, if we're starting when it's 5, 6, or 7, for example. And that's why we like to get them a little younger, just to get a little more overall working life out of them.

What is the typical working life of a cadaver dog, and what happens when they retire?

Generally, depending on the breed and the age at which they start, those dogs can work sometimes 8, 10 years, as long as their health holds up. What happens when they retire? Generally, they go and live out their days as a pet in that handler's home.

Say somebody has a 1-year-old dog they just adopted from a shelter and they want them to be trained as a cadaver dog. What do they do?

My suggestion would be for them to reach out to a professional dog trainer who has some experience with detection dogs, similar to somebody like me, and have that dog evaluated to see if it has the aptitude, the requisite drive, trainability, and sociability to do this type of work. Because if not, what we see is people who spend a lot of time and a lot of effort really trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Unfortunately, when I evaluate dogs for people, a lot of times  not always, but a lot of times  I really have to have them make a decision: Do you want a cadaver dog, or do you want this dog that you currently own to be a cadaver dog? Because they may not be the same.

A cadaver dog named I.C. searches for human remains in an area destroyed by the Camp fire in Paradise, California, Nov. 14, 2018. Terray Sylvester / Reuters

Once youve found a good candidate, what do you use for training aids?

Without getting too deep into the weeds, there are a couple choices in the industry. One of them is terrible. The other two are pretty good.

To imprint and train cadaver dogs, we historically have used human remains  real human remains. And we imprint the dogs on five different odors: blood, bone, hair, teeth, and tissue.

There are chemically formulated training aids out there. The newest one is a product that was developed by a company called ScentLogix  we've been using their chemically formulated training aids for a variety of different things for more than a decade, whether it be drugs, explosives, bedbugs, whatever, and I found that to be a really good option  in all reality, probably better than the real thing for a lot of different reasons. For most people getting into the industry, that is just going to be a lot easier to access. Getting access to human parts can be incredibly, incredibly challenging for people, for a lot of different reasons.

Could you tell me about some of those challenges?

Well, there's a lot of ethical questions that come up when you're trying to obtain body parts. Certain states have rules and regulations against people possessing human body parts, certain body parts. So anybody looking to get into this should definitely understand their local or state regulations and rules about possessing human remains and human body parts. The last thing they want to do is find themselves getting in trouble trying to help.

A lot of people working in the medical field, and that sort of thing, often are really not inclined to bend over backwards to help handlers procure training aids. And then the other issue with using real training aids is you're limited in the types and quantities that you can get, and that creates a lot of challenges too. Because most of the time  not always, but most of the time  we're trying to train this dog to find the entire human, or at least the majority of a decomposing human, and that can be huge and overwhelming compared to the training aids that we're likely to be able to procure for our imprint in a training.

So I assume you're not grave digging...

No [laughs]. So for example, you end up hooking up with a dentist or a couple of dentists, they can get you teeth from extractions and those sorts of things. Hair is probably one of the easiest to get. I talk to some barbers and folks  there's a process, and there's some processing that needs to be done with hair just to remove soaps and shampoos and other products from it, but it's usually the easiest one to obtain. Blood, tissue, and bone can be a little more difficult. Human bone, believe it or not, you can actually purchase online.

Are you serious?

Yep, you can look it up  you can purchase online, usually out of Asia. [Editors note: I did look it up  there are a surprising number of human bone dealers.]

Oh my god. Does your connection to law enforcement help you? Are you allowed to go to a crime scene and train a dog in that way?

No, that's generally not allowed  really, period. And again, that's what can create some real boundaries. But let's just say you had somebody who was deceased for whatever reason out in a field, like an open rural area. In the event that that individual's out there for some period of time, they're gonna start really sort of decomposing, especially when they get into that bloat phase. And they're going to create, for lack of a better way to put it, they're going to create goo. And that goo is going to leach into the ground. And that goo is pretty pungent, even after that body has been removed. With the right contacts, the cadaver dog handlers can sometimes get the phone call to go out and work on that large pile of goo once law enforcement has released that scene. But again, the body's not there  just sort of remnants of the body.

A cadaver dog named Echo searches for human remains in a house destroyed by the Camp fire in Paradise, California, Nov. 14, 2018. Terray Sylvester / Reuters

OK, you mentioned a third terrible training aid.

Pig, believe it or not. People resort to using pigs and pig tissue and pig parts to train cadaver dogs because the pig is close in size to the human mass and it has hair and it has skin. So cadaver dog handlers got the idea that they could use it when they couldn't find training aids, and that is absolutely not a good idea. So I will discourage anybody from doing that.

Why is that exactly?

Well, you're just going to train a dog that's good at finding dead pigs. A dead pig and a dead human just don't smell the same.

Do you work directly with law enforcement?

Generally what we're doing is training and supplying dogs and training handlers who go out and do that. We oftentimes find that a lot of law enforcement teams don't have cadaver dogs available to them, meaning they don't have their own in-house. So they oftentimes have to rely on civilians who are willing to provide the dog and time to come out and do the work.

Do you know if the police are paying these people and if so, like, what the range is?

Here's the bad news for some people. The reality is, generally no. They may at times cover their costs  fuel costs, travel costs  but [cadaver dog handlers] are really not making any money. They're probably losing it.

Trooper, an operational cadaver dog who belongs to Col. Jeff Jordan in South Carolina Courtesy Jason Pergason

I met a cadaver dog handler a few years ago who said she volunteered because she felt like she was making a difference.

And that's why most people do it. But being a cadaver dog handler is not for everybody. And on some level, you know, it really  excuse my language  it really sucks. Because you show up with a cadaver dog to a potential crime scene or a place where you're called by law enforcement to search for somebody's missing husband or missing wife or missing son or whatever the case may be, it doesn't really matter which answer you come back with  it's not gonna be a good one. You're gonna come back with one of two answers: You found something or you didn't find something. And the reality is that either of those answers is generally not going to be great.

So a lot of those people do offer their dogs and services up because they want to try to bring closure to families. And they want to try to assist law enforcement in finding these individuals as soon as they can to try to help further their law enforcement investigations, if that's the case, etc. But you know, they're not compensated for what they probably should be. They oftentimes put years and tons of work and effort and travel into getting these dogs trained and keeping them trained. I commend people who handle cadaver dogs. It is a lot of work and, like I said, the outcome for them is often not a great one.

People who are interested in learning more about it or getting involved in cadaver dog handling really need to just think long and hard about it. Because, again, not everybody is suited to find decomposing bodies. It's graphic. It's pungent. I'm not trying to be super gross, but when you find a body and it's vibrating with insect activity, that can have some looong-lasting effects on people who are not prepared for things like that.

But there's also a need for dog handlers to find people who are still alive, that is just as rewarding.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed.

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Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Riverside) in March. He co-sponsored Assembly Bill 1314, which would have required schools in California to notify parents if their child identified as gender-nonconforming or transgender. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

A bill that would have required California school officials to alert parents if their child identified as gender-nonconforming or transgender won't get a committee hearing, effectively killing the controversial legislation.

Assembly Bill 1314, introduced by Assemblymembers Bill Essayli (R-Riverside) and James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), would have required school districts to notify parents in writing within three days if a student "is identifying at school as a gender that does not align with the child's sex on their birth certificate."

The bill sparked backlash from LGBTQ activists and organizations, who warned that the legislation could place students in potentially dangerous situations by outing students who may be at risk in abusive or violent homes.

AB 1314 was assigned to the Assembly Education Committee, but the chair of the committee, Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), announced Monday that he would not set a hearing date for the bill, meaning it was effectively dead before being considered for a vote.

"This bill would require educators to 'out' a student to their parents, even when the student does not feel comfortable coming out, potentially forcing them into an unwelcoming or abusive home," Muratsuchi said in a statement. "All students deserve to be respected and supported for who they are, including at their schools."

Essayli blasted the decision and urged parents to bring lawsuits against school districts.

"While Democrats have the votes to kill my bill in Sacramento, they do not have the votes to suppress parents' voices at the local level," he said in a statement. "I encourage parents to continue bringing lawsuits against their school districts challenging existing policies that allow children to be socially transitioned at school without parental consent."

Essayli promoted the bill in March alongside a Jurupa Valley High School teacher, Jessica Tapia, who said she was fired after refusing to follow current law, which prevents school officials from disclosing a student's gender identity to parents without the student's consent.

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Gallagher said the decision highlighted the division between Republican and Democratic legislators.

"Democrats' refusal to even hear our bill confirms they are only interested in dictating a one-size-fits-all policy from Sacramento and shutting down anyone with a different point of view," Gallagher said in a statement posted on Facebook. "This decision confirms there are two fundamentally different views of education: Republicans want to empower parents to be involved with their children's upbringing and education, while Democrats see parents as a threat to be isolated and ignored."

In his statement, Muratsuchi called the bill "bad policy," arguing that giving it a hearing would also provide a "forum for increasingly hateful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ youth."

The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus applauded the decision.

"The California Legislature should not provide a platform for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that threatens the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth and empowers those who wish to cause harm," the caucus said in a statement.

The caucus added that while it supported the vision Gallagher and Essayli "have of a California where all parents are embracing and understanding of all LGBTQ+ youth in their journey to find their authentic selves," the bill ignored the dangerous environment some LGBTQ students face when coming out.

"Not all trans or non-binary youth have such loving and supportive families," the caucus said. "The reality is that LGBTQ+ youth oftentimes face harassment, isolation, bullying, and even physical harm from their own families."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Some California counties have toyed with the idea of hand-counting election ballots, especially when denialism was at its peak following the 2020 election.

In San Luis Obispo County, for example, Supervisor Debbie Arnold once tried to add manual tallies to a list of proposed election reforms. Fortunately, the suggestion went nowhere.

But now one county has actually decided to make the switch  turning back the clock in a stunning show of bullheadedness.

The Board of Supervisors in Shasta County, a pocket of right-wing extremism in Northern California, voted 3-2 to hand-count all ballots going forward  a process described as exceptionally complex and error-prone by the countys top election official.

Its the first county in California to take that misbegotten step, which plays right into the hands of conspiracy theorists who will never concede that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.

Lets hope its the last county to do so.

Cancels Dominion Voting contract

Shasta County supervisors also terminated a contract with Dominion Voting Systems  the unfairly maligned company thats been falsely accused of manipulating election results. It then agreed to spend $950,000 to enter into a contract for a different electronic voting system, according to the Redding Record Searchlight.

Because both state and federal law require that an electronic voting system be available to voters with disabilities, the county wont be able to ditch machines altogether.

So, it will layer additional costs on top of paying for machines.

For a big election, hand-counting ballots will require hiring 1,300 temporary employees and will cost an estimated $1.6 million, according to a report prepared by Shasta County Clerk Cathy Darling Allen. That doesnt include the cost of adding space to count as many as 95,000 ballots, which is the expected turnout in a presidential election.

Allen has been upfront in her opposition to the boards decision.

That path puts each future election at risk of failure, she wrote in her report, inviting litigation, threatening election results and undermining confidence in the countys elections.

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Modern-day Luddites?

Hand-counting is used in some counties in the U.S., but they are much smaller and their ballots are shorter than Californias, which can include a multitude of candidates and ballot measures.

So why do it?

We arent talking about a bunch of modern-day Luddites. There have been no reports of Shasta County residents demanding that schools stop using scanning machines to score tests or that banks dismantle all ATMs and go back to counting out cash for customers.

This is specifically directed at voting machines  especially at Dominion machines. Thats absurd, especially given information thats come to light in Dominions $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News. Attorneys uncovered documents showing that not even Fox hosts believed the lies that Dominion voting machines had stolen the election from Trump.

And now, on account of a debunked conspiracy theory, Shasta County officials want to saddle taxpayers with millions of dollars in unnecessary expenditures.

And for what? A system that will not be nearly as fail-safe as the one it already had?

Theres a reason machines were invented to take on the monotonous tasks that we humans often flub up because were in a hurry, were distracted, or maybe we were up too late the night before.

Hand-counting is a very tedious and detail-oriented process, Allen wrote. As workers become fatigued, more mistakes will be made, so it is important to limit the time a manual tally team works and require breaks.

Machines are just better at that type of work, yet Shasta Countys board majority stubbornly clings to the discredited idea that they are somehow rigged. (Though not, conveniently, when it came to counting votes that put them in office.)

Its not their only misstep. The board majority recently decided to offer the job of county executive officer to Chriss Street, only to rescind it when it learned he was a leader of a group called New California, which wants to secede from old California and form a 51st state.

Why should those of us who vote in Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Fresno or Modesto care how Shasta County runs its elections?

For one thing, this is an attempt to give truth to the lie that Californias elections are corrupt. That has to be called out wherever it happens.

Also, our system of voting should be based on best practices  not changed on a whim because a few elected officials want to cater to their political cronies. Voters should be protected from that no matter where they live.

Besides, what guarantee is there that disgruntled voters are going to trust a manual tally any more than a machine count?

Shasta County is trying to fix something that wasnt broken, as it gins up mistrust in the very democratic institutions it was tasked to uphold.

Thats spectacularly foolish  and something Californias 57 other counties should never repeat.
By Nathan Frandino

SAN RAFAEL, California (Reuters) - As the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, a California county is using the same wastewater monitoring program it used to track the coronavirus to go after another deadly public health crisis: opioids.

Marin County, north of San Francisco, began a pilot program in February to collect wastewater samples from its sanitation agency and test them for the presence of substances like fentanyl, methamphetamines, cocaine, and nicotine.

Local authorities hope the data could be beneficial in assisting prevention and intervention efforts. For example, if there is an abundance of opioids present in the samples, they could boost the distribution of Narcan, which rapidly reverses the effects of the illegal drug, especially when given within minutes of the first signs of an overdose.

"The problem of overdose is a public health crisis. We're losing one resident every five days in Marin County," said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County's public health officer. "And so we really think it's important for us to develop the same kind of surveillance methods, the same kind of intelligence we had applied to the COVID-19 pandemic, to this new crisis of overdoses."

Marin County, like many other places in the U.S., is grappling with a drug epidemic. Overdose deaths rose from 30 in 2018 to 65 in 2021, according to the county's department of health and human services.

The county used the same method and partners to monitor for evidence of the spread of the coronavirus, so the infrastructure for the pilot program is largely in place.

Twice a week, workers with the Central Marin Sanitation Agency collect a 50-milliliter sample of wastewater from the roughly 8 million gallons that flow into its San Rafael facility daily. That wastewater comes from residential, commercial, and industrial sources like kitchen and bathroom sinks, toilets, and showers.

The sample is then shipped to Biobot Analytics, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Biobot researchers then analyze the sample for the presence of drugs.

Biobot declined to say how many U.S. counties are specifically testing for substances but said they test samples from more than 700 locations across more than 50 states, territories, and provinces. The locations include sites that are testing for either infectious diseases, high-risk substances, or both.

(Reporting by Nathan Frandino in San Rafael, Additional reporting by Brian Snyder in Cambridge, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
A California lawmaker wanted to push more middle schoolers to get vaccinated against a sexually-transmitted disease that causes cancer. But now shes shifting her efforts to college students.

Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters, authored a bill that would have added the human papillomavirus, or HPV, vaccine to a list of shots required for eighth grade enrollment. But amendments to her bill have since stripped the enforcement provision from the middle school requirement, stating that students entering eight grade are expected to be fully immunized.

The newer version of the bill would instead require the HPV vaccine in the University of California and California State University systems. Students enrolling at public colleges would need to get HPV shots to attend classes.

Aguiar-Curry said shes taking this approach out of concern that a mandate could hurt children already negatively affected by COVID-19 school closures and distance learning.

Im doing this bill to help kids avoid serious health impacts later in their lives from this virus, Aguiar-Curry said in an email. But I decided not to enforce the requirement at the K-12 level because I dont want removal from the classroom to cause further harm to California children.

HPV is transmitted through sex and can cause cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend children get vaccinated against HPV through a two-shot series starting at age 11 or 12, in order to protect them long before they become sexually active.

About 69% of teens age 13 to 17 are up to date on their HPV vaccinations, according to data from the CDCs National Immunization Survey. But 89% of teens in the same age group have received at least one dose of the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, or tdap, vaccine, which is required for seventh grade attendance.

No middle school shot mandate?

California has strict vaccine requirements for public school students. Children must be vaccinated against a list of illnesses before enrolling in transitional kindergarten and seventh grade.

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Legislators in recent years have worked to close loopholes allowing for personal belief or medical exemptions, making it very challenging for parents to avoid vaccinating their children.

Aguiar-Currys bill would place the HPV vaccine in a gray area. It would be required for eighth graders, but schools couldnt bar unvaccinated students from enrolling in classes.

The assemblywoman believes even an unenforced requirement would help encourage more HPV vaccinations.

The bill still requires HPV vaccines be added to the list of required vaccinations so parents will be made aware by their pediatrician, Aguiar-Curry said. I feel that educational process, with a health professional who cares for their child, will provide more education about and awareness of the virus and the ability to avoid potential illness in the future.

Struggle to pass vaccine bills

Anti-vaccine opposition grew during the COVID-19 pandemic and has become more organized. Lawmakers have struggled to pass bills expanding vaccine mandates.

Legislators pulled nearly all their vaccine bills last session. This included a measure from Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, that would have allowed teens ages 15 and older to get vaccines fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration without their parents permission.

Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration eventually pulled back from requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for public school attendance.

Groups that oppose vaccine mandates are also fighting Aguiar-Currys bill. Freedom Angels, which has been organizing against shot requirements since 2019, celebrated the amendments and the lawmakers decision to postpone the bills Assembly Health Committee hearing in March.

Group members on social media say theyre against the bill because HPV cant be transmitted in schools and young people 12 years and older can already get the vaccine without parents consent.

But Freedom Angels also spreads debunked misinformation about HPV shot side effects and Merck, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the widely-used Gardasil-brand vaccine.

Catherine Flores Martin of the California Immunization Coalition said she hasnt heard a lot of opposition to the HPV shot or other childhood vaccines in the same way parents expressed concerns about COVID immunizations.

Im not sure that mainstream parents would be that upset about HPV, Flores Martin said. Ultimately, I think it would be successful. Ultimately, I think if weve stayed strong and made it happen, it would be successful. I think people were more concerned about COVID because of all the things around COVID, and its a relatively new vaccine.

Planned Parenthood supports the bill, saying in a support letter it would close the access gap among teens and young adults who receive the vaccine late, or not at all.

Flores Martin said the Immunization Coalition has not yet taken a position on Aguiar-Currys bill.

A letter from the group suggests checking for the HPV vaccine at seventh grade, as schools already do for the tdap and chickenpox shots. The group would also like to see Hepatitis B added back onto the list of shots mandated for seventh graders.

Education is great, Flores Martin said. .... But I think a lot of education is already happening. So, not a bad thing, but we were sort of in a position of do a mandate or not, basically. So its great that they want to check it, if theyre proposing checking at college. But if youre going to do a mandate, the preferred time would be at junior high age.
Los Angeles cops are struggling in the wake of the mass release of information on thousands of officers, including hundreds who work undercover, which included their names, ethnicities, assignments and photographs.

The information went out in response to a public records request, however, according to the police union, photos of undercover officers should not have been included with the material.

"It's dicey, very dangerous," said Betsy Brantner Smith, a longtime police sergeant and the spokesperson for the National Police Association. "The photograph part of it is very concerning."

Separately, with the county prosecutor increasingly going after police accused of bad behavior, identifying information on those officers is being made public in press releases and court filings. However, experts tell Fox News Digital, there are ways to minimize your publicly accessible footprint online.

LOS ANGELES POLICE OFFICERS SUE ANTI-COP WEBSITE OWNER OVER ALLEGED BOUNTY AFTER PHOTO, INFO RELEASE

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office has for years included dates of birth, along with suspects names, in his press releases, and a spokesperson for DA George Gascon told Fox News Digital that the practice has been in place long before he took office.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has maintained a protocol of including a defendants DOB in news releases for the last two decades in order to specifically identify the appropriate person," Gascon's office said in a statement. "Additionally, when a complaint is filed, the DOB is on the document and the document is a part of the public record."

Experts say it's an unnecessary inclusion that puts the safety of officers and their families in jeopardy.

"Theres no reason to put these police officers' birthdates in a press release," Brantner Smith told Fox News Digital. "Theres really no reason to put anybodys birthdate in a press release You can say, Joe Smith, age 46. You dont have to put their birthday."

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There are also services for police officers (and for the public) to minimize the amount of personal information that can be uncovered online with their name and date of birth.

One of the impacted undercover LAPD officers, who asked to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital he had already been subscribing to privacy software for years by the time the city released his name, photo and other details.

LAPD CHIEF ACCUSED OF FEEDING PERSONAL DATA TO ANTI-POLICE: BOUNTY ON OUR OFFICERS

"I'm not speaking for all of us, but when we accept these positions we know there are dangers," he said. "The least we expect is for our department not to blast our information out there."

Pete James, the founder of OfficerPrivacy.com, which the undercover officer has been using, said his software can help users remove unwanted personal information that has been compiled on the internet without their consent. While he spent his career in law enforcement and founded his company with police in mind, he said about half of his clients work in other fields.

From left, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, Monterey Park Police Chief Steve Wiese and LAPD Chief Michel Moore take part in a press conference in downtown Los Angeles.

"You dont want your work following you home," he told Fox News Digital. "So when you get home, and you're with your family and your kids, you dont want the criminals and the thugs and the people youve been dealing with at work to know where you live, and where your spouse is."

But armed with a name, date of birth and hometown, anyone on the internet can dig up that information unless you take steps to suppress it with his software, other programs like it or by manually going to each database and requesting to be removed, he said.

"These connections are made by online profiles without your permission," he said. "The way you break that connection is by removing yourself from these people search sights."

LAPD Chief Michel Moore talks about the 2022 end-of-year homicide report during a news conference at the Los Angeles Police Headquarters, March 28, 2023.

That's what his company does, but he also recommends that members of law enforcement be extremely mindful about what kind of personal information they post online and on social media  and what their family members share as well.

The public records incident kicked off at least two potential lawsuits  one against a website that turned the release into a searchable database and another against the city on behalf of 300 undercover officers alleging negligence.

"I would think that police officers in Los Angeles and L.A. County have a lot to worry about in general; why add this additional layer of concern?" Brantner Smith asked. "There is no logical reason for it."

Information on more than 9,000 Los Angeles Police Department officers was released through public records, including the photos of more than 300 undercover officers that they say should have been exempt from disclosure.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DA GEORGE GASCON BACKPEDALS ON PROGRESSIVE DIRECTIVES AMID CRIME WAVE, PUBLIC BLOWBACK

She said the privacy issue impacts not only officers but also their families.

"What they do is they find out where their kids go to school, perhaps where their spouse works, vehicle descriptions  and it gets frightening for the personnel involved," she said.

As a police trainer, she even urges officers now to set up a plan in advance on how to react, and where their families should go, if they are involved in a critical incident.

"Its a huge risk because these officers private information is now public," said James, founder of the privacy firm. "Officers all over the country are getting harassed and doxxed, and when an officers private information is exposed on the internet it exposed them and their families at risk. This should never happen."

He keeps a list of cases that he says illustrate the problem  ranging from vandalism at officers' homes to violent attacks, including the 2014 shooting of a Philadelphia officer in his own driveway by a masked gunman.

Fox News Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
By Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada on Tuesday imposed new sanctions over Russia's invasion in Ukraine and pledged fresh military support for Kyiv after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto.

As the two met, Trudeau's official website was shut down and the Canadian spy service acknowledged "some" other government pages had also been offline.

Canada will send 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition, while the new sanctions will target 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities.

Trudeau said Canada was also imposing sanctions on nine entities tied to the Belarusian financial sector to further pressure Russia's "enablers in Belarus."

Russia calls its actions Ukraine a "special military operation" to combat what it describes as a security threat.

"We will continue to support Ukraine with everything needed for as long as necessary," Trudeau said.

"Ukraine feels the colossal support of Canada in every area ... and we really appreciate it," said Shmyhal, the highest ranking Ukrainian to visit Canada since the start of the war.

Oleg Stepanov, Russia's ambassador to Canada, dismissed what he called this "absurd sanctions nonsense" and said the measures were a token gesture, Tass news agency said.

"There will be no consequences for our citizens and companies," Tass quoted him as saying.

Trudeau and Shmyhal discussed a range of subjects including further military support and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, before signing a joint declaration to modernize trade.

The prime minister's official website on Tuesday morning showed a "service is unavailable" error when checked by Reuters. Trudeau said the cyber attacks were an "unsurprising" act by Russian hackers.

"We are aware of reports that some Government of Canada websites have been offline," a spokesperson for Canada's Communications Security Establishment (CSE) said in a statement, and echoed Trudeau's comment that it not an uncommon occurrence in countries hosting visits by Ukrainian government officials.

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"While these incidents draw attention, they have very little impact on the systems affected," the CSE spokesperson said.

Canada has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine and has committed more than C$8 billion ($5.94 billion) in financial, military, humanitarian and other assistance since January 2022, just before the February invasion.

($1 = 1.3471 Canadian dollars)

(Additional reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Mark Porter, Bill Berkrot and Sandra Maler)
Robert Landfair, 76, was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer in 2018.

After several unsuccessful rounds of chemotherapy, his doctor, Alan Tan of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, recommended that he switch to Pluvicto, a new medication for advanced prostate cancer.

But the drugs manufacturer, Novartis, has had supply problems. Landfair is now on a waitlist for the medication, which isnt expected to be widely available for several more months.

I definitely need that drug, Landfair, of Chicago, said. Its the only way I see my life.

His family says his cancer is aggressive and still growing.

We realize the cancer is not on a hold period, its not on hiatus, Raymond Jackson, Landfairs son-in-law, said. Were very concerned.

Robert Landfair is waiting for the cancer drug Pluvicto, which is currently in shortage. (Raymond Jackson)

Landfairs not alone: A shortage of cancer medications has created dire circumstances for many patients diagnosed with the disease, forcing them  along with their doctors  to make difficult decisions.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, there are four cancer drugs in shortage: Pluvicto, for advanced prostate cancer; BCG, a drug for bladder cancer; and methotrexate and cisplatin, two common chemotherapy drugs. A fifth drug, fluorouracil, is also in shortage, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, a group that tracks nationwide drug shortages.

In places where cancer medications are running low, some patients may be forced to turn to options that may not work as well, experts say. Others may die waiting for the medications in shortage to become available. Every day counts: A study published in 2020 in The BMJ found that every month delayed in cancer treatment can raise the risk of death by around 10%.

Were kind of handcuffed here as oncologists, said Tan, who is the director of genitourinary medical oncology at Rush.

Tans hospital faces a shortage of Pluvicto and cisplatin.

This is a patients life, he said, adding that patients are going to die if they dont get the drugs they need.

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Whats causing cancer drug shortages?

Michael Ganio, the senior director of pharmacy practice at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, blamed the cancer drug shortage on a lack of investment from manufacturers.

Many of the cancer drugs in shortage are generic medications, which save the nations health care system money overall but are not very profitable for drugmakers.

Theres little incentive to invest in generic manufacturing, oftentimes, especially for these much older drugs  the margins arent very big, Ganio said. Its almost a disincentive.

Erin Fox, senior pharmacy director at the University of Utah Health, said poor manufacturing practices at U.S. factories have also contributed to drug shortages overall.

The shortage of medications, including lifesaving cancer drugs, could get worse in the coming years as more drug production moves overseas, Fox said.

"A key challenge in evaluating drug shortages is that drug companies are not required to disclose exactly which company is making the product as well as the location," she said, noting that manufacturing is often outsourced abroad.

Sarah Ryan, a spokesperson for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the drug industrys trade group, said manufacturers have extensive measures to help prevent and mitigate drug shortages.

A report published in March by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs found that new drug shortages in the U.S. increased by nearly 30% from 2021 to 2022. The medications included prescription drugs and childrens cold and flu medicine as well as medications used to treat cancer, according to the report.

The FDA is working to curb the trend. This month, the agency released 17 pages of draft guidance intended to prevent drug shortages. It would require drugmakers to give the agency more advance notice  at least six months  about potential shortages or discontinuation of a drug as well as more information about whats causing the problem.

Less than ideal care

In the meantime, more cancer patients may get less than ideal care, said Packiam, of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Packiam learned within the last week that his hospital had run low on cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug that is commonly used for bladder cancer and improves the likelihood that surgery will be successful.

It is generally regarded as the gold standard treatment for this type of cancer, he said.

The shortage of cisplatin means hell need to perform surgery without chemotherapy.

Alternative chemotherapies that do not use cisplatin do not yield as good of a response, he said. So rather than give a suboptimal chemotherapy, the next best option is to proceed directly with surgery.

The hospital will also have to prioritize what cisplatin it has left for those most in need, he said.

For those who dont get their cancer medications immediately, all they can do is hope.

Landfair, the cancer patient who is waiting for Pluvicto, is optimistic, though doubt sometimes creeps in.

My biggest fear is I wont get that medication started, he said.

CORRECTION (April 11, 2023, 11 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated which cancer drugs are in shortage according to the FDA. They are Pluvicto, methotrexate and cisplatin, not Pluvicto, methotrexate, cisplatin and fluorouracil. Fluorouracil is in shortage according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

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This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Community leaders shared messages of mourning, hope and of thanks to police and firefighters in Everman on Monday night as they remembered missing 6-year-old Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez.

Noel, who has severe physical and developmental disabilities, went missing in November but was only reported such in March after family members raised concerns that they hadnt seen him in months. Last week, police declared that the case was no longer an endangered missing persons case but a death investigation and a search for the childs remains.

Mondays vigil at Evermans civic center drew hundreds including faith leaders and law enforcement. They shared messages of grief at the loss of life, outrage at what investigations have uncovered about how Noel was treated and how hope could be found in community and prayer.

The hundreds of people gathered around a stage set up behind the civic center, holding tea candles in transparent plastic cups or other candles theyd brought from home. Some brought prayer candles to set in front of the stage.

Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer said it was important to remember what the event was all about.

Tonights not about mom, its not about stepdad, its not about anything to do with the case, Spencer told the gathering. Tonights about Noel. ... Tonight, we honor him by finding ways to stop these tremendously horrible acts that go on.

Police on Monday started searching areas near the home at which Noel and his family lived. Last month, authorities said, his mother and stepfather fled the country on a flight to India with a connection in Istanbul, Turkey, days before an Amber Alert was issued for Noel. Until then, the family still lived in a home and a shed in the back yard of the home in the 3700 block of Wisteria Drive.

Monday, canines and first responders searching the area of the home and nearby wooded areas to the north and east of the house teamed up with Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR), which searched on foot, on horseback and with drones.

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Police Monday had not announced any new developments, but did say they were searching under a porch at the residence that Noels mother, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, had a contractor build a few months ago.

Noel was last seen in the weeks after Rodriguez-Singh gave birth to twin girls in October, according to police. Noel was present for the births and appeared malnourished and unhealthy around that time, witnesses told police.

Rodriguez-Singh made statements that she thought Noel was evil and possessed by a demon and that she was afraid he might harm his baby sisters, according to police interviews with witnesses.

Around November, the mother began telling various stories to friends and relatives to explain Noels disappearance, police said. Through interviews, cellphone geolocation and other means, investigators have been able to disprove each of those stories, which included Rodriguez-Singh claiming that Noel was with his biological father in Mexico or that she had sold him to a woman in a Fiesta Mart grocery store parking lot, Spencer said.

Investigators also learned that Rodriguez-Singh asked to borrow a friends child to pose as Noel at one of his medical appointments so she could try to keep receiving government benefits for Noel, Spencer said. Investigators learned that Noel, who had serious disabilities including a lung condition, was last seen by a speech therapist in July and missed other doctors appointments around that time.

Witnesses also told police that Noels mom abused the boy and withheld food and water from him because she didnt want to change his dirty diapers. In one incident referenced in a search warrant, Rodriguez-Singhs brother said that she hit Noel in the face with her car keys because the child drank water when she didnt want him to.

Authorities have issued warrants for the arrest of Rodriguez-Singh and her husband, Arshdeep Singh, on felony charges of abandoning and endangering a child. Authorities said they are trying to extradite the couple from India, where they fled in March, days after police began investigating an anonymous tip that Noel had been missing since November.
An 11-year-old boy from Horsham Township is dead and his mother is in custody after her car was discovered "partially submerged" off the Jersey Shore, police said Tuesday.

Matthew Whitehead was reportedly found dead by his father shortly after 7 a.m. The child's death remains under investigation; the cause of death was not yet made public.

According to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, the child was discovered in a master bedroom of the family home. The boy is believed to have slept in the room with his mother, Ruth Whitehead-Dirienzo, Steele said.

The child's father told police that he awoke to find the door to the master bedroom locked and his wife's black Toyota Highlander missing from the garage, said Steele. As officers in Horsham were searching the home, police in Cape May, New Jersey, spotted the family's SUV in the ocean, the district attorney said.

Ruth Whitehead-Dirienzo was later spotted in Wildwood Crest and taken into police custody, officials said.

No charges were filed as of 3 p.m. Tuesday.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

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More: How a Falls woman went from a missing person to a murder victim; inside the Carol Clark case

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Montgomery County child dead, mom's car spotted off Jersey Shore
Cardinal Stritch University is closing its doors for good at the end of spring semester, a casualty of the demographic and financial forces haunting most every other higher education institution in Wisconsin.

The decision announced Monday leaves hundreds of employees without jobs and forces an untold number of students to enroll elsewhere if they want to finish their degrees. The closure also leaves the Milwaukee region mourning the loss of a Catholic college committed to serving students since 1937.

"We're all devastated by this development, but after examining all options this decision was necessary," President Dan Scholz said in a video announcement. "I wish there was a different path we could pursue. However, the fiscal realities, downward enrollment trends, the pandemic, the need for more resources and the mounting operational and facility challenges presented a no-win situation."

The university Board of Trustees recommended the closure to the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi after determining the Fox Point school "could no longer provide high-quality educational experiences our students deserve," he said. The Sisters accepted the recommendation and set the closing in motion, Scholz said.

The announcement came as a shock to the close-knit campus, and to its broader community.

Dawn Wankowski, an assistant professor in biology at Cardinal Stritch, hugged and consoled students Tuesday morning. Shes worked on the campus for 21 years and said staff found out about the closure at the same time as students, at about 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Dawn Wankowski (facing), an assist professor in biology at Cardinal Stritch for 21 years hugs a student outside the student union at Cardinal Stritch University in Fox Point on Tuesday. The schools president announced Monday it would be closing its doors at the end of the spring semester.

Student Jumanah Almohsin said the situation seems too surreal to believe just yet.

This is a beautiful place with amazing professors, and I guess I just want to hold out hope that something can be done to save the university because a lot of us don't want this place to go, she said.

Almohsins not aware of any movement that could lead the university to reverse its decision but she said shes willing to donate if it means she could stay at Cardinal Stritch.

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Its devastating for everyone here, said Philip Jakobsson, a student who plays on the school's soccer team. Jakobsson said he had considered transferring to a different university and even submitted an application, but he was leaning toward staying at Cardinal Stritch next year. That ended Monday evening.

Now, he's hoping the other university admits him; otherwise, he will have to head back home to Germany.A lot of people were crying, Jakobsson said. At this university, I would say everyone has such a familiar relationship to everyone.

As the school winds down its operations, Scholz said, Cardinal Stritch will offer some services this summer to help students close to completing their graduation requirements. The school is also finalizing partnerships with local universities for students seeking to transfer their credits.

Commencement will still be celebrated at the Wisconsin Center this spring.

I was shocked, said Milton Davies (left), from Milwaukee, as he and and Erin Rasch, from Greendale, both senior nursing students talked about the schools closing outside the College of Nursing building before class at Cardinal Stritch University in Fox Point on Tuesday. Its very disappointing, added Rasch. I was supposed to graduate this December. Now Im not really sure if thats still going to be happening. So it is pretty disappointing.

School struggled with declining enrollment, financial difficulties

Cardinal Stritch celebrated its 85th anniversary last summer. But like many smaller, private schools, it relies heavily on a steady flow of tuition dollars to keep its doors open.

The school enrolled more than 6,000 students in the year before the Great Recession hit in December 2007. But filling seats is much more difficult for institutions these days. Cardinal Stritch was up against the same headwinds facing most institutions in this state: fewer high school graduates to compete for, and fewer of those graduates choosing to go on to college.

Since 2009, federal education data show Cardinal Stritch enrolled fewer and fewer students every year. The fall of 2021 brought 1,365 students to campus.

Tax filings show Cardinal Stritch operated in the red for seven of the last eight years, with losses ranging from roughly half a million dollars to $9.2 million. The school cut expenses from $70 million in fiscal year 2013 to $43 million in fiscal year 2020, which is the latest publicly available tax data. Over that period, the institution shed about 1,000 employees and was down to roughly 660 staff members.

During the pandemic, Cardinal Stritch was buoyed by a $3.8 million forgivable loan from the federal governments Paycheck Protection Program, according to a 2021 audit. The university in 2020 also received $2.5 million in gifts and contributions from members of the Board of Trustees and employees.

The school did not make Scholz available for an interview Monday or Tuesday. He became president in 2020.

Cardinal Stritch is known for serving a diverse population. About a quarter of its students are Black or Hispanic, and a third of undergraduates received Pell grants, which are awarded to those with the most financial need. It also attracted a number of international students.

The school offered more than 60 academic programs, the most popular in business and education.

"It's a great little school, and the personal attention that kids get  there's nothing like it," Mary Kellner said in 2019, after her family donated $2.5 million to the school. Kellner co-chairs the Board of Trustees.

More: Stunned Cardinal Stritch underclass students not sure where they are headed next

More: What to know about Cardinal Stritch, the private Milwaukee university closing in May

Alumni cite Stritch's deep impact

Kellner is an alumna, earning her doctorate in leadership for the advancement of learning and service in 2007. More than 40,000 others have also graduated with a Stritch degree, some of whom talked wistfully Monday about the transformational experience the school provided and the effect it had on the Milwaukee region.

"This one hurts big time," Wesley Shaver, president and CEO of Milwaukee Pridefest, wrote on his LinkedIn page. "As a young man, Stritch changed my life and put me on a path that I never knew existed. Stritchs impact on SE Wisconsin and the world is far deeper than many know."

More: Signs of Stritch closing have been clear for a while, but many, including me, didn't notice

About 70% of the school's alumni base lives in Wisconsin, according to school data.

Sherrie Tussler credits Cardinal Stritch for turning her from an art major into a business manager. She has led Hunger Task Force, a nonprofit advocacy organization and food bank, since 1997.

She said the schools closure would be keenly felt among people of color.

The president of Cardinal Stritch University announced Monday the school would close its doors at the end of the spring semester.

The school recognized Tussler for her advocacy work in 2010. She was the first layperson to receive the Spirit of St. Francis Award, which recognizes individuals who personify the values of the university. Tussler said she was surprised by the honor, and deeply grateful.

I think they saw things in me that I didnt see in myself, Tussler said. Thats what Stritch has been about. They see what could be and then they strengthen that in a person.

Village official looks to future

Asked what the loss meant to Fox Point, Village Manager Scott Botcher sounded optimistic about finding a new use for the 40-acre campus.

"While losing an institution with this much history is tinged with sadness, it gives Fox Point (and Glendale) the opportunity to work with current or subsequent property owners to facilitate another use which may more highly benefit the community," he wrote in an email.

Botcher and Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy said they learned about the closure Monday.

College closures are fairly rare. Somewhere between five to 12 four-year nonprofit colleges shuttered their doors annually over the past eight years, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The last campus to close in Wisconsin was Holy Family College, which ended operations in 2020 with just 360 students enrolled. The Manitowoc school cited rising operating costs, enrollment decline and fundraising as continual challenges, but COVID-19 pushed the school past the point of sustainability.

Journal Sentinel reporters Beck Salgado, Alex Groth, Drake Bentley and La Risa Lynch contributed.

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: Milwaukee's Cardinal Stritch University closing at end of semester
Carrie Ann Inaba was recently hospitalized with appendicitis. (Evan Agostini / Invision/AP)

Longtime "Dancing With the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba has updated fans on her health after she recently had an emergency appendectomy.

The reality TV personality announced Sunday via Instagram that she is "home recovering and healing" after she was hospitalized with acute appendicitis late last month. Inaba underwent surgery in March and received treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

"Thank you all so much for the messages of love and support," Inaba captioned a video message to her Instagram followers.

"Ive been resting and thinking about things and will be sharing more about my journey. So it might help someone else know the signs so they can seek treatment immediately and not make the same mistake I did."

The former professional dancer and wellness advocate previously called her appendicitis scare "quite a painful experience." After having "excruciating pain" in her abdomen and trying to "wait it out," Inaba eventually went to the hospital, where a doctor told her "it could have been much worse."

Inaba's symptoms included "sudden and violent vomiting" that knocked her off her feet, but she initially wrote the illness off as one of those "strange health occurrences" that come with having an autoimmune disorder. (The former "Talk" panelist has been vocal about living with Sjogren's syndrome, lupus and other autoimmune diseases.)

"When you are in that much pain, the last thing you want to do is go anywhere," Inaba said last month.

"I should have come straight to the hospital ... but I honestly didnt want to leave my babies, and Im so accustomed to pain  thought I should let it play out. If you have pain in your abdomen, please have it checked out because it could be something very serious."

While recovering from appendicitis, Inaba has experienced some fluctuation in energy level  staying awake and "feeling good" for a few hours only to be "zonked out" shortly thereafter.

"It's a windy road, and I never know what's coming next, but I've decided to just surrender to it and go for broke with this healing process," she said Sunday.

"I want to send you all a big hug today  sharing my love and gratitude with you."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Yew Lun Tian and Yimou Lee

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - China's latest military drills near Taiwan show it is serious about being able to cut off the democratically ruled island in a conflict, analysts said, as Beijing said its aircraft carriers could "shatter" defences from the east.

Although the three-day exercises, which ended Monday, were not as intense as those that unfolded in August 2022 in protest of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei, China used them to show off its capabilities in the air and sea - both of which it would need to control if it attempted a blockade.

Here are the key takeaways from the drills.

1) Carrier Operations

Many analysts noted the jets flying off the Shandong aircraft carrier, which took up position east of Taiwan, about 230 kilometres (143 miles) south of Japan's Miyajima island.

The carrier's presence there meant China "can shatter Taiwan's so-called eastern shield", Zhao Xiaozhuo, a senior colonel and researcher with People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences, told state news agency Xinhua.

Beijing could not operate carriers with impunity in that area during a conflict, analysts said, especially if nations friendly to Taiwan were involved, but added that Taiwan would struggle to deal with such a threat on its own.

Chieh Chung, a military researcher at the Taipei-based National Policy Foundation think tank, said in the event of a attack, Taiwan would likely withdraw its military assets from the west to bases in the east, shielded by the island's high mountains and equipped with underground tunnels.

But an unfettered, more coordinated attack from the east would mean "the whole situation will turn very unfavourable," he said.

2) Deterring foreign help

Videos of the exercise released by the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command showed its vessels and planes came within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan on all sides of the island, which Beijing claims as its own.

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The aim of the drills was to show that they could encircle Taiwan in a blockade and deter foreign powers from intervening, Zhao said.

That would be crucial if a conflict erupted.

"An invasion by China would require the PLA to carry out joint counter-intervention operations against the United States, which Beijing believes will almost certainly intervene, and now possibly with allies like Australia and Japan, maybe even the Philippines," said Derek Grossman, a senior defence analyst at RAND Corporation.

Although the United States has long followed a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would intervene militarily to protect Taiwan, U.S. President Joe Biden has said he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan.

3) Precision Targeting

The PLA also said it carried out virtual simulations showing how its forces could execute targeted missile attacks on Taiwan.

Zhang Chi, a senior colonel and assistant professor with National Defence University, told Xinhua that the simulated precision attacks meant that China could eliminate Taiwanese leaders in a "Zhanshou" operation, which translates as "beheaded". In Western military parlance, such attacks are referred to as "decapitation strikes".

The drills were a response to a recent meeting in California between U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, whom China views as a separatist.

4) Japan on alert

China's focus on the seas east of Taiwan are particularly worrisome for Japan, said Bonji Ohara, senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and a former military attache at Japan's embassy in China.

"Japan's southwestern islands could be included in the blockade area," Ohara said. "The question of how to break through there has once again been posed to Japan. It also reminded Japan that the blockade could cut off the sea lanes that carry crude oil and food to the country, which would be a major blow to the Japanese economy."

Japan's military said in a briefing on Tuesday that it was assessing China's manoeuvres around Taiwan, but described them as "without question, serious training".

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Yimou Lee in Taipei; Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo in Tokyo; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Its been over one week since Robert Harold Crazy Bob Lee was stabbed to death in San Francisco, and police are yet to publicly identify any suspects.

Cash App founder Lee, 43, was spotted on surveillance footage stumbling along Main St in Rincon Hill at around 2.30am on 4 April pleading for help.

In a 911 call, Lee reportedly said someone stabbed me. He died in hospital soon after being found by authorities.

The high-profile slaying of the MobileCoin chief product officer has shaken San Francisco and placed a spotlight on the citys crime rates.

Lees incensed friends in the tech community blamed the citys pursuit of progressive law enforcement policies, with one claiming they had Bobs literal blood on their hands.

In response, city officials have slammed the politicisation of Lees murder.

However, the unsolved homicide and a seemingly random attack on a former city fire commissioner on the same day have left residents on edge.

As the investigation enters its second week with no concrete signs of a breakthrough, many are asking: Why hasnt Lees killer been caught?

What we know about Lees final moments

After relocating from San Francisco to Miami in October last year, Lee had returned to attend a MobileCoin leadership conference in the city, friends say.

Surveillance footage taken at 2.30am on 4 April from the Portside apartment building at 403 Main St showed a mortally wounded Lee desperately trying to find help.

The footage captured Lee approaching several cars while clutching his stab wounds in one hand and his cell phone in the other.

He lifts his shirt to show the driver of a parked Toyota Camry the extent of his injuries, but the car immediately drives off.

Bob Lee pictured at the New York Stock Exchange in 2015 on the day that Square, now known as Block, listed as a public company (Facebook / Bob Lee)

Lee called 911 at 2.34am pleading for help, according to a recording. Police arrived six minutes later, and summoned medics to the scene. Lee was rushed to San Fransisco General Hospital where he died soon afterwards.

Police refused to confirm whether a man who was spotted on CCTV wheeling a suitcase away from the area where Lee was murdered was a suspect.

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Its also unclear whether a murder weapon has been recovered, if any personal items were stolen, or what Lee was doing prior to being stabbed. Police have not responded to numerous requests for comment by The Independent.

Mr Lee had been staying about half a mile from where he was found with fatal stab wounds at the 1 Hotel on the Embarcadero, according to the San Francisco Standard.

CCTV from the Lumina apartment building, which neighbours the Portside, has also been reviewed by police.

The area close to downtown San Francisco is home to Googles city headquarters and luxury high-rise apartment buildings. The median household income in the area was more than $244,000, according to the last Census.

Lees distraught friends and colleagues in the tech world quickly linked his death to the citys lawlessness and recidivism. Many presumed that the stabbing was an attempted robbery.

Lee had apparently stayed on in San Francisco for an extra day after the conference had ended.

His estranged wife Krista and two daughters Dagny and Scout reportedly still live in San Francisco.

What city officials have said about the murder

In his first public statement a day after Lees death, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said that was too early to provide any information on evidence they had gathered or speculate on a motive or the circumstances of the killing.

Mr Scott added that every lead was being pursued tirelessly in the case.

San Francisco police chief William Scott has refused to release any substantive information about the Bob Lee homicide inquiry (Getty Images)

Two days later, Mr Scott told CBS San Francisco it was still too soon to know whether the stabbing was a random attack. He added that the lack of information being released was due to police wanting to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

In the hours after Lees death, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins was asked on Twitter by Elon Musk what she was doing to lock up repeat violent offenders.

While not addressing Mr Musk directly, Ms Jenkins responded the following day to say it was her top priority.

As a former homicide prosecutor, I have a deep understanding of how these investigations & prosecutions work. I direct our staff to ensure that cases are vigorously prosecuted.

Conspiracy theories and attacks on the San Francisco Police Departments supposed toothless response to violent crime quickly filled the information void.

Amid a deluge of social media criticism, Police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto said at a public meeting on Wednesday that some were exploiting this horrific incident for political gain.

I find it premature and distasteful to try to fit this horrifying act of violence into a preconceived narrative and use it to advance a political agenda, Mr Benedicto added.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed says many people are going to be surprised when the facts are known

On Monday, Mayor London Breed urged the public not to rush to conclusions about Lees murder and a brutal attack on former San Francisco Fire commissioner Don Carmigiani.

When the facts of many of these cases come out, many people are going to be surprised, Ms Breed said in comments to media at the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco.

While most city officials pushed back at claims that violence was out of control in the city, District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio acknowledged that many residents were living in fear.

In a Twitter thread last week, he said the city police department Ms Jenkins was rebuilding a prosecutors office that had been dismantled by her predecessor Chesa Boudin, who was recalled last year.

Its no consolation to say San Francisco had three times as many murders in the 1970s. What matters is how people feel today and they dont feel safe, Mr Engardio said.

The San Francisco Police Department and Ms Jenkins did not respond to requests for comment.

Crime in San Francisco

Violent crime and homicide is much lower in San Francisco than in many other large US cities, according to local and FBI crime data.

The northern California city reported 6.9 homicides per 100,000 people in 2021. That compares to 66 in St Louis, 47 in Detroit and 10 in Los Angeles.

But many city residents say the city has failed to deal with a rampant homelessness and drug use. Police crime data shows that motor vehicle theft and burglary are up significantly from last year.

A woman walks past flowers left outside an apartment building where technology executive Bob Lee was fatally stabbed in San Franciso (Associated Press)

Of the 13 homicides reported in San Francisco this year, just three have been solved, according to an analysis by ABC7.

The citys homicide clearance rate over the past few years appears to closely track the number of sworn officers.

In 2021, the most recent year that records are available, 77 per cent of the 56 homicides that occurred in the city were solved. The city had 2,129 sworn officers that year.

In 2018, when San Francisco had 2,306 officers, the police department cleared a record high 96 percent of its 46 reported homicides.

Mayor Breed said earlier this week that San Francisco is at least 500 officers short, adding that applications were improving after she announced an increase in salary rates.
Tony Danker, former CBI boss

The boss of one of the UK's largest business groups has been fired over complaints about his behaviour at work.

Tony Danker, who will leave the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) following an investigation over his conduct towards several employees, said he was "shocked" by the sacking.

Three other CBI employees have also been suspended pending a probe into other allegations, the group said.

It is also liaising with the police who are looking into the claims.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Waight of the City of London Police said: "We approached the CBI following media reports and our investigations are at a very early stage. It would not be appropriate to comment any further at this time."

Mr Danker stepped aside in March after the CBI hired law firm Fox Williams to investigate several complaints about him. These included a complaint from a female employee in January and complaints from other members of staff which surfaced in March.

The 51-year-old, who was paid 376,000 by the CBI in 2021, has now been dismissed with immediate effect with no severance pay. He is being replaced by Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI's former chief economist.

Mr Danker tweeted on Tuesday: "I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office. I was appalled to learn about them for the first time last week.

"I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed. Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that. I want to wish my former CBI colleagues every success."

The findings of the investigation into him for now remain unpublished.

Story continues

Last week, the Guardian newspaper reported sexual misconduct claims against CBI employees, including an allegation of rape at a summer boat party in 2019.

Many of the most serious allegations predate Mr Danker's time as director-general.

Belfast-born Mr Danker took over as head of the CBI in November 2020. He had previously spent 10 years as a consultant with McKinsey, and worked as a special adviser to the Treasury under Gordon Brown's government. He has also been international director then chief strategy officer at Guardian News and Media.

In its statement on Tuesday, the CBI said: "Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him.

"The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director-general."

The scandals have left the CBI facing its biggest crisis since it was founded in 1965.

Some company executives who are members of the group have described it as an existential crisis for an organisation that represents the interests of some 190,000 businesses across the UK.

The lobby group has already postponed its public events and asked Fox Williams to conduct a separate investigation to the one into Mr Danker.

'Serious failings'

A Downing Street spokesman said the government would keep its engagement with the CBI on hold while the group continued its investigation, adding: "We continue to expect any allegations to be taken seriously and for appropriate action to be taken in response."

Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said Labour had also cut ties with the CBI for now, calling the allegations "incredibly concerning".

In its statement, the lobby group said the allegations made in recent weeks had been "devastating" and that there had been "serious failings" in how it had handled sexual misconduct complaints. It said it would now begin a "root-and-branch review" of its culture and governance.

This will look at issues such as how employees raise concerns and processes for escalating complaints.

"It is already clear to all of us that there have been serious failings in how we have acted as an organisation. We must do better, and we must be better," it said.

Mr Danker's replacement, Rain Newton-Smith, becomes the second woman to lead the group in its history.

Ms Newton-Smith, who spent her early career as an economist at the Bank of England, left the CBI in March to join Barclays bank as managing director for strategy and policy, sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance).

She is well known to CBI staff and members but will face a tough job in reassuring members that the lobby group can effectively represent their interests.

Jurgen Maier, the former UK boss of engineering giant Siemens, said Mr Danker's sacking should be a "wake up moment" for all business leaders.

Mr Maier, who served on the CBI's president's committee until 2019, told Radio 4's World at One programme: "For any leader this is a wake up moment to make sure that we do root and branch reviews of our organisation and make sure that we've got the cultures in place that don't allow these sorts of behaviours to happen."

Last week the boss of brewing company Adnams said his firm had considered leaving the CBI following the scandals.

On Tuesday, chief executive Andy Wood said a decision would not be made until the full investigation was complete, but added he was encouraged by the action taken.

"The allegations were very serious and there's clearly no room for that type of behaviour in any workplace," he told the BBC.

"So it was right that we reviewed [our membership], but it's also right we give the organisation a chance to put its house back in order."

The CBI lobbies politicians on firms' behalf to make policies that benefit UK businesses. It also hosts regular networking events for business leaders, with the UK chancellor typically giving the keynote speech at its annual dinner.

According its most recently published accounts, 22m of its 25m income in 2021 came from membership fees.
President Biden faces a ticking timer on the resumption of student loan payments by the end of the summer  but will he allow it to go off?

The payments, paused amid the coronavirus pandemic, are set to begin either 60 days after the Supreme Court makes a ruling on Bidens student debt forgiveness program or 60 days after June 30, the White House has said.

Biden had also previously said the payments would resume at the beginning of 2023, and that there would not be another extension of the pause, which began under then-President Trump in 2020.

Although the White House wont discuss the possibility of a Plan B if the high court strikes down Bidens relief proposal, experts believe yet another extension of the loan payment pause is a possibility.

FILE - President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in the State Dining Room of the White House on April 4, 2023, in Washington. The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday, April 10, as Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years  weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in the State Dining Room of the White House on April 4, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

I definitely think this is on the table, said Rebecca Natow, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy at Hofstra University and a higher education policy expert.

Policy-wise, the move would put the Democratic president in line with student debt advocates and others in his party who are demanding an extension of the payment pause.

From a political standpoint, this is popular among a cross section of voting demographics, and that should always be a a consideration going into a presidential election year, said Rodell Mollineau, a Democratic strategist.

Borrowers have not had to make their payments since March 2020, as the pause has been extended nine separate times.

Map: Where Bidens student loan forgiveness could have the most impact

Even if the legality of Bidens student debt relief plan isnt resolved by June 30, the administration insists borrowers will have to soon begin repayment of student loan debt.

If the program has not been implemented and the litigation has not been resolved by June 30, 2023  payments will resume 60 days after that, the White House said when the last pause was extended.

Story continues

Trump and then Biden paused the payments under the authority of the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act, which gives the Education secretary more power over student loans during a national emergency.

Biden previously tied the resumption of payments to his proposal for up to $20,000 in student loan relief, but if that plan is struck down by the Supreme Court, the resumption of payments could be a blow for voters going into a presidential election year.

Anybody that takes the pause off is going to be relatively unpopular for a while and not just with Democrats, said Daniel Collier, assistant professor of higher and adult education in the Department of Leadership at the University of Memphis.

7.8M people at high risk of struggling to pay student loans if pause expires

However, if Biden sticks with payments resuming at the end of this summer, there is another whole year until the election, which could give borrowers time to move on from the decision.

The 2024 elections are still a year and a half away, so any action that occurs in the next few months would probably not be as impactful on the next presidential election as an action that happens closer to next November, Natow said.

The Biden administration could face difficulty either way, as it has not given a specific reason defining when the pause is no longer needed.

I believe the Biden administration has made several blunders with the repayment pause in the way that theyve extended it, Collier said. Theyre doing this seemingly arbitrarily, you know, theres no economic targets for like when is it OK to turn this on.

Even if the political climate would seem ripe for another student loan extension, the legal headaches that follow might be costly.

Currently, the administration is arguing that although the COVID-19 national emergency declaration is ending in May, they can still forgive student loan debts under the HEROES Act because it relates to the lingering effects of the pandemic. The White House could use the same argument for extending student loan payments yet again.

Theres nothing in the HEROES Act that limits the relief that the secretary can provide to the end date of the national emergency, said Abby Shafroth, director of the National Consumer Law Centers Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project.

The administration could point to its data that shows resuming student loan payments without debt relief could increase the number of delinquency and put borrowers in a worse financial position than before the pandemic.

There isnt like a date certain. Its not like you can only use [the HEROES Act] for one year after the end of the national emergency or anything like that. Its just based on the facts. Its based on when and whether relief is still needed to ensure that people arent left worse off as a result of the national emergency, Shafroth added.

Others, however, are not quite as confident about the certainty of the Biden administrations ability to use to HEROES Act again to extend payments.

The answer is because the seminal power to do this came from the emergency acts of a pandemic, its not really clear that [Biden] alone has the power to keep the pause off, Collier said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Watch: Mum jets off on 16 holidays - making it back in time for her nightshifts

A British woman has spent less than 1,000 on eight holidays over the last 18 months, after getting hooked on cheap flights in December 2021.

Anne-Marie Moss, 45, has spent just 994 on return flights and accommodation for eight breaks since her first trip to Krakow, Poland to take her adult daughter to see the Christmas markets.

Read more: Why cabin crew welcome you on a flight with their hands behind their back

On her first trip, Moss spent just 16 on return flights to Krakow. She loved it so much that she returned to the Polish city with an old school friend in March 2022, spending just 35 on flights and 50 on accommodation.

The short breaks are often only for a day or two as Moss ensures that she returns in time for her night shift as a receptionist at a mental health hospital.

Im often hopping off the flight and heading straight to my shift. I sleep on the plane home, she explains.

Anne-Marie Moss has embraced her love of cheap holidays. (SWNS)

It started off when I found 16 return flights to go to Krakow, Poland. I fell in love with it. After we came back home, I wanted to travel again. We just came back from 24 hours in Palma, Spain. It was about 110 each in total. Its cheaper than going round Manchester.

Read more: How to sleep on a plane, from uncrossing your legs to making a tactical seat choice

Since her first trip, Moss has returned to Krakow three times, and shes been to Polands Tatra Mountains three times, and spent time in both Palma, Mallorca, and Bucharest in Romania.

Anne-Maries 48-hour escapes

December 2021: Krakow  16 flights each, 100 accommodation  25 each

March 2022: Krakow  35 flights, 50 accommodation

April 2022: Krakow and Tantra Mountains  35 flights, 90 hotel, 120 on activities

May 2022: Tantra Mountains for three days  120 each

June 2022: Krakow and Tantra Mountains  22 flights, 120 each on activities

Dec: Tantra Mountains  35 flights, Accommodation  100

Feb 2023: Bucharest, Romania  116

March 2023: Palma  110

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Total - 994

Moss, who lives in Accrington, Greater Manchester, usually takes her trips mid-week and books the first flight possible and returns on the last flight of the day to make sure they make the most of the time they have.

Anne-Marie packs in activities such as thermal spas and kayaking into her holidays. (SWNS)

I work shift work, so I usually go mid-week, she explains. I try and get an early flight out and then try and get the last flight home.

She adds that she just carries a backpack so as not to pay for any additional baggage fees.

Read more: Flight attendant reveals why there is a 'secret' bedroom on long-haul flights

The trips are often jam-packed with activities such as kayaking, quad biking and cycling around the national parks.

[In Bucharest] we went to the castles and thermal spa, she added. It was fabulous.
A massive fire shut down part of Cheshire Bridge Road more than a year and a half ago. On Tuesday, the busy stretch of road will finally re-open.

NewsDrone 2 flew over the freshly-replaced bridge for Channel 2 Action News This Morning to show you all four lanes and both sides re-opened.

The lanes will temporarily close at 2:30 p.m. as City of Atlanta officials host a ribbon-cutting ceremony, but Cheshire Bridge Road will be accessible starting at 3:30 p.m.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The busy artery runs from Buckhead near Interstate 85 and Lenox Road south toward Piedmont Park. Part of it closed after a bridge fire in August 2021, but two lanes reopened last year.

Been horrible  had to walk two to three blocks to get to the bus stop, said Jerome Scott, who lives near the bridge, in October.

Businesses couldnt wait even for half of the bridge to open.

I lost a lot of business because of the bridge. A lot of clients didnt want to sit in the traffic, or they would redirect all the way around to the other end of the bridge, said Larry Jackson, a barber at Anytime Cutz near the closure.

TRENDING STORIES:

Some in the area wondered why the demo and construction took so long with a contract not signed for months. But at the end of October they got a treat.

Owner of Taverna Plaka said his business was down about 40% when the road was completely closed.

Patrons will definitely come back to Cheshire Bridge, Scott Duke said.

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The Chicago skyline with the United Center. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Chicago has been selected to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and President Biden announced on Tuesday.

The DNC chose Chicago over competing bids from Atlanta and New York City. The convention will be held at the United Center from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22, 2024. It's expected to draw up to 7,000 delegates, and will bring an estimated 50,000 visitors to the city.

The New York Times noted that Chicago's main argument for hosting was "that it was a bastion of Democratic Party values  a liberal place that embraces abortion rights, LGBTQ rights, and labor and civil rights  and that Illinois reflected the diversity of the nation."

Sources told NBC News that Chicago was the favorite in part because of its venue, as the United Center  home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks  can seat nearly 24,000 people and previously hosted the last Democratic convention in Chicago in 1996. The city was also viewed positively because of "its stock of hotel suites and restaurants, as well as the political and financial force of [Illinois Gov. J.B.] Pritzker, whom DNC members believed would not allow the convention to fail," NBC added. Pritzker had reportedly made a personal guarantee that the party would not lose money if the convention was in Chicago, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Chicago's new mayor-elect, Brandon Johnson, also campaigned on a platform of bringing the convention to his city.

"Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention," Biden said in a statement. "Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress, including building an economy from the middle out and bottom-up, not from the top down."

The festivities will be held less than 100 miles from the Republican convention, which will take place in Milwaukee in July 2024.

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CHICAGO (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden picked Chicago to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, tapping a large liberal city in the heart of the Midwest to hold what could be his nominating party, officials said on Tuesday.

Chicago beat out New York, another progressive city, as well as Atlanta, a city in the presidential battleground state of Georgia that helped Biden win the White House and gain control of the Senate. Houston was eliminated earlier in the process.

"Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention," Biden said in a statement distributed by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Tuesday. "Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down."

Chicago's supporters made the case that it was diverse, liberal city that celebrated labor and civil rights. They also argued that it was located in the critical Midwestern part of the country that Democrats need to win if they want to retain the White House, including the competitive states of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire Democratic donor, also made clear that his state's largest city had the financial resources and experience to run a smooth, large-scale event. The city has hosted several Democratic conventions, including the tumultuous and violent 1968 gathering during the Vietnam War.

The decision took Democrats in the South by surprise after they marshaled tens of millions of dollars in support for the bid and felt that there was some momentum behind it, especially after Biden endorsed putting South Carolina and Georgia before Iowa in the party's nominating calendar.

"There'll be some initial heartbreak, which I'm experiencing right now," said Dominick Perkins, a top Democratic strategist in Georgia. "But people are still going to continue to do the work we've always done and we'll continue to get the wins. This state is trending blue."

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The convention, where delegates will formally select a final Democratic nominee to run in the November 2024 presidential election, will run from Aug. 19-22 next year, the DNC said.

While he has not officially declared his candidacy, Biden has said he intends to run for re-election and is yet to face a serious threat for the nomination despite concerns about the 80-year-old president's age.

(Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Jasper Ward; Writing by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Jonathan Oatis)
Chicago will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, the DNC announced on Tuesday. The convention is expected to be held Aug. 19-22.

The last Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago was in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was nominated for his second term. It was the first time the Democrats held their nominating convention there since the tumultuous convention in 1968, when violence broke out in protests outside as Vice President Hubert Humphrey was named the Democratic nominee.

The 2020 convention was set to be held in Milwaukee, but it ended being completely virtual due to the pandemic.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

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The Democratic Party has selected Chicago over other finalists like New York City and Atlanta to be the site of their 2024 convention.

Democrats thus join Republicans in selecting a Midwestern city to host the convention that will produce a final presidential nominee. Milwaukee will host the Republican National Convention in 2024.

Three sources familiar with the Democratic National Committees plans shared the news with NBC, adding that President Joe Biden informed Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker before leaving for Ireland.

All three cities made aggressive pitches that they represent the future of the Democratic Party, but Chicago and Atlanta were viewed as the frontrunners. Both argued that the regions they are located in  the Midwest and South respectively  will be crucial for Democrats in 2024.

Committee members liked Chicago because of the appeal of the United Center, the venue where the convention will be hosted, as well as the citys hotels and restaurants.

DNC members also believed Pritzkers political and financial power would not allow the convention to fail.

Chicago is the nations most popular convention city. Its geographic centrality has led both parties to select the Windy City many times.

The last time the city played host in 1996, Democrats renominated President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore at the United Center. Republicans last hosted their convention in Chicago in 1960, with Richard Nixon as the presidential nominee and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. as his running mate.

Chicagos first convention was in 1860 when Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln at a hastily built structure nicknamed the Wigwam, which would later be destroyed during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The citys most notorious convention was in 1968 when Democrats nominated Hubert Humphrey for president and violent clashes broke out between police and protestors.

The 2024 convention will be Chicagos 25th.

Story continues

Both Pritzker and Democratic nominee for Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson lobbied Biden on behalf of Chicagos bid, NBC reported.

Johnson recently secured a victory for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party by beating both incumbent mayor Lori Lightfoot and tough-on-crime frontrunner Paul Vallas in successive rounds of primary voting.

The decision was ultimately up to Biden himself, who informed the DNC of his pick. The convention is expected to cost upward of $90 million.

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Second-generation Chiles Secos owner Rocio Lopez displays a photograph of her founder-father, Celestino Lopez, at the stall in 2018. The Grand Central Market shop closed earlier this month. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

With its colorful rows of dried chiles, beans, nuts, seasonings and a rainbow of mole pastes imported weekly from Mexico, Grand Central Markets Chiles Secos was one of the historic food halls most beloved one-stop pantry shops for roughly 50 years. This month it closed  but it might not be gone for good.

One of the markets few remaining vendors from the 1970s has ended its run, as first reported by walking-tour company Esotouric and confirmed by representatives for Grand Central Market. But the granddaughter of the man who put the stand and its mole selection on the map is hoping to eventually reprise it in a new format and for a new era, filling the shoes of both Celestino Lopez and his daughter, Rocio Lopez, who inherited the stall from her late father. According to Claudia Armendariz, her aunt was simply ready for a rest.

She was ready to retire and nobody could or wanted to keep it going, Armendariz said. It was just time; having to run the business and be there every day takes a toll. She's a grandma, and she just wanted to spend time with her family.

Lopez didnt set an official closing date  instead choosing to phase out her stall quietly  though her last day in Grand Central Market was April 2. According to her niece, shed made the decision to retire last fall. From there, the family planned their long exit.

Rocio Lopez inherited the stand from her father, who purchased the business from its founder. Back then it wasnt Chiles Secos but A&B Coffee, where Celestino Lopez worked in 1975 in addition to his stints at multiple other stalls within Grand Central Market. He later purchased it, but it wasnt until the 1990s that he began to offer what would become the stands iconic items: moles handmade by families across Mexico.

A hand-painted, eye-catching yellow-and-red sign was hung behind the register, signaling the wares: CHILES SECOS, or dried chiles. A 1991 episode of Californias Gold found host and beloved TV personality Huell Howser chatting with Celestino Lopez and perusing the stall, the front cases filled with small mountains of ground chile de arbol and crushed red pepper flakes that would someday give way to heaps of pepita, rojo and coloradito moles scooped out into plastic to-go containers by large silver spoons.

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The flavorful moles are purchased through an importer, which sources its range of pastes from small, family-run operations primarily located in Oaxaca, Puebla and Guerrero in Mexico. These business ties have now spanned decades and generations.

Our relationship with them is strong; it's the relationship that my grandfather cultivated, Armendariz said. That's why we've been in business together for so long: We have that bond.

When Rocio Lopez took over, she expanded the range of moles and said that throughout the pandemic, the moles are what helped keep the stall afloat while business began to dwindle across the market. The pandemic was far from the only major change Lopez witnessed through the years.

Customer Sonia Solas orders a container of mole from vendor Rocio Lopez at Chiles Secos in 2018. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

In 2018 Lopez detailed her struggle amid the draw of newer vendors in the market as it began its evolution into a food hall, telling The Times , With the changes theyve made, Ive lost a lot of my customers. It became hard to compete, and she revealed that she owed nearly $100,000 in back rent on her Chiles Secos stall. (Armendariz declined to comment on whether the issue of back rent had been resolved.)

In 2020, regarding the food halls gentrification, Lopez said , I dont even think about it anymore, when theres new and old together, but I think it looks good. Some of the other [vendors] are over there  like a little piece of the old one. Its surprising to people; they say, Oh, this is the original.

Armendariz too has seen changes in the food halls vendors. The now-owner of Chiles Secos began helping at the stall when she was 11 and remembers Grand Central Market from decades past. Now 37, she recalls the days when the floor was covered in sawdust and the tienditas were far from outliers in a sea of destination food stands from some of L.A.s most notable chefs.

Armendariz says the current owners of Grand Central Market have been incredibly kind to her family and actively sought to aid and keep the markets legacy vendors running, for which she is grateful. Still, the third-generation Chiles Secos owner said that the changing landscape simply no longer felt like the right fit for the concept.

Walking around the market now, it's just not the same place, she said. I just kind of felt like I would rather bow out gracefully and accept that maybe we don't belong there anymore. But we still belong in the world.

After Esotouric posted news of the closure on Twitter, comments, tweets and messages began rolling in. On Monday Grand Central Market posted a farewell to the long-running stand on the food halls Instagram account, congratulating Rocio Lopez on her retirement. A photo slideshow depicted the case of moles and the smiling faces of Rocio and Celestino Lopez behind the counter through the years.

The outpouring, Armendariz said, has been tremendous.

We're so grateful that people care and remember my grandpa, she said, tearing up. That stall was my grandpa's everything. You know, he did it for us, and I always looked at it as my inheritance  what he left me  and that's why I'll never give up on Chiles Secos.

In 2013 she helped move the shop into the digital era by building its social media presence, which shes run for the last decade, and its through the digital space that Armendariz hopes to relaunch the shop in the near future. She says she will continue focusing on the moles, though her full business plan is still a work in progress.

She hopes to announce the future of Chiles Secos by the end of the year, but in the nearer future aims to bring the shops signature moles to fans who want them, whether through a limited digital storefront or collaborations with chefs.

I just want people to know they havent seen the last of us  we're not done, Armendariz said. Our time at the Grand Central Market is over and it's a big deal, and we're sad. We cherished our time there, but we're not exactly done.

For those already missing Chiles Secos signature moles, Armendariz says the best means of keeping updated is via the shops Instagram account and to be on the lookout for announcements.

I just don't want people to forget about us because we're not  it's not  over, Armendariz said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (C) reviews a military honour guard with Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) in Beijing on June 8, 2018. GREG BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Leaked US documents reveal what could prompt China to begin arming Russia, reports say.

A Ukrainian attack on Russia using NATO weapons could be a red line for China, they say.

The leaked documents contain secret details of US military operations globally.

Leaked Pentagon papers spell out the circumstances that US officials believe could prompt China to get involved in the Ukraine conflict and begin arming its ally Russia, reports say.

The US Defense Department documents posted online appear to contain extensive discussion of the Ukraine conflict, and of China's military plans and capabilities.

They say that a Ukrainian attack on Russian territory using weapons supplied by NATO would compel Beijing to act, according to The Washington Post and CNN, who have reviewed the documents.

US officials believe that if Ukraine were to strike a significant strategic target or leader in Russia it could be further justification for China to cross a red line and send lethal aid to Russia, reported the Post.

The documents say that, according to US intelligence, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier this year discussed using drones to strike Russian deployment lines in Rostov Oblast, which borders eastern Ukraine, CNN reported.

The US has been hesitant to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles amid concerns they could be used to strike targets in Russia, and potentially escalate the conflict.

China could use Ukrainian attacks in Russia "as an opportunity to cast NATO as the aggressor, and may increase its aid to Russia if it deems the attacks were significant," said CNN, citing the leaks.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, China has trodden a careful path, seeking to portray itself as neutral in the conflict. More recently it has acted as a peace broker, while also providing Russia with key diplomatic and economic support. At a recent summit in Moscow, China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin renewed their "no limits" cooperation pact.

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But Russian setbacks on the battlefield, and reports that Russia has suffered steep casualties and equipment shortages, have prompted claims that China could start providing lethal aid to Russia.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in March told NBC News that if China were to provide such aid, it would "alienate" it from the world.

China has denied the claim, and said it has provided weapons to neither side in the war, while accusing the US of stoking the conflict by providing Ukraine with billions in aid and weapons.

Analysts have told Insider that if Ukraine makes significant battlefield gains in the Spring it could prompt China to act and escalate its support for Russia.

The leaked papers suggest that it is attacks within Russia itself that would draw China into the war.

The Pentagon has said it is investigating the source of the leaks, which were posted on platforms including Discord and 4Chan.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- A top Chinese official tried to reassure Taiwanese business executives that they are welcome across the strait just as the Peoples Liberation Army ended military drills around the island.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Wang Huning, the No. 4 official in Chinas ruling Communist Party, pledged 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, the official Xinhua News Agency reported late Monday.

Read: Taiwan Sees Chinas Drills as Similar to Pelosi Visit Reaction

China is committed to safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he said in his remarks to a group of businessmen led by Liu Chao-shiuan in Beijing, while adding that efforts to pursue independence wouldnt be tolerated.

Liu briefly served as premier when Taiwan was led by Ma Ying-jeou, who just wrapped up the first trip across the strait by a former leader of the democracy.

China responded to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during a stop in the US last week with large-scale military drills that included an aircraft carrier. Taiwan detected 91 PLA aircraft and 12 warships in its surroundings as of 6 p.m. Monday.

A record 54 of those flights crossed the median line in the strait and entered Taiwans sensitive air-defense identification zone. China sent 49 warplanes across that line after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last year, part of unprecedented drills that included sending missiles overhead.

More: US, Philippines Follow Taiwan Drills With Biggest Exercises Yet

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The US Defense Department was closely monitoring Beijings actions around Taiwan, the Pentagon said.

China has vowed to someday bring Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary, though it also tries to attract business and students from the democracy. In 2021, it rolled out measures to entice Taiwanese agricultural firms, including allowing them to sell bonds on the mainland.

Still, Taiwan companies can face difficulties on the mainland for political reasons. Last summer, China announced it was suspending imports of some fish, fruit and sand used in construction after Pelosi became the first sitting House speaker to visit Taipei in 25 years. Some of those shipments were restarted earlier this year.

Taiwanese businesses have significantly reduced their new investments in China in recent years as they diversify manufacturing locations. Investments in China approved by the government in Taipei fell to just over $5 billion in 2022, less than half the amount a decade earlier.

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Chubarov believes that if Russia deploys nuclear weapons in Crimea, this will be the final stage of preparations for a nuclear war

Speaking to the station on April 8, Chubarov pointed to the lively debate that arose after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said he would place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, where they would threaten Poland and Lithuania.

Read also: Putins nuclear saber-rattling is a sign of dangerous Russian desperation

"However, if such weapons are placed in the occupied Crimea, I believe Russia will reveal all of its cards, Chubarov said.

It would be a direct threat to NATO members in this (Black Sea) region such as Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. These countries would become Russia's targets. It would be (as I believe, although I'm not a military person) direct preparations for a nuclear war. Wed be heading towards a nuclear war.

Putin announced his nuclear threats on March 25, saying the move would be made in response to the U.K. saying it would supply Ukraine with ammunition with depleted uranium.

Read also: Putin planned to deploy nukes in Belarus before full-scale invasion of Ukraine  ISW

However, the dictator had said some months ago that Russia planned to place nuclear weapons in Belarus.

The dictator said that Russia has modernized ten Belarusian aircraft to be used with tactical nuclear weapons. The Russians have also transferred an Iskander missile system capable of launching nuclear warheads.

Meanwhile, the construction of a tactical nuclear weapon storage facility in Belarus is to be finished by July, the Kremlin announced.

Many countries have condemned Putin's nuclear threats. The European Union said it was ready to impose new sanctions against Russia, while the United States reported it hadnt seen any signs of nuclear weapons being transported to Belarus.

China on March 31 said it opposed the idea of transferring nuclear weapons to third countries.

Read also: Putins renewed nuclear saber-rattling embarrasses Beijing, Bloomberg says

Belarusian aircraft are now capable of launching nuclear strikes, Russia's Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu said on April 4.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The city of Charlotte will spend millions to bring hundreds of affordable housing units to the Queen City.

The Charlotte City Council voted Monday night to spend more than $23 million to help build more than 600 homes.

Priced Out of Charlotte: County-by-County Resource Guide

More than $20 million for the projects will come from the citys Housing Trust Fund.

The Aveline Townhomes at Orange Street and Hope Springs subdivision projects will be homes for sale. The rest are rental properties.

More details:

One of the rental properties will be in Ballantyne.

A developer is planning a 60-unit property near the Sprouts Grocery Store.

Its called Evoke Living at Ballantyne.

READ MORE: Need for affordable housing increases as availability decreases, Meck County reports

The city says the project is in an ideal location because it is close to jobs and resources.

RELATED: Charlotte approves $20M to cover cost overruns for affordable housing projects

Affordable housing project in Ballantyne

A 60-unit affordable housing complex is coming to Ballantyne.

The area has a grocery store, medical office and other retail opportunities, but the Charlotte City Council is perhaps most excited about an affordable housing project that will be built across the street.

A wooded area along Ballancroft Parkway would be knocked down and replaced by Evoke Living at Ballantyne, a 60-unit affordable housing complex, near the corner of Johnston Road and Providence Road West.

It is absolutely in a phenomenal area for affordable housing, said Shawn Heath, the citys director of housing and neighborhood services.

Heath says the project checks all the boxes for the city. It would put those living there within walking distance of jobs and places to eat.

The housing would take $3 million from the voter-approved Housing Trust Fund to build.

Heath said construction will be a challenge, because of how the land wraps around the neighboring police station, but he says itll be worth it.

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We are always hungry for affordable housing in District 7, so we recommend it without any hesitation, Heath said.

Councilman Ed Driggs represents the area and walked the project site with Heath. He compared it to a ski slope.

Very difficult topography, Driggs said.

He says the lack of affordable housing in his district is caused by cost and hes eager for the community to show that affordable housing belongs and is supported in Ballantyne.

RELATED: Charlotte approves $20M to cover cost overruns for affordable housing projects

I am very anxious to get this done, just to demonstrate there is no opposition in the district to this kind of housing, Driggs said.

The Ballantyne proposal is one of nine affordable housing projects the Charlotte City Council is considering.

In all, theyll cost about $23 million and bring about 700 new units to the area if approved.

City council will vote on all of the projects at 5 p.m. Channel 9 will provide updates as they come in.

(WATCH BELOW: Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte hosts meeting to discuss affordable housing crisis)
A civil rights group filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging the North Carolina law passed this year that imposes stricter penalties for rioting.

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina lawsuit challenges House Bill 40, which would increase penalties for certain existing rioting charges and create new offenses related to rioting, among other provisions.

The civil rights lawsuit seeks to halt enforcement of plainly unconstitutional portions of the law, according to a news release.

The group, in the release it sent Tuesday, denounced the increased criminal penalties for protesting and said the law makes protesters liable to individuals harmed by a protest, even where a protestor only verbally encouraged activities defined as rioting and did not take any individual actions to cause injury or damage.

The civil rights group also said the law is overbroad and vague and will function to dissuade people from engaging in lawful protest activities.

Sam Davis, attorney with the ACLU of NC Legal Foundation, said in a written statement that the law represents a culmination of the legislatures repeated efforts to crack down in response to the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. It is a flagrant attempt to vilify and criminalize a social justice movement.

This bill forces North Carolinians to risk the immediate and long-term loss of their freedom when exercising their right to protest. This suit is an effort to protect the right to protest and advances our continued support and defense of the Black Lives Matter movement and activists, he said.

HB 40 defines a riot as a public disturbance involving three or more people which by disorderly and violent conduct, or the imminent threat of disorderly and violent conduct, results in injury or damage to persons or property or creates a clear and present danger of injury or damage to persons or property.

The bill lays out that any person who willfully incites or urges someone to riot, depending on the effects, can be charged with a misdemeanor or felony. Solely being present is not enough for a charge under the bill.

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HB 40 was sponsored by House Speaker Tim Moore, a Republican, and passed into law in March after Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper let the legislation pass without his signature.

It had support from several Democrats, including Rep. Shelly Willingham, who said the bill would apply only to those who are violent or who destroy property, The News & Observer reported.

If youre thinking that this is something that was done in reaction to ... whats been happening with Black Lives Matter or any other kinds of (demonstrations), then Ill tell you that youre wrong, Willingham said then.

Cooper in 2021 vetoed similar legislation introduced by Republican lawmakers due to First Amendment rights concerns. He said the bill this year had assuaged some of his concerns but that he still remained concerned about the bills potential impacts, The N&O reported.
Republican Sens. Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, and Marco Rubio have all benefited from Harlan Crow's spending. Kyle Mazza/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images; Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Phelan M. Ebenhack for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Texas billionaire Harlan Crow has spent lavishly on undisclosed trips with Justice Clarence Thomas.

Crow, a major GOP megadonor, has also donated thousands to prominent Republicans' campaigns.

They include Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign, major Senate campaigns, and an anti-Trump PAC.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas remains under scrutiny for failing to disclose the lavish vacations he's taken with Harlan Crow  a Texas-based real estate developer and major GOP megadonor.

Republicans have largely defended both Thomas and Crow, with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas characterizing the reporting as a "smear" driven by left-wing fury at losing "control of the Supreme Court."

Yet Cornyn himself has benefitted significantly from Crow's largesse  including over $290,000 in contributions since 2001 to various political action committees associated with the Texas Republican.

Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) April 8, 2023

But Cornyn isn't the only one.

An Insider review of Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings shows that Crow, a Dallas-based real estate developer, has contributed heavily to Republicans campaigns and causes along with a handful of moderate Democrats.

Altogether, Crow has given $12 million to various campaigns since he began donating in the 1970s. And that's just what's trackable via disclosures made to the FEC.

Furthermore, the donations offer a window into the political preferences of the man now at the center of a political firestorm  a staunch conservative, but one who tends to support less hardline Republicans, and who has apparently never spent money on former President Donald Trump.

Supporting Marco Rubio in 2016  and trying to stop Trump

Crow's favored 2016 GOP presidential candidate was apparently Sen. Marco Rubio.

In 2015, the Florida Republican faced criticism for holding a fundraiser at Crow's home  where the Texas billionaire displays Nazi memorabilia that he's collected.

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Crow went on to donate $350,000 to "Conservative Solutions PAC," an organization set up to support Sen. Marco Rubio's ill-fated presidential campaign, before pouring another $350,000 into "Our Principles PAC," a super PAC that spent millions in an effort to defeat Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

The Texas billionaire also gave $50,000 in 2015 to "Right to Rise," a super PAC associated with Jeb Bush.

And in 2011, as Mitt Romney faced off against a series of conservative challengers, Crow contributed $150,000 to Restore Our Future, a super-PAC established to benefit Romney's campaign.

Conspicuously absent from FEC filings: any contributions to campaign accounts linked to Trump.

Senate super PAC spending

In addition to being a major super PAC spender at the presidential level, Crow has given thousands to outside spending groups supporting the party's Senate candidates over the years.

In 2022, he contributed $225,000 to Honor Pennsylvania, Inc, a super PAC that supported hedge fund investor Dave McCormick's ill-fated Senate primary campaign. McCormick has since expressed interest in running for the Senate again in 2024.

He also gave $50,000 to "Show Me Values PAC," a super PAC set up to prevent the scandal-plagued former Gov. Eric Greitens from winning the GOP Senate nomination in Missouri.

Crow has also come to the aid of big-name Senate Republicans as they've faced well-funded challengers.

In 2020, he gave $17,800 to a joint fundraising committee established to support Sen. Lindsey Graham's re-election campaign as he faced a challenge from Jaime Harrison.

In 2018, he gave $75,000 to "Texans Are," a super PAC supporting Sen. Ted Cruz's re-election in Texas as he faced a challenge from then-congressman Beto O'Rourke.

And in 2016, he gave $55,000 to "Let America Work," a super PAC boosting Sen. Ron Johnson against former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold.

Aside from his Senate spending, Crow has also contributed to some of the party's more hawkish figures.

In 2014, he gave $100,000 to a super PAC run by John Bolton, Trump's former national security advisor and a noted proponent of regime change in Iran.

And since 2021, he's contributed $10,000 to Stand for America, a leadership PAC run by current 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who served as Trump's US Ambassador the United Nations.

A reliable friend to the GOP's congressional committees

In between, Crow has been a reliable contributor to the GOP's main congressional campaign arms.

Since 2016, he's given more than $1,400,000 to the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC historically run by the top House Republican. Currently, the PAC is overseen by allies of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

In just the last three years, Crow has also given $725,000 to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC linked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

And the Texas billionaire has also contributed heavily to the party's traditional House and Senate campaign committees, including more than $885,000 to accounts run by the National Republican Congressional Committee and more than $800,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan has also been a major benefactor of Crow's, receiving over $740,000 in donations from 2016 to 2018, when the Wisconsin Republican served in the top job.

Read the original article on Business Insider
wind turbine

The world will likely use fewer fossil fuels to produce electricity this year in a "turning point" for planet-friendly energy, a new report says.

It would be the first ever annual drop in the use of coal, oil and gas to generate electricity, outside of a global recession or pandemic.

As a result, fewer warming gases would be released during energy production.

The authors attribute the expected change to a boom in renewable energy led mainly by China.

Wind and solar now produce 12% of global electricity with enough wind turbines added in 2022 to power almost all of the UK.

Renewables are set to meet all growth in demand this year, the study from energy analysts Ember says.

Making electricity is the single biggest contributor to global warming, responsible for over a third of energy-related carbon emissions in 2021.

So phasing out coal, oil and gas in this sector is seen as critical in helping the world avoid dangerous levels of climate change.

This new study looks at data from countries representing 93% of global electricity demand.

Enough wind energy was added globally to almost power the UK

This, the fourth edition of Ember's Global Electricity Review, indicates that significant progress is now being made in reducing the role of fossil fuels in power production.

The major developments are the continuing rise of solar and wind as economically viable sources of electricity. Around the world, solar grew by 24% last year, enough to meet the annual demands of a country as big as South Africa.

Taken together with nuclear and hydropower, clean sources produced 39% of global electricity in 2022. The report finds that electricity produced last year was, in effect, the cleanest ever made.

But despite this, carbon emissions from the sector also continued to rise, as coal use edged up.

China added around 40% of the world's new solar panels last year, with large numbers of rooftop installations

According to the report's authors this is because overall demand for electricity rose, and not all of it was met from clean sources.

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There were also problems with nuclear and hydro electricity in 2022, with many French reactors offline, and Europe's rivers too low in many places for hydro generation.

However the report says that in 2023, the growth of wind and solar will be greater than the rise in demand - and this will start to turn the tide on warming gases.

"When you stop adding more fossil fuels to generate your electricity, you start seeing a fall in emissions," said Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, the report's lead author.

"This is extremely important in the context of rising electrification, as we have more electric vehicles, more heat pumps, so cleaning the power sector will drive emissions down in other sectors as well."

While the fall in fossil fuel emissions in electricity this year is expected to be small, around 0.3%, the authors believe the drop will continue and accelerate in subsequent years. Key to this is a fall off in the use of gas, which fell slightly last year according to the report, with some countries like Brazil seeing a surge in hydro power which reduced their use of gas by 46% in 2022.

Meeting the rising demand for electricity with renewables is key to curbing fossil fuel use

"We now have reached this next turning point of starting to see a new era of falling fossil fuel power sector emissions. We know that wind and solar are the answer and we've just got to get on with a roadmap for building them as quickly as possible," said Dave Jones, from Ember, one of the report's authors.

One significant player impacting the overall trend is China. Around 50% of the global addition of wind power came from China and about 40% of the world's new solar came from from the country that's also the world's biggest use of coal power.

"There is a chance that at the rate that China is building wind and solar and all types of clean generation, that they achieve that peak in coal generation earlier than 2025, which would be significant," said Mr Jones.

Energy experts acknowledge that curbing fossil fuels in power generation could well be a "turning point", but much more remains to be done.

"The earliest peak of coal power generation was in the UK in 1979," said Prof Jessica Jewell from the University of Bergen, who was not involved with the study.

"Nevertheless, it took decades to fully phase out coal power, for example the UK still used a bit of coal in 2022, 43 years past the peak. In order to reach clean energy goals we don't have 40 or even 30 years, we need to fully decarbonize electricity in a much shorter time."
CNN

CNN anchor Abby Phillip interjected on Tuesday when a Republican operative suggested that there were legitimate concerns about the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone, telling her guest that it is a very safe drug.

Last week, a conservative Texas judge suspended the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, a key drug used in medical abortions. The judges ruling, if it stands, would prevent access to the pills, which are used in roughly half of terminated pregnancies nationwide. Another federal judge, meanwhile, issued an opposing order instructing the FDA to continue dispensing the drug, potentially setting up a Supreme Court showdown.

Recent polls, however, show that most Americans oppose federal courts banning access to abortion medication. Additionally, Republicans are growing increasingly nervous that the partys push for abortion restrictions will continue to hinder their electoral prospects. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who calls herself pro-life, urged the FDA on Monday to ignore the Texas judges ruling.

During a CNN panel discussion on Tuesday afternoon, Phillip brought up Maces concern about abortion restrictions hurting the GOP before wondering if conservative activists are going too far on the issue. Conservative CNN commentator Alice Stewart, however, initially defended the anti-abortion movement and the Texas ruling.

Look, I think Republican pro-life leaders are going to really fight this battle because they look at this and the numbers that the pro-life advocates are looking at have to do with the dangers of these medical abortion pills, she declared.

And I know that you shared earlier some of the facts and data that has been shared by the FDA, Stewart continued. But pro-life advocates are looking at this the way the FDA did these tests; they didnt feel as though it was full and complete and done in the typical way the FDA does this.

Stewart went on to say that anti-abortion activists, who pressed the Texas judge to make his ruling, are concerned with the safety of women before claiming that the FDA potentially overlooked harmful side effects of mifepristone.

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Oftentimes, the injuries to the mother are not reported because they are not required to go to seek a doctors care or go to the emergency room, she proclaimed. So a lot of the injuries to the mothers are unreported for that very reason.

At this point, Phillip felt the need to cut Stewart off and inject some facts into the conversation.

So Alice, I mean, I have to stop you there because, I mean, we do have the data on this, the CNN host stated. It is a very safe drug.

Displaying an on-air graphic showing that only five in one million users of mifepristone have died since the pill was approved in 2000, Phillip noted that the abortion drug is much safer than widely used drugs such as penicillin or Viagra.

It's notable, I mean, the judge is citing psychological damage to two women, but not, you know, taking into consideration that there was a 20-plus-year process in which this drug was deemed safe, Phillip said. Why even does the judge have the right to decide what drugs are safe and whats not?

Stewart, for her part, bemoaned that the courts are now in the center of the controversy before stating that she believes that reproductive rights should be up to state legislatures to decide.

This is one of the many issues I think are best left up to elected officials at the state level, and it should not be adjudicated in the court, the GOP strategist concluded.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A nurse prepares a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The lifesaving shots are still under attack by the anti-vaccine movement. (Associated Press)

Back in January, an academic study gave heart to critics of COVID-19 vaccines by estimating the number of U.S. deaths from the vaccines at 278,000.

That was a bombshell, if true. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited only 19,476 reports of deaths after COVID vaccination in a national database of unverified adverse reactions to the shots.

Since even that surely inflated figure, which reflects an unknown number of deaths from unrelated causes, amounted to less than three-thousandths of a percent of the 672 million doses of COVID vaccines administered in the U.S., the CDC properly judged the shots "safe and effective" and severe post-vaccine reactions "rare."

It makes sense to prioritize cleaning the scientific record of papers that could have an impact on public health.

Ivan Oransky, Retraction Watch

Yet the study, by economist Mark Skidmore of Michigan State University, was taken as gospel truth by a legion of anti-vaccine activists.

And why not? It had been published in BMC Infectious Diseases, a peer-reviewed medical journal associated with the Nature publishing group, which lent it a gilt-edged luster. Indeed, it ranked as the most-viewed paper in the journal's history.

Now take a deep breath. BMC Infectious Diseases retracted the Skidmore study on Tuesday, specifically citing doubts about "the validity of the conclusions" related to death statistics because of flaws in its methodology. Skidmore disagrees with the retraction.

The retraction, which followed months of dickering between Skidmore and the journal's editor over the nature and text of the retraction notice, points to some important questions about how the spread of misinformation about COVID affects public health.

It also raises questions about how the piece got published in the first place. As Stephanie M. Lee of the Chronicle of Higher Education has pointed out, the flaws in Skidmore's paper were virtually self-evident from the moment it reached print.

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Veteran pseudoscience debunker David Gorski identified them within a day of its official publication, calling the paper "antivax propaganda disguised as a survey," noting Skidmore's record of anti-vaccine commentary, and asking: "How on earth did BMC Infectious Diseases publish such dreck?"

The journal hasn't answered that question. It did, however, publish the comments of the two peer reviewers of Skidmore's paper, one of whom wished to remain anonymous.

That reviewer raised a few doubts about Skidmore's data but called the paper "a fantastic study anyway." The second reviewer, Sudanese public health researcher Yasir Ahmed Mohammed Elhadi, initially recommended against publication but changed his mind after the paper was revised.

Doubts about scientific papers related to COVID-19 have been rife during the pandemic. The database of retractions of COVID studies is up to 313 papers at the invaluable blog Retraction Watch.

That matches the average retraction rate in all fields, says Ivan Oransky, one of the blog's creators. But since COVID has been a topic of study for only three years, it suggests that those papers are getting especially intense scrutiny.

"It makes sense to prioritize cleaning the scientific record of papers that could have an impact on public health," Oransky says.

As for how papers like Skidmore's make it through peer review, that only underscores that our faith in peer review as a bulwark against sloppy or even dishonest research is misplaced.

"Retractions of peer-reviewed papers happen thousands of times a year," Oransky says, "and those are the ones we know about." In some cases it can take years for a journal to retract a flawed paper.

In the Skidmore case, "some public scrutiny and attention has prompted speedier action" by the publishing journal, Oransky says. "But we shouldn't be surprised anymore that flawed papers make it through peer review because it happens every day."

There are few fields in which flawed scientific research has been weaponized as much as in studies of COVID treatments. Worthless nostrums such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin have been promoted based on transparently bogus evidence.

COVID vaccines have been an especially common target. Among the promoters of questionable anti-vaccine research are Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and his political patron, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In October, Ladapo recommended against administering the Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccines to males ages 18 to 39. He based his guidance on a study purporting to show an elevated risk of cardiac-related death among males in that age range within 28 days of receiving the vaccines.

Numerous qualified professionals pointed out, however, that the study was so sloppy and incoherent that it amounted to pseudoscience.

In the last few days, as it happens, the Tampa Bay Times revealed that data showed that catching COVID itself was much more dangerous to cardiac health than taking the vaccines. That information was stripped out of the state study before its final publication, according to drafts of the study the newspaper obtained via a public records request.

That brings us back to the Skidmore study.

Superficially, the study was aimed at determining the factors that led people to be more or less amenable to taking a COVID vaccine. Based on an anonymous database of 2,840 respondents compiled by a third-party survey firm, Skidmore found that people who knew someone who had a serious bout of COVID illness were more likely to get vaccinated, and knowing someone who appeared to have suffered a post-vaccination injury was associated with being less likely to take the shot.

As far as that goes, it's not especially surprising. But Skidmore went further. He extrapolated from the number of respondents who said they knew someone who had died from the vaccine to conclude that the number of U.S. vaccine-related deaths "may be as high as 278,000."

It should be obvious that this extrapolation was groundless. His base figures on vaccine-related deaths came from people who had no way of knowing that the illness or death their acquaintances suffered after vaccination had anything to do with the shot.

In an email, Skidmore defended his method. "Reporting on respondent feedback from surveys on health issues is not uncommon, and generating projections from a valid sample is a standard statistical technique that is commonly used in survey research," he told me. "The research approach is valid. I stand by the methods, analysis, and conclusions."

Skidmore is right, up to a point. In a previous study, he analyzed the social contexts of prescription drug abuse using similar methods. The problem here is that he used people's perceptions about whether acquaintances died as a result of their COVID vaccinations to estimate the actual number of deaths.

That's a big leap, and nothing like a valid method. In a lengthy exchange of correspondence with Adrian Gonzalez Lopez, the editor of BMC Infectious Diseases, Skidmore acknowledged that he had no way of determining whether the study subjects' perceptions about vaccine-related injuries were accurate.

"Validating reported fatalities is not possible with an anonymous survey," he stated in the course of the exchange, which he has made public.

Skidmore noted that his article "clearly acknowledges ... that the reports are based on respondent perceptions and calls for further research, which can either verify or refute the findings.

There were other red flags in Skidmore's paper. One was his reliance on the CDC's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, or VAERS, as a benchmark database for COVID vaccine injuries.

VAERS is not suitable for that purpose, as CDC makes crystal clear. That's because it's a repository of entirely voluntary reports that can be filed by anyone, including but not limited to doctors, patients and family members, who aren't required to document the injury.

"VAERS is not designed to determine if a vaccine caused or contributed to an adverse event," the CDC says. "A report to VAERS does not mean the vaccine caused the event."

What anecdotal claims about post-vaccine illnesses and death often overlook is the law of large numbers: With 672 million doses administered, "by random chance alone and the law of large numbers, there will be a large number of people who die within, say, 30 days of being vaccinated even if the vaccine has absolutely nothing to do with their deaths," Gorski observes. "Thats why VAERS numbers, divorced from baseline rates, are utterly meaningless."

The journal editor, Gonzalez Lopez, had also raised a question with Skidmore about Catherine Austin Fitts, whom Skidmore had identified as the source of funding for his survey. Gonzalez Lopez noted that Fitts "has made regular statements regarding COVID-19 vaccination and is a former politician," and therefore her role should have been "disclosed as a conflict of interest."

In fact, Fitts is known as a critic of COVID vaccination. She's a financier and former housing official in the George H.W. Bush administration who has promoted the anti-vaccine campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In a review of Kennedy's 2021 book attacking Anthony S. Fauci, who recently retired as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, she wrote of Fauci  a common target of anti-vaccine fanatics  that "Anthony Fauci and his colleagues are guilty of crimes against humanity."

According to a 2021 article in the Washington Post, Fitts appeared in an anti-vaccine video asserting falsely that "the coronavirus vaccine is 'full of these mystery ingredients' and will 'modify your DNA and for all we know make you infertile.'"

Skidmore refused to augment his disclosure about Fitts' role. "I have appropriately acknowledged Catherine Austin Fitts as the source of funding for the survey," he told the editor. "Accordingly, I do not consider non-competing financial interests to exist."

The journal ultimately dropped a reference to Fitts from its proposed retraction notice. But that doesn't change how we should think about papers like Skidmore's.

Its effect was to muddy the waters of vaccine safety by positing hard figures for COVID vaccine deaths based on no empirical evidence. It came from an author whose personal blog bristles with anti-vaccine commentary.

BMC Infectious Diseases was right to retract the paper, but it should have done so even more expeditiously. Why did it take so long?

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Ukrainian servicemen try to find undamaged shells in a burned-out ammunition depot that was destroyed after a Russian attack near Kostiantynivka, Ukraine. (Evgeniy Maloletka / Associated Press)

Vladimir Putin and his war machine get more respect than they deserve from the West.

This may seem a bit counterintuitive. After all, just 9% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Russia and the International Criminal Court has recently issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes.

But if you listen to a lot of the debate over Ukraine, you might be forgiven for thinking Putins invasion was just a bad mistake, badly implemented by an otherwise serious country. Sure, terrible things are happening in Ukraine, but terrible things happen in war. Whats left out is that the terrible things are the policy, not the unintended consequence of it.

Reports of torture and rape started pouring in from the earliest days of the invasion. In March of 2022, Russian troops electrocuted the genitals of male civilian prisoners and sexually brutalized women and girls, ages 4 to 82.

These werent isolated incidents but the beginning of a campaign of atrocities to come. Numerous mass graves full of corpses, some showing evidence of execution, rape and torture, have been found in areas liberated by Ukrainian forces. The bodies of mutilated children have been discovered. Such horrors can distract from the more routine evils of targeting civilians, including schools and hospitals, and the stealing of thousands of children.

It also leaves out the fact that such tactics arent aberrations. Similar crimes were committed in Putins other adventures, in Chechnya, Georgia and Syria.

But the most conspicuous fact thats absent from the public conversation is that the Russian military has been a villainous force for more than a century.

The horrendous crimes of imperial Russia were part of a pre-modern era of warfare prior to the Geneva Conventions and other laws of war. But its worth remembering that the armies of the czars were famously brutal even for a brutal age. Alexander II, the liberal reformer who freed the serfs, also ordered the genocide of the Circassians and other natives of the Caucasus. Between 600,000 and 1.5 million were killed, the rest deported to the Ottoman Empire. That institutional memory lived on, like a ghost in the Russian killing machine.

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The Bolsheviks may have dispatched the czars, but they only amplified the czarist approach to war. Stalins genocides and forced deportations look more like a continuation than a break with the czarist past. And todays atrocities extend that sinister tradition too.

Putin has built on the Soviet effort to turn World War II into a kind of state religion, in which the messianic Red Army saved Europe from fascism. Obviously, the Russian sacrifice in World War II  after Hitler broke his pact with Stalin  was staggering. But the Soviet approach to war  using Russian soldiers as fodder for enemy guns until the enemy is exhausted  replicated in Ukraine today is nothing to be proud of.

Neither is the Red Armys record as liberators in Eastern Europe, where they terrorized the population with mass rape. In Hungary, the estimates of rape range from 50,000 to 200,000. So many pregnancies resulted that in January 1946, Hungarys social-welfare minister requested of his superiors to qualify all babies as abandoned whose date of births is from 9 to 18 months after the liberation.

In Vienna alone, there were between 70,000 and 100,000 rapes. Estimates in Soviet-controlled Poland exceed 100,000. In Germany, they run as high as 2 million. Stalin dismissed complaints, saying that his troops had been through so much they deserved to [have] fun with a woman.

The full scale of the mass rapes will never be known, in part because the Soviets destroyed records and kept them secret until the end. And it is now an official secret in Russia once again, as Putin has made it a crime to denigrate the military or to besmirch the memory of the Red Army. He also preemptively exempted troops committing war crimes from prosecution at home or abroad under the Geneva Conventions. On Saturday, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev vowed that Ukraine will be erased.

Horrible things happen in every war. However imperfectly, the West has tried to adhere to principles of war and to minimize future horrors and crimes. The Russian military has never bothered with such views, and under Putin, whos nostalgic for the worst aspects of both czarist and Soviet Russia, it seems to see barbarism and cruelty as part of its identity.

The invasion of Ukraine is the product of a society that, having never successfully confronted the sins of its past, has come to see them as virtues.

@JonahDispatch

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A man is recovering tonight after he says he was assaulted on a popular walking and biking path in midtown Charlotte.

It all happened Easter morning on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway along South Kings Drive.

The victims wife told Channel 9s Erika Jackson the man was walking on the greenway when a man walked up and punched him.

ALSO READ: Amid reported sex assault on greenway, organization wants survivors to know theres help

When the victim tried to call 911, his wife says the man throwing punches smacked the phone out of his hand before running across the street toward a nearby shopping center.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating the attack.

Regulars on the greenway say theyll take extra precautions as a result.

Stephanie Mantilla told Channel 9 she walks along the greenway, often alongside her young daughters and dozens of strangers.

We always see people, I try to stay where theres people too, she said. Not taking little shortcuts or anything.

This was Joshua Baker first time on the greenway with his son.

Its very surprising, he said. Especially with the holiday, its sad.

READ ALSO: Oil discharge discovered in Little Sugar Creek in south Charlotte

He said learning of the attack wont stop him from coming back.

I think the best thing you can do in situations like that is to continue to come out, Baker said. Its always more positive people can drown out negative people.

Mantilla said shell stay on high alert during future visits and use the buddy system.

We walk more where theres more people and just make sure theres nothing weird going on around, she said.

The victim of Sundays attack is recovering from minor injuries. He didnt want to go to the hospital after the assault.

CMPD says no one has been arrested and they were not able to provide a description of the suspect.

(WATCH BELOW: After attacks on NC greenways, leaders stepping up to protect communities)
Service and job cuts could soon be coming to Charlottes bus service, according to a warning from the company the manages the citys bus routes.

In a letter sent to bus operators on Friday, the general manager of Transit Management of Charlotte says despite the new contract with the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), vacancy continues to be an issue among drivers.

ALSO READ: CATS operators, negotiators reach new agreement to avoid bus drivers strike

Nearly two dozen drivers are in precarious positions due to poor attendance, according to the letter. It also said that so many operators are calling out or leaving early that hundreds, if not thousands, of trips are being missed each week.

In February, CATS and its union for operators reached a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement after months of negotiation. The contract included raises, a higher pension cap, more holidays and other improvements supported by the drivers.

The significant wage increases, and benefits savings were designed to incentivize people to come to work and provide the service we are contracted to deliver to CATS and the tax paying residents of Charlotte, read the letter from General Manager Steve Hamelin. It is becoming clear though that we as a team have much work to do in terms of delivering the service we have promised to.

ALSO READ: Safety, working conditions emphasized in external review of CATS

Hamelin warned that if staffing isnt stabilized by the fall, a minimum of 40 bus operator positions could be eliminated and additional service cuts could also be put in place.

If we are unable to get operators scheduled for work to show up and complete their assigned duties eliminating missed trips altogether, we can plan on seeing deeper service cuts ... the letter warned.

The city contracts with Transit Management of Charlotte to run its bus service so collective bargaining can take place.

Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs told Channel 9 the city is aware of the letter and is asking for more information.

(WATCH BELOW: CATS seeks security funding increase)
two pill tablets Getty Images / Oleg Rebrik

The Comstock Act is back. The 19th-century law  signed by President Ulysses Grant in 1873  is at the heart of a federal judge's ruling that strikes down FDA approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, The Associated Press reports. The federal law was "dormant for a half-century," but anti-abortion groups "have seized on Comstock to try and shut off the flow of abortion drugs" after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The new ruling is an "open invitation" for anti-abortion groups "to seek a nationwide federal ban on all abortions," Mary Ziegler writes at The Atlantic. The act prohibits mailing "every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion." The FDA had followed a long-held rule that abortion drugs can be mailed "when the seller does not intend them to be used unlawfully." Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk ruled that the law's text holds that there is no scenario under which the drugs can be mailed.

While Congress amended the Comstock Act several times over the past 150 years, "lawmakers left the abortion aspects of the law" alone, the Texas Tribune reports. And the Supreme Court has never considered a case involving the law "because it was unenforced and thus unchallenged for so long." Now the case is almost certainly headed to the nation's highest court  "a significant step toward bringing this zombie law back to life."

What are the commentators saying?

Until recently the Comstock Act "seemed a relic," Michelle Goldberg writes at the New York Times. Its sudden revival is a sign of how quickly the landscape on abortion has shifted  only a year ago "the idea of a judge using the Comstock Act to halt medication abortion nationwide would have seemed hysterical." But it's no accident the revival of "Comstockery" has come after years of widening social and sexual freedoms like gay marriage and legalized marijuana: "There's a dialectic relationship between freedom and reaction." The revival of the Comstock Act is not a good thing: "A lot of people are going to suffer from its rebirth."

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"Of course, the Biden administration wouldn't enforce that law against the U.S. Postal Service," opines the Los Angeles Times editorial board. But the law isn't really the point: The real intent is to "intimidate pharmaceutical companies into not selling abortion pills through mail-order and healthcare providers." It's unfortunate that anti-abortion activists are trying "to weaponize a 150-year-old law that shouldn't even be on the books."

But that law is on the books, The Heritage Foundation  a right-wing think tank  points out in its explainer on the topic. "Federal law has prohibited mailing abortion drugs for more than 100 years." The Biden administration has stretched its interpretation of the law "to invent a version of the Comstock Act that would not hinder abortion access." The problem: It can't just do that. "Congress has repeatedly chosen to maintain the Comstock Act's plain language, which clearly prohibits mailing abortion drugs." Legally, federal authorities can't ignore the "clear and unqualified language" of the law.

Still, some anti-abortion activists are worried that the federal courts will be seen as having overstepped. "For a federal judge in Texas to be seen as having found a kind of legal cheat code to prevent access to abortion medication nationwide will inspire new levels of backlash," Patrick T. Brown, a fellow at the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center, writes in The Atlantic. The real challenge, he writes, is convincing most Americans "that abortion is not only immoral but unnecessary."

What's next?

On to higher courts. Politico points out that the Department of Justice is appealing Kacsmaryk's ruling  and a second ruling by a federal judge in Washington, upholding the FDA's approval of mifepristone, means that the Supreme Court is probably going to resolve the contrary opinions. In the meantime, the Texas ruling "will take effect across the country in a week unless a higher court issues a stay."

Abortion providers are already making backup plans if the courts force the drug off the market, the Associated Press reports. Mifepristone is usually taken in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. Doctors and clinics could switch to only using the second drug, an approach "widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable."

Since Kacsmaryk ruled that mailing any abortion drug is illegal under Comstock, there is a chance that any provider who mails misoprostol could also be prosecuted, Mark Joseph Stern writes at Slate. But that is up to the Supreme Court. A year after Roe v. Wade was struck down, abortion is once again going to be center stage: "This is a moment of truth for the justices."

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People are expressing their outrage over concert guests who bring signs, which ultimately block other fans views of the stage.

In a video posted to TikTok earlier this month, one fan, @glitterkitty9000, shared footage that they captured during K-pop band Stray Kidss recent concert in Fort Worth, Texas. The clip showed the fan standing at the show, which was part of the groups 2023 Maniac World tour, while another person stood in front of them and held up a large sign.

Throughout the seven-second clip, the fan proceeded to hold up the sign and move it side to side as the group performed on stage. In the caption, @glitterkitty9000 addressed their disappointment about their seat, since their view of the stage was almost entirely blocked.

I hate sitting in the middle, they wrote. Yall front people lucky I need tips because Im never lucky. The clip was also set to an TikTok audio that featured a voice saying: Girl, if you dont put that f***ing sign down. S***.

As of 11 April, the video has more than four million views, with TikTok users in the comments criticising the concert-goer for bringing a sign, while claiming that the band on stage wouldnt even be able to see it.

Like they [are going to] see it from that far, one person wrote, while another added: NO BC THEY WONT EVEN SEE IT WHY DO YOU KEEP WAVING IT.

A third said: Signs are for the front row people.

Other people questioned the sign for how much appeared to be written on it, while some revealed that theyve had similar experiences at concerts.

They wrote a whole paragraph on that thing, let alone being so far back, one person wrote. Thats crazy.

BRO THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME ON FLOOR AND IM 51, another added. I LITERALLY YELLED PUT THE BANNER DOWN MAN.

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This happened to me bro, I was so annoyed, a third wrote. I had to tell the girl in front of me to keep her Lightstick at shoulder level.

Along with @glitterkitty9000, multiple people have used the TikTok audio to showcase the signs that fans have held up at concerts. For example, @piwonsouls, shared a clip in February that was taken during K-pop band Tomorrow x Togethers (TXT) concert. As she stood in the pit, the TikTok user filmed the fans in front of her, who could be seen holding up signs and waving their arms side to side.

You guys need to stop with these signs at K-pop concerts, she wrote in the text over the video, which has more than one million views. Because [what the f***] is thisIf theres a sign blocking my view at TXT, Im ripping it in half.

This isnt the first time concert guests behaviour has sparked an etiquette debate on social media. Last week, a fan was seen twerking during one of Taylor Swifts Eras tour shows, prompting viewers to question the appropriateness of the dance move during a concert.

Last month, a video of a fan singing louder than Billie Eilish at her concert also resurfaced amid the ongoing debate about concert etiquette. While some felt like fans should sing as loud as they want, others said the behaviour was an example of bad concert etiquette.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are demanding answers following the leak of highly-sensitive documents from the Pentagon that included information on Ukraines war against Russia.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that he has requested classified briefings for members on the leak after Congress returns to Washington next week. Leaders of the House and Senate intelligence panels also said theyd been briefed on the leak, which represents the most significant breach of U.S. intelligence in a decade.

We dont know what else might be coming or what else they have access to, House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) told CBS on Monday. Thats why its so important to find the source and to close down this source.

Turner, who recently returned from a visit to Kyiv, has said the leak could amount to espionage.



The leak, which surfaced on social media over the past week, has stunned the Defense Department and prompted an investigation by the Justice Department. The released information spanned a host of topics but included highly-sensitive documents related to the war in Ukraine.

The White House on Monday said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the leak but demurred on whether it remained an active threat. We dont know. We truly dont, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, called the leak not remotely acceptable. In a phone interview, he said he wants to learn as quickly as possible how the leak happened and whether it exposed any sources of U.S. intelligence collection.

This leak is particularly concerning because it could have very real-time consequences, he told POLITICO, referring to Ukrainians in their ongoing war with Russia.

Himes said the leak, which comes after the discovery of classified information at properties associated with Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Mike Pence, is indicative of broader problems with classified information handling. He predicted that there would be bipartisan interest revamping classified materials-handling practices.

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Its clear that weve got a larger issue here, the Connecticut Democrat said. Clearly, weve got to do a better job. And so I think well be very interested in the specifics of this case, but also how they inform a more secure system.

Regardless of the ongoing status of the threat from the leaked documents, Congress will be actively engaged on the issue when it returns next week.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) was briefed Monday evening and vowed his panel would continue to follow this situation closely, while urging caution that Russia has a history of spreading disinformation through documents posted online.

The leaders of the House intelligence panel  Turner and Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.)  said in a joint statement that they expect to be briefed as the investigation into the leak unfolds.

Protecting classified information is critical to our national security, and the DOD and Intelligence Community must work quickly to prevent any spillage and identify the source of any leak, the bipartisan duo said in a Monday statement.

The interest extends beyond the intelligence panels. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, both said they are also seeking answers about the leak.

Chairman Reed remains focused on supporting and sustaining the international effort to aid Ukraine in its fight to repel Russias illegal invasion, a committee spokesperson said Monday.
(Bloomberg) -- A bipartisan group of senior lawmakers has begun receiving classified documents recovered from properties belonging to former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The group, known as the Gang of Eight, traditionally is provided access to sensitive intelligence but until now the Biden administration had not allowed them to see the documents themselves, drawing ire from the leaders of the Senate and House Intelligence committees.

The members, who include Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as well as the top Republicans and Democrats on the intelligence committees, were briefed on the documents in February but were disappointed at the lack of access.

The White House declined to comment on the issue.

The presence of classified documents at Trumps Florida home at Mar-a-Lago and the former presidents alleged refusal to turn some over resulted in an FBI search of the property last August. A special counsel is investigating that case.

Officials later found improperly stored classified documents at Bidens personal office and in his Delaware home as well as at the home of former Vice President Mike Pence.

Congressional access to the materials was reported earlier by Punchbowl News.

(Adds details from third paragraph)

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Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, speaks during an interview discussing his proposed legislation to make it illegal for social media platforms to be accessed by those under the age of 16, at the Triad Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Several Utah congressmen have recently raised concerns over reports of Chinas attempts to gain influence in Utah and with other state and local governments, and over recent news involving Taiwan.

2nd District Rep. Chris Stewart told the Deseret News he is worried Utahns hospitable culture makes the state vulnerable to potential actions by the Chinese government.

We always expect the best in people and see the good in people. Sometimes that makes us not fully aware of the nefarious motives of others, he said, reflecting on The Associated Press story on how China has apparently sought to influence Utahs elected officials.

Last week, 1st District Rep. Blake Moore also raised a warning to the Beehive States business community over the economic leverage China could wield over Utahns.

Additionally, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy joined a bipartisan group of congressmen, including Utah Rep. John Curtis, to meet with Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen in California, leading to backlash from China.

Curtis, who speaks Mandarin, had met with Tsai previously when he led a congressional delegation to visit the island last December.

The historic visit marked the first meeting of a sitting Taiwanese president and the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on American soil since the U.S. broke off official diplomatic ties with Taiwan in the late 1970s.

Long time no see, Madame President. Grateful to @SpeakerMcCarthy for bringing a bipartisan group of Members together to show our unity in support of Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/r98sz0X86h  Rep. John Curtis (@RepJohnCurtis) April 6, 2023

McCarthy hosting Tsai upset Chinese officials, who claim the island nation as their own as part of Beijings one-China policy. After Tsais visit the Chinese military conducted three days of large-scale combat readiness exercises, nearly surrounding Taiwan.

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Chinese military officials said Monday their troops are ready to fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., right, and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen deliver statements to the press at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. | Ringo H.W. Chiu, Associated Press

Stewart reflects on the AP investigative story

Stewart said he has been warning elected officials for years over Chinas apparent influence campaigns in the state of Utah. He said Utahns need to handle interactions with the Chinese, whether they be business or government relationships, with eyes wide open.

The AP story said that although Chinas local diplomacy with American states and cities is common, Beijings success influencing Utah lawmakers has been noteworthy. The article references multiple trips to China by some of Utahs elected leaders at the request of the Chinese government.

Stewart cautioned against travel to the country without fully understanding the risks.

You have to know that almost certainly your personal phone and computer will be violated and will probably be implanted with devices to allow them to monitor you, he said. This isnt like taking your children to Disneyland for the weekend, a trip to China is something very different.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington told the AP that China values its relationship with Utah and any words and deeds that stigmatize and smear these sub-national exchanges are driven by ulterior political purposes.

Stewart, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, said Utahns should view China as a peer competitor but also as a pure competitor.

He said he believes a trade relationship between China and Utah can be navigated but only with full knowledge of any potential dangers it can hold. The more wide-eyed and clear minded we are about that the better we will be able to protect our own interests and our own security, he said.

We can be warm and embracing to people on a personal level, whether theyre from China, Taiwan, Africa, Europe or anywhere else. But at the same time we must recognize the reality that the Chinese Communist Party has no friendly interests beyond its own power, he said.

Rep. Blake Moore, who represents Utahs 1st Congressional District, speaks in Ogden on Nov. 8, 2022. | Ben B. Braun, Deseret News

Moore calls for Utah businesses to mitigate risk exposure in China

Moore joined Miles Hansen of World Trade Center Utah at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition panel in Salt Lake City to discuss trade dynamics with China.

Hansen, who perviously served with the National Security Council in former president Donald Trumps White House, said he doesnt like to promote fear mongering but, the reality of the situation is that tensions are increasing dramatically.

Hansen said he has been asking Utah businesses to consider strategies they can implement now in case of possible economic tumult caused by geopolitical tensions in the future.

According to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Utah accounted for more than $18 billion in global exports in 2021. The coalition also said more than 400,000 jobs in Utah are supported by international trade with more than 3,500 Utah businesses, most of them small or medium-sized businesses, exporting goods around the world.

WATCH NOW: Join us virtually for a conversation in Salt Lake City, Utah @RepBlakeMoore, @GeneralRBNeller, and @WTCUtahs @MilesHansen on what American global leadership is worth to Utah. https://t.co/GfzUXEQng1  USGLC (@USGLC) April 4, 2023

Moore said he recently had a Utah manufacturer that is dependent on trade with China ask him what they should do in regards to developing tensions.

If (U.S.-China trade relations) go belly up my business is totally affected and I dont know how to navigate it, Moore said the business leader told him.

Moore and Hansen discussed steps each company should consider as part of their business strategy, including diversification of business operations.

While they said calls for 100% decoupling of the U.S. economy from China are not realistic, they believe businesses that implement prudent strategies to mitigate risk will be better off.

Moore said some Utah businesses are taking advantage of a long-running U.S. trade program called the Generalized System of Preferences, or GSP, that promotes manufacturing in other friendly-developing countries by eliminating import trade duties on some of their products.

He encouraged Utahns to utilize these programs when diversifying their business foreign trade exposure.

The panel said Utah businesses strategic restructuring of its international trade can set an example for the rest of the nation on how to prepare for eventualities with China.

I love that the Utah community is onboard, Moore said.

He said Utah benefits from a congressional delegation that has long been preparing the business community for potential foreign market challenges.

You have a delegation that cares deeply about this issue and is engaged fully on these matters, Moore said.
The family of a 5-year-old who fatally collapsed at recess last year has sued a Connecticut town and its school board over the alleged wrongful death, claiming that teachers waited to provide aid after believing the boy was playing dead.

Filed Wednesday, court documents reportedlystate that nearby teachers didnt tend to Romeo Pierre Louis for nearly 10 minutes after he fell to the ground at Charter Oak International Academy in West Hartford on April 5, 2022.

It further claims that other students even notified teachers when Romeo collapsed, but that they didnt respond because they thought he was participating in a recess game called play dead. A police report obtained by the Hartford Courant said that this was a frequent pastime for children at the school.

Two days after the incident, Romeo died of Brugada syndrome, a genetic disorder that can cause arrhythmia, or an irregular heart rhythm. The state medical examiner said that the death was natural, according to the police report, which added that there would be no further investigation.

The lawsuits filing this week coincided with the one-year anniversary of Romeos collapse and saw his family hold a vigil outside Charter Oak International Academy.

Teachers allegedly didn't act for nearly 10 minutes after Romeo Pierre Louis fatally collapsed in 2022.

Teachers allegedly didn't act for nearly 10 minutes after Romeo Pierre Louis fatally collapsed in 2022.

Nothing will bring our son back, said his mother, Chantel Pierre Louis. 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.

Representatives for both West Hartford and its board of education stated they could not comment in detail due to pending litigation, but offered their condolences to Romeos family.

This tragedy has deeply affected the Charter Oak International Academy community, and the school district continues to make grief support and emotional assistance available to any student or educator who needs it, said Andy Morrow, the towns acting superintendent of schools.

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Cargo container prices are a long way off from where they were to kick off 2023, with North American shipping containers now more than 20 percent cheaper for importers.

But according to the latest monthly report from container logistics platform Container XChange, industry professionals forecast that container demand is likely to rebound by the end of the yearand prices along with itafter cratering in the second half of 2022.

The container price sentiment index (xCPSI), a sentiment analysis tool by Container XChange that concurrently surveys supply chain professionals on their short-term price expectations, continued to show negative readings in mid-March, as seen below.

But the results consistently turned positive on March 24, when the index swung from -12 to 10a figure that stuck through the next four days. By April 1, the index had reached an all-time high of 32, when the index started showing confidence building for the coming quarter.

Container XChanges survey of 664 supply chain professionals appears to back up the expectation that 2023 will bring a better peak season than 2022 did. Forty-eight percent of respondents expect 2023 will be better based on a potential revival of container rates leading up to the peak season, while 42 percent dont anticipate a better peak season this year.

Another 9 percent responded maybe, indicating that there is still a shroud of uncertainty hanging over the rest of the year.

In Container XChanges April container market global forecaster, co-founder and CEO Christian Roeloffs, attributed much of the doubt to ongoing external factors that continue to impact the state of the shipping industry.

The global container logistic ecosystem is like a spiders web. One disruption does not linearly impact the knot. Instead, every disruption reverberates across the websometimes in unexpected directions, said Roeloffs. The increase in Fed rates, the banking sector crisis and the strikes might seem concentrated in one region, but they have their impact across all trade lanes.

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The prices of 20-foot dry cargo containers declined in every major region in the first quarter of 2023, the forecaster said. North America registered the biggest decline in average prices for these containers at 20.6 percent. The Middle East and Indian subcontinent (ISC) combined for the second-largest drop at 15.2 percent, while 20-foot cargo containers in Southeast Asia had prices plummet 13.7 percent during the January-to-March period. Across the board worldwide, container prices plummeted 14.3 percent in the three-month stretch.

Most of the container price fluctuation leveled out since the early parts of the first quarter, with global prices declining just 2.7 percent in the final month of the period. Within that stretch, the Middle East/ISC region saw the biggest one-month price drop at 8 percent, while Northern Europe and Northeast Asia experienced 0.7 percent and 1.7 percent container price increases.

On a week-over-week basis, global containers saw a 1 percent price increase, likely feeding into some of the optimism that a bounce back is in play.

Harry Duong, a shipper-owned container (SOC) team lead at international freight forwarding company Pudong Prime, is one of those that remains upbeat about how 2023 is expected to play out. Duong noted in the April forecast that non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and freight forwarders cannot afford to wait to adapt to current freight demands.

The anticipated changes in the industry, particularly after contract renewals towards the end of the first half of 2023, signal a crucial time for preparation, said Duong in a statement. With cautious optimism, we foresee that this years peak season will be better than the previous year.

Roeloffs seemed less enthusiastic in his comments on the outlook for the rest of the year, but does expect demand to kick back in later in the year.

Despite avoiding a global financial and economic recession for now, the shipping industry is experiencing a freight recession due to the postponement of inventory replenishment cycles by retailers who overstocked, Roeloffs said. As we look ahead, we anticipate a subdued rebound in demand as retailers begin to deplete their excess stock in the coming months, leading up to the peak season.

Amid all the concerns regarding container prices and demand, the Container XChange report also called out the ongoing shifts in sourcing, with companies seeking to diversify countries of origin or in some cases, develop China Plus One strategies.

The market forecaster cited trade data from Vietnam and China to illustrate how the countries are being impacted by the shifts. According to Vietnam customs data, Vietnams two-way trade in February was up almost $3 billion over January, despite February being a slightly shorter month. On the other hand, Chinas exports to the E.U. totaled 552.837 billion yuan ($80.3 billion) from January to February 2023, a year-over-year decline of 5 percent.

The diversification of trade will prove to be beneficial for ocean trade because this will cause a boom to the regional trade within Asia, Roeloffs said. It will also lead to more locations adding to the direct trade from the region to North America or to Europe. So, diversification will play a role and in general, this will soak up more capacity than what we would have had on transpacific China to the U.S. or China to Europe alone.
A contractor was killed Monday, April 10, when a trench he was working in collapsed on top of him, Oklahoma police say.

Jose Valenzuela was replacing a damaged sewer line outside a home in Holdenville when the trench collapsed, according to the Holdenville Police Department.

The collapse trapped Valenzuela for nearly eight hours. When rescue teams got to him at 11:20 p.m., they discovered he was dead.

Police said the investigation will be turned over to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Oklahoma Medical Examiners Office. Valenzuelas cause of death has not been determined.

One woman said in a Facebook comment Valenzuela would be missed by this whole town.

You (were) such a happy man that loved your wife and kids like no other, Carla Moore said in the Facebook post.

Jose was such a sweet, sweet man, Kathryn Carpitcher said on Facebook. He use to come through my line at Save-A-Lot when I was working and always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell.

Holdenville is about 75 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.

Trench collapses, traps worker from shoulders down for 2 hours, SC fire chief says

Worker entered sewer to rescue colleague but they both died, feds say. Company cited

Worker killed when crane overturns at Wood River Refinery in Illinois, Phillips 66 says
Roansy Contreras struggled throughout his outing against the Houston Astros as the Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated 8-2 at PNC Park on Monday night.

Contreras struggles were apparent from the beginning, especially with his command. Contreras (1-1) issued four free passes while only 44 of his 83 pitches went for strikes. He was tagged for seven earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Kyle Tucker got things going for Houston against the Pirates right-hander with an RBI-single in the first. Contreras escaped further damage when Yordan Alvarez was thrown out attempting to advance to third.

The Astros (5-6) scored three in the following inning  one on a Mauricio Dubon single to left and two more on an Alvarez double.

Click here to read more from PittsburghBaseballNOW.com.

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Prince Harry will be attending the coronation on his own, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

Meghan will remain in California with their children, Archie and Lilibet, the spokesperson has added.

It comes as the relationship between King Charles III and the Duke of York has never been this bad as the latter reportedly continues his resistance to moving out of the Royal Lodge, it has been said.

Sources have been quoted as saying that the King is tired and infuriated by Andrews refusal to leave the 30-room mansion and move into the smaller Frogmore Cottage instead.

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace recently unveiled official plans for the slimmed down coronation, ahead of the ceremony on 6 May.

The procession route has been revealed and will be noticeably different from the late Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation day in 1953.

Royals news - latest updates

King Charles coronation balcony appearance to include working royals only

Queen Camilla will hold ivory sceptre during coronation ceremony

Camilla Queen Consort to be crowned Queen Camilla at coronation

Prince George will have special role in King Charles coronation

King Charles tired and infuriated as Prince Andrew refuses to leave Royal Lodge, report says

Meghan Markle snubs Kings coronation as Prince Harry to attend

15:19 , Ellie Muir

The Duke of Sussex will attend the Kings Coronation but the Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, the statement said.

The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The news comes after months of speculation as to whether the couple would attend the event, which is taking place on Saturday 6 May.

Following the announcement from the Palace, royal expert Omid Scobie tweeted: I understand that Archies fourth birthday (also on 6 May) played a factor in the couples decision.

Story continues

He added: Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only be attending the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

Read the developing story below:

Prince Harry to attend coronation without Meghan, Buckingham Palace announces

Queen Elizabeth II was surprised when Meghan Markle dismissed her advice, new book claims

14:30 , Kate Ng

Queen Elizabeth II was surprised when Meghan Markle dismissed her advice for adjusting to royal life, according to the author of a new royal book.

Royal commentator Robert Jobson made the claim in his new book titled: Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed, set to be published on 13 April.

Chelsea Ritschel reports:

Queen Elizabeth was surprised when Meghan dismissed her advice, new book claims

This is the official Twitter emoji for King Charless coronation

13:30 , Kate Ng

Buckingham Palace has revealed an official emoji to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

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 6 May.

This is the official Twitter emoji for King Charless coronation

Denise Welch calls Camilla Charless side piece as she says shes not a fan

12:30 , Kate Ng

Loose Women panellist Denise Welch has called Queen Camilla Charless side piece as she admits she lacks enthusiasm for the forthcoming coronation.

King Charles III and Camilla will be crowned at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May, followed by a special concert at Windsor Castle on 7 May.

Ellie Muir reports:

Denise Welch calls Camilla Charless side piece and declares shes not a fan

Inside Royal Lodge: Prince Andrews 30-room mansion that Prince William has his eye on

11:30 , Kate Ng

The Duke of York has resided in the Royal Lodge in Windsor Park for nearly 20 years, but his reported refusal to move out is said to have left King Charles III tired and infuriated.

It is understood that the King wishes for Prince Andrew to vacate the royal property and move into the smaller Frogmore Cottage instead, with suggestions that the Prince of Wales has his eye on the mansion to reflect his new role as heir to the throne.

Heres everything you need to know about the Royal Lodge:

Inside Royal Lodge, Prince Andrews 30-room mansion that William has his eye on

Ex-diplomat reveals Prince Andrews insane list of demands while travelling

10:30 , Kate Ng

The Duke of York had an insane list of demands while travelling abroad, including a 6ft ironing board and room-temperature water only, according to an ex-diplomat.

Former UK diplomat Simon Wilson is set to describe Prince Andrews wishes in the forthcoming ITV documentary The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which will be released on 20 April.

Find out what his list includes:

Ex-diplomat reveals Prince Andrews insane list of demands while travelling

King Charles tired and infuriated as Prince Andrew refuses to leave Royal Lodge, report says

09:41 , Kate Ng

King Charles III is said to be tired and infuriated by his brother, the Duke of Yorks resistance to moving out of the Royal Lodge.

It was previously reported that the monarch offered the keys to Frogmore Cottage to Prince Andrew, after asking the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to vacate it.

But the disgraced duke, who has not been a working royal since 2020, is understood to be resisting any attempts to move him out of his current residence and into the smaller royal property.

Read the full story here:

King Charles tired and infuriated as Prince Andrew refuses to leave Royal Lodge

David Dimbleby turns down offer to cover Kings coronation

Tuesday 11 April 2023 16:00 , Ellie Muir

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby has turned down the chance to play a role in the BBCs coverage of the Kings coronation, according to reports.

The BBCs coverage of the 6 May event will be led by Kirsty Young, 54, in a studio outside Buckingham Palace, with Huw Edwards, 61, and Clare Balding, 52, providing commentary.

Dimbleby, 84, was offered a role in the coverage, according to a report in The Times, but opted against playing second fiddle in the presenting lineup.

Read the full story below:

David Dimbleby turns down offer to cover Kings coronation

King Charles III coronation: Everything we know about 2023 ceremony

Tuesday 11 April 2023 15:00 , Ellie Muir

It will take place at Westminster Abbey in London where there are expected to be 2,000 guests in attendance, a stark contrast to the 8,000 guests present at the Queens coronation in 1953.

Charles will turn 74 years old in November 2022, making him the oldest person to be crowned in British history.

William, Prince of Wales is expected to play an important role in the committee organising his fathers coronation.

Read all the key details about the coronation below:

When is the coronation of King Charles III?

Kate Middletons Windsor walkabout with Harry and Meghan was one of the hardest things, royal author claims

Tuesday 11 April 2023 14:30 , Ellie Muir

The Princess of Wales reportedly 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, a royal commentator has claimed in a new book.

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.

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.

Read the full story below:

Queen Camilla will hold ivory sceptre during coronation ceremony

Tuesday 11 April 2023 14:00 , Ellie Muir

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.

Read the full story below:

Queen Camilla will hold ivory sceptre during coronation ceremony

Prince Harry branded Meghan Markles hostage by royal aides, author claims

Tuesday 11 April 2023 13:30 , Ellie Muir

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.

Read the full story below:

Royal aides branded Prince Harry as Meghan Markles hostage, author claims

Buckingham Palace reveals map of Charles and Camillas route to the coronation

Tuesday 11 April 2023 13:00 , Ellie Muir

The King and Queens coronation are expected to be attended by 2,000 guests in attendance. This is quite a departure from the Kings late mothers own coronation in 1953, which saw 8,000 guests present.

Now, it has been revealed that Charles procession will also be quite different from the late Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation day.

Elizabeths grand procession took two hours and featured tens of thousands of participants, stretching five miles long.

In comparison to his mother, King Charles and Queen Camillas procession is set to stretch just 1.3 miles, a quarter of the length of Elizabeths.

After the ceremony, they will make their way back to Westminster Abbey via the tried and tested route of Parliament Square, along Whitehall, around Trafalgar Square, through Admiralty Arch and down The Mall back to Buckingham Palace.

Read the full story below:

Buckingham Palace reveals map of Charles and Camillas route to the coronation

King Charles stopped taking Prince Harrys phone calls after Megxit, royal author claims

Tuesday 11 April 2023 12:15 , Ellie Muir

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.

Read the full story below:

King Charles stopped taking Prince Harrys phone calls after Megxit, author claims

Denise Welch calls Camilla Charless side piece as she says shes not a fan

Tuesday 11 April 2023 11:45 , Ellie Muir

Loose Women panellist Denise Welch has called Queen Camilla Charless side piece as she admits she lacks enthusiasm for the forthcoming coronation.

King Charles III and Camilla will be crowned at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May, followed by a special concert at Windsor Castle on 7 May.

Welch, 64, admitted that the monarchy isnt the same since the late Queen Elizabeth II died in September.

I feel like [for] a lot of people, the monarchy isnt the same since the Queen died, Welch said.

Im trying to get some enthusiasm for the coronation and I havent got any.

Welch added that she was not a fan of Queen Camilla, Charless second wife.

Welch continued: Im not particularly a Camilla fan, the fact is I just think she was there from the beginning of his marriage to Diana and I think its disrespectful to Prince Harry and and I cant get over that she was the side piece.

Read the full story below:

Denise Welch calls Camilla Charless side piece and declares shes not a fan

Kirsty Young, Huw Edwards and Clare Balding to lead BBC coronation commentary

Tuesday 11 April 2023 11:15 , Ellie Muir

The BBCs coverage of the 6 May event will be led by Kirsty Young, 54, in a studio outside Buckingham Palace, with Huw Edwards, 61, and Clare Balding, 52, providing commentary.

It comes as Jonathan Dimbleby reportedly turned down the chance to cover the event.

Dimbleby himself has been a prominent figure in the BBCs royal coverage for many years and he came out of retirement last September to cover the Queens funeral procession.

Edwards role in the coronation reporting comes after he received huge praise for the way in which he announced the news of the Queens death.

Young, meanwhile, received excellent reviews for her coverage of the Queens funeral.

Read the full story below:

David Dimbleby turns down offer to cover Kings coronation

David Dimbleby turns down offer to cover Kings coronation

Tuesday 11 April 2023 11:07 , Ellie Muir

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby has turned down the chance to play a role in the BBCs coverage of the Kings coronation, according to reports.

The BBCs coverage of the 6 May event will be led by Kirsty Young, 54, in a studio outside Buckingham Palace, with Huw Edwards, 61, and Clare Balding, 52, providing commentary.

Dimbleby, 84, was offered a role in the coverage, according to a report in The Times, but opted against playing second fiddle in the presenting lineup.

Read the full story below:

David Dimbleby turns down offer to cover Kings coronation

King Charles coronation balcony appearance to include working royals only

Monday 10 April 2023 13:30 , Ellie Muir

In the past, the royal balcony appearances have featured many members of the royal family as the late Queen Elizabeth II would often have her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren joining her.

But as King Charles has long been an advocate of a slimmed-down monarchy and it is understood that, as he commences his reign, the balcony will hold a much smaller number of royals.

It has been reported that only working members of the royal family will appear on the balcony on the day of the coronation.

Last year, during the late Queens balcony appearance for her platinum jubilee, only Charles, Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Waleses three children were present.

Read the full story below:

King Charles coronation balcony appearance to include working royals only

Harry and Meghan facing time crunch to confirm coronation attendance

Monday 10 April 2023 13:00 , Ellie Muir

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will soon make their decision about attending the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, it has been reported.

With only a month to go before the coronation ceremony takes place in Westminster Abbey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a time crunch to confirm their attendance.

It comes after US president Joe Biden informed the King he would not be attending the event, but would send his wife, Jill Biden, to represent the US at the ceremony.

A source was quoted by The Times as saying: I hear [the Sussexes] are going to confirm their plans soon, particularly now that Biden has.

In early March, Harry and Meghan indicated that they have received email correspondence from His Majestys office regarding the coronation but have yet to disclose their decision.

Read the full story below:

Harry and Meghan facing time crunch to confirm coronation attendance

Sarah Ferguson says parents today would never dream of using the language hers used

Monday 10 April 2023 12:30 , Ellie Muir

The Duchess of York has reflected on her childhood and the language used by her parents growing up.

In a new interview, Sarah Ferguson opened up about how her mother, Susan Barrantes, was a child herself when she started her family with Ronald Ferguson.

The duchess, 63, recalled how her father used to call me a sheeps a*** and her mother would hit me if she refused to eat semolina.

Speaking to The Times, Ferguson said: My mother was a beautiful woman but she was a child herself. She didnt know how to be a mummy.

We would never dream now of using the language my parents used on us as children. Dad used to call me a sheeps a***. If I refused to eat my semolina, Mum would hit me and say she needed to beat the devil out of me.

Read the full story below:

Sarah Ferguson says parents today would never dream of using the language hers used

Fans delight in Prince William and Georges identical reactions during Aston Villa game

Monday 10 April 2023 11:45 , Ellie Muir

Fans have pointed out that Prince George, the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, was the spitting image of his father while watching Aston Villas match against Nottingham Forest.

Father and son were seen in the stands with Villa chief executive Christian Purslow at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday (8 April).

George, nine, has followed in Prince Williams footsteps as an avid fan and supporter of Aston Villa, and cheered them on in the stands.

Read the full story below:

Fans delight in William and Georges twin reactions at Aston Villa game

What is King Charles IIIs coronation procession route?

Monday 10 April 2023 11:15 , Ellie Muir

It has been revealed that Charles procession will also be quite different from the late Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation day.

Elizabeths grand procession took two hours and featured tens of thousands of participants, stretching five miles long.

In comparison to his mother, King Charles and Queen Camillas procession is set to stretch just 1.3 miles, a quarter of the length of Elizabeths.

After the ceremony, they will make their way back to Westminster Abbey via the tried and tested route of Parliament Square, along Whitehall, around Trafalgar Square, through Admiralty Arch and down The Mall back to Buckingham Palace.

This is the reverse of their route to the Abbey, but will mean cutting out Piccadilly, Oxford Street and Regent Street  the route that Elizabeth took to wave at crowds along the way.

My colleague Kate Ng has the full story below:

What is King Charles IIIs coronation procession route?

This is the official Twitter emoji for King Charless coronation

Monday 10 April 2023 10:45 , Ellie Muir

Buckingham Palace has revealed an official emoji to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

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 6 May.

It is the first emoji created for a British coronation, with the last crowning taking place 70 years ago, before the invention of social media, mobile phones and even the internet.

Read the full story below:

This is the official Twitter emoji for King Charless coronation

Prince Harry branded Meghan Markles hostage by royal aides, author claims

Monday 10 April 2023 10:14 , Ellie Muir

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.

Royal aides branded Prince Harry as Meghan Markles hostage, author claims

Queen Camilla will hold ivory sceptre during coronation ceremony

Monday 10 April 2023 09:43 , Ellie Muir

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 every Queen Consort at previous coronations since 1685, is part of the crown jewels and regalia held in trust by the monarch for the nation.

Read the full story below:

Queen Camilla will hold ivory sceptre during coronation ceremony

Camilla to be crowned Queen at coronation next month, King Charles confirms

Thursday 6 April 2023 21:00 , Kate Ng

Queen Consort Camilla will officially be named Queen Camilla at King Charles IIIs coronation next month.

The newly-released invitations for the British monarchs forthcoming coronation revealed Camilla Parker-Bowles new title. She was referred to as Queen Consort following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September last year.

Meredith Clark has the story:

Camilla to be crowned Queen at coronation next month, King Charles confirms

Who is attending King Charles coronation?

Thursday 6 April 2023 20:30 , Kate Ng

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned at their coronation on Saturday 6 May. The couple will be joined by hundreds of guests at Westminster Abbey, including senior members of the royal family, politicians and celebrities. The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the ceremony.

While the venue can seat up to 2,200 guests, it is unknown how many invites Buckingham Palace has sent out, and many attendees wont be confirmed until the actual day of the event.

Heres who we think might make the list:

All of the celebrities and royals attending King Charles coronation

Sarah Ferguson doesnt know how King Charles is coping ahead of coronation

Thursday 6 April 2023 20:00 , Kate Ng

Sarah Ferguson has admitted she doesnt know how King Charles III is coping with his new role as monarch.

In an interview with The Independent, published on Wednesday 5 April, the Duchess of York, 63, shared her thoughts on King Charless reign.

Sarah Ferguson doesnt know how King Charles is coping ahead of coronation

William, Prince of Wales: A timeline of the heirs life ahead of King Charless coronation

Thursday 6 April 2023 19:30 , Kate Ng

As the coronation draws closer, many may be wanting to know more about the Prince of Wales, who will be present as his father is crowned King.

Ellie Muir tells you everything you need to know about Prince William:

A timeline of Prince Williams life ahead of King Charless coronation

Jill Biden to attend King Charles coronation without president

Thursday 6 April 2023 19:00 , Kate Ng

Joe Biden has revealed that he will not be attending King Charles IIIs coronation and that his wife Jill Biden will be going without him.

The White House confirmed in a readout of Bidens call with the King, shared on 4 April, that the first lady will be going to the coronation in May to represent the US.

Amber Raiken reports:

Jill Biden to attend King Charles coronation without president

Harry and Meghan to confirm coronation plans soon following Biden decision

Thursday 6 April 2023 18:30 , Kate Ng

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will soon make their decision about attending the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, it has been reported.

With only a month to go before the coronation ceremony takes place in Westminster Abbey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a time crunch to confirm their attendance.

Get the full story:

Harry and Meghan to confirm coronation plans soon following Biden decision

Sarah Ferguson says royals cant have it both ways if they choose to leave

Thursday 6 April 2023 18:00 , Kate Ng

The Duchess of York has said that members of the royal family who choose to leave the fold cant sit on the fence and must decide whether they want to be in or out.

Her comments come amid ongoing tensions between the royal family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have repeatedly aired their grievances over Buckingham Palaces relationship with the tabloid press since they stepped down as senior royals in 2020.

Read her comments below:

Sarah Ferguson says royals cant have it both ways after Meghan and Harry exit

Artist who painted invitation for Kings coronation sworn to secrecy

Thursday 6 April 2023 17:30 , Kate Ng

The artist who painted the invitation for King Charles IIIs coronation has revealed that he was sworn to secrecy as he made the design.

Andrew Jamieson, 61, didnt even tell his mother or children that he had been chosen to create the artwork for the reported 2,000 guests who will arrive at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.

Ellie Muir reports:

Artist who painted invitation for King Charles IIIs coronation sworn to secrecy

Prince George will have special role in King Charles coronation

Thursday 6 April 2023 17:00 , Kate Ng

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will each have four Pages of Honour supporting them on the day of the coronation, with the monarchs nine-year-old grandson Prince George expected to take on one of the official roles.

On Tuesday 4 April, Buckingham Palace announced that George, who is second-in-line to the throne and the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, would join three other pages for the King.

Find out more:

The special role Prince George will have in King Charles coronation

Prince Harry set to give evidence in court case against Mirror newspaper publisher

Thursday 6 April 2023 16:30 , Kate Ng

The Duke of Sussex is to return to the High Court in London in June to give evidence in his claim against a tabloid newspaper publisher over phone-hacking allegations.

Harry is one of a number of high-profile figures bringing damages claims against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles.

Read more:

Prince Harry set to give evidence in court case against Mirror newspaper publisher

White House says Bidens decision to skip King Charless coronation is not a snub

Thursday 6 April 2023 16:00 , Kate Ng

The White House has defended President Joe Bidens decision not to attend the coronation of King Charles III next month after it was announced First Lady Jill Biden would be attending on behalf of the United States.

On 5 April, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about Mr Bidens decision as head of state not to attend the upcoming coronation of the King and Queen on 6 May during a press conference, and whether it would be construed as a snub.

Chelsea Ritschel reports:

White House says Bidens decision to skip King Charless coronation is not a snub

IN PICTURES: King Charles and Queen Camilla step out for Maundy Thursday

Thursday 6 April 2023 15:38 , Kate Ng

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were out and about on Thursday morning (6 April) as they attended a church service for Maundy Thursday at York Minster.

The royal couple, who are exactly a month away from their coronation, also distributed Maundy Money to select members of the community.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the Royal Maundy Service (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive for the Maunday Thursday Service at York Minster (Getty Images)

King Charles III and Queen Camilla speak with well-wishers after attend the Royal Maundy Service (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

King Charles and Queen Camilla wave as they attend the Maundy Thursday Service at York Minster (REUTERS)

Queen Camilla appears in public for first time since title change

Thursday 6 April 2023 14:26 , Kate Ng

Queen Camilla has made her first public appearance since her title was confirmed as Queen, instead of Queen Consort.

She attended the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster on Thursday morning (6 April) and accompanied King Charles III as he distributed Maundy Money for the first time as Britains new monarch.

Queen Camilla appears in public for first time since title change

King Charles coronation balcony appearance to include working royals only

Thursday 6 April 2023 14:00 , Ellie Muir

On Saturday 6 May, after King Charles III and Queen Camillas coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, the monarch will appear on the famous Buckingham Palace balcony to wave at the crowds.

In the past, the royal balcony appearances have featured many members of the royal family as the late Queen Elizabeth II would often have her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren joining her.

But as King Charles has long been an advocate of a slimmed-down monarchy and it is understood that, as he commences his reign, the balcony will hold a much smaller number of royals.

It has been reported that only working members of the royal family will appear on the balcony on the day of the coronation.

Read the full story below:

King Charles coronation balcony appearance to include working royals only

Take a closer look at the coronation invitations

Thursday 6 April 2023 13:30 , Ellie Muir

Take a closer look at the coronation invitations below:

The artwork was painted by Andrew Jamieson, 61, from south London (Buckingham Palace)

New photograph of the King and Queen Consort released ahead of coronation

Thursday 6 April 2023 13:00 , Ellie Muir

Maundy Thursday 2023: What is the meaning of the Christian holy day?

Thursday 6 April 2023 12:30 , Ellie Muir

Following the arrival of Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week, Christians around the world will prepare to celebrate Easter weekend.

Before Good Friday, there is another significant date that is observed on the Christian calendar: Maundy Thursday.

While the day may not warrant a day off work, it is still a crucial occasion for those that observe Christian teachings in Western and Orthodox churches.

In the UK, the late Queen Elizabeth II would usually give Maundy money to pensioners as an act of charity and to mark the occasion.

This year, King Charles will present 74 men and 74 women, with the number chosen to signify his age, with a Maundy gift.

What is the meaning of Maundy Thursday?

The fascinating history behind the throne King Charles will sit on at his coronation

Thursday 6 April 2023 12:00 , Ellie Muir

During the crowning and anointing parts of the coronation ceremony, which are said to be the most sacred parts, King Charles will sit upon the 700-year-old Coronation Chair.

The throne has been at the centre of English coronations since it was made by order of King Edward I between 1300 and 1301. Westminster Abbey, where it is located, describes the chair as one of the most precious and famous pieces of furniture in the world.

Read the full story below:

The fascinating history behind the throne King Charles will sit on at his coronation

King Charles III to break from tradition with specific outfit choice for coronation

Thursday 6 April 2023 11:30 , Ellie Muir

King Charles III has been advised to wear an outfit for his coronation that goes against previous royal tradition, according to reports.

The monarch acceded to the throne upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September.

His coronation is set to take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May, in an event that has been teased to reflect the monarchs role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry.

In previous ceremonies, the King or Queen has traditionally worn silk stockings and breeches. However, recent reports have claimed that King Charles will opt to wear his military uniform instead.

Read the full story below:

King Charles III to break from tradition with coronation outfit choice

Artist who painted invitation for Kings coronation sworn to secrecy

Thursday 6 April 2023 11:00 , Ellie Muir

The artist who painted the invitation for King Charles IIIs coronation has revealed that he was sworn to secrecy as he made the design.

Andrew Jamieson, 61, didnt even tell his mother or children that he had been chosen to create the artwork for the reported 2,000 guests who will arrive at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.

His design, which was revealed to the public on Tuesday night (4 April), was painted in watercolour and gouache and recalls the coronation emblem, accompanied by illustrations of wildflowers. The artwork will be printed on recycled card with gold foil detailing.

Artist who painted invitation for King Charles IIIs coronation sworn to secrecy

No one can break the York family: Sarah Ferguson on Andrew, Diana and Prince Harry, and her new Mills & Boon whodunit

Thursday 6 April 2023 10:20 , Ellie Muir

The Duchess of York talks to Charlotte Cripps about feeling broken, living through her heroines and plastic surgery

Sarah Ferguson on Andrew, Harry and her new Mills & Boon whodunit

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Thursday 6 April 2023 09:50 , Ellie Muir

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Margie Rischiotto



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TBH, I'm a chronic over-packer when I travel. Blame it on being the oldest daughter or my emotional attachment to nearly every pair of shoes Ive ever laid eyes on, but youll rarely catch me in an airport without at least two over-stuffed pieces of luggage. And while packing the "essentials" (read: multiple outfit options for every night, plus an extra 15 pairs of socks because you just never know!!!) used to mean bringing LOTS of baggage, the Beis Carry-On Roller changed that. Instead of paying for a checked bag on long trips, now I can easily travel with just one carry-onand I'm here to spill all the tea about why this popular suitcase is worth the $$$.

Shop Now The Carry-On Roller $21800.00 beistravel.com Beis

As someone who lives for the high of booking a new trip, Ive gotten pretty good at shoving my whole life into a bag, dragging it through LaGuardia Airport, and hopping on a crowded flight to my destination. But when my holiday travel plans last year involved a two-week trip to three different climates I knew it was time for a luggage upgrade. I'd be traveling from 40-degree weather in New York to negative 40-degree weather in Iowa, then hopping straight on a plane to the Bahamas with no chance to swap out any of my clothes. In other words, I needed to find enough space to pack a puffer jacket, snow boots, and a bunch of bulky sweaters in the same bag as my entire summer wardrobe.



Enter my new fave carry-on suitcase from Beis. The brand is known for its cute, minimal designs, which also happen to be incredibly durable, easy to maneuver, and so dang spacious... can confirm! And although I bought the roller as a solution to my chaotic holiday plans, it's now my go-to suitcase for long trips and short vacays alike. Keep reading to get the deets on my forever travel bestie and why I absolutely think it's worth the money.



Pros

It's easy to maneuver

Anyone who has spent more than 12 seconds in a busy airport will immediately understand the importance of having a suitcase that's easy to maneuver. Whether you're sprinting to your gate after waiting in a long TSA line or weaving past crowds of slow walkers, there's a lot to navigate. The Beis carry-on is a major upgrade from the clunky old suitcase I had before. Its 360-degree rotating wheels allow you to push, pull, twirl, and drag your roller around the airport with ease.

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Even when dragging this suitcase through the uneven streets of New York City or gliding it through narrow airplane aisles, I've never had trouble maneuvering it. It moves smoothly and seamlessly, so you'll barely even realize you're dragging it behind. The extendable handle even has cushions, so your hands won't get tired from carrying your luggage all day long!

It has *tons* of storage space

To me (queen of over-packing, remember?) the most important factor when purchasing luggage is its storage features. Not only am I an over-packer, but I'm also incredibly disorganized, so I need all the help I can get when it comes to keeping my suitcase tidy.

I love that the Beis Carry-On Roller has built-in dividers to keep your clothes in placelike packing cubes that are already built into the suitcase. One side features a zipper pouch that's great for folded clothes, socks, and undergarments, while the other has a removable mesh panel to compress bulkier items like sweaters and coats. This is such a lifesaver when I'm traveling to multiple destinations in one trip because it allows me to keep certain outfits folded neatly while easily accessing the ones I'm ready to wear.

Samantha Jones - Hearst Owned

For smaller items that are easier to lose at the bottom of your suitcase, it has a slim zipper pocket on one side of the suitcase and two roomy pouches on the other. I like to shove accessories like sunglasses, swimsuits, travel jewelry boxes, and mittens into these pouches so they're easy to find later. Plus, the suitcase's durable cross-straps help you compress all your stuff and make it easier to zip shut.

It's very aesthetically pleasing

Okay, okay, looks aren't everything. But they aren't nothing, either! I'm not above spending a little more for something that looks prettyand I won't lie, the minimalist design of all of Beis's luggage really intrigued me. I was really impressed with the quality and appearance of the Carry-On when I first unboxed it, and even after multiple trips it still looks brand-new.

I also love that everything from the handles to the zipper is all one color, making it easy to look and feel put together on a long travel day. You can shop it in six different colorways, depending on your preferences. While I only have the Carry-On Roller right now, I've got my eye on the Beis Tote and the Weekender Bag, and the idea of a matching luggage set is simply *chef's kiss*.

It's surprisingly durable

Though I've only had my Beis Carry-On for about six months, I can already tell that it's going to last me a lot longer than any other suitcase I've had. For one, its thick polycarbonate shell is totally dent-resistant, so I'm never worried about scraping it on the overhead bin or unexpectedly checking it on a crowded flight. Even after being tossed around by airline personnel, it always comes back to me looking good. At first, I was a little nervous about scratches or discoloration since I own the beige version of this suitcase, but so far the exterior has remained virtually flawless.

Samantha Jones - Hearst Owned

The interior is lined with polyester that's easy to spot-clean in the event of a spill, which makes me less worried about shampoo leaks from the changing air pressure. Even the zippers on this suitcase are made with durable, water-resistant nylon and easy-to-grasp metal handles that prevent the zipper from breaking.



Cons

It's expensive

I won't lie, this suitcase is a little pricey. At $198, it's a lot of money to spend on one piece of luggage, especially if you don't travel often. Even as someone who's always looking for an excuse to travel, I had to think carefully about this suitcase before watching $200 leave my bank account.

However, the quality and durability of the materials made me feel justified in the splurge. Ultimately, I'd rather spend more on a suitcase I know will last me for years to come than save a few bucks on something cheaper, only to have it break after a few trips.

It's heavy

At 8.36 pounds, the Beis Carry-On is a little heavy compared to other options I've seen. Just looking at it, you can tell that it's bulkier than most carry-ons on the market. And while you won't necessarily notice the additional heft when rolling it around the airport, it took a lot more effort to lift this roller into the overhead bin than I expected. I'm chalking it up to the thick polycarbonate exterior, so the extra bulk is worth it to me to protect my belongingsbut be prepared to do some heavy lifting (or avoid packing heavier items) when traveling with this luggage.

The bottom line

Long story short, there are tons of things to love about the Beis Carry-On Roller. It's a breeze to pack, whether you're heading on a quick weekend trip or a weeks-long vacation (I'm jealous, btw). Its suite of helpful storage features will keep you organized no matter how much turbulence there is along the way, and the hard-sided exterior protects your belongings from getting damaged. If you're a frequent traveler who wants a stylish and long-lasting piece of luggageyour search is over!

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A super PAC associated with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) plans to spend $35 million on congressional races in California next year. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

Democrats consider California pivotal to the party's efforts to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024, with a super PAC tied to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledging Tuesday to spend $35 million on competitive congressional races in the state.

Thats roughly triple what the group spent in the 2022 midterm campaigns in the Golden State, when Democrats underperformed in heavily blue strongholds such as California while fending off an expected Republican red wave in congressional races across the nation.

Democrats cant retake the House without winning seats back in California, said David Wasserman, a congressional forecaster for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

Wasserman said Democrats strategic decisions have historically teetered between the need to win House seats in states such as California and the cost of campaigning in areas with such expensive media markets. In the November election, the party suffered the consequences for not spending big in California races and losing some close contests.

Democrats abandoned  multiple California districts that ended up being fairly close, and they spent a lot of money in other districts that didnt end up being very close, he said.

The party and affiliated committees have long been hesitant about laying down big bucks on California races because the markets are so expensive. They feel like theres a better return on investment elsewhere, Wasserman added.

Despite Democrats' overwhelming voter registration advantage in California, it is home to several competitive congressional districts, in large part because they are drawn by an independent commission that pays no heed to protecting officeholders. The Republicans' main congressional super PAC invested heavily in the state to protect the party's incumbents, won an open seat in the Central Valley and nearly knocked out a prominent Democratic House member.

Although the GOP took control of Congress in 2022 and Bakersfield Rep. Kevin McCarthy won the House speakers gavel in January, the margin of both victories was far narrower than expected, given historical trends, economic malaise and President Bidens lackluster approval ratings.

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Mike Smith, the president of the House Majority PAC, which is aligned with Democratic leaders in Congress, said the committee plans to focus on 18 congressional districts across the nation that are represented by Republicans but voted for Biden in 2020. Five are in California  the exact number of seats Democrats need to flip to reclaim control of the House.

California is critical to the path, said Smith, a former senior Pelosi advisor. We want to lay a marker down early.

Under federal election law, the House Majority PAC is allowed to raised unlimited sums from donors for independent expenditures on individual races, while the national parties and candidates themselves face contribution limits.

In 2022, Republican incumbents held on to seats in the Central Valley, northern Los Angeles County and Orange County that Democrats were confident about winning because of Bidens success in these districts.

The reelections of GOP Reps. David Valadao of Hanford and Mike Garcia of Santa Clarita are prime examples, and were the result of finding candidates who fit their districts politically as well as smart and effective campaign spending, said Republican redistricting expert Matt Rexroad.

Its not going to be a layup for Democrats, Rexroad said. McCarthy has done a good job of recruiting candidates who can hold their districts for not just one term, but for an extended time period.

Paul Mitchell, a Democratic redistricting expert, agreed that his party totally walked away from the Garcia race, which he believed was one of his partys best opportunities in the nation.

But he also argues Democrats will have a better chance in a number of California congressional districts because 2024 is a presidential election year, which means greater turnout among young people, minorities and other voters who tend to favor Democratic candidates.

We are going to have much, much higher Democratic turnout, Mitchell said.

The Democratic political action committees pledge to spend a significant amount of money supporting the partys candidates comes months after former state Assemblywoman Christy Smith, who unsuccessfully ran against Garcia three times, called out national Democrats for not backing her campaign in 2022.

The utter lack of investment made no sense, Smith said in an interview late last year, shortly after she castigated her party on Twitter for failing to support her sufficiently in the race to represent Californias 27th District, which includes Santa Clarita, the Antelope Valley and parts of the San Fernando Valley.

The onetime GOP stronghold has grown more Democratic as Los Angeles residents moved there seeking affordable housing. The decennial redrawing of congressional maps made the district even bluer by excising Simi Valley.

Our campaign got next to zero outside resources to fight this battle, Smith said in her remarks on Twitter. With no help on the airwaves and little elsewhere from liberal committees and PACs, we didnt stand a chance, she said.





The parties political action committees' 2022 spending in California was incredibly lopsided, with the House Majority PAC spending less than $12 million compared with the $33.1 million spent by its Republican counterpart, the Congressional Leadership Fund linked to McCarthy.

The Republican super PAC is expected to spend a similar amount in California this cycle to aggressively defend its incumbents in tight races and to try to oust vulnerable Democrats.

We won for two cycles in a row in California because of great Republican candidates and voters being fed up living in a state where Democrat governance has led to high crime and high costs. California will remain key in the fight to protect the House majority, said Dan Conston, president of the Congressional Leadership Fund.

McCarthy has long been a fundraising powerhouse, and his prowess appears to have grown since he became speaker. In February, at his first fundraiser after being elected the leader of the House, he reportedly brought in more than $12 million in one night.

The Congressional Leadership Fund spent $2.5 million in the Garcia-Smith contest, while the House Majority PAC spent a little more than $23,000.

Democrats argue that their 2022 strategy was grounded in the realities of the campaign  including the anticipated GOP congressional victories across the nation and the cost of television advertising in California, home to some of the nations most expensive media markets.

Also, Democratic candidates such as Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine  now running for retiring Sen. Dianne Feinsteins seat  had tens of millions of dollars in their campaign coffers, so they did not receive the financial backing that their Republican rivals did.

The Congressional Leadership Fund spent nearly $6.8 million in the race backing former Orange County GOP chair Scott Baugh against Porter, while the House Majority PAC spent a little more than $91,100. Porter narrowly won.

Mitchell said that while he didnt want to second-guess Democrats past strategy, he predicts that the party is going to invest heavily in these districts in next year's campaigns.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Most countries that are vulnerable to climate disasters are drowning in debt, which is hindering their capacity to effectively respond to climate-related emergencies, a new study has revealed.

The research conducted by international charity ActionAid, released on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings, revealed that 93 per cent of countries in the Global South that face most impact from a warming planet are also under significant debt distress.

Nine highly climate-sensitive countries, including Somalia, Malawi, and Mozambique, are already reeling under debt distress, the report noted. Forty countries highly susceptible to climate crisis are at moderate or high risk of debt distress. Only four countries facing climate disasters are at low risk of debt distress, the study said.

As World Bank shareholders gathered in Washington for their annual spring meeting on Monday, discussions on economic policy options for Global South countries took centre stage.

This report sounded the alarm for urgent need for debt cancellation for climate vulnerable countries and a radical transformation of global debt management to address this pressing crisis.

"The debt crisis and climate crisis are inextricably linked, creating a vicious cycle that traps vulnerable countries in a downward spiral," warned David Archer, ActionAid International's head of programmes and influencing.

Malawi, which recently bore the brunt of cyclone Freddy, displacing over half a million people and causing widespread destruction, served as a glaring example of a nation weighed down by debt.

"Our government is being forced to allocate limited resources to repay old loans, leaving us ill-equipped to rebuild and recover from cyclone Freddy. Climate disasters are becoming more frequent and devastating, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the impact, Pamela Kuwali, country director at ActionAid Malawi, said.

The study also revealed that 38 out of 63 most climate vulnerable countries are slashing spending on vital public services to service their debt, jeopardising their ability to effectively respond to climate disasters.

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Around 42 other African countries are at high risk of debt distress due to the impacts of climate change and other factors. Another example of the debt distress affecting climate adaptation is Ghana, which defaulted on its $28.4bn external debt in December.

John Nkaw, country director at ActionAid Ghana, pointed out that Ghana is forced to spend more on debt servicing than on education and health, perpetuating a destructive cycle where the country lacked the necessary resources to invest in climate adaptation, resilience, and disaster preparedness.

We know that Ghana will need about 60 per cent of its debt cancelled if it is to return to a path of sustainability  therefore we demand a proportion of debt cancellation, Mr Nkaw said.

If freed of debt, we would be able to strengthen small and medium sized businesses, invest in renewable sources of energy, smallholder farmers and agroecology. But these choices arent an option.

People wade through flood waters caused by last week's heavy rains caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Phalombe, southern Malawi (AP)

Another factor compounding the debt distress is that the countries are coerced into repaying their debts in foreign currencies, predominantly US dollars, which compels them to invest in extractive industries like fossil fuels and large-scale industrial agriculture, exacerbating environmental degradation and worsening climate change impacts.

Mr Archer pointed the finger at the World Bank, IMF, and private banks based in wealthy countries for hindering climate progress by imposing stringent conditions on debt repayments for climate-vulnerable countries.

"These debts are entrapping countries in a detrimental cycle, forcing them to cut public spending and invest in activities that harm the climate just to repay their debts," said Mr Archer.

The report called for immediate debt cancellation for countries most vulnerable to climate change and a comprehensive overhaul of global debt management to break free from this harmful entanglement.

International financial institutions are facing growing calls to make finances available to poor countries facing increasing pressure due to climate crisis. Countries like Pakistan, which are under critical debt burden and suffered devastating floods last year, have demanded debt relief in the past. Organisations are calling for urgent action to close the funding gap amid the ongoing high level meetings.
(Getty Images)

A court in India has dismissed a petition filed against a magistrates order discharging Shilpa Shetty in a 2007 obscenity case over actor Richard Gere kissing her at a public event in India.

In March 2007, Shetty and Gere attended an Aids awareness event in Mumbai where the Pretty Woman star kissed her cheek several times.

Soon after the event, the incident was met with protests by radical Hindus who considered Geres actions to go against Indian values.

At the time, Indias Supreme Court also issued an arrest warrant for Gere accusing him of participating in cheap publicity.

Following the backlash, Gere issued an apology claiming that he had been trying to demonstrate that kissing didnt cause HIV transmissions.

In January 2022, the obscenity charges against Shetty were dismissed.

The charges were deemed groundless and the court ruled that Shetty was indeed subjected to unwanted advances from a Hollywood celebrity.

However, the prosecution filed a revision application before the sessions court claiming the magistrate erred in discharging the accused and that the order was illegal, bad in law and against the principle of natural justice.

Richard Gere hugged and kissed Shilpa Shetty several times on stage at a 2007 Aids event (AFP via Getty Images)

On Monday (10 April), sessions judge SC Jadhav dismissed Geres petition and discharged Shetty.

This case has been ongoing in the Indian legal system for over 15 years.

The court said that no evidence of Shetty having shared or published the said act was produced by the police.

A woman being groped on the street or touched on a public way or in public transport cannot be termed as accused or participative to an extent of mental culpability and she cannot be held for illegal omission to make her liable for prosecution, the court said.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  In a blow to Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a top court in the Pakistani-administered section of Kashmir on Tuesday removed his protege and head of the local government from office. The territory's premier, Tanveer Ilyas, was charged and convicted of insulting judges in public remarks, officials and local media reported.

The development appeared to be a spillover of the political crisis roiling Pakistan, where the 70-year-old Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote last April, has campaigned against his successor, Shahbaz Sharif. Khan claims his ouster was illegal and has been demanding early elections  which Sharif has rejected.

Ilyas, an outspoken business tycoon known for outburst against judges and bureaucrats, has also lashed out at Sharif, when the prime minister visited Kashmir last December.

Khan has backed Ilyas in the Pakistani-ruled part of Kashmir, where Khan's Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf opposition party has a simple majority in the local parliament. The disputed Himalayan region is split between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety.

Ilyas appeared Tuesday before a judge in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, and was symbolically convicted of the alleged offense and sentenced to time spent in the courtroom. Under Pakistani law, this automatically disqualifies him from public office.

Ilyas has for weeks criticizing judges in the Pakistan-held Kashmir, claiming the judiciary was encroaching upon his authority by reversing multiple decisions approved by him or his government. Although he apologized Tuesday over his remarks, the court rejected his apology.

Fawad Chaudhry, a senior leader from Khan's party, denounced the ruling. This country cannot be run by destroying the judicial system, Chaudhry tweeted.

It was unclear whether Ilyas would appeal the ruling. The court also instructed the territory's election oversight body to prepare for a vote to replace Ilyas.

The assembly in the Pakistani-run Kashmir is expected to chose the new leader of the house in the coming days. Khan's party may face a tough contest as Sharif's backers claim they are in a position to form the government.

Nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947.
This time last year, Carbondale had zero abortion clinics. Now, this college town of fewer than 22,000 people has two  and lots of out-of-state visitors.

The majority of license plates in Choices Center for Reproductive Healths parking lot are not from Illinois, but from neighboring states: Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

A few miles away at Alamo Womens Clinic, the other clinic to open here over the past several months, an employee estimates that .0002 percent of their patients are from Illinois. Every day is crazy, says another employee. She estimates that the clinic performs about 50 abortions per day: 25 surgically, 25 with a pill.

Fridays and Saturdays are even busier. Those days are more convenient for out-of-state travel.

As nearby states have passed more and more restrictions on abortion over the past several years, the southern tip of Illinois, and Carbondale specifically, has become a hub for abortion access. And since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June, interstate health care commutes across America have skyrocketed.

In Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the court ruled that the Constitution does not grant a right to abortion, writing that the authority for regulating abortion would be returned to the people and their elected representatives in individual states.

But this simple pronouncement  in a country where people can cross state lines to get an abortion, or receive abortion pills through the mail  has led to a complicated, confusing reality, legal experts say.

A dozen states have banned abortion, with some exceptions, while even more have expanded protections, according to an analysis by the Guttmacher Institute. In many places, pregnant women and physicians alike say they are unclear about whats allowed and when exceptions apply. Moreover, the rules keep changing as new lawsuits are litigated and state legislatures debate additional measures  including trying to enforce abortion restrictions across state lines, a prospect that has paralyzed some providers even in states where abortion is legal.

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Last week, the accessibility of a popular abortion pill was thrown into doubt by two conflicting federal court decisions in the space of a few hours  a dispute that will likely go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The legal landscape is even more chaotic than it was before, says Kimberly Mutcherson, co-dean and a professor at Rutgers Law School.

The Supreme Courts desire to get out of the abortion business  its just not going to happen, she says. The web of cases and conflicting rules emerging in the wake of Dobbs arent just raising questions about abortion, but are raising fundamental questions about federalism, about the power of the federal government, and about the relationships between states.

Conflicting abortion pill rulings

The legal landscape is poised to become even more complicated, as state and federal courts wrestle with questions untested in over a century. Amid shifting state laws, federal litigation has continued, including the recent flurry of federal district court opinions concerning the use of mifepristone, a popular abortion pill.

Approved in 2000, and approved in other western countries earlier than that, mifepristone is one of the most tightly regulated prescription drugs in the country. But a federal district judge in Amarillo, Texas, last Friday temporarily paused the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDAs) decades-old approval of the drug. While the ruling didnt go as far as the plaintiffs bringing the case hoped it would  and the judge gave the Biden administration seven days to appeal before the decision goes into effect  it is a rare instance of a federal court temporarily suspending FDA approval of a drug over the objections of the agency and the manufacturer.

Simply put, FDA stonewalled judicial review  until now, wrote U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk in his ruling.

Just hours later, over 1,500 miles away, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice, in Washington, temporarily blocked the FDA from altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of mifepristone.

The litigation has returned the abortion question to federal courts less than a year after Dobbs. There are additional legal questions as well, ranging from an obscure 19th century anti-vice law to federalism and separation-of-powers concerns. Last weeks conflicting district court orders all but ensure the Supreme Court will be asked to weigh in.

In his ruling, Judge Kacsmaryk wrote that sending abortion pills through the mail violates the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that made illegal the mailing of obscene material, including anything intended for the prevention of conception or procuring of an abortion.

His interpretation echoed that put forward by Republican attorneys general in the Texas case, who also argued that the drugs availability undermined their ability to regulate abortion. The ruling also directly contradicts a nonbinding opinion last December from the U.S. Department of Justice, which said that abortion medication can be mailed if the sender lacks the intent that the drugs will be used unlawfully.

While the availability of mifepristone has not changed overnight, legal experts say, the Texas ruling in particular broke new legal ground in the realm of both reproductive and states rights.

The Texas court is using arguments around an agencys power to interpret its own statute and apply it, counter to all evidence, says Rachel Rebouche, dean of the Temple University Beasley School of Law. The ruling, she adds, deprives states of being able to regulate abortion the way they want.

Pulling mifepristone off the shelves nationwide, Democratic state attorneys general have argued, would endanger abortion access in states where the procedure is legal.

That includes states like Illinois, says Danika Severino Wynn, VP of abortion access at Planned Parenthood. Mifepristone has been used by more than 5 million people, she notes, and over half of all abortions performed in the country are done with medication, not surgery. Providers would still try to give patients options for care with a similar drug, misoprostol; however experts say this drug is not as effective when used on its own.

We know [mifepristone] is safe, says Ms. Severino Wynn, who is also a midwife by training.

And in states like Illinois, where clinics located near the borders of abortion-restrictive states already have high wait times, those wait times will go up even more if access to mifepristone is restricted, she adds. This will have ripple effects.

A town divided

Six months after the Alamo Womens Clinic opened its doors in Carbondale, theres still no sign on the building.

Employees tried to buy a sign shortly after moving their clinic almost 1,000 miles north from San Antonio, Texas, where the name Alamo is far more apt. But when the sign-maker learned that the clinic provided abortions, the company refused Alamos business. Now, the clinic plans to stay signless for the time being. Patients tell them they like the anonymity, and its helped discourage protesters, who often encircle abortion providers.

Not surprisingly, Carbondales emerging identity as an abortion haven has split the town.

I think its a good thing, says Amber Segler, working behind the counter at a local vegetarian restaurant. I like that were becoming a safe space for women. I like that about my community.

Other residents, however, have watched the changes with mounting dismay.

For the majority of people in this area, it really is appalling that its taking place here, says Pastor Mark Surburg, from inside his office at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in nearby Marion, where illustrations of fetus development hang in the hallway. Mr. Surburg has been a leader of the areas opposition efforts through the Southern Illinois Pro-Life Alliance, a group of about 50 churches in the area who joined together to coordinate sidewalk counseling outside the new clinics.

Illinois, through its legislation, has sort of sought to make itself the death capital of the Midwest, says Mr. Surburg, who keeps a stack of fact sheets on the Illinois Reproductive Health Act in his office to distribute to reporters.

This act, which was signed into law by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker in June 2019, grants residents the fundamental right to abortion care. In January Governor Pritzker signed a follow-up piece of legislation, HB4664, which protects women traveling to Illinois for abortions from other states.

The Dobbs decision brought a lot of momentum, sadly, for the other side, says Brian Westbrook, executive director of the St. Louis-based nonprofit Coalition Life. The Supreme Court ruling changes the landscape, he adds. Now we fight the battles state by state.

In a concurring opinion in Dobbs, Justice Brett Kavanaugh forecast some of the legal turmoil now playing out at the state level. Specifically, he wrote that the constitutional right to interstate travel would allow a woman to travel to another state to obtain a legal abortion.

That question is very much on the minds of abortion-protective and abortion-restrictive states. Since Dobbs, 10 states have enacted shield laws that protect, to varying degrees, in-state providers and out-of-state patients from prosecution by other states. In April, Idaho became the first state to implement a so-called abortion trafficking bill.

The law doesnt explicitly criminalize leaving the state to obtain an abortion, but it does prescribe a two- to five-year prison sentence for any adult who tries to help a minor obtain an abortion without their parents consent. This would penalize adult friends or relatives who help a minor travel out of state, or even if they travel out of state to buy abortion medication to bring back.

What we want to make sure of is that parents are the ones who are in charge of their children. Parents are the ones who need to be involved in helping to make these decisions, Barbara Ehardt, a Republican state representative who sponsored the law, told HuffPost in March.

Reproductive rights groups have promised a legal battle over the Idaho law. This kind of law is untested, and possibly unprecedented, legal experts say. One possible analogy is the fugitive slave laws of 1793 and 1850, which required all states, including abolitionist ones, to return runaway slaves to their owners. That was a federal law, however, and it has typically been federal law enforcement that has prosecuted criminal acts across state lines.

Right now the understanding between states is we want to respect the rules in your jurisdiction, says Professor Mutcherson at Rutgers. But once we start going down a path where [states] want to pick and choose what rules were going to respect, and theres no federal constitutional hook to keep people in basically the same realm, then you do start to worry.

Waiting for legal clarity has had its own impact, however. With so much uncertainty around the future of mifepristone  and in the abortion landscape more generally, such as the untested questions around interstate enforcement  chilling effects have become widespread.

Walgreens announced in early March that it wouldnt distribute abortion medication in any state due to complexity around this issue, for example, Politico reported. (In January the FDA expanded the availability of abortion pills to include retail pharmacies for the first time.) And physicians, many of whom are licensed in multiple states, have been concerned about possibly having their licenses revoked for providing abortion care in a state where its legal for a patient from a state where it isnt.

Typically if a physicians license is revoked or suspended in one state, other states where the physician is also licensed will be notified. This could be a catalyst for the physicians license to be revoked or suspended in these other states even though the physician has acted within the law, says Joanne Rosen, a senior lecturer at Johns Hopkins University. Its really introduced a chilling effect on physicians who are licensed in other states and fear that being initiated against them.

Perhaps the most dangerous legal confusion has been reported in states with strict abortion bans, however, where exceptions to the ban  often to preserve the life of the mother  have been unclear to the physician, the patient, or both. In Texas, for example, five women who say they were denied denied medically necessary abortions have filed a lawsuit asking the state to clarify when the procedure is medically permissible.

Without that clarity what we have been seeing, and rightly so, is people have been being extremely cautious, says Professor Mutcherson.

State legislators havent stepped in to clarify what their medical exceptions mean, she adds. What I dont want is for someone to have to die before we figure these things out.

Henry Gass reported from Austin, Texas; Story Hinckley from Carbondale, Illinois.

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President Biden receives a COVID-19 booster shot at the White House in October 2022. (Tom Brenner for the Washington Post via Getty Images)

The White House announced last month that the COVID-19 public health emergency, or PHE, declared by the Trump administration at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 will end on May 11. And while some Americans may incur extra costs as COVID-related expenses shift away from the federal government, theres one group, experts say, that will likely inherit the biggest burden.

What did the COVID public health emergency declaration do?

Many of the emergency declarations really had to do with trying to adjust our systems overall in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, told Yahoo News. Allowing more virtual medical visits is one example. Another example would be providing free testing for individuals who don't have health insurance. A third example would be providing vaccines at no cost. Another example would be providing treatment for COVID-19 at no cost.

Keon Gilbert, a Brookings Institution fellow and associate professor at Saint Louis Universitys College for Public Health and Social Justice, explained that the PHE enabled different agencies to move through processes a bit faster so everyone could get access to COVID-related screening tools and treatments more easily.

As people began to lose their employment or became underemployed, as hours were cut back the longer that the pandemic carried on, [the PHE] allowed people, especially in states that expanded Medicaid, to get health care insurance and health care coverage through the Medicaid pathway, he explained.

Who will likely be impacted the most?

Gilbert said those most affected by the conclusion of the PHE will definitely [be] people who don't have insurance  a prediction that El-Sadr agrees with.

Often, it's the most vulnerable individuals in society that end up being the ones who are left behind. This includes, largely, the uninsured [and] people who are undocumented, she said. Often it is the most vulnerable people in society that will bear the brunt of gaps in services.

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El-Sadr cautioned that while the uninsured will probably encounter the most obstacles, we dont know all the details yet, and more information should be available as we get closer to May 11. But in all likelihood, the safety net provided by federally funded testing kits, vaccines and treatments will eventually fall away.

Thanks to policies put in place during the pandemic to protect those who lost their job or income, the number of uninsured people in the U.S. decreased by nearly 1.5 million in 2021, to a total of 27.5 million, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

But expiration of the PHE could mean an uptick in uninsured people as Medicaids continuous enrollment provision comes to an end.

When it was declared, [the PHE] allowed states to enroll a lot of people on Medicaid so that they would have insurance. Millions of people will get disenrolled over time when the PHE ends, Gilbert explained. Some of those people may have already secured employment with health benefits, so they'll be OK for the most part. It's really the people that remain unemployed or underemployed that will be the most affected.

Also, we have to realize that there are still millions of people who are experiencing long COVID symptoms, and some of them maybe have not gone back to work full time. Some of them may still be completely unemployed. And so depending on their particular employment status, they may also be greatly affected by this as well.

According to an analysis released by the Department of Health and Human Services, children and young adults will be impacted disproportionately, with 5.3 million children and 4.7 million adults ages 18-34 predicted to lose Medicaid/CHIP [Childrens Health Insurance Program] coverage. Latino and Black individuals make up nearly a third of those predicted to lose coverage.

A nurse prepares a COVID booster shot in Los Angeles in December. (Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

What could change for uninsured people?

As long as the U.S.s substantial federal stockpile of vaccines lasts, COVID primary and booster shots will, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, continue to be free for everyone regardless of insurance coverage, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The availability and cost of COVID vaccines is determined by the supply of federally purchased vaccines, not by the PHE. But once that supply runs out, vaccine costs may become a barrier for uninsured and underinsured adults, says Kaiser. As early as this fall, the U.S. government plans to stop purchasing COVID vaccines, and vaccine manufacturers will sell them to health care providers at a higher cost  which uninsured individuals may have to pay out of pocket.

For uninsured children, Gilbert said, vaccines may be available at a very low cost or no cost. The federally funded Vaccines for Children program, for example, has been around since long before COVID and provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention buying shots at a discounted rate to distribute to registered providers with the program.

But for uninsured adults, Gilbert said, it's going to be a little bit more tricky.

Hopefully, federally qualified health care centers and other places will be able to offer people both COVID tests and COVID vaccines, either at a very low cost or free, even though they don't have insurance, he said.

For COVID-19 testing, uninsured people in many states have already had to pay out of pocket for PCR tests, the median cost of which is $127 per test, unless they got tested at a free clinic or community health center. A Medicaid coverage option adopted by 15 states, which allowed uninsured people access to testing services with no cost sharing, will expire with the PHE.

Health and Human Services says that pending resource availability, the CDCs Increasing Community Access to Testing program will continue working to ensure continued equitable access to testing for uninsured individuals and areas of high social vulnerability through pharmacies and community-based sites.

The U.S. government also may continue to distribute free tests from the national stockpile while supplies last. But access to free at-home COVID testing kits through a government website will likely cease once those supplies have been used up.

It seems like the free testing will come to an end, unless certain clinics will offer free tests, Gilbert said. I imagine for some people, especially the older population and families with children, they may stock up on some of the free tests to help them get through several more months.

COVID treatments such as Paxlovid, an antiviral therapy that can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death, will also continue to be free as long as the federal supply lasts, but uninsured patients may need to start footing the bill once that supply runs out. As with vaccines, the cost and availability of Paxlovid are contingent on federal supply and not on the PHE, Kaiser explains. Last year the U.S. government purchased 20 million courses of Paxlovid from Pfizer at a discounted rate of $530 each.

Are we ready?

While Gilbert said there are very mixed feelings about the end of the PHE, public health experts do acknowledge that weve entered a new phase in the pandemic.

I think we recognize that we are in a different place with COVID-19 versus where we were in early 2020, or even early 2021, El-Sadr said. We know a lot more about the virus itself and about how to diagnose and manage COVID-19. We're in a very different place, which means that there's reason to adjust to the moment.

Although the PHE is ending on May 11, Gilbert said a lot of changes shouldnt happen overnight.

It's still going to take several months for the policy to take effect, he explained. Those that are going to be disenrolled [from Medicaid] won't be disenrolled immediately. They have to be given some time and a notice date for when their Medicaid benefits will end.

Hopefully that gives people many, many months to be able to prepare for whatever new change or new costs they will incur. So I guess that's sort of one positive piece  that everything won't happen immediately.

But the sunsetting of the PHE also calls attention to non-COVID-related gaps in U.S. health care.

I think one of the challenges, just broadly, is that we still don't have a very clear and clean public health infrastructure that allows people to feel that even though this particular declaration is ending, that there are plenty of safeguards, Gilbert said. So I think what becomes important is that public health agencies like the CDC and state, county and local health departments communicate what role they will play in making sure that people continue to not only remain safe and prevent COVID, but also that there are opportunities and structures in place for them to access many of these preventative health services as well.

El-Sadr pointed out that the PHE brought about some changes that were welcomed particularly by some of the more vulnerable members of society  such as access to virtual medical visits, making health care more available to the elderly. Understanding the broader consequences of ending what some would consider desirable changes to health care, she said, will be important as we move into a post-PHE era.

I realize we're in a different place, El-Sadr said, but at the same time we have to very carefully examine what are the implications of rescinding the public health emergency in terms of access to COVID-related services and treatments and vaccines  and also in terms of access to health services overall.
(Bloomberg) -- Divisions are growing within Australias main opposition party over its decision to vote against Indigenous recognition in an upcoming national referendum after a key lawmaker quit the shadow cabinet.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Shadow attorney general Julian Leeser, whos also the center-right Liberal Partys representative for Indigenous affairs, told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday that he was quitting the partys front bench. He cited leader Peter Duttons decision last week to campaign against the so-called Voice to Parliament.

Australians will vote before December on whether to create a new advisory body to the nations lawmakers, which will be composed of Indigenous Australians. It would see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders included in the constitution for the first time.

Leeser has long been an advocate for the advisory body and now plans to campaign for the yes vote. Ken Wyatt, who was minister for Indigenous Affairs when the Liberals were last in government, and the nations first minister of First Nations heritage, last week quit the party following Duttons announcement.

I believe that better policy is made when the people who are affected by it are consulted on it, Leeser said on Tuesday.

What to Know About Australias Indigenous Voice to Parliament Vote

Public polling currently shows Australians are narrowly in favor of the Voice, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made it a major part of his policy platform. Indigenous Australians have some of the worst health and education outcomes in the country, are more likely to be imprisoned, leave school early and die young.

Dutton last week said that he didnt believe the Voice advisory body would have a practical impact on the lives of Indigenous Australians.

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DONETSK OBLAST  Climbing to a firing position through trenches dug into black Ukrainian soil, the relative quiet in the air is only reassuring to an extent.

At the most forward point, a Soviet-era recoilless rifle stands watch, dug into a shallow depression in the ground.

Bohdan, a company commander of Ukraines 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, rests casually in the dirt on one side by the weapon. Compared to a deep, narrow trench, the choice of location provides little protection.

Around 500 meters to the left, a line of poplar trees on the ridge opposite marks the nearest Russian positions.

You can stick your head up and have a good look at them, Bohdan said, just not for too long.

To the right, a washed-out landscape of no mans land opens, where neither side holds the high ground, and understanding where the trenches run is more of a challenge. In the distance, a faulty shell bursts in the air, sending a trail of smoke slowly falling to the ground.

Bohdan points out settlements on the horizon, the names of which are not disclosed here to protect the location of the unit. One town across the valley, marked by a proud cement plant rising among the houses is now occupied, he said, while another further to the right remains under Ukrainian control.

Ukrainian company commander Bohdan crouches at a firing position on the frontline in Donetsk Oblast, on March 23, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)

A reserved man in his early thirties who prefers not to speak to the press himself, Bohdan agreed to bring the Kyiv Independent to this zero-line position in a rare period of calm, to speak to the infantrymen of his unit.

Located somewhere north of the destroyed salt-mining town of Soledar, these positions are, in theory, some of the most vulnerable of the Ukrainian lines in Donbas, containing one flank of the bulge in the map where Russian forces have made their greatest gains since summer last year.

Here, battles are fought at close quarters, as Russian forces, primarily those of the notorious Wagner paramilitary group, mount daily assaults on Ukrainian lines in an effort to overrun the northern flank of the Ukrainian stronghold of Bakhmut, around 20 kilometers to the south, and push deeper into Donetsk Oblast.

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You cant see them from here, said Bohdan, a native of Kryvyi Rih who has served in Ukraines Armed Forces since long before the full-scale invasion, but there are dozens of their (Russian) bodies rotting in these fields.

High Russian casualty figures aside, Ukrainian units in this sector, including the 10th, have suffered high attrition rates of their own.

Against all odds, the infantry positioned here have held firm: the front line in their sector hasnt moved since the end of winter.

With the loss of Soledar, Ukrainian positions in Bakhmut jeopardized The dramatic fight for Soledar, part of the Battle of Bakhmut, is over  although Ukraines leadership is still reluctant to acknowledge the loss. As a result of a localized offensive operation in January, Russian forces managed to gnaw through Ukrainian defenses and, after fierce urban fighting, s Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko

Endless storm

The drive to the 10th Brigades positions from the larger city of Sloviansk is a long one, across dirt roads and through tiny villages, as the larger highways in this area were cut off by Russian gains over the winter.

In this in-between zone, the war has at once both arrived and remained in the distance so far.

While diggers carve new trench lines into the high ground, local farmers continue to herd cows and drive their tractors among columns of military vehicles.

As the world fixated on Russian forces assault on Bakhmut, the battles that would arguably prove more decisive for this phase of the war took place further north of the city.

Having taken the nearby village of Yakovlivka around Christmas, Wagner troops quickly stormed Soledar in mid-January, from where they soon reached within fire control range over the last Ukrainian-controlled roads into the fortress city of Bakhmut.

Speaking off the record, several servicemen of the 10th Brigade said that they believed that their rotation from positions near Yakovlivka were at least partly responsible for the fall of Soledar, as the brigades replacing them failed to hold the same lines.

Founded in 2015, the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade is one of Ukraines most celebrated, with its servicemen known for undergoing intense physical fitness training in the Carpathian Mountains in the countrys west.

On Feb. 14 this year, President Volodymyr Zelensky officially granted the brigade the honorific Edelweiss after the alpine flower.

In a dugout just behind the hill from the recoilless rifle position, the infantrymen shelter underground, waiting for the enemys next move.

School childrens drawings share the insulated walls of their home with military jackets, one of which has been torn up by shrapnel from a recent mortar hit.

The situation is tense, said 30-year-old Oleksandr Rashchupkin to the Kyiv Independent, they shell us constantly, over 100 times a day, and they crawl forward 24/7.

First they creep through in groups of 3-4 people. Then they send more people and try to surround us on the flanks, to look for our weak points and come at us from the rear.

With eight soldiers huddled together in the cramped space, the interview with Rashchupkin quickly becomes a round-table discussion.

If only we had more drones we would do our work a lot better, came the excited voice of Roman, a 29-year-old infantryman in a beige woolen sweater who goes by the callsign Lysyi (Bald).

Eyes in the sky are everything, he said.

When we have drones with thermal vision, it's great, the commanders can see what is happening and plan our orders precisely to counter the enemy, but without them it's harder, nobody can see what's going on at night.

Ukraininan infantryman Lysyi (L) and a comrade on a bed inside a dugout on the front line in Donetsk Oblast, on March 23, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)

Since late autumn, Russian assaults in and around Bakhmut have been characterized by the unique tactics of Wagner, which has used tens of thousands of men from Russias prison system to creep forward without regard for high casualties.

According to military expert Rob Lee, some Wagner units operate only at night to keep up constant pressure on Ukrainian defenders.

We call them single-use soldiers, said Rashchupkin, they can fight with quantity only.

They attack in three lines: if the first line retreats, they'll be shot by the second, if the second (retreats), they'll be shot by the third, and so on.

Facing off against the assaults at close range, many infantrymen claim that the Wagner assault squads are given drugs, perhaps amphetamines, to enhance their performance on the battlefield.

I dont know what it is, but they are definitely given something, said Lysyi.

Ive seen soldiers take heavy shrapnel wounds to the leg, even 30 rifle rounds to the body, and still refuse to go down.

So far, although other media outlets have reported similar claims from Ukrainian soldiers, there has been no independent verification of such widespread drug use.

The soldiers report that recently, Wagner units in the area have also been completed by Russian proxy forces from occupied Luhansk Oblast, as well as Chechen fighters more commonly known as Kadyrovites.

On April 11, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said that both flanks of the Russian offensive on Bakhmut, including the sector currently held by the 10th Brigade, had been handed over to forces of the Russian defense ministry.

Thank god, we have our bravery, we have our fighting spirit, and it's not working out for them, said Rashchupkin. It's hard but we have no choice, because we are fighting for everything that we have."

Asked about the hardest moments in the life of an infantryman, Rashchupkin answers first: During battle, of course.

Oleksandr Niniovskyi, a 23-year-old infantryman sitting opposite Rashchupkin, disagrees.

The hardest part is taking out the bodies of your friends, he said. The others in the dugout murmur in concord.

It can be just five minutes between when you are sitting and chatting with someone, and when you have to cover his body and put it in the truck, Rashchupkin added.

Russias key attack force, Wagner Group, embroiled in conflict with regular army The battle for Bakhmut has revealed a decade-long covert conflict in Russias Armed Forces. On one side, there is the regular Russian military. On the other side, Wagner Group, Russias most high-profile mercenary outfit. Wagner was founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a confidante of Russian President V Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

First point of call

Half an hours drive from the zero line, an unassuming village house marks an important landmark for those unfortunate enough to need to visit it.

Here, a small team of the brigades medics operate a so-called stabilization point, where wounded soldiers are brought from the front line to receive essential treatment before being taken onwards to larger military hospitals in the rear.

The purpose of the building is clear from the outside.

Half a dozen old army stretchers stand stacked up against the front fence, while a leafless grapevine nearby is adorned with used tourniquets.

Up by the neighboring wall, a makeshift covered area that looks like it could have once housed livestock has in fact been purpose-built, as a temporary morgue.

Boots, jackets, and a blood-stained helmet are scattered around the empty shack, and in the corner, a small table hosts a small collection of playing cards, pocket knives and single-use vapes that belonged to the dead that came through here.

Small arms fire cracks in the background as another Ukrainian unit holds some light target practice into the hillside behind the house.

Incoming artillery fire is rare further back from the zero line; the medics here are listening out for something else.

Were always waiting for the sound of cars, said Oleksandr Prymachenko, a 29-year-old native of Borodianka in Kyiv Oblast.

Theres always a sigh of relief when you hear them come, come, and then keep driving by.

Escaping across fields and dirt roads, Prymachenko barely managed to evacuate his family from Borodianka before Russian forces swept through the city with destructive force in the first days of the full-scale invasion.

Having reached safety, Prymachenko joined Edelweiss in Ivano-Frankivsk, a city in western Ukraine, where he spent nine months working as an instructor of combat medicine without ever practicing it himself, before finally being sent to Donbas in January.

Join our community Support Ukraine's independent journalism in its darkest hour Support Us

With the sun beginning to set and no wounded brought in yet, the medics mill around the entrance of the house, smoking.

Work usually begins in the evening, as Wagner troops increasingly direct their assaults under cover of darkness, taking advantage of the shortage of thermal vision equipment among Ukrainian units.

Often there is no chance to sleep at all at night, said Prymachenko. It's like a conveyor belt, they just keep coming and coming.

Even if wounds are suffered during the day, evacuating them immediately during battle is often impossible.

Sometimes they don't get a chance to give any proper first aid in the field, Prymachenko said.

One time a pickup truck arrived, one wounded soldier was in the back seat, and another was in the back (cargo bed), together with a dead soldier. No one had any tourniquet on or anything, they couldnt say who was more heavily wounded, they had no idea what was going on.

The interview with Prymachenko is interrupted as a van pulls up at the house from the direction of the front line. The team kicks into action, ready to receive what has come their way.

A 200, one of the medics says without emotion, immediately upon spotting the end of a long white body bag through the window of the van.

With the number comes a collective exhalation: a 200, military code for a dead soldier, is a routine occurrence here, and does not demand the urgency required for the wounded.

The team moves the bag, with the soldiers military ID taped prominently on the outside, from one car to another, and sends it on its way.

Ukrainian medics retrieve the body of a fallen soldier from a van near the front line in Donetsk Oblast, on March 23, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)

The number of dead and wounded that pass through the stabilization point depends on the nature of the fighting at any given time, but not a day has passed without work.

It comes in waves, said Taras Harasym, a 36-year-old medic who worked as a dentist before the war, but has served in the 10th Brigade since the earliest days of the war, when it fought near Malyn in Zhytomyr Oblast during the Battle of Kyiv.

Sometimes there are periods when there are many many wounded, up to 50-60 per day, sometimes there are not even 10.

With the sheer volume of pain that comes through their doors, the medics force themselves not to let emotions get in the way of their work.

I was worried at the start, I didn't know how I would handle seeing dismembered limbs, seeing people die in front of me, said Prymachenko.

Then you realize the most important thing is not to think, not to think about the fact that this is someone's son, husband, or father.

I work, then I cry: Exhausted medics near Bakhmut fight for every life Editors note: In this story, the Kyiv Independent is not disclosing the Ukrainian soldiers full names or their deployed positions due to security concerns amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Donetsk Oblast  At an abandoned building about 20 minutes drive from Bakhmut, wounded Ukrainian soldiers pou Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Tired but resolute

As difficult as the conditions are now for the 10th Brigade, every chance remains that the next few months of fighting in the spring will be even more challenging.

If Ukrainian troops eventually make a controlled withdrawal from Bakhmut, the odds are high that Russia will refocus its attacks to the north of the city.

Civilians around here say if Bakhmut falls, the road is open to Kramatorsk, to Sloviansk, that that could be it for all of Donetsk Oblast, Harasym said.

As spring enters its latter half, Ukraine and its partners eagerly await a much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive, which hopes to achieve a strategic breakthrough and decisively shift the wars momentum back in Kyivs favor.

In the Bakhmut sector, the momentum has been Russias.

A localized Ukrainian attack in the area could do a lot to reverse Russian gains over the winter and relieve pressure on the units fighting here, but the resources needed for such an operation continue to be held back, as analysts expect the most likely axis of a future Ukrainian counteroffensive to be further south.

We are waiting and hoping for a Ukrainian counterattack, so we can finally go home, said Rashchupkin.

We hope it will happen all over the front, he added, before Niniovskyi interrupted with a more sober view.

Well, it would be good to see some big success in at least one direction.

Bakhmut-bound infantry assault troops: We are holding on, ready for any scenario Editors note: The Kyiv Independent is not revealing the soldiers full names or the exact location of their deployment due to security concerns amid the ongoing war. Donetsk Oblast  Just a few dozen kilometers from Bakhmut, Ukrainian infantry train to ready themselves for brutal days ahead. Near Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

In the meantime, the soldiers hold out hope for something else they long havent seen in the area: the chance for a rest.

We could use a bit of rotation, said Niniovskyi quietly.

Our brigade has been in Donetsk Oblast since May 25 without leave.

Until then, the men have no doubt in their ability to continue to follow whatever orders they are given.

We have our legal borders and we will hold them, Rashchupkin said.

They are drawn on the map in blood, so much has already been lost for them.

Ukrainian infantrymen of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade stand to receive awards from local authorities on the front line in Donetsk Oblast, on March 23, 2023. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)

Taking advantage of the relative quiet, Bohdan calls his men out of the dugout for a special occasion.

Rashchupkin, Lysyi, Niniovskyi and the others stand in line as, one by one, their commander presents them with awards from the local administration in Kolomyia in the Carpathian foothills, where the 10th is based.

All of the guys out there are heroes, every one of them, what they go through is beyond belief, said Prymachenko at the stabilization point.

The absolute worst thing, the greatest injustice, is that we are losing our best people, and on their side, it's all kinds of trash.

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Francis Farrell, who wrote this piece from front lines just a few hundred meters from Russian positions, where rank-and-file infantry are holding the line in conditions of unimaginable physical and mental hardship. With the campaigns over 2023 looking to be decisive for the long-term course of the war, it's vital that the world keeps paying attention. Please consider supporting our reporting.


On Wed., Apr. 5, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office arrested Breion Brown for making a false official statement in violation of Florida state law.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Investigators developed probable cause for Browns arrest after he filed an administrative complain alleging that a JSO officer used excessive force and illegally searched him during a traffic stop.

In this complaint, Brown made several allegations, to include, that the officer pulled him out of his rental car by the neck and choked him with his cars seat belt. Brown was initially pulled over for failure to wear a seat belt. Brown was also found to be driving on a suspended license.

Brown signed the official complaint stating that the information he had provided was true and accurate. The standard complaint form used by Brown included words indicating that anyone knowingly making a false statement in writing with the intent to mislead a public servant in the performance of their duty will be subject to criminal prosecution.

Read: Censorship? Disinformation? Defining some key terms in the social media debate

JSO immediately began an Internal Affairs investigation into the officers reported actions. Body camera footage worn by the officer during the traffic stop was reviewed. As a result, investigators discovered that Browns allegations were false. Through the review of the body camera footage, investigators failed to discover any criminal or policy violations having been committed by the officer.

Detectives with the Integrity and Special Investigations Unit began a criminal investigation on Brown.

Brown told investigators in an interview that the allegations made in his complaint were accurate and truthful. Through careful review of the officers body camera footage, Browns complaint, and his interview, detectives developed probable cause for Browns arrest.

Brown was located and arrested from the warrant issued and faces criminal prosecution by the State Attorneys Office.

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Sheriff T.K. Waters had this to say about Browns subsequent arrest:

As law enforcement, we have a duty to investigate all allegations of wrongdoing and ensure that justice is served. Our officers are held to the highest standards of professionalism and accountability, and we take complaints of misconduct seriously. However, it is equally important to hold those who file blatantly false complaints against our officers accountable. By taking decisive action in this case, we are sending a clear message that victimizing our officers in order to push an agenda will not be tolerated. We remain committed to serving our community with integrity, transparency, and respect, and we will continue to work tirelessly to maintain the trust and confidence of our citizens.

Watch FOX30 and CBS47 at 10 and 11 p.m. for full coverage of this story and more.
Terns, like these Sandwich terns, embrace an abundance of small fish to feed on close to Hodbarrow

Conservation work to improve the habitat of migrating seabirds has resulted in a "flourishing" colony at one site, the RSPB has said.

The highest numbers of some birds for 40 years are now being seen at RSPB Hodbarrow on the South Cumbrian coast.

Little tern numbers have doubled to 42 breeding pairs, there are 56 pairs of common terns and nesting eiders have risen from six to 52 pairs.

The work has created a new island secured by anti-predator fencing.

The new island (on left) is intended to provide the perfect nesting site for birds like terns

The site near Millom is a coastal freshwater lagoon surrounded by a sea wall built in the 1890s when the former iron mine was at its peak.

Slag waste from the process which was dumped along the sea wall provides the ideal breeding grounds for the beach-nesting birds as it is sheltered from the tide.

Work funded by the EU started in 2021, to move limestone slag and create a new island, increasing nesting space.

Work has been carried out to create a new island for birds to nest away from predators

Throughout spring seabirds and waders like oystercatchers and ringed plovers start to make their journey back to the site after wintering off the coast of Africa.

Already protected by an in-water fence to keep out predators such as foxes, it is hoped the additional space will reduce competition among the species.

Site manager Dave Blackledge said: "The RSPB, with partners, is providing a network of safe places for seabirds to rest, breed and feed and the story doesn't just end with the breeding season, birds need space on our beaches no matter what time of year.

"We're delighted the tern colony here in Cumbria is now flourishing thanks to our conservation efforts."

Volunteers at Hodbarrow have been helping to protect little terns so they can raise their chicks safely

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
Customers at a restaurant ducked for cover as a patron whod been kicked out returned and started shooting through the front doors, according to Florida police.

The 28-year-old patron had been asked to leave The Back Porch in Longwood just before 11:15 p.m. on April 9 after he began to bother several patrons, according to an arrest affidavit from the Seminole County Sheriffs Office.

The man walked out of the establishment and moments later returned and started shooting through the front door, the affidavit says. He fired numerous rounds in the direction of customers at the bar, according to the affidavit.

The gunfire caused the customers to fear for their lives and begin to hide and take cover inside the establishment, the affidavit says.

Deputies responded to the area of the restaurant and found Christopher Wesley Nordick walking at an intersection about one mile away with a .45-caliber Glock 30S handgun - a pistol that can hold 10 rounds of ammunition, the affidavit says.

Crime scene investigators found 10 spent .45-caliber shell cases at the restaurant, according to the affidavit.

Nordick was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, shooting into an occupied structure, carrying a concealed firearm without a license and attempted homicide without premeditation, the affidavit says.

He is being held without bond, according to a spokesman for the sheriffs office.

Longwood is about 15 miles north of Orlando.

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The Dalai Lama is facing widespread criticism after a video of him kissing a child on the lips at a Buddhist event went viral, prompting him to issue an apology.

The video showed the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism kissing the boy on his lips as he came forward to pay his respects.

The Dalai Lama can be heard saying in the video can you suck my tongue and sticking out his tongue.

In a statement on Monday, the Dalai Lamas office said he regrets the incident.

The Dalai Lama often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, the statement said.

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.

This is, however, not the first time the spiritual leader has faced backlash for his comments.

Heres a look at all his past controversial comments:

If a female [successor] does come her face should be very, very attractive

In a 2015 interview with the BBC, the faith leader had said: I think female[s] should take more important role and then  I told the reporter  if a female does come her face should be very, very attractive.

His comments came while recalling remarks made a decade earlier to a French journalist that there must be a female Dalai Lama because, he claimed, women had a greater biological capacity to show affection... compassion.

Female successor needs to be very, very attractive

In an interview with the broadcaster in 2019, the Dalai Lama reiterated his 2015 comments that a female successor would need to be very, very attractive, as otherwise she would be of not much use.

If female Dalai Lama comes, then she should be more attractive, he had said.

The spiritual leader was asked whether his statement could be seen as objectifying women and whether taking on the mantle of the Dalai Lama should be about who a person is on the inside.

Yes, I think both, he had replied.

His office had later issued a statement offering an apology for the remarks.

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His Holiness genuinely meant no offence. He is deeply sorry that people have been hurt by what he said and offers his sincere apologies, the statement said.

Trump lacks moral principle

Also in the 2019 interview with the BBC, the spiritual leader criticised former US president Donald Trump for his lack of moral principle over the US administrations treatment of young children at the US-Mexico border.

When I saw pictures of some of those young children, I was sad, he said.

America... should take a global responsibility.

Jawaharlal Nehrus self-centred attitude

In 2018, the Dalai Lama stoked another controversy after he said that India and Pakistan would have stayed united after the end of British colonial rule if not for the self-centred attitude of the countrys first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Jawaharlal Nehrus self-centred attitude was the reason why Muhammad Ali Jinnah could not be appointed the prime minister of India, he said.

His office later apologised for the comment.

Europe belongs to Europeans

In 2018, the Dalai Lama had sparked anger over his comments on refugees in Europe.

Receive them, help them, educate them... but ultimately they should develop their own country, he had said when speaking about refugees.

I think Europe belongs to the Europeans.

The Dalai Lama is considered by Buddhists as the manifestation of the Buddha or Bodhisattva who choose to reincarnate to serve others.

The current Dalai Lama has lived in India since his self-imposed exile from Tibet after the arrival of Chinese troops in 1959.

In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace.
The Dalai Lama has been defended by his supporters online after a video showed him kissing a boy on the lips and asking him to suck his tongue, with some arguing that the exchange can be partly explained by Tibetan culture.

The leader of Tibetan Buddhism did not make any reference to Tibetan traditions in his own statement after the incident, where he publicly apologised to the boy and his family and said he regrets the incident.

The Dalai Lama often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, the statement said.

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.

Many have criticised the Dalai Lama over the incident, which was called out in reactions online as being inappropriate and disgusting. Some commentators and victims groups have compared the spiritual leaders conduct to child abuse.

Some Tibetan activists, however, have argued that the incident is one of a joke being overblown, while others suggested the Dalai Lama was being attacked over [a] Tibetan way of expression.

At [the] Dalai Lamas temple, a child asked him if he could hug Dalai Lama & he said yes, then he asked for a kiss & Dalai Lama did a kiss, then jokingly Dalai Lama said you can suck my tongue. So that was a part of a joke or just a play with the kid, so we should not go more than that, said Dawa Tsering, a member of the Tibetan Parliament In Exile which, like the Dalai Lama himself, is based in Dharamshala, India.

Expression of emotions and manners today has been melted together and become vividly westernised, Namdol Lhagyari, a Tibetan activist in exile, wrote on Twitter. Bringing in narrative of other cultures, customs and social influence on gender and sexuality to interpret Tibetan way of expression is heinous.

What is the Tibetan culture of tongue greetings?

Sticking out your tongue is traditionally a sign of respect or agreement and has also been used as a greeting in Tibetan culture, according to the Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

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Perhaps the most famous Western cultural reference to this tradition comes in the film Seven Years in Tibet starring Brad Pitt, where Pitts character encounters a group of children who stick out their tongues at him. The film offers no further explanation of their actions.

According to Tibetan folklore, people in the Buddhist culture began sticking out their tongue to disassociate themselves from the 9th century Tibetan king Lang Darma, who was infamous for his cruelty and was said to have had a black tongue.

As Buddhists believe in reincarnation after death, the tradition is said to have emerged as a way for people to show they were not the king reincarnated and therefore not to be associated with his evil deeds.

However, there is no mention in either this folklore or the broader traditional greeting of sucking the tongue.

What does the video show?

The video that has been widely circulated on social media shows the Dalai Lama kissing a young Indian boy on his lips after he came forward to pay his respects. The Dalai Lamas statement claims the boy voluntarily stepped forward during a public question and answer session where he had asked if he could hug the spiritual leader.

After holding the boys chin and kissing him, the Dalai Lama touches foreheads with the boy and then can be heard saying, in English, can you suck my tongue. He then sticks out his tongue as the boy leans forward briefly.

Child rights activist Shola Mos-Shogbamimu said we should not normalise child molestation under the garb of playful behaviour with children.

This is NOT playful banter & so inappropriate to use affectionately plants kiss alongside suck my tongue. Hugs are fine not this. Dont normalise molestation of kids - dont care how revered the Dalai Lama is Im not OK with a child sucking a grown man/woman/anyones tongue, she said.

Nilanjana Bhowmick, an Indian journalist and commentator, said there is a difference between sticking out your tongue and asking a minor to suck it!
Attorneys for U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murder last week for shooting and killing a Black Lives Matter protester in July 2020, filed a motion for a new trial Tuesday, alleging that key evidence was excluded from trial and that one of the jurors researched the case on the internet during the trial.

Perry, who was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, at the time, was driving for Uber when he shot and killed Garret Foster, an Air Force veteran who was carrying an AK-47, during a protest in downtown Austin on July 25, 2020.

Prosecutors allege that Perry provoked the shooting by driving into the crowd of protesters, citing several social media posts and messages he sent in the months leading up to the shooting threatening violence against protesters.

Defense attorneys, meanwhile, argued that Foster aggressively approached Perry's vehicle with the rifle, leaving Perry no choice but to open fire with a handgun in self-defense.

A formal photo of U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry, a man seeking a pardon after being convicted of murdering a protestor in July 2020.

Attorneys for Perry argued in the motion for a new trial that excluded evidence shows Foster was "the first aggressor" and had a history of scaring "other drivers who he believed might interfere with his objective to 'take the streets,'" according to the court filing obtained by FOX 7 Austin.

AUSTIN DA SAYS IT'S DEEPLY TROUBLING THAT TEXAS GOV ABBOTT WANTS TO PARDON ARMY SERGEANT CONVICTED OF MURDER

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Three incidents were cited as evidence that Foster had been aggressive at past protests. During one incident on July 4, 2020, Foster allegedly blocked a driver's car with his girlfriend's wheelchair as other protesters swarmed the vehicle.

The driver was "prepared to testify that Mr. Foster attempted to intimidate him and that he was terrified by Mr. Fosters actions as well as the actions of Mr. Fosters fellow protestors," according to the filing.

"These incidents show that Mr. Foster and his fellow protestors were not the intimidatees when dealing with cars on the public streets, but, rather, they were the intimidators," Perry's attorneys wrote.

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Garrett Foster, left, was shot and killed while attending a Black Lives Matter protest with an AK-47 in downtown Austin.

The jury, which found Perry guilty of murder Friday after 15 hours of deliberations, was also subject to "outside influences" that are grounds for a new trial, according to the filing. One of the jurors researched the Texas Penal Code during the trial, which could have left the jury "with a completely wrong view of the law of self-defense as it relates to the burden of proof."

FAMILY OF TEXAS BLM PROTESTER KILLED BY ARMY SERGEANT SUES SHOOTER, UBER

Perry's attorneys also took issue with an alternate juror who "was adamant that Daniel Perry was guilty" and allegedly interfered with deliberations.

"She was very vocal about her feelings. While she did not actually talk during deliberations, she did snort, huff, gasp and make other noises expressing her displeasure with juror comments that were inconsistent with finding Mr. Perry guilty," another juror wrote in the court filing. "For example, when I suggested that Mr. Perrys social media postings were taken out of context, she gasped to indicate to me and other jurors that she did not possibly understand how I or anybody else could possibly believe that."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, condemned the jury's decision Saturday, saying that he asked the pardons board to expedite their review of the case.

" 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. "I look forward to approving the Board's pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk."

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza requested a meeting with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday ahead of the panel's decision on potentially granting clemency to Perry.

"Before making any decision, I implore you to review the trial transcript, evidence from trial officials that may have an impact on public safety, and request input from the victims family as to how a pardon may impact them," Garza wrote in the letter.

A date for a sentencing hearing has not yet been set.
The lawyers for Daniel Perry, who was found guilty of the murder of armed Austin protester Garrett Foster, have filed a motion for a new trial saying evidence was excluded from the trial that could have proved he did not instigate the shooting.

Foster and other protesters routinely harassed vehicles that attempted to interfere with their efforts to "take the streets," according to the motion filed Tuesday. It also says the jury was subject to illegal outside influences, including an alternate juror who did not speak during deliberations but snorted, huffed and gasped "expressing her displeasure with juror comments that were inconsistent with finding Mr. Perry guilty."

The jury on Friday found Perry, 37, guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of Garrett Foster, 28, on July 25, 2020, during a Black Lives Matter march. Perry has not yet been sentenced but could face up to 99 years in prison. Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will grant a pardon to Perry after he gets a request for it from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Conservative commentators had urged Abbott to make the pardon.

Editorial: Abbott's plan to pardon convicted killer reeks of politics

Daniel Perry, left, walks into the courtroom with one of his lawyers, Clint Broden, at Perry's trial for the murder of Austin protester Garrett Foster

Perry's attorneys said during the trial that 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. Prosecutors also said Perry's social media posts showed he was angry at protesters.

Perry, an Army sergeant who was working as an Uber driver, ran a red light at Fourth Street and Congress Avenue and drove toward the march. He was approached by protesters, including Foster, who was carrying an AK-47 rifle. Perry told police he shot Foster out of his car window after Foster raised his rifle at him.

The evidence that was excluded from the trial included a video recording of Foster "in which he admitted that he carried his assault rifle as a means to intimidate (those) who did not share his beliefs," the motion says.

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What we know: Latest on Daniel Perry murder conviction, Abbott's talk of pardon

Garrett Foster, right, is seen with his wife Whitney Mitchell. Foster was Mitchell's full-time caretake at the time he was shot and killed on July 25, 2020.

It said the evidence that was not allowed to be admitted would have shown that Foster scared other drivers during previous protest marches. On July 4, 2020, Foster blocked a driver named Joe Sanchez by standing in front of Sanchez's car and then protesters swarmed the car, Perry's lawyer said.

On June 27, 2020, a Door Dash driver was driving past Austin police headquarters downtown when Foster tried to block the street by using his partner's wheelchair and protesters surrounded the driver's car, the motion says. It says the driver pulled a handgun and protesters backed away from his car.

Perry also was not allowed to introduce a video that showed another protester attacking the grill of a truck with a flagpole after the truck tried to turn onto a street near police headquarters on June 27, 2020. The same protester kicked Perry's car after Perry turned into the crowd of marchers on the night of the fatal shooting, Perry's lawyers said.

More: How conservatives pushed Greg Abbott toward Daniel Perry pardon in under 24 hours

Defense lawyers also said in the motion that they were not allowed to show a video recording of Foster conducted by Hiram Garcia, a prosecution witness, on the same day that Foster was killed. Garcia, who described himself in the trial as an independent videographer documenting the protests, asked Foster in the video why he was carrying an AK-47 that night. "They don't let us march in the streets anymore, so I gotta practice ... some of our rights," Foster said in the video.

Garcia then asked Foster if he felt like he needed to use the AK-47. "Nah," said Foster. "If I use it against the cops, I'm dead. I think all the people that hate us, and you know, wanna say (expletive) to us, are too big of a (expletive) to stop and actually do anything about it."

Lead detective: I didn't arrest Daniel Perry because self-defense was possibility

Garcia then asked Foster in the video why he started carrying an AK-47 gun.

"Well, my roommate got arrested and they stopped letting us march anywhere, so I started carrying," said Foster.

The prosecution argued through the trial that Perry provoked the incident, the motion said, but the evidence the defense was not allowed to introduce would have proved the protesters instigated it.

"The excluded evidence would have helped show that Foster did not approach Sgt. Perry's car to protest his fellow protesters but rather approached Sgt. Perry in an attempt to intimidate him just like he attempted to intimidate Joe Sanchez and others," the motion said.

The court also did not allow defense attorneys to present homicide detective Joe Fugitt's report that concluded the fatal shooting was justifiable homicide, the motion said. It said prosecutors had pointed out during the trial that items such as Perry's social media posts were missing from the report.

"Sgt. Perry was denied the opportunity to have jurors review the report and determine for themselves what was missing and what was included," said Perry's lawyers.

Illegal outside influence to the jury also occurred when a juror told fellow jurors a document he had printed from the internet that he claimed was taken from the Texas Penal Code said a "defendant has to prove or show" he acted in self-defense," the motion said. It said jurors are not allowed to do outside research and present it to other jurors.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Daniel Perry's lawyers say crucial evidence was excluded from trial
Elements of George Patton's Third Army confronted the human horror inflicted by Hitler's National Socialist Workers Party when American GIs entered the Buchenwald concentration camp on this day in history, April 11, 1945.

"We are told that the American soldier does not know what he is fighting for," Supreme Allied Commander U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower said after visiting another concentration camp at Ohrdruf the following day.

"Now, at least, he will know what he is fighting against."

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 10, 1970, PAUL MCCARTNEY CONFIRMS BEATLES BREAK-UP TO GLOBAL PRESS

Adolf Hitler's Germany operated thousands of camps, workhouses and ghettoes to imprison and kill Jews as part of its "final solution" during World War II.

The camps also housed and slaughtered ordinary criminals, political enemies of the Nazis, other religious minorities and many other people declared "undesirable" by party leaders.

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Soldiers of the 46th Armored Infantry, 5th Armored Division, U.S. Ninth Army, and their guide read, "THE GERMAN POLITICAL PRISONERS WELCOME THEIR AMERICAN FRIENDS," painted on the outside wall of one of the barracks of the political prisoners at the Buchenwald concentration camp, near Weimar, Germany. May 1945.

Buchenwald, near Weimar, Germany, was one of the largest and most horrific of the concentration camps.

"More than a quarter of a million people from over 50 countries had been deported to Buchenwald concentration camp or one of its satellite camps," from the time it was built in July 1937 until liberated eight years later, reports the website of the Buchenwald Memorial.

The inmates included 249,570 men and boys and 28,230 women and girls, ranging in ages from just two years old to 86.

About 56,000 people died amid horrid conditions at the camp; U.S. troops arrived to find 21,000 people still at Buchenwald, including 900 children, many of the prisoners on the brink of death.

By the order of the U.S. military authorities, the German population passed by the bodies of several hundred inmates of the Buchenwald concentration camp, which should have been evacuated to the Dachau concentration camp and which starved or had been murdered and buried by SS teams on the transport here near Nammering in Passau between April 19 and 23, 1945.

An estimated 23,000 prisoners escaped he camp, their whereabouts unknown, when Nazi guards fled in the hours before U.S. troops arrived.

"You couldnt grasp it all," Andrew Kiniry, a member of the U.S. Army 45h Evacuation Hospital, told the National World War II Museum as part of its oral history of the Holocaust.

NYC WOMAN WHOSE RELATIVES WERE KILLED IN HOLOCAUST GETS STRIPED PAJAMAS PULLED FROM SHELVES

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"I cant really describe it, to tell you how horrendous it was to see these people treated like animals. Even worse than that."

Some 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust.

Stories of Nazi atrocities reached the U.S. and its Allies in August 1942 through a remarkable document known as the Riegner Telegram.

"All Jews in countries occupied or controlled by Germany, numbering 3 to 4 million should, after deportation and concentration in the East, be at one blow exterminated," read the report, filed by Gerhart Riegner of the World Jewish Congress in Geneva, Swizerland, run by American Rabbi Stephen S. Wise.

High-angle view of Polish prisoners in striped uniforms standing in rows before Nazi officers at the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Weimar, Germany, World War II, circa 1943.

The telegram defied belief.

The U.S State Department first claimed "that the planned murder of European Jews was merely a war rumor," reports the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

WWII NAVAJO CODE TALKER TURNS 106: HOW THESE MARINES' SPECIAL LANGUAGE CHANGED MILITARY CAPABILITIES

"Yet after investigating Riegners report over the next three months, State Department officials verified the news of the Nazi regimes plan, and, according to Wise, authorized him to inform the American public."

News that 2 million Jews had already been murdered by Germany's National Socialists, and contjnued genodice was to follow, was reported in U.S. media on Nov. 25, 1942  inspiring an international outcry.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 9, 1963, SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL DECLARED HONORARY US CITIZEN: STEADFAST FRIEND'

"Jewish communities in many Allied nations held rallies and vigils, and declared Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1942, to be an international day of mourning," states the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The former commander of the notorious German Buchenwald "horror" camp is taken away in a 15th U.S. Army jeep from Reinbach prison. Germany 1945.

"The United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and nine Allied governments released a Declaration on Atrocities on Dec. 17, 1942. This declaration condemned the bloody cruelties and cold-blooded extermination of Europes Jews and vowed that the Allies would punish war criminals after the fighting stopped."

Armored units of the U.S. Third Army advanced toward the camp from the east early in the morning of April 11.

Nazi officers ordered the SS troops who ran the prison to flee around 10 a.m.

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"The International Camp Committee mobilized its resistance fighters and began to distribute hidden weapons. Around noon, the commanding SS officers fled. The guards abandoned the watchtowers," reports the Buchenwald Memorial.

"Around 2:30 p.m. the tanks of the Fourth Armored Division rolled through the SS complex without stopping. Armed inmates took control of the camp and overpowered the last remaining SS soldiers. By 4 p.m. they had taken control of the camp. Buchenwald was freed from within and without."

General Eisenhower (center) listens as a U.S. lieutenant questions a liberated slave laborer at, the German prison camp en Ohrdruf (Germany). This concentration camp was liberated on April 4, 1945.

The human atrocity witnessed by U.S. troops remains hard to fathom, even today.

"The visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty and bestiality were so overpowering as to leave me a bit sick," Eisenhower said after witnessing similar horror the Ohrdruf camp, citing one room in which 20 to 30 men who died of starvation were piled naked on top of each other.

"I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in position to give first-hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to propaganda.'"
Advances in genealogical DNA have given a name to a Jane Doe recovered more than 40 years ago along the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio, police announced last week.

Although her body had partially decomposed, Sandusky Police gauged that the corpse found on the beach near Cedar Point Road on March 30, 1980 belonged to a woman between 20 and 30 years of age.

The five-foot-tall, 120-pound victim was wearing a size 12 "disco-style" dress, according to The Detroit Free Press, but no hair, scars, jewelry or identifying items could be found on her.

RELATED: Two Arrested After Missing Colorado Mans Body Found In Condo Crawl Space

Last week, the woman was finally identified as 31-year-old Patricia Eleanor Greenwood, and police have reason to believe she was murdered, according to the local publication.

After speaking with one of Greenwood's surviving sisters, investigators believe she may have been a sex worker at the time of her death, according to Law&Crime. Born in 1948, investigators learned, she had lived at addresses throughout Michigan, including Traverse City, Bay City and Saginaw.

A photo of the disco dress found in Lake Erie

Disco Dress Photo: Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office

Although they have determined the woman's identity, police don't consider Greenwood's case closed. Now, they hope that anyone who knew her will come forward with information about her life, hoping that it could uncover a lead.

U.S. Marshals Service agents revived the Sandusky Police Department's investigation "after finding an old teletype from 1980 in another missing person's cold case file," the Free Press reported.

In 2021, the Porchlight Project, a nonprofit that funds investigative efforts and furthered media coverage in long-cold Ohio cases, offered to foot the bill for renewed DNA testing in the case.

"I believe that somewhere there is family that has been deceived and led to believe that she did not want them in her life. That is not true. She has been here, waiting for 40 years to be given a name, so that her loved ones can be located and notified," Nic Edwards, True Crime Garage podcast host and Porchlight Project board member said at the time, according to the Free Press.

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A photo of Alicia Rosa Confer

Police sent skeletal remains from the unidentified woman to Bode Technology, a DNA testing lab in Virginia that specializes in backlogged cases, according to a press release from the nonprofit. There, lab technicians were able to match the Jane Doe's DNA profile with a family that included 12 now-adult children given up for adoption across the state of Michigan.

One of the surviving brothers contacted by detectives was able to identify the "woman in the disco dress" as his sister, Patricia Greenwood. He said he had not had contact with her since around the time the Jane Doe was recovered in 1980.

Anyone who knew Patricia Greenwood is encouraged to share any details they remember with Sandusky detectives by calling 419-627-5980.

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"Being able to give Patricia Greenwood her name back is the first step in finding the justice that she so deserves," said Edwards in the non-profit's April 6 statement. "Thank you to the brilliant folks at Bode for the wonderful work that they do. Bode continues to impress and their assistances to those in law enforcement is making it more difficult for bad people to get away with bad things."

"The Sandusky Police Department never gave up on this victim even after all of these years," Edwards continued. "Now it is time for the public to come together and provide information about Patricia Greenwood to the detectives. Patricia needs your help."
Denmarks acting defense minister on Tuesday said he expects Copenhagen and its NATO allies will reach a decision on sending warplanes to Ukraine "before the summer" as concerns mount over Kyivs air defense capabilities amid the classified U.S. document leak.

The Pentagon is still scrambling to locate the source of the leaked documents that paint a grim picture of Ukraines air defenses and suggest they could be depleted by next month.

Officials have yet to authenticate the validity of the documents and it is unclear when exactly they were leaked, though some reporting has suggested images of the documents were first posted online a month ago before they become widely known of last week.

Ukrainian soldiers on the front line as they continue in the direction of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.

LEAKED PENTAGON DOCUMENTS PAINT GRIM PICTURE OF UKRAINIAN AIR DEFENSE SUPPLIES, MAY ONLY LAST A MONTH

Despite the renewed focus on Ukraine's air defenses, Western officials have been seriously considering sending combat aircraft to Ukraine for weeks.

Poland and Slovakia also broke away from top NATO players like the U.S. and said last month that they would send Kyiv Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets.

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The U.S. has remained steadfast in its public refusal to send combat aircraft to Ukraine, though Washington has capitulated several times on defensive aid to Kyiv since the war began, including earlier this year when it eventually agreed to supply Ukraine with tanks.

"Denmark will not do it alone," acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told several outlets Tuesday before adding that a decision would be reached "in the near future."

"We need to do this together with several countries. We will also have a dialogue with the Americans about this," he added.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, right, and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, center, visit the port in Odessa on April 11, 2023.

JOHN KIRBY WARNS PRESS THAT LEAKED INTELLIGENCE DOCUMENTS ARE 'NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION'

Despite pleas from Kyiv since the onslaught of the war, no modern aircraft has yet been pledged to Ukraine, though Britain in February offered to train Ukrainian pilots on combat aircraft.

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According to French news outlet Le Figaro, Denmark has more than 40 American F-16s  30 of which are active.

Copenhagen is looking to replace its fleet with 27 U.S. F-35s, which could enable it to provide Kyiv with the modern aircraft it desperately seeks.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki meet Polish soldiers ahead of a press conference, on April 5, 2023, in Warsaw, Poland.

Ukraine has some 85 fighter jets compared to Russias estimated 485, and, according to documents leaked last week, this precarious imbalance of airpower could become more dire as Ukraine is allegedly predicted to run out ammunition for its S-300 air defense systems by May 2.

These missile systems reportedly make up 89% of Ukraine's air defense capabilities, though the Pentagon has not confirmed these predictions and Kyiv has accused Russian operatives of falsifying and leaking the documents to "discredit counteroffensive ideas" and turn Western support away from Ukraine.

Fox News' Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Three years after suspending its flights between Miami and Havana amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta Air Lines has resumed daily service between the two cities.

Delta relaunched two daily nonstop flights from Miami International Airport to the Cuban capital.

The Atlanta-based airline said Monday in a prepared statement its resuming its Havana flights in line with continued strong demand. The flights use a Boeing 737-800.

Delta restarted service to Cuba in 2016 after a 55-year halt when the Obama administration allowed six U.S. airlines to begin regular commercial passenger flights to nine cities on the island, as part of a reopening of diplomatic relations with the Communist nation.

Three years later, the Trump administration rescinded the authorization in an attempt to limit cash flows to the islands repressive government, allowing U.S. flights only to Havana. In March 2020, Delta suspended its Havana-Miami flights in response to the pandemic.

The Biden administration reversed the Trump ban in June 2022.

American Airlines, which had already resumed scheduled service between Miami and Havana in late 2020, then relaunched daily flights to four other Cuban cities as well. American, the worlds largest airline, is the biggest carrier at Miami airport.

In South Florida, United Airlines also flies from Miami to Havana. Southwest and JetBlue also operate direct flights to Cuba from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Tony Christie opens up on dementia memory problems. (Getty Images)

Tony Christie has shared he 'can't remember' people's names due to having dementia, but is not ashamed of living with the condition.

The musician, 79, said that after struggling with his crossword around 18 months ago, he received a diagnosis.

"[Now] I am fine, I'm very proud of the fact I am still working and I am not ashamed of what I have got," he said in a clip for BBC Breakfast.

His wife Sue interjected, "We are thinking positive", while Christie added, "I still meet people I've known for donkey's years, the only thing is I forget their names."

But Christie isn't the only celebrity helping to raise awareness of the condition by talking openly about it.

Read more: Dementia could be prevented by regular hearing tests in your 30s, experts advise

Angela Rippon praised Bruce Willis' family for sharing his dementia diagnosis. (Getty Images)

Earlier this month, Angela Rippon praised Bruce Willis family for sharing the actors dementia diagnosis, as she backed a campaign offering support to those caring for loved ones with the condition.

The Alzheimers Society said that after Willis diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia was announced, the charity saw a 12,000% spike in visits to their website.

Rippon, 78, became involved with the charity when her late mother Edna was diagnosed with the condition in 2004. She later became an ambassador as well as now co-chairing one of the prime ministers committees on dementia.

The more you can talk about it, the more you can make people understand and be less afraid of it, and come to terms with it, understand how its likely to affect you, as a carer, as a family member, how its likely to affect your loved one, the better it is going to be for those people who then have to live with dementia... to be able to do so with dignity, the former BBC newsreader told PA news agency.

Read more: As Chris Hemsworth takes time off after discovering Alzheimer's risk, what is the disease?

Back in February, Willis' family announced the actor's diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.

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The 67-year-old Hollywood star had already retired from his career spanning four decades in March last year after being diagnosed with the condition aphasia, which affects speech and language.

But his wife Emma Heming Willis, ex-wife Demi Moore and daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn shared "an update" to his health with a joint statement on Instagram earlier this year.

"Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruces original diagnosis," the caption reads.

"In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing.

"Since we announced Bruces diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruces condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD).

"Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis."

Bruce Willis now has dementia after previously being diagnosed with aphasia in spring 2022. (Getty Images)

What is dementia?

Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain function, according to the NHS. There are many different types, with many different causes, and it is not a natural part of ageing.

For example, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia are two different types, with both of them making up the majority of cases. Other types include frontotemporal dementia like Willis' diagnosis, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), young-onset, as well as mixed dementia (more than one at the same time).

The condition can affect memory, as well as the way you speak, think, feel and behave.

There are currently around 900,000 people with dementia in the UK, projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040, according to the Alzheimer's Society.

The likelihood of developing dementia increases significantly with age. One in 14 people aged over 65 has the condition, which rises to one in six for those aged over 80. However, it can affect younger people too.

Alzheimer's disease

The first signs of Alzheimer's disease are usually minor memory problems. (Getty Images)

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the UK. It is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms develop gradually over many years, slowly becoming more severe.

The exact cause isn't yet fully understood, though factors that can potentially increase your risk include age, a family history, untreated depression and lifestyle factors associated with cardiovascular disease.

The first sign is usually minor memory problems, such as forgetting about recent conversations or events, or forgetting the names of places and objects.

As the condition develops and symptoms become more severe, as listed by the NHS, these include:

Confusion, disorientation and getting lost in familiar places

Difficulty planning or making decisions

Problems with speech and language

Problems moving around without assistance or performing self-care tasks

Personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, demanding and suspicious of others

Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there) and delusions (believing things that are untrue)

Low mood or anxiety

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia can make you feel disorientated. (Getty Images)

Vascular dementia is a common type of the syndrome, caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, which often gets worse over time  though it's sometimes possible to slow it down. It can either start suddenly or begin slowly over time.

Symptoms listed by the NHS include:

Slowness of thought

Difficulty with planning and understanding

Problems with concentration

Changes to your mood, personality or behaviour

Feeling disoriented and confused

Difficulty walking and keeping balance

Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, such as problems with memory and language (many people with vascular dementia also have Alzheimer's disease)

This can make daily life increasingly hard for someone with the condition, eventually preventing them from being able to look after themselves.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)

DLB can make you feel sleepy or disturb your sleep. (Getty Images)

DLB, also known as Lewy body dementia, is another common type of dementia. It is caused by the Lewy bodies, which are clumps of protein that appear in the nerve cells of the brain. As it shares symptoms with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, it is often wrongly diagnosed.

Symptoms listed by the NHS include:

Hallucinations  seeing, hearing or smelling things that are not there

Problems with understanding, thinking, memory and judgement  this is similar to Alzheimer's disease, although memory may be less affected in people with dementia with Lewy bodies

Confusion or sleepiness  this can change over minutes or hours

Slow movement, stiff limbs and tremors (uncontrollable shaking)

Disturbed sleep, often with violent movements and shouting out

Fainting spells, unsteadiness and falls

Frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal dementia can affect your motivation. (Getty Images)

Generally speaking, frontotemporal dementia is an uncommon type of dementia. While dementia generally mostly affects people over 65, this type typically starts at a younger age. Most cases are diagnosed in people aged 45-65, though it can also present in younger or older people.

Frontotemporal dementia affects the front and sides of the brain, and causes problems with behaviour and language. Similar to other types of dementia, it usually develops slowly and gets gradually worse over a long period of time.

Symptoms listed by the NHS include:

Personality and behaviour changes  acting inappropriately or impulsively, appearing selfish or unsympathetic, neglecting personal hygiene, overeating, or loss of motivation

Language problems  speaking slowly, struggling to make the right sounds when saying a word, getting words in the wrong order, or using words incorrectly

Problems with mental abilities  getting distracted easily, struggling with planning and organisation

Memory problems  these only tend to occur later on, unlike more common forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease

As well as mental symptoms, there may be physical ones too, such as slow or stiff movements, loss of bladder or bowel control, muscle weakness or difficulty swallowing. Frontotemporal dementia can also lead to someone being unable to care for themselves.

Read more: Dementia symptoms checklist as one in four show signs for two years before diagnosis

Young-onset dementia

Young people should feel they can see their doctor about possible dementia symptoms too. (Getty Images)

Young- or early-onset dementia is defined as someone who develops the condition before the age of 65 (the usual age of retirement) with more than 42,000 people living with it in the UK.

Younger people with dementia may also experience a wide range of symptoms, with the overall condition caused by a range of different diseases. However, the support they need might vary, because it might affect them in different ways.

As listed by Alzheimer's Society, these include:

A wider range of diseases cause young-onset dementia.

A younger person is much more likely to have a rarer form of dementia.

Younger people with dementia are less likely to have memory loss as one of their first symptoms.

Young-onset dementia is more likely to cause problems with movement, walking, co-ordination or balance.

Young-onset dementia is more likely to be inherited (passed on through genes)  this affects up to 10% of younger people with dementia.

Many younger people with dementia dont have any other serious or long-term health conditions.

Younger people living with dementia may also have concerns about how it will affect their family, relationships, finances, daily life, or the risk to future children.

While it's important to see a GP about symptoms, certain lifestyle changes can also help lower your risk of experiencing them in the first place. (Alzheimer's Society)

When to see a GP

It's normal for memory to be affected by stress, tiredness, certain illnesses and medicine, but if you're becoming increasingly forgetful (or are experiencing other signs of dementia), particularly if you're over the age of 65, it's important to talk to a GP about it.

To distinguish normal memory loss from memory loss that could be a cause for concern, question whether it's affecting your daily life. If it's worrying you, or someone you know, don't delay in seeking advice.

Alzheimers Society has urged anyone worried about themselves or someone they love to take the first step and contact the charity for help. Support and more information about a diagnosis is just a phonecall or a click away. Visit alzheimers.org.uk/memoryloss or call 0333 150 3456.

You can also use Alzheimer's Society's possible symptoms checklist to help with a medical appointment.

Additional reporting SWNS and PA.

Watch: Ed Balls opens up on caring for mother with dementia
WASHINGTON (AP)  Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee called on U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday to open an investigation into the undisclosed acceptance of luxury trips taken by Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife that were paid for by a Republican megadonor.

The letter said the committee plans to hold a hearing in coming days regarding the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court's ethical standards. And if the Supreme Court does not deal with the issue on its own, the committee will consider voting on legislation. Such a measure would also need support from the Republican-led House to become law.

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, the 11 Democratic senators wrote to Roberts. We urge you to do so.

The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for more than 31 years, has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Republican donor Harlan Crow nearly every year.

Thomas, 74, and his wife, Virginia, have traveled on Crows yacht and private jet as well as stayed at his private resort in New Yorks Adirondack Mountains, ProPublica reported. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself.

The Democratic senators said Thomas' acceptance of favors from Crow was known more than a decade ago. They noted that senators then had urged the Supreme Court court to adopt a resolution stating that the justices abide by the ethics rules that the rest of the federal judiciary follows.

"This problem could have been resolved then," the senators wrote. "Instead, according to ProPublica's reporting, Mr. Crow's 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."

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Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the trips. Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received, but provides exemptions for hospitality from friends.

Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the trips. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure.

The Democratic senators, led by Sen. Richard Durbin, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, called the bolstered disclosure requirements a modest step in the right direction, but said further action was needed.
A group of Democrats sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday urging him to drop the charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange over his publishing of classified materials.

Assange faces 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.

The Democrats pressing Garland on the issue are led by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (Mich. and also include Reps. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), Cori Bush (Mo.), Greg Casar (Texas), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.).

They wrote that Assanges charges pose a grave and unprecedented threat to journalism practices and the First Amendment.

Press freedom, civil liberty, and human rights groups have been emphatic that the charges against Mr. Assange pose a grave and unprecedented threat to everyday, constitutionally protected journalistic activity, and that a conviction would represent a landmark setback for the First Amendment, they wrote in the letter.

The group pointed to a joint statement issued by major news organizations from around the world, including The New York Times, The Guardian, El Pais, Le Monde and Der Spiegel, that called on the United States to drop the charges against Assange.

At the time, the media outlets said Assanges leaks exposed corruption, diplomatic scandals and spy affairs on an international scale.

This indictment sets a dangerous precedent, and threatens to undermine Americas First Amendment and the freedom of the press, the outlets said.

Assange was arrested in London in April 2019 on a U.S. warrant, and has since fought in British court to avoid being extradited to the U.S. to face the charges. He appealed against the extradition request in July 2022.

Groups including Amnesty International and the International Federation of Journalists have also called on the Biden administration to drop the charges.

The prosecution of Mr. Assange marks the first time in U.S. history that a publisher of truthful information has been indicted under the Espionage Act, the lawmakers wrote. The prosecution of Mr. Assange, if successful, not only sets a legal precedent whereby journalists or publishers can be prosecuted, but a political one as well.

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We urge you to immediately drop these Trump-era charges against Mr. Assange and halt this dangerous prosecution, the lawmakers concluded.

This is not the first time lawmakers have called on the government to drop the charges against Assange.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) tweeted last year, Regardless of how you feel about Assange morally, his prosecution is an overreach and threatens press freedom.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said at a town hall in March that she agrees it is time to free Assange, who has been detained for more than three years.

Neither Khanna or Jayapal signed on to the letter calling for the Justice Department to drop the charges. The Hill reached out to both members of Congress for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CHICAGO  President Joe Biden has chosen Chicago as the site of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, staking a claim in the Midwest as Republicans plan to host theirs in Milwaukee.

Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Biden said in a statement Tuesday. Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down.

En route to Air Force One before an overseas trip, Biden called Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday to deliver the news. A jubilant Pritzker joked in an interview that he told Biden that Chicago was your kind of town.

The Chicago bid included an appeal to the White House that Illinois represented the Midwest and was a part of the so-called blue wall of states that were critical to Bidens 2020 electoral victory. But the pitch around Illinois  a state where abortion is legal, assault-style weapons are banned and organized labor enjoys strong protections  specifically revolved around pure Democratic ideals, Pritzker said.

"Illinois and Chicago really represent the values of the Democratic Party," Pritzker said. "This is a party that doesnt compromise when standing up for a womans right to choose and reproductive rights. Were a state that has passed an assault weapons ban and that ensures collective bargaining rights. And these are core values of what it is to be a Democrat."

Inside the Democratic National Committee, Chicago was viewed as the favorite because of the appeal of its venue  the United Center  and its stock of hotel suites and restaurants, as well as the political and financial force of Pritzker. The convention is expected to cost upward of $90 million, a source with knowledge of the deliberations said.

Landing the convention was the culmination of a lobbying effort by city, state and congressional officials, including Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and Pritzker, who made multiple personal appeals to Biden.

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Biden was visiting Illinois about a year ago when Pritzker joined him in the president's car, and as soon as Pritzker stepped inside he made his pitch.

The pitch later became a running joke between Pritzker and Biden, with the famously competitive Pritzker saying he brought it up every time he saw the president.

"I'd say: 'Hey, have you thought about Chicago for your convention? You know, the best city in the country to have a convention is in Chicago,'" Pritzker said he would often tell Biden.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden delivers his acceptance speech on the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention from the Chase Center on August 20, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. The convention, which was once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is now taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Win McNamee / Getty Images file)

The City of Big Shoulders last hosted a convention in 1996, when President Bill Clinton ran for re-election and Democrats helped make the Macarena dance famous.

The last Chicago convention was a huge success. It makes sense to put the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 2024. Every facility where it will be located will be a union facility. Every hotel is a union hotel, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said Tuesday. We are a state that guaranteed in multiple ways the right of women to have reproductive choice. And in fact, we are a beacon of hope and security for womens health care from all of the states around us.

Chicago was first viewed as a leading contender more than a year ago. But the DNC has a more troubled history in the city, when police brutality was on display at the 1968 Democratic convention. Thousands of Vietnam War protesters descended on the city in a wide-scale rebuke of the war. Police tear-gassed, dragged and beat demonstrators  images that were captured on television. That moment gave birth to a chant, the whole world is watching, signifying activism in the face of abusive authority.

The decision to choose Chicago came after deliberations and site visits by Democratic National Committee members. In recent months, the committee viewed Chicago and Atlanta as the front-runners, with New York City remaining in the mix.

Each city made aggressive pitches to committee members, with Chicago and Atlanta leaning on arguments that their regions  the Midwest and the South, respectively  will play pivotal roles in electing the next president. Organized labor made a forceful argument for New York City.

"While we are of course disappointed in this decision, I just spoke with Gov. Pritzker to extend our congratulations to the city of Chicago for landing the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. We are confident in their ability to provide President Biden with a world-class nominating convention. Atlanta fought hard and left everything out on the field. We welcomed the opportunity to showcase not only our world-class facilities but to highlight the civic culture that makes Atlanta truly special: This is the city that represents the future of the Democratic Party.

The election last week of a new mayor  Brandon Johnson, 46, a Black progressive member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, who won despite being outspent in the race  further fueled momentum behind Chicago's bid.

Johnson last week also personally pitched Biden on hosting the convention, as Pritzker had done in a previous conversation.

I do think that this changes the Chicago bid. Youve just had this pro-teacher, pro-worker, pro-union person elected as mayor of Chicago, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said last week. It sends a powerful message.

Ultimately, however, the decision was up to Biden. The White House told the Democratic National Committee of its wishes.

Biden has had a special place in his heart for Georgia, a red state that flipped blue in 2020, helping usher him into the White House.

Democratic turnout in the state of Georgia is the single greatest reason that you and Vice President Harris are in the White House today instead of Donald Trump, a band of Southern officials wrote as part of their argument to hold the convention in Atlanta.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The US Democratic Party announced Tuesday that it would hold its 2024 convention in Chicago, the site of its violence-marred 1968 gathering.

The Democratic National Committee said the convention, where it will officially choose its 2024 presidential nominee, will take place from August 19-22, nearly 11 weeks before the election.

The state of Illinois along with neighboring Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota "were crucial to the 2020 victory of President (Joe) Biden and Vice President (Kamala) Harris and to Democrats' success in the 2022 midterm elections," the DNC said.

Chicago was also the political base of former president Barack Obama, the country's first and only African American leader.

When Democrats met in Chicago in 1968, thousands of protestors against the Vietnam war flocked to the city aiming to disrupt the convention.

They were met by a massive force of police, and violent clashes between the two sides over four days placed a cloud over the party ahead of the election, eventually won by Republican Richard Nixon.

The Democrats met again in Chicago in 1996 for a controversy-free convention that saw President Bill Clinton nominated for reelection and then go on to win.

Sixteen months ahead of next year's gathering, 80-year-old President Biden has not yet officially declared he would run for reelection.

"I plan on running now but we're not prepared to announce it yet," Biden teased on Monday.

The choice of Chicago immediately drew negative comments from Republicans about the city's high level of gun violence, with 134 people killed so far this year, according to a Chicago Sun Times count.

pmh/nro/st
Democrats were dealt another blow from within their own ranks this week as yet another state lawmaker declared he was leaving the party.

According to a Monday report by The Advocate, a Louisiana-based newspaper, state Rep. Jeremy LaCombe announced he had left the Democratic Party and would be registering as a Republican.

EMBOLDENED BY NEW SUPERMAJORITY, NORTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS GO TO WORK ON TRANSGENDER BILLS

A general view of the Louisiana State Capitol prior to a rally against Louisiana's stay-at-home order and economic shutdown on April 17, 2020, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

It was not immediately clear what prompted LaCombe's departure, however he is now the second Louisiana Democrat in less than a month to switch party affiliations, and the third nationwide after another state lawmaker in North Carolina did the same.

Last month, Louisiana state Rep. Francis Thompson gave Republicans in the state House a supermajority after he switched his party affiliation, and earlier this month, North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham gave Republicans in the state House a supermajority with her switch as well.

Republican Louisiana state Rep. Jeremy LaCombe, a former Democrat.

CHARLOTTE DEMOCRAT SWITCHED PARTIES AFTER BEING CALLED AMMOSEXUAL, CRITIQUED FOR INVOKING JESUS CHRIST

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The switches come as President Biden faces a near-record low approval rating among key groups, including women (43% now vs. 42% low), voters ages 45+ (41% vs. 39% low), suburban voters (41% vs. 39% low), rural voters (31% vs. 30% low) and Democrats (81% vs. 78% low)  Democratic men in particular (79% vs. 78% low), according to a recent Fox News poll.

Biden is also at a low mark of 41% approval among suburban women.

North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham announces she's leaving the Democratic Party and becoming a Republican at the North Carolina GOP headquarters in Raleigh, April 5, 2023.

Additionally, a separate recent poll found that only a third of Americans believed Biden deserved to be re-elected in 2024.

Fox News' Dana Blanton contributed to this report.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate Democratic policy luncheon on Capitol Hill on March 28.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate Democratic policy luncheon on Capitol Hill on March 28.

WASHINGTON  Senate Democrats plan to put Republicans on the spot in the coming weeks via a resolution condemning former President Donald Trumps call to defund federal law enforcement.

Donald Trumps call for defunding federal law enforcement agencies is a baseless, self-serving broadside against the men and women who keep our nation safe, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote in a letter to his Senate colleagues on Tuesday.

The former president asked Republicans in Congress to defund the DOJ and FBI last week amid federal investigations into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election result and his post-presidency hoarding of official documents. Trump has claimed Democrats have weaponized law enforcement against him.

The good work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice sends criminals to prison for bank robbery, sex trafficking, child pornography, hate crimes, terrorism, fraud, and so much more, Schumer said in his letter. The former President and his allies in Congress must not subjugate justice and public safety because of their own personal grievances.

Schumers resolution would be entirely symbolic, but its Senate passage is intended to put pressure on Republicans running for reelection next year. It would also set up a remarkable contrast with the House, where Republicans have aggressively defended Trump while failing to advance their own symbolic resolution praising law enforcement.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) had said in December that Republicans would vote in January on the resolution. Its title: Expressing support for the Nations law enforcement agencies and condemning any efforts to defund or dismantle law enforcement agencies. The resolution, aimed at the progressive defund the police movement  not Trump  is one of several issues where House Republicans have been unable to agree among themselves.

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But House Republicans have spoken with one voice when denouncing the various criminal investigations into Trump, suggesting its fundamentally improper for him to be prosecuted. Last week, after he was indicted on state charges by a New York grand jury, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced that Republicans would pursue retaliatory investigations into Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has subpoenaed former officials in Braggs office and on Monday announced the Judiciary Committee would hold a hearing in New York City to examine Braggs alleged failure to prosecute real crimes. Jordan also chairs a new Weaponization of Government committee devoted entirely to bashing Trumps enemies in law enforcement.

Senate Republicans have been relatively quiet about the criminal cases swirling around the former president, with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) not making any public remarks.

The idea of defunding the DOJ and the FBI has little GOP support in the Senate. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said last week that she strongly opposed Trumps call.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said Tuesday he would seek to amend Schumers resolution by adding language that condemns something that actually happened, the FBIs alleged development of sources at Catholic churches in Virginia over suspicions of extremism. Jordan on Monday issued a subpoena over the matter, accusing the FBI of unfairly targeting church parishes.

Its unclear if Rubio will object to the passage of Schumers resolution if his amendment isnt included. The issue will likely come to a head when the Senate returns from recess next week.

Related...
Channel 2 Action News has learned that despite big pushes from party officials, the 2024 Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago.

The Associated Press said President Joe Biden personally chose Chicago over Atlanta and New York.

In a news release, the DNC said: A critical Democratic stronghold: Illinois along with Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota  part of the blue wall  were crucial to the 2020 victory of President Biden and Vice President Harris and to Democrats success in the 2022 midterm elections. Chicagos convention bid was supported by a wide range of midwestern Democrats who represent the diversity of the party, demonstrating the formidable coalition that will help re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris, and elect Democrats up and down the ticket.

Chicago is solidly Democratic, as is Illinois. But holding the partys presidential nominating gathering in such a pro-union city again demonstrates Bidens commitment to organized labor - which will be critical to his bid to win a second term in the White House.

Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, said President Joe Biden. Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom-up, not from the top down. From repairing our roads and bridges to unleashing a manufacturing boom, and creating over 12.5 million new good-paying jobs, weve already delivered so much for hard-working Americans  now its time to finish the job, Biden said.

The move also could counter Republicans, who last summer decided to hold their 2024 convention in Milwaukee in another critical Midwestern battleground state, Wisconsin.

RELATED STORIES:

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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens told Channel 2s Richard Elliot on Tuesday that he was just as disappointed as anyone to get the call from DNC chair Jamie Harrison that Atlanta lost the bid.

He said, Mayor, I got some news for you that I hate to give you. I said OK. He told me that we werent going to get it, Chicago was, Dickens said.

Chicago hosted the infamous 1968 Democratic convention that is best remembered for a brutal clash between police and protesters opposing the Vietnam War. The last Democratic National Convention in the city was in 1996, when President Bill Clinton won a second term.

Illinois Democratic Gov. J. B. Pritzker was a key voice in lobbying for Chicago. He pointed to Democratic desires to expand their electoral gains in the Midwest, particularly in Michigan, where the party held the governorship and won control of both chambers of the Legislature during last falls midterms.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago will welcome people from across the nation to an unforgettable event highlighting our partys vision for lifting up working families and those who too often have been left out and left behind, Pritzker said. Our great global city and its diverse communities, unparalleled hospitality, and world-renowned venues show off the best of America and its people represent the heart of our country.

Dickens said one of the things that Illinois had to offer, was a lot of money.

The thing that Illinois had was a lot of cash coming from the governor who had already expressly said, I will write this check. That the DNC will not have any worry about the expenses coming back on their balance sheets, Dickens said.

The fact that Chicago beat out Atlanta was nonetheless a surprise given Georgias strategic importance as a swing state. Biden won Georgia two years ago, becoming the first Democrat to do so in a presidential election since Clinton in 1992, and his party now controls both of its Senate seats after wins that drew national attention the last two cycles.

Though Atlanta is as thoroughly Democratic as Chicago and New York, Georgia could very well be a major deciding factor in the 2024 presidential race.

Still, some top Democrats worried about Georgias Republican-controlled Legislature and state laws discouraging union membership and LGBTQ rights. There were also concerns about Georgias relaxed firearms laws, especially given the rash of mass shootings around the country  despite gun violence being a persistent problem in Chicago.

But shunning Atlanta for the convention could ultimately serve as a double blow to Georgia, which may also eventually lose its early place in a new Democratic primary calendar.

Biden endorsed moving Georgia to the No. 4 position in a revamped Democratic primary calendar for 2024  changes meant to better empower the partys deeply diverse voter base than the old system, which led off with overwhelmingly white Iowa.

But Republican state officials have balked at the Democrats holding a primary on a date that doesnt coincide with the GOPs 2024 primary.

Supporters of Atlantas bid had argued that the city and the rest of Georgia could help lead a resurgence of Democrats in the South, which remains largely steadfastly Republican.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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A Brevard County woman was arrested over the weekend, accused of supplying her own mother with a fatal dose of fentanyl.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The victim was pronounced dead at her home on Curtis Blvd. in Cocoa at 3 a.m. on March 19, according to the sheriffs office.

READ: Central Florida man accused of shooting into crowded restaurant after being told to leave

An autopsy report later confirmed she died as a result of a fentanyl overdose.

Brevard County investigators used witness statements and cell phone data to identify Tiffani Hernandez, 33, as the person who supplied the victim with $40 worth of fentanyl the day before she was found dead.

Tiffani Hernandez, 33, charged with felony manslaughter

According to an arrest report, Hernandez knew she was providing the victim with fentanyl and even warned her about the danger.

READ: 3rd person dies in Easter shooting at Orlando park; 2 remain injured

Police referenced a text message in the report in which Hernandez told the victim, I just got it. U have to be carefulthis is fentanyl so dont need that much.

Investigators further determined the victim had no contact with anyone else between that text message and her death.

When contacted by detectives, Hernandez admitted to providing the fentanyl that killed the victim, who the sheriffs office identified as Hernandez own mother.

READ: Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force announces updated community survey

Hernandez was booked into the Brevard County jail Friday on a charge of manslaughter, a second-degree felony. Shes since been released on bond.

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.
N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein joined several other states in challenging a ruling that invalidated the federal approval of the abortion pill.

Access to medication abortions in the United States became uncertain last week, when a federal judge in Texas ruled to overturn the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone.

This ruling could take effect as soon as Friday night, the length of time the Texas judge gave the drug manufacturer and the federal government to appeal.

An amicus brief filed by 24 Democratic attorneys generals asks the appeals court to keep the medication available while the legal process plays out.

The U.S. Justice Department has already appealed the decision and a Washington State federal judge issued a contradictory ruling in a separate case.

The brief argued that if mifepristone was taken off the shelves there would be devastating consequences nationwide, like a surge in unnecessary surgical abortions and unwanted pregnancies.

Mifepristone is still available in North Carolina for the time being and even if the drug is taken off the shelves, there are other effective medications doctors can use to end a pregnancy.

This judges decision is wrong on every level, and it takes away safe medical care for women, putting their health at risk, Stein said in a press release.

Teddy Rosenbluth covers science and health care for The News & Observer in a position funded by Duke Health and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images)

At what is clearly a critical time for confirming good federal judges, Sen. Dianne Feinsteins (D-Calif.) increasingly prolonged absence from the Senate is apparently holding up the process for a number of President Joe Bidens judicial picks this year.



Feinstein, who was hospitalized in early March for shingles and has remained in her San Francisco home since March 7, has missed 60 votes of the 82 taken in the Senate in 2023, per the San Francisco Chronicle. And as the Senate, which has been on recess since March 31, prepares to return on April 17, Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on Monday that Feinsteins absence from the Senateand the Judiciary Committee specificallywill impede Democrats ability to confirm judicial nominees.

Read more

I cant consider nominees in these circumstances, because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee, Durbin told CNN. He continued, We still have some nominees left on the calendar that we can work on.  But we have more in the wings that we would like to process through the committee.

Feinsteins team has been tight-lipped about when, if at all, shell return to D.C. Her spokesperson told the Chronicle this week that the 89-year-old continues to work from home in San Francisco as she recuperates. Earlier this year, Feinstein announced she wont seek reelection in 2024 as a handful of Democratic House members vie for her seat. But she intends to serve out the rest of her term, which is set to end in January 2025. Thats close to two years from now, and its troubling to consider all the key votes and confirmation processes that could be stalled by Feinsteins absenceeither now or in the future, if she becomes ill againgiven Democrats razor-thin 51-49 majority.

Just last week, a Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas ruled that the FDA didnt have the authority to approve the abortion pill mifepristone, potentially jeopardizing access to a medication that millions have relied on to safely end a pregnancy. At the same time, a federal judge in Washington wrote that the FDA is actually barred from altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of Mifepristone. Federal judges have always been importantbut the fall of Roe v. Wade and a broader judicial system increasingly overrun with right-wing extremists has upped the stakes even further, and created even more urgency around confirming liberal, pro-abortion rights judges in a timely manner.

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Questions about Feinsteins fitness to serve have followed her for years now, particularly since an unsettling moment in 2020 when she embraced Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and seemed supportive of Amy Coney Barretts confirmation to the Supreme Court, prompting questions of whether she even knew what was going on. Shortly after, Feinstein was removed from her position as Chair of the Judiciary Committeebut a report from the time claimed Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had to twice inform Feinstein of her removal because she forgot the first time. Last year, a separate San Francisco Chronicle report citing unnamed senators and Senate staffers claimed Feinsteins memory was rapidly deteriorating, and that shes mentally unfit to continue serving. And back in February, Feinstein and her team struggled to even coordinate on something as simple as the timing of her announcement that she isnt seeking reelection.

Feinstein represents 40 million Americans and serves on four Senate committees. It seems we can both thank her for her service and decades of blazing a path for women in politics and recognize that her remaining in the Senate past her ability to do her job isnt exactly a feminist victorynot when women and pregnant people stand to be harmed the most by the stalled confirmation of liberal judges.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis efforts to transform the New College of Florida into a conservative beacon are being compared to fascism by the schools director of the applied data science program, who issued a scathing rebuke recently while announcing his resignation.

Aaron Hillegass, in a letter shared on social media Saturday, tore into the Republican governors recent appointment of six conservatives to the public schools Board of Trustees and the ousting of the schools president in favor of a conservative career politician.

He further ripped a DeSantis officials expressed desire to turn the small liberal arts school into a conservative Hillsdale College of the South. One newly appointed trustee said this could inspire other conservative state legislators to reconquer public institutions all over the United States.

Hillsdale College is a small private Christian school in Michigan that has prided itself in not adhering to Title IX  a civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in schools  since it doesnt accept public funding.

I was hired at New College of Florida (my alma mater) immediately before Governor Desantis replaced the trustees and president in an effort to make it "The Hillsdale of the South". I just gave notice. pic.twitter.com/8mMZoK8uoA  Aaron Hillegass (@AaronHillegass) April 8, 2023

Hillsdale College is bad for America, Hillegass said in his letter addressed to the schools newly appointed interim president Richard Corcoran, a former Republican speaker of the Florida State House who was reportedly awarded a lucrative $699,000 a year salary for the new role  more than double of what the schools previous president was making.

Hillegass, who said he was hired just before DeSantis takeover, said in his letter submitted Friday that Republican efforts to overhaul the Sarasota college, his alma mater, cultivates prejudice against immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities, and non-Christians.

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When a governor guts the leadership of a state school in an effort to make a facsimile of Hillsdale, this is fascism, he wrote.

Not the shocking Kristallnacht-style fascism, he said, referencing acts of Nazi violence against Jews, but the banal fascism that always precedes it.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in January announced plans to reform public universities by banning

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in January announced plans to reform public universities by banning "critical race theory" and investing millions of dollars in Sarasota's New College.

Hillegass went on to say that while he loves New College, he hopes the school fails miserably and conspicuously and that If I were more patriotic, I would burn the colleges buildings to the ground  a comment that he told HuffPost by phone on Tuesday was merely hyperbole.

I would never burn a building down. Nor should anyone else, he later tweeted.

My peers at the university have been very supportive. Theyre happy that someone stood up and said it, Hillegass told HuffPost of the general reaction on campus.

Academic freedom, whether youre on the left side or the right side, all academics agree that academic freedom is important.

Hillegass, who said that he would be leaving the college when his contract ends in August  a decision that he said followed him being asked if he would renew  emphasized the importance of academic freedom.

Academic freedom, whether youre on the left side or the right side, all academics agree that academic freedom is important, he said, though standing up for this has not been easy.

People have left threatening voice messages for me, people have sent me really awful emails, he said of some of the public response. Its a whole range of a lot of really angry posts, a lot of really supportive posts.

Internally, he said he has not been given any trouble at the school over his letter and even had a very good talk about it with one of the new trustees, Eddie Speir.

DeSantis in January announced the appointment of six conservatives to the New College of Florida's board of trustees.

DeSantis in January announced the appointment of six conservatives to the New College of Florida's board of trustees.

He said he believes many others employed by the college have been quietly sending out their resumes amid ongoing legal efforts by DeSantis to ideologically transform public education.

I think that this is true all over Florida with House Bill 999, he said, referencing a controversial bill that, among other things, would prohibit certain course material in public schools that support diversity, equity, inclusion, or the teaching of Critical Race Theory. It also would make changes to tenure.

I think that a lot of academics in Florida who have options are sending out their resumes, he said. As top-notch professors leave the state, Florida will find itself having a hard time producing a modern workforce.

Representatives with New College did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment Tuesday.

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The Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in Playa del Rey is the largest and oldest wastewater treatment plant in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Bacteria that are resistant to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, have for the first time been detected in Los Angeles County wastewater, suggesting that the germs are circulating more widely in the community than previously thought, according to researchers at USC.

The superbugs were discovered during surveillance of wastewater  a practice that took off during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to track the presence and transmission of infectious agents within a community.

The pathogens appeared in samples of untreated water taken from two of Los Angeles County's largest treatment plants: the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant in Carson and the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in Playa del Rey. The facilities serve a total of about 7.5 million people.

Testing found antibiotic resistance genes on two novel small plasmids, circular pieces of DNA that can be shared among different types of unrelated bacteria, said researcher Adam Smith, associate professor of environmental engineering at USC, whose findings were published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

This is probably the scariest aspect: the potential for this resistance to spread widely across different bacterial populations, Smith said.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing world health threat. More than 2.8 million infections resistant to antimicrobials  which include antibiotics as well as antifungals and antiseptics  take place in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result, according to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Scientists worry that widespread resistance to antimicrobials would usher in an age when common infections and minor injuries can once again kill.

We could get to the point where we cant combat infections with antibiotics, Smith said, so were entering sort of a post-antibiotic world.

Colistin is an old antibiotic thats considered the last line of defense against certain infections, including those that are resistant to carbapenems, another last-resort class of antibiotics. In their analysis of L.A. County wastewater samples, researchers detected two pathogens that not only are resistant to colistin but also have genes that should make them resistant to carbapenems, Smith said.

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That means if someone is infected, we have very little at our disposal with which to treat them, he said.

The pathogens are opportunistic, meaning they could sicken immunocompromised people rather than healthy hosts, Smith said. But the location of the genes means the resistance could spread to pathogens that are capable of infecting the general population, he said. In fact, Smith said, such a progression is inevitable if steps arent taken to limit antibiotic resistance.

Colistin resistance was originally discovered in 2015 in China and has been documented on every continent except Antarctica, Smith said. That includes in Los Angeles, where a resident who died in 2016 was found to have been infected with E. coli bacteria that carried a colistin resistance gene.

A county resident was also infected with colistin-resistant E. coli in 2018, said Dawn Terashita, associate director of acute communicable disease control at the county Department of Public Health, which monitors antibiotic-resistant infections. The gene conferring the resistance so far doesn't appear to have spread rapidly among pathogens even though it's been present in the community for some time, and colistin-resistant infections remain rare, she said.

Finding it in the wastewater is not surprising, and its nothing for the general public to worry about, she said.

But the USC researchers' findings suggest that bacteria resistant to colistin are increasing in the L.A. County population, Smith said.

"One reason why antimicrobial resistance is considered the 'silent pandemic' is that the spread of resistance can go undetected until it spreads into pathogenic bacteria and infections are reported to the county public health department," he said.

The CDCs National Wastewater Surveillance System is expanding this year to monitor microbial resistance genes, including those that confer resistance to colistin, spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said.

That comes as the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have accelerated antibiotic resistance cases, with the CDC last year reporting an increase during the first year of the global health crisis.

In L.A. County, the demands of the pandemic meant that many long-term-care facilities were faced with a high volume of patients and shortages of staff and personal protective equipment such as gowns, gloves and masks, Terashita said.

"Any time you have a problem with the supply of protective equipment, you can have issues where you have more transmission," she said.

Scientists believe the uptick came about also because antibiotic stewardship programs, which seek to limit unnecessary use, took a back seat, exacerbating over-prescription, Smith said. And because antibiotics kill all bacteria except those that are resistant to the drugs, they serve as a selective pressure that allows only the resistant bacteria to survive, he said. These bacteria are then excreted in wastewater and can further spread into the local environment, he said.

The spread of antibiotic resistance through effluent is a big concern worldwide, said Diana Aga, a chemistry professor at the University of Buffalo and director of its Research and Education in Energy, Environment and Water Institute.

One of the many reasons why there are antibiotic resistant bacteria that emerge is because we find many chemical pollutants, including antibiotic residues, in the environment at low concentrations, including in bodies of water where wastewater is discharged after treatment, she said. Constant exposure of bacteria to antibiotics is the ideal environment for creating superbugs.

Newer wastewater treatment plants are more likely to use technologies that remove antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but some aging ones do not, she said. These plants can magnify antibiotic resistance by giving genes that confer the resistance the opportunity to spread among different types of bacteria in activated sludge, she said.

So the older plants that may not have effective ways of removing antibiotic resistance genes become hot spots for antibiotic resistance, she said.

A study conducted at the Carson facility showed its tertiary treatment plants remove 99.9999% of bacteria using chlorine, a disinfectant with a long, proven track record of success, said Bryan Langpap, spokesman for Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts.

Anecdotally, there has been no evidence of unusual levels of antibiotic-resistant illnesses in staff who work around wastewater, Langpap said.

However, we recognize that more information is needed to better understand the risks. We support continued research to fill the knowledge gaps and inform decisions and actions, he said.

At the Hyperion plant, the normal treatment process, which includes primary and secondary stages, removes 90% to 99.99% of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes even without any additional treatment, said Mas Dojiri, chief scientist at Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment. The plant discharges its effluent five miles out into the ocean, and more than 40 years of water-quality monitoring has indicated that it does not encroach into shoreline recreational waters, he said.

Still, these safeguards don't always work as intended. Hyperion came under heavy criticism when it released millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the Santa Monica Bay in July 2021, with a report citing equipment failures, unheeded alarms and insufficient staffing.

And even when all systems function as intended, disinfection does not destroy DNA in a way that renders antibiotic resistance genes benign because they can exist outside cells, as in plasmids, Smith said. Those genes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria can also enter the environment through biosolids  solid matter recycled from sewage  which are typically applied to non-food crops such as cotton as a fertilizer, he said.

In addition to ensuring wastewater treatment plants are equipped to combat antibiotic resistance, it's crucial to curtail the overuse of antibiotics in both people and livestock, Smith said. Wastewater surveillance could also be used to more precisely pinpoint where antibiotic resistance is most prevalent and target interventions such as limitations on the prescription of certain drugs, he said.

Theres growing evidence that if we dont get a handle on the antibiotic resistance, he said, the number of deaths that occur worldwide because of antibiotic resistance will eventually make it the next pandemic.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The young military cyber specialist suspected of leaking sensitive US documents faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted of involvement in what the Pentagon has deemed a "very serious" national security risk, experts say.

The documents appear to include classified intelligence regarding the Ukraine-Russia war, as well as on China and US allies such as Israel, South Korea and Canada.

On 13 April, the mystery surrounding the leaker's identity appeared to have been solved with the arrest of Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.

According to US Attorney General Merrick Garland, Mr Teixeira was arrested "without incident" in connection with "the investigation into alleged unauthorised removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defence information".

The leak of the documents - which officials have said are in a format similar to that of documents issued to senior leaders - has also prompted a Pentagon review of how classified files are shared, and who gets access. The pool of people with access to this material, officials have said, was relatively small.

Before Mr Teixeira's arrest, experts said the culprit could face a prison sentence plus heavy financial penalties.

Here's what we know about the investigation and potential consequences.

How did the government find the source of the leak?

So far, US officials have remained largely quiet on the probe into the documents leak and how they came to identify Mr Teixeira as a suspect.

The investigation, officials have said, was carried out by the justice department in co-ordination with the Pentagon, the White House, the Department of State and other parts of the US government.

Steven Stransky, an attorney who previously served as senior counsel to the Department of Homeland Security's Intelligence Law Division, told the BBC that US officials will review the documents and their classification levels and seek to work out "how the information was removed or exfiltrated from the Department of Defense's information technology environment".

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"That involves both traditional interviewing and interrogation, as well as the technical security controls that were in place to identify whether or not classified emails were sent to individuals who shouldn't get access to them," Mr Stransky added.

Will the source of the leak be charged with espionage?

Mr Teixeira is facing charges under the Espionage Act, a federal law enacted in 1917 that has formed the basis for previous convictions of spies and those who have shared classified information with the press and the public.

Ahead of the arrest, Mr Stransky said that while the Espionage Act is "very old and outdated", it "essentially criminalises an individual collection, disclosure or potentially re-disclosure, of national defence information".

He added that while the term "national defence information" is only vaguely defined in the law, it broadly means information that "can injure the United States or put us at a disadvantage vis-a-vis another third country".

WikiLeaks source Chelsea Manning is among those who have faced charges for leaking classified US documents.

The Espionage Act is used very infrequently, and has historically largely been applied to Americans found spying for foreign countries such as Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed in 1953 after being found guilty of passing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union.

It has, however, also been applied to whistleblowers and people who have leaked sensitive information, including Wikileaks source Chelsea Manning, ex-CIA contractor Edward Snowden and Henry Kyle Frese, a Defence Intelligence Agency employee convicted of disclosing classified information to two reporters in 2018 and 2019.

When the Espionage Act was originally passed, it stipulated prison sentences of 20 years or less and fines of up to $10,000 per charge.

Prison sentences and fines are still possible and could quickly add up if Mr Teixeira is convicted of multiple charges - even if he did not mean to intentionally harm US interests.

"There's certainly criminal charges that could attach to it [the Espionage Act] and there's financial penalties as well," Mr Stransky said. "If the justice department is pursuing a criminal violation for the Espionage Act, they're most often looking for jail sentencing as a way to deter these types of future actions."

Henry Kyle Frese, for example, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, while Chelsea Manning was originally sentenced to 35 years, of which she served seven.

Earlier, in 1973, Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg faced a possible sentence of 115 years in prison for violations of the Espionage Act and theft and conspiracy charges stemming from his release of a top-secret Pentagon study on the Vietnam War.

Can people get in trouble for sharing the documents?

According to Mr Stransky, the plain text of the Espionage Act does not differentiate between the original source of information, the platform it was leaked on or whether - or not - those sharing it are within the government.

Legally speaking, this means that anyone sharing the documents could be "equally liable for breaking the law", he added.

In practice, however, it is unlikely that recipients outside the US government would be charged, as the prosecution of third-party recipients of classified documents raises constitutional concerns.

The justice department has rarely elected to prosecute recipients, with the notable exception of Julian Assange and two staff members at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, who received classified US documents regarding Iran in 2003.

How will the government prevent more leaks from taking place?

In 2011, under the administration of President Barack Obama, the US government announced the creation of a "National Insider Threat Task Force", in part to address the safeguarding of classified information within the US government.

As part of the initiative, federal government entities were required to set up programmes to ensure that data leaks - such as Wikileaks and the Snowden disclosures - didn't happen again. This included the strict monitoring of employees, computers and classified networks.

In the wake of the recent leak, Mr Stransky said that the government will be taking a hard look at those programmes to see what improvements can be made.

"They'll be looking to see what type of oversight was done with the task force and how they have been complying with their mandate to enforce these types of restrictions," he said.

"Whether or not those activities are being complied with is something that's probably classified, and it will be interesting to see whether there's now any congressional oversight of how the task force has been implementing its mandate for the last decade."

In the wake of Mr Teixeira's arrest, Mike Turner, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued a statement vowing to "examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks."
The incident happened on the beach area at Pennar in Pembroke Dock. (Reach)

A dog walker suffered "significant injuries" and saw his pet die after an attack by another dog on a Welsh beach.

The man was walking on the beach in Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, with two small dogs when one of them was attacked by what police described as a bulldog.

He was left with injuries to his hand and one of his dogs died as a result of the attack last Wednesday afternoon (5 April).

Dyfed-Powys Police are now appealing for information about the incident and asked a woman who was walking with the bull dog to come forward.

The force said she was walking with two bull dogs, one of which was on a lead and one was not.

Police are investigating the incident and appealing for information. (Stock image: Getty)

A police spokeswoman said: On 5 April at 2pm a male was walking in the vicinity on the beach area of Lower Pennar with two small dogs when both he and his dog were attacked by another dog.

"The person has suffered significant injuries to his hand and one of the dogs has died as a result of the attack.

"Police are appealing for any witnesses that saw a female walking two dogs and to also encourage the female with these dogs to come forward and assist police with their enquiries.

Read more: Police use drones to record drivers' bad behaviour in UK first

"The female was wearing a bobble hat, in her mid thirties, she had two dogs which are described as bull dogs, one on the lead, one off, one of the dogs was grey with white around its nose.

"The other dog on the lead was darker in colour."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 and quote reference number DPP/6467/05/04/2023/02/C.
Dozens of families displaced by disastrous flooding in Eastern Kentucky last summer will get new homes through an effort announced Tuesday.

The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky announced that Western Pocahontas Properties deeded 22 acres in Knott County to the foundation for the homes.

Coal executive Joe Craft III and his wife, Kelly, who is running for the Republican nomination for governor, donated $4 million for the project, according to the foundation.

The plan is to build 57 homes on the site, which is on a reclaimed surface mine adjacent to the Sportsplex, a recreation facility.

Partners that include the Housing Development Alliance, which is based in Hazard, and Samaritans Purse, a Christian aid organization, will build energy-efficient homes on the lots.

The site is just off KY 80 and has utilities nearby.

The donations, along with other resources, will allow developers to begin construction quickly, said Gerry Roll, executive director of the foundation.

Were really excited because this can happen now, Roll said of the housing development.

The legislature designated $20 million this year for a trust fund to build affordable housing in areas of Eastern Kentucky hit hard by the flooding and in Western Kentucky, where tornadoes in December 2021 killed more than 80 people.

Flash flooding in Perry County, Ky., on July 28, 2022 washed a mobile home owned by Eunice Howard more than 100 yards down Grapevine Creek and smashed it against a bridge.

The flooding that happened in Eastern Kentucky on July 28 has been blamed for 44 deaths and caused widespread damage to homes, schools, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

The Ohio River Valley Institute and the Appalachian Citizens Law Center calculated that the flooding caused some level of damage to 8,940 homes in 13 counties, with the worst damage in Breathitt, Knott, Perry and Letcher counties.

The nonprofits said in a report that out of those 8,900-plus houses, 542 were destroyed; 4,583 had major damage; 1,186 sustained substantial damage; and 783 had moderate damage. The report was based on information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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There was a shortage of good-quality, affordable housing in the region before the flood, and the disaster made the housing market even tighter, according to advocates and local officials.

Many people displaced by the flooding are still living in travel trailers provided by the state, and some have converted storage sheds to houses. Others have put mobile homes back on sites where they washed away in July, raising a concern about damage from future flooding.

A home floats in the North Fork of the Kentucky River near Lost Creek, Ky., on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)

Advocates have pushed for funding for housing in the region so that people will know they eventually will be able to get a house without having to leave the area.

Thanks to the generosity of Western Pocahontas and Joe and Kelly Craft, 57 families are gonna have hope, said Scott McReynolds, head of the Housing Development Alliance. This is about renewing Knott County.

Kelly Craft said the development will help keep people in Eastern Kentucky.

Families will stay so the economy will thrive, she said.

The foundation said the development in Knott County, called Chestnut Ridge, could be done in a year. Each of the homes will go to someone whose home was destroyed in the flood or received significant damage.

The foundation and developers can combine money from various sources to keep down the mortgage payments on the houses. In addition, Samaritans Purse will work with some families to get them into a home with no mortgage, according to a news release.

The state has negotiated with Western Pocahontas, a coal land-holding company, for land at the site, but had not announced a deal so far.

There would be more land at the spot that could be developed.

Roll said the Crafts have been longtime supporters of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky and have made previous donations for flood relief.

Joe Craft, a native of Perry County, is president and chief executive officer of Alliance Resource Partners, which has coal operations in eastern and Western Kentucky and several other states.

Craft said he had been talking since the flood with companies that own land in Eastern Kentucky, and helped work out the donation from Western Pocahontas.

Craft said he thinks there will be more development announced at the Knott County site and others.

This is just the beginning, he said.
One of my fathers wisest off-the-cuff remarks about visiting people who are in mourning goes something like this: Dont bring the grief upon yourself by wearing black when going to pay a shiva call.

The note got me thinking: Why are black clothes customary while grieving? Having lived in two different countries across Western society (Italy and the United States), where the practice is pretty widespread, I was never really presented with the possibility of wearing garments that were anything but black to a funeral.

Turns out, as usual, my father isnt wrong. According to Rabbi Shlomo Steinmetz, director of development at the Global Jewish Assistance and Relief Network in Brooklyn, New York, although Jews are certainly permitted to wear black to funerals, they are not required to.

Its a dark color that shows were not in a good situation, but it is just a custom and not a must, Steinmetz explained. You can really wear any color that you want and its a reflection of your feelings.

Although other clothing-related laws do apply to Jews in mourning (no leather shoes for a week, for example) and one should definitely opt for simple colors when getting dressed, the custom of wearing black is just that: a cultural custom.

Alas, Jewish people arent the only ones drawn to darker hues when getting dressed for grieving-related ceremonies. The practice is, in fact, pretty widespread across a variety of cultures  albeit actually frowned upon in some circles.

But where did the tradition first originate, and who actually subscribes to it?

Its one of those things that isnt so clear but there are definitely connections to the Roman empire, explained Poppy Mardall, the founder of the London-based funeral home Poppys.

As noted by Mardall, it is generally believed that ancient Romans would wear dark-colored togas when mourning the loss of a loved one. Whats more, in the United States, many practices were passed down by English predecessors  including, possibly, ones related to grieving garments.

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Its a challenge of modern times that we can go about the planet broken without anyone knowing that we are. If we dont have some symbol that shows others that we are vulnerable, how can we expect the community to care for us?Poppy Mardall

After the death of her husband Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria of England is said to have worn dark, somber ensembles as a sign of respect to her late partner until the day of her own passing 40 years later.

Look outside the Western world, though, and youll notice stark differences.

Traditionally, people in Hong Kong wear white to funerals, said bloggerLa Carmina, whose family is Chinese. She mentioned an iconic scene in the 1972 movie Fists of Fury, where Bruce Lee is seen donning a white mandarin-collared suit while howling at his dead martial art masters funeral. The color white is historically associated with death in many Asian cultures and it also signified humility, she explained. Black and dark, somber colors are [also] appropriate, but people in Hong Kong will never wear red to a funeral because this is a festive color associated with happiness.

Mourners wear traditional white funeral clothing during a 2023 funeral in Shanghai, China.

Mourners wear traditional white funeral clothing during a 2023 funeral in Shanghai, China.

In Hindu circles, white outfits are the go-to choice as well. Some specific sects of the religion actually consider black to be an inappropriate option when getting dressed for somber occasions.

Many South Asian communities, particularly those that practice Hinduism, wear white at funerals, confirmed Dr. Anjali Ferguson, a psychologist who currently resides in central Virginia and practices both Hinduism and Christianity. White is considered a sacred color that symbolizes purity and spiritual enlightenment.

Although she herself doesnt feel particularly attached to the tradition, she does contend that what is important is that these rituals celebrate the life that we are gathering for and honoring that familys desires.

When asked whether donning black to a funeral is actually frowned upon within her cultural and religious tendencies, Ferguson explained that it really depends on where folks reside in the diaspora.

I have attended several South Asian celebrations of life/funerals in the United States in which people have worn black without issue, she shared. However, I know that many communities within South Asia would find that very offensive. What is important is that we check in with the families to determine how they wish to honor their loved ones.

Muslims also tend to wear white, a color associated with humility.

For funerals, it is customary to wear plain white clothing, explained PR professional Rumana Lokhandwala, who lives in Mumbai and follows the Islamic tradition. Typically, this involves a garment that is loose-fitting and reaches to the feet. This is intended to symbolize humility and modesty. Additionally, the white color serves as a reminder of the purity of the soul and the hope that Allah will accept it. It is also thought to be a reminder of the hereafter and to remind us that death is a part of life. Wearing white is meant to signify that we are in submission to Allah and at peace with our ultimate fate.

Lokhandwala explained that opting for a black outfit within Islam is also generally discouraged as it is seen as ill-fated and offensive  unsurprising, considering that, according to the source herself, the color is associated with bad luck.

In the West, the process of mourning is closely associated with sadness  and what better color to represent the feeling than black? On the flip side, although sorrow is certainly part of grieving around other parts of the world as well, the concept of modesty and a certain display of gratitude for the life that we, the living, still get to live are at top of mind.

I think a lot of people in the West wear black out of the absolute terror of being disrespectful, which is the last thing you want to do at a funeral, Mardall said. For example, if Im going to a service for someone I dont know so well and cant ask the family what theyd like me to wear, I wear black so as to not look rude.

In her line of work, Mardall, who mostly works with Western clients, also noticed that age plays a role in the conversation. According to her, older generations expect guests to dress formally, a code of conduct that usually calls for darker garments.

Meghan Markle, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Sophie, Countess of Wessex during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19, 2022, in London, England.

Meghan Markle, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Sophie, Countess of Wessex during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19, 2022, in London, England.

They are unlikely to ask themselves the question: Should we lead a funeral as we usually do or change it up? Mardall explained. But if there is no clarity, an 18-year-old is just as likely as an 80-year-old to wear black because we are so worried about getting it wrong.

Another interesting trend that the expert, who is actually partial to the idea of adding a touch of color to a mourners outfit, observed: Generally, the more people have prepared and thought about a funeral, the less likely they are to wear black.

Perhaps that specific observation regarding the amount of time spent thinking about mourning actually gets to the heart of the matter, which revolves around the question: Whats the appropriate way to feel while grieving  and whats the best way to showcase those emotions to the outside world?

A lot of people think [clothes are] the way you show how you feel, Steinmetz said.

Its a challenge of modern times that we can go about the planet broken without anyone knowing that we are, said Mardall, also recalling that, in the United Kingdom during Victorian times, citizens in mourning would wear specific grieving clothes that would signal to the world that they were having a hard time and needed help. If we dont have some symbol that shows others that we are vulnerable, how can we expect the community to care for us?

Clearly, while mourning at least, the average person craves human connection. Whether designated attire  both in color and form  would incentivize those around us to be more compassionate and giving is up to debate, of course. The very least we can do, however, is to consider that, perhaps, the intent behind an outfit is more meaningful than the look itself  a concept that goes beyond grieving situations and may actually be applied to humanity at large.

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Ma'Tiya Buster-Lewis testifies on Tuesday during the trial of Christopher L. Payne Jr., 27, of the Near East Side who is accused of shooting Buster-Lewis in a 2020 drive-by shooting. Buster-Lewis was 35 weeks pregnant at the time. Her unborn son Asier was killed in the incident.

MaTiya Bruster-Lewis was 15 years old and 35 weeks pregnant in 2020 when a drive-by shooter fired a bullet that struck her in the stomach and mortally wounded her unborn baby.

Bruster-Lewis testified Tuesday in the murder trial of 27-year-old Christopher L. Payne, the accused shooter, that she had gone shopping that day for baby stuff with her mom and sister.

After an emergency cesarean-section, Bruster-Lewis said she got to hold her baby boy, whom she named Asier, for about an hour before he passed away. The hospital staff had wrapped Asiers head, but Bruster-Lewis saw the entry and exit wounds.

I couldnt even take care of him, she said through tears.

Franklin County prosecutors told a county Common Pleas Court jury during opening arguments on Tuesday that Payne, of the Near East Side, was the gunman. He is facing a dozen charges, including multiple counts of murder, attempted murder and felonious assault and one count of involuntary manslaughter.

Christopher L. Payne Jr., 27, listens Tuesday as Ma'Tiya Buster-Lewis testifies during Payne's trial in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Payne is accused of shooting Buster-Lewis, who was 35 weeks pregnant at the time, in a drive-by shooting. Her unborn son Asier was killed in the incident.

Paynes defense attorney Jeffrey M. Blosser cast doubt on the credibility of witnesses for the prosecution during his opening arguments, and on Bruster-Lewis ability to identify Payne as the shooter.

Blosser told the jury they will find Payne not guilty when this trial is over.

Past reporting: Arrest made in case of unborn baby boy killed in a drive-by shooting

More court news: Father pleads guilty after young child fires gun in first test of Columbus storage law

The shooting

After getting home on the Northeast Side on Aug. 23, 2020, Bruster-Lewis walked to a convenience store with a man she said she knew from the neighborhood, then-31-year-old Diarice Fitzgerald.

While Bruster-Lewis and Fitzgerald were walking that evening, somebody shot at the pair out the window of a black car.

Jalen Lee testified Tuesday that he was driving his car and Payne fired the gun from the back seat.

Lee testified that he thought he, Payne and Lees girlfriend, Angel Hanks, who was in the passenger seat, were going to buy some marijuana from Fitzgerald when Payne told him to drive the car toward Fitzgerald. Lee said he was surprised to hear the shots, and testified that Payne later told him he was trying to hit Fitzgerald.

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Lee said he didnt go to the police because he was scared of Payne and getting shot himself. When police first contacted Lee about the shooting, he denied knowing anything.

"In this neighborhood, you don't talk to the cops," Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Keith McGrathMcGrath said during opening arguments.

Blosser asked Lee if he recalled telling police he would talk, but only if they gave him immunity. Lee said he didnt remember.

Bruster-Lewis testified she didnt get a good look at the shooters face on the day of the shooting.

She said days later, she saw Payne drive by her house in a black car and they locked eyes. Bruster-Lewis said she ran to tell her mom that was the man that shot her and her baby.

Police showed Bruster-Lewis photos of six men a week later and Bruster-Lewis picked out Payne as the shooter.

When Columbus police arrested Payne on Oct. 1, 2020, he had a firearm on him with an extended clip, McGrath said.

More court news for subscribers: Who is the lawyer for Columbus-area cops in trouble? Collins has been go-to for decades

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus man accused of killing unborn baby in drive-by shooting
Duke Energy Corp. recently made a substantial land purchase in Chatham County to support the surging growth in the community.

Charlotte-based Duke Energy purchased 67.9 acres for $3.075 million, according to a deed filed March 30. The purchase price comes out to about $45,000 an acre.

ALSO READ: Lancaster, Lincoln counties see fastest population growth in Charlotte metro

The land sits near the Chatham-Randolph County line and is next to the Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing megasite (CAM).

Duke plans to construct a new substation on the site to increase reliability in the area.

Read more here.

(VIDEO: NC sheriff says Duke Energy is slowing investigation into power grid attacks)








The News & Observer publishes a weekly roundup of restaurant sanitation scores to keep you up-to-date on the health grades at Triangle dining spots.

Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are used in North Carolina to assess restaurants adherence to rules and standards intended to mitigate and prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses.

Youve likely seen sanitation grade cards at restaurants youve visited, and The N&O previously explained what those scores mean and how theyre calculated.

Here are sanitation scores in Triangle counties for the week of April 4-11.

Wake County sanitation scores

The Wake County sanitation grades database shows that 47 inspections were completed between April 4-11.

 All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Wake County at wake-nc.healthinspections.us.

Durham County sanitation scores

The Durham County inspection management system shows that 37 restaurant inspections were completed between April 4-11.

 Most restaurants received an A grade, or a score of at least 90%.

 One restaurant received a B grade, or a score of at least 80% but lower than 90%.

China Buffet (3720 Mayfair St., Durham) received a score of 83% during an inspection on April 6.

The restaurant was in violation of 17 standards, with deductions ranging from zero to three points.

Violations included raw food being stored above ready-to-eat food in several places, several foods being held at incorrect temperatures and boxes of mushrooms and containers of prepared curry being stored on the floor.

Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

The restaurant previously scored an 86% in March, a 91% in August 2022 and a 92% in March 2022.

 No restaurants received a C grade, or a score of at least 70% but less than 80%.

 No restaurants received a failing grade, or a score below 70%.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Durham County at bit.ly/3pVQfpG.

Orange County sanitation scores

The Orange County inspection management system shows that five restaurants were inspected between April 4-11.

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 All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Orange County at bit.ly/3eQqpxc.

Johnston County sanitation scores

The Johnston County sanitation inspections database shows that eight restaurants were inspected between April 4-11.

 All restaurants received an A grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Johnston County at johnston-nc.healthinspections.us.

Chatham County sanitation scores

The Chatham County inspections management system shows that three restaurants were inspected between April 4-11.

 Most restaurants received an A grade.

 One restaurant received a B grade.

Twin Rivers Independent Senior Living (25 S Rectory St., Pittsboro) received a score of 88% during an inspection on April 4.

The facility was in violation of 13 standards, with deductions ranging from zero to two points.

Violations included raw meat being stored next to ready-to-eat food in the reach-in freezer, rusted and chipped shelves in the reach-in cooler and the facility having no certified food protection manager present during the inspection.

Some violations were corrected during the inspection.

The facility previously scored a 90% in January, an 87% in October 2022 and a 97.5% in July 2022.

 No restaurants received a C grade.

 No restaurants received a failing grade.

You can search all restaurant inspections in Chatham County at bit.ly/3JfiHwq.
Intelligence leak exposes U.S. spying on adversaries, allies: Washington Post

Xinhua) 08:23, April 11, 2023

Photo taken on Feb. 19, 2020 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The series of detailed briefings and summaries open a rare window on the inner workings of American espionage.

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A ceremony launching a series of books that aim to explain classic Chinese literature from a modern perspective was held in Beijing on Monday.

The "New Reading of Chinese Culture" series, planned by the International Confucian Association and MoveableType Legacy (Beijing) Co., Ltd., was published by the Sichuan People's Publishing House. To date, a total of 10 books have been released.

Li Xuejun, editor-in-chief of MoveableType Legacy (Beijing) Co., Ltd., said that the books aim to use ancient culture and wisdom to solve contemporary problems.

The books' authors include Chinese classical poetry master Ye Jiaying, late Chinese economist Li Yining and renowned writer Wang Meng.

A book on Chinese landscape paintings in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) was written by poet Xi Chuan. In an interview with Xinhua, he said that what people need now is culture that is alive. So, in his book, he has tried to link the artistic achievements of the Song Dynasty with other areas such as education and politics at that time -- as people view issues now.

Gan Chunsong, a professor of philosophy at Peking University, is the author of a book that discusses two concepts: "great harmony" and the state of being "well-off." He noted that the two concepts, having been discussed at different periods in Chinese history, were developed through the passing of time.

"These books are not just re-readings of the classics, but also re-interpretations of traditional culture by people today, who, facing new problems in China and the world at large, have formed new understandings," he said. "In this way, they are contributing to the growth of culture."
Leaked top secret documents revealing that Ukraine could run out of air-defense missiles within weeks are putting pressure on the Biden administration and NATO allies to increase support for the war effort, congressional sources say.

Ukraines dwindling supply of weapons also raises questions about whether Congress will need to pass another military aid package before the end of the year, speeding up the timeline of a confrontation over foreign aid and military spending between Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Senate leaders.

The Biden administration frontloaded its shipment of military aid to Ukraine for 2023 at the start of the year, and only has an estimated $3 billion in drawdown authority for the rest of the year, according to a projection based on numbers compiled by the Defense Departments comptroller.

An administration official pointed out that additional funding for Ukraine military assistance could come from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and the Department of States Foreign Military Financing Program.

But the presidents drawdown authority has the most immediate impact because it allows the Defense Department to transfer weapons directly to Ukraine or to NATO allies that ship weapons to the war zone.

The White House hasnt yet formally asked Congress for more money to fund the war in Ukraine and senior administration officials in briefings with lawmakers have conveyed an optimistic narrative about Ukraines ability to match and even defeat Russias armed forces.

The administration says they have enough [money] for the end of the fiscal year, which would line up with a [continuing resolution] but I dont know if that will change and well need something sooner, said a Republican aide, who had not expected congressional action on another Ukraine assistance package before September.

Congress attached $47 billion in military and economic assistance for Ukraine to the $1.7 trillion omnibus package it passed in December, anticipating it would last throughout 2023. The money for Ukraine was $10 billion more than the administration requested.

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The Biden administration said when it requested $37 billion in emergency Ukraine aid in November that it did not want to return repeatedly to Capitol Hill to ask for smaller installments throughout this year.

The Pentagon leak is sparking concerns on Capitol Hill that the Biden administration may be waiting too long to prevent Ukraine from running out of air defense weapons, which could tip the advantage on the battlefield decisively toward Russia.

Ukrainian ground forces have been able to fight invading Russian troops to a standstill in large part because Ukrainian air defenses have kept Russian fighter craft and bombers at bay.

Ukraines robust air defenses have also protected weapons and equipment supplied by the United States and NATO allies from becoming easy targets for the Russian air force.

That revelation that Ukraine may exhaust a substantial portion of its air-defense weapons by early next month is catching lawmakers by surprise.

It does seem like were not hearing the whole story, the Republican aide said. Its definitely surprising.

Michael OHanlon, a senior foreign policy fellow who specializes in defense strategy at the Brookings Institution, said the presumption should be that we may need to step up deliveries and possibly funds too.

He also expressed concern over what the leaked documents may mean for U.S. intelligence gathering.

I also worry that Russia will now tighten communications security, depriving us of info on their plans and intentions, he said.

The Biden administrations lack of urgency in pressing for another round of military aid for Ukraine is now getting a skeptical second look on Capitol Hill.

Any request for additional military assistance for Ukraine would have strong bipartisan support in the Senate but McCarthy remains a wildcard.

While Senate Democrats and Republicans believe theres broad support for more Ukraine aid in the House Republican conference, House conservatives may try to block it, especially if the Biden White House refuses to agree to any of their demands for spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.

McCarthy declared in October that Republicans would not write a blank check for Ukraine if they took control of the House.

In March, the Speaker declined an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he travel to Ukraine to see the war effort up close.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has regularly criticized President Biden of moving too slowly to arm Ukraine.

Well continue to push President Biden and his administration to move faster to exert our leadership, invest in our own defense, equip our friends and keep America safe, McConnell said on the Senate floor last month after a trip to allies and partners in Europe.

In January, the Republican leader criticized Biden for not moving quickly enough to help Ukraine sustain counteroffensive or fully defend its cities against missile and drone attacks.

Congressional leaders werent expecting to have a showdown over spending legislation until after they passed legislation to raise the debt limit  and the Treasury Department has yet to announce the X date by which Congress must act to avert a national default.

A Democratic aide pointed out that the administration is not likely to ask Congress to pass another Ukraine military assistance package before the end of September because lawmakers arent expected to take up any must pass bills except for debt limit legislation before the end of the fiscal year.

The White House has already ruled out negotiating any legislative deal to ride along with the debt limit increase.

Congress passed three Ukraine assistance packages in 2022.

Lawmakers added $13.6 billion for Ukraine to the $1.5 trillion omnibus passed in March of last year, $12.3 billion to a stopgap government funding measure Biden signed into law in September, and another $47 billion in Ukraine assistance to the $1.7 trillion omnibus that passed in December.

An administration official, who declined to comment on the authenticity or contents of the top secret Pentagon documents, said the administration has made Ukraines air defenses a top priority.

The Pentagon announced on April 4 it would provide up to $500 million in new weapons, including munitions for Patriot air defense systems and additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems.

We have continually prioritized air defense systems since last fall and to strengthen Ukraines air defense capabilities, the official said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Democratic candidates gather outside the LaSalle Landing Lodge No. 298 to unveil a temporary street sign in honor of Solidarity Day.

SOUTH BEND  Standing on the corner outside of the LaSalle Landing Lodge No. 298 Monday, a cluster of Democratic politicians reached up to remove the white sleeve off of a temporary street sign reading Solidarity Day Dr.

The moment  a political pit stop on Dyngus Day and Solidarity Day, when voters and candidates carouse on the Monday following Easter  aptly gathered candidates who are at odds in a contentious primary election. South Bend Mayor James Mueller led the push and his challenger Henry Davis Jr. finished it, holding the white cover in hand. City Clerk Dawn Jones and her Mueller-endorsed opponent, Bianca Tirado, stood steps away from each other.

Oliver Davis, far left, candidate for the Democratic nomination for an at-large seat on the South Bend Common Council, joins other candidates on the stage Monday, April 10, 2023, at the Dyngus Day celebration at the West Side Democratic Club in South Bend.

2023 primary: A full list of candidates for South Bend city offices

Democrats this year used the holiday as a chance to emphasize their differences ahead of the May 2 primary election while keeping in mind that, come May 3, a diverse slate of Republicans will try to make headway in city government.

Thats not by chance. (Republicans) see the fissures in the Black and brown and poor communities, and they seek to exploit that, said Drew Duncan, the 33-year-old Riley High School and Indiana University South Bend graduate challenging South Bend Common Council President Sharon McBride.

If we dont have candidates that are willing to get to the doors and talk to them and understand their plight, and not tell them that its sunshine even though we know its not, Duncan added, they wont vote.

Mayor: South Bend mayor candidates Mueller, Davis share their views on issues facing city

Republicans hold one city office, Common Council District 5, where Eli Wax will run for reelection against the winner of the Democratic primary. Democrats Sherry Bolden-Simpson, a director at Rise Up Academy high school, and Patrick Reighter, a financial adviser, seek to oust Wax.

But there are already seven Republicans running for clerk, common council and mayor this November, led by mayoral candidate Desmont Upchurch, who is Black. Five of the candidates are Black or Latino. St. Joseph County GOP Chair Tyler Gillean has said that more candidates may file after the May primary.

Story continues

City clerk: 4 South Bend residents seeking clerk position share their positions on issues facing city

Such a robust challenge is rare in races for office in South Bend, where the last Republican mayor was elected in 1967.

We (Democrats) agree on much more together than we do with Republicans, who are gearing up to run someone against every Democrat here in South Bend, Mueller said Monday as he left the lodge. And thats not something that theyve historically done.

Sherry Bolden-Simpson, Democratic candidate for the 5th District South Bend Common Council nomination, sings the National Anthem Monday, April 10, 2023, at the Dyngus Day celebration at the West Side Democratic Club in South Bend.

Yet slight ideological differences among Democrats have energized Davis, Duncan and several more millennial Democrats who say theyll run counter to the status quo.

Most Democratic candidates cite public safety, equitable investment in neighborhoods and more affordable housing as core issues. But the challengers main pitch is to put forward more progressive policies with a heightened sense of urgency. They have criticized the common council for perceived delays on ideas such as a reparations resolution and the Community Police Review Board.

Bruce Mitchell Jr. is challenging Common Council Vice President Sheila Niezgodski in the 6th District, while Nick Hamann seeks to oust 1st District councilor Canneth Lee. Jorden Giger is competing with Ophelia Gooden-Rogers to win the 2nd District, and LaQuita Hughes is vying for a common council at-large seat.

More: An explainer on the February challenge to Bruce Mitchell's candidacy, and how the Election Board ruled

I agree with a lot of people who say, (Democrats) have been running the city for 40 years. Why is something different now? Duncan said. Were different now because were usurping the party.  Were different because were actually talking about the issues and the plights of people in the blind spots of the city.

Some St. Joseph County Democratic Party leaders have criticized the outsider candidates for making an overtly negative appeal to voters, which Duncan said is needed to counter toxic optimism pushed by current officials. Common council members often butt heads with Davis, whos in his third term as the 2nd District councilor, at meetings over perceived slights.

But Davis said his consistent pushback on colleagues is in service to a lot of people who feel disconnected from South Bend city government. There are tons. We have to give them a reason to feel connected.

If everyone is asking for unity, he added, they have to thicken up their skin and listen to peoples answers.

Steve Luecke, who served as South Bend mayor from 1997 to 2011, said during Mondays festivities that he views the intra-party competition as healthy.

He became used to the same criticism applied to his successor, Pete Buttigieg, and now Mueller: residents of predominantly Black and Hispanic west side neighborhoods have long faced disinvestment and are left behind areas near Notre Dame and downtown. Moreover, the citys 20.9% poverty rate is nearly twice the national average, according to census data.

Sometimes you dont have as many tools, Luecke said. Sometimes youre relying on the private sector to be partners in investment, and you cant necessarily tell the private sector that they have to go here vs. here.

I think theres been a continued effort to direct resources here, he added, but we also know that there are many people who dont necessarily see that yet, and who may be dissatisfied. Its a tough job. You do the best that you can.

The tradition of Dyngus, Solidarity Day

Tim Hudak cooks Polish sausage as Dyngus Day festivities begin Monday, April 10, 2023, at the West Side Democratic & Civic Club in South Bend.

In South Bend, Solidarity Day began in response to a lack of unity among white and Black Democrats, according to Gladys Muhammad, a leader in the St. Joseph County Democratic Party for more than three decades. She said a group of Black leaders sought to engage African American voters in a manner comparable to Dyngus Day.

Since the early 1990s, barbeque ribs, sausage and chicken have been served at the LaSalle Landing Lodge No. 298, also known as the Elks lodge, on Western Avenue, Muhammad said. As she spoke, scents wafted over from the smokers out back of the squat red building.

From left, Sue Borton, Rick Bakos and Derald J. Borton, LaPorte County's Democratic Team Captain, chat as Dyngus Day festivities warm up Monday, April 10, 2023, at the West Side Democratic & Civic Club in South Bend.

Colwell: A Dyngus Day overview

On Dyngus Day, a traditionally Polish holiday, many white and working class voters have gathered for nearly a century at the West Side Democratic and Civic Club. Owner Tim Hudak, whos led Dyngusing for 40 years, said a ritual has emerged in which the top Democrat on the party ticket arrives before sunup to sign for the days shipment of kielbasa, or Polish sausage.

The club achieved national acclaim in 1968, when presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy drew record crowds for a downtown speech and a trip to the club.

Since then, Hudak said, Bill and Chelsea Clinton came in 2008 to campaign for Hillary. On Monday, Jennifer McCormick, the former Indiana superintendent of public instruction, took the mic to let a packed room know of her possible 2024 run for governor.

Hopefully, Hudak said, one day well get Pete Buttigieg back here as a candidate for president again, and then hell cover the bill.

Contact South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend Dyngus Day, Solidarity Day festivities ahead of May primary
On Sunday, wed just finished our Easter dinner when we heard the explosion.

We were sitting with friends in our living room when we heard and felt the blast  strong enough to shake the house and rattle the windows.

Our immediate reaction: What the hell was that? The last time I experienced anything like this in our quiet suburban neighborhood was in 1998 when the DeBruce Grain Elevator blew up near Haysville.

As it turns out, a resident in a nearby development, six-tenths of a mile away, had just blown up his house.

Fireworks were immediately suspected, but it wasnt until Monday that it was confirmed, sort of. The house is so badly damaged that investigators may never know exactly what happened.

What is known is that after a second explosion, firefighters had to fight the blaze from a distance, using long-range hoses. The police bomb squad spent hours hauling a large stash of unexploded fireworks to the bomb range, where they could be disposed of through controlled detonation without causing further harm.

The homeowner, later identified as Kendal James, 48, was killed in the blast and resulting fire.

The house was gutted; the area around it strewn with debris. Scorched wood rested on a neighbors roof; a charred triangle-folded American flag sat on on the tailgate of a Ford F-150 pickup in front of the house; the nose of the pickup was melted away, its windshield shattered and all four tires flattened.

At this point in the investigation, it is suspected that the occupant was attempting to make or manufacture their own fireworks, said John Ham, of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Kansas City. What we typically see is people buying consumer fireworks, and then cutting into them, in an attempt to get to the powder inside to make something bigger. As soon as you cut into those, youre really endangering yourself and everybody else.

What happened on Easter happens more often than you might think. According to Ham, a fireworks hobbyist blew up a duplex in the the Kansas City suburb of Raytown less than two years ago. One man died, and six children and a pregnant woman were injured in that blast.

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Unfortunately, this is something that we see with some regularity and it almost always has the same very tragic outcome, Ham said. The chemicals being used to manufacture fireworks are unstable by nature . . . those chemicals when mixed together become very unstable and they become very, very susceptible to friction, heat, even static (electricity) is enough to cause an explosion. Oftentimes people, they may think they know what theyre doing, enter into a situation where they dont have the level of experience needed.

Within a few miles of Wichita, you can buy practically any kind of fireworks, from mortar shells to skyrockets. Some contain significant amounts of explosives that can be combined to create even larger fireworks.

Theres a kind of addiction that permeates south-central Kansas. If a big boom impresses the neighbors, a bigger boom will impress them even more, the theory goes.

But there are a lot of neighbors, myself included, who arent impressed today.

Were saddened that nobody stopped Kendal James before he endangered the neighborhood  and were wondering how many of our other neighbors are courting disaster by stockpiling fireworks in their garages and basements.

After years of limiting fireworks to the small-scale safe and sane variety, the city government has been working toward relaxing its fireworks ordinance to align with surrounding communities and unincorporated county areas where the rule is pretty much anything goes.

Needless to say, this might not be the best time to do this.

I understand the impulse. Its difficult to enforce a safety ordinance when your city is surrounded by smaller towns and a county that dont. You can go to fireworks stores or tents outside Wichita and watch amateurs drive away with thousands of dollars worth of explosives stacked in the bed of a pickup.

In 2022, fireworks caused 57 fires and did $181,000 worth of damage in the city. If anybody should be considering a change in fireworks regulation, its not Wichita, its everybody around us (Im looking at you, Butler County).

Fireworks fanatics  and theyre everywhere  are not just endangering themselves, but everyone around them.

The problem here is not that Wichita allows too little, its that surrounding areas allow too much.
Police are searching for a man accused of shooting family members at a gathering on Easter, Alabama police said.

Tarrant police responded to reports of a shooting on April 9 at a family gathering, according to a news release.

When officers arrived, they were told that a woman had been shot by her brother and was on the way to a hospital, police said.

The woman had been shot in her chest and stomach but was expected to recover, according to the release.

Police said they found two other women, the mans mother and grandmother, with gunshot wounds still at the gathering.

Both women were taken to a local hospital and treated for their injuries, police said.

The man, whose identity has not been released, had fled the gathering before police arrived, according to the release.

Police Chief Wendell Major told AL.com that an argument between siblings had escalated until a gun was brandished and the women were shot.

Major told AL.com there were at least 10 adults at the gathering and multiple children when the shooting occurred.

Major said police were still interviewing witnesses, but the gun used in the shooting had been recovered.

The man accused of shooting his family members has not been taken into custody and the investigation is ongoing. Those with information about the shooting are asked to contact the Tarrant Police Department.

Tarrant is a northeast suburb of Birmingham.

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Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi hatched a plan with his top aides to produce and ship up to 40,000 rockets to Russia, which has depleted its supply of ammunition during the 13-month invasion of Ukraine, according to leaked U.S. intelligence documents obtained by the Washington Post.

The top secret documents are part of a trove of classified material that has been leaked on various social media sites in recent months.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby declined to confirm the validity of the documents Monday, but warned media that the material is not for public consumption.

If the documents concerning Egypt are true, it could upend America's relationship with one of its closest allies in the Middle East and North Africa.

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Nov. 11, 2022.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with el-Sisi in late January in Cairo, where Blinken "expressed the United States solidarity with Egypt as it contends with the economic impact of Russias brutal war in Ukraine," according to the State Department.

US DESIGNATES WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH AS WRONGFULLY DETAINED BY RUSSIA

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

President Biden also traveled to Egypt last November and met with el-Sisi, and commended the Egyptian president for his country's stance on the war.

"In the face of Russias war in Ukraine, Egypt has spoken up strongly at the United Nations, and that is appreciated very much as well," Biden said at the time.

One of the documents, which is dated Feb. 17, says el-Sisi instructed his senior military officials to supply Russia with rockets, artillery rounds, and gunpowder, but to keep the plans secret in order "to avoid problems with the West," according to the Washington Post.

Rescuers work at the site of a maternity ward of a hospital destroyed by a Russian missile attack in Vilniansk, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Nov. 23, 2022.

An official identified by the newspaper as Mohamed Salah al-Din, the minister of state for military production, told the Egyptian president that he would "order his people to work shift work if necessary because it was the least Egypt could do to repay Russia for unspecified help earlier."

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The nature of that help is unclear, Egypt increased its reliance on Russian wheat last year amid disruptions to the global market stemming from Russia's war in Ukraine, according to data reviewed by Reuters.

US SAILS GUIDED-MISSILE CAPABLE SUB TO MIDEAST IN SHOW OF FORCE AGAINST IRAN

The Egyptian embassy in the U.S. did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

A Pentagon spokesperson referred Fox News Digital to a press briefing Monday by the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Chris Meagher, who said that an interagency task force is reviewing the leaks and the Justice Department has opened a criminal probe.

These images show Ukrainian firefighters tackling a blaze at an industrial fuel storage company in Lutsk, Ukraine, following a Russian missile strike on the facility.

Russia, meanwhile, has turned to North Korea, Iran, and other U.S. adversaries to replenish its supply of weapons amid the war.

Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said last month that Russia is trading food to North Korea in exchange for much-needed weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (AP)

Egypt was allegedly planning to secretly supply Russia with weaponry that could aid its invasion of Ukraine, a major leak of classified US documents suggested.

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi spoke to senior military officials about supplying rockets, munitions, gunpowder and artillery rounds to the Kremlin, according to restricted files seen by The Washington Post on Tuesday.

The leak, which is thought to have started in an internet chatroom, has rocked Washington and exposed new details of US intelligence gathering.

The paper reported that in a document dated February 17, Mr Sisi instructed officials to keep the shipment of rockets confidential in order to avoid problems with the West.

Asked about the documents ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, a spokesman for Egypts foreign ministry, said: Egypts position from the beginning is based on non-involvement in the crisis.

He added that Egypt had urged both parties to cease hostilities and reach a political solution through negotiations.

Egypt is seen as one of Americas closest allies in the Middle East, with Washington supplying more than $80 billion in military and economic aid to the country since 1978. US sources said there was no evidence the weapons were ever supplied to Russia.

It comes as a top Ukrainian commander said Putin is seeking to destroy the eastern town of Bakhmut in scorched earth tactics.

Russian forces pounded several frontline towns in the Donetsk province of the Donbas region, Ukraines general staff reported.

Ukrainian soldiers managed to repel several attacks, it added, as the Russian military kept up its effort to take control of Bakhmut, though overall its offensive action is believed to have declined.

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 Ukraines ground forces.

Russian elite troops are being deployed for the battle for Bakhmut after Putins Wagner private army suffered such heavy losses, according to Ukrainian military sources.

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They said that SPETSNAZ special forces and VDV airborne units were being sent for the attempt to seize the town, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Separately, the Ministry of Defence in London highlighted Russian media reports that TOS-1A thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems had been transferred to VDV forces.

The TOS-1A, which Russia designates as a heavy flamethrower, is typically operated by Russias specialist troops in Ukraine, and has not previously been formally associated with the VDV, the MoDs latest intelligence update added.
WASHINGTON  A new batch of Northrop Grumman-made electronic warfare upgrades for the F-16 fighter has passed simulation testing in a U.S. Air Force emulator, the company said Tuesday.

The firm said the upgrades  dubbed AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite, or IVEWS  performed better than the benchmarks that were set in the simulation testing.

Northrop said the new electronic warfare system will allow the F-16 to counter threats using modern radio frequencies, and find and defeat newer, more advanced sensors and weapons than the fighters older systems can. The company said the IVEWS has more efficient broadband power amplifiers and adaptive countermeasure modulations, and will allow the aircraft to respond more quickly while covering extended frequencies and detecting threats in all directions. IVEWS uses a modular open-systems design, the company added.

As advanced radio frequency threats continue to proliferate, the protection afforded by IVEWS is essential, James Conroy, Northrops vice president for navigation, targeting and survivability, said in a statement. This successful evaluation under very challenging conditions is an important step on the path to fielding the suite.

The Air Force chose Northrop Grumman, among others, to start prototyping a design for the F-16s new electronic warfare system in 2019.

In January 2021, the Air Force tapped Northrop to finish the project as the sole contractor. Northrop said at the time its new system would be compatible with the jets AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar, which the company also makes.

Northrop received another contract from the Air Force in May 2022 to get IVEWS ready for developmental testing and full hardware qualification.

Defense News has asked the company how much the Air Force is paying it to create IVEWS.

Northrop said the testing process injected simulated air defense radar pulses into the electronic warfare system to ensure it could recognize and counter advanced threats.

The testing, which is now complete, took place in the Air Forces Laboratory Intelligence Validated Emulator, Northrop said, which allows for the testing of electronic warfare technology in realistic environments. This was the first time IVEWS ultra-wideband architecture was tested in that emulator, the firm added.
A judge rejected a request by the Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes to remain free on bail. Getty

Elizabeth Holmes' request to remain free on bail was denied Monday by a US judge.

The judge called Holmes' purchase of a one-way ticket to Mexico a "bold move" and "ill-advised."

The Theranos founder is expected to begin serving her sentence later this month.

A US judge said Elizabeth Holmes could not remain free on bail while she appealed her conviction of defrauding investors.

Holmes, who was sentenced in November to 11 years and three months in prison, requested in December to remain free during her appeal. The founder of the blood-testing startup Theranos was found guilty of four fraud-related charges.

Prosecutors said in January that Holmes bought a one-way flight to Mexico, which was set to take off three weeks after she was convicted. They called it an "attempt to flee the country," according to a filing.

In a court ruling filed Monday, US District Judge Edward Davila said the flight wasn't an attempt to flee but "ill-advised," nonetheless. The flight booking led to more scrutiny and speculation into Holmes' personal affairs and motivations, he added.

Davila wrote that even if Holmes won her appeal to challenge the evidence on Theranos' technology, it wouldn't lead to a reversal or new trial for all of Holmes's convictions.

"Contrary to her suggestion that accuracy and reliability were central issues to her convictions, Ms. Holmes's misrepresentations to Theranos investors involved more than just whether Theranos technology worked as promised," Davila wrote.

Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, Theranos' former president and chief operating officer, also had his request to remain free on bail during his appeal denied, according to a court filing in March.

In a further reference to the Mexico flight, Davila wrote in the filing: "Booking international travel plans for a criminal defendant in anticipation of a complete defense victory is a bold move, and the failure to promptly cancel those plans after a guilty verdict is a perilously careless oversight."

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Davila wrote that the court didn't consider Holmes a danger to the community and that she wasn't likely to flee if released.

Lance Wade, Holmes' attorney, said the trip was for a close friend's wedding. Wade didn't immediately respond to a request for comment made outside normal US working hours about Monday's court filing.

Holmes asked in March 2021 to delay her trial because she was pregnant. A court filing in February showed she had given birth to a second child and asked the judge to postpone the start of her prison sentence to allow her to remain free while she appealed her conviction.

Holmes is expected to report to prison on April 27.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Elon Musk and the Twitter logo. Getty Images

Elon Musk simply tweeted "X" a week after Twitter Inc merged into his X Corp Holdings.

His affinity for the letter began in the '90s with "X.com"  a domain he repurchased from PayPal in 2017.

Musk has said X will be an "everything app," and has applied for financial licenses for Twitter.

Elon Musk further hinted at his ambitions to turn Twitter into his long-discussed "everything app" with a single-letter tweet on Monday night: "X."

"Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app," the billionaire tweeted three weeks before his acquisition went through last October.

The Twitter chief developed an affinity for the letter back in the 1990s, founding the company "X.com" which later became PayPal. Musk then repurchased the domain name in 2017, and now appears to be starting to put together his new scheme.

That seems to include a payment service, as Twitter applied for regulatory licenses after his takeover, per the Financial Times. He previously suggested he could be inspired by the Chinese app WeChat, which includes banking, ride-sharing services, and video chatting.

"It does everything  sort of like Twitter, plus PayPal, plus a whole bunch of things, and all rolled into one, with a great interface," he said. "It's really an excellent app, and we don't have anything like that outside of China."

Musk's latest tweet comes a week after "X" became the parent company of Twitter, according to a corporate disclosure statement filed as part of a lawsuit over suspended accounts in Florida. "Twitter, Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists," the filing says.

A trio of "X Holdings" companies were first created last April to fund Musk's purchase of Twitter, per Bloomberg. In 2020, he said one Tesla investor's suggestion that he form the "X" holding company for his several ventures was a "good idea."

"X's mission is to ensure human survival and progress," the original tweeter had said.

For now, it looks like little has changed beyond the name on some corporate filings, but such an "everything app" could fulfil Musk's reported vision of a "clear but difficult path" to a $250 billion valuation for Twitter.

Insider contacted Twitter for comment. The company responded with an automated message that didn't address the inquiry.

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Twitter recently labeled NPR "US state-affiliated media" before changing its label to "government-funded media" amid backlash. Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Elon Musk says Twitter is relying on Wikipedia to help decide which news outlets to label "government-funded media."

It recently labeled NPR "state-affiliated media," a move Musk later said might have been wrong, before changing it to "government-funded media."

NPR gets less than 1% of its funding directly from the federal government.

Twitter relies on a Wikipedia page to help inform its decision on what news organizations' accounts get labeled as "government-funded media."

Elon Musk told as much to NPR reporter Bobby Allyn, and Twitter's Help Center page about government and state-affiliated media labels confirmed the policy.

"Government-funded media is defined as outlets where the government provides some or all of the outlet's funding and may have varying degrees of government involvement over editorial content. We may use external sources similar to this one in order to determine when this label is applied," the Twitter page says.

Twitter recently slapped a "state-affiliated media" label on NPR's Twitter account. The label is usually reserved for the likes of Russia Today, which is funded by the Russian government, and China's Xinhua News Agency, the official state news agency of the Chinese government.

Musk reportedly later admitted adding the "state-affiliated media" label to NPR's account might have been a mistake.

"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," Musk reportedly told Allen.

Twitter has since changed the label on NPR's account to say "government-funded media."

NPR's website says, on average, less than 1% of its annual operating budget comes from federal agencies and departments and grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was created by Congress's Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

When told that the government doesn't have influence over NPR's editorial decisions, Musk said, "If you really think that the government has no influence on the entity they're funding then you've been marinating in the Kool-Aid for too long," according to Allyn.

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NPR did not immediately respond to a request for comment. When contacted for comment, Twitter replied with an automated message that did not address the question.

In a statement previously shared with Insider about Twitter's initial "state-affiliated media" label on the organization's account, NPR President and CEO John Lansing said, "NPR and our Member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide. NPR stands for freedom of speech and holding the powerful accountable. It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way. A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy."

NPR spokesperson Isabel Lara said the organization will not resume tweeting until its label is removed, as any tweets posted in the interim would carry a "false disclaimer."

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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.
Elon Musk changed the sign at Twitter's headquarters to "Titter." Getty

Twitter's former head of ad sales, Robin Wheeler, took a dig at Elon Musk over his "Titter" sign.

Wheeler was a top lieutenant under Musk when he first bought the social media company.

The Chief Twit said on Sunday that he'd painted over the "w" on Twitter's sign at its headquarters.

Twitter's former head of ad sales, Robin Wheeler, slammed Elon Musk on Twitter after the billionaire changed the company headquarter's sign to say "Titter."

"Who hurt you?" Wheeler tweeted on Monday in response to Musk's post about the sign. "To think I actually believed you would do good things for the amazing service we built. SMH."

Wheeler did not respond to a request for comment from Insider ahead of publication. Musk also did not respond to a request for comment, and Twitter responded with an automated message.

Wheeler was identified as one of Musk's top lieutenants shortly after he took over the company in October, appearing alongside the billionaire in front of over 100,000 Twitter users in an "Advertiser Town Hall" that was designed to assuage concerns about the company.

She attempted to resign from the social media company in November, but Musk convinced her to stay. He ended up firing Wheeler about a week later after she refused to lay off more of Twitter's staff, Bloomberg reported. Since taking Twitter private, Musk has eliminated over half of the company's workforce.

The former executive had worked at the company from 2012 and 2020, and had returned to the company several months before Musk went through with his $44 billion purchase, according to her LinkedIn profile.

On Sunday, Musk said on Twitter that the "W" on the Twitter sign at its San Francisco headquarters had been painted over.

"Our landlord at SF HQ says we're legally required to keep sign as Twitter & cannot remove 'w', so we painted it background color," the billionaire tweeted along with a picture of the sign.

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Before Musk announced the change, several Twitter users had posted pictures of the sign in which the "w" appeared to have been taped over.

It's not the first time Musk has incorporated a joke into his work.

Last week, he replaced Twitter's homepage logo with a Shiba Inu, and Musk has said he named Teslas Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y because the letters spell "S3XY."

The billionaire's propensity for dirty jokes has even been cited in some lawsuits from former workers against his electric-car company.

Do you work at Tesla, in tech, or have some insight to share? Reach out to the reporter from a non-work email at gkay@insider.com

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The CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management told the WSJ that he outsourced an employee's job to India after she asked for it to be made remote. Getty/Anastasiia_New

Johnny Taylor Jr. told the WSJ he outsourced an employee's job after she requested it be remote.

Hiring someone in India saved the company around 40% in labor costs, he told the Journal.

Since the pandemic, some tech companies have hired remote workers overseas, sometimes amid layoffs.

A CEO's anecdote to The Wall Street Journal highlights a potential risk workers face in asking to work remotely on a permanent basis: the company could outsource their job instead.

That's what happened when an employee at the Society for Human Resource Management who wanted to move states suggested that she could work remotely, the company's CEO, Johnny Taylor Jr., told the Journal.

Taylor decided to outsource the employee's role to someone in India, and the offshoring of the position saved around 40% in labor costs, he told the Journal.

The Society for Human Resource Management has a hybrid remote work policy that allows employees to work from home on Friday and Monday, a company spokesperson told Insider.

Taylor isn't alone in looking to tap into overseas labor  where the average compensation for tech jobs is often far lower than in the US.

Remote work opportunities for US workers boomed during the pandemic. But as some companies continue to struggle to find workers and look to reduce costs, offshoring positions overseas could see a surge.

This could hurt white-collar workers in the US in particular  a group that has already been hit by layoffs this past year. If more US businesses open their job listings to overseas workers, white-collar workers could find themselves competing with a global pool of applicants.

Some tech companies have already turned to overseas labor, including in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. This is a stark change for an industry that's often prioritized in-person collaboration, Insider reported, and the number of companies considering this option is rising. Companies who were looking to hire engineers in the US or Latin America jumped to 75%, Laskie, a tech-recruiting platform, reported in March. A year ago, 55% of companies were considering candidates in the US and Latin America.

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"US tech companies are saying, 'We can hire an engineer in the United States for $300,000 or we can hire somebody great internationally with very similar experience for $75,000,'" Laskie CEO Chris Bakke previously told Insider.

Still, only positions that could be completed entirely remotely are at risk of outsourcing. And the number of remote positions offered in the US has been steadily declining, especially as more companies impose return-to-office policies. While fully remote work in the US peaked at 60% in 2020, as of March, only about 13% of US job postings were remote, according to ManpowerGroup, a staffing firm. The year before, 17% of job postings offered remote work.

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The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed limiting the use of the chemical ethylene oxide after finding a higher than expected cancer risk at facilities that use it to sterilize billions of medical devices each year.

The EPA says its proposal will reduce ethylene oxide emissions by roughly 80% by targeting 86 medical sterilization facilities across the United States. The companies will also have to test for the antimicrobial chemical in the air and make sure their pollution controls are working properly.

EPAs number one priority is protecting peoples health and safety, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. The agency's proposals "would significantly reduce worker and community exposure to harmful levels of ethylene oxide, he said.

Darya Minovi, a senior research analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists, called the action overdue by almost a decade and said it should have gone further to require monitoring at facility fence lines so people know what is entering their neighborhoods.

Im relieved and pleased that the EPA has finally issued proposed standards that are based on their own scientists recommendations on an updated, higher cancer risk value, Minovi said in a statement.

The tightened safeguards are driven by the EPA's better understanding that ethylene oxide's threat is severe. The chemical is classified as a pesticide. A worker in a medical sterilizing plant, over the course of a career, could see their risk shoot up by as much as one extra case of cancer for every 10 people exposed. The EPAs generally acceptable increase in lifetime cancer risk is 1 in 10,000.

Ethylene oxide is a gas used to sterilize roughly half of all medical devices and is also used to ensure the safety of certain spices and other food products. It is used to clean everything from catheters to syringes, pacemakers and plastic surgical gowns. Brief exposure isn't considered a danger, but breathing it long term elevates the risk of breast cancer and lymphoma, according to the agency.

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In 2016, the EPA updated its assessment of ethylene oxide's danger based on information about exposed workers at sterilizing facilities, finding the chemical was many times more threatening than previously known. Analysis released by the agency two years later found that cancer risk was too high near some medical sterilization plants and some other facilities that release ethylene oxide.

That set off a regulatory alarm bell, said Marvin Brown, an attorney at the environmental group Earthjustice.

Public concern grew. Sterigenics shuttered a medical sterilization plant in a Chicago suburb after monitoring found emissions spikes in nearby neighborhoods. They eventually settled numerous lawsuits.

In 2022, the EPA laid out the risk faced by residents who live near medical sterilization facilities. In Laredo, Texas, for example, residents and activists fought to clean up a sterilization facility run by Missouri-based Midwest Sterilization Corp. It was one of 23 sterilizers in the United States that the EPA said posed a risk for people nearby.

This, for us, feels like a win, said Sheila Serna, the climate science and policy director at the environmental group Rio Grande International Study Center. She said despite improvements at the Laredo facility, the risk is still too high. Her group sued the EPA in December, pushing it to tighten ethylene oxide protections. She agreed with Minovi that the proposal should require fence line monitoring as well as protections at warehouses where sterilized products are temporarily stored.

Midwest Sterilization said the company's work helps provide life-saving medical care.

"Most of the changes proposed by the EPA have already been achieved by Midwest, or are currently being implemented," the company said in a statement.

The EPA said many facilities have already sharply reduced emissions, but those that haven't will now have to meet stricter requirements.

Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association, said medical sterilizers provide a vital service and many devices cannot be sterilized by another method. He said the EPAs risk assessment overstates the threat employees face and undervalues the protections they are already provided.

He added that the facilities are already at capacity and if some close, it could delay medical care. The 18-month time frame for installing technology to reduce emissions after the final rule is issued is much too short, Whitaker said in a statement. It could take many months for abatement equipment to arrive. Supply chains and manufacturing are still recovering from the pandemic."

Susan Buchanan, an environmental and occupational health physician at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, said ethylene oxide is a potent carcinogen that is also very good at sterilizing medical equipment. She rejects arguments that the EPA overstated ethylene oxide's risks.

The EPA is full of really smart, diligent, nonaligned scientists, she said. If anything, the EPA is sometimes not protective enough."

The EPA also wants to require protective vapor masks for people who work with high amounts of ethylene oxide and says some workplaces, including museums, should stop using it altogether because safer alternatives exist.

Tuesday's proposal follows the EPAs directive last week to cut emissions from chemical plants in general to reduce cancer risk. In part, that rule targeted manufactures of ethylene oxide. Tuesdays proposal targets those who use it.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment.
The government frequently detains opposition politicians, cracks down on civil society groups and censors journalists

There is no real media pluralism in Equatorial Guinea. The government-controlled radio and TV broadcaster is the main source of news. However, online media outlets have developed in recent years, providing news that partly escapes government control.

It is impossible for the media to criticise the president and the security forces, says Reporters Without Borders.

Freedom House says almost all domestic news coverage is orchestrated or tightly controlled by the government. State media do not cover international news unless the president or senior officials go abroad.

The BBC (92.5) and Radio France Internationale broadcast on FM in Malabo. Satellite TV is widely available.

There were 362,000 internet users by December 2021, comprising 24% of the population (Worldinternetstats.com).

Press

Ebano - state-owned

La Opinion - private, weekly

La Nacion - private

La Gaceta - monthly

Television

Television Nacional - state-run

Asonga TV - private - but owned by President's son, Teodoro Nguema

Radio

Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial - state-run

Radio Asonga - private, owned by president's son

Online
A recent view of Milan. (Mairo Cinquetti/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

BARCELONA, Spain  A report released Friday morning by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) found that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the continent was improving compared with the spikes of new cases and hospitalizations experienced in December.

But experts who spoke with Yahoo News painted a much less encouraging picture, saying the ECDC Country Overview Report is based on incomplete, inexact data from 30 European countries.

[D]ue to changes in testing strategies," which continue, "and the end-of-year holidays, these numbers are a vast underestimate of the true picture, a spokesperson from the World Health Organization told Yahoo News in an email. The WHO works with the ECDC in helping to compile its assessments.

Former WHO crisis manager Daniel Lopez Acuna, who now resides in Spain, agrees that the new ECDC report assessing the state of the pandemic is not providing an accurate appraisal.

The report tries to give an optimistic perspective on the state of COVID-19 transmission in Europe, but it contradicts itself when it admits that delays in reporting, not enough diagnostic tests and [holiday behavior] may be hiding the real magnitude of the problem, Lopez Acuna told Yahoo News. He believes that part of the underreporting, however, is due to a collective denial that has set in across Europe. All governments want to close this book and go to the next issue.

A research assistant at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in England prepares a sample for genomic sequencing, a practice that is no longer being pursued by some European countries. (Frank Augstein/AP)

Over the past year, many European health ministries have simply stopped reporting important COVID information. Spain, for example, now tracks cases only of citizens over age 60. Germany, Portugal and Poland are among eight countries not reporting hospitalizations; Sweden, which saw the highest number of COVID patients requiring medical care since early 2021, declared in April that COVID was no longer a health emergency and stopped reporting numbers.

Lopez Acuna points out that thanks to important data consistently missing from recent ECDC reports, Europes true COVID landscape is blurred and underestimated. Other health experts concur.

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Were only getting half the picture, Salvador Macip, director of health sciences at the Open University of Catalonia, told Yahoo News.

Since most health ministries stopped routinely testing citizens and many countries dropped genomic sequencing, were flying blind, said Martin McKee, professor of public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Those reporting issues came despite assurances from Germanys top virologist, who announced in December that the pandemic was finally over. Days later, reports broke about a new and more infectious variant, XBB.1.5, gaining ground in the U.S., and China experienced a surge of new cases after dropping strict zero-COVID policies.

Airport workers wearing protective masks and suits help a Chinese traveler at an airport near Rome. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images)

Protests in December prompted Chinas government to reopen the country, allowing citizens to freely travel  and cases promptly spiked. Earlier this month, some scientists estimated that China was experiencing a million new cases of COVID a day; on Dec. 25, the Financial Times reported that some 250 million people in China had contracted COVID in the first three weeks of December.

On Dec. 28, Italy became the first European country to demand testing of passengers landing from China, a demand met largely with disapproval, including from the ECDC, which issued a statement saying the agency considered screenings and travel measures on travelers from China unjustified.

When Italys initial tests of passengers from China showed that almost half of them tested positive for the virus, criticism quickly died down, and France (which was finding that about one-third of passengers arriving from China were testing positive), Spain, the U.K. and other European countries followed suit with their own testing requirements.

On Jan. 4, the European Union recommended that all 27 member states adopt a temporary requirement that passengers on flights originating in China show proof of a recent negative PCR test prior to flying and be required to wear a high-quality mask on board. It also recommended random testing of arriving passengers and surveying airport wastewater, with positive results of both to be sequenced.

Thus far, 10 of the EUs 27 countries have adopted the recommended measures, though they remain controversial, with some experts urging that all airplane passengers be required to take preflight tests and that a masking requirement be reinstated across the board. With the measures applying only to flights from China, and with only some countries putting them in place, its like putting up a gate in a wide-open field, Macip said.

A passenger gives his passport to a worker at Malpensa Airport in Milan on Dec. 29, after Italy ordered COVID antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travelers coming from China. (Jennifer Lorenzini/Reuters)

Its not a panacea, Lopez Acuna said of the policies singling out China, but its going to help deter incoming cases into Europe.

With incomplete COVID data coming from China, "It is not unreasonable for countries to take precautionary measures to protect their populations, while we are awaiting more detailed information," Dr. Hans Kluge, regional director of WHO Europe, said at a press conference on Tuesday, adding that WHO is urging measures "to be rooted in science, to be proportionate and non-discriminatory."

While the initial concern was that passengers from China would introduce new variants into Europe, none have yet been detected.

In a Jan. 3 advisory, the ECDC sought to allay fears about new COVID variants from China.

The variants circulating in China are already circulating in the EU, and as such are not challenging for the immune response of EU/EEA citizens, the agency wrote. In addition, EU/EEA citizens have relatively high immunization and vaccination levels, [thus] a surge in cases in China is not expected to impact the COVID-19 epidemiological situation in the EU/EEA.

Lopez Acuna challenges that assertion, pointing out that immunity in Europe is weakening, as a mere 13% of the European population has received the second, more potent bivalent booster that addresses Omicron variants as well.

It is possible that new increases in cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 will be observed in the coming weeks, an ECDC spokesperson said in an email to Yahoo News, however, it will be very difficult to attribute this to travelers as overall increases in COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations have already been detected in November and December.

People arrive to receive COVID-19 vaccine boosters at a vaccination center in Turin, Italy, on Dec. 30. (Jessica Pasqualon/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Lopez Acuna is also extremely concerned that XBB.1.5, the so-called Kraken variant, which appears to be more severe than prior strains, is showing resistance to monoclonal antibody treatments and is causing a considerable increase in hospitalization and mortality on the East Coast of the US.

The ECDCs advisory on XBB.1.5 earlier this week struck him as wishy-washy. In its Jan. 9 advisory bulletin, the agency wrote that the new variant has already been found in 16 European countries, but that the rapid growth in the U.S. does not necessarily mean that the variant will become dominant in the EU/EEA, since major differences in variant circulation between North America and Europe have been observed several times during the pandemic. The notice conceded, however, that there is a risk that the variant could become problematic for Europe, but not within the coming month.

Lopez Acuna bristles at that messaging. Its serious, but not very serious, and we dont have to worry, he said sardonically. He added that its unclear exactly how much Kraken is already circulating in the EU, since most countries arent sequencing positive test results. Overall, he believes the ECDC has been acting very naively at a critical juncture.

We are facing two real emergencies of different natures  one of a variant that is much more serious, Kraken, Lopez Acuna added. And in the second case, you have a pandemic dynamic that is creating a huge number of contagions and hospitalizations and deaths. So its not just Kraken thats the threat or China thats the threat. Its the sum of both that threatens the delicate balance we were attaining with respect to the pandemic. And that is why the fight must continue.

A streetcar in Erfurt, Germany, requires customers to have "mouth-nose protection." (Martin Schutt/picture alliance via Getty Images)

As a result, COVID cases in Europe are likely to shoot higher, according to both Lopez Acuna and Macip. With more virus circulating, were going to have more cases in Europe, Macip said, adding that hes worried about the effects on already overwhelmed hospitals. Whether its a tsunami or a small wave, he said, depends on a variety of factors, including whether Europeans take precautions, including masking  a recommendation that the WHO reinforced on Friday.

On Friday afternoon, as if on cue, the ECDC released an updated threat assessment. According to the current ECDC assessment, it said, there is moderate probability of XBB.1.5 becoming dominant in the EU/EEA and causing a substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases within the next one to two months. In an accompanying press release the agency wrote, In light of this, ECDC recommends carrying out appropriate testing and sequencing, increasing COVID-19 vaccination uptake, and reinforcing infection prevention and control measures. Non-pharmaceutical interventions such as staying home when ill, teleworking, good ventilation of indoor spaces and appropriate use of face masks should also be considered.
King Charles IIIs coronation, which takes place on Saturday 6 May, is set to be attended by 2,000 guests, including foreign monarchs throughout Europe.

The coronation will be held in London at Westminster Abbey, which can seat up to 2,200 people. The limited guest list marks a departure from the late Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation, which was attended by 8,000 guests with 129 nations and territories officially represented at the ceremony.

Last week, Buckingham Palace unveiled the official invites for King Charles and Queen Camillas coronation. The elaborate invitation, which was reportedly sent to 2,000 people, invited guests to attend The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla  By Command of the King the Earl Marshall is directed to inviteto be present at the Abbey Church of Westminster on 6th day of May 2023.

As the Kings coronation fast approaches, theres been much speculation over who will be attending the slimmed-down service. While members of the British royal family are likely to attend, many royal families across Europe are also expected to attend the coronation.

The move marks a break from royal tradition. According to The Telegraph, the coronation was considered a sacred ceremony between a monarch and their people in the presence of God, but Charles is set to do away with the tradition and invite his counterparts from around the world.

Heres a list of all the European royals who have confirmed their attendance so far.

On 11 April, Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife Crown Princess Kiko of Japan confirmed they will be attending the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, according to local media.

The Imperial Household Agency announced they received an invitation from the British royal family in March requesting that the head of state or proxy attend the ceremony. The crown prince will represent his brother, Emperor Naruhito, at the coronation, seeing as the emperor doesnt attend foreign royal coronations per protocol. However, Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, attended the Queens funeral last September.

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Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko confirm attendance at Kings coronation (Getty Images)

The Danish royal family also confirmed their attendance at the coronation on Tuesday. In an announcement shared to the Danish Royal Houses website, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark said they will participate in the coronation of HRH King Charles III and Queen Camilla of Great Britain at Westminster Abbey in London. Frederik attended Queen Elizabeths funeral in September with his mother, Queen Margrethe II.

In addition to Denmarks royal family, the Swedish Royal Court has also confirmed the coronation attendance of King Carl XVI Gustaf, along with his daughter and heir, Crown Princess Victoria. The Swedish monarch is one of the few foreign rulers to attend the British kings coronation, rather than sending a consort to represent him.

Prince Albert II of Monaco was the first foreign head of state to confirm he would be attending the Kings coronation. In January, Monacos reigning sovereign told People that he and his wife, Princess Charlene, will be among the guests at Westminster Abbey.

Im certain that its going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one, the 64-year-old royal said. Weve maintained contact since His Majesty became King, but I havent talked to him personally since the Queens funeral.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 (Getty Images)

The prince shared that hes certain the King will add his own personal touches to the coronation. However, he was unsure whether their eight-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, will be invited.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have yet to announce whether they will attend the Kings coronation. A source previously told The Mail on Sunday: At the Queens Coronation there were no crowned monarchs, only the protectorate rulers like the Queen of Tonga. Its been a tradition for centuries. Inviting the King of Jordan, the Sultan of Brunei, the Sultan of Oman and the Scandinavian royals  who are all friends of Charles  will be a good bit of soft power and diplomacy.

Last week, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III has invited more than 850 community and charity representatives to his and Queen Camillas coronation. More than 450 British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients were invited to see the service from inside Westminster Abbey, while some 400 young people representing charities will be able to watch the coronation and procession from a special private viewing at the nearby St Margarets Church.

Although not a foreign monarch, President Joe Biden has confirmed that he will not be attending King Charles IIIs coronation. Instead, his wife First Lady Jill Biden will be going on behalf of the United States.
Eva Mendes has explained why she will not join partner Ryan Gosling on the Barbie red carpet, with the actress revealing that the longtime couple does not do those things together.

Mendes, 49, confirmed that she would not be attending the premiere of the upcoming film, which stars Gosling as Ken, on Instagram this week, after she was asked by a fan whether she would be on the red carpet.

The fan asked the question in the comments section under a recent video Mendes posted of herself and Gosling on the set of their 2012 film The Place Beyond the Pines, where the follower revealed that it is their hope they will get to see Mendes with her partner.

I really hope Barbie will get through the awards season just to see you with Ryan  I know Im selfish and probably a dreamer but I will never stop [dreaming] about it, they wrote.

In response to the comment, the Hitch star thanked the fan for the cool comment, before revealing that she wont be joining Gosling for the press tour of the film.

Youre the best! What a cool comment, thank you. But we dont do those things together, Mendes wrote. Like these photos Ive been posting, Im only comfortable posting because its already out there.

In a follow-up post, Mendes also acknowledged that she and Gosling, who were first romantically linked in 2011, were only on the red carpet once together, to promote their film.

(Getty Images)

Oh wait - for those who may catch me in a lie, we only were on the red carpet together once when promoting this film, she said.

(Instagram)

The actresss comment prompted praise for her boundaries, with many revealing that they respect her decision to keep her relationship private.

However, one fan asked Mendes to elaborate on her comment about not feeling comfortable, with the follower asking: May I ask why you dont feel comfortable doing those things together? You guys are such a beautiful couple.

In response to the question, Mendes elaborated her meaning, with the Ghost Rider star explaining that her comfort refers to how she feels exposing her and Goslings very private life.

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By not comfortable, I mean exposing our very private life that we value, she said. Im still dying to do another movie with him though

(Instagram)

This is not the first time Mendes has spoken candidly about her boundaries when it comes to Gosling and their two children, daughters Esmeralda Amada, eight, and Amada Lee, six.

In 2020, Mendes revealed in response to a fan whod asked why she doesnt share photos of her family that she has always had a clear boundary when it comes to my man and my kids, and that although she feels comfortable talking about them with limits, she wont post pictures of our daily life.

And since my children are still so little and dont understand what posting their image really means, I dont have their consent. And I wont post their image until theyre old enough to give me consent. As far as Ryan and I, it just works for us this way, to stay private, she added at the time.

Although Mendes prefers to keep her longtime relationship private, she recently revealed that she and Gosling actually knew each other before they worked together on the set of the 2012 film, and that the magic started way before.
Marianne Ayala/Insider

Semaglutide, the weight-loss drug sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, is a hot ticket for wealthy New Yorkers.

An Upper East Side pharmacist says middle-aged women are seeking out the drug, despite shortages.

Margaret Josephs of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" has lost 22 pounds on a weight-loss injectable.

For months, reports have circulated that the weight-loss drug semaglutide is ubiquitous in Hollywood, with celebrities taking it left and right. Most appear to have kept their use a secret, though a handful have acknowledged taking the drug, including Elon Musk, Rosie O'Donnell, and Chelsea Handler (who said she did so unwittingly).

Not to be outdone by the West Coast, the rich and famous of New York City and its suburbs have now jumped on the semaglutide bandwagon. Doctors and others in the medical field say patients in New York's wealthiest ZIP codes are clamoring for the drug, which is sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy.

"When I say everybody is on it, it's like, everybody is on it," Dr. David Shafer, a New York City plastic surgeon, said. (His practice, the Shafer Clinic, has a division called Advitam, which specializes in "metabolic aesthetics" and "antiaging," its website says.)

"Any celebrity you've heard of, they're probably on it," Shafer told Insider. "Most of the people who come into my office, if they're asking for it, they're not on it yet. But if they're not asking for it, they're probably taking it. It's a very, very popular treatment."

Shafer himself started taking Ozempic about six months ago, and said he'd lost about 20 pounds.

"Before, I'd eat three, four, five bites of pizza," he said. "Now, I take a couple of bites and I'm full."

Shafer estimated that about 50% of Advitam's patients were on "some type of weight-loss treatment," while his colleague Jamie Gabel said that about 40% of his incoming patients inquired about semaglutide or other weight-loss drugs.

People are using semaglutide to lose anywhere from 15 to 50 pounds

Gabel, a physician assistant and the clinical director of Advitam, said that most of his patients who inquired about weight-loss drugs were between 40 and 70. They're more likely to be women, and the amount of weight they're looking to shed varies.

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"If I have a woman come in, and she feels she might be 10 pounds overweight, that might be a really big deal for her," Gabel said. "But we've also had patients come in and lose 40 and 50 pounds."

One of Gabel's patients is the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Margaret Josephs. Though she went to Advitam with the primary goal of improving her energy levels and longevity, a year on, she's also lost significant weight.

Advitam prescribed Josephs, 55, a cocktail of drugs that she referred to as a "wellness regimen." It includes hormone-replacement pellets to address menopause, "something that helps with your own human-growth hormone, and then I'm on GLP-1s," she told Insider. "That's a shot once a week, and that helps you lose weight and improves your metabolism."

Margaret Josephs at an October event. She said she lost 22 pounds last year after taking a GLP-1 agonist. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation

GLP-1 agonists are the class of drugs to which semaglutide belongs. These human-made peptides mimic natural hormones that stimulate the pancreas to churn out more insulin after you eat, which, in turn, lowers blood sugar. That makes them invaluable to people with type 2 diabetes.

It's not entirely clear how GLP-1 agonists promote weight loss, but they seem to curb appetite and slow the progression of food through the digestive system, which prolongs the feeling of fullness.

The semaglutide molecule is patented by the drugmaker Novo Nordisk, which sells it in injectable form as Ozempic (intended for people with type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy (a higher-dose treatment designed for weight loss). Doctors can also prescribe Ozempic "off label" for weight loss, meaning they can give it to patients for a reason different from what the Food and Drug Administration approved it for.

While there are five other FDA-approved GLP-1 agonists on the market, semaglutide is especially appealing because it requires only weekly injections, instead of daily or twice-weekly shots.

More importantly, it works. Patients enrolled in a Mayo Clinic study lost an average of nearly 6% of their body weight after three months on semaglutide and just shy of 11% after six months taking it. The study was relatively small, with just 175 participants, but the results seem to be mirrored in the general public.

Ozempic, a brand of semaglutide, is a once-weekly injection. It belongs to a class of weight-loss drugs called GLP-1 agonists. OEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images

Josephs was prescribed the GLP-1 agonist after getting a high score on an A1C test, which measures blood sugar and is used to help diagnose prediabetes and diabetes. "That happens; women become insulin-resistant as they get older," she said.

Once she started taking the GLP-1 injections, "I started losing a few pounds," Josephs said. "Then, over the course of a few months, I was down maybe 10, then another 5, then another 5. I wound up losing about 22 pounds."

Semaglutide's popularity has led to shortages, and NYC pharmacies are affected, too

The popularity of Ozempic and Wegovy has led to shortages. While availability is beginning to rebound, the drugs have been in short supply for months.

Anthony Gerber, a pharmacist on New York City's Upper East Side, said his customers  especially women between the ages of 30 and 50  are traveling across the city to obtain semaglutide, going down to Wall Street or over to Brooklyn to try to find the wonder drug.

"I'm now calling around to pharmacies to see who has stock" of semaglutide, Gerber, who also works with low-income patients at the NYC Health and Hospitals/Coney Island diabetes clinic, said. As of February, his Upper East Side pharmacy had a semaglutide waiting list of about 20 people.

"A lot of patients will just wait because they know they don't need it, or they're shopping around for pharmacies that have it and will have us transfer the prescription," he said. "But the diabetics, they can't wait for it."

As a result, New Yorkers in search of semaglutide have turned to online pharmacies, Reddit forums, and pharmacies in Canada and Mexico. Even Gerber's own friends are asking him to prescribe them Ozempic for weight loss, he said.

"One of my friends texted me a picture of some shady vial that said 'semaglutide.' But we don't know what's in them; who knows what you're injecting into yourself," Gerber said, citing doctors' concerns about phony or poorly compounded semaglutide.

And, of course, there's the moral aspect of people without diagnosed clinical obesity or type 2 diabetes taking the drug amid shortages.

Josephs and Gabel, who developed her regimen, confirmed that she's taking a GLP-1 agonist. However, they declined to say exactly which kind, citing privacy and Advitam's proprietary treatment plans. Josephs said that she's not taking Ozempic and that she'd never heard of it before going to Advitam for treatment.

"I was on this way before, all of a sudden, everybody hit on it and started talking about it," Josephs said. "What I'm taking, I'm not taking from anybody who needs the treatment."

Josephs in an appearance on "Watch What Happens Live" in March. Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

For Josephs, better health was the goal  but 'looking good' is a bonus

Josephs said that the number of people she knows who are taking injectable weight-loss drugs has become "endless."

"Everyone is taking some version of something because everybody I know is running on all cylinders and has very high-powered jobs, or they're traveling nonstop and running around and want to lose a few pounds and have more energy," she said.

Josephs said she remains on the GLP-1 agonist for her health. Her blood sugar is down, her blood work is "stellar," and and she feels more evenly energetic after smaller but more satisfying meals. While she acknowledges that there's a certain pressure to keep up appearances, she shrugs off the judgments.

"I mean, everyone's like, 'Marge, you look great,' though some of my costars are not so happy about my weight loss and think it's not a good idea," she said. "I think it's ridiculous; it's whatever works for me. I think people can assume whatever they want. If being healthy and looking good go hand in hand, and I look good, that's great."

Read the original article on Insider
Victims from clockwise top left: Deana Eckert, 57, Tommy Elliott, 63, Juliana Farmer, 57, Josh Barrick, 40, and Jim Tutt, 64 (AP/Supplied)

A 25-year-old employee opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning, killing five people and injuring eight others while live streaming the attack.

The shooter, identified as bank employee Connor Sturgeon, entered the Old National Bank in the downtown area of the city at around 8.30am armed with an AR-15-style rifle.

He shot and killed four bank executives inside the first-floor conference room before exchanging gunfire with responding police officers. Louisville deputy police chief Paul Humphrey said that he was shot dead by officer fire.

A fifth victim later succumbed to her injuries in hospital. All five were executives at the bank.

The victims have now been identified as Joshua Barrick, Thomas Elliott, Juliana Farmer, James Tutt, and Deana Eckert.

Eight others, including two police officers, were hospitalised with their injuries. One of the officers, 26-year-old Nickolas Wilt, who only graduated from the police academy in March, remains in critical condition after being shot in the head.

Mr Wilt ran towards the gunfire today to save lives", the police department said on Twitter.

Here is what we know so far about the victims:

Tommy Elliott

Thomas "Tommy" Elliott, 63, was a senior vice president of commercial real estate at Old National Bank.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Elliott was one of his closest friends. "Tommy Elliot helped me  to become governor," Mr Beshear said at Mondays news conference.

"He gave me advice on being a good dad he was an incredible friend," the governor said, his voice shaking with emotion.

"The soul is eternal. I know that I will see Tommy again".

Tommy Elliott was a close friend of the governor (Provided)

Elliott, the former chair of the Kentucky Retirement Systems board, was reportedly threatened with arrest in 2016 when he refused to resign at the direction of then-Governor Matt Bevin. Elliott was appointed to the board by former Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.

Former Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said he had also known Elliott for 40 years. They became close friends, and when Mr Fischer launched his first bid to be mayor, Elliott signed on to be his campaign finance manager and remained with him for the rest of his political career.

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Mr Fischer said Elliott was a devoted family man. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and two stepdaughters.

Joshua Barrick

Joshua Barrick, 40, was a senior vice president of commercial real estate banking at Old National. Barrick had worked for about two decades in banking and previously worked at WesBanco, according to The Courier-Journal.

Louisville Business First named him one of its 20 People to Know in Banking in 2020.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

A memorial for Joshua Barrick is on display at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Louisville (AP)

The Holy Trinity Parish Louisville held a vigil on Monday evening to honour Barrick's life. Theyre in shock, pastor Shayne Duval said of Barrick's family.

"Ive been with his wife. Ive been with his children. Ive been with his brother and members of this community, he was quoted by Fox19 as saying. Everyone is just kind of walking around in a fog like, Did this just really happen?

Josh made himself known in our community in all the good ways. He was a very charismatic and charming man," the pastor added.

Juliana Farmer

Juliana Farmer, 45, was a loan analyst with the Old National Bank, according to her LinkedIn page.

In her last post on Facebook on Sunday  one day before she was killed  she celebrated the fact she was expecting another grandchild.

"My (heart) is so happy!!!" she wrote. "Grand #5 on the way."

Juliana Farmer, 45, was a loan analyst with the bank (Facebook)

Farmers family revealed that she had only recently moved to Louisville.

Michael Williams, who said he was Farmers uncle, wrote on Facebook: She told me she was moving to Louisville, she had a great job opportunity. Now were mourning you losing your life at the job. Im just hurt.

Deana Eckert

Deana Eckert was rushed to hospital after Mondays shooting and underwent multiple surgeries.

She succumbed to her injuries later that night, Louisville Metro Police said.

The 57-year-old was an executive administrative officer at the Old National Bank, where she worked for almost seven years.

Deana Eckert died from her injuries in hospital (LinkedIn)

Eckert graduated from the Western Kentucky University.

James Tutt

James Tutt, 64, was a real estate market executive at the Old National Bank, where he spent almost a decade.

Oldham County judge executive David Voegele knew Tutt for 11 years from his time on the board of the Oldham-La Grange Development Authority.

Jim Tutt leaves behind his wife, children, and grandchildren (LinkedIn)

He added a tremendous amount of insights as we went about developing our office park in LaGrange, Mr Voegele told The Courier-Journal.

Hes a very high quality, well-thought-of individual  Its just sickening to hear whats happened.

Tutt was a Frankfort native who graduated from the University of Kentucky and worked in banking for over 38 years.

He leaves behind his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Lily Sullivan as Beth holding a chainsaw and Alyssa Sutherland as Deadite Ellie. Warner Bros. Pictures

"Evil Dead Rise" introduces Lily Sullivan as Beth, who visits her sister and her children in LA.

Unfortunately, the reunion is quickly spoiled by the rise of the Deadites and all hell breaks loose.

Director Lee Cronin delivers a chilling story with waves of gore, and it's treat for horror fans.

It's been a decade since audiences last saw Deadites on the big screen in Fede Alvarez's "Evil Dead," a sequel/reboot of the classic Sam Raimi franchise. But now Irish director Lee Cronin is at the reins, and he has some big graves to fill with "Evil Dead Rise."

Thankfully, it isn't long before the bodies start stacking up in the latest sequel, and Cronin lets the audiences know that they're in for a disturbingly inventive ride with a gruesome scalping and a drone-induced head trauma within the opening few minutes. (Extra points for an imaginative title card, too.)

From there, the story shifts to Beth (Lily Sullivan), who's struggling with a personal revelation and flees to Los Angeles to visit her sister, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), and her kids, Danny (Morgan Davies), Bridget (Gabrielle Echols) and Kassie (Nell Fisher).

The wholesome family reunion doesn't last long though, as a new book of the dead (called the Naturom Demonto) emerges from the bowels of their apartment building, unleashing a horrific force that possesses Ellie and turns her into a bloodthirsty Deadite.

"Mommy's with the maggots now." Warner Bros. Pictures

Alyssa Sutherland is absolutely the star of the movie thanks to her menacing performance. She's mastered that creepy sing-song light voice to trick the children into a false sense of security. After all, Ellie still looks like their mother, but she's not going to give them a hug and a kiss goodnight  she'd rather tear their faces off.

There's something quite disturbing about a twisted version of a mother hunting her own children, and Cronin touches on the daunting nature of motherhood during the 96-minute runtime.

Sutherland's sinister presence is balanced perfectly by the determination that Lily Sullivan brings to her role as Beth, who quickly becomes a reluctant new hero against the Deadites.

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There's no Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell), but the sequel doesn't need him. His groovy persona and lovably dumb dad jokes wouldn't fit in with the morbid world of "Rise."

The movie still has the utmost respect for the original, but Cronin isn't afraid to push into new territory to make this the most hair-raising movie in the franchise.

Never mind Ash Williams, Beth has her own boom stick. Warner Bros. Pictures

Cronin makes the apartment building feel claustrophobic and creepy, with long, dark hallways that hide horrors in the shadows. He masterfully cranks up the tension in one scene using the perspective of an apartment peephole while Deadite Ellie rips her way through some of the building's other tenants.

Speaking of blood and guts, "Evil Dead Rise" had my inner gore-hound cackling with glee because it's astounding how much bloody carnage Cronin gets away with in the film. Yes, the cheese grater moment from the trailer is particularly grim, but there are other moments of extreme violence that will get a wince out of even the most seasoned horror fans.

If Cronin is the new crypt-keeper overseeing the future of the "Evil Dead" franchise, then it's in very, very safe hands.

"Evil Dead Rise" is in theaters on April 21.

Read the original article on Insider
This year's Looking China annual youth film project was launched on Monday in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, with eight young foreign directors invited to film the landscape and culture of the city.

The young filmmakers, who are from the United States, Canada, Britain, Germany and Jamaica, will visit eight different districts and counties in Chongqing, recording the mountain city from their perspectives.

Filming will be carried out in Fuling District, Beibei District, Wuxi County and five other districts and counties from April 12 to 17.

U.S. director Dwante Spuriel will travel to Fuling District, focusing his work on pickled mustard, a snack popular across China. Canadian filmmaker Isaac Koenig-Workman will shoot a film about roasted fish, a specialty in Wuxi County, and he thinks it will be an "interesting cross-cultural experience."

The Looking China project, co-hosted by the Huilin Foundation and the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture since 2011, aims to present Chinese culture to the world through the eyes of young foreign filmmakers and promote communication between young generations in China and overseas.
Michael M Santiago/Getty Images

Abby Grossberg, the former Tucker Carlson producer accusing Fox News of pressuring her to give false testimony in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit, filed amended legal complaints on Tuesday claiming there are secret Fox audio recordings of Rudy Giuliani and other Trump allies.

Grossberg, who is suing the conservative network for harassment and a toxic work environment, claims that the behind-the-scenes conversations with Giuliani, former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell and Trump campaign officials featured them admitting they had no evidence to support their Dominion election fraud lies.

Additionally, she says an adviser of former President Donald Trump pointed out the importance of January 6 weeks before the Capitol attacks, noting that the adviser said there were no issues with voting machines and January 6 was now the backstop for determining the election.

Once a senior booking producer for pro-Trump Fox News host Maria Bartiromo before moving to Carlsons show, Grossberg filed two lawsuits against Fox News last month alleging that the networks lawyers tried to coerce her into falsely testifying in Dominions defamation case. She claims that the network sought to make her and Bartiromo scapegoats in the bombshell lawsuit, all while deflecting blame from Fox executives.

Dominion has accused Fox News of knowingly airing lies about widespread election fraud in an attempt to boost sagging ratings after MAGA viewers bolted following the 2020 election, allegations the network vehemently denies. The case is scheduled to go to trial next week, and Grossberg has suggested she would testify on the voting software firms behalf. She was recently subpoenaed in Smartmatics defamation lawsuit against Fox.

After Smartmatic subpoenaed Grossberg earlier this month, her lawyers claimed that Grossberg had previously surrendered access to certain evidence to Fox News. However, according to the attorneys, it didnt appear that the evidence was ever provided to the Delaware court overseeing the Dominion case.

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In her motions to amend her complaints against Fox News on Tuesday, Grossberg claimed that in preparation for their appearances on Bartiromos weekend Fox News show, she had recorded multiple conversations with Giuliani and Powell following the 2020 election. Those discussions, which were heard by the networks control room, were recorded by Grossberg using Ottera transcription device popular with journalists.

During a recording in mid-November 2020, according to Grossberg, Giuliani admitted to Bartiromo that the Trump campaign couldnt prove some of its Dominion allegations. Asked by Bartiromo what evidence he had implicating Dominion in rigging the election, Giuliani allegedly said thats a little harder. He also conceded that he had no evidence to back up the conspiracy theory that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had an interest in Dominion. Ive read that. I cant prove that, he said.

On that same recording, Grossberg says that Powell claimed that a registered agent for Smartmatic was on President Joe Bidens transition team. However, when pressed by Bartiromo on her most compelling evidence that voting software flipped votes for Biden, Powell merely said the Trump campaign had a witness whos given a foreign declaration about how [the voting software] was created, why it was created, and watched it work.

Perhaps most damning, however, is a December recording between Grossberg, Bartiromo, and someone described as a high-ranking advisor to and spokesperson for President Trump and the Trump 2020 presidential campaign. The campaign official, according to the amended complaint, admitted there were in fact no issues with any purportedly fraudulent voting machines in Georgia.

More broadly, however, the Trump advisor stated that the purpose of the call was to highlight the importance of the impending January 6th date as the true backstop for determining the validity of the election, as this was ultimately the date when the House and Senate would count the electoral votes, Grossbergs complaint reads. The Trump advisor voiced their concern to Ms. Bartiromo that there had been virtually no pick up of the January 6th date in the media.

Grossbergs legal team claims that despite having access to her devices multiple times, Fox News deliberately or recklessly failed to produce highly relevant recordings of behind-the-scenes conversations to Dominion in the course of its lawsuit.

We hope that by laying bare the egregiously unlawful conduct of Fox News with respect to its treatment of Ms. Grossberg as a fact witness in the Dominion case (including coercing incomplete and shaded testimony from her and covering up key documents that both inculpate Fox News as a malicious actor and exculpate Ms. Grossberg from unjust allegations of journalistic malfeasance) in our proposed Second Amended Complaint, all of the facts and issues necessary for justice to be served will be timely put before the Delaware Superior Court, said Grossbergs attorney Tanvir Rahman.

In a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Eric Davis ruled that Dominion could not mention the Jan. 6 Capitol attack during this months trial. Were not putting the January 6th attack on [trial]. That may be for another court at another time. Its not for this one, Davis said.

Fox has complied with its discovery obligations in the Dominion case, a Fox News spokesperson told The Daily Beast in a statement.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Jeremy Brown, the retired U.S. Army Special Forces master sergeant ensnared in a federal investigation of the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, received a sentence of seven years in federal prison Friday for having two illegal guns, a set of hand grenades and a classified military document at his Tampa home.

Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew also ordered Brown to complete three years of supervision upon his release, with a condition that he undergo an evaluation for mental health treatment.

The prison sentence, which totaled 87 months, came after the judge spoke of Browns 20 years of service as a Green Beret, but also his actions since his retirement, which she said demonstrated Brown put himself above the law.

Youve accepted no responsibility for what youve done in this case, Bucklew said. And you are defiant to the end.

Clad in baggy orange pants and an orange jail shirt, Brown addressed the judge for close to 15 minutes before he was sentenced. In lofty rhetoric that detailed his military background and referenced the words of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, the Declaration of Independence and the judges own legal career, Brown accused the government of deceiving the court and targeting him.

My service cannot be tarnished by lesser men, he said, looking at the prosecutors.

He mentioned his connection to Jan. 6, 2021, suggesting the events of that day were orchestrated by the FBI.

The truth will come out, he said of his case.

Brown, 48, was arrested in the fall of 2021 after federal agents executed a search warrant at the Palm River-area home where he lived with his girlfriend. The warrant had to do with an investigation of Browns ties to the Oath Keepers and their involvement in the events of Jan. 6, when a mob in support of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building and disrupted certification of the 2020 presidential election results.

In the search of Browns home and a recreational vehicle on the property, agents found a sawed-off shotgun and a short-barreled rifle, which were not registered in a federal database as is required when such weapons are modified. They also found a tactical vest that held two hand grenades.

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They also found a printed trip report, authored by Brown during his time in the Special Forces, which detailed a search for missing soldier Bowe Bergdahl in Afghanistan. The report contained information deemed sensitive to national security and was thus classified.

In a weeklong trial in December, Browns defense argued that the CD and hand grenades were planted by government agents. He testified during the trial, admitting the guns were his and that he wrote the trip report, but he claimed the information in it was not classified.

A jury convicted Brown on six federal charges for the guns, the grenades and the trip report.

But the jury found him not guilty on four other charges related to several other classified documents saved on a CD labeled secret, which agents also found in his belongings. Brown said hed never seen the CD before.

A sentencing memo filed by Browns defense asserted that he was a member of the Oath Keepers for only one month immediately after the 2020 election. His membership in the extremist group ended shortly after FBI agents came to interview him in December 2020 and attempted to recruit him to be a confidential informant, according to the memo.

The memo claims that Browns presence on Jan. 6 outside the Capitol, where he was photographed in combat attire, was merely as a volunteer to provide security for the rally, which escalated to a riot.

There is no evidence that Mr. Brown participated in any violence or caused damage to any property, the memo stated.

Brown remains charged in a separate case in Washington, D.C., with entering a restricted area and disorderly conduct. He is not accused of actually entering the Capitol building.

A vocal figure in right-wing alternative media before his arrest, Brown drew a loyal following of supporters, who staged occasional demonstrations outside the Pinellas County Jail, where he has been incarcerated for 18 months.

Brown launched an unsuccessful bid for Florida House of Representatives while he awaited trial. Before his arrest, he made a short-lived bid for Congress.

Facing sentencing, he drew letters of support from Republican U.S. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Gus Bilirakis.

On Thursday, a third support letter came from Florida State Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole. He noted Browns lack of a criminal record and his military service.

Ive been very impressed by the accounts of Mr. Browns great conduct while incarcerated during this case, Jacques wrote. Many have described Mr. Brown as a model prisoner for leading Bible study, deescalating altercations, and for building up morale with fellow inmates by leading certain recreational activities.

Supporters who spoke in court Friday described Brown as a family man who loves his country.

Hes a good man, his mother, Lisa Brown, told the judge. And Im so sorry that people have told you that hes not.

I find Mr. Brown to be honest to a fault, said Cathi Chamberlain, an activist and podcast host who encouraged Brown in his recent run for office. To the thousands following his story, something feels seriously wrong with his treatment.

Some made references to Browns arguments that the government had planted evidence, including the grenades, in his belongings.

Judge Bucklew called the claims ridiculous.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Marcet argued that Brown downplayed the severity of his crimes. He put people at risk, the prosecutor said, by storing the grenades in an unsafe manner, and jeopardized national security by keeping the classified document.

Marcet accused Brown of lying on the witness stand regarding his knowledge of the items. He said Brown exploited his position in the Special Forces.

He used that service as a sword to commit these crimes, Marcet said. He cannot now use it as a shield to evade punishment.
Tennesse state Representative Justin Pearson addresses the crowd outside of the Tennesse State House after being expelled, along with state Representative Justin Jones, for protesting gun violence on the House floor.

Count most Americans on the side of the Tennessee lawmakers who were expelled from the state Legislature for joining protesters to demand tougher gun laws.

An exclusive USA TODAY/Ipsos Poll taken Friday through Sunday finds three-fourths of those surveyed, including more than 6 in 10 Republicans, say legislators have the right to peacefully protest at statehouses.

In the wake of school shootings, two-thirds say state legislatures should enact stricter controls on gun purchases. Tightened gun laws were backed by 40% of Republicans and 72% of independents as well as 92% of Democrats.

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A risk for GOP in response to mass shootings

The findings underscore the political risks for Republicans at odds with broader public opinion on the response to a spate of mass shootings, including one at a Nashville school on March 27 that killed three children and three adults.

The Tennessee House of Representatives expelled lawmakers Justin Jones and Justin Pearson last week after they joined a protest against gun violence on the floor of the Legislature. A vote to expel a third Democratic member of the "Tennessee three" failed.

In the poll, a 51% majority call the expulsions an anti-democratic abuse of power, compared with 42% who view them as an appropriate way to discipline lawmakers.

The Nashville Metro Council voted unanimously Monday to reappoint Jones to his seat. In Memphis, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners was scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider reappointing Pearson to his former seat as well.

Partisan divide on tolerating disruptions

Americans split 49%-48%, however, on whether a legislator who disrupts a hearing should be expelled. The divide followed partisan lines: Democrats by more than 2-1 said they should not be expelled; Republicans by nearly 2-1 said they should be.

The online poll of 1,016 adults, taken using Ipsos probability-based KnowledgePanel, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

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Seventy percent of those surveyed had heard of the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville. Just 46% were familiar with the move by the Tennessee House to expel the legislators after the gun control protest.

Most Democrats, 57%, were following that news, compared with 39% of Republicans and 46% of independents.

On Monday, another mass shooting, this time at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, left five people dead.

Louisville shooting updates:Gunman reportedly opened fire during staff meeting

More: Virginia mother of 6-year-old boy who shot teacher facing multiple charges

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Poll: Tennessee expulsion for gun protests 'anti-democratic'
This baby is wrapped in loose blankets  an unsafe sleeping practice unless directly supervised. Erstudiostok / Getty Images

Sleep-related infant deaths are spiking at a hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.

The hospital has seen 30 infant deaths linked to unsafe sleep situations since January 2022.

Doctors and parents warned against co-sleeping with babies and emphasized safe sleep practices.

Ronin was just 3 months old when he passed away in his parents' bed.

Looking back, his mother wishes she had known about the risk of suffocation before she let her infant sleep on his side, she said in a video shared by Cook Children's Medical Center. When Ronin's father checked on him mid-nap, he was laying on his back next to a down pillow.

A year later, the Fort Worth, Texas hospital is still trying to educate parents about safe sleeping practices, such as placing a baby down to sleep on its back and away from blankets and pillows.

The trauma team at Cook Children's has seen 30 infant deaths related to unsafe sleeping situations in the past 15 months, according to a news release published last week. In most cases, the infant was co-sleeping with a parent or caregiver, who woke up to find the child unresponsive.

Nationally, about 3,400 babies in the US die suddenly and unexpectedly each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the cause of death is not always clear and often cannot be prevented, at least 905 of those deaths were attributed to accidental suffocation in 2020.

Co-sleeping can be a hard habit to break, especially for tired parents

The number of unsafe infant sleep deaths at Cook Children's is the highest it's been in 15 years, and it isn't affecting all babies equally.

According to the hospital's demographic data, Black male infants between 2 months and 6 months old were most likely to be affected.

Black babies made up 54% of infant deaths related to unsafe sleep practices, Hispanic babies comprised another 23% of deaths, white infants made up 10% of the deaths, and the rest were of unknown race.

Across all demographic groups, co-sleeping can be a tough habit to break, Cook Children's pediatric nurse practitioner Candle Johnson said in the hospital news release.

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"It seems to be so much easier to co-sleep when breastfeeding," she said. "I do advise against that because even though it may be easier, it's not safe."

Fort Worth isn't the only city that has seen a spike in infant deaths related to unsafe sleep

This baby has its head on a pillow  an unsafe sleeping practice unless directly supervised. Getty

This February, health officials in Baltimore County said that four infants died due to unsafe sleeping conditions in just two months. "Four is what we normally see over the course of an entire year," health officer Gregory Branch told the Baltimore Banner.

In Springfield, Missouri, sleep-rated infant deaths rose from four in 2021, to 10 in 2022, according to local news station KY3.

Accidental infant deaths seem to be on the rise since 2020, although a recent study in Pediatrics determined that a change in diagnostic criteria led to an increase in reporting.

But the trend may also reflect wider health disparities in the US, according to a doctor's commentary published alongside the study. During the first year of the pandemic, sudden deaths among Black infants increased, while other racial groups did not see a significant change.

Avoid co-sleeping and clear away blankets

To make sure a baby sleeps safely, it's important that an infant sleeps separately from adults on a firm, flat surface, such as a crib or bassinet, according to Cook Children's. A parent should share a room with a new baby, but not a bed.

While it might be tempting to doze off next to your child, no one can control their body function once they're asleep, Johnson said in the news release. An infant can get wedged between the headboard and pillow, or the adult might accidentally shift while sleeping.

"When you're in a deep sleep and your infant is next to you, you're not able to say 'I won't roll over on them,'" she said.

Other safe sleep practices include placing your baby on their back to sleep, especially if they are unable to roll over. The mattress should have tightly-fitted sheets, and no blankets, pillows, or soft toys should be allowed in the sleep area.

Finally, the hospital recommended that parents use sleep sacks instead of swaddling their babies, especially after a baby is able to roll over.

Read the original article on Insider
The Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City is known primarily as a quiet, residential area  but theres plenty to do there if you know where to look.

Waldo centers on Wornall Road, extending from Gregory Boulevard down to 91st Street. Its bounded by the Kansas state line to the west and Holmes Street to the east.

From a secret burger joint to a store that only sells soap, here are some cool spots to check out in Waldo.

Unique and colorful flavors at Betty Raes Ice Cream

What to eat and drink in Waldo

Waldo is home to a number of local foodie institutions, including cuisine from all over the world.

Residents love the Indian fare at Taj Mahal, the meatballs at Jovitos, scrumptious stir fry and noodle dishes at Waldo Thai and slices at the ever-popular Waldo Pizza, all located along Wornall Road.

In fair weather, sit at a picnic table outside the street-facing counter of Taco Cacao for homemade tacos or grab a cone from city favorite Betty Raes Ice Cream.

Waldo Thai Places shareable Khao Tod Nam Sod dish is a crispy seasoned rice salad with cured pork sausage, scallions, red onions, cilantro, peanuts and dried chilis.

At the corner of Wornall Road and West 85th Street sits Second Best Coffee, a roaster frequented by its Waldo neighbors.

Marco Polo Selections is another favorite: The wine shop and tasting room offers imported wines from small vineyards in Croatia, Georgia, Armenia, Romania, Turkey and elsewhere.

Finally, stop in Dodsons Bar & Commons to find a pint-sized burger spot tucked away inside. With only five menu items, Cosmo Burgers popularity has outgrown its tiny digs: another location recently opened in the Lenexa Public Market.

Taco-Cacao has opened in Waldo. The owners may add more locations in Kansas City.

What to do in Waldo

Avid thrifters will enjoy digging through secondhand clothing and homegoods at City Thrift Waldo and Red Racks Thrift Store, located just a few blocks away from each other. You can then freshen up your look with a trip to one of the neighborhoods popular salons, including Moonshot Hair Co, Lumine Salon Waldo and him.her.them Hair Studio.

Finally, stop by the Soap Refill Station at the intersection of Wornall Road and 75th Street for any type of bath, body and home cleaning products you could want.

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The shop puts an emphasis on the interactive, from slice-your-own bar soaps to a fully stocked essential oil bar where a friendly expert can mix you a custom clay mask, moisturizer or face cleanser complete with your favorite scents. Soaps from laundry detergent to dish soap to shampoo are sold by weight  and if you forget to bring your own container, the shop has plenty of donated ones on-site for customers to use for free.

How to get involved in Waldo

Enthusiastic Waldo residents love to take to the streets to celebrate local businesses and artists at community events like Waldo Week in the late winter, Spring Fling in May and the even larger Fall Festival, which blocks off part of a major road for a block party atmosphere featuring live music, local vendors and activities for kids.

Anyone can stop by these events for free, but there are plenty of opportunities to get involved as well. If youre interested in being a vendor or volunteering at one of these lively events, you can sign up on the Waldo neighborhood website here. Residents should also be sure to join the highly active Waldo Neighborhood Facebook group.

What makes Waldo so special?

Waldo residents love their neighborhood for its diversity, friendliness and the abundance of small, local businesses that call its streets home.

Its a very welcoming neighborhood to everyone, said Chelsea Kapka, the executive director of the Waldo Area Business Association. It has a small community feeling.

Kapkas favorite spots include the Trolley Track Trail, which connects the neighborhood to Johnson County to the west and the rest of the city to the north. The trail is the site of an annual four-mile road race known as the Trolley Run.

Kapka described Waldo as eclectic, diverse and even weird in a good way. From its local art to its community events, she is proud to call this friendly neighborhood home.

Known in city documents as the Waldo Channel, this cement stormwater culvert cuts across several residential blocks in the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City.

Did you know?

The streets of Waldo are traversed by an unusual feature: a dry cement culvert known in city plans as the Waldo channel. This reinforced aqueduct is intended to move stormwater safely through the neighborhood as vehicles and residents move around above it.

These structures were built by crews in Public Works in the 1990s when the stormwater section was in that department, city spokesperson Heather Frierson told The Star. Today, stormwater is handled by KC Water instead.

If youre interested in seeing the culvert for yourself, theres nothing stopping you  pedestrians can see it from residential roads including Jarboe Street, Belleview Avenue and Madison Avenue. The channel is fenced off, so even residents cant get down in it to explore  but a few have bridges over it connecting their yards to their neighbors.

Want to tell us what makes your Kansas City neighborhood great? Reach out to the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
The Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China, in 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

The National Institutes of Health failed to provide adequate oversight of an American organization that funded controversial research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, according to a new government report that is sure to raise new questions about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report is evidence of major failures in past NIH oversight of high-risk research on enhanced potential pandemic pathogens, Rutgers molecular biologist Richard Ebright told Yahoo News in an email.

Issued by the inspector general of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, the new report says nothing about the origins of the coronavirus. For the most part, it concerns research that took place well before the first cases of what came to be known as SARS-CoV-2 were discovered in China in late 2019.

But it does note that the American organization in question, the EcoHealth Alliance, should have been more rigorously scrutinized by federal officials regarding assurances that its partner lab in Wuhan was not using U.S. funds to conduct gain-of-function research, which boosts viruses to study how they might evolve in nature.

The entire picture starts to look extremely disconcerting, mathematical biologist Alex Washburne told Yahoo News. He said that a project on coronaviruses originating in bats, for which the EcoHealth Alliance had given a grant to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, was clearly gain-of-function research.

Sen. Rand Paul at a Senate committee hearing in June 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)

Republicans seized on the findings, with Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky  a skeptic of virtually every aspect of the official coronavirus narrative  charging that the NIH failed to conduct adequate oversight.

China hawks will also be emboldened, accusing President Biden of not being forceful enough with the East Asian superpower.

But it is the NIH that is bound to face the most intense scrutiny. In a Twitter message, House Republicans promised that oversight & accountability are coming to the federal biomedical establishment, which has been celebrated by some but demonized by others.

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The new report is likely to feature prominently in hearings they plan to hold.

Politics aside, Wednesdays report raises important questions about how federal funds are monitored when they flow to foreign governments and organizations. Though the context is different, similar questions have been asked about the billions of dollars in U.S. military and civilian support to Ukraine.

Its a damning indictment of N.I.H., Georgetown University public health law expert Lawrence Gostin told the New York Times.

The main building of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

The new report examines a series of grants  $8 million total, awarded during both the Obama and Trump administrations  to EcoHealth Alliance, a New York-based nonprofit that subsequently sent a total of $598,611 to the Wuhan virology lab between 2015 and 2019.

The HHS inspector general, Christi Grimm, found that the NIH did not effectively monitor or take timely action to address EcoHealths compliance with some requirements to report research being conducted in Wuhan with U.S. funds.

Deficiencies in complying with those procedures limited NIH and EcoHealths ability to effectively monitor Federal grant awards and subawards to understand the nature of the research conducted, identify potential problem areas, and take corrective action, Grimm concluded.

The NIH raised concerns about some of the research EcoHealth was funding in China but ultimately did not put a halt to any of the work, Grimm wrote in her 64-page report. Crucially, EcoHealth failed to produce a progress report about its subgrants in the summer of 2019, just months before the advent of the coronavirus.

Despite these concerns, EcoHealth continues to work with the federal government; the organization was recently the recipient of $3 million from the Department of Defense to study viruses in the Philippines.

A security guard outside the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, where the coronavirus was detected in 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

In a statement, EcoHealth said it welcomes the inspector generals oversight and collaborated fully and transparently with this audit. The organization also provided point-by-point responses to the inspector generals findings that defended its work in China.

Since the first months of the pandemic, EcoHealth Alliance has been at the center of both legitimate and conspiratorial inquiries into how, and where, the coronavirus originated. Although it was originally thought that the virus originated at a wildlife market, no explanation has been sufficiently convincing to allow for anything approaching scientific consensus.

One attempted explanation is the so-called lab leak theory, which claims that the virus escaped from a laboratory  with the Wuhan Institute of Virology being the most likely candidate  into the general population. The hypothesis was initially dismissed as a conspiracy theory but has since been acknowledged as plausible by many experts.

Evidence, however, remains circumstantial, and most scientists subscribe to a model of pathogenesis involving an animal-to-person spillover. Ebola and HIV took the same route to becoming infectious diseases in the human population.

Wednesdays report could invigorate investigators who continue to believe that China is hiding crucial evidence, including about a potential accident.

The campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in May 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

When the pandemic began, EcoHealth president Peter Daszak argued that criticizing the zoonotic spillover hypothesis  that is, the notion that the coronavirus came from an animal, possibly one sold at a wildlife market  would only stoke xenophobia.

Daszak compelled members of the scientific community to sign a letter, published in February 2020 in the Lancet  one of the worlds most esteemed medical journals  criticizing the suggestion that a laboratory accident (a not-uncommon occurrence in either China or the West) could have been involved.

We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin, the letter said. Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus.

But after the extent of EcoHealth Alliances work in China became known in 2021, the Lancet had to publish an addendum acknowledging Daszaks potential conflict of interest in defending China.

The new report comes as House Republicans prepare to probe several aspects of the nations pandemic response, including how the virus originated. Among the lawmakers named to the committee is far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has suggested that the coronavirus was the result of a bioweapons experiment. She has accused Dr. Anthony Fauci of complicity in those experiments  of which no evidence exists  and called for his firing as the nations top infectious disease expert.

Fauci, who retired at the end of last year, has defended working with Chinese partners. But he has also conceded that much about how the virus came to be remains unknown.

I have a completely open mind, he said in November.
The claim: 90% of school shootings linked to antidepressants

A March 30 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) features a screenshot of a 2012 article written by conservative journalist Jerome Corsi.

"Psych meds linked to 90% of school shootings," reads the article's headline.

The body of the article says "some 90 percent of school shootings over more than a decade have been linked to a widely prescribed type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs."

The post garnered more than 1,000 likes in less than two weeks.

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Our rating: False

Researchers have not found any link between antidepressants and school shootings. Available studies suggest a minority of school shooters were prescribed medication prior to committing their crimes.

Experts found no causal link between shooters and medication

The shooter who killed three children and three staff members at a Nashville elementary school on March 27 was being treated for an emotional disorder before the attack, according to local police.

This revelation led some social media users to blame mental illness, and even medication, for school shootings.

The post shared on Instagram focuses on SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a commonly prescribed type of antidepressant used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.

But Dr. Ragy Girgis, an associate professor of clinical psychiatry at the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry and the lead researcher of a 2022 study on mass murders, told USA TODAY there's no evidence of a link between medication and shootings.

"SSRIs, and psych meds in general, are not responsible for mass shootings or violence in any way," Girgis said in an email. "Not only are a small minority of mass shooters ... taking therapeutic doses of these medications at the time of the mass shootings, but these psych meds have specific anti-violence properties.

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"What that means is that, if a mass murderer happens to be taking a psychiatric medication, the medication was probably incidental, as is nearly all mental illness when present among mass murderers."

Fact check: Posts falsely link Twitter user's bedroom to Nashville shooter

Daniel Mears, a professor of criminology at Florida State University, likewise pushed back on the notion that SSRIs are linked to school shootings.

"I am unaware of any consistent, credible accounts that provide strong evidence regarding the prevalence of SSRI usage in cases involving school shootings or a causal relationship between SSRIs and school shootings," Mears said in an email.

James Densley, the co-founder of the Violence Project, which tracks mass shootings in the U.S., told USA TODAY that the small percentage of school shooters being prescribed SSRIs isn't proof of a causal link.

"All because someone was prescribed an SSRI doesnt mean (a) they were taking it and (b) the SSRIs caused them to perpetrate their crime," he said. "This is a case of correlation, not causation, and one factor of many in the life histories of mass shooters."

Article exaggerates rate of shooters on medication

Between 2015 and 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 13.2% of American adults over 18 had taken antidepressants in the last 30 days. The percentage of school shooters who were taking antidepressants before their attack isn't much higher, according to several small studies.

The Violence Project created a Mass Shooter Database, which compiles data from all mass shootings in the U.S. since 1966. It shows only three of the 15 mass shooters who targeted a primary school had been prescribed SSRIs.

Fact check: Baseless 'false flag' conspiracy theory on Nashville shooting circulates online

On a broader scale, only 23% of all mass shooters in the U.S. were taking psychiatric medication before their attacks, according to a Voice of America article based on the database.

Psychologist Peter Langman, author of "School Shooters: Understanding High School, College, and Adult Perpetrators," discovered similar results when he studied a sample of 68 school shooters. Only eight of the 68 were using psychiatric medication at the time of their attacks.

Langman also found that many of the school shooters assumed to be taking psychiatric medication during their attacks had stopped using them before the shooting.

For example, Adam Lanza, who is heavily referenced in the article cited in the Instagram post, had only taken antidepressants for three days before quitting them five years before his attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School, according to his medical history. His autopsy showed no drugs were found in his system at the time of his death.

A 2019 study published by the National Library of Medicine examined news reports, court records and FBI Freedom of Information Act requests and found that most school shooters weren't treated with psychotropic medication before their attacks.

"Even when they were, no direct or causal association was found," reads part of the study's abstract.

The 2022 study led by Girgis and a research team at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York State Psychiatric Institute examined 82 mass murders in academic settings using data from the Columbia Mass Murder Database.

"Severe mental illness  e.g., psychosis  was absent in the majority of perpetrators," reads a Columbia University analysis of the study. "When present, psychotic symptoms were more often associated with mass murders involving means other than firearms."

USA TODAY reached out to the users who shared the post for comment.

Lead Stories debunked this claim as well, and PolitiFact previously debunked a similar version of the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: No link found between antidepressants and school shootings
The gravesites are not accessible because an apartment complex surrounds them and the cemetery is fenced in.

The family of a Black veteran buried at an overgrown African American cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida is calling for aid in the cleanup of the historic landmark.

The cemetery, which the St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church owns, recently was designated as the citys oldest African American cemetery, News4JAX reports. The grounds, however, are in poor condition. The gravesites are not accessible because the Stonemount Village apartments surround them and the cemetery is fenced in.

Family members of U.S. Air Force veteran Leon Holland said his gravesite is among those covered in weeds and trash.

An overgrown African American cemetery at the St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church Jacksonville, Florida. (Credit News4JAX YouTube)

Sean Leon Holland, who was named after his late uncle, noted the importance of the cemetery. There are stories that are buried beneath the rubble and in the weeds that need to come out, said Holland whose grandmother, Essie May Holland, is also buried there next to his uncle, News4JAX reports. This is not only a historic site, but this is a holy site.

The Holland family believes that considering Jacksonvilles military history, more should be done to honor these veterans. Meanwhile, church members have indicated that they need guidance from city officials on how to handle the grounds in light of the cemeterys landmark status, according to News4JAX.

One local chaplain from the Florida Baptist Relief Ministry has reportedly volunteered to assist in the cleanup.

U.S. Air Force veteranLeon Holland is buried in the St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in the Spring Park section of Jacksonville, Florida. (Credit: News4JAX YouTube)

Councilmember Matt Carlucci is also coordinating potential aid and resources with the relevant city departments, according to News4JAX.

Sean Leon Holland is adamant that the deceased Black servicemen and servicewomen should get their due. These veterans that are buried at Bethel cemetery deserve the same attention and the same honor as other veterans who gave their life for the betterment of this country. It is a shame and its hurtful, he said, referring to the awful state of the grounds.

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Activists across the country have worked to save historic African American cemeteries. TheGrio previously reported that activists in West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania and Connecticut have undertaken a similar fight as the Holland family.

For instance, a group of volunteers called Friends of Lebanon Cemetery in York, Pennsylvania, has worked for more than three years to uncover the headstones of several thousand people buried in the citys historic but neglected Black cemetery, CNN reports.

TheGrio freelance reporter Ny Magee contributed to this article.

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The post Family of Black veteran buried at overgrown cemetery calls for cleanup appeared first on TheGrio.
In the past three years, Charlotteans have been hit over and over with the news that its oldest restaurants are closing, and with the loss of Gus Sir Beef comes one more blow to the fabric of the city.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in early 2020, the city has lost staples including Bill Spoons, Chris Deli, Mr. Ks, Oakhurst Grill, Prices Chicken Coop, Sammys Deli and others. The restaurants were places where families would regularly stop in for lunch or dinner, gather for celebrations and get to know the staff as the years passed.

For some, the COVID pandemic was the last straw, coupled with rising rents and quickly changing neighborhoods. Charlottes appetite for new construction has pushed out many. And for others, who had run a restaurant for decades and reached retirement with no one to pass the restaurant onto, it was simply time to close.

These are the classic restaurants Charlotte has lost since 2020:

Bill Spoons BBQ

Location: 5524 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28217

The iconic Charlotte restaurant known for its vinegar-based Eastern North Carolina barbecue closed in September 2020. Over the years, lines that once wrapped around the building had diminished, Steve Spoon Jr., the grandson of founders Bill and Marie Spoon, said in a Facebook post.

Bill Spoons BBQ was a staple of South Boulevard in Charlotte.

Carpe Diem

Location: 1535 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204

Sisters Bonnie Warford and Tricia Maddrey founded the white tablecloth, fine dining restaurant Carpe Diem in 1989 and said in 2020 that they would have renewed their lease if not for COVID-19. Instead, they shifted some customer favorites to their other business, Earls Grocery, for takeout only. Earls Grocery eventually closed, as well.

The Charlotte Cafe

Location: The Arboretum shopping center, 8008 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28277

The Charlotte Cafe, which served Southern comfort foods for over 30 years, closed in December 2022. The cafes lease was not renewed or renegotiated by The Arboretum, owners Jimmy and Mary Roupas told The Charlotte Observer. Everything comes to an end, Jimmy Roupas said. The mom-and-pop shops are just a dying breed right now. Theyre being swallowed up.

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The Charlotte Cafe at the Arboretum in south Charlotte is closed after 30 years.

Chris Deli Restaurant

Location: 3619 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28205

Chris Deli Restaurant closed the 40-year-old deli shop on Independence Boulevard in April 2021. On the last day, a line stretched out the door (with people staying 6-feet apart). However, a Facebook post at the time said: We anticipate re-opening at a new location in the near future!

Chris Deli Restaurant closed at 3619 E. Independence Blvd. after serving Charlotte for 40 years.

Carolina Prime Steakhouse

Location: 225 E Woodlawn Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217

After a nearly 17-year run, the restaurant owned by George and Mary Liapis closed in May 2022. Tributes poured in from regular customers who were sorry to see it close.

After 17 years on Woodlawn Road, Carolina Prime Steakhouse closed after serving customers one last time on Mothers Day 2022.

Location: 4101 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205

Gus Sir Beef, a Charlotte staple since 1969 and the citys first farm-to-table restaurant, announced in April 2023 that it would close permanently. The restaurant first closed temporarily, with owner Thrace Bacogeorge healing from a knee injury. Gus Bacogeorge opened the restaurant in 1969, and his son, Thrace, took over in 2000. I have prayed long and hard over this decision; taking into account the need to repair my knee and the issues with the building, he said. Its not just me, its not just a landmark, it is not just my parents legacy, its a part of me. Its a place rich of heart and memories.

Thrace Bacogeorge, owner of Gus Sir Beef, interacts with a guest at the front counter.

READ NEXT: Its all Greek to Charlotte: Why our BBQ joints and pizza parlors are Greek-owned

Island Grocery and Grill

Location: 5861 Albemarle Road, Charlotte, NC 28212

After 20 years in East Charlotte, Island Grocery and Grill closed in November 2022. Lease negotiations for a longer term with The Colonnade shopping center landlord failed, the Caribbean restaurant and grocery store owner Caroline Coke told The Charlotte Observer. The restaurant, which served authentic hot and spicy barbecue-style Caribbean dishes and Jamaican patties, was known for specials like cow feet soup.

Caroline and Abigail Coke tend to a customer at Island Grocery and Grill on Albemarle Road in Charlotte before it closed in 2022.

Mr. Ks Soft Ice Cream

Location: 2107 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203

Mr. Ks closed in May 2021, shutting its doors after serving hamburgers and soft-serve ice cream for 54 years. Moving forward, what will remain (are) the good memories. I want to thank all our customers and all our friends, relatives and everyone who supported us over the past half century, owner George Dizes said. Its been a pleasure, its been an honor and were going to miss you as much as youre going to miss us.

Mr. Ks Soft Ice Cream owner George Dizes closed his iconic South Boulevard Charlotte business in 2021.

Novas Bakery

Location: 1511 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205

The Plaza Midwood staple for European-style bread shut its doors near the end of 2020. We are closing on December 13th our business after 26 years, it has been very difficult to maintain what we do since many of our customers has been out of business temporarily or permanently, co-owner Sladjana Novakovic emailed CharlotteFive at the time.

Novas Bakery on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood closed in 2020.

Oakhurst Grill

Location: 4111 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205

Owner John Polonyfis announced via a Facebook post that after 52 years, the carryout restaurant would close for good in May 2021. We are so grateful for the Oakhurst community for supporting us. Our customers are like family, Angelo Polonyfis, Johns father, told CharlotteFive. I just want to thank our customers and our employees; we are so grateful. The mom and pop shop was known for serving American classics with daily specials like fried chicken, meatloaf and hamburger steak.

After 52 years, Oakhurst Grill closed at the end of business on Saturday, May 29, 2021.

Prices Chicken Coop

Location: 1614 Camden Rd, Charlotte, NC 28203

The cash-only fried chicken joint in South End announced a June 2021 closure, leading to lines out the door and down the street. It is with heavy hearts that The Chicken Coop has decided to close our doors after 59 years of business due to the Labor shortage, rising food costs, food quality and another coin shortage, the Facebook post read. We thank everybody for their support and business over the years!

The line at Prices Chicken Coop in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday, June 17, 2021.

The Randazzos Grid Iron

Location: 13105 S Tryon St #9, Charlotte, NC 28278

The Randazzos Grid Iron closed its doors in April 2022. The restaurant originally opened in 2001, then Bobbi Randazzo and her late husband, Joe, took over in 2011, serving Italian food, steaks and more.

The Randazzos Grid Iron restaurant was known for its Italian dishes, steaks and bar food, offering diners a fun atmosphere to watch sports, play cornhole and relax.

Sammys Deli

Location: 1113 Pecan Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205

Sammys Deli, a Charlotte favorite serving no-frills breakfast and lunch in Plaza Midwood since 1997, closed in December 2020 after its location was sold for redevelopment.

Sammys Deli in Plaza Midwood closed its doors for good after 23 years of serving breakfast and lunch to the community.

Location: 440 Tyvola Road, Charlotte NC 28217

Location: 328 West Plaza Drive, Mooresville, NC 28117

The Sonnys franchise on Tyvola Road in Charlotte closed in April 2021, after the restaurant had served the St. Louis-style barbecue slow-smoked in house pork, brisket, chicken and ribs at the location for 40 years in August 2021, Sonnys franchise in Mooresville closed, too, after 19 years. Florida-based Sonnys has two other locations near Charlotte on Lyles Lane in Concord near Concord Mills and Cherry Road in Rock Hill.

Two longtime Charlotte area Sonnys BBQ locations closed in 2021.

Tizzerts

Location: 4205 Stuart Andrew Blvd., Suite E, NC 28217

Tizzerts owner Tiz Benson said the pandemic was too much for the bakeshop that opened in 1995 and was known for its buttercream frosting, and custom decorations on cakes and cupcakes. These times of COVID-19 are tough ones for so many, Benson said as the shop closed in 2021. Like many others, we simply cant compete with its grasp on our local economy ... our Tizzerts ovens are turned off.

Tizzerts, which sold cupcakes in seasonal flavors with custom decorations, closed in February 2021 after more than 25 years in business.

Upstream

Location: Phillips Place, 6800 Phillips Place Ct., Charlotte, NC 28210

Burke Hospitality announced in June 2020 that it would not reopen Upstream after a 20-year run. The upscale restaurant had closed its dining room in March 2020 due to the pandemic. Upstream garnered several accolades such as John Marianas Best New Restaurant of 2000 designation and the Zagat guides most popular restaurant rating.

At Phillips Place in Charlotte, Limani has taken over the 7,750-square-foot former Upstream restaurant space, which closed in 2020.

Zacks Hamburgers

Location: 4009 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28209

George and Elaine Demopoulos closed the restaurants doors for good on July 1, 2021. After so many years working 14 to 15 hour days, it has taken a toll on my body, George Demopoulos said. You know when it is time. For over four decades, Zacks served burgers and hot dogs, Southern plates, onion rings and milkshakes.
Juan Lecona speaks at a ceremony Monday before his first meeting as a member of the Oklahoma City Board of Education on April 10 at the Clara Luper Center for Educational Services.

For the first known time in Oklahoma City Public Schools history, an immigrant will sit on its school board, the district said.

Juan Lecona, 44, is a 1998 graduate of Capitol Hill High School, a father of four OKC district students and, as of 2008, a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Lecona, a tractor-trailer driver, ran uncontested to represent District 6 in southwest Oklahoma City. He succeeds Gloria Torres, who chose not to seek reelection after nine years of board service.

Stepping into Torres shoes wont be easy without having a background in education like his predecessor, Lecona said.

He sought out a school board seat to encourage anybody and anyone to become the first in their family to do something completely different.

More: Crazy at times, they say, but worthwhile. Here's how these rookie Oklahoma legislators are doing

Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Sean McDaniel welcomes new school board member Juan Lecona at a board meeting Monday at the Clara Luper Center for Educational Services.

Its something that Im very proud of, Lecona said. I know its going to be a lot of hard work, but Im ready for the challenge. Because I have to look at my mom.

My mom didnt quit. I am not going to quit.

Lecona was 12 when he and his family entered the United States from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, in 1990. His mother raised Lecona and his three younger siblings in Oklahoma City, and though they received financial help from Leconas father, their mother worked extra hours to provide for the household.

Simple pleasures like going out to eat were a luxury, he said.

Today, Lecona said he has a job he loves, driving a tractor-trailer 90 miles to Clinton and back every day. He and his wife, Lucy, have four children  the four reasons he sought out a school board seat.

Their oldest, Javier, graduated from Northwest Classen High School last May. Jorge, 16, is a Northwest Classen student, and their oldest daughter, 8-year-old Emily, attends Hawthorne Elementary. Their youngest, Itzel, 3, isnt in school yet.

Schools, staffing are top priorities for Juan Lecona

His top priority as a school board member, he said, is reducing class sizes.

Story continues

We need more schools (and) teachers, Lecona said. My oldest son, before COVID, when he was a freshman, he was like, Dad, theres like 30 kids in one class.

What does long COVID do to kids? What we've learned after a year of research.

The districts most populous school, U.S. Grant High School, sits in Leconas District 6. Northwest Classen has grown into the second-highest enrollment since more southside students were zoned to the school in 2019.

Despite Torres urging, the school board opted not to dedicate 2022 bond funds toward building a fourth high school in south Oklahoma City, which is home to three of the districts four most populated schools.

Former Oklahoma City Board of Education member Gloria Torres listens Monday at a ceremony celebrating incoming member Juan Lecona, who takes over Torres' District 6 seat on the board, at the Clara Luper Center for Educational Services.

Instead, administrators proposed adding 12 new classrooms at U.S. Grant and building a new, larger Capitol Hill High School.

Torres, the first Hispanic woman to serve on the Oklahoma City School Board, said the district has improved its community relations and service to Spanish-speaking families since she took office in 2014, but theres so much that we need to do to accomplish high rates of attendance, graduation, academic achievement and teacher retention.

And though Torres said she's focused on the tasks ahead, she felt comfortable stepping away to allow a new leader from the Hispanic community emerge.

It was time to file (for office) again, and I started hearing that there was somebody interested in being more engaged and doing a little bit more but wasnt sure that they could do something like this, Torres said. Thats part of what we try to do is support each other and encourage others to step into those leadership roles.

Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nurias work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Father of 4 becomes first immigrant on OKC school board
The creative personnel behind Delicious Romance, an upcoming film adapted from a popular online series, shared behind-the-scenes stories at Beijing Foreign Studies University at an event held on April 8.

Co-directed by filmmakers Leste Chen and Hsu Chao-jen, the movie is best described as a Chinese equivalent of the American hit Sex and the City. Starring actresses Li Chun, Zhang Hanyun and Wang Ju as three best friends, the story follows their personal challenges in career, family and love, examining the status quo of women in modern metropolises.

The film features the same cast as the namesake online series streamed in 2021, which was also directed by Chen and Hsu. The series, consisting of 20 episodes, gained popularity and earned an 8.1 out of 10 on the review aggregator Douban. It was also released in overseas markets such as South Korea.

During the promotional event, the three actresses performed the movie's theme song Girl Power with four students in five languages.

Director Chen said the movie aims to convey a positive message, encouraging young audiences to bravely follow their heart against the odds and overcome their stress.

The movie will be released in domestic theaters on April 15.
A 54-year-old man is accused of shooting his 21-year-old son to death in their home in Kansas Citys East Blue Valley neighborhood.

Prosecutors charged Jose P. Pilar, of Kansas City, with second degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Raul Sanchez. As of Monday, Pilar was being held in the Jackson County jail on a $150,000 cash bond.

On April 1, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of Cambridge Avenue on a reported shooting. Responding officers found the door to a residence ajar and signs of a crime scene.

Police were later told that Sanchez, the 21-year-old shooting victim, had been taken to North Kansas City Hospital by private vehicle. He was pronounced dead there.

Witnesses told police the pair were drinking and then arguing on the front porch that night about having a family friend over to visit. It somehow spiraled toward violence, according to court documents, after both came back in the house.

One witness told police she heard the sound of a gun being loaded and saw Pilar shoot Sanchez. Afterward, Pilar allegedly left the house while threatening to shoot himself.

Others also described hearing gunfire and finding Sanchez in the living room with multiple gunshot wounds. Family members picked him up and took him to the hospital, according to court documents.

The charges were filed April 4 in Jackson County Circuit Court under seal. Charging documents were made public Monday following Pilars arrest and initial court appearance.

Pilar was scheduled to appear for a bond hearing April 17.
Mourners carry the body of Lucy Dee (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) (AP)

Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of a British-Israeli woman who died of her wounds three days after her two daughters were killed in a terrorist attack which has been condemned as abhorrent by Rishi Sunak.

Lucy Dee, 48, died on Monday from injures suffered during the shooting attack in the West Bank on Friday which killed her daughters Rina, 15, and Maia, 20.

Rabbi Leo Dee said his daughters were killed by 20 bullets from a Kalashnikov rifle and his wife was shot twice in the suspected Palestinian shooting on Friday.

The funeral, held at the Kfar Etzion settlement south of Jerusalem on Tuesday, was packed with mourners who sang and swayed during the service.

Rabbi Dee, who was accompanied by his three remaining children, said: Lucy, I have a choice: I could lament over the next 25 years of marriage that Ive lost, but I actually feel blessed to have had 25 years of a beautiful marriage with you.

Lucy Dee (left), and daughters Rina (centre) and Maia were shot at close range (Family handout)

He added: If we support the good and reject the evil, then we can all play our part in building a better world.

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 UK Prime Minister said: The killing of British-Israeli citizens, Maia, Rina and Lucy Dee is abhorrent.

The UK condemns this appalling attack on civilians and I send my deepest condolences to Rabbi Dee and his family.

We continue to urge all sides to de-escalate tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and end the deadly cycle of violence.

The attack took place during a wave of violence across the region which has continued in recent days.

Israels ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely said: The whole of Israel stands united with Rabbi Leo Dee and his family, following the horrific murder of his wife and two daughters.
Democrats and even some Republicans have proposed a novel approach to a Texas judges ruling against the abortion pill: Just ignore it.

Behind the idea is a concept known as enforcement discretion, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regularly uses in order to make products more accessible.

Lawmakers including Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) have called for the FDA to ignore the opinion from U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk suspending the FDAs approval of mifepristone.

Federal officials have so far been cool to the suggestion; an official at Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said Monday it would set a dangerous precedent.

However, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra has said all options remain on the table as the Biden administration seeks to protect access to standard abortion care.

Heres what you need to know about the debate into whether a federal agency can ignore a judicial order.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra

Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing to discuss the presidents fiscal 2024 budget for the Department on March 22. (Annabelle Gordon)

How the FDA ignores regulations

In some specific cases, the FDA practices enforcement discretion, in which the agency chooses to not impose regulations and requirements on products and manufacturers, oftentimes to ensure an adequate supply will be available.

Enforcement discretion is not simply the FDA turning a blind eye to rules or requirements. Regulators issue public guidance on their intent to not enforce specific regulations and these decisions are usually temporary.

For example, the federal government put enforcement discretion into use at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when hand sanitizer became scarce. Temporary guidelines were released in March 2020 allowing manufacturers that are not normally drug makers to create hand sanitizer. These guidelines were withdrawn by the end of 2021.

Story continues

Biden: Texas judges ruling on abortion pill completely out of bounds

David Cohen, law professor at the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, compared enforcement discretion to a police officer who chooses not to penalize jaywalkers despite the fact they are breaking a law.

Just like any other law enforcement agency, they determine they cant enforce everything. They dont have the human beings. They dont have the ability to do that. So they have to pick and choose, and the FDA picks and chooses based on the safety of the drug, Cohen told The Hill.

What lawmakers are arguing

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) reacts during a meeting at the Chhaya Community Development Corporation on July 6, 2022, in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

As early as February, when the case in Texas was still being argued, Wyden urged the Biden administration and the FDA to ignore Kacsmaryks ruling if he decided in favor of blocking mifepristones authorization.

There are moments in history where Americans and their leaders must look at circumstances like this one and say, Enough. Not lets see how the appeals process plays out, or lets hope Congress can fix this down the road. Just, Enough, the senator said in a floor speech.

Ocasio-Cortez argued there was an extraordinary amount of precedent for the White House to ignore the ruling, saying it was not unheard of to practice consistency in governance until there is a higher court ruling.

Democratic governors are stockpiling abortion pills in the wake of Texas ruling

Mace spoke out against extreme views on abortion, saying the vast majority of Americans are somewhere in the middle when it comes to the abortion debate.

I think that that 90 percent would be OK with listening to the FDA rather than a judge who used an old law that was determined unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, she said.

Historical precedent

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) speaks during a hearing to discuss the presidents fiscal 2024 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services on March 22.

Wyden pointed back to when former President Lincoln decided to ignore the Supreme Courts ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford, which found that men of African descent could never be American citizens.

Lincoln pushed back against this decision as erroneous, arguing how it was not unanimous and had not been reaffirmed by other cases.

Lawmakers like Mace have also zeroed in on Kacsmaryks references to the Comstock Act in his opinion. The 1873 law banned mailing contraceptives, but legal experts have pointed out that it hasnt been enforced in decades.

And the Supreme Court previously ruled in favor of federal agencies deciding to not pursue regulatory enforcement.

What to expect as legal battle heats up over Texas abortion ruling

In the 1984 case of Heckler v. Chaney, death row inmates argued that the drug used for executions was not approved for use in executing human beings and the FDA should enforce the regulations preventing it from being used.

The FDA declined to enforce the laws that the plaintiffs alleged was being violated and a district court initially ruled that the departments decision to not enforce was not judicially reviewable.

This ruling was appealed, but the Supreme Court ultimately affirmed the FDAs decision to not pursue enforcement was not judicially reviewable under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The abortion pill wont be going away

In the case of mifepristone, Kacsmaryk has ruled to block its authorization for use in inducing abortions. However, it remains unclear if this extends to the manufacturing and sale of the drug. His ruling is set to go into effect at the end of this week.

Mifepristone still has approval as a drug separate from the authorization for use in chemical abortions. The FDA in 2012 approved mifepristone under the name Korlym as a drug to treat hyperglycemia in patients with Cushing syndrome.

Drug companies slam Texas judges ruling on abortion pill

If authorization of mifepristone is ultimately blocked, the FDA could theoretically adhere to Kacsmaryks order while also choosing to not enforce penalties on providers who prescribe and distribute it for abortions  which experts noted has been done before (such as in the Heckler v. Chaney case).

Tacitly allowing mifepristone to remain on the market would be supported by the more than 20 years since it has been approved, in which evidence overwhelmingly showed it to be a safe and effective medicine.

Experts are skeptical

But even if the FDA decided to cite historical precedent in ignoring the ruling, public health experts are wary of this option due to the uncertainty it could create.

Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told The Hill that enforcement discretion wouldnt protect health care providers from consequences outside of the FDA.

Does not mean that you still cant be sued by somebody. Does not mean that if youre a licensed professional that your licensing board couldnt come after you based on a complaint, Benjamin said.

If youre in a state that has put restrictions on abortion then there are a bunch of state agencies that can come after you, including probably the attorney general.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
supreme court Getty Images / Douglas Rissing

The lone federal judge in Amarillo, Texas, ruled Friday evening that the Food and Drug Administration had improperly approved the abortion drug mifepristone in 2000 and purported to rescind the approval and ban the U.S. Postal Service from transporting the drug through the mail. Medication abortion, which typically uses a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, is the most common method of terminating a pregnancy in the U.S., especially after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The judge, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, paused his ruling for seven days, until April 14, to give the Biden administration time to appeal the nationwide injunction on the sale of mifepristone. The Justice Department appealed the ruling right away, but some Democrats and legal analysts urged the FDA to just disregard Kacsmaryk's decision entirely.

"No matter what happens in seven days, I believe the Food and Drug Administration has the authority to ignore this ruling, which is why I'm again calling on President Biden and the FDA to do just that," said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee that oversees the FDA. "The FDA, doctors, and pharmacies can and must go about their jobs like nothing has changed and keep mifepristone accessible to women across America."

"This ruling is an extreme abuse of power" as well as "a mockery of our democracy and a mockery of our law," and if the courts uphold it, the executive branch should use its "enforcement discretion" to simply "ignore" the ruling, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y. ) agreed on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. "I do not believe that the courts have the authority over the FDA that they just asserted, and I do believe that it creates a crisis."

The FDA and legal experts of all political persuasions said Kacsmaryk's ruling had significant problems, "from misstated science, to a long-expired statute of limitations, to a lack of standing," The Texas Tribune reports. But can the FDA really just ignore the ruling from a federal judge?

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What are the commentators saying?

The ruling by Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Donald Trump well known for his strong anti-abortion views, "is a travesty  for women's health care, principles of democracy, notions of judicial impartiality, and the rule of law," Cardozo Law School professor Kate Shaw writes in The New York Times. "The Biden administration should be swift and forceful in its response," deploying "every tool available to highlight the lawlessness of what the judge has done and to limit any damage that may occur."

The White House should start with appealing the ruling, but it "must recognize that adherence to well-worn norms  for instance, an orderly appeals process  is less consistent with a principled commitment to the rule of law than more aggressive responses to lawlessness," Shaw said. And legally, the FDA would be well within its rights to "exercise its enforcement discretion" and not enforce Kacsmaryk's ruling.

Ocasio-Cortez pointed to a legal precedent called "agency nonacquiescence," which an article in the Maine Law Review defines as "the refusal by administrative agencies to follow the decisions of lower federal courts"  though the same article cautioned that nonacquiescence "implicates grave separation of powers concerns," and the "presumed benefits" may not "outweigh the harms that nonacquiescence presents to the judiciary and the development of administrative law."

Ignoring Kacsmaryk's "outrageous decision" could also backfire, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) told Politico. "I get the sentiment, because this is a truly infuriating situation," she said. "But the key thing that needs to happen right now is making sure this decision is quickly appealed and reversed in court." White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre agreed Monday. "We are ready to fight this," she said, but "as a dangerous precedent is set for the court to set aside the FDA's and expert judgment regarding a drug's safety and efficiency, it will also set a dangerous precedent for this administration to disregard a binding decision."

The Democratic lawmakers advising Biden and the FDA to ignore the ruling "are doing their jobs  it's their job to push the White House and agencies like the FDA," said NARAL President Mini Timmaraju. "We need lawmakers from blue states getting out there and calling public attention to this case and raising awareness."

What happens next?

"The FDA can use their enforcement discretion and say, even though the drug is unapproved, we're not going to go after anyone for selling, manufacturing or dispensing this unapproved drug," Greer Donley, a University of Pittsburgh law professor who studies FDA law, told The Texas Tribune. But unless a higher court intercedes, "in seven days, this will become an unapproved drug."

At the same time, "Judge Kacsmaryk is not all-powerful," Donley writes at Slate with fellow law professors David S. Cohen and Rachel Rebouche. Not only does the FDA retain "a huge amount of authority," but the ruling is narrower than what he would have you believe, affecting fewer people. It rests on shakier legal ground than generally understood, and its medical argument is meritless," they add. "To be clear, mifepristone is one of the most studied drugs in this country. The evidence shows that it is safer than penicillin, Viagra, and thousands of other drugs the FDA has approved. There is no evidence that the FDA acted improperly in approving mifepristone."

Still, "if the administration concludes that it must abide by the opinion from Judge Kacsmaryk, it should do so while beginning an expedited process of approving the drug again, a process that responds to the purported flaws that he identified with the FDA's previous approvals," Shaw writes at the Times.

And even if Kacsmaryk somehow wins, and the FDA complies, it won't end medication abortion. Americans already buy mifepristone from overseas, and his ruling "applies to just mifepristone, not misoprostol," she adds. "Studies show that misoprostol is safe and effective when used alone to end early pregnancies. But there is also some evidence that it creates worse cramping and other effects when used alone than when paired with mifepristone." So more pain, perhaps, but no real gain for Kacsmaryk or his allies.

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A North Texas man convicted of dealing methamphetamine has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, officials said.

David Devaney Sr., 59, was sentenced Thursday, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas. He and his son David Devaney Jr., 36, of Fort Worth, were found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance in November. Devaney Jr. is scheduled for sentencing May 4.

Cory Litts, 36, pleaded guilty to the same charges and in April was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison, according to the release.

Lester Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Dallas, said drug trafficking creates a dangerous culture that impacts everyone.

As long as this illicit activity exists, we are all susceptible to the violence and societal ills of the drug trade, he said in the release.

Devaney Sr. and his son also face capital murder charges in the June death of Kathryn Bryan, 64, of Arlington. Bryan was on her way home after work when she was struck and killed by stray gunfire exchanged among six men after a drug deal gone wrong, investigators said.

Devaney Jr. denied any involvement with the shooting, according to the release, but told law enforcement officials that his father just kept sucking me in to dealing drugs.
The Colorado River cuts its path through southern Utah near Moab on Friday, July 22, 2022. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

It would be a first in U.S. history if it happens, and if it happens, it would upend a 100-year-old water sharing agreement among seven states and Mexico that depend on water from the drought-challenged, over-diverted Colorado River.

The Biden administration, through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, released a draft environmental impact statement Tuesday that proposes to shave water deliveries to California, Nevada and Arizona by as much as one-fourth of what they receive now.

Utah and other Upper Basin states  Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico  dont face any cuts under the draft.

It is unprecedented, but an acknowledgement of the seven states being unable to come to an agreement on what water reductions need to be made to save the ailing Colorado River, on which 40 million people depend and which irrigates more than 5 million acres of farmland.

Drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin have been two decades in the making. To meet this moment, we must continue to work together, through a commitment to protecting the river, leading with science and a shared understanding that unprecedented conditions require new solutions, said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. The draft released today is the product of ongoing engagement with the basin states and water commissioners, the 30 basin tribes, water managers, farmers and irrigators, municipalities and other stakeholders. We look forward to continued work with our partners in this critical moment.

Lake Powells bathtub ring, a light-colored coating of mineral deposits, is seen on canyon walls on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

The potential cuts comes as both Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the nations two largest reservoirs, have reached crippling low water levels amid a 23-year-long drought that threatens power generation, livelihoods and drinking water supplies for millions in the arid Southwest.

The bureau earlier issued an edict to the seven basin states to reach an agreement on water conservation and reductions on their own  or else it would act to achieve curtailments.

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Related

The Colorado River Basin provides water for more than 40 million Americans. It fuels hydropower resources in eight states, supports agriculture and agricultural communities across the West, and is a crucial resource for 30 tribal nations. Failure is not an option, said Interiors Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau. Recognizing the severity of the worsening drought, the Biden-Harris administration is bringing every tool and every resource to bear through the Presidents Investing in America agenda to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System now and into the future.

The alternatives presented in the draft environmental analysis tackles actions that may be taken under Secretary of the Interior Deb Haalands authority to protect system operations in the face of unprecedented hydrologic conditions, while providing equitable water allocations to Lower Basin communities that rely on the Colorado River system, according to the agency.

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The draft analysis will be available for public comment for 45 calendar days and the final report is anticipated to be available with an official decision this summer. The document will inform the August decisions that will affect next years operations for Glen Canyon and Hoover dams.

The intake towers of Hoover Dam near Boulder City, Nev. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Under the compact signed by the seven states in 1922, the Upper Basin states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming are to allow 7.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water to flow unimpeded to their partner states in the Lower Basin.

Gene Shawcroft, chairman of the Colorado River Authority of Utah and Utahs river commissioner, has said that delivery has never been cut short, but actually exceeded that amount in many years.

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Upper Basin states have complained that the Lower Basin states of Nevada, Arizona and California have over-developed their allocation of Colorado River water through the years, helping to create an unsustainable hydrological dilemma. While states did come up with water conservation and curtailment plans to meet the bureaus mandate, California was a holdout and put together its own plan because it wanted credit for loss of water due to evaporation.

In February, six of the states sharing the Colorado River submitted what they described as a Consensus Based Modeling Alternative to the reclamation bureau. While not a formal agreement, they say it provides a step toward helping the federal agency as it crafts this environmental review released Tuesday.

This next proposed step by the Biden administration builds on earlier investments to help save the Colorado River, which has been described as the hardest-working river in the country, or the workhorse of the West.

Those investments include:

The Colorado River is visible flowing through the Grand Canyon as seen from the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

Paper copies of the analysis are available for public review at the Lower Colorado Basin Regional Office, 500 Fir Street, Boulder City, Nevada, and at the Upper Colorado Basin Regional Office, 125 South State St., Room 8100, Salt Lake City, as well as area offices within the Colorado River Basin. Those offices and their locations can be found on the Bureau of Reclamations website. The deadline for comments is May 30.

The bureau is also hosting a series of virtual meetings for additional information on the proposal.
A fifth victim has died following the Monday mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville, the citys police department confirmed.

Louisville Metro Police identified the victim as Deana Eckert, 57, in a tweet posted just after 9 p.m.

According to Eckerts social media profiles, she was an executive administrative officer at Old National Bank, where the shooting took place.

Four other victims  all bank employees  were identified earlier in the day.

Police identified the victims as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 57; and James Tutt, 64. Elliott was a close personal friend of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Eight other people were injured in the incident, including three police officers, LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a 3 p.m. press conference.

Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was shot in the head while responding to the scene and remains in critical condition following emergency surgery at the University of Louisville Hospital. Additionally, one officer was grazed on the left side and another suffered minor injuries to the elbow.

Wilt was sworn in as an LMPD officer just 10 days ago, Gwinn-Villaroel said.

As of the afternoon update, U of L Hospital had received nine total patients from the Old National Bank shooting. Of those, three were in critical condition, three remained 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, Dr. Jason W. Smith said.

The assailant also died at the scene after being shot by responding officers.

Police said 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, who had worked at the bank, was responsible for the shooting.

Police have not released any information about Sturgeons motive, but have confirmed he live-streamed the shooting on social media and used a rifle in the attack.
Holding back tears and standing a safe distance away, photographer and Outer Banks resident, Jenni Koontz, captured the moment the Atlantic Ocean claimed yet another house in Rodanthe, North Carolina, last month. Just last year, four oceanfront homes collapsed into the ocean along the coastline in Rodanthe on Hatteras Island, which is part of North Carolina's famous Outer Banks. And officials warn more homes will likely succumb to the ocean this year.

"You can hear it crumbling and the glass breaking, and you can hear it just getting ripped apart," Koontz told AccuWeather National Reporter Jillian Angeline. "It was really insane."

Jenni Koontz talks with AccuWeather National Reporter Jillian Angeline about the recent house collapse in North Carolina. (AccuWeather)

On March 13, a one-story home located at 23228 East Point Drive, about a mile north of where two houses collapsed last May, collapsed into the ocean. Koontz, who was walking along the beach at the time, had a front-row seat to the disaster. With tears in her eyes, she watched as someone's hard work and a house full of memories got swept away by the crashing waves.

"It was like a movie ... I was emotional the whole time," said Koontz. "It wasn't my house; it's not my piece of land. It's not my home, I've never stayed in that house, but I was actually fighting back tears."

According to The Free Island Press, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was deemed unsafe for occupancy last year. That is when the homeowners turned off the electricity.

While the bulk of the debris was mostly contained to the site, park officials warned visitors to use caution when on the nearby beach.

The elevated surf and gusty winds that occurred during the middle of March are what inevitably brought down the house, WAVY reported.

The Outer Banks are a chain of narrow, low-lying barrier islands that protect the mainland of North Carolina from dangerous storm surges and coastal storms. However, this makes the area susceptible to those dangers from the ocean.

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"Over time, that sandy beach completely eroded into the ocean. Even the dunes went away," David Hallac, the superintendent of the National Parks of Eastern North Carolina, told Angeline. "So now the high tide line is, in some cases, under the homes."

Coastal erosion is inevitable, but the erosion rate along the North Carolina coast is significantly high. Where this house in Rodanthe crumbled into the ocean, the coastal erosion rate is about 12 feet per year, according to the Coastal Resource Commission's interactive map, and there are no signs of it slowing down.

Coastal erosion has brought the coastline closer to many beachfront homes. A photo from May 2022 shows waves crashing down just a few feet away from several houses. (AccuWeather)

According to Hallac, residents will have to adapt to the ever-changing coastline along the Outer Banks. This involves costly tasks, such as moving their homes to a different piece of land.

Jeff Scott, the president of Scott Team Realty in the Outer Banks, says the recent house collapse is bad news for his business.

"When houses fall in, I lose business," Scott told Angeline in an interview.

Scott says he'd like to see more areas participate in beach nourishment programs to protect homes better.

"Besides money, you need sand," said Scott. "If you don't have both of those, then it's not going to be feasible."

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.
FRAMINGHAM  Two finalists have been named to become the next principal at Potter Road Elementary School.

A screening committee has narrowed the choices to Alana Cyr, principal at the Fannie E. Proctor Elementary School in Northborough; and Jennifer Herring, social justice curriculum and data analyst for Framingham Public Schools.

Potter's current principal, Larry Wolpe, is leaving for a position in Acton Public Schools.

Prior to being principal at the Proctor School in Northborough, Cyr was an assistant principal and a special education teacher and liaison at the Florence Sawyer School in Bolton. She was also education coordinator at the Doctor Franklin Perkins School in Lancaster.

Cyr holds a bachelor of science degree and master's degree in moderate disabilities from Fitchburg State University.

Along with her Framingham job, Herring is an adjunct professor in Lesley University's Center for Special Education's trauma program.

Top Flyer: Meet Framingham High School's new principal who will start this fall

She was previously a vice principal at the King Elementary School in Framingham; an administrative apprentice in Lawrence; and an English language arts teacher in Cambridge.

Herring holds a bachelor of arts degree in theater from Gordon College, a master of education degree in psychological studies from Cambridge College and doctor of philosophy in educational leadership from Lesley University.

No more interim: Framingham Public Schools has named a permanent principal at the Brophy School

From 7-8:10 p.m. Tuesday, there will be a virtual "Meet the Candidates" forum for staff and community members via zoom. Community members will be allowed to ask questions and there will be Spanish and Portuguese interpreters. Visit https://fpsed-org.zoom.us/j/8358056781.

Potter Road Elementary School serves students in grades K-5. Several years ago, it launched a dual-language program, where students are taught in two different languages.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Two finalists Framingham Potter Road Elementary School
LOS ANGELES (AP)  An offshore pipeline involved in a 2021 oil spill that fouled Southern California beaches is being put back in service, the operator said.

Amplify Energy Corp. said Monday that it received approval from federal regulatory agencies to restart operations and last weekend began the process of filling the pipeline, which is expected to take about two weeks.

Following the line fill process, the pipeline will be operated in accordance with the restart procedures that were reviewed and approved by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Houston-based company said in a press release.

The pipeline carries oil to shore from platforms in San Pedro Bay, near the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors.

Amplify Energy recently announced a settlement with companies associated with two ships it accused of dragging anchors and striking the pipeline during a January 2021 storm, leading to the spill of 25,000 gallons (94,600 liters) of crude oil months later.

The approval from federal regulatory agencies and the receipt of $85 million in net proceeds from the vessels that struck and damaged our pipeline substantially concludes a very challenging last 18 months for the Company, Amplify said.

While less severe than initially feared, the oil spill created a miles-wide sheen in the ocean and sent blobs of crude ashore, primarily impacting the cities of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. It further shuttered beaches for a week and fisheries for more than a month, oiled birds and threatened area wetlands.

Southern California fishermen, tourism companies and property owners sued Amplify and the shipping vessels seeking compensation for their losses. Amplify agreed to pay $50 million and the vessel companies agreed to pay $45 million to settle those lawsuits.

Amplify also reached a plea deal with federal authorities for negligently discharging crude.
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Photo taken on June 12, 2022 shows yellow pitaya in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]



China has imported pitaya from Ecuador for the first time, with 420 kilograms of yellow pitaya arriving in Shanghai on Monday.

The batch of pitaya was packed into 168 cartons, each weighing 2.5 kilograms, and it arrived in Shanghai after a three-day flight from Quito, the capital of Ecuador, according to customs authorities at the Pudong airport, which has opened a green channel for these rare fruits to ensure rapid customs clearance.

Yellow pitaya is similar to dragon fruit but sweeter. It has a high nutritional value and its cost is several times that of standard imported dragon fruit.

In July 2022, China's General Administration of Customs officially allowed the import of Ecuadorian pitaya that meets relevant requirements.
Chicago will play host to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, the party announced Tuesday, putting the Windy City and the Midwest as a whole front-and-center in next years presidential campaign.

President Biden and Democratic National Committee (DNC) leaders ultimately chose Chicago over Atlanta, which was viewed as the next closest competitor, as well as New York City.

Here are five reasons why Democrats ultimately opted for Chicago, which lasted hosted a Democratic convention in 1996.

The Blue Wall argument

The political case for Chicago relied on the importance of the Midwest battleground states, with neighboring Wisconsin and Michigan especially pivotal not just in the presidential contest, but in Senate, House and state-level races as well.

The governors of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, along with federal and local representatives from each of those states, wrote to Biden and DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison last month to argue that picking Chicago would be a nod to the political importance of the Midwest.

The general election in 2024 will be a battle with many fronts, and the Midwest will be the hardest fought of all, the leaders wrote. That is why in 2024, we must do everything we can to ensure the blue wall becomes an impenetrable blue fortress. Holding the convention in the Midwest is a serious, meaningful endorsement of our values.

The Blue Wall of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania has been central to Democrats winning the White House for decades. Biden carried all three states in 2020, flipping each of them after former President Donald Trump narrowly won them in 2016.

Chicagos convention bid was supported by a wide range of midwestern Democrats who represent the diversity of the party, demonstrating the formidable coalition that will help elect Democrats up-and-down the ticket in 2024, the DNC said in a statement Tuesday.

Republicans will host their 2024 convention in nearby Milwaukee, Wis., underscoring the importance of the region.

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Some Democrats had forcefully argued Atlanta made more sense from a political perspective, making the case that Georgia was an increasingly purple state that helped Democrats secure both the White House and control of the Senate in recent elections.

While it is disappointing that we will not gather in Atlanta in 2024 you can count on southern Democrats to be there with bells and whistles on to help you and @JoeBiden cause a little #GoodTrouble2024 in Chicago! former Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), a close Biden ally who advocated for an Atlanta convention, tweeted Tuesday.

Event infrastructure

Officials who have staffed previous conventions emphasized in interviews with The Hill that politics is far from the only factor in choosing a host city, and may not even be the most important.

Much of the decision ultimately comes down to whether a city is prepared to handle the influx of thousands of visitors  delegates, donors, media and party officials  and all that comes with it.

Supporters of the Chicago bid believe the city is up to the task.

Chicago has hosted several Democratic conventions before, most recently in 1996 and most notoriously in 1968, when the event was marred by protests.

The United Center, home to the NBAs Bulls and NHLs Blackhawks, has nearly 2 million square feet of event space and can hold nearly 21,000 people.

The city has two major airports, a well-established public transportation system, and hundreds of hotels in the city itself and the broader metropolitan area.

Chicagos milder climate in the summer compared to Atlanta was also a draw, and it is located more centrally than either Atlanta or New York City, making it easier for donors, lawmakers and media to get there in the heart of campaign season.

Strong union presence

One factor that aided Chicagos bid over Atlanta in particular was the citys strong union presence, something that appealed to Biden and his public image as a strong supporter of organized labor.

Labor advocates were skeptical of an Atlanta convention, noting that many of the citys hotels do not have unions and the state as a whole is not as labor-friendly as Chicago and Illinois.

Bob Reiter, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, which represents more than 500,000 union members in the city, called Chicago and the Midwest the center of the Labor Movement.

In a tweet responding to news of Chicago hosting the convention, Reiter noted Illinois last year passed a workers rights amendment to guarantee a broad right to collective bargaining in the state. He also pointed to the support of organized labor in electing the Democratic candidate in a critical Wisconsin supreme court race earlier this month.

A Democratic-controlled state and city

Part of the pitch from Illinois leaders was that the city and state are a bastion of liberal values and boast unified Democratic-led governments.

Gov. JB Pritzker (D), who has been floated as a potential presidential candidate in the event Biden opts not to run for re-election, has overseen the passage of a slew of Democratic priorities during his four years in office to date.

The governor and state legislature have approved a $15 minimum wage, ended cash bail, banned assault weapons and passed protections for gender-affirming care and abortion procedures at a time when both of those are being rolled back in GOP-led states.

In Chicago itself, the city last week elected Brandon Johnson, a former teacher and Chicago Teachers Union organizer, in a major win for progressives, defeating the more centrist Paul Vallas.

Chicago is a world-class city that looks like America and demonstrates the values of the Democratic Party, Johnson said in a statement Tuesday.

By comparison, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has in recent years signed laws restricting abortion access and gender affirming care, as well as an election law that Biden likened to Jim Crow 2.0.

A degree of cost certainty

National conventions are expensive endeavors, with cities footing the bill for security, event space and other logistical hurdles. The expected price tag for next years convention is between $80 million and $100 million.

Pritzker and his allies have sought to eliminate any concerns about cost, however, insisting they would be able to raise the necessary money.

Politico reported in March that the governor, his sister and former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts and businessman Michael Sacks had discussions about providing resources to fund the citys convention bid.

Pritzker himself has an estimated net worth of more than $3 billion, and his family owns the Hyatt hotel chain.

Im thrilled Chicago has been selected to host the #2024DNC! Pritzker tweeted Tuesday. I look forward to welcoming everyone to the Midwest & showing off our diverse communities, impeccable hospitality, and world-renowned venues. There is no better place to tell the story of @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden will travel to his ancestral homeland this week, a closely watched visit as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of the peace deal between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Biden, who often touts his Irish heritage, has repeatedly underscored the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and will do so again this week. The president is also set to address the Irish parliament and visit two counties where he has family ties.

Here are five things to watch for Bidens visit:

Support for Good Friday Agreement

The main stated purpose for the trip is for Biden to commemorate 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which was struck on April 10, 1998.

The agreement between former British and Irish prime ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern and former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell (D-Maine) ended the conflict, often called The Troubles, in mostly Northern Ireland between predominantly Catholic Ireland and predominantly Protestant England.

The United Kingdoms exit in 2020 from the European Union, though, had sparked renewed concerns about the possibility of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, upsetting the agreement that has maintained peace for decades.

Biden and other leading Democrats have repeatedly affirmed their support for the agreement and argued that any deal struck in the aftermath of Brexit should retain the peace established 25 years ago. Its a message Biden will carry with him during a speech at Ulster University on Wednesday.

Hell underscore the readiness of the US to preserve those gains and support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities, said John Kirby, a White House national security spokesperson. President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there.

Kirby added that the Good Friday Agreement is a deal that Biden has a personal connection to and obviously is very proud to see has really changed lives and livelihoods in Northern Ireland.

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Sunak meeting in Belfast

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to greet Biden at his first stop in Belfast and the two will participate in a bilateral meeting.

The two leaders will likely discuss the Windsor Framework, a new trade agreement aimed at allowing goods to flow freely to Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen brokered the deal last month, ending a dispute that had loomed since the U.K. voted in 2016 to leave the European Union.

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss had backed the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which critics say would risk violating international law by suspending parts of the agreement. Biden, in a meeting with her last September, set the stage for more conversations on her stance when he reiterated his commitment to the Good Friday Agreement.

But, Truss resigned from her role after just 45 days in office, and Sunak won a leadership contest to become prime minister in October.

Biden and Sunak met last month in San Diego, Calif., during which Sunak said he hopes Biden will make the trip to commemorate the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The presidents visit to Belfast comes as there has been an uptick in violence in Northern Ireland tied to people who oppose Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom. Police have increased the domestic terrorism threat level ahead of Bidens visit.

Emphasis on Irish heritage

The president is expected to travel to two Irish counties, Louth and Mayo, where he has family ties.

He plans to visit the County Mayos Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, which is a Catholic pilgrimage site, and visit a genealogy center. He will deliver remarks at the St. Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina, a town he visited in June 2016 as vice president.

Bidens great-great-great-grandfather sold 27,000 bricks in 1827 to construct St Muredachs Cathedral and Kirby said that selling those bricks helped Bidens ancestors buy tickets to the U.S. in 1851.

The president has not been shy about his Irish roots, and he frequently quotes Irish poets like William Butler Yeats. Biden last month hosted Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the White House for St. Patricks Day, where Varadkar made clear the fondness is mutual.

I promise you that were going to roll out the red carpet and its going to be a visit like no other. Everyones excited about it already, Varadkar said in the Oval Office. Were going to have great crowds who would love to see you.

The White House has not yet said if any other Biden family members will be joining the president on his trip.

Address to the Irish parliament

Bidens address to the Irish parliament on Thursday is expected to include comments about the significance of the United States relationship with the Republic of Ireland, as well as the personal significance of the country to him.

Before his remarks to parliament, Biden will meet with Irish President Michael Higgins and participate in a tree planting ceremony with him. They will then ring the Dublin peace bell together and the president will meet with Varadkar.

In both meetings the president will discuss our close corporation on the full range of shared global challenges, Kirby said.

Three presidents before Biden have addressed a joint session of the Irish parliament Presidents Kennedy, Reagan, and Clinton. The president spoke to the Canadian parliament just last month, during which he trumpeted the importance of the U.S.s relationship with the country.

Relationship with royal family ahead of coronation

Biden spoke to King Charles last week, during which he told him first lady Jill Biden would be leading the delegation to his coronation in May. The two leaders also agreed to meet in the near future but didnt elaborate on plans.

These are two leaders who have known each other a long time and have a very good relationship, Kirby said, pointing to the phone call last week when asked if Biden would meet with King Charles during the visit.

Biden attended Queen Elizabeths funeral in September, joining other leaders from around the world. But, him not attending the coronation next month aligns with previous protocol. During the last coronation, for Elizabeth, then-President Eisenhower did not attend and also chose to send a delegation.

Some members of the royal family could join Biden for the Good Friday anniversary though, giving the president facetime with the royals ahead of the coronation. Biden met with Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, when they had traveled to Boston in November.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, we're all eager to switch on our "Out Of Office" messages and go into vacation mode. If you are one of the lucky ones who has a trip planned and booked, your mind has probably turned to a packing list as long as a CVS receipt. We talked to the people who have literally made flying their job  flight attendants  to get their expert recommendations on travel products.

Cindy Kowalewski, a private flight attendant with 10 years of experience, has traveled to 100 countries including Seychelles, Myanmar, Maldives, Slovenia and many more. Valerie Fraser is an in-flight crew member, photographer and foodie who catalogs the best dishes for every layover and leisure trip on her secondary Instagram account, @flightattendantfoodie.

Now let's get ready for takeoff with their tried-and-true must-haves.

Amazon Urophylla Inflatable Travel Pillow Having an inflatable travel pillow not only ensures your neck stays nice and comfy en route, it also saves space in your luggage! This one comes with a handy carrying pouch and easily inflates with just three breaths. $15 at Amazon

Amazon Macks Dreamgirl Soft Foam Earplugs, pack of seven pairs These comfy earplugs are designed to actually stay in your ears so they can block out noise on airplanes and in hotel rooms. Plus, wearing earplugs can help prevent painful popping during flights! $7 at Amazon

Amazon American Trends Blanket Scarf Planes can be really cold, and sometimes those flimsy blankets they hand out just don't cut it. This pretty scarf doubles as a soft blanket so you'll stay nice and toasty in the air while looking effortlessly stylish. $12 at Amazon

Amazon Bucky 40 Blinks Eye Mask These polyester and foam sleep masks are lightweight, comfortable and washable. The contoured design gives your eyes some breathing room, and they come in 17 colors, from a shiny magenta to the pretty purple shown here. $11 at Amazon

"My must-pack items are an inflatable neck pillow, Macks Dreamgirl earplugs, a big warm scarf that can double up as a blanket and a sleeping mask. I love Bucky 40 Blinks Eye Masks, because they have molded cups, cute colors and patterns, and are so comfortable," says Kowalewski.

"Flying can dehydrate your skin like no other, so I have to have a good lotion on hand," says Fraser. "One of my favorites is from La Roche Posay."

Amazon Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask This mask contains the ultra-hydrating ingredients of coconut oil, shea butter and muramura seed butter to help your kips feel smooth and flake-free by the time you reach your destination. $24 at Amazon

"I always bring a hydrating lip balm when I fly. A flight attendant friend just gifted me the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, and I really like it," Kowalewski says.

Zappos Hoka Mach 5 There's a reason Hoka sneakers have become a favorite of people who are always on the go  they are incredibly supportive and comfortable. The popular Mach 5 model comes in nine fun colors, like the yellow pair shown here. $140 at Zappos

"I always pack extra underwear in case of delays, a swimsuit for sunny destinations and a pair of leggings, so I can run downstairs at a hotel without putting on a full outfit. I also make sure to pack a comfortable pair of sneakers for walking," says Fraser.

Amazon CHI Handheld Garment Steamer Weighing in at just one pound, this steamer is made for taking with you  it even comes with a travel bag. It heats up in less than a minute so you can give yourself a quick once-over before you arrive at your destination. $44 at Amazon

"I keep a mini steamer in my bag when I travel because hotel irons arent the best," Kowalewski says.

Amazon Rag & Bone Panama Hat A wide-brimmed Panama hat is the perfect travel accessory. Not only will it hide unkempt vacation hair, it'll also shade your face on sunny days  and it's super cute, too! $230 at Amazon

Nordstrom Nordstrom Paper Straw Panama Hat This Nordstrom hat is another fantastic option, and under $50! It comes in four neutrals, from ivory to white to the tan shade pictured here. $39 at Nordstrom

"When youre really on the go, Panama-style hats can hide a lot of things  especially that unwashed, messy hair  and will still make your outfit look fab! Rag & Bone has an exceptional one," says Kowalewski. For a more affordable option, try Nordstrom's $39 version. (It comes in four colors, too).

Nordstrom Herschel Travel Organizer, set of three This set of packing cubes is perfect for storing and separating clothing in your suitcase (think shirts from socks or clean from dirty). Each set has one small, one medium and one large zippered pouch, along with a dry bag. $40 at Nordstrom

"I really love my Herschel packing cubes. The set I have comes with a wet bag too, which is perfect for when I have a bathing suit that didnt dry completely," Fraser says.

Nordstrom Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote Longchamp's water-resistant nylon and leather tote cleverly folds small for easy packing, then unsnaps once you need it. Its roomy size and classic good looks have turned it into a cult favorite among frequent travelers. $155 at Nordstrom

"For an everyday travel bag, I cannot live without my Longchamp. Its waterproof  and with travel something always explodes in my purse  so its easy to clean up," Kowalewski says. "Be sure to pack your carry-on with possible delays or detours in mind. Bring a snack, refillable water bottle, change of clothes and a great book." Kowalewski isn't the only one who loves this tote  it happens to be a favorite of Kate Middleton, who's been a fan of the bag since her college days and has been spotted carrying it throughout airports. Talk about traveling like a royal!

Away Away The Carry-On This cute carry-on is most famous for its handy TSA-approved USB phone charger. It's small enough to fit into the overhead bins of most major airlines, but can hold plenty of clothes, thanks to its interior compression system. $295 at Away

Amazon Traveler's Choice Pagosa Carry-On As a more affordable alternative, this Traveler's Choice carry-on also has a built-in USB port and comes in four colors, including a light pink and this lovely blue! $88 at Amazon

"I love all the colors of Away luggage," says Kowalewski. "I have pink and it's easy to spot when it comes through the baggage carousel because it's unique. The lie-flat design and two compartments easily separate my clothes to stay organized." Trying to save some souvenir money? This Traveler's Choice carry-on is a great affordable option.

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
A flight attendant has shared some of her go-to travelling tips, which includes leaving a shoe in a hotel room safe when she arrives.

Esther Sturrus, who works for Dutch airline KLM, frequently posts videos on TikTok about her life as a flight attendant, along with advice for fellow travellers. In a video posted to her account in December, Sturrus offered some travel hacks when staying at a hotel.

In her video montage, she specified one tip for people who like to make sure they have everything when checking out of their hotel rooms

Worried about forgetting something in your locker? she wrote in the text over the clip. Put your heel/ shoe in it and you wont forget it!

Sturrus continued to show herself placing a blue heel in the hotels safe, before closing the locked box.

In the comments of the video, which has more than 1.2m views, many TikTok uses praised Sturrus shoe idea.

Hotel shoe hack, great idea, one wrote, while another added: The shoe reminder is perfect.

Other viewers poked fun at what could happen if travellers forgot their shoes in the safe, one of which wrote: If I get single shoes from safes in 3000 rooms in the lost and found, Im gonna be upset because of this lol.

Along with the shoe hack, some of the other tips Sturrus shared were: Using the clips on the bottom of the hotel hangers to fully close the curtains and plugging a USB cable into a TV to charge a phone.

She also pointed out two ways for travellers to use the shower caps in the hotel room. One way is to cover shoes when putting them in a suitcase and another was to cover remote controls that are dirty.

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Sturrus went on to note that while many people use their key to power the electricity in their room, they dont always have to.

You can use all other cards for this, she wrote.

Viewers praised some of these tips, one of which commented: The hanger! thank you, I hate the light in the room at 6am and as a man I dont have the girls accessories.

Wow! These are really cool ideas. Thanks for sharing! another added.

The Independent has contacted Struss for comment.

Sturrus isnt the first flight attendant to share her tips when travelling. During an interview with Express in March 2022, flight attendant Miguel Munoz shared some of his life-changing packing tips.

Its always better to have less than more in any kind of trip, he said. For example, if you realise you will be needing one extra T-shirt on the last day of the trip, you can always wash one in the hotel.

He also detailed how travellers can make more room in their suitcases, explaining: I think clothes pouches are definitely the best way to pack your clothes. It may seem silly but you can fit more clothes in your suitcase than without these. Its better than vacuum packing.
So now, in Florida, transgender people are demons, imps and mutants from another planet.

Those would be shocking and disgusting words from anyone. But they didnt come from just anyone. They came from the mouth of an actual elected member of the Florida House of Representatives. They were uttered during an actual official committee meeting in Tallahassee on Monday. And they were aimed at actual Floridians who had come to speak to the committee, as is their right in a representative democracy.

Its a new, high-water mark for intolerance in Florida, but anyone who didnt see it coming hasnt been paying attention.

It happened during a House Commerce Committee meeting discussing HB 1521, a bill to prevent people from using bathrooms designated for the opposite sex. Rep. Webster Barnaby, a Republican from Deltona, launched into a biblical-sounding tirade from the dais in which he attacked speakers who had come to oppose the bill.

The Lord rebuke you, Satan, and all of your demons and all of your imps who come parade before us, he said. Thats right, I called you demons and imps who come and parade before us and pretend that you are part of this world.

Many of the speakers were transgender Floridians and parents with transgender children.

Barnabys bigoted harangue veered into an actual fantasy world: X-Men movies, where hate and fear of mutants play central roles.

Of course, in the movies, there is an underlying theme of tolerance and a fight against prejudice. That was lost on Barnaby, apparently, who instead plunged on: We have people that live among us today on planet Earth that are happy to display themselves as if they were mutants from another planet. This is the planet Earth, where God created men male and women female. Im a proud Christian, conservative Republican.

He concluded with this dark comment: Im sick and tired of this. Im not going to put up with it. You can test me and try to take me on. I promise you, Ill win every time.

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If someone from the public had come before the committee had said those same words, we bet security would have been called. And not without cause.

Some of Barnabys fellow Republicans had the decency to be appalled  and to say so out loud. Rep. Chase Tramont, a Port Orange Republican who supported the bill, called himself a Christian man but also said to the speakers that he appreciated you coming up. Youre not an evil being. I believe that youre fearfully and wonderfully made.

And Rep. Bob Rommel of Naples at least thanked the people who spoke  before trying to wave away the stench left by Barnabys remarks by calling the bill one of those sensitive issues and saying that sometimes we have to make a difficult decision.

But more people, more Republicans, should have spoken out. And Barnabys apology later in the meeting  I would like to apologize to the trans community for referring to you as demons, he said  will do nothing to quell the flame of anger and hatred he fanned with his earlier words.

So here we are, with a Republican Party of Florida that apparently tolerates this sort of hate speech in a public forum by an elected official. Maybe the GOP will prove us wrong, and censure Barnaby, but we doubt it.

Recent history has shown what Florida is becoming. Weve been subjected to a couple of years of piling on, with Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature targeting trans people and Black history and free speech and school boards and books and sex education and universities and vaccines. Openly expressed hatred was always going to be the outcome.

Funny, though. The GOP is turning into the party of intolerance on so many things  until it comes to the bigotry of one of their own.
A measure that moved forward Tuesday in the House would allow pregnant women convicted of felonies to seek to delay going to prison for up to three months after giving birth  a move that one supporter said will save babies.

The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee voted 14-1 to approve the bill (HB 779), with Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, casting the lone dissenting vote. The proposal needs approval from the Judiciary Committee before it could be considered by the full House.

Bill sponsor Dianne Hart, D-Tampa, said she drafted the bill, dubbed Avas Law, in response to the death of a baby born to a woman in the Alachua County Jail in 2021.

Erica Thompson was booked into jail after being arrested for a violation of probation. Thompson informed officers she was pregnant and having contractions, a House staff analysis of the bill said.

Thompson gave birth after she was processed into the facility. The baby, Ava, was born three months premature and died hours after being transported to a hospital.

Thompson gave birth alone in her cell, Hart told the House panel. The child, Ava, was then transferred to the hospital, but later died. We must think about all the other incarcerated mothers who have faced situations like this one, and we cannot continue to fail them.

Hart said the bill would give judges discretion in such situations.

Remember, only the judge has that discretion, based on certain charges, so its strictly up to (the judge) whether or not he will allow a woman to remain out while she gives birth to her baby, Hart said.

Under the measure, the judge would be required to consider the severity of the offense, the defendants prior criminal history and whether deferring the incarcerated portion of the pregnant womans sentence poses a danger to the community.

Pregnant women who receive deferrals would be placed on probation until they are incarcerated.

Hart said a deferral of up to 12 weeks would allow a mother to make safe and adequate arrangements for caring for her child after birth.

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Rep. Susan Valdes, D-Tampa, said the measure could have life-saving impacts.

This particular bill will save babies, Valdes said.

Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, D-Ocoee, called the measure thoughtful, caring and considerate.

We understand that children are innocent. I am a former Department of Children and Families attorney, and our standard was always, what is in the best interest of the child? And I think this bill very closely aligns with what is in the best interest of the child, Bracy Davis said.

The measure also would lead to women being informed of a right to pregnancy tests as they are booked into detention facilities.

Hart pointed to what she characterized as a deficiency in current law when it comes to sentencing pregnant women.

This legislation will aid mothers in developing special bonds with their children, which theyre not receiving under current law, Hart said.

A similar Senate bill (SB 730) has not received a committee hearing.

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A Florida man killed his 19-year-old stepson Monday before taking his own life following a hostage situation.

The Lake Wales Police Department said a woman called after 4 a.m. asking for help removing children from the home because of a domestic disturbance, FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported. When officers arrived, a child ran out of the home and said the suspect was inside.

The suspect, identified as Antonio Oliver, 40, was inside the home with his stepson and two girls, ages 14 and 16. Officers began trying to contact Oliver through a PA system asking him to cooperate.

FLORIDA SUSPECT KILLED IN SHOOTING WAS WAITING FOR DEPUTIES BEFORE OPENING FIRE, WOUNDING OFFICER: POLICE

Law enforcement outside fatal hostage scene in Polk County where a man killed his stepson and then himself.

"We did everything possible to resolve this peacefully and he resolved it with violence, a lot of violence," Polk County Grady Judd stated.

Oliver then told the officers not to shoot inside the home because he was using the children as a shield.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Around 7 a.m., a gunshot was heard and SWAT team members ran into the home. They then discovered Oliver dead by the front door.

The 19-year-old stepson was found dead in a bedroom.

"Right now, our main concern is the family, the survivors and their mental health and basically just their well-being," Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez said. "We want to make sure theyre going to be OK. What theyve experienced today, nobody should ever experience. This was tragic. The number of people who are affected by this are countless.

Florida hostage standoff

"Not only the victims inside, the deceased, but every single one of these people have family members," he added. "Every single one of these first responders that showed up today  police, sheriff  every single one of them, they have families. They all have to deal with this."

Judd said the family was at a party Sunday night and there was an argument afterward. The two teen girls were left unharmed.
State Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-Deltona

State Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-Deltona, made national headlines Monday when he likened transgender people to mutants from "X-Men" movies and called them "demons and imps." (He later apologized).

Barnaby made the comments in support of the "Safety in Private Spaces Act," a bill that would prohibit people from entering restrooms or changing facilities designated for the opposite sex and refusing to depart when asked to do so, according to the proposed legislation.

Election news: State Rep. Webster Barnaby wins recount, faces allegation of voter intimidation

Who is Webster Barnaby?

The 63-year-old Barnaby was born in Birmingham, England, and moved to Florida in 1991, according to his official lawmaker biography on myfloridahouse.gov. He is married, has two children, and lists his religious affiliation as Christian.

What did Barnaby do before he became a legislator?

He studied business administration at Matthew Boulton College there and worked for the city's Housing Authority for 10 years as an area housing manager before moving to the U.S. Virgin Islands, working there for four years in the hospitality industry, according to a Daytona Beach News-Journal profile.

He moved to Florida in 1991 and worked as an account executive at a radio station before joining National Write Your Congressman Inc., a business that sells memberships and calls itself the "leading source of constituent mail received by Congress."

Barnaby was first elected to the state's House of Representatives in 2020. He was re-elected in 2022, defeating Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff by 30 votes in the Republican primary last August.

What political experience did Barnaby have before joining the House?

Barnaby was elected to the Deltona City Commission in 2012.

Less than halfway into that term, Barnaby ran for a Volusia County Council seat and lost in the primary in 2014. He gave up his commission seat in accordance with Florida's resign-to-run law.

He also unsuccessfully ran for the West Volusia Hospital Authority in 2018.

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What does Barnaby do for work?

Other than his job as a legislator, which pays $29,697 per year, he is also listed as the "president of an LLC" on his biography page on myfloridahouse.gov.

State business records show the company is named Selling Connections Unlimited LLC. In his Florida financial disclosure form filed in 2021, he reported earning $139,452 from the business.

It's not clear what the purpose of the business is, from looking at online records. In an interview with community newspaper The West Volusia Beacon, Barnaby described his company's work as "marketing."

Did he receive a Paycheck Protection Program loan?

Yes. On April 30, 2020, he received approval for a PPP loan, for $33,542, and put it toward the company's two-person payroll, according to Pro Publica's PPP database. The loan and the interest it accrued, $33,960 in total, were "forgiven" the following year.

What did he say that made people so angry?

Barnaby received heavy criticism for comments he made after transgender people testified against the bill.

"We have people that live among us today on planet Earth that are happy to display themselves as if they were mutants from another planet," he said before the House Commerce Committee approved the bill. "This is the planet Earth where God created men, male, and women, female. I'm a proud Christian conservative Republican. I'm not on the fence, not on the fence."

Barnaby proceeded to call those constituents "demons and imps who come and parade before us and pretend that you are part of this world. So, I'm saying my righteous indignation is stirred. I am sick and tired of this. I'm not going to put up with it. You can test me and try to take me on. But I promise you I'll win every time."

What are some of the other bills Barnaby has filed or supported?

In 2021, Barnaby introduced a bill that would ban abortion in Florida when a fetal heartbeat is detected, which usually occurs six to eight weeks after conception.

The bill, which also proposed replacing the term "fetus" with "unborn child," ultimately died in the Professions and Public Health Subcommittee.

Also in 2021, Barnaby proposed giving high schools the right to use the stadium microphone for prayers, or anything else, ahead of high school playoff games.

The bill died in the Rules Committee.

What does he think of the media?

Not much, apparently. During a rally in 2016 for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, Barnaby led attendees in what he called a "prayer," during which he called the news media "a den of vipers" from which emanates "the stench of evil."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida Rep. Barnaby draws ire after insulting transgender constituents
Republicans demonization of transgender people reached new levels on Monday when Florida Rep. Webster Barnaby (R) compared the group to mutants during a speech at the state capital on Monday.

The congressman  who represents the city of Deltona, 30 minutes from Daytona Beach  made the comment while discussing Florida House Bill 1521, which criminalizes the use of public bathrooms for transgender people.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Barnaby called himself a proud Christian conservative Republican before likening transgender citizens to characters from the Marvel comic book saga X-Men.

Florida Republican Rep. Webster Barnaby directly compared trans people to mutants in X-Men and called the trans people, including children, present in the room "demons and imps."



This was during debate for HB1421 that would criminalize trans people using bathrooms. pic.twitter.com/y5VsCKeAfJ  Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) April 10, 2023

Taking the mic after a number of transgender Floridians rebuked the bill, the legislator told his peers, We have people that live among us today on planet Earth that are happy to display themselves as if they were mutants from another planet.

He went on to call transgender people demons and imps who come and parade before us and pretend that you are part of this world.

The bill was later approved by Floridas Commerce Committee and is now headed to a vote by the entire House. A Senate version of the bill has to be approved by the Fiscal Policy Committee before their chambers vote.

After Barnabys comments, Kissimmee, Florida, politician Rep. Kristen Arrington (D) stepped in to celebrate the transgender activists in the audience for their bravery.

Florida Representatives Webster Barnaby (right) and Jason Shoaf (left) chat during a break in a legislative session on April 30, 2021.

Florida Representatives Webster Barnaby (right) and Jason Shoaf (left) chat during a break in a legislative session on April 30, 2021.

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Also to tell that I see you, hear you, understand and love you, Arrington said. Definitely, Im still a little bit thrown off from the last comments here and just really want to let you all know that there are many here that understand and support you.

HB1521 is one of 10 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation being considered in the Sunshine State. Florida has voted to advance bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth and public drag performances.

Last year, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed the states Dont Say Gay bill into law, banning the discussion of gender and sexuality for Florida students in kindergarten through third grade.

Related...
Bob Heikka was driving home in the early-morning hours of Oct. 25, 2020, when he seemingly vanished.

The 70-year-old Florida middle school teacher lived alone, so no one knew he was missing until the next morning when he didn't show up for work, something he would never do.

Despite a massive search, police couldn't figure out what happened to Heikka or where he was. His family had no answers for more than two and a half years.

That is until this past weekend, when two volunteer sonar enthusiasts and a dive specialist finally found him after following a gut feeling.

Port Orange police released this missing persons poster after middle school teacher Bob Heikka seemingly disappeared while driving home early in the morning on Oct. 25, 2020.

The disappearance

Michael Sullivan and his group of volunteer sonar specialists, called the Sunshine State Sonar Search Team, didn't have much to go on about Heikka's disappearance: The teacher left home on Saturday morning, spent the day alone at the beach, went to an ATM, visited his girlfriend roughly an hour away in Orlando and headed back home before sunrise that Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020.

Robert Heikka

The only other piece of information Sullivan had was that Heikka's cellphone last pinged in a marshy, woodsy area off a state road roughly 6 miles from his home.

The area had already been searched by police, the FBI and many other agencies but it is expansive and treacherous, Sullivan told USA TODAY on Tuesday.

In the past seven months, Sullivan and other volunteers conducted eight different searches for Heikka, spending 12-hour days trudging through bramble and bogs and searching dozens of canals, retention ponds, and just about any body of water that could hold a car.

On Saturday, their toil paid off.

'We got him!'

Bob Heikka's car peaks out from a canal where volunteer searchers found it on April 9, 2023, more than two and a half years after the Florida middle school teacher's disappearance.

Sullivan said he, his brother and a diving specialist had been combing the area for hours when Sullivan spotted something through thick woods: the roof of a car just barely visible in a small body of water.

"I'm like, 'Hey guys we got him!" Sullivan said. "Thats a Chevy Impala, that's him!"

That's when the diving specialist, Ken Fleming of Recon Dive Recovery, put on his gear to go below the surface and check the license plate, just to be sure the car was Heikka's.

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Bob Heikka's license plate is just barely visible in this underwater photo taken shortly after his car was found in Port Orange, Florida on April 8, 2023.

The plate matched and the volunteers called police, who later recovered both the car and the remains inside.

"Thanks for finding my brother," Ken Heikka wrote to the searchers on Facebook.

The Port Orange Police Department also thanked the volunteers.

"Incredible work," the department wrote on Facebook. "Your professionalism, dedication and determination amazed us."

Heikka's car was about 75 feet from the road, behind thick brush and trees. The area most likely has been flooded ever since his car ended up in the water and was only visible recently because of unusual drought conditions in Florida, Sullivan said.

"There's no way in hell anybody would have ever seen that car before with the water levels at what they were," he said, adding that he had previously been near the area. "You couldn't even walk back there ... It was absolutely impossible to see it."

Bob Heikka's car was barely visible when it was spotted by volunteer sonar specialist Michael Sullivan in Port Orange, Florida on April 8, 2023.

'A huge need'

Sullivan said he began spending his free time searching for missing people in Florida since June, finding not only Heikka but also a 53-year-old nurse named Karen Moore who disappeared from Davie, Florida in 2001.

He said he's got about a dozen other cases he's working on in between his fulltime job running an auto parts company.

"There's a huge need for this," Sullivan said. "The police, they're strapped for resources. Someone goes missing for 5 or 10 years, and family members are left with no answers."

The car of Bob Heikka is recovered in Port Orange, Florida on April 8, 2023.

There are so many bodies of water where cars can easily disappear in Florida, Sullivan said, adding that he's found dozens of cars that have been dumped by criminals while conducting searches for the missing.

Many police agencies don't have the time or equipment to conduct the type of searches Sullivan said he can do with equipment he bought as a hobby.

Now that he's found two missing people, he only wants to find more and give families some closure.

That's what makes all the hours of personal time searching worthwhile, he said.

"Sometimes decades go by and we come in and we give them that hope," he said. "The police, they don't have the ability to do what we do."

More coverage from USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missing Florida teacher Robert Heikka found in canal by volunteers
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. [Photo/Xinhua]

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. [Photo/Xinhua]

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. [Photo/Xinhua]

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.
A disturbing video was posted online this week showing Florida wildlife officers killing dozens of snakes at a Sunrise reptile facility, including one they mistook for a prohibited python that turned out to be a pregnant boa constrictor.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers last Thursday used a device that launched a charge into the snakes heads, killing more than 30 of the reptiles  all but one either invasive Burmese or reticulated pythons  according to the United States Association of Reptile Keepers, the snake advocacy group that posted the video.

At one point in the video, the officers are seen killing the snake that turned out to be the pregnant boa constrictor, which is legal to have as a pet in Florida. The officers reaction indicates they knew they made a mistake just moments after they killed the snake.

You cant fix it. You just killed something that wasnt illegal and had about a hundred thousand dollars worth of [expletive] babies, a man is heard yelling in the background.

According to the Reptile Keepers, the officers were carrying out an unannounced raid on the facility. In total, the officers killed 34 snakes, the snake group said in a statement.

Daniel Parker, a spokesman with the Reptile Keepers, said the boa was pregnant with 32 babies, which were about a month away from being born. Some had unique color morphs and could have sold for up to $4,000 each, Parker said.

The Fish and Wildlife agency said in an emailed statement Tuesday that a full account of the incident may take time, but added its officers went to the facility to check if a python found in the area the day before escaped from there. While they were there, the owner of the facility formally relinquished his reptiles and requested the officers euthanize them on-site at his facility, the agencys statement said.

The FWC Division of Law Enforcement is determining the full details of this incident and more information will be released when it is verified and appropriate to do so, the statement continued. Assembling the information and records required to provide a clear picture to the public on the facts of this incident may take time, but the FWC is committed to providing factual information when it becomes available.

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Lakeland attorney Curt Harbsmeier, legal advisor to the Reptile Keepers, disputes the FWC statement, however, pointing out that the owner of the facility only owned one of the snakes  the boa the officers mistakenly killed.

He could not have given consent with anything with these snakes. They were not his snakes, Harbsmeier said.

Burmese pythons were introduced to South Florida decades ago, likely through the exotic pet trade. Wildlife authorities want them gone because, with the warm sub-tropical climate and having no natural predators, their population has exploded, especially in the Everglades.

State and federal wildlife officials are so concerned about pythons that its basically open season on the non-native reptiles year-round in Florida.

Reason for the raid

According to Parker, the owner of the snakes, Chris Coffee, had a permit to keep them prior to the state labeling Burmese and reticulated pythons prohibited species in February 2021.

After the rule change, the agency gave him five months to find homes for all 120 of the now-prohibited reptiles in his collection, Parker said. Coffee was able to get rid of most of the snakes, but still had almost 40 left by the time the deadline came.

In an effort to remain on good terms with FWC, Coffee notified FWC in good faith about a year ago that he was having difficulties rehoming his animals in the short amount of time allowed by FWC, Parker said in a statement. He asked FWC for more time, believing that he had no choice.

State Fish and Wildlife officers instead arrested Coffee on 72 charges for keeping the snakes. But they also stuck him in a no-win situation, according to the Reptile Keepers.

However, rather than seize the animals, FWC officers told Coffee that he had to continue to keep the snakes in captivity and that he could not rehome or euthanize them or he would be arrested again, Parker said, adding Coffees life has been turned upside down.

Prosecutors decided in February not to pursue the charges against Coffee, according to Broward County Clerk of the Courts online records for the case.

It was a mistake

Coffee was keeping his snakes at the Sunrise facility, which is owned by Bill McAdam, who also owned the pregnant boa constrictor, Parker said.

Coffee is the man heard in the background yelling at the officers. He said he told them numerous times not to kill that particular reptile.

One of the officers asks Coffee, Is there a way to maybe save the babies?

Oh, no dude, Coffee responds.

The officer replies, It was a mistake.

How? I reminded you. [Expletive]! Coffee says as items can be heard being thrown around.

Coffee could not be reached for comment.

Big Shirl the snake

McAdam told the Miami Herald that he has retained an attorney.

This was a big mistake and they need to pay for it, he said. The FWC has power nobody else has and theyre abusing their power. Theyre trampling on peoples constitutional rights, and its wrong.

McAdam has owned the 11-year-old boa, which he named Big Shirl, since she was born.

She was one of the nicest animals, McAdam said.

He said of snake people like himself, they love their reptiles just like dog and cat owners love their furry pets.

We are weird, he said.
Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. (Associated Press)

Foo Fighters will close out the 2023 Ohana Festival in Dana Point, marking the band's first scheduled Southern California performance with its yet-to-be-named drummer in the wake of Taylor Hawkins' death.

The Killers and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder also will headline the weekend festival, scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Doheny State Beach. Other artists set to perform include Haim, Father John Misty, the War on Drugs, the Chicks, Pretenders and Japanese Breakfast.

Foo Fighters most recently played at the Kia Forum in September 2022 for a Taylor Hawkins tribute concert, honoring their longtime drummer, who died at age 50 in March 2022. An all-star lineup of drummers, from Travis Barker to Stewart Copeland and Jon Theodore, joined Grohl and the Foo Fighters, while Hawkins' son Shane provided a rousing boost to some of the group's biggest songs.

Foo Fighters will make its debut with Hawkins' replacement on May 24 in Guilford, N.H. Closer to L.A., the band will perform at San Francisco's Outside Lands festival, scheduled for Aug. 11-13.

Ohana, founded by Vedder, is now in its seventh year. Pink, Stevie Nicks and Vedder headlined last year's festival.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 13.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Mothers Day is just around the corner, and while there are countless gift guides online (ours included), I promise that few gifts will be as well-received (and well-liked) as a digital picture frame.

More from Rolling Stone

Hear me out: every single person that I have gifted a digital photo frame to has either a) burst into tears of joy or b) come back with the, Why didnt I think of this? response.

And its easy to see why. A digital picture frame is something that people dont normally think of buying for themselves, but its a gift thats rooted in relationships and easy to personalize. Unlike regular photo frames, which hold one static, physical photograph, digital picture frames can display dozens of photos that you can set to cycle through the screen.

Its a way to keep in touch with friends and family from afar, and a way to let them know that youre always with them even if you cant be there physically. Its great as a nostalgic gift too (I sent one to all my high school friends) and great for new parents (or pet parents) who want to have their kids with them, say at the office or on vacation.

One of the best digital picture frame deals online is with the Nixplay 10.1 inch Touch Screen Smart Digital Picture Frame. The company says its sold more than two million frames to date and their latest release gets you a 10.1-inch matte black frame on sale from just $112 on Amazon (cheaper than the Nixplay website, which has it for $189).

nixplay digital photo frame

Nixplay 10.1 inch Touch Screen Smart Digital Picture Frame

Price: $159.99 $111.99

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Nixplay lets you send photos and videos from anywhere in the world directly to the frame. Thinking of your grandparents while youre miles away? Snap a selfie on your phone using the Nixplay app, then have it instantly appear on grandma and grandpas frame at home. You can also import pics from Google Photos, Facebook and Instagram, to make sure your loved ones can keep in touch with you wherever you are.

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The touchscreen panel lets your recipient scroll through all the photos stored in the frame to find the exact picture they want displayed. Want photos to rotate through the frame? Set a playlist (I.e. family or vacation memories) and the frame will cycle through every image on that list.

Released earlier this summer, the Nixplay Classic Matte Touchscreen Frame looks great with any home or office decor and makes a great gift for all ages. Get the digital picture frame deal now for around $112 on Amazon.com.

Want something cheaper? This FRAMEO Smart Photo Frame below is one of the best digital picture frames under $100.

frameo digital photo frame

FRAMEO 10.1 Inch Smart WiFi Digital Photo Frame

Price: $199.00 $99.00

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For just $99, you get the 10.1-inch touchscreen frame, 16GB of storage for photos and photos, and a bright and clear display.

Set the frame to display a single image or let it scroll through photos of your choice. The frame can be positioned in both portrait or landscape mode. Sleep mode, meantime, automatically shuts off the frame at night so the light wont bother you. Itll automatically turn back on  and greet you with the smiling faces from your photos  in the morning.

Get the FRAMEO Digital Photo Frame for $99 on Amazon (the site currently has an on-site coupon that saves you an additional 5% off).

Amazon has a number of digital picture frame deals online right now, with select models starting at just $39.99.

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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.

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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
A former federal prison employee admitted Monday to trying to cover up the assault of an inmate at a Kentucky prison.

Randy Nickell, a former sergeant at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex in West Liberty, supervised three correctional officers who carried a restrained inmate into a shower, laid him face down and kicked and punched him, court records show. The assault occurred July 24, 2018.

In a federal court in Ashland, Nickell, 54, pleaded guilty to three counts of obstruction of justice in relation to the incident. Also Monday, James D. Benish, one of the correctional officers involved, pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of an inmates civil rights. Two other correctional officers entered guilty pleas last year in connection with the incident.

Benish, 36, carried the inmate  who is identified in court documents as M.M.  into the shower along with the other officers and also witnessed the assault.

At the time of the assault, M.M. was unresisting, lying face-down, and restrained by handcuffs and leg shackles, Benishs plea deal said.

Nickell witnessed the beating but later omitted any mention of the unlawful uses of force he had witnessed when writing a report about the incident, court documents said.

In the days following the incident, Nickell also denied that an assault occurred before a Kentucky State Police trooper and another prison supervisor who was assigned to investigate the case.

Benish also drafted a report omitting any mention of witnessing the assault and denied seeing it in interviews with investigators, records show.

Both Benish and Nickell are scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 11. Benish could receive up to a decade in prison while Nickell faces a maximum of up to 20 years in prison per charge. The two other correctional officers who have entered guilty pleas are scheduled to be sentenced on the same day.

Last July, former corrections officer Derek A. Mays pleaded guilty to filing a false report in relation to the incident. Then in August, Jeffery T. Havens, another one of the correctional officers, pleaded guilty to a count of deprivation of an inmates civil rights for taking part in the assault.

Each of the plea documents list the correctional officers by their initials and only one  an individual identified as R.D.  does not have a guilty plea associated with them.
A former Lexington County deputy has been charged by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division after he was accused of lying about the number of hours he worked on official duty, according to a news release from SLED.

Gabriel William Mulkey, 25, is charged with misconduct in office and obtaining goods under false pretenses, or double-dipping, police say.

Mulkey turned himself in Tuesday morning and was held at Lexington County Detention Center. He has since been released.

Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon fired Mulkey in October 2022 after he discovered Mulkeys time card showed he was on duty when he wasnt and was working for pay elsewhere.

When I became aware of Mr. Mulkeys actions, which included showing his time card he was on duty for the Sheriffs Department when he was actually off duty and being paid by outside entities, I started the process to terminate his employment and asked SLED to review the matter, Koon said in a news release.

The news release did not identify the outside entities.

Mulkey is a Leesville resident who worked for the department for approximately three years, according to his LinkedIn page.
Former GRU officer Vladyslav Ammosov seen in a video uploaded April 9, 2023. Radio Free Europe/YouTube

A former Russian intelligence officer has defected and says he's setting up a pro-Ukrainian unit.

The "Siberian battalion" will disrupt Russia from within, founder Vladyslav Ammosov said.

Ammosov said he has passed Ukrainian background checks.

A former Russian military intelligence officer has defected to Ukraine, and says he is setting up a battalion to disrupt Russian activities, according to local reports.

Vladislav Ammosov told Radio Free Europe that with his "Siberian battalion" he is "ready to deploy immediately into Russian territory as a part of a sabotage and reconnaissance group and destroy enemies who support Putin's authorities," per a translation by The New Voice of Ukraine.

Ammosov, who is from the Yakut ethnic group, added that the unit is to be filled with dissidents from different ethnicities. Ethnic minorities in Russia are treated like second-class citizens, he said, according to Ukrainian outlet Focus. They have also long been reported to be over-represented in Russia's combat losses.

Focus noted that it's still unclear exactly how Ammosov's putative force would take shape.

Oleg Zhdanov, a reserve colonel of the Ukrainian army, told the outlet that Ammosov's unit could be seen as being similar to the pro-Kremlin Wagner Group private military company, but could sabotage Russia from within, carrying out assassinations, kidnappings and attacks.

Ammosov served in the GRU  the military intelligence wing of Russia's army  for 15 years before moving to Europe, Radio Free Europe reported.

Originally from the Siberian city of Yakutsk, Ammosov said that he became "an imperialist who fell for propaganda," and fought on Moscow's behalf in the second Chechen war, per The New Voice of Ukraine.

There, the outlet reported him as saying, he was taught "to destroy entire countries."

He said he left the GRU before Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Ammosov said he passed Ukrainian security checks, with Radio Free Europe reporting that Ukrainian officials had confirmed his story.

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Even so, Ukrainian political analyst Vladimir Fesenko added a note of skepticism, telling Focus that groups like Ammosov's can be incoherent and focused mainly on media attention rather than being truly effective.

There have been a number of mysterious fires and explosions at sensitive Russian sites since its invasion of Ukraine. None have had a formal explanation, which has led to speculation that they were targeted by Ukrainian commandos or Russian dissidents.

According to Focus, Ammosov's unit is the fourth such dissident unit to be formed.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The former San Francisco fire commissioner who suffered serious injuries last week in an attack in the Marina District has shared surveillance video to raise awareness of deteriorating public safety in the city.

Don Carmignani underwent emergency surgery after he said he was slashed and beaten outside his mother's house after he asked a group of homeless men not to camp near her front porch. Video shows him repeatedly struck in the head and chased down the street before a bystander appears to pull out a cellphone and call for help.

The attacker then stalks the bystander in the opposite direction.

Carmignani, who spent the Easter holiday recuperating after the brutal attack, said Monday he expects to make a full recovery and has asked for privacy as he rehabs from his injuries.

FORMER SAN FRANCISCO FIRE COMMISSIONER SLASHED AND BEATEN WITH PIPE DAYS AFTER BOB LEE STABBING

The former city official and his mother both called police to report three homeless people had set up an encampment near her front door on April 5, he said in a statement Monday.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"To my knowledge, neither SFPD nor any of the City's various homeless service providers responded to our 911 calls that morning," he said.

Throughout the day, the group continued to bother his mother and his girlfriend, using drugs in public and harassing pedestrians on the sidewalk.

"My family has had prior interactions with these individuals, who have made repeated threats of violence to my family members," he said. "As a result, my mother did not feel safe leaving her home."

SAN FRANCISCO SURVEILLANCE VIDEO ILLUSTRATES AGONY OF CITY CRIME IN BOB LEE'S FINAL MOMENTS

Carmignani said the group consisted of "known criminals" who have harassed area residents, vandalized property and have been seen using drugs in public.

They loitered outside his mother's doorstep until he arrived that evening, he said, and asked them to leave. Two of them allegedly became aggressive.

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CASH APP FOUNDER BOB LEE DIED PLEADING WITH 911 FOR HELP: REPORT

"The incident culminated with one of the individuals producing a piece of metal and striking me countless times on the head," he said. "I was transported to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery."

One of them then stole his hat and was seen wearing it around the neighborhood like a trophy, he added.

Red's Java House in The Embarcadero District in San Francisco.

"As a native San Franciscan and lifelong Marina District resident, I firmly believe that the city needs to promote the safety of its law-abiding citizens over those who chose to do drugs and commit violent acts in our streets," he said. "I am hopeful that this unfortunate incident will lead to policy changes to better protect the interests of San Francisco residents and that my attackers will be fully prosecuted."

The man shown in the video appears to be wearing similar clothes and carrying a similar object to the man seen in another video shared to the Citizen App last week.

Homeless tents are seen in the Tenderloin District during heavy rain in San Francisco on January 11, 2023, as atmospheric river storms hit California, United States.

CASH APP'S BOB LEE ON SAN FRANCISCO STREET BEGGING FOR HELP MOMENTS AFTER FATAL STABBING: REPORT

Police have arrested a 24-year-old man named Garret Doty on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and battery causing serious injury.

Pier 28 in The Embarcadero District in San Francisco.

The attack came just days after Cash App founder Bob Lee, a 43-year-old father of two, died in a stabbing in the city's affluent Rincon Hill neighborhood.

"They try and pretend San Francisco is safe, but it is not," said Jake Shields, a mixed-martial arts fighter and friend of Lee's who has been critical of violence in the city and its Democratic leadership.

And the attack on Carmignani happened not far from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home, which was targeted in a home invasion attack last year that left the congresswoman's husband with a fractured skull .

City crime statistics show that most major crimes have fallen so far in 2023, compared to the same period last year.

However, violent crime has risen slightly, driven by an 18% increase in robberies and a 33% rise in homicides.

Felony assaults have remained flat, and misdemeanor assaults have climbed by 13%, according to the statistics.

Anyone with information on Lee's death is asked to call San Francisco's tip line at 1-415-575-4444.
By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) -The five people shot dead in a shooting on Monday in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, were all colleagues of the suspect who gunned them down, and two of them were close friends of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

Police identified the dead as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliot, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; James Tutt, 64; and Deana Eckert, 57.

"I have a very good friend who didn't make it today. And I have another close friend who didn't either," a visibly emotional Beshear told reporters in a news briefing on Monday.

Elliott was a senior vice president of Old National Bank whose downtown branch in Louisville was the site of Monday's assault. He had served as chair of Beshear's inaugural committee in 2019.

"He helped me become governor," Beshear said, describing Elliott as "an incredible friend."

Elliott had also served as chair of the Kentucky Retirement Systems board and was appointed to the board by the current governor's father Steve Beshear, a former governor himself.

Barrick's LinkedIn profile showed he was the senior vice president of commercial real estate banking at Old National Bank and had been with the firm for less than a year.

His church, Holy Trinity Parish Louisville, said on Facebook he was survived by his wife and two children. It organized a gathering on Monday "to celebrate Josh's life and to support and love his family in this most difficult time."

Farmer's LinkedIn page showed her to be a loan analyst at the bank while Tutt, who was the eldest among the deceased victims and a lifelong Kentucky resident, served as a real estate market executive at Old National Bank and had been with the firm for about 10 years.

Eckert, 57, who died late on Monday, had worked at Old National Bank for over six years, according to her LinkedIn profile. She was an executive administrative officer. Her family told an ABC News affiliate she underwent multiple surgeries on Monday but did not survive.

The suspect was fatally shot at the scene and identified by police as Connor Sturgeon, 23, who had joined the downtown branch of the Old National Bank as a full-time employee last year. Besides the five people who died, eight others were wounded in Monday's shooting.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler and Kim Coghill)
Four restaurants were cited by inspectors from the Mississippi Health Department, one for the fourth time in seven years.

El Rancho, 2441 Pass Road, Biloxi, was inspected March 30 for a permit renewal.

It was cited for:

Insects, rodents or animals present

Inadequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible

Food contact surface cleaned and sanitized, a repeat offense

Corrected during the inspection were:

Food separated and protected

Proper cold holding temperatures

This is the fourth C for the restaurant since 2017.

MGM Park Main Concession, 105 Caillavet St., Biloxi, had a scheduled inspection April 3.

It was cited for sewage waste water not properly disposed.

Corrected during the inspection was hot and cold water available at adequate pressure.

This was the second C since 2015.

Subway, 4315 Gex Road, Diamondhead, had a scheduled inspection April 10.

It was cited for having no certified manager, a repeat offense.

Corrected during the inspection was food contact surface clean and sanitized.

This was the first C dating back to 2011.

Little Caesars, 2530 Denny Ave., Pascagoula was inspected April 10 for a permit renewal.

It was cited for having no certified manager.

This is the third C since 2016.

Restaurants and other food service establishments in Mississippi are rated A if they pass the health department inspection, B if violations are corrected during the inspection, and C if the violations are critical.

Since March 21 there have been 167 restaurants in South Mississippi that scored an A for no violations and 26 that got a B when violations were corrected during the inspection.
Aerial photo taken on April 9, 2022 shows a container ship by the Beijiang Port Area of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. [Photo/Xinhua]



China State Shipbuilding Corporation has signed a cooperation agreement with France's CMA CGM Group to produce 16 large container vessels worth more than 21 billion yuan (about 3 billion U.S. dollars).

It sets a new record for a single order with the largest amount of money for container ship production signed by China's shipbuilding industry. It includes 12 15,000-TEU dual-fuel large container ships powered mainly by methanol and four 23,000-TEU ones fueled mainly by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Each of the methanol-powered ships measures 366 meters in length and 51 meters in width and is designed to have the ability to carry 156,000 tonnes of cargo, said the Chinese ship manufacturer.

It is also the Chinese group's first order to produce such methanol-fuelled container ships. Independently developed, the vessel can achieve net zero carbon emissions during its whole voyage.
North Texas community leaders and franchise business owners gathered Tuesday for a roundtable discussion about investing in Hispanic and Latino businesses and how franchising can bolster Fort Worth entrepreneurship.

The event took place at Ensemble Coworking space off Park Place Avenue and was hosted by International Franchise Association, a Washington-based advocacy organization. The associations roadshow, Open for Opportunity, is aimed at telling the stories of local franchises and gathering leaders to discuss improving the process for the success.

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said the City Council has focused on restabilizing the economy and putting money back into the hands of families since the pandemic.

(The conversation) all kept coming back to small business, Parker said. The numbers make all the sense in the world  thats the bedrock of the American economy.

Parker highlighted the success of the Fort Worth Stockyards. The states No. 1 tourism destination generates more than 8 million visitors per year, now surpassing the San Antonio Riverwalk in tourism. Parker said franchising is an important part of the conversation, because many of the successful businesses in the Stockyards have been franchises.

International Franchise Assocation, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization, hosted a roundtable discussion with Fort Worth leaders on April 11, 2023.

The franchise association recently released an economic outlook for small businesses that reveals Texas is expected to generate the most growth in franchising in the U.S., and Fort Worth is no small part of that activity.

Roundtable discussion among leaders emphasized several franchise themes, including the diversity of franchise types, opportunities for women and people of color, and better pay. Small business franchises are more likely to pay higher wages and provide benefits like health insurance than non-franchise businesses, according to the association.

The average Black-owned franchise brings in 2.2 times the earnings of Black-owned independent businesses, and more than one quarter of franchises are owned by people of color. Meanwhile, fewer than than 20% of independent businesses are typically owned by people of color.

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Becky Encinia, owner of a Chick-fil-A franchise in Rowlett, discussed her story of opening her first location at the age of 24 as a Hispanic woman.

I hope that I can not just inspire but help build up other minorities to chase the dream that they never thought was possible, Encinia said.

Geoff Seiber leads Fort Worth-based FranFund, a franchise industry leader that funds small businesses across the country.

Seiber said the franchise model can help first-time business owners overcome some of the hurdles of starting from scratch. Seibers downtown office funded nearly 250 brands totaling several thousand franchises last year.

Jorge Ferraez of Dallas-based Latino Leaders Magazine moderated the discussion. Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Anette Landeros, Tarrant County College Chancellor Elva LeBlanc, Fort Worth City Council member Michael Crain, members of the IFA board and several other community leaders and small business owners participated in the conversation.

IFA will continue to host events in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area through April 12. The organization will host a second roundtable in Irving on Wednesday morning to discuss veterans in franchising.
Bob McCloskey hit the nail on the head when he addressed the Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning during its hour-long deliberation on opposing the citys recent decision to rename 10.15 miles of city/county streets in honor of farmworker leader Cesar E. Chavez.

The board acted shocked that history and culture would be erased by rebranding California Avenue, Ventura Street and Kings Canyon. It voted unanimously to oppose the Fresno City Councils action.

Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard  or, the preferred Avenida Cesar E. Chavez  will officially be the roadway that is within the city limits. The current names will remain on county portions.

Supervisors Brian Pacheco and Steve Brandau, as did other speakers, touched on the historic and cultural significance of the current names.

I am opposed to erasing one culture over another or putting one above another because were all equal in this country and we should do that, said Pacheco, whose district includes southwest Fresno.

For me, this is another example of erasing history, and I think weve erased already too much of our history, said Brandau. And I think, probably in some extreme instances, that would probably work; but not in this instance.

Lets see where history has been erased.

Buena Vista County is now Kern County.

San Justo is now Hollister.

San Ysidro is now Gilroy.

Rio de los Americanos is now American River.

Valle de San Jose is now Livermore Valley.

El Alisal is now Pleasanton.

Rio de San Felipe is now the Kern River.

And, let Mr. McCloskey, who lives in the recently renamed Yokuts Valley, make his point.

The Kings Canyon area was first proposed as a national park by John Muir as early as 1891, the year after the creation of Sequoia Park, McCloskey told the board. It bears the name of a river that in 1805 Spanish explorers named Rio de los Santos Reyes, or River of the Holy Kings. Its named after the kings of Spain.

Go on.

Hello! What are you talking about when you erase culture here? And I really object to that trope.

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Please continue, sir.

I really object to that trope. You know, Donald Trump uses erasing culture. Its a trope. Everyone up here that says that (erasing history/culture) is using a racist trope.

Lets face it people, were not erasing anything. What were trying to do here is honor Cesar Chavez, said McCloskey.

This is a board that continues to believe that nothing should change despite a massive demographic earthquake that has taken place since Chavez died in 1993. That year, the council voted to rename those streets after the founder of the United Farm Workers only to see the mayor and council reverse course a few months later.

History and time marches on. Cities change names. Rivers change names.

The problem is that people forget Fresno, a city with a Latino majority population, does not have a single street named after a Latino.

This will be the first time, Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias told the board. And negotiating the existence of Latinos in Fresno is non-negotiable for our community.

So, what does the board action mean? Nothing, other than keeping the status quo on the street names.

Perhaps 30 years from now, a more progressive board will do what the city council did and change its mind.

Juan Esparza Loera is editor of Vida en el Valle.
The Ukrainian soldiers jumped out of the armored vehicle the moment it stopped, rushing to unload supplies before the Russian artillery began its deadly work.

It wasnt fast enough. Barely 40 seconds later came the first shriek. The men hit the ground as the blast hit, the smell of cordite and dust going deep into their nostrils.

Go, go, go, go, one shouted. The others sprinted through a buildings smoke-filled courtyard, feet crunching over a carpet of broken glass, masonry and splintered wood. As they ran down the stairs, another shriek sounded above. Then another.

If war is hell, theres a creditable case Bakhmut is its ninth circle. The city in Ukraines east, known in the past for little other than its first-class winery (established by Stalin in 1950), has become the battleground of this wars longest and most vicious fight.

No building remains untouched by ordnance, no surface clear of war detritus. Traversing any neighborhood is a furtive dash through smoke-filled streets, scampering past the shattered, burning remains of well-appointed boulevards.

For the Ukrainian forces here, a simple resupply requires an armored vehicle  or a full-tilt gallop down the road, praying to avoid the omnipresent gaze of drones and that the innumerable chunks of metal whistling through the skies above dont fall nearby.

Ukrainian soldiers of the 251st Battalion head to their position at first light in Bakhmut. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times)

The two main roadways leading west out of the city are, in effect, artillery alleys. The Russians dont control the roads, but are within range to blast any vehicle on them. The only recourse is to cut a winding path through muddy fields that can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and still puts troops at risk from artillery.

The soldiers ride into the city that day had been a touch-and-go affair; the Russians had tried to hit the armored vehicle twice when it was going through the mud, the driver said.

You didnt hear how they tried to f us ? I had to push the pedal down, he said to one of the soldiers nearby, before the newest artillery attack started up.

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Thanks for the ride, the other retorted.

Bakhmut, once home to some 70,000 people, has become the site of the bloodiest combat in 14 months of war. The city at the edge of Russia-controlled territory in Donetsk isnt a strategic prize, though it is a roadway hub that opens up to six other cities. From a war-plans perspective it has limited value.

But now, after so long, it appears to hold a psychological symbolism for the fighting forces on each side. Neither seems willing to let go, transforming Bakhmut into a churned-up moonscape of battered buildings, bombed-out vehicles and corpses. Russia and Ukraine both insist that fighting in Bakhmut makes their adversary expend men and materiel that would otherwise be deployed elsewhere, and that it buys time for their respective forces to prepare for the more significant battles ahead.

But observers say thats a questionable strategy for Ukraine. Most of the forces fighting in Bakhmut are from Wagner, a Russian private military company, said Michael Kofman, a military analyst and director of the Russia studies program at CNA, a Virginia-based research institute.

Though Bakhmut is a priority objective for the Russian military, the notion it was occupying a substantial number of regular forces was doubtful, Kofman said. Fighting alongside Wagner was Russian airborne but little else.

Most elite units are deployed elsewhere along the front, Kofman said.

Wagner has recruited tens of thousands of convicts from Russian prisons, promising them freedom and money if they come to fight. The groups owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has staked his groups reputation and his own on taking Bakhmut. The battle began in August.

Russia, at least for now, appears to have the upper hand, with army troops working to encircle Bakhmut from the farmlands on its periphery. Inside the city, the bare-knuckle brawl falls to Wagner, its recruits tasked with suicide dashes at Ukrainian lines to create openings for the rest to follow.

A Ukrainian soldier shouts at his comrades to run to shelter after the start of a Russian artillery barrage in Bakhmut. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times)

First they use mortars, then automatic grenade launchers, then they get closer and use RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades]. Then when theyre assaulting us, they use automatic rifles and grenades, said Lovah, one of the 251st Battalions reconnaissance scouts, who gave only his nickname.

One of the battalions commanders, Romul, 42, agreed.

Theyre trying to get close all the time. The distance between us is usually less than 150 feet, Romul said.

Its a city battle. One house for us, the other is the enemys. Thats how close it is.

That strategy has yielded some success. By the weekend, Russian forces added to their gains in Bakhmuts southern, central and southwestern districts, according to an assessment released Saturday by Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank.

But it has meant deploying human wave tactics that come with a horrific cost, said Vasyl, 33, the head of the Ukrainian battalions mortar crew.

This is the only reason why theyre able to attack our positions. They have much more infantry and can lose a lot of people, Vasyl said.

I attack a building where theyre bunkering, I see the mortar break through and theyre all dead. Then another wave comes to the same building, then a third.

Medics help a wounded soldier out of an evacuation vehicle near Bakhmut, Ukraine. (Iryna Rybakova / Associated Press)

In an unmarked building somewhere in the city, Vasyl joined his colleagues in the 251st Battalions forward command center for their 12-hour shift, which began shortly after daybreak.

They sat before a trio of screens with maps and live feeds from drones above the city, along with tablets and phones with communication software. An intelligence analyst pointed out potential targets, tracked Russian troop movements and coordinated attacks with other units.

Another day in paradise, Romul quipped, looking over the shoulder of one of his colleagues to the center screen. It showed a row of obliterated cottages.

The atmosphere was that of a tensely quiet office, with all of them playing a game of whack-a-mole against the Russians, trying to catch and rain ordnance on them before they could attack Ukrainian forces.

Lacking the manpower of their adversary, the Ukrainians have had to use mortars to clear a path for their troops or defend them from Russian assault even when the enemys proximity makes that a risky endeavor.

Our protocols tell me I have to stop shooting if Im within 650 feet of our groups, but I cant. They need support, Vasyl said.

He recalled a moment two weeks ago when a Ukrainian squad in a building was surrounded by Russians. A tank had fired on the building, forcing the Ukrainians to retreat to the basement. They called on Vasyl to attack near the building and keep the Russians at bay. A drone video of the attack shows his mortar round hitting just beside the building and igniting a cache of explosives on the second floor. It forced the Russians back; the Ukrainians were safe.

I sweated a lot that day, he said.

The flip side of the proximity problem is that there are often targets the Ukrainians leave alone for the simple fact that they lack sufficient ammunition. Its a chronic problem for Ukraines forces, especially around Bakhmut, where units are firing thousands of shells a day. The Russians, despite reports of shortages, are mounting a virtually ceaseless barrage.

If I didnt have to aim, I could shoot 30 shells a minute, Vasyl said, but he doesnt have that luxury. He had to make sure to get the aim right at least from the sixth shot or consider abandoning the target.

Some civilians insist on remaining in the city, despite the seemingly endless barrage in Bakhmut, Ukraine. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times)

In this unrecognizable city, the civilian population has dropped to an estimated few thousand. The battalion members have taken to calling them zombies  because many show little reaction when shells fall near them.

Theyre just walking. Not even running. A shell falls, they go to the ground, cover their head, and then continue walking, said Anton, a commander of a mechanized company, shaking his head.

That morning, he checked the corners for any movement, sticking close to the walls before he dipped into an open door and called down a basement for Alex, a 40-year-old living with his mother, Zoya, and his aunt, Lida.

We dont need food. Just cigarettes, Alex said, explaining that only his mother was evacuating, leaving with the soldiers on a run out of the city. Though they had no electricity or running water, and though the Russians advance meant artillery was regularly reaching their street, the others insisted on staying  Alex for his cat, Lida for her dog.

I love my home, I love my cat, he said, smiling. Anton shook his head but radioed his headquarters and informed them Zoya would be coming.

But she wouldnt be leaving that day.

Later that afternoon, an armored vehicle carrying some of the Ukrainian wounded roared up to the headquarters, loaded some equipment and raced out of the city. One of the soldiers, his left hand a claw wrapped in blood-soaked gauze, grimaced with every bump as the armored vehicle sprinted along a muddy track toward safety.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Thousands of mourners gathered Tuesday at an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank for the funeral of a British-Israeli woman killed in a shooting attack days earlier.

Israelis holding national flags lined the roads in the rain leading to the funeral for Lucy Dee in Kfar Etzion, in the southern West Bank.

The 48-year-old, also known by her Hebrew name Leah, died Monday from wounds sustained three days earlier when her car came under fire in the Jordan Valley.

Two of her children, sisters aged 16 and 20, were shot dead in the attack and buried on Sunday.

The family are residents of Efrat, another Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

The latest funeral marks the mounting death toll this year in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with dozens killed in recent weeks.

"When we left our home and travelled through the streets of Efrat, and there were literally thousands of people waving flags as we passed by, we felt like the royal family at the coronation," said her husband Leo Dee, as he thanked those gathered.

He was joined at the funeral podium by his three remaining children.

Israeli officials have not identified the gunman in Friday's shooting who fled the scene.

"You were airlifted from a murder scene. I can't imagine the pain, physical and mental, if you were conscious in any way for that journey," Leo Dee said during his eulogy.

Government ministers, including settler Orit Struck from the extreme-right Religious Zionism party, were among the mourners.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War and all settlements in the Palestinian territory are illegal under international law.

Following the killing of the three dual British nationals, the country's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted that there could be "no justification" for the "senseless violence".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed to "get all the evil terrorists who killed our citizens and they will be held accountable with no exception."

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His remark came hours after Palestinian mourners gathered near Jericho city for the funeral of a 15-year-old shot dead by Israeli forces during a raid in the Jordan Valley.

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.

bur-rsc/rox/hkb
We recently learned a lesson which was more than three decades in the making.

The lesson partially stems from two seemingly unrelated events.

The world noted the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine at the end of February. And after an air incursion by a spy balloon, saber-rattling over Taiwan and TikTok dance videos blowing up everyones phone, the U.S. Congress suddenly grew more serious about China. This culminated in a prime-time House hearing over the winter studying the threat posed by Beijing by a special House committee designed just to study problems between the U.S. and China.

The Ukraine and China episodes are connected. And they explain a great deal about the Cold War and where the west thought the world was going in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Lets go back in time.

1989 was a heady period.

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HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SUBPOENAS BANKS, BIDEN FAMILY ASSOCIATES IN PROBE OF FINANCES

It began in the spring when thousands of students and demonstrators crowded Tiananmen Square in Beijing pushing for economic reform, free speech and democracy.

An iconic set of images stands out from Tiananmen Square. A long column of Chinese Type 59 tanks rolls down a massive, tree-lined boulevard near the square. From the left, a lone, unidentified, Chinese man steps out into the street holding satchels in either hand. The man stands stoically as the tanks approach, slowing to a crawl. There is a momentary impasse as the man gestures wildly with his right arm. The tank then maneuvers to the side to drive around the man. But the man gallops to the left, blocking the tanks from passing. The man then stutter-steps, left and right as the tank tries to get around him. "Tank man" finally climbs onto the tank and appears to speak briefly with someone inside the tank.

He then resumes his human roadblock.

No one really knows what happened to "tank man."

Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping declared martial law to clear the square. Its unknown exactly how many Chinese were killed or wounded.

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But everyone thought this was a seminal moment. The movement by the people was too powerful. Things would eventually trend in a different direction. Perhaps toward democracy.

Then came the fall of 1989.

The Berlin Wall fell. The Eastern bloc fell. The Soviet Union disintegrated by the end of 1991.

It was said that "western TV signals" helped undo communist regimes in Eastern Europe. Citizens of those countries would watch reruns of "Dallas" and "Miami Vice" to see how the west lived. It was said that U.S. finally prevailed in the Cold War  not through military might  but with "Madonna and Coke."

McDonalds opened in Moscow. In the early 1990s, McDonalds opened more than 4,000 restaurants in China. Business experts noted that at the time "one-fifth" of the worlds potential Coke drinkers and McDonalds diners resided in China.

By the late 1990s, even former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev starred in a Pizza Hut commercial.

Experts believed that free trade and capitalism advocated by the west might moderate totalitarian movements and curb dictators. Oppressive regimes would be no match for forces of the market and economic opportunity.

Fast-forward to today.

Russia reverted toward its old ways, punctuated by the death and carnage its war unleashed on Ukraine.

TOPSHOT - In this picture taken on April 13, 2022, a Russian soldier stands guard at the Luhansk power plant in the town of Shchastya. - *EDITOR'S NOTE: This picture was taken during a trip organized by the Russian military.*

China is now a cyber-security state. The U.S. Department of Energy believes China may have sparked the coronavirus pandemic, with COVID-19 leaking from a Wuhan lab. Beijing now tracks Chinese nationals on U.S. soil via various "police stations" set up in American cities. We mentioned the spy balloon and TikTok. Military experts believe a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is a high possibility in the coming years.



This is a pretty bleak assessment of the worlds geo-political situation compared to what was anticipated more than three decades ago.

The period the U.S. and the west now enters may be more dangerous than the most icy days of the Cold War.

"Over the past three decades, both Democrats and Republicans underestimated (China) and assumed that trade and investment would lead to democracy," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill, the top Democrat on the House China panel. "Instead, the opposite happened."

Its hard to argue with that assessment.

"As Chinas economy has grown more than ten-fold since gaining access to U.S. and world markets, (China) has among other things, strengthened its authoritarian control at home," said Krishnamoorthi. "The goal (of China) has become clear, to displace the U.S. and other competitors. Especially in tomorrows strategic industries."

The lesson the U.S. learned? They overstated optimism which brimmed as the curtains fell on the Cold War and democratic movements rustled in China.

The future the west expected in Eastern Europe and China never materialized. It could be argued that the U.S. found itself on a stronger footing near the end of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Thats because you had two, reasonably equal superpowers. Now, you have a nuclear-armed Russia which eschewed democracy, ruled by an unpredictable Vladimir Putin. That might mean the U.S. and west is worse off in that relationship.

When it comes to China, the U.S. and westernized democracies are definitely worse off. Congress is considering banning TikTok since its technology pierces the privacy of 152 million Americans. Theres a potential threat of war over Taiwan. Its doubtful the U.S. would sit that one out.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, just visited Taipei. He told colleague Aisha Hasnie that his committee has a "license" to repel an attack militarily with the authorization of a use of force.

"I think if communist China invades Taiwan, I think that is certainly if the American people support this, the Congress follow," said McCaul.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., recently met with Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen in California.

When the Chinese embassy in Washington rebuked American lawmakers for heading to Taiwan and McCarthy huddling with Tsai, the Speaker scoffed that Beijing didnt dictate with whom he would meet.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has been a thorn for China over human rights since a visit to Tiananmen Square in the early 1990s. To describe the relationship between Pelosi and McCarthy as "frosty" does a disservice to Jack Frost. But Pelosi uncharacteristically applauded McCarthy for meeting with Tsai. Pelosi praised her Golden State colleague saying McCarthy should "be commended" for "leadership" huddling with Tsai.

UKRAINE WAR PLANNING DOCUMENTS LEAKED ONLINE, PENTAGON INVESTIGATING

Now China is conducting military exercises in supposed retaliation for the recent enclaves between U.S. lawmakers and Taiwanese officials.

Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu accused Beijing of engaging in what he termed "cognitive warfare," suggesting that the U.S. might not assist Taipei should China attack.

"We are not counting on the U.S. to directly intervene in war," said Wu. "But, if for Taiwan to be able to defend itself, theres several things we need. One is for the United States to continue to provide defense weapons for us."

Appearing on Fox, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., declared hed "be very much open to using U.S. forces to defend Taiwan."

But some Republicans are resistant to the U.S. supporting Ukraine. Most lawmakers from both sides back U.S. help for Taiwan. Where the public stands about American involvement in a shooting war with China is unclear. But dont forget that theres significant fatigue from two decades of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact, the Senate just voted to repeal two war authorizations for Iraq, one dating all the way back to the early 1990s.

So reconsider that optimism about the future three decades ago.

"For the time being, its still up to us to decide if thats the future we want for our children. But it wont be for much longer," said House China committee chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., at the prime-time hearing. "Time is not on our side. Just because this Congress is divided, we cannot afford to waste the next two years lingering in legislative limbo or pandering for the press."

The future is now.

And that bright future everyone hoped for 30 years ago may seem a lot darker today.
Episode 1: "The G-Word." In the fall of 2019, reporter Faith E. Pinho received a tip from Paulina Stevens. Paulina said she had grown up in an insular Romani community in California, where she was raised to be a wife, mother and fortuneteller  until she decided to break away. This opened the door to a story spanning multiple continents, hundreds of years and complex, even metaphysical, realities.

Read the episode transcript.

Roma wheel in red

Whenever I describe the Foretold podcast to anyone for the first time, I always run into the same problem: a linguistic snag tripping me up before I even begin. How do I say this? The only way to get through is to address it head-on.

So I ask, Have you heard of Romani people?

Then I pause for signs of comprehension and recognition. If I dont get it, I follow up with: Theyre also known by the slur Gypsy.

The issue here is that this term  the G-word  is more widely recognizable than the preferred term Romani people or the Roma. But when used by non-Romani people, the G-word is a pejorative. Somehow, the word exists in many forms at once: Its a widely known epithet of a bygone era, a counterculture shorthand for something exotic and spiritual, a proud self-identifier and an unspeakable slur.

Paulina Stevens. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Unsurprisingly, a lot of people dont know that. Just a few weeks ago, Whoopi Goldberg issued an apology after she faced backlash for using a derivative of the slur  a word that means cheated: In discussing supporters of former President Trump on national television, she mentioned people who still believe that he got gypped somehow in the election.

Clearly, the slur status of the G-word hasnt been fully absorbed by the mainstream.

This issue has presented a unique problem for us. Some people already know that the G-word is offensive; some dont. So how does one describe a podcast about a Romani American fortuneteller to those who have never heard the term Romani? Theres no way around the conversational roadblock. We must address it and acknowledge the context.

Story continues

Youre not going to hear me throwing around the G-word on this podcast, because for many in the community, its a slur. Not for outsiders like me to use. But at the time I had no idea.

Faith E. Pinho in "Foretold"

When Foretold host Faith E. Pinho first met Paulina Stevens in a cafe in 2019, she didnt know the G-word was a slur. She didnt know the first thing about Paulinas culture beyond the top news results on Google.

What dominates the mainstream news coverage about Romani people are stories about psychic scams. So, naturally, when Paulina first approached Faith, she led with a tip about a psychic shop, hoping that the intrigue would work in her favor.

She had given me the highlight reel of all the most salacious things that would intrigue a journalist. And, OK, Ill admit I took the bait.

Faith E. Pinho in "Foretold"

But Paulinas story was more than it seemed.

The franticness in Paulinas voice suddenly made sense. It was the sound of someone stepping out of one world and into another, questioning everything shes ever learned and feeling out who she might like to become apart from it all.

Faith E. Pinho in "Foretold"

Paulina Stevens. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Paulinas experience resonates with anyone struggling with which parts of their upbringing they want to perpetuate and which parts they want to leave behind. Her story explores the push and pull of individuality and community. What do you owe to your culture? What does it owe to you?

This is the kind of story that starts off complicated. No stone can be left unturned. No simple truth is truly simple. You have to hold several contradictions in your mind at once, to sit with the discomfort and beauty of each layer thats peeled back.

There are so many different layers in Paulinas story, just as there are so many versions of the Romani American experience.

In my mind, I'm speaking to a really small group of people. Im speaking to my younger cousins; I'm speaking to the girls that I knew and my friends. And the reason why it makes me emotional is because I feel like the people that I want to speak to the most will probably never hear me.

Paulina Stevens in "Foretold"

 Jazmin Aguilera

Roma wheel in red

Go even deeper

Dr. Ethel Brooks, the Romani cultural consultant for the "Foretold" podcast, dives into history and describes how her heritage fits into her own life.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill Tuesday that strengthens a law aimed at stopping human trafficking.

The new law targets businesses like convention centers and hotels, which could face big fines if they dont post the human trafficking hotline on signs.

The hotline is the number to call if you are the victim of, or have seen signs of, human trafficking.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2s Richard Elliott reported live from the Georgia World Congress Center Tuesday, where those signs are already on display.

Georgia law already required those signs to be displayed in certain businesses, but up until now, there were no penalties if they didnt.

At a special ceremony Tuesday at the Governors mansion, Gov. Kemp signed a bill that could fine these places between $500 and $5,000 for failure to post these signs.

So I want to thank them for making Georgia a hostile place for traffickers, but a safe haven for victims, Kemp said.

Minutes earlier, First Lady Marty Kemp convened the first GRACE Commission of her husbands second term.

That commission is dedicated to identifying and ending human trafficking in Georgia. Its Marty Kemps mission.

TRENDING STORIES:

By bringing together public and private sector leaders, nonprofits, law enforcement, and subject matter experts, we have successfully crafted legislation that has moved the needle in this fight, Marty Kemp said.

With the stroke of a pen and a kiss from the First Lady, Gov. Kemp says this latest legislation will force those businesses that have not been posting these critical messages to post them.

That good work has saved lives, its taken children out of dangerous situations, and its put offenders behind bars where they can no longer make victims of the innocent, Gov. Kemp said.

Story continues

To date, Georgia has convicted 52 people of human trafficking charges while rescuing 160 victims.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
The Gang of Eight now has access to the classified documents found in the possession of President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence.

The development, first reported by Punchbowl News and later confirmed by multiple news organizations, comes after lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have repeatedly demanded congressional oversight of the documents from the Biden administration.

The Gang of Eight, comprised of the four party leaders in the House and Senate and the four chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees, have access to the most sensitive information.

Committee chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., left, and ranking member Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., take their seats as they arrive for a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing concerning worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill on March 8 in Washington.

Gang of Eight: Who are they?

The Gang of Eight refers to the four party leaders in Congress and the leaders of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.

The four party leaders are: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

The two leaders of the House Intelligence Committee are Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, chair of the committee, and Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., ranking member of the committee.

The two leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee are Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chair of the committee, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., vice chair of the committee.

Classified documents stoke bipartisan anger at White House

After classified documents were found in the possession of Biden, Trump and Pence, key lawmakers have constantly pressed the Biden administration for access to the documents to review.

We have a right as not only members of the Intelligence Committee but as part of the leadership to read virtually every classified document, Warner said on CBS Face the Nation earlier in January.

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., arrive for a news conference following a closed-door lunch meeting with Senate Democrats at the U.S. Capitol on March 22 in Washington.

The Department of Justice previously briefed the Gang of Eight on the classified documents but withheld the documents from direct review by the lawmakers. The department defended its decision to not share the documents, saying it could interfere with ongoing special counsel investigations.

Story continues

Even then, lawmakers asserted that they are entitled to the documents, citing national security concerns and future efforts from Congress to protect classified information.

Were not interested in the timeline, the tick-tock, the who got what, who did that? Those are criminal justice matters, to the extent that thats what it is, Rubio said on CBS Face the Nation in January.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks to reporters after he attended a closed-door briefing for Senators about the Chinese spy balloon at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 9 in Washington.

Classified documents from Pentagon leaked

The move comes as another spotlight is shining on classified information after highly sensitive documents from the Pentagon were leaked, exposing sensitive military data about the war in Ukraine, including U.S. spy planes in the region and estimates of Russian and Ukrainian casualties.

Related: Pentagon warns that leak of secret documents on Ukraine war could lead to loss of lives

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Congress gets access to Trump, Biden, Pence classified docs from DOJ
Assailants shot and killed nine people in northern Ecuador close to the Colombian border on Tuesday in an attack authorities blamed on organized crime gangs.

Dozens of attackers arrived in boats and cars at a small port in Esmeraldas province and then opened fire, the public prosecutor said.

Interior Minister Juan Zapata told the Ecuavisa television channel that the attack was carried out by 30 heavily armed people and said it was related to "a fight between gangs, a territorial fight."

Zapata said there were between 1,500 and 2,000 people in the port, which is home to fishermen using artisanal techniques, at the time of the morning shooting.

The attack happened because fishermen "preferred the security" of one criminal organization and were targeted by another in retaliation, added Zapata.

In a tweet, the public prosecutor said seven bodies were recovered from the port and two more from a nearby health center.

Impoverished Esmeraldas province has been under a state of emergency since March 3 due to high levels of crime and violence, as has the port city of Guayaquil.

These areas have become increasingly bloody centers of a turf war between rival drug trafficking gangs.

Esmeraldas, which is popular with tourists, is considered by authorities to be one of the places with the highest levels of crime in the country.

Last month, police found three bodies, including a teenager, wrapped in black bags in the province. Authorities said they were linked to criminal gangs.

"In three weeks here we have seized 1.2 tons of drugs," said Zapata.

- Surge in gang violence -

Ecuador is located between Colombia and Peru, the world's two largest producers of cocaine, much of which is sent to the United States and Europe from Ecuadoran ports, principally Guayaquil.

Consequently, Ecuador has seen a recent rise in violence and murders related to drug trafficking.

Its murder rate almost doubled from 14 per 100,000 citizens in 2021 to 25 a year later.

Story continues

In 2021, Ecuador seized a record 210 tons of drugs, mainly cocaine.

Last year, another 200 tons of drugs were seized, leading to the government declaring a war on traffickers.

Guayaquil is one of the cities most affected by the surge in violence, as are prisons.

Since February 2021, there have been eight prison massacres in which more than 400 inmates have been killed, many dismembered or torched.

Gangs that vie for control of the lucrative trafficking trade have often controlled operations from within the prison system.

But it is also the scene of bloody battles between rival gangs.

pld/lv/dga/bc/dw
Gary Wang is considered to be an elusive figure who keeps a low profile. FTX; Rachel Mendelson/Insider

FTX cofounder Gary Wang was a critical player during the rise and fall of SBF's crypto empire .

Wang also served as FTX's former chief technology officer but kept a low profile.

After pleading guilty to fraud in December, Wang is said to be cooperating with the prosecutors.

Gary Wang, the cofounder of FTX, has been a mysterious but critical player in the rise and spectacular fall of the crypto empire.

After pleading guilty to fraud in December, Wang is said to be cooperating with the prosecutors.

Despite serving as FTX's chief technology officer, Wang maintained a limited online presence and steered clear of media interviews, leaving the limelight to his cofounder Sam Bankman-Fried. He was the company's second-largest shareholder.

Here's what else we know about the mysterious cofounder:

A prolific coder with degrees from MIT

Wang reportedly met Bankman-Fried at a math camp in Oregon when the pair were teenagers.

Wang, who was 15 at the time, lived in a suburb of Cherry Hill in New Jersey. His family had emigrated to the US from China when he was eight-years-old, Bloomberg reported.

In January, Wang's father told Cherry Hill East's student newspaper, Eastside Online, that Wang was a trusting but naive person.

"From a young age, he was very quiet and solely focused on his strongest interest in math and coding," Wang's father told the student paper. "He was very naive, believing everyone around him was good."

"He was an idealist and full of care toward the world," he added.

Bloomberg reported that at high school Wang was part of the math club and chemistry club, he also joined the chess team and played violin in the symphony orchestra. The math club nicknamed him Hector after the warrior from Greek mythology and by his sophomore year he was studying multi-variable calculus, per Bloomberg.

After high school, Wang and Bankman-Fried both attended MIT and pledged the same fraternity, MIT's Epsilon Theta, according to the news outlet. The two cofounders were reportedly roommates for three years at college and later lived together in a Bahamas house that was home to several other FTX employees.

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After graduating from MIT with degrees in mathematics and computer science, Wang worked at Google. He was an engineer at the company, building systems to aggregate prices across millions of flights, per Forbes.

When Bankman-Fried cofounded Alameda Research in 2017, Wang reportedly left his role at Google.

A reclusive figure

After founding FTX with Bankman-Fried in 2019, Wang became the company's chief technology officer  establishing himself as a key member of the crypto empire's inner circle.

A recent report, filed in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on Sunday, alleged that FTX and Alameda Research were "tightly controlled by a small group of individuals" who "stifled dissent." The tight group of executives reportedly included Wang, Bankman-Fried, Caroline Ellison, who was formerly Alameda's CEO, and Nishad Singh, FTX's former director of engineering.

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."

Representatives for Wang did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on the most recent claims.

Singh, who was mentored by Wang, once described him as brilliant "beyond belief" in a 2020 podcast cited by the Sydney Morning Herald.

But at FTX, Wang was a somewhat reclusive figure, per reports. The executive's profile picture didn't show his face when it appeared on company systems, The Block reported.

Sources told the publication that he was one of a few employees who worked from home and liked to get stuck into coding. "Gary always struck me as someone who was like, 'just tell me what to do and leave me alone,'" a source familiar with both Alameda's and FTX's operations told The Block.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Alameda Research's chief executive and senior FTX officials knew that FTX had lent its customers' money to Alameda to help it meet its liabilities.

Fraud charges and guilty plea

Unlike his cofounder, Wang has largely disappeared from view since he was fired from FTX after the company's implosion.

Beyond Bankman-Fried telling a Vox reporter in November that "Gary is scared," not much has been reported about the elusive cofounder.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Bankman-Fried said he originally thought he and Wang were on the same page with "the right next steps for customers" after FTX collapsed.

"All of the sudden that snapped into he was leaving that day, back to the US and implicitly mostly stopped working," Bankman-Fried told the news outlet.

In December, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York announced that both Wang and Ellison had pleaded guilty to fraud. The pair were said to be cooperating with the prosecutors, according to a statement from US attorney, Damian Williams.

He has since testified that he was directed to alter FTX's code between 2019 and 2022 despite knowing that it would give Alameda Research "special privileges."

Wang had been charged with "a multiyear scheme to defraud equity investors in FTX" by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Ilan Graff, Wang's attorney, told Insider in December: "Gary has accepted responsibility for his actions and takes seriously his obligations as a cooperating witness."

Sindhu Sundar contributed to this story.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A staff member refuels a public bus at a hydrogen refueling station in Lingang new area of Pudong New Area in east China's Shanghai, Dec. 15, 2022. [Photo/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.
Gaston County woman struggles to stay off streets, find affordable rent

Yolanda Cummings, of Gaston County, said she has tried everything possible to find a stable place to call home, but she consistently gets priced out of places to live.

WSOC LINK: AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESOURCES

Cummings was a working professional making $31 an hour when her life took a turn, and she is in danger of slipping into chronic homelessness.

I got up one day and couldnt pay the hotel bill, Cummings said.

>> If youd like to support Cummings, you can donate to The Gateway Gaston by clicking here.

Cummings spends her days at the Gateway in Gastonia providing clothes and other resources to people in need.

It was like I walked out of a good life and walked into the Twilight Zone, she said.

Cummings moved to North Carolina in 2018 after working in Veterans Affairs in Philadelphia.

She moved into a hotel after a deal to buy a home fell through thinking things would work out soon.

She had money but couldnt get job because she didnt have a permanent address. In addition, Cummings couldnt get a home because she didnt have a job.

ALSO READ: Mecklenburg commissioners to continue to invest in affordable housing

She spent the first night at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

That was the only place I knew to go that had lights, had a bathroom and where I felt safe, Cummings said.

Cummings started to live out of her car.

When I saw the encampments, I was blown away and never thought I would be a part of that, she said.

Advocates say Cummings is a good example of unhoused people who have jobs but were overtaken by circumstances and the cost of living.

I just want to grab myself by the throat and like, How come you are not out of this situation yet? Cummings said.

Cummings calls herself a functioning homeless person because as difficult as it is, she believes there is a way out.

However, Cummings is on the clock with a hard deadline.

She has one week to find a new home before she must leave the Salvation Army where she has been staying.

Story continues

Not giving up hope

Cummings said she has spent weeks applying for new rentals in the area.

Id say anywhere from 75 to 100 places, she said.

However, Cummings has been turned down because even though she has a job, she doesnt make enough money to qualify for a lease.

Yesterday I found two great places but because I dont make three times the amount of the rent, I am not eligible, Cummings said.

That is the standard most rental operators are using at a time when rent is at its highest level.

ALSO READ: M/I Homes seeks approvals for large residential development in Gastonia

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Gaston County is $1,242 a month, according to www.rent.com.

Someone would have to make almost $47,000 a year to be eligible to rent that home, which is more than the average salary in Gaston County.

Cummings is still looking but decided she wont wait until the last day to move out of the Salvation Army.

I refuse to wait until the 18th so one way or the other, its my plan, she said.

Cummings realizes paying rent is difficult for her and worries about families who also cant afford a place to live.

VIDEO: Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte hosts meeting to discuss affordable housing crisis
Anne Keast-Butler - GCHQ

The first female director of GCHQ has praised the agencys diverse team years after her predecessor said there were not enough employees from different backgrounds.

Anne Keast-Butler said she is delighted to be taking the reins from Sir Jeremy Fleming next month to become the security agencys 17th leader since its inception more than 100 years ago.

The married mother-of-three, who studied maths at Oxford University, is already one of the countrys most senior intelligence officers, who as the deputy director of MI5 helped oversee the UKs response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Her appointment was heralded as momentous and important for female representation and leaves MI6 as the only major UK security agency yet to have a woman in charge.

The daughter of an eye surgeon and a nurse, Ms Keast-Butler has worked in national security for 30 years, and said the government intelligence services mission is as inspiring today as when it was founded.

The civil servant said: I know I am again joining a world-class team of people from diverse backgrounds with a broad range of skills, who share a singular focus on making our country safer, more secure and more prosperous.

I am passionate about continuing to ensure that GCHQ is an organisation where everyone can perform to their very best.

Ms Keast-Butler, who grew up in Cambridge, also thanked Sir Jeremy for his vision and dedication ... during his tenure, and the ways in which GCHQ has transformed under his leadership.

She added: I look forward to building on this in the months and years to come. I cant wait to get started.

She is the ideal candidate

Security insiders said Ms Keast-Butlers immediate priorities will be to tackle malign influence and activity from Russia and China.

Sir Jeremy, who held the same position at MI5 before he was appointed GCHQ chief in 2017, said: Annes appointment is fantastic news for the organisation. I have worked with Anne for decades and think she is a brilliant choice with deep experience of intelligence and security in todays technology-driven world.

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Before holding senior security service roles at MI5, Ms Keast-Butler spent two years on secondment to GCHQ as head of counter-terrorism and serious organised crime, and also worked in Whitehall over the last decade, during which time she helped launch the National Cyber Security Programme.

Announcing the appointment, James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, praised Ms Keast-Butlers impressive track record at the heart of the UKs national security network, helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers.

He added: She is the ideal candidate to lead GCHQ, and Anne will use her vast experience to help keep the British public safe.

Ciaran Martin, former director of the National Cyber Security Centre, a division of GCHQ, said Ms Keast-Butlers appointment is an important moment.

He told The Telegraph that she is a career intelligence officer of the highest quality and nobody looking at her CV would think its anything other than hugely well deserved.

He added: Only bits of her career are publicly known, but shes worked the full range of threats.

Previous alpha male culture

The announcement comes just three years after her predecessor, who was paid up to 175,000, said the agency is not nearly diverse enough.

Of the highest-paid staff at the agency, men outnumber women three to one, according to the most recent gender pay report.

Anna Brailsford, chief executive of Code First Girls, a provider of free coding courses for women, said: This is a momentous moment for womens representation.

Sir Tim Barrow, the National Security Adviser, said Ms Keast-Butler was an exceptional candidate in a talented field and thanked Sir Jeremy for his service, adding: Jeremys insights and analysis have been hugely valuable through one of the most demanding periods of our recent history.

MI5 appointed its first woman, Stella Rimington, as director-general in 1992 followed by Eliza Manningham-Buller a decade later. Mrs Rimington wrote in her memoir that the closest women ever got to agents in the early days of her career was tidying the safe houses.

A 2015 MPs report highlighted an alpha male management culture across the intelligence services and a permafrost of middle managers with a very traditional male mentality and outlook.

Attempting to hire more women, MI6 reportedly targeted female university graduates and posted an advert for intelligence officers on Mumsnet.

In 2017, women at GCHQ started an everyday sexism project at the agency to call out misogyny at work.
Republican Congressman George Santos left social media users confused after he claimed that Democrats were trying to ban toilet paper.

Mr Santos told his Twitter followers that Republicans were "working to put Americans First" and to "lower the cost of living."

Those noble works stood in contrast to what Mr Santos believes Democrats are doing, which includes "trying to ban toilet paper and gas stoves."

Republicans are working to put Americans First and lower the cost of living.



Democrats are busy trying to ban toilet paper and gas stoves.



We cant pretend politics doesnt affect our lives, we need to remind politicians that they work for We The People.#PeopleOverPolitics  George Santos (@Santos4Congress) April 7, 2023

Conservatives on social media and cable news had a minor freakout in January after a commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission spoke with Bloomberg about the health risks associated with gas stoves. He was quoted saying that a prohibition on gas stoves was "on the table"  a statement the commission later said was not true  and triggered a meltdown.

In that instance, the explosive response was at least attributable to a serious statement made a regulatory head.

However, there has never been an effort to prohibit toilet paper in either the Congress or any state legislature. Big Bidet has never seriously challenged TP's dominance in US restrooms, and certainly never at the legislative level.

So, where did Mr Santos get the idea that Democrats were trying to ban toilet paper?

The freshman congressman is perhaps best known for the many, ridiculous lies he told to fool his constituents about his life and credentials. In this instance, however, it seems Mr Santos is the one who has been fooled.

Story continues

New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher issued a fake press release on 1 April claiming the city would move to ban toilet paper and other single-use paper products like paper towels and tissues.

We are banning toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex, and other single-use paper products in New York City.  



If anyone can pull this off, its New Yorkers!https://t.co/gpshuimGcu pic.twitter.com/uBTrAv2hlq  Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) April 1, 2023

"I dont know about you, but my dream is to live in a world where people look at a roll of toilet paper and say, What is that? the fake press release said. It also included a reference to a bogus activist group called the "Coalition Against Kleenex" led by someone named "Scottie Cotton."

Mr Bottcher represents Manhattan, and Mr Santos serves New York's 3rd district, meaning its entirely possible the Republican congressman saw the fake tweet.

The city councilman has no doubt Mr Santos stumbled upon his joke and took it to heart.

"He fell for it big-time," Mr Bottcher told Yahoo News.

Our quest to ban toilet paper may have gone too far  https://t.co/h8haELmhCK  Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) April 8, 2023

The councilman left a response for Mr Santos on his tweet about Democrats and toilet paper.

"Our quest to ban toilet paper may have gone too far," he wrote.

He told the news outlet that he intentionally tried to pick something so absurd that no one would fall for the joke.

"I thought long and hard about the best April Fools joke to do, and I picked something that I thought was so outlandish that no reasonable person would actually believe it, he told Yahoo News.
A Georgia inmate reportedly bit off a chunk of a female deputy's ear while dinner was being served.

The attack happened Friday night on the third floor of the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta in the section that houses the mentally challenged detainees, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

The outlet, citing sources, reported that the incident occurred while dinner was being served on the floor.

The deputy, who has not been identified, was reportedly handing the inmate food when he suddenly lunged at her and began to beat her, FOX 5 reported. The inmate bit off a chunk of the deputy's ear. The deputy also sustained an injury to her arm and is reportedly at home recovering.

EMOTIONAL KENTUCKY GOV. BESHEAR SAYS HE KNOWS LOUISVILLE BANK SHOOTING VICTIMS PERSONALLY, PLEADS FOR PRAYERS

Fulton County Jail building in Atlanta, Georgia. A report said a female deputy recently was attacked by an inmate who bit off a chunk of her ear.

FOX 5 did not obtain more information about the suspect but said more charges are likely.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office Tuesday seeking further details.

Atlanta City Council member Keisha Waites is among jail watchers who advocate that mentally deficient inmates be hospitalized for long-term treatment, Fox 5 reported.

In October, Waites raised concern to Atlanta Daily World over the conditions at the Fulton County Jail.

ATLANTA COP CITY ANARCHY SEES AT LEAST 35 AGITATORS DETAINED, PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP

Fulton County, Georgia, gained national news coverage as the local district attorney leads a probe into former President Donald Trump.

She cited an ACLU report that argued several hundreds of inmates could be released expeditiously if the county took steps to stop the incarceration of people who could not afford bond, diverted eligible individuals charged with nonviolent misdemeanor offenses to the Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative (PAD), indicted inmates accused of felonies promptly within 90 days, and transferred individuals who are mentally ill and those awaiting competency evaluations to "programs that support mental health services."

"While many argue against the data, research shows that mass incarceration is not effective, and it has not made us safer," Waites said in October. "No argument can be made toward locking up the mentally ill, those with no access to legal counsel, and others due to excessive backlogs  its fundamentally wrong and a violation of the constitutional rights of these citizens."

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Meanwhile, Fulton County has been thrust into the national spotlight as Democrat District Attorney Fani Willis investigates former President Donald Trump and several of his high-profile allies over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state of Georgia.

A Fulton County Sheriff's Office deputy was recently attacked in the jail.

Also newsworthy in the area, Georgia senators torpedoed an effort to let the affluent Buckhead neighborhood secede from Atlanta last month over soaring crime.

The 33-23 vote to reject Senate Bill 114 could end the multiyear movement to create the proposed Buckhead City, driven by conservative residents who claimed the Democratic-run city wasnt doing enough to fight crime and provide services, especially considering that Buckhead makes up less than 20% of the citys population of 500,000, but about 40% of its tax revenue.

Several dozen suspects have also been charged with domestic terrorism over the past several months in connection to demonstrations against the construction of an Atlanta police and fire training facility which activists, mostly wealthy out-of-towners, have dubbed "Cop City."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Georgia police chief will leave his job after accepting a $400,000 payment to retire.

Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon went on administrative leave beginning Friday and will retire on April 30 after 37 years with the department.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Local news outlets report that city leaders initially offered Blackmon $250,000 to leave. Blackmon responded by demanding $850,000 and threatening to sue the city for racial discrimination.

Blackmon had been chief since Nov. 2020, becoming the citys second black chief. The department polices all of Muscogee County under Columbus consolidated city-county government structure.

Assistant chiefs Debra Kennedy and Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick will lead the department on a day-to-day basis as the city consults with the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police on appointing an interim chief.

The goal is to get an interim in there, like 10 minutes ago, Mayor Skip Henderson told the Ledger-Enquirer of Columbus late last week.

Several city council members said they expect a national search for a permanent chief.

TRENDING STORIES:

Columbus will continue providing Blackmon with health insurance at the employee rate until he reaches retirement age. The chief agreed not to sue the city.

Henderson moved to oust Blackmon the day after Blackmon presented a strategic plan in mid-March.

The move came amid a wave of shootings, including one in which nine juveniles were wounded at a gas station on Feb. 16.

Blackmon proposed boosting pay, seeking to expand the force to a budgeted 572 officers, up from the current 498 positions. But only 295 officers were on the payroll then, adding to concerns about officer departures.

Story continues

Columbus saw a record 70 homicides in 2021. That fell to 45 last year, but Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman and others said the city benefited from the ending of a gang war. The departments approach to fighting gang violence was criticized in a privately funded November study, finding the department wasnt doing enough to gather intelligence on gangs.

The study also found experienced officers werent leaving because of low pay but because of low morale caused by poor leadership.

Blackmons lawyers claimed the study relied too much on complaints from the white-led local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

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IN OTHER NEWS
(Trigger Cut/Facebook)

A punk band from Germany was allegedly refused entry into the UK due to post-Brexit rule changes.

The Stuttgart-based band called Trigger Cut was due to play at seven UK venues this week but was refused entry into the country.

Today we got refused at the UK border for weird reasons, the band wrote in a Facebook post. We would have needed a special certificate of sponsorship but no one knew before, not even the venues, promoters, or the German customs authority.

Brexit bureaucracy??? A post-Brexit nightmare.

The band, which consists of three members, also said that the whole experience at the UK border was humiliating and sad.

In another post, the band explained that the UK authorities wanted them to have  a so-called certificate of sponsorship from all seven clubs, claiming that this certificate or number was unknown even to the organisers.

Nobody knew about it!! the post read. I think Ive never felt so degraded, sad, and bad as I do today.

We were completely unfairly rejected and were not allowed to enter the UK. We were handed over like criminals to the French border police and had to leave Calais.

(Trigger Cut/Facebook)

Trigger Cut announced that they wont be making a third attempt to tour [in the UK].

The pain and humiliation runs deep, the band said. The first attempt to tour there had Covid devastated us and we were left with massive costs that were not repaid.

The UK officially left the European Union on 31 January 2020. The experience of British travellers to the EU and vice versa since then has changed dramatically.

The frontman of The Charlatans, Tim Burgess, said the Trigger Cuts nightmare experience showed the damage Brexit was doing to touring musicians.

What happened to Trigger Cut is scary, as bands from the EU are facing confusing and complex rules that mean UK tour dates might just not be worth their while, he told The Guardian.

A government spokesman told the outlet: Musicians and performers are a valued and important part of UK culture with the country attracting world-class entertainers and musicians from around the globe. This is why we offer a dedicated immigration route for creative workers.

All visa applications are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the immigration rules. The application process is designed to ensure that all visa decisions can be made using the most accurate information and is fair for all applicants.
Russia, in the person of ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova, was excluded from the membership of the European network of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI).

Source: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), on Telegram

Quote: "Today, I took part in the voting process for the exclusion of the Institution of Human Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation from ENNHRI members. ENNHRI members with A status took part in the vote. I emphasise that this is the first time in the history of the association that one of the members has been excluded."

Details: According to the ombudsman, the reason for the vote was that Moskalkova conducted her activities in a manner contrary to the purpose defined by the alliance's charter.

Lubinets said that, anticipating that Russia would be kicked out of ENNHRI, Moskalkova tried to announce her withdrawal from the alliance herself.

Moreover, in her speech, she began to lie about "US bio laboratories in Ukraine" and pointed to human rights violations in France.

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) has been bringing together human rights representatives from around the world since 1993 and currently has 120 member organisations. They are conventionally divided into four networks: African, American, Asia-Pacific and European.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Cheney Orr/Reuters

Six black and red ribbons representing those who died in the March 27 mass shooting at the Covenant School in Tennessee were arrayed before the clerk when the Metro Nashville Council met in special session at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The single item on the agenda was to fill the vacancy left when Democratic State Rep. Justin Jones was expelled on Thursday. Jones, along with Reps. Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson, had become known as the Tennessee Three when the ruling GOP supermajority in the General Assembly moved to expel them.

The trio was charged with violating decorum by stepping into the well on the House floor and briefly voicing solidarity with hundreds of protesters who gathered peacefully at the capital in the aftermath of the Covenant School shooting. They explained during expulsion proceedings on Thursday that they had done so only after Speaker Cameron Sexton and his GOP cabal kept them from discussing gun reform.

We called for you all to ban assault weapons and you responded with an assault on democracy, Jones said.

Johnsonwho is whitemanaged to hold onto her seat by one vote. Jones and Pearsonwho are Blackbecame only the third and four legislators expelled in Tennessee history. Jones made a pledge on his way out.

See you on Monday, he said.

Sexton and his crew apparently failed to consider, in their rush to expel the Tennessee Three, that the choice of interim replacements fell to the county commissionswhich in the cases of both Jones and Pearson, have Democratic majorities.

Why Did These 5 Vote to Boot Black Tennessee Reps but Keep Their White Colleague?

That included District 52 in Nashville, which Jones represents, where his expulsion seems to have badly inflamed his constituents.

I have received almost an email every minute since Thursday asking me to reappoint Rep. Justin Jones, Metro Nashville Council Member Kevin Rhoten tweeted. In my eight years on Metro Council, I have never been bombarded with emails like this I will vote to reinstate him.

Story continues

Rhoten and all 36 fellow council members were present when Vice Mayor Jim Shulman gaveled the special session to order. The invocation was delivered by Council Member Zulfat Suara. She asked everybody to continue praying for the Covenant School victims, who included three 9-year-olds.

May the death not be in vain, she said. Today we heard of another mass shooting in Kentucky, several families whose lives are now shattered. We ask that you be with them a lot more than anything. We ask you to guide our state and national leaders in taking action and enact, enacting, sensible and just gun laws. Amen.

A gunman had killed at least four in the Old National Bank in Louisville that morning. Two of the dead and one of the wounded were close friends of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who immediately rushed to the scene. The pro-gun reform Democrat was in tears as he spoke afterward, saying, Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these types of tragedies.

But Beshear said nothing about guns. He had explained in the aftermath of last years mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas that any changes in access to firearms would require a legislative act. And the Kentucky legislature is also ruled by a GOP supermajority.

So, in terms of gun reform, it made no immediate difference for Kentucky who the governor was. Just as in Tennessee, where Gov. Bill Lee responded to the Covenant School shooting by posting a dry-eyed video in which he reported that his wife had lost one of her closest friends.

What might end up making a difference in Tennessee, however, is the expulsion of Jones and Pearson. They became instant celebrities who are actually worth celebrating, young champions of democracy and racial justice and gun reform.

Rep. Justin Jones and his supporters march to the Tennessee Capitol after he was reinstated to his position as a state Legislator by the Nashville City Council. Kevin Wurm/Reuters

A reminder of the need to do something about the firearms pervading every aspect of American society reached the Nashville Metro Council with the news from Kentucky, just hours before its vote.

Our hearts also go out, as Council Member Suara said, to the people of Louisville for the tragic shooting that occurred there today, Shulman said after the invocation.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper noted that the upcoming vote is unprecedented.

But so was the action taken to expel members of the legislature, he continued. Voters in District 52 elected Justin Jones to be their voice at the State House and that voice was taken away this past week. So lets give them their voice back. And I call on this body to vote unanimously right now to do just that.

In a voice vote, the council unanimously suspended rules that might have delayed filing the vacancy for a month or more. They immediately took the next step.

Because the rules have been suspended, we are asking anyone who wants to make a nomination to stand, Shulmans said.

Council Member Delishia Porterfield rose.

Thank you, Vice Mayor, I would like to nominate Representative Justin Jones, she said.

Her voice resonated with the import of the moment. The nomination was seconded.

Are there any further nominations? Shulman asked.

There was silence.

Seeing none, without objection, nominations are closed, Shulman said.

Rep. Justin Jones reenters the House Chamber after being reinstated. Cheney Orr/Reuters

Porterfield was given five minutes to speak on behalf of her nominee. She noted that Jones scored the most votes in both the primary and the general election in 2022.

On November the eighth, the people made a choice and it was the right choice, she said. On Thursday, April the sixth, we witnessed a miscarriage of justice and an egregious assault on our democracy  To reinstate Representative Jones, we are restoring the political voice of the 70,000 people of District 52.

She went on, Our community members are more than capable of selecting their representative and their will should have never been undermined. Representative Jones was honest about who he was, a bold and unapologetic advocate for the community. The people chose their representative. And 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.

The Tennessee Three were giving rise to another champion.

And colleagues, with that, I ask you to please vote to approve Representative Jones, she said.

She had taken only two minutes.

I will now call for the election, Shulman said. We have only one nomination before us.

The vote was tallied electronically and nobody could have been surprised when it was unanimous.

Justin Jones has been elected as the interim successor for the vacancy of Tennessee House District 52 pursuant to the state law and the rules governing the Metropolitan Counsel, Shulman declared.

The whole process had taken less than 10 minutes, ending shortly before 5 p.m., when the Tennessee Assembly met for an evening session a brief walk away from the council chambers, along John Lewis Way with a big crowd. There had been reports that the GOP cabal would fight efforts to reinstate Jones and Pearson, but Sexton apparently knew when he was beat.

The two governing bodies will make the decision as to who they want to appoint to these seats, Sexton said through a spokesperson. Those two individuals will be seated as representatives as the Constitution requires.

Just after 6 p.m., Democratic State Rep. Antonio Parkinson made an announcement on the General Assembly floor that was welcomed by cheers from the spectator gallery.

Mr. Speaker, I want to welcome our newest member to the House chamber, State Rep. Justin Jones, he said.

Rep. Justin Pearson waves from the Tennessee House gallery after Rep. Justin Jones returned to the chambers floor following his reinstatement. Cheney Orr/Reuters

A triumphant Jones had made good on his pledge to return. He entered the chamber with Johnson, his left arm hooked around hers, his right hand raised in a fist as they strolled down the aisle and across the well. You could almost believe they will be able to do something about guns.

Sexton tried to quiet the crowd and then recognized Jones.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Jones began. I want to welcome the people back to the peoples house. I want to welcome democracy back to the peoples house.

He continued with a message befitting the day after Easter.

Last Thursday, members of this body tried to crucify democracy. But today we stand as a witness of a resurrection, of a movement of a multiracial democracy that no unjust decision will stand. 

He went on, saying There comes a time where time itself is ready for a change. And that time has come back here in Nashville, Tennessee.

His words had substance that long predates social media.

Truth crushed to the ground will rise again  What you intend for evil can be used for good to restore the heart of democracy in our state. I come here to stand with my constituents, with the people of Tennessee to say that no unjust attack on democracy will happen unchallenged, that the abuse of this body will not happen in the comfort of silence.

Republicans Make Rock Stars Out of the Tennessee Three

He said he is hopeful for the days ahead, which are expected to include the equally triumphant reinstatement of Pearson on Wednesday.

Not because of the actions of this body, but because of the actions of the people out there and the thousands gathered outside this chamber right now, who are calling for something better, who responded to your attacks on democracy with an attack of a mass movement for social justice and racial justice and economic justice to restore the heart of our state, he said.

He thanked those who expelled him.

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 in one in every generation.

He warned that any attempt to silence this movement would only galvanize and strengthen it. He closed with a cry that must have gone surreal in the ears of a supermajority that needs gerrymandering and voter suppression to keep control.

Power to the people!

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said Monday that the Food and Drug Administration should ignore a federal judge's ruling Friday that endangers a pill commonly used for abortion.

"This is an FDA-approved drug. Whether you agree with its usage or not, that's not your decision," Mace told CNN in an interview. "That is the FDA's decision on the efficacy, safety and usage of that particular drug."

Asked whether she believed the judge's ruling should be ignored, Mace said, "I agree with ignoring it at this point."

"This thing should just be thrown out, quite frankly, she added.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, issued a ruling Friday that would suspend the FDAs longtime approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. The Biden administration filed a request in a federal appeals court Monday seeking to block the ruling.

Few Republicans in Congress have commented on the ruling.

Mace has repeatedly criticized her party for what she has called a lack of "compassion" for women in relation to abortion rights. Last month, she blasted a bill backed by some Republican legislators in South Carolina that would potentially subject women who had abortions to execution.

"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," Mace said Monday. "There are many pro-life people that also, while they're pro-life, they don't want the government to intervene in this radical of a manner."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The tragic scene that unfolded last month at the Covenant School in Nashville was all too familiar  the terrified parents, the teachers and children clinging to each other, and the truly heroic first responders racing to the rescue.

What was once unimaginable in our country has become horrifyingly frequent: there have already been 130 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

But something new happened after the Nashville shooting: two young, Black state legislators were expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives. They had dared to advocate, and demonstrate through peaceful protest, for common sense gun safety laws. They were echoing the sentiments of students who had protested and walked out of classrooms, following the footsteps of the courageous Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, who became national leaders after the shooting at their Florida school.

Tennesse state Representative Justin Pearson addresses the crowd outside of the Tennesse State House after being expelled, along with state Representative Justin Jones, for protesting gun violence on the House floor.

The anti-democratic actions of the legislature not only defy the norms for our elected bodies, they also defy the will of the people  gun safety laws are supported not only by a majority of Americans but also by most Tennesseans.

In a recent statewide poll from the Vanderbilt Center for Health Policy, 70.5% of respondents said they believe schools would be safer if background checks were required for all gun sales. And more than 63% of parents said that schools would be safer if families and law enforcement could temporarily restrict a persons access to firearms.

Thats exactly what we did in New York, after 10 people lost their lives in a racially motivated mass shooting in my hometown of Buffalo almost one year ago. I immediately went to work with our state legislature and less than a month after the attack in Buffalo, we passed a landmark package to strengthen state gun laws and protect New Yorkers. This package included banning the sale of semiautomatic weapons to anyone under 21, and bolstering our existing gun laws, including Red Flag laws, to prevent future tragedies.

Story continues

GOP mum: Anti-cancel culture Republicans in hiding after expulsion of Tennessee lawmakers

More perspective: I survived a mass shooting  and found Americans aren't all that divided on gun safety

How Red Flag laws can make a difference

Red Flag laws allow courts to issue extreme risk protection orders to keep guns away from people who may be a danger to themselves or to others, and last summer we made it even stronger. Now, law enforcement, as well as teachers, school administrators, family members, and a wide array of health professionals can raise a red flag and petition for an ERPO, if they are concerned that someone is in crisis. There are stringent due process guardrails in place for legal gun owners, including a judicial hearing and right to counsel.

A staggering 56% of mass shooting perpetrators exhibit troubling behavior or make specific threats before carrying out an attack. Thats what happened in Nashville: the shooter had known mental health issues and was receiving treatment. But they were still able to legally purchase an arsenal of deadly weapons.

If Tennessee had a Red Flag law in place, a simple filing by the shooters parents or friends could have prevented tragedy. And in Monday's attack in Louisville, when the alleged gunman texted his intentions to multiple friends and left a note for his parents, an emergency order of protection likely could have saved lives. In New York that has happened nearly 8,000 times so far  since strengthening the law, weve worked to make sure New Yorkers are aware of their ability to use it, and Red Flag law applications have increased sixfold.

The law is working  more than 78% of ERPOs in New York were filed after we strengthened our Red Flag laws and expanded who is eligible to petition for orders of protection last year. Weve also partnered with Everytown for Gun Safety to hold training sessions on our Red Flag laws, including instructions on how to file an order of protection to prevent a potentially dangerous person from accessing firearms.

Despite strong evidence that Red Flag laws help save lives, 31 states, including Tennessee, still have not adopted them. That needs to change. In February of this year, President Joe Biden allotted $231 million for states to implement crisis intervention projects like Red Flag laws. This is a good start; but states need to step up in the absence of a national Red Flag law.

LIVE coverage of the Nashville shooting: Rep. Justin Jones expulsion updates: Council reappoints, Jones retakes oath of office

State legislators in Tennessee and across the nation should be aware there is a direct correlation between common sense gun laws and lives saved. The evidence is clear  states with tougher gun laws have lower rates of gun deaths. According to the CDC, New York has a gun death rate of 5.3 per 100,000  the fifth lowest in the country. Tennessees is four times higher.

And finally, as the first New York governor who is also a mother, I am heartsick to know that preventable gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States, a staggering 50% increase between 2019 and 2021, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis.

Instead of expelling lawmakers who are fighting to save kids lives, the adults need to grow up and work collaboratively within the Tennessee legislature to protect those children.

Its time to stop the bloodshed in Tennessee and around the nation.

Kathy Hochul is governor of New York.

Gov. Kathy Hochul

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Hochul nashville shooting tennessee house of representatives expulsion
The Payment & Clearing Association of China, the self-regulatory organization of the payment and clearing industry, has called for industry participants to use ChatGPT with caution, warning the risk of cross-border data leakage has emerged.

"The risks of using ChatGPT and other tools to process work content should be comprehensively assessed. ChatGPT and other tools should be used in compliance with laws and regulations," the association said in a statement published on its official WeChat account on Monday.

The move is the first by a self-regulatory body in China's financial sector to publicly call for restraint when using ChatGPT, joining regulators in a rising number of economies who are paying attention to data security issues regarding ChatGPT.

Participants in the payment industry should not upload any key, sensitive information to ChatGPT, the association said. Such information includes confidential documents and data of the country and the financial industry, corporate non-public materials and data, customer information and core codes of the payment and settlement infrastructure.
Jayland Walker reportedly had no alcohol or narcotics in his system when his body was riddled with 46 entrance and graze wounds last June, sparking days of protests across Akron, Ohio.

A grand jury in Akron, Ohio, will soon decide whether authorities should file charges against the eight officers who shot and killed Jayland Walker last summer.

Walker, a 25-year-old Black man, was killed on June 27, 2022, after an attempted traffic stop and foot chase. According to NBC News, Akron Police Department officers reported a firearm being discharged from the suspect vehicle during the pursuit.

The family of Jayland Walker urges you to be mindful of how important it is that in America, everyone has equal access to justice and a fair process, the Walker familys attorney Bobby DiCello said in a statement regarding Mondays convening of a grand jury. They are not advocating for anything more than that.

Demonstrators hold Justice for Jayland signs as they gather last July outside Akron City Hall to protest the killing of Jayland Walker, who was shot to death by police in Akron, Ohio. This week, a grand jury will begin hearing evidence to determine whether authorities should charge the officers. (Photo: Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images)

Akron police officers claimed they started shooting after deploying stun guns ineffectively to stop Walker. Police body camera footage showed multiple officers chasing him, shouting orders for him to stop.

In a video update, authorities said a revolver, a loaded magazine and what seemed to be a gold wedding band were in plain view inside Walkers car, on the drivers seat.

Lisa Kohler, Summit Countys medical examiner, said Walker had 46 entrance and graze wounds and ruled his death a homicide. His right iliac artery, lungs and heart were all damaged by gunfire, she said, and no traces of alcohol or narcotics were found in his system.

Walker reportedly sustained 17 gunshot wounds to his pelvis and upper legs, 15 to his torso, eight to his arms and right hand, five to his lower right leg, knees and right foot and one to his face, dying from internal injuries caused by blood loss. Kohler, who called his injuries devastating, said she could not establish whether a particular bullet killed him.

Last year, the Fraternal Order of Police in Akron declared that the investigation would confirm that the officers actions and the number of rounds they fired were appropriate.

Story continues

Officers reasonably believed that Mr. Walker presented an immediate threat of serious physical harm or death, the statement said, maintaining they lawfully discharged their weapons.

Law enforcement officials have not released the names of the eight officers involved, but seven reportedly are white. They were on paid administrative leave after the shooting but returned to work in non-uniform roles in October, a move Walker family attorneys deemed callous.

The decision  which Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett conceded would disappoint some  was announced amid reported staffing constraints.

Walkers death sparked days of protests, prompting the mayor to issue a 9 p.m. curfew for downtown Akron after alleging that some turned violent. A city spokesperson said the Summit County Courthouse enhanced security for the forthcoming hearing, including adding steel barricades to the building.

While boarded windows will certainly be the most visible signs of preparation, the spokesperson said, it is the ongoing conversations and relationship building which have undeniably been the most important preparation for whatever the grand jury decides.

A heartbroken Walker reportedly was attempting to move on after the passing of his fiancee, Jaymeisha Beasley, just weeks earlier. Shalesa Beasley, Jaymeisha Beasleys mother, said the couple began dating when they were both 15 and became engaged a year before Walkers death.

Walker and his fiancee reportedly had a great relationship and were in the process of planning their wedding and purchasing a home before she was killed in a hit-and-run incident on May 28 in southwest Ohio.

Beasley, 27, was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown onto the freeway when a semi-truck rear-ended the van in which she was riding. She was struck by an approaching vehicle.

At his burial, Walkers cousin Robin Elerick said he was having a really, really hard time in the weeks preceding his death, recalling instances when they would sit silently and cry.

The grand jury for Summit County began being seated on Monday, though it is unclear when they will publicize a decision.

DiCello noted that while the justice process is already stacked against them, Walkers family will continue to fight for the justice that they and Jayland deserve.

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The post Grand jury to determine if cops will be charged in Walker death appeared first on TheGrio.
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.

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 Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn said. Gwynn said last month that he wouldn't 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 Monday.

His office has also petitioned Newport News Circuit Court to impanel 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.

James Ellenson, a lawyer for Taylor, said he was made aware of the indictments a grand jury returned Monday.

"My client will be turning herself in later this week," Ellenson said in a statement. "More details will follow."

State statutes say felony child neglect, which maintains there was "reckless disregard for human life," carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, while the misdemeanor charge of recklessly leaving a loaded firearm carries a sentence of up to one year in prison.

A lawyer for Abigail Zwerner, the wounded teacher, said Monday that charges against the student's mother are welcome but that more people need to be held accountable.

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)

"There were failures in accountability at multiple levels that led to Abby being shot and almost killed. Today's announcement addresses but one of those failures," lawyer Diane Toscano said, adding: "Our lawsuit makes clear that we believe the school division violated state law, and we are pursuing this in civil court. We will not allow school leaders to escape accountability for their role in this tragedy."

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A week ago, Zwerner filed a $40 million lawsuit alleging administrators at Richneck Elementary School shrugged off multiple warnings from staff members and students who believed the boy had a gun and posed an imminent threat on Jan. 6, the day of the shooting.

The student shot Zwerner with a 9 mm handgun as she sat at a reading table in their first-grade classroom, officials said.

Newport News police 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 her chest. Police said the shooting was intentional.

The boy's 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."

The family also said the boy has an acute disability and was receiving the "treatment he needs" under court-ordered temporary detention at a medical facility.

Police said his mother legally purchased the gun he used, but they haven't said how he obtained it or whether it was safely secured, as the family has claimed.

Virginia, unlike some other states, has no law that specifies how to secure guns in a home, said Allison Anderman, the senior counsel and director of local policy at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

It does have a misdemeanor law to protect children 14 and younger from access to firearms, she said.

The Virginia code says "you can't leave a loaded firearm unsecured in a matter that would endanger the life and limb of a child under the age of 14," Anderman said of the law Taylor is accused of having broken. "And your behavior can't be reckless. If you were reasonable in how you stored your firearm, even if a minor under the age of 14 got a hold of it, you may not be liable."

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 installed metal detectors and a full-time security guard at Richneck.

"The safety and wellbeing of our staff and students is our most important priority," the school board said in a previous 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 declined to comment Monday about the charges against the student's mother.

Zwerner's lawsuit also alleges that 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 that on the day of the shooting, no parent was with him and he wasn't assigned a monitor.

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. Zwerner's complete recovery," he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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. Lisa C. Cheney via AP

Kay Woodcock, the grandmother to Lori Vallow's late children, took the stand Monday.

She described Vallow as a once "doting mom."

She said the last time she saw J.J. was during a short FaceTime in August 2019.

BOISE, Idaho  Kay Woodcock, the first witness to take the stand in the trial of Lori Vallow, shed tears when she was handed a photo she once took of J.J. Vallow.

Woodcock's voice cracked Monday as she described the grinning boy in a bright green shirt as her "beautiful grandson." Prosecutors have accused the boy's mother, Lori Vallow, of killing him and his sister Tylee Ryan in 2019, along with her husband's late wife.

On Monday, the family's complicated history began to unfold for jurors during the murder trial's opening statements at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.

The boy, whose biological father is Woodcock's son, was adopted at 2 years old by Lori Vallow and her then-husband Charles Vallow. Woodcock remained in her grandson's life. In frequent FaceTime chats, J.J. called Woodcock "maw-maw," meaning grandmother.

"She was a doting mom, she was very engaged," Woodcock said Monday of Vallow's parenting prior to 2019.

However, that year, Woodcock testified that Vallow's attitude toward her adopted son changed dramatically.

"Lori didn't want him anymore," she said, though she didn't elaborate on the changes going on in Lori Vallow's life at the time.

Woodcock and her husband became so worried about their grandson that they hired a private investigator in the fall of 2019 to surveil Vallow at her new home in Rexburg, Idaho. When the investor failed to see J.J. or his older sister Tylee Ryan, the Woodcocks went to the police.

"We are so worried about J.J.," Woodcock testified she had told a detective.

Woodcock said the last time she saw her grandson J.J. was a brief FaceTime in August 2019. That call took place only a few weeks after Lori Vallow's brother Alex Cox shot her fourth husband dead. Woodcock testified that during the call JJ seemed distraught and distracted.

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The last words she heard him say were, "Gotta go maw-maw."

Cox, at the time, claimed self-defense, but Lori Vallow is now charged with plotting Charles' killing.

Woodcock testified that she took possession of Charles' printer after his killing.

Because of what Woodcock called "divine intervention," when she connected it to her computer she saw items that Vallow shopped for on Amazon. Items included a swimsuit, a beach wedding dress, and a pair of rings.

"She was looking at wedding rings," Woodcock said on the stand.

Vallow and Chad Daybell wed on a Hawaiian beach in late 2019, shortly after the deaths of her two youngest children, and each of their respective spouses.

Outside the courthouse on Monday, Kay's husband, Larry Woodcock, said he was relieved the trial was underway. Larry Woodcock was known to J.J. as "paw-paw."

"Before it was always about, 'Where are the kids?'" he said, a wrist wrapped in multicolored bracelets bearing Tylee and JJ's names. "Now it's about justice."

Read the original article on Insider
Granger Smith is leaving touring behind to focus on ministry and his local church in his native Texas.

The country music singer, whose 3-year-old son, River, died in a drowning accident in 2019, announced April 11 on his social media pages that his upcoming "Like a River" concert tour, which kicks off April 13, will be the last of his career.

"This summer is my last-ever tour. I have felt a strong desire to pursue ministry. And, this doesn't mean I'm going to start a church or a crusade or a revival. This means that me and my family are going to serve our local church," Smith, 43, tells fans in a selfie video.

The singer continues, Were going to pour into that church as members and have my pastors and elders pour into me and disciple me and teach me as I sit under their wise teaching and then, Lord willing, one day they can affirm me into the next steps of what that might look like to glorify God best from my platform.

Smith says he had already begun pursuing a master's degree with the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

"This is a time of learning and growing for me," Smith tells fans in his video.

He adds that on Aug. 1, his new memoir, "Like A River," will be published.

"It shouldn't surprise you what that book is about," Smith says. "It's about from when I lost my son, Riv, to when we had Mav and everything in between that the Lord did and the radical way of opening my eyes. That message is so important to tell."

Granger Smith (center) performs at the Kentucky State Fair on August 21, 2019 in Louisville, KY. (Stephen J. Cohen / Getty Images)

Smith calls the memoir the most important piece of media he's ever created, and says the book's redemptive message has become his life mission.

Smith concludes his message by explaining that he could no longer reconcile the two most prominent aspects of his life: religion and fame.

His seeking glorification on a music stage is at odds with Jesus sacrifice, as well as self-denial as it has been depicted in the Bible, Smith tells fans, adding, "I think that's a contradiction."

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Smith says his wife, Amber Smith, agreed with his decision to leave touring to pursue ministry. Amber and I have been totally united on this. Shes my best friend. Shes my first counsel, he says.

In the caption of his video, Granger Smith wrote, I am so encouraged and hopeful and excited and joyful about the next chapter, but to a large extent, I have no idea what it will look like.

I just want to glorify God the best way that I can. I want to learn and grow and serve my local church and allow my pastors to equip and affirm those next steps. Lord willing, I want to be used to help people find their purpose, he added.

Amber Smith and Granger Smith (Rick Kern / Getty Images for PureFlix)

In June 2022, Amber Smith opened up about the devastating moment the couple had to tell their daughter, London, and son Lincoln that their younger brother River had died.

During an appearance on the Meaning Full Living podcast, Amber Smith told listeners that the nurses at the hospital instructed the couple to be honest with their children about the tragedy.

Kids are resilient and theyre going to know if youre sugarcoating things, so we just went home with that intention of being very honest and saying, I hate using the word died, but we went home and said, River was without oxygen for too long. They did everything that they could but Bubbie died, she said.

And then we just let them process their emotions and we just have continually told them that whatever theyre feeling  if theyre angry, if theyre sad, if theyre mad, if theyre happy ... its OK, added Amber Smith, who said London and Lincoln spent time in play therapy after River's death.

In 2021, the Smiths welcomed another son, Maverick.

During her podcast interview, Amber Smith revealed that she and her husband encourage their children to keep Rivers memory alive.

Hes still so very much a part of our lives that I think that has helped them process their grief and heal to where now  they laugh and they tell stories about him, she said.

They laugh about how funny he was. Of course, theres still moments of sadness, but Im pleased, I guess is the word I should say, as to how theyre healing. Im grateful for how theyre healing and how resilient that they are.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
From that cherished Christmas present to a crib for the newest member of the family, folks the world over have gone through this experience. It looks so fantastic in the photo on the box or in the display.

But then, you get it home and the assembly required part of the process begins. It is also when the frustration begins, as what we thought would be a few minutes winds up taking into the wee morning hours.

If only there were a way to simplify the process. Actually, someone has BILT such a way, as in the BILT app, designed to make assembly easier and more.

Were innovating instructions the way Google Maps revolutionized driving directions, said Nate Henderson, the founder of the BILT app and the companys CEO.

It all started in 2012 when a sales executive named Chris Klayko at SAP software company was attempting to assemble a sandbox for his toddlers. While the product was high quality, the paper instructions that came with it, not so much. This underscored a job to be done: create a better, easier and faster way to put things together.

Hed seen 3D instructions in use in the aerospace industry and wondered if they could be created for consumer products. So, he bought a $40 IKEA table and found the computer aided design online and asked his engineering colleagues to create the first set of 3D interactive instructions.

In 2013, Hendersons team developed the beta version of the mobile app inside SAPs Innovation and User Experience Design incubator. But Henderson realized early on that the platform could not thrive inside the software giant and he began working on a plan to buy the assets and spin out.

He got 54 rejections before finally securing permission to buy the app from SAP in 2015. Henderson then reached out to his childhood friend Ahmed Qureshi, a serial entrepreneur, and together they founded BILT Incorporated, based in Grapevine, in 2016.

Henderson and Qureshi grew up together overseas and attended college and business school together.

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Making things simpler

In laymans terms, BILT makes setup, a traditionally terrible experience, doable and even fun. Now, millions of BILT users in more than 170 countries have downloaded 3D guides for thousands of products from hundreds of brands for assembly, installation, maintenance and repair.

And its absolutely free to users, both professional technicians and do-it-yourselfers alike. BILT doesnt allow advertising or those annoying pop-ups. Downloading BILT is easy from the App Store or Google Play.

The service is paid for by the participating brands who want to empower their customers with an easier experience.

Unlike paper manuals that are often poorly written or badly translated, BILT designers create digital 3D instructions while going through the project themselves. Their expertise is geared toward user-friendliness, Qureshi explained.

The designers work with product managers to monitor difficult steps and make updates in near-real time.

Every product angle, every movement I animate is to give the customer a better experience. Theyre always top of mind, said Matt Ohnesorge, BILT senior designer.

To do this, designers go through every assembly, installation, maintenance and repair step-by-step. They experience all the pain points from wrap rage to leftover part anxiety. They use the brands printed and video instructions as a baseline and discover the stumbling blocks. Then they fix them, so users dont have to stumble behind them.

I think theres a misconception that BILT designers must be amazing at following 2D directions, but thats not the case. We make mistakes, too, as we go through the process, said Stephanie Raptis, BILT lead designer. If BILT wanted engineers, they would have hired engineers. But engineers wrote the 2D instructions, and thats where a lot of the problems come into play.

The app also makes for a safer experience, thanks largely to fewer frustrations. First-time errors are much less, as is the need for call-backs to technicians.

BILT users can rotate images 360 degrees, zoom in and out, and tap on a part or tool for details. Unlike YouTube videos, BILT is not limited to a single camera angle, and you dont constantly have to rewind, each step is self-paced.

Users can turn on voice and text prompts to accompany the animated images, instantly replay each step, and easily skip forward or back.

User reviews

At the end of each project, users can leave a rating and review and register the product. Many have done so and the messages have been overwhelmingly positive.

I could not have assembled this equipment without these audio and visual, step-by-step instructions! What a wonderful app! Im a 73-year-old woman, and I did it! wrote Dot in a message to the company after assembling a recumbent cross trainer.

Thank GOODNESS for this app. My husband and I always almost end up in a divorce when putting things together. This app is so much better than reading directions. NIGHTMARE, Michele Y. posted in the App Store.

Not only do individuals love the BILT app, so do companies. Among those listed on BILTs website as joining forces to deliver 3D instructions are the likes of Walmart, The Home Depot, Siemens, The Container Store, Rubbermaid, NordicTrack, American Standard and more, even some members of the military.

I wish I could express how great a role BILT Incorporated has played in our growth. One way to prove this is we have grown more than 10 times in the last five years, but our call volume has barely increased. This lets us know the ease of instructions BILT is providing our customers for installation is so good they have all the answers they need, Murphy Door CED Jeremy Barker said.

The cash saved on customer service labor can be directly reallocated to product improvement, research and development, or marketing, a huge value increase for the company.

BILT won Best Home Software Product at the Best of IBS 2023 International Builders Show and Most Innovative Construction Tool in 2020. In 2022, they took home the Pro Tool Innovation Award for Technology.

The company has made Inc. magazines list of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies in America the past three years. BILT was a finalist for Tech in Motions Best Tech Startup in 2020 and is an Appy and UXie Gold winner.

BILT delivers an empowering, interactive setup that transforms training and makes everyone more successful, Qureshi said.

First of its kind

BILT is the only company in the world that has architected a global platform to provide 3D interactive instructions on a mobile app that can be used by anyone, anywhere, Henderson said.

The 3D guides can be password and access key protected.

Hundreds of instruction sets can be downloaded to a single mobile device. Each guide is about the size of a song on iTunes. Once downloaded, 3D instructions can be used in the field or on a jobsite without WiFi.

Our closest competitors are traditional paper manuals and YouTube videos, or just winging it and attempting to do it on your own, Henderson said. BILT turns a traditionally terrible experience into a confidence-boosting triumph.

Not an acronym

While many have wondered what BILT stands for, Henderson stresses that it is not an acronym. He said they wanted a strong, empowering and enabling name for the app, and BILT is what they came up with.

Someone suggested it could stand for build in less time, but thats not official, he said with a smile.

We have logo T-shirts that claim Rome could have been BILT in a day, Qureshi said, adding with a laugh, If only theyd had the 3D interactive instruction app.

What lies ahead

We have 3D guides for about 11,000 products and procedures in BILT, but the possibilities are endless, Qureshi said. We are just getting started in the professional space with locks, plumbing, and electrical training as well as military use cases.

Theyve also compiled a BILT toolbox full of tool tutorials and easy home, auto and bicycle maintenance guides for DIYers.

They will also continue to emphasize the importance of going green, also helping brands improve their environmental impact.

Henderson cited a statistic about paper manufacturings impact on water and trees. An example of combating this, he said, is how Chamberlain, a manufacturer of garage door openers, partnered with BILT and reduced paper manuals from 56 pages to 16, a 71% reduction in paper waste, saving 92 tons of paper per year.
Frank Vallelonga Jr. died at age 60 in November. (Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images)

"Green Book" actor Frank Vallelonga Jr. reportedly died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl and cocaine.

The performer's official cause of death was acute intoxication due to combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine," the New York City medical examiner confirmed to Los Angeles Times on Tuesday. He was 60.

Vallelonga was pronounced dead at the scene in November after police responded to a 911 call of an unconscious man on the sidewalk in front of a Bronx sheet metal factory. Police then arrested Vallelonga's driver, Bronx resident Steven Smith, on suspicion of concealing a human corpse.

Smith reportedly told authorities at the time that Vallelonga overdosed on drugs and that he "didn't have anything to do with" his death.

Vallelonga appeared in "Green Book" as Rudy Vallelonga, a relative of Viggo Mortensen's bouncer character, Tony Lip. The period drama  which was based on Vallelonga's father, Frank Tony Lip Vallelonga, and written by his brother, Nick Vallelonga  won the 2019 Oscars for original screenplay, supporting actor (Mahershala Ali) and best picture.

Police said a car with a license plate belonging to Nick Vallelonga was spotted at the scene where Frank Vallelonga Jr.'s body was dumped, according to reports.

Times staff writer Jonah Valdez contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A group of Lynnwood residents is pushing to recall councilmember Josh Binda.

Binda is under fire for an Instagram post and other actions.

Last year, the 23-year-old was accused of misusing campaign funds for personal use.

The Public Disclosure Commission opened a formal investigation and found Binda spent $2,742.49 of campaign funds on designer items, dental work, hair, airfare and entertainment tickets.

I think we should really be selective on who we really put in our council or board member of any sort, said Denise Chesbrough, who lives in Lynnwood.

In January, Binda faced an ethics investigation for using the Lynnwood City Council chambers after hours to shoot a promotional video without permission.

Binda has also been getting backlash since last month for sharing a shirtless picture on Instagram to promote his Love Conquers All school speaking tour.

Parents are calling the post disgraceful and unacceptable, saying hes targeting middle and high school students.

I was a little shocked at first, said Gabriel Lavalle, who lives in Lynnwood.

Thats not really healthy for our children when they are young and trying to develop their own leadership, said Chesbrough.

Binda has said his Instagram post is being taken out of context.

At Monday nights City Council meeting, residents asked Binda to spare them having go through a recall and just resign.

Now I ask this chamber, when will this embarrassment end? When will the council will stop enabling illegal activity? Inexcusable behavior can no longer be excused, a resident said during the public comment period.

My advice to Councilman Binda: Take some time find where you want to land and resign. Well all appreciate it, another resident said.

Binda made it clear that wasnt going to happen.

I want to say that I am not going to be resigning, Ill be staying right here in my position and Im going to continue being unapologetically who I am and who God created me to be. But if you guys ever want to have a conversation, sit down and get to know me as a person, Im more than happy to do that, said Binda.

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Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell released the following statement:

I am greatly concerned about this recall proposal. Councilmember Binda has taken missteps and made mistakes. I believe he needs to own up to those missteps, take action to correct those issues, and move forward so that he can do good work for the people of Lynnwood.

For the past several years, our city has worked to be more equitable, inclusive, and truly be a welcoming community where all are welcome and belong. Unfortunately, the scrutiny surrounding Councilmember Binda is damaging to the progress we have made and has polarized many in our community.

Our City staff stands ready to work with Councilmember Binda, just as we would do with any and all of our council members. When our council members are successful, we can work together to create better outcomes for the people we serve.

The Committee to Recall Joshua Binda has until August to collect 2,500 signatures to get the recall on the November ballot.
Nikki Haleys presidential campaign is sharpening its attacks on her Republican rivals, arguing that former President Trump is consumed by the grievances of the past and that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) isnt ready for prime time, according to a campaign memo to donors obtained by The Hill.

The memo from Betsy Ankney, Haleys campaign manager, casts Haley as above the political fray in the nascent GOP presidential primary, recapping her more-than $11 million fundraising haul in the first quarter and early efforts in critical primary and caucus states like New Hampshire and Iowa.

In contrast, Haleys campaign argues, Trump is campaigning on the promise of more drama in the future, rather than a forward-looking vision for the American people, noting that while the former president was facing arraignment last week in a New York courtroom, Haley was on the U.S.-Mexico border offering her plan for stopping illegal immigration.

Donald Trump had a pretty good Q1, if you count being indicted as good, according to the memo, which was first reported by Axios.

Haleys campaign also takes aim at DeSantis, whos widely expected to launch a White House bid later this spring, needling him for making one misstep after another, including describing Russias invasion of Ukraine as a territorial dispute.

When it comes to other would-be presidential hopefuls, the Haley campaigns memo was dismissive: Wait, what others?

None have taken the plunge, it says. Thats of course their decision, but they certainly did nothing to help themselves in the first part of the year. By contrast, Nikki is a decisive person. When she puts her mind to something, shes IN IT, devoting all her energy to it night and day, week-in and week-out.

Haley became the first Republican to challenge Trump for the 2024 presidential nomination when she announced her campaign in February. Since then, only two other candidates have jumped into the race: entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a relative unknown on the national political stage, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

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Despite jumping into the contest early, polling shows Haley struggling to break out of the single-digits. Trump, meanwhile, maintains a staggering lead over just about every other candidate, declared or potential, while DeSantis is running in second place in most surveys.

Haleys campaign dismissed the surveys, writing in the memo that polls at this point are meaningless. The only thing certain about polls is that a year from now they will look different than today.

Yet the memo also hints at a new effort by Haleys team to hone its messaging at a volatile moment in the emerging GOP primary, especially after Trumps indictment late last month in an alleged hush money scheme.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Halle Berry

Halle Berry is not accepting any negativity in her life, especially from internet trolls.

The actress shut down a Twitter user who thought his opinion on what she did with her body mattered.

On Saturday, the Oscar-winning 56-year-old posted a picture of her drinking a glass of wine on her balcony in the nude. She captioned the photo, I do what I want to do.

No one argued with Berrys statement or outfit choice, but one troll decided to rain on her parade.

Twitter user @ShadayaKnight retweeted the photo sharing his thoughts on Berrys declaration of freedom:

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.

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 pic.twitter.com/d6Oksvc76N     (@ShadayaKnight) April 9, 2023

While others were clapping back on her behalf, Berry did a great job of handling the hater on her own. In a since-deleted response, she replied, Did you guys know the heart of a shrimp is located in its head?

Fans loved Berrys quick response and laughed at how anyone could question or criticize someone once voted the worlds most beautiful woman.

Tweets included a mix of followers roasting the misogynistic commenter and congratulating Berry for continuously releasing her inhibitions.

Imagine being so obtuse that you actually believe THEE Halle Berry has to do anything other than exist to get our attention. This photo, with which we have all been blessed, is the visual epitome of dignity, chilling, and menopausal goals. Stay mad, Red Nightmare.  Drew Dixon (@deardrewdixon) April 10, 2023

Imagine having no chin and *still* having the audacity to attempt to shame one of the most beautiful women who ever walked the earth  D. Russo (He/Him) (@DRusso97) April 10, 2023

A grown man in a toddlers Easter suit shouldnt be lecturing anyone about dignity.  Amy  (@AmyNoMiddleNam3) April 10, 2023

Shes glowing and living her best life. Love to see it   Angela Rockstar (Kintsugi era) (@Mrs_ARockstar) April 10, 2023

I would totally do this and own it. I think it's important to have your "babe" moments no matter what your age, do what you want to feel beautiful and strong. Halle's choice is hers and hers alone, doesn't have to be yours.  Ellie L (@RedPencilScript) April 10, 2023

The Monsters Ball actress is completely unbothered these days.

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She recently posted a steamy selfie of herself on Instagram, covering her nude body with strategically placed arms and mirror condensation.

Her hump day self love selfie proves there is no age limit to being comfortable and confident within yourself.

Berry is glowing from the inside out and doesnt care what anyone says about it.
The investigation into the murder of Harmony Montgomery has now shifted out of New England and all the way down the East Coast to Florida.

A senior law enforcement source confirmed to Boston 25 News that New Hampshire investigators working on Harmonys case recently traveled to the Sunshine State to speak with the father and grandfather of Adam Montgomery, who is the little girls father.

The trip south comes after officials from New Hampshire and Massachusetts spent Friday scouring a sprawling wetlands area in Revere for evidence in connection with Harmonys 2019 murder.

Investigators remove evidence from apartment tied to Harmony Montgomery

Eighteen Massachusetts State Police troopers trained in search operations in difficult terrain and environments, as well as K9 and drone units, assisted Manchester, New Hampshire, police in the search after investigators developed new information in the case, authorities said.

The search came to an end late Friday afternoon without police saying if they found any evidence related to Harmony.

New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella and Manchester Police Chief Allen D. Aldenberg announced in August that the search for Harmony, who disappeared in 2019, was now a homicide investigation.

Multiple sources of investigative information and new biological evidence led investigators to conclude that Harmony was murdered, according to Formella.

Harmonys stepmother, 32-year-old Kayla Montgomery, told Manchester police detectives that Adam Montgomery had murdered his daughter in December 2019, court documents indicated.

Adam was arrested in October 2022 on charges including second-degree murder, falsifying physical evidence, abuse of corpse, and tampering with witnesses in connection with the homicide investigation.

Hes an evil person: Harmony Montgomerys grandfather reacts to Adams arrest

Evidence uncovered during the course of an investigation indicated that Adam repeatedly struck Harmony in the head with a closed first, recklessly causing her death, Formella and Aldenberg said.

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Harmonys remains have not yet been located.

Ramonita and Arcadio Guzman are the parents of Darlin Guzman, a 28 year old man shot to death outside a convenience store in Lynn in 2008.

As first reported last year, Adam Montgomery has long been the prime suspect in Darlin Guzmans unsolved murder.

They too are hoping, there is a break in Harmonys case.

We not only feel for our son, but as being parents, we feel for the little girl as well. We want justice to be done for both. But if anything, we want justice to be done for this little child that is so innocent, Ramonita Guzman told me.

The way I feel right now, I hope he gets what he deserves. To be doing what he is doing to his daughter, and my son, is outrageous. Its very heartbroken, Arcadio Guzman added.

Adam Montgomery was 18 years old and living in New Hampshire at the time of Darlin Guzmans murder.

A Massachusetts law enforcement source tells me, Adam Montgomery and two members of his family have been the focus of the Guzman murder investigation for 15 years.

In addition to the Revere search, a senior law enforcement source tells me New Hampshire authorities recently travelled to Florida to try to talk to Adam Montgomerys father and grandfather about Harmonys case.

The Guzmans are now patiently waiting for their turn for justice

This was brutal, hes a monster. Theres no other word we can think about. I hope and I believe justice will be done for both, Ramonita Guzman said.

Adam Montgomery is a suspect in the Guzman murder, he is not facing any charges in the case.

Adam Montgomerys murder trial for the death of Harmony Montgomery is scheduled to begin in August, but I am told it may be delayed until November.

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
China's largest NEV maker BYD unveiled a smart vehicle control system on Monday, which Chairman Wang Chuanfu said is the first of its kind among local Chinese marques and outperform global rivals.

The system, called Yunnian, literally means "vehicles that ride on clouds for immortals". It is the result of five years of research and development efforts and investment up to billions of yuan, said the Warren Buffet-backed carmaker.

Lian Yubo, executive vice-president of BYD, said the system can greatly improve the vehicles' stability and thus enhance comfort for drivers and passengers while they brake at high speeds, go over the bends or across bumpy roads.

A video of BYD shows that a sedan featuring the system does not lose its stability even when it has only three tires left.

Lian said the Yunnian-P will be first used in its luxury Yangwang U8 off-roader and the first model to feature the Yunnian-A will be the Denza N7 crossover.

As for the Yunnian-C, its hardware is ready in three models and the functions will be activated when updates are made over the air.

The Yunnian system is one of the latest cutting-edge technologies by BYD, following the blade-shaped battery, the cell-to-pack solution as well as the e4 platform that features four-independent-motor drive.

Analysts said such technologies will help BYD further consolidate its leading position in the burgeoning NEV market.

Last year, BYD sold 1.86 million vehicles, toppling FAW-Volkswagen as the best-selling passenger carmaker in China.

In the same year, the carmaker spent 20.2 billion yuan ($2.94 billion) in research and development, up 90.3 percent year-on-year.

BYD expects its sales to rise at least to 3 million units or even double its 2022 figure to 3.6 million units this year.
Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) sent a letter to Merrick Garland on Tuesday accusing the attorney general of misleading lawmakers about the FBIs targeting of traditional Catholics as potential domestic extremists.

The letter was prompted by House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordans Monday revelation that the FBI had at least one undercover employee working to cultivate sources among the Catholic clergy and leadership.

Lets be clear: your Department has decided to turn Catholic congregations into front organizations for the FBI, and when asked about it, youve decided to fudge the truth before Congress. This is an unconscionable assault on American Catholics First Amendment rights and an abdication of your duty to enforce the law without fear or favor, the Missouri Senator wrote in a letter to Garland requesting further details.

Everyone involved with this chilling surveillance campaign must face accountability, Hawley continued before demanding clarification as to how many undercover informants the FBI relied upon in Catholic parishes and which other field offices were informed by such guidance.

I specifically asked Merrick Garland whether the FBI was targeting Catholic parishes and he said no. Now it turns out the FBI was using undercover sources in multiple parishes, Hawley wrote on Twitter Monday afternoon.

I specifically asked Merrick Garland whether the FBI was targeting Catholic parishes and he said no. Now it turns out the FBI was using undercover sources in multiple parishes https://t.co/NZMkIXEN47  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) April 10, 2023

Jordan issued a subpoena to FBI director Christopher Wray Monday, demanding that Wray testify before the committee about the bureaus efforts to identify alleged white supremacists within Catholic churches in Northern Virginia.

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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 wrote in Mondays letter.

Americans attend church to worship and congregate for their spiritual and personal betterment, the note 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.

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

The weaponization subcommittee, which Jordan also oversees, began looking into the FBIs targeting 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 document, issued by the bureaus Richmond field office, relied on information compiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center regarding alleged extremist Catholic communities that prefer the Latin Mass and hold to conservative social teachings.

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 FBI memo stated.

The document was quickly retracted after it was first publicized and FBI director Wray condemned its author 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.

A similar 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, Dunham wrote.

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.

More from National Review
The Roane State Community College Healthcare Job Fair is Wednesday, April 12. Current and potential students, recent graduates, and members of the community are invited to the fair 1-4 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Branch Campus.

Roane State is again hosting a health care job fair, like this one in 2022. The fair will be April 12, 2023.

Local and regional employers will be set up in the Goff Building to speak with attendees about positions available in our area.

Roane State has developed strong partnerships with healthcare employers across East Tennessee over the years, said RSCC President Dr. Chris Whaley. Our students are sought-after in a variety of medical fields due to their extensive knowledge and training. Connecting employers with their future employees in a one-stop-shop environment is just one of the many ways we can assist our students, our healthcare providers, and our communities.

Roane States current job placement rate is over 90%. Students and graduates can view openings in their chosen fields along with job search resources at roanestate.edu/placement.

Anyone interested in attending the job fair on April 12 is advised to bring copies of their resume and be prepared for possible instant interviews.

Questions or special needs for the event can be directed to RSCCs Workforce Training and Placement Manager Sonya Parker at (865) 481-2031 or parkers@roanestate.edu.

For more info on Roane States health science programs, visit roanestate.edu/healthcare.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Healthcare job fair at Roane State Oak Ridge Wednesday
Billions of dollars could be on the way to save some of the U.S.' most vulnerable animals, weeks after the lesser prairie chicken of southeast New Mexico was listed as endangered in an attempt to prevent its extinction.

New Mexicos senior U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich sought again to increase federal funds to save endangered species throughout the U.S., reintroducing a bill that would unlock billions of dollars while also empowering states to lead recovery efforts.

The Recovering Americas Wildlife Act (RAWA) was first introduced by Heinrich in 2021, and a U.S. House of Representatives equivalent passed the House last year.

More: What ranchers in eastern New Mexico are doing to save an iconic but struggling bird

On March 31, the RAWA was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate. It is similar to past versions, providing about $1.4 billion a year in funds dedicated to species recovery, along with $97.5 million for the work on 1,040 acres of Tribal land.

It would also require federal efforts to follow State Wildlife Action Plans mandated by Congress.

Heinrich said the bill, if passed, would aid conservation efforts for 12,000 wildlife species, hastening the work for about 1,600 species already listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

More: Legislator, environmentalists urge governor to sign bill changing State Game Commission

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) tours Carlsbad Caverns National Park, July 6.

Protecting Americas fish and wildlife habitat means conserving the creatures we love before they ever become imperiled, Heinrich said in a statement upon the bills reintroduction.

He said RAWA funding would allow proactive action to prevent species from becoming imperiled and requiring ESA listings.

Without enough resources, state and Tribal wildlife agencies have been forced to pick and choose which species are worth saving, Heinrich said.

Instead of doing the proactive work that is necessary to maintain healthy wildlife populations on the front end, they have been forced into using reactive measures to rescue species after they are listed as threatened or endangered.

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More: 'Lobo' numbers increased last year in New Mexico, but concerns remain for its survival

Co-sponsor of the bill U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said preventing ESA listings would help prevent restrictions imposed on industries that operate along habitats deemed critical for wildlife recovery.

He said the work would save tens of millions of dollars in compliance costs for Americans and protect our countrys rich natural resources.

This situation must be avoided at all costs, and RAWA gives state and tribal wildlife commissions the tools needed to perform proactive, on-the-ground conservation to prevent threatened species from becoming endangered, Tillis said.

More: Lawsuit demands federal action to save native New Mexico chipmunk from extinction

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich) cosponsored the House bill and planned to do so for RAWAs reintroduction. She said it would help address a biodiversity crisis in the U.S.

The United States is facing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis, and we have a conservation, economic, and moral obligation to act in order to protect and recover Americas wildlife for future generations, Dingell said.

The latest species in New Mexico to be listed as endangered was the lesser prairie chicken, a grouse that was estimated to once number in the millions throughout the Great Plains, but today dwindled as low as 500 birds inn the prairies of eastern New Mexico and West Texas.

More: Checkerspot butterfly listed as endangered in New Mexico, despite rancher opposition

A northern population, encompassing parts of northern Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas was estimated at about 20,000 birds, and was listed as threatened under the ESA, meaning endangered status could be imminent.

The listings went into effect March 27, following an endangered listing in 2018 for the Texas hornshell mussel that survives only in an eight-mile stretch of the Black River near Carlsbad, and decades of debate over the unlisted dunes sagebrush lizard of eastern New Mexico.

When the chickens listing was approved in November 2022, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Regional Director Amy Lueders said restoring the species could help revive native prairie grasslands.

The lesser prairie-chickens decline is a sign our native grasslands and prairies are in peril. These habitats support a diversity of wildlife and are valued for water quality, climate resilience, grazing, hunting and recreation," she said.

Aside from government efforts, landowners in the region were taking voluntary measures to conserve the bird and avoid mandated restrictions on land use, Leuders said.

The Service continues to work with stakeholders to develop voluntary conservation agreements that will protect the lesser prairie-chicken and the native grasslands on which it depends while assuring that oil and gas and renewable energy development, ranching, agriculture and other activities continue.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Bill seeks recovery funds as prairie chicken listed in New Mexico
A typical bucket list is filled with things you want to do before you die. These lists are usually general tasks like flying to Dubai, going skydiving, or learning a new skill. If you want to take it a step further, you can create lists that target a specific aspect of your life. So, why not sex?

The idea of a sex bucket list has gained popularity because of a rise in sexual liberation. People are more open now about their sexual desires and have no problem vocalizing their needs. Social medias view on sex and open dialogue about it has made it easier than ever. People are now having conversations about sex that are considered lewd, insightful, and informative.

Many people often complain about wanting a spicier sex life. A sex bucket list can help add some kick to your bedroom activities. The beauty of this is that you dont need a partner to make a sex bucket list either. You can make a personal list of things you want to do. Complete the list on your own or add someone to the mix. The choice is entirely yours.

If you do have a partner, its just as fun. You both can create a list of things that you want to try. Your partner may even find a few activities youve overlooked. Its also a great way to hold yourselves sexually accountable. Often, couples will discuss ideas of what they want to do in the bedroom but never execute. With a sex bucket list, you can cross things off and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Need help coming up with some picks for your sex bucket list? 21Ninety has some ideas to help.

Sex Bucket List Suggestions

Its important that everyones sex bucket list is unique and personal. For your own bucket list, you should choose things that naturally excite you, not what someone else would want. If you and your partner create a list together make sure you are communicating to each other the types of things you do and do not want.

Book and games

101 Nights of Great Sex

$81.00

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Lets start with something simple. Reading a sex book should be added to your sex bucket list. Although this may not sound exciting, there are so many ways this can help. If youre single, this book can help you formulate new ideas you want to try with a sexual partner. Reading this book with a significant other, on the other hand, is exciting if you both surprise the other person with a new task. This book has 101 pre-designed seductions that will help you take your bedroom game to the next level.

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Kinky Truth or Dare: Pick-A-Stick

$13.95

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A good sex game that is out of the ordinary is a great add to your sex bucket list. This truth or dare game features 50 sticks printed with a racy truth son one side and a dirty dare on the other. With prompts like pick a nearby place and give me an orgasm, and show me how you pleasure yourself, youre on the right track to try something new with every stick pulled.

100 Kama Sutra Cards

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When was the last time you tried a new sex position? How do you even come up with new positions? This product will help you take the guessing out of finding new ways to explore. The deck of 100 Kama Sutra cards will help you add new positions your sex bucket list.

BDSM

BDSM Leather Bondage Sets Restraint Kit

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The world of BDSM is expansive, so before you get overwhelmed, take a breath. Many people are interested in BDSM play but are too nervous to jump in. Its important that you take things one step at a time. This kit is perfect for just that. With 11 different items, you have the option to choose whichever feels right for you at the time. Adding a few items from this kit at a time to your sex bucket list is a great way to take things slow. You have the option of being tied up, handcuffed, gagged, and more.

Soybean Wax Warming Massage Oil Candle

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Wax play is yet another great add to your sex bucket list. If you like the tiniest bit of pain or have just wanted to know what its like, then you should try this out. Its important that when you are starting out with wax play, youre using candles specifically made for the body. Regular candles do more than good for a beginner. Soy massage candles are the best way to go.

Our editors love finding you the best products and offers! If you purchase something by clicking on one of the affiliate links on our website, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The post Need Help Creating Your Sex Bucket List? Try These Items appeared first on 21Ninety.
The state of California is hiring in the departments of justice, transportation, state hospitals and more.

State jobs are known for offering competitive benefits and enrollment in the nations largest state public pension plan. Many of the following jobs have specific requirements, which are linked.

Sift through some of the highest paying Sacramento County-based jobs available on the CalCareers website, posted in the last seven days, as of April 11:

Physician and surgeon | Permanent full-time

Department: California Correctional Health Care Services

Salary: $11,988 to $26,463 per month

The physician/surgeon travels to correctional facilities throughout California and develops treatment plans for transgender and non-binary patients.

The application remains open until filled.

Want to stand out when applying for California state jobs? Your guide to these departments

Assistant chief counsel | Permanent full-time

Department: State Hospitals

Salary: $13,670 to $15,990 per month

The assistant chief counsel is an advisor for a variety of legal, social and governance issues within the California Department of State Hospitals.

The application closes on April 28.





Chief psychologist | Limited term full-time

Department: California Correctional Health Care Services

Salary: $11,318 to $14,337 per month

The chief telepsychologist administers and provides program management for the team that provides mental health services to patients within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations adult facilities.

The job is limited to 12 months with the possibility of a one-year extension or a permanent position.

The application closes on April 20.

Senior transportation engineer | Permanent full-time

Department: Transportation

Salary: $10,569 to $13,228 per month

The senior transportation engineer is responsible for both the development and statewide implementation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The application closes on April 20.

Senior chemical testing engineer | Permanent full-time

Department: Transportation

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Salary: $10,569 to $13,228 per month

The senior chemical testing engineer is responsible for the California Department of Transportations chemical testing branch and provides guidance on chemical products.

This application closes on April 26.

Supervising deputy attorney general | Permanent full-time

Department: Justice

Salary: $12,445 to $15,990 per month

The supervising deputy attorney general oversees a team of legal representatives and ensures theyre providing clients with high-quality care.

The application remains open until filled.

Want to stand out when applying for California state jobs? Your guide to these departments

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Abe Grant was always the grand marshal in his remarkable parade through life on Hilton Head Island.

The legendary entrepreneur who opened his first store on the side of U.S. 278 at age 16 fit the part as he flashed a big smile beneath a broad-brimmed hat as he cruised in a shiny red 1964 Ford Falcon convertible.

He built that store with the defective boards from one of the islands three sawmills in the late 1950s. He would later move across the two-lane highway near Singleton Beach Road, build a home for his growing family, and over the years expand his emporium to include pool tables that were about the only recreation on Hilton Head in the late 1960s; then a meat-and-three restaurant where sheet-rockers and lawyers ate cheek by jowl; then Abes Native Island Shrimp House where his wife, Charliemae, produced Gullah staples like shrimp and grits before they were considered high cuisine; then Abes Driftwood Lounge with live music; and a string of motel rooms out back, where he was addressing workforce housing before there such a term.

Even after selling his land, Abe Grant couldnt lay off the gas when he retired to the pinochle table.

Setbacks cant stop you, he told me. We all had setbacks, but we scuffled it out. The world owes you nothing. Youve got to go out and get it. We have too many who are blessed and dont even know theyre blessed. They have and dont even know they have.

He became the face of Hilton Head for many years as his business was one of the few things youd see between the bridge and Coligny Plaza.

As a child, the fourth-generation islander became all too familiar for his tastes with the south end of a north bound marsh tacky. As a young man, after trying life in Miami, he saw business potential on the island and came home, never to bellyache like the rest of us about massive island change.

He attended a two-room elementary school on Mathews Drive and a four-room junior high on Beach City Road before leaving school in the eighth grade. But he was street-wise when island roads were deep ruts in sand and when they became a six-lane blur of cars with tags from all over North America.

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On Monday, Abe Grant moved his parade to the streets paved with gold when he passed away at his home off Spanish Wells Road at age 85.

Abe Grant of Hilton Head Island

THE WORKFORCE

Abraham Grant Sr. was raised by an aunt and uncle, Willie and Beaulah Grant Kellerson. They farmed and fished in the Chaplin community. And sold moonshine.

At age 12, Abe was making the best moonshine on the island under the tutelage of his uncle, he told The Island Packet in a story recorded in the book Remembering The Way It Was, Volume Two by Fran Heyward Marscher Bollin.

He was introduced to Charliemae Smalls of Hampton County by her brother, Harold, a cook at the Sea Crest Motel. Harold would later open Harolds Diner across the highway from Abes.

The couple that was to celebrate their 60th anniversary on May 3 had five children. They were the workforce, cooking and cleaning.

Abe held court at a large antique oak table, announcing each new business plan and everyones role in it. The plan for life was built on hard work, a good education and devotion to church. Abe was a deacon at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church for 50 years.

Abe Jr. went into the Navy and now lives in Atlanta. Hes the keeper of the red Ford Falcon.

Lillian is a geophysicist, working with an oil and gas service company in Texas.

Carolyn is a recovering journalist with a post-graduate degree, now director of communications for the Town of Hilton Head Island and co-author of the landmark 2020 book, Gullah Days: Hilton Head Islanders Before the Bridge.

Tony works in IT for the Beaufort County School District and is a deacon like his father.

And Terry is a Realtor and musician with a masters degree in jazz performance from the American Conservatory of Music. She has a doctorate in education and teaches aerospace engineering at the Jasper County high school.

Abe had two other sons who worked in the business in later years, Travis and Rawn.

DADDY KING

Lillian Grant Flakes has degrees from Spelman College and Georgia Tech but says her true education came from her parents.

Being able to express yourself clearly and precisely, she said. Not being afraid to stand your ground. Having goals. Setting goals. Being willing to pivot, and then being able to pivot quickly, adjust with the times.

Abe stood his ground when he put up his first string of neon lights. A couple of hours later, he got a call from pioneer island developer Fred Hack. He was told it had been decided we wouldnt do neon here. Abe pointed out he was not invited to be part of said decision. He went along with the new standard but got $90 out of Hack and Sea Pines.

His business never had trouble attracting customers, especially visiting African Americans.

Jesse Jackson would come to the back door, announcing he wanted the usual: a large fried flounder and lemonade.

Malcolm Xs wife, Betty Shabazz, was a regular, as was Good Times star Esther Rolle.

From the Southern Christian Leadership Conference came co-founder Joseph Lowery, Andrew Young and the Rev. Martin Luther Daddy King Sr.

They would often hand the menu back and say they wanted the house pot  whatever the staff was eating in the back, the good stuff.

The Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association held all of its foundational meetings at Abes.

Abe was a longtime member of the VanLandingham Rotary Club and a board member of the Palmetto Electric Cooperative Trust.

He loved to go fast, in the Falcon or his gold 1978 Lincoln Mark V. And in the boats hed haul the family to Daufuskie Island in on Sunday afternoons.

On their annual family trip to Miami, Abe would entertain five kids in a station wagon with tapes of Al Green and The Consolers gospel duo.

On Sunday night as Abe Grant lay dying, the family put The Consolers on once again.

They played his favorite song, May The Work Ive Done Speak for Me.

David Lauderdale may be reached at LauderdaleColumn@gmail.com.
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The Dalai Lama, one of the worlds most influential religious figures and the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, is at the center of controversy for his recent interaction with a young boy.

A viral video in which the holiest figure in Tibetan Buddhism is seen kissing a boy on the lips and telling him to suck my tongue during a February event has sparked outrage among viewers. The Dalai Lamas office issued an apology for the incident on Monday, suggesting the exchange was just a playful misunderstanding.

This incident is the latest in a string of controversies involving the 14th Dalai Lamanamed Tenzin Gyatsoover the last eight years. Heres what you need to know about the video and some of his incendiary statements.

What Happened in the Viral Dalai Lama Video?

A clip of the Dalai Lamas appearance for an event at the Tsuglagkhang Temple complex in Dharamshala, India has spread across social media in recent days.

It shows a young boy approaching the Dalai Lama and asking to hug him. The 87-year-old monk invites the boy on stage, motioning to his cheek for a kiss. The boy obliges and gives him a hug, before the Dalai Lama points to his lips and pulls the boy closer for a kiss on the mouth. After a few seconds, he says and suck my tongue, leaning toward the boys face with his tongue sticking out.

According to the University of California, Berkeleys Institute of East Asian Studies, sticking out ones tongue is a sign of respect or agreement in Tibetan culture and can be used as a greeting. According to folklore, a cruel Tibetan king in the ninth century had a black tongue, so people perform the gesture to show they are not his reincarnation.

However, some commenters have called the exchange disgusting and abusive, noting the boys apparent uneasiness, according to NPR. Many right-wing influencers in the U.S. have shared the video as an example of what they claim is rampant pedophilia.

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The HAQ: Center for Child Rights based in Delhi told CNN the video is certainly not about any cultural expression and even if it is, such cultural expressions are not acceptable.

How Did the Dalai Lama Respond to the Video?

The Dalai Lamas office released a statement saying, 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. It goes on to say the Dalai Lama often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way.

The boys identity is not known. According to NPR, the event was held for more than 120 students who completed a skills training course hosted by the M3M Foundationthe charity arm of a prominent Indian real estate group.

What Are the Dalai Lama's Other Controversies?

Getty Images

The Dalai Lama has been in the news frequently for making controversial statements about women and world politics.

The Dalai Lamas age has led to growing speculation about who, if anyone, may succeed him and whether a woman could assume the role. In a 2015 interview with the BBC, he made remarks that many considered sexist, saying that a woman could be the Dalai Lama, but needed to be very attractive or else she would be of not much use.

During another BBC interview in June 2019, reporter Rajini Vaidyanathan asked the Dalai Lama if he understood how his comments could have angered women. He similarly stated that a female Dalai Lama should be more attractive, or else people would prefer not see her  that face.

A week later, the Dalai Lamas office released a statement saying he meant no harm, but was deeply sorry that his comments hurt people.

In 2016, the Dalai Lama gave an unflattering impression of then-U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in an interview with ITVs Good Morning Britain, making fun of his hairstyle and small mouth.

Then, in the same 2019 BBC interview in which he commented on a possible female Dalai Lama, His Holiness criticized President Trumps America First motto and said he lacked moral principle. He also said Trumps emotions were a bit too complicated.

Lastly, while speaking at a conference in Malmo, Sweden, in 2018, the Dalai Lama said European refuges should return to their home countries and assist in developing thembluntly stating that Europe belongs to the Europeans.

The Dalai Lama is, notably, a refugee himself. He fled to India in 1959 amid the Tibetan uprising and was granted political asylum.
HONG KONG (Reuters) - A top financial official from Hong Kong is set to visit Britain in April in the first ministerial-level visit by an official of the Chinese-ruled territory in more than three years, the government said on Tuesday.

The move follows the "Hello Hong Kong" promotion campaign kicked off in March to woo back visitors and investors after three years of stringent COVID-19 rules decimated the economy.

Looking to promote Hong Kong's financial services and strengthen ties with Britain and Belgium, Christopher Hui, the secretary for financial services and the treasury, will visit Brussels from April 13 to 15 and London from April 16 to 18.

He will meet senior officials, financial and business leaders of both nations, as well as officials of the European Commission, the government said in a statement.

The visit aims to give such officials "the latest update on Hong Kong's financial services development, in particular in the fields of fintech and green finance," it added.

The former British colony has had strained relations with Britain since its anti-government and pro- democratic protests in 2019.

Britain, along with other Western nations, has said Beijing's imposition of a national security law in Hong Kong in 2020 has undermined freedoms for groups ranging from civil society to the media.

Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have rejected the claims.

Hong Kong returned to China on July 1, 1997, under a "one country, two systems" formula that guaranteed wide ranging autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent judiciary.

In response to the new security law, Britain opened in 2021 a new visa programme allowing almost 3 million people to apply for a five-year British visa and eventually be offered a route to citizenship.

Both Hong Kong's government and Beijing criticised the move.

(Reporting by Farah Master and Twinnie Siu; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
A Hooters restaurant in Florida will have to provide back pay to a non-U.S. citizen worker after the company reached an agreement with the Department of Justice on Monday while denying it violated any immigration laws.

The settlement requires Destin Wings, the company which operates a Hooters in Destin, Florida, to pay a $1,674 civil penalty to the federal government, provide back pay in the amount of $212 to the employee, train staff on an anti-discrimination law and be subjected to monitoring for three years.

The restaurant didnt respond to a request for comment.

The departments investigation began in August 2022 when the worker complained that Destin Wings refused to accept her valid documentation proving her permission to work and demanded additional documentation, the Department of Justice said Monday in a news release. Although she had permission to work in the United States, the department said, she was not able to obtain one of the documents that Destin Wings required because of her citizenship status.

U.S. law prohibits employers from asking for more documents than necessary because of a workers citizenship, immigration status or national origin. Employers must allow workers to present whatever acceptable documentation the workers choose and cannot reject valid documentation, the department said.

READ MORE: A Miami man skipped the country after selling fraudulent residency filings for immigrants

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, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously combat unlawful discrimination in the workplace and dismantle unnecessary obstacles to work.
LAS CRUCES, N.M.  Yvette Herrell, an Alamogordo Republican and mainstay contender for New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District announced she was again running for congressional office during a rally in Las Cruces on April 10. Herrell, who lost the seat twice and won it once, kicked off her fourth run for New Mexico's southernmost congressional district.

"We've got to get God back in the conversation," Herrell said during her speech just before declaring her intentions to run again.

The U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R - California) joined Herrell in announcing the run. And, despite the fact that Monday was Herrell's big day, much of the rally featured McCarthy declaring promises he's made as Speaker have been kept and decrying an America beset by social ills.

More: Solar energy tax credits reach $12M cap in New Mexico as industry set for growth

McCarthy stumps for Herrell

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to the crowd a rally for former Rep. Yvette Herrell on Monday, April 10, 2023, at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.

After a historically contentious process, the House of Representatives elected McCarthy as Speaker of the House in January. McCarthy previously served as the House Minority Leader. He represents California's 20th District, in a party that holds the House majority with five seats.

McCarthy, who aligned himself with former President Donald Trump, voted against the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Herrell also voted against certifying that election after the Jan. 6 insurrection disrupted the normally mundane process.

Since becoming Speaker, McCarthy has made his stance clear on a number of issues relevant to New Mexico: He called for the resignation of Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security amid an "immigration crisis" and said the Republican party's work was not done in creating conservative approaches to reproductive rights. More recently McCarthy voiced opposition to raising the nation's debt ceiling - a move that would allow the nation to borrow money and repay debt - as the deadline for a Republican budget loomed.

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McCarthy isn't the first Republican Party star to stand next to Herrell for a campaign event in Las Cruces. In 2022 Ted Cruz made Las Cruces a stop in his national stumping campaign for Republican candidates.

More: Republican-backed oil and gas bill opposed by New Mexico Democrats in Congress

Herrell's last bid resulted in Gabe Vasquez's win

Herrell lost the bid for reelection to New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District to Gabe Vasquez in 2022.

At the time, Herrell said the loss was a result of "gerrymandering" in the congressional district following a redistricting effort that stretched the second congressional district north into the Democrat stronghold of Bernalillo County and divided southeastern New Mexico's conservative oil country. After the loss, Herrell filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission indicating her intention to run again in 2024.

In the 2022 election, Herrell lost to Vasquez by 1,310 votes. In the 2020 election, Herrell beat Xochitl Torres Small by just under 20,000 votes. Torres Small is now-Under Secretary for Rural Development. In the 2018 election, Torres Small beat Herrell by less than 3,000 votes.

More: Pro-oil candidates lost out in New Mexico's 2022 election, as environment took center stage

The instant backlash to the announcement

Community members protest a rally for former Rep. Yvette Herrell on Monday, April 10, 2023, at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum.

As Herrell announced inside, around 50 protestors made their presence felt outside.

The protestors positioned themselves adjacent to the museum's entrance. That ensured the attendees to Herrell's event saw the protestors before entering the venue. Protestors held signs of Vasquez's campaign or signs that read "Oppose Yvette Herrell" or "Guns over People." The protest was organized by Blue CD2, a political action committee.

One attendee, a Democrat from Otero County named Amy Rohr, told the Sun-News she made the drive to Las Cruces to protest Herrell's announcement.

"I think they're bad for New Mexico," Rohr said.

Yvonne Flores, a city councilor in Las Cruces, also turned out to protest Herrell. She got ahold of a megaphone and led a chant, saying "Hey hey, yo-yo, Yvette has got to go."

While Vasquez has yet to announce a run to keep his seat, his campaign provided the following statement:

"While Yvette Herrells crusade to ban abortion is impressive, Congressman Vasquez is focused on getting things done for the people of Southern New Mexico.

In an emailed statement, DCC spokesperson Tommy Garcia said:

After embracing people like xenophobic Marjorie Taylor Greene and disgraced former President Donald Trump, its unsurprising Kevin McCarthy is campaigning alongside MAGA extremist Yvette Herrell. Voters rejected Yvette Herrell in 2022, and they will again in 2024 because she is a proven conspiracy theorist more concerned with partisan politics and protecting wealthy corporations than tackling the real challenges facing everyday New Mexicans."

Justin Garcia covers public safety and local government in Las Cruces. He can be reached via email at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com, via phone or text at 575-541-5449, or on Twitter @Just516Garc.

Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JussGREAT.

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This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Speaker Kevin McCarthy stumps for Yvette Herrell
Joy game is on for toy, gift makers in Shantou

08:25, April 11, 2023 By QIU QUANLIN ( China Daily

Players show stronger confidence over quick-recovering market demand

The toy and gift industry is expected to witness a quick rebound following the optimization of COVID-19 control measures, as domestic and overseas buyers and manufacturers exhibited a positive approach in terms of business growth during an expo in Shantou, Guangdong province.

Intended purchase agreements during the 22nd China Shantou (Chenghai) Toys and Gifts Expo, which concluded on Monday in Chenghai district of Shantou, a major toy and gift manufacturing base, reached 10.8 billion yuan ($1.57 billion), a historical record for the event, according to the expo's organizers.

Dubbed China's "toy and gift capital", Chenghai, located in the eastern coastal area of Guangdong, is home to over 50,000 toy companies, with exports of toys and gifts growing 33 percent year-on-year to 14 billion yuan in 2022.

Sully Sullivan, director of Hangzhou Zekesi Trading Co Ltd, said there will be a quick rebound of the toy and gift industry in the United States, after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This year may not be the best year for toy businesses, but it is for sure that the industry will grow steadily in the future. We believe the global toy market will be even better next year," he said.

Sullivan was one of more than 9,000 overseas and domestic professional representatives to sign purchasing contracts with local toy and gift manufacturers during the expo, which had an exhibition area of 50,000 square meters with more than 180,000 toy and gift products.

In addition to the intended purchase agreements that were signed during the event's opening ceremony, the estimated transaction amount during the exhibition reached 3 billion yuan, with 1,238 overseas buyers, according to the organizers.

Tu Taoying, sales director of distribution channels for Sembo Block, a Chenghai-based company specializing in designing and producing high-quality building blocks, said sales of toys began to increase in December following changes to the COVID-19 policy.

"Sales of toys increased sharply, especially during the Spring Festival holiday, usually a sales peak time in the domestic market  many toy shelves in shopping malls were almost out of stock," he said.

Tu said another sales boom will appear in the following months. "We have cooperated with many owners of big movie intellectual properties such as The Wandering Earth to design and produce more competitive blocks," he said.

Tu said the overseas market would be a new growth engine for the company's business in the future. "We plan to increase the proportion of exports to about 10 percent of our total sales this year," he said.

Russia will be a big potential market for the company's exports of its blocks using the IP of The Wandering Earth, Tu said.

"We will also ship more self-developed flower toys to European and North American markets, which have developed increasing demand for such products on online sales platforms such as Amazon," he said.

To facilitate the development of building blocks, the local authorities have planned to build a toy paradise project in Chenghai, to display the district's transformation from traditional toy manufacturing to the high-quality and smart development of the industry.

Liu Weihe, sales manager of Yuxin Science and Education Toys Co Ltd, also said sales of toys are expected to increase significantly both in the domestic and international markets this year.

"After decades of development, toys made in Chenghai are of better quality and more diverse  domestic and overseas buyers will have more choices in the selection of local toys," he said.

Following changes to the COVID-19 policy, the toy industry will grow both in production and sales as demand for high-quality products is expected to increase, Liu said.

"Toys will be more finely differentiated and positioned in more diverse ways," he added.

Citing the toy industry's market position mainly targeting children in the past, Liu said the company would design and develop more toys for people aged above 15 in the future.

Toy and gift makers in Chenghai were also encouraged to expand their presence in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by investing more in design and trade services in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, two important toy manufacturing regions.

"While focusing on production locally, makers based in Chenghai should cooperate in design and trade services with their counterparts in the Greater Bay Area," said Lin Weibin, director of the Guangzhou Toys and Gifts Industry Association.

The toy industry in Shenzhen and Guangzhou has developed advantages in its industrial chain, especially in design, trade and supplies of electronic components, Lin said.

Wen Zhanbin, Party secretary of Shantou, said the city will make more efforts to build the toy and gift industry into an industrial cluster worth 100 billion yuan.

The China Toy &Juvenile Products Association signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the local government during the expo to cultivate a group of specialized and sophisticated enterprises in the future. The local government also signed an agreement with technology giant Baidu Inc to promote intelligent manufacturing in the toy and gift industry.

The city will also introduce a series of incentive policies to improve the innovation and incubation chain of the toy and gift industry and promote new business forms and models such as cross-border e-commerce and supply chain services.

Dong Anqi contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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. [Photo/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.
Seldom has a visit of the leader of a small democracy provoked the degree of apprehension and anxiety that resulted from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens trip to the United States.

China sent warships and dozens of fighter jets toward Taiwan on Saturday in retaliation for her meeting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, with the Chinese military announcing a three-day combat readiness patrol.

Technically, Tsai's trip was not a visit at all but stopovers in New York and Los Angeles while en route to shore up ties between Taiwan and two of the remaining countries that recognize the island democracy as a legitimate government. Beyond affirmations of mutual support between Taiwan and Guatemala and Belize, the stopovers symbolized Americas commitment to stand behind Taiwan.

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Communist 'one China' policy holds claims on democratic Taiwan

Beijing, which under its "one China" policy considers Taiwan a part of the People's Republic of China despite Taiwan maintaining its own democratic system of government since the two split after a 1949 civil war, threatened dire consequences. As if to underscore the message, the Chinese military flew combat jets over the Taiwan Strait as she left Taipei, with Beijing threatening to resolutely hit back if Tsai met with McCarthy.

Meanwhile, Tsais political rival and immediate predecessor as president, the more China-friendly Ma Ying-jeou, chose this moment to visit the mainland. Ma's trip was not an official tour but a chance to see his ancestral village and build goodwill between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. He was accompanied by an entourage of 30 that included students, presumably because they could serve as the peacemakers of the next generation.

Threat of invasion from China: Watching bombs drop on Ukraine stirs feelings of dread for Taiwan

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Elon Musk's ties to China raise security concerns: Pentagon's reliance on him grows despite his behavior

Ma heaped lavish praise on the mainlands achievements, declaring some of them even undreamed of. In anathema to the view of not only Tsais party but also that of the overwhelming majority of Taiwans citizens, he declared that Taiwan is a part of China.

President Tsai, a quiet personality with a core of steel, had expressed a desire for her visit to America be kept low-key, and so it was. In New York, she was greeted by a noisy but peaceful crowd of supporters waving Taiwanese flags and an equally noisy but peaceful group of detractors waving flags of communist China, with the two groups kept apart by vigilant New York police.

Supporters holding American and Taiwanese flags cheer as Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, arrives at her hotel in New York City on March 29, 2023.

A banquet held in her honor by the conservative Hudson Institute on March 30 had a closed guest list, with the invitations reading only that the dinner would be in honor of an important guest. No reporters were allowed.

Tsai also met separately with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and had breakfast with Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

But Beijing took particular exception to Tsai's meeting with McCarthy last Wednesday. While campaigning for his ultimately successful bid for House speaker, he said he wanted to visit Taiwan as his predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, had done. But apparently at the request of the Taiwanese government, the California Republican amended this to a meeting at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library outside Los Angeles.

After the Taiwanese president's closed meeting with more than a dozen bipartisan members of Congress, McCarthy told a news conference that the U.S.-Taiwan bond "is stronger than at any time or point in my life, and that he expected ties to continue to expand.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., welcomes Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for a bipartisan meeting on April 5, 2023, in Simi Valley.

The meeting is only the latest to tighten tensions in U.S.-China relations. Beijing suspended or canceled official military dialogues and cooperation channels after Pelosi visited Taiwan last August. In February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed an imminent trip to China because, as Biden administration officials said, a Chinese surveillance balloon drifting over America was a "clear violation" of sovereignty and international law.

Is Pelosi's visit to Taiwan risky?: Yes, but she can deliver strong messages to China

It's bigger than a surveillance balloon: Chinese spying in US includes research labs and universities

Tsai has arrived safely back in Taipei, having demonstrated her determination not to allow Beijing to isolate her country diplomatically as well as a reaffirmation of bipartisan support from Washington. But the drama is not over.

According to Chinas Global Times: The final outcome will undoubtedly be that every provocation by Washington will be met with the Chinese side's resolute countermeasures, and every act of 'Taiwan independence' by Tsai ... will result in tighter constraints on them.

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June Teufel Dreyer, a senior fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, is a political science professor at the University of Miami.

The opening round came on the same day of Tsai's meeting with McCarthy: Chinas maritime safety administration announced Wednesday that it had begun on-site inspections of cargo ships and construction vessels in the Taiwan Strait  which is legally international waters but which Beijing refuses to recognize as such. Taiwan has said that it will not comply. It has notified shipping operators that if they encounter such requests, they should refuse and immediately notify Taiwans coast guard for assistance.

Chinas military declared Monday that it is ready to fight after completing three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island. But there has not been a reaction from the U.S. House speaker.

The implications for peace in the Taiwan Strait and beyond are ominous. How will Tsais new allies in Washington react now?

June Teufel Dreyer, a senior fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, is a political science professor at the University of Miami.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: China sends warships after House Speaker McCarthy meets Taiwan leader
Breastfeeding while working can prove challenging, particularly when in the office. Photo: Getty

Youre back at work after maternity leave. Youve been breastfeeding your baby and will continue to do so for a while, but its getting logistically difficult.

Although you can easily do your job from home, your boss isnt keen on remote working  so youre forced to trek to the office.

You express milk whenever you can during the day, but there are rarely any free meeting rooms for privacy, so you often end up expressing milk in the toilets.

Sadly, its a situation that many women have found themselves in.

Supporting employees who are breastfeeding is essential to help their transition back to work after maternity leave.

Read more: What to do if your company backtracks on remote working

However, research shows that many employers fail to support working mothers. At best, women are left frustrated and alienated. At worst, theyre left with no other option but to quit.

A recent study involving more than 800 women in the UK explored how their careers had gone after becoming mothers.

Although 98% of the respondents stated that they wanted to return to work after becoming mothers, 85% reported that theyd left full-time employment within three years of having children.

Most women said they had struggled to make a full-time job work alongside having children. Worryingly, 57% left the workforce entirely  with many citing redundancy, mental health problems and difficulties managing both work and family responsibilities.

So how can employers support breastfeeding parents to make their transition back to work easier?

Create lactation spaces

According to McKinseys 2022 Women in the Workplace report, women want to work for companies that prioritise flexibility, employee wellbeing, diversity and inclusion.

By properly supporting working mothers, employers can improve worker happiness, productivity and retention.

One way to do this is to provide comfortable, sanitary, private spaces where employees can express milk without fear of judgement.

Read more: Why are remote workers 'body doubling' online  and can it boost productivity?

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Tegen Eve, HR manager at Bristol digital agency, Rock Solid Knowledge, provides a dedicated space where colleagues can feed their babies, or simply have a moment of privacy.

We had the pleasure of working with Parent Promise to design a lactation room for our employees returning from maternity leave, says Eve.

We've had really positive feedback all round. One senior software engineer said the lactation room/chill out space gave her reassurance about coming back as a new mother.

Its also important to remember that the law requires employers to provide somewhere for a breastfeeding employee to rest.

Provide breastmilk extraction breaks

Currently, the law doesnt require an employer to grant paid breaks from a job in order to breastfeed, nor does it require organisations to provide storage for expressed milk.

However, ensuring employees who are breastfeeding take regular breaks and providing a fridge for breastmilk can go a long way to make sure workers feel supported.

Read more: Remote work: Are hush trips risky but worth it?

Returning to work after maternity leave is often a difficult transition. Employees may find themselves overwhelmed and forget to take breaks, which can lead to supply problems when breastfeeding, as well as issues such as burnout.

Its up to managers to encourage workers to take breaks - and to create a culture which prioritises health and wellbeing.

Put organisational policies in place

Finally, employers need to create written policies that outline what support is available for breastfeeding workers, as well as guidance for managers about how best to support workers.

However, all employees  not just those who are breastfeeding  need to understand workplace lactation policies in order to stamp out inappropriate or discriminatory behaviour. Banter may amount to unlawful harassment under the Equality Act 2010.

Creating organisational policies regarding breastfeeding and expressing milk can help facilitate an environment in which women arent afraid of being stigmatised or discriminated against.

By fostering a supportive culture and normalising lactation at work, women will be able to stay in the workforce and employers will be able to make the most of their skills and talent.

Watch: Women who started their own business report an improvement in work-life balance

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A toddler or child can accidentally be exposed to fentanyl if a family member with the medication doesn't store it safely. (Photos: Getty; illustration: Katie Martin for Yahoo Life)

Fentanyl has made headlines for years, with the narcotic being blamed for the deaths of Prince, Tom Petty and Mac Miller, to name a few. But more recent reports have linked the drug to children and teens  and some have died from accidental fentanyl exposure.

In Florida, 19-month-old Enora Lavenir died in August 2021 while her family was staying at a rental home in Wellington. Lavenir died from acute fentanyl toxicity, according to NBC News, and was found unresponsive by her mother after going down for a nap. It's not clear how she ingested the drug, but her family is suing Airbnb, alleging that they were misled into renting what was known as a "party house."

In San Francisco, a 10-month-old nearly died in late November after it's believed the baby may have ingested fentanyl at a park. The baby's father, Ivan Matkovic, told CBS News that he believed that his son touched something with a trace amount of fentanyl powder on it and then put his fingers in his mouth.

A 3-year-old child died after accidentally being exposed to a family member's fentanyl patch, according to a 2021 case study.

It's understandable to feel uneasy about accidental fentanyl exposure and kids  the Food and Drug Administration and American Academy of Pediatrics both warn about it, after all. With a new study noting that opioids like fentanyl were responsible for 52% of poisoning-related deaths of kids age 5 and under in 2018, you probably have questions. Here's what doctors want you to know about fentanyl exposure and kids.

How might kids be exposed to fentanyl?

Fentanyl is most commonly used by doctors to treat severe pain, including in those with advanced cancer, but it also circulates heavily among illicit drugs. Fentanyl can come in several different forms  liquid, powder, pill or patch  or be added to other drugs, Dr. Erin McKnight, adolescent medicine physician and medical director of the substance use treatment and recovery program at Nationwide Children's Hospital, tells Yahoo Life.

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"Approximately 1 out of every 4 pills that someone buys online or on the street are 'pressed pills' that are laced with fentanyl  this includes pills that are sold as Percocet, Vicodin and OxyContin, as well as Xanax, Ativan and Adderall," McKnight says. "A toddler or child can accidentally be exposed to fentanyl if someone has purchased fentanyl to use and has not put it in a secure location and a child gets ahold of it."

It doesn't take much fentanyl to do harm. "Fentanyl is very potent  it's 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine," Dr. Kristine Cieslak, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, tells Yahoo Life. "As little as 2 milligrams can be lethal in adults and even smaller amounts can cause death in children."

Pills that have been laced with fentanyl may look like candy and be swallowed by children if they're found at a park or in a home, Dr. Danelle Fisher, a pediatrician and chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., tells Yahoo Life. Even fentanyl patches could be mistaken by kids as stickers and applied to the skin, poisoning them in the process. "Fentanyl is just so, so powerful," Fisher says.

What does fentanyl do to your body?

Fentanyl "does the same thing to a big body and a little body  it just takes less to impact children," Dr. John Brancato, division head of emergency medicine at Connecticut Children's, tells Yahoo Life. Fentanyl can cause a euphoric feeling, along with respiratory depression  meaning difficulty breathing, he says.

Fentanyl binds to the mu opioid receptors in the body, which are central to pain control, Jamie Alan, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, tells Yahoo Life. "Fentanyl binds to its target receptor very tightly," she says. "The drug does many things, but the most concerning is respiratory depression. This can lead to death."

The medication can also cause drowsiness, nausea, confusion, unconsciousness and stroke, Cieslak says. "A perfectly healthy person can just fall over after being exposed to fentanyl," Fisher says.

How to protect your children from fentanyl exposure

With the exception of fentanyl patches, it's worth noting that fentanyl isn't absorbed through the skin from casual contact, such as touching money or doorknobs, which is a common misconception. Instead, experts say it's crucial to tell your children that they should never put objects, particularly pills, that they happen to find in their mouths. "Tell your child that if they ever find or see anything unusual, they should tell you or another adult nearby rather than ingesting it," Brancato says.

But this is tricky with younger children, who are known for putting things in their mouths, Fisher points out.

If you have fentanyl in your home or your children visit the home of someone who has been prescribed fentanyl, like a grandparent, McKnight says it's crucial to make sure the medication is stored safely and out of reach. "Always keep all medications in a secured, locked location," she says.

If you've rented a home or are visiting a new area, McKnight says it's not a bad idea to inspect the place before letting your children explore. "Don't hesitate to ask about cleaning practices prior to arrival to new areas, if able," she says. "After you arrive, do a walk-through, and if you feel the place has not been cleaned, do not hesitate to reach out to the manager to have the site cleaned."

What to do if you suspect your child has been exposed to fentanyl

Fentanyl moves fast, which is why it's important to call 911 immediately if you suspect your child has been exposed, Cieslak says. "First responders carry Narcan and can administer this lifesaving medication," she explains. "Narcan reverses an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opiates on the brain and restoring breathing. Seconds or minutes count and can be the difference between life or death, so parents should not attempt to drive their child to the emergency department."

If your child seems off and you're not sure why, Brancato recommends looking at their eyes. "Look for tiny pupils," he says. "That strongly suggests opioids of some kind."

But Fisher says parents can go down a rabbit hole with fears over fentanyl. "If you see a substance and you're unsure of it, stay away from it," she says. "Don't let your kids put it in their mouth. Have discussions with older kids about not putting 'candy' they find in their mouths. That's the best you can do."

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Simon Ridgway/BBC Studios/Boffola Pictures

I wasnt sure what to expect when I first started watching Am I Being Unreasonable?, streaming April 11 on Hulu. Starring and written by Daisy May Cooper, Am I Being Unreasonable? is a darkly comic thriller that explores the trials of parenting, the excitement of new friendship, and the ramifications of a guilty conscience. It doesnt sound as funny or as wild as it isbut this six-part British series, which first aired in the U.K. last September, is a hilarious and unexpected ride from start to finish.

Nic (Cooper) is a lonely and unsatisfied woman who feels trapped in her life and loveless marriage. When the show starts, it seems the only pleasure she derives from her life is being a mother to her 8-year-old son, Ollie (Lenny Rush). That is, until she meets Jen (Selin Hizli), the mother of a new kid at her sons school. Nic has a big and raucous personality, and Jen is a little more demure, but the two become fast friends after running into each other at the school carnival, where they quickly realize they have the same type of humor and outlook on life.

Its the kind of connection that Nic is sorely lacking, made stronger when she and Jen share their mutual disdain for the other mothers and reluctance to stay sober for the duration of the event. After Jen unveils a case of canned gin and tonics from her bag, Nic professes, Oh yes, I could kiss you! Unbothered, Jen replies, Dont do that. Itd make it weird.

Having been unable and seemingly unwilling to make friends with a single mom at the school, Nic finds a kindred spirit in Jen, who also appears to be quite lonely. By the days end, the two are drinking and giggling in Nics living room, playing a round of Sticky Heads. Once Nics husband Dan (Dustin Demri-Burns) leaves the room to put the kids to bed, however, there is a notable shift in the conversationas Nic admits she no longer has any romance or passion in her life.

Its not just because her sex life with Dan is lacking. Its because she was having a years-long affair with another man, Alex, until his untimely death, which remains shrouded in mystery. It is only later that we find out that Alex (David Fynn) was her husbands brother.

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Alistair Heap/BBC Studios/Boffola Pictures

While the affair and Alexs death certainly remain at the crux of the series, the humor and absurdity of the show provide much-needed comic relief. In between her budding friendship with Jen and her grief over losing Alex, Nic offers much of the shows humor. In one episode, Nic struggles to host Ollies birthday party while dealing with a massive hangover from her night with Jen. Feeling the effects of that hangover in her bowels, Nic rushes to the bathroom and lets it rip, before realizing someone else is also in there.

From outside the stall, Lucy, another mom from school, tries to ask Nic a question. Nic tells her to wait until shes finished and proceeds to continue doing her businessbut when she hears the sink faucet running, she realizes Lucy is still in the bathroom, witnessing her very noisy flatulence, and proceeds to yell her name in frustration and embarrassment.

I Hate Suzie Too Will Give You a Panic Attack for Christmas

Hilarious moments like this are peppered all throughout Am I Being Unreasonable?, adding some lightheartedness to the severity of the shows central themes. As a dark comedy and a thriller, the series successfully balances the nuance of this unusual genre pairing, providing plenty of heart, mystery, and laughs, and sometimes all three at once.

As funny as she is, however, Nic is also going through it. Lapses in her memory, as well as randomly life-like flashbacks, cause her great strife, as do her past transgressions, some of which she remains unaware of. In one major flashback, we see Alex get his coat stuck in the doors of a high-speed train, leading to his end. While everyone is aware of his death, neither Dan nor Alexs wife Suzie (Amanda Wilkin) seem to have the full story; they both try to ask Nic about it, who promptly dismisses their questions.

These flashbacks and memory fragments become more frequent and jumbled as the series progresses, eventually altering Nics sense of reality. But it is through them that the history of Nics relationship with Alex is unraveled, which seemingly begins at the most inappropriate of places: her wedding. As the show continually makes clear, however, Nics memory may not be the most reliable source.

Simon Ridgway/BBC Studios/Boffola Pictures

All of this comes to a head when Jen shows up to school wearing the same type of coat as Nic, leading to a hallucination that turns ugly. From then on, the women put almost all their cards on table, leaving them to bond on a much deeper level and have a heart-to-heart admitting that they would make the perfect romantic partners for each other, if only they were a different gender. But one tragic secret has still yet to come out, even to Nic herself.

The central mystery continues to build through these various relationships, each one toxic and messy in its own way. Nics tenuous connection to reality makes the show both hilarious and gripping, especially as it builds to that ending.

New on Hulu 2023: Pretty Baby, Tiny Beautiful Things, and More

But while Coopers performance as Nic carries the show, the absurdity, intrigue, and idiosyncrasies of Am I Being Unreasonable? make it a huge success. Although the show never settles on answer to the question posed in the title, it successfully adds itself to the ever-expanding category of shows about messy, complicated women without falling prey to the staleness of traditional sitcoms. And it does this all without forgetting to make you laugh.

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On April 14 2003, scientists announced the end to one of the most remarkable achievements in history: the first (nearly) complete sequencing of a human genome. It was the culmination of a decade-plus endeavor that involved thousands of scientists across the globe. Many people hoped the accomplishment would change the world for the better.



For the 20-year anniversary of this historic event, we took a look back at the Human Genome Project and its impact. How did it shape science moving forward? How many of the expected goals have been reached since? And what lies ahead for the study of genetics?

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A genome is the entire set of genetic information that makes up an organism. This information is packaged into sequences of DNA we call genes, which in humans are spread along 23 pairs of chromosomes. Only a small portion of these genes contain the instructions for coding the many proteins essential for life, but much of the rest is still thought to be important to our functioning. As scientists would eventually confirm, one copy of the human genome has around 3 billion base pairs of DNA. The sheer magnitude of the effort needed to map all this wasnt lost on the researchers involved in the project, especially given the technology available decades ago.

Theres been lots of analogies that people have put forwardlike us being Lewis and Clark. We didnt really have a map, said Richard Gibbs, founder and director of the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center in Texas, one of the major institutions involved in the project.

Gibbs and his many colleagues knew they had to make compromises. Despite the advancements in sequencing technology since the official start of the project in 1990, they couldnt fill in every gap with their current tools. And the first human genome was a composite of several blood donors in the U.S., not a single person. Along the way, private company Celera entered the picture, promising that it would complete a separate genome project using its own techniques even faster. Ultimately, both groups finished ahead of schedule around the same time, with the first draft sequences released in 2000, though Celera announced its success a few months earlier.

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Regardless of the victor, the feat certainly did usher in a new era of genetics researchone that has seen great leaps in speed and efficiency since 2003.

I think the very most important accomplishment in the past 20 years has been the advent of next-generation sequencing. The ability to perform sequencing in a massively parallel way, so that you could do it far more quickly and cheaply, said Stacey Gabriel, director of the Genomics Platform at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, another major research site involved in the Human Genome Project. And that has come with all of the associated advancement in our computational abilities, too, to really be able to take that data and analyze it at a massive scale as well.

The original project cost $2.7 billion, with most of the genome being mapped over a two-year span. Nowadays, the current speed record for sequencing a genome is around five hours (more often, though, it takes weeks), and this past fall, the company Illumina unveiled a machine that it claims will cost as little as $200 per sequence, down from the recently typical $600 cost.

Greg Findlay leads the Genome Function Laboratory at the Francis Crick Institute in the UK. His team is one of many around the world that is building on the work of the original project. Theyre currently trying to identify and understand how certain variants in tumor-suppressor genes can raise our risk of cancer.

So what my lab tries to do is actually understand what variants do to the genome. That is, we want to know exactly which variants cause disease and why they cause disease. Right now, were focused on certain genetic changes that lead to cancer, and I think this particular field has really been revolutionized by the Human Genome Project, Findlay said. We now know there are many, many different genetic paths by which cells can turn into cancer. And we know this, because weve been able to actually sequence the DNA in so many different tumors repeatedly, across all different types of cancer, to see what are the mutations that actually lead to cancer forming.

Perhaps equally important was the projects impact on scientific collaboration. The effort directly led to an international agreement meant to ensure open access to DNA sequences. It also made clear that great things could be possible when large groups of scientists worked together, according to Gibbs.

It simply changed the way that people thought that biology could be done, he said. It built a model for team science that was not there before.

Even at the time, though, the project knowingly left some things unfinished. They had mapped roughly 92% of the genome by 2003, but it would take almost 20 more years for other scientists to track down the remaining 8%. This missing dark matter of our genome could very well provide new clues about how humans evolved or our susceptibility to various diseases.

Much of the genetic information collected and analyzed since the project ended has come from white and European populationsa disparity that hampers our ability to truly understand the impact of genetics on everyones health. But scientists today are working on bridging that gap through initiatives like the Human Pangenome Project, which will sequence and make available the full genomes of over 300 people intended to represent the breadth of human diversity around the globe.

Theres genetic variation that exists across all the worlds populations. And if you only use variations from a sliver of the worlds populations, and you try to apply that to everybody else, it just doesnt work very well, because we all have different backgrounds, said Lucinda Antonacci-Fulton, one of the projects coordinators and director of project development & new initiatives at Washington University in St. Louiss McDonnell Genome Institute. So the more inclusive you can be, the better off you are in terms of treatments that you want to bring into the clinic.

As important as genetics research has been, some of the expectations fueled by the Human Genome Project likely were too lofty. In 2000, for instance, President Bill Clinton claimed that the project would revolutionize the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of most, if not all, human diseases. While we do continue to discover new gene variants that strongly predict the odds of developing a specific disease or trait, there are countless others that were still in the dark about. Elsewhere, its become clear that our genome often only plays a small or negligible role in why we get sick or experience something in a particular manner. So although the project has helped unlock some of the mysteries of the world, there are so many more questions out there about why we are the way we are, and our genes are probably not going to provide a neat answer to many of them.

I think where things are oversold, sometimes, is with this notion that just because the human genome is done, youre going to be able to read it off for some sort of deterministic answerwhere finding genes for disease becomes like falling off a log, Gabriel notes. But often human disease, especially the diseases that impact us the most, these are not simple genetic diseases. Theyre multifactorial. Theyre combinations of your genes, your behavior, exposure to the environment, sometimes just bad luck.

None of this is to sell short the potential of genetics. Hans Lehrach, a former director at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Germany, was one of the first researchers involved in the Human Genome Project. Hes also one of many scientists who believe that well someday be able to cheaply and easily scan a persons genome at a moments notice and that this information, along with other aspects of our molecular make-up, will help guide the specific drugs or interventions doctors prescribea concept known as personalized medicine. Notably, the treatment of some cancers is already influenced by the variants that underlie their growth. Some experts even argue that widespread whole genome sequencing should start as early as birth, and there are already small-scale programs in the U.S., UK, and elsewhere testing out its potential benefits and risks.

Not knowing about your genome is a bit like crossing the street while closing your eyes because you dont want to see a bus coming. If we dont sequence our genomes, the buses keep coming anywayit just lets us open our eyes and maybe see the kind of danger that we can escape or do something about, Lehrach said.

The Human Genome Project truly has changed the scientific landscape, but were still only at the very beginning of seeing the world that its made possible.

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(Bloomberg) -- Hungarys top diplomat secured a deal to expand gas flows from Russia and renewed a financing agreement on its nuclear power plant, underscoring Budapests schism with the rest of the European Union over Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto sealed the deals as Prime Minister Viktor Orban moves to boost his countrys dependence on Russian oil, gas and nuclear supplies, while fellow EU members strive to break free.

Hungary will now have the option to receive more natural gas from Russia on top of an existing long-term agreement ahead of the winter storage season, Szijjarto said in a statement.

Gazprom PJSC will consider not only supplies above contractual volumes in 2023 but also the possibility of delayed payments for these shipments, Russias gas giant said in a Telegram post.

Szijjarto also agreed to further secure crude supplies through the Druzhba pipeline via Ukraine.

Russia has always been a reliable energy supplier, in the future we are also ready to ensure reliable supplies to Hungary, Putins deputy Prime Minister for Energy, Alexander Novak, said in a statement after the two met on Tuesday. He thanked Szijjarto and Orban for constructive cooperation.

Hungary has taken steps to diversify its energy sources, accessing liquefied natural gas from sea terminals in Croatia and Poland. Budapest has also been in talks with Azerbaijan for electricity and gas exports.

But relations with Moscow remain paramount in the energy sphere. After visiting Belarus in February  another rare trip to a Moscow ally under western sanctions  Szijjarto twinned his meeting with Novak by also speaking with Alexey Likhachev, the chief executive officer of state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

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Novak and Likhachev are both under sanctions from Ukraine and some of its allies, although not by the EU. Orban has criticized EU sanctions against Russia, saying they dont work, despite economic data showing they have dented the ability of President Vladimir Putins government to build weapons and intensify his war in Ukraine.

Novak is crucial to Hungarys continued efforts to import gas and oil from Russia after Orban clinched an exemption from an EU ban on most crude imports by threatening to block it.

As long as energy supply is a physical issue and not a matter of political or ideological like or dislike, Russia and cooperation with Russia will remain crucial for Hungarys energy security, Szijjarto said in a statement.

Rosatom is overseeing the expansion of Hungarys Paks nuclear power plant, a deal that has drawn criticism for giving Putin influence over an EU countrys energy supply.

The deal Szijjarto clinched on Tuesday includes financing for the project that will guarantee its implementation, he said, adding that the agreement would need approval from the EU Commission.

The preparatory works are underway to construct auxiliary buildings at Paks 2, Rosatom said in a Telegram post after the meeting. Rosatom is continuing the process of obtaining licenses for certain types of works, it added.

(Updates with Gazprom statement in the fourth paragraph.)

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A man said he shot his 33-year-old wife in her head because she would not shut up, according to authorities in Oklahoma.

Now about a year and a half later, the man was sentenced to life in prison.

Deputies with the Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office were called to a home in Spencer shortly before 6 a.m. on Oct. 20, 2021, according to a news release.

When they arrived they found a female victim who had been shot in the head, authorities said at the time.

She was rushed to a hospital, KFOR reported, and she survived the shooting.

Her 27-year-old husband was arrested and charged with one count of shooting with intent to kill, authorities said.

He was sentenced to life in prison on April 11, according to the release. Hell be eligible for parole after 35 years, according to KOKH.

McClatchy News is not naming the man to protect the identity of the woman who was shot.

Spencer is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

If you are experiencing domestic violence and need someone to talk to, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Kids break through glass to escape as man shoots ex-wife and toddlers, Texas cops say

Man kills ex-fiancees mom and uncle on video call with her, Michigan officials say

Woman shoots ex-husband, then hes found dead outside Texas home, sheriff says
A law recently passed in Idaho aims to curb Idahoans from searching for reproductive care out of state. This could spell trouble for Washington state health care providers.

The Gem State criminalized abortion in August 2022. Since then, many Idaho residents have been traveling to neighboring Washington state for reproductive health care. Some Washington clinics essentially straddle the state border, such as Pullmans Planned Parenthood facility, which is eight miles west of the Washington-Idaho border.

In early April 2023, Idaho passed a statute that aims to further restrict abortion access. House Bill 242 makes it a felony for an adult to assist a minor in receiving abortion care out of state.

Although abortion is legal in Washington, Idahos law, in a way, is challenging the freedoms of the Evergreen State. In March, Idahos attorney general, Raul Labrador, indicated on several occasions he intends to prosecute anyone who disregards Idahos recent abortion statute.

The Idaho attorney general has been pretty explicit that if any element of this [abortion services] happens in Idaho, he is willing to pursue criminal charges, regardless of where that person is situated, says Alizeh Bhojani, Washington state policy counsel for nonprofit equal rights organization Legal Voice in an interview with The News Tribune.

We spoke with Bhojani and other legal counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington to get the details on how Idahos abortion trafficking law impacts Washingtonians.

What Idahos law and attorney general say

Idaho Governor Brad Little approved the abortion trafficking legislation on April 5. Here are some specifics:

The law prohibits adults from assisting pregnant minors from getting abortion-inducing drugs without parental consent. It does not prohibit adults from seeking the same medical care out of state.

The legislation states recruiting, harboring, or transporting the pregnant minor within this state commits the crime of abortion trafficking.

If an adult assists a minor in any of these ways, they can face two to five years of time in state prison.

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The bill also notes that Labrador, as Idahos attorney general, has the authority to prosecute Idahoans who violate this law. This is what the attorney general says:

On May 27, Labrador stated in a legal opinion that the new Idaho law prevents health care providers from referring patients to seek out-of-state care.

Labrador adds that health care workers who offer information about another states abortion providers and abortion funds is also a violation of Idahos abortion ban.

Providers who go against the states ban risk losing their medical licenses and criminal prosecution, according to Labradors letter.

Two Idaho physicians, as well as Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, filed a lawsuit on April 5 to prevent the attorney general from prohibiting out-of-state referrals. Planned Parenthood stated in its news release that Labradors interpretation of the law transcends the boundaries of Idahos law and is an extreme attempt to prohibit health care providers from accessing necessary health care.

Following the pushback, Labrador withdrew his statement on April 7 in which he said he would prosecute those giving out-of-state referrals, according to documents obtained by CNN.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho did not immediately respond to The News Tribunes request for comment on how the law will impact health providers at its Washington facilities.

Labradors intentions to prosecute providers for giving out-of-state referrals on abortions to Idaho residents is unconstitutional, says Leah Rutman, health care and liberty policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington. Rutman says the attorney generals actions would violate the first amendment and the Due Process Clause, which states that states cannot deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

Criminal process in WA

Idahos law specifically notes recruiting a minor is prohibited under its abortion ban statute. This could be a problem for Washington caregivers, says Bhojani, the legal counsel specialist with Legal Voice.

Bhojani explains that the bills loose and undefined language can be interpreted in several ways. For instance, she noted that if a Washington health provider communicates with someone in Idaho seeking medical care in Washington, then that can be interpreted as recruiting for the purposes of giving an abortion.

Bhojani describes the criminal process that would play out if Idahos attorney general seeks to press charges against people in Washington allegedly complicit in an abortion trafficking crime.

Idaho would share a warrant for a persons arrest with Washington state police in the hopes of extraditing the person to Idaho.

Extradition would require approval from Washington Governor Jay Inslee, who has made his stance supporting abortion clear over the past year. In a letter dated April 4, Inslee urged Gov. Little to veto the abortion trafficking statute. On the same day, Inslee announced Washington had purchased a three-year supply of of the abortion medication mifepristone.

Protections in the WA Legislature

There are three bills currently in the Washington Legislature that aim to protect Washington state health care providers.
How should a newspaper handle hateful antisemitism when its happening in local neighborhoods?

Ill tell you the wrong way: Reporting each and every time some idiot flings onto Modesto driveways literature blaming Jews for societys ills.

The first time it happened, over the Fourth of July weekend, I used this column to air disgust. You are pathetic cowards, I said to those who mass-copy ignorant lies and use cover of darkness to spread their bigotry.

When similar spineless propaganda arrived in other Modesto neighborhoods during Hanukkah, and again in February, and again last week during Passover, I muttered to myself but wrote nothing (a colleague covered the December incident).

Im breaking my silence now for two main reasons: to explain why newspapers sometimes stay quiet, and why we sometimes make exceptions. This may seem contradictory, so stay with me.

We dont report each incident for the same reason youre not supposed to open a closed door when you suspect fire on the other side: doing so could provide oxygen, the very thing needed to make flames explode with deadly ferocity.

Its similar to the reason news agencies rarely show graffiti or identify gangs by name. When bad actors see their handiwork in print, they can feel recognized, something akin to legitimized, even if the intent could not be further from that. Its a variation on no such thing as bad publicity logic.

News agencies each time weigh the value of people knowing truth against the damage done by inadvertently boosting a scoundrels ego and profile. Its rarely an easy call.

At this point, many readers are thinking, But arent you giving them oxygen with this very column?

I abhor the thought, with white-hot hatred, that small-minded morons behind these propaganda drops will get any measure of satisfaction by reading this. They are scum.

If their cause were just, they would go door to door in daylight and not scurry around at night like the cockroaches they are. They know what theyre doing is repulsive, so they hide.

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But let me answer the question. Im making an exception today because the scale has sufficiently tipped toward peoples right to know whats going on around them.

1) Last year, the roaches hit a variety of Modesto neighborhoods on three occasions. Were only a third of the way into 2023, and so far this year theyve hit eight times, Police Chief Brandon Gillespie told me Monday. Four of those came last week, on the first four nights of Passover. Some were just down the street from our synagogue.

Its definitely picking up, Gillespie said.

This isnt specific to Modesto. The Anti-Defamation League last month released numbers showing a 36% increase in antisemitic incidents across the United States in 2022, up from from 2,717 the year before.

2) Targets of harassment must be reassured that they are appreciated and supported.

I used the possessive our synagogue above not because Im Jewish (Im not) but because an attack of intimidation on any group defined by race, religion or other feature is an attack on all.

Claims that Jews are responsible for gun control, COVID-19, LGBTQ activity, slavery, pedophilia, media and immigration are ludicrous and rejected by a majority of Modesto residents. We soundly denounce these messages and the fear they instill, and we stand arm-in-arm with all targets of misinformed, misplaced hate.

3) Sunshine, as they say, is the best disinfectant. Too much well-intentioned silence can be perceived as complicity. The news has an obligation to warn and to inform.

Most recipients of this printed hate speech immediately let it join the refuse in their garbage cans, where it belongs. Several let us know, because we can let others know, when the time seems right. As it does now.

It outraged me and incensed me, said Irene Lytle, among those brave enough to share whats happened with police and The Bee. We cant ignore it when its a sickness in our culture. People need to know whats going on so they can make a stand.
An imam was stabbed early Sunday as he led congregants in prayer at a mosque in Paterson, New Jersey. Congregants subdued the alleged attacker, identified as Serif Zorba.

Imam Sayed Elnakib, 65, was stabbed at least twice as he knelt during a prayer service around 5:30 a.m., an Omar Mosque spokesman said. Surveillance video captured the attack, allegedly showing the 32-year-old Zorba among the congregants suddenly make his way to the front of the room in the middle of a prayer to stab the imam.

Congregants held the suspect until police officers arrived, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said. Zorba was taken into custody on charges of 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.

Serif Zorba was arrested on charges of attacking an imam in Paterson, NJ. / Credit: Passaic County Prosecutor's Office

Zorba pleaded not guilty during a virtual court appearance on Monday, CBS New York reported. He is due back in court Thursday, according to CBS New York.

Elnakib's wounds were considered serious, but not life-threatening, officials said. Patterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said he visited the imam in the hospital and, during a Sunday press conference, said there would be increased police presence at Paterson mosques throughout Ramadan. Sayegh also said he is hopeful Elnakib would be released from the hospital sometime this week, CBS New York reported.

"You should not be afraid to pray," he said. "You should feel safe to pray anywhere in the city of Paterson."

Officials have not yet shared any motive behind the attack.

"We expect that once the investigation is concluded that this will be an isolated incident. However, we have heightened our security in the mosque, along with Paterson police and Passaic County Sheriff's Department," mosque spokesperson Abdul Hamdan said, according to CBS New York.

Councilman Al Abdel-aziz wrote on Facebook, "While it is unclear what motivated the attacker, there is no justification for violence of any kind, especially in a sacred space."

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California considers ban on food additives linked to health risks

Congress reacts to Pentagon documents leak

DOJ asks appeals court to pause abortion pill ruling
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. [Photo/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.
An independent pharmacy thats been a mainstay in downtown Bellefonte for more than seven decades is set to close Monday, the latest in a line of local drugstores that have shuttered.

Plumbs Drug Store, 105 N. Allegheny St., plans to close its pharmacy Monday, co-owners John and Margie Luckovich wrote in a Facebook post. Prescriptions are set to be transferred to CVS, 127 S. Potter St.

CVS, one of the two largest U.S. pharmacy chains, bought the business and plans to operate under one roof across Spring Creek, John Luckovich said. The retail side of Plumbs is expected to remain open for a short period of time to sell any remaining merchandise.

The Luckovichs arent blind to the challenges that have plagued hundreds and hundreds of independent pharmacies throughout the country, but that didnt make the decision much easier.

Plumbs opened in 1951, the same year Congress passed a law that established a distinction between prescription and non-prescription drugs.

John Luckovich sat back in his chair when he thought about what it could feel like to wake up the morning after the pharmacy closes. That mid-April sunrise could bring a sense of relief.

No more worry on the day-to-day operations of being a small business owner in an economic environment that nobody knows whats going to happen, he said. I always worry where Im going to keep getting enough to make payroll, pay my drug bill for my wholesalers. If there was a pot of gold at the other end and I didnt have to worry about that, no problem.

The bottom line

Plumbs seems like a throwback to a simpler time. The pharmacy still runs an old-fashioned soda counter and sells everything from nuts to watches to cologne to stuffed animals to candy and health care products.

About 14 people are employed at the business. Some are Bellefonte Area High School students working their first job while others are retirees looking to stay busy.

But the independent drugstore  one of the few left in Centre County  has teetered between nostalgia and extinction because of low reimbursements.

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The short answer and probably the most honest answer would be (the) government, Luckovich said. ... Everything is going up except theyre not reimbursing us. If you asked any independent pharmacy, youll get the same answer. I guarantee you. The reimbursements are the things that are the hardest in this industry. Thats the bottom line.

Parrish Apothecary Shop in Bellefonte, Moshannon Valley Pharmacys drugstore in Snow Shoe and Penns Valley Pharmacy all closed in the past 3 1/2 years. Two of the three said low reimbursements were part of the reason why.

Independently-owned pharmacies in micropolitan areas likes Centre County decreased by 9.1% from 2003 through 2021, according to the University of Iowas Rural Policy Research Institute. The number of chain pharmacies increased across every classification.

Just cant afford it anymore, he said. Cant afford not to make any money.

Generations of customers, employees

John Luckovich, a 73-year-old Bellefonte native, gave much of his life to the pharmacy.

He worked for the pharmacys original owner  Edward L. Plumb Jr.  while he was in high school. He graduated from the same pharmacy school as his boss and returned to work at Plumbs as a pharmacist in 1974.

He bought the business in 2012 after the death of longtime owner Eugene D. Sebastianelli. That trio  Plumb, Sebastianelli and the Luckovichs  are the only owners the 72-year-old business has ever known.

About four generations of families have passed through Plumbs doors just in the time that Luckovich has worked there. He established a personal relationship with many of them, adding theyve been like family over the years.

Some customers pontificated Monday about parking downtown  whether it should be free to attract more business  while others waited in line with handfuls of candy bars.

Others walked up to Luckovich without so much as a Hello before asking why the business is closing. He answered without hesitation.

Its going to be very, very sad when theres nothing in here, Luckovich said. Just couldnt keep doing it.

Luckovich isnt certain what hell do with himself once the business closes. Hes in good health, but doesnt have any grandiose plans of globetrotting or even sitting in a rocking chair most of the day.

A time for reflecting may be the offing, however, for all of the people Plumbs helped and the memories they made along the way. Tears welled in Luckovichs eyes when he recounted the phone calls hed get at 2 a.m. that dragged him out of bed.

He also spoke glowingly about his high school sweetheart, the same woman hes been married to for 51 years. She has put up with a bunch of crap all these years, Luckovich said.

Hes missed myriad dinners and family gatherings, all in the name of keeping Plumbs afloat. And even after several decades of punching the clock, Luckovich isnt ready to give it up.

Hopefully stay in the Bellefonte area and continue working as a pharmacist, Luckovich said of his future plans. I guess thats the best we can do.
The Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE - Award-winning Wisconsin writers and advocates for the arts are decrying the planned destruction of a literary exhibit in Milwaukee this week.

The exhibit, Portals and Writings Celebrating Wisconsin Authors, was installed at the Milwaukee convention center, now known as the Wisconsin Center, in 1998. It features the works of 48 Wisconsin writers through four centuries, including many prominent Indigenous artists and people of color. Their words are worked into sculptural archways and on the walls of the center.

Kimberly Blaeser, a former Wisconsin Poet Laureate and a citizen of the White Earth Nation Ojibwe in Minnesota, has work featured in the exhibit and said some of the other works by Indigenous writers reminds visitors of the colonial history of Wisconsin and how Indigenous people and the atrocities committed against them had been forgotten.

I dont understand why our leaders would be afraid of history, she said. Its such a tragedy that there would be this erasure.

"When the center opened in 1998, the decision to feature literature was praised as a bold and forward-looking departure from conventional design. The decision to trash that heritage is an abrupt move in the opposite direction," local historian John Gurda wrote in an email to several WCD board members criticizing the plan.

Milwaukee aldermen ask for delay on art installation's removal until board review conducted

After news about the planned removal of the installation spread, six Milwaukee aldermen sent WCD president Marty Brooks a letter questioning the decision. "If the reports are correct, the decision to remove it was made without reference to either the Milwaukee Arts Board which supervised the original installation or your own Wisconsin Center District Board," the letter read in part.

Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and aldermen Jonathan Brostoff, Robert J. Bauman, Michael J. Murphy, Mark A. Borkowski and Jose G. Perez signed the letter. Bauman, Coggs and Perez are members of the WCD board.

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"At a minimum, we would strongly urge you to delay the planned removal until a review by the Wisconsin Center District Board can be conducted," the letter said.

Wauwatosa mayor Dennis R. McBride, also a WCD board member, said in an email message that he also has asked Brooks to delay the planned removal until a board review can be conducted.

Supporters argue change isn't necessary for center's expansion

Supporters of the exhibit have organized an online petition to stop the demolition.

They are responding to an article by Urban Milwaukee posted April 4 reporting that Brooks made the decision to remove the installation in preparation for an expansion project and that work would begin April 10.

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The Wisconsin Center is operated by the Wisconsin Center District, which is a semi-autonomous municipality with board members who are appointed by elected officials.

The literary exhibit features writing from many prominent authors from the states past and present, including Carl Sandburg, Lorrie Moore and writings from members of Ojibwe and Potawatomi tribes.

Its installation was overseen by Milwaukee city officials and had received wide community support.

Supporters said the decision to demolish the exhibit was made unilaterally without consultation or notification.

Supporters argue a $456 million expansion of the center does not require the removal of the exhibit and some suggest the removal is part of an effort to prepare for the hosting of the Republican National Convention next year.

Censorship of school curriculum. Banned books. It would be hard not to see this action in Wisconsin as a part of those larger efforts, said Blaeser in a statement. The literature on the walls of the Wisconsin Center includes Indigenous voices, the writing of early ecologists, working-class voices, African-American voices, Latino voices, Asian voices, etc. We worked hard to make it representative of all Wisconsinites. All Wisconsinites should be outraged by the plans to demolish this literary archive.

Blaeser, whos also a professor emerita at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the founding director of the national organization Indigenous Nations Poets, wrote a letter to the Wisconsin Center District Board urging them to stop the demolition of the exhibit.

As a government entity, the Wisconsin Center District Board would seem to have an obligation to due process, such as a public hearing, she wrote in her letter. The citizens who supported the creation of this one-of-a-kind nationally recognized installation deserve a chance to express their concern about its future.  I ask that you show leadership and raise your voice to stop the wanton destruction. Wisconsin and the larger arts community will be watching what happens in Milwaukee.

Initial attempts by the Press-Gazette to reach Brooks were unsuccessful.

Milwaukee's Woodland Pattern Book Center and artist Jill Sebastian, who led the creation of "Portals" twenty-five years ago, are working on a full-color book with professional photography to document the installation. In a statement, Woodland Pattern said that WCD had contributed $20,000 toward the costs of that book, which WP expects to cost $50,000 to $80,000 to produce.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Jim Higgins contributed to this story.

Read more:

Frank Vaisvilas is a Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.You can directly support his work with a tax-deductible donation online at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee plans to demolish literary exhibit
Infogrid, a startup that uses AI to collect and analyze data on things like air quality, occupancy and energy consumption, today announced that it raised $90 million in a Series B round led by Northzone. William Cowell de Gruchy, Infogrid's CEO, says that the cash will be put toward product development, strategic hires and customer acquisition efforts.

"Now was the time to raise the capital and use it to drive our expansion," De Gruchy said. "We are coming off of 5x growth last year and the market is strongly calling for our solutions ... We opted for equity because alongside capital, we want strategic partners to help us scale to the next level and we have both VCs and clients and partners investing. This brings value far greater than even the cash."

De Gruchy -- who has a fascinating history, having studied cage fighting and served as an army officer before pivoting to a quieter, white-collar career in due diligence analysis -- founded Infogrid in 2018. While working for strategic advisory firm Drystone Strategy, De Gruchy routinely visited companies that he was "diligencing" for private equity deals, including dairies, roofing companies and distribution warehouses.

While on these "diligencing" visits, De Gruchy spotted what he describes as a lack of real-time digital data and visibility into "operational inefficiencies," as well as health risks and environmental concerns surrounding buildings and facilities.

"When I asked why people werent using current-day technologies -- e.g. cloud computing, cellular connectivity and sensors -- to solve this issue, they repeatedly answered in the same way; it was too complex and too expensive," De Gruchy told TechCrunch in an email interview. "I set out to answer that problem and defeat the incumbent solution -- the clipboard -- and thats the seed that became Infogrid today."

Infogrid's platform, powered by AI, gathers and analyzes data from Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to help property managers and owners optimize the performance of their various buildings -- at least in theory. Via IoT sensors manufactured by an ecosystem of hardware partners, Infogrid can measure domains such as the number of people, air quality and cleaning needs throughout a building, for example, as well as track energy usage and CO 2 levels in relation to the number of people in a building, so that customers can make adjustments impacting sustainability scores and operating costs.

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Infogrid

Image Credits: Infogrid

As De Gruchy explains, the types of customers adopting Infogrid are usually looking to solve facilities management issues like avoiding unnecessary cleaning, preventing pointless tap flushing for legionella compliance or environmental, social and governance reporting.

"We collect nearly 4 billion data points per month, up from 500 million a year ago, and growing exponentially," De Gruchy said. "This trains our AI, which is then refined with user feedback, making it better."

Infogrid competes with a number of companies in the buildings management space, including BrainBox and Sidewalklabs Mesa, whose algorithms make fine-grained adjustments to climate control and monitoring systems on the fly. Meanwhile, Facilio and Buildings IOT, two other rivals, install and configure building control systems and bring the data from those systems together within a unified management interface.

The growing number of competitors coincides with an uptick in VC investments in IoT companies. IoT companies raising funds in 2022 pulled in $15.9 million on average, up 30% from the previous year, as Crunchbase data reveals.

De Gruchy credits several factors with Infogrid's success. First, he notes that an increasing number of regulations -- like London banning home and office rentals below a certain energy threshold -- are forcing companies to consider investing in a monitoring platform. Second, he argues that Infogrid is differentiated from other IoT-based building management systems in that it offers more context, specifically occupancy and air quality data.

"There is a major transformation underway in real estate as people reduce their footprint and are forced to take sustainability seriously," De Gruchy said. "Both are tailwinds for Infogrid as companies that seek less, but greener, real estate flock to greener, more tech-enabled buildings. Infogrid helps our clients to provide exactly this, which improves their rental yields and asset values."

When asked about the size of Infogrid's customer base, De Gruchy wouldn't give a figure, save claiming that the startup services "some of the largest commercial real estate services companies in the world." He also wouldn't give a ballpark with respect to revenue, and -- in a potential cause for concern -- wouldn't commit to growing Infogrid's 250-person headcount this year.

But he repeatedly assured TechCrunch that business is healthy.

"The pandemic was a strong tailwind; it drove much greater interest in remote monitoring at the time, and has driven many of the macro environmental, social and governance and real estate consolidation trends," De Gruchy added. "This is a venn diagram ranging between point solutions for things like energy or air quality, older building management system players, software-only dashboards that scrape data from existing networks, or in-house solutions. None of these deliver everything Infogrid does, so they are only competitive in small sub areas, and many times would-be competitors are partners as were stronger selling a holistic solution together."
A dehorned rhino slowly wakes up after his horn was trimmed at John Hume's Rhino Ranch. Mujahid Safodien/AFP/Getty Images

John Hume has been breeding rhinos since 1993 and owns the world's largest rhino farm in South Africa.

He fought a global ban on trading rhino horn, which would allow him to sell it to pay for his farm.

But after years of struggling to cover the ballooning costs to run the farm, it's up for sale.

Later this month, John Hume, the owner of the world's largest rhino farm, is selling up. For a minimum of $10 million, you can buy 2,000 white rhinos in South Africa.

He's been breeding white rhinos since 1993. For years, he campaigned to make it legal to sell rhino horn  a substance more valuable than elephant ivory, cocaine, or gold.

He argued that by legalizing the trade authorities could stop poaching, but despite overturning a domestic ban in 2013, the global ban remained. Without being able to sell rhino horn, the cost of running his ranch  including his sophisticated security system consisting of radar detection, helicopter patrols, and armed guards  finally became too much.

The auction of the farm is set for April 26.

After making millions working in the hotel business for a number of years, John Hume wanted to spend his retirement doing something new  running a ranch.

John Hume poses in front of a black male rhinoceros in September 2004. Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

Sources: The Telegraph, Pulitzer Center

Hume decided to buy a ranch covering nearly 20,000 acres located about 100 miles southeast of Johannesburg.

John Hume in 2019. Jurgen Batz/picture alliance/Getty Images

Sources: The Telegraph, National Geographic, Pulitzer Center, The Guardian

When he bought the ranch, it came with two rhinos. "They were the wildlife underdogs, and I fell for them," he told The Telegraph.

Two of John Humes rhinos in 2016. Deon Raath/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images

He said he "became aware of what wonderful natures they have but also that they're facing extinction."

"I thought the best way to make a difference is to breed them," Hume said, "and as a result, I have slowly but surely gotten myself into one hell of a corner."

Sources: The Telegraph, Pulitzer Center, Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, The Guardian

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were about 500,000 rhinos across the world. But that number plummeted, mostly due to poaching. Around the time Hume bought his ranch, there were as few as 50 white rhinos left in the wild.

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A dehorned rhino slowly wakes up after his horn was trimmed at John Hume's Rhino Ranch. Mujahid Safodien/AFP/Getty Images

Sources: Save The Rhino, The Telegraph, National Geographic, Pulitzer Center, The Guardian

For the next 30 years, Hume bred white rhinos. By 2015, he had 1,161 white rhinos. By 2023, he had about 2,000.

De-horned rhinos roam on the field at John Hume's Rhino Ranch. Mujahid Safodien/AFP/Getty Images

Sources: The Telegraph, Pulitzer Center, Wall Street Journal

Hume and a few other private owners were soon responsible for owning about a third of South Africa's rhino population. And South Africa is home to about 80% of the world's rhinos in total.

John Hume's rhinos roam around at his ranch in 2016. Deon Raath/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Source: Pulitzer Center

As Humes herd grew, his costs grew, too. Reports on his financial struggles became more regular after 2009, due in part to his farms recent opening and the new ban on rhino horn trading.

A ranger shows rhino horns to be weighed and stored at John Hume's Rhino Ranch. Mujahid Safodien/AFP/Getty Images

In 2006 he sold about 185 pounds of rhino horn for $83,250.

Sources: Pulitzer Center, National Geographic

But in 2009, the South African government banned the trade. It was following the rest of the world, which had banned it in 1977.

Cut off rhino horns are weighed and stored at John Hume's Rhino Ranch Mujahid Safodien/AFP/Getty Images

Source: Wall Street Journal

Prior to the ban, rhino poaching was on the rise. In 2007, only 13 rhinos were reported killed, but by 2014, it had risen to 1,215  equal to one murdered rhino every seven hours.

A helicopter takes off over a poached and mutilated white rhino in 2014. Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

It got to the point where the South African department responsible for publishing the data simply stopped providing it.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times

Rhino horn is more valuable than ivory, cocaine, or gold. It is nerveless and made of a substance called keratin, similar to a fingernail. As long as it is not fully removed from a rhino, it can grow up to 5 inches a year.

A sedated and blindfolded white rhino ready for its horn to be trimmed on John Humes farm in 2017. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Sources: Wall Street Journal, The Guardian

Some experts argue that, although the process is noisy and looks brutal, it's no more painful than clipping a nail, and there's no bleeding.

A farm worker holds a knife to trim the horn of a blindfolded white rhino on John Humes farm in 2016. Mujahid Safodie/AFP/Getty Images

Source: The Guardian

Demand for rhino horn is highest in Asia. In Vietnam, the horn is ground into a powder that's touted as a cancer medicine, but this has never been scientifically proven. In China, it's worn as a bracelet or made into cups to indicate wealth.

A woman grinds a rhino horn on a ceramic plate to get rhino horn powder at her home in Hanoi, Vietnam. STR/AFP/Getty Images

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Pulitzer Center

As his costs grew, Hume wanted to legalize the rhino horn trade again. He argued legalization would remove poachers from the market because private owners, like himself, could sell large volumes of horn harvested in a humane way.

John Hume, owner of the private rhino breeding farm in South Africa's Northwest Province, stands in front of a rhino painting in the office of his rhino breeding farm. Jurgen Batz/picture alliance via Getty Images

He reasoned that this in effect would squeeze the poachers out of the market.

Source: Wall Street Journal

His critics argued it helped that he had a whole lot of horn stockpiled. By 2012, he had about 2,000 pounds of rhino horn. By 2015, his stock of horn was reported to be worth more than $200 million.

Rhino horns were seen in the back of a truck after being weighed and measured on John Humes ranch in 2017. Leon Neal/Getty Images

At the time, 2.2 pounds of rhino horn could get more than $50,000 on the black market.

Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, Yale Environment 360

Conservationists also didn't agree with his view that legalizing horns would cause poaching to decrease. Some believed it would only make the issue worse by increasing demand.

Hong Kong Customs holds a press briefing on the seizure of 33 rhino horns in 2011. Dickson Lee/South China Morning Post/Getty Images

Margot Stewart, the leader of a nonprofit group called Wild and Free South Africa, wrote an open letter to Hume.

She said farming rhino horn was unethical as a whole, and there were only two groups who wanted it to happen  rhino farmers and organized crime groups.

Source: Wall Street Journal

But Hume didn't agree. "I am completely convinced that what I am doing is the only way to save the rhino from extinction," he told the Los Angeles Times.

Rangers and farm workers dehorn a rhino by trimming part of his horn at John Hume's Rhino Ranch. Mujahid Safodien/AFP/Getty Images

He said selling the horns was the only way his herd could survive as his costs continued to grow.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times

In 2013, Hume was part of a lawsuit that successfully overturned the domestic ban on the trade. But according to The Telegraph, it was too little, too late.

A man holds up the end of a white rhinos horn in 2017. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Overturning the ban meant the horns could be sold within South Africa, but by then, the local population wasn't interested.

Source: The Telegraph

By 2015, he was spending more than $2.4 million a year to protect his rhinos and another $1.7 million on food, veterinarian bills, and staff. Meanwhile, there was no money coming in.

Two armed guards at the ranch of rhino breeder John Hume on October 16, 2017. Leon Neal/Getty Images

He told the Los Angeles Times he continued the business out of "stupidity."

"You get into it and you get more and more passionate about it," Hume said. "You think that things are going to get better. And slowly you get so far into it, you can't get out."

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Telegraph

But he couldn't walk away. Between 2007 and 2017, poachers killed more than 7,100 rhinos. It had gotten so bad that animal welfare groups were forecasting that rhinos faced extinction within a decade.

A team of wildlife vets perform an operation to rescue a rhino in South Africa in 2016. Moeletsi Mabe/The Times/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Sources: The Telegraph, BBC, The Guardian

In 2017, he hosted South Africa's first online rhino auction, hoping to make some money by selling some of his stock of rhino horn. But, according to his lawyers, the auction ended less successfully than he had hoped.

Water is sprayed onto an area of the rhino as its horn is trimmed on John Humes ranch in 2017. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Source: The Guardian

Hume did find some success with his security. Between 2017 and 2019, his security system  a mixture of radar monitoring, helicopter patrols, armed guards, and security dogs  completely stopped poaching on his ranch.

An armed guard rides in the back of a truck at the ranch of rhino breeder John Hume. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, National Geographic

But things were getting desperate. By 2019, he'd spent his entire fortune on the ranch  $115 million euros ($143 million).

A white rhino stumbles as it begins to feel the effects of a tranquilizer dart before having its horn trimmed. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Sources: The Telegraph, Pulitzer Center

He wrote to a number of billionaires requesting funds for his ranch, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Prince Harry.

Prince Harry looks at a rhino carcass in South Africa in 2015. Paul Edwards/Getty Images

In the past, the South African government had received millions from the US and from private donors including Warren Buffet's son.

Sources: The Telegraph, Pulitzer Center

In the end, with no help coming, despite putting everything he had into it, he decided it was too expensive to continue running the ranch. He was 81 years old.

John Hume, a private rhino breeder, looks on during an interview with Reuters at his Buffalo Dream Ranch. Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Sources: Bloomberg, National Geographic

The auction is set for April 26. The starting bid is $10 million. He's hoping for bidders who would continue his mission, but time will tell who will ultimately take up the mantle.

A rhino is captured to have its horn trimmed on John Humes ranch in 2016. Mujahid Safodien/AFP/Getty Images

Sources: Bloomberg, National Geographic

Read the original article on Business Insider
This still image is presented during the press conference at the Firestone Community Center on Sunday, July 3, 2022 in Akron regarding the police shooting of Jayland Walker. The Akron Police Department has circled what they believe to be a flash of light from a discharged gun on the car that Jayland Walker is driving.

Jayland Walker, 25, was killed by Akron police following a car chase that began in the citys North Hill neighborhood and ended in Firestone Park June 27.

The incident has become the subject of protests, local legislation and an overall degradation between Akrons police and community members.

Jayland Walker's autopsy: Jayland Walker had 46 entrance wounds and died from 'devastating injuries,' examiner says

The Beacon Journal used multiple videos from the Akron Police Department and the Ohio Department of Transportation as well as audio from police radio traffic to determine the route and key points in the chase and fatal shooting of Jayland Walker. This interactive map created from these sources illustrates that long-debated pursuit.

Why do they run?: 'Fear is a real thing,' for Blacks when having to deal with police officers

While not shown on this map, officers encountered Jayland Walker's car twice on the night he was shot and killed by police, according to Akron FOP President Clay Cozart. The leader of Akron's police union said the same officers had first spotted Walker's car just minutes before the fateful chase near North Howard Street and Tallmadge Avenue and learned the car had been in a police pursuit the day before in New Franklin.

Note: For in-map videos, there is a slight lag between what is happening on screen and the audio.

Special grand jury: What to know about the special grand jury convening Jayland Walker's shooting

Beacon sues for transparency in Akron: Beacon Journal asks Ohio Supreme Court to order release of Akron police records

Contact Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com and on Twitter @TawneyBeans. Reach reporter Doug Livingston at dlivignston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Map depicts pursuit of Jayland Walker, shooting by Akron police
As concerns grow with the closure of Madera Countys only adult acute care hospital, a local lawmaker is making tweaks to a piece of legislation aimed at helping struggling hospitals ahead of the bills first hearing next week.

Various local stakeholders and leaders, such as UC Merceds chancellor, are also becoming interested in helping find ways to reopen the hospital, which closed its doors in January. Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, D-Fresno, plans to meet with the president of the University of California system in coming weeks to pitch the idea of a teaching hospital.

Meanwhile, Soria said she is making changes to the language in Assembly Bill 412, which she introduced in February, and is working with the governors office on the amendments.

The bill, Soria said, would establish a state emergency loan program for distressed hospitals either at the verge of closing or those with a plan to reopen. The tweaks will reflect that the loans would be forgivable if a viable plan demonstrates that a hospital can stay open for a certain amount of time. The specific criteria, she said, hasnt been established yet.

The loan would end up turning into a grant, she said.

What we intend to do is, we want to make sure these hospitals stay open, and that it doesnt become a burden that they have to figure out how to pay that loan off if it would make their situation worse, Soria told The Bee. We want to make sure that theres sustainability so if the hospital can demonstrate that they can stay open  we again dont have the criteria for how long  then the loan can be forgivable.

California State Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony on the campus of Delhi High School in Delhi, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023.

The bill was supposed to have its first hearing on March 28, then postponed to April 11 and now the hearing in the Assembly Health Committee will be pushed to April 18 to allow for the changes in the language to be completed.

Soria said an urgency clause has been included in the bill.

Theres still no specific timeline on how soon the program would become available. But the Madera hospital, for example, still stands to benefit from the program if the legislation were to pass, which Soria hopes would help entice a potential buyer to reopen the hospital.

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The state Legislature, Soria said, already allocated $5 million in its last budget cycle for the Madera hospital, which was already struggling financially. Money through the emergency loan program would provide additional funding.

That earmarked ($5 million) its still in the budget, but it cant be tapped into until there is a plan to reopen, she said. The goal is that by having these $5 million, and access to this new program that we are establishing, that it would help us incentivize an entity to essentially buy it (the Madera hospital) and have a plan to reopen.

Soria said shes working closely with Sen. Anna Caballero, who also represents Madera. Caballeros district also covers a portion of the central coast, where Soria said theres another hospital thats struggling financially.

Theres a lot of interest from the governors office, and weve been working very closely with their office over the last couple of weeks, she said. I feel very confident that we are going to be successful in creating this emergency loan program for hospitals in distressed situations.

Other efforts to revive Madera hospital; can it become a teaching hospital?

Soria said over the last couple of decades, there have been efforts to bring a medical school to the central San Joaquin Valley and housing it at UC Merced.

A teaching hospital, she said, would also be needed to help train the future doctors.

I said, What an incredible opportunity would it be... since we have this now-empty hospital, and we know its very expensive to build a hospital, that this hospital could potentially be that hub to teach the future doctors of UC Merced, she said.

Soria said several stakeholders have been supportive of the idea. She said she has already met with UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sanchez Munoz, and other people from UCSF, who recognize that this is an opportunity, but nothing has been developed as of now. Soria plans to meet with Michael V. Drake, the president of the University of California system, in coming weeks to pitch the idea.

We recognize that theres a doctor shortage in the Valley, and a need to really train those future doctors and we need it here in the Valley, she said. Thats the pitch that I would make, and so, we shall see. I have no indication whether thats something that they would support because I have yet to talk to them.

Sanchez Munoz seemed supportive of the idea.

While we look to continue to build our medical education program in partnership with UCSF and UCSF-Fresno, we are considering a wide array of options and decisions for the near and longer terms, he said in a statement to The Bee. We share the communitys deep concerns about the closure of Madera Community Hospital, and are of course willing to join with others in taking an active look at any effort to revive it.
Dozens of people in central Myanmar were killed in air strikes Tuesday, according to local media reports and a witness contacted by AFP, as the United Nations and Western powers condemned the attacks and demanded accountability.

The Southeast Asian country has been in chaos and its economy in tatters since the military seized power in February 2021 coup.

UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was "horrified" by the deadly air strikes whose victims he said included schoolchildren performing dances, with the global body calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.

The death toll from the early Tuesday morning strike on the remote Kanbalu township in Sagaing region is unclear.

At least 50 fatalities and dozens of injuries were reported by BBC Burmese, The Irrawaddy and Radio Free Asia.

The United Nations, while not confirming a toll, said several civilians were killed, with Turk accusing Myanmar's military of once again disregarding "clear legal obligations... to protect civilians in the conduct of hostilities".

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly condemns the attack by the Myanmar Armed Forces today," according to a statement by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres "reiterates his call for the military to end the campaign of violence against the Myanmar population throughout the country," the spokesman added.

Washington said it was "deeply concerned" about the air strikes.

"These violent attacks further underscore the regime's disregard for human life and its responsibility for the dire political and humanitarian crisis in Burma following the February 2021 coup," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said in a statement, using the country's former name.

"The United States calls on the Burma regime to cease the horrific violence, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and to respect the genuine and inclusive democratic aspirations of the people of Burma."

- 'Great pain' -

Sagaing region -- near the country's second-largest city, Mandalay -- has put up some of the fiercest resistance to the military's rule, with intense fighting raging there for months.

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Graphic video clips circulating on social media -- footage AFP has been unable to verify -- show bodies scattered among ruined homes.

"We are going to rescue you if we hear you screaming," one person could be heard saying in the video. "Please scream!"

A rescuer connected to an anti-coup People's Defence Force group told AFP that women and children were among the dead.

After recovering bodies and transporting victims for medical treatment, he estimated the death toll could be up to 100.

Germany's Foreign Office in a tweet said they "strongly condemn the #Myanmar army's airstrike killing dozens of civilians, incl. many children," adding: "we expect the regime to end the violence against its people immediately."

Before military aircraft strafed Pazi Gyi village, scores of locals had gathered to mark the opening of a local defence force office.

Myanmar's National Unity Government, a shadow body dominated by former lawmakers from ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, condemned the strike as a "heinous act".

"We... share the great pain felt by the families affected by this tragedy," it said in a statement.

The military, which accuses anti-coup fighters of being terrorists, has faced international condemnation for razing villages, mass killings and air strikes on civilians.

More than 30 people sheltering in a monastery were killed in Shan state in March.

Last year, a military air strike on a concert put on by the Kachin Independence Army in northern Kachin state killed around 50 people and wounded more than 70, the rebels said.

At a military parade last month, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing vowed to continue cracking down on opponents.

The military last month announced a six-month extension of a state of emergency and postponed elections it had promised to hold by August because it did not control enough of the country for a vote.

bur-lpm/mlm/dw
For over a century, spelunkers in eastern India reported seeing a cave-dwelling creature. The reports persisted, usually as passing mentions or brief observations of the unknown creature. No one studied it in depth  until now.

The intriguing reports led a team of scientists to venture inside Siju Cave to take a closer look, according to a study published March 31 in the Journal of Animal Diversity.

Siju Cave is a 2.5-mile-long limestone cavern with a massive, cliff-side entrance. Walking into the cave, spelunkers are met with a rather straight, high ceiling passageway with a sandy, meandering stream, the study said. Photos show this entranceway illuminated by a searchlight.

The passageway near the entrance of Siju Cave.

About 200 feet into the cave, researchers reached the twilight zone, an area with limited light. Photos show what this area looks like without any man-made illumination.

The twilight zone of the cave with its natural lighting.

After about 330 feet, darkness completely envelops the cave. This dark zone has consistent temperature and humidity all year long, researchers said. Continuing further into the pitch black, researchers entered a huge dome-shaped cavity where thousands of bats roost.

Here, the scientists discovered the cryptic creature they were searching for  but they didnt realize it at first, the study said.

Researchers collecting a specimen.

The team found two olive green frogs sitting in the darkness of the massive cavity and collected them as specimens, the study said. Another frog was found hiding in a crevice of the wall in the twilight zone.

Amolops siju, or the Siju cascade frog, sitting on the cavern floor.

Initially, researchers identified the frogs as belonging to a known species. However, when they looked closer, the superficial similarities gave way to other distinct features, the study said. A molecular analysis confirmed it.

The frogs found in the cavern were actually a new species of cascade-dwelling frog, researchers said. The species was named the Siju cascade frog, or Amolops siju, after the cavern where it was discovered.

The Siju cascade frog has dark brown markings, photos show. The frogs ranged in size from about 2.5 inches to about 3.7 inches, with females being larger than males, the study said.

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A close-up photo of the Siju cascade frog.

The frogs had no cave-specific physical adaptations, leading researchers to conclude the species can also live outside of caves. They theorized that the frogs were likely drawn to the cave for the warmth it provides.

Further research is needed to understand the geographic distribution of the Siju cascade frog and to determine the food web that allows it to live deep in the dark.

Siju Cave is located in the state of Meghalaya, near the India-Bangladesh border, and about 1,020 miles southeast of New Delhi.

Strange-looking bird didnt move for three days. Then PA rescuers got a surprise

Five new treefrog species  including a poo-colored one  discovered in New Guinea

Mysterious holes deep in the Bering Sea may finally have an explanation, study says
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Ukrainska Pravda finds Russian passports of over 20 Ukrainian priests of Moscow-affiliated church

At least 20 priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, an affiliate of the Russian Orthodox Church, have Russian passports, according to Ukrainska Pravda.

The information reportedly comes from Rospassport, a Russian state database.

According to it, Metropolitan of the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Onufriy, whose secular name is Orest Berezovsky, received a Russian passport on March 20, 2002, in Moscow, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

The following year, Onufriy allegedly obtained a Russian foreign passport. This appears to be the second Russian foreign passport of Onufriy, with the first one issued in 1998. This means he has had Russian citizenship since at least the late 1990s.

After the investigation aired, Onufriy put out a statement saying that he no longer has his Russian citizenship but provided no details on when he lost it.

In a 2015 interview, Onufriy called the Russian war in the Donbas a civilian war. He later publicly condemned Russias full-scale invasion in 2022.

Read more: SBU finds Russian passports, propaganda at premises of Moscow-affiliated church

Another priest who allegedly has a Russian passport is Bishop Hedeon, also known as Yuriy Kharon, the vicar of the Desyatinniy Monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is linked with Russia.

According to the extracts from Rospassport, Hedeon received a Russian passport in Moscow in 2019. The following year, he got two Russian foreign passports.

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Ukrainska Pravda also obtained a video showing a person resembling Hedeon participating in the Christmas service in Kazan, a city in southwest Russia, a year after Russia unleashed its all-out war against Ukraine.

Hedeons visit to Russia on Jan. 8, 2022, was confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda by sources in law enforcement. A Russian media outlet also reportedly mentions his participation in the service.

Oleh Ivanov, the former Metropolitan of Izium and Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, received a Russian passport in December 2022, according to documents obtained by Ukrainska Pravda.

The publication reported that Ivanov collaborated with Russian occupation authorities in Izium and fled to Russia after the Ukrainian army liberated the city.

The priests that Ukrainska Pravda was able to contact either denied having Russian passports or refused to comment.

Watch the full story in the Ukrainian language via the link.

Bihus.Info finds mansions, cars, and agribusiness allegedly belonging to Ukrainian Metropolitan supporting Russia's war

The abbot of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Pavlo Lebid, owns two luxury houses, a fleet of luxury vehicles and controls an agricultural business in Ukraine, according to investigative publication Bihus.info.



One house is in central Kyiv, while the other is in a village in Kyiv Oblast. The agricultural company does business in Kyiv and Chernihiv oblasts.

On April 1, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) charged Lebid with inciting inter-religious hatred and justifying Russia's armed aggression."

The abbot denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated.

After the SBU raided his residences, the court placed Lebid under house arrest in his mansion in the village of Voronkiv in Kyiv Oblast. Lebid called this house small, unsuitable for living, and claimed it has no electricity, heating, or mobile connection.

Bihus.Info challenged Lebids claims by finding this house. It turned out to be a two-story mansion of 580 square meters with a 170 square meter guest house, a gazebo, and a guardhouse. The security guard told the journalists that the building has electricity.

According to Bihus.Info, the house was put up for sale for $1.3 million in 2016. It was reportedly advertised as being furnished with Italian and English furniture and having Czech chandeliers, marble, and German parquet flooring.

Lebids house in the capital reportedly has an area of 506 square meters, a sauna, a swimming pool, and an elevator. Journalists estimated its worth at around $1 million, judging by the prices of other properties in the neighborhood.

Watch the Kyiv Independents new video podcast: Why Ukraine is finally kicking out Russian church

Bihus.Info also found that Lebid owns a complex of warehouses and cowsheds in the village of Voronkiv, where one of his houses is based. The land under this complex of buildings is owned by the village council. Lebid reportedly sub-rents it to a third person, Oleksandr Matviienko, an owner of an agricultural company called the MPL Agro. Journalists suspect Matviienko to be a nominal owner and believe that the acronym MPL in the companys name could stand for Metropolitan Pavlo Lebid.

The Mercedes-Benz that Lebid has recently driven is registered under the name of Matviienko, according to Bihus.Info.



Lebid has a collection of Mercedes cars and has shown loyalty to the brand throughout the years, earning the nickname Pasha Mercedes.

Watch the full investigation in the Ukrainian language via the link.

FT: UK firm has exported $1.2 billion of electronics to Russia despite sanctions

British firm Mykines Corporation has exported $1.2 billion worth of technical equipment to Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, $982 million of which is subject to export restrictions, the Financial Times reported.

The London-registered companys exports included high-end microchips, telecom equipment, and servers, which potentially violated sanctions on export.

The sale of such goods to Russia without the British government's consent may constitute a breach of sanctions, regardless of shipping routes, most of which went through China.

A U.K. government spokesman told the Financial Times that authorities were taking potential breaches "very seriously" but did not discuss the details of how they enforce sanctions in specific cases.

The Financial Times investigation found that the person listed as having significant control in the firm was Vitalii Poliakov, a 53-year-old Ukrainian.

Records obtained by the Financial Times show the company's exports to Russia suddenly took off after the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

The G7 member states reportedly discussed in February whether to sanction companies in China, Iran, and North Korea that are providing Russia with parts and technology that have military purposes, Bloomberg reported, citing its sources.

Russia continues to access foreign chips and technology through intermediaries like Iran or North Korea, according to the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, Thea Kendler.

China previously hit back at claims that some of its state-owned firms may be helping Russias war in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.

Read the full story in English via the link.

BBC exposes UK company for spreading Russian fake news in Middle East

A U.K.-registered media company called Yala News disseminates Russian state narratives in Arab-speaking countries, the BBCs Disinformation Team reported.

According to the publication, Yala News claims to offer impartial reporting, even though most of its content directly mirrors stories found on Russian state media. Moreover, the company reportedly operates out of Syria despite its U.K. registration.

The BBC monitored Yala News' most-viewed videos for a year, aided by disinformation specialists, and claimed that just about all these stories could be traced back to the Kremlin.

These include fake stories saying the Bucha massacre was staged, that President Volodymyr Zelensky was drunk in one of his video addresses to the nation, and that Ukrainian soldiers have been fleeing the front line. All of these claims reportedly originated in Russian state media and were then republished by Yala News.

The companys content started gaining traction shortly after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

When asked by the BBC about the pro-Kremlin videos, Yalas CEO, Ahmad Moemna, a Syrian businessman living in Dubai, said "Yala News content is not biased. Whether Syria or Russia or anything else, we respect impartiality."

He denied that his media business received funding from the Russian or Syrian governments.

On paper, Yala News is based in central London in a residential building shared with more than 65,000 other companies, only a fifth of which are active. In reality, it seems to operate from a Damascus suburb, the BBC team concluded by having geolocated a picture the team of Yala News shared on social media. A former employee confirmed to the BBC that the company is based in Syria.

We do not have employees in London yet, but we could in the near future," Moemna said.

Experts interviewed by the BBC said the U.K. registration could be a smokescreen Yala News uses to avoid being seen as a company operating from a sanctioned country.

Read the full story in English via the link.

Impact

______________________________________________

Ukrainian former top security official tried in Serbia on money laundering charges

The former head of the Main Department of Internal Security of Ukraines Security Service, Andriy Naumov, appeared in the High Court of the city of Nis, Serbia, on money laundering charges on April 6, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The court heard the parties and agreed to proceed with the case in May.

Naumov left Ukraine a few hours before Russia started its full-scale invasion in February last year.

In June, he resurfaced in Serbia, where he was arrested during his attempt to get to North Macedonia with 608,000 euros and $125,000 in cash as well as at least two valuable emeralds in his car. According to him, the assets belong to his family.

Soon, President Volodymyr Zelensky revoked his rank while the Security Service searched his residencies in the city of Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast.

In Ukraine, Naumov is under investigation by law enforcers. He is charged with treason, embezzlement, and fraud.

Journalists of Schemes, an investigative project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, found that the value of Naumovs real estate exceeds his official income, a sign of corruption.

Ukraine requested his extradition and is awaiting Serbias decision.
Anthony Michael Lopez, the man prosecutors say is responsible for killing two people in a hit-and-run crash in February, did not show up for his bail hearing on Monday. Prosecutors believe that he has left the country.

We have information now that Mr. Lopez has fled the country and is believed to be in Mexico, a prosecutor from the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office said to a judge.

Lopez faces two counts of vehicular homicide, one count of vehicular assault and felony hit-and-run for the Feb. 26 incident.

Officials say it happened around 3:00 a.m. on Feb. 26, when two cars collided on southbound Interstate 5 near Southwest Spokane Street. Moments later, officials said that Lopez, who was driving a Jeep, slammed into the disabled vehicles, killing the driver and passenger in one car and seriously injuring the other driver.

Investigators say Lopez did not stop and kept driving. He was never arrested, and police are actively looking for him. Prosecutors asked the judge to increase his bail from $250,000 to $1,000,050. The judge agreed.

The federal marshals are wanting to look for him, but we need a substantial increase in bail. I am asking for $100,000,050, the prosecutor said.

This isnt the first time Lopez has faced charges like this. According to court documents, Lopez was driving in Issaquah in 2017 when he hit and killed Keven Lozoya and drove away from the scene.

Mr. Lopez is someone who, although he is a young person, in 2017 he veered into a teenager and killed a teenager and fled the scene and has been convicted in juvenile court for vehicular homicide, the prosecutor said.
Chinese scientists have denied accusations that China deliberately withheld key information regarding the origins of COVID-19, and said the latest published study suggested that humans may have introduced the virus to the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, Hubei province.

On Wednesday, the journal Nature published the eagerly awaited genetic analysis of swabs collected at the market from January to March 2020.The study contained over 1,300 samples from the environment and animals sold at the market, where the first COVID-19 cases were reported in China.

The data from the paper has been the subject of intense scientific debate since researchers from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention released an early non-peer-reviewed version of the study in February last year.

Last month, researchers from the center uploaded more genetic sequence data from the market to a large international database, the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data. A team of international scientists who examined the new data said they found that raccoon dogs had deposited genetic material where the virus was found.

The team hypothesized that the raccoon dogs may have been an intermediate host of the virus, and an animal-to-human spillover event took place at the market.

However, Tong Yigang, dean of the College of Life Science and Technology at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, said at a media briefing on Saturday that there is not enough evidence to support raccoon dogs as a source of the virus.

This was because none of the 457 animal swab samples, including raccoon dogs, had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, meaning no animals at the market were infected, he said.

The raccoon dog's genetic materials were discovered in environment swabs, which had 73 of 923 samples test positive. However, further analysis revealed that the viral genetic sequences isolated from the environmental samples were almost identical to those collected from early patients, Tong said.

"These findings suggest that the early COVID-19 cases from the market may have received the virus from other humans rather than animals sold at the market," Tong said, adding it is possible that humans had introduced the virus to the market and polluted the environment.

Given the issue's complexity, the study concluded that there is no definitive proof that the COVID-19 virus originated from an animal-to-human spillover event at the market.

Tracing the origins of COVID-19 recently become a highly contentious topic. In February, the United States Department of Energy changed its view about the likely origins of COVID-19 from "undecided" to suspecting a "lab leak "was behind the pandemic.

Last month, the US Senate passed a bill requiring the declassification of information related to COVID-19 origins. The bill, which prompted strong protests from China, stated the reason for the disclosure was US politicians' belief that the virus had leaked from a Chinese lab.

While there is no concrete scientific evidence for the exact origins of COVID-19, Tong said that based on the joint investigation by China and the World Health Organization in 2021, it is "extremely unlikely" that the virus had emerged from a lab leak.

Shen Hongbing, director of the China CDC, said that China has maintained a scientific attitude regarding origins-tracing of COVID-19, and has proactively communicated and collaborated with WHO. However, some WHO officials had recently accused China of withholding key information regarding the origins of COVID-19, and thus denied the validity of the conclusions reached in the joint study, he said.

"These words completely go against the scientific spirit, and they are disrespectful to the scientists from around the world who participated in the early origins-tracing effort," he said. "This is a manifestation of the politicization of COVID-19 origins-tracing. The Chinese scientific community will not stand for this, and the international scientific community will not accept this."

Shen said the Chinese scientific community hopes to enhance dialogue, cooperation and information sharing on origins-tracing with scientists from other countries. He also urged WHO personnel not to be used as political tools by a particular country.

Zhou Lei, a China CDC researcher and one of the participants in the joint study, said she was surprised by the claims of some WHO staff members, as China had shared all the data available at the time with the joint expert committee, including clinical information from over 76,000 early and suspected COVID-19 cases.

Chinese researchers also shared over 38,000 samples from domestic animals and 41,000 samples from wild animals collected in China from 2018 to 2020, none of which had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, she said.

As for blood tests of Wuhan residents, Zhou said that Chinese researchers had tested 43,850 blood samples that were collected before December 2019 and found no antibodies for COVID-19, meaning there were no prior cases. These results have been published and shared with the world.

Moreover, the joint expert team visited various labs in Wuhan to conduct in-depth interviews with lab personnel and students, and even investigated their health and clinical records, Zhou said.

"We have sufficiently shared our research results and data without any omission or reservation," Zhou said. "The joint expert team has recognized our efforts."

Zhou said that finding the origin of a virus is a challenging and arduous task, citing how scientists have yet to find the source of the Ebola virus even after over 40 years of research.

"Many origins-tracing research has shown that the location where the epidemic first began doesn't necessarily equal the place of the pandemic's origin," she said, adding that it is necessary to expand the scope of COVID-19 origins-tracing to other countries and regions.

"We need the global scientific community to work together objectively and scientifically," she added.
(Bloomberg) -- Israels Passover holiday week has been a deadly one filled with rocket barrages, enemy drones, drive-by shootings and a car-ramming, prompting a deeply divided society to agree on one thing: its enemies smell blood.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A surprising number of security experts, including some who served under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the past, say hes to blame for the surge in violence  a direct result of his plans to overhaul the judiciary. The proposal, which would curb the power of the courts, has provoked mass protests and threats from elite reservists to rethink their volunteer service.

Israels foes are rubbing their eyes in disbelief and wondering if the country has decided to die by suicide, wrote retired Major General Amos Gilad, who headed the Defense Ministrys influential political-military affairs bureau for more than a dozen years, eight of them under Netanyahu.

Gilads comments follow a period of sustained air strikes between Israel and militant groups inside Syria, Lebanon and Palestinian territories. The fighting has also intensified a shadow war Israel is waging with arch-foe Iran, which has established a military and security presence in Syria to defend President Bashar Al-Assad and supports groups opposed to the existence of Israel.

Even though Israel is at the height of its military, diplomatic, economic and strategic power, the perception of its power has diminished since the governments announcement of the regime change, Gilad said, using a derogatory term used by those who consider the judicial plan a power grab.

General Eliezer Shkedi, who headed the air force for four years, called the fracturing of Israeli society more dangerous to us than any external threat, and urged a halt to the judicial legislation. Never, even in the direst situations, have I felt that our existence was under threat as I do now, he told Yediot Ahronot newspaper.

Story continues

On Monday night, Netanyahu pushed back, saying the fault lay with the previous government, and hes coming to the rescue.

Our country is under a terrorist assault, he said at a press conference. But it did not start now.

Inviting Fire

Netanyahu accused opposition leader Yair Lapid of inviting enemy fire when warning of national collapse due to the judicial overhaul.

Our enemies see this, they hear this, he said. They believe they can take us on, with combined terror from Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. But now its our watch, its our responsibility. Its my responsibility.

Netanyahu said the country would begin to notice an improvement soon. He also officially reinstated Defense Minister Yoav Gallant two weeks after firing him for urging a pause in the judicial legislation.

Netanyahu maintains that the courts system must be revamped because the judiciary has grown too powerful. He stopped the legislation so the sides can hold negotiations on a compromise. Most are skeptical that the talks will succeed, and Netanyahu repeated last night that a version of the overhaul will pass.

Read More: Israels Court Plan Is in Trouble as Pressure Rises on Netanyahu

The proposed revamp has provoked strong opposition, with objections coming from President Isaac Herzog, Nobel-winning economists, present and former Israeli central bankers and the powerful tech industry. Last week, Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron warned that in a worst-case scenario, the plan could cut economic growth by as much as 2.8% annually for three years.

Reservists, including pilots and members of elite intelligence and combat units, say the plan would undermine Israeli democracy, gut the judiciary and expose them to international charges for war crimes. Some threatened to skip training or service, though there were no reports of refusal during the latest outbreak of violence.

Our enemies maybe see an opportunity because of what is happening inside Israel, but they understand completely that Israels capability is not to be messed with, said the militarys chief spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

Israels forces hit both in Gaza and Lebanon simultaneously, he said, and many of the pilots involved were reservists, proof they are willing to step up regardless of political divisions.

Lieutenant Colonel Elad Cinamon, who commands the air defense battalion that operates the Iron Dome anti-rocket system in Israels south, said in an interview that none of his forces skipped training, and when the call-up went out after recent rocket attacks, some who hadnt been called showed up.

Why Israel Is Bitterly Split by a Judiciary Overhaul: QuickTake

Still, words of alarm over security continue to ring out. Retired Major General Tamir Hayman, a former field commander and recently chief of military intelligence, said in an interview with the Zman Yisrael website that after Gallant was fired, he lost faith in Netanyahu.

I do not trust the security judgment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hayman, who now runs a security affairs think tank in Tel Aviv, was quoted as saying.

The damage the plan has inflicted on Israels internal cohesion, economy and ties with the U.S. may be irreversible, he added.

Two possibilities come to mind: first, Netanyahu is no longer rational, and then that explains everything, he said. Second, Netanyahu has something so important to advance that he is prepared to swallow everything  including political embarrassment, internal instability, economic crisis, and the deterioration of the security situation. When I look at the judicial revolution, it doesnt justify the costs.

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Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinian militants Tuesday in the West Bank, on a day mourners laid to rest a British-Israeli woman who died in an attack that also killed her two daughters.

Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged over the last week, with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Jewish Passover and Christian Easter coinciding.

"I commend the actions of the soldiers who eliminated two terrorists who opened fire on them near Elon Moreh", a Jewish settlement close to the West Bank city of Nablus, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Twitter.

He added the troops had "prevented an attack on Israeli civilians".

In a statement, the Israeli army said "armed assailants fired shots from a vehicle at the Elon Moreh post". Soldiers returned fire "toward the vehicle and neutralised two armed assailants."

The army said it seized two M-16 rifles and a handgun.

The Palestinian ministry of health named the two men as Saud Abdullah Saud Titi and Mohammad Abu Dhiraa.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade -- the armed wing of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement -- claimed the two men as members.

They were from the nearby Balata refugee camp, a statement from Fatah said.

An AFP photographer saw Israeli soldiers place a body into an ambulance at the site, as other troops inspected a white car riddled by bullets.

- 'Appalling attack' -

The incident came as thousands of mourners gathered Tuesday at an Israeli settlement in the West Bank for the funeral of a British-Israeli woman killed in a shooting attack days earlier.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. Hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers live there in Israeli-approved settlements considered illegal under international law.

Israelis holding national flags lined the roads in the rain leading to the funeral for Lucy Dee in Kfar Etzion.

The 48-year-old, also known by her Hebrew name Leah, died Monday from wounds sustained three days earlier when her car came under fire in the Jordan Valley.

Story continues

Two of her children, sisters aged 16 and 20, were shot dead in the attack and buried on Sunday.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a statement, labelled the killings "abhorrent" and added "the UK condemns this appalling attack on civilians".

He said Britain urged "all sides to de-escalate tensions in Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories, and end the deadly cycle of violence."

- Ban at Al-Aqsa -

The government also said it would ban Jewish visitors from entering Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa compound, starting Wednesday until the end of Ramadan.

Home to the Al-Aqsa mosque, the site is sacred in both Judaism and Islam, and is the focal point for Ramadan celebrations.

Jews, who know the site as the Temple Mount, are allowed to visit the site but not pray there.

The move follows a promise by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to restore security "on all fronts".

The latest surge in unrest began last Wednesday with an Israeli police raid on Al-Aqsa mosque, followed by rocket fire from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, and a car-ramming in Tel Aviv that killed an Italian tourist.

The body of Alessandro Parini arrived back in Rome on Tuesday, after the 36-year-old was killed when a car ploughed into pedestrians on the city's seafront Friday evening.

On Monday, Palestinian mourners had gathered near Jericho city for the funeral of a 15-year-old boy, Mohammed Fayez Balhan, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during a raid in the Jordan Valley.

The army said it was working to apprehend "a terror suspect," and one person was detained during the operation.

The conflict has this year claimed the lives of at least 96 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.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War.

alv-he-rox/it
The United States and Israel are close allies, but their alliance has had ups and downs over the years. iStock/Getty Images Plus

President Joe Biden startled many Americans and Israelis when he recently asked the Jewish states new far-right government to make its controversial attempts to reform the judicial system disappear like leavened products before Passover.

Bidens unexpected request came in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus proposal to weaken the ability of Israels Supreme Court to review or toss out laws. The country has no written constitution, so some observers think this could throw its checks and balances into disarray.

Netanyahus plan would also stop the court from overruling the governments legislative and executive branches and allow politicians to appoint judges.

Viewing these efforts as attacks on democracy, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have clogged urban arteries in unceasing, unprecedented protests.

Appearing to side with the protesters, Biden said at the end of March 2023 that the Israeli government cannot continue down this road.

So disorientating were Bidens remarks that, within 24 hours, they propelled the administration into damage control. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby lauded Netanyahu for holding meetings with other politicians in a futile attempt to reach a compromise.

The reforms Netanyahu proposed, along with dozens of other reactionary proposals, threaten to weaken what many observers consider to be the Middle Easts sole democracy.

Still, in the 21st century, an American president has rarely pointed his finger so directly at Israel, one of the United States top allies. Bidens break from etiquette has prompted Democrats and Republicans alike to wonder: Do the proposed reforms represent a grave risk to American and Israeli relations?

The answer, based on my research into the history of U.S.-Israel relations, is that its complicated.

Protesters take part in ongoing demonstrations against proposed judicial reforms in Tel Aviv on April 8, 2023. Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP via Getty Images

Eight sides to this story

On the surface, Israels shift to a de facto autocracy would  and some say, should  undermine Israels U.S. relations.

Story continues

A perception exists in both countries that, to a large extent, the U.S. and Israels alliance stems from and is sustained by their shared democratic values.

But the U.S. has several allies that are not democratic, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Honduras. Israel was always a democracy, yet it took America nearly two decades after the countrys founding to warm up to Israels democratic values.

The narrative of democracy uniting Israel with the U.S. tells only one part of a larger story that dates back to the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan, which paved the way for the creation of the Jewish state.

A complex relationship

The U.S. and Israel have had tumultuous relations from the start.

U.S. representatives voted for the U.N.s Partition Plan on Nov. 29, 1947. This called for splitting Palestine between the Arabs and Jews. But the U.S. quickly reversed course and proposed replacing the U.N. plan with an international trusteeship, which would have prevented Israels creation.

The U.S. also declared an arms embargo on the Middle East on Dec. 5, 1947. As I showed in my PBS documentary A Wing and a Prayer, the embargo spared the Arabs, who received military supplies and training from the United Kingdom and France. But the embargo stifled the Jews, who lacked weapons and allies.

Only in the Cold Wars second decade did Washington start thawing its relations with Jerusalem. This began in 1962, when President John F. Kennedy sold Israel defensive missiles.

During the 1956 Suez Crisis  when Israel joined the U.K. and France in fighting Egypt  Washington sided with Cairo, which had just switched from a monarchy to a political dictatorship.

Succumbing to American pressure, Israel received nothing in March 1957 when it gave up the Sinai Peninsula, which it had conquered a few months earlier during the Suez Crisis.

Benefiting from much better U.S. relations two decades later, Israel secured a game-changing peace agreement with Egypt for the same piece of land, which by then it had retaken during the 1967 Six-Day War.

Where they diverge

Despite their similarities, the U.S. and Israel differ on several fundamental fronts. For instance, until the 1980s, the Jewish states economy looked nothing like Americas. It resembled communist Russias, with enough governmental controls to pacify Karl Marx.

Even today, decades after the Reagan administration compelled Israel to institute free-market changes, the Jewish state offers such socialist programs such as nationalized health care.

Although the two countries share interests, their priorities sometimes diverge and even clash.

For example, it has long been in Washingtons interest to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through the implementation of the two-state solution. Among other benefits, it would win the U.S. favor with such key allies as Saudi Arabia, which supports Palestinian peoples right to statehood.

Yet the lack of progress on the Palestinian issue has had no effect on Americas financial support for Israel: Every year the U.S. gives Israel US$3.3 billion and an additional $500 million as part of a defensive missile development collaboration.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands in Jerusalem in 2016. Debbie Hill/AFP via Getty Images

Maintaining ties

So, what keeps the U.S. and Israel so close?

According to Dennis Ross, a Washington Institute for Near East Policy distinguished fellow who served as special assistant to President Obama, the alliance comes down to strategic cooperation, which started under President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

As part of this partnership, the U.S. and Israel help each other achieve geopolitical goals in the Middle East and beyond. They assist each other in maintaining security at home and abroad, share intelligence, conduct military exercises and collaborate on technological pursuits.

Every administration after that, even if the president doesnt have the warmest relations with the Israelis  its true for George H.W. Bush, its true for Barack Obama  nonetheless they build on that basic foundation, Ross said during an interview for Israel Survived an Early Challenge, a documentary short I co-produced with Retro Report.

Growth over time

The two countries strategic partnership has only grown through the decades.

The U.S. counts on Israel now more than ever for military, intelligence and diplomatic cooperation. With Russia digging its claws into Ukraine and China flashing its sharp teeth at Taiwan, America must have a reliable, capable ally in the Middle East. So the U.S has no choice but to maintain close ties with Israel.

Strategically speaking, the Jewish state has it all: second-to-none military intelligence, Hollywood-worthy espionage, sci-fi-like technology and advanced, seasoned armed forces.

For the U.S., such a partnership has proved priceless, and its value only keeps going up.

Washingtons latest geopolitical gaffe  Pentagon memos leaked over the holiday weekend showing the U.S. has been spying on allies such as South Korea, France and Israel  only accentuates the vitality and durability of its relations with the Jewish state.

Americans and Israelis know their relations are strong enough to easily withstand the leaked memos crisis. After all, they survived the 1980s Jonathan Pollard affair, during which the U.S. Navy Intelligence employee gave the Jewish state classified documents, some of which reportedly fell into Soviet hands. So, while the U.S. will certainly go to great lengths to preserve Israels democratic nature, it is unlikely to walk away from this strategic partnership.

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: Boaz Dvir, Penn State.

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Boaz Dvir does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A patrol boat of the Italian Coast Guard SOPA Images / Contributor/ Getty Images

The Italian Coast Guard has begun escorting two ships holding 1,200 migrants stranded in the Mediterranean Sea to Italy, two major operations "in a region that has seen migrant arrivals spike in the past year," CNN says.

"Due to the prohibitive sea conditions, the Peluso ship, the Diciotti ship and the Coast Guard patrol boats are escorting the two units, in difficulty since yesterday, with migrants on board," the Coast Guard said on Twitter. "The ships, carrying 400 and 800 migrants, got into trouble in rough seas on Monday."

The boats were traveling along the route between Italy and Malta, "that NGOs have warned is perilously dangerous," CNN adds. The latter ship, traveling from Tobruk, Libya, had run out of fuel and was at risk of capsizing, per Alarm Phone, an independent migrant helpline. There are also people on board in need of medical assistance.

There has been a steep uptick of migrant arrivals in Italy compared to a year ago, BBC News said, "despite efforts by the right-wing coalition government to clamp down on irregular migration." Italy's Interior Ministry reported over 28,000 migrants have arrived in the country so far this year, "a significant surge compared to recent years," CNN summarized. The number of migrants seeking refuge in Italy is the highest in the country since 2017, per data recorded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The coast guard is escorting the boats en route to Italy because it is "safer" than trying to rescue the people on board amid inclement weather, Felix Weiss, a spokesperson for Sea-Watch International, a German organization that runs search and rescue operations, told CNN. Yesterday the organization tweeted that the Maltese Government ordered two nearby merchant vessels not to help with rescue efforts. "Instead," BBC reported, "one of the ships had been allowed to supply it with fuel and water."

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Migrants are helped disembark from the Diciotti Italian Coast Guard ship in Reggio Calabria, southern Italy, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The Diciotti ship transferred almost 600 recently rescued migrants to Reggio Calabria from an overcrowded migrants center on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, to be redistributed all over Italy. | Valeria Ferraro, Associated Press

Italys Coast Guard has rescued hundreds of people from turbulent seas who were attempting to migrate to the country.

Italian authorities reported that since Friday, they had rescued about 2,000 people from boats that had found themselves in distress, per The New York Times.

Where are the migrants fleeing?

Many of the people were fleeing war or poverty in their home countries in Africa  willing to attempt crossing the treacherous Mediterranean Sea to escape.

A large majority of the people came from Ivory Coast, Guinea, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Pakistan, per CNN.

At least two people have died, while 20 are still missing from a boat that sank on Saturday, per BBC.

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, a German aid group, told NPR.

How is Italy responding to the migration?

The rescues come at a time when the Italian government and other European countries are trying to figure out how to deal with the high influx of people migrating to the countries.

According to the Times, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has promised to enact a naval blockade against migrant boats and has tried to force charity-run ships rescuing migrants to return to an Italian port after each mission, limiting the number of migrants they can help.

The situation is completely chaotic, Felix Weiss, a spokesman for Sea-Watch international, told the Times.

CNN reported that more than 28,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year  marking a significant surge compared to recent years.

Since 2014, more than 26,000 people have died or gone missing traveling in the central Mediterranean Sea, according to monitoring group IOM Missing Migrants Project.
Jen Psaki, the former Biden White House press secretary who landed a hosting gig with MSNBC in 2022, now considers herself a journalist in league with mainstream and legacy media outlets.

Asked by Ben Smith, editor in chief of Semafor, whether the former spox identified as a member of the fifth estate, Psaki answered emphatically.

I do. Because how do you define being a journalist? Psaki countered. Heres how I think about it. I mean, first of all, journalism has changed dramatically. Semafor is an example of that, Psaki said during an interview at the media summit hosted by the news startup on Monday.

And even when I was in the White House, working in government, it really was already all on a spectrum. It wasnt just the New York Times, Washington Post, ABC News, and then everything else wasnt considered part of journalism, its all a big, broad, scope of things, Psaki elaborated with outstretched arms.

And so to me, journalism is providing information to the public, helping make things clearer, explaining things, the former Press Secretary added. So I think there is a broad expansion of what that is.

.@semaforben asks @jrpsaki if she considers herself a journalist: I do  To me, journalism is providing information to the public, helping make things clear, explaining things, having conversations with people that people want to learn more about. pic.twitter.com/C8hL6666GZ  Semafor (@semafor) April 10, 2023

Psaki was hired by MSNBC in May 2022 to provide her unique perspective from behind the podium and her deep experience in the highest levels of government and presidential politics, the network noted in an official release last year.

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MSNBC President Rashida Jones said much the same in a statement calling Psakis extensive experience in government and on the campaign trail and perspective as a White House and Washington insider is the type of analysis that sets MSNBC apart.

Thrilled to join the incredible @MSNBC family this fall. Breaking down the facts and getting to the bottom of whats driving the issues that matter most to people in this country has never been more important.  Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) May 24, 2022

Her departure for a sympathetic Democratic media network led many to question whether the job was a prime example of the revolving political door between Washington D.C.s political and media classes. Many within the news network privately anonymously shared their frustrations over the appearance of impropriety following Psakis hiring.

People wanted answers on what NBCs role was in this and NBC News had no role in this. This is MSNBCs perspective programming, one source told CNN.

However, Psaki remains unperturbed by the optics. I have always gone over and above the stringent ethical and legal requirements of the Biden administration and I take that very seriously, Psaki responded to critics.

And as a standard for every employee of the White House, I have received rigorous ethics counseling, including as it relates to any future employment, she added.

If you worry about crime and want law enforcement to be fully funded and supportedthe only place you should be directing your outrage for not doing more is MAGA Republicans, and their now-indicted leader.@jrpsaki on GOP's claim of being the party of law & order pic.twitter.com/CFO5ruShjH  Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) April 9, 2023

Psaki served as President Bidens first press secretary before stepping down barely over a year into her appointment for the MSNBC hosting job.

More from National Review
Jennifer Garner has revealed that her children arent on social media and that her eldest daughter is grateful for it.

The 50-year-old actor opened up about her children with ex Ben Affleck -- Violet, 17, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 11 -- during a recent appearance on Today to discuss her new Apple TV+ Show, The Last Thing He Told Me. Speaking to hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, Garner explained how shes kept her three teenagers off social media.

I just said to my kids, Show me the articles that prove that social media is good for teenagers, and then well have the conversation, she said. Find scientific evidence that matches what I have that says that its not good for teenagers, then well chat.

When asked how her children feel about not being on social media, Garner responded: My eldest is grateful.

She noted that since Seraphina and Samuel are also still in their teens, their perspectives on the topic could change over time.

Its a long haul, the 13 Going on 30 star added. I have a couple more to go, so just knock on wood. Well see if I really hang in there.

Over the years, many studies have examined how social media can impact children. Earlier this year, JAMA Pediatrics found that adolescents brains may become more sensitive when anticipating social rewards and punishments over time with frequent and increased social media usage.

The findings suggest that children who grow up checking social media more often are becoming hypersensitive to feedback from their peers, study co-author Eva Telzer from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill said in a statement.

Last month, Utah also became the first state in the country to ban children from social media unless they have parental consent. The bills that Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed into law prohibits children under 18 from using social media between the hours of 10.30pm and 6.30am. The law also requires age verification for anyone who wants to use social media in the state.

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Garner previously shared her thoughts about her children being on the internet during an interview with Fox News in 2018.

My kids dont have any social media yet, and I am terrified, she said at the time. I think it puts so, so much pressure on kids at an age when theyre really vulnerable anyway. You know, if anyone has any clues, let me know. I am probably overprotective.

Earlier this week, Garner confessed that she tries to avoid the online press herself, specifically when she sees articles that are about her ex-husband.

I really work hard not to see either of us in the press, the Alias star told Stellar Magazine about Affleck. It doesnt make me feel good, even if its something nice about one of us.

She added: I just try to forget that Im out there in any way, and the same with anyone I love. I dont need to see anyone in my family made into a meme.
Jennifer Wexton was first elected in 2018

A US congresswoman has revealed she has Parkinson's disease, but has no plans to retire, a rare move for a serving politician diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder.

Jennifer Wexton, 54, a Virginia Democrat, announced her condition in a video, saying: "I hope to keep serving you for many years to come."

Between 500,000 and a million Americans live with Parkinson's disease.

More than 10 million people worldwide have the condition.

In her two-and-a-half minute video, Ms Wexton explained her symptoms.

"Over the past few months, it has primarily affected my speech and how my mouth moves," she said. "You may notice I speak more quickly now."

It has also affected her gait and balance, she said.

"What Parkinson's is not, is an untreatable disease, cognitive impairment, or a death sentence," Ms Wexton said. "So please, You're welcome to empathise, but don't feel sorry for me."

She said she continued to carry out the duties of her office "all just like normal".

She will continue to seek re-election in 2024, her spokesperson, Justin McCartney, confirmed.

Ms Wexton, a former prosecutor, won her first term to represent her northern Virginia district in 2018. She was part of a wave of Democratic congresswomen elected in response to Donald Trump's presidency.

The congresswoman "first saw a neurologist in mid-2021, who identified her symptoms as likely Parkinson's," Mr McCartney, the spokesperson, told the BBC in an email. "Between then and the end of 2022, she then went through over a year of treatments and tests to rule out other conditions which could be causing the symptoms she was facingwhich is common diagnosis process for properly treating [Parkinson's disease]."

Parkinson's disease attacks the central nervous system. It affects a patient's motor function, speech, balance, movement and reflexes. Currently there is no cure.

It is the most common neurodegenerative condition in the US after Alzheimer's disease.

Only a handful of sitting lawmakers have ever revealed Parkinson's diagnoses. Some, like former Arizona's Mo Udall, served in Congress for many years with the condition.

Story continues

Others, like former New York congressman Jose Serrano, chose to not seek re-election because of complications from the disease.

Colleagues on both sides of the aisle tweeted their support for Ms Wexton.

Young Kim, a California Republican, thanked her for "using your platform to spread awareness", while Madeleine Dean, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said: "I'm with you in this fight."

Ms Wexton is not the first congressional Democrat to share personal news about their health this year.

In February, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania checked into hospital due to clinical depression.

Representative Jamie Raskin, of Maryland, is currently undergoing treatment for lymphoma. Both continue to hold office.

You also be interested in:
Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) in Marvels Captain America: Civil War. Renners family has played a significant part in his recovery from a life-threatening snowplow accident. | Marvel

Jeremy Renners recovery from a life-threatening snowplow accident in January is ongoing  including hours of physical therapy. But that isnt stopping the actor from creating fun memories with his family.

Related

Jeremy Renner visits Six Flags with family

Renner recently shared on Instagram that he took a trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, with some of his family.

Good Friday, made magic on the mountain with some of my amazing family! Renner wrote in the post shared on April 7, a little over three months since getting run over by a 7-ton snowplow near his home in Reno, Nevada. In the photo with his family, Renner can be seen leaning against a pole and holding onto a cane. A motorized scooter sits to the side.

In an Instagram story, Renner also showed himself sitting on the scooter, and captioned the photo, Leading the way best I can, Variety reported.

The Hawkeye actors family has played a major role in his recovery from an accident that landed him a two-week stay in the hospital with more than 30 broken bones. A few days after the accident, Renner shared a video from his hospital bed that showed his mother and sister giving him a scalp massage, the Deseret News previously reported.

Related

Renners friend, Rory Millikin  who is the executive producer of his new Disney+ showRennervations  told People that Renners home has been overflowing with family.

His moms here constantly, Millikin said. I mean, his mom moved in to take care, just like moms do. Mothers play such an incredible role of support. You should see this house  its just overflowing with nieces, nephews and cousins and siblings all the time. Its like a wonderful big family compound and everyone has played a huge role.

In a recent televised interview with Diane Sawyer, Renner shared how his family has been by his side through it all. He recalled how his mom read Stephen King to him in the hospital  something that still makes him laugh.

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It happened to be what I was reading at the time, his mother said matter-of-factly during the interview, per Deseret News. I just wanted him to hear my voice.

As Renner continues his recovery, he said he is focusing on transforming his suffering into strength  he doesnt want the memory to become a trauma that haunts him.

Do you look in the mirror and do you see the same face? Sawyer asked Renner at one point.

No, Renner responded. I see a lucky man.

Jeremy Renners Rennervations premieres soon on Disney+

Renner plans to attend the premiere of Rennervations in person on April 11, the Deseret News previously reported.

Related

The show, a four-part docuseries, features Renner and expert builders traveling around the world to repurpose decommissioned government vehicles for communities in need  a longtime passion of Renners.

This is one of my biggest passions and its a driving force in my recovery, Renner previously said in a statement, according to CNN. I cant wait for the world to see it.

All four episodes will hit Disney+ on April 12.
Jeremy Renner could count on his Avengers co-star Paul Rudd for some laughs as he was recovering from his near-death snowplow accident.

On Jimmy Kimmel Live Monday, Renner said Rudd visited him in the hospital a couple of times, and was always making my day because hes one of the funniest guys around.

Case in point: Renner shared a video that Rudd sent him. It was made to resemble a message from the Cameo app, which allows people to purchase personalized video messages from celebrities.

He made a fake one like I paid him money for a Cameo, Renner recalled.

Hey Jerry, Rudd begins the clip. I hear youre a little banged up. Got in a fight with a snowblower apparently? Anyway, I just wanted to send this video. Its really from the heart and hope youre feeling better. Sounds like you are  apparently youre a pretty tough guy. Maybe Ill get to meet you someday.

Renner was severely injured on Jan. 1 while plowing snow near his property in Reno, Nevada. He was run over by the tracked machine, which weighs more than 14,000 pounds. He broke more than 30 bones and punctured a lung.

Watch below on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Related...
 Flash

The United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD) on Monday began examining the various threats to the achievement of the global educational goal, stressing the importance of quality and inclusive education for women and girls.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned that the goal of achieving quality education for all by 2030 is "seriously off track," with 263 million children and young people out of school.

Mohammed made the statement at the latest CPD session, held at the UN headquarters in New York, where the issue is under scrutiny this week.

The current session, its 56th, will conclude on Friday.

Mohammed highlighted the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, who have been banned from high school and university, calling it "one of the gravest educational challenges of our time."

Mohammed stressed the need "to transform the education system" to equip current and future generations with the skills they need to thrive in a fast-changing world.

She also called for initiatives to make all learners "climate-ready" and connected to the internet and digital innovation, especially for girls and women from the Global South who are the most excluded.

The importance of inclusive education for women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics was also emphasized by Mohammed and Natalia Kanem, executive director of the UN Population Fund.

They noted that education is a "door opener" and "life changer" for vulnerable women and girls, reducing the risk of harmful practices and increasing health, income, and participation in the formal labor market.

Kanem highlighted the significance of safeguarding education for everyone, including comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), which equips young people with information and skills to develop healthy and positive relationships. CSE empowers girls to avoid unintended pregnancies and encourages both genders to stay in school, among other benefits.

She emphasized that providing people with knowledge and power to manage their own reproductive rights and choices leads to improved development outcomes.

A pre-recorded message from UN Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) head Li Junhua outlined how population dynamics affect education, citing millions not in school and low math and reading proficiency as examples.

There are some parts of the world, where public financing capacity is limited, where a rapidly growing school-aged population makes achieving education goals more difficult, he said.

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 toward young people and adults alike.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in education systems, resulting in large cuts in public spending on education in low and lower-income countries, leading to deprived access to learning, particularly for children and young people. Li called for investing in digital literacy and closing the digital divide, along with increasing 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 Qu Xing, deputy director-general of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

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, he noted.

"Added to this are increasing rates of depression and stress among young people in many contexts - fueled 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," Qu said.

The Commission on Population and Development was established nearly 80 years ago by the UN Economic and Social Commission, one of the six main bodies of the global organization.
Atlantic County, New Jersey, police squashed rumors Friday, of a black panther on the loose in the Garden State, according to report.

The Hamilton Township Police Department said in a Facebook post that it was aware of several social media posts regarding a black panther roaming around in the Weymouth section of town.

Black jaguars, also known as Panthera once, is a wild cat native to South America.

Rather than ignore the situation, police responded to a call Thursday from someone who reported seeing a "black coyote or large feline in the woods."

4-YEARS-OLD FLORIDA PANTHER STRUCK BY VEHICLE DIES

When police arrived, they searched for a short amount of time before locating something that resembled what was reported: a large black dog.

The black dog, police added, belonged to a local resident.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"We have continued to investigate these reports that appear to have stemmed from one original call/post and, at this time, all reports/calls/posts about a black panther have been unsubstantiated," the Hamilton Police Department posted.
Joe Biden is set to meet leaders of Northern Ireland parties in Belfast tomorrow ahead of a speech to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The US president will hold an informal meeting with the leaders of the five parties in the province on Wednesday as part of his four-day trip to Ireland, The Independent understands.

A top Biden ally said the administration will prod and nudge the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to end its protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements and resume powersharing at Stormont.

While Mr Biden is not expected to make a personal plea to the DUP, his close friend US Congressman Richard Neal said there would be some gentle nudging from the Biden administration.

Mr Neal told BBCs Hardtalk that part of what we want to accomplish here is prodding them [the DUP] to sit in government.

Asked if the Biden administration will be using leverage to push the unionists, the congressman said: I think there can be some gentle nudging here, understanding that we all want to travel on the path that will bring about what Ive often referred to as two traditions that live in one community.

The DUP has voted in parliament against Rishi Sunaks Windsor framework deal with the EU to ease trade checks on good moving across the Irish Sea.

The party has refused to return to form an executive government at Stormont with Sinn Fein until the Northern Ireland Protocol  which determines trading arrangements in the province as part of the Brexit deal  is ditched.

Prior to his flight to Northern Ireland, Mr Biden told reporters that making sure the Irish accords and Windsor agreement stay in place was his main objective for his trip. It looks like were going to keep our fingers crossed, the US president added.

A US National Security Council source told The Independent: We expect president Biden will speak with the political party leaders ahead of his remarks at Ulster.

As President Biden said in his St Patricks Day remarks last month, he joins people across Northern Ireland in looking forward to seeing the return of a devolved government to Northern Ireland. Democratic, power-sharing institutions, are at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement.

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Rishi Sunak will be in Belfast to meet Joe Biden (PA Wire)

It comes as former Labour prime minister Tony Blair, who signed the historic peace deal in April 1998, warned Mr Biden that pressurising the unionist community could backfire.

Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: The Americans can play an important part on this but you have just got to insert them at the right moment and in the right place.

The former PM added: There is a difference between influencing and pressurising, and the one tends to be positive, the other can be negative.

Downing Street has denied that Rishi Sunaks interactions with Joe Biden in Northern Ireland this week would be low-key, despite reports their talks had been downgraded by the US administration to a coffee meeting.

The prime minister will greet the US president when he arrives late on Tuesday evening, with talks to follow in Belfast the next morning, when he is set to raise the UKs enduring partnership with the US, trade and investment and other areas of shared interest.

The White House pushed to scale back their meeting from a bilateral to a less formal coffee, the New York Times reported, quoting an official jokingly dubbing it a bi-latte.

Asked why the plans appeared low-key, a No 10 spokesman told reporters: I wouldnt characterise it as that  Youve seen the presidents actions during his time demonstrate that we have a close relationship.

Police presence in Belfast city centre ahead of the arrival of US President Joe Biden (PA)

No 10 also denied that the prime minister has given up on getting the DUP back into power- sharing at Stormont after forging a compromise deal with the EU.

Asked whether Rishi Sunaks lack of plans to meet Northern Ireland political leaders during his visit there this week was a sign of having given up on the unionists, a No 10 spokesman said: No, not at all.

The PMs spokesman said Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris had a made it a priority to get the executive up and running and he has had extensive engagement with the Northern Ireland political parties in recent months.

He added: Youll be aware that he met with leaders over the past few months with regards specifically to the Windsor framework. Our continued hope is that we can get Stormont back up and running as quickly as possible.

Ahead of flying out on Tuesday, Mr Biden tweeted the Good Friday Agreement had ended decades of violence and brought stability, adding: I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

Dozens of police officers and secret service vehicles descended on Belfast on Tuesday in a major security operation ahead of the presidential visit. Missiles were hurled by at a police Land Rover during a parade by dissident Republicans in the Creggan area on Easter Monday.

A White House spokesman said Mr Biden is more than comfortable visiting Northern Ireland despite the recent violence.
Joe Biden will hold a bilateral meeting with Rishi Sunak in Belfast on Wednesday after arriving in Northern Ireland last night as part of a historic four-day trip to Ireland.

Mr Sunak greeted the US president after Air Force One landed at RAF Aldergrove on Tuesday night ahead of engagements across the week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1998.

The two leaders met briefly before the president drove away in an armoured car amid a scattering of snow.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris was also present as Mr Biden alighted from the aircraft with US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy.

Later, the leaders of Northern Irelands main political parties will have the opportunity to engage with Mr Biden before he delivers an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

Mr Sunak will not attend Mr Bidens keynote speech, with Downing Street on Tuesday denying that the engagement between the pair would be low-key.

Key Points

US president to hold bilateral talks with Mr Sunak in Belfast

Biden meets Rishi Sunak as he lands in Northern Ireland as part of historic four-day trip

US president touches down in Antrim

Huge security operation in place for Biden visit

Mayo town buzzing ahead of presidents arrival

Packed itinerary for four-day visit of Joe Biden to island of Ireland

04:00 , Sam Rkaina

Wednesday:

 The president will hold bilateral talks with Mr Sunak in Belfast in the morning.

 Mr Biden is also expected to hold talks with Northern Irelands main political parties. The powersharing Assembly established by the Good Friday Agreement is currently not operating due to a protest by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

 In his main engagement in Northern Ireland, Mr Biden will deliver a keynote speech at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus. The president tweeted that he would use the occasion to underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in the region.

Story continues

 Mr Biden will then cross the border. He will travel to Co Louth where he has ancestral roots. His great-grandfather Owen Finnegan left the county for the US in the 1840s. During the visit, he county, he will tour Carlingford Castle.

 Mr Biden will stay overnight in Dublin.

(REUTERS)

What is Joe Bidens Irish heritage?

08:38 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The US president, who was born and raised among Irish-Americans in Scranton, Pennsylvania, rarely misses an opportunity to express his pride in his heritage or quote one of the many Irish poets he admires such as WB Yeats and Seamus Heaney.

Every time Id walk out of his house in Scranton, when I lived there for a while, hed look at me and say, Joey, remember, the best drop of blood in you is Irish, he said of his grandfather on St Patricks Day last month.

Mr Biden last visited the island of Ireland in 2016 while serving as Barack Obamas vice president but traces his roots, on his mothers side of the family, all the way back to Edward Blewitt, his great-great-great-grandfather, of County Mayo and to the Finnegan family of County Louth who boarded coffin ships to cross the Atlantic more than 165 years ago, in his telling.

What is Joe Bidens Irish heritage?

Watch: Rishi Sunak greets Joe Biden as US president lands in Belfast

08:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Bidens visit to Northern Ireland for anniversary significant, says Blair

07:00 , Sam Rkaina

Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair has described Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland as significant as the US President is due to arrive on Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The ex-Labour leader spoke of the importance of using the American influence on the process with care and with sensitivity adding theres a difference between influencing and pressurising and the one tends to be positive and the other can be negative.

Mr Biden is expected to meet members of Stormonts main political parties as part of a visit he said will underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in Northern Ireland.

Sir Tony told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Well, it is significant. Youve got to use the American influence on the process with care and with sensitivity.

I obviously had a very close relationship with President Clinton outside of the peace process, but I found him immensely helpful.

He would immediately understand strategically what was important and what wasnt and the Americans can play an important part of this, but youve just got to be, youve got to insert them at the right moment and in the right place.

Sir Tony Blair has described Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland as significant (Victoria Jones/PA) (PA Wire)

West of Ireland on Friday

06:00 , Sam Rkaina

Friday:

 The president will travel to the west of Ireland, where he will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit.

 The visit will conclude when Mr Biden makes a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

Mr Bidens great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827, which helped him to afford to buy tickets for himself and his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.

Thursday itinerary

05:00 , Sam Rkaina

Thursday:

 The US president will meet Irish President Michael D Higgins at his official residence Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park. The park will be closed for 24 hours to accommodate the visit. Mr Biden will also take part in a tree-planting ceremony and a ringing of the Peace Bell.

 Mr Biden will travel for talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom he recently hosted at the White House on St Patricks Day.

 He will then address the Dail, becoming the fourth US president to do so  following John F Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995.

 On Thursday evening, Mr Biden will attend a banquet dinner in his honour at Dublin Castle.

Big own goal for Stormont during Bidens visit

03:00 , Liam James

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern said it was a big own goal that the Northern Ireland Assembly is not operating for the visit of US President Joe Biden.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, the former Irish premier and Fianna Fail leader was asked if he was disappointed with the duration of Mr Bidens visit and the fact that the US president would not be addressing Stormont.

Northern Irelands executive has not been sitting since the powersharing agreement between major parties broke down after last years elections.

Mr Ahern said: I am very disappointed with that. I mean, the whole idea when this visit was mooted last year was that we would try and resolve the issues between the European Union and the UK.

Then we werent making much progress on that until October, then Rishi Sunak came in. So it is a huge pity and a huge disappointment that the president of the free world, the United States, is not addressing the assembly, theres no good hiding that fact. Its a big own goal in my view.

Sunak to recognise heart transplant boy on Northern Ireland trip

02:00 , Liam James

Rishi Sunak is to personally present a six-year-old boy who is awaiting a heart transplant with an award recognising his outstanding contribution to his community.

The presentation to Daithi Mac Gabhann is one of the Prime Ministers engagements coinciding with US President Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland.

A new organ donation law for Northern Ireland is named in honour of the Belfast boy in recognition of his and his familys campaign for law changes.

Mr Sunak will meet Daithi and his family as part of the Prime Ministers daily Points of Light award.

No formal meeting with Biden for Northern Irelands parties, says White House

01:00 , Liam James

The White House said there will not be a formal group meeting between US president Joe Biden and Northern Irelands five main political parties.

He will have an opportunity to engage with the leaders of the parties ahead of a speech on Wednesday at Ulster University.

Joe Biden to meet Northern Ireland leaders as US nudges DUP to end Brexit stand-off

Wednesday 12 April 2023 00:00 , Liam James

Joe Biden is set to meet the leaders of Northern Irelands political parties in Belfast on Wednesday ahead of a speech to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (Adam Forrest writes).

The US president will hold an informal meeting with the leaders of the five parties at the start of his four-day trip, The Independent understands.

A top ally of President Biden said the US administration would prod and nudge the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to end its protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements and resume its participation in the power-sharing institutions at Stormont.

Dozens of police officers and secret service vehicles descended on Belfast in a major security operation ahead of the visit.

Click here for the full story:

Joe Biden to meet Northern Ireland leaders as US nudges DUP

Biden on the tarmac: In pictures

Tuesday 11 April 2023 23:20 , Liam James

More photographs have come through of the opening moments of the US presidents trip to Northern Ireland.

Biden with Sunak at RAF Aldergrove (AFP/Getty)

Sunak and his team (PA)

Biden disembarks Air Force One (AP)

Biden's family trip

Tuesday 11 April 2023 22:45 , Liam James

Besides reaffirming his commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, Joe Biden will use his Northern Ireland trip to reconnect with his roots.

The president often speaks proudly of his Irish heritage and has traced his ancestry back to County Louth in the Republic of Ireland, where he will head tomorrow to visit the site of family graves.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

Mr Biden previously visited Ireland in June 2016 as vice-president to Barack Obama.

Tuesday 11 April 2023 22:20 , Liam James

Joe Biden left the airfield at RAF Aldergrove in an armoured car after meeting Rishi Sunak.

UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris was also present as Mr Biden alighted from the aircraft with US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy.

The US president will carry out several other engagements across the week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1998.

Biden is driven away in an armoured car (Reuters)

Full story: Joe Biden meets Rishi Sunak as he lands in Northern Ireland as part of historic four-day trip

Tuesday 11 April 2023 22:00 , Liam James

US president Joe Biden has landed in Belfast as part of a historic four-day trip to the island of Ireland (Cillian Sherlock writes).

He was greeted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after Air Force One landed at RAF Aldergrove on Tuesday night.

The two leaders met briefly before the president drove away in an armoured car amid a light scattering of snow.

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Watch: Biden touches down in Northern Ireland

Tuesday 11 April 2023 21:45 , Liam James

Joe Biden touched down in Northern Ireland minutes ago. The US president was filmed descending the steps of Air Force One before meeting Rishi Sunak.

Biden greeted by Sunak

Tuesday 11 April 2023 21:32 , Liam James

Rishi Sunak was waiting on the tarmac in County Antrim as Air Force One touched down.

Joe Biden left the plane and walked over to the British prime minister.

The pair shook hands and exchanged a few words.

(Sky News)

Tuesday 11 April 2023 21:21 , Sam Rkaina

US President Joe Biden has touched down at a military base in County Antrim as he begins a four-day visit to the island of Ireland.

Biden has said he will use his visit to the island of Ireland to keep the peace, as he left the US for his four-day trip.

The US president invoked the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the recently negotiated Windsor Framework as he prepared to set off for Northern Ireland.

No formal meeting between Biden and Northern Irelands five main parties

Tuesday 11 April 2023 20:37 , Sam Rkaina

The White House said there will not be a formal group meeting between US President Joe Biden and Northern Irelands five main political parties.

Mr Biden is due to land in Northern Ireland on Tuesday night.

He will have an opportunity to engage with the leaders of the parties ahead of a speech on Wednesday at Ulster University.

Northern Ireland Assembly not operating is big own goal

Tuesday 11 April 2023 20:37 , Sam Rkaina

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern said it was a big own goal that the Northern Ireland Assembly is not operating for the visit of US President Joe Biden.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, the former Irish premier and Fianna Fail leader was asked if he was disappointed with the duration of Mr Bidens visit and the fact that the US president would not be addressing Stormont.

He said: I am very disappointed with that. I mean, the whole idea when this visit was mooted last year was that we would try and resolve the issues between the European Union and the UK.

Then we werent making much progress on that until October, then Rishi Sunak came in. So it is a huge pity and a huge disappointment that the president of the free world, the United States, is not addressing the assembly, theres no good hiding that fact. Its a big own goal in my view.

Partner of murdered journalist says its pathetic and sad violence has erupted in Northern Ireland again

Tuesday 11 April 2023 20:17 , Sam Rkaina

The partner of murdered journalist Lyra McKee has said it is pathetic and sad that violence has erupted in Northern Ireland again.

Easter weekend saw a police Land Rover come under attack, with masked youths throwing petrol bombs and launching fireworks before it drove off in flames.

US President Joe Biden is visiting Northern Ireland as part of a series of engagements to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Sara Canning condemned the violence and believes the Good Friday Agreement is in peril due to the political vacuum in the province which also risks rendering the Biden visit meaningless.

In an interview with Channel 4 News on Tuesday about events over the weekend, she said: If Im honest, Im not surprised, its Easter and its only been almost four years since Lyra was killed in a similar kind of a circumstance.

Its really pathetic and its sad that we are back there again.

The people of Creggan deserve better, the people in Northern Ireland and Ireland as a whole deserve better, but theres always going to be that minority that are going to drag us back and do something that we, none of us, want to be a part of.

And its really sad, you look at the demographics again and its all young kids.

The people behind that, the paramilitaries, will tell you those children support this and they understand.

They dont understand, theyre there because theres nothing else for them to do. Theyre bored. Theyre off school and theyre running the streets wild.

Ms McKee was killed almost four years ago.

Lyra McKee (PA Media)

Police chairman hits out over suspected pipebombs found in cemetery

Tuesday 11 April 2023 20:01 , Sam Rkaina

Police Federation for Northern Ireland chairman Liam Kelly said the placement of four suspected pipe bombs inside a cemetery in Creggan is a clear statement of intent to cause harm to police officers.

Mr Kelly said: They dont mind who gets hurt as they plough on with their redundant agenda. They dont care if innocent people get seriously injured or killed.

They are callous individuals who would drag the Creggan and the city back to the dark ages of bitter and pointless conflict. They seek to wreak havoc and exercise ruthless control over a community that deserves better.

I want to praise the steadfast and dedicated work of my colleagues. Furthermore, I would appeal to the many decent people in Creggan to tell the police who the ringleaders are so that they can work to prevent them from inflicting devastating harm.

These gangs have nothing to offer the community. They inspire unrest, paranoia and tell tall tales. They bully and mislead young people and use them as cannon fodder armed with petrol bombs and bricks.

Its high time these thugs were rejected, shunned and placed before the courts so they can be put where they belong, behind bars. This will ensure that the community can live in peace and work collaboratively to build a better future for everyone.

An Army Technical vehicle at Derry City Cemetery during the search (PA)

Biden visit will underscore the importance of US-Irish relations

Tuesday 11 April 2023 19:47 , Sam Rkaina

US ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin said Joe Biden will underscore the importance of US-Irish relations.

I think its very well known that he has a great fondness and affection for this country, the home of his ancestors, she said. But its also a time for him to underscore the importance of the US-Irish relationship, which remains so strong always.

Speaking to RTE, Ms Cronin said the excitement is palpable in Mr Bidens ancestral homeland of Co Mayo.

I mean, there are flags in the windows. Wherever you go, people are talking about it, theyre excited about it and I know he will be too, she said.

She added that festivities and great entertainment in Ballina will commence at around 7pm on Friday.

The Chieftains are reuniting for a special show after we lost Paddy Moloney, she said. Itll be very emotional for them to be back together for the first time since then, so were really looking forward to that.

She added that the embassy had put out the Infant of Prague as part of a tradition in hope of good weather.

Small Irish town prepares for presidents trip

Tuesday 11 April 2023 19:11 , Liam James

Joe Biden is set to reconnect with his roots at Carlingford Castle tomorrow.

The town of Carlingford has been busy ahead of his arrival, hanging US flags and messages welcoming the president.

The US president has relatives buried in nearby Templetown.

A Stars and Stripes flag flies close to Kilwirra cemetery and church ruins, where Bidens relatives are buried (PA)

Local pub hangs a sign welcoming the president (AP)

Sarah Delahunt holds out a tray with a burger and fries adorned with a United States flag (AP)

Biden-Sunak talks wont be low-key, Downing Street insists

Tuesday 11 April 2023 17:30 , Liam James

Downing Street has denied that Rishi Sunaks interactions with Joe Biden in Northern Ireland this week are low-key, despite reports their talks were downgraded by the US.

The prime minister will greet the US president off Air Force One when he arrives this evening, with talks to follow in Belfast the next morning.

The White House pushed to scale back their meeting from a bilateral to a less formal coffee, The New York Times reported, quoting an official jokingly dubbing it a bi-latte.

Asked why the plans appeared low-key, a No 10 spokesman told reporters: I wouldnt characterise it as that. As Ive said the prime minister will see him tonight, he will see him again tomorrow.

Youve seen the presidents actions during his time demonstrate that we have a close relationship. His first visit outside of North America was to the UK, where he met both the Queen and the Prince of Wales.

We continue to have an incredibly positive working relationship with the president and the US government.

Biden and Sunak must discuss Troubles bill, says Amnesty

Tuesday 11 April 2023 17:00 , Liam James

Government plans to deal with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland should be on the agenda when Rishi Sunak meets Joe Biden, Amnesty International has said.

The human rights organisation has called on the prime minister to scrap its Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, stating that it erodes the Good Friday Agreement.

The legislation proposes offering immunity for people accused of crimes during the Troubles as long as they co-operate with a new truth recovery body.

It would also would stop future court processes or inquests.

Along with Amnesty International, victims groups have expressed opposition to the Bill. Several protests have taken place over the last several weeks, with victims families carrying banners and placards demanding truth and justice for loved ones.

Biden says he will keep the peace on Ireland trip

Tuesday 11 April 2023 16:26 , Liam James

Joe Biden said he will use his visit to the island of Ireland to keep the peace, as he left the US for his four-day trip.

The US president invoked the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the recently negotiated Windsor Framework, which changes Northern Irelands post-Brexit trading rules.

Mr Biden, speaking to reporters before his departure, said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

Thats the main thing, he said.

Mr Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland later this evening.

Biden boards Air Force One in Maryland (AP)

Good Friday Agreement: Biden 'very excited' for his four-day visit to Ireland

Tuesday 11 April 2023 15:36 , Joe Middleton

What are Joe Bidens Irish roots?

Tuesday 11 April 2023 15:18 , Joe Middleton

Joe Biden will arrive in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday evening to mark the 25-year anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

For an American president with deep Irish roots, it wont be a typical trip to the ancestral homeland.

Mr Biden is expected to meet representatives from five Northern Irish political parties at a time when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is continuing to boycott the devolved power-sharing government in Stormont in protest at post-Brexit trading rules that treat the province differently to the rest of the UK.

Joe Sommerlad has the details.

What are Joe Bidens Irish roots?

Co Mayo town buzzing ahead of Biden visit, says relative of US president

Tuesday 11 April 2023 15:09 , Joe Middleton

The town of Ballina in Co Mayo will never have witnessed anything like the visit of Joe Biden, a relative of the US president has said.

Joe Blewitt, a third cousin of Mr Biden, said there is a great buzz in the area ahead of the presidents arrival.

Preparations are well under way for the event on Friday, which will be the culmination of Mr Bidens trip to the island of Ireland.

Co Mayo town buzzing ahead of Biden visit, says relative of US president

Huge security operation for Joe Biden visit underway

Tuesday 11 April 2023 15:04 , Joe Middleton

Dozens of police officers and secret service vehicles descended on Belfast on Tuesday morning in a major security operation ahead of US President Joe Bidens visit.

Bedford Street was closed to traffic, along with several side streets surrounding the Grand Central Hotel.

The street remained open to pedestrians as dozens of police and a number of armoured vehicles filled the area.

There were also several police vehicles surrounding Ulster University.

Mr Biden was due to visit the universitys new building on Wednesday before heading to the Republic of Ireland.

Anne Tennyson, from Belfast, welcomed the visit, despite the extensive security measures.

I think its great, its great to see him coming here, she said.

Its fantastic. Belfast has cleaned itself up and prepared for it and its looking great.
A Biden mural in his family's ancestral town of Ballina

There is almost nothing that the polarised politicians in Washington can agree on these days. Bipartisan co-operation is extremely hard to find.

But there is one issue on which just about everyone sees eye to eye. And that is the value of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), which ended 30 years of deadly violence in Northern Ireland.

The agreement itself is seen as a shining example of what can be achieved by determined diplomacy and careful negotiation.

American politicians are rightly proud of the role the US played in securing the peace. The tireless work of Senator George Mitchell as well as the intense engagement of President Bill Clinton were essential.

President Biden sees the agreement as part of his own political legacy and can claim credit for encouraging US involvement in the peace process through the 1980s and 90s.

Defending the GFA, and the relative peace it ensures, has been a high priority for the Biden administration. There are deep concerns about how Brexit may affect the agreement.

This presidential visit would not be taking place if the Windsor Framework had not been secured to resolve the issues over trade between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic. The future of any free trade deal between the UK and US also hangs on the continued maintenance of the GFA.

In Belfast, President Biden will talk about how the US can help to support "Northern Ireland's vast economic potential".

In Dublin, he is expected to address the Irish parliament and stress the close co-operation between the two nations. And he will make more personal visits to County Louth and County Mayo to revisit his family roots.

There is a long tradition of US presidents enjoying trips to Ireland more than they do many other official engagements.

Bill Clinton was greeted by ecstatic crowds in 1995 when he became the first American president to visit Northern Ireland as well as the Republic. The New York Times said the "Irish gave Bill Clinton the best two days of his presidency".

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Sixty years ago, John F Kennedy described his Irish trip in 1963 as the best four days of his life.

Since then, Presidents Nixon, Reagan, George W Bush, Obama and Trump have all made trips to the Emerald Isle - all to the great envy of many other European countries who do not get nearly so much attention.

The 'most Irish' US president in history

Joe Biden is inordinately proud of his personal Irish heritage. He mentions it at every opportunity. Just after he was elected president in 2020 he was asked by my colleague Nick Bryant for a "quick word for the BBC". He swiftly replied: "The BBC? I'm Irish!"

He loves to quote Irish poets and uses the experience of Irish citizens living under British rule as a way to express empathy with persecuted minorities around the world.

The Irish diaspora in America does not have the same outsized influence in US politics as it once did. But with 30 million Americans claiming Irish roots - that is about one in 10 of the current population - it never does any harm for a US president to be seen embracing his Celtic connections.

With two great-grandparents coming from Ireland, Joe Biden is one of the most Irish presidents in history.

Edward Blewitt was an engineer and brickmaker who left the west coast town of Ballina, Mayo, in 1850. He decided to head to Scranton in Pennsylvania - with his family including son Patrick - as the devastating Irish potato famine was causing widespread starvation.

This week, his great-great-great-grandson will be greeted by a huge painted mural of his own face in the town square.

Biden's Irish family tree

On the east coast of Ireland, the small town of Carlingford in Louth is also expecting a visit. It was from there that President Biden's maternal great-great-grandfather, Owen Finnegan, departed in the late 1840s.

These days, the people of the Cooley Peninsula are anticipating the construction of a long-awaited bridge across Carlingford Lough that would improve economic links by joining them to Northern Ireland. Locals want to see it named the "Biden Bridge".

The president can only dream of receiving such a rapturous welcome anywhere in the United States.
PIERRE  Joel Koskan, who ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2022 and days before the election was arrested on charges relating to child abuse, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony incest Tuesday morning.

He was sentenced in a Hughes County court room to 10 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary.

"This is the first part of the healing process," Judge Margo Northrup said during the hearing.

Koskan, 44, originally faced felony child abuse charges for acts that allegedly took place between October 2014 and October 2016, according to court documents filed in November. He exposed his victim, a now 20-year-old woman, to "sexual grooming behaviors."

Joel Koskan leaves a Hughes County courtroom after pleading guilty to two counts of felony incest in Pierre on Tuesday April 11.

In a probable caused statement reviewed by the Argus Leader prior to its sealing in November, the victim was Koskan's family member and had been allegedly sexually abused by Koskan since the time she was a child. Koskan also allegedly made references to GPS tracking and video monitoring the victim's activities.

A special agent with the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation recommended charges of rape, sexual contact with a child younger than 16 and aggravated incest.

As part of Tuesday's hearing, as part of a new plea agreement, Koskan would plea guilty to the two counts of felony incest, pay a $10,000 fine for each count, court fees and provide restitution for the victim included in the original plea agreement, rejected by Northrup in March.

More: Former South Dakota Senate candidate Joel Koskans plea deal in child abuse case rejected by judge

The new charges alleged Koskan had raped the victim and performed oral sex between April 2 and April 16, 2022 at his home in Wood.

Out of safety and privacy concerns, the Argus Leader does not name victims of sexual assault without their permission.

Brent Kempema, the Assistant South Dakota Attorney General, said the victim had been pressured by Koskan and his family not to report the sexual abuse. She had first tried to report the years of abuse in 2016, but was unable to because of the trauma it caused her.

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In May 2022, the victim "summon(ed) the courage to reach out to a friend," whose father was a retired agent with Department of Criminal Investigation to report further abuse.

"From then on, the pressure was on," Kempema said, describing Koskan in an act of retaliation had allegedly reported the car she drove stolen.

She had been pressured to "put the family above herself" and to not cooperate with law enforcement during the investigation, Kempema said. She had realized the people she was trying to protect did not have her best interest at heart.

More: South Dakota Senate candidate Joel Koskan's plea deal consideration in child abuse case made public

It was this realization, as well as a understanding after Northrup rejected the original plea agreement, that it wasn't the victim's decision if Koskan went to prison or not, which allowed the victim to finally talk about the abuse.

Dressed in a black dress with yellow and red polka-dots and tan high top sneakers, the victim told the full courtroom Tuesday, "what I want is the truth. What happened isn't my fault."

She told Northrup that the circuit court judge knew what needed to be done when it came to sentencing in between shuddering breaths and tears. She had realized in the time away from her family that not sending Koskan to prison was meant for the family's comfort, contrasting what Clint Sargent, Koskan's lawyer, said minutes before that the victim did not want him incarcerated.

"The defendant's gamble didn't pay off," Kempema said before asking the court for a sentence of five years for each charge plus restitution.

Koskan, dressed in a navy suit and baby blue tie, told the room he was sorry for the pain and suffering his actions caused.

More: South Dakota state Senate candidate Joel Koskan charged with child abuse, documents say

Sargent, Koskan's lawyer, said the defendant would be a good candidate for community supervision and out patient treatment.

Northrup, in her sentencing decision, explained it is society's duty to protect children, especially foster children. Koskan took advantage of a child, she said. She then looked at the victim, who had been crying off and on during the 30-minute hearing.

"I hope you can be proud of the fact that you stood up in courage," Northrup said, adding the victim was a survivor. "You deserve to be loved, cherished and respected by a family."

When Northrup read Koskan's sentence, he looked back at his crying family with a frown on his face.

He was remanded into the custody of the Department of Corrections at the end of the hearing.

Following the hearing, Marty Jackley, the South Dakota Attorney General, issued a statement.

Justice has been served in this case, because the victim overcame extraordinary conditions to cooperate with the prosecution, said Jackley. We applaud the victim for her courage and praise the difficult work of the investigators and prosecutors.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Joel Koskan pleads guilty to 2 counts of felony incest
[Source]

Actor-turned-author John Chos bestselling debut novel Troublemaker is now available in paperback.

Chos middle grade book, which was originally published in hardcover in March 2022, follows the story of Jordan Park, a Korean American boy who struggles to navigate issues at home and at school.

The Park familys lives are unexpectedly turned upside down on April 29, 1992  the first night of the Los Angeles riots, which erupted in part due to conflict between the citys African American and Korean American communities.

As tensions escalate, Jordans father leaves to check on the family store [near Los Angeles' Koreatown], spurring Jordan and his friends to embark on a dangerous journey to come to his aid, and come to terms with the racism within and affecting their community, the novels official description states in part.

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Cho shared in a promotional video last year that Troublemaker, which was co-written with Sarah Suk, is a very personal story for him.

The 1992 Los Angeles riots, which serve as a backdrop for his novel, were very consequential in his life.

The book is a love story between father and son, and a portrait of a family trying to navigate an incredibly difficult situation in their lives and in their community's life, Cho explained.

More from NextShark: Reunited twins separated at birth find themselves rooting for opposing Super Bowl teams

In a February 2022 interview with NextShark, the "Cowboy Bebop" star shared that he was originally interested in writing a mystery novel.

However, the events of 2020 would eventually change his mind.

The summer and spring of 2020 happened, and we were dealing with a lot of stuff that my kids were struggling to understand  COVID, George Floyd, Black Lives Matter protests and anti-Asian violence," he said.



More from NextShark: Girls Generation Forever 1 MV director apologizes for Tokyo DisneySea plagiarism accusations

That put me in a contemplative place  contemplative slash panicky  I think I was really looking backward at the arc of my life, as an immigrant, and the relationship to the country I lived in and the country I thought my kids would live in.

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Since its initial release, Troublemaker has gone on to receive several accolades.

The novel became an instant New York Times bestseller, as well as an Indiebound bestseller and an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book.

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Troublemaker is published by Little, Brown, and Company. Its paperback version was made available for sale on March 7.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday sued Republican Rep. Jim Jordan for what he called an "unprecedentedly brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress."

The 50-page lawsuit alleges Jordan has launched a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" on Bragg amid the historic indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Trump, who has repeatedly denied the charges against him, was arraigned last week and pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in an alleged hush money "scheme" to influence the 2016 election.

Jordan, one of Trump's biggest supporters on Capitol Hill, has led the charge against Bragg along with other GOP chairs of influential House committees. The chairmen last month demanded documents related to Bragg's investigation of Trump and testimony from the district attorney himself.

MORE: Republicans demand Manhattan DA Bragg turn over docs related to Trump investigation, potential indictment

Last week, Jordan subpoenaed Mark Pomerantz to give deposition related to his role in investigating Trump and Trump's businesses. Pomerantz is a former prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney's office who resigned last year over Bragg's reluctance at the time to pursue the case against Trump.

Bragg's lawsuit seeks to stop the enforcement of the subpoena, arguing "basic principles of federalism and common sense, as well as binding Supreme Court precedent, forbids Congress from demanding it."

"Congress has no power to supervise state criminal prosecutions. Nor does Congress have the power to serve subpoenas for the personal aggrandizement of the investigators or to punish those investigated," the lawsuit said. "Yet that is precisely what Chairman Jordan is trying to do."

The lawsuit accused Jordan and the House Republicans of participating in a campaign of intimidation, retaliation, and obstruction" and noted how Trump has threatened New York officials with violent and racist vitriol.

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The tense back-and-forth between Bragg and Jordan had continued Monday as House Republicans announced plans to hold a hearing on New York City crime in Bragg's backyard.

PHOTO: Rep. Jim Jordan, left, and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are seen in this split photo (Left: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster; Right: Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Jordan, will hold a field hearing on April 17 in New York City to discuss "victims of violent crime in Manhattan." There, lawmakers will examine what the committee called Bragg's "pro-crime policies" that have led to a "dangerous community" for residents, according to a press release issued on Monday night.

A spokesperson for Bragg's office quickly shot back: "Don't be fooled, the House GOP is coming to the safest big city in America for a political stunt. This hearing won't engage actual efforts to increase public safety, such as supporting national gun legislation and shutting down the iron pipeline."

The spokesperson also said New York City had a murder rate "nearly three times lower" than that of Columbus, Ohio -- Jordan's home turf.

MORE: 'Outrageous': Jordan, Republicans come to Trump's defense after indictment

That data appeared to be pulled from Wirepoints, an Illinois- based nonprofit, which found New York City had 5.2 homicides per 100,000 people compared with Columbus' 15.4 homicides per 100,000 residents using publicly available homicide data for 2022.

Violent crime decreased during the first three months of this year, with shootings falling by 23% and homicides falling by 12.7% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, the New York Police Department recently announced.

"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," the spokesperson for Bragg said.

Not long after Bragg's lawsuit was filed, Jordan tweeted, "First, they indict a president for no crime. Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it."

ABC News' Lauren Peller contributed to this report.

Bragg v Jordan by ABC News Politics on Scribd

Manhattan DA sues GOP's Jim Jordan as feud escalates over Trump's prosecution originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A few hundred people gathered Monday night at Holy Trinity Catholic Church for a prayer service to remember Joshua Barrick, who was killed earlier that day by a gunman in downtown Louisville.

The 40-year-old was one of five fatally shot Monday when a gunman opened fire at Old National Bank in the 300 block of E. Main Street, near Louisville Slugger Field. The gunman also died.

Josh had held the position of senior vice president of commercial real estate banking at Old National Bank since August, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is survived by his wife, Jessica, and two children, both of whom attend Holy Trinity Parish School, and he was a parishioner of Holy Trinity.

Our brother, Josh, and those who lost their lives today in this tragedy, were suddenly and violently taken away from us, Father Shayne Duvall told his parish. We pray for an end to hatred, to murder, to inhumane injustices, to anything that separates us from the love of God.

Josh Barrick, 40, was among five people killed by a gunman Monday in Louisville.

As pastor of this parish, my heart is broken, Duvall said. We pray that we as a society will have a greater love and respect for the human person.

Duvall said Josh was one of the first people to welcome him as pastor when he came on less than a year ago and offered help in any way he could.

In fact, Id just had a meeting with Josh about some upcoming plans, Duvall said. The last thing he said was, Father, Ill do whatever you ask. You can count on me.

This kindness typifies who Josh was, his friends who spoke with the Herald-Leader said.

Whitney Thompson was close childhood friends with Josh, who went to Trinity High School, a Catholic all-boys school. Thompson, who went to Sacred Heart Academy, said they remained friends into adulthood, describing him as one of the kindest people that Ive ever known. His smile was infectious and lit up a room. He was the type of friend who would sit and talk with you for hours, listening to what was on your heart.

After graduating from Trinity, Josh attended Xavier University, a Jesuit Catholic school in Cincinnati. A college classmate of Joshs, who asked not to be named, said he was an honorable and beautiful human.

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At a news conference Tuesday morning, U.S. Sen. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, said he got a call Monday from a close friend whos also a mutual friend of the Barricks. She was sitting with Joshs wife, Jessica, in their home. They hadnt heard from Josh and were worried.

She hasnt heard from her husband. Can you find out if hes alive? she asked McGarvey, he recalled during the news conference. He called Louisville Metro Police Department, found out what he could, and called his friend back.

I cannot confirm anything, but he is not on the list of survivors, McGarvey said tearfully. And she had to tell their two small children that their father would never come home from work.

At Holy Trinity Monday night, Father Duvall compared Josh to St. Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple who worked quietly, without fanfare, to prepare Jesus body for burial after his crucifixion.

I see Josh as a St. Joseph of Arimathea . . . who did so much behind the scenes to make sure the people of God are taken care of.

Duvall said hed assured Joshs wife, Jessica, and their two children earlier in the day that, we, as a community, would take care of them for the rest of their life. I told them, even though they dont have a husband or father anymore, we will be their family.

This story will be updated.
A federal judge has denied a motion for a new trial by convicted former Hampton banker Russell Laffitte, whom a Charleston jury found guilty in November of six counts of bank-related fraud.

The rejection, filed Monday by U.S. Judge Richard Gergel likely clears the way for Laffitte to be sentenced at a future hearing, as he faces up to a maximum of 30 years in prison on all charges. A hearing date has not been announced.

Laffittes rejected request was in large part based on testimony under oath by disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh in February at his recent six-week murder trial. At that trial Murdaugh testified that Laffitte was an unwitting accomplice in Murdaughs schemes to defraud and misuse large sums of money that Murdaugh had steered to Laffittes bank, the Palmetto State Bank.

Russell Laffitte never conspired with me to do anything. Whatever was done was done by me, Murdaugh testified in his own defense during the trial.

A Colleton County jury convicted Murdaugh on March 2 of the 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and his son, Paul, at their rural estate. During that trial, Judge Clifton Newman allowed nearly a dozen witnesses to testify about Murdaughs numerous alleged financial crimes, many of which involved money that flowed through Laffittes bank. However, Murdaugh has not yet been tried on any of the financial crimes.

Laffittes lawyers argued that Murdaughs testimony was undisputed ... newly-discovered evidence that he did not participate in a conspiracy and was not knowingly involved in any criminal activity.

In his six-page denial of Laffittes motion, Gergel wrote that if he were to order a new trial on the basis of Murdaughs testimony that Laffitte didnt knowingly participate in bank fraud crimes, he would have to find that Murdaugh is a credible witness whose testimony would likely produce an acquittal.

But, Gergel wrote, Evidence offered during (Laffittes) trial established without question that Murdaugh is a serial liar and fraudster who stole from his clients and law partners. He now stands convicted of the double homicide of his wife and son. It is difficult to imagine a less credible witness under these circumstances.

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Moreover, evidence offered by the prosecution during Laffittes nine-day trial was voluminous and amply supports the jurys conviction of Laffitte on six counts of bank-related fraud, Gergel wrote. Those charges were conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud and three counts of misapplication of bank funds.

Gergel also ruled that the substance of what Murdaugh said at his trial about Laffittes alleged non-involvement was not newly discovered, but merely newly available. Laffitte had subpoenaed Murdaugh to testify at his November trial, but Murdaugh and his lawyers made it clear that Murdaugh would exercise his Fifth Amendment right not to testify if called to the witness stand.

Mark Moore, a Columbia lawyer who represents Laffitte with attorney Michael Parente, and Brook Andrews, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for South Carolina, both declined to comment.

Gergels Tuesday denial of Laffittes motion was the second time he had rejected the ex-bankers bid for a new trial.

In March, Gergel rejected a motion seeking a new trial for Laffitte on multiple grounds, including questions about the judges unusual substitution of two new jurors after the initial jury had deliberated more than nine hours without a verdict. But the judge said he had valid grounds for letting two jurors go and replacing them with two alternate jurors.

On March 9, three days after Gergel denied the first motion for a new trial, the three lawyers who represented Laffitte at trial  Bart Daniel, Matt Austin and Josh Myers  said they withdrew as Laffittes representation because of his substantial failure to fulfill his financial obligations to counsel for representation at trial and for post-trial relief.

Moore and Parente joined Laffittes legal team on Jan. 1 and have represented him since then.
Photo: Benjamin Fanjoy (Getty Images)

If absolutely nothing else, Elizabeth Holmes is really good at gunning for something with no merit to back it up! That sort of blinders-on can-do attitude allowed her to raise almost a billion dollars for her fraudulent blood-testing company, Theranos. Its also what probably encouraged her to appeal her conviction after being found guilty of defrauding Theranos investors, despite not really having substantial justification for it. A California judge ruled late Monday that Holmes appeal was not a sufficient reason to remain out of prison and that the Theranos founder is still expected to report to prison later this month to begin her 11-year sentence.



Holmes was convicted of fraud in January 2022 and sentenced in November, despite once allegedly telling a Walgreens executive that they dont put attractive people like me in jail. I know its not the point, but this is not true. I have two words for Ms. Holmes: Jeremy Meeks. (Wait, two more: Martha Stewart.)

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In December, Holmes team filed an appeal of the conviction, claiming mistakes were made in the original trial. They also hoped shed be able to remain out of prison while this appeal was sought. But on Sunday, District Judge Edward Davila decided that the Court does not find Ms. Holmes has raised a fairly debatable or substantial question and her appearance is not likely to result in reversal or an order for a new trial on all counts.

Even though she is not considered a flight risk, she must report to prison on April 27th. Holmes lawyer did admit that his clients purchase of a one-way ticket to Mexico following her conviction was ill-advised but was for a friends wedding.



Holmes legal team also hoped that her two pregnancies (and subsequently, her two young children) would perhaps keep her from serving prison time. Her trial was originally pushed back so that she could give birth to her first son and in November, she was visibly pregnant with her second child, who was born this winter.

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Alas, none of these attempts will keep the Theranos fraudster out of prison. Elizabeth, do not pass go, do not collect $200. It is straight to jail for you.

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 Flash

ISLAMABAD, AAt 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.
Elizabeth Holmes must report to prison later this month while she appeals her conviction for fraud, a judge ruled Monday.

U.S. District Judge Edward Davila concluded in an 11-page order that there wasnt enough evidence to allow the disgraced Theranos founder to stay out of prison during her appeal.

In his ruling, Davila stated that the court was unable to find that Holmes has raised a substantial question of law or fact that could result in a reversal or new trial.

Holmes, who founded Theranos in 2003, rose to fame after falsely claiming that the companys blood-testing machines could diagnose a wide range of conditions from just a single drop of blood.

She was convicted in January 2022 on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud against Theranos investors and three counts of wire fraud. In November, Davila sentenced Holmes to more than 11 years in prison for her role in defrauding her companys investors. She is scheduled to surrender to authorities on April 27.

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was convicted last year.

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was convicted last year.

Holmes, who welcomed her first child in 2021 and her second child earlier this year, requested to remain out of prison on bail while she appeals her conviction.

Amy Saharia, Holmes attorney, argued at a hearing in March that there were various missteps involving the presentation of the evidence during the trial. We think the record is teeming with issues, Saharia said at the time.

In his Monday ruling denying Holmes request to stay out of prison, Davila also addressed allegations made by prosecutors in January that Holmes had made plans to flee the country by booking a one-way ticket to Mexico last year.

The judge concluded that booking the flight was a bold move and said it was a perilously careless oversight to not cancel the ticket immediately upon the guilty verdict. But he said the court accepted Holmes representation that the one-way flight ticket  while ill-advised  was not an attempt to flee the country.

Related...
Holmes appears in California court in March 2023 for a restitution hearing.

After being convicted of wire fraud for her dealings with her failed blood startup Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes was hoping to remain free on bail while she appeals the decision. Unfortunately for her, a federal judge has denied her that luxury.



According to court documents filed on Monday, Judge Edward J. Davila of the U.S. District Court Northern District of California denied Holmes Motion for Release Pending Appeal. The court ruled that while Holmes is not a risk to her community as a nonviolent criminal and has shown no intention of fleeing, she has not presented new evidence that could lead to her appeal actually resulting in a reversal or new trial. As NPR notes, Holmes argued in her appeal that the products she promoted through failed biotech startup Theranos were not faulty, while the court argues that this does not address why Holmes was convicted, which is for several counts of wire fraud.

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Although the Court finds that Ms. Holmes is not a flight risk or a danger to the safety of the community, it is unable to find that she has raised a substantial question of law or fact that if determined favorably to [her] on appeal, [would be] likely to result in reversal or an order for a new trial of all counts on which imprisonment has been imposed, the denial of appeal reads. Based on the foregoing, Ms. Holmes Motion for Release Pending Appeal is denied.

Holmes founded Theranos as a startup in 2003 after she dropped out of Stanford during her undergraduate education. Holmes touted the companys ability to test a patients blood with a single drop using the companys proprietary technology. The company eventually folded after whistleblowers from within Theranos tipped journalists at The Wall Street Journal in 2015, claiming that the companys blood-testing technology didnt work at all.

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After a lengthy legal battle, Holmes was eventually found guilty on four counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud against Theranos investors, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Holmes was later sentenced to over 11 years in prison in November 2022.

Holmes is expected to report to prison on April 27, 2023.

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Photo: Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency (Getty Images)

On Friday, federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a ruling revoking the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, an abortion drug that has been approved since 2000, starting this Friday. Horrifying? Definitely. Yet within hours, Judge Thomas Rice of Washington state issued a separate, contradictory ruling ordering the FDA to maintain abortion pill access, and the Department of Justice quickly challenged the Texas case.

So abortion access has been thrown into judicial chaos. But how is this all expected to shake out?

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First, the Texas case is now in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, a notoriously conservative court. Remember, this is the same appellate court that Dobbsthe case that ended Roe v. Wadecame through. Currently, were waiting to see what three-judge panel the case will draw. Among the options is the Trump-appointed James Ho, who has called abortion a moral tragedy.

On Monday, the court requested responses from the FDA and the manufacturer of Mifeprex, a brand name of mifepristone, on or before April 11, 2023 by midnight. So, we should expect arguments to be heard and rulings to be made quickly. The court could OK Kacsmaryks nationwide ban on the drugs approval or it could essentially take back his ruling and say he overstepped. Either is possible! (The court could slice the decision any number of ways, but these are the two most straightforward possibilities.)

In the meantime, the DOJ has filed a motion with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington asking for clarification on Rices ruling. The Court did not address the interaction between the two orders, presumably because they were issued less than 20 minutes apart, DOJs lawyers wrote. Essentially, DOJ wants to know if Rices order (that only applies to the FDAs drug approval in 17 states instead of the entire nation, like Kacsmaryks ruling) should or should not supersede the Texas case order due to the significant tension between the two rulings.

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The Washington case may seem like a side-show the the grim situation in the Southeast, but we cant dismiss it outright. These two cases are contradictory by design. An anti-abortion group specifically incorporated and filed its suit in Amarillo in an effort to make sure its lawsuit was heard by Kacsmaryk, an extreme anti-abortion judge. The Washington lawsuit, by contrast, was filed by state attorneys generals and similar state offices to keep mifepristone on the market.

Because of the conflicting nature of those rulings, the decision will end up at the Supreme Court, where there are a few more options. It could get decided on the shadow docket, which is just a hellish way the nations highest court gets around making decisions in public. (The decisions are usually unsigned and dont have public oral arguments.) Or, if the justices have any sense, it will get calendared for oral arguments quickly.

Whether the case is decided on the shadow docket or put on the calendar, the Supreme Court could still decide to not let the Texas ruling go into effect by Friday. Even worse, it could choose to allow his ruling to become the status quo. (So far no one is challenging Rices ruling at this time, but things are changing quickly every day.) Theres honestly no predicting what exactly would be in a SCOTUS order regarding Kacsmaryks or the appellate courts rulings.

To be completely bleak: The Supreme Court let Texas S.B. 8, a bounty hunter law combined with a six-week abortion ban, go into effect almost a year before Roe was overturned. It effectively ended abortion access in Texas. So Im not holding my breath for any support there, despite the lawlessness and clear activism with which Kacsmaryk entered his ruling last week.

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The man accused of shooting and killing a man and 11-year-old boy at a beach campground in Morro Bay will not have legal rulings about his past shown to the jury during the guilt phase of his trial, a San Luis Obispo Superior Court judge ruled Monday.

Stephen Arthur Deflaun is facing trial for allegedly killing Stephen Wells, 37, and his 11-year-old nephew, Jerry Rios Jr., on July 8, 2001, after a dispute over a camping spot at Morro Strand State Beach.

Deflaun was arrested at the scene but has not faced trial until this this month.

Deflaun is charged with two counts of murder with a firearm and one count of assaulting a peace officer with a firearm. He entered not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity pleas to the charges.

Jerry Rios Jr., left and Stephen Wells were shot to death on camping trip to Morro Bay on July 8, 2001. Stephen Arthur Deflaun is accused of their murders.

The 63-year-old, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was never expected to be competent enough to stand trial, a forensic psychologist said in a 2004 court hearing, but that changed in April 2022.

However, the fact that Deflaun was incompetent to stand trial will not be shown to the jury, at least during this phase of the trial, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Jacquelyn Duffy ruled.

In December 1982, Deflaun was found not guilty by reason of insanity in Massachusetts for possession of a knife, but the circumstances of the alleged crime are unclear, court documents say. Deflaun was 23 at the time.

From left, defense attorneys Ray Allen and Tim Osman defend their client, Stephen Deflaun, during his murder trial at San Luis Obispo Superior Court on April 10, 2023.

That will also not be shown to jurors at this time, Duffy ruled.

The trial is currently in the guilt phase, meaning jurors are only weighing whether Deflauns actions were factually responsible for the deaths of Rios Jr. and Wells. If he is found guilty, the trial will then move to the sanity phase, where jurors will hear more testimony about Deflauns mental health history, which may include his past incompetence and not guilty by reason of insanity verdict.

Defendant said Im so sorry after shooting, former sheriff deputy says

Robert Burgeson was a deputy for the San Luis Obispo Sheriffs Office in 2001. The day of the shooting, he was patrolling in Cambria when he received a call for backup at an officer-involved shooting at Morro Strand State Beach.

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When he arrived to the scene, it was general chaos, Burgeson said. After he helped secure the crime scene, he rode with Deflaun to the hospital.

Former San Luis Obispo Sheriffs Deputy Robert Burgeson testifies at the murder trial against Stephen Deflaun at San Luis Obispo Superior Court on April 10, 2023.

According to the report he wrote at the time, Deflaun repeated, Im sorry, Im sorry, Im sorry, to the EMTs who were helping him in the ambulance on the way to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center.

Deflaun did not specify what he was sorry for and was not speaking directly to Burgeson, Burgeson said.

Burgeson also stayed with Deflaun at the hospital, he testified. According to Burgesons report, Deflaun was talking with a nurse at the hospital and made the following statements:

Im so sorry, Im so sorry.

Im in so much trouble.

The police tried to kill me.

I threw the gun away and they shot me.

In response to the nurse asking what kind of gun Deflaun had, he responded, I have a big gun.

Burgeson said these statements occurred sometime between 7:40 p.m. and 10:22 p.m., according to his report, and were not all said one after another.

Man and boy died of gunshot wounds to the head, investigators say

Two former coroners investigators for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office also testified in court Monday about their findings in the case.

Brian Hascall led the investigation into Jerry Rios Jr.s death, and Steven Harris led the death investigation into Wells.

Former San Luis Obispo County Sheriifs Office coroners investigator Brian Hascall testifies in the murder trial against Stephen Deflaun in San Luis Obispo Superior Court on April 10, 2023.

Both Rios Jr. and Wells died of bullet wounds to the head, the men testified.

Hascall arrived on the scene, where he first saw Rios Jr.s body, he testified. He then helped with the autopsy the following day around 2 p.m.

Rios Jr. was shot twice, Hascall said.

One bullet entered left of the center of the 11-year-olds forehead, traveled through his brain and exited behind Rios Jr.s right ear, Hascall said. The other entered the right of Rios Jr.s jawline, traveled through the bottom portion of the brain and cut through the top three vertebrae of the cervical spine and exited in the same area behind Rios Jr.s right ear.

Small burns from gun powder, known as stippling, were found on Rios Jr.s face, which means Rios Jr. was close to the gun when it was fired.

A diagram of the bullet wounds suffered by 11-year-old Jerry Rios Jr. is shown to the jury hearing the murder trial against Stephen Deflaun in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court on April 10, 2023.

Hascall said it was unclear just how close Rios Jr. was to the weapon, but he added that the stippling meant he was feet away rather than yards away.

Harris testified he was originally dispatched to the scene at around 7:40 p.m. but was rerouted to Sierra Vista because Wells had died in the emergency room.

Wells autopsy took place around 9 a.m. the following day, Harris said.

Wells had four bullet wounds, Harris said.

A diagram of the bullet wounds suffered by Stephen Wells is shown to the jury hearing the case against Stephen Deflaun in San Luis Obispo Superior Court on April 10, 2023.

One bullet entered the top left of Wells head and was recovered lodged behind his right ear and another grazed the right side of Wells nose before entering under his right eye and exiting near his right ear.

One of these two shots were responsible for Wells death, Harris said, but is unclear which one.

Another bullet entered Wells right bicep and exited his right tricep while the other entered above Wells left knee, went through his patella, then exited below his knee, Harris said.

Wells had stippling on his face and right hand, Harris said.

Harris said Wells seemed to be standing when he was shot in the head and the face, but lying down when he was shot in the knee. He said the bicep shot could have occurred while Wells was standing or lying down.

When asked about his expertise to form the opinion about where Wells body was when he was shot, Harris said he was basing it off of common sense and professional experience.

Former San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office coroners investigator Brian Harris testifies during the murder trial against Stephen Deflaun in San Luis Obispo Superior Court on April 10, 2023.

Current San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys Office investigator Paul Kelly also took the stand Monday. A video of him walking from Deflauns campsite to the Morro Strand State Beach entrance kiosk was shown to the jury, though he said it did not and could not reflect Deflauns mind, demeanor or behavior the day of the shooting.

Kelly also showed the jury the gun Deflaun allegedly used in the shooting  a .357 Magnum revolver. A video of him loading the gun normally and with a speedloader was shown to the jury.

One empty and one full speedloader was found on Deflaun at the time of his arrest, according to court testimony. A speedloader loads a revolver with six bullets simultaneously rather than one at a time.

Kelly testified he has no personal knowledge of how, when or whether Deflaun loaded his gun, shot his gun, discarded bullets or reloaded the gun.

Whats next

The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday at 9 a.m. The defenses case is expected to begin Tuesday afternoon and is expected to include expert witnesses and Deflaun himself.
Kalakshetra in located in Chennai city in Tamil Nadu state

One of India's pre-eminent art and cultural institutions, Kalakshetra, has been embroiled in an ugly row over allegations of sexual harassment against a faculty member and three repertory artists who work as substitute teachers at the prestigious dance academy.

At the centre of the controversy is a college run by Kalakshetra, the Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts, famous for teaching Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form.

Last week, police arrested assistant professor and accomplished dancer Hari Padman after a former student lodged a complaint accusing him of sexual harassment.

It came after days of protests by more than 200 students of the institute, located in the city of Chennai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. They alleged that sexual harassment had been going on at the campus for years and accused the administration of ignoring their complaints.

In a short statement on its website, the Kalakshetra Foundation - which is an autonomous institution under India's culture ministry - blamed "vested interests" for trying to "sully" its reputation.

But after the scandal made headlines, the foundation announced a three-member panel, led by a retired high court judge, to investigate the allegations. It also suspended Hari Padman and said the services of the three repertory artists had been "dispensed with pending inquiry".

"As the inquiry is in progress, it will be inappropriate to make any comment on the incidents mentioned in your mail," it told the BBC in an email.

The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women has also launched an inquiry into the allegations.

More than 200 students from the institute protested for days

Before his arrest, Hari Padman had denied the allegations against him in meetings with college authorities. He also told a TV channel that he would make every effort to seek justice.

"There are hundreds of students studying in Kalakshetra. Ask them if I ever misbehaved with them or misspoke. I have never abused anybody. I stand by my conscience and I know they do not have a shred of evidence," he told News18, adding that he would rely on CCTV footage to prove his innocence.

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His wife has also defended him and lodged a counter-complaint against the complainant and two of Kalakshetra's teachers, accusing them of levelling false charges against her husband out of "jealousy and professional rivalry".

Divya Hari Padman said the charges against her husband were "an act of revenge" because he had "chided" some students for bad behaviour and that the two teachers had "instigated" the former student to lodge the complaint.

Kalakshetra is often described as "the IIT of fine arts" - drawing a comparison with India's premier technology institutes that are extremely tough to get into. Students who earn an engineering degree from there are sought after globally.

Similarly, Kalakshetra brings name and fame to its students, helps them earn well and gives them opportunities to perform across the world.

Many students told the BBC that it had been their life's dream to join the dance academy and that they felt on top of the world when they were accepted.

But they now say that harassment from some teachers has led them to doubt their self-worth.

The BBC spoke to a dozen students, teachers, former students and other staff and heard claims of alleged abuse suffered by young dancers. All of them spoke on condition of anonymity because the alleged abusers are famous and accomplished dancers.

The prestigious academy attracts students from across India and the world

Many of the complainants alleged a lack of freedom at Kalakshetra, verbal abuse, body shaming and caste discrimination. Some students said they were told to lose weight, others alleged they were not given important roles and discriminated against for their darker complexion.

But the most alarming allegations were about sexual harassment - both male and female students have complained of inappropriate touches and receiving lewd messages - and, they claimed, the authorities' refusal to take complaints seriously.

One former student told the BBC that she was harassed and her grades fell when she resisted a teacher's advances.

"He sent me a friend request on social media. When I didn't accept it, he kept pestering me, asking why couldn't I accept him as a friend," she said.

"Finally when I accepted his request, he started sending me lewd texts. They were so bad that I could not even share them with my close friends. After I unfriended him, he started to treat me badly," she said, alleging that her grades plummeted after her falling out with him.

A male student narrated a similar story of harassment at the hands of a different teacher.

"At midnight, he sent me a 'good night' message. When I replied, he asked if I was alone and if he could come over. I was shocked. He then asked for a video call so that he could see me 'fully'. He continued sending lewd messages. I could not handle this, I fell ill," he said, adding that the harassment increased after he complained to the authorities.

"The administration did nothing about it and it further emboldened the harasser. It also prevented more students from coming forward to complain," he said.

Kalakshetra is famous for teaching Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form

Lawyer BS Ajeetha, who was an external member of the institute's internal complaints committee (ICC) for sexual harassment since 2018 and quit recently, says the allegations against Hari Padman first surfaced in December in a now-deleted Facebook comment.

Leela Samson, one of India's best-known dancers and a former director of Kalakshetra, had accused an unnamed teacher of "molesting students" and alleged that "he was in an inappropriate relationship with a female student". She also warned parents against sending their daughters to an institute peopled by "sexual predators".

Although the post did not name the teacher, Hari Padman and the female student were named later in the comments. Both denied that there was anything inappropriate about their relationship.

Ms Ajeetha, who was part of the ICC when it investigated the case, said "the student condemned the way her name was dragged into the controversy and said her relationship with Hari Padman was one of teacher and student. The case was closed because the female student denied any accusations of harassment".

But since then, many students have come forward to level serious allegations against Hari Padman and the three repertory artists. Groups of students and alumni have also come to defend the institution and its teachers. Some have even suggested that the "anonymous allegations" against Hari Padman were "false and politically motivated".

The ICC considered some other allegations too - one from a former female student accusing Hari Padman of "shouting at her and removing her from a dance show" and another from three male students who'd alleged sexual harassment by other teachers.

Ms Ajeetha says the ICC couldn't do anything in these cases because India's sexual harassment law is gender specific and allows ICC to only take up cases of women and only those cases that have explicit allegations of sexual harassment.

"We forwarded the complaints to the management, advising them to take "stringent action" against the teachers involved. But the administration did not deal properly with the students," she added.

One student said they were taught to tolerate everything and many fell in line because it's a very close community of artists and young students fear that speaking out could affect their careers.

For the moment, he says, they have paused their protests and are busy writing their semester exams.

"We called off the agitation after the institute's governing body assured us that our grievances would be looked into and action would be taken against our abusers," he said.

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A jury convicted a 32-year-old Kansas City man Monday for kidnapping and killing Gilberto Gutierrez, whose body was found with stab wounds about a week after he disappeared in May 2021.

Ahmad R. Herring was found guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action, the Jackson County Prosecutors Office announced.

Gutierrez, 52, had been reported missing the week before his body was found near a park at the intersection of 56th Terrace and Elmwood Avenue.

Police said the body was wrapped in a blue tarp and had several stab wounds.

According to court records, Gutierrezs family reported him missing the week before, when they found his bloody clothing and a zip tie inside a barn. His keys and phone were missing, but his car was still parked in the driveway.

One witness told police he talked to Gutierrez before he disappeared. A man called him from the victims cell phone later that day, demanding a $100,000 ransom in Gutierrezs kidnapping.

Officials focused on a white Dodge Charger they believed was associated with Herring after reviewing surveillance footage and tips from community members. A witness also provided a photo of a vehicle which included a license plate.

Police attempted to pull over the car on May 14 and arrested Herring after a pursuit.

They searched the vehicle and found receipts for drop cloths and bleach. A DNA test also showed Herrings DNA on the zip tie found at the barn. At the time of his arrest, Herring was on parole for a 2019 first-degree manslaughter charge.

Herring will be sentenced on June 23. A co-defendant is still awaiting trial.
A viral tweet is calling out British press for unfair treatment of Meghan Markle compared to Kate Middleton (Photo via Getty Images)

Royal fans are criticizing British newspapers for their vastly different headlines related to something very simple: nail polish.

On Monday, Twitter user @DrProudman shared a message on the platform calling out British media after Kate Middleton was praised for the same thing Meghan Markle was once shamed for.

"When Meghan Markle 'breaks royal protocol' with a manicure, shes called 'vulgar.' But when Kate does exactly the same, shes praised for 'surprising fans.' The sheer hypocrisy of our media," the tweet reads, alongside two screenshots of the aforementioned headlines published by Mirror and the Daily Mail.

"Meghan Markle 'broke royal protocol' at British Fashion Awards with 'vulgar' choice,'" the first headline reads, regarding Markle's dark nail polish and black gown choice in 2018. The second headline about Middleton reads, "Princess of Wales surprises royal fans with dark red nail polish on Easter Sunday  but did she break 'royal protocol?'"

When Meghan Markle breaks Royal protocol with a manicure  shes called vulgar but when Kate does exactly the same shes praised for surprising fans. The sheer hypocrisy of our media. pic.twitter.com/AvEjFACEFI  Dr Charlotte Proudman (@DrProudman) April 10, 2023

The tweet quickly sparked a conversation among fans about the "obvious" double standards Markle faced when she married into the British royal family.

"Their obvious racism is embarrassing," one Twitter user chimed in.

Another added: "If only the media would stop comparing women to each other to start a catfight."

"That's clear discrimination," someone else wrote.

"It's hard not to think that press reporting of women breaking royal protocols is just another way of trying to control women. When do you see reports of the men breaking protocol?" one fan weighed in.

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Others pointed out that since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, there may be different protocols in place.

"It was a no-no with the Queen. Maybe Charles doesnt have a problem with dark nail polish," one person said, while another echoed, "It's quite possible that protocols have changed with the new monarch?"

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 1O: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force (RAF) on July 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage)

While some have argued that the Princess of Wales might be following new rules, nail polish isn't the only double standard that Markle has faced from the British press.

In 2019, the Daily Mail published an article shaming Markle for her love of avocados and linking it to human rights abuse. But in 2017, the Daily Express praised Middleton for her "morning sickness cure."

Despite it being customary for duchesses to wear a hat while meeting with the Queen for tea, in 2012, Middleton was praised by Mirror for her "stylish" and hat-free outfit choice.

"Kate's stylish coat co-ordinated perfectly with the Queen," read the headline.

But in 2018 when Markle met with the Queen for tea without a hat on, Mirror published the headline: "How Meghan Markle's confusion over a hat nearly got her into big trouble with the Queen."

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
On Tuesday, Gus Sir Beef in east Charlotte became the latest of Charlottes longtime restaurants that have closed since the pandemic hit three years ago.

Over a dozen have closed during COVID, and Gus had been around for 54 years.

A handful of other veteran restaurants and those that operate out of historic homes are included in property sales listings. Some will remain open while others futures are uncertain.

Here are some of the changes Charlotte restaurants have seen recently:

Location: 401 W 9th St., Charlotte, NC 28202

The historic house in Fourth Ward thats home to Alexander Michaels Restaurant was listed for sale in February 2022. The 2 1/2-story blue and cream red-shuttered building at 401 W. 9th St. sold for nearly $1.6 million in March 2022, to 24th Street Partners. Alexander Michaels owner Steve Casner was manager of the restaurant when it opened in 1983 under owners Alexander Copeland III and A. Michael Troiano Jr. Casner has been the sole owner since 2004. Casner told The Charlotte Observer that he has a long-term lease to stay. My plan is to keep it going as long as possible.

Alexander Michaels has been a Fourth Ward bar and eatery for more than 30 years, but the building has been around since 1897.

Location: 2900 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208

Bar-B-Q King, the 62-year-old drive-in restaurant in west Charlotte, is included in a $4.2 million property sale listing posted last month by Coldwell Banker. The carhop restaurant has a lease agreement for three years, with an option for a five-year renewal, The Charlotte Observer reported. Bar-B-Q King, which saw a surge in business during the pandemic shutdowns, was featured in 2007 on Food Networks Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri.

The Bar-B-Q King features classic mid-century roadside architecture.

Location: 2710 N. Brevard St., Charlotte, NC 28205

Brooks Sandwich House was founded in 1973 by the late Calvin CT Brooks Jr., and later run by his twin sons, David and Scott. In 2019, Scott Brooks was killed while opening the cash-only restaurant, but the family has carried on with Scotts trademark saying, Too blessed to be stressed. On June 24, the restaurant will celebrate 50 years of business, serving burgers, hot dogs and fried bologna sandwiches.

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David Brooks owns Brooks Sandwich House.

Location: 4600 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208

The late Pete Gavrilis founded Carolina Family Restaurant in 1976, and the American comfort food spot is now run by his daughter, Maria Kotros. After decades on Wilkinson Boulevard, the restaurants best sellers remain beef tips, country fried steak, hamburgers and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches.

Carolina Family Restaurant is at 4600 Wilkinson Blvd., near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

READ NEXT: Its all Greek to Charlotte: Why our BBQ joints and pizza parlors are Greek-owned

Location: 2732 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208

The half-acre commercial site thats home to the 76-year-old Dairy Queen on Wilkinson Boulevard in west Charlotte was listed for sale in October 2022 for $1.4 million. Its suitable for various retail uses, such as fast-food or auto repair, according to online listings. The ice cream shop  which remains open seven days a week  is the oldest Dairy Queen in North Carolina.

Location: 309 W 4th St., Charlotte, NC 28202

Charlottes oldest restaurant is losing its home. The building thats home to the nearly century-old uptown hot dog spot Greens Lunch was listed for sale in December for $3 million. The iconic eatery has been slinging dogs since 1926 at 309 W. 4th St. The property, which can be included with adjacent parcels, is listed for sale by Sands Investment Group. Greens Lunch owner Joanna Sikiotis says the nearly 1,600-square-foot restaurant is serving breakfast and lunch. Were open, she said.

The iconic family-owned Greens Lunch in uptown Charlotte for 96 years is owned by Joanna Sikiotis, center. The hot dog joint is staff by family including son Nick Sikiotis (left) and family cousin, Andreas Arethas (in back).

Location: 511 N Church St., Charlotte, NC 28202

McNinch House Restaurant, which opened 30 years ago on the first floor of the historic purple 1892 Queen Anne-style home in Fourth Ward, has a new owner. Charlotte native Ellen Davis died Jan. 13 at age 84, less than two months after her only daughter, Beth Davis died on Nov. 25 at age 66. The restaurant was left to Ellen Davis nephew Mitch Clark of Fort Mill, S.C. Clark told The Charlotte Observer that the restaurants staff are as devoted to it as Davis was. Its really gonna take all of us together to keep it going, he said.

The tables at McNinch House are always set with antique silver, crystal and fine china.

Location: 224 W 10th St., Charlotte, NC 28202

The 123-year-old, two-story historic Morrison House in Fourth Ward that is home to Poplar restaurant was listed for sale in spring 2022. Neighbors Heath Knott and husband Adam Schooler, along with Brian and Brittani Phillips, formed 701 North Poplar Street LLC and purchased the two-story white house for $2.2 million in May. Poplar, known for its Peruvian-inspired tapas and patio with views of Charlottes skyline, opened there in 2016. Everything is the same for the restaurant.
Former White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Kellyanne Conway is worried Democrats are close to turning the youth vote into a "turnout machine."

The former Trump advisor told Fox News that the GOP needs to work to shift youth votes to the right.

Conway also emphasized that Republicans couldn't just "wait for the young to get old."

Former Trump White House senior counselor Kellyanne is worried that Democrats could turn young people into a "turnout machine" that will hurt Republicans at the ballot box.

During a Monday segment of Fox News Channel's "The Ingraham Angle," host Laura Ingraham lambasted President Joe Biden over his efforts to recruit social media influencers to promote his policies, and she specifically mentioned the video app TikTok, which is highly popular among Gen Z voters but has been subject to widespread GOP criticism over what conservatives allege are its parent company's ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

But Conway said that Biden's move was a "smart strategy," while also arguing that the Democratic Party was getting too strong of a hold over young Americans and adding that Republicans needed to work harder to shift the youth vote to the right.

"The Republican Party cannot wait for the young to get old and the single to get married to find new voters," she said, while also claiming the the GOP had "already won the the policy arguments" on the economy and education, as well as several other issues.

"Maybe we've got work to do on the young people who think differently on abortion, perhaps, or guns or climate change, but even there, the Democrats' messages are usually cynical," she continued. "The thing I'm really concerned about with this ... is that the left becomes a turnout machine with young people."

Conway went on to explain how influencers can play a critical role when it comes to voting and engagement.

"Influencers have this domino effect, lemming-like effect, of people just all wanting to be part of the same crowd and if they succeed in that way, we're not doing a great job competing for ballots. We're just competing for votes," she told Ingraham.

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"Our candidates lost the early voting miserably last time. Someone like Dr. Oz lost the early vote to John Fetterman by 4-1," she continued, remarking on last year's Pennsylvania Senate race. "We need to compete for ballots, not just voters and not just minds, and I think they're trying to do that with these influencers."

In the lead-up to the 2022 midterms, Republicans were expected to make major gains across in Congress, buoyed by dissatisfaction over the economy. But Democrats expanded their Senate majority and minimized losses in the House, boosted by the votes of Americans aged 18 to 29, who overwhelmingly backed the party's top candidates in critical states including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

While many Republicans, led by former President Donald Trump, railed against early voting after the 2020 election, Democrats leaned into mail-in voting while also remaining focused on turning out supporters to cast early ballots.

Ingraham then stated that "it seems like the Republicans are always playing catch up" with early voting and she questioned Conway about whether the GOP would work to boost their early voting operation in 2024.

"The answer is 'yes,'" Conway replied. "Many of the voters on the Republican side have gotten mixed messages from some of the candidates themselves. They have sowed doubt about machines or don't like mail-in ballots or don't trust it."

The ex-White House advisor then railed against the some of the election-related measures that were put into place permanently after the coronavirus pandemic, a point that she previously made in January after criticizing how some states now offer over a month of early voting.

"If this is the new normal, let's get a little bit more normal," she said. "You cannot catch up on Election Day when there's been a month of early voting."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Kentucky Democratic Rep Morgan McGarvey slammed Republicans for banning books and pronouns while ignoring gun violence after the Louisville bank shooting.

The shooter, Connor Sturgeon, 25, killed five people and wounded eight others at the Old National Bank on Monday. Those killed have been identified as Josh Barrick, 40; Tommy Elliott, 63; Jim Tutt, 64; Juliana Farmer, 57; and Deanna Eckert, 57.

Sturgeon went on his rampage after being notified that the bank where he had worked since 2021 was ending his employment, law enforcement sources told CNN.

The shooter also left a note for his parents and a friend telling them that he was going to attack the bank, the source added.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Sturgeon fired at responding officers, who returned fire to stop that threat. She confirmed that the suspect was shot and killed by police.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mr McGarvey attacked lawmakers who oppose gun control for leaving law enforcement hamstrung to stop mass shootings before they begin.

We don't have the tools on the books to deal with someone who is an imminent danger to themselves or to others, Mr McGarvey said on Tuesday. We can do this. We can come together at the federal level working with each other to solve this problem, which is impacting all of us in a uniquely American way, and get universal background checks, so that people who shouldn't have a gun can't buy one, that we are taking weapons of war off of our streets, that we are helping people who are in crisis.

Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., speaks during a news conference on Monday's bank shooting at Metro Hall in Louisville, Ky., Tuesday, April 11, 2023 (AP)

That is not a political issue. But it becomes one when Kentucky Republicans would rather ban books and pronouns and then make Kentucky a sanctuary state for weapons. We are hurting, he added.

Two different investigations are ongoing after the bank shooting.

Lt Col Aaron Crowell told reporters during the briefing on Tuesday that because of the complexity of the scene, we had made the determination yesterday to segment the internal shooting ... between the shooter and the employees, a homicide investigation and then the Public Integrity Unit will be the external shooting incident, which was between the suspect and the officers.

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So there [are] two separate investigations going. Local Metro Police will be handling the Public Integrity Unit and the homicide investigation, he added.

Mayor Craig Greenberg slammed the level of gun violence in Louisville as horrific as he called for reform.

He noted that 40 people have been killed by guns in the city this year as he urged all levels of government to take action.

That level of gun violence is beyond horrific, he said.

We have to take action now, he added. We need short-term action to end this gun violence epidemic now so fewer people die on our streets, and in our banks, and in our schools and in our churches. And for that, we need help. We need help from our friends in [the Kentucky Capital of] Frankfort and help from our friends in Washington, DC.

This isnt about partisan politics. This is about life and death. This is about preventing tragedies, he said. You may think this will never happen to you, never happen to any of your friends or loved ones. I used to think that. The sad truth is that now no one in our city, no one in our state, no one in our country has that luxury anymore.

Last year, I survived a workplace shooting. And now yesterday, I lost a very close friend in another workplace shooting.
Two children broke through glass to escape domestic gun violence at a Texas home, according to police and local news reports. A 28-year-old mom and two younger children were shot during the incident.

Officers were called to the home in north San Antonio at about 7 p.m. Monday, April 10.

When they arrived, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said they found a 28-year-old woman who was shot through the neck and in her torso on the sidewalk.

The officers also found a 1-year-old and 2-year-old girl with gunshot wounds, McManus said during a news conference recorded by KSAT.

The mother and two female children were rushed to a hospital in critical condition, police said in a news release. One of the toddlers has died of her injuries.

Its heartbreaking to see a family like this destroyed by someone who for whatever reason decided they would take a gun and shoot a couple of little kids and the mom, McManus said at the news conference. Its just heartbreaking to see this happen.

The other children  ages 8 and 11  both escaped without injury, McManus said. One of the boys escaped through sliding glass doors, while the other boy broke through a bedroom window.

Investigators learned a 50-year-old man was arguing inside the house before he shot his ex-wife and their two kids, police said. He then escaped to his home, where police found and arrested him without further incident.

He faces charges of capital murder of a child under 10 and multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the news release.

I have to add that this is infuriating, McManus said during the news conference. With all the resources and effort that weve put into assisting domestic violence victims and trying to prevent these things from happening, here we are tonight ... its just frustrating that these things continue to happen.

McClatchy News is not naming the man to protect the identity of the woman and children.

If you are experiencing domestic violence and need someone to talk to, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

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Investigators learned two children younger than 12 worked at a Comfort Inn hotel in Tennessee, federal labor officials said.

A 15-year-old also worked at the hotel in Pigeon Forge doing jobs involving baking and cooking, which is considered dangerous for 14 and 15-year-olds and violates federal labor laws, according to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor. The law limits the types of cooking tasks teens of that age are allowed to do.

A federal judge ordered Pigeon Forge Hospitality LLC and Nimesh Patel, the Comfort Inns operator, to pay a civil money penalty of $21,658 to address the oppressive child labor practices, the Department of Labor announced in an April 10 news release.

The child labor violations had been happening at the Comfort Inn since 2021, according to the lawsuit.

McClatchy News attempted to reach Pigeon Forge Hospitality LLC for comment April 11 and did not receive a response.

Investigators also discovered Pigeon Forge Hospitality underpaid six employees working for the Comfort Inn hotel, according to officials.

The company didnt pay the workers the federal minimum wage rate or for overtime hours, officials said.

As a result, the judge ordered the company to pay an additional $54,592 in back wages and liquidated damages to the six employees, according to officials.

One employee is owed nearly $31,000, court documents show.

The courts order successfully ends our effort to recover the rightfully earned wages of Pigeon Forge Hospitality and Nimesh Patels employees and end the employers oppressive child labor practices, U.S. Department of Labor Regional Solicitor Tremelle Howard in Atlanta said in the news release.

Pigeon Forge Hospitality LLC is ordered to no longer subject minors to oppressive child labor conditions, use an electronic timekeeping system and keep records of changes made to electronic time records, according to the release.

Father gets fired for using family leave to bond with baby, care for spouse, feds say

Pizza shop owner broke workers teeth, threatened to have employees deported, feds say

Manager told 13-year-old shed get killed if she refused to work at business, feds say
(Bloomberg) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for practical and offensive war capabilities as his state issued a fresh warning to the US and cut communications links with South Korea used to reduce tensions on their heavily armed border.

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Kim told a meeting of military officials that he wanted to step up the countrys defenses due to the ever-worsening security on the Korean Peninsula, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday.

His state was determined to strengthen the war deterrent of the country in every way to cope with the escalating moves of the US imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression, KCNA said. North Koreas official media almost never refers to its neighbor by its formal name.

North Korea stepped up its pressure campaign by last week cutting off the communication links with South Korea. This year it has also ratcheted up tensions by testing new weapons and systems to deliver nuclear strikes against the US and its two allies that host the bulk of American troops in the region  South Korea and Japan.

That response also included a new undersea Haeil drone North Korea tested recently that it said could deliver a radioactive tsunami  a claim doubted by South Koreas military.

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.

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South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Young-se said the communication links were still silent on Tuesday. He expressed strong regret over North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude, warning in a statement that it would lead to further isolation and hardship for the country.

He also said North Korea has been illegally using South Korean facilities at the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The factory plant located just north of the border was once seen as a symbol of economic cooperation but has been shuttered for years due to political rancor.

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. But since then, North Korea has shut the communications links in displays of anger.

North Korea cut the lines from June 2020 for over 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.

(Updates with comments from South Koreas unification minister.)

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A Fox News reporter during coverage of a news conference at the White House

A Fox News reporter during coverage of a news conference at the White House in Washington, D.C, on Oct. 2, 2019. Credit - Doug MillsThe New York Times/Redux

Dominion Voting Systems, an election technology company that became the subject of numerous conspiracy theories after the 2020 election, is suing Fox News for defamation.

The lawsuit, which centers on the election-related falsehoods spread by Fox News stars and guests in the wake of the 2020 election, represents one of the most high-profile defamation cases in recent history. Former President Donald Trumpwho is not involved in this caseand his allies said Dominion contributed to election fraud. Fox News talent, including Lou Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo, amplified the claims, which Dominion argues Fox knew were false at the time, amounting to defamation. Fox says that its broadcasts were protected by the First Amendment, that Trump allies claims of voter fraud were inherently newsworthy, and that the companys on-air personalities were not knowingly making false statements.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin on April 13 in Delaware, with the trial set to start on April 17.

Heres what to know about the case.

Why is Dominion suing Fox News?

Dominion is suing Fox News for defamation, arguing that some company executives and on-air stars knew that the network was airing inaccurate conspiracy theories that damaged Dominions reputation.

These include false claims espoused by Fox employees and Trump-aligned guests that Dominion rigged the 2020 election against Trump and on behalf of President Joe Biden by manipulating vote counts. Amid unproven claims of voter fraud on various platforms, some state elections officials raised concerns about working with Dominion, with one county in Northern California terminating its contract with the company.

Texts and emails revealed as part of the litigation indicate that several people at Fox had doubts about the election fraud claims the network was peddling as the company scrambled to retain viewers who were defecting to other right-wing outlets, like Newsmax and One America News Network (OANN).

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Sidney Powell is lying by the way. I caught her. Its insane, host Tucker Carlson wrote in a November 2020 text to host Laura Ingraham about the lawyer who was spreading baseless claims of election fraud. In a later text, he wrote, Its unbelievably offensive to me. Our viewers are good people and they believe it.

In a separate text, political correspondent Bret Baier wrote, There is NO evidence of fraud.

Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of Fox Corporation, has also conceded that some Fox hosts endorsed the false notion that the 2020 election was stolen and that he personally could have done more to prevent claims about election fraud from airing.

What are the major legal questions?

The judge overseeing the case, Eric Davis, has already ruled that Foxs claims about Dominion were false. But a jury will decide whether Fox knew it was making false statements or acted with reckless disregard for the truththe high actual malice standard established by the 1964 Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan for proving defamation in cases involving public figures and matters of public concern.

It isnt enough for Dominion to be able to show that there was widespread understanding within the broader Fox universe that the election wasnt stolen, says University of Utah law professor RonNell Andersen Jones, a First Amendment scholar. Dominion has a much more specific task. Dominion has to show that people who were responsible for the creation of the specific lies about Dominion knew that those specific statements werent true.

Additionally, if the jury finds that Fox did defame Dominion, it will decide whether Fox Corporation shares blame and exactly how much financial damage Dominion incurred.

Will Rupert Murdoch testify?

Davis said last week that he would compel Murdoch to testify in person if Dominion decides to subpoena him. Dominions lawyers have indicated they would like Murdoch to testify.

Who else is expected to testify?

Dominion has also indicated it wants Murdochs son and Fox Corporations executive chair, Lachlan Murdoch, to testify, along with former House Speaker Paul Ryan, now a Fox board member, and Viet Dinh, Foxs chief legal and policy officer.

The two parties have agreed that several on-air starsCarlson, Bartiromo, Baier, Sean Hannity, and Jeanine Pirroas well as former host Lou Dobbs and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott will testify.

The testimony matters because the trial is likely to center on whether the individuals who spread falsehoods about Dominion were the same ones who knew those claims were incorrect.

Its going to be a very fact-heavy inquiry by the jury, says Jane Kirtley, professor of media law and ethics at the University of Minnesota and former executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. I think the credibility of the Fox people as they appear on the stand is going to be critical.

Will the trial be broadcast?

Delaware does not generally allow video cameras in its trial courtrooms, so the trial will not be broadcast live, according to Sean OSullivan, chief of community relations for the Delaware Courts. The trial is expected to last more than a month.

What are the potential consequences for Fox News?

If Fox were to lose in court, the company could be on the hook for a sum of up to $1.6 billion, the amount Dominion is seeking. The reputational damage to Fox also could be significant. The discrepancy between what Fox aired and what its hosts privately believed has already damaged trust in the brand, according to media experts, and a weeks-long trial could exacerbate the situation.

Fox is also facing other legal trouble, including a $2.7 billion defamation suit brought by another election technology company, Smartmatic. Although this case is very, very important, part of its importance is that it may set the table for an arc of litigation to come, says Andersen Jones.
An "incredible friend" of the state governor, a beloved grandmother and a respected boss were among the victims of a mass shooting at a bank in Kentucky on Monday.

Friends and family have been sharing tributes online about the four people killed in the shooting.

Governor Andy Beshear said the community will mourn and miss the "amazing people" lost.

Police shot and killed the 25-year-old gunman.

Thomas Elliott, 63

Thomas Elliott was senior vice president at Old National Bank and well connected in the Louisville community.

"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," Mr Beshear said.

"One of the people I talk to most in the world and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend."

On Facebook, Mr Elliott Facebook shared a post in support of then-gubernatorial candidate Mr Beshear in 2019.

Louisville's former mayor, Greg Fischer, said he knew Mr Elliott for 40 years. He described Mr Elliott as someone who got "great joy out of helping people and seeing people succeed".

The two became close during Mr Fischer's first run for mayor when Mr Elliott signed on to be his campaign finance manager.

Mr Elliott was a family man devoted to his wife, two daughters and two stepdaughters, Mr Fischer said.

Florida Senator Rick Scott said Mr Elliott was his friend and banker for many years, writing on Twitter that the news "is very shocking and sad".

Mr Elliott was involved with the Muhammad Ali Center and was a close friend of Lonnie Ali, wife of the late boxer Muhammad Ali.

She told the Associated Press, "Tommy was such a warm, wonderful, funny, kind guy."

Mr Elliott was previously the chairman of the board at a hospital, Baptist Health Louisville.

Baptist Health's president, Larry Gray, said: "he was a friend to many who believed in making our community a better place to live and thrive."

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Juliana Farmer, 45

Ms Farmer worked as an analyst for Old National Bank, according to her LinkedIn profile. She was a mother and grandmother.

She posted on Facebook the morning she died, announcing a fifth grandchild would be born in September.

After her death, her son, J'yeon Christopher Chambers, wrote on Facebook. "Like what am I supposed to do now," he said. "They took my [expletive] mommmmm!!!!!!!!!!!"

Her daughter, A'lia Chambers, also shared her grief on Facebook, writing, "I can't live without you mama  I'm your only daughter what am I supposed to do without you mama."

"My beautiful, sweet niece", wrote Farmer's uncle Michael Williams. "My heart is broken."

One friend, Brentney Owsley, wrote on Facebook: "You were just starting to live . The best mom, the best friend, the best grandma the best listener."

Joshua Barrick, 40

Joshua Barrick was the senior vice president of commercial real estate banking at Old National Bank, according to his LinkedIn page. He was a father of two as well as a parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish.

"Our hearts are heavy, they are broken, and we are searching for answers," read a Facebook post from the Parish.

The church gathered on Monday evening to hold a service honouring Mr Barrick's life, where pastor Shayne Duval said the family was in shock.

"I've been with his wife. I've been with his children. I've been with his brother and members of this community," he said. "Everyone is just kind of walking around in a fog like, 'Did this just really happen?'"

Mr Duvall said Mr Barrick was a charismatic and charming man who volunteered to coach basketball for elementary school students.

James Tutt, 64

A native of Frankfort, Kentucky, James Tutt was the market executive for the southern region of Old National Bank, according to his LinkedIn page. He attended the University of Kentucky for both undergraduate and graduate degrees, according to his social media accounts.

Mr Tutt was a husband and grandfather.

"Heartbroken is the only word I can use to describe how I feel," wrote former colleague Laura Dement on Facebook. "I really don't have words to describe the depth of the feelings."

She said she had worked with Mr Tutt for three years.

Another former colleague, Mike Balog, wrote a tribute to Mr Tutt on Facebook: "You were a good man. A good father. A good boss.

"Thank you for giving me an internship at Bank One and introducing me to the world of banking. You are already missed."

Deana Eckert, 57

Deana Eckert was an executive administrative officer at Old National Bank. In 2019, she won Old National Bank's ONe Vision Annual Award, nominated by colleagues as someone who outperformed expectations and modelled the bank's values.

Louisville Metro Police shared news of Ms Eckert's death late on Monday night.

Ms Eckert's family also shared news of her death: "she underwent multiple surgeries today but did not survive", local journalist Shay McAlister reported.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg described Ms Eckert as "a very kind and a very thoughtful person".

"She was a wonderful woman who will be missed," he said.

Her Facebook says she was originally from Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
A memorial for Joshua Barrick is on display, late Monday, April 10, 2023, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Louisville, Ky. A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at the bank Monday morning, killing Barrick and multiple others, including a close friend of Kentuckys governor, while livestreaming the attack on Instagram, authorities said. | Claire Galofaro, Associated Press

On Monday morning, a gunman started firing a rifle in the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked  killing five people and injuring eight more.

Police officials at the Louisville Metro Police Department responded to reported shots at 8:38 a.m. Monday, and arrived at the scene in an estimated three minutes, reported The New York Times. Connor Sturgeon, the 25-year-old who was identified by police as the shooter, worked at the bank and reportedly opened fire at the morning staff meeting after starting a livestream of the tragedy.

The gunman was shot and killed on site after shooting at police officers, reported CNN. Two officers are injured  Officer Nickolas Wilt, a 26-year-old rookie who graduated from the academy 10 days prior, is in critical condition undergoing brain surgery.

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. pic.twitter.com/yPNZBfAl7I  LMPD (@LMPD) April 10, 2023

Four bank employees killed during the active shooting were identified by the police department as James Tutt, Joshua Barrick, Juliana Farmer and Thomas Elliott.

Employee Deana Eckbert was critically injured and later died at the hospital.

Deana Eckbert, 57

Eckbert worked in banking for 31 years, per USA Today. At the time of her death, she had been working as an executive administrative officer in the bank. She was known as a mentor to several other employees and for always going the extra mile.

Her family said that she didnt survive after undergoing several surgeries after the shooting, reported BBC.

James Jim Tutt, 64

A commercial real estate market executive for the southern branches of the bank, Tutt was also on the board of the Oldhamm-La Grange Development Authority in previous years, reported Lousiville Courier Journal.

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He added a tremendous amount of insights as we went about developing our office park in LaGrange, Oldham County Judge Executive David Voegele told the Courier Journal. Hes a very high quality, well-thought-of individual.  Its just sickening to hear whats happened.

Joshua Barrick, 40

Barrick at the time of the shooting was a senior vice president of commercial real estate banking. He was a husband, father to two children and a parishioner at Holy Trinity Catholic church, reported Fox 19. Father Shayne Duval of the church said Barricks family and friends are in a fog following the shooting. Duval called Barrick a likable, kind, big guy with a bubbly personality.

You could tell he loved his family. He loved his faith. He loved his community. And he just loved life, Duval told Fox 19.

Juliana Farmer, 45

Farmer worked at the bank as a loan analyst, reported BBC. She was also a mother and grandmother to five grandchildren.

Her friend Brentney Owsley wrote on Facebook, You were JUST STARTING TO LIVE . The best mom, the best friend, the best grandma the best listener

Thomas Tommy Elliot, 63

Elliot was a senior vice president of the bank and had served previously on the Baptist Health Louisville hospital board as chairman.

He was a close friend of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, reported local station Wave 3.

Tommy Elliot helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad, Beshear said. He is one of the people I talk to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend.

Once again, our nation is in mourning after a senseless act of gun violence, President Joe Biden said in a White House press release. 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.
No arrests have been made after a 27-year-old man was fatally stabbed at a downtown Raleigh convenience store last Thursday afternoon, Raleigh police said.

Mark Garrity Jr. of Cary was hospitalized and died two days later from injuries he suffered at Tazs Supermarket One on South Wilmington Street.

Police are questioning Taiseer Taz Zarka, the stores owner after witnesses alleged that he injured Garrity, WRAL and CBS 17 reported.

Store employees said an argument broke out after Zarka accused Garrity of stealing from his store, media outlets reported.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told The News & Observer that no charges had been filed by her office as of Tuesday.

Police responded to the store at 3:41 p.m Thursday but have not released details about the weapon used, who it belonged to or what the two men may have been arguing about.

Police spokesman Lt. Jason Borneo cited the ongoing investigation and did not answer questions from The N&O about the knife and how many times Garrity was stabbed.

Whats known about man stabbed

Garrity was placed on probation the week before the stabbing, after being convicted March 30 on a charge of felony breaking and entering, according to the N.C. Department of Correction.

He broke into Istanbul Restaurant in Cary in early March on Kildaire Farm Road and was arrested March 5, his arrest warrant stated. He was charged with felony breaking and entering and felony larceny after breaking and entering.

Restaurant owner Deniz Bozal told The N&O by phone that Garrity had stolen power tools worth a few hundred dollars

Bozal saw Garrity, whom he did not know, on security camera footage and reported it to police., he said.

I was not worried about the tools, I was worried he would come back again, Bozal said.

Bozal said he was sorry to hear about his death.

Before his March arrest, Garrity was last arrested in 2020 on a heroin possession charge, according to a warrant.

Zarka was previously interviewed in 2020 as part of The N&Os coverage of downtown business owners facing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and damage from protests.

Zarka stated his opposition to businesses being harmed during protests.

Carry it peacefully, and there is measures for everything, Zarka said. There is no need for violence.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directly responded to Yevgeny Prigozhin, Financier of the Wagner Private Military Company, regarding his statements on the agenda of Russia's presidency of the UN Security Council, the first official response of a Russian state institution to his criticism. The Kremlin keeps undermining Prigozhin's reputation, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War.

Source: ISW

Details: Prigozhin reportedly criticised the work of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Africa on 7 April. He said it was "doing absolutely nothing" and that the Wagner PMC was facing "enormous difficulties" in interacting with the region's ministry and other government agencies.

The institute states that the Foreign Ministry responded to Prigozhin's criticism on 9 April. The ministry said it was ready to cooperate with Russian companies and entrepreneurs to promote Russian business abroad and that several upcoming events during Russia's presidency of the UN Security Council would be devoted to African issues.

Following the Foreign Ministry's statement, Prigozhin has published a list of 15 issues that he believes require urgent discussion in the UN Security Council, most of which relate to supporting Russia's actions in Ukraine and Africa.

Quote: "The Russian MFAs attack on Prigozhin is a continuation of the Kremlins efforts to discredit and undermine Prigozhin. The MFA, other Russian government institutions, and Kremlin affiliates likely seek to shut down any attempts by Prigozhin to garner public or political support," ISW stated

"Prigozhin likely criticized the Russian MFA agenda in the UNSC in an effort to portray himself as a capable statesman able to influence foreign affairs and to garner support from the Russian ultranationalist community," the report said

ISW added that "Prigozhin continues to attempt to aggrandize himself by exaggerating Wagner forces role in Russian successes in Ukraine and using his prominence in the Russian nationalist information space to criticize the Russian government".

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
(Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich had "violated Russian law" and been caught "red-handed," one day after the U.S. State Department officially designated him as having been "wrongfully detained."

Russia's federal security service arrested Gershkovich last month on espionage charges widely decried as bogus by the White House, other Western countries, the Wall Street Journal, dozens of media organisations and human rights groups.

The United States' determination that he was "wrongfully detained" means it believes he was targeted primarily because he is an American citizen, and its transfer of the case from the State Department to the office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs raises the issue's political profile.

"We're making it real clear that it's totally illegal what's happening and we declared it, so -- changes the dynamic," U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters.

Gershkovich's family said later they had spoken with Biden.

"We are encouraged that the State Department has officially designated Evan as wrongfully detained. We appreciate President Biden's call to us today, assuring us that the U.S. government is doing everything in its power to bring him home as quickly as possible," the family said in a statement.

Asked about the State Department's move, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated Russia's position that Gershkovich broke the law.

He said Gershkovich had "been caught red-handed and violated the laws of the Russian Federation", before adding: "This is what he's suspected of, but of course, the court will make a decision".

More than 99% of criminal cases in Russia end in a conviction and the country has long been criticised by rights monitors for a lack of judicial independence.

Russia has presented no evidence to support the case against Gershkovich, which is proceeding in secret because Russia says the case materials are confidential.

Story continues

Next week, a court will hear an appeal from Gershkovich's legal team against an order that he be held in pre-trial detention at Moscow's Lefortovo prison until May 29.

Another detainee, Paul Whelan, was allowed to speak to his parents on Monday for the first time in 12 days and was aware of Gershkovich's case, his brother David said.

Whelan, a former Marine who has been held in Russia since 2018, was not included when the United States secured the release of basketball star Brittney Griner in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout in December.

"Paul's fear of being left behind a third time was apparently palpable in his conversation with our parents yesterday," David Whelan said in a statement. "It would be an unconscionable betrayal."

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis and Mark Heinrich)
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes answers questions on March 7, 2023, in Phoenix.

In the closing days of the 2022 election, The Arizona Republic asked Democrat attorney general candidate Kris Mayes about her stance on the death penalty.

Mayes replied, The death penalty is the law of Arizona. Any attorney general takes an oath to faithfully enforce the law.

Yet, less than 30 days after taking office, Mayes joined with Gov. Katie Hobbs to halt executions in Arizona, taking the fate of our states most heinous criminals into their own hands and away from the Arizona judges and juries that convicted them.

Aaron Gunches was convicted of murder

Recently, Mayes commitment to her liberal agenda allowed convicted murderer Aaron Gunches to avoid justice.

In 2003, Gunches was prosecuted and convicted by Democrat Attorney General Terry Goddard, pleading guilty to the kidnapping and the bloody first-degree murder of his girlfriends former husband.

The body of Gunches victim was found in the desert, having been shot multiple times.

Gunches also twice shot an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer, Robert Flaherty, during a routine traffic stop.

Per the Attorney Generals Office, but for Officer Flahertys bulletproof vest, he would have lost his life.

The justice system worked in his case

Death row prisoner Aaron Gunches appears remotely for clemency hearing on March 23, 2023

Bullet casings from the scene of Officer Flannerys shooting were matched to casings found at the crime scene where Gunches murder victim was discovered.

Following his guilty plea, Gunches was sentenced to death in 2008; in 2010 the Arizona Supreme Court found an error in the sentencing proceeding and the case was remanded for new sentencing.

In 2013, Gunches was again sentenced to death. After years of appeals, in November 2022, Gunches himself asked the Arizona Supreme Court to issue a death warrant, so that justice may be lawfully served and give closure to the victims family.

Story continues

In March 2023, following Arizona law, the Arizona Supreme Court granted his warrant of execution for death.

In sum, the criminal justice process worked.

Mayes and Hobbs want to ignore all that

Mayes and Hobbs have decided that their political agendas should take priority over serving justice and protecting crime victims.

Just last month they took Gunches case to the Arizona Supreme Court, which ruled that, although a writ of execution has been issued, the governor is under no duty to carry it out.

Arizona has 110 prisoners on death row  21 of whom have exhausted all appeals but who will not face justice because of an attorney general who is refusing to request writs of execution and a governor unwilling to execute convicted murderers.

How did this happen? Another convicted killer is back in court

It is not the job of our elected officials to pick winners and losers, nor to push the pause button on due process when its politically advantageous.

Our state cannot become one that ignores the rule of law.

Send this to the ballot to enforce the law

The longer Mayes and Hobbs hold water for Arizonas most atrocious criminals, the longer families of victims go without justice.

And the more taxpayer money is wasted caring for those who have been convicted and sentenced by Arizonas courts for their crimes.

I implore our Arizona Legislature to work with Arizonas 15 county attorneys to draft and send a voter referendum to the 2024 ballot requiring that:

a death warrant be issued in cases where a jury has imposed the death penalty,

within 90 days of a death row inmate exhausting their available appeals, and

that the warrant be carried out by the Department of Corrections within 90 days after issuance.

We must ensure that justice is always served in Arizona, even when politicians like Mayes and Hobbs refuse to enforce the law.

Rodney Glassman is an Air Force prosecutor and private sector attorney in Phoenix. Reach him at rodney@slaviceklaw.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kris Mayes refuses to uphold the death penalty. Don't let her renege
This exclusive article is adapted from former USA TODAY investigative reporter Alison Youngs forthcoming book "Pandoras Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and a World at Risk," which will be released April 25. In this excerpt, Young reveals for the first time details of a December 2019 lab safety breach involving one of the worlds most infamous lab-created gain of function viruses  and the efforts that were made to downplay the event, avoid notifying health authorities and oversight bodies, and keep the public and policymakers in the dark.

Inside the high-security Influenza Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, two experienced scientists were pulling ferrets out of their HEPA-filtered cages on a Monday in December 2019. Another researcher, still in training, was also in the room to watch and learn.

One by one, the animals were put into a biosafety cabinet, where a solution was washed into their nostrils. Its a procedure used to collect evidence of infection, and this particular experiment involved exposing the animals to a highly controversial lab-engineered strain of H5N1 avian influenza virus.

The virus they were working with that day was far from ordinary, and there should have been no room for the safety breach that was about to happen and the oversight failures that followed.

The experiment underway involved one of two infamous lab-made bird flu viruses that had alarmed scientists around the world when their creation became widely known nearly a decade earlier. In each case, scientists had taken an avian influenza virus that was mostly dangerous to birds and manipulated it in ways that potentially increased its threat to humans.

In nature, the H5N1 virus has rarely infected humans. But when people have been sickened, usually through close contact with infected birds, more than half died. So it is fortunate that the H5N1 virus isnt capable of spreading easily from person to person. If the virus were ever to evolve in ways that gave it that ability, it could cause a devastating pandemic.

Story continues

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'Gain of function' research created controversial flu viruses

And yet in late 2011 the world learned that two scientific teams  one in Wisconsin, led by virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka, and another in the Netherlands, led by virologist Ron Fouchier  had potentially pushed the virus in that direction. Each of these labs had created H5N1 viruses that had gained the ability to spread through the air between ferrets, the animal model used to study how flu viruses might behave in humans.

The ultimate goal of this work was to help protect the world from future pandemics, and the research was supported with words and funding by two of the most prominent scientists in the United States: Dr. Francis S. Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIHs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Kawaoka contended it would be irresponsible not to study how the virus might evolve in nature. Some people have argued that the risks of such studies  misuse and accidental release, for example  outweigh the benefits. I counter that H5N1 viruses circulating in nature already pose a threat, he said at the time.

Yet these groundbreaking scientific feats set off a heated international debate over the ethics and safety of gain of function research. The controversy continues to this day.

Concerns about the safety of biological research have taken on heightened urgency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and growing acceptance of the possibility that it was caused by a lab accident in China. In February, it was revealed that analysts at the U.S. Department of Energy had joined the FBI in leaning toward a lab accident as the most likely source of the pandemic, though other U.S. intelligence agencies lean toward a natural origin or are undecided.

Where's the apology?: COVID may have leaked out of a Chinese lab after all. So much for 'misinformation.'

Former U.S. surgeon general: We'll never know the full truth about COVID-19 origins. Political infighting won't help.

The story of how the H5N1 viruses came to be created  and how the University of Wisconsin and the Kawaoka lab would later respond to the 2019 safety breach during the ferret experiment  raises uncomfortable questions about the tremendous trust the world places in these kinds of labs.

We are trusting that every hour of every day their layers of laboratory containment equipment are working properly, that all of their employees are sufficiently trained, qualified and attentive, and that their written safety and incident response protocols are followed in real-life practice.

When something goes wrong, we are trusting that the labs will immediately notify local public health officials who are responsible for preventing outbreaks and the federal authorities who oversee the safety of experiments with genetically engineered organisms.

Given that so much about this work is shrouded in secrecy, what happened in Wisconsin raises the question: Should the public give this trust blindly?

'Miscommunication' over quarantine alarmed NIH a decade ago

In 2013, six years before the 2019 safety incident with the ferret experiment at Kawaokas lab in Wisconsin, another member of his research team accidentally pierced their finger with a needle that had an engineered H5N1 virus on it.

It was a moment of poor judgment, human error around 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16, 2013, that set off a series of emergency calls that would eventually raise concerns in the nations capital.

An expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told officials at Wisconsins state health department that while the likelihood the scientist would develop symptoms of H5N1 was low, the needlestick should be considered a serious exposure and treated aggressively. The chief medical officer at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services told the university that the researcher would need to quarantine for seven days and take a treatment-level dose of Tamiflu twice a day for 10 days.

Six months earlier, while seeking funding and approval for the controversial experiments, Kawaoka had assured officials at the National Institutes of Health that the university had a designated quarantine apartment.

But it turned out that wasnt the case.

So lab officials told the researchers family to pack up their belongings and go to a hotel. And the injured researcher was sent to quarantine at home.

Officials in the NIH office responsible for overseeing research with engineered organisms were alarmed to learn that the university didnt have a dedicated quarantine facility for such emergencies.

This policy is not what was communicated to us in Dr. Kawaokas application to perform research with mammalian transmissible strains of H5N1, wrote Dr. Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay, acting director of the NIH Office of Biotechnology Activities, in a letter to the university.

A researchers home, the NIH told the university, was not an appropriate quarantine site for Kawaokas high-risk studies because influenza viruses can be transmissible through the air, and many residences are in high-occupancy buildings, like apartments, that share air exchange and other infrastructure.

Trying to provide an explanation, university officials told NIH there had been a miscommunication between Kawaoka and the universitys administration. Wisconsin officials noted that the needlestick was not expected to put the researcher at high risk of infection, and that this engineered virus was determined not to be a mammalian-transmissible strain.

The scientist with the needlestick completed quarantine without showing symptoms or becoming ill.

But even if a high-risk incident occurred with a more dangerous strain, UW officials told the NIH, the lab worker would still be quarantined at home.

Could an accident have caused COVID-19?: Why the Wuhan lab-leak theory shouldn't be dismissed

'I remember it very well': Dr. Fauci describes a secret 2020 meeting to talk about COVID origins

It was a stunning change by the university to a critical safeguard that federal officials thought was in place for the Kawaoka labs research. The NIH demanded the university find a dedicated quarantine facility outside of workers residences, such as a hospital isolation room, or face the suspension or termination of its grant funding, correspondence shows.

The university didnt want to use the UW Hospital as a quarantine site.

Their concerns included that researchers might be unwilling to come forward about potential exposures if they faced being confined in hospital isolation rooms. The university and its medical team also worried about the increased potential for the public to learn about its lab accidents, noting in correspondence that it would be much harder to control the spread of information and as a result there would be a higher probability of incorrect information being told to (the) general public and potentially members of the media.

The university eventually agreed to NIHs demands. And on Dec. 24, 2013, the NIH gave its approval for Kawaokas lab to resume its research manipulating H5N1 virus strains that were transmissible to mammals.

Safety concerns led to US pause on 'gain of function' studies

By 2014, there was a growing discomfort at the highest levels of the U.S. government about the risk of an accident with an engineered virus.

Wisconsins needlestick incident, which drew questions within NIH but wasnt publicly known, was soon followed by a series of high-profile accidents at federal labs in 2014  from safety breaches with anthrax and avian influenza at the CDC to the discovery of forgotten vials of smallpox that had been kept for decades in a storage room on the NIH campus.

The discovery of forgotten vials of deadly smallpox virus in a cold storage room on the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Md., was one of several incidents raising lab safety concerns in 2014.

In October 2014, citing these federal lab incidents, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced a moratorium on new federal funding for certain gain-of-function research while the risks and benefits of the controversial experiments were studied.

The funding pause remained in place for three years until it was finally lifted in December 2017. But it was only in 2019 that some of the halted experiments were quietly allowed to begin again under a revised federal oversight process, which was criticized for keeping secret the details of the new experiments and the basis for the government approvals.

The Kawaoka lab was one of the first to receive approval and NIH funding.

Not long after the Kawaoka lab was greenlighted in 2019 to resume work with its infamous lab-created H5N1 influenza virus  the one that had helped spark the worldwide debate over gain-of-function research  there was an accident.

And in the days and weeks that followed, efforts were made to downplay the significance of the event, avoid notifying public health officials and oversight bodies, and keep the public and policymakers in the dark.

A lot was at stake.

Not only would the incident draw attention to safety issues at the UW lab, but it also would raise larger questions about the rigor and effectiveness of how the U.S. government was overseeing the riskiest experiments in which scientists are creating enhanced pathogens with pandemic potential.

More clues could be found: Deleted COVID-19 genetic fingerprints show it's still possible to dig for lab leak evidence

Scientist's air hose detached in lab while working with engineered virus

When the accident happened on Dec. 9, 2019, Kawaokas three scientists were working in an enhanced biosafety level 3 agriculture lab suite at the University of Wisconsins Influenza Research Institute.

This facility had been built specifically for Kawaokas research and featured labs with negative air pressure, watertight and airtight seals, double HEPA-filtered exhaust air and redundant air handling systems.

The experiment they were performing involved a virus whose name describes the components of its engineering: VN1203HA(N158D/N224K/ Q226L/T318I)/CA04. It was the virus described in Kawaokas controversial H5N1 gain-of-function experiments that had been published nearly eight years earlier, the NIH would later confirm in written responses to my questions.

It was the virus that had gained the concerning ability to spread between ferrets and had raised fears it could do this among humans.

On that December day, two experienced researchers from Kawaokas team were helping train a colleague as they collected samples from ferrets. The animals were part of a transmission experiment and had been in contact with other ferrets infected with this engineered H5N1 virus or another wild-type flu strain.

The three scientists wore several layers of personal protection equipment. One of their most important pieces of personal protective equipment was the air-purifying respirator that each wore to ensure they didnt breathe any air from inside the laboratory. Even though they were using a biosafety cabinet, there was always the potential for virus to be present in the rooms air.

Darren Berger and Kelly Moore describe the personal protective equipment worn by a researcher at the Influenza Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2014. During the tour, the high-security research facility was closed down for annual decontamination, cleaning and maintenance.

These kinds of high-tech respirators encase workers heads in a protective hood with a clear face-plate. A blower attached to a belt delivers purified air through what looks like a vacuum cleaner hose that runs up the scientists back and attaches to the hood behind their head.

Labs are responsible for training workers how to properly assemble and use this kind of equipment.

As one of the senior researchers prepared to start collecting samples from the next round of ferrets, the trainee realized there was a problem with their respirator.

The powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) hose had somehow disconnected from the unit that supplied safe, filtered air. Instead, the detached hose dangled loose in the labs potentially contaminated air.

The hose was immediately reconnected, Wisconsin officials later said, and one of the experienced researchers radioed out to the labs operations manager as the trainee began the process of exiting the lab, incident records show.

The trainee was initially told to follow the labs quarantine procedure to keep them from spreading the virus if they were infected. The university would later say this was done out of an abundance of caution. But at some point, a lab compliance official released the worker from quarantine.

It is unclear whether this quarantine release happened within minutes, hours or days of the incident. Nor is it clear whether university officials first consulted with any public health and oversight agencies.

Kawaoka and university officials wouldnt agree to be interviewed and provided little information in response to my questions.

State and local health officials weren't notified about lab accident

If there were ever a virus requiring that everyone follow safety and incident reporting rules, this was it. The system of oversight in place that day had been created in response to the international furor over this very virus.

Yet, after the trainees respirator hose disconnected in December 2019, the university didnt notify local or state public health officials about the incident or consult with them before discontinuing the trainees quarantine, despite representations going back years indicating this would occur following any potential exposure.

The university says it didnt need to notify them. Thats because UW officials, in consultation with the universitys health experts, made their own determination that no potential exposure had occurred.

Officials at Public Health Madison & Dane County, the local health department, told me they defer to the universitys judgment and expertise when it comes to lab safety issues. The department said it does not need to be notified of something that was determined to not be a significant exposure. It is also not incumbent on us to further evaluate whether there was a significant exposure, if UW reports that there was not.

Alison Young is an investigative reporter in Washington, D.C., and serves as the Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Reporting for the University of Missouri School of Journalism. From 2009 to 2019, she was a reporter and member of USA TODAYs national investigative team.

The university also didnt immediately alert other key oversight entities that the public relies upon to ensure the safety of this kind of particularly risky research.

UW officials waited two months  until Feb. 10, 2020  to file a report that should have been made immediately to the NIH Office of Science Policy, which oversees U.S. research with genetically manipulated organisms like the engineered H5N1 influenza virus involved in the experiment.

Records show the universitys internal biosafety committee, which had approved the Kawaoka labs research, wasnt apprised of the Dec. 9, 2019, incident until Feb. 5, 2020.

The university was less slow in reporting the incident to the federal funding officials at NIHs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which provided the grant for the controversial experiments. But UW still waited 10 days  until Dec. 19, 2019  to report the incident to NIAID program staff, according to information provided to me in writing by NIH officials.

The grants terms required immediate notification in the event of an illness or exposure. It was UWs contention, however, that neither of the two criteria were met because there was no reasonable risk of virus exposure, NIH officials told me. When the university eventually notified grant officials, it said it was doing so in the spirit of transparency and responsible conduct of research, the NIH said.

UW officials, who for months wouldnt answer many of my questions about the incident, eventually said that Kawaoka informed his program officer at NIH in early December, before following up with an incident summary on Dec. 19.

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As I pressed NIH to reconcile the agencys statement with UWs account, a few more details emerged. NIH said that the first time UW contacted anyone at the agency was on Dec. 12, 2019  three days after the incident. Thats when UW first requested a phone call from an NIAID program officer. A first discussion about the incident happened on Dec. 13, and on Dec. 16, during a follow-up discussion, NIAID staff asked UW to send in a written description of the incident.

Both NIAID Director Anthony Fauci and NIAID Principal Deputy Director Hugh Auchincloss were briefed about the incident, the NIH said in a written response to my questions. But NIH would not tell me when Fauci and Auchincloss were briefed or whether they provided guidance on how the UW incident should be handled.

UW officials said Kawaokas lab immediately reported the incident to the CDCs select agent lab regulators. But the university didnt answer my questions about why the incident was immediately reported to the CDC  and not NIH  given UWs stated position that there wasnt any potential exposure.

It is unclear whether Kawaokas team consulted the CDC in advance of the universitys decision to release the researcher from quarantine. CDC officials  including Dr. Samuel Edwin, who heads the select agent program  didnt answer my questions about this.

University notified federal oversight team 2 months after lab accident

When the university finally notified the NIH Office of Science Policy about the ferret incident  two months after it happened  UW officials unsuccessfully tried to justify their significant delay by saying the incident was not reportable  because even though the trainees PAPR tube had detached, in their view there was no potential exposure.

The universitys justifications, records show, included that the ferrets had been handled inside a biosafety cabinet and that the contact ferrets had been exposed to infected ferrets for only about 24 hours and were not shedding virus yet.

The university also told NIH officials that the air the observer would have breathed during the few seconds the hose was disconnected would have come from inside the PAPR hood, which would have been HEPA- filtered before the hose disconnected.

The labs report to the NIH doesnt say how they determined this.

The reason UW finally told the NIH oversight office about the incident was because lab regulators at the Federal Select Agent Program  as well as the NIH office that funded the research  recommended it be reported.

The report UW finally submitted to the NIH Office of Science Policy includes the following notation: *Confidential  do not release this information without written authorization of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"Pandoras Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and a World at Risk," by investigative reporter Alison Young is scheduled for release on April 25.

What were the consequences of UWs delayed reporting of the incident? The NIH Office of Science Policy told me it reminded the institution about its reporting responsibilities, and noted that it should have been immediately reported to OSP.

If NIH delivered that message, UW officials say they never heard it. This is certainly the kind of information we would have remembered or recorded in notes taken at the time, a UW spokesperson said by email.

UW repeatedly pointed to a short email from an NIH analyst thanking the university for its Feb. 10, 2020, report and adding that the actions taken in response to this incident appear appropriate. NIH says this email referred only to UWs biosafety actions, not to the universitys failure to file an immediate report.

In the end, the trainee apparently didnt become infected. But how the university and the lab oversight system handled the incident should be cause for concern.

It is all too easy to sensationalize this research, to misconstrue events, and misrepresent the nature of incidents rightfully reported by institutions to regulatory agencies, said Kelly Tyrrell, UWs director of media relations, in a email that spoke in broad brushstrokes about the importance of research, the humanity of researchers, and how sometimes there can be differences in interpretations of incident reporting requirements and about regulations.

Tyrrell said that UW takes safety seriously, and that the Kawaoka lab has never had an incident where public health or safety have been put at risk.

There are few people in the world trained to understand the nature of the pathogens involved, the biosafety and biosecurity measures in place and the protocols developed and followed, Tyrrell continued. Most people are also not equipped to appropriately evaluate the risk. It is unfortunate that some seek to capitalize on this knowledge gap.

Alison Young is an investigative reporter in Washington, D.C., and serves as the Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Reporting for the University of Missouri School of Journalism. From 2009 to 2019, she was a reporter and member of USA TODAYs national investigative team. She has reported on laboratory accidents for 15 years. Her first book, "Pandoras Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and a World at Risk," is scheduled for release on April 25.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How UW scientists tried to avoid reporting a virus research accident
Romney Meadows illustration

LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Thomas Brown IV called police about 12:55 a.m. Tuesday from the 3000 block of Phipps Court in Romney Meadows to report he'd been shot, according to police.

Brown, 28, told officers he'd been shot in a nearby apartment complex, but he didn't say specifically where, according to police. He said a person accidentally shot him in the leg, but he didn't provide investigators the name of the person, according to police.

The bullet only grazed Brown's leg and did not penetrate into his tissue, police said.

Paramedics took Brown to the hospital where he was examined, treated and released, police said.

Investigators have not been able to find a crime scene or a suspect.

This is the second shooting incident in the Romney Meadows Apartments area of Old Romney Road and Indiana 25 on the city's southwest side in the past two weeks.

More: 1-year-old shot, killed by 5-year-old who found gun

On March 28, officers arrived at an apartment in the 500 block of Westchester Lane East to find a 16-month-old boy shot by a 5-year-old sibling who found a gun, according to police. The toddler died at the scene.

That shooting remains under investigation.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette man reports he was shot near Romney Meadows apartments
With the help of a recently rebounded microscopic animal, Lake Tahoes famed blue waters are making their biggest comeback in nearly 40 years.

University of California Davis' Tahoe Environmental Research Center has looked to better understand the physics and ecology of the lake by monitoring its clarity for the past 50 years, which helps to determine and address causes of change.

Researchers attribute the improved clarity to a resurgence of the lakes native zooplankton, according to the 2022 Lake Tahoe Clarity report released Monday.

Theyve provided a natural clean-up crew to help restore the lakes famous blue waters, scientists said in the report.

Lake Tahoe Oct. 10, 2019 Lake Tahoe 2019

In an aerial view from a drone, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche warm-up prior to the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort on February 20, 2021 in Stateline, Nevada.

Lake Tahoe experienced an increase in algae growth and the presence of very fine particles, such as silt and clay, in the late 1960's through the turn of the century, which led to a decline in clarity, according to the report. The phytoplankton Cyclotella, a single-celled algae, has impacted clarity in most years.

But over the past decade, researchers have seen an improvement in winter clarity.

Using the Secchi disk (a white dinner plate) to measure visibility in the waters, researchers measured the average annual clarity at nearly 72 feet, the clearest it has been since the 1980s, according to the report.

Officials in both California and Nevada, which share a border at Lake Tahoe, hope to return the lake clarity to its historic 97.4 feet, the report said.

UC Davis researchers used the Secchi disk to measure clarity in Lake Tahoe. The latest report for 2022 said water clarity reached 71.7 feet.

Mike Spillane of San Carlos, Calif., enjoys the early morning light on Lake Tahoe while paddling his silver canoe to his lakefront cabin Thursday morning August 15, 1996 in Kings Beach, Calif. A light morning fog clouds the mountains but sunny warm weather is expected to continue thoughout the week.

Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe are seen on Jan. 26, 2022.

How do zooplankton change a lake's clarity?

Zooplankton  which began to decline in the 1960s due to the growth of its primary predator, the Mysis shrimp  can help improve the lakes clarity because they eat clouding particles.

The Daphnia and Bosmina zooplankton species have unexpectedly crashed to dangerously low levels over the years, plummeting to record lows in 2021.

We expect the impact of Daphnia and Bosmina to grow over 2023, and clarity may return to 1970s levels  despite the expected large runoff from this years record snowpack, said Brant Allen, the research centers boat captain.

Story continues

The lakes particle levels broke a record high in 2021, likely due to wildfires, which lowered its clarity, scientists said. 2021 was also the second-worst clarity year recorded, at a depth of 61 feet. 2017 was the murkiest year.

Scientists that expect a rebound of the Mysis shrimp populations are discussing population control measures to preserve the lakes clarity.

The Tahoe Environmental Research Centers 2023 State of the Lake report is expected to be released in July, and they expect the clarity improvement to continue through 2023.

More coverage by USA TODAY

Camille Fine is a trending visual producer on USA TODAY's NOW team.

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clarity in Lake Tahoe: Clearest water in decades, UC Davis report says
Story update: April 11, 2023:Silas Matthew Hesselberg was sentenced to a 20 year, 4 month prison sentence by Shasta County Superior Court Judge Monique McKee. Hesselberg will be required to serve at least 85% of the sentence, which was delivered on April 6.

The Shasta County District Attorneys Office had asked that Hesselberg receive the maximum sentence of 32 years and 4 months.Hesselberg, of Sacramento, was found guilty in February of attempted voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semi-automatic firearm after firing on two people in Lakehead in 2021, putting one in the hospital with a serious brain injury.

Original story: The Sacramento man on trial for firing on two people in Lakehead in 2021  putting one in the hospital with a serious brain injury  was found guilty Wednesday of attempted voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semi-automatic firearm.

The Shasta County Superior Court jury found Silas Matthew Hesselberg not guilty on the more serious charges of attempted murder of the two friends, who authorities said were on an outing with family members at the Salt Creek Inlet near the old Highway 99 bridge on April 18, 2021.

"We're not fully satisfied," said Daisha Barber outside the courthouse on Wednesday, standing beside her husband, William Travis Butler. "It's a very hard picture to paint for 12 people who weren't there to see what we saw, to go through what we have."

"The facts were pretty heinous," Daisha Barber added, saying that she considered the incident "full of hate. One of the biggest lessons I learned is that hate is real."

According to Shasta County Sheriff's Office detectives, Hesselberg "went out of his way" to start a confrontation. He ended up shooting the two men, including Barber of Shasta Lake, who was hospitalized with a serious brain injury.

Barber's friend  a 41-year-old Black man who has not been named by officials to protect his privacy  was treated for his injuries and released, according to authorities.

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The jury's verdict agreed with a hate crime allegation involving Hesselberg's initial target in the shooting, the 41-year-old friend.

More: Shasta Lake man recovers after being shot defending friend from hate crime

The jury did not agree with hate crime allegations against Hesselberg for Barber, the man Hesselberg shot in the head. Barber, who is white, had come to the aid of his friend, according to court documents.

The jury also agreed with a special misdemeanor allegation accusing Hesselberg of engaging in "violent conduct that indicates a serious danger to society."

The jury failed to reach consensus on charges of child endangerment involving two youths who were present during the incident. At the time, they were 6 and 13 years old.

Silas Matthew Hesselberg

Late morning on Wednesday, Judge Monique McKee ordered jurors to resume their deliberations on the misdemeanor child endangerment charges.

The jurors remained deadlocked and those charges were ultimately dismissed, said Matthew Izzi, the attorney representing Hesselberg.

Sentencing in the case is scheduled to take place on April 6, said Izzi. The victims can address the court at the sentencing hearing if they choose to, the DA's office said.

"The sentencing needs to be held strong," said Daisha Barber after the criminal verdicts were read. "It's been two years. We just need to be able to move past this and move on. It's hurtful that we're still living through it."

More: Shasta County hate crime trial: double-shooting suspect takes the stand

According to Shasta County Sheriff's Office detectives, Hesselberg "went out of his way" to start a confrontation at the Salt Creek Inlet.

During court proceedings last week, Hesselberg told the jury he considered himself to be a victim in the incident.

Hesselberg pleaded not guilty and said he had lost two years of his life for charges that are unfounded and false.

After Hesselberg was detained in 2021, detectives and crime scene technicians found the gun used in the shooting, which did not have a serial number and was not registered. Officials searched Hesselberg's campsite and found a disassembled "AR-style rifle" without a serial number and two silencers for a pistol, authorities said.

The weapons were presented in court last week. At the time of the shooting in Lakehead, Hesselberg had been served by the Sacramento County Superior Court with a civil harassment restraining order which said he was not to possess guns or ammunition, according to Senior Deputy Shasta County District Attorney Emily Mees.

"As far as the felonies go, this jury spent two days being thorough with very difficult evidence," said defense attorney Izzi. "No matter how I may ultimately want a case to go for my client, I am grateful for the work the jurors did."

Michele Chandler covers criminal justice issues for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She welcomes story tips at 530-338-7753, at michele.chandler@redding.com or on Twitter at @MChandler_RS. Please support our entire newsroom's commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta County 'hate crime' shooter receives prison sentence
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation on Tuesday to end Maryland's statute of limitations for when civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse can be filed against institutions.

The bill signing comes less than a week after the state's attorney general released a report that documented the scope of abuse spanning 80 years and accused church leaders of decades of coverups.

Under current law, people in Maryland who say they were sexually abused as children cant sue after they reach the age of 38.

There is no statute of limitations on the hurt that endures for decades after someone is assaulted," Moore, a Democrat, said. "There is no statute of limitations on the trauma that harms so many still to this day, and this law reflects that exact truth.

The Maryland General Assembly passed the bill last week, hours after Attorney General Anthony Brown released a long-awaited report of nearly 500 pages with details about more than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore abusing over 600 children.

State investigators began their work in 2019. They reviewed over 100,000 pages of documents dating back to the 1940s and interviewed hundreds of victims and witnesses.

The measure to end the statute of limitations has been sponsored for several years in Maryland by Del. C.T. Wilson, a Democrat who has testified about being abused in his youth.

I thank all the survivors that came up year after year and told their stories," Wilson said.

David Lorenz, the Maryland leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests who attended the ceremony, said he was thrilled for my fellow survivors.

Maryland has stopped saying: Church, tell us what to do,' and said: People, what do we do? Were not beholden to the church anymore, and we should never have been, Lorenz said.

Twenty-four states have approved revival periods known as lookback windows, which are limited time frames during which accusers can sue, regardless of how long ago the alleged abuse occurred. Maryland's law creates a permanent window with no time limit.

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Marci Hamilton, the founder and CEO of Child USA, a think tank that advocates for better laws to protect children, said she testified to change the law in Maryland 20 years ago.

This has been an extremely long haul," Hamilton said, crediting Wilson and victims for persevering. "It was a heavy lift, but they did it.

The Maryland law, which takes effect Oct. 1, is the only one in the nation that includes some caps for damages, Hamilton said.

For private entities, under the bill, damages are capped at $1.5 million for non-economic damages like pain and suffering, but there isnt a cap for damages relating to costs for services like therapy. For public entities like school boards and local governments, damages are capped at $890,000.

This is the first window ever to have caps," Hamilton said. "Weve resisted them, but these caps are fair enough.

The Maryland Catholic Conference, which represents the three dioceses serving Maryland, contended in testimony that the bill is unconstitutional, because of the disparity in monetary judgements.

The concerns we raised during the legislative session remain, including questions about constitutionality and the disparate treatment between public and private organizations in Maryland, the conference said in a statement Tuesday.

The Baltimore archdiocese says it has paid more than $13.2 million for care and compensation for 301 abuse victims since the 1980s, including $6.8 million toward 105 voluntary settlements.

In anticipation that the law will be challenged in court, the measure includes a provision that would put lawsuits on hold until the Supreme Court of Maryland can decide on the laws constitutionality.
Under Kentucky law, the gun used in the downtown Louisville mass shooting on Monday would eventually be auctioned off to the public by Kentucky State Police.

Theres also no policy that Louisville officials, who want to stop the practice, can pursue to change that practice because of another state law.

Just one day following the shooting that left six dead, including the gunman, and injured several others, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg decried these laws. Greenberg, a Democrat, asked the Republican-dominated Kentucky legislature to consider changing statute to allow Louisvilles government to destroy firearms used in crimes like what took place on Monday.

Under current Kentucky law, the assault rifle that was used to murder five of our neighbors and shoot at rescuing police officers will one day be auctioned off. Think about that. That murder weapon will be back on the streets one day under Kentuckys current law, Greenberg said.

Kentucky State Police (KSP) Captain Paul Blanton, a spokesperson for the agency, confirmed to the Herald-Leader that the normal course of business for such a firearm is to be sold at auction, with a majority of the funds going to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security and the remaining 20% to KSP. Blanton also stated that neither Louisville Metro Government nor the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) has requested that the agency treat the firearm used by the assailant any differently.

The department has yet to officially respond to an inquiry as to what it would do if a Louisville governmental agency formally requested it not be auctioned.

Early in his tenure, Greenberg announced that his office directed LMPD to remove the firing pins from seized guns and place warning labels on them before handing them over to KSP to be auctioned.

Previous efforts to roll back the law that bars Louisville from enacting significant gun control policies have fallen short. In 2022, Rep. Josie Raymond, D-Louisville, worked on a bill to do just that but it never got assigned to committee in the House. Before her, Louisville Democratic representatives Attica Scott and Charles Booker filed similar pieces of legislation, which also didnt advance.

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In recent years, Democrats like those Louisville lawmakers have led calls for both increased gun control and for cities to have more local control over guns in their jurisdiction.

However, conservative Democrats have been the ones to carry the bills that became the laws those legislators are decrying. Now Republicans have essentially veto-proof control over the states lawmaking process and have yet to signal they will make any changes.

The law barring essentially any public agency from enacting gun restriction measures was proposed and passed in 2012 with the sponsorship of former House Democratic caucus chair Bob Damron of Nicholasville and was signed by former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, current Gov. Andy Beshears father. Before, the law only limited cities and counties, but the measure greatly expanded the list of agencies to include virtually any local public agency in the state. That measure passed 34-2 in the Senate and 88-8 in the House, with only Democrats from Lexington and Louisville voting no.

Further, the law establishing the statute that currently mandates KSP to auction confiscated firearms was passed in 1998 by Democratic sponsor Mike Bowling of Middlesboro. The agency had already been auctioning off firearms, but the bill established the statute that is currently used to do so. That bill was signed into law by former Democratic governor Paul Patton.

Spokespeople for the Republican Speaker of the House David Osborne and Senate President Robert Stivers have yet to respond to inquiries about whether or not theyll pursue any policy changes in response to Greenbergs call or the mass shooting event in general.
Lawmakers want answers from the Pentagon and Justice Department on leaked classified documents surrounding the war in Ukraine, with several congressional committees demanding briefings from the Biden administration.

Among other things, the leaked material includes warnings of weaknesses in Ukraines capabilities  specifically in air defense and shortfalls of ammunition as Kyiv prepares for a new counteroffensive  as well as bruising intelligence on allies, partners and adversaries alike.

The Defense Department and the Department of Justice have said they will investigate the leak, which came in the middle of a two-week congressional recess, but lawmakers are expecting more information when they return to Capitol Hill next week, particularly on when intelligence agencies discovered the papers had made it online and how they responded.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for all senators to be briefed on the leak at some point after they return, a spokesman for the Democratic leader said on Tuesday.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) also on Tuesday said that he is closely engaged with top intelligence officials and will continue to follow this situation closely.

Any leak of classified information is extremely alarming, Warner said in a statement. As the Pentagon investigates this matter, Americans should remember that Russia has a long history of disinformation efforts and it would be wise to be wary of trusting any claims they see online relating to these documents.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) addresses reporters following the weekly policy luncheon on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Later Tuesday, Warner told NBC News he had received a preliminary briefing but appeared frustrated on the answers he had received.

Finding out when the community discovered that these documents were gone, when they started to appear on the internet, even if it was in a remote site  I expect to get those answers.

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Across the Capitol, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) told CBS News that he was briefed on the situation on Monday and that the case could amount to espionage.

Obviously this is very detrimental  We dont know what else might be coming or what else they have access to, Turner told CBS on Monday. Thats why its so important to find the source and to close down this source.

Theyve shown the extent to which the United States and Ukraine are aware of what Russias doing, Turner added.

US intelligence leak deals severe blow to Ukraine war effort

At least 100 documents began appearing online possibly as early as January on Discord and other chat forum sites. Last week, images of the papers spilled over to Twitter and Telegram and picked up attention. The material includes dozens of classified U.S. and NATO documents, some labeled Top Secret.

Pentagon spokesman Chris Meagher on Monday declined to discuss the veracity of the documents but allowed that the papers are similar in format to those used to provide daily updates to senior defense leaders on Ukraine- and Russia-related operations, as well as other intelligence updates. He warned that they present a very serious risk to national security.

Still unknown to many is the scale and scope of the leak, who was responsible, how and why the information ended up online, what U.S. agencies were doing to scrub the information from websites and whether the administration would limit future intelligence to fewer people.

The leak has also raised questions about how the United States will repair relationships with its allies who now may be wary of sharing information with Washington.

Others want answers as to how U.S. intelligence agencies were seemingly not aware of the documents as they sat online for months.

These are things that we will find out as we continue to investigate, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said when asked about the timeline on Tuesday, his first public remarks since the documents came to light.

They were somewhere in the web and where exactly and who had access at that point, we simply dont know at this point, he added.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin answers questions during a House Subcommittee on Defense hearing on Thursday, March 23, 2023 to discuss the Presidents FY 2024 budget. (Greg Nash)

The House and Senate Armed Services panels have also demanded answers from the administration.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said in a statement that the reports of the intelligence leaks are incredibly concerning, and that the panel was actively seeking answers from the Department of Defense.

And a spokesperson for Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said he is tracking the issue closely and has requested a briefing from the administration, though details were still up in the air.

Reed believes that breaches of U.S. national security and intelligence must always be addressed with the utmost seriousness and urgency. The Department of Defense and other agencies have launched investigations, and the Senate Armed Service Committee expects to be fully briefed on the Pentagons investigation as it proceeds, they said.

The 5 biggest US intelligence leaks

The Pentagon said earlier this week that Austin became aware of the leak on April 6, while President Biden was informed of it late last week, according to the White House.

On Tuesday, Austin would not comment on the Justice Departments ongoing investigation but said the Pentagon takes the leak very seriously.

I will tell you that we take this very seriously, and we will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
At least three lawmakers traded bank stocks last month as the federal government grappled with a banking crisis, according to financial disclosures analyzed by The Wall Street Journal.

The disclosures raise the question of whether lawmakers received inside information relating to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank that may have guided their stock trades.

The crisis led to volatile price swings in bank stocks, creating opportunities for profit. Regulators who played a central role in the response privately briefed lawmakers on their plans to stabilize the banking system.

Lawmakers must disclose their stock trades within 45 days of the transaction, but theyre only required to report the amount in broad ranges.

Outrage over congressional stock trading took hold after former Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) sold up to $1.7 million in stock shortly before the pandemic rattled markets; it picked up again after former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) defended lawmakers right to trade stocks.

Here are lawmakers who reported trading bank stocks around the time of the bank failures.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.)

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) addresses reporters after a closed-door House Republican conference meeting on Sept. 14, 2022. (The Hill)

Malliotakis, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, reported buying between $1,001 and $15,000 in New York Community Bancorp stock on March 17, a few days after meeting with regulators on the Signature Bank collapse.

The stock rose 32 percent a few days later when a subsidiary of the company announced it would acquire Signature Banks assets at a significant discount. The deal was brokered by federal regulators.

A spokesperson for Malliotakis told the Journal that a financial adviser recommended she purchase the stock as a long-term investment. The spokesperson said that Malliotakis learned of the New York Community Bancorp takeover on the same day as everyone else and wasnt told ahead of time.

The disclosure filed by Malliotakis incorrectly stated that the trade was made by her spouse, even though Malliotakis is unmarried. Her spokesperson said shed correct the error.

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Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) questions Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing to discuss the presidents fiscal 2024 budget on March 10. (The Hill)

Blumenauer, who also sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, reported selling between $1,001 and $15,000 in Bank of America stock and buying up to $15,000 in Silicon Valley Bank stock on March 9, just one day before regulators shut the bank down. The latter trade wasnt successful, as Silicon Valley Bank shareholders lost big.

On March 20, Blumenauer reported selling up to $15,000 in First Republic Bank, a San Francisco-based regional bank that was hit hard by the banking crisis. The bank stock had already lost most of its value to that point, down nearly 90 percent from the start of the month.

Blumenauers disclosure noted that the trades were made under his wifes retirement portfolio.

A spokesperson said that Blumenauer doesnt personally trade stocks and added that his wife uses a financial adviser who makes transactions without any input from her or Blumenauer.

Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah)

Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) leaves a closed-door House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 25. (The Hill)

Curtis, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sold between $1,001 and $15,000 in First Republic Bank stock on March 16. The bank stock was already down big at that point but lost another 33 percent in value the next day.

Also on March 16, Curtis sold between $1,001 and $15,000 in Bank of America stock. The banking giant joined other large institutions in extending a lifeline to First Republic Bank that day.

According to a disclosure, the trades were made under a joint fund owned by Curtis and his wife.

Like many of his colleagues, Curtis was critical of proposals to ban lawmakers from trading stocks.

For 40 years Ive been building up a retirement, mostly in stocks. Its not as easy as dont do stocks, he told the Journal in January 2022.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
US officials are trying to reassure disappointed and embarrassed allies in Europe, the Middle East and Kyiv after leaking classified information about the war in Ukraine and other global issues.

Source: Politico, citing four sources

Details: After the leak became known last week, senior officials from the State Department, Pentagon, and US intelligence contacted their foreign counterparts to reassure them.

One source said that members of the Five Eyes, an intelligence alliance of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, had asked Washington for briefings. The requests were sent separately to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, and the FBI. So far, they have not received a response.

Meanwhile, officials in London, Brussels, Berlin, Dubai, and Kyiv, the newspaper writes, have asked Washington how the information ended up on the Internet, who is responsible for the leak, what the United States is doing to get the information removed from social media, and whether the Biden administration is taking steps to prevent future intelligence leaks.

As of the morning of 10 April, US officials told allies that the administration was investigating and that they were still trying to understand the full extent of the leak, European officials told Politico.

Ukraine has long been concerned that the information it shares with the United States is being leaked to the public, the newspaper writes.

"This case showed that the Ukrainians have been absolutely right about that. Americans now owe the Ukrainians. They have to apologize and compensate," said one of the European officials.

"The saga has left the U.S. relationship with its allies in a state of crisis, raising questions about how Washington will correct what officials worldwide view as one of the largest public breaches of U.S. intelligence since WikiLeaks dumped millions of sensitive documents online from 2006 to 2021," states Politico.

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"The manner of the leak and the contents are very unusual. I cant remember a time when there was this volume of a leak and this broad of a subject matter of authentic information that was just put on social media rather than say, the Snowden files, that went through a group of journalists first," said a former US intelligence analyst who focused on Russia.

A senior US official told the newspaper that only the highest levels of the US government are discussing how to handle the leak. As of 9 April, even senior officials who work on policy toward Ukraine, Russia, and the countries mentioned in the documents did not know how the administration would respond to the leak.

"I have no idea what the plan is. I'd like to know myself how were going to handle," another senior U.S. official said. "

At the same time, the newspaper notes, a senior Ukrainian lawmaker said the leak was "not seen as a big issue here".

However, according to one European official, the leak caused outrage among officials in the highest echelons of Ukraine's national security.

"While the documents are dated and likely have no immediate impact on the countrys battlefield operations, the publishing of the information was viewed internally as an embarrassment and potential long-term security problem for Ukraine's military commanders," writes Politico.



Background:



The US Department of Defence is still assessing the extent of the leak of classified information in recent weeks, which included information on the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the actions of US allies.

The US State Department claims that the incident with the publication of classified documents from the US Department of Defense will not affect its support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Earlier, 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.



The US President's Administration does not yet know who is behind the leak of classified military documents.

According to The Washington Post, secret US documents show that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi planned to produce 40,000 missiles for Russia in February and instructed officials to keep the production and shipment of missiles secret "to avoid problems with the West".

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Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (front R) talks to Russia's President Vladimir Putin (front L) during a welcoming ceremony upon Putin's arrival at Cairo International Airport February 9, 2015. REUTERS/Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

Egypt negotiated a massive weapons and gunpowder sale to Russia covertly, per The Washington Post.

The revelation was made public through a leaked top-secret document, which surfaced on Discord.

The US has said there is no proof that Egypt sold the 40,000 rockets to Russia, per the Post.

A leaked US intelligence document blew the lid on secret arms negotiations between Egypt and Russia, where Egyptian President Abel Fattah El-Sisi planned to provide the Kremlin with tens of thousands of rockets.

The Washington Post obtained a series of classified files posted in February and March to the gaming platform Discord. One of the files detailed conversations between high-level Egyptian officials over the sale of weapons to Russia.

In one document, Sisi instructs officials to keep the shipment and mass weapon production secret, "to avoid problems with the West."

The top secret document, dated February 17, features discussion from Egyptian officials about how to supply their Russian counterparts with gunpowder and artillery from Egyptian factories, per the Post.

Egypt has been a longtime US ally, receiving over $1 billion in military aid annually, while also deepening relations with Moscow under El-Sisi's rule, per the Post.

The revelation first reported by the Post could have a chilling effect on US-Egypt relations, and potentially lead to sanctions if Egypt did indeed covertly supply the weapons to Russia.

Last week, a trove of classified US documents leaked online, revealing new wrinkles about Russia's campaign in Ukraine and key details about Ukraine's military.

It's still unclear who leaked the documents, which could pose grave concerns for the US as some documents include classified analyses about China, detailed breakdowns of Russia and Ukraine's strategies in the war, and information about confidential sources.

The Pentagon has formally referred the leak to the US Department of Justice to investigate.

Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypt's ambassador to the US and the spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry told the Post that "Egypt's position from the beginning is based on non involvement in this crisis and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides, while affirming Egypt's support to the U.N. charter and international law in the U.N. General Assembly resolutions. We continue to urge both parties to cease hostilities and reach a political solution through negotiations."

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US security officials told the Post that the large weapons deal never appeared to materialize in the past months.

The Pentagon did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Pentagon

The widely reported leak of alleged classified U.S. information has demonstrated a serious level inaccuracy, the message reads.

Readers should be cautious about taking at face value allegations that have the potential to spread misinformation.

Read also: NATO poses a threat to Russian imperialism not Russian security  opinion

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.

The following day, more papers were made public, allegedly revealing U.S. efforts to spy on its allies in Asia and Middle East.

Read also: U.S. backs Ukraines decision on Bakhmut, says Kirby

U.S. authorities are investigating the source of the leak and attempting to assess how damaging it could prove to Washingtons national security and relationships with allies.

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
Leaked Defense Department documents reveal possible weak links in Ukraines military campaign against Russian forces, warning that Kyiv could run out of crucial air defense missiles by May.

Under relentless attack by Russian missiles and drones, Ukraine is using up large amounts of air defense munitions, including Russian-made BUK and S-300 systems, according to two purported secret Pentagon documents, among a trove that have appeared online.

If Ukraine is not able to bolster its air defense munition supplies in time, Russia could potentially secure air superiority and begin flying warplanes over areas held by Ukrainian troops, according to one of the two documents, dated Feb. 28.

Such a scenario could alter the outcome of the war in favor of Russia, military analysts say. Up until now, neither side has been able to achieve the upper hand in the air and Russian aircraft generally avoid venturing into Ukrainian-controlled air space, analysts say.

NBC News obtained more than 50 of the leaked documents.

A Pentagon team is looking at the veracity of the documents and the possible impact of the disclosure, spokesperson Chris Meagher told reporters on Monday.

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, Meagher said.

The documents appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material, he said.

A senior U.S. official said previously that the governments working theory is that the documents are real but that some may have been altered.

According to two of the documents marked secret and dated in February, Ukraine is facing a looming shortage of Russian-made air defense missiles without sufficient deliveries of similar systems from NATO countries.

Ukraines ability to provide medium range air defense to protect the FLOT (front line of troops) will be completely reduced by May 23, one of the documents states.

Ukraine is balancing the need to protect critical infrastructure, population centers, front-line troops and other key assets across Ukraine with limited resources, it says.

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Russian-made SA-10 and SA-11 missiles comprise 89 percent of Ukraines air defense protection for medium- to high-range threats above 20,000 feet, it says.

The supplies of BUK SA-11 missiles will be completely depleted by Thursday at current rates, the S-300 by May 3 and the shorter-range SA-8 by May, according to a chart in one of the documents. The same chart predicts U.S.-made NASAMs will run out by Friday.

Under that scenario, Russian bombers could have freedom of aerial maneuver and Russian aircraft could strike Ukrainian ground forces or other targets without having to rely on drones or cruise missiles, according to the documents.

Ukraine could then lose the ability to resupply its troops from planes or helicopters or mass its ground forces along the front line or for a possible counter-offensive, one of the documents says.

To help Ukraine maintain its air defenses, Kyivs forces could alter their tactics to conserve their munitions and employ military deception, according to the documents. Western countries could also deliver more air defense systems, including U.S.-made Patriot batteries and NASAMs.

Another leaked document outlined the burn rate for HIMARS long-range rocket systems that the U.S. provided to Ukraine, information that could be of interest to Russia. But the documents do not offer a forecast of when the munitions will run out.

Russias daily aerial attacks could gradually weaken Ukraines air defenses, according to Western analysts and a U.S. military official. The U.S. and NATO allies have vowed to provide more air defense systems and munitions to Kyiv, with Washington promising to deliver additional Patriot missile batteries.

A study last year by the Royal United Services Institute, a U.K.-based think tank, warned that Western countries needed to urgently bolster Ukraines air defenses or else risk seeing Russia operate with impunity in the air.

Russias failure to destroy Ukraines mobile air defense missiles has prevented Moscow from using its large air force of bombers and fighter jets to hit key Ukrainian targets and troop positions, according to the report.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Discord Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The U.S. is scrambling to contain the damage from the leak of potentially hundreds of classified documents discovered last week on social media sites. The Justice Department is investigating to figure out who leaked the documents and why, and the Pentagon is working with the State Department, White House, and intelligence agencies to determine how damaging the leak is, try and assuage angry allies, and figure out how to prevent future breaches.

At this point, "we don't know who is behind this; we don't know what the motive is," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday. "We don't know what else might be out there."

Users of the social media site Discord say an administrator of a closed group chat room, or server, called "Thug Shaker Central" posted hundreds of classified documents during arguments over Russia's Ukraine invasion. Most of the documents that have emerged are from February and March, but the open-source investigators at Bellingcat said they saw evidence of documents from January. Bellingcat traced a handful of leaked documents from Thug Shaker Central to two larger Discord servers in early March, then 4Chan, and finally, on April 5, pro-Russia Telegram channels. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was briefed on the leak April 6.

Bellingcat spoke with three members of the Thug Shaker Central server, which was deleted April 7, and they described it as a tight-knit community of about 20 active users who shared an interest in video games, music, and Orthodox Christianity. The server "was not especially geopolitical in nature, although its users had a staunchly conservative stance on several issues," Bellingcat recounted. "Racial slurs and racist memes were shared widely."

The Discord users all refused to identify the person who posted the classified files, and one user told The Associated Press he kept copies of "way past hundreds" of the documents posted by "O.G." He said Americans deserve to see the files, and "on the off chance that the O.G. gets arrested, I'm leaking them all." Discord said it is cooperating with law enforcement investigating the leak.

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"A surprisingly large number of people potentially had access to the Pentagon intelligence documents," The New York Times reports, "but clues left online may help investigators narrow down the pool of possible suspects relatively quickly." Notably, the Times says, "the intelligence materials appear to have been first photographed and then uploaded online, a kind of sloppy procedure" that could yield promising digital fingerprints.

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Egypt planned to secretly provide rockets, artillery and gunpowder to Russia to support the countrys forces in Ukraine, according to a Washington Post report on the latest batch of leaked Pentagon documents.

The Post obtained documents from March and February uploaded to the chat forum site Discord that indicated Cairo sought to provide the munitions to support Russia in its grinding war on Ukraine, while keeping the arms deal secret from western allies.

One document says Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ordered 40,000 rockets to be produced and covertly shipped to Russia.

El-Sisi allegedly told his subordinates to keep the distribution of the rockets secret in order to avoid problems with the West, according to The Post. The documents also say the Egyptian leader planned to provide artillery and gunpowder.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. had not seen evidence that Egypt followed through on those plans.

I dont want to speak to the validity of these leaked documents. But what I will tell you is weve seen no indication that Egypt is providing lethal weaponry capabilities to Russia, he said.

Kirby added that Egypt remained a significant security partner, declining to comment on diplomatic conversations between the countries.

A senior Egyptian official told state-run channel Al Qahera News TV on Tuesday that the plan to provide rockets to Russia was false, according to several Egyptian news outlets.

The Pentagon is currently reviewing the leaked documents for accuracy, at least one of which was altered to overestimate Ukrainian casualties and reduce the number of Russians killed in combat.

South Korea has also disputed leaked documents that indicated the U.S. was spying on Seoul.

The Justice Department is overseeing a criminal investigation of the leak. The documents, of which there are at least 100, started appearing online possibly as early as January on Discord and other chat forum sites.

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Both Russia and Ukraine are running low on munitions after more than a year of brutal fighting across the country.

Russia has looked to other countries facing western sanctions to bolster its war effort, with Iran providing explosive drones and North Korea reportedly has provided artillery shells to private Russian mercenary outfit Wagner Group.

The U.S. has warned that China may also provide lethal aid to Russia after supplying Moscow with nonlethal assistance.

Egypt is a key ally for the the U.S. and NATO in the Middle East and receives around $1 billion in economic assistance each year.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Cairo in January, where he met with El-Sisi and discussed regional peace and security.

Egypt also maintains close ties with Russia and is a major buyer of Russian grain. Cairo has attempted to stay neutral during the war in Ukraine.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his counterpart in Russia shortly after the Blinken visit to Cairo.

According to The Post, one document says El-Sisi wanted to assist Russia with its war in Ukraine to repay Moscow for helping his country, though it wasnt clear what type of assistance Russia had provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
At least one person has been confirmed dead and three others are wounded after multiple shots were fired outside of a funeral home in northeastern Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, authorities said.

Investigators still collecting evidence from the scene at around 2 p.m. ET had yet to identify a suspect in connection with the mass shooting, which happened roughly two hours earlier, Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee told reporters during a news conference. Police have not ruled out the possibility of multiple shooters, Contee said.

The shooting occurred on a sidewalk outside of Stewart Funeral Home, where the police chief said "people were milling about" in the minutes following a funeral service that had taken place there Tuesday morning. Preliminary evidence suggested that the perpetrator or perpetrators appeared to target the four individuals who were shot, Contee said, though police have not yet determined a potential motive for the crime.

Authorities initially responded to the shooting when an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department, who was stationed in a police vehicle near the site of the funeral service, heard gunfire, Contee said. The service was held for a homicide victim who was killed in the area at the end of March and whose case has not been solved, according to the police chief. Families of victims of unsolved homicides can request that an officer is stationed at the victim's funeral service, and Contee said that doing so is "routine."

The person who was fatally shot outside of the funeral home was identified as an adult man by the police chief. He did not share any identifying details about the three others who were shot and wounded, but described their injuries as "serious" albeit not life-threatening. All three people wounded were taken to local hospitals for treatment, Contee said.

"MPD is asking for the community's help," the police chief said.

The department has requested that anyone with information about the assailant or assailants involved in Tuesday's shooting report what they know to police, which can be done anonymously via text or over the phone. The police department is currently working to identify any witnesses who may have been present during the shooting.

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At least 25 Georgia teenagers and children have been shot to death since the start of 2023, painting a stunning portrait of escalating gun violence among young people.

The youngest victim was just two years old.

Channel 2 Action News has spoken to the families of multiple victims in metro Atlanta, who are all now grappling with the unimaginable loss of a child. Many parents have told us that gun violence needs to stop.

Here are some of their stories:

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

April 17

A 19-year-old man was shot and killed at an apartment in Statesboro, according to WTOC.com. Camera Anderson was shot around 7:45 p.m. at Cambridge at the Pines apartments. It was the fifth shooting at the complex in a week.

April 16

A 17-year-old girl from Bulloch County was shot and killed after a handgun went off while a man was trying to teach her how to use it. Kelsey McDuffie was able to save several lives through organ donation. Its unclear if the man who was holding the gun at the time of the accident, Adan Keelin, will face any charges.

April 8

A 15-year-old boy was shot to death after a car drove by his home and fired bullets inside, according to the Macon Telegraph. Ozias Gore was taken to the hospital, where he died.

April 7

An 18-year-old Fayette County man was shot to death by his girlfriends brother after the two got into a fight. Jeremiah McCrae was from Newnan.

Investigators said McCrae had gotten into a fight with his girlfriends brother. Thats when deputies said he went and got an AR-15-style weapon to confront the brother.

Deputies said the brother had his own gun and shot McCrae. The Sheriffs Office has not released the name of the shooter at this point.

March 20:

A man is accused of shooting a 19-year-old to death in Augusta, deputies said.

On Sunday, around 1:20 a.m., Richmond County deputies were called to the McDonalds on Peach Orchard Road in reference to a shooting. When deputies arrived, they found a teen, later identified as DaQuantavious Proctor,19, suffering from a gunshot wound.

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Later that day, deputies found and arrested Xavier Hatcher, 23, for the murder of Proctor.

Hes facing charges of aggravated assault, murder, possession of a firearm or knife during a crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

March 14

11-year-old Asijah Love Jones was shot and killed when a stray bullet intended for someone else flew through her bedroom window, deputies said. Kionta Jahuan Parks, 21, was arrested a month later and charged with murder, aggravated assault, cruelty to children, terroristic threats and acts, as well as numerous violations of Georgias Street Gang and Terrorism Act.

March 9

A 16-year-old boy was one of two people shot and shot and killed outside of a home in Dekalb County. The other victim was 22 years old. Neither victim has been identified.

March 8:

An 18-year-old was shot in Savannah and died days later, according to WSAV-TV. Savannah police responded to reports of a shooting on March 5 on East 55th Street. Nazentea Phillips died on March 8. So far, no one has been charged.

A 17-year-old boy was shot to death in Morgan, Georgia in Madison County, according to the Morgan County Citizen. Police identified the victim as Kingsly Gibbs. A second teen, 17-year-old Imunn Sanford, was also shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Its unclear what lead to the shooting or if anyone has been taken into custody.

March 6:

A 10-year-old boy was shot to death in his own bed on Monday morning after someone opened fire on his home as he slept, according to WMAZ. Sheriff Bill Massee identified him as Damarion Byrd. Felony murder warrants were obtained for 39-year-old Rodracius Demaris Stephens of Milledgeville. He was arrested and taken to jail.

March 4:

A 15-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl were shot and killed when someone opened fire outside of a Sweet 16 birthday party in Douglasville. Ajanaye Hill and Samuel Moon were both running from the scene when they were killed.

On the same day in Troup County, a 16-year-old boy was shot to death outside of a LaGrange skate park. Nasir Truitt suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the hospital. According to police, motive appears to be an argument between two groups of people, leading to multiple shots being fired.

Family members say Truitt was a good kid and are still trying to wrap their minds around why another teen would kill him.

As you can imagine, my family and I are beyond devastated and have more questions than answers. Of which no question or answer will bring Nasir back, the teens cousin Yormica Truitt-Jordan wrote in social media posts.

He was a good kid. He never bothered anyone. This all seems so surreal and Im not exactly sure how things with me or my family will go back to normal.

March 2:

A 15-year-old boy was shot to death while he attempted to rob a home in Hawkinsville, police said. A person inside shot the teen, who has not been identified.

TRENDING STORIES:

March 1

A 2-year-old girl died after she was shot by another child with a pellet gun in Habersham County. The child was identified as Jaylea Hutchinson, 2. Deputies said the shooting appeared to be a tragic accident. Its unclear if anyone is facing charges.

A 16-year-old boy was shot to death behind an abandoned home in Gwinnett County. Police said the family of Jose Daniel Martinez reported the teen missing Wednesday morning. He was found shot to death at a home on Paden Mill Trail that afternoon. Homicide detectives canvassed the area and were able to develop leads that lead to the arrest of Dennis Calzadilla, 20, of Lilburn in connection to Martinezs death.

Feb. 23:

Keymarion Manor, 19, was shot to death in Macon on Feb. 23, according to the Macon Telegraph. He had been charged in connection to a 2020 murder and was awaiting trial.

Feb. 21:

A 15-year-old girl was shot to death in her bed in Peachtree City. Police said Madison Gessweins body was found by her mother. Three teens have been arrested in connection to her death. Justus Smith, Jacobean Brown and Yeshua Mathis have all been arrested and charged with murder. Browns father was found dead of a gunshot wound just days earlier.

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Feb. 18:

A 19-year-old man was killed along with his mother and father at a motel in Columbus. Michael Carter, Jr. and his father, Michael Carter, Sr., both were pronounced dead at the scene. Tonya Carter, 50, died days later. Police told WTVM that the Carters were married for decades and Michael Carter Jr. was their son. A 4-year-old boy who was identified as their grandson was also injured in the shooting.

Feb. 14

A 13-year-old boy was shot to death in front of his father outside a home in Norcross. Family members told Channel 2 Action News that Jaeden Travis was being harassed by a group of teens that showed up to his house that day. He ran outside to confront them with a pellet gun and was shot to death, police said. No one has been charged with murder in Travis death.

Feb. 2:

An 18-year-old man was shot to death during a home invasion in Baldwin County. Syee Devon Havior was shot multiple times and died at the hospital. According to investigators, multiple people went to Haviors home just after midnight, and one opened fire when they arrived. It is unclear if Havior knew the people who came to the home.

Feb. 1:

A 17-year-old boy was killed in northwest Atlanta after an argument. Police have not identified that teen. A 19-year-old was also injured in the shooting but survived.

Jan. 28:

A 13-year-old girl who lived in Jefferson County was pronounced dead days after she was shot in her grandparents home, according to WJBF. ARhianna Moye was shot in the neck at a home in Louisville on Jan. 12. Her 17-year-old brother, Anthony Maurice Mincey, was charged with 2nd degree cruelty to children, reckless conduct, tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm by someone under 18 and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Jan 21:

A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed outside of a popular skating rink. Police said Deshon DuBose was shot outside Cascade Family Skating. Atlanta police later released surveillance video of the people they believe may know what happened to DuBose.

Jan. 10

A 15-year-old boy was shot to death in Macon on Jan. 10, according to the Macon Telegraph. Officers arrested 57-year-old Algie Bryant and charged him with murder.

Jan. 9:

An 18-year-old boy was shot as he walked out of a gas station in DeKalb County. The teens mother says her son, Akhir Muhammad, was killed in an attempted robbery. She said her son worked in valet parking, but was studying to become a general electrician.
The names of certain guests at the governors mansion would not be disclosed to the public under Senate and House bills that also would shield travel records of the governor and other state leaders.

In party-line votes Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Senate Rules Committee and House Judiciary Committee approved the bills (SB 1616 and HB 1495), positioning them to go to the full Senate and House.

The bills would create a public-records exemption involving information held by law enforcement agencies related to security or transportation services provided to the governor, the governors immediate family, the lieutenant governor, Cabinet members, the House speaker, the Senate president and the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

The exemption also would apply to other people if requested by the governor or other state leaders for security reasons. The exemption would be retroactive to trips already taken.

There could be situations where the governor comes to various parts of Florida, whether its to present a bill or to meet with constituents, but that information is out there for public-records requests, and that information could then  with enough digging, and enough time and enough effort  might be able to get the security profile of that structure, House bill sponsor Jeff Holcomb, R-Spring Hill, said.

Rep. Mike Gottlieb, D-Davie, unsuccessfully tried to limit the exemption by allowing records to be released after each trip.

Therefore, we would still be protecting the security integrity, Gottlieb said.

The Senate and House committees Tuesday added proposals to prevent disclosure of information related to mansion security operations, including information about screenings and clearances.

Senate sponsor Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, said only the names of guests attending the mansion outside of government duties would be shielded from public disclosure.

Its not every guest to the governors mansion, Martin said. Its guests that are visiting him privately for non-government-related purposes  similar to you or myself inviting somebody to our home.

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Martin said last month the bill was drafted because of an increase in public-records requests regarding our governor and his travel simply because of the notoriety of his position in the past few years.

Holcomb said the proposal wouldnt affect disclosure of the taxpayer expenses related to any trip.

A Florida Department of Law Enforcement annual report outlining costs of protecting Gov. Ron DeSantis, his family, the governors mansion and visiting dignitaries showed taxpayers spent $6.097 million on such security in the 2021-22 fiscal year, up 25% from the previous year.

While most of the expenses involved protecting DeSantis, the report noted protective services also were provided to the governors of 27 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Warning: This post contains spoilers for the ending of "Beef."

"Beef," which stars Ali Wong as Amy Lau and Steven Yeun as Danny Cho, tells the story of how two complete strangers experiencing their own life crises can't let go of a road rage incident. Their beef becomes the catalyst for a chain of events that ends up essentially destroying their lives as they know it.

The series' penultimate episode is gore-filled and features a shootout that leaves several characters either dead or injured.

The series finale then is a startling departure from the action  so surprisingly quiet and simple  but still is living rent-free in our heads.

So we asked the show's creator (who also directed and wrote the final episode), Lee Sung Jin to help break down the show's final two episodes for us.

If you haven't watched yet, be forewarned: there are many, many spoilers ahead.

Whats up with the crows?

The series finale opens on two black crows having a full-on conversation, translated to viewers via closed captioning.

Why crows? Lee has an answer  but he's hesitant to share it.

"I hesitate to answer that because ... I am excited to see how people interpret the crows, Lee tells TODAY.com. I just know that crows are everywhere, and theyre very smart.

He adds that living in Los Angeles, he sees crows all the time and theyre such a part of L.A. life.

They should not be underestimated, he says.

The scene just made sense to him. He adds that even though many writers use crows in their work, he felt compelled to include them in his too.

I dont know  theres just something about the L.A. prominence (of crows) plus the sort of spiritual meaning behind them that felt appropriate for the show, he says.

Crows often act as symbols for death in film and literature but they also can represent change or transformation.

What kind of berries do Amy and Danny accidentally eat?

While lost in the wilderness, Amy threatens Danny at gunpoint and makes him go search for something they can eat. She tells him to find aloe vera, agave and elderberries.

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He struggles to do so while Amy keeps brandishing the gun at him from a distance but eventually, Danny seems to track down the three items on Amy's list.

Unfortunately for them, the berries turn out to be poisonous and rather than be nourished by fruity goodness, the two go on a pseudo drug trip while simultaneously vomiting.

It's not entirely clear what kind of berries they eat and the California Poison Control System declined to hazard a guess to TODAY.com's outreach. Lee didn't immediately respond to our follow-up question about the berries either. (We get it, it's not that pressing ... but we wanted to know!)

That said, Neal Denton from the University of Tennessee Extension speculated that the berries were either from pokeweed or nightshade plants.

"Nightshade would be more likely for hallucinations," he tells TODAY.com via text.

Deadly nightshade, as is it commonly known, can be found all over the world. All parts of the plant are toxic, according the U.S. Department of Agriculture but eating the berries can cause rapid heart beat, dilated pupils, delirium, vomiting, hallucinations, and even death due to respiratory failure.

Why are you so angry all the time?

Conversations between the main characters in the woods get at show's emotional core.

Amy asks Danny a pointed question: "Why are you so angry all the time?"

I could ask you the same thing, he retorts.

Yeun looks over his shoulder next to his red toyota tacoma pickup truck. (Netflix)

Later in the episode, Danny asks a question of his own: Why is it so hard for us to be happy?

Danny, who has seemingly struggled with depression and carries the weight of his family on his shoulders, finds it hard to get in a good mood. In fact, the first time we saw him truly smile in the show is after he pranks Amy by peeing all over her bathroom and then taking off at a full sprint as she chases him.

That scene is the first time we see Amy truly engaged too  not hiding behind the Zen-like character that she's created to safely interact with the world.

Ali Wong as Amy in episode 106 of

Their "Beef" gives the two characters something to live for, however misguided and misdirected. As the series progresses, their decision to keep fighting have increasingly dire consequences  an escalation that eventually reaches a breaking point (make that several).

Lee says the two let their anger get the best of them because they are "trapped" in their own ways.

"I think for a lot of us, when when were stuck in our status quo, usually something dramatic has to happen to shake us out of it, whether positive or negative," he explains. "Couples therapists tell you all the time, 'If youre stuck in a routine, its either gonna be like the two people going on a vacation together to break up the routine or like a horrible fight to shake things up."

He says that catalyst will force people to take a "look at issues that have been swept under the rug.

"And I think thats the case with Danny and Amy  theyre so entrenched in the way that they are that it took this road rage to kind of shake them out of it. It becomes a scapegoat for for a lot of other things going on in their life."

Beef. Ali Wong as Amy in episode 102 of Beef. (Andrew Cooper / Netflix)

So, what's the lesson from the 'Beef' finale?

Lee says there isn't "necessarily" a lesson he wants audiences to take away from this limited series.

"I think part of the joy of watching television is so many things are open to interpretation, but the one hope is that no matter where youre at in your own life, the shows gonna offer you something," he says. "Whether it is relating to Amy or Danny or about accepting your shadow self, or just a good laugh or a good thrill. Im just hoping that the show can connect in some form or fashion."

Yeun echoes those sentiments, saying he doesn't have any "hopes for what (viewers) take away."

"I think we really put this out there to see how it reflects back on everybody. Hopefully people feel comforted," he says.

Young Mazino, who plays Dannys younger brother Paul, agrees.

"I definitely have some shadows for sure. But I think its kind of like 'Naruto,' where you you end up befriending your shadow side to come face-to-face, instead of just leaving it in its locked up little corner cage," he says. ("Naruto" is a Japanese anime show in which the titular character learns to harness his powers as a ninja as he is guided by the spirit demon within him.)

Joseph Lee, who played Amy's husband George, says the cast sees the show as "a mirror."

"Were showing the characters in the fullness of who they are," he says. "And if the audience is able to see themselves reflected in any of the characters then I think thats an incredible experience to have."

Does Amy go to the hospital with Danny out of guilt, friendship or something more?

Lee says they left that final scene very open intentionally so viewers can make their own interpretation.

He says they debated adding more dialogue to the montage of Amy quietly waiting for Danny to wake up but ultimately decided against it.

We wanted people to be projecting whatever they were feeling and going through at the time onto the screen, he explains.

The show ends with Amy in the hospital bed with Danny as he slowly comes to and begins to move his arm  seemingly to go around her  but cuts before the audience can make any concrete conclusions.

What happens next?

Lee says everything is open to interpretation for the audience. He pitched the show to Netflix as a limited series, meaning he didnt initially intend to have multiple seasons.

But Lee himself is very curious as to what becomes of Amy and Danny after the final credits roll.

We pitched this as a limited anthology when we sold the show, so theres a little bit of a close ended-ness to the story, he says. But you know, if the fans demanded, I certainly wouldnt mind exploring Danny and Amy more either because Im very curious what they do after the hospital.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Boxes of the drug mifepristone line a shelf at the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 16, 2022. (Allen G. Breed / Associated Press)

To the editor: U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk's attempt to restrict the distribution of mifepristone by suspending its U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization is not just an assault on abortion rights. It is also perhaps the most extreme example of judicial overreach since Bush vs. Gore in 2000.

If a single federal judge can erase the FDA's years-long scientific study of a drug, and do so for purely political and religious reasons, then what is to stop another extremist judge from, say, setting the prime rate? Shall a judge, inspired by his beliefs, rule that HIV drugs are not safe?

The time is long overdue to curb the federal courts and stop this insane trend of interest groups shopping for politically sympathetic judges who feel they can impose their views on the whole country  the law, science, regulatory frameworks, centuries of precedent and the U.S. Constitution be damned.

Thomas McGrath, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: So where does any judge's power end if lifesaving medication can be made illegal by one person? Why do we even have an FDA if judges without any scientific expertise can overturn the work of the scientists in the FDA?

What will one judge decide to go after next? Will the next judge use their religious beliefs to make blood transfusions illegal? Will the next judge's religious beliefs couched in pseudo-science deny heart transplants?

When did all of the citizens of the United States decide to turn over our access to medical care to a single judge's decision? I certainly don't remember anything about that in my classes on government.

Kathryn Pisaro, Granada Hills

..

To the editor: How ironic. On a day when 2.6 billion Christians celebrate life, Easter Sunday, The Times publishes an editorial in the paper promoting the cessation of life through medication abortion.

Although the editorial repeatedly uses the word "safe" or a similar form, the womb of the pregnant mother might not be so safe for the life of some pre-born children.

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Wesley Stalnaker, Santa Clarita

..

To the editor: Let's be clear: Blocking access to care will not end abortions. Coat hangers, underground abortion providers with differing levels of knowledge, methods and experience, and potentially lethal pills will take its place.

Women who want or need an abortion will find a way, often at great cost to their health or even their lives.

Alison M. Grimes, Yorba Linda

..

To the editor: Since women's rights are being systematically taken away, and in light of the ruling by a federal judge in Texas, I demand that Viagra and Cialis be taken off the market as well.

Either that, or vasectomies should be mandatory after a man fathers two children.

Cheryl Little, Pasadena

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hundreds of people run alongside a U.S. Air Force transport plane as it moves down a runway during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan on Aug. 16, 2021. (Associated Press)

To the editor: The Biden administration has truly embraced former President Obama's habit of blaming everything on his predecessor. Obama did it for at least six years, and President Biden is doing it now too. ("Biden review of chaotic Afghan withdrawal blames Trump," April 6)

The Biden administration is totally responsible for the Afghanistan fiasco. Former President Trump's withdrawal plan was conditioned. He has said he would have kept billions of dollars of military equipment and the very strategic Bagram Airfield in U.S. hands.

Biden's withdrawal was not a withdrawal; it was a disorganized rout, a disorderly retreat.

Nathan Post, Santa Barbara

..

To the editor: Thanks to The Times for covering the cause of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, especially for readers who have missed the New Yorker's reporting on the Trump administration negotiations that caused the crisis.

Basically, Trump secretly surrendered to the Taliban if they didn't kill any more American soldiers. His administration also pledged to remove all troops by May 1, 2021, and it pressed for the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners in pursuit of the deal.

Furthermore, Trump's unprecedented refusal to accept a peaceful transition after he lost the 2020 election severely limited his administration in updating Biden's incoming team, contrary to how Obama treated the incoming Trump team in 2016 and 2017.

The Trump administration's secret negotiations with the Taliban left Biden holding the bag.

Marcy Bregman, Agoura Hills

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said she was horrified and offered the citys help to Louisville one day after a mass shooting in a downtown Louisville bank.

We are horrified about what happened there, Gorton said after a Tuesday press conference to announce the citys annual felony and misdemeanor expungement clinic later this month.

Our prayers and thoughts go out to Louisville but we also want them to know that we are right there for them  the city, the mayor, whatever they need, Gorton said.

Mondays shooting at Old National Bank left five people dead and multiple people injured. The shooter, a 25-year-old bank employee, was killed at the scene.

The two-term mayor applauded the quick response of the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Gorton said Lexington Police Department is one of the best and highly trained in the country and stands ready if a similar event were to occur in Lexington.

Gorton stopped short of calling for stricter gun laws or other changes needed to stop mass shootings across the country. Thats the purview of state and federal governments, she said.

I urge everyone who has authority over a building, a public building, to take whatever steps they need to take to make it safe for their employees, Gorton said.

Having cities control gun laws would create a patchwork of laws that would be difficult to enforce, she said.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced earlier this year Louisville would disarm any firearms seized by police before sending guns to the Kentucky State Police to be auctioned. State law requires all confiscated weapons be sent to KSP for auction. A Louisville Courier-Journal investigation found at least two dozen weapons that had been seized by police were later used in other crimes.

Gorton said the city believes its against the law to remove firing pins from guns before sale.

Its not legal for us to destroy guns, Gorton said.
The first group of instructors from an Infantry Brigade of Lithuania's Armed Forces left for Germany to train the Ukrainian military on Tuesday, 11 April.

Source: press service of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, as reported by European Pravda

Details: 15 Lithuanian servicemen will take part in a multinational military training program with German and Belgian instructors.

The training of the Ukrainian military will take place within the framework of the European Union's mission to provide military assistance to Ukraine.

"We are deploying to Germany as a Training Team focused on transferring skills and knowledge to the Ukrainian military. We will dedicate the entire span of the mission to train the troops fighting for the freedom of the country. We hope not only to share knowledge but learn something that we will be able to use in ensuring our own national security," said Captain Tomas Skerstonas, Commander of the Instructors Team with the Lithuanian Infantry Battalion.

The mission will include basic weapons handling skills, marksmanship, medical and engineering training, as well as collective training of units of various levels with a focus on offensive and defensive actions in populated and forested areas.

On 21 March, the Armed Forces of Ukraine began a month-long training course on explosive ordnance disposal organised by Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Lithuania.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
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 8 of the trial here.

Editors note: This story contains graphic language about the deaths of children.

Brandon Boudreaux on Monday said the Rexburg Police Department asked him to identify Joshua Jaxon JJ Vallows body. Lori Vallow Daybells 7-year-old son was found in a shallow grave on her husband Chad Daybells property wrapped in garbage bags and duct tape.

Its a pretty overwhelming task to do, Boudreaux, the uncle of JJ and Tylee, said to the courtroom Monday about identifying JJ. Vallow Daybells 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan, was also found on Chad Daybells property in what the prosecution called a mass of bone and tissue.

On Tuesday the courtroom is expected to hear from Rexburg Police Det. Ray Hermosillo  who was on the scene in June 2020 when JJ and Tylees bodies were found.

While Hermosillo has testified before, this is the first time public testimony from the 22-year veteran of the Rexburg Police Department will be used as evidence for Vallow Daybells case.

Hermosillo initially testified during an August 2020 preliminary hearing in Chad Daybells case  before the murder charges  when he faced two felony counts of concealment, destruction or alteration of evidence and two felony counts related to conspiracy.

An 18-person jury  12 jurors and six alternates  will decide whether Vallow Daybell is guilty of the first-degree murders of her two children. 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 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.

Story continues

Check this story for live updates on Vallow Daybells trial.

3:30 p.m.  Defense begins cross-examination

Vallow Daybells attorney John Thomas began to cross-examine Hermosillo on Tuesday afternoon, asking him to clarify various details from his hours-long testimony.

Hermosillo said the Rexburg Police Department surveilled the Daybells over the course of two weeks, after they first made contact with the Gilbert Police Department in Arizona.

Thomas asked Hermosillo whether authorities performed any surveillance on Chad Daybells property  where the childrens bodies were located. Hermosillo said they didnt. Hermosillo also said, after being asked by Thomas, that the officers didnt record their initial conversation with Chad Daybell and Alex Cox with body cameras or audio recordings.

Thomas asked Hermosillo to reiterate Vallow Daybells location when Tammy Daybell died. Vallow Daybell was in Hawaii on the day Tammy Daybell died.

So she wasnt anywhere near Tammy Daybell when Tammy Daybell died? Thomas said.

Thats correct, Hermosillo responded.

After a lengthy 7-hour day, Hermosillo is expected to return to the Ada County Courthouse on Wednesday, and Thomas will continue cross-examination.

2:30 p.m.  A little boy in red pajamas

The last known photo of JJ showed him wearing red pajamas on Sept. 22, 2019.

That is what he was wearing when Ada County Medical Examiner Garth Warren performed an autopsy on the high-energy seven-year-old boy with a goofy smile, Hermosillo said during his testimony Tuesday

I saw a little boy in red pajamas, Hermosillo said describing the autopsy of JJ. He had a white plastic bag around his head.

Warren removed the black garbage bag from JJs body, Hermosillo said.

But, the boy was still not identifiable because of the layers of duct tape across his face. Hermosillo said he had a strip of duct tape from jawline to jawline. JJs hands and feet were also bound with duct tape.

After Warren removed the duct tape and a white garbage bag  which had a red drawstring and is commonly used in a kitchen trashcan  from JJs head, Hermosillo said, they were able to identify him.

It was easy to identify that little boy as the one we had been looking for, Hermosillo said.

2 p.m.  Vallow Daybell asks to be excused from testimony

After officials located JJs body, they began searching the pet cemetery on Chad Daybells property. Hermosillo said they began excavating an area where they located charred flesh and pieces of bones.

Those pieces would later be identified as the remains of Tylee.

The hours-long process was tedious and slow, since officials werent able to dig for more than a few minutes before needing to switch out because of the smell, Hermosillo said. He added that they used paintbrushes, towels, and their gloved hands to pull out pieces of bones and flesh without damaging the evidence.

Hermosillo said that most of the remains were inside a melted green Platt bucket, and they found a partial human skull underneath.

There were three or four of us that attempted to lift it out, but it broke, Hermosillo said about Tylees skull.

Officials werent able to finish the excavation process on June 9, 2020, and the process continued into the next day. Both Tylee and JJs remains were taken to the Ada County Coroners Office.

In the middle of Hermosillos testimony, before images of Tylees remains were presented to the jury, Vallow Daybells attorney Jim Archibald motioned the court to allow Vallow Daybell to be excused from the remainder of Hermosillos testimony.

Vallow Daybells defense team, the prosecution, judge and other members of the court were behind closed doors discussing the motion for over 30 minutes. When Vallow Daybell returned to the courtroom, she looked like shed been crying and was holding a tissue in one hand.

It was emotional this morning, Archibald said, but 7th District Judge Steven Boyce denied the request.

This courtroom sketch depicts defense attorney Jim Archibald speaking during opening statements of Lori Vallow Daybells murder trial Monday in Boise.

11:30 a.m.  Hermosillo details location of JJ

It was early on June 9, 2020, when the Rexburg Police Department along with state and national authorities knocked on Chad Daybells door in Salem, Idaho, Hermosillo said during his testimony Tuesday.

One of Chad Daybells children opened the door  a bowl of cereal in hand  and informed the officials that his father was still sleeping. Hermosillo said they woke up Chad Daybell and handed him the search warrant.

Hermosillo said as officials began to search the property, they located an area of concern because there was longer grass in the surrounding areas, and the FBIs evidence recovery team began to excavate the soil. In photos presented to the jury Tuesday to show the excavation process, a near-perfect square of dirt was shown where authorities had removed the topsoil.

As authorities, including Hermosillo, began to dig, they noticed three large rocks and underneath them thin wood paneling. Hermosillo said that as soon as officials removed the topsoil, they began to smell the scent of a decomposing body.

Hermosillo said that once they removed the paneling, they were able to see a portion of a black garbage bag, which he said looked like the crown of a head sticking out of the dirt.

After officials cut open part of the black plastic bag, they saw brown human hair  which would later be identified as JJ.

As officials were unearthing JJs body, Chad Daybell attempted to leave the area at a high rate of speed, Hermosillo said, and Chad Daybell was pulled over by police and arrested.







Rexburg Police Det. Ray Hermosillo testified during an August 2020 preliminary hearing for initial felony charges against Chad Daybell. He is the third witness the prosecution has called during Lori Vallow Daybells 2023 jury trial.

10 a.m.  Police locate survival items, gun, ammo in garage

On Nov. 27, 2019, the Rexburg Police Department obtained warrants to search the apartments of Vallow Daybell, Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox, and her niece Melani Pawlowski.

Inside Vallow Daybells apartment, Hermosillo said, they located dishes in the sink, food in the kitchen and everything that looked like someone had lived there, except there were no clothes in the closet.

There was nothing in that closest other than empty hangers, Hermosillo said.

Hermosillo said authorities also found toys, a risperidone prescription for JJ and a Star Wars suitcase. Brandon Boudreaux, the uncle of JJ and Tylee, on Monday said JJ loved suitcases.

Authorities also searched Cox and Pawlowskis apartments, which were in the same apartment complex. Nobody was located in any of the apartments.

Police located several firearms, silencers, ammunition, knives, duct tape and rope inside Vallow Daybells garage. They found ghillie suits typically used for camouflage and survival preparedness items, like a bag, which Hermosillo called a 72-hour bag, with water, flares and MREs.

The Daybells, who were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had extremist beliefs that the world was going to end in July 2020, and that Vallow Daybell was one of the 144,000 people  which is a reference to the Book of Revelations  who would be saved during the second coming of God.

Hermosillo said police then contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigations and began trying to get ahold of members of the Daybells families. Hermosillo said they spoke to Vallow Daybells eldest son, Colby Ryan, who mentioned that he also hadnt heard from his sister, Tylee.

Our search of JJ also started to encompass Tylee Ryan, as well, Hermosillo said.

The Rexburg Police Department then began to look into the death of Tammy Daybell and publicized the case through a news release, which caused the disappearance of Tylee and JJ to garner national attention.

On Jan. 25, 2020, Hermosillo said, they located the Daybells in Hawaii and served Vallow Daybell with an order to bring her children to the Rexburg Police Department or the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Hermosillo said police were able to locate Vallow Daybell through cellphone records and tips they received from a hotline authorities set up.

Did you see anything that might indicate minor children had been living there? Wood asked Hermosillo about the Daybells home in Hawaii.

No, Hermosillo responded.

9 a.m.  Rexburg police asked to surveil Daybell home





The Rexburg Police Department first became aware of the Daybells on Nov. 1, 2019. Authorities in Gilbert, Arizona, notified Rexburg police that a Jeep Wrangler in Idaho may have been involved in the attempted homicide  the shooting of Brandon Boudreaux.

Hermosillo in his testimony said the Gilbert Police Department asked officers to seize the vehicle if they located it and to perform intermittent surveillance on the Daybells Rexburg apartment. Hermosillo said they saw Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell, but they never saw Tylee or JJ.

Is it fair to say  at that time  you werent looking for children? Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood asked Hermosillo.

Yes, he responded. At that point, the Rexburg Police Department hadnt been notified of Tylee and JJ, and he said it wasnt until Nov. 18 that theyd hear about the children.

JJs biological grandparents, the Woodocks  Kay and Larry  began contacting authorities after they hadnt heard from JJ for a while and were concerned. After authorities checked with friends in Arizona to see if JJ was there and were unable to locate him, Rexburg police performed a welfare check at Vallow Daybells Rexburg apartment on Nov. 26, 2019.

Hermosillo said he and another detective, Dave Hope, located Cox, Vallow Daybells brother, and Chad Daybell outside the garage of Vallow Daybells Rexburg apartment unloading a pickup truck. Cox told Hermosillo, when asked, that Vallow Daybell wasnt home. When Hermosillo asked where JJ was, Cox got a blank look on his face, he said.

Cox then looked over at Chad Daybell, Hermosillo told the jury, before eventually saying that JJ was with the Woodcocks. But Hermosillo said he knew that wasnt likely because the Woodcocks were the ones looking for JJ.

It raised some red flags, Hermosillo said in his testimony.

Hermosillo later that day asked Chad Daybell if had Vallow Daybells phone number and asked about their relationship, he said, and Chad Daybell told him that hed only met her a couple of times.

Hermosillo during his testimony told Wood that he believed Chad Daybell was lying, since officials knew Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell had recently gotten married.

But he said he hardly knew her? Wood clarified.

Thats correct, Hermosillo said.
(Bloomberg) -- Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss will warn Western nations not to appease China over its claims to Taiwan, following a series of Chinese military exercises around the island.

Most Read from Bloomberg

We need to make sure Taiwan is able to defend itself, the UKs shortest-serving leader is due to say in a speech during a visit to Washington on Wednesday. We need to put economic pressure on China before it is too late.

Truss, who is also a former UK foreign secretary, has kept a relatively low profile since her premiership imploded last year, when her economic plan triggered market turmoil and she lost the confidence of her Conservative Party.

But she has continued to make interventions in support of her agenda, which includes a hawkish stance on China. Its awkward for her successor, Rishi Sunak, whose more pragmatic approach to the UKs relations with Beijing has riled a significant Tory faction that includes Truss.

During the Margaret Thatcher Freedom Lecture at the Heritage Foundation free-market think tank, Truss will say too many in the West have appeased and accommodated authoritarian regimes such as China and Russia.

She will also say that Western nations shouldnt look to China for help stopping Russias war in Ukraine, remarks that are likely to be seen as a critique of French President Emmanuel Macron, who urged Chinas Xi Jinping to use his influence to help end the conflict last week.

It is a sign of weakness, Truss will say, according to her office.

Despite being forced out of office in a record 49 days last October, Truss has not backed away from the combative style that took her to 10 Downing Street. During the Tory leadership campaign, she infamously said the jury was still out on whether Macron was a friend or a foe  despite France being a key UK ally.

Story continues

She has also not changed her mind about the low-tax agenda that triggered her downfall. In her speech she is also expected to say that the Anglo-American economic model is being strangled into stagnation, and that the OECD-led minimum tax agreement is a global cartel of complacency.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Two weeks after six lives were taken inside a school in Nashville, and just hours after five people were shot and killed at a bank in Louisville, gun control advocates in Western Pennsylvania gathered to call for change.

We are fighting so that you dont have to attend a funeral. We are fighting so that you can go to a bank. We are fighting so that you can go to your places of worship. We are fighting so that you can be safer in a place where you should always be safe, said Rev. Richard Freeman Sr., from Resurrection Baptist Church.

The Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP), CeaseFirePA, Moms Demand Action and others took to the podium Monday to call on lawmakers nationwide to adopt policies like red flag laws, universal background checks and the requiring of safe storage as well as the reporting of lost or stolen firearms.

All of these policies will save lives, said Josh Fleitman with CeaseFirePA. All of these policies have the majority support of the people of Pennsylvania, of the people of this country.

We have the research. We have the data, said Hadley Haas with the local chapter of Moms Demand Action. What we dont have is enough lawmakers with courage.

The group also called attention to the developing situation in Tennessee where two black lawmakers, Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, were expelled from their seats for protesting on the House floor in the name of stricter gun control.

Their voices will not be silenced. Were here to make sure their voices are not silenced, said Tim Stevens, B-PEPs CEO. On the contrary, the racist, despicable acts of the Tennessee House of Representatives have made their voices much more powerful than they could have ever expected.

Monday, Jones was reappointed to his seat until a special election can be held.

The future of Pearsons set is set to be determined on Wednesday.

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Canton Police Chief John Gabbard said Monday that while Canton has witnessed eight homicides so far this year, overall violent crime is down.

CANTON  Eight people have been killed in Canton in the past four months.

And unlike in past years when it seemed that violent crime was contained to a few pockets of the city, this years nearly 20 shootings have occurred in every city quadrant.

Its actually alarming, Councilman Frank Morris, D-9, said, because its everywhere.

Fridays fatal shooting on Otto Place NE prompted council to ask Police Chief John Gabbard to provide an update on the department's crime prevention efforts.

Gabbard, a 25-year police veteran who will celebrate his one-year anniversary as chief next week, told council members on Monday that he understands the councils concern and the negative perception the recent rash of fatal shootings can create. He said Ward 2 and Ward 4, which include most properties east and south of Shorb Avenue and 15th Street NW, have been overrepresented in the departments violent crime statistics.

There is nothing more tragic and that affects our community more than a homicide, Gabbard said. You can be doing really well in every other (violent crime) category, and homicide, especially a couple in a row or eight in a quarter, gives that perception that were not doing enough.

But he asked council  and residents  to trust the strategies he has put in place to address and reduce violent crime.

More about Canton crime: Canton's biggest crime problem: Teens with guns

Gabbard reminded council members about last May when he came to the board in a somewhat crisis mode.

We had nine homicides at that time, Gabbard said. We had a crisis, in my opinion, as far as youth-involved violence.

How has the Canton Police Department tried to reduce violent crime?

At Gabbards recommendation, council in May 2022 instituted a nightly curfew of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. for residents under the age of 18.

Weve never had to go back to someones house twice, Gabbard told council Monday. We were absolutely focused on contacting parents and finding out, Do you know where your kids are? That was successful.

Story continues

Gabbard also has since restructured the department to focus on addressing group violence and deterrence measures, including community outreach efforts. He has expanded the departments use of camera technology and foot patrols, as well as renewed partnerships with other agencies to focus on prolific offenders.

More from Canton police chief: Gabbard explains why it's called 'We Believe in Canton'

Canton ended 2022 with an 11% reduction in overall violent crimes compared with 2021, Gabbard said.

The department also saw a decrease in felonious assaults, domestic violence, assault, threats, robbery and aggravated robbery in 2022 compared with 2021, he said.

Im not trying to plant a victory flag or celebrate success, but I want to give you confidence in these strategies, Gabbard said. These strategies are the same things Im looking at prioritizing now.

Canton Police Chief John Gabbard said Monday that while Canton has witnessed eight homicides so far this year, overall violent crime is down.

How do Canton's 2023 crime stats compare so far?

Cantons overall violent crime rate so far this year is 8% lower than the average of the past three years for the same time period, Gabbard said.

Cantons number of gunshot wound victims, shootings into habitations, calls to the department about a shooting or shots being fired, menacing and aggravated menacing, domestic violence, aggravated robbery and robbery and assault crimes also are lower so far this year compared with the year-to-date average for 2020, 2021 and 2022, the chief said. Only felonious assaults and crimes with a firearm are higher.

What weve done overall is working, Gabbard said. We are in this for the long haul.

Gabbard believes bringing the department back to full staffing with 175 officers also would help crime prevention efforts. The force stands at 158 officers, but Gabbard said at least three officers already have notified him that they plan to leave the department by June. A year ago, the department employed 167 officers. Gabbard said recruiting efforts have continued.

Gabbard also pledged to continue talking with council about other ways they could partner to deter crime, including investing in youth and mentoring programs.

Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @kweirREP

Crime Category How much higher/lower 2023 incidents are compared with first quarter average of past three years Percent difference Felonious Assault +27 +28% With A Firearm +3 +9% Gunshot wound victims -1.3 -8% Shooting Into Habitations -9 -32% Calls for service for Shots Fired/Shootings -62.3 -26% Aggravated Menacing/Menacing -33.3 -11.20% Domestic Violence -53 -18.20% Aggravated Robbery/Robbery -11.4 -27.50% Assault -21 -11% Overall Violent Crime -78 -8%

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton Police Chief John Gabbard addresses eight homicides in 2023
The Democratic Party announced on Tuesday that it would return to Chicago next year for its presidential nominating convention. The Windy City has hosted the Democratic National Convention 11 times, but the 1968 event stands out more than five decades later because of bloody dayslong protests.

Democrats held the convention Aug. 26-29, four months after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and as the Vietnam War was raging. The gathering erupted in violence, leading to the activation of the National Guard and the arrest of hundreds of protesters.

The McGovern-Fraser Commission that investigated the violence characterized the event as a police riot, and CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite referred to the Chicago police as thugs on the air after seeing his reporter Dan Rather beaten on the convention floor.

The party convened to select a new presidential nominee after President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek reelection.



Vice President Hubert Humphrey received Johnsons support for the nomination. He was challenged by Sens. Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy.

But before the convention, Kennedy was assassinated, which resulted in Sen. George McGovern vying for the nomination.

Preparing for the 1968 convention

The day before, many antiwar protesters congregated in Lincoln Park, about 10 miles from the Democratic National Convention.

Mayor Richard J. Daley had initially allowed them to gather but changed his mind that evening. Instead, he ordered the Chicago Police Department to enforce the citys 11 p.m. curfew, hoping to remove the protesters before the convention began.

Day 1

The event got off to a shaky start. Television cameras were not allowed to live-broadcast the antiwar demonstrations outside the International Amphitheater but could film what was happening on the convention floor.

Day 2

The convention became divided between antiwar protesters and Johnson supporters. That night a prime-time debate on Vietnam was delayed until after midnight, when most Americans would be asleep.

Story continues

Protesters gathered at a nearby hotel where many of the delegates were staying. Police officers could not keep the peace and Daley sent in troops from the Illinois National Guard, which had been activated by Gov. Samuel Shapiro.

Day 3

The anticipated televised Vietnam debate aired, and thousands of antiwar protesters gathered in Grant Park, where they had a permit to assemble.

The National Guard prevented the protesters from reaching the amphitheater. Later in the afternoon, a teen climbed a flagpole and lowered the American flag, and the police arrested him.

One of the protest organizers, Rennie Davis, told the police that the group had a legal protest permit and requested that the officers leave the park. The officers then beat Davis unconscious.



Another protest organizer, Tom Hayden, encouraged protesters to return to the hotel. However, early in the evening, outside the hotel, police officers began attacking antiwar protesters with billy clubs and tear gas.

Meanwhile, Sen. Abraham Ribicoff, in his nominating speech for McGovern, referred to Gestapo tactics in the streets of Chicago as televisions inside the convention hall showed the riots happening outside.

Later at the convention, delegates voted for Humphrey to receive the presidential nomination.

Day 4

The police used tear gas to stop the remaining protesters and antiwar delegates from reaching the amphitheater.

Officers arrested over 650 protesters during the convention.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misstated the first name of Hubert Humphrey, the Democrat who received the party's presidential nomination in 1968.
Cult mom Lori Vallow suddenly left the room where she is standing trial for the murders of her daughter and son after the court heard graphic details on how the childrens remains were recovered in a pet cemetery.

Ms Vallows ongoing trial in Boise, Idaho, was delayed on Tuesday when her defence attorneys asked Judge Steven Boyce for a moment to speak with their visibly upset client. Ms Vallow and the rest of the court had just returned from a lunch break after hearing disturbing details about the way her children JJ and Tylee were discovered buried on her doomsday preacher husband Chad Daybells property.

Testifying for the prosecution, Rexburg Police Detective Ray Hermosillo recounted the grisly scene investigators found on 9 June 2020, nearly nine months after his department first alerted the FBI of Ms Vallows refusal to disclose her childrens whereabouts.

Mr Hermosillo told jurors that JJs body was found wrapped in a plastic bag and duct tape. In another area of the property, investigators discovered burnt flesh and charred bones that were later confirmed to be Tylees remains.

The detective said every investigator at the scene could only work for a few minutes at a time due to the unbearable smell. Photos of Mr Daybells property that were admitted as evidence showed burnt bone fragments and teeth, and JJs body wrapped in black plastic.

Other images showed the wet soil where the bodies had been buried.

The smell was so bad we had to take turns digging ... eventually we uncovered bits and pieces of Tylee, whom we assumed was Tylee, that had been burned, Mr Hermosillo told the court. There were pieces of bone, charred flesh, just globs of flesh that were falling apart.

He added: ...It was very easy to identify that boy ... as the one we had been looking for, for the last eight months.

Following Mr Hermosillos testimony, Judge Boyce called for a lunch break. But shortly after the court reconvened, Ms Vallow became shaken and his attorneys asked the judge for another recess so they could have a private discussion.

Story continues

KSLTV5 journalist Lauren Steinbrecher reported that Ms Vallows eyes looked watery and red. Nate Eaton, news director of East Idaho News, said that Ms Vallow appeared upset and sad.

Reporters in the courtroom also noted that Ms Vallow seemed to show no emotion during Mr Hermosillos testimony, and only became upset afterwards.

Defence attorneys were seen stepping in and out of the room before Ms Vallow was eventually brought back inside. Her legal team argued that she should be excused from the afternoon portion of witness testimony due to her fragile state of mind.

Judge Boyce denied the request, saying that her presence is needed to ensure due process.
Lori Vallow during a previous court appearance in Lihue, Hawaii. Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island via Associated Press

Lori Vallow is accused of murdering her two youngest kids, Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow.

On Tuesday, a detective took the stand and described unearthing the children's bodies.

The trial then took an extended lunch break that was attributed to Vallow's mental health.

BOISE, Idaho  Moments before prosecutors in the trial of Lori Vallow would display photos of the remains of her two children for the jury, she made a request.

Vallow, who is accused  along with her fifth husband, Chad Daybell  of killing the kids, wanted to be excused from court for the rest of the day to protect her "mental health."

"It was emotional for her this morning," Vallow's lawyer, John Thomas, told Judge Steven Boyce.

Boyce declined to grant Vallow's motion to be recused. He cited Idaho law which grants courts the power to "bind and gag the defendant" to keep them present.

Vallow and her husband Chad Daybell, have both been charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, murder, and grand theft in connection with the deaths of Vallow's two youngest children: 7-year-old Joshua "J.J." Vallow and big sister Tylee Ryan, last seen in 2019. They are also charged in the murder of Daybell's then-wife Tammy Daybell.

Boyce said Vallow needed to stay in the courtroom "to ensure her due process rights and the right to a fair trial by the state."

Prosecutors proceeded to show gory photos from Daybell's property where police on June 9, 2020 found Tylee and J.J.

In one set was a partially-melted green bucket filled with Tylee's snapped bones, eviscerated organs, and singed flesh.

"Another glob of  sorry that's the best way I can describe it  burnt flesh and bone," Rexburg Police Detective Ray Hermosillo testified from the stand. "Teeth and different parts."

The other set shown to the jury was J.J.'s remains, laid on a medical examiner's table, Hermosillo said. His ankles, wrists, and mouth were wrapped in duct tape. The face looked enough like J.J. in life to still be recognizable.

Story continues

As the photos were shown, J.J.'s grandfather, Larry Woodcock, doubled over on a courtroom bench and buried his face in his hands, sobbing silently, and shaking.

One woman on the jury dabbed her eyes. A male juror looked away. Audience members passed boxes of tissue up and down the courtroom's wooden benches.

Vallow  who began the day grinning, perky, and wearing a pink blouse  put on a black shawl in the afternoon and sat slumped and still. At one point she shook her head, and her lawyer Jim Archibald patted her back.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges, but are being tried separately. Chad Daybell's trial is still months away. Vallow faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Vallow is also awaiting trial in Arizona for her alleged role in the July 2019 killing of her late husband, Charles Vallow.

Read the original article on Insider
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. Lisa C. Cheney via AP

Lori Vallow flipped her hair, smiled, and chatted about yoga before her trial Tuesday.

Vallow is accused of killing her two children and her husband's former wife.

Witnesses have testified that the "cult mom" became radicalized in doomsday beliefs in 2019.

BOISE, Idaho  Lori Vallow smiled, flipped her hair, and chatted about yoga Tuesday morning as court officers adjusted the chains on her ankles.

Shackled, Vallow was led to a wood table in an Ada County courtroom, where court officers chained her legs to the floor.

Grinning, she told her attorney, John Thomas, that she'd practiced yoga for years.

Her apparently upbeat attitude was in contrast to testimony on Monday  the first day of trial  in which two witnesses connected to the family described the disappearance of her now-dead children and the discovery of their remains. Vallow is accused of conspiring with her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, to kill her two children and Daybell's former wife.

Kay Woodcock, who described Vallow's adopted son J.J. Vallow as her "beautiful grandson," and Brandon Boudreaux, another relative, had addressed Vallow's alleged spiral from what Woodcock described as a "doting mom" to a doomsday fanatic.

Doomsday couple Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow have been accused of killing Vallow's two children. Courtesy of Rexburg Police Department

Finding the kids

Woodcock and her husband hired a private investigator to surveil Vallow at her Rexburg, Idaho, home, Woodcock testified. When the investor failed to find J.J. or his older sister Tylee Ryan, the Woodcocks went to the police, she testified.

The children hadn't been seen in two months by the time police got involved. The day after police visited Vallow's home for a well-being check  during which she lied and said the children were with a relative  she and Daybell fled, police previously told Insider.

They were found vacationing in Hawaii in January 2020. The children's remains were found buried on Daybell's property in June 2020.

Boudreaux  who was married to Vallow's niece  sobbed Monday as he described being asked in June 2020 by police in Idaho to identify the remains of young J.J. Vallow.

Story continues

"It's a pretty overwhelming task to do," a red-faced Boudreaux said after wiping his face with a tissue.

Boudreaux became emotional describing how close his four children had been to 7-year-old J.J , who he called his nephew.

"He seemed to love hanging out with my kids," he said, adding that his family and Vallow's spent holidays together and vacationed to be with each other.

Boudreaux, whose face was red and pained as he flicked his eyes at Vallow, also testified to how he had baptized Tylee Ryan, at Vallow's request, into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and how her religiosity changed markedly after 2018 when she met Daybell, an apocalyptic author and doomsday entrepreneur.

"It went from zero to a hundred real quick," he said. "It just seemed extreme."

On October 2, 2019, Boudreaux, who was married at the time to a Vallow's niece  another member of the doomsday religious group  was shot at outside his home in Arizona.

Prosecutors say that shooting, and an attempted shooting of Tammy Daybell before her death, are tied to the Vallow and other members of the religious group.

Throughout his testimony, Vallow whispered to her lawyers and filled a page of a legal pad with notes.

Read the original article on Insider
Over the weekend, service workers reached a labor deal with the Los Angeles Unified School District after a three-day strike in March over wages and staffing.

The Local 99 chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) said the new agreement "will begin to lift essential workers out of poverty and lead to improved staffing for student services."

Under the new terms, workers who are paid an average of $25,000 a year will see their wages increase by 30%. Employees who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic would also receive a $1,000 bonus and family health care benefits will also be expanded.

Thousands of workers backed by teachers went on strike last month and rallied outside the school district's headquarters in downtown Los Angeles amid stalled contract talks.

The goal was to demand better pay and increased staffing for the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, teachers' aides and other employees represented by the union.

STANFORD DEI DEAN ADMITS SHE DIDN'T GET RESPONSE TO STUDENTS' HECKLING OF CONSERVATIVE FEDERAL JUDGE RIGHT

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The SEIU said many district support staffers live in poverty because of low pay or limited work hours while struggling with inflation and the high cost of housing in Los Angeles County.

Teachers and SEIU workers and supporters demonstrate outside LAUSD headquarters on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Los Angeles.

"This contract recognizes the essential work of those who work hard to ensure students can learn in a clean, safe, and supportive environment," said Max Arias, Executive Director of SEIU Local 99. "It is a major step forward with significant improvements to wages, work hours, and benefits for dedicated education workers who have been left behind for far too long."

The contract still needs to be approved by the school district's Board of Education. The school district said the board could take it up for a vote at a meeting on April 18.

The school district  the second largest in the nation  serves more than half a million students in the area.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A lost tourist from Georgia was shot while stopping for directions in Louisiana, officials said.

The womans three kids were in the car when she honked her horn to get help after the shooting, the Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office wrote April 8 in a Facebook post.

Now, deputies are looking for a man whos accused of shooting the woman during a robbery attempt.

The harrowing incident occurred along West Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in the Shreveport area. Deputies said the woman and her children were coming from Atlanta to visit family when the mother became lost and got out of the car to ask for directions.

Thats when the man tried to rob her at gunpoint, the sheriffs office wrote. The woman said she immediately ran when the gunman shot her in the forearm.

The woman escaped to a nearby apartment complex and honked her cars horn until someone helped her. She was taken to a hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening, and her children werent hurt in the shooting, officials said.

An investigation continues, and deputies ask anyone with information about the case to call them at 318-675-2170.

Sleeping 10-year-old shot when gunman fires into home, Georgia police say

Intruder with lug wrench shot dead by mother protecting her kids, Louisiana cops say
Chuck Morris of the electronic jam band Lotus has been found dead along with his 20-year-old son. (Robert E Klein / Associated Press)

The bodies of Chuck Morris, the percussionist for the electronic jam band Lotus, and his son, Charley, were recovered 24 days after the two vanished while kayaking in Arkansas, authorities confirmed Sunday.

The Benton County Sheriff's Office began search efforts after Morris and his son were reported missing in the area of South Lost Bridge Village of Beaver Lake. Over the weekend, the Sheriffs Office posted to its Facebook page that its efforts were combined with Carroll County [Mennonite Disaster Service] and Christian Aid Ministries Search and Rescue Team ... out of Tennessee, and that they recovered the bodies using underwater drones in a challenging environment that exceeded depths of 180" feet.

Sheriff [Shawn] Holloway, along with the family of Chuck and Charley, would like to thank all the men and women who donated their time and efforts to help bring closure to the family and recover the two missing men, they said. Our heart goes out [to] the family of Chuck and Charley Morris and we are thankful today that we can help bring closure.

Five days after the search for Chuck, 47, and Charley Morris, 20, began, Lotus posted a photo of its percussionist to Instagram with a caption saying the band had been hoping for a miracle.

But at this point, the search for Chuck and Charley has moved to a recovery, Lotus members wrote. It is unknown how long these efforts may take. 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. Thank you to all who have reached out with fond words, stories, emotional and financial support.

The band also shared a link to the Morris familys GoFundMe page via a link in their Instagram bio, asking for help in supporting the familys immediate financial needs.

On Sunday, the band shared a tragic update in the search for Chuck and Charley, alongside a statement from the Morris family via their social media pages.

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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 teams are still actively searching for Chuck Morris, but we continue to have faith in their work. On Monday, they added, Chuck Morris was also recovered yesterday. Thanks to the efforts of the local search teams. We appreciate your support at this time.

The band also announced it would be holding benefit concerts that will pay tribute to Chuck and Charley, with 100% of the net proceeds going to the Morris family.

The first two benefit shows will take place at Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on April 21 and 22. According to the band's Instagram page, both Denver shows will feature special guest musicians who are friends, former band members and close collaborators of Lotus and Morris, including Mike Rempel, Steve Clemens, Gabe Otto, Jeff Franca, Allen Aucoin, Dave Watts, Jeff Lloyd, Rohan Prakash, Scotty Zwang, Jeff Peterson, Anthony Fugate, members of Genetics.

Lotus will also host benefit concerts at XL Live in Harrisburg, Pa., on May 5 and at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y., on May 6.

"Lotus has officially postponed their April West Coast Tour which had them hitting Texas, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington. They are working on rescheduled dates to be announced soon," they wrote on Instagram.

"Tickets to all four benefit shows are on sale now at LotusVibes.com. Fans can also support the Morris Family's immediate financial needs by donating at the link in our bio."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The bodies of Lotus drummer Chuck Morris and his son, Charley, were recovered from Arkansas' Beaver Lake this weekend.

The bodies of Lotus drummer Chuck Morris and his son, Charley, were recovered from Arkansas' Beaver Lake this weekend.

The bodies of musician Chuck Morris and his son, Charley, were found this weekend in Arkansas nearly a month after the two men went missing during a kayaking trip.

The Benton County Sheriffs Office announced on Facebook Sunday that its 24-day search for Morris, 47, and Charley, 20, had resulted in the recovery of their bodies in the area of Lost Bridge Village of Beaver Lake.

Sheriff [Shawn] Holloway, along with the family of Chuck and Charley, would like to thank all the men and women who donated their time and efforts to help bring closure to the family and recover the two missing men, the statement read.

In a separate statement on their GoFundMe page, the Morris family wrote that Charleys death was ruled a drowning. The cause for the elder Morris death has not yet been reported.

Morris was a drummer for the Denver-based electronic band Lotus, while Charley was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University. The pair had not been seen since March 16 when they disappeared while on a spring break trip to Beaver Lake with family.

Statement From the Family of Chuck and Charley Morris: https://t.co/LNLxcMK0gH



Help support the familys immediate financial needs by donating at https://t.co/bQModCUncqpic.twitter.com/sMPqOvErWU  Lotus (@LotusTweets) April 9, 2023

Five days after the two men went missing, Lotus confirmed on social media that the search had shifted to a recovery effort.

We were all hoping for a miracle, but at this point, the search for Chuck and Charley has moved to a recovery, the band wrote. While we are deeply grieving, 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.

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Lotus is planning to commemorate Morris and his son with two benefit concerts at Denvers Fillmore Auditorium on April 21 and 22. Upcoming shows in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Port Chester, New York, will also benefit the family.

Billing themselves as a jamtronica band, Lotus formed at Indianas Goshen College in 1998, with Morris joining the lineup about three years later. Over the past 25 years, Lotus has released a total of 13 studio albums and live recordings. Its most recent album, Bloom & Recede, was unveiled last year.

Related...
NEW YORK (AP)  Social media companies are once again in the spotlight after a bank employee in Louisville, Kentucky, killed five people in a mass shooting and livestreamed the attack on Instagram.

Tech companies have gotten better in recent years at cooperating to tamp down the spread of mass shooting videos on mainstream platforms. But there's still no easy way to stop shooters from broadcasting their grisly crimes without shutting down livestreaming services altogether.

Here's what we know so far about what happened in Louisville:

HOW DID META RESPOND?

Instagram parent company Meta, which also owns Facebook, said in a statement that it quickly removed the livestream of the Louisville shooting on Monday morning.

But Meta did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday about how long it took to take down the livestream  or how many people watched it before it was removed.

Instagram allows users to anonymously report livestreams. Once a report has been submitted, the companys policy states that it will review the broadcast as quickly as possible and remove those that violate its policies. Depending on the severity of the situation, the company may decide to end a live broadcast, disable the account or contact law enforcement.

IS THIS THE FIRST LIVESTREAMED SHOOTING?

No. All told, there have been seven perpetrator-produced videos of violence posted on social media in the past four years that major companies have tried to keep off their platforms, according to the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.

In September, a gunman livestreamed his attack on people in Memphis, Tennessee, during a rampage that killed four and wounded three, police said. The shooting came four months after a white gunman massacred 10 Black shoppers and workers  and wounded three  in a shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket that was livestreamed on the Amazon-owned gaming platform Twitch.

The platform said it removed that video in less than two minutes, which was not fast enough to prevent copies of the clip from spreading to other social media sites. But the removal was considerably faster than the 17 minutes it took Facebook to take down a livestreamed attack in 2019 at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. That shooting killed 51 people.

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Also in 2019, another gunman killed two people during a shooting at a German synagogue that was also livestreamed on Twitch.

Last June, two Muslim men in India were accused of slitting the throat of a Hindu tailor and posting a video of it online amid rising tensions between Hindus and Muslims in the country.

HOW HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES CHANGED THEIR TACTICS?

The methods to curb attack videos have evolved since 2014, when Islamic State militants in Syria began sharing gruesome propaganda videos of the beheadings of kidnapped journalists and other hostages.

While those events were not shared live, it was "really the first time that there was a major terrorist incident designed for the social media era. And platforms realized that they had to do something, said Courtney Radsch, a fellow at the UCLA Institute for Technology, Law & Policy.

Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and Google-owned YouTube formed a group in 2017 called the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. Its mission expanded after the Christchurch killings spurred a much more aggressive effort to not only eradicate terrorist content online, but also to go after mass killing videos perpetrated by white nationalists and other types of extremists, said Radsch, who serves on a committee for the group.

The group, known as GIFCT, now has nearly two dozen members, including Amazon, Airbnb, Dropbox, Discord and Zoom. Whatever platform has the original video will submit a hash  a digital fingerprint corresponding to that video  and notify the other member companies so they can restrict it from their platforms. While not perfect, experts say the response has grown quicker and also now encompasses PDF files to stop the spread of manifestos.

Unfortunately, as these have continued to occur, the more of these weve gone through with our members, the more everyone strengthened their muscle memory around this, said Sarah Pollack, a spokesperson for GIFCT.

A day after the Louisville shooting, clips from the gunmans livestream were not easily findable on Instagram or other popular social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. The first calls to police were around 8:30 a.m. Monday. By midday, the GIFCT had put out its highest-level alert for coordinating efforts to stop the videos spread.

WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE?

Its hard to know if the effort to slow the spread of videos has done anything to deter the violence itself.

Theres a tension between platforms wanting to give their users new capabilities and opportunities to engage and the risks of livestreaming, said UCLA's Radsch.

Livestreaming, "with no delay, with no real oversight, can present really challenging situations when users use your platform to livestream terrorism, extremism, violence, suicide.

She said platforms still need to take more seriously whether to adopt additional precautions.

The challenge is, any precaution you put in place for a mass violence event could also potentially be leveraged to prevent livestreaming of police brutality or pro-democracy protests, she said. So it really is a double-edged sword.

Also, while mainstream companies are coordinating their response, they have little influence over the dark web forums that are still trying to collect and share the videos  other than preventing them from obtaining footage in the first place.

___

O'Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island.
Now is the time to turn the grief over Mondays mass shooting at Old National Bank into action that changes gun laws, two high-profile Louisville Democrats said Tuesday.

I had somebody tell me the other day, dont make this political, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Kentuckys lone Democrat in Congress, said at a news conference. Fine. Dont make this political. Peoples lives arent political. Public safety isnt political.

Put those policies in place that put people first  people over guns, kids over guns, public safety over guns  because that is what we need to address this problem.

Five people were killed when a gunman, a current employee of the bank, armed with a legally purchased AR-15 opened fire in the downtown Louisville office just after 8:30 a.m. Monday. Police were on scene within three minutes and fatally shot the 25-year-old assailant.

Eight other people were injured during the incident, including rookie Louisville Metro Police Officer Nickolas Wilt, who was shot in the head and remains in critical condition at the University of Louisville Hospital. Wilt had just graduated from the police academy 10 days earlier.

McGarvey, who served in the state senate until 2022, said taking weapons of war off the streets, helping people in crisis and passing universal background checks shouldnt be seen as partisan issues.

But it becomes one when Kentucky Republicans would rather ban books and pronouns, and then make Kentucky a sanctuary state for weapons, McGarvey said, referencing three pieces of legislation passed by the GOP-dominated Kentucky legislature.

McGarveys comments were similar to those made by President Joe Biden in the wake of the shooting.

How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities? Biden said in a statement. Its long past time that we require safe storage of firearms. Require background checks for all gun sales. Eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability.

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We can and must do these things now.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, who himself survived an assassination attempt in 2022, also pointed to guns as the problem.

Following Mondays shooting, 40 people have been shot to death in Louisville this year, Greenberg said, calling the level of gun violence beyond horrific.

We need short-term action to end this gun violence epidemic now, Greenberg said, so fewer people die on our streets and in our banks, in our schools and in our churches. And for that, we need help. We need help from our friends in Frankfort and help from our friends in Washington, D.C.

This isnt about partisan politics. This is about life and death. This is about preventing tragedies. You may think this will never happen to you, never happened to any of your friends or loved ones. I used to think that. The sad truth is that now no one in our city, no one in our state, no one in our country has that luxury anymore.

Greenberg criticized a pair of state laws: one requires that weapons confiscated by by police be sold at auction, and a second that prevents cities like Louisville from enacting stricter gun-control laws.

Under current Kentucky law, the assault rifle that was used to murder five of our neighbors and shoot at rescuing police officers will one day be auctioned off, he said. Think about that. That murder weapon will be back on the streets one day under Kentuckys current law.

Earlier this year, the first-term mayor ordered that LMPD remove the firing pins from guns before being turned over to the Kentucky State Police. This renders the weapons inoperable in their current state, but not destroyed.

Thats all that the current law allows us to do, Greenberg said. Thats not enough. Its time to change this law and let us destroy illegal guns and destroy the guns that have been used to kill our friends and kill our neighbors. I know every member of the state legislature, like everyone else in our state and in our country, is horrified by what we saw yesterday, by what we see in other cities around the country. None of us wants this to happen again.

Greenberg said without change, these crimes will keep happening.

Lets change the state laws that would make me a criminal for trying too hard to stop the real evil criminals who are taking other peoples lives and who are eager to make a spectacle of mass murder, he said. The laws we have now are enabling violence and murder.
Police in Louisville, Kentucky, have released bodycam footage of the fatal shootout between police and a banker who gunned down five colleagues.

The video shows two officers getting shot as they advanced towards the lurking gunman during Monday's attack.

One officer was hit in the head, while the other suffered a graze wound before killing the suspect.

Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the videos show the officers heroically intervening to save lives.

Four people - including the police officer who was shot in the head - remain in hospital.

Police say the 25-year-old suspect used a legally purchased AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during the attack, which he was live-streaming.

Officers arrived three minutes after the first emergency call was placed at 08:38 local time.

Officer Cory Galloway and rookie Officer Nickolas Wilt charged toward the building after their patrol car came under fire, according to the video.

The clip shows that as they moved up the stairs to the building entrance, a barrage of shots were fired. Officer Wilt was hit, although the video does not show this.

A bullet also grazed Officer Galloway's shoulder, sending him diving to the bottom of the steps for cover behind a concrete planter.

"The shooter has an angle on that officer," he says to other police as they arrive. "We need to get up there. I don't know where he's at, the glass is blocking him."

The gunman was at an elevated position to the officers, and was able to see outside through glass windows of the Old National Bank that officers could not see into.

After he fired again at the officers, breaking the glass, Officer Galloway was able to spot the suspect and fired at him until he collapsed in the building's lobby area.

"I think I got him down. I think he's down," he is heard shouting. "Suspect down. Get the officer."

A memorial outside the Old National Bank in Louisville

Deputy Chief Humphrey says the officers' actions saved lives, both by stopping the gunman from killing more employees and by giving first aid to the victims.

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Officer Wilt, 26, who had been sworn in to the force 10 days earlier, was taken to hospital in a police car. He remains in a critical condition.

Another officer drove an ambulance to hospital so medical workers could remain in the back of the vehicle with a victim.

The family of the gunman, Connor Sturgeon, released a statement late on Tuesday saying they had been addressing his mental health challenges, but there were no warning signs he could commit such an act.

"No words can express our sorrow, anguish, and horror at the unthinkable harm our son Connor inflicted on innocent people, their families, and the entire Louisville community," the statement said.

"We mourn their loss and that of our son, Connor. We pray for everyone traumatised by his senseless acts of violence and are deeply grateful for the bravery and heroism of the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department."

Meanwhile, the legally purchased AR-15-style rifle used by the gunman will probably be auctioned to the public, officials say.

Under current state law, guns confiscated by local police - including those used in homicides - are returned to state police and then made available for purchase at auction.

In February, the Louisville mayor ordered local police to temporarily disable seized weapons before handing them over to state police for resale.

Mayor Craig Greenberg told a news conference on Tuesday: "Under current Kentucky law, the assault rifle that was used to murder five of our neighbours and shoot at rescuing police officers will one day be auctioned off.

"Think about that. That murder weapon will be back on the streets."

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Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed Tuesday morning that an AR-15 was the weapon used in a mass shooting Monday that killed five people and injured others.

In an interview on CBS Mornings, Greenberg was making a call to action to address gun violence when he said shooter Connor Sturgeon used an AR-15, opening fire at the Old National Bank where he worked and killing several employees. Among the people injured were two police officers, one who was critically hurt.

Louisville Metro Police Officer Nikolas Wilt, 26, was shot by the gunman within minutes of officers arrival to the Old National Bank where the shooting took place. Wilt, who was just sworn into the Louisville Metro Police Department two weeks ago, remains in critical condition.

We need to come together to take action, Greenberg said during his interview on CBS. If you care about other loved ones in your city and in your country, if you care about officers like Officer Wilt, who ran into this situation faced by someone who was holding an AR-15 waiting for your arrival, lets take action.

Before his statement, police had only confirmed that Sturgeon used a rifle to commit the deadly shooting. The motive behind Sturgeons attack is unclear.

LMPD: Gun was purchased legally

On Tuesday, LMPD Interim Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said the AR-15 was purchased legally on April 4 from one of the local dealerships here in Louisville.

She also said a search warrant was executed at the shooters home and some items were recovered, but did not share what those were.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives said it couldnt comment on firearm trace information but said Louisville police may be able to release more information on the gun. LMPD didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Greenberg said in the interview that he and Gwinn-Villaroel would do everything we can from a local level to try to prevent more mass shootings.

He said the city has started by changing the way they return illegal, confiscated guns to the state by removing the firing pins before turning them over as required by state law.

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We are working with LMPD to reduce the amount of illegal guns on our street, Greenberg said. We are investing in people, and neighborhoods, and the root causes of crime and poverty so that kids grow up with the ability to pursue their own hopes and dreams.

But we have to do more. We must call on our state legislatures to give cities like Louisville the autonomy to control our own destiny with respect to reducing this gun violence epidemic, Greenberg said. We need help from Congress to pass legislation that can give us more tools and ability to try to prevent acts like yesterday from never happening again in Louisville, in Nashville, or any city in America.

In a Tuesday morning interview with Louisville Public Media reporter Justin Hicks, Gwinn-Villaroel confirmed the AR-15 was recently purchased.

.@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

Putting this here for my local #LouMedia friends. Forgive me if I ask unclear questions about the AR-15 thing, I don't know anything about guns - just not my thing. (Also this thing clipped the tape at 2 min but there's not a ton after.) https://t.co/ZEQAEVM3AZ pic.twitter.com/9Lsl8Cj4vH  Justin Hicks (@Hicks_JustinM) April 11, 2023

This developing story will be updated.
The Louisville Metro Police Foundation has raised more than $28,000 to go towards medical expenses for a rookie officer who was critically wounded during a mass shooting Monday.

Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was shot in the head while responding to an active shooter at the Old National Bank on E. Main Street in downtown Louisville. Wilt had graduated from the police academy March 31, and Monday was only his fourth shift, officials said during a news conference Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, he was in stable but critical condition at University of Louisville Hospital.

In a Facebook post, the Louisville Metro Police Foundation continued to ask for thoughts and prayers, but also to support Wilt and his family.

Officer Wilt has dedicated his short time here to serving our community and now it is our chance to serve him and take care of his family, the post read.

Updated: Louisville police officer injured in Old National Bank shooting just graduated academy

As of Tuesday at 4 p.m., the donation page had raised $28,603 from 580 donors.

The post also detailed more about Wilt, who has served as both a firefighter and a dispatcher. His brother, Zack, is also in the LMPD academy.

Donations can be made on the Facebook post directly, through Venmo, or on the foundations website at saferlouisville.org. All money raised will go directly to the family, according to the foundation.
Top political advisor pledges benefits for people, enterprises from Taiwan

Xinhua) 08:36, April 11, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Nickolas Wilt, an officer who graduated from the police academy 10 days ago, was shot in the head during the deadly mass shooting Monday morning in Louisville, the city's Interim police chief said.

Wilt, 26, who graduated from the Louisville Metro Police Academy on March 31,ran towards the gunfire to save lives, the police department posted on Facebook Monday. He was later hailed as a hero by his co-workers.

Five people were killed and nine injured during the shooting at an Old National Bank in downtown Louisville. Two police officers, including Wilt, were among the injured.

Wilt remains in critical condition following brain surgery, Interim Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Monday. "The next few days are important and very critical for Nickolas recovery."

"We throw around the term hero, but he's the guy who's going to do the right thing," said Maj. John Luker, who had worked with Wilt at Oldham County EMS before he joined the police recruiting class. "A co-worker said that term's entitled this time. He earned it."

MAPPING THE INCIDENT: Old National Bank shooting in Louisville kills 5

Nickolas Wilt, 26, graduated from the Louisville Metro Police Department's academy on March 31 and was critically injured during an exchange of gunfire during the mass shooting in Louisville on April 10, the police department said.

'Actions saved a lot of other lives'

Gwinn-Villaroel said she had just sworn him in as his family watched. Wilt's twin brother is going through the academy now, friends of the family told the Courier-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Police identified bank employee Connor Sturgeon as the shooter. He died during the shooting along with five other people: Thomas "Tommy" Elliott, 63; Josh Barrick, 40; James "Jim" Tutt Jr., 64; Deanna Eckert, 57; and Juliana Farmer, 45.

A second officer injured was released from the University of Louisville Hospital within a few hours, along with two other victims who sustained minor injuries.

An officer and firefighter

Wilt began working as an emergency medical technician for Oldham Emergency Medical Services in March 2021 and was always professional and dependable, Luker said.

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He was a team player who always wanted to help where he could. And while "I hated for us to lose him ... knowing what police are going through in Louisville, he's the type of officer they need," Luker said.

"It's unfortunate that it happened," he added about the shooting. "But as tore up as everybody is, we also know those actions saved a lot of other lives. ... We're just so proud of him."

Wilt remained on the roster at Oldham EMS, director Deborah Berry wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

"He's our hero too," she said. "He came to us a few months ago ... to tell us he was following his dream of becoming an LMPD officer. He knew the risks. He was willing to accept the risks."

"He asked to stay on our roster and promised to come back and work for us part-time," Berry wrote.

LOUISVILLE, KY - APRIL 10: Law enforcement officers respond to an active shooter at the Old National Bank building on April 10, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. According to reports, there are multiple fatalities and injuries. The shooter died at the scene. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

LOUISVILLE BANK SHOOTING: What we know about the suspect, motive

Mass killings and shootings involving police officers

One hundred days into 2023, there have been 15 mass killings  shootings in which four or more people were killed, not including the shooter  in the U.S., according to a USA TODAY/Associated Press/Northeastern University database tracking the killings.

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.

"This is consistent with the overall trend that mass shootings are becoming more frequent," said James Densley, co-founder of the Violence Project, a nonprofit research center.

As of April 3, 99 officers had been shot in the line of duty in the United States since Jan.1, including at least 10 who were fatally wounded, the National Fraternal Order of Police reported.

That number was up 44% from the same time in 2021 and 57% from 2020, the organization reported. And in 2022, at least 331 officers were shot in the line of duty, including 62 who died.

Contributing: Grace Hauck, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Louisville shooting: Officer shot in the head 10 days after graduation
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and hospital officials have called on Kentuckians to step up in the wake of Mondays mass shooting and donate blood.

The request was made as part of an 11:30 a.m. press conference from Louisville officials.

Monday morning, a single gunman opened fire around 8:30 a.m. at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, killing five and injuring nine before being shot and killed by responding officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department.

As of Tuesday morning, four victims remained hospitalized, one of whom remains in critical condition.

For those of you who are looking to take action right now, to show your support for the first responders who are trying to save lives and for the victims of gun violence, one great way to do that is to donate blood, Greenberg said.

How to donate blood in wake of Louisville mass shooting

In a brief update on victims Tuesday morning, Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer with University of Louisville Health, said the American Red Cross was able to provide the hospital with enough blood to treat Mondays gunshot victims.

We used 170 units of blood yesterday to treat these victims, which far outstrips our hospital capacity, he noted.

As such, in comments and in information provided to media, he and Greenberg asked the public to donate directly to the Red Cross.

Officials cited John Hopkins Medicine research finding victims of gunshots require 10 times more blood than victims of other trauma and are 14 times more likely to succumb to their wounds. Those other traumas include injuries in motor vehicle incidents, non-gun assaults and falls or stabs.

This graphic from John Hopkins Medicine gives basic information on the blood transfusion needs of gunshot victims.

Where to give blood in Kentucky

To find a location near you, visit redcrossblood.org.

You can input your zip code to see blood donation locations near you, identify appointment slots and schedule your donation time.

Additionally, Kentucky Blood Center is taking donations in the regions of the state it covers, including two donation centers in Lexington, two in Louisville, Frankfort, Pikeville, Somerset and Corbin.

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You can make an appointment online at kybloodcenter.org for ease, but Mandy Brajuha, vice president of external relations, said the centers welcome walk-in donors, as well.

Brajuha said while the center has pretty healthy blood supplies as of the start of the year, it is experiencing an annual dip following spring break. As such, officials ask the public to make plans to donate regularly.

The Red Cross provides the following basic parameters for those looking to donate blood:

You can give blood every 56 days

You must be in good health and feeling well

You must be at least 16 years old

You must weigh at least 110 pounds

Other restrictions and requirements may apply. The organization also provides an overview of those who cannot donate, including those who have traveled to a malaria-risk country in the last three years, those with low iron, those with a cold or flu and those who take certain medications.

Kentucky Blood Center offers answers frequently asked questions about its donation policies online.

Those who are blood type O negative, the universal donor, are especially encouraged to make an appointment.
Police from Louisville, Ky., released the surveillance and body camera footage of the shooting at the bank that left five people dead and multiple others injured Monday.

Louisville Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey guided the public through the available footage at a press conference on Tuesday. The footage shows officers being fired upon as they were trying to stop the shooter before he was shot and killed.

A 25-year-old employee opened fire at Old National Bank, killing five people and wounding at least eight others.

A timeline of events that the police showed at the press conference shows they arrived on scene three minutes after they were originally dispatched, and the shooter was down four minutes after their arrival.

Police showed a still image of the shooter holding a rifle in his right hand in the hallway of the bank before opening fire and another after he had fired at the victims with glass shattered. Humphrey said the shooter then moved to the front of the bank to set up an ambush for officers arriving on the scene.

He said the gunman shot Officer Nickolas Wilt, a rookie, in the head while he was waiting for the officers at the front of the bank.

Humphrey said officers could not see inside the area of the bank, as the lighting was darker inside than outside and the shooter had a higher vantage point.

Body camera footage from Officer Corey Galloway shows him, after Wilt was injured, taking cover from the gunfire behind a plant and a stone structure on the side of stairs leading up to the bank.

After police were able to shoot the gunman, Galloway and others advanced.

Hes down, Galloway said, referring to the shooting. Get the officer.

Humphrey said officers immediately searched the building to ensure no threats remained and then provided medical care to those who were injured.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said the officers took heroic action to confront the shooter without hesitation.

They went towards danger in order to save and preserve life, she said. They stopped the threat so other lives could be saved. No hesitation, and they did what they were called do to.

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Wilt is in critical but stable condition as of Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Louisville Metro Police Department has released body camera video from officers who responded to Mondays deadly mass shooting downtown.

The footage captures how police reacted to a gunman who killed five people and injured several others before officers shot and killed him during an exchange of gunfire.

Police released the footage during a news conference Tuesday evening, showing how the first two responding officers were both shot before additional officers arrived to help take control of the situation.

The suspect, police said, was waiting near the bank entrance to ambush officers.

The videos were posted to LMPDs social media pages Tuesday. Police also provided media with an updated timeline of the incident.

Officials later identified the shooter as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, an employee at Old National Bank, where the shooting occurred. He had an AR-15 rifle, officials said during an earlier news conference Tuesday.

Among the people shot Monday was Louisville officer Nickolas Wilt, who had been sworn into the force less than two weeks prior to the shooting, according to LMPD. Sturgeon shot Wilt in the head, and the 26-year-old officer was still in critical condition Tuesday afternoon.

LMPD Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey analyzed the nine-minute video as it was shown to the news media. Humphrey said the response was not perfect but what officers needed in order to save lives.

He called their actions superhuman.

You can see the tension in that video and understand the stress they are going through, Humphrey said.

Several still images were also shown of the shooter farther inside the building before the ambush, and after the shooting took place while he was waiting in the lobby of the building for officers to arrive.

Bank security footage shows Connor Sturgeon with an AR-15 he used to kill five people and wound several others in an April 10, 2023 shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville, Ky., according to Louisville police.

The bodycam video footage showed officers Cory Galloway and Wilt arrive to the scene and immediately hearing gunfire while theyre still inside their police cruiser, which Wilt was driving.

Wilt backed up out of the line of fire and parked. Thats when Wilts footage showed them exiting the car and Galloway pulling a rifle from the trunk of the cruiser. Both officers approached the bank entrance, which required climbing several stairs from the sidewalk at street-level.

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Wilt and Galloway were shot almost simultaneously.

Galloways footage showed he fell to the ground after being grazed by a bullet, retreated back down the stairs and took cover behind a shrub outside the bank. Humphrey said Galloway continued to stay in the fight after being shot.

It took additional officers about three minutes to arrive on scene and begin the effort to rescue Wilt, who had been shot in the head and was blurred out on video. The gunman fired at those officers, according to police, which broke glass at the bank entrance. Galloway then had a line of sight on the suspect, allowing the officer to fire at Sturgeon, killing him.

Suspect down! he shouts. Get the officer!

Bodycam video footage shows Louisville police officer Cory Galloway arriving at Old National Bank in Louisville, Ky. April 10, 2023 where six people were killed and and others were wounded in a shooting.

Galloway then approached the building and saw the shooter lying on the ground surrounded by broken glass. Body camera video showed the suspect, who was blurred out, and his rifle on the ground with blood pooled around him. Piles of broken glass from the buildings windows were also visible, and crunched under Galloways feet as he entered the building.

Police also showed bystander video from across the street, which showed Galloway falling after being shot, rolling over, running down the stairs and immediately training his rifle on the front of the bank.

Officers were initially dispatched at 8:38 a.m. and arrived on scene at 8:41 a.m., according to information provided by LMPD. Sturgeon fired on the officers at 8:41 a.m. and again at 8:42 a.m., according to police.

Police were fired at again at 8:44 a.m. and returned fire, according to police. They entered the building and confirmed Wilt had been shot at 8:45 a.m.

The footage was released just weeks after the Metro Nashville Police Department took a similar step, releasing footage from officers who responded to and killed an active shooter inside a school last month.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
Members of the Louisville Metro Police and federal ATF agents gather outside of the Old National Bank building in Louisville, Kentucky. Timothy D. Easley / AP

Police said the suspect in the attack at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, purchased his firearm legally at a local dealership less than a week before the shooting.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Connor Sturgeon, 25, an employee of the bank, had legally purchased the weapon on April 4. Sturgeon used a rifle in the attack, which he also livestreamed on Instagram, Gwinn-Villaroel previously said on Monday .

Four people plus the shooter were killed and nine were injured in the attack, which took place at 8:30 a.m. local time. A fifth person died of their injuries later that day. One officer suffered minor injuries, while Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was shot in the head and critically injured.

Wilt underwent brain surgery and is now in "critical but stable condition," Gwinn-Villaroel said. The Louisville Metro Police Foundation has set up a fundraiser to help support his family during his treatment.

The family said Wilt has served as both a firefighter and a dispatcher and graduated from the police academy on March 30, only 10 days before the shooting.

Bodycam footage shows Wilt running into gunfire to protect people at the scene and engaging with Sturgeon.

Officer Wilt was a brand-new officer, he had no experience. He was going based on two things: his training and his character, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said during a news conference Tuesday.

The victims killed were identified as Joshua Barrick, 40, Thomas Elliott, 63, Juliana Farmer, 45, James Tutt, 64, and Deana Eckert, 57. All five victims worked at Old National Bank.

As of Tuesday morning, four patients are still being treated at University of Louisville Hospital and one is still in critical condition, according to Jason Smith, the chief medical officer at University of Louisville Health.

Smith said hes weary from treating so many victims of gun violence so frequently. He noted that the hospital used 170 units of blood to treat victims of the April 10 shooting, adding that the amount used "far outstrips" the hospitals normal capacity for blood transfusions. He thanked the Red Cross for providing additional blood.

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"For 15 years, I've cared for victims of violence and gunshot wounds, Smith said. I'm weary.

There's only so many times you can walk into a room and tell someone they're not coming home tomorrow, he continued. It just breaks your heart when you hear someone screaming, 'Mommy' or 'Daddy.' It just becomes too hard, day in and day out, to be able to do that."

Doug Yeager plays the flute at a vigil at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church following the mass shooting at the Old National Bank on April 10, 2023, in Louisville. Michael Swensen / Getty Images

On Tuesday, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the level of gun violence is beyond horrific and urged state and federal legislators to take action on the issue.

"You may think this will never happen to you, never happen to any of your friends or loved ones. I used to think that, Greenberg said. The sad truth is that now no one in our city, no one in our state, no one in our country has that luxury anymore."

Greenberg emphasized his own experience with gun violence. During his mayoral campaign in 2022, he was targeted in a shooting at his campaign headquarters. No one was injured in that shooting.

"Last year, I survived a workplace shooting. And now yesterday, I've lost a very close friend in another workplace shooting," he said.

A vigil for the victims will be held on Wednesday at 5 p.m. EST at the city's Muhammad Ali Center.

This vigil will be to acknowledge the wounds, physical and emotional, that gun violence leaves behind, Greenberg said. It will be an interfaith opportunity for our entire community, to come together, to grieve, to heal, to begin to move forward.

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.

According to gun safety advocacy group the Giffords Law Center, Kentucky has some of the loosest gun laws in the country. It does not require universal background checks for gun sales, has no minimum age to purchase a rifle or shotgun, and allows anyone over age 21 with a legal firearm to carry it concealed without a permit.

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Manny Jacinto attends the Los Angeles premiere of the film

Manny Jacinto attends the Los Angeles premiere of the film "I Want You Back" on Feb. 8, 2022, in California.

Whenthestar-studded cast of the upcoming Barbie movie was recently announced, most reacted with excitement  it seemed like everyone we love, from Issa Rae to Dua Lipa, was going to make an appearance. But Asian Twitter collectively scratched its head when Simu Liu was named as one of many actors playing a version of Ken in the film.

Dont get us wrong  we love Liu, and were all for an Asian king thriving. But when a single actor appears to be getting the bulk of Asian male roles in Hollywood, it starts to feel a little less like representation and a lot more like tokenism.

All were saying is, we dont want a predominantly white Hollywood to gatekeep sexy Asian male representation like it has for decades when there are so many other attractive and talented Asian men who deserve to be seen and appreciated by the general public.

Lius portrayal of the superhero Shang-Chi proved that he was absolutely Marvel material. But while Marvel Studios often crafts American sweethearts out of ethnic actors and quickly transforms them into highly visible stars, this shouldnt be the only way to ascend in the industry as a person of color. Give us some options!

In the spirit of thirst and true diversity, Twitter users suggested dozens of other hot East Asian figures who would have been perfect for the role of Ken. Here are some of their picks:

Manny Jacinto

manny jacinto is such a pretty ass man omg baby deserves to be in everything fr pic.twitter.com/ij7Tjk8K4A  khalia. | stream people pt. 2 (@VERONASFILMS) April 4, 2023

Lets cut to the chase: Manny Jacinto hasnt been given the flowers he deserves. The 35-year-old Filipino Canadian actor has been in award-winning shows such as The Good Place and played a minor role in Top Gun: Maverick, so we know hed be more than capable of appearing in Barbie. If the movie doesnt deliver on storyline, at least we wouldve had Jacintos jawline.

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Ludi Lin

Ludi Lin attends a gala event for an Asian and Pacific Islander

Ludi Lin attends a gala event for an Asian and Pacific Islander "changemaker community" on May 21 in Los Angeles.

Another Canadian actor, Ludi Lin played the role of Liu Kang in the 2021 reboot of Mortal Kombat and the black ranger in the 2017 Power Rangers film. Not only can he fight, but he also knows three languages. Imagine a Ken that speaks Cantonese. Now thats hot.

Jackson Wang

Jackson Wang is pictured during Paris Fashion Week on Jan. 19 in France.

Jackson Wang is pictured during Paris Fashion Week on Jan. 19 in France.

A former K-pop star, Jackson Wang is a Hong Kong rapper and dancer who has that it factor a Ken should have. Hes smooth, fashionable and just the right amount of cocky  which is exactly what we would want to see in the Barbie movie.

Kevin Kreider

Kevin Kreider attends the annual Unforgettable Gala on Dec. 11, 2021, in Beverly Hills, California.

Kevin Kreider attends the annual Unforgettable Gala on Dec. 11, 2021, in Beverly Hills, California.

Kevin Kreider, a Korean adoptee, has long spoken out about the lack of good Asian male representation in the industry (and how poorly he was treated as an Asian model), so it would only be appropriate for him to appear in Barbie. Hes most recently known for appearing in the Netflix series Bling Empire, so hes got the bougie part of Ken down.

Steven Yeun

Steven Yeun attends the world premiere of the series

Steven Yeun attends the world premiere of the series "Beef" on March 18 in Austin, Texas.

OK, Steven Yeun is not necessarily an underrated actor, but we couldnt not include him, seeing as though so many people on the internet wanted him as Ken. We cant deny the impact he had as one of the first modern Asian American male heartthrobs when he played Glenn in The Walking Dead. An appearance in Barbie would have been unlikely anyway, however, since Yeun was probably too busy working on the series Beef while the movie was filmed.

Justin H. Min

Justin H. Min attends the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 22 in Park City, Utah.

Justin H. Min attends the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 22 in Park City, Utah.

You dont need much explanation for why Justin H. Min would make a great Ken  just look at those teeth. Aside from a beautiful mug, hes more than qualified for the role, considering that he was on the Umbrella Academy series and, like Yeun, is also on Beef.

Alex Landi

Alex Landi appears on an episode of

Alex Landi appears on an episode of "Grey's Anatomy."

Korean Italian heartthrob Alex Landi is best known for playing Dr. Nico Kim, a gay surgeon on the show Greys Anatomy. But it wasnt until he was the love interest in Doja Cat and SZAs Kiss Me More music video that his status as a sex symbol was solidified. That said, most Americans havent seen him since then, and we need to see more of him everywhere, or else.
(Bloomberg) -- One hundred days into his presidency, Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is still struggling to build a reliable base of congressional support he needs to steer key proposals through the countrys legislature.

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A handful of opposition leaders and even those who have aligned themselves with Lula say the leftist president can count on about 200 loyal votes of a total of 513 in the lower house, leaving him well short of a majority needed to approve simple matters and far from the 308 votes he would need for key reforms that alter the constitution.

Lack of a solid congressional base threatens everything from the structure of Lulas government, including the creation of new ministries, to his very ability to govern and deliver on campaign promises, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss the situation.

Read More: Faltering Economy Endangers Lulas Barbecue and Beer Promise

Brazils fractured congress, which includes lawmakers from nearly two dozen parties, poses significant challenges to most presidents. But Lulas situation is complicated by the fact that former President Jair Bolsonaros party won the largest share of seats in the lower house and pledged to turn congress into a bastion of resistance to the new government.

Jose Guimaraes, the leader of the government coalition in the lower house, downplayed concerns about the lack of support. But he also declined to give an estimate on how many reliable allies the president currently has in the chamber.

Ill tell you only when there is a vote, he said.

Lulas struggles have surprised both analysts and lawmakers, who say a leader who proved skillful at navigating congress during his first two terms from 2003 to 2010, has this time been slow to dole out the federal funds and influential ministerial positions that often help Brazilian presidents build successful governing coalitions.

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The government has held back nominations at the second and third levels of the administration, which is already starting to generate noise in its relationship with congress, said Junia Gama, senior political analyst at XP Inc. Complaints from lawmakers have been growing and the message is that, if it doesnt improve, the government could face defeats.

Ongoing Efforts

Lower house Speaker Arthur Lira sounded similar alarms in early March, warning that Lula still doesnt have a consistent base.

Lula has so far appointed lawmakers from just eight of the lower chambers 23 parties to lead ministries, even though he has already nominated nearly 20 party members for roles in the government. Alexandre Padilha, who as the minister of institutional relations oversees the administrations dealings with congress, has since pledged to redouble efforts to build support in the legislature.

Well keep talking with the 17 parties that have already tapped names for the government, and with those that havent nominated but are open to dialog, Padilha said in an audio message.

Late in March, Padilha said on Twitter that the government would soon release 3 billion reais ($573 million) for lawmakers to send to allied mayors, a move that could help consolidate congressional backing.

(Tweet translation: Watch out for the spoiler: we are going to release 3 billion reais in funds from parliamentary amendments to help rebuild around 3,000 Brazilian municipalities. These resources will help in the resumption of works and in the implementation of several projects throughout the country.)

Some parties, however, have already indicated that Lulas efforts to woo them wont necessarily translate into votes. Uniao Brasil, a center-right party that holds 59 seats in the lower house, remains divided even after Lula handed three ministerial positions to its members.

The appointment of ministers wasnt backed by the partys elected lawmakers, congressman Mendonca Filho, a Uniao Brasil member, said in an interview. So there isnt much of a commitment.

Key Measures in Limbo

Lula has also been forced to manage a burgeoning crisis between Lira and Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco in recent weeks, as the two leaders spar over provisional measures waiting for votes in congress. Under Brazilian law, provisional orders from the executive branch must receive congressional approval within 120 days to remain in effect.

Among such measures is one that created new cabinet-level bodies, like Brazils first Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, and re-established others had Bolsonaro shuttered. It is set to expire in early May, a scenario that could throw the government into turmoil.

Congress will soon weigh a new fiscal package that is crucial to balance social spending plans with concerns about rising debt levels. An attempt to overhaul Brazils tax system will also requires delicate negotiations in the legislature.

Even if those measures end up approved without a traditional governing coalition, given that elements of both proposals have backers across the political spectrum, more ambitious plans may face a problem. Those include changes to the sanitation law, as well as the votes needed to protect the government from Bolsonaro-aligned lawmakers who may be eager to pounce on any failure.

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Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., on Monday joined Democrats in their call for the Biden administration to ignore a Texas judges ruling on the abortion medication known as mifepristone, blasting the court decision as "unconstitutional."

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled late Friday that the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of mifepristone was unlawful, a decision that effectively banned the sale of the drug. But the issue became a legal quagmire when the Texas ruling was followed within hours by a conflicting court decision out of Washington state that ordered the FDA to maintain the drugs availability.

On CNN Monday, Mace said she agrees with Democrats who say that Biden should ignore the Texas decision: "It's not up to us to decide as legislators  whether or not this is the right drug to use or not, No. 1, so I agree with ignoring it at this point."

Asked by Fox News Digital why she believes the FDA should brush off the Texas ban, Mace said the decision was unlawful because the judge based his decision on an invalid law.

FEDERAL JUDGE ISSUES DUELING DECISIONS ON ABORTION DRUG MIFEPRISTONE

"I disagree with the ruling," she said. "The judge used a law from 1873, which the Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional in 1983. And so the entire basis for the ruling, I would argue, was unconstitutional in that regard."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

She took it a step further in a separate interview with Fox News Digital and accused her fellow Republicans of being "on the wrong side of history" on abortion rights, clarifying that she is pro-life.

Mace declined to say whether she was worried about whether ignoring the Texas judge would set a dangerous legal precedent. But she did say these sorts of decisions are being made, pointing to Missouri officials in a county who passed an ordinance to break its ties with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) after claiming the body was unconstitutional.

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AOC, DEM SENATOR CALL ON BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO IGNORE ABORTION PILL RULING

"Look at Camden County in Missouri, I mean, they're ignoring the ATF, saying that they're unconstitutional," Mace said. "Both sides are fighting things that they believe are unconstitutional."

"Both sides fight things that they believe are unconstitutional," she added. "If it's OK for one side, it should be OK for both sides. And I think that's what we're missing here in this argument."

"The other thing that we're missing, too, is that [Republicans] are not on the right side of history, if we're going to take the extreme position on this issue, because the vast majority of Americans are not with us on that. Theyre just not," the moderate GOP lawmaker said.

On Monday, the Biden administration stepped up its fight against the Texas ruling by filing a request for a stay on the order thats backed by the FDA and Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Several Democrats spoke in favor of that decision. For example, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., both called on the Biden administration to ignore the abortion pill decision, which prompted criticism from Republican lawmakers over the lefts disregard for the judiciary.

AOC SAYS SHE MAY DRAFT CLARENCE THOMAS IMPEACHMENT ARTICLE IF NO ONE ELSE DOES

Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital that "the left is continuing its assault on the rule of law."

"The left is continuing its assault on the rule of law," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital. "Whether its packing the Supreme Court, indicting the former president on flimsy charges or urging the administration to ignore a federal judges ruling, the left has made it clear they have contempt for the rule of law and care only about power."

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, compared the Democrats leading the demand to the southern Democrats of the last century who were resisting the civil rights movement.

"Like Southern Democrats against civil rights in the 1950s, progressive Democrats today are demanding that a federal agency ignore a legal ruling they dont like," the Texas conservative wrote on Twitter.
(Bloomberg) -- Emmanuel Macrons latest attempt to cast the European Union as a balancing power between the US and China will be tested this week as he seeks to enlist support from the Netherlands.

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The 45-year-old president will arrive in Amsterdam on Tuesday for the first state visit of a French leader in 23 years and plans to make the case for more joint EU spending, closer control over European supplies of technology and industrial goods and, crucially, a degree of skepticism about relations with the US.

But his visit risks being overshadowed by the fallout from last weeks visit to Beijing, where he sought to build bridges with President Xi Jinping and mark his independence from Washington. Macron will deliver a speech on economic sovereignty at the Nexus Institute in The Hague on Tuesday afternoon in which he will appeal to European leaders not to be naive about how far they can rely on the US, according to a French official.

Macron has been pushing for a more assertive European foreign policy with closer integration and more common spending since he took power six years ago, reflecting a long-standing French approach that began with Charles De Gaulle in the 1960s.

His supporters argue that the war in Ukraine has vindicated his longstanding call for European strategic autonomy. His critics say that the conflict has instead shown that the EU is still unable to police its own backyard without Washingtons help and its primarily US aid that helped Kyiv fight the Russian invasion.

In China, he suggested that the EU should avoid getting dragged into any potential confrontation between Beijing and Washington, provoking a furious response from some US lawmakers, including Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

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An official in Macrons office said Wednesday that Macron says France isnt equidistant between the US, an ally with whom Paris shares common values, and China  a partner, a competitor and a systemic rival. The official added that the best way to avoid confrontation was to engage with Beijing.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has regularly opposed Macrons European proposals, advocating instead strong cooperation with the US and a more conservative approach to fiscal policy. The Netherlands has, all the same, provided more military aid to Ukraine, despite having a much smaller economy.

The relationship between France and the Netherlands hit trouble in 2019 when the Dutch government increased its stake in the Franco-Dutch carrier Air France-KLM without warning officials in Paris. Back then, Macrons government accused Ruttes of acting like a market raider.

Defense Deal

In 2020, Rutte forced Macron to scale back his plans for joint EU funding plan to help the continent recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. But officials from both countries say that relations have improved and the two countries are aiming to seal a defense agreement next year.

Nevertheless, the differences that underpinned the dispute over the recovery fund are likely to resurface as the leaders discuss their response to a massive US program to subsidize clean technology.

In response to the European Commissions decision to repurpose some of that money as green subsidies to compete with the US, France is pushing for the EU to come up with more common funds, according to the official who asked not to be identified in line with French government rules.

Paris is arguing that without more common financing businesses could shift investment from the EU to the US to take advantage of Bidens aid program and cheaper energy. Macrons government plans to formulate its proposals around the summer, but wants to proceed slowly in order to bring along skeptics like the Netherlands and, perhaps most importantly, Germany, the official said.

How to deal with China and how to respond to US demands is also likely to come up repeatedly during Macrons trip, which also includes a meeting with Peter Wennink, the chief executive officer of ASML Holding NV, a Dutch firm that makes cutting edge equipment for semiconductor companies. Ruttes government is tightening restrictions on the sale of ASML machinery to China, following pressure from Washington.

During the visit, Macron aims to clinch a deal to boost Franco-Dutch cooperation and homegrown tech solutions. He will attend a round table on technology and innovation along with representatives of French semiconductor company StMicroelectronics NV, which works with ASML, and technology provider Atos SE.

--With assistance from Cagan Koc.

(Adds Elysee comment in seventh paragraph)

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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.

Madelines sister, Megan Kingsbury, said 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

Family release photos of Madeline Kingsburys tattoos

04:03 , 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.

Madeline Kingsburys sister speaks out a week after disappearance

02:07 , Graeme Massie

The sister of Madeline Kingsbury has said that her family became worried when the missing mother-of-two stopped answering her phone.

Story continues

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.

Recap: What happened to Madeline Kingsbury?

Tuesday 11 April 2023 00:05 , Graeme Massie

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.

Police focus on specific road in search for Madeline

Monday 10 April 2023 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

Monday 10 April 2023 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

Monday 10 April 2023 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

Monday 10 April 2023 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

Monday 10 April 2023 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

Monday 10 April 2023 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?

Monday 10 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.

No persons of interest in Madeline Kingsburys disappearance

Monday 10 April 2023 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.
The mother of a 28-year-old Glen Carbon woman who died in the Madison County Jail while experiencing opioid withdrawal has tentatively reached a $3 million agreement to settle her wrongful death lawsuit against the county in federal court.

Rana Schmidt sued the county, former sheriff John Lakin and jail personnel following her daughter Elissa A. Lindhorsts Feb. 24, 2020, death.

The Madison County Board authorized the settlement at its last meeting March 29.

County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler said Monday the agreement had not yet been finalized or signed. He declined to comment further until then.

Madison Countys excess insurance carrier plans to contribute $1.4 million to the settlement, according to a county board resolution related to the settlement. The rest of the money will come from the countys tort fund budget.

In the lawsuit, Schmidt accused jail officers of failing to provide the medical care her daughter asked for after she told them she was going through opioid withdrawal.

For nearly five days, Lindhorst vomited and was unable to eat or drink, according to the lawsuit. It states she was severely dehydrated and had vomit in her lungs, which caused pneumonia and an irregular heartbeat, leading to her death.

She was in custody on a $15,000 bond for a possession of a controlled substance charge.

Two women who were detained in the jail at the same time as Lindhorst also asked correctional officers to help her, according to the lawsuit, which cites a handwritten note from the women as evidence. A photograph of the note was included in the court record.

She has not kept any fluid down puking green stomach Bile and acid, the note reads. She has not urinated since she has been on our block or ate said its been a week since shes ate. She cannot hold herself up even without collapsing she filled out a nurse slip days ago has withdraw meds.

We have changed her clothes 3 times with our own stuff as well as blankets which need replaced again. She is not getting better and needs medical attention. Shes dehydrated and says her back is killing her which is probably her kidneys shutting down. She probably weighs 90 lbs wet please help her.

Story continues

Schmidt accused a correctional officer of throwing the note in the garbage.

Illinois State Police conducted an investigation into Lindhorsts death in 2020. The agency declined to provide information about the findings of that investigation on Monday and asked that the Belleville News-Democrat file a public records request.

The county, former sheriff and jail personnel denied all of Schmidts allegations in their response to the lawsuit in court.

The lawsuit was originally filed in 2021. Lakin retired last year.

As part of the settlement, jail officers will be required to undergo training on drug withdrawal.

Schmidts attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the BND. They issued a statement on behalf of the family to the Alton Telegraph after the county board voted on the resolution authorizing the settlement:

While this settlement does not erase the pain of that horrific day, it does begin the necessary work needed to help prevent another needless death. Elissa deserved better than what happened to her on Feb 24th 2020. No one deserves to die the way Elissa did. Elissa had a family who loved her for 28 years of her life, and her life mattered.

This resolution keeps our family from reliving the tragedy in a courtroom for years to come and allows us to focus on furthering our shared mission of educating and training jail security, guards, and support staff about the crucial medical needs of individuals in their custody. That is the real work that honors Elissa.

As a society, we need to focus on helping those who struggle instead of casting them aside only to get lost in the system. Elissa will always be with us in our hearts and never forgotten, and now we can truly begin to heal. Thank you to everyone who has supported Elissa, and our family, during this incredibly difficult time.

Lindhorst had long struggled with addiction before her death, the federal lawsuit states.

She loved animals, according to her obituary. Lindhorsts dog Peanut was named along with sisters and her mother as her surviving family members. One place the family asked that people make memorials for Lindhorst was the Metro East Humane Society.
Its nearly impossible to watch Mamma Mia without getting the itch to book a summer trip to Greece. Each time I rewatch itwhich has been about a dozen timesIm reminded why Greece is at the top of my travel bucket list. Most of the film took place on the picturesque island of Skopelos, Greece, where youll find incredible beaches, terra-cotta rooftops, and plenty of sun. If youre lucky enough to have a trip to this beautiful Mediterranean country on your calendar, youll want to start thinking about your packing list. To help provide you with some inspiration for what to wear in Greece, we turned to the women of Mamma Mia. We especially looked to the films stars, Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfriedwho play mother and daughter pair Donna and Sophiefor what dresses, swimsuits, and slip-ons to pack, and incorporated in some of our own travel must-haves. Below, a list of vacation outfits to wear in Greece, inspired by the iconic women of Mamma Mia.

Essential tops

Pants, skirts, and shorts

Midi and maxi dresses

Jumpsuits and overalls

Walking sandals and slip-ons

Totes and crossbody bags

Bathing suits

Cover-ups

Beach hats

Essential tops

A few lightweight blouses and tank tops are a must for a trip to Greece. Wardrobe staples like this cargo shirt from Zara and linen button-down from Everlane are versatile and can be easily dressed up or down. This patterned top from Steve Madden is similar to Sophies white beachy top in the movies opening scene, and is light enough to wear on especially sunny days while still looking put together.

Zara Poplin Cargo shirt

$46.00, Zara

Everlane The Linen Relaxed shirt

$88.00, Everlane

Steve Madden Gabriela top

$69.00, Revolve

Abercrombie Essential Rib Tuckable Scoopneck tank

$25.00, Abercrombie

Pants, skirts, and shorts

Midi skirts and linen pants are perfect additions to your Greece packing list. Im especially eyeing this pale yellow maxi skirt from Madewellit can be worn with a comfortable pair of walking sandals during the day and dressed up with a heel for dinner at night. On any beach trip, youll also want to pack your favorite pair of shorts. Mid-length options like these from Everlane will help avoid any unwanted chafingthey give that classic denim look without the uncomfortable feeling of a tight pair of shorts.

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Abercrombie Premium Linen midi skirt

$80.00, Abercrombie

Madewell 100% Linen maxi skirt

$98.00, Madewell

Everlane The Linen Pull-On Barrel Pant

$88.00, Everlane

Abercrombie Premium Linen Tailored short

$80.00, Abercrombie

Everlane The A-Line denim short

$68.00, Everlane

Madewell The Perfect Vintage mid-length jean short

$78.00, Madewell

Midi and maxi dresses

One things for sure: sundresses are essential for summer months in Europe. Our favorite women from the beloved film gave us plenty of dresses to obsess over. We found copycat boho-chic options from Anthropologie, Lulus, and Petal & Pup. Throw any of these vacation-ready dresses on with a pair of walking sandals and youre ready for a dramatic dancing scene on the island.

Anthropologie Maeve drop-waist dress

$180.00, Anthropologie

Lulus La Vita Bella puff sleeve maxi dress

$79.00, Lulus

Lulus Those Summer Days maxi dress

$79.00, Lulus

Lulus Botanical Bliss flutter sleeve maxi dress

$79.00, Lulus

Abercrombie Ruffle Strap Smocked midi dress

$110.00, Abercrombie

Petal & Pup Alaia wrap shirt two-piece set

$89.00, Petal & Pup

Jumpsuits and overalls

Our Mamma Miainspired list wouldnt be complete without our take on Donnas classic overalls. This pair from Show Me Your Mumu is so stylish and pairs well over a simple white T-shirt. For a more practical take on the look, Everlanes linen jumpsuit is lightweight and such an easy outfit to throw on when you want something cute yet comfortable.

Show Me Your Mumu San Fran Overalls

$184.00, Revolve

Everlane The Linen Picnic jumpsuit

$118.00, Everlane

Walking sandals and slip-ons

Comfortable walking shoes are a year-round vacation essential. We pulled together a few different options ideal for a day exploring Greecestylish yet comfy sandals, a reliable pair of white sneakers, and a Conde Nast Traveler editor favorite, Sabahs. A pair of walking sandals like these from Birkenstock and Everlane pair well with a maxi dress or denim shorts and wont kill your feet after a full day of shopping (flip-flops arent going to cut it on these cobblestone streets). Movie fans might remember the scene where Donna and her friends sing Dancing Queenshe wears a pair of simple sneakers that look similar to the Allbirds Plant Pacers. This pair of shoes wont take up a ton of room in your suitcase and can serve as your one go-to pair of sneakers for the week.

Everlane The Day Twist sandal

$145.00, Everlane

Birkenstock Arizona Birko-Flor

$110.00, Birkenstock

Allbirds Plant Pacers

$135.00, Allbirds (women's sizes)

Sabah

$195.00, Sabah

Totes and crossbody bags

To find versatile and chic bags perfect for travelers, we turned to a few of our favorite brands, including Cuyana, Everlane, and Madewell. A crossbody bag is ideal for a day of sightseeing, shopping for souvenirs, or heading to lunch. Im eyeing this caramel-colored crossbody bag from Madewell and Cuyanas new Double Moon saddle bag. Youll also want to pack a versatile tote bag. One of our new favorites is the Cuyana Easy Zipper tote, but for something a little more casual, the Hat Attack Traveler beach bag fits the bill. Both have plenty of room for essentials like SPF, a water bottle, Kindle, portable charger, and more. If youre traveling light for the day and only need the essentials (like your phone, credit card, and room key), opt for Everlanes mini sling bag.

Madewell The Sydney Crossbody Bag

$168.00, Nordstrom

Cuyana Double Moon Saddle bag

$348.00, Cuyana

Hat Attack Traveler bag

$194.00, Amazon

Cuyana Classic Easy Zipper tote

$268.00, Cuyana

The Cactus Leather Mini Sling Bag

$110.00, Everlane

Bathing suits

One of the most iconic scenes of the movie is when Sophie and her fiancee Sky sing Lay All Your Love On Me on the beach. Sophies blue and white printed one-piece inspired some of our swimsuit recommendationslike these options from Solid and Striped and Summersalt. If you prefer a two-piece set, Traveler editors are big fans of swimwear from Left on Friday. This brightly-colored set is ultra high-waisted and doesnt dig into your skin. Have a look through more of our favorite bathing suits to wear this season.

Solid and Striped The Anne-Marie

$198.00, Solid and Striped

Solid and Striped The Spencer

$218.00, Solid and Striped

Summersalt The Seascape Sweetheart one piece

$95.00, Summersalt

Left on Friday Sunday top and Hi Hi bottom

$85.00, Left on Friday (top)

Cover-ups

Whether youre lounging by the beach or headed to lunch, youll want a breathable cover-up to throw on. There are plenty of packable styles to choose fromskirts, dresses, and sarongs, to name a few. A basic button-up is a mustits versatile and easy to rewear with so many outfits that are already on your Greece packing list. For extra sun protection, consider a set with pants, like the one below from Aerie.

Andie Swim The Crete skirt

$65.00, Andie

Solid and Striped The Kimberly dress

$318.00, Solid and Striped

Andie Swim The Corvo button-up

$115.00, Andie

Zara Extra Long Poplin shirt

$50.00, Zara

Aerie Pool-to-Party cover-up

$55.00, American Eagle

Aerie High Waisted Pool-to-Party short

$40.00, American Eagle

Aerie High Waisted Pool-to-Party pant

$55.00, American Eagle

Beach hats

To round out our list of must-haves, don't forget to pack a sun hat. Not only does it look chic, it keeps your head and most of your face protected on hot days. A straw hat or bucket hat are both lightweight options and these two are easy to pack in your carry-on.

Greenpacha Fiji hat

$149.00, Revolve

Girlfriend Collective 50/50 bucket hat

$38.00, Girlfriend Collective

Still planning your trip? Check out more of our Greece travel recommendations:

Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP)  A man charged with kidnapping a woman and her 4-year-old son and sexually assaulting the mother after he escaped from a substance abuse treatment center went on trial for some of the charges Tuesday.

Everett Simpson, 45, is charged in federal court with two counts of kidnapping and two counts of interstate car theft. He is representing himself in the trial, which is expected to last four days. If convicted of the kidnapping charge, he could be sentenced to life in prison. Simpson was charged separately in state court with sexually assaulting the woman. He has not yet entered a plea on that charge.

The start of the federal trial was delayed several times, at least in part because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Before the jury entered the courtroom Tuesday, Simpson, who is being assisted by a federal public defender, told U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions he objected to the wording of the indictment. Sessions told him he was obligated to read the indictment to the jury.

Police say Simpson left a Vermont drug abuse treatment center on Jan. 4, 2019, stole a vehicle, and traveled the next day to a shopping mall in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he is accused of pushing the woman and child into their car and driving them to Vermont.

Once back in Vermont, Simpson traveled back roads along the Connecticut River about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of the capital of Montpelier looking for his estranged wife, Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Lasher said in opening statements. Simpson then went to a hotel in White River Junction, where he eventually released the woman and child, and drove the womans car to Pennsylvania, where he was arrested, Lasher said.

The prosecutor told jurors that witnesses will describe how Simpson stole two vehicles, and that the woman will testify about being subjected to sexual acts in front of her son.

In a brief opening statement, Simpson said that none of the witnesses would be able to corroborate the woman's story or the case presented by prosecutors. There is no evidence to suggest she was seized against her will, he said. I did not do these things."

In 2020, the woman received $400,000 in the settlement of a lawsuit accusing the state of Vermont of not doing enough to find Simpson after he left the addiction treatment center.

She also filed suit against the center. The status of that case is unclear.
A security camera captured images of a man using marker to write anti-Islamic words on the Islamic Center of Southern California in Koreatown early Sunday, police said. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles police arrested a man on suspicion of defacing a mosque in Koreatown with anti-Islamic hate words, Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday.

A surveillance camera had captured video of a man 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. Sunday.

Carlos Moran, 43, was taken into custody in the 500 block of Shatto Place near the mosque, Moore said, adding that he claimed he was a king and appeared to be struggling with mental health issues. The chief described the writings as hate-motivated. Police received a tip about the suspect's whereabouts hours after releasing a screen grab of the surveillance footage, Moore said.

The district attorney's office has filed felony vandalism charges against Moran, he said.

Los Angeles police released this surveillance image of a man suspected of defacing the Islamic Center of Southern California. (Los Angeles Police Department)

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 to bring them closer to God.

"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."

Speaking to reporters after Tuesday's meeting of the Police Commission, Moore denounced the "blatant and hateful act of violence."

"Why does the department spend so much time on this type of case? And it's because it is oftentimes a precursor to further acts and acts of violence," Moore said. "We know there's an onramp, if you will, to extremism, an onramp to people escalating in their actions to where they actual commit violent crimes."

Moore added that while the suspect appeared to be unhoused, that had nothing to do with his actions.

With Ramadan, Passover and Easter all coinciding, the Los Angeles Police Department had deployed additional resources to patrol houses of worship.

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Police Chief Michel Moore, center, arrives for a news conference at the Islamic Center of Southern California on Monday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Omar Ricci, a 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.

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.

According to the report, released in December, there were 786 victims of hate crimes in 2021, an increase of 23% since 2020 and the most since 2002. More than half of the crimes were motivated by racism.

Hate crimes motivated by religion increased 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.

Moore said Monday that Los Angeles had seen a slight decrease in reported hate crimes this year. 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."

Times staff writers Summer Lin and Jeong Park contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A traveller claimed that Frontier Airlines lost his luggage on his flight before an airline employees grandfather brought it to him.

In a recent video posted to TikTok, Cole, @madeleineandcole, recounted the craziest experience he had with Frontier Airlines during a trip from Denver, Colorado, to Hartford, Connecticut. He explained that when got to the airport, he had a personal bag for the flight and paid to check a bag.

He said that when he checked his bag and went through security at the airport, everything was fine. However, once he got to the gate, the airline workers started looking at passengers personal bags.

They line us all up and theyre like, We are checking everyones bag size, he explained. And it wasnt just like a little normal checkSomeone tried to take a phone out of a bag and theyre like, Nothing in your pockets. What?

Cole claimed that when someone tried to put on a jacket, the airline worker said no and claimed that each person could only have one jacket. He explained that people continued to put bags into the baggage sizer, which is used to determine if personal items can fit on the plane or not. When people had bags with straps hanging out, he alleged that workers told them that the items couldnt fit on the plane.

According to Frontiers official site, each traveller is allowed one personal item on the plane, which has to be 14H X 18W X 8D including handles, wheels and straps. If the items are not this size, they will be charged an additional cost during boarding. Passengers can also check bags or have a carry-on bag when they board for an additional cost.

In his video, Cole claimed that workers proceeded examined passengers luggage before sending them to the counter to check their items.

They sent everyone to the counter, he claimed. People were, like, filming. Some people were crying because they were being so sticklers, and peoples bags were, like, actually fitting.

The TikTok user said that when he saw this, he put on his jacket and threw away some stuff before putting his bag in the bag sizer. He claimed that when an airline worker told him that his bag still didnt fit, he asked to put in the bag sizer again. In response, she allegedly she said no.

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From there, he claimed he snuck out of the line to empty more stuff out of his bag. When he got back on the line, he said that he got the bag to fit in the sizer because the airline worker was dealing with someone else. So, he was able to grab the bag and take it on the plane with him.

He continued on to say he asked an attendant for a bandage for a cut when he got on the plane, but claimed that the attendant told him no. He later got a bandage from a different attendant.

Once he landed, Cole claimed that he waited 20 or 30 minutes at a baggage carousel to get the luggage he checked. After noticing that the information desk was closed, he said that he finally got to talk to a TSA person, who told him: Oh yeah, Frontier doesnt have a carousel right now.

Cole said that the TSA worker told him that normally an attendant would come down and show passengers where their bags are. Instead of waiting, Cole decided to go home and return to the airport the next morning for his bag.

Upon returning the next day, Cole said his luggage was not in the airports baggage room so he had to file a claim about the missing bag. An airline worker also apparently told him that they couldnt track his bag.

Cole said that he filed another claim with a Frontier bot before he was then transferred to a human.

So I was like, Hey, Im sorry Im being short with you. Im not mad at you. I just cant believe how helpless I feel right now. Because theres literally not one outlet that has offered me any substance of information about where my bag is, he explained of the ordeal.

In a follow up video, Cole shared an update on the situation and revealed that he did get his bag back moer than 48 hours after he landed.

He said that after the employees called him to say that his bag would be delivered, he got another call from Frontier about the person dropping it off.

Hes like: Hey, so just wanted to give you an update on your bag. One of our Frontier drivers is in the hospital, so I got it so far, but my grandfather is actually going to drive it down to you, Cole recalled. And I was like, Okay thats fine...but it seems weird that his grandfather would give it to me, but at this point I didnt think I was going to get my bag.

Cole then recalled that the grandfather had driven to the wrong town in Connecticut, which was three hours north from where the traveller lived. Still, the workers grandfather drove to his house and dropped the luggage off.

He drove a bunch of extra time, this guys grandfather apparently, which is like so crazy, he added. I cannot believe that this Frontier employee was in a position where he was going to have his grandfather drive it.

As of 7 April, Coles two videos have more than 539,200 views. Many TikTok users in the comments have been criticising Frontier.

Honestly I feel like budget airlines in the end just cost more money and hassle, one wrote.

Frontier: you cant have your bag on board with you, but also you cant have it after you land. Good luck, another added.

A third wrote: These airlines act like passengers are inconveniencing them.

Other people shared their reactions to the airline employees grandfather dropping off the luggage and asked more questions about the experience.

The grandfather delivery, one wrote, along with three laughing face emojis.

I have sooo many questions but like what about everyone elses bags?? another added. Did grandpa drive and drop those off too??

The Independent has contacted Cole and Frontier Airlines for comment.

This isnt the first time that travellers have shared their difficult experiences with Frontier. Last month, the budget airline came under fire after a passenger claimed to have been charged $100 to check a bag which appeared to fit the size requirements.

Dyana Villa shared a video of her experience travelling with Frontier on TikTok, in which she and her friends can be seen fitting their bag into the baggage sizer. She later shared an update and claimed she was contacted by a Frontier Airlines attendant, who said staff are eligible for a $10 bonus for every passenger bag they check and collect a fee for.

A Frontier spokesperson told The Independent that the fee is simply an incentive for our airport customer service agents to help ensure compliance with our policies and that all customers are treated equally.

The spokesperson rejected Villas baggage complaint claiming that the traveller had brought a second carry-on bag.

Each customer is allowed one free personal item that must fit within the smaller sizer box, they said. This customer had more than one bag and they were not able to combine them into a single bag that fit in the personal item box.
A man died at a hospital from injuries suffered in a shooting over the weekend in a Kansas City neighborhood, a police spokeswoman said.

Officers responded to a report of shots being fired shortly after 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the 3900 block of South Benton Avenue, said Officer Donna Drake, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department.

While en route, police were notified that a person had been shot. When officers arrived, they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound, Drake said.

Emergency medical crews took the critically injured man to the hospital where he later died, Drake said.

Detectives and crime scene personnel collected evidence at the scene and canvassed the area looking for witnesses.

The killing is the is 48th homicide in Kansas City this year, according to data tracked by The Star. There were 38 killings by this time last year, which ended as the second-deadliest year on record with 171 killings, according to The Stars data, which includes fatal police shootings.

In 2020, 182 lives were lost, the most homicides ever recorded in Kansas City. The next year was the third-deadliest, with 157 killings in 2021.

Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation into Saturdays shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information called into the TIPS Hotline that leads to an arrest.

The police department is working with Partners for Peace in its homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to residents affected by the homicides.
Phoenix police car

Phoenix police were investigating how a man died in custody after he was handcuffed by an officer Monday morning in west Phoenix.

This was the third time in seven months that someone has died in the custody of the Phoenix Police Department. It comes as the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating, among other things, whether the department has a pattern of excessive use of force.Just before 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a theft call in a neighborhood in the area of West Cocopah Street and West 35th Avenue, police said. Witnesses reported a man who was acting erratically by walking into an open garage, grabbing property and throwing himself to the ground, according to police.

The man walked from that home to another home, police said. A department sergeant arrived and located the man matching the description, finding him lying in a home's front yard, according to police.

The sergeant removed a metal object from the mans hand, cuffing his hands in front, police said. The fire department was called to evaluate the mans condition, police added.

Subscriber exclusive: Arizona police shootings down, slightly more deadly in 2022

Once paramedics arrived, an officer removed the mans handcuffs and he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause and manner of man's death.

"The actions of the officers will be the subject of an internal and criminal investigation," read a statement from Phoenix Police.

As of Tuesday morning, police had not identified the dead man.

Third death in Phoenix police custody in seven months

This is the second reported in-custody death out of the Phoenix Police Department this year and at least the third since September.

Similarly, the department previously reported launching an investigation into an unnamed 40-year-old man dying Feb. 11 at a hospital after being taken into custody. Police said the man was handcuffed and legs restrained after he was acting "erratic" and breaking windows on North 44th Street near McDowell Road in east Phoenix.

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On Sept. 3, according to police, Enrique Cantu III died after being forced to the ground and handcuffed by officers near 27th and Van Buren avenues in central Phoenix. Police said officers responded to calls about a man acting erratically and trying to enter homes and hitting his head against walls. Video footage from the incident was also released.

Across the state, The Arizona Republic found that at least once a month, someone dies during an arrest or in a county jail. These deaths rarely receive public attention.

Advocates and criminal justice experts say discrepancies in reporting and investigating these in-custody deaths make it difficult to know how widespread a problem they are or to address the underlying causes.

In Arizona, The Republic found at least 64 cases in which a person died in a county jail or during an arrest between Jan. 1, 2017, and Aug. 4, 2020. On average, that means it happens every 21 days, based on The Republic's data.

The Justice Department announced in August 2021 it was examining whether police have a pattern of violating civil rights.

Five areas will be investigated: the departments use of excessive and deadly force, possible retaliation against protesters and journalists, possible discriminatory policing, police compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and potential rights violations of people experiencing homelessness.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police: Man dies while in custody after theft call
A man is facing charges after police found him traveling with a missing teen.

On Thursday, February 9, Northborough Police received a report that a 15-year-old boy from town was missing.

After an intensive, two-month investigation by the Northborough Police Detectives in collaboration with law enforcement partners at the U.S. Marshals Service, they were able to track the missing boy to Florida and New York.

On Friday, April 7, the missing boy was found on a passenger bus in New York City. The boy was traveling with a man.

The man identified as Michael Davis, 54 was arrested and charged with Custodial Interference.

Davis is related to the missing boy, but was not authorized to be in his company while traveling, police wrote.

According to police, Davis had an initial court appearance in New York City in which he waived rendition. He will be returning to Massachusetts.

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
State wildlife officials in Missouri consider bowfishing a different kind of challenge.

Connecting with a fish is harder than you might think, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation, and its a challenge that can be quite tricky.

But Mitchell Dering  the Fairdealing man who recently shot a world record-sized fish  says his successful shot came down to luck.

I got off work that day and went out to one of the ditches in Duck Creek and just got lucky honestly, Dering told the state department in an April 10 news release.

Hes used to shooting a lot of smaller fish while bowfishing, but during his March 14 outing, he caught something a bit bigger.

I knew it was a bullhead, but didnt know if was a brown bullhead, he said in the release. But I knew it was large for its size.

The next day, he contacted the MDC Southeast Regional Office and requested that his fish be weighed on a certified scale.

Staff confirmed he had shot a 4-pound brown bullhead while at Duck Creek Ditch #105  qualifying him for state and world records, officials said.

In Missouri, his catch beat out a 2-pound, 7-ounce fish that Jerry D. Cox caught from Wappapello Lake in May 1994, records show. The bowfishing world record for a brown bullhead fish weighed 3 pounds, 4 ounces.

Thats honestly pretty awesome, Dering said. Ive bowfished for quite awhile. Weve won a few tournaments in Kentucky and Tennessee and have placed in numerous other tournaments. Thats cool, I didnt know that!

He plans to mount his brown bullhead  and has his eyes set on breaking even more records.

Ive never mounted anything before, he told state officials. I broke the state record for spotted gar a few years ago, but some guy broke the record two years later so its not in the record books anymore. But Im working on getting me a collection of state records. I guess potentially world records now!

Duck Creek Conservation Area and nearby Mingo National Wildlife Refuge are the only confirmed locations with self-sustaining natural population of brown bullheads, officials said.

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Duck Creek Conservation Area is in the southeast corner of Missouri.

Man reels in two fish of identical weight and length  breaking Missouri state record

Anglers big fish with odd name may be a world-record catch, Missouri officials say

A record-breaking sunfish was caught at Missouri lake  but not in the traditional way
A man who aimed a laser at a Delta Air Lines jet and put passengers in incredible danger has been sentenced for the crime.

A federal judge in Wisconsin on Thursday gave the man a two-year jail term for the incident that occurred in 2021.

James Link, 43, of Rochester, Minnesota, pleaded guilty in January this year to shining the laser at the plane.

On 29 October 2021, pilots of a Delta Air Lines plane flying from Raleigh-Durham to Minneapolis said they had been struck by a laser three times. They said the cockpit was lit up by a blue laser when they were flying at an altitude of 9,000ft just west of River Falls, Wisconsin.

The pilots at the time instructed air traffic control to change runways after the laser caused major distraction in the cockpit as they were not able to look at their iPads to brief the new approach, the US attorneys office in Madison said in a statement published by the Justice Department.

The plane landed safely, but one of the captains said vision in his right eye was affected for several hours after the incident.

Air traffic control called a Minnesota State Patrol aircraft to investigate the incident, but its pilots were also struck by a blue laser as they circled above River Falls on the same night.

Using the aircrafts surveillance equipment, they were able to identify the suspect, coordinate with local law enforcement, and maintain a visual on the defendant until officers contacted him, prosecutors said, according to the statement.

In a statement to the court, the captain of the flight noted the sheer brightness of the laser and compared it to suddenly turning on all the lights in a dark room when they were at a critical phase of the flight operations.

The captain told the court that [o]ne minor mistake during this critical phase could have led to catastrophic results.

US district judge William M Conley said the act of shining the laser at the aircraft was incredibly dangerous and reckless and put everyone on the aircraft in incredible danger.

The court also cited Links extensive criminal record which included numerous domestic assaults and an incident from 2017 in which he shined and strobed a handheld flashlight in the eyes of the arresting officer.

Incidents of striking lasers on planes and helicopters hit a record high in 2021, with a 41 per cent jump from the previous year, according to Federal Aviation Administration figures.
A man is missing after he was robbed and kidnapped by a group of five people at a St. Louis gas station, Missouri police say.

The victims identity is unknown, according to a St. Louis police release, but he is believed to be in his late teens or early 20s.

He was sitting in his car, a Chevy Bolt, parked by a gas pump at a Phillips 66 around 8:22 p.m., April 7, when two vehicles entered the lot and blocked him in, police said after reviewing surveillance video from the store.

Two unknown males forced the victim out of his car at gunpoint and searched him, while a third male took off the mans jacket, according to police.

Then, the man was apparently ordered to sit in the passenger seat of his own car, and the first two suspects got in and drove off with the victim inside.

The two suspect vehicles, a white Kia Optima and a blue Chevrolet sedan, followed the victims car. Both were being driven by unidentified females, police said.

All five suspects are believed to be between 16 and 20 years old, according to the release.

The victim and the suspects have not been seen since the kidnapping, though police are searching.

The victim was wearing wearing a black jacket and pants and blue surgical gloves, the release said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

Texas man bragged about stealing money from cartel. Now hes missing, officials say

Man trimming branches found dead in tree in Pennsylvania neighborhood, cops say

Man beating border patrol agent with wooden club is shot to death, officials say

Double amputee crawls to safety after carjacker dumps him on train tracks, officials say
A man fired a gun at a woman outside a Mililani gym, then dumped an acidic chemical on her before fleeing, Hawaii police reported.

Its a very horrific event, Deputy Chief Keith Horikawa of the Honolulu Police Department told Hawaii News Now. The 20-year-old woman suffered second-degree burns.

The attack took place at about 9:20 p.m. Friday, April 7, outside the Mililani 24 Hour Fitness, police said in a news release.

A man approached the woman and fired a gun at her but missed, police said. He then dumped acidic chemicals over her before running away.

Onlookers told KHON the distressed woman ran into the gym covered in a bluish liquid. She was hospitalized in serious condition.

Police are seeking the attacker on a charge of attempted murder and ask anyone with information to call 808-955-8300.

Aggressive 8-foot tiger shark bites 58-year-old surfer, Hawaii officials say

70-year-old on Easter walk and motorcyclist die in chaotic crash, California cops say

Woman sets police lobby on fire with a burning shopping cart, California cops say
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

The Manhattan DA sued GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee, and a special prosecutor who used to work for the DA's office.

The suit accuses Jordan of carrying out a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" DA Alvin Bragg.

It seeks to block GOP subpoenas related to the DA's Trump investigation as well as a subpoena to the ex-prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee, and a special prosecutor who previously worked for Bragg's office.

In the 50-page lawsuit, Bragg accused Jordan of launching an "unprecedentedly brazen and unconstitutional attack" on the DA's office while it's in the middle of an ongoing investigation and criminal prosecution against former President Donald Trump.

Bragg is seeking to block GOP subpoenas related to his investigation, as well as a subpoena to a former prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz, who resigned last year following Bragg's decision not to bring a separate criminal case against Trump over his business practices.

Tuesday's lawsuit accused Jordan of carrying out a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack District Attorney Bragg, making demands for confidential documents and testimony from the District Attorney himself as well as his current and former employees and officials."

He was referring to a March 20 letter from Jordan and GOP Reps. James Comer and Bryan Steil  prominent Trump allies and the three chairmen of the powerful House Judiciary, Oversight, and Administration committees, respectively  for documents and testimony from the Manhattan DA. Their letter called Bragg's investigation "an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority."

"In light of the serious consequences of your actions, we expect that you will testify about what plainly appears to be a politically motivated prosecutorial decision," the lawmakers said in the letter.

Insider reached out to spokespeople for Jordan and Pomerantz for comment.

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"Chairman Jordan's subpoena is an unconstitutional attempt to undermine an ongoing New York felony criminal prosecution and investigation," the DA's office said in a statement. "As our complaint details, this is an unprecedented, illegitimate interference by Congress that lacks any legal merit and defies basic principles of federalism. The Manhattan D.A.'s Office focuses on the law and the evidence, not political gamesmanship or threats. We look forward to presenting our case in court to enjoin enforcement of the subpoena."

Jordan also responded to the lawsuit in a tweet, writing "First, they indict a president for no crime. Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it."

The DA argued in Tuesday's lawsuit that Congress does not have the power to infringe on state criminal prosecutions. "Nor does Congress have the power to serve subpoenas 'for the personal aggrandizement of the investigators or to punish those investigated,'" the suit said.

The lawsuit comes after Bragg's office indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection to a $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Trump was arraigned at a downtown Manhattan criminal court last week, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges and his lawyers pledged to fight the case.

One Trump attorney, Todd Blanche, called the indictment "boilerplate," and another Trump lawyer, Joe Tacopina, criticized Bragg's office for omitting key details from the indictment that would justify upgrading the charges against him from misdemeanors to felonies.

Diana Florence, a 30-year veteran of the DA's office and Bragg's one-time political rival, told Insider, however, that Bragg was "100 percent right" to leave those details out because he wasn't required to do so by law. She added that the DA will eventually name them "down the road," when he presents a so-called "bill of particulars" to the defense.

Legal experts told Insider that Trump's team will likely launch a three-pronged defense strategy aimed at highlighting those omissions; attacking the credibility of Trump's one-time lawyer, Michael Cohen, as a key prosecution witness; and accusing Bragg of bringing a selective and politically motivated case.

Trump's lawyers are largely expected to try to get the case dismissed, but experts told Insider it will almost certainly survive motions to dismiss and end up going to a trial.

Laura Italiano contributed reporting.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sued Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Tuesday, asking a court to stop a GOP-led congressional inquiry into Bragg's indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Bragg's lawsuit calls the inquiry, conducted by the House Judiciary Committee, an "unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack" into an ongoing criminal investigation.

"Congress lacks any valid legislative purpose to engage in a free-ranging campaign of harassment in retaliation for the district attorney's investigation and prosecution of Mr. Trump under the laws of New York," the lawsuit added, noting that the Constitution does not give Congress the power to interfere in state investigations.

Trump was charged last week with 34 felony counts of fraud tied to hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels right before the 2016 election. The former president pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Bragg's lawsuit comes after Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee chairman, subpoenaed Mark Pomerantz, a former Manhattan assistant district attorney who had previously investigated Trump. Bragg asked for this subpoena to be quashed, arguing in the lawsuit that allowing the Republican-led committee to question Pomerantz would cause "imminent irreparable harm if the secret and privileged material is compelled to be disclosed."

In a statement accompanying the lawsuit, NBC News reports, Bragg said that Jordan's actions constitute "an unconstitutional attempt to undermine an ongoing New York felony criminal prosecution and investigation," and "an unprecedented, illegitimate interference by Congress that lacks any legal merit and defies basic principles of federalism."

In response to the lawsuit, Jordan tweeted, "First, they indict a president for no crime. Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it."

An initial hearing on Bragg's lawsuit has been scheduled for April 19.

Story continues

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Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday sued the House Judiciary Committee and chairman Jim Jordan in an attempt to stop them from subpoenaing a lawyer involved in the progressive prosecutors probe of former president Trump.

Last week, Jordan summoned for Mark Pomerantz, a former senior attorney in Braggs office, to testify on Capitol Hill following public statements he made pressuring his old boss to prosecute Trump. The subpoena came two days after Bragg unsealed an indictment revealing that Trump had been charged with 34 felonies stemming from falsified business records related to hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Congress has a specific and manifestly important interest in preventing politically motivated prosecutions of current and former Presidents by elected state and local prosecutors, particularly in jurisdictions  like New York County  where the prosecutor is popularly elected and trial-level judges lack life tenure, Jordan wrote in a Thursday letter.

After spending three years working on the Trump investigation, Pomerantz acrimoniously left the office because of Braggs earlier hesitancy to prosecute the former president.

Chairman Jordans demands, including his subpoena to Mr. Pomerantz, seek highly sensitive and confidential local prosecutorial information that belongs to the Office of the District Attorney and the People of New York, reads Braggs lawsuit, obtained by CNN. Basic principles of federalism and common sense, as well as binding Supreme Court precedent, forbid Congress from demanding it.

Bragg accused Jordan and the committee of launching an intimidation, retaliation, and obstruction campaign against a state prosecution process in violation of federalism. The subpoena, the lawsuit said, was an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress.

Congress does not have the authority to conduct oversight of state criminal prosecutions, Bragg argued. Jordans request for the district attorneys former special assistants testimony and warnings that the GOP majority will hold Bragg accountable is an affront to state sovereignty, the lawsuit said.

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Jordan and Trumps characterization of Bragg as a district attorney whos been bankrolled by progressive financier George Soros, whose money is behind many left-wing organizations and initiatives, is threatening, the lawsuit claimed.

Bragg asked the court to block enforcement of the subpoena of Pomerantz. The legal filing reiterated that Trump has legal recourse, therefore making Jordans intervention unwarranted.

Like any other defendant, Mr. Trump is entitled to challenge these charges in court. He can avail himself of all the processes and protections that New York States robust criminal procedure affords, the lawsuit said.

More from National Review
TRUMP-ACUSACION-ANALISIS JURIDICO (AP)

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has asked a federal court to enjoin House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan from interfering in his offices prosecution of former president Donald Trump by attempting to compel current and former prosecutors to divulge information about the probe as part of the Republican-led panels effort to protect Mr Trump.

In a complaint filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Mr Braggs attorneys said the lawsuit was a response to an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress against the Manhattan prosecutors probe into Mr Trump.

They also accused Mr Jordan of undertaking a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack District Attorney Bragg, making demands for confidential documents and testimony from the District Attorney himself as well as his current and former employees and officials.

Mr Braggs lawsuit comes just days after Mr Jordan issued a subpoena to Mark Pomerantz, a former special assistant district attorney who resigned in protest last year and later penned a book in which he called Mr Trump as a malignant narcissist, and perhaps even a megalomaniac who posed a real danger to the country and the ideals that mattered to [him] and said the ex-president was guilty of numerous crimes.

Mr Jordan has also threatened to subpoena Mr Bragg himself to question him about his offices probe into the ex-president during an appearanceon Fox Business Networks Sunday Morning Futures last week, and a source with the Judiciary panel has told Fox News that the committee is seriously weighing the option.

Everythings on the table, Mr Jordan said when asked if Mr Bragg would face subpoena.

The Manhattan prosecutors lawsuit asks the court to issue a declaratory judgment invalidating the subpoena against Mr Pomerantz, as well as a permanent injunction barring Mr Jordan from enforcing the subpoena.

Mr Braggs attorneys also have asked the court to invalidate any future subpoena issued to Mr Bragg or any of his current or former employees or official, citing constitutional separation of powers principles which leave the prosecution of violations of state law to local prosecutors and place that work outside the scope of Congress purview.

More follows...
Reuters

Faced with retaliation from MAGA Republicans for indicting former President Donald Trump, the Manhattan district attorney has taken the remarkable step of suing to stop a congressional committee from meddling in his active criminal case.

On Tuesday, DA Alvin Bragg Jr. filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), citing a campaign of intimidation, retaliation, and obstruction.

Jordan has turned his new role as head of the House Judiciary Committeewhich is normally tasked with holding government agencies accountableinto a weapon against Democrats that is laser-focused on vengeance in defense of Trump.

Trumps Latest Accounting Gambit Just Failed

In recent weeks, Jordan has warned he plans to use his congressional authority to worm his way into the New York County DAs case against the former president. A nearly four-year investigation into Trumps business practices resulted in a historic, 34-count indictment last month alleging that he faked company records to hide a hush-money payment to a porn star to cover up his extramarital affair. Upon news of the coming indictment, Jordan sent unprecedented warning letters to the DA, demanding to know sensitive information about the ongoing investigation.

Braggs staff pushed back, but Jordan refused to relent. Two days after Trumps arraignment in court last week, Jordan then subpoenaed Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor on that team who has since written a memoir about the investigation.

Braggs lawsuit seeks to halt Jordan in his tracks and keep him from dragging Pomerantz before Congress to testify on April 20an event that would make for must-see TV, all in the service of satiating MAGA devotees who think the Trump criminal case is nothing more than a political prosecution.

Braggs office contracted Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr., a renowned First Amendment lawyer in Los Angeles, for the case.

In a legal memo asking a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against Jordans committee, Boutrous cautioned that this unprecedented federal intrusion into a state criminal prosecution exceeds Congresss authority under Article I of the Constitution and frustrates New Yorks prerogative to enforce its own criminal law.

Story continues

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WASHINGTON  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Republican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, asking a court to block elements of the congressional inquiry into his case against former President Donald Trump.

Calling it an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack of an ongoing investigation, Bragg said in the suit that allowing Jordan's demands, including subpoenaing former Assistant DA Mark Pomerantz, would cause imminent irreparable harm if the secret and privileged material is compelled to be disclosed.

Bragg's suit asked the court to block Jordan's subpoena of Pomerantz. Jordan, R-Ohio, wants Pomerantz to sit for a deposition as part of the Judiciary panel's investigation into the indictment of Trump. The former president pleaded not guilty last week to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to his role in hush money payments made toward the end of his 2016 presidential campaign.

"Chairman Jordans subpoena is an unconstitutional attempt to undermine an ongoing New York felony criminal prosecution and investigation," Bragg said in a statement Tuesday. "As our complaint details, this is an unprecedented, illegitimate interference by Congress that lacks any legal merit and defies basic principles of federalism."

A federal judge in New York has scheduled an April 19 hearing for Braggs lawsuit.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference in New York (Jeenah Moon / The Washington Post via Getty Images file)

Bragg is also suing Pomerantz "to protect the District Attorneys Offices interests and privileges and in light of the District Attorneys Offices instruction to Mr. Pomerantz not to provide any information or materials relating to his work in the District Attorneys Office in response to the subpoena."

In response, Jordan tweeted that the lawsuit attempts to block congressional oversight.

"First, they indict a president for no crime," he wrote. "Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it."

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Pomerantz didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit said that beginning in March, Jordan launched a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" Bragg, "making demands for confidential documents and testimony from the District Attorney himself as well as his current and former employees and officials."

Bragg's office argued that "basic principles of federalism and common sense" as well as Supreme Court precedent forbid Congress from demanding "highly sensitive and confidential local prosecutorial information."

Congress doesn't have any power to supervise state criminal prosecutions or power to serve subpoenas "for the personal aggrandizement of the investigators or to punish those investigated," the lawsuit said.

Jordan's subpoena of Pomerantz last week "is no less of an affront to state sovereignty than subpoenaing the District Attorney himself," it continued.

The lawsuit is the culmination of a weekslong dispute between Bragg and Jordan, who issued the subpoena to Pomerantz two days after Trump was charged with 34 felony counts. In response, Bragg said that the GOP chairman of the Judiciary Committee was attempting to "undermine" the criminal case against the former president by seeking Pomerantz's testimony.

Jordan said last week that Pomerantz's previous role in the DAs office leading the probe into Trumps finances makes him uniquely situated to provide information that is relevant and necessary to his committees investigation into Braggs prosecution of Trump. Jordan argued that Pomerantz had already shared information publicly, in a book that was published in February, as well as in media interviews.

In addition to asking the court to declare the subpoena to Pomerantz invalid, Bragg also asked in the complaint to declare any future subpoenas "on the District Attorney himself or any of his current or former employees or officials" invalid and unconstitutional.

Jordan had also requested testimony last week from Matthew Colangelo, senior counsel to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office.

Separately, Bragg's office criticized Republicans on Monday after the House Judiciary Committee announced that it would hold a field hearing on crime in New York City. GOP lawmakers have repeatedly asserted that the Manhattan district attorney has been too busy investigating Trump and is not doing enough to combat violence.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
NEW YORK (AP)  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sued Rep. Jim Jordan on Tuesday, an extraordinary move as he seeks to halt a House Judiciary Committee inquiry that the prosecutor contends is a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack him over his indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Bragg, a Democrat, is asking a judge to invalidate subpoenas that Jordan, the committee's Republican chair, has issued or plans to issue as part of an investigation of Bragg's handling of the case, the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president.

U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee who previously served as a federal bankruptcy court judge, declined Tuesday to take immediate action on the lawsuit. She scheduled an initial hearing for April 19 in Manhattan, the day before the committee plans to question, under subpoena, a top former prosecutor who was involved in the Trump probe.

Bragg's lawsuit, a forceful escalation after weeks of sparring with Jordan and other Republican lawmakers in letters and media statements, seeks to end what it says is a constitutionally destructive fishing expedition that threatens the sovereignty and integrity of a state-level prosecution.

Congress lacks any valid legislative purpose to engage in a free-ranging campaign of harassment in retaliation for the District Attorneys investigation and prosecution of Mr. Trump under the laws of New York," the lawsuit says, citing the lack of authority in the Constitution for Congress to oversee, let alone disrupt, ongoing state law criminal matters.

In response, Jordan tweeted Tuesday: First, they indict a president for no crime. Then they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it.

The Judiciary Committee recently issued a subpoena seeking testimony from a Mark Pomerantz, the former prosecutor who previously oversaw the Trump investigation and sparred with Bragg over the direction of the probe before leaving the office last year. Pomerantz, who has declined to cooperate with the committee, is under subpoena to testify at a deposition on April 20 unless Vyskocil intervenes. The committee has also sought documents and testimony from the DA's office but Bragg has rejected those requests.

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The committee is scheduled to hold a hearing in Manhattan on Monday on crime in New York City and what it alleges are Braggs pro-crime, anti-victim policies. The DAs office, however, points to statistics showing that violent crime in Manhattan has dropped since Bragg took office in January 2022.

In response, Bragg said that if Jordan, who is from Ohio, really cared about public safety, he would travel to some of the major cities in his home state, where crime is reportedly higher than in New York.

Bragg is represented in the lawsuit by Theodore Boutrous, a well-known First Amendment lawyer who has also represented Trumps estranged niece, Mary Trump, in legal clashes with her famous uncle.

Vyskocil previously made headlines when she dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought against Fox News host Tucker Carlson by former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who was paid $150,000 through the National Enquirer to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. In on-air remarks, Carlson called the payoff a classic case of extortion," but Vyskocil ruled in 2020 that the conservative commentator was engaging in rhetorical hyperbole and opinion commentary and that he was not stating actual facts.

In his lawsuit, Bragg said hes taking legal action in response to an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress on an ongoing New York State criminal prosecution and investigation of former President Donald J. Trump.

Trump was indicted on March 30 with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations that he had extramarital sexual encounters. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment last week in Manhattan.

Republicans have been railing against Bragg even before Trumps indictment, with Jordan leading the cause by issuing a series of letters and subpoenas to individuals involved with the case. Pomerantz refused to voluntarily cooperate with the committees request last month at the instruction of Braggs office, citing the ongoing investigation.

Jordan sees 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.

Bragg's lawsuit sets up what is an already tenuous fight over the scope and limits of congressional oversight powers into new territory. House Republicans have argued that because the Manhattan case involves campaign finance and what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election, Congress has direct oversight.

Many expected that Jordan would subpoena Bragg by now but it appears the forceful back-and-forth between the two elected officials has come to a head. Jordans committee has come hard at Bragg, but a court fight over a committee subpoena could impede its momentum and amplify criticism among Democrats that the panel is playing politics instead of addressing substantive issues.

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Amiri reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.

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On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Farnoush Amiri at twitter.com/FarnoushAmiri. Send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/.
By Luc Cohen and Kanishka Singh

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday sued Republican U.S. Representative Jim Jordan to stop what Bragg called a "campaign of intimidation" against the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump in New York.

The lawsuit aims to block a subpoena of Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor who once led the Manhattan district attorney's multi-year investigation of Trump, by the Republican-led House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, which Jordan chairs.

Bragg, a Democrat, called the subpoena an unconstitutional "incursion" into a state criminal case as payback for charging Trump in the first indictment of a former U.S. president.

"Rather than allowing the criminal process to proceed in the ordinary course, Chairman Jordan and the committee are participating in a campaign of intimidation, retaliation and obstruction," Bragg's lawyers wrote in the complaint, filed in federal court in Manhattan.

Later on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil set a hearing in the case for April 19. She gave Jordan until April 17 to respond to Bragg's complaint.

Last week, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to buy porn star Stormy Daniels' silence before the 2016 election about her alleged affair with him, which he denies.

Many Republicans have portrayed Bragg's prosecution as a politically-motivated stunt to interfere in the 2024 presidential election, where Trump is seeking another White House term.

They have also questioned the district attorney's use of federal funds for its investigation of Trump.

"First, they indict a president for no crime," Jordan tweeted on Tuesday. "Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it."

Bragg's office has told the committee it used $5,000 in federal funds to investigate Trump and his namesake family company from 2019 to 2021.

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The office said that money came from $1 billion of asset forfeiture it secured for the government in the last 15 years.

Bragg, the first Black district attorney in Manhattan, has also accused Trump of threatening New York officials with "violent and racist vitriol."

He cited a since-deleted picture that Trump posted on social media showing him holding a baseball bat next to a photo of Bragg's head, and another post in which Trump called Bragg an "animal."

The complaint said those statements had a "powerful effect," adding that Bragg has received death threats from Trump supporters and a package containing suspicious white powder.

Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

'SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY'

Pomerantz left the District Attorney's office shortly after Bragg took over in early 2022 and decided against pursuing an indictment of Trump over his business practices.

Earlier this year, Pomerantz published a book criticizing that decision.

He also said prosecutors had examined whether to charge Trump over hush money payments, but were concerned their novel legal theory might not hold up in court.

Though Bragg has said Pomerantz's case was not ready, Jordan has said Pomerantz's public statements showed that politics motivated Bragg's eventual prosecution of Trump.

In a court filing, lawyers for Bragg said there would be no harm to House Republicans from blocking the subpoena because Congress has no jurisdiction over state prosecutions.

He also said that if the Republicans do not like his case against Trump they can express their displeasure to voters.

Not letting the case proceed toward a possible jury trial would "undermine the interests of justice and irreparably injure New York's sovereign authority," Bragg's office wrote.

The Judiciary Committee said on Monday it planned a "field hearing" next week in New York about "an increase in violent crime" they claim has been caused by Bragg's policies.

Bragg said murders, shootings, burglaries and robberies in Manhattan are lower this year than in 2022.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York and Kanishka Singh in Washington; additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York editing by Leslie Adler and Bill Berkrot)
Republican Gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake holds a press conference as she tours the U.S.-Mexico border on November 04, 2022 in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Lake visited the border to outline her plan for border security. Lake was joined by (L-R) Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, Arizona State Senator David Gowan, Republican Senate Candidate Blake Masters and Final County Sheriff Mark Lamb.

WASHINGTON  Mark Lamb, a sheriff and Donald Trump follower known for his border crackdowns and defiance of COVID lockdown orders, said Tuesday he will seek a U.S. Senate seat from Arizona.

"We need leaders in this country who arent too politically correct to protect us," the Pinal County sheriff tweeted in announcing his candidacy.

Lamb is seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate job now held by Kyrsten Sinema, who has left the Democratic Party and has filed to run as an independent in 2024.

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A Democratic Senate candidate, Ruben Gallego, attacked Lamb's candidacy, noting that the Arizona sheriff declined to criticize the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. Lamb "is a threat to our democracy and unfit for elected office," Gallego said in a tweet.

Lamb is the first high-profile Republican to enter the Senate race that could decide which party controls the chamber.

The sheriff made headlines in 2020 by saying he would not enforce stay-at-home orders and mask mandates that emanated from the COVID lockdown.

Lamb later tested positive for COVID just before a Trump visit to Arizona,

Kari Lake, the 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona who is still protesting her loss of the November, has said she is also considering a Senate bid next year.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Lamb, a pro-Trump Arizona sheriff, is running for U.S. Senate
Maryland State Police flew into action on Sunday night after a hiker and his dog became stranded on a cliff above the Shenandoah River in West Virginia.

Police said Maryland State Police Aviation Commands, or MSPAC, Trooper 3 out of Frederick, Maryland was called to a mountainous area of Harpers Ferry National Park that is densely wooded at about 10 p.m.

A 27-year-old hiker and his dog "Angel" were exploring the Loudon Heights Trail, located south of Historic Harpers Ferry Lower Town, when he became disoriented and could not find the main trail.

DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWS CALIFORNIA HELICOPTER RESCUE AFTER TESLA PLUNGES OFF DEVILS SLIDE' CLIFF

The hiker was able to contact Jefferson County, West Virginia rescuers, who were called to the area of William L. Wilson Freeway and Chestnut Hill Road.

Although rescuers could see the hikers headlamp and speak to him on his cellphone, they could not reach him because of the steep terrain.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The roof of a police patrol car at night, with the blue and red lights flashing.

Instead, rescuers called the Maryland State Police to assist with extricating the hiker from the top of the cliff.

ARIZONA HELICOPTER CREW RESCUES DRIVER FROM FLASH FLOODED CREEK: PRECARIOUS SITUATION

When the Maryland State Police helicopter arrived, it hovered about 150 feet above the hiker before lowering a rescue technician into the wooded, steep and rocky area, police said.

The technician determined the hiker did not require medical care, and a basket was lowered down for the hiker and his dog to climb into.

Both the hiker and "Angel" were raised into the aircraft and flown to the nearby U.S. Customs and Border Protection Advanced Training Facility near Harpers Ferry.

An ambulance crew evaluated the hiker and helped him arrange to be picked up.

State Police said the MSPAC has served Maryland since 1970 and operates a fleet of 10 helicopters across the state.

Each helicopter provides 24-hour coverage and participates in missions such as medevac, law enforcement, search and rescue, homeland security and disaster assessment.
The mass shooting inside Louisville's Old National Bank on Monday was as familiar as it was violent.

The assailant who opened fire in the bank, killing five and wounding nine, made Louisville the scene of a mass shooting for the fourth time since the start of 2022. According to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive, it was the 10th such shooting in Kentucky in that time and the 788th nationwide.

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Photos: Multiple fatalities in downtown Louisville shooting

The violence Monday is part of a broader trend nationwide. The annual number of mass shootings in the United States has climbed from 272 in 2014 to 646 last year.

That's an average of more than one mass shooting somewhere in the United States every day.

100 days into 2023: Louisville attack marks nation's 146th mass shooting and 15th mass killing

There is no formal consensus on the definition of a mass shooting, but USA TODAY, the Associated Press and the Gun Violence Archive all define mass shootings as incidents in which at least four people are killed or wounded.

By any measure, the violence is escalating: Thirty-seven states have experienced a mass shooting since the start of last year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, with Illinois, Texas and California leading the way with more than 60 mass shootings each.

After the shootings Monday in Louisville, the mass shooting death toll nationwide since 2022 climbed to 883. An additional 3,261 were injured in those shootings.

In Kentucky, 11 have died and 48 have been wounded. In Ohio, where 24 mass shootings have occurred since the start of last year, 31 have died and 89 have been wounded.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Louisville bank shooting: Which states have the most mass shootings
BOSTON - The state's political muscle was on display on the steps of the Statehouse Monday when many lawmakers gathered to affirm a womans right to access safe, legal and available health care, including medication abortions.

Gov. Maura Healey promised that abortion care would remain safe, legal and accessible in Massachusetts, regardless of the machinations of a few hand-picked and extremist judges in other parts of the country. She was flanked by many of the states leaders: from the federal delegation that included U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Lori Trahan to local leaders including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano.

Nothing has changed, nothing is going to change, Healey said. We are not concerned with litigation; we are not concerned with liability here in Massachusetts.

More: Court rulings on medication abortion leave wake of uncertainty in Mass.

Lawmakers ready to fight for women's reproductive health

To that end, her administration has requested that the state stockpile 15,000 doses of mifepristone, the first of a two-drug system used with misoprostol that is administered to induce abortion.

Thats enough medication to ensure more than a years supply to treat the states residents as well as those who would come to the state to seek reproductive health care. The medication, in use for 23 years, is also used to treat lupus, address issues with miscarriages and even prevent ulcers.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell notes that once Roe v. Wade was overturned, it put into jeopardy all civil rights at a lunchtime announcement Monday that ensures all Massachusetts residents will still have access to abortion.

Healy moved to stockpile the medication weeks before the April 7 decision handed down by the federal district court judge in Amarillo, Texas, that found the Federal Drug Administration had erred in approving the drug more than 20 years ago. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, sided with the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine in its suit against the FDA.

A second, contradictory ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice, an Obama appointee sitting in Washington state, blocks the federal agency from limiting access to the medication. It is expected that the case could, ultimately, be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

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The medicine is the most commonly used form of abortion in the United States. If mifepristone becomes unavailable nationwide, Healey promised the state would continue to ensure access to abortion by going to the second drug in the regime.

The FDA is well suited to address this challenge, Healey said, noting that the federal government has appealed the Texas decision and should continue to make decisions concerning the health and well-being of the U.S. population.

Citizens speak out

Bill Rowe of Arlington, accompanied his wife, June, of the Mystic Valley Action for Reproductive Justice, to mark the importance of Healeys lunchtime announcement.

Bill and June Rowe of Arlington attended the lunchtime announcement by Gov. Maura Healey Monday, guaranteeing access to legal, safe abortions.

It pisses me off, Bill Rowe said of the Texas judges move. Some guy thought he could decide for everyone. The courts used to be good in the 50s and 60s. I used to think of judges as gods. Now they cant be trusted.

For her part, Warren exhorted the gathered crowd to work the ballot box and make sure to elect representatives that will guarantee the rights of women and ensure that access to abortion returns as the law of the land.

Get mad Massachusetts, stay mad, and channel that anger to making real change, Warren said. I have lived in an America where abortion was illegal; we are not going back, not now, not ever.

U.S. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley stands with Gov. Maura Healey and the state delegation April 10 in supporting women's rights to reproductive health care and continued access to medication abortion in the state.

In her remarks, Wu opted against iterating the anger and despair she felt at the endless need to fight and defend the right for women to access medical treatment, including abortion, and to fight for hegemony over their own bodies.

She called the fight a distraction, designed to obscure the fight for gun safety, for environmental justice, for treatment of the opioid crisis and for educational justice.

Where residents of other states can exercise their ballot box rights, Massachusetts will protect the rights of its residents.

Move to Massachusetts, we have your back, Wu said.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Access & medication guaranteed for residents, for all who need it
Maya Jama (PA)

Maya Jama, 28, has branded speculation that shes dating Leonardo DiCaprio, 48, as silly.

The Love Island host was linked to the Oscar winner last month after they were spotted leaving a club in Paris together, with a source later claiming they were in regular contact and have been on a string of dates.

It was then alleged by The Sun that DiCaprio had enjoyed a string of dates with the British TV presenter after they reportedly spent time together in New York earlier in March.

However, a rep for the Titanic actor told The Standard that rumours he and Jama were secretly dating were untrue.

Considering the recent speculation, Jama was then spotted wearing a Leo necklace as she enjoyed some downtime abroad.

The jewellery raised suspicions about her relationship status, but the TV presenter was quick to shut down whispers, revealing the necklace represented her star sign.

Jama addressed the speculation (Twitter/Maya Jama)

Addressing the rumours, she penned on Twitter: Ive been minding my business on holiday & said I wouldnt respond/pay attention to any of the silly stories anymore but you need to stop now, she penned on Twitter.

That is literally my star sign. We are not dating. Move on please.

Jama had previously been proposed to by partner Ben Simmons, although their whirlwind engagement came to an end last year after eight months.

Meanwhile, DiCaprio has been seen with Hadid on several occasions after they were first spotted at a NYFW after-party in September 2022.

Then earlier this year, it was reported that the pairs romance had fizzled out but they raised suspicions when they were both seen at the same Oscars afterparty, Beyonce and Jay-Zs Chateau Marmont soiree, weeks later.

That same weekend, Hadid, who split from Zayn Malik in 2021, was pictured exiting a pre-Oscars party where the The Departed actor was also in attendance.
Hubert Falco - Laurent Coust/Getty Images

A French mayor stood trial on Tuesday over charges he used taxpayers money to pay for more than a decades-worth of daily meals in the cafeteria of a job he left more than a decade ago.

Hubert Falco, 75, faces charges of concealing the misuse of public funds in what has been dubbed the Falcos fridge affair as the lavish meals were allegedly kept for the Toulon mayor and his wife in a specially designated refrigerator at the county council headquarters of the Var region in southern France.

The Right-winger and ally of Emmanuel Macron is accused of racking up a bill for the council of 64,000 (56,231) between April 2015 and October 2018  the period targeted by the investigation.

He also stands accused of getting the council to wash his dirty linen for free.

The Falcos fridge affair

Mr Falco, who was council president from 1994 to 2002 and who remains honorary president, is said to have turned up for free meals at the cafeteria on a near-daily basis.

He is even accused of getting the restaurants maitre d and a cook to prepare evening and weekend meals for him and his wife for which they were paid overtime in wages taken out of council coffers. Staff then stored the meals and ingredients in Falcos fridge, say prosecutors.

Also in the dock is Marc Giroud, the Var regions president during the period concerned, who is similarly accused of misuse of public funds. He was forced to step down last year over another corruption conviction.

The scandal erupted after Laurent Defraize, the departments former chief cook, blew the whistle on the pair before committing suicide a month after giving testimony in February 2020.

During questioning, several witnesses defended the ex-council presidents by saying that Mr Defraize was a manipulator and consumer of cannabis and cocaine, which they said he hid in the fridge in question.

However, numerous other council employees backed up the late cooks claims regarding the free meals.

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Anticor, an anti-corruption NGO, and the local UNSA union are civil plaintiffs in the case.

Grotesque accusations

According to his lawyer, Thierry Fradet, Mr Falco is impatient to express himself. He dismissed the accusations as grotesque and based on an agreement between various characters.

We will reserve our explanations for the court, he said, adding that he would call 21 witnesses in his clients defence.

Jean-Claude Guidicelli, Mr Girouds lawyer, called the case judicial trickery and argued it had come to court without a proper examination by an investigating magistrate.

Canteen meals for two euros a pop, what a terrible waste!, he told AFP, adding that the county council had a 50 million (43.91 million) deficit when his client had taken over as president in 2015 and that he had left it with a 250 million surplus.

The trial continues.
Photograph: Michael Swensen/Getty Images

The mayor of Louisville has said Kentucky law would make him a criminal if he destroys the assault-style rifle used by a gunman in Mondays killing of five bank employees in his city.

An emotional Craig Greenberg was speaking on Tuesday at a lunchtime press conference during which police revealed the killer  an employee at the Old National Bank who also wounded eight others, including two critically  bought the weapon legally six days previously.

The killers rifle was confiscated after police shot him dead, and Kentucky law requires officers to send it to state police officials to sell at auction.

Related: Fifth victim dies in Louisville bank shooting

Greenbergs administration can remove the firing pins from any guns that local police officers confiscate, which leaves them inoperable for at least a little while. But incapacitating impounded guns in any other way is illegal, and that has left Greenberg  who lost a friend during the bank attack  fuming.

Think about that, Greenberg said. That murder weapon will be back on the streets one day under Kentuckys current law.

He added: Let us destroy illegal guns and destroy the guns that have been used to kill our friends and kill our neighbors. We have to do more than weve already done. Lets change the state laws that would make me a criminal for trying too hard to stop the real evil criminals who are taking other peoples lives.

Greenberg, who said the US had grown tired of gun crime, appealed for Kentuckys Republican-controlled state legislature to cede responsibility for addressing gun violence to local municipalities.

Let Louisville make its own decisions about reducing the amount of illegal guns on our streets, he said. I dont care about finger pointing. I dont care about blame. I dont care about politics. Im only interested in working together with our state legislators to take meaningful action to save lives, to prevent more tragic injuries, and more death.

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Arguing is not a strategy. Doing nothing is not a strategy.

Louisvilles interim police chief, Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, told reporters that the killer, identified as 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon, was a current bank employee who bought the weapon on 4 April. She said he made the purchase at a local dealership but declined to provide more details.

Video from responding officers body-worn cameras was released later on Tuesday. Footage shows officers being shot at.

According to authorities timeline of the massacre, Louisville metro police department officers arrived at the bank in the citys downtown within three minutes of the first 911 call about the attack at about 8.30am local time on Monday.

The five killed, and most of the injured, were struck within a single minute of gunfire, authorities said, before the shooter  who was livestreaming his spree on Instagram  sat down in the lobby waiting for police to arrive.

He opened fire again as police rushed in, wounding two of them, one critically, before officers killed him.

The act of heroism cant be overstated, Gwinn-Villaroel said of her officers. They did what they were called to do. They answered that call to protect and serve.

The injured officer, Nickolas Wilt, 26, a rookie who graduated from training on 31 March, was in critical but stable condition in the University of Louisville (UofL) hospital on Tuesday. Its looking hopeful, the police chief said.

Three others remain in hospital, the UofL chief medical officer, Jason Smith, said.

Those killed were named as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; James Tutt, 64; and Deanna Eckert, 57.

Elliott was a close friend of Kentuckys Democratic governor Andy Beshear, who paid tribute at a media briefing late on Monday.

Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad, he said. 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.

At Mondays press conference, the Democratic Kentucky congressman Morgan McGarvey echoed Joe Bidens appeal for Congress to pass an assault weapons ban.

He said Republicans in the state legislature seemed more focused on fighting culture war issues than addressing gun violence.

We are in crisis, he said. That is not a political issue. But it becomes one. In Kentucky, Republicans would rather ban books and pronouns, and then make Kentucky a sanctuary state for weapons.

We are hurting. And no matter what policy we pass, no, it will not bring back these people. This will not bring back our friends, our neighbors and our loved ones.
James Perry - Daniel Jones

Self-made millionaires, heads of major corporations and international investors may seem an unlikely group to call for tax rises, yet some of Britains wealthiest people are asking the Government to increase the amount of tax they pay.

The Patriotic Millionaires UK is a group of British millionaires who believe the rich must pay more tax in order to tackle growing wealth inequality within the country. They are calling for MPs to impose a wealth tax on those with over 10m in net assets.

The entrepreneurs, investors and philanthropists campaigning for wealth taxes include the co-chairman of frozen ready meal company Cook, James Perry, as well as Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organic Farmers and Julia Davies, commercial lawyer turned green activist and co-founder of backpack company Osprey Europe.

The Patriotic Millionaires movement first began in the US. This ultra-rich group has previously lobbied world leaders and business executives meeting in Davos for the World Economic Forum. Now is the time to tackle extreme wealth; now is the time to tax the ultra rich, they wrote in an open letter in January.

The UK sister group is growing, with 30 members having signed up since it began two years ago.

In the US, proposals for a wealth tax by President Joe Biden have met with stiff resistance from opponents who fear it would severely damage growth, stifle innovation and even be unconstitutional.

In Norway, a wealth tax has already triggered an exodus of rich moneymakers. And in Britain, the idea has largely been championed by the far left, with Sir Keir Starmer denying in January that Labour was planning such a raid.

However, the millionaires in favour of one have no such qualms.

Guy Singh-Watson - Christopher Jones

Perry initially had his reservations about Patriotic Millionaires UK when a friend suggested he join the group back in 2021. I thought, I dont like the word patriotic, and I dont like the sound of millionaire either, he says.

But after looking into it, Perry discovered that the group aligned with his own belief that wealth inequality has grown massively in the UK and that only a profound change in the tax system can bridge the gap.

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I think tax has gone too far on working people and we are ignoring massive amounts of wealth, Perry says.

Having helped to create Cook in the 2000s, Perry says it was only later in life that he started to believe the wealthy  including himself  should pay more tax. For me, the 2008 financial crisis led to deeper questions about just how polarised wealth had become, with the bailout of banks and with the wealthy benefitting from inflated asset prices by quantitative easing, he says.

Perry says he is not a policy wonk and that members of Patriotic Millionaires are not making themselves out to be tax experts. Its more about using your voice to say the system isnt working and needs to be changed.

Another British Patriotic Millionaire is Julia Davies, an angel investor, former commercial lawyer and environmental activist. Since selling her share in Osprey Europe a few years ago, Davies has used her millions to invest in green start-ups and provide philanthropic loans to support the rewilding of British farmland.

Although the word carries negative connotations in the UK, Davies says she is proud to call herself a patriot: I feel an enormous debt to the UK and its amazing public services.

Julia Davies - Antonio Olmos/Guardian / Eyevine

She believes many of us have forgotten the value of services like the NHS and the importance of maintaining them. We need to see tax as an investment in the UK, she says. A country isnt a good place to live because of private wealth, but because of public wealth.

While the group is best-known for advocating a wealth tax, their policies are more wide-reaching and would impact huge numbers of middle class workers as well as the super-rich.

Patriotic Millionaires UK published a policy briefing document ahead of Chancellor Jeremy Hunts Budget in which they outlined six wealth tax policies to raise revenue for Britains crumbling public services and boost economic growth.

They estimate that their flagship policy, a 1pc to 2pc wealth tax on those with assets over 10m, would raise up to 22bn a year  - although many economists argue that such estimates are illusory because the proposals would drive money offshore, increasing avoidance and damaging investment.

Today, only four countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have a wealth tax: Norway, Spain, Switzerland and  most recently  Colombia.

The Patriotic Millionaires say that the wealth tax would affect only 20,000 UK citizens. Both Perry and Davies disagree with the idea that such a policy could discourage entrepreneurship within the country and stifle long-term growth, as the OECD has previously warned. All the business owners were talking about would be delighted to reach 10m in assets, Davies says.

Perry claims: A 1pc tax is not enough to stop someone starting a business.

The group also believe in equalising capital gains rates with income tax rates  a policy that has previously been recommended by the now-disbanded Office of Tax Simplification and which Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is believed to be considering should his party win the next general election.

An increase to capital gains tax rates would see higher earners pay 40pc on the gains made from selling shares and property, compared to 20pc and 28pc today respectively.

The group also champions applying National Insurance to investment income such as dividends from shares, rent from property and interest on saving, reforming the rules on non-dom status  which enable UK residents living outside the country to avoid paying tax on overseas income. It also proposes scrapping Business Relief and Agricultural Property Relief on inheritance tax, and introducing a 4pc tax on share buybacks.

Taxes on shareholder transfers would help to ensure that companies are not channelling profits to their shareholders at a time of national economic crisis and encourage investment in the real economy, the group says.

Altogether they estimate these policies will generate 50bn in revenue for the government.

Davies says she is a strong believer in rewarding hard work and believes the current tax system is unfair on many workers who provide a fundamental service to this country. If we just focus on rewarding societys entrepreneurs, then everything collapses, she says.
Former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump arrive for a New Years event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Melania Trump is pushing back on reports about how she's processing her husband's indictment.

Her office issued a statement saying readers should be wary of stories citing anonymous sources.

The indictment is tied to two alleged affairs involving hush-money payments.

Former first lady Melania Trump isn't yet telling her side of the story over her husband's rumored affairs and alleged hush-money payments that resulted in the first-ever indictment of a former president.

But she made it clear on Tuesday that she doesn't appreciate anonymous sources speaking on her behalf.

"News organizations have made assumptions about the former First Lady's stance on subjects that are personal, professional, and political over the past few weeks," her office said in a statement released to Twitter. "In these articles, unnamed sources are cited to bolster the author's claims.

"We ask readers to exercise caution and good judgment when determining whether or not stories concerning the former First Lady are accurate, particularly when they fail to cite Mrs. Trump as a source of information."

The former first lady, 52, didn't specify which stories she has taken issue with in recent days. The statement also did not reveal her state of mind over her husband's alleged infidelity or the public scrutiny of their 18-year marriage.

But several stories have hit newsstands. For instance, People Magazine published a story Monday, citing anonymous sources, that said Melania Trump did not plan to get involved in her husband's 2024 campaign. The source said doing so would be uncomfortable for her, and she preferred to remain out of the spotlight to focus on their son, Barron.

The New York Post's Page Six separately reported that Melania Trump agreed to play a bigger part in her husband's 2024 campaign. The publication quoted an anonymous source recounting that Donald Trump pleaded with his wife to join him on the campaign, telling her, "I really need you."

The couple has been living most of the year at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and were last spotted dining together on Sunday, for Easter brunch, according to the New York Post. An anonymous source told the New York Post for that story that the Trumps' dining together was interpreted by guests as Melania Trump saying, "I stand by my husband."

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Melania Trump posted a tweet on Easter Sunday, but had not posted on her account for more than a month as news of Donald Trump's indictment trickled out. She did not appear beside her husband at Mar-a-Lago on the day he was indicted, when he delivered a speech to a ballroom full of his supporters.

The Manhattan District attorney alleged that Trump orchestrated an unlawful scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election, accusing the former president of violating election laws and falsifying business records related to payments to guarantee the silence of two women who allege they had affairs with him.

One of the women was Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress who said she received $130,000 for her silence.

Trump, 76, pleaded not guilty to 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records, and has denied having the affairs. A trial date in the case hasn't been set yet, but the next hearing is set for December 4.

Ivanka Trump was also notably absent from the Mar-a-Lago event on April 4, though his other children, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump, and Baron Trump attended, as did Viktor Knavs, Melania Trump's father.

Melania Trump is a former supermodel who was unconventional as first lady, remaining in New York over a move to the White House for months after her husband became president so that their son could finish out the school year. In her formal role, she launched the "Be Best" initiative focused on childhood mental health, online bullying, and opioid addiction.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Antonia Gorga aimed high and wide when it came to the college application process. And her approach clearly paid off.

Melissa Gorga took to social media Saturday (April 8) to announce her daughter had been accepted to Rutgers University, the same school her older cousin Gia Giudice attends. The Real Housewives of New Jersey mom shared the big news in an Instagram Story that featured the Rutgers acceptance notice: Congrats. Youre Admitted! the letter read.

Another one! Melissa captioned the post. [Antonia] you have your pick! Love u!

The high school senior reshared the story on her account but didnt indicate whether she would accept the offer.

Screen Shot 2023 04 09 At 6.45.44 Am

Photo: Antonia Gorga/Instagram

As Melissas message suggests, Antonia now has plenty of college options. Back in December, Melissa and Joe Gorga confirmed their oldest child had been accepted to Penn State University. She would go on to receive admission letters from other high-ranking schools, like the University of Rhode Island and the University of Delaware.

Daily Dish Rhonj Ig Antonia Gorga Milania Giudice Relationship

Though Melissa has expressed excitement over her daughters new chapter, she told People magazine her husband was panicking.

Joes like, All shes going to do is party and drink and eat and [hang out with] boys, Melissa revealed back in February. Im like, Joe, theres actually education in college. Hes this typical, he doesnt want his daughter to go. Hes like, She could just drive, and Im like, no.

Melissa told the outlet she preferred if her daughter left the nest so she could be more independent.

She needs to know what its like to wash her own clothes and buy her own detergent. I just think she needs that, Melissa explained. I do everything for her. Its good for her to be independent and learn who she is, so Im excited for her. Its going to be a huge change not to have her bossing us around this house like she does, but I think its going to be great for her.

The news comes just weeks after Teresa Giudice revealed her daughter Gabriella is heading to the University of Michigan, where she will pursue an economics degree. Teresas oldest daughter, Gia, is set to graduate from Rutgers this spring.

Watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey on BravoTuesdays at 9/8c and next day on Peacock. Catch up on the Bravo app.
Charlotte bus service  and operator jobs  could face cuts if CATS doesnt fix an attendance problem, according to a memo sent to drivers from a manager.

In the days since the ratification of your new Collective Bargaining Agreement on Feb. 4, 2023, that now makes (Transit Management of Charlotte or TMOC) operators the second highest paid bus operators on the East Coast, I am extremely disturbed by the attendance, absenteeism and missed trip information I see, wrote Steve Hamelin, a general manager for RATP Dev USA, which employs CATS bus drivers.

The memo, dated April 7, was obtained by The Charlotte Observer.

Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs made the public aware of the letter at Monday nights council meeting. He said he learned about it earlier in the day by a reporter with Queen City News, who first reported on the memo.

While he reassured the public that driver attendance has improved, thanks to the decrease of COVID-19 spreading, he still expressed concerns about the situation.

We have seen a somewhat disturbing trend in terms of those performance numbers not being as good as they were, which CATS is addressing with TMOC, he said. TMOC is the subsidiary of RATP Dev USA, which is represented by SMART Union.

The memo says 23 employees are in point trouble for attendance, creating hundreds, if not thousands, of missed trips in a week that could result in service cuts this fall if the issue isnt fixed. CATS is still recovering from service cuts in August 2022.

Driggs, who chairs the councils transportation committee, also said there is an RFP process underway to create new terms for our relationship with RATP DEV USA.

Well share with you some numbers around what exactly is going on there and with the public, Driggs said. At this point I just want to make you aware of it, I dont want another big story about CATS to find out exactly whats going on.

CATS is facing myriad challenges after a previously disclosed light rail derailment came to light in March. Since then, CATS interim CEO Brent Cagle said the agency also missed federally required inspections for bridges and parking garages.

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Memo threatens cutting jobs

In Hamelins memo, he wrote that he is concerned and mystified by the poor attendance, despite a union bargaining agreement passed in February that increases employee salaries, lowers healthcare expenses, increases the pension cap and adds a holiday.

RATP Dev USA did not immediately respond to the Observers request for comment Monday night.

Imagine your family member standing at a bus stop in the heat or cold, early morning or late at night, waiting for a bus that never comes because somebody did not show up for work or left early, the memo says. Imagine the effect on other operators that lose time off with their family and loved ones because they step up and cover shifts for those that dont show up, or worse, get terminated unnecessarily.

Hamelin also threatened the operators jobs if CATS did not eliminate missed trips. At least 40 operator positions could be cut if there are service cuts, he wrote.

Understand that this is a serious situation that each of you are able to determine the outcome of, the memo says. It is my responsibility to keep employees informed of situations that will have an effect on them  this communication is that notice.

Following recent reports about issues facing the agency, City Manager Marcus Jones said he has requested the Federal Transit Administration to review CATS and is suspending the search for a new CEO for six months so the organization will have time to stabilize.
Hackers using spyware made by a little known cyber mercenary company used malicious calendar invites to hack the iPhones of journalists, political opposition figures and an NGO worker, according to two reports.

Researchers at Microsoft and the digital rights group Citizen Lab analyzed samples of malware they say was created by QuaDream, an Israeli spyware maker that has been reported to develop zero-click exploits  meaning hacking tools that dont require the target to click on malicious links  for iPhones.

QuaDream has been able to mostly fly under the radar until recently. In 2021, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that QuaDream sold its wares to Saudi Arabia. The next year, Reuters reported that QuaDream sold an exploit to hack iPhones that was similar to one provided by NSO Group, and that the company doesn't operate the spyware, its government customers do  a common practice in the surveillance tech industry.

QuaDreams customers operated servers from several countries around the world: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Ghana, Israel, Mexico, Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uzbekistan, according to internet scans done by Citizen Lab.

Both Citizen Lab and Microsoft published groundbreaking new technical reports on QuaDreams alleged spyware on Tuesday.

Microsoft said it found the original malware samples, and then shared them with Citizen Labs researchers, who were able to identify more than five victims  an NGO worker, politicians and journalists  whose iPhones were hacked. The exploit used to hack those targets was developed for iOS 14, and at the time was unpatched and unknown to Apple, making it a so-called zero-day. The government hackers who were equipped with QuaDreams exploit used malicious calendar invites with dates in the past to deliver the malware, according to Citizen Lab.

Those invites didnt trigger a notification on the phone, which made them invisible to the target, Bill Marczak, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab who worked on the report, told TechCrunch.

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Apples spokesperson Scott Radcliffe said that theres no evidence showing the exploit discovered by Microsoft and Citizen Lab has been used after March 2021, when the company released an update.

Citizen Lab is not naming the victims because they dont want to be identified. Marczak said that they are all in different countries, which makes it harder for the victims to come out.

Nobody necessarily wants to be the first one in their community to come out and say, yes, I was targeted, he said, adding that its usually easier if the victims are all in the same country and part of the same community or group.

Before Microsoft contacted Citizen Lab, Marczak said he and his colleagues had identified several people targeted by an exploit that was similar to the one used by NSO Group customers in 2021, known as FORCEDENTRY. At the time, Marczak and colleagues concluded that those people were targeted with a tool made by another company, not NSO Group.

Map of suspected QuaDream operator locations

Image Credits: The Citizen Lab

The analyzed samples include the initial payload, which is designed to then download the actual malware  the second sample  if its on the device of the intended target. The final payload records phone calls, records audio using the phones microphone surreptitiously, take pictures, steal files, track the person's granular location and deletes forensic traces of its own existence, among other functionalities, according to Citizen Lab and Microsoft.

Still, Citizen Lab researchers said the malware does leave certain traces that allowed them to track QuaDreams spyware. The researchers said they dont want to reveal what these traces are in order to retain their ability to track the malware. They called the traces of malware the Ectoplasm Factor, a name that Marczak said was inspired by a quest in the popular game Stardew Valley, which he said he plays.

Citizen Lab researchers also claimed that QuaDream uses a Cyprus-based company called InReach to sell its products.

A person who has worked in the spyware industry confirmed to TechCrunch that QuaDream used InReach to bypass the Israeli [export] regulator. For example, the person said, thats how QuaDream sold to Saudi Arabia.

This workaround, however, apparently didnt allow them to skirt regulations completely.

[QuaDream] had four signed deals with countries in Africa (Morocco and few others) but because of the change in the regulation in Israel (limited to only 36 countries), they couldn't deliver them, said the person, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss sensitive industry details.

The source said that other than Saudi Arabia, QuaDream also sold to Ghana, the UAE, Uzbekistan and Singapore, its first customer. Also, the person added, their system is the most important system in Mexico currently, its operated by the countrys president, and it was nominally sold to the local government of Mexico City, to keep it quiet.

The Mexican consulate in New York City did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the source, QuaDream recently shut down their Android division and is now focusing on iOS only.

Citizen Lab named several people who allegedly work for QuaDream or InReach. None of them, except for one, responded to a request for comment from TechCrunch. The person who responded said that he has no connection to QuaDream, and that his name was wrongly associated with the company in the past.

The discovery of QuaDreams malware shows once again that the spyware industry  once dominated by Hacking Team and FinFisher  is not only made of NSO Group but several other companies, most of which are still flying under the radar.

There's a broader ecosystem of these companies and targeting individual companies is not necessarily the optimal strategy for reining in the industry, Marczak said.

In a blog post accompanying Microsofts report, Amy Hogan-Burney, the companys general manager and associate general counsel for cybersecurity policy and protection, wrote that the explosive growth of private cyber mercenary companies poses a threat to democracy and human rights around the world.

As the technology industry builds and maintains the majority of what we consider cyberspace, we as an industry have a responsibility to limit the harm caused by cyber mercenaries, wrote Hogan-Burney. It is only a matter of time before the use of the tools and technologies they sell spread even further. This poses real risk to human rights online, but also to the security and stability of the broader online environment. The services they offer require cyber mercenaries to stockpile vulnerabilities and search for new ways to access networks without authorization. Their actions do not only impact the individual they target, but leave whole networks and products exposed and vulnerable to further attacks. We need to act against this threat before the situation escalates beyond what the technology industry can handle.

Do you have more information about QuaDream? Or another surveillance tech provider? Wed love to hear from you. You can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Wickr, Telegram and Wire @lorenzofb, or email lorenzo@techcrunch.com. You can also contact TechCrunch via SecureDrop.
Dr. Joshua Lampert misses his mom more than usual when May comes around.

Adele Lynn Lampert died in March 2020 at 68. She battled for over a decade with metastatic pheochromocytoma, a rare form of cancer that spread throughout her body.

This May, in honor of her memory, the board-certified aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon in Aventura is offering free reconstructive and medically necessary plastic surgery to moms in Florida who are underinsured or dont have insurance.

She was always really proud of the charitable projects that I did, and the surgical mission trips, so I thought  instead of moping around and being depressed on Mothers Day  do something I think she would be proud of, said Lampert, 46, who is certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is an assistant professor at Florida International Universitys Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

Adele Lynn Lampert with her son Joshua Lampert.

Lamperts office is accepting online applications and nominations for the free surgeries until April 21. His team will review the applicants and select a limited amount of patients. Hes not looking for women who want Brazilian butt lifts, a popular procedure in Miami. Hes also not looking for moms who want facelifts, rhinoplasties or breast enhancements for aesthetic reasons.

Instead, his inaugural A.L.L. For Moms Charity Surgery Day (named after his mom) is for mothers who need financial help with cancer, traumatic and burn reconstruction surgery, C-section scar revisions, acquired or congenital deformities and breast reconstruction, including breast reduction and breast implant removal.

READ NEXT: Heres how to check out your Brazilian butt lift or plastic surgery doctor in Florida

Reconstructive surgery is pricey and can cost thousands, barring many who are underinsured or without insurance from the procedures, he said. Hes not sure how many free surgeries hell schedule yet, but he plans to schedule them for May 21, his moms birthday. She would have turned 72 this year.

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The surgeries will be conducted at his ambulatory surgery center in Aventura, 20200 W Dixie Hwy. His mom, an interior designer, designed his office while undergoing cancer treatment, her last project.

Dr. Joshua Lampert with his mom Adele Lynn Lampert.

There is arguably no greater love than that of a mother for her child. This treasure is something that I can never fully grasp, but better understand now after losing my own mom. I appreciate her more and more every day, said Lampert. Since my mom passed away, I have been ever so humbly more fortunate to witness my wife bear our own first son. My mom, Adele, always loved and supported my charitable efforts in surgery. I think she would be proud of this day, taking care of other moms in need, in the surgery center that she created.

How to apply

While any mom in Florida can apply or be nominated for the free surgery, the patient will have to meet certain surgical and financial criteria to be considered. This includes showing proof that the patient cant afford medical services (proof of income will be required), is not enrolled in a private health insurance plan and is not a current or previous patient.

And while Lampert said any mom in Florida can apply, she must be able to return to the Aventura office for follow-up appointments. The patient must also be considered a low-medical risk. Lampert says his medical team will determine if a patient meets the criteria, though generally speaking, a low-medical risk patient is someone who is healthy, doesnt smoke or uses drugs and is not considered to be obese (BMI under 30).

For the full list of requirements and to apply, visit lampertmd.com
Tracking the progress and highlighting the success of 207 problem-solving courts across Michigan from Oct.1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court has released its 2022 Problem-Solving Courts Annual Report.

Using evidence-based practices to stop the cycle of crime, Michigan problem-solving courts were developed to address the root causes of crime among individuals.

Monroe County has its Veterans Treatment Court and Mental Health Recovery Court which help individuals in the community that are charged with criminal offenses by helping them overcome underlying issues such as substance abuse and mental illness and combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Veterans Treatment Court gives veterans that commit nonviolent crimes a second chance to become successful civilians in our community, said Chief District Judge Michael C. Brown in a written statement. Brown is the presiding judge for the Monroe County Veterans Treatment Court.

Judge Amanda Eicher

Our community is suffering from a mental health crisis," District Judge Amanda L. Eicher, presiding judge for the Monroe County Mental Health Recovery Court, said in a written statement. "The Mental Health Recovery Court treats the participants mental health illnesses and gives them the tools to be successful in society and avoid criminal activity.

Problem-solving courts exemplify how we are working to increase public trust and confidence in the judiciary through collaboration and compassion-an overarching goal of our Michigan Judicial Council, said Justice Kyra H. Bolden, the PSC liaison for the Michigan Supreme Court. What struck me the most about this report is that these pages are not just filled with numbers and milestones; they are filled with hope and humanity.

The report included several key findings:

On average, mental health court graduates were nearly two times less likely to commit another crime within three years of admission to a program.

Unemployment among adult mental health court graduates dropped by 81%.

Average 99% improvement in mental health and 95% quality of life improvement.

Graduates of veterans treatment courts were nearly two times less likely to reoffend within three years of admission to a program.

Unemployment dropped by 88% among veterans treatment court graduates.

Michigan remains a national leader with 28 veterans treatment courts

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Problem-solving courts focus on providing treatment and intense supervision to offenders as an alternative to incarceration. These include drug and sobriety, mental health, veterans, and other nontraditional courts.

The Michigan Supreme Court, through its State Court Administrative Office, assists trial court judges in the management of these courts by providing training, education, operational standards, monitoring, certification requirements and funding.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Michigan Supreme Court issues problem-solving courts annual report
Actor Millie Bobby Brown, right, and Jake Bongiovi hinted at an engagement on Tuesday. (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press)

Millie Bobby Brown appears to be engaged to beau Jake Bongiovi.

The "Stranger Things" star and Bongiovi, the son of rocker Jon Bon Jovi, left fans to unpack the latest Brown-adjacent mystery when they hinted at their apparent affianced status Tuesday with a pair of Instagram posts showing Brown wearing an engagement ring.

"I've loved you three summers now, honey, I want 'em all," the 19-year-old star wrote, quoting lyrics from Taylor Swift's "Lover" title track and sharing an elated portrait.

Bongiovi, 20, posted a few snaps too, captioning their beachside pictorial "Forever" with the same white heart emoji that Brown used. The sweet display prompted their followers to immediately flood their comments sections with congratulatory messages and well wishes.

Representatives for Brown and Bongiovi did not immediately respond Tuesday to The Times' requests for comment.

The British star, who shot to fame playing telekinetic teen Eleven in Netflix's sci-fi series "Stranger Things," revealed during Wired's "Web's Most Searched Questions" series that she met Bongiovi through social media, reportedly in 2021. Then they sparked relationship rumors that June after Bongiovi posted a selfie with Brown that he captioned "bff."

They made their relationship Instagram-official that November when the Florence by Mills makeup line creator shared a photo kissing her man aboard the London Eye. Last year, they walked several red-carpet events together, including the BAFTAs in March, the "Stranger Things 4" premiere in May and the October premiere of her Netflix movie "Enola Holmes 2."

Earlier this year, the aspiring novelist and Purdue student referred to Bongiovi as her "partner for life."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Sig Sauer P320 handgun. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Milwaukee police were worried about their SIG Sauer P320 handguns randomly firing.

"They don't want it around their family," a police union head told The Washington Post.

A Washington Post/The Trace investigation found dozens of reports of the handguns firing without a trigger pull.

Officers with Wisconsin's Milwaukee Police Department were reportedly so worried about their SIG Sauer P320 handguns randomly firing that they wouldn't bring the weapon home.

"Our officers are fearful of the gun," Milwaukee Police Association officers union head Andrew Wagner told The Washington Post as part of an investigation published on Tuesday.

"They're not taking it home. They don't want it around their family," Wagner said of the department-issued semi-automatic pistol.

An eight-month investigation by The Washington Post and The Trace found that more than 100 people claim that their P320 pistols fired when they did not pull the trigger in incidents dating back to 2016, according to the report.

The investigation also found that at least 80 people were wounded in those shootings.

A representative for New Hampshire-based gun manufacturer SIG Sauer did not immediately respond to requests for comment by Insider on Tuesday.

In a statement to The Washington Post, the gunmaker denied that the P320 was able to fire without someone pulling the trigger.

In December, Milwaukee police began replacing the SIG Sauer pistols with Glock firearms, local outlet Fox6 reported.

"They're really happy that they are not going to have to worry about endangering the community or themselves when they are carrying these firearms they currently have," Wagner said at the time.

Read the original article on Insider
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating an "officer use of force incident" in Granite Falls Monday.

The Granite Falls Police Department said a multi-agency drug and gang task force was executing a knock-and-announce search warrant at approximately 4 p.m. on Bergeson Drive.

"The suspect was wanted for multiple felony warrants on weapons and drug charges," police said.

"Upon entry into the residence, officers immediately took gunfire from someone inside," the department said in a press release. "Officers returned fire and retreated outside where a single officer said he had been struck by a bullet. That officer was immediately transferred to Granite Falls Hospital while other officers secured the scene."

PROTESTERS RIP SAN FRANCISCO-AREA DA'S HANDLING OF ALLEGED GANG MEMBERS CHARGED IN TODDLER'S FREEWAY SHOOTING

A task force executed warrants on a residence in Granite Falls, Minnesota.

After a 70-minute standoff, the suspect surrendered to officers and was taken into custody without further incident, police said.

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The suspect, whose name has not been released, was transferred and was being held in the Yellow Medicine County Jail pending charges, the department said Monday.

The injured officer has since been treated and released from the hospital. The investigation is ongoing, but there is no further risk to the public, police said.

The Granite Falls Police Department said it has asked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate the officers' use of force.

MINNESOTA AG TURNS ON ALLY OVER DEAL FOR TEENS ACCUSED OF MURDERING WOMAN IN GEORGE FLOYD-AREA HOME INVASION

Multiple agencies responded when an officer was shot during a Granite Falls warrant execution.

The department was assisted by more than a dozen other agencies, including the Cooperative Enforcement Effort (CEE) VI Drug and Gang Task Force, the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's Office, the Upper Sioux Community Police Department, the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office, the Renville County Sheriff's Office, the Lac Qui Parle Sheriff's Office, the Montevideo Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office, the Wilmar Police Department, the Dawson/Boyd Police Department, the Granite Falls Ambulance, the Granite Falls Public Works, and the Yellow Medicine County Highway Department.

Officers executed a knock-and-announce warrant on Bergeson Drive in Granite Falls.

The West Central Tribune reported that police tape remained around the residence where the shooting occurred as of Monday evening. Before the suspect surrendered, the newspaper said more than a dozen squad vehicles from at least a half dozen area law enforcement agencies were seen responding Monday afternoon in Granite Falls. The outlet also said barricades were erected for a short time in at least one location a couple of blocks away from where the incident was centered, "and there were reports of an area SWAT team arriving to assist."
MISHAWAKA  The Mishawaka police shift supervisor who told other officers to leave the scene of a traffic stop involving Mayor Dave Wood's son has been demoted from captain to lieutenant.

The Tribune's newsgathering partner, WNDU, reported the result of the Tuesday meeting of the Mishawaka Board of Safety.

Previously: Mishawaka police stop mayor's son on suspected drunk driving, take him home with no report

The incident occurred around midnight on Oct. 28, when a Mishawaka officer stopped Joe Wood on suspicion of drunken driving. Wood asked if Capt. Eric Beckham was working and eagerly approached him when Beckham later arrived on the scene.

Beckham told other officers to leave, was heard on body camera footage telling the initial officer, "I'll take care of it" and drove Wood to his father's house.

Beckham agreed to the demotion voluntarily, WNDU reported, adding that police did not say whether the demotion was connected to the Oct. 28 incident.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Mishawaka police Captain Eric Beckham accepts demotion to lieutenant
Missouri's Attorney General Andrew Bailey is one of 18 attorneys general who have voiced official support for a 2022 Florida bill that would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of gestation, with exceptions for life, health, and fetal abnormality.

The bill is being challenged in Florida's Supreme Court by Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida.

What is an amicus brief and why would Bailey file one for a Florida case?

An amicus brief is a legal filing by a party or group not involved in a lawsuit, but who has a strong interest in the matter, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute. Amicus briefs aim to influence a court's decision on a lawsuit. This is not the first time Bailey has filed an amicus brief for a non-Missouri case.

"I want to enforce the laws as written and protect unborn children from this blatant attack on state sovereignty," Bailey said in a press release. "The peoples elected representatives have spoken on the issue of abortion, and my office will use every tool at its disposal to uphold the rights of state legislatures to defend the unborn.

More: MO attorney general leads effort to warn pharmacies about mail-order abortion meds

Which other attorneys general signed the brief?

The amicus brief is signed by attorneys general for the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

What is Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida v. State of Florida?

Florida House Bill 5 went into effect on July 1, 2022. Among other things, it prohibits abortions after 15 weeks of gestation except in the event that it is "to save the pregnant woman's life or avert a serious risk of imminent substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition" or the fetus "has a fatal fetal abnormality."

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In July 2022, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida asked a Florida circuit court to stop the enforcement of HB 5. The circuit court granted that order initially, the judge ruling that the restriction clashes with an earlier state Supreme Court ruling, which concluded that abortion is protected by the Florida constitutions right to privacy.

More: Florida judge temporarily blocks state's 15-week abortion law, ruling it unconstitutional

In response, the State of Florida filed an appeal, which resulted in the order being automatically stayed. Planned Parenthood asked the circuit court to vacate the automatic stay, but it denied to do so, according to court documents.

In August 2022, Planned Parenthood asked a district court of appeals to vacate the automatic stay, and was denied again. Due to that, Planned Parenthood has elevated the request to the Florida Supreme Court. The Supreme Court accepted the request to hear the arguments in January 2023, though no date has been set yet.

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: Missouri, other states voice support for Florida abortion bill
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  A Missouri fisherman is clearing some space on his wall to display his new world record.

"Ive never mounted anything before," said Mitchell Dering, of Fairdealing. "I broke the state record for spotted gar a few years ago, but some guy broke the record two years later, so its not in the record books anymore, but Im working on getting me a collection of state records. I guess potentially world records now."

On Monday, the Missouri Department of Conservation congratulated Dering for shooting the third state record fish recorded this year  a 4-pound brown bullhead. His recent catch also beats the current 3-pound, 4-ounce bow fishing world record.

MDC said the previous state record was 2 pounds, 7 ounces, caught in 1994 at Wappapello Lake.

RARE DISEASE FOUND IN COLORADO FISH URGES WARNING AS SANDY FLESH SPREADS WEST

Dering said he shot the fish while bow fishing at Duck Creek Ditch #105 on March 14.

"I got off work that day and went out to one of the ditches in Duck Creek and just got lucky, honestly," Dering said. "We shoot a lot of smaller fish. I knew it was a bullhead, but didnt know it was a brown bullhead, but I knew it was large for its size."

Dering contacted conservation officials the next day to get his fish officially weighed on a certified scale in Wappapello.

While this is not the first time Dering has held a Missouri fishing record, qualifying for a world record is a new accomplishment, he said.

"Thats honestly pretty awesome," laughed Dering. "Ive bow fished for quite a while. Weve won a few tournaments in Kentucky and Tennessee and have placed in numerous other tournaments. Thats cool, I didnt know that!"

According to wildlife officials, the only confirmed self-sustaining natural population of brown bullheads in Missouri occurs at Duck Creek Conservation Area and nearby Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.
State Rep. Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat, hinted Thursday that she might join the race for Missouri governor.

Her comments come as no Democrats have officially announced a campaign yet, but with some speculation that she or others could join the race.

I think everyones considering a run for governor. Listen, the Democrats dont have anyone at this moment, Quade said. Absolutely, Im considering it. Ive said that a few times.

Quade, who is the House minority floor leader, is in her last term as a state representative. She will have served eight years as a state representative by the end of her term in 2024, which is the maximum allowed.

This session, she has been advocating for issues like gun reform, child care aid, abortion rights and against GOP-backed initiative petition reform, a corporate tax cut and crime packages that allow more state control over St. Louis.

She has also decried the bevy of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation moving through the legislature, which includes bills that would, among other things, ban gender affirming care for minors and transgender girls and women from participating in womens sports.

Outside of the legislature, she has a background in social work. She formerly worked for Care to Learn, a nonprofit addressing the health and hunger of children in Missouri, and Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, according to her website. She is also a board member for Better Life in Recovery, a Springfield nonprofit helping those struggling with substance use and mental health issues.

Opposing Ashcroft, other GOP candidates

Quades hints at a potential candidacy come after Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced his campaign for the position last week, joining Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, another Republican who announced his campaign a year ago. Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican, is also publicly considering running, but has not officially announced a bid.

In response to Ashcrofts announcement, Quade said it seems like he believes it is his birthright to hold office, and he has not put Missourians first.

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Ashcroft was elected secretary of state in 2016, and reelected in 2020. He is the son of John Ashcroft, a former Missouri governor, U.S. senator and attorney general under President George W. Bush.

You could talk about the attempts to meddle in the federal government gay marriage situation, the defunding of our libraries, the banning of books, Quade said.

Some Democrats observing the race said Quade has shown strong leadership during her time in the House, and has the ability to energize and excite more Missourians to vote blue. It is notable that she is able to succeed in Springfield and is not from one of the large border cities, and that can be a guide to winning support across the state, they said.

Rep. Peter Merideth, a St. Louis Democrat, said Quade is relatable, trustworthy and really cares about people.

Chuck Hatfield, an attorney and former chief of staff for Democrat Jay Nixon when he was the attorney general, said it can be difficult to run for governor from the position of a state representative because they dont have a very broad platform, but Quade certainly has the insider contacts to put together a campaign.

Rep. Richard Brown, a Kansas City Democrat, said Quade would be an ideal candidate, especially as a woman, with the abortion rights messages that groups like Planned Parenthood are trying to spread across the state.

Shes a social worker by profession, so she understands the needs of people in the state. When you work closely with poor and underserved people, you get to understand what their real needs are. Brown said.

Other potential candidates

With Republicans holding all statewide offices and a supermajority, it is increasingly difficult for Democrats to be competitive. Then-Auditor Nicole Galloway was the last Democrat to win a statewide office back in 2018.

Rep. Peter Merideth, a St. Louis Democrat, said there isnt just one name in Democrat politics that might run, because they typically look to statewide offices for candidates, but Democrats hold none of those positions.

While he agreed Quade is the most likely candidate, he said some Democrat state senators or people from less political backgrounds, like nonprofit leaders, could step up to run.

Jason Kander, a former Democratic Missouri secretary of state who in 2016 narrowly lost the election for U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Roy Blunt, said Stephen Webber, who is running for a Boone County-based seat in the Missouri Senate, is usually his first choice for everything. But whoever it is, Kander said, they have to be both aggressive and have a long term vision for the party in Missouri.

Stephen Webber did not immediately respond to a phone call for comment.

Hatfield, the attorney, said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones could be well positioned to run too.

However, Lucas is running for reelection as mayor this year, and Jones has no plans to run for governor, Joness campaign strategist and manager Rosetta Okohson said.
If in the near future the U.S. Supreme Court decides to ban the abortion pill, youll have Andrew Bailey and Kris Kobach to blame.

The two men  the attorneys general of Missouri and Kansas, respectively  both signed friend of the court briefs backing the Texas case that suspended the Food and Drug Administrations decades-old approval of the drug, named mifepristone. And in Kobachs case, the brief made a rather startling argument: The pill should be banned in defense of the democratic process.

Why? Because the FDAs decision allowing mifepristone to be sent and received through the mail permits women to circumvent the law in states that have prohibited abortion. The brief signed by Kobach and 20 other Republican attorneys general  18 of them men  said the Biden administration should never have allowed such a violation.

The FDA and the administration as a whole have no intention to respect the Constitution, the Supreme Court, or the democratic process when it comes to abortion, the group asserted.

That argument takes a fair amount of chutzpah. Kobach, after all, represents a state where less than a year ago voters made overwhelmingly clear their desire to preserve abortion access. Kobach is doing his level best to contravene their wishes.

So much for the democratic process in Kansas.

A second brief, signed by Bailey and Missouri Solicitor General Joshua M. Divine, offered another brazen argument for banning the pill: to preserve the right of women to choose not to get an abortion.

The ready availability of abortions by mail means that abusive boyfriends or others will more easily be able to coerce women (by force, pressure, or deception) to obtain abortions, they wrote.

And in what can only be interpreted as a bit of high-profile legal trolling, Baileys office cited a PBS interview in which U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a Missouri Democrat, said she had received a surgical abortion in which the providers continued with the procedure after she tried to halt it. That is disturbing  but it is also notable that Bush, a pro-choice firebrand, in February co-sponsored federal legislation to preserve access to abortion medication in states where abortion remains legal. Her horrible experience is an argument for more access to safe, professional, legal abortion  not against it.

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We dont discount the possibility that women can sometimes be coerced into making unwanted life-altering decisions. But it is disingenuous at best  and outright misleading at worst  to suggest that the act of denying a choice to women is actually a means of preserving their choices.

And there is reason to believe that Missourians favor restoring access to abortion. (A 2019 trigger law banning abortion went into effect last year after the 6-3 conservative supermajority Supreme Court broke precedent and overturned Roe v. Wade.) A poll last August found that 58% of respondents want to allow abortions during the first eight weeks of pregnancy. That presumably includes medication abortions, which are responsible for more than half of all abortions today. Nationally, nearly two-thirds of Americans say banning medication abortions would hurt their families.

It is fairly clear, however, that Republican leaders in Missouri and Kansas dont much care what the majority of residents in their states might think about the topic. Kobach, remember, has already claimed one victory, warning big pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS against selling mifepristone in Kansas even before last weeks ruling.

But Bailey and Kobach arent the only offenders. The Kansas Legislature, after all, just passed a nonsense bill requiring doctors to inform patients about the false assertion that medication abortions can be reversed  one of several bills pushed by antiabortion groups despite last years vote. Missouri officials, meanwhile, have done their utmost to avoid a Kansas-style vote on the matter.

For now, at least, abortion pills remain available in Kansas. Soon, its likely that the Supreme Court will decide the matter once for all. But we know where Kansas and Missouri Republicans stand: They want to deprive voters of their voice on abortion. And if voters have their say anyway, those leaders will ignore them.
Amazon labor union president Chris Smalls joined the Model Alliances founder Sara Ziff and other supporters Tuesday to rally for the New York State Fashion Workers Act.

Ziffs appearance came just days after she filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court alleging that the former head of Miramax in Italy, Fabrizio Lombardo, raped her when she was a 19-year-old. In the complaint, Lombardo is accused of assaulting Ziff in a New York City hotel room in 2011. A working model and an aspiring actress at the time, Ziff alleged that Lombardo invited her to join him and brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein for a drink but the Weinsteins were not there when she arrived.

More from WWD

In addition to Lombardo, Ziff has sued Harvey Weinstein, Disney, and its subsidiaries Buena Vista and Miramax for abuse and negligence under the Adult Survivors Act.

Weinstein is serving a combined 39-year prison sentence for various sex crimes. Efforts to reach Lombardo for comment last week were unsuccessful.

Standing with Smalls, a few other models and content creators in New York Citys Meatpacking District, Ziff noted that over the last decade the Model Alliance has been working to convince the fashion industry, lawmakers and the general public that fashion is work, she said. While fashion appears to be glamorous, this industry is built on the backs of young people, mostly young women and girls, who are essentially indentured  working in debt to their management agencies.

In her remarks Tuesday, she referenced the suit and explained it was a catalyst for starting the alliance, which prioritizes advocating for models rights. I have heard hundreds of stories like mine through our support line, during the last decade. While the Adult Survivors Act is about righting the wrongs of the past, we still need to make sure that what happened to me and so many other women in this industry does not happen again. Thats why we need lawmakers to pass the Fashion Workers Act, which would finally protect and create labor protections for models and creative artists.

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The legislation is meant to regulate management agencies and provide oversight in the $2.5 trillion fashion industry. Providing workers with contracts, ensuring payment within 45 days and protecting them from harassment, discrimination and unsafe working conditions are objectives. Ziff said she hopes lawmakers will pass the act during this session. If approved, the legislation would ensure that agencies have a fiduciary responsibility to models, industry hairstylists, content creators, makeup artists and other creatives. It is also designed to prohibit any unreasonably high commissions and fees.

Many models will never see a contract for designer runway shows they walk in and wont know whether or how much they are getting paid. They will be lucky if they break even, according to Ziff. This lack of financial transparency is also partly why our industry is so ripe with sexual abuse. Its no coincidence that some of the #MeToo movements biggest predators used modeling agencies to prey on victims. Knowing they will face retaliation for coming forward, victims must choose between speaking up or being able to eat.

Ziff noted that she filed her own case, thanks to the look back window that was created through the Adult Survivors Act, which our community helped to pass. What happened to me at 19 years old was a catalyst. I started the Model Alliance to make the fashion industry a safer place for what is largely a young, female immigrant workforce. I knew firsthand how exploitative this industry can be.

The bill is in the New York State Senate Labor Committee. Fashion is a major driver of the states economy, with New York Fashion Week generating nearly $600 million in income annually.

Having supported the Model Alliance at another press rally in May, Smalls said, We want to make sure that labor and labor leaders decide to stand with the fashion industry through the Model Alliance. Our duty as the working class is to stand in solidarity  no matter what industry they are in. Today I am making a stance again just as I did one year ago. I will not continue to be complacent or stand on the sidelines. Im going to be on the frontlines every time my phone is called.

Smalls mentioned the long history of independent contractors and how [some] women in the fashion industry have been exploited, since the beginning of time.

With his coworkers and a GoFundMe page, Smalls led the establishment of the first Amazon union, and sparked an uptick in labor organizing. But in the past year, the ALU has had fissures and Smalls high-profile image has left some workers feeling forgotten. Amazon has legally challenged the unions election results.

Earlier a few models and content creators including Rozi Levine and Camryn Herold shared personal experiences alleging mistreatment in the fashion industry.

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Click here to read the full article.
The first vintage of Lucy Rose of Pinot Noir was 2005. The Pisoni Family Vineyards have contributed $1 from every bottle sold to advancing research into the cure for breast cancer. At the close of 2022, Lucy wines donated over $200,000 to charitable causes. The first vintage of Lucys white wine, Pico Blanco was 2022. Its a blend of Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc and $1 from each bottle sold goes to ocean conservation run by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This year the Pisoni Family Vineyards will release Lucys first red wine, a 2022 Gamay Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands. And $1 from every bottle sold will support the local Big Sur firefighters. Look for Lucys pink, white and red wines in your local market and enjoy the wines knowing you are helping these charitable causes. Cheers to you and the Pisoni Family Vineyards!

Portuguese Festival

Experience the Portuguese culture while supporting a great cause. All proceeds benefit the Carlos Vieira Foundations Race for Autism campaign which helps Central California families who have autistic children. The festival will be held in Turlock at the Stanislaus County Fairground on April 22. Parking and admission are free, gates open at 9 a.m. with a parade starting at 10 a.m. The family friendly event will showcase traditional Portuguese dancing, music, folklore, a wine and cheese tasting, cultural exhibits, carnival rides, plenty of Portuguese food and craft vendors. Saturday also will feature performances by Jorge Ferreira, Alex Ferrari and the Portuguese Kids on the 51FIFTY Stage.

Come back Sunday, April 23, for a traditional bloodless bullfight. Gates open at 2 p.m. for the carnival, bar and food booths. The bullfight starts at 4 p.m. and will be followed by live music. Tickets to the bullfight are $15 and can be purchased on Saturday or at the gate Sunday. Cheers to the Carlos Vieira Foundation! For more information visit carlosvieirafoundation.org.

SF Chronicle Wine Competition deals

The Best of Class Merlot went to the McManis Family Vineyards and a Double Gold Medal went to their Zinfandel. Five Gold medals were awarded to their Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2020 Cabernet Red Blend. Yep, McManis wines rock.

Are you just not sure about buying a box wine? Give the Bota Box Nighthawk Rich a try. It took a Best of Class medal and their Pinot Grigio won a Gold. Or consider the Black Box Pinot Noir, a Best of Class winner. A Double Gold medal went to their Shiraz. The Black Box Pinot Grigio and a Dry Rose also took home Golds. Both brands are under $20 for the equivalent of four bottles. The wine stays fresh, you can forget the corkscrew and it is easy to recycle. Yes!

Questions? Comments? Find me on Facebook or at rgwinton@yahoo.com.
A single mom joined her ex-husband for a special marriage proposal to welcome a new stepmom into their blended family.

"I got to video my ex-husband propose to his girlfriend. So special," Leah Bourdo, 39, of Richland, Michigan, wrote on a TikTok video with more than 5 million views.

The video shows Leah's ex-husband, Steve Bourdo, kneeling to propose to his thrilled girlfriend, Shonda Betz. Leah and Steve's daughters, Kennedy, 13, and Harper, 11, present their new stepmom with a bouquet of flowers and a card while the family embraces.

"This weekend I got to be there when my ex-husband proposed to his girlfriend," Leah Bourdo wrote as a caption. "She is the kind of woman I have prayed would come into his life. She is incredible with our daughters, and they love her so much. Not only is she good to our girls, she respects the co-parenting relationship we have for our children. On top of that, she has become my friend, my family even. I love her with all my heart. And to my ex: Thank you for letting me be a part of this moment and sharing her with me."

"Welcome to the home team Shonda," added Leah Bourdo. "We love you.

It took therapy and time apart for Leah and Steve Bourdo, college sweethearts who tied the knot in 2007, to get here.

"Our marriage was a living hell," Steve Bourdo, 38, tells TODAY.com. "We were young and very emotionally immature."

Leah Bourdo won't argue with that. "There was a lot of verbal abuse, and I was active in my alcohol addiction," she tells TODAY.com. "We were two best friends who never should have gotten married in the first place. The romance and connection that you need in a marriage wasn't there for us."

The former couple finalized their divorce in 2016.

The split was hard on their children, who volleyed between their family home and Leah Bourdo's "small, grungy" apartment, she says. "It was a lot for them."

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For the first four years, Steve and Leah Bourdo blocked each other's numbers on their phones and communicated through email and Leah Bourdo's parents, as she worked on her sobriety. Their daughters felt the tension.

Steve eventually remarried, and Leah says that she did not get along with his new wife. When that marriage ended two years later, Leah and Steve made a breakthrough.

"The only way we could make it work is to prioritize our children and put aside our feelings for one another," she says. "We were able to forgive each other."

"Any time you hate somebody, you're only hurting yourself," says Steve Bourdo.

When Shonda Betz entered their lives one year ago, she brought even more harmony.

"I am in love with his fiancee," says Leah Bourdo. "She is one of the most beautiful people that I've ever met in my life. Everything just changed with her."

Leah Bourdo recalls the moment that sealed her affection for Betz: She and her ex-husband had reduced Kennedy's cell phone privileges, and during a family meeting-, Leah Bourdo was impressed by Betz's input.

"She was able to explain things in a way that I couldn't and empathized with our daughter," she says. "I could tell that she really loves my girls."

According to the former couple, Betz respects their unusual and evolving co-parenting agreement. We dont really go by a custody agreement; we go by what we think is best, says Steve Bourdo, adding that the girls alternate spending seven days with each family.

Living a 6-minute drive apart, the two families carpool together for the girls' sporting events, help each other out in emergencies and make a "team effort" for school runs. "We make it work," says Steve Bourdo.

Steve Bourdo bought an engagement ring in December. Last week, after he and Betz returned from a trip, Leah Bourdo offered to bring their daughters over so they could witness the proposal.

She asked to film it. "People have asked if Shonda was bothered but she thanked me for being there," says Leah Bourdo, who stayed out of the footage to allow the new family their space.

Steve Bourdo said his ex-wife's presence "didn't really cross my mind" adding, "I was so wrapped up in the moment with Shonda and my daughters that I kind of forgot about it. It was a natural thing for us."

The family received some negative TikTok comments, but most viewers love their perspective on healthy divorce.

Betz has invited Leah Bourdo to go wedding dress shopping, although Leah Bourdo says she won't be in the wedding. "That would be pushing it."

Related video:

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
A 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.

RELATED: Potential Jurors In Lori Vallow Daybell Murder Case Warned Of 'Emotionally Charged' Evidence

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.

Lori Vallow Daybell sits in a police car.

Lori Vallow Daybell Photo: Tony Blakeslee/East Idaho News via AP, Pool, File

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.

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Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan

These undated photos released by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children show missing person, Joshua Vallow, 7, left, and Tylee Ryan, 17. They were last seen on Sept. 23, 2019 in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via 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.

Lori Vallow appears in court.

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 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.

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Rexburg Police started investigating 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 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.
Chupa is currently the most popular movie on Netflix, according to the streaming services public ranking system.

Directed by Jonas Cuaron (son of Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuaron), this fantasy adventure film tells the story of a lonely boy who visits his extended family in Mexico and befriends a mythical creature hiding on his grandfathers ranch. Chupa stars Demian Bichir, Christian Slater and Evan Whitten and received mixed reviews upon its April 7 release.

The second most popular movie of the moment on Netflix is Murder Mystery 2, the new sequel to 2019s Murder Mystery. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston reunite to play an ordinary couple that winds up embroiled in a murder investigation.

"Chupa" on Netflix.

All of the other movies in the current ranking are older films that have found new life on the streaming service.

The Last Stand is a 2013 action thriller film about small-town cops working to stop a vicious drug lord and his mercenaries from escaping to Mexico. The cast includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Johnny Knoxville, Forest Whitaker, Jaimie Alexander and Luis Guzman.

And for family-friendly fare, theres Matilda (1996), Shark Tale (2004), Shrek Forever After (2010) and Dr. Seuss The Lorax (2012).

Check out the full list of the top 10 movies below. And if you want to stay informed about everything joining Netflix each month, subscribe to the Streamline newsletter.

Related...
Abigail Zwerner - Enterprise News

The mother of a six-year-old boy who shot his teacher should be held criminally responsible for the "intentional" violence, authorities in the US say as the school also faces allegations it failed to protect staff.

The charges are the latest development in the case in the state of Virginia where a boy shot Abigail Zwerner, a first-grade teacher at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. The January incident was the city's third school shooting in 17 months.

Prosecutors had not charged the child but argued his 25-year-old mother is culpable because she bought the handgun and allegedly failed to keep it secure. The woman, who the Telegraph has chosen not to name, will also be charged with child neglect.

Diane Toscano, an attorney for Ms Zwerner, said there were failures in accountability at multiple levels that led to the shooting.

Today's announcement addresses but one of those failures, Ms Toscano said in a statement.

The lawyer last week filed a $40 million lawsuit against the school and some administrators, claiming "they failed her miserably" on the day she was shot.

"As a result of their inaction, Abby was shot by a six-year-old student, and she will never be the same," Ms Toscano said.

"She has endured four surgeries and still has a bullet lodged inside her. In addition to holding the school division accountable for its failures, this lawsuit is a means to deliver justice for Abby in this tragic but entirely preventable situation."

Days after the shooting, school officials revealed that Richneck Elementary administrators had suspected the child may have had a weapon. They searched the boy's backpack but did not find the gun.

Ms Zwerners attorneys said in the lawsuit that 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.

Defendants for the family told The Associated Press after the January 6 shooting that the gun had been in the mother's wardrobe on a shelf well over 6 feet high and that it had a trigger lock that required a key.

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The family 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, they said.

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 Ms Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest.

The injured teacher moved her students out of the classroom before being rushed to the hospital, where she stayed for nearly two weeks.

Since the shooting, the school board had fired the district's superintendent and Richneck's assistant principal resigned from the school division. The principal is still employed by the district.

Richneck also installed metal detectors before it reopened three weeks after the shooting.

Howard Gwynn, the city's chief prosecutor confirmed Monday that the investigation continued and that it was possible other adults would face charges.

"The Special Grand Jury will investigate to determine whether additional charges against additional persons are justified by the facts and the law," Mr Gwynn said.

Virginia's law on felony child neglect states 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 a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Adults can also face up to one year in jail if they 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".

Despite the large number of school shootings across the US, there have been only 16 cases since 1970 in which the perpetrator was under 10.

Under Virginia law, a six-year-old child cannot be charged as an adult despite the gravity of the offence.

Even if charged in a juvenile court, the minimum age for juvenile custody is 11. Mr Gwynn said it would be "problematic" to charge the boy because a child that young would not understand the legal system.
The Queen was very clear that she wanted both grandsons to go to war, a former head of the military has said (Paul Grover - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The late Queen Elizabeth II believed her grandsons Prince Harry and Prince William should both do their duty by going to war in Afghanistan, a former head of the British Army has said.

It was decided, however, that the risk for the older sibling was too great as the heir to the throne, according to General Sir Mike Jackson, who served as chief of the general staff from 2003 until 2006.

But for Williams younger brother Harry, who went on two tours of Afghanistan during the decade he spent in the military, the risk was acceptable, he said.

Prince Harry served as an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan (John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The former military chief has broken protocol in a new ITV documentary, The Real Crown, to divulge what the late Queen had told him during one of their private meetings, which took place once or twice a year.

She was very clear. She said: My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty. And that was that, he told the programme. But it was decided that [for] William as heir to the heir, the risk is too great. But for his younger brother, the risk was acceptable.

The claims somewhat marry with the titular sentiment expressed in the Duke of Sussexs memoir Spare, in which he airs his grievances over his alleged role within the royal family in relation to that of his older brother.

While the duke served in Afghanistan, controversially claiming to have killed 25 Taliban fighters during six missions as an Apache helicopter pilot, his brother William also spent seven years in the armed forces but was not deployed overseas.

The now-Prince of Wales had unequivocally been very keen to go, the director of the British Forces Foundation, Mark Cann, told the programme.

Prince Harry in military uniform at the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Kate Middleton in 2011 (AFP via Getty Images)

But it was complex, and some very great minds and experienced people took a view on it, said Mr Cann.

I think it was really tricky. Anybody whos in the military who hasnt actually been on operation feels a sense of disappointment. And I think especially that was the one [war] at the time, youve got everyone around you at the time whos been involved in it. So there is a sense of disappointment.

The five-part series will be available on ITVX from 20 April, with the claims relating to the military roles of Harry and William emerging in the final episode, titled Heirs and Spares.
Eyewitness say the attack in Pa Zi Gyi was carried out by a jet and a helicopter gunship

More than 100 people are feared to have been killed in Tuesday's airstrike by the Myanmar military, one of the deadliest so far in the civil war.

Survivors told the BBC they have collected at least 80 bodies, but expect the toll to rise further.

The United Nations has condemned the attack, which targeted a village in the north-western Sagaing region.

The military has increasingly used air strikes against their opponents since seizing power in February 2021.

The spokesman for the military junta, General Zaw Min Tun, told state television, "yes, we launched the air strike". He said they had chosen to attack Pa Zi Gyi because the village was holding a ceremony to mark the opening of an office for their local volunteer defence force.

These anti-coup militias, known as People's Defence Forces or PDFS, are waging an armed campaign against the military in various parts of Myanmar. Communities in Sagaing have put up some of the strongest opposition to military rule.

With so many army convoys being ambushed now on the roads, the junta is using air power more widely, targeting symbols of defiance of its rule. This includes schools and health clinics; sometimes entire villages are destroyed in a scorched earth campaign which it hopes will eventually exhaust the tenacious resistance it is facing in much of the country.

One villager in Pa Zi Gyi told the BBC that a military jet had flown over at about 07:00 local time (01:30 BST) on Tuesday and dropped a bomb directly onto the hall where community leaders were meeting, followed by a helicopter gunship which attacked the village for 20 minutes. Later, witnesses said, the aircraft returned and opened fire on those trying to collect the dead.

The village had been packed with people from nearby communities who were attending the ceremony.

After the airstrike, residents uploaded video showing scenes of appalling carnage, with dismembered bodies lying on the ground and several buildings on fire. "Please call out if you are still alive, we are coming to help you," they can he heard shouting as they walked through Pa Zi Gyi looking for victims of the attack.

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They said that they tried to count the bodies, but that this was difficult because so many were in pieces, scattered among shredded clothing and burned motorbikes.

"Despite clear legal obligations for the military to protect civilians in the conduct of hostilities, there has been blatant disregard for the related rules of international law," the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said.

"There are reasonable grounds to believe that the military and its affiliated militias are responsible for an extremely broad range of human rights violations and abuses since 1 February 2021, some of which may constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes."

Thousands have been killed in the civil war, with an additional 1.4 million displaced. Nearly a third of the country's population is also in need of humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations.

There were at least 600 air attacks by the military between February 2021 and January 2023, according to a BBC analysis of data from the conflict-monitoring group Acled (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project). The junta has been increasingly relying on its Russian and Chinese aircraft to bomb opposition-controlled villages, inflicting much higher casualties among non-combatants.

The exiled National Unity Government, which was formed after the coup, says that these attacks killed 155 civilians between October 2021 and September 2022.

In October, at least 50 people were killed after air force jets dropped three bombs on a concert organised by an ethnic insurgent group in Kachin state. In the previous month, an airstrike on a school in the village of Let Yet Kone in central Myanmar killed at least five children and injured several others.

If the death toll at Pa Zi Gyi is confirmed, it will be one of the deadliest single incidents so far in the civil war.

Last month, Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, said the regime would deal decisively with what he described as "acts of terror" by armed resistance groups.

Read more of our coverage on the civil war in Myanmar
Lloyd Austin

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington on Mar. 15, 2023. Credit - Andrew HarnikAP

When it comes to leaks of classified government documents, the way they are disseminated is often as telling as the actual information they contain. In 2010, U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning handed over thousands of military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks, a website with a reputation for publishing sensitive materials. Three years later, Edward Snowden leaked thousands of classified documents he had gathered as a National Security Agency contractor to select publications.

But the recent leak of more than 100 pages of classified U.S. intelligence documents, which could be the most damaging disclosure of U.S. government documents in a decade, has baffled current and former officials and security analysts. The documents, some of which are marked Top Secret and normally accessible only to officials with the highest level of security clearance, surfaced in early March on Discord chat servers dedicated to the popular game Minecraft and fans of a Filipino YouTube star. There they sat for a month, only breaking through to the publicand, it appears, U.S. military officialswhen they were posted on a pro-Russia Telegram channel and the far-right imageboard 4chan and made their way to Twitter.

Those arent the only odd aspects of the documents emergence. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was first briefed on the leaks on April 6, the Pentagon said Monday, the same day their existence was first reported by the New York Times and a day after screenshots of the documents began circulating on mainstream social platforms. The documents, some of which TIME reviewed but could not authenticate, appear to be hastily folded and smoothed-out sheets of paper that were sloppily photographed instead of scanned. Online sleuths have apparently pieced together some of the items in the backgroundAmerican hunting magazines, a bottle of Gorilla glue, a nail clipper.

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None of this is typical for an intelligence leak of this magnitude, with assessments of the war in Ukraine and sensitive briefings on other countries. The way that it was disseminated, that it was put on some website and not quietly or secretly given to an agentit was done in the full open, so anyone could see it, says Evelyn Farkas, the top Pentagon official for Russia and Ukraine during the Obama Administration. It was almost daring people to notice it.

Read More: 4 Major Takeaways From the Leaked Pentagon Files.

U.S. military, law-enforcement, intelligence and diplomatic officials are now scrambling to respond. The mystery isnt only who leaked the documents, but also for what purpose. The way intelligence is revealed and shared is really very much a part of war-making, says Farkas. And here its unclear who they intended to help and who they intended to hurt.

Some of the documents were marked SECRET/NOFORN, meaning it is not meant to be shared with foreign countries. Others, which appeared to be briefing documents, had the seal of the Joint Chiefs intelligence arm. But the existence of the leaks and their bizarre appearance could be more damaging than what they actually divulge, according to analysts and former U.S. officials. The documents, if authentic, contain details on military activities in Ukraine, including the weaknesses of the countrys air defenses. But they do not reveal specific war plans or new information that contradicts what was publicly known ahead of an expected counteroffensive from Ukrainian forces.

The diplomatic fallout could be substantial. Some of the documents, if authentic, contain information that the U.S. would have obtained by spying on allies, including Israel, Ukraine, Turkey, and South Korea, raising concerns that the leak could impact these sensitive relationships and imperil U.S. allies willingness to share intelligence. The leak includes documents that purport to show the U.S. intercepting President Volodymyr Zelenskys communications with defense officials, which has frustrated the Ukrainians .The cache also includes detailed information seemingly collected by the U.S. from Russias intercepted communications, including the operations of the mercenary Wagner group. The disclosure of such information could change the groups procedures or imperil human sources, former officials say.

Read More: Leaked Pentagon Documents Appear to Show U.S. Spying On Ally South Korea.

The leaks are damaging, for sure, especially to trust and in that it possibly reveals what we know, says Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. Army officer who served as commanding general in the United States Army Europe. But Im not sure how much of this is real or deceptionInvestigations will turn up more insight about credibility and gaps and vulnerabilities in our systems.

The unusual format has also provided an opening to spread further disinformation and confusion. At least one version of the documents, posted on a pro-Russian Telegram, appears to have been crudely altered to inflate the U.S. estimates of Ukrainian casualties. One document in the cache appeared to show that Mossad, Israels foreign intelligence service, encouraged its staff to support anti-government protests against a proposed judiciary overhaul. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently denied the allegations in the document on Sunday, calling them mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.

Investigators are working to determine who had the access and the motive to leak all this. Senior defense officials are taking a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom, Pentagon spokesman Chris Meagher told reporters on Monday, calling the leak a very serious risk to national security. Austin has been convening military officials daily since April 7 to discuss the leaks, he said. 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, commitment to safeguarding intelligence and the fidelity of securing our partnerships as well, but declined to go into specifics. The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation, and the Pentagon has set up an interagency effort to get to the bottom of the leak and assess the impact these photographed documents could have on U.S. national security and on our Allies and partners, according to deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.

As the investigation unfolds, officials are bracing for the possibility that more information could be circulating online. There is no obvious rhyme or reason to the disclosures; some of the documents on 4chan appeared to have been posted by someone looking to settle an argument about the war in Ukraine.

We dont know whos behind this. We dont know what the motive is, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said at briefing Monday. We dont know what else might be out there.

Asked if the leak had been contained, Kirby said, We dont know. We truly dont.
People walk past a COVID testing site on May 17, 2022, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Since the first cases of a mysterious new respiratory illness were recorded in China in late 2019, scientists have come to know the pathogen named SARS-CoV-2 (along with its Greek-letter variants) with an uncommon intimacy. With astonishing speed, they decoded its genetic architecture and, using that knowledge, created treatments and vaccines that have reduced the pandemic to a background concern in many parts of the world.

Yet more than three years after the advent of the coronavirus, the most fundamental question remains: Just where did it come from?

At first, investigators pointed to Chinas trade in exotic animals. A wildlife market in Wuhan, a city in Hubei province, emerged as the potential site of the original transmission. And a little-known creature, the pangolin, was widely suspected as having served as the unwitting vehicle of zoonosis, or animal-to-human transfer of the coronavirus.

People wearing face masks buy lotus roots at a wet market, following an outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 8, 2021. (Aly Song/Reuters)

But a faction of investigators has insistently maintained that the virus spilled out from a laboratory such as the Wuhan Institute of Virology, perhaps as the result of an accident. While their argument was at first dismissed as conspiratorial and xenophobic, it gained currency throughout 2021 and 2022, especially as genetic data seemed to point  circumstantially, but persuasively  to evidence of human engineering.

Today, the scientific community generally remains behind the zoonotic hypothesis: that is, that the virus jumped from animals to humans at the wildlife market, or at some other point of contact between species.

Yet evidence for the lab leak narrative is only building.

On Saturday, the Wall Street Journal revealed that the federal Department of Energy  whose ranks include highly trained biologists  has revised its estimate to reflect growing (if still tenuous) confidence that the virus emerged from a Chinese laboratory. Other agencies disagree with that assessment; the development seemed only to underscore how contentious the question of how the pandemic began remains.

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The Department of Energy was one of several agencies asked by the Biden administration to assess whether the coronavirus originated at a wildlife market or as a result of a laboratory accident.

John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, answers questions during the daily press briefing at the White House on Monday. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

During a White House briefing on Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the Biden administration was determined to discover how the pandemic began. We really do want to know what happened here, Kirby told reporters.

The news added to a growing frustration with Beijing, which has allowed little legitimate inquiry into how the pandemic began.

Chinas government may accuse others of politicizing #COVID19, diplomat and Asia expert Jamie Metzl wrote on Twitter, but by destroying samples, hiding evidence, gagging Chinese scientists and undermining international efforts, Beijing has made a full origins investigation impossible and put the world at risk."

Why did the Department of Energy change its mind?

Vendors sell fish in an open market on Dec. 2, 2020, in Wuhan. (Getty Images)

It is not entirely clear what led the Energy Department to revise its estimate; the update delivered recently to members of the Biden administration and congressional leaders says agency investigators now have low confidence in a lab leak origin for COVID-19.

For intelligence analysts, a low-confidence assessment is one based on highly incomplete evidence. Still, the shift indicates that evidence could be shifting in favor of a lab leak.

An intelligence official told the Journal that the Department of Energy revisions were based on what Saturdays report described as new intelligence, further study of academic literature and consultation with experts outside government.

Four other agencies have expressed low confidence in a zoonotic origin, meaning that they believe the coronavirus came from a wildlife market but lack the evidence to make a more definitive declaration. According to the New York Times, those agencies reviewed the new evidence provided by the Department of Energy but chose to stay with their original assessment.

In other words, disagreement remains.

There is not a consensus right now in the U.S. government about exactly how COVID started, Kirby acknowledged on Monday.

What other developments have there been?

Peter Daszak of the World Health Organization team salutes toward Chinese staffers as he prepares to leave for the airport at the end of a WHO mission in Wuhan on Feb. 10, 2021. (Ng Han Guan/AP)

Last month, the inspector general of the federal Health and Human Services Department faulted the National Institutes of Health for not conducting sufficient oversight of subgrants to the Wuhan Institute of Virology that had been made over the course of several years through an American intermediary, the EcoHealth Alliance.

Proponents of the lab leak hypothesis believe that understanding the role of EcoHealth Alliance is critical to unraveling the mystery of the pandemics origins. EcoHealth chief executive Peter Daszak has maintained that his organization is being roped into a conspiracy theory, one predicated on an ignorance of how, and where, virologists work.

What does China say?

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning gestures during a news conference in Beijing on Feb. 3. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Chinas Foreign Ministry forcefully rejected the Journals reporting. The origins-tracing of SARS-CoV-2 is about science and should not be politicized. China has always supported and participated in global science-based origins-tracing, spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a Monday press briefing.

Mao pointed to a World Health Organization (WHO) report that endorsed the zoonotic hypothesis.

Certain parties should stop rehashing the lab leak narrative, stop smearing China and stop politicizing origins-tracing, she said.

Did WHO really rule out a lab leak?

An aerial view shows the P4 laboratory (center) at the Wuhan Institute of Virology on April 17, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Not at all. In early 2021, a group of researchers conducted an investigatory visit to Wuhan, in what remains the only instance of Western observers being allowed to conduct field work regarding coronavirus origins.

The ensuing report did conclude that the virus most likely originated in a wildlife market. It rated the possibility of a lab leak as extremely unlikely.

Critics said WHO did not press China with sufficient intensity, charging that including lab-leak skeptics like Daszak of EcoHealth Alliance on the WHO team that traveled to Wuhan inherently skewed the investigation in favor of the wildlife market hypothesis. Eventually, even the head of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, cautioned against ruling out the possibility of a laboratory accident, thus seemingly contradicting the report his own agency had produced.

Earlier this month, WHO disputed reports that it was unable to further investigate the pandemics origins because of Beijings intransigence. The episode only underscored how little clarity investigators have managed to achieve  and how Beijings stonewalling continues to frustrate attempts at a legitimate investigation.

What can Washington do?

President Biden speaks to members of the media before boarding Marine One on Feb. 24. (Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

President Biden has vowed to compete with China on the world stage but to avoid outright conflict. The persistent questions over how the coronavirus began have frustrated that nuanced approach, forcing the president to confront an issue that will be difficult for him, or any Western leader, to resolve.

In May 2021, Biden asked the intelligence community to assess how the coronavirus began, in a signal that his administration was willing to entertain what had been, during Donald Trumps presidency, a matter of conspiratorial musing. (The Department of Energy revisions stemmed from the 2021 directive.)

At the same time, Biden has been careful not to confront Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the matter. With China potentially preparing to help Russia in its invasion of Ukraine and, in the longer term, possibly preparing for an invasion of Taiwan, Biden has to carefully choose where to press Xi, and how forcefully to do so.

The recent brouhaha over a Chinese surveillance balloon that flew over the United States before being shot down by the U.S. military only deepened the tensions between Washington and Beijing.

That leaves the Republican-led House of Representatives as the most likely source of an aggressive investigation into the lab leak hypothesis. GOP leaders vowed to undertake an extensive inquest into how the pandemic began after winning back the lower chamber in last falls congressional midterms.

But those efforts have been hampered by far-right figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who have proffered baseless conspiracy theories about the pandemic, including outlandish accusations that the coronavirus was a bioweapon manufactured with the complicity of American officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the renowned immunologist and former White House adviser.

More-mainstream Republicans are trying to hold China to account without embracing conspiracies and demonstrable falsehoods.

Evidence has been piling up for over a year in favor of the lab leak hypothesis. I am glad some of our agencies are starting to listen to common sense and change their assessment, Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., told the New York Times.

This article has been updated to more accurately reflect the research conducted by EcoHealth Alliance in China.
The city of Nashvilles governing council on Monday afternoon voted unanimously to return the expelled Black lawmaker Justin Jones to the Tennessee state legislature.

The bodys Republican majority state lawmakers had expelled Jones and fellow house member Justin Pearson late last week because they led protests in the chamber demanding gun control after yet another mass shooting in an American school, this one at an elementary school in the city days before.

Related: Harris visits ousted Tennessee lawmakers as Republicans accused of overt racism

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 the Democratic representative 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.

The other lawmaker, Justin Pearson, could be reappointed on Wednesday at a meeting of the Shelby county commission.

There was uproar last week and the act was condemned by many as an extraordinary act of political retaliation. Thousands of protesters flocked to the Tennessee state capitol to support the three Democratic members and their expulsion was slammed as racist. Joe Biden had called the move shocking, undemocratic and without precedent in a statement.

And US vice-president Kamala Harris rushed to Nashville on Friday evening and praised the lawmakers, whom she said chose to show courage in the face of extreme tragedy.

Protesters gather at the Tennessee statehouse after expulsion of Democratic representatives. Photograph: Cheney Orr/Reuters

Joness 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 elections.

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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 was not in Joness district but was 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.

Doug Kufner, a spokesperson for the Republican house speaker, Cameron Sexton, indicated that whoever was appointed to the vacancies by the Nashville and Shelby county governments will be seated as representatives as the constitution requires.

The house majority leader, William Lamberth, and Republican Caucus chairman, Jeremy Faison, said they would welcome back the expelled lawmakers if they are reinstated.

Justin Jones is sworn in after being reinstated. Photograph: Cheney Orr/Reuters

Tennessees constitution provides a pathway back from 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.

The world is watching Tennessee, attorneys for Jones and Pearson wrote to Sexton in a letter on 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.

She had suggested race was probably a factor in why Jones and Pearson were ousted but not her. Johnson 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.
On Monday, the Nashville Metropolitan Counsel voted 360 to reinstall Democratic representative Justin Jones after he was expelled from the Tennessee House for leading a rowdy gun-control protest following the mass shooting at Covenant School. Jones was sworn in on the Capitols steps as a large crowd watched.

The move comes just four days after the lower chamber acted to remove him. Jones was one of three representatives who disrupted house proceedings with a bullhorn and encouraged a crowd in the balcony that was chanting Fascists! Fascists! among other things. Representative Justin Pearson was also expelled, while Representative Gloria Johnson evaded the same fate by one vote.

Today were sending a resounding message that democracy will not be killed in the comfort of silence, Jones said to the crowd on Monday, after marching to the Capitol from City Hall with demonstrators. Jones also called for the house speaker to resign.

Local legislative bodies in Tennessee are allowed to appoint an interim successor to fill the seat of a house member who has been expelled. The appointee may hold that seat until an election is held. However, Nashvilles move could exacerbate tensions between the city and House Republicans.

In an interview with National Review last week, house speaker Cameron Sexton explained that the actions of the three representatives deserved expulsion.

What they did is they hijacked the house floor, which has never been done in our history, said Sexton. They pulled out a bullhorn. They werent recognized. They were ruled out of order, and they led a protest from the house floor with a bullhorn to those in the balcony. They shut down the proceedings of the house. We had to go into recess due to their actions.

They disregarded the sergeant at arms asking them to leave the well at multiple occasions, and they really didnt stop yelling in their bullhorn until I had to clear out the balcony because of behavior that was caused blatantly by those three members, he said.

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Prior to the expulsion votes, Sexton stripped the trio of their committee assignments. He also reasoned that even they knew they had done something wrong.

When they came off the house floor, they asked their caucus if they were going to be arrested, Sexton said. When you ask someone if youre going to be arrested, then you know that youve done something very wrong.

Pearsons vacant seat will be addressed during a special meeting of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners in Memphis on Wednesday.

On CNN, Pearson was asked if hed break the rules of decorum again if he is reinstated, replying: Sometimes rules have to be broken for people who have been pushed to the periphery to be brought to the center of the conversation.

Sexton countered the suggestion that Tennessee Republicans were silencing the three representatives.

They speak on bills more than anybody. They speak in committees more than anybody. Theyve had the same opportunities and theyre held to the same rules and standards as all other members in the house body, Sexton explained.

Since the next general election is more than twelve months away, the Tennessee Constitution requires that a special election be held to fill the seats. The state code calls for a primary election within 55 to 60 days to permanently fill the seat, CNN reported. A general election to fill the vacancy must be scheduled within 100 to 107 days.

More from National Review
Russian warships at anchor before a Navy Day parade in Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region in July 2022. REUTERS/Vitaly Nevar

Finland's admission to NATO greatly extends the alliance's land border with Russia.

Finland also extends NATO's border along the Baltic Sea, which has been called a "NATO lake."

That further isolates Russia's Kaliningrad region, which is surrounded by NATO member countries.

On April 4, Finland officially joined NATO, becoming the alliance's 31st member.

The addition of Finland extends NATO's land border with Russia from 754 miles to 1584 miles, moves alliance territory closer to major Russian cities and military bases, and further isolates Kaliningrad, an important Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea.

Covering an area of twice the size of Rhode Island, Kaliningrad lies between Poland and Lithuania and is home to the port of Baltiysk, Russia's only Baltic port that does not freeze during the winter.

Kaliningrad also borders the Suwalki Gap, a critical 60-mile corridor that connects Poland to the Baltic countries. The Suwalki Gap is widely considered a vulnerability for NATO and is likely to be targeted early in a conflict with Russia.

Kaliningrad is a major military outpost, hosting Russia's Baltic Fleet and other forces, and has been called an "unsinkable aircraft carrier" that allows Moscow to project power deep into NATO and EU territory.

An asset and a vulnerability

Russian President Vladimir Putin at Navy Day celebrations in Baltiysk in Kaliningrad in July 2015. REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin

In recent years, Russia has modernized and increased its forces in Kaliningrad. The region was further reinforced before Russian's invasion of Ukraine, with the brigade defending it upgraded to a division in 2020. However, some Baltic Fleet units were redeployed to Ukraine where they have reportedly suffered very high casualties.

Russia's Baltic Fleet is based in Baltiysk and is composed of warships  mostly corvettes and a number of support ships  infantry and armored units, and aviation and air-defense forces. Russia also stores tactical nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad and has conducted tactical and conventional missile strike exercises from the region.

"One can argue that Kaliningrad is sort of a fortress sitting on the Baltic, with lots of cruise missiles and other weaponry, so it remains threatening," Steven Wills, a researcher with the Center for Naval Analyses, said on a recent episode of the CNA Talks podcast.

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Although Kaliningrad's strategically valuable location means that Russian forces there can threaten neighboring NATO countries, the region is also a vulnerability for Russia, Dmitry Gorenburg, also a researcher with the Center for Naval Analyses, said during the podcast.

A sign on Russian territory next to a Lithuanian border fence near Zerdziny, Poland on western edge of the Suwalki Gap in October 2022. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Kaliningrad is surrounded by NATO members, making it easier to cut it off from mainland Russia in a conflict. To the north are Lithuania and its Baltic neighbors, which have small militaries and would likely be focused on defensive operations in a war with Russia, but Poland to the south has one of the alliance's strongest militaries.

St. Petersburg, one of Russia's most important port cities, is connected to the Baltic Sea through the Gulf of Finland, a narrow waterway bordered to the north by Finland and to the south by Estonia.

With the admission of Finland, which has considerable military assets, the gulf would become a chokepoint in a conflict, limiting Russian maritime transit and complicating efforts to resupply or reinforce Kaliningrad by sea.

The possible addition of Sweden to NATO would further isolate Kaliningrad and bolster perceptions of the Baltic Sea as what has been called a "NATO lake."

The addition of Sweden and Finland would create dilemmas "that Russia does not have right now as they sail forth from St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, so it will be advantageous" to NATO, US Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the alliance's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, told US lawmakers last year.

A girl rides a scooter over the Pregolya River in Kaliningrad in June 2022. REUTERS/Vitaly Nevar

NATO's control over the Danish Straits  which connect the Baltic to the Atlantic and are bordered by Denmark, Sweden, and Norway  would allow the alliance to further limit the movements of Russia's Baltic Sea Fleet.

"You end up in a situation where the Russian Baltic Fleet can potentially be bottled up quite easily, in much the same way that the Russian Black Sea Fleet has been bottled up by the closure of the Bosphorus" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Gorenburg said on the podcast.

NATO control over the Baltic would also make it much harder for Russia's powerful Northern Fleet, which is based on the Kola Peninsula in the Arctic, to sail through to Kaliningrad's aid, though the Northern Fleet has long-range aircraft and missiles with which it could strike at NATO forces.

Russia and NATO are well aware of Kaliningrad's vulnerability, and both sides are thinking about the exclave as "being sort of like the Alamo, a bit more vulnerable than maybe the impregnable fort on the Baltic that some have discussed," Wills said.

Constantine Atlamazoglou works on transatlantic and European security. He holds a master's degree in security studies and European affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. You can contact him on LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
North Carolina Rep. Tricia Cotham completed her move to the Republican Party Monday, with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections confirming it had received paperwork from Cotham requesting her party affiliation be changed from Democratic to Republican.

By Monday evening, the paperwork had been processed, and Cothams voter registration in the State Board of Elections website showed her party as Republican.

Cotham announced last week she was leaving the Democratic Party, her political home for her entire adult life, due to what she said was an inhospitable environment for moderate and independently minded lawmakers. She said the party, which her family has been a major part of for decades, had become unrecognizable to her, and said she was joining the GOP because she felt she could no longer vote her conscience as a Democrat.

Democrats in the General Assembly and in party leadership immediately called on Cotham to resign and said her defection to the GOP, which guarantees the Republican Party a veto-proof majority for the remainder of Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers second term in office, amounted to a betrayal of her constituents.

The soonest Cotham will be able to vote on legislation as a Republican, now that her affiliation has been changed, is next week, when the legislature returns to Raleigh.
The National Weather Service announced Monday that the National Hurricane Center has a new director, effective immediately. Mike Brennan, who has worked at the agency for 15 years, will be taking the reins at the Miami-based forecast agency, coming just over a month before the start of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.

The National Hurricane Center hasnt had a permanent director since June of 2022, when then-director Ken Graham was tapped to lead the entire National Weather Service, which oversees the center.

Since Grahams appointment, Jamie Rhome, a storm surge specialist with the Hurricane Center, has served as the agencys acting director. He will now resume his previous role as deputy director, reporting to Brennan.

Brennan holds bachelor, masters and PhD degrees in meteorology from North Carolina State University.

Mike is a fantastic choice, said Bryan Norcross, a hurricane specialist for FOX Weather and previously for The Weather Channel and television stations in Miami, in an email. In my experience, hes a natural leader who has earned respect from everybody he works with.

Norcross added: I should also say, Jamie Rhome did an outstanding job as Acting Director. He and Mike Brennan kept the NHC on track through the transition period and through the challenges of last hurricane season. Mike and Jamie as director and deputy will make an outstanding team going forward.

Brennan will be the 14th formal director of the Hurricane Center since 1943. Bill Read, who led the agency between 2008 and 2012, spoke highly of Brennans qualifications.

I selected Dr. Brennan to fill a senior Hurricane Specialist vacancy at NHC in 2008 or 2009, he wrote via email. By the time I retired I was convinced he would make a great NHC Director. He has the people skills necessary to be successful in the job.

Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami, echoed Reads sentiment.

I have known Mike for many years, and he already has had a long and productive career at NHC, McNoldy said in an email. His knowledge, experience and personality make him an excellent fit for the position; I have no doubt he will be a respected and capable leader of the Center.

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The National Hurricane Center led the nation  and the entire Atlantic Ocean basin  through a spate of seven consecutive above-average seasons that kicked off in 2016.

 The 2017 season featured back-to-back blows from Harvey, which brought historic flooding to Texas; Irma, which hit Florida at Category 4 strength; and Maria, which ravaged Puerto Rico and brought the collapse of the islands power grid.

 In October 2018, Hurricane Michael slammed Floridas big bend at Category 5 strength, marking the first storm of such strength to hit U.S. soil since Andrew in August of 1992.

 2019 was another busy year, while 2020 bore witness to an unprecedented 30 named storms.

 Laura made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 in 2021, and Ian, which hit Florida last September, was recently found in postseason analysis to have attained Category 5 status over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

The NHC director is one of the most visible and important jobs in the nation, and Mike possesses the right combination of experience, leadership and personal traits to prepare and guide us through major storms, said Rick Spinrad, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the Weather Service and the Hurricane Center, in a news release.

The upcoming hurricane season, which begins June 1, will be the first during which the Hurricane Center will begin releasing routine forecasts in the Atlantic on May 15 rather than June 1, reflecting a recent uptick in the number of May storms. Outlooks will also extend to seven days rather than five.

Private weather companies and academic research groups begin issuing Atlantic hurricane outlooks for the upcoming season this month. The prospect of an El Nino event by the fall, which tends to reduce Atlantic storm activity, could mean the first below normal hurricane season in many years. The National Weather Services hurricane seasonal outlook typically comes out in May.

The Hurricane Center evolved out of the need for specific forecasts of tropical cyclones in the early 20th century. The U.S. Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C., the precursor to todays National Weather Service, assumed the responsibility for hurricane forecasts in 1902. Regional hurricane offices took over in 1935, one of which was located in Jacksonville. That office moved to Miami during World War II. It was collocated with the local National Weather Service forecast office, informally dubbed the National Hurricane Center in the 60s, and finally relocated to its own facility in 1978.

- - -

The Washington Posts Jason Samenow contributed to this report.
Thobani Viki was approved  good to teach.

Maybe hed be the kind of substitute teacher to collect phones at the door, or maybe hed be the kind to let students talk and scroll through Twitter once they finished their work. That was for his students to find out.

As far as Iredell-Statesville Schools knew, he would be a suitable addition to campus. Thats what Educational Staffing Solutions told the district, at least.

The substitute staffing agency  used by more than 900 districts in 34 states and serving more than 5 million students nationally  told ISS Vikis background check did not raise any issues, according to district public information officer Jada Jonas.

But Viki, 30, was out on probation  convicted on a 2019 driving while intoxicated charge  when he stepped onto Third Creek Middle Schools campus last month. He had, police say, four Twisted Teas, a small bag of marijuana and a half-smoked blunt stowed in his backpack.

He didnt make it through the school day before staff noticed a very strong marijuana odor coming from a classroom, according to an Iredell County Sheriffs Office news release. He was swiftly arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and misdemeanor possession of a malt beverage on school property, according to police.

An internal school district investigation is underway.

Districts across North Carolina  and the nation  are still suffering from pandemic-induced teacher shortages. School leaders rely heavily on the companies that contract substitute teachers and run criminal background checks. Some districts dont use outside staffing agencies to hire substitutes.

Policies about background checks and what qualifies substitute teachers can vary by school district. Iredell-Statesville Schools policy generally requires background checks of employees, including substitute teachers. However, a previous arrest, under the policy, may not mean automatic rejection unless the person is a registered sex offender.

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Its not clear if ESS performed a background check on Viki or why it didnt flag the school district.

In addition to probation status, public records show Vikis criminal background includes three dismissed misdemeanor charges, including two related to possession of marijuana.

As of Monday, he was still being held on a $10,000 bond with a court date set for April 26, ICSO public information officer Dara St. John wrote in an email to the Observer.

Substitute teacher criminal check

ISS is taking measures to ensure this is not repeated, Jonas told the Observer March 31.

We are concerned, as we should be, Jonas wrote. We hope to find and adopt guidelines to prevent future occurrences after we complete our investigation.

The school district relies heavily on the integrity of the criminal background reports provided by its partners  like ESS  Jonas wrote. Each person who steps foot on campus to work  including occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists, special education instructors and substitute teachers  goes through a criminal background check, according to Jonas.

The Observer has requested via a public records request a copy of the contract between ISS and ESS. The district did not immediately respond to questions from the Observer asking what other staffing firms it works with or when the investigation will be complete.

ESS acknowledged the Observers request for an interview the day after Vikis arrest but has not responded or provided comment.

Can people with a criminal record work in schools?

While full-time teachers in North Carolina must undergo criminal background checks in order to be licensed, the state regulates substitute teachers only in regard to pay. Everything else is up to the districts.

According to ISS board policy, background checks are required for all educators.

In addition, all school employees and applicants must notify human resources within one day of any criminal arrest, charge or judicial action. If a current teacher reports an offense, the superintendent must report it to the State Board of Education, the policy states. Only minor traffic violations  such as speeding or parking tickets  and expunged arrests, charges or convictions can go unreported.

If a final candidate or independent contractor  like a substitute teacher  reports a conviction, the policy gives the superintendent authority to decide whether the individual should be hired. ISS policy says superintendents should consider whether the individual poses a threat to the safety of students or personnel or has demonstrated that he or she does not have the integrity or honesty to fulfill the duties of the position.

The superintendent, under the policy, should also consider the nature and gravity of both the offense and the potential job, as well as how much time has passed since the offense, and they must give candidates the opportunity to defend themselves.

The Observer reached out to all members of the ISS School Board and was directed to superintendent Dr. Jeffery James. He forwarded the request to Jonas, who provided a statement on the schools intent to fix guidelines after it completed its investigation into Viki.

Iredell is not the first county to draw attention to North Carolinas regulations for substitute teachers.

Allowing each district to pen its own guidelines means that each districts requirements vary. Some candidates dont need a high school diploma to teach, according to a 2019 WRAL News investigation, and others must have at least an associates degree and go through 20 hours of training.

While the state still leaves universal background check procedures up to each district, the North Carolina Association of Educators would likely support regulating how teachers are vetted, president Mark Jewell told WRAL.

Background checks and other critical screening measures are key to protecting children in schools but problems still abound, Fox News Digital reported in January. Nearly 350 public educators were arrested on child sex-related crimes in the U.S. last year, according to Fox News year-long analysis. Five principals, three assistant principals, 290 teachers, 26 substitute teachers and 25 teachers aides were arrested on crimes ranging from grooming to child porn to raping students, the news site found.

Substitute teacher shortages in NC

ISS is just one North Carolina district that recently had to direct resources toward fixing teacher shortages  a widespread product of the pandemic. The district had at least 61 teaching vacancies as of Monday evening, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools still needed 377 classroom teachers when the school year started in August.

But the issue reaches far beyond the Charlotte area:
Benjamin Netanyahu

Addressing reports of leaked U.S. intelligence saying Israel could provide lethal weapons to Ukraine, Netanyahu said, I dont know what the basis of those reports is.

Weve decided to help them in humanitarian matters, civil defense, the red alert (system)  things of that nature, he said.

(There has been) no decision about lethal weaponry Ill do what I can, if I can, to help resolve this conflict.

Read also: Israeli ambassador says Israel concerned about Russian-Iranian military cooperation

Read also: Israel pledges early air threat warning system for Ukraine

Netanyahu also claimed that European leaders with whom he has recently met say positive things to him in private, but speak differently when the media is present.

One of the leaked U.S. documents stated that the United States was considering scenarios under which Israel could transfer lethal weapons to Ukraine.

In particular, the document, dated Feb. 28, states that the country undertakes to provide Kyiv with intelligence and non-lethal defense systems, while working to preserve Israels freedom of action in Syria, balancing between the United States and Russia.

It is also noted that Israel is likely to consider providing lethal aid to Ukraine if the pressure from the United States increases or if relations with Russia deteriorate.

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
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.
A man identified by Franklin County Sheriff's Office as William S. Roberts sits on the back of a deputy's cruiser after he was arrested July 20. The Delaware County Prosecutor's Office is seeking the death penalty against the 28-year-old man, who is suspected in a shooting that left his infant daughter dead and the child's mother wounded.

Mary ODoherty is executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.

Theres a face, a life story, for every statistic.

In Delaware County, William S. Roberts was charged with aggravated murder and faces the death penalty after allegedly shooting and killing his 17-month-old daughter and wounding the girls mother in 2021.

That incident also involved a carjacking  and a 911 call in which a bystander reported the girls mother was standing on the side of the road holding her bleeding baby, pleading for help.

Mary O'Doherty, executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network

On March 9, Gene Scott, 46, was charged with murder for allegedly choking and killing Renee Benedetti at their home in Clintonville in January, then dumping her body in a landfill in Brown County, east of Cincinnati.

The violence is growing more intense  with domestic violence programs across Ohio seeing survivors with more severe injuries and with situations becoming more lethal, often involving weapons.

From the Archive| Mary ODoherty: Recent domestic violence death offers lessons to prevent others

In the fiscal year ending in June 2022, Ohio reported 81 victims killed in domestic violence cases, along with 31 perpetrators. The youngest fatality was a day-old baby; the oldest, a 90-year-old woman. We know that intimate partner violence cuts across all the lines of age, race, gender, geography, and economics, and leaves a deep, traumatic impact on children who are exposed to violence in their own homes.

Renee Benedetti, 40, was last seen at her boyfriend's North Side apartment in late January. The search for her is ongoing. Court records show Benedetti's boyfriend, Gene Scott, allegedly confessed to killing her.

Thats why its vital that Ohio legislators approve the $20 million in additional funding for domestic violence services that Gov. Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost included in the Ohio budget for 2024-2025. Those dollars literally can save lives.

Since 2019, cuts to federal Victims of Crime Act funding have had devastating effects on the services provided Ohios domestic violence programs. According to a survey the Ohio Domestic Violence Network conducted in January of its 76 member programs:

Ohios domestic violence shelters helped nearly 10,000 people seeking emergency shelter in 2022 but turned away 36%  or one in three survivors  because the programs didnt have enough room to help them.

The programs provided services to 72,920 people who didnt spend a night in shelter, but 19% of our programs were unable to meet their needs of all the survivors seeking non-residential help, including support groups, transportation and other supportive services.

Programs answered 91,273 crisis calls. But about 20% of the programs reported they werent able to answer crisis calls consistently because they dont have enough staff.

More than 40% of our programs reported reducing or eliminating services to children.

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The additional $20 million in domestic violence funding the governor and attorney general are recommending would allow programs to start addressing the effects of the VOCA cuts and reduce the number of survivors turned away from emergency shelters.

Spending money on domestic violence services is definitely cost-effective for taxpayers.

By providing emergency shelter, Ohio Domestic Violence Network member programs collectively saved Ohio communities more than $32 million in short-term costs associated with medical care, property damage, law enforcement, emergency response, child protective services, legal fees, and loss of life including end-of-life expenses, according to a social return on investment study Ohio Domestic Violence Network commissioned last year.

Finally, increasing funding for domestic violence services would bring our state closer to spending parity with surrounding states.

Currently, Ohio spends 32 cents per capita on domestic violence services, compared with 92 cents for Indiana, $1.41 for West Virginia, $1.56 for Pennsylvania and $2.54 for Kentucky.

The additional line-item funding would bring Ohios per capita rate up to 85 cents  a big improvement, and closer to what surrounding states already spend.

Please tell Ohios legislators: This funding increase is the right thing to do.

It can save lives  real people, some of them children.

Not just statistics.

Mary ODoherty is executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why $20 million more in domestic in violence funding is needed in Ohio
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and state officials announced on Monday that they are seeking a court order to reprimand the city of Huntington Beach for violating housing laws.

The governor, together with state Attorney General Rob Bonta (D), filed a motion to amend a March lawsuit against Huntington Beach, with the goal of holding the city accountable for violating the state Housing Element Law. The law requires local governments to adopt housing plans that include sufficient opportunities for development, as part of a broader municipal agenda.

The original lawsuit concerned the Orange County suburbs ban on applications to build housing under the states SB 9 and Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) laws, which allow homeowners to build up to four units and backyard cottages on single-family parcels.

Since the filing of that suit, the Huntington Beach City Council voted on March 21 to resume processing SB 9 and ADU project applications, the governor and attorney general acknowledged.

Nonetheless, at an April 4 meeting, the City Council again violated state housing laws by failing to adopt a housing element, which was already 16 months overdue, according to the state officials.

That decision jeopardizes critical affordable housing opportunities for Huntington Beach residents, an announcement from the officials said.

Huntington Beach continues to fail its residents, Newsom said in a statement. Every city and county needs to do their part to bring down the high housing and rent costs that are impacting families across this state.

California will continue taking every step necessary to ensure everyone is building their fair share of housing and not flouting state housing laws at the expense of the community, the governor added.

The amended motion seeks to suspend Huntington Beachs permitting authority, while mandating the approval of certain residential projects until the city complies with the law.

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While the state is no longer seeking a preliminary injunction against Huntington Beach, due to the citys reversal on SB 9 and ADU applications, the new motion does seek a declaration from court that the previous bans were unlawful and cannot be reinstated.

California is in the midst of a housing crisis, and time and time again, Huntington Beach has demonstrated they are part of the problem by defiantly refusing every opportunity to provide essential housing for its own residents, Bonta said in a statement.

The attorney general described the City Councils recent refusal to adopt a housing element as the latest in a string of willfully illegal actions by the city, adding that state officials wont stand idly by as Huntington Beach continues to flagrantly violate state housing laws.

Gustavo Velasquez, director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development, stressed that more housing is the path to ending and reducing homelessness.

But Huntington Beach continues to brazenly violate state housing laws  wasting valuable time and tax-payer money instead of working on solutions, Velasquez said.

In response to the amended motion, Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland (R) said in a statement that the City Attorney is asking that the court dismiss the lawsuit because it is entirely moot.

Suing the city for an alleged Housing Element violation, he explained, requires filing a new lawsuit rather than submitting a motion for an amendment.

Stressing that more than 240 other cities across California do not have housing elements, Strickland accused the officials of singling out Huntington Beach.

These regular State press releases announcing legal actions against Huntington Beach may grab headlines, but they do not intimidate or deter the city, and they have no effect in the court of law, the mayor added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Anthony Boadle and Ricardo Brito

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Former President Jair Bolsonaro promises to be many things in the coming years: a leader of Brazil's political opposition, a thorn in the side of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and a kingmaker in right-wing politics.

But a presidential candidate? Not even Bolsonaro's most powerful allies are banking on that.

The ex-president is facing more than a dozen cases in electoral court due to his conduct in last year's campaign, when he repeatedly attacked the legitimacy of Brazil's electronic voting system while running for re-election.

Legal experts and two senior judiciary sources told Reuters they expect him to lose at least one of those cases, which would bar him from running in the 2026 presidential campaign.

Even Bolsonaro's ex-chief of staff is floating alternatives, counting on his former boss to help from the wings.

"Any ticket with the backing of an ineligible Bolsonaro would easily win the election," said Senator Ciro Nogueira, who runs the conservative Popular Party, in a Reuters interview.

Bolsonaro's electoral outlook contrasts sharply with former U.S. President Donald Trump, another right-wing populist who challenged the results of his failed re-election campaign.

Despite criminal charges brought against Trump last week over a hush-money payment that prosecutors allege was to benefit his 2016 campaign, he remains the favorite in betting markets to be the Republican nominee in next year's U.S. presidential election.

While Bolsonaro may also face jeopardy in roughly a half dozen criminal probes, a decision sealing his political fate is more likely to come from the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), the most senior body in Brazil's unique electoral court system.

The fastest-moving TSE case against Bolsonaro centers on a briefing he held for the diplomatic corps in Brasilia in July, while president, charging the election system was open to fraud in remarks broadcast live on government TV and social media.

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"If it is not this case, it will be the next one," said Henrique Neves, a former electoral court judge, when asked about the likelihood of TSE declaring Bolsonaro ineligible for office.

Bolsonaro never conceded his narrow defeat in the October election and continues to question the reliability of Brazil's voting system. The TSE rejected his formal complaint challenging the electoral result and fined his party more than $4 million for what the court called bad faith litigation.

The chairman of his right-wing Liberal Party, Valdemar Costa Neto, who is paying for Bolsonaro's defense, declined to comment on the case and said Bolsonaro should be allowed to run because he committed no crime.

Last month at an event with supporters in Florida, Bolsonaro himself said he expected to be declared ineligible, although he argued that speaking to diplomats was his prerogative as president.

Despite the challenges, Bolsonaro's return to Brazil in late March after three months in the United States showed he is eager to remain a political protagonist. With three sons in elected office and tens of millions of followers on social media, there is little doubt his conservative movement will carry on.

And legal setbacks in Brazil are not always set in stone.

Lula himself was barred from running for president in 2018 due to a bribery conviction that was thrown out by the Supreme Court in time for him to win last year's election.

RISING CONSERVATIVE STARS

Still, conservative powerbrokers allied with Bolsonaro are ready to reshuffle the deck for the next election cycle.

Senator Nogueira said several right-wing leaders who emerged on Bolsonaro's coattails could run for president, in contrast to the Workers Party, which has few obvious heirs to Lula.

Nogueira cited rising stars on the right such as Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio Freitas, Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema, and former Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina.

Freitas was a minister under Bolsonaro and now runs Brazil's richest and most populous state, traditionally a stepping stone to the presidency, although he is still in his first term. Zema is called a "closet Bolsonarista" because he has kept a political distance from Bolsonaro that could help him rally center-right moderates - but is not well-known outside Minas Gerais.

Bolsonaro's wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, would be "a great candidate for vice president," said Nogueira.

Costa Neto said the first test of the former president's lasting political influence will come when he stumps for allies in next year's municipal elections.

But, with or without Bolsonaro, Costa Neto said he was confident of a right-wing comeback in 2026. He said a TSE decision to bar Bolsonaro from running would only boost the ex-president's political appeal. Any right-wing substitute could win with his endorsement, he added, while side-stepping the high rejection rates Bolsonaro faced as a candidate last year.

"There are good reasons to believe a right-wing candidacy can win in 2026," said Mario Sergio Lima, senior Brazil analyst at Medley Global Advisors, citing questions about the economy and the lack of an heir apparent for Lula, 77.

But Lima was skeptical of Bolsonaro's personal influence.

"He will most likely be stripped of his political rights, and without them he will find it very hard to lead any sort of right-wing project," he said. "Candidates like Tarcisio or Zema would try to distance themselves from him to draw moderates."

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle and Ricardo Brito; Editing by Brad Haynes and Rosalba O'Brien)
Nick Cannon says he's "all in" if Taylor Swift wants to have a baby with him.

Cannon said he and Swift would "really understand" each other.

Cannon added that his "Spidey senses" were tingling when he heard Swift and Joe Alwyn had split up.

Nick Cannon  who has fathered 12 children with six different women  says it would be "amazing" if he could have a baby with Taylor Swift.

When asked on "The Howard Stern Show" on April 10 if he would be open to having a baby with Swift, Cannon was all in.

"Absolutely, I'm in! Let's go," Cannon said. 'That's the one. I'm all in!"

He added that Swift is an "amazing songwriter" who has been open and vulnerable about her love life in her music.

"I think she would relate to me very well, based off of like, yo, you've dated a lot of people in the public eye, so have I," Cannon said. "So we probably would really understand each other."

Stern went on to ask Cannon about the news that Swift and her partner of six years, Joe Alwyn, had broken up.

"You know that my Spidey senses was tingling," Cannon said of the high-profile split.

Swift has been linked to various high-profile celebrities over the years, including Tom Hiddleston, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Harry Styles. She's been known to immortalize some of her breakups in her songs, and has been outspoken about the sexism and double standards she's faced in the music industry.

As for Cannon's relationship history, he has 12 children with six women: pop legend Mariah Carey, DJ Abby De La Rosa, and the models Alyssa Scott, Brittany Bell, Bre Tiesi, and Lanisha Cole.

In February, Cannon said he would let God decide when he should stop having kids.

And during a podcast on March 18, Cannon said he regretted not having a child with his co-star and ex-girlfriend, Christina Milian. Milian and Cannon co-starred in the 2003 comedy film "Love Don't Cost a Thing" and dated for two years.

Representatives for Cannon and Swift did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Insider
ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's ruling party has asked the Appeals Court to dismiss a petition by third-placed candidate Peter Obi who is challenging the victory of president-elect Bola Tinubu following a disputed election in February, court documents showed on Tuesday.

Labour Party's Peter Obi, who came third in the election, and second-placed opposition People's Democratic Party's (PDP) Atiku Abubakar last month separately challenged the results in court.

The two candidates said the results were fraudulent, citing Tinubu, his ruling All Progressives Congress Party (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.

The APC said in a countersuit on Tuesday that Obi's petition should be dismissed on several grounds, including that Obi was not a Labour Party member when he contested the elections and that he failed to include Atiku as a respondent, making his petition "incompetent."

Obi, who was Atiku's running mate in 2019, left the PDP in May last year to join the Labour Party. The APC is arguing that Obi was not yet a member when Labour Party submitted its members register to the electoral commission as required by law.

The ruling party is yet to respond to Atiku's petition.

INEC declared Tinubu winner with 37% of the votes cast, ahead of Atiku's 29% and 25% for Obi. No court has overturned presidential election results in Nigeria before.

Tinubu is set to be sworn-in end of May.

The Appeals Court is still to nominate judges who will constitute a tribunal to hear the presidential election petitions and deliver a verdict within 180 days from the date the court challenges were filed last month.

(Reporting by Camillus Eboh, writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, editing by Christina Fincher)
Nikki Haley's campaign is testing out some more critical messaging toward Trump and her opponents.

Nikki Haley's campaign is testing out some more critical messaging toward Trump and her opponents.

Nikki Haley hasnt had a negative word to say about Donald Trump since the former president was indicted over alleged hush money payments made to a porn actor.

That was apparently left to Haleys presidential campaign.

Donald Trump had a pretty good Q1, if you count being indicted as good,  Haley campaign manager Betsy Ankney wrote in an April 10 donor memo first reported by Axios.

The sensationalized partisan prosecution in Manhattan understandably made Republicans more sympathetic to the former president, Ankney continued. It is an outrageous prosecutorial abuse. Still, its increasingly clear that Trumps candidacy is more consumed by the grievances of the past and the promise of more drama in the future rather than a forward-looking vision for the American people.

Ankney also swiped at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who is expected to enter the race this spring. In the meantime, DeSantis has been promoting his pre-campaign launch memoir, The Courage To Be Free, about making Florida a terrifyingstate to live in.

Ron DeSantis essentially launched his presidential campaign with a national book tour during this period and made one misstep after another, confirming what many observers have long suspected: hes not ready for prime time, Ankney wrote.

Haleys campaign, at least right now, has the standing to dunk on Trump and DeSantis. Trumps former ambassador to the United Nations raised $11 million in the final six weeks of the first 2023 quarter  a respectable haul. Trump, meanwhile, reportedly raised $12 million since the indictment but has yet to release his number for the full quarter. Haley, of course, hasnt been in the race as long as Trump, who launched his campaign three months before she did in November.

Haleys fundraising haul is more than Donald Trump raised in his first quarter in this race, and more than nearly all the Republican presidential candidates in 2016 raised in their first quarter, Ankney wrote.

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Ankney also pointed out that while Trump is trafficking in the same old grievance politics, Haley is trying to focus on real issues, like what Republicans for years have characterized as the immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Haley met with farmers and federal agents in Del Rio, Texas, while Trump was in a courtroom Tuesday. Were dealing with a lot of political drama thats unnecessary because youve got political vengeful people out there, she said on Fox News last week.

The former South Carolina governor  as well as most every other Republican with a national following  has deflected blame on the heels of Trumps 34-count criminal indictment, the first ever against a former president, instead of using it as a cudgel against Trump. Even though Trump calls DeSantis a loser and pretends to forget his name, DeSantis has defended Trump amid his legal woes and pledged to violate the U.S. Constitution by not extraditing Trump to New York for his arraignment. (A cloying and useless gesture since Trump had always vowed to cooperate with authorities.)

The Haley campaign memo, which hints at an effort to test a more critical tact toward her opponents, was sneering toward other would-be opponents  fellow South Carolinian Sen. Tim Scott and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

None have taken the plunge, the memo says. Thats, of course, their decision, but they certainly did nothing to help themselves in the first part of the year. By contrast, Nikki is a decisive person. When she puts her mind to something, shes IN IT, devoting all her energy to it night and day, week-in and week-out.

Related...
Oleksii Reznikov

The minister noted that the mobilization plan, approved by Ukraines General Staff in February 2022, hasnt been completed yet.

Read also: Reznikov denies Ukraines involvement in Nord Stream explosions

We haven't even completed it yet, said Reznikov.

Read also: Conscripts and mobilized soldiers  key points from new draft laws

We dont need to announce a new mobilization.

Reznikov added that the General Staff is handling compensation for the losses "at a steady pace," and doesnt have a shortage of recruits at the moment. At the same time, fresh recruits need to be trained first, and the minister thanked Kyivs international partners for their aid in that regard.

Read also: Russia spreads false narratives about mobilization in Ukraine, MoD says

In the same interview, Reznikov added that according to Ukrainian intelligence, the Kremlin is prepared to sacrifice millions of people attempting to achieve its imperial aims.

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
As Tarrant County continues to withhold information about a third-party autopsy review into a 2019 jail death, Sheriff Bill Waybourn held a press conference Tuesday to tout the his offices achievements.

Waybourn told reporters he usually did press conferences when he needed to talk about a horrific issue. This time, he said he wanted to give good news. Waybourn said there had been scrutiny and misinformation going around about the office.

Hopefully we can straighten the record as best we can today and go from there, he said.

The sheriff told reporters Tarrant County was bringing home five awards from the American Jail Association, and that the jail had diverted 455 people to competency restoration programs or transferred them to outside care for mental health treatment.

Then Waybourn addressed what he called the elephant in the room  deaths in custody.

Tarrant County has had 52 deaths in custody since 2017, according to data provided by the Sheriffs Office. Fourteen of those deaths occurred inside the jail and 38 happened at JPS Hospital. Three deaths were suicides. In 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began, seven inmates died from COVID-19.

The numbers are comparable to those in similarly sized jails in Bexar, Harris and Dallas counties.

Waybourn said each jail death is reviewed by the county, medical examiner, Texas attorney general and Texas Jail Standards. He said none of the jail deaths were murder.

Many hands are in that, Waybourn said. And at no time has a jailer been at fault for hurting or abusing or, absolutely, as terms of murdering have been used, that has never occurred.

When asked by reporters what misinformation was being spread about the Sheriffs Office, Waybourn said he has heard people come to commissioners court and accuse employees of murdering and beating inmates. Waybourn said it was OK to ask questions about deaths inside the jail when they happen.

We want to be as transparent as we possibly can, Waybourn said. But I always tell people that were not the only investigative agency, so we have to be careful about information that we release due to litigation or the possibility of criminal charges coming out of another agency.

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County leaders have remained silent about a third-party autopsy review of Robert G. Miller, an inmate who died in 2019 after he was pepper sprayed three times at close range and not given medical attention when he told a nurse he could not breathe.

The contract for the review expired Feb. 28. Leaders have not answered questions about the review and said there are no records related to it.

Waybourn said he did not know when more information would come out about the third-party autopsy review. He said he believed it was important for the public and Millers family to have transparency about what happened to Miller inside jail walls.

Millers death had been listed as natural from a sickle cell crisis by a Tarrant County pathologist. Mllers family and experts who spoke to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for an investigation into his death say he never had sickle cell anemia.

Tarrant County commissioners contracted with a third-party medical examiner, J. Scott Denton of Bloomington, Illinois, in December to conduct the review as a result of the Star-Telegram investigation.

A records request made by the Star-Telegram through the Texas Public Information Act was initially sent to the Texas Attorney Generals office by county officials to see if they could withhold records.

The Star-Telegram heard back on that records request Wednesday  officials from the Criminal District Attorneys office say no communications or records of the review existed. The county subsequently pulled its opinion request from the Attorney Generals Office.
The speaker at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church invited the crowd to cry, rant or pray into the microphone.

But Kim Shaver just gripped a bouquet of flowers and stared defeated into the crowd.

Her husband, son, and two grandchildren had all been within blocks of the mass shooting at Old National Bank that left six people dead, including the shooter, in downtown Louisville. It's hard not to be afraid, she said, and it's impossible to know what to do to help. Shaver's loved ones came home Monday morning safely, but she wrestled with how close they were to danger.

That's what brought her to one of several, impromptu vigils that sprung up around Louisville the evening after the tragedy.

"Even though they were safe, and we were safe, the fact that you, in your ordinary life are in such close proximity to this," Shaver said. "You have no real control over it."

Heartbreaking was the only word for it, and that genuine pain and fear welled in her eyes as she spoke.

Kim Shaver held flowers as she leaned against a tree in the distance during a vigil at the Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church to honor the victims of the mass shooting at the Old National Bank earlier in the day in Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 10, 2023.

More: 'We're just so proud of him': Louisville officer in critical condition after mass shooting

Shaver was among roughly 100 people who gathered in Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church in Louisville Monday evening. Throughout the 45-minute service, an interfaith group took that invitation to rant, cry and pray to heart.

As the microphone went from hand-to-hand, children and adults cried out in frustration at Kentucky's gun laws and the ongoing need for better mental health resources. They pleaded for state legislators to stop hiding behind thoughts and prayers and to take action against gun violence.

A few miles away at Christ Church United Methodist, there were no sermons or calls to action Monday night. Instead, parishioners and anyone else in the community grieving in the aftermath of the shooting were invited to come to light a candle and reflect in silence.

Candles near the altar were lit in memory of the shooting victims during a candlelight prayer gathering at Christ Church United Methodist on Brownsboro Rd. in Lousivllle, Ky. on Monday evening. April 10, 2023

Dozens were lit by 6 p.m., an hour after the service began. And more would be lit as sunset on a dark day in the city approached.Leanne Hadley, a minister who helped organize the service, greeted mourners as they entered the building. Some knew people who had been directly impacted by the shooting, she said, and a couple of others said theyd known the shooter. But everyone, she said, needed peace after a painful morning. They found it in the candlelit church.

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More: Louisville shooting aftermath: 'You would've thought Godzilla was coming down the street'

"Peace is peace, light is light, and the symbol of light shining in the darkness, I just don't think there's any better message," Hadley said. "Regardless of what your religion is or if you're spiritual or not  light shines in the darkness."

It was a similar scene a couple of miles away at St. Matthews United Methodist Church. Pastor Adam Sparks said the service at their sanctuary opened with a hymn and a liturgy before organizers opened it up for attendees to light candles and take a moment to themselves.

A woman walked with her head bowed after lighting a candle during a candlelight prayer gathering at Christ Church United Methodist on Brownsboro Rd. in Lousivllle, Ky. on Monday evening. April 10, 2023

All of the two dozen or so people who came out, Sparks said, had felt the shockwaves of the shooting. Some knew victims, he said, while others had been downtown during the chaos.The "whiplash" of celebrating Easter Sunday a day earlier to mourning Monday evening was jarring, he said. The service was an effort in "helping folks come to terms with that.  Theres still hope in the darkest of times is a lot of what we shared."

Reach reporter Maggie Menderski at mmenderski@courier-journal.com. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville vigils honor victims of Old National Bank mass shooting
(Patrick Hruby / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles Times Book Prizes ceremony bestows awards in more than a dozen categories, and  as Samuel Johnson once said of Paradise Lost  no one ever wished it longer. But if just one category could be added to the lineup, Id know exactly which to suggest: an annual award for writing about Los Angeles.

Alas, my favorite old L.A. book didnt get a single vote for the Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf. Years ago, at a sparsely attended Sacramento library book sale, I bought An Annotated Bibliography of California Fiction, 1664-1970.

Beyond my copy and a couple more allegedly available online, only a single footnote to the endlessly erudite Literary Destruction of L.A. chapter in Mike Davis Ecology of Fear proves that this book even exists. The BCF presents alphabetical listings and brief descriptions of, purportedly, all the novels and short-story collections ever set even partly in the Golden State over three centuries. Lord knows what compulsion possessed Newton D. Baird and Robert Greenwood of Talisman Press, in El Dorado Countys Georgetown, Calif., to create this freakish compendium in 1971.

Leaving aside the rest of California, the BCF still lists hundreds, maybe even a thousand, books worth of L.A. fiction. It includes no rankings, no ratings of any kind, just a tantalizingly brief phrase or paragraph about every one. And each of the BCFs 521 pages screams exactly one thing:

There is no Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf.

Maybe only a prodigious researcher and quote-hound like Carey McWilliams  OK, maybe Davis and Kevin Starr too  ever fully appreciated this lesson. No pulp novel or position paper was ever beneath their notice, no source too obscure for L.A.s historiographic holy trinity to read and quote from.

McWilliams, whose Island on the Land did make it onto our Bookshelf, quoted like he breathed. And as he well knew, theres always another L.A. book to chase down. Until we read them all, anyone presuming to tell us the best of L.A.s novels or short stories  or any other genre  is not to be trusted.

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Want proof? Just consider these tantalizing books, all taken from the BCF, only a few digitized, and each so scarce that a frequent-flying madman could destroy every copy of them in the world and still have miles left over:





The Davidian Report by Dorothy B. Hughes, 1952. From the author of In a Lonely Place, heres that rarest of rare birds, an L.A.-set spy novel. Go ahead, name another.

Of Missing Persons by David Goodis, 1950. The BCF says this short novel by the canonical pulp author of Dark Passage and "Down There" (the basis for Truffaut's Shoot the Piano Player) is about a Los Angeles police officer in charge of missing persons, involved in mystery. We are so there.

Collages by Anais Nin, 1964. Nin was already a celebrated author (and pornographer) by the time of her 1947 arrival in Los Angeles. Along with Dalton Trumbos incomparable letters and Christopher Isherwoods Diaries, her journals form the most literate intimate daily record we have of life in L.A. at midcentury. Collages concerns a young woman painter named Renate, set against the background of the Los Angeles area. Not even Noel Riley Fitchs fine Nin biography has a word to say about this book.

Off the Arm by Don Marquis, 1930. Marquis created the typing-impaired cockroach poet archy and his alley-cat pal mehitabel for a beloved, widely syndicated series of newspaper columns. He was miserable on a studio lot, of course, but somehow found time to write hilariously dyspeptic letters home and this humorous account of a novelists adventures in Hollywood. To quote archy, the fact that it is all but unanimously forgotten gives me to think furiously upon the futility of literature.

The Doomsday Men by J.B. Priestley, 1938. By the British author of the classic, endlessly revivable Tony Award-winning suspense drama An Inspector Calls, this ones about three brothers who try to blow up the world with a nuclear device from their fortress in the Southern California desert. Dont even read it; just option it right now.

Rocket to the Morgue by Anthony Boucher, 1942. The annual mystery convention Bouchercon is named for Boucher, and Ellery Queens Mystery Magazine became, under his editorship, the first English-language publication ever to feature a short story by Jorge Luis Borges. Rocket involves a murder among the real-life prewar Manana Literary Society of L.A.-based sci-fi writers  with suspects based on, among others, the young L. Ron Hubbard, Jack Parsons and Robert Heinlein. I know who I hope did it.

These few are just a fraction of the drool-worthy esoterica hinted at in BCF. Even more lost L.A. novels are listed in the L.A. Public Librarys invaluable California Fiction File .

How many people have read the six above-mentioned ghost novels since they were first published? More to the point, could these or any other L.A. rarities turn out to be neglected masterpieces?

How can we know if nobody reads and, just maybe, resurrects them? Obscurity doesnt necessarily mean inferiority. Moby-Dick was out of print when critic Raymond Weaver salvaged it from the depths of oblivion. People thought Edmund Wilson was just being sentimental when he championed the work of a half-forgotten old Princeton classmate named Scott Fitzgerald. And nobody had checked out Their Eyes Were Watching God for years when Alice Walker found it in the closed stacks and kicked off the Zora Neale Hurston revival.

Posterity is ever fallible, ever fickle. Even in our distortingly decade-skewed Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf, any number of fine writers surely got robbed. (No Michael Connelly? Seriously?)

As always, L.A. literature, both vintage and current, rewards closer attention. For that and so many other reasons, there should definitely be a Book Prize honoring new writing about Los Angeles  and maybe a retroactive prize besides.

The only question left: Whom to name it after? Absent the generosity of some sainted literary philanthropist, we could always christen the award in honor of the musical duo of David Baerwald and David Ricketts, who wrote and recorded one of the best songs ever written about L.A., Welcome to the Boomtown. Who could possibly argue with such a catchy, unbiased choice as the David + David or (for short) Davids Award?

Kipen is the author of "Dear Los Angeles: The City in Diaries and Letters, 1542-2018" and its forthcoming sequel, "Dear California."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The ASTR The Label Tie Back Puff Sleeve Midi Dress was just restocked at Nordstrom, but it's already selling out.

Warm weather is here  and a sundress that works for a multitude of occasions is a must-have for spring and summer.

That's why Nordstrom shoppers are loving the Tie Back Midi Dress from ASTR the Label  which is basically a Swiss Army knife for your wardrobe.

And at $99, the frock slips in just under a $100 budget. Read on to find out why it's worth adding to cart.

This baby pink color is perfect for daytime. Brunch is calling!

$99 at Nordstrom

Wearable day and night

When you think of what you slip into most often during the warmer months, it's likely something easygoing and comfortable. The Tie Back Midi Dress checks both those boxes.

This lined sundress has a charming sweetheart neckline and short puffy sleeves, perfect for keeping cool on sweltering afternoons.

Perhaps the cutest  and dare we say sexiest  detail about this dress is the open-and-tied back, where the fresh breeze can get to your sun-kissed skin.

'I feel beautiful in this dress'

While the Tie Back Midi Dress is a new release  it's already garnering positive reviews, and selling fast. It was recently restocked in cream  a lovely pinkish cream that would be great for anything from summer parties to bridal showers or engagement parties  as well as blue and black. But sizes are already selling fast, so if you're looking to snap this up for summer, you'll want to hurry.

"One of the most flattering dresses Ive bought," wrote one reviewer. "Might wear it for engagement pictures because I feel so confident in it."

"I never wear backless dresses but decided to take a chance on this one! LOVE!" echoed another shopper. "The tie around the upper part of the back makes me feel secure and the larger tie around the waist is super flattering! The length is perfect."

"Highly recommend this gorgeous dress!" they continued.

The pretty frock is available in sizes XS (00-0) to XL (14-16). If cream isn't your colour, you can sign up for the waitlist in case other colourways are restocked.

Verdict

Nordstrom shoppers can't say enough good things about the Tie Back Midi Dress. Pair it with a kitschy clutch, and matching sandals, and you'll be ready for anything. But if you're looking to shop, you'll want to snap it up soon since it's selling fast.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
A large stormwater wetland at Wade Park in Wilmington. Although freshwater wetlands produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, officials say wetlands support many other economic, environmental and community benefits.

When Duke Energy unveiled its plans to meet North Carolina's aggressive carbon-cutting goals, attention quickly focused on the utility giant's plan to replace much of the energy produced by its pollution-spewing coal-fired power plants with new natural gas-powered facilities.

The reason was while natural gas is a cleaner-burning fuel than coal, it is still a fossil fuel that releases climate-warming greenhouse gases, namely methane, into the atmosphere through the burning of the gas and leakages from pipes and the plants themselves. Duke said natural gas offered a cleaner way than coal to provide a reliable, affordable and secure power source to its customers. Environmentalists argued it was simply replacing one fossil fuel with another and locking North Carolina and its customers into a "dirty" energy future for decades to come when renewable energy sources could meet the power need in a cleaner, cheaper way.

Methane has a much bigger impact than carbon dioxide on global warming  an impact 25 times greater, according to researchers. Since pre-industrial times, increases in atmospheric methane have contributed to a quarter of the climate-warming effect from greenhouse gases.

That's prompted increased efforts to control methane releases from sources like landfills, agriculture and fossil fuels, including natural gas plants. Many scientists also are studying ways to remove methane from the atmosphere. That's because methane is 81 times more potent in terms of warming the climate over the first 20 years after its release, and about 27 times more potent over a century, according to two 2021 Stanford University-led studies.

POWER PLAY How to keep the lights on in the future: Duke, environmentalists jostle over future grid

Natural methane pumps

But there's a dirty little secret about methane that can be seen all across North Carolina, especially in the boggy and wet eastern portions of the state. Natural wetlands emit between 30% and 40% of global methane emissions. The waterlogged soils in wetlands are ideal for producing methane as microbes in the soil decompose organic matter like dead plants, and the patterns and intensity of these emissions are likely to increase as the planet warms and gets wetter in many places, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

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This means that global warming is driving greater wetland methane emissions. This process is called the wetland methane feedback.

Adam Gold

According to the state's 2022 greenhouse gas inventory report, methane emissions accounted for approximately 11% of North Carolina's total greenhouse gas emissions.

So does that make wetlands pollution-spewing machines that need to be mitigated or controlled in some way just like power plants, concentrated animal farms and vehicles that are helping warm the planet?

Not so fast, researchers say.

"Wetlands provide many co-benefits that help us in many different ways, from flood mitigation to ecological enhancements, that we're really only learning how to maximize and enhance," said Adam Gold, manager of the climate resilient coasts and watersheds program in North Carolina and Virginia for the Environmental Defense Fund.

Gold said protecting and enhancing this "green infrastructure", especially in urban areas, is key to producing more resilient communities that are better able to handle the heavy rain events that climate change is forecast to bring to North Carolina in the coming decades.

Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, which brought historic levels of flooding to much of Eastern North Carolina in 2016 and 2018, respectively, highlighted how our draining of wetlands and channeling of natural water systems created an environment where communities weren't able to handle the massive volumes of water that were dumped on them.

Gold said restoring floodplains and allowing wetlands to fill their historic roles of slowing water flows and improving water quality offers economic, community and environment-wide benefits.

More: Power of peat: Why environmentalists are pushing to restore NC's pocosin wetlands

A large area east of Burgaw is experiencing severe flooding from the Northeast Cape Fear River due to the rains from Hurricane Florence in Burgaw, N.C., Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

"We need to manage that natural infrastructure to take advantage of all the co-benefits these wetlands can offer us," he said.

That concept took a big step forward late last year with the launch of North Carolina's "Flood resiliency Blueprint," a statewide initiative aimed at helping flood-prone communities in the state's river basins develop flood resiliency planning and strategies. The program also will help the state and communities prioritize flood mitigation projects.

The blueprint is funded through a $20 million appropriation from the N.C. General Assembly to the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.

"This program is going to provide information that's accurate with cutting-edge modeling and make it available to everyone," Gold said. "It's going to provide that planning capacity to communities that might otherwise not have access to it."

But what about the methane problem?

While scientists don't shy away from wetlands emitting lots of methane, they caution that we need to take a look at the holistic picture of all the benefits wetlands bring to the table.

That includes removing and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere in the soil and vegetation itself rather than allowing it to further warm the planet.

These wetland "carbon sinks" work especially well when wetlands are allowed to mimic their role created for them by Mother Nature, whether by being kept as natural wetlands or restored in a way that mirrors their natural function rather than maintained in a degraded state.

A wetland mitigation site constructed by the NCDOT as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway project in Wilmington.

TELLING TIME What ancient trees from New Bern to Wilmington are telling us about future flooding events

An October 2022 study by researchers from N.C. State University found overall greenhouse gas emissions from a restored coastal wetland in northeastern North Carolina, restored by raising the groundwater in the pocosin wetlands that had been drained for farmland, were significantly reduced.

By effectively reflooding the fields, the scientists reduced the decomposition rate of the plant material in the soil.

"Despite the increases in (methane) and (nitrous oxide), the higher magnitude of fluxes and large decline in (carbon dioxide) lead to an overall lowering of greenhouse gas emissions after hydrologic restoration," stated the research paper published in the journal Wetlands. "Our results suggest that raising the water table in this shrub bog peatland decreased overall greenhouse gas emissions, illustrating that hydrologic restoration of peatlands can be a valuable climate mitigation practice."

Ghost forests like this one in Wilmington, N.C. in June 2022, increasingly appear along coasts as rising sea levels intrude landward.

Another impact from climate change, sea-level rise, is also helping reduce the emission of methane gas from freshwater wetlands near the coast  although it's not necessarily a welcome impact.

When salt water enters former freshwater wetlands, it eats away at the carbon-based soils, leaving behind "ghost forests" and degrading the marshes first to grass and then eventually open water. While the process does stop the production of methane, it allows all the carbon that had been sequestered in the soils and vegetation to escape  further adding to the pressures on global temperatures.

Gold said in the big picture, the production of methane by wetlands is a small price to pay for all of the other benefits they bring to the table.

"From flood storage and improving water quality to providing important ecosystem values and roles as carbon sinks, they really do offer a host of co-benefits," he said. "We just have to manage and design these natural infrastructure projects so we can take advantage of all of these benefits."

Tundra swans are just some of the animals that take advantage of North Carolina's extensive wetlands.

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@Gannett.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from 1Earth Fund and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: North Carolina wetlands emit lots of climate-warming methane gas. Why?
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways as he met with senior military officials to discuss the countrys war preparations in the face of his rivals frantic military exercises, state media said Tuesday.

The meeting of the ruling Workers Partys Central Military Commission on Monday came amid heightened tensions as the pace of both the North Korean weapons demonstrations and the U.S.-South Korean joint military drills have intensified in recent weeks in a cycle of tit-for-tat.

North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said the commissions members discussed unspecified issues related to strengthening defense capacities and perfecting war preparations to counter the threat posed by the allies' drills, which the North portrays as invasion rehearsals.

Kim reviewed the countrys frontline attack plans and various combat documents and stressed the need to bolster his nuclear deterrent with increasing speed on a more practical and offensive manner, KCNA said.

The report did not specify the directions the North intended to take. KCNA also published photos of Kim talking to officials while pointing to certain spots on a blurred map that appeared to be of South Korea.

KCNA said Kim and the military commission members analyzed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula in which the U.S. imperialists and the (South) Korean puppet traitors are getting ever more undisguised in their moves for a war of aggression and discussed preparation for proposed military actions that their enemy has no way of counteracting.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in years last month and separately held joint naval and air force drills involving a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group and nuclear-capable U.S. bombers. KCNA claimed the drills simulated an all-out war against North Korea and communicated threats to occupy Pyongyang and decapitate its leadership.

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The United States and South Korea have described their exercises as defensive in nature and said that the expansion of those drills are necessary to cope with the Norths evolving threats.

Tensions are likely to be prolonged as the allies continue their drills and North Korea uses them as a pretext to advance weapons development and intensify military training involving its nuclear-capable missiles.

The North Korean report came as South Korean officials said the North did not respond to South Korean calls placed over inter-Korean liaison and military hotlines for the fifth consecutive day. South Korean officials say North Korea cut off communications after the South last week urged the North to stop using without permission South Korean assets left at a now-shuttered joint factory park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong.

The paused military hotlines are particularly concerning in a time of heightened tensions as they are intended to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals' sea borders. Jeon Ha Gyu, spokesperson of South Koreas Defense Ministry, said Tuesday the South's military wasn't immediately detecting unusual activities by North Korea's military after the hotlines were paused.

South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse, Seouls point man on the North, in a news conference expressed strong regret over North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude over the communication lines and also warned of unspecified legal action over its use of the Kaesong assets.

When asked about Kims comments during the military meeting, Kwon said it's likely that North Korea currently sees the buildup of tensions as favorable to its interests and that Seoul is closely analyzing the North's intent.

South Korea pulled its companies out of Kaesong in 2016 following a North Korean nuclear test, removing the last remaining major symbol of cooperation between the rivals. North Korean state media recently showed what appeared to be South Korean commuter buses running in the streets of Kaesong and Pyongyang.

North Korea in 2023 so far has fired around 30 missiles in 11 different launch events, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that demonstrated potential range to reach the U.S. mainland and several shorter-range weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on South Korean targets.

The North was already coming off a record year in weapons testing, after launching nearly 70 missiles in 2022.

Experts say Kims provocative run in weapons displays is aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power and negotiating economic concessions from a position of strength.

Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since 2019 over disagreements in exchanging crippling U.S.-led sanctions against the North and the Norths steps to wind down its nuclear weapons program.

South Korean officials say North Korea may soon up the ante by staging more provocative displays of its military might, including its first nuclear test detonation since 2017.

North Korea last month unveiled what appeared to be a new nuclear warhead designed to fit on various delivery systems as Kim called for his nuclear scientists to increase production of weapons-grade material to make bombs to put on his growing range of weapons.

North Korea has also issued veiled threats to test fire an ICBM on a normal ballistic trajectory toward the Pacific, which would be seen as a major provocation as its previous long-range tests were conducted on high angles to avoid the territories of neighbors.

The North also previously said it aims to finish preparations to launch a military spy satellite into space by April, an event its rivals would almost certainly see as a test of ICBM technology banned by international sanctions.

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Multiple police vehicles were firebombed with molotov cocktails during a dissident republican parade in the Northern Ireland border city of Derry on Monday, one day before President Biden is set to visit the country, according to police.

A group of people in paramilitary uniforms marched through the streets to commemorate the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, in which Irish nationalists launched an armed insurrection in protest of British rule.

Monday also marks the 25-year anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended three decades of the low-intensity civil war known as "the Troubles."

Nigel Goddard, the police chief in Derry, called the violence on Monday a "senseless and reckless attack on our officers."

"What we saw develop this afternoon in Creggan was incredibly disheartening. As the parade was un-notified, 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," Goddard said in a statement.

"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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UK TO PROBE WHETHER THE 1998 OMAGH BOMB, ONE OF IRELAND'S DEADLIEST INCIDENTS, COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED

Local newspapers reported on Sunday that the Police Service of Northern Ireland disrupted a bomb plot by members of the New IRA, paramilitary splinter group of the Irish Republican Army.

MI5 also upped the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland from "substantial" to "severe" last month, ahead of the planned celebrations for the Good Friday Agreement's anniversary.

President Biden will meet with UK Prime Minster Rishi Sunak in Belfast on Wednesday to commemorate the Good Friday Agreement, then give a speech at Ulster University before departing for Dublin to meet with Irish President Michael Higgins.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday that the White House is aware of the recent threats of violence in Northern Ireland.

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President Joe Biden speaks at the Friends of Ireland Luncheon on St. Patrick's Day, March, 17, 2023.

Biden, who is also set to meet with distant relatives during the trip, has frequently commented on how his Irish heritage shaped his life.

"Im the proud son of Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden," Biden said at the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon last year. "And like so many Americans of Irish heritage, I love Ireland and I was raised in a circumstance where you would have thought my whole family they came in 1844 and 1845, but youd think theyd all lived in Ireland the last 60 years  the previous 60 years."
Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation Tuesday raising the age to purchase tobacco products in Kansas from 18 to 21, satisfying a requirement that could have cost the state federal funding.

Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation Tuesday raising the age to purchase tobacco products in Kansas from 18 to 21, satisfying a requirement that could have cost the state federal funding.

Under a federal law signed in 2020, retailers couldn't sell cigarettes and other products, such as chewing tobacco or vapes, to individuals under the age of 21. But because Kansas law hadn't been updated, the state's retailers weren't forced to fall into compliance.

About 10 states, including Kansas, hadn't yet met requirements that they bring state laws into compliance with federal statute.

If that didn't occur, Kansas would have risked losing 10% of federal grant funding to combat substance abuse, under a longstanding federal law designed to penalize states that don't do enough to fight tobacco use among minors.

The Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services said the loss of funding could have totaled $1.2 million but advocates also argue it could have a meaningful impact on reducing addiction, by delaying the age at which individuals start smoking and discouraging tobacco use.

"This isnt going to cure all of the ills of tobacco use and addiction, I know that. It is not a perfect bill," Rep. John Eplee, R-Atchison, a family physician, said on the House floor. "But at least it raises the standard, it provides an optic, it provides new compliance that will help reduce the number of people that end of picking up tobacco or tobacco-related products."

Kansas tobacco law doesn't go far enough, advocates say

A trade association representing convenience stores and gas stations in Kansas told lawmakers in February that they had over 95% compliance on age requirements for tobacco sales.

Several major public health organizations, however, argued the measure doesn't go far enough by leaving in place longstanding penalties for youths who are found to possess tobacco products, something they believe is ineffective at curbing use.

And the bill does not move to define e-cigarettes as tobacco products under state law, another desired change.

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"These products contain similar packaging designs, flavorings, and product names as other tobacco products, and are frequently sold in the same retailer locations," Kari Rinker, state government relations director for the American Heart Association, told legislators.

And a significant bloc of bipartisan opposition formed not because of the bill's public health implications but because of the philosophical underpinnings of the idea.

Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth, pointed to a series of bills that would have increased criminal sentencing for minors, as well as the fact that an 18-year-old could serve in the military, as reason to vote against the bill.

"We expect young people to be adults  except on this issue, where they apparently can't make their own decisions until they are 21," Pittman said on the Senate floor.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Tobacco purchase age is now 21 in Kansas, as Laura Kelly signs bill
Nurses and health care providers rally outside PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield to demand more staffing.

About 50 nurses from Eugene, Springfield and surrounding areas gathered in a downpour Monday evening to rally for more staffing and support from PeaceHealth.

According to the Oregon Nurses Association, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart has nearly 300 nurse vacancies, which it says are contributing to longer wait times for patients. It is asking the health company to adopt safe staffing standards as part of contract negotiations.

One bill in the state Legislature, House Bill 2697, would establish nurse-to-patient ratios in certain hospital units in hopes that requiring the state to follow minimum staffing standards would help retain remaining nurses and encourage nursing staff to return to the state workforce.

Hospitals would be required to create staffing committees to develop hospital-wide staffing plans required to be submitted to the Oregon Health Authority.

The ratio would also extend to nursing assistants, making Oregon the first in the nation to do so, according to testimony from Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, during a March work session.

The ratios outlined in the bill are:

One direct care registered nurse to one patient for emergency department trauma patients, patients in active labor or experiencing complications in the labor and delivery units, and patients in operating rooms.

One registered nurse to two patients in intensive care units, labor and delivery units for patients not experiencing active labor or complications, and in post-anesthesia care units.

One nurse to three patients in intermediate care units.

One nurse to four patients in oncology, cardiac telemetry, pediatric and medical-surgical units. Medical-surgical units will have until 2026 to implement the one-to-four ratio. It will be one to five until then.

Set ratios for psychiatric units are not outlined in the bill. Instead, a multidisciplinary subcommittee of the nurse staffing committee will be tasked with determining the staffing plan for that unit.

For certified nursing assistants, hospitals will not be allowed to assign them more than seven patients at a time during a day or evening shift and more than 11 patients at a time during a night shift.

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Rep. Travis Nelson, D-Portland, who is a nurse, called the legislation "a wonderful achievement" during an April 4 work session.

"It's something that appears to work for the hospitals and I know it's going to make the working conditions and the lives of our nurses and healthcare workers a lot better."

If signed into law, the bill would take effect Sept. 1 with nurse-to-patient ratios taking effect in June 2024 and new committees in December 2024. State enforcement would begin in June of 2025.

The bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Monday.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Nurses rally in Springfield for more staffing, support
The Eddie Vedder-founded Ohana Festival in southern California will again feature the Pearl Jam frontman as one of the top attractions in 2023, as is customary, along with a heavy-hitting selection of rock names in the top slots and an eclectic lineup for the undercard slots. The Killers and Foo Fighters join Vedder as the headliners for the three-day festival, taking place Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Doheny State Beach in Doheny Point.

Haim, the Chicks and the Pretenders are the second-billed acts across the three days. Other marquee attractions in the idyllic beachside setting will include Father John Misty, the War on Drugs, Japanese Breakfast, Goose and Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

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Single-day tickets are available as well as three-day passes for both the GA and VIP areas. The annual gathering, which Variety has called the best-curated boutique festival in America, will have three on-sale dates. A Ten Club presale for the Pearl Jam hardcore went on sale Tuesday morning concurrent with the announcement lineup; an SMS presale goes on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. Remaining tickets go on sale that same day, Thursday, at noon.

The lineup is rounded out by Lucius, the Backseat Lovers, Charley Crockett, Glen Hansard, Lucius, Thee Sacred Souls, Suki Waterhouse, Franc Moody, Hermanos Gutierrez, Amos Lee, Dehd, Shame, Dhani Harrison, Brooks Nielsen, Lido Pimienta, Danielle Ponder, Trousdale, Talk, Wunderhorse, Big Joanie, the Aquadolls, the Alive and Emma Routhier.

For Haim and their fans, it will be a welcome second chance at being one of the main draws for an Ohana Fest. In 2022, the SoCal band was announced for one of the top slots at what was to be a second weekend at the beach, but that bonus weekend was canceled. The group will hit Ohana the month after being seen in another high-profile slot in the area, opening for Taylor Swift at SoFi Stadium in August.

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Almost simultaneous with the announcement that Foo Fighters will headline Ohana Festival came news that the group has booked six additional shows for its summer/fall tour, in Phoenix, El Paso, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Virginia Beach and Stateline, Nevada.

Last years Ohana Festival also had Vedder as a headliner, with Stevie Nicks and Pink as fellow nightly toppers, along with appearances from Jack White, Billy Strings and St. Vincent.

Tickets and further information can be found at ohanafest.com.

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When word surfaced that soils and liquids laced with chemicals from the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment were being sent to southeastern Michigan for storage, local residents and politicians were livid.

People were seeing pictures of what happened in Ohio  the smoke plumes, wildlife dying, said Jordyn Sellek, director of a local government coalition. They were hearing about people having health issues, and that's scary. And now it's coming into your community.

So loud was the outcry that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency halted shipments from the crash site in the town of 5,000 to a hazardous waste landfill and underground deep-injection wells in suburban Detroit.

Resistance was fierce elsewhere, too, from a raucous town hall meeting in Roachdale, Indiana, to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt barring the waste from a landfill there. EPA finally issued a pointed reminder that states cannot interfere with federally authorized waste transport.

We ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the mess it made, and no one should be impeding, preventing or getting in the way, Administrator Michael Regan said March 17, adding it would take about three months to finish the job.

Yet roadblocks keep popping up. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott scuttled a company's plan to treat East Palestine liquids and dispose of them in the city wastewater system.

The controversy illuminates an uncomfortable truth: Hazardous wastes are seemingly everywhere, from sprawling factories to household garages. They're byproducts of industrial processes and goods consumers value. And when people want to get rid of waste, it has to go somewhere.

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The U.S. has 667 facilities that treat, store and dispose of hazardous wastes and are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, according to EPA. Of those, 252 are commercial facilities that receive waste from offsite customers. The others, including factories, handle only waste generated on the premises.

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Seventeen of the commercial facilities have landfills, three have deep injection wells and 12 have incinerators. Others store waste in containers while awaiting treatment or disposal.

Thirty-eight Norfolk Southern train cars derailed in the fiery Feb. 3 wreck. No one was injured but about half of East Palestine's population was evacuated for days when authorities ignited vinyl chloride in five cars to prevent explosion. Many residents have complained of headaches, rashes and other health problems, although government officials say air and water testing hasn't found dangerous pollution.

Long-term exposure to vinyl chloride, a colorless gas used to make products including plastic pipes, wire coatings and kitchenware, is associated with liver damage and cancer, EPA says.

Ohio officials are pressing the rail company and EPA to get rid of tainted dirt and water. Gov. Mike DeWine said March 10 that 24,400 tons of excavated soil were piled at the scene. Portions had been hauled to three facilities in Ohio and others in Michigan, Indiana and Texas before protests stalled removal.

A week later, EPA notified state environmental agencies that preventing the waste shipments could violate federal law and the U.S. Constitution's interstate commerce provision.

Since then, neither EPA nor the company have disclosed where the East Palestine waste is going, although daily reports provide updates on volumes removed. As of Monday, 19,900 tons of soil and 11.4 million gallons (43.1 million liters) of liquid wastewater had been shipped, according to DeWine's office. That's enough liquid to fill more than 17 Olympic swimming pools.

A truck hauling 20 tons of the soil ran off a state road Monday and overturned, spilling about half, although the waste was contained and posed no threat to nearby waters, the Highway Patrol said.

Republic Industrial and Energy Solutions in Romulus, Michigan, received February shipments of liquid wastes for disposal in its two injection wells. Some contaminated soils went to U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal, a landfill in Belleville, Michigan, owned by the same company.

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The Romulus facility, which also stores wastes in aboveground tanks, has past regulatory violations.

The state environment department cited the facility within the past year for leaks from a sludge dewatering press, mislabeled containers and an alarm malfunction. All problems were corrected promptly and none resulted in hazardous releases to the environment, spokesman Hugh McDiarmid Jr. said.

Both facilities have permits to take hazardous materials. Vinyl chloride is among chemicals authorized for storage at Romulus, the state says.

Even so, local leaders complained they got no advance notice. It sounds ... like we've been sandbagged, said Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

I just don't think Michigan, with one of the world's biggest supplies of fresh water, is the best place to inject this stuff in the ground, said Kevin Krause, fire services and emergency management director in Romulus.

Roman Blahoski, spokesman for the owner Republic Services, said the liquids injected into the wells were 99% water and soils sent to the landfill had low contaminant levels. Responsible disposal of hazardous waste is a basic community need, he said.

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Some hazardous wastes regularly accepted by disposal facilities pose greater health risks than vinyl chloride, said Bill Muno, a retired EPA official who previously headed the Midwest regional Superfund program. One example: PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls  toxic compounds widely used in electrical equipment, plastics and other products until banned in 1979.

Michigan, with 15 facilities licensed to handle hazardous wastes, doesn't routinely get a heads-up about shipments from out of state, McDiarmid said. But in view of publicity surrounding the derailment, we probably should have been made aware, he said.

In a letter to state agencies, EPA said waste from the crash site has been subject to more testing and analysis ... than many other, similar wastes regularly accepted at facilities nationwide.

There is nothing special or out of the ordinary about this waste, other than the fact that it's coming from a town that has suffered deeply in the wake of a horrible trauma, Regan said.

Under federal law, hazardous waste landfills must have double liners, leak detectors and groundwater monitoring devices, Muno said.

Contaminated soils typically are dumped from trucks into trenches or pits, compacted and capped with clay and plastic layers, then several feet of earth where grass is planted to prevent rainwater from seeping inside, he said.

Operators of injection wells  often depleted oil or gas wells extending thousands of feet underground  receive federal permits only after satisfying regulators there's no chance the waste would contaminate drinking water aquifers, Muno said.

They're very well operated and maintained, he said. Much different from the early landfills, where people would just dig a hole in the ground and fill it up and precipitation would wash the contaminants out.

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But it's not unreasonable for communities to be concerned about waste from disasters like the East Palestine crash, said Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project.

Regulators could help by quickly describing how facilities will store, treat and dispose of the waste and posting data from air and groundwater monitoring online, said the former EPA official.

One of the most important things government does is communicate risk as best they can, Schaeffer said. If you say, Theres nothing to see here,' explain why.

While EPA and Norfolk Southern have acted legally in shipping East Palestine waste to other states, the episode should prompt discussion about its fairness  especially when the facilities are in marginalized communities, said Nick Leonard, executive director of the Detroit-based Great Lakes Environmental Law Center.

In Michigan, two-thirds of residents within three miles (4.8 kilometers) of commercial hazardous waste facilities are people of color although they make up 25% of the state's population, he said.

What most residents are worried about is that one catastrophic event, Leonard said. It basically takes one mistake and you have really serious consequences.

The issue also raises questions about how we might minimize the toxic materials that go into things we use in everyday life, said McDiarmid of the Michigan environment agency. Creating less hazardous waste is a better answer than how we dispose of it.

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Follow John Flesher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnFlesher.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  An Oklahoma man convicted of murder for stabbing another man to death in 2018 could get a new trial after the district attorney acknowledged two of his former prosecutors watched jurors deliberate via a video feed into the courtroom.

Robert Kraft, 34, of Choteau, Oklahoma, was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder in July 2022, and the jury recommended a life prison sentence. But Kraft's attorney has filed a motion for a mistrial after District Attorney Matt Ballard acknowledged two of the prosecutors on the case, Isaac Shields and George Gibbs, Jr., watched jurors deliberate.

A status hearing in the case was held on Monday, but the judge has yet to rule on the mistrial motion.

Kraft's attorney, M.J. Denman, Jr., said it's a miscarriage of justice that the two prosecutors illegally observed jury deliberations and gave the prosecution an advantage that he was not afforded.

More: How the FBI says a fake Amazon van was used to move black market marijuana in Oklahoma

"It's like playing cards and not realizing you have a mirror behind you where they can see your hand," Denman said in a telephone interview after Monday's hearing. "I just would never expect two people whose job is supposed to be to enforce the law to break the law. They are supposed to have a higher standard."

Both Shields and Gibbs resigned from the Rogers County District Attorney's Office after the incident. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation launched a probe into the matter, and former Attorney General John O'Connor appointed another prosecutor, Brian Hermanson, to consider whether charges should be filed against the two prosecutors. Hermanson didn't respond Monday to a message seeking comment on the status of his investigation.Ballard said that while he's disappointed in the actions of his former prosecutors, he said their viewing of the jury deliberations did not affect the outcome of the trial, and that the jury's verdict should stand.

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"It's a very unfortunate situation, and I absolutely do not condone the actions of either of these former prosecutors," Ballard said, "but one of the positive aspects is that we've been able to determine through our investigation as well as OSBI's investigation that it appears there was never any contact with any of the jurors and that it was limited to observing through video screens the deliberations themselves."

Louisville shooting live updates: Gunman legally bought assault rifle a week ago

Listening to or observing a jury while they are deliberating, or even attempting to do so, is a felony under Oklahoma law, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.

An attorney for Shields said neither he nor Gibbs meant to do anything illegal.

"There was no intent whatsoever from either prosecutor to do anything improper nor to do anything that would influence the jury or undermine the integrity of the trial," said attorney Sheila Naifeh. "It is with great regret that this has become a focal point of this trial."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Choteau, Oklahoma, man could get new trial amid prosecutor misconduct
An Oklahoma state education board could vote as early as Tuesday on whether to approve the nations first religious charter school, potentially setting up a high-profile national legal battle over whether taxpayer money can be used to directly fund religious schools.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa are seeking approval for the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, an online program intended to serve students in mainly rural areas across the state who otherwise have little choice beyond their local public schools.

The schools organizers are seeking authorization as a charter school, a type of public school that is paid for with taxpayer dollars but is independently run and managed. Though a small number of charter schools may be affiliated with religious organizations, St. Isidore would be the first to be explicitly religious in its curriculum and operations.

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The St. Isidore application has the support of Oklahomas governor, Kevin Stitt, a Republican, who has argued that excluding religious charter schools is a violation of the First Amendments prohibition on religious discrimination.

With conservative justices now dominating the Supreme Court, St. Isidores organizers hope the charter school could be the next step in a broader movement to allow government money to be spent on religious schools. About 7% of public school students in the United States attend charter schools.

We are trying to motivate the courts to take up this question and give us a final answer, said Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, which represents the Catholic Church on policy issues and is behind the proposal.

Many Republican-led states are increasingly pushing for families to have the option to use taxpayer money for private education, including the use of universal school vouchers, which have been approved in five states in the past year. And in a series of recent rulings, the Supreme Court, which now has a 6-3 conservative majority, has signaled its support for the directing of taxpayer money to religious schools amid its broader embrace of the role of religion in public life.

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In key cases in 2020 and 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that Montana and Maine, respectively, could not exclude religious schools from state programs that allowed parents to use government-financed scholarship or tuition programs to send their children to private schools. In both cases, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the rulings did not require states to support religious education, but if a state chooses to subsidize any private schools, it may not discriminate against religious ones.

The proposal in Oklahoma could open a new line of litigation, moving the question from whether parents can choose to use state money to pay for private religious schools to whether the government can directly finance a religious charter school.

Lori Allen Walke, the senior minister of Mayflower Congregational UCC Church, a Protestant community in Oklahoma City, described the idea of religious charter schools as a violation of religious freedom, which protects our right to practice the religion of our choice and to not practice a religion of anyone elses choice.

Walke, who works with Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a legal advocacy group, was alarmed by the St. Isidores application, which describes Catholic schools as participating in the evangelizing mission of the Church.

Theyre being very transparent about what theyre trying to do there, she said.

Charter schools represent a hybrid  and growing  model of education. Like regular public schools, they are funded with taxpayer money and do not charge tuition. But unlike traditional schools, they are not zoned to particular neighborhoods, are independently managed and are often designed for innovation and flexibility. For example, they may have longer school days, or center on an academic theme.

The number of students enrolled in charter schools in the United States more than doubled between 2009 and 2019, according to federal data. Oklahoma has about 60 charter schools, including several virtual schools.

The national expansion of charter schools has at times been highly contentious, as schools pulled students  and their funding  away from neighborhood public schools. At the same time, charter schools have often been popular among Black and Latino parents seeking an alternative to failing public schools, and have been embraced by some Democrats as an alternative to taxpayer-funded vouchers supported by Republicans.

Nicole Stelle Garnett, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame who has argued for religious charter schools and has advised the St. Isidore organizers, said that the underlying question was whether charter schools were state actors or private actors, despite being publicly funded.

Are they really government agents, or are they more like a government contractor? she asked, using the example of Lockheed Martin, a private company that contracts for the U.S. military.

If they are private actors, there is room for them to be expressly religious, Garnett said.

But the charter school movement sees itself as squarely in the sphere of public education, said Nina Rees, president and chief executive of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She noted that charter schools must follow the same requirements as regular public schools, such as hiring staff members and accepting students regardless of religious background or sexual identity  protections she fears would go away if religious charters were to be approved.

The legal question  whether charter schools are state actors or private actors  is central to another case, from North Carolina, which the Supreme Court is weighing whether to take up.

Should the question make its way to the Supreme Court, Preston Green, a professor at the University of Connecticut who studies educational law, believes that the courts conservative majority would be likely to embrace charter schools as private actors, opening the door to religious charters.

I just cant see them saying no to this if they get a chance, he said.

In its application, St. Isidore said that it would be open to students of all faiths or no faith. If approved, the school, named for the patron saint of the internet, would accept an initial batch of 500 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, starting no sooner than the fall of 2024.

We are taking what we have been doing in Catholic schools for over a century in Oklahoma and putting that online, so that we can bring this content to the folks out in the rural areas, said Farley, of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, who argued that while the proposal represented an innovation, it was not at all exceptional.

We do this in many walks of life, he said. Weve got Medicaid going to Catholic hospitals. Weve got FEMA relief funds going to Catholic Charities.

When asked about admitting LGBTQ students or staff members, Farley said that he could not comment on hypotheticals. He said the school intended to abide by state regulations, while also maintaining its right to operate according to its religious beliefs.

Though approval of religious charter schools would open the door to religions of all kinds  Jewish and Muslim charter schools, for example  Rachel Laser, president and chief executive of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said she worried that the Oklahoma case clears a path for the government to favor the majority religion.

The country as a whole has grown more secular in recent decades.

There are now more people in the United States who identify as religiously unaffiliated than identify as Catholic. In Oklahoma, Catholics make up just 8% of the population, less than half the national figure, according to a 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center.

The proposed Catholic charter school has led to debate among top Oklahoma Republicans. The states new attorney general this year disagreed with his predecessor that there was enough legal precedent to support a religious charter school  and Stitt ended up weighing in with a strongly worded letter in support of religious charter schools and the St. Isidore application.

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, which is considering the application, includes members appointed by the governor and leaders of the Republican-controlled state Legislature.

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Monday's mass shooting at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville was Kentucky's first mass shooting of 2023.

The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organization that records shooting data across the U.S., reported 50 mass shootings in Kentucky since 2014. Courier Journal parent company USA TODAY defines a mass shooting as an incident where at least four people are hit with gunfire, even if there are no fatalities.

Monday's shooting claimed the lives of four people and wounded another nine, two of whom were police officers. The shooter is also dead.

Here's a look at some other mass shootings that have happened in the state.

Shrout family killings, Union: May 25, 1994

Clay Shrout was 17 when he killed his family in 1994 and subsequently held up his classmates with a gun, though no shots were fired at Ryle High School that day.

Shrout said he got up at 5 a.m., armed himself with a .380 caliber pistol, and walked into his parent's bedroom. He shot his mother first, then his father. Then he killed his two sisters.

He didn't stand trial. A judge found him guilty, but mentally ill.

Heath High School shooting, Paducah: Dec. 1, 1997

Two years before Columbine, Colorado put school shootings in the public eye, a small high school near Paducah was attacked by a gunman.

Students at Heath High School were holding a before-school prayer when 14-year-old Michael Carneal opened fire on his classmates, killing three and injuring five.

Carneal became eligible for parole last year but was denied.

Marshall County High School shooting: Jan. 23, 2018

A 15-year-old was charged with murder and assault after police said he used his stepfather's gun to kill two of his classmates at Marshall County High School in 2018. Fourteen others were shot.

Alleged shooter Gabriel Parker's classmates were also 15 when they were killed.

A lawsuit was filed the following year by the family of one of the victims, alleging his parents were negligent because he found and used a parent's firearm.

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Atlantis Plastics factory shooting, Henderson: June 25, 2008

A gunman killed his supervisor and wounded several other employees at a western Kentucky plastic factory before taking his own life in 2008.

Wesley Higdon, 25, was a press operator at Atlantis Plastics in Henderson when the shooting occurred.

Before he left work, he took out a gun, shot the supervisor and ran into the break room where he shot several more employees. He shot another person before fatally shooting himself.

Floyd County shooting: June 30, 2022

Lance Storz, 50, opened fire on officers with a high-powered rifle when they went to his house to serve a protective order, the Associated Press reported.

One Floyd County sheriff's deputy and two Prestonsburg police officers died. Four other officers were wounded.

He died in his jail cell by suicide in February.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville shooting: Other mass shootings that have happened in KY
Kansas City police called a tactical operation on Monday after a fatal shooting that unfolded in broad daylight in the 6800 block of Bellefontaine Avenue.

Capt. Corey Carlisle, a KCPD spokesman, said officers were dispatched to the area around 3:30 p.m. on a report of shots fired. A gunshot victim was found in the street, he said.

The victim, described as a male, was pronounced dead at the scene. Carlisle said it was not immediately clear whether the victim was an adult or a juvenile.

Tactical officers bearing assault rifles were called out to the scene along with armored vehicles. Police were attempting to establish communication with whoever may be inside a residence through use of a bullhorn.

It was not known whether anyone was actually inside the residence. Carlisle said tactical officers were on scene to assist with the execution of a search warrant that was being requested by detectives Monday afternoon.

Neighbors, meanwhile, said they believed the shooting victim was a teenage boy who lived in the neighborhood.

The shooting Monday was the second reported in the area. A second shooting that left a man critically injured unfolded roughly six blocks away around 4 p.m.

Later Monday evening, Carlisle said police officers were dispatched to a medical call near 75th and Askew Avenue. Police searched the area, did not locate anyone in need of help, and then relocated to 73rd and Indiana where a gunshot victim was found, Carlisle said.

The gunshot victim, an adult male, was taken to the hospital where he was listed in critical but stable condition.

Tactical response teams were conducting a standoff operation at a nearby apartment complex, Carlisle said, where police suspected the suspects were.

As of Monday evening, Carlisle said police did not believe the two shootings were related.

Police were asking anyone with information about the fatal shooting earlier Monday to contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that a standoff operation had been called in the 6800 block of Bellefontaine. The standoff operation was called in regard to a separate shooting near 73rd Street and Indiana Avenue, roughly six blocks away.
One in five American adults have a family member who was killed by a gun -- including by suicide -- and a similar percentage said they've been threatened with one, according to a survey released Tuesday.

Gun-related violence -- including mass shootings, suicides and accidents -- has become so common in the United States that 84 percent of US adults say they have taken precautions to protect themselves and their families from the danger of being shot, according to health research group KFF, which released the survey.

More than one third of those surveyed said they have avoided large crowds due to the possibility of gun violence. Some 29 percent have bought firearms to protect themselves and their families.

The data was released one day after the latest mass shooting to hit the country, at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, left five dead. Governor Andy Beshear said one of the victims was "an incredible friend" of his.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg detailed how he was shot at during his election campaign last year.

On March 27, three children and three adults were shot dead at a primary school in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, 11,631 people have been killed by guns so far in 2023, including 4,965 by homicide, accidents and incidents of defensive gun use, and 6,666 by suicide.

In 2022, the organization said, 20,249 people died in homicidal, accidental or defensive shootings. More than 24,000 used guns to kill themselves.

KFF said 41 percent of American adults live in households where there is a gun present -- and in 44 percent of those homes, the weapon is kept in an unlocked location.

Black and Hispanic Americans reported far more experiences knowing someone who was shot, and generally feeling threatened by gun violence, than white Americans did.

Three out of 10 Black adults had personally seen someone being shot, the survey said, more than twice the rate for white adults.

KFF's data was based on a survey of 1,271 adults taken during mid-March.

pmh/nro/st
One in five Americans (19 per cent) have experienced the trauma of losing a relative to gun violence, according to a new study.

The survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that about the same number (21 per cent) of US adults said they had been personally threatened with a gun.

And one in six US adults (17 per cent) had directly witnessed someone being shot, according to the poll.

The survey was released one day after five people were killed  including a close friend of Kentucky governor Andy Beshear  and nine others wounded when a Louisville bank employee armed with an AR-15 style rifle opened fire at his workplace on Monday morning.

Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad, Mr Beshear said during a press conference on Monday night. 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.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to reporters during a news conference in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, April 10, 2023. (Associated Press)

The shooter, identified by police as Connor Sturgeon, 25, had told a friend prior to the attack that he wanted to kill everyone.

He legally purchased the weapon one week earlier, and live-streamed the attack to his Instagram page, before being shot dead by officers. It was the 15th mass murder in the United States in the first hundred days of 2023.

There have been at least 147 mass shootings so far this year, where four or more people are shot, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

A mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville last month that claimed the lives of three nine-year-old children and three teachers also struck close to home for Tennessee governor Bill Lee.

Cynthia Peak, a 61-year-old substitute teacher killed in the 27 March attack, was a close friend of Mr Lees wife Maria, the governor said.

Maria woke up this morning without one of her best friends, Mr Lee said the next day, according to the Associated Press. Peak had been due to have dinner with Ms Lee on the day she was killed, the governor added.

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Tommy Elliott, 63, Jim Tutt, 64, Josh Barrick, 40, Juliana Farmer, 57, and Deana Eckert, 57 were all killed in the Louisville mass shooting. (AP/Supplied)

According to the KFF poll, one third of Black adults (34 per cent) reported losing a family member to gun violence, double the number of white (17 per cent) or Hispanic (18 per cent) people. The figure includes deaths by homicide and suicide.

After the latest shooting, UofL Health chief medical officer Jason Smith begged lawmakers to take action prevent further killings.

For 15 years, Ive cared for victims of violence and gunshot wounds. And people say, Im tired, but Ill be honest, its more than tired. Im weary, Dr Smith said.

Health professionals have long been pushing for gun violence to be treated as a public health issue, a subject also canvassed in the KFF survey. Around one in seven (14 per cent) respondents said they had been asked by a health care provider if guns were kept in their home.

Four in ten adults reported that they live in a household where firearms are kept.

The survey of 1,271 adults was conducted in English and Spanish from 14 to 23 March.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin in Moscow on September 9, 2021. SHAMIL ZHUMATOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko asked Russia to defend it if attacked, state media reported.

The embattled leader asked Russia to protect his country "as its own territory."

Lukashenko could be reacting to Finland's recent accession to NATO, one expert said.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has asked for President Vladimir Putin's assurance that Russia would defend his country in the event of an attack. This comes as tensions with the West continue following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.

Lukashenko met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Minsk on Monday, according to Belarusian state-owned news agency Belta.

In the meeting, Lukashenko requested that "in case of aggression against Belarus the Russian Federation protects Belarus as its own territory," the outlet reporting him as saying.

"We need such guarantees," he added.

As part of his statement, Lukashenko also disparaged Western security commitments.

Mykhailo Polodyak, a Ukrainian presidential advisor, dismissed Lukashenko's statements as "weird desires" that were akin to "an antelope asking for security guarantees in the crocodile's mouth."

Belarus is already seen by many Western observers as a puppet state of Russia, having a longstanding agreement to form a "Union state" whose terms have been the subject of negotiations for decades. In November 2021, the two countries agreed on an array of integrative measures, Radio Free Europe reported.

While Lukashenko has long resisted moves that would interfere with Belarus' sovereignty, in February leaked documents revealed a Kremlin plan to incorporate Belarus wholesale by 2030.

Belarus has avoided committing troops to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but has aided it by training Russian troops and allowing Russian use of its military bases.

In March, Putin announced that he planned to station nuclear weapons in Belarus, a move that Ukrainian security chief Oleksiy Danilov said was equivalent to "Belarus as a nuclear hostage."

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Emily Ferris, a research fellow focusing on Russian and Eurasian security at the Royal United Services Institute, said it's not clear exactly what Lukashenko's statement on Monday was meant to achieve.

"They already have a bunch of security alliances," she told Insider. "I guess what they're trying to create is a sort of pseudo-Article 5."

NATO's Article 5 refers to the principle of mutual defense, whereby an attack on one member state is construed as an attack on all.

"Irrespective of a security guarantee, I don't think it would mean very much," she continued, adding: "Their armies are in every real way pretty well integrated."

Ferris also said that the move could be a response to Finland joining NATO earlier this month, and that Balarus "might be feeling over-exposed in terms of security."

It could also be a response to Lukashenko feels under threat with his domestic politics, she said, noting that Lukashenko and Putin don't actually enjoy a strong personal relationship.

"If Putin is to become, I guess the head of the Union state, then it's not entirely clear what Lukashenko's role exactly is  who will control what," she added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
When the first vintage of Verite was produced in 1998, the project did not even have a name, much less a home. That year Jess Jackson and Barbara Bankethe married couple behind Jackson Family Winescollaborated with French agronomist Pierre Seillan and his wife Monique to create a blend of 90 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from select Sonoma vineyards. This passion project sprung up thanks to Jess and Barbaras desire to create a world class Sonoma Merlot and the Seillans agreeing to leave Bordeaux and join them. As Monique Seillan told Robb Report during a visit to Verites new winery and tasting room, In 1998, we named the very first Verite, which became the name of the program, not the place. This place did not even exist.

That has certainly changed now. After many years of what Monique Seillan described as a humble place, not suitable or impressive enough for the collectors who visit, Verite has unveiled a new hospitality center featuring a classic Bordelais-style chai, or above ground barrel room. Situated in the Chalk Hill AVA between Healdsburg and Windsor, Verite makes three wines, La Muse, La Joie, and Le Desir using fruit from their onsite vines and two other estate vineyards in nearby Alexander Valley and Knights Valley. Made in classic Bordeaux style, La Muse is predominantly Merlot, while La Joie and Le Desir are mainly made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, respectively. Since its inception, Verites wines have received 17 100-point scores, with every vintage consistently scoring in the high 90s.

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Verite Tasting Salon Interior

Taking the cloister concept and sense of balance from the Abbaye de Moissac in the south of France, the Jackson and Seillan families plan was to integrate the exterior of the new building with its natural surroundings while spotlighting wine production inside. A series of tasting spaces designed with the personality of the wine in mind seamlessly flows from one area to the next. The sunlit main salon and its light, neutral palette takes inspiration from La Muse, which is described as feminine and elegant, while the chai and tasting lounge that overlook it owe their character to proud, dominant, and confident La Joie. Complex, in the moment, and intelligent Le Desir influenced the choice of deep, rich colors and textures of the cave and vaults that house library vintages of Verite.

Appointment-only tasting experiences guided by a small team of knowledgeable concierges include the Estate Tasting, featuring the three current vintage Verite wines (now 2019) and one library vintage, for $200 per person and a Library Comparison Tasting showcasing the current wines alongside three library vintages for $350 per person. Monique and Pierre Seillan and their daughter Helene, who trained with her father at their Saint Emilion estate Chateau Lassegue and now makes wine here alongside him, are often onsite and may stop in to say hello during a tasting. The same is true of co-owners Chris and Julia Jackson. While a full kitchen and formal dining room are planned for the future, tasting experiences also feature house made charcuterie prepared by the estates full-time chef.

Click here to see all the photos of Verite Estate.

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The police body cam videos from the shooting at Nashvilles Covenant School left few unimpressed. The training and professionalism of the officers was obvious, and despite the tragic loss of life, it could have been far worse. Their actions were a stark juxtaposition with what transpired in Uvalde, Texas, or Parkland, Florida, where disorganized or delayed responses compounded tragedy.

The outstanding performance of the Nashville Metro Police officers likely drastically reduced the number of casualties, but six killed instead of 15 or 20 doesnt feel like a win. We must not lose sight of an underlying reality: By the time a gunfight breaks out at a school, many systems have already failed. Defeating a shooter at a school should be the very last line of defense. Politicians and educators should commend the heroism of the Nashville police without creating the impression that this response is the ideal outcome.

Thats because when it comes to schools, the most effective gunfight is the one that never happens.

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People will continue to disagree about gun policy and how to balance Second Amendment rights with responsibilities. But even with that debate stalemated, there are active and passive measures schools can take, because school shootings are rarely random.

Related: 3 Kids, 3 Adults Killed in Shooting at Nashville Private Elementary School

Research by the Secret Service shows that in more than 3 out of 4 school shootings, there are warning signs ahead of time  the shooter signals or directly tells others of an intent to do harm or threatens the target. Its too soon to know exactly what transpired in Nashville and why, but the parents of the shooter were concerned enough to try to limit their access to firearms. The Parkland shooter was pretty clear about what he had in mind. The parents of the Oxford, Michigan, high school shooter are facing criminal charges for their lack of action in the lead-up to that incident.

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Most school shootings are not attacks by outsiders. Rather, they are perpetrated by students or people known to students. Sometimes its a domestic situation that spills over into a school. Thats why the first line of defense is a healthy school culture where students have adults they trust and can share concerns with. Just as elite military units soak up intelligence, school officials must develop a culture where students share information of concern.

Schools should not profile students; there is no typical profile of a school shooter. But once a student exhibits warning signs, schools should act. The signs and signals are the sort of things common sense would suggest: a fixation with violence, weapons, past school shootings, dramatic changes in dress or behavior, threatening behavior or explicit threats.

Whats more, this is not just security work. A healthy school culture and a sense of belonging carry multiple benefits for students, including better academic outcomes. Bullying and alienation are a factor in many school shootings. Some anti-bullying and social-emotional learning initiatives are facing political pressure, and some are poorly designed or ideologically fraught. Yet the Secret Service, hardly a hotbed of leftism, says in its school shooting analysis, it is critical that schools implement comprehensive programs designed to promote safe and positive school climates, where students feel empowered to report bullying when they witness it or are victims of it, and where school officials and other authorities act to intervene.

Related: 5 Years After Parkland, Florida Police Departments Still Lack Procedures on Stopping Mass Shooters

Training also matters  for adults more than students. Active shooter drills in schools are too often just security theater. They convey the sense that officials are doing something, but in practice serve only to increase anxiety and depression among students. Training for adults, however, is crucial, with all staff knowing their role in an emergency. In the Nashville bodycam video, officers are greeted by school personnel relaying pertinent information and giving them access to the building. They dont slow the officers down, inundate them or have multiple people creating confusion. Schools should take an all-hazard approach to emergency response, with active shooter just one contingency among many, much more likely ones schools will face.

Of course, there are basic steps schools should take with regard to security, including controlling building access and implementing passive measures like making sure doors and locks work consistently and that there are clear lines of sight outside of schools. These steps do not adversely impact the experience of students but make schools safer.

In the end, schools are places of learning, filled with children, not forts or foxholes. The Nashville shooter shot their way into the school. Thats horrifying, but exceedingly rare. All the attention obscures just how low the risk is for any given school. Regular communication from schools emphasizing this while also explaining steps that are being taken for safety should be the norm.

Related: Straight Talk From a Green Beret: Arming Teachers Is a Lousy Idea

Politicians and education leaders can turn schools into bunkers and harden the target to the point of absurdity or recognize that the best gunfights are the ones that never happen. And they dont happen because of a healthy school climate that heads them off far upstream.
Matthew Kacsmaryk listens during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017. (Senate Judiciary Committee / Associated Press)

Last week, dueling rulings threw the fate of the abortion pill mifepristone into doubt.

In one decision, 17 liberal states and the District of Columbia had sued to expand access to the pills, but U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice did not go that far, instead ordering federal regulators to preserve access to mifepristone in just the states that sued. In the other case, the Alliance Defending Freedom, a right-wing litigation group, argued that the Food and Drug Administration lacked the authority to approve mifepristone and that distribution of the drug violated the Comstock Act, a federal anti-vice law passed in 1873 and not much thought of in the past century. If Rices ruling was narrow, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk gave the lawyers for the Alliance Defending Freedom everything they wanted and more.

The Kacsmaryk ruling is a reminder that far-right federal judges are increasingly unconstrained, with little fear of being reversed by the Supreme Court and no sense of accountability. If the decision reads more like an antiabortion pamphlet than a legal ruling, it also sends a clear message: The judge and others like him believe that there is nothing anyone will do about it.

It was no great surprise that Kacsmaryk found a way to rule against the FDA. Commentators widely believed that the mifespristone case was filed in Amarillo, Texas  where Kacsmaryk presides  because he would be sympathetic to its claims.

But the breadth of Kacsmaryks ruling was stunning.

Ordinarily, when doctors sue on their patients behalf, they rely on the idea of third-party standing  essentially, arguing that their patients are not in a good position to defend their rights, and that doctors must do so instead.

But the doctors who were part of the plaintiffs group Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine said little about the harm suffered by any patients, though standing requires a concrete injury. Kacsmaryk didnt mind  much of his standing analysis seemed like an excuse to explain why women themselves werent in court complaining about mifepristone. He answered this question by echoing antiabortion talking points: Mifespristone users were so plagued by shame, regret, anxiety, depression, drug abuse and suicidal thoughts that they needed doctors they had never met to go to court on their behalf.

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Never mind that such claims about post-abortion mental health clash with high-quality science, or that the judge was ready to imagine a future injury to give the plaintiffs a foot in the door.

Doing far more than was necessary was the theme of the opinion.

Kacsmaryk's decision was steeped in the rhetoric of the antiabortion movement: Doctors, in the ruling, are abortionists; those who choose abortion, post-abortive women and girls; abortion kill[s] an unborn child or unborn human.

Kacsmaryk first ruled that the 1873 Comstock Act, which bars the mailing of any drug or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion, applied to mifepristone. But by the early 20th century, federal courts had interpreted the Comstock Act to apply only when the sender intended a drug to be used unlawfully. That made it harder to pursue prosecutions, and culturally, the act came to seem like a relic. Then with Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court made enforcing it unconstitutional.

Post Roe some of the barriers to the enforcement of Comstock are gone, but that hardly makes Kacsmaryks interpretation a slam dunk. The Comstock holding is explosive; it opens the door to a ban on any abortion, even in states where it is legal, since every such procedure relies on drugs and devices that might be mailed to clinics, hospitals and doctors offices.

But that was still not enough for Kacsmaryk. He went on to rule that the FDA had been wrong to approve mifepristone in 2000, setting a precedent for challenging other drugs, especially controversial ones, like those used in gender-affirming therapy.

In passing, he suggested that his ruling would save the lives of girls and women killed by mifepristone  a drug that rigorous science has established is safe and effective, safer in fact than penicillin or Viagra  and that the only benefit of abortion access was eugenic, which he connected to the bloody consequences of Social Darwinists practiced by would-be Ubermenschen. He even referenced the theory that a fetus is a rights-holding person under the Constitution (which matches exactly no Supreme Court decision) and that abortion is unconstitutional (ditto).

The ruling reveals Kacsmaryks, and much of the antiabortion movements, real goal: A national abortion ban, and giving science and FDA protocols a black eye.

Kacsmaryks decision was stayed for a week. He knew that it would be appealed (it was, on Monday). The appeal will go to the reliably conservative judges of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and from there to a Supreme Court packed with a majority that could well sign off on all or some of Kacsmaryks overreach.

The Supreme Court has had conservative majorities before, but this Supreme Court has behaved differently from its predecessors. It takes on more major cases and rules almost inevitably for conservatives  and often, delivers them bigger wins than would be necessary to resolve a case, as happened when the supermajority reversed Roe. As studies confirm that the justices have moved away from American public opinion, the courts reputation has taken a hit: Polls demonstrate that more Americans question the legitimacy of the Supreme Court than at any time since pollsters have asked the question.

And the court has been beset by a series of scandals  the unsolved leak of the draft opinion overruling Roe, allegations that Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. gave confidential information about forthcoming rulings to conservative donors and, as of last week, the failure of Justice Clarence Thomas to disclose a series of luxury vacations paid for by conservative donor Harlan Crow.

So far, the conservative justices have not acknowledged any wrongdoing. They may see no reason to. Its not as if the court can be held accountable. Kacsmaryk, likewise, has no obvious reason to worry that an activist opinion will be held against him in any meaningful way.

When Dobbs vs. Jackson Womens Health Organization overturned Roe, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh wrote a concurring opinion. In it, he promised that the court would be scrupulously neutral on abortion, treating any case on the matter with the utmost seriousness.

Kacsmaryk evidently believes Kavanaughs promise is meaningless. One thing is clear: Together with Kacsmaryks decision, the conflicting ruling from Rice has given the FDA clashing orders and created a crisis that, eventually, the U.S. Supreme Court will have to resolve.

Kacsmaryks ruling reads like it was written by someone already sure of a high court win. Soon enough, we will learn if that assumption is right.

Mary Ziegler is the Martin Luther King Jr. professor at UC Davis School of Law and author of "Roe: The History of a National Obsession."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In Kurt Volbedas March 23 response to my response to his original article, he highlights concerns about my understanding of his views in relation to the Book of Genesis in the Bible. My March 14 response was not solely about the Book of Genesis. My larger concern is how the Christian faith can inform public life in a way that is more generous and inclusive, especially in matters related to Ottawa Impact. I would prefer this focus rather than a detailed debate on the biblical book of Genesis.

My understanding from reading the Ottawa Impact website is that the group has a great concern that mask mandates and public health measures associated with the coronavirus pandemic beginning in March 2020 were excessive and compromised the individual freedom of citizens of Ottawa County. I first learned about coronavirus from a medically trained doctor in our congregation in early December 2019. He stated to me, This is highly contagious, and we can assume that people in our country are probably in better health than in China, but just consider a 1 percent death rate! I did the math in my head, and it came to 3.25 million or 3.5 million deaths in the United States! The country and our state put in place mitigation strategies and church services in person and other public gatherings were curtailed, but even so we had 1 million deaths in the United States. Imagine if we had 3.25 million or 3.5 million deaths in the United States! We had enough social breakdown and lack of trust in our society with a million deaths. But matters could have been much worse.

In relation to the county commissioners and public health, while we affirm personal freedom, we do need to keep in mind public health and the common good, which is a human and religious value in many faith traditions, including Christian tradition. The common good and the public good should not be forgotten in the rush to personal freedoms. With wisdom, we need to affirm both values in our county and not make either-or choices. One purpose for this writing is the hope that our commissioners can grow in the job now that they have responsibility for leading county government.

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The pandemic is not the first we have faced in history. During the Black Plague when nearly half of Europeans died, Lutherans turned to Martin Luther for guidance. He counseled that a plague is a time to cleanse not just the house but the heart, and it is perfectly permissible to take precautions to protect oneself from catching the disease and for the community to take precautions. Luther did not propose, Just have faith and God will protect you. During the coronavirus pandemic, I researched church bulletins from our congregation during the Spanish Flu Epidemic in 1917. I learned congregations in our community curtailed public worship for some time at the request of public officials. I do not know if this was mandated, but I suspect there was greater trust at that time between public officials and congregational leaders. We can work in collaborative ways rather than combative ways.

The Ottawa Impact website says it will adhere to a Judeo-Christian heritage, which is part of a current movement across the country that America was originally a Christian nation. The Founders' view of religion in public life can best be expressed as complex. They did not wish that religion or religious values be excised from the realm of public life and debate. But they did not want to have the establishment of a state church and give preference to one religious tradition over another.

One of the things that has happened in Ottawa County and will hopefully continue is the rich diversity of people who reside in our communities and who will come to this county. Not only do we have an increasingly diverse country with many different religions, but the truth is also that the face of Christianity itself is changing dramatically in the United States. As Trish Harrison Warren recently wrote in the New York Times, It is the browning of Christianity. This will have a profound impact on the face of Christianity across the country, and some of that reality is already at work in the life of our communities. My hope is the language about Judeo-Christian heritage is not a dog whistle for exclusion. I have certainly been enriched by people in our county of other religions than my own, and I have been blessed beyond measure by brothers and sisters in Christ of color.

While I have wanted to focus on ways that the Christian faith can be expressed in the public realm of life which is generous and collaborative, I read Kurt Volbedas explanations about his understanding of the Bible and science. I thought Mr. Volbedas articulation that he was not an atheist even though not subscribing to the institutionalized Christianity and his recognition of the immense good of churches was generous. Volbeda raises several issues related to Genesis. One of these is the person of Adam. Adam means mankind, or humankind in Hebrew. The story is not just about our first parents eating a forbidden fruit, but it is our story. We may have been living the story the past few years with a failure to trust God and to trust one another. Science helps us to know how creation came to be; Genesis is about meaning, purpose and why we are here. They are not alternative truths but different kinds of truths. But then Volbeda and I probably should have a cup of coffee somewhere in town and explore our journey with Genesis and science. We are probably talking past each other.

 Kent Fry is a retired Reformed Church Minister.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: My Take: Ottawa Impact and a public Christian faith
An Australian environmental engineering company is expanding to the United States, with plans to make Statesville the home of a new 260,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, Gov. Roy Coopers office announced Tuesday. The move will bring an expected 226 jobs to Iredell County.

EPOC Enviro is a remediation company. It produces a solution that removes harmful substances from the water, soil and industrial systems, according to Coopers office. EPOC  a subsidiary of OPEC Systems of Australia  stands for Emerging Pollutants of Concern.

The company uses a foam technology to remove pollutants.

It plans to invest $4.1 million in the Statesville location. The companys building is just off Route 70 at Barkley Road, at the newly-built Statesville Commerce Center. EPOC will take up space in the building in the coming weeks, according to company spokeswoman Michelle Mahon.

Once operational by the summer, the company will be hiring for electricians, engineers, fitters, managers, technicians and administrative personnel, Coopers office said. The average annual salary is close to $65,000, slightly above the average wage of $64,433 in Iredell County.

After looking at possible sites all over America we are delighted to have settled on North Carolina as the hub for our U.S. business activities, Peter Murphy, EPOCs president, said in a statement released by Coopers office.

Statesville is about 45 minutes north of Charlotte.

NC grant award

EPOC Enviro received a state Jobs Development Investment Grant award of about $1.2 million over 12 years, Coopers office said.

State payments only occur when the company meets job creation and investment goals.
Macron urges Europe to reduce dependence on US

08:51, April 11, 2023 By CHEN WEIHUA ( Chinadaily.com.cn

President Xi Jinping held a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on April 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Europe to reduce its dependence on the United States and avoid getting caught up in confrontation between the US and China.

Experts said Macron's recent three-day trip to China had contributed to bilateral relations and hopes of a peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In an interview with reporters aboard a French presidential aircraft flying from Beijing to Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Macron stressed the importance of Europe's "strategic autonomy" in order to become a "third superpower".

He said "the great risk" Europe faces is that it "gets caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy", the news website Politico reported on Sunday.

Macron put forward the idea of the European Union's strategic autonomy in September 2017, four months after becoming president.

"The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just America's followers," he said. "The question Europeans need to answer  is it in our interest to accelerate (a crisis) on Taiwan? No."

Tensions across the Taiwan Straits have increased following Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last Wednesday during her recent provocative "transit" trip. In response, China's People's Liberation Army carried out drills from Saturday to Monday, including simulated strikes against key targets on the island of Taiwan and in its surrounding waters.

"Europeans cannot resolve the crisis in Ukraine; how can we credibly say on Taiwan, 'watch out, if you do something wrong we will be there'? If you really want to increase tensions that's the way to do it," Macron said.

He also said Europe had increased its dependence on the US for weapons and energy and must now focus on boosting European defense industries.

He added that Europe should reduce its dependence on the "extraterritoriality of the US dollar".

"If the tensions between two superpowers heat up  we won't have the time nor the resources to finance our strategic autonomy and we will become vassals," Macron said.

Many Europeans have complained about "weaponization" of its reserve currency by the US, which has forced European companies to cut business ties with third countries or face secondary sanctions.

On Sunday night, Macron posted on Twitter a video clip of his three-day visit to China in which he said: "I feel at ease with (President Xi Jinping), including on substance. There is a mutual attraction between France and China, a fascination, a friendship, a singular journey."

Arnaud Bertrand, a French entrepreneur with experience in China and a commentator on geopolitics, said on Twitter on Monday, "All in all it couldn't be clearer now, with this and Macron's earlier communication that he (Xi) sees France as China's foremost ally in the West to counter US-led efforts to contain the country."

Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of the Brussels-based European Centre for International Political Economy, said that Macron proved that Europe and China might not necessarily share the same ideal outcome regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but they share the second-best option, a cease-fire that respects the United Nations Charter, adding that some hawks forget that diplomacy is always about pursuing the second-best option.

He said both Europe and China have much to gain from strengthening trade and investment ties, from Airbus planes to renewable energy and infrastructure projects.

Yan Shaohua, an associate professor at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, said the fact that Macron brought with him a large business delegation, and the signing of a number of commercial deals, show that trade and economic cooperation is still the central pillar of China-Europe relations.

He Zhigao, a researcher at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the joint declaration by China and France is rich in content, covering 51 subjects, and is practical and easy to implement.

"There is great motivation for more cooperation and development in Sino-French and Sino-EU relations," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan on Tuesday condemned India's decision to hold Group of 20 meetings in the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir next month, calling the move "irresponsible".

Kashmir is claimed in full but ruled in part by the two nuclear-armed neighbours who have fought two of their three wars over control of the region.

India currently holds the rotating year-long presidency of the G20 and is set to host a leaders' summit in New Delhi in early September.

On Friday, India released a full calendar of events leading up to the summit, which included G20 and Youth 20 meetings in Kashmir's summer capital of Srinagar and in Leh, in the neighbouring region of Ladakh, in April and May.

Pakistan's foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the choice of venues in disputed territory.

"India's irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir," it said.

It went on to accuse India of acting in "disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and international law."

"Pakistan vehemently condemns these moves," it said.

India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request seeking comment on the statement from Pakistan.

New Delhi has long accused Pakistan of stoking a decades-long separatist insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim-majority region in India.

Islamabad denies that accusation, saying it only provides diplomatic and moral support for Kashmiris seeking self-determination.

Pakistan also accuses India of human rights violations in the parts of Kashmir under its control, a charge New Delhi rejects.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Writing by Shivam Patel; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
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It might have been uttered more than 80 years ago, but the line Well always have Paris still rings true today. Every year, tens of millions flock to the City of Light to fall in love, to indulge, to shop, to be inspired. Theyre convinced that only Paris can offer them the sort of indelible memories like Rick and Ilsa share in Casablanca.

Stripped of its cinematic context, Well always have Paris could have another meaning. Paris and all its historic beauty, elegant fashion, and next-level cuisine will always be there. Theres never any need to describe Paris, the German adventurer Karl Ludig von Pollnitz once said, because most people know what sort of place it is, even if they have never been there. Our collective taking it for granted is so powerful it can cause mental illness, and its remarkable we do it given Pariss appeal lies in one of urbanisms greatest balancing acts between the old and the new. When Americans come to Paris, they expect the citys core business, fashion, to be all about the new. But the fantasy, the reason we all romanticize this place, is the old. You can buy the latest Dior anywhere in the world, but in Paris you can justify it as part of a long tradition of wastefulness. To put it another way, you can tipsily kiss in the shadows in an Applebee's parking lot, but it wont be quite the same as one stolen at an ungodly hour in the dim arcades of the Louvre des Antiquaires on the Rue de Rivoli.

That feat of feeding us the new while holding on to the old was very much on my mind during a recent February visit. On the one hand I was there for thoroughly modern reasons. The French airline La Compagnie, the worlds sole business class-only outfit which connects New York and Paris, wanted to showcase their collaborations with cutting-edge star chefs Franco Sampogna and David Toutain. But I was also there because the Musee de Cluny, that dusty, always overlooked repository of medieval curiosities, just reopened after a renovation that has turned it into one of the must-sees of contemporary Paris.

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A view of the layout in La Compagnie's plane. Handout

The trip began in something I never knew existed post-COVIDa sleepy Newark Liberty International. La Compagnie was founded a decade ago and flies directly from New York to Paris, Milan, and, seasonally, Nice. It is business class-only, laid out in two-by-twos on new A321 Neos. (This does mean if you plan to go to the restroom a bunch in the middle of the night flight you really want an aisle, otherwise youre clambering over a sleeping person.) Other than going through TSA, everything about flying the airline was a little surreal. Its concourse, which it shares with Porter Airlines, was virtually empty. Youre still flying commercial, but since there are no economy class passengers, boarding takes just a handful of minutes, and same for deboarding at the less busy Paris Orly airport. The wifi is free and fast. The flight to Europe is more classic French business class farepotato and leek soup, grilled beef, cheese platter, and an apple brioche piewith the star chef collaborations on the return.

The entrance to Hotel Rochechouart Cyril Duchene

My home in Paris was the Hotel Rochechouart, which as Ring Lardner would say, is pronounced exactly as it is not spelled. (On my way into the city I was asked for directions by an out-of-town Frenchman and in my stumbling I recalled another Lardner gem: One of several differences between an American and a Frenchman is that an American tries to understand a Frenchmans English and a Frenchman tries not to understand an Americans French.) The hotel today is another great example of the citys balancing act. Its a beautiful piece of architecture in Montmartre dating from the height of Art Deco.

Its current owners, the Orso Hotel group, have maintained the details immaculately and so its full-blown nostalgia from the elaborate entrance through the restored brasserie and views of Sacre Coeur from its arched windows. But its basement nightclub Mikado is no old-timey jazz clubthe striving young set often find their way here on weekends to dance to DJ sets. Plus, the accouterments throughout the property are thoroughly modern and comfort-focused.

The view from the rooms at Hotel Rochechouart William O'Connor/The Dailly Beast

Montmartre is arguably the most popular neighborhood in Paris today, but for decades that crown belonged to Saint-Germain-des-Pres with its classic spots like Brasserie Lipp, Cafe de Flore, and Les Deux Magots. But just a few blocks away was a fenced in collection of ruins that few tourists, or residents, ever felt curious enough to poke around in. Those ruins, once a Roman thermal bath, are attached to a 15th century mansion, the combination of which plays host to what is now one of my favorite museums in the whole city, the Musee de Cluny.

The new is so pressing in Paris that it doesnt take much for something to seem old. Much of this city, including the aforementioned Louvre des Antiquaires, is only from the late 19th century. Sacre-Coeur, a sight whose appeal beyond its siting escapes me, is only from 1875. Much of the old stuffthe Pont Neuf, Ile Saint Louis, the Place des Vosgeswere once cutting-edge. Indeed, any of the men and women alive at the time of the objects in the Musee de Cluny would have found those old bits of Paris as flummoxing as Baudelaire found Haussmanns Paris or Hemingway would find the the LVMH Foundation or Andos Bourse today.

One of the goals of the museum overhaul was to make it more inviting from the street, which architect Bernard Desmoulin accomplished with the new metal-sheathed reception building. The museum has also tossed aside a once-trendy (and misguided) display method based on theme and has switched back to chronological. After popping your head into the still-intact Roman frigidarium, entering the first room sets the tone for what you can expect throughout. Here, Visigothic, Merovingian, and Carolingian pieces that are often stuffed by the dozens into cases in major museums are instead given Mona Lisa-like treatment with in-the-round display cases spread around the room. Marvelits hard not toat the gold votive Visigothic crowns with sapphire, amethyst, emerald, jasper, and pearl or at the opulent altar frontal from the Basel cathedral.

Then its on through the evolution of French religious architecture, and while fun isnt quite what one imagines finding in a torture device-free medieval museum, the chamber full of disembodied stone heads sure is. It turns out that the kings of Israel and Judah standing watch along the west facade of Notre Dame today arent the originals. In the winter of 1793 overzealous revolutionaries climbed up, and thinking the works were actually the kings of France, removed the statues. Fittingly, they chopped off their heads. Those niches would remain empty for 50 years, leaving Notre Dame toothless. In the mid-19th century during Notre Dames restoration, Viollet-le-Duc recreated the statues based on drawings and other similar works. As R. Howard Bloch recounts in Paris and Her Cathedrals, the head of the king eighth from the left today is of Viollet-le-Duc himself, and the 23rd that of his collaborator Lassus. Cheeky!

As for the heads perched before you in the museum: first they were used as a public urinal and then they disappeared. In 1839 some of the headless bodies were dug up in the 13th arrondissement being used as boundary stones, and then amazingly, in 1977, 21 of the heads were found during an excavation for the Banque Francaise du Commerce Exterieur and are now here in the museum.

William O'Connor/The Dailly Beast

Given the richness of the collection, many paragraphs could be devoted to the stories of each piece, but for now, the highlights will have to do. Inside this museum is the closest you can get to the famed stained glass of Sainte Chapelleyou could almost press your nose against it. More than a century ago, when the glass was restored some of it was deemed too fragile so those pieces were sent here. You can also ogle the oldest existing papal golden rosejust one a year is given by popes to those they wish to reward. Pay close attention to the placards, as they will let you know that those elaborate carved pieces by the Embriachi workshop were made from bone. And the restored chapel from the original building should not be missed. It has been left empty so visitors can appreciate it as a space. With the midday light filtering in, I find it to be one of the most moving places in all of Paris and its single column is elegance made manifest.

William O'Connor/The Dailly Beast

The crown in the collection was something I wasnt terribly familiar with but havent stopped thinking about since. The six tapestries making up The Lady and the Unicorn series have their own darkroom devoted to them. Find a slow day without many visitors, as youll want to be able to enjoy these without somebody sighing loudly behind you because they want a photograph. Five of these millefleurs-style soft pink tapestries depict the five senses. The sixth, despite its inscription of My only desire, remains a mystery. The colors are rich and radiant, and the expressions of all depicted, animal and human, are delightfully expressive.

That night, my dinner mates were fortunate there was an elaborate tasting menu with lots of moving pieces, because otherwise I wouldnt have shut up about the museum. We were dining at David Toutains eponymous two-Michelin star restaurant as Toutain is one of the chefs collaborating with La Compagnie. There were the usual food follies like salsify amongst actual sticks (does anybody accidentally eat a stick?!) but also simple wonders like the lobster with crosne on skewers of Douglas Fir.

Toutain mustve been reading my mind when he came by the table. It turns out even he was pulling from the old to create the newthe dish of artichoke petals served that night was inspired by his grandmothers recipe.

William O'Connor/The Dailly Beast

The following morning it was time to head home, which meant back to Orly Airport and on board La Compagnie for the special menu created by chef Franco Sampogna. Lanky and handsome, the Brazilian Sampogna co-founded Frevo in New York City. Its a 16-seat counter reached through an art gallery on W 8th Street. Frevo may have a Michelin star as of last year but its one of the more relaxed fine dining experiences youll ever have. As course after course is served and wine from the most obscure of appellations is poured, there, just feet in front of you are Sampogna and his team cheerfully whipping up the next course. If youre lucky, the restaurants signature dessert will still be on the menuhoney ice cream drizzled in truffle honey on a bed of shaved 36-month comte. Upon leaving, in the faintly lit corner of the restaurant, I only realized the person handing out coats to patrons leaving was Sampogna himself.

On board an airplane, one is much more limited both in terms of the obstacles around preparation (dishes that can be served cool hold their quality best) and in terms of taste (food generally tastes more bland, so you have to up the salt). The meal that day was, pun intended, a chefs kiss on which to end a trip in Paris. Smoked salmon on a bulgur wheat salad with sesame, lemon, and trout eggs to start, followed by a blanquette of scallops and cauliflower with a cheese course (goat and Comte, of course), polished off with a caramelized apple tarte tatin.

A bientot, as they say.

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A passenger aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from San Francisco to Chicago was charged in federal court after she allegedly became disruptive and the flight was diverted to Kansas City International Airport for safety, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Missouri.

The U.S. Attorney charged 32-year-old Chloe M. DaSilva, whose residence was not listed, with one count of interfering with a flight crew on the early morning flight Friday. DaSilva remains in federal custody.

According to court documents, DaSilva allegedly became disruptive before Alaska Airlines Flight 456 left the ground. A flight attendant told investigators that during the initial announcements and safety briefing, DaSilva allegedly stood up and asked, When are we leaving?

Another flight attendant told investigators that a member of the flight crew noticed DaSilva was acting odd during the boarding of the flight and alerted other crew members so they could keep an eye on the area where DaSilva was sitting, according to the charging documents.

Once the flight was airborne, DaSilva told a flight attendant that she couldnt sit where she was and asked to change seats. The flight, however, was full and it was not possible. DaSilva then went to the lavatory. After about five minutes, the flight crew and passengers heard DaSilva banging on the bathroom door, according to court records.

When members of the flight crew opened the door to check on her, they found DaSilva asleep and decided to leave her in the lavatory for her safety.

Eventually, DaSilva exited the restroom. She walked past her row and then punched an overhead bin and screamed before heading back to her seat. She reportedly calmed down and acted nicely. The flight attendants alerted the pilots, who started to coordinate bathroom breaks to prepare for being in the cockpit for a long period, according to court documents.

When the pilots were about to take their breaks, DaSilva allegedly rushed a flight attendant and said she was going to kill him. Meanwhile, some passengers told investigators that the commotion woke them. The flight attendants took DaSilva back to her seat. The captain asked that the flight attendants use zip ties to restrain her, according to court documents.

The captain of the flight told investigators that neither he nor his first officer left the cockpit and decided to divert to Kansas City rather than continuing on to Chicago because of DaSilvas alleged actions and for concern for the safety of the passengers.
The man accused of stabbing an imam during prayer at a Paterson mosque told authorities he had planned to kill the victim, police alleged in an affidavit of probable cause.

Serif Zorba, 32, was one of about 200 worshippers praying at Omar Mosque on Getty Avenue early Sunday morning when authorities say he stabbed the imam, Sayed Elnakib, 65, in the back.

According to the affidavit, obtained by The Record and NorthJersey.com, Zorba subsequently told police that the night before the incident he had devised a plan to kill the imam, allegedly saying he disagreed with the mosque and its leader collecting money in the "name of Islam." Elnakib was taken to St. Joseph's University Medical Center and is in stable condition and expected to recover.

Police said Zorba also stated that he didn't intend to hurt anyone else and had no other plans for violence, but that he didn't like when others offended the Islamic religion.

Zorba is not a regular member of the mosque's congregation, officials said at a press conference, but has been seen there before.

The affidavit also includes witness accounts of the attack. One witness told police he was kneeling in prayer when he heard Elnakib scream in agony. The witness said he then looked up and saw Zorba running away with two knives in his hand. The congregation was able to disarm and subdue Zorba before police arrived at the mosque.

A New Jersey State Police trooper was first to arrive, followed by a Paterson police officer. The responding officers said they saw a crowd of around 100 people outside the mosque. As the suspect was brought outside, the crowd surrounded the officers, yelled obscenities and tried to hit Zorba, police said.

Zorba was charged with first-degree attempted murder and two weapons offenses. He 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.

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For subscribers These scams targeting seniors run rampant in NJ. How families can help stop elder fraud

Zorba is scheduled to appear for his detention hearing on Thursday at 9 a.m.

The court affidavit said Zorba lives in an apartment on Getty Avenue, which is about five blocks from Omar Mosque.

No one answered the door Tuesday morning when a reporter went to the apartment, or at any of the other three homes in the building.

The four apartments sit atop a business called the Palestine Supermarket.

A man working in the store on Tuesday said Zorba had lived in the building since the middle of last year. The store employee said Zorba shared the apartment with others, none of whom he has seen since the stabbing.

"I was shocked," said the supermarket worker, who declined to give his name. "He was a very nice guy until this happened."

The worker said Zorba did not show any signs of violence or aggression when he came into the store.

Officials at Mevlana Cami, another Paterson mosque, said Monday that Zorba had previously alarmed people with abnormal behavior.

Mevlana Cami's vice president said Zorba had been attending prayer services there every day since the start of Ramadan. On Friday afternoon, Zorba draped a black scarf over his head and face and remained there unmoving for an hour and a half and then allegedly confronted the imam about wearing a tie.

Staff Writers Hannan Adely and Kaitlyn Kanzler contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ mosque stabbing suspect intended to kill imam, say police
Jeremy Renner and Paul Rudd. Sean Gallagher/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Paul Rudd sent Jeremy Renner a fake Cameo video after his snowplow accident on New Year's Day.

Renner said that his Marvel costar sent him "a fake one, like I paid him money."

Rudd calls Renner "Jerry" in the clip and wishes him well after his "snowblower" accident.

It's fair to say that "Hawkeye" star Jeremy Renner had a rough start to 2023 when he was crushed by a snowplow in Nevada on New Year's Day. Thankfully, he's already back on his feet after the horrific accident left him with a collapsed lung, a pierced liver, and over 30 broken bones.

Although Renner is in good spirits about life after the accident, he's been open about coming close to death, recently telling Diane Sawyer that he used sign language to tell his family that he was sorry and that he wrote his "last words" to them in a note on his phone.

On Monday, Renner appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to discuss his recovery, as well as his upcoming series "Rennervations," in which he renovates old vehicles for charitable causes.

During his chat with the host, Renner recalled how his friends and fellow Marvel stars supported him in the aftermath of the accident  noting that he spoke to "Captain America" actor Chris Evans.

"I talked to Chris Evans. I talked to a lot of friends and their reaction is what made me feel like, 'Oh, I think I really hurt myself, I might not pull out of this.' They're terrible actors, they couldn't hide the fact that I looked awful," Renner said.

Renner went on to say that "Ant-Man" star Paul Rudd visited him in the hospital a few times, and also sent him a fake Cameo video to cheer him up.

He said: "So Rudd, who I love so much, happened to be in town as well promoting his movie. He came by a couple of times to the hospital and always just making my day because he's one of the funniest guys around."

Renner added: "Then he sent me a video message. Anybody knows Cameo? Where they can pay money and they get some movie star to say, 'Hey, happy birthday.' So he made a fake Cameo one. I didn't even ask him to. He made a fake one, like I paid him money for a Cameo."

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The video in question sees Rudd wishing "Jerry" well after the accident.

"Hey Jerry, I hear you're a little banged up. Got in a fight with a snowblower apparently?" Rudd says in the clip.

"Anyway, I just wanted to send this video. It's really from the heart and I hope you're feeling better. Sounds like you are. Apparently, you're a pretty tough guy."

Rudd adds: "So maybe I'll get to meet you one day, and wouldn't that be something? In the meantime, take care and take it easy for a while. And next time, maybe just let the snow melt! Feel better, Jerry!"

Read the original article on Insider
Investigators were seeking witnesses after a pedestrian was apparently struck by a vehicle and found dead early Monday in the middle of a street in Davis.

Officers were called to the 1400 block of Olive Drive near some homes just north of Interstate 80 after receiving a report of an unresponsive man in the street, the Davis Police Department announced in a news release.

Officers and firefighters arrived at the scene, and the man found in the street was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said early indications were that a vehicle struck the pedestrian in the street, and the driver left the area in the vehicle. The departments Major Collision Investigations Team responded and gathered evidence at the scene.

Detectives from the Police Department initiated an investigation and found the involved vehicle and driver several hours later at a Sacramento home. Police said the detectives were continuing to investigate the circumstances of the pedestrians death and were awaiting additional information from the Yolo County Coroners Office regarding the cause and manner of his death before determining whether the driver will face any criminal charges.

Police said the department is not yet releasing the name of the involved driver.

This is an ongoing investigation, police said in the news release, and details may change as new information emerges.

The Coroners Office will release the pedestrians name as soon as his family has been notified. Chief Deputy Coroner Gina Moya said on Tuesday morning they had not yet been able to find his family.

Investigators asked anyone who may have been in the area of the 1400 block of Olive Drive from 1:30 to 2:30 a.m. Monday and has additional information relevant to the investigation to call the Davis Police Department at 530-747-5400 or send an email to policeweb@cityofdavis.org.
Dr. Michael Milobsky has an expert tip: When it comes to being a person, take the lead of 8-year-old girls.

The Colorado-based pediatrician with over 20 years of experience and seven children of his own took to Instagram earlier this month to praise 8-year-old girls as the highest form of humanity.

I spend all day dealing and talking to and interacting with people of all ages, Milobsky said on an Instagram post before adding, I just have to say in my own experience as a pediatrician and a parent of seven (that) the highest form of humanity are 8-year-old girls.

Eight-year-old girls are magnanimous. Theyre sympathetic. Theyre empathetic, he explained enthusiastically. Theyre emotionally mature. They love to help. They love to give. They love to do for others. Theyre accepting of everybody. Theyre the ones who see the sign for the lost cat and want to go find it.

After describing them as just the best people, Milobsky pitched an idea that certainly would be revolutionary.

In my opinion, Congress should be all 8-year-old girls, he continued. Honestly, the country would be a better place. I said what I said.

In the caption of his post, Milobsky further emphasized his message to fans writing, If you want to know how to be the BEST kind of person, spend time with some 8 yr olds.

Users on Instagram were quick to chime into Milobskys comments section and share their positive experiences with girls at this age.

My youngest daughter is currently 8, and I could not agree with this more, one user commented. She is magical, and if I could bottle that magic up, I would sprinkle it over the world and share it with everyone. It really is the most delightful age.

My 8-year-old girl keeps wanting to find the lost dog in our neighborhood, so you may be onto something! another replied. "She is the sweetest. Also, I agree that Congress would be well served to have some 8-year-olds amongst their ranks. Thanks for sharing this!

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In a follow-up post shared on his TikTok page, Milobsky emphasized that 8-year-old boys deserve credit for their personality traits, too.

In the caption of his TikTok, the physician described 8-year-old boys as the Oceans Eleven of childhood, adding that they will come together, pool talents and figure out just about anything.

Milobsky went on to describe their ability tendency toward intense collaboration as their superpower.

Eight-year-old boys are out there in the neighborhood with packs of bicycles going to do something and accomplish something and (to) have an experience or have an adventure, he remarked.

Just as he proposed putting 8-year-old girls in charge of Congress, Milobsky suggested that 8-year-old boys could run the Army Corps of Engineers.

Give them a river to cross. Give them a bridge to build, he explained. You get enough 8-year-old boys together, and they will figure it out. Eight-year-old boys can 'Oceans 11' almost any situation. I said what I said.

TODAY.com reached out to Milobsky for further comment but did not hear back.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
The US has been pushing Seoul to arm Ukraine

A leaked Pentagon document seen by the BBC reveals a sensitive conversation between high-level South Korean officials on whether to sell weapons that could be used in Ukraine.

The intercept targeted two of President Yoon Suk Yeol's senior advisors.

They are torn between US pressure to send ammunition to Ukraine and their policy not to arm countries at war.

One of the advisers suggests sending the shells to Poland instead, to avoid appearing to have given in to the US.

Washington has been scrambling to trace the source of the leaks, which the Pentagon says are a serious risk to national security.

Last year, South Korea agreed it would sell artillery shells to the US to replenish its stocks, but insisted the US had to keep the shells for itself and not send them on to Kyiv.

In their conversation on 1 March, President Yoon's foreign affairs secretary Yi Mun-hui reportedly told the then National Security Advisor Kim Sung-han that the government was "mired in concerns that the US would not be the end user" of the ammunition.

They also worried that President Biden could call President Yoon directly about the issue, and that if South Korea were to change its policy on providing weapons to Ukraine, it could look as if it had been pressured by the US.

According to the document, South Korea's national security advisor, Mr Kim, then suggested they could sell shells to Poland instead, given that "getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the ultimate goal of the United States".

South Korea says it is investigating the leak but has insisted that it is impossible to intercept private conversations inside its presidential office, and that this discussion could not have taken place in its private underground bunker.

The US has made no secret of the fact that it wants Seoul to arm Ukraine. It believes South Korea, with its ability to build advanced weapons at a breakneck speed, could make a significant contribution to the outcome of the war.

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But Seoul has been reluctant to do so, repeatedly citing its policy of not sending weapons to countries at war, while privately worrying about burning bridges with Russia.

This leak suggests that the South Koreans not only understood that their shells could end up in Ukraine, but that they were open to this happening. This could strain its relationship with Moscow.

"South Korea always plays this delicate balancing act, with the US on one side, and Russia and China on the other," said Jenny Town, a Korea analyst from the think tank 38 North. "This leak shows it is the optics they are most concerned about. They're trying to balance what they're willing to do to support Ukraine with how it will be perceived."

The leak comes weeks ahead of a visit by President Yoon to Washington

This report, seemingly based on signals intelligence, also has the potential to upset US-South Korea relations, as it suggests the US has been spying on its decades-long ally.

Although not a surprise that the US spies on its friends and enemies alike, the timing of this disclosure is unfortunate.

In a fortnight President Yoon will travel to the White House on a state visit to celebrate 70 years of the alliance between the two countries - an alliance the US is at pains to point out is still "iron-clad".

The report has triggered security concerns in Seoul, with the opposition party questioning how the US was able to intercept such a high-level conversation. "This is a clear violation of our sovereignty by the United States and a super-scale security breach on the South Korean part," it said in a statement on Monday.

Kim Jong-dae, an advisor for the former liberal government, describes this as an "intelligence disaster" for the South Koreans. "This is the tip of the iceberg. There is no way in hell this is it," he said.

South Korea's government is trying to downplay the leak. It says it agrees with a US assessment that some of the documents may have been distorted.

Meanwhile a government source warned that any attempt to "exaggerate or distort this incident, to shake the alliance ahead of the summit, will be resisted".

The US was expected to use the upcoming summit to further press Mr Yoon to send weapons to Ukraine. That matter is suddenly more delicate.
Michael West, head of Penn States Department of African American Studies, resigned from his post last Wednesday  accusing his colleges dean of broken promises, questioning the universitys commitment to diversity and equity, and describing the departments morale as dispirited and morose.

In a blistering open letter written Sunday and circulating among faculty members, West explained the reasons for his unusual resignation, which came less than a year into a five-year term. He also charged Clarence Lang, Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, with refusing to honor a previous commitment to hire two new tenure-line faculty.

Where Dean Lang has fallen short and, more crucially, effectively reneged on his commitment, is on faculty capacity: replacing faculty members who left the university, or who were denied tenure, or who did not apply for tenure, wrote West, who remains a tenured professor in the department. The result is that the Department of African American Studies has become the proverbial sick man of the College of the Liberal Arts, with insufficient tenured faculty to fulfill critical functions, starting with the most basic ones, like departmental officers.

For me to remain as head under such injurious conditions would, to evoke Dean Langs discourse and design, amount to accepting the assignment of a fools errand.

In his letter, West explained that five African American Studies professors have left since Lang joined the university in 2019  but only two have so far been replaced. West, who holds a Ph.D. in history from Harvard, emphasized Penn States ongoing issues in recruitment and retention of Black faculty, something that Black faculty members have repeatedly brought up, including in a 97-page report from 2020 titled, More Rivers to Cross.

Per Penn States own DEIB dashboard, overall, there were 10 fewer Black tenure-line faculty in fall 2022 compared to the year before.

It is likely that some of those who left Penn State in recent years would have done so regardless, West wrote. But others might have been persuaded to remain at the university  except that, it has been reported, Dean Lang has repeatedly failed to make sufficiently robust counteroffers to keep them.

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In response to the letter, the Centre Daily Times reached out to both Lang and the university for comment. Interim Provost Justin Schwartz said in a statement that Wests letter made unsubstantiated claims  although he did not specify what claims.

Schwartz added: As the department finds its footing, be assured that Dean Langs commitment to the Department of African American Studies, including the opportunity to grow the department faculty as they make strides towards their goals, is unwavering and he is focused on building AFAMs stature and contributions to the academic field.

In a separate written statement, Lang thanked West for his nine months of service and did not address the narrative in Wests letter. Instead, Lang said he planned to name an interim department head in due course while his own work to better the department would continue.

As dean, I will continue to provide funding of departmental programming and resources, and partner in supporting the success of the African American Studies department, Lang said. I hope we will work together to remove obstacles and define goals that help AFAM become a premier department in the College of the Liberal Arts, Penn State and beyond.

In the 2,500-word open letter, West said he took on the role of department head after Lang reluctantly agreed to the hiring of two additional tenure-line professors. (West said he refused to sign the first offer letter, which did not outline the condition, so Lang sent another on May 18 that did include it.)

West provided a copy of that offer letter to the CDT, which confirmed the hiring agreement and gave Lang as many as three academic years to approve the hires. However, West wrote in his open letter, Dean Lang now says the situation is such that it would be foolish for him to make good on his promise to provide those lines.

I havent so much left my post as the dean has left his commitment to my department, West added in his letter.

West also openly questioned the universitys commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, writing any commitment is of little value until its reflected in budgetary priorities. He criticized the decision by President Neeli Bendapudi to cancel the Center for Racial Justice, pointing out that Lang  a member of the committee that recommended the center  was also one of the most vocal defenders of its cancellation. And he wrote that Lang also turned down an invitation to meet with African American Studies faculty in an astonishingly disrespectful snub.

The Department of African American Studies is not asking for the key to the kingdom that is Penn State University, West wrote. All we seek is the replacement of faculty members who have left in recent years so that we can become a normal academic department, no longer the weak link in the chain that is the College of the Liberal Arts, under Dean Langs stewardship.
Sen. Bob Caseys (D-Pa.) reelection announcement has teed up what is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate races going into 2024.

Republicans view Casey as vulnerable and are hoping to improve on candidate quality this time around with former Senate candidate Dave McCormick.

However, former failed conservative gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano is eyeing another potential run, raising alarm for the GOP.

With Casey in, the attention now shifts across the aisle where Republicans hope to avoid a 2022 redux as Mastriano prepares a bid for the seat. One Pennsylvania-based GOP operative told The Hill that Mastriano is getting every single duck in a row ready for a potential run, noting that hes been firing up his Facebook Live events that he frequently held during the 2022 campaign.

Hes doing everything in his power to consolidate his base and to make sure theyre staying with him in the event that he runs, the operative said.

Mastriano lost the race for the governors mansion in Harrisburg to now-Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) by nearly 15 percentage points.

Despite the state senators high floor with potential primary voters, GOP operatives are bullish that 2024 will not be a redux of last years primary issues, both on the gubernatorial and Senate side, especially if the race is a head-to-head match-up between him and McCormick.

The well-funded ex-hedge fund CEO spent more than $14 million on last years Senate primary contest in roughly five months. By contrast, Mastriano was outspent 30 to 1 by Shapiro and received little outside financial support.

Adding to Mastrianos troubles, the financial burden would be more problematic in a McCormick hypothetical match-up as he would no longer be able to raise unlimited sums of money as candidates for governor are able to do. Senate races are subject to Federal Election Commission limits.

Doug couldnt raise any money to talk to any of the voters outside of Facebook Lives. Hows he going to do it when theres actual limits? a second Pennsylvania-based GOP operative said, adding that Mastriano would likely start with 25- to 28-percent support in a primary now. But how do you get to 50 percent if its a two-person thing? Youve got to be able to talk to people and advertise.

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Mastrianos potential entrance has also heightened the push for McCormick allies to push him into the race. The 2022 Senate candidate has said in recent radio interviews that he is still undecided on a bid.

Its reinvigorating the McCormick people, the first operative said, adding that theyve gone from asking him to run to begging him to run.

The party apparatus has already lined up in support of McCormick if he runs. Sen. Steve Daines (Mont.), chairman of the Senate GOP campaign arm, and the Senate Leadership Fund, which is run by allies of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), have both signaled their backing.

Democrats, on the other hand, are salivating at the thought of a Mastriano-versus-McCormick primary match-up.

Its going to be a fairly nasty primary and whoever comes out of that is going to be damaged, said one Pennsylvania Democratic operative. In order to win a Republican primary in Pennsylvania these days it seems like you really have to go far to the right and then that hurts you in the general.

And Mastrianos recent Facebook Lives seem to suggest that the former gubernatorial candidate is priming himself for a battle against McCormick. In a recent appearance, Mastriano argued that moderate candidates are lacking support from conservative segments of the primary electorate and that theres no guarantee that theyre going to have us.

Its a similar argument Democrats make too as they point to McCormicks vulnerabilities, noting his loss to Oz in last years GOP Senate primary. McCormick fell short of Oz by just under 1,000 votes.

The one thing I will say about McCormick is that Dr. Oz was a particularly bad candidate but McCormick lost to him, so that says something about McCormick, the Pennsylvania Democratic operative said.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) echoed this in a statement to The Hill.

For months, Pennsylvania Republicans savaged McCormick over his record of outsourcing jobs and for his close ties to China, Wall Street and Mitch McConnell, said spokesperson David Bergstein. With Mastriano making noises about entering the race, Republicans Senate primary dynamics are getting messier by the day.

The Pennsylvania Democratic operative added that no matter who comes out of the GOP primary, Caseys allies are confident his record will withstand a challenger.

At the end of the line for any Republican is, of course, Casey  the three-term senator who dethroned a member of Senate GOP leadership to win his seat in 2006 and who the party has struggled mightily at challenging in his previous two reelection bids.

While Casey is far from being one of the loudest voices in the Senate Democratic caucus, multiple GOP operatives argue that taking him down will still be no small feat and that the party likely needs a royal straight to do so.

Hes the Pennsylvania politician with the greatest name-ID that ever existed. You cant buy better name-ID, the first Pennsylvania-based GOP operative said. I think that Casey is beatable with the right candidate, the right amount of money, the right political climate and a renewed sense of wanting new leadership, and I think you need every single one of those situations to occur to defeat him.

Hes got everything going for him, the operative added about the Scranton-based Democrat.

President Biden, who is expected to be at the top of the ticket next year, will also likely be a key player in the race.

President Biden has not kept his feelings about Pennsylvania a secret, the Pennsylvania Democratic operative said.

When Biden comes and talks about the accomplishments that he and Sen. Casey have gotten done, theyre the same kinds of things that Sen. Casey is talking about every day in Pennsylvania.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Pensacola man was arrested for attempted murder after allegedly shooting a woman in the back of the head in a drive-by shooting Friday.

Ryan Earl Seals, 18, has been charged in connection with a shooting in the 1000 block of Potomac Drive, according to an Escambia County Sheriff's Office arrest report.

According to Seals' arrest report, multiple witness said three males had approached a residence on foot and began shooting into the yard. The males then ran toward Reverie Drive, entered a Ram pickup truck and drove away at high speed.

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Witnesses said about a minute later, the truck returned and the occupants fired another volley of shots at the home as the vehicle sped past.

When deputies arrived on scene they found a woman in the front yard of the home with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. She was transported to Baptist Hospital in critical condition.

Using witness statements and home security footage, investigators were able to identify the suspect vehicle, which had been reported stolen from Pensacola Beach the previous day. ECSO disseminated the info to local law enforcement agencies, and a short time later the Pensacola Police Department located the vehicle traveling out of the Attucks Court apartments.

Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop, and the truck accelerated off at a high rate of speed. After a short pursuit, the truck crashed near G and Yonge streets and the three occupants fled on foot. Two were located, taken into custody and later identified as Seals and Ke'Juan Whiting, 18.

The arrest report alleges that Seals was found in possession of a 9mm Glock handgun and Whiting threw away a pink Walther PK380 handgun. Investigators tested the weapons and determined that the shell casings recovered from the Potomac Drive home matched the Glock, but not the Walther.

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Dig deeper: You've heard about Matt Banks' alleged contracting scam. This family helped crack the case.

Seals was booked into Escambia County Jail on one count of attempted murder, fleeing and eluding police, resisting an officer without violence and a number of weapon offenses. He is being held on $1,111,000 bond.

Whiting is charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon by a Florida delinquent and resisting an officer without violence. He is being held on $27,000 bond.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola man Ryan Seals arrested in Potomac attempted murder
The leaked classified documents of the US have revealed that agents of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) are responsible for blowing up an A-50U, a Russian airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) at the Machulishchy airbase in Belarus.

Source: media outlet The Economist

Quote: "On 26 February, members of the Security Service of Ukraine came to a shocking conclusion. Their own agents in Belarus ignored the order and attacked a Russian reconnaissance aircraft (A-50U  ed.) earlier that day."

Details: Reportedly, Americans found out about the actions of Ukrainian agents from the interceptions.

These pieces of intelligence were stored on a classified slide about the war in Ukraine, spread by the United Staff of the US on 1 March.

Background:

On the morning of 26 February, the BYPOL initiative reported explosions at the Machulishchy airbase in Minsk Oblast in Belarus. There was information about a damaged Russian AWACS aircraft.

Alexander Azarov, Head of the BYPOL initiative, said that Belarusian partisans were behind it. As he stated, the participants of the alleged sabotage in Machulishchy left Belarus and are now safe.

On 7 March, Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus had detained an alleged "terrorist of the Ukrainian secret services" and his accomplices, who were "involved in an attempted sabotage of an A-50 aircraft at the Machulishchy airfield".

After the explosion, the entourage of the self-proclaimed president of Belarus claimed that the A-50 was fine and posted allegedly "fresh videos", although the military monitoring media outlet Belaruski Hajun reported that the Russian aircraft flew to Taganrog, Russia, for repairs.

Andrii Yusov, representative of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, said that Russia cannot currently produce A-50 AWACS aircraft, one of which was probably damaged at the Belarusian Machulishchy airbase.

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Ukraine's spring offensive could yield "modest gains", documents say

A cache of classified US documents leaked online sheds new light on American intelligence gathered about other countries.

Images of the covert files have appeared on messaging app Discord since early March.

Complete with timelines and dozens of military acronyms, the documents, some marked "top secret", paint a detailed picture of the war in Ukraine and also offer information on China and allies.

Pentagon officials are quoted as saying the documents are real.

BBC News and other news organisations have reviewed the documents and these are some of the key findings.

UN boss 'too accommodating' to Russia

The US believed the UN secretary general's stance on a key grain deal was undermining attempts to hold Russia accountable for the war in Ukraine.

Antonio Guterres was too willing to accommodate Russian interests, according to files which suggest Washington has been closely monitoring him.

Several documents describe private communications involving Mr Guterres and his deputy.

One leaked document focuses on the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July following fears of a global food crisis.

It suggests that Mr Guterres was so keen to preserve the deal that he was willing to give in to Russia's demands - a stance which was "undermining broader efforts to hold Russia accountable".

Jordan feared Chinese retaliation over Huawei

While the bulk of the leaked documents concern, in one way or another, the war in Ukraine, there are others that touch on a huge range of unrelated issues. Many of them shed light on some of Washington's global preoccupations.

Like the spread and purpose of Chinese technology.

The documents appear to have been printed out and folded before being photographed and posted online

Three documents based on intelligence from late February detail discussions among senior Jordanian officials over whether or not to shut the Chinese firm Huawei out of its 5G rollout plans.

Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein, in charge of the rollout, is said in the document to be worried about retaliation from China if they keep Huawei out.

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Nor is this the only place where fears about Chinese technology are revealed

Another document marked top secret addresses China's "developing cyber-attack capabilities." It says these are designed "to deny, exploit, and hijack satellite links and networks as part of its strategy to control information, which it considers to be a key warfighting domain."

Russian infighting over Ukraine dead

Newly discovered documents suggest Russian officials are at loggerheads over the reporting of casualties.

The main intelligence agency, the FSB, has "accused" the country's defence ministry of playing down the human impact of the war, the files show.

These findings show the extent to which the US agencies have penetrated the Russian intelligence and military.

Western special forces operating inside Ukraine

One document, dated 23 March, refers to the presence of a small number of Western special forces operating inside Ukraine, without specifying their activities or location. The UK has the largest contingent (50), followed by Latvia (17), France (15), the US (14) and the Netherlands (1).

Western governments typically refrain from commenting on such sensitive matters, but this detail is likely to be seized upon by Moscow, which has in recent months argued that it is not just confronting Ukraine, but Nato as well.

Other documents say when a dozen new Ukrainian brigades - being prepared for an offensive that could begin within weeks - will be ready. They list, in great detail, the tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery pieces that are being provided by Ukraine's Western allies.

One map includes a timeline that assesses ground conditions across eastern Ukraine as spring progresses.

US dims hopes for Ukraine offensive

According to the Washington Post newspaper, one document from early February expresses misgivings about Ukraine's chances of success in its forthcoming counteroffensive, saying that problems with generating and sustaining sufficient forces could result in "modest territorial gains".

Ukraine's difficulties in maintaining its vital air defences are also analysed, with warnings from late February that Kyiv might run out of critical missiles.

Casualty figures are also listed. One slide refers to as many as 223,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded, and as many as 131,000 Ukrainians.

Some Ukrainian officials have dismissed the leaks, suggesting they might constitute a Russian disinformation campaign. But there are signs of frustration and anger too.

One presidential advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, tweeted: "We need less contemplation on 'leaks' and more long-range weapons in order to properly end the war."

President al-Sisi is said to have told officials to keep production of rockets for Russia secret - but an Egyptian official says the allegation is baseless

Egypt secretly planned to supply rockets to Russia

The Washington Post obtained access to another document from mid-February, where they found that Egypt had plans to produce 40,000 rockets for Russia in secret.

The Post said President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi told officials to keep production and shipment secret "to avoid problems with the West".

An official is quoted as saying he would "order his people to work shift work if necessary because it was the least Egypt could do to repay Russia for unspecified help earlier".

It is unclear what the earlier help refers to. In January, Reuters reported that Russia's share of Egyptian wheat imports had risen in 2022, offering one possible explanation.

There is no indication that Egypt - a recipient of US security assistance, worth around $1bn a year - went ahead with the proposed sale to Russia.

An unnamed official quoted on Egyptian news channels described the allegation as "utterly baseless" and said Cairo did not take sides in the war.

The Kremlin called it "just another canard" and the White House said there was "no indication" Egypt was providing lethal weapons to Russia.

South Korea torn on delivering weapons to Ukraine

A classified document, seen by the BBC, reveals that South Korea was torn about selling weapons for use in Ukraine.

The report, based on signals intelligence, details a sensitive conversation between national security advisers.

They are torn between US pressure to send ammunition to Ukraine and their policy not to arm countries at war.

One of the advisers suggests sending the shells to Poland instead, to avoid appearing to have given in to the US.

As part of a resupply deal last year, Seoul insisted that the US could not pass the shells on to Ukraine. Seoul has been reluctant to arm Ukraine, for fear of antagonising Russia.

The leak has triggered security concerns in Seoul, with opposition politicians questioning how the US was able to intercept such a high-level conversation.

China conducted experimental weapons tests

The Post also found that Beijing tested one of its experimental missiles - the DF-27 hypersonic glide vehicle - on 25 February.

The missile flew for 12 minutes over a distance of 2,100km (1,300 miles), according to the documents.
Governor Ron DeSantis went to the Florida capitol earlier this month to sign a bill behind closed doors with a handful of his allies. The bill, one of many hard-right proposals that Florida Republicans hope to pass during this legislative session, has stoked fear and outrage among gun safety advocates: permitless carry.

With Republicans sweeping control of the state legislature and governorship, the bill  which would allow Floridians to carry guns without a permit or training  easily passed both chambers before being signed into law by DeSantis. The Florida house approved the bill late last month in a vote of 76 to 32, and the senate then passed the proposal in a vote of 27 to 13.

The Republicans latest push reflects a broader rightward lurch in Floridas politics since DeSantis took office in 2019, even though Trump carried the battleground state by just three points in 2020. Polls show that a majority of Floridians oppose the policy, and previous surveys have indicated that Florida voters overwhelmingly support other gun safety measures like universal background checks and mandatory waiting periods.

Gun safety groups have provided evidence suggesting the permitless carry law will contribute to an increase in violence. They accuse the governor of prioritizing presidential ambitions over his constituents safety in a state that has witnessed two of Americas deadliest mass shootings.

It all has to do with talking points and setting him up to run for higher office, said Congressman Maxwell Frost, a Democrat of Florida. And as a result, people will die.

Related:Its a weapon to hunt people! Why so many Americans hate  and love  the AR-15

No permission slip required

Republican legislators across the country have embraced permitless carry, or constitutional carry to its supporters, in recent years. The policy has won praise from rightwing activists who view any firearm-related regulation as a violation of their second amendment right to bear arms. Florida law previously stipulated that those who wish to carry a concealed gun must complete safety training and undergo a more detailed background check, but Republicans moved to do away with those requirements.

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I believe that this comes down to one pretty clear thing that shall not be infringed, the Republican state senator Jay Collins said at a committee hearing last month. We dont need to have the government get in the way of law-abiding citizens rights.

Twenty-five states have already enacted laws allowing residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit, and Florida will become the 26th in July, when the policy goes into effect.

A constitutional right should not require a permission slip from the government, DeSantis said in his State of the State address last month. It is time we joined 25 other states to enact constitutional carry in the state of Florida.

The proposal had been endorsed by the Florida Sheriffs Association, which represents the 67 elected sheriffs across the state.

The bill would allow Floridians to carry guns without a permit or training. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Violent career criminals are not applying for a state permit to carry a gun, Al Nienhuis, the associations president and sheriff of Hernando county, said at a January press conference. Removing the permitting process will assist our law-abiding citizens with the protections they need to defend themselves and their families from those criminals who intend to do them harm.

Florida crime statistics appear to challenge that argument. The 2021 Annual Uniform Crime Report showed Floridas crime rate had reached a 50-year low, a fact that DeSantis himself touted in his state of the state address.

Research suggests that removing the permitting requirement to carry concealed guns may instead contribute to a rise in violent crime. One study released in 2019 found that states saw an increase of 13% to 15% in violent crime rates in the years after they loosened regulations on carrying concealed firearms.

Those concerns have fueled a divide among Floridas law enforcement officers. Although the Florida Sheriffs Association supported the bill, a number of officers said they fear the policy will only further endanger them and their colleagues.

Related: What hopes for gun reform now Republicans have House control?

Its not going to make our communities safer, Sheriff John Mina of Orange county said on The Problem With Jon Stewart. Its going to make them more dangerous.

At the March committee hearing on the permitless carry bill, dozens of Florida residents echoed those fears. Isabella Burgos, a volunteer with the gun safety group Students Demand Action and a first-year student at Florida State University, gave emotional testimony about how she regularly fears for her life as she walks around campus. Burgos spoke just weeks after a gunman attacked Michigan State University, killing three students.

Im at war with the terrors of the chance I may die young, Burgos said through tears. This epidemic will turn to utter war with this bill in place. So I urge you all to oppose this deadly bill that would be destructive to our minds and destructive to society  vote no. My life, my childrens lives and your childrens lives depend on it.

A uniquely heinous proposal

In February, Florida marked five years since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, which claimed the lives of 14 students and three educators. The attack came less than two years after a gunman killed 49 people at Pulse, an LGBTQ+ nightclub, in Orlando.

For gun safety advocates, Republicans introduction of a permitless carry bill on the heels of the Parkland anniversary feels cruel. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a former Democratic congresswoman from Florida and now senior adviser to the gun safety group Giffords, described Republicans actions as shameful.

We are one of the largest states in the country, where we have seen two of the worst mass shootings, Mucarsel-Powell said. And we have to continue to do the work to make sure that we protect the lives of Floridians.

People visit a memorial for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooting on the fifth anniversary of the massacre in Parkland, Florida. Photograph: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images

As Mucarsel-Powell noted, Florida legislators came together in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting to craft a bipartisan gun safety bill. The legislation, which raised the age requirement for buying a long gun from 18 to 21 and established a red flag law allowing law enforcement to seize firearms from those deemed to be dangerous, was signed by the then governor, Rick Scott, a Republican.

Everybody can say that partisanship has increased and the partisan divide is getting bigger, and I think thats really evident in Florida, said Cate Allen, a survivor of the Parkland shooting and leader of Students Demand Action. Our representatives, our congressmen are pursuing political ambitions and personal gain over what their constituents actually want.

Surveys indicate that Florida residents broadly oppose permitless carry. One recent poll conducted by the University of North Floridas Public Opinion Research Lab showed 77% of Florida voters, including 62% of Republicans, do not support the proposal.

Im not going to say that the bills that [DeSantis] pushed in the past were good, but I think this one in particular is uniquely heinous, said Alyssa Ackbar, a Tallahassee-based organizer for the gun safety group March for Our Lives. The notion of getting rid of the permitting for concealed carry is honestly devastating.

To DeSantiss critics such as Frost, the governors robust support for permitless carry is a particularly alarming example of how his political aspirations have endangered Floridians.

This is just one in a laundry list of legislation that will result in deaths, that will result in harm, that will result in trauma, Frost said. But its all part of a greater plan here because hes more interested in running for president than he is in running the state of Florida.

Bullying people into submission

Although the permitless carry bill has now passed, gun safety advocates say they are still committed to holding Republican legislators accountable for supporting the widely unpopular bill.

I think its important to let lawmakers know that were watching them, said Shannon Watts, founder of the gun safety group Moms Demand Action. If they do the right thing, well have their back, and if they do the wrong thing, well have their job.

Related: First Gen Z congressman Maxwell Frost says hes part of the mass shooting generation

Advocates put a significant share of the blame for the bill on the shoulders of DeSantis, accusing Republican legislators of allowing their allegiance to the governor to take priority over the wishes of their constituents.

Were seeing a rise of extremism and radicalism from DeSantis and the legislators that are completely loyal to him, Mucarsel-Powell said. They will not do anything that he doesnt support.

Ackbar said she had heard from legislators that some of their colleagues only expressed support for the permitless carry bill because they want to stay in DeSantiss good graces.

DeSantis has a way of bullying people into submission, into doing what he wants, and I truly believe that this bill is part of that as well, Ackbar said.

Gun safety advocates fear DeSantis will only escalate his demands to relax Floridas gun regulations as he prepares to launch a presidential campaign, given that he has previously received criticism from hardline gun rights activists. The governor faced accusations of hypocrisy from gun safety advocates and gun rights activists alike in February, after the Washington Post reported on emails showing that DeSantiss campaign team quietly sought to ban concealed weapons from his own election night party in Tampa last November.

Watts mocked DeSantiss stance as guns everywhere for thee but not for me, adding: The governor knows that it is dangerous for people to have easy access to guns and then show up at his events. And yet, he wants those same people in our schools and in public places. It is the height of hypocrisy.

Gun rights activists have similarly criticized DeSantis for holding events where firearms are prohibited. A gun rights protester was arrested in October for trespassing at an Alachua county Republican party event where DeSantis was speaking, although those charges were later dropped. The protester held a sign reading: I will not be disarmed by DeSantis.

Even the permitless carry proposal has sparked frustration among gun rights activists, who say the legislation does not go far enough. Those activists instead want a law similar to the one used in Texas, which allows residents to openly carry a gun in public without a permit instead of limiting the policy to concealed weapons. DeSantiss failure to enact an open permitless carry law reflects political impotence, as one gun rights supporter put it at the committee hearing last month.

Given those complaints from rightwing activists, gun safety advocates worry that DeSantis will eventually push for an open permitless carry policy in his quest to woo Republican primary voters. The human toll of such a political strategy, they say, could be devastating.

All of his political moves and all of the bullying that he does to have people vote his way, it costs lives, Ackbar said. Theyre not just talking points. Theyre not just political notions. They are real, and there are young people in communities in this state that are constantly harmed by the ways that he pushes these bills.
Chasten Buttigieg, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigiegs husband, snapped back at Americans boycotting Anheuser-Buschs decision to make transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney the star of one of its latest Bud Light commercials.

On Monday, Chasten turned to Twitter to speak to those boycotting the blue-canned, frothy alcoholic beverage.

"If youre upset about a beer company supporting civil rights, you might want to start bottling your tears," Buttigieg tweeted. "LGBTQ people drink water, too. Gonna boycott that next?"

BUD LIGHT PARTNERS WITH TRANS ACTIVIST DYLAN MULVANEY FOR MARCH MADNESS: 'THIS ISN'T A PARODY'

Buttigieg was referring to criticism of the beer companys decision to celebrate and partner with Mulvaney, a social media influencer famous for her "365 Days of Girlhood."

The trans activist revealed earlier this month that Anheuser-Busch sent packs of Bud Light with the trans activists face on the can, as a way to celebrate Mulvaneys first full year of "girlhood."

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Chasten Buttigieg and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg attend a bill signing ceremony for the Respect for Marriage Act on the South Lawn of the White House December 13, 2022, in Washington, DC. The Respect for Marriage Act will codify same-sex and interracial marriages.

The announcement received a significant amount of criticism, and some called the ad campaign another attempt to push gender propaganda.

BUD LIGHTS PACT WITH TRANS ACTIVIST DYLAN MULVANEY SPARKS OUTRAGE, PRAISE

In fact, conservative rocker Kid Rock was seen opening fire on several Bud Light cases in a viral video, and many have called to boycott Bud products.

Country star Travis Tritt announced that he is dropping all Anheuser-Busch products from his hospitality rider. Tritt added that many other stars are doing likewise, but not announcing it publicly.

Buttigiegs tweet also received staunch criticism.

One Twitter user posted, "Goodness this is a stupid tweet," while another replied to Buttigiegs tweet by says, "So civil rights for you consists of a man taking a womans position because he perpetuates the most regressive stereotypes of what a misogynist thinks it means to be a woman? [Dually] noted."

Buttigieg recently spoke out against the GOP for banning sexually-explicit books from school libraries and passing laws against transgender drugs and medical procedures for minors.

In March, he joined "The View," telling the hosts it is an "extremely dangerous time" in American history.

He went on to say, "its been a very well-coordinated, well-funded effort to attack the LGBTQ+ community, specifically with the book bans."
A Pennsylvania district attorney determined a concealed carry permit holder will not face criminal charges after a fatal shootout at a cemetery, ruling the man acted in self-defense.

"(Arian) Davis was under attack and in danger of being killed when he fired his legally owned weapon to end the threat. For these reasons, I conclude that this was a justifiable shooting, and therefore, no criminal charges are warranted," Montgomery County DA Kevin R. Steele said in a press release last week. Montgomery County is located just outside of Philadelphia and is the states third-most populous county.

Gunshots rang out at a cemetery in Horsham Township March 18, when Arian Davis, 33, and others were visiting the cemetery to celebrate the birthday of a friend who was killed in 2013, the DAs office said. Davis, who is from Philadelphia, was sitting with another person in a car at the cemetery when Daniel Hawkins, 29, of Philadelphia, began shooting.

Davis, who knew Hawkins, suffered gunshot wounds to his jaw, hand and leg but managed to pull out his concealed carry firearm, which was purchased legally and for which he had a valid concealed carry permit. He fatally shot Hawkins.

FOILED: FIVE TIMES ARMED CITIZENS FOUGHT BACK AGAINST ATTACKERS IN 2022

A man with a gun.

Hawkins was found dead "in a grassy area inside the cemetery" near a Jeep Grand Cherokee that he had driven to the location. That Jeep had recently been reported stolen to Philadelphia Police.

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A handgun was also recovered near his body that had been "illegally altered to fire rapidly," according to the DA. Hawkins was prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions.

DESANTIS SIGNATURE TIPS US INTO MAJORITY 'CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY' NATION WITH NEW FLORIDA GUN RIGHTS LAW

More than 30 shell casings were found in the cemetery, according to the DA.

"There is no doubt about who shot and killed Hawkins, so the legal issue to be analyzed is whether this was a justifiable killing. To be justified in his shooting of Hawkins, the shooter had to be in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury," the DA said, according to the press release.

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GUN CRIMES GRAB MOST MEDIA ATTENTION, WHILE GUN USE IN SELF-DEFENSE GETS MERELY A FRACTION: EXPERTS

An aerial view of the Ben Franklin Bridge and Philadelphia from Cooper Point in Camden, N.J.

"Evidence shows that Hawkins approached Davis vehicle and began firing multiple rounds at him using a firearm that was illegally altered to fire rapidly. Bullets struck Davis in multiple parts of his body before he fired back, striking Hawkins and killing him."

Davis will face no criminal charges for the death. He was transported to Abington Hospital for treatment after sustaining serious injuries during the attack, the DAs office said.
The United States on Tuesday promised to defend the Philippines in the dispute-rife South China Sea as the allies launched their largest-ever joint exercises in the face of Beijing's growing assertiveness in the region.

Nearly 18,000 troops are taking part in the annual exercises dubbed Balikatan, or "shoulder to shoulder" in Filipino, which for the first time will include a live-fire drill in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

The drills follow Monday's conclusion of a three-day Chinese military exercise that simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

In rare joint talks in Washington with their Philippine counterparts, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed a deal reached last week for US forces to use a growing number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan.

Blinken said the United States affirmed its "unwavering commitment to standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea."

The mutual defense treaty, signed in 1951 after the Philippines' independence from Washington, "applies to armed attacks on either of our armed forces, our aircraft or public vessels, including our Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea," Austin told a joint news conference.

The United States and the Philippines plan new exercises in the South China Sea later in the year that will include other countries, Austin said.

He said the United States is allocating more than $100 million to the bases in the current fiscal year and that the United States would provide new military equipment to the Philippines including drones and air defenses.

Asked if the Philippines worried about China's reaction, acting defense chief Carlito Galvez said, "We don't expect any violent reaction considering that this exercise is intended for our collective defense."

Story continues

News of the expanded base access had prompted China to accuse the United States of "endangering regional peace and stability."

"Countries in this part of the world must uphold strategic independence and firmly resist the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation," China's ambassador to Manila, Huang Xilian, said last week.

- Exercises in tense waters -

Balikatan will include military helicopters landing on a Philippine island off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon, nearly 300 kilometers (180 miles) from Taiwan, and the retaking of another island by amphibious forces.

It will be the first time the exercises have been held under President Ferdinand Marcos, who has sought to strengthen ties with the United States after his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte trashed the alliance.

"In order for us to protect our sovereign territory, we really have to drill and exercise how we are going to retake an island that's been taken away from us," Philippine exercises spokesman Colonel Michael Logico told reporters after the opening ceremony at a military camp in Manila.

About 12,200 American, 5,400 Filipino and just over 100 Australian soldiers will participate in the two weeks of Balikatan exercises -- about twice as many as last year.

The Americans will also use their Patriot missiles, considered one of the best air defence systems in the world, and the HIMARS precision rocket system, which has helped Ukrainian forces fighting the Russian invaders.

The two armies originally planned to fire live rounds at sea off the northern province of Ilocos Norte, about 355 kilometers from Taiwan's south coast, but moved it farther down the South China Sea, Philippine Army Major-General Marvin Licudine said.

The original site was "not sufficiently prepared" for unloading the needed equipment, he said.

The new venue is less than 300 kilometers east of the Chinese-held Scarborough Shoal.

The exercises will enhance "tactics, techniques and procedures across a wide range of military operations," said Philippine military spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar.

About 50 leftwing protesters staged a rally outside the opening ceremony venue, calling on the Philippine government to scrap the exercises.

amj-cgm-sct/mlm
Crew members of Taiwanese Air Force inspect an aircraft during a military exercise, at an undisclosed location in Taiwan in this handout picture provided by Taiwan Defence Ministry and released on April 9, 2023. Taiwan Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

China recently carried out large-scale military drills around the self-ruling island of Taiwan.

Amid this, Taiwan's defense ministry published a photo of a patch worn by fighter pilots.

The patch depicts a cartoon Winnie the Pooh getting punched by a bear  a dig at Xi Jinping.

Taiwan's defense ministry recently published an interesting photograph of Taiwanese airmen inspecting an aircraft while neighboring China carried out large-scale military drills in the area. The photo featured a unusual dig at Beijing.

At first glance, the picture may look somewhat routine, but a small, albeit very noticeable, patch on one pilot's arm shows Winnie the Pooh getting punched in the face by a bear  a not-so-subtle jab at Chinese President Xi Jinping.

On the patch, Winnie the Pooh  who is holding a pot of honey with five stars like the Chinese flag  is being punched by an angry Formosan black bear holding Taiwan's flag. Above that image, text reads "We are open 24/7," and below it, the text says "Scramble!"

The unofficial air force patch is a variation of a years-long meme involving the cartoon created by the English author A. A. Milne.

Crew members of Taiwanese Air Force inspect an aircraft during a military exercise, at an undisclosed location in Taiwan in this handout picture provided by Taiwan Defence Ministry and released on April 9, 2023. Taiwan Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS

Imagines of Winnie the Pooh have been circulating around Western and Chinese social media as a meme for nearly a decade. The cartoon is used by critics of Xi in a derogatory sense, the joke being that the Chinese leader somewhat resembles the fictional teddy bear in appearance. Chinese sensors have in the past made attempts to shut down circulation of the meme, even going as far as to scrub social media sites of negative discussion about Xi.

The specific patches worn by the Taiwanese fighter pilots represent a symbol of defiance from the self-ruling democratic island against neighboring China, with the phrase "Scramble" referring to the deployment of jets against routine Chinese incursions into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone.

Patch designer Alec Hsu told Reuters he started selling the item at his shop in 2022 but saw a marked increase in orders after Taiwan's military published the photos over the weekend. "I wanted to boost the morale of our troops through designing this patch," he said. It's been purchased by military personnel and civilians alike.

Story continues

"Where can we get a patch like that! Guaranteed to be best sellers!" Taiwan's main representative office in the US wrote Sunday on social media.

This picture shows patches depicting a Formosan black bear holding a Taiwanese flag punching Winnie-the-Pooh at a shop in Taoyuan on April 11, 2023. Photo by SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images

Tensions between Taiwan and China have been running high in recent days following a trip last week by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to the US, where she met with lawmakers, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Her visit stoked ire in Beijing, with China's defense ministry calling it "provocative." In response, China on Saturday began three days of military drills that included the encirclement of Taiwan and involved Chinese fighter jets, missile boats, naval destroyers, long-range rocket artillery, bombers, and more.

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command even shared a video examining how a full-scale assault against Taiwan would play out, showing possible missile trajectories coming from the Chinese mainland and warships. Beijing's defense ministry said the war games  dubbed "Joint Sword"  are meant to be a "stern warning" to Taiwan, which sharply criticized the exercises.

"We condemn such an irrational act that has jeopardized regional security and stability. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities," Taiwan's defense ministry wrote in a statement posted to social media.

China has long considered Taiwan to be an inseparable part of its own territory, and Beijing has in recent years intensified its military pressure on the small island of 23 million people. Experts have said that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would plunge the world economy into chaos and devastate all militaries involved.

Read the original article on Business Insider
An image of a road flanked by cherry blossoms has been shared in social media posts that falsely claim it shows trees in South Korea cut down on the orders of the country's former President Moon Jae-in for being "too Japanese". But the photo actually shows cherry blossom trees in Gyeongju, South Korea, which street view imagery showed were intact as of March 2023. A spokesperson for a government tourism organisation that manages the trees also dismissed the claim.

The claim was shared here on Facebook on March 30, 2023.

The post includes an image of a road flanked by pink-coloured trees that appear to be cherry blossoms.

"They cut down 500,000 of these cherry blossom trees aged between 40 and 50 years just because the trees originate from Japan," the Korean-language post reads.

"What kind of nastiness is this from the Moon Jae-in government? They've even targeted trees, not just people."

The caption also includes a date -- March 24, 2019 -- suggesting this was when the photo was taken, and that the trees have been removed since.

The claim was shared online after cherry blossoms across the country bloomed from late March to early April, drawing over a million visitors to various spring flower festivals.

Screenshot of the misleading claim shared on Facebook. Captured April 6, 2023.

Comments left in the misleading posts suggested several users believed the trees were genuinely removed on the orders of Moon, who was South Korea's president from 2017 to 2022.

"Lunatic, they should cut you down like you cut down these beautiful trees," wrote one user, referring to Moon.

"He's taken away even our little pleasures in life, what a lowlife," wrote another.

Relations between South Korea and Japan deteriorated under Moon's term as the two countries exchanged economic blows after a South Korean court in 2018 ordered Japanese firms to compensate victims of wartime forced labour and their families.

On March 6 Seoul announced a plan to compensate South Korean victims of forced labour in an attempt to mend the two countries frayed ties.

Story continues

Identical claims were shared on Facebook here and here, as well as here on Naver Band, a South Korean forum.

The origin of the cherry blossom tree remains under dispute, with some research showing many of the trees located in popular tourist areas around South Korea belong to a variant that originates from Japan.

However, the claim is false.

Bomun Lake cherry blossoms

AFP previously fact-checked social media posts about an identical image, shared online as far back as July 2017, that falsely claimed it was captured in places such as Argentina or Japan.

But a reverse image search and comparisons with photos from a South Korean tourist blog found that the misleading photo shows a road in the tourism district around Bomun Lake in the city of Gyeongju, located in the country's southeast.

AFP further geolocated the same point through Google Maps' Street View, which showed the photo was taken on Bomun-ro, a street located in the Bomun Tourist Complex.

Screenshot comparison of image shared alongside the misleading claim on Facebook (left) and the corresponding Google Maps Street View footage (right)

While the Google Maps images were shot in April 2015, AFP was able to find footage of the same area captured on March 2023 through the street view function on Naver Maps, South Korea's largest map service.

Below is a screenshot of the Naver Maps' street view footage of the area, with the date of the footage highlighted in red:

Screenshot of the Naver Maps' street view footage of the area, with the date of the footage highlighted in red

The images of this area and other sections of Bomun Lake show that the cherry blossom trees remained intact and were in full bloom as of this year's spring season, contrary to the false claim on Facebook that half a million of these trees had been removed.

In fact, Gyeongju hosted a cherry blossom festival from March 31 to April 2, inviting tourists to admire the pink blooms across the city, including in the Bomun tourism district.

The cherry blossom trees that bloomed near Bomun Lake this spring can be seen in photos published in local reports here, here and here, as well as in YouTube videos posted by tourists, seen here and here.

No orders

A spokesperson for the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Organization, which maintains the Bomun tourism district, told AFP on April 6, 2023, that the claim the trees near Bomun Lake were cut down on Moon's orders was "not true".

"We have never received any orders to cut down the cherry blossom trees, nor have we done so at any time," the spokesperson said.

"We replaced a few trees there in January this year because they were too old, not because of any orders about the trees being from Japan."

The spokesperson further explained that the cherry blossom trees were first planted when the area around Bomun Lake was designated as a tourist zone in the 1970s, and have been carefully maintained since.

"Tourists flock to Bomun to admire the cherry blossom bloom every spring," he said.

The spokesperson added that while he was not sure of the exact number of cherry blossoms in the area, he believed it "is nowhere near 500,000".

The Gyeongju city government's official website says there are "around 10,000 cherry blossom trees in the Bomun tourist district" that were planted since 1967, while local media reports here and here estimate the number of trees in Bomun to range around 14,000 to 15,000.
UPDATE 4/12 2:20 p.m.: Pittsburgh police said Arden Murdock has been located.

__________________________________________________

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Pittsburgh police are searching for a missing teenager.

According to police, Arden Murdock, 16, was last seen in the Squirrel Hill area on Tuesday.

Police believe Murdock may be headed to West Virginia.

Murdock is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 103 pounds, has red and black hair and transitioning prescription glasses.

Anyone with information on Murdocks whereabouts is asked to call 911.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

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Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, said the new delay was to consider "additional modelling"

A plan for Guernsey's future energy needs has been delayed again.

The Committee for Environment and Infrastructure (E&I) had originally planned to publish the plan in December 2022.

Earlier this year, it revised its timeline to before March, but the new strategy is now due to be published on or before 5 May 2023.

E&I President, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, said the new delay was to consider "additional modelling".

She said: "To ensure that the Electricity Strategy achieves its purpose, we requested additional modelling and information.

"It means that we're currently expecting to publish the Electricity Strategy on or before 5 May in time for it to be considered by the States at the meeting at the start of July.

"This additional work will also help us in addressing some of the questions raised through our ongoing engagement with industry representatives."

'Supply is affordable'

Mrs de Sausmarez said it was one of the big priorities for her committee, so it was important to get it right.

She said: "With our demand for electricity increasing, we have to address the question of how we can meet this growing demand whilst ensuring that our supply is affordable, secure and limits our impact on the environment.

"We've engaged with the energy industry, the regulator and business stakeholders to make sure that the electricity strategy provides this balanced and effective way forward to meet our future demand."

The new strategy will look at Guernsey's transition to net-zero.

In August 2020, the climate change policy for Guernsey was approved, which set the target to be carbon neutral by 2050.

It also sets an interim target of a 57% reduction on 1990 emissions levels by 2030.

Sam Hamperl, one of Second Meridian's founders, said: "It's really important businesses think about the environment"

Local nano brewery Second Meridian has recently started using solar power.

The company, which supplies beer to local restaurants, started as a hobby with four friends brewing beer in their house.

'Need a planet to drink beer'

One of the company's founders Sam Hamperl said: "We have to heat up a lot of water and it takes a lot of energy to heat the water we need.

Story continues

"Our plan from the start was to see how we could do that using renewable sources. When we aren't brewing, all the electricity we generate will be going back to the grid."

"It's really important businesses think about the environment, as we need a planet to drink the beer on. Otherwise it's all a bit pointless."

But Mr Hamperl said it was "quite difficult" to source the materials needed for the solar power system, at a competitive price.

"We have plans to get more panels as at the moment we are generating about 5.5KW, it would be good to double that, so we are looking at another 16 panels which would cover us when we are brewing."

Follow BBC Guernsey on Twitter and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
Poachers have killed at least five elephants in the Sahel state of Chad, stoking fears for the country's surviving animals, an NGO said Tuesday.

The elephants were found slaughtered in the Beinamar area, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) south of the capital N'Djamena, Adam Ahmat Assane, secretary of SOS Elephants, told AFP.

The deputy head of the state administration for forestry, wildlife and fishing, Hamid Mahamat Hissein Itno, confirmed that "elephants were killed," but he had no word about numbers.

"Our forces are chasing the poachers who killed them," he said.

SOS Elephants said in a statement that the elephants had been attacked by "armed men on horseback". Their heads had been cut off and their tusks removed.

The organisation said there were less than 1,500 documented elephants left in Chad, compared to tens of thousands three decades ago.

Poaching has slowed over the past decade thanks to a crackdown initiated in 2008 by former president Idriss Deby Itno, who died during an operation against rebels in northern Chad in April 2021, it said.

The last cases of poaching in Chad dated to 2016 and 2017, when at least 20 elephants were killed in two southern provinces bordering Cameroon.

Most of the country's recorded elephants live in wildlife reserves but are vulnerable to poaching when they leave the protected areas, SOS Elephants said.

Fearing a resurgence, it urged Deby's successor, his son Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, to "show greater firmness" against the crime.

dwi-gir/ri/js
A man was arrested Sunday afternoon after police determined a car fire in south Seattle was intentionally set.

Officers arrived in the 4500 block of South Henderson Street just after 4 p.m. to assist the Seattle Fire Department in responding to a car fire.

According to the Seattle Police Department, officers arrested a 42-year-old man after collecting evidence at the scene and speaking with a witness who identified a suspect seen sitting in the car before the fire.

Detectives from the SPD arson and bomb squad also responded to the scene.

Police booked the man into the King County Jail for investigation of arson.
An Athens man was shot early Monday after Athens-Clarke police said he burglarized a home and encountered a resident armed with a gun.

The shooting occurred at about 5:50 a.m. on the 1000 block of Tallassee Road in north Athens.

The suspect, James E. Hill, 41, of Broad Street, was treated for an arm wound, then booked into the Athens-Clarke County Jail, where he remained Tuesday without bond.

Im glad hes alive and I didnt have to be the one to take his life, the 32-year-old resident said Tuesday when contacted.

Remembering the chief: Former Athens-Clarke Police Chief Ronald Chandler dies; remembered for his steadiness

Oconee Blotter: Man with leaf blower has store customer pleading for mercy

The victim said the episode began when his girlfriends 16-year-old son went into the living room and saw a stranger sitting in the living room watching TV.

He alerted us and she let me know somebody was in there. I grabbed my firearm and ran to the door, he recalled.

The resident said he confronted the intruder, whom he had never seen before.

He tried to reason with us, saying someone let him in and there were cops outside looking for him, but I knew no one let him in, the man said.

The resident reported to police that the intruder had something in his hand and he was unsure at the time what it was. The suspect began running and the resident said he started shooting.

I just wanted to scare him, but I ended up hitting him, the resident said.

The mans girlfriend called 911 and when police arrived, they located Hill across the street and took him into custody. Hill was carrying a Roku remote, according to the report.

Police officer Adam Sartain searched the area and collected seven 9mm shell casings. He also collected the residents Glock 45 9mm pistol.

Hill was subsequently charged with burglary and he provided a detective with a statement, although what Hill told the officer was not disclosed.

The resident said the intruder entered his house through a door.

Story continues

My dad had left for work and left the door unlocked, he said.

I never thought this would happen to me, the resident said about using his gun. I wanted to protect my family and my home.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Home intruder wounded after resident confronts him with firearm
By Ismail Shakil

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian and U.S. authorities worked together in a year-long investigation into cross-border firearms trafficking that led to 42 arrests and the seizure of guns and illegal drugs, Toronto police said on Tuesday.

The arrested individuals, who face a total of 422 criminal charges, will return to a Toronto court on Friday, police said in a statement. Authorities allege that the individuals were involved in illicit firearms sales in Toronto and surrounding areas.

Canada's gun homicide rate is a fraction of the United States' rate, 2020 data showed, but is still higher than other wealthy countries and has been rising. Most of the handguns used in crimes in Ontario, the most populous province, are smuggled from the United States.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has pledged to crack down on gun crime through strict gun control measures, including a national freeze on the sale, purchase or transfer of handguns within Canada.

Of the 173 seized firearms, most were handguns, the Toronto Police Service said. The majority of the firearms were being smuggled into Canada from the United States, and some were domestically sourced, it said.

Police also seized about C$300,000 ($222,700) worth of fentanyl and cocaine worth about C$190,000.

The Toronto Police Service initiated the investigation in March 2022, and worked with other regional police and border authorities in Canada and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Canada has stricter gun laws than the United States, but Canadians can own firearms with a license, and long guns meant to be used for hunting do not have to be registered.

Last year, Canadian police arrested 22 people, seized 27 handguns and drugs worth C$1.3 million during a 10-month investigation into a gun- and drug-trafficking network operating in Canada and the United States.

($1 = 1.3471 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Phoenix police.

Phoenix police are investigating a home invasion that resulted in the fatal shooting of the intruder.

According to police, just before 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 9, officers responded to the area of 7th and Portland streets for reports of a shooting at a home. Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering a gunshot wound in the third-story bedroom of the house. He did not survive.

Police say early information suggests that the man had unlawfully entered the residence, made threats and aggressively approached the homeowner. The homeowner then shot the man before calling police and remained on scene.

Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Melissa Soliz said that no arrests have been made as the investigation remained ongoing.

No other information had been released.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: intruder fatally shot at phoenix home
Police have made an arrest after a fight at a restaurant in Lawrence early Tuesday morning escalated into a shooting, officials said.

Gregory Coito, 32, of Haverhill, is charged with armed assault to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm without an FID Card, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He will be arraigned in Lawrence District Court.

Officers responding to a report of a fight at Blue Lounge & Grill at the corner of Canal and Amesbury streets just after 1 a.m. learned that shots had been fired outside of the restaurant, according to the Lawrence Police Department.

Upon arrival, police say emergency crews found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was taken to Lawrence General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Video from the scene showed a section in front of the restaurant roped off with yellow crime tape and evidence markers placed on the ground.

State police detectives are assisting Lawrence police with the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Police in New York City pulled an unexpected wild creature from a river.

After receiving a report of a dog struggling in the strong current of the East River on April 10, New York City police officers responded to the area to assist, according to a statement posted on Twitter by the NYPD 19th Precinct.

However, when officers pulled up next to the animal in a boat, they discovered it was not a dog, but a coyote, police said.

Video posted by police shows officers hoisting the damp animal out of the river using a snare pole.

The coyote was transported to a veterinarian, police said.

Coyotes are common in NYC, but one swimming in the East River is not, police said.

Coyotes are common in NYC, but one swimming in the East River is not!



Our officers responded to a call of a distressed dog battling river currents, but realized it was actually a coyote! Thanks to NYPD Harbor for coming to the rescue  hes now in the care of veterinarians. pic.twitter.com/6t4TCUWlL7  NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) April 10, 2023

Coyotes, a species of wild canines closely related to wolves, have been known to inhabit multiple New York City boroughs, according to the citys website.

In order to safely coexist with the animals, city residents are encouraged to store trash in secure containers and to keep pets on leashes while outside, the city said.

An actual dog was pulled from a New York City river in December after a remarkable journey.

A dog named Bear escaped from his owner in Manhattan and swam across the Hudson River to New Jersey, according to previous reporting from McClatchy News. He was rescued three days after his escape.

Search ends for dog that mauled woman, and the animal will be euthanized, SC cops say

5-year-old, woman die when man intentionally crashes into oncoming traffic, VA cops say

Kids break through glass to escape as man shoots ex-wife and toddlers, Texas cops say
University of Pittsburgh Police and the FBI are investigating an active shooter hoax at the universitys Hillman Library late Monday night.

The first of three hoax calls were made to Pittsburgh Police at 11:10 p.m.

There was the sound of either gunshots or simulated gunshots that that officer could hear over the phone, Pitt Police Chief Jim Loftus said.

Five minutes later, police were at the library, evacuating hundreds of students and clearing rooms.

PHOTOS: Police respond to Pitt campus for reports of shooting, no evidence of active shooter

It was at that point a city officer fired shots to try and make entry on the ground floor. The door had been locked due to construction. Pittsburgh Police tell Channel 11 they are investigating those actions to see if they were in alignment with policy and training.

ALERT: Pittsburgh Police responded for reports of a possible active shooter at Pitts Hillman Library.



Upon investigation, there is NO evidence of an active shooter and no victims. The building has been safely cleared.



Students can return to retrieve their personal items. pic.twitter.com/4igD7w6EE6  Pittsburgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) April 11, 2023

Once Hillman was cleared, more calls came from nearby Mervis Hall. Students said they heard footsteps in the hall that they did not believe were police.

Through all this, no campus-wide alert was sent. It took nearly 90 minutes from the time of the call to police to the time the first alert went out to students.

My regret and my responsibility is that we didnt get the ENS message out as quickly as I think we could have or should have and that rests with me, Chief Loftus said.

Student support space will be open today in @PittTweets OHara Student Center from noon to 2 p.m.  Lauren Talotta (@LaurenTalottaTV) April 11, 2023

The university released a response about the incident, stating that an officer discharged his weapon, causing understandable alarm and that their Emergency Notification System was both delayed and flawed. They said they are reviewing the system and retraining their communicators. The entire response can be found here.

Story continues

The FBI is assisting in the investigation but would not comment on it or whether there are any potential connections to the hoax calls that happened at area schools in March.

Students react after active shooter hoax

Not knowing what was happening, or where the shots were coming from, became a mad dash for students to get out of the building.

Some even took a leap to safety.

All of a sudden, people came flying out, jumping over the side here, it was just complete chaos, said Ethan Pinnix, who is in his first year at Pitt.

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Lori Vallow Daybell is pictured during a previous hearing in Rexburg, Idaho on March 6, 2020. Vallow Daybell is currently being tried in a Boise court in the deaths of her two children. | John Roark, The Idaho Post-Register via Associated Press

A judge has ordered Lori Vallow Daybell must remain in the courtroom even as testimony and photos of the discovery of her childrens bodies is presented to the jury.

The Idaho mother is charged with conspiracy, murder and grand theft in the deaths of her two children, 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. She also faces charges in the death of her new husbands first wife, Tammy Daybell, who prosecutors revealed was killed by asphyxiation.

The request came following a morning of testimony that included descriptions of investigators efforts to extricate the charred remains of the children without damaging them. The bodies were found buried in the pet cemetery at the home of Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow Daybells new husband.

Chad Daybell, who is also charged in the three deaths, has pleaded not guilty and will face a separate trial.

Before the proceedings got underway Tuesday morning, Vallow Daybell appeared in court looking relaxed, wearing a pink blouse and black pants, her ankles shackled to the floor. She talked and joked with her attorneys, at one point throwing her head back in laughter.

But following a break for lunch, she walked into the courtroom visibly upset. She looked teary, with rosy cheeks and a scowl. Attorneys asked that she be excused while testimony continued for the rest of the day.

My client, her fragile state of mind, the mental health concerns, the myriad reports that have been filed about her mental health do justify such a request, her attorney, R. James Archibald, asked the judge.

Lisa C. Cheney via The Associated Press

Prosecutors countered that Idaho law favors a defendant being present for the duration of a trial, and said a quick search revealed no precedent for her being excused.

Judge Steven W. Boyce denied the request, saying that while the law does allow for absences, he was requiring Vallow Daybell to remain in the courtroom to preserve due process in the case.

What ensued was a graphic hour of descriptions from Rexburg police detective Ray Hermosillo, who described what authorities were experiencing as they excavated the bodies. Then, prosecutors showed image after image from the Ada County Coroners office, taken in June 2020, that showed the 7-year-olds decomposing body.

Story continues

Still, Hermosillo said he knew right away that it was JJ.

It was very easy to identify that little boy on the table as the one we were looking for over the last few months, he said, becoming emotional.

Vallow Daybell looked away from the courtroom screen, and did not look down at the images handed to her attorneys. Several family members in attendance wept.

Given the nature of the evidence, Boyce called for another break. And for about 15 minutes, Vallow Daybell didnt move  she sat slumped in her chair with her back to the gallery, arms crossed.

When the break was over, her attorney John Thomas cross-examined Hermosillo, asking him a number of questions, including how he went about obtaining a warrant to search Vallow Daybells home, and about the search of Daybells property where they eventually discovered the bodies of Tylee and JJ.

What police found at Lori Vallow Daybells home

When police served a search warrant on Lori Vallow Daybells Rexburg townhome on Nov. 27, 2019, they found two silencers, a mask, several guns, including two rifles, and camouflage suits.

They also found two Tyvek suits  white, full body, personal protective equipment that is often used for cleaning up hazardous materials, Hermosillo testified Tuesday morning.

Related

The day before police went into Vallow Daybells home with a search warrant, Hermosillo had attempted to conduct a welfare check after JJs grandparents in Louisiana contacted police in Gilbert, Arizona, concerned about his whereabouts. Gilbert police then reached out to Rexburg officers, and on Nov. 26, 2019, Hermosillo confronted Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox, outside an apartment near downtown Rexburg.

Alex had a blank look on his face, Hermosillo said, describing the moment he asked where JJ was. A frightened look. (He) looked over at Chad Daybell ... Chad then looked at Alex, and they kind of just looked at each other, they didnt answer my question ... it raised some red flags, just the way they acted with that question.

Hermosillo, with another Rexburg officer, knocked on Lori Vallow Daybells door. She didnt respond. He then saw Chad Daybell, driving away, and flagged him down to ask for Vallow Daybells phone number. Daybell said he didnt have her number.

The Rexburg, Idaho, townhome complex where Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were staying in November 2019 is pictured. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

He stated that he hardly knew her, and that he had only met her a couple of times, Hermosillo said, responding to prosecutor Rob Woods questions. The longtime Rexburg police officer said that was suspicious.

We knew that Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell had been married two weeks prior, he said.

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Though Vallow Daybell eventually met with two other detectives that afternoon, the following day, on Nov. 27, police obtained a warrant. When she didnt answer, police broke down the door to Vallow Daybells apartment.

Thats where officers found the Tyvek suits, a mask, silencers and guns. The barrel of one of the rifles, Hermosillo said, was threaded to fit a silencer.

On Monday, Brandon Boudreaux, who was married to Melanie Boudreaux, Vallow Daybells niece and a follower of her fringe beliefs, testified about the day someone shot at him outside his apartment with a rifle, with a silencer attached, in October 2019. Tammy Daybell was also shot at by a masked man in her driveway that same month, police have said.

During the search, officers also located Alex Coxs passport, rope and duct tape found inside a bag, a cellphone, books written by Chad Daybell, and various documents, according to Hermosillo.

Cox died from what authorities say were natural causes in December 2019, the day after Tammy Daybells body was exhumed as part of the investigation.
JERUSALEM, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Analysts have called on Israel to refrain from taking any actions that will raise tensions with the Palestinians before the latest round of fighting last week escalates into a major conflict.

Analysts believe the fighting along Israel's borders with Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip last week posed a threat to the stability of Israel, which has been embroiled in an internal debate over a contentious plan to reform its judicial system, and will further undermine its security if it becomes a wider conflict.

Hani al-Masri, director of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, says he won't rule out the possibility of a new round of extensive military conflict in Gaza as both Israelis and Palestinians will soon have several anniversaries and important events, typically a time when tensions between the two sides are at their highest.

Last week's flare-up of tensions, which comes at a sensitive time when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan overlaps with the Jewish holiday of Passover, followed Israeli police raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and clashed with dozens of Palestinian worshippers inside early on Wednesday. The Israeli police said "dozens of law-breaking youths" attempted to barricade themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque to incite riots.

After the raids, rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon into southern and northern Israel on Wednesday and Thursday, injuring civilians and causing damage to several buildings and cars. Israel accused the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the Gaza ruler, of being behind the rocket attacks. In response, Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon.

In the latest escalation, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it launched airstrikes on Syria early on Sunday in response to two rocket attacks from Syria towards the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The rare rocket attacks from Israel's northeastern neighbor overnight triggered sirens in the communities of Natur and Avnei Eitan in the Golan Heights. No injuries or damage were reported yet.

Amid tensions with Palestinians, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday extended the closure of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"We are facing a challenging time," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday told mayors from cities that were targeted by rocket attacks, adding "our enemies are wrong when they thought we are not united behind our military."

For Israel, in addition to the frictions with its neighbors, the security situation is worrying. A tourist was killed and seven other tourists were injured on Friday night during a shooting and run-over attack in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. On the same day, two British-Israeli sisters, respectively aged 16 and 20, were killed in a drive-by shooting in the northern West Bank, and their mother was critically injured.

While the tit-for-tat violence between Israelis and Palestinians seem to have no end in sight, Israel is also witnessing a massive internal rift regarding judicial reforms the incumbent government wishes to implement. For weeks, demonstrations against the government have been staged.

In response to the public outcry, Netanyahu announced in late March that he would suspend the legislation of his contentious plan to overhaul the country's judiciary by about a month to allow "dialogue" between coalition and opposition lawmakers.

Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University, believes that there is a clear link between the country's internal unrest and the conflicts it has with militants from its neighbors.

"Israel's enemies see the crisis as a strategic opportunity to weaken Israeli resilience and deterrence," he said.

"Hamas, for example, understands that Israel cannot afford to launch a wider offensive," Milshtein told Xinhua, adding "they are not entirely wrong in this assessment."

For peace to return, Milshtein says it is necessary for Israel to refrain from actions that exacerbate tensions with Palestinians, particularly in Jerusalem.

He also called on the Israeli government to change its policy towards Hamas in the Gaza Strip and "halt the (judicial) reforms that are clearly doing Israel considerable strategic harm." 
We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville.- Senator Mitch McConnell

More victims, this time in Louisville. There have been 133 mass shootings just this year in America. As of this time, there were five people killed in the recent Louisville tragedy, including the shooter, a disgruntled employee.

Innocent school children were recently shot to death, once again. This time it was not Texas; it happened in Nashville, Tenn. I have children and grandchildren in both states.

Why did it happen? Are Americans just inherently more violent or crazy, the NRA position? Most GOP legislators in Kentucky apparently agree, getting them an A NRA rating, plus campaign funding. Meanwhile, the state has loose gun laws.

David Axelrod, a key Obama advisor, has a different view- Per capita gun deaths in the U.S. are exponentially higher than other nations. Is the difference that we, as a people, are that much more susceptible to mental illness? Or is it that we have the most liberal gun laws in the world?

Do you remember the narcissistic NYC reality star who in 2016 promised to drain the swamp? Trump, now under indictment for a dirty deal, also received $30 million from the NRA for his campaign. Does Trump believe more guns will cause fewer shootings, the NRA good guy/bad guy totally false talking point? Or is he just beholden to the special interests and scared of one issue voters?

Pro-gun newsletters declare gun grabbers are coming to confiscate our guns and must be stopped. But per polls, gun owners dont all support the NRA extremist position. I dont. Many others would not if they did not listen to the right-wing NRA/Fox false propaganda about gun grabbers and our existing laws being just fine if they were enforced. With family members who were FBI employees, local police officers and prison guards, I guarantee you that lazy cops are not the problem!

I know that theres a middle ground on guns. Reasonable limits can be placed on guns, while still permitting some personal firearms. Frankly, its impossible to just take away 400 million guns (up from 90 million when I graduated college). However, we can control who owns them so that they are not accessible to those most likely to misuse them.

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Congress could pass stronger laws to:

 Establish an accurate national gun sale database;

 Do thorough universal background checks, including at gun shows (now exempt) with reasonable waiting periods;

 Stop criminals, the mentally unbalanced, drunks, druggies, and other dangerous people from gun ownership;

 Prevent gun sales to people on no fly and watch lists;

 Stop private ownership of assault rifles like the one used in Tennessee, and elsewhere;

 Prohibit the sale of high capacity magazines;

 Require carry permits, stopping concealed carry;

 Increase taxes on guns/ammunition to compensate victims and offset law enforcement costs;

 Raise the age to purchase firearms to 21 so that a child who cant buy wine also cant buy a gun;

 Require guns to be under lock and key, making parents legally responsible if a teenager uses their guns to kill others.

We should all know by now that prayer is not enough; our most religious states are our most violent. Neither is loosening gun control, the knee-jerk reaction of GOP controlled legislatures like that of Kentucky, promoting even more shooting deaths while incorrectly citing Second Amendment rights (which are only for state militias).

No one says it better than Broward County Florida Sheriff Steve Israel, What about the rights of these students? What about the rights of young kids who go to schools with book bags and pencils? Dont they have the right to be protected by the United States government, to the best of our ability?

Many of the above measures have the support of most Americans. But many national and state elected officials are cowards. They know the truth about gun control but will never admit it. Tell your elected officials to stop taking lobbyist money and finally do something to control gun violence. Or vote them out of office.

Jack Bernard is a former resident of Louisville, where he worked for Humana. He is the former Director of Planning for the state of Georgia, is Chairman of the Fayette County, Georgia Board of Health and believes gun violence to be a public health issue.
On the way to the Trader Joes at 20th Street in Phoenix on Monday I drove past holy ground. Theres a lot of it in town, though it mostly goes unnoticed. Forgotten.

The mass shooting in Louisville, Ky., reminded me.

A 23-year-old gunman killed five and wounded eight at a bank before being killed by police.

Among the wounded is 26-year-old Louisville Police Officer Nickolas Wilt, who graduated from the police academy on March 31. He was shot in the head as he answered the call about the gunman and is in critical condition.

The shooter was armed with a semiautomatic rifle, the weapon of choice for most of Americas mass killers.

Its a weapon elected officials refuse to ban, because they love the money and the support provided by the gun lobby more than they love innocent civilians.

Or police officers.

Signs note first responders' sacrifices

A petal of roses in the shape of a heart decorates the entrance of Old National Bank Tuesday morning after Monday's mass shooting there Monday morning, killing five people and injured nine, including two Louisville Metro Police officers in downtown Louisville, Ky. April 11, 2023

The proof is scattered around every big city, including ours.

All around Phoenix there are reminders of the sacrifices first responders make on our behalf. You may not have noticed them.

The city erects small markers at the spots where police officers have died in the line of duty.

Each is about the size of a no parking sign, with a blue background, a stylized city of Phoenix logo, and block letters with the officers name and the date of the officers End of Watch.

The one on 20th Street, south of Highland on the east side of the road, is for Officer Leonard Kolodziej.

In 1991, he answered a call about gunshots in that neighborhood. Just after he arrived a man with a rifle opened fire and killed him.

I note his End of Watch sign each time I pass it, sometimes stopping.

A list of the lost is too long to print

A few years before Kolodziej was killed, I was getting threats that police thought were more serious than the usual threats a news columnist receives. Officers were assigned to make extra patrols through the neighborhood where my family and I lived.

During one pass on my block the patrolling officer saw the front door to our house wide open and swerved into my driveway, believing there might be trouble. There wasnt, but he did not hesitate. It was Kolodziej.

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The Officer Down Memorial Page lists a total of 286 fallen law enforcement officers for Arizona.

In 2007, I visited the spot at 83rd Avenue and Encanto Boulevard where Officer George Cortez Jr. was shot and killed after responding to a forgery call at a check-cashing operation.

I was at the scene in 2005 on Cactus Road, between 31st and 35th avenues, shortly after Phoenix Police Officer David Uribe was gunned down during a traffic stop.

After shooting: Arizona school safety requirements vary widely

Officers Eric White and Jason Wolfe were killed in 2004 at an apartment complex near 19th and Northern avenues. A few days after they died, I watched kids running through the complex with crime-scene tape trailing behind them like yellow ribbon.

Something should be done, but won't

In 1999 I visited the spot near 30th Avenue and Catalina where Officer Marc Atkinson was shot to death by suspected drug traffickers.

Time covers places and events like blowing sand. There is no longer a branch office of Valley National Bank on West McDowell Road where Officer Ken Collings was shot dead in 1988.

There is not enough space to list all of the officers lost just in our city.

Isnt that reason enough for lawmakers to take some action to protect the men and women who risk their lives to protect the public? Particularly now, with the proliferation of high-powered weapons.

But they wont.

Way back in 1986 I drove to what was then a Circle K at 11th Street and Indian School Road, where Phoenix police Officer Robert Fike had been killed the night before.

While I stood with a small crowd of others gawking at a stain on the parking lot behind the Circle K, an elderly man and woman approached.

The man carried a small bucket and shovel, like you might see in a childs sandbox. He squeezed between a few of us, took a shovelful of dirt from the bucket and spread it over the stain on the asphalt.

Then, he and the woman turned and shuffled away.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

For more opinions content, please subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Louisville shooting reminds how politicians love guns more than police
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis was unconscious when he was rushed to hospital two weeks ago with bronchitis, and could have died, according to an Italian man widely reported to speak to him regularly, who said he last talked to the pontiff on Saturday.

The 86-year-old pontiff was taken to Rome's Gemelli hospital on March 29 and discharged three days later. He appeared in good health as he led Easter celebrations all last week.

Michele Ferri, from the central Italian city of Pesaro, told Reuters the pope sounded better in their most recent conversation than he had the last time the two men spoke in January.

"He seemed very tired (back then)," Ferri said.

Ferri confirmed remarks he had made earlier to Italian regional newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, in which he quoted the pope as having told him: "A few more hours and I'm not sure I would have been around to tell it."

"I told him: you really gave us a fright!" Ferri said.

Ferri is widely quoted in Italian media as someone who speaks to the pope regularly, since Francis first called to comfort him after the death of his brother who was killed in a robbery a decade ago.

The pope is known to keep a small list of people he phones regularly, often after comforting them following tragedies. The Vatican never confirms their names but has not denied that he speaks to Ferri. It did not respond to a request for comment on Ferri's latest remarks.

Last week the pope was well enough to preside over all Easter celebrations except for a Good Friday night-time outdoor service in Rome that the Vatican said he skipped due to unseasonably cold weather.

Francis suffers from a number of ailments, including a bad knee that hampers his ability to walk. Part of one of his lungs was removed because of an illness when he was a young man in Argentina.

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Philip Pullella and Peter Graff)
Auction paddles go up as families donate to support Portsmouth Christian Academy students.

DOVER  Portsmouth Christian Academys 28th annual benefit auction set a new record recently, generating $392,000 at the time of this writing. All proceeds benefit PCAs Variable Tuition program, which offers reduced tuition to financially qualified families.

Families from more than 50 communities in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts bid on hundreds of items and experiences. Variable Tuition supports more than 40% of PCAs students.

The auction helps us accomplish our number-one strategic priority: respond to the demand for Christian education in our mixed-income region, said Elaina Russo, PCA director of development.

Luxury getaways, water cruises, themed gift baskets, summer camps, and fine dining were some of the popular items up for bid. Also up for bid were student experiences like Principal for a Day, Librarian for a Day and Security for a Day. Bidding generated nearly $120,000 in donations.

Sponsor-A-Child, where donors help students attend PCA for a year, semester, quarter and day, raised nearly $250,000 in 15 minutes. Parents and grandparents, faculty and staff, and local community members all joined to help. Donations are being accepted at e.givesmart.com/events/rry/page/sponsor-a-child.

For information, contact Russo at erusso@pcaschool.org.

Coe-Brown Northwood Academy student receives prestigious National Spanish Travel Award

Coe-Brown Northwood Academy junior Francesca Ferguson with two of her CBNA teachers. From left to right are Sarah Hill, Ferguson, and Jennifer Sommerer.

NORTHWOOD  Coe-Brown Northwood Academy junior Francesca Ferguson of Barrington learned recently she was one of only 18 students nationwide, and the first from New Hampshire, to receive the Bertie Green Junior Travel Award, a travel scholarship awarded by the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica (National Spanish Honor Society), part of the AATSP (American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese). Only one student application from each of the nations approximately 3,000 National Spanish Honor Society chapters is accepted for consideration, and from there, a select few are awarded the all-expenses paid opportunity to travel to a country or region of the Spanish-speaking world. This year, the awardees will travel to Costa Rica.

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As part of the rigorous, nationwide selection process, students must submit an application, an essay written in Spanish, letters of recommendation, a video interview demonstrating their interpersonal Spanish-speaking skills, academic transcripts and a resume of school and community involvement specifically highlighting honor society activities. There is no distinction made between heritage speakers and non-native speakers. Even though Ferguson has only four years of Spanish language study to her credit, at the urging of her CBNA Spanish teacher Jennifer Sommerer, she decided to give it a try. She noted of the process, I was intimidated at first  it was a lot of work.

Fergusons mother, who is fluent in Spanish and French and taught English Language Learning (ELL) for many years, served as Fergusons inspiration to try Spanish in eighth grade at Barrington Middle School. From there, CBNA faculty members Jennifer Sommerer and Michael Clauss led the way toward greater language success.

Ferguson appreciates the accolades, but she said her motivation goes deeper. We get to soak in a natural hot spring, do an artisanal ox cart workshop, go to a black sand beach and visit a volcano. I am very excited to see sloths! But above all, she wants to, interact with the local residents of Costa Rica. I want to study behavioral neuroscience and Spanish in college and I am thinking of becoming a bilingual school psychologist. I hope that this experience will help me understand the cultural differences and philosophies of Spanish-speaking countries so I can help children from a variety of cultural backgrounds be successful and comfortable in school.

One World Language School collaborates with Seymour Osman Community Center to teach language to children

Brigitte is One World Language School's CEO/co-founder and attended a diversity, equity and inclusion workshop at Harvard recently.

DOVER  A new pilot program will allow 26 students to attend a 15-week free Spanish language game-based program created specifically for the elementary age group, thanks to a new collaboration between One World Language School and Seymour Osman Community Center and funding from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. This partnership aims to link well-being and social mobility for underserved populations.

We have always provided affordable language and cultural education to all children regardless of their socio-economic circumstances and pride ourselves on having never turned anyone away, says Brigitte Herz, director of One World. "Children with housing insecurities are often at a disadvantage when it comes to afterschool programming due to lack of mobility, transportation, and/or financial means. However, for these children it is even more important to give them access to our programs. The Seymour Osman Community Center recognizes this need and runs an after-school program directly at Woodman Park Elementary School."

One Worlds language programs (French, Spanish, German, and Chinese) encourage individual growth in foreign language proficiency while promoting cultural appreciation among the people of the region and the world. One World seeks to educate children (pre-K through high school) to the level of fluency and to provide them with the cultural tools to travel comfortably between their native language and culture and that of their target language and culture.

Information: oneworldlanguageschool.org

Kittery school district names new curriculum director

JoAnne Dowd has been named the Kittery School Districts next curriculum director, Superintendent Eric Waddell recently announced. She will replace Marilyn Woodside, assistant superintendent, who will retire June 30. Dowds appointment was approved April 4 by the Kittery School Committee.

Dowd comes to Kittery from RSU 23 (Old Orchard Beach) where she has served as the director of curriculum and instruction since 2017. Before that, she was an assistant principal at Lewiston High School in Lewiston, Maine. She has worked in Maine and New Hampshire schools since 1989. She is a member of the Executive Board for the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association.

Ms. Dowd was one of 18 candidates for the position. A selection committee comprising teachers, administrators, School Committee members, and parents vetted the candidates.

Originally from Manchester, New Hampshire, Dowd earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New Hampshire. She also holds a masters degree in educational leadership from the University of Southern Maine.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth Christian Academy shatters record: Education news
Nigerias disputed general election has become fodder for disinformation on social media, including with a Facebook post claiming that an election official apologised for announcing a fake result for the presidential ballot. However, the claim is misleading; the election official cited in the post told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that he announced the resu lt for a federal parliamentary seat under duress. This led to the a new vote for this seat being scheduled in 13 polling stations.

Its Over for Ahmed Bola Tinubu as INEC official apolgise announcing f@ke Election results (sic), reads a post published on March 12, 2023.

A screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, taken on April 5, 2023

Shared more than 16,000 times, the 14-minute-long video in the post features the photos of leading presidential candidates, election officials and the chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu.

The narrator in the video claims 22 seconds into the clip that an INEC official released a statement apologising to the Nigerian people for announcing fake election results during the presidential election.

Just over a minute later in the video, a letter allegedly written by the official in question is displayed.

The post was published by an account that has a history of sharing content critical of the president-elect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and in support of his rival Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

INEC declared Tinubu the winner of the presidential ballot held on February 25, 2023.

Obi and fellow opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, argued that widespread irregularities and rigging marred the election.

Both men have petitioned an election tribunal, with each claiming to have won.

INEC has denied any illegal activity, although the commission acknowledged technical problems with the so-called BVAS voting machines.

But the claim that an official apologised for announcing a fake presidential election result is misleading.

Parliamentary seat

The letter shown in the video was written by Professor Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai of the faculty of clinical sciences at Bayero University in Kano, northwest Nigeria.

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Yakasai served as the returning officer for the House of Representatives election held on February 25, 2023, the same day as the presidential election.

Dated February 27, 2023, his letter was addressed to the Kano state office of INEC.

A screenshot of the letter Professor Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai wrote to INEC, taken on March 6, 2023

In the letter, Yakasai explained how he had announced the result for the 2023 Tudun Wada/Doguwa House of Representatives election under duress (archived here).

The collation area was completely under siege, [and thugs were] threatening to burn down the INEC facility if I did not declare the result within one hour, Yakubu wrote in the letter which was published widely by local news outlets.

To quell the mob, Yakasai said he announced APCs Alhassan Doguwa as the winner for fear of losing my life and other INEC officials who were with me (archived here).

At a later press conference on March 8, 2023 Yakasai confirmed that APC polled 39,732, NNPP 34,798, and PDP 2,091 (archived here).

Although counting was already completed when Yakasai made his initial announcement, the narrow margin of victory meant a supplementary election should have been ordered before declaring a winner.

INEC guidelines stipulate no winner should be declared if the margin between the top two candidates is less than the number of registered voters affected by polling cancellations (archived here).

Yakasai said voting had been cancelled at 13 polling stations where 7,083 voters were registered.

Prof. Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai, the returning officer for the 2023 Doguwa/Tudun Wada House of Representatives Election, announcing the cancellation of election in constituency of Doguwa. pic.twitter.com/vSMwzRm4kD  Kwankwason Tuwita (@baba__________) March 8, 2023

INEC acknowledged that Doguwa was declared winner of the election under duress (archived here) and has since delisted him. A supplementary election in the 13 polling units will be held at a later date (archived here).
NEW YORK (AP)  U.S. health officials released data Tuesday showing how chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases have been accelerating, but doctors are hoping an old drug will help fight the sexually transmitted infections.

Experts believe STDs have been rising because of declining condom use, inadequate sex education and reduced testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions of Americans are infected each year. Rates are highest in men who have sex with men, and among Black and Hispanic Americans and Native Americans.

Sexually transmitted infections are an enormous, low-priority public health problem. And theyve been a low-priority problem for decades, in spite of the fact that they are the most commonly reported kind of infectious disease, said Dr. John M. Douglas Jr., a retired health official who lectures at the Colorado School of Public Health.

To try to turn the tide, many doctors see promise in doxycycline, a cheap antibiotic that has been sold for more than 50 years.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drafting recommendations for using it as a kind of morning-after pill for preventing STDs, said Dr. Leandro Mena, director of the agency's STD prevention division.

The drug is already used to treat a range of infections. A study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine showed its potential to prevent sexually transmitted infections.

In the study, about 500 gay men, bisexual men and transgender women in Seattle and San Francisco with previous STD infections took one doxycycline pill within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Those who took the pills were about 90% less likely to get chlamydia, about 80% less likely to get syphilis, and more than 50% less likely to get gonorrhea compared with people who did not take the pills after sex, the researchers found.

The study was led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and built on a similar French study that saw promise in the idea.

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We do need new approaches, new innovations to help bring sexually transmitted infections under control, said Dr. Philip Andrew Chan, who is consulting with the CDC on the doxycycline recommendations.

Mena, of the CDC, said there is no sign the STD trend is slowing.

Mississippi had the highest rate of gonorrhea cases, according to 2021 CDC data released Tuesday. Alaska saw a sharp increase in its chlamydia case rate that allowed it to overtake Mississippi at the top of that list. South Dakota had the highest rate of early-stage syphilis.

And Arizona had the tragic distinction of having the highest rate of cases in which infected moms pass syphilis on to their babies, potentially leading to death of the child or health problems like deafness and blindness.

Using an antibiotic to prevent these kinds of infections wont be a magic bullet. but it will be another tool, said Chan, who teaches at Brown University and is chief medical officer of Open Door Health, a health center for gay, lesbian and transgender patients in Providence, Rhode Island.

Experts noted the CDC will have many factors to weigh as it develops the recommendations.

Among them: The drug can cause side effects like stomach problems and rashes after sun exposure. Some research has found it ineffective in heterosexual women. And widespread use of doxycycline as a preventive measure could contribute to mutations that make bacteria impervious to the drug, as has happened with antibiotics before.

Nevertheless, the San Francisco Department of Public Health in October became the first U.S. health department to issue guidance about doxycycline as an infection-prevention measure. And some other clinics have been been recommending the antibiotic to patients who may be at higher risk.

Derrick Woods-Morrow, a 33-year-old artist and an assistant professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, is an early adopter. Woods-Morrow, said he isn't a fan of condoms  they can break and sometimes people slip them off during sex. But he wants to stay healthy.

About a decade ago, he started taking an anti-viral medication before sex to protect himself from HIV infection. Five years ago, a doctor told him about research into whether doxycycline might protect people from other diseases.

I thought it was probably in my best interest to protect myself, and my partners as well, he said. He said its been a positive experience and that he hasnt tested positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis while using it.

I feel like its a tool to sort of take back the sexual freedoms that someone may have lost and to really enjoy sex and interactions with people with a piece of mind, 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.
A social media post shared in Ethiopia claims to show soldiers parading in support of an anti-government protest in Amhara regional state. However, this is false: the image of soldiers as well as several additional images showing banners are old. They were take n during various events and published online in 20 19, 2020 and 2021.

A protest supported by a military parade is being conducted in Debre Tabor now. Amhara will not unbuckle its belt, let alone its arms, reads the Amharic caption of a Facebook post published on April 2, 2023.

The post, which has been shared more than 380 times, also includes a link to a Telegram channel and asks users to join for more information.

Screenshot of the false post, taken on April 4, 2023

The Amhara ethnic group is the second largest in Ethiopia, after the Oromo.

AFP reported in April 2023 that protests were held in Amhara regional state against the federal government's decision to integrate regional security forces into federal forces.

Local media have reported divisions between Oromo and Amhara political elites (archived here) within the ruling Prosperity Party.

The Facebook post includes four images. The first shows a long line of people in military uniform carrying guns.

The other three show people holding different banners during what appear to be public demonstrations.

The banners feature slogans condemning the killing and displacement of people from the Amhara ethnic group.

Opposing rallies in two states

On April 2, 2023, rallies were held in Oromia regional state to celebrate the five-year anniversary of Abiy Ahmeds inauguration as Ethiopia's prime minister.

On the same day, antigovernment rallies were conducted in Amhara regional state.

The opposing messages during these rallies signal an escalating dispute (archived here, in Amharic) between political elites belonging to the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups.

A two-year long war in northern Ethiopia ended with a peace deal between the government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) on November 4, 2022.

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However, ethnic tensions continue to simmer, threatening the country's stability.

But the claim that the images show soldiers parading during an anti-government rally is false.

Old photos

By conducting a reverse image search, AFP Fact Check found that the image showing the people in military uniform is actually from an incident during the Tigray conflict.

The image was originally shared on social media in October 2021, along with text attributed to an Amhara activist about fighting between the TPLF and Amhara security forces during the war in northern Ethiopia.

The post was shared by a page that frequently publishes content related to the Amhara people.

Screenshot of the post shared in 2021, taken on April 4, 2023

A reverse image search for the second photo, which shows a banner with an Amharic slogan, reveals it was shared on Facebook three years ago -- in February 2020 -- by a page named Ethio Amhara Media.

The two Gondar towns: Debre Tabor and Gondar, reads the caption of the post written in Amharic.

The slogan on the banner reads Oromo people: is this your response to the Amhara people who showed you empathy ?

Public protests broke out in February 2020 following the abduction of Amhara students from a university in the Oromia region.

Screenshot of the post shared in 2020, taken on April 4, 2023

AFP Fact Check found the third image, also showing banners, came from a May 2019 protest in Amhara regional state against the killing and displacement of people belonging to the Amhara ethnic group.

The post was shared in May 2019 by a Facebook page named Gihon Media, which frequently shares pro-Amhara content.

We dont want an Ethiopia that will be built on the blood of the Amhara people, reads the banner seen in the image.

Screenshot of the post shared in 2019, taken on April 4, 2023

The date printed on the banner is April 24, 2011 in the Ethiopian calendar, which is equivalent to May 2, 2019.

Screenshot of the false post with a date printed, taken on April 4, 2023

Massive demonstrations were held in many parts of the Amhara region on May 2, 2019, according to local media reports (archived here).

The fourth image shows a large crowd.

Screenshot of the post image shared on April 2023, taken on April 4, 2023

In this case, the image does not appear to be old. It was shared on social media in relation to the protest in Amhara regional state on April 2, 2023.
Advertisements viewed tens of thousands of times on Facebook offer Canadians access to an investment program said to be run by the government and Imperial Oil that promises to earn its participants thousands of dollars each month. This offer is not legitimate; the energy company is not affiliated with the app or website promoted in the ads and the clips of government officials used to promote the program are also unrelated.

"A Canadian company has released an app that guarantees that every Canadian can earn at least $9,000 per month!" claims an advertisement posted on Facebook on April 4, 2023.

Another ad also posted on April 4 claims: "The government has notified citizens that now every Canadian can earn on Canadian oil. Together with Imperial Oil, they have released a platform that, thanks to smart analysis of the oil and currency stock market, brings passive income of at least $700 daily with a minimum investment!"

Screenshot of a Facebook ad taken April 7, 2023

Screenshot of a Facebook ad taken April 7, 2023

Imperial is a 140-year-old company and the largest refiner of petroleum products in Canada. It also runs Esso and Mobil gas stations in the country.

Asked for comment about the Facebook ads, the company did not respond, but it warns consumers on its website about the fraudulent use of the Imperial name and logo.

The Facebook pages running the ads differ from the page linked to Imperial Oil's website and were recently created according to page transparency details.

The "Canadian News" page was created on March 19 and following the link in the post leads to a survey website designed to obtain personal information.

Similarly, the "Canadian Partnership" page was originated on April 4. The ads it is running encourage people to install a free investing app which has no affiliation with the Canadian government or Imperial Oil.

Unrelated footage

One of the advertisements stitches together unrelated clips of Alberta's former premier Jason Kenney and former Imperial chief executive officer Rich Kruger to encourage people to download the app.

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In the video, Kenney says: "Albertans rightly expect to see real economic benefit, particularly when prices and profits are this high."

A keyword search finds the full video is from Kenney's appearance in Calgary on May 10, 2022. The then-premier was not speaking about investment opportunities for individuals, but answering a question from a reporter about how the provincial government wanted to see oil companies invest their record profits.

Similarly, Kruger, who retired from his role at Imperial in 2019, was not discussing a new app for Canadians to make money, but speaking to local media about the government's decisions regarding the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in 2018.

Another ad opens with a clip of CBCNN anchor Heather Hiscox speaking about the war in Ukraine. A public affairs officer for CBC confirmed to AFP in an April 11 email that the CBC report was not about the investment scheme.

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre also appears in the ad saying: "Dollars for dictators into paychecks for our people. We will bring it." But this clip was lifted from a press conference he gave on March 7, 2023 where he discussed his desire to increase natural gas exports.

AFP previously fact-checked other posts impersonating Imperial Oil.
POUGHKEEPSIE - A Poughkeepsie man who was convicted of first-degree murder earlier this year was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Weishaupt said Paul Senecal was sentenced by Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin.

Senecal, 38, was accused of stabbing Melanie Chianese, 29, multiple times in her town of Wappinger home in May of 2022. She was taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital, where she later died.

Chianese was the daughter of Senecal's ex-girlfriend.

Senecal was convicted by a jury of one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree burglary, all felonies; and one count of second-degree criminal contempt, a misdemeanor, on Feb. 24.

Woman dead: Body pulled from Hudson River by Dutchess County police

WNBA draft: Poughkeepsie native Maddy Siegrist picked third by Dallas Wings in WNBA Draft

Parole delayed: State suspends decision to release convicted murderer Brian Britton

McLoughlin sentenced Senecal to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder conviction; 25 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder convictions; 25 years in prison on the burglary count; and one year for criminal contempt. The sentences are to run concurrently.

"The actions of this defendant were cold. calculated and extremely brutal," Weishaupt said in a statement released by his office. "This defendant should never walk free again, and Judge McLoughlin's sentence ensures this."

Senecal's attorney, August John Dumser, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie man sentenced to life in prison for murder conviction
BELFAST, Northern Ireland  Twenty-five years after the U.S. helped broker peace in Northern Ireland, President Joe Biden heads to Belfast on Tuesday to celebrate an accord that ended three decades of bloodshed and is widely considered a major diplomatic success.

Yet Biden's visit comes as the Good Friday Agreement, which the Clinton administration helped orchestrate, is being tested by political turmoil.

Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, has been without a government  as spelled out in the agreement  for more than a year amid a trade dispute following Brexit. The Northern Ireland Assembly isn't meeting. Executive Cabinet posts aren't filled.

And while the 1998 agreement largely ended sectarian violence, there are new reminders about the peace's fragility. Northern Ireland's terrorism threat level was recently raised to "severe" ahead of Biden's visit. Police disrupted a bomb plot targeted for Londonderry, Northern Ireland by members of the New IRA, a paramilitary group affiliated with the Irish Republican Army, according to The Belfast Telegraph.

More: 'Simple dignity': How President Biden's visit to Ireland tells the story of 'Blue-collar Joe' back home

"For President Biden, this is a little bit of a tightrope to walk on: to emphasize, in broad terms, how the treaty has been successful, and perhaps maybe to ignore the fact that it's actually not working on the ground," said Christopher Maginn, professor of history at Fordham University, who specializes in Irish and British history.

A local resident walks past a loyalist paramilitary mural on April 4, 2023 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, ended most of the violence during the decades-long conflict known as The Troubles

How Brexit disrupted Northern Ireland's government

Biden, a Catholic with well-documented Irish roots, is set to deliver remarks in Belfast on the agreement's 25th anniversary Wednesday before visiting his ancestral home of Ireland for the next three days. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also attend the Belfast ceremony.

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"President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there," said White House spokesman John Kirby.

The Good Friday Agreement established a devolved local government in Northern Ireland with power shared among Protestant loyalist parties that pushed to remain part of the U.K. and Catholic nationalist parties that sought to unify with the Republic of Ireland.

President Joe Biden speaks during a St. Patrick's Day reception in the East Room of the White House, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A power-sharing government can't function without both sides participating. And members of the Democratic Unionist Party  made up of conservatives who backed the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU  pulled out after Brexit.

They oppose an arrangement between the U.K. and EU that preserved the free flow of trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which share the only land border between the U.K. and the EU.

"It is a time of mixed feelings because we're celebrating the anniversary but the power-sharing government isn't working," said David Mitchell, assistant professor in conflict resolution and reconciliation at Trinity College Dublin at Belfast.

More: In Northern Ireland, Brexit renews discussions on sovereignty and identity around an unclear border

Why fighting in Northern Ireland started

Biden, before boarding Air Force One, told reporters Tuesday that his top priority in Belfast is maintaining the Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Framework. Sunak finalized the latter deal in February to ease customs checks at the Northern Ireland border to keep trade open between the U.K. and EU.

"Keep the peace," Biden said. "That's the main thing."

Elections in Northern Ireland are set in May, a moment that many observers believe will lead unionists to rejoin the government. Regardless, the most important result of the Good Friday Agreement  ending the long conflict known as "The Troubles"  hasn't changed.

Northern Ireland was created in 1921, remaining a part of the U.K. when the rest of Ireland became an independent state.

In the 1960s, the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland became the subject of widespread discrimination. Protests led to the formation of paramilitary groups like the Irish Republican Army that fought to reunite Ireland. The British Army and unionist-backed paramilitary groups fought to suppress them.

In this photo taken on March 2, 1972, in Londonderry, young Catholic rioters hurl projectiles at British soldiers during a rally protesting the January 30 "Bloody Sunday" killing by British paratroopers of 13 Catholics civil rights marchers in Londonderry.

The result was bombings, shootings and guerilla warfare from the 1960s into the 1990s that killed about 3,500 people and made Belfast a constant battle zone.

"Twenty-five years is longer than any other agreement has lasted here," said Peter McLoughlin, senior lecturer at Queens University, Belfast. "And whatever the difficulties we have  and our government is not working right now  this is the best form of democracy that anybody's come up with."

US 'should be proud' of pivotal role for peace

During peace talks, former Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine, served as Clinton's special envoy leading peace talks in Norther Ireland. Mitchell was the main line of communication for opposing Northern Ireland camps that weren't talking to each other.

Northern Ireland has changed significantly since 1998. For the first time, Catholics outnumbered Protestants in Northern Ireland in last year's census.

U.S. President Bill Clinton reaches out to shake the hands of the people of Omagh during his visit to Omagh, Northern Ireland, Thursday, September 3, 1998. Omagh was the scene of a bomb blast that killed 28 people on August 15, 1998.

Two leaders instrumental in fostering the Good Friday Agreement  David Trimble, the first First Minister of Northern Ireland, and John Hume, an Irish nationalist leader  died in recent years.

"There's a sense that that we need to keep sort of explaining the agreement to younger people who didn't live through the conflict," David Mitchell said. "That don't really understand what it's all about."

More: Rishi Sunak completes comeback, to become Britain's first prime minister of color

McLoughlin said he's "relatively confident" Northern Ireland will see a return of power sharing and a restored government

And although Biden won't be able to speak before a packed assembly in Northern Ireland, he said the anniversary is a "cause of celebration" and recognition of the key role the U.S. played.

"As a citizen here, I'm grateful to the American people, the American government, for the kind of patience they put in here," McLoughlin said. "It's something the U.S. people should be pretty proud of."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. Sen, George Mitchell and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern pose for a photograph after signing the Good Friday Agreement on April 10, 1998.

Contributing: Associated Press

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden visits Northern Ireland as Good Friday Agreement under threat
MOGADISHU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said Tuesday that it has begun relocation of newly arrived Somali refugees in Ethiopia who fled recurring clashes between security forces and clan leaders in Las Anod in northern Somalia, with 1,036 of the most vulnerable people transferred from border areas to a new settlement over the past three days.

The UN refugee agency said thousands of people have arrived in the Somali region of Ethiopia seeking safety since clashes started in mid-February.

As of last week, 91,000 people had been registered by Ethiopia's Refugees and Returnees Service with the UNHCR's support, and refugees still continue to arrive, fleeing ongoing violence in their home country, the UNHCR said.

"Most are women, children, and older people. Among them are more than 3,400 unaccompanied and separated children and adolescents," it said.

According to the UNHCR, upon arrival, refugee families are biometrically registered and provided with a tent and other essential relief items to set up a new home. Ethiopia has generously allocated 400 hectares where refugees can settle and access existing services, such as health care, water, and education.

It added that while many refugees are being hosted by Ethiopian families in their homes, others who crossed into Ethiopia remain in overcrowded shelters or are sleeping outdoors and require urgent assistance.

The UNHCR and humanitarian partners in March launched an inter-agency emergency refugee response plan of 116 million U.S. dollars to address the immediate critical needs faced by refugees and host communities in this area.

Ethiopia has welcomed refugees for decades and currently hosts nearly 990,000 refugees from neighboring countries like South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan, the UNHCR said. 
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 42-year-old prisoner being held at the Wyandotte County jail died on Easter Sunday, according to the sheriffs office.

Joseph Herrington, of Kansas City, Kansas, was discovered unresponsive in the detention center shortly before 5 p.m. by a deputy who was serving meals, according to a statement from the sheriffs department on Monday night.

Emergency medical personnel and deputies unsuccessfully attempted to revive him, according to police. An preliminary assessment indicated no signs of foul play, the sheriffs office said, though the Kansas Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate.

The announcement of his death came Monday as Herringtons family was notified. Further details were not immediately available from police.

Herrington appeared to have been held in the jail Sunday on an alleged probation violation. He was arrested Saturday by Kansas City, Kansas police.

The underlying order of probation stemmed from traffic violations, including eluding police, in 2021. He also was being held with a detainer for a felony drug possession case in Clay County, according to the sheriffs offices online booking log.
The Russian invaders are planning to involve prisoners from Belarus convicted of minor crimes in construction work in the temporarily occupied city of Mariupol.

Source: Radio Liberty, referring to Petro Andriushchenko, the adviser to the mayor of Mariupol

Quote from Andriushchenko: "Just yesterday, we received additional information that it had been decided that not only Russians would be there. They are going to bring people who have been convicted of minor crimes from Belarus in the near future, so that they can also be engaged in construction work on the territory of Mariupol."

Details: He said that Russian construction workers, who are now arriving en masse in the occupied city, no longer hide the fact that they plan to live in Mariupol in the future.

For this purpose, Russia has even launched a mortgage programme since February that provides for obtaining housing at two per cent interest.

According to Andriushchenko, Moscow has already held 40 tenders for construction in temporarily occupied cities.

The adviser to the mayor of Mariupol did not say under what conditions prisoners from Belarus will be attracted.

Background:

Russian troops occupied Mariupol in May 2022 after bloody fighting and a prolonged blockade.

As a result of Russian strikes, Mariupol has been almost completely destroyed.

The UN estimates that about 90% of multi-storey residential buildings and about 60% of private homes in the city have been destroyed or damaged.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A statewide education board in Oklahoma has rejected the application of what would be the nation's first religious charter school pending more information and clarification on various aspects of its operations.

The school's architects will have 30 days to submit a revised application from the date they receive the letter elaborating on the board's decision, per state rules.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa have pitched St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School as an online program that could reach students in rural communities and other areas across Oklahoma who have few schooling options.

Seton LaSalle Catholic High School on March 3, 2021, in Pittsburgh.

In the meeting Tuesday, members of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted not to approve the school, expressing concerns over aspects ranging from its special education programming to internet access issues. They also continued to debate its constitutionality and whether they would be legally liable in the event it were challenged in court.

The board's decision not to approve the first draft of a school's application wasn't a surprise, said Brett Farley executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, which represents both the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.

"This is fairly normal for their application process," Farley said. "It gives us more time to address their concerns, and so we'll do that and come back and present those and see where we go."

What could it mean for the future of US schooling ?

Charter schools are publicly funded, yet privately run. They face fewer restrictions than traditional public schools, ranging from curricula to personnel. In some cases, states have even approved charter schools affiliated with religious groups.

Charter schools with a direct focus on religion have so far been nonexistent due to controversy in the use of public funding for parochial education.

Parent demand for more school choice has expanded since the tribulations of education during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Oklahoma, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has said he wants to move forward a universal school voucher program in the state, which would generally allow parents to use public money on private school tuition or other education expenses.

Story continues

For students and schools: School choice remains popular following COVID closures.

What that means for students: School choice motivated midterm voters in superintendent races.

Why is it happening now?

The school's proponents envision St. Isidore as a potential poster child for the campaign to open up the doors for religious public schools.

It has the endorsement of Oklahoma's Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, but the state's new attorney general has expressed skepticism.

It's an opportune time legally for efforts to soften the separation between church and state. The Supreme Court now leans conservative and has shown a willingness to take on perennially divisive issues, from abortion to affirmative action.

Attending the meeting as a non-voting member of the board, Walters, the state superintendent, urged board members to approve the application and blamed opposition to the school on anti-Catholic leftists.

"Youve heard from some radical leftists that their hatred for the Catholic church blinds them in doing whats best for kids," Walters said to the board. "Their hatred for the Catholic Church has caused them to attack our very foundational religious liberties and attack this school and this application."

Board Chairperson Robert Franklin responded to Walters, saying "no disrespect to you, but I didn't hear a radical position nor did I hear an attack on the Catholic Church."

Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade: Eliminating constitutional right to abortion

Affirmative action:Supreme Court signals skepticism of race-conscious college admissions

Contact Alia Wong at (202) 507-2256 or awong@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @aliaemily. Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kaylajjimenez.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Religious Charter School in Oklahoma blocked by state education board
A couple cover themselves with a pride flag in an undisclosed location in Uganda in March 2023. (Associated Press)

He was in high school when he realized he was gay.

His parents, he says, have long wondered, and, lately, hes been thinking about how to tell them.

I believe they would receive that information well, the customer service representative said with a smile.

But that may not happen now, because of legislation approved last month by Ugandas parliament.

The 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill, passed on a 387-2 vote, would impose some of the worlds strictest anti-gay measures  with punishments that include the death penalty  if it is signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni .

An admission of being gay could result in a lengthy prison sentence, leaving many in this countrys small but tightly knit gay community living in terror and considering fleeing. The law also criminalizes the failure to report people suspected of participating in gay sexual activity, putting friends, former partners  even supportive parents  at risk of going to jail for remaining silent.

There is a lot of fear, the 28-year-old service rep said. I have been looking for progressive communities where I can go and be myself. I love my country so much, [but] our government keeps shocking us.

In addition to calling for the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality  defined as sexual relations with someone younger than 14 or older than 75  the legislation confirms an existing punishment of life in prison for gay sexual activity and bans the promotion of homosexuality. Anyone who advocates for LGBTQ people or provides support for organizations that do so could face as much as two decades in jail.

Even tourists would be subject to imprisonment and fines if they engage in any prohibited behavior.

Economic Freedom Fighters members demonstrate against Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill at the Ugandan High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa. (Ben Curtis / Associated Press)

Museveni, a former military officer who has ruled Uganda for more than 37 years, has until late this month to sign the bill into law, veto it or send it back to parliament for revision. Many observers expect him to choose the third option and ask lawmakers to tone down some of the harsher parts of the legislation, which has drawn heavy criticism from world leaders including Volker Turk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.

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Jessica Stern, the U.S. State Departments special envoy to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ people, calls the bill, also known as the Anti-Homosexuality Act, cruel and extreme.

Community members tell me that home evictions and community violence against LGBTQI+ people have already increased with the bills passage by parliament, Stern said. If the AHA is signed into law, it will jeopardize progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, deter investment in Uganda, threaten the human rights of all Ugandan citizens, and damage Ugandas international reputation.

The U.S. government invests almost $1 billion annually in Uganda.

::

Lawmakers who supported the bill said it was needed to protect "family values." After it passed, they stood on the floor of the parliament and cheered, and then sang the national anthem.

These acts include promotion of homosexuality and the recruitment of children into homosexuality, which have been blamed for the rising incidents of homosexuality in Uganda, said Robina Rwakoojo, chair of parliaments legal and parliamentary affairs committee and one of those who applauded the bill.

Adriaan van Klinken, a professor of religion and African studies at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, said wide-ranging clauses mean that life for LGBT people [will] become really hard, adding that finding housing and employment can become really difficult."

The laws are designed to create an environment of fear, Van Klinken said. As a result, LGBT folks will either have to leave the country, or if they stay, make sure they are invisible.

Gay sexual activity is already illegal in Uganda. The countrys only gay film festival was shut down in 2017, and arrests at suspected gay-friendly bars arent uncommon. In recent years, however, LGBTQ people and their supporters had begun carving out some space, feeling safe enough to stage small pride parades and organize self-help groups.

That space is now gone. Theres been a steep rise in anti-gay violence since February, when a military officer urged health officials not to treat gay people in government health centers, despite the risk to public safety.

A similar anti-gay bill was approved by parliament in 2014, only to be thrown out by Ugandas constitutional court on a technicality. But the sentiment that inspired that legislation never went away. It has always been a question not if, but when MPs would pass it again, Van Klinken said.

The election of a new parliament in 2021 was key to the timing of the new effort, Van Klinken said, but it was just one of many factors.

A gay man who gave his name as Clifford discusses Uganda's anti-LGBTQ legislation. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The social and political momentum had been building, he said. Over the past six months or so, there have been a couple of reports about supposedly gay teachers molesting children in school, which has created a kind of a moral panic." In addition, in early 2023, the Church of England approved same-sex marriage, which made Ugandan Anglican bishops speak out against it and, in February, Muslim leaders organized an anti-gay march. "So, the momentum was there.

American evangelicals have spent millions in the last several years to push their anti-gay agendas among Christian communities throughout Africa  including Uganda, which is 84% Christian  part of a global cultural war against marriage equality and reproductive rights. Musevenis wife, Janet, a Cabinet minister and former MP, is among Ugandas most influential evangelicals.

If the Anti-Homosexuality Bill becomes law, it would make Uganda, a country of 46 million people, the fourth on the African continent where gay people can be put to death; in three others, people convicted of same-sex relations can be imprisoned for life.

In Ghana, where same-sex relationships have long been banned, parliament in 2021 approved draft legislation that would fully criminalize LGBTQ people  not just their actions  and punish any groups supporting that community. The bill remains under parliamentary review and has not been implemented.

Activists rally against Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill at the Ugandan High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, on April 4, 2023. (Themba Hadebe / Associated Press)

One part of Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Bill would make it a crime for landlords and property owners to allow gay sexual acts to take place on their premises. The legislation does not specify how proof would be gathered.

Do they have a meter that the landlord is supposed to use to gauge if this person is homosexual before they let them in? the customer service representative asked over tea in an upscale neighborhood of embassies and new high-rise apartment buildings, many of which sat empty. How do you prosecute someone without evidence? What is going to tell people that youre gay? Is it because someone is wearing feminine colors?

In fact, the proposed law doesnt require evidence of an illegal act, only suspicion of one, to call the police, opening the possibility that personal disputes and workplace quarrels could end with unfounded accusations of being gay.

Its almost surreal, said Joseph, a middle-aged tour organizer who asked that his full name not be used for safety reasons. People are almost in a panic mode. Its difficult for people to even think about what happens next.

::

Joseph, who lives on the edge of Kampala, Ugandas capital, is a thoughtful, well-read man who has spent his whole life in the deeply conservative country. But he said hes never seen the kind of anti-gay frenzy thats taking place now. Last week a magistrate ordered two teachers suspected of promoting lesbianism to be held behind bars, saying he feared for their lives if they were released.

Ugandan lawmaker John Musila wears a garment with an anti-LGBTQ message as he enters parliament to vote on an anti-gay bill on March 21, 2023. (Ronald Kabuubi / Associated Press)

And in a country where the per capita gross income is just $800 a year, Joseph worries many people will be only too willing to turn in their neighbors if the bounty is right.

The danger is not actually the people, its the gay people collaborating with hungry policemen for money, he said. People being gay does not mean you can trust them. If someone could make money via blackmail, he said, they might go ahead with it.

Although the bill hasnt been signed into law, it is already having an effect, Van Klinken said. Landlords are kicking out tenants they know to be gay. Several LGBTQ organizations, he said, have had their bank accounts frozen.

If the law is signed, the discrimination will lead to many diverse consequences for my financial, mental and physical well-being, said a twentysomething insurance company employee who gave his name as Clifford. The law incites people against each other. 

Lunching on a sandwich, he added: You have to be keen to what youre putting on. Is it something related to the rainbow?

And what if you leave your cellphone unattended and someone scrolls through the photos?

Youre fearing for your life, Clifford continued. You will be discriminated against."

Because of that, Clifford, who is college-educated, is among a growing number of LGBTQ people with degrees who are considering leaving Uganda. International investment could also be blunted since companies would run the risk of having their employees jailed  or worse  if they visited Uganda.

Thats my dream. Go to a place where I can live my life. Because here you have to live being afraid, Clifford said in a low whisper.

Its dangerous. When youre here, you have to keep shielding yourself.

Others dont want to leave  but arent sure they can stay, either.

Its literally we need to sell our homes. And where do we go? Joseph said. We want to be in the jungle, not be shepherded overseas.

We want to be here.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Participants take part in the annual Hanoi Pride 2019 parade, which champions LGBT rights in the country, in Hanoi on September 22, 2019. MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images

A proposed Vietnam law would allow citizens to change their gender identities and get gender-affirming surgery.

The proposed law might be included in the government's 2024 agenda, according to Viet Nam News.

In 2022, Vietnam said homosexuality is "not a disease" and outlawed conversion therapy, Al Jazeera reported.

A proposed law in Vietnam would allow people to change their gender identity, signaling a notable win for transgender rights in the country.

Lawmaker Nguyen Anh Tri proposed the law which would allow people to change their gender identity, request a different gender identity from the one assigned at birth, and get gender-affirming surgery, according to The Pink News.

The proposed law, which only mentions genders male and female, might be included in the government's 2024 agenda, according to Viet Nam News.

As it stands, there are no regulations on gender identity in Vietnam and no laws that prohibit same-sex relationships or activities, but LGBTQ rights remain controversial, the outlet reported.

Tri said the law would ensure that legislators are "leaving no one behind" with their policies and that the National Assembly, Vietnam's legislative body, was receptive to the suggested legislation, Viet Nam News reported.

"[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," national assembly secretary-general Bui Van Cuong said, per The Pink News.

The country tossed its ban on same-sex marriage in 2015, the outlet reported. In 2022, Vietnam's Ministry of Health said homosexuality is "not a disease" and outlawed conversion therapy, according to Al Jazeera.

The struggle for LBGTQ acceptance continues in much of Southeast Asia, where traditional religious and political ideals that are hostile towards gay and trans rights persist, according to the International Bar Association.

Read the original article on Business Insider
[Source]

Protesters gathered outside the Alameda County Superior Courthouse on Monday to demand the recall of District Attorney Pamela Price over a series of criminal justice reforms that would likely reduce or even eliminate prison time for convicted criminals.

Central to the demonstration was a call for justice for Jasper Wu, the 23-month-old Oakland boy killed by a stray bullet while heading home with his family on Interstate 880 in November 2021. Responding to a request for an update on the case, Prices office stated last week that they are working to pursue broader possibilities for healing and non-carceral forms of accountability.

Three men accused in the fatal shooting appeared in court Monday. Trevor Green, Ivory Bivins and Johnny Jackson were each charged with murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Jaspers mother called for each suspect to be justly and severely punished with the maximum sentencing available under the law, according to a text message read at the rally by Stewart Chen, president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council.

More from NextShark: Man Attacks Asian American Photojournalist During Trump Rally

Im very sad and angry. What happened to Jasper was not fair. And we want justice for our son, wrote Jaspers mother, as per the Bay Area News Group. I am extremely worried about Jaspers case and the direction it might go.

Mondays crowd, which included one of Prices own prosecutors, repeatedly chanted Recall Price, Do your job and Justice for Jasper at the steps of the courthouse.

When you commit a crime, and you hurt people, you should pay, said prosecutor Butch Ford, who served 23 years with the District Attorneys Office before being placed on administrative leave after Price took office in January. Pamela Price disagrees with that lesson. This is about the rights of victims.

More from NextShark: Elderly Chinese Man Requests Charges of Suspect Who Recorded Robbery Be Dropped

Fremont Mayor Lily Mei also attended the rally and described it as an outcry for safety. What were seeing today, (it feels) like the families are not feeling like their voices are being heard, she said.

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Loved ones of other victims of violence also joined the protest.

Among them was Virginia Nishita, the wife of Kevin Nishita, the security guard fatally shot while protecting a news station crew a month after Jaspers murder.

More from NextShark: China threatens 'countermeasures' against US entities over downing of spy balloon

I am worried as well. Are they taking enhancements away? Is Kevin going to get justice? I don't know. That's why I'm here today, said Nishita, as per ABC7 News.

Barbara Nguyen, sister of Alameda County Sheriff's recruit David Nguyen  who was also fatally shot on an Oakland freeway just two months after Jaspers killing  also took part in the rally.

I will never stop and never give up. This is why the community is so important if we can't trust the justice system, Nguyen told ABC7 News anchor Dion Lim.

More from NextShark: Man dressed as Joker injures 17 in Tokyo train knife and fire attack on Halloween

Prices office released a statement after the protest, saying that no charging decisions in Jaspers case have been finalized.
More than 100 people reportedly protested on the steps of a San Francisco Bay Area courthouse Monday demanding the ouster of a George Soros-funded district attorney over the handling of the case against three alleged gang members charged in the highway shooting death of an Asian toddler.

Jasper Wu, 2, was struck and killed by a stray bullet during a rolling gun battle between rival gang members on Interstate 880 in Oakland, California, in November 2021.

Three men  Trevor Green, Ivory Bivens, and Johnny Jackson  were charged by former Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley with offenses including murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle, gun charges and gang conspiracy enhancements. The trio is due back in court in late April.

Newly elected District Attorney Pamela Price took over the office in January after running on a progressive campaign to prioritize rehabilitation over prosecution.

SAN FRANCISCO-AREA SOROS DA DEMANDS JUDGE WHO REJECTED DEAL FOR ALLEGED KILLER BE DISQUALIFIED FROM ALL CASES

Two-year-old Jasper Wu was shot and killed on a California freeway in November 2021.

Last week, Price said her office is reviewing the case against the three men accused of Wus killing, sparking speculation that she may stray from the charges brought by her predecessor. The liberal DA, who is Black, has vehemently denied race would influence prosecution, deflecting instead to her mission to "root out racism in our criminal justice system."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The crowd outside Alameda Countys main courthouse Monday included members of the AAPI community and erupted into chants, including "Do your job," "Recall Price" and "Justice for Jasper." Stewart Chen, president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, translated a letter from Wus immigrant mother, who met with Price last week regarding her sons case.

"I am extremely worried about Jaspers case and the direction it might go," the boys mother told Chen. "We lost an innocent and beautiful life. As a mother, I cannot accept nor forgive myself for not being able to help my son seek justice. I am asking for the maximum sentencing allowable under the law."

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In attendance was Butch Ford, an Alameda County deputy district attorney who said Price placed him on leave for criticizing how shes running the office. He told the San Francisco Chronicle that Price is not interested in prison time, but rather "diversion" or "non-carceral" alternatives.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is facing calls to step down for what critics deem lenient prosecution of accused killers.

"Jaspers life was stolen. His killers dont need diversion; they need to go to prison," Ford said.

Speakers also included the family members of other crime victims demanding justice.

Barbara Nguyen spoke on behalf of her 28-year-old sheriff recruit brother, David Nguyen, who was fatally shot while driving home on Interstate 580 over the summer.

Virginia Nishita spoke on behalf of her deceased TV news security guard husband, Kevin Nishita, who was shot to death in Oakland in 2021.

PROSECUTORS QUIT OVER SOROS-FUNDED DA'S RADICAL AGENDA AS FAMILIES VOW TO FIGHT BACK

Jasper Wu supporters protested against Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price.

"Please do your job. Protect us, the victims, the families. Please. Do your job. Help us put these criminals away," Nishita pleaded at the rally, directing her message to Price.

KTVU reported that a recent memo from Prices office directed her prosecutors not to pursue any charging enhancements except in "special circumstances."

CBS News also reported that in March, Price told her assistant district attorneys to stop using gang or other enhancements unless they receive approval from a supervisor.

In a video message last week, Price said she assured Wus parents that their sons alleged killers would be held accountable but said no decision on specific charges has been made.

Jasper Wu, 2, was struck by stray gunfire as rival gang members allegedly shot at each other on an Oakland freeway.

"I assured the parents of Jasper Wu that the men we believe are responsible for his death are charged with very serious crimes, and they will be held accountable," Price said on April 6. "We have not made any decisions about what charges to pursue or what not to pursue. We are still reviewing the case. While we cannot ever make amends for the death of their child, what we can do is make sure that this does not happen to another family like this."

In 2022 alone, shots were fired on San Francisco Bay Area highways 154 times, Price said.

"This particular tragedy is being used by people with a political agenda to divide our diverse community. The kind of racist messages that my office has received and directed at me personally is unprecedented," Price added of Wus case. "Our diversity is our strength. Those who claim that race has somehow influenced the prosecution of this case are wrong, and they are making a painful situation more painful for the family and our community. I have dedicated my life to advancing the values of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Those values do not include racism. My office is committed to doing our part to administer justice with a vivid understanding of the need to root out racism in our criminal justice system."

Protesters in support of Jasper Wu's family show up outside the Alameda Court courthouse.

Criticism of Price has heightened since her district attorneys office secured a plea deal for triple homicide suspect Delonzo Logwood. In another video message last week, Price said she was motioning to have the judge who rejected that plea agreement disqualified from the Logwood case as well as all future criminal cases prosecuted by her office.

The rally in support of Wus family comes after another toddler was shot and killed by a stray bullet on the same freeway over the weekend. The 5-year-old girl was fatally struck while riding with her parents on the way to a family birthday party, KTVU reported.
Former White House Press Secretary turned-MNSBC host Jen Psaki says she considers herself a journalist  albeit in a different media ecosystem than the one she worked with a top press aide for President Biden.

Journalism has changed dramatically. Semafor is an example of that, Psaki said during a brief interview at the news startup Semafors Media Summit on Monday. And even when I was in the White House, working in government, it really was already all on a spectrum.



It wasnt just the New York Times, Washington Post, ABC News, and then everything else wasnt considered part of journalism, she added.

Psaki said the modern-day media encompasses a big, broad scope of things.

And so to me, journalism is providing information to the public, helping make things clearer, explaining things, she said. So I think there is a broad expansion of what that is.

Psaki debuted a new weekend news and analysis program earlier this month, notching more than a million viewers during her first episode.

She is the latest in a string of White House press officials to sign lucrative contracts with media companies, including George Stephanopoulos, Dana Perino, Alyssa Farah Griffin and others.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Patriotic badges showing Winnie the Pooh being punched in the face by a Taiwanese black bear -- a humorous dig at China's leader Xi Jinping -- have gone viral across the self-ruled island.

The iron-on patches being worn by some of Taiwan's air force pilots are a defiant message to Xi, who is often satirised for looking like the honey-loving cartoon bear.

"It's amazing. It's the happiest thing in recent days,"social media user Mark Sasha Liangsaid on Facebook.

Chen Kai-chu, another fan, said: "Wear this to go through Chinese customs."

China, which claims the island as part of its territory, launched three days of massive war games on Saturday that involved simulating attacks on democratic Taiwan.

The show of force from Beijing was a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week.

Taiwan's defence ministry released a series of images and videos during the drills to show off its military preparedness.

One picture in particular, of an airforce pilot inspecting a fighter jet, immediately caught the eye of social media users.

They noticed on the sleeve of his jacket a patch featuring an illustration of a flag-wielding Formosan black bear pounding Winnie the Pooh.

The discovery set off a social media storm.

Two of the badges have the word "scramble" at the bottom, one of them also proclaiming "we are open 24/7".

A third badge designed last year shows a Taiwanese fighter pilot slapping a panda, China's national symbol.

It was produced when China carried out similar exercises in response to then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei last year.

Taiwanese people have rushed to buy the Pooh-punching patches, which sell for 200 Taiwan dollars (US$6.50).

The badges originated at Wings Fan Goods in Taoyuan city, east of the capital Taipei, where they have now sold out.

"It's so famous that my friends on the other side of the Pacific are asking me about this," fan Mob Liu said on Facebook.

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Social media was flooded with requests for the patches, some from as far away as the United States.

"Please restock," said one user, identified as Abigail Eileen.

Sepfry Ng asked: "Can you ship overseas? To Hong Kong?"

A Facebook vendor who sells the patches said he has received around 1,000 orders since the image went viral on Saturday.

Most of the requests are from Taiwan but some have even been received from China.

"The people of Taiwan are disgusted with China's overacting military exercises after the Tsai-McCarthy meeting so this pilot's badge sparked discussion," said the Facebook vendor, who asked to be identified by his business name Wizardgeo.

"The people support the military in defending our sovereignty."

aw-ssy/pbt
LAGOS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 134 people were killed within five days in separate attacks by armed bandits in Nigeria's central state of Benue, according to Samuel Ortom, the state governor.

The attacks took place in villages of Otukpo, Apa, and Guma local government areas of the state between Wednesday and Sunday, with the gunmen burning houses and other properties, Ortom told reporters Monday in Makurdi, the state capital, when he visited some injured victims.

The governor described the attacks as "heinous and cowardly," appealing to the community and its leaders to continue to be law-abiding and vigilant at all times so as to be able to ward off the assailants.

Meanwhile, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the use of terrorism as a tool in inter-communal conflicts, urging that the attackers of innocent citizens in Benue be found and dealt with swiftly under the law.

In a statement issued by his media office Sunday night, the president urged that all efforts be made to end the extreme violence. He also directed the security agencies to enhance surveillance on every front and immediately review the security management in the affected areas. 
US-SHOOTING-SCHOOL-WEAPONS

The US flag flies at half mast outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 29, 2023. - A heavily armed former student killed three young children and three staff in what appeared to be a carefully planned attack at a private elementary school in Nashville on March 27, Credit - Stefani Reynolds-AFP

As he toured America in the early 1800s, Alexis de Tocqueville observed the new worlds fascination with individualism and entrepreneurship with a combination of wonder and worry. He recognized that Americas future greatness and power likely lay in its citizens obsession with individual advancement. But he also questioned whether a society could hold together when existence becomes atomized and individual success crowds out the common good. America, he worried, would descend into a morass of avarice, self-interest and envy without a means through which Americans could prioritize virtue, character, and common good over personal interest and individual achievement.

In a way, the story of Americas success in the two hundred years since de Tocquevilles tour is our ability to properly balance this tension between individualism and collectivism. Americas genius lies not just in our spirit of entrepreneurship and pick-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps individualism, but also in our decision to make sure that this value on personal responsibility and success is never absolute. To varying degrees over the course of our history, it has been matched by a concern for the community and the collective. We measured success both by how well we were doing and how well the communities and the country we belonged to were doing, and we tended to view our individual and collective well-being as powerfully entwined.

But something has changed. We all feel this. In America today, far too many of us are disconnected from each other, lonely, self-protective, or at each others throats. Sacrifice for the common good feels anachronistic. Everything not nailed down has been commoditized or turned into a source of personal enrichment. The daily shout shows and nonstop social media hostility push us into corners and reward balkanization. Sacrificing personal gain for the common good or treating people with different views respectfully or prioritizing collective success over individual successits all for the suckers.

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Much has been written about why we tipped toward ourselves over the last several decades. The villains in this story include declines in religious participation and social outings and clubs, fueled in part by television, which keeps us at home. Workplaces also became more focused on profit than on employee well-being and solidarity, and we started lionizing those who stepped over others to get ahead. While those people always existed in society, they were usually identified and treated as outliers that needed to be constrained, not as examples of American greatness.

More from TIME

In 1985, Habits of the Heart, an extensive study of values in American life, reported that Americans speak a first language of personal ambitions and only a second language of commitments to others and the collective. Perhaps more than any country in the West, we also became immersed in the 1970s in psychological talk and a self-help culture that, for all of its benefits, occupied many Americans with their inner lives and caused them to wade into themselves not their communitiesto find meaning and vitality. More recently, researchers and social observers have decried how social media betrayed its promise to connect us, instead deepening our sense of isolation and anomie. Making matters worse, we now consume different news sources that convey different facts, undermining the shared reality that is the glue of any healthy society.

Read More: What Americans Can Do to Bridge the Political Divide

This change in our priorities is reflected in how we raise our kids. Research indicates that American teenagers are more likely to prioritize aspects of their successhappiness and achievementover caring for others, and theyre more likely to view their parents as prioritizing these aspects of success in raising them.

Alexis de Tocquevilles warning was not wrong. It no longer feels like America can hold together when we all exist in silos, with little concern for collective health. Our countrys survival may rest on our ability to restore the prior balance between individualism and the common good. As a social scientist who has long studied Americans retreat into ourselves and as a U.S. Senator raising children amidst this new national reality, we believe the question of how we restore in Americans a stronger sense of responsibility for others and their communities is one of the central cultural and civic concerns of the moment.

We see this as two critical, distinct challenges. One is to restore community at the local level. Put simply, one cannot have a sense of community if the community doesnt exist. Healthy, inclusive communities have all sorts of benefits, including increased safety; a greater sense of belonging, identity and pride; and a buffer in times of crisis. Theyre also a vital antidote to pervasive loneliness in this country, which takes a large physical and emotional toll and is distressingly common among the young. Soon-to-be published results from a recent Making Caring Common national survey indicate that 34% of adults aged 18-25 suffer serious loneliness. But today, our towns, neighborhoods, and local communities are suffering. The industries that defined places have disappeared or been gobbled up by faceless global conglomerates that have no stake in building strong communities around their facilities. Local business districts have vanished, as the economy has gradually been Amazonified. Local newspapers that connected neighbors together through common storytelling have been swallowed by national news outlets that erase our local identity and insist on bunching us all together in one loud, messy, conflict-obsessed national conversation.

The other, perhaps more important challenge, is to expand Americans circles of care and obligation. For too many Americans, their community is tightly drawn  kin, religious or ethnic group or political party. Republicans view Democrats as the enemy, and vice versa. Rural and urban Americans feel like they are living on different planets. Black and white people often lead segregated, culturally separate existences. We must convince Americans that there is reason for them to care about those outside their immediate community.

Government canand mustmeet these critical challenges. To address the first challengethe loss of connection to, and identification with, community  there is no shortage of government solutions, most of which do not fall along traditional right/left divides. First, why continue to pretend that the consequences of technologys unstinting advance are value-neutral? It is entirely clear today that our retreat into online life is not a substitute for in-person connection. Why not use policy to steer technology companies toward products that breed connection and happiness, not loneliness and anxiety? Government could require social media companies to restrict access for minors to a short period of time each day (akin to the recent Tiktok announcement), or require these companies to disclose their algorithms so as to create downward pressure on the prioritization of unhealthy or prurient content. America doesnt need to pretend that these platforms are outside our control. We could choose to pressure these companies to act more responsibly and to disincentivize individuals, especially children, from disappearing into their phones.

Government should also play a central role in revitalizing the health of local communities and institutions. Before small town business districts and churches and social clubs began to dry up, these were the places where strangers met, relationships were formed, and identities were constructed. Healthy, vibrant places and social institutions also provide opportunities for non-political, non-sectarian identities that are likely healthier than ideology-based identity. This effort would involve thoughtful industrial policy, designed to bring good paying industrial and high-tech jobs back to small communities, but also deliberate support for places of worship and clubs and local newspapersinstitutions where local identity is formed.

There is much else that government can do to create a social infrastructure. We might take cues from the United Kingdom and Japan, which have both created purposeful national strategies to combat loneliness. Primary care physicians, for example, might routinely ask about loneliness at annual physicals and provide social prescriptions, connecting patients to, say, relevant religious organizations, or reading groups or non-profits. Political leaders might task housing and urban planning departments with developing more concrete strategies for promoting connections and community. Government can support the growing trend to reimagine public libraries as vibrant, cross-generational community hubs that provide, for example, classes, civic events, collaborative workspaces and story-telling.

Expanding national service programs would help address the second challenge, bringing young people together from various backgrounds to work on common causes, creating ties across the usual divides and strengthening young peoples commitment to their country. Yet government could think well beyond these programs in bringing diverse Americans together to solve problems and to address the harm caused by the pandemic. Policymakers might support the expansion of programs like CoGenerates Generations Serving Together, which unites older and younger generations in solving problems that no generation can solve alone and that curbs loneliness, which especially afflicts not only the young but senior citizens. Policymakers might organize diverse volunteers to tutor children and to assist teachers in redressing the brutal learning losses students suffered during the pandemic. Parents are often isolated, with high costs to themselves and their children, and government can expand the wide array of family support programs that enable parents and other caregivers to connect with and strengthen each other.

All of this work ought to be placed within an ethical narrative. Americans need leaders who can convey that while we all have different stories, we are also part of the same story, a story of usa story about what it means to be an American that resonates with diverse people across the country. Woven into this narrative should be more thoughtful and consistent talk about the civic values that undergird a healthy democratic society and political community. Americans seem to be longing for moral leadership. Seventy-one percent (71%) of respondents in an online survey Making Caring Common conducted in October 2020 agreed or completely agreed with the statement, Im very troubled by the moral state of our country, and only 13% disagreed. Despite our diverse religious backgrounds (or lack thereof) and ideological differences, there is wide agreement among many Americans on crucial values, including fairness, decency, caring, respect, honesty, loyalty and hard work. Elevating these values and talking about what they concretely mean in our daily lives can mitigate the worn out perpetual conflict between left and right on hot button political topics.

This all may feel like a herculean task, but there are good reasons for hope. Post-pandemic, Americans motivation to live outside themselves and invest in the common good may be at an all-time high. While survey data reveals strong partisan animosities, this data also indicates that Americans have not given up on each other and do not want a divorce. Two-thirds of respondents in a 2021 national survey reported that they cared for all Americans regardless of their political views, and a similar percent preferred to live in politically diverse neighborhoods.

But there is no time to waste. Government needs to put front and center the challenge of restoring Americans commitment to their communities and our collective life. Individualism will always be a hallmark of American identity. But it is time that we took deliberate steps to raise up concern for the common good. When our community does better, we should feel as much satisfaction as when our own personal lot improves. It is upon this work that our brave, beautiful experiment in democracy may depend.
(REUTERS/Adnan Abidi)

Austria will arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he visits the country, pursuant to the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karolina Edtstadler, Austrias Minister for the European Union and Constitutional Affairs said this week.

Austria will comply with its obligations under international law and criminal law, Edtstadler said in an interview with Tagesspiegel. If he sets foot on Austrian soil, an arrest must be made.

Austria is a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The ICC issued the arrest warrant last month over alleged war crimes in Ukraine as Putin has been accused of illegally kidnapping Ukrainian children. The court doesnt have power to enforce its warrants, so any next steps will only come from other countries being willing to arrest Putin.

The move comes as Austria has come under mounting pressure to reassess its military neutrality during Russias war in Ukraine. Austria has condemned the invasion and supported sanctions against Russia, but has avoided military participation.

Austria is part of a growing list of countries that have indicated they will be abiding by the arrest warrant. There are signs that even those allied with Russia in the past, such as Armenia, which is a member of the Russian-led defense organization the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), are on the path to enforcing the arrest warrant. Gagik Melkonyan, a deputy of the ruling Civil Contract party in the Armenian parliament, indicated late last month that Putin would be arrested if he comes to Armenia.

Russian Ally Warns Putin: Dont Visitor Youll Get Arrested

The move for Austria, despite its militarily neutral stance, may not come entirely as a surprise. The Austrian Ministry of Justice reaffirmed its observation of ICC decisions late last month.

Arrest warrants issued by the court must be executed, and persons wanted by the court must be arrested.

The growing rally around arresting Putin comes as Kremlin ranks appear to be increasingly uneasy at international efforts to shun Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed his distaste for encouragements to Russian allies to degrade relations with Moscow.

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If Western countries will try to engage in threats, blackmail, will force our allies to undermine relations with Russia to the detriment of their own national interests, then, of course, we will not hide our attitude towards such attempts, Lavrov said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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An East Palatka man was indicted Monday for killing a Daytona Beach woman whose body was found nude and burned in a Putnam County cemetery seven years ago, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

According to State Attorney R.J. Larizza's office, Lorenzo Benjamin Hudson, 42, was indicted in the death of Shaquierra Pinkney, 22, who was four months pregnant.

A Putnam County Grand Jury on Monday indicted Lorenzo on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree murder of an unborn child by injury to the mother, abuse of a dead human body, and tampering with physical evidence.

Pinkney was reported missing on September 1, 2015, to Daytona Beach police by her mother.

Missing Daytona woman found dead Daytona Beach woman found dead

Missing Daytona woman's car found Slain Daytona woman's car found in St. Johns County

Investigators with the State Attorney's Office, Putnam and St. Johns County Sheriff's Offices, and Daytona Beach police worked Pinkney's case, according to State Attorney's Office spokeswoman Haley Harrison.

Investigators believe Hudson contacted Pinkney on backdoor.com where she advertised her escort service, on August 30, 2015.

Hudson gagged, killed, and then burned Pinkney's body, which was found a few days later in a remote graveyard in Putnam County less than one mile from where Hudson grew up in East Palatka. Her car was alsofound in Hastings, investigators said.

In an interview with the News-Journal in September 2015, Pinkney's mother said her daughter had come home about a month ago from Watertown, New York because she was homesick for her family.

She said Shaquierra Pinkney left behind two daughters  an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old  and was four months pregnant. Her mother also said her daughter had earned a certified nurse's assistant certificate from Daytona State College, but could not find a job in her field in Watertown and ended up working at a Family Dollar store.

On Aug. 30, when the mother went to bed, she said Shaquierra and her other adult children were all home at the family's residence on Berkshire Road. Sometime early Aug. 31, though, one of Shaquierra Pinkney's daughters was standing at the bedroom door crying. When Shaquierra's mother went to the back of the house to see if her daughter was awake, she was gone.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: East Palatka man accused of killing missing Daytona Beach woman
Queen Elizabeth II was surprised when Meghan Markle dismissed her advice for adjusting to royal life, according to the author of a new royal book.

Royal commentator Robert Jobson made the claim in his new book titled: Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed, set to be published on 13 April.

Jobso alleges that the late Queen suggested the Duchess of Sussex seek advice from Sophie, now-Duchess of Edinburgh, after she joined the royal family because the monarch felt that her daughter-in-law could act as an advisor to Meghan.

However, Jobson said the duchess made it clear that she would make her own decisions and allegedly turned down the suggestion on the basis that she had Prince Harry.

When the Queen, who had asked her then assistant private secretary Samantha Cohen to work alongside Meghan for a bedding-in period, warmly suggested that she should turn to Sophie, Countess of Wessex for support and advice, Meghan dismissed the idea, saying: Ive got Harry, Jobson wrote. Her response surprised the Queen.

Notably, Jobson is not the first to make this claim. Royal broadcaster Gyles Brandreth previously told ITVs Lorraine that the Duchess of Sussex preferred to seek her husbands help when she joined the royal family.

The Queen said to Meghan: Youre new to this. Coming into the royal family, its not easy for everybody. Sophie Wessex, the last one to come in, maybe she can be a kind of mentor. She could advise you, help you. But Meghan said: No, I dont think I need that, Ive got Harry, Brandreth claimed to host Lorraine Kelly in December 2022, shortly after the release of Harry and Meghans Netflix docuseries.

Brandreth also said the Queen offered the advice to Meghan because of her love for her grandson Harry and was very keen for the couples relationship to work.

She loved Harry, Brandreth said of the late monarch. She loved all her grandchildren, but she loved him especially because she loved his sense of humour and I know, for a fact, that she welcomed Meghan warmly and was very keen for it to work.

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Sophie later reflected on the Sussexes exit from the royal family during an interview with The Sunday Times and said royal family members do all that they can to help new additions adjust.

We all try to help any new members of the family, she said at the time, adding: I just hope they will be happy.

During the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes tell-all Netflix docuseries, Meghan recalled thinking it was a joke when Harry asked her if she knew how to curtsy shortly before her first meeting with the Queen.
A US judge's move to ban a leading abortion pill has been met with near total silence from Republican leadership, as some conservatives warn the party is already paying an electoral price for a push to curb the procedure that is out of step with the American public.

The Republican Party has suffered blow after high-profile blow at the hands of voters in the nearly 10 months since the US Supreme Court first struck down the constitutional right to abortion, returning the decision to the states.

The latest examples are last week's landslide victory of a pro-abortion rights judge at the Wisconsin Supreme Court -- which, along with the April 7 decision by a Texas judge to overturn the two-decade-old approval of mifepristone, has prompted a handful of conservatives to begin ringing the alarm.

"A year we should have wiped the floor nationally but this and other issues we've been tone deaf on and lost. #ReadTheRoom," tweeted Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace on Monday, referring to the mifepristone ruling, which is being appealed.

Dan O'Donnell, a conservative radio host in Wisconsin, wrote after the party's defeat on the Supreme Court there that, when it comes to abortion, "as difficult as this may be to come to grips with, Republicans are on the wrong side politically of an issue that they are clearly on the right side of morally."

Other notable losses in recent months include in the conservative state of Kansas, which in August defied expectations to vote decisively in favor of protecting abortion access.

And former Republican president Donald Trump himself blamed the "abortion issue" for the party's lackluster performance in the November midterm elections, where it had been expected to storm to power in Congress -- but instead failed to take the Senate and just barely won the House of Representatives.

- Trapped? -

For decades, Republicans have used the issue of abortion rights to electrify their conservative religious base -- even as poll after poll showed that the majority of Americans favor some kind of abortion access.

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When the US Supreme Court decided to strike down abortion rights last June, the Republican leadership praised the ruling, with Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell calling it "courageous and correct" and then-House minority leader Kevin McCarthy tweeting that every "unborn child is precious, extraordinary and worth of protection."

As the losses rack up, however, the warning lights are flashing, and the ruling against mifepristone -- which is used for more than half the abortions carried out annually in the United States -- has been met with no such fanfare.

Only Trump's deeply conservative former vice president Mike Pence, a darling of evangelical circles, came out of the woodwork, hailing a decision that he said "fixed a 20-year wrong."

"I bet a lot of Republican politicians quietly wish this issue of abortion rights would just go away," David Axelrod, a former adviser to Democratic president Barack Obama, tweeted.

"It won't. They are trapped in a quagmire (of) their own making."

- 'MAGA Republican agenda' -

Democrats, for their part, are wasting no time leaping into the breach, quickly linking the mifepristone ruling -- made by a Trump-appointed judge -- to the former president, who is seeking to again challenge President Joe Biden for the White House in 2024.

The ruling is "another massive step towards Republicans' goal of a nationwide abortion ban," tweeted Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, adding that his party was "relentlessly working to protect a women's right to choose from this extreme MAGA Republican agenda."

"MAGA (Make America Great Again) Republican" is how Biden and the Democratic Party refer to the party's Trump-supporting hard right.

Meanwhile, the warnings from Republicans such as Mace are being largely drowned out by a slew of bills banning abortion altogether, including in cases of rape or incest, in state assemblies still controlled by the Republican Party's conservative base.

In Iowa, a Midwestern state expected to weigh heavily on the Republican presidential primary choosing the party's nominee for the 2024 election, a conservative prosecutor last week suspended reimbursement for morning-after pills for victims of sexual assault.

And in Mace's own home state of South Carolina, a dozen Republicans are pushing legislation that would criminalize abortion as "homicide" -- making women convicted of having one eligible for the death penalty.

The intractability of the party's base on the issue leaves Mace fearful for its future.

"Because we keep going down these rabbit holes of extremism, we're just going to keep losing," Mace told The New York Times.

"I'm beside myself that I'm the only person who takes this stance."

cjc/led/tmt/st/sw
The 11th meeting of the Contact Group for the Defence of Ukraine will be held offline on 21 April.

Source: European Pravda; US Air Force in Europe report, quoted by Radio Liberty

Quote: "US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin plans to lead a personal meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine at the Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany on 21 April 2023," the report says.

It is noted that at the meeting, defence ministers and other high-ranking defence officials will discuss "the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and various security issues facing US allies and partners."

As Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said earlier that the air defence systems remain the main priority for the Ukrainian delegation at Ramstein-11. Supplying Ukraine with armoured military equipment, projectiles for 155-mm heavy artillery and electronic warfare devices will also be discussed.

Reminder: The Ramstein format, which unites more than 50 countries worldwide, was launched with the aim of collective support for Ukraine in order to satisfy the defence needs of the Ukrainian army in conditions of resisting the full-scale Russian invasion.

The previous, 10th meeting of the contact group was held online, following its results, the participants agreed on strengthening the Ukrainian air defence and mechanised troops.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Meeting in the Ramstein format on January 20

The 11th Ramstein format meeting of defense ministers representing 50 countries supporting Ukraines war effort is scheduled for April 21, U.S. Air Force confirmed to Radio Liberty on April 11. The event will take place at U.S. Air Force Ramstein base in Germany.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to chair the in-person meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on April 21, 2023, the message said.

Read also: What a defector engineer from Russia can tell the U.S. about Tu-160 strategic bombers

Austin has invited defense ministers and senior military officers of the world to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and various security challenged facing the United States and its partners.

Following Ramstein-10 meeting on March 15, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said it produced optimistic results.

Read also: Ukraine should get fighter jets, but its a long-term prospect, says Czech president

After months of discussions, Ukraine hopes to finally get its Western partners to transfer modern warplanes to counter Russias air power, along with more artillery ammunition and heavy weapons.

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
Cam'ron; Jonathan Majors and Michael B. Jordan. Getty/Johnny Nunez; Getty/Michael Buckner

The rap community is defending Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors' intimate photo shoot in The New York Times.

It comes after rapper Cam'ron suggested he didn't see "Creed III" because of the shoot.

"How come men cant have healthy relationships with other men without masculinity or sexuality being questioned?" wrote Skillz.

Members of the rap community have jumped to the defense of Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors after rapper Cam'ron suggested an intimate photo shoot featuring the actors was the reason he didn't see "Creed III."

On Saturday, Cam'ron uploaded to Instagram two photos of the "Creed III" stars from a photo shoot accompanying their recent feature in The New York Times.

The first photo shows Majors hugging Jordan from behind as they both look forward into the camera. In the second image, the actors are resting their heads on each other.

"The reason I didn't go see creed," the "Hey Ma" rapper captioned his post.

While Cam'ron did not elaborate, his caption appeared to be a criticism of the intimate nature of Jordan and Majors' photo shoot.

Award-winning songwriter and rapper Skillz was among those to hit back at Cam'ron's line of thinking.

"We are our own worst enemies smh. I tell all my homies I love emWhy? Cuz I do! Sometimes it throws em off but Ion care, Ima keep saying that ish. Tomorrow aint promised. We all getting older man & death is definitley certain. Its already hard enough out here for black men as it is bro," Skillz wrote in his own Instagram post.

Skillz added: "How come men cant have healthy relationships with other men without masculinity or sexuality being questioned?"

Rapper Masta Ace commented on Skillz's post: "Well said Skillz. !!!! I'm sharing this absolutely!"

Jarobi White, a founding member of the hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, commented: "I think being afraid to show love to brothers because of being seen as gay is well. Gay."

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DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia wrote: "My brother missing out cause its an Amazing movie! I've watched it five times and I'm not just saying that because we had the theme song in the trailer."

Released on March 3, "Creed III" earned $58.7 million in its opening weekend in North America and a further $41.8 million overseas, according to Vibe.

As well as starring as the movie's lead character, Adonis Creed, Jordan also directed the movie.

Speaking about his directional debut in an interview with IndieWire, Jordan said the plot of the movie was inspired by anime series like "Naruto" and "Dragon Ball Z."

"I love the thought process of anime, the internal dialog, and seeing the world through how [characters] think. They just achieve a level of action that live action just sometimes doesn't give you," he said.

Read the original article on Insider
A deep secret, like a glass of water, can be easily controlled and contained. But when you build vast structures to hold them  a national security apparatus in the case of secrets and canyon-spanning dams when it comes to water  the pressures can exceed thousands of pounds per square inch. Unless adequately monitored and maintained, secrets and water can breach their restraints and flood everything downhill for miles.

The Pentagon just suffered such a dramatic breach as upward of 100 documents leaked. These files contained a grab-bag of national security secrets including about the conduct of the war in Ukraine; U.S. success in penetrating the Russian war machine; insights on the clandestine maneuverings of Israel and South Korea; hints about a previously unknown satellite surveillance technology; the attempted shoot-down of a British spy plane by the Russians; a pending arms deal between Egypt and Russia and one between Turkish contacts and the Wagner group; a Russian effort to hack Canadian gas fields; and intelligence sources and methods, all of which flowed onto online sites, drenching the Pentagon in embarrassment and endangering secret missions around the world.



As national security disasters go, the Pentagon leaks were complete. But as great a scandal as the secrets deluge might be, the greater scandal is how lax the Pentagon appears to be with such monumentally confidential information that it could be purloined and posted on freeform internet sites 4Chan and Discord. Squawking from Congress has ensued, of course, and the Pentagon has muttered about how serious the damage is. There is talk that some of the documents have been altered to exaggerate the number of Russian dead. But the government is mostly ostriching the calamity right now. President Joe Biden has been silent on the issue. And on Monday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, counseled the press to look away. Declining to confirm the provenance of the documents, Kirby said, It has no business  if you dont mind me saying  on the front pages of newspapers or on television. It is not intended for public consumption, and it should not be out there.

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Yes, yes! If the press and the public will only take a deep breath and ignore the rising floodwaters, the Russians and the Turks and the Israelis will ignore the tidal wave, too, and dryness will be restored to the land. Good work, Kirby!

The Pentagon  and Kirby, who previously worked as a military and diplomatic affairs analyst for CNN  have enough egg on their faces to start an omelet factory. They dont know how these secrets escaped their cage, they dont know who engineered the breakout, they dont know if additional secrets were snagged. They seem to know nothing and to be engaged in the magical thinking that if we turn away the problem will disappear.

According to press reports, the stash of classified documents appears to have been printed and photographed before being posted online and were likely printed from a secure printer by an authorized user. One unnamed U.S. official told the New York Times that hundreds, if not thousands, of military and U.S. officials have security clearances that would permit them access to the documents. The Pentagon is going to need a wide dragnet if they hope to catch the leaker.

The paradox of the national security machine is that in order for the secrets it gathers to be of any practical use, they must be shared widely enough to be put to work. Its vital for hundreds if not thousands of policymakers and military officials to know, for example, the burn rate on Ukrainian and Russian artillery shells and anti-aircraft missiles. Or the content of the Russian governments plans. Or what the Wagner Group is up to. But the secrets lose their fizz the minute the Russians know what the American forces know. Worse than that, the Russians can use the spilled secrets to determine how the secrets got spilled in the first place, blinding future attempts by the American apparatus.



Finding a balance between holding secrets too tightly and handling them like easily lost pocket change would make a good thesis topic for George Smiley. Judging the debts and assets of the intelligence breach cant be fully ascertained without access to additional secrets about how the Russians and others are responding. The Pentagon has gone on record saying that the leaks could lead to people losing their lives, which is the standard official comment when secrets leak and the implied reason flacks like Kirby dont want the press to report on them. These claims of lost lives are always contested, as they were when the Wikileaks cables were unspooled in 2010, and when Edward Snowden shared top-secret documents in 2013, with the admonitions often being downgraded from lives lost to caused harm.

That said, its incontrovertible during wartime that unique information thats freed up can be used by either side to launch deadly attacks. But in this case, some of the secrets, such as both Ukraine and Russia running short on munitions, have been previously reported in the press. Likewise, the Russians have known since the dawn of the Ukraine war that our spies were reading their mail because the Biden administration made it a tool of diplomacy to inform the world that we had learned Russias secret military plans. Its hard at this point to see how the revelations about Egypt, Turkey, the Wagner Group and the attempted shoot-down of a British spy plane will directly lead to the loss of life. But I suppose John Kirby will take a stab at it when he brushes the omelet off his face.

Sarcasm aside, the leaks may prove disastrous for the United States, Ukraine and its NATO allies in the war. But until that is proven, we should feel free to interpret the governments reaction to the breach as acts of deflection designed to escape blame for maintaining such a loose grip on these vital secrets. Bring on the coverage of the damage done by these leaks, but dont forget the equally urgent story: On whose watch were the leaks allowed to happen and what is being done to prevent a new gusher?

******

Ive got nothing against John Kirby, who answered my single query to him at the beginning of the war. Im just against Kirbyism. Send secrets to Shafer.Politico@gmail.com. No new email alert subscriptions are being honored at this time. My Twitter feed has a Discord account. My Mastodon and Post accounts are jealous because I joined Substack Notes. My RSS feed shoots down spy planes before breakfast.
red bull dance your style

With the expansion of dance styles from city to city, women are taking their talents and finding creative ways to move their bodies. One way is through street dance.

A Brief History of Street Dance

Street dance is a form of urban movement that originated in streets, clubs, and community centers. Its often tied to hip-hop culture. Street dance is rooted in Black and Latino communities in America and was popular in New York City during the 1970s. Many street dancers at the time didnt have access to traditional dance training or facilities. As an alternative, they would dance in public spaces to genres like funk, R&B, and hip-hop.

Over the years it has evolved to include several styles of dance from all over the world. Some styles of street dance are breaking, popping and locking, krumping, and house. Although this style started off as something underground, it has risen in popularity. It is now highlighted in music videos, commercials, and movie franchises like Step Up. Street dance has also turned into a competitive dance form, with several international competitions held throughout the year.

Many look forward to The Red Bull Dance Your Style every year.

Red Bull Dance Your Style

Daniel Zuliani | Red Bull Content Pool

The Dance Your Style is a mixed-style dance battle where the crowd decides the winner. Just kicking off its fourth year, the traveling competition has started its national qualifiers in cities all around the country including Memphis, Detroit, and Baltimore. Its most recent qualifier was held event in Tampa.

The Tampa qualifier spotlighted the areas diverse community and top dancers from Central Florida. Competitors showed up and showed out freestyling to surprise musical selections. The winner of the qualifier will go on to the Chicago National Final in May.

Central Floridas street dance culture is full of colorful individuals. Its culture has become a large part of Central Floridas artistic landscape. It brings together a diverse community of dancers who share a passion for creativity, self-expression, and rhythm. 21Ninety got a chance to catch up with Black women dancers Marlee Hightower, Shirlz, and YungBBQ on how dance is their own form of self care.

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Dance As Expression For Black Women

Many black women use dance as a means of expression and resistance. Dance is more than just a physical activity for Black women. It is a powerful and liberating art form. Through dance, Black women are able to reclaim their bodies and create new narratives that celebrate their beauty, resilience, and creativity. For Hightower, dance allows her to be her true self.

[Dance is] the way that I express myself in every aspect of life, whether that be where Im at emotionally, whether that be where I want to go as an artist or what I want to communicate or convey as an artist, Hightower said. I feel like there is a lot of stigma around Black women expressing themselves, Black women being bold, being loud, taking up space. So dance is such a liberating way of taking up space and of saying exactly what I feel.

For Shirlz, dance was something unorthodox for her familys military background, but she still found it to be a form of healing.

When I found dance in 2009 it was almost like a break away from the normal, from the stigmatism that I need to be in the military as well. Its another way to express myself and I feel like it really helps my confidence and feeling empowered to do something thats out of the ordinary, Shirlz said.

Aligning Self Care With Dancing

Shirlzs is a krump dancer and although it is a dance that many find to be aggressive and confrontational, she sees it as a way for her to lock in spiritually.

It is a spiritual dance. It originated from the churches, it originated from being this spirit movement. So I personally stay true to that and then when I met my fiance, she really helped me with the meditating and zening out, Shirlz recalls. In krump we have spirit realms, so when youre truly tapped into something like that, youre ministering to yourself, as well as people who may be watching you.

YungBBQ, also known as Alexis Feacher says dance is a love of hers but because of her social media presence being connected to dance, sometimes she needs to take time away from it in order to recharge and give 100% of herself.

Im still trying to understand certain aspects and different meanings of what is self care and trying to focus on my mental, she explained.

Using Art To Free Yourself

There is power in creative expression. One thing clear throughout the Tampa qualifier, was dance is one of the few ways performers feel comfortable in their skin. It is how they communicate their feelings. Hightower says she checks in with herself through the art.

I could be going through different things in my life and if there is a song Im dancing to or something that I need to get across or get off my chest, I will visit it within dance. I will free myself of those feelings through dance, she explained. Dance is how I make space for my feelings.

The post Red Bull Dance Your Style: A Space For Black Women To Express Themselves Through Dance appeared first on 21Ninety.
Photo taken on April 6, 2023 shows members of Youth Changing The Mindset Organization visiting a program beneficiary (2nd R) in Ndola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia. (Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua)

NDOLA, Zambia, April 11 (Xinhua) -- There are several youth-led organizations in Zambia working to address various challenges facing young people in the country. However, it is not every day that one comes across a youth-led organization that runs a program offering direct support to senior citizens in need alongside youth-centered interventions.

It is for this reason that Youth Changing The Mindsets Organization (YCMO), a non-profit entity that operates in Ndola, the capital of Zambia's Copperbelt Province, has been winning accolades.

This organization provides food and clothing and in some instances shelter to poor and vulnerable senior citizens in Chipulukusu, a sprawling low-income residential area located in the eastern part of Ndola.

Youths from YCMO have also been undertaking repair works on the homes of senior citizens to make them more habitable.

Since its establishment in June 2022, YCMO has reached out to over 50 vulnerable elderly persons in the aforementioned area and offered both material and psychosocial support.

"Many of the items given out to senior citizens come from well-wishers who include youths from Chipulukusu, local business entities, and private individuals," said Comfort Mwansa, YCMO executive director.

Mwansa, 22, said YCMO youths felt compelled to start a food distribution program targeting vulnerable senior citizens in Chipulukusu because no one came through to address the situation. "Our goal is to provide monthly food packs for at least 50 elderly persons. These are senior citizens that are not in any gainful employment and have no capacity to fend for themselves."

"Reaching out to the poor does not require you to have a lot of money; you can help those in need using the little you have. We can not help everyone, but everyone can help someone," Mwansa asserted.

Theresa Kunda, one of the beneficiaries of the food distribution program, lauded the youths from YCMO for not only providing her with meals but also supporting her emotionally during difficult times.

Kunda, 82, whose husband recently passed away, was particularly grateful to the youths for being kind to the elderly and offering unwavering support to her and her family. "The support has often been timely and on point," she said after receiving a food pack consisting of bread and a bottle of fruit juice from the YCMO team that went to console her.

Luckson Chisenga, Ndola deputy mayor, observed that YCMO's work has helped to alleviate suffering among the aged in Chipulukusu and surrounding areas.

Chisenga called on youths in Zambia to emulate their counterparts in Chipulukusu and ensure that they take care of senior citizens in their communities. "The older generation took care of us and sacrificed a lot to make our lives better. It is our turn to ensure that they have a dignified life."

Chisenga further implored the business community and private individuals in Ndola and beyond to partner with YCMO so that more vulnerable senior citizens can be reached.

Aside from providing support to the elderly, YCMO helps to secure wheelchairs for persons with disabilities in need of such support. The organization also facilitates skills training for younger women from low-income households to be financially independent. 

Photo taken on April 6, 2023 shows members of Youth Changing The Mindset Organization visiting senior citizen Theresa Kunda (C) in Ndola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia. (Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua)
Political and racial tensions in Tennessee erupted into public view last week when Republicans in the state Assembly voted to expel two Black Democrats from the chamber.

It was an unprecedented action that Democrats across the country  including President Joe Biden  excoriated as racist and political.

But politics watchers in Tennessee and around the nation say that what happened was nothing new for the states GOP lawmakers and that the process Republicans have taken to minimize the representation of Democrats  on both the federal and state levels  has actually been years in the making.

In recent years, Republicans have redrawn maps that effectively curtail the number of districts that represent Democrats  including some of the most diverse districts in the state  and increase the number of solidly red ones.

The end result has been less representation for Democrats and for Black constituents in the state House in Nashville and in the U.S. Congress.

Over the past few years, too many in the Republican Party have employed a series of strategies to suppress the voice of the people, from partisan and racial gerrymandering to voter suppression to outright intimidation," former Attorney General Eric Holder, who now leads the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said in a statement. "Now, without any pretense of justification, they are in Tennessee removing duly elected Democratic lawmakers from office.

Those efforts would not be possible without first rigging the electoral maps to prevent free and fair elections where the will of the people might be fully expressed, added Holder, who said Monday he was providing one of the two Democratic lawmakers who were expelled, Justin Jones, with legal counsel.

Just last year, the state Assembly  which Republicans control with a supermajority  sliced the one solidly Democratic congressional district that had for decades encompassed all of Nashville, into multiple new districts that are all now solidly red. (The new map helped Republicans pick up a seat in the states congressional delegation; they now outnumber Democrats 8 to 1).

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And this year, Republicans in the state House, led by Majority Leader William Lamberth, moved legislation to cut the 40-seat Nashville city council  known as the Metropolitan Council  in half to 20. (State judges blocked that effort temporarily on Monday.) Democrats in the state have pointed to the fact that voters already rejected a measure  in a 2015 referendum  that would have accomplished a similar result, noting that shrinking the council would result in the most diverse neighborhoods in the city losing exclusive representation.

Democrats in the state also alleged that only local lawmakers should have the power to alter the size of the body and that the measure from Republicans in the Legislature amounts to political retribution after it killed efforts for the city to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.

However, efforts by Tennessee Republicans to effectively lessen representation for Democrats have been most obvious at the state level.

Such efforts in recent years have created a map of districts in the state House in which half of the Republicans in the chamber ran totally uncontested in 2022. Of the 38 who did have an opponent on the ballot, all but four won their election with 60% or more of the vote.

Recent statewide elections show a solid GOP advantage  but one that still pales in comparison to the margins that Republicans have carved out in the Legislature and in the states congressional delegation.

For example, Donald Trump won the presidential vote in the state in both 2020 and 2016 with about 61% of the vote, and Republican Gov. Bill Lee won re-election last year with 65% of the vote.

But Republicans hold 27 of the 33 seats in the state Senate (82%) and 75 of the 99 seats in the state House (76%).

Politics watchers said the trends began years earlier, with a tea party-fueled backlash against the Barack Obama presidency that helped sweep Republicans into even larger majorities in the Legislature.

2010 redistricting essentially locked in a supermajority, and since then its gotten even worse [for Democrats], said Matt Anderson, a Democratic political operative who has worked with state Senate Democrats for years.

Republicans in the state House voted last week to expel Jones, along with Justin J. Pearson, who are both Black, over their gun-control protests on the chamber floor. A vote to expel a third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, fell short. Including Jones, who was reinstated to his seat following a vote Monday by the Nashville Metropolitan Council, and Pearson, whose reinstatement will be voted on Wednesday by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, there are 15 Black members in the state Assembly.

In a state where approximately 78% of the residents are white and 17% are Black, the expelled legislators represented districts that were far more diverse. State Assembly District 86, which Pearson represented, is 61% Black, while state Assembly District 52, which Jones represented, is 31% Black.

In interviews with NBC News, Democratic voters throughout the state said theyd grown furious in recent years as Republican efforts to consolidate control  and lessen Democratic representation in areas with Democratic majorities  intensified.

Because were in a state where you have majority Republicans, youre going to have people take advantage of their power, and thats what theyve been able to do for a long time, said Karlton Davidson, 48, of Nashville.

Republicans want to decide who represents me. They keep wanting to tell me who should be representing me. You know I dont want them to represent me, added Sidney Tate, 79, who lives in Memphis.

Sheila Hudson, 62, of Memphis, told NBC News, It should be us choosing who we want, not the Republicans.

Theyve been pulling things like this for years, she added.

Multiple spokespersons for and officials from the Tennessee GOP didnt respond to questions from NBC News.

But even a handful of former Republican officials have in recent days lamented the expulsions as just the latest example of increasingly aggressive tactics by the state GOP.

Today is such a sad day for our State, former state Rep. Eddie Mannis, a moderate Republican who served just one term in the chamber before declining to run for re-election, posted on Facebook last week after Jones was formally expelled.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based genre specialist Reel Suspects has boarded sales on Gary Huggins debut comedy feature Kick Me about a school counsellor whose night takes a comedic-nightmarish turn when he visits Kansas City, Kansas (KCK).

Santiago Vasquez plays the counsellor, who downplays his fears about visiting KCK, to please a prize student who hails from the city, the same night he has promised to surprise his daughter with a pet rabbit after a school concert.

More from Deadline

As he crosses the state line from Kansas City, Missouri, his well-intentioned trip unravels when he falls into the crosshairs of a local warlord, setting him on a bizarre trip across the city.

Kick Me is Hugginss debut feature.

It has taken the filmmaker, who hails from and lives in KCK, a decade to complete the work after it was originally shot in 2012 and selected for the Gotham (then IFP) Narrative Lab in 2013.

Huggins said his original intent had been to make a quick, fun production with Vasquez after their successful collaboration on the 2006 short film First Date, which played at Sundance, SXSW and Frances Clermond-Ferrand short film festival.

Instead, a month of night shoots made everyone insane, the movie imploded and Kick Me began a ten-year crawl to completion interrupted by poverty, lethargy, tinkering, tampering, reshoots, pickups, putdowns, the untimely passing of five cast members and an unquenchable fire to finish the damn thing, he explained.

The film finally world premiered at San Franciscos Another Hole in the Head film festival in December and has recently been selected for Brazils Fantaspoa film festival, which kicks off this week.

Producers on the film are Betsy Gran and Leone Reeves.

Story continues

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Click here to read the full article.
"Renfield" director Chris McKay. Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Director Chris McKay told Insider that Universal was initially worried "Renfield" was too gory.

"They were really concerned in how disgusting it was," McKay said of an early scene featuring Nicolas Cage's Dracula.

The director also said the studio gave him an extra $1 million to complete a major action sequence.

After directing "The Lego Batman Movie" in 2017 and "The Tomorrow War" in 2021, director Chris McKay's latest "Renfield" showcases the filmmaker's evolution as he delivers a modern-day Dracula tale that's filled with laughs, action, and gore.

Nicolas Cage plays the prince of darkness, but the movie's main focus is on Dracula's long-suffering servant R. M. Renfield (played by Nicholas Hoult) who is ready to exit this toxic relationship after centuries of being at his master's beck and call.

Living in modern-day New Orleans, while Dracula is recovering from his latest battle, Renfield is a regular at a support group and falls for traffic cop Rebecca (Awkwafina). Now, he hopes he's emotionally strong enough to escape, though Dracula teaming with a drug cartel complicates things.

Out Friday, "Renfield" is fueled by the fun interactions between Cage and Hoult, Awkwafina's foul mouth, and the numerous top-flight action sequences that are filled with a surprising amount of gore.  an aspect McKay admits the studio releasing the movie, Universal, initially wasn't too keen on.

McKay revealed to Insider the steps he took to get Universal to buy into his bloody Dracula movie and eventually give him an extra $1 million to make one action scene perfect. He also talked about interacting with Cage between shooting scenes, and his hopes for a theatrical release for "The Tomorrow War" sequel.

(L-R) Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult in "Renfield." Michele K. Short/Universal

The movie plays outside the box with horror, action, comedy, and it sounds like that vibe started from the very beginning with the unconventional way you did the camera test with Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult.

Yeah.

You actually created a set and played the score from Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula." Why go the extra mile like that on just a camera test?

Universal gave us a certain budget to shoot this movie, it was generous but obviously the ambition for our movie was big with the action, practical effects, and all the locations, so you have to set the tone as quickly as possible.

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I had such a great production designer in Alec Hammond. I told him I want the camera test to feel like we're shooting the movie. I want people to be into it. When the executives see Cage as Dracula for the first time I want there to be mist and candelabras and play the score from Coppola's "Dracula." Suddenly everyone got what we were making.

As you mention, Universal is going to have a ceiling in regards to money it will put in for a movie like this, so when you set the tone early like that, does it help later on when you may need to go back and ask for some more money?

When the footage is coming in great and for the most part you're staying on budget and on time it does help. There was a scene where I needed to go back while were still shooting and get some more footage because we were dealing with COVID and there was a close-contact situation so we couldn't shoot certain things.

So in that instance, Universal did step up and gave us extra money, an extra million dollars actually, to shoot some more footage.

Nicholas Hoult in "Renfield." Michele K. Short/Universal

Was it a significant scene?

Basically it was the restaurant fight scene.

Definitely significant! It's a major part of the trailer.

Yeah. It's a big scene. So, because of the way things happened with close contact, we had to move some people around and move shooting days around so we didn't get everything that we wanted for that scene. So they gave us the very end of the schedule, the money to go back in there and we were able to add in some key moments from the sequence.

That's the moment when Renfield does things for the first time outside of the world of Dracula. Also, we are able to introduce the Jackie Chan vibe of the movie with the mix of action and comedy.

"Renfield" is very much a Jackie Chan movie mixed with the gore of Peter Jackson's "Dead Alive," would that be fair to say?

[Laughs.] Yes. Peter Jackson and even Sam Raimi, both their spirits hover over our movie. I'm a huge fan of both.

Was Universal surprised by that action and gore? I mean, I'm sure you explained the tone, but when they actually saw footage were they like, "Shit, he meant it!"

There was a little bit of that. When I pitched the project, one of the reference points I put out there was "Evil Dead 2" and "Dead Alive" and "Zombieland," "American Werewolf in London."

There was concern that things would go too far but they also allowed me to go too far so we had the footage to be able to dial things up and dial things down when needed.

Even Nic Cage's makeup, when he's brutally injured in the beginning, they were really concerned in how disgusting it was.

Nicolas Cage in "Renfield." Universal

I interviewed Wendi McLendon-Covey once when she did a movie with Nicolas Cage called "Army of One." She admitted she never actually met the real Nic Cage on that set because he was always in character. Was Cage in character as Dracula between takes on "Renfield?"

That's for the most part correct. Obviously I have to have conversations with him, I've got a lot of reference and he's a cinephile and there's a lot of touch points and we have to have a real conversation, because he's going to come in with ideas.

On the first few takes I try not to interfere too much. But you also have to remember he's covered head to toe in Dracula makeup so it's a different thing. He can't even bend his body very much because he's got a whole body appliance. So he's Dracula whether he wants to be Dracula or not.

But to the point that when you're having these serious conversations, is he still in the voice?

[Laughs.] I've gotta say he would still be in the attitude of the scene. Whatever scene we did he would still be 100% living in that attitude after we stopped shooting. So if he's a little frosty in the scene he's going to have a little bit of that between takes. But still up for whatever we were doing.

[Editor's note: When Cage was asked by The Hollywood Reporter about him being in character between scenes, the actor said: "I just don't have that recollection, I don't know why Chris said that. I had a lot of laughs in between takes with both Chris McKay and Nick Hoult, so maybe that was his experience, maybe because I still had the fangs in my mouth that made me speak a certain way, but that wasn't my experience."]

It seems with movies like this, "Cocaine Bear," and, coming this summer "Joy Ride," that the hard R movie is back. Are you getting that sense when you're taking meetings around town, that audiences want that hard R flavor back in their movies?

I agree with what you're saying but I would also say something I've noticed is that studios are looking for reasons for people to want to go back to movies in movie theaters. That can be epic scope like a Marvel or "Avatar," but there are some comedies and action movies that are meant to be seen in movie theaters.

So something that's R-rated and pushing the envelope, something you're not going to get on a Netflix or something else, that falls into that category too, I believe. And that includes characters they've had in their vault for over 100 years.

That leads me to my next question, with what you've done here with Dracula, I would have to think you've talked to Universal or even Blumhouse about diving into the projects they are developing with the studio's classic monster IPs. Does that interest you to go deeper?

I love Universal monster and horror movies, so I'd love to continue to play with that.

So have you had meetings?

[Laughs.] I literally, just before I flew to New York, I had a meeting with Jason Blum to talk about stuff. So we'll see what happens, but it's stuff I would love to do.

Chris Pratt in "The Tomorrow War." Amazon Studios

Any update on "The Tomorrow War" sequel?

There's a script that's landing in a couple of weeks and I'm really looking forward to reading it.

The first movie was released streaming on Prime Video, do you want this next one to be theatrical?

Absolutely. We made the first one for theaters but we finished the movie during the pandemic and just realized we couldn't do it. So Amazon stepped up.

I would love to put this one out in theaters just because the scope is huge with this franchise. I hope people had a good experience watching the movie at home but if you saw that movie in a movie theater with the sound design that was put together, the scope of it, Chris Pratt's performance, it was really meant for a movie theater.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Read the original article on Insider
Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) announced on Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.

Wexton, 54, disclosed her diagnosis in a video posted on Twitter.

If theres one thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, its that Parkinsons disease sucks. Today, on World Parkinsons Day, Im here to tell you that Ive come to learn this firsthand. And thats because Ive learned that I, too, have Parkinsons, or what some people call PD for short, Wexton said.

The congresswoman said the disease has primarily affected her speech, how her mouth moves and how she walks and keeps her balance.

You may notice I speak more quickly now, she said.

Wexton noted, however, that she is doing well and has a positive attitude. She said her treatment process involves time and commitment, so youre going to see me have good days and some days that are not so good.

But I want you to know this: my head and my heart are 100 percent committed to serving the people of Virginia, and especially my constituents in the 10th Congressional District, she added.

The congresswoman has represented Virginias 10th Congressional District since 2019.

Roughly 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, though the condition goes undiagnosed in many people, leading some experts to believe the number is higher. It is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder in the U.S., behind Alzheimers disease.

Wexton on Tuesday urged people not to sorry for me.

What Parkinsons is not is an untreatable disease, a cognitive impairment, or a death sentence. So please! You are welcome to empathize, but dont feel sorry for me, she said. Im working with my doctor on a treatment plan that addresses my symptoms. And Ive been feeling good and staying strong. Ive been focused on legislation, voting in Congress, traveling around my district, hosting constituent service events, and visiting with local businesses and schools  all just like normal.

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Im not going to let Parkinsons stop me from being me, she continued. I am confident that as I work with my doctor to get the treatment I need, I can continue being a working mom and an active member of our community.

She added, I hope to keep serving you for many years to come.

Former Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) announced in March 2019 that he was retiring from Congress following a Parkinsons diagnosis. He made the two announcements simultaneously.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Republican-led Senate on Tuesday approved legislation that would bar children from attending drag shows with lewd performances, a proposed restriction that follows a national theme in GOP states and that comes a day after a Republican Florida lawmaker called members of the LGBTQ community mutants and demons.

Supporters of the measure, titled Protection of Children, argue the state government needs to intervene in certain cases to ensure children are not witnessing sexual content, even in cases when parents approve. Democrats and LGBTQ advocates, however, say the broad language and stiff penalties are designed to stifle drag shows and pride parades, events that organizers say are meant to be joyous community celebrations.

Watch for yourself: Florida Senate debates, then passes drag show bill

The push to target these performances comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis seeks to punish venues that have hosted drag shows with children present, even in cases when state regulators found no lewd acts. DeSantis, who is expected to launch a bid for president in the coming months, has said sexualized drag shows are dangerous for kids.

So far, the DeSantis administration has gone after private venues liquor licenses and all cases remain open. The proposed legislation would broaden the states enforcement powers. It would allow the state to pursue any person who admits a child into a private or public live performance that depicts or simulates nudity or engages in the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.

The penalties  up to a year in prison or up to $10,000 in fines  could be levied against employees, such as ticket-takers and lobby attendants, and permitted performers at public events, under the proposal. The sanctions would not be waived in cases where a child is accompanied by a parent.

The bill also includes criminal penalties for performers who obtain a public permit for an event, and then violate provisions related to lewd performances. Equality Florida advocates and LGBTQ community members fear that provision, added on a week before the Senate vote, is an attempt to stifle pride parades, and to dissuade cities from issuing permits for the events.

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READ MORE: We say gay. Bills targeting LGBTQ+ community have some South Florida families worried

Critics warn about dangerous rhetoric

The bill has drawn criticism from Democrats, drag queens and LGBTQ advocates who worry the broad definitions in the bill will make businesses fearful of hosting drag shows.

But even more so, critics worry the effort will foster harassment and hateful rhetoric against the LGBTQ community.

Beyond policy, GOP lawmakers have used these bills as vehicles to push bigoted and dehumanizing rhetoric about our community, said former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat running for the state Senate in 2024.

Much of the Senate floor debate on Tuesday focused on the climate being fostered by Republican lawmakers who are pushing measures that take aim at many aspects of the LGBTQ community  including bans on transition healthcare for minors and restrictions on the use of pronouns in K-12 schools.

READ MORE: Army vet, charity fundraiser tell lawmakers why their drag shows shouldnt be restricted

In particular, Senate Democrats pointed to comments made by Republican state Rep. Webster Barnaby of Deltona, who on Monday called transgender Floridians demons and imps and compared them to mutants from another planet when debating a bill that would prevent people from using bathrooms designated for the opposite sex.

I want to acknowledge that that type of vitriol is coming because that is the type of climate that has been created in this country and that is the type of climate that we are creating in this state, said Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park. We are basically giving people a hall pass to say crazy things like that.

What happened yesterday is dangerous, Jones said, worrying that the proposals, including the bill up for debate on Tuesday, could encourage more of that rhetoric and violence against the LGBTQ community.

Misty Eyez performs for the crowd during the drag show at Sunday brunch at the Palace Bar on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach on Sunday, June 10, 2012.

Republican state Sen. Clay Yarborough, the sponsor of Senate Bill 1438, condemned Barnabys comments and told senators that violence is absolutely not a Christ-like response.

READ MORE: Republican legislator calls transgender Floridians demons and imps, then says sorry

Yarborough, a Baptist, alluded to Barnabys decision to invoke his Christian faith as he lashed out at the transgender community.

Barnabys comments were enough to sway one vote  that of Democratic state Sen. Rosalind Osgood, a former Broward County School Board member, who previously supported the bill but changed her vote to show support for all of the LGBT young people that are hurting right now.

The Republican majority in the Senate, however, voted in favor of the measure. The only GOP lawmaker who debated in favor of the bill was Yarborough.

We are protecting children who cannot unsee or unhear or inexperience this to which they are exposed to, Yarborough said. This legislation sends a strong message that Florida is a safe place to raise children, because we are setting a standard in this state that protects children from being exposed to live performances that depict nudity and sexual activity.

The Senate approved the bill on a 28-12 party-line vote. A similar bill is moving forward in the Florida House, but it has yet to reach the floor.

Florida is not alone in pursuing restrictions on drag shows. Several GOP states  including Tennessee and Arizona  are advancing similar proposals.

FIU students participate in the Pride Parade on Ocean Drive. The City of Miami Beach held its annual Miami Beach Pride Parade on Ocean Drive from 5th to 15 Street on Sunday, April 10, 2022.

Pride parades at risk?

On the Senate floor last week, Yarborough was repeatedly asked to clarify whether drag shows and pride parades would be impacted by the regulations proposed in his bill. In most cases, he opted to give a broad answer.

I wont make the distinction as to a particular show because it applies across the board but as long as they are not doing anything that we have in the definition  nudity, the sexual conduct, sexual excitement, the sexual activities  just like it was inside a location or if it is outside, if they are not doing any of these things, then it is not running afoul of the law, Yarborough told senators on April 4.

Brandon Wolf, the press secretary at Equality Florida, said the legislation is drafted with intentional vagueness in order to get people to self-censor.

I think its clear the intent of this filed amendment is to induce that same chilling effect around pride, Wolf said.

Wolf was particularly frustrated with the lack of clarity on whether or not drag queens and pride parades would be specifically targeted, even if the performance is innocuous.

Its incredibly frustrating and I think pretty telling that the people who are most adamant that we need this legislation are the ones who refuse to tell us what it actually means, Wolf said.

Bruce Horwich, the Miami Beach Pride chairman, is well aware of the efforts in Tallahassee that are taking aim at the LGBTQ community.

But he is confident that the annual festivities, which have drawn tens of thousands of people to a big parade on Ocean Drive for 15 years, would not get in trouble because none of the performances are sexually explicit. He is even careful about the language in songs that will be played, because families sometimes show up at the event.

I give very direct direction to my stage director and to my entertainers to avoid [explicit] language when theyre doing their songs, Horwich said. Miami Beachs parade is scheduled for Sunday.

Attendees of the Pride Parade wave their rainbow flags in celebration of LGBTQ pride. The City of Miami Beach held its annual Pride Parade on Ocean Drive from Fifth to 15th streets on Sunday, April 10, 2022.

Carrie West, the president of Tampa Pride, said he thinks the bill could not only affect Tampa Pride, but could spill over and affect other parades as well. He said the pride parades are not sexual, and that drag queens or others on the floats are not doing anything lewd.

If blowing kisses out to the audience is offensive, well guess what, they need to grow up, said West.

He said the Legislature should focus on feeding people across the state and lowering property taxes, instead of potentially going after pride parades.

Lets move forward, West said. This state is more progressive than that.
Last year, in the months leading up to the 2022 mid-term elections, it looked like Republicans were poised to pull off a major legislative victory, perhaps approaching their 54-seat mid-term victory in 1994 during Bill Clintons presidency and their 64-seat victory in 2010 when Barack Obama was president.

Democrats held a slim 3-vote advantage in the House, a no-vote advantage in the Senate, and appeared to be in disarray  battling the COVID pandemic, a worsening economy, a botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, a new war in Europe, and concerns about President Bidens age.

But the Republican landslide never happened. The drama surrounding an even more unpopular former president, legislative achievements by the Biden administration and a surprisingly unified Democratic party resulted in Republicans losing the Senate and winning a slim majority in the House while picking up only 9 seats. This was followed by a fractious contest for Speaker of the House.

Former Congressman Doc Hastings represented Washingtons 4th Congressional District, which includes the Tri-Cities, from 1995 to 2015. Born and raised in Pasco, he graduated from Pasco High School and attended Columbia Basin College and Central Washington University. Active in civic affairs, Hastings served in the Washington Legislature from 1979 to 1987, serving as Assistant Majority Leader and chair of the Republican caucus.

In 1992 he was narrowly defeated for Congress by current Washington Governor Jay Inslee. Two years later, the two squared off again with Hastings winning the congressional seat he held until he retired in 2015. An outspoken supporter of Ronald Reagan, Hastings was elected in what became known as the Gingrich Revolution of 1994.

He became a close associate of Speakers Dennis Hastert and John Boehner and achieved the highly unusual distinction of chairing two different House committees; Ethics and Natural Resources.

He also served 12 years on the Rules Committee which determines which legislation will reach the House floor and how it will be debated. Hastings was a member of the team when the current Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, served as the Republican Majority Whip.

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We have asked Congressman Hastings to address a several important issues, including:

 Will Congress be able to come to some agreement on raising the debt limit or funding the war in Ukraine?

 In this age of political polarization, is bipartisanship even possible? Or desirable?

 How will former President Trumps indictment affect the ongoing work of Congress?

The event will be Thursday, April 13, at noon. To register for the event, which will include a Q&A session, visit our website at columbiabasinbadgers.com to receive a confirmation and link to join the Zoom forum. Cost is $5 for nonmembers, while club members can join for free.

C. Mark Smith is chairman of the program committee for the Columbia Basin Badger Club. He spent 40 years managing economic development organizations at the federal, state, and local level. He is the author of five books of history and biography, including Congressman Doc Hastings: Twenty Years of Turmoil, available online or at your favorite bookseller.
At a Ukrainian training camp near Bakhmut, surrounded by soldiers lugging heavy equipment and firing ear-piercing weapons, a bespectacled man carrying a grey pouch struts jauntily across a field.

"My weapon is a lot more discreet. These are the eyes of the army," said Oleksandr, a soldier in his 30s with a camouflage helmet and a neatly trimmed beard, pulling out a discreet drone from the pouch.

Oleksandr is the head of an air support unit for the army's fifth brigade, mostly providing reconnaissance and surveillance but also using specially adapted drones to drop grenades.

His mission is to fly drones above the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine -- scene of the longest battle of the war and current epicentre of the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

When he is not on a mission, Oleksandr is training or fixing his drones.

"We identify the enemy and we can accompany assault units," he said, clearing branches from a take-off spot for his drone.

In the modern battlefield, drones can update artillery units in real time, effectively replacing the role of spotters who adjust fire to hit targets.

The same is also true for the other side and drone operators also work to neutralise Russian drones.

- 'Gift from the Russians' -

Viktor, another member of Oleksandr's drone unit, keeps the interceptor in a large briefcase.

He shows off its screen with a predatory smile.

"Look, you can see them all! The Mavic and the others! All the drones!" he said.

He said the device was "a gift from the Russians".

"In Ukraine, we don't make machines like this. We stole it from the enemy," he said.

Many drones are lost, crash or get shot down. Oleksandr estimates he has lost around 100.

The operator said there was nothing straightforward about serving in drone units where you have to learn to be ingenious and adaptable to succeed.

"It's a big job. The operator has to know everything -- how to maximise the range of the drone, how to create a take-off point in complicated terrain, how to dig a trench and hide his presence," he said.

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The drones used by the Ukrainian army are often commercial models.

Operators first have to hack the software to "make them invisible to Russian radio surveillance", said Oleksandr.

- 'Revenge of the geeks' -

They can also be adapted to drop grenades or become improvised explosive devices.

To do this, 3D-printed clips which can be activated by remote control can be attached to the drone so as to remove the pin grenade and drop it.

The most commonly used technique for doing this was elaborated through trial and error.

At first "we were experimenting, using the batteries of soldiers' e-cigarettes to power the clamp system for the grenades", Oleksandr said.

He remembers his first success -- destroying an MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun by dropping a grenade.

He holds up one model with the word "Kamikaze" written on it in Japanese letters -- a reference to the Japanese pilots who carried out suicide missions during World War II.

Oleksandr said that it is thanks to drones that Bakhmut is still holding out.

"The attacks on Bakhmut by (Russian mercenary group) Wagner were held off thanks to drones dropping grenades," he said, gesturing towards the front line where outnumbered Ukrainian fighters have resisted waves of attacks for months.

"It's a bit like a revenge of the geeks," he said.

fv-dt/bur/gil
When the Kansas City Police Department restarts its missing persons unit next week, the squad will begin taking new steps that advocates and critics have been calling for, a KCPD commander said Tuesday.

Those steps will include using a national missing persons database that is open to the public, maintaining its own public list of active cases and releasing reports on which cases are being closed or remain unsolved.

The decision to bring back the missing persons unit, which had been disbanded last year, and the new steps announced Tuesday come after the police department has faced months of criticism from Black leaders for its handling of missing persons cases. Community leaders have questioned whether the department takes reports of missing Black people seriously enough, while experts and advocates said the department was not following best practices in missing persons cases.

Police Chief Stacey Graves recently announced the squad was being reactivated in response to concerns raised by the community.

Maj. Leslie Foreman, commander of the violent crimes division, will oversee the squad, which will start April 16 with seven detectives and one sergeant supervisor and will be staffed throughout the day and evening. Detectives will work weekends on a rotating basis.

We are going to do better but please be patient with us, Foreman said at a news conference on Tuesday.

I will say to hopefully bolster the confidence that now were going to have a squad that can focus just on that, and I really believe that will make a difference in our ability to follow through with things and have better communication.

Foreman said the missing persons unit will use the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs, which advocates had said should be used on a routine basis as a database open to the public. The department will also work with nonprofits such as Missouri Missing.

Missing persons are already added to the statewide law enforcement database, called MULES.

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Foreman said the department will maintain a list of active missing person cases that is accessible to the public and will make public reports that track which cases are being closed or remain unsolved. That information will also track the demographics of missing persons. Those were all steps that community leaders or advocates had called for, especially those concerned that cases of missing Black or brown people were not being investigated properly.

The police departments public tracking system for missing persons cases will be posted on the departments website and accessible to the public upon request, much like the daily homicide analysis the police department already makes available.

Foreman said detectives will still be allowed to decide whether individual cases are worth pursuing, based on whether that person is in immediate danger or might harm themselves, which is a policy community leaders have criticized.

Because theres just so many nuances for each particular situation, Foreman said. We just have to weigh the totality of the circumstances.

The detectives in the unit will investigate both missing adults and juveniles.

Since Sept. 1, the police department had taken 186 reports of missing adults. Nine of those cases remain unsolved. Roughly 509 juveniles have been reported missing with 53 of those cases remaining unsolved.

KCPD daily missing persons report by Ian Cummings on Scribd

Criticism of KCPD missing persons investigations

Community activists have long complained that police are not responsive or seem indifferent to families trying to report a missing relative or loved one.

That includes cases in which police could have circulated a flier to the public about a missing teen, as they do in many cases, but chose not to.

Most recently, police did not alert the public about the disappearance of Oscar Cabral, 18, when his family reported him missing on March 18.

Five days later, his body was found near the heavily wooded trails inside Swope Park. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Two weeks before, police found the body of 13-year-old Jayden Robker in a pond near his Northland home. In that case, police had delayed four days before alerting the public, later explaining that they had difficulty obtaining a current photo from the family.

The criticism had grown louder months earlier, when a 22-year-old Black woman escaped from the Excelsior Springs house of a man who she said kept her captive for weeks. The incident came just weeks after police had dismissed as rumors a report in the community that a serial killer was targeting Black women.

Some community leaders have applauded the department for restarting the missing persons squad. Others said they were going to be skeptical until they see positive results.

Foreman said the supervisor in charge of the squad will constantly review their strategies to determine what changes are needed.

And I say that because I think we will do a better job to try to reach out and follow up with things but I also say please bear with us, she said. And please dont hesitate to reach out to us.
Sec. Deb Haaland addresses the audience at The Road to Healing tour stop at Many Farms, Ariz. on the Navajo Indian Reservation. (Photo/Levi Rickert for Native News Online)

The Department of the Interior announced on Monday that Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Indian Community) will travel to the Seattle, Washington area on Sunday, April 23, 2023 for the sixth stop on The Road to Healing tour.

The tour is a year-long tour across the United States that provides Native survivors and their descendants of the federal Indian boarding school system an opportunity to share their experiences.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

In June 2021, Secretary Haaland launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to shed light on the troubled history of Federal Indian boarding school policies and their legacy. On May 11, 2022, the Department released Volume 1 of an investigative report as part of the Initiative, which calls for connecting communities with trauma-informed support and facilitating the collection of a permanent oral history.

Previous stops for The Road to Healing tour include Native American communities in Anadarko,Oklahoma, Pellston, Michigan, the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota; the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona; and Many Farm, Arizona on the Navajo Nation.

The exact location in the Seattle area was not announced on Monday. Native News Online will provide an update once more information is available.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
The biggest tri-county land sales for March include the biggest one listed to date.

Two warehouse distribution sites at 2501 David Hutchison Road in Rock Hill sold March 3 for $93.3 million. A company based in Atlanta bought the property from Randolph Yarns Park, which acquired it three years ago from Randolph Yarns Land Investor Holdings for almost $3.8 million.

Now the site has two buildings at almost 500,000 and 295,000 square feet. The more than 58-acre property sits between Paragon Way and Cel-River Road. Its about halfway between the Catawba River and what would have been the Carolina Panthers headquarters site now owned by Rock Hill.

According to land records available online, the sale is the largest for the tri-county area.

These massive Rock Hill area land sales brought in nearly $1 billion in 2022

The largest prior sales were the 2017 purchase of LPL Financial headquarters in Fort Mill for $88.4 million, an $88 million Capital Club apartment sale in Indian Land two years ago, Riverchase Boulevard apartments last year in Rock Hill for $85 million and an $83.7 million Chester County land sale last December.

Those figures dont include scores of sales listed online from years and even decades ago with a higher placeholder amount, when actual sale prices werent available.

In all, there were more than two dozen large land sales in March at about $150 million in sales. Here, according to land records, are the other $1 million or more sales from March across York, Lancaster and Chester counties:

 More than 259 acres at 2109 Skyhawk Dr. in Lake Wylie sold March 2 for more than $9.8 million. Homebuilder D.R. Horton bought the property near the headwaters of Big Allison Creek from South Fork Ventures. The site has frontage on Charlotte Highway, south of Daimler Boulevard and north of Campbell Road.

 An almost 82-acre Industrial Park Road site in Lancaster County sold March 29 for $7.1 million. Tennessee-based Warn Industries, part of LKQ Corp., bought two properties from Golden Spike. The just-south-of-the-panhandle property is west of Riverside Road, east of the Catawba River. An almost 133,000-square-foot industrial building there dates back to 1973.

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 More than 6 acres at 1081 Red Ventures Dr. sold March 30 for almost $5.8 million. The Indian Land property built in 2005 has a 50,000-square-foot building. A new owner out of Newton, North Carolina acquired the site from Sharonview Federal Credit Union.

 Two Harrisburg Road sites in Indian Land sold March 15 for more than $3.3 million. They combine for 16 acres and include commercial properties built between 1989 and 2004. Portland, Oregon-based Pir Society Lane bought the storage warehouse, office, garage and related spaces on both sides of Society Lane.

 Almost 2 acres at 121 Carroll Cove in Lake Wylie sold March 6 for more than $2.1 million. Twas Properties out of Georgia bought the Scrub N Scoot car wash site from Lanier Management.

 Ruby Moon Properties out of Charlotte bought two Lancaster County properties March 2 for almost $2.1 million. The sites off Rebound Road in Van Wyck combine for about 84 acres, between Old Hickory Road and Rock Hill Highway.

 Two Persimmon Road homes in Lancaster County sold in Lancaster County, for about $2.1 million combined. Both were 3,600-square-foot homes. One sold March 16, the other March 29.

 A 6,000-square-foot home on Johnson Road in the Catawba Crest neighborhood of Lake Wylie sold March 2 for more than $1.7 million.

 More than 242 acres at 621 N. Main St. in Heath Springs sold March 31 for more than $1.7 million. NS Retail Holdings out of Dallas bought the property. It has a 1,700-square-foot retail store built in 1965.

 Two Rocky River Road properties in Lancaster County sold on March 3 for almost $1.7 million. They combine for more than 63 acres of residential and agricultural property. The sites are west of the highway, east of Walnut Road.

 A Florida homebuilder bought a lot in Baileys Run in Rock Hill on March 15 for more than $1.6 million.

 Less than an acre of vacant commercial property on Celanese Road in Rock Hill sold on March 16 for almost $1.6 million. A California company and family trust bought the 2027 Celanese Road address, across from Aldersgate Road.

 A 4,100-square-foot Autumn Moon Drive home in Fort Mill, in Trinity Ridge, sold March 2 for almost $1.5 million.

 A 4,400-square-foot Springfield home in Fort Mill, on Mendenhall Court, sold March 20 for more than $1.4 million.

 A 3,800-square-foot Riverfront Road home in Lake Wylie sold March 30 for $1.3 million.

 A combination of 16 residential sites on Tayberry Lane and Gerard Bay Drive in Fort Mill sold March 28 for almost $1.3 million. Meritage Homes of the Carolinas bought the Ashe Downs townhome sites from Coulston Enterprises.

 An almost 3,900-square-foot home on Montmorenci Crossing in Fort Mill, in Springfield, sold March 13 for more than $1.2 million.

 A 4,700-square-foot Cast Iron Court home in the Masons Bend subdivision of Fort Mill sold March 27 for more than $1.2 million.

 An acre at 7459 Twelve Mile Creek Road in Indian Land sold on March 29 for almost $1.1 million. The site is just south of Henry Harris Road.

 A 4,000-square-foot Slaney Court home in Fort Mill, at Preserve at Riverchase, sold March 9 for more than $1 million.

 Vacant residential property at 911 Abeline Lane in Fort Mill sold March 17 for more than $1 million.

 A 3,400-square-foot Tega Cay home on Palmyra Drive sold March 24 for more than $1 million.

 A Washington buyer purchased property on Pritchard Place in Fort Mills Arden Mill neighborhood on March 27 for more than $1 million.

 A 3,900-square-foot Camber Woods Drive home in Baxter sold March 10 for more than $1 million.

 Two Brandybuck Court addresses in Fort Mill sold for $1 million each. Homebuilder Taylor Morrison bought both Waterside at the Catawba properties, one on March 15 and the other March 28, from the same owners the company sold them two five years ago.

 A Millstone Creek Road home in Lancaster County sold March 21 for more than $1 million.
NICOSIA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A water leak in server room in the basement of the Finance Ministry knocked offline all services of the government of Cyprus on Tuesday, the ministry's Permanent Secretary George Panteli said here on Tuesday.

Panteli said the leak was detected after working hours on Monday and technicians were forced to turn off all the servers for security reasons.

Panteli also said that the leak was caused by a malfunctioning valve that was supposed to switch off water supply to a storage tank.

Visitors to government websites received a message that the page they were trying to visit could not be reached as the server was unavailable.

Cyprus' Deputy Ministry for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy has launched an investigation into why there was a delay of several months in applying last November's cabinet decision to move the servers from the Ministry of Finance basement to a safer place at the premises of the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority.

Panteli said that by late Tuesday all servers had been dried and efforts will be made to restart them by Wednesday morning. 
A doll house sits atop a pile of storm debris in Rolling Fork, Miss., Wednesday, March 29, 2023. An EF-4 tornado destroyed the small southern Delta town last Friday.

In the aftermath of March 24 tornado that tore a nearly one-mile scar across the heart of Rolling Fork, President Joe Biden promised that the federal government will pay for 100% of the total cost for debris removal and other recovery costs for 30 days.

There were designated places for some of the debris to be taken to be burned safely with other debris being taken to designated landfills.

However, much of the debris not being burned from the EF-4 wedge tornado is beginning to overwhelm Sharkey Countys local landfill.

So, much so, the Board of Supervisors for the county has made an application to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to add 20 acres to the current landfill.

All of the debris that is burned in what is called forced-air burning, is contracted out separately, said Bill Newsom of the Sharkey County Board of Supervisors. Then the ashes have to be moved to a total separate landfill.

Biden approves debris removal: Rolling Fork plans for major debris removal

Hometown heroes: While still in prom tuxedos, Rolling Fork high school seniors rescued tornado victims

But that has nothing to do with the normal county landfill.

All of our houses, construction materials, bricks and all of that goes into our county landfill, Newsom said. It is estimated that our county landfill may hold it all, but barely. But that leaves us with no room for anything else afterward.

Newsom went on to say that he is hopeful the application will be approved before the landfill gets too close to filling up.

Bill Newsom, Sharkey County Board of Supervisors

We are definitely going to have to extend the lines of our landfill in order to get all of this stuff in the landfill, Newsom said.

He said he believes the additional 20 acres will be more than adequate for the countys needs for the near future.

The county already does not put any household garbage in the county landfill. It is shipped to the landfill between Greenville and Leland in Washington County.

The county has signed a temporary emergency contract with a company called H&S Industrial Services, which has already begun cleanup. The county, though, will begin accepting proposals for a long-term contractor for debris removal next week.

Story continues

The twister killed 21 people, including 13 people in Rolling Fork, shredding nearly 60 miles across the region with gusts of 170 mph.

Newsom is in charge of all household garbage pickup for Sharkey and Issaquena counties that is taken to Washington County.

All of that has been done with two trucks over the last several years. One of those trucks was destroyed during the tornado. Also, two of the members of the crew of the truck were injured during the storm, including the driver.

So, even if the truck hadnt been damaged, we wouldnt have the manpower to run it right now, Newsom said.

The crew from the remaining truck has been working overtime in the couple of weeks since the storm to help pick up household garbage.

But, help has come.

Just last week, Washington County sent a truck and workers to Rolling Fork to help the undermanned team. They are also schedule to help this week as well.

It has just been a blessing all of the help that has poured into this community, Newsom said. I know its garbage stuff and its not interesting to a lot of people, but it has to be picked up and it is important to the health and safety of Rolling Fork and Sharkey and Issaquena counties.

He is also grateful to supervisors in many counties around the state, including DeSoto, Hinds and Harrison Counties, that have supplied temporary vehicles for the city and the county to assist in the cleanup.

"There are 410 supervisors in the state and I may not have talked to all of them, but I sure have talked to a lot of them," Newsom said. "It's really been overwhelming and we sure are grateful."

Newsom's survival story

The long-time supervisor, like most in Rolling Fork, has a harrowing tale from that Friday night.

"I got a text from someone in Vicksburg at 7:56 and he said to take cover now," Newsom said. "I walked out side to look. The lightning flashed and I saw the funnel. I just cannot describe how big this thing was. You see pictures and things on TV, but it just isn't anything like that."

From that point, Newsom and his wife jumped into a storm shelter on their property at the very last second.

"My wife really helped me get that door closed," Newsom said. "It hit right after that. I didn't hear a freight train but I heard a 747. It was some kind of wind, as you can imagine. You could just hear things that were tearing up outside."

While his house wasn't stripped to the ground like many others, insurance has ruled it a total loss and Newsom is now in the process of making decisions on when to push down the remains of his home.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: trash, debris in Rolling Fork filling up landfill. Where can it go
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Tuesday that she has not seen evidence of a contraction in credit, despite fears that households and firms could have a tougher time borrowing after recent banking sector turmoil.

Her comments come as central bankers, finance ministers and other participants gather in Washington for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's spring meetings this week, where global growth and debt restructuring feature among key topics on the agenda.

While the IMF warned in a report released Tuesday that chances of a "hard landing" for the world economy have risen on the back of financial sector stress, Yellen told reporters: "I've not really seen evidence at this stage suggesting a contraction in credit."

But she acknowledged that this is a possibility, while stressing that the US banking system remains resilient.

She said she is not anticipating a downturn in the economy even if that remains a risk.

Yellen added in a speech that there remains "considerable room for improvement" in the global debt restructuring process.

The World Bank has warned of an especially tough outlook for the poorest economies as global growth slows while countries grapple with heavy debt burdens and weak investment.

And this week, ministers from both creditor and debtor countries, as well as representatives of private creditors will convene for a global sovereign debt roundtable.

Yellen said she looks forward to "robust discussion on improvements to the Common Framework process for low-income countries and the debt treatment process more broadly."

Yellen noted China's willingness to provide specific assurances in Sri Lanka's case recently "as a positive sign," with Beijing's moves enabling the IMF to proceed with a financial support and economic reform program.

- China visit on the cards -

She still hopes to visit China at "the appropriate time" as well, given that President Joe Biden has emphasized the importance of opening up and maintaining communication channels.

Story continues

Meanwhile, the United States remains "vigilant" in the face of risks to the economy, she said, as countries continue tackling fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine while recovering from the pandemic.

"In some countries, including the United States, there have been recent pressures on our banking systems," she added.

"I've been in close communication with my counterparts over the past few weeks on these developments and I look forward to continuing that dialogue this week," she said.

On Washington's pursuit of "friend-shoring," or deepening economic ties with trusted partners, Yellen pushing back on the idea that this process would cause fragmentation.

Saying such arguments are "not valid," she defended the process as an approach to dealing with supply chain threats.

bys/st
Former Rep. Harley Rouda (D-Calif.) on Tuesday dropped out of the race to succeed Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) after suffering what he said was a moderate traumatic brain injury last month.

In a statement, Rouda said that he had gone to the hospital late last month after an unfortunate fall had caused brain hemorrhages. His doctors believe that he has started on the path to a full recovery, Rouda said, but added that he would suspend his congressional campaign to focus on his health.

On their advice, I am ending my campaign for Californias 47th congressional district today, Rouda said. This is not the outcome I wanted. But my family comes first, and to be there for them, I need to focus fully on my recovery in the months ahead.

Roudas decision to end his campaign came just two months after he announced that he would seek to replace Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) after she launched a bid for retiring Sen. Dianne Feinsteins (D-Calif.) seat.

Rouda defeated former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) in 2018, helping Democrats win control of the House. He lost that seat two years later to Rep. Michelle Steele (R-Calif.).

Rouda considered another bid for the House in 2022, but ultimately opted against a run, because Californias newly redrawn congressional districts would have pitted him against Porter.

Porters decision to run for Senate instead of seeking reelection next year leaves Californias 47th congressional district open to a tough challenge. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has already said that it plans on putting up a fight in the district.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
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.
A Ukrainian soldier in a combat position in the Bakhmut area

ISW said Russian forces continued to make territorial gains in and around Bakhmut on April 9 and 10, but likely continue to suffer significant casualties.

Read also: Ukraine says Russia is using the same tactics in Bakhmut as in Syria

Geolocated footage posted on April 9 and 10 shows that Russian forces made marginal advances northwest of Khromove (2 kilometers west of Bakhmut), in southwest Bakhmut, and north of Sacco and Vanzetti (15 kilometers north of Bakhmut.)

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Spokesperson for the Eastern Group of Forces Colonel Serhiy Cherevatyi said on April 9 that Russian airborne forces began to appear in Bakhmut. They are likely to reinforce conventional, rather than Wagner Group, forces, ISW believes.

At the same time, the Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian ground attacks in Bakhmut and near Bohdanivka (6 kilometers northwest of Bakhmut) and Khromove.

Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi also said on April 10 that Ukrainian forces have exhausted Wagner forces so much that the Russian military command has had to send Spetsnaz (special forces) and airborne units to Bakhmut.

Read also: Ukrainian border guards halt Russian invaders in Bakhmut  video

Other conclusions by ISW analysts over the past day:

 Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin is reportedly advancing his political aspirations by seeking to gain control of a Russian political party;

 Russian dictator Vladimir Putin may be unable to satisfy the role of a patron to loyalist figures to the same extent as he had been able to before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine;

 The Russian Foreign Ministry directly responded to Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhins criticisms of its agenda at the United Nations Security Council, marking the first time that a Russian government institution has formally responded to Prigozhins criticism;

Story continues

 The Russian Foreign Ministry attack on Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin is a continuation of the Kremlins efforts to discredit and undermine Prigozhin;

Read also: About 6,000 Wagner Group mercenaries fighting in Bakhmut, top US general says

 Russian milbloggers adamantly decried the charging of Russian military doctor and Union of Donbas Volunteers member Yuri Yevich for discrediting the Russian armed forces, suggesting that the broad applications of this new law will likely be a growing source of discontent in the pro-war information space;

 The Russian State Duma will consider on April 13 an amendment to the Russian Criminal Code increasing criminal penalties for high treason and terrorist activities;

 Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu met with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, Belarus, on April 10;

 Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks along the Svatove-Kreminna line;

 Russian forces continued to make territorial gains in and around Bakhmut, and continued ground attacks on the Avdiyivka-Donetsk city line;

Read also: Wagner troops now rely on regular Russian forces near Bakhmut, Ukraine says

 Russian forces continued defensive preparations in Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts;

 Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin criticized Russian Ministry of Defense prisoner recruitment efforts, likely in an effort to advertise ongoing Wagner volunteer recruitment campaigns;

 Wagner forces are reportedly continuing to commit war crimes by beheading Ukrainian servicemen in Bakhmut;

 Russian officials and occupation authorities continue to deport children to Russia under the guise of medical, rehabilitation, and voluntary evacuation schemes.

Maps of combat operations: battles in Donbas, Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv, Kherson oblasts



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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russia supplies Iran with fuel

The report notes that back in late 2022, Russias Deputy PM Alexander Novak announced a program of swap supplies of oil products to Iran, although the scheme became operational only in 2023. Two sources told Reuters that Russia delivered 30,000 tons of gasoline and diesel fuel to Iran in March. Another source confirmed the deliveries took place, without providing exact volumes.

Iran is an oil producer and has its own refineries, but recently its consumption had exceeded domestic fuel production, especially in its northern provinces, the news agency writes.

Read also: Russia attempting to import 20,000 artillery shells from Iran, says Budanov

According to the report, the rail route goes by way of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. One source said part of the shipments was immediately sent to Iraq, in a series of fuel trucks.

Irans access to global markets remains restricted by Western sanctions. Russia was already supplying Iran with small quantitates of fuel via the Caspian Sea, but G7 maritime trade sanctions forced Moscow to pivot to switching to rail for transportation.

Read also: How to counter Iran transferring ballistic missiles to Russia  Zaluzhnyis US adviser

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin previously said Russia and Iran are engaging in unprecedented levels of military cooperation, focused on missile technology and air defense systems.

Read also: Russia supplies Iran with cyber weapons in exchange for drones and ammunition, WSJ says

Earlier media reports suggested that in exchange for military equipment to be used against Ukraine, Moscow assists Tehran with cyber warfare capabilities, its missiles program, and provides with pieces of Western-made military equipment captured in battle in Ukraine.

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Ukrainian soldiers train to fly a drone in Zaporizhzhia region, March 7, 2023

Read also: Germany sends engineering vehicle, trucks, drones to Ukraine

Three sources told The Guardian that Russian forces on the ground have learned to counter DJIs most popular products.

So actually, I believe like in three, four months, DJI (-made drones) will not be usable, Ukrainian drone specialist told the newspaper.

Operators said than DJIs UAVs have their effective ranges dramatically reduced by improving Russian electronic countermeasures (ECM).

More specifically, a wing of drones near the frontline can now cover only several hundred meters before the UAVs become unresponsive, while just months ago these ranges were 10 to 20 times greater.

Read also: Ukraine downs Russian Mi-24 helicopter and nine drones in the past day

Frankly speaking for me, Mavics are already starting to die, another Ukrainian drone operator said.

In December we were able to fly 3km, so we were not working from the zero point (the frontline). Now the guys are saying they cannot fly further than 500 meters.

Read also: Russian media report drone attack on Belgorod airport

He added that such commercial drones will have to be replaced by long-range, expensive UAVs like the Ukrainian-made Leleka-100. Those drones have operational ranges of up to 100 kilometers, and cost around $50,000  in stark contrast to $2,500-$12,000 for some of DJIs products.

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The Russian-appointed head of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, boasted of the modern echeloned defence of the Russian army on the annexed peninsula and declared that the counteroffensive of Ukraine does not frighten the occupiers.

Source: Telegram channel Aksyonov Z 82

Quote: "About the Ukrainian counteroffensive on Crimea, which everyone and their mother is talking and writing about so much nowadays.

You cannot underestimate the enemy, but you can definitely say that we are ready for this and there will be no catastrophe.

I believe that the decision to build defence structures in Crimea and on the approaches to the peninsula was correct and justified. This does not mean that they will necessarily be used for their intended purpose. We were obliged to prepare for any development of events, and we did it."

Details: According to Aksyonov, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation "built a modern, deeply echeloned defence, a lot has been done and continues to be done" to provide the Russian military with everything necessary.

"The forces are more than enough," said the Kremlin-backed "head" of occupied Crimea.

Previously: On 3 April, the Washington Post with reference to Maxar satellite images reported that Russia started to prepare the annexed Crimea for a Ukrainian counteroffensive, with the occupiers building a complete web of trenches and fortifications on the peninsula in just a few weeks.

In particular, Russian occupiers have built fortifications near the settlements of Medvedivka, Vitino and in other parts of Crimea. The Russians have installed anti-tank logs, ditches and artillery along the coast of the Black Sea. In the satellite imagery, a whole web of trenches can be seen from the side of Syvash Lake, the length of which in some cases exceeds 900 metres. There are also three rows of concrete pyramidal anti-tank structures, known as dragon's teeth.

Ukraines media also reported that Russian forces in occupied Crimea have dug over seven kilometres of trenches on the Black Sea coast near Yevpatoriia.

Story continues

Background: Russia seized Crimea in 2014 and since then has been consistently turning it into a military base. The occupied peninsula of Crimea became one of the bridgeheads for a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine. Since the summer of 2022, Crimeans have been hearing explosions, and the occupiers' air bases, fleet, and transport hubs are under threat.

In March 2023, Akhtem Chyihoz, Deputy Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, reported that Russian business owners are temporarily halting their business operations in Crimea and Russian property owners are putting their houses and apartments up for sale because people can no longer enjoy themselves in Crimea as before.

Radio Liberty also reported that Russians are in no hurry to book rooms for the summer in occupied Crimea due to the proximity to the front line, there are transport problems and the threat of a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces, so the tourist season may be a failure.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Dozens of Russian draftees were reportedly rounded up in the middle of the night on Russian territory and driven across the border to Ukraines Luhansk region, where they say they were locked in an old factory and sold like cattle to the notorious Wagner Group.

Thats according to a new report from Astra, which spoke with family members and reviewed text and audio messages from some of the men. All in all, more than 100 draftees were allegedly scooped up in the bizarre bait and switch.

The troops were reportedly told they would be going to the Rostov region for training to serve in territorial defenses, but were instead packed into vehicles and dumped in a railway car repair plant in Stakhanov last week.

Theyre already herding us around at gunpoint, thats it, the turning of the screws has started. Representatives of Wagner arrived with weapons, there are about 30 of them, one of the soldiers was quoted telling his family by phone.

He went on to warn that people with weapons were about to take the draftees phones away.

Prigozhin Says He Wants Mercenary Recruiters in Europe for Mystery Plan

Some of the draftees were forced to sign contracts with Wagner, but told they would be forming their own private military group called the Wolves, according to the report.

We dont have a choice. Those who said no  theyve already been taken away and I dont know what is happening to them now. Wagner arrived. You see, they dont give a fuck, theyll kill us and dump us in the field and thats it, another soldier reportedly told relatives.

Bizarrely, the former president of the Russian-backed republic of South Ossetia allegedly arrived to help break the resistance of those who refused to sign contracts. Widely circulated video purportedly shows Anatoly Bibilov cursing out the dissenters.

You need to think with your fucking heads, guys!  We will not disgrace those who remain on the battlefield! We will win this fucking war! And what will you have to be proud of? What will you say? How will you justify yourselves?  Who will protect the country? reportedly Bibilov said, calling one soldier who spoke up a coward before challenging him to fight.

Story continues

Fifty seven out of 170 draftees agreed to sign contracts with Wagner and then left the plant, Astra reports, while 113 stood their ground and were subsequently transported elsewhere in Ukraines Luhansk region. Their phones were reportedly confiscated and family members have no idea what happened to them.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Consequences of shelling in the Sumy Oblast

The Ukrainian border communities were fired on from Russian territory, with 118 hits being recorded in the communities of Bilopillia, Khotin, Velyka Pysarivka, Myropillia, and Shalyhyne.

The enemy used mortars and automatic grenade launchers. In addition, the invaders dropped explosives from UAVs.

Power lines were damaged in the community of Khotin.

Read also: Russian forces shell three communities in Sumy Oblast, causing injuries and destruction

However, as before, there is no indication that the Russians plan to resume ground attacks or to attempt another invasion of the oblast.

According to military reports, the operational situation in the border areas of Sumy Oblast is under control, the report says.

The formation of enemy offensive groups near the state border has not been detected.

Read also: Russia launches massive bombardment of Sumy Oblast, causing deaths and injuries

Russian invasion troops regularly shell civilian residential areas in Sumy and other Ukrainian oblasts close to Russian territory or Russian-occupied territory, including Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Mykolaiv. The attacks appear to have no military goal, but to have the aim of terrorizing civilians in Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court recently announced that it was opening two war crimes cases against Russia, one of which concerns illegal attacks on civilian infrastructure.

About 18% of Ukraines internationally recognized territory remains under Russian occupation  including Ukraines Crimea and the parts of the Donbas that were invaded by Russia in 2014.

The Kremlin falsely declared it had annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014  but this claim has only been recognized by a handful of the worlds rogue and pariah states.

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Stanton Public Policy Center Responds to Idaho Attorney General Rescinding Legal Analysis of Abortion Pills NEWS PROVIDED BY

Stanton Public Policy Center

April 10, 2023 BOISE, April 10, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Stanton Public Policy Center responds to Idaho Attorney General, Raul Labrador, publicly rescinding a letter regarding his important and valid legal analysis on chemical abortion pills in Idaho.



Stanton Public Policy Center is a women's advocacy and educational group that works on issues of human rights and justice that empower and inspire women. It is affiliated with Stanton Healthcare which has life-affirming women's health clinics in America and internationally.



Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of Stanton Public Policy Center, states: "While it is profoundly disappointing and confusing that Idaho's Attorney General Labrador has publicly rescinded his letter regarding important and valid legal analysis on chemical abortions in Idaho, Stanton Public Policy Center believes the information he provided in a letter to a state representative is still accurate and affirms the law.



"Stanton Public Policy Center received permission to release Attorney General Labrador's legal analysis in which he listed clear points that represent Idaho's abortion law. "Attorney General Labrador's legal analysis is: Idaho law prohibits the provision of chemical abortion pills and Idaho's criminal prohibition on abortion includes providing abortion pills.



Idaho law prohibits the promotion and advertising of chemical abortion pills.



Idaho law prohibits referring women across state lines to obtain abortion pills or services. "So while Attorney General Labrador has rescinded his letter, he has not 'rescinded' the facts and criminal sanctions detailed in the letter and those who violate them will face criminal violations.



"It is the hope of Stanton Public Policy Center that Attorney General Labrador is not being bullied into rescinding his letter by Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry. We trust he will have the same commitment to protect Idaho's women and the rule of law as Governor Brad Little, the Idaho legislature, Stanton Healthcare, and Idaho's pro-life movement.



"Stanton Public Policy Center is seeking a meeting with the Attorney General to clear up any confusion caused by his actions." Linda Thomas, Director of Community Outreach with Stanton Healthcare, adds: "We're in a new, post-Roe landscape in Idaho and the nation. Questions about newly implemented laws are to be expected. That's why Stanton Healthcare was thankful for the clear-cut, legitimate legal analysis of Attorney General Labrador last month regarding Idaho abortion laws. The attorney general made clear Idaho is one of the safest places in America for babies in the womb, and for their mothers to receive real medical care and support. "We are now troubled by Attorney General Labrador's withdrawal of his letter to a state representative, and we are earnestly seeking clarification regarding why his letter was withdrawn." Linda Thomas, Director of Community Outreach with Stanton Healthcare, adds: For more information or interviews, contact: Linda Thomas 208-803-1646 SOURCE Stanton Public Policy Center CONTACT: Linda Thomas 208-803-1646

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Russian occupiers continue to attack populated areas of Ukraine

The enemy shelled Nikopol District with heavy artillery. Around ten shells hit the Marhanets area, Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak wrote on Telegram.

The attack caused no casualties. The emergency services arrived at the scene to assess the damage and eliminate the consequences of the strike.

Read also: Russia conducts mass missile, drone attack overnight: six explosions in Kharkiv

Russian troops shelled with mortars and artillery the water areas of Ochakiv District in Mykolaiv Oblast. The area of Kutsurub came under fire, and there were some shell impacts there, the oblasts governor, Vitali Kim, reported. There is no information about the damage done or if there were any casualties.

The Russians attacked same area with Grad multiple rocket launchers in the early morning of April 11.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continue shelling the border and front-line settlements of Kharkiv, Chuhuiv and Kupyansk districts in Kharkiv Oblast.

A business premises was damaged in the attack on the village of Kucherivka in Kupyansk District, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Synehubov wrote on Telegram on April 11.

Read also: Civilian infrastructure damaged in Kharkiv as Russians strike during countrywide air raid

Vovchansk in Chuhuiv District was shelled at least three times in the past 24 hours.

A house in Kupyansk was damaged by Russian shelling.

Settlements in Kherson Oblast were shelled 56 times in the past day alone with a total of 285 projectiles from multiple rocket launchers, mortars, artillery, tanks, and anti-tank missile systems, and by bombs from drones and aircraft.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian occupying forces shelled Bakhmut, Toretsk, Kostyantynivka and Ocheretyne. Five civilians were injured in those attacks.

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Russian media report drone attack on Belgorod airport

A flying unidentified drone with explosive materials crashed into a fence at Belgorod airport and blew up, Russian independent news outlet Baza wrote on Telegram.

Read also: Russian authorities report downing two missiles over Belgorod

There were no casualties reported as a result of the incident. The airport has been closed since Feb. 24, 2022 as flights in Russia's south and central regions were restricted.

Read also: Russian missile malfunctions, crashes in Belgorod residential area  video

The explosion caused damage to the airport's fence and alarm system.

Explosions have been happening across Russian cities since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

A drone attacked a gas station in Belgorod on March 27.

A series of blasts was heard in the city on March 15. The local authorities claimed air defenses had intercepted two missiles.

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The Russian State Duma supported the duplication of traditional summons for military service in a digital form in three readings at once.

Source: Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti

Details: The changes provide that summons can be sent to Russians in writing with a receipt, by registered mail with a return receipt, as well as digitally.

In the case of a digital summons, it will be considered delivered from the moment it is placed in the personal account.

People who received summons in any form, even electronic, will be prohibited from leaving Russia until their visit to a military commissariat.

In addition, Russians who did not come within 20 days of receiving the summons are banned from driving a car.

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The Russian invaders fired the hospital staff in the occupied city of Snizhne, Donetsk Oblast because they had not received Russian passports.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 11 April

Quote: "The Russian occupiers continue to increase the pressure on Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territories. Recently, in Snizhne, Donetsk Oblast, employees of the city hospital who did not receive Russian passports were fired."

Details: Ukraine's Armed Forces also spoke about other cases of Russian pressure on residents of the occupied territories. In particular, in the city of Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, locals must obtain permission to move around the oblast.

"Those who have applied for permits are subject to increased checks by the occupiers for involvement in the Ukrainian Defence Forces. In some places, the invaders even search residences," the General Staff said in the report.

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(Reuters) -The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group on Tuesday said his forces controlled more than 80% of the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after some of war's heaviest and bloodiest fighting.

Senior Ukrainian military officials did not address the claims directly, but said their forces were holding firm against fierce attacks in what once was a city of 70,000 and keeping Russian forces in check.

Wagner fighters have led Russia's months-long efforts to capture Bakhmut. The grinding trench warfare and constant artillery barrages have drawn comparisons with World War One because of massive casualties inflicted on both sides.

Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces, who have played a major role in Russian advances in the east, were pressing on with their encirclement of Bakhmut.

"In Bakhmut, the larger part, more than 80% is now under our control, including the whole administrative centre, factories, warehouses, the administration of the city," he said in a video posted by a Russian military blogger.

The Russian-installed head of Donetsk region, one of four areas declared annexed by Moscow last September, said Russian forces had backed Ukrainian defenders into a corner.

"In the western areas where their units are dug in, they have no choice other than coming forward and giving themselves up," Russian news agencies quoted Denis Pushilin as telling state television.

Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Military Command, said the situation in Bakhmut was under control, adding Kyiv would not allow its troops to be encircled.

Deputy Ukrainian Defence Minister Hanna Malyar acknowledged that Bakhmut "took the main hit" in fighting. But Russian forces, she said, "are generally losing to us in street battles so they are simply destroying all buildings and structures".

Kyiv says it needs more and better Western weapons to beat Russia, and senior Ukrainian officials pressed ahead with their bid to persuade allies to open up stockpiles.

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"IRONCLAD" U.S. SUPPORT

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday tweeted that he had received assurances of "ironclad" U.S. support from Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, hosting his Ukrainian opposite number on Tuesday, pledged fresh supplies of assault rifles, machine guns and ammunition.

Prigozhin has previously made claims about Russian control of the mining city that turned out to be premature, but Ukraine acknowledges the situation in what it calls "fortress Bakhmut" is now very difficult.

Russia says the capture of Bakhmut will open up the possibility for future offensives across Ukraine, while Kyiv and the West say the now smashed city has only symbolic importance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has vowed to keep defending Bakhmut, but last week acknowledged troops could be pulled back if they were in danger of being encircled.

Russian forces have made only incremental gains in their advance through eastern Ukraine. Kyiv says opposing forces have sustained heavy losses after launching a mobilisation of some 300,000 men late last year.

The lower house of the Russian parliament on Tuesday moved to close loopholes in the draft by introducing electronic military draft papers for the first time in its history. Government officials said there were no plans to compel more men to fight in Ukraine.

(Writing by Gareth Jones, David Ljunggren and Ron Popeski; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Jamie Freed)
Novak Djokovic battled past Ivan Gakhov in Monte Carlo (REUTERS)

Novak Djokovic briefly ran into a spot of bother as he fought his way into the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters with a 7-6(5) 6-2 victory against Russian qualifier Ivan Gakhov on Tuesday.

The world No 1, who had not played since early March when he reached the final in Dubai after being forced to skip Indian Wells and Miami because of his COVID unvaccinated status, struggled to find his range on the Monte Carlo clay before prevailing on a sunlit centre court.

Gakhov went for his shots and claimed the first service break to lead 4-3, only for the Serbian to break right back and take the opening set by winning the tiebreak 7-5.

Djokovic was then business-like in the second set, leaving no chance of a comeback for his opponent, who suddenly felt the court was too big for him.

The double French Open champion, who suffered an opening-round exit here last year, will next face Lorenzo Musetti or the 16th seeds Italian compatriot Luca Nardi.

German Alexander Zverev, who suffered a serious ankle injury in his French Open semi-final clash against Rafael Nadal, was back on the claycourts with a 3-6 6-2 6-4 first-round win against Kazakhstans Alexander Bublik.

Spains Nadal, who triumphed a record 11 times at the Monte Carlo Country Club, is absent after failing to recover from a hip injury that has kept him away from the courts since the Australian Open.

His compatriot Carlos Alcaraz is also missing the tournament with hand and back problems.
Sacramento-area authorities on Tuesday were looking for four adolescents who are considered at risk in unrelated missing person cases. Officials were asking the public to help find these children.

Elk Grove

Jeremiah Puckering, 13, was last seen Sunday in the area of East Stockton Boulevard and Emerald Crest Drive in Elk Grove. He was running away from his family and is considered at risk, the Elk Grove Police Department announced Tuesday afternoon in social media posts.

Police said he was wearing a gray jacket, black sweat pants and black sandals, he may be in Sacramento. Officers asked anyone who sees him to call the Police Department at 916-478-8299.

We are asking for help finding at-risk missing person Jeremiah Puckering. He is 13 & last seen on 4/9 in the area of E. Stockton/Emerald Crest running away from family. He was wearing a grey jacket black sweats & black slides. He may be in Sac. If you see him, call (916)478-8299. pic.twitter.com/1zmm0BxqLP  EGPD (@ElkGrovePD) April 11, 2023

Rosemont area

Hunter Valentine, 13, and his brother Logan Valentine, 11, are believed to have left their home about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday on Huntsman Drive in the Rosemont area, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office announced in social media posts.

Sheriffs officials said the brothers are considered at risk due to their age. They were both last seen around 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Monday.

The Sheriffs office described Hunter as 4-foot-11 and weighing 89 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing pajamas, and its possible he has changed clothing.

Officials described Logan as weighing 80 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes, possibly wearing a black pullover hooded-sweatshirt with picture of a wolf on the front and his last name Valentine on the back and a Antelope emblem on the left sleeve.

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The Sheriffs Office can be reached at 916-874-5115.

MISSING PERSON ALERT: Hunter Valentine, AGE 13, 4'11", 89 pounds, BROWN HAIR, BROWN EYES, Last seen wearing PJ'S (possibly changed clothing).



AT RISK MISSING PERSON DUE TO AGE (Picture below in blue top): Logan Valentine, AGE 11, 5'8", 80 pounds, BLONDE HAIR, HAZEL EYES, pic.twitter.com/jkapC7UyHm  Sacramento Sheriff (@sacsheriff) April 11, 2023

Sacramento

Alex Vargas, 14, was last seen in the 5000 block of Franklin Boulevard in the North City Farms neighborhood of Sacramento. He is considered at risk due to his age, the Sacramento Police Department announced Monday night in social media posts.

Police described him as 5-foot-11 with a heavy build, black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a black hat with West Coast in white lettering on it, a large puffy green jacket, blue jeans and red-and-white sneakers.

Investigators asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the Police Department at 916-808-5471.
A highway shooting killed a 5-year-old girl who was riding with her family to a restaurant for a birthday party outside San Francisco Saturday, according to authorities and friends of the victims.

Her family flagged down a California Highway Patrol officer, who was making a traffic stop on Interstate 880, to ask for help because the girl had been shot in the backseat, authorities said.

Eliyanah Crisostomo, 5, was identified as the victim in a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend. She would have celebrated her own birthday on April 21.

"A bullet struck their 5-year-old daughter, and she passed away within 30 seconds of the incident," organizer Jeff McGrew wrote. "Investigators are doing their best to find out who did this."

FORMER SAN FRANCISCO FIRE COMMISSIONER SLASHED AND BEATEN WITH PIPE DAYS AFTER BOB LEE STABBING

Santa Cruz police announced three arrests and recovered a discarded gun on Highway 17 after the shooting, however, authorities did not immediately confirm a connection between the bust and the girl's death.

She was rushed to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries, a CHP spokesperson told Fox News Digital. It happened around 6:40 p.m. on I-880 near Fremont.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"The officer was approached by victims of a freeway shooting who advised that a child in their vehicle was struck by gunfire. The 5-year-old female was subsequently transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased."

Hours later, officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department helped pull over a vehicle and recovered a gun that three suspects allegedly tossed out a window on Highway 17.

SAN FRANCISCO SURVEILLANCE VIDEO ILLUSTRATES AGONY OF CITY CRIME IN BOB LEE'S FINAL MOMENTS

It was unclear whether their arrest was connected to the shooting. State police, who are leading the I-880 investigation, said they were still investigating.

Fremont police were also looking into a separate shooting that happened minutes earlier on Fremont Boulevard the same evening.

That shooting may have been gang-related, police said in a statement, and the intended target was not injured.

Alameda County (Calif.) District Attorney Pamela Price reportedly sent an email floating the idea of non-prison punishments for three gang members accused of killing a toddler in the course of a shootout with a stray bullet.

Eliyanah's death on a Fremont highway comes after the county's district attorney told supporters of another Bay Area family that she was exploring ways to keep their child's suspected killers out of prison.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, who received campaign support from billionaire progressive donor George Soros, made the remarks in an email sent to a community member and obtained by local media.

One-year-old Jasper Wu died in the crossfire of a gang shootout  also on Interstate 880  in 2021. Of the four suspects, three were charged with murder.
TOKYO (AP)  The head of the Japanese Olympic Committee says Sapporo may delay its bid for the Winter Olympics, going for 2034 instead of 2030.

Yashuhiro Yamashita indicated on Monday he would hold talks with Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto. Akimoto was re-elected on Sunday, overcoming challenges from two anti-Olympic opponents.

Despite the victory, the opposition was strong  much of it pegged to the ongoing corruption scandal around the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

It's hard to go ahead with the original bid plan without gaining people's understanding, Yamashita was quoted as saying by Japan news agency Kyodo. He said it was clear that many local residents are concerned and anxious.

Yamashita took over the Japanese Olympic Committee in 2019 following another scandal involving then-president Tsunekazu Takeda. Takeda also stepped down as an IOC member, the post going to Yamashita.

Yamashita's suggestion again leaves the International Olympic Committee struggling to find a host for the 2030 Winter Games. Vancouver, British Columbia, dropped out earlier when the provincial government said it would not finance the billion-dollar venture.

Salt Lake City is reported to have community support, but has said it prefers 2034, although it has left open 2030 as a possibility.

That would leave the United States holding the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, followed by Salt Lake.

Supporters of both Games have suggested the back-to-back configuration would force the two Games to share billions in advertising revenue and sponsorship.

However, the choice is up to the International Olympic Committee, which seems unlikely to name the venue until next year.

Two other known candidates for 2030 have jumped in recently, undoubtedly with encouragement from the IOC. Stockholm, Sweden, officials have said they would conduct a feasibility study. Swiss bidders have also shown preliminary interest.

Stockholm lost out in a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics to Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
A judge has ordered that a class-action lawsuit filed by four retired Save Mart employees seeking potentially hundreds of millions of dollars from the Modesto-based grocery chain over the elimination of a long-promised health care benefit last year can move forward.

The longtime Save Mart employees, who all worked in nonunion management or executive roles, first brought the suit against their former employer in August in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Save Mart attorneys countered with a motion to dismiss, which was heard by a federal judge in San Francisco in late March.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge William Orrick issued an order denying Save Marts motion to dismiss the case and allowing the suit to move ahead.

They (the class-action plaintiffs) are determined. Its extraordinary, to be quite honest. Ive never seen anything quite like it, said Jim Keenley, a founding partner at one of the law firms representing the plaintiffs. They are very upset and they feel very aggrieved and theyre very well organized.

The legal wranglings stem from the supermarket chains decision to end a nearly 40-year policy giving some of its long-term nonunion staff enhanced medical benefits after retiring from the company. Almost exactly a year ago, these Save Mart retirees were told the company was ending their health care supplement of up to $1,000 a month.

In March 2022, The Save Mart Companies announced its acquisition by Los Angeles-based private equity firm Kingswood Capital Management LP. The sale ended 70 years of family ownership, largely by the Modesto-based Piccinini family. In late April of last year, letters went out to retirees in the enhanced benefits plan that they would stop receiving their payments after June.

Vickie Del Re is one of hundreds of Save Mart companies retired workers who received a letter from the company stating they will no longer fund the retiree benefit program. Photographed in Modesto, Calif., on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

The company has about 200 Save Mart, Lucky California and FoodMaxx stores across Northern California and Northern Nevada, with some existing 14,000 total employees. The Save Mart Companies also operates SMART Refrigerated Transport and is a partner in Super Store Industries, which owns and operates a distribution center in Lathrop, and the Sunnyside Farms dairy processing plant in Turlock. Its annual sales are between $4 billion and $5 billion, according to past company documents.

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Four plaintiffs are listed in the suit, though if a class action is officially certified, that could potentially swell to hundreds or more who could join. Lawyers representing the retirees said they have a list of about 100 other retirees who potentially could become class members, and created a website for updates.

The lead plaintiffs in the suit are former Save Mart employees Katherine Baker, a 28-year employee who retired as a senior director of operations; Jose Luna, a 33-year employee who retired as a store manager, Edgar Popke a 39-year employee who retired as vice president for operations, and Denny Wraske, a 46-year employee who retired as a senior director of operations.

Representing the plaintiffs in the class action are three California legal firms that specialize in employee law or class action litigation. They are Berkeley-based Bolt Keenley Kim, San Francisco-based Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, and Manhattan Beach-based Matern Law Group.

The Bee reached out to The Save Mart Companies for comment but did not hear back by publication deadline.

They helped build Modestos Save Mart. Now retirees feel betrayed by sudden benefit cut

Last spring, The Bee spoke with more than 30 Save Mart retirees affected by the elimination of the health care benefit, including the four named plaintiffs in the case. All were angered by the companys decision to end the payments, saying it had been a oft-repeated promise from Bob Piccinini, the companys longtime CEO who grew the grocery brand to be a powerhouse in the region before passing away in 2015, that their retirement benefits would be as good or better than their union colleagues.

Baker, who retired in 2017, told The Bee at the time that the abrupt change felt like a betrayal.

I always felt like I was working for a family. That was the nice part about working with Save Mart. Bob (Piccinini) was very good to us. In turn, we were extremely good to him, she told The Bee last May. So that this would happen to us now makes me very sad and upset. This was something that was guaranteed to us.

Since at least the 1980s, Save Mart provided its long-term nonunion employees with some form of a health care benefit. In recent years, that amounted to up to $1,000 per month ($500 for former employees and $500 for their spouses). The money went into a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), which also oversaw their insurance plans if they were under the age of 65. The benefit continued after retirees reached 65 and qualified for Medicare but was reduced to up to $600 per month.

Save Mart supermarket on Pelandale Avenue in Modesto, Calif., on Saturday, August 13, 2022.

Last year, Save Marts spokesperson told The Bee the letters ending the benefit went out to some 420 employees, or about 3% of the companys 14,000 staff. At the time, the need for the change was attributed to stiff competition with significantly larger grocery chains.

The class-action case has not been certified by the judge yet. The parties will have their first case management conference April 25, which will set the schedule for the case moving forward including a motion to certify. Kennley, of the Bolt Keenley Kim Law Firm, said he expects discovery and the next phase of the lawsuit to take up to a year.

Getting past motion to dismiss was a major and important hurdle in the case, Keenley said. While (the decision) was very much expected, its really good for the plaintiffs that were past that part. Were now headed to the solid meat of the case: discovery. It will be a long process  obtaining documents, witness depositions  to flesh out the evidence of the case.

While the amended class-action suit does not specify a monetary amount, Keenley estimated the total economic loss in the low hundreds of millions (of dollars) at least.

The case could settle if the plaintiffs and Save Mart attorneys can come to an agreement on money or terms.

Our goal is to make people whole, so our goal in the case is to get all of it. Where we stand right now, theres no reason to back off of that goal, Keenley said.
(CNN)  British actress Millie Bobby Brown has fans thinking she and partner, Jake Bongiovi, are engaged, after the couple posted photos to social media on Tuesday.

The "Stranger Things" star took to social media to share a photo of her and Bongiovi embracing -- and eagle eyed fans have spotted a rather large ring on her engagement finger.

"I've loved you three summers now, honey, I want 'em all," the actress, 19, captioned the image.

Bongiovi, 20, also shared images on social media around the same time, including one of the couple hugging and looking out to sea, captioned "Forever."

Bongiovi is one of Bon Jovi rocker Jon Bon Jovi's four children, who he shares with wife Dorothea Hurley.

CNN has reached out to representatives for Brown for comment.

Last year, the actress, who plays the telekinetic Eleven in "Stranger Things," revealed she had enrolled in Purdue University and is attending classes online.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi hint theyre engaged."
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster held a news conference Tuesday to speak about penalties for people who have guns illegally. He also urged legislators toward bond reform before the end of this years session.

Close the revolving door of repeat offenders by increasing penalties for illegal gun possession, and also fix broken the bond system in our courts, McMaster said.

McMaster was joined by Kevin Cornett, the police chief of Isle of Palms, Mark Keel, the chief of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and other local officials.

The news conference was scheduled after police said six people were hurt in a shooting on April 7 at an Isle of Palms beach. An 18-year-old and a 16-year-old are facing charges in connection to the incident.

READ MORE: Police: 6 injured in shooting at South Carolina beach during senior skip day

On Tuesday, the governor asked the General Assembly to pass legislation that increases the criminal penalties against illegal gun possession. McMaster and the two chiefs said those two suspects, both teens, had illegal guns. Its a trend they said the state must crack down on.

The criminal justice system only works when every part of the system works together to protect our citizens, Chief Keel said.

Chief Cornett said 2021 marks eight straight years since theres been an increase in weapons law violations. He said in 2021, there were 9,728 weapons law violations -- of those, 5,117 were committed by people under the age of 25.

McMaster also asked lawmakers to pass bond reform. He mentioned an incident in Richland County where the suspect accused of shooting and killing a man was out on bond for a murder charge.

What do you tell the family of someone who had been caught arrested, put in jail once, twice, three times -- who then shows up and killed your loved one? What do you tell them? McMaster asked.

RELATED: Mecklenburg County judge says fixing bail bonds is up to legislature

House Bill 3532 would address many of those issues. A person convicted of a violent crime while out on bond for a previous offense would have their sentence enhanced by five years. Anyone who commits a violent offense while on bond for a previous offense would have to pay 100% cash bond, and magistrates and summary court judges would have to deny bail for all violent offenses.

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Bond would be immediately revoked if a person commits a violent crime while out on bond.

All too often, law enforcement makes good arrests, only to find the offender got a low bond and is out terrorizing the same community they came from the next morning, Keel said. This must stop.

Several local House members voted in favor of HB 3532. It passed the House but the Senate has not voted on it just yet.

There are also several other bills in the House and the Senate that could address these issues.

According to SLED, there were 566 murders in South Carolina in 2021 -- the most ever in a year. Of those, 322 -- more than half -- were committed by people under the age of 25. And over the past decade, SLED says murders have increased by 52.2%.

(WATCH BELOW: Gov. McMaster wins history-making 2nd term in South Carolina)
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday called for the Biden administration to brief senators on the leak of a set of highly classified documents about the Ukraine war.

A Schumer spokesperson announced the request. No date or time has been set yet for the briefing. The Senate is in recess and will return next week.

The leaked documents include those warning of weaknesses in Ukraines defenses, ammunition shortfalls and weaknesses in air defense, The Washington Post reported over the weekend.

One of the leaked Pentagon documents said that the Ukrainian air defense may not be able to protect their front lines through the end of May.

[Ukraines] ability to provide medium range air defense to protect the [front lines] will be completely reduced by May 23, one document from the Defense Departments Joint Staff in February said, according to the Post.

As 1st Layer Defense munitions run out, 2nd and 3rd Layer expenditure rates will increase, reducing the ability to defend against Russian aerial attacks from all altitudes, the classified document says.

The Justice Department and the Pentagon are investigating the origin of the leaks.

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 on Monday.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin became aware of the leaked documents on April 6, with more coming online in the following days.

The documents cover a range of different topics, including U.S. and NATO support for Ukraine. Others discuss other nations, including South Korea and Israel.

Ukraine on Sunday alleged that Russia altered the Pentagons documents

In recent decades, the most successful operations of the Russian special services took place in Photoshop, Ukrainian Defense Ministrys intelligence directorate representative Andriy Yusov said in televised remarks. From the preliminary analysis of these materials, we see false figures on losses from both sides.

John Kirby, the White House spokesperson for national security affairs, told reporters on Monday that some of the documents were indeed doctored, but declined to go any further. He added that President Biden was made aware of the leaked documents late last week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is set to unveil a resolution next week blasting former President Trumps call to remove funding from the FBI and Justice Department (DOJ) over the federal investigations into him.

Schumer sent a letter to his Democratic colleagues in the Senate on Tuesday that he is presenting a resolution to defund the federal law enforcement agencies.

Donald Trumps call for defunding federal law enforcement agencies is a baseless, self-serving broadside against the men and women who keep our nation safe, the letter states.

The former President and his allies in Congress must not subjugate justice and public safety because of their own personal grievances, Schumer continued.

Trump posted his comment last week on Truth Social amid a barrage of complaints about the New York investigation into him over the hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SHOULD DEFUND THE DOJ AND FBI UNTIL THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES, Trump said, claiming that Democrats had weaponized the agencies against him.

The resolution from Schumer will state that the Senate recognizes and appreciates the dedication and devotion from those who work in federal law enforcement, condemns calls to defund the FBI and DOJ and rejects partisan attempts from Trump and his allies to reduce trust in federal law enforcement for political or legal benefit.

Some Trump allies like Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) have also called defunding federal law enforcement agencies involved in investigations into Trump.

But political experts and strategists warned that Trumps comments could be politically dangerous and put pressure on Republicans who use of a message of being tough on crime during campaign.

House Republicans have called for investigations into Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is overseeing the investigation into Trump, and how he has used any federal funds in his probe.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Faculty in the Seattle Colleges District joined a statewide walkout on Tuesday to demand the state legislature to fund pay equity in the states community colleges and technical schools.

Rallies were held across Seattle at the North Seattle, Seattle Central and South Seattle Colleges, leading to a protest outside the SCDs Seigal Center.

In a survey. 85% of Seattle Colleges faculty said their current wages in the district are less than what they would earn if they quit their job and went to work in their industry, according to AFT Seattle Local 1789, which represents the SCD faculty.

Ive been Seattle Colleges faculty since 2006. I drive a twenty-four-year-old car, I shop almost exclusively at Goodwill, and I hold two additional jobs in order to live in the community where I work. Our compensation demands arent preposterous, said Shireen Deboo, a faculty librarian at North Seattle College, in a news release.

The statewide walkout intended to put pressure on the state legislature to invest in community and technical colleges. Funding fair wage adjustments for all faculty and staff and providing more counseling and financial support for students are some of the educators demands.

Faculty at community and technical colleges in Olympia, Lynnwood and Tacoma also participated in the day of action.
The Seattle Police Department is seeking witnesses to a serious assault that took place in the First Hill neighborhood on Friday morning.

The assault happened at about 7:53 a.m. near Madison Street and Terry Avenue.

According to police, an unidentified witness tried to assist the victim of the assault and walk with her to the emergency room at Virginia Mason Medical Center, located just a block away.

Anyone who witnessed or has information on this incident is asked to contact the SPD sexual assault and child abuse unit at (206) 684-5575.
TEL AVIV  On a balmy evening in Israels largest city, tens of thousands of rowdy protesters suddenly grew quiet after sundown for a moment of silence honoring an Italian tourist and two British Israeli sisters killed a day earlier in a pair of terrorist attacks. Throughout the crowd, demonstrators waved British and Italian flags in solidarity.

But the demonstration here on Saturday was not about terrorism, nor about the eruptions of Israeli Palestinian violence over the last week on Israels eastern, western and northern flanks. Instead, the throngs of Israelis congregating just two miles from where the Italian tourist was killed were protesting an entirely Israeli-born issue: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus proposed judicial overhaul, the source of weeks of huge, sometimes violent rallies across the nation.

After weeks of rising tensions, Israels dueling crises  one over national security, the other over domestic politics  are increasingly bleeding into each other, fueling a perfect storm that analysts say has left Israel vulnerable on more fronts simultaneously than at any other point in recent memory.

Israeli Judicial Reform protests in Tel Aviv. (Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP via Getty Images)

Its a present that were giving them, former Israeli defense intelligence official Dennis Citrinowicz told NBC News in an interview, referring to Israels adversaries, such as Hamas, Iran and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

He said the only way to secure Israels deterrence against radical forces is to find a way to calm the current instability in Israel, including in its politics. Without doing so, our enemies will keep on trying to exploit this situation.

Israels fiercest enemies, like Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, are gleefully predicting the nation will soon implode under the weight of its own internal divisions. While that appears unlikely, those sentiments speak to a moment of intense distraction for Israels security apparatus.

Case in point: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant  recently fired by Netanyahu and then un-fired on Monday  has warned that the judicial overhaul is so divisive and harmful to military morale that it is threatening Israels national security.

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I decided to leave the disagreements behind us, Netanyahu said in reversing his decision to fire Gallant, citing the need to stand together around the clock on all fronts in the face of the security challenges.

In less than a week, Israel has exchanged fire with Palestinians and Palestinian-linked groups in the occupied West Bank, the coastal Gaza Strip to the west, and both Lebanon and Syria to the north. The only neighboring countries whose borders with Israel have remained peaceful of late are Egypt and Jordan  the first two Arab nations to make peace with Israel decades ago.

With the exception of West Bank clashes, all of the recent incidents were in retaliation for rockets launched into Israel, which in turn were retaliation for Israeli raids at a site in Jerusalem holy to Jews and Muslims during the Passover and Ramadan holidays.

Meanwhile, outbreaks of Palestinian violence against Jewish settlers in the West Bank have emboldened ultranationalist ministers within Israels government to demand a more aggressive Israeli response and expansionist policy on settlements. Their increasing demands have squeezed Netanyahu between his own far-right allies and leaders in the U.S. pleading with him to show restraint in the West Bank, where most nations view Jewish settlements to be illegal.

Netanyahu Judicial Reform Israel Politics (Ohad Zwigenberg / AP)

Netanyahus government, the most far-right in Israeli history, has a majority so slim that just a few defections threaten to sink it, a reality that gives outsize influence to the most extreme members of his coalition. After three tumultuous months of governing, a new poll by Israels Channel 13 News suggests support for Netanyahus Likud party is plunging, with the party poised to fall well below a majority in parliament if a new election were to be held now.

Yet historically, military conflicts and external security threats have a tendency to temper criticism of the government in power, as the U.S. learned after Sept. 11, in whats become known as the rally round the flag effect. Critics argue that Netanyahu, who has parlayed his reputation as a hawkish defender of Israeli security into decades of political success, is deliberately stoking conflicts now to distract from the domestic morass.

The timing is very good for Netanyahu and his government because it buys them some time, said Merissa Khurma, who runs the Middle East Program at the Washington-based Wilson Center. If they can externalize an enemy, that will help them.

Israeli officials blamed the rockets launched from Lebanon on Friday on Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules the Gaza Strip and routinely fires at Israel, rather than on any group based in Lebanon, whose barely functioning government is in the throes of its own deep political crisis. Yet the attacks were cause for a new kind of concern for Israel nonetheless.

They suggested that Shia Muslim Hezbollah, which controls much of southern Lebanon, is growing closer to Hamas, a Sunni group that has not always seen eye-to-eye with Hezbollah. A publicized meeting Sunday between the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah in Beirut offered further evidence of warmer ties and potential coordination between two groups that have each fought wars against Israel in the past.

Militants in Lebanon have fired a heavy barrage of rockets at Israel, the Israeli military said, forcing people across Israel's northern frontier into bomb shelters, wounding at least two people and ratcheting up regional tensions a day after Israeli police raided Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site. (Fadi Amun / AP)

In another pointed sign of how Israels political crisis is spilling over into national security, leaked U.S. intelligence documents obtained by The New York Times and The Washington Post indicated that the leadership of the Mossad, Israels elite foreign intelligence agency, had encouraged protests against Netanyahus judicial overhaul by Israeli civilians and its own staffers. Netanyahus government strongly disputed that assertion, which if accurate would be an unprecedented breach of Mossads tradition of staying out of Israeli politics.

Despite recent Israeli diplomatic progress with the United Arab Emirates and other erstwhile enemies, any Israeli efforts to use its newfound relations with Arab states to tamp down Palestinian tensions are complicated by the Palestinians own profound political challenges.

While Palestinians face deteriorating economic and social conditions, the internationally backed Palestinian Authority that partially administers the West Bank hasnt held elections since 2006, one factor among many that has diminished its foreign support. Hamas, elected to power in the Gaza Strip shortly after Israel withdrew in 2005, is designated by the U.S. and many other nations as a terrorist group.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have reached their highest level in years followed clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside a revered Jerusalem mosque. (Mohammed Abed / AFP - Getty Images)

Amid a declining Israeli commitment to a two-state solution, neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority have managed to deliver on promises to create an independent state, to the dismay of Palestinians throughout the region, and violence has spiraled.

Paul Salem, who runs the Middle East Institute in Washington, said the Arab states in the Persian Gulf are all generally sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, but are hesitant to actively engage given what he called years if not decades of very poor Palestinian leadership.

Its either been radical extremist Islamists or corrupt and ineffectual, Salem said. In both cases these countries would like to support them, but think that the Palestinians should do their homework.

And while Israeli leaders in recent years had grown hopeful that the Arab Gulf States were coming to the conclusion that Shia-led Iran  not Israel  posed the biggest threat to the region, that expectation has been called into question by the recent China-brokered rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the Gulfs Sunni powerhouse.

As someone who had dealt with Iran for so many years, I dont think Iran is the biggest threat to us, said Citrinowicz, the former Israeli defense official, now at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies. I think right now the threat is the Palestinian issue. The threat is this domestic instability in Israel. We have to be united.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ed Sheeran just brightened the commute for some subway riders in Brooklyn, New York.

The "Shape of You" singer surprised NYC subway busker Mike Yung as he sang Sheeran's new song, "Eyes Closed," on the platform in the Church Avenue station.

Sheeran popped out from behind a structural pole and walked up behind Yung, and then began singing along with him, according to a video posted on the Instagram account SubwayCreatures.

Yung turned around and a huge grin formed on his face as he gave Sheeran a high-five and hug.

The pair embraced and kept singing to the delight of other subway passengers before Sheeran slipped him what appeared to be two concert tickets to his show in Brooklyn on April 10.

@mikeyung via Instagram

Yung posted photos of the tickets and the venue, as well as a video of Sheeran's performance on his Instagram story.

Fans were delighted seeing Sheeran in the Church Avenue station in the comments.

"CHURCH AVENUE ARE YOU KIDDING MEEEEEE OMGGGGG," a fan commented.

"Would never expect to see Ed Sheeran at church Ave," one commenter wrote.

Another fan wrote: "And I thought Church Ave, was a dead station, especially since theres always seems to be construction there for the F and G lines, lol!"

@mikeyung via Instagram

Yung's love for Sheeran goes way back  Yung has been performing covers of Sheeran's songs for years, both on the subway and on TV. He sang "Thinking Out Loud" on Season 12 of "America's Got Talent" in 2017, making it to the semifinals of the competition.

Sheeran opened up on Sunday TODAY last year about almost giving up on music after the success of his 2017 album, "Divide."

"It wasnt retiring, but it was retiring from giving a f, he told Willie Geist. "I wasnt necessarily wanting to step away from music, but I was definitely wanting to step away from it being a professional hobby."

Sheeran announced his sixth studio album, "Subtract," will come out in May 2023 and said in a note to fans he wrote down his "deepest darkest thoughts" as his life changed in 2022, which made their way onto the record.

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"Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth," Sheeran shared March 1 in a post on Instagram. "My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly, and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air."

Sheeran and his wife, Cherry Seaborn, announced the birth of their second daughter in May 2022.

"Subtract" is set to be released on May 5, 2023.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Beside a broken heart emoji, the family of Bryce Brooks remembered him as a sweet, selfless hero.

At that time of being selfless, our son Bryce, while being pulled by currents himself, literally called for help, but not for himself, Brooks father, Alfred Shivy Brooks, said of the 16-year-old, WAGA reported. He was calling for help for the little kids he was looking out for.

Bryce, a junior at Maynard Jackson High School in Atlanta, died April 6 after family members said he jumped into the water to save three younger kids caught in a rip current at a beach near Pensacola, Florida, according to the news station.

A close family friend also died during the rescue.

The teen and his family were vacationing in the area when tragedy struck.

Around 2 p.m., fire rescue officials got a call about four young swimmers in distress in Perdido Key, Escambia County public information officer Davis Wood told McClatchy News. All four were pulled about 300 feet into the water, according to WEAR and fire rescue officials.

Three beachgoers spotted the children struggling and jumped in to try to save them, officials said, the news station reported. Among those who sprang into action was Bryce.

At some point, the teen was also caught in the undercurrent and went missing, family members told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Thats when close family friend Charles Johnson went in after him but never made it back to shore.

Both were later retrieved by beachgoers and airlifted to a hospital, where they died, according to the newspaper. The three children survived.

Officials determined that rip currents were the cause of the swimmers being in distress, Wood said.

Were never going to get to see Bryce grow up and be the full man that he was going to be, the teens mother, Crystal Brooks, said during a news conference, WSB-TV reported. But we know that he stepped into his manhood to save these children. That makes me proud.

It doesnt take an ounce of pain, but it makes me proud of our son, she continued.

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A GoFundMe launched for the family described Bryce as a selfless young man full of passion and love for life.

Bryces actions helped to save several lives, the fundraiser states. We cannot even begin to understand the unimaginable impact this has had on their family, friends, and loved ones but know the power of this community.

McClatchy News reached out to Atlanta Public Schools for comment on April 11 and was awaiting a response.

Whats a rip current?

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually, and about 100 people in the U.S. are killed each year after getting caught in the strong currents.

Fisherman dives into lake to save kayaker and never resurfaces, Washington cops say

Toddler drowns in brook after dad runs away from car crash, Massachusetts cops say

Bystanders keep man stuck in frozen waterfall alive before dramatic rescue, cops say
A ProPublica report from last week revealed Justice Clarence Thomas took trips paid for by a billionaire Republican donor

Democratic senators are calling for the Supreme Court to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas for failing to disclose reported luxury trips funded by a billionaire Republican donor.

The Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have announced they will hold a hearing on Supreme Court ethics.

The panel also warned of legislation, if the court does not resolve this issue on its own.

Justice Thomas has said he did not think he needed to report the trips.

In a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, and 10 other Democratic lawmakers said Justice Thomas' behaviour was "plainly inconsistent with the ethical standards the American people expect of any person in a position of public trust".

"If the Court does not resolve this issue on its own, the Committee will consider legislation to resolve it," the lawmakers added.

ProPublica reported last week Justice Thomas had accepted vacations including luxury yachts and private planes from real estate mogul Harlan Crow nearly each year for several decades.

The report sparked a backlash from some lawmakers who have argued the court should establish a stricter code of conduct for its justices.

Supreme Court justices are required to file annual disclosures of gifts, but Justice Thomas has said colleagues and others told him "this sort of personal hospitality" did not apply.

The conservative jurist has come under fire before, including after the 2020 presidential election when his wife, Ginni Thomas, tried to convince former President Donald Trump's White House staff to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

In their Monday letter, the Senate Judiciary Democrats said they would hold a hearing on "the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court's ethical standards" in the coming days.

The committee members argued Chief Justice Roberts had a role to play "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".

Justice Thomas is one of six conservative-leaning justices of the nine-member Supreme Court.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday he plans to introduce a resolution rejecting former President Donald Trump's call to defund the Justice Department and FBI.

Trump, who is seeking to regain the presidency in 2024, made the plea to his fellow Republicans in Congress one day after being charged in New York with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He pleaded not guilty.

Schumer, a Democrat, said he would offer a Senate resolution rejecting Trump's move, calling it a "a baseless, self-serving broadside against the men and women who keep our nation safe."

The resolution would recognize the dedication of the people who serve in the law enforcement agencies, condemn calls to defund Justice and the FBI, and reject partisan attempts to degrade public trust in them, Schumer said in a statement.

While Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate, Republicans took control of the House of Representatives.

"The former President and his allies in Congress must not subjugate justice and public safety because of their own personal grievances," Schumer said.

A resolution is often used to express lawmakers' approval or disapproval of something they cannot vote on.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu, editing by Ed Osmond)
Brazils Lula to visit China; More comprehensive cooperation to be reached, also eyeing participation in BRI

09:10, April 11, 2023 By Yang Sheng and Liu Caiyu ( Global Times

More comprehensive BRI-related cooperation likely to be reached

After recovering from pneumonia, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will reportedly visit China from Tuesday to Friday, and experts said the visit will greatly raise bilateral ties to a higher level with more comprehensive cooperation in not only traditional areas like trade and investment, but also fields like finance, anti-poverty, cooperation under the frame of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as joint mediation over the world-concerned Ukraine crisis.

Analysts from China and Brazil were surprised that the visit could be rescheduled so soon, and this proves that both the two governments have great sincerity and strong motivation to further promote their comprehensive strategic partnership, and to form new certainties with their efforts to overcome the rising uncertainties in the international arena.

Brazil is one of the few countries that is yet to join the China-proposed BRI. While answering a question about whether the upcoming visit would see China and Brazil sign an agreement for BRI cooperation, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that "the BRI is a completely open and transparent cooperation initiative. We are willing to work with all members of the international community, to jointly promote cooperation for construction of the Belt and Road, and to pay our efforts to promote joint development for all countries."

Guo Cunhai, an expert in Latin American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday that "if Lula's trip can make Brazil formally join the BRI, then it means there will be 22 Latin American countries formally in the China-proposed initiative, which has great significance to show that the initiative is greatly welcomed in the continent."

In 2022, Argentina signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation within the framework of the BRI. If Brazil joins the initiative this time, it means that the BRI has effectively covered the major parts of South America, Guo said. "This would be symbolic."

Apart from the BRI cooperation, the previously announced yuan clearing deal between China and Brazil is also a significant signal to the world that as two major rising economies and two BRICS countries, China and Brazil are determined to boost the post-pandemic recovery together and get rid of the uncertainties and interruptions created by the US and some of its allies, and also phase out reliance on the US dollar for international trade and investment, analysts said.

Besides, Wang said that China encourages and supports all efforts to help find a political solution for the Ukraine crisis. "We are willing to work with all members of the international community, including Brazil, to keep playing a constructive role to promote a political solution for the Ukraine crisis," Wang said.

Lula will propose a "peace club" with China to mediate an end to the conflict in Ukraine when he visits China, the Financial Times reported on March 24, before the Brazilian president cancelled his trip last month due to the health problem.

"We are very interested in promoting or helping generate some kind of meeting that would lead to a peace process," Mauro Vieira, Brazil's foreign minister, told the Financial Times in an interview. "The president has said so many times he hears a lot about war but very few words about peace. He is interested in peace conversations."

Guo said China and Brazil are both real neutral major powers with global influence that can withstand pressure to maintain independent decision-making for diplomacy, and President Lula's idea of a "peace club" is to bring more neutral countries to cooperate on mediation, and Brazil recognized China's constructive role in helping the political solution of the crisis, so it's very likely to see the two sides have closer coordination and cooperation on mediation for the Ukraine crisis.

Apart from those strategic fields, the two sides are also likely to realize cooperation on green industries, agriculture and environmental protection, said experts. As China is seeking "green supply chains" to connect with other countries for agricultural trade, a Brazilian expert who is now visiting China believes that this will bring great opportunities to Brazil.

Larissa Wachholz, a senior fellow at the Brazilian Center of International Relations, told the Global Times on Monday that Brazil has a lot of technologies that lead to lower emissions of carbon dioxide that could be implemented in the agriculture sector, "so for example, low carbon agriculture is one topic that will be part of conversations between the two sides in the future."

Wachholz, also a former special advisor on China affairs to Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture from 2019 to 2021, said that if Chinese companies want to explore the Latin American market, they can use Brazil as a hub for production and distribution, and therefore, reduce their needs to emit carbon in maritime transportation.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11)  The Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Director PBGen. Narciso Domingo and PCol. Julian Olonan, chief of PDEG Special Operations Unit Region 4A, on Tuesday said they will file a leave of absence pending the probe into an alleged cover-up of a police official's arrest last year.

We will file our leave of absence right after this conference, Domingo said.

Domingo and Olonan are among the 11 high-ranking police officials and three personnel accused by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos of being involved in the mega shabu haul.

On Monday, Abalos urged police officials allegedly involved in the 6.7-B shabu haul last October to file their leaves of absence in the wake of a "massive attempt" to cover up the arrest of anti-drug intelligence officer PSgt. Rodolfo Mayo.

READ: Abalos urges PNP officials linked to 6.7-B shabu haul to go on leave

Nearly a metric ton of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu was seized from Mayo's property in October 2022.

READ: 6.7-B worth of shabu confiscated in Manila PNP

In a statement on Tuesday, the PNP expressed its support for Abalos call for some police officers to file their leaves of absence.

PNP backs SILG's call for the voluntary submission of leave of absence by PNP officers depicted to be directly involved in the arrest of PMSgt Mayo as seen in the CCTV footages, the statement read.

The agency stressed it will not tolerate any wrongdoing of members of the PNP  regardless of their rank or position.

No cover up

Meanwhile, despite their plans to file leaves, Domingo brushed off claims that there is an attempt to cover up people behind last years massive shabu haul.

Let me express my dismay that this is really unfair because we just did our mandate and our fight against illegal drug trade, he said.

We assure you there was no attempted cover up here. Kung yun po ang iniisip ng karamihan na ang PDEG ang nag cover up sa pinagagawa ng mga tao namin [Translation: If that's what most people think, that PDEG is the one who covered up what our people are doing], that is not true, Domingo added.

He also admitted lapses from the CCTV footage in which Abalos earlier bared.

Abalos said video from the anti-illegal drugs operation in Mayos lending firm showed that some PNP officers loading a sedan with a luggage and duffel bag.

Tayo ang unang nakakita sa CCTV na yan at napanuod ko nga marami nga mali so I admit marami nga kami lapses, Domingo said.

[Translation: We were the first to see that CCTV and I saw a lot of mistakes so I admit we did have a lot of lapses.]

CNN Philippines' correspondent Crissy Dimatulac and Digital Producer Raheema Velasco contributed to this story.
One of the biggest mysteries in all of South Dakota  the unknown fate of 9-year-old Serenity Dennard  elicits one singular emotion more than any other for those who loved, cared for or searched for the precocious girl who disappeared from a Black Hills youth home more than four years ago.

Some people monitoring the missing persons case feel disappointed that Serenity was able to escape from the locked Childrens Home Society facility on Feb. 3, 2019.

Others seethe with anger that employees of the complex near Rockerville waited 80 minutes to call 911 after she ran away in the middle of winter without a coat.

Serenity Dennard is shown before her 2019 disappearance.

Many remain consumed with curiosity over how a young girl on foot with less than a five-minute head start could evade an initial search by employees and remain lost after a two-year, manpower-heavy search of the craggy, wooded Black Hills area.

And a few others, some with social media proclivities and only scant knowledge of the law enforcement investigation that took on national proportions, are pained by their insistence that Serenity was abducted by a stranger driving on a rural road, a neighbor of the childrens home, an employee of the facility or even a member of Serenitys extended family.

But hovering above the entire tragedy is a painful sadness that remains top of mind and fresh of heart in all those who played a role in Serenitys life or the effort to find her and who want nothing more than to bring closure to a haunting mystery with no answer in sight.

The lasting emotion for me is that I still hurt that shes not found, said Tony Harrison, a former captain in the Pennington County Sheriffs Office who oversaw portions of the physical search for Serenity and the missing persons investigation.

More: Pennington County: Search suspended for Serenity Dennard, but investigation remains open

I still hurt for the family. I hurt for the thousands of people who volunteered to search for her. I hurt for the investigators that absolutely poured their entire day every day for years into this case. And I hurt for myself a little bit as a dad because theres nothing worse than not being able to find a little girl.

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Authorities havent ruled out anything but have settled on a working theory that the mischievous girl quickly made her way into the remote section of the Black Hills around the childrens home, tried to hide and became lost before freezing to death, according to several law enforcement officials interviewed by News Watch in recent years.

The Black Hills Childrens Home is located in a remote area of Pennington County about 20 miles southwest of Rapid City. This photo shows the path witnesses say Serenity ran down prior to entering the parking lot and venturing out to Rockerville Road, where she was last seen heading north.

While no individual has been conclusively cleared in the case, investigators said they do not believe a stranger or neighbor abducted her or that any member of her family or the childrens home had a hand in her disappearance.

Their doubts about a possible abduction arise largely from the fact that a woman and girl were in a car at the childrens home and saw Serenity run away, then drove up and down Rockerville Road after her a few minutes later without seeing her or anyone else.

I cant even begin to calculate the odds that someone who would be willing to violently abduct a child happened by on a rural western South Dakota road within the few minutes they had to do that and successfully abducted her, then-sheriffs detective Jamin Hartland said in 2020.

In January 2021, authorities officially halted the physical search for Serenity, her remains or any trace of her in the wooded area around the childrens home. Yet the missing persons case is still open and active, according to Helene Duhamel, the sheriffs spokeswoman.

The Pennington County Sheriffs Office remains committed to investigating any leads received regarding Serenitys disappearance, Duhamel wrote in an email. To date, we have investigated 329 leads with the help of other law enforcement agencies throughout South Dakota and the nation. As this remains an open investigation, additional details are not being released at this point in time.

The initial two-year investigation into Serenitys disappearance involved a dual track effort.

Pennington County Sheriffs Captain Tony Harrison, now retired, examines search maps during the investigation into the 2019 disappearance of Serenity Dennard.

The physical search for Serenity included more than 1,500 personnel from 66 separate agencies who covered more than 6,000 miles of terrain during 220 search attempts involving people on foot, air searches and use of cadaver dogs. The first days of the search were hampered by rain that turned to snow and temperatures that dipped well below freezing.

A simultaneous investigative track sought to rule out foul play and search nationwide for Serenity. In all, 538 people were interviewed or contacted by authorities. The childrens home, nearby residences and outbuildings were searched numerous times, and six search warrants were executed, officials said.

Harrison said the sheriffs office received numerous reports of sightings of Serenity during the investigation, none of which panned out. Oftentimes, well-intended people would contact the department, such as when someone in Las Vegas took photos of a young girl in a parking lot who resembled Serenity but which turned out not to be her.

Then-Sheriff Kevin Thom told News Watch in 2020 that the department took a systematic, methodical approach to the investigation that became the most exhaustive and expensive in county history.

He kept a large map of the area around the childrens home on his desk, with a tangle of blue and red lines indicating each specific path taken by searchers and dogs.

Thom, who declined a request for an updated interview, said in 2020 that the case was stressful for his department. Duhamel said that when Thom was interviewed when he retired in December 2022 that he mentioned the Serenity case as one that will remain in his thoughts for years to come.

More: Serenity Dennard disappearance: One year later, girls fate unknown despite extensive search and investigation

Its emotionally taxing. Its always more emotional when its a child, and people connect to that differently, Thom said in 2020. Weve had a lot of emotional ups and downs. .. Theres some days you go out there and think this is the day were going to find her and we dont. Weve gone through that cycle many times, but we pick ourselves up and go back out.

The inability to find Serenity or any evidence of her disappearance has compounded the anguish over losing a child for those who loved her, including Darcie Gentry, 42, who adopted Serenity with ex-husband Chad Dennard in 2014 after fostering the girl for several months.

Gentry is Serenitys legal adoptive mother and retains secondary custody but did not live with her at the time of the disappearance.

Darcie Gentry, Serenity Dennards legal adoptive mother, sits on the bed she keeps made for Serenity in case the missing girl ever comes home. Gentry said Serenity loved their cat, Stella, whose presence helps keeps Serenity close to Gentrys heart.

For years after Serenity disappeared, Gentry kept a bedroom in her Rapid City-area home made up with stuffed animals and Serenitys favorite things in case she returned.

Serenity was a super smart and outgoing girl who brought joy and light to those around her, even as she battled emotional problems caused by uncertainty and abandonment during her childhood, Gentry said.

Chad Dennard, Serenitys adoptive father, said in 2020 that Serenity had spent time in a dozen foster homes and that her biological mother had served time in prison. He said Serenity was a highly intelligent girl who loved animals, babies, watching movies, singing along to music, riding her bike and spending time with her grandmother.

Chad Dennard acknowledged that Serenity had run away from home several times and enjoyed being searched for. He agrees with the theory that Serenity escaped from the home and somehow got lost to the point she couldnt find her way back or be easily found.

Gentry said she was disappointed that officials from the Childrens Home Society let Serenity get away and also did not respond to her requests for a sit-down meeting to discuss the disappearance and search.

Gentry said she was impressed with the actions and emotional response of the law enforcement officers who worked on the case, though she remains puzzled that no evidence of Serenity has ever been found.

And yet, with all the boulders, ridges, lakes and elevation changes in the Black Hills, and the poor weather at the time of her disappearance, Gentry said it seems likely that Serenity found a hidden final resting spot.

More: Box Elder Police issue no trespassing order against Sen. Lynne DiSanto

With all the search crews and everything, it was really miraculous to me that they never found a boot or something, she said. But I know the Black Hills, and I know how vast that area is.

Gentry remains unable to shake the feeling, however slight, that Serenity is still alive and will make her way home someday.

Its just like the perfect situation for her not to be found, Gentry said. Part of me feels like if she was still out there (in society), somebody would have seen her long before now. But that being said, if shes up there in those woods, if she got dragged by an animal somewhere, we just really want to know.

KaSandra and Chad Dennard hold a photo of Serenity and her favorite stuffed unicorn while sitting on her bed in their Sturgis home in this file photo.

The pain and pressure from reading near-constant criticism and conspiracy theories on social media led Gentry to try to take her own life twice.

Some online commenters tried to implicate Gentry in Serenitys disappearance, even though she was at work as a nurse when the girl disappeared and was cleared by authorities.

Gentry agreed to have her suicide attempts reported by News Watch so people who make hurtful anonymous statements online will know that words hurt, and words cut more than if somebody were to flat out punch me in the face.

She wants to encourage people to think of others who may be in great pain before posting hurtful or hateful comments.

I definitely was needing help, and I eventually told myself, This is not me, and I need to be strong for Serenity in case she ever comes back, Gentry said.

Gentry said that when her husband was followed home from work and chased around their neighborhood in his car, the family had enough and decided to move to the Sioux Falls area, where they now live.

Chad Dennard told News Watch in 2020 that he and his family had also undergone extensive harassment after Serenity disappeared.

Strangers have driven by their home and taken pictures of his other children; his children were bullied at school; his and his wifes parenting skills were questioned on social media; and one commenter even suggested he had given Serenity a cellphone as part of an abduction plot, Chad Dennard said.

Harrison, one of the investigators, said the immense social media attention on the case and frequency of uniformed posts caused pain for those involved in the case and may have actually slowed the investigation.

At one point, former state Republican legislator Lynne DiSanto interviewed people and created videos and a website devoted to conspiracy theories surrounding the case. DiSanto, who now lives in Montana under the name Lyndi Meyer, hurt the investigation, Harrison said.

Social media can be very helpful  when people are doing it for the right reasons, which is to help the family out, he said. But she (DiSanto) didnt do anything to make the case better. And she added confusion, so it was frustrating for us to go back and correct statements she made.

Gentry said she has considered but not proceeded with any legal action against the Childrens Home Society.

More: Sen. Lyndi DiSanto, a Republican from Box Elder, resigns from South Dakota Legislature

News Watch checked state and federal court records but did not find any pending legal action in the case. A society spokeswoman confirmed no litigation or settlements have been filed.

That would just cause a rift and drag this out for another 10 years, Gentry said.

The nonprofit childrens society, which operates inpatient child treatment facilities in Sioux Falls and Rockerville, was the subject of strongly worded investigative reports by the South Dakota Department of Social Services and the federal Center for Medicaid Services in 2019.

Those reports concluded that several errors committed by staff of the Black Hills childrens home played a role in Serenitys disappearance. Two employees were fired as a result.

Janet Andersen, a spokeswoman for the society, said the organization that also provides adoption, foster care and child mental health services, made several changes to improve security at its facilities after Serenitys disappearance.

In a statement emailed to News Watch, the society wrote: Childrens Home Society is committed to providing a safe, caring and fulfilling home for the kids we serve. As we have stated previously, CHS has made adjustments to both physical security at our Rockerville Road and Sioux Falls campuses and enhanced our policies and protocols to address potential run away situations. Caring for children is a profoundly important life-mission for each member of our team.

This file photo of a map shows lines where people and dogs searched for Serenity Dennard in the area around the Black Hills Childrens Home south of Rockerville. The lines, recorded by GPS devices, are blue in places where people have searched and red in spots where people and dogs have searched together. The hand of Pennington County then-Sheriff Kevin Thom is pointing to where Serenity Dennard was last seen, about 50 yards north of the entrance to the childrens home.

Andersen declined to provide specifics about the policy and procedural changes. But society director Michelle Lavallee told News Watch in 2020 that security improvements included adding cameras and new, more secure doors at the two treatment centers, where runaway prevention drills are done more frequently.

Lavallee said a new policy requires employees to immediately call 911 if they lose sight of a child, that a supervisor will always be onsite and that radios will be synchronized to avoid communication breakdowns.

You wont see this happen again today, Lavallee said in 2020.

Harrison, now retired from the sheriffs office and working as a law enforcement training expert for a private company, said two cases from his 26-year career in front-line law enforcement still haunt him: The 2011 fatal shootings of two Rapid City police officers and Serenitys disappearance.

This case will never just go away, he said. But I take solace that at the end of the day, we did everything we could and literally left no stone unturned to the best of our ability to find her.

I just hope and pray that someday, somebody comes across her and we can give some closure to the families.

In the years since Serenitys disappearance, Gentry and her family have fluctuated between the desire for Serenitys remains or some sign of her to be found and their wish for the long-shot dream that Serenity might someday return alive.

We kind of go back and forth, Gentry said. I still try and hold out a little bit of hope, but we just want to know that shes found.  Anything.

Gentry said even receiving the worst possible news would provide some salve to an open emotional wound.

Those of us who love her, her family and close friends, we just want some closure, she said. If we could just have some closure, we could have a proper burial for her.

 This article was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit journalism organization located online at sdnewswatch.org.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Serenity Dennard disappearance: 2019 mystery still causing misery
A tribal gaming authority has reached a settlement with investors over failed plans to build an off-reservation casino near Detroit Metro Airport and another in downtown Lansing that is significantly less than the $90 million judgement it was ordered to pay earlier this year.

Under the settlement reached Monday, the Kewadin Casinos Gaming Authority is to pay $25 million this week to the investors and later between $5 million and $10 million in additional payments, depending on the outcome of Kewadin's anticipated legal malpractice lawsuit against its former attorneys in the case.

An exterior shot of an abandoned megachurch in Huron Township near I-275 that the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians wants to turn into a casino. The tribe has a deal to eventually acquire the land from a group of anonymous investors who bought it in 2013 for just under $1 million. Photo from 2014.

Kewadin belongs to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, which is the largest tribe within Michigan by membership and currently operates five small Kewadin casinos in the Upper Peninsula. It is the same tribe that opened Detroit's Greektown Casino as a non-tribal venture before losing it to bankruptcy in 2008.

In January, an Ingham County Circuit Court judge found Kewadin liable for not only repaying, with interest, $9 million in loans from two groups of investors, but also the investors' loss of potential future profits from the unbuilt casinos.

Andrew Broder, an attorney for the investors, said they agreed to the settlement to put the episode behind them.

My clients wanted to get this over with," he said. "Theyve been fighting with Kewadin for years and years and the appellate process could have taken several years more."

The earlier $90 million judgement against Kewadin had yet to be appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals. The specific damages were $61.2 million for the unbuilt casino in Huron Township near Metro Airport and $29.5 million for the unbuilt casino in Lansing, court documents says.

More: Damages for failed casino near Detroit Metro Airport top $60M

Kewadin blames its former law firm  Patterson, Earnhart, Real Bird & Wilson  for the $90 million judgement.

Under the settlement, Kewadin is to pay the investors up to $10 million from any proceeds of its future malpractice claim again the law firm. If Kewadin's malpractice claim is unsuccessful, Kewadin is to then pay the investors $5 million.

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A representative for the law firm could not immediately be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Casino revenues contribute significantly toward the services the Sault Tribe provides to its members, including health care and cultural programs, so this settlement ensures that the casino will continue to have the resources to maximize our operations and continue serving the community," Kewadin Casinos General Counsel Aaron Schlehuber said in a statement.

In both casino plans, the Sault tribe was unsuccessful in getting the U.S. Department of the Interior to put the land for the sites into trust, a necessary step for building off-reservation casinos.

The Huron Township casino would have operated in a vacant 71,000-square-foot megachurch building in the woods off Interstate 275 that was to be redeveloped.

The investor groups claimed in their lawsuit that the tribe made false representations that it could easily acquire the lands for the casinos and have them put into trust.

The Department of Interior ultimately declined the tribe's request for the Huron Township site, saying the Sault failed to prove how the plan would satisfy a legal requirement that new land put into trust improve or enhance tribal lands, particularly because Wayne County is far from the Sault's existing lands in the U.P.

The investor groups that sued Kewadin are JLLJ Development, which was financing the Huron Township casino and has 38 members, and Lansing Future Development II, which has 18 members.

Contact JC Reindl: 313-378-5460 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @jcreindl.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Settlement lowers damages for failed casino near Detroit Metro Airport
Sex workers and sympathisers take part in a demonstration to protest plans to shutter the city's historic red light district, to be moved to a new erotic centre, in Amsterdam on March 30, 2023. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images

Amsterdam officials have been working to rebrand the city's iconic red light district.

Sex workers can no longer offer services from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., which they say makes them less safe.

The changes, including a proposed central "erotic center" have spurred protests from sex workers.

Just ten days after changes to Amsterdam's iconic red light district took effect, impacted sex workers  now facing reduced working hours, higher rent, and riskier work  say the city's measures to protect them have made them less safe.

"We've seen quite some dramatic changes," Phoebe, a sex worker and coordinator for the district's Prostitution Information Center, told Insider. "I think a lot of us were expecting to maybe not see an impact for a couple of weeks, or maybe months, but from the first night, there's been some quite dramatic changes."

The famous De Wallen sex tourism district, one of several neighborhoods known for rows of windows filled with workers offering erotic services  including prostitution  has been at the center of citywide debate for several years. Politicians, including Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, argue the district attracts criminals and hard-partying tourists who brawl, trash the streets, and harass workers, prompting city officials to take action to re-brand the district.

In a change that took effect April 1, window operators, who rent space to sex workers to operate within their businesses, are not allowed to be open for business between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

A street scene at night with colorful neon signs of a sex shop in the red light district of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images

Phoebe told Insider that, in addition to having less time to be allowed to work, the restrictions quickly made rent for window space skyrocket due to increased demand for more limited space, and leaves fewer, more dangerous transit options for workers leaving in the early morning hours.

"If you're a sex worker working in a cash-based income, then you're carrying around a lot of cash at that time, so it doesn't take a very smart criminal or street mugger to know that that's a good time to be hanging around," Phoebe told Insider, saying the shorter hours are driving workers to take clients to their homes or other, less safe locations to work.

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With a 6 a.m. close time, she said, local businesses and supermarkets are beginning to operate for the day, and public transit is more readily available, making night-shift sex workers safer as they return home in the morning.

Halsema is also aiming to eventually close down the district and instead open a centralized, multi-story "erotic center," creating a marketplace of sexual services that are off the main streets.

"I hope it's possible to create an erotic center that has some class and distinction and isn't a place where only petty criminals and the most vulnerable women gather," The Guardian reported Halsema said about the project.

She added: "But I also realize there is a long road ahead of us because most people associate sex work with crime and with the vulnerability of women, with human rights being violated. So in most neighborhoods, most people are not very enthusiastic about the erotic center."

But sex workers aren't very enthusiastic about the center in the first place  or any of Halsema's changes.

Before the time restriction took effect, hundreds of protesters took to the streets, France24 reported, arguing that the mayor's actions relied on stereotypes about sex workers needing to be rescued and the changes don't actually prioritize their needs.

Sex workers and sympathisers take part in a demonstration to protest plans to shutter the city's historic red light district, to be moved to a new erotic centre, in Amsterdam on March 30, 2023. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images

"We really don't agree with the solutions that they are offering, that they're imposing. They're not even negotiating with the sex workers' organizations," France24 reported sex worker Sabrina Sanchez said at the protests.

"We don't want to be moved, not to an erotic center or anywhere else," another sex worker wearing a hood and sunglasses to remain anonymous told the outlet, adding: "Do something about the drug traffickers, do something about those who behave disrespectfully!"

Representatives for the City of Amsterdam did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Phoebe told Insider that the sex workers protesting the changes have been told they're difficult to work with because they're unwilling to compromise, but said the compromises proposed by the city require sex workers to sacrifice their safety, their income, and their perception by society.

"It's difficult to compromise with people who are either asking you to compromise in such a way that it damages your well-being and your safety, or they're not willing to compromise with you at all unless you agree with what they're saying," Phoebe told Insider. "And that, to me, is not compromise."

Read the original article on Insider
Former Columbus police vice officer Andrew Mitchell awaits opening statements Tuesday in his retrial on charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter in connection with the 2018 shooting of 23-year-old Donna Dalton Castleberry.

One small phrase uttered by a witness Wednesday morning nearly derailed the retrial of former Columbus police vice officer Andrew Mitchell before it had gotten very far.

Laura Evans, a now-retired Columbus police detective, testified Wednesday morning as the prosecution's second witness in the case. Evans worked on the vice squad with Mitchell, who faces charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal Aug. 23, 2018, shooting of 23-year-old Donna Dalton Castleberry. He is facing a retrial after a jury in April 2022 was unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case.

Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Dan Cable asked Evans if she kept in contact with Mitchell or his family since 2018. Evans began to answer that police officers need special permission to visit someone in jail when attorneys quickly halted her testimony and went to speak with Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Young, who is presiding over the case.

More: Who is former Columbus police vice officer Andrew Mitchell and why is he on trial?

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Mitchell has been in police custody since March 2019, when police arrested him on federal charges. Juries are not typically told a defendant is in jail because it could imply the person is guilty.

After what appeared to be a tense and somewhat heated conversation at Young's bench, Cable finished his questioning without further mention of contact with Mitchell's family. Mark Collins, one of Mitchell's defense attorneys, then cross-examined Evans without any objections from the prosecution.

Jurors in the trial, who were picked over about a day and a half from a pool of about 50 people, heard testimony from two witnesses Wednesday morning. A third witness, the lead Columbus police investigator on the shooting, was expected to take the stand Wednesday afternoon.

Attorneys gave their opening statements Tuesday afternoon before jurors boarded a Franklin County Sheriff's office bus to visit the scene of the shooting on South Yale Avenue in Franklinton, as well as Mitchell's undercover car, which is at the police division's impound lot.

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On the day of the shooting, Mitchell was working undercover. He was in an unmarked Mitsubishi Galant and did not have his badge or police radio with him.

After picking up Castleberry, who was working as a prostitute along Sullivant Avenue on the city's West Side, Mitchell parked the car so the passenger side, where Castleberry was sitting, was tight against a brick wall of an apartment building. When Mitchell could not show Castleberry his badge, the pair struggled inside the vehicle and over the course of about a minute, Castleberry slashed Mitchell on one hand, and Mitchell shot Castleberry three times. She died a short time later at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center.

Family members of Donna Dalton Castleberry become emotional while a cellphone recording is played from the time of her fatal shooting in 2018 during opening statements in the trial of former Columbus police vice officer Andrew Mitchell. Mitchell, who had his cellphone recording during the encounter with Castleberry, is charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of the 23-year-old Castleberry.

During her 13-minute opening statement, Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Sheryl Prichard focused on the audio recording of the interaction between Mitchell and Castleberry inside the car, captured on Mitchell's police-issued cellphone. The recording, Prichard said, shows Mitchell was upset that Castleberry did not believe he was a police officer. During the struggle, which is heard on the recording, Castleberry cut Mitchell and scrambled into the back seat of the car, which had the childproof locks engaged, effectively trapping her inside the vehicle.

Prichard said Mitchell, who fired six shots in about 12 seconds, shot Castleberry because he was angry he had been cut by a knife  an injury that required stitches and surgery  and not because he feared for his life.

"She wasn't a threat when she was trapped in the back of the car with no way out," Prichard said. "This wasn't a shot cadence of an officer firing to save his life."

Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Sheryl Prichard makes her opening statement Tuesday in the retrial of former Columbus police vice officer Andrew Mitchell on charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter in connection with the 2018 shooting death of 23-year-old Donna Dalton Castleberry.

Prichard noted Mitchell had the front driver-side door of the car open and at least one foot outside when he fired some of the shots.

"There is no evidence Donna Castleberry had a knife in the back seat," Prichard said. "The knife was found on his seat."

In her opening statement, defense attorney Kaitlyn Stephens told the jury that Mitchell was justified in using deadly force and that prosecutors won't be able to prove their case.

"The situation escalated from non-compliance to violence in a matter of seconds," Stephens said.

Police officers are allowed to use deadly force when they fear for their lives, Stephens said, and that applies to Mitchell. She told the jury that officers are trained to shoot until "the threat stops moving" and that Castleberry was willing to do "anything to keep her from the inside of a jail cell."

Defense attorney Kaitlyn Stephens makes her opening statement in the trial of former Columbus police vice officer Andrew Mitchell, who is on trial for murder and voluntary manslaughter in connection with the 2018 shooting of 23-year-old Donna Dalton Castleberry.

Stephens acknowledged the struggle lasted more than a split-second but said Mitchell's decision to shoot was made that quickly.

"He believed she still had a knife. She came towards him to get in the back seat," Stephens said. "He thinks she's going to slash his throat."

Stephens also noted the prosecution will be using a new expert witness in the case, Urey Patrick. She said Patrick's testimony will contradict other evidence Patrick has given in trials and what he wrote in his own book, "In Defense of Self and Others  Issues, Facts & Fallacies  the Realities of Law Enforcement's Use of Deadly Force."

Patrick, who is based in Virginia, is a retired FBI agent who specializes in use-of-force cases and has testified across the country. In the first trial, prosecutors used Jamie Borden, a retired Nevada police officer, as their use-of-force expert.

Testimony in the case will begin Wednesday morning. The prosecution is expected to rest its case before the end of the week, and Mitchell could take the stand in his own defense as early as Friday.

On Monday, Mitchell's attorneys filed a motion with Young seeking to bar prosecutors from discussing Castleberry's state of mind at the time of her interaction with Mitchell. The motion argues that what Castleberry thought is not relevant under Ohio law to whether or not Mitchell's actions were justified, which is the key legal question in the case.

"Nobody in this case  has any type of personal knowledge of what was in (Castleberry's) mind when she was making certain statements" on the cellphone recording, the motion said. "Any testimony that would substitute the State's own notions or interpretations for (Castleberry's) own words should be precluded."

In the first trial, prosecutors argued Castleberry cut Mitchell's hand out of fear that Mitchell was trying to kidnap her and that her actions were in self-defense. If Young approves the defense's motion, it would not allow prosecutors to argue Castleberry feared being kidnapped without an eyewitness or question expert witnesses about what was in Castleberry's mind at the time of the encounter.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Young hadn't ruled on the motion. In her opening statement Tuesday, Prichard argued Castleberry's actions were in self-defense because Mitchell could not produce evidence he was a police officer and did not specifically argue Castleberry feared being kidnapped.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Murder trial for former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell underway
Barbara Lee was in her early 20s, a single mother of two young boys, attending Mills College in Oakland, California. The future California congresswoman needed public assistance and food stamps. She couldnt afford child care, so often her children would attend classes with her.

Lee had no time for politicians who did not look like her or talk about issues that were most important to a young Black mother trying to make a better future for her sons.

So when professors assigned field work on presidential campaigns in her government class, she initially said, No.

I said, Politics doesnt make a difference in my life, Lee recalled in a March interview, so forget it.

The field of political leaders has changed a lot since the 1970s. But there have only been two Black women elected to the U.S. Senate: former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and now-Vice President Kamala Harris of California, both Democrats.

There is not a Black woman there now. Without representation, Lee said, the Senate misses a voice on important topics that she faced throughout her life  issues from poverty to disparities in democracy, healthcare, housing, nutrition and education.

Lee, 76, is one of three House Democrats who aim to succeed retiring California Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Experts warn that Lee faces formidable election foes in her colleagues, Southern California Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter.

If it hadnt been for Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman and the first Black woman to seek a major-party nomination for president, Lee might not be in this race. Lee might not even have registered to vote.

As president of the Black Student Union, she invited Chisholm to speak at Mills College. That speech would inspire Lee to fulfill her government professors assignment to work for a presidential campaign. And it planted in her an even larger ambition  the idea that she could run for office one day.

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First, Chisholm insisted that Lee register to vote. Lee, throughout her time working for the campaign and as a delegate, learned what it meant to legislate for Black women.

You have to fight, yes for women and for Black women, Lee said, but that means youre fighting for everybody, because we are marginalized.

She felt morally compelled to speak up

U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California joins Democrats to speak about President Donald Trumps first 100 days in office during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C, in 2017.

Lee was an early progressive leader on many issues, from war authorizations to abortion rights.

Her work for people from all backgrounds, such as fighting abortion restrictions like the Hyde Amendment that prohibits the use of federal funds for most procedures, drew the admiration of 22-year constituent Aimee Allison, founder of She the People, which works to elevate women of color.

She was doing that when even most Democrats were not supporting it, Allison said. Shes a really remarkable leader who has been deeply tied to movements and has always represented what California was trying to become.

Standing up for others, having tough conversations, is part of her genetic code.

In 2021, when Texas passed a law restricting abortions and the Supreme Court was on the precipice of overturning Roe v. Wade, Lee felt morally compelled to talk about a back-alley abortion she had at age 15 in Mexico in the 1960s.

My mother and I decided never to talk about it, because that was my own decision, Lee said, like it should be now.

Her fight for progress has made her revered among many of her Democratic colleagues and constituents in her Oakland-centered district since she was elected in 1998. Lee is the highest-ranking Black woman in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for four years beginning in 2005 and led the powerful Black Congressional Caucus for the following four years, starting in 2009.

Lee was elected to Congress in a special election to replace her predecessor, the late Rep. Ron Dellums, who retired mid-term. An outspoken liberal, Dellums was one of the founders of the Black Congressional Caucus, and a role model for Lees work.

Lee started in the Oakland Democrats office as an intern after she graduated with a masters degree in social work from the University of California, Berkeley. She went on to become his chief of staff.

Between working for Dellums and her election to Congress, Lee founded a facilities management company and became the first Black woman to represent Northern California in the Legislature. During her eight years across the Assembly and State Senate, Lee supported LGBTQ rights and wrote measures to reduce hate crimes in schools and violence against women.

And she proved she was not afraid to stand alone for what she believed in, such as when she was one of a few legislators who fought Californias three-strikes law, which instituted a 25-years-to-life sentence for three felony convictions, that voters approved through a 1994 ballot initiative. It has since been diluted.

For that vote, Lee said, she got death threats: People came down hard on me.

Fighting for inclusion and standing alone

Standing alone and organizing to open the door for others goes back to the Barbara Jean Tutt who integrated her high school cheerleading team.

Born in El Paso, Texas, Lee moved to San Fernando, California, as a teenager with her mother and father, a lieutenant colonel in the military who served in World War II and the Korean War. She wanted to be a cheerleader at San Fernando High School.

But the squad had never included a Black cheerleader before.

Working with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Lee organized with other students who fought for an open-tryout system before the student body.

So I tried out in front of the student body, I did my cheer, my cartwheels  everything, she said. And I won. Better than becoming the schools first Black cheerleader was the feeling of opening the door for other students of color, she said.

The organizing bug followed Lee throughout her career. In college, she was a community worker with the Black Panther Party, a militant organization designed to bolster Black power. Founded in Oakland in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the Black Panther Party sought to address and protest issues, such as police brutality, that continued during and long after the civil rights movement.

Oakland itself has a strong history of political organizing. It helped give rise to She the People, said Allison, and to Lee.

This tradition that comes out of Oakland, which is a unique combination of organizing political power alongside being a multiracial community that works for justice, really gave rise to a leader like Barbara Lee, said Allison.

Allison recalled the support from a wide array of people Lee had in Oakland from an event the congresswoman held after she was the only representative to vote against a war authorization in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001. Lee feared that the authorization gave the president a blank check.

The authorization allowed the president to use any necessary and appropriate force against people determined to have been involved in the deadly terrorist attacks. Congress, per the Constitution, normally holds the power to declare war.

Two other war authorizations, passed in 2002 and 1991, might be repealed soon thanks to Lees work. Lee again voted against the 2002 measure that led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq  but that time, she was not alone.

The Senate voted to repeal those two authorizations on Wednesday, March 29. The repeals future is unclear in the House despite bipartisan support.

The 2001 act that Lee opposed remains, with every president since it passed having cited it as justification for military actions. You always have to have hope that you can influence the correct decision sooner or later, Lee said, celebrating the progress on repealing other authorizations.

Lees consistent opposition to empowering the president to wage war has earned her the respect of some lawmakers.

We need a strong anti-war senator, and she will play that role, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, said to CNN.

Khanna, 46, who was expected to also run for Feinsteins seat, announced on CNN he would instead co-chair Lees Senate campaign.

Hows the Senate race shaping up?

Christian Grose, a professor of political science and public policy at the University of Southern California, said that Lee being able to stand for Black people and women sets her apart from her opponents.

Theres something there about the historic nature of her campaign, said Grose, author of the book Congress in Black and White: Race and Representation in Washington and at Home. California has had two women senators for 30 years. If its not Katie Porter or Barbara Lee, we might have two men.

And Northern Californians have fared well in recent Senate elections: Harris, Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat who grew up in the San Fernando Valley, was the first Southern Californian there since 1992. Republican John Seymour  appointed by then-Gov. Pete Wilson, who had left the seat himself  had served for less than two years before losing the special election to Feinstein.

Lee being the main Northern Californian, said Grose, could help her a lot.

The contest for who will fill Feinsteins shoes has drawn national attention, especially with so many recognizable names in the race. But Californians are less familiar with who they are, according to a February poll by the Institute of Governmental Studies at Berkeley.

Eric Schickler, one of the directors of the institute, said that many voters are unfamiliar with the candidates at this time, making this a relatively wide-open race.

Schiff, D-Burbank, who became nationally recognized through the impeachment proceedings of former President Donald Trump, led in that Berkeley poll, followed closely by Porter, D-Irvine. Lee trailed by a distance. The California poll queried more than 7,500 registered Democrats and those without a party preference.

Lee and Porter both have significant progressive bona fides, but Lees has been rooted in anti-war activism while Porters is in a new populist, anti-corporate vein, wrote editor Jessica Taylor of the election-tracking Cook Political Report in February. That could split progressives in the state, and Schiff could end up with significant traditional and institutional support.

Today I am proud to announce my candidacy for U.S. Senate. Ive never backed down from doing whats right. And I never will. Californians deserve a strong, progressive leader who has delivered real change.#BarbaraLeeSpeaksForMe pic.twitter.com/sEjmABg2BS  Barbara Lee (@BarbaraLeeForCA) February 21, 2023

Clearer in the Berkeley poll was the opinion that Feinstein should retire. Feinstein, 89, who will leave the Senate when her term ends, has had her mental fitness to hold office questioned, highlighting the average age of elected senators.

Murmurs have put a spotlight on the age difference between Lee, 76; Schiff, 62; and Porter, 49.

Lee contended that the Senate needs someone with her experience, that Gen Z voters stand behind her policies. They know Im looking out for their future, Lee said. And this is not about me, its about them.

More problematic than her age, Grose cautioned, is that Lee has been in the House for 25 years  far longer than her opponents. The longer you serve in the House, the less likely you are to win the U.S. Senate, he said.

Another challenge: Lee faces fundraising machines in Porter and Schiff. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, endorsed Schiff early, which could spell trouble, Grose said: When she tries to raise money from Democratic donors, they might ask her well, Why is Pelosi supporting Schiff?

Lee said plenty of campaigns in California have been successful as the fundraising underdogs, and noted the prevailing blockades Black women face economically.

Criticism over age? Money? Thats nothing. All her life, Lee has fought for her spot in spaces where Black women were unrepresented  and in the process she made space for others.

I just take it on, she said. Being a Black woman, you have to take that on.
A long-simmering feud between San Simeon Services District board members and the districts general manager came to a head April 3 when one of the directors suddenly stepped down.

Gwen Kellas, a current board member and past board president, left the post because of an environment she found toxic, harassing and demeaning, she said in her letter of resignation.

Kellass departure, effective immediately, leaves the board with a potential 2-2 vote split and a host of important decisions to make about water quality, the location of the San Simeon wastewater treatment plant and other issues.

Shes not the only person to step down from a prominent district position recently.

San Simeon CSD director Daniel de la Rosa has resigned April 4 from the districts budget committee.

His resignation letter was originally posted in the boards April 11 meeting agenda, but was later removed because it was a confidential personnel matter, according to board member Michael Donahue.

De la Rosa, who works pro bono as a director rather than taking the monthly stipend, said by phone Tuesday that he, too, is on the verge of resigning from the board and that he wants the community to know why.

In his resignation letter, De La Rosa accused the district of lack of due process and discriminatory and exclusionary practices against Latino committee members.

I dont think I can work there any more, and will probably resign in the next day or two, he told The Tribune. (I) find myself just fighting now, no purpose in that. Thats why Im going to bail.

Citizen volunteer Miguel Sandoval resigned from the CSD budget committee on April 3.

The committee is not transparent, and (I) cannot work with that environment, Sandoval said in his resignation letter, which was also removed from the agenda packet.

Kathy Fry, the bookkeeper for the San Simeon CSD, resigned from that post in late March, effective April 27.

San Simeon CSD to seek new director

Kellas was appointed to the board to fill a vacancy in October 2017, serving the community she found five years earlier and describes as her piece of paradise.

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Her resignation was to have been discussed during the San Simeon CSD boards meeting on Tuesday evening.

However, that meeting was canceled about three hours before it was scheduled to start.

According to an email sent at about 2 p.m. Tuesday, the meeting was canceled at the direction of the chairperson, although no specific reason was given.

According to a district staff report, the board must notify San Luis Obispo County elections officials of the vacancy by April 8, and then either appoint someone to the post by June 2 or by call for an election.

Finding a candidate to fill the position may be difficult.

The tiny seaside community of San Simeon, which staddles Highway 1, has slightly more than 400 residents, about 185 voters and five separate voting areas. A candidate or director must live in an area to represent it.

In 2022, only three candidates ran in the San Simeon CSD race, meaning that Michael Donahue, Jacqueline Diamond and Karina K. Tiwana secured their seats on the board months ahead of the November election.

Why is district board member resigning?

In her letter of resignation, Kellas said that her decision to step down was motivated by the environment surrounding the board.

For several years now, being on the board means surviving in a toxic, harassing and demeaning atmosphere all perpetuated by a local resident, a non-resident and their few followers, Kellas wrote in the letter, although she did not name those people directly.

It is why there has been such a high turnover of district directors, she continued. As it has become evident, and as was pointed out to me by other residents, this toxic atmosphere now appears to be supported by other board members, too.

I cannot continue to support my community by being on this CSD board, Kellas added. My time and effort supporting my community will be better used elsewhere.

Kellas stopped short of identifying her critics.

However, two people  Los Osos resident Julie Tacke and San Simeon resident Henry Krzcuik  have been at the forefront of expressing their concerns about the actions of Kellas and the other board members directly to agencies such as the San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys Office and the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

The Fair Political Practices Commission has investigated possible conflicts of interest by Kellas when discussing or voting on a project with an aspect thats within about 200 feet from her home.

The state commission told Kellas that she may not take part in those discussions.

The district has also seen the cancellation of grants, the filing of civil charges and the levying of fines.
Michelle Thomson - Alamy Stock Photo/PA

An SNP politician who said she was forced out of the party by Nicola Sturgeon while she faced a police probe has questioned why Peter Murrell has been allowed to keep his membership.

Michelle Thomson, who was elected as an SNP MP in 2015 but lost the party whip within months after it emerged police were investigating her business dealings, said she would be demanding clarity from headquarters around the party's rules.

The 58-year-old, who has since made a successful political comeback at Holyrood after the case against her was dropped, said while Mr Murrell, who is Ms Sturgeons husband, was innocent until proven guilty, his treatment highlighted contradictions around how different cases were handled.

Ms Thomson, who was deselected by the SNP at the 2017 election, claimed in an interview after she was cleared that it was a reasonable assumption that Ms Sturgeon had taken the decision to force her to resign the party whip when allegations against her emerged.

Last week, Mr Murrell, who was chief executive of the party for more than two decades, was arrested and the home he shares with Ms Sturgeon was searched extensively over two days.

However, the SNP has refused to suspend him, with party insiders saying it is for Mr Murrell to decide whether or not to step away.

Nicola Sturgeon - Jane Barlow/PA

Ms Thomson, who was campaign manager for Kate Forbes in the SNP leadership contest, told the BBC on Tuesday that she was unclear about the partys procedures.

After being asked whether Mr Murrell should be suspended, she said: What specifically are the rules around membership? I am a strong believer in natural justice, people are innocent until proven guilty.

Does the point at which rules kick in occur if someone is charged with a crime? The honest answer is, I dont know the answer to that and I think thats the sort of thing we need to be very clear about because weve had different examples in different cases.

The governance of the SNP needs to be looked at, needs to be tightened up. Absolutely, it needs to be more transparent.

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While its extremely dismaying to see whats been happening, he [Mr Murrell] is innocent until proven guilty. He has not been charged with a crime, that may change, but we need to be clear about what specifically are the rules.

Im certainly not clear about that and Ill be asking about what the position is.

Investigation into Murrell continues

Police Scotland questioned Mr Murrell for around 11 hours last Wednesday. They released him without charge with the investigation continuing.

It emerged at the weekend that as officers started a two-day search of his home on the Glasgow outskirts, they also seized a luxury campervan from outside his 92-year-old mothers home in Dunfermline.

SNP sources pointed out that he was not charged and he is an ordinary member after resigning as chief executive last month over inaccurate denials given to the media about a slump in party membership.

However, the Scottish Tories have called for Mr Murrells suspension, saying he is at the centre of a police probe into the partys murky finances.

Ms Thomson, who rejoined the SNP in 2019 and was elected MSP for Falkirk East in 2021, said many SNP members felt "dismayed and quite shocked" by recent events.

However, she said Humza Yousaf, who narrowly defeated Ms Forbes, deserved the full support of the party. She did not back calls for a re-run of the leadership election.

Michelle Thomson Nicola Sturgeon - Robert Perry/EPA/Shutterstock

Asked in a 2017 interview whether she believed Ms Sturgeon had been behind the decision to demand she resign the SNP whip in 2015, she replied: "I think that's a reasonable assumption."

She claimed at the time that she "never actually had the chance to put my side of the story" to the SNP leadership and that women were treated more harshly than men.

Ms Thomson was investigated for alleged mortgage fraud and was reported to prosecutors in December 2016.

However, they announced the following August that there would be no criminal proceedings due to an "absence of sufficient credible and reliable evidence".
On April 10, students at the UGA School for Social Work walked out in protest of unpaid internships. The Council for Social Work Education requires several hundred hours of field work from undergraduate and graduate students. Often, that work is unpaid. Provided/P4P UGA

Elise Colquitt, a social work student in her second year at the University of Georgia, told the Athens Banner-Herald that the practice of social work is founded in the principles of social justice.

"We have a code of ethics that we have to abide by," she said. "Whenever we're working with clients, we abide by these values. We highlight the dignity and worth of a person."

But on Monday, Colquitt said her colleagues wanted to highlight their own dignity and worth. That afternoon, about three dozen social work students walked out of the UGA School for Social Work in support of Payment 4 Placements.

P4P is a national organization seeking to raise awareness of the unpaid labor many social work students perform.

"This model of unpaid field work goes against the very kind of ethics that we are taught to practice," said Colquitt.

The Council on Social Work Education, which sets the standard for social work higher education, requires 400 hours of field work for a bachelor's degree in social work and 900 hours for a master's degree. In practice, that work can take up 16 to 24 hours a week. And though some students are able to find paid field work, often placements are unpaid.

The custom evolved out of several factors: social work students often work with nonprofits, many of which operate on volunteering and very little funding.

But unpaid labor, said graduate student Alexis Crewse, does have a price.

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The price of unpaid labor

"Working an unpaid practicum took a serious toll on my mental health, which ultimately resulted in such intense burnout that I had to quit my job and take a hardship withdrawal from a few classes, she said. I struggle weekly to make time for my classes, internship, and part-time jobs, as well as desperately try to find time for myself and my family."

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Some students are able to secure funding through scholarships, grants or personal savings. But according to the UGA chapter of P4P, they are the exception that proves the rule.

"Since starting this program, I personally have had to get a second job on top of my school responsibilities and field work hours just so I can afford to buy food and pay rent, said first-year MSW student Kylie Knox. We need our program and the field of social work to support their students so we are able to be present for and helpful to the clients we serve."

Colquitt stressed that the walkout at the School of Social Work was not in opposition to UGA.

"We have a really great working relationship with the admin here at the School of Social Work. We have a joint task force on stipends, which is made up of an equal number of students with faculty members," she said. "We are working together to identify funding sources and different ways and different solutions to fix this problem."

P4P is more interested in targeting CSWE. In July 2022, CSWE released a statement stressing that because students are not licensed social workers, the work done during practicums were "educational opportunities" as opposed to actual work.

Colquitt disagrees.

"We do learn a lot, but we're providing actual services to people that staff and employees at these agencies also provide," she said. "A lot of us are providing therapy to clients that they bill for. We're actually billing for the services that we're providing, and we're not seeing any of that money."

P4P is hosting a national week of action through April 14. UGA's students hope that raising awareness around the issue will make CSWE see it from their perspective.

"P4P is not asking agencies to pay interns. We know that many of our agencies are already underfunded," said Colquitt. "We are pursuing funding options from donors, university funds, and pushing for legislative changes that would provide funding for social work students. Social workers make up the majority of the mental health workforce, so its important that its students are supported."

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Social work walkout at UGA sparks payment debate
In small communities across Eastern Washington, the local pharmacy is a business you rely on. Often it is the only outlet for miles around where you can get your prescriptions filled and find a well-stocked selection of over-the-counter medications. Imagine what you would do if it closed.

This is the troubling prospect facing many independent pharmacy owners today, due to a convoluted business model that has put them at the mercy of a handful of firms that process benefits for health insurers. Known as pharmacy benefits managers, these middlemen have gained a stranglehold over the pharmacy business, influencing what doctors may prescribe, dictating what patients pay out of pocket, offering take-it-or-leave-it terms to independent pharmacies  and steering business to their own affiliated pharmacy chains and mail-order houses.

How bad has the situation gotten? Bad enough that conservative Republicans like myself are calling for state regulation, and more authority for the state Insurance Commissioner.

I was the lead Republican cosponsor this year of Senate Bill 5213, which would have laid down strict rules for the first time in this state to rein in the anti-competitive practices of these largely unregulated major players in the health care field. This bill was lobbied to death this year. Well be back next session with a proposal even more comprehensive.

In any field other than the convoluted business of health care, I think the problems would have been apparent to everyone long ago. Health insurers, themselves heavily regulated, utilize PBMs to control prescription drug costs. The PBM business is highly concentrated  three firms control about 76 percent of the market. In some cases they are the tail that wags the dog  one PBM, Caremark, has a 34 percent market share, and also owns Aetna, a major health insurer, as well as the CVS pharmacy chain and mail-order operation.

This concentration gives PBMs enormous power over the marketplace. They determine which pharmacies can operate within their networks, and at what terms  even charging them to participate. One small Seattle-based pharmacy chain told us during committee testimony this year that 95 percent of its business comes through PBMs and it cant afford to say no. Others told us PBM reimbursements for prescription drugs are often lower than their costs, or allow profits so slim they just cant make it. In metro areas like Vancouver and Seattle, pharmacies with robust business are closing as a result; in small-town Eastern Washington we face the prospect of pharmacy deserts, where your only option might be mail-order or a trip to a large city.

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PBMs wield their power to maximize profits, with mechanisms that squeeze every end of the toothpaste tube, from paying independent pharmacies less than they do their affiliated chains and mail-order houses, to negotiating rebates with manufacturers they keep for themselves. The latter practice, known as spread pricing, is one of the largest sources of their profits. PBMs often point to high prices from drug manufacturers, and certainly they provide a leveling force, but it doesnt help consumers if the savings never reach them.

A balanced solution is state oversight. A U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2020 established that states can regulate PBMs, and Washington needs to join the growing number of states taking action. This year I have sponsored Senate Bill 5066, which requires PBMs to disclose business relationships to the Insurance Commissioners Office. But we must go further.

Our regulatory bill this year would have banned many of these tactics that interfere with the pharmacy-patient relationship. It would have prohibited spread pricing and mandatory mail order service. It would have banned practices that discriminate against independents at the expense of affiliated chains and mail-order firms, like requiring higher patient co-payments or paying independents less.

Even this isnt enough. This year Kaiser Permanente, another major insurer, cut independent pharmacies out of the market by decreeing all routine prescriptions must be filled through mail order or through its in-house pharmacies  meaning, for some, a long drive to Spokane. We will deal with this issue again next year. We must address these business practices that unfairly reduce patient choice, to assure access to medical services for everyone in our state, regardless of where they live.

Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, represents the 7th Legislative District.
A 72-year-old woman was found dead inside a locked shed in Philadelphia after her son drugged and shot her, Pennsylvania authorities say.

Sean Rivera, 28, was charged Monday, April 10, in the death of his mother, Carol Clark, according to the Bucks County District Attorneys Office. Riveras charges include criminal homicide and kidnapping to inflict terror or injury.

The investigation began Sunday when Rivera told his brother their mother had died, but he would not say where she was, prosecutors said. The Falls Township Police Department alerted the public to help locate Clark.

Detectives searched the home where Rivera and Clark lived, and they found guns, a padlock and padlock packaging, authorities said. Bolt cutters were also found in Clarks vehicle.

The investigation concluded that Rivera diluted fentanyl in his mothers iced tea sometime Saturday night, the district attorney said. With his mother in a conscious but lethargic state, he placed her in her vehicle and drove her to the shed in ... Philadelphia sometime between 2 and 3 a.m. Sunday.

Rivera cut padlocks off the shed using bolt cutters and placed his mother inside, prosecutors said. He shot her multiple times and locked her in the shed, according to the district attorney.

There was like four to six gunshots went off, nearby resident Fernando Garcia told WPVI.

Clarks body was found in the shed Monday morning, police said. A motive for the killing is unclear.

The district attorney charged Rivera on Monday with criminal homicide, kidnapping to facilitate a felony, kidnapping to inflict terror or injury, aggravated assault, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of an instrument of crime, possession of a weapon, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint and recklessly endangering another person.

WCAU reported Clark formerly ran an after-school program for children.

Its hard to believe. Its quite a shock to all of us, Amanda Slocum told WCAU. Shes always looked out for the community with the kids and we always looked to her as someone we could go to and talk to when we were growing up.

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Falls Township is about 30 miles northeast of Center City Philadelphia.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11)  Suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is still in Cambodia, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

"I think he's still in Cambodia. I think he's still there," Remulla told reporters on Tuesday, but did not provide further details.

Teves is under a 60-day suspension after he refused to return to the country following the expiration of his travel authority issued by Congress. He flew to the United States late February for medical treatment.

The lawmaker has been tagged as one of the masterminds in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

CNN Philippines has reached out to Teves camp, but has yet to receive a response as of publishing.

Meanwhile, Remulla also bared that he has spoken to Teves' brother, former Negros Oriental Gov. Pryde Henry, before the Holy Week.

"Actually, he's in the process of trying to clear his name that he was not involved. He was not involved in this incident. He had no idea this was going to happen and that he just wants to live in peace," the secretary said.

When asked for his comment on the upcoming Senate probe into Degamos killing, Remulla stressed that it should not influence people or any other investigation.

"The senators know where to draw the line. I would trust them that they would know where to draw the line, that they will not in any way  it will not interfere with the investigation of the executive," he said.
A Staffordshire theatre is inviting local people with South Asian heritage to share family stories for a chance to have them turned into new plays.

Punjab to the Potteries will tell stories of those who migrated from the Punjab region in India and Pakistan.

New Vic Theatre and local arts company, Appetite, have commissioned two scriptwriters to write the plays.

Members of the public have been invited to attend an open storytelling event in Newcastle-under-Lyme on 28 April.

Playwright Shahid Iqbal Khan and writer and director, Sarah Bedi, will help collect the stories and develop them into scripts.

Gemma Thomas, director at Appetite, said the idea for the project had been inspired by local man Val Bansal, who had shared his family's story of migration from the Punjab in India.

"We want to hear from, celebrate and capture people's lived experiences of migrating to the Potteries, or being born here and raised in a South Asian family," she added.

Mr Bansal's father, Baldev, had migrated to Stoke-on-Trent as a teenager in 1964, becoming one of the first Sikh families to arrive in the area.

His grandad, Rattan, had moved from India to Kenya to find work as a carpenter, before moving to England.

"Punjab to the Potteries was an idea that came about when sorting out old photos at home," Mr Bansal said.

He described how the photos had inspired an "abundance of questions" about what it must have been like for his father to leave a small village to move "half-way around the world" to Staffordshire.

"Leaving family behind, learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, education and work, food, the list is endless," he explained.

"There must be countless stories and memories, as well as many more photos in numerous households of people and families who took a similar journey."

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
South Korean officials on Tuesday said a significant number of leaked documents from the Pentagon were likely altered, casting doubt on records that indicated the U.S. was spying on Seoul.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said in a statement the defense chiefs of both countries discussed the leaked documents and agreed on the fact that a significant number of the relevant documents were forged.

South Koreas officials added that security was thick in the presidential office, which was recently moved from the traditional Blue House to the Ministry of Defense.

The Yongsan Presidential Office is a military facility, and a much stronger anti-eavesdropping system than the previous Blue House, the statement reads. The suspicion of eavesdropping in the Yongsan Presidential Office is a false suspicion.

The dozens of leaked U.S. and NATO documents now circulating online, a major blow to U.S. intelligence, includes information about South Koreas internal discussions regarding the sale of artillery shells to Washington.

South Korea had agreed to sell the munitions to the U.S. military to replenish stocks but privately Seoul was expressing concerns about the artillery shells being shipped to Ukraine.

The report was based on signals intelligence, which suggests the U.S. was spying on a major ally.

The Democratic Party in South Korea, an opposition group to Yoons more conservative political party, on Monday blasted the revelations in the documents as an illegal wiretapping and raised concerns about communications security in the presidents office.

We deeply regret that the United States top intelligence agency has been carrying out illegal espionage activities against our allies, and we strongly urge a clear truth-check and a never-before-seen incident like this, the political party said during a press conference statement.

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In addition, we need a firm response from our government. Clearly illegal eavesdropping and wiretapping of a sovereign state cannot exist, the group added.

The Pentagon is reviewing the leaked documents and has referred the breach to the Justice Department, which has opened its own formal investigation.

Additional documents revealed the U.S. government may have been spying on other crucial allies, including Israel and Ukraine.

Most of the documents are dated in March or February and appear to have begun circulating on chat forum sites, such as 4Chan and Discord.

At least one document that contained inflated Ukrainian casualty rates and reduced Russian casualties appears to have been altered, based on an investigation from Bellingcat.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An aerial view of the Pentagon. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

A trove of leaked Pentagon documents reveal US spying on allies, including South Korea.

South Korea said it believes a lot of the documents are fabricated.

The major leak appears to contain genuine documents, but some appear altered, US officials say.

South Korea said that many of the documents contained in a major leak of US intelligence are fabricated.

Pentagon intelligence documents, which include intelligence on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and on allies, including South Korea, were shared across multiple social media platforms last week.

But South Korea's presidential office said in a statement that US and South Korean defense ministers agreed that much of the documents' content isn't real.

It's unclear if it was referring to content specifically related to South Korea.

"On the US government's alleged wiretapping, the defense ministers of the two countries agreed that 'a considerable amount of the documents were fabricated,'" it said, according to CNN.

US officials told The New York Times that many of the documents are real, but said that some of them appeared to have been altered.

The documents include the claim that aides to South Korea's president were concerned that artillery shells the country sold to the US would end up in Ukraine, despite US assurances.

The leak has already damaged the relationship between the two countries.

Opposition politicians in South Korea denounced supposed US spying, calling it "a clear violation of our sovereignty by the United States," The New York Times reported.

It is not clear who leaked the documents, and the US government has said it is investigating.

The Pentagon said on Monday that while the documents appeared to be similar to some of the updates it gives, there were inaccuracies, Reuters reported.

Reuters noted that the documents could have been leaked and altered by Russia to spread misinformation, or it could be part of a US scheme to mislead Russia.

The leaked documents also deal with other US allies, including France, China, and Israel, as well as countries like Iran.

The Pentagon called the document leak a serious risk to national security.

Read the original article on Business Insider
South Korea on Tuesday said a "significant portion" of leaked US intelligence documents indicating concerns in Seoul about arms supplies to Ukraine were fake.

The documents are part of a broader leak the Pentagon has described as a "very serious" national security risk. It has also created a diplomatic headache for Washington as they appear to show US spying on close allies including South Korea and Israel.

Some files reportedly show concern among top South Korean national security officials that arms and ammunition manufactured by their country might end up being used in Ukraine -- a violation of Seoul's policy of not selling weapons to nations at war.

In a call on Tuesday, the South Korean defence minister and the US secretary of defense agreed that "a significant number of the documents in question were fabricated", the presidential office in Seoul said in a statement.

Dozens of photographs of the documents have been circulating on social media platforms and messaging services including Twitter, Telegram and Discord for at least weeks.

The Pentagon has said it is working to determine if the documents are genuine, and that at least one appeared to have been manipulated.

However, US officials reportedly believe many of the documents are real.

The leak has prompted US officials to reassure allies such as South Korea, which has provided non-lethal and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded last year.

But Seoul has a long-standing policy against providing weapons to countries in active conflict, which it says makes it difficult to supply arms directly to Ukraine.

The revelation of the purported Ukraine discussions among top national security officials has sparked criticism in South Korea about the vulnerability of sensitive sites including the presidential office.

But President Yoon Suk Yeol's office pushed back Tuesday, saying it had "iron-clad security" and that allegations of eavesdropping were "senseless lies".

Yoon is scheduled to travel to the United States later this month on a state visit.

kjk/qan/cwl
An aerial view of Kaibab National Forest, on the border of the Grand Canyon, in Arizona.

An aerial view of Kaibab National Forest, on the border of the Grand Canyon, in Arizona.

A coalition of Native American tribes in the Southwest is lobbying the Biden administration to create a sweeping national monument to protect federal lands adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park from uranium mining and other development.

Members of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, which includes the Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai and nine other tribes, held a press conference Wednesday to officially call for approximately 1.1 million acres north and south of the park to be designated as Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.

Edmon Tilousi, vice chair of the Havasupai Tribe, told reporters a monument would safeguard tribal ancestral homelands, cultural sites and water resources from the harmful effects of mining. The area is rich in uranium.

We simply cannot live without these clean waters, Tilousi said. As guardians of the Grand Canyon, we have a duty not only to our ancestorsbut to our children and future generations.

Several area tribes have deep cultural and spiritual ties to the Grand Canyon  connections that tribes hope to see reflected in the proposed monuments name. Baaj Nwaavjo means where tribes roam in the Havasupai language. Itah Kukveni means our footprints in Hopi.

A monument designation under the Antiquities Act of 1906 would cement a currently 20-year mining ban that the Obama administration put in place in 2012. In 2017, after a multiyear legal battle, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld the Obama-era ban, concluding that temporarily freezing mining leases will permit more careful, longer-term study of the uncertain effects of uranium mining in the area and better-informed decision making in the future.

The Trump administration publicly opposed legislation that sought to permanently protect the same area from uranium and other hardrock mining, and in 2020 rolled out a plan to revive Americas domestic uranium industry.

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The tribal coalition and allied groups are hoping President Joe Biden will act to permanently protect an area he has called an irreplaceable jewel.

Joining tribal leaders at Wednesdays press conference were Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who introduced similar bills in 2019 to prohibit new uranium mining around the Grand Canyon.

We are officially calling on the administration to designate these areas of the Grand Canyon as a national monument, to protect our water and our cultural heritage while providing recreation opportunities that our communities in Northern Arizona rely on, Sinema said. Luckily for the administration, weve already done the hard work. Weve proposed a framework that well use to work with the administration and our coalition over the coming months to create the monument under the Antiquities Act.

A map of the proposed Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.

A map of the proposed Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument.

The push comes just weeks after Biden created two new national monuments  Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada and Castner Range in Texas  that span a combined 513,000 acres.

Grijalva said the national campaign for a monument designation is the culmination of a 20-year effort to protect the greater Grand Canyon landscape. And he noted it comes on the heels of House Republicans passing an energy package late last month  nicknamed the Polluters Over People Act by its critics  that seeks to dismantle Bidens climate agenda and mandate increased drilling and mining across Americas public lands.

The threat and the danger to the Grand Canyon is greater than ever, he said. H.R. 1 will make the Grand Canyon an expendable commodity. It will exploit, sell and trade this iconic public land for private profit. If they are willing to do it to the Grand Canyon, then none of our lands are safe from this sort of unbridled greed.

The monument campaign is not just about making history, its about saving history and its spirit and the people who honor the canyon, Grijalva added.

The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment. Grijalva said the administration is aware of the effort and staff-level discussions have already taken place.

Tim Nuvangyaoma, chair of the Hopi Tribe, said securing monument status for the area is the highest priority to the Hopi people.

The creator gave us a gift, and that gift is in the form of a grand canyon, he said. That gift is not only to the tribal nations that have that intimate connection with it, but its a gift to the state of Arizona. Its a gift to the United States. Its a gift to the entire world. So we do have to protect the beauty and grandeur of this area that we call home.

Related...
Bryan Hamilton was abused and given drugs as a preteen. When he became a teenager, he started using heroin and ended up in prison for 16 years where his addiction continued. He has been sober now for seven years.

Desiree Voshefsky developed a drug addiction later in life. Her addiction led to homelessness and prison time. She has now been in recovery for five years.

Brent DeWire started using drugs and alcohol to cope with the death of his mother and his unstable family life when he was young. That led to a life of addiction. After 32 years in active addiction, he has been sober for four years.

What is one thing that these three Tucsonans have in common? All three graduated from Pima Countys drug treatment programs, which gave them another chance at a thriving life instead of a life behind bars.

What is Drug Court and DTAP?

The Pima County Drug Court and Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison program are two separate programs with different screening processes and aim to reduce the recidivism of people with drug-related offenses.

The former is run by the Pima County Superior Court and Adult Probation, and the latter is managed by the Pima County Attorneys Office.

DTAP is for people who have prison-only plea agreements, while Drug Court has a different screening process and is for people with probation-available plea agreements.

Data from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2017 found that among 34 states, including Arizona, 70% of drug offenders were rearrested within five years of release.

These programs save lives. They improve family relationships, financial independence, stable housing, mental health, and lead to sustained sobriety. They address an individual coming into the criminal justice system in a holistic way, said Nahrin Jabro, director of Specialty Court Programs at the Pima County Attorneys Office.

Both programs offer a range of drug treatment services for people suffering from substance use disorder and facing incarceration. Treatment services include long- and short-term residential treatment as well as intensive outpatient treatment. Both programs also include regular court appearances, urinalysis, and wraparound services like workforce skills development, medical services and housing assistance.

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Pima County is just one of the states many counties that have drug courts and other specialty courts. The Maricopa County Adult Drug Court Program has been in operation since 1992. According to that countys 2022 annual report, the county has a 72% success rate and had 296 active participants at the end of the year.

Other counties including Yavapai, Cochise and more all have drug courts or other specialty courts.

These types of courts are particularly significant as the fentanyl crisis spreads across Arizona and the country. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, more potent than morphine, while used legally to treat pain, has been made and distributed illegally, contributing to a rise in drug overdose deaths.

Jabro said that fentanyl makes it difficult for people to engage in treatment while they are out of custody. Withdrawal can be scary because it is so painful, she said. Mental health conditions also make treatment difficult because people experiencing delusions and paranoia find it challenging to trust anyone or be in a group environment like residential treatment.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, more than 2,000 Arizonans died from opioid overdoses in 2021, with fentanyl being the most commonly reported drug in opioid overdoses.

Kindness made the difference

For Desiree Voshefsky, 41, it was the support and kindness of the Drug Court judge and her probation officer that made the difference

Voshefsky was facing a third stint in prison for drug-related charges when she was offered the opportunity to participate in the countys Drug Court program.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into with Drug Court. They said, You're getting out on probation. I'm like, 'Where do I sign?' Voshefsky said.

She said she felt supported by the Drug Court judge and her probation officer.

"She's a different type of probation officer altogether," Voshefsky said, noting how much she cared about Voshefsky's well-being.

Desiree Voshefsky developed an addiction to drugs later in life, which led to homelessness and time in prison. However, thanks to Drug Court, an alternative court in Pima County, she has been sober for several years and helps others with their addiction as well.

Voshefsky first went to an inpatient treatment program and then moved into a sober living residence, where she did intensive outpatient programs, and attended group sessions on a variety of topics from substance use to relapse prevention and more. When she was ready, she moved into her own apartment and found a job at Quik Mart, where she brought her skills learned in the programs to help people also suffering from addiction. She currently works as a correctional health supervisor at Community Medical Services.

Voshefsky reiterated that without the mandated drug treatment program, she would likely be incarcerated again. Now, she works to help others who suffer from addiction, and wants to break the stigma of addiction.

I see a lot of changes in the system in the way probation and parole are looking at substance use disorder, she said, adding that the more people talk about these issues, the more changes are likely to occur in the criminal justice system.

Change is going to come from the people in recovery now, she said.

'You get what you put into it

DeWire, 49, remembered being in front of the Drug Court judge, and hearing her tell him she would put him somewhere safe. High on drugs, he subsequently went to jail and detoxed, moving through the stages of withdrawal. He was 116 pounds when he went into jail and 152 pounds  74 days later  when he went to treatment.

DeWire struggled with addiction for 32 years. Eventually, he got to a point where he didnt want to get high anymore, but he also couldnt stop on his own. He had to be stopped, he said.

Drug Court was a blessing for me because I didn't want to be getting high anymore, he said.

Brent DeWire, 49, in Tucson on April 6, 2023. DeWire is one of the hundreds of people who have graduated from Pima County's treatment courts, which offer people suffering from substance use disorder an opportunity to go to mandated treatment instead of jail or prison. DeWire has been in recovery ever since. He now owns a business and helps others work on their recovery.

Since graduating from Drug Court, he started his own home repair business and spends much of his life helping others fight addiction.

I dont have to get high today because of Drug Court and the (12-step) program I work, he said.

Just minutes before being interviewed by The Arizona Republic, he said he met someone outside who he could tell was homeless and in active addiction. He spoke to the man and gave him his phone number in case he wanted help getting sober.

For DeWire and many others in recovery, helping people who are in active addiction or working to stay sober is a big part of their own recovery.

They gave me a chance

Hamilton, 41, found Pima Countys Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison Program by happenstance.

He suffered from drug addiction, which began when he was 12, after years of abuse. His drug use eventually led to a 16-year prison sentence.

I got out of prison in 2015 with just a bad, if not worse, of a drug habit, he said. However, he soon got a new charge and in preparing to go back to prison, his wife convinced him to get sober first.

For much of Bryan Hamilton's life, he was addicted to drugs and was in prison. However, after he vowed to get sober, he found Pima County's Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison, and successfully graduated from the program. He has been sober for several years and now works as a substance abuse counselor.

While in rehab, he met people who were in the drug treatment program and constantly asked one of the probation officers if he could participate in the program.

Hamilton said his previous charges, which included possession of deadly weapons, made him ineligible for the program. However, after begging them to give him a chance, they did. Hamilton credits this to his initiative to go into detox and rehab on his own accord. He also wrote letters and asked everyone he met to let him participate in the program.

I told the court judge and everyone involved if they would give me the chance I would not let them or myself down, he wrote in an email.

He successfully made it through the program and has been helping people suffering from addiction ever since. He currently works as a substance abuse counselor at Community Medical Services.

Hamilton exemplifies the message he teaches to the community: There is hope and people can get better.

Some people are working on a lifetime of addiction and a lifetime of homelessness, he said, adding that people should not judge others by their past. People do get better.

Numbers show these programs actually work

Jabro said treatment courts work at reducing recidivism, improving quality of life for the person involved, as well as their families and communities, if following best practices.

They also save taxpayers money.

A 2007 study by the U.S. Department of Justice in Portland, Oregon, that looked at the impact of drug courts over 10 years, found that drug courts reduced recidivism rates and resulted in saving taxpayers more than $9 million over a 10-year period.

Jabro said a third-party report analyzing the program in 2017 found taxpayers saved 36% when offenders participate in DTAP, saving a total of $17,336 per person. Other benefits of the program not analyzed include reduced crime, increased tax revenue and reduced spending on child welfare services.

Treatment courts look at why a person is coming into the criminal justice system, and addressing underlying needs with treatment and resources, Jabro said.

Other Pima County treatment courts include Mental Health Court, Consolidated Misdemeanor Problem Solving Court, Veterans' Court, and Domestic Violence Court, among others.

Some of the countys treatment courts are funded by federal grants that help with residential treatment when not covered by insurance, as well as temporary housing assistance in sober living homes, and services including court case management, clinical screenings, and wraparound services.

Jabro also said the way people interpret drug addiction guides how it is treated.

If we see SUD (substance abuse disorder) as a moral issue, then we will treat it that way through punishment, she wrote. If we perceive it for what it is, a disorder that can be treated, then we will treat it and guide an individual toward a path of recovery through rehabilitation.

Since 2005, hundreds of participants have successfully graduated from Drug Court, while DTAP has been offered since 2010.

In 2022, DTAP had 24 successful completions, while five people absconded from the program, and two people were terminated. Today, a total of 59 participants are active in the program. In January, 16 participants graduated from both programs.

To contact the Pima County Drug Court, reach out to Judge Teresa Godoy at 520-724-3242. To contact the County Attorney's Office about DTAP, reach out by email at info@pcao.pima.gov or by phone at 520-724-5600.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com.

Coverage of southern Arizona on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is funded by the nonprofit Report for America in association with The Republic.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How specialty drug courts changed 3 Arizonans lives
SpaceXs anticipated orbital launch of its most powerful yet Starship spacecraft will happen towards the end of April, according to its chief Elon Musk.

Starship launch trending towards near the end of third week of April, the Tesla and SpaceX chief tweeted on Monday.

The 120m-tall rocket, made of parts designed to be reusable, has been made with the aim to take astronauts to deep space and is the centerpiece of Mr Musks plans to colonise the Moon and Mars.

With deals already in place with Nasa to use the spacecraft to carry astronauts to the Moon as part of the Artemis missions, SpaceX plans to test the rocket.

The planned orbital flight test would see Starship and its Super Heavy booster lift off from SpaceXs Starbase facility in Texas, before splashing down off the coast of Hawaii.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had posted a planning notice last week which said the launch date was expected to be 10 April, with backup dates on 11 and 12 April.

Starship launch trending towards near the end of third week of April  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 10, 2023

FAAs Operation Plans Advisory report had marked 17 April as a primary target launch date with 18-22 April listed as back up launch dates.

SpaceX had already completed a high-altitude flight test for a Starship prototype, but many of the earlier tests ended in the rocket exploding, causing major set backs.

The FAA had also instructed SpaceX last year to complete an environmental review and adjust flight conditions to avoid disrupting wildlife.

Starship fully stacked at Starbase. Team is working towards a launch rehearsal next week followed by Starships first integrated flight test ~week later pending regulatory approval pic.twitter.com/9VbJLppswp  SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 6, 2023

Last month, Mr Musk said there was hopefully above a 50 per cent chance of the rocket reaching orbit, adding that Starships success held the key to expanding life beyond Earth.

I am not saying it will get to orbit, but I am guaranteeing excitement. It wont be boring, he said.

A successful launch would see the Super Heavy and Starship separate with the booster heading to the Gulf of Mexico and the spacecraft traveling to orbit, then reentering Earth to vertically land near Hawaii.
Aaron Paul Nichols

A former Springfield police officer who was accused of making racist, antisemitic and homophobic comments that appeared in an online blog post last year will now have to go to a state board to seek re-certification.

An attorney from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETS) clarified last week that Aaron Paul Nichols, who resigned from SPD on April 5, 2022, shortly after being placed on unpaid leave, can only be reactivated "upon application of an employing agency and with approval of the board."

"Its fair to say if the media reports are true, Nichols will never again be an active Illinois law enforcement officer," said Patrick L. Hahn, an attorney and ethics officer for ILETS, in a letter to Sangamon County state's attorney Dan Wright last week.

More: SPD Chief Scarlette takes medical leave after prostate cancer diagnosis

Wright was seeking clarification of Nichols' status. The state's attorney's office and the SPD did separate internal reviews of Nichols.

Wright did not bring charges against Nichols, concluding in November there was "insufficient evidence" to prove Nichols committed a criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt.

The 18-year veteran of the department resigned after being the subject of an online article published by Anonymous Comrades Collective last year. Nichols was put on unpaid leave on April 1, 2022, stripping him of police powers with SPD.

SPD Police Chief Ken Scarlette recommended to the ILETS board that Nichols not be a certified police officer in the state "as a result of the egregious actions that were uncovered." Shortly after Nichols' resignation, the board received a "Professional Conduct Report" from now-Assistant Chief Joshua Stuenkel on Nichols for unbecoming conduct for violation of SPD's social media policy.

That report went into the Officer Professional Conduct Database, which is maintained by the board.

Wright also submitted a letter to the board supporting Nichols' decertification, noting that "no community should be subjected to an encounter with Nichols as a member of law enforcement at any time in the future."

Story continues

Although it is unclear if Nichols' status was the direct result of action by the board, "the board may refuse to re-activate the certification of a law enforcement officer who was involuntarily terminated for good cause by an employing agency for conduct subject to decertification under this Act or resigned or retired after receiving notice of a law enforcement agency's investigation," Hahn stated in the letter.

Hahn did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment from The State Journal-Register.

It would be an uphill climb for Nichols to get certification again. A chief administrative officer or designee looking to hire Nichols must check the professional conduct database, contact each his previous law enforcement employers and document the contact.

Related: Ex-SPD officer linked to racist, homophobic comments created 'hostile work environment'

Hahn said in the letter that, to date, the board has not received any application to reactivate Nichols status.

The Nichols situation led to a change in how SPD officer candidates are hired.

Candidates now undergoing background checks are asked questions about membership in or affiliation with "private persons, groups, organizations, or associations that are of the belief or support any racial, ethnic, religious, or sexual orientation as inferior."

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: An Illinois board will have a final say on Aaron Nichols being a cop
The State Border Guards released a video of Ukrainians meeting their comrades recently released from Russian captivity.

Source: State Border Guard Service

Quote: "Yesterday, during another exchange, 21 border guards returned home. With tears in their eyes, the soldiers called their relatives, and were happy about the long-awaited meetings and hugs."

Details: On 10 April, Ukraine brought back home a hundred soldiers, among them fighters of the Donetsk, Izmail, Sumy, Kherson border detachments and the Mariupol detachment of the Maritime Guard.

Some are seriously injured and ill. The State Border Guard Service promises to do everything necessary so that each of them receives all the necessary help.

Previously: The President's Office reported that another "difficult" large exchange of prisoners took place. Ukraine has brought back 100 more of its soldiers from Russian captivity.

Among the Ukrainians released from Russian captivity is a defender of Azovstal steelworks, Valeriia "Nava" Karpylenko.

The Security Service of Ukraine clarified that 80 men and 20 women were released from captivity.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

BONTA AMENDS LAWSUIT AGAINST HUNTINGTON BEACH

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Monday announced that his office has filed an amendment to its lawsuit against the City of Huntington Beach over refusal to comply with state housing regulations.

The lawsuit, filed in March, now alleges that Huntington Beach is in violation of the states Housing Element law. It requires local governments to produce an assessment of housing needs, an inventory of resources and constraints, and a program to meet the needs theyve outlined.

The state initially sued over the citys refusal to implement state law on accessory dwelling units and projects related to SB 9, the 2021 measure streamlines the process for homeowners to create duplexes or subdivide an existing lot. The amended lawsuit demands both penalties and injunctive relief over the citys alleged violation of the housing element law.

The state seeks to suspend the citys permitting authority and mandate the approval of certain residential projects until the city comes into compliance with the law, according to the attorney generals office. It also wants the court to declare that the citys previous ban on SB 9 and ADU projects was unlawful and bar it from being reinstated.

The citys refusal last week to adopt a housing element in accordance with state law is just the latest in a string of willfully illegal actions by the city  decisions that worsen our housing crisis and harm taxpayers and Huntington Beach residents, Bonta said in a statement.

The City of Huntington Beach has declined to comment on the amended lawsuit, according to the Voice of OC. But in January Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland released a defiant statement against the states mandates.

The people of Huntington Beach dont want to urbanize our city and have the problems of Gavin Newsoms San Francisco. If our residents wanted that, they would move to Los Angeles or San Francisco. The Huntington Beach residents want us to fight against these ridiculous and arbitrary mandate housing numbers from Sacramento, Strickland said.

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ASSEMBLYMAN SANTIAGO ANNOUNCES HES RUNNING FOR LA CITY COUNCIL

Four-term Democratic Los Angeles Assemblyman Miguel Santiago has announced that rather than seeking another term in the Assembly, he is running to unseat Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de Leon.

Santiago, who first was elected to the Assembly in 2014, said that it is time for a change on the LA City Council.

De Leon, who served as Senate President pro Tem from 2014 to 2018 and who unsuccessfully ran against Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2018, has been embattled ever since a leaked recording was released last fall featuring him and fellow councilmembers Nury Martinez and Gil Cedillo, as well as Los Angeles Labor Federation then-President Ron Herrera, making racist and homophobic comments.

The current Councilmembers refusal to respect the overwhelming calls to step down, from the people he is supposed to serve all the way to the President of the United States, is holding back the progress we need on homelessness, housing, and the economic recovery we need in our neighborhoods. This has been a difficult decision, but Los Angeles needs to heal, and our neighborhoods are desperate for effective representation, Santiago said in a statement.

Since announcing on Friday, Santiago has racked up a string of endorsements from local labor unions.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Dang, this Monday morning back to session I can feel more energy around the capitol than I have felt since 2020. Its like the streets and buildings are humming.

- Assembly Republican Caucus consultant Sarah Haynes, via Twitter.

Best of The Bee:
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11)  The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) are looking for more personnel to monitor maritime schools' compliance with international standards.

Kailangan namin ng dagdag na tao kasi marami [ang maritime schools], CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III told reporters on Tuesday. We have to look for more allies to monitor compliance.

[Translation: We need to add more people because there are a lot of maritime schools.]

The call for more staff was made as the two agencies aim to maintain international standards in the countrys maritime schools.

Were very strict. The technical panel and our technical evaluators have gone through the programs and closed 15 schools over the past year and a half, De Vera said.

An assessment test will also be crafted to better check the preparedness of students who will go to maritime programs, De Vera said.

We already commissioned the center for educational management to craft an assessment test, De Vera said. It is an assessment tool to guide them para yung mga pumapasok na estudyante mas fit doon sa kanilang pupuntahan.

The Department of Transportation earlier said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration was requested to look into any possible assistance that can be extended for Filipino seafarers to be able to pursue further training for career advancement.

READ: Authorities eye curriculum improvements, assistance to seafarers to improve PH maritime industry

On March 31, the European Commission said it will continue to recognize certificates for seafarers issued by the Philippine government.

"We appreciate the constructive cooperation with the Philippine authorities and welcome their efforts to improve the system for training and certifying seafarers," EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean said.

The Philippines provide a significant and valued part of the European and global shipping industry's maritime workforce she added.
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Insider's author had compostable slippers and a reusable tote at New Zealand's first 5-Green-Star hotel. Monica Humphries/Insider

The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, New Zealand, is the country's first "5-Green-Star" hotel.

I spent two nights in the hotel, where I discovered elements that made it a more sustainable stay.

F rom compostable slippers to sustainable seafood, here are the surprising details I found.

This article is part of "Green Getaway," a series exploring how people can make more eco-conscious choices on their travels. For more climate-action news, visit Insider's One Planet hub.

After a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, the only thing I was dreaming about was my hotel bed. And that bed happened to be in The Hotel Britomart  New Zealand's first "5-Green-Star" hotel.

The exterior of The Hotel Britomart in Auckland, New Zealand. Monica Humphries/Insider

I landed in Auckland, New Zealand, bleary-eyed and exhausted after nearly 24 hours of travel.

I traveled more than 7,000 miles from my home in Denver, and while I was eager to explore New Zealand, I was in dire need of a shower, clean clothes, and a quick nap before starting my 10-day adventure across the country.

Luckily, a room was waiting for me at The Hotel Britomart.

The 10-story, five-star hotel is located on a quiet street in downtown Auckland. I've stayed in a handful of five-star hotels in the past and learned that any night in a luxury hotel is a treat.

But what piqued my interest about The Hotel Britomart the most was its focus on sustainability. The hotel is New Zealand's first "five-Green-Star" hotel, which is a rating system for buildings in Australasia; the hotel's design and build process were certified by New Zealand's Green Building Council, according to the hotel's website.

The Hotel Britomart has also received a Gold Sustainable Tourism Award from Qualmark, New Zealand tourism's official quality-assurance organization, and was a runner-up in National Geographic's international "good egg" award for the most sustainable hotel in 2021.

While I'm far from perfect, traveling more sustainably excites me, and I was glad to know my lodging would be eco-friendly.

Story continues

The author in Queenstown, New Zealand. Monica Humphries/Insider

In the past, I assumed that sustainability and travel couldn't overlap. To explore new areas, I thought there would always be a negative impact on the environment.

But experts have told me I'm wrong. From traveling by train to vacationing during shoulder season, there are actions that travelers can take to lower their negative environmental impacts and support the destinations they're visiting.

One way to do that, I learned, is by choosing hotels and accommodations with the environment in mind. But experts also warned me that it can be tough to vet a hotel's sustainability claims.

Based on that knowledge, there were a handful of things I looked for when I considered The Hotel Britomart that helped me feel confident in the hotel's eco-friendly promises.

For example, the hotel releases an annual sustainability report that outlines its successes and goals for the future. In this report, I learned that the hotel reused and recycled 80% of its construction waste. It also uses low-energy LED lights, water-saving toilets, low-energy minifridges, and high insulation throughout the building.

Experts also told me to keep an eye out for hotels taking environmental initiatives. The Hotel Britomart offers a Stay Green package, which is a vacation package where the hotel plants a native tree at its sister property as part of the booking.

So between the transparency, accolades, and initiatives, I felt good booking a stay at the hotel.

I was eager to see if my "green" stay felt any different from the luxury hotels I've stayed at in the past.

The lobby at The Hotel Britomart. Monica Humphries/Insider

The Hotel Britomart has 99 guest rooms with either twin- or king-sized beds and five rooftop suites. The rooms start at $235 USD, according to the hotel's website.

I booked a king-sized bed with views of Waitemata Harbor.

I've stayed in five-star hotels before, and I've spent nights in places claiming to be eco-friendly. But I haven't experienced both luxury and sustainability in a single night prior to this trip.

So I checked into the eco-friendly hotel on the hunt for surprises and differences from the other five-star hotels I've visited in the past.

Insider received a press rate for the stay in The Hotel Britomart.

One of the first things I noticed was the lack of plastic in my room.

A view of the author's room at The Hotel Britomart. Monica Humphries/Insider

I stepped inside my hotel room and was greeted by a king-sized, bright-white bed. Views of the harbor filled the wood-paneled room's only window.

As I explored the hotel room, I noticed the lack of plastic. This caught my eye because most hotels I've stayed in have had some sort of single-use plastic for guests' use.

In budget hotels, for instance, I've found plastic cups wrapped in plastic wrap and travel-sized shampoo and conditioner bottles stocked in the shower. And in five-star hotels, I've been given plastic toothbrushes, plastic shower caps, and more travel-sized toiletries.

Sometimes, I've chosen not to use these products to avoid creating waste. At other times, I've guiltily relied on the tiny bottles of shampoo and conditioner.

But in my room at The Hotel Britomart, I didn't have to make any wasteful decisions. There was no single-use plastic in sight. The bathroom had full-sized, refillable toiletries instead.

In the bar area, there were glass wineglasses that could be reused. And there weren't any extra amenities like sewing kits, cotton balls, or nail files, which I've received in the past.

I was later impressed when I learned that the hotel's efforts to be plastic-free go beyond what I saw in my room. According to a press release, 95% of the hotel's goods and products are delivered in compostable, biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable packaging.

Inside the closet was a reusable bag I could use for my stay to remove the need for shopping bags.

A reusable tote bag hangs in the closet of a room at The Hotel Britomart. Monica Humphries/Insider

I opened the room's wardrobe and wasn't surprised to discover a robe or iron  amenities that I've found in my other five-star hotel stays.

But I was surprised to discover a reusable tote bag.

Attached to the tan bag's straps was a little note that outlined the bag's purpose: "To make it easy for you to go without shopping bags when you're staying with us."

Spotting the bag made me smile. Stuffed in my suitcase was my own reusable tote. It's something I always travel with to avoid excess waste, and I thought it was a smart idea to make reusable totes accessible for all hotel guests.

On past trips, I've used my tote to carry all the local foods, candies, and snacks I've purchased from grocery stores, and I've been able to skip plastic bags when souvenir shopping.

The Hotel Britomart's guests are welcome to use the reusable tote throughout their stay for free, or a guest may keep the tote for about $23 USD.

I hoped the bags would help other guests adopt the practice of packing and using reusable bags.

I'd never seen compostable slippers until my stay at The Hotel Britomart.

The pair of compostable slippers in the author's hotel room. Monica Humphries/Insider

Next to the reusable bag and plush robes were two pairs of slippers.

While I've received slippers at hotels before, I was shocked to learn that the pairs at The Hotel Britomart were compostable.

According to the hotel's sustainability report, these slippers were made from recycled materials. For example, the soles of the shoes were crafted from repurposed cork.

As I slid them on, the linen hugged my foot. They weren't the sturdiest or plushest slippers I've worn, but I was also only using them for two days.

Before staying at The Hotel Britomart, I hadn't considered where my hotel slippers had come from or ended up. I assumed that they were reused for other guests, but according to TripSavvy and Reader's Digest, I was wrong. Often the hotel throws the shoes away after a stay.

But when my stay ended, I abandoned the slippers in the bathroom knowing the hotel's staff would compost them. I checked out feeling better that my short-lived slippers weren't going to end up in a landfill.

The room was filled with decorations created by local artists.

A vase in the room was created by a local ceramist. Monica Humphries/Insider

I've spoken to a handful of sustainability travel experts in the past, and they've agreed that an eco-friendly hotel goes beyond just reducing a carbon footprint. It also involves supporting a destination's local communities, they've told me. That might mean hiring locals to work and run the hotel, or stocking kitchens with produce grown by regional farmers.

One way The Hotel Britomart supports its local community, I learned, was by stocking the room with decor and items that New Zealand artists created.

A soap dish was crafted by the New Zealand ceramist Rachel Carter. And a vase on my nightstand was made by the Auckland-based Elena Renker. Filling that vase were dried florals by the New Zealand company Mark Antonia.

Plus, almost everything in the room was available for purchase. The soap dish, for instance, was $40 and the vase was $114. This meant I could buy souvenirs and support local artists without ever needing to leave my hotel room.

I later learned through the hotel's sustainability report that 80% of the goods purchased by the hotel  from staff uniforms and restaurant food to room decor  are New Zealand-made.

Downstairs in the hotel's restaurant, I also spotted sustainably-sourced seafood.

The interior of the hotel's in-house restaurant, Kingi. Monica Humphries/Insider

The Hotel Britomart houses the seafood restaurant Kingi, which, according to its website, works with local fisheries to source sustainably-caught seafood.

On my first morning, I headed down to the restaurant where I dined on a potato rosti with smoked fish, a poached egg, and pickles.

The combination sounded intriguing, and after my first bite, I was amazed. The egg was jammy, the smoked fish added a rich, decadent element to the dish, and the pickles were bright and fresh. Plus, I felt guilt-free indulging in a dish that was sustainably made.

After devouring breakfast, I grabbed a dinner menu to eye my options for later in the day. But the menu didn't just list food, it also mentioned all the local fishers who caught the seafood filling Kingi's plates.

Seeing the list of names reminded me of going to farmers' markets at home in Denver and meeting the farmers who grew the produce I ate. By associating a person with what I was eating, I left the restaurant full and feeling like I had a deeper connection to the food.

The hotel provided eco-friendly amenities, including free bike rentals.

The bike the author rented for free from The Hotel Britomart. Monica Humphries/Insider

When I walked up to the Hotel Britomart, a line of bikes greeted me before I stepped inside the hotel.

After reading a pamphlet in my room, I discovered that guests can rent the bikes for free.

I had plans to spend my morning exploring Auckland's beaches. But what I hadn't considered was how I was going to get around the city. I assumed I would take taxis and walk.

But after seeing the bikes, I realized that I could reduce my carbon footprint and more easily explore the city by bike.

By the end of my afternoon, I had traveled nine miles. The distance would've been far too much to navigate on foot, and waiting for Ubers and taxis would've also wasted time.

Not only was the bike a more eco-friendly way to travel, but I realized it was much more convenient for me than other transportation options.

While I didn't check out with travel-sized shampoo or conditioner stowed in my bag, I did leave The Hotel Britomart free of guilt.

Insider's author in her hotel room at The Hotel Britomart. Monica Humphries/Insider

My two-night stay at The Hotel Britomart was full of eco-friendly surprises. I was thrilled to learn the names of local fishers supplying the food that made it onto my breakfast plate and the artists whose work filled my hotel room.

I felt a little less guilty using the hotel's slippers since I knew they'd end up in the compost bin instead of the trash can, and I was thankful for the bikes for a more sustainable way to explore Auckland.

Those details  along with the ones I couldn't see, like insulation and sustainably-sourced materials  helped me check out of the hotel feeling less guilty about my trip and the impact I might have left behind. I'm confident I departed with a lower carbon footprint than I would have created at most other hotels.

Plus, there was never a moment where I felt like I sacrificed comfort for sustainability. And as a result, I also walked away from The Hotel Britomart feeling eager to book more stays at other green hotels.

In case you missed it, watch a replay of Insider's One Planet virtual event with activist and artist Elijah McKenzie-Jackson.

Read the original article on Insider
Successions monumental third episode of its fourth and final season nearly had a different ending, director and executive producer Mark Mylod has revealed.

*Warning  Major spoilers ahead for Succession*

The most recent episode follows the sudden death of patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and the ensuing fallout.

In the final scene, the camera focuses on Logans son Kendall (Jeremy Strong) who watches on, distraught, as his fathers body is carried off the aeroplane he died on.

However, Mylod told Variety in a new interview that they shot quite a way beyond that [moment].

The director explained that in the unseen, longer version: [Kendall] walked over to his car, to his driver, as Roman was coming back from the aircraft, and shared a look before the two of them got into their respective cars, and the cars drove away.

Brian Cox (left) and Matthew Macfadyen in Succession (David M. Russell/HBO)

He continued: As the cars drove away, the camera just landed on the ambulance, which then drove away. And all the vehicles kind of  oddly, like the end of Oceans 11  all the players exited the stage, to leave us just with this blank runway. Which was very powerful.

Mylod said that Strong performed multiple iterations of the same scene so that the producers could decide how emotional they wanted him to be in the final edit.

Jeremys character, in some takes, really fell apart emotionally, in some takes was more stoic. We chose a more stoic take. It just felt right with the balance, he said.

Following the shocking episodes release, the LA Times has faced heavy scrutiny from fans for sharing the news of Logans death in a parody obituary shared moments after the show aired.

Meanwhile, Strong and the rest of the cast have spoken about the emotional toll that filming Logans death had taken on them.

Succession is available to stream on NOW and Sky Atlantic every Monday, and continues in the US on HBO on Sundays.

Find The Independents recap of the episode here.
Successioncreator Jesse Armstrong has said that the writers took inspiration from Ghislaine Maxwell in the shows explosive latest episode.

*Major Succession spoilers ahead  you have been warned*

Episode three of the final season of HBOs acclaimed drama saw Waystar Royco patriarch Logan Roy (Cox) skip his son Connors (Alan Ruck) wedding in an attempt to do a business deal with Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard).

However, during the flight, Logan collapses in the plane bathroom. Despite air stewards attempting to do CPR, he dies on the plane. His children learn that their father is dying while at the wedding and attempt to say their last words to him over the phone.

Once the news threatens to leak, the family gather with Logans advisors and Shiv (Sarah Snook) gives an emotional speech to the press while still in a state of shock.

You can read The Independents review of episode three here.

Appearing on HBOs Succession podcast, showrunner Armstrong spoke about the childrens different reactions of grief to their fathers death and Shivs speech on behalf of her siblings.

In the writers room we looked at quite a lot, Armstrong said. Ghislaine Maxwell after her father died, she gave a statement in, I think its the Canary Islands, where the boat went back to.

Maxwell (left) at her fathers funeral in 1991 (AFP via Getty Images)

In 1991, Ghislaines father, media mogul Robert Maxwell was found dead in the Atlantic Ocean, presumed to have fallen overboard the yacht named after his daughter.

Ghislaine gave a speech from The Lady Ghislaine in both Spanish and English, thanking the public for their support.

And Ghislaine needs no introduction at this point, said podcast host Kara Swisher, with Armstrong responding: Ghislaine now needs no introduction, right, but at that point was just his favoured daughter. So that was something of a model.

In 2021, Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of five counts of trafficking and abusing young girls over decades with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

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Maxwell has continued to protest her innocence in jailhouse interviews.

The cast of Succession' in episode 3 (HBO)

The convicted sex offender refused to apologise to her victims and said they should blame US authorities for allowing Epstein to die in an interview broadcast on TalkTV in January.

Speaking to British GQ, episode director Mark Mylod added: There is an obsession with authenticity. We do a lot of research into any real-life event or media event. We have a whole system of consultants and referencing. We try really hard to get that right, and that was a very appropriate and direct connection to make, with the Maxwell family.

The stars of Succession have spoken about filming the most recent episode, with Jeremy Strong saying that he found the process shocking and emotionally devastating.

Discussing filming Shivs reaction to her fathers death, Snook added: Being in that frame of mind for two weeks at a time is not healthy.

Meanwhile, fans have shared their frustration after the episode was spoiled for them after US publication The Los Angeles Times published a tongue-in-cheek obituary to Logan Roy.

Succession airs Sundays at 9pm EST on HBO Max in the US and Mondays on Sky Atlantic and Now in the UK.
It feels weird to spoiler warn something Succession has built towards and hinted at since the pilot. But spoilers abound!

Death comes for us all, even for Logan Roy (Brian Cox). The inescapability of that truth, as much as any tears, denial, guilt, and/or panic, is what makes Episode 3, Connors Wedding, so affecting. The rhythm of the edit and, as director Mark Mylod put it, the sadism of the camera reinforces that reality, refusing to let the Roys beg, browbeat, or weasel their way past the one force even Logan couldnt cow: time.

More from IndieWire

Mylod and cinematographer Patrick Capone hammer home the helplessness of this moment and the illogical gravity of grief by delivering maybe the fullest version of the visual and dramatic approach that has made Succession so remarkable. They, veteran camera operators Gregor Tavenner and Ethan Borsuk, and the shows actors stress-tested the series preference for shooting as freshly as possible with as long a take as possible. The limit for takes on Succession is usually about 10 minutes, as the show shoots with film that must be reloaded once the reel is used up. But for the sequence where the siblings learn that Logan died en route to Sweden (putting business over family until the very end), Mylod and the actors wanted to cover about 30 pages of material in one go.

That felt like it really needed to be an unbroken take, an unflinching take, Mylod told IndieWire. Normally, if theres a [dramatic] moment, we explore it fully and even go beyond it, so having to artificially say, OK, we have to cut there because the cameras run out, felt just a little less than satisfying, even though the work that the actors and everybody was doing was fantastic. Patrick Capone, my brilliant friend and DP, was the key to it. The camera team basically worked out a way where they could have the two camera operators hide a bunch of film magazines around the set all over the place. Perhaps even a third camera body to pick up at some point. And [we just went] for it [and] Im so glad we did. Im really proud of that take.

Story continues

Succession - Credit: Macall B. Polay / HBO

Macall B. Polay / HBO

The shows two cameras dance around the actors, exposing how small Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Roman (Kieran Culkin) are by moving through the scene with them and reacting like an unseen person in the room who is turning to us and oh-so-quietly whispering, What the fuck? For this massive 30-minute take, a third camera was added so that as one camera did a quick reload, at least one operator was always following the siblings wherever they went and however they navigated the multiple decks of the ship to find somewhere less exposed to process the shock of losing their father.

But one of the great joys of Succession has always been that the trappings of wealth do not necessarily afford the Roys any dignity. Setting Connors (Alan Ruck) wedding aboard a yacht in the New York harbor, underneath a bright and beautiful blue sky, played a key part in how Mylod and Capone use composition to create the feeling of sudden, isolating grief. The positioning of the boat with the stern facing out into New York Harbor was to me a lovely visual contradiction, Mylod said.

On the one hand, you have all the freedom of the water and the harbor and the great adventure of New York City out beyond. But at the same time, these characters are trapped in this little glass cage, in this VIP room, trapped in their grief and in their frustration of not being able to get the knowledge or comfort they seek. That, to me, was the perfect visual juxtaposition. And so when Kendall finally goes up onto the deck, thats the first time you can properly breathe, Mylod said.

Succession - Credit: Courtesy of Macall B. Polay / HBO

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay / HBO

But one of the ingenious things about the episode is that the visuals dont draw attention to themselves as technical feats. In fact, the show deliberately diffuses most of the bravura camera moves with quick cut-ins so that nothing feels like a Oner with a Capital O, and so the perspective of the camera never distracts from the emotion of the sequence.

One of the things Im most proud of in the whole way that weve evolved this way of shooting is this dance thats evolved between the camera operators and the actors over the years, Mylod said. Weve tried to evolve this idea of the camera, and therefore by extension the viewer and sometimes the characters themselves, barely keeping up with events. The whole way in which we try to manifest [this approach] is that we rarely rehearse, and we never rehearse with cameras. We throw the actors and the camera operators together into a space, with sometimes very little guidance from me. Theyve just learned to anticipate one another  I dont know of any other show that does that in quite the same way  and Im really proud of it.

The frisson of the actor and camera scrambling for perspective and control is beautifully, heartbreakingly counterbalanced in Logans death scene by cutting back to the scene onboard the airplane. The episode uses each new shot of Tom (Matthew MacFadyen) on the plane as a kind of punctuation mark that only feeds the desperation and denial on the boat.

Succession - Credit: Macall B. Polay / HBO

Macall B. Polay / HBO

The biggest single dilemma, for me anyway, was the aircraft side of [Logans death sequence] initially. Particularly during that 30-page section, a lot of that was supposed to be played off in that youd hear Tom on the phone, obviously, and that was Matthew live [on the call] each time. But you wouldnt necessarily cut to the aircraft much, if at all, during that section. But we thought wed shoot it anyway, and Matthew and the rest of the cast on the plane were so damn compelling. It was really hard to get the balance between intercutting the boat and the aircraft at that point in the story, Mylod said. We ended up cutting to Matthews side of the call a lot more than we originally intended because he was so good.

The other moment in the episode that was both planned and surprising was the final shot: Kendall alone on the tarmac after his fathers body is taken off the plane. That was always the final moment of the script, but Mylod didnt call cut. We let the moment play on. And actually, you know, in certain takes, Jeremys character broke down completely, emotionally. One of the takes, one of my favorites, was a continuation of the one we actually used. The moon happened to be rising very beautifully behind him.

In that unused take, Mylod let the camera roll past Kendall getting into his car, the ambulance driving away, the police cars leaving, and the press trudging away on the other side of the fence. Mylod held on a very lone and level sands composition of just the plane sitting on the runway. There was that lovely kind of emptying of the stage, you know. The play is over, and all the players exiting. That was really beautiful and very emotional for me, Mylod said. It wouldve been beautiful, and Nicholas Britell wouldve scored the hell out of it. But the right moment was [the one in the episode]. Its the zenith, all the complications and contradictions going through Kendalls head, seeing his fathers body there.

Nothing better encapsulates the visual sensibility of Succession than that preference for finding landscapes that betray the characters ambitions, making them look small, showing them at that peak moment when their emotions leak through, and then cutting away. Much like Logan himself, the shows cameras always put business over pleasure.

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This post contains spoilers for Succession and should also be read while listening to the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme song.

Succession writers knew they were on to something big when they decided to kill off Logan Roy in Connors Weddingthe third installment in the beloved HBO dramas fourth season. And so, they chose to protect their big secret spoiler with a codeword.

Georgia Pritchett, a longtime Succession writer, tweeted out a still of Brian Cox as Logan Roy on Tuesday and included a brief explanation. This was a tough secret to keep! Pritchet wrote. We decided it in the #Succession writers' room in Jan 22. So nobody found out we used code on the whiteboards.

As it turns out, Succession writers chose to reference another HBO series as their magic words.

Larry David meant Logan Dies, Pritchett continued. So episode 403 said Connor's Wedding, Larry David. Mind you, that would also have been a great episode.

This was a tough secret to keep! We decided it in the #Succession writers' room in Jan 22. So nobody found out we used code on the whiteboards. Larry David meant Logan Dies. So episode 403 said Connor's Wedding, Larry David. Mind you, that would also have been a great episode. pic.twitter.com/VH1HuHCFOC  Georgia Pritchett (@georgiapudding) April 11, 2023

Succession is not the first series thats said to have used extreme measures to protect precious spoilers. HBO head Casey Bloys once said that Game of Thrones would film multiple endings to protect its series finale, although he later said he did not believe that actually happened. In 2016, sources told The Hollywood Reporter that in preparation for Negans big kill scene at the start of The Walking Dead Season 7, each of the 11 cast members on the chopping block shot a death scenesupposedly to throw off spoiler hounds.

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Speaking with Variety, Connors Wedding director Mark Mylod said the show filmed dummy scenes with Logan Roy actor Brian Cox as a misdirect. During his own interview with Deadline, Cox confirmed showing up to the filming of his own characters funeral just to throw snoops off the scent.

As soon as I got out of the car, there were paparazzi shooting me left, right, and center, Cox said. Because he was there filming, he said, the reporters assumed his character was in attendance at the funeral scene. If I hadnt done that  they wouldve gone, its Logans funeral, Cox told Deadline. And I was the one who took that responsibility. They didnt even think of it.

Sex and the City fans might also recall that And Just Like That showrunner and executive producer Michael Patrick King had Chris Noth pull the exact same stunt while filming Mr. Bigs funeral. As he put it, We had to have some red herrings!

Logans death is a game-changing moment for Succession. Logan Roys children must now figure out how to grieve their abusive father and decide what to do with their share of his legacy. The episode drew Emmy-worthy performances from several actors and was apparently shot in one 27-minute take. Aptly enough given its title, the episode is also our best showcase yet for Connor and Willaa strangely symbiotic couple that just might also be this shows most functional.

With Logan out of the way, however, the Roy kids (and Tom) are going to need to brace themselves. The Coronation Demolition Derby begins this Sunday at 9 p.m.

Succession Asks an Impossible Question: How Do You Grieve an Abuser?

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The Texas House is proposing to spend $545 million to install air conditioning units in many of the states lethally hot prisons. This is good news for prison advocates who have fought for years to improve conditions inside Texas prisons. But their optimism is tempered by a lack of reciprocity so far from the state Senate, even as the Texas legislature has nearly $32.7 billion to work with.

Texas summers will only get hotter. If last years summer heat wave and drought conditions are to repeat, conditions are expected to reach dangerous levels yet again.

Triple-digit heat a lethal danger in Texas prisons, study says

A lack of air conditioning at most Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities has incarcerated individuals suffering dangerous consequences from the triple-digit heat.

Since 1998, the department has recorded at least 23 heat-related deaths. And in 2018 alone, at least 79 incarcerated people and prison staff reported heat-related illnesses from January to October, according to a report released July 21, 2022, by Texas A&Ms Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center and the advocacy group Texas Prisons Community Advocates.

Its brutal. Theyre dying. Theyre passing out. Theyre absolutely miserable right now, Amite Dominick, president of TPCA and one of the authors of the report, told the Star-Telegram last summer. This is the worst summer Ive seen.

Texas is one of at least 13 states without universal air conditioning in state prisons, according to the research. Temperatures inside units have regularly reached 110 degrees, conditions incarcerated people call a living hell, according to the study.

TDCJ operates 100 facilities, with 70 units having partial to no air conditioning, according to Texas Prisons Community Advocates. Only 30% of state prisons and jails are fully air-conditioned.

Dying from heat is a common fear among inmates, the report found through surveys from 309 incarcerated individuals collected between June 2018 and December 2020. At least 10 incarcerated people died in the 2011 heat wave.

Heat degrades a persons health over time, researchers said. A person who dies of a heart attack, for example, may not have died from heat exposure directly, but consistent exposure to excessive heat.

Heat makes it more difficult for infected individuals to fight off the virus, contributing to COVID-19 deaths in prisons.

Others are vulnerable to heat because they have underlying health conditions, or they take medication that makes them especially sensitive to the heat. Some of them arent taking their medication during the summer, because theyre afraid thatll kill them, Dominick said.

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Are incarcerated individuals in Texas entitled to air conditioning?

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards requires that temperatures be between 65 and 85 degrees in all county jails. Those same standards should be applied to all state-run prisons and jails, says Texas Prisons Community Advocates.
A Boston-area supermarket chain will pay $800,000 to settle allegations that it violated state labor laws by failing to pay workers overtime and weekend rates, the state attorney generals office said Tuesday.

The C-Mart stores, which specialize in Asian foods and are located in Bostons South End and Chinatown neighborhoods as well as in Quincy, were issued 15 citations in 2021 following an investigation by the attorney generals Fair Labor Division.

In addition to not properly paying workers for overtime or for hours worked on Sundays, authorities concluded that the stores failed to furnish accurate payroll records and failed to post required workplace notices.

I am proud of the offices work to ensure that the workers harmed by C-Mart will get back the wages they are rightfully owed, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said in a statement.

The settlement was reached after C-Mart appealed the 2021 citations.

A lawyer for C-Mart said via email that the company cooperated with the investigation and that while it did not agree with the attorney generals methodology for calculating the amount due, it was pleased to reach a resolution without litigation.

This matter arose due to bookkeeping system issues and the unavailability of timecards, not to bad faith of anyone at C-Mart, attorney Matthew Morris said.

The company has changed its policies to comply with state law, he said.

Most Massachusetts workers are entitled to time-and-a-half pay for working more than 40 hours per week. At the time of the investigation, most were also entitled to premium pay for Sundays.

The attorney general will distribute the money to affected C-Mart employees through a claims process.

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Supporters of the Dalai Lama defended him online this week after the religious leader asked a young boy to "suck my tongue" on Monday, outraging many observers.

The Dalai Lama's defenders argued criticism was coming from Westerners who misunderstand Tibetan culture. Sticking out one's tongue at another person is considered a sign of respect or affirmation in the region's culture, according to the University of California at Berkeley's Institute of East Asian Studies.

"Expression of emotions and manners today has been melted together and become vividly westernised," Tibetan activist Namdol Lhagyari tweeted Monday. "Bringing in narrative of other cultures, customs and social influence on gender and sexuality to interpret Tibetan way of expression is heinous."

"At [the] Dalai Lamas temple, a child asked him if he could hug Dalai Lama & he said yes, then he asked for a kiss & Dalai Lama did a kiss, then jokingly Dalai Lama said you can suck my tongue. So that was a part of a joke or just a play with the kid, so we should not go more than that," said Dawa Tsering, a member of the Tibetan Parliament In Exile.

INDIAN MAN RIGGED MUSIC SYSTEM WITH EXPLOSIVES THAT KILLED GROOM OF FORMER LOVER: REPORTS

The Dalai Lama is facing criticism for asking a young boy to "suck my tongue," something his defenders say was meant as a joke.

The 87-year-old exiled religious leader of Tibet was holding a public event when the interaction occurred. His representatives made no mention of the tongue incident in an apologetic statement, saying only that the boy approached the Dalai Lama and asked for a hug. The two interacted for several moments, and footage circulating on social media shows the boy responding to the leader's request to "suck my tongue."

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"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," representatives wrote in a statement on Twitter. "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."

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"His holiness often teases people when he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident," the statement continued.

CHINA INTERFERENCE IN SUCCESSION OF NEXT DALAI LAMA SLAMMED BY SEN. RISCH

The Dalai Lama currently lives in India and is considered by China to be a criminal separatist after he fled Tibet following a failed uprising against China in 1959.

Video of Monday's incident has already racked up millions of views across social media.

The Dalai Lama issued an apology for a seemingly inappropriate interaction with a young boy on Monday.

The religious leader remains a major player in the fight for freedom in Tibet, which is under oppressive Chinese rule.

The Chinese foreign ministry declared in 2011 that only the government in Beijing can appoint the next Dalai Lama and no other succession candidate would be given any recognition. Nevertheless, Buddhist priests have unanimously rejected that declaration, saying only the Dalai Lama can appoint a successor.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order to tighten background checks on Tuesday, marking a victory for gun reformers in the GOP-controlled state.

Lee also called upon the state legislature to pass a red flag law that will make it easier to remove guns from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivers his State of the State Address in the House Chamber, Feb. 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Two years after Lee led the charge to allow residents 21 and older to carry handguns in public without a permit, younger adults could soon have the same privilege, with or without the governor's signoff.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivers his State of the State Address in the House Chamber, Feb. 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Two years after Lee led the charge to allow residents 21 and older to carry handguns in public without a permit, younger adults could soon have the same privilege, with or without the governor's signoff.

Im asking the General Assembly to bring forward an order of protection law, Lee told reporters in Nashville, according to The Tennessean. A new, strong order of protection law will provide the broader population cover, safety, from those who are a danger to themselves or the population.

Lees call for reform comes after a lone shooter killed three children and three adults at The Covenant School in Nashville on April 3.

The suspect in the Covenant case, 28-year-old Audrey Hale, had been receiving treatment for an emotional disorder, according to Nashville police, but still bought seven firearms legally in recent years.

The executive order mandates government offices and law enforcement to report all relevant criminal and court mental health information to the state instant background check system within 72 hours of receiving it. The order also gives the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 60 days to submit a report detailing ways the current background check system could be improved.

Lees call for a red flag law presents more of a challenge in the state legislature, where Republicans hold strong majorities in both houses. While an ongoing string of mass shootings and an uptick in gun violence over the last two years has driven reform in blue states, red states have largely continued to embrace efforts to loosen firearm restrictions.

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Lee signed a constitutional carry bill into law in 2021, which did away with the requirement to seek a permit to carry a gun  a priority among conservative state lawmakers across the country. With the passage of a similar measure in Florida this month, more than half of states now recognize constitutional carry.

Still, Lee says he hopes his colleagues will see a greater need for reform after this months shooting.

I think everyone  leadership from speakers as well as other leaders  have expressed a desire to do something and move forward, Lee said, according to News Channel 5.

Lees support for a red flag law is encouraging, Noah Lumbantobing of the reform group March for Our Lives wrote in a statement, but said that Lee should go farther.

Were calling on Gov. Lee and the Tennessee Legislature to take on the full scope of measures that survivors and young people have been calling for, including universal background checks, a ban on bump stocks, and much more, Lumbantobing wrote.

The governors reform push appears to nod to public pressure. Last weeks shooting touched off major protests at the Capitol, with demonstrators flooding the building to demand that the body pass gun control measures in response to the mass shooting.

Republicans responded by expelling two Democratic Representatives, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, for breaking decorum during the protests. The two young lawmakers spoke through a bullhorn and chanted before the House chamber. The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted to reinstate Jones Monday, and a similar vote is expected for Pearson this week.

Related...
The Conway Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying five people who are suspected of breaking into a business.

The police department opened an investigation on April 2 in a burglary that occurred at D & S Handimart, 2900 4th Ave.

Forced entry was made through the front glass door, an incident report states.

In a Twitter post this morning, the police department provided pictures taken from what appears to be security footage.

Anyone with information can call the Conway Police Department at 843-248-1790.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11)  Amid rising tensions in Taiwan, the Philippines has urged global powers United States and China to "manage their strategic rivalry with dialogue and "sincere engagement.

In his speech during the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) forum held in Washington D.C., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said "the present and future relationship between the United States and China is a defining feature of this regional ecosystem.

"As responsible powers, each with a stake in the region's long term peace and security, Washington and Beijing need to manage their strategic rivalry with dialogue, transparent and sincere engagement where possible," he added.

Beijing launched military drills around Taiwan, a day after its President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a 10-day visit to Central America and the US where she met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China has repeatedly warned against Tsai's meeting with McCarthy and has threatened to take "strong and resolute measures" if it proceeded.

Beijing described the military drills as "a serious warning against the Taiwan separatist forces' collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Manalo said any kind of escalating tension or military conflict would have adverse repercussions in the region, especially in the Philippines due to proximity.

Asked if the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines would house equipment that could be used by the US should tensions in Taiwan escalate, Manalo said discussions are still underway.

"It will all depend on how discussions go on the type of activities and the terms of references of those activities within any of those sites," he added.

China has warned 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."

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meanwhile said the EDCA sites will not be a staging ground for offensive operations.
Police discovered the devices at around 6.30am on Tuesday in Londonderrys city cemetery - Liam McBurney/PA

Four suspected pipe bombs were discovered at the scene of a dissident republican march on Tuesday as Joe Biden flew into Northern Ireland pledging to keep the peace.

Police were attacked for a second day in Londonderry as officers made safe the crude homemade devices, hours before the US president arrived in Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The devices were found at the city cemetery off the Creggan estate where the previous day hundreds taking part in a dissident republican march were urged to join the IRA.

The Good Friday Agreement created the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is based on power-sharing between unionists and nationalists and Mr Biden vowed to promote Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal and protect the peace-keeping agreement.

Northern Ireland has been divided by the new Windsor Framework and the president, a Catholic who regularly refers to his Irish roots, will tell the DUP to drop their year-long boycott of the Assembly.

Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, to keep the peace. Thats the - thats the main thing. And its [looking] like were going to - keep your fingers crossed, Mr Biden said.

Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One upon his arrival at RAF Aldergrove airbase in Belfast - Reuters

Mr Biden was greeted by Mr Sunak upon arrival - AFP

The DUP has accused Mr Biden, who will spend less than than 24 hours in Northern Ireland before three days south of the border, of being anti-British.

Pressure from an American administration which is so transparently pro-nationalist constitutes no pressure on us at all, said Nigel Dodds, the DUP peer.

Our decisions will be taken with the interests of Northern Ireland at the heart of our thinking. Thats not what the Americans are about, especially Joe Biden.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said: Hes anti-British. He is pro-Republican and he has made his antipathy towards protestants in particular very well known.

He has fully backed the EU in this whole Protocol process. Hes refusing to come to the coronation. I dont think any of us are rushing through the door to greet him.

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PM won't attend Biden's keynote speech

Mr Biden angered unionists when he warned Britain there would be no post-Brexit trade deal with the US if the UK carried out its threat to tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol treaty with the EU.

The Prime Minister, who will also meet Mr Biden during his whistlestop visit, has since struck the new Windsor Framework agreement with the EU.

But Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, has said the new treaty does not do enough to protect Northern Irelands place in the UK and has refused to return to power-sharing.

Mr Biden pictured boarding Air Force Once ahead of his arrival in Northern Ireland - KEVIN LAMARQUE/Reuters

Mr Biden was expected to address Stormont but instead he will meet the five leaders of Northern Irelands major political parties at the opening of a new branch of Ulster University in Belfast and urge the DUP in person to end the deadlock.

Mr Sunak will not attend Mr Bidens keynote speech, with Downing Street denying that the pairs own talks would be low-key.

Unionists have not forgiven Mr Biden for several gaffes and accuse him of arguing against laws making it easier to extradite IRA terrorists from the US when he was a senator.

The DUP are facing local elections in May and the prospect of bleeding support to the hardline and virulently anti-deal Traditional Unionist Voice, which has made them more determined to resist the overtures of the worlds most powerful man.

'He shouldn't have bothered'

Biden is irredeemably partisan, Jim Allister, the TUVs leader told The Telegraph.

His continuing stance is anti-British and anti-Unionist. With our public finances severely stretched, we could well do without squandering 7 million on security for him.

But Stephen Kelly, the chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said the presidents visit was a great opportunity for Northern Ireland, which is the poorest region in the UK.

This is not just a chance to celebrate and reflect on 25 years of peace but launch the next 25 years of prosperity.

Joe Biden - JIM WATSON/AFP

On Belfasts Shankill Road, locals said the presidents visit would do more harm than good as they stood amid the backdrop of murals including a tribute to the late Queen and memorials to civilians murdered by the IRA.

He shouldnt have bothered, Elizabeth Jones, 65, said as she watched a unionist band parade with her daughter Miriam Martin, 44.

He should have just gone on down south. Not that we want him anyway. Hes re-opening old wounds like the Kennedys did. Hes not interested in the peace process, all hes interested in is Republicanism. Its none of his business.

Sandra Smyth had been watching the parade with her granddaughter Clara, three, who waved a union flag from her pram as family members taking part passed by.

Ms Smyth, 63, a retired nursing home worker, said: Hes just another American president doing what American presidents do best, going to other countries, causing trouble and then going back home.

Meanwhile, a poster lambasting prominent politicians including Mr Biden for not listening could be spotted on the streets of Belfast ahead of the US leaders visit.

Hundreds of extra officers drafted in

Mr Biden arrives amid the biggest security operation in Northern Ireland since the G8 summit a decade ago. Hundreds of extra officers have been drafted in to help protect the president as part of the 7 million operation.

Police are on high alert after an armoured Land Rover was firebombed in Londonderry during a march linked to the New IRA, now being investigated by counter-terror police.

The pipe bombs were discovered close to where the colour party wearing paramilitary style clothing leading the illegal march burnt their outfits.

Bobby Singleton, the Police Service of Northern Irelands Assistant Chief Constable, said that the force's warning last week that disorder would be used to launch terrorist attacks on police and officers were again attacked with petrol bombs as they investigated the devices.

Police at Derry City Cemetery - Liam McBurney/PA

The discovery of these devices was a further sinister and worrying development. The actions of those responsible are reprehensible and show a complete disregard and utter contempt for the community. These suspected pipe bombs were left in a cemetery, a place where people lay loved ones to rest and visit to pay their respects. That is absolutely shameful.
Sew-on patches showing a Taiwanese black bear punching Winnie the Pooh

People in Taiwan alarmed at China's latest military drills have found a symbolic way of turning a geopolitical tussle into a bear-knuckle fight.

A popular new badge depicts a Taiwanese black bear punching Winnie the Pooh, who often appears in memes representing Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The fad began among air force pilots, but has since gone viral.

Taiwan is a self-ruled island with its own government and constitution, but China sees it as a breakaway province.

On Monday, China finished three days of military drills around Taiwan, which included "sealing off" the island and simulating targeted strikes.

Beijing began the exercises on Saturday after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

After the drills ended, Taiwan's defence ministry said it would not stop strengthening its combat preparedness.

Images and videos released by the ministry to back up its stance included the sight of a pilot wearing a sew-on patch of the battling bears - and social media users were quick to highlight it.

The badge, available in two versions, has the word "Scramble!" at the bottom, one of them also proclaiming "We are open 24/7".

A third badge shows a Taiwanese fighter pilot slapping a panda, China's national symbol.

Taiwanese people were quick to snap up the Pooh-punching patches, which retailed at 200 Taiwanese dollars (5.30; $6.50).

They were produced by Wings Fan Goods in Taoyuan city, east of the capital, Taipei, which has now sold out of them.

Taiwan's air force told the Reuters news agency that it did not "particularly encourage" its members to wear the patch, which is not a part of their uniform.

However, it added that it would "maintain an open attitude" to anything that raised morale.
Chinese warships and aircraft were still operating around Taiwan on Tuesday, the island's defence ministry said, a day after Beijing declared an end to its massive war games.

China launched three days of military exercises around self-ruled Taiwan on Saturday that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practise a blockade of the island.

The show of force from Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory, was a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke retaliatory measures.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the island as of 11:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday.

China "organised military aircraft this morning and crossed the median line from the north, the centre, and the south", the ministry said, referring to the unofficial but once largely adhered-to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait.

On Monday, the final day of the drills, the ministry said it had detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island, with 54 planes entering Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

The ADIZ incursions were the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021.

The zone is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace, and includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own ADIZ and even some of the mainland.

During the exercises, J15 fighter jets had been deployed off China's Shandong aircraft carrier and were among the aircraft that crossed the median line, the defence ministry added.

A similar number of warships and jets were deployed by Beijing on Saturday and Sunday.

"The Shandong carrier battle group deployed in the Philippine Sea was involved in the drill and the total of 232 air sorties in three days are unprecedented," Alexander Huang, a military expert at Tamkang University in Taipei, told AFP.

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Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen condemned the military drills on Monday, hours after they officially came to an end, saying China was using Taiwan's engagement with the United States as an "excuse to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region".

"Although China's military exercise has come to an end, our military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," Tsai said.

- Aerial blockade -

China responded to questions about Tuesday's military presence by reiterating its claim over Taiwan.

"China will resolutely take strong measures to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing.

"Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory. There is no so-called Taiwanese defence ministry."

After the three-day exercise, the Chinese military said it had "successfully completed" tasks related to its "Joint Sword" drills.

The war games saw Beijing simulate "sealing" off the island, with state media reporting dozens of planes had practised an "aerial blockade".

The United States, which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint, sent its guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius through contested parts of the South China Sea on Monday.

"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea," the US Navy said in a statement.

The deployment was condemned by China, which said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into its territorial waters.

On Tuesday, the United States and the Philippines launched their largest joint military exercises, with almost 18,000 troops taking part in the annual "Balikatan" drill.

The exercise will include a live-fire drill in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely, as well as helicopter landings on an island about 300 kilometres (180 miles) south of Taiwan.

Beijing warned that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed "foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions.

The White House said that relations with Beijing were rocky following the drills.

Analysts said the continued presence of Chinese ships and aircraft even after the drill was declared over could signal an increase in daily military displays.

"I hope it will not become the normal state," said Tzeng Yi-suo, a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei.

"Taiwan's military has been working hard to counter the... attrition and harassment."

aw-ssy/pbt/aha
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has condemned the military drills China conducted in the Taiwan Strait in apparent retaliation after Tsai met with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the U.S. last week, saying Beijing is not acting in a responsible manner.

As the president, I represent our country in the world, whether its a visit to allied countries or stopping through in the U.S. and interacting with our international friends, and not only has this been going on for years, its the Taiwanese peoples shared expectation, Tsai said in a statement shared by The Associated Press.

But China used this as a pretext to start military drills, creating instability in the Taiwan Strait and region. This is not the attitude of a responsible major nation in this region, the Taiwan leader said.

Chinas military simulated precision strikes and sealing off the democratically governed island Beijing claims as its own during three days of intense drills after Tsais meeting with McCarthy.

The Speaker said afterward that his meeting with Tsai provided greater peace and stability for the world.

China said after the exercises that its forces are ready to fight at all times to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts. Similar drills were conducted after McCarthys predecessor, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), made a trip to Taipei last year.

U.S.-China tensions have already been heightened by the pandemic, Russias war on Ukraine and other issues  and Beijing has been upset by U.S. support for Taiwan. The U.S. has maintained strategic ambiguity in its stance on Taiwans independence.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI (Reuters) -The Chinese navy continued with "actual combat training" around Taiwan on Tuesday, state media said, a day after Beijing announced the end of drills and as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen criticised China for its "irresponsible" behaviour.

China began the exercises on Saturday after Tsai returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China, which warned the U.S. not to allow Tsai to visit or meet McCarthy, claims Taiwan as its own and 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.

Although China said on Monday night the drills had ended, state television said that several warships "continued to carry out actual combat training in the waters around Taiwan to test the organisational and command capabilities of commanders at all levels and the combat effectiveness of weapons and equipment".

The warship Xuzhou performed combat readiness patrol missions in the waters to Taiwan's east, conducting air defence and anti-missile training, while in another unspecified area, the Xian conducted over-the-horizon missile training, the report said.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had spotted nine Chinese ships and 26 aircraft, including J-16 and Su-30 fighters, carrying out combat readiness patrols around the island late Tuesday morning.

Taiwan's air force, navy and shore-based missile crews are closely monitoring and responding, it added.

Taiwan's government has repeatedly denounced the drills, but said it will not escalate or provoke.

Writing on her Facebook page shortly before midnight on Monday, Tsai said that as president, "I represent my county to the world", and that her visits abroad, including stops in the United States, are not new and are what Taiwan's people expect.

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"However, China used this to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region. This is not a responsible attitude for a major country in the region," she said.

China simulated precision attacks and blockades of Taiwan during the drills, sending up dozens of fighter jets and bombers.

Taiwan's defence ministry said that on Monday, 91 Chinese military aircraft flew in missions around the island.

Taiwan's official Central News Agency said that was a record, though the defence ministry said it could not verify whether that was the case.

The ministry published a map showing that on Monday Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, which normally serves as an unofficial barrier, to its north and centre.

It also showed 15 carrier-based J-15s, most likely flying from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, flying east of Taiwan. Taiwan has been tracking the Shandong in the Western Pacific since last week.

Reuters reporters on the coast near the Chinese city of Fuzhou on Tuesday saw separate, and much more low-key, drills taking place, with a warship firing at targets. Those exercises were announced before China's massed drills around Taiwan.

Fuzhou sits close to the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands.

'DEFEND THE COUNTRY'

Tsai said Taiwan's armed forces and coast guard reacted calmly and professionally to China's exercises, and she thanked everyone involved.

"Although China's military exercises have come to an end, the nation's military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," she added.

The exercises have also caused concern in Japan, especially as its southern islands sit close to Taiwan and could become caught up in a conflict.

The Japanese island of Okinawa is host to a major U.S. air force base, and last August Chinese missiles landed within Japan's exclusive economic zone when China staged war games to protest the visit of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.

Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada on Tuesday described China's military drills around Taiwan as "intimidating training" to seize sea and air control around the island.

China appeared to have shown an "uncompromising attitude" regarding Taiwan issues through the drills, Hamada told reporters.

Life in Taiwan has continued as normal despite the tensions, with no signs of panic or disruption, and civilian flights around the island, including over the Taiwan Strait, were also uninterrupted.

Both Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties, in a rare show of unity, put out a joint statement from their parliament caucuses condemning the drills.

"The people and government of Taiwan have the right to conduct normal exchanges with other countries and contribute to the international community through international participation," the statement said. "The Chinese authorities have no right to obstruct and cannot change the strong will of the Taiwanese people to go out into the world."

(Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Jeanny Kao, Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo, Thomas Peter in Fuzhou, China, and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue, Gerry Doyle and Nick Macfie)
Chinese warships were still present in the waters around Taiwan on Tuesday even after Beijing announced the end of war games that ensued 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 president Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a meeting with US House speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Although Beijing said on Monday night the drills had ended, Taiwan's defence ministry said eight Chinese ships remained in waters around the island.

China simulated precision attacks and blockades of Taiwan during the drills, sending up dozens of fighter jets and bombers.

The Asian giant flew a record 91 military aircraft on Monday around the island, with 54 of them crossing the Taiwan Strait.

According to Taiwan's defence ministry, China flew 15 carrier-based J-15s, most likely flying from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, flying east of Taiwan. The island has been tracking the Shandong in the Western Pacific since last week.

At the end of the war games, China declared it was "ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of 'Taiwan independence' and foreign interference attempts".

China has beefed up its military harassment around the island in recent years by routinely flying aircraft that violate the self-governed island's airspace. Beijing claims Taipei is obliged to reunite with the mainland, 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.

91 PLA aircraft and 12 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/4OdCJgTGEc   Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.  (@MoNDefense) April 11, 2023

The combat exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, albeit smaller in comparison, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around the island following then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

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The large-scale war games serve as both intimidation and as an opportunity for the Chinese troops to practice sealing off the island by blocking sea and air traffic.

President Tsai denounced the drill, stating that it has caused "instability" on the island.

Ms Tsai said that as president, "I represent my country to the world", and that her visits abroad, including stops in the US, are not new and what Taiwan's people expect.

"This is not a responsible attitude for a major country in the region," she said.

"Although China's military exercises have come to an end, the nation's military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," she added.

Taiwans president Tsai Ing-wen and Michael McCaul, chairman of the US house foreign affairs committee meet in Taipei (Via REUTERS)

The war games have also been a concern for Japan, with Tokyo following the drills around Taiwan "with great interest".

Washington maintains that Ms Tsai's transition through the US and a congressional visit to Taiwan were normal and didn't have any reason for China to "react in any way militarily".

"There's no reason for tensions across the Taiwan Strait to devolve into any kind of conflict," White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby said.

China responded immediately to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsai's US stopover.

Chinese soldiers stand on deck as their warship takes part in a military drill off the Chinese coast near Fuzhou (REUTERS)

The US Navy's 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.

Beijing claimed the US "illegally trespassed" into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government.

Meanwhile, the US and Philippines on Tuesday launched their largest combat exercises in decades in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait despite a warning from China.

The annual drills by the longtime treaty allies called Balikatan  Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder  will run up to 28 April and involve more than 17,600 military personnel.

The latest display of American firepower will include live-fire drills and a boat-sinking rocket assault.
Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare encouraged voters at a True Texas Project meeting Monday evening to take advantage of low voter turnout in municipal elections this May to get candidates they want in office.

OHare was there to speak with Sheriff Bill Waybourn and District Attorney Phil Sorrells about the countys newly formed election integrity unit. Around 75 people came to House of Grace TX, a church in North Richland Hills, to listen to the discussion and ask questions.

True Texas Project, formerly the NE Tarrant Tea Party, has endorsed candidates up and down the ballot this election cycle, including Fort Worth council candidates Alan Blaylock, Charlie Lauersdorf and Jason Ellis.

Early voting begins April 24 for the May 6 election.

This room right here can make a difference, OHare said. These elections, the turnout is so low by percentage.

OHare said that in all the years he has lived in Tarrant County, he hasnt ever seen municipal and school board elections more quiet than they are right now.

By you bringing neighbors, friends, picking up the phone, doing postings on social media, there are races that, quite frankly, we ought not to be able to win that we can probably win just because we raise awareness and get people out, OHare said.

OHare specifically mentioned Fort Worth City Council elections, where he said there were two incumbents who needed to be voted out. He did not name them.

One of them believes men can have periods, OHare said. Need I say anything else?

After the meeting, OHare said he was at the event to speak with voters and told a Star-Telegram reporter to call his office. A spokesperson for OHare who also attended the event did not know the incumbents OHare was referring to.

Other topics covered by the countys top Republican leaders included the Tarrant County jail, the reason for the task forces creation, voting machines and precinct voting.

Waybourn mentioned a video circulated by conservative news outlet Gateway Pundit before the 2022 midterm elections concerning allegations that Democratic nominee for county judge Deborah Peoples harvested ballots.

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He said he felt ethically challenged to not be the investigative party, and said he had called the Texas Rangers, Attorney Generals Office and Tarrant County District Attorneys office to investigate.

At 7:05 p.m. on Election Day, Waybourn said he felt his conflict was over and started the election integrity unit the next day.

During the question and answer segment, one person asked the panel if it was doing anything to get rid of voting machines because theyre so easily manipulated.

I guess the short answer at this point is no, OHare responded. Were not doing anything at this point to get rid of machines.

OHare said he intended to call an election commission meeting that would be public, as well as a closed door executive session discussion to go over the election administrators performance sometime after May 6.

Tarrant County Election Administrator Heider Garcia did not immediately return a phone call and text message for comment Tuesday morning.

I want to say all things are on the table, OHare said. I know there are a lot of people that want to get rid of the machines. Im not telling you Im a fan of the machines, want to keep the machines. Im telling you you can cheat in paper ballots. You can in machines. You can cheat in all sorts of things.

He mentioned the numbered ballot initiative in Ellis County, which OHare said Tarrant County officials had explored.

OHare also said he supported ending countywide voting.
Radiochemist Milan Stika, left, hands a uranium sample to fellow chemist Christine Krizmanich Aug. 22, 2019, in the radiochemistry lab at Niowave in Lansing.

DeWITT TWP.  Medical isotopes maker Niowave Inc. plans a $20 million expansion that officials said will create 35 new technical jobs in the Lansing area.

The Lansing-based company plans to expand production of medical radioisotopes used in diagnostic and therapeutic treatments at its facility near Capital Region International Airport, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office said Tuesday in a news release.

The project will add "high-wage" jobs in the tech and life sciences sectors, and builds on the work being done at the FRIB facility at Michigan State University, officials said.

"Niowave chose mid-Michigan as home nearly 20 years ago because of the unique combination of science and advanced manufacturing talent," Niowave President Mike Zamiara said in the news release. "We made the right decision then and are excited to expand here now."

Whitmer said Niowave chose Michigan over competing sites in California, Indiana, South Carolina and Tennessee in part because of the regional talent pool created by the area's manufacturing heritage and the nuclear physics program at MSU.

A $500,000 "performance-based" grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is supporting the expansion, officials said.

Niowave building at the Capital Area International Airport, seen on April 11, 2023.

The Next Michigan Development Corporation also is considering an industrial tax abatement, and the company is working with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership to "identify possible support" for the project.

If it gets the approvals it needs, the company intends to proceed with the project this year, officials said. It was unclear when any physical expansion work would begin.

MEDC Senior Vice President of Regional Prosperity Matt McCauley described the project at "a win for Lansing and for the entire state."

Niowave was founded in 2005 as a spinoff from what is now known as the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. The company makes medical and industrial radioisotopes derived from uranium and radium, and is one of only a few companies that can design, build, test and operate superconducting linear accelerators in house, state officials said.

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In 2019, Niowave received a $15 million federal grant to help it jump-start production of a key medical radioisotope used in the fight against heart disease and cancer.

An agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration called for it to use the money, and $15 million of its own, to produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the most commonly used medical isotope in the world. Officials said the grant also would allow Niowave to hire more workers.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Tech company Niowave plans $20 million expansion in Lansing region
A 19-year-old has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in connection with the 2019 shooting death of a teen who was trying to buy a cellphone, according to South Carolina prosecutors.

DaCoreian Gossett pleaded guilty on April 10 to a count of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the killing of 15-year-old Juan Mauricio Calderon, according to a news release from the South Carolina attorney general.

Calderon, who went by Reecy, according to his obituary, was shot in July 2019 at a house in Spartanburg County, WSPA reported at the time.

Calderon had arranged to buy a cellphone through the Letgo app, the outlet reported.

When he arrived at the house, the owner of the cellphone was with four other people, including Gossett, according to the outlet.

Gossett, who was 15 at the time, shot Calderon without provocation, according to the attorney generals office.

Calderon died days later at a hospital, according to Go Upstate.

Two of the other people there were also sentenced on April 10, according to the news release.

Takyus Hawes was sentenced to five years in prison with 15 years suspended and five years of probation on a charge of accessory after the fact, the release says. Another man was sentenced to 10 years, which was suspended to 1,355 days that hes already served on a charge of misprision of a felony, the release says. He will not serve any more prison time but will serve five years of probation.

A suspended sentence means that the convicted person will remain out of prison as long as certain conditions are upheld. If those conditions are violated, the suspended sentence can be revoked and the original term can be imposed.

Another person who was at the scene, Shyheim Suber, pleaded guilty on Jan. 26, 2022, to accessory after the fact and to one count of attempted armed robbery from an unrelated case, according to a spokesman for the attorney generals office. He was sentenced to 12 years.

Charges are pending for the owner of the phone, according to the attorney generals office.

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All five were present at the time of the shooting, but Suber and the other man sentenced April 10 remained in a car at the scene, according to the spokesman.

Jack Logan, founder of Put Down the Guns Now Young People, an organization working to end gun violence in South Carolina, said in a video posted on Facebook that he was glad to see justice served.

Logan said he visited Calderon and his family in the hospital after the shooting.

Watching that loving family sit there praying and hoping that little Reecy would be put back together again, he said. But it didnt happen. It didnt happen, and little Reecy died.





Friends and family members who attended a vigil for Calderon 2019 said he was a kind spirit and considerate of others at church and at school, according to Go Upstate.

This really hits all of us close to home, Madison Martinez told the outlet. He was such a loving person and this should have never happened to him.

Spartanburg County is in northwestern South Carolina. The county seat, Spartanburg, is about 95 miles northwest of Columbia.

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15-year-old killed in shooting at Midlands business identified by SC coroner

Two teens charged with capital murder in March 21 death of Arlington man selling car
By Sandra Stojanovic and Omar Younis

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) -Tennessee Democrats on Tuesday will press for the reinstatement of a second state representatives who was expelled for leading a gun policy protest on the floor of the statehouse, after the first was reinstated on Monday.

Justin Jones pumped his fist and declared "power to the people" as he returned to the state House of Representatives on Monday after being restored by the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County.

His colleague Justin Pearson, the other young Black legislator who was expelled last week, could get a similar vote for reinstatement on Wednesday when the Shelby County Board of Commissioners will consider reappointing him to his Memphis district.

"You might try and silence it. You might try and expel it. But the people's power will not be stopped," Pearson told supporters outside the council chambers in Nashville following Jones's reinstatement. "This is what democracy looks like."

In a joint statement after Jones's reinstatement, William Lamberth and Jeremy Faison, who lead Tennessee's House Republicans, noted that the state's constitution "provides a pathway back for expulsion."

"Should any expelled member be reappointed, we will welcome them," Monday's statement said. "Like everyone else, they are expected to follow the rules of the House as well as state law."

Republican lawmakers last week kicked out Jones and Pearson for breaking decorum but came up one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed to expel Representative Gloria Johnson, a white woman who joined Jones and Pearson in the demonstration but did not speak through a megaphone.

The conflict has captured national attention and served as a rallying cry for Democrats over the issues of democracy, gun violence and racial inequality.

A large crowd calling for gun control protested outside the statehouse March 30, and Jones and Pearson engaged in a call-and-response from the chamber's floor with people who took their protest into the spectators gallery following the March 27 school shooting in Nashville that killed three 9-year-old school children and three adults.

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On Monday, about 600 protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Council as it voted 36-0 to make Jones, 27, the interim representative.

The vote set off a celebration as supporters shouted "Whose house? Our house!" and "No Justin, no peace" while displaying signs that read, "Protect kids, not guns" and "Stop sales of AR15."

Many of them followed Jones to the statehouse, cheering him as he was sworn in on the steps.

The House was in session as he then quietly entered the chamber and took his seat. A colleague shook his hand. Jones was introduced to cheers from the gallery, and he raised a fist in acknowledgement.

"I want to welcome the people back to the people's house," Jones said after House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, gave him an opportunity to address the assembly. "I want to welcome democracy back to the people's house." Jones then settled in to listen to debate and take part in voting.

Republican lawmakers hold a 75-23 supermajority and have shown little concern for reprisal from voters.

(Reporting by Sandra Stojanovic and Omar Younis in Nashville; Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta and Jonathan Allen; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Donna Bryson and Lisa Shumaker)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11)  A senator on Tuesday said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries should work together to maintain peace and order in the region as tensions between superpowers United States and China may further escalate.

Posibleng magbuo ng coalition of the unwilling dito sa ASEAN o Asia Pacific, countries who would like to help de-escalate, cool the tensions between the US and China," Sen. Risa Hontiveros told CNN Philippines The Source. Sana may proactive na effort on the part of as many of us smaller countries in this region as possible para sabihing ayaw talaga natin ng giyera dito."

[Translation: It's possible to form a coalition of the unwilling here in the ASEAN or Asia Pacific of countries who would like to help de-escalate, cool the tensions between the US and China. I hope smaller countries in this region have a more proactive effort to say that we don't want war in the region.]

There are currently several issues between the US and China, like the establishment of the four new sites on top of the existing five Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) locations.

While Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has said this would only lead to more tensions and less peace and stability in the region, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said he will not allow these sites to be used for offensive actions.

There are also rising tensions in Taiwan as Beijing conducted a three-day military drill around the country that it claims.

This was done following President Tsai Ing-wens return to her country after a meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

READ: PH urges US, China to 'manage rivalry' amid rising tensions in Taiwan

Hontiveros said forming the coalition with other small nations will prevent countries from getting stuck in the middle of the two superpowers.

Smaller countries should also implement actions that would prevent the US and China from going into war, and potentially requiring the other nations to take sides.

The best we can do is to keep on communicating both to China and the US that we want a peaceful, if not, resolution of the conflict then at the very, very least status quo, Hontiveros noted.

Instead of improving defense capabilities through US assistance under EDCA, the Philippines should instead focus on a multilateral approach when it comes to joint naval exercises, joint patrol, and joint training of troops, she noted.
Kevin Wurm/Reuters

When Tennessee Republicans expelled two young, Black Democratic lawmakers from the state House last week, the national reaction was swift and intense.

Videos of their defiant speeches racked up millions of views on social media. Top figures in the Democratic Party, like Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), marshaled hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of online, grassroots campaign contributions to Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, and to the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Vice President Kamala Harris met with the Tennessee Three in Nashville; President Joe Biden, as well as former President Barack Obama, issued statements condemning their expulsion.

Millions of people who might not otherwise have cared about the machinations and players in the state house of a deep red state were, all of a sudden, devouring information about it.

Ousted Nashville Lawmaker Sent Back to Tennessee House by His City Council

Those striking responses reflected a sea change within the Democratic Party: national energy, outrage, and dollars flowing to fierce battles unfolding in the state capitals they once neglected.

After losing hundreds of state legislative seats nationwide in the 2010s, Democrats began reversing the trend in 2022. Backlash to the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade, among other things, fueled successful campaigns to flip state houses in places like Michigan and Minnesota.

To Democrats who have toiled for years to rebuild state level power, the reaction to what unfolded in Tennessee not only crystallizes the partys recent shift, but signals the increased investment they believe is coming to states where Democrats hope to make gains in the 2024 election cycle.

Christina Polizzi, communications director for Democrats official state legislative campaign arm, said the breadth and depth to the reaction would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

That transition has been starting to happen, Polizzi said. Theres still work that needs to be done, but were thrilled so many members have spoken up on behalf of Tennessee Democrats.

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Last year, the viral response to a speech by a little-known Michigan state senator named Mallory McMorrow, pushing back against GOP culture war talking points, heralded Democrats renewed energy for state-level battles.

McMorrow told The Daily Beast she was shocked by how quick the party mobilized in the wake of the Tennessee expulsions, but also really relieved, because these are the things that happen in state houses around the country.

People need to pay attention to what happens in state houses, McMorrow said. I do think Democrats are realizing how important it is. It feels like screaming into the abyss, but I think that this has angered people in what very much feels the same way that the Dobbs decision did.

Theres more than just anecdotal evidence behind those claims. Hendrell Remus, the chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, told The Daily Beast theyve welcomed an outpouring of interest and support from around the country, raising some half a million dollars since last Thursdaya huge spike from what the party is accustomed to bringing in. Theyve also seen an influx in potential volunteers and potential candidates from within the state.

Tennessee Silencing Black Politicians Is Not New for the South

Really, its put into perspective what weve been saying to people for so long. Tennessee has gone unnoticed and under the radar, he said of the national response. Im glad the nation is watching this moment. Hopefully it helps to pump the brakes on this being a reckless road map for Republicans to use in other states.

Indeed, Democrats agree that state level battles hardly feel confined to their respective borders in an era of not just viral floor speeches but copycat legislation and coordinated policy pushes across state lines.

Faced with a gridlocked Congress and seismic federal court decisions, state legislatures are increasingly emerging as the countrys top venues for resolving urgent policy questionslike abortion rights, gun safety, and LGBTQ rightswhile lawmakers also litigate the most hot-button culture war issues.

All of these in-state stories that might have stayed in state are bubbling over, because with gridlock in Congress, its sinking in, Polizzi said. These are the places that are going to have the biggest say on the issues of today.

The DLCCs newly released target list for the 2024 cycle identifies the battlegrounds where flipping legislative chambers could yield the most political gains, like Arizona, which has a Democratic governor but GOP control of the legislature, and Pennsylvania, where flipping the state Senate could yield a Democratic trifecta.

With the DLCC still vastly under-resourced compared to their Democratic counterparts for Congressit had gotten no money from the DNC by the September before last years electionPolizzi said the group has to be strategic about where it invests.

In Tennessee and other red states, success for Democrats looks much different. In Nashville, the GOP commands legislative supermajorities, essentially making the minority party irrelevant. Just clawing a few seats into those deep majorities, Remus says, would go a long way toward giving the party more influence, even without flipping the chambers.

Why Did These 5 Vote to Boot Black Tennessee Reps but Keep Their White Colleague?

The quick cash injection after the Tennessee Three drama will no doubt help the party, Remus said. With sustained national and state investment, he suggested Democrats could one day be very competitive in Tennessee, arguing that the states abysmal voter turnout represents an opportunity for them.

Nothing is going to happen in the state overnight, he cautioned. Its going to take a concerted effort.

National Democrats agree that the party needs to think about building power in states like Tennessee as a long-term investmentone that may not pay dividends immediately but is nevertheless worth making. McMorrow, who helped spearhead Democrats successful flip of the Michigan legislature in 2022, framed the effort as a multi-decade project to combat sustained GOP contributions.

In Tennessee, Texas, Ohio, people think, Its a lost cause, lets focus on the presidency, McMorrow said. Were not going to have actual power unless we have the dedication that Republicans have had since Roe was decided.

Amanda Litman, co-founder of the progressive candidate recruitment organization Run For Something, said that despite recent state-level gains, most organizations, most donors in particular, have their eye on the prize in terms of the Electoral College, Senate battlegrounds.

They dont think of Tennessee as a state worth investing in, she said. That is really short sighted.

Last year, many Republican candidates for local office ran without opposition in Tennessee, Litman said. That could change in 2024: the last week was the groups best for signups since last July, shortly after the Dobbs decision came down.

Notably, fully 10 percent of their 680 sign-ups came from Tennesseewhich has only 2 percent of the U.S. populationwith the top five ZIP codes all in Tennessee.

For those elsewhere in the country who registered their interest in running for office, Litman pointed to the powerful emotional resonance to the Tennessee Three for many Democrats.

What happened in Tennessee has national ramifications, but it doesnt have national consequences, she said. Its really a fuck those guys response.

For those focused on the most competitive battleground states of 2024, the Tennessee example is compelling in that it connects to the broader arguments Democrats are making about GOP control of states. Democrats in states elsewhere may not argue, Dont turn X into XYZ state, Polizzi said, but instead focus on their opponents shared agendas. She also argued that slim GOP majorities in states like Arizona behave very similarly to GOP supermajorities in places like Tennessee in pursuing a hard-right agenda.

Its important to ramp up the pressure on Republicans electorally, Polizzi said. Thats the only answer to this.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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President Biden will travel to Northern Ireland Tuesday to mark what the White House calls the "tremendous progress" in the 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence in the region. He will then head to the Republic of Ireland, where he will meet with officials and explore his Irish ancestry.

Mr. Biden's visit to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, will "underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Ireland's vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities," the White House said in a statement last week.

But it comes amid increasing tensions in the region as old sources of discord resurface.

A small town on Ireland's coast is eagerly preparing for a Biden visitWhat is the Good Friday Agreement?

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. For 30 years, from the 1960s to the 1990s, those who supported reunifying Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland  predominantly Catholics referred to as "republicans"  fought a violent sectarian campaign against those who wanted to remain part of the U.K., made up mostly of Protestants known as "unionists." Dubbed "The Troubles," the conflict resulted in the deaths of over 3,500 people.

The Good Friday Agreement was signed on April 10, 1998. It got both sides of the conflict to lay down their arms and set up a local government for Northern Ireland in which power was shared between republicans and unionists. It says that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, and that this can only change through a referendum. It also says people in Northern Ireland can have both British and Irish citizenships.

As part of the agreement, armed groups agreed to get rid of their weapons, and people who had participated in the violence were conditionally released from prison. The U.K. government also agreed to aim to scale back their military presence in Northern Ireland.

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Increasing tensions

But ahead of the president's arrival on Tuesday, tensions are high, as post-Brexit trade issues have created new political pressures that prompted British unionist politicians to withdraw from the power-sharing government last year.

Despite the signing of a new trade deal between the U.K. and the EU last month, Northern Irish unionists are refusing to return to the government. They say the deal leaves some EU laws in place that would pull Northern Ireland closer to the Republic of Ireland  an EU member  and further from the U.K., which is no longer a member of the EU.

Last month, U.K. authorities raised Northern Ireland's terror threat level from "substantial" to "severe" due to threats from dissident republicans.

Young protesters pelted a police car with molotov cocktails as predominantly Catholic republicans mrched through the city of Londonderry on Monday, and a Protestant parade took place in Belfast, CBS News' Charlie D'Agata reports. The parades happen every Easter, but with tensions rising, they're taking on added significance, D'Agata says.

On Sunday, the Belfast Telegraph reported that police uncovered a republican dissident bomb plot to coincide with Mr. Biden's visit, though experts said the President himself would probably not be targeted in any attack.

"An attack of some sort is deemed to be potentially imminent, but that's not a threat against the U.S. President because for years, you know, for better or for worse, they [republican dissidents] have had significant support from the United States," Jim Gamble, former head of counter-terrorism in Northern Ireland, told CBS News.

After his visit to Northern Ireland, Mr. Biden will travel to Ireland for three days to visit County Louth, where his great-grandfather was born, and County Mayo. He will meet with the Irish president, Michael D. Higgins, the Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, and address a joint session of the Irish parliament.

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The Yangwang U9 supercar from BYD is shown jumping off the ground. BYD

Chinese electric-car maker BYD posted a video of its upcoming Yangwang U9 supercar.

The luxury vehicle will be able to bounce and jump off the ground.

BYD showed off the U9's "body control system."

Cars that just move forward and backward are so yesterday. Super-powered electric vehicles that can bounce side to side and up and down? Now that's the future.

Chinese Tesla rival BYD showed the world just that on Monday.

In a video from a BYD event posted to Twitter, its upcoming Yangwang U9 can be seen dancing and bobbing side to side as it slowly drives across the stage. At the culmination of the routine, the car squats down low and bursts upward, hopping what looks like an inch or two off the ground.

In a separate clip, the U9 drives while balancing on just three wheels.

It was all a demonstration of BYD's new DiSus body control system, which according to the automaker enhances safety and agility. It helps with high-speed cornering and minimizes rollover risk, BYD said. To be sure, hopping off the ground and bouncing looks like more of a party trick to show your friends rather than a safety feature.

It looks a lot like a feature in some Mercedes SUVs that makes the vehicle bounce vigorously up and down. It's supposed to help you get unstuck in off-road situations, but it'll also impress a crowd.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has promised some outlandish capabilities for its future Roadster supercar, including the ability to hover short distances thanks to cold-air thrusters. But that vehicle is still a long way from production.

The Chinese automaker is quickly catching up to Tesla, the longtime global leader in EV sales. Its new Yangwang luxury brand aims to compete with high-end manufacturers and will include two models to start: the U9 and a Land Rover-esque SUV called the U8.

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The U8, which will cost in the neighborhood of $150,000, offers up some party tricks of its own. It can spin in place thanks to four independent motors that can spin in opposite directions from one another, as BYD demonstrated in a clip:

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON  On both sides of the U.S. Capitol, Texas Republicans are emerging as powerhouses.

In the upper chamber, Sen. Ted Cruz, the ranking Republican on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, has forced two key Biden administration nominees to withdraw from consideration; meanwhile, Sen. John Cornyn has stepped up as a GOP leader while minority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is recovering from injuries suffered in a fall last month.

In the House, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, the new chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, is taking on the secretary of state, issuing a subpoena for back-channel communications over the Biden administrations rushed withdrawal from Afghanistan.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, despite being censured last month by state party officials over votes he took that split from the party, is prevailing in the House on border security and effectively stopped Rep. Chip Roy, R-Hays County, from getting a quick vote on a border crackdown that could have jeopardized migrants' ability to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The reality is that Texas remains the most important red state in the country, said Mark Jones, professor of political science at Rice University. Texans (in Congress) have the gravitas to speak on national issues.

Sen. Ted Cruz challenged nominees to lead the Federal Aviation Administration and sit on the Federal Communications Commission, and both withdrew.

Ted Cruz rips Joe Biden Cabinet nominees

Cruz, who was first elected in 2012 and next year will be up for reelection for a third term, was known as more of a firebrand than a legislator during his first term, when he also sought the GOP nomination for president. This year he has hunkered down as the top Republican on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. A recent perk: participating in NASAs ceremony in Houston naming the astronauts for the Artemis II flight to the moon.

Theres a technical term for each of these astronauts: badass, said Cruz, enjoying the high-profile moment last Monday.

Cruz has been especially involved in recent Federal Aviation Administration troubles and doubled down on the qualifications of FAA administrator nominee Phillip Washington after a string of air traffic control incidents, including a near-collision at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Feb. 4 between a FedEx aircraft and a Southwest Airlines plane.

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I believe your record is woefully lacking, Cruz told Washingtion at his confirmation hearing March 1, and in fact, you have zero aviation safety experience.

Washington, the chief executive of Denver International Airport since 2021, is a 24-year U.S. Army veteran with experience in transit system management. He headed Bidens transportation team during the transition after the 2020 election. Washington withdrew his nomination to lead the FAA at the end of March.

Since Mr. Washington was nominated last July, its been clear to Democrat and Republican senators, numerous aviation groups, and any impartial observer that Mr. Washington lacked the aviation experience necessary to run the FAA, Cruz said in a statement. The Biden administration must now quickly name someone to head the FAA who has an extensive aviation background, can earn widespread bipartisan support in the Senate, and will keep the flying public safe.

Earlier in March, Gigi Sohn, a Biden nominee for the Federal Communications Commission, withdrew after a drumbeat of criticism by Cruz, Senate Republicans and industry officials who took issue with her past liberal statements.

The withdrawal of Ms. Sohns nomination is a major victory and represents a strong bipartisan agreement that we need a fair and impartial candidate who can receive the support needed for confirmation, Cruz said. The FCC is not a place for partisan activists; free speech is too important.

I would say weve gone about as far as we can go unless somebody identifies some area that we didnt address, Sen. John Cornyn said about gun control after the Nashville school shootings.

John Cornyn rises as interim GOP Senate boss

Cornyn, meanwhile, has been increasingly visible as a top GOP spokesman during McConnells absence in the Senate since March 9.

I think Cornyns filling some of that vacuum, said Jones, the Rice professor.

Cornyn was the GOP whip from 2013 until 2019, when he was term-limited. He has been very public about wanting to be GOP leader when McConnell steps down.

After the Nashville school shootings March 27 that left three 9-year-olds and three school officials dead, Cornyn delivered the GOP message on gun control.

I would say weve gone about as far as we can go unless somebody identifies some area that we didnt address, Cornyn told reporters.

The Texas Republican was the GOP leader on a bipartisan deal in 2022 that toughened background checks and provided federal funding for mental health and school safety after the Uvalde school shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

Cornyn was unusually aggressive during a Judiciary Committee hearing in March when questioning Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the agencys failure to control cross-border illegal trafficking of fentanyl, a dangerous drug known to cause deaths from overdoses, including for several Hays school district students.

My constituents are asking whos accountable? Who got fired? Cornyn told Mayorkas during the hearing. Well, you havent been fired. You should be fired.

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul has been leading the House Foreign Affairs Committee's investigation into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Michael McCaul turns up heat at State Department

In the House, McCaul has been leading the Foreign Affairs Committee's investigation into the chaotic withdrawal of the U.S. from Afghanistan on Aug. 30, 2021. He took the rare step of issuing a subpoena to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to seek back-channel communications from State Department officials who reportedly strongly protested the way the U.S. was leaving the country.

We have made multiple good faith attempts to find common ground so we could see this critical piece of information, McCaul said. Unfortunately, Secretary Blinken has refused to provide the dissent cable and his response to the cable, forcing me to issue my first subpoena as chairman of this committee.

The American people deserve answers as to how this tragedy unfolded and why 13 U.S. service members lost their lives. We expect the State Department to follow the law and comply with this subpoena in good faith.

Rep. Tony Gonzales has become a point person in the U.S. House for border security.

Tony Gonzales takes on border security, immigration

Gonzales, who was first elected in 2020, has drawn attention as an independent thinker. Hes the only Texas Republican to vote for gun safety legislation in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Uvalde, which is in his district, and the only Texas Republican to vote for same-sex marriage in December.

Gonzales has become the face of immigration reform for the GOP. His 23rd Congressional District includes 800 miles of Texas-Mexico border, and he is at the center of any move the Republican leadership makes on immigration.

As a result, his firm opposition to a border security plan touted by Roy meant that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., held back a bill that had been loudly promised in the first weeks of the new GOP majority to turn away migrants seeking asylum at the border.

Its anti-immigrant, Gonzales told the American-Statesman. He had been the only Texas Republican to oppose a multipronged border security package that the other 24 GOP Texans in Congress announced with much fanfare in December.

Gonzales wants border security legislation combined with immigration reform and has been working with a bipartisan group of senators, including Cornyn, to shape a bill to address the influx of illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Republicans flex influence in U.S. Senate, House
Daniel Perry in court

Texas Republicans are seeking to pardon a US Army sergeant convicted of killing a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020.

On Friday, a jury found Daniel Perry, 28, guilty of killing Garrett Foster, 27, during a demonstration in Austin. Perry is white, as was Foster.

Perry's attorneys argue he acted in self-defence, but prosecutors say he instigated the confrontation.

Governor Greg Abbott said he would pardon Perry as soon as an official request "hits my desk".

A judge is expected to set a sentencing date soon. Perry faces at least five years in prison, but could also be handed a life sentence, the Texas Tribune reported.

Perry's supporters argue he should be pardoned because of the state's 'stand your ground' law, a type of statute that removes a person's obligation to retreat before using deadly force if their life is threatened and they are in a place they are permitted to be.

On 25 July 2020, Perry, a soldier who drove for Uber at the time, turned on to a street where Black Lives Matter demonstrators were marching, went through a red light and stopped his vehicle.

Foster, a former Air Force mechanic who was openly carrying an AK-47 style weapon - which is legal in Texas - was one of several protesters who approached Perry's vehicle.

Perry - who had no passenger at the time - said some of the demonstrators began banging on his car. The protesters told police they feared the vehicle might ram them, according to media accounts.

Perry's lawyers said Foster "began to raise the assault rifle toward Sgt Perry", CNN reported.

According to authorities, Perry lowered his window and shot Foster five times with a .357 revolver before driving off. He called 911 shortly afterwards. Foster died at a hospital from his injuries.

On Friday, a Travis County jury unanimously voted to convict him of Foster's murder. The jury found Perry not guilty on an additional charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

On Saturday, Governor Abbott tweeted: "I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt Perry."

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The state's pardon board, which must approve such orders, said an "expedited investigation" would begin immediately.

Conservatives have attacked the prosecutor who brought the case, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, a Democrat.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told Fox News that Mr Garza "maliciously prosecutes people that he doesn't like for political purposes".

Mr Garza described the pardon request as a "naked political intrusion into our criminal justice system".
Screenshot: YouTube/Bryan Slaton For Texas House (Fair Use)

Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton (R) allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with an underage female intern, according to an internal complaint obtained by the Texas Tribune. Slaton, who is married, allegedly called the intern after 10 p.m. on Friday, March 31, and invited her to his Austin apartment. A source who works in the Capitol with direct knowledge of the incident told the Tribune that the intern was under 21 and that Slaton drank alcohol with her. Two of his fellow Republicans have now called on him to resign.

A legislative staffer filed the complaint with the House General Investigating Committee. Per that complaint, Slaton comes pretty close to blackmailing the intern: He allegedly showed her fake emails that he claimed contained information about their meetup days later and then told her not to talk about it. Sources described it to the Tribune as something of a loyalty test:

Read more

After the incident, Slaton allegedly showed the intern fake emails that purported to have information about the incident in what appeared to be something of a loyalty test, according to the complaint and a person with direct knowledge. After presenting her the email, Slaton allegedly told her to not speak with anyone about the incident. 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.

Slaton declined the Tribunes request for comment at the capitol building on Monday. Patrick Short, a criminal defense attorney representing Slaton, called the claims outrageous and false. House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) said the chamber would investigate the matter. Republican State Reps. Briscoe Cain and Steve Toth have called on Slaton to resign.

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Slaton graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and, according to his website, has worked as a youth minister at several Southern Baptist churches in Texas. He had missed a key budget hearing on Thursday, which surprised insiders as hed proposed a whopping 27 amendments. He was the only lawmaker absent, per the Tribune.

Slaton is, of course, vehemently opposed to drag shows and abortion. He introduced a bill, HB 4129, that would ban drag shows with minors present and has tweeted about drag shows leading to the grooming of children. He also loves to tweet the sentence: We must protect Texas kids from sick adults who want to sexualize them.

Absolutely ridiculous.



No one has the right to victimize a child by subjecting them to grooming. https://t.co/btYtt5zopx  Bryan Slaton (@BryanforHD2) January 20, 2023

We must protect Texas kids from sick adults who want to sexualize them.



No drag shows.



No porn in their libraries.



No gender transition surgeries.



Yes to letting kids be kids.  Bryan Slaton (@BryanforHD2) April 4, 2023

Texas journalist Mary Tuma also noted that Slaton has filed several abortion bans this session. One particularly horrific bill is HB 2709, which would define embryos as people in the states criminal code and allow abortions to be prosecuted as capital murder, eligible for the death penalty. The bill does not exempt pregnant people from prosecution, per Texas Monthly.

Right-wing Rep. Bryan Slaton has filed a number of anti-abortion bills this legislative session, including a measure that would classify fertilized embryos as people in the criminal code, meaning abortion could be punished with the death penalty. https://t.co/9F5WfNZuxx https://t.co/uOY3ETiNcn  Mary Tuma (@TumaTime) April 10, 2023

Another proposal from Slaton called for 40 percent property tax credits for heterosexual, married couples who have at least four biological or adopted children, and up to 100 percent for families with 10 children. To qualify, neither parent can have been divorced. He cited falling birth rates as the impetus for the bill.

Sounds like an all-around swell guy who should resign!

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In this Nov. 26, 2019 file photo, Lydell Grant, centre, his mother, Donna Poe, second from left, and brother Alonzo Poe, right, talk to reporters after Grants release on bond in Houston (AP)

A Texas man exonerated after serving eight years in prison for a 2010 murder has been charged with the road rage killing of a motorist.

Lydell Grant, 46, is accused of fatally shooting 33-year-old Edwin Arevalo following a minor traffic accident in Houston, reported KHOU.

Authorities allege that after the accident Mr Grant got out of his vehicle and shot Arevalo before fleeing the scene. He was taken into custody on Friday on murder charges and jailed on a $1m bond.

In 2012, Mr Grant was convicted of killing Aaron Scheerhoorn, who was stabbed outside a Houston bar in 2010. Six eyewitnesses to the stabbing of the 28-year-old testified against Grant at the trial and he was given a life sentence.

He was declared innocent in May 2021 by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals after a new DNA analysis of evidence found on the victims fingernails.

Mr Grant had served eight years of his sentence when he was released and qualified to collect $80,000 in state compensation for every year of imprisonment.

In 2022 Jermarico Carter, who had been arrested in Atlanta in 2019, pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to prison.

We are saddened by the news of this tragic event and our thoughts and sympathies go out to the victims family. As this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment on the specifics of this incident, the Innocence Project of Texas said in a statement.

We stand behind Mr Grants previous exoneration. DNA evidence and the confession of the real perpetrator of the crime proved Mr Grants actual innocence. His 2012 conviction was proven wrongful, and he spent eight years in prison as a result.

The important work of supporting innocent people wrongly convicted of crimes is an essential part of our collective work towards a better and more just society, and we remain committed to that goal.
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission, Texas, asked its Facebook followers to identify a curious critter in a game camera photo submitted by a park visitor

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park/facebook

Somewhere in the wilds of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission, Texas, lurks an animal that left rangers scratching their heads.

On April 8, the Texas state park posted on Facebook asking its followers for help identifying a "mystery animal" photographed by a park visitor on a game camera.

"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 park wrote on Facebook alongside the photo.

The shot shows a furry, squat creature on four legs, sniffing at the ground. The photo is black and white and was captured at night.

"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!" Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park continued on social media.

Related: 'Crazy-Looking Cat' Prowling Around Missouri Farm for 6 Months Turns Out to Be an African Serval

Over 1,500 people responded to the park's query, sending back responses that ranged from silly to serious.

"A good ol' Texas size rat," wrote one Facebook commenter submitted as their gust.

But many animal lovers that replied identified the mystery animal as a badger based on their encounters with the critter.

After the responses poured in, the Texas park updated its original Facebook 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)," Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park wrote in its update.

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American badgers can be found from Canada to Mexico, including in Texas.

Related:Family Realizes Pet Dog Might Be a Bear After Animal Starts to Walk Around on Hind Legs

Texas Parks and Wildlife described the American badger as "a short-legged, wide-bodied, shaggy-furred member of the weasel family" that helps "control rodent populations."

"While American Badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly due to their nocturnal behavior), this is part of their natural range," the Texas park added online.

This badger isn't the only critter causing animal rescuers to take pause. Toast the puppy at first confused her rescuers, who found the little canine by a dumpster in Dallas.

Dallas Animal Services

Officers from the Dallas Police Department found the caramel-colored pup huddled near a dumpster during a patrol duty in February. While rescuers agreed the animal was cute, they couldn't decide if the pup was a dog or a coyote.

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.

Dallas Animal Services took Toast in and set up a DNA test to solve the mystery. The test results came in on March 12, with the animal shelter posting on Facebook that "Toast is a DOG."

"As we suspected, she turned out to be a beautiful little mutt," Dallas Animal Services added.

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Read the original article on People.
The father of a celebrity doctor and a prison warden have been charged in South Africa with helping a notorious rapist and murderer escape from jail.

Thabo Bester was arrested in Tanzania on Friday having fled from jail last May by faking his own death in a fire and planting a corpse in his cell.

He was arrested with his girlfriend, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana.

Her father and a prison warden have now been charged with murder, arson, and aiding and abetting Bester's escape.

Zolile Sekeleni and Senohe Matsoara, a suspended prison warden, are accused of intentionally killing an unidentified person last March.

The two men appeared in a magistrate's court in the South African city of Bloemfontein.

They were not asked to plead, and no further details were given of the charges.

The case was postponed to 17 April for a possible bail application.

Bester was at large for a year after it was thought he had died in a fire in his prison cell in Bloemfontein.

A manhunt was launched last month after a new post-mortem investigation revealed the body was not actually his.

He and the celebrity doctor are now under heavy police guard at a prison in the Tanzanian city of Arusha, following their arrest last week.

South African officials have travelled to Tanzania to secure the couple's deportation.

Bester's escape sparked outrage in South Africa, which has one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the world.

He was 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 was found guilty of raping and robbing two other women.

Last May, it was reported he had been found dead in his cell after apparently setting himself on fire at the Mangaung Correctional Centre in 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.

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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.

Last week, representatives for the organisation failed to attend a meeting in parliament about Bester's escape. The BBC has approached G4S for comment.

There have 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.
Iman Vellani, Brie Larson, and Teyonah Parris will team up in The Marvels. (Marvel Studios)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5 shifts into gear in 2023: First came AntMan and the Wasp: Quantumania, followed by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and then The Marvels in November.

The Marvels brings back Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) for a second time in a solo (not-solo) movie, more than four years after the cosmic-powered Avenger first featured in 2019s Captain Marvel.

So, whos in The Marvels, whats it all about, how does it tie into the wider MCU, and when is it coming to screens?

Read more: Every upcoming MCU movie and show

Read on to find out everything you need to know about The Marvels.

The Marvels release date

The Marvels hits screens on 10 November, 2023, the same date as its US theatrical release. Its the 33rd film in the MCU, releasing after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Teyonah Parris, Brie Larson, and Iman Vellani appear on the poster for The Marvels. (Marvel Studios)

Originally slated for an 8 July, 2022 release, the pandemic pushed it back to 11 November, 2022; and then 17 February, 2023. At the beginning of 2022, its release date got switched with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and then in February 2023 it was pushed back from July to November.

We dont yet know when The Marvels will arrive on Disney+ to stream but Disney follows a 45-day minimum theatrical release window for most movies meaning that The Marvels will most likely head to streaming at some point after that time period. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever took 82 days to head to Disney+ following its theatrical release but this gap varies.

The Marvels trailer

The first teaser trailer for The Marvels was released by Disney on 11 April, 2023. Opening with Nick Fury in a space, it quickly reveals the core plot of The Marvels which shows that Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau somehow swap places every time they use their superpowers.

Watch it above.

Oh, and Goose is set to make a return (Flerken fans rejoice, your favourite ginger Tom is back).

The Marvels director

(L-R) Iman Vellani, Nia DaCosta, Teyonah Parris, and Brie Larson pose at the IMDb Official Portrait Studio during D23 2022. (Corey Nickols/Getty Images for IMDb)

The Marvels is directed by Nia DaCosta, the acclaimed director of 2021s Candyman, a sequel to the 1992 original which she co-wrote with Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld.

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Directors of Captain Marvel, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, are not involved in The Marvels.

Read more: What is 'the multiverse'?

Writers include DaCosta alongside Megan McDonnell (WandaVision), Zeb Wells (The Amazing Spider-Man comic series) and Elissa Karasik (Loki). With both WandaVision and Loki integral to The Multiverse Saga, this begs the questions whether the film could pull from both series.

At the very least, continuity is all but ensured and any Multiverse shenanigans should remain consistent with these two shows.

The Marvels cast

Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in The Marvels. (Marvel Studios)

The Marvels is essentially Captain Marvel 2, so of course, Brie Larson is back (alongside her cat Goose) as Carol Danvers and her super-powered alter ego.

Iman Vellanis Kamala Khan aka Ms Marvel will also star. Khan was introduced to the MCU via her own series on Disney+ in which we saw the New Jersey teenager unlock her powers when she put on her great-grandmothers mystical bangle.

In the series, we learned that Kamala Khan has a mutation in her DNA, which was activated by the bangle allowing her to access cosmic energy. She can create hard light structures, stretch her limbs, and teleport through time and space.

Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in The Marvels. (Marvel Studios)

"I'm very proud of the Ms. Marvel show," Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige told EW. "I also know  and this is a spoiler  she essentially steals The Marvels."

"The great thing about Kamala in her show, and now in this movie, is that she's not unlike Tom Holland's Peter Parker in Civil War. She can't believe she's with these other heroes, and can't believe that she finds herself in these places."

Teyonah Parris, who starred in Nia DaCostas Candyman, will return as Monica Rambeau, the now grown-up daughter of Carol Danvers friend Maria Rambeau. We met both Rambeaus in the 1990s-set Captain Marvel, when Monica was a little girl.

Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in The Marvels. (Marvel Studios)

Monica Rambeau played a major role in WandaVision as a SWORD agent who, after passing through the Hex surrounding Westview which altered her DNA, developed the ability to absorb and manipulate energy.

Read more: Everything we know about Secret Invasion

Samuel L Jackson is confirmed to appear as original Avengers assembler and former Director of SHIELD, Nick Fury, in the film, while The Handmaids Tales Zawe Ashton is playing the gender-flipped villain Dar-Benn, a Kree warrior, and Parasites Park Seo-joon will appear in an undisclosed role.

Zawe Ashton as Dar-Benn and Daniel Ings as Ty-Rone in The Marvels. (Marvel Studios)

Park could, according to various sources, be playing comic book characters Amadeus Cho aka Brawn, Prince Yan of Aladna, or Noh-Varr aka Marvel Boy, a Kree warrior modified with cockroach DNA and nanobots. The idea of throwing another Marvel into the mix is tantalising.

Kamala Khans family  her older brother Aamir (Saagar Shaikh), mother Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff), and father Yusuf (Mohan Kapur)  will reprise their roles from Ms Marvel.

The Marvels plot

(L-R) Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani pose at the IMDb Official Portrait Studio during D23 2022. (Corey Nickols/Getty Images for IMDb)

The Marvels plot revolves around the characters Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel, and Monica Rambeau and their ability to swap places.

"There's something immensely powerful about seeing Monica and Kamala and Carol together in a frame," Kevin Feige told EW. "To me, it's only akin to the first Avengers movie and seeing the six of them together in a frame. It's chill-inducing. They're so great together, and they all have different histories with one another."

The film is a spiritual follow-up to Captain Marvel, which was set in the 1990s and told Carols origin story. Weve seen her since helping the Avengers defeat Thanos in Endgame and in other glimpses throughout the MCU.

(L-R): Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan and Goose the Flerken in The Marvels. (Marvel Studios)

"Marvel comic fans will recognise elements of the Kree-Skrull war," says Kevin Feige. "And it's picking up directly after the end of Captain Marvel 1, not in timeline but in story."

Read more: Brie Larson turned down Captain Marvel twice

The post-credits scene in Ms Marvel, in which we saw Danvers arrive seemingly from nowhere in Kamalas bedroom as Ms Khan disappears after her bangle begins glowing, teased Ms Marvels return in The Marvels. This moment looks the most likely jumping off point for the films story to begin.

In Ms Marvel, we learned about Kamala Khans hero worship of Carol Danvers alter ego, so this dynamic between the pair will probably be explored, setting up the potential for some funny moments. After seeing Carols reaction to being transported into Kamalas bedroom, the walls of which were adorned with posters of Captain Marvel, this looks likely.

Hawkeye explored a similar scenario, in which Kate Bishops adoration of a disdainful Hawkeye and their subsequent partnership allowed for some very funny moments and exchanges.

How is WandaVision connected to The Marvels?

(L-R): Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff and Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau in WandaVision. (Marvel Studios)

The end of WandaVision also set up the events of The Marvels when we saw the similarly cosmic-powered Monica Rambeau recruited by a Skrull sent by an old friend of her mothers: He heard youd been grounded, hed like to meet with you. The Skrull points upwards which suggests theyre probably heading to space and Nick Fury where Rambeau looks set to come into contact with Marvels Captain and Ms.

Rambeau has beef with Danvers  we learned in WandaVision that she felt Carol had abandoned her mother, Maria, after gaining her super powers. We could consequently see some conflict between the two.

Will we learn more about Mutants and Ms Marvels heritage?

Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel. (Marvel Studios)

Given that Ms Marvel is the first MCU character referenced to have a mutation in her genes in the MCU, could mutants feature more pertinently in The Marvels, ultimately ushering the X-Men into the proceedings?

We dont yet know where Kamala was transported to at the end of her solo series, or where else the film might go but given that the movie is part of the Multiverse Saga, and Ms Marvel introduced the Noor Dimension, its entirely possible that this could feature. Weve had a taste of Djinn and it seems probable well explore them further at some point.

Read more: Why was Phase 4 so divisive?

We also know that as far as character exploration goes, Carol Danvers is set for further probing.

Brie Larson told Good Morning America: There are parts that are not so great about her, that we can see a hero is not being the person that makes every right decision all the time.

Carol Danvers revealed her true potential in Captain Marvel (Disney)

Marvel seems set on continuing to paint its characters in shades of grey after historical criticism of its villains. The studio has made efforts to move away from binary definitions to create richer characters rather than black-and-white heroes and villains. This can only be a good thing for a long-running franchise that needs to remain fresh.

The Marvels is in cinemas from 10 November, 2023.

Watch: Gemma Chan talks to Yahoo about Captain Marvel
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11)  The extent of the United States use of new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country will still have to be discussed, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said when asked if the Philippines will allow the US to store its military assets for the defense of Taiwan.

Speaking at a forum in Washington on Tuesday, Manalo said the two countries have yet to finalize specifics on American troops access to the four new EDCA sites, which could temporarily host US military logistics and personnel on a rotational basis.

I think these all have to be agreed on, he said.

So, at this stage its really very difficult to respond to questions like that. It will all depend on how discussions go on the type of activities and the terms of reference of those activities within any of those sites, he added.

The government announced last week the locations of the four additional EDCA sites, two of which will be in Cagayan, one in Isabela, and one in Palawan.

These are on top of the five existing sites in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, and Palawan.

Defense analysts regard the expanded EDCA as part of efforts to deter Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, as well as against the self-governing Taiwan which China claims as its territory.

The Marcos administration, for its part, said strengthening US military presence in the country is primarily meant to boost the Philippines defense capabilities, relief operations, and disaster response.

READ: Marcos: PH wont allow use of EDCA sites for offensive operations

One of the key benefits, for example, in the new sites is the ability to work together to respond to humanitarian or natural disasters, Manalo said.

And if there are any activities there, they also provide benefits to the local communities, he added. The purpose of many of these locations should really be viewed in that context and those are where the real benefits would arise.

Over the weekend, China launched military drills around Taiwan after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen returned from her visit to the US where she met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Beijing has repeatedly warned against the meeting between the two officials. It said the military drills are "a serious warning against the Taiwan separatist forces' collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Manalo raised concerns over these developments and urged China and the US to manage tensions through dialogue.

Taiwan is literally next door to the Philippines, the DFA chief said, noting there are around 150,000 to 200,000 Filipinos in the island.

Just looking at that, any kind of escalation of tensions or, even worse, some kind of a conflict, military conflict, would have really adverse repercussions on the Philippines. Of course, it would probably have repercussions on the entire region, but particularly the Philippines, given our proximity, Manalo warned.
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes will be jailed by the end of the month after a judge refused her request to remain out of prison while she appeals her conviction.

Holmes must self-report to a prison camp on 27 April to begin the 11.25-year sentence she was handed after a jury convicted her on multiple counts of defrauding investors in her blood-testing start-up.

The former Silicon Valley darling was found guilty last November on three charges of wire fraud and one conspiracy charge.

A jury was told how she had duped investors with false claims that her California companys technology could diagnose diseases with only a few drops of blood.

Her lawyers had asked US District Judge Edward Davila to allow Holmes to remain on house arrest while she appeals the conviction to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

They argued that she was not a threat to her community or a flight risk as she has two young children, reported Reuters.

But prosecutors told the judge that she was a flight risk given her means to leave the US and her long prison sentence.

The federal government has previously claimed that Holmes booked a one-way flight to Mexico following her conviction and that she does present a flight risk. Her attorneys argued that she and her partner Billy Evans were planning to attend a wedding and hoped she would be acquitted.

Booking international travel plans for a criminal defendant in anticipation of a complete defence victory is a bold move, and the failure to promptly cancel those plans after a guilty verdict is a perilously careless oversight, the judge wrote.

The judge ruled that even if her appeal was successful it would not result in a new trial or reverse all of the convictions against her.

He has previously turned down multiple requests from Holmes for a new trial.

Holmes started Theranos after dropping out of Stanford University, but the company collapsed in 2018 after it was revealed that its technology did not work.
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to over 11 years in prison last year

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes will report to prison at the end of the month after losing a bid to remain free while she appeals against her convictions.

Holmes was sentenced to over 11 years in prison for defrauding investors in her blood testing start-up.

A federal judge on Monday said Holmes failed to prove her appeals process would lead to a reversal of her case.

She is scheduled to go to prison on 27 April.

Holmes had said she would raise "substantial questions" that could warrant a new trial. Her attorneys also argued she should remain free to care for her two young children, including one who was born this year.

But in the Monday ruling, US District Judge Edward Davila said Holmes had not proven her appeal would result in a new trial.

"Contrary to her suggestion that accuracy and reliability were central issues to her convictions, Ms Holmes's misrepresentations to Theranos investors involved more than just whether Theranos technology worked as promised," he said.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, had argued Holmes was a flight risk because she had booked a one-way plane ticket to Mexico during her trial.

Homes' attorneys said she and her partner Billy Evans were planning to attend a wedding and hoped she would be acquitted.

The ticket purchase was "ill-advised", Judge Davila wrote in his ruling, though he added it did not constitute an attempt to flee.

"Booking international travel plans for a criminal defendant in anticipation of a complete defence victory is a bold move, and the failure to promptly cancel those plans after a guilty verdict is a perilously careless oversight," he said.

Holmes was once hailed as the "next Steve Jobs" and said to be the world's youngest self-made billionaire.

She launched Theranos after dropping out of Stanford University, but the start-up fell apart in 2018 after it was revealed its technology did not work. The blood-testing device was purported to be able to run a multitude of tests from just a few drops of blood.

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The company's infamous downfall was chronicled in a TV series, an HBO documentary and a podcast.

Holmes, who was found guilty of four counts of fraud last January, told the court at the time she felt "deep pain" for those misled by the scam.

She is expected to make one more bid to remain free during the appeals process - which could take at least a year - to a San Francisco-based court that she has asked to overturn her conviction.

The BBC has reached out to Holmes' attorneys for comment.

Holmes' former business partner, Sunny Balwani, was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for fraud last year.
Atlanta police are searching for three men they said tried to steal an ATM but didnt get very far.

Officers said they were called out to a business along Euclid Avenue NE shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday for a report of a burglary.

Police said when they got to the business, the owner told them three men attempted to steal the ATM from inside.

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It must have been too heavy for the men because they ultimately left it in the middle of the road and ran off.

Investigators said they are currently processing the machine for fingerprints. It remains unclear if the would-be thieves got away with any cash from the machine.

APD said this investigation is ongoing.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Amid increasing calls nationwide to ban TikTok over security concerns, Floridas education panel took a crucial step in the latest effort to keep the controversial yet popular social media app out of the state.

The State University System of Florida Board of Governors unveiled an emergency regulation affecting college students across Florida universities on March 29. Due to the continued and increasing landscape of cyber threats, this regulation bans using six apps, including TikTok when using campus Wi-Fi or school-owned devices.

A platform where users can discover, create and share short-form videos, the social media app TikTok is owned and operated by ByteDance, a Chinese company based in Beijing, the U.S.s concerns are that the Chinese government could infiltrate the company and obtain data the app collects about its users.

Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed for a digital bill of rights across the Sunshine State in early February, pressuring lawmakers to ban the use of TikTok on government-issued devices and block its access to the internet used by Florida public schools, universities and government offices.

Later the same month, the White House announced federal agencies had a month to remove TikTok from government-issued devices as outlined in the No TikTok on Government Devices Act the Senate passed last December.

This also comes on the heels of congressional hearings last month where legislators grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about the apps affiliations with the Chinese government and demanded answers to concerns that the platform could compromise its 150 million American users private data.

Therefore  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, the Board of Governors said.

By Wednesday, nine of the states 12 public universities  from Florida State University and Florida Atlantic University to the University of Florida and New College of Florida  broke the news to its hundreds of thousands of students.

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In an email, the University of Florida urged students to delete the applications from their devices.

Taking this action will help protect your personal information as well as university data, the email read.

Florida Atlantic is taking immediate actions to protect the University from potential threats posed by certain applications or websites of concern, FAU wrote to students and faculty.

Another email from the University of South Florida informed students the ban was an effort to implement measures to protect our students, faculty and staff against potential cyber threats.

Despite these rising concerns and the introduction of this ban laying the groundwork for other states to follow suit.

TikTok has taken unprecedented actions to address national security concerns by securing U.S. user data on U.S. soil, TikTok spokesperson Hilary McQuaide told CNN.
Bill Clinton was the first sitting US president to visit Northern Ireland

On Tuesday night US President Joe Biden will fly into Northern Ireland for an official visit.

He will be the fourth sitting US president to visit, following Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama.

Recent negotiations over post-Brexit trading agreements in Northern Ireland have been a matter of great interest in Washington.

But why would the United States have such a vested interest?

Peace, that's why.

During the height of the Troubles, US policy was somewhat on the fence when it came to Northern Ireland.

Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan approached the issue sympathetically but mostly indirectly.

Things changed in 1992 when Mr Clinton pledged his allegiance to not only the US but Northern Ireland too.

With the recent appointment of Joe Kennedy as special envoy to Northern Ireland and President Biden's visit to the island to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement, there remains a keen interest from America.

Here's a look back at that special relationship.

August 1977

President Carter issues a statement supporting the establishment of a form of government in Northern Ireland but says his administration has "no intention of telling the parties how this might be achieved".

"The only permanent solution will come from the people who live there. There are no solutions that outsiders can impose," he says.

1979

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, publicly supports a ban on American arms sales to Northern Ireland's police service the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

The UK had initially ordered 3,000 Magnum handguns and 500 semi-automatic rifles.

As a member of a group of pro-Irish unity American politicians, known as "the four horsemen", O'Neill hopes the ban will prompt Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to resolve the conflict.

Despite a personal appeal from the prime minister when they meet in December, Mr Carter is unable to tackle Congress on the issue, with government papers later revealing he had pleaded with Mr O'Neill at Mrs Thatcher's request.

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1980

In May Mr O'Neill meets UK Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington and claims that his ban has been misinterpreted.

He suggests any arms deals with the RUC will benefit the IRA as its supporters will stir up publicity for fundraising, in turn deepening the conflict.

President-elect Ronald Reagan expresses his own thoughts on the arms ban, saying: "The US cannot interfere or intervene but if there is any way we can be helpful we would be more than eager because I think it is a very tragic situation."

1981

In June Mr Reagan says the situation in Northern Ireland "really bothers" him and he would give "serious thought" to intervening.

The following month Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Garret Fitzgerald writes to Mr Reagan to ask for help preventing the death of Irish republican hunger striker Kieran Doherty.

Mr Reagan ultimately refuses to intervene but expresses his sorrow, adding his own personal feelings "are well known to the British government".

1983

The US Congress passes a resolution in support of the New Ireland Forum and a united Ireland.

1985

Ronald Reagan addressed the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) in 1984

The UK and Irish governments seek the assistance of America in endorsing the Anglo-Irish Agreement. It gives the Republic of Ireland a consultative role in Northern Ireland for the first time.

Mr Reagan obliges and publicly praises the initiative.

March 1986

The House of Representatives unanimously votes to grant Northern Ireland a five-year $250m aid package.

1987-1994

Diversity Immigrant Visas are launched by the US, benefitting more than 52,000 Irish immigrants and strengthening ties between Dublin and Washington.

1992-1993

Bill Clinton, pictured with his wife Hillary, pledged to appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland

Presidential hopeful Bill Clinton pledges a number of commitments on Ireland during his election campaign, indicating he would support the appointment of a special envoy to Northern Ireland.

In September 1993 the IRA observes a seven-day ceasefire to allow a group of prominent Irish-Americans to complete a fact-finding mission in Ireland, signalling a willingness to engage in the peace process.

1994

In January President Bill Clinton controversially grants a visa for Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams to visit America.

The decision is made against the advice of the UK government.

Later in the year the IRA's leadership council indicates it will call a ceasefire but only if republican Joe Cahill is granted a visa to enter the US and address the group's supporters there.

Due to his serious criminal record it takes the intervention of President Clinton to authorise the document.

1995

Senator George Mitchell was appointed as special envoy

President Clinton appoints former senator George Mitchell as the inaugural US special envoy to Northern Ireland.

He would later prove hugely influential in securing the Good Friday peace agreement.

In March Mr Adams applies for another US visa, this time to engage in fundraising activities.

The UK government's Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew and Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd travel to the US, presenting their opposition.

The visa is granted, a decision that is said to infuriate Prime Minister John Major.

Fundraising trips to the US by Gerry Adams were heavily criticised

During his visit Mr Adams visits a newly-opened Sinn Fein office in Washington DC.

He is also received at the White House on St Patrick's Day after agreeing to place decommissioning of weapons on the agenda for any further talks with the UK.

In November Mr Clinton travels to Belfast and Londonderry, becoming the first US president to visit Northern Ireland.

He is greeted by Protestants and Catholics in what is seen as a symbolic moment of the peace process.

President Clinton addressed a large crowd at Derry's Guildhall in 1995

1996-1997

While initially intended as an economic envoy for Northern Ireland, George Mitchell takes a hands-on approach at the request of the British and Irish governments.

In a January 1996 report about weapons decommissioning the "Mitchell principles" are outlined - six fundamental rules on which negotiations should be based.

They include a commitment to democratic and peaceful means of resolving political issues and the total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations.

George Mitchell adopted a hands-on approach in the Northern Ireland peace process

April 1998

The Good Friday Agreement is signed, the talks process having been chaired by Mr Mitchell.

His skill in brokering the agreement, much of it done in secret, earns him a reputation as a shrewd negotiator and someone who can be trusted by both sides.

The agreement sets up a new devolved government for Northern Ireland, in which unionists and nationalists will share power and outlines international agreements between the UK and Irish governments.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Senator George Mitchell and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern posed for a photo after the agreement was signed

September 1998

President Clinton addresses the people of Omagh, County Tyrone, two weeks after a car bomb planted by dissident republicans opposed to the peace process kills 29 people.

"We will work to build this peace, to make it a place where children can dream, to redeem the loss of innocents from the madness of people who must fail so that your life can go on," he says.

The Clintons were joined by Tony and Cherie Blair as they paid their respects in Omagh

September 1999

Mr Mitchell returns to Northern Ireland, leading new negotiations on IRA disarmament and the establishment of a functioning assembly at Stormont.

The trip is a successful one, with parties returning to government by November.

December 2000

President Clinton makes a swansong visit to Ireland as he prepares to hand over the presidency to George W Bush.

First Minister David Trimble (centre), President Bill Clinton and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon gave speeches in the Odyssey Arena in 2000

His trip concludes with a keynote address at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, where he tells the crowd how "profoundly important peace in Northern Ireland is to the rest of the world".

"I think you know that I have loved this land and love the work I have tried to do for peace," he adds.

2001

Loyalist protesters tried to block the route taken by Holy Cross pupils and their parents

Newly-elected President George W Bush calls on the IRA to disarm.

As tensions worsen during the Holy Cross dispute in Belfast where hundreds of loyalist protesters tried to block the route taken by pupils and their parents, who were from a Catholic background, on their walk to school, Mr Bush dispatches a new special envoy Dr Richard Haass to help diffuse the situation.

The newly-formed Police Service of Northern Ireland is invited to train alongside the FBI.

2002

The US names five paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland as illegal organisations: the Continuity IRA, the Loyalist Volunteer Force, the Orange Volunteers, the Red Hand Defenders and the Ulster Defence Association.

2003

Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern met George Bush during his first visit to Northern Ireland

In April President Bush makes his first visit to Northern Ireland, calling for a "complete and irrevocable" end to paramilitary activity.

He meets Mr Blair and his Irish counterpart Mr Ahern at Hillsborough Castle in County Down.

Mitchell Reiss is appointed special envoy to Northern Ireland, serving until 2007.

2007

Paula Dobriansky is appointed special envoy to Northern Ireland. She holds the post until 2009.

2009

Irish-born Declan Kelly is appointed as economic envoy to Northern Ireland by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Mr Kelly says that his role will be "confined to economic matters only and he would have no political function".

2013

Barack Obama addressed schoolchildren at Belfast's Waterfront Hall in June 2013

President Barack Obama makes his first official visit to Northern Ireland.

He addresses a gathering at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast ahead of the G8 summit in County Fermanagh.

He says Northern Ireland is "part of an island with which tens of millions of Americans share an eternal relationship".

"If there's one thing on which Democrats and Republicans in America wholeheartedly agree it's that we strongly support a peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland."

Later that year, with Stormont in deadlock, Dr Haass returns to Northern Ireland and says he will leave "no stone unturned" in an effort to reach an agreement with the five main parties before Christmas.

Months of talks break down without resolution but Dr Haass says "significant progress" has been made.

2014

With the position laying vacant for three years, Gary Hart becomes the second former senator to take on the role of US envoy to Northern Ireland, serving until 2017.

2016

In June the UK votes to leave the European Union, sparking the beginning of years of negotiations about how Northern Ireland's land border with the Republic of Ireland, and therefore the EU, will operate.

Meanwhile presidential hopeful Donald Trump hails the Brexit vote as "a great victory", telling the BBC that the result was "a fantastic thing".

Donald Trump did eventually appoint a special envoy to Northern Ireland

In November Donald Trump is elected as the 45th president of the United States,and gets a mixed response from Stormont politicians.

2017

Upon hearing of Mr Trump's intention to abolish the special envoy role, Gary Hart says it would be "a sad, even tragic decision".

He tells the Irish Times the move "fits into a Trump pattern" and was "part of a much larger picture of disengagement internationally".

2019

In June Mr Trump makes his first visit to the Republic of Ireland as US president and says the issue of the Irish border post-Brexit will "not be a problem at all".

During a press conference with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, he says Americans "love the Irish" and that he believes things will work out well "with your wall, your border".

2020

In March 2020 President Trump appoints Mick Mulvaney as the special envoy for Northern Ireland.

He visits once before his resignation in January 2021 following the storming of the Capitol building.

2021

Boris Johnson and Joe Biden met in the Oval Office

During talks with Prime Minster Boris Johnson in September, new US President Joe Biden warns that peace in Northern Ireland must not be jeopardised as a result of complications caused by Brexit.

He says he has concerns about the Irish border as concerns continue over the Northern Ireland Protocol, a trading arrangement negotiated during Brexit talks to prevent a hard border with Ireland.

2022

In September the White House warns that dismantling the Northern Ireland Protocol will "not create a conducive environment" for US-UK trade talks.

Mr Biden repeatedly urges the UK not to take any action that could potentially create a hard Irish border.

Joe Kennedy III served as the US representative for Massachusetts's 4th congressional district from 2013 to 2021

In December Joe Kennedy III is confirmed as the new US special envoy to Northern Ireland, something he describes as "an incredible honour".

The US State Department says he will concentrate on "advancing economic development and investment opportunities in Northern Ireland".
[Source]

Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the mysterious death of a California man who was last seen on a Tinder date in Medellin, Colombia, last November.

Paul Nguyen, 27, was found dead beside a garbage dump on Nov. 10, 2022, after going out with a woman he had met on the dating app. They first met the day before, with Nguyen taking a Snapchat photo of the woman.

Nguyen was last seen with the same woman at around 2 a.m. Two hours later, his credit cards made several odd transactions, including at a pharmacy whose cashier claimed that the buyer was not Asian.

On April 4, Colombian authorities announced the arrest of Nguyens alleged Tinder date, 21-year-old Evelyn Henao Herrera. Two alleged accomplices, Cesar Augusto Mendoza Lopez, 28, and Bryan Taborda Herrera, 25, were also apprehended.

More from NextShark: Vanderbilt professor says math education is too 'white, cisheteropatriarchal'

The suspects, believed to be part of a gang, have been charged with aggravated homicide, robbery and conspiracy.

The case adds to a trend of similar crimes in Colombia in which victims, often tourists, are drugged before being robbed.

More from NextShark: 'Who said you can have a child?': Man filmed berating mother for crying child on 1-hour flight

Police believe Nguyen was drugged with a sedative called clonazepam sometime during his date. A medico-legal opinion indicated that the tourist died from respiratory arrest.

Eric Hall, another U.S. citizen, reportedly fell victim to the same scheme in Medellin a year and a half earlier.

Unlike Nguyen, Hall lived to recount his experience and warn others.

More from NextShark: Vietnamese peace activist, writer and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh dies at 95

I don't want people to think that this is just an issue with like sex tourists, Hall, who is divorced and in his mid-50s, told Vice World News. Im not a player. I'm not looking to hook up. I've had two girlfriends in four years.

Story continues

Hall has extensively traveled to Latin America as a member of the Motorrad Angels, an international biker charity that aims to bring clean water and lifesaving medical and dental assistance to the world's most vulnerable communities.

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He moved to Medellin during the pandemic.

In May 2021, Hall decided to meet someone from Tinder who seemed nice and real. He ended up having beer in her apartment, and three days later, he woke up having lost about $7,000.

Nguyen, for his part, was robbed of 35 million Colombian pesos (approximately $7,700) between Nov. 10 and Nov. 15, according to police. The amount included his phone, his watch and money from his credit cards.

Investigation into the case continues. A GoFundMe page organized by Nguyens sister, Amy Nguyen, raised $36,015.
Tony Christie, best known for hits (Is This the Way to) Amarillo and I Did What I Did For Maria, has said he finds relief from his dementia through singing.

The 79-year-old was diagnosed in January, stating then that he was determined to keep making music.

Christie has opened up about living with dementia, saying that hes still working and not ashamed of his condition.

In quotes provided to press, the singer said that he has found that music improves the symptoms associated with my dementia, so every time I go on stage and work its helping me.

I still meet people Ive known for donkeys years. The only thing is I forget their names, he added.

According to the NHS, dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. There are many different causes of dementia and many different types.

Symptoms of the illness include problems with memory loss, thinking speed, mental sharpness and quickness. The NHS estimates that by 2025, over a million people in the UK will be living with the syndrome.

According to Music for Dementia, the benefits of music for the syndrome include supporting the retention of speech and language skills, encouraging alertness, and enabling greater motivation to communicate and connect with others.

Singer Tony Christie performs at a charity event in 2017 (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)

Memories of songs are also linked to a persons identity. Music for Dementia states that music can support memory recall and that the ability to appreciate and engage with music remains intact even as cognitive functions deteriorate.

Meanwhile, one study has suggested learning to play a musical instrument later in life reduced the risk of developing dementia by a third.

On Monday (10 April), Christie announced he would re-release Thank You For Being a Friend on behalf of Music for Dementia.

He said: Its important for me to stay positive and try not to let dementia affect my life but I still need some support.

If anyone deserves a thank you its the UKs unseen  and unsung  army of carers. This one is for them! he added.

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Sarah Metcalfe, CEO at Music for Dementia said: Tony embodies the power music has to improve life and bring joy, so were delighted hes agreed to sing the Thank You Day anthem.

Organisers are calling on the public to take part in Thank You Day, on Sunday 2 July, in the hope they will see Thank You for Being a Friend sung all around the UK at festivals, street parties, care homes, community choir performances and across social media sites.

Music for Dementia, founded and funded by The Utley Foundation, advocates for the use of music in treating the condition, which is most commonly associated with memory loss.
Tony Christie is set to release a new track as a thank you to carers across the UK after being diagnosed with dementia.

Christie announced his diagnosis in January, saying at the time he was determined to carry on making music.

The 79-year-old plans to record Thank You for Being a Friend on behalf of the Music for Dementia campaign.

It will be released in July to coincide with Thank You Day, which pays tribute to those working in communities.

The event began during the Covid-19 pandemic and particularly recognised the efforts of NHS staff and carers.

Christie - real name Anthony Fitzgerald - is best known for his 1971 hit (Is This The Way To) Amarillo, which gained a whole new fanbase when it was re-released in aid of Comic Relief in 2005, featuring Peter Kay among others on the video.

Born in Conisbrough, South Yorkshire, he now lives in Lichfield in Staffordshire.

'Improves symptoms'

His latest track, first released in 1978 by Andrew Gold, will be free to download and he is again expected to be joined by a host of special guests on the recording.

"I continue to tour as I've found music improves the symptoms associated with my dementia, so every time I go on stage and work it's helping me," Christie said.

"It's important for me to stay positive and try not to let dementia affect my life, but I still need some support. If anyone deserves a thank you it's the UK's unseen - and unsung - army of carers. This one is for them!"

Music for Dementia, founded and funded by The Utley Foundation, is leading the Thank You Day 2023 music activities on Sunday 2 July.

Sarah Metcalfe, managing director at Music for Dementia said: "With lived experience of dementia, Tony embodies the power music has to improve life and bring joy, so we're delighted he's agreed to sing the Thank You Day anthem."

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Russia's detention of an American journalist "totally illegal'', as the U.S. State Department has elevated his case by formally categorizing him as wrongfully detained.

Biden, who made the brief comments to reporters before departing on a trip to Ireland, spoke with the parents of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich during his flight.

"Were making it real clear that its totally illegal whats happening, and we declared it so," Biden told reporters. "It changes the dynamic."

U.S. Embassy officials have not yet been given access to Gershkovich.

"It's not for lack of trying," said White House spokesman John Kirby.

Who is Evan Gershkovich?: What we know about WSJ reporter arrested by Russia for espionage

More: WSJ 'demands' release of Evan Gershkovich after arrest by Russia for espionage

The Wall Street Journal has demanded the immediate release of journalist Evan Gershkovich following his arrest by Russias top security agency on espionage charges.

Russia's Federal Security Service formally charged Gershkovich with espionage last week.

The arrest has been widely condemned by news organizations around the world and has become a symbol of Russia jailing journalists and critics without cause.

In a joint statement last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Russia has a "long and disturbing history of unjustly detaining U.S. citizens in a judicial system that provides neither transparency nor justice.

The Russian agency alleged that the American journalist was acting on the U.S. orders to collect information about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military industrial complex that constitutes a state secret."

The Wall Street Journal vehemently denied all allegations against Gershkovich and called for his immediate release.

His arrest marks the first time an American journalist has been arrested on espionage charges since the Cold War.

Contributing: Sarah Elbeshbishi

Dig deeper: 'They can come for you': For Russian protesters, a free-speech crackdown sharpens threat

Story continues

President Joe Biden gestures before he walked over to talk with reporters before boarding Air Force One, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

Heading to Ireland: President Biden visits Northern Ireland amid thwarted IRA bomb plot and fragile peace

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden condemns detention of wSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia
A lucky visitor from out of state played Colorados lottery during his trip and took home the states top prize, lottery officials say.

Ryan P. from Philadelphia won $3 million on a $50 Platinum Riches scratch game, the Colorado Lottery said in a news release.

[He] must have had a good visit to Denver because hes going home with the $3 MILLION top prize, officials said in the release.

He declined to share photos or details of how hell spend his winnings.

But were sure hes glad he took a chance on the Colorado Lottery! officials said in the release.

He bought his ticket at a Sav-O-Mart. He won by matching the winning number 14 for the $3 million top prize, KDVR reported.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 4) --- The Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP) is aiming to develop the countrys cyber defense capabilities through the annual military drill with the United States.

The country's exercise director, Maj. Gen. Marvin Licudine, said the Philippines needs to learn more about cyber defense from an experienced country like its long-time ally.

The cyber defense exercise is more for us on the Philippine side to develop our cyber defense capabilities. We are not yet technically proficient; our systems are not that proficient yet. So, we learn from the better ones, we learn from our counterparts, he said in a press briefing on Tuesday as the drills kick off.

So, it would mean in the future we will develop the expertise of people, taking in some equipment to be able to efficiently address the cyber abilities of other countries, Licudine also said.

This is the first time that cyber defense exercises will be part of the Balikatan drills, which will run until April 27. Other major events in the drill include command post exercise, field training exercise, and humanitarian civic assistance.

For his part, US exercise director Major Gen. Eric Austin said that cyber threats are now something that the military has to deal with.

The fact that we are exercising cyber defense is testimony to the changing character of warfare and the fact that all of our services have to modernize and adapt to meet the threat that exists across the world, Austin said.

In addition to this, we have to understand that cyberspace and information are domains that we have to work in as armed forces, he added.

According to a report of a US-based cybersecurity group in 2021, alleged state-sponsored Chinese hackers are targeting government organizations in Southeast Asia including the Philippine Navy.

The AFP in 2022 conducted a cyber defense training, but it noted that the training was not directed against any country.

The 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the US paved the way for the Balikatan exercises.
A Virginia towing company accused of auctioning off service members vehicles, including those of a deployed Navy SEAL, agreed to pay a $90,000 settlement for its actions, according to a release from the Department of Justice.

Steves Towing Inc. in Virginia Beach, Virginia, settled on April 7 in a Virginia district court over a complaint that alleged the company failed to obtain court orders before selling vehicles belonging to at least seven troops protected by federal law as active duty service members.

This resolution will compensate all of the servicemembers whose vehicles were illegally taken from them while they were serving their country, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said in the release.

Court documents allege that as early as 2019 the company engaged in a pattern of violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, under which a towing company must determine whether a vehicle in its possession belongs to a service member. If so, a court order must be obtained prior to selling it.

The department launched its investigation after it was reported the company sold two vehicles, each belonging to a deployed Navy petty officer 1st class with SEAL Team 2, without first obtaining the proper court orders.

The unnamed SEAL parked his vehicles in a lot across from where he was based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia, during an overseas deployment from about October 2019 to April 2020.

Around Jan. 3, 2020, Steves Towing towed the two vehicles. One of them, a Toyota Land Cruiser, contained evidence of the SEALs service, including a duffel bag with military uniforms and a Navy challenge coin.

Towing company ordered to pay thousands for auctioning off deployed sailors car

The initial filing of the lawsuit in April 2022 came as a complete shock to Lee Gilliam, general manager at Steves Towing, Military.com previously reported.

We love our military and would never auction off an active duty military vehicle knowingly, Gilliam said.

The proposed consent order in this case still must be approved by the court, according to the release.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza has asked in a letter for a meeting with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to present evidence considered by jurors in the case of Daniel Perry, according to a statement from his office on Tuesday.

A jury on Friday found Perry, an Uber driver, guilty of murder in the shooting death of armed Austin protester Garrett Foster in 2020.

Back story: Gov. Greg Abbott announces he will push to pardon Daniel Perry after murder conviction

Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted on Saturday that he plans to pardon Perry after he receives a recommendation for a pardon from the board. Abbott made his decision after prominent conservatives asked him to do so. Perry has not yet been sentenced.

Daniel Perry, an Uber driver, was found guilty in the shooting death of Austin protester Garrett Foster in 2020.

Garza also asked the members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles to meet with Foster's family and consider the public safety implications of its decision prior to making a final recommendation, Garza's statement said.

For as long as the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has existed, it has been a cautious steward of the power of clemency in our State, said Garza. We look forward to working with the Board to present all evidence necessary for its consideration.

What we know: Get up to date on Daniel Perry murder conviction, Abbott's talk of pardon

Fact check: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick cites apparently false claim in supporting Daniel Perry murder pardon

A Travis County jury deliberated 17 hours before delivering the verdict after an eight-day trial after a controversial trial that involved issues of self-defense and also pitted police against prosecutors.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers in his case will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday to discuss with District Judge Clifford Brown the scheduling of the sentencing for Perry, who faces up to 99 years in prison, Garza said in the statement. The meeting is not open to the public.

Prosecutors said Perry, fueled by anti-protester beliefs, instigated the incident by driving toward a group of marchers and that Foster was defending himself when he approached Perry's car carrying an AK-47 rifle.

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Garrett Foster, right, is seen with his wife Whitney Mitchell. Foster was Mitchell's full-time caretaker at the time he was shot and killed during a Black Live Matter march on July 25, 2020 in Austin.

Perry's attorneys said he was defending himself when he shot Foster with a .357 revolver because Foster raised his rifle at him.

Perry, a 37-year-old army sergeant, was working as an Uber driver on July 25, 2020, when he drove down Fourth Street in Austin, honked his horn at 9:50 p.m. and turned right onto Congress Avenue where a crowd was marching.

Perry stopped and several protesters approached his car, including Foster, police have said. Protesters have said they feared they were being attacked by someone in a car. Witnesses said during the trial that Foster did not raise his rifle at Perry during the shooting.

There were no photos or videos presented during the trial that showed the shooting.

Perry told police that protesters had banged on his car and hit it with objects when he turned into the crowd. He said Foster had approached it and indicated he wanted to speak to him, so Perry rolled down his window. Perry said Foster mumbled something and raised his rifle, so Perry aimed his gun out the window and shot Foster.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: DA Jose Garza want Texas pardons board to see Daniel Perry evidence
Justin Trudeau and Denys Shmyhal

Trudeau noted that Canada has already provided substantial military aid  tanks, armored personnel carriers, ammunition, and other military equipment.

Read also: Canada to transfer hundreds of recon drones to Ukraine

Today we announce more weapons (for Ukraine), said Trudeau.

Were sending 21,000 automatic rifles, 38 machine guns, and over 2.4 million rounds of ammunition. This will help the Armed Forces of Ukraine to continue defending their freedom and fight for Ukraines territorial integrity.

Read also: Canada imposes more sanctions on Iranian drone and missile manufactures

On March 24, Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation in providing Ukraine with more substantial security assistance.

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
This picture taken in 2017, shows Canadian and Chinese flags taken prior to a meeting with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and China's President Xi Jinping

The leadership of charitable foundation named after former Canadian prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau has abruptly resigned over scrutiny of a donation with alleged ties to Beijing.

The Trudeau Foundation said on Tuesday the "political climate" surrounding the 2016 donation "made it impossible to continue with the status quo".

It returned the donation last month.

The sudden resignation comes as Canada grapples with allegations of election meddling by Beijing.

The charity, a scholarship organisation created to fund doctoral researchers, was founded over two decades ago in memory of former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Justin Trudeau's father.

Justin Trudeau, who became Canada's prime minister in 2015, has no involvement in the organisation.

In February, the Globe and Mail newspaper, based on anonymous sources, reported that two wealthy Chinese businessmen gave C$200,000 ($148,000; 120,000) to the foundation, a payment allegedly orchestrated by Beijing.

While the money was recently refunded, politics around the donation and wider concern over Chinese interference put "a great deal of pressure" on the foundation's volunteer board and CEO Pascale Fournier, said the organisation in a statement. announcing their resignation.

Mr Trudeau has faced calls to launch a national inquiry after leaked intelligence reports suggested that China attempted to interfere in the 2019 and 2021 general elections.

The alleged interference is not believed to have changed the election outcomes.

In March, Mr Trudeau launched a series of probes to investigate the claims and named a special rapporteur to look into foreign interference in the last two general elections.

China has denied the claims, calling them "purely baseless and defamatory".

The news also comes ahead of a scheduled appearance on Friday by Mr Trudeau's chief of staff before a parlimentary committee looking into suspected foreign election interference.
Donald Trump is planning to fight an order for former Vice President Mike Pence to testify before the grand jury investigating the former presidents efforts to cling to power despite losing the 2020 presidential election, according tomultiplenewsreports.

Trumps team filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Monday to contest an earlier court decision saying Pence should comply with a subpoena for his testimony and documents.

Trump is moving to block Pence from appearing before the grand jury on the grounds of executive privilege  an argument that failed to convince the court in Trumps earlier efforts to bar the testimony of other top aides, including former chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Pence initially contested the subpoena and vowed to continue to do so. But earlier this month he indicated he was prepared to testify after James Boasberg, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., agreed with his argument that the Constitutions speech and debate clause applied to him in his role as president of the Senate.

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, Devin OMalley, an aide for Pence, said last week.

Pence could provide important information as a witness, including about how he was pressured by Trump and his allies to use his role presiding over the Senates election certification to undo now-President Joe Bidens win.

Pence has criticized Trumps role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and distanced himself from Trumps election lies. The two are likely to face off in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

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.

The latest appeal comes as several probes around Trump have heated up. Last week, the ex-president was formally indicted on 34 charges related to falsifying business records over his role in a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied wrongdoing.
The US attorney prosecuting Donald Trump sued a Republican lawmaker on Tuesday to try to stop the congressman from interfering in his case against the former president.

In the lawsuit, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused Representative Jim Jordan of an "unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack" on his prosecution of 76-year-old Trump.

Bragg last week announced 34 charges against Trump over alleged hush money payments meant to help his 2016 presidential campaign -- including to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels, meant to silence her about sex she says she had with the ex-president.

Trump -- who denies the liaison and pleaded not guilty to all counts during a historic arraignment -- has repeatedly accused Bragg, an elected Democrat, of waging a witch hunt.

Bragg's lawsuit against Jordan, filed in the Southern District of New York, comes after Jordan and two Republican colleagues requested last month that Bragg testify before Congress about his probe into Trump, who had not yet been indicted.

The Republicans -- who are all committee chairmen in the House of Representatives -- accused Bragg of waging a "politically motivated prosecution" and demanded that he hand over documents related to the case.

Bragg's office responded by accusing the trio of "an unprecedented inquiry into a pending local prosecution."

After the indictment against Trump was unveiled last week, Jordan issued a subpoena to a former prosecutor in Bragg's office, seeking that he give testimony to lawmakers behind closed doors.

Bragg's lawsuit, which accuses Jordan of "a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" the district attorney, seeks to block any deposition from happening. It also seeks to prevent Bragg from being subpoenaed.

Trump -- the frontrunner in the race for the 2024 Republican nomination -- is the first former or sitting president to ever be charged with a crime.

He is accused of falsifying business records to cover up the $130,000 payment to Daniels, made just weeks before the 2016 election that sent him to the White House.

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Jordan's House Judiciary Committee announced on Monday that it would hold a "field hearing" about Bragg's policies as district attorney with "victims of violent crime" in Manhattan on April 17.

A spokesperson for Bragg slammed the meeting as a "political stunt."

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Former President Trump mocked President Biden for telling reporters during a White House Easter event that he still planned to run for reelection, saying he doesnt see how its possible.

When asked by NBCs Al Roker whether he planned to participate in Easter events at the White House past 2024, a nod to the president possibly seeking reelection, Biden said Im planning on running, Al, but were not prepared to announce it yet.

But a portion of Bidens answer was also inaudible, which Trump poked fun at during an upcoming interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Theres something wrong, Trump said in the interview when asked if he thinks Biden will run in 2024. I saw his answer today on television  it was a long answer about the eggs and this and that, look I dont think he can.

Trump, 76, has long made fun of Biden, 80, for his age, pointing to it as one of the reasons why he should have been elected against Biden in 2020 and hammering on it again ahead of a possible 2024 rematch. Bidens age has been one of the most frequent lines of attack from Republicans and opponents of the president.

Trump, who was the oldest president to be inaugurated before Biden took office, has already launched his White House bid for 2024. Biden has frequently said he plans to run, but he has yet to officially launch a campaign.

The presidents age has also already become an issue on the campaign trail for next year.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), who launched her campaign earlier this year, floated the idea of a mental competency test for all politicians over the age of 75. Both Trump and Biden would be subject to such a plan.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former President Trump widened his lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in a hypothetical Republican primary match-up to 33 points, according to a new poll.

A Morning Consult poll found Trump with 56 percent of the vote among a group of current and potential GOP challengers for the nomination and DeSantis in second with 23 percent. This marks Trumps widest lead in the poll since Morning Consult started tracking the hypothetical primary in December.

The most recent poll found Vice President Pence came in third with 7 percent, followed by former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley with 4 percent and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) with 3 percent.

Almost half of respondents who said they supported Trump would support DeSantis as their second choice, while 41 percent of those who prefer DeSantis said they would support Trump as their second option.

Pollsters found Trump and DeSantis performing similarly in a hypothetical match-up against President Biden, with Trump trailing by 1 point and DeSantis behind by 2 points.

Trump and DeSantis are both viewed overwhelmingly favorably among Republicans, with 78 percent of potential GOP primary voters viewing Trump positively and 69 percent viewing DeSantis positively. Pollsters have also found no increase in negative feelings toward Trump since he was indicted on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in New York.

Trump is one of a few candidates in the race, while DeSantis has not announced whether he will run but is rumored to be planning to.

The poll also found that the announcement from former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) last week that he would join the race does not appear to have had a major effect on the polling. Almost 7 in 10 potential Republican primary voters said they did not hear much about the announcement, and only 1 percent said they would support him.

The poll was conducted from April 7-9 among 3,608 potential Republican primary voters. The margin of error was 2 points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump (left) and Chris Christie (right). Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Chris Christie says Trump's "act" and fixation on past grievances is getting old.

Christie commented on ABC about Trump's rambling, post-arrest speech at Mar-a-Lago.

Christie said the speech made Trump sound like a man "'griping to you about his bad divorce."

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says former President Donald Trump's fixation on the past is getting tired and overblown.

During an April 9 appearance on ABC's "This Week," Christie commented on Trump's post-arrest speech at Mar-a-Lago  a defiant, 27-minute, campaign-style address to rally the MAGA faithful.

"And so, what's going to happen here with Trump is that his act is going to remain the same," Christie said of the speech. "That sounded to me like a guy that you'd encounter in a bar who you'd wind up sitting next to, and he's griping to you about his bad divorce."

Christie added that Trump's biggest problem is that elections "are won or lost on the future"  a significant stumbling block for Trump, who can't move on from the past.

"And that is going to be his problem when the primary comes because the smart primary candidate will be talking about the future and ignoring Donald Trump, except for when he pops up," Christie said. "And then, like whack-a-mole, you hit him down."

Christie then weighed in on the current slate of 2024 presidential candidates, predicting that if President Joe Biden were to run, Trump would be the only GOP candidate he could beat.

"I don't think he could beat any other Republican that could get nominated," Christie said of Biden. "But the economy will still be the thing that determines this, and I think we have more bumps ahead."

Christie is a former Trump ally. He distanced himself from Trump after the Capitol riot and has since become a vocal Trump critic.

In November, Christie slammed other GOP politicians for being too scared to disavow Trump.

"There's a number of people who are considering running for president who still treat him like Voldemort, like 'He Who Shall Not Be Named,'" Christie told the Washington Examiner in November. "You're going to run against him? Say his name. You think he did something wrong? Say his name."

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And in March, Christie vowed not to support Trump in 2024.

"I can't help him. No way," Christie told Axios.

There's a chance Christie might launch a 2024 presidential bid of his own  which would pit him against Trump, the current GOP frontrunner. Christie told Fox News on March 23 that he will "probably make a decision in the next 60 days on what to do or not to do."

Representatives for Christie and Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Brandon Bell/Getty Images, Scott Olson/Getty Images

Trump's team has accused Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis of running an unofficial 2024 campaign.

In an email, the Trump campaign said DeSantis is engaging in "taxpayer-funded globetrotting."

The accusation comes after MAGA Inc., a Trump super PAC, filed an ethics complaint against DeSantis.

Former President Donald Trump's team has launched a fresh attack on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, accusing him of "taxpayer-funded globetrotting."

An email from the Trump campaign on Monday accused DeSantis of not formally declaring a 2024 presidential run and using his governor's salary to fund unofficial campaign travels.

"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," read the campaign's email.

Under Florida's "resign to run" law, candidates running for other offices must resign from their current post at least 10 days before running for the position they desire.

The Trump campaign email accused DeSantis of planning a countrywide tour this month, including stops in Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Utah, Texas, and South Carolina.

The Trump campaign also said that DeSantis is using international trips to "score some last-minute foreign policy credentials for his 2024 presidential campaign" and further accused the governor of "taxpayer-funded globetrotting."

The governor has plans to visit Japan in April, per the Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese news outlet that cited sources familiar with the matter. The Florida governor also intends to visit Israel, per the Associated Press.

"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. It's a massive flip-flop from his position in 2018," Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesman, said in the email.

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Cheung did not provide further evidence or substantiation to support his claim that tax dollars fund DeSantis' overseas and domestic travels.

The Trump campaign's fresh accusations come weeks after Florida Democrat Nikki Fried filed an ethics complaint against DeSantis. The March 27 complaint accused DeSantis of attending a $235,000 donor-funded retreat at the Four Seasons in Palm Beach, Florida.

Separately, MAGA Inc.  a Trump-linked super PAC filed an ethics complaint against DeSantis on March 14. The complaint accused DeSantis of soliciting and receiving "millions of dollars worth of illegal gifts in violation of Florida State ethics laws and the Florida Constitution," per a copy of the document obtained by NBC News.

If DeSantis officially announces his 2024 bid, he will be Trump's biggest rival for the GOP presidential ticket.

And while DeSantis has not officially announced a 2024 presidential run, he has been visiting cities around the US as part of a tour for his new book, "The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival." His book tour is widely regarded as a precursor to his presidential run.

Representatives for Trump and DeSantis did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider sent outside of regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11)  Two youth activists were arrested on Tuesday while joining one of the protests against the military drills between Filipino and American troops.

According to police, groups began staging their protests against the Balikatan exercises in front of the United States Embassy in Manila at 4:50 a.m.

Manila Police District PIO Chief PMaj. Philipp Ines said a 22-year-old student from the University of the Philippines and a 24-year-old student from Far Eastern University were apprehended for vandalism and resisting arrest.

"Kung naging maayos lang sana sila at hindi ni pinagbabato ng pintura ang US embassy hindi sana mangyayari ang pagkaka-aresto sa dalawang estudyante," Ines told CNN Philippines.

[Translation: If they behaved properly and had not thrown paint at the US embassy, the two students would not have been arrested.]

Youth groups, including the Kabataan Party-list, criticized the arrest. Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel argued that a video showed the two students did not resist arrest, and there was allegedly a use if force in how they were arrested.

"Tayo din ay naniniwala na ang kanilang actions, yung kanilang pagsali sa protesta ay hindi naman ituturing na isang krimen [We also believe that their actions, their participation in the protest are not considered a crime]," Manuel said.

The League of Filipino Students also denounced the arrest, saying their actions were peaceful.

The UP College of Mass Communication also defended one of its students, and called on authorities to immediately release the activists.

Protests against the joint drills have also reached the US, as over 60 Filipinos and members of anti-war organizations rallied in Times Square in New York City.

"Rather than protect the livelihoods and land of Filipinos, the US military aims to encircle and intimidate China and reinforce US hegemony in the Asia Pacific," said Nina Macapinlac, Secretary General of BAYAN USA.

Fishers at risk

The Philippines and the United States formally opened the largest-ever Balikatan on Tuesday, with over 17,500 troops participating.

Groups sounded the alarm on how the military exercises will affect the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk.

In a statement, GABRIELA Secretary-General Clarice Palce said there are reportedly live-fire exercises (LFX) across the country, including Nueva Ecija.

"The residents, many of whom are farmers, are afraid to leave their homes, and the LFXs have been a source of concern for people's mobility and their ability to safely seek their livelihoods," Place added.

However, Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez said this "inconvenience is temporary."

Asked if the Balikatan have an impact on livelihoods of fishers in Palawan communities, Alvarez said, "That is true, if there is live firing at sea. But before this live firing at sea of course there is enough warning to the fishermen and this is not done at night. This is done during the day."

"The inconvenience is temporary, if you ask me," Alvarez told CNN Philippines' The Final Word."

CNN Philippines' correspondent Paige Javier contributed to this story.
Tunisian police used tear gas on Tuesday to disperse homeless black migrants who have been protesting outside a United Nations office to demand evacuation following incendiary comments by President Kais Saied.

AFP journalists saw police breaking up the encampment outside the Tunis office of the global body's refugee agency UNHCR. The migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been protesting there, saying they are "not safe" in Tunisia.

The UNHCR announced earlier this month that it was suspending asylum activities worldwide as it moved to a new registration system.

Migrants in Tunisia have held repeated protests outside the agency's office in the Lac district of the capital, including on Tuesday, when they erected barricades in front of the UNHCR office there.

Famoussa Koita, a Malian who is recognised by the UN as a legitimate asylum claimant, said many people had been waiting two or three years for the agency to settle their cases.

Migrants also argued with residents of the plush lakeside neighbourhood before being dispersed by police.

Interior ministry spokesman Faker Bouzghaya said the police intervened at the request of the UNHCR and 80 migrants had been detained.

Hundreds of migrants have been living outside the nearby office of the International Organization for Migration, without access to toilets or running water, since Saied claimed without evidence in February that migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were causing crime and represented a "plot" to change Tunisia's demographic makeup.

Shortly after his speech, black Africans faced a wave of violence and many including pregnant women and children were expelled from their homes and workplaces by landlords fearing fines or prison.

Hundreds of fearful West Africans were flown home on repatriation flights.

A group of migrants told journalists in a text message late Monday that they had been "unjustly kicked out of our homes and got sacked from work" after Saied's speech.

"We want to be evacuated immediately to any other safe country that will accept and respect us as human, not a country like Tunisia that don't value us as human," they said.

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"We came to Tunisia... for refuge but Tunisia is not safe for us and we can't stay in Tunisia anymore."

Elyes Ben Zakour, a Tunisian who lives nearby, said migrants were "blocking the street" and complained that residents had been unable to leave their houses for 25 days.

After the police dispersed the migrants, an AFP journalist saw UNHCR windows and surveillance cameras broken. Municipal workers removed migrants' tents and cleared away their belongings.

ak-fka/ezz/par/it
Tupperware is warning that it may go out of business.

The Orlando-based multinational company, known for its line of airtight storage containers, said it had substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern in a new press release.

The companys shares plunged 50 per cent after its securities filing, sinking to $1.22 a share.

Tupperwares stock is also down 70 per cent this year.

Tupperware has embarked on a journey to turn around our operations and today marks a critical step in addressing our capital and liquidity position, Miguel Fernandez, Tupperware Brands CEO, said in the statement.

The Company is doing everything in its power to mitigate the impacts of recent events, and we are taking immediate action to seek additional financing and address our financial position.

According to multiple outlets, Tupperware has warned that it faces being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange due to being late in filing the standard annual report.

The company also said when it does file its financial results, they will look substantially worse than usual.

(Amazon)

On top of these issues, Tupperware is facing lawsuits from its investors who are accusing the company of hiding serious issues in the financial filings.

As of last week, Tupperware is considering selling some of its real estate properties or cutting some parts of the business, per the press release.

Tupperware is an American home products line that includes food preparation, storage, and serving products for the kitchen and home.

The company was developed in 1946 by Earl Tupper in Leominster, Massachusetts.

He developed plastic containers to be used in households to contain food and keep them airtight, which featured a then-patented burping seal.

Tupperware is now sold in almost 100 countries.
Tupperware products are offered for sale at a retail store on 10 April 2023 in Chicago, Illinois, US

Tupperware, the US maker of food storage containers, has warned that it could go bust unless it can quickly raise new financing.

The 77-year-old firm said there was "substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern".

Tupperware has been attempting to reposition itself to a younger audience but has failed to stop a slide in its sales.

Its shares plunged nearly 50% on Monday before recovering slightly on Tuesday.

The firm became well-known in the 1950s and 1960s when people held "Tupperware parties" in their homes to sell plastic containers for food storage.

Tupperware still employs a direct sales force - who earn a percentage of all the goods they sell - as well as selling goods on its website.

It recently started selling its products in US retail chain Target in an attempt to entice younger shoppers as well as to other retailers around the world.

It has also expanded its range into cooking products, such as a grill that works in a microwave.

At the time, Miguel Fernandez, Tupperware's chief executive - its third in five years - said he imagined the grill "for someone who lives in an apartment in New York City and you can't really do outdoor grilling but you can use this".

However, Neil Saunders, managing director of retail at the consultancy GlobalData, said Tupperware has "failed to change with the times in terms of its products and distribution".

He said that the method of selling direct to younger customers through Tupperware parties "was not connecting" and that even older customers who "remembered Tupperware in its heyday" have moved on - customers can now buy cheaper or more fashionable containers in shops or online.

Meanwhile, Tupperware said in March that its workforce of direct sellers had shrunk by 18% in 2022 compared to the previous year. It was also impacted by Covid lockdowns in China which hit consumer access to products.

Tupperware has been trying to change its image from house parties in years gone by to younger shoppers

Mr Saunders also said that Tupperware - while considered innovative many years ago - was perhaps not as inventive and stylish as other brands such as Joseph Joseph, the home goods design company started by twin brothers Antony and Richard Joseph.

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Younger customers have also embraced more environmentally-friendly products such as beeswax paper to keep food fresh which can be used again and again, he said.

Tupperware had seen a resurgence during the Covid pandemic as people cooked for themselves at home and its share price surged, but sales have slid since then.

Tupperware share price graph

In a statement, Tupperware said that its shares were in danger of being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange because it had not yet filed its annual report.

It also warned that it had to renegotiate its loans after already amending its loan agreements three times since August 2022.

Tupperware said it was struggling with higher interest costs on its borrowings while it attempts to turn the business around.

The company said it "currently forecasts that it may not have adequate liquidity in the near term", adding that it "has therefore concluded that there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern".

Just a month ago, Tupperware's chief financial officer Mariela Matute, who joined the company in May last year, told investors: "We're confident that we will be able to operate without substantial doubt in 2023."

In addition, Tupperware said that its financial results for 2021 and 2022 as well its interim figures in 2021 and the first three months of 2022 had been "misstated" due to how the firm accounted for taxes and leases.

Tupperware's share price rose by 5.6% on Tuesday after dropping by nearly 50% on Monday.

The company said it was working with financial advisers to secure more money and investment. It is also examining whether it can sell property and cut jobs.

Mr Saunders said it was doubtful whether Tupperware could do enough now to turn itself around. He said that if the company had made changes 10 years ago, such as selling in shops or through wholesale, it may be in a different position now.

However, the brand name is still well-known, he said, and the company could appeal to a retail giant such as Walmart - which used to own Asda - or even Amazon.

Tupperware was founded by Earl Tupper, an American chemist, in 1946.

The polyethylene air-tight and water-tight products - with their double-sealed lid - were sold in department stores but were not immediately successful because potential customers were not sure how to use them.

People were used to glass and ceramic products and the new Tupperware container had to be "burped" to expel air when being sealed.

A saleswoman called Brownie Wise - who was already selling cleaning products door-to-door at home parties - started selling Tupperware herself.

She used home demonstrations to find customers and recruited other salespeople to sell the goods.

She was recruited as a vice president of marketing at Tupperware by Mr Tupper, helping to fuel growth at the business through parties which also allowed women to earn an income.

However, the founder and his vice president reportedly clashed over strategy and in 1958, Mr Tupper fired Mrs Wise. She sued the company and won a year's salary. Mr Tupper went on to sell the business.
Turkey commissioned a new ship, the TCG Anadolu, on April 10, 2023. (Turkish Defence Ministry)

ANKARA, Turkey  The Turkish Navy received its largest vessel on April 10 during a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and top military brass.

The amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu is Turkeys first landing platform dock. Erdogan said the military will deploy heavy helicopters, drones and light-attack aircraft from the vessel.

Its fully loaded displacement is 27,436 tons, and it measures 231 meters (758 feet) in length, 32 meters in width and 58 meters in height.

The ships primary purpose is to serve as a platform from which the TB-3 armed drone and the Kizilelma combat UAV can launch. Both aircraft were developed and built by the privately owned Turkish drone-maker Baykar.

Erdogan said that the TCG Anadolu would also help with military and humanitarian operations around the world.

Also on Monday, the president attended the welding ceremony of the three MILGEM corvettes commissioned by the defense procurement office SSB. The MILGEM project is focused on providing patrol and anti-submarine warfare capabilities at sea.

Turkey officially began constructing its first landing platform dock in 2016 when Erdogan was already talking about production plans for an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered vessel. He has also previously expressed hope that the program for landing platform docks would be the first step toward producing the most elite aircraft carrier.

Turkey's president says the military will deploy heavy helicopters, drones and light-attack aircraft from the TCG Anadolu. (Turkish Defence Ministry)

In 2013, Turkey announced it selected the local shipyard Sedef for its LPD program. The company partnered with Spains Navantia.

The TCG Anadolu can carry a battalion-sized unit of 1,200 personnel, eight utility helicopters and three drones. It also can transport 150 vehicles, including battle tanks.

The original delivery time was five and a half years after Turkey kicked off the effort  by the end of 2021  meaning the schedule fell behind by two years.

Turkey intended to fly its future F-35 fighter jets from the ship, but the U.S. removed the country from the multinational Joint Strike Fighter program after Ankara acquired Russian-made S-400 air defense systems.

Turkey has since switched its primary aerial asset on the TCG Anadolu from the F-35 to the Kizilelma.

The vessel cost Ankara more than $1 billion, although officials have declined to reveal the exact price. Turkey will be the third operator of this ship type, after Spain and Australia.
The diplodocus replica is more than a century old and has 292 bones

Two people have appeared in court following a Just Stop OIl protest near a dinosaur exhibit.

Police were called to the Dippy the Diplodocus replica in the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry on Monday.

Two people were arrested after being tackled by security staff.

Victoria Lindsell, 67, and Daniel Knorr, 21, of Green Street, Oxford, are charged with having an article with intent to destroy or damage property.

Lindsell, of School Hill, Flecknoe, Warwickshire, has been released on bail and will appear at Warwick Crown Court on 9 May.

Dippy the Diplodocus previously stood at the Natural History Museum before being unveiled in Coventry

She has been ordered not to enter the museum or carry coloured paint or powder with the purpose of destroying property.

Dippy, a 26-metre long (85ft) cast of a diplodocus skeleton began a three-year residency at the gallery in February and has proved popular with visitors.

It was previously seen by more than two million people on a UK tour after its 112-year stay in the Natural History Museum ended in 2017.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
Two Google employees tried to stop the company from releasing its AI chatbot, Bard, a report said. View Pictures/Getty Images

Some Google employees have been raising the alarm about the company's AI development, per the NYT.

Two workers tried to stop the company from releasing its AI chatbot, Bard, the publication reported.

The pair were concerned the chatbot generated dangerous or false statements, it added.

Some Google employees have been raising the alarm about the company's artificial intelligence development, The New York Times reported.

According to the Times report, two Google employees who were tasked with reviewing AI products tried to stop the company from releasing its AI chatbot, Bard. The pair were concerned the chatbot generated dangerous or false statements, per the report.

In March, the two reviewers working under Jen Gennai, the director of Google's Responsible Innovation group, recommended blocking Bard's release in a risk evaluation, two people familiar with the process told the publication. The employees felt that despite safeguards, the chatbot was not ready, it added.

However, The New York Times reported that the people it spoke to told them Gennai altered the document to remove the recommendation and downplay the risks of the chatbot.

Gennai told Insider she had "added to the list of potential risks from the reviewers and escalated the resulting analysis" to a committee of senior product, research, and business leads which determined it was appropriate to move forward for a limited experimental launch. She told The Times reviewers were not supposed to weigh in on whether to proceed.

A representative for Google told Insider: "We're pleased with the early reception of our experiment with Bard, even as we keep improving it, with commentators and users widely recognizing that it's been released conservatively, with significant caution and limits."

In recent months, the tech world has been rushing to deploy generative AI products. The race was seemingly prompted by the release and viral popularity of OpenAI's ChatGPT, but the speed of development is raising alarm elsewhere.

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In March, several AI heavyweights signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause on advanced AI development. The letter said AI companies were locked in an "out-of-control race" and cited profound risks to society from the advanced technology.

John Burden, one of the letter's signatories and research associate at The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, previously told Insider the rate of AI development had picked up at an unprecedented speed.

"Things that five years ago would have seemed unrealistic to expect in the next decade have come and gone," he said. "On a bigger scale, we just aren't ready for the impact that this technology might have  considering we don't really know how these models are doing what they are doing."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Two Wichita men are headed to prison for their roles in a fatal drug deal in 2019.

Orlando Howard, 19, and Marcus L. Lamar, 23, were sentenced Monday by Sedgwick County District Judge David Dahl, according to court records and Dan Dillon, a spokesman for the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office. Howard pleaded guilty on April 8, 2022, to one count of second-degree murder in the Aug. 19, 2019, shooting death of 33-year-old Jerome S. Armbeck and one count of aggravated robbery for the armed robbery of Armbecks brother, Joshua A. Armbeck.

He will serve 13 years, 9 months in prison, Dillon said.

Lamar pleaded guilty on Feb. 15 to aggravated robbery and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Dahl imposed a five-year sentence in his case, Dillon said.

Wichita police have said the men were part of a group who decided to rob Joshua Armbeck of his backpack at gunpoint after meeting him to buy an ounce of marijuana for $140. Jerome Armbeck was killed in an open field in the 4600 block of East Boston, near Harry and Oliver, during a foot chase after his brother asked him to help catch the thieves.

Howard, who was 15 at the time, was prosecuted as an adult after initially being charged as a juvenile. His attorney in a written motion asking for probation said Howard did not set up the robbery, had absolutely no plan . . . to be involved in any criminal activity and was told by his co-defendants to hold the gun because he was the youngest.

It is The Eagles policy to name defendants who were juveniles at the time of a crime if prosecutors charge them as adults.

Two other men were involved in the robbery, police have said. Pierce A. Jackson, 22, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and will be sentenced April 21, court records show. Tairyce A. Jones, 21, was sentenced in March to five years in prison for one count of aggravated robbery following a guilty plea last summer.

The victims brother, Joshua Armbeck, is serving three years of probation for attempted distribution of marijuana, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in June 2020.
Last Fridays decision by a Texas-based, Trump-appointed federal judge to halt the FDAs approval of the widely-used medication abortion drug mifepristone was all but inevitable as far back as November, when a coalition of anti-abortion groups filed their lawsuit.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard oral arguments in the case nearly a month ago.





The states of Washington and Massachusetts took steps to stockpile mifepristone. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that the state had purchased a three-year supply that was delivered March 31. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Monday said that her state has acquired 15,000 doses of the drug.

(Hours after Kacsmaryks decision, another federal judge ordered the FDA not to make any changes to mifepristones availability, framing up a fight likely to reach the US. Supreme Court.)

On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced creation of a 2-million pill stockpile of the abortion drug misoprostol. While misoprostol can be used by itself to manage a medicated abortion, it is less effective than mifepristone and misoprostol taken together, according to the World Health Organization and other medical authorities.

So why didnt Newsom stockpile the drug targeted by the lawsuit? Legal affairs deputy secretary Julia Spiegel told The Bee that unlike mifepristone, misoprostol is not in the crosshairs of the anti-abortion movement. The drug is also used in treatment of stomach ulcers.

This is not a choose one or the other scenario, we are fighting on all fronts here, Spiegel said.

Spiegel said that Mondays announcement was months in the making. Plans to form a stockpile of abortion medication pre-dated even the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and empowered conservative state legislatures to pass bans and restrictions.

She said that California has coordinated with the 21-state Reproductive Freedom Alliance to make sure as many people have equitable access to abortion medication as possible.

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This is an insurance plan, it is a backup reserve that we can use in the event of a shortage, she said.

Newsom spokesman Brandon Richards said that the state has thus far secured 250,000 doses of misoprostol. The state opted to start with a quarter million doses in order to avoid the perception of an abortion pill shortage, Richards said.

California is purchasing and securing misoprostol to ensure people across California and the country know medication abortion will remain accessible and affordable regardless of what happens in the courts. And we will continue to fight this battle on multiple fronts, Richards said in an email statement.

Meanwhile, another 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 US. Supreme Court.




Rescuers were on Tuesday searching rubble in the French Mediterranean city of Marseille for two people still missing after a deadly building collapse two days before, while investigators probed the cause of the tragedy.

Crews have recovered the remains of six people from the debris of the apartment block, which was destroyed in the early hours of Sunday after an explosion which may have been caused by a gas leak.

"The toll is unchanged and operations are continuing," a fire service spokesman told AFP on the scene early on Tuesday.

Five women and three men were believed to have been in the building when it fell.

Four of the dead have been identified, a husband and wife both aged 74 and two more women aged 65 and 88, Marseille prosecutor Dominique Laurens told reporters Tuesday.

"The search is getting more and more dangerous," she said.

"Ruins have to be combed by hand" because of the "very great danger to the stability" of a neighbouring building.

But eyes are now turning to possible causes for the blast.

"We are working on the hypothesis of a gas explosion," Laurens said, without ruling out other possible causes as dozens of investigators worked at the scene.

Around 200 people evacuated from the neighbourhood face an uncertain wait before they are allowed to return to their homes.

One building adjoining the fallen block largely collapsed a few hours later, while the structure on the other side was weakened and risks falling in turn.

Other houses on the street may have suffered less visible damage, meaning they have to be torn down, Marseille's deputy mayor for security, Yannick Ohanessian, said on Monday.

Some residents were allowed to return briefly on Tuesday to recover vital items from their homes, given just a few minutes to choose between important papers, clothes, medicines or a bicycle for the daily commute.

"The worst thing is not knowing how long it's going to be. I'm most worried not to know where I'll be living, whether I'll need to find a new apartment," said Alhil Villalba, 33.

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Two teenagers have been arrested in the March 21 shooting death of 55-year-old Khudhair Hamdan in Arlington, according to a news release from police.

Luis Gutierrez, 18, and Cristian Saucedo, 19, face charges of capital murder. Theyre accused of shooting Hamdan after he took them out to test drive a car he was trying to sell, according to police.

Police responded to a call around 6 p.m. on March 21 about a shooting in the 700 block of Port Richmond Way after callers reported a man was lying unresponsive in the road, according to a news release. When officers arrived, they found Hamdan there with at least one gunshot wound and had him taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Hamdan was trying to help a family member sell a car through social media and had agreed to go for a test drive that evening with Saucedo and Gutierrez.

In an arrest warrants for Gutierrez and Saucedo, Arlington Detective Spencer Simmons cited surveillance video and witness testimony to outline what police believe happened:

Someone identifying himself as Armando Gutierrez reached out to Hamdans son, who was not identified in the warrants, over Facebook Marketplace to ask about inspecting the vehicle. The son trying to sell the vehicle told the man that he wasnt home but his father, Hamdan, was, and gave him a home address.

The man got the sons number and called him later to tell him the purported buyers were outside the residence.

Surveillance footage from the area of the shooting and nearby showed Luis Gutierrez and Saucedo inspecting a purple Dodge Charger then driving off with Hamdan. Witnesses who called 911 told police they later saw Hamdan get out of the vehicle and collapse. The 911 caller told dispatchers they were performing CPR. Hamdan was discovered by first responders to have a gunshot wound on his back left shoulder. He was taken to the hospital, where he died.

Surveillance footage shows Luis Gutierrez and Saucedo abandoning the vehicle after the shooting and being picked up by a black Dodge Charger with chrome wheels and a hood vent.

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Police used cellphone records and GPS data to track where Luis Gutierrez was and obtain the surveillance footage referenced in the warrant. Police said the cell GPS data showed Gutierrezs phone at the location Hamdan let them start the test drive, at the scene of the murder and in the 6200 block of Matlock Road, where Luis Gutierrez and Saucedo are seen abandoning the vehicle.

Using the cell phone information and the physical characteristics in the surveillance video, police identified Luis Gutierrez, who was already wanted in Dallas as a suspect in a 2019 robbery. Because of the uniqueness of the vehicle in which Gutierrez and Saucedo left the scene, police were able to track it down in Dallas, where it was reported being seen in a residential driveway. The vehicle was later confirmed as stolen.

After identifying and locating Luis Gutierrez, Dallas police conducted a traffic stop on the Dodge Charger. Three guns were thrown out the window and one person fled the vehicle on foot. Luis Gutierrez and his brother, Armando Gutierrez, were taken into custody. Luis Gutierrez was charged initially with unlawful use of a motor vehicle for driving the stolen Charger, then with capital murder for his part in the attempted robbery and ultimate death of Hamdan. The third person in the vehicle who fled police was Saucedo.

Saucedo was identified by a woman who was not involved in the crimes in a photograph, in which he was wearing a mask. The woman told police shed seen him wear the jacket seen in the image and that he matched the physical characteristics of Saucedo. Cell records and GPS location confirmed Saucedo was with Gutierrez at the time of Hamdans killing.

Saucedo was arrested on April 7 at his home in Dallas by the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force, who took him into custody without incident.
Cebu (CNN Philippines, April 11)  A new ordinance in Cebu will penalize national government agencies that implement policies without coordinating and consulting with the provincial government.

Officers or employees of national agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations will be fined P5,000 per violation or face imprisonment of one year.

Administrative charges will also be filed against those found to be violating Ordinance No. 2023-02.

This means all national government agencies and GOCCs need to first submit to the provincial board "all pertinent documents related to the policy, program, or project they are going to implement."

"No policy, program, or project shall be implemented in the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Cebu by the concerned National Government Agency or GOCC unless the same has been approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Cebu through an appropriate resolution approving the same," the ordinance reads.

It will be the first time in the country where a provincial government will require such extensive coordination before national policies are implemented by agencies.

This comes after the recent conflict between Gov. Gwen Garcia and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) over the handling of African Swine Fever (ASF) and other hog diseases.

RELATED: Cebu governor orders lifting of border controls, no culling as ASF spreads in province

Garcia has filed complaints at the Ombudsman against BAI officials for alleged abuse of authority in the implementation of culling and other policies related to the ASF. Cebu came up with its own local ASF policy contrary to that of BAI.

The ordinance authored by Provincial Board (PB) member Raul Bacaltos was unanimously approved by the board and was immediately signed by Garcia last week. It will take effect three weeks after publication and posting.
The State Department formally designated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as wrongfully detained in Russia, unlocking an array of resources that allows the U.S. to put further pressure on Russia to secure the journalists release.

The reporter, who was credentialed by the Russian Foreign Ministry, was detained by the Federal Security Service in the eastern city of Yekaterinburg on allegations of espionage. President Joe Biden and leaders of news organizations throughout the globe have demanded his release, with Biden urging the Kremlin to let him go.

Today, Secretary Blinken made a determination that Evan Gershkovich is wrongfully detained by Russia, read a State Department 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 State Department called on Russia to immediately release Gershkovich as well as U.S. citizen Paul Whelan.

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

The wrongfully detained designation indicates that the U.S. considers Gershkovich to be a political hostage held on fabricated charges. His case now moves to a section of the State Department called the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA). Human-rights organizations count more than 50 American citizens as wrongfully detained in adversarial countries, including China, Russia, and Iran. The designation is relatively rare considering the number of cases of Americans held overseas on various legal troubles.

Brittney Griner, who was held on minor drug charges and swapped for a Russian arms dealer last December, also held this designation. So does Paul Whelan.

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Officials said that the speed at which the designation was reached was unprecedented, as it typically involves a lengthy process that takes months, according to the Wall Street Journal. The designation seldom comes before the detainee is able to meet with American consular officials from the local embassy, which Gershkovich has not been allowed to do.

The State Departments authority to exert pressure on Moscow is also broadened because of this designation. It can monitor intelligence, build diplomatic coalitions, exert media pressure, and fight for regular consular access.

Eileen OReilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute said the move was a needed one in a statement, but said more could be done by the U.S. government.

While this case has moved at a record pace, it still took almost two weeks for our government to make this determination. We must do more to streamline the process  especially as it relates to journalists. We believe it is always a wrongful detention when a journalist is held for doing their job, the statement read.

SPEHA no longer appears as focused on wrongful detention as it once was, and has not shown a willingness to prioritize cases of journalists. One need look no further than the case of Austin Ticeto see that cases of detained journalists are not a priority of SPEHA. Austin has been held more than 10.5 years, and we have not engaged with Syria to negotiate for his release, the statement continued. We call on SPEHA to move swiftly to refer Evans case to the National Security Council for a quicker resolution.

According to Russian news agencies, an appeal to the arrest has been filed and a hearing has been scheduled for April 18.

More from National Review
Louis Gaskin

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a request for a stay of execution from Louis Gaskin, who is known as the ninja killer and is scheduled to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The Florida Supreme Court had already rejected the 56-year-old Gaskins appeal. Gov. Ron DeSantis is the only person who could grant a stay at this point and spare Gaskin from the needle at Florida State Prison in Raiford.

That is unlikely since DeSantis signed the death warrant for Gaskins execution.

'Ninja killer' describes attack: With his execution looming, Louis Gaskin describes attack on second Palm Coast couple

Victim opposes execution: Noreen Rector, one of Gaskin's victims, opposes execution, has strong words for DeSantis

Gaskin describes murders: In his own words: So-called 'Ninja killer' describes how he murdered Palm Coast couple

Gaskin was convicted in 1990 of two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Robert and Georgette Sturmfels on Dec. 20, 1989, in Palm Coast. Gaskin shot them from outside the house and then broke in and shot them again. Gaskin then stole items, some of which he gave to his girlfriend as Christmas presents. He was sentenced to death for their murders.

After killing the Sturmfels, Gaskin targeted another couple in Palm Coast, trying to lure Joseph Rector outside before he shot him through a window. But Rector and his wife managed to escape. Gaskin was convicted of the attempted first-degree murder of Joseph Rector on the same night in the same section of Palm Coast.

Rectors wife, Noreen Rector, told The News-Journal she opposed Gaskins execution while her husband told WESH that he supported it. Noreen Rector also said she hoped the execution did not help DeSantis presidential ambitions.

The jury also convicted Gaskin of two counts of armed robbery and two counts of burglary.

Gaskin also confessed to killing a third man in 1986. He has been on death row for 33 years.

Story continues

Protests, vigil planned

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty plans to hold a vigil and peaceful protest at 5 p.m. across from Florida State Prison at 23916 NW 83rd Ave., in Raiford. For information, contact the group's executive director, Maria DeLiberato, at info@fadp.org.

Media coverage

News-Journal reporter Frank Fernandez will be among media witnesses allowed to watch the execution. Reporters attending are not allowed to bring in a laptop, a cellphone or smartwatch, or even their own notepad and pen. The Department of Corrections will provide each reporter with a notepad and two pencils.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 'Ninja killer' Florida: Supreme Court clears way for Gaskin execution
Jorge Masvidal has denied that he cheated in his defeat at UFC 287, after opponent Gilbert Burns claimed that the American used lotion to remain slippery in grappling exchanges.

Masvidal suffered a decision loss to Burns in Miami on Saturday, before retiring in front of his hometown crowd.

Burns later accused the 38-year-old of using a trick to diminish the Brazilians grappling prowess, but Masvidal hit back on The MMA Hour on Monday.

Theres a commission, there was like three commissioners backstage, Masvidal said. Theres numerous people backstage besides [the US Anti-Doping Agency]. Ive never greased, Ive never been caught for cheating or anything.

Maybe Im the sweatiest motherf***** he knows, but Ive never greased. Ive never put on anything in my life for forever. Ive never done that in my life. Maybe he should blame his technique for being s****y, not being able to do anything but just hold on the ground.

The referee was there, touching me constantly and breaking us up and moving us around. Youre telling me he couldnt tell if I had grease? Aint no difference between that and sweating, so its whatever, bro.

Ive never cheated, Im not about to cheat. Ive never even had a point taken away from me in my 50-something pro fights. So, for this guy to try to slander my name on my last one, whatever, bro.

It annoys me, because Ive never put grease or Vaseline or anything. I just go out there and compete, bro. Ive never done steroids, Ive never missed weight, so I feel I dont have to cheat to beat any of these motherf*****s. Let him throw whatever he feels like out there.

Masvidals loss at UFC 287 was his fourth straight defeat. The American suffered back-to-back losses to Kamaru Usman in 2020 and 2021, when the Nigerian-American held the welterweight title, before being outpointed by friend-turned-rival Colby Covington last March.

Gamebred then lost to Burns on all three judges scorecards on Saturday, before calling time on his professional career.

In his post-fight interview in the cage, Masvidal also paid tribute to former US president Donald Trump, who was sat in the front row at the Miami-Dade Arena.
The transfer of TOS-1A thermobaric systems to the Russian airborne forces (VDV) may indicate a future increase in their role in offensive operations in Ukraine.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Intelligence drew attention to Russian media reports about the transfer of thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems TOS-1A to the Russian airborne forces.

As noted, the highly destructive TOS-1A is usually used by Russian specialised chemical, biological and radiological defence troops in Ukraine and has not been officially linked to airborne forces before.

"The transfer likely indicates a future role for the VDV in offensive operations in Ukraine. It is likely part of efforts to reconstitute the VDV after it suffered heavy casualties in the first nine months of the war," the report reads.

As reported in the 7 April update, Russia had deployed additional troops on the Bakhmut front and had begun to use artillery more effectively in the area, achieving some success.

"Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector. There is realistic possibility that, locally, Wagner and Russian MoD commanders have paused their ongoing feud and improved co-operation," the UK Defence Intelligence report stated.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Dinkie Flowers, one of the UK's oldest women, believes she has the answer to a long and happy life. (SWNS)

One of the UKs oldest women has revealed the secret to a long life as she gears up to celebrate her 102nd birthday.

Dinkie Flowers will turn 102 this May. The mother-of-one was born in 1921, just three years after the end of the first world war.

She has lived through 21 prime ministers and when she was born, George V was on the throne  meaning she's lived through the reign of five monarchs.

Read more: Champagne's the secret to a long life, says 108-year-old woman

Now, Flowers has revealed the key to her longevity  and says its down to sunshine and dancing.

Dancing has helped keep me healthy, everyone should do something, they shouldnt be on their bottom all day, Flowers explains.

Ill do a little bit of dancing, I cant stop dancing you see  if my friends would like to dance, they can join in, but they might feel a bit stupid as its not just ordinary dancing, you have to know what youre doing.

Dinkie Flowers credits sunshine and dancing to her longevity. (SWNS)

I recommend dancing and moving to stay fit and healthy, not sitting down all day, I couldnt do that  dancing keeps you alive and dancing and being in the sun makes me happy.

Flowers is a former pro-dancer and was the first British acrobatic skater  and has travelled the world demonstrating her incredible skills, including performing in Baghdad and in front of Prince Phillip.

Read more: Couple rekindle their teenage love 32 years later after reconnecting on Facebook

Ahead of her 102nd birthday, Flowers hopes to raise money for a local charity The Gateway Hub, who provide support to the local community and is looking forward to celebrating the day with a tea party organised by her carer Lesley.

Dancing is my life, I love it, Flowers says, Im raising the money for charity because its a local charity and I like to do it.

Read more: Couple who wed as teens share secret to 28-year marriage

You can find more information about Flowers fundraising efforts here: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dinkie-flowers

Additional reporting by SWNS.

Watch: Gran becomes oldest woman to finish Antarctica marathon
Ukrainian agents have pursued drone attacks inside Belarus and Russia, contrary to U.S. and Western wishes, and leaders in Kyiv have considered further targets outside Ukraine, according to a batch of leaked U.S. documents that appear to expose national security secrets.

NBC News obtained more than 50 of the leaked documents, which have revealed much about Ukraines military strengths and weaknesses. The documents posted online seem to contain sensitive and highly classified material, though some may have been altered, Pentagon spokesperson Chris Meagher said on Monday.

Two documents appear to show Ukraine launching operations inside other countries, though some allied nations have said any such actions might cause them to reconsider their ongoing support for Kyiv.

John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during the Trump administration, said the disclosures show how damaging the leaked documents could be.

Releasing this information could be intended to undercut Western support for Ukraine by showing potential operations cross border and by revealing purported weaknesses in Ukraines air defense capabilities, he said.

One document, marked Top Secret, notes two separate attacks allegedly orchestrated by Kyiv that appear to have minimally damaged two Russian targets outside of Ukraine: a military airfield outside Minsk, Belarus, and a gas compressor station in the Moscow suburbs.

In the first instance, officials with Ukraines Security Service, Kyivs main intelligence agency, assessed that their agents in Belarus had disobeyed orders and attacked a Russian surveillance aircraft at a Belarusian airfield on Feb. 26, according to the document.

The document alleges the agents used a quadcopter drone and caused minor damage to the plane, a RUS A-5OU, which the Russian state-owned weapons developer Rostec calls a flying radar that is capable of operating as a mobile command center.

A spokesperson for the Security Service of Ukraine said the agency would be willing to comment after Ukraines victory.

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has allowed Russia to station its troops and military equipment in Belarus. He has threatened to enter the war on Russias side if Belarus is attacked by Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin (Mikhail Klimentyev / AFP via Getty Images file)

Lukashenko had previously alleged without evidence that the Feb. 26 attack was coordinated by Ukraine and the U.S.s intelligence operations. Belarusian dissidents took credit for the damage and said on Telegram that participants in the operation were safe, outside the country.

A week later, according to the state news agency Belta, Lukashenko said that a terrorist trained by Washington and Kyiv had orchestrated the attack and that more than 20 accomplices who are in Belarus have been detained. The rest are hiding.

If you think that by throwing down this challenge, you will drag us into a war tomorrow, Lukaschenko said in comments aimed at the U.S. and Ukraine, you are mistaken.

A similar incident occurred two days later in Russia, according to the same document. Russian officials reported that Ukrainian forces used a drone on Feb. 28 in an attempt to strike a gas compression station in Moscows suburbs. It is unclear whether the attempt caused any damage or who specifically caused the attack, but since the start of the conflict Russian news agencies have reported numerous explosions inside the country near important infrastructure that do not have a clear cause.

Separately, a second document from the trove says that on Feb. 28 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested striking Russian deployment locations in Russias Rostov Oblast, which borders southeastern Ukraine, with unspecified drones.

The document alleges that in conversation with Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhnyy and a second unidentified Ukrainian official, Zelenskyy expressed concern that Ukraine did not have the long-range missile capabilities to strike Russian troop deployments in Russia. He suggested Ukraine attack Russian troop locations across the border with drones instead.

The Biden administration has declined to provide Ukraine long-range missile systems and even newer jets out of fear that Ukraine would strike targets within Russia, which is against U.S. policy.

The unnamed second official said that Ukraines capabilities could reach Tuapse, Russia, which is on the Black Sea Coast more than 100 miles south of Rostov Oblast. Zelenskyy said striking that far was unnecessary.

Zelenskyys office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the Kremlin was reviewing the leaked documents. He declined to comment on how the documents found their way to the internet, but said that Russia is often first to be blamed for Americas misfortunes.

NBC News has not independently confirmed the information outlined in the leaked documents.

The U.S. government has set up an interagency effort to investigate the leak, said the Pentagon's Meagher, with a focus on assessing the impact these photographed documents could potentially have on U.S. national security and on our allies and partners.

The Pentagon said it is reaching out to allies about the leak, and is checking the veracity of the documents, but it declined to say how many documents may have been leaked, how many people inside the government had access to the documents, which allies it has contacted and who at the Defense Department will be leading the review. The Biden administration has declined to comment on any of the details appearing in the documents.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also couldnt say on Monday whether more documents might be released.

We dont know. We truly dont, he said during the White House press briefing.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Denys Shmyhal and Justin Trudeau in Toronto on April 11, 2023

The modernized CUFTA will boost Ukraine-Canada trade and create unique opportunities for Ukrainian business, according to Shmyhal.

Read also: Ukraine does not trade its territories  Ukraine to Brazil about Crimea

The PM outlined major improvements to the trade deal as follows:

 Implementing the most modern liberalization regime for service and investment markets, based on Everything which is not forbidden is allowed principle;

Read also: Biden, Trudeau pledge enduring support for Ukraine

 Revamping digital goods trade rules concerning the free flow of information, no restrictions on server location, open-source software, and free access to the internet;

 Ukrainian companies will be able to export good to Canada tariff-free, even if some of their components are sourced from EU countries, the UK, Israel, or the European Free Trade Association countries.

To strengthen our trade ties and help support Ukraines economic recovery, Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Shmyhal signed a joint declaration on the conclusion of negotiations for the modernization of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), and underscored the need to complete the processes to implement it as quickly as possible, Trudeaus office said in a press release.

A modernized CUFTA supports long-term security, stability, and economic development in Ukraine, as well as the creation of good middle-class jobs here in Canada.

Read also: Trudeau announces more military aid to Ukraine

Earlier on April 11, Trudeau and Shmyhal announced that Canada will provide Ukraine with further security assistance, focused largely on small arms and ammunition.

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 and Canada have announced the completion of negotiations on an updated Free Trade Agreement between the two countries; this document will replace the existing agreement that has been in effect since 2017.

Source: European Pravda, with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Economy

The heads of governments of the two countries said that the negotiations that took place during the visit of Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to Canada are over.

The main difference between the new agreement and the old one will be that in addition to the abolition of tariffs, Ukraine and Canada are expanding opportunities for enterprises that have not only a Ukrainian, but also a foreign component in their products.

"Tariffs will also be lifted on those Ukrainian goods that have components originating from the EU, the European Free Trade Association, the UK and Israel.

This should encourage the creation of production chains, make the location of production in Ukraine more attractive for foreign investors who plan to supply their goods to the Canadian market," explained Yulia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

An important element of the agreement is that the new agreement will allow the parties everything that is not prohibited.

"The agreement does not regulate what is allowed, on the contrary  [it] carefully writes out exceptions to the full freedom to provide services. And we do it in such a way that all regulation is as transparent, clear and predictable as possible," Svyrydenko said.

Separately, guarantees for investors were written, as well as an investment protection system based on the most modern legal instruments.

One section includes a digital commerce agreement that sets out all fundamental freedoms in this area. This is already the second digital trade agreement that Ukraine has signed. The first one was signed with the UK in January.

Such digital agreements are primarily aimed at preventing the appearance of barriers in the future and should reduce obstacles for Ukrainian businesses to participate in global digital trade.

Story continues

In addition, the new agreement regulates financial services, temporary entry for business persons, telecommunications, trade and gender, trade and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as trade and indigenous issues.

The new agreement will also include updated chapters on rules and procedures of origin, competition policy, monopolies and state-owned enterprises, public procurement, environment, labour, development and administration of measures and transparency, anti-corruption and responsible business conduct.

The Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Canada should help Ukraine conclude similar agreements with other countries.

Ukraine and Canada started negotiations on the modernization of the existing agreement in January 2022.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
By Pavel Polityuk

KYIV (Reuters) -Russian forces pounded frontline cities in eastern Ukraine with air strikes and artillery attacks, while U.S. officials stepped up efforts to locate the source of a leak of classified U.S. documents, including those on Ukrainian counter-offensive plans.

The Russians pressed on with their offensive in the eastern Donetsk region where several cities and towns came under heavy bombardment, Ukraine's general staff said on Tuesday.

Ukrainian forces repelled several attacks, it said, as the Russian military kept up its effort to take control of Bakhmut.

A top Ukrainian commander accused Moscow of using "scorched earth" tactics.

"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 battle for the small and now largely ruined city on the edge of a chunk of Russian-controlled territory in Donetsk has been the bloodiest of the 13-month war as Moscow tries to inject momentum into its campaign after recent setbacks.

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the Bakhmut fighting, but Syrskyi said: "The situation is difficult but controllable."

The head of the Moscow-controlled part of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said Russian forces now held 75% of the city, though he cautioned it was too early to talk about Bakhmut's fall.

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 remain intact and those queuing for food and other aid do not even flinch at the sound of artillery.

Story continues

"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. broadcaster CNN said 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.

The documents detail topics such as 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.

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 made only small advances at 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 while shelling many towns and villages, including Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar.

Ukrainian forces repelled 52 enemy attacks, it said.

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.

Last week, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said troops could be withdrawn if they ran the risk of being encircled. Kyiv and the West say the now smashed city of Bakhmut has only symbolic importance.

(Additional reporting by Ron Popeski, Nick Starko and Tom Balmforth; Writing by Angus MacSwan, Andrew Cawthorne, Arshad Mohammed and Shri Navaratnam; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Clarence Fernandez)
Russian forces are continuing to make gains in Bakhmut but are suffering significant casualties, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

It comes as a Ukrainian general says Russia is sending more elite troops including special forces to support the Wagner Group in the battle for the besieged city in the east of the country.

The defence forces exhausted the Wagnerites. The enemy is forced to involve special forces and airborne assault units in the battles for Bakhmut, said Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraines ground forces.

He added that Vladimir Putins soldiers are actively using their artillery and aviation, destroying the city that they cannot capture.

This comes a day after a Russia-backed official said that Moscows forces control more than 75 per cent of Bakhmut but cautioned that it is still too early to talk about the besieged citys fall.

Meanwhile, Kyiv maintains that its war plans remain largely un-impacted by the leak of dozens of secret US documents regarding the situation in Ukraine, though specific tactics were subject to change.

US officials are trying to trace the source of the leak, the worst to hit the American military in many years.

Key Points

Russia forces make gains in Bakhmut but suffer significant casualties, says US think-tank

Putin sending special forces, airborne units to help out Wagner

Russia claims 75% of Bakhmut captured

Ukraine says Russia using 'scorched earth' tactics in Bakhmut

Tactics will change, not strategic moves, says Ukraine after leaks

Putin sending special forces, airborne units to help out Wagner

05:43 , Arpan Rai

Ukrainian Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi has said that Russia is sending more forces to help out the Wagner Group in the besieged sector of Bakhmut amid signs of fatigue.

He said that Moscow is sending in special forces and airborne units to help their attack on Bakhmut, as members of Russias private mercenary Wagner Group, who have spearheaded the Bakhmut assault, were exhausted.

Story continues

Ukraines 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.

A Ukrainian counter-offensive is looming and is long been expected to begin soon after months of attritional warfare in the east.

A Russian winter offensive failed to make much progress, and its troops have made only small advances at huge cost.

The Ukrainian defenders have also taken heavy casualties.

UN tally of confirmed civilian deaths nears 8,500

11:50 , Joe Middleton

Nearly 8,500 civilians are confirmed to have been killed in Russias invasion of Ukraine, a U.N. body said on Tuesday, with many thousands more unverified deaths still feared.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it had recorded 8,490 people killed and 14,244 injured between the launch of the invasion of Feb. 24, 2022, and April 9, 2023.

The body has long described its figures as the tip of the iceberg because of its limited access to battle zones.

The majority of the deaths were recorded in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government and under attack by Russian forces, including 3,927 people in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which have witnessed intense fighting.

OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration, it said in a statement.

Russian forces have pressed their offensive in the eastern Donetsk region where several cities and towns have under heavy bombardment.

A U.N.-mandated investigative body found last month that Russian forces had carried out indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on Ukraine. Russia denies targeting civilians or committing atrocities.

Reuters

Russia set to draft men into armed forces by sending them electronic call-up papers

11:08 , Joe Middleton

Russia will soon draft men into the army by sending them electronic call-up papers via an online portal in addition to traditional letters, according to draft legislation due to be debated on Tuesday that aims to facilitate mobilisation.

More than 300,000 former soldiers and ex-conscripts are believed to have been called up since President Vladimir Putin announced an emergency draft last year to support Russias special military operation in Ukraine.

Currently, conscription papers in Russia have to be delivered in person by the local military enlistment office or via an employer, but the proposed changes to legislation would see conscription papers being sent via recorded mail and online.

Once an electronic summons is received, citizens who fail to show up at the military enlistment office will be automatically banned from travelling abroad.

The summons is considered received from the moment it is placed in the personal account of a person liable for military service, Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian parliaments defence committee, said in comments on television.

Reuters

Russian tennis player speaks out after sparking outrage with Spartak Moscow shirt

10:35 , Joe Middleton

Anastasia Potapova has said she will not wear a Spartak Moscow shirt on court again after being warned for doing so during Indian Wells.

Potapova, who has climbed to 25th in the world rankings, was rebuked after warming up in the football shirt during the tournament in California.

Her choice of garment was criticised by Iga Swiatek, who stressed that the Russian should not show her views in this way given the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Harry Latham-Coyle reports:

Russian tennis player speaks out after sparking outrage with Spartak Moscow shirt

Kremlin opponent defiant in statement during treason trial

09:48 , Joe Middleton

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 hes proud of his public statements and behavior for which hes 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.

Kremlin opponent defiant in statement during treason trial

Russia redeploying heavy flamethrower thermobaric weapons to elite frontline troops in Ukraine

09:07 , Joe Middleton

Russia is likely handing over thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems to its elite airborne forces, suggesting its use in the continuing war against Ukraine, the British defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The British defence ministry cited Russian media reports on the transfer of TOS-1A thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems to Moscows airborne forces (VDV) on 3 April.

Thermobaric weapons, fired using the multiple launch rocket systems, are considered to be one of the most brutal war weapons in existence.

Arpan Rai reports.

Russia redeploying heavy flamethrower thermobaric weapons to elite frontline troops

Ukrainian children reunited with families after being taken to Russia

08:47 , Joe Middleton

Russia forces make gains in Bakhmut but suffer significant casualties, says US think-tank

08:30 , Joe Middleton

Russian forces are continuing to make gains in Bakhmut but are suffering significant casualties, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

#Bakhmut Update:#Russian forces continued to make territorial gains in & around Bakhmut on Apr. 9 & 10likely continuing to suffer significant casualties, as Wagner forces reportedly continue to commit war crimes by beheading  servicemen in Bakhmut.https://t.co/w9uyAkUeuo https://t.co/Zok96eijcl pic.twitter.com/9YWbVvbNry  ISW (@TheStudyofWar) April 11, 2023

Polands prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki flies to US for meetings to strengthen economic and defence ties

08:02 , Joe Middleton

Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has flown to the United States for meetings aimed at strengthening the economic and defence cooperation of the two nations.

Morawiecki is due to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday at the White House. He is also scheduled to have meetings with the representatives of American defence companies during his three-day visit.

I am flying to the United States to strengthen the alliance with our most powerful ally, with a country that guarantees security in Europe, that especially guarantees security in our part of Europe, Morawiecki said.

Following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the United States increased its military presence in Poland  a nation on NATOs eastern flank that borders Ukraine  and has used Poland as a transit country for military and humanitarian aid going into Ukraine.

Poland is also a major donor of aid to Ukraine, and has been ordering tanks and other modern military equipment, mostly from U.S. and South Korean producers, to strengthen its own forces and replace some older equipment sent to Ukraine.

Morawieckis visit follows two visits to Poland by U.S. President Joe Biden since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Additional reporting by Associated Press

US determines Russia has wrongfully detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich

07:30 , Joe Middleton

The United States has determined that Russia has wrongfully detained 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 on Monday. We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth.

The US 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.

Russias 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.

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.

US President Joe Biden has called for Gershkovichs release and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an April 2 telephone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov raised Washingtons concerns over the reporters unacceptable detention.

Russia destroys large fuel depot near Zaporizhzhia

06:59 , Andy Gregory

Russia's defence ministry said its forces destroyed a depot with 70,000 tonnes of fuel near Zaporizhzhia.

They destroyed Ukrainian army warehouses storing missiles, ammunition and artillery in the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, the ministry said.

What is a vacuum bomb? The new weapon Russia has admitted unleashing on Ukraine

06:48 , Arpan Rai

Russias military offensive against Ukraine has taken a horrifying turn after Vladimir Putins forces admitted using thermobaric weapons against the former Soviet territory.

Thermobaric weapons are considered to be one of the most brutal war weapons in existence.

The missiles are filled with a highly explosive fuel and chemical mix, which, on exploding, can cause supersonic blast waves capable of obliterating everything in their path, including buildings and humans.

They are also known as aerosol bombs or vacuum bombs.

What is a vacuum bomb? The new weapon Russia has admitted unleashing on Ukraine

Russia could use heavy flamethrower' thermobaric missiles in Ukraine  UK

06:47 , Arpan Rai

Russia is likely transfering TOS-1A thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems to its airborne forces, suggesting its use in the continuing war against Ukraine, the British defence ministry said today.

The MoD has cited Russian media reports on the transfer of TOS-1A thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems to Russian airborne forces (VDV) on 3 April.

Thermobaric weapons are considered to be one of the most brutal war weapons in existence.

The highly destructive TOS-1A, which Russia designates as a heavy flamethrower, is typically operated by Russias specialist Chemical, Biological and Radiological Protection Troops in Ukraine, and has not previously been formally associated with the VDV, the ministry said.

It added that this transfer likely indicates a future role for the VDV in offensive operations in Ukraine. It is likely part of efforts to reconstitute the VDV after it suffered heavy casualties in the first nine months of the war, the MoD said.

Full report: US launches multi-agency search to find source of huge Ukraine document leak

06:03 , Andy Gregory

The United States has launched a multi-agency investigation after highly classified military and intelligence documents containing sensitive information on topics including Ukraines defence were leaked online, my colleague Stuti Mishra reports.

US launches multi-agency search to find source of huge Ukraine document leak

Kremlin defends China over Taiwan military drills

05:01 , Andy Gregory

China has every right to respond to what it called repeated provocations against it and carry out military exercises around Taiwan, the Kremlin has said.

Beijing carried outthe last of three days of drills around Taiwan on Monday, including practicing aerial and naval blockade manoeuvres of the island, which China views as part of its own territory  something Taiwans government strongly disputes.

In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said everyone should respect China and its actions which were in line with international law, saying: In a very short period of time, you and I have witnessed repeated actions that have been provocative toward the Peoples Republic of China.

And, of course, China has the sovereign right to respond to these provocative actions, including conducting military manoeuvres in strict compliance with international law.

Mr 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, Mr Macron called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to bring Russia back to its senses over Ukraine.

Russia claims 75% of Bakhmut captured

04:56 , Arpan Rai

Vladimir Putins forces control more than 75 per cent of the besieged city of Bakhmut, the Russia-installed head of the occupied part of Ukraines Donetsk region has said.

Moscow-backed regional leader Denis Pushilin published footage of himself on Telegram purportedly visiting the small mining city where battles have raged since last summer.

I can say with absolute certainty, that more than 75 per cent of the city is under the control of our units, Pushilin told state-run Rossiya-24 TV channel after his visit.

He has cautioned that it is still too early to talk about Bakhmuts fall, contrary to premature claims by the Wagner Group mercenary force.

The battle for Bakhmut has been one of the bloodiest of the 13-month war, drawing comparisons with the First World War due to its attritional nature and the massive casualties on both sides.

Tactics will change, not strategic moves, says Ukraine after leaks

04:20 , Arpan Rai

Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak has said Kyivs strategic plans remained unchanged after a leak of classified war documents, but that specific tactics were always subject to change.

This comes after reports from Volodymyr Zelenskys office that Ukraine had already changed its war plans in response to the leak of a large number of secret documents relating to the conflict in the US.

The secretary of the national security and defence 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.

National security experts and US officials suspect the leaker could be American, but have not ruled out pro-Russian actors.Russia, however, has said that any inclination to blame to Moscow is like a disease.

There is in fact a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, without commenting directly on the leak.

Volodymyr Zelensky meets Richard Branson

04:02 , Arpan Rai

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has met British billionaire Richard Branson and welcomed him on board as an ambassador for a Ukrainian online fundraising platform.

I met today with Richard Branson  a prominent British entrepreneur and a longtime friend of Ukraine. He has been supporting us since 2014  both in words and with concrete work. Now he has decided to join the team of United24 ambassadors. I am grateful for that! he said in his nightly address.

Mr Zelensky added: We discussed how the global influence of Mr Branson can help us in our recovery, reconstruction of our educational institutions, attraction of technological assistance for Ukraine, in particular, to carry out humanitarian demining.

United24 is the official fundraising platform of Ukraine and an initiative led by Mr Zelensky to seek donations and aid for rebuilding the war-hit nation. The online platform allows one-click donations to Ukraine and was set up in a bid to help the country after the full-scale invasion by Russia in February last year.

Watch: The Independent speaks to Bucha residents a year after Russias invasion

03:59 , Andy Gregory

Arrest of WSJ reporter a brazen act, says World Bank president

02:52 , Andy Gregory

Russias arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is a brazen act and violates the vital freedom of the press, including the safety of journalists, World Bank president David Malpass has warned.

Russian Federal Security Service investigators have charged Mr Gershkovich with espionage, which the journalist denies.

Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) said on 30 March it had detained Gershkovich in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and had opened an espionage case against him for collecting what it said were state secrets about the military industrial complex.

Ukraine invites Narendra Modi for visit and calls on India to be more involved in resolving war

01:41 , Andy Gregory

Kyiv wants India to be more involved in helping to resolve Russias war and has sought a visit by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Ukraines deputy foreign minister has said.

Ukraine also expects India to invite Ukrainian officials to participate in G20 events and intensify political dialogue with Kyiv, Emine Dzhaparova told broadcaster CNBC TV18.

India holds the rotating G20 presidency 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 increased its purchasing of Russian oil while others have sought to buy less or ban it.

Ms 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.

Russian journalists demand politicians release ahead of Stalinist treason verdict

Tuesday 11 April 2023 00:34 , Andy Gregory

Dozens of Russian journalists and rights activists have urged authorities to free a prominent opposition politician facing up to 25 years in jail for alleged treason and other charges said to be politically motivated, after he criticised the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, and his crackdown on dissent.

The appeal to release Vladimir Kara-Murza, 41, came ahead of a court hearing in Moscow as his trial  which the journalists likened to the political terror meted out by Soviet leader Josef Stalin in the 1930s  draws to a close.

Russian state prosecutors have requested a 25-year prison sentence for Kara-Murza, a father of three and author and former journalist who holds Russian and British passports. He is expected to deliver a final speech at Mondays hearing, his lawyer Vadim Prokhorov has said.

Kara-Murza has spent years in opposition to Mr Putin and has lobbied foreign governments and institutions to sanction Russia and individual Russians for purported human rights violations. Prosecutors accuse him of discrediting the Russian military and treason among other charges.

Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza faces a quarter of a century in prison (AP)

What is in files leaked from Pentagon?

Monday 10 April 2023 23:28 , Joe Sommerlad

The five-week-old files published in a Pentagon leak reveal details of Ukraines requirements ahead of the spring counteroffensive it is planning, as well as how the US and Nato might meet them by way of supplying armaments.

The documents also reportedly disclose sensitive information on other nations like South Korea and Israel, as well as maps recording recent battlefield movements in Bakhmut and Kharkiv. One of the documents gave details of internal discussions among senior South Korean officials about US pressure on Seoul to supply weapons to Ukraine, and its policy of not doing so.

They do not reveal specific resistance battle plans, however, although Kyiv has nevertheless been forced to amend its strategy as a result of the leak, CNN reported on Monday, citing a source close to President Zelensky.

According to military analysts who have inspected the files, certain details appear to have been modified from their original format to exaggerate the American tally of Ukrainians killed in the war while downplaying the number of Russian troops thought to have been killed, adding to the suspicion of Russian involvement.

Pope renews call to pray for peace celebrating Easter Monday

Monday 10 April 2023 22:33 , 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.

Pope renews call to pray for peace celebrating Easter Monday

Turkey launches first amphibious assault ship

Monday 10 April 2023 21:31 , Andy Gregory

Turkey has launched its first amphibious assault ship, with Ankara aiming to extend its drone capabilities from land-based to naval operations as Russias war in Ukraine heightens regional tensions.

The TCG Anadolu can handle only light aircraft, chiefly helicopters and jets that can take off from shorter runways. It is 232 meters long and 32 meters wide, and can carry some 1,400 personnel  one battalion of soldiers  combat vehicles and support units to operate overseas.

This vessel will allow us to conduct military and humanitarian operations in every corner of the world, when needed, President Tayyip Erdogan said at the launch ceremony in Istanbul, adding: We see this vessel as a symbol that will consolidate Turkeys regional leadership position.

Ankaras original plan was to deploy F-35 B-model fighter jets, which can take off from shorter runways, on its largest warship. But its plans had to change after the US removed its Nato ally from its F-35 program over its purchase of Russian S-400 defence systems in 2019. Turkey then converted TCG Anadolu into a drone carrier.

Erdogan addressed an audience in Istanbul during the launch ceremony (REUTERS)

Watch: Ukrainian children reunited with families after being taken to Russia

Monday 10 April 2023 20:29 , Andy Gregory

Fingers point at Russia  and US  over leaked Pentagon files

Monday 10 April 2023 19:27 , Andy Gregory

Three US officials have told Reuters they believe Russia or a pro-Russia agent is behind the leak of Pentagon files containing details of Ukraines planned spring counteroffensive.

But former senior Pentagon official Michael Mulroy told the same outlet: The focus now is on this being a US leak, as many of the documents were only in US hands.

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 the leaks.

Spokesperson 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. Russias Foreign Spy Service declined comment when asked by Reuters about the leaks.

Ukrainian air defence could run out of missiles by May, leaked Pentagon files suggest

Six civilians killed in latest Russian shelling

Monday 10 April 2023 18:30 , Sam Rkaina

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.

Half of Ukraine soldiers returned injured, ill or tortured'

Monday 10 April 2023 17:34 , Sam Rkaina

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.

Russia and Ukraine swap more than 200 prisoners

Monday 10 April 2023 16:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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 wars opening months.

Russias 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.

Turkey launches its first aircraft carrier, eyes drone capabilities

Monday 10 April 2023 15:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Turkey launched its first aircraft carrier on Monday, aiming to extend its drone capabilities from land-based to naval operations amid increased regional tensions as war rages in Ukraine on the other side of the Black Sea.

The TCG Anadolu can handle only light aircraft, chiefly helicopters and jets that can take off from shorter runways. It is 232 meters long and 32 meters wide, and can carry some 1,400 personnel - one battalion of soldiers - combat vehicles and support units to operate overseas.

This vessel will allow us to conduct military and humanitarian operations in every corner of the world, when needed, President Tayyip Erdogan said at the launch ceremony in Istanbul.

We see this vessel as a symbol that will consolidate Turkeys regional leadership position, he said.

The amphibious assault ship was built in Istanbuls Sedef Shipyard by a Turkish-Spanish consortium, based on the design of Spanish light aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I.

Ankaras original plan was to deploy F-35 B-model fighter jets, which can take off from shorter runways, on its largest warship.

But its plans had to change after the United States removed Turkey, a NATO ally, from its F-35 program over Ankaras purchase of Russian S-400 defence systems in 2019. Turkey then converted TCG Anadolu into a drone carrier.

In addition to helicopters, Turkey plans to deploy on the new carrier Bayraktar TB3 and Kizilelma unmanned aerial combat vehicles - both under production by Turkish defence firm Baykar - as well as Hurjet light attack aircraft being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

TCG Anadolu will be the worlds first aircraft carrier whose fleet is made up mostly of armed drones once the plan is implemented.

Turkey, which has NATOs second largest army, shares a border with conflict-ridden Syria and Iraq and has a long Mediterranean as well as Black Sea coastline.

In the nearly 14-month Ukraine war, Turkey has positioned itself as an intermediary between Kyiv and Moscow, helping to broker with the United Nations a deal allowing for the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports via the Black Sea.

Russian-installed Donetsk region chief says Russia controls 75% of Bakhmut

Monday 10 April 2023 14:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Russian-installed head of the Moscow-controlled part of Ukraines Donetsk region Denis Pushilin told state television on Monday that Russian forces controlled 75% of the embattled city of Bakhmut.

(AP)

Russian journalists demand politician Kara-Murza's release ahead of 'Stalinist' treason verdict

Monday 10 April 2023 14:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Dozens of Russian journalists and rights activists on Monday called on the authorities to free a prominent opposition politician facing up to 25 years in jail for alleged treason and other charges which they said were politically motivated.

The appeal to release Vladimir Kara-Murza, 41, came ahead of a court hearing in Moscow as his trial, which the journalists likened to the political terror meted out by Soviet leader Josef Stalin in the 1930s, draws to a close.

Russian state prosecutors on Thursday requested a 25-year prison sentence for Kara-Murza, a father of three and author and former journalist who holds Russian and British passports. He is expected to deliver a final speech at Mondays hearing, his lawyer Vadim Prokhorov has said.

Kara-Murza has spent years in opposition to President Vladimir Putin and has lobbied foreign governments and institutions to sanction Russia and individual Russians for purported human rights violations.

Prosecutors accuse him of discrediting the Russian military and treason among other charges after he criticised Russias war in Ukraine - which it calls a special military operation - Moscows crackdown on dissent, and Putin.

Ukraine says Russia using 'scorched earth' tactics in Bakhmut

Monday 10 April 2023 13:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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 Moscows 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 Ukraines 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, Ukraines 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. Kyivs forces were forced to withdraw from there in July after a Russian onslaught.

In pictures: Scenes from bloody Bakhmut as intense battle continues

Monday 10 April 2023 13:11 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

(AP)

(AP)

(AP)

Ukraine says only 1,800 civilians still living in 'ruins' of Avdiivka

Monday 10 April 2023 12:42 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The civilian population of the embattled eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka has dwindled to 1,800 people from 32,000 before the war, as Russian forces bear down on the city to try to capture it, the local governor said on Monday.

Avdiivka has been one of the main targets of a Russian winter offensive that Moscow hoped would reinvigorate its Feb. 2022 invasion and which has only been able to make small territorial advances in the east.

The Russians have turned Avdiivka into a total ruin, said Pavlo Kyrylenko, Donetsks regional governor.

He said the city was hit by an air strike on Monday that destroyed a multi-storey building.

Fortunately, there were no casualties as all the residents of the building evacuated in time, he said. In total, around 1,800 people remain in Avdiivka, all of whom risk their lives every day.

In a separate statement, the Ukrainian General Staff said Russian forces were continuing to mount offensive operations around Avdiivka, but were suffering heavy losses in both manpower and equipment.

Belarus leader says he wants guarantees that Russia will defend his country if it is attacked

Monday 10 April 2023 12:07 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, told Russias 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 wars 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.

Kremlin says China has right to conduct Taiwan exercises, France cannot mediate in Ukraine

Monday 10 April 2023 11:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Kremlin said on Monday that China had every right to respond to what it called provocations and carry out military exercises around Taiwan.

In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said it was hard to imagine France, whose president Emmanuel Macron visited China for talks last week, playing a mediation role in Ukraine because Paris had taken the side of one of the parties in the conflict.

Lukashenko says Belarus needs guarantees that Russia will defend it if attacked

Monday 10 April 2023 10:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday that Belarus needs guarantees that Russia will defend Belarus like its own territory in the event of external attack, state-owned BelTA reported.

(EPA)

Ukrainian says defenders of Bakhmut still holding out

Monday 10 April 2023 10:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraines 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 and is seeking to fully occupy 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 Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week acknowledged that 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.

Britains 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.

Is the world on the precipice of a second cold war?

Monday 10 April 2023 09:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The rivalry could get out of hand, with dynamics in Washington and Beijing leading the world into a gratuitous confrontation between nuclear powers, writes Borzou Daragahi:

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.

Is the world on the precipice of a second cold war? | Borzou Daragahi

Whats the latest from the battlefield?

Monday 10 April 2023 09:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Here is the latest update from the frontline:

* Ukraines military reported continued Russian strikes, with the heaviest fighting still focused on two cities in eastern Donetsk region - Bakhmut and Avdiivka.

* Russia has destroyed a depot containing 70,000 tonnes of fuel near the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, the Russian defence ministry said on Sunday.

* President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denounced Russian air strikes coinciding with the observance of Orthodox Palm Sunday, including an attack that killed a father and daughter at home in the city of Zaporizhzhia.

* Reuters could not verify the battlefield reports.

Ukraine says Russia switching to 'scorched earth' tactics in Bakhmut

Monday 10 April 2023 08:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

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.

Russias assault on Bakhmut, a small city in the Donetsk region, has been the focus of the biggest battle of Moscows 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 Ukraines ground forces.

Ukraines defence of the city of Bakhmut continued, he said.

The situation is difficult but controllable, he said in comments quoted by Ukraines 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 Russias Wagner military group had become exhausted.

Reuters could not verify the battlefield account.

South Korea to discuss 'issues raised' from leaked documents with US

Monday 10 April 2023 08:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

South Korea is aware of news reports about a leak of several classified U.S. military documents and it plans to discuss issues raised as a result of the leak with the United States, a South Korean presidential official said on Sunday.

Several classified U.S. military documents have recently been posted on social media offering a partial, month-old snapshot of the war in Ukraine, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday, adding that Russia or pro-Russian elements were likely behind the leak.

Reuters has not been able to verify the authenticity of the documents. The U.S. Justice Department has said it is investigating the leak.

One of the documents, obtained by Reuters, showed details about internal discussions among top South Korean top officials about U.S. pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine, and its policy of not doing so.

The document, which does not appear to have a date on it, said that South Korea had agreed to sell artillery shells to help the United States replenish its stockpiles, insisting that the end user should be the U.S. military. But internally, top South Korean officials were worried that the United States would divert them to Ukraine.

The report was based in part on signals intelligence, which suggests the United States had been spying on South Korea, one of its most important allies.

The South Korean presidential official, speaking to reporters, declined to respond to questions about U.S. spying or to confirm any details from the leaked documents.

Asked if South Korea planned to lodge a protest or demand an explanation from the United States, the official, who declined to be identified, said the government would review precedents and cases involving other countries.

South Korea has signed major deals providing hundreds of tanks, aircraft and other weapons to NATO member Poland since Russia invaded Ukraine. But President Yoon Suk Yeol has said that a South Korean law that forbids supplying weapons to countries engaged in conflict makes it difficult to send arms to Ukraine.

The South Korean official said there was no change to South Koreas policy.
(CNN)  Under Elon Musk, Twitter has antagonized multiple major news organizations by labeling them state-funded media, appears to have eased restrictions on Russian government accounts and made crude jokes on the front of its headquarters and on Musk's own Twitter display name.

And that's just this weekend.

Musk's antics, which only seem to have escalated this month, threaten to further erode Twitter's brand value. For months, the company has struggled to retain advertisers and supplement its declining ad business  which previously comprised 90% of its annual revenue  by convincing users to pay up for its Twitter Blue subscription service.

Musk, who is on the hook for large payments to lenders after buying the company for $44 billion, including with significant debt, must either coax hesitant advertisers back to the platform or boost its subscription business  or both. But his recent erratic moves may only complicate those turnaround efforts.

Late last week, Twitter faced backlash for labeling NPR as a "state-affiliated media" organization akin to foreign propaganda outlets such as Russia's RT and Sputnik, in an apparent violation of its own policies. NPR CEO John Lansing called Twitter's move "unacceptable," and said the organization is "supported by millions of listeners."

Following the pushback, Twitter changed NPR's label to "government funded media," and applied the same designation to British broadcaster BBC over the weekend. Twitter has not given a definition for what it considers "government funded media," but the BBC pushed back on the label, saying it is independent and "funded by the British public through the license fee."

The moves risk alienating some of the best-known media organizations in the world and undermining what has long been a key selling point for the platform: its role as a central hub for news. NPR, in particular, has not tweeted from its main account in nearly a week.

While Twitter labeled some news accounts as state-funded, it also appears to have removed some restrictions on Russian government accounts that had been put in place following the outset of Russia's war in Ukraine, again prompting outrage among some users.

Musk commented on the decision in a tweet Sunday saying: "I'm told Putin called me a war criminal for helping Ukraine, so he's not exactly my best friend. All news is to some degree propaganda. Let people decide for themselves."

Twitter, which laid off much of its media relations team last year, did not respond to a request for comment.

The controversial moves come as Twitter continues to face significant business challenges. Analysis firm Similarweb last week reported that traffic to Twitter's ad portal was down nearly 19% year-over-year in March. Many major advertisers have halted spending on Twitter since Musk's takeover over concerns about increased hate speech on the platform and massive cuts to the company's workforce.

Musk has said Twitter is working to improve the platform's ad targeting to increase value for advertisers. "But all the while there have been distractions," said Scott Kessler, technology sector lead at research firm Third Bridge, adding that there are "significant questions about the direction that the company is going." At the same time, online ad spending broadly has contracted over concerns about the economy.

Against that backdrop, Musk's Twitter has made several head-scratching announcements this month, some of which might only add to its challenges.

Musk previously frustrated some of Twitter's celebrity users, who have long been a key selling point for the platform, with a promise to remove blue checkmarks from accounts who had been verified under Twitter's previous system. But it didn't exactly go to plan  instead of removing checks from all previously verified users, Twitter appeared to target a single account belonging to the New York Times.

Days later, Twitter's home button was temporarily replaced with doge, the meme representing the cryptocurrency dogecoin, which Musk has promoted. The company also briefly restricted Twitter users from sharing links to a rival platform, upsetting users, including one who had previously reported the so-called Twitter files using documents provided by Musk.

As if to underscore his unique and questionable impact on the brand, the "Chief Twit" has also apparently been keeping busy with changes to Twitter's San Francisco headquarters. Last week, photos began spreading of a piece of plastic covering the "w" in the sign on the front of the company's office.

At nearly midnight on Sunday, Musk tweeted that the company's landlord "says we're legally required to keep sign as Twitter & cannot remove 'w,' so we painted it background color," alongside a photo of the "w" painted white against a white background, leaving a more asinine word in its place. "Problem solved!" Musk tweeted.

If only the same could be said for the platform's business troubles.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Elon Musks weekend antics could only further crumble Twitters brand value."
Russia is unaware of all the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Moskva missile cruiser, which could lead to a new "surprise" for Russian ships in the Black Sea.

Source: Joint briefing of Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and his Danish counterpart Troels Lund Poulsen at the Ukraine Media Centre Odesa

Quote from Reznikov: "I would very much like to share the details that I am aware of, but we have an agreement with Oleksii Neizhpapa, ommander of the Ukrainian Navy, and thanks to his efforts and his team, this [sinking of the Moskva cruiser  ed.] happened. We cannot disclose the details at this time.

Some aspects are still unknown to our enemy, which means that we can still pose another surprise for them at sea, another cotton [Russian propaganda, initially refusing to use the word vzryv (explosion), used khlopok (a bang) instead. However, khlopok also means cotton, and this has since become a meme  ed.] related to their warships. We are just waiting for the right moment to repeat this story."

See also: Sinking the Moskva: previously undisclosed details. How the Ukrainian Neptune destroyed the flagship of the Russian fleet

Background: Oleksii Reznikov has invited foreign pilots of F-16 fighter jets, which Ukraine seeks to obtain from its allies, to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
NEW DELHI (AP)  Ukraine wants India to play a bigger role in helping end Russias war, its deputy foreign minister said Tuesday during the first visit by a senior Ukrainian official to India since the war began last year.

India can play a bigger and greater role" and Ukraine would "welcome any effort that is directed at resolving the war, Emine Dzhaparova said.

She made the comments in a speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs, a think tank in New Delhi, after meeting with her Indian counterpart, Sanjay Verma, and other officials.

Dzhaparova has sought to use her visit to deepen ties with India, which has refrained from condemning Russia's role in the war and has abstained several times from voting on U.N. resolutions against Moscow. Instead, New Delhi has stressed the need for diplomacy and dialogue on ending the war and has expressed its willingness to contribute to peace efforts.

Dzhaparova said she hopes Indian officials including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who visited Moscow in February and held talks with President Vladimir Putin, will also visit Kyiv.

"We would be happy to welcome Indian officials to Kyiv, she said.

Russian officials are expected to visit India in coming weeks for meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which the country is chairing this year.

India depends on Russia for nearly 60% of its defense equipment and has ramped up its purchases of low-priced Russian oil since the war in Ukraine began.

On Monday, Dzhaparova warned India against an over reliance on Russia.

India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, military contracts and political interactions. Because what we see in my country when you are dependent on Russia, they will always use this blackmail instrument, she told reporters.

India also holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations this year. As host, India has cast itself as a rising superpower while leveraging its position on the global stage to bridge the gap between the West and Russia.

Dzhaparova urged India to use its presidency to spotlight the crisis in Ukraine by inviting Ukrainian officials to the G-20 events and summit, which will be held in September.

She said her visit was a mark of friendship and hoped it would kickstart Ukraine's dialogue with India. Let us make Ukraine more visible in India, let us help Ukraine to tell its own story, let us also bring India closer" to Ukraine, Dzhaparova said.
Key developments on April 11:

Wagner boss claims capturing 80% of Bakhmut; Ukraine denies it

Wagner boss: Flanks of Russian offensive on Bakhmut 'handed over' to defense ministry

Denmark says West could decide on transfer of fighter jets before summer

Canada announces new small arms package for Ukraine

The chief of Russias mercenary group Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed on April 11 that his forces had occupied more than 80% of Bakhmut, a claim immediately rejected by Ukraine.



Already more than 80% of the city is under the control of musicians, including all administrative buildings and industrial facilities, Prigozhin claimed in his Telegram post, referring to his Wagner mercenaries.



Ukraine's Eastern Military Command spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi immediately denied Prigozhins claim, saying that Ukraine controls more territories in Bakhmut than Wagner does.



I can confidently state that the Ukrainian defense forces control a much larger percentage of the territory of Bakhmut, Cherevatyi told CNN, adding that he was just in touch with one of the commanders of brigades defending the city.



The clash between Ukraine and the Wagner comes amid a more than eight-month-long battle over Bakhmut, a city with a pre-war population of about 70,000 people that had been largely reduced to rubble.



Also on April 11, Prigozhin said in a video that his mercenaries had "handed over" the left and right flanks near Bakhmut to the Russian Defense Ministry, namely airborne forces.



Despite the high casualty rate that both sides are reportedly suffering, Ukraine has made it clear that it will defend Bakhmut as long as it can.



Prigozhin admitted earlier in April that Ukrainian forces were not retreating and had organized defense along the rail line and in an area with multi-story buildings in the western part of the city.



While media reports of Ukrainian forces taking heavy losses due to Russias seemingly never-ending stocks of ammunition painted a brutal front-line scenery, President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that defending Bakhmut is important to protect key eastern cities  Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.



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As the battle for Bakhmut rages on, tensions have been rising between Wagner and Russian Defense Ministry.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a D.C.-based think tank analyzing the war in Ukraine, said Moscow is trying to discredit Prigozhin and accused him of pursuing political objectives that endanger Wagner forces in Bakhmut.



In late February, the Russian Defense Ministry referred to Wagner as a volunteer detachment, without naming the mercenary group.



Prigozhin continues to attempt to aggrandize himself by exaggerating Wagner forces role in Russian successes in Ukraine and using his prominence in the Russian nationalist information space to criticize the Russian government, the ISW said in its April 10 report.

They crawl forward 24/7: On the zero line with Ukrainian infantry north of Bakhmut Climbing to a firing position through trenches dug into black Ukrainian soil, the relative quiet in the air is only reassuring to an extent. At the most forward point, a Soviet-era recoilless rifle stands watch, dug into a shallow depression in the ground. Bohdan, a company comman Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Military aid for Ukraine

Acting Defense Minister of Denmark Troels Lund Poulsen said on April 11 that his country and NATO allies could make a decision on the transfer of Western fighter jets to Ukraine before the summer, AFP reported.

The discussions regarding the fighter jets continue because allies have to decide together and Denark will not do it alone, Poulsen told media.



Ukraine has been pleading for Western fighter jets  particularly the F-16s  for better air defense and to use them as an advantage on the battlefield.

NATO allies have thus far given Ukraine mixed signals, with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau responding to the Kyiv Independent on the sidelines of a NATO ministerial meeting on April 5 that it is right now not on the table.

The delivery of Polish and Slovak Soviet-designed MiG-29 aircraft have already begun, but the situation with the potential transfer of the Western-made fighter jets appears to be stalled.

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

Also on April 11, Germany said that it had transfered a new military aid package  consisting of eight reconnaissance drones, another 23,520 rounds of 40-mm ammunition, and eight mobile antenna systems  to Ukraine.



Germany has also delivered eight more Zetros trucks for extreme off-road conditions bringing the total amount to 60, according to the list of Germanys military aid published on the governments website.



Also on April 11, Canada announced a new military aid for Ukraine, which includes 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and over 2.4 million rounds of ammunition.



"These arms will support Ukraines fight to defend itself, and to protect our shared values," Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand tweeted, as she announced the new package in cooperation with firearms manufacturer Colt Canada.



The next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group will take place at the Ramstein Air Base on April 21, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on April 11.
A Ukrainian soldier goes to his position in the frontline close to Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. AP Photo/Libkos

Ukraine's intelligence chief assessed in late February that the situation in Bakhmut was dire.

Leaked Pentagon documents reveal that he ordered an elite unit there to stabilize things.

The disclosure offers a glimpse into Ukrainian decision-making as Russian forces were closing in.

Ukraine's defense of Bakhmut was so perilous at one point that Kyiv's military intelligence chief ordered the deployment of an elite unit to try and get the situation under control, leaked Pentagon documents show. The plan was something of a gamble as Ukrainian troops were facing encirclement and outside observers were pushing Ukraine to rethink the brutal fight.

The bloody battle for Bakhmut, a war-torn city in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, is the longest contest of the war and has been the epicenter of intense fighting for months. Leaked US intelligence documents, which recently circulated on social media and are now the focus of a federal investigation, paint a dire portrait of Ukraine's defense of the city.

One document details a moment in late February, just after the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where Kyiv's forces were nearly "operationally encircled" by the Russian forces attacking Bakhmut. An assessment from Ukrainian Presidential Office Deputy Roman Mashovets to the office's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, presented a complicated picture.

Ukraine's military relied on a key supply road to Bakhmut that was threatened by Russian shelling, according to the assessment, and if Moscow's troops managed to seize control of certain strategically advantageous positions, they would have a direct line of fire to attack the supply road.

Ukrainian soldiers ride atop a tank in the frontline in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. AP Photo/Libkos

According to the information in the leaked document, which Insider was not able to independently verify, Mashovets described morale among Ukrainian forces as low because they believed that they were encircled by the Russians. Kyiv's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) Chairman Kyrylo Budanov considered the situation in Bakhmut to be "catastrophic" at the time, and in attempt to stabilize it, he ordered a two-week deployment to the city for the elite HUR Kraken unit.

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The document states that Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) Ground Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyy "declared a need for HUR's Kraken unit to prevent the UAF from losing Bakhmut," where the unit was expected to establish command and control. The Pentagon does not detail what happened after, but six weeks later, Russia has still been unable to completely capture the city.

The decision to continue to press the fight in Bakhmut came as some Ukrainian partners, including some in Washington, urged Ukraine to consider withdrawing and continuing the war elsewhere rather than continue to put its forces through a grinding battle with high losses for a city of limited strategic value.

Neither the Pentagon, nor Ukraine's embassy in Washington DC, immediately responded to Insider's request for comment on the situation outlined in the document.

FILE - video footage of Bakhmut shot from the air with a drone for The Associated Press on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, shows how the longest battle of the year-long Russian invasion has turned the city of salt and gypsum mines in eastern Ukraine into a ghost town. AP Photo, File

The battle for Bakhmut has been the bloodiest of the 13-month-long war, and has seen both sides commit scores of troops, heavy armor, and advanced military equipment to the fight. US Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described fighting in late March as a "slaughter-fest" for Russian forces, with tens of thousands of soldiers having been killed there.

Ukraine's General Staff of the Armed Forces said in a Tuesday update that Russia has continued to pursue offensives and is attempting to take full control of the city. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, wrote in an analysis this week that while Moscow was making territorial gains recently in and around the city, its forces were likely suffering "significant casualties."

The leaked US intelligence on Bakhmut, which offers insight into high-level Ukrainian decision-making, is only a slice of what the documents contain about Kyiv's military. They also include information about Ukraine's battlefield preparations and combat readiness, as well as force attrition rates, weapons stockpiles, damage assessments, detailed maps, and other secret content.

One document in particular includes information about casualties on each side and indicates that more than twice as many Russian soldiers as Ukrainian soldiers have died fighting.

Ukrainian soldiers help a wounded comrade into an evacuation vehicle in the frontline in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. AP Photo/Libkos

The trove of leaked documents first became public last week when they began circulating on various social media platforms, and they appear to feature highly sensitive details about key US allies, like South Korea and Israel, as well as adversaries like Iran, Russia, and China. Because of this, the documents' circulation has triggered alarm bells in Washington and other nations about the classified military information that's now been disclosed.

US officials have been scrambling to investigate the leak. A Pentagon official said in a statement shared with Insider that the Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation, and the US is focusing on what sort of impact the documents could have on its national security or its partner governments.

"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," Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters on Monday.

"We are also still trying to assess what might be out there. We, of course, condemn any unauthorized disclosure of classified information, and we're taking this very seriously." he added.

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The city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk Oblast took the brunt of the Russian invaders in the East, and leaving the city would mean allowing the Russians deeper into the Ukrainian territory.

Source: Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defence, on the air of national television

Quote from Maliar: "It is in Bakhmut where the enemy is concentrating their main efforts, so we have to concentrate [our efforts - ed.] there in response in order to stop them. In fact, Bakhmut has now taken the main blow of the enemy's armed forces and their private armies in the East. "

Details: According to her, if the defenders had not defended Bakhmut, the Russians would have moved deeper into our territory. "Therefore, the importance of the defence of Bakhmut must be understood in this context," said Maliar.

The deputy minister added that the invaders will not stop trying to completely take control of the city. Since the Armed Forces of Ukraine had already destroyed a large number of mercenaries of the Wagner Private Military Company, the Russians began to pull up their airborne and assault units.

At the same time, the Deputy Minister added, the Russian artillery and aviation "turned the city into Syrian Aleppo".

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Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is on a working visit to Canada this week and will also visit the United States.

Source: Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers on Facebook

Quote: "The Prime Minister of Ukraine is on a working visit to Canada this week.

The Head of the Ukrainian Government will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Canada.

Bilateral documents are planned to be signed following the meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada."

Details: Shmyhal will visit the US this week to participate in the annual Spring Meetings forum.

The Ukrainian prime minister will reportedly meet with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, as well as the leadership of the IMF, the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and others.

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A group of Ukrainian recruits are pictured, being trained by British and international partner forces at a site in Wiltshire, south-west England on February 20, 2023. Photo by CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Ukrainian Army needs more soldiers ahead of an anticipated spring offensive.

Some civilians are participating in military trainings to prepare for possibly being drafted.

"If the war lasts another year, we're all going to be in the army," one man told The Washington Post.

Ukraine is seeking an influx of new soldiers ahead of a much-anticipated spring counteroffensive, prompting anxiety and preparations among the country's not-yet-mobilized men.

The Ukrainian Army is in need of more manpower following heavy casualties sustained during the months-long, ongoing battle of Bakhmut in the east, where both Russia and Ukraine continue to rack up mounting losses.

The country does not disclose its casualties, but Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, estimated earlier this year that Ukraine had suffered more than 100,000 losses since the war began in February 2022.

More manpower is needed  and soon  to boost Ukraine's expected counteroffensive, which is likely to be built around experienced troops utilizing promised Western equipment expected to arrive in the coming months.

Ukrainian civilians, as a result, are starting to realize that they may soon be drafted, according to a Washington Post report.

"We need to understand if the war lasts another year, we're all going to be in the army," Sasha, 35, a casting director who is taking private military training courses to prepare for the possibility that he is conscripted, told the outlet.

At the onset of the war, Ukraine initiated martial law, barring nearly all men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country. Under the country's current mobilization rules, almost any man within that range can be called up to fight. Exceptions are made for students, some parents, caretakers, and the medically unfit.

The Ukrainian army thus far has relied heavily on volunteers who are eager to defend their home following Russia's unprompted invasion. But as the volunteer pool starts to run dry, the country appears to be more aggressively pursuing those who have yet to throw their hat in the ring, according to the Post.

Story continues

Recent changes to draft notice laws in the country now allow officials more power in stopping and questioning men about their draft status, instead of only being allowed to deliver summons notices to civilians' residences.

The Post spoke to one man, Oleksii Kruchukov, 46, a washing machine repairman, who said he was ordered to report to a recruitment office in Kyiv after he was involved in a street fight. He told the outlet that he anticipates being sent to the frontlines following his military training.

Another man, Oleksandr Kostiuk, 52, told the newspaper that he was willing to fight if necessary, but he fears for his life: "Now we understand what's going on, so I'm more nervous," he said.

Some civilians are taking matters into their own hands and undergoing preparations ahead of what they believe will be an inevitable call-up. The Post observed several men engaging in military trainings and workout sessions in an abandoned warehouse in Kyiv with the hopes of getting a head-start on training that may one day save their lives.

"I'm 100% sure I'll be drafted sooner or later," Sasha, the casting director, told the Post, citing the spring counteroffensive. "I'm literally forcing myself because I understand it might happen."

Still, Sasha expressed a fear that no amount of training will make him ready for combat.

One enlisted leader in the field told the outlet that recently arrived troops do seem to be lacking the necessary level of training for the frontlines, lamenting the soldiers' inability to even properly dig a trench.

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Denys Shmyhal

Read also: Shoigu promises Russian invasion forces more ammunition amid shortages

He stressed that Kyivs allies are not pressuring Ukraine to begin the operation any sooner than its ready.

All of our friends and partners do comprehend clearly that in order to go into counteroffensive, one must be 100 percent, and even more percent prepared to do so, said Shmyhal.

Furthermore, the PM said the recent leak of classified Pentagon documents will not affect the ongoing preparations, reiterating that Ukraine is confident it will liberate its territory from Russian occupation.

We have proven multiple times that we can do it, he added.

From our international partners we ask for more military capabilities, like tanks, ammunition, planes, armored vehicles.

Read also: Macron, von der Leyen to visit China, putting pressure on key Russian ally

Shmyhal departed for Canada on April 11, planning a visit to the United States afterwards.

Deputy Ukrainian Defense Minister Hanna Maliar earlier said that any official communications about the planned counteroffensive must come from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi, or Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.

Read also: Washington expects Ukraine to launch counteroffensive in coming weeks

Ukraines National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) secretary Oleksiy Danilov previously said that elevated media attention paid to the planned operation is detrimental to Ukraines Armed Forces, urging the public to not expect any magical dates that would suddenly turn the tide of the conflict.

Read also: Ukraine conducts deep strikes campaign in counteroffensive preparation

According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, the counteroffensive is expected to begin in April-May, along several axes simultaneously.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhals arrival in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday comes ahead of a make-or-break moment in Ukraines defensive fight against Russia, as Kyiv prepares to launch a counteroffensive that will determine the future course of the war.

Shmyhal, in an exclusive interview with The Hill, said that the counteroffensive could be launched as late as the summer, noting that the most intense pressure to start the counteroffensive comes from inside Ukraine.

We do not feel the pressure from our friends and partners vis-a-vis the start of the offensive, he said.

All of our friends and partners do comprehend clearly that in order to go into counteroffensive, one must be 100 percent, and even more percent prepared to do so.

His visit also comes amid the backdrop of a major intelligence leak that included dire U.S. assessments of Ukraines dwindling air defense ammunition.

When asked how the document leaks are impacting planning for Ukraines counteroffensive, Shmyhal was resolute that Ukraine will liberate its lands.

We have proven multiple times that we can do it. From our international partners we ask for more military capabilities, like tanks, ammunition, planes, armored vehicles, he wrote by text message.

Kyiv and Washington are assessing the damage from the classified intelligence leak, which reportedly first appeared on online gaming sites but offered candid details about the state-of-play of Russias war in Ukraine and the deep involvement of U.S. assistance.

Shmyhal spoke to The Hill last week from Kyiv previewing his trip to Washington, where he is attending the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. He answered a follow up question about the intelligence leak on Monday while in transit to the U.S.

The expectations on a Ukrainian counteroffensive are existential. Ukraine needs to deal Russia a decisive military blow to take back as much territory as possible while also establishing key leverage for potential negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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But the intelligence leaks raise questions over whether any tactical plans are compromised and if any vulnerabilities have been exposed.

Ukrainian forces have been carrying out a grinding and brutal fight to take full control from Russia the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. And addressing shortages of ammunition and weapons  ranging from heavy artillery, armored vehicles, tanks and air defenses  are considered key factors in timing the launch of the counter offensive.

The risks to failure are grave. While President Biden has said the U.S. will support Ukraine as long as it takes, war fatigue threatens solidarity  among the American public, between Ukraines allies and even among the Ukrainian people.

We indeed see losses in terms of economy, in terms of human lives, and these losses indeed exercise a heavy toll on all ourselves, Shmyhal said, but added, it doesnt mean that we do not have bravery left or inspiration left or forces left, to fight until the final victorious moment that we all strive for.

Shmyhals mission in Washington is part of the Ukrainian war strategy  while combat preparations are being made, the prime minister is tasked with rallying partner nations to provide economic support that is as key to Ukraines survival as its military defense.

The prime minister will attend the spring meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee and the joint IMF-World Bank Development Committee.

Economic assistance to Ukraine largely flows through the World Bank and IMF, which estimates that Kyiv needs upward of $4 billion per month to sustain operating costs.

The assistance pays for, in particular, salaries of Ukrainian teachers, hospital workers, pensioners and goes toward rebuilding critical infrastructure destroyed by Russian missile bombardments  against energy plants and water facilities, to name a few.

The U.S. has pledged approximately $22 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022, the start of Russias full-scale invasion, along with even more on military support.

These funds are bolstered by other partner nations. The European Union has pledged $19.6 billion to help cover the Ukrainian governments operating costs for 2023. And Canada last week announced an additional $2.4 billion in economic assistance.

While both Democrats and Republicans have said they support maintaining robust military and economic assistance to Ukraine, the GOP has sought to portray itself as hawkish on oversight.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) remarks in October that a Republican-controlled House would not write a blank check for Ukraine raised anxiety over bipartisan commitment for Kyiv.

Republicans supportive of U.S. assistance to Ukraine have emphasized they are exercising responsibility to American taxpayers and have reacted positively to reports from watchdog officials at the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Defense testifying to the responsible use of American assistance to Ukraine.

Putting these mechanisms in place from day one has really helped prevent, I think, fraud, waste, abuse, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said last month during a hearing with the inspectors general of these agencies.

Thats why I think were getting these positive reports from all three of you.

Shmyhal described the military and economic support to Kyiv as going hand in hand to the countrys survival.

The logistics in the rear is assisting our army in the frontline, he said.

Still, there are partisan divides among Americans related to U.S. aid, with polling indicating that Republican attitudes are slipping compared to Democrats.

Its likely to be a central foreign policy debate in campaigns for the 2024 election. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a likely Republican presidential candidate, and former President Trump, who announced his candidacy last year, have both issued criticisms against American assistance for Ukraine.

DeSantis has described Russias war in Ukraine as a territorial dispute, remarks widely condemned by Republican lawmakers, while Trump has said he would negotiate directly with Putin to end the war.

Shmyhal rejected DeSantiss remarks.

Ukraine is a sovereign European state with its international borders that have been internationally recognized back in 1991. We never had and do not have any territorial disputes with Russia.

And he said he had faith that the American people understood the stakes of the united fight against Russias aggression.

This is the war for values, for the democratic world values, that the United States and the American people are standing for, he said.

And the American people do understand that this support is given to the independence and sovereign state of Ukraine as the victim of the unprovoked Russian aggression.

Shmyhal is effusive in his praise for the American support, and he recognized that the billions of dollars going to Ukraine were the result of very difficult and complicated decisions for Biden and lawmakers. But he did not hesitate to lay out what more Ukrainians believe they need to push back Russia.

To be prepared for counteroffensive, we need more artillery, ammunition. We need more middle, or average and long-range missiles, we need tanks and we will need fighter jets, Shmyhal said.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have raised concern that the Biden administration has taken too long to greenlight Ukrainian military requests  on heavy artillery, tanks and now fighter jets and longer-range missile systems.

Shmyhal said that Ukraine is also focused on pushing forward the countrys application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The prime minister stood alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in September 2022 announcing Kyivs application for expedited membership to the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Eastern European NATO allies, like Lithuania and Estonia, are joining Kyivs calls to streamline Ukraines push for membership, saying Ukraines addition to NATO is the only way to guarantee the countrys security and deter Russia from ever launching a renewed aggression.

But U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking at the NATO foreign ministers summit in Brussels on April 5 and ahead of a leaders summit in Lithuania in July, sought to keep the focus on helping Ukraine defeat Russia.

Of course NATOs door remains open, theres no change in that. But we have to be, in this moment, focused intensely on the weeks and months ahead, particularly as Ukraine prepares for a counteroffensive, Blinken said.

Shmyhal expressed frustration at the repeated tagline of NATOs door remaining open.

Therefore, we as Ukrainian society as a whole, and ourselves as the Ukrainian leadership, we expect during the NATO Summit in Vilnius this summer, we shall hear something more specific and concrete rather than the doors of NATO remain open for Ukraine, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Patrick Hruby / Los Angeles Times)

Whether you were born in Los Angeles or arrived yesterday, there is one thing you know: The city is both instantly recognizable and permanently elusive. Fortunately, its literature is vast and highly entertaining: a library of great migrations, Hollywood dirt, essays on place, histories of power and some of the earliest, best works of noir, sci-fi and fantasy. Much of what you need to know  and feel  to love the real L.A. is in those books.

In time for the 2023 Times Festival of Books, we have assembled the ultimate bookshelf in that library, a browsable, well-organized array of 110 works that define Los Angeles.

How did we approach this daunting task? By asking writers with deep ties to L.A. to name and explain their favorites. Ninety-five of them responded with more than 500 titles, which we culled and annotated with capsule and quotes.

Our ultimate bookshelf is sorted into eight categories: fiction; mystery and crime; nonfiction; speculative; poetry; essays; short stories; memoirs or biographies. (Yes, these are somewhat arbitrary, in the way of all lists.) The category lists are below, but we're not done yet. Watch this space in the days ahead for essays by and about list-topping writers, selected quotes from our survey respondents and a ranked list of their most frequently recommended books. (Place your bets now.)

One last note: In each genre, we aimed to include one book published before 1930, one book per decade until 2000 and then five works from the current century. It didnt always work out that way: Making a list like this means embracing the unpredictable. Besides, one thing you can be sure of  and see David Kipens essay for more about this  is that in truth there is no end-all be-all bookshelf. L.A.s canon, more than most, is constantly expanding, evolving, shedding its old skins, just like the city itself.

 Boris Kachka

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Shandong aircraft carrier group hosts J-15 fighter sorties on final day of PLA drills encircling Taiwan island, forming blockade

09:12, April 11, 2023 By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan ( Global Times

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong conducts realistic combat-oriented exercises in the South China Sea in the early autumn of 2022. Photo: Screenshot from the WeChat account of the PLA South Sea Fleet

he Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command has successfully wrapped up all missions in the combat alert patrols and "Joint Sword" exercises encircling the island of Taiwan from Saturday to Monday, and a comprehensive testing of the integrated joint operational capabilities of multiple military services and branches under realistic combat scenarios, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson at the PLA Eastern Theater Command, in a statement on Monday evening.

The command troops will prepare for and be ready for battle at all time, and resolutely crush any kind of "Taiwan independence" secessionist or external interference attempts, Shi said.

The Shandong aircraft carrier group of the Chinese PLA on Monday joined the third and final day of the exercises encircling the island of Taiwan, in which warships practiced assaults on fleeing hostile vessels and a maritime blockade, with other military services and branches continuing joint blockade and joint strike drills.

The three-day drills will have a profound impact on the progress of national reunification, as they demonstrated the PLA's deepening capabilities, and sent direct warning and deterrence to the "Taiwan independence" secessionists by clearly making the latter targets, experts said.

During the exercise, several destroyers and frigates conducted suppressive combat patrol missions, as they pointedly carried out training courses including assaults on fleeing hostile vessels and maritime blockade, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday.

The PLA warships took the initiative from within the Taiwan Straits as well as waters to the northwest, southwest and east of the island of Taiwan, displayed their performance advantages, seized advantageous positions through agile maneuvering, and pressed the opponents hard with high speeds.

The Flotilla 17 of the PLA Navy also participated in Monday's drills, CCTV reported, referring to the hull number 17 of the aircraft carrier Shandong.

The report shows that the aircraft carrier group consisted of at least six vessels, namely the aircraft carrier Shandong, a Type 055 10,000 ton-class destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, two Type 054A frigates and a Type 901 comprehensive replenishment ship. It is usually expected that a nuclear-powered attack submarine is also a part of a carrier group.

A J-15 fighter jet takes off from the aircraft carrier Shandong(Hull 17), which is a part of the combat alert patrols and "Joint Sword" exercises encircling the island by the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The drills concluded on April 10, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

A J-15 carrier-borne fighter jet is seen in the video taking off from the aircraft carrier, carrying four live missiles.

J-15 activities were also confirmed by the defense authority on the island of Taiwan, which said in a press release on Monday that it had detected 70 PLA aircraft and 11 PLA vessels around the island of Taiwan over the past day. For the first time, four J-15 fighter jets were spotted flying above waters to the east of the island.

According to a press release from Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff on Monday, the Shandong hosted about 80 fighter jet sorties and about 40 helicopter sorties between Friday to Sunday in waters to the east and southeast of the island of Taiwan.

Zhao Xiaozhuo, a research fellow at China's Academy of Military Sciences, confirmed with the Global Times on Saturday, the first day of the three-day PLA joint drills, that the Shandong aircraft carrier group, operating in the West Pacific waters southeast of the island of Taiwan, was also a part of the exercise.

The aircraft carrier is playing an important role in surrounding the island from its east side, Zhao said.

Waters to the east side of the Taiwan island is considered by the island's defense authority to be an evacuation zone for its fleeing vessels in case a conflict breaks out, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Monday.

It means that the Shandong aircraft carrier group played a vital role in this region to block Taiwan vessels fleeing from the island as well as possible reinforcements by external forces like the US and Japan, the expert said.

Other military services and branches on Monday continued to work closely and simulated joint blockade and information-fire integrated strikes on the island of Taiwan, comprehensively testing the troops' capabilities in reconnaissance, command, operation and support under the joint operation system, CCTV reported.

Dozens of PLA Air Force fighter jets carried out combat patrols in the Taiwan Straits and northern and southern tips of the island, practiced search and destroy tactics targeting hostile warships and warplanes as well as aerial blockade under joint information support.

Under the cover and support by early warning aircraft, fighter jets and electronic warfare aircraft, several batches of H-6K bombers carrying live munitions carried out several waves of mock strikes on key targets on the island of Taiwan.

The PLA Rocket Force practiced tactics including rapid response, ambush and monitoring, as it tracked maritime moving targets before carrying out large waves of mock strikes.

The PLA Rocket Force is known for its "aircraft carrier killer" anti-ship ballistic missiles, which could deny medium-sized and large warships from external interference forces of accessing China's doorsteps, including waters around the island of Taiwan, observers said.

Zhao told the Global Times on Monday that such a blockade can cut off energy supply routes, reinforcement routes and escape routes of "Taiwan independence" forces, as well as their hopes for US military reinforcement.

US diversion attempt

Just as the PLA Eastern Theater Command held drills around the island of Taiwan on Monday, the US sent the USS Milius destroyer to illegally trespass into waters near China's Meiji Reef in the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.

The PLA Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to track and monitor the US Navy destroyer, Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesperson at the PLA Southern Theater Command, said in a statement on Monday.

China has undisputable sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and surrounding waters, and the command troops are on high alert at all time to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea, Tian said.

The provocative US move is a powerless move of shifting attention amid the PLA's Taiwan island encirclement drills, attempting to show off its presence and its strong attitude toward China, observers said.

However, the lack of direct US military involvement in the Taiwan Straits, compared with in previous Taiwan Straits crises, showed that the US has acknowledged China's growing strength and its will, analysts said, noting that the US, or any other country, will not make China give up an inch of its land, be it the island of Taiwan or islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

Strong deterrence

Coming shortly after the provocative meeting between Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during Tsai's "transit" in the US, the three-day PLA exercises from Saturday to Monday will have a profound impact on resolving the Taiwan question, as they featured mock fire strikes on targets on the island for the first time, which is a step forward from fire strikes surrounding the island in the past, showing the PLA's preparation for a real conflict is deepening, observers said.

Those targets on the island could not only be major military sites, but also key political facilities where "Taiwan independence" secessionists are active, another Chinese mainland military analyst told the Global Times on Monday, requesting anonymity.

It is no question a direct warning and deterrence to the "Taiwan independence" secessionists, as the PLA displayed its combat readiness and its firm will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the analyst said.

Facing the powerful PLA and the close geographical proximity with the Chinese mainland, the armed forces on the island of Taiwan will have no chance to survive should they choose to resist reunification by force, the analyst said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
(CNN) -- A 25-year-old bank employee opened fire at his workplace in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning and livestreamed the attack that left four dead and nine others injured, authorities said.

(CNN)  A 25-year-old bank employee opened fire at his workplace in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning and livestreamed the attack that left four dead and nine others injured, authorities said.

The gunman was identified as Connor Sturgeon, an employee at Old National Bank, according to interim Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel. He was killed by police after a shootout with authorities.

The four victims, all between the ages of 40 and 64, were identified as Joshua Barrick, Juliana Farmer, Tommy Elliott and James Tutt, the chief said. Gov. Andy Beshear said Elliott, a senior vice president at the bank, was one of his closest friends.

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Of the nine people injured, three are hospitalized in critical condition, including a 26-year-old police officer who graduated from the police academy just 10 days ago and was shot in the head. Three of the injured are in non-critical condition and three have been released, the chief said. Five of the nine people injured had gunshot wounds, a hospital spokesperson said.

The mass shooting began at the Old National Bank on East Main Street just after 8:30 a.m. police said, about 30 minutes before the bank opens to the public. It happened during a morning employee meeting, with some appearing in person and others virtually, Rebecca Buchheit-Sims, a manager at the bank, told CNN. She watched from her computer as her coworkers were gunned down.

Officers got to the bank within three minutes of being dispatched and found the shooter was still firing, Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said. Officers got into a shootout with the gunman, killing him, Gwinn-Villaroel said.

Mayor Craig Greenberg thanked the "brave and heroic" first responders for their actions. "Without a doubt their actions saved lives," he said.

In the aftermath of the shooting, a large police presence blocked off much of the downtown street. Shattered glass was strewn at the entrance of the Old National Bank, video from CNN affiliate WDRB shows.

The shooting is just the latest spasm of mass gun violence, a uniquely American phenomenon. There have been at least 145 mass shootings in the US this year, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive, which like CNN, defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter.

The gun used in the shooting was an AR-15-style rifle, a federal law enforcement source told CNN. The AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle, is the most popular sporting rifle in the US, and about 24.6 million people have owned an AR-15 or similarly style rifle, according to the 2021 National Firearms Survey.

The AR-15 and its offshoots have been the weapon of choice in many of the most heinous mass shootings in recent memory, including in the Sandy Hook school in Connecticut; an Aurora, Colorado, theater; a San Bernardino, California, holiday party; and a Buffalo, New York, supermarket. In Nashville, just two weeks ago, a shooter used an AR-15 style weapon and two other guns in a mass shooting at a private Christian elementary school, killing three adults and three 9-year-olds.

Gunman was notified he was going to be fired, source says

Sturgeon had worked at the bank for more than a year but had been notified he was going to be terminated, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation.

Sturgeon wrote a note to his parents and a friend indicating that he was going to open fire in the bank, the source said. It is not clear whether that note was on paper or emailed, or whether it was seen before the incident or after, according to the source.

The shooting was livestreamed on Instagram and has been taken down but not immediately after the shooting. Police are in possession of the video, according to the source.

Sturgeon wrote on his LinkedIn profile that he interned at the bank for three consecutive summers between 2018 and 2020 before joining full time in June 2021.

He graduated from the University of Alabama in December 2020 with a bachelors and masters degree in finance, according to a spokesperson for the university.

A former high school classmate who knew him and his family well said he never saw any "sort of red flag or signal that this could ever happen."

"He was a really good kid who came from a really good family," said the classmate, who asked not to be identified and has not spoken with Sturgeon in recent years. "I can't even say how much this doesn't make sense. I can't believe it."

In a 2018 college essay posted to the website CourseHero, a user identified as a University of Alabama student named Connor Sturgeon wrote that he had had trouble fitting in at school.

"My self-esteem has long been a problem for me," the essay read. "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."

The author wrote that in college, he had "begun to mature socially and am beginning to see improvement in this area," and that he hoped to "be more self-aware and start becoming a 'better' person."

Rookie officer was shot in the head, police say

Nickolas Wilt, a 26-year-old rookie officer, ran toward the gunfire and was shot in the head, the police chief said. He is in critical condition.

Wilt had graduated from the police academy on March 31, just 10 days before the shooting.

At a new conference Monday, Gov. Beshear said one of those killed in the shooting, Tommy Elliot, was "one of my closest friends." Elliott was a senior vice president at the bank, according to his LinkedIn.

"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," Beshear said. "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."

'I witnessed people being murdered.' witness says

Buchheit-Sims said the shooting unfolded very quickly as she watched the bank's morning meeting virtually.

"Shortly after the meeting started, the gunman, which is an employee, started shooting up the conference room," Buchheit-Sims said. "I witnessed people being murdered. I don't know how else to say that."

Caleb Goodlett got a call from his wife, who works at Old National Bank, he told CNN affiiliate WLKY. She told him there was an active shooter and she was locked in a vault inside the bank. Goodlett called 911 but officers were already aware of the shooting.

He described it as a traumatic phone call at 8:30 a.m., and said he has since talked to and seen his wife and that she is fine.

Hagan Curd was walking his dog on East Main Street on Monday morning when he began to see people running in his direction, he said. Several gunshots can be heard in video he took at the scene.

"I saw people running and then some others got out (of) their car and began to run as well," Curd said. "Then I heard police yelling and telling people there was a shooter at the bank and to back away."

The Old National Bank is dual-headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, and Chicago and has more than 250 banking centers across the Midwest. The bank's executive team is headed to Louisville, the company said on Facebook.

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

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 dentist's office, a furniture store and the Louisville Ballet.

President Joe Biden condemned the latest mass shooting and called on Republicans in Congress to take action on gun laws.

"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?" Biden said in a tweet.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Gunman livestreamed mass shooting at Louisville bank that left 4 dead and 9 injured, police say."
(Patrick Hruby / Los Angeles Times)

For our Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf, we asked writers with deep ties to the city to name their favorite Los Angeles books across eight categories or genres. Based on 95 responses, here are the 13 most essential L.A. essays or essay collections, from Didion and Babitz and D.J. Waldie to Jan Morris, Jonathan Gold and a few rediscovered classics.





If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.



Trousers and Skirts by Alma Whitaker, 1923

This collection of witty L.A. Times columns focuses on men and women and their struggles during the early flapper era. Whitaker, a British immigrant with an ailing husband, started writing for the paper in 1910 for the rate of 15 cents per column inch. She wrote fast and on deadline until retiring in 1944, becoming, the paper wrote, one of the most famous writers on womens topics in the first half of the century. In this book, she is a proto-feminist with a sly gaze  as in her analysis of the importance of the length of a mans shirt.  CK

Small Town Los Angeles by Willard Motley, 1939

A gifted, chameleonic writer, Motley wrote about the poor, he tried to be straight and his protagonists were usually white  though he was none of those. Still, he became a literary star, and his novel Knock on Any Door even became a solid Humphrey Bogart picture. Motleys L.A. sojourn didnt last long, but as evidenced in this charming magazine piece, plenty of great writers have stayed longer and seen less. Motley died in Mexico after writing the novel Let No Man Write My Epitaph. His own epitaph might well have been the famous line spoken in his first novel: Live fast, die young and have a good-looking corpse." He himself might have preferred his oft-repeated motto: "My race is the human race.  DK

American Me by Beatrice Griffith, 1948

If a white professional-dancer-turned-social-worker wrote a book about Chicano life in the Eastside today, she would probably get canceled. But when Griffith did it in 1948, no one blinked  because no nationally released book had ever touched the subject, and because American Me is extraordinary. It sympathetically tackled subjects sadly relevant today  police brutality, racism, gangs, public health, corrupt politicians  by pairing a short story with an essay. The former paints vivid scenes with the eras Chicano patois; the latter uses stats and interviews to damn a racist city and praise the Mexican Americans who nevertheless succeeded. A local bestseller, American Me quickly slipped from L.A.s consciousness, mostly because Griffith never published again.  GA

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The Pachuco and Other Extremes by Octavio Paz, 1950

Paz wasnt the first to write about the pachuco. But the Mexican poet and critic was the first to tackle the topic philosophically in his opus on Mexican identity, The Labyrinth of Solitude. His nihilistic depiction of Chicano youth has been celebrated and denounced, but it remains the work with which every historian must grapple. And his depiction of L.A. is impeccable: At first sight, the visitor is surprised not only by the purity of the sky and the ugliness of the dispersed and ostentatious buildings but also by the citys vaguely Mexican atmosphere, which cannot be captured in words or concepts.  CAM

Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion, 1968

Everyone has their favorite Didion, and many survey respondents opted for The White Album, focused more tightly on Southern California. But Slouching was a thunderbolt, a direct hit on the counterculture. The title essay is arguably her masterpiece, a cool vivisection of a place and time when the center fell apart. We have Los Angeles Notebook to thank for  among other gifts  the best weather reporting ever put to paper (on the Santa Ana winds). Then there was Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream, a true-crime writearound that became an evisceration of the suburban idyll. None of the other books on my list exist without Didions classic, writes Tod Goldberg.  BK

Who is a Chicano? by Ruben Salazar, 1970

With one brilliant sentence  A Chicano is a Mexican-American with a non-Anglo image of himself  Los Angeles Times reporter-turned-columnist Ruben Salazar encapsulated the feelings of a generation. His manifesto only got sharper from there: With 644 unsparing words, Salazar excoriates Californias Spanish fantasy heritage, decries government policies, laments the infighting that kept Chicanos politically impotent and praises young people willing to stand up to their elders. The column, which remains a staple of anthologies, launched a six-month run that only ended when an L.A. County sheriffs deputys tear gas projectile hit Salazar in the head during the Chicano Moratorium, killing him instantly.  GA

Slow Days, Fast Company by Eve Babitz, 1977

You cant write a story about L.A. that doesnt turn around in the middle or get lost, Babitz writes in her second book. The collection is steeped in the understanding of a native daughter, which means she doesnt need to explain anything. How refreshing that is  and also Babitzs voice, which is smart and funny, evoking excess as a way of life. Or not excess exactly, but a kind of ease, a lack of pretension and the ability or willingness to embrace Los Angeles for what it is. Eves masterpiece, says the authors biographer, Lili Anolik.  DLU

Los Angeles: The Know-How City by Jan Morris, 1980

First published in Rolling Stone but collected in her 1980 book of travel essays, Destinations, Morris essay is among the finest ever written about Los Angeles, taking as its starting point the idea that the city is not, as cliche would have it, a fantasy factory, since all the fantasies require real-world skills in order to be built. How revolutionary was that? The first essay, says Marc Weingarten, that introduced me to a Los Angeles that existed outside any Hollywood frame of reference.  DLU

Holy Land by D.J. Waldie, 1996

In a move that recalls Play It As It Lays, Waldies first book features 316 chapters, some no longer than a sentence or two. The structure mirrors the content, which traces three related narratives: the history of Waldies family; the story of Lakewood and its development as a planned community; and the saga, lithic and otherwise, of the land itself. Waldie was once Lakewoods public information officer; he still lives in the house his parents bought before his birth. Lyrical, surprising, strange, and smart, says Bill Deverell, of this most idiosyncratic of Southern California books.  DLU

Counter Intelligence by Jonathan Gold, 2000

With apologies to Lynne Thompson, the late Times food critic Jonathan Gold will always be our poet laureate. Before most people had ever heard of Zankou Chicken, Gold unforgettably called its beloved garlic puree "a fierce, blinding-white paste whose powerful aroma can stay in your head  also your car  for days." Nobody has ever used the second person as intimately as Gold did. He just assumed that you too knew and loved L.A.  and somehow, if only while you read his reviews, you did. With him gone, whos the glue now? Especially after the passing of Vin Scully, who else could ever mean so much to so many different Angelenos?  DK

LAtitudes: An Angelenos Atlas, edited by Patricia Wakida, 2015

UC Press published Rebecca Solnits wonderful Infinite City: A San Francisco Atlas in 2010, and a certain breed of righteous Angeleno immediately demanded, Wheres ours? Five years later, Heyday Books obliged with LAtitudes, a map-studded, cherishable collection of essays by Ultimate Bookshelf authors Michael Jaime-Becerra, Lynell George and Luis J. Rodriguez as well as Josh Kun, Laura Pulido, Cindi Moar Alvitre and more. Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo nominated it because I love mapping and because so often L.A. is seen as ugly and vapid, but the essays in this collection find beauty in those things while also honoring the city's roots.  DK

White Sands by Geoff Dyer, 2016

The world is Dyers straight man. He can visit a landmark already written about by Calvin Trillin, Charles Mingus, Thomas Pynchon, Jan Morris and Don DeLillo and wind up more or less owning the Watts Towers. Then theres his rumination on stalking Theodor Adornos ghost around Brentwood, and then a profoundly funny essay about settling down in Venice to teach at USC and promptly having an ischemic stroke. We can only kvell that one of the worlds greatest writers has picked Los Angeles, after visiting almost every habitable spot on Earth, to make his home.  DK

Always Crashing in the Same Car by Matthew Specktor, 2021

In part, Specktors essays around failure in Los Angeles are a memoir: Son of a CAA agent, he returns home to Hollywood, loses his mother to cancer and ponders his inability to capitalize on his advantages. But his solace comes from his real subjects  F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hal Ashby, Tuesday Weld, Warren Zevon and others  who had navigated this city unforgiving of the unsuccessful. L.A. seemed a mythical place to a Midwestern girl mesmerized by celebrity culture, notes novelist Laura Warrell. But after moving here, I found myself wondering how Angelenos who had little or nothing to do with Hollywood built lives and identities around it. Specktor tells us this and so much more.  BK

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Patrick Hruby / Los Angeles)

For our Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf, we asked writers with deep ties to the city to name their favorite Los Angeles books across eight categories or genres. Based on 95 responses, here are the 16 most essential L.A. literary novels, from "The Day of the Locust" to "If He Hollers Let Him Go," "Play it as it Lays" to "Interior Chinatown."





If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.



Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson, 1884

Raised in Amherst, Jackson was a widely-read travel writer, novelist and poet. Marriage took her west, where she saw that Native Americans were subject to tremendous injustices. Her scathing nonfiction account of U.S. policies had limited reach, so she wrote Ramona, an interracial romance set in Southern California designed to turn popular sympathies to Native Americans plight. It was indeed a huge bestseller. Although it chronicled land theft, racism and murder, the idyllic descriptions of the natural landscape resonated so much that "Ramona" is widely credited with sparking L.A.'s tourism industry. Noted 20th century critics dismissed the book, but recent scholars have revisited it as a muckraking romance.  CK

The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West, 1939

Wests final novel (he died the year after it was published) is a Hollywood masterpiece, a scabrous, pointed satire of the movie business and its considerable discontents. Revolving around a scenic painter named Tod Hackett, it imagines the city ending in a conflagration, and its gimlet-eyed look at the industrys hypocrisies and contradictions is both of its moment and ongoingly relevant. I cant turn north from Sunset into the hills, says Ivy Pochoda, without this book popping into my head  every single time.  DLU

Ask the Dust by John Fante, 1939

Fantes second book is, along with The Day of the Locust and The Big Sleep, one of three novels published in the same year that marked a turning point in the way we write or think about Los Angeles, the emergence of the city it would become. The story of Arturo Bandini, a young writer living in a hotel on Bunker Hill, it has an almost hallucinatory intensity, and its portrayal of downtown Los Angeles during the Depression, as well as the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, are brilliant and profound.  DLU

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If He Hollers Let Him Go by Chester Himes, 1945

Himes debut novel was written out of the authors experience in World War II-era Los Angeles, which he would later describe as having shattered him. The first-person narration is propulsive, driven by rage and loathing, and the portrait of the city as racially virulent is especially compelling, given the myth of Southern California as a land of opportunity. A bitter bite out of redlined, racist Los Angeles, says Greg Goldin  and he couldnt be more correct. This is one of the citys ur-texts, a precursor to the work of writers such as Wanda Coleman and Walter Mosley.  DLU

The Slide Area by Gavin Lambert, 1959

The British author, best known now for his novel and film Inside Daisy Clover, started out as a film critic. After moving to Los Angeles to work for director Nicholas Ray (they also had an affair), Lambert had access to the citys film colony. In this underground classic, a screenwriter witnesses the hopes, confusions and corruptions of fame, from an aspiring starlet to an over-the-hill grande dame whose heirs await her demise. Lambert also writes with a keen eye for the city itself.  CK

City of Night by John Rechy, 1963

In this striking first novel, Rechy stakes out a previously under-recognized territory, that of gay hustlers during the late 1950s and early 1960s, the world of Lonely America squeezed into Pershing Square  downtown now trapped in the City of lost Angels. Rechy was writing autobiographically, but he was also aspiring to speak to (and for) a community that had long found itself catastrophically marginalized. A stark hustler novel, notes Carolina A. Miranda,  one that inspired a tune by the Doors  chronicles the underbelly of Hollywood, where the only stars are embedded into the ground.  DLU

Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion, 1970

One of the most beloved works of Angeleno literary fiction was written by a famous essayist. The story of Maria Wyeth's disintegration, her freeway drives and her longing for her daughter, "captures the morally lost and unmoored feeling of the Californian creative class," writes Jordan Harper, making it "both a time capsule and timeless. Charles Finch adds: The way Hemingway thought all American novels originated with Huck Finn, all L.A. novels originate with 'Play It As It Lays.' The simultaneous inward intensity of feeling and outward diffidence, the emotional and moral dangers of simulation, the hot alien beauty of the city ... it superannuated The Day of the Locust and gave either a template or at minimum an inflection to the fiction that came afterward.  BK

Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis, 1985

People are afraid to merge on freeways in Los Angeles, Ellis declares in the famous opening line of Less than Zero, which Stephanie Danler says belongs on this list forever and ever. The privileged, sun- and cocaine-soaked teens of Beverly Hills use ennui to mask their fear of connection, but the book is as brave as it is bratty. It peeled back the Republican, Reagan-era sheen of Los Angeles to show beautiful rich kids who were not all right  and who, like the heroes of noir and punk, were more inclined to self-destruct than to ask for help.  CK

Golden Days by Carolyn See, 1986

Who other than See would write an end-of-the-world novel with a happy ending? The story of two friends who met in the early 1960s, the book is a social novel and also, in its way, a social satire, until it turns into something else. The key to the narrative is Sees decision to imagine a nuclear apocalypse as a kind of reset, in which we can cast off the vanities of society. The result is a fantasia about a race of hard laughers, mystics, who lived through the destroying light, and on, into Light ages. It ends with its own affirmation: Believe me.  DLU

The White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty, 1996

No one takes satire farther, higher, lower or deeper than Beatty. His debut, an upside-down bildungsroman about the rise of Gunnar Kaufman from a Santa Monica scion of sellouts (the whitest Negro in captivity) to revolutionary poet doomsday cult leader, earned only one more vote for this list than his fourth novel, The Sellout." Beatty's humor is often the top note of discussions about his work, says Michael Jaime-Becerra, but settling there ignores the nuanced, wide-ranging social critique, nestled here in Los Angeles, that drives the work forward. Dana Johnson adds: He's surprising and original, always.  BK

White Oleander by Janet Fitch, 1999

What is it about mothers, murder and the Santa Ana winds? In a rollercoaster ride through the citys foster system, via the child of a magnetic narcissist, Fitch nods to influences ranging from West to Didion while expanding the social strata  poor, working class, wealthy exiles, Hollywood perfectionists. Pico Iyer praises the novel for catching not just the feeling and fragrance of L.A. but its fractured families and drift with rare lyricism and warmth. Pamela Redmond considers it a successor to Chandler and Ellroy in showing the dark bloody heart of LA.  BK

Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon, 2009

Carolina Miranda loves everything about Pynchons stoner detective novel, especially a circular plot that is so Los Angeles  you travel and travel and travel and you end up right back where you started. The story begins and ends around Manhattan Beach, renamed Gordita Beach in honor of all the things P.I. hero Larry Doc Sportello loves best: non-nutritious foods, chubby babies and voluptuous femme fatales. Were in the early 70s, so Gordita inevitably suggests a kind of Fat City too, ripe for the plundering of rapacious real estate combines. Its ideal for Pynchons recurring tragicomedy of America as the perfect wave that got away.  DK

The Barbarian Nurseries by Hector Tobar, 2011

As a kid, Tobar watched his father deliver the L.A. Times; later he wound up writing for it before moving onto books. Signal among them is this cult novel fast outgrowing its cult. The Barbarian Nurseries, which Tod Goldberg calls a broiling evisceration of suburban malaise, tells the story of Araceli, an Orange County domestic worker. A crisis takes her on a frightening, picaresque odyssey across Southern California, including an encounter with an undocumented teenage girl that every legislator in Washington should read. The last chapters lead up to an impeccably calibrated, unsentimental ending thats equal parts bitter and sweet.  DK

Elsewhere, California by Dana Johnson, 2012

Part of the Great Migration, Averys family moves from the south to South L.A., then to West Covina, and she tries to make sense of it all as a painter and assemblage artist. Simply the best evocation of what it is like to grow up in Los Angeles that I know, writes Lou Mathews. Aimee Bender cites it because of how it moves between worlds/neighborhoods via language. And publisher Dan Smetanka sums it up: An L.A. artist's entire life revisited in one day, as if Mrs. Dalloway traded in her flowers for Dodger tickets.  CK

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, 2015

I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces, Nguyens narrator says at the opening of this espionage thriller that is also an immigrant story, a satire of Hollywood and an inversion of colonialism. I am also a man of two minds, he continues, cluing us in to the truth that every immigrant sometimes feels like a double agent. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a mole reporting on his fellow Vietnamese Angelenos to the Viet Cong is important for many reasons  not least, says Maria Hummel, for its artful portraiture and eye on the way Hollywood manufactured perceptions of the Vietnam War.  BK

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, 2020

Willis Wu is only Generic Asian Man in the television crime serial that bounds his life, but he hopes to become something more. In this hilarious, heartbreaking novel, he lives with his family and friends in a cheap hotel above a Chinese restaurant, where people from a variety of nations are all labeled Asian. Yu explores stereotypes, racism, pop culture and the stories we tell through Wus experiences in a simulacrum of Hollywood. Narrated mostly in the form of a screenplay  Yu wrote for Westworld and Lodge 49  Interior Chinatown won the 2020 National Book Award for fiction.  CK

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Patrick Hruby / Los Angeles Times)

For our Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf, we asked writers with deep ties to the city to name their favorite Los Angeles books across eight categories or genres. Based on 95 responses, here are the 14 most essential books of general nonfiction, including histories by Kevin Starr, Carey McWilliams, Reyner Banham and, ruling them all, Mike Davis' "City of Quartz."





If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.



How to Write Photoplays by Anita Loos and John Emerson, 1920

Born on the slopes of Mt. Shasta, Loos grew up to write sassy, exuberant feminist novels such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, the libretto for Gigi and a sensational memoir, No Mother to Guide Her. Shed written hundreds of scripts by the time she published this still-useful how-to book, allegedly with her no-account husband. In it she writes, Motion picture writing is as practical as plumbing, only the plums are bigger. Does that sound like a book that deserves to be out of print?  DK

Los Angeles by Morrow Mayo, 1933

Although also woefully out of print, Mayos 1933 exegesis is, along with James M. Cains essay Paradise and Louis Adamics Laughing in the Jungle, among the great early studies of the city. From an airplane, Mayo writes, Los Angeles today resembles half a hundred Middle-Western-Egyptian-English-Spanish communities, repainted and sprinkled about. Its population is about 1,400,000. It is, and has been for ten years, the largest city in America in area, and people often wonder why. The answer is Water. As Michael Hiltzik observes, Mayos acerbic book about the city presaged and inspired City of Quartz.  DLU

Southern California: An Island on the Land by Carey McWilliams, 1946

McWilliams masterpiece blends history, social commentary and political observation to evoke Southern California in three dimensions, with all its complexity and contradictions. More than three-quarters of a century later, it remains not only relevant but also prescient  about water, land, race, development and the tension between mythology and the realities on the ground. Still the irreplaceable history, notes Kenneth Turan. Inspired by Adamic and Mayo and a precursor to the work of every Los Angeles writer who came after, this is an essential text.  DLU

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The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley, 1954

Huxley may have taken the title of his inquiry into the spiritual and psychological effects of mescaline from William Blake (If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite), but the book itself is short and pointed, an account of the authors first experience with the drug. Huxley, as always, is a skilled essayist, and he makes some stunning leaps, including his recognition that the utility of psychedelics resides less in derangement than in the way they may return us to the world of being, provoking us to feel and see.  DLU

A Guide to Architecture in Southern California by David Gebhard and Robert Winter, 1965 edition

Back when L.A. history was a joke and not a major, Winter and Gebhard wore out several sets of whitewalls researching their immortal guide. Through six editions now, their clear, planed prose has proved an essential reference for Angelenos in search of all the treasures that bejewel L.A.s rumpled topography. Architecture critic Greg Goldin especially loves 1965s original pocket-sized paperback, filled with hand-drawn maps. At Occidental College, Winter wound up mentoring a generation of indispensable Los Angelists.  DK

Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies by Reyner Banham, 1971

Banhams revolutionary study has aged both well and badly; his sense of the liberatory aspect of the freeways, for instance, now seems both sentimental and benighted. Still, his vision is unparalleled, and he remains among the first observers of Los Angeles to take it on its own specific terms. A city 70 miles square but rarely 70 years deep, he writes, but this is less dismissive than a statement of its possibility. And his description of L.A.s flats as the plains of id is one of the best formulations ever written about this city and how it works.  DLU

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Getting writers to reach consensus is a notoriously tricky proposition. Our 95 survey respondents offered a vast array of books, made wildly counterintuitive arguments and sometimes disputed the entire premise of rankings and genre distinctions. But one thing they agreed on  or more than a third of them  was that City of Quartz, Mike Davis magisterial, obstinate, rigorous and highly entertaining survey of Los Angeles self-identity and power structure, belongs in any pantheon worth preserving. Heres what some of them had to say about the monumental work and about Davis, who died last year, leaving a legacy that will last as long as the city itself.  BK





It's such a quietly inventive and morally serious book. I read it before I moved here, and it completely shifted my experience about how best to live in Los Angeles  and what to think about while I'm living here.  Tom Bissell

A fantastic social history of Los Angeles, detailing the ambition, greed, displacement and corruption that attended the city's growth.  Laila Lalami

A vivisection of a city, down to the very bones  Jordan Harper

Extremely informative, brilliant and written with brio and great style.  Roberto Lovato

"It taught me to move the furniture and look behind it, into the nooks and crannies."  Lynell George

Really, it's a zinger.  Sesshu Foster

It blew the lid off Southern California Studies and much more.  Bill Deverell

It gave me a lens through which to assess a city I only thought I knew.  Paula L. Woods

A utopian and dystopian continuation of the Nathanael West perspective into the future.  William Archila

Just each time you open it, it explodes all preconceptions or stereotypes about what L.A. really, really is.  Daniel Hernandez

Everyone is going to list this book, so I'm not going to try to write anything about an obvious classic.  Edan Lepucki

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Material Dreams: Southern California Through the 1920s by Kevin Starr, 1990

Starr marshals facts and stories with the administrative genius of a gifted field general. His work is ebullient, nuanced, interdisciplinary history of the grandest kind. Hes a born storyteller too, mining a rich seam of anecdotal coal to animate complex, enigmatic figures. Of the eight books in his immortal Americans and the California Dream series, this is the only one focused almost exclusively on the Southland, mostly L.A. in the 1920s. A chapter on the Zeitlin circle, around Jake Zeitlins bookstore, reads like a dozen great L.A. biographies commingling around the same bungalow court.  DK

The History of Forgetting by Norman M. Klein, 1997

Operating in the contrarian tradition of Adamic, McWilliams and Davis, Klein looks through the lens of memory at a place that grew up so quickly it can sometimes seem to exist in an everlasting present tense. Despite this, traces linger; we just need to know where to look. I am not implying, he writes, that L.A.s neighborhoods have no public record at all; quite the contrary.  However, these cannot compete with hundreds of movie melodramas where downtown is a backdrop. Indeed, Los Angeles remains the most photographed and least remembered city in the world.  DLU

The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins by Brenda E. Stevenson, 2013

A poor Black teenage girl is shot by a middle-class Korean storekeeper; a wealthy judge rejects a prison sentence for manslaughter. Months later, a city erupts in mass violence, with Koreans a major target. These are the bare bones of the UCLA historian's account of the 1991 killing of Latasha Harlins. Her accomplishment is to weave together the family histories of all three players in a way that shows systemic injustice is all in the details. Poet Courtney Faye Taylor, author of Concentrate, says the book ushered me into an understanding of Latasha's legacy  its undeniable beauty, unjust difficulty, and its impact on fights for humanity in Los Angeles.  BK

Ghettoside by Jill Leovy, 2015

In late 2006, Leovy, then an L.A. Times reporter, started a blog called the Homicide Report with the goal of cataloging every murder in Los Angeles County. The idea was to highlight how few killings got press coverage. With Ghettoside, she goes the other way, digging deep into a single murder with astonishing results. Her skill at moving from the particular to the universal allows her to draw complicated conclusions about the LAPD and young men of color. It made me understand policing and crime in this city in a way I never had before, Bissell reflects. It also provides a heartbreaking portrait of South Los Angeles.  DLU

Sidewalking by David L. Ulin, 2015

Since arriving from the East more than 30 years ago, Ulin has become a devoted and truthful voice on L.A.  self-consciously a non-native, no booster but a cautious optimist. His ambivalent survey of a city in transition begins with his defiant walking habit but quickly zooms both out and inward, like L.A. itself. From Bunker Hill to Watts to Miracle Mile to the Grove, Ulin examines promises of pedestrian renewal (some already broken today) but lands where all of us do: in a place we are redefining for our own use, whether we know it or not.  BK

City of Inmates by Kelly Lytle Hernandez, 2017

In this groundbreaking history of the city and the people it has put behind bars, Hernandez explains the history and implications of L.A.'s dubious distinction as the carceral capital of the country, writes Miriam Pawel. Beginning with the indigenous Tongva-Gabrielino Tribe, on through poor whites, Chinese and Mexican immigrants and Black Angelenos, Hernandez shows how those in power sought to divide and conquer the city. In 2019, Hernandez earned a MacArthur fellowship for challenging long-held beliefs about the origins, ideology, and evolution of incarceration and immigrant detention practices in the United States.  CK

A Place at the Nayarit by Natalia Molina, 2022

The populist scholar explores the social history of the Nayarit, a neighborhood restaurant in Echo Park that offered Mexican immigrants a vital space to reclaim dignity, create social cohesion and foster mutual care. For the author, its personal: The restaurant was established by the grandmother for whom she is named. Pawel describes it as an affectionate exploration of an important, little-told piece of the citys history. It also serves as a stand-in for all of the immigrant spaces across L.A. that knit together communities  places now among the most vulnerable to gentrification.  CAM

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Patrick Hruby / For The Times)

For our Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf, we asked writers with deep ties to the city to name their favorite Los Angeles books across eight categories or genres. Based on 95 responses, here are the 14 most essential L.A. poems or poetry collections, including verse from Wanda Coleman, Robin Coste Lewis, Sesshu Foster, Charles Bukowski, Bertolt Brecht and more.





If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.



A Stab in the Dark by Facundo Bernal, 1921

The Sonoran-born poet-journalist spent four years in the beautiful Angelo-polis," which was an ironic designation in a particularly lurid entry (The Crime Wave) in his groundbreaking poem cycle. Bernals Mexicans of Yankee-landia were not the invaders of xenophobic caricature but victims  subject to scams, seduced into louche lifestyles, alienated from home. He was starkly traditional, at times misogynist and racist, but his vision of a fluid border scarred by colonialism made him  as Juan Felipe Herrera wrote in a bilingual 2019 edition  "a profound forerunner and city street-news poet of a Latinx word howl to come.  BK

Noon on Alameda Street by Hildegarde Flanner, 1937

The sunshine-noir dialectic, the intimations of doom in the hard light glinting across acres of traffic  the most powerful tropes of Los Angeles, before they became tropes, were all in Flanners five-stanza distillation, as deceptively simple as Wallace Stevens. For in this noon there is no light like light But brightness spawning upon dirty glass, she writes, like a naturalist describing a most unnatural scene. By now we have all heard delirium in a claxon, / Seen revelation lit on chromium. Flanner put it into words first.  BK

Hollywood Elegies by Bertolt Brecht, 1942

The great dramatists sparse German lyrics  set to music by Hanns Eisler  reflect at least a part of the experience of Europes World War II refugees in L.A. (Thomas Mann, Arnold Schoenberg, et al.): gratitude singed with bitterness and a kind of dazzled contempt for a land of pepper trees and mascaraed angels where musicians play the whore. And they contain one of the best dark jokes about Hollywood: God, Requiring a heaven and a hell, didnt need to / Plan two establishments but / Just the one heaven. It / serves the unprosperous, unsuccessful / As hell.  BK

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Evening in the Park by Henri Coulette, 1959

Narrated by a man lingering on a park bench after The children have packed up the light, these tight verses by a lifelong Angeleno turn on that late 50s obsession: the Familiar and American and its discontents. The park happens to be Griffith Park, its wildness embodied by a hermit the narrator contemplates  Gaunt Crusoe of a nowhere isle. According to Boris Dralyuk, who recommended the poem, it was a real hermit, a World War II veteran who hid out for years. Coulette's verse, Dralyuk writes, taught me that Hollywood poems neednt be Busby Berkeley spectacles or Bukowskian gripes.  BK

Letter to an Imaginary Friend by Thomas McGrath, 1962

The writer-editor Paul Vangelisti nominated this book-length, partly autobiographical epic poem with an ambition and sprawl to rival L.A.'s own. It begins, Im sitting here at 2716 Marsh Street / Writing, turning east with the world. / Dreaming of laughter and indifference Poet Philip Levine called this a book every American should be required to read before receiving a high school diploma. Blacklisted by L.A. State College, exiled to North Dakota, McGrath died in 1990. His 2716 Marsh St. home lies somewhere beneath the intersection of the Golden State and Glendale freeways. But "Letter to an Imaginary Friend" is still here, awaiting the many more real friends it deserves.  DK

Love Is a Dog from Hell by Charles Bukowski, 1977

Bukowskis poetry celebrated grimy dives and boozy lives; it was often hilarious, frequently indefensible and internationally adored. This huge and uneven collection traced an era in which he went from underground poet to underground poet with a devoted following. Packed with beer and broads and violence (and yes, misogyny), his poetry connected with people who didn't ordinarily read poetry. For those literary types who did embrace him  including 10 of our survey respondents  he gave L.A.s dive bars and cheap lonely rooms a stage.  CK

Artemis in Echo Park by Eloise Klein Healy, 1991

Nature bleeds through the city in Healys landmark debut poetry collection, which, Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo writes, showed me how to be vulnerable with my writing and how to use every part of L.A. for material. The bears in the foothills, the coyote standing on a hill, the windy streets around Echo Park could all be fodder and symbols for a love poem. Healy, an educator and advocate for women and LGBTQ causes, was named Los Angeles first poet laureate in 2012.  CK

City Terrace Field Manual by Sesshu Foster, 1996

It corrals the mundane and the serious into a single tight space, which is what life feels like, former U.S. poet laureate Tracy K. Smith once said of Fosters work. Now firmly ensconced in the L.A. canon, City Terrace is a frank exploration of the poets Eastside youth, one shaped by political and personal unrest but also deep love. It presents a striking picture of undulating landscapes and air you can chew. The night with its sirens, hidden stars, big tunnels, he writes. A motorcyclist roars away. Van Gogh would recognize the eucalyptus trees in this Carlos Almaraz city.  CAM

Mercurochrome by Wanda Coleman, 2001

Coleman, who died in 2013, was the unofficial poet laureate of Los Angeles and more. Fiction writer, essayist, newspaper columnist, radio host  she was the literary heart and soul of the city, which she loved and resisted at once. Mercurochrome was a finalist for the 2001 National Book Award in poetry, and its a vivid representation of her sensibility. Love / as i live it, she writes in the title poem, seems more like mercurochrome / than anything else / i can conjure up. it looks so pretty and red, / and smells of a balmy / coolness when you uncap the little applicator. / but swab it on an / open sore and you nearly die under the stabbing / burn.  DLU

The Language of Saxophones by Kamau Daaood, 2005

Daaood is among the last living links to the Watts Writers Workshop, founded in 1965 by Budd Schulberg. Smack in the middle of this collection, the dazzling poem Los Angeles strobes with quick images, zigzagging down the page like a spent firework  most memorably in the great couplet bebop atop / the San Andreas. Fellow poet Vickie Vertiz rhapsodizes that Daaoods portraits, improvisational spirit, rhythms, and invocations reflect the rich life hes led. L.A. poetry does not exist without him.  DK

The River: Books One, Two, and Three by Lewis MacAdams, 2007

Poetry makes nothing happen, W.H. Auden wrote, but Auden never met Lewis MacAdams. The L.A. River was more like the L.A. Rivulet back when MacAdams began writing the most important poem in the city's history. Along the way he created the nonprofit Friends of the L.A. River, which has helped secure tens of millions of dollars for habitat restoration and set off a land rush thats reshaping the whole county. Maybe not since The Grapes of Wrath has a work of imaginative literature by a Californian done so much for the world beyond its bindings.  DK

Lost in Los (Angeles) by Marisela Norte, 2008

Cutting against the confessional grain of the citys performance poetry scene, Norte makes a kind of found poetry; the bus is her studio, as shes said, and her focus is East L.A. Nowhere is her style  prosy description punctuated by the numinous  more evident than in this work, collected in her book, Peeping Tom Tom Girl. I love this poem for the candor, the color, the music, the laundromats and the Kool-Aid, says Rosecrans Baldwin. So much living detail from what seems like just another single night.  BK

Really Mystic River by Suzanne Lummis, 2016

If you want to understand two or more writers, give them each the same subject. Assign the L.A. River to MacAdams, a maximalist bard in the tradition of Walt Whitman, and hell write you an epic. Show the same river to the noir-besotted poet Suzanne Lummis, and shell write you Really Mystic River, a short, witty, profound, elusive charmer as full of questions as answers. Lou Mathews, no mean L.A. chronicler himself, called it a great poem. This indispensable lioness of California letters is also a granddaughter of the city's great early champion, Charles Fletcher Lummis.  DK

To the Realization of Perfect Helplessness by Robin Coste Lewis, 2022

As if winning the National Book Award for her debut collection, Voyage of the Sable Venus, wasnt enough, Coste Lewis followed up with this brilliant combination of art and image. Crafting narratives of deep time and Black art-making that run obliquely alongside photographs of her familys diasporic past  including a cover photo of downtown L.A. taken by her grandmother  the author, a Compton native, calls this book a film for the hands and an origin myth for the future. Coste Lewis, who served as L.A.s poet laureate from 2017-20, continues to push artistic boundaries beyond compare.  CK

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(Patrick Hruby / Los Angeles Times)

For our Ultimate L.A. Bookshelf, we asked writers with deep ties to the city to name their favorite Los Angeles books across eight categories or genres. Based on 95 responses, here are the 13 most essential works of speculative fiction, from Octavia Butler, Philip K. Dick, Aldous Huxley, Salvador Plascencia and many more.





If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.



Tarzan at the Earths Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs, 1929-1930

One hundred years old this year, on the south side of Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana, the pepper tree-shaded headquarters of Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. slumbers amid the bustling neighborhood he homesteaded and helped develop. ERB Inc. scrupulously guards the still-lucrative legacy of this outsized  only spoilsports would say outdated  out-and-out genius of popular genre fiction. Plenty of his language is as ripe for cancellation as an unwatched sitcom, but the man could bloody well tell a story.  DK

After Many a Summer Dies the Swan by Aldous Huxley, 1939

The English dystopian writers Hollywood novel features an obscenely rich man whose Beverly Hills castle contains a moat, a Vermeer in the elevator and a beautiful young mistress. Readers whispered William Randolph Hearst, but he could be any multimillionaire obsessed with living forever. Our guide is an out-of-place Brit hired to search through an 18th-century archive that holds the secret to eternal life (fish guts!). Huxley was sneaking dark comedy onto the serious shelves, writes Boris Dralyuk; art, enlightenment, corruption, metaphysics and a loaded gun are in the mix.  CK

Greener Than You Think by Ward Moore, 1947

For his nugget-rich Literary Destruction of Los Angeles chapter in Ecology of Fear, Mike Davis dredged up and championed this obscure SF novel. Nothing in decades, he wrote, comes close to the mordancy of  Greener Than You Think. Moore was the first writer to convincingly turn the tables on Los Angeles: The city that had for decades consumed nature in voracious bulldozer bites is itself bitten back and consumed. His novel is about the lawn that ate Hollywood. It is, by turns, the funniest and the most frightening Los Angeles disaster book ever written. Davis didnt lie.  DK

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I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, 1954

Whats the most significant street in the literature of L.A.? Dont rule out humble Cimarron Street in West Adams, where, among other literary distinctions, Matheson set his classic vampire thriller  which Dana Gioia singles out as the first post-apocalyptic zombie novel. Matheson was speculative fictions dime-store Camus, the existential pulp genius behind The Incredible Shrinking Man, Duel and a good third of all the great Twilight Zone episodes. His premise here: Widower Robert Neville, sole survivor of a plague thats turned everyone else in L.A. into ravening but stupid stalkers, fortifies his house against assault every night, all the while pining for someone to love. Soon hell wish he hadnt.  DK

Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison, 1967

Ellison solicited 33 stories from the strangest, sexiest, darkest science fiction writers of the moment for this anthology, including Philip K. Dick, Norman Spinrad, Carol Emshwiller and J.G. Ballard. The collection was a bestseller and sparked an even more voluminous sequel. Ellison, then an angry youngish man, was living in Los Angeles writing for television. Sure, he authored one of the best Star Trek episodes in history, but he derided the form all the same. Problematic, exceptional and unapologetic, he always loved a brilliant story. No one else could have created this book.  CK

A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick, 1977

Dicks taut and troubling novel is a cautionary fiction, a parable of the drug culture and its discontents. Bob Arctor is an undercover cop who sells and uses a drug called Substance D, which divides brain function so that right and left hemispheres operate as separate entities. The result is a classic Dick conundrum, a detective in pursuit of himself. Identity, reality, the vagaries of consciousness: All of them are up for grabs in this (literally) mind-bending piece of work.  DLU

Three Californias (series) by Kim Stanley Robinson, 1984-1990

Certain science fiction writers are, despite all appearances, hardcore realists; their subject just happens to be the future. Robinson is one of them. His landmark trilogy sketches three possible outcomes for Orange County, one dystopian, one utopian and one in between. Robinson understood how much computing would change the world; even his incorrect guesses feel like a version of the truth. Yet his gift is to remain a romantic: in love with the ragged California coast, which, however cruelly man intervenes, twists up and away into natural beauty, beyond our true dominion.  CF

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, 1993

In a near-future Los Angeles riven by drought, addiction and inequality, work is scarce, travel is dangerous and middle-class communities like Laurens hope their walls hold. When they fail, the young Black teen flees, carrying seeds and desperate hope on her walk north on the 101. Prescient and powerful, its a classic not just of the genre, but of Los Angeles literature too, writes Katie Orphan; Carolina Miranda calls it a book by an essential L.A. writer that seems to perfectly describe where we are now.  CK

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, 2000

This unclassifiable novel melds experimental form and film discourse with a terrifying horror story. L.A. tattoo parlor worker Johnny Truant discovers a manuscript by a dead blind man, describing a movie about a couple who buy a house that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. The exploration of that expanding space is where things get scary. Footnotes, colored fonts, broken text, split narratives, all woven together brilliantly: The book is peerless.  CK

The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia, 2005

In the blood sport of literary achievement, little El Monte punches far above its weight. Plascencia, Michael Jaime-Becerra, James Ellroy and more recently Carribean Fragoza have made it the center of what Sesshu Foster calls the underwritten eastern San Gabriel Valley. Plascencias enchanted, phantasmagorical novel tells stories within stories on top of still more stories  all watched over by the character of Plascencia himself, ringmastering from above like some divine Gabriel Garcia Marquez of the SGV. Populated by mechanical turtles and origami women, this novel found me 18 years ago, and its still following me around.  DK

Zeroville by Steve Erickson, 2007

In this hallucinatory, movie-saturated tour through 1970s Hollywood by one of L.A.s most innovative writers, Vikar is so obsessed with film that hes tattooed Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor on his skull. A blank savant, he goes from set-builder to in-demand editor  making a splash at Cannes, stumbling through petty crime and glamorous parties along the way. Jonathan Lethem once wrote, Ericksons not so much a writers writer as a tour-de-forcers tour-de-forcer, and Zeroville is Erickson at his L.A. finest.  CK

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, 2010

As a child, Rose learned she has a secret power  she can taste the emotions that go into cooking a dish. As she grows up, her mothers concealed feelings are hard for her to take. This melancholy novel of empathy, failed communication, family secrets and what makes us who we are is also a quiet consideration of how we think about what we consume. Bender, an L.A. native known for her exciting mix of the fantastic and the everyday, locates this novel squarely in the city, starting on a warm spring day in the flatlands near Hollywood.  CK

Speculative Los Angeles by Denise Hamilton ed., 2021

L.A. didnt just invent noir; it midwifed speculative fiction. So it makes sense that Hamilton decided to follow up two L.A. Noir anthologies by commissioning 14 writers  including Alex Espinoza, Lynell George, Charles Yu, Luis Rodriguez and S. Qiouyi Lu  to pick a neighborhood and tell a wild story for this sampler of a world that darkly mirrors our own: Battling robots in La Puente; a Hollywood TV hack whose fictional victims are out for revenge; an El Sereno boy who comes back a changeling after ICE detention. The premises are startling, the execution surprising, the road map of our future chilling (not quite) beyond belief.  BK

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Aziz El Yaakoubi

RIYADH (Reuters) - The United Nations envoy for Yemen said on Tuesday that he was encouraged by the "depth and seriousness" of talks between stakeholders in Yemen, including in a visit by Saudi and Omani delegations to Sanaa.

Saudi and Omani envoys are holding peace talks with Houthi officials in Sanaa this week as Riyadh seeks a permanent ceasefire to end its military involvement in the country's long-running war.

The United Nations is not directly involved in Sanaa's negotiations but it hopes to resume a peaceful political process if a ceasefire agreement is reached.

Hans Grundberg said he was working with all relevant actors to ensure that current efforts are in support of the U.N. mediation.

"My role has consistently remained focused on resuming an inclusive, Yemeni-led political process. Only such a process can deliver a sustainable settlement and bring about a future of durable peace and development," Grundberg said in a statement sent to Reuters.

The talks in Sanaa signal some progress in the Oman-mediated consultations between Saudi and Houthi officials, which run in parallel to U.N. peace efforts. The peace initiatives have gained momentum after arch-rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to re-establish ties in a deal brokered by China.

Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, have told Reuters that the Saudi-Houthi talks are focused on a full reopening of Houthi-controlled ports and the Sanaa airport, payment of wages for public servants from oil revenues, rebuilding efforts, and a timeline for foreign forces to exit the country.

Grundberg said he welcomed any bilateral engagement that provides "an environment more conducive for a political process to start".

Yemen's war is seen as one of several proxy battles between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, aligned with Iran, ousted a Saudi-backed government from Sanaa in late 2014, and have de facto control of north Yemen, saying they are rising up against a corrupt system and foreign aggression.

They have been fighting against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and left 80% of Yemen's population dependent on humanitarian aid.

(Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by William Maclean and Jonathan Oatis)
The United Nations on Tuesday urged Sudanese authorities to investigate after a man publicly asked for a religious edict allowing the murder of the UN's mission chief.

Since Monday, a video has circulated on social media in the northeast African country showing an elderly man verbally attacking UN Special Representative Volker Perthes.

The outburst came at a conference of Islamist parties and others linked to the regime of ousted president Omar al-Bashir.

The man, who identified himself as "Abdelmoneim", accused Perthes of committing "violations", "breaches", and excluding some factions in talks aiming at ending a crisis that began with the country's October 2021 military coup.

"I am personally asking for a fatwa... to spill his (Volker's) blood," the man said. "I am volunteering to carry it out."

On Tuesday, UNITAMS said it was "deeply concerned" by the video.

"The language of incitement and violence will only deepen divisions on the ground, but it will not deter the mission from carrying out its duties," it said in a statement.

"We call on the Sudanese authorities to initiate legal measures and ensure a proper investigation."

Later on Tuesday, conference organisers said the event was open for the public and the content of the man's speech "does not represent" it.

However, in a statement, the organisers reiterated criticism of the UN mission saying it played a "negative role" and was "similar to a foreign political party... imposing a foreign vision on the Sudanese people."

Late last year thousands of Islamists held demonstrations to reject UN mediation efforts between civilian and military leaders. They denounced "foreign interference" and called for Perthes to "get out."

The coup by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan derailed a transition to civilian rule established following the 2019 ouster of longtime strongman Bashir.

It prompted cuts to crucial international aid in one of the world's poorest countries, and triggered regular pro-democracy demonstrations which have been met by a crackdown that has led to the deaths of 125 people.

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UNITAMS has pushed to resolve the political crisis, and in December hailed a tentative agreement between Sudan's military leaders and civilian factions, the first component of a two-phase political process aimed at restoring the democratic transition.

The followup phase, slated to be signed this month, has been delayed twice over disagreements between military and paramilitary elements on security sector reform, according to analysts.

mz-ab/it
TN State Reps. Justin Pearson (C) of Memphis and Justin Jones (R) of Nashville

Editors note: This story was produced prior to Justin Jones reinstatement to the Tennessee State House by the Nashville Metropolitan Council.

Previously reported:

As Blavity previously reported, Teneessees Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to remove two Black state lawmakers from office for participating in a protest against gun violence. However, the House chose not to expel a third white colleague who joined them in the protest. The drama surrounding The Tennessee Three on Thursday has drawn attention nationwide and even pulled the White House into the conversation. Heres what you need to know about what led to Thursdays extraordinary political developments and what will likely happen next.

The protests that led to political turmoil in Tennessee

The political firestorm in Tennessee came to a head Thursday when the House of Representatives voted to expel three Democratic representatives for joining protestors in pushing for gun reform late last month. The demonstrations in the state capital came after a school shooting killed three 9-year-old children and three employees in Nashville; hundreds of people showed up at the Tennessee Capitol on March 30 to protest for stricter gun control. As reported by The Tennessean, police officers occasionally pushed aside protestors to allow legislators to move through the crowd, but at no point did either side become violent. Instead, three Democratic Tennessee state representatives joined the protests. Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson took to the podium with a megaphone, leading chants protestors echoed while watching from the viewing galleries. The protest by the state representatives disrupted the legislatures proceedings for about one hour.

Black legislators expelled; white colleague allowed to stay

The Tennessean noted throughout the March 30 protest, No demonstrators broke into the Capitol, no one was arrested or injured, and no property was damaged. Nevertheless, Republicans began comparing the protest to the violent January 6 Capitol Hill insurrection. Using their overwhelming control of the Tennessee legislature, Republicans punished the protesting Democrats by stripping them of their committee assignments and then attempting to expel them from the legislature altogether, a move that has only occurred a handful of times in Tennessee state history. On Thursday, Republicans voted to remove Reps. Jones and Pearson, both young Black men, but allowed Johnson, an older white woman, to remain despite all three having engaged in the same protest. When asked why the House treated her differently than her two colleagues, Johnson mentioned, It might have to do with the color of our skin.

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Reporter asks Rep. Gloria Johnson why she thinks there was a difference between her outcome and Rep. Justin Jones Rep Johnson: Ill answer your question; it might have to do with the color of our skin. pic.twitter.com/8fyIRRqP0S  philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 6, 2023

What happens next?

Tennessee state law leaves it up to the counties that Jones and Pearson each represented to choose who will temporarily fill their vacant seats. Their counties can appoint them back into their positions, which is likely to happen. Eventually, a special election will be held for each seat, and Jones and Pearson will be eligible to run again to win back their positions for the remainder of their terms. While these outcomes are not guaranteed, likely, both expelled legislators may quickly return to their old seats, although through a costly and time-consuming process.

The larger fallout continues to grow.

The action taken by the Tennessee GOP, widely seen as a stunt and an attack on democracy, may have already backfired. Throughout Thursdays expulsion hearings and beyond, the Republicans were labeled fascist for their blatant interference with democracy. The different treatment of the Black and white legislators also drew obvious calls of racism on the part of the GOP as it targeted two young Black legislators. Outrage over these events has grown across the country, on social media, and at the highest levels of the Democratic Party. President Joe Biden condemned the actions of the Tennessee legislature and reached out to the three targeted Democrats.

Three kids and three officials gunned down in yet another mass shooting. And what are GOP officials focused on? Punishing lawmakers who joined thousands of peaceful protesters calling for action. Its shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent. https://t.co/NB9gSdFI9h  President Biden (@POTUS) April 6, 2023

Earlier, I spoke to Reps Jones, Pearson, and Johnson to thank them for their leadership and courage in the face of a blatant disregard of our nations democratic values. Our country needs to take action on gun violence  to do that we need more voices like theirs speaking out. pic.twitter.com/oQl9jQSOy1  President Biden (@POTUS) April 7, 2023

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise trip to Tennessee, where she met with the three legislators in person and gave a fiery speech at Fisk University. We will not throw up our hands when it is time to roll up our sleeves, the vice president exclaimed, adding, We will fight! We will lead! We will speak about truth!

We will not be defeated! We will not be deterred! We will not throw up our hands when it is time to roll up our sleeves! We will fight! We will lead! We will speak about truth! And speak about freedom and justice and march on!  @VP Harris. Thats our Vice President!! pic.twitter.com/glWOvtWJ31  Sky | MVP supporter  (@skylikeajedi) April 7, 2023

With this widespread and high-profile support, Reps. Jones and Pearson have been thrust into the national spotlight, becoming heroes to many in their home state and around the country. Although the GOP attempted to punish and silence these young Black men and the cause they champion, Republican resistance will likely remain strong in Tennessee and other states where the fight for political control and reform is raging. But so far, the moves of the Republicans in Tennessee appear to have made these legislators and the movement against gun violence stronger.
University of Louisville hospitals chief medical officer joined Mayor Craig Greenberg Tuesday in calling for stricter regulations on firearms a day after a mass shooting killed five people and injured eight others in Kentuckys largest city.

To everyone who helps make public policy, I would simply ask you to do something, because doing nothing, which is what weve been doing, is not working, Dr. Jason Smith said in a Tuesday morning news conference.

Four of the people injured in Mondays deadly downtown shooting at Old National Bank in the 300 block of E. Main Street were still being treated at UofL Health Tuesday morning, Smith said. Two remain in an intensive care unit, including Louisville Metro Police Officer Nickolas Wilt, who had been on the job 10 days when he was struck in the head Monday morning by a round from an AR-15 the gunman was wielding. Six people died in the mass shooting, including the gunman.

Nine people were hospitalized with injuries from the shooting, and the hospital used more than 170 units of blood to treat those victims  an amount Dr. Smith said far outstrips what the hospital typically has on hand. To acquire what was needed, the hospital pulled from the American Red Cross supply.

Though the day was frenzied and the hospital treated multiple people injured from the same incident, it actually wasnt an atypical day at the hospital, Smith said  the proliferation of gun violence injuries are unfortunately just that common.

Ill be honest, caring for three shooting victims plus the other that came in is not an infrequent day for us, Smith said. We barely had to adjust our operating schedule to deal with (it). Thats how frequent we are having to deal with gun violence in our community.

Emotional, Smith, who has worked at UofL Health for 15 years, said he wasnt just tired of providing emergency care to gun violence victims.

Im weary, he said, his voice cracking. Theres only so many times you can walk into a room and tell someone theyre not coming home. It just breaks your heart when you hear someone screaming, Mommy, or Daddy.

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Sooner or later, it catches up to everyone. You just cant keep doing what were doing. You cant keep seeing all the people with these horrific injuries coming through the door without doing something (larger) to try and help them, he said.

Kentuckys Republican-supermajority Legislature has historically bristled at proposals to tighten regulations on guns and has worked hard to keep them accessible. This legislative session, for instance, Kentuckys lawmakers passed a 2nd Amendment sanctuary state law, banning enforcement of any federal firearms regulations, should any be handed down. That bill became law this week. Notably in 2019, Kentucky made it legal to carry a concealed weapon without a separate permit or training. In 2012, the Legislature also passed into law a provision barring cities and counties from passing local firearms control ordinances.

Greenberg pleaded with Kentucky Republicans to change this law, and grant cities like Louisville the ability to regulate guns locally.

If you support police officers (and) local decision-making to address local issues . . . please give Louisville the autonomy to deal with our unique gun violence epidemic, Greenberg said. Let us make our own choices about how we reduce gun violence in our city.

This story may be updated.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Army will focus on developing watercraft, power-generation capabilities and a more effective command-and-control network as part of its newly formed modernization team meant to ease the movement of equipment, weapons and people in challenging environments, according to the services undersecretary.

While he wouldnt go into detail about who will lead the new cross-functional team focused on contested logistics, Gabe Camarillo told reporters at an Association of the U.S. Army breakfast on Tuesday that it would prioritize modernization in key areas needed to operate in the Indo-Pacific region.

Youre thinking about everything from intra-theater lift requirements and everything were doing on watercraft to our ability to provide refueling, water, electrical power, he said.

Some requirements have been on the shelf for quite some time, Camarillo added, but the team will try to bring them into the 21st century.

Additionally, the team will likely focus on enhancing command-and-control capabilities, he said.

The Contested Logistics Cross-Functional Team will be the first of its kind set up since the inception of Army Futures Command. That organization, established in 2018 to tackle Army modernization requirements, created eight signature cross-functional teams. The service tasked each with advancing one of the six modernization priorities, or a capability considered to cut across a number of those.

The focus areas for contested logistics align with what the head of Pacific-based 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Brig. Gen. Jered Helwig, told Defense News last month. In particular, the commander said he wants a better common operating picture from factory to foxhole across the logistics tail.

That common operating picture should be joint, Helwig stressed. I know that Ill spend more time resupplying the Air Force and the Navy than we will the Army, at least at some phase of the operation, so we need to ensure that we build something that they can use as much as we can.

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Army Materiel Command chief Gen. Charles Hamilton told Defense News in a separate interview last month he wants to establish better real-time information on the state of equipment and weapons in the field.

How it works now is when something happens at the tactical end today, it doesnt inform the strategic end. It could take a day, or it could take a couple of days, for the information to allow me to react to it, Hamilton said. The must-do is when it happens at the tactical end; its got to inform a decision at my end.

Helwig also said the Army needs new watercraft. The service recently experimented with that capability at its Project Convergence experiment last fall.

We learned a lot about what watercraft can do, but more importantly what they cant do right now in terms of the age of the fleet, Helwig noted.

Army Futures Command representatives plan to attend some upcoming exercises to better refine capabilities they want to pursue within the new cross-functional team.

The Army has not embarked on a new watercraft program since the mid-1990s, so its a pivotal time for Army watercraft, Brig. Gen. Luke Peterson, program executive officer for combat support and combat service support, told Defense News in an interview last fall.

The service hit an important milestone on Oct. 10, 2022, when it put its first new prototype of the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) into the water in Portland, Oregon.

The Army is also performing service-life extension programs on its Landing Craft Utility vessels used to transport equipment and troops to shore as well as on its Modular Causeway Systems, a bridging capability connecting a ship and a dock.

The service is also working on a Maneuver Support Vessel (Heavy) requirement and a draft document laying out capability development plans.
(CNN)  Former President Donald Trump is expected to be back in New York City to face another legal battle Thursday  this time in a civil lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, multiple sources told CNN.

Trump is scheduled to sit for another deposition for the suit brought against him, his children and Trump Organization, alleging they were involved in an expansive scheme lasting over a decade by providing false financial statements to lenders and others that the former president used to enrich himself.

Trump sat for a deposition for the case in August 2022, when he refused to answer questions, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to more than 400 questions.

The following month, the attorney general's office filed the lawsuit seeking $250 million and bans on the Trumps' ability to operate a business in the state. The case is set for trial in October. The Trumps have denied wrongdoing.

The deposition has been scheduled this week as part of the discovery process. It's unclear whether Trump is more willing to cooperate now.

The former president's attorneys have not responded to requests for comment.

After his first sit-down in August, Trump and his legal team have been able to glean more knowledge about the allegations against him because documents and other materials have been turned over to them.

Other strategic decisions could be at play. In a civil case, if a defendant asserts the Fifth Amendment, the jury can make what's known as an "adverse inference" and place weight against Trump for refusing to answer questions.

Last August, some of Trump's attorneys advised him to assert the Fifth Amendment because of the potential risk he could put himself in due to the Manhattan district attorney's office ongoing investigation into the same issues in the attorney general's civil case.

Trump has switched up his legal team since then.

Ronald Fischetti  who represented Trump in the matter last fall  attended that deposition and advised Trump to not answer questions, told CNN on Monday: "I know nothing about this."

Last year, sitting before James and her team, Trump criticized her and her office.

"Anyone in my position not taking the Fifth Amendment would be a fool, an absolute fool," Trump said in a video of the deposition released by the Attorney General's Office. "One statement or answer that is ever so slightly off, just ever so slightly by accident, by mistake, such as it was a sunny, beautiful day when actually it was slightly overcast, would be met by law enforcement."

Trump's trip to New York comes on the heels of his unprecedented indictment obtained by the Manhattan District Attorney's office last month. Last week, the former president was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records following an investigation into hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Trump expected to sit for deposition this week in civil lawsuit brought by New York attorney general."
The Ministry of Defense of the UK has reported a "serious level of inaccuracy" in allegedly secret US documents that leaked online, including those related to the war in Ukraine.

Source: This is stated in the statement of the UK Ministry of Defense, published on Twitter, reports European Pravda.

Quote: "The widely reported leak of alleged classified US information has demonstrated a serious level of inaccuracy. Readers should be cautious about taking at face value allegations that have the potential to spread disinformation," the Ministry of Defense said.

Earlier, the US Department of Justice opened an investigation into the leak of a huge number of US intelligence documents that were published on social networks in recent weeks.

This became known after new documents appeared on Friday 7 April, covering a wide range of issues: from US support for Ukraine to information about key allies of the United States.

The US State Department claims that the incident with the publication of secret documents of the US Department of Defence will not affect the support of Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
By Idrees Ali and David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Top defense and diplomatic officials of the United States and Philippines agreed on Tuesday to complete a road map in coming months for the delivery of U.S. defense assistance to the Southeast Asian nation over the next five to 10 years.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the long-time allies, who share concerns about an increasingly assertive China, discussed delivery of "priority defense platforms", in a move that prompted China to express concern.

Platforms from radars to drones, military transport aircraft and coastal and air defense systems figured in the so-called "2+2" meeting in Washington that also involved U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Philippine counterparts.

"Adoption of a security sector assistance roadmap in the coming months will guide shared defense modernization investments and inform the delivery of priority platforms over the next 5 to 10 years," the two sides said in a statement.

Philippines Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo told the same news conference the two sides "redoubled" their commitment to modernizing the Philippines-U.S. alliance.

That step, he added, recognised that "Our partnership will need to play a stronger role in preserving an international law-based international order."

On Wednesday, China's foreign ministry said it was "seriously concerned and strongly dissatisfied" with the joint statement, adding that the document "distorts and smears China's legitimate maritime law enforcement actions".

"We are willing to properly resolve maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation," said ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin at a regular briefing.

"But we will firmly uphold our own territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

Experts say the United States sees the Philippines as a potential location for rockets, missiles and artillery systems to counter a Chinese amphibious invasion of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.

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Austin said it was "too early" to discuss what assets the United States would like to station at Philippine military bases under a recently expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Manalo said the EDCA sites were mainly aimed at improving military interoperability, tackling humanitarian disasters and perhaps "respond to other types of security challenges," but did not elaborate.

The Pentagon has not specified the use of the additional sites, except that work would include airport expansion and training involving naval assets.

Manalo said on Monday Washington and Manila will need to discuss what the U.S. may do with its access to the EDCA sites.

"We remind the relevant countries in the region that relying on extraterritorial forces will not only fail to maintain their own security, but will instead increase tension and will certainly harm themselves," said Wang, the Chinese official.

EDCA 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 not a permanent presence.

The joint statement said the United States expected to boost its allocated spending for EDCA sites to more than $100 million by the end of 2023, up from a previous $80 million.

Both agreed to fast-track new two-way defense guidelines.

Such guidelines aim to provide strategic direction and to lay out each side's responsibilities, said Greg Poling, a Southeast Asia expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"The U.S. and Japan negotiated defense guidelines in 1978 for the Cold War, 1998 focused on North Korea, and 2015 focused on China, whereas the U.S. and Philippines have never done so," he said.

The Washington meeting came after more than 17,000 Philippine and U.S. soldiers began their largest ever joint military drills on Tuesday, highlighting their shared concern about China, which has rival territorial claims to the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea.

U.S.-Philippine ties have warmed under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and the 2+2 meeting underlined that, as the first of its kind in seven years. But Manila treads a delicate path with China, the region's economic powerhouse.

Marcos assured China on Monday that military bases accessible to the U.S. would not be used in offensive action, stressing that the deal with Washington was designed to boost his country's defenses.

(Reporting by David Brunnstron, Idrees Ali, Kanishka Singh and Simon Lewis; Additional reporting by Liz Lee and Qiaoyi Li in Beijing; Editing by Edward Tobin and Clarence Fernandez)
The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills a day after China concluded large-scale exercises around Taiwan.

Over three days, China's military rehearsed blockades of Taiwan in response to the island's leader meeting the US House Speaker last week.

Washington criticised China's display of firepower as disproportionate, while Taiwan President Tsai said it was "irresponsible" and she had the right to make visits to the US.

The US drills had been earlier planned.

Filipino and US officials say the drills show their commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region that is open and free.

Washington announced last month that their annual Balikatan exercise with the Philippines would be their largest ever - involving more than 17,000 troops, including 12,000 from the US.

The two-week Balikatan operation will also see the militaries execute a drill to blow up a mock target warship in the South China Sea - a move that could incur China's wrath.

The exercises, however, should not be viewed as a response to developments in Taiwan, US and Filipino military officials said.

In February, Washington secured a new defence deal with Manila where four new naval bases will be established on Philippine islands close to contested waters.

Three of these bases are to the north of Luzon Island, the nearest bit of land to Taiwan besides China.

The waterways around the Philippines and in the South China Sea contain some of the world's most valuable trade routes, and have been the subject of disputed territorial claims by China in recent years.

On Monday, as China was concluding its own drills where it deployed fighter jets and an aircraft carrier around Taiwan, the US sent a naval destroyer through the South China Sea in what it called a freedom of navigation mission.

The US sent the USS Milius past the Spratly Islands, which lie in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but are claimed by Beijing.

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That angered Beijing. China on Monday also warned that US-Philippines military cooperation should not interfere with disputes in the hotly contested waters.

"[It] must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday.

Beijing's drills concluded on Monday. Afterwards, Taiwan's defence ministry said it would keep strengthening its "combat preparedness".

President Tsai in a Facebook post on Monday night also stated she had the right to represent her island on the world stage, and condemned China's military response to her US stopovers as "irresponsible actions of a regional power".

A dozen countries in the region will also participate in the Balikatan exercises, set to run until 26 April. Australia has sent 100 troops.

The focus of the Balikatan drills have evolved in recent years reflecting a shift in geo-security concerns in the region. In the 2000s, it centred on counter terrorism drills after extremist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda carried out bomb attacks in southern Philippines.

However, China's rapid military expansion and claims on territory in the disputed South China Sea, particularly on several Philippine islands, has prompted a wider response.

The Philippines' role in security in the region has grown. Many believe increased US access to Philippine bases could provide launchpads for combat operations in the event of armed clashes over flashpoints like Taiwan or the South China Sea.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr reiterated on Monday that the US would not be able to access military sites for offensive moves.

"China's reaction [around Taiwan] is not surprising, since it has its own concerns. But the Philippines will not allow our bases to be used for any offensive actions. This is only meant to help the Philippines should the need arise," he said.

A front row seat to monitor China

The US is seeking access to places where "light and flexible" operations involving supplies and surveillance can be run as and when needed, rather than bases where large numbers of troops will be stationed.

In February, Washington secured access to four additional military bases in the Philippines - a deal that helped the US stitch the gap in the arc of alliances stretching from South Korea and Japan in the north to Australia in the south.

The missing link had been the Philippines, which borders two of the biggest potential flashpoints - Taiwan and the South China Sea.

One of the bases they now have access to faces Taiwan, the second the Scarborough shoal, and the third the Spratly Islands. US troops will come in small groups and on rotation.

The aim, analysts say, will be to deter further territorial expansion by China in the South China Sea, while also providing a place for the US to watch Chinese military movements around Taiwan.

With increasing concern about a conflict over Taiwan, the Philippines could offer a "rear access area" for US military operations, or even a place to evacuate refugees.

Read more from our correspondent on the significance of the US-Philippine alliance here
WASHINGTON  In August of 2021, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called on major airlines to augment a military mission to transport evacuees out of Afghanistan following President Bidens decision to withdraw combat forces from the region.

Leveraging contracts established through the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, the U.S. Department of Defense requested a total of 18 aircraft from six airlines to fly passengers from way stations outside of Kabul to staging bases, allowing the Pentagon to focus on the more dangerous task of evacuating Hamid Karzai International Airport. In the end, commercial airliners flew more than 420 flights to support the operation.

It was only the third time the military activated the program, dubbed the CRAF, since it was created more than 70 years ago to provide extra airlift capacity in times of crisis and conflict. It was first used from August 1990 to May 1991 in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and then again from February 2002 to June 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Space Force may seek commercial fleet to augment wartime needs

Participation in the CRAF is voluntary for airlines, who make a portion of their aircraft available for military use through contracts with U.S. Transportation Command. In exchange, the Defense Department prioritizes using those carriers for commercial cargo and passenger transport during peacetime.

For the Pentagon, the program represents a crucial partnership with commercial industry, which it highlighted in an August 2021 statement announcing its decision to activate the air fleet.

The DoDs ability to project military forces is inextricably linked to commercial industry, the department said. Utilizing commercial partners expands TRANSCOMs global reach as well as access to valuable commercial intermodal transportation systems.

With the CRAF and its maritime equivalent  dubbed the National Defense Reserve Fleet  as models for how to take advantage of commercially-owned capacity in times of need, the Space Force is in the early phases of designing its own version, the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve.

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Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said during a March 15 McAleese and Associates conference in Washington that the Space Force has identified some mission areas within the service where a commercial reserve could play a role, including space domain awareness, satellite communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

The service is thinking through some of the policy, contractual and legal questions around how to employ commercial services during a conflict, he said. Its also getting input from companies on how the CRAF model could be best adapted for the space domain.

The real key to success for making sure that commercial augmentation is available throughout the spectrum of a conflict is that we talk early upfront and we pre-plan and establish expectations, Saltzman said.

A new model for space

While the air and maritime reserve fleets offer a helpful reference point for the Space Force as it designs a program of its own, some industry and former government officials said neither provides a perfect model.

David Gauthier, chief strategy officer at space consultancy GEOX and the former director of commercial operations for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency said hes interested in the concept, but its unlikely the Space Forces program would operate like existing reserve fleets. CRAF, for example, can call on hundreds of aircraft in an emergency. The NDRF provides a reserve of about 100 mostly military-useful cargo and tankers, ready to aid national defense.

The Space Force hasnt settled on a design for its Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve. Officials from Space Systems Command, the services acquisition arm, met with industry in early February in Washington to discuss the concept and are planning more meetings in the coming months.

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket that carried the U.S. Space Force's fifth geosynchronous Space Based Infrared System satellite into orbit sitting on the pad at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral at sunset. (United Launch Alliance)

Gauthier, who attended the February meeting, said there are unique questions about risk for a space reserve. While the military can use commercial aircraft or a cargo ship to augment operations during a conflict without inserting them into a warzone, that boundary doesnt necessarily exist in space.

In space conflicts, the threat environment is always there, all the time, everywhere, he said during a March 14 panel at the Satellite Conference in Washington. The hardware, the satellites that are commercially owned and operated are actually continuously at risk in that environment. So, the second they announce that theyre working for the military and doing business there, theyre under constant threat.

That risk calculation is tricky for commercial operators, Gauthier said, and raises questions about how the government will protect non-DoD assets that become targets of a foreign adversary. The Pentagon is exploring the possibility of providing compensation for commercial systems in such scenarios but hasnt developed a formal policy.

How do you either protect those commercial satellites and their business upside or downside and how do you incentivize them to support military needs? he said. Its not as easy as just paying a little bit of money. Theres a lot more that has to go into that over time to ensure that companies are willing to take that risk.

Incentives for satellite operators

Aidan Poling, a research analyst at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, wrote in a Feb. 23 issue paper published by The Atlantic Council that the government should consider a preferential contract award system for private-sector participants in the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve and established fixed payment structures.

These steps would create financial carrots for satellite operators while simultaneously lowering risk, incentivizing them to participate, he said.

Along with commercial satellite protection and indemnification, the government also has trust issues to sort through when it comes to relying on commercial providers for wartime services, Craig Miller, president of government systems at Viasat, told C4ISRNET.

We think we are very trustworthy, and were very interested in being the very best provider we can be and always honoring our contracts. But theres the sort of whispered notion that commercial companies could be manipulated by foreign actors, he said in a March 15 interview. If a foreign actor threatens to do something terrible to a commercial company . . . what guarantee does the U.S. government have that the commercial actor might not buckle to that pressure?

Its a complicated problem, Miller noted, but one approach to addressing it could be for companies to hand over the keys of whatever piece of the satellite network the military needs and allow them to operate it in a time of crisis.

US may require electronic warfare defenses for air, sealift operations

If the government basically has the ability to make business decisions for you in that case, they have to make it worth your while, he said. We cant do that without being made whole, which means its going to cost the government money to do that.

Miller also pointed to differences in how commercial airlines and, for example, modern commercial satellite communication providers shift capacity among their customers. While the CRAF model depends on airlines making a portion of their fleet available to the military, todays satellite networks can expand capacity fairly seamlessly.

That means that if the Space Force wanted to reserve commercial SATCOM capabilities for a crisis, it could arrange that in advance and companies could transfer that capacity in real time.

That surge capability, that crisis capability, thats available without the government having to essentially take possession of the system, Miller said. Maybe you dont pay for it all the time, but you have it on retainer and you have the flexibility to scale up.
By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States plans to expand efforts to disrupt illicit financial activities by drug traffickers involved in the fentanyl trade by increasing the use of sanctions, the White House said on Tuesday.

A White House fact sheet outlining its plans for a crackdown on fentanyl supply chains said President Joe Biden's administration will increase sanctions and other measures against key targets to obstruct drug traffickers access to the U.S. financial system and illicit financial flows.

"We will also strengthen collaboration with international partners on illicit finance and anti-money laundering efforts related to drug trafficking," the White House said.

It said the United States is building a global coalition to accelerate efforts against illicit synthetic drugs. The statement did not provide details about the sanctions or other measures.

The development comes as 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.

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 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.

(Reporting By Steve Holland. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
People watch as Joe Biden gives a speech beneath a large mural that reads: Hello Belfast

US President Joe Biden has praised Northern Ireland's young people, saying they are at the "cutting edge" of its future during his visit to Belfast.

Earlier he met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before briefly speaking to some of Stormont's political party leaders.

He is on a four-day visit to Ireland to mark 25 years since the Good Friday peace agreement, which ended decades of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.

He hailed the "tremendous progress" since the deal was signed in 1998.

"This place is transformed by peace; made technicolour by peace; made whole by peace," he said.

He hailed Northern Ireland as a "churn of creativity", having produced some of the world's most popular films and TV series over the past decade, and said that major economic opportunities for the region were "just beginning".

President Biden was speaking as he opened the new Ulster University campus in Belfast, his only official engagement in Northern Ireland.

His visit comes at a time when Northern Ireland's power-sharing government at Stormont is not functioning.

It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties - pulled out as part of a protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden urged politicians to make a return to governing but praised them for their unity after the attempted murder of one of Northern Ireland's top detectives in February.

John Caldwell was shot several times by two gunmen in Omagh, County Tyrone.

During his speech, the president said: "Northern Ireland will not go back [to violence]."

Mr Sunak visited Mr Caldwell and his family at a hospital on Wednesday afternoon.

Read more about Biden's visit

Before briefly meeting the political leaders, Mr Biden was asked what he would say to them - he answered: "I'm going to listen."

After leaving Belfast early on Wednesday afternoon, he flew on Air Force One the Republic of Ireland where he is continuing his tour of the island.

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He is to due to meet the Irish President Michael D Higgins and speak to politicians at the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) on Thursday and will meet some of his Irish relatives in County Mayo on Friday.

His sister Valerie and his son Hunter have joined him for the Ireland trip.

Analysis box by Enda McClafferty, NI political editor

President Biden managed to deliver a speech that hit all the right notes with the invited audience.

As he left the stage he was swamped by people armed with their phones for a selfie.

His speech was pitched at reminding people what is at stake - peace, said Mr Biden, cannot be taken for granted.

He reminded those in the room about the risks taken 25 years ago by the architects of the Good Friday Agreement.

Democracy in Northern Ireland needs champions now to do the same, he added.

While he didn't namecheck the DUP it was clear to whom he was directing those comments about getting Stormont back up and running.

Before Mr Biden's address in Belfast, US Special Envoy Joe Kennedy spoke about the significance of American investment in Northern Ireland.

"Some of the biggest companies in the world have set up shop here and now entrepreneurs with dreams to outcompete them are following," he said.

"I look forward to drawing on your energy and your ideas and to making sure that we bring prosperity to all corners of Northern Ireland."

After listening to Mr Biden's speech at the university, Michelle O'Neill, the vice-president of Sinn Fein, the largest party at Stormont, said the message was "one of hope and opportunity".

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he did not get a sense that the president was urging his party to do more to restore power-sharing during their brief private discussion.

"Like all of us, he wants to see the political institutions up and running again but we are very clear that can only happen when we have got the solid foundations that we need," he added.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long described President Biden's speech as "positive, balanced, optimistic and hopeful for the future".

Doug Beattie, the Ulster Unionist Party leader, said the meeting with Mr Biden was a fleeting "grip and grin" engagement.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described his conversation with the president as "positive".

Mr Biden arrived in Belfast city centre on Tuesday night, having been greeted by Mr Sunak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the huge security plan put in place for the presidential visit was its biggest for years.

Some 2,900 officers were deployed as part of the 7m operation.

But the PSNI is investigating a security breach after a document that appears to give details of the operation was found on a street in the city by a member of the public.

BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show was shown the document, which is marked: "PSNI and sensitive."

It names police officers who were in charge of the area around the hotel in which Mr Biden had stayed.

"We take the safety of visiting dignitaries, members of the public and our officers and staff extremely seriously," said the PSNI.

Joe Biden is visiting 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.
President Joe Biden speaks as Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

Last year, the USs Biden administration announced plans to increase two-way trade and investment between the US and Africa. The starting point was a revamp of the Trump-era Prosper Africa initiative. As American secretary of state Antony Blinken visits three African nations  South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda  Kefa Otiso and Francis Owusu provide insights into US-Africa trade relations and whats being planned to improve them.

What sort of trade arrangement is the US proposing?

In July 2021, the Biden-Harris administration launched the Prosper Africa Build Together Campaign.

The idea was to elevate and energise the USs commitment to trade and investment with countries across the African continent.

The revamped Trump strategy includes a targeted, long-term effort to connect American and African businesses with new trade and investment opportunities.

Key sectors being targeted are clean energy and climate smart solutions, health, and digital technology.

Through the initiative, the US is promising to help drive billions of dollars of investment to Africa and to work towards equitable access to the benefits of trade and investment. It also envisages harnessing the power of small businesses, especially those led by women and members of the African Diaspora.

What should a good trade pact look like?

This is a difficult question to answer, given the many possible configurations of a potential trade pact.

Nevertheless, we offer two key elements of such a trade pact.

First, it should be truly multilateral unlike, for example, the prevailing US-Africa trade agreement, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)  which is a unilateral US government policy. A truly multilateral pact would recognise African leaders as equal partners and ensure that they have an opportunity to properly engage in US-Africa trade negotiations.

Anything short of this would be counter-productive for one or both parties. For instance, a bad trade pact could worsen US trade deficits while for Africa, it would amount to a missed opportunity for badly needed structural economic transformation. In addition, it would force African countries to compete head-to-head with the much stronger US economy, to the disadvantage of their local businesses and industries.

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Second, whatever agreement is reached needs to increase the capacity of African countries to trade with the US. While a US-Africa free trade agreement would be ideal, it would be unlikely to work well for many African countries. Countries with technological and economic weaknesses would easily be overwhelmed by the powerful US export machine.

So, instead of a free trade agreement, a beneficial pact for Africa should be designed to boost trade and investment between the US and Africa while also gradually increasing the capacity of African countries to compete globally in the production of nontraditional high-value products.

Although the exact details of the Prosper Africa Build Together Campaign are yet to be worked out, we are cautiously optimistic that it can live up to its promise. Unlike AGOA, it has a holistic and long-term focus. And because of the need to counteract the influence of Europe, Russia, and China, the US is likely to be more motivated to engage Africa both economically and geopolitically.

Africa can only get good trade pacts if it negotiates for them. African countries must therefore invest in capacity building and training for their trade negotiators as well as hiring, keeping, and empowering the right people for these roles.

What arrangement is in place at the moment?

The prevailing US-Africa trade agreement is the African Growth and Opportunity Act. It was enacted in 2000 and is expected to expire in 2025 unless the US Congress extends it.

The law has been at the core of US economic policy and commercial engagement with Africa since 2000. It provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US market for over 1,800 products. This is in addition to the more than 5,000 other products that are eligible for duty-free access under the Generalised System of Preferences programme.

Currently, 36 countries on the continent are eligible for AGOA benefits.

Has it achieved its intended purpose?

To some extent, yes. The legal framework has helped to provide beneficiary countries in sub-Saharan Africa with liberal access to the US market. In addition, it has increased trade and investment ties between the US and sub-Saharan Africa. It has also created over 300,000 jobs in the region, especially in the apparel sector. As of 2021, non-oil US imports under the agreement (a major source of its job-creating value) were about US.8 billion.

However, not all sub-Saharan African countries have benefited from AGOA and their manufacturing sectors remain weak. Most of Africas exports under AGOA are still dominated by apparel products. In addition, many of the AGOA beneficiaries have been foreign companies that are using Africa as a front to gain access to the US market.

Read more: We examined 20 years of US-Kenya trade: Some lessons for Africa

In 2020, President Trump and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta announced the start of negotiations for a post-AGOA deal between the two countries. Trumps administration claimed that the deal would serve as a model for other African countries.

Conceived in the context of Trumps preference for bilateral trade deals, the pact was to conclude within 10 months. But it did not. Otherwise, it would have given the US a replicable model for future trade deals with Africa. In the end, the expiry of Trumps term of office scuttled the negotiations.

This US-Kenya pact would have been the first such bilateral deal between the US and a sub-Saharan African country. Currently, the only African country with a free trade agreement with the US is Morocco. Called the Morocco Free Trade Agreement, it was signed in 2004.

In the case of Kenya, such a deal would have elevated its preferential access to the American market under AGOA to a reciprocal pact similar to those that the US has with 20 other countries around the world, including Morocco.

In conclusion, it is important to realise that US-Africa trade relations are on a dynamic continuum that includes Bill Clintons AGOA, George Bushs African Global Competitiveness Initiative, Barack Obamas Trade Africa, Donald Trumps Prosper Africa Initiative and now Joe Bidens Prosper Africa Build Together Campaign.

These trade initiatives have enduring threads tied to larger US values and interests in Africa. Future trade pacts are therefore unlikely to deviate much from past ones even as the US strives to counteract European, Russian and Chinese influence in Africa. African states should similarly fight for their own interests in such trade engagements.

Two key pressures are likely to shape future US-Africa trade pacts.

First, should the US negotiate with individual African countries or with the continent as a whole? Secondly, should future US trade pacts with Africa be unilateral like AGOA or involve African leaders in defining their frameworks? In the light of the 2018 African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, which encompasses most of Africa, we think that future US-Africa trade deals will probably be more multilateral and comprehensive.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters.

It was written by: Kefa M. Otiso, Bowling Green State University and Francis Owusu, Iowa State University.

Read more:



I've received funding from The African Capacity Building Foundation to conduct a Kenya AGOA evaluation study whose conclusions are partly reflected in this piece.
Top US diplomat Antony Blinken and defense chief Lloyd Austin spoke with their Ukrainian counterparts on Tuesday as Washington seeks to reassure its allies after a leaked trove of highly sensitive documents appeared online.

The breach -- which has sparked a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice -- includes classified information about Ukraine's battle against invading Russian forces, as well as secret assessments of US allies.

A document reviewed by AFP highlighted US concerns about Ukraine's capacity to keep defending against Russian strikes, while the Washington Post reported that another expressed doubts about the success of an upcoming offensive by Kyiv's forces.

"We have engaged with allies and partners at high levels over the past days, including to reassure them about our own commitment to safeguarding intelligence," Blinken told a news conference on Tuesday.

Blinken said he had spoken with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and "reaffirmed our enduring support for Ukraine and for its efforts to defend its territorial integrity, its sovereignty, its independence."

Austin, speaking alongside Blinken, said he had also talked to his counterpart in Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov.

"He and the leadership remain focused on the task at hand," Austin said, noting that "they have much of the capability that they need to continue to be successful."

Ukraine is expected to launch an attack on invading Russian troops in the spring -- its first major military push of the year.

But one top secret document said tough Russian defenses and "enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive," the Post reported.

- Air defense issues -

A document reviewed by AFP -- this one marked "secret" -- detailed the dire state of Ukrainian air defenses, which have been instrumental in protecting against Russian strikes and preventing Moscow's forces from gaining control of the skies.

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Ukraine's international supporters have worked to beef up the country's air defenses, providing a mix of cutting edge and older technology to create multi-layered defenses that protect against attacks at different altitudes.

But the document dated February 2023 -- the authenticity of which could not immediately be confirmed -- said that 89 percent of Ukrainian medium and high-range air defenses was made up of SA-10 and SA-11 Soviet-era systems that could soon run short of ammunition.

Based on munitions use at the time, the document projected that Ukraine's SA-11s would be out of missiles by late March, and its SA-10s by early May.

Ukraine's ability to provide medium-range air defenses to protect the front line "will be completely reduced by May 23," the document said.

The Post reported that another document said Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the production of 40,000 rockets for shipment to Russia, telling officials to keep it secret to "avoid problems with the West."

White House national security spokesman John Kirby pushed back against the report.

"We've seen no indication that Egypt is providing lethal weaponry capabilities to Russia," Kirby told reporters. "Egypt is a significant security partner and remains so."

Dozens of photographs of documents -- some of which also point to US spying on allies and partners including Israel, South Korea and Ukraine -- have been found on Twitter, Telegram, Discord and other sites in recent days, though some may have been circulating online for some time.

Many of the documents are no longer available on the sites where they first appeared, and the United States is reportedly working to have them removed.

The fallout from the apparent leak could be significant -- even deadly -- potentially putting US intelligence sources at risk, while giving the country's foes valuable information.

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A leading US senator called Tuesday on European allies to stand firm on democracy in Tunisia before approving an IMF bailout, accusing President Kais Saied of long-term damage through his power grabs.

Chris Murphy, who leads the Senate subcommittee on relations with the Middle East, also faulted President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat, for maintaining US assistance to Tunisia's military.

Tunisia reached a deal in principle in October with the International Monetary Fund for nearly $2 billion to shore up a sinking economy, but the bailout still needs approval by the IMF board which is pressing for reforms, primarily on the economy.

Saied vowed last week to reject IMF "diktats" and Italy has led calls for a quick deal, fearing a greater flow of migrants across the Mediterranean if Tunisia descends.

"I think we've got a little bit of work to do to convince all of our European friends that this is the time to drive the harder bargain," Murphy said at the US Institute of Peace.

He said that European nations were likely looking at "short-term stability" but called for a longer-term view.

"Yes, the IMF could step in here with a deal with few conditions that would patch things up for months, maybe years.

"But you'd be back in a crisis -- once again you'd be necessitating another bailout, that would be even less palatable to international financial institutions -- a few years from now."

Saied has seized far-reaching powers since sacking the government in July 2021, later dissolving parliament and pushing through a constitution replacing the one approved in 2014 when Tunisia was at the forefront of the Arab Spring democratic revolutions.

Murphy also voiced opposition to Biden's budget proposal that would keep funding levels for the Tunisian military, which the senator said has "largely stood by, acquiesced and sometimes facilitated Saied's transition away from democracy."

"The Biden administration has, I think, made a bet on the Tunisian military," Murphy said. "I would argue that we should make a bet on civil society instead."

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss growing military ties with the Philippines on Tuesday before heading to Vietnam and Japan days after a new flare-up of tensions with China over Taiwan.

The Philippines, Vietnam and Japan all have longstanding territorial disputes with China that have grown more intense in recent years as Beijing flexes its muscle.

Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet jointly in Washington with their Philippine counterparts in the first such joint talks in seven years between the United States and its former colony.

Last week, the Philippines announced four more military bases that US forces will be able to use, including one on the northern Luzon island, just 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Taiwan -- a stark shift from a previous push by Manila to improve ties with China.

After condemnation from Beijing, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said that Manila would not take "any offensive actions" from the four bases, as well from five others agreed to with Washington in a 2014 agreement.

"If no one is attacking us, they need not worry because we will not fight them," Marcos told reporters Monday.

Months earlier, the United States reached a separate agreement with Japan, a fellow ally on the other side of Taiwan, to disperse US forces across the southern island of Okinawa, another move seen as preparing for a potential Chinese move on Taiwan.

- Show of force, moderated -

Beijing on Monday completed three days of military exercises said to simulate sealing Taiwan, a self-governing democracy it considers part of its territory.

The show of force came after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met in California with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who is second in line to the US presidency, in defiance of Beijing's warnings.

The United States called for restraint by China but privately some officials were relieved the reaction was more muted than in August 2022, when Beijing fired projectiles around and over Taiwan after McCarthy's predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, flew to Taipei.

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"It's not what it was in August and this could, hopefully, pave the way, let's say, to calming the situation a bit on the Straits between China and the United States," Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies ahead of Tuesday's talks.

Marcos last year succeeded president Rodrigo Duterte, who early in his tenure sought closer ties with China.

But experts say the Philippines has increasingly realized that the approach has not brought any progress with China, which has ignored a 2016 international court ruling in favor of Manila over Beijing's sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

Manila is also "aware that if an armed conflict between Beijing and Taipei erupts and intensifies over the Taiwan Strait, there is little chance the country will escape the adverse consequences," Renato Cruz De Castro, an expert at De La Salle University in the Philippines, wrote in a recent essay for the Brookings Institution.

Repercussions could include "massive refugee flows, the rapid return of Filipino overseas workers based in Taiwan and the actual spread of the conflict to the Luzon Straits and even northern Luzon," he wrote.

Vietnam, where Blinken will head later this week before traveling to a Group of Seven meeting in Japan, has also sought closer defense cooperation with the Unite States despite bitter war memories.

"Washington and Hanoi are almost completely aligned on the kind of Indo-Pacific we want to see," said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, "where large countries don't bully small countries."

The leader of another key US ally, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, pays a state visit to Washington on April 26.

The US effort to rally Asian allies comes after French President Emmanuel Macron raised eyebrows following a state visit to Beijing by saying that European allies of the United States should not get caught between Beijing and Washington in the standoff over Taiwan.

President Joe Biden's administration and France played down the remarks but Representative Mike Gallagher, a Republican active on China, called them a "massive propaganda victory" for Beijing.

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Vaping doesn't get rid of health risks completely. (Getty Images)

Smokers in England will be urged to swap cigarettes for vapes in a bid to help cut smoking rates.

But while the new government scheme acknowledges concern that vaping is rising in children, the question is how much better is it for adults?

E-cigarettes have often been marketed as a way to enjoy smoking with fewer of the health risks of traditional cigarettes, but with adverse reactions and even deaths, people will no doubt be questioning their safety.

Read more: Coronavirus: Abundantly clear' smoking makes impact of infection worse

How safe is vaping?

Vaping should only be used to help quit smoking. (Getty Images)

Advice surrounding the safety of vaping can seem somewhat conflicted.

"Numerous studies from health groups in the UK have concluded that using an e-cigarette, known as vaping, is better for your health compared to smoking, says Dr Diana Gall, of Doctor 4 U.

A report by Public Health England, which was compiled by several UK-based academics, found that vaping is 95% safer than smoking. Cancer Research UK has also given its support to people using vaping as a means of fighting against smoking related diseases.

Experts believe one of the main reasons is because e-cigarettes dont burn tobacco, so should therefore eliminate the risks associated with tar.

When you smoke or use an e-cigarette, you inhale nicotine, but unlike smoking, the nicotine from e-cigarettes comes in a vapour and doesnt require burning tobacco, Dr Gall explains.

That means that vaping does not expose the body to unpleasant substances such as tar and carbon monoxide, which can cause cancers and are among the biggest threats to health when smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products.

The new government scheme is only urging smokers to 'swap to stop' by vaping instead, and says there will be a crackdown on illicit vape sales as part of measures to stop children and non-smokers taking up the habit.

While the Cancer Research UK website acknowledges e-cigarettes are thought to be better than smoking, it adds: "E-cigarettes are not risk-free. We don't yet know their long-term effects, so people who have never smoked shouldn't use them."

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Read more: Need to quit smoking? Try sniffing chocolate, say scientists

Surely nicotine has some health risks though? Some people do mistakenly believe that nicotine itself is dangerous, which would make vaping almost as dangerous as smoking, says Dr Gall.

But while nicotine is addictive, it cannot cause smoking-related diseases such as cancers or heart disease.

Pure nicotine is a toxic compound, but according to Dr Gall, the nicotine found in tobacco, e-liquids and nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) is not pure enough to be poisonous. Reports of this being an issue for consumers are exceptionally rare, she adds.

The safest thing to do is to stop smoking completely.

Health risks of vaping

How much better are e-cigarettes than normal ones? (Getty Images)

While many experts believe vaping is much less damaging to health compared to smoking, some research has cast an element of doubt over those beliefs.

For example, National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies highlighted the damaging effect of vaping on blood vessels. Long-term use of electronic cigarettes, or vaping products, can significantly impair their function, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, the research suggested.

Also, something to be aware of is that ending up using both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes can cause an even greater risk when done together.

Researchers from the University of Athens also previously found that flavourings in e-cigarettes harm the lungs by causing inflammation.

Smokers looking to quit often turn to vaping in the belief that it is better for their health, but the analysis, conducted on mice, showed that even in the short-term, the inflammation vaping caused was similar or worse than conventional cigarettes.

Researchers compared several groups of mice that received whole-body exposure to varying chemical combinations four times each day, with every session separated by 30-minute smoke-free intervals.

The results found that even short term use causes as much or even more damage as the real thing.

Other research has raised questions about the chemicals in e-cigarettes. Certain studies have found certain chemicals in e-cigarette vapour that are the same than those found in cigarette smoke, but they are at much lower levels, explains Dr Gall.

Cancer Research UK points out that there is no good evidence to show that vaping causes cancer. But, it adds, "They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick. These side effects tend to reduce over time with continued use. We dont know yet what effects they might have in the long term."

Read more: What do e-cigarettes really do to your body?

Being vape safe

While the information about the health risks associated with vaping may seem confusing, there are some steps you can take to ensure youre being as vape-safe as possible.

The safest thing to do is to use high quality, official e-cigarette products, advises Dr Gall.

There are tight regulations for selling e-cigarettes in the UK, so youre likely to be safe using them as long as you use them properly and avoid bootleg vaping products which could contain more harmful substances.

Its important to follow guidelines with regards to charging too.

There have been reports of e-cigarettes catching fire or exploding, but the main cause of this issue is using the wrong charger, Dr Gall says.

As long as you use the right charger for your e-cigarette and avoid leaving them charging unattended or overnight, then nothing should go wrong with them.

According to Dr Gall if you are pregnant, then leading UK baby charities recommend using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products such as gum and patches to stop you smoking.

However, if you find vaping useful to stay smoke-free, then this is much safer for you and your baby compared to smoking," she adds.

As part of the new 'swap to stop' scheme, pregnant women will be offered financial incentives to help them stop smoking, including vouchers and behavioural support.

Watch: Detection of vaping among children 'may be more difficult' than parents realise
A South Shore homeowner says he lost a massive collection of artwork and sculptures after a fire broke out in his barn-turned-art studio that also happened to be occupied by a woman living inside.

The three-alarm fire broke out in a three-story barn on Whiting Street that had been converted into a residence, Hanover Fire Chief Jason Cavallaro said.

A person was asleep inside the home while it was on fire, according to Cavallaro, and a person passing by the area saw the flames and called 911 just before 2 a.m.

Hanover police got to the home quickly and were able to wake up the sleeping person. That person followed the officers voices and was able to escape the flames.

Cavallaro said the entire building was engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived.

That occupant was very lucky, Cavallaro said. Somebody was passing by and was able to see it and call 911, police officers were able to arrive early and notify that occupant who was sleeping. It couldve been a different story potentially if that had not occurred.

Crews were able to stop the flames from spreading to the main home just 10 feet away.

The adjacent main house wasnt damaged, but they were evacuated just as a precaution, Cavallaro said.

Jim Henderson, who owns the property, says he lost his art collection that dates back 50 years, but he is glad the woman who was staying in an apartment in his barn escaped unscathed.

I was lucky that I was alive. I was lucky that nobody got hurt, Henderson said.

Firefighters from several other communities, including Rockland, Hingham, Whitman, and Norwell assisted Hanover crews at the scene.

Cavallaro said crews had some communications issues due to problems with their radios but did not face any other obstacles fighting the fire.

There were no reported injuries in the fire.

The blaze caused about $200,000 in damage, according to fire officials.

State troopers assigned to the State Fire Marshals Office are assisting Hanover firefighters with an investigation.

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NEW: Homeowner tells me this 3-story barn was also his art studio. He says he lost 50 years worth of art and sculptures in this mornings fire, but hes grateful both he and a woman living in an apartment in the barn are okay@boston25 pic.twitter.com/b2XTrvWZn9  Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) April 11, 2023

BREAKING: @HanoverFire chief says barn on Whiting St. was converted into a residence.



A person was sleeping inside while barn was on fire. Passerby called 911 just before 2 AM, @HanoverPolice officers woke the person up and they got out safely@boston25 pic.twitter.com/8q9jgh8uzw  Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) April 11, 2023

BREAKING: @HanoverFire at scene of a barn fire on Whiting Street. Fire appears to be out, but portion of the road remains closed. Were awaiting more information from the chief @boston25 pic.twitter.com/VAS30gETXl  Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) April 11, 2023

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
A public vigil will be held in Louisville Wednesday to honor the victims of a mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville Monday, Mayor Craig Greenberg announced in a press conference Tuesday.

The vigil will take place at the Muhammad Ali Center at 5 p.m., Greenberg said. All members of the community are invited and free parking will be available.

This vigil will be to acknowledge the wounds, physical and emotional, that gun violence leaves behind, Greenberg said during the press conference. It will be an interfaith opportunity for our entire community to come together, to grieve, to heal, to begin to move forward.

Additionally, mental health counselors will made available at many churches across the city for those needing help coping with the shooting. The list of participating churches will be made available midday Tuesday on the citys Office for Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods website.

Five people were killed and several more were injured as a result of the shooting that happened at Old National Bank on E. Main Street in downtown Louisville. The victims were Jim Tutt, Thomas Elliot, Juliana Farmer, Josh Barrick and Deana Eckert. The gunman, Connor Sturgeon, shot and killed by police.

LMPD officer Nickolas Wilt was seriously injured after he was shot in the head. He was rushed to a hospital for emergency brain surgery and is still listed in critical condition.

Speaking to CBS Mornings, 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.
People are divided over a now-viral espresso martini recipe, which features parmesan cheese on the top of the drink.

In February, Jordan Hughes, who goes by the username @highproofpreacher, shared a video on social media of himself making the iconic martini, with an uncommon ingredient. The clip began with Hughes claiming that his bartender friend told him to make this cocktail, before he put a shot of espresso in his cocktail shaker.

He proceeded to add an ounce of coffee liquor, two ounces of vodka, and a pinch of sea salt to the drink shaker. Hughes, who refers to himself as the cocktail guy, went on to add some ice and mixed the ingredients together, before straining it into a chilled martini glass.

However, instead of topping the drink off with its usual espresso bean, he garnished it with a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese on top. After noting that putting cheese on a cocktail felt crazy, he proceeded to try the beverage, which he jokingly called a monstrosity.

Hughes concluded the video by praising the drink, as he said: I regret to inform you that was kind of awesome.

In the caption of his Instagram post, he applauded Seattle-based bartender Jonathan Stanyard for mentioning this drink idea to him.

Speaking to The Independent, Hughes opened up about the taste of the drink, explaining that it wasnt vile or over-the-top. He also shared his recommendations when making it.

Its actually pretty subtle, he said. I recommend using a microplane to get a really finely grated texture vs. using a cheese grater. This way you get a little taste of parmesan cheese with each sip which just adds a nice salty / savory element to the drink.

Since his video went viral, many bartenders have shared their take on the drink. Stanyard even shared an Instagram video in March of his recipe for the beverage, which he called an espresso truffletini. In the caption, he also praised Hughes for getting ball rolling on this mad idea.

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His recipe was also a bit different than Hughes, as Stanyard included shaved pieces of dark chocolate on top of the drink, along with the parmesan cheese. After calling the beverage sweet and savoury, he claimed that it would be the best espresso Martini of peoples lives.

Miguel Buencamino, who frequently shares his homemade recipes on his site, Holy City Handcraft, also shared a video of himself making the martini with cheese. In his Instagram video, he went on to try the drink and said it was delicious.

Despite how many people were open to having the drink, others have criticised the beverage and questioned if cheese actually tastes good in it.

I cant imagine, one Instagram user wrote in the comments of Hughes post, which featured him making the drink. Is it seriously good with the Parmesan, or just a quirky thing to get attention? The rest of it I can imagine being delicious.

No no no no NO, another wrote, along with a throwing up face emoji.

A third asked: Who ARE you??? Vodka and cheese??

However, other Instagram users said they were intrigued by the combination of cheese and coffee.

If I liked cheese I would be running to make this! one wrote, while another added: Gettin wild with the cheese! Id try it! At least once!

A third said: I often eat a slice of cheese alongside black coffee to get the milky nutty flavour combination that they combine to.

During an interview with Food and Wine, Hughes explained why he thought that flavour of the cheese worked with an espresso 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 savoury and salty element, he said. Dont go overboard with the parmesan thoughyour Espresso Martini is not a plate of pasta.

He also acknowledged his followers curiosity about the beverage and the positive reactions that fellow bartenders had to it.

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 said. So far, its 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.

Speaking to The Independent, he said that hes had people from different countries reach out to him who said that theyve pair cheese and coffee together.

It just works, Ive actually had quite a few responses from people in different regions of the world (like various South American countries and a few in Europe), who say that pairing coffee with a side of cheese is pretty commonplace, so they dont understand us Americans freaking out over this Parmesan Espresso Martini, he added.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has proposed a rewrite of a bill that aimed to ban the recreational sales of intoxicating hemp-derived products, seeking to ensure the continued availability of certain therapeutic CBD formulations.

Youngkin's proposed changes came after hemp industry advocates and parents of patients who benefit from nonintoxicating CBD products pressed him to reconsider the impact of the legislation as it recently passed. Lawmakers will weigh the Republican governor's proposals to amend that measure and dozens of other bills during a one-day session Wednesday.

Youngkin's substitute hemp bill continues his efforts to crack down on dangerous THC intoxicants, including synthetic products such as delta-8 THC, a psychoactive chemical often synthesized from hemp-derived CBD, his spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said in a statement, noting it contains a narrowly tailored exemption for therapeutic CBD products.

Governor Youngkins substitute takes into account these critically necessary products while going even further to clear store shelves of illegal products responsible for sending children to the hospital, Porter said.

For over a year, Virginia lawmakers have been grappling with how to best regulate sales of vapes, edibles and other products with delta-8, which have soared in popularity nationwide, filling shelves at convenience stores and smoke shops even in places where marijuana isn't legal. It's an issue other states are wrestling with, too.

At times, the products  sometimes sold in packaging that mimics popular snacks  have sickened unsuspecting children and adults.

The original bill aimed to ban intoxicating products by capping the total amount of THC at 2 milligrams per package and 0.3% total THC. It also would have required topical hemp products to have a bittering agent to deter consumption.

While opponents argued it would further complicate Virginia's cannabis laws, supporters of the measure as passed called it a way to address a pressing safety issue. Cannabis-related pediatric emergency department visits have trended upward since late 2020, according to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. That group and other physician and health care organizations recently urged the governor to sign the measure without amendments.

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Youngkin's substitute would remove the bittering agent requirement and allow the 2-milligram THC cap to be exceeded if a product meets a 25:1 CBD to THC ratio. It would also require retailers to register with the state enforcement agency to sell any consumable hemp-derived product, Porter's statement said.

Among the parents pushing Youngkin for changes was Lisa Smith, whose 23-year-old daughter has a life-threatening form of epilepsy.

Smith said her daughter's quality of life improved tremendously from taking a CBD oil purchased from a Colorado-based company. But after the company warned it wouldn't be able to ship her the product if the bill were signed, Smith reached out to her representatives, House Speaker Todd Gilbert, and Youngkin's office and his wife, whom she met at a campaign event. The governor's office called to hear her concerns.

Smith said the bottle she orders for her daughter has 216 milligrams of THC  which would run afoul of the original bill  but so much CBD that there would be no mind-altering effects from drinking the whole thing.

I'm glad we were heard and it wasn't just signed, said Smith, since reassured by the company that her daughter's product will be available under the amended legislation.

But Sarah O'Hanlon, the mother of another child with epilepsy who has benefited from CBD therapeutics, said families like hers will absolutely be impacted in getting access to needed products, even under the amended version.

Representatives for hemp trade associations called Youngkins version an improvement, but said it still threatens to harm the industry.

Both Greg Habeeb, a lobbyist for the Virginia Cannabis Association, and Jason Amatucci, president of the Virginia Hemp Coalition, said the 25:1 ratio allowance would still require removing some nonintoxicating products from store shelves.

Amatucci said his organization is asking lawmakers to table the bill, which he said would do nothing to address the availability of delta-8 and other products on the black market while limiting consumer choice and killing hemp industry jobs.

Habeeb said it's become clear to the organization he represents that the governor and a majority of the General Assembly want to move this year to ban products like delta-8. While his group would prefer the bill not become law, Youngkin's amended version is the better option, he said.

Neither the bill as passed or as amended by Youngkin would move the state toward establishing a legal marijuana retail market.

The General Assembly, at the time fully controlled by Democrats, legalized marijuana in 2021 without setting up retail sales. Control of the House flipped later that year, and efforts since then to set up retail sales have gone nowhere.

It's currently legal to grow and possess marijuana within limits, and patients can access the drug through the states medical cannabis program, which wouldnt be impacted by the hemp bill, said one of the bill sponsors, Sen. Emmett Hanger.
Although Idaho has no national parks to call its own, the Gem State is still packed with natural and historical sites. Idaho has five sites maintained and protected by the National Park Service.

Across those five sites, in 2022, Idaho saw visitations increase for the third-straight year, according to the National Park Services annual visitation report released in late February.

Despite a drop in visitation at two of Idahos five sites, they accumulated a total of 705,126 visitors in 2022, the highest since 2018, when the state saw 751,445 visitors.

Visitation to Idaho national sites

While national park visitation dropped in the early days of COVID-19, Idaho saw a quick rebound in part to former United States Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. Bernhardt directed the NPS to suspend park entrance fees during the pandemic to make it a little easier for the American public to enjoy the outdoors in our incredible National Parks, according to previous Statesman reporting.

Nez Perce National Historic Park

Nez Perce National Historic Park remained Idahos most-visited site for the third-straight year, pulling in 344,517 visitors in 2022  that number accounts for 48.9% of total visits to Idaho sites in 2022.

Since the historic parks opening in 1968, last years visitation total was the highest in park history. Nationally, it ranked 145th out of 387 NPS sites in 2022. After an abnormally-low visitation total in 2019, Nez Perce has seen a continued rise in attendance through the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this painting for the Nez Perce National Historical Park, Nez Perce artist Nakia Williamson imagined the first encounter between Lewis and Clarks Corps of Discovery and the tribe.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve

The second-most visited site was Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, with 237,774 visits in 2022. While still a respectable number, its the lowest number of visitors that Craters of the Moon had seen since 2014, when the monument only drew in 214,993 visitors.

Visitation to Craters of the Moon, known for its vast fields of solidified lava flows as old as 21,000 years old, peaked in 1982 at 294,387 visitors.

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City of Rocks National Reserve

City of Rocks National Reserve, just two miles north of the Idaho-Utah border, rounded out the top three with a visitation of 83,996 in 2022. The national reserve is best known for its rock climbing and geological study opportunities.

Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

Located in south-central Idaho, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument pulled in 25,122 visitors. The site is rich with fossils as common as horses and heavers to the extinct saber-toothed tiger and ground sloth.

Minidoka National Historic Site

Minidoka National Historic Site round out the list with 13,717 visitors, respectively. Less than 100 miles from Hagerman, Minidoka commemorates the 125,000 Japanese natives and Japanese Americans incarcerated in Idaho during World War II.

The rising sun reflects off windows of the Block 22 barrack at the Minidoka National Historic Site on Feb. 19, which was the 80th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which resulted in the incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans.

National Park Service visitation in the U.S.

Nationwide, the park service says visitation has essentially recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The NPS reports holdings contributed $42.5 billion in economic output in 2021, with $20.5 billion spent in gateway communities.

Visits were up by about 15 million in 2022 and only 6% lower than (the) all-time record year 2016, which was the NPS centennial year, the federal agency notes.

People continue to seek a variety of national park travel experiences  to learn about American history and culture, get active, and enjoy breathtaking scenic views, National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said, in part, in a Feb. 27 news release. Were excited to see our efforts to increase visitation to parks in the off-season and in parks that are less well-known paying off.

Visitation data from 2022 indicate the most popular was recreation parks, accounting for 38% of visits, followed by historical and cultural parks and then nature parks. The NPS logged nearly 1.36 billion recreation hours at parks last year.

Across the parks system, the Blue Ridge Parkway remains the most popular site at 15.7 million recreation visits. Its followed by Golden Gate National Recreation Area (15.6 million), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (12.9 million) and Gateway National Recreation Area (8.7 million) in New York and New Jersey.
A bill to lower the threshold for law enforcement officials to be able to pursue suspects passed the Washington state House chamber with some conflicting votes in the early morning hours Tuesday.

The proposed measure passed the House chamber with a 57-40 vote.

House lawmakers brought Senate Bill 5352 forward late Monday night. Republicans and Democrats were split on their votes, with both parties voting for and against the proposal.

The bill will now head back to the Senate for concurrence. If signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, the bill would go into effect immediately due to an emergency clause.

Under the proposed bill, the evidentiary threshold for officers to engage in vehicular pursuits is lowered to reasonable suspicion in instances such as: violent offenses, sexual offenses, vehicular assault, domestic violence assault in the first, second, third and fourth degrees, escapees and driving under the influence.

The amended legislation also says that officers, or supervisors if available, must notify surrounding jurisdictions if they could be affected by the pursuit. Agencies must also develop plans in real time on how to end the pursuit using other interventions like spike strips.

In 2021, House Bill 1054 was passed by the Legislature and later signed into law by Inslee. The law prevented police officers from engaging in vehicle pursuits in certain instances, but still allowed officers to pursue suspects if they had probable cause to believe a driver was under the influence, they were an escapee, or if there was probable cause that a driver had committed violent or sexual crimes.

Reasonable suspicion comes before probable cause, and means that a police officer has reason to believe a crime has been committed. Reasonable suspicion becomes probable cause when a crime has obviously been committed.

Furthermore, the current law says that officers are not allowed to engage in pursuits unless vehicular pursuit is necessary for the purpose of identifying or apprehending the person, the person being pursued is an imminent threat to others, and the safety risks of failing to apprehend or identify the person are considered to be greater than the safety risks associated with the vehicular pursuit under the circumstances.

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Under the current law, officers must request authorization from a supervisor, and in areas with less than 10 officers the on-call supervisor must be notified. Other alternatives should be considered and requests for vehicular pursuits must be abandoned if requirements arent met.

One striking amendment from the House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee was adopted during the House floor debate Tuesday, which said that jurisdictions with less than 15 officers are able to notify on-call supervisors of pursuits. Additionally, officers must be trained on risk assessment to determine if pursuing individuals poses a serious risk of harm to others, and if safety risks of failing to apprehend or identify the person are considered greater than the safety risks of the pursuit.

No other amendments were added or introduced to the bill during the House floor debate.

In total, 28 Democrats voted for the measure and 19 voted against, while 19 Republicans voted for the proposal and 21 voted against.

Rep. Julia Reed, D-Seattle, spoke against the proposed bill. She said that lawmakers were not listening to the needs of communities with the legislation and that they were instead telling community members that promises from this chamber to prioritize their safety that we made less than two years ago are just checks they cant cash.

Theres been an incredible campaign of misinformation about this policy, starting with the argument that all pursuits have been forbidden and this rollback is needed to restore that tool, said Reed. Thats simply not true.

The unamended policy, she said, is that pursuits should be reserved for the most dangerous cases.

And thats common sense because pursuits are dangerous, Reed added. They more often end up in crashes than in arrests.

Additionally, the cost of those pursuits are high to officers who are killed and injured on the job, and to bystanders who are killed or injured in those pursuits.

Others spoke against the proposal included Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn.

He said he disagreed with others assertions that the bill would strike a balance and keep people safe.

This bill would continue to allow an exhaustive list of felonies and misdemeanors including very frustratingly auto thefts and many different kinds of assaults, too many to name off in this speech, said Couture.

He said that lawmakers had a chance this session to do something more, and that the previous policy had emboldened criminals.

Our state wants to trust us and what we do tonight will be a big signal as to whether they can trust me and you on this bill, Couture added.

Other lawmakers such as Rep. Greg Cheney, R-Battle Ground, reluctantly urged his House colleagues to vote yes on the measure.

This is a bill that has to be worked on in the future even if it is passed tonight, he said. So, its better than what we have now but its not nearly good enough.

Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, also voted in support of the bill.

She said that over the last year and a half since the Legislature last amended the police pursuit policy she has defended the laws that were passed.

Im not voting yes because I think there should be more high-speed police chases in our state, Stonier said.

The police department in her area had already outlined best practices for police pursuits, and they matched the ones being introduced in the proposed policy, she added.

Reasonable and responsible law enforcement officers choose not to pursue in cases where public safety is at risk, Stonier said, and noted that the data since the passage of the last police pursuit bill demonstrated that lives had been saved as a result of fewer high-speed chases.

The move to have both chambers vote on the Senate version of the legislation came after a House version of the bill previously failed to be brought forward for a final floor vote.

House Republican lawmakers attempted to bring the House version of the bill that had gone through the committee process for a final debate to the floor last month. House Democrats voted on party lines not to move that version from the Rules Committee after the request, however, despite the bill having several Democrats signed on as sponsors and co-sponsors.

The Senate version of the bill did not go through the usual process of committee hearings and executive sessions, and had not gone further than an introduction in the Legislature prior to lawmakers moving it to the floor last month. Instead, the rules were suspended to suddenly bring the bill to the debate floor for a vote, with Senators voting 26-23 to pass the proposal.

Lawmakers have until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to vote bills out of their opposite house of origin. After that, lawmakers will focus on bills that need to be concurred such as SB 5352.

The last day of the legislative session is April 23.
A shield law to protect those from out of state who seek reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare in Washington was adopted by Senate lawmakers Monday with a 29-20 vote.

The bill will now head for Gov. Jay Inslees desk and if signed would go into effect immediately.

House Bill 1469 is sponsored by Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, and is co-sponsored by 26 other House Democrats.

The proposed legislation is aimed to prevent other states from interfering with their residents who choose to seek reproductive or gender-affirming care in Washington. Washington courts and law enforcement agencies would be restricted from complying with warrants, subpoenas, extradition or other court orders pertaining to those seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care in the state.

Businesses also would be restricted from complying with records requests and subpoenas related to a person from out of state seeking health care in Washington.

A cause of action is created in the bill in the event criminal actions are filed to prevent interference with protected health care. The Attorney General also would be authorized to bring action against those violating the law.

The legislation also sets definitions in statute for reproductive health care services as well as gender-affirming treatment.

Four amendments were proposed by Senate Republicans during the floor debate but none of those were adopted and one was withdrawn on the floor.

Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma , spoke in favor of the legislation on the floor.

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that those seeking care or those providing care for reproductive and gender-affirming care under the laws of our state are shielded from liability, Trudeau said. Washington voters and this Legislature have been very clear on this issue  we support the right to that access, we also support anyone who comes into this state to receive that access.

Several Republicans spoke against the measure including Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley.

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He said that it is one thing when policies affect people in the state of Washington, but said it is another thing when the state wants to promote abortion tourism.

When we try to negate these laws, weve gone too far under the Full Faith and Credit Act, Padden said.

He said the reason he is in the Legislature is because he believes in the right to life and he was concerned about being a voice for unborn children. Padden said there are two sides to the abortion issue, and thinks its fundamentally wrong that the proposed law could violate the constitution.

The move to adopt the legislation comes after neighboring Idaho adopted some of the strictest abortion laws in the country, including limiting travel for those seeking reproductive and gender-affirming services out of the state.

Washington leaders also are taking other preemptive steps to protect abortion access for people in the state.

Last week, Inslee and state Democratic lawmakers announced that the state had purchased a 3-year supply of the abortion medication mifepristone ahead of a federal Texas ruling challenging the Food and Drug Administrations approval of drug that is also used for other medical purposes.

That ruling came down at the same time a federal judge in Washington ruled that access to the drug could not be hindered. The opposing opinions will most likely be settled by the U.S. Supreme Court.

HB 1469 is one of several reproductive health care bills that were introduced this session.

The last day of the legislative session is April 23.
REUTERS/Yulia Morozova

While Russias notorious Wagner group is becoming a household name for carrying out the Kremlins de-Nazification mission in Ukraine, a new report claims that an actual neo-Nazi is calling the shots for the group behind the scenes, according to a new report.

Dmitry Utkin, a former special forces commander, is not only the groups namesakefor his now infamous call-sign Wagnerbut also a big fan of the Third Reich, according to an investigation by the Dossier Center.

As recently as last week, Utkin signed off on an order to make Vladlen Tatarsky, the pro-war military blogger killed in a bombing at Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhins St. Petersburg cafe, an honorary member of the mercenary group.

His signature appeared alongside that of Prigozhin and Andrei Troshev, the retired colonel who allegedly runs Wagners security service.

Internal documents reviewed by the Dossier Center reveal Utkin has a penchant for signing off on Wagner correspondence with the symbol for the SS Nazi military unit. He is also said to have written the phrase Heil Petrovich! in official correspondence to Prigozhin, using a purported nickname for the Wagner founder.

Prigozhin Says He Wants Mercenary Recruiters in Europe for Mystery Plan

Prigozhin, in a furious comment to The Daily Beast, did not deny Utkins peculiar way of signing Wagner documents, or his apparent fondness for Nazism.

Instead, he said: In order to defeat Nazism, you must try it on yourself. Dmitry Utkin is trying Nazism on for fucks sake.

He then launched into a spectacular story about Utkins purported Nazi tattoos, hinting that the commander has a map of the Moscow Metro tattooed on his penis that will be visible in all its glory to anyone who sucks on it.

So, if you want to check something, suck it.

Sources close to Wagner cited by Dossier say Utkin used the nickname Wagner precisely for its reference to Adolf Hitlers favorite composer, Richard Wagner. He was also reportedly known to discuss the path of a true Aryan and openly don clothing accessories that featured a swastika.

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Utkin, who started out doing special ops for Russian military intelligence, is no rank-and-file soldier. The lieutenant-colonel previously worked for the private military group Moran Security Group, and commanded a squad in the Slavonic Corps in Syria.

In 2016, he was hosted by Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Dmitry Peskov, when asked about Utkins presence alongside the Russian president at the time, stressed that he was a recipient of the Order of Courage, though he could reportedly not say for what Utkin had received the honor.

Ukrainian military intelligence previously identified Utkin as the real leader of Wagner, making all command decisions behind the scenes while Prigozhin serves as the public face of the group.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A young activist holds a sign in front of one of the lions at the Summit County Courthouse during a protest of the police shooting of Jayland Walker organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation on July 9, 2022, in Akron.

As a special grand jury convenes in Akron to review the killing of Jayland Walker by eight police officers last year, the Walker family's attorney has issued a statement calling for "equal access to justice and a fair process."

Walker, 25, was fatally shot more than 40 times by eight Akron police officers on June 27 after a car and foot chase for an equipment violation. He was unarmed during the shooting, but police said he fired a shot from his vehicle less than a minute into the chase. A handgun was found in his vehicle.

What we know: Special grand jury convening Monday on Jayland Walker's shooting

Eight police officers were put on leave following Walker's death, but have since been reinstated to desk duty.

A special grand jury was convened Monday to review an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to determine if any of the eight officers broke any laws.

Jayland Walker: What the state investigation of fatal Akron police shooting may reveal

In advance of the grand jury review, Walker family attorney Bobby DiCello on Monday criticized the city's response to potential protests about the grand jury decision.

"...The city is boarding up windows and bracing for violence. Why? Because the City of Akron doesn't trust a significant portion of its citizens," DiCello said. "It has decided that if there's going to be violence, it will come from people who are sick and tired of a system that has ignored them and injured them for generations. City leadership doesnt understand where that anger comes from. It doesnt want to have that conversation because deep down, it simply doesnt care what they are going through."

There was some violence and damage downtown and police arrested about 50 people in the days following Walker's death last year.

Police officers in full riot gear block off a section of High Street near the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center July 3, 2022, in Akron.

More: Downtown Akron businesses recovering after riot, curfew, wary of future

DiCello also said that the eight officers involved "will be invited" to testify before the grand jury, though it is not clear whether that will happen.

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"Keep in mind that if any other Akron citizen was accused of a crime, they would not necessarily be afforded that same privilege. Simply put, it's a process that favors the officers," DiCello said.

A representative of DiCello's office later said there is no confirmation the officers will testify before the special grand jury. The Ohio Attorney General's Office also would not comment on the process.

People facing potential criminal charges are not present in grand jury proceedings unless they are called as witnesses, according to the Ohio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. They do not have a right to have their attorney present even if they are called as witnesses.

From the Editor: Why local journalists matter for covering the Jayland Walker case from beginning to end

In his statement, DiCello also said the Walker family is not confident the grand jury will deliver a fair verdict.

"Today the family of Jayland Walker urges you to be mindful of how important it is that in America, everyone has equal access to justice and a fair process. They are not advocating for anything more than that. Unfortunately, this process is already stacked against them, but they will continue to fight for the justice that they and Jayland deserve."

Eric Marotta can be reached at 234-973-8138 or at emarotta@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Walker family attorney calls for 'fair process' as grand jury seated
Walmart associates collect items for orders to be packaged at the Walmart e-commerce fulfillment center in Davenport in 2017. The company recently announced that 400 people at the facility would be laid off.

The Walmart e-commerce fulfillment center in Davenport, the company's first in Florida, will lay off 400 workers by June, according to a WARN notice filed with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

There are 400 associates who will be affected by the reduction in force, wrote Walmart general manager Erin Middleton in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification.

All affected associates can apply for open positions at other Walmart stores, Sams Club or other company facilities during a paid job search period, Middleton said.

Its workers were told on or before Feb. 24 and were given the opportunity to accept positions at other Walmart facilities or otherwise separate from Walmart effectively on June 2, Middleton said. We expect the employment separations to be permanent.

It's opening in 2017 Walmart unveils online fulfillment center in Davenport

Wednesday job fair CareerSource Polk to hold job fair Wednesday in Haines City

Sticker shock Polk's most expensive home sales so far this year were each over $1 million

Associates were provided with support options, including: a center staffed to answer questions about leaving Walmart, access to the retailers career portal, benefits information and severance pay subject to eligibility.

Middleton could not be reached by phone on Monday.

The WARN notice comes as Walmart has recently announced companywide layoffs and an initiative to install automation throughout its operating systems.

CNN had reported last week that 2,000 workers were to be laid off in five U.S. warehouses, including 1,000 layoffs in Texas and 600 in Pennsylvania as well as the 400 at the Florida location, saying the countrys largest private employer was warning of a tough year ahead.

Reuters first reported in February that the job cuts would involve reductions and eliminations of evening and weekend shifts.

The Walmart notice is required by the federal WARN Act to provide advance notice of mass layoffs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Walmarts notice was signed by Middleton. Copies were sent to Floridas Department of Economic Opportunity, Davenport Mayor H.B. Rob Robinson and Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey.

According to Walmart in Floridas web page, there are two fulfilment centers and nine distribution centers statewide. The retailer also has 387 retail outlets and 116,599 associates in Florida.

The WARN notice comes as Walmart has recently announced companywide layoffs and an initiative to install automation throughout its operating systems.

The facility at 5100 North Ridge Trail in Davenport is listed as WDC 5100 LLC in county property records and was built on several parcels assembled by Majestic Orlando Partners I LLC. The property was acquired in 2015 for $139 million.

Mianne Nelson, a Polk County spokesperson, said that according to a recent audit, Walmart complied with requirements that were tied to tax exemptions it received from the county.

Per Walmarts performance agreement, they were to invest at least $10 million in real property improvements and tangibles and create at least 300 jobs paying an average annual wage of 115% of the countys average annual wage.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Walmart to lay off 400 workers are Davenport e-commerce warehouse
Walmart momentarily sold a shirt with a dirty word. Screenshot of Amazon.co.uk

Walmart momentarily sold a pro-environment shirt encouraging people to recycle, among other things.

Eagle-eyed shoppers posted on social media that the shirt spelled out an offensive word.

The shirt was sold at Walmart Canada stores and has been discontinued, a company spokesperson said.

Walmart has stopped selling a pro-environment T-shirt after eagle-eyed shoppers noticed an offensive word on the item, a company spokesman told Insider.

The T-shirt features the letters "RE" on the left and a list of four words on the right: "cycle," "use," "new," and "think." Together, the first letter of each of those four words spells the word.

Shoppers pointed out the spelling on social media.

"I need this shirt before Walmart realizes what they have done," one shopper wrote in an April 3 tweet that features a photo of the shirt and now has 2.6 million views. "Find the hidden word.  "

   (@whosurdaddienow) April 3, 2023

Robert Arietta, a spokesperson for Walmart, told Insider that the shirt "was only sold at Walmart Canada locations and has been removed from stores." Arietta did not answer follow-up questions on how long the shirt was sold and why Walmart decided to remove the shirt.

The shirt was not available on walmart.com as of Tuesday afternoon. It could be found at other online retailers including Amazon and Etsy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Billionaire Warren Buffett's company has increased its investments in five major Japanese trading houses to give Berkshire Hathaway control of 7.4% of each of those conglomerates.

Buffett disclosed the new investments Tuesday in interviews with Nikkei and CNBC while he is vists Tokyo this week to meet with executives at the Japanese companies. Buffett said he is very proud of his investments in the trading houses that were first disclosed back in 2020.

Shares of Itochu Corp., Marubeni Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co. and Sumitomo Corp. all surged after Buffett's new investments were reported.

Those trading houses themselves are some of Japans oldest and biggest companies that each hold investments in a variety of industries and other companies. Their conglomerate business models are somewhat similar to Buffetts own company which owns dozens of companies including BNSF railroad, several major utilities and Geico insurance while also investing more than $300 billion in stocks.

Berkshire owns major stakes in Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, American Express and several other iconic companies. And many investors follow Buffetts moves closely because of his remarkably successful track record over the years.

Buffett said he'd consider investing in other Japanese companies or partnering with any of the trading companies if they need an investor to help them finance a deal in the future.

We dont think its impossible that we will partner with them at some point in the future in a specific deal, he said to Nikkei. We would love if any of the five would come to us ever and say, Were thinking of doing something very big or were about to buy something and we would like a partner or whatever.

Before the investments Buffett revealed this week, Berkshire previously owned 6.8% of Marubeni, 6.6% of Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Sumitomo and 6.2% of Itochu. Back in 2020, Berkshire bought just over 5% of all those companies and said at the time that it might eventually buy up to 9.9% of them.

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Berkshire disclosed separately over the past week that it plans to issue a new round of bonds denominated in yen. That disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission prompted some speculation that Buffett's company may invest more in Japan.

Buffett told Nikkei that there are always a few Japanese companies I'm thinking about investing in, but for now Berkshire's only investments in that country are in the trading houses.

Buffett is getting ready to host Berkshire's annual meeting early next month when tens of thousands of investors will travel to Omaha, Nebraska, to listen to the 92-year-old spend the day answering questions alongside Berkshire's three vice chairmen.
Four people were shot, including one fatally, outside a Washington, D.C., funeral home Tuesday, police said, as the unidentified gunman remains at large.

Officers responded to the scene where multiple people were shot outside Stewart Funeral Home in the 4000 block of Benning Road NE, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) spokesperson initially confirmed.

Greeting reporters at the scene, MPD Police Chief Robert Contee said investigators believe the people were targeted but don't yet know why. The shooting unfolded while a funeral for a homicide victim killed at the end of March was letting out. Around 12:17 p.m., an officer already in the area in his car by a bus stop called out for the sounds of gunshots.

"Our member went to the aid of several people," Contee said. Of the four victims struck by gunfire, all were adults. One of them, a man, was deceased, while the other three were taken to area hospitals with serious but not life-threatening injuries, the chief added.

"At this point, the Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the community's help. We're asking for anyone who has information to please call us anonymously at 202-727-9099, or you may text us anonymously at 50411," Contee said. "At this point, it appears that several people who were in the block were specifically targeted. We're unsure why that is. We're unsure why these people were targeted, more or less why they were targeted at a funeral. We don't understand that. We're looking for the community's help."

MINNESOTA POLICE OFFICER SHOT IN GRANITE FALLS WHILE EXECUTING WARRANTS ON SUSPECT FOR WEAPONS, DRUG CHARGES

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"We have not identified a gunman. But it appears that the individuals who were standing in the block were targeted for some reason. And that reason we're not sure," the chief said.

LOUISVILLE MAYOR CITES OWN TARGETING BY BLM ACTIVIST AFTER BANK SHOOTING, DEMANDS END GUN VIOLENCE

Contee said it is not clear at this time whether the incident was a drive-by shooting.

Story continues

MPD Chief Robert Contee delivers an update on the shooting near a funeral home.

"It does not appear that it was an exchange of gunfire. It appears that these four people were near the sidewalk here [and] were struck by gunfire coming from a suspect or suspects," he said.

"Again, the funeral ended. People were milling about when this shooting happened. And we're trying to find out who fired the shots at the end of the funeral."

Police units block the street near Stewart Funeral Home after a mass shooting in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

Contee did not name the March homicide victim remembered at the funeral.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
According to a U.S. intelligence alleged assessment from one of the possibly secret documents said to be leaked, Ukraine's problems with the accumulation of troops, ammunition, and equipment could allegedly lead to its military falling "well short" of Kyiv's initial goals for the expected counteroffensive, the Washington Post reported on April 10.

The reportedly leaked assessment dated by early February warns of considerable "force generation and sustainment shortfalls" and the likelihood that Ukraine's future counteroffensive will result in only "modest territorial gains," the WP wrote.

The publication called it a "marked departure" from the White House's public statements about the combat capability of the Ukrainian army.

The U.S. intelligence assessment, cited by the WP, indicates that Kyiv's strategy is to retake territory in the east and push south to cut Russia's land bridge to the occupied Crimea.

However, Russia's powerful defensive fortifications, combined with "enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies, will probably strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive," reads the document.

Washington Post: Leaked US documents indicate Egypt secretly planned to supply rockets to Russia Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi recently ordered subordinates to produce up to 40,000 rockets to be covertly shipped to Russia, according to a document exclusively obtained by the Washington Post. Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

The information on the document was apparently obtained through intelligence and radio engineering, likely involving sensitive methods used by the CIA and the National Security Agency, according to the media outlet. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which appears to have prepared the document, refused to comment on the matter, as did the National Security Council.

The previously undisclosed document is part of a trove of U.S. and NATO intelligence documents that were leaked over the past couple of months, appearing on the social media platform Discord.

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The leaked documents, the source of which remains unknown, provide a grim assessment of the strength of Moscow's war machine. But the information also suggests the Ukrainian military is in dire straits, too. Among other things, some of the documents outline critical shortages of Ukrainian air defense munitions.

Although Ukrainian officials have dismissed the documents as "fake," a source close to President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that Kyiv had changed some of its military plans following the leak.
Reuters/Mike Blake

A man flying from Washington to Alaska allegedly drank himself into a stupor, groped his seatmates legs while peppering her with vulgar come-ons, then lit up a cigarette, guzzled a bottle of hand sanitizer, and told other passengers they were all going to die.

The disturbing incident only ended when a pair of off-duty cops aboard the plane were able to restrain the suspect with flex cuffswhich he eventually managed to bust out of, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Beast.

When Adam David Seymour, 37, boarded Alaska Airlines flight 49 on the morning of April 5, traveling from Seattle to Anchorage, he seemed friendly at first, the complaint states. Seymour, seated on the aisle, soon pulled out three travel-size toiletry bottles, the woman sitting in the middle seat next to him, identified in the complaint as D.S., later told investigators.

Each bottle was a different color: pink, green, and blue, the complaint says. D.S. stated immediately after boarding the plane and sitting down, Seymour opened the green bottle and proceeded to drink the contents. D.S. could not see what was inside the bottle because they [sic] were colored.

Seymour ordered two Jack-and-Cokes during the first beverage service, after which his behavior changed, according to the complaint, which says Seymour started slurring his words, began moving physically closer to D.S., rubbed her lower thigh and knee on the inner and outer areas without her consent, and tried to rest his head on her shoulder.

Seymour made multiple comments to D.S. about her sexuality, including that he thought she looked like a lesbian, the complaint continues. Seymour asked D.S. other intrusive personal questions. At first, D.S. did not answer Seymour. Based on his demeanor and behavior, D.S. was worried what Seymour would do to her if she said something that triggered him.

U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska

But Seymour didnt stop, according to the complaint, continuing to ask D.S. if she was gay and talking about licking D.S. down there. She tried to lean away from Seymour every time he moved in to touch her, the complaint states.

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Thats when Seymour allegedly told D.S. that were all going to die, gesturing with his hands in a way that looked like a plane crashing. Frightened, D.S. tried to get the attention of a flight attendant, but couldnt.

Seymour continued asking D.S. if she was a lesbian and making sexual comments saying to D.S. that, he could pussy real good, the complaint goes on. D.S. had a blanket resting on her lap in between her legs. After Seymour made that comment, he moved his hand in between D.S.s legs and tapped her multiple times over the blanket, directly over her genitals. D.S. immediately closed her legs, leaned forward, and turned her back to him.

A few minutes later, D.S. heard a sparking sound, and turned to Seymour, who was now holding a lighter and smoking a cigarette, according to the complaint. D.S. yelled at Seymour that smoking wasnt allowed aboard the aircraft, to which he responded, Im a bad person.

Still unable to flag down a crewmember, D.S. typed out a message on her phone and slid it between the seats in front of her. The two people sitting there, IDed in the complaint as C.A. and K.B., both happened to be off-duty police officers, it says. After reading D.S.s plea, K.B. went and got a flight attendant, who moved D.S. to another seat.

The Alaska Airlines check-in area at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Reuters/Nathaniel Wilder

M.R., a passenger who had switched seats with D.S., also quickly found himself on Seymours bad side. Seymour allegedly pushed M.R. as soon as he sat down, after which Seymour offered him a swig of the whiskey he had brought with him, the complaint states. After a brief pause, Seymour then elbowed M.R. in his side, pushed M.R.s shoulders, and passed out on M.R.s shoulder, according to the complaint.

Seymour also allegedly became upset with R.N., the passenger sitting in the window seat, and stated he wanted to fight him. He then asked one of the flight attendants to bring him a beer, which she declined due to his apparent impairment. The flight attendant, who is identified in the complaint as B.H., said she witnessed Seymour drinking something and asked him what it was, to which Seymour replied, hand sanitizer, the complaint states.

B.H. stated the other passengers told her Seymour was threatening to kill people and saying that they were all going to die, and the plane was going to crash, the complaint says.

When R.N. told Seymour to leave people alone, and to stay in his lane, Seymour told R.N. that he would smoke him, according to the complaint. At this point, C.A. and K.B., the pair of off-duty officers, had finally seen enough. They restrained Seymour with flex cuffs and moved him to a jumpseat up front. But Seymour soon forced his hands out of the restraints and had to be placed in them again.

The two cops stayed with Seymour until the plane landed at Ted Stevens International Airport at around 12:35 p.m., and airport police arrived.

In an interview with officers and FBI agents, R.N. described Seymour as clearly so wasted it was impossible to tell if he would explode, the complaint states.

Does this sound like kindergarten? Sit in your seat. Keep your hands to yourself. Raise your hand if you need help. Adults should know how to behave on planes. Unruly behavior is not acceptable and may result in a big fine or jail. Learn more at https://t.co/lp8x5DpxIs. #travel pic.twitter.com/2VmQYK6TwI  The FAA  (@FAANews) March 30, 2023

Police said Seymour refused to take a breathalyzer test, but that a task force officer at Ted Stevens International said Seymours hands were swabbed with an ion scanner, which alarmed for the presence of cocaine. Seymour was then taken to the Anchorage Correctional Complex, where he again refused a breathalyzer by a nurse during intake. He now faces two federal assault charges.

An Alaska Airlines spokesperson confirmed Seymours arrest to The Daily Beast, saying that local authorities removed Seymour from flight 49 after causing a disturbance.

We cannot comment on our decisions to ban particular guests, but we do have policies in place that can prevent future travel, the spokesperson said.

On April 7, two days after Seymours alleged outburst, another Alaska Airlines crew was forced to zip-tie a woman to her seat after authorities say she fell asleep in the lavatory, then rushed a group of flight attendants while screaming, Im going to kill you unless you land the plane right now. The flight was headed from San Francisco to Chicago, but diverted to Kansas City because the pilot was concerned for passengers safety, according to a criminal complaint filed in Missouri federal court.

On April 3, two days prior to Seymours unnerving episode, a passenger aboard Alaska Airlines flight 67 from Ketchikan to Anchorage was pinned to his seat by two flight attendants and a group of off-duty law enforcement officers after refusing to sit down while the plane was making its final descent and physically assaulting a member of the flight crew who asked him to return to his seat, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Monday.

Last year, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) fielded 2,456 unruly passenger reports, initiated 831 investigations, and 567 enforcement actions, proposing nearly $8.5 million in fines.

If convicted on both counts, Seymour, who was released on his own recognizance but ordered to turn in his passport and abstain from alcohol, faces a maximum of 11 years in prison. He is due to appear in a virtual court hearing on April 27.

In an email, Seymours court-appointed lawyer, Burke Wonnell, declined to comment.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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People hoping to tune into the trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, a woman who was charged with murdering her two children in Idaho, will be disappointed to find no remote access to the testimony outside of a courtroom.

Thats because, in September 2022, an Idaho judge banned still and video cameras from the courtroom for the initial hearings, and for the jury trial that began April 3 at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise.

Idaho law allows judges to limit cameras in their courtrooms. Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce issued the order. Dozens of news outlets, including the Idaho Statesman, filed a motion opposing the ban.

There is a live feed being sent to an overflow room in the Boise courthouse and another to a room at the Madison County Courthouse in Rexburg, where the crimes in question took place.

Otherwise, you can stay updated with our daily live reports that are updated during the day by reporter Alex Brizee, who is in the courthouse. We also will publish official sketches provided by the Associated Press.

If you want to attend the trial in person at either location, you must register online first.

Vallow Daybell is charged with /two counts of first-degree murder  of her children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua Jaxon JJ Vallow  and three counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, including in the death of Tammy Daybell, her husbands former wife. She also faces two counts of conspiracy to commit grand theft by deception for allegedly continuing to collect Social Security benefits on behalf of her children, according to an indictment.

In Arizona, she faces another charge of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot by her brother, Alex Cox, in 2019.

Vallow Daybell has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Lori Vallow Daybells murder trial is underway in Boise. Heres a timeline of the case
The Florida Senate passed SB 1438, barring children from lewd drag performances, by a vote of 28-12 on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

You can watch the debate on the floor of the Senate at the Capitol.

The video is courtesy of The Florida Channel.
F-16 fighter jet

The Danish politician said the discussion would take some time, as countries must act collectively, but a solution is still possible in the short term.

Read also: Slovak MiG-29 fighters already protecting skies over Kharkiv, says official

Denmark doesnt plan to do it alone, Poulsen said.

We must do it together with several countries. We also need to have a dialogue with the Americans on this issue.

Denmark has 43 F-16 fighter jets. They are gradually being taken out of service following the purchase by Denmark of 27 of the new F-35 fighter jets. However, 30 F-16 fighters were still in service with the country as of November 2022.

Read also: Ukraine hopes Denmark will donate some of its fighter jets

Meanwhile, Poulsen announced on April 10 that Denmark had decided to transfer a total of 100 Leopard-1 main battle tanks to Ukraine after reaching an agreement with Germany.

He also noted that Ukraine could receive CAESAR artillery systems in May.

Slovakia became the first NATO member to openly supply Ukraine with fighter jets after it sent four Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Kyiv on March 23.

Polish President Andrzej Duda announced recently that his country had sent four more MiG-29s to Ukraine.

Read also: Danilov is sure that Ukraine will receive F-16 fighter jets

In total, Kyiv has received eight such aircraft from Warsaw.

Modernized Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets would be of considerable aid to Ukraine. However, they wouldnt be a game changer at the front line as they lack on-board radar and cant launch modern missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force has said.

Read also: Is it even possible to equip MiG fighter jets with Western missiles?  Air Force answers

Ukraine needs modern, multi-role fighter jets, the Ukrainian military has repeatedly stressed to its allies.

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
Golliwogs are considered an offensive caricature of black people, but people still insist on defending their right to display them. (Alamy)

A husband and wife have defied police by vowing to keep their collection of antique golliwog dolls on display at their pub after officers raided the premises.

Benice Ryley, 61, and her husband Chris, 65, were visited by police after someone made an anonymous complaint about the pair committing a "hate crime" by displaying the golliwogs - seizing a number of dolls from the White Hart pub in Grays, Essex.

Since then, Ryley claims customers have been singing "save the gollies", demanding the return of the dolls, which are widely considered to be racist caricatures of black people.

Ms Ryley has called the incident "political correctness gone out of control", declaring that she is putting the remaining dolls from her collection on display.

Home secretary Suella Braverman reportedly considered the seizure a waste of police resources, which has left some people deeply disturbed.

Read more: Pub landlords wont back down over racist golliwogs seized by police

The Home Secretary @SuellaBraverman knows exactly what she's doing, as she scrapes the gutter for racism, turning back the clock to the 1970s, acting as a cheerleader for the far-right.

Golliwogs are nothing more than an ugly, nasty racist trope https://t.co/EcSVaaqJsG  Aamer Anwar#BlackLivesMatter (@AamerAnwar) April 11, 2023

Lawyer and political activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu accused Braverman of trying to "normalise racism", and suggested she should be prosecuted for doing so.

Scottish political activist Aamer Anwar said the home secretary is "turning back the clock to the 1970s, acting as a cheerleader for the far-right" by tolerating an "ugly, nasty racist trope".

Here, Yahoo News explains the history of the character and why it is considered so offensive today.

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What is the origin of golliwogs?

An illustration from The Golliwogg's Polar Adventure by Florence Upton. (Getty Images)

The character started life as a character created by American-born English cartoonist Florence Kate Upton, who first featured the illustrations in her 1895 book, The Adventures of the Two Dutch Dolls.

Its main characters were two Dutch dolls, Peg and Sarah Jane, and a golliwogg (as it was originally spelt), who they encounter while on the loose in a toy shop.

They describe the doll as the "blackest gnome" and a "horrid sight". It was depicted as being ugly, with Upton drawing it with big eyes, red lips and paws instead of hands and feet.

Upton based the character on a black minstrel doll she'd played with "roughly" as a child while living in New York, using him as a target for rubber balls, according to the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia.

Read more: Adil Ray criticises Laurence Fox for comparing negative theatre review to racist abuse

Golly dolls soon became a popular children's toy in Britain. (Getty Images)

The book became incredibly popular in Britain, with Upton and her mother Bertha going on to create 12 more books featuring the doll, although they didn't trademark the character.

It became a popular children's toy and was also featured in the books of Enid Blyton, who often depicted them as rude and mischievous. As the doll crept into the public imagination it was used for much more hateful purposes.

Why are golliwogs considered racist?

The gollywog character is based on black minstrels, which are themselves racist and mocking depictions of black people. (Getty Images)

Even if Upton intended her character to be playful, it is still considered to be a harmful stereotype that is demeaning to black people.

The character was based on minstrels - which depicted black people as lazy, happy-go-lucky, dim witted and inferior to white people - and was later used to depict black people as thieves and miscreants, therefore there is little doubt of the link between the dolls and a common racial slur.

Can you still buy golliwogs?

It is still possible to buy golly dolls and memorabilia in the UK, with some British websites dedicated to selling them.

While eBay has in the past banned people from selling such items due to its policy against "hateful or discriminatory" items, a quick look at the auction site this morning showed some were listed.

Read more: Jake Paul calls KSI an 'egotistical narcissist' after racism controversy

A rural gift shop in England in 2021. That sign is what I keep reading. How an exclamation mark can contain so much. pic.twitter.com/g233TYxmCJ  Neil Kulkarni (@KaptainKulk) September 26, 2021

Despite Essex Police's seizure at the White Hart pub, the dolls are not illegal to own or display, despite their offensiveness, which is why the incident has sharply divided opinion.

However, some shops have faced heavy backlash for selling the dolls, including an interior design shop in Bristol - a city with a historic connection to the slave trade - which was slammed as "absolutely shameful".

How much are gollys worth?

The price of a doll will depend largely on how old it is.

In 1908 Steiff became the first company to mass produce and distribute the dolls, which today sell for around 8,000 to 12,000, making them the most expensive of their kind, but ones produced in the later 20th century will be less.
A medical staff member treats a patient infected by the COVID-19 at a hospital in Wuhan, China, Feb. 22, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  With tensions between the United States and China deepening, the question of how and where the coronavirus originated remains an intense point of contention, especially as the lab leak hypothesis gains traction.

There is consensus that the pandemic originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, perhaps as early as September 2019. But did it start at a wildlife market, jumping from a bat or another animal host to humans? Or did the coronavirus emanate from the Wuhan Institute of Virology as the result of an accident?

More than three years since the pandemic began, these fundamental questions remain unanswered. If anything, the fiery, partisan debates over masks and vaccines have been eclipsed by the question of how the virus first entered the human population.

The spell is broken

Laboratory technicians work on samples to be tested for the coronavirus at a COVID-19 testing facility in Wuhan in August 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Perhaps nobody did more to popularize the notion of a lab leak than comedian Jon Stewart, who made the case in a viral appearance on Stephen Colberts late night talk show in 2021.

Science has in many ways helped ease the suffering of this pandemic, which was more than likely caused by science, Stewart said in an extended riff about how he could not accept as mere coincidence that the coronavirus originated in a city that was also home to a laboratory devoted to studying coronaviruses.

The backlash was swift, immediate and quite loud, Stewart reflected last month. Since then, however, more and more experts have come around to his view.

Recently, the Department of Energys so-called Z Division told the Biden administration it was becoming more confident that the virus originated in a laboratory. Other intelligence agencies continue to favor zoonosis  the relatively common process of a virus transferring from an animal population to humans  but because much of the evidence on which those assessments were made remains classified, it has been difficult to parse on what grounds the agencies disagree.

Initially, many scientists and public health experts argued that endorsing anything other than the zoonotic hypothesis would stoke conspiracy theories and anti-Asian sentiment, which was on the rise.

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But conclusive proof of an animal-to-human jump never materialized, while circumstantial evidence for a lab leak has mounted.

Were getting more popular awareness of the validity of the lab-origin theory, and this is leading more scientists to speak up and come out of the woodwork, says Alex Washburne, an independent mathematical epidemiologist and pathogen spillover researcher who has worked at Duke and Princeton universities.

Long gone are the days when lab leak proponents were grouped with anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists. The spell is broken, Washburne told Yahoo News.

Legislators on Capitol Hill want classified intelligence on the issue, but it is not clear that the Biden administration will comply.

Their hand in the cookie jar

Dr. Anthony Fauci at an event in December 2022 urging Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

When Republicans took over the House of Representatives after last Novembers midterm elections, the chambers new leaders vowed to interrogate top public health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci  until recently head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a top pandemic adviser to both Presidents Biden and Donald Trump  and Dr. Francis Collins, who retired in 2021 from leadership of the National Institutes of Health.

Fauci has been at the center of both conspiracy theories (some of which have resulted in threats against him and his family) and legitimate questions about whether federal regulators conducted sufficient oversight of subgrants to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Researchers there conducted gain-of-function studies, which make a virus either more transmissible or more harmful in order to anticipate how it may behave in a human population. There is some genetic evidence  persuasive but circumstantial  to suggest that such research could have led to the inadvertent unleashing of the pathogen known as SARS-CoV-2.

That evidence, witnesses said Wednesday at the first hearing of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, consists of a sequence of four amino acids making up what is known as a furin cleavage site, a unique signature that some researchers believe is incontrovertible evidence of human meddling. (Others say the furin cleavage sites are not genetically engineered.)

Faucis name was frequently invoked during the hearing. Earlier this week, the committees Republican members released the contents of email exchanges that described how Fauci and Collins allegedly discounted the lab leak hypothesis in the earliest stages of the pandemic. They did so, the Republicans alleged, without any evidence in favor of the zoonotic model.

Dr. Fauci and Dr. Collins got caught with their hand in the cookie jar, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., who heads the House Oversight Committee, said at Wednesdays hearing, suggesting that they were directly responsible for the work conducted in Wuhan.

They got caught supercharging viruses in an unsecured Chinese lab, he said. In fact, there is no evidence that Fauci or Collins was directly involved in any research conducted in Wuhan. It is more likely that NIH regulators did not press Chinese colleagues hard enough on what kind of research they were conducting, as a government report published earlier this year suggested.

Witnesses point to lab leak

A laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Fauci has not yet testified before the GOPs coronavirus panel, but he is a veteran of Capitol Hill hearings and has said he would not shy away from defending his record. At a hearing in 2021, he argued in favor of cooperating with Chinese researchers, including on gain-of-function experiments.

You gotta go where the action is, he said at the time.

Wednesdays most significant witness was Dr. Robert Redfield, who served as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sidelined by then-President Donald Trump and never fully trusted by Democrats, he was an early proponent of the lab leak narrative.

He used his testimony as a sort of vindication, while doing little to hide his abiding dislike of Fauci.

Based on my initial analysis of the data, I came to believe and I still believe today that it indicates that COVID-19 more likely was the result of an accidental lab leak than a result of a natural spillover event, Redfield said.

A similar assessment was offered by witness Jamie Metzl, who pointed out on more than one occasion that he was a pro-science Democrat, having served on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration.

There is no smoking gun proving a lab origin hypothesis, but the growing body of circumstantial evidence suggests a gun that, at the very least, is warm to the touch, Metzl said.

The questions China wont answer

From right, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, National Security Agency Director Gen. Paul Nakasone and FBI Director Christopher Wray testify at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)

Between fears of a Taiwan invasion and the recent shoot-down of a Chinese surveillance balloon that had floated for days over the continental United States, Sino-American relations appear to be at a low point.

And as evidence for a lab leak continues to grow, the pressure builds on China to open itself up to outside probes on the issue. So far, researchers there have not found a convincing animal candidate for the zoonotic hypothesis. Barring a single WHO visit, they have not allowed Western investigators unrestricted access to the Wuhan virology lab.

China has not fully cooperated, and that is a key critical gap that would help us understand what, exactly, happened, Avril Haines, the nations intelligence director, said at a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

World Health Organization officials have also grown exasperated, having found themselves facing both criticism of Chinese influence on the agency and intransigence from Beijing, which has gone so far as to claim that the virus may have originated in an American biological weapons facility.

Understanding how the pandemic began was critical, WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, who is leading the agencys coronavirus response, said at a Wednesday briefing. Though she called for more transparency from China, Van Kerkhove also echoed Capitol Hill demands to review classified evidence now available only to U.S. intelligence agencies.

This is not a game, she said.

Democrats respond

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., at a hearing Wednesday of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Unlike the inquiry into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, the investigation into how the pandemic began has thus far been a bipartisan affair. But whereas Republicans wanted to focus narrowly on where the coronavirus originated, Democrats were more interested in how the next pandemic could be stopped.

They also argued that focusing on China was a means of absolving Trump of an inattentive and erratic response that led to hundreds of thousands of needless deaths during the start of the crisis.

Whatever the origins of COVID-19, whether it is bats or bureaucrats, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said, no finding will ever exonerate or rehabilitate Donald Trump for his lethal recklessness in mismanaging the crisis.
During a weekend event like the upcoming Black spring break, the early bird gets the worm. And in this case, that worm will be free parking.

Biloxi Police Capt. Grandver Everett said he couldnt predict how early people should come Friday. Rush hour traffic tends to carry into spring break crowds during the week.

But on Saturday, most parking spots will fill up quickly, Everett said. Participants come down at eight or nine in the morning.

Biloxi public parking is not timed or metered, but it is limited. Free public parking stretches along the beach.

Parking is available at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, where some of the largest events of Black spring break take place, but there may be a fee.

Everett said private property owners will tow vehicles at their discretion, not by calling out the police. Other private businesses may charge fees for the use of their lots. Look for signs and attendants along Hwy. 90.

Do not count on large shopping areas for parking. Lots like Edgewater Mall close after business hours and are meant for shoppers during the day.

Those who have rooms booked at or near local casinos will have the easiest access to Coast Transit Authoritys Casino Hopper, a bus route that runs daily every 25 minutes. The hours of operation are from 5:30 a.m. to 9:23 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8:30 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. and with the exception of Treasure Bay and Island View, the route stops at every casino. Bus fares are $1.50, but discounted rates and three-day bus passes are also available.

The CTAs Beachcomber route, which usually runs along Hwy. 90, from Jones Park to the Beau Rivage Casino Monday through Saturday, will not run this weekend and will stop early on Friday.

To learn more about Coast Transit Authority (CTA) routes and schedules, go to www.coasttransit.com, follow the Coast Transit Authority Facebook, or call 228-896-8080.
A generous amount of water dropped over Northern California this winter, and rolling green hills adorned with wildflower blooms have arrived to the Golden State.

Previous superblooms, or an unusually high number of wildflowers, have drawn large crowds to California state parks.

This year the wildflower bloom is expected to be good to better-than-average in parts of California, said Jorge Moreno, a spokesman for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, in an email to The Bee in February.

Wildflower season typically starts at the end of February and lasts until early May.

Central Californias San Luis Obispo County has already reported a superbloom. In Northern California, there have been flower sightings this year, too. Santa Clara County, released a statement on April 10, that parks throughout the area will see a superbloom after this years winter storms.

Though Northern California doesnt experience wildflower blooms in the same way that Southern California does, there have already been some spottings of natural wildflowers in some the region.

If you want to witness the breathtaking super bloom in Northern California this spring, here are some tips and places to look:

Where to spot wildflowers in Northern California

Colorful flowers are popping up throughout the state.

Sonoma County regional parks compiled e -brochure with possible flowers that bloom in the spring. The manual makes it easy to distinguish flowers and what month they usually blossom.

Here are some parks to consider as wildflower season gets rolling. Youll want to double check to see if flowers have bloomed yet before heading out:

 South Yuba River State Park, in Nevada County, is hosting wildflower walks.

 Stevens Trailhead, in Colfax, is another popular location for flower sightings, however the park doesnt start seeing flowers until around May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

 North Table Mountain near Oroville.

 Jepson Prairie near Vacaville.

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 Hidden Falls, known for its California poppies, in Auburn.

 Russian Ridge Preserve, in San Mateo County.

 Sagehen Creek Loop near Truckee in Tahoe National Forest.

The California Department of Park and Recreation has a Wildflower Bloom page that is updated as parks begin to see flowers. As of April 3, it has listed four locations in Northern California, and seven in Southern California.

Northern California flower locations:

 Mount Tamalpais State Park

 China Camp State Park

 Trione-Annadal State Park

 Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Tips for wildflower viewing in California

The sight of colorful flowers is breathtaking, but its important to be mindful of nature when on the trails. Below are some quick tips from the California Department of Parks and Recreation:

 Stay on the trails.

 Dont trample the flowers.

 Remember to pick up after yourself and not leave trash behind.

 Take photos and dont pick flowers.

 Locations for superbloom sightings are often in rural places with no cell service, prepare in advance.

 Arrive early to beat crowds.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
City employees fill sand bags due to flooding in Highland on March 15. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

A record-breaking snowpack is leading to flood preparations in many cities across the state.

Many communities are offering sandbags to their residents to help them get ready if and when the flooding begins.

Provo Public Works Director Dave Decker spoke with Mayor Michelle Kaufusi about what Provo is doing to prepare for spring flooding. He said sandbags are key to preparation and Provo has more than 200,000 sandbags ready to go, with more being ordered. Properly placed sandbags can help redirect storm and debris flows away from properties.

Decker said any residents who have experienced flooding before or are concerned about flooding should pick up sandbags. People who live near the river or those in the drainage path from Slate and Rock canyons are at risk for flooding, Decker said.

Sandbags can help prevent water from entering houses through window wells or entries on lower levels of property. For those at risk of rising ground water, Decker suggests making sure you have a functioning sump pump to pump any water out that might come in.

On Saturday, Jeff Walston was one of several Herriman residents at Butterfield Park where sand and sandbags are available for those who need to place bags around their homes to help divert any flood waters.

"I think it's a great idea," Walston said. "It helps to prepare and gives them a little bit of a chance to get ahead."

Provo has been preparing for floods by clearing out the rivers to ensure it can manage rising water levels as the snow melts. Kaufusi suggests residents sign up for emergency alerts so they are informed about when flooding does start occurring.

Decker warns everyone to stay away from flood waters and rivers as they can become dangerous with extra water flowing.

Provo posted on Twitter that anyone looking to volunteer to help with flood preparations can sign up to fill sandbags at the public works department.

The city of Sandy listed ways on its website to prepare for flooding, including inspecting rain gutters and storm drains and clearing them of debris, paying attention to landscaping and making sure water drains away from the home and keeping children and pets away from potential flood and drainage areas.

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The city's webpage also suggests people be aware that rain can melt low-elevation valley snow, causing increases of runoff on roads and shallow flooding is possible on parking lots, roadways and intersections.

Lehi posted a tutorial on how to properly fill and place sandbags to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Sandbag locations

There are lots of locations across the state available for people to get and fill sandbags to take home. Details on hours and how many bags are available to each person can found on Salt Lake County's website or on other city and county websites.

Most locations require you to show proof of residency and bring your own shovel to fill the bags. For cities not listed, details on sandbag locations can be found by calling your local public works department.

Salt Lake County

Cottonwood Heights Public Works yard, 6579 S. 3000 East

Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, 1530 S. West Temple

Crestwood Park, 1673 E. Siesta Drive

Draper Public Works building, 72 E. Sivogah Court

Emigration Canyon, 4072 East Emigration Canyon Road; 6320 E. Emigration Canyon Road and 865 E. Pinecrest Canyon Road

Ruth's Diner, 4160 E. Emigration Canyon Road

Butterfield Park, 6212 W. Butterfield Park Way in Herriman

Holladay City Hall, 4580 S. 2300 East

County Salt Pile, 3805 S. Wasatch Blvd.

Creekside Park, 4780 S. Kings Row Drive

Midvale City Hall, 7505 S. Holden Street

Latter-day Saint meetinghouses at 2125 E. Evergreen Ave; 2000 E. 3900 South; 4176 S. Adonis Drive; and 4407 S. Fortuna Way

Wheeler Farm, 6351 S. 900 East (north parking lot)

Murray Park Amphitheater, 493 E. 5300 South

Ben Franklin Park (Scott Park), 872 E. Scott Ave.

Salt Lake County Public Works Operations Division Midvale Yard, 604 W. 6960 South

Little Cottonwood Creek, 8033 S. Royal Lane

South Jordan Public Works yard, 10996 S. Redwood Road

Fitts Park  3050 S. 500 East in South Salt Lake

Taylorsville, 4551 S. Atherton Drive

Utah County

Provo Public Works, 1625 S. Industrial Parkway

Lehi Public Works, 2538 N. 300 West Building A

Lehi Power Department, 560 W. Glen Carter Drive

Lehi Cemetery, 1525 N. 600 East

Davis County

Northern Utah

Cache County Sheriff's Office in Logan, 1250 W. 200 North

North Ogden Public Works, 165 E. Lomond View Drive

Contributing: Alex Cabrero
Laboratory technicians work on testing human COVID-19 samples at a laboratory in Shenyang, China, on Feb. 12, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The World Health Organization is denying a report made by a top scientific journal that it had quietly shelved an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus.

But that denial itself only highlighted the challenges to such an investigation, especially given Chinas continued reluctance to allow access to sites that could hold clues to how the pandemic began.

The controversy began with a report published on Tuesday by the prestigious scientific journal Nature: WHO abandons plans for crucial second phase of COVID-origins investigation. There would apparently be no follow-up to the WHOs spring 2021 report on how the pandemic began, the article said, because of an inability to conduct crucial studies in China.

The report was supposed to be the first phase of the inquiry. But as WHO infectious disease expert Maria Van Kerkhove, who leads the global agencys pandemic response, told Nature, There is no phase two.

WHO officials, however, quickly protested that the investigation had not been called off. The report was completely misleading, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told Yahoo News in an email on Wednesday.

The row highlights how little remains known of how SARS-CoV-2 originated  a world-changing event that remains a mystery three years after the fact. Because so much time has elapsed, the hotly debated question of whether the pathogen originated in a market stall or on a laboratory table may remain forever unresolved, as especially as much of the world (including China) seeks to move beyond the pandemic.

A security guard stands outside the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, where the coronavirus was detected, in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 24, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Answers have been difficult to come by in large part because Chinese authorities have steadfastly resisted giving Western researchers the access they have been requesting since early 2020.

In her comments to Nature, Van Kerkhove acknowledged a deep frustration about how difficult it had been to reestablish trust with Chinese counterparts, who have grown skeptical of outside investigators over the course of the three-year battle against COVID-19.

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In the U.S., a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives has vowed to question Dr. Anthony Fauci, the recently retired immunologist, and other top officials, about what they may have known  and what they may have missed  about risky research that some believe could have led to the pandemics start.

Last month, the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services faulted the National Institutes of Health for not providing sufficient oversight of U.S. funds supporting research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology via an intermediate organization, the New York-based EcoHealth Alliance.

EcoHealth Alliance head Peter Daszak was among the strongest critics of the lab-leak hypothesis, even as he concealed his own ties to Chinese researchers. He controversially served on the WHO team that traveled to Wuhan in early 2021 during the first phase of the investigation.

Peter Daszak and Thea Fischer, members of the WHO team tasked with investigating the origins of COVID-19, sit in a car arriving at Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

WHO spokesman Jasarevic told Yahoo News this week that while there would indeed not be a phase two of the original coronavirus investigation, a WHO panel called the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins on Novel Pathogens (SAGO), would continue looking for answers on how the pandemic had begun.

Even so, Jasarevic acknowledged that limitations remained. We have repeatedly and publicly said that the origin needs investigating, he wrote, and China must provide access and info for this to happen  and if this doesnt happen, efforts to understand the origins will remain rather stymied.

Those difficulties were partly due, Nature suggested, because then-President Donald Trump had made unsubstantiated claims that the virus originated in a Chinese laboratory.

Trumps claims were initially denounced as xenophobic and conspiratorial, but have since gained support as experts gradually acknowledged that the so-called lab-leak hypothesis is a plausible explanation. The scientific consensus, however, generally backs the idea that COVID-19 emerged via zoonosis, or animal-to-human transmission, as did earlier viruses including HIV and Ebola.

The politics across the world of this really hampered progress on understanding the origins, Van Kerkhove lamented in her interview with Nature.

WHO's COVID-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove at a press conference at WHO headquarters in Geneva on Dec. 14, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Other experts quoted in the article blamed the West for maligning China and trafficking in conspiracy theories. One of those experts, the outspoken virologist Angela Rasmussen, subsequently summed up her thoughts on Twitter. By demonizing and alienating colleagues in China instead of building collaborative trust, this is what the relentlessly toxic lab leak conspiracy machine has yielded: The complete and total disintegration of any meaningful further investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2, she wrote.

The first phase of the WHO investigation included what is still the only authorized visit by Western researchers to Wuhan, the Chinese city where the pandemic is near-universally believed to have begun.

But the resulting report was criticized for not contemplating more seriously the hypothesis that the virus originated in a laboratory as a result of an accident in the midst of controversial gain of function research that boosts pathogens in order to study how they may evolve in nature.

Several months later, WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged that it was premature to rule out the lab-leak hypothesis.

Tuesdays article in Nature initially seemed like a concession of defeat, leading to renewed criticism of WHOs efforts to press China for more information on the research it had been conducting in Wuhan.

Richard Ebright, a Rutgers microbiologist, charged WHO on Twitter with failing  utterly  in its responsibility to the global public, describing its initial efforts as a failed simulacrum of an investigation.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology on Feb. 3, 2021, as members of the WHO team investigating the origins of COVID-19 visit the lab. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Wednesday afternoon saw a more forceful denial from Van Kerkhove herself, in what appeared to be a recognition by WHO officials that they had stumbled into a public relations firestorm. During a briefing with members of the press, she described the Nature article as an error in reporting that misrepresented her words. In a sense, Phase 2 became SAGO, which she described as our best effort to move this work forward.

Van Kerkhove also said WHO would continue to press China to be more forthcoming with on-the-ground access. We continue to ask for more cooperation and collaboration with our colleagues in China to advance studies that need to take place in China, she said during the briefing.

We havent abandoned any plans. We havent stopped any work, she said, even though she acknowledged that the origins investigation was becoming increasingly difficult because of how much time had elapsed since the first cases of the coronavirus were recorded in China more than three years ago.

Yet Nature stood by the initial article. Natures journalists are in discussion with the World Health Organization regarding their concerns about our article. We are committed to upholding the highest standards in journalism and take accuracy very seriously, Nature communications director Lisa Boucher told Yahoo News.

Skeptics saw the entire back-and-forth as evidence of confused priorities. The article, and the response to it, seems to provide little clarity about who's calling the shots and why they're calling those shots, mathematical biologist Alex Washburne wrote to Yahoo News in a text message.

An aerial view of the Wuhan Institute of Virology on May 27, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas reluctance to open its laboratories to Western inspectors is a sign to some that a cover-up is in the works, Washburne added. If this didn't come from a lab in China, then China would surely be able to rule out its own labs' involvement, Washburne told Yahoo News. I can't imagine any good reason for China to not share that information.

Washburne was also troubled when WHO appointed Jeremy Farrar as its chief scientist late last month.

Farrar had been one of several signatories to a letter  authored by Daszak and circulated to prominent medical and public health experts  published in the Lancet in the early days of the pandemic expressing solidarity with all scientists and health professionals in China.

The letter strongly condemned the notion that the coronavirus could have come from a laboratory. We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin, the letter said.

The Lancet later appended a disclosure describing Daszak's ties to China.
During Exercise Arctic Forge 2023 alongside allies Norway and Finland, soldiers with the U.S. Army wore what appeared to be, at least when compared to their counterparts, white garbage bags over their uniforms designed to blend in with the wintry environment.

While the style choice, at least on the surface, appeared inferior to that of the Norwegians and Fins, it remains quite practical, an official from the Program Executive Office Soldier noted.

Finnish Armys winter uniforms make US Army digs look like trash bags

Soldiers operating in cold weather environments are currently issued cold weather gear in Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), Alton Stewart, a PEO Soldier public affairs officer, told Military Times. The Army issues an Overwhite Parka, Trouser and Pack Cover in Snow Camouflage Pattern for use as the operation or environment dictates. Overwhites provide maximum flexibility for concealment while also facilitating agility in the industrial base.

These bag-looking overwhites provide camouflage options in a number of winter terrains, not just in snow, Stewart added.

For instance, a soldier traversing along a wooded backdrop may elect to only wear the overwhite trousers, he said. Given the varying terrain, OCP augmented by overwhites as necessary is a more effective combination of concealment than an arctic pattern.

There is currently a cold-weather uniform being tested by the 11th Airborne Division, which will continue to utilize the same camouflage pattern.

The Cold Temperature and Arctic Protection System (CTAPS) is a prototype cold weather clothing ensemble that is being evaluated to inform the next generation cold weather materiel solution. CTAPS is currently being fielded in OCP to the 11th Airborne Division for evaluation, Stewart noted. Arctic and subarctic environments are comprised of more than just snow. These environments include boreal forest, rocky mountain terrain and urban areas, among others.
BELFAST, Northern Ireland  Joe Biden returns to his ancestral home of Ireland this week, in whats slated to be a politically triumphant and personally sentimental tour through a country he credits for shaping his life.

But, as with any homecoming, there are pitfalls everywhere. And the administration knows it.

The four-day tour through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland comes as the island grapples with the prolonged consequences of Brexit, ratcheting up tensions that threaten the very peace treaty Biden plans to celebrate.

Europe as a whole faces a host of rising political and security threats, alongside the constant demands of a grinding war in Ukraine with no clear end in sight and with newfound complications owing to leaks of strategic documents.





And as Biden departs for his first overseas trip since February, the challenges at home are multiplying: Deepening divides over the rise in gun violence, a court ruling aimed at further restricting abortion access, and lingering questions about his own political future.

The White House has scrambled to respond, spending recent days doing diplomatic damage control over the document leak, gaming out its legal response on abortion and seeking new ways to pressure the GOP on guns. Those efforts have taken increasing priority across various parts of the administration, officials said, adding that Biden will remain briefed as he travels abroad.

But those gathering storm clouds risk overshadowing a trip that Biden has looked forward to more than all others since winning the White House  and one that aides envisioned as an opportunity for the Irish Catholic president to play up his personal bond with Ireland and celebrate political progress there.

Biden on Wednesday will mark the 25th anniversary of the U.S.-brokered Good Friday Agreement that mostly ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. He then will travel to the Irish Republic for the first time since he traced his lineage through the countryside as vice president in 2016.

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This is something you can sense hes hoping will go well, said Robert Savage, an Irish history scholar at Boston College. He loves Ireland, and he wants to bask in the limelight of an American success story.

But that gauzy depiction may be at odds with what awaits Biden on the ground. When he lands Tuesday night in Belfast, hell arrive in a region that hasnt had a working legislature for the past year, and whose leaders are deadlocked over Northern Irelands post-Brexit future. The U.K.s exit from the European Union has complicated Irelands trade with Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K. Thats caused larger political dysfunction and fears of the collapse of the Good Friday accord and a return to bloody conflict.

The U.K. and EU have sought to resolve the issue with a proposed settlement called the Windsor Framework. But Northern Irelands main pro-British party, the Democratic Unionists, have opposed the framework in defiance of the U.K. It's protesting the proposal by refusing to form a government in Northern Ireland under power-sharing rules that require it to jointly run the legislature with the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein.

The terror threat is now considered severe, after the British government upgraded its assessment in late March. And there appears no imminent end to the political standoff that has already dented Northern Irelands finances and social services.



No one wants to return to the period of the Troubles, said Max Bergmann, director of the Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former senior State Department official. But its not completely settled, there are still huge challenges, and you dont want to play with fire here. And in some ways, thats what Brexit has done.

Biden has endorsed the Windsor Framework as an even-handed compromise. In a further show of support, hes slated to meet Wednesday with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who clinched the deal in February but has struggled to sell it to Northern Irelands main pro-British party.

Yet even in a region where many fondly regard Biden as the most Irish U.S. president since John F. Kennedy, aides and experts say Biden is likely to avoid wading too deeply into the details of the ongoing dispute. Even as it coaxed the U.K. toward a post-Brexit compromise that kept the Good Friday Agreement intact, the White House held off on confirming that Biden would visit Northern Ireland until it was clear an agreement had been reached.

In a speech scheduled for Wednesday, Biden is expected to broadly hail the Windsor Framework while delicately skirting the underlying stalemate thats paralyzed its government. In a further sign of the administrations desire to limit the chance of any diplomatic blunders, Biden will steer clear of Northern Irelands parliament building and spend less than a day in Belfast before skipping south across the border. Even his meeting with Sunak has been scaled back, from the typical bilateral session to just a morning coffee.

Bidens role is to provide encouragement to all the parties in Northern Ireland to move forward, said Daniel Mulhall, a longtime diplomat and Irelands former ambassador to the U.S. I have no doubt that his speeches, when he appears in Belfast and Dublin and around the country, will be well attuned to the sensitivities.

The trip could have served as a reprieve of sorts from domestic matters, ahead of Bidens anticipated announcement that he will seek reelection. Instead, a pileup of high-profile issues is likely to follow him overseas.

Biden has yet to weigh in on the unprecedented arrest of Donald Trump, his former and possibly future chief rival for the presidency. His administration faces another adverse court ruling over abortion access, which Biden has vowed to protect despite his own complicated feelings on the issue. And the day before his departure came news of another mass shooting  this time in Kentucky, hours north of the Tennessee state capital where Republicans just finished expelling two Black lawmakers over their participation in gun violence protests.

Those developments could make it impossible for Biden to keep the focus on the imagery and sentimentality of his surroundings.

Biden is expected to make stops in Irelands County Louth and County Mayo, where he has distant relatives and had previously traced his family tree. Hes also slated to meet with Irelands president as part of a stay in Dublin highlighted by a speech to the countrys parliament.



A descendant of Irish immigrants mostly on his mothers side, Biden frequently invokes his heritage as shaping his beliefs and setting him on his career path  accompanied as well by a sizable chip on his shoulder hes acknowledged is tied to his upbringing in an Irish Catholic neighborhood where it wasnt viewed as being such a great thing.

Their values have been passed down, generation to generation, Biden said of his ancestors during a St. Patricks Day event alongside Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last month. Growing up Irish American gave me the pride that spoke to both sides of the Atlantic, heart and soul that drew from the old and new.

Though Biden has long been invested in Ireland's politics  and the image of him as a departed but not forgotten son  he is relatively new to direct diplomacy with the country. Biden was not a central player in the talks leading up to the 1998 Good Friday agreement and has made only one prior trip to Belfast, in 1991.

He was an early member of the Friends of Ireland caucus that was founded in Congress more than 40 years ago to support peace efforts in Northern Ireland. His most prominent involvement came in the 1980s, when Biden helped lead opposition to a Reagan administration effort to make it easier for Britain to extradite members of the Irish Republican Army from the U.S.

Savage, who has written extensively about Irish political dynamics, said theres no expectation Bidens personal affection for Ireland will tilt Americas studied neutrality when it comes to the fraught U.K.-Ireland relationship. But in a nation that traditionally holds special admiration for American presidents, Biden represents a particularly welcome return to normal in the wake of the more turbulent, Brexit-sympathetic years of the Trump era.

Bidens seen as a stalwart, somebody thats stuck by Ireland over the difficult years, Savage said. Theres a feeling that sanity has returned in Washington.


Verywell / Medasense

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

Even though you may be unconscious during surgery and unaware of your pain, your body can still sense pain and respond to it.

New technology can allow anesthesia providers to better monitor the bodys response to pain during surgery. However, studies show mixed results, and the technology needs more research.

Patients and providers can work together to manage pain after surgery.

Pain control is a major concern for patients who need to have surgery. Nobody wants to wake up from surgery in pain, but too much pain medicine may cause difficulties in recovery.

Thanks to anesthesia, most surgical patients are unconscious and therefore unaware of any pain their bodies are experiencing. However, the body still senses the stimuli that would cause pain and responds to it involuntarily. This response is called nociception.

Even when people are unconscious, pain signals still go to the brain, Daniel Sessler, MD, an anesthesiologist with the Cleveland Clinic, told Verywell. We know people respond to painful signals even if theyre not conscious. Everyone is at risk of having pain during surgery. Even small operations cause plenty of pain.

Your body may react to painful sensations by increasing your heart rate or blood pressure or by sweating. You may also move involuntarily. Since you cannot tell your surgical team you are in pain, anesthesia providers closely monitor for these signs during surgery. Because these reactions may be subtle, its possible for anesthesiologists to miss certain pain signals.

A new device is helping anesthesiologists more precisely identify and respond to pain during surgery. Developers at Medasense, a biotech company in Ramat Gan, Israel, created a finger probe to continuously monitor four different pain signals during surgery.

A New Way to Monitor Pain During Surgery

Medasenses device, the PMD-200, is a nociception monitor that uses a finger probe with sensors to measure the bodys reaction to pain when a patient is under anesthesia.

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The monitor analyzes a patients heart rate, heart rate variability (how slowly or rapidly their heart rate changes), and body temperature to come up with a nociception level index (NOL) reading.

The NOL index is a scale of 0-to-100 (no pain to extreme pain). The target NOL score for a patient under anesthesia is around 25.

In theory, a patient with a higher NOL reading needs more pain medication during surgery while a patient with a lower NOL has enough pain relief. A patient on the lower end of the scale may need less pain medication than the anesthesia provider would typically give.

Anesthesia providers typically use two classes of medications during surgery: anesthetics and analgesics. Anesthetics are medications that keep you unconscious during surgery. Analgesics, or painkillers, ease any pain your body may sense during and after the operation.

While anesthesiologists already have a range of tools to keep an eye on a patient during surgery, no other technology thats currently used in the U.S. gives them the ability to monitor the bodys response to pain as closely as the NOL index does.

To that end, the individualized information from the PMD-200 can help anesthesia providers carry out pain management for each patient. Its currently authorized for use during operations to help personalize analgesia dosing to the patients actual requirement. It is not yet authorized to treat or monitor post-op pain.

The PMD-200 is already used in Europe, Canada, Australia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and select Latin American countries.

In the United States, the FDA recently granted de novo classification to the PM-200. The FDA reserves that classification for medical devices that are proven to be safe and effective and for which there are currently no comparable devices on the market.

Controlling Pain During Surgery Impacts Recovery, Too

Pain management during surgery is just the beginning. Not having enough pain medication during surgery can mean worse pain after surgery.

Patients under anesthesia still have physiological pain. The body will sense the pain and respond to it with the fight or flight response, Galit Zuckerman Stark, CEO and founder of Medasense, told Verywell. Once the patient becomes conscious again, they will feel the pain.

Too much pain medication during surgery, however, can make it more difficult for someone to come out of anesthesia. This can cause oversedation, delirium, or confusion.

Its not easy, but anesthesia providers need to find the sweet spot between too much and too little pain relief during surgery and maintain it.

Pain control during surgery is a balance between anesthesia and analgesia. You need to know which lever to pull, Padma Gulur, MD, an anesthesiologist with Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, told Verywell.

Related:How Much Pain Is Acceptable After Surgery?

Because pain cases a stress response in the body, research suggests that reducing pain during surgery with the help of devices like the PMD-200 can improve recovery outcomes.

By adjusting opioids to the NOL index during surgery, you give that patient the right dose for them, which may be more or less than an anesthesiologist routinely uses, said Sessler, who serves as a consultant for Medasense. When patients receive the right amount of pain medication for them as individuals, they should awaken quickly and without severe pain.













When patients receive the right amount of pain medication for them as individuals, they should awaken quickly and without severe pain.







Will NOL Monitoring During Surgery Become Standard?

There are some limitations to the PMD-200. Clinical trials have not consistently shown that NOL monitoring during surgery reduces short-term or long-term pain for patients. More research would be needed before NOL monitoring could become the standard of care.

We believe that NOL monitoring can improve postoperative pain, but studies so far have been underwhelming, Sessler said. There also have not been many studies, and more are clearly needed.

Some anesthesia experts have warned against treating patients based on a machine-provided number instead of their clinical conditionespecially given the potential dangers of opioid overuse.

When we start treating numbers, and we dont necessarily get good outcomes from it, we have to ask, what is this adding? Gulur said. We have an opioid epidemic. We dont want to use more opioids than necessary, especially if we do not see their benefits.

With more research, though, its possible that NOL monitoring technology could be used outside of the operating room as well.

For example, patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who need a breathing tube and ventilator are often given sedating medications to ease their discomfort.

We saw NOL monitoring used in critical care during COVID, Zuckerman Stark said. Critical care patients are sedated just like surgery patients, but for days or weeks. We were concerned to see the amounts of opioids patients in the ICU were receiving over time.

Eventually, NOL could even be useful outside of the hospital. While the device would look different, the same algorithms can be used to help non-speaking individuals indicate they are in pain. It could also be used to better respond to chronic pain.



Researchers are exploring new ways to monitor pain during and after surgery. If youll be having surgery, talk to your provider about how your pain will be managed. While medications can be effective, they have risks. There are also non-medication ways to manage pain after surgery that may help.
Supporters of the Yokuts Valley name change on Tuesday called on Fresno County Board of Supervisors to throw out a frivolous lawsuit they say defends a term that is widely considered a slur against Native American woman.

On Tuesday, a group of 25 to 30 people gathered downtown Tuesday to show their support for the newly named Yokuts Valley and to criticize the Fresno County Board of Supervisors recent decision to sue the state of California over a law that requires the term squaw, which is widely considered a slur, to be removed from geographic features.

After a two-year push to change the name of Squaw Valley led by local y Roman Rain Tree, a member of the local Dunlap Band of Mono Indians and Choinumni tribes, the U.S. federal Board on Geographic Names officially changed the name of the unincorporated Fresno County community in January.

Two months later, Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted to sue the state of California  rather than the federal board that oversaw the Yokuts Valley name change  since the new state law puts specific requirements on California counties. In a March interview with The Bee, Supervisor Nathan Magsig, whose district includes Yokuts Valley, said hes not opposed to filing a federal lawsuit in the future.

Magsig has long criticized the federal governments name change process, saying that local resident should have the final say about whether the town changes its name. Opponents to the name change cited a variety of reasons for resisting the name change. Some said they didnt find the term offensive, while others wanted to preserve local history or were concerned about the costs to local businesses associated with the name change. In October, Fresno County submitted a letter to the federal naming board opposing the name change.

Fresno County residents show their support of the name Yokuts Valley and call on the Board of Supervisors to throw out its frivolous lawsuit against the state of California in downtown Fresno on April 11, 2023.

But residents who addressed the supervisors on Tuesday supported the communitys new name and sharply criticized the board.

Im proud of the name change, said Yokuts Valley resident Ken Hudson, and I was surprised and saddened by the frivolous lawsuit that the county board of supervisors seems to be pursuing.

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Hudson wasnt the only Yokuts Valley resident speaking out. Resident Bayard Taylor and a handful of others spoke out, too.

This lawsuit is bigotry in action, Taylor said.

Both residents shared that since the name change, there has been a mix of people thrilled over and staunchly opposed to the communitys new name. Residents confirmed that Caltrans has already removed the green Squaw Valley highway sign leading into town. Taylor noted that some residents are putting up yard signs that say things like Squaw Valley Forever and Woke is a Joke.

But otherwise, they say the name change hasnt impacted their day-to-day lives.

I get mail addressed to me at Yokuts Valley (and) I get mail addressed at the old address, Hudson said. That will continue for a long time.

Yokuts Valley resident Ken Hudson was among the group gathered in downtown Fresno on Tuesday calling on Fresno County Board of Supervisors to drop the lawsuit against the state of California on April 11, 2023.

The group also addressed the Board of Supervisors directly during the public comment of Tuesdays meeting, where speakers again pleaded with the supervisors to drop the lawsuit. Some also thanked Supervisors Sal Quintero and Brian Pacheco for voting against the lawsuit.

Ashley Rojas, a director with Indigenous Justice and fifth-generation Fresnan, said, during a time of declared flooding crisis and looming recession, the allocation of public funds to uphold a racist and misogynistic and violent slur is performative and frivolous and fiscally irresponsible.

Supervisors didnt directly respond to comments in Tuesdays board of supervisors meeting. The lawsuit was not on the meeting agenda.

Fresno County spokesperson Sonja Dosti declined to respond to the comments calling on the county to throw out the lawsuit, saying the county doesnt comment on pending or current litigation.

Dosti confirmed via text message to The Bee that the lawsuit is expected to be filed this week by the countys outside counsel, Brian Leighton.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE-CONLICT-ECONOMY

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on the economic issues via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on April 11, 2023. (Photo by Gavriil Grigorov / Sputnik / AFP) (Photo by GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) Credit - Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images

It may have been considered cute in 2000 when 19-year-old pop star Britney Spears sang her faux apology song Oops I Did It Again, but when senior economists sing out deceit, no one thinks it is anything but dangerous. Today, the IMF economists did it again with a certification of Vladmir Putins unsupported rosy economic forecasts, inexplicably doubling its forecast for Russian GDP growth, which at a projected 0.7% growth far exceeds that of much of Europe. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has become a source of data distortion and policy confusion either as an unwittingly native tool of Putins propaganda machine due to incompetence and laziness, or perhaps something more sinister.

Consider the needless haze of confusion of the IMFs colliding headlines: the AFP reports IMF Raises Russian Growth Forecast On Deficit-fueled Government Spending, while CNN more accurately reports IMF: Ukraine war will have devastating consequences for Russias economy. So which is it?

Sadly, beneath the smoke and mirrors obfuscation, the IMF is doubling down on its own worst mistake. At the end of January 2023, the IMF recklessly made Russian projections in their World Economic Outlook which their economists admitted to us over the past year they simply do not have. They certified the fictional projections that Russia will avoid a recession in 2023 with an economy that would expand by 0.3% after shrinking by 2.2% in 2022 and would outstrip growth of the U.K. and Germany. Furthermore, as we have demonstrated, the IMF economists privately admit that they have no basis to make such projections as they have covertly given Russia a pass on their membership obligation to provide comprehensive, timely, transparent, and verifiable data to the IMF.

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Since the Ukrainian invasion, our data has shown that the Kremlins economic releases have become increasingly cherry-picked, selectively tossing out unfavorable metrics while releasing only those that are more favorable. Concealed for the past year are such core statistics reported for decades which include: imports, exports, capital inflows and outflows, central bank monetary base data, air passenger travel, oil and gas monthly output data, lending origination data, and foreign direct investment. Few if any of the other 166 member nations of the IMF are excused for violating the memberships data disclosure rules in such flagrant fashion.

Thus, the Russian GDP number is a pure invention from Putins imagination and the ruble is not an exchange traded currency. Therefore, Putins proclamations of resurgent value are again pure invention  never mind the fact the ruble has now fallen to weaker levels than pre-war. Putin has changed out the heads of his economic data unit Rosstat, until he found compliant sycophants to suspend the facts. The Putin-selected statistics are then recklessly trumpeted across the world media and relied upon by careless experts in constructing ludicrous forecasts which are unrealistically favorable to the Kremlin but are then repeated by naive media and professional economists who wrongly think the IMF did their homework. We broke fresh ground last summer showing that the Russian economy was actually imploding because we went directly to Russias buyers or sellers and third party sources to uncover what Putin was concealing.

Read More: The U.N. Cant Allow Russia to Take Over the Security Council

Just a month ago, with former Morgan Stanley chief economist Stephen Roach, we showed how the IMF was covering up this implosion of the Russian economy due to haste or deceit. Privately, the IMFs Russian economist desk confided to us that they have zero visibility into the Russian economy: We agree that there is massive uncertainty surrounding the future of the Russian economy, and hence doing a forecast could be seen as a fools errand.'

Alarmingly, an independent investigation by law firm Wilmer Hale found evidence that the IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva may have been exerting political pressure on economists during her tenure at the World Bank to favor China.

Last month, the IMF justified their faulty GDP forecast by wrongly arguing that Russian oil volumes have remained resilient  but perhaps the IMF economists need a MBA as well as a PhD so they would have learned you cannot make up losses in the volume of sales. Russia is so inefficient a producer ($44/barrel to extract it and $12/barrel to ship it to Asia versus $22/bbl for Saudi Arabia) that it now selling at breakeven prices with the Urals (Russia) oil market price still below the $60 price cap imposed by the west  all while Russia and Saudi Arabia is forfeiting oil market share amidst hundreds of thousands of new barrels of production coming onboard from new producers such as Guyana, Norway, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and Nigeria.

Even beyond oil, energy which was 2/3 of Russias exports prior to the war have fallen by $500 million a day. This time last year, the E.U. drew almost half of its gas from Russia, with Russia sending almost 90 % of its production to the E.U. Now the E.U. buys almost all its gas in the form of liquefied nature gas (LNG from the U.S., Algeria, and Norway which is converted back to vapor in new German facilities and sent through pipelines). Russia, with only natural gas to sell, has no pipelines to China or India so most of Putins gas stays in the ground.

And outside of energy, major sectors of the Russian economy have fallen 60% to 95% from pre-war levels thanks in large part to the exodus of over 1,000 global multinational corporations from Russia, as we have painstakingly documented. The rest of the world now has terrific bumper crops in agriculture and new sources of metals, while Russians are fleeing by the millions including over 400,000 to Uzbekistan alone, according to the Uzbek Ambassador, bringing businesses and capital with them. In short, Russia is by no means an economic superpower and brings nothing to the global economy. Moscow based Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was abducted by Putin last month in part for revealing these truths in print.

This month, the IMF is now justifying their enhanced growth forecast under the guise of Russian deficit spending  though that spending is nothing but a mirage anchored in clouds. Russia has been frozen out of international debt markets so Putin is largely drawing down rainy day funds and raiding the coffers of companies to fund an unsustainable burst of government spending, most of it funding military expenditures. Cannibalizing the productive economy to fund war is not smart economic management worth celebrating. Putin is throwing in the living room furniture to keep the house warm. Putin survives merely off lies and cannibalization.

We are far from alone in our skepticism over Putins cherry-picked statistics, as scores of professional economists are alarmed by the IMFs projections with significant media outcry. Many sanctions economists warn against using Putin wartime GDP forecasts since not only does the manufactured data hide dramatic economic contraction, but Russian GDP methodology is subject to constant and often unannounced changes and recalculations. As Agathe Demarais, global forecasting director at the Economist Intelligence Unit, warned last month, Russias numbers cannot be trusted: The real problem is in Western countries: Experts and media quoting Russias recession figure should probably take the time to question their data instead of amplifying the Kremlins talking points. Even Russian oligarchs such as aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska are openly fretting about how Putin will run out of cash next yearrevealing how Putin has been cannibalizing the Russian economy to make ends meet temporarily at steep long-term cost  with Kremlin officials such as former Energy Minister Vladimir Milov conceding that the Russian economy is deteriorating.

At least Britney Spears can apologize when she gets it wrong but the IMF has yet to admit theyve blown all their Russia forecasts since the invasion began. The governance of the IMF has to question the quality of their reports while professional economists and the media must acknowledge the IMF has badly damaged its credibility. Putin is losing the military war, the diplomatic war, and the economic war. He must not win the disinformation war by western media and policy makers naively falling for his fake economic data.
President Joe Biden Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image

Speaking with the press during the official White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, President Biden offered what is to date his strongest public affirmation that he will indeed run for a second term in office in 2024. Asked by Today host Al Roker whether he'd be participating in the annual presidential tradition "after 2024," Biden first joked that he'd be holding "at least three or four more Easter egg rolls, maybe five," before confirming more concretely to the NBC broadcaster that "I'm planning on running, Al."

"But," Biden cautioned, "we're not prepared to announce it yet."

Biden's admission came amidst much speculation over the president's future plans. Dogged by sagging support for a re-election bid and broader questions about his stature as the oldest president in American history, a 2024 Biden campaign could ultimately end up resembling his 2020 run against Donald Trump, who currently sits confidently atop a lethargic field of GOP candidates.

Since Biden has now essentially declared his 2024 run, the question now becomes: why hasn't he actually announced anything? What exactly is preventing him from officially launching his next race, and what's the difference between saying you're in, and actually announcing a campaign?

What is he waiting for?

In part, Biden's delay stems from circumstances largely out of his control  and, depending on who you ask, to his benefit, as well. "No major Democratic challenger is emerging; his now-indicted predecessor is consuming the political spotlight; and a major clash with congressional Republicans over spending is looming," explained NBC's Mike Memoli, Peter Nicholas, Carol E. Lee and Monica Alba this week. In other words, with no pressure from his own party, and his presumptive top challenger forced into a defensive crouch from unrelated issues, Biden can focus on his immediate role as commander-in-chief without the need to stake his candidacy this early in the election cycle, thereby refocusing Republican attacks.

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What's more, as one source who spoke with NBC confirmed, "the decision part is over, but he resents the pressure to have to announce what he's already decided."

Speaking with CNN before Biden made his Monday non-announcement, a Democratic insider added that Biden is "not ambivalent about serving a second term, but he's in no rush to be a candidate again."

"What's the upside?" the insider continued.

Ultimately, there is a sense that the longer Biden can focus on his job in the White House, the better positioned he'll be for 2024.

"He's not going to win re-election or lose re-election based on what happens in his campaign," Democratic strategist Brad Bannon told The Denver Post. "He's going to win it based on his performance as president and the performance of his opponent, whoever it is."

What changes when he makes it official?

As Biden himself has noted, there's a difference between being a candidate in spirit, and one in name. "Once I make that judgment [to officially launch my campaign] whole series of regulations kick in and I have to be  I treat myself as a candidate from that moment on," the president explained during an interview with MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart late last year.

Among those regulations and challenges are rules around staffing a campaign, which would likely mean pulling some current administration officials out of the White House. According to CNN, there are other practical issues that haven't been settled yet, including where the campaign's official headquarters and the next Democratic National Convention will be situated.

Ultimately, the timing of his pending announcement could come down to a question of money. As an officially declared candidate, Biden would be forced to publicly disclose his fundraising hauls each quarter. As Axios reported earlier this month, "the first fundraising quarter for 2023 has passed, and the second fundraising quarter runs April 1 to June 30." The plan, then, would be to potentially wait until the start of the next quarter on July 1st in order to show "strong initial fundraising numbers, to avoid news reports about a lack of enthusiasm or vulnerability."

For the time being, then, Biden seems perfectly content to have it both ways  signaling in few uncertain terms that he will be the Democratic nominee in 2024, while making sure in the short term to take all the time he needs before actually locking himself into the constraints that come with official candidacy.

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Joe Biden is the most Irish president since John F. Kennedy, and that is why he is not the right man to convince the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to back Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal and return to Stormont.

Ten of Mr Bidens 16 great-great-grandparents came from Ireland, where he is guaranteed a rapturous homecoming on a state visit from Wednesday afternoon.

But he will receive a far cooler welcome when he arrives in Belfast on Tuesday evening amid celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden, a Catholic who is fiercely proud of his Irish roots, will meet the leaders of Northern Irelands major political parties on Wednesday.

He will urge the DUP to return to power-sharing, after the party collapsed Stormont more than a year ago, over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Biden - Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg

Mr Sunak struck a deal with the European Union over the Irish Sea border in February, but DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has demanded more changes before he will end the boycott.

Now, Mr Biden will throw the weight of his office behind the pressure building on Sir Jeffrey to restore the devolved institutions created by the Good Friday Agreement.

Senior DUP politicians have already warned they will not cave into the demands of the worlds most powerful man, who has become a figure of hate for hardline unionists and loyalists.

Unionists accuse Mr Biden of being on the side of Brussels and Dublin, and a supporter of the cause of Irish reunification and republicanism.

When Mr Biden threatened Britain with the loss of a US trade deal if the UK carried out its threat to tear up the Irish Sea border treaty with the EU, attitudes towards this very green president hardened further.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson - LORRAINE O'SULLIVAN

Love for Ireland

One reason was Mr Bidens outspoken love for Ireland, which stretches to publishing a family tree of his Irish ancestors and going by the secret service codename Celtic.

Once in the Republic, he will visit his ancestral homes in the western county of Mayo and eastern county of Lough, the homes of the Blewitts and the Finnegans, on his mothers side.

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Both branches of the family fled a famine-ravaged Ireland for a better life in the US in about 1851.

Mr Biden is on record as saying they left in a coffin ship because of what the Brits were doing.

There is other evidence of an apparent apathy towards the Brits from a man who has made his Irish heritage central to his public persona.

Mr Biden has said his hero is Wolfe Tone, an 18th-century Irishman who was sentenced to death for leading a revolt against British rule, and he names Seamus Heaney as his favourite poet.

Northern Ireland - Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

As a senator in 1985, Mr Biden opposed and watered down an extradition treaty with Britain that would have made it easier to extradite IRA terrorists.

If you are wearing orange, you are not welcome here, he said when welcoming the Irish prime minister to the White House in 2015.

Even if Mr Biden was less proudly Irish, he would struggle to convince Sir Jeffrey to end the boycott and effectively back the new Brexit deal before local elections in May.

The DUP fears bleeding support to hardline unionists, who believe the Windsor Framework is cutting Northern Ireland off from the rest of the UK.

Another bloody nose after Mays Stormont elections, which saw the DUP lose its status as Northern Irelands biggest party to Sinn Fein for the first time, could spell the end of his leadership.

Unionisms psychodrama is exacerbated by the fresh impetus behind Irish reunification since Brexit and last years census, showing Catholics now outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland for the first time in its 100-year history.

Sir Jeffrey is struggling to contain divides between his Westminster MPs, who favour prolonging the boycott, and Members of the Legislative Assembly, who prefer a return to Stormont after a years deadlock that delayed action on the NHS and cost of living crisis.

Northern Ireland - Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

In the anniversary week of the Good Friday Agreement, he will remember the fate of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), which was once the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

The UUP backed the peace deal, but was hollowed out by a string of defections to the DUP, including Sir Jeffrey himself, and has since slid into irrelevance.

The DUP will lose support if it accepts the Windsor Framework, but no Brexit deal will satisfy the most hardline unionists.

Sir Jeffrey now faces a similar choice to his old UUP boss, David Trimble: should he be the statesman and compromise, but lose his loyalist base?

Even if, as some suspect, Sir Jeffrey is minded to ultimately accept the deal, he cannot be seen to do it under pressure from a US president whose colours are nailed so firmly to Irelands mast.
US-GUNS-VIOLENCE-PROTEST

Anti-gun demonstrators protest at the Tennessee Capitol for stricter gun laws in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 3, 2023. Credit - John AmisAFP/Getty Images

After Tennessees Republican-controlled legislature expelled two Black House Democrats for taking part in a gun violence protest last week, the state has drawn further protests at the capitol and national scrutiny. The incident raised concerns about the extreme measures that supermajority state legislatures can take to punish those with differing views in todays bitter political climate.

We have seen in other contexts in which a state governor or legislature crosses a boundary that had not been breached before that other states sometimes follow suit, says Rick Pildes, a professor at New York University Law school.

On March 27, a shooting at a Nashville school left six dead, including three children. Protesters descended on the state capitol to call for gun reform, and Democratic state lawmakers Justin Jones and Justin Pearson lost their seats after they took the demonstration to the chamber floor, leading chants from the house floor with a bullhorn. The Republican-led Tennessee House voted last Thursday to expel Jones and Pearson.(Another Democratic lawmaker who joined them in the protest and was white, Rep. Gloria Johnson, kept her seat.) The state Republicans actions drew swift condemnation: experts, Democrats, and President Joe Biden criticized not only what they say is a disproportionate punishment for lawmakers expressing opposing views but also the rushed manner in which the duo was expelled.

Four days after the expulsion, Jones is back in the House. The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted unanimously to reappoint him as an interim representative Monday. A vote to reappoint Pearson to his seat will occur Wednesday, per local officials. Special elections for both seats will be held in coming months; Pearson and Jones have said they intend to run to formally win back their official positions.

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Given the backlash in Tennessee, other states may hesitate take similarly extreme measures to crack down on political opponents, experts say. At the moment, no state legislature wants to be the Tennessee legislature; they are being condemned on multiple continents it was a terrible miscalculation, says Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University.

State legislatures have several less extreme options at their disposal to punish lawmakers who break bylaws. Lawmakers could be fined, formally censured, or lose committee privileges, for example. Moreover, a more serious punishment typically warrants a more drawn out process involving committee hearings, an investigation, published reports, and formal deliberation. This, from start to finish, occurred within a week. There was really no process that the members were given; they didnt treat this as a matter of gravity, says Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School.

Expulsion is typically only applied for serious violations, such as a felony conviction or serious breach of ethics. In 1866, the Tennessee house expelled six lawmakers for fighting to prevent the Fourteenth Amendment from going into effect. Since then, the legislative body has only voted twice to expel lawmakers: in 1980, involving a bribery conviction, and in 2016, when the House majority whip was accused of sexual misconduct. Even nationally, cases are sparse. Those instances typically involve state lawmakers facing criminal charges or serious misconduct, such as Colorado lawmaker Steve Lebsock being expelled in 2018 following multiple allegations of sexual harassment.

While other supermajority legislatures may not go as far as expelling dissenting lawmakers, they could be inspired by ways to penalize lawmakers for their conduct if they cant penalize them for their speech, Paulson says. This could include passing legislation targeting specific conduct that could be used against political opponents. If [Jones and Pearson] had said the same exact thing outside on the front porch of the Capitol, they were untouchable. Because they walked into the welland because they used a bullhornthe legislature had a mechanism to punish them for their speech and pretend it was for their action, Paulson says.

Still, the expulsions in Tennessee show that state legislatures are more polarized than everon gun control and other fraught political issues. We are seeing norms of behavior in legislative bodies breaking down, says Bruce Oppenheimer, a professor emeritus of political science at Vanderbilt University. Oppenheimer initially believed there would be a contagion effect from the Tennessee expulsions but has since come to believe that neither Republican nor Democratic supermajorities would want to engage in similar conduct. They learned its probably a mistake to do so, he says. But you would never have thought it would escalate to this extent, so one wonders where it can go next.
The burrowing skills of earthworms are difficult to mimic

For decades, scientists have been developing soft robots inspired by a creature often taken for granted - the humble earthworm.

Though specific features will vary by species, many earthworms are excellent burrowers, and can bend with ease.

"They are very flexible and move through spaces that might be difficult to access," comments Elsa Arrazola-Vasquez, who researches soil management at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

In other words, earthworms can do things that many machines still cannot.

The progress in replicating these functions robotically has been incremental. There have been innovations in mimicking earthworm setae (bristles), which help worms to anchor. Plus, there's been progress copying the fluid in their segments which, among other functions, help them to move.

Capturing the distinctive movement of the earthworm is the latest advance.

In the Soft Robotics group at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), researchers have developed a robot that essentially bulges in and out at the sides while it stretches and contracts in length.

This design is novel, according to Riddhi Das, a mechanical engineer at IIT, as it uses positive and negative pressure to generate force which is directed outwards and along the length of the robotic worm.

The innovation means his creation more closely represents how an earthworm's muscles move, and allows for more varied movement.

His earthworm robot is about the length and weight of a light dumbbell. It's filled with gel which allows the researchers to better approximate the earthworm's radial movements, compared to other types of liquid. And though it's not as fast on a flat surface as some previous designs, it's able to move deeper through artificial soil.

To propel itself, sections of the robotic earthworm can expand outwards and lengthwise

One person who knows how hard it is to build an earthworm-type robot that can burrow is Yasemin Ozkan-Aydin, an electrical engineer at the University of Notre Dame in the US.

She has worked on four earthworm robot designs, drawing on observations of real earthworms.

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She says the IIT group's innovation is "very important" in the world of robotics, as each segment of their earthworm robot has the capability to expand in two directions. That allows it to create an earthworm-type locomotion, which is like a wave of contraction and expansion that moves along its body.

Like the other projects in her lab at IIT, this is genuinely bioinspired, says biologist-turned-roboticist Barbara Mazzolai. This means that developing the prototype required a fundamental understanding of earthworm biology, rather than just mimicking its shape.

And those biological principles had to bring some useful function to the robot. In the case of bioinspired earthworm robots, one useful aspect to replicate is an earthworm's soft yet strong structure.

One key difference remains the size. With a diameter of 4cm and a length of 45 cm, the IIT robot is considerably larger than an actual earthworm. Earthworm robots typically have pumps or other systems for movement that add to their bulk. This limits the potential applications in endoscopy (the use of tubes to examine internal organs).

Still, this robot isn't as big as the rugged tunnelling robot created by the multinational company GE, one of the few earthworm robots being developed for near-term commercial applications.

GE is testing a worm-like robot that can dig holes

It's a self-propelling, extremely flexible, highly steerable robot, according to Deepak Trivedi, a mechanical engineer at GE Research.

"If you look at the basic building blocks of these robots, these are pneumatic artificial muscles, which are essentially rubber with a cleverly designed fibre mesh around it," Mr Trivedi explains.

This research line was inspired by a call for tactical tunnelling solutions from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) in the US.

"Earthworms can do this tunnelling in a very stealthy way," Mr Trivedi points out. While that Darpa programme has now ended, GE is continuing to work with the US Department of Defense on specific use cases in tunnelling and navigating.

They are also seeking out commercial clients. Their robot, which has a diameter of about 10cm, is unusual in being able to create its own tunnels and having been tested in real soil of different types.

More technology of business:

The GE researchers believe that it would be useful for installing underground utility infrastructure, in a less environmentally damaging manner than some conventional drilling. They're aiming for a lower cost as well.

"We see a real commercial opportunity for this," says John Lizzi, who leads the Robotics and Autonomous Systems division at GE Research. He believes key areas include fibre internet, electrical power and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

However, GE is limited in what it can publish and publicly disclose about this research, given the military funding. And of course not every roboticist wants to work towards military applications.

Apart from those, eventually earthworm-like robots could also be applied in areas like mining, agricultural sensing, and planetary excavation.

An especially important use could be in search-and-rescue. Prof Ozkan-Aydin talks of the recent earthquakes that devastated Turkey, her country of origin. A tiny wriggling robot with a camera attached could have been useful there for determining where to concentrate rescue efforts, without disturbing the ground.

But plenty of research will need to be done first. Certain essential features of earthworm biology - like the mucus they secrete to lubricate their passage through soil and keep themselves from drying out - are challenging to incorporate into a robot.

"Because it's a natural system and it has evolved for so many years, it's very difficult to replicate," acknowledges Mr Das of IIT.

So nobody is going to mistake one of these robots for a living earthworm. And some people have been overly optimistic about bioinspired systems in the past.

"I'm a bit disappointed that more artificial muscle technology hasn't made it across the 'R&D valley of death'," admits Kellar Autumn, a biologist at Lewis & Clark College in the US.

Like his work on gecko-inspired adhesives, he believes that artificial muscles are following the "10/10 rule of innovation" - 10 years to discover, and another 10 to reach a market.

If these earthworm-inspired robots do eventually reach a market, they could someday be tunnelling away beneath our feet, helping to lay down the equipment that keeps our societies functioning.
With Congress seemingly stalled out on a national law to protect children from online harms, state lawmakers across the U.S. are starting to take matters into their own hands, drafting and passing laws that would create new guardrails for social media platforms and the kids who use them.

As they do, theyre steering straight into an issue that is splitting online safety advocates: Whether its better, or worse, for parents to be able to snoop on their kids social media accounts.

Numerous states are taking up kids online safety bills this year, a handful are including parental oversight requirements as part of their strategy. Lawmakers in Maryland and California have proposed such regulation. Utah last month wrote it into law.

This concerns many privacy groups and childrens mental health advocates, who worry that in the rush to protect teens from predators, drugs and other online dangers, lawmakers might also be creating real-life harm for children in difficult situations.

That means that a child couldnt privately discuss sexual abuse with friends online, they couldnt privately discuss reproductive rights or abortion access, said Jason Kelley, an associate director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group. They couldnt even really speak out about parental abuse with their friends online because their parents could see it.

As with many online privacy and safety issues, the argument is largely brewing in state houses. Lawmakers in Congress have proposed childrens digital safety bills, most notably the Kids Online Safety Act, which failed to pass last year but is expected to be reintroduced this term, but those dont include parental monitoring requirements.



Its unlikely that Utahs bill will become a model for Congress to follow, or even for other states, as S.B. 152 drew a significant amount of public criticism and legal threats over potential First Amendment violations for teens. Marylands bill faces an uphill path in the statehouse, and hasnt made any progress since its last hearing in February. But if tech platforms are required to build these tools, even if its for just one state, it could lead other states to clamor for the same capabilities  and could start to set a de facto standard for kids' lives online.

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In the absence of Congress being able to act and to pass a bill, states are taking it up on their own. Were seeing a patchwork of states trying to get at this issue, but in a variety of different ways, Bailey Sanchez, a policy counsel with the Future of Privacy Forums Youth & Education Privacy team, said.



There have been 27 different bills proposed across 16 states pushing for kids privacy and safety regulations by February of this year, according to analysis from the Future of Privacy Forum. Many of these bills share similarities, like banning targeted advertising to children, or banning addictive designs from social networks, which kids tech advocacy groups like Common Sense Media support.

When it comes to parental supervision, however, there is far less agreement.

The Utah law, for instance, requires social media companies to provide a parent or guardian access to the content and interactions of an account held by a Utah resident under the age of 18, which could include their private messages.

The lawmakers behind these bills argue that tech companies have already caused too much harm to kids, and see parental oversight as one way to guard against harm in the digital world. They point to the U.S. Surgeon General warning that 13 is too young for kids to be on social media, or the CDCs report on the increasing number of teen girls persistently sad or hopeless 2011 and 2021 believing that the rise in teen depression is linked to social medias growth during the same years.

Lawmakers also cited Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugens 2021 Congressional testimony where she told Congress that the company knew Instagram was damaging teens mental health but didnt do enough to prevent the harm.

The message got through to lawmakers, even outside of Washington. When you have 30 percent of our young girls contemplating suicide, we need to take action, parents need to be more involved, Utahs state Sen. Mike McKell said.

But in giving parents a clear legal right to snoop on their kids, the bills also trigger concerns from many mental-health researchers, who see kids online lives as an important avenue for exploring issues out of their parents purview.

The parental monitoring provision raises concerns for kids who could be at risk in abusive households, and have chilling effects on teen conversations with their friends, privacy advocates said. That can range from online discussions about sexuality, reproductive rights, parental abuse, or even simple, low-stakes conversations.

Even discussing whether or not you want to go to college with your friend is the kind of thing that you need some level of privacy to have those conversations with your community and your friends, and parents dont need to be listening over the shoulder for every conversation that a young person has, especially when theyre months away from being an adult, the EFFs Kelley said.

Some privacy advocates phrase it far more harshly: When you insert a trojan horse that enables effectively widespread surveillance of children, thats not a privacy bill, thats a surveillance bill, said Evan Greer, a deputy director for the digital rights group Fight For the Future.



Though research on kids privacy rights is slim, some data suggests that strict parental controls can backfire. Researchers have found that parental monitoring apps, which let parents control their kids online activities in similar ways to what lawmakers want from social networks, were associated with increased chances of teen online victimization, compared to teens whose parents didnt use monitoring services.

A 2018 study from the University of Central Florida found that parents who were constantly monitoring their childrens online activities hurt their relationship with their kids, creating real-life social issues that could lead to more online victimization through cyberbullying, for example. But it also found that children of parents who were completely neglectful were also at high risk of online victimization. The researchers found that a middle ground of direct supervision and involvement from parents reduced teen online harassment  but monitoring apps did not.

Theres also an evolving international norm when it comes to children and privacy  and these state laws place the U.S. outside that norm. Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, the managing director for Washingtons bureau of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, noted that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which says that a child should not be subjected to unlawful interference with his or her privacy.

While its not a legally binding regulation, it highlights that government bodies around the world consider privacy rights for teens differently than what US lawmakers have in mind.

When we think about our right to privacy, we dont think of it as something that starts when you turn 18, Zweifel-Keegan said.



This is not how many American lawmakers see it: The teens dont have any right to privacy from their parents unless their parents decide that they want to give them that privacy, Maryland Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo, who proposed his states bill, said.

Lawmakers said that theyre receptive to these arguments, but ultimately dont trust the sources. Tech giants have a reputation for parachuting into states to lobby against regulations, often through industry groups.

At the hearing for both Utahs bill and Marylands bill, representatives from NetChoice, the Computer and Communication Industry Association and TechNet testified against the bills. Collectively, the groups represent Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and TikTok.

While these companies didnt testify themselves in Utah or Maryland, lawmakers in those states say theyve been in touch with representatives from TikTok, Meta and Google, who wanted to negotiate how they would be affected by the bill.

TikTok said it wouldnt comment on any specific legislation, but said it was dedicated to providing a safe platform for teens, highlighting parental control features its introduced like disabling direct messaging for users under 16.

Our team of more than 40,000 safety professionals are dedicated to keeping our community safe and welcoming, and we will continue to play our part in tackling industry-wide challenges related to youth safety and well-being," TikTok spokesperson Jamal Brown said in a statement.

Meta also wouldnt comment directly on any legislation, and highlighted its age verification tools and age-appropriate design features.

Well continue to work closely with experts, policymakers and parents on these important issues, Metas global head of safety, Antigone Davis, said.

McKell said the tech industry groups testimonies fell on deaf ears, comparing it to tobacco companies arguing that their products werent harmful. The same happened in Maryland.

My concern is that social media companies use [privacy] as a red herring to not do anything, Fraser-Hidalgo said.
A federal judge in Texas handed down a ruling Friday that could potentially eliminate access to the most widely used medication for abortion care and miscarriage management in the United States.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortion, in 2000. Its been safely used by millions of pregnant people for over two decades  yet it could be pulled from distribution in just a few days.

This case is totally unprecedented: Never has a court overruled the FDAs approval of a drug, much less a drug that has been on the market for over 20 years.

I dont know of a precedent where the judiciary has intervened or taken this kind of action to overturn an agencys decision-making, Dr. Jane Henney, a former FDA commissioner, said on a call with reporters on Monday. Henney oversaw the approval process of mifepristone when she served as FDA commissioner from 1999 to 2001.

The decision and its outcome have national implications that could drastically change access to what little abortion care is left in the country. Below is a quick overview of the ruling, the stakes and what comes next.

What is mifepristone?

Mifepristone is one of two medications used in abortion pills. Most abortion clinics offer a combination of mifepristone and another drug called misoprostol to induce abortion. The medicine also treats uterine fibroids and Cushings disease, a syndrome where the body creates too much cortisol.

Mifeprex, the brand name of mifepristone, is manufactured and distributed by Danco Laboratories; it was the first pill to be available in 2000. In 2019, the FDA approved a generic form of mifepristone, Mifepristone Tablets, manufactured by GenBioPro.

Years of research show that mifepristone is extremely safe and effective when used in a two-drug regimen with another drug called misoprostol. When used together, mifepristone and misoprostol are more than 95% effective and safer than Tylenol. The combination is used around the U.S. for miscarriage and abortion care through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Although the FDA approved its use up until 10 weeks of pregnancy, the World Health Organization says mifepristone can be safely used until 12 weeks.

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Major medical groups have repeatedly said that mifepristone is safe and should be accessible to patients nationwide. The drug is a safe, effective and important component of treatment and management for early pregnancy loss ... and induced abortion, the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists wrote in a letter to the FDA in June.

What happened on Friday?

U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that the FDA unlawfully approved mifepristone when it first went to market over two decades ago. However, the judge stayed the ruling for seven days, putting his ruling on hold until Friday at midnight to give time for the Biden administration to appeal. Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group, filed the lawsuit in November in Amarillo, Texas, because Kacsmaryk is the only judge presiding over cases in that federal court.

Kacsmaryk, a far-right Donald Trump appointee well-known for his anti-choice views, claimed in his ruling that the FDA rushed the approval process for mifepristone.

The judge argued in his ruling that the FDA manipulated and misconstrued certain parts of the drug approval process to greenlight elective chemical abortions on a wide scale. Throughout the 67-page document, Kacsmarykroutinely referred to medication abortion as chemical abortion and fetuses as unborn children rhetoric used by the religious right thats not based in medical science.

In the same hour on Friday, a federal judge in Washington state issued a competing ruling that blocked the FDA from removing mifepristone from the market in 17 states and the District of Columbia, where abortion is currently legal.

Because both decisions were made in federal courts, they have national implications that fall well beyond the borders of Washington and Texas.

U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk routinely referred to medication abortion as chemical abortion and fetuses as unborn children in his Friday ruling.

U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk routinely referred to medication abortion as chemical abortion and fetuses as unborn children in his Friday ruling.

Is this how other medications are normally taken off the market?

The short answer is no. Under normal circumstances, there is a process to eliminate approval for a drug thats currently on the market. That process can take years and includes several critical steps to ensure the decision is sound and evidence-based.

Its a rogue case that operates completely outside of the normal structure in which a court would review such a claim, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, told reporters on a Monday call.

A judicial review like Kacsmaryks is often limited when taking drug approval away, said Jessica Ellsworth, counsel for Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of mifepristone who is named alongside the FDA in the lawsuit.

There are rules of the road that courts are supposed to follow related to who gets to challenge agency action, Ellsworth said, naming three separate avenues normally taken before judicial review. Here, the district court ran roughshod over all three of those to get to the merits, and then once it reached the merits question, it did not defer to the agencys actual articulated analysis and explanation,n which is what courts are supposed to do when they review agency action. That is the way it is supposed to work.

Why is this happening?

Many pro-choice experts told HuffPost that this ruling is part of a long endgame for the anti-abortion rights movement.

The anti-choice movement has been going after medication abortion well before Dobbs [overturned Roe v. Wade]... but they werent able to get in front of the right judge, said Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Weve always known this was a backdoor abortion ban tactic.

And if mifepristone approval is pulled, it wont just impact states where abortion is banned.

What we do know for sure is this, the Texas case was brought as the next step to ban abortion nationwide, said Dalven from the ACLU. If Judge Kacsmaryk gets away with his attempt to undo the approval of mifepristone for the entire nation, the effect will be felt in all 50 states, even where abortion is legal and protected.

What was the Biden administrations response?

The Department of Justice immediately appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit on Friday night. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that the DOJ strongly disagrees with the decision and the department will continue to defend the FDAs decision to approve mifepristone.

Garland said in his Friday night statement that the DOJ is also reviewing the Washington state judges decision.

My Administration will fight this ruling, President Joe Biden said in a statement referring to the Texas ruling. The Department of Justice has already filed an appeal and will seek an immediate stay of the decision. But lets be clear  the 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 v. Wade. Vice President Harris and I will continue to lead the fight to protect a womans right to an abortion and to make her own decisions about her own health. That is our commitment.

Biden said in a statement referring to the Texas ruling:

Biden said in a statement referring to the Texas ruling: "The 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 v. Wade."

Is mifepristone still legal?

As of Tuesday, mifepristone is still legal and available for Americans in states where abortion is accessible. That will likely stay the case until at least Friday, April 14, at midnight, when Kacsmaryks ruling goes into effect.

So, what happens now?

If the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is notoriously conservative, doesnt block Kacsmaryks decision, then the case will likely move up to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court is usually in session from October to June, and its unclear if the case would be heard during the current session. Though the court could take the case on the shadow docket, which the high court has been doing more frequently with urgent cases. Its also unclear if the ruling will be stayed until the Supreme Court reviews the case.

The dueling decisions leave the FDA and health care providers in a very difficult situation that only the Supreme Court can fully resolve, Wendy Parmet, professor of law at Northeastern University, said in a statement.

There have been many other situations in which courts from different circuits have issued conflicting decisions. But I cannot think of any closely comparable to this, and certainly, none in which one court has ordered the FDA to withdraw its approval of a widely used drug and the other court has ordered the FDA to continue assuring access to that same drug.

What about the Washington decision?

On Monday, the Department of Justice filed a motion to clarify the Washington preliminary injunction because there is significant tension between the Texas and Washington ruling  meaning theyre contrasting orders.

The court did not address the interaction between these two orders, and it is significant... about what the administration can do next, how certain arguments can be crafted to determine what this preliminary injunction specifically means, Jenny Ma, senior counsel for the Center for Reproductive Right, said on a Monday press call.

The DOJ has now filed a five-page motion to clarify the preliminary injunction in Washington, and we assume that the court will weigh in very soon.

What happens if the judges ruling goes into effect on Friday at midnight?

If there is no injunction before Friday at midnight, Kacsmaryks ruling will go into effect  putting access to mifepristone in serious limbo. Mifepristone cannot be manufactured or distributed in the U.S., but physicians or clinics who have mifepristone stocked will likely be able to continue prescribing it until their stockpile runs out. Given how unprecedented this ruling is some experts believe there could be a total recall of mifepristone which would force prescribers to send back whatever mifepristone they have stocked in their clinics.

Some experts have also pointed out that GenBioPro, the generic manufacturer of mifepristone, was not named in the lawsuit, meaning the pharmaceutical company could continue manufacturing the medication. However, its unclear if this would be the case since GenBioPro used the Danco research to bring the generic to market  and that research is now being questioned under Kacsmaryks ruling.

Other providers note that the ruling does not include mifepristone prescribed for Cushings disease  allowing physicians to prescribe mifepristone off-label for abortion care or miscarriage management.

Every expert stressed that a lot could happen this week. However, most say its just too early to tell.

What we do know is that there will be significant confusion, a significant delay in people being able to access care in many places, said Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. There will be real difficulties as providers struggle to provide the best possible care in the timeliest manner that they can for their patients, while now having to contend with these impossible legal rulings.

Weve always known this was a backdoor abortion ban tactic, said Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Weve always known this was a backdoor abortion ban tactic, said Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

What happens if mifepristones FDA approval is withdrawn?

There are a lot of things that need to happen before mifepristone loses FDA approval, thanks to this ruling. With that said, if the worst does happen, the FDA will likely seek to re-approve the medication.

The re-approval for mifepristone depends on many variables, but it could take years, explained Kirsten Moore, the director of Expanding Medication Abortion Access Project. If the FDA no longer approves mifepristone, the country could face a reality where people can only access the drug in clinical trial settings for two to three years.

Misoprostol alone can also induce an abortion, although it is not used in the in-clinic setting because its not approved by the FDA for abortion care. Instead, this method is often used abroad or when people are forced to self-manage their abortions at home. However, the misoprostol-only method is less effective than the mifepristone and misoprostol combination. Twelve misoprostol tablets  four tablets dissolved under the tongue every three hours over nine hours  will induce an abortion and lead to cramping and bleeding that will end a pregnancy.

Does the Biden administration have any other tools to fight this?

Technically, yes. The FDA has sole authority to approve or pull approval of a current drug on the market. Thats why this ruling is so unprecedented and could have drastic long-term impacts on other medicines on the market (think: HIV/AIDs medication or Plan B  drugs that some political and religious groups have taken issue with).

The Biden administration could choose not to enforce Kacsmaryks ruling since the Texas order doesnt require the FDA to do anything, explained David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University who has written extensively about abortion rights.

Just like a police officer is not ignoring the fact that the speed limit is 55 when they dont pull you over for doing 57  theyre just saying, We are using our discretion to go after things that matter a lot more than us to someone driving 57 in a 55, Cohen said.

A handful of lawmakers have called on the Biden administration to take this route, but a Health and Human Services official on Monday said the administration would not ignore the ruling.

Related...
WELLS  Wells Junior High School eighth-grade student London Chadwick has received first place in theOld York Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolutions American History Essay Contest for 2023.

At the state level, she received third place for her essay about a fictional delegate to the Second Continental Congress convened in May of 1775. This is the second year that Chadwick has placed in this contest.

We are so impressed with London's love of writing and her commitment to civic engagement, said Principal Josh Gould. It is no surprise at all that she was amongst the very best of all submissions!

Todd Frederick, chairman of the York Board of Selectmen, congratulates eighth-grade WJHS student London Chadwick.

Students who entered this year were required to write an essay on being either a real or fictional delegate at the Congress in Philadelphia. In May of 1775, the American colonies were already at war with England following earlier hostilities at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19. Among its decisions Congress appointed George Washington to command the Continental Army and later, in July of 1776, put their lives on the line by signing the Declaration of Independence.

Londonsmoving dialog and lively, picturesque description, really set her apart and gained her not only Chapter winner but third place state winner, said Barbara Carmone, American History Committee chair of the Old York Chapter DAR.

On March 31, Chadwick was invited to attend the DAR Chapters annual Vietnam Commemoration where she was honored for her writing with a Chapter Certificate, a bronze medal and a monetary prize. While there she read her essay before an audience of Vietnam veterans, American Legion, VFW, and DAR members.

It was a very exciting honor, and the awards ceremony was very exciting to attend, Chadwick wrote in an email. I was excited to place third in the state, however, even if I hadn't placed I would have still been happy just knowing that I had researched and learned something new!

In her essay, she created a fictional delegate from New York and focused on him and his family. Like others attending this gathering, this delegate named John and his family journeyed miles by horse and carriage on dirt roads to reach Philadelphia where they took up temporary residence.

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According to the DAR website, the American History Essay Contest was established to encourage young people to think creatively about our nation's great history and learn about history in a new light.

DAR is a womens lineage and service organization for women 18 years and older who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The Old York Chapter in York currently has 48 members.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: WJHS student places first and third in American history contest
A womans body was found in a vehicle at a used car lot likely weeks after she died, North Carolina police said.

The Lumberton Police Department said in a news release that officers first got a call about a possible body at McNeill Used Cars at noon on April 7.

Officers arrived and reported finding a decomposing body in a car at the lot.

The woman, who has not yet been identified, appeared to be deceased for at least several weeks, police said.

She may have gone to sleep inside the car and never woke up, police said. The body was taken to the North Carolina Medical Examiners Office in Raleigh for an autopsy and identification.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective David Williford at the Lumberton Police Department at 910-671-3845.

Lumberton is located about 100 miles south of Raleigh.

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Firefighters rescued a woman found clinging to logs in the Verde River after her kayak flipped, Arizona officials reported.

Firefighters from the Verde Valley Fire District were able to rescue the woman and her kayak near Cottonwood on Sunday, April 9, officials said in a news release.

She became trapped against the logs after her kayak overturned, the release said.

She was being pushed by the water into those logs and was holding on as long as she could, Fire Chief Danny Johnson told KNXV. She was able to get her cell phone and was able to get it working with a little bit of water damage.

The womans 911 call helped rescuers pinpoint her location, the news outlet reported.

Please be safe on our river and dont kayak alone, firefighters said in the release.

Cottonwood is a city of 6,200 people about 100 miles north of Phoenix.

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Community members attend a vigil at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 10, 2023. Jeffrey Dean / Reuters

A bank executive with deep roots in the community, a grandmother who had just moved to the city to work at the bank, and a father who was an active churchgoer are among the people who were killed in a mass shooting at their place of work in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday.

Four people were killed and nine others were injured when a 25-year-old employee at Old National Bank opened fire on his colleagues that morning. A fifth victim being treated at the hospital died later that day.

Authorities have identified the five victims as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; James Tutt, 64; and Deana Eckert, 57. All five worked at the bank.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Rep. Morgan McGarvey described the impact of the shooting on the community and how the violence reverberated throughout the city. Despite the size of its population, in Louisville  or "Louisvillage," as he called it  "everybody knows everybody."

"We are not seven degrees of separation from people in Louisville. We are one degree of separation from people in Louisville," he said.

Here's what we know about the victims so far.

Joshua Barrick, 40

A memorial for Joshua Barrick on display at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 10, 2023 Claire Galofaro / AP

Barrick had worked at Old National Bank for only nine months when he was killed. According to his LinkedIn, he was hired as senior vice president of commercial real estate at the bank in August 2022.

Barrick had a wife, Jessica, and two young children. He was an active parishioner at the Holy Trinity Catholic in Louisville, where a vigil was held for him on Monday evening.

Father Shayne Duvall remembered Barrick as a kind, likable person who was dedicated to his faith.

Hes a big guy, and just had a bubbling personality, and you could tell he loved his family," he said. "He loved his faith. He loved his community. And he just loved life."

Duvall said he spent that day with Barrick's wife and children.

"Theyre in shock," he said. "Everyone is just kind of walking around in a fog like, 'Did this just really happen?'"

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Thomas Elliott, 63

Facebook

Thomas Elliott, whom friends knew as Tommy, was the senior vice president at Old National Bank. He was deeply involved in the Louisville community and was close friends with several Kentucky lawmakers, including Gov. Andy Beshear, who spoke about their friendship at a press conference on Monday.

Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career," Beshear said as he fought back tears. "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."

Elliott had four children with his wife, Maryann. He was a longtime fundraiser for Kentucky Democrats, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. He also knew former Louisville mayor Greg Fischer.

"Tommy Elliott, my longtime friend of 40 years, was one of those bright lights lost today," Fischer said in a statement about the victims. "My deepest condolences to his wife and lovely daughters - and to all of those hurt by this senseless violence."

McGarvey, who represents the Louisville metropolitan area and described Elliott as a friend, told the Associated Press that Elliott "enjoyed life" and he cared about working for progress in the state. "Its unimaginable to me that hes not here," he said.

McGarvey's and Elliott's wives also worked together briefly, he told reporters on Tuesday.

Elliott was a supporter of the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville and a "close, dear friend of Lonnie Ali," the late boxer's wife, the educational center said in an Instagram post.

Lonnie Ali spoke glowingly of Elliott to the Associated Press.

"Tommy was such a warm, wonderful, funny, kind guy," she said. "Just the sweetest person. And its just such a huge loss, not just to his friends and family, but to the community. Because thats what Tommy was about. Tommy was about community."

He also knew Florida Sen. Rick Scott.

"My friend Tommy Elliott was killed today in Louisville. He was my banker for many years," Scott tweeted. "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.

Juliana Farmer, 45

Facebook

Juliana Farmer was a loan analyst at the bank who appeared to have moved from Henderson, Kentucky, to Louisville only a few weeks ago.

The night before the shooting, Farmer was texting her friend, Brentney Owsley, talking about her recent move. Owsley posted a screenshot of their conversation on Facebook. "You gotta do what makes you happy and I always knew I wasn't going to stay in boring Henderson lol," Farmer told her.

Farmer's former neighbor Mark Fulcher said she moved to Louisville only two weeks ago. She had stopped by his house to say goodbye.

"I told her to take care of herself and i hope she came back soon because we loved her and would miss her and hated to lose such a good friend and neighbor," Fulcher wrote on Facebook. "No one knew such a tragic and terrible thing would happen ! Please remember she was loved by everyone and would do anything to help you."

Her uncle, Michael Williams, wrote on Facebook that she told him she was moving for a "great job opportunity."

The day before the shooting, Farmer announced on Facebook that her son and his partner were expecting a baby in September  her fifth grandchild.

Her friends and family shared their grief on social media.

"You mean so much to me & I cant stomach life without you. My twin is gone," her daughter, A'lia Chambers, wrote on Facebook. "I keep calling your phone and you wont pick up ma please pick up mama!! Your only daughter needs you."

Her friend Owsley also posted a video of their memories together.

"my friend that became my sister. We love you. We mourn you incredibly," Owsley wrote. "Thank you for loving my sister the way you did.. she loved you just as much. It came naturally to me to love you. Youre phenomenal I hope heaven knows they have the best angel up there."

James Tutt, 64

Facebook

James Tutt, known as Jim to his friends, was a commercial real estate market executive with Old National Bank. He was an employee with the company for more than eight years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Debbie Moore, who retired from the bank in 2021, told NBC News that Tutt was a respected figure in Louisville. She called him "King Tutt," she said, and he was a family man with a pleasant demeanor.

He and his wife, Karen Tutt, had several children and grandchildren.

A Frankfort, Kentucky, native, Tutt was a big supporter of downtown Louisville's growth, Rebecca Fleischaker, the executive director of the Louisville Downtown Partnership, told the Louisville Courier Journal.

Tutt studied business at the University of Kentucky. In college, he also played bass drum in the marching band. Tracy Lovan, a former marching band member, told Lex18 that Tutt was a sweet, friendly person, "but also just one of the smartest guys that I think I've ever met."

Deana Eckert, 57

LinkedIn

Deana Eckert was initially transported to the hospital with injuries on Monday. Louisville police said that she died that night.

Eckert had been an executive administrative officer at the bank since 2021, and before that she worked as a retail center manager, according to her LinkedIn.

She and her husband, Mike Eckert, lived in New Albany, Indiana, just across the river from Louisville.

Crystal Branson, a former colleague, told Lex18 that Eckert always made sure to prioritize family.

"She just instilled the family values in us, and even our team, we were like a family, we supported each other," Branson said. "If we had sickness or a death, she always said 'family first.'"

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said on Tuesday that he knew Eckert personally.

"Deana was a very kind and a very thoughtful person. She was a wonderful woman who will be missed," he said.

Stephanie Baer and Paige Skinner contributed reporting to this story.

More on this
A woman was safe Sunday after a cross-county kidnap ordeal Sunday ended with gunfire and an arrest in Elk Grove. Her alleged captor faces charges Wednesday in a Sacramento courtroom.

Christopher Scott Johnson, 40, will be arraigned in Sacramento Superior Court on allegations of kidnapping, false imprisonment and evading peace officers in the Sunday incident.

Sacramento County jail records show he also has a pair of outstanding misdemeanor warrants for charges of corporal injury of a spouse and battery against a person in a previous dating relationship. Johnson is being held without bail at Sacramento County Main Jail.

California Highway Patrol officers got the call of a woman being held against her will in a black passenger van just after 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Officers spotted a van moments later that matched the description on Elverta Road near Watt Avenue near North Highlands. The vans driver ignored officers orders to stop and the chase was on through Sacramento County.

CHP officers say Johnson was armed behind the wheel when Elk Grove officers who joined the chase stopped the van with a spike strip at Big Horn Boulevard and Amber Creek Way.

The officers were able to coax the woman from the van, but Johnson stayed and, CHP officers said, showed a weapon while in the drivers seat. Officers fired on the van, but Johnson was not hurt and surrendered to authorities.
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 place lets 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.
World Bank Group President David Malpass

While opening the annual Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Washington D.C., Malpass noted he would chair the third Ukraine Ministerial Roundtable on April 12.

Read also: MP urges reform of Economic Security Bureau in line with IMF guidelines

Meanwhile, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that the war in Ukraine could end only with a decision to stop the war by the country that had invaded Ukraine.

She emphasized the importance of discussing the issue of the war in Ukraine, as it diverted the worlds attention from many other pressing problems.

Read also: Revised World Bank forecast slashes Ukraines economic growth expectations

Georgieva stressed that the war in Ukraine not only kills people, but also increases food prices, which creates even greater geopolitical tensions, undermining the world's ability to work as one.

In turn, Malpass said that the terrible development of events in Ukraine had continued longer than people had expected.

He said the World Bank has provided assistance by channeling international resources to Ukraines civil sector, and now it is also discussing the recovery of the Ukrainian economy.

The Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group will take place from April 10 to April 16, 2023.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will attend the Ukraine Ministerial Roundtable on April 12. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to address the meeting by video.

The first Ukraine Ministerial Roundtable took place on April 21, 2022, while the second one was held on Oct. 12.

Read also: Ukraines new IMF deal is important  opinion

The updated state budget of Ukraine for 2023 foresees external financing of the deficit worth about $42 billion, or about $3.5 billion per month.

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
"As the World Turns" star and Emmy-winning actress Elizabeth Hubbard has died at age 89.

Her son Jeremy Bennett confirmed the sad news to Fox News Digital, with a statement from Hubbard before her passing. "Making you smile or cry was the juice for my engine. I will see you in the next life my Darlings," she said.

The cause of death has not been specified at this time.

Hubbard was best known as Lucinda Walsh on the CBS soap opera "As the World Turns." She took on the role in 1984 and appeared on the show through its conclusion in 2010, earning eight Daytime Emmy nominations over the years.

STARS WE'VE LOST IN 2023

Elizabeth Hubbard at the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 2004. She earned a total of eleven nominations and two wins during her career.

A 1986 cast photo from "As the World Turns" showing, seated from the left: Elizabeth Hubbard (as Lucinda Walsh), Helen Wagner (as Nancy Hughes), Don MacLaughlin (as Chris Hughes) directly behind him: Rosemary Prinz (as Penny Hughes) in rear: Christian LeBlanc (as Kirk McColl), Kim Johnston Ulrich (as Diana McColl), Jay Acovone (as Del Brackett), and Vicky Dawson (as Dee Stewart).

MARNIE SCHULENBURG, AS THE WORLD TURNS STAR, DEAD AT 37

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Born 1933 in New York City, Hubbard earned a degree in philosophy from Radcliffe College (the womens college of Harvard University) and graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England, earning the schools prestigious silver medal, according to Soap Opera Digest.

Hubbard began her career in soap operas, making her television debut on "Guiding Light" in 1962.

Two years later, she joined the NBC soap "The Doctors" as Dr. Althea Davis, where she earned the best actress in daytime drama Emmy in 1974.

Elizabeth Hubbard as Dr. Althea Davis on "The Doctors."

Hubbard also played first lady Edith Wilson in the TV movie "First Ladies Diaries: Edith Wilson," earning her second Daytime Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a daytime drama special.

Beyond television, Hubbard also had roles in "I Never Sang for My Father" and "Ordinary People," both Academy Award nominated films.

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In 1983, she had a brief stint on "One Life to Live" before landing her defining role on "As the World Turns."

Hubbard adored her fans and told Soap Opera Digest in 2015, "I love them and I mean that. Theyre in my heart let the fans know that I love them and honor them and I still look at the poems I sent them. Ive dated many men in my life, but my secret love affair is with the fans."

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Elizabeth Hubbard was dedicated to her fans, telling Soap Opera Digest in 2015, "They're in my heart."

The actress was married to David Bennett from 1970 to 1972, and the couple shared one child, son Jeremy.

The soap star continued working after the conclusion of "As the World Turns," most recently appearing on the digital series "Anacostia," where she earned an eleventh Daytime Emmy nomination in 2016.

Martha Byrne, who played Hubbard's onscreen daughter Lily, shared a touching tribute on her Instagram.

"As many of you are finding out this morning, Elizabeth Hubbard passed away. First and foremost I want everyone to know I made sure she was aware of how much everyone loved her. I would share your comments from social media, videos and your fond memories of her as Lucinda, Althea, every time I saw her," Byrne wrote.

She continued, "She left it all on the screen. Ill miss her every day but grateful the universe gifted me with such a force of nature, of which the world will not see the likes of again."
The "P 7" plate was sold at a charity auction in Dubai on Saturday. Emirates Auction

A license plate believed the world's most expensive just sold for $15 million.

The "P 7" plate was sold at a charity auction in Dubai on Saturday.

The previous top spot was taken by the plate "1," which was auctioned off for $14.2 million in 2008.

A license plate believed to be the world's most expensive sold for 55 million UAE dirhams ($15 million) in an auction at the weekend.

The plate simply features one letter and one digit: "P 7."

Emirates Auction, which auctioned off the license plate in Dubai on Saturday, said that it was a new record. The company said that the proceeds would go to a food aid charity led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Dubai ruler.

The auction house told Insider that the plate's buyer wished to remain anonymous.

The most expensive license plate sold prior to the weekend's auction was the single digit "1," according to the Guinness World Records. It was bought for 52.2 million dirhams (around $14.2 million) by Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri from the United Arab Emirates in 2008, also during an auction organized by Emirates Auction. This is still listed as the record holder on the Guinness World Records website.

In Hong Kong, a license plate with just the letter "R" sold for 25.5 million Hong Kong dollars, or around $3.2 million, in February.

Dubai-based businessman, Balvinder Singh Sahni, told Bloomberg that he had bought the license plate "D 5" for 33 million dirhams in 2016. "Dubai is a city of gold," he told the outlet. "It's a city of big people ... Everybody wants to show their status."

"It was always my dream to have a single-digit number," he added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A prisoner exchange involving hundreds of detainees from Yemen's brutal civil war will start on Thursday, a Yemeni government official said, against a backdrop of rising hopes for peace.

Nearly 900 prisoners, most of whom were fighting with Huthi rebels, will be flown between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, which leads the military coalition fighting on behalf of the ousted government, the official said on Tuesday.

The Arabian Peninsula's poorest country has been at war since the Saudi-led intervention began in March 2015, months after the Iran-backed Huthis seized the capital Sanaa.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, through direct and indirect causes, and Yemen is suffering one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, according to the United Nations.

The prisoner exchange, the biggest since October 2020, will last three days and involve multiple cities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, said Majid Fadael, the official spokesman for the government delegation negotiating the exchange.

The Huthis will release 181 prisoners, including Saudis and Sudanese, in exchange for 706 detainees held by government forces, according to an agreement reached last month in Switzerland.

"All arrangements have been completed... to implement the agreed-upon exchange process," Fadael tweeted.

"The first day of the exchange process will be through reciprocal flights of the Red Cross between Aden-Sanaa and Sanaa-Aden," he added.

Jessica Moussan, public affairs and media relations advisor at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said "our teams are on the ground working to facilitate the safe transfer and repatriation of detainees".

"We are hoping that the upcoming detainee release operation in Yemen will take place in the next few days. However, considering the complexity of such operation, we are not in a position to confirm any specific dates as the situation continues to evolve," she told AFP.

The exchange agreement was struck days after the landmark announcement that heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran, long at odds in the turbulent Gulf region, would seek to restore diplomatic ties after a hiatus of seven years.

Story continues

- 'Political solution' -

Yemen's six-month, UN-brokered truce that officially lapsed in October is still largely holding, providing respite for a population of 30 million that is mostly dependent on aid.

This week, a Saudi delegation has held discussions with the Huthi leadership in Sanaa, hoping to "stabilise" the truce and seeking inter-Yemeni dialogue towards a "comprehensive political solution", according to the Saudi ambassador.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and "welcomed Saudi Arabia's extraordinary efforts to pursue a more comprehensive roadmap for ending the war and offered full US support for those efforts," the White House said in a statement.

Analysts say oil-rich Saudi Arabia wants to exit the war in neighbouring Yemen to focus on domestic projects aimed at diversifying its crude-dependent economy.

After Thursday's flights between rebel-held Sanaa and Aden, on Friday and Saturday prisoners will be flown in and out of Riyadh and Abha in Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Sanaa, Mocha and Marib, Fadael said.

"This exchange process will be followed by other exchanges in the near future until all detainees and abductees are released on the basis of all for all, and all detention centres and prisons are cleared," he tweeted.

According to the Huthis, 13 prisoners arrived at Sanaa international airport on Saturday, in exchange for a Saudi prisoner who was released earlier.

"More than 1,050" prisoners were released in the last major exchange in October 2020, according to the ICRC.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Huthis' political council, told AFP that the talks with the Saudi delegation "now revolve around lifting the (transport) blockade completely, withdrawing all foreign forces in Yemen, and releasing all prisoners".

"What we care about now is the issue of achieving comprehensive peace," he said in an interview.

But in a tweet, he also warned of "the return of war... in a more fierce manner" if negotiations fail.

"Saudi aircraft will bomb Yemen again, and the Yemeni air and missile forces will resume bombing Saudi Arabia," Bukhaiti tweeted.

mah/th/srm/dw/des
Former cop and self-declared geek Eric Adams held a press conference in Times Square today to let the city know how much he loves police robots. New York Citys mayor presided over a press conference alongside police officials to discuss a pair of pilots designed to increase the citys surveillance.

Ive stated this from day one, even when I was on the campaign trail: Im a computer geek. I believe that technology is here, the mayor said at the top of his remarks. We cant be afraid of it, and as [NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell] stated, transparency is the key.

At the top of the list is Digidog -- a pet name the police gave to a Boston Dynamics Spot robot. The system was greeted with a fierce public backlash when it was unveiled back in 2021, following its deployment at public housing in Manhattan. People had figured out the catchphrases and the language to somehow make this evil, NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller said at the time.

The pilot was ultimately pulled after a couple of months, over fears of profiling and increased surveillance. It was something that was introduced previously, under a previous administration and a few loud people were opposed to it, and we took a step back, Adams noted at todays event. That is not how I operate. I operate on looking at whats best for the city.

The NYPD innovates. Always. Join us in Times Square. https://t.co/hfgSrYcSHy  Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 11, 2023

Spot will be joined by K5, Knightscopes egg-shaped robot, which youve probably seen at shopping malls. The well-funded robotics firm has aggressively been targeting law enforcement with its products, and a nod from New York City is obviously a big vote of confidence (though, again, this is currently a pilot). Also included in the announcement is StarChases GPS system, which can be used to track vehicles remotely.

The Spot robots run $75,000 a piece, while K5 is generally quoted at between $60,000-70,000 a year to lease. The news comes roughly a week after Adams announced massive pay raises for officers. The raises of 2.25-4% will be retroactively applied back to August 1, 2017. A week prior, the Mayor announced sweeping cuts to the New York Public Library system amounting to $36.2 million.

These moves come amid media criticism over New York Citys crime rate. According to a recent study, NYC currently ranks as the fifth-safest city in the U.S. with a population over 300,000.

Late last year, the San Francisco Police Department drew national scrutiny for a clause allowing their police robots to use justified deadly force. The section reads, Robots will only be used as a deadly force option when risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other force option available to SFPD. That move was reversed the following week.

As with the robots being rolled out by the NYPD, none of the SFPDs robots were designed to kill. However, in 2016, Dallas became the first U.S. police department to kill a suspect with a robot, by planting an explosive to a bomb detecting system.

A month prior to the initial San Francisco news, Boston Dynamics joined four other leading firms in signing a pledge to not allow for the weaponization of their general-purpose robots. The open letter noted:

We believe that adding weapons to robots that are remotely or autonomously operated, widely available to the public, and capable of navigating to previously inaccessible locations where people live and work, raises new risks of harm and serious ethical issues. Weaponized applications of these newly-capable robots will also harm public trust in the technology in ways that damage the tremendous benefits they will bring to society.

New Yorks Mayor is, however, certainly bullish on their use as surveillance systems. Adams cited pushback to fingerprinting, post-9/11 policing measures and the CompStat to vocal concerns around the implementation of these new robotic policing systems. He explained, This is the beginning of a series of rollouts we were going to do to show how public safety has transformed itself, noting that Spot and K5 are just the beginning.

Addressing a question from the audience, Adams added, Digidog is now out of the pound.
A human resources executive at The New York Times is facing backlash after allegedly asking employees on a LGBT+ Slack channel to not raise their workplace concerns there, a report claims.

On Monday, The Daily Beast reported in its weekly media newsletter Confider that Natalia Villalobos, NYTs vice president of inclusion, strategy, and execution, made the comments in an April 3 post to TimesOut, the papers LGBTQ-focused employee resources group.

I just wanted to share a note about discussing or reporting about your workplace experience to ensure everyone knows about our resources, Ms Villalobos reportedly wrote.

She then proceeded to direct employees to several other human resources (HR) approved methods of airing their grievances.

This included on the ask-the-company Slack channel, a one-on-one with a manager, or going directly to HR representatives.

Going forward, I want to encourage folxs here to raise concerns or issues via the places above ^^^^ rather than in this ERG channel, she wrote.

The HRs suggestion riled employees, many of whom replied to Ms Villalobos and asked her what prompted her posts timing and how her suggestions could make LGBT+ staffers feel unsafe at the paper.

I cant help but feel lately like Im expected to just shut up and deal with the negativity because it might make some of my coworkers feel uncomfortable if I speak up, one Times staffer wrote in the messages reviewed by The Daily Beast.

It feels completely surreal and disrespectful to get corporate swag branded with a pride flag at the same time as were being instructed not to publicly discuss our experiences as queer people in the workplace, wrote another staffer.

The report said that Ms Villalobos addressed the employees concerns a day later.

My post was meant to support the community by offering channels for reporting workplace concerns like discrimination and harassment so that they are received by HR and other partners who can help address them efficiently, she wrote.

Story continues

It was not meant to reduce sharing, eliminate community support, or tamp down community building.

The report said that she also proposed to host office hours upon her return from personal leave but did not share what prompted her to write the message in the first place.

The Independent has reached out to NYT for a comment.

In February, an editorial in the publication that defended the views of the author JK Rowling reignited a war of words between the newspaper and its staff over the coverage of transgender issues.

Subsequently staff and contributors penned a letter criticising the publications coverage of transgender, nona -a binary and gender nonconforming people.

Separately more than 100 organisations issued a statement accusing the publication of spreading inaccurate and harmful misinformation about transgender people and issues.

The publication later defended itself and said that it was proud of its coverage.
Footage showed a male youth allegedly committing an act of animal cruelty outside an HDB flat in Bukit Panjang on Saturday. (PHOTO:IG/ismulazim)

SINGAPORE  Disturbing surveillance footage of alleged animal cruelty has surfaced on social media showing a male youth assaulting a hapless cat outside an HDB flat in Bukit Panjang on Saturday (8 April).

In the video, which has been shared on social media, a youth can be seen pulling down his pants and performing an obscene act, despite the cat's attempts to escaped.

The video was shared on Instagram on Monday by the cat's owner, Ismul.

The police told Yahoo Southeast Asia on Tuesday that it received a report on an alleged case of obscene act along Senja Road on 11 April at 12.10am, and that a male teenager had been arrested in relation to the case.

Animal welfare groups express concern over incident

Animal welfare groups, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Cat Welfare Society (CWS), have expressed deep concern over the incident.

The SPCA told Yahoo Southeast Asia that it was alerted to the video by a member of the public on Saturday evening and reported this to the relevant authorities.

SPCA has reached out to the cat's owner to offer support and has appealed to anyone with credible information about the identity of the person in the video to come forward and contact their 24-hour hotline.

"The contents of the video are deeply distressing and raise concerns about the rising number of animal abuse and welfare cases, including incidents involving minors in recent years," said Aarthi Sankar, executive director of SPCA.

The CWS has called on the authorities to investigate the matter urgently, given the availability of video footage.

"Singapore is a shared space between human beings and community animals. They deserve to be treated with dignity and live safely in their communities," said CWS in a statement to Yahoo Southeast Asia on Tuesday.

CWS also highlighted the importance of responsible pet ownership, reminding pet owners of their duty of care to ensure the safety of their pets. "With pet cats, there is a duty of care imposed on owners... We hope that the family whose cat was affected will act responsibly and keep their cat safely indoors," added CWS.

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In light of recent incidents involving younger individuals mistreating and abusing animals, the CWS calls for an active effort to incorporate lessons on caring for community animals and responsible pet ownership in the school curriculum.

The organisation is working on an education programme they hope to share with educators and authorities in the next quarter.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.
Country star Zach Bryan has voiced his support for the transgender community amid the transphobic backlash against Bud Lights campaign with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Last week, veteran country artist Travis Tritt announced that he would be removing Anheuser-Busch products from his rider over the companys partnership with Mulvaney.

Scores of videos have been shared on social media showing conservative consumers pouring away drinks owned by the company, including Budweiser and Michelob, or smashing them up.

In a tweet shared Tuesday (11 April), Bryan used Tritts own lyrics against him to defend the transgender community.

I mean no disrespect towards anyone specifically, I dont even mind @Travistritt, the 27-year-old artist wrote.

I just think insulting transgender people is completely wrong because we live in a country where we can all just be who we want to be. Its a great day to be alive I thought.

His last sentence is a reference to Tritts 2000 single Its a Great Day to Be Alive.

Travis Tritt (left) and Zach Bryan (Getty Images)

Tritts pledge came after fellow Republican musician Kid Rock posted a bizarre video of himself shooting three cases of Bud Light with an assault rifle, declaring: f*** Bud Light and f*** Anheuser-Busch.

During the latest episode of his Sirius XM show, Howard Stern condemned Rock, saying: I wish I could call Kid Rock and have him come on the show and just tell me, Why are you so upset about this? How is it hurtful? I dont know why he got so upset.

Kid Rock, I know him. Hes got a great life. He transitioned from some kid in Michigan to a rock superstar! Im really dumbfounded by why someone would care so much that they would blow up a can of Bud Light and say, F*** Anheuser-Busch. I dont get it.

He then read out Tritts statement, adding: I would like to interview the guy. Im coming from a place of, Why do you care so much?

In a statement responding to the backlash, Anheuser-Busch said: Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics.

From time to time we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Dylan Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.
Goldman Sachs is distributing a pamphlet to employees that was drafted by the investment banks internal LGBT group and encourages staff to use recently developed gender-neutral pronouns, including Ze and Zir.

The employee guide, distributed by the firms Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender network, directs employees to proactively share [their] pronouns to foster an environment of respect and awareness. The hand out provides examples of the most common gender-neutral pronouns but leaves open the possibility that some employees may ask to be referred to by pronouns that are not included on the list or may ask that their coworkers refrain from referring to them using pronouns entirely.

Ze went to the store. I spoke with zir/zem. The apple was zirs/zes, reads one example of the employee guide, which was first publicized by the student-run Stanford University newspaper, the Stanford Review.

The guide also instructs employees to replace gendered language with gender-inclusive language wherever possible (e.g. hi all vs. hi guys).

On the backside of the instructional handout, Goldman Sachs offered eight Tips for Being An Inclusive Ally that include suggestions such as Be Proactive,  No Assumptions, and Handling Mistakes.

Recognize that some people go by multiple sets of pronouns, while others may choose to only use their name and eschew pronouns completely, Goldman Sachs tells employees under the tip on Variations.

This is what both sides of the sign looks like below which is being distributed through the firms Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Network pic.twitter.com/juWUcYaxaF  The Stanford Review (@StanfordReview) April 10, 2023

Its unclear how Goldman enforces its pronoun guidelines and whether employees who refuse to abide by it are punished. National Review has reached out to the firm for clarification.

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The prestigious financial firm made headlines in January 2020 when Solomon announced that Goldman Sachs would no longer help take businesses public to be listed on stock exchanges if the companys board was only comprised of white men.

Starting on July 1 in the U.S. and Europe, were not going to take a company public unless theres at least one diverse board candidate, with a focus on women, Solomon told CNBC at the time. We might miss some business, but in the long run, this I think is the best advice for companies that want to drive premium returns for their shareholders over time.

However, Goldman Sach was highly selective in which jurisdictions it chose to enforce such standards. While the bank still boasts of its diversity requirement, the massive caveat attached to the demand is that it only applies to companies in America or Western Europe.

When it came to the banks extensive international ties in Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East, where all-male boards are more common, a Wall Street Journal editorial asserted, Goldman Sachs remains non-committal.

Goldman says that it will consider extending the policy to other regions over time after consulting with clients, and as diversity awareness increases, the January 2020 article noted. As of April 2023, the corporation has yet to revise its policy.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate and Goldman Sachs alum, dedicated much of his 2021 bestseller, Woke Inc., to the banks hypocrisy in ignoring corruption scandals involving business partners in Malaysia while catering to woke virtues.

Large banks like Goldman Sachs are particularly adept at playing the woke capitalist game, Ramaswamy writes.

More from National Review
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to discuss how to improve the efficiency of the Ukrainian Armed Forces command and control systems and strengthen interactions between units of security and defence forces when undertaking combat missions.

Source: website of the President of Ukraine

Quote: "The participants [of the meeting  ed.] heard the reports on the overall operational situation on the frontline as well as [reports on] the situation in parts of the front within the areas of responsibility of [different] operational and strategic groups of troops."

Details: Defence intelligence leaders informed other meeting participants about Russias likely actions in the near future.

The extent to which various units of forces have sufficient ammunition supplies has also been discussed.

Furthermore, meeting participants discussed the progress with staffing the newly formed defence brigades and equipping them with weapons and military equipment.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Firefly Fiber Broadband celebrated some big numbers April 5 at Veritas Winery in Afton: 20,000 active rural accounts, more than 4,000 miles of fiber, and a more than $150 million investment for parent company Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC)s members.

Dutch Creek resident Susan McSwain is one of those 20,000 customers, and told an audience in the Veritas ballroom what a Firefly fiber internet connection has meant to her.

I do a lot of research online on my computer and in the before-Firefly years, I became intimately acquainted with that little buffering circle as it spun endlessly on my monitor screen, McSwain said.

She and her husband Robert live in the second-oldest occupied home in the county, built in the 1750s and nestled in the mountains east of Lovingston.

The day they were added to the Firefly footprint, McSwain was released from buffer circle purgatory.

With a reliable high-speed internet connection, McSwain said shes been able to identify and add 229 Nelson County species sightings to the Butterflies and Moths of North America online database. Shes also been able to complete extensive genealogical research, discovering what brought her ancestors from Gibraltar and Sri Lanka to Florida.

Having Firefly is like having a planetary library on a little screen on my desk. Like a moth, I can journey through a dark night to seek yet-undiscovered shores. Thank you, Firefly and CVEC, for allowing me to access this world of wonder, McSwain said.

She was joined by Firefly leadership, local and state elected officials, and representatives from Fireflys contractor partners for the speaking portion of a luncheon event at Veritas to celebrate the 20,000-connections milestone.

CVECs fiber build covers 14 counties, including rural portions of Amherst County and much of Nelson.

U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-5th District, called broadband connectivity an essential utility, and said with 20,000 connections, Firefly is literally changing lives.

It is a privilege to support this. I will tell you this is one of the issues that has bipartisan support and it transcends all levels of government. We recognize how important this is, particularly in our rural communities, which is mostly what I represent here today, Good said.

Senator Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, echoed his point: Jobs, economics, businesses, information, it doesnt know any partisanship, everybody needs it and everybody at every level has come together to help spread broadband, but you guys have gone above and beyond and created the model that a number of people are following across the Commonwealth, and I hope across the country to bring this vital service.

Firefly Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Bruce Maurhoff acknowledged the accomplishment and spoke to the backlog of 2,500 more accounts awaiting service in areas where fiber construction is complete.

With those still waiting, plus plans for a build of an additional 4,500 miles of fiber funded by VATI [the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative], our work is not done. But today is a day to celebrate what has been done so far and to thank those whove made it possible, he said.

This project was only possible because we had a team with the technical expertise, but also a passion for expanding broadband to people that needed it.

Firefly and construction partner S&N Communications presented the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank with a check for $20,000  ... in celebration of our 20,000, were giving you $20,000 said Firefly CEO and President Gary Wood  to supply more than 80,000 meals to the community.

Firefly, S&N Communications, and cooperative bank CoBank also made a $20,000 donation during the ceremony to the Roberta I. Harlowe Scholarship Foundation, named for Vice Chair of the CVEC Board of Directors Roberta Harlowe. The fund will be awarded in $2,000 amounts to high schoolers in the CVEC territory, which includes the counties of Nelson, Amherst, Appomattox and Campbell.
Del. Matt Fariss, R-Campbell, will not be running for a seat in the newly drawn 51st District of the Virginia House of Delegates after the deadline to file to run passed, according to the districts Republican legislative committee chair.

Fariss, who currently serves in the 59th District, which covers Appomattox and Buckingham counties, plus parts of Albemarle, Campbell and Nelson counties, has served in the House of Delegates since 2012.

Attempts to reach Fariss for comment were unsuccessful.

The new 51st District  redrawn in 2021 redistricting  now covers parts of Campbell, Bedford and Pittsylvania counties. This Novembers election will determine the new representative for the district, which currently represents Prince William County.

The new 51st District, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, is rated as strong Republican, with an estimated 79% of the district voting for Gov. Glenn Youngkin in the 2021 gubernatorial election.

According to Doug Barringer, the districts Republican committee chair, Fariss missed the March 30 deadline, meaning Eric Zehr, a former Campbell County Board of Supervisors member, will represent the Republican Party on the ballot in November.

Zehr, Barringer said, was the only candidate who filed the paperwork at the time of the deadline, making him the candidate by default.

I have not spoken with Matt Fariss for a couple of weeks but, on behalf of Republicans in Campbell County and the previous HD59, I offer my sincere thanks to Matt for his many years of service to our community and Commonwealth, and wish only the very best to him and his family in the days ahead, Barringer said.

The decision to not file the paperwork comes just over a month after Fariss was charged in Campbell County with one count each of malicious wounding, hit and run, and reckless driving, according to Virginia State Police, stemming from an incident which took place on March 2.

Fariss said in March that the charges are false, and I look forward to clearing them in a court of law.

According to online court documents, Fariss is scheduled to appear in Campbell General District Court at 2:30 p.m. May 16 for a preliminary hearing on the charges.
LPD: Teen arrested following malicious wounding at a city apartment complex

The Lynchburg Police Department is investigating a malicious wounding that occurred at the Vistas at Dreaming Creek on Monday night that left one juvenile being hospitalized, according to a news release from the department.

At 11:56 p.m. Monday night, officers responded to the 7000 block of Timberlake Road after receiving a report that a juvenile had been shot inside an apartment, LPD said.

When officers arrived, they located a 15-year-old male with a gunshot wound, according to the news release. Officers rendered aid to the victim right away and he was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital by medics for treatment of serious injuries.

LPD said the juvenile is in stable condition.

At the scene, LPD said officers witnessed a shirtless juvenile male, 17, with blood on himself attempting to hide a firearm behind a dumpster. Field officers detained the juvenile and he was arrested.

The juvenile was charged with one count each of malicious wounding, discharging a firearm in a dwelling, reckless handling of a firearm, underage possession of a firearm and the use of a firearm in commission of a felony, the department said.

The investigation is ongoing.

The department is asking anyone with information about this incident to contact Det. S. Bond at (434) 455-6161 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900. Enter an anonymous tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3 app on a mobile device.

 Bryson Gordon
Computer hackers intercepted log-in information from several state employees as the workers tried to access the state's 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 log-in 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 it was drafting bills and resolutions for introduction in the approaching General Assembly session.
Iowa cities would not be allowed to ban residents from owning specific dog breeds under a bill House lawmakers passed on Tuesday.

Rep. Jacob Bossman, a Republican from Sioux City, said the bill is intended to focus on responsible dog ownership rather than specific breeds.

What were trying to do, were taking this off the table, steering it in the direction of focusing ordinances on responsible dog ownership, he said.

The bill, House File 651, passed the House 82-16. Eight Democrats and eight Republicans voted against it. It would need to pass the Iowa Senate before becoming eligible to be signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

If made law, the bill would invalidate breed-specific bans, mostly on pit bulls and similar breeds, in dozens of Iowa cities.

Last fall, a federal appeals court ruled that Council Bluffs ban on owning pit bulls does not violate the U.S. Constitution. Sioux City officials repealed a ban on the breed in 2019 after a similar lawsuit challenged the ordinance.

The city of Keystone last year gave notice to pit bull owners they would need to get rid of their dogs because of a city ordinance banning the breed, but officials later reversed course.

This bill will allow Iowans to responsibly own the dogs of their choice, live where they choose, and will instead focus ordinances on dogs that have problems rather than specific breeds, Bossman said.

The bill would ban cities from adopting an ordinance that restricts or hinders a persons right to own or keep a dog based on the breed or physical characteristics. Cities could still implement ordinances that apply to all dogs.

If an individual dog is classified as high risk or dangerous, a city would be allowed to require a higher homeowners or renters insurance premium for the owner.

Insurers would also be allowed to impose higher premiums and other insurance changes based on actuarial data. The bill would not expressly block insurance companies from imposing higher premiums based on dog breed.

The bill was supported by the Humane Society and the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association. The Humane Society argues there is no evidence that breed-specific bans reduce dog attacks, and they are costly to administer.

"That sort of aggression isn't based on breed," said Angela Caulk, a lobbyist for the Humane Society. "It's more based on owner behavior and individual animal behavior."

The Iowa League of Cities was among the opponents of the bill.

Rep. Ross Wilburn, a Democrat from Ames who voted against the bill, said he opposed the bill because it takes away local control and there was uncertainty around what the bill does.

Local folks know who the offenders are, they get the calls, and so giving them the opportunity to manage and to control what happens at the local level is, I think, important for an issue like this, he said.

US Navy deploys more chaplains for suicide prevention
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Algeria has demonstrated that it is the main party in the Sahara issue by recalling its ambassador from Spain after Madrid supported Moroccos autonomy plan for the territory, in a diplomatic escalation that spilled over to trade.

Spanish ABC paper said Spanish exports to Algeria dropped 93%, while gas was all that Spain imports from Algiers through a Mediterranean gas pipeline, due to the closure of a much larger pipeline that crosses Morocco.

Algerias unilateral halt of gas supplies through the Maghreb-Europe pipeline of 13 cbm meant that Algiers was ruled by an irrational elite that is bent on weaponizing gas in diplomatic disputes.

While Algeria sought to replace Spanish with Italian imports, Spanish companies looked to other African markets to replace Algeria, said the paper.

By tacitly banning Spanish imports, Algeria projects an image of a country that is shooting itself in the feet and an unreliable trade partner that can at any diplomatic spat take irrational self-harming economic decisions.
Scores of people have been killed in huge protests that have taken place in Ethiopias Amhara region for the past few days against the federal governments plan to disarm regional paramilitary force.

The plan by the Ethiopian government to disarm Amhara States volunteer civilian militia has sparked protests and deadly clashes in the northern part of the region, with demonstrators blocking roads with rocks and burning tires to prevent the military from traveling around. This comes after some residents expressed fears that the governments decision might force them to give up territory that Amhara now controls or leave them exposed to attacks by neighboring regions.

Ethiopias 11 regional states have their own special forces to protect their borders, and to fight rebels but the federal 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 confrontations come at a delicate time for Ethiopias Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has been struggling to contain growing ethnically based political movements that could threaten the integrity of Africas second-most-populous nation.

In November last year, his government finally inked a peace deal with rebellious forces from the northern region of Tigray after a two-year civil war there claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Abiy is also struggling to contain a spreading insurgency in the southern region of Oromiya, where Amhara civilians have frequently been the target of mass killings. The regional forces have grown powerful enough to sometimes present a threat to central authority. But Abiy warned last Sunday (9 April) that the federal government would not tolerate opposition to the decree.
Germanys ambassador to Chad, Gordon Kricke, departed NDjamena airport over the weekend after he was declared persona non grata by the government for his impolite attitude and expelled from the country.

Chad ordered the German ambassador to leave the country within 48 hours for non-respect of diplomatic customs, the government said in a statement, but Chadian officials were elusive as to the actual reasons of his expulsion. This decision of the government is motivated by the discourteous attitude and the non-respect of diplomatic customs, the countrys communication ministry tweeted. But two Chadian government sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the media that the German ambassador was ordered to leave the country after interfering too much in the governance of the country, particularly by criticizing delays in holding elections after the coup, and a ruling last year that will allow interim military leader Mahamat Idriss Deby to run in elections in 2024.

Deby Itno was proclaimed president in April 2021, when his father who had led the vast Sahelian country for 30 years was killed in battle. The military junta initially promised to hand power to civilians through free and democratic elections, however in October 2022, Debys rule was extended for two years. The move has been slammed by the opposition and main rebel movements. A German foreign ministry official deemed the reasons for expelling their ambassador, who had held the post since July 2021, absolutely incomprehensible.

The expulsion comes some three months after Burkina Fasos military junta has expelled Frances ambassador to the West African country, amid deteriorating bilateral relations. Anti-French sentiments surged last year in the West African country.
The United Kingdom will halt the recruitment of health workers from Nigeria, placing the country on the red list of countries not to be targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers unless there is an agreement between governments, the government has announced.

The move comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) identified Nigeria as one of 55 countries with significant health workforce challenges, in a report released a month ago.

By the updated WHOs workforce safeguard list, Nigeria and the likes of Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and 47 others  mostly African countries  are now in the no recruitment list. Consequently, the UK government has advised health and social care employers not to actively seek workers from these countries except where there is a government-to-government agreement. The code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England, recently updated, has Nigeria returned to the red list countries, which means, no active recruitment is permitted, the government said.

Meanwhile, a bill seeking to mandate Nigerian-trained medical and dental practitioners to practice for a minimum of five years in the country, before being granted a full license, recently passed second reading at the House of Representatives. There has been concern in recent months over the relocation of many healthcare workers in Nigeria to foreign countries  a development that has retrograded the state of the countrys health sector.

In August 2022, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said a total collapse of the health sector was imminent, if urgent steps were not taken to address the brain drain in the sector. But Vice Chancellor of Redeemers University, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, told journalists that the Federal Government should create the enabling environment to motivate Nigerian-trained doctors, nurses and other health workers emigrating the country to work in Europe and other parts of the world to reconsider their choices.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Monday said the Asian giant is a better ally for Africa than Western countries as the continent is increasingly the target of rivalry among global powers.

Wang Wenbin, the spokesman of the ministry said during a press briefing Monday China can provide assistance to Africa in places and at a time when Western countries are unable or unwilling to do so.

China is the best ally for Africa, he added. The remarks come amid western campaigns to discredit the cooperation between Beijing and African countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron was in the Chinese capital early this month to meet with President Xi Jinping over several issues including Africa. Alongside France, Washington has sought to influence African countries to scale down ties with Beijing.

Several western countries have repeatedly accused China of debt-trapping African countries.

African countries do not complain and do not regret their close ties with China, Wenbin said.

The Asian country and the worlds second largest economy in recent year contributed greatly to Africas infrastructure growth, building roads, railways, and ports.
The workers party (PT), one of the main opposition parties in Algeria, drew a gloomy picture of the human rights situation in the country, calling for the release of political detainees and prisoners of conscience.

In a statement issued after the weekly meeting of the secretariat of its political bureau, the workers party called on the authorities to prevail the interests of the country by enacting the urgent measures of relaxation, starting with the release of political detainees and prisoners of conscience.

In this connection, the PT expressed shock following the heavy sentence of journalist Ihsane El Kadi by the judiciary to five years in prison.

Beyond the criminalization of the profession of journalism and freedom of expression as well as attacks on democratic freedoms, the repression that strikes the political action, constitute a danger to national sovereignty as it can serve as a pretext for foreign interference, warned the workers party.

It also warned against the dangers lurking behind the presentation to parliament of the bill on the right to strike.

It is a vicious approach that consists in taking advantage of the month of Ramadan and the distress of the majority of families facing the worst living conditions to pass a second project that liquidates, in fact, the historic role of trade unions, as a framework for organizing workers as a social class and as an instrument of defense of their interests.
The North Platte Public Schools Board of Education approved the amended calendars for 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years at Mondays regular meeting.

The calendars were updated to match the 185-day contracts for both school years. The calendars originally had 187 contract days for certified staff, which was two days more than the contract stated.

Two policies were repealed concerning the practice and procedure of setting administrative salaries.

The board approved a bid from Weathercraft for roof replacement at McDonald Elementary, in conjunction with building renovations at the school.

All action items were approved 5-0 with Cynthia OConnor not present.

Ellie Ramsey and Robert Stefka were recognized as March Bulldogs of the Month. February Bulldog of the Month River Johnston could not attend the March meeting and was recognized Tuesday as well.

The student spotlight honored Grady Sexson and Logan Streeter and Philep Willey, business teacher, regarding the media class Water War documentary. The film focused on the South Platte River Canal project currently under discussion in Nebraska and Colorado.

The North Platte Public Schools Foundation recognized Zach Larson, Lincoln Elementary teacher, and Kelly Carcia, paraprofessional at Jefferson Elementary as employees of the month.
Although the Legislature is still not moving at full speed, we have made some progress over the past week. Certainly, much time has been wasted with the ongoing filibusters, but we are still moving important bills forward that will benefit residents of District 42.

This past week was dominated by debate on bills that will reduce income and property taxes. Additionally, we debated public school funding alternatives that are intended to both reduce property taxes and increase public school funding. As we have discussed on many occasions, property taxes are assessed at the local level and the bulk of your local property taxes go to your local school district. Nebraskas current level of state aid to public education, in comparison to local tax funding, ranks at nearly the lowest in the nation. However, the current school spending on public education in Nebraska ranks in the top 25. The gap between state aid and school spending is made up by property taxes.

If I heard one message loud and clear during the campaign, its that property taxes are too high. I wholeheartedly agree! It is for that reason that I support LB 583. LB 583 will reduce property taxes by bringing more funding to public schools throughout the state and especially schools in rural areas, including the 10 public schools in District 42. The bill also caps school districts revenue growth to 3% unless a higher increase is approved by 70% of the school board or 60% of the voters in a special election. By increasing aid and slowing spending, property taxpayers should see reduced levies.

The week ahead should see three late-night days compared to last weeks one. In addition to going late into the night, the speaker has also signed off on allowing the committees to add more bills to each committee priority bill. Normally a committee amendment would include up to five bills, but because time is short, the speaker has said that as long as there is unanimous consent of the committee and no large fiscal note, committees can create larger omnibus bills. We could see some with as many as 30 bills in one amendment. This will allow more bills to be passed in the limited time left in this session. There are also still ways to pull out problematic legislation on the floor, if necessary, so there is no concern with rubber-stamping whatever the committee puts forward.

Although we dont know the full agenda, the speaker has announced that LB 626 (the heartbeat bill) will be debated on Wednesday. Were also likely to hear Sen. Tom Brewers LB 77 (constitutional carry) on Final Reading. That means LB 77 could be the first bill the Legislature sends to the governors desk for signing in 2023.

One of the looming questions in the Unicameral is the fate of all the priority bills with fiscal notes that were heard in committees other than the Appropriations and Revenue Committees. These bills will not be included in budget bills. And, since we dont know how much money the Appropriations Committee will leave for spending outside of the budget, it will likely be a mad scramble to get funding for non-budget projects. My State 4-H Camp bill, for example, has been added by committee amendment to LB 425, one of the Natural Resources Committee priority bills. However, it has a $15 million fiscal note. I am turning over every rock and working all angles to get this funding secured this year.

In the end, many will likely remember the 2023 session as the session of the filibuster. That will certainly be true. However, I think that this session will also be remembered as the session where we passed transformative tax cuts for Nebraska families and made significant strides in moving more educational funding from property taxes to state support. It will also be remembered for taking Nebraska back to a state that prioritizes the lives of the unborn. To that extent, this can and should be a very memorable session.

I look forward to hearing from constituents about issues impacting you.
Photo: Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman/USA TODAY NETWORK

Daniel Perry was ready for a confrontation. In Facebook messages, the Texas-based U.S. Army sergeant told friends he might go to Dallas to shoot looters and might have to kill a few people on my way to work they are rioting outside my apartment complex. Online, he searched for terms such as protest tonight and protesters in Seattle get shot and riot shootouts. On July 25, 2020, Perry, a white man, was driving for Uber when he drove his car into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters in Austin. One protester, a white Air Force veteran named Garrett Foster, approached Perrys car while legally carrying an AK-47. Perry shot and killed him.

Although Perry claimed self-defense in keeping with the states sweeping Stand Your Ground law, witnesses said Foster never raised his rifle. Prosecutors argued that Perry simply couldnt keep his anger under control, and on April 7, a jury found him guilty of murder. But Perrys conviction might not stand for long. Perry has not yet been sentenced, but the states Republican governor, Greg Abbott, has already said he intends to pardon Perry for his crime. 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 in a statement. I will work as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry. On April 12, days after the verdict had been announced, the New York Times reported that investigators hired by Perrys legal team had visited some jurors at their homes in an effort to show that they had relied improperly on information not presented during the trial.

The Austin American-Statesman reported that the Board of Pardons and Paroles must review the conviction and issue a recommendation to Abbott before he can issue a pardon. Abbott appoints the boards members, and he perhaps assumes he can influence the boards proceedings. Its what happens in Uganda or El Salvador, a defense attorney who wasnt involved in the Perry case told the American-Statesman. Dont expect Abbott to care. Elements of the Republican Party are embracing vigilante violence with dire implications for its future and the safety of its opponents.

Abbott seeks to appease the far right. Tucker Carlson called Perrys conviction a legal atrocity and invited Abbott to discuss a potential pardon on his Fox News show. To Carlson and his viewers, Perry may be the next Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three protesters and killed two in 2020. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the killings, became something of a hero to the right. After a jury acquitted him of murder, Carlson interviewed Rittenhouse and called him a sweet kid. He met former president Donald Trump and appeared at events for Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization. Rittenhouse may see something of himself in Perry. On Twitter, he called on Abbott to step in and do the right thing.

Rittenhouse and Perry werent alone in their vigilantism. According to Vox, there were 72 incidents of drivers ramming crowds of protesters during the height of the George Floyd protests from May 27 through July 7, 2020, alone. Drivers had powerful allies too. Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican, signed a bill that granted immunity to drivers who struck or killed a person if they were fleeing from a riot  under a reasonable belief that fleeing was necessary to protect the motor vehicle operator from serious injury or death. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a similar bill into law. These laws make it much more dangerous to protest  and thats exactly the point. The right wants to intimidate, punish, and even kill those who oppose it.

A deep history links conservatives to vigilante violence, though they sometimes deny it. Abortion providers know this well. By the time Scott Roeder murdered Dr. George Tiller in 2009, the Wichita-based Tiller had already been subject to death threats, a clinic bombing, and a shooting that wounded him in both arms. On Fox News, Bill OReilly regularly called him Tiller the Baby Killer and said the doctor had blood on his hands. OReilly later condemned Tillers murder but defended his own language. The Christian right walked a similar line. In public, it distanced itself from Roeder, but it did not change its rhetoric, and some activists reportedly sympathized with the murderer. The credit is going to go to him, Mark Gietzen, chairman of the Kansas Coalition for Life, told the New York Times. There are people who are agreeing with him. This was a familiar situation for the Christian right. Anti-abortion activists had marked the 1998 murder of another abortion provider, Dr. Barnett Slepian, with clinic protests despite the risk of further violence.

When vigilantes stalked Black Americans in the Jim Crow South, they did so with the help of powerful white conservatives. The 1899 lynching of Sam Hose painfully illustrates the complicity of elite whites who opposed racial progress. Hose, a Georgia man, had killed his white employer in self-defense and fled, knowing he would not receive a fair trial. The employers family later accused him of raping his employers wife, which further inflamed the lynch mob. The charge was a fabrication, as was typical. The man wouldnt pay him, so they got into a fight, and the man got killed  and then, in order to arouse the neighborhood to find this man, they brought in the charge of rape, W.E.B. Du Bois would later write, according to Philip Drays At the Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America. The press whipped the mob up further by imagining brutal fates for Hose. Georgias governor, a conservative Democrat named Allen D. Candler, offered a $500 reward for his capture. After authorities captured Hose, a mob kidnapped him from jail, tortured him, burned him alive, and fought over his remains. Candler would only attack Black Americans for not helping locate Hose. In Trouble in Mind: Black Southerners in the Age of Jim Crow, the late historian Leon F. Litwack quotes Candler as saying it was deplorable that Black Americans decried the lynching without acknowledging Hoses diabolical crime. Subsequent investigations found that Hose had never entered his employers home or assaulted the mans wife.

Although mobs no longer burn men at the stake, vigilante violence still threatens Black Americans in particular. They can hardly count on the police for aid. Police forces across the country have been infiltrated by white-supremacist elements. Officers commit extrajudicial killings for which there is rarely justice. As the journalist Ida B. Wells wrote in response to the murder of Hose, The charge is generally made that lynch law is condemned by the best white people of the South, and that lynching is the work of the lowest and lawless class. Those who seek the truth know the fact to be that all classes are equally guilty, for what the one class does the other encourages, excuses and condones. That basic dynamic is still at work in the United States. Black Americans are uniquely endangered by it, but it threatens anyone who crosses the right.

When men like Perry can kill with impunity, no one is safe. There will be other killings that Carlson will excuse and conservatives in power will condone. At stake is the right to protest and more: human life, even democracy itself. The streets are one front in a much bigger war.
The city that has by far hosted the most major-party national conventions will add to its legacy in 2024. Photo: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

It appears Chicago has won the competition for the dubious honor of hosting the atavistic spectacle of a national political convention. It was widely reported on Tuesday that the city was chosen to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention over Atlanta (the clear runner-up) and New York. The event will be held from August 19 to 22, 2024, and will presumably focus on boosting President Joe Bidens reelection bid. This will be Chicagos 26th major-party convention, the most by far of any city, though it hasnt hosted one since 1996.

With the Republicans already planning to meet 90 miles away in Milwaukee a month earlier (July 15-18, to be exact), the Chicago selection underlines the strategic importance of the midwest to both parties in 2024. Yes, Illinois is a blue-state lock. But its close proximity to the battleground states of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin  all of which have Democratic governors who backed Chicagos bid  makes it well-positioned. And while the impact of convention sites on subsequent general elections is debatable at best, it cant hurt. Even the mostly virtual 2020 Democratic convention in Milwaukee may have helped flip Wisconsin  the third-closest state in that election  from a 2016 Trump state to a 2020 Biden state.

And while Chicago reportedly won a recommendation from a technical advisory group rating the bidding cities on quotidian matters like hotel availability and local fundraising capacity, theres no question the final decision was a political one made (or at least endorsed) by Joe Biden personally. That presumably means he decided the alternative regional sunbelt strategy of bringing the Democrats to Atlanta wasnt so fruitful (by the end, New York really wasnt in the running).

It must have been tempting. The two states that were closer than Wisconsin in 2020 were, after all, Georgia and Arizona. And Georgia, of course, was the key to the success of Democrats in 2020 and in 2022 in winning control of the U.S. Senate. Going to Atlanta, with its rich civil rights history, might have also been construed as a valentine to the Black voters who were so central to Bidens rise to the presidency.

But Chicago (the home of both President Barack Obama and newly elected Black mayor Brandon Johnson, who personally lobbied Biden on his citys behalf) is also an important political center for Black voters. And perhaps just as importantly, the labor movement, which will be essential to any 2024 national Democratic effort, put a lot of pressure on Democrats to reject Atlanta, with its right-to-work law, non-union hotels, and anti-union Republican statewide leadership.

If there was any need for a tie-breaker, Illinois Governor J.B Pritzkers pledge to ensure that Democrats didnt leave Chicago with any debts may have been key. After all, Pritzker is wealthy enough to redeem that promise personally if need be.

In the end, the 2024 Democratic convention is likely to be a tightly choreographed celebration of Bidens presidency and a springboard to the general-election campaign, much as the Chicago convention was in 1996, when Bill Clinton and Al Gore began building the rhetorical bridge to the 21st century there and Democrats bounced back from midterm losses to win an easy presidential reelection. We have no way of knowing at this point if the 2024 convention will give the world a pop-culture moment like the 1996 gatherings Macarena dance craze. But the Windy City will definitely host gale-force torrents of political rhetoric, particularly if Republicans have already guaranteed a Biden-Trump rematch, which will galvanize the bases of both parties and give Democrats a chance to make a convention pitch to swing voters in places like Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Photo: Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

A stunning leak of a cache of classified Pentagon documents appears to be one of the most significant breaches of U.S. intelligence in decades, revealing national-security secrets regarding Ukraine, Russia, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as details about U.S. espionage methods and spying on adversaries and allies. The Pentagon has confirmed the leaks authenticity, and while the documents had been made available online for more than a year, U.S. officials werent aware of the leak until April 6, the day it was reported by the New York Times. The Justice Department quickly opened an investigation, and within a week the FBI arrested the 21-year-old suspected leaker, National Guard airman Jack Teixeira. Below is what we know about the leak and Teixeira thus far, including what secrets the documents reveal.

The leaks began more than a year ago

The New York Times reports that the suspected leaker, airman Jack Teixeira, apparently began sharing secret intelligence in a 600-member Discord group in February 2022, shortly after the war in Ukraine began. This was a separate, larger Discord group from the one where Teixeira shared secret intel over the winter. Per the Times:

The newly discovered information posted on the larger chat group included details about Russian and Ukrainian casualties, activities of Moscows spy agencies and updates on aid being provided to Ukraine. The user claimed to be posting information from the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency and other intelligence agencies. 

The posts reviewed by The Times appear to be detailed written accounts of the classified documents themselves, and identify which intelligence agency they are from. While it appears that the user likely posted pictures of some documents, those have since been deleted from the chat group.

Who leaked the documents and why?

Federal agents arrested the suspected leaker, Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old technology staffer with the Massachusetts Air National Guards Intelligence Wing. Teixeira was charged in a federal court in Boston with one count of unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information, as well as a second count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material. Both are violations of the Espionage Act.

A pic of Jack Teixeira he posted on social media - released by the NYT pic.twitter.com/IGZGUnN2Wb  Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) April 13, 2023

The Washington Post initially reported on April 12 that according to members of the small invitation-only Discord chat community where the leaked intel appeared earlier this year, the person who posted them was a charismatic gun enthusiast in his early 20s who created the group and apparently worked on a U.S. military base. By the time he was identified as Teixeira by the New York Times, federal agents were already closing in.

Teixeira, who comes from a military family, serves in the U.S. Air Forces 102nd Intelligence Wing, which is part of the Massachusetts Air National Guard based out of Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod. He was arrested on April 13 without incident outside his childhood home in North Dighton, Massachusetts. Investigators quickly zeroed in on Teixeira, who has held top secret clearance since 2021, and according to the criminal complaint filed against him, used his government computer and clearance to search for information about the efforts to identify him.

The Associated Press has more on the airmans role in the military:

Teixeira was a cyber transport systems specialist, essentially an IT specialist responsible for military communications networks, including their cabling and hubs. In that role Teixeira would have had a higher level of security clearance because he would have also been tasked with responsibility for ensuring protection for the networks, a defense official told the Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The Post adds that that Teixeira had access to the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, an internal Defense Department hub for top-secret information, according a U.S. official.

Members of the private Discord group told the Post the leaker, whom they referred to as OG, shared hundreds of posts revealing government secrets over a period of months, initially transcriptions of classified intel he had read and retyped, and then eventually photographs of the original documents. According to the criminal complaint against Teixeira, he told a member of the group that he stopped copying the documents by hand because he was worried someone at work would discover him. The Post reports that that Teixeira seemed to believe it was his responsibility to educate the other members of the Discord group about the world as it truly was:

The gathering spot had been a pandemic refuge, particularly for teen gamers locked in their houses and cut off from their real-world friends. The members swapped memes, offensive jokes and idle chitchat. They watched movies together, joked around and prayed. But OG also lectured them about world affairs and secretive government operations. He wanted to keep us in the loop, the member said, and seemed to think that his insider knowledge would offer the others protection from the troubled world around them.

Religion was another topic of interest for the group and Teixeira, but there was a dark side, too:

In a video seen by The Post, [Teixeira] stands at a shooting range, wearing safety glasses and ear coverings and holding a large rifle. He yells a series of racial and antisemitic slurs into the camera, then fires several rounds at a target.

OG had a dark view of the government. The young member said he spoke of the United States, and particularly law enforcement and the intelligence community, as a sinister force that sought to suppress its citizens and keep them in the dark. He ranted about government overreach. OG told his online companions that the government hid horrible truths from the public.

But group members have also told reporters that the leak seemed more motivated by bravado than anything else. One of Teixeiras handles in the group was jackthedripper.

What are the documents, and how many were leaked?

The Post, in its report on the source of the leaks, said it reviewed approximately 300 photos of classified documents as well as text posts that apparently transcribe other intelligence reports. Much of the media coverage has focused on a collection of about 100 documents from the leak. From the Posts reporting, it appears much more material than that was originally leaked, though most of the documents dont appear to have been made public. According to the New York Times, there is another collection of documents which the suspected leaker began sharing in another Discord group in February 2022, but its not yet clear how many there were.

The surfaced files from the later leak are photographs of briefing documents and slides, mostly prepared in February and March, based on intel collected by the NSA, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, DEA, and National Reconnaissance Office (which manages U.S. spy satellites). Markings on the documents indicate that some were cleared for sharing with allies, while others were designated for U.S. eyes only  which was a major clue they came from a American source.

Many of the documents appear to have been prepared for Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, though anyone with a high enough security clearance would have had access to them. It appears the documents in the first tranche of images are likely part of a classified briefing that was folded and removed to somewhere where the pages could be photographed. The New York Times has been able to match up details in the margins of the images with details in photos of the suspected leakers family home.

Some of the circulating leaked documents appear to have been doctored, but apparently that was done by pro-Russia propagandists after they were leaked.

How did they come out?

Per what has been reported thus far, the leaks began in February 2022 in a Discord group months ago in a small Discord community called Thug Shakers Central, where the creator of the group. Teixeira, began revealing classified intelligence last year. The images of the classified documents he shared with the group eventually spread to other Discord servers in March, then to other social-media sites in early April  at which point they gained the attention of the media and the Pentagon.

Are there more?

Its not clear if all of the leaked intelligence reports have been shared beyond the two Discord groups where the suspect is currently known to have leaked the information, but many of them clearly have. The documents revealed so far seem to have been prepared no later than early March.

What about the doctored documents?

Some of the documents circulated on social media have been doctored  for instance, to reduce the number of estimated Russian casualties in Ukraine and inflate Ukraines estimated losses. But that disinformation effort appears to have been made after the documents were leaked.

How has the Pentagon responded to the breach, and what damage could the leak do?

After becoming aware of the leaked documents, the Pentagon launched an investigation and reportedly imposed a strict clampdown on access to U.S. intelligence. Politico reports that Pentagon officials were greatly distressed by the leak, adding that experts said the disclosure could be even more damaging than the leak by Edward Snowden ten years ago, particularly because the information is so recent.

That potential damage is manifold. It might have compromised various intelligence-collection methods and sources, allowing adversaries like Russia and China to evade future U.S. espionage efforts. Information in the documents regarding Ukraines military weaknesses may also prove valuable to Russia if the country were not previously aware of that information. But the documents also contain numerous assessments based on U.S. signals intelligence (the spy term for intercepted communications) that targeted friends and foes alike. In addition to the diplomatic fallout, this could prompt allies to shore up their defenses against U.S. surveillance. And as Politico national-security reporter Erin Banco points out, the leak of such highly classified intelligence raises serious questions about whether the U.S. can be trusted to share and disseminate the intel within the government in a safe and secure way.

President Biden last week seemed to brush off the significance of the breach, explaining that Im concerned that it happened, but there is nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence.

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The Washington Post highlights how the leaked documents have shed new light on the ways the U.S. conducts espionage:

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.

Revelations So Far

Although no news organization or government source has confirmed the accuracy of the information contained in the leaked documents, there is at this point no doubt they are authentic assessments based on U.S. intelligence. Below are some of the key purported revelations from the cache.

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According to the Washington Post, a top-secret document in the leak, based on intel collected by human sources, said that Ukraine made and then abandoned plans to conduct deniable covert attacks on Russian forces inside Syria. They initially planned to arm and train operatives of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces to conduct strikes using drones that would target Russia-backed Wagner Group mercenaries in the country. The document also said that Turkey was aware of the effort and tried to limit potential blowback on themselves by suggesting the attacks be launched from Kurdish-controlled areas. President Zelenskyy ultimately halted the plans in December, but the intel document suggested the plans could be revived.

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The Washington Post reports that according to one of the documents, earlier this year the U.S. offered Ukraine a bleak assessment of its ability to hold Bakhmut against Russian advances and suggested they withdraw from the city. Ukraine went ahead with the defense of Bakhmut anyway, however.

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The leaked documents also contained top-secret information about four additional Chinese spy balloons that U.S. intelligence agencies knew about in February, after another one of the balloons flew across the continental U.S. before being shot down. The documents include annotated images, including one taken of the transcontinental balloon apparently taken by a U2 spy plane, pointing out the balloons similarities and assessing what they appeared to be equipped with. The Washington Post reports:

The Chinese spy balloon that flew over the United States this year, called Killeen-23 by U.S. intelligence agencies, carried a raft of sensors and antennas the U.S. government still had not identified more than a week after shooting it down, according to a document.  Another balloon flew over a U.S. carrier strike group in a previously unreported incident, and a third crashed in the South China Sea, a second top-secret document stated, though it did not provide specific information for launch dates.

A document produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and dated Feb. 15  10 days after the Air Force shot down the balloon that flew over the United States  contains the most detailed government assessment to date of Killeen-23 and two balloons from previous years, labeled Bulger-21 and Accardo-21.

Read the rest of the report here.

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The New York Times and Washington Post report that the documents indicate the U.S. has gained access to most of Russias security and intelligence services and high levels of Russian military command. It has intercepted communications within Russias defense ministry; gained insight into the internal planning of Russias military-intelligence agency, GRU; and obtained actionable intelligence on Russias military capabilities and war plans in Ukraine  many of which the U.S. likely passed along to Kyiv.

Russias elite special forces have been decimated by the war in Ukraine

The Washington Post reports that classified assessments in the leaked documents indicate that the conflict has gutted Russias spetsnaz forces, in large part due to their misuse by Russian commanders, and it may take as long as a decade to build the forces back up again:

Typically, spetsnaz personnel are assigned the sorts of stealthy, high-risk missions  including an apparent order to capture Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky  for which they receive some of the Russian militarys most advanced training. But when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion last year, senior commanders eager to seize momentum and skeptical of their conventional fighters prowess deviated from the norm, ordering elite forces into direct combat, according to U.S. intelligence findings and independent analysts who have closely followed spetsnaz deployments.

The rapid depletion of Russias commando units, observers say, shifted the wars dynamic from the outset, severely limiting Moscows ability to employ clandestine tactics in support of conventional combat operations. U.S. officials believe that the staggering casualties these units have sustained will render them less effective, not only in Ukraine but also in other parts of the world where Russian forces operate, according to the assessments, which range in date from late 2022 to earlier this year.

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Per the New York Times, the documents capture infighting and finger-pointing among Russian agencies responsible for different aspects of the war, including one report noting a dispute over the actual human cost of the conflict:

In one document, American intelligence officials say that Russias main domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, or F.S.B., has accused the countrys Defense Ministry of obfuscating Russian casualties in Ukraine. The finding highlights the continuing reluctance of military officials to convey bad news up the chain of command, they say.

The entry, dated Feb. 28 in a document with a series of updates about the war in Ukraine and other global hot spots, appears to be based on electronic intercepts collected by American intelligence agencies.  F.S.B. officials, the document says, contend that the ministrys toll did not include the dead and wounded among the Russian National Guard, the Wagner mercenary force or fighters fielded by Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of the southern Russian republic of Chechnya.

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One of the leaked documents indicates the U.S. has been surveilling Zelenskyys communications, CNN reports:

The U.S. intelligence report, which is sourced to signals intelligence, says that Zelensky in late February suggested striking Russian deployment locations in Russias Rostov Oblast using unmanned aerial vehicles, since Ukraine does not have long-range weapons capable of reaching that far.

Although its not unexpected that the U.S. would be monitoring Ukraines leadership, Ukraine has publicly attempted to discredit the disclosures, and Ukrainian officials are reportedly furious about the leaked intel, which has forced Kyiv to make changes to its spring-offensive plans.

The leaked documents also reveal that the U.S. had intercepted recent discussions with South Korean leadership on whether to break policy and provide military aid to Ukraine via an intermediary country. South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has since attempted to downplay the breach and the subsequent scandal it has caused in his country.

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U.S. intelligence assessments from early February expressed serious doubt about Ukraines ability to take back a great deal of Russian-occupied territory this spring, according to a review of one of the leaked documents by the Washington Post. The upcoming offensive is likely to produce only modest territorial gains owing to Ukraines lack of equipment, ammunition, and troops, the document said. It also noted that enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive.

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According to the Washington Post, one of the reports in the leaked documents indicates that, in early February, the Kremlin-backed mercenary force met with Turkish contacts to purchase weapons and equipment from Turkey for [Wagners] efforts in Mali and Ukraine, and that Malis interim president confirmed it could get the arms from Turkey on the groups behalf. Turkey declined to comment on the allegation when contacted by the Post, but if the assessment is accurate, it could mean the NATO member was covertly supplying weapons to both sides of the Ukraine conflict.

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According to a leaked top-secret document from mid-February, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi secretly ordered the production and shipment of as many as 40,000 rockets to Russia, the Washington Post reports. Egypt, a longtime key U.S. ally in the Middle East, has publicly maintained a policy of noninvolvement toward the war in Ukraine, and in a statement to the Post, the foreign ministry suggested that policy has not changed. Regarding the rocket plan, an anonymous U.S. official also told the Post, We are not aware of any execution of that plan. Its not clear how far the plan has progressed, assuming the leaked intel is accurate, nor is it clear how such a move would have impacted the relationship between the U.S. and Egypt.

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According to one leaked U.S. military document, British defense minister Ben Wallace told U.K. lawmakers last October that on September 29, two Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercepted and harassed a British RC-135 reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace over the Black Sea. Wallace said one Russian jet had flown within 15 feet of the U.K. plane and another had released a missile from a distance, but Russian defense officials had told him the missile launch was due to a technical malfunction. The U.S. military document referred to the incident as a near shoot down. British officials have pushed back on the leaked U.S. assessment.

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The Associated Press reports that one document, dated March 9, reported that 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. The AP adds that 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, and that the UAE has called the claim categorically false.

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Another of the leaked documents reveals that, earlier this year, the U.S. intercepted electronic communications between the pro-Russian hacking group Zarya and officers with Russias FSB security service in which the hackers said they had breached a Canadian gas-pipeline company and gained access to its control systems. The hackers purportedly shared screenshots of their access with the officers and claimed the breach gave them the ability to increase valve pressure, disable alarms, and initiate an emergency shutdown of the facility. The leaked briefing did not identify the Canadian company or the facility. It said the hackers claimed that they did unspecified damage, causing profit loss for the company, and that FSB officers told the hackers to maintain their access and await further instructions.

After news of the alleged hack surfaced, the Globe and Mail reported that it was unable to verify the claims and noted that there is no evidence to date that a natural-gas pipeline company in Canada suffered such an attack, which the Pentagon documents suggest occurred earlier this year. According to cybersecurity reporter Kim Zetter, a U.S. government source who closely follows critical infrastructure incidents in the U.S. said they heard chatter a while back that something had occurred at a Canadian gas facility, but was not aware of anyone confirming that any physical impact had occurred.

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According to one of the leaked documents, a March 1 CIA assessment said that, according to intercepted communications, leaders of Israels intelligence agency had backed protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus controversial attempt to overhaul the countrys judiciary. Mossad leaders advocated for Mossad officials and Israeli citizens to protest against the new Israeli Governments proposed judicial reforms, including several explicit calls to action that decried the Israeli government, the assessment said.

Netanyahus power play has triggered mass protests and strikes in Israel, and the backlash recently prompted him to at least temporarily abandon the effort. Israeli officials have denied the leaked assessment. Some Israeli pundits have also suggested that the assessment might have been referring to an open letter supporting the protests sent by former Mossad leaders and/or how the agencys leadership allowed employees to join the demonstrations, provided they did so only as private citizens.

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One late-February report in the leaked documents said the Wagner Group, the notorious Kremlin-backed Russian mercenary force, planned to discreetly travel to Haiti to assess the potential for contracts with the Haitian government to fight against local gangs.

Its not clear how far those plans progressed. The Miami Herald reports that a Haitian government official told the paper 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.

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Another document said that, according to intercepted communications, Nicaragua has been deepening its ties with China since its primary security ally, Russia, became entangled in the Ukraine invasion. Nicaragua and China have conducted negotiations over building a deepwater port in Bluefields, and a Chinese engineering firm purportedly began moving forward with initial plans in the middle of 2022. The U.S. assessment concludes that though Nicaragua still favors Russia, it probably would consider offering Beijing naval access in exchange for economic investment.

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The Guardian reports that a daily update slide on the war in Ukraine that is among the leaked documents listed the number of NATO special forces operating inside the country:

According to the files, U.S. officials assessed at the time that of the 97 special forces from Nato countries active in Ukraine, 50 were British. This is considerably higher than the number from the U.S. and France, which were said to have deployed 14 and 15 special forces, respectively. The documents appear to offer a partial snapshot of U.S. military assessments of the state of the war and allies support for Ukraine. They do not contain any information about the purpose of the deployments of U.K. or other contingents of special forces.

The U.K. Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the information but has attempted to discredit the accuracy of the leak in a tweet. France has denied the assessments claim that there are French soldiers on the ground in Ukraine. ABC News reports that according to a current and former U.S. official, a team of U.S. special-forces troops has been operating out of the American embassy in Kyiv:

Among several duties this team provides is security for VIPs and intelligence assistance to Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, according to the current U.S. official. The official stressed that they are not on the front lines and they are not accompanying Ukrainian troops in Ukraine.

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Serbia, one of the only countries in Europe that has refused to sanction Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, agreed to supply arms to Kyiv or has sent them already, according to a classified Pentagon document reviewed by Reuters. A document dated March 2 for the Joint Chiefs of Staff included a chart showing Serbia either agreed to sending lethal aid or had supplied it already, though it declined to train Kyivs forces. Serbias defense minister denied his government was deliberately supplying Ukraine.

This post has been updated.
Arizonas Kari Lake, a 2022 gubernatorial loser, now eyeing a 2024 Senate run. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The last time Donald Trumps political future was allegedly on life support, it was in no small part because he was being blamed for a Senate Republican midterm underperformance that left the GOP in the minority. Unhappy Republican senators who did not win coveted committee and subcommittee chairmanships complained both on and off the record about how the party needed to move on from Trump in 2024.

Well, Trumps 2024 prospects have obviously turned around. His lead over Ron DeSantis has ballooned in the RealClearPolitics polling averages from 12.8 percent in late February to 26.7 percent now. The long-awaited DeSantis Surge could still happen, but its further away than ever. And Trumps intraparty standing could get even stronger as Republicans shower him with near-universal support in his collisions with prosecutors, which are likely to continue throughout the 2024 primaries.

Accordingly, there are signs that the Senate Republicans who were so furious at Trump for his contributions to their 2022 electoral shortcomings are coming around to the reality that he may be at the top of the ticket in November 2024. As CNN reports, National Senate Republican Committee chairman Steve Daines of Montana is staying in close touch with the 45th president:

Privately, Daines has spoken multiple times with Trump and has been in touch with his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., while national Republicans point to the NRSCs early endorsement and fundraising for Rep. Jim Banks in the Indiana Senate race as an example of how the partys warring wings can try to avoid messy primaries.

The goal, GOP sources say, is to keep Trump aligned with Republican leadership  even as the former president has furiously attacked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the aftermath of the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, and as the Senate GOP leader has stayed silent amid the former presidents indictment on 34 felony charges in New York. Daines, however, has been vocal in his defense of Trump.

Even frequent Trump target Mitch McConnell has pivoted this year from deploring the ex-presidents position in the party to promising to back him if he is the partys presidential nominee (despite all of Trumps scurrilous attacks on McConnell and his wife).

It seems Senate Republicans are trying to avoid fractious primary fights instead of running aggressively against MAGA candidates. And in one highly visible case, they are trying to talk 2022 loser Kari Lake into running a more rational campaign if she makes a 2024 Senate bid, per CNN:

Lake, who has faced blowback over pushing baseless accusations of election fraud, was given this suggestion from NRSC officials: Shift to more effective messaging and away from claims about a stolen election, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The meeting, which was described as a positive one, focused on how Senate bids often turn on issues that are different than governors races, multiple sources said. Top Republicans quietly acknowledge Lake could become a frontrunner if she runs in the primary, hoping to steer her towards a viable campaign if she mounts one.

The truth is, the gap between Trump (as well as his proteges like Lake) and your average Republican congressional candidate is not all that large. All will savagely attack Joe Biden and his radical leftist party as a bunch of America-hating, God-hating, family-hating socialists; all will treat the Trump administration as a sort of Paradise Lost. Disagreements over what exactly happened in 2020 (and on January 6, 2021) will be downplayed even if Trumps not the nominee. And if he is the nominee, the prevailing GOP tune, regardless of prior criticisms of the man, will be Hail to the Chief.

Perhaps Senate Republicans more relaxed attitude toward Trump and his followers reflects a stronger GOP landscape in 2024. Its a target-rich environment, all right: Democrats are defending 23 Senate seats, five of them in states carried by Trump in either 2016 or 2020, and two in deep-red states. Republicans are defending just 11 seats, all of them in states Trump carried twice. They only need to flip two net seats to gain control of the Senate  or just one if they win the presidency and the tie-breaking vice-presidency.

So while many of the Republicans in the upper chamber may prefer to move on from Trump, they can adjust, just as GOP senators did in 2016 and 2020. Thats true even for McConnell, who will enjoy his best and perhaps last chance to serve as Senate majority leader in 2025.
The Hawkeye star appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and revealed details of how bad his injuries were

Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube

Jeremy Renner made his first late night show appearance on Monday since his snowplow accident.

Walking with a cane onto the stage of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Academy Award nominee, 52, danced along to the show's music before taking his seat.

"If there was any question as to who the toughest Avenger was, that's settled now," host Jimmy Kimmel joked about the Marvel star.

Renner then went on to detail the New Year's Day incident at his property outside Reno, Nevada, when he tried to jump onto the snowplow to stop it from running over his nephew. "I got eaten up under the tracks," the actor recalled to Kimmel, adding it was "a very very bad way to start the year."

The actor told Kimmel the broken bone tally was somewhere in the "35 or so" region. "We kept discovering them as they were going along because they went from critical order of priority of what I'm going to die from or not. Six weeks later they were finding another break, another break," he remembered.

The Hawkeye star likened the snowplow to a "giant metal cookie roller" and said he was "very lucky" none of his vital organs were severely damaged. "My eye did pop out, that's weird," he said, adding he had a collapsed lung but "that's fine, I got another one."

Lying in his hospital bed for the lengthy recovery and getting calls from his Marvel costars and actor friends was when Renner realized just how bad his injuries were. "[They are] terrible actors, they couldn't hide the fact that I looked awful," he joked to Kimmel, but admitted it was their reactions that made him think, "I might not pull out of this."

Jeremy Renner/Instagram Jeremy Renner

Related:A Timeline of Jeremy Renner's Snowplow Accident and His Ongoing Recovery

Renner underwent multiple surgeries following the accident. He was initially left in "critical but stable condition" after his snowplow (said to weigh at least 14,330 lbs.) ran him over while he was helping a family member get a "stuck" vehicle out of the snow.

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Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube

Family, fans, friends and colleagues, including several of Renner's Marvel costars, have rallied around the Hawkeye actor in the wake of his accident and the three months since.

Last week, Renner told Diane Sawyer that his The Hurt Locker costar Anthony Mackie "was there at my bedside in Reno" as he recovered from his injuries. He was also visited at home by Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania actress Evangeline Lilly.

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Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Japan and more have confirmed which royals will attend King Charles and Queen Camilla's crowning ceremony on May 6

Chris Jackson/Getty King Charles

King Charles' coronation guest list includes foreign monarchs, breaking usual tradition.

This week, several royal houses from around the world confirmed their attendance at the May 6 crowning ceremony of King Charles and Queen Camilla at London's Westminster Abbey. From Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf will attend with his eldest daughter and heir, Crown Princess Victoria. Representing Denmark will be Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, while Japan's government confirmed that Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko will travel to the U.K. for the historic ceremony. King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain confirmed their attendance, as did Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. Grand Duke Henri &

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg will also have a spot on the guest list.

Foreign monarchs being invited to the marks a change in past coronation guest lists. Foreign monarchs typically did not attend a British king or queen's crowning ceremony  instead, they would usually send heirs, consorts or other family members to represent them.

Related:King Charles' Coronation: All Your Burning Questions About the Crowning Ceremony Answered

CHRISTINE OLSSON/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Sweden's royal family

Prince Albert of Monaco previously told PEOPLE that he looks forward to attending King Charles' May 6 coronation with his wife, Princess Charlene.

"I'm certain that it's going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one," Prince Albert, 65, said. "We've maintained contact since His Majesty became King, but I haven't talked to him personally since the Queen's funeral."

"I'm certain His Majesty will add his own 'personal touches' to the ceremonies," added Albert. "But what those will be, I'm sure I don't know."

The reigning royal added that he will bring back a present from London for his 8-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.

Story continues

"I'll bring them any little 'trinket' I can put my hands on," he said.

POOL/Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Prince Charles and Prince Albert in 2006

King Charles' ceremony will be more modest than his mother's crowning 70 years ago. An estimated 2,000 guests will pour into Westminster Abbey's pews on May 6, while 8,251 people attended Queen Elizabeth's ceremony. And the service has been cut down to 60 minutes  a third of the Queen's three-hour coronation in 1953.

Last week, Buckingham Palace announced that the King, 74, invited over 850 community and charity representatives to his coronation. Over 450 British Empire Medallist (BEM) recipients are invited to see the service from inside Westminster Abbey while over 400 young people, some representing charities chosen by King Charles and Queen Camilla, will witness the festivities from the nearby St. Margaret's Church as part of a "special private viewing." From St. Margaret's, they'll also get to watch the coronation procession depart Westminster Abbey when the service ends.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Queen Camilla and King Charles

It was announced by the palace that Prince Harry will attend the coronation of his father, King Charles III, but Meghan Markle will not be by his side.

"Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet," the palace said in the statement.

Prince Harry, 38, wanted to be at the service to support his father at this important moment in his life, a friend tells PEOPLE.

May 6 is also Prince Archie's fourth birthday, and Meghan, 41, will spend the weekend celebrating with him and his sister, 22-month-old Princess Lilibet, PEOPLE understands.

Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Related:See King Charles' First Coronation Appearance  When He Was 4!  to See Queen Elizabeth Be Crowned

Coronation preparations are in full swing, with decorations featuring a graphic of King Charles wearing a crown going up around London.

The palace also unveiled the official coronation invitation and revealed the special role Prince George, 9, will play during the church service. George, who is second in line to the throne, will serve as a Page of Honor to his grandfather.

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Hong Kong: Choi Yuk-lin visits Zhejiang

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin visited a number of education units and an innovation and technology (I&T) enterprise in Hangzhou, Zhejiang yesterday and today, to learn more about local education and I&T developments, teacher training, and the cultivation of arts talent.

Ms Choi visited the Alibaba Group's Xixi Park this morning, to understand I&T development and meet Hong Kong staff.

She then toured the Teacher Education Experimental Training Centre of Hangzhou Normal University and met its leaders to explore ways to deepen Mainland-Hong Kong exchanges and co-operation on teacher training.

Ms Choi noted that the Education Bureau planned to organise seven Mainland study tours for newly joined teachers in the current school year. The first group set off to Guangzhou this morning to see for themselves the country's situation and latest developments.

In the afternoon, the education chief called at the Hangzhou Chinese International School for Children of Foreign Personnel and Hangzhou Greentown Yuhua School, where she met Hong Kong students studying in Hangzhou to learn about their study and boarding experiences.

She also visited the China Academy of Art (Xiangshan Campus) and exchanged views with its leaders on academic interflow and collaboration as well as nurturing arts talent.

Yesterday, Ms Choi called on Zhejiang Vice Governor Lu Shan to discuss further promotion of education interflow and co-operation, and visited Zhejiang Shuren University and the Xiling Seal Art Society.

She learnt more about the universitys vision and experience in nurturing talent with high-level applied skills, and the art societys experience in establishing Xiling School in Hong Kong to promote traditional Chinese culture there.

This story has been published on: 2023-04-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Senior Chinese legislator meets Venezuelan delegation

Xinhua) 09:13, April 11, 2023

Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with a delegation led by Mervin Maldonado, a member of the National Directorate of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and Venezuelan Minister of People's Power for Youth and Sport, in Beijing, capital of China, April 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese legislator Li Hongzhong met with a delegation led by Mervin Maldonado, a member of the National Directorate of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) on Monday.

Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that the two countries' leaders have maintained close communication and reached important consensus, charting the course for the development of China-Venezuela relations under the new circumstances.

Li expressed willingness to strengthen friendly exchanges between the CPC and the PSUV, strengthen exchanges between legislative bodies and push for more results in terms of practical cooperation between the two countries.

Maldonado, also Venezuelan Minister of People's Power for Youth and Sport, expressed his hope to deepen inter-party exchanges and promote friendly cooperation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The managing director of one of Auburn Universitys most impactful organizations and a pair of standout students are this years recipients of the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.

Alicia Powers, managing director of the College of Human Sciences Hunger Solutions Institute, is being honored for her lifelong devotion to the fight against hunger. Double major Allen Li from the College of Liberal Arts and College of Veterinary Medicine senior Taylor Gwynn join Powers as 2023 honorees, forming a talented trifecta of highly accomplished members of the Auburn Family.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award has been presented at Auburn since 1951 as a reminder of the noblest human qualities exemplified by Algernon Sydney Sullivan, a prominent humanitarian and first president of the New York Southern Society, now the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation.

Powers has spent her career advocating for change and inspiring innovative and collaborative solutions for the problem of hunger in the state of Alabama. She founded the Alabama Campus Coalition for Basic Needs to unify colleges and universities in the fight against hunger, established the Alabama Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to encourage the purchase of Alabama-grown produce and led a collaborative effort to establish Nourish Wellness, a pediatric health initiative.

An established national expert on hunger solutions, Powers also has served as a panelist and moderator at the White House and testified before the U.S. House of Representatives about Auburns efforts to address college student food insecurity. Powers earned her doctorate in Nutrition and Food Systems from the University of Southern Mississippi after completing her bachelors and masters in the same discipline at Auburn.

Li, a double major in economics and political science, has received the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship and been awarded the Lutzenkirchen Excellence in Public Speaking award. In addition, he serves as an official Auburn host as a Plainsman, has held positions as the director of inclusion and diversity and assistant vice president of academic affairs for the Student Government Association and led the Pre-Law Honors Society as vice president and president.

Gwynn, a champion of mental health and wellness awareness, developed the now annual Wellness Week while serving as wellness chair of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association. She was chosen as the 2021 Student Ambassador of the Year after developing a national charter to create the first student chapter of Not One More Vet  an organization that provides mental health support for veterinary professionals. In addition, Gwynn designed a wellness mentoring program after recruiting faculty members to complete extensive mentor training, garnering support and funds to create a calm and welcoming wellness space for rest and meditation.

Joanne Kim, a political science major from Auburn, has been selected to receive the W. James Samford Jr. 72 Memorial Scholarship. The award is named in memory of James Samford, a 1972 Auburn alumnus and member of the Auburn Board of Trustees from 1987 until his death in 2003. Kim, a Gramberg scholarship recipient, was named Best Delegate and Outstanding Chair/Rapporteur at the Southern Regional Model United National Atlanta conference, is a team leader of Emerge at Auburn, a public relations officer for the Model United Nations and vice president of the College of Liberal Arts Student Council.

Kim is a member of the Auburn University Flag Line and is a Student Excellence team member within the Office of Inclusion and Diversity. She also performed community service through the Carnegie Mellon public service weekend and was a cohort member of the Clinton Global Initiative University.

The Presidents Award and W. James Samford Jr. Foundation Award recognize one graduate in each school or college who has completed at least three semesters at Auburn with a minimum grade-point average of 3.40 and possesses outstanding qualities of leadership, citizenship, character and promise of professional ability. All honorees were celebrated at a special awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 11.

This years Presidents Award honorees are:

Johnathan Alexander Hampton, College of Agriculture

Joseph David Roh Jr., College of Architecture, Design and Construction

Braeden Jacob Stewart, Raymond J. Harbert College of Business

Ryan Scott Pollard, College of Education

Noah Soo-Hwan Kim, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering

Colby Landon Cheaney, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment

JaLia Jocquetta Taylor, Graduate School

Gabrielle Christine Thabes, College of Human Sciences

Allen Xiang Li, College of Liberal Arts

Chase Bradley Gill, College of Nursing

Caroline Arden Jackson, Harrison College of Pharmacy

Elizabeth Lauren Ledbetter, College of Sciences and Mathematics

Jonathan Everett-Anthony Schiavone, College of Veterinary Medicine
Safety Footwear is Not a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

When selecting footwear, workers should consider multiple factors to ensure their safety.

Success on the job site starts from the ground up. This generally begins with reliable safety footwear. For the past several decades, this footwear was often associated with bulky and heavy steel-toed, leather-shod, rubber-soled work boots. However, thanks to innovations from footwear brands, there are now a myriad of performance and comfort enhancements available in work boots that do not come at the expense of safety.

These advancements are particularly important with the rise in manufacturing, distribution and warehousing jobs, as well as changing and increasingly diverse workforces that have been entering the industry. While other industries have struggled in a post-pandemic environment, factory production in September 2022 was the highest in 14 years. With this changing landscape, the right personal protective equipment is essentialand safety footwear is no exception.

A Changing Landscape

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, employment rates in manufacturing began to skyrocket. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 46,000 employees joined this industry between February 2020 to September 2020 despite decreasing employment rates in a majority of other sectors. This was primarily due to the explosion in e-commerce sales during the pandemic, as nationwide shutdowns left many consumers seeking online shopping solutions. Since 2020, the rise in online shopping has persisted and has become an integral part of the consumer experience worldwide. This has created an equally increased need for skilled labor in the logistics and distribution industries.

With this paradigm shift in the way consumers shop, the manufacturing industry will continue to rise as employment in hand laborers and material movers are projected to grow as much as seven percent between 2020 to 2030. Meeting this increased demand necessitates a generation of workers who are new to this industry as well as potentially longer shifts for those continuing to work in this sector. Consequently, the safety and comfort of those working in these labor-intensive industries must be considered. To avoid injuries and fatigue, outfit this workforce with PPE, including safety footwear that will enable success on the job.

This article originally appeared in the March 1, 2023 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
I often get asked by readers of my articles, most of which involve investing in upstream oil and gas producers, and the service providers that support their activities, what the future of liquid, petroleum based fuels might be. People asking these questions, are rightly concerned about the viability of these companies. Concerned because much of what they hear from the news media, governmental entities, and, sometimes, from the companies themselves indicates there is a curtain dropping on petroleum assets in the next few years. All thanks to an Energy Transition, narrative about which they hear on an endless loop from morning to night. To which I reply, Poppycock.

If it were true there was an actual Energy Transition taking place, there would be no point in investing in oil and gas, as there would be a point at which a demand signal would be sent by the market that these fuels were no longer needed. There is no such signal being sent, in fact its quite the reverse. The market has instead been telling us that, despite minor fluctuations driven by external economic conditions, there is steady, resilient, and increasing demand for oil and gas.

In this article we will look at several examples that support this contention.

The not-so Energy Transition

Let me state unequivocally, THERE IS NO ENERGY TRANSITION! Period, full-stop, end of story. There will be no cut off of oil and gas in 2030, 2040, or 2050. There is of course energy "addition," in the form of wind, solar, biofuels, and Hydrogen. These intermittent sources will share a modest part of the global energy load along with on-demand, petroleum sources as long as there is a need for individual transportation and travel, we retain an industrial economy, and eight-billion people show up for breakfast daily.

Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy and frequent commentator on Climate Change topics and the Energy Poverty that may result from a head-long rush to abandon petroleum-based fuels, was quoted in an interview with a Denver political forum, The Podium, as saying-

Investments in combating climate change can be done constructively, but all too often we overlook the consequences of driving up energy costs and driving down energy reliability. These costs are borne disproportionately by lower income folks, who require modern energy to access clean-cooking fuels, easy access to drinking water, sanitation, education, etc.

Below is an Energy Information-EIA, graphic, a data source to which we regularly turn in seeking supporting data for various topics. It is forecasting liquid fuels consumption through 2050. The scale might as well be 2100, it won't matter. Heres my bet. Your grandchildren will be pulling up to a gas pump somewhere in the distant future to fill the family jalopy, the same as you do now. I am that confident in my conviction that the world will require this basic energy source far longer than most people, and certainly most governmental bodies anticipate, or will admit.

Related:The Biggest Losers Of $100 Oil



This graphic is instructive. It tells you that the scientists and statisticians at the Energy Information Agency-EIA, have concluded, that oil and gas have a bright future as far as the eye can see. In no scenario, this agency projects do we ever use less oil than we are using now, and in most cases, quite a bit more will be needed, as you can see in the EIA High Economic Growth curve (Dark, brown line at top).

When I am making a wide-ranging point, I like to have corroboration from another independent source. In this case, I turn to OPECs monthly report, on the assumption they know a thing or two about the future of fuels. Below is their estimate for petroleum-based fuels through 2045. It seems even more conservative than the EIA estimate above, as only about 15% growth is anticipated.

The point is, both agencies, one of which is admittedly, talking their book, have put their stamp on demand estimates that clearly show oil and gas will play a major role and increasing role in energy supply in the coming decades.

Returning to the EIA, and converting energy to quadrillions of British Thermal Units-BTUs, we see that oil and gas are projected to provide ~75 of the 118 quadrillion BTUs of energy supplied annually to meet global needs. About 63% of global energy requirements will be met by petroleum sources, a figure which includes about a ~2% shift to biofuels.

The EIA graphic shows that the big loser will be coal, and it from that source that non-hydro renewables will claim their roughly 18% market share by 2050.

Overall it shows that oil and gas will decline from about a 68% of global energy supply, to 63% as mentioned above, or 61% if you back out the 2% that is contributed by biofuels.

Your takeaway

Contrary to what you hear from the Mainstream Media, companies are increasing their investments in oil and gas. Below is a graphic put together by Jeff Krimmel, Chief Strategy Officer for Pinnacle Reliability, an Energy Data consulting organization. It shows very clearly that the top 15 independent oil and gas producers are increasing their capex budgets in 2023. Unsurprisingly, they all plan to produce more oil and gas in the coming year.

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These companies are not alone. The Super Majors, ExxonMobil, (NYSE:XOM), Chevron, (NYSE:CVX), Shell, (NYSE:SHEL), and even BP (NYSE:BP), (Which in 2022 forecast a 40% decrease in oil and gas production by 2030, has backed-off that goal, instead reducing these sources by 25% by 2030.) have all increased their upstream capex budgets by billions in 2023. They would not do that if there was fear their production would become superfluous.

Most notable among them is XOM, reportedly considering a merger with Pioneer Natural Resources, (NYSE: PXD). A capital investment that will run into the 10s of billions if they proceed, and create a Permian behemoth producing ~1.3 mm BOEPD.

PXD generated $11 bn in EBITDA in 2022, and is currently the Permian's largest producer at ~650K BOEPD. Their trading multiples are ~5X and $81.00 per barrel.

These multiples probably do not reflect the true value of the 2.2 bn of 2P-Proved and Probable, reserves upon which PXD sits, and XOM covets. What an offer by XOM for PXD would show beyond a doubt, is that crude reserves are currently undervalued in relation to the role they will play in providing energy in the coming decades.

Note: I will have a separate OilPrice article discussing the Pros and Cons of a possible tie-up between these two oil giants.



By David Messler for Oilprice.com

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Citigroup has bucked the bullish oil price forecast trend in analyst circles, expecting oil prices to dip instead of rally further despite OPEC+s efforts in that direction.

The banks commodity chief Ed Morse noted that Chinas post-pandemic recovery was progressing more slowly than initially expected and that could affect demand patterns, ultimately hurting prices.

Were waiting to see whats really happening with the economy, but it is a slower recovery, Morse told Bloomberg. If anything, that will be an end-of-year phenomenon.

Whats more, Citi believes that traders may be underestimating additional oil output potential in Venezuela and Iraq, which, if it materializes, would offset some of the latest OPEC+ cuts.

In fairness, Iraq is one of the participants in the latest round of cuts, committing to reduce its oil production rate by 211,000 bpd.

Venezuela, for its part, just reported higher oil exports for March after the end of a review into past deals after it emerged that many of the oil cargoes sent overseas had not been paid for.

The country exported more than 700,000 bpd of crude last month, mainly thanks to more cargoes being lifted by Chevron, which was recently allowed by the White House to return to Venezuela.

Besides Citi, Morgan Stanley is also bearish on oil even after the OPEC+ cuts. In fact, the bank reduced its oil price target after the OPEC+ announcement, arguing that the latest move of the cartel was a probable admission from the biggest producers that demand may not be doing too well in the coming months.

OPEC probably needs to do this to stand still, Martijn Rats, chief commodity strategist at Morgan Stanley, said.

However, the decision reveals something, it gives a signal of where we are in the oil market. And look, lets be honest about this, when demand is roaringthen OPEC doesnt need to cut, Rats noted.

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By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The on-off-on-off US$27 billion four-pronged megadeal between TotalEnergies and the Federal Government of Iraq appears to be back on again, although it is not quite the deal that the French oil and gas supermajor first had in mind. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, TotalEnergies, along with Italys Eni and the UKs BP and Shell, have been key to Europes attempts to secure new energy supplies to substitute for those lost from Russia as a result of new sanctions against it. Balanced against this need to act for the greater good, TotalEnergies will be all too aware of the risks inherent in doing business in Iraqs oil and gas sector.

This awareness of the risks may be the reason for the yo-yoing on the final terms of the megadeal, which has caused its delay since the initial agreement was signed in September 2021. The key risk for Western energy companies working in Iraq is that they become caught up in the endemic corruption that pervades the country oil and gas sectors, leading to extreme reputational damage for them and the country they represent, not to mention financial and legislative risks as well. This has been repeatedly attested to by the independent Transparency International (TI) in its Corruption Perceptions Index publications, in which Iraq perennially features in the worst 10 out of 180 countries for its scale and scope of corruption. Massive embezzlement, procurement scams, money laundering, oil smuggling and widespread bureaucratic bribery that have led the country to the bottom of international corruption rankings, fuelled political violence and hampered effective state-building and service delivery, TI states. Political interference in anti-corruption bodies and politicization of corruption issues, weak civil society, insecurity, lack of resources and incomplete legal provisions severely limit the governments capacity to efficiently curb soaring corruption, it concludes. Related: Drilling Activity Continues To Fall In The U.S.

It is these risks connected to Iraqs oil and gas sectors  which still account for more than 99 percent of the countrys exports, 85 percent of the governments budget, and 42 percent of its gross domestic product  that have led to a slew of major Western energy companies leaving Iraq in recent years. This includes Shell leaving the supergiant Majnoon oil field in 2017 and the supergiant West Qurna 1 oil field in 2018, and the U.S.s ExxonMobil announcing that it too wants to get out of West Qurna 1 and its withdrawal from the crucial Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP) some time ago. This CSSP is one of the four projects included in TotalEnergies four-pronged megadeal and the key reason why the deal is going ahead from Iraqs side is because China does not have the technical capabilities to do it.

Very shortly after this massive fresh investment in Iraq by a cash-rich Western energy firm had been announced in September 2021, it was also announced by Iraq that the omni-toxic idea of re-establishing the Iraqi National Oil Company (INOC) was to be resuscitated. As highlighted back in 2018 by former senior economist with Iraqs Oil Ministry, and now head of the Oslo-based Development Consultancy & Research, Ahmed Mousa Jiyad, Article 12 of the law relating to the establishment of INOC contained: The legal cover for formalised corruption and kleptocracy by assigning the three funds [Citizens Fund, Generations Fund, Reconstruction Fund] at least 10 percent of the revenues of the oil exports at the discretion of the INOCs board of directors. He added that the power of the INOC board of directors could be extended even further, as under the 2018 version of the law (and the 2021 version relating to INOC), revenues generated from the export and sale of oil and gas would be considered as financial revenues for INOC.

Unfortunately for Iraq, it quickly became clear that one does not get to become a senior figure in Frances leading oil and gas company by being as stupid as seems to be the minimum requirement to secure a senior position in whichever department of the Oil Ministry it was that thought bringing back the INOC was a good idea. Almost as quickly as the idea was announced, TotalEnergies refused point blank to partner with the INOC due to the lack of clarity on the legal status of the company - in laymans terms, the French oil and gas behemoth did not trust INOC as far as it could throw it. In October 2022, then, Iraqs Federal Supreme Court invalidated the decision to re-establish the Iraqi National Oil Company on the basis that several of its founding clauses were in breach of the constitution.

Since then, the thrust of the toing and froing between TotalEnergies and the Oil Ministry appears aimed, at least on the French side, to keep everything as clean from a legal perspective as one would expect from such a company, which is also so evidently a corporate representative of its country. Based on previous experiences of Western energy companies in Iraq, there appear to be two keys to emerging from the risk/reward matrix of Iraqs oil sector with a corporate reputation intact. The first is to nail down the precise practical ramification of every single word in every single sentence in every contract with the best legal and accountancy minds available from the West, which is what TotalEnergies has done. And the second is to minimise the stake in a proposed project held by any entity directly or indirectly connected to the Iraq government. This latter point may or may not be connected to why TotalEnergies only agreed to go ahead with the megadeal when the Iraq government dropped its demand that its stake in the four-pronged project be increased from the originally agreed upon 25 percent to 40 percent. As it stands, the current agreement is now for the Iraq government (through the Basrah Oil Company) to hold a 30 percent stake in the megadeal. TotalEnergies will hold 45 percent of it, with QatarEnergy holding the remaining 25 percent stake. There is evidence that Qatar has become much more accommodative of Western energy requirements  in the broadest sense of the phrase  in recent months, having previously been seen exclusively on the side of China.

If the four-pronged deal does go ahead as planned then it could be game-changing for Iraq. The first of these projects - the completion of the CSSP - is crucial to enabling Iraq to reach its longer-term crude oil production targets of 7 million barrels per day (bpd), and then 9 million bpd and then perhaps 12 million bpd, as analysed in depth in my latest book on the global oil markets. The project involves taking and treating seawater from the Persian Gulf and then transporting it via pipelines to oil production facilities to maintain pressure in oil reservoirs to optimise the longevity and output of fields. The long-delayed plan for the CSSP is that it initially supplies around 6 million bpd of water to at least five southern Basra fields and one in Maysan Province, and is then expanded for use in other fields.

The second of the projects is also a matter of urgent necessity: to collect and refine associated natural gas that is currently burned off at the five southern Iraq oilfields of West Qurna 2, Majnoon, Tuba, Luhais, and Artawi. Initial comments from Iraqs Oil Ministry last year highlighted that the plant involved in this process is expected to produce 300 million cubic feet of gas per day (mcf/d) and double that after a second phase of development. Iraqi Oil Minister, Ihsan Abdul Jabbar, also stated last year that the gas produced from this second TotalEnergies project in the south will help Iraq to cut its gas imports from Iran. Successfully capturing associated gas rather than flaring it will also allow Iraq to revive the also long-stalled US$11-billion Nebras petrochemicals project with Shell, which could be completed within five years and would generate estimated profits of up to US$100 billion for Iraq within its 35-year initial contract period.

TotalEnergies already has ongoing experience of working across Iraq, holding a 22.5 percent stake in the Halfaya oil field in Missan province in the south and an 18 percent stake in the Sarsang exploration block in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan in the north. This gives it very specific operational experience of working on the ground in Iraq, which would also enable it to increase crude oil output from the Artawi oil field, which is the third of the four projects to which it is committed. According to earlier comments from Iraqs Oil Ministry, TotalEnergies would help to boost output from the Artawi oilfield to 210,000 bpd of crude oil, up from the current circa-85,000 bpd. The last of the four projects that were to have been undertaken by the French company would be the construction and operation of a 1,000-megawatt solar energy plant in Iraq.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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A 2019 winter storm, which brought high winds and subzero temperatures to Texas, caused a power grid collapse that blacked out millions of consumers and resulted in over 200 deaths.. The Texas legislature called for studies and proposals to remedy the situation, which led to the four legislative bills discussed below. Their solution is pretty straightforward: 1) create financial incentives for up to 10,000 MWs of new, mostly gas-fired peaking units, 2) set aside $10 billion, including zero-interest loans and subsidies for existing gas peakers, and 3) require electricity providers to compensate peaking generation (mostly gas-fired) via a market-determined rate to ensure plant availability when demand is high and power supplies tight. The last piece of legislation is aimed at limiting the further development of wind power by increasing grid interconnection costs, especially for remote renewable locations relatively distant from demand centers. Demand reduction techniques, often much cheaper and faster to implement than new build options, never entered the chat so to speak.

We should point out that this legislation bears a considerable resemblance to an April 2021 proposal made by Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway to build 10,000 MWs of gas-fired peaking plants in Texas for a price of $8-9 billion. These proposed plants would sit idle most of the year and would be dispatched by ERCOT (the Texas grid operator) on very short notice (10 minutes, according to the company). One unique feature mentioned was that these facilities would store LNG on-site to avoid a repeat of unexpected gas plant outages due to weather-related problems in the gas distribution system. But the real chefs kiss part of the deal was that Mr. Buffett and Co. wanted no part of the deregulated Texas power market. (See item three above, which would provide the guaranteed rate of return Mr. Buffett is seeking.) Only a regulated or guaranteed return would be acceptable to them, and the legislature capitulated while still publicly proclaiming ERCOT to be a truly free market for electricity. The local press noted that Berkshire Hathaway had at least eight lobbyists working in the state capital in Austin.

Given the considerable influence of oil and gas interests in Texas, coupled

with an almost gleeful disregard for environmental concern, this really wasnt a surprising decision. But we think this decision if implemented on the scale contemplated, will nevertheless be a colossal mistake. Having the political process insert itself into policy decisions typically requiring considerable expertise is always a crapshoot. In this case, the politicians did accept what we believe to be the correct messageas a standalone grid, they need more electric generating capacity in the state during the winter. And their preferred solution was new gas-fired peaking power plants, a big state subsidy, and a financial smackdown of new wind power development. If it were simply a matter of business as usual, we could tsk, maybe comment about unabated CO2 emissions and how they ignored obvious demand side management solutions adopted elsewhere, or discuss the longer-term implications of gas price volatility as LNG exports turn gas into a worldwide as opposed to a domestic market.

The problem the politicians are addressing is the right onethe state is very short of electric power, especially in the winter, as we have now seen several times in the past few years. But its not clear that short-term, peaking powerhowever its fueledis the answer. These winter storms create high electrical demand that lasts for days. And if so, the need in Texas is likely to be for more (and far more expensive) base load power generating capacity that can safely operate for months and months between planned outages as demand keeps increasing. The Berkshire/Buffett proposal strikes us as like trying to fill a flat automobile tire with a bicycle pump. It puts in the air, but its woefully inadequate to the demand of the situation. But the real short circuit in their thinking stems from a thornier issue. There are three simultaneous changes occurring in Texas and elsewhere. First, with apparent changes in the jet stream, winter storms are penetrating further south. Second, there is a considerable push for more electrification of residential and commercial heating systems. And third, when we put the first two items together, we see a likely shift from summer to winter peaking utility. This means the winter demands on the power grid will exceed those of the summer. (This has enormous implications, especially for power generators who schedule extended maintenance outages in the off-peak months.) Other North American power grids would likely try to compensate for their shortfall via power purchases outside the system. Thats not an option for electrically un-interconnected ERCOT.

In each of the two previous winter storms, the natural gas system as a whole (from wellhead to power plant) performed badly, with considerable freeze-related failures across the supply chain. The longer the freeze lasted more plants failed under weather-related stress in a type of cascade. Its not very windy in Texas during the winter, so large wind farms dont meet the need either. And conventional fossil-fired plants were a bust in the last storm across the entire Southeast, also impacting TVA and Duke Power. Only nuclear power plants were relatively unaffected by the extreme cold weather. (Technically, the South Texas Nuclear Project did have a minor cold weather-related equipment failure in the 2019 storm, but this was promptly remedied, and the affected unit returned to service.) Our point here is simple. Nuclear electric power generating stations actually performed well under adverse winter conditions, while gas and coal plants did not. But the economics of new gas peakers (relatively cheap to build, expensive to operate) remain highly compelling compared to new nuclear power plant construction, especially if environmental externalities like CO2 emissions are disregarded. The question is whether they will be remotely adequate to satisfy elevated longer-term spikes in demand.

The likely response from the environmental community, focusing on CO2 emission and remediation, while correct and proper, will likely obscure our main point in the public dialogue. Texas, the southernmost state in the US, is or will soon be a winter-peaking electricity system due to a combination of changing weather patterns and shifting consumer preferences for electric heating systems. But neither of these new factors, weather and elevated winter electrical demand, appear to have entered the recent political calculation. Winter gas reliability issues aside, the real question is will these facilities provide adequate capacity when needed. Theyll definitely provide some power. The question is will it be enough for the length of time needed? Our guess is no.

All we can conclude is that politicians in Texas have accepted something resembling the early 2021 proposal from Berkshire Hathaway for 10,000 MWs of gas-fired peaking plants operating under a utility-like compensation scheme. Cheap, quick, and dirty may have been an acceptable standard for new electric power generating stations thirty years ago. But the real issue for us is that in a winter peaking electrical grid, the elevated demand lasts all winter (because people are now using more electricity for home and commercial heating)and not just during the bad storms that spike demand to extreme levels. These new gas peakers cant run all winter and appear to us to be an expensive, inadequate response to a clear lack of electrical capacity. Instead, it looks more like were getting the solutions of yesterday to the problems of tomorrow.

By Leonard S. Hyman and William I. Tilles

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Iraq is asking a U.S. federal court to enforce a ruling against Turkey over crude oil exports Turkey received from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The exports from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq into Turkey still have not resumed, leaving multiple fields in the KRG region shut in. Turkey had stopped the flow of pipeline oil from that areaaffecting about 450,000 bpdafter Iraq won an arbitration case against Turkey.

Iraq has accused Turkey of violating a decades-old pipeline agreement by importing oil from the semi-autonomous region of Iraq without Baghdads consent.

Most of Kurdistans oilfields remain shut in, with its pipeline exports halted, even though Kurdistan and Iraw reached an agreement to resume the exports via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline and the port of Ceyhan.

Iraq was awarded damages in the case last month under an ICC arbitration ruling. Sources have said that under that ruling, Turkey was ordered to be around $1.5 billion before interest for oil that shipped without Baghdads permission between 2014 and 2018. Turkey has alleged that Iraq had also been ordered to pay in the dispute.

That ruling saw Turkey halt the flow of oil. While Iraq and Turkey were said to reach an agreement on resuming flows shortly thereafter, flows have yet to resume.

Now, with flows still stopped, Iraq is asking a U.S. federal court for help in enforcing the arbitration ruling.

Iraqs government in Baghdad has long-argued that the Kurdistan region does not have control over its vast oil riches, including the authority to sell oil to the market without the approval and participation of the official oil marketing company of the Iraqi government, SOMO.

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The deal that Iraq and Turkey have agreed toif only temporarywould see the Kurdistan region sell its oil through SOMO.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil prices started the day with a gain, rising modestly in Asian morning trade as the market assessed the risk of another rate hike in the United States and the supply limits OPEC+ agreed earlier this month.

That early gain, which may well reverse later in the day, came after the first daily decline in prices after three weekly increases in a row. Reuters attributed the Monday decline to monthly U.S. jobs data released last Friday, which showed hiring was still strong and jobless rates were falling.

This reinforced expectations of more rate hikes by a hawkish Fed, and this, in turn, reinforced suspicions about the future of oil demand. The Fed is releasing the minutes of its March meeting tomorrow.

On the other hand, news about a strong rebound in China travel has served to fuel optimism about demand and, by extension, prices. Airlines in China are on a hiring spree for cabin crews, Reuters reported this week, meaning the air travel industrys fortunes were reversing after three years of pandemic restrictions.

Oil is a bit of an oddity today as it extracts some buffer from an interventionist OPEC+, said Mizuho Bank head of economics and strategy for Asia, Vishnu Varathan, as quoted by Bloomberg.

Oil prices have gained about 5% since OPEC+ announced its latest round of additional cuts, to the tune of 1.16 million barrels daily, distributed among nine cartel members. Russias cuts of 500,000 bpd are not included in the above figure.

A lot of oil demand and supply updates are due to be released this week, starting with the EIAs Short-Term Energy Outlook, due out later today. On Thursday, OPEC is publishing its latest Monthly Oil Market Report, and on Friday, the International Energy Agency will follow with its own Oil Market Report.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The price of crude oil returned on Tuesday to the recent highs seen after OPEC+ announced it would cut production by another 1.6 million barrels per day.

On April 2, OPEC+ announced that it would cut its crude oil production by another 1.66 million barrels per day (including the 500,000 bpd Russian production cut) on top of its 2 million bpd cut. Naturally, oil prices spiked following the news, reaching gains of 8% at the Monday open. Brent was trading at more than $86 per barrel, with WTI trading at nearly $81. Further gains were made after opening, with WTI reaching $81.69

Today, the price of WTI has climbed by more than 2% on the day to $81.37, with Brent climbing 1.50% to $85.44. And prices were still rising at the time of writing.

A Tuesday report by Energy Intelligence showed that OPEC+s total March production was 680,000 fewer barrels per day than the month prior, falling to 37.64 million bpd. Most of the production drop was attributed to Nigeria and Russia, which together accounted for 440,000 bpd of the production decline.

Fears of tighter supply as a result of the ever-elusive but always-present China reopening schtick clashing with OPEC+s supply decreases are most likely behind the Tuesday price moves.

U.S. gasoline prices continue to tick upward as well, along with the price of oil. Tuesdays national average gasoline prices were $3.608 per gallon, according to AAAan increase of more than $0.10 from a week ago, accounting for most of the $0.134 per gallon rise over the last month.

While Brent and WTI prices were climbing on Tuesday, WCS prices were falling, losing 1.61% and reaching $58.49.

Citigroup said on Tuesday that it is estimating that prices will fall below $80 on Chinas slower-than-expected recovery.

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Russia launched for the first time this year fuel-by-rail exports to Iran after the West banned seaborne imports of fuels from Russia over Putins invasion of Ukraine, industry sources have told Reuters.

Russian firms are looking to place their diesel and gasoline exports in countries outside the EU, the former top buyer of Russian fuels, after the bloc and its Western allies placed an embargo on fuel imports from Russia and set price caps for Russias diesel and other fuel exports to third countries if the fuels are to be transported or insured by Western companies.

As the EU embargo came into effect on February 5, Russia had started exporting fuels to Iran via rail for the first time. All deliveries have been made to Iran via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, according to Reuters sources.

Russia delivered 30,000 tons of diesel and gasoline to Iran in February and March, sources with knowledge of Russian exports told Reuters.

Russia and Iran have grown closer ties in recent years, and those ties were further strengthened after the West moved to impose sanctions on many Russian exports, including oil exports. Iran is also under sanctions and is limited in its oil exports as most buyers  except for Chinas independent refiners and Venezuela for swap cargoes  shun Iranian oil for fear of running afoul of the U.S. and are unwilling to risk secondary sanctions.

Russia and Iran, united by their increasingly closer military ties and the fact that they are both pariahs in international trade due to the Western sanctions, have joined forces to evade the Western sanctions on their exports by constructing a new waterway-railway route from Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine to the southernmost ports in the Islamic Republic.

Russia and Iran are now looking to expand their trade ties with Asia and are expanding canals on navigable rivers and building railroads to support growing trade, Bloomberg reported at the end of last year. The two countries are estimated to plan to invest $20 billion in the route.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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The Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska is offering a special deal for girl-identifying youth who want to participate in a summer camp.

Girls who register for a camp valued at $25 or more can receive a free membership in the organization. The offer is limited to the first 200 girls to sign up across Nebraska.

Camp locations include Camp Maha in Papillion, as well as sites in Nebraska City, Grand Island and Nickerson.

Among the Papillion-based camps are real-life video games, featuring Fortnite dancing and take-home Among Us characters; Minion Merriment with a week of despicable twists; a sea turtle pool party; multiple Disney character themed camps; a space camp; and a camp themed on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Find a guide to Girl Scout summer camps at tinyurl.com/gscamps23. To sign up, email membersupport@girlscoutsnebraska.org or call 402-558-8189.
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.
Some Nebraskans with Parkinsons disease will be able to receive speech therapy at the University of Nebraska at Omaha at no cost thanks to a grant from a Texas nonprofit.

UNO and 15 other universities around the country are receiving a grant from Parkinson Voice Project, a Texas clinic that helps people with Parkinsons disease regain and retain their speech and ability to swallow.

UNOs Speech-Language Clinic will receive more than $280,000 in training, services, supplies and equipment over five years.

Speak Out is a speech therapy protocol that can minimize the risk of life-threatening swallowing complications, according to Samantha Elandary, founder and CEO of Parkinson Voice Project.

According to UNO, Speak Out consists of 12 individual speech therapy sessions between a client and UNO student clinician, who work together on a series of speech, voice and cognitive exercises. Clients then move to the Loud Crowd, a weekly small group program to help maintain the strength of their voices.

Elandary said people often associate Parkinsons disease with tremors or slow movements, but 90% of people with the disease struggle with speech and swallowing.

If left untreated, these patients could live the last five to 10 years of their lives unable to speak and communicate with their families and their friends, Elandary said.

The muscles that are used for speaking are also used for chewing food and swallowing safely, she said.

Our main goal is to give hope for every person in Nebraska who has or will receive a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease that at UNO, they will have access to this Speak Out training, said Lucia Scheffel, a special education and communications disorders assistant professor at UNO. We are building a support system to help those patients with Parkinsons disease to regain and maintain their speech skills.

Scheffel also serves as the clinical lead for the Speak Out Therapy and Research Center at UNO.

The clinic at UNO will specialize in online treatment and provide that therapy to Nebraskans diagnosed with Parkinsons or a related movement disorder at no cost. The hope is to see at least 20 patients per semester, Scheffel said.

Graduate students in UNOs program will receive the training and have the opportunity to see at least one patient with Parkinsons disease, Scheffel said.

Midwestern states, like Nebraska, have a high prevalence of Parkinsons disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition, perhaps because of agricultural pesticides.

Specifically, agricultural areas have the highest rates of Parkinsons disease in Nebraska, Scheffel said. Reaching patients in those parts of the state can be difficult, but by offering the speech therapy online, Scheffel said she hopes the geographical barriers can be eliminated.

Elandary said the pandemic prompted Parkinson Voice Project to move its services online and found that patients actually did better when receiving services that way.

Many barriers that previously prevented patients from receiving speech treatment were immediately eliminated, she said. Patients who were homebound, lived in rural areas, or had transportation challenges could now receive treatment.

More information about the UNO Speech-Language Clinic can found online or by calling 402-554-2201.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of April 2023
NEW YORK  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sued Rep. Jim Jordan on Tuesday as he seeks to halt a House Judiciary Committee inquiry that the prosecutor contends is a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" him over his indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Bragg, a Democrat, asked a judge to invalidate subpoenas that Jordan, the committee's Republican chair, issued or plans to issue as part of an investigation of Bragg's handling of the case, the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president.

U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee who previously served as a federal bankruptcy court judge, declined Tuesday to take immediate action on the lawsuit and scheduled an initial hearing for April 19 in Manhattan.

Bragg's lawsuit, a forceful escalation after weeks of sparring with Jordan and other Republican lawmakers in letters and media statements, seeks to end what it says is a "constitutionally destructive fishing expedition" that threatens the sovereignty and integrity of a state-level prosecution.

"Congress lacks any valid legislative purpose to engage in a free-ranging campaign of harassment in retaliation for the District Attorney's investigation and prosecution of Mr. Trump under the laws of New York," the lawsuit says, citing the lack of authority in the Constitution for Congress "to oversee, let alone disrupt, ongoing state law criminal matters."

The Judiciary Committee recently issued a subpoena seeking testimony from a former prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz, who previously oversaw the Trump investigation and sparred with Bragg over the direction of the probe before leaving the office last year.

The committee also sought documents and testimony from the DA's office but Bragg has rejected those requests.

The committee is scheduled to hold a hearing in Manhattan on Monday on crime in New York City and what it alleges are Bragg's "pro-crime, anti-victim" policies. The DA's office, however, points to statistics showing that violent crime in Manhattan dropped since Bragg took office in January 2022.

In response, Bragg said that if Jordan, who is from Ohio, "really cared about public safety," he would travel to some of the major cities in his home state, where per-capita crime is reportedly higher than in New York.

Bragg is represented in the lawsuit by Theodore Boutrous, a well-known First Amendment lawyer who has also represented Trump's estranged niece, Mary Trump, in legal clashes with her famous uncle.

Vyskocil previously made headlines when she dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought against Fox News host Tucker Carlson by former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who was paid $150,000 through the National Enquirer to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. In on-air remarks, Carlson called the payoff a classic case of extortion," but Vyskocil ruled in 2020 that the conservative commentator was engaging in rhetorical hyperbole and opinion commentary and that he was not stating actual facts.

In his lawsuit, Bragg said he's taking legal action "in response to an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress on an ongoing New York State criminal prosecution and investigation of former President Donald J. Trump."

A grand jury indicted Trump on March 30 of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations that he had extramarital sexual encounters. He denies wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment last week in Manhattan.

Republicans have been railing against Bragg even before Trump's indictment, with Jordan leading the cause by issuing a series of letters and subpoenas to individuals involved with the case. Pomerantz refused to voluntarily cooperate with the committee's request last month at the instruction of Bragg's office, citing the ongoing investigation.

Jordan sees Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, who were top deputies tasked with running the investigation on a day-to-day basis, as catalysts for Bragg's decision to move ahead with the hush money case.

Bragg's lawsuit sets up what is an already tenuous fight over the scope and limits of congressional oversight powers into new territory.

House Republicans argued that because the Manhattan case involves campaign finance and what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election, Congress has direct oversight.

Many expected that Jordan would subpoena Bragg by now but it appears the forceful back-and-forth between the two elected officials has come to a head.

Jordan's committee has come hard at Bragg, but a court fight over a committee subpoena could impede its momentum and amplify criticism among Democrats that the panel is playing politics instead of addressing substantive issues.
LINCOLN  A day before debate begins on an effort to curtail abortion access in Nebraska, Planned Parenthood officials said the legislation is contributing to a nationwide public health crisis regarding reproductive rights.

Lawmakers are preparing to debate Legislative Bill 626 on Wednesday, which would ban abortions once embryonic cardiac activity can be detected  usually around six weeks of pregnancy. If it advances, it still must make it through two more rounds of debate before it goes to Gov. Jim Pillens desk to be signed.

Almost certainly facing a filibuster by opponents, LB 626 will require 33 votes to advance, and the vote is expected to come down to a razor thin margin, according to Andi Curry Grubb, director of public affairs of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska. She was one of two Planned Parenthood officials who spoke against the bill at a press conference Tuesday.

Alexis McGill Johnson, CEO of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade last summer opened the floodgates to abortion-banning legislation in statehouses across the nation. Roughly a dozen states have already enacted abortion bans in that time, and Nebraska is one of several others looking to pass similar laws.

McGill Johnson also noted a recent decision by a federal judge in Texas that would halt the approval of a common abortion pill. The U.S. Department of Justice has appealed that ruling.

At a time when we should be solving for inequities, we are instead seeing politically motivated lawmakers making decisions to take away our reproductive freedom, she said.

Nebraska lawmakers have blocked previous attempts to restrict abortion in past sessions, notably stopping a so-called trigger bill last year that would have banned all abortions once Roe v. Wade was overturned.

The sponsor of that bill, State Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, introduced LB 626 this year. Although she said she preferred not to allow Nebraska women to have any legal abortions, she felt that a six-week ban is what lawmakers would pass.

Opponents contend the legislation is essentially a complete ban, as most women dont realize they are pregnant until after six weeks. Curry Grubb pointed out that a LB 626 co-sponsor, Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, has indicated he has reservations with the bill and has filed an amendment that would instead ban abortions after around 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Riepes amendment has received little support from either supporters or opponents of LB 626. Opponents largely say they wont support any attempts to increase abortion restrictions, while the bills supporters say the amendment would allow too many abortions.

A statement from the Nebraska Family Alliance said that the original LB 626 would prevent roughly 2,000 abortions per year, based on data from the Department of Health and Human Services. Meanwhile, Riepes amendment would mean roughly 300 fewer abortions per year.

If Riepe pulls his support for LB 626, the bill might not advance. However, since filing his amendment, Riepe has backed away from some of his statements about the bill and said he would support it, regardless of what happens with his proposed amendment.

LB 626 is one of several controversial bills at play this session, contributing to a session-long filibuster by opponents. Curry Grubb said the divisive legislation is distracting lawmakers from other issues that would have a larger impact on their constituents.

Stop focusing on these divisive, unnecessary laws, and focus on the things that Nebraskans need and want the Legislature to be working on, Curry Grubb said.

Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session
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.
By Odunewu Segun

Majority of the states of the federation are in serious dilemma over how to fund their 2019 budgets following the drop in the earnings of the federal government in recent times.

In the latest issue of the Quarterly Review of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the budget presented by 35 states this year cannot be funded adequately.

According to NEITI, even if the net FAAC disbursements to each state in 2017 and 2018 are combined, the funds will still not be enough.

As usual, both the Federal Government and the States will, once again, depend on external borrowings to fund their budgets. This is despite condemnation that allocations to some ministries and projects which are said to be fraudulent.

Findings show that the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) recorded a drop of 0.45 per cent in its disbursement between January and March, 2019 after posting N1.929 trillion when compared to the N1.938 trillion it posted during the same period in 2018.

The 0.45 percent recorded in the disbursement for the first quarter of 2019 is blamed on the fall in oil prices. This slightly affected the earnings of the Federal Government.

According to report, the Federal Government received N803.18 billion in the first quarter of the year, 1.18 percent lower than the N812.8 billion it received in the same period in 2018. When compared to the N549.1 billion disbursed in corresponding quarters of 2017, its 46.2 percent higher.

The drop means in the first quarter of this year, 36 states shared N675.2 billion. This is a 1.19 percent decline when compared to the N683.4 billion disbursed to the states in Q1 2018. However, it is 48 percent higher than the N456 billion disbursed in Q1 2017.

The report showed that while FG and the States recorded a decline in their disbursement in the first quarter of 2019, the Local Governments recorded an increase of 1.28 percent when compared to N393.4 billion disbursed in the first quarter of last year. This means that the LGAs disbursement is 47.8 percent higher than the amount disbursed to them in Q1 2017.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed utter dismay at a recent social media advert by FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, makers of Peak Milk, which used the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to promote its product on Good Friday.

CAN described the advert as insensitive, offensive and totally unacceptable, pushing it to consider sanctions on the company.

Consequently, the association called on the company to issue unreserved apology to the Christian community and withdraw the offensive advert immediately.

In a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Daramola, noted Good Friday as a solemn day for Christians, a day they commemorate the death of Jesus Christ, who was crucified for the sins of man; hence, not a day to be used for crass commercial purposes.

Daramola argued that the companys action was not only disrespectful to the Christian faith, but also an affront to Christians.

He said: We are deeply disappointed that a company of such repute would stoop so low to exploit the religious sentiments of its customers for profit. We are considering sanctions against FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, including a boycott of its products by our members and all well-meaning Nigerians, who share our concerns. We call on the company to issue an unreserved apology to the Christian community and withdraw the offensive advert immediately.

We recall a similar incident in the past when Sterling Bank used a crucifixion imagery to promote its product. We condemned it then, and we condemn it now. We, therefore, urge all companies and organisations to be mindful of the religious and cultural sensitivities of their customers when promoting their products. We will not tolerate any attempt to trivialise or disrespect our faith. Be warned!
The United Kingdom Government has barred active recruitment of health workers from Nigeria by health and social care employers in the UK.

The UK disclosed this in its updated Code of Practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel posted on its website.

Nigeria has now been included in the red list of countries facing critical shortage of health workers as contained in the World Health Organisation (WHO)s health workforce support and safeguards list.

In March, the WHO published the safeguards list comprising 55 countries  including Nigeria  struggling with a shortage of health workers.

The UK government said Nigeria and other countries on the red list should be prioritised for health personnel development and health system-related support as well as provided with safeguards that discourage active international recruitment of their workers.

The code of practice reads, Consistent with the WHO Global Code of Practice principles and articles, and as explicitly called for by the WHO Global Code of Practice 10-year review, the listed countries should be prioritised for health personnel development and health system-related support, provided with safeguards that discourage active international recruitment of health personnel.

Countries on the list should not be actively targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers, recruitment organisations, agencies, collaborations, or contracting bodies unless there is a government-to-government agreement in place to allow managed recruitment undertaken strictly in compliance with the terms of that agreement.

Countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards list are graded red in the code. If a government-to-government agreement is put in place between a partner country, which restricts recruiting organisations to the terms of the agreement, the country is added to the amber list.

It said if a country was not on the red or amber list, then it is green.

The amber countries where international recruitment is only permitted in compliance with the terms of the government-to-government agreement are Kenya and Nepal.

Recall that a bill to prevent Nigeria-trained medical and dental practitioners from being granted full licences until they have worked for a minimum of five years in the country passed second reading at the House of Representatives last Thursday.

The bill is aimed at addressing the increasing number of medical doctors leaving Nigeria for greener pastures, and making quality health services available to Nigeria.

Sponsored by Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, it is titled The Bill for an Act to Amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2004.

Johnson said it was only fair for medical practitioners, who enjoyed taxpayers subsidies on their training, to give back to the society by working for a minimum number of years in Nigeria before exporting their skills abroad.

Many lawmakers supported the bill though a number of them called for flexibility and options in the envisaged law.

Uzoma Nkem-Abonta said tying a doctor down for five years in Nigeria before seeking employment outside is akin to enslavement.

However, a majority voice vote passed the bill for second reading at the plenary presided by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
The United Kingdom Government has stopped active recruitment of medical doctors, Nurses and other health workers from Nigeria by health and social care employers in the UK.

The UK disclosed this in its updated Code of Practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel posted on its website.

Nigeria has now been included in the red list of countries facing critical shortage of health workers as contained in the World Health Organisation (WHO)s health workforce support and safeguards list.

In March, the WHO published the safeguards list comprising 55 countries, including Nigeria, struggling with a shortage of health workers.

The UK government said that Nigeria and other countries on the red list should be prioritised for health personnel development and health system-related support as well as provided with safeguards that discourage active international recruitment of their workers.

The code of practice reads: Consistent with the WHO Global Code of Practice principles and articles, and as explicitly called for by the WHO Global Code of Practice 10-year review, the listed countries should be prioritised for health personnel development and health system-related support, provided with safeguards that discourage active international recruitment of health personnel.

Countries on the list should not be actively targeted for recruitment by health and social care employers, recruitment organisations, agencies, collaborations, or contracting bodies unless there is a government-to-government agreement in place to allow managed recruitment undertaken strictly in compliance with the terms of that agreement.

Countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards list are graded red in the code. If a government-to-government agreement is put in place between a partner country, which restricts recruiting organisations to the terms of the agreement, the country is added to the amber list.

It said that if a country is not on the red or amber list, then it is green.

The amber countries where international recruitment is only permitted in compliance with the terms of the government-to-government agreement are Kenya and Nepal.

Recall that a bill to prevent Nigeria-trained medical and dental practitioners from being granted full licences until they have worked for a minimum of five years in the country, passed second reading at the House of Representatives last Thursday.

The bill is aimed at addressing the increasing number of medical doctors leaving Nigeria for greener pastures, and making quality health services available to Nigeria.

Sponsored by Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, it is titled The Bill for an Act to Amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2004.

Johnson said it was only fair for medical practitioners, who enjoyed taxpayers subsidies on their training, to give back to the society by working for a minimum number of years in Nigeria before exporting their skills abroad.

Many lawmakers supported the bill though a number of them called for flexibility and options in the envisaged law.

Uzoma Nkem-Abonta said tying a doctor down for five years in Nigeria before seeking employment outside is akin to enslavement.

However, a majority voice vote passed the bill for second reading at the plenary presided by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
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Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has extolled the virtues of elder statesman and leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo as he celebrates his 95th birthday.

The former Anambra state governor in a post described Pa Adebanjo as a principle man who over the years has remained steadfast in the fight against injustice, and his commitment to peace and democracy in Nigeria.

On behalf of my family, I wish a much 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.

READ ALSO: Peter Obi congratulates 2023 Future Creative Leaders Academy prize winner

He also described Adebanjo as a man of strong convictions who does not hesitate to speak his mind on national issues without malice.

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 fervour 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.
The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, has been slammed with a fresh accusation

Elder statesman and leader of PANDEF, Edwin Clark, demanded the arrest of the minister for spreading fake news against Peter Obi of the Labour Party

Clark urged the federal government to call Mohammed to order while noting Alhaji Lais comment might lead to a fresh crisis in the country

Elder statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has called for the arrest and prosecution of the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed.

According to Clark, the minister has been spreading what he called fake news against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and it does not speak well of the office he represents in the polity.

Edwin Clark has called for the arrest of Lai Mohammed for comments against Peter Obis personality.

Photo credit: Edwin Clark, Lai Mohammed

Source: Facebook

Why Lai Mohammed should be handed to the police, Clark reveals

Clark, the former federal commissioner for information and leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), described the ministers job as disappointing, Daily Independent reported.

Therefore, I am of the opinion that he should be charged for spreading unhealthy information and fake news against an innocent Nigerian

He claimed that rather than uniting the country as his job implies, the minister has caused divisions in the country instead.

Clark urged the president to call Mohammed to order, noting that the nation is already too tense and those whose responsibility it is to douse the tension should not be the ones stoking the embers of fire that will flame up the country, The Cable added.

The question that Lai Mohammed needs to answer is to tell Nigerians on what platform, at what time and in what manner did Peter Obi make the Supposed treasonable or seditious remarks?

Soyinkas Comment: Peter Obi sends powerful message to obidients amid backlash

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party for the February 25 election, has sent comforting words to his supporters.

Obi asked the Obidients, which he leads, to see the incessant attacks on them as a huge sacrifice needed to rescue and build a new Nigeria that is possible.

The former Anambra governor, in a series of tweets, on Easter Monday, April 10, said he identified with his supporters who have been under attack over their comments and counter comments, especially on social media.

Peter Obi knocks Lai Mohammed over incitement comment

Meanwhile, Peter Obi attacked Lai Mohammed over an allegation of making inciting comments on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

In his engagement with international media, Mohammed accused Obi of seeking redress in court on the one hand and inciting his followers against the court and INEC on the other hand.

In his reaction, Obi said he has never spoken against the Nigerian state and described Lai Mohammeds comment as a calumny campaign against his personality.

Source: Legit.ng
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BY SULE TAHIR

A traditional ruler Pa David Obadofin of Aghara in Kabba- Bunu local government area in Kogi state has been reported kidnap by unidentified Gunmen.

The gunmen on Monday, April 10, 2023, also abducted one other person along with the traditional ruler and killed a woman identified as Madam Toyin Onare.

It was gathered that Chief Obadofin, a major Cashew farmer, and one of his boys were seated in front of his house enjoying the cool breeze when a staccato of gunshots jolted them to alert. This later threw the village into total confusion.

Toyin, a widow who had gone to lend a hand on the farm received a bullet. Promptly, the gunmen whisked the traditional ruler and Temidayo, another farm hand to the bush, abandoning the poor widow in a pool of blood. One person however escaped, to tell the story.

Toyin was rushed to the hospital in Kabba, the headquarters of the LGA, about 35 minutes drive away. Unfortunately, she was confirmed dead on arrival.

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A MAGISTRATE Court sitting in Zuba, Abuja on Tuesday, April 11, refused to grant bail to a passenger, Obiajulu Uja, who was ejected from an Ibom Airlines flight after publicly opposing President-elect Bola Tinubus inauguration.

The passenger was arrested by security operatives and has been in detention since the incident.

However, the bail application he filed through his lawyer Ejike Ugwu was dismissed by Senior Magistrate Mohammed Ismail.

The lawyer had asked the court to grant Uja bail on health grounds.

The magistrate ruled that the application was premature.

Denying the passenger bail, Ismail held that the exhibits attached to the application did not say the defendant was unfit for trial but rather indicated he was of unsound mind.

He added that while the Constitution guarantees every persons liberty, a court can deprive a person of their liberty.

Referencing the provisions of Section 35 (1) (e) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 278 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the Magistrate held that Uja cannot be granted bail.

He maintained that where the mental capacity of a defendant is an issue, the court has the duty to ascertain the medical situation of such a defendant.

Subsequently, the bail application was turned down by the magistrate who ordered that Uja be held at the Kuje Correctional Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The magistrate further ordered that Uja be taken to a government hospital to ascertain his mental capacity.

The case was adjourned till April 20 for the presentation of a medical report, and hearing.

The ICIR reported that on Friday, March 31, security operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, arrested Uja for disrupting the take-off of an Ibom airline flight bound for Lagos, shouting Tinubu cant be sworn in.




Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has mocked the ambition of former senator, Dino Melaye, who wants to contest for the Kogi governorship election.

Dino Melaye is among the contenders who were recently screened by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the partys primary election.

Speaking on Tuesday at a media chat in Port Harcourt, Wike laughed off Melayes governorship ambition, saying the former senator does not have what it takes to be governor.

Wike explained that if Melaye wins the partys ticket, he cant defeat other candidates in the race to secure victory in the governorship election scheduled for November 11.

He said, When you give Dino that ticket, you know he wont win in Kogi State. Why would Kogi people say they would vote for a candidate like Dino? Are we joking?

The governor said the mere fact that someone is from a place does not equate to electoral success if such a person contests an election.

Dino does not have what it takes [to be a governor] for crying out loud, Wike said, adding. He knows me very well. He does not have what it takes to be a governor.

According to him, if the PDP gives the ticket to the former Kogi West lawmaker, the party is doomed to lose the exercise.

Does it mean now that if the PDP wants to win the election, it would give the ticket to Dino and you say tomorrow that you were rigged when you have already killed yourself?

Are we saying that we want to win an election or just have a candidate? Wike asked.

The governor says he wont campaign for the PDP if the party gives its governorship ticket to Senator Dino.

Do you need to ask me that kind of question? Are you not aware that I would not do that? Wike said when asked if he would campaign for the main opposition party if Dino wins the ticket.

He accused the partys leadership of trying to manipulate the process in favour of Dino.

Why are you trying to manipulate this in favour of one aspirant? he queried.

KanyiDaily recalls that last year, Dino Melaye failed to secure the PDP senatorial ticket when he contested against TJ Yusuf who is currently representing Kogi West constituency at the Senate.
Shocking details leading to the gruesome murder of Ms. Dagan Laetitia Naankang, an Assistant Director, Administration at the State House, Abuja, has emerged.

It was revealed that Naankang, 47, was subjected to the agony of a slow death by fraudsters, popularly called Yahoo Boys, because she reported their activities to the police.

She was murdered in her apartment on Monday by yet-to-be identified killers.

According to Guardian, the deceased discovered that her neighbourhood in Lokogoma area in Abuja was populated by Yahoo boys, making her uncomfortable in the vicinity.

She confided in her close friends and told them of her plans to relocate. Concerned for her safety in the meantime, she reported them to the police.

However, it was revealed that the police later freed the suspects after questioning them.

The identity of the person who reported them to the police was allegedly leaked by police operatives to the suspects and they resolved to make Naankang pay for reporting them to the police.

On Monday, February 17, Naankang worked in her office till 8pm. She then returned home but was attacked and killed by 11pm.

The assailants are said to have first tied Naankang in her apartment where she lived alone. They then subjected her to all manner of indecent acts before strangling her to death and setting the body ablaze.

It was further learnt that her gateman, who was suspected to be an accomplice, was arrested by security operatives and he provided useful information that could help in tracking the killers.

The publication also revealed that one of the killers took the victims mobile phone, having mistaken it for his and left his own phone at the crime scene.

It is believed that the telephone will assist the police in tracking down the killers

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BLOOMINGTON  Every year around springtime, Jews the world over spend eight days celebrating and retelling the story of escaping enslavement in Egypt to freedom during Passover.

However, Rabbi Chaim Telsner of the Chabad at Illinois State University, said Passover is also a personal, spiritual journey for every Jew.

"The Jewish holidays aren't just representing things that happened years ago," Telsner said.

This year, the eight-day holiday began at sundown April 5 and ends the evening of April 13.

Passover is known as a festival of freedom, and the rabbi said, "Every person has their own limitations, their own boundaries, their own 'Egypt.'"

The Seder

The main ritual of Passover is the Seder feast, a festive meal with ritual foods that involves the re-telling of the Exodus with stories and song.

Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe of Moses Montefiore Temple in Bloomington said the Seder is usually celebrated at home and held on the first two nights of Passover.

"We usually have a Seder plate with various symbols on that plate to allow us to retell the story of happened when the Jews were enslaved in Egypt," she said.

The plate typically includes cooked eggs, bitter herbs, greens and saltwater, juice or wine, with each item symbolizing something different, Dubowe said.

For instance, she said, "We have bitter herbs like horseradish to remember the bitterness of what we suffered, and then there's saltwater to remember the tears."

In addition to the Seder plate, families use a book known as the Haggadah to relive the experience.

The Haggadah, or "telling," outlines the Seder, or "order," Dubowe said.

"Everybody has a copy around the table," she said. "... Everybody around the room will take turns (reading the Haggadah.) It's a participatory, inclusive opportunity for all."

There are many different versions of the Haggadah with their own commentary and readings chosen based on certain themes. Every family chooses the one that is best for them, Dubowe said.

"Seder means order, and every Seder service we go through the same order, from beginning to end," she said.

Preparation

Passover requires a lot of preparation as well, Dubowe said. Part of the preparation pertains to the tradition that Jewish people are not allowed to eat leavened, or risen, bread or anything that is used to cook leavened bread.

"We're talking about cake and cookies and bread crumbs, croutons, toast  everything that's associated with wheat," Dubowe said.

Her own kitchen is "transformed," in preparation. "I have a toaster  I hide it," she said. "If I have any bread products, it's completely removed from the house, and there's a whole ritual with that."

She said Jewish families will "sell" their bread products to non-Jewish people before Passover, but buy them back as soon as the 8-day holiday ends.

Holiday at Home

Dubowe said Passover, like many Jewish holidays, "is a home holiday."

Traditionally, families gather for Passover, sometimes traveling long distances, she said.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic made that difficult, if not impossible.

So, to help bring people together, the temple and the Chabad held community Seders this year.

The Chabad is already designed to be a "home away from home" for Jewish students and the community, Telsner said.

He said it was no surprise that the Wednesday night Seder had a "very large crowd."

At the temple, however, community Seders are a relatively scarce phenomenon, but because the pandemic made it hard for people to travel, the temple made a concerted effort to have a community Seder, Dubowe said.

"The reality is that there are many people who do not have family and don't have a place to go. Sometimes, they go to other people's homes," Dubowe said. "But why not have it here?"

She said they had the Haggadah on a large display, seder plates, and, after the service, they served traditional Jewish holiday foods like brisket and matzo ball soup.

Break Free

One of the four Hebrew words for Passover is Hag ha-Herut, or the holiday of freedom.

Telsner said Passover is a time for people "to break free from our (own) Egypt."

Dubowe also noted there are many people in the world who still experience their own kind of slavery, symbolic or literal.

"There are more symbolic teachings that are much more significant today to the fact that there is still slave, child labor," she said.

"Because we've been there, we know what it's like. Therefore, it's our responsibility, along with others, to help and to speak up for those that are still not free today."
NORMAL  Heartland Community College will host a two-day Japanese Cultural Festival on April 24 and 25.

The event will feature lectures and demonstrations of traditional Japanese arts and crafts, including ironwork, flower arranging, and a tea ceremony. The events are free and open to the public.

Japanese artisan Akira Yaegashi will demonstrate traditional ironwork.

The event is funded by a grant from The Center for International Business Education and Research at Indiana University. The goal of the program is to bridge the humanities and business worlds.

On Monday, events will begin at 11 a.m. and continue through 1 p.m. On Tuesday, events will begin at noon and end with a demonstration at 2:30 p.m.

All events will be held in the Community Commons Building room 1407 at the main campus in Normal.
Remember when George W. Bush had trouble reciting an old adage; fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. In 2024, voters must not be fooled again by Trump, his supporters, GOP officials whose complicity enables him as well as far-right media and internet entities that spread misinformation, disinformation and egregious falsehoods to further their own economic power and political influence.

Over the past 25 years America has become a kleptocracy dominated by plutocrats, autocrats, religious zealots and oligarchs. This is a result of an existential consequence of alarming factors; dangerous extremist Supreme Court rulings, voters who have been led astray by radical internet and media propaganda and lies, plus ominous Republican efforts to destroy public education by defunding and re-segregating schools, then replacing accurate science, history and government classes with outdated and false curricula to indoctrinate students so theyll accept white nationalist authoritarianism.

Currently the House is controlled by GOP extremists and a speaker who worships the former insurrectionist Oval Office occupant running for a second presidential term. While Illinois 17 congressional districts have just three Republican representatives, two Central Illinois districts elected GOP candidates, Miller and LaHood, who are both Trump toadies. They supported the stop the steal scheme and voted along with most of their GOP colleagues not to impeach Traitor Trump.

Ongoing local, state and federal civil and criminal cases and investigations are proving Trump, most Republicans and Fox News cant be trusted and must be held accountable for their wrongdoing, crimes and corruption. New but experienced leaders whose policies will restore democracy, unity and respect for laws and one another can save America, if we wise up and elect them.

Linda Doenitz, Bloomington
Perhaps now is the time for all patriotic Americans who own AR-15s or any automatic/semi-automatic weapons to donate them to Ukrainian soldiers who are fighting to keep their democratic society.
On March 1, 2018, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) issued a press statement on a fatal case of Lassa fever.



That is dead and buried! COVID-19 happened and almost all other diseases disappeared.



Everybody now seems to accept that it is here to stay, so we move!



Fast forward to February 26, 2023, the GHS issued a press release confirming 2 cases of Lassa Fever.





Two days later, an update is shared informing of one fatality and 13 active cases.



Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease (a severe illness caused by one of a distinct group of viruses).



Sometimes those who catch Lassa fever may only feel weak, or might have a fever or a headache.



This is when the virus decides to be nice.



But at times, Lassa fever looks like the dreaded Ebola bleeding through the mouth, nose, and different parts of the body.



Its a nasty business, this Lassa fever, and difficult to treat.



The virus is transmitted through food or items contaminated with the urine or excreta of rats.



From person to person, the virus can spread through contact with fluids of persons with the infection.



Sharing clothing and beddings with a contaminated person can also quickly spread the disease.



Presently, there is no vaccine for it.



The disease is endemic in West Africa.



That is to say; it is a native of West Africa.



Outbreaks have occurred in the past in Benin, Guinea, Togo and even recently in Nigeria.



During outbreaks, pieces of information on the disease is circulated particularly on social media.



The traditional press pick them alongside alerts from the Ghana Health Service.



Social media circulations are helpful especially to the lettered.



But hold on a minute our reservoir, the host of the Lassa virus, I mean the rats, are they on social media?



Do they listen to the radio or read newspapers?



No, at least, not in Ghana!



They mostly reside in the local markets, right?



That is where we get most of our foodstuffs.



I dont joke with my shopping in the local market because that is where I get my bulk discount.



And that is why I speak for the rats (one of the creatures that scare me most, my housemates can confirm this).



One fine day, after the announcement of the first mortality from Lassa fever in Ghana this year, I made a trip to one local market.



As I combed through the market in search of akrantie (the rich mans meat) for my Dearest who was returning from a trip abroad that night, I stopped to purchase some other stuff.



At my first stop, I noticed a typical market-size rat scurry across a few meters away.



Forget my usual rat-related drama! One of the women reminded me that as for these rats, they are part of us o.



Immediately, Lassa fever came to mind, and so I began to engage the women around me in a conversation.



To my utter surprise (for the fact that I was in the market, and that rats live in the market), none of the women knew about the disease nor the recent death.



Well, I used the opportunity to educate them about the relationship between rats and Lassa fever.



They were actually grateful for the information.



I moved on to the next group of women, none of whom also had any knowledge of the disease.



Again, I did my little education.



At that moment, I thought I needed a megaphone!



One of the most critical Lassa fever stakeholder groups did not have the slightest idea.



WHO says prevention of Lassa fever relies on community engagement and promoting hygienic conditions to discourage rodents from entering homes.



From a Global Health and Infectious Diseases background, I know about the effectiveness of targeted community engagement in preventing and controlling an outbreak.



In Nigeria, an awareness campaign was done at some point in local markets. One state even banned the consumption of local gari during an outbreak.



I cannot confirm if a market campaign has been initiated yet, but a MUST it is!



One life gone is a loss huge enough to scatter a family.



We may not be able to rid our markets of rats, but we can educate the sellers about food storage and handling.



They are important stakeholders, and need to be engaged as best as possible.



GHS, over to you! May the megaphones be let out early enough! For An ounce of prevention, {they say} is worth a pound of cure, and a stitch in time saves nine.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Three Christian leaders and church founders have encouraged Christians and the nation at large to be inspired by the reason for Easter and strive to overcome their challenges in life.



They said just as the story of Jesus Christs betrayal, crucifixion, death and resurrection brought pain, discomfort but ultimately ended with hope and victory over death to mankind, Christians must be inspired and encouraged by the resurrection of Jesus Christ as it provided a pillar for them to also overcome their challenges in life.



The church founders, Apostle General of the Royalhouse Chapel International, Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah, Rev. Dr Mensah Otabil of the International Central Gospel Church, and Bishop Charles Agyinasare, of Perez Chapel, gave their messages of hope during their Easter Sunday sermons.



The pain and suffering, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus must inspire us all not to give up, but have hope that there is always victory for those whose hope is in Christ, the leaders shared similar sentiments in their Easter Sunday sermons.



Easter Sunday



Most churches in the country climaxed the Easter festivities with services on the resurrection Sunday to commemorate Christ resurrection from death, three days after His crucifixion on Good Friday.



At many churches, worshippers were predominantly dressed in all-white attire to signify Jesus' triumph over death and the congregation sang and danced to glorify God for paying the ultimate price for humanity.



Royalhouse



At the Royalhouse Chapel in Accra, Timothy Ngnenbe reports that Rev. Korankye Ankrah urged Ghanaians to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and change from negative attitudes that serve as impediments to national development.



Delivering the sermon to climax the churchs Easter celebrations by the Royalhouse held on the theme: "The Blood Will Speak (Hebrew 12:24)," the Apostle General said the resurrection of Jesus Christ offered the hope that with sacrifice and attitudinal change, all that had been lost at the individual and national levels would be restored.



He, however, stressed that the observation of Easter as a festival to mark the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus would be meaningless, if it did not translate into transformation of lives.



"The resurrection of Jesus is meaningless, if it has no bearing on your life. If you are in political office and you pack public money meant to develop the country into your account, then you have not been impacted by the resurrection; if you were a drunkard or a wife beater and you still remain in this after the resurrection, then it is meaningless," he stressed.



The church marked Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified on the cross, with healing service in the morning and water and salt feet-washing all night.



Led by the Apostle General Ankrah, they said intercessory prayers for the peace of the country, inspiring hope that the saviour's blood would speak for Ghana.



The Easter festivities were climaxed on the Resurrection Sunday with morning worship and communion service in the evening.



Transformation



Apostle General Ankrah underscored the need for Ghanaians to crucify all negative attitudes on the cross and adopt positive behaviours that would enhance national development.



He observed that the crown of thorns that was twisted and put on Jesus' head, the mockery of him, the beatings, crucifixion and the eventual resurrection should inspire hope in all individuals to remain resolute in difficult times and seek the face of God to overcome every circumstance.



"Your life's transformation and the testimony of your life is the proof of the resurrection of Christ," he said.



ICGC



Dr Mensa Otabil, in his sermon, said the power in the resurrection of Christ enabled Christians to overcome their challenges which included sickness, disease, and poverty, among others, Mary Anane-Amponsah reports.



"The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of our Christian hope," he said.



Preaching on seven reasons why Jesus Christ rose from the dead, he said one of the reasons was that the resurrection was a proof that Christ was the only saviour of the world.



Jesus, he said, was unique because of his death, resurrection and continuous living after over 2023 years.



Giving spiritual backings to the message, Dr Otabil quoted bible verses including; Romans 4 vrs 23 -25, stating that the resurrection was the justification that gave Christians the confidence to believe in the salvation of Jesus Christ.



" When he says we are forgiven, we are truly forgiven because He went and returned".



"When you are a Christian, you are the most privileged human being on earth because your faith is anchored in this unique personality of history and eternity, Jesus Christ, ruler of death and ruler of life".



Perez Chapel



Most Rev. Agyinasare, in his sermon, said if the devil knew that crucifying Jesus would have got mankind saved, he would have prevented that from happening.



Again, he said if the devil knew that taking Jesus to the cross would make the whole world hear about Him, he wouldn't have done it.



However, the devil had no control and that Jesus, in becoming the ultimate sacrifice, released the power to reach out to the rest of the world and brought salvation and hope to mankind.



Most Rev. Agyinasare said just as Jesus sacrifice was costly, any sacrifice one made for his or salvation or for others, must, also, cost something valuable to be qualified as a sacrifice.



Sacrifices are costly and Jesus showed us just how much it has to cost.



His life.



So must the sacrifices we make. We must be willing to sacrifice something valuable so that the beneficiaries will truly appreciate that ransom and not take it for granted, he told the Perez Chapel congregation.



Be patriotic



In a related development, two Christian leaders have called on the citizenry, including political leaders, to be patriotic and put Ghana first in all their endeavours as well as running the affairs of the country, Vincent Amenuveve reports.



This, according to the leaders, was crucial in bringing peace, unity and sacrifice which were key to national development.



The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, and the President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach, Rev. Dr Lawrence Tetteh, made the call on the sidelines of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) seminar series.



IEA Seminar



This latest edition of the IEA seminar series on a review of the 1992 Constitution, was on the topic: Reviewing Ghana's 1992 Constitution: views and reflections of religious leaders."



Rev. Dr Tetteh, in his submission, suggested the need for government to urgently formulate home grown policies to ensure economic sustainability.

What is suitable for England and Germany may not necessarily be suitable for Ghana.



So we should look for the Ghanaian agenda," he advised.



He said it was equally important for the economic policies to be harmonised, while making sure that every Ghanaian lived peacefully and respected one another stressing that we must think about Ghana first then the economy will be sound.



Most Rev. Dr Boafo entreated the government to prioritise development projects to avoid waste, adding that let us examine our spending culture again".



He said the measure would help ensure that the country did not go to the International Monetary Fund(IMF) for the 18th time.



On the recent three major bills passed by Parliament, Most Rev. Dr Boafo said Parliament should have come out with a road map on their implementation to ensure broader consultation.



The three bills are the Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2022, the Excise Duty and Excise Tax Stamp (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022.













Source: graphiconline.com









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The Koforidua Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Mike Kwame Etrue has urged the National Peace Council to immediately call to order politicians who incite violence ahead of the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.



He said the peace of the country must not be toiled with for any individual interest.



It is God who appoints leaders. If God doesnt want you to be President it is God who make choices it is not your effort. So they should be patient and decorum for Ghana to sustain the peace we have. We dont want any problem, any disturbances in the system. Peace Council should call such people [anyone incites violence] and advise them for us to enjoy our peace.



The comment by Apostle Mike Etrue comes on the back of threat by Minister for Food and Agriculture also Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong that the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, will never hand over power to largest opposition NDC.



Mr. Acheampong further stated the NPP will demonstrate to the opposition party that we have the men they dare attempt to use threats, violence and engage in foolishness in 2024 general election.



The NDC in a statement signed by the General Secretary for NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey indicated that the NDC will resist any attempt aimed at subverting the will of the Ghanaians people.



Apostle Etrue who is an Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost stated that politicians must be mindful of their utterances emphasizing Election is peoples choice. The person chooses what he/she likes so politicians must be mindful of their utterances.



He said politicians must focus on explaining to electorates realistic policies and programs that will bring development to the country and improve the living standards of the people.



Your visions and policies are what electorates will consider to vote. But we Africans have a problem we are even unable to explain policies to the electorates they are just making so much noise.Some of the manifestos are fully bloated with unrealistic promises but we dont take them to task. When you go to order European countries whatever you say you make sure you do it so we want them to organize the elections and whatever meetings they do in peaceful manner.



Apostle Mike Etrue said this during the climax of the 2023 Easter Convention by the Koforidua Area of the Church of Pentecost under the theme That I may Know Him and the Power of His Resurrection.



He charged the congregants to possess the resurrection power of Jesus to do exploits and become agents of change and transformation.



Present at the Service were some Chiefs and Queen mothers, and the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Michael Okyere Baafi.



In a brief speech, the Member of Parliament commended The Church of Pentecost for its relentless contribution to the development of Ghana and spiritual growth of the country.



He requested for continuous prayer and support for President Akufo Addo as he works assiduously towards economic recovery of the country.



He announced that Pentecost Senior High School in Koforidua has been selected to benefit from governments smart school model project which will make the school center of academic excellence.





Source: ghanaweb.com









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The U.S. Embassy Ghana and the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana jointly hosted a roundtable on Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Innovation at the Google AI Research Center in Accra yesterday.



The event focused on developments in industry, research, and policy related to AI. More than 40 local and international ICT companies, startups, incubator, academic experts, industry representatives from the agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing, as well as graduate students in computer science, NGOs, and Civil Society representatives attended the event. Officials from the Office of the President of Ghana and the National Data Commission were also in attendance.



"U.S. companies and organizations, like those represented here today, are at the forefront of this technology. The responsible use of these technologies has the potential to transform our economy and drive Ghanas digital transformation, said U.S. Ambassador Palmer.



The Ambassador highlighted AI tools being deployed around the world to enhance capacities and improve efficiencies in nearly all industry and social sectors, from health to transportation to agriculture and food security. The United States Government is working to build partnerships connected by shared values and a shared commitment to the responsible use of AI.



Dr. Jason Hickey, Head of Googles AI Research Center, highlighted Googles research activities, many of which involve local researchers who are developing AI solutions for use within Ghana and the wider African continent.



Ludwika Alvarez, Digital Team Leader for AI at the U.S. Department of Commerce, provided an overview of fast-moving investment and expansion efforts in the AI industry in the United States.



Fatima Tajambang of the U.S. company Nvidia explained how the company is providing Ghanaian ICT communities with mentoring and computing resources so that aspiring local developers can build and scale their AI expertise, nurture emerging technologies and drive innovation.



Dr. Daphne Stavroula Zois from the University of Albany (New York) detailed her research on AI applications for use in Ghanas agricultural sector.



Mr. Darlington Akogo from KaroAgroAI, which is partially funded by several American foundations, spoke about his active work using AI to diagnose plant diseases and provide solutions for Ghanas farmers.



Dr. Peter Maher from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, highlighted how U.S. education is responding to the AIs sectors fast growth, including developing specialized curriculum to train the researchers and workers who will work with the technology in a wide range of disciplines.



For more information on the United States National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, see www.ai.gov. Ghanaian companies interested in partnering with U.S. technology firms can contact the U.S. Embassys Commercial Section for assistance: www.trade.gov/Ghana



Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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Former NPP Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Kennedy Kwasi Kankam has cautioned the new executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against repeating the mistakes it made prior to the 2020 election.



The NPP in a statement signed by Justin Kodua Frimpong, the General Secretary of the party, barred the National, Regional, Constituency party executives and MMDCEs from contesting in constituencies where the Party has sitting Members of Parliament.



Kennedy Kankam who is now the MCE for Asokore Mampong speaking in an interview on Neat FM's 'Me Man Nti' programme said such directives won't help the party.



"This is the cheapest way of maintaining peace in the party," he fired.



"Directives from the party should not discriminate against any group of people otherwise it won't help anyone. It was such rules and regulations that made us lose a lot of seats in Parliament, and instead of revising it, you go and bring the same rules to be used in 2024 . . . " he stated.



According to him, "If we want peace for the sitting MPs, then the ban should be expanded to include CEOs, Deputy Ministers, Managing Directors . . . and others occupying very influential positions who can disturb the MPs in their constituencies".



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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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," a statement signed by the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong stated.



According to the NPP, John Mahama has stated emphatically that: "NDC has revolutionary root, and that when it comes to unleashing violence, nobody can beat us [NDC] in unleashing violence".



He added that other leading members of the NDC, including Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the Party, have made similar threatening and malicious comments.



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," he added.







Read full statement below

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Some youth in the Navrongo Central constituency of the Upper East Region are calling on Dr. Raymond Ayilu, an economist and youth leader, to contest the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries in order to win the seat for the party in the 2024 general elections.



According to the youth, Dr Ayilu is a young political leader who can bring fresh perspectives and unite the party in the area ahead of the elections.



Speaking to the media, they noted that Dr. Ayilu has demonstrable leadership skills, a passion for community service, and the clarity of vision required in the next Parliament in 2025.

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), at its National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council meetings, held on Monday, April 3, 2023, approved the timelines for holding presidential and parliamentary primaries for the 2024 general elections.

According to the party, nominations for orphan constituencies would be opened on June 16, 2023, with elections scheduled from August 1 to December 2, 2023.



Navrongo seat



The NPP lost the Navrongo central seat to Sampson Tangombu, candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2020 general elections.



Before that, the NPP had won the seat from 2000 to 2016.



The defeat was attributed to division among supporters of former MP and Minister of Aviation, Joseph Kofi Adda, and the NPP parliamentary candidate for 2020 and former Upper East Regional Minister, Abayage Tangoba.

Speaking to the media, Dr Ayilu confirmed his readiness to listen to the call of the youth. He said his decision to pay heed to the call is to bring unity to the party and recapture the seat which until 2020 was a traditional seat of the NPP.



About Dr Ayilu

Dr. Raymond Ayilu is an economist and youth leader. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Technology Sydney, a Master of Philosophy from the University of Ghana, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) in Economics from the University of Cape Coast.



The Postdoctoral research scientist based in Australia has several years of experience as a Researcher, Lecturer and Consultant for various organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Dr. Ayilu has also held positions as a committee member, coordinator, and executive in several other organizations.



Dr. Ayilu is a development Economist by training, a skillful lobbyist, and an experienced youth leader. During his days as a student leader, he was an outspoken advocate for Ghanaian students, serving as President of the Graduate Student Association of Ghana (GRASAG), PRO of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGs), and President of the Association of Economics Students at the University of Cape Coast.



He has been a strong member of the NPP student and youth wing and contributed immensely to the party's victory in the 2016 general election. During the first term of the NPP government, Dr. Raymond Ayilu was appointed as a Special Assistant at the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources. At the Ministry, he worked closely with the late MP for Navrongo, Joseph Kofi Adda, in securing funding for the Tono water project, among other initiatives, which is now serving several Navrongo Constituency communities.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Richard Ahiagbah has said the NPP has always played by the rules in elections.



He said the governing party intends to continue doing that in the next general elections.



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, he said.



Mr Ahiagbahs comments come after the NDC criticised the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryna 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 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.



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 partys deep-seated determination to subvert Ghanas 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.









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Tamale South Member of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has tasked Ghanaians to deepen the religious coexistence that exists amongst them.



He holds that it is that age-old coexistence that has earned Ghana the enviable status of a beacon of peace.



Speaking at an Easter programme in his constituency over the weekend, the former Minority Leader said it was also important to continue to work together to develop communities irrespective of other differences.



We are celebrated as a beacon of peace because we are one of the best examples in the world of religious tolerance and coexistence. Lets keep that more, we should continue to coexist.



And we should continue to work together for the development of our communities, he is heard saying in a video sighted by GhanaWeb.



The Easter celebrations ended on Easter Monday, April 10, having started on Good Friday and through the weekend. Many Christians attended church service before winding down with other social activities.









Source: ghanaweb.com









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Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu has joined condemnation of a fellow MP for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong over recent comments the latter made at a New Patriotic Party rally on April 8.



Acheampong, who doubles as agric minister is on record to have said the NPP will match the opposition come 2024 and that they were never going to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress.



Sosu via an April 9, 2023 post on Facebook reminded Acheampong that the NDC was birthed from a revolution, stressing in parables that the NDC was ever ready to face the NPP when the need arises.



"We may look like sheep outside but were lions within. Were children of the Revolution and not intimidated by mere vituperations. Ghana will vote NDC in 2024 and would stand by the NDC to take over power from the NPP and nothing will happen. Tsoooooooboi" his post read.



The revolution referred to is the 31st December, 1981 coup that marked the second coming into office of Jerry Rawlings with the Provisional National Defense Council, PNDC.



The council ruled for 11 year till 1992 when Rawlings formed the NDC largely out of the PNDC. He went on to win two elections with the NDC before leaving office in 2000.



Bryan Acheampong booms



Bryan Acheampongs controversial views were made at a party rally over the weekend.



He is heard saying in a viral video that the NPP will do everything within its means to win the 2024 general elections.



According to him, the NPP is not ready to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), therefore, his party will go to the election fully prepared.



He stated that the NPP has the men to match the opposition boot for boot during the 2024 polls.



Addressing party faithful after a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Bryan Acheampong stressed 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."









Source: ghanaweb.com









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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Womens Wing, headed by Dr Hanna Louisa Bisiw, National Women Organizer of the NDC, has slammed Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, for saying the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).



In a press conference dated April 10, 2023, at the partys headquarters, the NDCs National Women Organiser said ByranAcheampongs statement that the NPP Party will use whatever means necessary to remain in power in the 2024 general election is treasonable.



According to her, the Abetifi MPs words when he mounted the podium while addressing party supporters after the NPP unity walk at Mpraeso,is a clear indication of the evil intent of the NPP to manipulate the outcome of the 2024 elections.



She further called on security agencies to arrest Mr Acheampong for his reckless statement.



Accordingly, we call on the Security Agencies to immediately arrest Bryan Acheampong and slap him with charges of inciting a treasonous act.



If the Security Agencies fail to arrest Bryan Acheampong as they did others, we will call for a nation-wide Women's Revolution to, with immediate, effect a citizens' arrest of "Nation Wrecker" Bryan Acheampong.



Has Bryan Acheampong seriously considered the possible conflagration that will occur in Ghana if anyone is maimed or killed as a result of his recklessness in the near future?





Read her full statement below:PRESS STATEMENTFor immediate release 10 April 2023.NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS WOMEN'S WING CAUTION TO "CORPORAL COOK" BRYAN ACHEAMPONG AND THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY.The message is simple and clear, we the women of the National Democratic Congress are infuriated by the reckless and covetous statements by the "Corporal Cook" Bryan Acheampong. In his attempt to terrorize Ghanaians at a recent health walk said, "The NPP shall never hand over power to the NDC. Whatever it takes to retain power in 2024, we shall do it".These treasonable statements that shake the foundation of our democracy didn't start last Saturday. In 2021 at a delegates conference in Kumasi, President Akufo Addo re-iterated his plans to hand over power in 2025 to his party's flag bearer. In a similar occasion in 2022, Lord Commey who is the director of operations at the Presidency said "the power I have, I will not hand it over today or tomorrow."This is a clear indication of the evil intent of the NPP to manipulate the outcome of election 2024 as they know, the ordinary Ghanaian is fed up with their failed government. To cover up for the numerous scandalous deals and misappropriation of state funds, they are desperate to hold on to power.We the women of Ghana unreservedly condemn "Corporal Cook" Bryan Acheampong's irresponsible, senseless, uncouth, vitriolic attack on our country's democracy, and the attempted "rape" of the constitutional right of the people of Ghana to elect leaders of their choice.Accordingly, we call on the Security Agencies to immediately arrest Bryan Acheampong and slap him with charges for inciting a treasonous act.If the Security Agencies fail to arrest Bryan Acheampong as they did others, we will call for a nation-wide Women's Revolution to, with immediate, effect a citizens' arrest of "Nation Wrecker" Bryan Acheampong.Has Bryan Acheampong seriously considered the possible conflagration that will occur in Ghana if anyone is maimed or killed as a result of his recklessness in the near future?Has Bryan Acheampong thought about the probability of Accra, and for that matter, other parts of this country being a "no-go" areas for him and his cohorts if any politically motivated unfortunate incidents happen AGAIN? It is already noteworthy that Bryan Acheampong cannot step foot in Bawku.Bryan Acheampong can not stand in the midst of innocent God-fearing and peaceful Kwahu people, to be spewing gibberish. He should descend from the tranquility of the Kwahu mountains into the "battle grounds" leading to the 2024 elections, and face a determined mass of well prepared defendants of democracy!"Coporal Cook" Bryan Acheampong and his gangs of hoodlums and dunderheads must know that battle-tested and defiant Ghanaians will not accept a repeat of the senseless massacres during the December 2020 elections and the bloodshed at Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.DECEMBER 2020 ELECTION MASSACRES will not happen again!AYAWASO WEST-WOUGON will not happen again!We are out here this afternoon to tell Akufo Addo and his NPP that we've had enough of their threats on our democracy! we don't have just the men but we have the WOMEN too.The mandate of the people you stole in 2020 with the help of Electoral Commission's manipulation of figures shall never repeat itself in 2024. To continue the culture of rigging, you have packed the Electoral Commission with NPP party faithfuls. We are a product of revolution and we shall face you head on.In the breakout of war, Women and children suffer the most. It's been days these words of war were declared by the NPP. IGP, Akufo Dampare and the Ghana Police Service, did you suddenly lose the swiftness and proactiveness to arrest like you did at Suame in the case of our constituency youth organiser? National Security, National Intelligence Bureau rise up to your responsibilities.The Peace Council, Christian Council where is the voice to speak truth to power and uphold the peace of our democracy? Find your voices!Ghanaians are tired of the reckless borrowing! Ghanaians are tired of cronyism and nepotism! Ghanaians are tired of living like slaves in our motherland!Ghanaians are tired of the mismanagement and deceit!To the ordinary Ghanaian like myself, do not be afraid by losing interest in your ballot come 2024. We shall never relent in our efforts to rescue and build the Ghana we all want with President John Dramani Mahama.Hail thy name oh Ghana, to you we make our solemn vow to defend forever the cause of freedom and of right. THANK YOU!SignedHon. Dr. Hanna Louisa BisiwNational Women's Organizer

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has vowed not to support National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentarians who defied the partys orders to vote against the approval of new appointees of the government.



Speaking at the Obaasima Campus Tour event at the University of Health and Allied Science in Ho, on Friday, Ablakwa, who appears to be still pained by the action of the said MPs, said that they have made the NDC lose credibility in the eyes of many Ghanaians.



He added that he is not going to work with the treacherous NDC MPs even if it means he will be suspended from the party.



They said we should hold a press conference and tell the Ghanaian public that we will vote against (the presidents appointees), that we are opposed; only for the vote to take place after the press conferences and public assurances, more than 30 of you stabbed us in the back.



And you think that I am going to support you people because you belong to my party. I will not because we don't even have credibility, the next time we will go and hold a press conference the Ghanaian people will not take us seriously.



I dont believe in treacherous politics, politics without principals, politics of betrayal, I dont believe in that. And if because of that, one day, I will be suspended or banished from the party so be it, he said.



Background:



Parliament on Friday, March 24, approved all six ministerial nominees as well as the nominees of the Supreme Court of President Akufo-Addo after a heated debate, 24 hours earlier and a tense voting process.



Final results declared by Speaker Alban Bagbin showed that all nominees got more votes than the minimum of 138 votes required because out of the 275 eligible voters, there were three absent.



Some Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) did not adhere to the decision of the party to vote against the approval of the nominees.



Kobina Tahir Hammond (MP for Adansi Asokwa) was approved as the Minister of Trade and Industry and Bryan Acheampong (MP for Abetifi) as the Minister of Food and Agriculture.



Other nominees who were approved include Stephen Asamoah Boateng, as Ministry of Chieftaincy; Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of State (Ministry of Finance), and Osei Bonsu Amoah, Ministry of Local Government.



Stephen Amoah, the Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, was also approved as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.



The Supreme Court nominees who were approved include George Kingsley Koomson, Justice of the Court of Appeal, and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, Justice of the High Court.



Leading figures in the NDC, including former President John Dramani Mahama, slammed the MPs who broke ranks and have accused them of betraying NDC supporters and Ghanaians for their selfish interest.



The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has challenged the said MPs, who were allegedly bribed, according to Cape Coast South MP, Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan, to come out and tell Ghanaians why they voted to approve Akufo-Addo's nominees.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Presidential candidate hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Duffour, has received massive support from the partys delegates in the Northern Region.



The delegates reportedly received Duffuor and his message warmly, which may serve as a good boost for his candidature in the NDC flagbearer contest.



The former finance minister in the erstwhile John Evans Atta-Mills administration is touring the Northern Region ahead of the NDCs delegates congress slated for Saturday 13 May 2023, to elect the partys flagbearer and parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general elections.



He is expected to visit all 18 constituencies in the Northern Region to sell his message to delegates of the NDC.



At his stop in the Tamale South constituency, Duffuor was received by a massive crowd. The delegates visibly demonstrated their support for Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, as their preferred choice as flagbearer of the NDC for election 2024.



Addressing the Tamale South constituency delegates, Dr. Duffuor noted that he is the best person in the NDC three-man race to lead the party to victory 2024.



The current government has paid little attention to the plight of Ghanaians in the midst of the ongoing economic crisis.



Give me a resounding victory on the 13 May 2023 to turn the economy round so that Ghanaians can heave a sigh of relief, Dr Duffuor remarked.



A member of Duffuors campaign team, Yaw Boateng Gyan, on his part, urged the delegates not to pay attention to those who claim that, nobody should contest the former President, John Dramani Mahama.



He added that the former finance minister is one of the founding fathers of the NDC, and he is therefore qualified to contest to lead the party at the highest level.



His immense contributions to the party can not be downplayed. As finance minister in the NDC administration, Dr Kwabena Duffuor contributed immensely to the success of the party, and as flagbearer, he will the party and the country to the place of progress and prosperity, Boateng Gyan said.



Dr Duffuor is third on the ballot. On 13 May 2023, when you receive your ballot paper, just look to third position and vote for Dr Kwabena Duffour,  he added.



Duffour over the last few weeks has toured the Volta and Oti Regions. After his ongoing tour of the Northern Region, he is expected to proceed to the North East and Savannah Regions to meet with NDC delegates.



Former President John Dramani Mahama, joins former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffour and former Mayor of Kumasi, Kojo Bonsu, as interested candidates in the partys flagbearer contest which is fixed for Saturday 13 May 2023.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the governing New Patriotic Party's Member of Parliament for the Assin Central Constituency in the Central Region, has said fellow flag bearer aspirant Alan Kyerematen is deserving of the slot by virtue of his toils for the party.



Mr Agyapong told Sompa FM in the Kumasi metropolis that Mr Kyerematen has paid his dues to the party and, thus, deserves to be the flag bearer.



In is view, if people are arguing that Dr Bawumia deserves to be the flag bearer because he has been the vice president for two terms, then Mr Kyerematen is even more deserving of that privilege.



"Yes, if Alan says its his turn, he deserves it because he has been in the trenches with the party from its inception as the president of the Young Executives Forum (YEF) which was the financial wing of the NPP in the early days, Mr Agyapong noted.



He wondered: Where were all these small boys who have been insulting Alan, when he was in the trenches working for the NPP.













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Rachel Appoh, a former Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central has described as unfortunate, reckless and irresponsible' statement from the Member of Parliament for Abetifi Constituency, Bryan Acheampong which suggests that the New Patriotic Party government will not hand over power to the National Democratic Congress regardless of the outcome of the 2024 elections.



Rachel Appoh is seething with rage over the statement that she deems to be unbefitting of a member of parliament and an ex-military officer.



She warned in a GhanaWeb interview if the NPP are planning to do anything untoward then they should rewrite their notes because NDC is prepared to take them on.



She said members of the NDC will go to every length to protect Ghana's democracy and the 1992 constitution that has served the country since its promulgation.



Rachel Appoh opined that the comment from Bryan Acheampong is an illustration of the depth of corruption in the mentality of NPP members.



Its an unfortunate and irresponsible statement from Bryan Acheampong. Let me first state that some of us are ready to put our lives on the line to save Ghanas democracy so this empty threat cannot get to us.



When they are making these threats they should know that we are going to face them squarely. NDC will resist every attack by the NPP in the 2024 elections. They dont have men more than us. What really surprises me is that Bryan Acheampong of all people is making this statement.



This statement sounds alien from the Bryan I know. He is a trained soldier so Im surprised such a reckless statement is coming from him, she said.



Bryan Acheampong booms at Kwahu



Bryan Acheampong is on record as saying the governing New Patriotic Party will do everything within its means to win the 2024 general elections.



According to him, the NPP is not ready to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), therefore, his party will go to the election fully prepared.



He stated that the NPP has the men to match the opposition boot for boot during the 2024 polls.



Addressing party faithful after a health walk through the principal streets of Mpraeso on Saturday, April 8, 2023, Bryan Acheampong stressed 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."

Source: Ghanaweb.com









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Intrigue and a lack of facts lead people to become creative and imaginative. The truth is, there is limited information, which helps fuel the legend. "This is the fertile ground from which folk and urban legends are born and thrive," says Prower. He believes these types of legends continue to be passed on because they are fun and more interesting than a mundane explanation.

And there's likely another reason this "real-life" corpse bride in the shop window legend continues: It's an excellent marketing tool for this local dress shop. Who doesn't love a good mystery?

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Theresa Cordova shares in her 2012 University of New Mexico dissertation thesis, "Recordando Nuestra Gente: Ritual Memorialization Along the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro," that she visited the shop where the bridal mannequin stands, explained her research objectives and was granted an appointment to talk with the manager. But when she came back for the scheduled meeting a few days later, she realized she had been stood up.

A store clerk eventually told her there wouldn't be an interview because the owners claimed it would bring bad luck, she shares. "I left the store and realized how the story of Pascualita was the dress shop's marketing tool in a city with multiple wedding dress shops," Cordova writes. "The owner and public relations director viewed my study as negative publicity."

Determined to find more information about La Pascualita and prove her existence, Cordova explains in her thesis that she sought out archives at the city church and was told the story was only a legend.

"I could not find any record of her life in the archives because she did not, in fact, exist," Cordova writes. "I was unable to rely on any historical archives, written obituaries or church documents in order to reconstruct the life and death of La Pascualita."

Denying interviews about the corpse in the shop window seems to be a good marketing strategy and one that maintains the intrigue and mystery of La Pascualita. Prower thinks it's a good business decision to turn down interviews. "It keeps the legend alive, keeps their business in business, and keeps a little more magic here in our mundane world," he says.

Now That's Interesting The biggest factor in La Pascualita's fame is that "such a highly detailed mannequin with eye-following optical illusion effects was in a local bridal shop," says Prower. This type of mannequin wouldn't be unusual at a large department store, but it definitely stands out for a small shop, he explains. "I think the setting of the Chihuahua bridal shop helped make such a detailed mannequin even more unsettling," says Prower.
" " Air Force Senior Airman Sara Gutherie adjusts her headset to communicate with maintainers inside a C-17 Globemaster III during an inspection at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Sept. 17, 2020. Joshua Seybert/U.S. Air Force

It happens all the time when we watch movies, especially war movies. A crackle comes over someone's radio and a voice cuts through the static: "Alfa Bravo, this is Foxtrot Victor. Report your position. Over."

Alfa Bravo and Foxtrot Victor aren't code names. The actors, who are playing soldiers in this hypothetical movie, are using the phonetic alphabet (also known as the NATO phonetic alphabet or the military alphabet), where each letter is assigned a full word. This may seem entirely unnecessary  why not just say A instead of Alfa? But think back to that scene: the static of the radio, maybe the sounds of gunfire or air raids, maybe other soldiers barking orders and answering. Now imagine trying to get a clear message through that radio with all that noise.

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Maybe it's even come up in real life when you've tried to spell your name or email address while on the phone with customer service. You've probably used your own made-up phonetic alphabet: "That's S as in super, A as in apple, and M as in music."

When people mostly communicated by writing letters, this was not a problem. But as audio communications became more widespread, this kind of clarity became necessary. The first phonetic alphabet was invented in the 1920s by the International Telecommunications Union, according to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It used geographical names for each letter: Amsterdam, Baltimore, Casablanca, Denmark.

In 1941, in time for World War II, the U.S. Army and Navy created the Able Baker alphabet, which was also adopted by U.K. forces. It uses shorter everyday words and names: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog, Easy, Fox, etc.

Ten years later, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) revised this alphabet to be less English-centric. The words used are still in English, but they were considered more universal, incorporating sounds common to English, French and Spanish: Alfa (not "Alpha"), Bravo, Coca, Delta, etc.
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Comparison of Canis lupus and Canis dirus right dentaries with ROMVP 71618. (A) ROMVP R2030, Recent Canis lupus of unknown sex. (B) ROMVP 6394, Canis dirus from Talara, Peru. (C) ROMVP 71618 from Surprise Bluff, Medicine Hat, Alberta. Landmarks (described and numbered in Table 2) are superimposed. All specimens are to scale. Scale bar = 5 cm. Credit: Journal of Quaternary Science (2023). DOI: 10.1002/jqs.3516

A toothy grinned monster was lurking in the basement collection of a museum in Canada: The fossilized jaw of a beast that once roamed the bluffs along the South Saskatchewan River, competing with saber-toothed cats (Smilodon) in hunting horses, bison, camels and mammoths.

Researcher Ashley R. Reynolds at the Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, decided to examine some past finds more closely with the benefit of new knowledge accrued since the time of the discovery. This practice gained renewed popularity in collections around the world during the pandemic lockdown and has led to many interesting discoveries, including the work Reynolds has published in the Journal of Quaternary Science.

Previous efforts by Reynolds and colleagues had turned up the first evidence of a Canadian saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis) in the museum collection. In the current study, "Dire wolf (Canis dirus) from the late Pleistocene of southern Canada (Medicine Hat, Alberta)," Reynolds analyzed more fossil material from the same excavation site to formally identify a dire wolf from a fossilized jaw bone in the collection.

The fossil, originally found in 1969, was identified as a dire wolf by C. S. Churcher (an author in the current paper) in an unpublished report to the Geological Survey of Canada in 1970, based on its large size. It has never been illustrated or described in detail to confirm the initial identification.

Dire wolves are a larger, extinct canid cousin of the gray wolf with more muscular builds and with more powerful jaws. Three species of dire wolf ranged from North and South America to Eastern China. They must have been a fierce competitor because their territory ranges often overlapped with other large predators, most frequently saber-toothed cats three times their size.

It is unusual that the jaw went unstudied for so long as the specimen would be the first and only dire wolf found in Canada and the northernmost known occurrence of the species by 500 km. It could be that because it was such an outlier that the initial observations lacked confidence for more formal identification.

There is some difficulty in distinguishing between a gray wolf and a dire wolf from a poorly preserved fossil because the two are so closely alike morphologically, despite estimations that the two are separated from having a common ancestor by over 5.5 million years.

With a complete fossil jaw in good condition, the identification would have been straightforward, as the size and distinct patterns on teeth can clearly separate the two. The fossil found in 1969 was in bad shape, fractured in multiple places and missing the more obvious clues on teeth surfaces because some teeth were missing, and the teeth that were preserved with the jaw either preserved poorly or were naturally worn down by a wolf in advanced age.

Without the more obvious identifiers, the researchers took multiple measurements and plotted them against known dire wolf fossils, modern-day gray wolves and gray wolf ancestor fossils. In the analysis there was some overlap with outliers between dire wolves and the gray wolf ancestors, but the plots of the fossilized jaw placed it firmly in the dire wolf category as originally suggested in the 1970 unpublished report. Radiocarbon-dated wood pieces believed to be from near where the jaw was found date to around 45,000 years ago.

The study is a long overdue investigation, adding to the known range of territories the dire wolf inhabited. The recent identification of a 40,000-year-old dire wolf fossil in North East China, cited in the paper, also hints at faunal migrations around the timeframe of the Canadian dire wolf, suggesting it crossed land bridge formations between Asia and North America leading up to the last ice age. As the dire wolves may have lived as recently as 9,500 years ago, it is possible that they crossed paths with early humans migrating into Beringia.

More information: Ashley R. Reynolds et al, Dire wolf ( Canis dirus ) from the late Pleistocene of southern Canada (Medicine Hat, Alberta), Journal of Quaternary Science (2023). DOI: 10.1002/jqs.3516 Journal information: Journal of Quaternary Science

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The X-point radiator emits not only UV light but also visible blue light in a ring-shaped area above the divertor. The left picture shows a camera image (below the normal red glow of the cold plasma edge). On the right is a numerical simulation of the X-point radiator phenomenon. Credit: MPI fur Plasma Physics/E. Huett

A magnetic cage keeps the more than 100 million degree Celsius hot plasmas in nuclear fusion devices at a distance from the vessel wall so that they do not melt. Now researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) have found a way to significantly reduce this distance. This could make it possible to build smaller and cheaper fusion reactors for energy production. The work was published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

The international experimental reactor ITER, which is currently being built in southern France, represents the most advanced way to generate energy in a fusion power plant. The design follows the tokamak principle, i.e., a fusion plasma at more than 100 million degrees is confined in a magnetic field shaped like a donut. This concept prevents the hot plasma from coming into contact with the enclosing wall and damaging it. The ASDEX Upgrade tokamak experiment at IPP in Garching near Munich serves as a blueprint for ITER and later fusion power plants. Important elements for ITER were developed here. And plasma operating conditions and components for later power plants can already be tested today.

The hot plasma moves closer to the divertor

A central element of ASDEX Upgrade and all modern magnetic fusion facilities is the divertor. This is a part of the vessel wall that is particularly heat-resistant and requires an elaborate design. "At the divertor arrives the heat from the plasma at the wall. In later power plants, the fusion product helium-4 will also be extracted there," Prof. Ulrich Stroth explained, head of the Plasma Edge and Wall Division at IPP. "In this region, the wall load is particularly high." The divertor tiles of ASDEX Upgrade and also of ITER are therefore made of tungsten, the chemical element with the highest melting temperature of all (3422C).

Without countermeasures, 20% of the fusion power of the plasma would reach the divertor surfaces. At approx. 200 megawatts per square meter, that would be roughly the same conditions as on the surface of the sun. However, the divertor in ITER and also future fusion power plants will only be able to cope with a maximum of 10 megawatts per square meter. For this reason, small amounts of impurities (often nitrogen) are added to the plasma. These extract most of its thermal energy by converting it into ultraviolet light. Nevertheless, the plasma edge (the separatrix) must be kept at a distance from the divertor to protect it. In ASDEX Upgrade until now, this has been at least 25 centimeters (measured from the lower plasma tipthe X-pointto the edges of the divertor).

X-point radiator opens up new possibilities for fusion reactor design

Now, researchers at IPP have succeeded in reducing this distance to fewer than 5 centimeters without damaging the wall. "We specifically use the X-point radiator for this, a phenomenon we discovered about a decade ago during experiments at ASDEX Upgrade," IPP researcher Dr. Matthias Bernert said. "The X-point radiator occurs in specifically shaped magnetic cages when the amount of added nitrogen exceeds a certain value."

This leads to formation of a small, dense volume that radiates particularly strongly in the UV range. "Such impurities give us somewhat poorer plasma properties, but if we set the X-point radiator to a fixed position by varying the nitrogen injection, we can run the experiments at higher power without damaging the device/divertor," Dr. Bernert explained.

In camera images from the vacuum vessel, the X-point radiator (XPR for short) can be seen as a blue glowing ring in the plasma, as it also emits some visible light in addition to the UV radiation. IPP researchers have recently intensively investigated the XPR. Nevertheless, chance also played a role in the current discovery: "We accidentally moved the plasma edge much closer to the divertor than we had intended," IPP physicist Dr. Tilmann Lunt said.

"We were very surprised that ASDEX Upgrade coped with this without any problems." Because the effect could be confirmed in further experiments, the researchers now know: when the X-point radiator is present, significantly more thermal energy is converted into UV radiation than previously assumed. The plasma then radiates up to 90% of the energy in all directions.

Fusion power plants could be built more compact and cheaper

This leads to conclusions that could be very favorable for the construction of future fusion power plants:

Divertors can be built smaller and technologically much simpler than before (Compact Radiative Divertor).

Because the plasma moves closer to the divertor, the vacuum vessel volume can be better utilized. Initial calculations show that if the vessel were optimally shaped, it would be possible to almost double the plasma volume while maintaining the same dimensions. This would also increase the achievable fusion power. But the researchers first have to verify this in further experiments.

In addition, the use of the X-point radiator also helps against edge localized modes (ELMs): violent energy eruptions at the plasma edge that recur at regular intervals and expel about a tenth of the plasma energy towards the wall. ITER and future fusion reactors would be damaged by such eruptions.

"We are dealing with a significant discovery in fusion research," is therefore also the verdict of IPP Division Director Ulrich Stroth. "The X-point radiator opens up completely new possibilities for us in the development of a power plant. We will further investigate the theory behind it and try to understand it better by new experiments at ASDEX Upgrade." The Garching tokamak will soon be ideally equipped for this: By summer 2024, it will be provided with a new upper divertor. Its special coils will make it possible to deform the magnetic field close to the divertor freely and thus also optimize the conditions for the X-point radiator.

More information: T. Lunt et al, Compact Radiative Divertor Experiments at ASDEX Upgrade and Their Consequences for a Reactor, Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.145102 Journal information: Physical Review Letters
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The floods that impacted Durban in April 2022 were the most catastrophic yet, recorded in KwaZulu-Natal. Credit: Chante Shatz.

The disastrous flood that hit Durban in April 2022 was the most catastrophic natural disaster yet recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in collective terms of lives lost, homes and infrastructure damaged or destroyed and economic impact.

This is according to a new study by researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the University of Brighton, UK, published in the South African Geographical Journal.

Professor Stefan Grab from Wits University and his colleague, Professor David Nash constructed a geographical history of flooding disasters in KZN by sifting through thousands of archived articles held in old newspapers, colonial and government records, early missionary records, and meteorological records which became available from the 1850s onwards.

They define extreme flooding events, where major rivers were overflowing their banks, together with one or more significant consequences, such as the loss of human life, livestock, agricultural fields and crops, and infrastructure such as buildings, roads and bridges.

The study, which reconstructed the history of floods in KZN since the 1840s, confirmed a widely-heldyet anecdotal viewthat the April 2022 floods were likely the most catastrophic natural disaster yet recorded in KZN and that flooding events have doubled over the last century or more.

"Right after the floods, many commentators like the media, some scientists and others were quick to report that the floods were the most severe ever recorded. Our aim was to place the floods into perspective and see if this and other statements related to the disaster were factually correct by building a historic geographic account of past floods and associated extreme rainfall events for the province of KZN and particularly the greater Durban region," says Grab, lead author of the study.

The scientists found that while the floods were indeed the most catastrophic in terms of lives lost, infrastructure damaged, and economical loss, the flood was not actually the biggest in terms of the area affected, homes destroyed, or the amount of rainfall that fell collectively over a few days.

"When you look at a natural disaster you need to look at it in context. Whether the April 2022 floods were the 'worst in living memory' is debatable, as a flooding event in September 1987 affected a larger geographic area of KZN and destroyed more homes than the 2022 event," says Grab. Similarly, a catastrophic flooding event in Durban, 1856also in Aprilproduced a greater quantity of rainfall over a three-day period than last year's floods.

In April 2022, the KZN coastal zone, including the greater Durban area and South Coast, received more than 300mm of rain in 24 hours. This led to calamitous flooding, with 459 people losing their lives and 88 people still missing by the end of May 2022. Over 4000 homes were destroyed, 40 000 people left homeless, and 45 000 people were temporarily left unemployed. The cost of infrastructure and business losses amounted to an estimated US$2 billion.

In April 1856, 303mm of rain fell in Durban over 24 hours, and a record of 691mm over a three-day period from April 14 to 16. During these historic floods, an unknown number of people drowned, the entire central area of Durban was flooded, bridges were destroyed and roads were closed for several days, cutting off all communication with other parts of the country.

The floods extended inland to Howick and the Umgeni bridge was swept away. Over a 16km stretch of beach between the mouths of the Umgeni and Umhlanga rivers, 200 drowned oxen were deposited.

"It is difficult to compare the two floods in terms of which was the most severe. We must recognize that back in 1856 Durban was only a town with a much smaller population and economic infrastructure to that of today, and thus the percentage of individuals impacted or percentage economic loss may well have been greater back in 1856. In addition, coping mechanisms and 'outside' support would have been far more restricted during the 19th century," says Grab.

It is highly likely that recent anthropogenically-induced global climate warming has contributed to trends of increased flooding as we have demonstrated here, and this trend is likely to continue so in the foreseeable future. However, it is also important to recognize that catastrophic climate events such as severe floods are not temporally restricted to a 'warmer world' as the 1856 floods happened during a much colder climatic period.

"With regards flood disastershistory is repeating itself. We need to prepare for bigger rainfall events in our cities, and that doesn't just apply to Durban, it applies to all South African cities and towns. We must get our infrastructure, especially drainage systems, in order. It is urgent that we better prepare ourselves for the heavy rainfall and flood events that are guaranteed to come in times ahead," says Grab.

More information: S.W. Grab et al, A new flood chronology for KwaZulu-Natal (18362022): the April 2022 Durban floods in historical context, South African Geographical Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1080/03736245.2023.2193758
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Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive compounds that are generally considered toxic when produced in vivo, but plants have the enzyme RBOH, which actively produces ROS, and utilize ROS in a variety of situations. Therefore, the activity of RBOH must be strictly controlled. Picea abies (Norway Spruce) is a coniferous tree of the Pinaceae family, famously used as Christmas tree. In this study, a multinational team of researchers found that PaRBOH1 synergistically activates RBOH by binding Ca2+ (calcium ion) and phosphorylation (P in the figure) for the first time in gymnosperms and elucidated the activation mechanism. This also suggests the potential role of PaRBOH1 in the formation of cell wall lignin. Credit: Dr. Kenji Hashimoto and Prof. Kazuyuki Kuchitsu

Norway spruce is a large coniferous tree native to Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. Conifers make up a considerable portion of the terrestrial biomass and serve as a significant carbon sink, with the majority of the carbon going into the cell walls of the wood tissues. The economically-important Norway spruce is no exception.

The Norway spruce is a model species of gymnospermwoody plants that produce naked seeds, on cones, without forming flowers and fruitswhose secondary xylem (water-conducting vascular tissue, also called 'wood') cell wall contains 27% of an important phenolic polymerlignin.

Lignin provides rigidity and structural support to cell wall polysaccharides. It is also valued for the production of important bio-based materials. Thus, the Norway spruce holds significance not just as an important lumber crop but also as a source of rich organic chemicals.

As such, much research has been conducted over the years to unravel the intricate metabolic pathways involved in the growth and metabolite production in this species, at the forefront of which are researchers in Finland.

Now, Professor Kazuyuki Kuchitsu at Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan, a leading researcher on reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants has collaborated with Finnish scientists to study lignin biosynthesis in spruce.

Previous research has shown that the last polymerization stages in the production of lignin involve the oxidation of monolignols to phenolic radicals, which are then coupled non-enzymatically, using either hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-using peroxidase or oxygen-using laccase. With time, the role of ROS biogenic enzymes in lignin synthesis and spruce growth has also been identified.

ROS, such as superoxide anion radicals, H 2 O 2 , and hydroxyl radicals, can be produced by a number of sources in the plasma membrane and cell walls of plants and enter the apoplast (the space outside the plasma membrane of a plant cell). These sources include different enzymes, for instance, oxidases and peroxidases, as well as respiratory burst oxidase homologues (RBOHs, also known as NADPH oxidases).

Using cytoplasmic NADPH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) as an electron donor, the plant RBOHs produce superoxide anion radicals, which then dismutate to H 2 O 2 . Prof. Kuchitsu's research has revealed that this mechanism of producing ROS is crucial for many molecular processes in plants including pollen tube growth and fertilization.

In the lignin-forming cell culture and developing xylem of the Norway spruce, PaRBOH1 is the most highly expressed RBOH gene.

But how is PaRBOH1 regulated?

To answer this question, Prof. Kuchitsu's team from TUS in collaboration with Finnish scientists studied the ROS-producing activity and regulatory mechanism of PaRBOH1 in gymnosperms, including the coniferous species spruce. Their study revealed, for the first time, that PaRBOH1 is activated by calcium ions and phosphorylation to produce ROS.

Additionally, protein kinase activity was observed in the cell extract of the developing xylem, phosphorylating certain serine and threonine residues in PaRBOH1.

These findings have been published in Frontiers of Plant Science. The multinational team involved in the study included Dr. Kenji Hashimoto from TUS; Dr. Kaloian Nickolov of the University of Oulu, Finland; Dr. Adrien Gauthier of Aghyle Unit, Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle, France; and Dr. Anna Karkonen of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland.

The results of RBOH regulation in the first gymnosperm species to be examined, the Norway spruce, demonstrates that all seed plantsgymnosperms (naked seeded) or angiosperms (closed seeded)share the same mechanisms for controlling RBOH activity.

Prof. Kuchitsu explains why this is significant: "ROS were typically regarded as toxic substances, but our study shows that several plant functions, including stress response and plant vegetative and reproductive development, are regulated by ROS produced by ROS biogenic enzymes."

Prof. Kuchitsu also sheds light on the practical applications of their findings. Owing to their potential for use as new sources of energy and materials, research into tree development and the mechanisms governing the valuable components in their cells is gaining momentum. "Our research, in the future, might contribute to the promotion of tree growth and aid in advancing technology for producing valuable materials," observes Prof. Kuchitsu.

More information: Kaloian Nickolov et al, Regulation of PaRBOH1-mediated ROS production in Norway spruce by Ca2+ binding and phosphorylation, Frontiers in Plant Science (2022). DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.978586 Journal information: Frontiers in Plant Science
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Credit: Oleg Shakirov/Shutterstock

Suppose you are in a pub with friends. You drink a few beers, have a good time, and head home. The following morning you realize your headache is milder than usual. You then discover that you were part of an experiment where the glasses at the pub were 25% smaller.

In their landmark 2008 book, Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness, behavioral economist Richard Thaler and legal scholar Cass Sunstein defined a "nudge" as an intervention "that alters people's behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives".

Imposing higher alcohol taxes is not nudging, because it changes the costs to the drinker. Offering smaller glasses, by contrast, is. It does not forbid alcohol. And since prices are adjusted for glass size, people still only pay for what they consume.

But, as a 2018 study led by psychologist Inge Kersbergen shows, it does encourage less drinking: 30% less, to be precise, when the glasses are a quarter smaller. This, Kersbergen's team estimated, could lead to 1,400 fewer deaths and 73,000 fewer hospital admissions annually in the UK alonethe very definition of a successful nudge.

More than 200 institutions (including the United Nations and the World Bank) and governments (from Australia to Qatar) use nudging to get us to behave in ways thataccording to them, at leastare more beneficial.

But the question of who stands to benefit is where nudging courts controversy. If you'd spent the evening drinking out of smaller glasses, you might feel psychologically manipulatedeven if, physically, you felt good.

So, given the popularity nudging has gained as a public policy tool, gauging how the mediawhose remit is to hold authority to accountevaluates it, then, is crucial. My research shows that if governments like to nudge us in all spheres of public life, journalists largely applaud them for doing so.

How the media views nudges

The US and the UK are frontrunners in using nudging in policy-making. To gauge how the British and American press evaluate this, from 2008 to 2020, I analyzed 443 newspaper articles (opinion pieces, editorials, news articles, reports) from major broadsheets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Sunday Times, The Guardian and the Financial Times.

Of the 1,186 quotes I identified, 65% scored as positive coverage and 35% as negative. Positive coverage cut across partisan lines. Left-leaning newspapers had more positive than negative quotes (a 1.6 ratio: for every eight positive quotes, there are five negative ones). For rightwing outlets, the distribution was even more skewed (a 2.2 ratio: 11 positive quotes for every five negative ones).

When Thaler was awarded the 2017 Nobel prize for his contributions to behavioral economics, coverage was largely positive. Journalists highlighted nudge initiatives inspired by Thaler's insights, including text messages sent to university students' families on how they might help them succeed in their studies and a 2012 British policy that auto-enrolled workers in pensions-saving programs.

I found that the media often highlighted nudge victories. Writing in the Observer in 2018, journalist Ben Quinn described some physicians cutting unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions by 3.3%, after they received a letter showing that they prescribe more than their peers. This, to Quinn's mind, showcased the value of "social norm nudges".

I also found the media often argued that both citizens and politicians favor nudging. Writing in The New York Times in 2018, about behavioral economics as a growing trend, marketing expert David Gal noted:

"The popularity of such low-cost psychological interventions, or 'nudges', under the label of behavioral economics is in part a triumph of marketing. It reflects the widespread perception that behavioral economics combines the cleverness and fun of pop psychology with the rigor and relevance of economics."

Political faultlines

I found that when journalists did criticize nudging, their political leanings became apparent. Early on, critics feared that governments would use nudges to their advantage. In his review of Thaler and Sunstein's 2008 book, the Sunday Times's Bryan Appelyard argued that "we are going to be manipulated all the time".

In a New York Times magazine report from 2010, meanwhile, US political journalist Benjamin Wallace-Wells highlighted that conservatives tended to see something nefarious"a Big Brother strain"in behavioral economics. He referred to rightwing political commentator Glenn Beck calling Sunstein "the most dangerous guy out there" because Sunstein's expertise was, to Beck's mind, making some things, such as buying a gun, more difficult.

In the UK, the Behavioral Insights Team (BIT)nicknamed the "Nudge Unit"was set up in 2010 as part of the UK Cabinet Office, before becoming an independent advisory body in 2014. In October 2017, BIT issued guidance for parents that said that praising children might stunt their progress. It was roundly criticized, with the conservative Scottish Daily Mail running a piece, under the subhead (in the print version) "Nanny state tells us how to praise kids".

Progressives, by contrast, attacked nudges for being too laissez-faire and inadequate as a tool for tackling deep-rooted problems such as poverty. As economics reporter Eduardo Porter put it in a 2016 New York Times report:

"It's great to know that there are promising ways to improve society by developing a smarter email or changing the default choice on an application form. But if the question is whether policy makers can cheaply nudge Americans out of destitution onto a path to prosperity, the answer must be no."

Even as Thaler received the Nobel prize, The New York Times's Aaron E Carroll discussed the limits of behavioral economics as made clear by healthcare. Researchers had used several techniques, including what they termed "social support nudges", to get people to take their pills. All had failed. Carroll said,

"The problem is that health has so many moving parts. The health care system has even more. Trying to improve any one aspect can make others worse. Behavioral economics may offer us some fascinating theories to test in controlled trials, but we have a long way to go before we can assume it's a cure for what ails Americans."

It should be noted that many of the media proponents of nudging are actually academic experts. Those critical of the practice, however, get less exposure.

Nudging can be effective. It will not, however, fix all societal ills. And sometimes it can backfire. If the press is to fulfill its crucial role in holding politicians to account, it should be critically assessing how our governments are using this subtle tool to influence our behavior.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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In this photo provided by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the Nuri rocket, the first domestically produced space rocket, lifts off from a launch pad at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Korea, on June 21, 2022. South Korea plans to conduct its first launch of a commercial-grade satellite aboard a domestically built rocket next month as part of its space development program, officials said Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Credit: Korea Aerospace Research Institute via AP, File

South Korea plans to conduct its first launch of a commercial-grade satellite aboard a domestically built rocket next month as part of its space development program, officials said Tuesday.

South Korea's officials say its homegrown Nuri space launch vehicle has no military purposes. But some experts say the development of such rockets would eventually help the country acquire technologies needed to build bigger missiles and launch reconnaissance satellites amid animosities with rival North Korea.

In June last year, South Korea conducted its first satellite launch using the Nuri rocket. That launch involved what South Korean officials called a "performance verification" satellite mainly designed to examine the capacity of the rocket while next month's event is meant to put a commercial-grade satellite into orbit for the first time.

The Science Ministry said the rocket will blast off from the country's space launch center on a southern island on May 24. A ministry statement said it had set a backup launch date from May 25-31, in case of possible schedule changes due to weather.

The rocket will carry one main satellite called "Next Generation Small Satellite 2" and seven other smaller cube-shaped satellites. The main satellite is tasked with verifying imaging radar technology and observing cosmic radiation in near-Earth orbit, the statement said.

In this photo released by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the Nuri rocket is seen at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Korea, on March 28, 2023. South Korea plans to conduct its first launch of a commercial-grade satellite aboard a domestically built rocket next month as part of its space development program, officials said Tuesday, April 11. Credit: Korea Aerospace Research Institute via AP

Authorities have completed the assembly of the rocket's first and second stages and are conducting final environmental tests of the eight satellites that are to be placed on the rocket's third stage.

Last year's launch was the Nuri rocket's second liftoff. In its first launch in 2021, the rocket's dummy payload reached the desired altitude but failed to enter orbit. After next month's launch, South Korea plans three more Nuri rocket launches, officials said.

"The third launch of Nuri is of great significance as it is the first attempt to launch a commercial-grade satellite and the first time a private company will jointly manufacture the homegrown Nuri rocket," Oh Tae-seok, the first vice science minister, was quoted as saying in the ministry statement.

South Korea, the world's 10th largest economy, is a major producer of semiconductors, automobiles and smartphones. But its space development program lags behind that of its neighbors China, India and Japan. Since the early 1990s, South Korea has sent a series of satellites into space, but all of them involved foreign rocket technology or launch sites.

North Korea placed Earth observation satellites into orbit in 2012 and 2016, but there is no proof that either satellite has been functioning. North Korea was slapped with international sanctions because of the two launches because the U.N. views them as disguised tests of the North's banned long-range missile technology.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Lake Tahoe's blue waters are making a significant comeback.

In the last half of 2022, "Lake Tahoe was the clearest it has been since the 1980s," according to the 2022 Lake Tahoe Clarity report released Monday, which said clarity reached nearly 72 feet using the Secchi disk to measure visibility in the iconic waters.

Scientists with UC Davis' Tahoe Environmental Research Center said the improved clarity is "due in part to a resurgence of the lake's native zooplankton," researchers said in the report. "They've provided a natural clean-up crew to help restore the lake's famous blue waters."

The native zooplankton are small, microscopic animals. Since the 1960s, the zooplankton populations have decreased due to the growth of its primary predator, the Mysis shrimp. Zooplankton, especially the Daphnia and Bosmina species, have dropped to dangerously low levels over the years, hitting a record low in 2021.

Despite low levels of zooplankton, the lake still remained clearer in 2021 than it was in 2017, the murkiest year. Clarity in 2021 had been the second-worst on record at a depth of 61 feet.

Particle levels in the lake also hit a record high in 2021, with scientists finding that particles from wildfires might have caused the rise in particles and, therefore, the low clarity. Zooplankton are important to ensuring the lake's clarity because they eat the particles that cloud the lake.

Lake Tahoe made a comeback in 2022, with its average annual clarity reaching 71.7 feet.

"We expect the impact of Daphnia and Bosmina to grow over 2023, and clarity may return to 1970s levelsdespite the expected large runoff from this year's record snowpack," said Brant Allen, the research center's boat captain.

The goal for officials in both California and Nevada is to return the lake clarity to its historic 97.4 feet, the report said.

Mysis shrimp populations are expected to rebound, putting the zooplankton at risk, meaning population control measures might need to be implemented to preserve the lake's clarity, researchers cautioned.

More information about the clarity of Tahoe is expected in the Tahoe Environmental Research Center's 2023 State of the Lake report, which is expected to be released in July.

2023 The Sacramento Bee.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Water levels in Lake Mead dropped last summer to the lowest since the Colorado River was dammed as a decades-long drought and entrenched over-use take their toll.

The US government announced Tuesday that it is considering imposing across-the-board cuts in usage of the dwindling Colorado River, after squabbling states failed to agree on how to deal with a decades-old problem.

Almost a quarter of a century of drought worsened by human-caused climate change, coupled with entrenched overuse, has left the once-mighty river severely depleted, with reservoirs at historic lows and hydropower generation threatened.

The river supplies water to around 40 million people in seven US states and Mexico, and irrigates millions of acres of fertile farmland that helps feed America.

But despite numerous deadlines, the states have been unable to agree on how to reduce their usage to prevent deadpoolthe point where intake pipes at the Hoover Dam will sit above the waterline and the river will effectively cease to flow.

The Bureau of Reclamation, the federal government department that manages water resources, said Tuesday it could impose mandatory cuts that would see users below Lake MeadCalifornia, Nevada and Arizonahit with a uniform percentage reduction.

That would upend a more than century-old method of divvying up the water which is based on a system of senior rightsbasically, who got there firstwith California's farmers near the front of the queue.

"Everybody understands the significance of the crisis," Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

He noted that a wetter-than-average winter in the West was a boon for the river and would ease pressure this year, but was not a permanent fix.

"I think everybody understands that, as fortunate and thankful we are for the precipitation, that nobody's off the hook, and that there needs to continue to be unity in trying to develop solutions," Beaudreau said.

Mob murder victim

The Bureau of Reclamation's proposal lays out two other options for the river: doing nothing, or cutting usage in line with the system of seniority.

Under the latter option, California's farmers would be almost entirely exempted while users that came to the table later would bear the brunt of the cuts.

That would hit Nevada and Arizona particularly hard, and could cut the drinking water available to the fast-growing city of Phoenix to almost nothing.

"Those are consequences that we would not allow to happen," Beaudreau told The New York Times.

But over-riding the so-called law of the river, and imposing a percentage cut on all users is likely to invite lawsuits from California's farmers, who for generations have enjoyed water plentiful enough to turn an otherwise arid near-desert into profitable farmland.

Last year water levels in Lake Mead dropped to their lowest since the Hoover Dam was built, exposing hillsides that have not been seen since the 1930s, and even uncovering the corpse of a suspected murder victim of the Las Vegas mob.

The Bureau of Reclamation's proposals, which will be finessed later this year, came after the states involved were unable to reach a decision.

Last year the federal government told Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming to agree on how to reduce their usage by up to 40 percent of the river's flow.

A plan by six states, not including California, proposed that the bulk of cuts come from America's most populous state.

California countered with a suggestion that most of the cuts come from further upstream.

 2023 AFP
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During a recent Pacific Ocean scientific cruise, temperature-controlled and light-shaded blue incubators house experiments on the deck of the ship. Credit: Daniel Muratore/SFI

If it weren't for the oceans, our planet would be warming far faster. Oceans take up about 30% of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere each year, thanks in large part to marine microorganisms. Now, the results of a new study published on March 15 in the journal mSystems may lead researchers to rethink the role of these microorganisms in the oceanic carbon cycle.

The work holds implications for climate modeling. Scientists have long assumed that marine microorganisms have a certain universal average ratio of carbon to nitrogen. Those assumptions underlie computer models of how the climate is changing.

In the study, researchers measured the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in marine microorganisms living in a "dead zone" off of Mexico's northwest coast. The authors found that the ratio can vary in DNA and proteins within the microorganisms depending on nitrogen levels in the surrounding environment.

"Our current way of doing Earth system climate modeling makes simplifying assumptions about the elemental contents of life, particularly marine microorganisms," says Daniel Muratore, an Omidyar Postdoctoral Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute, who led the study. "Our results suggest that a better model would take into account the supply of nitrogen and adjust cellular carbon-to-nitrogen accordingly, which would potentially have profound influences on the movement and efficiency with which carbon is removed from the atmosphere to the deep ocean in these model simulations" such as the simulations the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change uses in its assessments.

The study involved sequencing the genomes of marine bacteria, archaea, and viruses found in the water samples the team collected in the area, called the Eastern Tropical Northern Pacific Oxygen Minimum Zone. The researchers found that the makeup of these microorganisms is influenced by the amount of nitrogen in their habitat. In the upper part of the water column, where nitrogen concentrations were low, bacteria contained genes that had less nitrogen, while at slightly deeper levels, where nitrogen levels were higher, the bacteria contained more nitrogen.

This is possible because of how nitrogen shows up in DNA. The four types of bases found in a DNA moleculeadenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T)form pairs. The GC pair has one more nitrogen atom than the AT pair. Consequently, the more GC pairs there are, the more nitrogen that genome has. Similarly, different amino acid combinations can make proteins with varied nitrogen content. "For a small cell, these subtle atom-here-and-there changes add up to have a significant effect on the total nitrogen quota to keep the cell running," Muratore explains.

The team also reconstructed the genomes of viruses that infect the bacteria. To their surprise, they found that the viruses, which they assumed would get enough resources from their host alone to thrive, were also influenced by the availability of nitrogen in the environment. Viruses at depths where nitrogen was more abundant used more nitrogen-rich nucleotides and amino acids for the proteins that make up the viral particle, the team found.

"Since viruses have no independent metabolism or nutrient uptake mechanism, we didn't expect there to be the same environmental correlation" as there was with the bacteria, Muratore says.

The study "shows us that the environmental conditions can have really sophisticated yet mechanistically intuitive influences on evolution and hostvirus ecology," which allows for a better understanding of the makeup of genomes in different marine environments, says Muratore.

The findings also serve as an important reminder that information in cells influences the organism's physiology, they added. "In the sequencing era, I think we've implicitly adopted an understanding that genomes are simply information that appears on our computer screens instead of actual molecules that need to be synthesized from resources [such as nitrogen] that cells have to gather in order to persist."

Muratore is now back out at sea, sampling microorganisms across a broader swath of ocean with varying nitrogen content. The research trip, conducted in tandem with researchers from the University of Hawaii and the University of Washington, will travel from the nitrogen-poor North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, near the site of the previous study, to the nitrogen-rich Equatorial Upwelling Region. The project will build on the previous work, this time focusing on whether patterns in protein and genomic nitrogen content predicted from DNA sequencing can be seen in the nucleotides and amino acids present in marine ecosystems with different nitrogen concentrations.

More information: Daniel Muratore et al, Microbial and Viral Genome and Proteome Nitrogen Demand Varies across Multiple Spatial Scales within a Marine Oxygen Minimum Zone, mSystems (2023). DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01095-22
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The appearance of fall armyworm moths portends plant-eating caterpillars. Credit: Matt Bertone, NC State University

North Carolina State University researchers have shown that adding a small amount of a chemical used in perfumesnonanalto a two-chemical combination of other sex pheromones helped increase the cocktail's effectiveness in mimicking female fall armyworm "come hither" calls to males.

The findings could eventually help farmers better detect, monitor and control fall armyworm populations, which negatively affect some 350 plant speciesincluding crops like corn and cotton as well as turfgrass and other cultivated grasses.

"Nonanal is emitted by people, birds and even apples," said Coby Schal, Blanton J. Whitmire Distinguished Professor of Entomology and co-corresponding author of a paper describing the research. "It is a universal attractant that, by itself, doesn't have much of an effect. But when a certain percentage of nonanal is added to the multi-chemical attractant mixture discovered nearly 40 years ago, it has a highly stimulatory effectin this case attracting male fall armyworm moths in the lab and then attracting male moths to traps in field experiments."

Fall armyworms are found mostly in warmer climates; after originating in South America they spread to North America and then to sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, China, and most recently, Australia. Arguably one of the world's most devastating pests, fall armyworm caterpillars can rapidly chew through crops and lawns.

The researchers started examining ways to attract and then trap male moths as part of a "mating disruption" strategy.

"When you see fall armyworm moths you know that two weeks later, you're going to have caterpillars," Schal said. "So controlling the early flying adults is key. Mating disruption is the way to go when using pheromones, as males will find traps rather than females. Pests have been eliminated from wide areas using several approaches including mating disruptionlike pink bollworm, a major cotton pest in the Southwest." Other uses of the pheromone include detection of the fall armyworm in areas not yet invaded by this pest and lure-and-kill, where the pheromone attracts the fall armyworm to an insecticide or a pathogen.

The researchers used gas chromatography, in which chemical compounds are separated in a controllable oven, to test whether the fall armyworm males would respond to other chemicals besides the known blend of chemicals. By connecting this instrument to the antennae of fall armyworm males and monitoring their electrical activity, the researchers saw that nonanal stimulated male fall armyworms.

The researchers then tested the blend with nonanal in other lab tests. Males were somewhat attracted to the traditional pheromone blend, but adding the "right amount" of nonanal to the blend greatly increased the response. The right amount turned out to be about 1% percent of the total blend, as adding too little nonanal increased the response over the traditional blend, but not by much.

Finally, the researchers used bait-and-trap experiments on NC State cotton and sorghum research fields in Raleigh and Clayton, where they tried to use different pheromone blends to capture male moths. There, they showed that nonanal by itself had no effect on males. Higher doses of nonanal in the traditional blendat 2% and 4% concentrationsreduced the compound's effectiveness. Again, 1% nonanal in the blend emerged as the most effective, capturing more males.

Interestingly, the shape of the trapping device also affected the success rates in capturing males. Cone-shaped traps did not perform as well as bucket-shaped traps.

The field studies also showed few other insect speciesor female fall armywormstrapped.

"We have tweaked this system to make it highly species-specific, which is especially important in places where similar moth species live," Schal said.

The researchers filed a patent on the discovery and have exclusive licensing agreements with industry partners that will further test nonanal's effectiveness when added to the traditional pheromone blend.

The study appears in Pest Management Science.

More information: Ahmed M. Saveer et al, Nonanal, a new fall armyworm sex pheromone component, significantly increases the efficacy of pheromone lures, Pest Management Science (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ps.7460 Journal information: Pest Management Science
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A picture taken using the team's PSUP mounted cameras in 2017, when the detector was full of water. Credit: The SNO+ Collaboration.

Antineutrinos, the antimatter counterpart of neutrinos, have an almost non-existent mass and charge, and almost never interact with other particles, which makes them particularly difficult to detect. Physicists have been studying neutrinos from reactors for many years, typically using scintillator-based detectors.

These efforts led to significant physics discoveries, from the first detection of neutrinos in the late 1950s to recent measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters. As neutrinos hardly interact with other particles, they are generally hard to detect. Neutrinos produced in nuclear reactors are detected through the so-called inverse beta decay (IBD). This is a signal produced during nuclear reactions, which involve an electron antineutrino with a proton, producing a positron and a neutron.

The SNO+ experiment, a large-scale research effort collecting data using the multipurpose particle detector at SNOLAB, recently gathered the first evidence of reactor antineutrinos inside a water Cherenkov detector (i.e., a type of particle detector that detects radiation and reconstructs information about particles). Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters, could pave the way for new antineutrino searches using water Cherenkov detectors.

"The primary goal of the SNO+ experiment is to conduct a high-sensitivity search for neutrinoless double beta decay using a tellurium-loaded liquid scintillator," Logan Lebanowski told Phys.org on behalf of the SNO+ collaboration. "With the detector currently filled with scintillator, SNO+ is also measuring the neutrino mass splitting m2 21 using reactor antineutrinos. Prior to this, the collaboration filled the detector with water to calibrate detector components and characterize intrinsic radioactive backgrounds."

Given that the SNO+ detector has a good enough sensitivity to measure reactor antineutrinos with a liquid scintillator, the SNO+ collaboration set out to explore the possibility that antineutrinos could also be observed using water. The detector also has the lowest reported rates of background-inducing muons from the atmosphere among water Cherenkov detectors, which significantly improved the team's chances of detecting antineutrinos.

The SNO+ detector is a large acrylic vessel, measuring 12m in diameter. At the time of the experiment, it was filled with ultra-pure water.

"This provides a large volume for particles coming in to interact and produce light," Christine Kraus explained. "This light then can be recognized by Photomultipliers, we have ~9500 surrounding the acrylic vessel mounted on a steel structure. Photomultipliers convert the signal into an electrical one that can be processed. We then can determine energy and position of the event."

When trying to detect antineutrinos from reactors, physicists are essentially searching for a unique signal known as "coincidence signal," which clearly indicates the presence of anti-neutrinos. Kraus and the rest of the SNO+ collaboration specifically searched for this signal in data collected during a period of 190 days. To extract the signal, they conducted two independent analyses, which yielded consistent results.

"This worked for usa first in a water detectorbecause our neutron detection efficiency is high," Lebanowski said. "The neutron produced in an IBD captures on hydrogen in the water and produces a 2.2-MeV , regardless of the energy of the incident antineutrino. Therefore, the achievement of detecting the 2.2-MeV  with higher efficiency can impact a broad range of antineutrino searches and measurements made with pure water Cherenkov detectors."

The SNO+ collaboration was the first to detect antineutrinos in a water Cherenkov detector. They achieved this using ultra-pure water and minimizing natural radioactivity in the detector, which can produce confounding background events resembling the coincidence signal they were looking for. In the future, the result of this study and the methods employed by the SNO+ collaboration could inform additional antineutrino searches and measurements using pure water Cherenkov detectors.

"Observing reactor antineutrinos with pure water demonstrates that reactor antineutrinos can be observed with a target medium that is non-toxic, safe, easy to handle, and cheap, and therefore favorable for use anywhere and when desiring a large target," Lebanowski said. "This analysis also demonstrates the ability of water Cherenkov detectors to make measurements at lower energies, and a strong ability to distinguish the signal from the radioactive backgrounds present in most detectors."

A key reason why Cherenkov detectors can distinguish coincidence signals from unrelated background signals is that they provide an estimated direction for incident particles. This has not yet been achieved using scintillator detectors, which will be an area of focus for the SNO+ collaboration's future research.

"With the liquid scintillator we expect to have an even better signal for anti-neutrinos, not just from reactors but also from the natural radioactivity in the Earth itselfso-called geo-neutrinos," Kraus added. "They have been measured twice beforefirst in Japan by the KAMLAND experiment and then in Europe by the Borexino experiment. We would be the first in North America and being located in the Canadian shield is interesting, because the structure is different from the two other locations."

More information: A. Allega et al, Evidence of antineutrinos from distant reactors using pure water at SNO+, Physical Review Letters(2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.091801 Journal information: Physical Review Letters

 2023 Science X Network
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Now that we've arguably rounded the corner from the pandemic, researchers are dissecting our response and how we can improve it in the future.

Sebastian Souyris, assistant professor and Dean R. Wellington '83 (Junior) Chair at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lally School of Management, contributed to research led by Anton Ivanov, assistant professor in the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This research, recently published in Production and Operations Management, examined social media's impact on health outcomes and dove into the power of visual nudges.

The research team discovered that employing social media posts as a means of visual nudging to encourage safe behaviors significantly impacts COVID-19 positivity rates. Images that communicated the value of wearing masks made a real difference. This effect remains evident even after accounting for various organizational characteristics and disease dynamics at multiple levels.

"Our findings are significant to public health institutions and experts," Souyris said. "Visual nudges are non-invasive, cost-effective methods to shape attitudes and behavior."

The team found that visual nudges by institutional actors, such as a university, result in decreased COVID-19 positivity rates of up to 25%. Further, the value of these visual nudges is highest three to five weeks in advance.

"Our empirical results show that four to five weeks of accumulation usually create the momentum required for people to bring that topic to the top of their agenda," Ivanov said.

High levels of uncertainty added to the public health challenge of COVID-19. After public places shut down, there was a lack of consensus on what they should do to reopen safely. Previous research found that in such a climate, mandates are not enough to ensure maximum compliance and that social media is a critical outreach tool.

The team, which included Dr. Souyris, built upon existing research and the relatively new concept of nudge theory. Nudge theory focuses on using indirect suggestions and positive reinforcement to influence behavior, especially when applied visually. Prior to this study, visual nudges specific to social media had not been explored extensively.

The team analyzed data from 117 universities nationwide. They examined COVID-19 testing data; Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter images from official university accounts; university policies; and university and local characteristics. They found that so-called "soft" visual nudges were most effective, in that they did not have a direct message to wear a mask but simply depicted people wearing masks.

"Although we certainly hope that a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic will not happen again, it behooves us to learn from our experience to enable a more effective response in the future," said Chanaka Edirisinghe, acting dean of Rensselaer's Lally School of Management. "Dr. Souyris' research profiles the benefits of using the simple, inexpensive tool of social media to deliver vital public health information."

More information: Anton Ivanov et al, Informational value of visual nudges during crises: Improving public health outcomes through social media engagement amid covid19, Production and Operations Management (2023). DOI: 10.1111/poms.13982
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Examples of cars parked fully on the sidewalk (left, 70th Precinct Station House) and within crosswalks (right, 110th Precinct Station House). Photos by the author. Credit: Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2023.100816

"THEY park on the sidewalks and hide fire hydrants with their cars. They angle where they should parallel and turn normal streets into obstacle paths. They never seem to feed their parking meters, they rarely get tickets and they run red lights."

That was the lead paragraph of a New York Times story nearly 30 years ago. Who were these scofflaws? Members of the New York Police Department.

New York City residents know their police force, despite a number of highly publicized cases of corruption and misconduct, generally live up to their adopted slogan "New York's Finest." In a city with 342 robberies and burglaries, 517 arrests and approximately one homicide each day, New York City cops confront one of the most challenging environments in the country. For the most part, they do their jobs commendably.

But in one areatheir transportation habitsthey received a failing grade back in 1995. In 2023, they are still failing.

Marcel Moran, a University of California Ph.D. student, heard of the problems New Yorkers for years have been complaining about: police department personnel parking their cars by fire hydrants, on sidewalks, on crosswalks. Civilians committing these traffic violations face $115 fines. But under longstanding "code of blue" practices, in which officers extend courtesies to fellow officers, they are rarely if ever ticketed.

Moran set out to document the problem. He utilized archives containing Google Street View maps to track locations throughout the city's five boroughs. In addition, he visited each of the city's 77 police precincts to observe the offending vehicles firsthand.

His research, published in Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, confirmed the depth of the problem. He reported "widespread and longstanding parking on sidewalks, and to a lesser extent, in crosswalks render[ing] many sidewalks impassableforcing pedestrians into trafficand in many cases directly abut[ting] residences and businesses, curtailing access to such destinations."

Other violations included double parking, blockage of bicycle and bus lanes and obstructing access to fire hydrants, a particularly vexing offense in the population- and traffic-dense boroughs.

He said 91 percent of precincts exhibited one or more types of parking violations. He also confirmed such obstructions have been going on for years. Based on 12 years' worth of 703 Google Map View photos, he found long-term obstructions at 82 percent of the precincts.

City motorists are understandably resentful. Manhattan absorbs the bulk of a million motorists commuting to work each day. With greatly limited street parking and fewer than 175,000 parking spaces available, finding a spot is frustrating, time-consuming and costly. Some 32,789 parking tickets were issued for sidewalk parking so far this year.

Efforts to curb abuse have generally failed. Mayor Bill de Blasio disbanded a police unit he had earlier created to crack down on parking placard abuse. His successor, former policeman Eric Adams, himself was photographed abusing parking privileges and defended it by saying other officials were doing the same thing.

Writing on the issue in Slate magazine, author Rob Gunther said, "The idea that police officers operate under a different set of rules erodes their ability to serve their communities. Every time a police officer parks on the sidewalk, it's a visible reminder that the laws that regulate the rest of us don't apply to members of law enforcement."

Moran reached out to city officials to discuss how to rein in the abuse. He received no response.

More information: Marcel E. Moran, Authorized Vehicles Only: Police, parking, and pedestrian access in New York City, Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2023.100816

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Visitors view seasonal cherry blossoms from a pedestrian bridge in the Roppongi district, March 31, 2022, in Tokyo. Temperatures are rising in Japan and summer is coming fast and cherry blossoms are blooming sooner than ever before. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File

Temperatures are rising in Japan and summer is coming fast.

Cherry blossoms are blooming sooner than ever before, chiffon-pink that's 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. Tottori's 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.

A town is flooded due to a heavy rain brought by Typhoon Nanmadol, in Kunitomi, Miyazaki prefecture, southern Japan, Sept. 19, 2022. The risk of typhoons in Japan has gone up and the amount of snowfall has declined, even as the threat of heavy snowfall remains. Credit: Kyodo News via AP, File

"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 you're 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.

Passengers wait at platform for their train's arrival at Tokyu Railways' Shibuya Station, April 20, 2022, in Tokyo. Tokyu Railways trains running through Shibuya and other stations were switched to power generated by solar and other renewable sources. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File

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.

Hijioka's research is focused on flood management, such as diverting water from swelling rivers upstream into rice paddies and ponds to drain to avert flooding.

People walk along a shopping street as the snow comes down, Jan. 6, 2022, in Tokyo. The risk of typhoons in Japan has gone up and the amount of snowfall has declined, even as the threat of heavy snowfall remains. Credit: AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File

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 Japan's 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.

A landslide caused by a strong earthquake covers a circuit course in Nihonmatsu city, Fukushima prefecture, northeastern Japan, Feb. 14, 2021. As fossil fuel use that feeds climate change is creeping up around the world, Japan is set for another sweltering summer following last years dangerous heat waves and is at growing risk of flooding and landslides. Credit: Hironori Asakawa/Kyodo News via AP, File

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.

Firefighters carry stranded residents on boat in a road flooded by heavy rain in Kurume, Fukuoka prefecture, western Japan, Aug. 14, 2021. As fossil fuel use that feeds climate change is creeping up around the world, Japan is set for another sweltering summer following last years dangerous heat waves and is at growing risk of flooding and landslides. Credit: Kyodo News via AP, File

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 nation's 50-some nuclear reactors offline, in response to public opinion that's turned against the technology. Nuclear power is considered a clean energy as it doesn't 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.

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus cool off at a cooling mist spot Aug. 1, 2022, in Tokyo. Temperatures are rising in Japan and summer is coming fast. Credit: AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File

Morning commuters walk across an intersection in rain June 6, 2022, in Tokyo. As fossil fuel use that feeds climate change is creeping up around the world, Japan is set for another sweltering summer following last years dangerous heat waves and is at growing risk of flooding and landslides. Credit: AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File

Rescuers conduct search operation at the site of a landslide in Mimata, Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Japan, Sept. 19, 2022. Typhoon Nanmadol slammed southwestern Japan. The risk of typhoons in Japan has gone up and the amount of snowfall has declined, even as the threat of heavy snowfall remains. Credit: Kyodo News via AP, File

People view the fall colors of ginkgo trees at a park in Tokyo, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. Temperatures are rising in Japan and summer is coming fast. Credit: AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File

Despite its potential to curb planet-warming emissions, skepticism remains among some climate change 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.

"It's 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?" ___

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Researchers used the Atacama Cosmology Telescope to create this new map of the dark matter. The orange regions show where there is more mass; purple where there is less or none. The typical features are hundreds of millions of light years across. The whitish band shows where contaminating light from dust in our Milky Way galaxy, measured by the Planck satellite, obscures a deeper view. The new map uses light from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) essentially as a backlight to silhouette all the matter between us and the Big Bang. "Its a bit like silhouetting, but instead of just having black in the silhouette, you have texture and lumps of dark matter, as if the light were streaming through a fabric curtain that had lots of knots and bumps in it," said Suzanne Staggs, director of ACT and Princeton's Henry DeWolf Smyth Professor of Physics. "The famous blue and yellow CMB image is a snapshot of what the universe was like in a single epoch, about 13 billion years ago, and now this is giving us the information about all the epochs since." Credit: ACT Collaboration

For millennia, humans have been fascinated by the mysteries of the cosmos.

Unlike ancient philosophers imagining the universe's origins, modern cosmologists use quantitative tools to gain insights into the universe's evolution and structure. Modern cosmology dates back to the early 20th century, with the development of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity.

Now, researchers from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) collaboration have created a groundbreaking new image that reveals the most detailed map of dark matter distributed across a quarter of the entire sky, extending deep into the cosmos. What's more, it confirms Einstein's theory of how massive structures grow and bend light, over the entire 14-billion-year life span of the universe.

"We have mapped the invisible dark matter across the sky to the largest distances, and clearly see features of this invisible world that are hundreds of millions of light-years across," says Blake Sherwin, professor of cosmology at the University of Cambridge, where he leads a group of ACT researchers. "It looks just as our theories predict."

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope in Northern Chile, supported by the National Science Foundation, operated from 20072022. The project is led by Princeton University and the University of PennsylvaniaDirector Suzanne Staggs at Princeton, Deputy Director Mark Devlin at Pennwith 160 collaborators at 47 institutions. Credit: Mark Devlin, Deputy Director of the Atacama Cosmology Telescope and the Reese Flower Professor of Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania

Despite making up 85% of the universe and influencing its evolution, dark matter has been hard to detect because it doesn't interact with light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation. As far as we know dark matter only interacts with gravity.

To track it down, the more than 160 collaborators who have built and gathered data from the National Science Foundation's Atacama Cosmology Telescope in the high Chilean Andes observe light emanating following the dawn of the universe's formation, the Big Bangwhen the universe was only 380,000 years old. Cosmologists often refer to this diffuse light that fills our entire universe as the "baby picture of the universe," but formally, it is known as the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB).

The team tracks how the gravitational pull of large, heavy structures including dark matter warps the CMB on its 14-billion-year journey to us, like how a magnifying glass bends light as it passes through its lens.

"We've made a new mass map using distortions of light left over from the Big Bang," says Mathew Madhavacheril, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania. "Remarkably, it provides measurements that show that both the 'lumpiness' of the universe, and the rate at which it is growing after 14 billion years of evolution, are just what you'd expect from our standard model of cosmology based on Einstein's theory of gravity."

Research by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope collaboration has culminated in a groundbreaking new map of dark matter distributed across a quarter of the entire sky, reaching deep into the cosmos. Findings provide further support to Einsteins theory of general relativity, which has been the foundation of the standard model of cosmology for more than a century, and offer new methods to demystify dark matter. Credit: Debra Kellner

Sherwin adds, "our results also provide new insights into an ongoing debate some have called 'The Crisis in Cosmology,'" explaining that this crisis stems from recent measurements that use a different background light, one emitted from stars in galaxies rather than the CMB. These have produced results that suggest the dark matter was not lumpy enough under the standard model of cosmology and led to concerns that the model may be broken. However, the team's latest results from ACT were able to precisely assess that the vast lumps seen in this image are the exact right size.

"When I first saw them, our measurements were in such good agreement with the underlying theory that it took me a moment to process the results," says Cambridge Ph.D. student Frank Qu, part of the research team. "It will be interesting to see how this possible discrepancy between different measurements will be resolved."

"The CMB lensing data rivals more conventional surveys of the visible light from galaxies in their ability to trace the sum of what is out there," says Suzanne Staggs, director of ACT and Henry DeWolf Smyth Professor of Physics at Princeton University. "Together, the CMB lensing and the best optical surveys are clarifying the evolution of all the mass in the universe."

"When we proposed this experiment in 2003, we had no idea the full extent of information that could be extracted from our telescope," says Mark Devlin, the Reese Flower Professor of Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania and the deputy director of ACT. "We owe this to the cleverness of the theorists, the many people who built new instruments to make our telescope more sensitive, and the new analysis techniques our team came up with."

Research by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope collaboration has culminated in a groundbreaking new map of dark matter distributed across a quarter of the entire sky, reaching deep into the cosmos. Findings provide further support to Einsteins theory of general relativity, which has been the foundation of the standard model of cosmology for more than a century, and offer new methods to demystify dark matter. Credit: Lucy Reading-Ikkanda, Simons Foundation

ACT, which operated for 15 years, was decommissioned in September 2022. Nevertheless, more papers presenting results from the final set of observations are expected to be submitted soon, and the Simons Observatory will conduct future observations at the same site, with a new telescope slated to begin operations in 2024. This new instrument will be capable of mapping the sky almost 10 times faster than ACT.

This research will be presented at "Future Science with CMB x LSS," a conference running from April 1014 at Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong joined 50,000 people to march in support of queer rights across the Sydney Harbor Bridge for World Pride in early March. A week earlier, Albanese became the first sitting prime minister to march in Sydney's Mardi Gras, something he's done over several decades.

And yet at the same time, in another part of the world, Uganda's parliament passed a string of draconian measures against homosexuality, including possible death sentences for "aggravated homosexuality." Any "promotion" of homosexuality is also outlawed.

Seven years ago, I co-wrote a book with Jonathan Symons called "Queer Wars." Back then, we suggested there was a growing gap between countries in which sexual and gender diversity was becoming more acceptable, and those where repression was increasing.

Sadly, that analysis seems even more relevant today.

A growing gap

Some countries have been unwinding criminal sanctions around homosexuality, which are often the legacy of colonialism. This includes, in recent years, former British colonies Singapore and India.

But others have been imposing new and more vicious penalties for any deviation from stereotypical assumptions of heterosexual masculine superiority (what Australian sociologist Raewyn Connell terms "hegemonic masculinity").

Anti-gay legislation is currently pending in Ghana, which led US Vice President Kamala Harris to express concerns on a recent visit.

These moves echo the deep homophobia of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has bizarrely linked intervention in Ukraine to protecting traditional values against LGBTQ+ infiltration.

Meanwhile, reports from Afghanistan suggest that anyone identified as "LGBT" is in danger of being killed.

Indonesia recently passed legislation penalizing all sex outside marriage. This follows years of anti-queer rhetoric from Indonesian leaders and crackdowns in regional areas.

And while the Biden administration is supportive of queer rights globally, the extraordinary hysteria around trans issues in the Republican Party reminds us the West has no inherent claim to moral superiority.

Where to next?

Speaking at the World Pride Human Rights Conference, both Wong and Attorney General Mark Dreyfus made it clear Australia would press for recognition of sexuality and gender identity as deserving protection, as part of our commitment to human rights.

Wong also announced a new Inclusion and Equality Fund to support queer community organizations within our region.

Australian governments have usually been wary of loud assertions of support for queer rights. This is partly due to a reasonable fear this merely reinforces the perception that such language reflects a sense of Western superiority, unwilling to acknowledge other societies may have very different attitudes towards gender and sexuality.

Australia is part of the Equal Rights Coalition, an intergovernmental body of 42 countries dedicated to the protection of the rights of LGBTQ+ people, and has supported sexual and gender rights in the country reviews undertaken by the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

Australia has a minimal presence in Uganda, and direct representations are unlikely to have much effect. Uganda is a member of the Commonwealth, as are Ghana, Kenya and Zambia, where official homophobia appears to be increasing. But there's little evidence the Australian government sees this as a significant foreign policy forum, or is prepared to push for sexual rights through its institutions.

As persecution on the basis of sexuality and gender identity increases, more people will seek to flee their countries. Queer refugees face double jeopardy: they're not safe at home, but they're often equally unsafe in their diasporic communities, which have inherited the deep prejudices of their homelands.

The UN's refugee agency reports that most people seeking asylum because of their sexuality are unwilling to disclose this, because of discrimination within their own ethnic communities. This makes it impossible to have accurate numbers. But a clear signal from Australia would be a powerful statement of supportthat it understands the situation and welcomes people who need flee because of their sexuality or gender expression.

An official Canadian government document states:

"Canada has a proud history of providing protection to and helping to resettle the world's most vulnerable groups. That includes those in the Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional sexually and gender diverse community."

Theirs is a model worth following.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
By Mabinty M. Kamara

The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) says it has suspended the license of a Captain of the MV Freetown ferry, pending investigation into the circumstances surrounding an incident that caused the Ferry to get stuck in water recently.

While passengers blamed the incident on overloading, the authorities blame it on low tide and sand banking.

MV Freetown is one of two ferries that currently ply the Kissy Ferry Terminal and Tagrin route. This route across the estuary is the shortest link between the capital Freetown and the airport town of Lungi.

The ferry which is managed by a Libyan company called Afrinpex was on its first journey of the day on September 9th when it got stuck just minutes after departure at 8am. Passengers and eyewitnesses said the boat, with hundreds of passengers onboard, remained stranded for over 5 hours at about fifty meters away from the Tagrin terminal.

The situation got the passengers so worried that some had to pay to be rescued by smaller boats. Others, mainly businesses people, were forced to wait until the ferry was moved later in the day in protection of their goods.

Fatmata Sesay, a trader and regular traveler with the ferries, narrated her ordeal to Politico. She said the boat slanted so that it felt like it was falling.

We got very worried not just for our lives but also for our businesses that were onboard, especially for some of us who take our businesses on loan and pay back after sales. They are mostly perishable, she said.

While the management says the incident was caused by low time, Fatmata and many other passengers believe it was due to overloading.

Mohamed Kamara, public Relations Officer of SLMA, told Politico that while this might be the case, the Administrations mandate being to ensure the safety of all passengers, they felt obliged to conduct an investigation to ascertain whether it was an error on the side of the captain or if its natural, in order to avert a reoccurrence.

According to the SLMA spokesman, the normal capacity of the ferry is between 350 and 400 people and 25 to 30 vehicles. He said the boat can only load its maximum 400 passengers when the number of vehicles is less than its maximum capacity. Kamara also noted that tickets are produced and sold according to the stated capacity.

So overloading is not possible because we have our representatives in the entire terminal that monitor to ensure that no vessel exceeds its normal capacity, he said.

The Kissy-Tagrin ferry services are the most used and reliable means of sea transportation in Sierra Leone, partly due to affordability. MV Freetown alternates with a second boat, MV Mahera, which is owned by a separate company.

There is an alternative route between Freetown and Lungi via Port Loko, but that route by road is far and cost more.

There are also other small luxury boats accessed mainly by the middle and upper classes.

As popular as they are, the Kissy-Tagrin ferry services have been characterized by recurrence of delays. Sometimes the experience gets risky.

Kamara said most times the problems have been caused by mechanical faults. But he stressed that the moment they notice the potential for such, SLMA immediately informs the Ferry management to stop operation until the fault is fixed.

But there have been reports of the ferries halting in the middle of sea due to such mechanical problems. In 2016, one of the worst years for the sea transport sector, the MV Freetown was left stranded at sea for an hour due to mechanical problem.

The SLMA didnt say how long the investigation against the MV Freetown captain will last. But the ferry is said to be in full operation now since after the incident.

 2019 Politico Online
GLENS FALLS  The project to redesign 51-63 South St. into an indoor market center has taken a major step forward.

The Glens Falls Planning Board approved site and architectural plans at its meeting last week. The South Street Market Center developers addressed board comments from the previous planning board meeting on April 4.

This is a culmination of a rather lengthy process that we have been working on for some time, Jeff Flagg, city economic development director, said during the meeting. We came before the board with the initial designs, I think, back in October. We brought the official application before the board last month and there were some procedural reasons and questions the board had that we want to address, as well as additional questions in hopes of the approval of our site plan and architectural review.

The planning board last month declared its intent to serve as the lead agency with regard to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act process. Peter Loyola of CLA SITE Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Planning P.C. in Saratoga Springs said with the lead agency approval, the plans could finally be OKd.

The planning board had heard back for approvals on the project from all parties except the New York Department of State, according to Chairman Ethan Hall. The vote to accept the site and architectural reviews was made on the stipulation of consent from that stage agency.

The project is part of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Program awarded to the city in 2017. The narrative with the projects application says the market center will be used to bring a new form of commerce to the Glens Falls community.

The site will be developed into a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented community gathering space hosting a multi-purpose building and outdoor plaza areas. Primary use of the site is for gatherings, farmers market events, and other community-making activities, as determined by the City of Glens Falls, the narrative said.

Other business

Queensbury resident Michael Dinsmore approached the planning board to seek approval for Fast Track, a new phone and technical repair shop to be located at 240 Warren St. Dinsmore is a teacher at the Moriah Central School District and was a previously a business owner of a space in the Queensbury Aviation Mall. The former business was Rachels Cafe. Fast Track will be on the ground floor and was approved by planning board members. The building is owned by Eric and Mary Heym.

Eric Unkauf, owner of The Shirt Factory, was approved to open bike repair and studio space at 182 Maple St. The site and architectural review plans approved by the board show a bike repair shop and three art studios.
HUDSON FALLS  Jane Havens addressed village board members regarding the police departments speedy response to the burglary of her business this week.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office reported early Monday morning that Calamity Janes Firearms and Fine Shoes was broken into just before 2 a.m. by a 15-year-old boy. It was the second burglary at the shop since October.

The Warren and Washington county sheriffs offices, Hudson Falls Police Department and New York State Police all responded to the incident this week, Havens said.

Warren County assisted just to be proactive from that direction, Hudson Falls was coming up Feeder Street and state police, she said at Monday nights village board meeting.

Havens explained that the alarm company called and notified her of glass breaking at the shop.

We proceeded into the store and there was an immense amount of response. Luckily there were agencies in the area but you have to know from first-hand accounts at such a level of professionalism of the Washington County Sheriffs Office, Hudson Falls Police Department, the Warren County Sheriffs Department, she said.

Havens said that police arrived on the scene while the juvenile was still in the building. When the suspect realized the front entrance was covered by police, he made his way out the back door.

Hudson Falls officers Cori Winch and Damian Duffy as well as a Washington County sheriffs deputy secured the back. Winch scaled a fence to keep up with the suspect.

They saw and heard him he went over the fence and so did Officer Winch. He called Officer Duffy from the front and then they went down Feeder Street through the woods and apprehended him, she said.

Mayor John Barton gave the police department a pat on the back for their efforts and gave an update on Officer Winch.

He had a couple stitches put in his hand from when he scaled and jumped the fence, he said.

Washington County sheriff: Gun shop burglarized again, this time by teen Sheriff's are investigating a robbery of 14 guns stolen from Calamity Jane's by a 15-year-old boy early Monday morning, police said.
Jonathan A. Williams, 35, was charged with felony second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor resisting arrest, a news release from New York State Police said.

Terrell O. Boozer, 36, also of Philadelphia, was arrested during the traffic stop for misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, troopers said.

On Tuesday at about 2:35 a.m., troopers stopped a vehicle on Interstate 87 in Moreau for vehicle and traffic law violations, according to a state police news release. The driver was identified as Boozer and the passenger as Williams.

Further investigation discovered Williams was in possession of felony-weight narcotics and an illegally possessed loaded handgun, troopers said. Williams resisted arrest but was taken into custody following a brief struggle. Boozer was found to possess an unspecified controlled substance.

Both suspects were transported to the state police station in Wilton for processing. Boozer was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Moreau Town Court on April 26.

Williams was arraigned at the Moreau Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash, a $100,000 bond.
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.
FORT EDWARD  An Amsterdam woman was arrested on Tuesday by Washington County Sheriff's Office on a charge of promoting prison contraband.

Jodi M. Drygula, 51, of Amsterdam, was picked up on an arrest warrant for felony first-degree promoting prison contraband, according to a news release from Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy on Tuesday morning.

Drygula "knowingly and unlawfully introduced dangerous contraband (drugs) into the Washington County Correctional Facility," the release said.

Drygula was arraigned in a central arraignment proceeding and released pending future court proceedings. The case was handled by investigator Matthew Ashton and Deputy Joe Bethel.
Warren County announced that more than 2,100 high school students were connected with over 50 employers through three summer job fairs organized this spring by Warren County Department of Workforce Development.

In a news release on Monday, the county said its high school job fair program this year expanded with events open to students in six school districts.

In all, 2,111 students in grades 8 through 12 attended job fairs at Lake George Junior-Senior High School, Queensbury High School and Glens Falls High School between March 20 and April 5.

Im very proud of the community collaboration to make these events successful. The generosity from businesses, the logistical assistance from the schools, and the enthusiasm that everyone showed for investing in local students was phenomenal, Liza Ochsendorf, Warren County Director of Workforce Development, said in the news release.

More than 50 employers attended at least one fair, representing a wide variety of businesses. Many attended all three events to take job applications and offer on-the-spot job interviews.

Building on the success of an annual job fair that started in Lake George in 2021, additional school districts stepped up to offer their facilities for hiring events as well.

In Glens Falls, the job fair held Wednesday was combined with a morning-long career expo that featured local businesses, employment experts and school staff members offering seminars on topics such as how to interview for a job, resume-building, work/life considerations, financial management, dressing for success and more.

Its amazing what we can accomplish when our community partners and schools come together, Kevin Warren, Glens Falls High School principal, said in the press release. Our students explored career possibilities and walked away with new curiosities. Many students are now thinking about different and expanded career options. We are pleased with the presentations and interactions our students were fortunate enough to have.

Warren commended Ochsendorfs work to get students into the idea of learning being a lifelong activity.

This is one of the steps in educating our students to become lifelong learners, cooperative workers, quality producers and exceptional citizens. I am grateful for the partnership we have established with Warren County, they really made the vision a reality. Liza Ochsendorf and her team are making a difference, he said.

The Lake George job fair, held March 30, was open to students from Lake George as well as Warrensburg, Hadley-Luzerne and Bolton school districts.

Businesses that attended the hiring events competed for the best displays at each of the three fairs, and students voted on their favorites. Students who obtain jobs as a result of these fairs will be entered into a raffle drawing for prizes, to be held May 31.

As local businesses gear up for the busy summer season, the Department of Workforce Development will be organizing additional job fairs to help employers with their workforce needs.

The agency also promotes job openings for free, and employers can send their employment opportunities to ochsendorfL@warrencountyny.gov or online at thejoblink.org/contact-us/.

Learn more about the services the Department of Workforce Development offers at warrencountyny.gov/employmenttraining, or call the department at its 333 Glen Street, Glens Falls office at 518-743-0925.

The following businesses/organizations donated items for these events:

The Queensbury Hotel, The Candy Space, Six Flags Great Escape, The Lake George Steamboat Company, Stewarts Shops, The Fort William Henry Hotel & Conference Center, The Bullpen, Talk of the Town, Lake George Wine Outlet, Glens Falls YMCA, Revolution Rail, Adidas Factory Outlet, Adirondack Extreme, Nanis Restaurant, The City of Glens Falls, SUNY Adirondack Culinary Program, and the SUNY Schenectady Culinary Program.
ALBANY  The ambitious plan to reshape the Thruway from Yonkers to Buffalo sounded like one that could be popular with travelers and taxpayers alike.

It went like this: A private company would pay to knock down 23 aging rest stop plazas along the Thruway and rebuild them as sparkling, stylish spaces for weary travelers, with amenities appropriate for the 21st century and a host of new restaurants. On top of that, taxpayers would not have to pay a dime for the project, because in exchange for funding the construction, a company would gain a 33-year lease at the stops and a cut from goods sold in the facilities.

Completed Thruway rest stops are not getting rave reviews Early reviews for new Thruway rest stops are starting to come in and users are finding lots to complain about.

Reality has been more complicated.

During the final weeks of Albany budget negotiations, a Rochester-based construction firm doing the work has quietly been in discussions with state officials about cost overruns. LeChase Construction has been seeking a taxpayer grant to cover those costs, stating that it otherwise risks financial collapse. Two people with knowledge of the matter pegged the sum LeChase was seeking along with a partner, AECOM Tishman, at $260 million.

A recent letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, written by a building industry group, stated a "significant funding shortfall" would soon begin affecting businesses and workers down the project's supply chain.

Critics: $25M welcome center on Grand Island is like a ghost town The $25 million center opened a year ago to much fanfare with public officials saying how it would play an important role in bolstering tourism but criticisms persist over the centers location and whether it is succeeding in its

But unlike other state government projects suffering from soaring construction costs, in this instance, the builders themselves are contractually liable for overruns. Hochul's administration appears to have little interest in supplying the funds, and the Assembly's top lawmaker overseeing transportation is also wary.

Further complicating the situation is that, according to financial documents reviewed by The News, a different conclusion has been reached by a consulting firm reporting to the project's bondholders, who hold $269 million in debt that is financing the project.

An April 3 report issued to project lenders and investors indicated that the project was on budget. The outside consulting firm that reviewed the projects finances on behalf of bondholders, Altus Group, assessed documentation provided by the joint partners in the construction venture, which includes LeChase. Altus Group found the value of the construction contract was $234.5 million, while the cost had been $111.6 million.

Those documents, according to the report, "confirm that the construction cost to date is commensurate with the overall progress of the works at this time."

In response to questions, the majority partner in the joint construction venture, AECOM Tishman, declined to address the contradiction between the report's finding, and the builders' contention that $260 million in taxpayer money was necessary to cover cost overruns.

The companies involved in the project have had "ongoing discussions" with the Hochul administration on "all items related to the project," said a spokesman for the joint construction venture, John Gallagher. "All stakeholders are actively working to solve the complex challenges involved in this project for the benefit of the traveling public and remain committed to successfully completing the program, he said.

A spokeswoman for LeChase, a minority partner in the joint venture, also declined to address the bondholder report, but said "the unprecedented global supply-chain and industry cost issues obviously affect all parties involved in the project."

The deal

The winner of a competitive bidding process to build, finance and operate the travel plazas was an Irish company called Applegreen Limited, which operates hundreds of service areas in Ireland and beyond. It was also chosen to be the service area operator in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware, according to the company.

Judge denies New York's bid to dismiss Seneca Nation's Thruway lawsuit At issue is a 1954 land easement deal allowing 2.7 miles of the state Thruway to be built on nearly 300 acres on the Seneca Nations Cattaraugus reservation.

The public-private partnership Applegreen entered with the state Thruway Authority was unusual: New York taxpayers would pay none of the cost for knocking down 23 of the 27 existing rest stops and rebuilding them, nor for renovating four others.

In exchange for funding the construction, Applegreen received a 33-year lease to run the plaza concessions and would earn revenue from sales.

Applegreen hired AECOM Tishman as the design-build contractor for the project. AECOM is working under a fixed-price contract, which means AECOM is liable for construction cost overruns. AECOM Tishman is a multinational, Fortune 500 firm focused on infrastructure consulting and construction management.

LeChase, a minority partner in the building venture with AECOM, is also liable for overruns. While LeChase is a large company by upstate New York standards and employs hundreds of people, its ability to absorb significant cost overruns likely pales in comparison to that of its majority partner.

The joint partnership is 80% owned by AECOM Tishman and 20% owned by LeChase, according to a LeChase spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, Applegreen is the party responsible for repaying the $269 million in debt to bondholders. But Applegreen is not liable for the construction cost overruns, which was noted as a favorable factor when Fitch Ratings deemed the bonds' "stable" in February.

$20 million Grand Island welcome center touts WNY attractions, products A Thruway welcome center estimated to cost $20 million is trying to show theres more for visitors to do in Western New York than drive to Niagara Falls, take a selfie and leave. The large, prairie-style building constructed along the Niagara Thruway on Grand Island is meant to draw drivers off the highway and introduce them to the history, attractions

An Applegreen spokesman, Paul O'Kane, said the company was "committed to this contract with (the Thruway Authority) and look forward to continuing to deliver on this much-needed overhaul of NYs service area network."

OKane declined to address how the financial problems cited by AECOM and LeChase could affect the construction progress.

A number of umbrella groups representing contractors in New York have recently written recent letters to Hochul, seeking taxpayer funds to buoy AECOM Tishman and LeChase.

John O'Hare, managing director of the state Building Contractors Association, wrote on March 24 that the joint venture has been "absorbing substantial cost increases reflective of escalations related to the cost of building materials, unanticipated supply chain disruptions and labor availability and cost, among others."

"These historic, unprecedented and altered circumstances due to the Covid global pandemic have caused the costs for this project to increase exponentially while the pressure to maintain schedule on behalf of the traveling public has remained a constant," O'Hare wrote.

O'Hare wrote that a "significant funding shortfall exists" that would "shortly begin " to impact project partners down the supply chain, including building tradesworkers and minority-and-women-owned businesses. He requested that the state include "necessary financial relief and assistance to stabilize this project" during the budget process.

Identically-worded letters were sent to Hochul by the New York Building Congress, the Regional Alliance for Small Contractors, the National Association of Minority Contractors, and Nontraditional Employment for Women, an organization that trains and places women in careers in skilled construction.

LeChase's apparent financial issues have generated some sympathy from members of the Legislature. There is far less sympathy for AECOM Tishman, a multi-billion dollar company.

Democratic Assemblyman William Magnarelli, who chairs the Assembly Transportation Committee, said he was approached by a partner involved in the project  he could not recall the name  about securing a couple hundred million dollars in the budget.

But Magnarelli said it would create a slippery slope if any contractor facing financial issues could be bailed out by state government. And this particular project was supposed to be built without taxpayer money.

"The state has no obligation to pay any money, period," he said last week. "At this point and time, I know of nothing being put in the budget."

A Hochul spokesman, John Lindsay, said the Hochul administration has been working with Applegreen to "deliver on their contract.

Slow opening

In 2018, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo put forth a plan to address a dire need to improve customer amenities, technology, commercial truck services and overall facility energy efficiency at New Yorks 27 Thruway rest stop areas. The Thruway Authority's goal is "reimagine and modernize" New York's transportation network so that it could "continue to support our growing economy."

The Thruway Authority issued a request for proposals, and in 2020, Empire State Thruway Partners was selected by the authority's board of directors. Empire State Thruway Partners is operated by Applegreen, which put forth a $450 million investment plan to win the bid.

Restaurants that served Thruway customers, including McDonalds, were to be replaced by different eateries including Shake Shack and Chick-fil-A. Many of the new stops would have drive-through windows for the first time.

The rest stops originally were built in the 1950s, and most recently replaced or remodeled in the 1990s.

The work across 27 plazas was expected to create 12,000 construction jobs. The closings also led to the layoff of hundreds of concessions workers. Although, at the time of the layoffs, Applegreen indicated it planned to rehire as many as possible when the sites reopened. (Applegreen told The News last week that the company "will be rehiring people, and in fact we plan to grow overall employment levels at the sites.)

The construction was staggered to be in two stages: Sixteen of the areas would be redeveloped first, then a second batch of 11.

In July 2021, development began on the first batch, and many were scheduled to be reopened by the fall of 2022. As of last week, only five reconsructed sites have begun operating restaurants.

Among those significantly delayed was the New Baltimore rest stop, an oasis for drivers along a stretch of I-87 between Albany and the Hudson Valley. According to the recent information provided to bondholders, that area was supposed to reopen on Sept. 30, 2022, but now has an expected opening of May 19, 2023  231 days late. One issue was that during demolition, a fuel contamination was found in the site's soil.

No bathrooms or restaurants are available, reads a sign greeting visitors, though a set of portable toilets is lined up near the gas station. (Like all the other rest areas, the gas station remained open during construction.)

The Thruway Authority has adopted a policy that no two consecutive service areas in the same direction of travel may be closed at the same time. Because it is accessible both northbound and southbound, New Baltimore is a key strategic point. When New Baltimore opens, four more rest areas can close and begin construction.

A total of five newly reconstructed stops are scheduled to open by mid-June, according to Applegreen. O'Kane said the company was pleased with recent progress on the construction.

...

Related: Completed Thruway rest stops are not getting rave reviews

Early reviews for new Thruway rest stops are starting to come in and users are finding lots to complain about.

Long lines. Too small. Not enough car chargers.

The long lines for restaurants could change as more rest stops open, but another source of criticism is that some of the rest areas that have reopened are small, such as the Indian Castle service area, about 220 miles east of Buffalo on the way to Albany. The stop includes a Popeyes, Starbucks, a convenience store and a seating area for roughly 20 people.

During a February budget hearing, Assemblyman Michael Norris of Lockport, who commutes to Albany along the Thruway, noted at such smaller rest areas, there's very limited space for people to actually eat their food, to sit down or rest.

Correction: This article has been updated to say that in the 1990s, New York's rest areas were replaced or remodeled. An earlier version of this story misstated that fact.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, announced Tuesday that she will run for re-election to a sixth term in 2024, and has launched a new NY Battleground Fund to assist other Republican congressional candidates in New York.

Our country is unrecognizable from when I first stepped into the arena to run for Congress. The fight to save our country and our state will not be easy, but I have never been more determined to work my hardest to save America, Stefanik said in a news release.

In making the announcement, Stefanik broke months of silence about whether she would abide by a pledge in her initial 2014 campaign to voluntarily limit herself to five two-year terms.

Stefanik did not directly address her term limits pledge in the news release, and did not respond to a Post-Star request to comment.

I got the call (from Stefanik) yesterday. Were excited about it, said Warren County Republican Chairman Tim McNulty.

He said that on the call, Stefanik also committed to campaigning with Warren County Republican candidates in local elections this fall.

McNulty said Stefaniks decision not to run statewide next year in a challenge to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., will sort of settle the field of Republicans weighing the Senate race.

Stefanik has also been mentioned as a possible vice-presidential running mate if Donald Trump wins the Republican presidential nomination next year.

Im not surprised (that Stefanik is running for re-election) given her leadership position, said Warren County Democratic Chairwoman Lynne Boecher. Ill be interested in seeing how she justifies reneging on her (term limits) pledge.

Political experts said they dont expect that breaking voluntary term limits will be a factor in Stefaniks re-election bid.

Shes proven herself to be really popular in that district, said Robert Turner, a political science professor at Skidmore College.

I think people will applaud her decision to continue to making the sacrifices to support the people of this district, said David Catalfamo, a former Republican political strategist from Wilton who ran for state Assembly in 2022.

The only way that it would be a factor is in a Republican primary, said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic strategist from New York City.

She would have to be taken out in a Republican primary, and I dont think thats going to be easy for anyone, he said.

Jill Lochner of Greenfield Center announced in March her candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 21st District, setting up a potential primary with Stefanik.

Saratoga County woman mounting primary challenge to Stefanik Jill Lochner wants to bring a moderate Republican voice back to the forefront in the North Country, and shes running for Congress to do it.

The Stefanik campaign has downplayed the chances of Lochner being able to collect a sufficient number of valid signatures to get on the ballot.

Warren County Democratic Chairwoman Lynne Boecher said Stefaniks decision to seek re-election will make it harder for Democrats to field a formidable candidate in the 21st District next year.

Of course it will. But that does not mean we wont try, she said.

Matt Castelli, the 2022 Democratic candidate in the 21st Congressional District, announced April 5 he will not run again next year.

No one has expressed interest to county Democratic chairmen in challenging Stefanik, Washington County Democratic Chairman Alan Stern said Tuesday.

Stern said county Democratic chairmen from the 21st Congressional District will be attending the Democratic Rural Caucus of New York conference at Saratoga Springs on Friday and Saturday.

Castelli rules out rematch with Stefanik Matt Castelli, the Democratic challenger to U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, last year, will not run again in 2024.

My guess is that there will be conversations about this over the weekend, and that will start our process, he said.

Stefaniks NY Battleground Fund comes as New York congressional races in 2024 are considered key to the control of the House.

We will work our hardest to defeat the Democrats across New York and the country, to protect and expand our House majority and elect President Trump in 2024, Stefanik said, in the news release.

New York, somewhat surprising, was this heavy battleground state in 2022 and will be again in 2024, said Turner, the Skidmore professor.

Raising funds for candidates in key races is expected of those in leadership roles, he said.

Stefanik is House Republican Conference Program Chairwoman, the third-ranking leadership post in the GOP conference, responsible for communicating conference messaging.

On Feb. 24, the House Majority PAC, a national Democratic political action committee, announced that it has set aside $45 million, a record investment on the House ballot for one state, in hopes of flipping six New York Republican seats.

The 21st District is not among those targeted.

On March 14, the House Majority PAC announced that the $45 million will include the expense of staffing a New York Rapid Response War Room, that will focus on research and communications in the six targeted Republican Districts.

Defending these Republican seats is probably more consequential than her own re-election bid, said Sheinkopf, the Democratic strategist.

She has to be the conservative standard bearer for Republicans in New York State, and if she doesnt carry these, her national political future is finished, he said.

Stefaniks fund-raising for Republican House candidates will be even more essential if a lawsuit, backed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James, both Democrats, is successful in throwing out the congressional district map that a court-appointed expert drew in 2022, said Catalfamo, the Republican strategist from Wilton.

The law suit seeks to have new congressional maps drawn by the state Independent Redistricting Commission and approved by the Legislature.

I dont think anyone has any idea of what the battleground is going to look like, Catalfamo said. I dont think they (Democrats) are going to make it any easier for us.

Also on Tuesday, Stefanik announced she raised $3 million, across all platforms, during the first quarter, which ended March 31.

More than half of the $3 million was raised for Stefaniks re-election campaign, her E-PAC political action committee, and the Elise Victory Fund, a separate campaign fund, said Alex DeGrasse, executive director of Stefaniks campaign.
The State University of New York is ending the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students at its 64 campuses, including SUNY Adirondack.

SUNY released updated guidance that will take effect beginning with courses over the summer. Instead of mandating COVID-19 vaccinations, the university system is strongly encouraging students to get the vaccine and receive updated booster shots.

An advisory committee consisting of doctors and public health experts recommended ending the vaccine mandate. The state Department of Health was also involved in the decision.

The announcement follows President Joe Bidens action on Monday to sign legislation ending the national COVID-19 public health emergency.

The safety of SUNYs students is our first and foremost priority, and while COVID is no longer an emergency, we will not lose sight of the impact it continues to have on us, SUNY Chancellor John King said. Across SUNY we will continue to monitor cases and make adjustments as needed, but even more importantly, we will look to increase the overall health and wellness support we provide our students.

The vaccine mandate was the target of criticism in some upstate New York counties. In February, the Cayuga County Legislature passed a resolution urging SUNY to end the requirement. Some lawmakers blamed the mandate for declining enrollment at Cayuga Community College. But the decreased number of students at Cayuga and other community colleges is part of a trend that began before the pandemic.

Legislators also complained that the mandate only applied to students. Faculty and staff were not required to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

SUNYs COVID vaccine mandate began in 2021, months after the vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson) received emergency use authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In September 2021, SUNY announced that compliance with the requirement reached 99.5% among its student population. The students who did not comply with the requirement were mostly commuters at community colleges.
CAPE MAY  Police have linked a car abandoned on a city beach to an investigation into the death of an 11-year-old boy in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Ruth DiRienzo Whitehead was found in Wildwood Crest on Tuesday morning, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and Scott Fida, the police chief of Horsham, Pennsylvania. Her black Toyota Highlander had been found on the Cape May beach, partially submerged, authorities said.

According to Pennsylvania law enforcement officials, the investigation began Tuesday after a report from Daniel Whitehead that he had found his son, Matthew, dead in the master bedroom of a home on Privet Road, where he had spent the night.

The cause of death has not been determined. An autopsy was expected to be performed early Wednesday, said Kate Delano, communications director for the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office.

Although DiRienzo Whitehead has not been accused of any offenses, autopsy results could yield charges, Delano said.

No other information about the boys death was being released Tuesday, Delano said.

A joint investigation into the boys death was launched by Montgomery County detectives and Horsham Police.

The father told police that when he awoke Tuesday, he noticed the master bedroom door was locked and his wifes black Toyota Highlander was missing from the garage.

While police were still in the family home, Cape May police found the wifes SUV partially submerged in the ocean just off Beach Avenue in Cape May.

A short time later, DiRienzo Whitehead was found alive by Wildwood Crest Police, according to Montgomery County officials. She was still in Crest police custody as of Tuesday afternoon, Delano said.

The vehicle was discovered in the water at The Cove beach early Tuesday morning, according to city manager Michael Voll. Authorities believe the car entered the water around 3:30 a.m., he said. There is vehicle access at that beach.

Delano said the District Attorneys Office cant confirm why the car was driven into the water. It was empty when it was discovered.

There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Cape May County Prosecutors Office.
China, Japan hold first face-to-face consultation on maritime affairs since 2019

Global Times) 09:21, April 11, 2023

China reiterated its stance in the Taiwan question as well as East and South China Sea issues during its 15th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs with Japan in Tokyo on Monday. The meeting came as Japan said it is closely following PLA's exercises around Taiwan after regional leader Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

The two sides held a plenary meeting and three working group meetings on maritime defense, maritime law enforcement and security, and marine economy, and conducted broad and in-depth exchanges of views on maritime issues, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Monday.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. The two sides should follow the important consensus between the leaders of the two countries, review the spirit of the treaty, deal with divergences in maritime affairs via dialogue and strengthen practical cooperation in maritime fields, according to the foreign ministry.

Observers see it as the latest move by the two sides to implement the bilateral consensusreached by the two countries' leaders during their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Bangkok, Thailand.

As vital powers in the region and the international community, it is crucial for China and Japan to discuss concerns over maritime affairs candidly, and jointly figure out ways to prevent crises and avoid misjudgment while promoting regional stability and cooperation, according to Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences.

It is their first face-to-face meeting under the mechanism since 2019. It came about one week after China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang's talks with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi in Beijing on March 2, during which the two sides agreed to promote bilateral ties amid a turbulent world.

The consultation also came as China holds military exercises for three consecutive days encircling the island of Taiwan. The exercises came after the provocative meeting between Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during Tsai's "transit" in the US and featured mock fire strikes on targets on the island for the first time.

Japan has been following PLA's drills around Taiwan consistently and "with great interest," a senior government spokesperson said on Monday, Reuters reported.

During the meetings on Monday, the Chinese side reiterated its position on the East China Sea, Diaoyu Islands and South China Sea issues and the Taiwan question given Japan's recent negative remarks concerning these issues. China also urged Japan to stop all acts that violate China's sovereignty, stop taking actions that may complicate the situation, and avoid any interference into the Taiwan question, the ministry said.

China also expressed its concern over Japan's plan to dump nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, urging Japan to take into account the legitimate concerns of the international community, and to handle the issue in an open, transparent, scientific, and safe manner, with a responsible attitude toward the marine environment and human health.

Japan is just blowing up the China threat in terms of regional security issues in order to pursue its ultimate aim [of remilitarization], Da noted. After all, the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and Japan does not have the right to interfere in it under any pretext, he added.

China and Japan reached consensus on speeding up the construction of the direct telephone line connection under the maritime and air liaison mechanism of both countries' defense sectors to safeguard maritime security.

The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in carrying out joint maritime search and rescue exercises, jointly combating cross-border maritime crimes and illegal fishing as well as dealing with maritime plastic waste.

Both sides have also agreed in principle to hold the 16th round of high-level consultations on China-Japan maritime affairs within this year in China.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  Atlantic County police chiefs welcomed a new leader to their ranks Thursday.

Frederick Spano was sworn in as the local police chief. Township dignitaries past and present, along with family and friends and Atlantic County law-enforcement leaders, gathered for a ceremony at the township Municipal Complex for his inauguration.

Spano thanked his mentors over the years, as well as family and friends, some of whom had come to the ceremony from New York, Maryland and South Carolina. He also took a moment to thank the people he listed for his three references when he first applied to the Egg Harbor Township Police Department.

What Im trying to say here, its about you, its about the network, Spano said. Its about youve been there for me, really just to keep me strong, get me through the day, get me to this point.

Mayor Laura Pfrommer lauded what she described as Spanos dedication to his new office.

Its a lot of work, its a lot of responsibility, and all of us up here appreciate you stepped up to do this, Pfrommer said. And, Fred, we know youre going to lead this agency with honor and integrity. I just cant wait to see what you do.

During his speech, Spano reflected on what he said was the stress of police work, alluding to potentially traumatic events officers might experience. He apologized to those close to him for their having to endure that stress with him at times and acknowledged the burden shouldered by many in the department, particularly its newest members.

Youre a new officer, you try to hide behind that veil, Spano said. But after a while, that takes a toll.

Spano centered his speech on helping officers confront those stresses, prepare them for police work and make the law-enforcement career path one more hospitable to growth. He had two younger officers on the force join him before the dais at the ceremony to highlight the importance of readying the next generation.

Its our obligation to improve this work environment for them. Its about them. Today is about them, as it is for everyone else here, Spano said. They will not know everything at this stage of their careers. They will do exceptional work but will err at times. And its for us to correct.

Pfrommer also thanked all law enforcement in attendance for their commitment to the job. In an interview before the ceremony, Pfrommer said there had been a recent decline in applications to join the police force, something she attributed to the difficulty of the job and the growing negative perception of police  something she in part attributed to the 2020 protests against police brutality.

Its a tough job you all have, and we are so thankful that there are people who want to help do it, Pfrommer said.

Through the ranks

James Sonny McCullough, who was mayor when Spano first joined the Egg Harbor Township Police Department in 1998, was in attendance Thursday. He said he was proud of Spanos promotion to chief and his accomplished career.

We recognized him as really a strong young man. We wanted him on the police department, he joined our police department and he went through the ranks doing almost every job you could imagine to get where he is now, McCullough said. He is fully qualified to be the chief of a big department.

Spano joined the local Police Department 25 years ago as a patrol officer. He rose through the ranks, being promoted to lieutenant in 2016 and then captain in 2019. He served as commander of the Police Community Services and Criminal Investigations bureaus; and as Operations Bureau commander, overseeing the Patrol, K-9, Traffic Safety and SWAT units.

He has a masters degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a bachelors degree in criminal justice from the University of Delaware. He said he has volunteered with the Margate Terrapin Rescue and the annual flag placement ceremony at the Atlantic County Veterans Cemetery.

Spano succeeds Michael Hughes, whose tenure as chief began in August 2021 and lasted about 19 months. Hughes was also promoted to captain in 2019 and had a 32-year career in the Police Department. A ceremony marking the end of his time at the department was held Wednesday, at which the Township Committee praised Hughes for his service. Hughes thanked his family and congratulated Spano, who attended the ceremony.

Township officials have said there has been significant turnover in the position of police chief in the township over the last two decades, with the tenure of each chief lasting about three years  something they attributed to modern industry practices and the growing stress of the job.

Police chiefs from throughout Atlantic County and other area law-enforcement officials assembled at the meeting Thursday in a show of support for the new chief. Atlantic City Police Chief James Sarkos said after the meeting he was eager to collaborate with Spano and the Egg Harbor Township Police Department. He said he believed Spano would do a fantastic job.

Public safety is very much a partnership, Sarkos said. All the chiefs partner together to make sure public safety is at the upmost level in Atlantic County.

Pleasantville Police Chief James Williams, who was also in attendance Thursday, called Spano a very good man worthy of the promotion. Asked to give advice, Williams urged Spano to embrace teamwork as chief.

Listen to his people, his team that he works with, Williams said. Surround himself with good people, good things will happen in the agency.

Spano joins Sarkos and Williams as part of a crop of relatively new police chiefs in the area. Williams officially became chief of the Pleasantville Police Department at the start of 2022 following the retirement of six-year Chief Sean Riggin. Sarkos, while having served as officer-in-charge and then acting chief for about 27 months, was only officially made chief outright in October. Galloway Township Police Chief Richard Barber assumed his role as head of the department in March 2022 following the retirement of Chief Donna Higbee, who was in the position for about six years.

Together, new chiefs have to confront the modern challenges of police work.

As he did in a previous interview with The Press of Atlantic City, Spano on Thursday emphasized a trio of goals he has for his tenure as chief  attention to detail, ensuring quality police work and improving the public perception of law enforcement. He has said the latter task was particularly important due to the 2020 protests against police brutality and racism following the murder of George Floyd by then-Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin

Ive said this before and I say it again and I continue to say it, Spano said. Doing the little things right, quality of work, improving the law-enforcement image, if we could all approach that every day, think how great this profession would be and appear to the public. It is our leaders and supervisors responsibility to our people. It is that simple. We owe it to them.
UPPER TOWNSHIP  A large fire damaged several trailer units at Seaville Shores Campground on Corson Tavern Road on Tuesday afternoon, sending up a towering plume of smoke visible from miles away.

No injuries had been reported as of 5 p.m., and no information was available about the possible cause of the fire. Curtis Corson, a member of Township Committee, said five of the camper units were a total loss and more had been damaged.

Details of the fire were few Tuesday as firefighters were still occupied fighting it as of 6 p.m.

Bill Greenling and his grandson, Tommy Meister, were nearby on Lexington Court when they heard a loud bang, similar to a car crash but deeper. They took off down the street to investigate and walked up to a scene of smoke rising above the street. They went into an opening for a better look and walked onto a scene where flames were jumping campers.

Im just in shock, said Meister, 14.

Meister said he and Greenling were about 50 feet away, watching the flames jump roofs.

It was right after the holiday, so hopefully people were out of the campground, said Greenling, 70.

Neighbors said there had been a large-scale response from area fire companies, as well as police and rescue crews. A column of thick, black smoke could be seen rising from the area, blowing toward the back bays, from miles away.

A number of firetrucks could be seen lining up along Corson Tavern Road at the entrance of the park. The trucks eventually began moving into the campground.

Firetrucks from Atlantic and Cape May counties responded to the fire. The phone number for the campground was not functioning.

Opening day for the camping resort was March 31, according to a post to the business social media.

As with other campgrounds in Upper Township, the resort is open seasonally. While tents and possibly RVs are typically expected at campgrounds, at Seaville Shores Campground and other township sites, trailers can be kept in place year-round.

Staff Writer Bill Barlow contributed to this report.
Fliers at airport stand in good, old queue; authorities say DigiYatra facility will be restored

By: Anushree Bhoware

The Pune airport seems to be back to the age-old manual process of boarding by passengers. This is despite the presence of an e-boarding facility through DigiYatra, a mobile app that allows domestic fliers to scan their QR codes and get boarding access without standing in a queue.

In March, the DigiYatra paperless facility was started with much fanfare at the airport and it worked well for several days. But this consistency was lost recently and fliers who wanted to save time and go through the DigiYatra system of boarding process were unable to access it. There was no airport staff to help them either.

To add to their woes, CISF officers did not accept the e-boarding passes since there was no date and time mentioned on them. Pune Airport shares a runway with the Indian Air Force, and therefore, the authorities work under ultra-tight security. Thus, all these fliers had to go back to the old ways and collect printed boarding passes.

Abhay Verma, a frequent flier, uploaded this issue on social media addressing the airport authorities and Air India. The authorities replied apologising for the inconvenience and assured the gitch would be fixed at the earliest.

Verma, who was traveling from Pune to Delhi on an Air India flight, told Mirror: The Air India electronic boarding pass does not mention the travel date, for which the CISF staff (and rightly so) asked for the actual ticket to confirm the PNR, travel date, etc. I couldnt use DigiYatra as the CISF staff told me there was no designated staff to help passengers use DigiYatra. So, they had to shut it. This made passengers go for the security check normally, standing in the queue.

After Vermas e-boarding pass was rejected, the CISF personnel referred the matter to his senior who, in his turn, called an Air India staff member and requested him to give him a printed pass after confirming the seat number from the e-pass. He then checked my government ID to reconfirm my identity. This defeats the whole purpose of having electronic boarding passes to save time. The primary reasons were lack of staff and lack of proactiveness from Pune Airport authorities to enable and promote digital platforms like DigiYatra and electronic boarding passes.

Unlike Delhi airport where the QR code on your boarding pass is scanned by CISF personnel while entering the airport, the same doesnt happen at Pune Airport and the CISF staff only verifies your details physically. These lapses in promoting newer technologies results in passengers having to spend more time at security check, which in turn slows everyone down as the time taken per passenger for screening is higher and not automated yet. In other metros, you spend just a couple of minutes going through a security check, Verma added.

Mirror tried to contact the airport authorities, including Santosh Dhoke, Director, Pune Airport but didnt receive any response from them.

It may be mentioned that there are a total of seven international airports in India which have the DigiYatra system.
In the midst of heavy rain and strong winds that were recorded throughout the district on Sunday evening, a 70-year-old farmer from a village in Pune's Khed taluka was killed by a lightning strike. The old farmer was in his field when the incident happened, according to Pune Rural police.

Ram Gangaram Kale, a native of Chas village, around 55 kilometres from Pune city, has been identified as the deceased by officials from the Khed police station under the Pune Rural Police.

As per the police the 70-year-old farmer was out in the field behind his house when lightning struck him leading to his death. He sustained severe burn injuries in the incident.
About Ohnward Fine Arts Center

The Ohnward Fine Arts Center belongs to the people of Maquoketa. This 29,800 square foot performing arts center was built entirely with private donations, a Vision Iowa grant program and with Gary Drew leading volunteer labor. More than 900 families, individuals and businesses donated financial assistance, volunteered their labor and loaned or donated equipment and materials to complete the project.

In 1998 Gary Drew and his wife, Marilyn, purchased a 3 acre parcel on East Platt Street. In October of 1999 construction began with excavation for the foundation. In January of 2000 Dr. James and Harlene Kopel of Moline, Illinois made a large donation to the future fine arts center. The theatre in the Center is named in their honor. In September of 2001 a Vision Iowa grant was approved when John Fagerland and Edward Tubbs contributed matching funds. Fagerland and Tubbs acquired naming rights to the facility which became the Ohnward Fine Arts Center with the Drew Gallery and Kopel Theatre.

The Ohnward Fine Arts Center of Maquoketa officially opened in December of 2004. With the help of over 95,000 volunteer hours and $900,000 in little and big donations, the community of Maquoketa built this state-of-the-art Ohnward Fine Arts Center without the use of a single city or school tax dollar.
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.
Two Scott County residents are suing the county over a public records dispute.

Former Scott County Supervisor Diane Holst and public records advocate Allen Diercks, through their attorney, Mike Meloy, say county officials incorrectly withheld the names of people who applied to fill a vacancy on the Board of Supervisors earlier this year.

They argue that case law allowing local governments to shield employee applicant names from public disclosure shouldn't apply to applicants seeking elected office.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the names, resumes and cover letters of applicants as public records as well as requiring the county to produce the records and pay plaintiff attorney fees, according to court documents.

Assistant Scott County Attorney Rob Cusack said Monday he hadn't yet had a chance to review the specific claims in the suit, but that, in general, the county stuck to the rules.

"I can say the county believes we followed the law, regarding the confidentiality of the applications and applicants' names, unless they waived confidentiality," Cusack said.

Tony Knobbe resigned from the board at the start of the year after being elected Scott County Treasurer in the 2022 elections, leaving with two years remaining in his term.

In January, the three-member committee responsible for deciding what to do about the vacancy settled on accepting applications, rather than conducting a special election or making an appointment without an application process.

The committee was made up of Knobbe, treasurer; Kerri Tompkins, auditor; and Rita Vargas, recorder.

Tompkins, the chair of the committee, suggested that applications come to her office's email, and the three agreed on a deadline and a second meeting date. When applications came in, Tompkins asked whether they wished to remain confidential. Thirteen of 27 applicants said they did.

At the public meeting during which committee members discussed whom to appoint, they used numbers assigned to candidates, rather than names.

Vargas suggested four numbers  14, 15, 20, and 22.

Knobbe gave three  14, 16, and 20.

Tompkins proposed one  16.

Vargas said, although that person wasn't on her list, she didn't have an issue with applicant No. 16.

The three voted unanimously to appoint applicant No. 16, whom they revealed was Rita Rawson, a former Davenport City Council member.

The meeting lasted 10 minutes.

"Disclosure of the applicants names before January 26, 2023, would have allowed the public to support or oppose an applicant for public office," Diercks and Holst argued in court filings.

Holst, a former supervisor herself, submitted a public records request for the names of the applicants Jan. 27, the day after the meeting where Rawson was selected. Diercks submitted a similar records request Jan. 31.

Cusack, in an email response to Holst, sent a spreadsheet that left blank the names of applicants that requested confidentiality. He wrote that the county is required to keep names confidential at applicants' request, citing two court cases  City of Sioux City v. Greater Sioux City Press Club (1988) and Gabrilson V. Flynn (1996).

In the city of Sioux City opinion, the Supreme Court ruled that the city could keep city manager applications confidential at an applicant's request, because disclosing it could deter applicants.

Diercks and Holst argue in court filings that the Sioux City case involved applications for a municipal employee position, and according to their filings, "did not hold that an applicant for a public office, such as a County Supervisor, can keep his or her name secret from the public."

The Sioux City Council also passed a resolution ahead of accepting applications that said it would keep applications confidential  something the county committee did not do.

In the second case, Gabrilson v. Flynn, the court enjoined a school board member from making the content of a performance assessment test public.

Diercks and Holst argue the case "does not establish or hold that an applicant's name for public office can be secreted from public view."

Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, told a Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus reporter in February the public records law does not speak directly to questions raised about whether local governments can keep candidate names confidential for an elected position.

In the 1988 case, "the court did not distinguish between positions that normally are elected and those that routinely are filled by hiring," Evans wrote in an email. "The specific questions surrounding the use of the appointment process to fill positions that typically are filled by election has not been litigated.

"But the Iowa Freedom of Information Council believes that when it comes to filling elective offices by appointment, the public deserves to know who is being considered to fill a position that voters normally are the ones who make the selection," Evans wrote. "We believe it is important for the people of Scott County to know who was under consideration."
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 quiet of Easter at Davenport's Jersey Meadows Apartment complex was shattered late Sunday when gunfire killed an 18-year-old woman.

Faith M. Zulu has been identified by police as the victim.

Zion E. Harrison, also 18, is charged with second-degree murder and going armed with intent, police said. He initially was charged with first-degree murder, but that charge was amended Monday.

Harrison also had outstanding warrants, police said, for: possession with intent to deliver; possession of drug paraphernalia; criminal mischief 4th degree; eluding; and no headlights.

Police were called to a report of gunfire at approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday at 2700 E. 53rd St., the Jersey Meadows Apartment complex. On the scene, responding officers located Zulu, who sustained apparent gunshot wounds. She was transported by Medic EMS to a local hospital, where she died.

Two residents said Monday that they heard arguing late Sunday night and then a number of shots. One man who lives in the complex said he heard four shots.

The shooting does not appear to be a random act of violence, police said. It remains under investigation.

A police report indicates Harrison and the victim, " ... got into an altercation outside the residence of 2760 E. 53rd St., apartment number 4. The defendant was armed with a loaded handgun during the altercation."
Students from across the Quad-City area are invited to learn about careers in the construction trades on Wednesday, April 12, at Rock Island High School's second-annual Construction Trades Career Expo.

The expo will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Rocky Fieldhouse (1400 25th Ave. in Rock Island) and is open to all Iowa and Illinois Quad-City junior high and high school students.

At the expo, participants will have the opportunity to discuss apprenticeships, career opportunities and other field-related questions with area professionals and contractors.

The event will feature representatives from the following construction professions:

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 25 & Sprinkler Fitters Local 669.

Carpenters Local 4.

Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 18.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 91.

Operating Engineers Local 150.

Ironworkers Local 111.

Bricklayers Local 6.

Heat & Frost Insulators Local 81.

Roofers Local 32.

Painters Local 1178.

Electrical Workers Local 145.

Glaziers Local 581.

Millwrights Local 2158.

Black Hawk College Highway Construction Careers Training Program.

Additionally, the Tri-City Building & Construction Trades Council Apprenticeship Programs will have representatives on-hand for students to discuss program offerings.

For questions, contact Jenna Panicucci at jenna.panicucci@rimsd41.org or the school district at 309-793-5900.

Photos: Hands on Trades Expo for over 200 local eighth grade students both Iowa and Illinois
DES MOINES  Legislation that would require Iowa caucus participants to vote in-person  which would effectively kill Iowa Democrats plan for mail-in caucusing in 2024  was introduced this week in the Iowa House by Republican state lawmaker Bobby Kaufmann, the son of Republican Party of Iowa state chairman Jeff Kaufmann.

Iowa Democrats last year unveiled a plan to overhaul their partys caucus format and have participants cast their presidential preference via the mail, ahead of caucus night. The plan was developed as part of the partys effort to maintain its 40-year status as the first U.S. state to cast votes in presidential primaries every four years.

The national Democratic Party still excluded Iowa from the early-voting window in its new primary calendar, but the state party said it nonetheless planned to proceed with the new mail-in process.

On Monday, Rep. Kaufmann introduced the bill, which would require all Iowa caucus participants to cast their presidential preference in-person. Republicans conduct an in-person straw poll on caucus night.

If thats the intent, then I disagree with trying to take away the flexibility of folks who may not be able to physically participate on-site, who may be working, who cant get child care, said Ross Wilburn, a Democratic state lawmaker from Ames and the most recent former state chair of the Iowa Democratic Party. The mail-in option for presidential preference would provide the greatest amount of flexibility and participation in the caucus process.

When asked why he introduced legislation that would kill Democrats new caucus plans, Rep. Kaufmann said the goal of his legislation is to protect the Iowa caucuses first-in-the-nation status, which Iowa Republicans still hold. While national Democrats overhauled their presidential primary calendar and bumped Iowa out of its first-in-the-nation seat, Republicans maintained their same calendar, leaving Iowa as the first state, followed by New Hampshire.

That order has been contingent upon Iowa Republicans holding the first caucus and then New Hampshire going second with the first presidential primary election.

As far as ruining (Iowa Democrats) plans, they are ruining their plans by doing things that I would classify as turning them into a primary, which I guarantee that the New Hampshire Secretary of State would jump us, Rep. Kaufmann said. So this is me attempting to protect the integrity of the caucuses. If we do mail-in ballot voting as a caucus in Iowa, New Hampshire views that as a primary and they will jump us, which will jeopardize our first-in-the-nation status. 

I view this as being helpful to the Democratic caucuses. I really do, Rep. Kaufmann added. I am protecting the integrity of caucuses for both parties, and I believe that's what this bill does.

The bill, House Study Bill 245, is scheduled for its first legislative hearing Wednesday in an Iowa House subcommittee.

A spokesman said Republican Party of Iowa chairman Jeff Kaufmann would comment later Tuesday.

Rita Hart, the recently elected Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman and a former state legislator, in a statement described the legislation as a surprise move.

Its disappointing that Republicans proposed this bill with no input from Democrats and it is potentially damaging to the history of how Iowas parties have always worked together regarding the Iowa caucuses, Hart said in her statement. Iowa Democrats will do whats best for Iowa and that means moving forward with an inclusive caucus process.

The bill would make another substantive change to the Iowa caucuses: participants would be required to be registered with a state political party at least 70 days prior to the caucuses.

That provision is designed to prevent Iowans from participating in both the Democrats and Republicans caucuses, now that starting in 2024 the two events will no longer be held on the same night.

I wouldnt want Republicans to have 10,000 people show up and caucus for Democrats, just like I dont want 10,000 Democrats to show up and caucus for a Republican, Rep. Kaufmann said.

That provision would eliminate caucus-night registration, which is currently allowed. During past caucus cycles, presidential campaigns operating in Iowa have continued to seek supporters right up through the final days before the caucuses.

Rep. Kaufmann has signed on as a senior adviser to former President Donald Trumps 2024 campaign in Iowa.
DES MOINES  Attorneys representing Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and abortion rights advocates argued Tuesday in front of the Iowa Supreme Court over Reynolds request that the court lift an injunction on a 2018 state law that would ban abortions once a fetus heartbeat can be detected.

Currently, abortion is legal in Iowa until 20 weeks of pregnancy. If the Iowa Supreme Court grants Reynolds request to lift the injunction and allow the law to go into effect, the vast majority of abortions in Iowa would become illegal.

We are arguing that there was a substantial change in the law based on (2022 rulings by the Iowa and U.S. Supreme Courts) that justify dissolving the injunction, Chris Schandevel, an attorney for the Christian conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which is helping to represent the state in the case, argued to justices.

Reynolds attended Tuesdays oral arguments in the Iowa Supreme Court chambers.

Peter Im, a Planned Parenthood attorney who argued before the Iowa Supreme Court, told the justices that the injunction should remain because the state has attempted to reinstate the 2018 law without going through proper legal procedures, and that the court has not stated a new legal standard by which the 2018 law should be reviewed.

The state is asking this court to find some kind of hidden, inherent authority thats found nowhere in the rules. It says that this court has been following the substantial change in law standard, but that standard also is not found anywhere in the rules, Im argued.

There is no prescribed timeline for the Iowa Supreme Court to publish a ruling. Most decisions are published by the end of the courts term; the current term ends June 30.

Supporters of so-called fetal heartbeat laws say they ban abortions roughly around the sixth week of pregnancy, which often is before a woman is aware she is pregnant. Abortion rights advocates say such a prohibition would end 98 percent of legal abortions in Iowa.

However, some major medical organizations, like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, note that what is detected at six weeks is not a heartbeat at all, but instead electrical impulses, and that an actual heartbeat does not occur until roughly 17 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Iowas fetal heartbeat legislation was passed into law by the Republican-majority Iowa Legislature in 2018 and signed by Reynolds, but immediately was halted by the state courts. In 2019, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the law unconstitutional, writing that the right to an abortion is guaranteed by the Iowa Constitution.

Just three years later and with a new makeup, however, the Iowa Supreme Court in 2022 overturned that ruling, just before the U.S. Supreme Court also overturned its ruling in the Roe v. Wade case from 1973 that for decades had created a federal right to an abortion.

Shortly after those two rulings, Reynolds asked the Iowa courts to lift the injunction that had been placed in the 2018 state law. That request was dismissed by a district court judge, and Reynolds appealed that decision to the state.

Schandevel on Tuesday told the justices that because the courts no longer recognize a fundamental right to an abortion, and because there has been a substantial change in the law with those 2022 decisions by the Iowa and U.S. Supreme Courts, the Iowa Supreme Court should reverse its 2019 ruling and allow the fetal heartbeat law to go into effect.

They made a lot of procedural arguments that we think were designed to try to prevent the court from reaching the merits, because we think the merits of this question, the law is so clearly on our side, that this law is a rationale, reasonable effort by the state to protect life based on the fetal development of the unborn child, Schandevel told reporters after oral arguments. So their procedural arguments, as we told the court today, the law is on our side on all of those arguments as well.

Im argued that neither the 2018 law nor the legal standard by which it should be reviewed has changed, thus it remains unconstitutional and the courts 2019 ruling should stand and the law remain blocked.

Im told reporters that their contention is that the court never changed the legal standard by which the 2018 law should be reviewed, and thus the law should remain blocked.

Undue burden remains the (legal) standard in Iowa, and under the undue burden test, the ban is just unconstitutional, full stop, Im said.

The seven-member Iowa Supreme Court currently is comprised of five justices appointed by Reynolds and two by previous Gov. Terry Branstad, also is a Republican.

Justice Dana Oxley recused herself from the case, Schandevel said. Oxley was not present for oral arguments on the case, but was for the following case on the courts schedule Tuesday. In the 2022 case where justices ruled the Iowa constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion, Oxley participated then and joined the majority.

The Iowa Supreme Courts spokesman said he is not made aware of when justices recuse themselves, and thus could not speak to why Oxley recused herself this time.
A 33-year-old Rapid City man was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday for attempted child abuse in March 2022.

"My sole intent was to discipline," Kandan American Horse said before Circuit Court Judge Robert Gusinsky. "I am losing a family... It does hurt that I have nothing and no one."

American Horse pleaded guilty to the reduced charge in February in exchange for the state dropping charges against him for misdemeanor domestic abuse, felony child abuse and felony abuse of a child under 7 years old.

Attempted child abuse carries a maximum sentence of 7.5 years, half the maximum sentence of abuse of a child less than seven years old. The state asked for the maximum, and the defense asked for five years.

According to a pre-sentence investigation into his background, American Horse himself suffered abuse as a child. Deputy Pennington County States Attorney Aaron Hellbusch called the information "eye-opening."

"He, better than anyone else, should understand the lifelong trauma," Hellbusch said.

The prosecutor said American Horse instead "minimizes" his actions. He said one of the children in the case had bruising on both sides of their head, and American Horse only admitted to one slap.

American Horse said he was remorseful and never thought he would hurt a child, but he "transferred" the abuse he suffered onto the two children.

His defense attorney, Martha Rossiter, said he accepted responsibility and "understands the totality" of the effects on the children.

One of the alleged victims in the original charges testified at American Horse's sentencing hearing. She said American Horse's actions left her and her children with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"I really don't agree with this plea bargain at all," she said.

Gusinsky told American Horse the "most important thing" is to keep children safe, and he "failed at the very basic obligation that parents must undertake."

"Nobody really knows whether you're remorseful other than you," Gusinsky said.

American Horse's criminal history in South Dakota dates back to 2008 with misdemeanors. He has one prior felony conviction from 2016 for third-degree burglary.

American Horse is held at the Pennington County Jail awaiting transportation to the state prison in Sioux Falls. Gusinsky applied 361 days of time served to his sentence.
Kathmandu, Nepal, April 11, 2023: The leaked audio recording of conversation between Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Dhaka Kumar Shrestha and medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai has brought a big jolt in the party.





Responding to the audio recording that was made viral in social media since Sunday, not only the lawmakers of other parties but also its own have demanded prompt investigation over the leaked audio recording.





In the leaked audio, RSP lawmakers Shrestha can be heard asking Prasai to pay Rs25 or 20 million to pay president Lamichhane through his core team to become the health minister. Prasai is the owner of the Birtamode-based B & C Medical College and Teaching Hospital and former central committee member of the CPN UML.





It appears that Shrestha and Prasai had engaged in a phone conversation to discuss the same on January 15. However, the audio recording was leaked on Sunday. At that time seven party alliance including CPN UML, CPN Maoist Center, RSP and others were on the process to form a coalition government.





The RSP had picked Shrestha as lawmaker from indigenous nationalities category under proportional representation system. The party, however, has suspended Shrestha from both lawmaker and party membership so as to initiate investigation.





Withstanding the widespread criticism, the RSP has apologized in the case. Speaking in the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Monday, RSPs chief whip of the parliamentary party, Santosh Pariyar, apologized for the problem caused to the dignity of the members of the HoR.





We would like to apologize for the problem caused to your honor through our member of the HoR, he said adding that they will not be disturbed by this incident.





Speaking in the HoR meeting, other lawmakers demanded investigation over the leaked audio recording even forming a parliamentary panel.





Nepali Congress Deputy Chairman and Member of Parliament Dhanraj Gurung demanded that the so-called core team of the RSP including its President Lamichhane have to be investigated by forming a parliamentary panel.





During the meeting, RSPs HoR members Manish Jha also challenged his party president Lamichhane to confirm that money was taken to make him a minister.





Responding to the concerns of the HoR members, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha said that the audio tapes would be investigated. Speaking to the media persons at Chitwan on Monday, he assured of investigation about the audio tape.




Kathmandu, Nepal, April 11, 2023: The entry of the Indian security personnel in Nepali territory on the name of searching its fugitive criminal has become a matter of widely raised concern in Nepal after it has come to know that a team of Indian Police came to Nepal before April 3 through Birganj of Parsa and Jamunah in Banke border area.





It is said that a six-member team from the Intelligence Bureau of India has come to Nepal under the leadership of Nagesh Chaudhary to search for Amritpal Singh believing that he would be hiding in Nepal with the motive to escape in other countries.





As the Indian Police have been launching a manhunt for Khalistan separatist leader Amritpal Singh, teams of Indian Police are reportedly in Nepal to find the separatist leader.





It is said that recent arrest of Palpreet Singh, a close aide of Amritpal, from Punjab of India had left clue to the Indian police that Amritpal would have snaked in Nepal through the border with motive either to launch its activities from Nepal or to flee in other countries.





Amritpal along with Papalpreet are wanted in the Ajnala violence case registered at the Ajnala police station on February 25.





Neither the government nor the security authority concerned, however, have spoken out about the entry of Indian police in Nepal even though the issue is raised from street to parliament.





Earlier, Indian embassy in Kathmandu had formally urged the Nepal government to help to arrest Amritpal Singh. Following the request, the Department of Immigration had alerted to the securities agencies to increase vigilance in border points.





Spokesman for Nepal Police, DIG Posh Raj Pokharel has said that the security agencies are looking for Amritpal. However, he did not elaborated about the widely raised concerns that Indian security forces had entered in Nepal.





Meanwhile, a lawmaker of the main opposition CPN-UML Raghuji Panta has raised the issue in the parliament stating that the entry of Indian security forces into Nepal in their bid to search for separatist leader Amritpal Singh is not only Indias distrust towards Nepals security mechanism but the violation of low of the land.




Kathmandu, Nepal, April 10, 2023: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has made a commitment to resolve the ongoing problems seen in the countrys economy coordinating with the private sectors.





The government has vigorously been working to resolve the problems seen in the countrys economy, Prime Minister Dahal said while addressing the 72nd Annual General Meeting of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce in Kathmandu on Monday.





During his address Prime Minister Dahal, who is also the chairperson of the ruling head CPN (Maoist Center), urged the private sectors to cooperate with the government to resolve the ongoing problems seen in the countrys economy.





The government wanted the same level of support from the private sector for economic reforms, Prime Minister Dahal said the contribution of the private sector is important in running the nations economy.





During his address, Prime Minister Dahal also claimed that the three tiers of the governments will forge coordination with the private sector while formulating their plans and policies.





Underlining the role of the Private sectors, Prime Minister Dahal said two-thirds of the total investment is from the private sector. The private sector has been playing a progressive role in the supply of essential goods and services as well as in increasing productivity and employment, he said.





The private sector has a significant role in achieving Nepals goal of graduating from a least developed country by 2026 and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030, Prime Minister Dahal said stressing on the need of prioritization of the areas of investment for over-all development of the nation.





Significant progress is seen in various sectors related to the economy in recent years, however, the multi-dimensional poverty is decreasing despite significant progress has been made in the education sector, gender empowerment, drinking water facilities, and access to power, among other sectors, he said.





Failure to increase domestic production and employment will hamper the sustainable development of the economy; Prime Minister Dahal had a saying.





Speaking at the same function, Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat also underlined the need of moving ahead with the confidence to improve and make progress in the countrys economy.





The countrys economy was not much in bad shape, only a negative picture of the economy is being painted, Finance Minister Dr. Mahat said underling the need of optimism against of the narratives of the pessimistic outlook.





Similarly, Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Ramesh Rijal also underlined the need of proactive role to be played by the private sector to improve the countrys economy.





The private sector has an important role in making the national economy good, the government only can facilitate in formulating policies and rules, minister Rijal said pledging to do his best to feel the problems facing the private sector.








Kathmandu, Nepal, April 11, 2023: The Government of Japan handed over Medical Equipment to the Community Health Center in Suryabinayak Municipality, Bhaktapur District today. H.E. Mr. KIKUTA Yutaka, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, attended the ceremony.





Under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Japanese Government, the project to install medical equipment for breast cancer testing, thyroid testing, and diabetes testing at the Valley Health Center run by the Laborer Women and Child Welfare Council (LWCWC) was supported with USD 74,860 (approximately NPR 8.9 million).





Since its establishment in 1996, LWCWC has focused on maternal and child health care by providing free diagnosis, free birth assistance, and basic medicines in rural areas. In addition, the center's doctors and nurses regularly visit surrounding communities to provide counseling and raise awareness of basic health issues.





However, the center previously lacked needed medical equipment and was unable to test for breast cancer, thyroid dysfunction, and diabetes. Now, with this project, it can perform regular and appropriately timed examinations for these diseases.





On this occasion, Ambassador Kikuta congratulated and expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by everyone involved in the project. He emphasized that early detection of diabetes, breast cancer and thyroid dysfunction is crucial. He is confident that the project will enable early detection of these diseases and contribute to better health and quality of life for the individual, the family and, ultimately, the entire community. He also expressed his hope that the outcome of this project will greatly contribute not only to the development of local health care, but also to the development of the community as a whole, thereby deepening the friendship between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.




The investigation into Wednesdays abduction and fatal shooting of a New York woman remains ongoing, and her alleged kidnapper has not been charged, Virginia State Police said Monday.

The state Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations Fairfax Field Office said Michael C. Davis, 34, of North Chesterfield, is still being treated for life-threatening injuries at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

On April 5, Tatiana N. David, 34, was abducted from her home on her birthday in Ithaca and forced into a white SUV allegedly driven by Davis. New York state police said David and Davis had been in a relationship, and share a child.

Later than night, more than 300 miles from the site of the abduction, a Virginia trooper spotted a Jeep Cherokee traveling south on I-95 in Fairfax County, authorities said. The vehicle had the wrong license plates displayed on it.

After the trooper activated his emergency lights, the Jeep pulled off onto the shoulder of the highway. The trooper approached the Jeep, and spoke to both the adult male driver and adult female passenger. It was not until the trooper returned to his patrol car to verify the drivers information that he learned that the driver was wanted by New York State Police for abducting the adult female passenger.

Within seconds of receiving that confirmation, the Jeep pulled away from the shoulder and fled south on I-95. A high speed chase ensued.

The Jeep crashed near the 152 mile marker, when it struck the guardrail, but continued speeding south on I-95 until the it ran off the side of the road and crashed into the woods near Exit 148 in Prince William County. As soon as the troopers approached the SUV, Davis, who remained in the drivers seat, alleged began shooting. State police returned fire.

Davis and David sustained injuries. Once Davis stopped shooting, the troopers were able to safely approach the Jeep. Troopers and assisting agency personnel pulled both Davis and David from the Jeep, and immediately began rendering medical aid to both.

Davis was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital where he is still being treated for life-threatening injuries.

David died at the scene. Her remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Manassas for examination and autopsy.

No state police were injured in the shooting. In accordance with policy, the troopers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Two firearms were recovered at the scene, officials said.
The city of Hopewell has announced that it will look into alleged environmental violations by AdvanSix that were reported in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Our citizens deserve and demand a city that is safe and free from pollution. Towards that end, we will be reaching out to the Commonwealth to develop a plan of remediation that addresses Advansix air quality and water quality violations that they have received over the past three years, said interim city manager Concetta Manker.

Manker said that the final goal was to create a city that can be enjoyed by all.

Over the weekend, the Times-Dispatch reported that AdvanSix, a New Jersey-based plastics and chemical producer with a plant in Hopewell, had incurred 66 regulatory violations since 2015.

The violations include releases of gasses identified as harmful by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which were flagged by state and federal regulators, including the EPA.

The day after The Times-Dispatch article was published, Manker released a statement that Hopewell would be supporting and helping the state DEQ and the EPA to look into the violations.

In her statement, Manker said, The City of Hopewell has recently become aware of the environmental violations of AdvanSix and added, we are working diligently to assist AdvanSix as they prepare to correct all patterns of noncompliance.

Manker could not immediately be reached for further comment Monday.

The violations, listed by the Times-Dispatch, include the release of sulfur dioxide, ammonia and sulfuric acid into the ambient air in volumes that exceeded permissible levels, according to regulators.

They also include numerous and significant releases of stormwater runoff into the James River, the reports said.

The Times-Dispatch published the full regulatory documents online, with minor redactions to protect peoples privacy.

AdvanSix has previously said that it self-reported most of the violations to regulators. Janeen Lawlor, a spokesperson for the company, also said that it had invested millions in environmental upgrades to make the facility safer.

Lawlor said that many of the releases flagged by Virginias Department of Environmental Quality were still within the sites overall permitted allowance.

Environmental advocates said the Times-Dispatch report only supported what they had said for years regarding pollution in Hopewell.

Glen Besa, former director of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, said the organization had pushed the state and the city of Hopewell for information, but got little for their efforts. We made a push to clean up the chemical plants two decades ago and DEQ did nothing, said Besa.

Besa said that the organization did not secure any meaningful action by DEQ, although they did win a health assessment and enhanced monitoring for Hopewell.

Besa was also critical of Hopewells city council for what he called their inaction.

And the city council is aware of the long running problems with the plant, Besa said. They chose to ignore them.

The company has not made an official statement since the reporting of the violations ran on Thursday.

On the same day that The Times-Dispatch published the regulatory documents, a group of 340 workers at the Hopewell plant went on strike for better wages. The job action does not affect the companys other facilities.

That strike is ongoing, with company CEO Erin Kane saying they have taken substantial contingency measures to remain operational while the workers strike.

Recognize these places? 26 photos from The Times-Dispatch archives
South Korea said on Tuesday that information contained in the leaked classified Pentagon documents that appeared to be based on sensitive conversations between top South Korean security officials is "fabricated," without providing further details.

The documents have become a domestic issue in South Korea amid accusations they expose the extent of United States eavesdropping on key regional allies.

The fallout comes as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to make an official state visit to the US on April 26 where he will be hosted by US President Joe Biden. The two countries will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their joint security alliance during the visit.

One document released in the leak suggests South Korean officials were concerned ammunition sold to the US could be diverted to Ukraine, potentially violating the country's policy of not supplying lethal aid to countries engaged in conflict.

Another document cites information relating to South Korea as coming from a "signals intelligence report," or intelligence gathered through the interception of communication signals.

In a statement, the office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said allegations the US had penetrated the country's official communication channels were "an absurd false suspicion."

The statement said South Korean defense chief Lee Jong-sup held phone talks with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin Tuesday morning, during which they agreed that "a considerable amount of the documents were fabricated."

The statement did not specify whether the two sides believe that only the parts about South Korea are fabricated, or the documents in general.

South Korea's Defense Ministry said the call took place at the request of Austin. During the call, the US Secretary of Defense explained recent media coverage of the leak and said the US would closely communicate with South Korea on this issue, according to the statement.

CNN has reached out to the US Department of Defense for comment, and for a readout of the call. A Pentagon spokesman confirmed that the call happened but would not offer any additional details, saying only that a US readout would be released soon.

CNN has reviewed 53 leaked documents, all of which appear to have been produced between mid-February and early March.

Many of the documents, which US officials say are authentic, had markings indicating that they had been produced by the Joint Staff's intelligence arm, known as J2, and appear to be briefing documents.

Asked about the validity of the documents, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told reporters at a White House press briefing Monday afternoon, "we know that some of them have been doctored," but that he didn't want to "speak to the validity of all the documents."

"We're still working through the validity of all the documents that we know are out there," Kirby said.

Pressed on if the US believes that some of the documents are valid, Kirby said the administration "cannot speak to the veracity and the validity of any of those documents at this point."

Kirby added later there was, "no excuse for these kinds of documents to be in the public domain. They don't deserve to be in the public domain. They deserve to be protected. So, we're going to get to the bottom of this," but he said, "we need to be careful speculating right now."

'Absurd false suspicion'

The revelations have led South Korean opposition lawmakers to suggest the US had wiretapped the South Korean presidential office, which had moved from the Blue House to the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul last May.

The claims of wiretapping were denied by the South Korean presidential office.

"We clearly state that the suspicion of wiretapping the Yongsan Presidential Office is an absurd false suspicion," the statement said.

"Unlike the Blue House where the president's office, secretary's office and security office were scattered, currently we are maintaining 'iron security' through an integrated security system and dedicated personnel," the statement added.

South Korea is a major arms exporter and President Yoon announced last year plans to become one of the world's top four weapons suppliers.

In July, the country signed a deal to supply Poland with almost 1,000 K2 tanks, more than 600 pieces of artillery and dozens of fighter jets. And in November, a US defense official told CNN that Washington intends to buy 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition from South Korean arms manufacturers to provide to Ukraine.

On Monday, the presidential office said South Korea's policy of not supplying lethal aid to countries at war remains unchanged.

The-CNN-Wire
A trial underway in federal court will decide whether the U.S. government must pay up to $21 million to compensate Arlington County for a parcel of land taken to expand Arlington National Cemetery.

The cemetery expansion project is expected to add 50,000 to 60,000 burial spaces and extend its ability to accommodate new burials by 19 years  until 2060, under the current eligibility requirements. Work on the expansion has already begun and will not be halted no matter what the judge decides at the trial's conclusion.

At issue is how much money, if any, the federal government must pay to Arlington County for the nine acres of land it took from the county to accommodate the expansion.

The federal government says it's fulfilling its duties by replacing and improving the road network on the cemetery's southern border, including significant improvements to a highway, Columbia Pike, that serves as a primary commuter route.

The county, on the other hand, contends that it also should be compensated for a 4-acre parcel that could be developed into housing if it were rezoned. The county says the plot of land is particularly valuable in a region that is starved of adequate housing and is within walking distance to the Pentagon and the new Amazon headquarters being built in the county.

The condemnation that facilitated the cemetery expansion has been the subject of discussions and negotiations for more than 20 years. Despite urging from U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema that the two sides settle their dispute, no agreement was reached, and a bench trial began Monday that is expected to last the better part of the week.

The early negotiations contemplated a land swap in which the county would receive a developable plot of land from the federal government in exchange for what it was ceding on the cemetery's border.

But the negotiations went nowhere and in 2017, the Army opted to condemn the property without a negotiated agreement. Since then, the county has been focused on ensuring it receives what it believes is a fair price for the land that was taken.

The federal government says improvements to the roadway adequately compensate the county. The improvements to Columbia Pike make it significantly wider and straighter, adding sidewalks and bike paths. The bike paths, as an example, widen the road's footprint and necessarily take away space that could have been used for burials, former cemetery superintendent Katharine Kelley testified Monday.

But the Army agreed to the wider configuration, in part to help the county placate a very vocal and somewhat powerful bike constituency that demanded the path's inclusion, Kelley said.

The Justice Department also argued that the federal government deeded the land to the county in the 1950s and 1960s under the condition that it be used only for roads, so a multimillion-dollar housing development would be impermissible.

"The county is looking for a windfall from the federal government using the very road the federal government conveyed to the county for free," Justice Department attorney Emma Hollowell said during opening statements.

The county says nothing in the deeds restricts it from developing the land and that it has longstanding policy commitments to address a housing shortage that the land in question could help ameliorate.

A vacant multi-acre land parcel is a rare asset within a County comprising only 26 total square miles, lawyers for the county wrote in their trial brief. An appraisal conducted for the county in 2020 concluded that the land would be worth $21 million if it were developed into about 50 townhouses.

In 2021, Brinkema ruled in favor of the federal government. But the county appealed, and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond vacated her ruling and sent the case back for trial.

The cemetery  which dates back to the Civil War and is the final resting place for more than 400,000 service members, veterans and their families  estimates that the expansion will be completed in 2027.

The cemetery's life could be extended further under changes proposed in 2019 that would significantly restrict the eligibility for burial there. That proposal is still making its way through the rulemaking process.
A special grand jury appointed in the Richneck Elementary School shooting case will probe whether any actions or omissions by school system employees led to a 6-year-old boy shooting his first grade teacher in a classroom three months ago.

A news release from the Newport News Commonwealths Attorneys Office on Monday was vague on the investigations target, saying the special grand jury would be asked to look into any security issues surrounding the Jan. 6 shooting.

But the petition for the special grand jurys appointment  publicly released Tuesday morning  makes clear the newly launched probe will focus on current or former employees of the Newport News Public School System.

An investigation is warranted, the prosecutions petition says, to determine ... the full scope of any criminal activity, the circumstances surrounding such activity and to charge those persons who are criminally responsible for such acts or omissions.

Moreover, the special grand jury will be asked to make other recommendations as necessary to remedy those security failures in the hopes that such a situation never occurs again.

The petition from Newport News top prosecutor, Commonwealths Attorney Howard Gwynn, came three months after the first grader opened fire on his teacher, 25-year-old Abby Zwerner, in a first-grade classroom at Richneck, leading to headlines around the nation and world.

The request came the same day a regular Circuit Court grand jury indicted the boys mother, Deja Nicole Taylor, 25, of Newport News, with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger the life of a child.

Circuit Judge Bryant L. Sugg agreed to Gwynns request, signing the order Monday afternoon impaneling 11 pre-selected citizens to serve on the special grand jury.

The jurors will serve for six months from Monday, the order says. Their service could be extended as necessary by future court orders.

The special grand jury shall investigate and report on any condition that involves or tends to promote criminal activity, and shall consider bills of indictment related to such activity, Suggs order said, mirroring language in the section of law pertaining to special grand juries.

Sugg also appointed four prosecutors to serve as the special grand jurys counsel going forward: Gwynn, Deputy Commonwealths Attorneys Valerie Muth and Travis White, and Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Joshua Jenkins.

Those prosecutors shall be permitted to make notes and to duplicate portions of the evidence as they deem necessary for use in a criminal investigation or proceeding, the order says. Any evidence gathered by the special grand jury will be maintained by the Commonwealths Attorneys Office.

As the 6-year-old student sat at his desk at just before 2 p.m. that day, he suddenly pulled a gun out of his front hoodie pocket, pointed it at Zwerner  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.

Zwerner, of York County, managed to shuttle about 18 students out of the first grade classroom before seeking help at a school office. She was released from the hospital about 10 days later.

Richnecks assistant principal at the time of the shooting, Ebony Parker, has come under intense criticism and is the subject of a lawsuit by Zwerners attorneys. They contend she ignored several stark warnings that the 6-year-old boy had a gun in school that day.

The Daily Press has been unable to reach Parker in recent weeks.

Also named in the lawsuit are the Newport News School Board; Richnecks former principal, Briana Foster-Newton, who has been shifted to another job within the school division; and former Superintendent George Parker III, who was fired by the board within three weeks of the shooting.

The former superintendent has said he wished Zwerner, the 6-year-old and the school system well. I hope that everyone can continue to move forward and make sure accountability is put in the right place, he told the Daily Press early last week.
Gazing at the three silvery grain elevators at the southern end of Richmond Marine Terminal that helped power Virginias $1 billion jump in agriculture exports, Gov. Glenn Youngkin had one question for the operator: What would it take to get you to build another?

Farm and forest exports from Virginia are booming, and a key reason is facilities like the Richmond port, Youngkin said, before taking a closer look at the Richmond ports 121-acre facility where one of the Virginia Port Authoritys Virginia Express barges was almost finished loading its 140 truck-trailer-sized containers.

Many of those containers were filled with elevator operator Scoulars soybeans or Virginia-raised and sawed lumber.

Virginia agriculture exports rose to $5.1 billion last year, from $4.07 billion in 2021 and $3.22 billion in 2020.

China is the states biggest agriculture market, buying $1.45 billion worth of products last year. Soybeans and soybean meal are the states top exports, followed by pork.

Its pretty cool, Youngkin said, after touring the facility and playing what he said was his favorite role: chief marketing officer for the state, as he pitched the idea of a fourth elevator to Gavin Bradshaw, Omaha-based Scoulars lead merchant for international grains and oilseeds.

He liked what he saw of Richmonds port, he said.

We just need to double the capacity. And sell, sell, sell, he added.

Facilities like Richmonds terminal  though no longer a port of call for sea-going ships like the Icelandic carrier that used to come because Virginia apples were so popular in that North Atlantic nation  play a critical role in knitting the state together, Youngkin said.

Like the port authoritys groundbreaking inland port at Front Royal, the terminal allows the wharves of Hampton Roads to reach deep into the countryside, he said, adding that the state is looking seriously at another inland export-import facility in Southwest Virginia.

I talk to businesses that arent here yet every day, he said. And they can feel comfortable locating in Southside, in Southwest Virginia on the I-81 corridor, in central Virginia because they can have access to a transportation infrastructure thats second to none.

Farm and forest products are a staple at the Richmond port, said Virginia Port Authority chief executive officer Stephen A. Edwards.

The authoritys thrice-weekly barge service means it is easy for the states farmers to reach international markets, he said.

Each of Scoulars elevators holds 18,000 to 20,000 bushels of grain, and most of what they do is empty semi-trailers full of grain, which takes as little as 5 or 6 minutes, and then load thousands of bushels at a time into 40-foot long shipping containers. Farmers also bring loads in pickup trucks, Richmond terminal manager Christina Saunders told Youngkin.

Edwards said the port authority is planning improvements to speed the flow of cargo at Richmond, including new steel fenders to replace the aging and cracked wooden ones on its 1,570-foot long wharf.

That will allow the terminal to work two barges at the same time  and Edwards is hoping to boost that three-times-a-week service to a six times a week.

In addition, the authority is making a drop zone for truckers, so they do not have to wait in line at the main security gate to deliver their containers. The idea is for the terminal to run a shuttle service transporting containers from the drop zone through the gate to be staged for loading on the barges, saving time and money for the long-haul trucks.

The dozens of turquoise-painted trailer chassis that the authority owns and parks in Richmond, as it does at its main facilities in Hampton Roads, are also a key initiative to speed trucks in and out. They were a major reason why Virginias ports did not see the kind of backups and logjams that plagued most American ports during the pandemic.

New lighting, meanwhile, will extend the hours the terminal can operate, Edwards said.

Youngkin said he is going to push Virginia agricultural products on his first trade mission later this month in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.

Japan is a big buyer of Virginia soybeans and pork; Korea buys beef and cotton and Taiwan is a major buyer of Virginia grain, he said.

Now we can sell them even more, he added.

How states increased jobs over the last 20 years How states increased jobs over the last 20 years #51. West Virginia #50. Michigan #49. Louisiana #48. Vermont #47. Connecticut #46. Ohio #45. Rhode Island #44. Illinois #43. Mississippi #42. Maine #41. Wisconsin #40. Kansas #39. Pennsylvania #38. Maryland #37. New Jersey #36. Missouri #35. Hawaii #34. Alaska #33. Indiana #32. New Mexico #31. Iowa #30. Kentucky #29. New Hampshire #28. Minnesota #27. Alabama #26. Arkansas #25. Wyoming #24. Nebraska #23. Delaware #22. New York #21. Massachusetts #20. Virginia #19. Washington DC #18. Oklahoma #17. California #16. Tennessee #15. South Dakota #14. South Carolina #13. Georgia #12. Oregon #11. Montana #10. North Carolina #9. Florida #8. North Dakota #7. Washington #6. Colorado #5. Arizona #4. Nevada #3. Idaho #2. Texas #1. Utah
Harlan Crow, the Texas billionaire who has reportedly bankrolled holidays for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, donated to Gov. Glenn Youngkins 2021 campaign, his political action committee and a PAC formed by Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Dallas-based Crow Holdings has given $25,000 to Youngkins Spirit of Virginia PAC, $15,000 to Youngkins campaign for governor and $10,000 to WinsomePAC.

The donations occurred between 2021 and 2022  before ProPublica reported Crows decades-long friendship with Thomas and previously undisclosed luxury trips and gifts. Some legal analysts say Thomas refusal to disclose the gift-giving from Crow might skirt ethics rules.

Following reports of Thomas failure to disclose gifts from Crow  and subsequent reports that Crow collects Nazi memorabilia, among other historical artifacts  the Democratic Party of Virginia reacted, calling Youngkin and Crow BFFs in an email Monday.

On Twitter, Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, who was Virginias first Jewish speaker of the House of Delegates, noted that she had an opportunity this year to work with Youngkin on efforts to combat antisemitism in Virginia. She urged the governor to do the right thing and return the $40,000 (he) accepted from Harlan Crow.

Youngkins and Earle-Sears political action committees did not respond to requests for comment by the time of this publication.

Crows donations to Youngkins campaign and the political action committees are not unusual, as Crow is a longtime GOP donor. He has given money to various high-profile Republicans in and out of his state, including Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch and Jon Huntsman, a former Utah governor who served as an ambassador under Republican and Democratic presidents.

Crow previously donated $1,000 to Bob McDonnells campaign for governor in 2009 and $25,000 to Attorney General Ken Cuccinellis campaign for governor in 2013.

Notable Texans who have received donations from Crow include Sen. Ted Cruz, a 2016 presidential hopeful; then-Rep. Louie Gohmert (who has collaborated with Rep. Bob Good, R-5th) and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Like Youngkin, Abbott is among the names pundits tout as a potential candidate for national office.

Recognize these places? 26 photos from The Times-Dispatch archives
Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, who was elected in November to a third term representing her Northern Virginia district, announced on Tuesday that she has Parkinsons disease.

Wexton, 54, whose district is anchored in Loudoun and Prince William counties, made the announcement in a Twitter video on World Parkinsons Day.

If theres one thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, its that Parkinsons disease sucks, Wexton said. Im here to tell you that Ive come to learn this first hand. And thats because Ive learned that I, too, have Parkinsons, or what some people call PD for short.

Wexton added: Before I say anything else, let me share this  Im doing well. Ive got a positive attitude, and Ive got the strong support of so many family, friends and loved ones.

Wexton explained that Parkinsons is a movement disorder that starts in the brain and affects peoples bodies in different ways.

Over the past few months, it has primarily affected my speech and how my mouth moves, she said. You may notice I speak more quickly now. It also has affected how I walk and keep my balance.

What Parkinsons is not is an untreatable disease, a cognitive impairment, or a death sentence. So please! You are welcome to empathize, but dont feel sorry for me.

Wexton, a former Loudoun County prosecutor, judge and state senator, told constituents: I hope to keep serving you for many years to come.

Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. have Parkinsons disease and it is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimers disease, according to the Parkinsons Foundation.

The foundation says that, while there is no cure, treatment options include medications, lifestyle adjustments and surgery.

Nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed each year and 10 million people worldwide have the disease, according to the foundation.

Wexton unseated Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-10th, in 2018, then defeated Republicans Aliscia Andrews in 2020 and Hung Cao in 2022.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, said Tuesday: I think its wonderful that she came out and talked about her diagnosis. Importantly, it has impacted some of her movement. I think its helpful for her to really set an example that its a movement disorder, making sure people understand that shes still rocking and rolling in terms of what shes doing in committee. Shes our workhorse on the Appropriations Committee.

Spanberger added: Shes continuing to do a tremendous job and I know her number one commitment is to her constituents and making sure that shes doing right by them. Im proud of her. I know shes a very private person, so it hasnt been easy for her to be public with some personal details, but I hope that if anybodys struggling with a diagnosis that might seem scary, they find some strength in the example that she sets.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said in a statement: Jennifer Wexton is a fighter.

He added: She is a passionate advocate, principled public servant, and wonderful colleague. I know shes going to continue to be a strong fighter to battle Parkinsons and to stand up for Virginias 10th District. Im rooting for her every step of the way.

Recognize these places? 26 photos from The Times-Dispatch archives
The organization created to allocate more than a half-billion dollars in settlements between opioid manufacturers and distributors and the state of Virginia has made its first grant award.

Virginias Opioid Abatement Authority announced Monday in a statement that it would be providing nearly $116,000 to Washington County to support the development of the Mended Women Lifestyle Recovery Center, a 54-bed facility near downtown Abingdon that will provide post-detox and early recovery services for women from 16 localities across Southwest Virginia.

The facility is scheduled to open Thursday morning with a ribbon-cutting featuring Attorney General Jason Miyares, who has finalized more than $500 million in settlement agreements to be paid over the course of 18 years  an amount Miyares said could potentially double as additional settlements are reached.

Every community in Virginia has been impacted by the opioid crisis, and my office will continue to demand accountability from those who profited, Miyares said in a release.

Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County, the chairman of the Opioid Abatement Authority, called the grant a great start, noting there were no such facilities for women within 150 miles of the site of the new center. Fairview Housing Management Corporation, the nonprofit with which Washington County partnered on this project, operates a similar center for adult men in Bristol.

We are so pleased that Washington County and its partners are addressing such a significant gap, Pillion said in a statement. Once again, a community in Southwest Virginia is setting the standard for the rest of the state.

Tony McDowell, the abatement authoritys executive director, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the lack of existing services for women in Southwest Virginia makes it particularly difficult to estimate the number of women affected by substance abuse disorders in the region, but that theres a good chance that (the facility) is going to be full shortly after it opens.

Dr. Sarah Melton, the chair of OAAs grants committee, praised the collaborative approach that Washington County took to its grant application. In addition to the OAA award, Washington County also is contributing $200,000 of funding it received directly from the settlements, paired with just over $24,000 of settlement funds from Smyth County. The Wellspring Foundation, a health care-focused philanthropic organization in Southwest Virginia, is giving $200,000 of funding as well, along with additional support from several other donors.

They brought so many partners together from the community as part of this application, Melton said via press release. When you see this kind of collaboration, it provides confidence that these funds are being put to the best possible use.

Today in history: April 11 1947: Jackie Robinson 1961: Adolf Eichmann 1968: Lyndon B. Johnson 1970: James A. Lovell 1996: Jessica Dubroff 2013: Jonathan Winters 2017: Dorothy Mengering 2020: Gov. Laura Kelly 2021: Hideki Matsuyama
Cozumel scheduled to receive 28 cruise ships during Easter week

Cozumel, Q.R.  While the Easter holiday season has seen Cancun and Riviera Maya beaches become busy, cruise ports are also busy with the arrival of tourists. According to the Integral Port Administration (APIQROO), the island has 28 ships scheduled for docking during the Easter week.

The Port Administration reported that Cozumel is prepared to receive 28 cruise ships during the week of April 10. The vessels scheduled to arrive include Carnival Valor, Disney Fantasy, Carnival Pride, Ruby Princess, Adventure of the Seas, Celebrity Summit, Scarlet Lady, Norwegian Dawn, Viking Octantis, MSC Seascape, Oasis of the Seas, Carnival Breeze, Disney Magic, Carnival Conquest, Mariner of the Seas, Celebrity Beyond, Carnival Vista, Norwegian Joy, Costa Deliziosa, Carnival Horizon, Allure of the Seas, Norwegian Breakaway, Carnival Glory, Celebrity Reflection, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Valor, Adventure of the Seas and Carnival Sunrise.

Apiqroo says during the first three months of 2023, Cozumel has welcomed more than 1.2 million cruise ship passengers.
Gunman murders Tulum coffee shop patron for refusing to hand over watch

Tulum, Q.R.  A man was shot and killed Monday afternoon in Tulum for refusing to give up his watch during a daytime robbery. Police and National Guard were on scene at the Tulum Avenue coffee shop where they located one dead adult male.

The deceased, identified as businessman David G from Monterrey, was shot to death for what has been reported as refusing to hand over a Rolex watch during a robbery. Another man, Carlos C, was found injured at the scene and transferred to hospital.

Coffee shop patron David G was shot to death for refusing to hand over his watch. Photo: April 10, 2023.

According to early information, a man entered the coffee shop around 2:00 p.m. and headed toward the two men. David G was shot and killed, while Carlos C, a business partner, was injured after also being fire upon but returning fire.

The gunman was reported injured during the robbery when Carlos C shot back. The gunman managed to flee without being caught. Reports say the gunman arrived in a car with a second person, but only one person from the car entered the coffee shop. Police have not announced any arrests.

It is not clear if the two men were a target in the robbery or simply the only two patrons inside the coffee shop at the time.

Police cars outside the Tulum coffee shop where one man was killed and another left injured. Photo: April 10, 2023.

In a brief statement, the FGE of Quintana Roo said they have begun an investigation into the murder of a person that occurred in an establishment in the municipality of Tulum in an attempted robbery.

One of the assailants was also injured at the scene. This autonomous body works in coordination with security authorities to detain other participants.
Quintana Roo adds additional airlines, flights and routes to itinerary

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa says that the state of Quintana Roo continues to attract new airline routes and increased frequencies.

Lezama says Volaris, one of the main airlines in Mexico, has announced an increase in the frequency of five domestic flights. This summer, the Bajio-Cancun route will increase from 13 to 17 frequencies per week, while the Monterrey-Cancun route will increase from 24 to 35 times a week.

The flight from Guadalajara to Cancun is scheduled to increase from 39 to 44 weekly, while flights from Puebla to Cancun will see the addition of two more per week, from 12 to 14. Finally, Volaris will add additional scheduled flights from Queretaro-Cancun, from 9 to 14 weekly flights.

Viva Aerobus has announced a new Los Cabos-Cancun route, which will begin on May 18 with a daily flight from Monday to Saturday. It will also increase the frequency of the Toluca-Cancun flight from two to three frequencies due to operational adjustments.

In addition, Viva Aerobus will resume the Monterrey-Cozumel route for the summer season with two frequencies a week on Fridays and Mondays. Likewise, the Quito-Cancun route is set to start on June 16 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

According to the State Secretary of Tourism (Sedetur) headed by Bernardo Cueto, TAG Airlines has also shown interest in opening a route from Guatemala to Chetumal, and Aerus, a new airline, intends to start a Chetumal-Cancun route.

On March17, Delta Airlines increased flights from its main U.S. hubs to Cancun, in addition to a direct flight from Atlanta to Cozumel.

On March 26, Aeromexico started operating a daily flight from Mexico City to Cozumel.
Two Chiapas bus drivers detained after National Guard locate 49 illegal Haitians in Tulum

Tulum, Q.R.  A group of 49 people of Haitian nationality were found traveling illegally on a bus from Chiapas. The bus was located at a gas station in the municipality of Tulum Sunday.

On board, a total of 49 illegal migrants, 15 of whom were minors, were found during an inspection after those on board were seen getting off the bus at the gas station. Elements from the National Guard questioned the driver of the bus, which lead to the inspection.

Omar GM, 28, from Comitan, Chiapas, and Antonio RA, 51, from the Federal District, were arrested for transporting the bus load of illegal migrants.

The bus was heading for Cancun as its final destination at the time it was intercepted by the National Guard.
Less than an hour after an afternoon discussion among city leaders on gun violence prevention efforts wrapped up Monday, three people were injured in a shooting in southwest Roanoke.

One of the goals going forward, Gun Violence Prevention Commission Chairman Joe Cobb said, will be to focus prevention work in specific areas of the city that most often experience such trouble.

Mondays workshop was held to give city council members an overview of all the programs, projects and initiatives to address and to prevent gun violence in Roanoke, Cobb said.

The event featured presentations from the Gun Violence Prevention Commission, Street Prevention and Intervention Team, RESET team and Roanoke police, highlighting a variety of approaches, from gun buybacks to youth mentorship programs.

Christopher Roberts of the Street Prevention and Intervention Team said a program called Neighbors United  originally called Project Pinpoint  was modeled on an initiative in Chicago where, in the wake of violent crimes in neighborhoods, the city and its partners responded with enthusiastic community building efforts, from block parties to tree trimming services.

Roanokes Neighbors United program focuses on the 1300 and 1400 blocks of Hanover Avenue Northwest. The northwest quadrant has been the epicenter of the citys gun violence surge since 2020.

Roberts described how he and his team delivered Thanksgiving meals to families that live on those blocks and offered to decorate houses for Christmas, free of charge.

The team also has multiple programs to teach young men emotional skills and to connect young people with adult mentors. With regard to the latter, team member Anthony West has been involved in a group he called Roanokes returning citizens  people who have been to prison, done their time, learned their lessons and want to give back.

They have this shared, lived experience with the population were talking about now. ... If I could get men and women whove been there, done that  that our young men and women can relate to  just be a shoulder, West said.

After the meeting, Councilwoman Stephanie Moon Reynolds  who has questioned the gun violence commissions programmatic focus and distribution of public funds  said Roberts presentation gave her a clearer idea of where funding should be directed.

Their programs and initiatives theyre trying to put forth are very constructive, very thought-out and they seem to be ... dealing with at-risk youth, Moon Reynolds said.

Meanwhile, Moon Reynolds said she is still not sure the Gun Violence Prevention Commissions resources are being used in the most effective way possible. With respect to that, she emphasized the need to wait for an ongoing city audit of the commission to finish its work.
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.
One month after a federal agency said in a biological opinion that construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline would not jeopardize protected species of bats, fish and a plant, environmental groups are seeking a second opinion.

A petition filed Monday asks a federal appeals court to review the finding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Construction of this fossil fuel nightmare has already harmed imperiled wildlife, but the Fish and Wildlife Service continues to ignore its duty to ensure that waterways and the species that rely on them are protected, said Jared Margolis, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of 11 environmental and community groups that filed the petition.

Its reckless and unlawful to allow this project to decimate more essential habitats and harm our climate, Margolis said.

The filing with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals follows a familiar pattern in the nearly decade-long controversy over the natural gas pipeline: Government permits for the project are granted, challenged in court, struck down, re-granted, and then challenged again.

Two earlier opinions by the Fish and Wildlife Service  set aside in 2019 and 2022 by a three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit  reached the same conclusion as the most recent one.

We are carefully reviewing the request and will respond accordingly, David Eisenhauer a spokesman for the Fish and Wildlife Service, wrote in an email late Monday.

The brief did not state the grounds for challenging the latest finding. A 297-page opinion from the service came after nearly a year of research and consideration that followed a 2022 decision by the Fourth Circuit, which cited serious errors with an earlier conclusion that threatened and endangered species would not be jeopardized.

A more detailed argument is expected in future filings.

The latest document from the Fish and Wildlife Service provides additional data and analysis to support the federal governments finding of no significant harm to five species: the endangered Indiana bat, the threatened northern long-eared bat, the endangered Roanoke logperch, the endangered candy darter and the threatened Virginia spiraea, a flowering shrub native to southern Appalachia.

The finding was derided by opponents, who say building a 303-mile buried pipeline through pristine woodlands and across clear-running streams has already had dire environmental consequences that will only continue if work resumes.

Although Mountain Valley is largely completed, there has been no active construction since the fall of 2021.

Construction of the $6.6 billion project has been stalled by legal action on multiple fronts: over the Fish and Wildlife Services endangered species finding, the U.S. Forest Services permit for the pipeline to pass through the Jefferson National Forest, and authorizations from several agencies for the 42-inch diameter pipe to cross through streams and wetlands.

Last week, a water quality certification from the Department of Environmental Protection in West Virginia, where the interstate pipeline begins, was struck down by the Fourth Circuit. The court had earlier approved a similar action that covered stream crossings in Virginia, where the projects route will take it through the New River and Roanoke valleys to connect with an existing pipeline near the North Carolina state line.

The denial of the West Virginia permit  and now the latest challenge of the Fish and Wildlife Service approval  mean that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cannot move forward on a final permit that is needed for water body crossings, opponents said.

Joining the Center for Biological Diversity in the latest legal action were: Appalachian Voices, Wild Virginia, the Sierra Club, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Preserve Giles County, Preserve Bent Mountain, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, the Indian Creek Watershed Association, and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
A Stafford County man was charged with two counts of manslaughter after being accused of intentionally causing a crash last week that resulted in the death of his two passengers.

Mustafa Nofel Aljazairi, 33, is also charged with malicious wounding. He was arrested Friday at his home on Onville Road and is being held without bond in the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center.

According to Prince William County police, the crash occurred Wednesday in the area of Dumfries Road and Fortuna Center Plaza in Dumfries. Police said Aljazairi was heading north in a 2007 Chrysler 300 when he swerved into the southbound lane and collided with a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban.

The police report states that Aljazairi was arguing with the woman in his vehicle when he intentionally swerved into oncoming traffic. The 33-year-old woman and a 5-year-old girl, both passengers in the Chrysler, died as the result of the crash. Police said Aljazairi was wearing his seat belt, but his two passengers were not properly restrained.

The woman died that day at a hospital, while the child died Thursday. Aljazairi was treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The Suburban driver, a 46-year-old woman, was seriously injured in the crash. She was wearing a seat belt.
Del. Matt Fariss, R-Campbell County, will not be running for a seat in the newly drawn 51st District of the Virginia House of Delegates after the deadline to file to run passed, according to the districts Republican legislative committee chair.

Fariss, who currently serves in the 59th District, which covers Appomattox and Buckingham counties, plus parts of Albemarle, Campbell and Nelson counties, has served in the House of Delegates since 2012.

Attempts to reach Fariss for comment were unsuccessful.

The new 51st District  redrawn in 2021 redistricting  now covers parts of Campbell, Bedford and Pittsylvania counties. This Novembers election will determine the new representative for the district, which currently represents Prince William County.

The new 51st District, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, is rated as strong Republican, with an estimated 79% of the district voting for Gov. Glenn Youngkin in the 2021 gubernatorial election.

According to Doug Barringer, the districts Republican committee chair, Fariss missed the March 30 deadline, meaning Eric Zehr, a former Campbell County Board of Supervisors member, will represent the Republican Party on the ballot in November.

Zehr, Barringer said, was the only candidate who filed the paperwork at the time of the deadline, making him the candidate by default.

I have not spoken with Matt Fariss for a couple of weeks but, on behalf of Republicans in Campbell County and the previous HD59, I offer my sincere thanks to Matt for his many years of service to our community and Commonwealth, and wish only the very best to him and his family in the days ahead, Barringer said.

The decision to not file the paperwork comes just over a month after Fariss was charged in Campbell County with one count each of malicious wounding, hit and run, and reckless driving, according to Virginia State Police, stemming from an incident which took place on March 2.

Fariss said in March that the charges are false, and I look forward to clearing them in a court of law.

According to online court documents, Fariss is scheduled to appear in Campbell General District Court May 16 for a preliminary hearing on the charges.
BRISTOL  Bristol Virginia school Superintendent Keith Perrigan is moving from one of the smallest divisions in Southwest Virginia to Washington County, which has more than three times the enrollment.

Perrigan, 50, will succeed Washington County Superintendent Brian Ratliff, who has served for the past decade. Ratliff recently announced plans to retire. Perrigan will take office July 1, after a Monday vote by the Washington County Board of Education.

The board approved hiring Perrigan during a midday called meeting.

The Washington County school system has more than 6,750 students attending classes at 15 elementary, middle and high schools plus a career and technical center. The division employs more than 1,000 educators and support staff.

Bristol Virginia Public Schools has about 2,000 students, six schools and about 300 employees.

Perrigan started at Bristol in January 2017, succeeding the late Rex Gearheart, who died in May 2016. He steered the division through the COVID-19 pandemic and led the charge to secure funding for a new elementary school which is now under construction.

He was named Region VII Superintendent of the Year in 2022.

Perrigan is also the founder and president of the Small and Rural Schools Coalition of Virginia.

Hes still working for Southwest Virginia. Hes still working for us, Bristol Virginia Board Chair Randy Alvis said. The monies that coalition has brought to our school system, Southwest Virginia and rural Virginia is just tremendous.
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This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
The building foundation for such high-rises will typically rely on a type of "pile" foundation. Piles are essentially long, slender columns, made of materials such as concrete and steel, which transfer the load from the building deep into the ground.

If there was a reduction in the capacity of the soil to support these loads, such as in the event of a sinkhole, there would be nothing underpinning the building. Given the information that has emerged so far, it's likely the sinking of the building over time may have been a key factor in its ultimate collapse.

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Once the initial emergency search for survivors is completed, and the remaining part of the structure is deemed safe, attention will turn to what exactly caused the collapse. A range of experts (such as structural engineers) will be involved in this review.

In previous similar building collapses in the United States, the causes have typically been identified following investigations. For instance, in the case of one 2013 Philadelphia building accident, the catastrophe was attributed to the reckless and unsafe removal of structural supports during demolition work on a vacant building. This caused the vacant building to collapse onto a store, causing multiple deaths.

In the case of the Miami building, however, the exact cause may not be as easy to identify. The building had undergone several inspections during the ongoing recertification process, yet it appears imminent danger was not detected.

Investigating a building collapse typically takes months, and a full answer is sometimes never found. Right now in Miami, this process should be as rapid as possible, as nearby buildings may also be in danger.

For residents' sake, the question of whether this incident was an isolated freak event will need to be answered quickly and comprehensively.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here.

Trivess Moore is a senior lecturer at the school of property, construction and project management at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. He has received funding from various organizations including the Australian Research Council, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Victorian Government and various industry partners.

David Oswald is a senior lecturer in construction at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. He has received funding from various organizations including the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and the Association of Researchers in Construction Management.
" " Saavik (portrayed by Kirstie Alley) is faced with a moral dilemma when she's contacted by the freighter the Kobayashi Maru. She must choose between rescuing its crew, a decision that would put Saavik's own ship at risk and potentially starting a war, or leaving the crew to die. StarTrek

A half-Vulcan Starfleet cadet is faced with a moral dilemma. While commanding the U.S.S. Enterprise, Saavik (portrayed by Kirstie Alley) is contacted by the Kobayashi Maru, a civilian freighter that's struck a mine and lost all power.

The situation is dire. Without assistance, those stranded souls are as good as dead. Yet the accident occurred in the Neutral Zone, an area of space dividing the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. Rescuing this crew means entering the Zone, a decision that would put Saavik's own ship at risk  and potentially start a war.

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But can she bear the thought of letting innocent people suffer and die on her watch? Saavik decides she can't.

She orders the Enterprise into the Zone, violating a critical treaty. That provokes an immediate attack from Klingon warships. Within minutes, Saavik loses her vessel and its crew. And the worst may be yet to come.

So begins the 1982 blockbuster "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." Saavik, we soon learn, has just taken Starfleet's hardest training exercise. Simply called the Kobayashi Maru, it's a simulation that puts future commanders in a classic "no-win scenario."

Or at least, it's supposed to. The audience is told a certain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) was the only person to actually "beat" the Kobayashi Maru test  albeit, on his third try. How'd he do it? Well, by all accounts, Capt. Kirk cheated.
But what happens when Mother Nature serves up a precipitation combo of supercooled water droplets we don't know what to call? Enter: Graupel, which The Washington Post calls "the wintry precipitation you've never heard of" and Merriam-Webster calls "pearl barley."

Graupel is actually an interesting mix of snow crystals and ice, no matter what Merriam-Webster calls it. Graupel should not be confused with sleet, which is sturdier and more frozen; graupel occurs when a snow pellet falls and is encapsulated by ice. Sounds like hail, right? Well, it isn't hail. Not exactly.

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Hail is formed from raindrops that are lifted upward into freezing air by wind drafts. Frozen hailstones can start as small as single raindrops that fall, but as the process continues, they grow in size and dimension as more and more rain freezes to the hailstone. Once the frozen raindrop becomes too heavy for the updrafts moving in the freezing upper atmosphere, soft hail is created and the hailstone falls earthward. Hail usually occurs during severe weather.

Graupel, on the other hand, can be  but doesn't have to be  associated with severe weather. While graupel can be seen in weather that creates supercooled water droplets, graupel doesn't necessarily mean nasty atmospheric conditions. In order to form, all graupel needs is cold, winter-like temperatures.

Graupel begins as individual snowflakes formed in the upper atmosphere. The snowflakes then fall through a layer of supercooled liquid droplets, which causes the raindrops to "rime," or instantly freeze onto the snow crystals at temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius) or lower. The end result is graupel: Graupel is tiny, white pellets that resemble small hail but which, unlike hail, remain soft and crushable.
FLORENCE, S.C.  A South Florence development that has faced pushback from neighbors was sent back to the City of Florence Planning Commission by the Florence City Council over flooding concerns.

The rezoning request for a 1.7 acre piece property located at the corner of Dexter Drive and Attwood Avenue near the YMCA was first heard by Florence City Council members at the councils meeting on March 13. At that time, council members voted to table the request to Mondays meeting.

Monday, Florence City Council members voted to further delay the project and sent it back to the planning commission to evaluate the impact that the increased density requested by the developer would have on nearby flooding.

What we will do at this point is get with the applicant to further address councils concern with evaluating the impact of the density, said Assistant City Manager Clint Moore. We will then provide that to Planning Commission at the next scheduled meeting, which would be on May 9.

The Planning Commission previously recommended the rezoning for approval with a 4-1 vote. City staff also recommended that the rezoning request be approved.

Mayor Teresa Ervin told developer Piyush Mehta that she was sorry the process was taking so long, but that the process was in place for a reason.

For the greater good, for both you as a developer and also for the community, the process is in place so that we can be sure that whenever we make a decision, we are making an informed decision with all information, Ervin said.

The property could hold four single-family homes under its current zoning, but Mehta has requested it be rezoned to increase the density and add one or two more homes.

Mehta told Florence City Council Monday that he has worked since January to get this rezoning approved, and that the council does not appear to have issues with other much larger developments.

When new industries and other developments come into the city, will they also have a question about the stormwater issue? he said.

Neighbors at the March 13 meeting said the property acts as a retaining pond for the already often-flooded area and dense development on the property will only make the problem worse.

Mehta said he has worked with city engineering staff to ensure that flooding will not be an issue.

According to Moore, all developers are required to work with the city to create a stormwater runoff mitigation plan.

The plan must show the post-development runoff to be less than or equal to the pre-development runoff, Moore said at the March 13 meeting. The plan must also be approved by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Included in both meetings complete agenda packet was a petition signed by 121 neighbors that cited stormwater, traffic and lower property values as reasons why city council should vote against the rezoning.
 "Racial Attitudes and Criminal Justice Policy" | Main | Tenth Circuit panel finds sentence increase for open plea to be procedurally unreasonable 

January 3, 2022

Elizabeth Holmes convicted on 4 of 11 fraud charges ... but now can be sentenced on all and more

The high-profile fraud trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes resulting in a mixed verdict, but her conviction on four counts each with 20-year maximums means that she now faces up to eight decades in federal prison. And, as regular readers know, her acquittal/non-conviction on various charges do not preclude the federal judge at sentencing from considering evidence associated with those charges. This short New York Times piece, headlined "What happens next to Elizabeth Holmes," provides some details about what may lie ahead:

Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the failed blood testing start-up Theranos, now awaits sentencing after being found guilty of four of 11 charges of fraud on Monday. Ms. Holmes, 37, left the San Jose, Calif., courtroom through a side door after the verdict was read in the case, which was closely scrutinized as a commentary on Silicon Valley. She was found guilty of three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was found not guilty on four other counts. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on three counts, which were set aside for later. After the verdict was read, defense and prosecution lawyers discussed plans for Ms. Holmess sentencing, the status of her probation and the fate of the three hung charges. Judge Edward J. Davila of the Northern District of California, who oversaw the case, said he planned to declare a mistrial on those charges, which the government could choose to retry. The parties agreed that Ms. Holmes would not be taken into custody on Monday. A sentencing date is expected to be set at a hearing on the three hung charges next week. Ms. Holmes can appeal the conviction, her sentence or both. She will also be interviewed by the U.S. Probation Office as it prepares a pre-sentence report.... Each count of wire fraud carries up to 20 years in prison, though Ms. Holmes is unlikely to receive the maximum sentence because she has no prior convictions, said Neama Rahmani, the president of the West Coast Trial Lawyers and a former federal prosecutor. But he said her sentence was likely to be on the higher end because of the amount of the money involved. Ms. Holmes raised $945 million for Theranos during the start-ups lifetime and those investments were ultimately wiped out.

Given the amount of loss and other factors likely to lead to upward guideline adjustment, Holmes is sure to face a very high guideline sentencing range (perhaps a range as high as life imprisonment). But her lack of criminal history and other potential mitigating personal factors leads me to expect her to receive a below-guideline sentence. But exactly what that sentence might be (and what the parties will argue for) will be interesting to following in the months ahead.

January 3, 2022 at 09:23 PM | Permalink

Comments

I pity this bright, well-educated young woman. Her life will be forever changed and even following her release from prison (20 years from now), she will never again regain what she had and who she was. It is hard to imagine her receiving a sentence of less than 20 years, given the amounts of money lost by investors, almost $1 billion. My friend Sholam Weiss, whose sentence was commuted by President Trump, received a sentence of 845 years in a case where the losses were only about $60 million.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jan 4, 2022 8:04:04 AM

I am not sure that pity is the word to express what I feel. Part of me sees her as a Robin Hood like figure as anyone who soaks the rich is ok with me. However her disregard for patients lives and her deliberately sexist defense erases any good feels I might have. So I don't pity her any more than I'd pity anyone stuck in a cage.

Posted by: Daniel | Jan 4, 2022 11:54:12 AM

I was not to pleased to see that a whistleblower had 400k in legal expenses fighting off Theranos counsel. Someone in the audience needed regular blood tests and said the whistleblower might have saved her life. This is serious.

I'd want to see 25 years here.

Posted by: William C Jockusch | Jan 5, 2022 8:26:41 AM

Jim Gormley--

A question and a proposition.

Do you think the defendant's greed and rampant dishonesty have anything to do with her present difficulties?

My proposition is this: I'll bet you $100 that her prison sentence is less than 20 years.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jan 5, 2022 2:51:45 PM

Her lawyers need the latest edition of "171 Easy Mitigating Factors." She qualified for at least 22 of them of the top!!

Posted by: Michael Levine | Jan 5, 2022 6:19:12 PM

She will get the beautiful woman with big blue eyes downard variance to no more than five years.

Posted by: anon12 | Jan 5, 2022 6:20:56 PM

Bill, Happy New year to you and yours. Good to see you back on this blog. I agree with you, but go further: she will get no more than 8.

Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Jan 5, 2022 6:24:27 PM

Michael,

Any defense counsel who doesn't yet have his 171 Factors needs to get it pronto.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jan 5, 2022 8:04:49 PM

The guidelines are over-weighted towards "countable" things, like the amount of money lost, so I expect her guideline will be off the charts. Most of the legal talking heads think she will get less than 20, which is also what Bill Otis (above) thinks, and I agree.

I do not pity her, but I think 25 years is excessive. Personally, I think 5 years is the sweet spot, though I expect her to get more than that. Five years is a lot; I suspect most people reading this have never even spent 5 nights in prison, much less years. When did it happen that sentences of multiple years became thought of as lenient?

Posted by: Marc Shepherd | Jan 6, 2022 10:13:20 AM

My 25-year-suggestion is based on four things:

1) Her attorneys went after whistleblowers. That's disgusting.

2) The utter disregard of the safety of people who were having their blood tested.

3) The funds she fleeced from investors were utterly wasted at best. That's several lifetimes of wasted effort.

4) She led the scheme, essentially from start to finish.

I still think it's about right. I don't think it will actually happen.

Posted by: William C Jockusch | Jan 6, 2022 3:49:02 PM

William Jockusch, to pragphrase the immortal words of Humprey Bogart in the Maltese Falcon, "If they give you life, and if your a good girl, you'll be out in 20, and I'll be waitiing for you. If they hang you, I'll always remember you."

Posted by: anon12 | Jan 6, 2022 10:12:46 PM

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 SCOTUS overrules Roe with Dobbs ruling, raising new criminal justice and sentencing issues | Main | A focus on local prosecutors as abortions now are subject to broad criminalization after Roe's reversal 

June 24, 2022

Are broad drug user gun dispossession statutes now constitutionally suspect after Bruen?

In this post yesterday, I wondered "Are all broad felon-in-possession criminal gun statutes now constitutionally suspect after Bruen?" That question was prompted by the fact that the majority opinion in the Supreme Court's big Second Amendment case, Bruen (basics here), seemed to reject lots of recent lower court rulings and jurisprudence regarding the application of the Second Amendment. Lower courts have, prior to Bruen, generally rejected Second Amendment attacks on federal law's broad criminalization of any felons possessing any guns. But Bruen makes clear that to "justify its [gun] regulation, the government may not simply posit that the regulation promotes an important interest. Rather, the government must demonstrate that the regulation is consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation."

Because the broad federal felon-in-possession statute, 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(1), is applied many thousands of times each year, I am expecting a robust new round of litigation on that issue as to whether and when felon dispossession is "consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation." But here I want to flag another notably broad provision of federal firearms law, though one probably unlikely to get nearly the same attention. Specifically, 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(3), categorically criminalizes any gun possession by anyone who is an "unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance." In an era in which marijuana use is legal for medical or recreational use in the vast majority of states but still is federal prohibited, this broad federal criminal "unlawful user" gun dispossession statute technically applies to dispossess tens of millions of Americans. As a matter of policy and practice, I sense very few people get actually federally prosecuted and sentenced under just 922(g)(3) even for very serious and dangerous drug use, but it certainly happens sometimes.

Notably, more than a few states also have laws criminalizing gun possession by those his drug use history, and some even extend to users of legal drugs (including alcohol). As one notable example, my state of Ohio, via Ohio Revised Code  2923.13, prohibits knowingly having any firearm if one "is drug dependent, in danger of drug dependence, or a chronic alcoholic." Arguably, anyone prescribed and using Oxycotin is "in danger of drug dependence," though again I do not think these kinds of laws in Ohio (or in other states) tend to be broadly enforced. Still, these laws probably do get used as a basis refuse to issues some firearm licenses (see generally "Blowing Smoke at the Second Amendment").

Whatever the policy or practical virtues or vices of broad drug user gun dispossession laws, their constitutional status would seem subject to new questions thanks to Bruen. The federal firearm prohibition for anyone who is an "unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance" has been upheld through various balancing tests in lower courts stressing the important government interest in restricting gun access to potentially dangerous individuals. But, now, thanks to Bruen, such a regulation's "important interest" is not what is key for Second Amendment interpretation, "rather, the government must demonstrate that the regulation is consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation."

I am not legal historian, but I know enough about drug law history to know that there were very few criminal prohibitions on drug use at the time of the ratification of the Second Amendment. Notably, there were some localities and even a state (Maine) embracing alcohol prohibition before and into the Civil War era, but I have no sense of how various early temperance laws may have interacted with gun regulations at that time. I do surmise, from reading then-Judge Amy Coney Barrett's dissent in Kanter v. Barr, 919 F.3d 437 (7th Cir. 2019), that history suggests "founding-era legislatures categorically disarmed groups whom they judged to be a threat to the public safety." Perhaps broad drug user gun dispossession statutes could be justified on that ground, but I have a very hard time viewing modern users of medical marijuana consistent with state law as analogous to those groups considered categorically dangerous in the founding era.

As suggested before, I expect to see a lot more litigation over broad felon-in-possession criminal laws than over broad drug user gun dispossession statutes. Nevertheless, I think this is another interesting area of Second Amendment law that seemed reasonably settled before Bruen and now may be up for new (historical) debate.

Prior recent related posts:

June 24, 2022 at 02:47 PM | Permalink

Comments

Doug,

I dont really get your need for the fainting couch. I thought the decision was pretty clear it was about objective versus subjective criteria. Having a felony is objective. A county sheriff deciding you dont need one is subjective.

What am I missing?

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 25, 2022 10:21:03 PM

Tarls, my read of the majority in Bruen is that the Second Amendment demands that, even for "objective" firearm regulations, "the government must demonstrate that the regulation is consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation."

So, for example, though most gun crimes are committed by younger folks, I do not think New York could respond to Bruen by legislating that it will issue "shall carry" licenses only to people over 40 and make gun possession in the home a crime for everyone under 40. Age-based gun criteria is "objective" and NY could "posit that the regulation promotes an important interest." But Bruen says that's not sufficient to overcome the right safeguarded by the Second Amendment; the government must "justify its regulation by demonstrating that it is consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation." Our traditions likely allows prohibiting gun access to juveniles (though even that is debatable), but I do not think they allow setting an age limit at 40.

Turning then to federal law, we might debate whether federal law's criminalization of gun possession for anyone "who is unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance" and for anyone "who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year" is objective or subjective. But that is not how the Bruen court has articulated the criteria for Second Amendment analysis. Rather, what matters according to Bruen is whether a law regulating gun keeping and bearing is "consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation."

I am not a historian, but as non-historian judges and others now have to explore the historical record, I surmise historical tradition does not "affirmatively prove" that certain drug users or all felons were regularly excluded from gun rights. Again, maybe the government will be able to make the historical case for these kinds of very broad exclusions from the Second Amendment, but that seem to be the critical concern after Bruen.

Posted by: Doug B. | Jun 26, 2022 8:17:55 AM

Doug --

You're doing a lot a hypothesizing about what the Bruen decision implies MUST happen next. My guess is that those best positioned to muse about that question are the people who agree with Bruen's reasoning and think it was correctly decided.

Do you think Bruen was correctly decided?

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 26, 2022 2:30:59 PM

Bill, my textual approach to constitutional interpretation leads me to think Heller/McDonald/Bruen are correct to embrace an individual right to "keep and bear arms." But, because I share your view that rights are not absolute, I generally thought most (but not all) lower courts were doing a reasonable job balancing competing interests through intermediate scrutiny analysis after Heller. Still, I have never understood how or why an elderly woman living in a dangerous neighborhood who may have committed an economic offense years before should be forever subject to federal criminal punishment for keeping a single gun in her home when her (statistically more dangerous) male neighbor with multiple violent misdemeanor offenses retains his constitutional right to guns.

In other words, I thought lower courts could have done a better job making likely dangerousness the touchstone of intermediate scrutiny. But that is now water under the bridge, as Bruen says intermediate scrutiny is not the proper test for applying the Second Amendment. Bruen instructs "the government must demonstrate that the regulation is consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation."

Because I surmise dangerousness concerns have been consistent with "this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation," I am hopeful about and supportive of the new Bruen approach. But the devil may be in the application, and I have already heard complaints and concerns about how inconsistently a historical test may be applied. Indeed, I think Justice Thomas' opinion has much outcome-oriented analysis: he discounts the history that disagrees with his desired ends and stresses the history that supports his conclusions. Indeed, in a lot of originalist analysis, I often see policy preference creeping in, especially when history is textured.

Those concerns aside, my commitment to the rule of law is what drives my questions about whether FIP laws and drug user dispossession laws are now constitutionally suspect. I think all legislators, executive branch officials and judges should feel duty bound to try to apply the new Bruen opinion in good faith. They all swear an oath the the Constitution, and Bruen is now the new law of the land regarding the Second Amendment's reach and application.

Of course, many legislators, executive branch officials and judges may not, as a matter of personal policy preference, agree with Heller, let alone Bruen's new accounting of how the Second Amendment is to be applied. But such personal view does not mean they do not need to try to apply this new decision in good faith. Are you suggesting that only those who agree with Bruen have any obligation or ability to figure out what it means and how legal actors must respond?

Ultimately, I tend to view history as an important, but not fully dispositive, aspect of modern constitutional interpretation. So maybe it is most accurate to say I am hopeful Bruen is an improvement of Second Amendment jurisprudence, but I am not entirely sold on its history-only approach. And, from our other thread, I sense you are not too keen on a history-only approach as well.

Does that answer your question?

Posted by: Doug B. | Jun 26, 2022 6:54:50 PM

Doug --

Thank you for that detailed and thoughtful answer. I appreciate it. You know me to be a simpleminded man, so as best I can distill it, I think what you're saying is that yes, you think Bruen was correctly decided, but you're not altogether on board with the reasoning. We agree then that the case was correctly decided.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 26, 2022 10:35:44 PM

"You're doing a lot a hypothesizing about what the Bruen decision implies MUST happen next. My guess is that those best positioned to muse about that question are the people who agree with Bruen's reasoning and think it was correctly decided."

This a VERY strange assertion. The people best positioned to predict the consequences of a Supreme Court decision are the ones who agree with it? That makes no sense. Good lawyers think through the consequences of legal reasoning all the time without agreeing with the reasoning. That's what makes them good lawyers!

Posted by: WTF | Jun 27, 2022 9:11:15 PM

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June 23, 2022

By 6-3 vote, SCOTUS expands Second Amendment rights by striking down NY public-carry licensing requirements

The Supreme Court this morning handed down its much-anticipated Second Amendment ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn., Inc. v. Bruen, No. 20-843 (S. Ct. June 23, 2022) (available here). Lots of Justices had lots to say in the first significant Second Amendment ruling in more than a decade:

THOMAS, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which ROBERTS, C. J., and ALITO, GORSUCH, KAVANAUGH, and BARRETT, JJ., joined. ALITO, J., filed a concurring opinion. KAVANAUGH, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which ROBERTS, C. J., joined. BARRETT, J., filed a concurring opinion. BREYER, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which SOTOMAYOR and KAGAN, JJ., joined.

Here is how Justice Thomas's opinion for the Court gets started:

In District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008), and McDonald v. Chicago, 561 U.S. 742 (2010), we recognized that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect the right of an ordinary, law-abiding citizen to possess a handgun in the home for self-defense. In this case, petitioners and respondents agree that ordinary, law-abiding citizens have a similar right to carry handguns publicly for their self-defense. We too agree, and now hold, consistent with Heller and McDonald, that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individuals right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home. The parties nevertheless dispute whether New Yorks licensing regime respects the constitutional right to carry handguns publicly for self-defense. In 43 States, the government issues licenses to carry based on objective criteria. But in six States, including New York, the government further conditions issuance of a license to carry on a citizens showing of some additional special need. Because the State of New York issues public-carry licenses only when an applicant demonstrates a special need for self-defense, we conclude that the States licensing regime violates the Constitution.

Because Bruen is lengthy, I am going to need some time to see if there could be considerable criminal justice echoes from what the Court has to say here. But, as highlighted in this prior post, a group of defense attorneys filed an amicus brief in Bruen highlighting that their clients were greatly impacted by NY gun laws and that, in 2020, "Black people made up 18% of New Yorks population,[but] accounted for 78% of the states felony gun possession cases." I wonder how many gun defendants, not only in New York but elsewhere, might now have new arguments to make about their prosecution and sentencing.

June 23, 2022 at 10:58 AM | Permalink

Comments

Racial profiling appears to be alive and well in New York, when it comes to arresting people carrying guns.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 23, 2022 11:43:40 AM

Doug: What are the other states besides New York that required a showing of some "special need" to carry a pistol, to get a concealed carry license? The opinion says that there are 6 such states.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 23, 2022 11:47:55 AM

The Court's opinion says: "Aside from New York, then, only California, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey have analogues to the 'proper cause' standard. All of these 'proper cause' analogues have been upheld by the Courts of Appeals, save for the District of Columbias, which has been permanently enjoined since 2017."

Posted by: Doug B. | Jun 23, 2022 12:00:19 PM

Then, in light of today's Bruen decision, those Court of Appeals precedents (except for the D.C. injunction) no long appear to be valid, having effectively been over-ruled sub silentio.

For a defendant to have his New York conviction for possession of a pistol without a carry license overturned, would he have to show that he had applied for a concealed carry license and been refused one? Might such a defendant whose sentence has been completed attach the conviction using a Petition for a Writ of Error Coram Nobis?

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 23, 2022 2:56:47 PM

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August 21, 2022

Might any victims of Theranos fraud urge leniency at sentencing for Elizabeth Holmes?

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this Bloomberg article headlined "Elizabeth Holmess Victims Asked to Weigh in for Sentencing." Here are excerpts:

The US Justice Department is seeking input from victims of the frauds at blood-testing startup Theranos Inc. committed by Elizabeth Holmes and her second-in-command, Ramesh Sunny Balwani. The US Attorneys Office in San Francisco on Thursday issued a call for information from victims following the separate convictions of the former executives for their roles in the collapse of the company once valued at $9 billion. The federal judge in San Jose, California, who presided over the trials will use the information in determining their sentences, according to a statement from the office. The universe of victims includes investors at all levels who poured more than $700 million into Theranos, some of whom hail from ultra-wealthy families and Silicon Valley venture capital firms, as well as thousands of patients who got inaccurate blood-test results from the startups clinics inside Walgreens stores.... Holmes was convicted in January of defrauding investors, while Balwani was found guilty in July on similar counts as well as defrauding patients. The trials for Holmes and Balwani were split because Holmes accused the ex-Theranos president, who was also her boyfriend, of sexually and verbally abusing her.... In their respective trials, the Theranos executives blamed each other for the fraud. US District Judge Edward Davila will weigh the evidence presented at both trials, as well as the counts each was found guilty of, in determining their sentences. Criminal defense lawyers have said both Holmes and Balwani could face a decade in prison.... Both former executives remain free on bond and have asked Davila to set aside the jury verdicts. Holmess sentencing is scheduled for October; Balwanis is set for November. While prosecutors are busy gathering victim statements to make a case for lengthy periods of incarceration, the defendants are doing their own legwork in a bid for leniency, according to criminal defense attorney Seth Kretzer. Two can play this game, he said. Both Balwani and Holmes will submit letters from their respective family and friends stating how horribly off they will all be with long prison terms.

As this article explains, there are actually two sets of victims being asked for statements: "investor victims" and "patient victims." Here are links to the four-page statement for for each:

Victim Impact Statement For Investor Victims

Victim Impact Statement For Patient Victims

Notably, these forms do not include any questions that directly ask the victims to opine on the sentence that they would like to see the defendants receive. But both forms close with this fairly open-ended query: "Is there anything else you would like the sentencing Judge to know about your experience with Theranos, Inc.?"

Prior related posts:

August 21, 2022 at 06:13 PM | Permalink

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September 20, 2022

District Court declares  922(n), which criminalizes a person under indictment from receiving a firearm, to be unconstitutional

A few months ago, in a series of posts right after the Supreme Court's big Second Amendment decision Bruen (basics here), I suggested that a number of broad federal criminal firearm prohibitions might be subject to new constitutional challenges. Specifically, I focused on how the Bruen court's recasting of Second Amendment analysis might impact the federal felon-in-possession statute, 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(1) and the federal drug-user-in-possession statute, 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(3) (see posts linked below). Interestingly, I did not even think about how Bruen might impact another federal firearm prohibition provision, 18 U.S.C.  922(n), which criminalizes a person under indictment from receiving a firearm. Yesterday, as detailed in this AP article, a federal district court in Texas decided that Bruen renders  922(n) unconstitutional:

A U.S. law banning those under felony indictments from buying guns is unconstitutional, a federal judge in West Texas ruled Monday. U.S. District Judge David Counts, whom then-President Donald Trump appointed to the federal bench, dismissed a federal indictment against Jose Gomez Quiroz that had charged him under the federal ban.... In a 25-page opinion filed in Pecos, Texas, Counts acknowledged this cases real-world consequences  certainly valid public policy and safety concerns exist. However, he said a Supreme Court ruling this summer in a challenge brought by the New York Rifle & Pistol Association framed those concerns solely as a historical analysis. Although not exhaustive, the Courts historical survey finds little evidence that ... (the federal ban)  which prohibits those under felony indictment from obtaining a firearm  aligns with this Nations historical tradition. Hence, he ruled the ban unconstitutional as the Second Amendment is not a second class right, as noted in a 2008 Supreme Court ruling. No longer can courts balance away a constitutional right, Counts wrote. After the New York case, the Government must prove that laws regulating conduct covered by the Second Amendments plain text align with this Nations historical tradition. The Government does not meet that burden.

The full 25-page ruling in US v. Quiroz, PE:22-CR-00104-DC (W.D. Tex. Sept. 19, 2022), is available at this link. The full opinion is worth a full read, in part for a bits of west Texas flair such as this line: "Some feel that a grand jury could indict a [burrito] if asked to do so."

Some prior related posts:

September 20, 2022 at 06:15 PM | Permalink

Comments

I like the Judge's mention of "Hotel California purgatory"! He plainly put work and thought into writing this important decision, as he realizes that this case could go all the way up to the U. S. Supreme Court.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Sep 21, 2022 9:50:35 AM

Seems to be contrary to the concurring opinions in Bruen. I am doubtful that the ruling survives the Fifth Circuit.

Posted by: tmm | Sep 21, 2022 12:58:36 PM

As usual, tmm is correct. This thing won't survive.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Sep 21, 2022 11:18:21 PM

Bill and tmm: What part of the analysis do you think Judge Counts got wrong in Quiroz? Do you think his originalist/historical analysis is wrong or do you think he is wrong to believe Bruen now means that originalism is the key to Second Amendment analysis?

I get that you might not like the Quiroz result -- lots of people do not like the results of lots of modern Second Amendment jurisprudence. But I am eager to hear more about just why you think this ruling is wrong in light of what Justice Thomas wrote for the full Court in Bruen.

Notably, the Bruen concurrence by Justice Kavanaugh quotes Heller's dicta about "longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons." But Judge Counts expressly concludes that 18 U.S.C.  922(n) is NOT "longstanding." Moreover and even more importantly, being under a felony indictment does NOT make one a felon. I do not quite see how double dicta in a concurring opinion that is not even on-point suggests Judge Counts is off-base here.

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 22, 2022 8:22:57 AM

Doug --

It's not that Judge Counts gets it wrong, exactly. He's onto something but makes the classic error of turning an insight into a theory. In other words, he takes what he sees too far, and certainly farther than SCOTUS (or the court of appeals for that matter) is going to go. The government has five or more likely six votes at the SCOTUS level (the three liberals plus Roberts, Kavanaugh and probably Alito).

Posted by: Bill Otis | Sep 22, 2022 9:54:12 AM

Doug, I am not enough of a legal historian to know much more than that much of the majority opinion in Bruen was very selective history. (And arguably, by writing the militia clause out of the Second Amendment, the modern jurisprudence gets the intent of the framers backwards -- the problem of translating an amendment written when the common infantry weapon was the same as the common personal weapon used in hunting into modern practice when there is a vast difference between infantry weapons and personal weapons.) The problem in the current opinion is taking the majority in Bruen too literally about the need to do a "historical analysis" on every restriction. The concurrences in Bruen show where the votes are on whether FIP laws have sufficiant historical support. Assuming that the judges on the Fifth Circuit can count the votes with maybe three or four members of the majority in Bruen supporting FIP laws along with the two dissenters and Justice Jackson.

Posted by: tmm | Sep 22, 2022 10:59:51 AM

Bill and tmm: It sounds like you are both suggesting Judge Counts gets the current law right, but may not be tuned into where the Justices might take the law in the near future. But aren't judges supposed to apply current law, not what they think future law will be? I think marijuana is likely to be fully legalized in Ohio in the next decade, but judges need to apply the law in place now, no? Same for SCOTUS jurisprudence, I think. There are likely now 5 votes to overrule Employment Division v. Smith, but lower court judges are not supposed to be engaging in predicting where the votes might go. They have to apply the law as it currently stands --- and neither of you seemed to have indicated any failing in how Judge Counts has applied the law as it currently stands in light of Bruen.

So is it fair to say you both think Judge Counts got the law right as it stands after Bruen, but you expect the Fifth Circuit and/or SCOTUS to alter the law because they care more about reaching a certain result than about being faithful to the originalist jurisprudence put forward by SCOTUS in Bruen? That may be a sound prediction, but is certainly suggests originalism here is really much more about reaching result than sticking with any principles.

Posted by: Doug Berman | Sep 22, 2022 11:31:07 AM

Doug --

Not exactly. Counts is extrapolating from current law to take it to one destination where it could plausibly land, but to my way of thinking there are other, more plausible landing spots. One of those is where the reviewing courts will wind up.

In other words, general language in current law can be seen to suggest, but it does not compel, Counts' outcome. SCOTUS won't be going as far as Counts anytime soon.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Sep 22, 2022 4:16:24 PM

Bill, here is the "current law" according to Justice Thomas writing for the Court in Bruen:

"We reiterate that the standard for applying the Second Amendment is as follows: When the Second Amendments plain text covers an individuals conduct, the Constitution presumptively protects that conduct. The government must then justify its regulation by demonstrating that it is consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. Only then may a court conclude that the individuals conduct falls outside the Second Amendments 'unqualified command'."

Do you dispute that the plain text of the Second Amendment covers Quiroz's conduct? Do you dispute Judge Counts' conclusion that government failed to "justify its regulation by demonstrating that it is consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation"? In light of what SCOTUS said in Bruen is to be a "text, history, and tradition test" for the Second Amendment, I struggle to see many "plausible landing spots" in this case.

But maybe I just take too seriously the oft-heard claim that originalism is a good method of interpretation because it is more about history and less about subjective feelings regarding the "right" result in a case. To me, if originalism is really useful because it more objective, this ought to be a relatively easy case. But if originalism is truly just a smoke-screen for result-oriented decision-making --- as many on the left (and even a few on the right now) claim --- perhaps this case is a useful as a reminder of all the "plausible" ways to read history when one wants to get to a particular outcome for whatever reason.

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 22, 2022 4:34:46 PM

Regarding whether military weaponry was the same as personal firearms. Does that mean I can own a puckle gun?

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Sep 22, 2022 4:41:38 PM

I strongly disagree that the current interpretation is consistent with the plain text of the Second Amendment. But putting aside the question of whether the majority opinion got it right since it is (for now) the law, it still puts judges in the role of historian -- a role to which they are not well-suited and basically allows them to input their own spin on cases and statutes. And the issue is whether the spin put on by the trial judge in this case is one that appellate judges will buy.

In reading Bruen, you don't just have the majority opinion establishing the test, you have the concurring opinions. While they may not be binding, they are still persuasive authority. And the concurring opinions strongly suggest that the majority of the Supreme Court believes that FIP statutes pass the test. When the justices writing the concurring opinions are necessary to the majority, I think a reasonable appellate panel will take that into account in deciding how to apply the test to the next case.

To use a case from my own state, we just had an opinion in a case on propensity evidence from our state supreme court. The opinion of the court found that the issue was not preserved and that the alleged error did not amount to a manifest injustice. But a concurring opinion went at length into why the evidence was close too and may have crossed the line. While that concurring opinion is not binding, it reflects what the court may do in the next case and will certainly be treated by most trial judges (and our court of appeals) as something that they should pay close attention to in their evidentiary rulings. If I argued to any of my judges that they did not have to comply with that concurring opinion, they would look at me as if I grew a second head.

Given that it is clear how the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court views FIP laws, my expectation is that the Fifth Circuit will respectfully reverse the trial court.

Posted by: tmm | Sep 22, 2022 8:11:39 PM

tmm: for the record, I think the historical evidence for FIP is complicated and challenging to make sweeping statements about. From what little I know, I surmise that there may be historical support for disarming "dangerous" people, though how that history should map out onto FIP statutes and this "person indicted" provision seems to be the question that Bruen requires engaging. This is not about "complying" with a concurring opinion, it is about applying the law as the full Court set it forth. And all sorts of jurisprudence is subject to "spin," but Bruen now says the "spin" must be based in "text, history, and tradition," not on off-point dicta from prior cases.

If you or Bill wanted to dicker with Judge Counts' historical analysis that Bruen makes the touchstone of the Second Amendment, have at it. But that's my key point: it seems you and Bill, rather than take on the legal analysis that the Bruen court demands, are content to say that there is some dicta in a concurrence that arguably justifies ignoring the Court's statement of the law and just reaching a particular desired result. The Fifth Circuit might follow such a path, but that feels to me like an exertion of power, not the application of law.

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 23, 2022 10:56:27 AM

Doug, I think that's my point. What Bruen requires is not legal analysis -- what is the meaning of the text. It involves historical research of a type that lawyers are poorly suited to do. More significantly, in the case of the Second Amendment, it requires translating the history of regulations of one type of firearm (mostly muskets and single shot pistols) to define the scope of permissible regulations of the vastly improved modern firearms.

By definition, all concurrences are dicta as is any suggestion in a majority opinion like Heller about how the test might apply to a future case. However, that is a somewhat narrow definition of precedent. To practitioners, the entirety of what all members of the court say in all of the opinions matter. In practice it is a later court that will decide what is dicta and what is precedent. Attorneys and lower courts ignore what they would characterize as "dicta" at their peril. Maybe that is legal realism rather than law. But think back to Ramos. While the majority opinion left the actual Teague analysis to the other day, when you looked at the dicta in the majority and the concurring opinions, it was pretty clear that the majority thought that the decision would not be retroactive. And when the Teague issue was finally heard, the majority not only found that Ramos was not retroactive, it buried Teague.

I am not enough of a historian to say whether the historical conclusion in Quiroz is accurate. And if I were the U.S. Attorney's Office doing the appeal, I would have to put in the work to prove that the judge read the legal history wrong. (A lot of work by interns going through cases and statutes from the Eighteenth century.) But the actual historical correctness of the decision is not the "real" question on appeal. The question on appeal is whether the appellate court will accept the judge's historical conclusions as legally accurate (because that is a question of law which will be reviewed de novo) or will read the history differetly. And I think the writing is on the wall as to what conclusion the Supreme Court has drawn on that question. To paraphrase an old quote, the law is whatever five justices on the Supreme Court say it is. And there are at least five votes on the Supreme Court to hold that FIP regulations are similar enough to the regulations allowed in 1789 to withstand constitutional scrutiny.

If, god forid, I was on a tenure committee at a university or a publisher of scholarly books, I have no idea how I would judge the scholarship of Judge Counts. But I do not see many appellate judges (either on the lower federal courts or the Supreme Court) who are sufficiently qualified to play either of those two roles. And, while I could be shocked, I am mostly confident about what the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court will do with this issue.

Posted by: tmm | Sep 23, 2022 1:57:59 PM

Doug --

I trust then that you will join me in seeking to overrule Miranda, which exaggerates to the point of absurdity the "historical understanding" of the Fifth Amendment. I mean, if we're going to be faithful to the Bruen method of constitutional interpretation, Miranda hasn't a leg to stand on. Because if you persist in supporting Miranda post-Bruen, then I might be compelled to think that you are -- oh dear, how should I say this? -- result oriented.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Sep 24, 2022 11:20:15 AM

Bill, I have long thought the plain text of the Fifth Amendment --- stating "no person ... shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself" --- should be understood to mean that no prior statement by a defendant should ever be used at trial (or any other proceeding in "any criminal case") over the defendant's current objection no matter how that prior statement was obtained.

Miranda does not comply with this plain text understanding, and so I have long considered Miranda a bad decision as a matter of textualism. Shall we work together on an amicus brief encouraging adopting a textual approach to giving the Fifth Amendment the meaning its words suggest? (I am not knowledgeable as a Fifth Amendment originalist, and I am much more committed to textualism than originalism as a sound method of constitutional interpretation.)

I also think the Sixth Amendment text supports a much different view of the right to counsel when it comes to police interrogation than Miranda provides. So I would like to see sounder law on that front, too.

I have long viewed Miranda as a legal and policy mess, which likely just helps career criminals and probably few others (as Paul Cassell has argued). But I am especially eager to see all of our Amendments interpreted in light of their text more faithfully, which may often (but not always) provide more protections for individuals against the state --- as we are seeing now more and more with the Second Amendment. Shall we work together on this front to give textualism its due with respect to the Bill of Rights?

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 24, 2022 1:05:23 PM

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November 23, 2022

Sentencing judge recommended prison camp for Elizabeth Holmes to serve her sentence

As reported in this new press piece, "District Judge Edward Davila has proposed sentencing Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes to a federal prison camp in Texas, according to court filings." Here is more:

The Court finds that family visitation enhances rehabilitation, Davila wrote in the filing, according to Bloomberg, which summarized the terms of Holmes sentencing. The prison camp is located in Bryan, Texas, and was proposed as an alternative to Holmes serving her 11-year 3-month sentence at a California prison. Theres a few prison camps like this one across the country that typically have a low security-to-inmate ratio, dormitory housing, and a work program. ...compared to other places in the prison system, this place is heaven. If you have to go its a good place to go. Alan Ellis, a criminal defense lawyer, told Bloomberg. Keri Axel, a criminal defense attorney told Yahoo! Finance that it is common for non-violent offenders like Holmes to serve out their time at minimum security facilities. Sometimes theyre called Camp Fed because they have a little bit more amenities, and theyre a little nicer places, she said, adding the caveat, theyre not great places. No one wants to be there. Although the judge has recommended the prison camp for Holmes incarceration, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons will make the final decision. Holmes was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison on November 18 after she was found guilty of defrauding Theranos investors out of millions of dollars as part of her failed blood-testing startup. She was also sentenced to three years of supervision after her release.

Prior related posts:

November 23, 2022 at 11:48 AM | Permalink

Comments

I would only add one comment and most of us in the criminal justice field are keenly aware of this - the Judge's recommendation is only that. The BOP will designate at Grand Prairie where Holmes will be assigned. One should also know that according to the BOP -

"Minimum-security camps hold federal inmates who are within 10 years of their release date, do not have documented histories of violence, and do not have any record of escape attempts."

With her 11 year sentence, I assume she will still qualify for a camp because her release date will likely be less than 10 years due to good time credit and First Step Act credits she should earn.



Posted by: atomicfrog | Nov 23, 2022 12:52:51 PM

Quite true. In my experience the BOP just ignores these recommendations.

Posted by: AFPD | Nov 23, 2022 1:24:35 PM

She is not camp eligible at the time of initial designation. She's over 10 years out. They don't include FSA credits in that determination.

The BOP is required by law to take into consideration the judge's recommendation.

Posted by: Zachary Newland | Nov 23, 2022 6:04:40 PM

@Zachary: Do they consider the good time that existed prior to the First Step Act? That would seem to put her just under 10.

Posted by: Jason | Nov 23, 2022 9:25:47 PM

Sure, BOP is required to consider the judge's recommendation, but per 18 USC 3621(b), "a designation of a place of imprisonment under this subsection is not reviewable by any court," so this is a totally meaningless requirement.

Posted by: AFPD | Nov 23, 2022 11:33:54 PM

The non-attorney press has completely missed the 10-year sentence limit to be camp-eligible. I have written about that time limit in an earlier, recent post. But maybe in the case of Elizabeth Holmes, the BOP will bend the rules? And he is correct, the BOP routinely ignores the Court's recommended prison placement.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Nov 24, 2022 11:25:25 PM

Unless there is a risk I am unaware of, she should obviously be at a prison camp. Unlikely to run away, unlikely to physically attack anyone, and so forth.

Posted by: William C Jockusch | Nov 26, 2022 12:31:35 PM

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November 13, 2022

Sentencing memos paint very different pictures of Elizabeth Holmes

Two Reuters articles and ledes highlight the very different portraites of Elizabeth Holmes drawn in recent sentencing filings:

"Elizabeth Holmes seeks to avoid prison for Theranos fraud":

Elizabeth Holmes urged a U.S. judge not to send her to prison, as the founder of Theranos Inc prepares to be sentenced next week for defrauding investors in the blood testing startup. In a Thursday night court filing, lawyers for Holmes asked that she receive 18 months of home confinement, followed by community service, at her Nov. 18 sentencing before U.S. District Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California. The lawyers said prison time was unnecessary to deter future wrongdoing, calling Holmes, 38, a "singular human with much to give" and not the robotic, emotionless "caricature" seen by the public and media. "No defendant should be made a martyr to public passion," the lawyers wrote. "We ask that the court consider, as it must, the real person, the real company and the complex circumstances surrounding the offense."

"U.S. seeks 15 years for Elizabeth Holmes over Theranos fraud":

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes should spend 15 years in prison and pay $800 million in restitution to investors defrauded in the blood testing start-up, U.S. prosecutors recommended late on Friday. The Department of Justice recommendation, made in a court filing, came as Holmes prepares to be sentenced next week. "Considering the extensiveness of Holmes' fraud... the sentencing of 180 months' imprisonment would reflect the seriousness of the offenses, provide for just punishment for the offenses, and deter Holmes and others," the prosecutors said.

The sentencing filings in this high-profile case are, unsurprisingly, quite entextensive ensice. Holmes sentencing memorandum runs 82 pages, is available at this link, and here is part of its "preminary statement":

Section 3553(a) requires the Court to fashion a sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to serve the purposes of sentencing. If a period of confinement is necessary, the defense suggests that a term of eighteen months or less, with a subsequent supervised release period that requires community service, will amply meet that charge. But the defense believes that home confinement with a requirement that Ms. Holmes continue her current service work is sufficient. We acknowledge that this may seem a tall order given the public perception of this case  especially when Ms. Holmes is viewed as the caricature, not the person; when the company is viewed as a house of cards, not as the ambitious, inventive, and indisputably valuable enterprise it was; and when the media vitriol for Ms. Holmes is taken into account. But the Courts difficult task is to look beyond those surface-level views when it fashions its sentence. In doing so, we ask that the Court consider, as it must, the real person, the real company and the complex circumstances surrounding the offense conduct, and the important principle that no defendant should be made a martyr to public passion. United States v. Gupta, 904 F. Supp. 2d 349, 355 (S.D.N.Y. 2012) (Rakoff, J.). As discussed in more detail in the pages that follow, this is a unique case and this defendant is a singular human with much to give.

The Government's sentencing memorandum runs 46 pages, is available at this link, and here is part of its "introduction":

The Sentencing Guidelines appropriately recognize that Holmes crimes were extraordinarily serious, among the most substantial white collar offenses Silicon Valley or any other District has seen. According to the Presentence Investigation Report (PSR), they yield a recommended custodial sentence beyond the statutory maximum. The factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.  3553  notably the nature and circumstances of the offense, the need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense and promote respect for the law, and the need for both specific deterrence and general deterrence  demand a significant custodial sentence. With these factors in mind, the government respectfully recommends a sentence of 180 months in custody. The Court should also order Holmes to serve a three-year term of supervised release, pay full restitution to her investors (including Walgreens and Safeway), and pay the required special assessment for each count.

I think I'd put the over/under for this sentencing at around 10 years of imprisonment, but I could readily imagine a judge going much higher or much lower.

Prior related posts:

November 13, 2022 at 03:56 PM | Permalink

Comments

Reading the fantasyland bilge in Ms. Holmes' sentencing memo makes me grateful, once again, that I never became a defense lawyer. I mean, I'm sure the money is plentiful for a defendant like this but...................good grief.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 14, 2022 10:51:16 AM

Bill - What you may regard as "fantasyland bilge" and excuses others may regard as the impact of deep-rooted traumas early in life (the trauma is not applicable to this particular defendant, but is applicable to many others). We must always remember that some people who are criminals become criminals due to forces not entirely of their own making and our sentencing policies should always allow for people to learn from their mistakes and become better individuals, not hardened from years in prisons under "tough on crime" sentencing policies. Prison must always be a last resort.

Brett Miler

Posted by: Brett Miler | Nov 14, 2022 12:41:29 PM

Given that the product was a fraud from start to finish I have a very difficult time crediting anything that calls Fairness a "real company".

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Nov 14, 2022 1:10:16 PM

Brett Miller --

"What you may regard as "fantasyland bilge" and excuses others may regard as the impact of deep-rooted traumas early in life (the trauma is not applicable to this particular defendant, but is applicable to many others)."

But I'm talking about this defendant. And could you define "many"? What I found to be characteristic of virtually all defendants was a breathtaking penchant for self-justification.

"Prison must always be a last resort."

For by far the most part, it already IS the last resort. https://ringsideatthereckoning.substack.com/p/where-republicans-got-it-wrong-on

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 14, 2022 6:52:26 PM

I take the over based on impact on patients.

Posted by: Lawdevil | Nov 15, 2022 8:22:33 AM

I take it that everyone knows from where Bill Otis speaks: He is a vindicative, sadistic, old-school asshole extremist. He has been bitter his whole life about something. Just a real a dick.

Posted by: Mike | Nov 15, 2022 3:38:15 PM

In my experience, it is often the white collar criminal defendant who has the hardest time coming to terms with what they did. There are a myriad of excuses, but when they do take responsibility for their actions or accept that they made decisions that were criminal, I find the courts are less apt to throw the book at them. Do they still go to prison, yes, and certainly, Ms. Holmes will likely be there soon.

Posted by: atomicfrog | Nov 15, 2022 5:56:00 PM

Mike --

I just want the board to know that I did NOT pay you for your endorsement.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 17, 2022 10:49:51 AM

The part about Holmes that really gets to me is the patients. They were not getting the blood results they thought they were getting, and Holmes knew it. For that reason, I think 15 years is too lenient.

If it were "only" the financial loss, I could live with 15 years.

Posted by: William C Jockusch | Nov 17, 2022 6:18:20 PM

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November 16, 2022

Third Circuit panel upholds constitutionality  922(g)(1)'s felon-in-possession gun prohibition after Bruen

A Third Circuit panel today issued the first major circuit ruling upholding the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(1), federal laws categorical prohibition on felons possession of firearms or ammunition since the SUpreme Court's landmark Second Amendment ruling in Bruen. Here is how the 50-page, per curiam panel opinion in Range v. Garland, No. 21-2835 (3d Cir. Nov. 16, 2022) (available here), starts and concludes:

In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court held that the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, enshrined in the Second Amendment, is an individual right. 554 U.S. 570, 595 (2008). While the precise contours of that individual right are still being defined, the Court has repeatedly stated that it did not question the longstanding prohibition[] on the possession of firearms by felons. Id. at 626. Appellant Bryan Range falls in that category, having pleaded guilty to the felony-equivalent charge of welfare fraud under 62 Pa. Cons. Stat.  481(a). He now brings an as-applied challenge to 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(1), contending that his disarmament is inconsistent with the text and history of the Second Amendment and is therefore unconstitutional under New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn, Inc. v. Bruen, 142 S. Ct. 2111 (2022). We disagree. Based on history and tradition, we conclude that the people constitutionally entitled to bear arms are the law-abiding, responsible citizens of the polity, id. at 2131, a category that properly excludes those who have demonstrated disregard for the rule of law through the commission of felony and felony-equivalent offenses, whether or not those crimes are violent. Additionally, we conclude that even if Range falls within the people, the Government has met its burden to demonstrate that its prohibition is consistent with historical tradition. Accordingly, because Ranges felony-equivalent conviction places him outside the class of people traditionally entitled to Second Amendment rights, and because the Government has shown the at-issue prohibition is consistent with historical tradition, we will affirm the District Courts summary judgment in favor of the Government.... We have conducted a historical review as required by Bruen and we conclude that Range, by illicitly taking welfare money through fraudulent misrepresentation of his income, has demonstrated a rejection of the interests of the state and of the community. He has committed an offense evincing disrespect for the rule of law. As such, his disarmament under 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(1) is consistent with the Nations history and tradition of firearm regulation.

Some prior recent related posts:

November 16, 2022 at 10:49 PM | Permalink

Comments

Low hanging fruit. This is the easiest of the subsections of section 922(g) to uphold. Many of the rest are far more troublesome, and several subsections are likely to be stricken as unConstitutional, since there is no historical basis for them. Stay tuned.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Nov 16, 2022 11:00:24 PM

Whether this is "low hanging fruit" or not, it's the main deal by far. FIP laws have been the No. 1 target after Bruen, and have clearly the biggest impact as a practical matter. I've been predicting (and willing to bet) they would be upheld. And I'm still willing to bet.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 17, 2022 10:25:38 AM

Would you bet that every circuit will rule this way, Bill? They did, of course, before Bruen.

Posted by: Doug B. | Nov 17, 2022 12:55:43 PM

Doug --

I'm willing to make the same bet I've been offering for some time now: That SCOTUS will uphold the federal FIP statute. I will also bet that a majority of the circuits will reach that result.

My side has scored a total wipeout in the circuits on the waiver of appeal provision. But you won't accept that because, as liberals are wont to believe, when the courts are with them, the courts are principled, but when the courts are against them, WE WUZ ROBBED!!!

You guys sound more and more like Donald Trump!

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 17, 2022 2:00:47 PM

Bill, you have repeatedly boasted about inventing appeal waivers --- something Congress has never formally (or even informally) approved through duly enacted legislation --- when serving at DOJ. In other words, you are quite proud that you "legislated from the executive branch" based on your policy preference as a prosecutor to force defendants to give up appeal rights that Congress set forth in duly enacted legislations. And here you are again note that courts have upheld your legislating from the executive branch, no doubt because they also have a policy preference for not having all defendants exercise the appeal rights that Congress granted through duly enacted legislations. This story serves only to reinforce my main point -- namely that courts are happy to make law (or happy approve DOJ-made law) when it fits their policy preferences.

Same goes, as I see it, for courts upholding the broad federal FIP statute, even though Justice Barrett and others have made a strong case that text and history do not support forever criminalizing all non-violent felons who may reasonably want or need a gun for self defense. Notably, Bill, you have no deep knowledge of the relevant history, and yet you are so very very confident that the history really will not matter to the Justices when it may be inconsistent with their strong policy preferences.

Your persistent eagerness to bet on what seems to be close call as a matter of history is the clearest proof that all the originalism talk is just a smoke screen for policy preferences. You are seemingly eager to bet because you have long known that all the originalism smoke and mirrors is nothing more than a convenient way to try to make policy preferences seem like something else. I am ever grateful that you keep being eager to highlight what I have long contended --- namely that court rulings from folks on the right are predictably policy preferences all the way down.

Posted by: Doug B. | Nov 17, 2022 4:00:13 PM

Doug --

"Bill, you have repeatedly boasted about inventing appeal waivers --- something Congress has never formally (or even informally) approved through duly enacted legislation --- when serving at DOJ."

I guess we should do away with guilty pleas with any concessions at all, since Congress passed no statute authorizing them and the Constitution provides for conviction only through trials. But of course defendants and their lawyers seek and sign guilty pleas hundreds of times a day. Should the courts now reject them?

" In other words, you are quite proud that you "legislated from the executive branch" based on your policy preference as a prosecutor to force defendants to give up appeal rights that Congress set forth in duly enacted legislation."

I was a duly sworn officer of a POLITICAL BRANCH and therefore legitimately entitled to assert my "policy preferences." Of course plea deals containing the waivers are also the preference of the defense bar, which signs them by the bushel basket, knowing it's a good deal for their sleazy clients. And if a point be made of it, DOJ gave me some (minor) award for it under -- ready now? -- Aunt Janet!!! A real right-winger, she was.

But wait! Even though DOJ, the defense bar, and the courts all approve them, they're BAD BAD BAD because academia disapproves!!

Far out. Academia just knows SO MUCH MORE than actual practitioners.

"And here you are again note that courts have upheld your legislating from the executive branch..."

At one point, even academia understood that uniform judicial approval -- you know, precedent -- means something, but I guess that's before they got traumatized by USNWR.

"...no doubt because they also have a policy preference for not having all defendants exercise the appeal rights that Congress granted through duly enacted legislation."

But Congress never said that defendants MUST use the rights they have, and the huge majority don't, preferring to waive not merely the statutory right to appeal but the Constitutional right to a trial. So your logic necessarily commands that there be no plea bargaining at all. Gotta use all those rights whether they're going to do you any good or not.

"This story serves only to reinforce my main point -- namely that courts are happy to make law (or happy approve DOJ-made law) when it fits their policy preferences."

So when courts disagree with your (radical and lonely) position, they're corrupt, but when they agree with it, they're Beacons of Light.

Are you sure Donald Trump isn't ghostwriting your stuff these days?

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 17, 2022 6:05:28 PM

Indeed, Bill, anyone seriously committed to textualism and originalism would be troubled by the extreme reliance on pleas bargains in modern CJ systems. See, e.g., Albert W. Alschuler, Plea Bargaining and Its History, 79 Columbia Law Review 1 (1979). So, you have usefully highlighted yet another area in which you, courts and many others favor policy preferences over a commitment to textualism and and originalism.

Meanwhile, I thought the executive branch was suppose to faithfully execute the laws passed by Congress rather than invent new doctines to serve its policy preferences that undermine those laws. But I am not suprised the chief prosecutor, AG Reno, was eager to give an award to an underling who invented dotrine that served prosecutorial policy preferences. This is not a left/right matter, it is a government power/individual rights matter. Your policy preference is to prioritize government power even when the constitutional text and history (or statutes passed by Congress) support prioritizing individual rights. Many across the political spectrum share your policy preferences for prioritizing government power, but the fact does not itself justify ignoring constitutional text and history (or statutes passed by Congress) that provide for individual rights.

Of course, individuals do not have to use the rights secured by the Constitution or statutes, e.g., I do not have to exerice my First Amendment right to attend church or my statutory right to collect Social Security benefits. But that fact does not mean government bureaucrats have unlimited authority to demand that I waive these rights in any and all settings. (Though since you are such a big fan of government power, perhaps you do think there are no limits on the individual rights that government bureaucrats can demand to be waived.)

And I am not saying anyone is "corrupt," I am saying you and many other are inclined to develop and apply law in line with their policy preferences rather than with a concern for textualism and originalism. I do not think it "corrupt" to develop and apply law influenced by policy preferences, though I do think it dishonest to do so while claiming to be seriously committed to textualism and originalism. I share your general affinity for honestly, and so I wish you and many others would honestly acknowledge how policy preferences rather than textualism and originalism shapes legal work (or betting predictions).

Posted by: Doug B. | Nov 17, 2022 9:20:56 PM

Doug --

"Indeed, Bill, anyone seriously committed to textualism and originalism would be troubled by the extreme reliance on pleas bargains in modern CJ systems. See, e.g., Albert W. Alschuler, Plea Bargaining and Its History, 79 Columbia Law Review 1 (1979). So, you have usefully highlighted yet another area in which you, courts and many others favor policy preferences over a commitment to textualism and and originalism."

OK, here's the scorecard. I have the Supreme Court's approval of plea bargaining in Santobello, Bordendircher and Brady v. United States; every circuits' explicit acceptance of it; its uniform and frequent practice in every jurisdiction in the country; and its embrace over many decades by thousands of prosecution and defense practitioners alike.

You have a 43 year-old law review article.

Is there ANY POINT AT ALL at which academia is prepared to admit it's wrong about plea bargaining?

And let me ask this: If, as you strongly imply, federal prosecutors need Congressional authorization to offer appeal waivers, do they also need such authorization to emphasize pornography prosecutions (in Republican administrations) and environmental prosecutions (in Democratic administrations)?



Last I looked, the executive and legislative branches were co-equal. The executive branch is therefore, by definition, not subordinate. Every normal practitioner understands that the executive has considerable discretion, not needing legislative approval, as to how to do its job. Indeed, defense lawyers routinely plead with the executive to use its discretion to cut their client a break, in charging or sentencing or both. Are they disrespecting Congress?

When I invented appeal waivers, I spoke for the executive branch, since I was an officer thereof. Over three decades, they have won the approval of the judicial branch, and the legislative branch has never spoken, much less acted, against them. When Aunt Janet and I and the courts all agree on X, the idea that X is illicit in any sense whatever is just an excursion into fantasyland.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 18, 2022 2:48:12 PM

Bill, I am focused on textualism and originalism, not Warren/Burger Court era precedents (or law professors articles). If your position is that Warren/Burger Court era precedents are more important and praiseworthy than textualism and originalism, fine. I always sensed you really did not care for textualism and originalism -- or perhaps only care for them when they supported your policy preferences -- and you seem to be confirming that reality through this discussion.

As for which laws to focus limited resouces enforcing, that is a matter of executive discretion and a matter that often evolves as different administrations get elected and apply their own distinct views of the best ways to administer the laws passed by Congress. But do you think it would be proper for the Attorney General to say he think the US Govt carries too much debt and so every federal prosecutor should demand that every federal defendant waive his right to seek federal social security benefits as part of a plea agreement? Why not invent such SS benefit waivers to go along with appeal waivers? Is there no limit to the laws you can make up waivers around in service to your views of good public policy?

I get that a lot of people view appeal waivers as good policy, but I think your invention amounts to legislating from the executive branch because it is completely inconsistent with the text of a statute enacted by Congress. Lots of judges certainly have lots of good public policy ideas, but in our system good ideas are to become law via legislation, not Otis/prosecutor/judge-invention. The Framers did not say stuff can and should become new federal doctrine when Congress "has never spoken." But I am sure plenty of folks in the executive branch are eager to make law by executive fiat, and so maybe you can make some extra money explaining how law can/should be made when the "legislative branch has never spoken, much less acted." Is that really how you think democracy is supposed to work in the US, with bureaucrats rather than legislators in charge of making law and deciding policy?

Posted by: Doug B. | Nov 18, 2022 3:28:44 PM

Doug --

Here's the classic academia shell game: "If your position is that Warren/Burger Court era precedents are more important and praiseworthy than textualism and originalism, fine. I always sensed you really did not care for textualism and originalism -- or perhaps only care for them when they supported your policy preferences -- and you seem to be confirming that reality through this discussion."

Of course I never remotely said or intimated that "Warren/Burger Court era precedents are more important and praiseworthy than textualism and originalism." You just made that up and want to jam it in my mouth to set up your scolding punch line, "I always sensed you really did not care for textualism and originalism -- or perhaps only care for them when they supported your policy preferences..."

Baloney. Precedent does have a degree or importance, you bet, but must yield when other, more important things so dictate, as Alito pointed out in Dobbs and Scalia in his dissent in Dickerson.

Do you agree with the strongly textualist and originalist decision in Dobbs? Yes or no. No word salad.

"...do you think it would be proper for the Attorney General to say he think the US Govt carries too much debt and so every federal prosecutor should demand that every federal defendant waive his right to seek federal social security benefits as part of a plea agreement?"

Yes it would be proper. But I think it would be unwise to have so rigid a rule.

What you're missing (intentionally?) is that such a condition IS NEVER, EVER FORCED ON A DEFENDANT. The defendant can say a big fat NO to the proposed plea bargain and exercise his absolute right to a trial. If he does not want to, or his defense lawyer is too cowardly or too unprepared or too lazy to go to trial, that's not really my doing, is it?

You have dozens if not hundreds of defense lawyers who read this blog. I would be shocked if the great majority of them did NOT seek, negotiate, and sign plea bargains. By contrast, not one single time in my career did I seek or agree to one. Not one time. Why not direct your complaints to the people who are perpetuating what you (but not the courts) see as a problem?

If you have issues with plea bargains and/or their terms, why not take them up, not with me, but with (1) your numerous defense lawyer friends who do them all the time, and/or (2) Nancy Pelosi, while she still has her job, to pass some legislation outlawing them?

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 21, 2022 12:48:45 PM

Bill, you stressed the Supreme Court's approval of plea bargaining in Santobello, Bordendircher and Brady, and entirely ignored text and history. That led me to comment that it seems you view Warren/Burger Court era precedents more important and praiseworthy than textualism and originalism in this context. My second comment reflected the fact that this is a common move for you when we discuss any pro-defendant constitutional text and history in applications of the Second or Sixth Amendments.

It is telling, Bill, that you do not want to talk about textualism and originalism as it applies to felon-in-possession prohibitions. Instead you want to discuss Dobbs. Okay: as a textualist, I have long thought the Ninth Amendment provided a much more sensible foundation for the right of women to control their body than the due process clause. So, I see some merit in the Dobbs opinion concluding the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause is not the right place to find constitutionally protected abortion rights. Meanwhile, I have always been troubled by originalism in both theory and practice, and I personally disgree with it playing a dominant role in the interpretation of any part of the Constitution.

But SCOTUS says textualism and originalism must now control the Second Amendment's application, and so I struggle to see how that readily supports FIPs (or a number of other federal gun control provisions). Of course, in your telling, prosecutors could seek waivers of all rights under all the amendments and under every federal and state statute. Indeed, it is telling that you seem to think prosecutors should have broad authority to seek waivers of any and every right possessed by individuals as part of any plea agreement. I assume that would also include waiver of rights to have (or not have) children, waivers to go (or not go) to church, and so on. And yet you now say you never sought or agreed to plea agreements. Why do you disavow seeking such deals after being so proud to invent a provision to be used therein?

I do not have a "issues" with plea bargains, I have a "issues" with DOJ bureaucrats using plea bargains to make law from the executive branch in contradiction of the law as duly legislated by Congress. You know Congress already passed a law to allow defendants to appeal, and itshould not have to legislate to prevent prosecutors from nullifying that law. You did not like how the appeal law enacted by Congress functioned so you invented a way to nullify that law though the coercive power of plea deals. For someone who preaches the value of honesty, it is troubling to me that you were so eager to help nullify a law enacted by Congress that you did not like, and yet you do want to be honest about your own subversion of democracy in the name of your policy preferences. So be it. Your affinity for the "Rule of Bill" has long been on display, and I still find it useful to note your pride in "inventing" law when at DOJ.

Posted by: Doug B | Nov 21, 2022 3:51:15 PM

Doug --

"I do not have a 'issues' with plea bargains..."

Of course you do. Congress never enacted a statute authorizing it and, under your emphatically repeated reasoning, that makes plea bargaining illicit. Time to admit it. You don't believe in the Constitution we have, with co-equal branches. You believe in a fantasy Constitution in which the legislative branch directs the most minute details of the (formerly) co-equal executive branch. But I don't, and the fact that the courts uniformly agree with my view doesn't make that view incorrect. It makes your dissenting view foot-stomping outlier territory.

"You did not like how the appeal law enacted by Congress functioned so you invented a way to nullify that law though the coercive power of plea deals. For someone who preaches the value of honesty, it is troubling to me that you were so eager to help nullify a law enacted by Congress that you did not like..."

1. Name one court that, in more than 30 years, has said that the waiver of appeal is a "nullification" of a law enacted by Congress.

2. That I created what has become (in administrations of both parties) a standard provision in the plea bargains your defense lawyer buddies are so eager to get (so they can avoid a trial they don't want and will lose) is hardly indicative of dishonesty, and your accusing me of dishonesty is unbecoming, disrespectful and false. The waiver is at worst a fully legal, cost-saving and time-saving product that enables us to bring at least some sort of justice to the child rapists, muggers and killers your defense bar swoons over ("justice involved individuals," as you comically like to call them).

And still with all that, any defendant who dislikes the waiver or any other part of a proposed bargain, for any reason or no reason, can decline and go to trial. That your defense buddies don't do that is their problem (with your alliance), not mine.

I actually wish the defense bar would at least try to overcome its laziness and cowardice and go to trial more often, but it's just not going to happen. Maybe you could encourage them instead of toss false accusations at me.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 22, 2022 6:31:02 PM

Bill, you are doing so much conflation here, it is hard to unpack it all. Let me try to just hit some highlights:

1. For starters, I do not have issues with plea bargains, though I can see how a true textualist/originalist would question all the power they now give to DOJ bureaucrats. (I know you are a statist, not a true textualist/originalist, so it is no surprise you are all for plea deals.) Because I am not an originalist, I am okay with plea deals as long as the terms do not plainly contradict the clear text of legislative enactments. That is what appeal waivers problematically do.

2. If you gave defendants and defense attorneys the option of the same plea deal with or without an appeal waiver, none would take the one with the waiver. The "cost-saving and time-saving" benefits you stress are the statist benefits you, as a DOJ bureaucrat, were eager to achieve for the state and you cleverly invented a means to do so without bothering to get these statist benefits approved in a statute. Ergo, this is an example of legislating from the executive branch -- Congress expressly gave defendants the right of appeal, but you found this right too costly and time consuming, so you concocted a means to nullify the right through waivers to serve your statist policy interests.

3. How about this, Bill, "re-invent" the modern appeal waiver as a term that a defendant can reject with no other change to the plea deal. That would make it a free choice of the defendant to waive if they so wanted in any case with a plea deal. (I would still have a problem with such a waiver violating the terms of the appeal statute enacted by Congress, but at least it would not be so statist and coercive.) Would you endorse that modification of your invention?

4. If you want the defense bar to go to trial more often, here is another suggestion. How about when a prosecutor makes a plea offer, he also promises he will not seek a sentence more than 10% higher if the defendant is convicted at trial? I promise you that if/when prosecutors work toward reducting the severity of the trial penalty, then there will be more trials. And, as always, what you want to blame others for can be readily addressed by prosecutors.

Posted by: Doug B. | Nov 23, 2022 12:10:53 PM

Bill and Doug,

You two remind me of the voices over the loudspeaker at the beginning of the movie Airplane arguing over whether there is loading or unloading in the red zone or white zone. Except the movies much more entertaining.

Da Man

Posted by: Da Man | Nov 28, 2022 3:13:45 PM

Bill: Surely you cant be serious

Doug: I am serious and dont call me Shirley.

Posted by: Doug B. | Nov 29, 2022 10:29:46 AM

Post a comment
 "Circumventing Mandatory Minimum Sentences Through Legal Representation  An Integrated Methods Study of Drunk Driving Violations" | Main | Notable new grant of sentence reduction for California medical marijuana operator given nearly 22 years in federal prison back in 2008 

February 2, 2023

Fifth Circuit panel declares unconstitutional federal prohibition on firearm possession for someone subject to domestic violence restraining order

A Fifth Circuit panel handed down today another big post-Bruen ruling declaring that the Second Amendment renders unconstitutional a federal prohibition on firearm possession for certain disfavored individuals. The ruling today in US v. Rahimi, No. 21-11001 (5th Cir. Feb. 2, 2023) (available here), gets started this way:

The question presented in this case is not whether prohibiting the possession of firearms by someone subject to a domestic violence restraining order is a laudable policy goal. The question is whether 18 U.S.C.  922(g)(8), a specific statute that does so, is constitutional under the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. In the light of N.Y. State Rifle & Pistol Assn, Inc. v. Bruen, 142 S. Ct. 2111 (2022), it is not. Zackey Rahimi levies a facial challenge to  922(g)(8). The district court and a prior panel upheld the statute, applying this courts pre-Bruen precedent. See United States v. Rahimi, No. 21-11011, 2022 WL 2070392 at *1 n.1 (5th Cir. June 8, 2022). Rahimi filed a petition for rehearing en banc; while the petition was pending, the Supreme Court decided Bruen. The prior panel withdrew its opinion and requested supplemental briefing on the impact of that case on this one. Considering the issue afresh, we conclude that Bruen requires us to re-evaluate our Second Amendment jurisprudence and that under Bruen,  922(g)(8) fails to pass constitutional muster. We therefore reverse the district courts ruling to the contrary and vacate Rahimis conviction.

Here are a few of many notable passages from the opinion:

Under the Governments reading, Congress could remove unordinary or irresponsible or nonlaw abiding people  however expediently defined  from the scope of the Second Amendment. Could speeders be stripped of their right to keep and bear arms? Political nonconformists? People who do not recycle or drive an electric vehicle? One easily gets the point: Neither Heller nor Bruen countenances such a malleable scope of the Second Amendments protections; to the contrary, the Supreme Court has made clear that the Second Amendment right is exercised individually and belongs to all Americans, Heller, 554 U.S. at 581. Rahimi, while hardly a model citizen, is nonetheless part of the political community entitled to the Second Amendments guarantees, all other things equal.... The Government fails to demonstrate that  922(g)(8)s restriction of the Second Amendment right fits within our Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. The Governments proffered analogues falter under one or both of the metrics the Supreme Court articulated in Bruen as the baseline for measuring relevantly similar analogues: how and why the regulations burden a law-abiding citizens right to armed self-defense. Id. As a result,  922(g)(8) falls outside the class of firearm regulations countenanced by the Second Amendment.

Some (of many) prior recent related posts:

UPDATE: This AP article about the Rahimi ruling provides a bit more context concerning the decision and also includes an official reaction from US Attorney General:

The U.S. Justice Department Thursday night issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following the decision: Nearly 30 years ago, Congress determined that a person who is subject to a court order that restrains him or her from threatening an intimate partner or child cannot lawfully possess a firearm. Whether analyzed through the lens of Supreme Court precedent, or of the text, history, and tradition of the Second Amendment, that statute is constitutional. Accordingly, the Department will seek further review of the Fifth Circuits contrary decision.

Seeking "further review," I suspect, will involve the Department of Justice first requesting en banc consideration of this panel decision in the Fifth Circuit. If that does not happen, I would expect DOJ would then seek Supreme Court review. Interestingly, were SCOTUS to take up this case (or any similar ones) anytime in 2023, we could reasonably expect another major Second Amendment ruling in the run up to the 2024 election.

February 2, 2023 at 11:57 PM | Permalink

Comments

How dare Congress infringe my constitutional right to possess what I need to shoot my spouse in the event she should recover from the last beating I gave her.

Posted by: anon | Feb 3, 2023 12:00:15 PM

Convict, then take away rights all you want.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 3, 2023 12:15:24 PM

This just goes to show how stupid Merrick Garland is. What an ass.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 3, 2023 5:39:51 PM

federalist calls Trump a "great president" and calls Garland an ass. Disconnect here? In any event, federalist, congrats on winning the chutpah prize of the new year!

Posted by: anon | Feb 3, 2023 6:50:20 PM

federalist --

Garland's just pitching to his gun control base. I don't think AGs should be in the "pitching to the base" business, but it's been a goodly while since I was at DOJ.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 3, 2023 7:43:49 PM

Bill, are you saying the Justice Department should not seek further review of the Fifth Circuits panel decision here? I think in the past you have criticized DOJ when it has failed to seek to defend the constitutionality of a federal statute.

Also, Bill, do you agree with this panel ruling that  922(g)(8) is unconstitutional?

Posted by: Doug B | Feb 3, 2023 8:24:48 PM

Doug --

"Bill, are you saying the Justice Department should not seek further review of the Fifth Circuits panel decision here?"

I'm saying what I wrote. Rinse and repeat.

"I think in the past you have criticized DOJ when it has failed to seek to defend the constitutionality of a federal statute."

Two things can be true at the same time: Garland is pitching to the Democratic base, and DOJ should seek further review. To answer you directly: I'm pretty sure that I would seek further review, yes. Whether I would expect to win is a different and more interesting question.

"Also, Bill, do you agree with this panel ruling that  922(g)(8) is unconstitutional?"

I think there are plausible arguments on both sides. My instinct, like federalist's, is that the defendant will win, because a civil restraint order stands on a different footing from a criminal conviction.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 3, 2023 10:15:47 PM

The Fifth Circuit decision in this case is simply stunning. If a domestic violence restraining order isn't evidence of a clear and present danger, what is?

It is certainly more compelling than a generic non-violent felony conviction.

Apparently all common sense has left the room.

Posted by: ohwilleke | Feb 3, 2023 10:29:13 PM

How do you see AG Garland as "pitching to the Democratic base" here, Bill? He says he views the statute as constitutional, and he says DOJ will seek further review. Seems like a statement reflecting exactly what you have before said was what DOJ should do consistent with the rule of law. Would you say anything different if you were AG in response to this ruling?





Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 3, 2023 10:38:04 PM

Doug --

"Would you say anything different if you were AG in response to this ruling?"

I wouldn't SAY anything at all to the press. I would act as I always did -- I would do my talking in court.

If this case were about some national emergency, then I could see a press release. But it's no such thing, meaning that the real reason for talking is to placate the base.

P.S. That the base has three members on SCOTUS is the main reason I think this case will be close when it gets there. The SG should make her pitch to Roberts and Kavanaugh, who are the most likely among the conservatives to be sympathetic to a statute like this.





Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 4, 2023 12:09:01 AM

Fair point that he does not need a press release, though arguably members of Congress on both sides of the aisle may want to know ASAP if AG Garland plans to accept or appeal this ruling. You recognize that some SCOTUS conservatives are likely to be sympathetic to a statute like this --- I think Justice Alito may be keen on it, too, and Justice Barrett's 7th Circuit work might allow her to go either way --- and I suspect the same is true for some GOP members of Congress.

Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 4, 2023 6:32:07 AM

A similar Bruen ruling just handed down.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/marijuana-users-constitutional-right-own-firearms-judge-rules

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Feb 5, 2023 5:38:23 PM

FYI- I do not think they can seek en banc review.

The mandate was already issued so (I believe) they are deprived of jurisdiction. But it's been a minute since I researched that one.

Posted by: Zachary Newland | Feb 6, 2023 10:15:15 AM

Zachary: My understanding is that the federal rules generally provide "14 days after entry of judgment" for filing motion for rehearing (including en banc rehearings). And even without a motion, most circuits usual have a process for judges to request en banc rehearing. But the SG might have reasons to want to go straight to SCOTUS. We will see.

Posted by: Doug B | Feb 6, 2023 10:46:52 AM

Doug, the law may be constitutional, but Garland's mailing it in. Text and tradition--um no.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 6, 2023 12:40:05 PM

"The Fifth Circuit decision in this case is simply stunning. If a domestic violence restraining order isn't evidence of a clear and present danger, what is?

It is certainly more compelling than a generic non-violent felony conviction.

Apparently all common sense has left the room."

This is sad. People have rights. It really is that simple.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 6, 2023 12:41:36 PM

anon:

Nearly 30 years ago, Congress determined that a person who is subject to a court order that restrains him or her from threatening an intimate partner or child cannot lawfully possess a firearm. Whether analyzed through the lens of Supreme Court precedent, or of the text, history, and tradition of the Second Amendment, that statute is constitutional. Accordingly, the Department will seek further review of the Fifth Circuits contrary decision.

This is just dumb. Even a hack like Merrick Garland understands that a constitutional right cannot be taken away by a collateral court order, not a conviction.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 6, 2023 12:44:14 PM

federalist: Don't gag orders on lawyers in civil cases take away free speech? Isn't civil forfeiture a kind of taking of property without just compensation? (Heck, a lot of sex offender registries and residency restrictions have been deemed "civil," and they take away a host of constitutional rights, though I know that is by statute and often (but not always) after a certain kind of criminal adjudication).

I do almost no civil work, but the statement that a constitutional right cannot be taken away by a collateral court order strikes me as a bit broad. Am I missing something?

Posted by: Doug B | Feb 6, 2023 2:10:06 PM

Maybe a bit broad, but the problem is clear . . . . I actually think that there a host of problems with the sex offender registries etc. Gag orders on lawyers are ok as lawyers, as a condition of their license, become officers of the court. Gag orders on criminal defendants are a huge problem. Recall that the judge in the Roger Stone case got in a lather over Stone criticizing her (and no, he wasn't putting her in crosshairs) and gave him a gag order---were there any justice in the world, she would be answerable to him for that violation.

There's a liberty interest in possessing a firearm--a (often ex parte) restraining order doesn't come close to satisfying due process concerns.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 6, 2023 3:15:10 PM

federalist writes, "This just goes to show how stupid Merrick Garland is. What an ass."

federalist, do you know that Garland was a Presidential Scholar and National Merit Scholar. Were you one of these? Still think he is "stupid." Do you know that while at Harvard college, he wrote his 235-page honors thesis on industrial mergers in Britain in the 1960s. What did you write at Harvard or anywhere else? Still think he's "stupid."

Do you Know that he graduated from Harvard in 1974 with an A.B. summa cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Did you graduate from Harvard or anywhere else summa cum laude? Were you elected to Phi Beta Kappa? Still think he's stupid?

Do you know he attended Harvard Law School, where he was articles editor of the Harvard Law Review. Were you elected articles editor of any law review? Stupid? Garland graduated from Harvard Law in 1977 magna cum laude. did you graduate from Harvard or anywhere else magna cum laude? Stupid?

Did you know that Garland spent two years as a judicial law clerk, first for Judge Henry Friendly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (New York City) from 1977 to 1978 and then for Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1978 to 1979. Did you clerk for a federal appeals judge or Supreme Court Justice? Stupid?

Did you know that after his clerkships, Garland spent two years as a special assistant to U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti. Were you ever a special assistant to the Attorney General?

Did you know that Garland wrote an 87-page Harvard Law Review article describing the way courts use a heightened "hard look" standard of review and scope of review when an agency chooses deregulation, with increasing focus on the fidelity of the agencies' actions to congressional intent. Did you write a Harvard Law Review article or any similar publication? He also published an article in the Yale Law Journal urging a broader application of antitrust immunity to state and local governments. Did you write such an article?

Did you know that in 1989 1989 Garland became an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and that as a line prosecutor, Garland represented the government in criminal cases ranging from drug trafficking to complex public corruption matters? Did you have similar employment? Did you know that ] Garland was one of the three principal prosecutors who handled the investigation into Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry's possession of cocaine. Did you handle such a case? ]. Still think he's an "ass."

Did you know that in 1993, Garland joined the new Clinton administration as deputy assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice, and that he then became the principal associate deputy attorney general? Did yo know that in that role his responsibilities included the supervision of high-profile domestic-terrorism cases, including the Oklahoma City bombing, Ted Kaczynski (also known as the "Unabomber"), and the Atlanta Olympics bombings.? Did you have similar responsibilities? Still think he's stupid or an ass?

Did you know that Garland represented the government at the preliminary hearings of the two main defendants, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, and did you know that he won praise for his work on the case from the Republican Governor of Oklahoma, Frank Keating.

Have you won similar praise for prosecutions you've handled?

In sum, whatever folks may think of Garland, "stupid" and "ass" are not applicable epithets.

No doubt you'll have a snarky-smart ass response, but what else can we expect from someone who thinks Trump was a "great president."

Posted by: anon3 | Feb 6, 2023 9:48:02 PM

anon3, you neglected to mention that Garland was on the D.C Circuit Court of Appeals for more than 20 years (I think). You could ask federalist whether he has ever been a judge and in which jurisdiction.

Posted by: Mary | Feb 7, 2023 9:24:20 AM

From an article I was reading, "The Constitution was written at a time in which women existed under the legal control of their husbands or fathers, could not vote, could rarely own property and were excluded from the Constitution itself. Those who were enslaved in America were deemed legally less than persons and also excluded from the Constitutions rights and protections.

Oh, and at the time the Constitution was written, it was legal to beat your wife. It was only in 1871 that two states made it illegal.

That alone should demonstrate how thoroughly absurd this standard is, and how deranged originalist legal theories have become. Domestic violence was also an issue in the 1780s. But because women were not respected or considered full citizens at the time the Constitution was penned and for many decades after, the men in charge (including men who owned and raped enslaved women) didnt pass laws restricting abusive men from gun ownership  or restricting abusive men from just about anything.

Is it really possible that the Founders believed 18th century norms should apply more than 200 years later and that future lawmakers should be constrained by centuries-old legislation (or lack thereof)? In the 1780s, it would have been nearly impossible to imagine that women might have the rights they do today and that gender roles would be so transformed. It would have also been difficult to imagine the kind of weaponry now available for purchase in the United States, and the broad devastation that it would cause.

Yet here we are, being held hostage to truly reactionary interpretations of American law and history, one that does indeed set women back centuries. And we have a right-wing 5th Circuit, and a reactionary and conservative Supreme Court, to blame."

Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Feb 7, 2023 10:22:05 AM

I can match Merrick Garland's accomplishments in my legal career (for example, I graduated summa), but I choose to look at workproduct not resumes. The bottom line is that Garland's comment regarding the Fifth Circuit's handiwork appears to be very very ill-informed. First of all, domestic violence orders can be the product of ex parte proceedings. Anyone with a passing knowledge of rights in the Bill of Rights deemed fundamental (and thus selectively incorporated into the 14th Amendment) has to know that barring gun possession on the basis of an ex parte order is on extremely shaky ground. Additionally, even if the order is not ex parte, there's the problem of whether a fundamental right can be taken without a criminal conviction. His reference to text and tradition is just silly--the right to possess arms was only very recently selectively incorporated, and that matters. So what you have is an Attorney General engaged in rank sophistry. Next, are you going to tell me that AG Holder was "brilliant" even though he thought that the Quarles exception to Miranda could be applied to stationhouse interrogations. That's just dumb.

What Garland should have said is that the federal courts are getting used to the sea change in the federal courts' protection of 2A rights, and that the AG's office thinks that the law remains constitutional.

But no--we get stupid talking points from a partisan hack.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 7, 2023 11:50:36 AM

Mary, as for your comment that I've never been a judge--well, Kim McLane Wardlaw is a federal court of appeals judge, and she has authored four, count 'em four, opinions where the judgment has been summarily reversed with an opinion. That means, on four separate occasion, she got it so wrong that the Supreme Court didn't bother to hear oral argument.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 7, 2023 11:52:42 AM

Yep, let's let Michael Levine decide what rights are ok to violate and which ones are not. After all, some of those same people used the n-word--so let's get rid of free speech.

And letting a free people keep and bear arms is not "reactionary" under the traditional sense of the world.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 7, 2023 12:16:03 PM

word, not world

Posted by: federalist | Feb 7, 2023 12:25:12 PM

And Mary, in case you doubt me on Wardlaw: https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/wardlaw-summary-reversals/

Posted by: federalist | Feb 7, 2023 12:34:40 PM

federalist, I'm ready to take on your challenge, provided Bill Otis and you are on the panel to keep my radical views in check!

Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Feb 7, 2023 12:43:27 PM

Everybody wants to rule the world! Seriously, allowing ordinary people to be armed is not reactionary in any real sense of the word.

Posted by: federalist | Feb 7, 2023 1:02:08 PM

federalist, I agree that allowing ordinary people to be armed is not reactionary, but I don't consider men who regularly beat and terrorize their spouses or girlfriends to be ordinary people. Saying that such folks have an absolute right to possess firearms, for me at least, is both a radical and reactionary position.

Posted by: Michael R Levine | Feb 7, 2023 1:12:52 PM

Get them convicted, and I am with you . . . .

Posted by: federalist | Feb 7, 2023 2:29:02 PM

Well, Mary? anon3?

Posted by: federalist | Feb 8, 2023 12:32:46 PM

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March 20, 2023

With DOJ asking, will SCOTUS quickly take up a post-Bruen case on gun possession by thoe subject to DV orders?

The question in the title of this post is prompted by the interesting news that the feds have now filed a cert petition seeking review of the Fifth Circuit panel ruling in US v. Rahimi (first discussed here). The Rahimi opinion declared unconstitutional 18 USC  922(g)(8)'s prohibition on gun possession by those subject to certain domestic-violence protective orders.

Notably, the government could have sought en banc review, but decided to seek cert. And within the petition, the government explains that, due to "the significant disruptive consequences of the Fifth Circuits decision, the government is filing this petition for a writ of certiorari on a highly expedited schedule  a little more than two weeks after the issuance of the Fifth Circuits final amended opinion  in order to allow the Court to consider the petition before it recesses for the summer." This Hill article provides some details:

The government argued in the petition that the Fifth Circuit overlooked the strong historical evidence supporting the general principle that the government may disarm dangerous individuals, instead dismissing each historical example on the grounds that it differed from the law in some way. Although courts interpreting the Second Amendment must consider text, history, and tradition, they should not focus on whether the law at issue has a historical twin, the DOJ said. To the contrary, this Court emphasized that even if a modern-day regulation is not a dead ringer for historical precursors, it still may be analogous enough to pass constitutional muster.

The Justice Department's full cert petition is available at this link. It should be quite interesting to see if SCOTUS decides to take up the case on an expedited basis even before there is a direct circuit split. Notably, as discussed in this prior post, the Supreme Court's landmark Bruen decision has already created considerable legal uncertainty for a variety of federal gun control laws. As suggested before, because numerous lower-court rulings are striking down numerous federal criminal laws, I suspect the Justices will get back to these Second Amendment matters pretty soon. But "pretty soon" in Supreme Court timelines does not really mean "soon," so I would be eager to hear reader thoughts about when Rahimi or perhaps other cases may end up on the SCOTUS docket.

Some (of many) prior recent related posts:

March 20, 2023 at 08:37 PM | Permalink

Comments

Yanking away rights without a conviction . . . . wow.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 21, 2023 9:00:58 AM

Based on a USSC report on FY2021 offenders, federalist, it looks like there may be 1000 or more persons federal sentenced each year of 922(g) offense in which something other than a prior conviction made gun possession illegal according to Congress -- e.g., 922(g)(3) criminalizes gun possession by unlawful drug users; (g)(4) criminalizes possession by persons who have been adjudicated as a mental defective or who have been committed to a mental institution; (g)(6) criminalizes possession by persons dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces; (g)(8) at issue in Rahimi.

So, there are likely tens of thousands of persons who have been convicted for gun possession since Congress criminalized this behavior for a broad array of prohibited persons starting in 1968. Are you suggesting all these convictions have been unconstitutional?

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 21, 2023 10:13:12 AM

Many are. But not the dishonorably discharged . . . . government likely has that power.

And since they ain't putting Hunter Biden in prison, I mean, come on, then many of the drug users are being denied equal protection as applied to the feds by the Fifth Amendment.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 21, 2023 12:46:31 PM

I am sure you know, federalist, that the "properly prosecuted" do not get to claim an EP violation based on the "unproperly unprosecuted." And the medical marijuana folks in Florida are fighting, so far without success, the application of 922(g)(3) to them: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/floridas-new-agriculture-commissioner-declines-to-pursue-medical-marijuana-and-gun-rights-lawsuit-led-by-his-predecessor/

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 21, 2023 1:39:24 PM

Don't forget g(5) restricting the rights of non-citizens to possess a firearm. How do you translate the current immigration law into an eighteenth century equivalent when we actually did have open borders back then?

Posted by: tmm | Mar 21, 2023 4:36:26 PM

There is the ability to assert EP claims with respect to prosecution--it's just very hard to do without a smoking gun, so to speak, and discovery isn't allowed until you have it.

But distinguishing between the son of the VP and being an ordinary person is not a rational basis upon which to based prosecutorial decisions . . . . so there is an EP problem hiding in plain sight. Glad youre super-cool with it.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 21, 2023 5:32:45 PM

To be clear, federalist, are you saying the feds cannot constitutionally prosecute any drug users because they have not prosecuted Hunter Biden for his drug activity? Does that also mean that all federal perjury charges are constitutionally problematic because Bill Clinton was never prosecuted for lying under oath? Does that also mean it is critical for former Prez Trump to be indicted on various allegations simply to ensure other people can be constitutionally prosecuted without an EP prohibition?

Heck, speaking of "smoking guns," Elon Musk has tweeted his possession of a firearm after being seen smoking a controlled substance on Joe Rogan's podcast. Can any and everyone subject to a 922(g)(3) indictment claim an EP violation unless and until Elon Musk is prosecuted?

And does this theory thwart many state capital charges for anyone who killed only one person if/when capital charges are not consistently brought against those who kill more than one person?

I am not sure what you think I am super-cool with, but I am eager to better understand your EP theories as a basis to block criminal enforcement efforts (and to know if you think Armstrong should be reconsidered so that it is easier to develop evidence for these kind of EP claims).



Posted by: Doug B | Mar 21, 2023 6:20:03 PM

I once knew an illegal alien from Honduras who was prosecuted under 922(g)(5), and thought it was b.s. This man lived in a small, rural community in North Carolina for 14 years. He was well known and well liked in his community. He was law abiding and was even a member of the local volunteer fire department. He was pulled over driving his farmer's pickup truck for a minor traffic violation. He actually had a valid North Carolina driver's License, but the officer was suspicious and did some computer checks from the laptop in his patrol car, before determining that the driver was actually an undocumented alien. He was charged for the .22 rifle that he had in the gun rack in his pickup truck, in the read window behind the driver's seat. The rifle was used to shoot squirrels and rabbits. He is hardly a real criminal. This young man was married to an American woman and they had 10 month old twin sons, who she used to bring to the prison visitors' room at FCI - Manchester, Kentucky. After he completed his 10 month sentence, he was deported back to Hondurus, and his wife was left to raise the twin sons alone. As policy, this made no practical sense to me. I thought it was a horrible tragedy.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Mar 22, 2023 12:03:49 AM

Doug, honestly, I don't know what the answer is. But it's hard to say that there isn't an EP issue with the Hunter stuff.

As for state capital charges, the answer would be no. And the reasons should be obvious--but it is a problem that Hunter is getting treated much better because he is the son of the President. It is shocking that legal academia is cool with this--if this were a Trump kid and the same stuff was happening, good grief.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 22, 2023 9:43:15 AM

In order to take away gun rights, one puff of whatever or occasional use doesn't get it done. I've smoked maybe 4 cigarettes in my life--am I a smoker? Nope.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 22, 2023 9:44:39 AM

I find it quite easy to say there isn't an EP issue with the Hunter stuff, federalist, because I cannot think of a single case in which a poor or non-celebrity defendant (or anyone else for that matter) has ever prevailed on an EP claim because a rich or celebrity defendant (or anyone else for that matter) did not get prosecuted. Can you cite a single case to support your EP claim?

And if you think the legal academy is okay with rich white guys getting better treatment in the CJ system than others, you have not been paying attention. Apparently, you have also not been paying attention to all the state-legal medical marijuana users denied their gun rights due to 922(g)(3).

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 22, 2023 2:01:20 PM

First of all, you're moving the goalposts--med marijuana users use MJ regularly (generally speaking). One snort of a line or puff of a joint doesn't make you a "user" that takes away your gun rights forever.

As for EP, there have been EP challenges of prosecution decisions, and the issue is the ticket to discovery. This does a pretty good job: https://defendermanuals.sog.unc.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/5.3_1.pdf

In any event, Hunter getting to skate because he is a Biden is an EP problem, and it's beyond fascinating that the legal academy isn't pointing this issue out---but, of course, there's partisanship over principles. The Hunter leniency is rank, and it stinks to heaven. At least Claudius could admit it . . . . Your attempt to talk about white guys generally doesn't excuse the academy's silence when it comes to Hunter.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 23, 2023 11:51:40 AM

You link to a discussion of selective prosecution based on race and with some reference to the death penalty, federalist. Are you claiming Hunter has not been prosecuted because he is white and that all people of color prosecuted for drug offenses --- in state and federal courts --- have a viable EP claim that they could and should be raising in conjunction with any and all drug prosecutions? Or is it tax crimes you have in mind? Or it is lying on a gun application? Just trying to understand what you are actually talking about.

More broadly, can you articulate the EP principle or any cases in support of the notion that a prominent kid "getting to skate ... is an EP problem"? What kind of "EP problem" and with what kind of remedy? Do you support making it much easier for people to get discovery in support of (race or non-race-based) EP claims whenever subject to prosecution when they believe others have been "getting to skate"? I can cite you to lots of academic criticism of Armstrong, but it is unclear if that is your gripe because it is unclear what EP principle --- other than your usual partisan sniping --- is driving your Hunter point.

And speaking of partisan sniping, does your EP worry provide a non-partisan justification for DA Bragg (and/or others) indicting former Prez Trump? It is my perception that former Prez Trump (and other former Presidents as well) have been "getting to skate" on a number of possible criminal charges. In order to avoid the "EP problems" that you see, are prosecutors obliged to make extra efforts to bring all viable charges against all prominent potential defendants?

I know you want to see Hunter prosecuted, federalist. But I do not understand what you are claiming about "EP problems" that you see declinations as producing.

(Oh, everyone who unlawfully uses a controlled substance is an "unlawful user of a controlled substance," no? Just attending to the text of the statute suggests any use of a controlled substance makes one a user at the time they are using (though not forever).)

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 23, 2023 12:49:30 PM

OMG--I am being a partisan simply because I bitch about a connected guy like Hunter getting over? Wow. IN any event, as you know EP also has rational basis scrutiny for non-race things, and that easily sweeps up selective prosecution based on a lack of connections.

I don't know what the remedy is . . . .

And the academy's silence on Hunter is deafening.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 23, 2023 1:46:54 PM

federalist says: "as you know EP also has rational basis scrutiny for non-race things, and that easily sweeps up selective prosecution based on a lack of connections."

So you think that anyone (and everyone?) who has a "lack of connections" can claim a constitutional violation (on "rational basis" grounds) for any (and every?) indictment because a prominent child of a politician is not indicted? Here is an article from 2017 highlighting Don Jr. and Ivanka "getting to skate" from charges not brought in the 2010s: https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anxiety/episodes/how-ivanka-trump-and-donald-trump-jr-avoided-criminal-indictment Did Trump's kids not getting indicted in this instance or elsewhere mean that anyone (and everyone?) who has a "lack of connections" can claim a constitutional violation for any (and every?) indictment since then?

Again, federalist, if you want to argue for Hunter's indictment (on ____? by whom ____?), be my guest. Indeed, I would be eager to hear more about precisely what you think Hunter must be prosecuted for and by whom. But your EP claims seem to get more ridiculous the more that you try to explain them. And that is what makes you "partisan" here -- you are spouting nonsense about the law in an effort to complain about someone who's part of a political family you dislike. Many are calling AG Bragg's work to (perhaps) indict Trump "partisan" for a similar reason, although you seem to be making a constitutional case for Trump's indictment simply to allow anyone anywhere else to ever be constitutionally prosecuted for anything.

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 23, 2023 1:58:56 PM

Ha ha--I've been vague because obviously, as a matter of practicality, you cannot hamstring the entire CJ system over these allegations ("too much justice" to borrow a phrase), and obviously the Trump kids allegations appear serious (although who knows) and there is the unseemly donor connection. And maybe you're comfortable with this sort of thing. I am not. The Hunter Biden skate reeks of partisan justice, and that's a serious serious problem in a society that purports to be one of laws and not men. (And by the way, if you don't know what Hunter should be prosecuted for, then you're ignorant--FARA, lying on a gun purchase application, possession of a firearm while using illegal drugs, tax evasion--to name a few.).

Let's be clear--Hunter getting kid glove treatment is emblematic of a DOJ that is now a partisan operator. And academia is silent. There are EP problems here, and calling them nonsense, shows how in the tank you are.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 23, 2023 3:00:05 PM

federalist, there are lots of things that I am not at all "comfortable with," and yet I do not make up frivolous constitutional claims in order to complain about them. If you are just trying to say that the rich and powerful get a different type of "justice" than does the regular guy, there are plenty of folks in the academy and elsewhere that are sure to agree (myself included).

But complaining about unequal justice and claiming that there are viable Equal Protection Claims under existing constitutional doctrines are far different matters. Lots of defense attorneys and academics would love to assert that any rich white guy seeming to get a break justifies efforts to "hamstring the entire CJ system." But they do not bring such claims because they know they would be laughed out of court (and probably subject to sanctions) if they cited your Hunter claims AND NO CASE LAW OF ANY SORT as a basis to get anything dismissed. Do you disagree that any serious effort to say that any prosecutions would be constitutionally barred or impacted because of Hunter would be deemed frivolous?

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 23, 2023 4:01:16 PM

The obvious favoritism shown to Hunter Biden is a problem, and it is emblematic of a DOJ that has been unleashed in the service of the Democratic Party--this is an intolerable state of affairs. Moreover, varying a prosecutorial response based on national party politics/affiliation is unconstitutional, cf. Yick Wo v. Hopkins.

You completely miss the argument--Equal Protection isn't just about race--it's about government classifications, and political affiliation may be subject to strict scrutiny by the way, but let's assume for a second the standard is "rational basis". What rational basis is there to go easy on Hunter? And recall, Doug, the Miller-el case--they took a memo from 1963 and applied to to an 80s prosecution without ANY regard for whether the individual prosecutors had read it. So look at Hunter, the FBI, having his laptop at the time for about a year, got involved in the election and set up Hunter to be the victim. You have the Comey stuff against Flynn, the laughable treatment of Hillary's server (why, for example, would Cheryl Mills get immunity?) You have the Russia hoax perpetrated by the FBI etc. etc. There are the Strzok texts and the 302 shenanigans. And now they are just going easy on Hunter?

Equal protection is not limited to race, and there is absolutely no reason why an EP claim cannot be raised here. And it's not frivolous, unless you are really arguing that the government can modulate prosecutions based on party politics/affiliation. Are you?

The machinery of law enforcement was put to electoral ends. The academy doesn't care. Says a lot about the academy. You should read "Ball of Collusion" by Andrew McCarthy, no lover of Trump.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 23, 2023 5:13:41 PM

federalist: you share ground with many academics and defense attorneys and others complaining about all sorts of prosecutorial "favoritism" and biases. And many have complained for decades and decades about various DOJ/FBI biases --- eg, in 2007 and 2008, the US House conducted a series of hearings on "Politicization of the Justice Department and Allegations of Selective Prosecution" based on concern of bias AGAINST Democrats. So, what concerns you is nothing new, and it is a sound basis for concern because of our society's justified interest in seeing law applied equally.

But what is new --- and what I keep asking you to cite any cases in support --- is the notion that persons subject to an otherwise lawful criminal prosecution can claim the EP clause of the Constitution bars his/her prosecution because some unrelated other person has allegedly gotten favorable treatment in some other prosecution. Do you have any support for this far-reaching idea? Can you articulate any aspect of its particulars -- eg, is EVERY federal prosecution barred nationwide by the DOJ/FBI bias you claim is evident (and which, I believe, occurred during the Trump years as well as the Biden years); are just prosecutions barred for certain crimes or for certain districts? Can some or all people already in federal prison demand release on this EP claim? Also, can section 1983 claims for damages be brought as well under your EP theory?

Please know, I am not endorsing governments shaping all their law enforcement decisions based on party politics/affiliation. But policy differences between administrations always shape prosecutorial decisions/discretion (e.g., the Obama DOJ issued a marijuana enforcement policy that the Trump DOJ rescinded; we often see more white-collar and environmental prosecutions under Dem DOJs than under GOP DOJs; etc.). More to the point, it has always been my understanding that concerns about DOJ politics are to be addressed through the political branches. But you have what seems to be a novel view --- and so far lacking in any case law support or other doctrines --- that the Constitution's EP clause demands judges to block unrelated prosecutions because of alleged biases in the work of prosecutors.

Please know, many academics and defense attorneys would eagerly champion this kind of EP-blocks-otherwise-lawful prosecution claim if they did not fear getting laughed out of court (and possibly sanctioned) in light of existing doctrines. Yick Wo v. Hopkins and Miller-el are cases with individuals/defendants claiming they were directly subject to discrimination (and based on strict scrutiny EP categories). But I surmise you are claiming rational basis review means that folks with absolutely no relation to Hunter ("drug users") have an EP claim to preclude their prosecution. And what case do you think provides any real support for this EP claim?

I get that you want to harp on the fact that many in the academy care more about other prosecutorial biases. But even in the academy, where far-fetched constitutional claims in support of defendants are often the coin of the realm, I have never heard anyone trying to build the kind of (mysterious) EP claim you want to build. And that is why I am so eager to hear you elaborate on the claim rather than to hear continued moaning that other people do not see what you are claiming. Make it clearer so we can better understand how this seemingly novel constitutional claim works.

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 23, 2023 8:23:52 PM

Doug, Equal Protection applies to prosecutions--we know that because it applies in the race context. There's nothing in EPC jurisprudence that limits it to just race. Or are you saying that the US DOJ could pick and choose prosecutions based on naked party politics or based on connections to the powerful?

The issue is the ticket to discovery--in one of the cases, I forget which, the Equal Protection claim has to have evidence before it isn't dismissed.

But you're good with the lenience shown to Hunter. Own it.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 27, 2023 1:02:21 PM

federalist, Armstrong is the case you have in mind, dealing with an EP claim when someone himself said he was the direct victim of race-based treatment by being prosecuted when nobody else of other races was subject to prosecution for that exact charge. SCOTUS put impossible hurdles on discovery for such a claim, and that why I asked you many posts ago if you thought "Armstrong should be reconsidered so that it is easier to develop evidence for these kind of EP claims." (Race-based EP claims are also at the heart of the stash-house sting cases I have encourged you to review as an example of hinky federal police/prosecutorial behavior where there is a pattern of investigation and prosecution seemingly focused on only people of one race).

I am pleased you seem to be a fan of aggressive application of the EP clause to limit suspect prosecutions, and I hope you share my interest in seeing Armstrong reconsidered so that race-based claims might be investigated more (and more effectively). But, critically, Armstrong and other litigated EP cases (which have always failed in modern times) are examples of cases in which persons assert nobody else is getting prosecuted except a select few of a particular race (or other suspect class), and that is why those select few are seeking to develop an EP claim that often gets described as a "selective prosecution" claim. Your EP assertion here is based on, it seems, a claim of "selective non-prosecution" for Hunter, and it seems you think that novel claim somehow provides a basis for other unrelated people having an EP argument to block an otherwise lawful prosecution.

What has me puzzled, conceptually and doctrinally, is how any defendants not related in any way to Hunter could, under current EP jurisprudence, establish an EP violation to block their otherwise lawful prosecution by saying a political motive influenced a failure to prosecute Hunter. Do you have any legal support for the notion that a defendant unrelated to Hunter can claim an EP violation in an unrelated case? And can you answer if EVERY federal defendant can make this claim or just some? If only some, which ones?

I am not at all good with unfair breaks given to Hunter or the Clintons or the Trumps or Epstein or Judge Camp or lots of other privileged folks, and I certainly would love to imagine courts saying that breaks given to rich powerful folks have to be given to the regular guy. But where is the doctrinal basis for such a claim, federalist? And how would it work? That is what I keep asking and what you keep failing to answer. As I said before, this is why "I am so eager to hear you elaborate on the claim rather than to hear continued moaning that other people do not see what you are claiming. Make it clearer so we can better understand how this seemingly novel constitutional claim works."

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 27, 2023 1:44:02 PM

I'll respond at some point. Probably combined with a defense of Scalia.

I noted upthread that reality intrudes. But there is a EPC category of one case (9-0, btw), and if you take that in reverse, voila, you have my legal theory.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 28, 2023 2:00:30 PM

I look forward to hearing more about how your Hunter-based EP theory works to help others, federalist. But I do not quite see how "class of one" claims could work here. In the Olech case, the per curiam opinion focused on the defnedants claim that a government demand directed toward her was "irrational and wholly arbitrary," and thereafter the Supreme COurt refused to extend this approach to public employment because it is a "common-sense realization" that government offices could not function if every employment decision became a constitutional matter. Given the widespread and justified exercise of prosecutorial discretion, I would be suprised to know of any court applying "class of one" claims to federal prosecution through the Due Process Clause. And, as you suggest, you are actually aguing for a "reverse" form of a "class of one" claim, whatever that means.

Again, I look forward to hearing more details, though it is now quite clear that you are just trying to make this up as you go along. That's fine, but do not be shocked others are not along for the ride with you when we do not evenr understand what kind of jurisprudential car you are trying to drive or when it might go or who could get run over.

Posted by: Doug B. | Mar 28, 2023 3:02:08 PM

Not making it up. There are obvious problems with the idea--but those problems are a nod to the fact that we have to have a criminal justice system--what that does, unfortunately, is give cover to DOJ election motivated actions, and that's a problem.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 28, 2023 4:27:57 PM

I keep hoping you are not making this up, federalist, but I also keep waiting for any legal cites (or even a sensible accounting) in support of what you seem to be claiming (beyond, of course, the widely-shared concerns that prosecutors are often influenced by political and parochial biases).

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 28, 2023 6:21:48 PM

The problem, of course, is separating legitimate political concerns, i.e., responsiveness to the electorate and base electoral motives or sticking it to one political side. That is going on right now, and they are not even trying to hide it.

We've already agreed that EP principles apply to prosecution decisions, and we've already established that criminal defendants have some right to be treated similarly (see Kagan regarding the "right" to have a defendant not denied a plea deal because his lawyer is an idiot--she made that point at oral argument for Frye or the other case). So, it's really you that needs to show why these aren't viable claims--unless the idea that when it comes to prosecutions, EP principles only apply in the race context.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 29, 2023 9:14:46 AM

federalist, you are acting a bit dense here as you avoid the key issues and my follow-up questions. I surmise this is because you have no viable answers to the key issues and questions. (And, to deal with your Kagan point, she surely was discussing a 6th A/IAC issue, not an EP matter. You really are flailing now.)

EP doctrines (not just "principles") do apply to prosecution decisions and can apply beyond race. So, as one example, I could readily imagine a viable EP claim that trans defendants might bring after alleging a pattern of biased prosecutions of certain unusual criminal laws against just them but against nobody else for the exact same behavior. This would be a variation on a classic (but rarely successful) "selective prosecution" claim that is based in existing EP doctrines.

But, again, such a "selective prosecution" claim is brought by person(s) asserting their own prosecution was constitutionally problematic becuase the prosecution decided to prosecute them, and only them, for an insidious reason. But you are lamenting in Hunter's case what you see as "selective non-prosecution" (though I believe he is still under investigation by DOJ). What I have understood you to be asserting here is that an otherwise proper prosecution is constitutionally EP problematic because prosecutors in another unrelated case has decided not to prosecute/incarcerate for what you view as an improper reason (as you initially put it: "since they ain't putting Hunter Biden in prison ... then many of the drug users are being denied equal protection as applied to the feds by the Fifth Amendment").

I pressed you on this claim because I am not aware of any doctrines or any cases in which an otherwise lawful prosecution is blocked or altered because of the (alleged) improper motives/unequal behaviors of prosecutors in a completely unrelated case of non-prosecution. I know you are smart enough to see the difference here --- but it seems you are not smart enough to concoct viable answers to all the critical questions that your novel EP claim raises. (I am eager for answers in part because such a novel EP claim, if it had any basis in any viable doctrines or caselaw, could provide lots of poor and minority defendants lots of new constitutional arguments to block or alter their prosecution due to rich powerful white guys -- like Epstein and Judge Camp and Trump and Hunter and Bill Clinton and so many others -- seemingly getting passes or lighter treatment simply because they are rich powerful white guys.)

I hope you will make more of attempt to answer the most basic questions about your novel EP claim --- eg, "Do you have any legal support for the notion that [many] defendants unrelated to Hunter can claim an EP violation in an unrelated case? [Can] EVERY federal defendant make this claim or just some? If only some, which ones?". If you make no effort to address these basic questions, I will just file this discussion among the "federalist figments" emerging from your interesting (often partisan) vision of how you wished the law worked (along with, eg, your assertion that some prisoners have a right to attack guards).

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 29, 2023 10:11:22 AM

Re: Kagan, that is not a flail at all, as it touches on the prosecution function, i.e., whether to offer a plea deal. Let's get that right.

Do prisoners have the right to attack guards to protect themselves from sexual assault? I think it's hard to argue that they don't, especially given generalized necessity defenses etc. Is basic self-defense a right you give up when you are incarcerated? Even if you haven't yet been convicted? These are hard hard hard questions.

It should be very easy for you to say that EP principles don't apply to anything but race in the prosecution decision. You haven't said that.

Posted by: federalist | Mar 29, 2023 6:04:24 PM

federalist, I am finding it hard to understand what you are trying to assert or claim now. You first referenced vaguely some statement at oral argument by "Kagan regarding the 'right' to have a defendant not denied a plea deal because his lawyer is an idiot." That surely has to do with defense lawyers providing advice in the plea process. But now you suggest Kagan is saying something that "touches on the prosecution function, i.e., whether to offer a plea deal." Huh? Are you asserting that prosecutors have some kind of duty to offer plea deals --- and, regardless, what does that have to do with Hunter not being prosecuted? I am having a harder and harder time finding a cogent claim as your flailing continues.

(On the priosoner front, I believe there is Seventh Circuit ruling from the 1990s saying prisoners do not have a constitutional right to self defense. But I was referencing your past kooky assertion that prisoners have a right to attack guards beyond self-defense if they have a claim they are wrongfully incarcerated.)

Finally, my last comment says plainly "EP doctrines ... do apply to prosecution decisions and can apply beyond race." But you continue to evade --- or somehow fail to understand --- that the issue of concern for your novel EP theory is not whether race and/or other suspect classifications matter. The issue of concern is how even an alleged suspect declination in Hunter's case could be used by others --- you said "drug users" initially --- to mount an EP challenge to their otherwise lawful prosecutions. As I keep asking (and you keep failing to answer), I'd like to know of any doctrines or cases to support the notion that even a clearly corrupt declination decision in one case provides an EP basis to challenge an otherwise lawful prosecution in another unrelated case. And, especially since your novel EP claim seemingly lacks any doctrinal or caselaw foundation, I also want to know how you think it would/should function -- ie, can EVERY federal defendant make your novel EP claim or just some? If only some, which ones?

Posted by: Doug B | Mar 29, 2023 8:56:36 PM

Post a comment
 "Is Expanding Eligibility Enough?: Improving Record Sealing Access and Transparency in Ohio Courts" | Main | "Judicial Scarring" 

Tihs new Marijuana Moment piece, headlined "Another Federal Court Rules That Banning Marijuana Consumers From Possessing Guns Is Unconstitutional," reports on another notable new post-Bruen ruling finding a provision of federal criminal gun control laws to be unconstitutional. Here are the basics:

Another federal court has ruled that banning people who use marijuana from possessing firearms is unconstitutionaland it said that the same legal principle also applies to the sale and transfer of guns, too.

The Justice Department has recently found itself in several courts attempting to defend the cannabis firearms ban, and its arguments have faced increased scrutiny in light of broader precedent-setting Second Amendment cases that generally make it more difficult to impose gun restrictions.

Now the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas has weighed in, delivering a win to Paola Connelly, an El Paso resident who was convicted of separate charges for possessing and transferring a firearm in 2021 while admitting to being a cannabis consumer.

Judge Kathleen Cardone granted a motion for reconsideration of the case and ultimately dismissed the charges last week. While the court previously issued the conviction, it said that a more recent ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit warranted a reevaluation. That case relied on U.S. Supreme Court precedent finding that any firearm restrictions must be consistent with the historical context of the Second Amendments original 1791 ratification.

The Supreme Court ruling has been central to several challenges against the gun ban for cannabis consumers. For this latest federal district court case, the Bush-appointed judge disputed the Justice Departments attempts to assert historical analogues to the marijuana ban, including comparisons to laws against using guns while intoxicated from alcohol and possession by people deemed unvirtuous.

Further, the court said that because simple cannabis possession would only rise to a misdemeanor under federal law, any historical tradition of disarming unlawful individuals does not support disarming Connelly for her alleged marijuana use. Notably, the judge also cited the fact that President Joe Biden issued a mass pardon last year for people whove committed federal marijuana possession offenses.
A potential exit offer from a major shareholder may not happen either, says Magnus.

Magnus Energy Group 41S says it will not be making an exit offer proposal to its shareholders following the delisting notice.

The company received a notification of delisting from the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading (SGX-ST) on Feb 21, and wrote to its top 20 shareholders to invite them to make an exit offer for its shares. The top 20 shareholders were based on the shareholding percentage as at Dec 30, 2022, says Magnus.

On March 6, the companys board had received a single non-binding indicative expression of interest from a shareholder with the request for an extension of a few months to do proper due diligence.

Since there were no updates from the same shareholder, Magnus is warning its shareholders that a potential exit offer may not happen. The shareholder may also decide to not provide the exit offer after the completion of his due diligence on the company, adds Magnus via a bourse filing on April 10.

Furthermore, Magnus says it is unable to make any exit offer itself, which involves cash as a default. The companys cash and bank balances of $1.1 million as at Dec 31, 2022, is mostly held by its 80%-owned subsidiary, Mid-continental Equipment, Inc. (USA). As at Dec 31, 2022, its net asset position was around $1.1 million.

The company adds that it has had to use its available cash resources for working capital purposes and that its cash and bank balances had been depleted. The company says it will disclose more details in its unaudited interim financial results for the quarter ended March 31.

The limited available cash resources that the group has on hand are needed to maintain and fund the companys working capital mainly at the company level, its business operations in the USA under Mid-Continent Equipment, Inc. (USA) and in Indonesia under PT Meg Harta Indonesia (PT MHI); in particular as PT MHI has yet to resume operations and is still waiting for approval of the new RKAB quota in respect of the Kolaka Nickel Project as at the date of this announcement, says Magnus. RKAB refers to Rencana Kerja dan Anggaran Biaya (or work plan and budget)

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While the group holds certain divestible assets, largely being industrial land and building in the US, however, these are deemed as less-liquid assets which would need time to dispose and there is uncertainty that a buyer can be found at a price acceptable to the company. In the instance that an asset can be sold, the funds realised from such [a] sale would be needed for growing the existing and new businesses in Indonesia, it adds.

On April 6, the Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) publicly reprimanded five individuals  including former CEO Luke Ho Kee Yong  associated with the company for breaching the Catalist rules in connection with two transactions.

Shares in Magnus Energy last traded at 0.1 cent.

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Regulators in China have unveiled new draft rules to manage how companies develop artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT.

The draft rules by the Cyberspace Administration of China seek to manage fast-developing Generative AI tools after tech giants like Alibaba and Baidu announced their plans to roll out their own version of the AI chatbot.

Generative AI tools are trained to produce unique human-like content such as images and texts by analysing large quantities of data.

After the American AI lab OpenAI launched ChatGPT last year in November, it gained widespread recognition for its ability to respond to user queries with human-like language.

It has demonstrated a range of abilities, from summarising complex research studies in plain language to answering logical questions, and has also cracked business school and medical exams crucial for students to pass, prompting several companies to unveil their own versions of generative AI chatbots.

Alibaba revealed on Tuesday that it too is working on a ChatGPT rival Tongyi Qianwen that it planned to integrate across its services.

Google and the Chinese company Baidu have also revealed they are working on AI chatbots.

Following these moves in the tech industry, Chinas cyberspace regulator has released draft measures for managing generative AI in the country.

The draft measures lay the ground rules for companies developing generative AI services to follow such as the type of content their products can generate.

Companies are expected to ensure that the data used to train the AI models do not discriminate against people on the basis of race, gender, and ethnicity, and they would also be responsible for the legitimacy of the data used to train the algorithm, the new rules noted.

The AI Chatbots developed by Chinese companies should not generate false information, the regulator noted.

Several AI experts have warned that chatbots like ChatGPT can sometimes provide plausible-sounding but incorrect responses with glaring mistakes to some queries.

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They say it may confidently provide incorrect answers that may mislead people, adding that its widespread use may also result in copyright infringement.

Recently several Japanese universities, including Tokyos Sophia University, restricted students use of the OpenAI chatbot over concerns about information leaks from the use of the AI tool.

Italy has also banned the use of ChatGPT with the AI service set to be investigated over privacy concerns.

Germany also noted last week that it is considering a ban on ChatGPT over privacy concerns.
Reddit

A New Jersey mans beef with Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey turning too woke has gone viral after he posted a video of himself torching a comically massive load of merchandise and booze to protest the brands support for the LGBTQ+ community.

In the early morning of April 7, Pauly Michaelis posted a video of the defiant burn session to Facebook.

For those of you who know me well my drink has always been Jack Daniels, he wrote. For over 150 years since 1866 this drink was always associated with cowboys, warriors, bikers, savage rock bands and all American badass people.

THEY WENT WOKE, he said with the middle finger emoji.

Jasper Newton is turning over in his grave. THEY took a classic tradition of Americana that was the total [definition] of masculinity and made it WOKE and for this I say FUCK YOU JD and all of your products, Michaelis wrote. You will never have the honor of touching my lips ever again. #jackdanielswhiskey #wokeness #bringmasculinityback #EnoughIsEnough.

The accompanying video shows Michaelis wearing denim overalls while standing in the doorway of what appears to be the back porch of a house.

As you all know, Im the biggest advocate and supporter of Jack Daniels. I have been for 40 years of my life, if not longer. Heres the deal: You went woke, 50-year-old Michaelis says. So, heres what I got for you guys.

Michaelis then carries a Jack Daniels mirror outside and throws it in a large trash bin, followed by every Jack Daniels glass [he] own[s] and a wooden sign that had been hanging in his bar. He marches back to the house time and again, grabbing more items and pouring out his many whiskey bottles onto a fire pit before throwing the empty bottles in the garbage.

Transphobic Grumps Are Very Triggered by an Ad for... Chocolate

And the capper, Michaelis says, stomping into the house. Two of the worlds most expensive Jack Daniels. Two-hundred-fifty dollars a bottle, and $100 a bottle. Fuck your woke ass company.

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Michaelis adds the liquor to the pit, sets it on fire, and then tosses up both middle fingers to the camera.

The video received over 200 comments on Facebook, with most people cheering him on. That sentiment was not shared on Reddit, where hundreds of commenters put him on blast.

You were a die hard JD fan so this shocked me at first but more important you are more American [than] anything ! someone commented under the video on Facebook. I applaud you !

Absolutely agree! someone else wrote. Thank God someone is standing up & speaking out!! This WOKE SHIT us destroying our Country.

Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey has recently come under fire with right-wingers for the brands Pride campaign with former contestants of RuPauls Drag Race BeBe Zahara Benet, Manila Luzon, and Trinity the Tuck. As part of that partnership, the company has created a reality series that showcases members of the LGBTQ+ community as they explore the food and drink industry.

Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ community year-round through representation in media we produce, nurturing a diverse and inclusive business, and partnerships and donations to [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation], the company says on its website.

Jack Daniels has also reckoned with its racial history in recent years after stories surfaced about the enslaved Black man who helped create the iconic recipe and was essentially scrubbed from the brands origin story.

The latest ordeal comes after the so-called anti-Woke brigadeincluding rock rapper Kid Rockblasted Bud Light for partnering with a trans influencer on a 365 days of womanhood campaign.

Viral Video Shows Homophobic Karen Freak Out on Lesbian Couple in Starbucks

Regardless of Michaelis dedication to rid himself of every Jack Daniels item he owns, his critics on Reddit read him to filth.

He just threw away a lot of his own money, a Reddit user replied under the video.

Watch as I burn about 60$ of my own shit while I stomp around like a big baby for 3 fucking minutes, someone else wrote. Im sure the people at jack daniels are terrified right now.

Glad he had his big boy pants on for this, another user wrote.

Michaelis did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment Monday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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We are truly blessed when it comes dining out here in Singapore as the choices are aplenty  from hawker centres to award-winning restaurants  there's something for even the fussiest or most sophisticated palate.

When it comes to Sundays, I used to have this routine where I'd go out with friends for dim sum, and savour meals at different restaurants just so we'd have a list that we can recommend to friends who are visiting. Nowadays, with the inclusion of food delivery apps, when I do have a dim sum craving, ordering in and enjoying food at home is another luxury to have. But nothing beats eating out with friends, and enjoying that communal spirit of sharing!

Here are some of the best dim sum restaurants that are on my bookmark list that I always fall back on  are they your favourites too?

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1. Wah Lok, Carlton Hotel

Dim sum at Wah Lok restaurant, Carlton Hotel. (PHOTO: Wah Lok)

The award-winning Wah Lok restaurant has been serving delectable Cantonese cuisine and warm service since 1988. Their go-to dim sums include classic favourites like Baked Barbecue Pork Buns and Steamed Crab Meat & Egg White Dumplings, as well as stellar dishes such as Deep-fried Century Egg wrapped with Minced Shrimps, and Lobster Mee Sua. Bear in mind that dim sum is only available during lunch service and reservations is advisable as the place gets filled up pretty quickly.

Book a stay at Carlton Hotel

2. 5 on 25, Andaz Singapore

Dim sum at 5 On 25, Andaz Singapore. (PHOTO: Reta Lee/Yahoo Life Singapore)

Helmed by executive Chef Lim Hong Lih who has two decades of experience under his belt, 5 On 25 is a modern upscale restaurant that is a deeply romantic take on the classic Chinese supper club.

From now till 9th April, 5 On 25 is playing host to Executive Chinese Chef Chan Hon Cheong of Cantonese restaurant, One Harbour Road, which was awarded The Plate Michelin in Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, together with talented Dim Sum Chef Lam Chun Shan. Diners can look forward to exquisite hand-crafted morsels of dim sum delights, main courses, desserts, and set menus, alongside mesmerising views from level 25 and an exceptional selection of wines and tea. What we would recommend: steamed pork and shrimp dumplings with abalone, steamed chicken, Chinese yam and wolfberry dumplings, baked pineapple buns Hong Kong style and baked minced pork and turnip pastries.

For restaurant reservations, visit here or call +65 6408 1228.

Book a stay at Andaz Singapore

3. Empress, Asian Civilisations Museum

Try the Weekend Dim Sum brunch at Empress at Asian Civilisations Museum. (PHOTO: Empress)

Located in the iconic Asian Civilisations Museum, Empress is a smart casual Chinese restaurant for guests who are looking to have an uplifting and lively dining experience. Their Weekend Dim Sum brunch, S$63, is always a star, and you can opt for favourites like siew mai, crispy shrimp rolls, steamed molten egg custard buns and stir-fried turnip cake. Just come with a huge appetite and room for house wine, beer or prosecco with just a top-up of S$45.

Visit the Asian Civilisations Museum

4. Yum Cha, Chinatown

Dim sum at Yum Cha restaurant, Chinatown. (PHOTO: Yum Cha)

A well-known and much-loved destination for Dim Sum, Yum Cha in Chinatown satisfies grandpa, tiny tykes and everyone in between with classic Cantonese cuisine. Tried-and-true renditions of Xiao Long Bao, Prawn Dumplings, Fish Roe Siew Mai and more come piping hot from the kitchen are always the crowd's favourites. Furthermore, you can't go wrong with over 60 types of dim sum with the hi-tea a la carte buffet-style with affordable pricing.

Book a stay at Hotel 1900, Chinatown

5. Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen, Great World City

Dim sum at Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen, Great World City. (PHOTO: Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen)

Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen showcases an extensive repertoire of classic and inventive Cantonese dim sum, roast meats, noodles and congee, expertly-executed wok-fried specialities, as well as home-style dishes. Fuss-free and always delectable, my go-to dim sums are always, without fail, the carrot cake, roasted pork, siew mai and chee cheong fun with shrimps.

Try this terrarium DIY workshop at Great World City
SACRAMENTO, Calif.  This Easter, Americans will devour more than 1 billion Peeps  those radiant marshmallow chicks whose appearance on store shelves each year is as much a herald of spring as azaleas at the Masters.

What makes the treats so vibrant is erythrosine, a chemical that shows up on ingredient labels as Red No. 3. It's one of several chemicals, along with titanium dioxide, used to color some of the most popular candy in the country  including Skittles and Hot Tamales.

Both chemicals have been linked to cancer. More than 30 years ago, U.S. regulators banned Red No. 3 from makeup. The U.S. still has not banned the chemical from food, to the dismay of some consumer safety groups.

Now, a state lawmaker wants to ban erythrosine and titanium dioxide in California, plus three other chemicals used in everyday favorites like tortillas and some store brand sodas.

The bill has prompted headlines around the world declaring California wants to ban Skittles and other candy. Assembly member Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat who authored the bill, said he wants to ban the chemicals, not the candy. He said plenty of alternative ingredients are available, noting the chemicals are already banned in Europe and that companies still find a way to sell candy there.

"They still produce Skittles in other parts of the world. What they do is they take out these toxic ingredients, and they replace them with something else," Gabriel said. "What we really want is for these companies to make the same minor modifications to their recipes that they made in Europe and elsewhere."

The National Confectioners Association, the trade group that represents candy companies, says it's not that easy. Tastes vary across cultures, it said, meaning just because a candy is accepted by Europeans doesn't mean it will be received well in the United States. Plus, changing ingredients would be a hardship for regional candy makers who don't sell their products overseas, according to the trade group.

"There's a lot more here at play than a simple soundbite solution," said Christopher Gindlesperger, spokesperson for the association. "We need a comprehensive look at this to make sure there isn't unintended consequences for chocolate and candy companies."

In addition to erythrosine and titanium dioxide, the bill would ban potassium bromate and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods, and brominated vegetable oil, which is used in some store brand sodas.

The U.S. has allowed dyes like erythrosine in food since 1907. Decades later, researchers found rats exposed to lots of erythrosine over a long time developed thyroid cancer. In 1990, based in part off of that research, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned erythrosine from cosmetics.

Consumer safety groups have tried for years to get the agency to ban the chemical in food to no avail. Researchers have since linked the chemical to other health problems besides cancer, including hyperactivity and other neurobiological behaviors in some children, according to a 2021 report from the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

The International Association of Color Manufacturers argued in a 2021 statement that California study was "based on insufficient scientific evidence."

Titanium dioxide is a white powder that, because it scatters light, can make colors appear brighter. It's been used for 100 years in products like paints, paper, rubber, toothpaste, soap and food coloring. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed titanium dioxide as a possible carcinogen in humans. The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association maintains there is no evidence of it causing cancer in humans.

The candy industry insists the chemicals California is considering banning "have been thoroughly reviewed by the federal and state systems and many international scientific bodies and continue to be deemed safe," according to a letter signed by various industry trade groups.

"These scientifically based regulatory processes should be allowed to continue without second guessing their outcomes," the letter stated.

Scott Faber, senior vice president for governmental affairs for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, said the only reason the chemical is still deemed safe by federal regulators is because of a loophole that has been exploited by chemical companies. He says regulators have not reviewed their prior decisions in light of new science.

"The confectioners and the food industry know the review process at the FDA is broken. They have been hiding behind it for decades. We shouldn't let them hide behind it anymore," Faber said. "If FDA won't fix this review system and keep us safe from dangerous chemicals in our food, it's up to states like California to keep us safe."

Just Born Inc., the Pennsylvania-based company that makes Peeps, said in a statement the company complies with FDA regulations and gets their "ingredients and packaging exclusively from reputable suppliers who adhere to high quality and safety standards."

The company noted its development team is looking for other options.

Photos: Easter week traditions around the world
SAC CITY, Iowa -- A Lake View, Iowa, man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing a female juvenile.

William Biller Jr., 47, pleaded guilty Monday in Sac County District Court to single counts of third-degree sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child.

In addition to sentencing Biller to prison, District Judge Adria Kester ordered him to register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry and he must serve a lifetime special sex offender sentence after he completes his prison sentence. If he were to violate terms of the special sentence, he could be sent back to prison.

Biller also must pay $400 in civil penalties. As part of a plea agreement, two counts each of third-degree sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child and one count of indecent contact with a child were dismissed.

Biller touched the girl beneath her clothes on numerous occasions from February 2017 to May 2017 at a home in Early, Iowa. The girl, who was under age 16 at the time, reported it to the sheriff's office in August.
SALIX, Iowa  Nikki Haley brought up foreign policy and the national debt, while stumping in Salix on Monday, but what the 2024 Republican presidential hopeful said concerns her most is "national self-loathing."

"The idea that people are saying America is bad or that it's rotten, or that it's racist. I was elected the first female minority governor in history. America is not racist. We're blessed. Our children need to learn to love America," Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, said during a town hall-style campaign event at Port Neal Welding Company.

Haley, a former governor of South Carolina and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, announced her candidacy for president on Feb. 14. She is on her third swing through Iowa. The 51-year-old is slated to visit Denison, Storm Lake and Fort Dodge on Tuesday with Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, Iowa, before attending a campaign event Wednesday in Des Moines. Before introducing Haley in Salix, Feenstra told the crowd he is fighting against the Biden Administration's "liberal, progressive agenda."

Nikki Haley Port Neal campaign Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, signs autographs after talking Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in

"It's a fight every day. We have hearings every day you never hear about. You know why? Because the media never wants to talk about it," he said. "We're having hearings on COVID. We're having hearings on Afghanistan, you name it."

With a microphone in her hand, Haley paced around the concrete floor. She was surrounded by members of the public and the media, as she spoke about growing up in rural South Carolina between a cotton farm and a dairy farm.

"We weren't white enough to be white nor Black enough to be Black. They didn't know who we were, what we were, or why we were there," she said. "And, when I would get teased on the playground, my mom would say, 'Your job is not to show them how you're different. Your job is to show them how you're similar. Don't you think we could use a little bit of that right now?" she said to applause.

PHOTOS: Nikki Haley campaigns at Port Neal Welding Close Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, talks Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Haley is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina. Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, listens as Dan Keane, of Sioux City, asks about a question about domestic enemies Monday, during a campaign appearance Haley made at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Haley is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina. Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, paces the floor while speaking Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, signs autographs after talking Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, walks into a campaign event in front of U.S. Congressman Randy Feenstra, R-IA, Monday at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Haley is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina. Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, talks Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Haley is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina. Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, talks Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, listens as Dan Keane of Sioux City asks about a question about domestic enemies Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Haley is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina. U.S. Congressman Randy Feenstra, R-IA, introduces Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Haley is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former governor of South Carolina. +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9

Haley said South Carolina was a "double-digit unemployment state" that had been "hurting." But after she was elected to two terms as governor, Haley said Boeing was producing planes there and more BMWs were being built there than in any place in the world.

"They were referring to South Carolina as the beast of the southeast, which I still love. And, then, I got the call for the United Nations," she said. "When I got there, I knew I wanted to do one main thing -- I wanted countries to know what America was for and what America was against. I didn't care if they didn't like me. But, I wanted them to respect America."

Nikki Haley Port Neal campaign Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, paces the floor while speaking Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in

Haley touted pulling the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal and moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as accomplishments. She cited taking the "kick me sign off of our back at the United Nations" as a highlight of her tenure as a U.N. ambassador. She told the crowd they don't have to turn on their TVs to know why she's running for president.

"You feel it at the grocery store. You feel it in your wallet. You feel it in your kids' schools. You feel it just around town. It's bad. Randy mentioned $31 trillion in debt. We are now having to borrow money just to make our interest payments," she said. "It's easy to blame Biden. But, our Republicans did that to us, too -- $2.2 trillion COVID spending bill with no accountability, expanded welfare, 90 million Americans on Medicaid, 42 million Americans on food stamps."

Haley said children are in a "world of hurt," after two years of pandemic lockdowns. Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act, sometimes referred to by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, didn't go far enough, according to Haley.

"That's not for school bureaucrats to teach. That's what you learn at home. Parents should be able to parent. Teachers should teach English, history, science, math. They don't need to be parenting. Parents know what's best for their kids," she said.

Nikki Haley Port Neal campaign Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, listens as Dan Keane, of Sioux City, asks about a question about domestic enemies Monday, d

Nikki Haley Port Neal campaign Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, talks Monday, during a campaign appearance at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa. Haley is a 

After speaking for around 30 minutes, Haley answered questions from members of the public. A man asked her what she would do to stop the Chinese from buying up farmland.

"If it's something related to national security, like buying up farmland, whether it's food supply or whether it's military, you stop it," she said. "I don't care if Americans buy T-shirts and lightbulbs from China any more than I care if they buy agricultural products from us. But if it's a national security threat, that's what we cut out. That's what we have to deal with."

Another man asked Haley about her stance on fossil fuels. She responded that she's "an energy addition person" and that she thinks people "shouldn't have to pick from one to the other."

"But, if you really care about the environment, talk to India, talk to China because they're not doing anything about it. We're really good when it comes to our emissions," she said. "I would rather us do anything that we can in America to avoid getting dirty oil from Venezuela and going hat in hand to Saudi Arabia."
SIOUX CITY  Tuesday morning, the Missouri River Historical Development awarded a whole lot of grant money.

$750,000, to be exact.

The organization, also known by the acronym MRHD, named Iowa's West Coast Initiative, a local non-profit, the grant recipient during a ceremony at the Sioux City Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Anthem. The money is meant to redevelop a long-vacant property at 615 Douglas St. into an "Innovation Center" that will have three floors and feature such amenities as a food hall, tech lab, business space and recording studios.

"Were grateful to receive MRHDs assistance and were excited to share the concept of the Innovation Center with the entire Siouxland community," Iowa West Coast Initiative Board Chair Michelle Bostinelos said. "Weve spent the last several years developing our plans and analyzing the overall sustainability of the facility and were confident this project will be a success."

On the first floor of the Innovation Center, which will be between Sioux City Police headquarters and Lamb Arts, there will be a food hall filled with regional cuisine options from new and existing restaurants and food trucks, according to MRHD. The second floor will house the tech lab and allow for startups to do coding and prototype work for software, robotics and automation. And the third floor is going to feature business co-working space and rentable offices and conference rooms. Siouxland Public Media will share space on the floor and have broadcasting and recording booths on the first floor.

615 Douglas Street A currently vacant building is shown at 615 Douglas St. in downtown Sioux City Thursday, April 6, 2023. The Missouri River Historic Developmen

"MRHD is proud to support this project as it aligns perfectly with the goals of our Economic Development Match Grant," said MRHD President Steve Huisenga. "This project brings numerous stakeholders together, and will create opportunities for entrepreneurial activity and job creation in Siouxland."

Interior demolition work is expected to begin in the building in June and end in August. Building renovations are slated to stretch from October 2023 through December 2024 and the grand opening for the Innovation Center is set for January 2025.

The city of Sioux City itself has allocated $400,000 in matching funds through its Capital Improvement Program. And Ho-Chunk, Inc. gave an in-kind donation for Iowa's West Coast Initiative to collaborate with its in-house architecture firm, BluStone Architecture, to craft preliminary designs, renderings and cost estimates.

Iowa's West Coast Initiative's stated goal is, in part, to "increase entrepreneurial activity in northwest Iowa and support small business growth."

The building at 615 Douglas St., once known as the Wetmore Building, has been unoccupied since 2006. Completed in 1916 (county property records erroneously list it as having been built in 1920), the brick "fireproof" building originally housed the auto dealership of Harry A. Wetmore, who sold Saxon Motor Cars there, according to archival news coverage. Wetmore was also a noted Sioux City dealer in Chalmers automobiles and Excelsior motorcycles.

The building remained a car dealership for several years; the Harrington-Ellis Motor Co. was housed there in the early 1930s.

By the mid-1930s, the Verstegen Printing and Lithographing Co. had set up shop in the building. In the early 1970s, Standard Office Equipment moved into the building and would remain there for about 30 years.

In 2019, the blighted building was listed on Preservation Iowa's Most Endangered Properties list due to water damage and lack of maintenance. It had been red tagged as unfit for occupation in 2017, and the city at that time considered ordering its demolition if action wasn't taken to fix the building's various problems.

The Journal's Mason Dockter contributed.
DAKOTA CITY, Neb.  Nearly a year and a half ago, Dakota County Historical Society President Dennis Reinert and a small team of archaeological investigators came up empty-handed while looking for a lost cemetery believed to be the oldest in the area.

Tuesday morning, as he stood in a field halfway between Dakota City and Homer, Nebraska, near F Avenue, Reinert had renewed confidence that what once was Omadi Cemetery would soon be found.

"Before, we were guessing," Reinert said over the phone. "Now, I'm 90% certain this is it."

A brief history

The Omadi Cemetery, also known as Sand Ridge, only really operated from 1856 through about 1866 and served the long-since abandoned village of Omadi, Nebraska, according to Reinert. He said it may have contained several dozen people at one time and would be the oldest graveyard in Dakota County. When people left the town of about 400, for promises of gold in Colorado or to get away from an encroaching Missouri River, the cemetery stopped having much purpose.

Reinert previously said he came to know of the site while talking with "an old-timer" who asked him if he knew about Dakota County's first cemetery. "I immediately thought of the Dakota City cemetery but the old timer said, 'No, it was the old Omadi.'"

In October 2021, Reinert welcomed a team of archaeological investigators to a property near 210th Street where they believed the former burial site sat. Using what's known as ground-penetrating radar, which sends electromagnetic waves into the ground and receives any reflected pulses they encounter, the team spent hours combing through a field of grass and wildflowers in an attempt to find buried headstones or signs of soil disturbance where a grave might have been dug. Any readings taken would then be furthered analyzed, offsite, on a computer.

"If you dig a hole, you can't put the dirt back in the same way it came out," Reinert said.

Possible Omadi Cemetery site overhead This overhead map of the Dakota County field, halfway between Dakota City and Homer, Nebraska, is from the 1930s and is believed to show evide

About eight weeks ago, Reinert said he received a picture of property, in the 2000 block of F Avenue in Dakota City, from North Sioux City resident Mike Huber who had seen coverage of the 2021 endeavor.

"(I was) doing research for other projects, it was a 1930s aerial photo I was looking at for the whole region and I just zoomed in and that particular tract stood out," Huber said.

The new proposed spot for Omadi Cemetery is less than two miles away from where the town existed.

Once he learned of the "new location," Reinert helped put together an investigative team that included a state archaeologist Dave Williams, who works with History Nebraska, and Bob and Catherine Nickel of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Omadi Cemetery Mapping Catherine and Bob Nickel guide a ground-penetrating radar device across a field in Dakota County Nebraska on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

A husband-and-wife duo, the Nickels were responsible for guiding the radar across the field. The process is to go back-and-forth in one-half meter increments.

"How many meters total?" Catherine Nickel asked. Bob Nickel responded: "Too many."

Though they didn't find anything in 2021, the pair were back on Tuesday morning to try and find Omadi once more.

"Pretty much why you do it," Catherine Nickel said. "Hoping to find something."

Williams said he was contracting with the Nickels family to take field notes and assist with the data-gathering process in whatever way possible. If any irregularities arise during the processing stage, he said the team could cordon off specific sections of the land for further analysis.

"If it looks like we've got the Omadi Cemetery out here, we'll look at steps to protect it," Williams said.

Difficulties

Though the Nickels haven't actually been tasked with looking for an entire cemetery before, Catherine said they do have experience searching for unmarked graves. In addition, the married couple's looked for Native villages in the Dakotas and scoured Cape Canaveral for shipwrecks.

Nickel said working with ground-penetrating radar in a field used for agriculture can be tricky because its tougher to tell ground disturbances apart. Williams added, "It's a tilled field. We aren't seeing any depressions that would say there are graves here."

To muddle things even more, the piece of land the crew was exploring didn't go right up to any boundary lines. It was right in the middle of the field.

"(It's) not lined up with any section lines anywhere," Reinert said.

One further complicating factor: the proposed carbon-capture pipeline from Navigator could bisect the land where the Omadi Cemetery may be hiding. Landowner Sheila Curiel, who is opposed to the proposal, suggested the discovery of a piece of history may alter those plans.

"This is so bizarre to me," Curiel said. "I hadn't ever heard there was any chance of anything (here)." Prior to getting the phone call from Reinert, Curiel said she didn't "know him from a hill of beans."

Records for the Omadi Cemetery are also quite spotty as it went by two names and its cemetery board merged with the Omaha Valley Cemetery Board at some unknown point in time.

"So it gets really weird," Reinert's wife, Sally, said. She has been helping out with Historical Society work as long as her husband has. The two former educators joined the organization together as a way to see more of each other and learn all they can about the county.

What's next?

If the Omadi Cemetery does get discovered on Curiel's land, both she and Dennis Reinert said they would make sure to mark the space in someway. In fact, Dennis Reinert said he has talked with the Dakota County Commissioners about getting signage for the area.

When asked about the importance of finding the burial yard, Reinert was unequivocal.

"I think it's obvious: It's the first and oldest cemetery in the county," he said. "It's important to save at least that history."
HOLSTEIN, Iowa -- The Volkert Brothers farm families of Ida County will be honored with the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will present the award at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Cobblestone Inn in Holstein.

Owned and operated by brothers Lane and the late Larry Volkert and their families, their operation started in 1970 after the brothers' return from service in the Vietnam War. In the family for 117 years, the farm was recognized as a Century Farm in 2006.

The Volkerts raise corn, soybeans and hay in addition to feeding cattle and hogs. They practice conservation measures such as no-till and minimum till, grassed waterways and headlands and have built retaining walls in cattle yards that work as a catch basin and filter strip.

They have been longtime members of the Ida County Cattlemen, Iowa Cattlemen's Association and the Iowa Corn Growers Association, and have held various council and committee positions in St. Paul Lutheran Church in Holstein. In addition to being members of American Legion Post 225, Lane and Larry Volkert were involved in numerous other community boards and organizations.

Lane and Lori Volkert have three daughters and seven grandchildren. Larry, who died in 2020, and Janet Volkert have two daughters and four grandchildren.

The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who care for the environment and their animals and have shown a commitment to their community. It's named in honor of Gary Wergin, a longtime WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award.
One of the two Black Democrats who were expelled last week from the GOP-led Tennessee House has been reinstated. Nashvilles governing council voted Monday to send Justin Jones straight back to the Legislature. He quickly returned to the chamber after being sworn in on the Capitol steps. The council vote returns Jones to the Capitol after just four days. Republicans banished the two 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.
Four years ago, I packed my Jeep with baby implements, bundled up my 11-week-old, said goodbye to my dogs, and left my husband in the middle of the night. It was an easy decision: No child could grow up to have healthy relationships in that house. In the past, I would tell friends who were divorcing that their job was now to show their kids healthy relationships. It was a formula: you date briefly, find someone better for you, and model good communication for your child. As a scientist, I planned to use my own formula. I had heard the phrase a revolving door of men to describe women who date freely post-divorce and knew to avoid that, even though my ex would probably not be held to the same standard. But dating post-divorce changed my perspective on how these relationships affect my daughter and me. I now believe that single moms who date men should embrace the revolving door mentality, balking single-mom stereotypes and welcoming the benefits that dating freely can bring to their family.

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Predictably, the trope of the single mom who dates freely and to the assumed detriment of her children has no parallel when used to describe single dads. Perhaps its because fathers stereotypically have less custody time than mothers, and therefore more latitude to have partners coming and going. Or perhaps its because, as Ive heard for as long as I can remember, theres an idea that men cant be alone, and so their dating is seen as more forgivable. To this point, shortly after separating, I got word that my childs father was dating; he met his current partner quickly, and they have been together for most of my daughters life.

The effects of parental dating on childrens well-being havent been studied much. But research on single parenting in general supports the notion that single moms are judged more harshly than single dads. In one experiment, participants were asked to read a vignette about a hypothetical single parent mediating a conflict between their two school-age children. For half of the participants, researchers named the parent Lisa, and for the other half of the participants, they named the parent Tim. Researchers then asked participants to rate the parent on personal characteristics and parenting abilities. Participants who received the Lisa vignette rated her as less secure, less responsible, less satisfied with life, less moral, less reputable, and less of a good parent than participants who received the Tim vignette. Researchers surmised that single dads in these situations are seen as admirable, while single moms are seen as failing in their roles as mothers. These moms were somehow implicitly at fault for not keeping their families together in the first place.

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Single moms like me dont need research to tell us that these biases exist, and we anticipate similar sentiments from friends, family, and co-workers when entering the dating scene. This could be why single moms are 40 percent less likely to re-partner after divorce than their childless counterparts and are also less likely to re-partner than single dads are. If I am perceived as less moral in refereeing an argument over which cartoon my kid wants to watch, how harshly will I be judged if I choose to date three different men on three consecutive weekends?

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And so, perhaps unsurprisingly, dating did not go as smoothly for me as for my ex. A confluence of deadly airborne virus, PTSD, and new family revelations rendered me pretty undatable. I also didnt have a night alone until my daughter started overnights with her dad at age 3. At that point, I was simply too tired to be an engaged date. Once COVID-19 vaccines were readily available, and after almost three years of therapy, I did start dating. And surprisingly, it was really fun, but learning to navigate the revolving door was also hard.

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Here are some things it taught me:

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A revolving-door mentality allows you to find someone with emotional maturity. After coming out of a tumultuous relationship, I have high standards for everyones behavior (including my own). I have been through therapy and done endless self-reflection; unfortunately, much of the dating pool in my age group has not. Many potential partners have moved from marriage directly into new relationships without doing the work required to be a good partner. For example, a date once told me he didnt need to do any work on himself post-divorce because the breakup hadnt been his fault: His wife decided she was gay. On dating apps, I unmatch immediately with anyone who is passive-aggressive or possessive. A match got snippy when I didnt text him for eight hours; there was no first date. A first date asked why I left my husband while I was still hormonal postpartum; there was no second date. Those early red flags come fast; Im confident in accepting them and advancing the door. A rigorous screening process means that relationships end with little drama. I date only good guys long-term, so when we break up, theres no yelling or swearing or door-slamming. Someone (often me) isnt ready for something serious. Or its bad timing. Or shockingly, the person is afraid of energetic black Labs. Or preschoolers. Sometimes Im sad, but no drama means Im not distracted from parenting, and eventually my daughter will appreciate the lesson that you dont ever stay in a relationship thats not right for you. The revolving door has been good for my daughter. She benefits from my dating because the work required by each new relationship reveals a more evolved mom for hera more self-aware, compassionate, empathetic momthat she wouldnt have if I had settled down immediately. Im learning how to communicate within healthy relationships, so we share feelings freely and she knows I will always consider her perspective. Im learning to express needs and so she is too. Most importantly, I have confronted communication dysfunction that I dont accept from myself in relationships and that she consequently wont observe and internalize.

To be sure, criticism of single moms who adopt a revolving-door mentality often references not just the number of dating partners but the number of partners a single mom introduces to her child. Some who levy these critiques express concern that kids can get attached to new partners only to lose them. But according to the research, few moms exhibit poor judgment in this area; in fact, single dads are much more likely than single moms to find both overnights and vacations away with a new partner and the kids to be acceptable. Maybe this is because single dads perceive themselves as held in high regard, report high levels of self-esteem, and dont doubt their adequacy as parents. Their increased likeliness of finding a new partner is often called the good father effect, wherein potential partners see custodial dads as more attractive because of their commitment to family, whereas managing family life does not reap similar dating benefits for single moms. Those concerned about kids attachment to dating partners should also keep in mind that research going back to Darwin suggests that women are more discerning in choosing partners than men; in other words, if a woman introduces a partner to her child, we should trust her to know what is best for her family.

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In my own dating life, my daughters hypothetical attachment to my dating partners has not factored heavily: As a 4-year-old, she doesnt remember people she saw every day last school year, let alone a male friend she met a few times. But as she matures, I dont plan to hide this part of my life from her. I will be open with her about my dating life because, as my research and the research of other family communication scholars consistently shows, open communication is good for families. Democratic communication between parents and children protects kids from negative outcomes and promotes positive outcomes such as well-being. This is especially true for families that might be considered at-risk: military families in which a parent is deployed, families in bad neighborhoods, and families of divorce. I worry less about the effects of dating openly in front of my daughter than I do about the consequences of leading a double life, although she would probably be a fanshes really into superheroes right now.

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I remember the moment my friend dropped the news that my ex was dating. We were sitting in a food court while I balanced my 6-month-old in one hand and oatmeal in the other. (It seems as if Ive been juggling some version of my child and quick, nutrient-dense food for the past four years.) If you had asked me then what I would learn when I finally started dating, I might have answered Ill learn to trust again or Ill learn what its like to feel safe. While these things have happened, dating has taught me more about communicating with my daughter than it has about relationships themselves. Now, when friends divorce, I tell them that the gift they are giving their children is that of a whole, healthy mother.
The United States locks up more people than almost every other nation. To dethrone us from that perch, scholars have crunched the numbers: Targeting only low-level, drug, and non-violent offenses will not meaningfully cut prison populations. Reckoning with mass incarceration demands reducing reliance on prisons for conduct that our criminal laws deem violent. To produce such a significant dent in our prisons, political leaders and scholars turn to prosecutors, academics, policy wonks, and sometimes community groups for strategies. Underneath this hierarchy hides an unquestioned intuition: Those who benefit from freedom hold a monopoly on how to shrink prisons. So self-evident is this premise that it conceals a counterintuitive phenomenon: Promising strategies to reduce prison populations for violent crime have been incubated inside prison walls.

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In a recent paper, I reveal how people behind bars have created concepts and strategies that have opened up new possibilities to reduce incarceration and reduce crime. In fact, lawyers, researchers, policymakers, and abolitionists have harnessed these inside moves to do just that.

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Take one example. After the 2014 Ferguson uprising, the slogan invest-divest, a shorthand for divesting monies from punishment and investing in communities, swept the nation. The Movement for Black Lives popularized the saying, which has earned movement and empirical support as a promising path to reducing crime and punishment. Far less is known about the mottos intellectual roots.

Organizer Mariame Kaba recounts first hearing the catchphrase uttered by the late activist and former Black Panther Eddie Ellis. In the early 2000s, nearly two decades before it became a household name, Ellis prioritized invest-divest in room after room after room. As Kaba writes, Ellis learned about the concept from someone before him. But who? The formulation traces its origins back to a think tankone created inside a maximum security prison.

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In 1971, more than 1,000 prisoners took over the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York to protest dehumanizing conditions and racial abuse in American prisons and jails. Scholars have documented the states brutal operation to reclaim the prison. Less well-known is the intellectual movement that followed.

After the Attica rebellion, the New York State Department of Corrections issued a directive to send the states toughest convicts to Green Haven prison. Several people shipped to the maximum security prison formed a study group called the Think Tank. The groups founder, Larry White, reasoned that people in prison needed new strategies of resistance that mobilized ideas.

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Between 1971 and 1981, the New York state prison population underwent a meteoric rise. To counter the states impulse to fill more prisons with more bodies, the Think Tank developed a concept and a methodology to show that incarceration was not a viable solution to crime. The Attica Brothers conceptualized the prison not as a discrete site, but as a relationship between the state and Black and Latinx communities in, at the time, urban spaces. Enlarging on this concept, Think Tank founder Larry White called it a direct relationship. Members of the Think Tank knew about this direct relationship from everyday observation: In every prison they were in, they kept seeing the same peopleeither directly from their own neighborhood or within two degrees of separation (a friend or someone also in prison knew them).

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To support their anecdotal evidence that the state prison population appeared to be drawn from a very small pool of neighborhoods, Think Tank member Eddie Ellis had an idea: to identify the ZIP codes that supplied the growth in the state prison population. Reaching out to a Black-led urban research center for technical support, the study group cross-referenced New York state census data with state Department of Corrections population data. The data showed, at the time, that 75 percent of the states entire prison population came from just seven neighborhoods in New York City. The neighborhoods were set apart by extreme poverty and social conditionshousing, employment, schools, health care, life expectancy, and infant mortalitythat rank[ed] at the very bottom in the state.

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Armed with the geographic data, the Think Tank elaborated on their theoryabout the direct relationship between the prison and the communitiesas an overinvestment in prisons and a disinvestment in the neighborhoods disproportionately replenishing the prisons. The study group proposed a radical plan: to redirect funds from the state prison budget toward economic and social development in the seven neighborhoods. They captioned this proposal The Non-Traditional Approach to Criminal and Social Justice.

Conducted and issued in 1979 and issued again in 1990, the study won little attention. In 1992, when Ellis was on work release, two years shy of completing a 25-year prison term, the New York Times reported on the groups findings. The Times front-page article introduced mainstream circles to the Think Tanks analysis of the umbilical cord between the state prison system and the seven neighborhoods.

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The Think Tanks research was one of the earliest studies of the spatial concentration of incarceration. Scholars and researchers referenced, replicated, and tested the groups early findings. With the Think Tanks data and access to greater resourcesincluding geo-mapping software and residential addressesresearcher Eric Cadora plotted at the census block level what the Think Tank identified at the district level. Cadora then collaborated with architect Laura Kurgan to map the home address of everyone in New York state prison. The large-scale maps bore out the Think Tanks findings in graphic detail: The vast majority of the state prison population came from an astonishingly small number of poor, segregated, predominantly Black and Latinx neighborhoods and were concentrated primarily on specific blocks in those neighborhoods. Cadora and Kurgan affixed a dollar amount to denote when New York spent at least $1 million a year to incarcerate residents of a single city block, coining the now-famed expression Million-Dollar Blocks.

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Neighborhood-to-prison mapping soon became a national initiative. The maps showed the same stark pattern in cities across the nation. Examining the data visualizations, policymakers began to question why their states were spending millions to imprison people but little on their communities. Gathering a different set of data and framing that data differently made the social and economic dimensions of incarceration more understandable to a wide range of stakeholders.

The Think Tanks pioneering research upended the dominant narrative of crime and punishment. The Green Haven study shifted attention from where crimes are committed to where people lived before entering prison, fundamentally redefining public safety and the metrics used to measure it. The law enforcement worldview, whose muse is high-crime areas, now competed with the stark view from below: high-incarceration neighborhoods. The theoretical frame and data collection ushered in new ways of thinking about criminal law and new ways of advocating for change. The Think Tank urged targeted investments in high-incarceration neighborhoods, a once-fantasy concept that scholars, scientists, and policy analysts are championing today in an attempt to dramatically reduce reliance on incarceration.

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The groundbreaking concept and method were born in prison, by people surrounded by people in prison, who contemplated their oppression in a framework rooted in the Black intellectual tradition. Despite their exclusion from society, the Think Tank guided our democracy to new routes to reduce the reach and harms of the carceral state.

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Due to the systemic operation of mass imprisonment in this nation, people in prison have insight on what is happening on the outside by the aggregated phenomena they observe on the inside. If community leaders are coming out of our prisons, investing in their visions for neighborhood safety is an overlooked form of investing in the communities to which they will return. Reimagining the ambitious project of reducing prison populations demands a reorientation toward co-generating ideas alongside people banished from our polity. We have made tremendous use of their finished research but disregard the potential on the inside for unfinished ideas. Opening paths to discoverand emancipateinterventions percolating inside prison walls is essential to cultivating more effective, innovative, and humane possibilities to reduce crime and punishment.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit sits in New Orleans, a city built on a tangled crossroads of history and culture. That location sets an appropriate stage for appeal of the medication abortion case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. That case forces the 5th Circuits judges to confront what it means to be a judicial conservative, in contrast to a political one.

On April 7, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk held that the Food and Drug Administration erred in how it approved mifepristone, one of the two drugs widely used for a medication abortion, in 2000. He issued a stay, paused for seven days to allow an appeal, that would compel the FDA to suspend its longstanding approval of the drug. Because a majority of abortions in the United States are induced using mifepristone, his ruling has enormous practical impact, rivaling even the overruling of Roe v. Wade last year. His ruling is now on appeal to the 5th Circuit, the court of appeals with jurisdiction over federal trial courts in Texas.

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That appeal forces a choice between two concepts of what it means to be conservative. To put it broadly, a political conservative one who favors certain policy results, and a judicial conservative one who favors a particular process for making judicial decisions.

In this setting, political conservatism dislikes abortion and favors policies that limit access to it. Political conservatives see such policies as consistent with a commitment to traditional values and the sanctity of life. They also prefer to see such matters handled at the state rather than the federal level.

In contrast, judicial conservatism is process-based, and skeptical of activism by judges that exceeds the limited role of interpreting laws made by other branches of government. Judicial conservatives see such activity as undermining the constitutional separation of powers, and risking congressional backlash that limits federal-court jurisdiction or significantly restructures the judiciary.

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Neither Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health nor the litigation about the constitutionality of S.B. 8 (Texas bounty-hunter law targeting abortion providers) presented tension between these ideas. In both of those situations, a politically conservative outcome (reduced abortion access) both reinforced, and was reinforced by, a judicially conservative approach (federal-court deference to laws duly enacted by state legislatures).

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The abortion-medication case presents a different situation. As a policy matter, Kacsmaryks ruling plainly reduces the availability of abortion. But unlike the Dobbs and S.B. 8 litigation, this case requires a procedural decision about the plaintiffs standing to bring the case in the first place. That decision brings political and judicial conservatism into direct conflict. No matter how strongly any judge may favor the politically conservative outcome of this ruling, that ruling can only be affirmed with an activist approach to standing.

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That is so because the plaintiffs in this case are a motley crew: Doctors who claim they may someday see a patient who took mifepristone and had a bad reaction, which is (they say) somehow traceable to the combination of a 23-year-old FDA decision and the use of the U.S. Postal Service to mail mifepristone to doctors and patients. The law of standing ordinarily bars claims by plaintiffs with only speculative injury, and this case involves speculation added to more speculation.

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Make no mistake about it: If the 5th Circuit accepts that these plaintiffs have standing to challenge the FDAs approval of mifepristone, it will not be engaging in judicial conservatism. It will be assertively expanding the role of the federal courts in overseeing the nations health care systemnot to mention its postal system. A private attorney general is a well-known concept, but this case presents something different: the idea of a private postal inspector to enforce the archaic morality code in the Comstock Act.

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To be sure, many judges feel strongly about the matters at issue in this case. (For example, Ronald Reagan appointee and 5th Circuit judge Edith Jones memorably included a graphic photo of fetal tissue in a 2019 abortion opinion.) They may believe that the federal courts should address the plaintiffs concerns, even if their theory of standing is dodgy.

But the Supreme Court sounded a cautionary note about that way of thinking in the 2021 case of California v. Texas, where a Texas district judge and a 5th Circuit panel majority found that the plaintiffs had standing to challenge the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Acta law much maligned by political conservatives. The Supreme Court saw otherwise in California v. Texas, a 72 decision holding that the plaintiffs had no standing because their alleged injury had no connection to any law that the government could actually enforce.

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California v. Texas is no outlier. As recently pointed out in Slate, the plaintiffs counsel in the abortion-medication case had difficulty answering questions about redressabilitya similar standing doctrine that asks whether the requested relief will actually resolve the plaintiffs claimed injury.

And while Kacsmaryk was considering the abortion-medication case, a 5th Circuit panel cited California v. Texas in rejecting a challenge by several states to the Interim Estimates of a government study about greenhouse emissions, holding that an agencys reliance on the Interim Estimates when crafting a future regulation is mere conjecture.

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Notably, the Supreme Court decided California v. Texas with the same ideological makeup that it has today; while outgoing Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the majority opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett was already on the court. She joined his opinion, along with fellow conservatives Brett Kavanaugh and John Roberts, and with Clarence Thomas concurring. The Dobbs-era Supreme Court is well aware of the judicial strand of conservative thought, as well as the political.

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Procedurally, the 5th Circuits handling of this appeal will inevitably involve what appellate litigators call panel roulette. The case will first go to a three-judge panel to consider the governments application to stay the trial courts ruling, and then to a different three-judge panel to consider the merits of the appeal. The first ruling will likely be a decision this week by the initial panel on whether to grant an administrative stay while briefing on a longer interim stay plays out; the merits panel will likely not get the case for several more weeks. Both panels will have been randomly determined months ago, and it is truly luck of the draw as to what judges will participateand thus, what judicial philosophies may be brought to bear on the case in the first instance.

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But the full en banc court will have its eyes on this case from inception. Even if the case is not formally taken for en banc reconsideration after the merits panel rules, vigorous behind-the-scenes discussion among the full court is a certainty. In that discussion, the voices of the courts centrists (Leslie Southwick of Mississippi, and Catharina Haynes and Patricia Richman of Texas) and their views on the interplay of political and judicial conservatism will have particularly strong impact.

The 5th Circuit is well known as a conservative court. That courts resolution of the abortion-medication case will signal what adjectivepolitical or judicialshould precede that phrase. Unlike the controversial and high-profile merits of this case, the law about standing involves abstract and technical principles. But those principles are fundamental to the balance of powers, and a decision to give them short shrift so that these plaintiffs can sue will have consequences far beyond this one dispute.
Its bad enough when a trio of voter suppression groups led by charlatans gets together at an annual secret conference that is sponsored, in part, by a group created by the Federalist Societys Leonard Leo to talk about all the ways they might make it harder for people to register or vote in future elections. But it is much worse when the participants in that secret conference also include secretaries of state and other top election officials from 13 Republican-led states, plus Don Palmer, a member of the United States Election Assistance Commission, plus counsels to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the House Administration Committees Republican staff, and a sitting Texas state senator. The entire conferencewhose existence was revealed in a blockbuster report by the Guardian and Documented last weekshows that there is a thriving network of interlocking organizations working with elected and election officials to use unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud to try to mess with fair elections for partisan advantage.

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It is understandable if this particular report flew below the radar for you. We are all living in Steve Bannons Trumpian dreamworld in which flooding the zone with shit has become a remarkably successful political tactic. From the past weeks stories of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas failing to report lavish free vacations, including a $500,000 jaunt on a private plane, to a bonkers anti-abortion ruling from a Texas judge that bans an abortion drug and lays the groundwork for recognizing a fetus as a human being entitled to full constitutional protection, to the expulsion of two Black state legislators from the Tennessee Legislature because they had the temerity to protest gun violence fueled by a Supreme Court stuck in the 1790s toyesmore mass shootings, it is too easy to be distracted. But that doesnt change the fact that there are people meeting, behind closed doors, to plot out new paths to voter suppression, with direct implications for the type of democracy that we may have in the United States in 2024 and beyond.

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In some ways, this everything-everywhere-all-at-once vibe is simply, well, everywhere : Dark money donors capture the courts and the levers of government to make actual vote tallies irrelevant to who holds power. This story didnt start in Tennessee or the Amarillo district court. For nearly two decades, we have been chronicling the actions of members of the Fraudulent Fraud Squad who have been active in perpetuating claims of voter fraud to make it harder for people to vote. Members include people like Hans von Spakovsky of the Heritage Foundation and J. Christian Adams of the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF), who have long lied or exaggerated claims of pervasive election fraud to support their efforts to crack down on normal voting.

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These hucksters have been at this for a long time. Von Spakovsky, for instance, served with Adams and former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach on former President Donald Trumps aborted Voter Fraud Commission. Documents from that commission later revealed a purposeful effort to generate enough smoke around nonexistent election shenanigans to cajole Congress into allowing states to require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. In other words, the commission was an elaborate search for a solution to a problem that never existed, but it made a play that has since been repeated elsewhere. Kobach tried to enforce just such a law in Kansas before a court found it illegal; it had already stopped about 30,000 people from successfully registering to vote at that point. But despite losing in courts, facing sanctions, and having their blue-ribbon commission debunked and disbanded, these zombies searching for a reason to make voting harder never fail to reemerge whenever there is someone someplace seeking to toss an election result for partisan gain. Arizona, of course, is trying to put in place the same discredited system of show us your papers voter registration that the courts roundly rejected in Kansas.

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All of this voter suppression requires an infrastructure. To help support it, Heritage and PILF have teamed up with Leonard Leos Orwellian-named Honest Elections Project (HEP), headed by Jason Snead, to run a new conference for election officials and the representatives of Republican lawmakers. Leo, lest we forget, has been in charge of reshaping the federal courts, selecting Donald Trumps judicial nominees, and figuring out how best to spend gobs of billionaire-donated money to reshape culture and democracy. The chillingly dishonest HEP not only supports these efforts to make voting harder but also the independent state legislature theory, which suggests that state legislatures should be able to pass whatever laws they like for running federal elections, unconstrained by state constitutions protecting the right to vote and state supreme courts that enforce the right. They even filed a brief to the Supreme Court favoring it.

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The election suppression noises are truly coming from inside the house.

Whats clear from the new reporting, and what may have flown somewhat under the radar last week, is that this is no longer just a lobbying effort shored up with big, often untraceable money, coming from players outside the system. Whats no longer hidden is the involvement of lawmakers and their staffs, who say the quiet parts out loud. Their enthusiastic participation in these efforts shows that these groups are not offering false and exaggerated claims of voter fraud merely to raise funds or even to delegitimize Democratic electoral victories by convincing the Republican base that when Democrats win elections, it is inevitably by fraud. Instead, the conference is powerful evidence of coordination between the decades-old voter fraudindustrial complex and state and government officials who actually have the power to make rules over how elections are run. To put it in the simplest terms, the election suppression noises are truly coming from inside the house.

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Participants at the conference no doubt learned the lesson we all gleaned from the aftermath of the 2020 election: No matter how much proof investigators, courts, and journalists amass to show that voter fraud is rare and almost never swings American elections, significant portions of the Republican base will always believe the false claims. Indeed, the more evidence they hear that there is no such thing as large-scale Election Day vote fraud, the more it leads them to distrust the investigators, courts, and journalists who attempt to debunk them. Those false claims then serve as the predicate to pass yet more laws intended to make it ever harder to vote for some voters who are seen as likely to vote for Democratsincluding poor voters, minority voters, and students. Never mind that sometimes these laws deter Republican voters and could actually cost Republicans elections. The important thing is to puff up the lie in order to justify draconian state legislative responses. And the participation of state entities that once took pride in serving as nonpartisan officials who sought only to administer elections fairly and efficiently prove that it is becoming vanishingly rare for election officials in the Republican Party to distance themselves from whatever formulation of the Big Lie best serves them, whether they personally believe it or not.

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Finally, the very existence of this conference also highlights the coming together of the fringe elements of the Republican party with its allegedly saner mainstream. As the Guardian noted, on PILFs board sits attorney Cleta Mitchell, who was deeply involved in Donald Trumps efforts to reverse the results of the 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere, based upon ridiculous and unproven claims of voter fraud. Sober election officials should be running away from organizations in which Mitchell and her ilk are involved. The choice to embrace them, and in so doing to help rehabilitate them, is to invite repeat performances of Jan. 6, 2021, in the future.

When the fringe gets to meet with top election and elected officials and their representatives, these ideas enter the Republican mainstream. They also lay the groundwork for future unwarranted voting crackdowns. One can speculate whether serious state actors are unaware that they are playing with fire by asking hard questions about how to deal with the nonexistent problem of massive voter fraud. But convenings such as this one suggest that they are willing and even eager to use whatever means are at their disposal to both foment national mistrust in future election contests and also to weaponize that mistrust into partisan election-suppression efforts to come.
The Singapore government has revealed details on attracting foreign professionals as companies prepare for one of the biggest updates to their visa scheme, which will come into effect in September, as reported by Nikkei Asia.

The government has released a list of 27 jobs that will be favored in the point-based assessment process. These jobs show what Singapore expects from global companies as it looks to grow its economy after the global pandemic.

The COMPASS

The new scheme is focused on employers' contributions to the local economy, which will drive businesses to adjust their hiring strategy to Singapore's economic priorities.

Foreign workers in SG make up about a quarter of the total population. The new visa scheme will apply to Employment Pass (EP), a work visa for foreign professional managers, executives, or those in specialized jobs.

Starting on September 1, Singapore will introduce point-based criteria called the COMPASS, as per NewLandChase. COMPASS stands for Complementarity Assessment Framework, which will evaluate the extent to which an EP candidate complements the workforce in the country.

All EP applicants will undergo a three-stage scoring system-0, 10 or 20 points across four criteria: salary, qualifications, the diversity of the hiring company, and local staff ratios. For new applicants to qualify for an EP, they must reach at least 40 points. EP applicants for 27 jobs in six industries can get up to 20 bonus points.

The government is also seeking more AI and data scientists, cloud and cybersecurity specialists, and software developers as Singapore faces a tech talent crunch. Those experienced in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector will be eligible for a longer five-year pass if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Read Also: Singapore Airlines Charges Man $1,200 For Using Wi-Fi During Flight

(Photo : by CATHERINE LAI/AFP via Getty Images)

Travellers arrive at the departure hall in Singapore Changi airport in Singapore on March 31, 2023. - A disruption at automated immigration clearance counters on March 31 led to rare delays at Singapore's Changi airport, affecting hundreds of travellers.

Singapore Economy

For the financial services sector, the country seeks investment advisers for high-net-worth individuals and family offices. On the other hand, Agritech talent is also needed with SG's plans to become Asia's food innovation hub.

The list will be reviewed every three years, but it can also be done annually if necessary. These review frequencies will help balance flexibility with certainty for businesses.

The new system will help ensure a strong core labor market and workforce diversity. Singapore has launched a new visa scheme prioritizing foreign talent specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and alternative food-the new program. The move aims to boost innovation and economic growth in the city-state.

The government believes that attracting top talent in these fields can strengthen its position as a global innovation hub. This will boost the Asian country's economy, propelling it into new horizons. It will also create a more diverse labor market to strengthen its workforce.

Related Article: Singapore Travel Series Features Reunion of Harry Potter Actors

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
After a recent school shooting in Nashville left six peoplethree of whom were childrendead, Democratic lawmakers joined a student-led demonstration for meaningful gun regulations on the floor of the Republican-controlled Tennessee House chamber. This peaceful protest infuriated their colleagues, and late last week, the Republican majority voted to expel two of the three lawmakers who protested, Rep. Justin J. Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, both young, and both Black. (The third protester, a white woman, Rep. Gloria Johnson, was not removed.) The expulsion strips tens of thousands of Tennessee voters of representation in that states government for violating the chambers decorum.

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Its also a warning sign. As Sherrilyn Ifill explained just a few weeks prior, in what I believed was a vitally important and prescient piece, stripping democratically elected lawmakers of their powers is the pernicious new version of old-school vote suppression. That feels true in Tennessee in a big way. I recently had Ifill, the former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and a senior fellow at the Ford Foundation, on Amicus to talk about what happened in Tennessee. Our conversation has been edited for clarity

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Dahlia Lithwick: This feels like a break-the-glass moment for democracy. It also feels as though its a direct rebuke to our practice of watching the popularity polling to see which presidential candidate is popular, because it assumes that voting will still matter.

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Sherrilyn Ifill: It is new but also old. For those of us who are used to focusing on voter suppression, you have to understand that the opposition, that those who stand against democracy, those who stand against racial equality, those who stand against equal justice under law, know that targeting voting practices is only one means of getting to the ultimate goal, which is always about power. And so the tactic were seeing is that theyre going directly for the power. Forget about the voting practices.

All over the country, Republicans are maneuvering to take power away from democratically elected officials. We see it in Wisconsin, where the [Republican] Legislature took so many powers away from the governor, once Gov. Tony Evers [a Democrat] was elected. Were seeing it in Kentucky, [where] the [Republican] Legislature met and passed bills with a large enough margin to override [the Democratic governors] veto, to take powers away from him.

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The most important one is Mitch McConnell, who was reported a number of years ago to be ill. He began working and pressuring the Kentucky* legislature to pass a bill, which they did pass over the override of the governor, that would remove the governors power to do what governors can do in 35 states, which is when a U.S. senator steps down for some reason, they can appoint someone to fill that unexpired term. That means that if Mitch McConnell steps down, instead of the governor having the power to fill his seat, it will have to be a Republican suggested by the executive committee.

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What we saw Thursday in Tennessee is all of a piece with this. These are two new, fresh, spanking new legislators who entered that chamber, carrying with them the voices of thousands of young people who walked out of school in Tennessee to protest a week after the terrible massacre. These young people want serious, real gun legislation, and these representatives were carrying that voice forward into the chamber. They violated the rules of the chamber, or shall we say the decorum. And they were expelled, which is extraordinary. Expulsion is the most extreme sanction, and it doesnt happen often because when you expel someone, it is a sanction that you are visiting upon the voters who elected those people.

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What youre saying, Sherrilyn, is that this is not complicated, but its existential. What youre saying is in some sense, were always fighting the last war. And we are having conversations about vote suppression and conversations about gerrymandering, and what youre saying is those are problems that have gotten us to this moment of supermajority rule. And as a consequence, were now at the next phase, which is just stripping elected officials of power.

And not only is this happening around the country in terms of stripping elected officials of power, its happening around the country in terms of [officials saying] no, you cant come protest here. So this comes down to speech in a deep way.

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The speaker of the Tennessee House described the actions of what are being called the Tennessee Three as insurrection. He made claims that somehow they were inciting violence, which, clearly they were not.

These two young menJustin Jones and Justin Pearsonpointed out what has been happening in the House is that Democrats have not been allowed to speak. They had their mics cut by the speaker. The Republicans in the chamber are so drunk with power that they regularly call legislation with no debate. Thats why they entered the chamber with bullhorns, to make sure that their voices were heard, because their mics had been cut. So now the whole country has had an opportunity to see what is coming to a statehouse near you. This is not going to be limited to Tennessee unless we are vigilant. We actually have to fight on multiple frontsbecause voter suppression still is important and because gerrymandering still is. We are about to get two decisions from the Supreme Court on the gerrymandered Southern states.

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And while we are fighting on those other fronts, we need to recognize that the Republicans have opened a new front on this war. And as you describe it, its existential, because essentially it is heads I win, tails you lose. Even if you elect the person you want to office, we will simply take their power away. We are seeing people who are drunk with power, because supermajorities make people drunk with power. And, we are going to be living under this unless we get very serious and very strategic. Its time to call the question on whether people think that its OK for us not to be a democracy. Because if you believe that its important for us to live in a democracy, and you see that democracy is in peril in this way, then it should be all hands on deck.

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In this rush to remove these two young men, I think the speaker did not anticipate that the whole nation would see it. He tweeted out the video apparently taken by another house member, and he tagged Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Candace Owens, Tucker Carlsonthats who the speaker of the Tennessee House is. And he described it as the Occupy movement coming to the Tennessee Senate.

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I think youve just identified what have been two longstanding themes in our conversations over the years. One is that power without process is not law. Its just power. Its the appearance of law. And the second is that its not going to be enough to pour money into these special election races. This is systemic. This is everywhere. This is coming soon to a statehouse near you. And that the work isnt to just be outraged. The work is to fix these boring issues of democracy repair.

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This is what I mean about waking up, I think. What we do, what weve been trained to do, and, largely this is a result of media, is that we wait for the next election. Were just waiting, you know, were not calling anybody, were not calling our representatives and saying, have you issued a statement in solidarity with the Tennessee Three? Were not putting our own representatives on blast and telling them that we expect something different from you. Were not showing up at county council meetings. County council races that very often people pay no attention to, or dont vote in, or dont vote in the primary, right? And yet they have the power to appoint these two young men back into their seats. So it goes back to the point again of: Leave no power on the table.

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Every race, every elected official has power. And if we are going to save our democracy at this critical moment, we need all of it. We need all of it. We need your public safety commission, your railroad commissioner, your sheriff, and weve got to get very, very serious. And that means not just voting, but showing up at meetings and calling them and asking them what their views are and calling it out when you think that theyve done something wrong. Thats what democracy is. Its work and we are being challenged now to recognize all the ways in which we have to work harder. Whatever we were doing before, maybe it was OK. But its not OK now.
Donald Trumps rivals for the Republican presidential nomination feel like theyre suddenly back in 2016.

Is there anything that can suck up as much political oxygen in the American political landscape as Trump? one pro-DeSantis Republican strategist told Politico. I dont think so.

This is deja vu all over again, Terry Sullivan, the former campaign manager for Marco Rubios 2016 presidential campaign, said. Trump dominates media coverage, making it impossible for his competitors to get any coverage or forward traction.

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Whats frustrating to me is we didnt learn a damn thing from 2015 and 2016, strategist David Kochel told the outlet, when it comes to just giving him absolute, roadblock media coverage.

Rival Republican campaigns have long complained about Trumps substantial advantage in earned media: He does ridiculous stuff, the media goes all-in on it, and other candidates get buried in the news. Trump blocks out the sun. Ted Cruz, the 2016 Republican primary runner-up, has said that he didnt anticipate that Trump would receive over three billion dollars in free media, adding that there is no precedent for that in the history of the United States of America. Well, there wasnt a lot of precedent for Donald Trump, either.

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What I would say to these complaining campaigns now, as then, is the same: Theres nothing stopping you from making news in the way that Donald Trump does. Youre free to be ridiculous, or have ridiculous things done to you, anytime.

Consider what sparked this latest round of griping: Did news organizations need to give minute-by-minute readings of the fuel gauge of Trumps plane as it flew from Florida to New York? Probably not. Was the first indictment of an American president, on charges related to his hush money payments to a porn star with whom hed allegedly had an affair, a story deserving substantial media coverage? Yes.

There is nothing stopping Mike Pompeo or Nikki Haley, if wall-to-wall media coverage is their goal, from doing something to get themselves indicted. Nothing! And in 2016, there was nothing stopping, say, Ted Cruz from accusing Trumps father of killing John F. Kennedy. Trump just beat him to the punch! In 2015, Jeb Bush could have been the first candidate to label ex-Sen. John McCain overrated as a war hero because he was captured. He didnt. It was another conceptual scoop for Donald Trump.

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If youre a major presidential candidate and you work tirelessly to be indicted, float inane conspiracy theories, trash-talk anyone in your way, and generally act like a baboon, you will be making news. And if making lots of newsracking up billions in earned mediais directly correlated to primary success, as the whining rivals argue, they have no one to blame but themselves for their ongoing failure to be indicted or refusal to trash a Purple Heart recipient. Mike Pence could go on the attack against Vanity Fair magazine for no longer having a hot Oscars party, any day he wants. To not do so is a choice.

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But theres another element that separates this Trump primary from that of the 2016 cycle. These other Republicans are not just running against a baffling game show host. Theyre running against a former president of the United States who is seeking a second term, someone whos already, twice, built a coalition to win the Republican presidential nomination. Hes the person responsible, by the way, for Pence, Pompeo, Haley, and Ron DeSantis having presidential resumes to begin with. They went into this knowing he was an unusually difficult primary opponent. Oh, but its difficult to break through? Good point! Not everyone gets to be president.

Now go get indicted.
On Jan. 13, an American Airlines jet headed for London mistakenly crossed the wrong runway at JFK airport in New Yorkputting it right in front of a Delta plane that was getting ready for takeoff. Air traffic controllers saw what happened and scrambled to order the Delta plane to abort takeoff and the American plane to stay put. Luckily, they did, and no one on either flight was hurt. But the two jets came within roughly 1,000 feet of each otherand in airplane terms, thats pretty close.

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This incident was just one of several recent close calls that have worried pilots, airlines, and federal regulators. Just two days before the JFK incident, a key Federal Aviation Administration computer system failed. There have been at least seven other incidents on U.S. runways and taxiways this yearplanes coming too close to each other, planes clipping wings and tails on the ramp. Plus, there was the whole Southwest computer debacle at Christmas.

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On Sundays episode of What Next: TBD, I spoke with Jon Ostrower, editor in chief of the Air Current, about how our air travel system got so fragile. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Lizzie OLeary: When did you start noticing problems in the air travel system?

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Jon Ostrower: In October of 2021, there was a big cascade of thunderstorms that rolled across Florida, and it messed up Southwest Airlines. That was one of the first indications that their IT systems were not ready for major disruption. In Southwests network, about 40 percent of their airplanes touch Florida on any given day. The staff were exhausted, and in the pursuit of trying to run the schedule that they had, it was kind of a smaller-scale version of what happened in Christmas 2022. It was the first major warning sign that the system just was not ready to accommodate the operations that the schedulers wanted to throw into it.

After massive layoffs, early retirements, and furloughs in 2020, airlines are now hiring like crazy. United was running ads offering $10,000 signing bonuses for ground technicians. But its hard to make up for what was lost during the pandemic. One estimate I saw was that theres a supply gap of pilots of about 18 percent. Does that feel right to you, that we basically have 18 percent fewer pilots than we should?

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Lets put it this way: You cant fly a 2019 schedule unless you have a 2019 number of pilots, or airplanes, or folks at the gate, or handling baggage or maintenance. So the systems capacity is ultimately limited. All of this is happening as the U.S. economy bounces back from COVIDpeople want to get back out traveling again. The U.S. economy itself at a GDP basis is larger than it was before COVID, and air travel demand and GDP are very closely tied. As the U.S.

economy comes back, the airlines just cannot accommodate that level of demand, including all of the pilots that need to get trained and retrained.

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Its really important to point out that theres a really big difference between qualified and experienced, in terms of pilots. We had a massive loss of experience within the pilot corpsseasoned pilots who have done this day in and day out, for decades, are exiting the system. We had a whole host of new pilots who are qualified and trained but not as experienced.

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It was really striking to me that Scott Kirby, the CEO of United, went on the companys fairly recent earnings call and said, essentially, that the industry was not prepared for the current situation, that it was trying to operate on the whole like it was 2019, but its not.

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Hes absolutely right. Even in the earliest parts of COVID, we were seeing the fact that you cannot get back to 2019 levels of operations and capacity unless you have 2019 infrastructure. That includes air traffic control, that includes folks on the ramp, that includes pilots, that includes airplanesand every single point of the aviation ecosystem is strained in some way.

We talked about pilots, but they are one part of an incredibly complicated picture. What does the rest of the industrys drop and surge look like?

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Theres also the availability of airplanes. Boeing and Airbus both would like to deliver and produce more airplanes to deliver to airlines like United. United has something like 130 737s coming from Boeing this year. Thats what it says in their regulatory filings. Behind the scenes, everyone involved is like, Thats not going to happen. Theyre not going to have the pilots, the planes arent going to be ready, theyre not going to be able to produce that many. The big bottleneck right now within the aircraft manufacturer sector is the availability of engines. Theyre just not able to get the engines they need to deliver the airplanes and ramp up production in a meaningful enough way to deliver on the demand.

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That might be a good thing, by the way. Cramming too many airplanes into a system that is having trouble with the ones that are already there is definitely something that should give everyone pause. A system has a way of slowing itself down, sometimes catastrophically, sometimes in more measured ways, where we just see a strain on the system.

The Southwest debacle around the holidays and then the notice to air missionsground stopin January underscored the antiquated technology that underpins a lot of the U.S. air travel system. How would you describe the technological universe around this system?

Its really hard to change your tires on your car when youre going 85 miles per hour down the highway. Its not a system that changes easily and upgrades easily, because you cant say, Oh, by the way, were taking off of flying from Wednesday to Friday because we need a new IT system, and everyones going to have to stay home. So they have to find a way to upgrade systems as theyre running. And there is a risk analysis that goes on, both in FAA and at the airlines, that says, OK, if we upgrade this system midstream and we fall over in the process, thats going to be disastrous. Is the system working now? OK, dont mess with it.

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However, you hit a pandemic and any priorities that were in the systemwhether its cabin upgrades or IT or whateverget put on the back burner. If there was spending at an airline, it was done to preserve cash and allow the airline to just continue to breathe. A major IT upgrade to scheduling wasnt a high priority in that moment, except when it is laid bare that that is an antiquated system. The fragility of the system, ultimately, is illustrated when it tries to get past its own capacity.

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For 20 years now, the FAA has been engaged in something called the NextGen System, the idea of moving away from the radar that has controlled the air traffic system for a long time to something more like GPS. How would you describe what NextGen is and how that effort is going?

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NextGen is the FAAs long-term effort to take, effectively, a lot of the infrastructure that was put in place during the Cold War for aviation and move it forward. NextGen will allow for things like more aircraft flying, more precise, lower-carbon-emitting routes. A big piece of this is climate change, but its also capacity, about how many aircraft can you fit in the system. By using more precise technology, you can ultimately fit more aircraft into a given area safely. This has taken the better part of 20 years to unravel the system. But I think its important to understand that the national aerospace system should be something that is continuously improving.

This year the FAA is up for whats known as reauthorization in Congress. Its a five-year cycle when the agency is funded and most of the big players in aviation come together to figure out national priorities. It makes sense that updating the tech that the whole aviation ecosystem relies on should be at the top of the list, right?

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We find ourselves at a point where the FAA, and also European regulators, have really leaned into the idea of next-generation air mobility systems. So electric flying taxis and regional air mobility, trying to have air taxis flying between midtown Manhattan and Newark, for example. A lot of us who are covering this on the outside are going, Hold on. Youre going to put thousands of these vehicles into an aerospace system that is really having trouble keeping 737s and 767s from getting too close to each other?

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They are looking at 2024, 2025, 2026 for this. And thats not a long time from now in the aviation world. So these are problems that are going to have to be solved now, and theyre going to have to be solved by slowing down. The FAA is going to have to be the traffic cop here, and its not going to make the airlines happy. But the reality is that the only way to get the stability and the resilience that I think people demand from their air traffic system is going to be slowing down.

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Is the FAA reauthorization playing out on Capitol Hill happening in a vaguely functional way?

Its too soon to tell. We obviously have a change of party running the House, and that does affect how things come together. It should be, in theory, a partisan-free exercise. It historically has not been a partisan-free exercise. If it can get messed up by the debates in Congress that have nothing to do with aviation, chances are it probably will.

The U.S. air travel system is incredibly safe. You might be annoyed, your flight might be canceled, but it is overall extremely safe. So Im wondering how someone who is listening to this, who takes a couple of flights a year, should think about these issues?

The goal of any aviation system is to not have to worry about it. The flight becomes just the means to an end. The way travelers should think about it is that the system is ultimately having the immune response thats necessary. There might be a fever, but right now we see the necessary steps being taken, which, first and foremost, is to slow down. Its not popular and you might not get there on time, but arriving late is better than not arriving at all.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Erdogan in front of Turkeys new military pride. Photo: Reuters



The TCG Anadolu ship can only accommodate light aircraft, mainly helicopters and aircraft that can take off from shorter runways. The ship is 232 meters long and wide 32 meters, and it has room for about 1,400 people, one battalion of soldiers, combat vehicles and support units for operations abroad.

This ship will allow us to carry out military and humanitarian operations in every corner of the world when necessary, said the Turkish president when the ship was launched in Constantinople Tayyip Recep Erdogan. We see this vessel as a symbol that will strengthen Turkeys position as a regional leader.

Based on the design of the Spanish light aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I, the ship was built at the Sedef shipyard in Constantinople and was built by a Turkish-Spanish consortium.

Ankara initially planned to install F-35 B-model fighter jets, which can take off from shorter runways, on its largest warship. But then the Turks had to change their plans as the US pulled Turkey out of its F-35 program after Ankara bought the Russian S-400 defense system in 2019. Ankara then converted the TCG Anadolu into an aircraft carrier for drones.

In addition to helicopters, the new ship will be equipped with combat drones Bayraktar TB3 and Kizilelma, both produced by the Turkish company Baykar, as well as Hurjet light attack aircraft, developed by the Turkish Aerospace Industry Company.

TCG Anadolu will thus be the first amphibious assault ship in the world to be equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has released a statement addressing President Bidens recent veto of a joint Congressional bipartisan resolution of disapproval for the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule. As the leading small business advocacy organization in the nation, NFIB expressed disappointment in the presidents decision.

NFIB Vice President of Federal Government Relations, Kevin Kuhlman, commented on the veto, saying it demonstrates a disconnect with the concerns of small businesses. He noted that the EPAs and Department of the Armys WOTUS rule, which went into effect on March 20, 2023, expanded federal regulatory authority over wetlands, farms, and private property. The NFIB warned this rule would increase regulatory burdens and uncertainty for small businesses.

Bipartisan members of Congress had listened to the concerns of small businesses and voted to repeal the rule. However, on April 6, 2023, President Biden vetoed the bipartisan resolution, leading to increased compliance costs and uncertainty for small businesses.

NFIB members have identified unreasonable government regulations as a significant problem for their businesses. The organization filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case Sackett v. EPA last year, arguing that the EPA should reverse the lower courts decision and clarify the proper test for determining federal authority under the Clean Water Act.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has revealed the four winners of the 2023 Resource Partner of the Year awards.

These partners, funded partly by the SBA, offer technical assistance, training, and capital access to American small businesses. The awards celebrate the impact of the winners on local economic growth, job creation, and support for new entrepreneurs.

The honorees will be recognized during National Small Business Week, taking place from April 30 to May 6, 2023.

SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman congratulated the awardees, highlighting their work in connecting small business owners with valuable tools, resources, and networks. Associate Administrator of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development, Mark Madrid, also applauded the honorees for their exceptional service to small business owners.

The 2023 Resource Partner winners are:

SCORE Chapter of the Year: Broward County Chapter (SCORE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Broward County Chapter (SCORE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida Womens Business Center of the Year: San Diego and Imperial Womens Business Center (WBC), San Diego, California

San Diego and Imperial Womens Business Center (WBC), San Diego, California Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award: Florida SBDC at Florida International University, Miami, Florida

Florida SBDC at Florida International University, Miami, Florida Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award: Veterans Business Outreach Center at Business Impact Northwest, Tukwila, Washington

These Resource Partners have made significant contributions to their communities by supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses through mentoring, training, resources, and funding assistance. For more information about National Small Business Week, visit www.sba.gov/NSBW.

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Pharmaceutical leaders and drugmakers criticize a Texas judge's abortion pill ruling

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled to suspend the FDA approval of mifepristone despite being in the market for more than two decades

More than 400 companies are now calling for the reversal of the decision

Drugmakers and pharmaceutical leaders, including Pfizer's CEO, have criticized a Texas judge's abortion pill ruling that could make the drug unavailable by Friday.

More than 400 pharmaceutical and biotech companies weighed in on Monday regarding Texas Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision to suspend the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of mifepristone.

Criticizing Texas Abortion Pill Ruling

The decision came despite the abortion pill being on the market for over two decades. Pharmaceutical leaders and drugmakers are calling for lawmakers to reverse the ruling.

In a statement, the chief executive of Pfizer, Albert Bourla, and the president of Biogen, Alisha Alaimo, said that the Texas judge's decision ignored decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent. They argued that these were signed by leaders of some of the most prominent companies in the industry, as per the New York Times.

The joint letter argued that Kacsmaryk's decision set a precedent of diminishing the FDA's authority over the approval of drugs. It added that the situation creates uncertainty for the whole biopharma industry.

The Department of Justice on Monday afternoon filed a motion requesting the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to stay the Texas ruling until the appeal for the case can be heard. However, Judge Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas stayed his ruling for only seven days.

Furthermore, the letter from pharmaceutical company leaders argued that their establishments relied on the FDA's autonomy to provide products to the market under what they called a "reliable regulatory process for drug evaluation and approval."

The Justice Department's lawyers argued that if the Texas judge's ruling took effect, it could result in a significant risk to women's health, particularly for those that require the abortion pill as a medical or practical necessity, according to CNN.

Read Also: Texas Judge Suspends FDA Approval of Abortion Pill

Undermining Regulatory Process of Pharmaceutical Industry

In the filing, the DOJ noted that the decision harms the entire country because mifepristone has several lawful uses in every state. It adds that the judge's order would undermine various healthcare systems and the reliance interests of several businesses and medical providers.

The department added that plaintiffs present no evidence that they faced risks of getting injured, much less irreparably harmed by the abortion pill. Danco, a manufacturer of mifepristone, also said that Kacsmaryk's decision would harm women who rely on the drug for their regimen.

The Texas judge's reasoning for his order was that the 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."

On the other hand, PhRMA, the primary lobbying arm of the pharmaceutical industry, stated on Monday, arguing that Kacsmaryk's ruling undermines the regulatory process. The organization noted that the FDA is considered the gold standard when determining whether or not a medicine is safe and effective for people to use, said NBC News.

Related Article: Texas Man Declared Innocent in Murder Case Arrested Again

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The Ukrainian town that is now known as a point of escape once belonged to then-Czechoslovakia.

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Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Uzhgorod has been known the town on the Ukrainian side of the Vysne Nemecke-Uzhgorod border crossing into Slovakia. The town is worth visiting for its own sake, however, including the castle above it.

Immediately after the end of the First World War, Slovak painter Janko Alexy, then wandering as a young man around the country, drew picturesque artworks from this area into his sketch-book. Among the pages is the Uzhgorod castle, which belonged to then-Czechoslovakia in the years 1918  1938.

Nostalgic memories can also be connected, though, with the Great Moravian era (870 - 907). A Slavonic nobleman called Laborec lived in the fortified settlement which preceded the current castle.

Laborec ruled at the fortified settlement until 897 when his army was defeated by nomadic tribes of ancient Hungarians. The count drowned fleeing the battlefield in a nearby river which allegedly got its name from him: Laborec. It is hard to establish, however, whether things were not quite the other way round  whether he was not named after the river. After Laborecs defeat, Uzhgorod fell into the hands of the oldest Hungarian royal family, the Arpads, for two and a half centuries.

Of course, the castle changed hands several times after that. Its great fame and at the same time great fall came in 1711. Uzhgorod became the centre of anti-Habsburg rebels and for some time seemed a place of importance and independence. However, this time was very brief, as castles which defied the Habsburgs often ended in flames or as permanent garrisons of the Hungarian army. Ultimately, Uzhgorod was occupied by Austrians.

From 1775 until 1945, a Byzantine Catholic seminary was located in the castle.

This story was first published by The Slovak Spectator on September 19, 2017. We have updated the piece to keep it relevant for today.
Stereotypes make it hard for girls to get into computers.

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In biology nowadays, there is a great boom in technologies that generate a lot of data, which is mainly DNA and RNA sequencing. This information can be used to study genetic information in humans and other organisms, as well as indirectly to find out what is happening in cells and to see various events within them.

With the amount of data produced, you have to figure out how to process it, create tools, or it might be difficult to run in cases when software exists . That is where computer scientists come in regarding to biology. On the other hand, biology is an interesting area for computer scientists to apply the technology.

"When new sequencing technology started to take off, informatics had to overcome the problem with the growing amount of data. Then it stabilised, but today again the quantities exceed the current possibilities and it's necessary to manage that again," explains computer scientist Bronislava Brejova from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University in Bratislava. Her main area of expertise is bioinformatics, an interdisciplinary field that develops computer methods and tools for understanding complex biological data.

Recently, she has been nominated in the Slovak Woman of the Year poll in the Science and Research category. Talking to the Slovak Spectator, she explained her research.

"The nomination is a great honour and I take it as an opportunity to make bioinformatics visible and to show that there can be women in informatics as well," she says.

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Related article Computer scientist explains how robots see and translators translate Read more

Everything is in computers

Brejova's background is computer science, she did not study biology at all. It all started when she started to learn programming on very old computers in primary school.
The capitals public transport operator plans to extend add hydrogen buses to its fleet.

The first re-fuelling of a hydrogen car in Vlcie Hrdlo, Bratislava. (Source: Courtesy of Messer Transgas)

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Without hydrogen refuelling stations, nobody will buy hydrogen-powered cars. But without a fleet of hydrogen cars to supply, nobody has an incentive build hydrogen refuelling stations. Attempts are being made to break this vicious circle in Bratislava. A year ago, the first public hydrogen filling station was put into operation in the Slovak capital. For now, it remains the only one.

Hydrogen production is very energy-intensive and technologically demanding, but building infrastructure needs to start somewhere, Michal Pala, general director of Messer Tatragas, said on February 18, 2022, at the ceremonial opening of the hydrogen filling station in Vlcie Hrdlo, in premises rented from the Slovnaft oil refinery. The first car to fill up was a privately owned Toyota Mirai.

How the hydrogen refuelling station works potential clients should first register by emailing callcentrum.sk@messergroup.com or calling 0850 111 221

the station is open every working day between 06:00 and 15:00

Jan Weiterschutz, president of the National Hydrogen Association of Slovakia (NVAS), describes construction of the necessary infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling in Slovakia as being a lengthy process.

For the creation of the first hydrogen filling stations, it is necessary to obtain sufficient financial support, overcome the demanding permitting process for the construction itself, and ensure regular sales of hydrogen, preferably to fuel buses, trucks or other vehicles and equipment, e.g. forklifts, Weiterschutz told The Slovak Spectator.

Juraj Petrovic, application manager at Messer Tatragas, admits that the bureaucracy around construction of a hydrogen filling station is very demanding  far more so than for an electric charging station, for example.

This is also because hydrogen, for example, is not yet defined [by law] as fuel. This means that we can supply it only as a technical gas, explained Petrovic. This brings problems in the approval process.

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Related article Slovakia betting on hydrogen Read more

In the near future, another hydrogen filling station will open in Trencin, on the premises of the Dalitrans company, Weiterschutz noted. Unlike the Vlcie Hrdlo station, at which the filling pressure is 200-bar, this one will be able to fill tanks at a pressure of 350 bars.

The pressure of 350 bars is suitable for buses and freight transport, said Weiterschutz.

Weiterschutz estimates that there are only four or five hydrogen-powered passenger cars in Slovakia, something he blames on the absence of refuelling infrastructure. He considers the range of hydrogen cars currently on offer as being sufficient, even though he hopes for a wider one.

It will come with higher demand, and this will come after a core network of hydrogen refuelling stations is built around the world, said Weiterschutz.

Not a lucrative business yet
Mikhail Kutuzov will be replaced with Rudolf Viest.

The 'Kukurica' former military accommodation facility on Kukucinova Street in Bratislava. (Source: TASR - Gabriel Kuchta )

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A street in Bratislava named after a Russian army commander will change its name and honour one of the greatest Slovak military figures, following the Defence Ministrys successful initiative.

The ministry can be found on Kutuzov Street in the borough of Nove Mesto. The change concerns the part of the street on which the ministry is located.

One of the most striking features in the area is Kukurica, a former high-rise military accommodation facility.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=13K0y88_CkNpv5cwzVzH_B4skiQ07Ha0&ehbc=2E312F

From Kutuzov to Viest
The country withdrew from the International Investment Bank earlier this year.

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Despite its withdrawal from its structures in late January 2023, Slovakia still believes that Russias International Investment Bank will return millions of euros to the country.

The Kremlin-dominated and Budapest-based bank was founded in 1970 by members of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, the Eastern Blocs version of todays Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Former Czechoslovakia was also a member.

Slovakia decided to leave the bank due to Russias aggression in Ukraine. Yet, the bank is still expected to return 24 million to Slovakia.

The Jan Kuciak Investigative Journalism Centre thinks that this will probably never happen.

Unusual agreement

The centre claims that Slovakia, unlike other departed members such as Czechia, agreed to a compromise proposed by the bank. The compromise suggests that the bank start repaying its debt in five years.

By agreeing with the bank, we can receive a relatively large part of our capital back, Finance Ministrys International Relations Section Director General, Martin Polonyi, has told the RTVS public broadcaster. He argues that the agreement was the only way to obtain at some money back.

Moreover, the instalments are spread over another 15 years.

However, Poland left the bank in 2000 and never received its money back.

The leaked documents, which were subject to an analysis by the centre and its partners, show that the management of Putins bank is not sure if the bank will survive the near future. Furthermore, the centre opines that the arguments of Slovak officials, which they use to defend the long-term repayment of Slovak public finances, coincide with arguments that, according to leaked documents and emails, the senior representatives of the near-bankrupt bank also apply.

Kicked out from Bratislava

In the past, Putins bank granted loans to several Slovak firms, in particular energy firms. These included Slovak Gas Holding, Slovenske Elektrarne, and Zvolenska Teplarenska. For years, Slovakia has been heavily dependent on Russian energies. The country began to reduce its dependence only after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Russias International Investment Bank was initially supposed to be based in Bratislava. The bank opened its regional branch in Bratislava in 2015, but then Slovak president Andrej Kiska refused to ratify an international agreement.

Russia or the bank requested a relatively broad diplomatic cover for its workers, investigative journalist Tomas Madlenak told RTVS. As we know, Russia uses this diplomatic cover in its embassies to deploy its spies in the countries of the European Union.

As a result of Kiskas move, the bank had to leave Slovakia in 2018, moving to Budapest afterwards.

Slovakia should have left the bank years ago, acting Foreign Minister Rastislav Kacer (Demokrati) told the JOJ television channel a month ago.

There was pressure from below, but there was reluctance on the part of the [Fico/Pellegrini] government(s), the former diplomat added.
Behind its sleepy looks, the suburban residential area of Kyosyumi-Shirakawa hides a vibrant corner of Tokyos coffee scene. Located in eastern Tokyo, near the Sumida River, the locality developed into a hub for transportation and distribution of goods during the Edo Period (1603-1868) and became later home to paper and wood factories. While it turned into a residential neighborhood after World War II, old warehouses and factories still stand in the area. These abandoned facilitiestogether with lower rents compared to central Tokyobegan attracting coffee roasters around a decade ago, drawn by the districts architectural potential and charms.

When the specialty coffee brand Blue Bottle settled here its Japanese flagship store in 2016, the coffee wave became even bigger. Shops and roastersthere are over 30 now in the areahave bloomed alongside the canals, between the river and Kita Park. Today Kiyosumi-Shirakawa is a self-proclaimed coffee town, drawing connoisseurs each weekend looking to discover an engaging coffee experience. These hotspots are also an invitation for art lovers to multiple coffee breaks: the area, home to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo is filled with galleries and art spaces.

Here are just a few coffeeshops that make for an essential itinerary when visiting Kiyosumi-Shirakawa.

Iki

When Kim and Teru Harase came across this ancient waterside warehouse nearby the Sumida River (most recently home to a photography studio), they knew they found Ikis second home. We thought that we can have a place with the roaster and the cafe in a same place, says Teru Harase; the shops original cafe, Iki Espresso, is just a few blocks away.

Inside the smell of coffee mingles with that of freshly baked bread; at the back of the building, a pastry team is preparing Kiwi delicacies. We wanted to bring a tradition that we like from New Zealand, where good coffee goes with good food, explain Teru Harase, who lived for more than 20 years in the country. Their new coffeehouse is an ode to craftsmanship under the same roof. These warehouses are amazing, there are no walls or timbers in the middle, its a huge community space where people can gather, he says. The New-Zealands touch can also be found in Ikis cups: the couple serves flavorful flat whitesstill rare in Tokyomade with their own coffee blends. Their signature coffee can now been found in a dozen coffeeshops and restaurants around Tokyo.

Kraft Coffee

Kraft Coffee is a space dedicated to creativity. Art and graphic design books and magazines pile up on the coffee tables, comfy reading chairs are readily available, theres a counter by the window to do people watching, and a large wooden high table anchors the coworking area. Owner and barista Reikou Ou chose to be located inside an office shared with designers, ideally situated near by the park, the station and the river, convinced that a coffeeshop is the perfect place to create a lot of interactions, and here, they can happen between the coworkers and the coffeeshops regular customers.

Falling in love with coffee when she was a student, Reikou Ou educated her palate through her coffees explorations. For Kraft Coffee, the self-taught cafe owner carefully chooses her beans by sourcing them from the best roasters in Japan and overseas, making sure to always offer several options to try (three different roasts for pour-overs, one decaf, and one for espresso) that she changes every week. She provides plugsits a need for creative people who are coming here to work on their projectsbut not WIFI.

I dont want people to spend hours in front of their computer, Reikou Ou says. Im more interested in offering a space to make connections.

Allpress Espresso

Exhibited behind large glass windows, the coffee roasting machine is the main protagonist of Allpress Espresso. Entering the space feels like being in the heart of the roasting process. The New Zealand brand, based in Australia, UK, and Singapore, draws on founder Michael Allpresss interest in kissaten culture, and has acquired a former timber warehouse for the brands Japanese flagship store.

The charming building, with its wooden walls and visible timbers, is a perfect place to enjoy an espresso or a pour-over, and has been embraced by both local and international visitors to the neighborhood. Their seasonal blends, like the Sakura blend available as soon as the cherry trees start blossoming, are especially worth a try.

Sunday Zoo Coffee and Beans

A mellow smell of ground coffee perfumes the few square meters of this microroastery and coffeeshop. Stopping by Sunday Zoo feels like showing up in Nobuharu and Akemi Okunos kitchen. When the couple opened their shop 10 years ago, the area was much quieter than it is now. Today, while coffee shops fill almost every street corner, the place remains a landmark for the neighborhoods residents, who come to the cafe as much to drink a lovingly prepared coffee as to chat with the owners.

After retirement, Nobuharu-san found himself dreaming about roasting his own coffee. He started by learning with books; today hes considered one of the countrys most respected roasters, working only on small batches (1kg at a time) of single origin coffees. People visit from around the world to experience this approach, and on the wall of Sunday Zoo youll find world map full of stickers, the records of each encounter: I got customers from Peru, for the first time yesterday, the owner says proudly. Coffee is not just about taste, its about sharing with people.

Koffee Mameya Kakeru

Coffee bags framed as a work of art, baristas in lab coats and bow tiesthis mysterious cafes entrance hides a unique space mixing the expertise of a lab with the classy vibes of a bar. People come here to explore coffees finest nuances; some even feel its the best coffee bar in the world.

I wanted to create a place dedicated to the know-how of baristas and their creativity, says Eiichi Kunitomo, CEO and barista of Koffee Mameya Kakeru. In front of us, the baristas are performing, showing their skills and explaining the coffees secrets, from brewing methods, to tasting tips, to pairing. Thats why we dont roast here, he tells me. Its a job in itself. We would rather focus on making the best of the ingredient already transformed.

Coffee here is served in courses, which start at 3,500 yen, or about $26. The equivalent of two cups of coffee are brewed by a dedicated barista. In order to appreciate its fine subtleties, one type of coffee is used to make several drinks, prepared according to different methods: starting first with cold brews (using water and then milk) and mocktails (the recipe mixing non-alcoholic gin, fermented cocoa pods vinegar, and pineapple and cocoa syrup was exquisite). Service ends with a pour-over in a specially designed tasting cup. At the end of the experience, youll walk away from Koffee Mameya Kakeru with improved coffee knowledge, and a new appreciation for the culinary impact of this beautiful beverage.

Aimie Eliot is a freelance journalist based in Tokyo. Read more Aimie Eliot on Sprudge.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/bombshell-docs-appear-to-reveal-biden-admins-direct-involvement-in-raid-on-trumps-estate-1109367065.html

Bombshell Docs Appear to Reveal Biden Admin's Direct Involvement in Raid on Trump's Estate

Bombshell Docs Appear to Reveal Biden Admin's Direct Involvement in Raid on Trump's Estate

White House officials feigned ignorance over the August 2022 FBI raid on Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in search of classified documents, with President Biden assuring he had none, zero, not one single bit of advance notice. Trump called the raid a coordinated element of a broader witch hunt against him by Biden and the Democrats.

2023-04-11T19:18+0000

2023-04-11T19:18+0000

2023-04-12T04:47+0000

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The FBI received access to National Archives records related to the Trump classified documents investigation using a special access request granted by the White House on behalf of the Department of Justice, lawyers with America First Legal, a Washington-based legal advocacy, have announced.The advocacy said its digging had opened up what appeared to be substantial discrepancies between what the National Archives has told Congress regarding the raid, and information in its internal communications.For example, Acting Archivist Debra Wall told Representative Mike Turner on August 16, 2022 that [the Archives] had not been involved in the DOJ investigation or any searches that it has conducted.However, a redacted internal email from National Archives General Counsel Gary Stern obtained by America First Legal appears to show that the DOJ made the special access request related to the Trump-Mar-a-Lago-related records via the Biden White House.Accusing the National Archives and Records Administration of deliberately misleading Congress about the White Houses role in the shocking raid of President Trumps home, America First Legal said the latters role acting on behalf of the Justice Department raises significant legal concerns.Accordingly, America First Legal is demanding NARA turn over records related to the Biden White Houses involvement in the politically motivated raid of President Trumps home, the advocacy wrote.Trump maintains innocence in the DOJ's Mar-a-Lago document investigation, which relates to more than a dozen boxes of classified materials the president was said to have removed from the White House after leaving office in January 2021. Trump claims that as president, he had the legal authority and right to declassify any document he wanted. You can declassify just by saying its declassified  even by thinking about it, Trump said in a media interview shortly after the raid.US media lost interest in the Mar-a-Lago document story after it was discovered that President Biden also had classified documents stashed around multiple locations, including the garage of his Delaware home next to his vintage Corvette, dating back to his days as Barack Obamas vice president. As VP, Biden did not have the authority to independently declassify documents at will, with Republican lawmakers subsequently accusing him of breaking the law.Democrats and the media have recently turned their attention to a separate case against Trump  the alleged illegal payoff of a porn star ahead of the 2016 presidential elections. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in that case, and has slammed his accuser as a horseface whom he would never sleep with.Trump took to Truth Social last week to issue an all-caps message calling on Republican lawmakers to defund the DOJ and FBI until they come to their senses and stop letting Democrats weaponize US law to undermine the American electoral process.Notwithstanding his indictment in the porn star payoff case, Trump remains the clear frontrunner among Republicans for 2024, and leads President Biden by seven points in a hypothetical match-up, according to the latest polling.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/trump-wont-go-to-jail-even-if-convicted-of-all-charges-former-judge-says-1109244466.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/trump-calls-on-republicans-to-defund-doj-and-fbi-1109183383.html

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French President Emmanuel Macron sparks anger and criticism among GOP over stance on Taiwan's democracy

Macron argues that Europeans should not blindly follow the United States' rhythm regarding the situation

Macron says China was prioritizing its unity, which Beijing has argued that Taiwan is a part of

French President Emmanuel Macron sparked anger and widespread criticism among GOP lawmakers after he said that Europe should take an independent stance on Taiwan's democracy.

The situation comes after the French leader visits Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Macron argued afterward that Europe should be careful of following what he considered the "American rhythm" in Taiwan.

France's Stance on China-Taiwan Democracy

During an interview, the French president said they want to avoid getting into a bloc versus bloc logic regarding the situation. He argued that the worst thing that Europeans could do was to follow the US and cause an overreaction in China blindly.

Macron noted that the concern for Europeans is unity, which he argued was also what China prioritizes. He argued then that Taiwan was simply a component of that unity from Beijing's point of view, seemingly siding with the Chinese government's stance, as per Fox News.

The French president's remarks follow his trip to China alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for potential discussions regarding Ukraine and other topics. Macron was believed to have planned to urge Beijing to use its relationship with Russia to influence the conflict positively.

Macron's remarks noted that he plans to "build and somehow engage China toward a shared responsibility for peace and stability on international issues," which includes Ukraine, Iran, and North Korea.

On the other hand, China's military on Monday declared that it was "ready to fight" after the completion of its three-day combat exercises around the self-governing island nation of Taiwan. The drills were conducted following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's return to the island after a short trip to the United States.

Read Also: Macron Calls For 'Strategic Autonomy' in Europe Following China Trip

Emmanuel Macron Sparks Anger, Criticism Among GOP

GOP lawmakers have reacted negatively to Macron's recent statements as President Joe Biden's administration is trying to defy Republicans' comments. According to Politico, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Todd Young, argued that the Chinese Community Party (CCP) is considered the most significant challenge to Western society.

On the other hand, the chair of the House Select Committee on China, Mike Gallagher, said that French President Macron's remarks were "embarrassing" and "disgraceful" while also being "geopolitically naive."

The House Foreign Affairs Committee chair, Michael McCaul, added that Macron's views were "disheartening" due to the CCP's threat to Taiwan becoming an international danger to the balance of power.

In a Twitter post, German MP for the Bundestag's foreign committee, Norbert Roettgen, said that the French president managed to make his trip to China into a PR coup for Xi and a foreign policy disaster for Europe as a whole. He added that Macron was making himself even more isolated in his home region, said Reuters.

Related Article: Dalai Lama's 'Suck My Tongue' Video Sparks Anger, Prompts Apology

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/bus-crash-in-peru-leaves-10-people-dead-15-injured-reports-say-1109337483.html

Bus Crash in Peru Leaves 10 People Dead, 15 Injured, Reports Say

Bus Crash in Peru Leaves 10 People Dead, 15 Injured, Reports Say

Ten people have been killed, and 25 more have been injured after a bus traveling between the Peruvian city of Huanuco and the country's capital Lima crashed and fell into a river

2023-04-11T04:30+0000

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2023-04-11T04:30+0000

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peru

bus crash

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According to media reports, of the 25 victims, 12 have been taken to hospitals in Lima. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, the media reported. The carrier company said that the accident was caused by a truck that had crashed into the bus. However, the truck has not been found in the area of the accident, the report said.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/deploying-russian-nuclear-weapons-to-belarus-furthers-moscow-minsk-relations-ministry-1109338480.html

Deploying Russian Nuclear Weapons to Belarus Furthers Moscow-Minsk Relations: Ministry

Deploying Russian Nuclear Weapons to Belarus Furthers Moscow-Minsk Relations: Ministry

The agreement to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus will give a new significance to relations between Minsk and Moscow, the Belarussian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Ambrazevich told Sputnik.

2023-04-11T05:09+0000

2023-04-11T05:09+0000

2023-04-11T05:09+0000

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nuclear weapons

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"Regarding the development of allied relations in the military-political sphere between Belarus and Russia, I am deeply sure that this step will serve the further development of our union state in this particular sphere of cooperation," Ambrazevich said. "Belarus will gain a new capacity, of course, a new significance, including for the Russian Federation." On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow and Minsk have agreed to station Russia's tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which does not breach Russia's commitments to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. On April 2, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov said that nuclear weapons in Belarus will be stationed closer to the western borders of the Union State. The United States and its allies have repeatedly called on Russia to reconsider its decision to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus. On March 26, the European Union said it was ready to respond with new sanctions if Belarus proceeds with its plan to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons given that they allegedly threaten EU security. At the end of March, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he had ordered the restoration of the platforms in which strategic ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads were once stationed. Belarus has conventional means to counter external aggression but would use everything at its disposal, including tactical nuclear weapons, if a threat to the country's existence emerged, Lukashensko added. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, as many as 81 Topol nuclear missiles were stationed in Belarus. In May 1992, Belarus signed the Lisbon Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, agreeing to destroy or hand over all strategic nuclear warheads on its territory to Russia. All nuclear missiles deployed in Belarus were transferred to Russia by November 1996. The union state, founded in 1997, originally aimed to create a confederation, now it is a supranational union consisting of Belarus and Russia aimed at the deepening of their relations in the economic and defense spheres.

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/20230411/france-should-stay-out-of-taiwan-tensions-despite-alliance-with-us-economy-minister-1109346484.html

France Should Stay Out of Taiwan Tensions Despite Alliance With US: Economy Minister

France Should Stay Out of Taiwan Tensions Despite Alliance With US: Economy Minister

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire on Tuesday supported President Emmanuel Macron in his stance that France should not come into conflict with China over Taiwan solely due to its alliance with the United States.

2023-04-11T09:56+0000

2023-04-11T09:56+0000

2023-04-11T09:56+0000

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taiwan

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"The president has every right to demand Europes sovereignty and independence. We are allies of the US, we share common values and many common economic interests, but simply because we are US allies does not mean that we should be against China. We will not be held hostage to the rivalry that exists between the US and China," Le Maire told French radio station Europe 1. The minister noted that "the world does not need another conflict," and Europe is already forced to cope with the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine. 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. 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 US and China over Taiwan conforming to "the American rhythm," calling on Europeans to "wake up" and think about their own interests.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/google-fined-32mln-by-s-korea-over-unfair-business-practices-in-game-app-market-reports-say-1109345139.html

Google Fined $32Mln by S. Korea Over Unfair Business Practices in Game App Market, Reports Say

Google Fined $32Mln by S. Korea Over Unfair Business Practices in Game App Market, Reports Say

South Korea's antitrust regulator has imposed a fine of 42.1 billion won ($32 million) on Google, Google Korea and Google Asia for unfair business practices to strengthen its dominant position in Korea's mobile game application market, media reported on Tuesday.

2023-04-11T09:08+0000

2023-04-11T09:08+0000

2023-04-11T09:08+0000

asia

google

fine

south korea

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According to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), the fine was imposed over the US tech giant's shady arrangements with South Korean mobile game firms from June 2016 to April 2018, South Korean news agency reported. Google asked South Korean firms to release their content exclusively on Google Play platform, prohibiting them from using One Store, a major domestic app marketplace launched in January 2016 by three South Korean mobile carriers along with Naver Corp, according to the report. According to the FTC, Google was aware of a potential fair trade violation, and internally obligated its employees to delete relevant emails and discuss matters offline so as not to leave a trail, the report said. Such agreements, according to the commission, helped Google consolidate its dominant position in the local app market, expanding its presence from about 80-85% in 2016 to 90-95% in 2018. Meanwhile, One Store dropped from 15-20% to 5-10% during that period, according to the report.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230203/googles-jigsaw-lays-off-at-least-one-third-of-workforce-media-reports-1106957245.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/google-staff-were-reportedly-leery-of-chatbot-bard-rollout-over-its-inaccurate--harmful-claims-1109350511.html

Google Staff Were Reportedly Leery of Chatbot 'Bard' Rollout Over Its 'Inaccurate & Harmful Claims'

Google Staff Were Reportedly Leery of Chatbot 'Bard' Rollout Over Its 'Inaccurate & Harmful Claims'

Google product reviewers reportedly warned against rollout of chatbot Bard over its propensity to making 'inaccurate and harmful claims.

2023-04-11T13:31+0000

2023-04-11T13:31+0000

2023-04-11T13:31+0000

americas

us

google

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google

chatbots

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Two concerned Google staff members attempted to stop the unrolling of AI chatbot Bard back in March, according to a US media report.The product reviewers of Googles Responsible Innovation department warned that the conversational artificial intelligence chatbot conceived as a rival to OpenAI's ChatGPT was inclined to make "inaccurate and dangerous statements," according to cited insiders.The staff members ostensibly said that Bard could even trigger "tech-facilitated violence" via "synthetic mass harassment."Bard is a tool designed to simulate human conversations using natural language processing and machine learning, and is based on the "Language Model for Dialogue Applications" (LaMDA). It was rolled out as a "limited experiment" in March.According to the media report, Google's product reviewers did not hesitate in emphasizing the concerning issues linked with AI-powered large language models like Bard and OpenAI's ChatGPT when the US technology company's chief lawyer, Kent Walker, met with research and safety executives. But all of their consternation was allegedly quashed, with Jen Gennai, who leads Google's Responsible Innovation team, purportedly wading in to edit the reviewers' report. The recommendation to wait with the Bard rollout was reportedly ditched.Gennai was cited by the US media as acknowledging that she had tweaked the report, having corrected inaccurate assumptions, and actually added more risks and harms that needed consideration. According to information on Googles website, its Bard chatbot is on course to be fully integrated into the company's search engine soon."In fact, Bard's release was preceded by a spate of years during which there was reportedly a great deal of internal dissent within the company regarding the risks and benefits of such AI-powered tools.A Google engineer, Blake Lemoine, was fired by the tech giant after he voiced alarm about the possibility that LaMDA, Googles artificially intelligent chatbot generator, could be sentient, media reported last summer. The engineer, who had been working on gathering evidence that LaMDA had achieved consciousness, was placed on administrative leave for violating the companys confidentiality policy. Google spokesperson Brian Gabriel said in a statement that the company had reviewed LaMDA 11 times and "found Blakes claims that LaMDA is sentient to be wholly unfounded and worked to clarify that with him for many months."OpenAI released its ChatGPT in November 2022 to a plethora of both praise and criticism, acquiring its first million users in less than a week. In March 2023, OpenAI introduced a new multimodal AI model, GPT-4, capable of recognizing both text and images, as well as solving complex problems with greater accuracy.The competition among tech giants was on. Microsoft and Google rose to the challenge. In late January, Microsoft said it would invest "billions of dollars" in OpenAI. It unveiled its AI chatbot, incorporated into its Bing search engine, in February. Google soon followed suit, rolling out Bard.However, there has apparently been as much enthusiasm as there has been concern over the swift advent of AI-powered tools. On March 29, SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, along with a group of AI gurus and industry executives, called for a six-month pause in further work on AI systems potentially more advanced than chatbot developer OpenAIs GPT-4. In an open letter, Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, and Stability AI CEO Emad Mostaque, among other signatories, argued that this immediate pause should be public, verifiable, and include all public actors.The European Union has since proposed legislation to regulate AI, while Italy temporarily banned ChatGPT. The Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali) has spearheaded the government-imposed ban on the chatbot over privacy concerns.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220723/google-fires-engineer-who-fears-companys-ai-could-be-sentient-1097716315.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230404/just-identify-tricky-areas-bill-gates-opposes-pausing-ai-beyond-gpt-4-hypes-huge-benefits-1109119337.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/gop-eyes-going-to-war-against-mexicos-cartels-over-fentanyl-crisis-1109346194.html

GOP Eyes 'Going to War' Against Mexico's Cartels Over Fentanyl Crisis

GOP Eyes 'Going to War' Against Mexico's Cartels Over Fentanyl Crisis

Prominent Republicans are increasingly embracing the notion that extreme measures must be employed to tackle the raging opioid crisis in the US.

2023-04-11T12:55+0000

2023-04-11T12:55+0000

2023-04-14T08:36+0000

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us

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fentanyl

opioid crisis

drug cartels

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From cyber warfare to sending in special forces to target cartel leaders in Mexico, prominent Republicans are increasingly embracing the notion that extreme measures must be employed to tackle the raging opioid crisis in the US. Drug cartels reportedly control upwards of a third of Mexico's territory, and to take them out of the equation would require a lot more than the weak border policy espoused by the Biden administration, according to Congressman Mike Waltz (R-Fla.)Over 107,000 Americans met an untimely death in 2021 as a result of overdosing either on illicit drugs or prescription opioids. Two-thirds of those fatalities have been attributed to the painkiller fentanyl, which is far more toxic and deadlier than heroin. Judging by data presented by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in December 2022, most of the fentanyl pouring in is being distributed by two Mexican cartels, with the required chemicals sourced largely from China.Together with Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Waltz earlier introduced a bill that would authorize the use of certain US military capabilities against the drug cartels in Mexico.When introducing legislation for creating the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), Rep. Crenshaw said:House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Mike McCaul (R-Texas) is reportedly still evaluating the AUMF bill, but has concerns about the immigration implications and the bilateral relationship with Mexico, a GOP source on the panel was cited as saying.Previously Donald Trump, when he was POTUS, mulled placing Mexico's drug cartels on the State Departments terrorist blacklist. Now, amid his emerging campaign for another term in the White House, Trump has purportedly been deliberating with policy advisers on any military options available to target Mexican drug cartels, according to sources.In a January video, Trump slammed the cartels that were "waging war on America," adding it was "now time for America to wage war on [the] cartels." He also deplored Joe Biden's open border policies as "a deadly betrayal of our nation."Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has repeatedly warned that the US would not be allowed to conduct cross-border armed operations, saying in March that, "in addition to being irresponsible, it is an offense to the people of Mexico. Amid speculations regarding the possibility of using military force to crack down on the cartels, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said:"* Daesh (ISIS/ISIL/"The Islamic State") is a terrorist organization banned in Russia and other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/cocaine--crack-are-back-in-nyc-and-fentanyl-makes-everything-much-worse---reports-1109281968.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230302/so-much-empathy-internet-scornful-as-biden-chuckles-over-a-mothers-loss-of-two-sons-to-fentanyl-1107932848.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221222/whats-fuelling-opioid-overdose-crisis-in-us-1105693306.html

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us opioid crisis, fentanyl, synthetic druds, drug overdoses, drug overdose-related deaths, cyber warfare, sending in special forces, target cartel leaders in mexico, prominent republicans, extreme measures, tackle raging opioid crisis, more like isis than mafia, bill to authorize use of us military capabilities, against drug cartels in mexico, authorization for use of military force, aumf
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/how-many-nukes-does-russia-have-in-2023-and-what-kinds-are-there-1107385137.html

How Many Nukes Does Russia Have in 2023, and What Kinds are There?

How Many Nukes Does Russia Have in 2023, and What Kinds are There?

How many nukes does Moscow have in its arsenal in 2023? Under what conditions could it would use them? Sputnik explains.

2023-04-11T10:39+0000

2023-04-11T10:39+0000

2023-04-11T10:51+0000

military

missile

nuclear weapons

nuclear weapons

strategic nuclear weapons

treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (npt)

us nukes

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The number of alarmist, outright Goebbels-esque stories in the mainstream press about Russia planning to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine has dropped dramatically since peak paranoia and fearmongering were reached last October, when media and governments urged the public to actively prepare for a nuclear war through a bizarre 21st century version of duck-and-cover.In February, the official journal of the Council on Foreign Relations  a highly influential US-based foreign policy think tank, urged officials to avoid poking the Russian bear by giving Moscow the impression that a direct conflict with NATO over Ukraine was inevitable. Instead, the journal suggested, the West should use calibrated deterring communication and military maneuvers that cannot be misinterpreted as preparations for an operation against Russia.Whether the White House and NATO are actually prepared to listen to this advice is another story. After former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warned that a nuclear power cannot lose a conventional conflict on which its fate depends without a conventional conflict potentially going nuclear, US officials and intelligence analysts confidently assured that the danger of a nuclear escalation is under their control and that they are gradually 'getting a feel for' Russias red lines.President Putin announced in February that Russia would be suspending its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, citing US efforts to "inflict a strategic defeat" on Russia and help Ukraine launch drone strikes against bases containing Russia's strategic deterrent while "absurdly" calling for more inspections and the separation of the deterrence issue from the Ukrainian crisis.What Countries are in the Nuclear Club in 2023?Since the first-ever nuclear weapons test in July 1945 and physicist Robert Oppenheimers famous evocation of the Bhagavad Gita line now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds, nine countries have become part of the nuclear weapons club - the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, Israel (allegedly), India, Pakistan, and North Korea. Some 25 other countries have accessed or are close to accessing nuclear power for peaceful purposes, putting them a few theoretical steps from the bomb. However, membership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty forbids the latter nations from pursuing a nuclear weapon.Which Country Has the Biggest Nuclear Arsenal?With a total arsenal of 5,977 deployed, stored or stockpiled nukes, Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, with its nuclear weapons accounting for about 47 percent of the world total of 12,700 total nukes. About 1,590 of these weapons are deployed and ready to be fired via ballistic and cruise missiles.How are Russia's Nukes Divided?Russias nuclear weapons arsenal is divided between the ground-based Strategic Rocket Forces, the Navys Strategic Forces and Strategic Aviation. The missile troops account for about 47 of the total, while the naval component accounts for 33 percent, and air power for the remaining 20 percent. The division of Russias nuclear arsenal into three separate components provides the country with a higher sense of strategic security than it would have if it had just one or two delivery means. But more on that below.How Many Tsar Bombs Does Russia Have?In October 1961, the USSR detonated the Tsar Bomba  the most powerful nuclear weapon ever made and tested. After being dropped from a Tu-95V Bear bomber over the Russian Arctics Novaya Zemla Island, the Tsar Bomba generated an explosion equivalent to some 58.6 megatons of TNT (an inconceivable 1,500 times the power of the American bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945). Unlike those weapons, which killed up to 226,000 people, the Tsar Bomba isnt known to have killed or injured any people, and was detonated high enough in the air (4 km) to prevent local flora and fauna from being absolutely decimated.Although the Tsar Bomba was never built into a series production nuclear weapon, it continues to spark a crude and morbid fascination among scientists and internet users, with Google searches like how many Tsar Bombs does Russia have and maps of the Tsar Bombas blast radius superimposed on various cities evoking interest more than 60 years since the test took place.Modern nuclear weapons have a TNT equivalent yield significantly below that of the Tsar Bomba, with Russias Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles ten multiple independent reentry vehicles (MIRVs) featuring a total blast yield of about 7.5 megatons, while the USs Minuteman III series missiles three MIRVs carry a destructive power of between 335 and 475 kilotons.Why Does Russia Have Such a Large Nuclear Arsenal?Russia has about 550 nuclear warheads more than the United States, which with 5,428 weapons has the second-largest arsenal in the world. The nuclear superpowers have gradually chipped away at the size of their nuclear arsenals since the late 1980s, bringing totals down from over 61,000 in the mid-1980s to 48,162 with the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty I in 1991, 35,914 with START II in 1993, and 10,281 with New START in 2010 (which was renewed for five years in 2021).Russias larger nuclear arsenal allows it to compensate for its weaker conventional capabilities vis-a-vis the combined power of the United States and NATO, basically flipping the script of the old Cold War-era balance of power in Europe between the Western Bloc and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact.At the moment, Russias nuclear doctrine forbids the preemptive use of nuclear weapons, with the fearsome weapons deemed exclusively as a means of deterrence, their use being an extreme and compelled measure. Late last year, President Putin publicly floated the idea of altering the nuclear doctrine to a US-style one, which has no limits on first strike attacks. However, no official updates to the Russian nuclear doctrine have been published since.What is the Range of Russia's Nukes and How Far Can They Travel?Russia's nuclear deterrent includes a variety of delivery systems, among them submarine-launched Bulava missiles, which have a range of up to 10,000 km, and ground-based R-36 intercontinental ballistic missiles, with a range of up to 16,000 km. Russia has also developed the Burevestnik, an experimental nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missiles with effectively an unlimited range.Can Russias Nukes Reach the US? Can They Be Stopped by US Missile Defense?With this in mind, Russian military planners have a series of means with which to deliver nukes to targets inside the US, including ICBMs with a range of up to 18,000 km, missiles launched by impossible to track submarines, and air launched nuclear cruise missiles. The nuclear triad, complemented by a new generation of strategic weapons like autonomous nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed torpedoes, Kinzhal nuclear-capable hypersonic missiles and Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles, is designed to ensure that even if an adversary caught Russia off-guard in a nuclear or conventional first strike, the response would be so severe that enemy planners have to think twice before launching such aggression.This modern-day balance of terror, also known as the mutually ensured destruction doctrine, has been a hallmark of the strategic balance between the nuclear superpowers since the 1960s. And while its terrifying to think about, its also thought to be one of the main reasons there hasnt been another World War after 1945.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221112/what-kind-of-missiles-does-north-korea-launch-1104048334.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220424/russias-sarmat-icbm-could-be-deployed-with-several-avangard-hypersonic-glide-vehicles-1095016959.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20200824/video-russias-rosatom-releases-new-footage-of-tsar-bomba-worlds-most-powerful-nuclear-bomb-1080266347.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221028/ex-dod-officer-us-hypersonic-race-with-russia--china-wont-save-the-day-peace-talks-are-a-must-1102802409.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/hunter-bidens-business-associates-visited-wh-over-80-times-when-joe-biden-was-vp-1109356039.html

Hunter Biden's Business Associates Visited WH Over 80 Times When Joe Biden Was VP

Hunter Biden's Business Associates Visited WH Over 80 Times When Joe Biden Was VP

Hunter Biden's business associates visited the White House over 80 times when Joe Biden was Barack Obama's Vice President, visitor logs show.

2023-04-11T16:51+0000

2023-04-11T16:51+0000

2023-04-11T16:51+0000

americas

us

hunter biden

joe biden

white house

logs

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Top staff members of Hunter Bidens now-defunct investment firm paid visits to the White House on over 80 occasions when his father, Joe Biden, occupied the position of vice president in the Barack Obama administration, according to a US media report, citing visitor logs.Amid the dual investigations into Hunter Biden's financial dealings, President Joe Biden has repeatedly denied his participation in his sons shady business dealings.The Oversight and Accountability Committee of the GOP-led House of Representatives is currently carrying out an investigation into the financial dealings of President Bidens family. Furthermore, federal prosecutors with the US attorney's office in Delaware have been investigating Hunter Biden since 2018 for tax fraud, money laundering and illegal foreign lobbying.Joan MayerThe new media report reveals, citing visitor logs, that at least 17 visits were made to the White House by Joan Mayer, who was purportedly vice president of Hunter Bidens now-defunct investment firm Rosemont Seneca Advisors, from 2008 to 2017.For example, in October 2009, Mayer is seen to have attended a vice presidential briefing and met with then-Biden aide Danielle Borrin. There were also meetings between Mayer and then-Biden executive assistant Nancy Orloff in the WHs West Wing, logs show. Kellen Suber, executive assistant to then-VP Biden met Joan Mayer in July 2013, according to the logs.There was also apparently a spate of end-of-year holiday receptions at the VPs White House residence at Number One Observatory Circle in 2013 and 2014, among other encounters, including at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB)  home to the VPs ceremonial office  in 2016.Anne Marie PersonAnne Marie Person is another former assistant of Hunter Bidens outfit. She is said to have paid no less than five trips to the White House during Barack Obamas stint as POTUS.Person quit Hunters investment company in 2014 to join then-Vice President Biden's staff as an assistant in May that same year, the report added. In April 2014, she met with a former Biden aide - Kathy Chung, who is now the Pentagon's deputy director of protocol.Persons brother, Francis, is described as a longtime Biden aide who left the post months after Anne Marie joined the ranks of Biden's office staff. Francis "Fran" Person visited the White House at least seven times between 2015 and 2016 after becoming head of Harves Group, a company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, the outlet reported last year, aslo referring to WH visitor logs. Person, however, claimed that "Hunter Biden, Rosemont Seneca Advisors or any affiliate or associate have never held any equity in any Harves affiliated company," despite emails sent by Hunter Biden and his business partner, Eric Schwerin, appearing to contest such statements.As for Kathy Chung, during the five years that she was employed by then-VP Joe Biden, she maintained regular communication with Hunter regarding his fathers work schedule, the US media publication previously reported.Eric SchwerinHunter Biden's longtime business partner Eric Schwerin was also far from being a stranger to the White House when Joe Biden was vice president, clocking up around 27 such appearances there. Between the months of February and June 2016, he made at least three visits to meet with Anne Marie Person, according to the report.Steve RicchettiPresent-day counselor at Joe Biden's White House, Steve Ricchetti also met with Schwerin in 2016 on at least two occasions inside the Old Executive Office Building (OEOB), according to log data.John Robinson WalkerWH visitor logs reveal that John Robinson "Rob" Walker, also an ex-business parter of Hunter's at Rosemont Seneca, visited the official residence of the president of the United States at least 16 times when Biden was VP. Devon ArcherIn 2009 and 2014, the co-founder of Rosemont Seneca Partners, Devon Archer, also dropped in at the White House to visit with then-Vice President Joe Biden. One such encounter was shown to have occured during a December 2009 holiday reception. In April 2014, the meeting took plave in the West Wing of the WH. Katie DodgeKatie Dodge, Hunter Biden's one-time personal assistant, called at the White House when Obama was POTUS an estimated nine times. The visits date to a period from December 2012 to July 2015, cited logs reveal. On January 15, 2013, Dodge met with Kellen Suber, Biden's then-executive assistant, in the Went Wing. On January 18, Dodge put in an appearance at an inaugural reception at the vice president's residence. There were also a couple of holiday receptions at Joe Biden's residence in December 2013 and 2014.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230224/hunter-bidens-close-friend--emotional-pillar-reportedly-cooperating-with-gop-investigators-1107776287.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220425/secrecy-around-bidens-meetings-with-hunters-associates-may-hide-important-evidence---schweizer-1095031784.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220410/hunter-biden-peddled-dads-clout-to-lobby-pals-to-federal-jobs-emails-from-laptop-show-1094634096.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230209/house-committee-panel-asks-for-hunter-biden-records-on-business-dealings-1107274835.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/kim-jong-un-urges-strengthening-north-koreas-war-deterrence-state-media-1109343963.html

Kim Jong-un Urges Strengthening North Korea's War Deterrence: State Media

Kim Jong-un Urges Strengthening North Korea's War Deterrence: State Media

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for the expansion and effective use of the country's rapidly strengthening war deterrence force amid "the ever-worsening security" situation on the Korean Peninsula

2023-04-11T08:14+0000

2023-04-11T08:14+0000

2023-04-11T08:14+0000

asia

kim jong-un

democratic people's republic of korea (dprk)

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The sixth enlarged meeting of the eighth Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on Monday at the party's Central Committee headquarters, chaired by Kim Jong-un, to discuss the current tough geopolitical situation in the region and develop various military action plans. The North Korean leader also reviewed "plans for offensive operation on the front" and various military documents, as well as noted the tasks of constantly updating and improving the army's combat capabilities, according to the report. Since Friday morning, North Korea stopped responding to regular calls from the South through inter-Korean communication channels, including the military and the unification ministry lines. The two countries are supposed to hold routine calls twice a day  in the morning and in the afternoon  via military and liaison hotlines, but North Korea has not returned calls for the fifth day, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry.

democratic people's republic of korea (dprk)

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north korean leader kim jong un, strengthening war deterrence force
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/kornet-most-fearsome-weapon-of-russias-tank-hunters-1109361417.html

Kornet: Most Fearsome Weapon of Russias Tank Hunters

Kornet: Most Fearsome Weapon of Russias Tank Hunters

The Russian military is training special tank hunter units designed to take on the German, British and American armor being sent to Ukraine. What sorts of weapons will Russian forces have at their disposal to counter the sophisticated Western heavy weapons platforms? Sputnik explores.

2023-04-11T14:57+0000

2023-04-11T14:57+0000

2023-04-16T19:52+0000

military

kornet

tank

anti-tank guided missile

anti-tank missile systems

analysis

hunter

russia

ukraine

m1a2 abrams

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The Russian military is taking proactive steps to prepare to engage Challenger 2, Leopard 2, Abrams, and even Leclerc tanks. Speaking to media on Sunday, Russian Armed Forces Combat Training Center head Yevgeny Arifulin said troops have studied NATO tanks strengths and weaknesses, and absorbed a series of methodological recommendations created by Colonel General Ivan Buvaltsev, a veteran tankman with nearly 45 years of experience operating and commanding armored forces under his belt.German and NATO officials began confirming last month that the first batches of the nearly 300 Leopard 2, Challenger 2, and Abrams tanks promised to Kiev had begun trickling into the country.The UKs decision to equip its Ukraine-bound Challengers with toxic depleted uranium munitions has sparked controversy, with scientists and activists expressing concerns that the conflict zone could be turned into a radioactive wasteland  just like parts of the former Yugoslavia and Iraq after their bombardment by NATO, US, and British forces in the 1990s and 2000s. NATO has ignored these concerns, while the UKs MoD has assured that the DU rounds are safe, notwithstanding mountains of evidence to the contrary.Britain has delivered the Challenger. Many NATO allies have delivered the Leopard 2, and the United States is now in the process of arranging deliveries of the Abrams. And this is in addition to, for example, the Marder infantry fighting vehicles and the American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. All this together will give the Ukrainians the necessary means to return their territories and further push back Russian forces," Stoltenberg said at a press briefing last week.Kiev says it now has nearly 60 NATO MBTs in its inventory, and expects more to be delivered in the coming weeks.What Kinds of Weapons Will Russias Tank Hunters Have at Their Disposal?Arifulin did not go into detail about the types of weapons Russias special tank-hunting units could use in their operations against Western main battle tanks. But there are a variety of options, starting with the 2A46 125 mm smoothbore cannon fitted aboard the Russian T-90, T-80, T-72, and T-64 tanks, which have the necessary power to penetrate NATO armor in tank-on-tank engagements, provided the right operational deployment and combat support.From the air, Western MBT armor can be engaged using the 9K121 Vikhr, an aircraft-mounted laser-guided anti-tank missile system fitted aboard Su-25T attack aircraft, Ka-50 and Ka-52 helicopters, as well as some warships and coastal patrol ships. Armor-mounted systems include the 9M120 Ataka  a late Soviet-era HEAT warhead ATGM which can be equipped aboard a wide array of armored fighting vehicles, as well as helicopters.What Makes the Kornet Special?Then theres the Kornet. Developed through the 1980s and 1990s and first entering into service with the Russian military in 1998, the Kornet is a widely-produced man-portable anti-tank guided missile system designed specifically to take on the latest NATO third-generation battle tanks like the Leopard 2, Challenger 2, and Abrams.While all of the systems listed above will almost certainly be among the equipment used by Russian forces against NATO armor in the coming months (unless a peace deal can somehow be reached), the Kornet is the only one among them with confirmed kills of German and US tanks under its belt.During the course of Turkiyes police actions in Syria in 2016 and 2018, Ankara deployed dozens of its Leopard 2A4 tanks in the country, engaging in combat against Kurdish militants and Daesh (ISIS)* fighters. Over the course of the operations, Turkiye lost a dozen or more Leopard 2s to roadside bombs, suicide car bombs, and Russian-made anti-tank weapons.In a 2017 report, German investigators concluded that six of ten Leopard 2s destroyed in fierce fighting in the city of al-Bab were killed using Kornet missiles operated by Daesh fighters. Although several Leopards had previously been lost by NATO forces in Afghanistan to roadside bombs in the 2000s, the Turkish militarys losses in Syria helped to lift the air of invincibility around Germanys tanks against modern anti-tank weapons once and for all.Kornets demonstrated similar characteristics against the vaunted Abrams tank in Iraq. Shortly after the US invasion in 2003, Iraqi special forces provided US forces with the first inkling that the war wouldnt be anything like the first Gulf War in 1991 (when the Iraqi Army failed to knock out a single Abrams). This time around, Iraqi Republican Guard units equipped with Kornet anti-tank missiles knocked out two Abrams and a Bradley in fighting in the south of the country. Over half-a-dozen more Abrams, these ones belonging to the Iraqi Army, were destroyed by Daesh in Iraq between 2014 and 2016 using captured Kornets.Hezbollah similarly used Kornets to effect in 2006, destroying up to four of Israels coveted Merkava tanks (which are often touted as superior to the Abrams) during the Lebanon War.Why Are Kornets so Deadly?The secret behind the Kornets deadliness lies in its special tandem warheads  which can penetrate homogenous steel armor 1,000-1,600 mm thick (the Leopard 2A4 and Abrams have a maximum front armor thickness of 800 and 700 mm thick, respectively). After contact with the enemy tank, the first warhead explodes, with the second then generating a jet of immense heat that burns through armor, reaches the crew compartment, kills everyone inside, and detonates ammunition stores (which causes the MBTs turret to be literally blown off in some instances).The latest models of the weapon feature top attack capability similar to that of the American Javelin, as well as thermobaric and blast fragmentation warheads for use against targets besides tanks.Kornets have a range of between 100 and 8,000 meters, making them deadly in urban environments, but equally dangerous across open spaces and the rolling plains which make up much of the Donbass and Ukraine east of the Dnepr River.Along with use by troops, Kornets can be mounted aboard customized Tigr infantry mobility vehicles, with the system, known as Kornet-EM, featuring two retractable launchers carrying four Kornet missiles apiece, plus eight additional rounds. The vehicles payload makes them capable of destroying entire platoons of enemy tanks, although operation is potentially more dangerous given the vehicles size compared to individual troops. The systems can also be fitted aboard BMP-2 and MBD-2 armored vehicles.How Many Kornets Does Russia Have?Since the systems introduction in the late 1990s, Kornets have been exported to over two dozen countries around the world. The systems producers  Degtyaryov Plant and the Volskiy Mekhanicheskiy Zavod, do not provide updated statistics about the number of Kornets produced. However, according to a 2010 estimate, about 35,000 had been made and sold by the late 2000s.* A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/russian-military-creating-special-groups-to-destroy-western-tanks-in-ukraine-1109292909.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230403/germanys-rheinmetall-building-service--logistics-hub-in-romania-for-nato-weapons-used-in-ukraine-1109063142.html

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kornet, anti-tank missile, portable anti-tank missile, abrams, javelin, leopard, challenger, main battle tank, what kinds of anti-tank weapons does russia have, russian anti-tank weapons, russian weapons against nato tanks, why are kornets so deadly, how many kornets does russia have
How difficult is it to be a giant panda keeper in China?

People's Daily Online) 09:42, April 11, 2023

"The most unattainable job turns out to be giant panda keeper!" Chinese netizens exclaimed in surprise after finding out that a tourist attraction in east China's Jiangsu Province couldn't find one suitable candidate from hundreds of applicants for its job of giant panda keeper.

After a keeper resigned from his job, the Nanshan Zhuhai scenic area, a national 5A-rated tourist attraction in Liyang city, Jiangsu Province, recently posted a job opening for a new keeper for its giant panda house.

A giant panda eats bamboo in the Nanshan Zhuhai scenic area in Liyang city, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo/Wuhan Evening News)

Since internet users across the country pay great attention to captive giant pandas, and that they regard watching photos and videos of giant pandas as a good way to relieve pressure, the giant panda keeper has also emerged as a popular profession.

Thanks to the rising wave of giant panda appreciation, the Nanshan Zhuhai scenic area has seen resumes pour in, with the daily number peaking at 280. However, none of the applicants were found suitable for the job.

The unsuccessful recruitment became a trending topic online and has made people wonder about the duties of giant panda keeper. Many netizens asked questions like "Why is it so hard to find a keeper for giant pandas?, "What is their daily routine like?" and "How can one do a good job taking care of giant pandas?"

Li Zixiao, a giant panda keeper at the Nanshan Zhuhai scenic area, addressed these questions in a recent interview with the media.

The ancestors of giant pandas lived in the high mountains and deep valleys in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, where there are lush green bamboo forests. During the past millions of years, giant pandas gradually switched from meat to bamboo to adapt to their living environment. Bamboo now accounts for more than 90 percent of the food they eat every day.

Li gets up at around 5:30 a.m. every day, then prepares breakfast for two giant pandas, whose names are Hua Li and Xing An, before eating breakfast himself.

An adult giant panda eats about 25 kilograms of bamboo a day, according to Li, who explained that keepers need to carry clean bamboos for each giant panda several times a day.

Tourists watch a giant panda named Hua Li eat bamboo in Nanshan Zhuhai scenic area in Liyang city, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo/Wuhan Evening News)

"When I see them eat, I feel full," Li said with a big smile. The post-90s young man, who became a keeper at Nanshan Zhuhai scenic area in 2015 after graduating from Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry in Jurong city, Jiangsu, with a degree in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, takes great pleasure in his job.

After giant pandas leave their rooms to enjoy breakfast outdoors, Li starts to clean their rooms where they eat and rest at night. Before clearing their feces, Li carefully observes the feces and breaks a random piece of them into half for further examination.

"Besides keeping their living environment tidy and clean, we giant panda keepers also need to look after them day and night and check their health at any given time, so that we can timely respond in case anything goes wrong," said Li, who explained that giant pandas' feces tell a lot about their health.

Giant pandas don't have a caecum and have a relatively short intestine. They can't digest plant fiber like most herbivores and can only absorb nutrients in the sap. Therefore, giant pandas need to eat a lot and eat frequently to meet their energy needs. They spend most of their waking hours eating.

"They often eat and play for an hour, and then sleep for two hours. The cycle is repeated day and night," Li said.

This lifestyle may sound enviable, but it means a hard job for keepers, as someone must work at night to look after the giant pandas.

At the Nanshan Zhuhai scenic area, the wooden house where keepers rest is only one aisle away from the giant panda house. The keeper on duty at night checks on the giant pandas every few hours and brings new bamboos to them in time.

According to Li, keepers also feed clean apples, carrots, and a specially made brown steamed bread to giant pandas regularly.

Keepers make the steamed bread every day. The recipe for the bread, which is referred to as the "love recipe" by Li, contains a variety of ingredients, including rice flour, corn flour, soybean flour, sugar, salt, and eggs. After mixing the ingredients, keepers knead the mixture to shape it, and then steam the dough for four hours.

"I've tasted it. It's quite nice. Just like a hard steamed cake," Li said, noting that all the captive giant pandas like such steamed bread.

"We need to control the amount of the steamed bread they eat. Each giant panda has 1,200 grams of it every day. Though they like it, they can't have too much of it, as bamboo is their staple," Li said.

Tasks such as mucking out, disinfecting facilities, digging bamboo shoots, making steamed bread, carrying bamboos, and working night shifts make the work of giant panda keepers laborious. That's why many people backed out after learning the duties of the job.

"We contacted several young people who applied for the job, but they hesitated and decided to pass up the opportunity after learning the details of the job," Li said, adding that basically all female applicants would back out when they hear that keepers need to stay at a wooden house in a mountain alone during night shifts.

Few young people have the courage to take care of giant pandas day and night in a secluded bamboo forest, and still less would stick to the job when the pay is not very good.

Li said he earns a monthly salary of about 5,000 yuan ($728), and works six days a week. He has to work on holidays, and gets busier during such times.

Nevertheless, Li has stuck to the job all these years.

"My hometown is in Xuzhou city, Jiangsu. It's 500 kilometers away from where I work. I feel happy that I can raise our 'national treasure' here. I can enjoy fresh air, and giant pandas are so cute," Li said, adding that he plans to buy a house and settle in a township near the scenic area.

Recently the scenic area finally recruited a new keeper for giant pandas, according to Li. Li's new colleague is also a young man who graduated with a degree in a major related to animal husbandry and veterinary medicine.

The new keeper would soon join the keepers team and begin training, according to Li.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
United States President Joe Biden has signed the House bill, which ends the COVID-19 national emergency right away, over three years since former president Donald Trump signed it into law in 2020.

The White House announced that the President of the United States (POTUS) signed the bill into law, ending the national emergency in the country.

Biden Ends COVID-19 National Emergency

According to Politico, the Biden administration initially wanted to extend the COVID-19 national emergency in the country until May 11. The White House also previously announced that it plans a similar extension on the separate public health emergency. But despite that, the POTUS has now signed the bill that seeks to end national emergency in the country.

The New York Post reports that the White House announced that Biden signed the legislation on Monday, April 10. A statement says, "The President signed into law: H.J.Res. 7, which terminates the national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic."

It is worth noting that the House Republicans create bills that aim to end not only the COVID-19 national emergency but also the public health emergency in the US. However, the President only signed the law that ended the former. The legislation takes into effect as the country continues to see a decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases.

Read Also: Transgender Regulation: Biden Administration Proposes New Rule on Trans Athletes in Schools

White House's Opposition

Although Biden signed the bill into law, the White House previously opposed these bills. Previously, the POTUS believed that the resolutions by the House Republicans were "a grave disservice to the American People," Politico notes in its report.

On top of that, the Biden administration further warned that an immediate end to the national emergency is likely to "create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the healthcare system." The statement explains why the White House opposed the bill to end the declaration abruptly.

Representative Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., drafted the legislation. It was passed in the House last February with 229-197 votes, primarily from Democratic supporters, as per a report by The New York Post. Meanwhile, the Senate voted 68-23 last month, or in March, to be more precise.

Even if Biden opposed the bill aiming to end the emergency declaration, Politico notes that the President previously made it clear that he does not plan to veto it. The POTUS assured Senate Majority Chuck Schumer last March. And the President kept his word. He recently signed the bill into law. The question is: what happens now that the national emergency for COVID-19 has officially ended in the US?

It ends some waivers for federal health programs, which extended a helping hand to various healthcare providers amid the pandemic. However, it does not affect the Title 42 border policy or the public health emergency declaration.

Related Article: Democrat Showdown: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announces 2024 Presidential Bid

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/liberation-of-nazi-concentration-camps-1109364964.html

Buchenwald Resistance: Liberation of Nazi Death Camps

Buchenwald Resistance: Liberation of Nazi Death Camps

April 11 is commemorated as the International Day of the Liberation of Nazi Concentration Camps in memory of the rebellious prisoners of one of the largest death camps in Nazi Germany, Buchenwald.

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Over 14,000 concentration camps, ghettos, and prisons operated in Nazi Germany and the territories occupied by the Third Reich. One of the largest Nazi concentration camps was Buchenwald, which began operating near the German city of Weimar on July 19, 1937, and where over 56,000 people, including 19,000 Soviet prisoners of war, were exterminated.The Nazis would exterminate Buchenwald prisoners, including by locking them in gas chambers in order to kill a large group of people at once. While many surrendered to their fate, enduring torture and begging for death, there were also those who never lost hope. A group of prisoners developed a plan to overthrow the leadership of Buchenwald, and April 11, 1945, the resistance group stormed the watchtower, seizing control of the camp.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/migration-crisis-aggravating-in-italy-as-3000-refugees-arrive-in-3-days-reports-say-1109351516.html

Migration Crisis Aggravating in Italy as 3,000 Refugees Arrive in 3 Days, Reports Say

Migration Crisis Aggravating in Italy as 3,000 Refugees Arrive in 3 Days, Reports Say

About 3,000 undocumented migrants have arrived in Italy via the Mediterranean Sea over the past three days, Italian broadcaster reported on Tuesday, citing the coast guard.

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The previous significant influx of migrants was registered at the end of March, when over 6,500 refugees from Asia and Africa reached the Italian coast within five days, which is equal to the number of migrants recorded in the Apennines in the first three months of 2022. Since the beginning of this year, the migration influx has quadrupled, with almost 30,000 migrants having already arrived in the country. The Italian island of Lampedusa is now experiencing the most serious aggravation of the migration problem, as up to 1,800 refugees rescued in the Mediterranean Sea remain in its local temporary accommodation center for migrants, initially designed for 400 people. About 400 more people picked up by Italian rescuers currently reside on various ships in the Ionian Sea. Local experts link the sharp increase in migration flows with the internal political crisis in Tunisia, as well as the protracted instability in Libya. Illegal migrants, who arrive in the Apennine Peninsula across the Mediterranean Sea daily, became the focus of internal political discussions in Italy after a ship with refugees sank during a storm in the Ionian Sea on the night of February 26. According to survivors, there were about 180 people from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan on board. Officials said that 89 people, including 34 minors, died in the shipwreck. Italy seeks a solidarity approach from the European Union to solving the migration problem, offering to organize a naval mission in the Mediterranean and actively contribute to the stabilization of the situation in North Africa. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in March that "Italy was left alone" to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/mostly-harmless-californians-mystified-as-alien-creatures-appear-along-us-coast-1109336574.html

Mostly Harmless: Californians Mystified as Alien Creatures Appear Along US Coast

Mostly Harmless: Californians Mystified as Alien Creatures Appear Along US Coast

Beach-goers in Southern California were shocked to discover some out-of-this-world visitors Friday when hundreds of by-the-wind sailors, creatures which resemble jellyfish and are characterized by their astonishing blue colors, appeared on beaches near Orange County.

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Beach-goers in Southern California were shocked to discover some out-of-this-world visitors Friday when hundreds of by-the-wind sailors, creatures which resemble jellyfish and are characterized by their astonishing blue colors, appeared on beaches near Orange County.As one California publication explained, the creatures scientific name is Velella velellas, and they are distinguished by their sails on top, which look like a clear mohawk.The otherworldly specimens have reportedly been spotted making landfall as far as Huntington Beach, California, and South Bay to the north - but theyre also likely to make an appearance elsewhere, according to local experts.They are going to be washing ashore pretty soon, said Nona Reimer, whos known online as Nona the Naturalist. She recently encouraged followers on Instagram near Dana Wharf to watch for [the animals] on the beaches.According to Huntington Beachs Marine Safety Battalion Chief Doug Leach, hundreds of the creatures were observed Saturday there as well.Leach cautioned those who encounter the by-the-wind sailors not to touch them, but given the fact that theyre mostly harmless to humans, he reportedly said local beaches would remain open.The critters typically keep to the warmer waters of Baja California, Mexico, and were last spotted in Southern California between 2014 and 2016, when visitors observed hundreds of thousands washing up on a number of beaches.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/north-korea-vows-to-expand-and-strengthen-offensive-deterrence-capabilities-amid-western-pressures-1109367280.html

North Korea Vows to Expand and Strengthen Offensive Deterrence Capabilities Amid Western Pressures

North Korea Vows to Expand and Strengthen Offensive Deterrence Capabilities Amid Western Pressures

North Korean forces are poised to enhance the strong defense capability and overwhelming offensive force of their military, local media has announced.

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North Korean forces are poised to enhance the strong defense capability and overwhelming offensive force of their military, local media has announced.At an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on Monday, North Korean head of state Kim Jong Un stressed the need to expand the DPRK's [Democratic People's Republic of Koreas] war deterrence with increasing speed on a more practical and offensive [level], and to effectively apply it as a measure for more strict control and management of the ever-worsening security on the Korean Peninsula, a statement from state media revealed on Tuesday.The move comes as South Korean authorities complained that their neighbors to the North have cut off contact and declined to participate in regularly-scheduled phone calls for four days in a row.The apparent snub seemed to be a response to recent massive joint military drills by the US and South Korea in which nuclear-capable B-52 bombers were deployed to the peninsula in an effort to intimidate the North Korean government.Citing the aggressive military policy and actions of the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors as emerging threats, North Korean officials said the ratcheting-up of tensions demonstrates a serious need to boost the countrys national security capabilities.Revelations that the American and South Korean governments plotted a so-called decapitation strike against top North Korean officials and the large-scale joint military drill simulating an all-out war against the DPRK clearly showed their sinister true colors for aggression towards Pyongyang, the statement concluded.North Korean authorities have long looked to increase their military potential, but efforts seem to have ramped up in recent months. In mid-March, Japan and South Korea reacted with outrage after multiple alleged intercontinental ballistic missiles were fired in the region, with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol reportedly vowing that North Korea would certainly pay for what he labeled reckless provocations."Later that month, North Korean authorities appeared to launch two ballistic missiles which traveled around 350 kilometers before landing outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230316/japan-south-korea-issue-strong-rebuke-against-north-korea-following-purported-icbm-launch-1108442156.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/oh-crab-latvia-norway-lock-claws-over-old-fisheries-agreement-1109338624.html

Oh, Crab! Latvia, Norway Lock Claws Over Old Fisheries Agreement

Oh, Crab! Latvia, Norway Lock Claws Over Old Fisheries Agreement

The outcome of the "crab war" outside the Svalbard archipelago may have deep implications for the future exploration of oil and gas in the Arctic.

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The smoldering dispute between Norway and Latvia over the catch of snow crab due to an agreement from the 1990s has hit a new level, as the case has reached the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), for the first time in Norway's history.Latvian fishermen demand NOK 5 billion (nearly $500 million) in compensation from Norway over the loss of income as a result of not being allowed to fish for snow crab at Svalbard.The dispute originated in 2017, when Norway first stopped Latvian fishermen outside Svalbard -despite the foreign crews having received the green light from the EU. The case subsequently went to Norway's Supreme Court, which ruled that the Scandinavian country has exclusive rights to the continental shelf outside Svalbard.The legal battle is rooted in investment agreements that Norway signed in the 1990s with several countries. These were meant to protect Norwegian investments abroad, especially in countries with an unstable political and economic situation, and vice versa. Disputes between the company and the state were supposed to be settled by an arbitration court.Since then, Norway has canceled more than half of the agreements concluded in the 1990s with fellow European Economic Area countries. According to its Foreign Ministry, the background is that the majority of EU countries have agreed on their liquidation based on the idea that national courts are good enough to safeguard legal certainty. The agreement with Latvia has been nixed as well, which in Oslo's eyes disqualifies it from serving as a basis for investor-state dispute resolution.Professor Mads Andenaes of the legal team that handles the case on behalf of the Latvian shipping company SIA North Star argued that the Norwegian authorities are "panicking" and are "afraid of losing the lawsuit."Deputy Leader of the Socialist Left Party Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes called the situation "absolutely crazy." According to him, Norway has itself given foreign companies the opportunity to sue it, if there are changes in laws and regulations, and called on the authorities to stop it. A government spokesman assured that work is underway.Even if Norway's Supreme Court unwavering holds to the position that the Latvian company has been fishing illegally, the case could nevertheless cost Norway dearly. A state sued in the ICSID receives an average accrued cost of 4.7 million dollars, previous research has shown.The Svalbard archipelago is located deep inside the Arctic Circle, roughly halfway between Norway and the North Pole, and home to the worlds most northerly permanently inhabited community. Under the Svalbard Treaty of 1920, which has since been signed by numerous countries including the US and EU member states, Norway maintains sovereignty over the islands, but other signatories have equal rights to the resources in Svalbard's territorial waters including fish, oil and gas. The "crab war" may therefore have deep ramifications for exploration programs in the Arctic.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/pentagon-leak-indicates-us-allies-not-falling-in-line-with-washingtons-all-in-ukraine-policy-1109365785.html

'Pentagon Leak' Indicates US Allies Not Falling in Line With Washington's All-In Ukraine Policy

'Pentagon Leak' Indicates US Allies Not Falling in Line With Washington's All-In Ukraine Policy

The apparent Pentagon leak has shown that Washington's attempts to force its allies into following its military agenda is not working well anymore, as the Kiev regime is losing grip and ground, Daniel McAdams, executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, told Sputnik.

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Alleged Pentagon documents, with some of them marked "top secret," have found their way to the web over the past few weeks. The trove contains information ranging from American military plans in Ukraine, to sensitive data linked to China and the Middle East, and also shed new light on Washington's spying on its allies. This is not the first time that Pentagon documents have been leaked: in 1971, Daniel Ellsberg, a senior research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Center for International Studies, turned over a batch of Pentagon files pertaining to the US' involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967 to The New York Times, which prompted a heated public debate. Meanwhile, the veracity of the latest trove is in question, as South Korea, the UK, Israel, and Bulgaria have dismissed the apparent leak as "false."Judging from the documents in question, the US has recently been busy with persuading its allies to kick off deliveries of military equipment and lethal weapons to the Kiev regime. The alleged Pentagon files shed light on Seoul's concerns that artillery shells provided to the US by South Korea could then be transferred to Ukraine. The batch also showed that the US has not given up hope on forcing Tel Aviv into sending missiles to the Kiev regime and even alleged that the Bulgarian government is considering sending Kiev its MiG fighter jets. However, the US allies have resolutely denied planning any of the aforementioned weaponrs deliveries to Kiev.The US sent Ukraine nearly $47 billion worth of military aid last year and still Washington is pressuring smaller allied nations to join its effort and fork out. However, the problem is that it isn't working and those countries are pushing back and saying "no," McAdams continued. He cited French President Emmanuel Macron as saying recently: "We can't just follow the Americans on their foreign policy anymore." According to the US scholar, this is a clear indication that "there is a shift coming." In addition, it has also become clear that the Kiev regime is incapable of winning on the battlefield and negotiations are long overdue. The apparent Pentagon leak describes a gloomy picture of Ukraine's depleted stockpiles and manpower.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/pentagon-leak-shows-us-dragging-allies-into-war-with-russia-1109359717.html

'Pentagon Leak' Shows US Dragging Allies Into War With Russia

'Pentagon Leak' Shows US Dragging Allies Into War With Russia

The trove of apparently classified files contains the Pentagon's assessments of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Washington's efforts to persuade its allies to jump on its proxy war bandwagon.

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The US Justice Department on April 10 opened an investigation into the purported leak of US Department of Defense intelligence documents. The trove of apparently classified files contains the Pentagon's assessments of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Washington's efforts to persuade its allies to jump on its proxy war bandwagon."I think [the documents are] extraordinary, for a number of reasons," Professor Joe Siracusa, US political expert and dean of Global Futures, Curtin University, told Sputnik. "Number one, most leaks in the past we've learned about in retrospect. These documents are fresh. Some of them are barely 40 days old and tell us exactly the debates that are going on in South Korea. South Korea doesn't like to pass on ammunition to third parties, for example. And there's a debate within South Korea about the pressure from the Americans. And there it is. It's all in the documents. It's not even in the South Korean media. What's extraordinary about this is how recent these documents are. And it's not like Snowden, or Chelsea Manning, or Julian Assange, [where] sometimes the documents are two or three years afterwards, or even in my day, the Pentagon Papers were many years afterwards. These are very fresh and, I think, very embarrassing."Out of the Frying Pan, Into the FireThe much-discussed Pentagon docs showed that South Korea found itself between a rock and a hard place after agreeing to sell artillery shells to help the United States replenish its stockpiles. The problem was that Seoul was worried that Washington would divert munitions to the Kiev regime. The Asian nation's official policy prohibits it from providing lethal weapons to countries at war. In addition, the report concerning South Korea's back-and-forths was based on signals intelligence, meaning the US has been spying on its ally, as per The New York Times.While the leak risks triggering tensions between Washington and Seoul, it may simultaneously backfire on longstanding relations between South Korea and Russia. Addressing the plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club in October 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Seoul against arming the Kiev regime. The Russian president suggested that Seoul would be similarly disappointed if Moscow had resumed nuclear cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).Likewise, Israel appears to be displeased after the disclosure of potential scenarios in which the US believes Tel Aviv would supply Ukraine with lethal weapons. One of the scenarios, eloquently titled the "Turkish Model," envisages that Israel could supply defense systems to Kiev through a third party while still calling for dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. The Pentagon's list of Israeli weapons supposedly includes Barak 8 missiles, the Spyder air defense system, and Spike anti-tank missiles.The apparently leaked report hypothesized that Tel Aviv would provide lethal weapons to Ukraine in the event of a diplomatic crisis with Moscow stemming from Russia's growing ties with Iran. Moscow's reinforcement of Syria's air defenses resulting in the downing of the Israeli aircraft could also drive a wedge between Israel and Russia, as per the document.Yet another scenario raised by the report envisions US cooperation with Israel to prepare action against Tehran in order to persuade the Israelis to arm the Kiev regime. To frustrate Israeli officials even further, the alleged Pentagon documents suggested that the leadership of the Israeli secret service Mossad had encouraged the agencys staff and Israeli citizens to participate in protests against the nation's judicial reform, advocated by the Netanyahu government.The much-discussed docs further alleged that a Russian fighter jet "nearly shot down" a British spy plane off the coast of Crimea on September 29, 2022. At the time, UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace did not describe the incident as "a near-shootdown," but called it a "malfunction," adding that he had spoken with senior Russian defense officials about it. As per the US press, the apparent episode shows that despite their bellicose rhetoric, Western military officials are trying hard to avoid being drawn directly into conflict with Moscow.When it comes to Bulgaria, the country allegedly offered to donate its MiG-29s to Kiev, as per "the Pentagon leak." On April 10, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense asserted to the public that it had not held any talks on the provision of MiG-29 jets to Ukraine. "Such a decision would lead to a deficit of capabilities which is contrary to the countrys Constitution," the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense stated.Who's Behind the 'Leak'?As per the American press, US officials have confirmed that the Pentagon docs "appear to be legitimate intelligence and operational briefs" compiled by the Pentagons Joint Staff, adding that at least one had been modified from the original at some point. Nonetheless, the media highlighted, citing US officials, that the apparent authenticity of the documents "is not an indication of their accuracy."The US political expert wonders as to who leaked the documents and what goals they are pursuing. According to Siracusa, they could be motivated by a higher humanitarian purpose or "might have just simply been released as a childhood or as a pubescent conflict between two kids who can get into the system who were playing games." At the same time, someone in the Pentagon may have released these to show the American people that the US proxy war in Ukraine is doomed and they are trying to sweeten the pill, showing in advance that there were preconditions for a defeat, the professor presumed.US Proxy War in Ukraine is De Facto Direct InvolvementThe NYT called the Pentagon leaks a nightmare for the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. However, Siracusa does not believe that the apparent leak will pose a challenge to the Anglophone bloc. As per him, it wont impact the bloc's intelligence sharing. However, when it comes to other allies of Washington, the unfolding scandal has definitely hit a raw nerve."I think The New York Times saying that this is going to have an enormous impact on the Five Eyes is an exaggeration," Siracusa said. "I mean, the Five Eyes are on board anyway, and they'll put up with it. But I think it would be a little disturbing to me if I were a leader of a government to find out that my deepest conversations with my military chiefs was being reported in The New York Times. I would just wonder 'How reliable is an ally that allows top secret information, these conversations, my words, your words, to be published in print for the world to see and for my enemies to use against me.' I think if you were a friend of the United States, tonight you'd be a little more nervous than you were yesterday."To complicate matters further, the leak pertains to the US and NATO's ongoing proxy war in Ukraine and their attempts to involve more nations in their fold, thus putting the latter in dire straits. According to Siracusa, "these leaked documents () show that America is guiding the war, its providing targeting information, satellite information" to hit Russian troops and positions. The professor highlighted that he regards "a proxy war as a real war." "This is direct involvement," he stressed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/why-pentagon-files-reek-of-disinfo--1109330940.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/one-snowden-like-dissenter-likely-behind-leak-of-pentagon-docs-ex-cia-analyst-says-1109334211.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/us-distorted-portrayal-of-ukraine-conflict-likely-inspired-pentagon-leak-ex-official-says-1109335939.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/seymour-hersh--russia-not-letting-nord-stream-story-be-watered-down-and-swept-under-rug-1109323289.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/pentagon-leaks-show-washington-dissidents-want-offramp-from-ukraine-disaster-1109346941.html

Pentagon Leaks Show Washington 'Dissidents' Want 'Offramp' From Ukraine 'Disaster'

Pentagon Leaks Show Washington 'Dissidents' Want 'Offramp' From Ukraine 'Disaster'

The leak of US defense assessments of Ukraine's long-promised military offensive has caused turmoil in Washington and Kiev. James Jatras and Ray McGovern explain the motives behind it.

2023-04-11T16:06+0000

2023-04-11T16:06+0000

2023-04-13T12:45+0000

james jatras

jim jatras

ray mcgovern

us

us department of defense (dod)

pentagon leaks

ukraine

russia

volodymyr zelensky

us state department

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Pentagon officials behind the leak of Ukraine's battle plans are looking for an "offramp" from the escalating proxy conflict with Russia, two former Washington insiders have said.Pundits have speculated that the Pentagon reports on Ukrainian battle plans leaked to Telegram channels and heavily reported in the US mainstream media are a US smokescreen to misdirect Russia, a convenient excuse for ending costly support to Volodymyr Zelensky's Kiev regime or even a Moscow psy-op fake.Retired US diplomat James Jatras told Sputnik that the leak "indicates that there are some dissident voices within the US government who are not comfortable with the direction of policy."Those elements "would like to slow it down or maybe even change its course" but are still "a distinct minority within the establishment," he stressed.The Senate adviser said it was significant that the leak came from the Department of Defense, not his old employer, the State Department.Other former US military and intelligence officers have argued that the leaks are the result of frustration over Washington's backing of Ukraine. But the ex-diplomat said that came from "further down the chain of command," and "primarily within the military."He also disagreed that the leak complicated the US plans for the conflict, since the consensus in Washington was that Ukraine just "needs to roll the dice" and create "the appearance of making some sort of progress." At that point the US will either up the ante with its support for Kiev or announce "some kind of a peace proposal" based on the illusion that they "go to the table with an advantage on Ukraines side," Jatras predicted.The "danger" was that Russia might grant the West a "face-saving gesture" in return for a peace deal that meets its demands of de-militarization, de-Nazification and no NATO membership for Ukraine.As for the timing of the revelations, the Republican advisor said the intention was likely to was to slow down or change the direction of policy," pointing to a US "tradition" of leaks from the establishment all the way back to the Vietnam War.But he noted that "none of those things made much difference in the direction of American policy. It still took years for the policy establishment to be ground down by having reality catch up with them"Jatras said more leaks could follow, but only if there was a "really disastrous development on the ground in Ukraine." While some neoconservative Republicans want to switch focus to a confrontation with China over Taiwan, "leaving Ukraine would not be as cost free for American prestige internationally as was our loss in Afghanistan."Retired CIA analyst Ray McGovern told Sputnik that he did not accept either claims that the documents were part of a disinformation effort."This is somebody who has access to highly sensitive information, probably at the Joint Chiefs of Staff level, who decided, my God, you know, if the American people knew this, maybe we could stop this terrible, inexorable drift toward wider war in Ukraine and perhaps including nuclear weapons," McGovern argued. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office has already said that Kiev's plans for the long-advertised spring counter-offensive will have to be re-written following the leak. McGovern took that as proof that Ukraine isn't ready for a major operation."Zelensky himself said three weeks ago 'We can't do a spring counteroffensive unless we get the weapons that we need' and everyone knows that the weapons that they need, although promised, won't get there in time," McGovern pointed out. "So this is kind of a way to rationalize."The former intelligence official argued the real reason for the leak was that "people in Washington are trying to find their offramp" and need to "expose the lies that have been told by people like the defense secretary, people like the head of the CIA."For more in-depth analysis and commentary, check out the latest episode of Sputnik's podcast The Critical Hour.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/ukraine-leaks-has-the-pentagon-gone-rogue-against-biden-1109332255.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/us-distorted-portrayal-of-ukraine-conflict-likely-inspired-pentagon-leak-ex-official-says-1109335939.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/pentagon-leak-shows-us-dragging-allies-into-war-with-russia-1109359717.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/pentagon-worried-about-leaks-and-musk-denies-request-to-censor-former-russian-president-1109334858.html

Pentagon Worried About Leaks and Musk Denies Request to Censor Former Russian President

Pentagon Worried About Leaks and Musk Denies Request to Censor Former Russian President

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the DOJ opening an investigation into Pentagon leaks, and NATO going to hold its largest ever aerial war games.

2023-04-11T10:33+0000

2023-04-11T10:33+0000

2023-04-11T10:33+0000

the backstory

radio

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The Pentagon is Worried about Leaks and Musk Denies Requests to Censor Former Russian President On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the DOJ opening an investigation into Pentagon leaks, and NATO going to hold its largest ever aerial war games.

Mark Frost - Economist, Professor, Consultant, and Libertarian | The De-Dollarization, Nightmare Economy Scenario, and Financial AmargeddonLarry Johnson  Writer and Former CIA Analyst | Are These Leaks Real?, Top Secret Information, and Spying on Friend or FoeIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Mark Frost about the US dollar, volatile currency, and America's monetary policy. Mark talked about the financial incompetence of the Biden administration and how America would finance a war over Taiwan. Mark spoke about an American financial nightmare scenario and how a financial armageddon could possibly happen.In the second hour, Lee spoke with Larry Johnson about the leaked documents uploaded online, classified information, and American spying. Larry detailed the problem with the label "friendly intelligence" and the history of countries spying on each other. Larry discussed the possibilities of who leaked the documents and the goal of the leak.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/race-for-exporter-of-the-year-kicks-off-in-russia-1109337310.html

Race for 'Exporter of the Year' Kicks Off in Russia

Race for 'Exporter of the Year' Kicks Off in Russia

The Russian Export Center (REC, part of VEB.RF) announced the start of the All-Russian contest "Exporter of the Year" in 2023 and started accepting applications from April 10.

2023-04-11T07:47+0000

2023-04-11T07:47+0000

2023-04-11T07:47+0000

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russian export center jsc (rec)

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Applications can be submitted until June 30 by filling out an electronic form on the REC website. Joining the "Exporter of the Year" contest is free. Large companies, as well as small and medium-size enterprises, along with individual entrepreneurs, can take part in the event. This year, the competition will have a new nomination for SMEs: "The best exporter in the sphere of electronic commerce". Any exporters of non-resource, non-energy products will be able to throw their hat into the ring. Winners will be chosen in 20 nominations. It is possible to apply for the main contest among large businesses and SMEs in the nominations of "Exporter of the Year in Industry", "Exporter of the Year in Engineering", "Exporter of the Year in Basic Agro-Industrial Products", "Exporter of the Year in Finished Food" (high redistribution), "Exporter of the Year in Services", and "Trader of the Year". In addition, SMEs can still participate in the competition in additional categories: "Responsible Exporter (ESG)", "Best Female Exporter", "Best Young Business Exporter", "Breakthrough of the Year", and "Best Exporter in Electronic Commerce". Large businesses, in addition to major ones, can also compete in the following categories: "Responsible Exporter (ESG)", "Best Female Exporter" and "New Geography". Winners will be determined in two stages. For the first stage, at the level of each federal district, the winners will be announced from August to September (the dates of the ceremonies will be announced additionally). Then, the winners will be chosen from those companies that clinched first place in the district, at the federal level. The awards ceremony will take place in October 2023 at the "Made in Russia" International Export Forum, with top government officials in attendance.Companies that have no outstanding obligations to pay taxes, fees, insurance premiums, fines or penalties, or overdue debts to the budget of the Russian Federation may participate in the contest. Foreign legal entities as well as companies where foreign firms are the founders and (or) participants are not allowed to be the nominees. At the initial stage, only one document will be requested from exporters: an electronic copy of the Tax Registration Certificate (a copy of an INN). The contest is supported by VEB.RF, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Communications.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230331/rec-to-help-far-east-companies-explore-new-markets-1108968696.html

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Google Pay recently randomly sent free money, dubbed as "rewards," to some users as high as $1,000, but it turned out to be a bug.

Users of the payment service report that the renowned tech giant suddenly deposited money into their accounts.

Google Pay Accidentally Sends Users Free Money

While iPhone users primarily use Apple Pay, Android device owners typically utilize Google Pay. But there are other famous options like Samsung Pay.

According to Android Police, Google Pay has been a popular payment service for Android users. It is a handy option for those who want to pay seamlessly. It no longer requires them to take out their bulky wallet. Instead, they could tap their mobile phones to do so.

This time, some Google Pay users suddenly got their hands on cashback rewards, apart from conveniently using the service as payment for various stores. Some folks only received $10, while others were a bit lucky when a $1,000 deposit reflected on their accounts thanks to accumulated rewards. It depends on what the users purchased, similar to most cashback rewards programs.

Not to rain on their parade, but a bug entirely causes it. They were not supposed to receive this cashback in the first place.

Read Also: Google To Pay $185 Million In British Back Taxes, Labor Officials Unimpressed

Can Google Pay Users Keep the Free Money?

Users report that the free money comes with a message calling it "dogfooding the Google Pay Remittance experience," as per a report by ArsTechnica.

The news outlet explains that the term "dogfooding" is used by tech developers when they are still testing out a new feature. In other words, it means the devs are still "internally beta testing pre-release software."

With that said, the "rewards'' was not supposed to reach these users. Instead, it should be exclusively available to Google employees or users in internal testing. However, the recent incident goes otherwise. Regular users started getting their surprising cashback that they never signed up for.

The Google Pay team explained the mishap to users who received free money on their accounts. It says they "have resolved an error that deposited unintended cash credit."

They also took the chance to apologize for the inconvenience the bug may have caused its users. Given that the whole thing was merely a mishap, Google told affected users that they had reversed the credit to resolve it.

However, the Google Pay team notes, "If we were not able to reverse the credit, the money is yours to keep." ArsTechnica reiterates that if users have already spent the accidental "reward," they can keep it. If you are worried that the tech behemoth will ask you to pay for it, this should assure you that you no longer have to sweat it.

Related Article: Google Engineer Claims AI Chatbot Is 'Sentient,' Compares It to a 'Precocious Child'

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/rubles-share-in-export-payments-top-30-in-2022-central-bank-1109343065.html

Ruble's Share in Russian Export Payments Reaches Dollar Level, Topping 30%

Ruble's Share in Russian Export Payments Reaches Dollar Level, Topping 30%

The share of the ruble in payments for export deliveries at the end of 2022 exceeded 30%, equaling the share of the US dollar and significantly exceeding the share of the euro

2023-04-11T08:08+0000

2023-04-11T08:08+0000

2023-04-11T08:17+0000

russia

russia

ruble

dollar

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"After the transfer of payment for natural gas supplies to unfriendly countries into rubles in May 2022, the share of the national currency in export deliveries increased significantly (exceeding 30% at the end of the year), equaling the share of the US dollar and significantly exceeding the share of the euro," the regulator said in a statement. At the same time, by the end of 2022, the total share of the US dollar and the euro in settlements for both export and import deliveries was a little less than 50%, which generally corresponds to the current country structure of Russia's foreign trade. But it may also indicate that settlement risks and risks of blocking assets by unfriendly countries remain for Russian companies and their counterparties, the statement read.Russia has been seeking to eradicate the US dollar from its foreign trade relations since the 2014 wave of sanctions over Crimea. Talks have been on with Iran, Turkey and China, as well as some African and Latina American countries. Moscow intensified its efforts on the issue after the West imposed new sanctions on the country over its special operation in Ukraine.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220919/how-decision-to-use-rubles-in-russo-turkish-gas-settlements-benefits-ankara-and-moscow-1100981961.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/russia-china-military-cooperation-poses-threat-to-no-state-chinese-foreign-ministry-1109350681.html

Russia-China Military Cooperation Poses Threat to No State: Chinese Foreign Ministry

Russia-China Military Cooperation Poses Threat to No State: Chinese Foreign Ministry

Military cooperation between Russia and China is not directed against third parties and poses threat to no country, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Tuesday, urging Tokyo to stop escalating tensions in the region.

2023-04-11T11:56+0000

2023-04-11T11:56+0000

2023-04-11T11:56+0000

military

russia

china

cooperation

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"Regarding Sino-Russian military cooperation, we have repeatedly expressed our stance. The cooperation in question is not directed against third parties, it is fully in line with international law and international practice, it poses no threat to any country," Wang told a briefing. The spokesman also noted that no one has the right to make irresponsible statements regarding military cooperation between the two countries. Earlier in the day, Japan published its official annual foreign policy report. The document stated that Tokyo is concerned and committed, from a national security perspective, to continuing to closely monitor the strengthening military ties between Russia and China, in particular their joint air and sea patrols near Japan. The document referred to the Vostok-2022 strategic military drills in the Indo-Pacific region and joint patrols by naval vessels near Japan in September 2022, as well as joint overflights of the Russian armed forces and Chinese military bombers in November 2022.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230330/russia-china-iran-naval-drills-make-positive-contribution-to-maritime-security-beijing-says-1108945961.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/south-korea-strongly-protests-japans-renewed-claim-to-disputed-dokdo-islands-1109338325.html

South Korea 'Strongly Protests' Japan's Renewed Claim to Disputed Dokdo Islands

South Korea 'Strongly Protests' Japan's Renewed Claim to Disputed Dokdo Islands

South Korea Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said on Tuesday that Seoul "strongly protests" Tokyo's renewed territorial claim to disputed Dokdo Islands, also known as Takeshima Islands in Japan, in its latest Diplomatic Bluebook.

2023-04-11T05:04+0000

2023-04-11T05:04+0000

2023-04-11T05:04+0000

asia

south korea

japan

dokdo islands

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Tokyo's claim to the islands was included in the 2023 Diplomatic Bluebook  Japan's annual report on foreign policy and activities  which was released earlier on Tuesday. Seoul "strongly protests Japan's repeated unjust claims of sovereignty over Dokdo, which is of our sovereign territory historically, geographically and under international law," Lim said, as quoted by South Korean news agency. The spokesperson added that Tokyo should "clearly recognize" that such repeated claims do not contribute to the development of ties between the countries. The foreign ministry also called on Naoki Kumagai, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to deliver a formal protest message, the report said. The Liancourt Rocks  called Dokdo Islands by Seoul and Takeshima Islands by Tokyo  lie almost equidistant from Japan and South Korea, with the latter maintaining a small police force there. For decades, the islands have been a bone of contention, with both sides claiming they have long-standing historical ties to the archipelago, which is believed to be rich in natural resources.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20191103/two-bodies-discovered-after-dokdo-chopper-crash-in-south-korea-1077211385.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/supposed-intelligence-leak-exposes-us-spying-on-adversaries-and-allies-1109335398.html

Supposed Intelligence Leak Exposes US Spying on Adversaries and Allies

Supposed Intelligence Leak Exposes US Spying on Adversaries and Allies

Pentagon officials hint that the leaked documents are real and on the other hand both belligerent parties (Ukraine and Russia) allege that the story is a complete fabrication.

2023-04-11T10:32+0000

2023-04-11T10:32+0000

2023-04-11T10:32+0000

the critical hour

radio

donald trump

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ukraine

china

israel

taiwan

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Supposed Intelligence leak exposes U.S. spying on adversaries and allies On the one hand Pentagon officials hint that the leaked documents are real and on the other hand both belligerent parties (Ukraine and Russia) allege that the story is a complete fabrication.

Ray McGovern, Former CIA analyst and co-founder, Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity joined the show to discuss the alleged intelligence leak that exposed US spying on adversaries and allies. Mark Sleboda, a Moscow-based international relations and security analyst, joined the discussion to provide analysis of the alleged intelligence leak story and discusses the problems that Ukraine is having. As the spring offensive nears, Ukraine is drafting reinforcements. The government is conscripting men and in some instances snatching people off of the streets. K. J. Noh, peace activist, writer, teacher and political analyst highlights the problems with the Washington Posts article Chinas new world order is taking shape. He also highlights the economic conflict that is demonstrated by Tesla opening a factory in Shanghai to produce its Megapack large-scale batteries.Jon Jeter, journalist and author discusses the Caitlin Johnstone article, Washington Says Journalism Is Not A Crime. This demonstrates the hypocrisy as the United States calls for the release of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich claiming that journalism is not a crime while continuing the persecution and extradition of Julian Assange.Laith Marouf, award-winning broadcaster, political analyst and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon joins the show to discuss the President of Turkiye, Recep Erdogan stating that the Islamic world should be united against Israels attacks in Palestine during a phone conversation with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Laith also discussed that a Saudi delegation has arrived in the Yemeni city of Sanaa to negotiate with the Houthis. Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics, University of Missouri-Kansas City joined the show to discuss that fact that Macron has no interest in decoupling from China. During his visit to China, Macron put business before politics that secured big new deals for Airbus and other national firms. Dr. Tauheed also discussed the WSJ article, Auditors Didnt Flag Risks Building Up in Banks. Bond losses such as those at Silicon Valley Bank could have been raised as critical audit matters.Professor Dan Kovalik, Professor of International Human Rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law - 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. He also discusses how the US involvement in Syria demonstrates how contractors are still used to fight Americas wars.Professor Marjorie Cohn, professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law discusses her article, New York Indictment Is Just the Beginning of Trumps Mounting Legal Woes. She believes in the historic Indictment and accompanying Statement of Facts, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has amassed a strong case against Trump. Statements of Facts, which provide a road map of the case, are frequently used in complex white-collar crime cases.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

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the critical hour, nato intel leaks, pentagon docs leaked, war plans leak, who leaked nato war intel, who controls bakhmut, why bakhmut is important, fights for bakhmut, when the ukranian offensive starts, tesla to open factory in china, chinese diplomacy, chinese mediation, iran-saudi deal, houthi-saudi peace deal,
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/szijjarto-says-discussed-with-novak-prevention-of-sanctions-against-nuclear-energy-sphere-1109352398.html

Hungarian FM, Russian Deputy PM Discuss Sanction Prevention in Nuclear Energy Sphere

Hungarian FM, Russian Deputy PM Discuss Sanction Prevention in Nuclear Energy Sphere

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday that he discussed with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak the prevention of sanctions against nuclear energy sphere, and supplies via the Turkish Stream, and the Druzhba pipelines.

2023-04-11T12:19+0000

2023-04-11T12:19+0000

2023-04-11T13:20+0000

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"On the agenda of talks with Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak today are serious issues: the physical and technical safety of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, which provides gas supply to our country, the preservation of transit supplies through the Druzhba oil pipeline, which provides for our oil supply, as well as the prevention of sanctions threatening the nuclear industry," Szijjarto said on social media. Additionally, the Hungarian top diplomat and the head of Rosatom discussed further steps to implement the Paks-2 nuclear power plant construction project, as well as other aspects of comprehensive cooperation in the nuclear sector, according to the nuclear corporation's statement. Later in the day, the Hungarian foreign minister, following the meeting with Likhachev, said that the Paks-2 NPP must be constructed as soon as possible despite various obstacles. Szijjarto also noted that "even Brussels" now understands that green transition is impossible without nuclear energy. Earlier in the day, Szijjarto said that he had arrived in Moscow to discuss energy cooperation with Novak and Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev. In late 2014, Russia and Hungary signed an agreement on the construction of two advanced reactors in addition to four existing reactors of the Paks NPP, Hungary's only nuclear power plant. The project was titled "Paks-2." The sides agreed that Russia would allocate up to 10 billion euros ($10 billion) in a loan to finance the construction of the units, while the total cost was expected to reach 12.5 billion euros. The construction is expected to begin in 2024, and the relevant licenses have already been issued. Currently, Paks generates almost half of all electricity in Hungary, with the share due to double after the planned commissioning of the new reactors. The Hungarian authorities consider nuclear energy as the best way to ensure the country's energy security.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/uk-australian-lawmakers-urge-assanges-release-non-extradition-wikileaks-1109352177.html

UK, Australian Lawmakers Call for Assange's Release, Non-Extradition

UK, Australian Lawmakers Call for Assange's Release, Non-Extradition

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Members of parliament in Australia and the United Kingdom have urged for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be freed from his UK prison and not extradited to the United States, where he is wanted on espionage charges, the leaks-publishing platform said on Tuesday.

2023-04-11T12:14+0000

2023-04-11T12:14+0000

2023-04-11T12:17+0000

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"We write to you as members of the UK Houses of Parliament to request that you end the extradition proceedings against Julian Assange," 38 UK lawmakers said in a letter to the US Attorney General, Merrick Garland published by WikiLeaks on social media. A similar letter has been written and signed by 48 Australian members of parliament. In December 2021, Assange suffered a stroke in Belmarsh Prison during a High Court appearance via video. In December 2022, Assange's wife Stella Morris voiced her concerns about his physical and mental health, since he was detained alongside prisoners charged with serious crimes. April 11 marks four years since Assange was put in London's Belmarsh prison. He is currently attempting to appeal his extradition in the European Court of Human Rights.WikiLeaks was founded by Assange on October 4, 2006, but rose to prominence in 2010, when it began to publish large-scale leaks of classified government information. This included leaked papers about US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, which prompted the US authorities to prosecute Assange under the Espionage Act for crimes punishable by 175 years in prison.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230322/why-dont-you-release-assange-mexican-president-strikes-back-at-us-over-human-rights-report-1108668093.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/us-creating-biological-weapon-components-near-russias-borders-russian-defense-ministry-1109349596.html

US Creating Biological Weapon Components Near Russia's Borders: Russian Defense Ministry

US Creating Biological Weapon Components Near Russia's Borders: Russian Defense Ministry

The United States is creating components of biological weapons in the immediate vicinity of Russia's borders, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense troops of the Russian armed forces, said on Tuesday.

2023-04-11T10:53+0000

2023-04-11T10:53+0000

2023-04-11T10:53+0000

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ukraine

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biological weapon

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"According to the results of the analysis of documentation and the interview of eyewitnesses, we have no doubt that the United States, under the guise of ensuring global biosafety, conducted dual-use research, including the creation of biological weapons components in the immediate vicinity of the Russian borders," Kirillov said, adding that such work have been carried out at US biological facilities Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics (LPR and DPR) and Kherson regions. Russia analyzed more than 2,000 documents of various plans confirming the implementation of military biological projects on the territory of Ukraine, the official added. In February 2022, the Russian Defense Ministry discovered the existence of 30 US-funded biological laboratories in Ukraine. According to Moscow, Washington has spent over $200 million on the biological laboratories in Ukraine, which were part of the US military biological program.In June 2022, the Pentagon said that the United States has helped provide support to 46 biological laboratories in Ukraine in order to improve biological security and monitor diseases.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/us-mulls-mandatory-monitoring-of-ai-programs-like-chatgpt-reports-say-1109351272.html

US Mulls Mandatory Monitoring of AI Programs Like ChatGPT, Reports Say

US Mulls Mandatory Monitoring of AI Programs Like ChatGPT, Reports Say

US authorities are examining the need for checking AI-based programs, such as ChatGPT, amid concerns that they can be used to commit crimes and spread misinformation, media reported on Tuesday, citing the Department of Commerce (DOC).

2023-04-11T12:03+0000

2023-04-11T12:03+0000

2023-04-11T12:13+0000

americas

artificial intelligence (ai)

us

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As a first step in evaluating the necessity for regulations, the Department published an official public request for comments on accountability measures, including whether new potentially unsafe AI tools should undergo a certification procedure before release, a news outlet said. The head of the DOCs National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Alan Davidson, said that comments on this request received within the next 60 days would be used to help formulate recommendations for US policy makers, as cited in the report. He also noted that his agency can only advise the president on technology policy but not write specific rules. Last week, US President Joe Biden said that artificial intelligence can be dangerous and technology companies should be held accountable for the safety of their products. Besides, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Pinterest co-founder Evan Sharp, and a number of experts in the field called on AI engineers to suspend the development of systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months. Experts argue that AI systems with human-like intelligence can pose a threat to society and humanity as a whole. In late March, the Italian Data Protection Authority imposed restrictions on ChatGPT over its violations regarding data collection, while some leading Japanese universities strictly warned against the use of AI bots for writing educational and scientific papers. OpenAIs ChatGPT language model, launched in late November 2022, was met with mixed reactions due to its ability to mimic human conversations and generate unique texts based on users prompts. Some have praised the model for its professional applications, such as for developing code, while others have criticized its potential for abuse, such as students using the model to write essays.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/western-weapons-sent-to-ukraine-popping-up-in-europe-africa-russias-unsc-envoy-says-1109341345.html

Western Weapons Sent to Ukraine Popping Up in Europe, Africa, Russia's UNSC Envoy Says

Western Weapons Sent to Ukraine Popping Up in Europe, Africa, Russia's UNSC Envoy Says

The weapons supplied by the West to Kiev are already "popping up" in Europe and Africa, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Security Council (UNSC) Vasily Nebenzya stated.

2023-04-11T10:48+0000

2023-04-11T10:48+0000

2023-04-11T10:48+0000

africa

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un security council (unsc)

vasily nebenzya

envoy

ambassador

russia

ukraine

weapons

criminal organizations

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The weapons supplied by the West to Kiev are already "popping up" in Europe and Africa, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Security Council (UNSC) Vasily Nebenzya stated while speaking at a UNSC meeting dedicated to the risks of illicit weapons exports.During his speech, the diplomat outlined that Western weapons replenish the arsenals of armed criminals and terrorists.The United States is the largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine. Since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, Washington has provided military assistance to Kiev worth more than $35.8 billion. The total amount of American assistance to Kiev in the military sphere since 2014 is estimated at more than $37.8 billion. The United Kingdom follows the US in terms of the quantity of weapons transferred to Kiev. According to data at the end of February, Britain's military assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's special military operation amounted to about 2.3 billion pounds (2.7 billion dollars). Recently, Poland's President Andrzej Duda announced that his country was the third largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine after the United States and United Kingdom. As stated by the country's authorities, Poland has been sending weapons and military equipment to Kiev since the beginning of the conflict, in an amount exceeding 1% of the country's GDP.Addressing the Lake Chad Basin Commission during a summit of heads of member states in November 2022, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari stressed that weaponry intended for the war in Ukraine are strengthening the capacity of terrorist groups in West Africa. He urged for more vigilance and cooperation among the commission's six members in combating the growing proliferation of arms in the Lake Chad Basin region.Earlier, Russia sent a note to the US and other NATO member states demanding a stop to the supply of arms to Kiev.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230316/us-using-intrusive-approach-to-south-sudan-russias-un-security-council-representative-says-1108461525.html

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New Vocations will be at Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio once again from April 13-16 with a booth in the Voinovich Breed Pavilion and several adoptable Standardbreds in the ASPCA Adoption Affaire located in the Gilligan Complex.

New Vocations' swag including Standardbred apparel will be available for a donation at the booth shared with Ohio Standardbred and Friends, adjacent to the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association/U.S. Trotting Association booth.

Ohio Standardbred and Friends are doing six breed demos with 10 horses and riders or drivers:

Saturday: 11 a.m. Coliseum; 12:45 p.m. Voinovich; 2:45 p.m. Rod's Arena

Sunday 11 a.m. Coliseum; 1 p.m. Rod's; 2:45 p.m. Voinovich.

In addition, there are two sessions in the Celeste Centers Wahl Demo Ring using a Standardbred to demonstrate "From Harness to Saddle" on Friday at 2:45 p.m. and to explain harness racing on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. A Standardbred will also be available the entire time at the OHHA/USTA booth for petting and selfies.

The ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Affaire in the Gilligan Complex will again offer the chance to meet adoptable horses from a number of regional charities including New Vocations. This is a wildly popular opportunity for attendees to view up to 40 available horses of many different breeds and dig deeper into the adoption process. Many of these horses will be ridden at designated times for potential adopters.

New Vocations will feature a retired Standardbred broodmare-turned-pleasure-mount, from its Matrons of Honour division and three fresh-from-the-track geldings including the well-known war horse Latest Desire (pictured above with New Vocations trainer Bridget Heasley).

The weather is supposed to be beautiful all four days, so we invite anyone thats coming to Equine Affaire, to please stop by and see us, said Dot Morgan, Executive Director of New Vocations.

Click here for a complete list of all the clinics, demonstrations and seminars offered at Equine Affaire this week.

(New Vocations)
Alec Baldwin files waiver for a preliminary hearing in the fatal 'Rust' shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

The judge in charge of the case approved the actor's request

Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter of the victim, who died on October 21, 2021

Alec Baldwin receives a judge's approval for his waiver of a preliminary appearance in the fatal "Rust" shooting case involving cinematographer Halyna Hutchins's death.

The actor, known for his roles in '30 Rock' and 'Mission Impossible - Fallout,' filed the waiver a month before the scheduled preliminary hearing. In the document, Baldwin acknowledged that he was aware of the charges against him, which was involuntary manslaughter in two alternatives.

Alec Baldwin Waives Preliminary Court Appearance in 'Rust' Case

He also said he understood that he was entitled to physically appear before the Court at every stage of the criminal proceedings. Baldwin thenrequestedt that the Court permit him to waive a personal appearance in the preliminary hearing.

The approval of Baldwin's waiver means he will not be required to appear in person at the Santa Fe County courthouse on May 3. The preliminary hearing of the murder case is expected to last up to two weeks, as per Fox News.

The actor pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the fatal shooting of Hutchins in the incident on October 21, 2021. The unfortunate events occurred after Baldwin was holding a prop gun he accidentally fired and shot at the victim. The 65-year-old has denied accusations that he pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Hutchins.

In a similar incident, the defendant also waived his first court appearance in February, which legal experts said at the time was a "routine court proceeding." Another individual, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer for the production, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled on May 3 as well.

Dave Halls, the assistant director for the movie, also faces charges of a misdemeanor of the negligent use of a deadly weapon. Authorities in March sentenced Hals to six months of unsupervised probation.

Read Also: Kentucky Bank Shooter Killed 4, Injured 8

Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter

Baldwin's filing of a waiver and Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer's subsequent approval comes after the New Mexico District Attorney overseeing the case said that she would follow a judge's order to step down as prosecutor, according to the Independent.

Mary Carmack-Altwies, a New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney, announced that lawyers Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis were appointed as new special prosecutors in Baldwin's fatal shooting case.

The probation of Halls includes testifying truthfully during any trials or hearings, a $500 fine, an agreement to participate in a firearms safety course that provides proof of completion within 60 days of his plea, aversion from alcohol, 24 hours of community service, and agreement to have no contact with any potential witnesses or co-defendants.

Baldwin's lawyers previously filed to have Andrea Reeb, who was in charge of the case, to be removed. They argued that the prosecutor could not simultaneously serve as the special prosecutor and a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives simultaneously, said Yahoo News.

Related Article: Louisville Bank Shooting Suspect Identified

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Virginia agricultural and forestry exports topped a record $5.1 billion last year.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday unveiled new farming data at the Virginia Inland Port facility in Richmond. According to Virginia Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 2022 exports eclipsed by 25 percent the previous record set in 2021 of more than $4 billion.

The governor called export sales a clear indication of the strength in Virginias first (agriculture) and third (forestry) largest industries.

The 2022 export data provides a tremendous foundation to work from as I prepare to embark on my first international trade mission, Youngkin said, according to a release from his office.

He recently announced plans to lead the Virginia delegation this month in visiting Tapei City, Taiwan; Tokyo, Japan; and Seoul, South Korea. Taiwan and Japan are two of Virginias top export destinations, according to the release.

These export numbers speak to the high quality and value of Virginia products and the success of our agricultural and forestry producers to establish fruitful international commercial relationships, said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr.

Virginias top agricultural and forestry exports in 2022 were soybeans at over $2.3 billion, animal products at over $960 million, tobacco at $215 million, wood products earned more than $509 million, and beer exports totaled over $145 million, according to the release.

One of the largest increases of 2022 were wood pellets which increased 1,379%. This was likely driven by increased demand in Europe and Asia.

All categories related to soybeans showed increases and tobacco exports remained strong with most exports going to Asia, the release stated.

China is the states biggest agriculture market, buying $1.45 billion worth of products last year, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Japan is a big buyer of Virginia soybeans and pork; Korea buys beef and cotton and Taiwan is a major buyer of Virginia grain, Youngkin said Monday at the Richmond port, the Times-Dispatch reported.

Now we can sell them even more, he added.

The top 10 crop and livestock products in Virginia, according to Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services, are: 1) broilers, 2) cattle and calves, 3) turkeys, 4) miscellaneous crops, 5) dairy products, milk, 6) soybeans, 7) corn, 8) all other animals and products, 9) floriculture and 10) hay.

Virginia has 41,500 farms, according to the agency, covering 7.7 million acres. Almost all, 97 percent of Virginia farms, are family owned. The state is home to nearly 19,000 new and beginning farmers, according to VDACS.

On average, 16-cents of every consumer dollar spent on food goes to the farmer, the agency said.
Culpeper Technical Education Center is providing real-life links to employment for its students, while helping local employers fill needed positions.

The Culpeper County Public Schools technical & career-focused high school held a job fair April 4 following a skills showcase the week prior by students exhibiting their abilities in front of business and industry leaders.

Job fair participant Sara Dunphy is an 18-year-old-student enrolled in the EMT program which recently won a state level HOSA (Future Health Professionals) Games EMT competition.

I feel like getting to see all the different companies and getting to talk to the people (is an) opportunity to see different jobs that are available, she said at the job fair.

Job fair participant Ross White is a 17-year-old student from Culpeper County High School enrolled in the automotive program.

He plans to go to welding school in August.

I think this is cool because were a local school and theres a bunch of businesses from Culpeper, White said of attending the job fair.

Its helping out smaller businesses around here and finding a career that weve been working toward in school.

Students who participated earlier in the skills showcase returned to CTEC to get information and participate in one-on-one interviews for careers within their areas of study. Those potential careers include trades taught at CTEC: cosmetology, cybersecurity, engineering, culinary, electrician and more.

Culpeper County Public Schools worked alongside Virginia Career Works Culpeper Center for the job fair. Career Works has held job fairs for the students of Culpeper schools for the last 5 years. Local reps discussed the value of CTEC as a training ground for students interested in and seeking a career in the trades.

The businesses are so excited about CTEC and the quality of training the students are getting but also the customer service skills and professionalism that theyre seeing today, said Marty Bywaters-Baldwin, director of workforce services at the Culpeper Center.

Jason Ford, with Career Works, added, The fruitfulness of an event like this is the proof is in the pudding, as the students come through and the businesses have a chance to speak with them about the opportunity for a full time career once they graduate is right at their fingertips.

Prior to the opening of CTEC in the 2021-22 school year connections between students and potential employers were not as clear, the men said. Those paths are now much clearer with training paths and programs that can be witnessed by those employers, Bywaters-Baldwin said.

Cedar Mountain Stone of Mitchells participated at the job fair along with Chemung Contracting Corp., a local county business known for quarrying stone for use in paving projects of Virginia Department of Transportation.

Tom Locher, an equipment and safety manager with the company, remarked on how CTEC has helped to fill out its workforce.

CTEC is just fabulous to begin with because these days you dont see a lot of young people moving into the trades direction. Its a great avenue to take, said Locher.

He said Cedar Mountain offers pay for schooling in the trades for students seeking to enter into those professions. The manager noted the company has hired six new employees in the last yearhalf through job fairs such as the one held at CTEC.

Locher had spoken to 30 students about potential employment. In addition to apprenticeships, Cedar Mountain offers careers in asphalt technician, industrial maintenance, electrical engineer and heavy equipment operator.

The Town of Culpeper was at the job fair seeking potential employees to fill positions in local government departments. Town Human Resources Director Mary Brunner spoke to several students in classes such as automotive and electrical that would have the skills needed for certain positions.

We have our public works department, our environmental services, those are the two areas that weve been speaking to students about, said Brunner.

CTEC students were excited to hear about the employment opportunities that could come their way as a result of their studies.
Kids and their families kept the Scotts Bluff National Monument buzzing with activity on Saturday, April 8, during Junior Ranger Day. Rangers and park staff greeted visitors with instructions for a scavenger hunt that would be completed by visiting a series of six booths, a fun way for kids to learn about Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Bed National Monument history, geology, resources and more.

Upon completion of the scavenger hunt, each participant becomes a certified Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Bed junior ranger, is presented with a badge and certificate and learns the junior ranger oath: I promise to explore our parks in all their glory, to protect living things and share each story. I will keep our parks out of danger, because I am a junior ranger.

Elicia Losoya, who works with the Black Hills Parks and Forest Association, helped greet visitors at the entrance and shared that their nonprofit helped to provide an American Sign Language interpreter for the event. She said theyd had 50 visitors check in and quite a few kids in the first half-hour of the event.

Behind the visitor center, skirting the edges of the amphitheater, the scavenger hunt booths were set up to protect visitors from the breeze. It was still cold enough for a jacket for most of the little ones, but that didnt temper their enthusiasm for learning. Booths were all staffed by park rangers or volunteers, and clusters of people gathered at each booth to learn and get their scavenger hunt documentation stamped.

Ranger Eric Grunwald, the lead interpreter at Scotts Bluff National Monument, was a key organizer. Beyond coordinating the event, he was also presenting at the geology station. Kids and parents alike were learning about the types of rocks found in the park through an interactive experiment to determine how soft or hard the rocks were.

Nicole Green and her son Noah spent quite a bit of time at Grunwalds booth. I saw this advertised on Facebook, and Noah was excited to come, Nicole Green said.

Ranger Terra Lynn Gray staffed one of the busiest booths, where she talked about some local wildlife. Kids could learn about prairie dogs and build their own beavers. The Anaya boys  Hezekiah, 6; Amiaz, 5; and Ezra, 3  were interested in these animals.

What do beavers eat? one of the boys asked.

Gray replied, Almost anything.

Even bricks? another boy asked, which prompted a laugh from Gray, who said beavers definitely dont eat bricks.

The boys grandma, Maria Olivia, had her hands full as her grandsons tried to fashion their own stuffed beaver out of nylons and stuffing, but looked to be having a good time.

Kids also learned about the importance of law enforcement and fire safety. Down in the parking lot, a crowd gathered around the monuments fire truck and law enforcement pickup. Raeley Ranalli and her parents, Trisha and Nick, took a tour of the fire truck, manned by firefighter AJ Legault, who also serves as chief ranger at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Raeley said she has wanted to be a firefighter for the last four years and was excited to tour the vehicle and learn more.

Grunwald said he was pleased by the turnout for the event, saying he looks forward to hosting the event again next year.

We had 227 people visit the park today, he said, and 47 new junior rangers got their certification.
The Gering Fire Department responded to significantly more calls in 2022 compared to previous years, Fire Chief Nathan Flowers told the Gering City Council on Monday, April 10.

Flowers began his annual report by sharing some statistics on the departments work in 2022.

On behalf of the fire department I want to share with you how we supported the community last year, said Flowers. In 2022, we ran 963 calls for service, which was an 18% increase from the previous year. This was one of the largest jumps in calls weve seen in a 12-month period, and the most calls weve ever had at the fire department.

Flowers cited drought conditions as a likely culprit for the increase in fire calls.

He also said that the department averaged 13 firefighters per call, resulting in over 12,000 man hours on calls for service throughout the year; 21,330 total man hours were recorded for all fire department activities in 2022.

Two large wildfires led to significant time investment by Flowers crews.

Our department spent 13 days total and burned just shy of 20,000 acres, he said. One fire in particular was pretty challenging for us. We could not meet our objectives without the support from our mutual aid partners in the state of Nebraska.

The Gering Fire Department also provided mutual aid throughout the year, particularly to help with large fires throughout the state, which Flowers said his department is uniquely qualified to do in Nebraska.

Because of our training and our certifications we were able to send people out on four large fires throughout the state, he said. Were kind of the leading department within the state of Nebraska that has these credentials and qualifications, so they really lean on us to be able to help where needed.

The department logged 3,814 hours of training and 1,287 of public education efforts throughout 2022, in addition to continuing the development of high school students who wish to serve as firefighters or in other emergency response roles after graduation.

We worked with 12 total students, and several of them we retained to be members of our fire department, he said. Its a huge benefit we see within that program, and were currently going through some other ones, and theres some really good high school kids that are working down at the fire department.

Several members of the council asked Flowers to pass along their thanks to the members of his department, expressing the importance of their hard work and sacrifice for the protection of the community.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank the fire department, council President Michael Gillen said. Theyre kind of the unsung heroes with all the volunteers. Please make sure to thank all of those men and women who volunteer so much time to keep our community safe.

Council member Cody Bohl seconded Gillens praise, recognizing the difficulties posed by the last several years.

The last couple of years have been tough in town, not to mention all of the wildfires that are happening out south. A lot of that stuff hits pretty close to home for a number of people, and I think its important to remember that your staff are volunteers. Thats exactly what they do, volunteer their time, and they put a lot on the line.

The Gering City Councils next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 24 in the council chambers at Gering City Hall.
A company that removes harmful substances from soil and water is bringing 226 jobs in Iredell County, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday. The company will invest more than $5.72 million to locate its first North American production site to Statesville.

EPOC Enviro will occupy 263,701 square feet in a plant at the Statesville Commerce Center located at the intersection of Highway 70 and Barkley Road.

Its great to welcome EPOC Enviro to Iredell County in the nationally recognized top state for business with the best workers in the world, said Cooper. Our fight against polluted water and climate change will be bolstered by this companys innovative products and its commitment to sustainability.

EPOC Enviro is a subsidiary of OPEC Systems, an Australian firm with three decades of global environmental engineering experience, according to a press release from the state. EPOC provides a clean and sustainable remediation solution that removes harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water, soil, and industrial systems. The company patented SAFF in 2016 as a natural process using air to permanently, and rapidly, remediate PFAS with zero harm to the environment, the state release said.

The Statesville location will allow the company to expand into the United States.

After looking at possible sites all over America we are delighted to have settled on North Carolina as the hub for our U.S. business activities, said Peter Murphy, president of EPOC Enviro. Statesville is perfectly situated in a beautiful corner of the country, and it is exactly the kind of community we were hoping to become an integral part of.

Global manufacturers like EPOC are attracted to places with a diverse and skilled workforce, said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. North Carolina not only has the largest manufacturing workforce in the southeastern United States, but it also has a strategic economic development plan that prioritizes our workforce and training systems to help prepare our talent for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led the states efforts to support EPOCs location to North Carolina. New positions include electricians, engineers, fitters, managers, technicians, and administrative personnel. Although salaries for the new positions will vary, the average annual salary for the new positions is $64,464, which exceeds the Iredell County average wage of $64,433. The project could create a potential annual payroll impact of more than $14.5 million per year for the region.

EPOCs project will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the states Economic Investment Committee, the release said.

EPOC could have selected any place in the world for this expansion and were delighted they chose Statesville, said N.C. Sen. Vickie Sawyer. Manufacturers can reach more than 70% of the nations population in two days from Iredell County, and is near one of the worlds busiest airports, making it a great area for foreign direct investment.

This is an outstanding win for Iredell County and the entire state, said N.C. Rep. Jeffrey C. McNeely. We sincerely appreciate the local and state officials and economic development professionals that helped bring these good-paying jobs and this new investment to our community.

In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the North Carolina Community College System, Mitchell Community College, Iredell County, Iredell County Economic Development Corporation, the City of Statesville and Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, the release said.
Four people were arrested in an investigation at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Statesville. Three of the people have been banned from the park, according to the Iredell County Sheriffs Office.

William Timothy Karriker, 53, of Statesville, is charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure and misdemeanor nudity at a public park. A magistrate ordered Karriker banned from the park upon release, Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a news release.

Walter James Darnell, 55, of Olin, is charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure. Darnell is banned from the park, Campbell said.

John McClure Bennett, 57, of Denver, is charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure. Bennett is banned from the park, the sheriffs office said.

Tiffany Amber Power, 26, of Statesville, is charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Powers also had two outstanding warrants for her arrest, the sheriffs office said.

The sheriffs office received numerous complaints about possible drug activity, prostitution and loitering occurring at Martin Luther King Jr Park in Statesville, Campbell said. The park was known as Lakewood Park until 2017.

Citizens were concerned about the type of crimes that were occurring in a park where children play and others come to enjoy the area, Campbell said.

During March, the Iredell County Sheriffs Office Narcotics Unit and the Aggressive Criminal Enforcement team started conducting surveillance and undercover operations at the park. Investigations are continuing to ensure all families who come to the park are safe to play and enjoy their time.

All four of the suspects were arrested between March 30 and April 7, according to the Iredell County Sheriffs Offices online inmate search.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Park is located at 911 Lakewood Drive, in Statesville.
Putin prepares for a counteroffensive against Ukrainian forces

Russia digs mega-trench similar to World War I

Ukraine continues stockpiling weapons supplied by Western allies

Russian President Vladimir Putin is having a 45-mile-long trench excavated across the occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia.

The move by the Russian autocrat is in preparation for a counterattack by Ukrainian forces. Images obtained by the Sentinel-2 satellite reveal that the profound scar across the countryside is visible from space.

Details of Putin's Mega-Trench Emerge

Putin seems concerned about maintaining control of the region, despite unlawfully annexing it to the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian Center for Journalistic Investigations has emphasized the "mega-trench" reminiscent of World War I.

It is approximately 80 kilometers behind the front line, demonstrating Putin's concern over how far his forces could be forced back. According to reports, digging began in two directions in September 2012, using laborers from Kyrgyzstan.

Some complained that they needed to be paid appropriately, The Sun reported. The construction, which includes anti-tank emplacements, extends from Semenivka in the west to Marynivka in the east, within the Primorskyi District.

Elements of it have been featured on Russian propaganda television, which exhorted Central Asian hired laborers to "dig with sapper shovels as in World War II."

Ukraine has ridiculed the enormous gaping wound. Natalya Gumenyukne, the spokesperson for its southern defense forces, stated, "Well, at least they (the Russians) will accomplish something."

Per NY Pot, CJI estimates that Russia began simultaneously excavating the mega-tunnel from both directions in September of 2022. The construction was completed by the middle of October. Russian forces bombarded Ukrainian positions around the besieged city of Bakhmut and the adjacent area with airstrikes and artillery barrages in eastern Ukraine, the site of the war's bloodiest conflicts.

From Syria, the adversary shifted to so-called scorched earth tactics. Bakhmut is destroying buildings and positions with airstrikes and artillery fire, according to the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Read Also: Louisville Bank Shooting Suspect Identified

Russia Claims It Controls Majority of Donetsk Region

Denis Pushilin, the chief of the Moscow-controlled portion of the Donetsk region, stated that Russian troops now control 75% of the demolished city, which they have fought for months to capture at the expense of countless lives on both sides. Moscow is deploying special forces and airborne units to encircle Bakhmut, where fighting has been compared to a "meat grinder," according to Syrskyi.

The Russian Ministry of Defense proclaimed on Monday that its forces destroyed a fuel depot containing 70,000 tons of petroleum near Zaporizhzhia and Ukrainian ammunition and missile storage facilities. Kyiv has been stockpiling weapons supplied by its Western allies for months in preparation for a counteroffensive that would drive the invaders out of Ukraine after more than 13 months of combat.

However, CNN reported that Ukraine had been compelled to modify some military plans due to the leak of dozens of highly classified Pentagon documents detailing Ukraine's weaponry and air defense vulnerabilities, battlefield casualty data, and information about Kyiv's allies.

Military experts and Western officials told Express.co.uk that a Ukrainian counteroffensive would likely aim to divide the corridor during an advance on Melitopol, located to the east of the southern port city of Kherson. This would allow Ukrainian forces to close off some of the supply lines from Crimea to eastern Donbas.

Related Article: Ukraine War Leaked Classified Documents: Theories and More

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A Georgia man is in custody today after, law enforcement says, he attempted to flee a deputy at speeds in excess of 100 mph on Interstate 81, while turning his headlights on and off in an attempt to get away.

According to Smyth County Sheriff Chip Shuler, one of his deputies attempted to stop the speeding vehicle near I-81s 54 mile marker. The suspect vehicle then tried to get off at Exit 50-Atkins, but, Shuler said, he missed the exit, ran over the bank and crashed.

The suspect then got out of the vehicle and tried to run away, but was quickly taken into custody by a Virginia State Trooper.

The suspect, Shuler said, sustained minor injuries in the crash and was treated and released from Smyth County Community Hospital.

The suspect, Francisco Javier Farfan, 35, Lawrenceville, Georgia, faces charges of felony eluding and possessing/transporting firearms by a felon.

According to Shuler, Farfan is being held at the Southwest Regional Jail in Abingdon without bond pending an arraignment in Smyth County General District Court.
The shelling of the site was a response to an escalation on the occupied Syrian Golan front on Saturday-Sunday night, according to al-Modon.

Israeli warplanes targeted a headquarters belonging to Maher al-Assad, the commander of the Fourth Division and the brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in the early hours of Sunday morning, following increased tensions on the occupied Syrian Golan front. According to Channel 13, the Israeli army carried out the bombing on Saturday-Sunday night in response to an Iranian drone that was launched from Syria toward Israel a week prior.

The shelling of the site was a response to an escalation on the occupied Syrian Golan front on Saturday-Sunday night, which began with the launch of 6 rockets from Syria. In response, the Israeli army carried out bombings on regime sites in Damascus, Quneitra, Daraa, and Sweida using warplanes, drones, and artillery shells. However, the Hebrew channel reported that the bombing of Maher al-Assads headquarters was not just a response to the rockets that targeted the occupied Golan, but also a message to his brother Bashar al-Assad, as he allowed the Iranians to launch a drone toward Israeli territory.

According to reports, Maher al-Assad was not implicated in the attack on the Golan on Sunday night. However, the bombing of his headquarters was meant to send a message that the Israeli attack was not solely in retaliation to the rocket fire. It was also a response to a drone launched from Syria approximately a week ago.

Qaanis injury

Iranian sources have confirmed that Ismail Qaani, the leader of the Quds Force, arrived in Damascus on Friday, just hours after attending the funeral of two senior officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard who were killed in an Israeli attack on an Iranian base on the outskirts of Damascus. Unofficial sources close to the IRGC have suggested that Qaanis visit to Syria was intended to open a new front against Israel in the ongoing conflicts. This may be in reference to the recent missile launches from Syria on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Hebrew media sources on the Israeli side have reported on assassinations inside Syria, but they have not specified the identities of the targets. This comes after a series of raids conducted by Israel over the past two weeks, including the shelling of security headquarters in the vicinity of Damascus.

According to the Ain al-Euphrates News Network, which monitors the movements of factions affiliated with Iran and documents their locations, unidentified planes attacked a villa in the Yafour area of Damascus countryside. The villa is owned by Maher al-Assad, the brother of Bashar al-Assad, and was hosting a meeting of intelligence officers in the Syrian regime and Iranian officials, including Quds Force leader Ismail Qaani.

The network documented the moment when the building was targeted with a missile and stated that there were casualties, both dead and wounded, including Quds Force leader Ismail Qaani, as a result of the attack.

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.
Sameh Shoukry released a statement indicating that the purpose of the phone call was to consult and coordinate with the UN envoy, according to al-Souria Net.

A week after his meeting with the Syrian regimes Foreign Minister, Faisal al-Mekdad, in Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a phone call with the UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen.

On Monday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry released a statement indicating that the purpose of the phone call was to consult and coordinate with the UN envoy on the Syrian crisis, and to explore ways to advance a political solution.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, during the call, Shoukry expressed Egypts full support for the efforts of the UN envoy to achieve a comprehensive political settlement in Syria, which is under Syrian ownership and in line with Security Council Resolution 2254.

Abu Zeid also stated that Egypt attaches great importance to restoring the security and stability of Syria and ending all forms of terrorism and foreign interference in the country.

Abu Zeid also mentioned that the phone call addressed ways to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, and both parties agreed to continue consulting and coordinating in the future.

It is worth noting that although Shoukrys meeting with regime Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in Cairo last week was the first of its kind in over a decade, the final statement fell short of expectations.

At the time, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that the two ministers held a closed bilateral meeting, which was followed by an expanded session of talks between the delegations of both countries. The discussions revolved around various aspects of bilateral relations, as well as ways to enhance and strengthen them.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced that the two ministers held a private meeting, followed by an extended session involving delegations from both countries. The discussions centred on various aspects of bilateral relations and ways to enhance and strengthen them.

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.
One person was killed and four others were wounded on Sunday during three assassination incidents in the city of Nawa, according to Zaman al-Wasl.

One person was killed and four others were wounded, on Sunday, during three assassination incidents in the city of Nawa, west of Daraa.

The Ahrar Houran Gathering reported that two individuals, Abdullah Munir al-Khatib and Nizar Rizk Sawan, were targeted by unknown assailants who fired direct bullets. Sadly, al-Khatib was killed while Sawan sustained injuries.

According to the Ahrar Houran Gathering, Sawan leads a group that is affiliated with the State Security Branch and is involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and looting. He was previously targeted in an assassination attempt on April 3 in the city of Nawa. Al-Khatib, on the other hand, has been accused of involvement in drug trade and promotion, as well as carrying out dismemberment operations and extorting civilians.

Another assassination took place in the city, resulting in the injury of Khaled al-Qablawi and Majd Mohammed al-Shara from gunshots, as reported by the group.

Sources from the gathering have accused al-Qablawi and al-Sharaa of being involved in the drug trade and promotion in the city.

In the third targeted assassination, Fouad Abdullah al-Qarazeh, a 60-year-old employee of the Nawa Municipal Council and member of the Baath Party branch, was shot and wounded.

According to reports, there has been a recent surge in assassinations of drug dealers and traffickers who work for the Assad regime and Iranian militias in the Daraa governorate.

Targeting a senior State Security officer

According to a correspondent from Zaman Al-Wasl, Colonel Salem Tarraf, the head of the State Security Branch in the city of Al-Sanamayn, was targeted by gunmen and sustained serious injuries. He was subsequently transferred to a hospital for treatment.

The attack, which involved the use of machine guns, occurred in close proximity to the military point and checkpoint located near the Mustafa complex, according to the correspondent. The area had reportedly experienced intense clashes and significant deployment of reinforcements by Assads 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.
An attack was carried out with an RPG shell targeting the house of an SDF member, according to Athr Press.

Private sources confirmed to Athr that the targeting of officials and centers of the Syrian Democratic Forces  SDF has recently increased significantly from local forces opposed to this presence, even if they did not declare themselves under the banner of an organization.

Sources have confirmed that on Thursday, unidentified individuals riding a motorcycle shot Mahmoud Al-Laji, a leader of the ISIS organization who was affiliated with the SDF ranks, in the city of al-Busaira in the northern part of the governorate. Al-Laji was later transported to a hospital in the town of Jadid Bakara where he succumbed to his injuries. In another incident, another member was killed while driving his military car on Al-Kharafi Road (Deir-ez-Zor  Hassakeh).

The information also indicated that an attack was carried out with an RPG shell targeting the house of an SDF member a few days ago in the town of Al-Sur in Deir-ez-Zor countryside, followed by the detonation of a car bomb at one of its headquarters located in the ferry area north of Raqqa city, amid information about deaths and injuries as a result of the targeting.

A military checkpoint in the town of Hermoushia in the northwestern countryside was attacked with machine guns, resulting in the death of one member and several others being wounded. Additionally, Fawaz al-Tarboush, a member of the internal security Asayish, was assassinated in the town of Ghariba. Meanwhile, Akri, the commander of the regiment, sustained serious injuries after being shot while driving his car in the town of al-Kibar.

The repeated targeting of SDF sites and members comes amid various tensions, including internal disputes within the SDF ranks, conflicts between Kurdish parties, and popular rejection of the SDFs presence in the eastern region. Additionally, the SDF faces continuous threats from Turkey, including drone attacks.

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.

Davutoglu talks about an expected meeting between Erdogan and Assad  Again

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu revealed Monday, that a four-way ministerial meeting to be hosted by Moscow early next month on Syria, saying that it aims to achieve several goals, including preparing for a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad.

In an interview with the Turkish A News Channel, Davutoglu said, We believe that the meeting will take place in early May in the Russian capital, Moscow, according to the preliminary information we received from the Russian side.

We discussed this meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his visit to the Turkish capital, Ankara, last Friday, he said.

He explained that the aim of these talks is to revive the political process, permanent stability and peace, combat terrorism, ensure the security of Syrias borders and territorial integrity, and ensure the voluntary return of Syrian refugees from Turkey and neighbouring countries alike.

The Turkish foreign minister pointed out that the ministerial meeting is a preparation for a meeting between the Turkish and Syrian presidents in the future.

The four ministers may work on preparations for a meeting between the leaders of Russia, Syria, Iran and Turkey, he said.

Top Russian, Syrian, Turkish, and Iranian diplomats to meet in near future: Moscow

Russias deputy foreign minister says a quadrilateral meeting among the top diplomats of Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Iran will be held in the near future as part of efforts made to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus, Iranian Press TV reported.

[The meeting] is in the works. We are setting a date, Mikhail Bogdanov was quoted by Russias TASS news agency as saying on Monday.

The new glimmer came after reports yesterday said the meeting was postponed.

The sooner the better, Bogdanov said when asked whether the quadrilateral meeting would take place in early May or before that.

Stressing that the date of the meeting should make sense for each of the four ministers, the Russian diplomat said, There was no official date, so we didnt postpone anything. We are coordinating [the date] now. There have been various proposals, but each of the four ministers has his own schedule.

The senior diplomats from the four countries were reported earlier to have discussed preparations for a four-party ministerial meeting in Moscow on April 3-4.

Turkey severed its relations with Syria in March 2012, a year after the Arab country found itself in the grip of rampant and deadly violence waged by foreign-backed militants, including those allegedly supported by Ankara.

The two neighbouring countries are currently taking steps toward reconciliation after 11 years.

Egyptian FM calls for end to foreign interference in Syria

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 Egypts full support for Pedersens 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 suffering of the Syrian people, according to the statement.
Owens Corning (Singapore) Pvt. Ltd. Vs DCIT (ITAT Mumbai)

ITAT Mumbai held that charges received for carrying out of re-fabrication of bushing doesnt tantamount to make available of technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how or process and hence cannot be taxed under Article 12 of Indo-Singapore tax treaty.

Facts- The assesssee is a company incorporated in Singapore and a group concern of Owens Corning Group of Company, which is a leading manufacturers of glass. The assessee is a tax resident of Singapore and has Associated Enterprises (AEs) namely Owens Corning India Pvt. Ltd. (OCIPL) and Owens Corning Industries India Pvt. Ltd. (OCIIPL) as AEs engaged in manufacturing of glass fibres in India. The assessee files its return of income dated 28.11.2019 declaring total income at Nil. The assessees case was selected for scrutiny and assessment order dated 29.06.2020 was passed by making an addition of the impugned amount of Rs. 18,96,94,367/- towards providing bushing and fabrication service to OCIPL pursuant to the direction of learned DRP. The assessee is in appeal before us challenging the impugned addition.

Conclusion- As this issue is recurring in nature and has been dealt with extensively by the Tribunal, it is necessary to rely on the said decisions which has held that the fabrication charges is not in the nature of fee for technical services.

Held that the Tribunal has held that the charges received by the assessee for carrying out of re-fabrication of the bushings does not tantamount to make available of technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how or process. The Tribunal has also held that as there is no transfer of technology involved in the said process, it cannot be taxed under Article 12 of the IndoSingapore tax treaty.

FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT MUMBAI

This appeal has been filed by the Assessee challenging the Assessment Order passed pursuant to the direction of the learned Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) relevant to assessment year 2019-20.

2. The assessee has challenged the grounds of taxing the fabrication charges amounting to Rs. 18,96,94,367/- as Fees for Technical Services u/s 9(1)(vii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) and Article 12 of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Singapore.

3. The assessee has also challenged the Non-Granting credit for taxes paid by way of TDS of Rs. 1,89,69,455/- along with other consequent grounds.

4. The brief facts are that the assesssee is a company incorporated in Singapore and a group concern of Owens Corning Group of Company, which is a leading manufacturers of glass. The assessee is a tax resident of Singapore and has Associated Enterprises (AEs) namely Owens Corning India Pvt. Ltd. (OCIPL) and Owens Corning Industries India Pvt. Ltd. (OCIIPL) as AEs engaged in manufacturing of glass fibres in India. The assessee files its return of income dated 28.11.2019 declaring total income at Nil. The assessees case was selected for scrutiny and assessment order dated 29.06.2020 was passed by making an addition of the impugned amount of Rs. 18,96,94,367/- towards providing bushing and fabrication service to OCIPL pursuant to the direction of learned DRP. The assessee is in appeal before us challenging the impugned addition.

5. It is observed that for the purpose of manufacturing of glass fibres, OCIPL uses bushings made of precious metals such as platinum and rhodium. While undergoing this process, the bushings go through a high temperature wherein the average life of the bushings reduces to 250 days approximately. Hence, these bushings are required to be furbished or fabricated after the said time. This re-fabrication is done by the assessee company by adding additional alloys, i.e., platinum and rodium which is procured from Owens Corning Inc., USA (OC Inc. for short). The assessee has submitted that the OCIPL does not make any payment to the assessee for including additional alloy required for re-fabrication of the bushings and it also contended that the agreement was only between OC Inc and OCIPL and not with the assessee. The assessee contended that the fabrication charges received by the assessee was towards the works contract/manufacturing contract which will not fall under the category of Fees for Technical Services (FTS) as per provisions of section 9(1)(vii) of the Act and hence, the same was not liable to be taxed in India. The assessee further contended that on receiving the bushings from OCIPL, the assessee carries out the fabrication process at its plant for which fabrication charges are charged. The assessee further stated that this process of fabrication does not require technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how or process which is made available by the assessee to OCIPL. The additional alloy required for re-fabrication is owned by Owens Corning Inc (OC Inc) which is supplied to the assessee when required. The Assessing Officer (AO) was not convinced with the submissions made by the assessee for the reason that the assessee was receiving alloys from OC Inc in the form of ingots, powders etc. and the said processes are patented by OC Inc., since the bushings are refabricated only by the use of the said patented alloys by the group company and also for the reason that the assessee has not signed any agreement with OC Inc for the said procurement of alloys nor does it have any agreement with OCIPL for re-fabrication services rendered to OCIPL. The A.O. also observed that OCIPL was not paying any Royalty to OC Inc or to the assessee for the alloys or for the fabrication services. The AO held that OCIPL has made available the right to use the patented alloys and the technology of re-fabrication. The AO has also contended that OCIPL sends the bushings to the assessees company instead of the OC Inc with which it has a direct agreement and that the assessee has failed to substantiate the fact that it does not have any agreement with OC Inc. The AO considered this as a colourable device for evading tax and has held the receipts received by the assessee as Fees for Technical Services instead of manufacturing contract/works contract. The learned DRP has also concluded that the said services are ancillary and subsidiary to the right to use the patented alloys and the technology involved for re-fabrication as per the Technology License Agreement entered into between OC NL Invest Cooperative U.A. (Licensors) and Owens Corning (India) Pvt. Ltd. dated 27.01 .2011 as per which non-transferable license to make, use and sell glass products in the Glass Melting Furnace under the License Patents, Licensor Know-how and Improvements to the Indian AE was granted by the said agreement. The learned DRP further held that the assessee has failed to produce any invoices issued by the AEs for Alloy Services rendered for fabrication of bushings as per Sub-clause 2 of Clause H of Article VI pertaining to Technical Services of the DTAA. The learned DRP rejected the objection raised by the assessee.

6. The learned Authorised Representative (AR) stated that the Co-ordinate Bench in assessees case for AYs 20 12-13, 20 16-17 and 2017-18 in ITA No.2049/MUM/2016 and AYs 2015-16 and 2018-19 in ITA No.6529/MUM/2018 and ITA 460/MUM/2020 has dealt with this issue pertaining to the fabrication charges received by the assessee from its AEs. The learned AR further stated that the Tribunal has held that the said receipt does not fall under the purview of fee for technical services and has deleted the addition on account of the same. The learned AR relied on the order of the Tribunal in assessees case for previous years.

7. The learned Departmental Representative (DR for short) controverted the same and stated that the same amount to technical services which involves a particular design and specification suggested by licensors and the same is said to be mandatory. The learned DR further stated that the alloy services used in the bushings by metals such as platinum or rhodium is made available only by the licensor. The learned DR relied on the orders of the lower authorities.

8. We have heard the rival sides and perused the materials available on record. It is evident that the assessee has received fabrication charges from its AEs for rendering re-fabrication of bushings sent to the assessee. It is also observed that the OC Inc provides additional alloy which it owns to the assessee during the process of re-fabrication of bushings. The assessee has stated that it does not receive any payment from OCIPL for the additional alloy used during re-fabrication for which there is a separate arrangement/agreement between OC Inc and OCIPL. The assessee has contended that it only receives re-fabrication charges from OCIPL. The assessee further stated that it is an admitted fact that the assessee being tax resident in Singapore avails the benefit of Indo-Singapore DTAA and contends that it does not have a permanent establishment in India thereby stating that the fabrication charges is not liable to be taxed in India. The assessee contends that only Article 12 of the said treaty is applicable to the assessees case in which the term Fees for Technical Services is defined under Article 12(4) of the said treaty. Under this Article any services categorised as managerial, technical or consultancy services will fall under the term Fees for Technical Services. The assessees contention that re-fabrication work carried off by the assessee is in the nature of works contract or manufacturing activity. It is also said that as per the said Article, the services rendered should be ancillary and subsidiary to the application of enjoyment of the right to property or information for which payment in the nature of Royalty has been received. The assessee has denied that the said services does not involve any of the application or enjoyment of the property which warrants royalty payments. As this issue is recurring in nature and has been dealt with extensively by the Tribunal, it is necessary to rely on the said decisions which has held that the fabrication charges is not in the nature of fee for technical services. The relevant extract of the decision rendered by the Tribunal in ITA No.2049/MUM/2016, ITA No.5731/MUM/2019 and ITA No.742/MUM/2021 is cited here under for ease of reference:

10. There is no dispute that the assessee is entitled to the benefits of the Indo-Singapore accordingly, income earned by the assessee cannot be taxed as business profits under article 7 of the Indo Singapore tax treaty/ There is also no, and cannot be any, dispute that once the provisions of the applicable tax treaty are more beneficial to the assessee, the provisions of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961 cannot be pressed into service Therefore, as things stand now, everything hinges on the application of the provisions of article 12, dealing with fees for technical services, coming into play. There is also no dispute that refurbishing of bushes does not amount to making available any technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how or process as there is no transfer of technology inherent in the process of rendition of these services, and, it is not even, therefore, the case of the authorities below that the fees received by the assessee can be taxed under article 12(3)(b) of the Indo Singapore tax treaty, their case is confined to the application of Article 12(4)(a) of the Indo Singapore tax treaty which provides that he term fees for technical services as used in this Article means payments of any kind to any person in consideration for services of a managerial, technical or consultancy nature (including the provision of such services through technical or other personnel) if such services are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of the right, property or information for which a payment described in paragraph 3 is received On the facts of this case, it is also not in dispute that no such payments, were made to the assessee by its Indian affiliate, which will be covered by Article 12(3) of the Indo-Singapore tax treaty Yet, taxability under Article 12(4)(a) is invoked, on the ground that one of the group companies, Le OC-US, has received such payments from the Indian affiliate, OCIPL, which are covered by Article 12(3) of Indo- Singapore tax treaty, and by invoking Article 9. The stand of the Assessing Officer and the DRP is that since the alloys are provided by the OC-US, which is an associated enterprise under article 9, one has to proceed on the basis that the alloys are provided by the assessee, and as the services are ancillary and subsidiary to the application or enjoyment of the right, property or information for which payment is made to OC-US, these services are taxable as fees for technical services.

11. As far as the role of Article 9 is concerned, it comes into play when conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises and remains confined to bringing those profit for taxes which, but for such arrangements, an enterprise in the respective tax jurisprudence would have made. The scope of Article 9 thus is to neutralize the impact of intra- AE relationship vis-a-vis the profits made in dealings with such an AE Beyond this limited scope, the application of Article 9 cannot restructure the transaction itself That is, however, precisely what the revenue authorities seek to accomplish by invoking Article 9 in the present case. The alloy lease transaction that the Indian affiliate had with the OC-US, by invoking Article 9, is sought to be treated as a transaction with the assessee, but then, given the limited scope and role of Article 9, such an exercise is simply impermissible. It would amount to practically rewriting article 12(4) by supplementing the expression for which a payment described in paragraph 3 is received with the words by the enterprise or by any of its associated enterprises anywhere in the world Neither can we read into the treaty what is not written there, nor would it make any sense anyway. Such an approach is too far-fetched and is neither supported by a plain reading of the treaty provision or by any logical rationale, nor by any commentary or even academic literature. The OC US and the assessee, a Singapore-based entity, are distinct entities and, they have distinct legal existences. The mere fact that these entities are part of the same multinational group does not require, or justify, ignoring the distinct identities of these entities, or the fact that the operations of these entities are in different jurisdictions It is also not even the case of the revenue authorities that the refurbishing work is not carried out in Singapore While a lot of emphases is paid by the revenue authorities on the fact that on the same transaction the assessee had paid taxes in India in the immediately preceding year, and the fact that it is part of overall common arrangements that the leasing is done from one jurisdiction and the refurbishing or bushing is done is another jurisdiction. Nothing, however, turns on these arguments also. The acceptance of tax liability in one year does not constitute estoppel against the assessee for the other years, and it is for the group to organize a multinational group to organize its activity, as long as it is a bonafide arrangement, in a manner as deemed commercially expedient. The question that we have to really consider is whether or not the activity leading to income was actually carried out in that jurisdiction, and there is no dispute on that aspect at all. The fact that an arrangement regarding situs of entities providing different facilities, in connection with a transaction of the multinational group, is done in a tax-efficient manner, cannot be reason enough to disregard the arrangement. We are satisfied that so far as the income of the assessee from the refurbishing of the bushes is concerned, it is not taxable in India as the provisions of Article 12(3) cannot be invoked in this case, and that, so far as the provisions of Article 12(4)(a) are concerned, these provisions cannot be invoked as the assessee has not rendered these services in connection with the services for which a payment described in paragraph 3 is received by the assessee. In view of these discussions, as also bearing in mind the entirety of the case, we uphold the plea of the assessee, and delete the impugned addition of Rs.4,84,44,048/-. The assessee gets the relief accordingly.

9. From the above said decisions, it is observed that the Tribunal has held that the charges received by the assessee for carrying out of re-fabrication of the bushings does not tantamount to make available of technical knowledge, experience, skill, know-how or process. The Tribunal has also held that as there is no transfer of technology involved in the said process, it cannot be taxed under Article 12 of the IndoSingapore tax treaty. By respectfully following the said decisions, we hereby allow the grounds raised by the assessee. The A.O. is directed to grant credit for taxes paid by way of TDS for the fabrication charges received by the assessee.

10. In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 09.03.2023
SALEM  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.

Tuttle returned fire and the gunman ran into tall grass along the interstate, where he was found with gunshot injuries, the statement said. He died at the scene despite unspecified medical assistance, police said.

Police identified the man as Felipe Amezcua Manzo, 31.

A vehicle connected with Manzo was found at the scene and searched after police got a warrant. Officials did not disclose if anything relevant to the shooting was found inside Manzos car.

Police said Tuttle suffered a minor injury. He is currently on administrative leave, which is standard in cases of police using deadly force.

The Salem Police Department is leading an investigation into the incident.

That part of Interstate 5, the main highway connecting California, Oregon and Washington state, was closed for about six hours.
A Kelso elementary school principal freed a dog from a vehicle fire Monday afternoon, according to Lt. Travis Mcwain of Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue.

The incident occurred on Fourth Avenue near Wallace Elementary School, where a small interior fire erupted within a Chevy Colorado. Mcwain said the fire was caused by a butane lighter and filled the vehicle with smoke.

Wallace Elementary School Principal Ray Cattin told The Daily News the incident occurred during recess after he received a call from staff about the fire, just before 1 p.m.

Cattin said the doors of the truck were locked, and children were yelling that there was a dog inside the vehicle, but he wasn't "100% sure" because he couldn't see anything inside as the truck's cabin was filled with smoke.

He said he smashed the driver-side window with a brick, and the dog appeared to be "freaked out" due to the blaze.

The dog, who Cattin described as a "black mixed breed," took off from the truck and has not been found.

Cattin said the dog's owner was visiting a friend at the time of the incident and even attempted to call the dog back, but it ran off and hasn't been seen since.

Mcwain said the fire was put out before fire crews arrived.
KALAMA  Shoppers looking for that little extra something or for alternative mailing options can visit a one-stop-shop downtown, rather than looking outside Kalama.

On March 20, Emily and Tim Swett opened Etc Mercantile in the former antique shop between Subway and Willie Dicks First Street Tap House. The store offers private mailboxes for rent, shipping services and home gifts.

The Swetts said they felt the community needed another option for mail and shipping, as well as printing and scanning services, that was a small business, rather than a franchise.

Were family owned, and weve been part of the community, Emily Swett said. We want to keep that community feeling and vibe.

The couple has lived in Kalama for 12 years. Tim Swett teaches at Kalama Middle School, and Emily Swett recently left teaching to move on to something new, she said.

After wanting to start a small business for a long time, those dreams became stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic, Emily Swett said. But those years werent the best time to open, she said.

When the downtown storefront became available last year, the couple jumped on the perfect space, Swett said. They got the keys on New Years Eve, which happened to be the couples 21-year anniversary.

We had dinner, then started painting that night, Swett said.

During nearly three months of renovations, the couple replaced the lighting and flooring, painted, added a wall and installed the mailboxes. Swett said after some internet searching, she found the set of 210 vintage-style mailboxes from a California seller.

The mailboxes are small but customers can get larger packages delivered to the store, Swett said. Most of the mail so far has been packages, for residents that have a P.O. box but not a home address where they can get deliveries, Tim Swett said.

The mercantile offers shipping through USPS or UPS carriers, including Amazon returns with a printed label. Customers can also print, copy or scan documents.

Emily Swett said their idea for the business began with the mail and shipping services and grew to include retail to fill out the larger space.

On the retail side, Swett said they want to offer items typically sold in big box stores like Walmart, Target or Fred Meyer that people cant find in Kalama. The shop includes office supplies, greeting cards and home decor items like art prints, frames, throw pillows and plants.

Swett said she would like to sell Kalama T-shirts and is working with the Kalama Artists and Makers Association to add a table of local artisans work. The mercantile will slowly add other products depending on what people want, she said.

The mercantile has gotten positive feedback, and the community has been welcoming and gracious, the Swetts said.

People like having another option and a retail location on the street here, Emily Swett said.

Etc Mercantile Address: 157 N. First St., Kalama Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Info: 360-673-7026, Etc Mercantile on Facebook
Cases of blastomycosis are spreading across Michigan's Delta and Menominee counties. According to the local health department, 93 have been confirmed or probable cases that are believed to be associated with a paper mill in Escanaba, the Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill.

(Photo: by RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Ecuadorian scientist Javier Carvajal speaks during an interview with AFP at a laboratory of the Faculty of Exact Sciences of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador in Quito on July 25, 2022. - Inside an oak barrel was the fungus of fortune.

Nineteen of the cases have been confirmed through culture or microscope, while the 74 probate causes show symptoms of blastomycosis and a positive antibody or antigen test.

The source of the infection has not been determined yet, but proactive steps are being taken to protect the health and safety of Paper Mill employees.

Also read: Epidemic Fungus Blamed for Extinction of Darwin's Frog

What is Blastomycosis?

Blastomycosis is caused by a fungus called Blastomyces that lives in the environment, especially in moist soil and decomposing matter, such as wood or leaves. It is usually found in the South and Midwest, specifically around Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and the Great Lakes.

According to CNN, there are only one or two cases per 100,000 people every year in states where blastomycosis is a reportable condition. Also, one analysis found that over 1,000 deaths have been recorded related to the illness from 1990 o 2010.

People can get infected simply by breathing in the microscopic fungal spores. However, not everyone will get sick, while others may develop symptoms like fever or cough between three weeks and three months later.

Other symptoms are:

Chest pain

Breathing difficulty

Night sweats

Fatigue

Weight loss

Muscle or joint pain

The good thing about blastomycosis is it doesn't spread from one person to another. It can be treated with anti-fungal medication that should be taken for a period ranging from six months to a year. This will all depend on the severity of the illness and the person's overall health.

Paper mills often use wood fibers as their primary raw material. These fibers are processed through various stages that involve high-temperature drying and grinding.

During these processes, the wood fibers are converted into paper products, and the airborne dust and debris containing Blastomyces dermatitidis spores may be released into the air.

Workers in paper mills who are exposed to this contaminated air can inhale the spores and become infected with Blastomycosis. Additionally, the spores can settle on surfaces in the mill, where they can remain viable for several months, creating a continuous source of infection.

Preventing the spread of Blastomycosis in paper mills requires proper ventilation, dust control, and the use of protective equipment such as respirators. Regular cleaning of surfaces and equipment can also help reduce the risk of infection.

Blastomycosis can spread easily in paper mills due to the airborne dust and debris generated during the paper-making process. Workers in these facilities need to take necessary precautions to prevent exposure and infection.

Related article: Coffee Rust Fungus Has Cost 100,000 Coffee-Related Jobs

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KALAMA  A Kalama educator died Thursday after a long battle with cancer, the local school district said in a statement late last week.

Sheila Stuhlsatz spent 20 years filling duties as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in the Kalama School District, the district said. Her work resulted in both regional and state recognition for her efforts to expand language learning, engage students and get more teachers certified.

The district said students and her colleagues nicknamed her Maestra, the Spanish word for teacher. It was a fitting name considering Stuhlsatzs time as a middle and high school Spanish teacher.

No one among us would characterize Sheila as anything less than a beacon of positivity, Superintendent Eric Nerison wrote in a letter to school staff Friday. Her contagious smile, heartfelt laugh, and inner strength are a few of the characteristics that stand out in my heart.  Whether serving as a Spanish teacher, assistant principal or principal, Maestra was a champion for all students.

Certified with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, she also served as a board member for the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession, according to a news release from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Her goal, the news release says, was to help 10% of Kalama School District teachers earn national board certification.

Sheilas influence on these children goes far beyond the subject matter, 4H parent Elise Conlee said to OSPI at the time. She teaches a way of life that encompasses a passion for learning, respect for others, and responsibility to ourselves, our family and our community. My own daughter is graduating from high school this year, and I believe she does so as a much different and better person because Sheila has been a part of her life for the past eight years.

Stuhlsatz had previously worked at Vancouver Public Schools before settling into her new role in Kalama. In 2013, Stuhlsatz was recognized as the Educational Service District No. 112 Teacher of the Year. She also came close to earning the Washington State Teacher of the Year honor that year as one of nine finalists.

The teacher in 2013 told The Daily News she wanted to immerse students in Spanish and Latin American cultures.

She began a monthly Cooking Day at Kalama High School, where students learned to cultivate some of the recipes important to these cultures. It was essential, she told TDN, to address individual students needs and specific learning styles.

Stuhlsatz then moved from the assistant principal role and became interim principal in 2015 at Kalama Elementary School.

Thats what this is all about  taking whoever comes in that door and helping them to learn ... and, if nothing else, make them feel valued, Stuhlsatz told The Daily News in 2013.
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The dismantling work is set to continue into the 2060s, a good 70 years after the Lubmin nuclear plant closed.

At a former nuclear power plant near Lubmin on Germany's Baltic coast, workers in the disassembly hall are chopping up a bulky grey section of a pump from inside one of the reactors.

A bandsaw slowly eats its way through the part, cutting it into smaller chunks that will fit in the decontamination units.

Those pieces will be blasted with iron sand, removing a dangerous top layer of material to be packed up and stored away from harm.

In mid-April, Germany's last three nuclear plants will go offline. But as their working life comes to an end, the painstaking task of decommissioning and dismantling the units begins.

The facility near Lubmin, built by East Germany's communist government and also known as the Greifswald nuclear power plant, was closed in 1990 with reunification.

But it will still be several decades before the work here is done.

"These nuclear power plants were built to last forever," said Hartmut Schindel from site manager EWN, so taking the plant apart has been a learning process.

"No one was responsible for the decommissioning in the 1960s" when the plant was first designed, Schindel said.

'Massive amount'

In all, workers at the plant have 1.8 million tonnes of material to sort through and shift.

Workers at the Lubmin plant have 1.8 million tonnes of material to sort through.

"It's a massive amount," said Schindel, who first joined the plant in the former East Germany in 1976 and was later responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste.

The vast majority of the volume will be released for reuse after a lengthy administrative process, but a small percentage of contaminated material must be sequestered.

Access to the disassembly area is closely controlled. Workers strip off their clothes, put on standard-issue underwear and a bright orange jumpsuit before they can enter the hall.

Exposure to radiation inside is counted by a personal meter carried in a breast pocket.

Coming out, a cubicle that speaks with a woman's voice checks for contamination, counting down from 20, asking the individual to turn around and starting the timer again before opening the exit.

Among the last items to be disposed are large components from the centre of the reactors, stored in a vast hangar on site.

Six pressure vessels and 21 steam generators lacquered in bright colours are waiting here to be chopped up.

For these, EWN is erecting a completely new disassembly hall, set to be completed in 2025.

The unit, where the most radioactive parts from the core will be sawed up under water for safety reasons, is an experimental project that could serve as a model for other decommissioning efforts, said EWN spokesman Kurt Radloff.

Meanwhile the work at the plant is set to continue into the 2060s, a good 70 years after it closed, with a total cost in the "high single-digit" billions of euros, Radloff said.

'These nuclear power plants were built to last forever,' says EWN site manager Hartmut Schindel.

'More complex'

The process of dismantling the communist nuclear plants was "more complex", not least because information was "lost" during reunification, said Christian von Hirschhausen of the think tank DIW.

But even dismantling some of the western plants could still take 30 or 40 years, von Hirschhausen said.

What is more, it was already "foreseeable" that some 23 billion euros ($25 billion) set aside for decommissioning would not be enough, he said.

"The question is then, who will pay for the additional costs?"

In all, Germany will have 29 closed reactors to decommission once the final three plants go offline.

The country's last nuclear power plants were kept running longer than planned amid fears of an energy crisis sparked by Russia's curtailing of gas exports during the Ukraine war.

But the end of nuclear is a settled debate in Germany, where atomic energy has long been a sensitive issue.

While other countries are planning new projects, the idea of a nuclear revival in Germany does not appeal to Schindel, who will retire before the works at the plant are done.

"The future does not point towards nuclear energy but other forms of energy," he said.

 2023 AFP
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Credit: University of South Australia

New eye-tracking technologies being developed by Australian engineers to identify building defects early in the construction process could save companies millions of dollars, time, and resources.

The technology, embedded in 3D headsets, is designed to help construction workers undertake more thorough checklists, cutting down on the estimated 60 percent of building costs related to fixing mistakes.

University of South Australia Ph.D. student Kieran May, computer scientist Dr. James Walsh and colleagues from UniSA's Australian Research Center for Interactive and Virtual Environments, have designed a tool that combines building information modeling and eye gaze data captured during a standard building inspection.

"The augmented reality headsets shoot laser beams out of the bottom of the user's eye to track where they are looking in a 3D model when they do a building inspection," Dr. Walsh says.

The eye-tracking technology validates the checklist process, ensuring that construction workers are doing a thorough inspection by matching their eye gaze data against the 3D architectural building model. Credit: University of South Australia

"The tool ensures that people doing a building inspection are not just walking through a room, but spending enough time to thoroughly check essential elements, identifying that light switches, taps, cables, or pipes are the correct ones and are properly installed.

"Depending on the nature of the build, whether it's bespoke or more standardized, the temptation is to tick checklist boxes without doing a rigid inspection, and that can cost thousands of dollars if defects are not picked up early on."

Dr. Walsh says the eye-tracking data does not replace a checklist, but validates it, so defects must still be manually recorded.

"For the construction industry, at the end of the day it's all about costs and timelines. The earlier we can identify what has gone wrong, the quicker we can fix it and the cheaper it is going to be to remedy it."

The researchers are working with construction partners to evaluate the tool on site over the life cycle of a building project.

"One of the great things about this project is that it's an example of how our Ph.D. students and researchers are working on real-world applied problems that can help industry now, not in 10 or 20 years," Dr. Walsh says.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

New Israeli-made spyware resembling the notorious Pegasus program has been used to target journalists and opposition politicians in several countries, a Canadian watchdog said Tuesday.

The spyware and related exploit or hacking software was created by the little-known firm QuaDream Ltd, which was established by a former Israeli military official and veterans of NSO Group, the creator of Pegasus, according to Citizen Lab.

Citizen Lab, which studies the abuse of digital technologies, said it identified at least five people targeted by QuaDream spyware and exploits in North America, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

"Victims include journalists, political opposition figures, and an NGO worker," it said, saying it would not identify them at the moment.

Spyware like Pegasus has been widely used by governments and other actors to spy on opponents, media and activists.

The programs can be placed on computers and cellphones by phishing communications and backdoor exploits, and can survey and transmit information on the phone back to an operator without the user's knowledge.

The White House said in late March that Pegasus has been used by governments "to facilitate repression and enable human rights abuses."

Citizen Lab said that, one placed on a user's phone or computer, QuaDream's spyware can record audio from a phone call, record external sounds from a device's microphone, take pictures from cameras, and search the device's files, all without the user's knowledge.

The spyware can also generate its own two-factor authentication codes to enable continual access to the device owner's cloud accounts.

The spyware includes a self-destruct feature to hide its previous presence once it is no longer used, Citizen Lab said.

Citizen Lab identified servers in 10 countries that received data from victims' devices, including Israel, Singapore, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates and Bulgaria.

QuaDream has marketed its spyware and services to government clients including Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Ghana, Indonesia and Morocco, Citizen Lab said.

 2023 AFP
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Police officers can often identify which driver is responsible for a traffic accident.

But what about when a self-driving vehicle is involved? Which driver should be liable for that?

The question is increasingly relevant as "partially autonomous" cars become more and more prevalent; three years ago, Allied Market Research valued the global autonomous vehicle market at more than $76 billion.

But answering that question creates a legal dilemma, said Cassandra Burke Robertson, the John Deaver Drinko-BakerHostetler Professor of Law at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

"If you ask automobile manufacturers," said Robertson, also the law school's director of the Center for Professional Ethics, "they'll tell you the driver is always fully responsibleeven when supervised autonomy failsbecause Advanced Driver Assistance Systems require constant human oversight, even when autonomous features are active."

Robertson recently offered her insight on the issue in a law review article, "Litigating Partial Autonomy," to be published in the Iona Law Review. In it, she contends there's enough blame for everyoneincluding automobile manufacturers.

"The nature of modern semi-autonomous systems requires the human and machine to engage in a collaborative driving endeavor," she wrote. "The human driver should not bear full liability for the harm arising from this shared responsibility."

Robertson's assessment is made even more relevant by several pending cases working their way through the judicial system this spring. More than 10 people have died in accidents involving self-driving cars since 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"As lawsuits involving partial autonomy increase, the legal system will face growing challenges to incentive manufacturers to develop vehicles more safely, and hopefully, leave room for this nascent technology to improve," said Robertson, who is slated to teach a course in the fall called "Law, Regulation, and Autonomous Vehicles."

She offers key policy recommendations, including that:

courts consider collaborative driving as a systemand dividing responsibilitywhen allocating liability;

statutory measures that encourage regular software updates for such vehicles;

customers pursue fraud and warranty claims when they discover that manufacturers overstate their autonomous capabilities. Claims for economic damages can encourage manufacturers to invest in addressing product defects beforerather than aftertheir customers suffer serious physical injury.
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A representation of the team's bipolar membrane system that converts seawater into hydrogen gas. Credit: Nina Fujikawa / SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Seawater's mix of hydrogen, oxygen, sodium and other elements makes it vital to life on Earth. But that same complex chemistry has made it difficult to extract hydrogen gas for clean energy uses.

Now, researchers at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University with collaborators at the University of Oregon and Manchester Metropolitan University have found a way to tease hydrogen out of the ocean by funneling seawater through a double-membrane system and electricity. Their innovative design has proven successful in generating hydrogen gas without producing large amounts of harmful byproducts. The results of their study, published today in Joule, could help advance efforts to produce low-carbon fuels.

"Many water-to-hydrogen systems today try to use a monolayer or single-layer membrane. Our study brought two layers together," said Adam Nielander, an associate staff scientist with the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis, a SLAC-Stanford joint institute. "These membrane architectures allowed us to control the way ions in seawater moved in our experiment."

Hydrogen gas is a low-carbon fuel currently used in many ways, such as to run fuel-cell electric vehicles and as a long-duration energy storage optionone that is suited to store energy for weeks, months or longerfor electric grids.

Many attempts to make hydrogen gas start with fresh or desalinated water, but those methods can be expensive and energy-intensive. Treated water is easier to work with because it has fewer substanceschemical elements or moleculesfloating around. However, purifying water is expensive, requires energy, and adds complexity to devices, the researchers said. Another option, natural freshwater, also contains a number of impurities that are problematic for modern technology, in addition to being a more limited resource on the planet, they said.

To work with seawater, the team implemented a bipolar (two-layer) membrane system and tested it using electrolysis, a method that uses electricity to drive ions, or charged elements, to run a desired reaction. They started their design by controlling the most harmful element to the seawater systemchloridesaid Joseph Perryman, a SLAC and Stanford postdoctoral researcher.

"There are many reactive species in seawater that can interfere with the water-to-hydrogen reaction, and the sodium chloride that makes seawater salty is one of the main culprits," Perryman said. "In particular, chloride that gets to the anode and oxidizes will reduce the lifetime of an electrolysis system and can actually become unsafe due to the toxic nature of the oxidation products that include molecular chlorine and bleach."

The bipolar membrane in the experiment allows access to the conditions needed to make hydrogen gas and mitigates chloride from getting to the reaction center.

"We are essentially doubling up on ways to stop this chloride reaction," Perryman said.

Researchers collect seawater in Half Moon Bay, California, in January 2023 for an experiment that turned the liquid into hydrogen fuel. From left: Joseph Perryman, a SLAC and Stanford postdoctoral researcher; Daniela Marin, a Stanford graduate student in chemical engineering and co-author; Adam Nielander, an associate staff scientist with the SUNCAT, a SLAC-Stanford joint institute; and Charline Remy, a visiting scholar at SUNCAT. Credit: Adam Nielander / SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

A home for hydrogen

An ideal membrane system performs three primary functions: It separates hydrogen and oxygen gases from seawater; helps move only the useful hydrogen and hydroxide ions while restricting other seawater ions; and helps prevent undesired reactions. Capturing all three of these functions together is hard, and the team's research is targeted toward exploring systems that can efficiently combine all three of these needs.

Specifically in their experiment, protons, which were the positive hydrogen ions, passed through one of the membrane layers to a place where they could be collected and turned into hydrogen gas by interacting with a negatively charged electrode (cathode). The second membrane in the system allowed only negative ions such as chloride to travel through.

As an additional backstop, one membrane layer contained negatively charged groups that were fixed to the membrane, which made it harder for other negatively charged ions, like chloride, to move to places where they shouldn't be, said Daniela Marin, a Stanford graduate student in chemical engineering and co-author. The negatively-charged membrane proved to be highly efficient in blocking almost all of the chloride ions in the team's experiments, and their system operated without generating toxic byproducts like bleach and chlorine.

Along with designing a seawater-to-hydrogen membrane system, the study also provided a better general understanding of how seawater ions moved through membranes, the researchers said. This knowledge could help scientists design stronger membranes for other applications as well, such as producing oxygen gas.

"There is also some interest in using electrolysis to produce oxygen," Marin said. "Understanding ion flow and conversion in our bipolar membrane system is critical for this effort, too. Along with producing hydrogen in our experiment, we also showed how to use the bipolar membrane to generate oxygen gas."

Next, the team plans to improve their electrodes and membranes by building them with materials that are more abundant and easily mined. This design improvement could make the electrolysis system easier to scale to a size needed to generate hydrogen for energy intensive activities, like the transportation sector, the team said.

The researchers also hope to take their electrolysis cells to SLAC's Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), where they can study the atomic structure of catalysts and membranes using the facility's intense X-rays.

"The future is bright for green hydrogen technologies," said Thomas Jaramillo, professor at SLAC and Stanford and director of SUNCAT. "The fundamental insights we are gaining are key to informing future innovations for improved performance, durability, and scalability of this technology."

More information: Daniela H. Marin et al, Hydrogen production with seawater-resilient bipolar membrane electrolyzers, Joule (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2023.03.005 Journal information: Joule
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Twitter Inc. has ceased to be an independent company after merging with a newly formed shell firm called X Corp., driving speculation about what Elon Musk intends for the social media platform.

Twitter "no longer exists" after being merged with X Corp., according to an April 4 document submitted in a California court for a lawsuit filed last year by conservative activist Laura Loomer against the company and its former chief executive officer, Jack Dorsey.

It's unclear what the change means for Twitter, which has seen a sweeping overhaul since Musk bought the company for $44 billion last year. The billionaire owner has in the past suggested that buying Twitter would be an "accelerant" for creating Xwhich he dubbed an "everything app." Musk tweeted about the move Tuesday with the single character "X."

The world's second-richest man has professed his desire to make X similar to China's WeChat, a super-app owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd. used for everything from payments and booking event tickets to messaging. But he's been vague about how it will fit in with his sprawling business empire, ranging from the electric car giant Tesla Inc. to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Musk also owns the domain "X.com"the name of the online payments company he started and eventually merged with PayPal.

Musk first set up a trio of holding companies in Delaware with a variation of the name "X Holdings" in April last year as part of his takeover bid for Twitter. But X Corp. was set up on March 9 in Nevada with its merger with Twitter submitted on March 15, according to records filed in the state. Musk is president of the firm and its parent, X Holdings Corp., which was also set up last month and has an authorized capital of $2 million, filings show.

Twitter, which no longer has a team handling media queries, did not immediately comment on questions sent by Bloomberg News. Lawyers for the law firm representing Twitter in the case, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The move sparked intense speculation on Twitter about what it meant, with Musk's tweet attracting more than 13 million views within hours. In Japan, the topic "Twitter Gone" started trending, with users joking that Twitter's new name will resemble that of a local rock band, X Japan.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Researchers have designed a low-cost, energy-efficient robotic hand that can grasp a range of objectsand not drop themusing just the movement of its wrist and the feeling in its "skin." Credit: University of Cambridge

Researchers have designed a low-cost, energy-efficient robotic hand that can grasp a range of objectsand not drop themusing just the movement of its wrist and the feeling in its "skin."

Grasping objects of different sizes, shapes and textures is a problem that is easy for a human, but challenging for a robot. Researchers from the University of Cambridge designed a soft, 3D printed robotic hand that cannot independently move its fingers but can still carry out a range of complex movements.

The robot hand was trained to grasp different objects and was able to predict whether it would drop them by using the information provided from sensors placed on its "skin."

This type of passive movement makes the robot far easier to control and far more energy-efficient than robots with fully motorized fingers. The researchers say their adaptable design could be used in the development of low-cost robotics that are capable of more natural movement and can learn to grasp a wide range of objects. The results are reported in the journal Advanced Intelligent Systems. Robot hand picking up a peach using just the movement of its wrist. Credit: University of Cambridge

In the natural world, movement results from the interplay between the brain and the body. This enables people and animals to move in complex ways without expending unnecessary amounts of energy. Over the past several years, soft components have begun to be integrated into robotics design thanks to advances in 3D printing techniques, which have allowed researchers to add complexity to simple, energy-efficient systems.

The human hand is highly complex, and recreating all of its dexterity and adaptability in a robot is a massive research challenge. Most of today's advanced robots are not capable of manipulation tasks that small children can perform with ease. For example, humans instinctively know how much force to use when picking up an egg, but for a robot this is a challenge: too much force, and the egg could shatter; too little, and the robot could drop it. In addition, a fully actuated robot hand, with motors for each joint in each finger, requires a significant amount of energy.

In Professor Fumiya Iida's Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory in Cambridge's Department of Engineering, researchers have been developing potential solutions to both problems: a robot hand than can grasp a variety of objects with the correct amount of pressure while using a minimal amount of energy.

"In earlier experiments, our lab has shown that it's possible to get a significant range of motion in a robot hand just by moving the wrist," said co-author Dr. Thomas George-Thuruthel, who is now based at University College London (UCL) East. "We wanted to see whether a robot hand based on passive movement could not only grasp objects, but would be able to predict whether it was going to drop the objects or not, and adapt accordingly."

The researchers used a 3D-printed anthropomorphic hand implanted with tactile sensors, so that the hand could sense what it was touching. The hand was only capable of passive, wrist-based movement.

The team carried out more than 1,200 tests with the robot hand, observing its ability to grasp small objects without dropping them. The robot was initially trained using small 3D printed plastic balls, and grasped them using a pre-defined action obtained through human demonstrations.

"This kind of hand has a bit of springiness to it: it can pick things up by itself without any actuation of the fingers," said first author Dr. Kieran Gilday, who is now based at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. "The tactile sensors give the robot a sense of how well the grip is going, so it knows when it's starting to slip. This helps it to predict when things will fail."

The robot used trial and error to learn what kind of grip would be successful. After finishing the training with the balls, it then attempted to grasp different objects including a peach, a computer mouse and a roll of bubble wrap. In these tests, the hand was able to successfully grasp 11 of 14 objects.

Researchers have designed a low-cost, energy-efficient robotic hand that can grasp a range of objectsand not drop themusing just the movement of its wrist and the feeling in its "skin." Credit: University of Cambridge

"The sensors, which are sort of like the robot's skin, measure the pressure being applied to the object," said George-Thuruthel. "We can't say exactly what information the robot is getting, but it can theoretically estimate where the object has been grasped and with how much force."

"The robot learns that a combination of a particular motion and a particular set of sensor data will lead to failure, which makes it a customizable solution," said Gilday. "The hand is very simple, but it can pick up a lot of objects with the same strategy."

"The big advantage of this design is the range of motion we can get without using any actuators," said Iida. "We want to simplify the hand as much as possible. We can get lots of good information and a high degree of control without any actuators, so that when we do add them, we'll get more complex behavior in a more efficient package."

A fully actuated robotic hand, in addition to the amount of energy it requires, is also a complex control problem. The passive design of the Cambridge-designed hand, using a small number of sensors, is easier to control, provides a wide range of motion, and streamlines the learning process.

In future, the system could be expanded in several ways, such as by adding computer vision capabilities, or teaching the robot to exploit its environment, which would enable it to grasp a wider range of objects.

More information: Predictive Learning of Error Recovery with a Sensorised Passivity-based Soft Anthropomorphic Hand, Advanced Intelligent Systems (2023). DOI: 10.1002/aisy.202200390
Tammy Daybell's cause of death was revealed at Lori Vallow trial

Lori Vallow was charged with first-degree murder conspiracy

Idaho prosecutors claim that Lori Vallow murder trial is about "money, power, and sex"

At the murder trial of Lori Vallow, prosecutors stated that her husband's ex-wife, Tammy Daybell, died of asphyxiation.

Vallow is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and grand theft in connection with the killings of Joshua "JJ" Vallow, Tylee Ryan, and Tammy Daybell, two of her children. Following her not-guilty plea, her trial began on April 3 in Boise, Idaho.

Lori Vallow Trial

The ex-wife of Chad Daybell, Tammy Daybell, was discovered deceased in October 2019 from what was believed to be natural causes at the time. Per NBC News, investigators exhumed her body and conducted an autopsy, concluding that she was murdered.

Fremont County, Idaho, Prosecutor Lindsey A. Blake disclosed the autopsy results during the trial's opening statements. Before her demise, Tammy was married to Chad Daybell for 28 years. Chad Daybell is accused of murdering his ex-wife and committing insurance fraud concerning her death. Tammy Daybell perished just a few months after Charles Vallow's ex-wife's sibling, Alex Cox, shot and killed him.

Nearly two years after his death, a grand jury charged Lori with first-degree murder conspiracy, according to the Maricopa County, Arizona, district attorney's office. In this case, she will be prosecuted separately in Arizona. Cox perished in 2019 without ever being prosecuted.

Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell wed just two weeks after Tammy Daybell's funeral. Charles Vallow discovered Lori Vallow's infidelity with Chad Daybell and threatened to inform Tammy Daybell twelve days before his death, according to police records.

Prosecutors believe Vallow and Chad Daybell's obsession with end-of-the-world-focused religious beliefs led them to commit four murders: those of Vallow's children and their respective ex-spouses. Vallow's trial takes place years after the disappearance of her children Joshua and Tylee made headlines. The indictment against her and Chad Daybell required months of investigation, and Vallow's mental competency was called into doubt.

During approximately twenty minutes of Blake's opening statement, an image of a deceased Tammy Daybell was displayed on the courtroom's large screen. The defense attorney for Vallow Daybell, R. James Archibald, countered with a concise opening statement emphasizing that the jury should consider only the specific allegations against his client.

Per Deseret, he stated that the publicity surrounding the case, which has tainted so many individuals in the county, state, and nation, is not evidence. The disappearance of the children placed Vallow Daybell and her husband in the national spotlight, including extensive news coverage, online speculation, and a Netflix documentary.

Archibald also asked the jury to consider whether prosecutors establish beyond a reasonable doubt what happened to JJ, Tylee, and Tammy Daybell, as well as Lori Vallow Daybell's alleged involvement.

Vallow Daybell donned a black blazer-style jacket and black-rimmed spectacles to court while shackled at the ankles. The vibrant blonde hair depicted in her now-famous mugshot and subsequent news articles is receding. She was emotionless throughout most of Monday morning, including when graphic images of her two children were displayed.

Prosecutors claim that JJ's and Tylee's bodies were incinerated; an image of Tylee's charred remains in a shallow burial is barely identifiable as human. Blake stated that her DNA was found on a pickaxe and shovel on Chad Daybell's property.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Prepares for Counteroffensive

Tammy Daybell's Death

Moreover, Lori Vallow used the Amazon account of her deceased ex-husband to purchase wedding attire and a ring for her marriage to doomsday survivalist Chad Daybell, according to testimony at her trial. This occurred days before the alleged murder of Daybell's wife, as per Daily Mail.

Just days before Tammy Daybell's death, the 49-year-old allegedly searched for a beach wedding dress, a bathing suit, a malachite ring, and men's apparel. The searches in October 2019 occurred only a few months after Vallow's ex-husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed by her brother, Alex Cox.

Kay Woodcock, the grandmother of JJ, testified at Charles Vallow's murder trial that she discovered the Amazon inquiries made on his account around the beginning of October. Woodcock could access her Amazon account by using a passphrase her deceased brother had given her to access his email account. She also obtained some of his electronic devices after his passing.

Woodcock claimed she discovered the inquiries on a November morning in 2019 after 'divine intervention' roused her up at 4:30 a.m. She realized she could access her brother's accounts using his electronic devices. In her harrowing testimony, Woodcock disclosed that Vallow was once a "doting parent" to JJ and Tylee. She recalled Vallow as a princess who was very engaged in providing for her children years before she was allegedly responsible for their deaths.

Vallow believed her children were possessed, and she conspired with Daybell to murder them and Tammy Daybell, according to testimony at her trial. Chad Daybell was a prepper for the end of the world who accumulated a small following through his writings and lectures on the alleged second coming.

JJ Vallow was born in May 2012 to the son of Kay Woodcock, but his birth parents lost custody after tests revealed the presence of narcotics in his system.

Related Article: Texas Man Declared Innocent in Murder Case, Arrested Again in Another Slaying Claim

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Local meteorologists are saying the months worth of rainfall Bryan-College Station experienced in one week may defuse drought worries.

John Nielsen-Gammon, state climatologist and Texas A&M atmospheric sciences professor, said recent rainfall was about a months worth over just a short period, including record rain totals last Thursday.

That rain has improved the [drought] situation fairly dramatically in Brazos County and surrounding counties, he told The Eagle on Monday. At this point now, we arent seeing any substantial rainfall deficits at timescales up to six months. There are still areas like in Washington County that are fairly dry if you are looking at rainfall for the past year or so.

Nielson-Gammon said the U.S. drought monitor will be released Thursday and it will be the indicator of where B-CS stands among drought conditions.

[The report] will probably have large parts of the area no longer being abnormally dry, and the area being affected by drought will have greatly shrunk as well, he said. Farther north toward Waco, they didnt get nearly as much, so that is where the drought is already more severe. Even if the drought is alleviated here, there will still be downstream of drought, as for example the Brazos River might be running fairly low.

As rainfall becomes less predictable on a seasonal basis heading into summertime, Nielsen-Gammon said the good thing is that La Nina is officially over.

There is a decent chance we might have an El Nino next year, he said. Which would favor above normal participation starting next fall.

Record rain

KBTX Meteorologist Shel Winkley said Thursday's rainfall shattered the mark of 1.70 inches on April 6 dating from 1887.

It is is kind of crazy that it lasted that long. But we also have a luxury with the [Texas A&M] campus being here, our records go back a little further than Houstons and Austins records, he said. Officially we ended up with 3.02 inches, which will be the new record as we almost doubled [the old mark]. Friday we picked up 0.93 inches of rain but the record for Friday was 3.5 from 1921.

Locally the ground was able to take in this much rain because there has not been substantial rain in a while, he said.

The ground was ready to absorb it, Winkley said. Now that the ground is saturated and near where it should be, that flood concern might be a little higher, so we just have to keep an eye on that. Not to say that is going to happen, but it is going to be a concern if we get another [big rainfall].

Winkley said drought trouble began in April last year.

Last April we only picked up 2.75 inches of rain for the entire month. We exceeded the amount of rain we got in all of April last year, on Thursday alone, he said. There were some spots in Washington County and then on the west side of Lake Conroe in Montgomery County on the west side, up to Elgins Lake near Huntsville, which is kind of that swath that picked up 7 to 10 inches of rain.

When the drought monitor came out Thursday, Winkley said, most of the area had slipped into abnormally dry conditions or close to drought conditions.

Washington County, specifically, had level one and two drought and some of our northern counties had level one drought, so that is kind of a moderate drought," he said. I think we are going to see major impacts down in Washington County, which didnt get as much rain in the fall and winter like everybody else did.  We may see some impacts in our northern counties like Milam and Robertson County because they didnt get as much as everyone else did.

Winkley said B-CS is on the cusp of needing about 3 to 6 inches over a month in order to set the ship right, and be out of drought conditions.

We should be good in theory when that drought monitor comes out, he said. I think what we will see is mostly abnormally dry conditions get erased, and then we may come down to just abnormally dry conditions, for where we had the droughts in place, like in Washington County.

To help mitigate future drought conditions, Winkley said it would help if residents conserved water this week and maybe next.

We have a good aquifer, but that doesnt mean we need to mismanage it or misuse the water that we do have; because water is increasingly becoming one of the biggest topics and should be the biggest topics we have in the state of Texas, he said. In other parts of the state that are running out of water, and are trying to reach places that have an abundance of water, that is when it is going to become an issue. Being responsible with our water uses is always important in times of non-drought.

Wildfires

Winkley said wildfire issues have been abundant in west Texas, but with the recent rain, vegetation in B-CS will need an abundance of moisture to grow.

We do know that in the summertime rain shuts off and things start to dry out, so if we get too dry going into the summer it is a possibility of wildfires, he said. The hope is that with it being an El Nino year, as we are transitioning back into El Nino, maybe it can at least keep the standard pop-up thunderstorm and showers that we are used to seeing in the summertime.

Rainfall will keep wildfire danger down, Winkley said.

By this point last year, we were already dealing with very dry conditions and the spring wind and a lack of rain, he said. Hopefully we arent going to get into the same kind of situation here like we did last year.

Looking ahead

Before spring ends June 21, Winkley said the area will fall into a neutral pattern, considering La Nina was one of the reasons the area didnt see a lot of rain last year.

The outlook through the beginning of June is for pretty much an average season, I dont see the pattern stalling anytime soon, he said. But we dont want to get it all like we did last week, and then go a whole month without getting rain; we need it to stay timely. So the expectation is an average season of rainfall. But even though it is nice and cool now, it does call for above average temperatures, so there is a chance we could see temperatures flare up early as we get toward the end of spring.

To view the U.S. drought monitor, visit droughtmonitor.unl.edu.
Many people diagnosed with cancer are in a precarious situation since not enough cancer treatments are available. They and their physicians must make tough choices.

Recently, it was reported that Pluvicto drug manufacturer, Novartis, has been experiencing supply issues with the medicine.

Pluvicto is a breakthrough therapy for advanced prostate cancer that has proven a lifesaver for several men with Stage 4 prostate cancer. Unfortunately, it is not likely to become widely accessible for many more months.

Low in Supply

In a report by NBC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified four cancer medications currently unavailable: Methotrexate, cisplatin, fluorouracil, and Pluvicto.

Methotrexate, cisplatin, and fluorouracil are typical chemotherapy medications used to treat a wide variety of malignancies, from skin cancer to cancer of the bones and lungs. Pluvicto is another drug approved for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

In addition, Dr. Vignesh Packiam, a urologist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, claims that a fifth medicine called BCG, a treatment for bladder cancer, is now in low supply.

Experts warn that if supplies of effective cancer drugs are depleted, some patients may be left with few choices. Meanwhile, others may lose their lives while waiting for the treatments to become accessible.

According to research published in The BMJ in 2020, the chance of dying from cancer increases by around 10% every month if treatment is delayed.

See Also: Cancer, Heart Disease Vaccines 'Ready' by 2030, Moderna Says

Why Are Cancer Drugs Insufficient?

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists senior director of pharmacy practice Michael Ganio attributed the scarcity of cancer drugs to a lack of investment from manufacturers.

Ganio told NBC that many of the cancer therapies in scarcity are generic, which saves the health care system money but are unprofitable for drugmakers.

"There's little incentive to invest in generic manufacturing, oftentimes, especially for these much older drugs - the margins aren't very big. It's almost a disincentive," he said.

University of Utah Health's senior pharmacy director Erin Fox blames poor production standards in the US for the widespread medicine shortages.

Fox warned that a growing number of pharmaceutical companies were moving manufacture of their products offshore, potentially worsening the scarcity of essential medicines such as cancer treatments.

"A key challenge in evaluating drug shortages is that drug companies are not required to disclose exactly which company is making the product as well as the location," she added, pointing out that production is routinely outsourced to countries with less stringent regulations.

Subpar Medical Attention

Packiam, from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, warned that more cancer patients might get subpar treatment in the interim.

As reported by NBC, Packiam recently found out that his hospital had run out of cisplatin, a chemotherapy treatment often used for bladder cancer that increases the probability that surgery would be effective. Surgery without chemotherapy is now necessary due to a lack of cisplatin.

However, Packiam said, "Alternative chemotherapies that do not use cisplatin do not yield as good of a response." Thus, the next best option is to continue immediately with surgery rather than deliver poor chemotherapy.

See Also: Michigan Paper Mill Linked to Nearly 100 Cases of Rare Fungal Infection

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Terrance Moore, a 39-year-old man from Giddings, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Brazos County judge last Wednesday after he was convicted in January of assault-family violence strangulation with a prior conviction by a Brazos County jury, according to the Brazos County District Attorneys Office.

The conviction stems from an incident in May 2017 when Bryan police were called to the 700 block of Suncrest Street for a disturbance. Police said a neighbor called 911 to report a woman and children screaming. Police said officers found the victim in the front yard and she told them she was strangled and that the suspect, later identified as Moore, fled. The victim then passed out, police said.

After the victim regained consciousness, police said she told officers she was in a dating relationship with Moore and that he lived across the street from her. The victim said she was doing laundry in her backyard when Moore came over. She told her daughters to let him in the house and when the door opened, he ran through the house and attacked her in the backyard, according to the Brazos County District Attorneys Office. The victim said she fell to the ground and Moore got on top of here and began to strangle her. She told police Moore said you arent leaving me and you are going to die in front of your kids.

During the incident, the victim told police she lost consciousness multiple times and that her daughters tried to intervene, a distraction that allowed her to regain consciousness and tell her daughters to call the police, according to the DAs office. But when they tried to use a tablet to call for help, Moore took it and fled the scene.

Five officers from four agencies testified during a punishment hearing about Moores previous criminal history and other previous charges, as Moore has previous convictions in Brazos and Lee counties, according to the Brazos County District Attorneys Office.
Shares of Agile Group Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:AGPYY  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $10.82 and last traded at $10.82, with a volume of 2 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $10.82.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, HSBC cut Agile Group from a buy rating to a reduce rating in a research report on Friday, March 31st.

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Agile Group Price Performance

The business has a 50 day moving average price of $14.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.69.

Agile Group Company Profile

Agile Group Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the property development, property management, hotel operation, property investment, environmental protection, and other businesses in the People's Republic of China. As of December 31, 2021, the company had a land bank with a total gross floor area of 47.37 million square meters in 84 cities located in Southern China region, Eastern China region, Western China region, Central China region, Hainan and Yunnan region, Northeast China region, Northern China region, Hong Kong, and internationally.

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Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:SSNLF  Get Rating) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $40.60 and last traded at $40.60, with a volume of 0 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $40.60.

Samsung Electronics Price Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $40.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $40.96. The company has a market capitalization of $5.24 billion, a PE ratio of 15.15 and a beta of 0.88.

Samsung Electronics Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd. engages in the manufacturing and selling of electronics and computer peripherals. The company operates through following business divisions: Consumer Electronics, Information Technology & Mobile Communications and Device Solutions. The Consumer Electronics business division provides cable television, monitor, printer, air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and medical devices.

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BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc (LON:BRGE  Get Rating)s share price rose 0.6% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 530 ($6.56) and last traded at GBX 523 ($6.48). Approximately 94,653 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 3% from the average daily volume of 92,244 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 520 ($6.44).

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust Trading Up 0.6 %

The company has a quick ratio of 2.71, a current ratio of 2.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The firm has a market capitalization of 528.23 million, a PE ratio of -260.20 and a beta of 0.99. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is GBX 522.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 485.54.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Ian Sayers acquired 4,000 shares of BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 536 ($6.64) per share, with a total value of 21,440 ($26,551.08). 10.56% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock Fund Managers Limited. It is managed by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Europe, excluding the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Shares of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM  Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A) have received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the ten brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $47.06.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on BAM. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Tuesday, December 13th. They set a buy rating and a $40.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Brookfield Asset Management from $35.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Tuesday, December 13th. They issued a market perform rating and a $32.00 price target for the company.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Brookfield Asset Management

In other news, Director Multi-Strategy Mast Brookfield sold 24,744 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.96, for a total transaction of $295,938.24. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 21,104,923 shares in the company, valued at $252,414,879.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 11.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Brookfield Asset Management Stock Performance

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fortis Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Fortis Advisors LLC now owns 8,250 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $337,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the period. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. boosted its position in Brookfield Asset Management by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 55,610 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,274,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA grew its holdings in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 26,295 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,074,000 after acquiring an additional 258 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 8,307 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $340,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stephens Inc. AR lifted its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 5.1% in the 3rd quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 5,412 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $221,000 after purchasing an additional 261 shares during the period.

Brookfield Asset Management stock opened at $31.55 on Tuesday. Brookfield Asset Management has a fifty-two week low of $26.76 and a fifty-two week high of $36.50. The firms fifty day moving average price is $32.96 and its 200-day moving average price is $35.88.

Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM  Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $958.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.81 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Brookfield Asset Management will post 1.39 earnings per share for the current year.

Brookfield Asset Management Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were issued a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. This is a positive change from Brookfield Asset Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.14.

About Brookfield Asset Management

(Get Rating)

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the ownership, operation, and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy transition power generating assets. The company's infrastructure business engages in the ownership, operation, and development of utilities, transport, midstream, data and sustainable resource assets.

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New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its position in AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T  Get Rating) by 1.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,717,329 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 148,423 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned approximately 0.18% of AT&T worth $234,126,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AT&T by 46.3% in the third quarter. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC now owns 3,800 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 1,203 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in AT&T by 55.1% in the third quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,042,311 shares of the technology companys stock worth $31,329,000 after buying an additional 725,364 shares in the last quarter. Canandaigua National Corp lifted its holdings in AT&T by 1.0% during the third quarter. Canandaigua National Corp now owns 77,837 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,194,000 after buying an additional 775 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its position in AT&T by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 647,685 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $9,935,000 after acquiring an additional 50,475 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Solitude Financial Services lifted its stake in shares of AT&T by 22.7% during the 3rd quarter. Solitude Financial Services now owns 52,360 shares of the technology companys stock worth $803,000 after purchasing an additional 9,675 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 51.86% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on T. Morgan Stanley cut AT&T from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $20.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Thursday, December 15th. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on AT&T from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Citigroup raised their price objective on AT&T from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Moffett Nathanson restated an underperform rating and issued a $17.00 target price on shares of AT&T in a research report on Monday, December 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded AT&T from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the company from $17.00 to $22.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AT&T currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $22.00.

AT&T Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of T opened at $19.50 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 0.59 and a quick ratio of 0.53. AT&T Inc. has a 12-month low of $14.46 and a 12-month high of $21.53. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $19.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $18.45.

AT&T (NYSE:T  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The technology company reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.03. AT&T had a negative net margin of 6.60% and a positive return on equity of 14.18%. The firm had revenue of $31.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $31.50 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.78 earnings per share. AT&Ts quarterly revenue was down 23.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that AT&T Inc. will post 2.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AT&T Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.2775 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $1.11 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.69%. AT&Ts dividend payout ratio is presently -93.28%.

AT&T Company Profile

(Get Rating)

AT&T, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of telecommunications media and technology service. It operates through the Communications and Latin America segments. The Communications segment offers services to businesses and consumers located in the U.S., or in U.S. territories, and businesses globally.

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New York State Common Retirement Fund decreased its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Get Rating) by 1.7% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 808,621 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 13,805 shares during the quarter. Thermo Fisher Scientific makes up approximately 0.6% of New York State Common Retirement Funds portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest holding. New York State Common Retirement Funds holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $445,299,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in TMO. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 160.0% during the third quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 52 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. New Millennium Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp boosted its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 7,300.0% during the third quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 74 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the period. Pacifica Partners Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 55.8% during the third quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 81 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the period. Finally, Western Pacific Wealth Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the third quarter worth about $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.92% of the companys stock.

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Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of TMO opened at $574.36 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $561.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $546.80. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 1-year low of $475.77 and a 1-year high of $611.06. The stock has a market cap of $221.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.79.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend

Thermo Fisher Scientific ( NYSE:TMO Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The medical research company reported $5.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.19 by $0.21. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 15.47% and a return on equity of 21.42%. The business had revenue of $11.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.41 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $6.54 EPS. The companys revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.72 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 paid a $0.35 dividend. This is a boost from Thermo Fisher Scientifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.24%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 14th. Thermo Fisher Scientifics payout ratio is presently 7.94%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 7,500 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.49, for a total value of $4,083,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 66,655 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,292,980.95. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $569.18, for a total transaction of $11,383,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 128,705 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $73,256,311.90. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.49, for a total transaction of $4,083,675.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 66,655 shares of the companys stock, valued at $36,292,980.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 30,100 shares of company stock valued at $16,966,971. Company insiders own 0.43% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

TMO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $660.00 to $625.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $525.00 to $505.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research report on Tuesday, December 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $620.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $613.00 to $670.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $640.45.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

(Get Rating)

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc engages in the provision of analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software, and services for research, analysis, discovery, and diagnostics. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences Solutions, Analytical Instruments, Specialty Diagnostics, and Laboratory Products and Services.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO  Get Rating).

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Shares of Osirium Technologies PLC (LON:OSI  Get Rating) fell 3.3% on Monday . The stock traded as low as GBX 1.42 ($0.02) and last traded at GBX 1.45 ($0.02). 308,145 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 81% from the average session volume of 1,614,021 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1.50 ($0.02).

Osirium Technologies Trading Down 3.3 %

The business has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 2.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 2.98. The stock has a market capitalization of 1.78 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -24.17 and a beta of -0.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1,173.52, a current ratio of 0.59 and a quick ratio of 0.54.

Osirium Technologies Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Osirium Technologies PLC develops and sells cyber security software products in the United Kingdom. The company's products include Privileged Access Security, a solution that controls and protects access to customers' shared applications, services, and devices; and Privileged Access Management, a solution to minimize the risk of security breaches by controlling, securing, and auditing the vital assets in privileged accounts.

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BNP Paribas (OTCMKTS:BNPQY  Get Rating) and Credicorp (NYSE:BAP  Get Rating) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and risk.

Volatility & Risk

BNP Paribas has a beta of 1.46, indicating that its share price is 46% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Credicorp has a beta of 0.93, indicating that its share price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Insider & Institutional Ownership

1.2% of BNP Paribas shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 69.1% of Credicorp shares are owned by institutional investors. 15.9% of Credicorp shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio BNP Paribas $53.13 billion 1.45 $10.74 billion $4.11 7.57 Credicorp $4.84 billion 2.12 $1.20 billion $15.14 8.51

This table compares BNP Paribas and Credicorps gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

BNP Paribas has higher revenue and earnings than Credicorp. BNP Paribas is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Credicorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

BNP Paribas pays an annual dividend of $1.63 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.2%. Credicorp pays an annual dividend of $3.99 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. BNP Paribas pays out 39.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Credicorp pays out 26.4% 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. Credicorp has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Profitability

This table compares BNP Paribas and Credicorps net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BNP Paribas 20.16% 8.38% 0.35% Credicorp 23.05% 16.79% 1.97%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for BNP Paribas and Credicorp, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BNP Paribas 0 1 6 0 2.86 Credicorp 0 0 3 0 3.00

BNP Paribas currently has a consensus target price of $65.44, indicating a potential upside of 110.36%. Credicorp has a consensus target price of $153.00, indicating a potential upside of 18.75%. Given BNP Paribas higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe BNP Paribas is more favorable than Credicorp.

Summary

Credicorp beats BNP Paribas on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About BNP Paribas

(Get Rating)

BNP Paribas SA engages in the provision of banking and financial services. The company operates through the following business: Retail Banking and Services, and Corporate Institutional Banking. The Retail Banking and Services business includes the retail banking networks and specialized financial services in France and around the world. The Corporate Institutional Banking business is a provider of financial solutions to corporate and institutional clients. It helps all its individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporate and institutional clients to realize their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. The company was founded in 1822 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

About Credicorp

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Credicorp Ltd. operates as a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Universal Banking; Microfinance; Insurance and Pensions; and Investment Banking and Wealth Management. The Universal Banking segment focuses on lending and investment services. The Microfinance segment consists of subsidiaries offering commercial banking activities and specialized financial services to support small and micro business clients. The Insurance and Pensions segment offers insurance products for property and casualty, life insurance business, and corporate health insurance and medical services. The Investment Banking and Wealth Management segment comprises of asset management, capital markets, corporate finance, and wealth management business units. The company was founded on August 17, 1995 and is headquartered in Lima, Peru.

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Classified materials reportedly collected from the residences of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Mike Pence have been made available to the congressional "Gang of Eight," according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

The decision was made after months of lobbying by Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner and Vice Chair Marco Rubio, who had both publicly criticized the administration for withholding the confidential materials, according to a report from Punchbowl.

The disclosure of confidential documents represents the conclusion of more than two months of discussions between the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the US Justice Department, per CBS News.

In August, when the FBI carried out a search warrant at the Mar-a-Lago home of former US President Donald Trump and discovered more than 100 papers with secret markings, the senators asked for "immediate" access to the data.

In January, the senators reiterated their request for a briefing after US President Joe Biden's attorney disclosed the finding of secret records from the Obama administration in a presidential office following his vice-presidential term. Later, more confidential documents were discovered at the Delaware residence of Joe Biden, NBC News reported.

Read Also: UK Economy Expected to Drop This Year

DOJ Delayed Disclosure of Biden, Trump Confidential Docs

The current Special Counsel investigations were previously cited as the justification by Justice Department officials for delaying the disclosure of the sensitive information. As a result, Attorney General Merrick Garland has given Jack Smith and Robert Hur the task of looking into how Donald Trump and Joe Biden handled confidential materials.

The Justice Department chose not to respond to a request for comment.

At the time a president leaves office, all presidential records are expected to be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration.

Related Article: Study Reveals Extensive Effects of Gun Violence on US Families

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CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island and the Central District Health Department are hosting a free cancer prevention event for the community from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 20 in the hospitals Conference Room 6.

Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon explores the basics of this common cancer-causing gas found in most homes and how to fix the problem.

This program will teach participants to:

 Understand what radon is, where it comes from, and its risks for causing lung cancer;

 Explain why everyone should test for radon and describe how to do it;

 Understand how radon comes into a home, and how to fix homes to reduce radon exposure; and

 Describe actions that will result in systemic changes that move beyond a one house at a time approach.

Exposure to radon causes no immediate symptoms, but the long-term threat of lung cancer is important to everyone. Thousands of lung cancer deaths could be avoided each year if home and building owners acted to test and fix.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths each year. Every home should be tested for the colorless, tasteless and odorless gas that has been found in high amounts in homes in every state.

Free radon detection kits for the home will be available at the event. Pre-registration is not required.

For more information, contact the Regional Cancer Center at St. Francis at 308-398-8912.

More about radon from the American Lung Association: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/indoor-air-pollutants/radon.
YORK  The York City Auditorium is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This past week, Betty Gillespie with History Nebraska announced the designation to the city administrator and council.

She said there are just over 1,000 such listings in Nebraska, so there is a small number of buildings with this honorary title. This places no limitations, its just a way to highlight it. There are a lot of misconceptions that the feds will step in and tell you what to do with that building  that is not true. This does open up the door for other grants that werent available before.

She also noted York County only has six buildings on the registry.

The official announcement made by Jade Mendoza, interim National Register coordinator with the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office, said, the property was listed for its association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns in our history as well as its architectural significance. The National Register of Historic Places is the federal governments official list of historic properties worthy of preservation. The listing in the National Registry provides recognition and assists in preserving our nations heritage.

The listing provides recognition of the propertys historic importance, Mendoza said. The federal government will not attach restrictive covenants to the property or seek to acquire them.

The York Auditorium was built after the citizens voted in favor of a $90,000 bond issue, for the construction of the facility. That was added to $117,828 from the federal government, through the Works Project Administration, for labor and materials.

The auditorium opened the weekend of Sept. 18-20, 1942. Days of celebration took place, to mark the community achievement of creating the facility in downtown York.

Recently a massive, thorough restoration project was completed at the auditorium, resulting in a new HVAC system, new roof, new windows, new electrical, new plumbing and much more. City officials inquired about the designation prior to the project with it now being announced.

Gillespie said a plaque will be sent to the city which can be placed at the front of the building to mark the designation.
YORK  A 19-year-old woman from Kansas City, Mo., will be sentenced in May for three felonies in a case where she was accused of assaulting deputies with the York County Sheriffs Department and damaging a cruiser.

Angelique Herrington will also be sentenced for an additional felony after earlier failing to appear for a hearing in York County District Court before Judge James Stecker.

According to court documents, a deputy with the York County Sheriffs Department conducted a traffic stop, in the middle of the night, on S. Lincoln Ave.

Another deputy arrived to assist and the female passenger said she was Brianna Herrick but could not provide a date of birth. Officers said she tried to walk away from the deputies and they handcuffed her.

Deputies said in court documents she resisted their efforts to place her in the back seat of a patrol unit, kicking deputies in the legs and groin. She also struck a deputy in the head with her handcuffs and at some point a taser had to be deployed.

It was also noted there was a dent and scratches on the outside of the cruiser.

She later told a deputy and an officer with the York Police Department that her name was Angelique Herrington, according to court documents.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies found pipes, grinders, other forms of paraphernalia and an alcohol container.

She earlier pleaded not guilty to eight charges: second degree assault of an officer, a Class 2 felony; third degree assault of an officer, a Class 3A felony; third degree assault of an officer, a Class 3A felony; resisting arrest, a Class 1 misdemeanor; obstructing a peace officer, a Class 1 misdemeanor; criminal mischief, a Class 3 misdemeanor; minor in possession, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and false reporting, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

This past week, she pleaded no contest to three counts of assaulting an officer  two being class 3A felonies and one being a Class 4 felony  as well as failure to appear, a Class 4 felony. The other counts were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Sentencing will be on May 22.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
CARTERVILLE  The iconic green mowing and moving machines have made a conspicuous appearance along Route 13, inviting people to come in and check out the new John Deere dealershipof America's favorite tractor.

Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners (SNPartners) has a new location in the shopping area along Route 13 in Carterville. The old store was originally located in Marion.

"We moved to Carterville primarily for increased space and accessibility. Our newly-renovated space features a brand new showroom and will be much easier for our customers to navigate. Plus, the location close to Route 13 makes it simple for people to find us," said Jared Nobbe, division manager at SNPartners.

SNPartners' John Deere dealership will be hosting a family-friendly grand opening on April 15, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a chance to check out the clean and impressive showroom space, and possibly even win something.

"We are so excited for our family-friendly grand opening. At the grand opening, there will be giveaways and prizes in addition to SNPartnerss compact tractor, Spring Into Green sale. Attendees can also check out exclusive discounts on RLE mowers, attachments and accessories," Nobbe said.

The dealership has an impressive line of residential and commercial tractors, tailored to meet the market demands of the region in residential sales, commercial landscapers, and even governmental contracts, Nobbe said.

John Deere is the biggest farm machinery builder in the world at over $44 billion in sales in 2021. Though the green tractor is no doubt the most picturesque, there's more to the machine than its beautiful paint job.

The John Deere company was founded in 1837 and is currently headquartered in Illinois, at a 1,400 acre site in Moline, making the John Deere name as old as the hills its tractors mow and hoe.

In additional to venerability, John Deere is also known for its durability.

John Deere took the top spot in "Overall Loyalty" in 2021 in the opinion of 2,000 farmers from the Progressive Farmer Reader Insights survey. Further, the 100-plus year-old company won the top seat for "Most Durable Full Size Tractor," and took home the 2022 Tractor of the Year for its 7R 350 AutoPowr (a row crop tractor) in Europe.

Needless to say, John Deere can hold its own in a market even when saturated with high quality competitors, like Marion's Kubota, Kiota, and Mahindra dealers. But John Deere is a welcomed competitor, because the market is open.

"The market in Southern Illinois is definitely growing. We have accommodated this growth with additional in stock inventory at Carterville along with the new location," Nobbe said.

The SNPartners John Deere location is not just for the tractor buyer. There is a full service team and parts store as well, and an impressive color-clashing line of bright orange Stihl products to boot, taking up most of the back wall of the showroom.

"In addition to tractors, we sell lawn mowers, gator utility vehicles and Stihl handheld equipment. We also offer the full line of John Deere compact construction equipment. Of course, we also provide service and a wide breadth of parts to support these products," Nobbe said.
A West Columbia-based construction and heavy equipment company is expanding its operations to Calhoun County.

Blanchard Machinery Company is planning to invest $46 million and create 30 new jobs at the Sandy Run Industrial Park.

The company plans to build a brand-new, 150,000-square-foot facility on about 60 acres in the 761-acre industrial park, which straddles the Lexington and Calhoun county lines.

Currently, the company employs about 150 at its Lexington County plant but has outgrown the facility. Ground will be broken on the new facility in 2026.

"This is something we are very excited about," Company President Boyd Blanchard told Calhoun County Council Monday after council unanimously agreed to give third and final reading to incentives for the company.

"We are a fourth-generation Caterpillar dealer. We are the exclusive caterpillar dealer for South Carolina," he said.

Blanchard said the company is a "hub and spoke model for parts operation," with most of the operations centralized in the Midlands.

"As we look at what is happening here in the state of South Carolina and what is happening in the Midlands with some of these projects, our job is to really enable our customers to do the work that makes our communities a better place or stay a better place," Blanchard said. "We are investing for the future. We are investing for the growth and we are really excited to be here in Calhoun County. The location is wonderful."

"We look forward to being a good steward of Calhoun County as we are in all our footprint locations in the state of South Carolina," Blanchard said.

The expansion will allow the company to expand its footprint for parts, service, component rebuilds, complete machine rebuilds and provide additional support services for its other 14 branches across South Carolina.

Blanchard will relocate a portion of its operations to the new facility in Calhoun County, while some operations including corporate administration functions, machine sales, used parts and Blanchard Energy will remain at its West Columbia campus.

The types of jobs and pay range have not been finalized, according to Blanchard.

Blanchard owns the company with his brother Joseph Rozier Blanchard Jr., who serves as the executive vice president.

The company had previously been identified as Project Chateau. A companys identify remains anonymous until third and final reading is given.

The incentives provided by the county include the fee-in-lieu of taxes, the inclusion of the project in a multi-county business park with Lexington County and special source revenue credits.

The multi-county industrial park is not a physical park.

A public hearing was held during the Calhoun County Council meeting but no one spoke on the matter.

"This is a huge announcement for Calhoun County," Calhoun County Administrator John McLauchlin said. "It is a great project for the county."

"Along with the investment, what makes this special is that they generate roughly $30 million of sales tax each year," McLauchlin continued. "With their vehicle tax, they are talking about bringing over roughly $700,000 a year in vehicles. I appreciate them choosing Calhoun County."

"You could have gone anywhere and we know that," McLauchlin said. "We certainly thank you for choosing Calhoun County."

McLauchlin also thanked the Mixon family for helping with the transaction. The Mixons own the Sandy Run Industrial Park.

Council members thanked the company for choosing the county to locate.

"This is the kind of stuff that is going to make us great," Council Chairman James Haigler said. "It will keep the citizens' taxes down and it is going to help us especially bringing those jobs. We really appreciate that also."

"Welcome to Calhoun County," Councilman Richard Carson said. "Glad to have you. Thank you."

"Really looking forward to this journey," Councilman Cecil Thornton said.

The announcement received statewide praise.

Once again, this announcement shows that South Carolina is the perfect location for businesses to thrive," S.C. Governor Henry McMaster said. "We are proud that a homegrown company such as Blanchard continues to grow in the great state of South Carolina, and we look forward to seeing how their expansion will support businesses across the state.

South Carolinas robust logistics network continues to grow, allowing businesses to transport their products efficiently throughout our state and around the world. Congratulations to our long-standing partner, Blanchard, on their new facility," S.C. Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III said.

As South Carolinas Caterpillar construction and power equipment dealer, family-owned Blanchard Machinery has been supplying equipment sales, rental, parts, service, and customer training since 1982, according to the company website.

Blanchard Machinery Company began in 1952 when Joseph L. Rozier moved his LeTourneau dealership from the Midwest to bring the Caterpillar legacy to Orlando, Florida, based on the area's solid industrial growth.

Rozier remained active in the company until he passed away in the 1970s, when his son-in-law, G. Robert Blanchard, took charge of operations.

Robert stayed active with the dealership until 1996, when he appointed his son, Joe Blanchard, the new company president.

When Joe first began overseeing the operation, the company consisted of two divisions  Power Systems and Heavy Construction. Over the years, the company has grown into six separate divisions, handling various Cat and non-Cat product lines.

With Joe Blanchards passing in 2022, his sons continued their fathers stewardship of Blanchard Machinery as the fourth generation of leadership.

In addition to Blanchard Machinery, the five other divisions include: Blanchard Energy; Blanchard Rental Services, Blanchard Compact Equipment, Blanchard RIG360 Truck Centers and Ironmart.

The company has 15 locations in the state and employs about 750. It is the first location in Calhoun County.

The Sandy Run Industrial Park is home to a Zeus Industrial Products plant and is anchored by DAK Americas.
The deadly shooting outside of a hotel on Easter claimed the life of a 15-year-old Denmark resident, according to Orangeburg County Chief Deputy Coroner Sean Fogle.

Dantavious Dowling, of Poplar Avenue, was pronounced dead at the hospital, Fogle said.

Two other males were also injured in what is being called a drive-by shooting, according to an Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office incident report.

The shooting erupted just before noon in the parking lot of Southern Lodge Hotel, located at 3616 St. Matthews Road outside Orangeburg.

When deputies arrived, they found a 14-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his back.

He was on his stomach and complained he couldnt feel his legs.

A 23-year-old man, who was also shot, and bystanders attempted to render aid to the teens.

A witness told deputies she saw a man in a newer-model Honda Accord pointing a handgun out of a window as it went through the parking lot.

She said the man fired the weapon several times.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the sheriffs office at 803-534-3550. Callers dont have to give their names.
Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office

A 30-year-old Orangeburg man was shot in the head outside of a bar early Easter morning, according to an incident report.

The shooting took place just after 3 a.m. outside 3937 North Road.

When deputies arrived, they saw a man on the ground. He was surrounded by multiple women.

One of the women told deputies that two men got into an argument outside of the bar.

One man pulled out a small pistol and the other man turned around. The gunman shot the man in the back of the head, she claimed.

The gunshot victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.

In an unrelated incident, a 19-year-old Holly Hill man was shot in the foot outside of a Vance store around 5:15 p.m. Sunday, according to an incident report.

The man heard several gunshots as he was in the parking lot of the convenience store located at 1064 Lodge Hall Street.

Someone drove the man from the store to his house, where he called 911.

Orangeburg County EMS transported him to MUSC Health-Orangeburg.

Two other customers reported that their vehicles were damaged by bullets.

One of the cars was occupied at the time. The man in the car wasnt physically injured.

In other reports:

 Someone stole the following items from the bed of a pickup truck parked at a Keyport Court residence on Sunday: two Dewalt drills, a Cleco drill, a Cleco nutrunner, a gold chain necklace and a PlayStation Vita.

The items are valued at $5,800.

 Someone stole catalytic converters from seven vehicles parked at Bilton Ford, located at 7621 Old State Road in Holly Hill. The vehicles were there for repairs.

The theft was reported on Friday.

The value of the stolen catalytic converters is $3,500.

 Carolina Farms, of Neeses, reported that someone stole a check mailed from the U.S. Post Office in Santee on Friday.

The check was in the amount of $2,715.60.
DENMARK  The Rev. Otis Moss III, television actress JoMarie Payton and national recording artists Travis Porter and The Manhattans will highlight the celebration of the 126th Anniversary of the founding of Voorhees University April 13-15.

University President Dr. Ronnie Hopkins, faculty, staff and students are excited to welcome alumni and friends. They also extend a warm invite to the community of Denmark and surrounding areas to attend campus events as well.

The university is hosting a community-wide health and wellness fair on Wednesday, which will include a blood drive and health fair, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Leonard E. Dawson Center, the host site of the Founders Day events.

The convocation honoring founder Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Moss, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, will deliver the keynote address.

Following the convocation, members of the Elizabeth Evelyn Wright Society of Women will hold a tea to continue to pay homage to the founder by showing a documentary portrayal of her struggle.

The first black woman to birth a historically black college and university, Miss Wright fought to build a legacy that we will continue to honor and nurture now and for years to come, Hopkins noted. This event will be held in Massachusetts Hall.

On Friday, Voorhees students will enjoy the opening of the campus eGaming center before being entertained by the group Travis Porter in concert at 7 p.m.

The week will conclude with the annual Presidential Scholarship Gala at 6 p.m. Saturday. Honoring 28 scholars who have achieved academic success during the year, this event will feature television actress JoMarie Payton as mistress of ceremony and will conclude with a concert performance by international recording artist, The Manhattans.

Individuals may attend the gala and concert or just the concert only.

Find out more or buy tickets online by visiting www.voorhees.edu
In a huge operation in an area that has experienced a surge in migrant arrivals over the last year, the Italian Coast Guard was spotted on Tuesday, April 11, escorting two boats carrying 1,200 people in the Mediterranean Sea.

Rescuing Stranded Migrants

The volunteer organization Alarm Phone said that rescuers were rushing to aid 400 migrants stranded aboard a barge that had run out of gasoline. Earlier on Monday, April 10, the Coast Guard had already informed CNN that it was escorting a vessel with 800 migrants.

The Coast Guard tweeted that due to "prohibitive sea conditions," the Peluso ship, the Diciotti ship, and Coast Guard patrol boats were accompanying the two units, which had been "in difficulty since yesterday" with migrants on board. On Monday, two boats carrying a total of 1,200 people got into problems while transporting migrants.

Earlier, at 04:56 AM ET, Alarm Phone tweeted that it had talked to passengers at 10:56 AM local time, where the situation was described as "dramatic" due to the boat's leaks.

"They report several medical emergencies, water filling the vessel, and no fuel left. We have informed the authorities," Alarm Phone remarked.

According to Felix Weiss, a spokesman for Sea-Watch International, a German organization that operates search and rescue efforts in the central Mediterranean, an escort is "safer" than trying to save those on board in poor weather, so the coast guard is traveling alongside the boat as it makes its way to Italy.

Organizations have warned that the path between Italy and Malta is very risky, and the migrants have been stuck along it.

After leaving Tobruk, Libya, with 400 migrants on board, the boat almost capsized due to water in the hull, as reported by Alarm Phone. A kid, a pregnant lady, and a handicapped passenger were all listed by the service as needing medical assistance.

During the last two days, almost 1,700 migrants have reportedly landed on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, according to the Italian Coast Guard. Being the closest Italian island to Africa, Lampedusa has become a key transit point for those trying to reach the rest of the Europe Union (EU) countries.

Read Also: Italy Shipwreck Kills 59 in Migrant Disaster

In Search for Safe and Better Opportunities

In a quest for safety and better economic opportunities, tens of thousands of migrants annually undertake the perilous route. The necessity to rescue migrants on board sometimes leads to disagreements between governments about who should take them in, especially given that their boats are typically overloaded and unsuited for the voyage.

According to the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the number of migrants entering the country this year has already surpassed the tally for all of last year by over 28,000. This year has witnessed the biggest number of migrants entering Italy since 2017, as per data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Most of those who have arrived have traveled from Ivory Coast, Guinea, Bangladesh, Tunisia, or Pakistan.

Read Also: New York City Mayor Eric Adams Visits Texas Border and Speaks to Crowd of Venezuelan Immigrants

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
World-renowned geologist Dr. Lindy T. Elkins-Tanton will speak about NASAs mission to the Psyche asteroid at 7 p.m. Thursday in Leroy Davis Hall at South Carolina State University.

The public is invited.

Elkins-Tanton is a Foundation and Regents Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University.

She is also the principal investigator on the NASA Psyche Mission, which is planned to launch in October 2023. Psyche is both the name of an asteroid orbiting out past Mars and the name of the NASA mission to visit that asteroid.

She is a recipient of the 2020 Arthur L. Day Prize from the National Academy of Sciences, which is sponsoring her visit to the campus and her public talk entitled The NASA Psyche Mission: An Electric Journey to a Metal World.

Elkins-Tantons research spans the globe and beyond into the solar system. She has led four field expeditions in Siberia and participated in fieldwork in the Sierra Nevada, the Cascades, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

The upcoming NASA mission marks an important first for humankind since we have sent people or robots to explore rocky bodies like the Moon and Mars, icy ones like Europa and Enceladus, and gas-rich bodies like Jupiter, but never a body made mostly of metal, such as Psyche.

In addition to work as a scientist, Elkins-Tanton is the Arizona State University vice president of the Interplanetary Initiative, and co-founder of Beagle Learning, a tech company training and measuring collaborative problem-solving and critical thinking.

Asteroid (8252) Elkins-Tanton is named for her.

In addition to numerous science journal articles and books on the solar system, in 2022 William Morrow published her memoir, A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman.

Visitors to S.C. State for the evening talk should use the Chestnut Street entrance to campus, but the gate may be closed for construction. If so, the Geathers Street entrance off Magnolia Street will be open.

Parking can be found in the lot adjacent to Leroy Davis Hall on Geathers Street, across from the Student Center.
(TBTCO) - Voi vai tro la To truong To cong tac so 5 cua Chinh phu ve on oc giai ngan von au tu cong, Bo truong Bo Tai chinh Ho uc Phoc cho biet, dong von au tu cong cham trien khai se khong tao uoc suc hut cho cac nguon von khac, tu o anh huong en hieu qua cua nguon von cung nhu su phat trien cua nen kinh te. Do o, e khoi thong dong von, khong the chi quan tam giai quyet vuong mac truoc mat ma can co giai phap can co, lau dai.
This article was awarded the Solutions Journalism prize, co-sponsored by Transitions, at the ninth annual Czech Journalism Awards on 2 May. The goal of solutions journalism is to deliver rigorous and evidence-based reporting on responses to social problems and bring deeper insights to complex issues while keeping a critical distance and identifying the limits of the chosen approach.

Petr lives in a village in the Czech Republics South Moravia region. Now 46, hes been in a wheelchair since childhood. It wasnt from a congenital disease or an accident. The doctors made a mistake when I was born. They didnt realize there were two of us in Mamas belly. My sister was born first and after a while they noticed I was still in there. As they rushed to get me out, the umbilical cord got twisted around my neck and strangled me a little. I suffered brain damage, I have muscle spasms all over my body, and I cant keep my balance.

He always yearned to be in a relationship. I wanted to know what its like to have a beautiful woman by my side whom I could touch, caress, finally have at least a little erotic experience like healthy people do. But he was never able to find a partner.

Three years ago, five female sexual assistants specially trained for work with the handicapped started working in the Czech Republic. When Peter heard about them, he didnt hesitate to find out more. An assistant visits him once a month. She makes it possible to experience beautiful moments, and I can chat with her about anything. She brings me at least a little bliss. I wouldnt have believed it, but she has really improved my quality of life. Physically, and most importantly psychologically, I feel much better.

Breaking Down Barriers

Many myths circulate about the sex lives of the handicapped. Either they are completely asexual and dont require sexual experiences, or the opposite, theyre hypersexual. Neither version is true, says Lucie Sidova, a therapist and co-founder of the non-profit association Freya. She helped launch the Czech sexual assistance program as head of Rozkos bez rizika (Bliss Without Risk), a health and counseling service for sex workers, which trained the first five professional assistants in 2015.

Inspiration for the program came from similar initiatives in Germany and Switzerland. Applicants first filled out a questionnaire and then underwent a detailed interview. The most important thing was that they werent motivated just by money, that the work meant more than that. And that they were at ease with their own sexuality, says Sidova. We made the selection from women we knew and trusted. Most already had experience as paid sex workers, others as tantric or erotic masseuses. All had at one time or another had handicapped clients. Today, none of the women still works in the sex trade.

220: number of sexual assistance sessions provided last year by the five trained women. They offer erotic services and therapy to the elderly as well as the handicapped.

The beginnings were rocky. This service was new and controversial. We came up against pressure from the public, people were just waiting for us to make a mistake, says Sidova. Eventually, in the fall of 2015, the Interior Ministry issued a decision that the project did not violate the law, and the sexual assistants were able to undergo training and start working, provided they didnt stray across the line into procuring.

Image by Nikolai Vassiliev/Flickr.

The assistants work for themselves on the basis of a trade license. Freya offers know-how and advice. Some offer only counseling, others massage, masturbation training, and mutual use of erotic aids, while others are willing to have sexual intercourse. The ethics code, while calling for mutual respect, does not exclude any practice.

Maximum Satisfaction

Full-figured blonde with big breasts is how Diana Lovecka presents herself to clients. The 38-year-old visits clients at their homes, in health institutions, or in hotels. On first meeting, she sits down with the client for a chat about what he expects. I may offer a shared bath, massage, mutual touching, use of sex aids, and other pleasant experiences by common agreement. I always try to go away leaving the client totally satisfied and happy.

She spends one week each month in the UK, where she cares for a stroke patient. At home, in the Czech Republic, she teaches English and works as a sexual assistant in her spare time.

Dos and Donts: Bliss Without Risk sought legal advice before launching the sexual assistance program to avert any accusation of procuring. Social workers are free to inform clients about the public listings of trained sexual assistants on the internet. When the client chooses an assistant, he may request the social worker to discuss certain matters with the assistant in advance and in some cases accompany him to the initial information session with her  always as the client wishes, as he alone can decide which services to take advantage of. Of course, the client is free to discuss the service with anyone.

Lovecka prepares for each client individually, based on his individual medical diagnosis. Its easy to go too far, she says. We have to guard against that. The assistance has to be for the clients own good. With handicapped clients, she says its usually not difficult to agree on what services she will provide: They tell me about their situation, explain what they expect. Dianas blind client likes to take full control over the session. Pictograms and images help when the client has difficulty speaking. With mentally handicapped clients I lead the process; I try to work out from their reactions what is pleasant for them. I have to go very slowly, intuitively. Diana says her biggest challenge was working with a man who was unable to communicate in any way.

One customer told her about that days lunch and yesterdays horseback ride, as though unable to focus on what was happening. But from his caregiver I know that thanks to the assistance he stopped bothering the other residents in his care home.

Im Not a Child

We sometimes see the mentally handicapped as big children in a sexless world. Even though they may look or act like children, their sexuality hasnt stopped, it keeps developing. Sometimes caregivers dont realize this, or dont want to know, Sidova says.

This can encourage inappropriate behavior  masturbation in group sessions, sexual assaults  or the person may fall into depression, and start to hate her or his own body. Lucie says some institutions punish expressions of sexuality or suppress it with drugs. When their caregiver says Ugh, dont do that, they should also tell them how and where they can satisfy their needs in privacy, because no one has ever told them how to do it properly. Some institutionalized people have never seen a naked body other than their own.

Others are in the care of parents who reject the thought that their child has sexual needs, or arent able to allow her or him the space to satisfy those needs. There are exceptions. One older man called me, crying over the phone, thanking me for offering this service, saying no one could understand what it was like trying to deal with his autistic sons sexuality alone, Sidova recalls.

Those with physical disabilities face special obstacles. For some with paralysis or twisted hands it may not be physically possible to satisfy themselves alone. Of course, they can hire a prostitute, at least if they are men. Night clubs may not have barrier-free access, but there are always escorts, if they can find one willing to do this kind of work. And so frustration grows.

Different Paths to the Goal

Achieving sexual satisfaction and self-expression is not always straightforward for people with disabilities. Erogenous zones can be located, even for those who lack feeling in their body: perhaps the earlobes, neck, or head. Imagination plays an important role as well. Sadomasochistic practices are important for some. Whipping, bondage, and greater pressure can help the body feel at least something, Sidova says.

The right choice of erotic aid is crucial in some cases. In our courses, we teach the assistants how to choose aids for clients. Not all vibrators are the same. Men with severe mental disability sometimes prefer the anal region and may insert inappropriate objects into the rectum. So its important to know about butt plugs, how to choose them and show the client how to care for it properly, Sidova adds. There are special chairs and swings to help those with physical disabilities. No one is a lost cause.

What About Women?

Women, too, can use the services of sexual assistants, but there is not much demand  understandably, as no men have been trained for the job so far. I know of two women who have used the service. One wrote us that she felt very safe opening up about sexuality with a woman, Sidova says. The assistant helped her find her erogenous zones with egg and ring vibrators. If a woman lacks sensation or the ability to use her hand, the assistant guides her hand, slowly moving it over her breasts and sexual organs, helping her discover her own body and arouse herself for the first time.

Handicapped women may not have much longer to wait until the first male assistants start to work. Freya is planning to start training new assistants of both sexes by the end of the year. Weve had interest from masseurs and masseuses, and from nurses and social workers. Were really pleased with this, Sidova says. Freyas goal is to make the service available in all parts of the country.

Caution, Fragile

I ask Diana Lovecka what the hardest part of the job is.

Not to take their stories too much to heart. Realize that when I leave a session, my job is over. I come into contact with a lot of different life stories and tragedies. I have to know how to let go. Shed rather talk about the positive side. If its a one-time service, its enough that the client has a smile on his face at the end. This is one of the most common effects the assistants talk about: how clients rediscover the joy in life, start laughing again. They become less aggressive. Some even find a partner among fellow residents in their institutions. In a long-term situation, its amazing to watch the client progress, Lovecka says.

She tells the story of a disabled couple in a long-term relationship whom she was able to help with the physical side of sex. Of a blind man who lost his virginity with her after 30 years and finally grew out of his timidity, so that now he knows he is capable of finding a girlfriend. Or of a man with an accidental injury who stopped believing he could attract a woman or have any kind of sex life. He reaffirmed that he could still function as a man.

1,200 crowns ($60): The cost of one hours session with a sexual assistant. A big investment for someone on a disability pension  out of reach for many. The assistants determined the fee themselves. They cover travel expenses from their own pockets. Its not an easy job and we cant expect them to work for less. Obviously Id like it if the service was more affordable. But you can save up for it. Some clients stopped smoking to save money, Lucie Sidova says.

The ethics code for the job warns against forming emotional bonds with clients. And yet, the barrier around providing sexual assistance as a professional service is not unbreakable. Assistants make clear that they are not partners or girlfriends. But, Sidova remarks, its completely natural that a person who for a long time was unable to have a relationship might fall in love. For someone with a mental disability it could be the first time they ever have this kind of feeling. I think they deserve this. Even people with handicaps have the right to experience sadness and joy. Why should we cut them off from an emotional life? After all, every one of us has experienced disappointment in love.

To keep the relationship on a businesslike level, the assistant may need to have a talk with her client or in extreme cases ask a colleague to take her place. Its already happened once, Sidova says.

Next Steps

Czech societys attitude toward the sexuality of disabled people has changed dramatically in the past few years. Taboos are crumbling piece by piece, although there is still a long way to go. Its hard to disagree with Sidova that everyone should enjoy the right to basic human experiences like sex, intimacy, and the closeness of another person.

It would be much better if these people found a true partner, someone they could go through life with, she says. Sexual assistance is not the solution, just an avenue for those who havent been able to fulfill themselves in this way. Something like a launching pad.

Petra Dlouha has been writing for Penize.cz, a finance news site, and Finmag, an online finance magazine, since 2011. She studied journalism at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University in Prague. During her studies she worked as an intern at the Czech daily Lidove noviny. This article originally appeared on the Czech business news site Finmag. Reprinted with permission. Translated by Ky Krauthamer.
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Without fanfare, Brno is helping foreigners make their way through the bureaucratic maze.

Since 2017, the city of Brno has employed a small group of intercultural workers who act as bridges between several of the citys foreign-born communities and public institutions.

My husband went to the local authority once. He doesnt speak Czech very well, says Ms. Ahmadi, a Syrian living in Brno, the major city of the Czech Republics Moravia region. He was concentrating so hard during his conversation with the clerk that he began to frown. She was insulted. A misunderstanding, in short  It wasnt until Karin entered the situation and explained to them both what had happened that the atmosphere calmed down.

Karin is Karin Atassi, an intercultural assistant employed by Brno City Hall. Her job, simply put, is to serve as a bridge between the Arab community and the local authorities and other public institutions. Bureaucrats tend to believe that if they raise their voice when they speak, the client will hear them better and comprehend what they are saying. The client, on the other hand, perceives the bureaucrat to be yelling even though the client has done nothing wrong. Ive had to address such conflicts many times. Everything was better after that, the smiling Czech-Syrian woman says of her experiences.

Brno may have an eternal reputation as the countrys second city, but when it comes to working on coexistence between the Czech majority and foreign residents, it has a thing or two to teach Prague and other Czech cities.

The intercultural workers have been on the job for four years, helping integrate foreigners into Czech society. The fact that very few people can even imagine what these workers job entails is sad evidence of the fact that the relationship between the Czech majority and foreigners is broken, above all the Czech attitude toward refugees. For their part, the city leadership prefers not to actively brag about the project.

When we arrive for our visit, the intercultural staffers for the Arab, Moldovan/Romanian, and Russian/Ukrainian communities in Brno are all in their office at City Hall with Lenka Safrankova Pavlickova, coordinator of the integration project. The only one missing is their colleague who works with the Vietnamese community. We ask them: Whats the point of all this?

Lenka Safrankova Pavlickova, the coordinator of Brnos integration program.

Since 1989, most migrants have tended to travel through the Czech Republic to destinations in Scandinavia or Western Europe, but today more than 590,000 foreign nationals live in the country. An estimated 33,000 foreign nationals live in Brno, roughly every 11th or 12th inhabitant.

Foreign residents staff the big multinational IT and other firms, work in factories and the service sector, or are related to such workers; some of the arrivals have applied for asylum. Until recently, those seeking assistance to integrate into Czech society and orient themselves in the bureaucracy had to rely on civil society organizations. That wasnt good enough, and the result was stress, both for the bureaucracies and institutions and for the foreign nationals. Today, though, things are different.

The idea of anchoring intercultural work in city government itself came from the grassroots level. When Brno began to systematically address the subject of social inclusion in the city in 2015, a broad spectrum of people came together to discuss it, for example, from the various offices, civic organizations, social services, and the universities. Their consensus was that foreign nationals in particular are a very neglected component of the city, and that the city should pay more attention to integrating them, Safrankova Pavlickova says.

Conquering City Hall From the Inside

The project staff currently comprises three full-time positions for the Arab, Moldovan/Romanian, and Russian-speaking communities, and two half-time positions for the Vietnamese community. The community managers also have assistants.

They have personal experiences with integration as immigrants themselves  all but the woman who works with the Vietnamese community, a Czech who is knowledgeable about Vietnamese culture. Her husband, a Vietnamese man, is employed by the project as a field worker. A Vietnamese woman also works for the municipal project, as does a Czech man who has studied Vietnamese culture and the Vietnamese language for roughly a decade.

Of course, intercultural social services are not just a Brno phenomenon. The Integration Center Prague and other non-governmental groups also offer assistance in the capital. However, those services are chronically underfinanced and not accessible to all who need them, and they essentially focus just on interpretation. In addition to that, we do field work, run information campaigns, map the needs of everybody involved on all sides of the integration process, and develop systemic solutions so that as many foreign nationals and local authorities as possible can get advice even without a live interpreter on the spot, Safrankova Pavlickova explains.

Brno City Hall is also demonstrating what can be achieved in terms of integration when local authorities meet the foreign residents halfway. This first happened thanks to a project called Increasing the Intercultural Permeability of Public Institutions in Brno, co-financed by the European Union.

The fact that the intercultural workers become part of City Hall has afforded them many benefits. The bureaucracies immediately approach the clients differently when you show them you are a municipal employee and not working for some association. The doors are open to them, explains Tomas Jurcik, head of Brnos social inclusion department with ultimate responsibility for the intercultural project.

Running from October 2017 to September 2019, the pilot project lasted two years with a budget of 8.1 million crowns (314,000 euros), 90 percent of it provided by EU social funds. But the intercultural staffers did not leave City Hall when it ended. They managed to defend the value of their work even when a new coalition came to power following local elections and began to change the emphasis to different goals and target groups. We have conclusive data demonstrating this is a functional, necessary innovation, Safrankova Pavlickova argues.

According to Jurcik, the results achieved by the intercultural office convinced the politicians of its usefulness. The offices workers have mapped the field, looking for localities where foreign nationals live and seeking the gatekeepers  respected individuals who could introduce the intercultural workers to their communities. That has led to establishing contacts and winning peoples trust.

Because we know whats going on in the communities, we are also aiding the city with improving security. Mainly, however, we assist foreign nationals with integration, Jurcik says.

The end of the pilot project did not signal an end to the intercultural initiative. In March 2020 the city began a new, three-year project, SKILL Center for Foreign Nationals in the South Moravian Region, again with major financing from the EU (40 million crowns). One goal of the project is to share the Brno intercultural workers experiences with municipalities throughout the South Moravian Region.

We will be expanding the project beyond Brno now, so we will be looking for new colleagues, Safrankova Pavlickova says.

The aim is to kickstart practices that will make it possible to identify foreign nationals in the South Moravian Region and to make use of their skills and qualifications or even improve them. We want to support the effective use of their economic potential, she says, adding that the project drew inspiration mainly from Belgium and Finland.

Foreign nationals in our country frequently get stuck in positions that do not require qualifications. The Czech Republic has a lack of qualified employees in both the private and public spheres  for example, doctors, caregivers, nurses, and such. In practice we often encounter cases of nurses who come here with practical experience but who, even after a decade of residence in the Czech Republic, are still just cleaning in hospitals, or doctors working as barbers, or a caregiver who is unemployed even though she is trying to find a job, she continues.

The intercultural staffers operate primarily under Brno City Hall. However, thanks to the collaboration with the South Moravian region, they are transmitting their know-how to other cities in the region, starting with Breclav.

Intercultural Workers Are Made, Not Born

In Brno it took several months to find and hire project staff.

An intercultural staffer must have excellent knowledge of the language and culture of the given community. They must also be in a position of trust and have trustworthy acquaintances and contacts, Safrankova Pavlickova explains. She used her deep knowledge of the local environment and sent advertisements for the positions to civic groups and foreign nationals organizations, as well as sharing the job offer through contacts in Prague and other cities.

Safrankova Pavlickova knew Karin Atassi, who comes from Syria, from previous projects and volunteer work. She reached out to her and today Atassi is the liaison between City Hall and the Arab community.

The project coordinator found Julie Lien Vrbkova through an acquaintance at City Hall. The student of Vietnamese originally planned to continue her academic career in Vietnam, where she had earned a doctorate and worked for the Academy of Sciences. She accepted the offer from Brno because she sees intercultural work as meaningful.

I really liked that City Hall gave its auspices to the integration project. During my studies, I frequently felt powerless working for civic initiatives. I saw that people had many problems, but aid was given just to some individuals. Now I have the feeling I will be able to assist many people, Lien Vrbkova says.

Alexander Ceban, from Moldova, found out about the position of intercultural staffer for the Moldovan/Romanian community from an acquaintance. As an interpreter and Orthodox priest, he already had significant insight into the issue of integration.

Katerina Hertlova has been living in the Czech Republic since the late 1990s. She came here from Ukraine to study and then remained. A friend told her about the position after seeing a classified advertisement in newspapers for the Russian-speaking community in Prague.

Greasing the Wheels of Bureaucracy

When I look back on it, the most difficult aspect was communicating the idea that the intercultural worker is not just there for the foreign nationals, but also for the local authorities, explains Daniel Topinka, director of the education and research organization SocioFactor, which contributes to the project.

In addition to educating intercultural workers, SocioFactor analyzed how they work in other places: Vienna, Barcelona, Montreal, several cities in the Netherlands, Finland, the UK, and the United States. To adapt their experiences for Brno was not easy, however, because the city knew very little about the foreign nationals on its territory.

We have a great deal of information about foreign nationals at the level of the state, but not at the level of municipalities, Topinka says, adding that producing regular surveys of foreign nationals is generally a neglected matter in the integration field.

The intercultural workers accompany clients to the labor office, trade license bureau, and other government bodies as well as when they visit the doctor or hospital. They work in the field, visiting construction sites and reaching out to people living in workers hostels.

If you come here on the basis of permission to work in a factory, then your job defines how you spend your free time  if you even have any  and it defines your access to channels of communication, whether, for example, there is access to the internet in your accommodation, and from whom you receive what kind of information or disinformation, Safrankova Pavlickova explains.

A Different Path to Each Community

Julie Lien Vrbkova shares her insight that for the Vietnamese community, the most effective communication method is to create informational videos on social media. My videos are viewed between 8,000 and 16,000 times, all over the country, she says.

Karin Atassi set up a WhatsApp group for Arab women, at first to post information about Czech-language courses. She is also in contact with Brnos mosque, where she teaches Arabic to children. That is how she got to know the other women. Her group now counts about 100 women and is constantly growing. These are women from Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, she says.

Hertlova and Ceban, on the other hand, mostly work in the field. Among Moldovans, Romanians, and Ukrainians, they have found that people like to share information with each other in person. Most of my clients do not use social media. We walk around the city and leave fliers with our contact information in selected locations. For example  in the bus station in Brno where the workers first arrive from Romania and Moldova. The salespeople in the Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Moldovan shops and pubs all have my contact information, Ceban says.

To illustrate what his job is like, Ceban describes the case of a Romanian man who was not paid for his work and had to walk the 70 or so kilometers from the town of Svitavy to Brno: I found him begging in a shop. Eventually I aided him to return to his native country.

Gatekeepers also greatly aid the work of the intercultural project. One such person is, Lia, a middle-aged Moldovan woman who works in a fast-food restaurant near Brnos bus and train stations. She has lived in the Czech Republic a long time; her name is known to the entire community; she has many contacts; and she works at a good location in the city center. People come to her with their problems, and she sends them to Ceban.

Intercultural workers used to make field visits several times a week. During the pandemic, however, they have been providing their aid by phone. In the spring I was explaining to everybody that during the state of emergency nobody will be throwing them out of the Czech Republic, Ceban says.

Knowing When to Step Back

The project staff all agree that it took them some time to get accustomed to their roles. Winning acceptance from other city offices and their foreign clients themselves was far from automatic. Setting the boundaries between their jobs and their personal lives was important as well.

As an intercultural worker you are part of the community  you know the people and their sometimes dramatic lives. However, its impossible to continue in this job long-term without boundaries. That means knowing when to admit to yourself that even though you might know a client, you will not answer their calls after work hours or on the weekend, Safrankova Pavlickova says. In her view, it is also important to reconcile oneself to the fact that it is not possible to aid everybody with everything. If we do not have that power or competence, we direct the clients to the right services, she says.

Hertlova has also had to address domestic violence. A woman complained to the owner of a Ukrainian shop that her husband was beating her. The woman said she wanted to leave him, but she was afraid of what he would tell others and she didnt know what to do. She was financially dependent on her husband, and they had young children.

The shop owner informed Hertlova of the situation and she got in touch with the woman.

We gave her contact information to an organization that could aid her with finding housing  We pointed her in the direction of getting legal advice from a civic advice bureau, where they can assist her with filing for divorce. The lady knows all this, but she hasnt contacted me yet. She has to make her own decision, Hertlova said, adding that she sometimes encounters very sad stories.

Separating my professional life from my personal life was difficult in the beginning. I often took the clients problems personally, and I did my best to spend all my free time solving them. Gradually, however, I realized I was going to burn out if I kept working like that and then I wouldnt be able to aid anybody. Now, she no longer answers the phone outside of office hours.

To help prevent burnout, project staff are able to attend group sessions with a psychotherapist who has also worked in social services. If they have more complex problems to solve they can attend individual sessions lasting six to eight weeks.

Despite its demonstrable successes, Brnos integration project is not being discussed much, and the city does not publicize it. Even so, the project is quite scalable and can aid the situation in other Czech cities, Jurcik says.

In his view, Czech politicians see foreign nationals and their integration as a subject that will score them more negative points than positive ones.

Praise From Brno and Brussels

In the beginning, we used to hear that everybody integrates themselves on their own. However, it turned out that in some areas  typically in the schools, in the field of health care, or in communicating with local authorities  intercultural workers are irreplaceable, Jurcik, the social inclusion department head, explains. Even the bureaucrats eventually acknowledged that its fine to have us there during meetings, he says.

Schools also praise the project. The intercultural staffers are a big inspiration for the work of the teachers, says Olga Bauerova, the principal of a primary school in Brno. Julie Lien Vrbkova made the biggest impression not just on my work, but also on my heart. It was she who introduced our teachers to the customs and cultural differences of the Vietnamese minority, among other things. Together with her I also organized a meeting with the Vietnamese parents of our pupils where she very sensitively interpreted the information provided about the Czech schools and about what children do in school and what they need.

In return, the school now enjoys the respect and trust of the parents. This constantly improving mutual collaboration benefits the children, she adds.

The project has also received not just financial, but promotional backing from the European Commission, whose department of employment, social affairs, and inclusion highlighted Brnos intercultural work in a recently published catalog of successful social innovation initiatives from each of the EUs 27 members, praising the Brno project for inspiring other cities in Czechia and Slovakia.

Fatima Rahimi is a reporter with Denik Referendum, a news outlet based in Brno. This article first appeared on Denik Referendum and was produced as part of a Transitions project to support solutions journalism in our coverage region.

Translated by Gwendolyn Albert. Photos by Fatima Rahimi.
Student teachers from Czech universities help combat pandemic-caused learning disruptions.

During the first and second waves of COVID-19 the Czech Republic, like many other countries, had to contend with across-the-board school closures. Some children were unable to participate in distance learning at all during this period or did so sporadically. A nationwide initiative called Faculties Tutor (Fakulty doucuji) was born in response to this situation to connect primary schools with college students who help pupils catch up on the material they missed.

The tutoring has the added benefit of enabling future teachers to complete their required practical training. But the tutors didnt just come from the ranks of future schoolteachers. In the 2020-2021 school year 600 students of various fields from 23 colleges and universities joined the initiative, tutoring 1,500 pupils.

The Czech Republics schools were closed for more than 200 days between spring 2020 and May 2021. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), that was one of the worlds longest school shutdowns.

Many children were completely out of touch with their schools because they lacked internet at home. Some parents lacked the conditions for their child to access his or her own computer or space suitable for instruction. Some families live in single rooms in residential hostels. Faculties Tutor, a joint initiative of the National Pedagogical Institute (NPI) and the nonprofit organization People in Need, targeted these types of students.

Lucie Marsalkova, who manages supervised practical internships (practicums) at the Charles University Faculty of Pedagogy in Prague, said that when People in Need contacted her, we looked for opportunities to realize this as part of our existing practicums. Eventually two elective courses on tutoring were formed. Anybody from any level could apply, and there was great interest overall among the students. During the first two semesters about 150 students were involved.

The initiative is the brainchild of Rut Vesela and Zuzana Ramajzlova, education specialists with People in Need. The pair, along with NPI, began contacting universities in spring 2020 to find pedagogy students interested in tutoring children who had missed out on distance learning when schools were shuttered.

It was absolutely spontaneous; we didnt have a clear schedule planned in advance, Ramajzlova says. We just wanted it to be a component of the practicums in the educational disciplines so the students could get credit for it.

The NPI, which took on the coordination role, posted a form on its website, Zapojmevsechny.cz (Lets include everyone), through which schools could apply for tutoring either by trainee teachers or students in other fields. We had no idea whether 30, 300, or 3,000 primary schools would apply, or what the capacity of the college students would be, says NPI project manager Tomas Machalik.

Eventually all nine pedagogy faculties in the country joined the effort, in addition to the likes of the Czech Technical Universitys electrical engineering faculty and Charles Universitys science faculties.

We were surprised by the interest from college students in fields unrelated to pedagogy; it was basically twice the interest of that shown by future teachers, says Tereza Skachova, Faculties Tutor coordinator at NPI. One reason might be that many pedagogy students already were tutoring in schools that had stayed open to serve the children of firefighters, nurses, and other vital workers, she says.

Tereza Skachova, coordinator of the Faculties Tutor program for the National Pedagogical Institute. Photo by Katerina Lanska.

The tutoring was to begin in person in fall of 2020 but was thwarted by the second wave of the pandemic, which again closed the schools. But everything was up and running within a few weeks. About half of the tutoring that school year was done online, a quarter in person, and another quarter in a combination of the two.

Several faculties have since added tutoring to their curricula, Machalik notes, calling this a success of the initiative.

Meeting a Need for Practical Experience

In the Czech education system, universities are highly autonomous, which is reflected in the curricula of pedagogical schools. Each school develops its own practicum program. The common denominator is that they are unpaid.

It is not unusual, however, for pedagogy students to not undertake such an internship until the fourth or fifth year of their studies, and then just for a few hours. While there are exceptions, and there is increasing pressure to reform undergraduate education, it can generally be said that both the level of the teaching practicums and their required duration have long been a weak part of teacher training in the Czech Republic. The curricula have focused more on theory than on practical skills.

A school that participates in Faculties Tutor, Masaryk University in Brno, is one of the exceptions. For the past five years, tutoring has been part of the core training for future teachers, according to Marketa Kosatkova, supervisor for tutoring at the universitys pedagogy faculty.

Their tutoring program initially focused primarily on children from socially excluded backgrounds. From fieldwork we knew it is best to help those children at home, so we paid a great deal of attention to pedagogy students visiting them in their family environment, Kosatkova says. The tutoring then was extended to other children with special educational needs. These methods initially aroused resentment on the part of professors and students, she says. Part of it was the fear of going into the homes of the socially excluded. Petitions were written about it being dangerous for students. Such concerns turned out to be groundless.

We know from the field and from surveys that school success depends a lot on family background, so I am glad future teachers get the opportunity to realize that not every child lives in the kind of conditions that are conducive to school success, Kosatkova says. Experiences of that kind will help a pedagogy student discover structural inequities.  We read in the students comments that they suddenly realize that not everyone has parents like they have, parents who help the child with everything.

Faculties Tutor volunteers choose where they want to work. Vlastimil Horalek, a pedagogy student at Charles Universitys natural science faculty, opted to help students with science. Ive been teaching commercially for years, but this is something else. You work without a fee, and the only reward is that you inspire somebody to take an interest in your subject, he says.

He met online with three eighth-graders for three months. One of them was home-schooled; Id never had such a student before. He was extremely motivated, but all three liked it, Horalek says. He was in contact with their teacher and with his supervisor, Jakub Jelen from the department of social geography and regional development.

Jelen describes the program in the first wave of school closures in spring 2020 as a bit unmanaged. There was a database of schools, and whoever wanted to tutor chose one to work with. By the time the second lockdown came, the faculty had developed a tutoring course. The facultys trainee teachers were able to participate in internships and in the teaching process online, as opportunities for other practicums were limited during the year.

Learning by Doing

Leona Sochova, a student at the Charles University pedagogy faculty, tutored three second-graders in German online during lockdown. An autistic boy was the biggest challenge for me, she says. In college, no one had ever told me about that, and I didnt know exactly what to do. I consulted with his mother and looked up the professional literature. I would have welcomed even more support from the faculty. But I learned a lot thanks to that, especially about how to work with motivation.

When trainee teachers do internships early in their university career, Marsalkova says, they find out whether they really want to teach. They also find out if they are capable of motivating pupils in a structured way. The children have to be at school, but if you want to attract their attention after they have already had five hours of class, what you do has to work, she says. The pedagogy student has enough time to test out different methods. We know from their feedback that its nice for them to be able to see their pupils progress. On the other hand, its also beneficial for those children to get individual attention.

Masaryk University student Pavel David Cvrk began tutoring students in mathematics during the 2020-2021 school year. The students lived in Horni Pocaply, a town of about 1,300 in central Bohemia, but closed schools meant he had to tutor from home in Pribram, 120 kilometers away.

It helped us a lot, says Iva Voglova, principal of the towns combined preschool and primary school. Six tutors helped her students last school year. In its small classes, different grade levels are taught together. This is not a problem during regular teaching, although Its quite challenging to teach multiple grade levels simultaneously online, she adds. It was wonderful that we could split up the children. Each pedagogy student worked as an independent teacher with a small group and also worked with the homeroom teacher to prepare the lessons.

In addition to math, Cvrk occasionally helps with the Czech language when the children dont understand something. Pavels nice, fifth-grader Josef says of his online tutor. First we talk about what weve been doing, and then we learn together. I like it that we can cover the material in detail until we understand it. He doesnt rush us.

The school is continuing its cooperation with Cvrk. He now is paid with funds from the National Tutoring Plan, which earmarked 250 million crowns ($11.5 million) for tutoring from September through December 2021. The countrys national pandemic recovery plan has released an additional 400 million crowns for the rest of the current school year and is expected to extend support beyond that.

A Vehicle for Change

Faculties Tutor has been refined for this school year, based on lessons learned in 2020-2021, when demand outstripped supply. The 600 students were able to cover only about half of the 333 schools that applied for tutoring. It was a bit chaotic. We didnt have a clear idea of what was going on in the schools, NPIs Skachova says.

Program coordinators lacked a complete overview of how many students were working as tutors and where. Complete information on whether primary schools had connected with college students and whether tutoring was actually taking place was not available until the schools and the tutors completed their evaluation questionnaires at the end of the school year.

During the programs first year, schools requested tutoring by indicating the number of children and the subjects. Now each request is broken down by grade level and subject in an improved database.

Before, we knew somebody was tutoring at a particular school, but we didnt know if all the children who needed tutoring actually got it, Skachova says. University coordinators no longer have to distribute tutoring requests to their students. Now, students use the database to find a tutoring request that suits them. When theyve completed their tutoring assignment, they and the school where they taught send in an evaluation questionnaire. The students also are supervised at their own schools.

Funding from the National Tutoring Plan also enables schools to pay their regular teachers extra money to do tutoring. Perhaps at least partly as a result, the interest in student tutors is lower than last year. In fall 2021, 119 schools registered with 248 tutoring requests, and 235 college students signed up to help. Its better-arranged and easier this year, the representatives of the faculties are praising it, and I have feedback from some college students that its super, Skachova says of the new matching system.

Skachova and her National Pedagogical Institute colleagues would like to see teacher training schools expand tutoring opportunities for students. The NPI will continue to administer and fund Faculties Tutor, with methodological support for the college students and project promotion provided by People in Need.

The Czech School Inspectorate reports that during the first wave of school closures in spring 2020, 250,000 children dropped out of distance learning because of limited access to a computer or the internet. That number has gone down by about a fifth since the first lockdown, with computers and easier internet access provided through public and private efforts. Additionally, about 10,000 children were left without any contact with their school for at least part of that time.

According to Skachova, the most important aspect of tutoring for children is that they learn to monitor their own progress and take responsibility for their own learning. And the tutors encounter new schools and their realities. The shift in these childrens achievements is due to so many factors that its difficult to determine what effect tutoring has, she says. It basically cant be measured. In any event, what is essential is the level of personal interaction. This is not just about a child mastering material; what is important is that the child experiences success and that somebody takes an interest in the child.

Kosatkova sees tutoring as a mechanism for combating the social inequalities and injustices in education. But tutoring has to be approached with calm, with humanity, and in a systematic way. This is not just about increasing the hours of tutoring and the number of people wholl do it.

 Were used to labeling those who fail and saying they themselves are to blame for it. At the beginning, pedagogy students often say, Everyone has a chance to succeed. Its hard for them to see structural inequities. She sees tutoring as a tool for changing the attitudes and values of future teachers. Its about changing how a teacher looks at a pupil, how they treat the parents, how they set up the classroom.  The whole educational process.

Katerina Lanska is a writer and editor at EDUin, the Center for Educational Information. From 2014 to 2021 she also worked for People in Needs educational and social programs.

Translated by Gwendolyn Albert.
In the most obese country in Latin America, black octagons on food packaging have compelled people to shop healthier. The Chilean model  placing warning symbols on sweet foods as well as those with large amounts of salt and saturated fats  is gradually being introduced in some other countries.

When a customer who wants to eat healthy enters the aisle with sweets in a supermarket in Santiago de Chile, melancholy will descend over him. The black octagonal stickers on the products visually scream: Dont buy us! The unequivocal champion are the well-known Oreo cookies  the only ones with all four warning labels that the law on labeling packaged foods offers. They say: High in sugar. High content of saturated fats. High in sodium. High in calories.

Its precisely the oreo that Senator Guido Girardi Lavin holds in his hand in his office. When you see that your favorite cookies have four labels, you can only buy them for yourself with pangs of conscience, but you certainly wont buy them for your child, the 59-year-old doctor says confidently. He was the one who, despite the initial mockery, stubbornly persevered. After nine years of effort, he pushed through a law that has been in force in Chile since June 2016 that wants to fight obesity by means of a visual warning on food packaging.

Fat vs. Thin 3:1

Sugar is the greatest terrorist of the 21st century. The senator lets fly with a catchy slogan, adding that its excessive consumption, and the putting on of fat that follows, kill more people than traffic accidents. He begins to count off how obesity leads to, among other things, diabetes, heart attacks, joint problems, and other serious health problems. It is not a problem of individuals, but a societal diagnosis.

Image by Damian Gadal/Wikimedia Commons

OECD statistics that map the situation in the worlds developed countries provide stark evidence: in this exotic, 18-million-inhabitant South American country, which is squeezed into a 4,000-kilometer-long noodle between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, lives the second fattest population in the world (just after the United States). More than a third of those over the age of 15 are obese, and another 40 percent are overweight  although, in the 1990s, the country was dealing with the malnutrition of the poorest layer of the population.

Paradoxically, today the disease of the poor is obesity. People are fat without having enough of the right nutrients, notes Girardi, who represents the center-left Party for Democracy. The main culprit is, according to him, the wrong way of eating. Therefore, already in 2014, he pushed through a law specifically targeting sweetened beverages, which the Chileans love and which the senator describes as metabolic bombs. For all soft drinks that contained more than six grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, the value added tax (VAT) was raised from 13 to 18 percent; in contrast, VAT was reduced to 10 percent for those that appeared below this threshold.

(c) Reporter magazine

Cooperation with university nutritional experts takes place under the patronage of Girardi, who, in his drive for a leaner Chile continued further by introducing labels.

Until then, like elsewhere, we only had information about the composition of the product in small letters on the back, which is deliberately done in such a non-transparent way so the customer doesnt understand, and the company can defend itself that the consumer had been informed, after all, with the fact that he is eating some crap, says Girardi.

But now, even a six-year-old schoolboy can, thanks to the octagons, decide in an informed way whether or not to buy it, argues the senator, whom the Organization for Food and Agriculture at the United Nations named its ambassador in the fight against obesity.

Without Labels, Without a Guilty Feeling

How did the law actually come about? Its creators presented a panel of two thousand people (including children) different shapes and colors of warning symbols and people unequivocally chose the black-and-white stop sign. These octagons have a double impact. The first on the customer, who, with a first glance at the label, might be discouraged from placing the product in her shopping cart. And the second on the manufacturer, who wants to quickly get rid of the stigmatizing label. The company thus would rather change the recipe and remove the harmful substances to get under clearly defined limits and get rid of the disparaging sticker.



(c) Reporter magazine

Some took it as an opportunity for some smart marketing  such as Soprole, which is the leader on the local market with dairy products. We reformulated the recipe of more than 120 products, so that we can say that 72 percent of all our products and 100 percent of those aimed at a child customer, are without labels, Carolina Matus, the companys manager, wrote in an email. Her company uses the phrase without labels as a slogan. Another company, Danone, sells its nonfat yogurts with the slogan Without labels, without a guilty feeling.

In the cooling boxes of supermarkets, the impact of the law is obvious among the selection of yogurts. Warnings remain primarily on cheeses due to excessive salt or fat. But the Mark of Cain, for example, cant be found on Fanta, which replaced sugar with artificial sweeteners.

However, for nutritionists, that presents a complicated question as to whether a lover of Fanta isnt jumping from the frying pan straight into the fire: it is not entirely clear what impact artificial sweeteners have on the body.

The Scary Effect of the Octagons

By November 2018, the recipe of one-fifth of the countrys food products had changed (the most were cereals  30 percent, then beverages  25 percent, and dairy products  23 percent). That does not, of course, mean, that all companies have agreed with the regulations.

Marisol Figueroa  a representative of Alimentos y Bebidas de Chile (ABC), the chamber of food and beverage producers  expressed herself in a rather stilted way by email; from her answers, it is nevertheless clear that the chamber does not agree with the established system, though constantly repeating its determination take part in the fight against obesity.

It seems unfair to the ABC chamber, which lobbied hard against the new model, that the labeling system only applies to packaged food, and not to restaurant meals.

Octagons are also not found on alcoholic beverages. The authors of the law acknowledge this shortcoming, stating that they are acting against unhealthy foods one by one because of the strong lobbying of their opponents.

Until now unmarked snacks should be addressed in a future round, because people around Girardi have many other ideas on how to tighten their belt around obesity.

Due to a number of other measures concerning hygiene and shelf-life, Figueroa also suggests that it is not possible to simply redesign a recipe so that it does not affect the quality. According to her, this leads to some ranges of products (such as wafer cookies) consisting of almost all goods having a black warning. So the buyer in reality has no way to compare, writes Figueroa. Labels do not fulfill the goal of informing consumers. Instead, they scare the population with some danger, which seems wrong to us.

Youre Not Allowed on TV

Argentine economist Guillermo Paraja, who specializes in public health from the business angle at the Catholic University in Santiago, says: The food industry first pushed for numerical information to remain on the back side of products. But they calculate the average daily requirement of individual nutrients according to a physically active middle-aged man. Tell me, how many of those are there in todays sedentary society?

When companies saw that the public was asking for some change, they began to press for a three-color traffic light on packaging that Ecuadorians, for example, have in Latin America. Why are they promoting it? Because it has been tested that the traffic light does not help much with peoples understanding of harmful food content; it rather confuses them, laughs Paraja, adding: The advantage of labels is their absolute understandability. Its just yes  no.

Paraja notes that the labels also significantly restrict producers in their marketing. A message from the Ministry of Health must accompany billboard or print ads. The black box, which covers 15 percent of the space, reads: Prefer food with fewer warning signs. In addition, commercials for labeled goods can be aired on TV only between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. And such products cannot be sold in schools at all.

Its not possible to use toys or cartoon animals to attract [kids] to these products. Tony the Tiger disappeared from Kelloggs globally famous cereal. You cant find chocolate figurines of Easter rabbits or Santa Claus. My daughter only knows the sweet egg of Kinder Surprise from Argentina when her grandparents buy it for her, explains the 40-year-old.

Upon hearing the words Kinder Surprise, his 10-year-old daughter  who during an hour-long interview in a cafe is bored to death  miraculously comes to life for a moment.

In the Footsteps of Tobacco

Cecilia Sepulved, chairwoman of the Chamber of Nutrition Specialists, sees the labels as a good start in a long-distance run. But we are not acting consistently. On the one hand, we introduce octagons, and on the other hand, we are reducing compulsory physical education classes at school, she laments.

Psychology is important in the fight against obesity, because people dont eat only food, but also a beloved brand. We also need to teach people to break the habit of overeating. Rice has no labels, but if you eat a heaping plate of it, youll get fat too, she says, recalling the Latin American vice of stuffing oneself to bursting with huge portions, either at home or in restaurants.

Sepulved emphasizes the importance of octagons not stigmatizing people who cannot afford to buy healthy, but more expensive, food. It is for this reason that Senator Girardi has prepared a proposal for special meal vouchers for those with less money, for which it would be possible to buy only fruit and vegetables.

According to surveys, the labels in supermarkets are having some influence on nine out of 10 Chileans. Nutritional expert Marcela Reyes says that in the first stage, after the introduction of the new standards, people in a sample of 2,000 households reduced their purchases by 30 percent of labeled cereals, which until then many customers had considered healthy, and soft drinks and fruit drinks by 23 percent. On the other hand, there were no fluctuations in the sale of chocolates, in which everyone counts on high calories.

Unfortunately, there have been no positive changes in the basic goal: the effort to reduce obesity. The 30-year-old Reyes shares in the work of a scientific team from the Universidad de Chile that has been monitoring the impact of the new policy on a long-term basis. According to her, the less-than-four-year span since its adoption is too short a time. It will be as it was with tobacco products for long decades to come. First of all, a set of various regulations must get things out of public life that support being overweight, she says, and meaningfully weighs up the cafes sugar bowl in her palm.

She compares this with the first warning signs on cigarette boxes that smoking is harmful to ones health. Then advertising for tobacco products was completely banned, followed by a ban on smoking in restaurants. In the end, consumers have gotten it, and the number of smokers is falling. However, we still have to wait for some time to see some impact in a decline in lung cancer. It is similar to obesity. We may not see the first results until the next generation, she adds.

The Chilean Model

But other changes are not on the agenda now. The author of this article gathered information before large-scale social protests hit Chile at the turn of the year. In a country  which, moreover, is now paralyzed by the coronavirus like the rest of the planet  issues as serious as changing the constitution are now being addressed, so the fight against obesity has been dropped from the list of priorities.

President Sebastian Pinera originally blocked the law during his first term; he did not agree with the restrictions on television marketing. Girardi then went to parliament for weeks with a banner that read: The president sold the health of our children to McDonalds. In the end, the proposal did not pass until the left came to power.

However, after returning to the highest office in March 2018, Pinera signed on to the law: he saw its popularity among citizens and also that his homeland was setting an example to the world. Last year, measures, including black octagons, were copied in Peru and this year in Uruguay; their legal framework also significantly inspired Israel. Parliaments in Mexico, Brazil, and Canada have also begun discussing the Chilean model. At the same time, until now, this term has meant a deregulated free market, which was introduced during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Today, on the other hand, the Chilean model paradoxically seeks to put the free market under control in the area of the food business.

Tomas Nidr is a foreign reporter, collaborating with various Czech media. This article originally appeared in the Czech newsmagazine Reporter. Translated by Jeremy Druker.
On Tuesday, Virginia Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton revealed that doctors had diagnosed her with Parkinson's disease.

In a video uploaded on Twitter, the 54-year-old legislator said, "If there's one thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, it's that Parkinson's disease sucks."

Rep. Jennifer Wexton noted that in recent months, Parkinson's disease has mostly impacted her voice and the movement of her lips, making her talk faster. It has also affected her balance and walking, according to Politico.

The Virginia Democrat acknowledged that Parkinson's had limited her ability to perform some things. Still, she insisted that the condition isn't a "death sentence" and that she and her doctor are trying to manage her symptoms.

Jennifer Wexton has indicated that she is "working" with her doctor on a treatment plan that addresses her symptoms. The lawmaker also said she has a "positive attitude" and the overwhelming support of her family, friends, and loved ones.

On #WorldParkinsonsDay, I'm here to share that I've been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.



I'm doing well, and I want to bring about as much good from this diagnosis as I canincluding here in Congress. pic.twitter.com/bvEwzZQbqp  Rep. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) April 11, 2023

Read Also: Bank Shooting in Kentucky Update

Jennifer Wexton Vows To Continue Serving The Public

The Virginia politician intends to use her platform to raise awareness and fight for a cure and has made it clear that she won't leave office.

Jennifer Wexton said that she would have good and bad days due to the time and effort required for her Parkinson's disease therapy, according to CNN. However, she emphasized her commitment to serving the people of Virginia and the 10th Congressional District, in particular, despite her health condition.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that half a million Americans live with Parkinson's disease; however, many cases go unrecognized, prompting some specialists to think the true prevalence is far greater, The Hill reported.

Parkinson's disease is the second-most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the US after Alzheimer's.

Related Article: Study Reveals Extensive Effects of Gun Violence on US Families

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Wyomings Washington delegation welcomed the end of the COVID-19 national emergency and a return to normalcy on Monday after three long years since the beginning of the pandemic.

Ending the national emergency terminated the use of some waivers for federal health programs like Medicaid and Medicare that were meant to support health care providers during the pandemic.

The change isnt expected to have a huge impact as far as Wyoming goes, Wyoming Department of Health spokesperson Kim Deti told the Star-Tribune. Thats because there have already been some roll backs of COVID-era provisions as the pandemic has eased. For example, the state started requiring Medicaid participants to renew their eligibility last month  a requirement that was temporarily suspended under pandemic-era rules. The public health emergency in Wyoming also ended more than a year ago.

The White House had announced in January plans to continue the COVID-19 national emergency as well as the public health emergency until May 11. But lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives soon after introduced two bills that would terminate both immediately.

Despite the White House warning that an abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system, President Joe Biden signed one of them into law on Monday, terminating the COVID-19 national emergency that was originally enacted in 2020 during the Trump administration.

The joint resolution to end the national emergency, which was sponsored by Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar, cleared the Senate late last month in a bipartisan 68-23 vote. Wyomings Rep. Harriet Hageman cosponsored and voted in favor of the bill. Sen. Cynthia Lummis also threw her support behind the resolution. Sen. John Barrasso was excused from the vote, as he was with his wife as she continues treatment for cancer. Barrasso and Lummis had previously voted in favor of two separate proposals that would have ended the COVID-19 national emergency last year.

The day after the resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency passed the Senate, Lummis took to social media and called on the president to sign the bill.

The fact that there is still a federal state of emergency in place for COVID-19 is lunacy, & blatant government overreach, she wrote on Twitter. WY has led the way in defending freedom while keeping our citizens safe and it is time for @POTUS to follow suit by signing the bill passed in the Senate.

Lummis said in a statement to the Star-Tribune on Tuesday that a return to normal is long past due, and that she was glad Biden chose to sign the resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency.

Hageman also lauded the earlier end of the COVID-19 national emergency. Americans deserved freedom from government tyranny without delay. What was the purpose of waiting? she said in a statement to the Star-Tribune.

Barrasso chastised the Biden administration for what they described as the reckless use of taxpayer dollars.

President Biden and the Democrats have used the COVID-19 national emergency as an excuse to recklessly spend taxpayer money. Congress rightfully voted to terminate this Washington power grab, he said.

The COVID-19 public health emergency is still in effect until May 11, though there is another bill  the Pandemic is Over Act, sponsored by Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie  making its way through Congress that would similarly put an earlier stop to the health emergency if it becomes law. The Pandemic is Over Act passed the House in late January and is headed to the Senate. Hageman voted in favor of the bill.

It has long been time to end the Covid public health emergency, Hageman said. Vaccine & mask mandates, eviction moratoriums, & student loan debt cancellations must stop now  in fact ALL of these flawed Covid restrictions should have ended years ago.

Lummis and Barrasso also called for an end to the national public health emergency.

Now its time for the White House to follow our lead and also end the public health emergency that remains in place, Barrasso said. This will let the people of Wyoming and workers across the country resume their normal lives.

Ending the public health emergency would mean some people might have to pay more for COVID-19 treatments and tests. It would also end some flexibilities around, for example, telehealth services.

Members of Wyomings Washington delegation, as well as other leaders in Wyoming, have long chaffed under federal COVID-19 requirements. Wyoming lawmakers went as far as to convene a special session in fall 2021 in an attempt to push back on federal vaccine mandates. They didnt pass any laws, but they did put aside $4 million to pay for potential court fights against COVID-19 mandates.

After first declaring a COVID-19 public health emergency in March of 2020, Gov. Mark Gordon ended Wyomings public health emergency last March as case numbers and hospitalizations receded.

The end of Wyomings public health emergency terminated the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program emergency allotment. It also eliminated emergency rule changes to licensure requirements for the Board of Medicine and Board of Nursing, which were meant to accommodate the need for more medical personnel on a temporary basis.
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.
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Amid the escalating murderous scourge in our country some are finding it possible to use a f
A long-awaited roundup could soon get underway to remove stray cattle from a sensitive portion of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, but conservationists say inaction by federal authorities has already allowed substantial damage to Arizona's last free-flowing river.

On Monday, the Center for Biological Diversity released the results of a recent ecological survey that found widespread impacts from cattle across 39 miles of the San Pedro River, Babocomari River and St. David Cienega within the conservation area.

Surveyors documented water fouled with cow feces and streamside habitat trampled or stripped bare of vegetation in places where cattle are prohibited year-round.

On April 5 alone, survey participants counted 59 cows along an 8-mile stretch of the conservation area between state Highway 90 and the Hereford Road bridge over the river.

The Tucson-based center and other environmental groups have repeatedly sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the agency in charge of the conservation area, for allowing livestock grazing in parts of the river preserve and failing to keep stray cattle out of areas where they are not permitted.

Youve got ranchers who know there wont be any penalties, and land managers who just dont care, said Robin Silver, cofounder of the Center for Biological Diversity. Theyre just in the business to serve cattle grazing. The San Pedro is what suffers.

Roundup scheduled this weekend

The centers new survey comes as one nearby rancher prepares to gather stray cows from along the river.

The roundup is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting, said June Lowery, spokeswoman for the BLMs Gila District Office in Tucson.

The bureau is providing the rancher with administrative access to aid the removal of unauthorized cattle and might have to close some parts of the conservation area during the operation for safety reasons, Lowery said.

The bureau recently posted a notice about the upcoming roundup at the San Pedro House, a volunteer-run visitor center for the conservation area along Arizona Highway 90, east of Sierra Vista.

The advisory warned visitors to watch out for horseback riders, low-flying helicopters and unfriendly animals, including cattle, but did not include a specific date or location for the roundup.

The Friends of the San Pedro River, which operates the visitor center, has since announced that the San Pedro House will be closed and the gate to the property locked on Saturday. All events scheduled there that day have been canceled.

E. coli contamination cited

Conservationist Cyndi Tuell thinks the bureau should also be warning visitors about another livestock-related hazard: E. coli contamination from cow feces.

She said the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality lists long stretches of the San Pedro and its tributary, the Babocomari River, as impaired because of E. coli, but little is being done to clean it up or alert the public.

Someone built a rope swing out on the San Pedro River, said Tuell, Arizona and New Mexico director for the Idaho-based environmental group Western Watersheds Project. There are kids playing out there all the time.

Tuells organization has joined the center in challenging livestock grazing in the conservation area. She wasnt involved in the recent habitat survey, but she said the results match what she has seen out there herself.

There is no spot untouched by livestock in the SPRNCA, she said. There are cows everywhere, and theyre not supposed to be there.

Silver doesnt expect the upcoming roundup to do much to fix the problem, either.

He said river advocates considered trying to capture the cattle themselves, but it seemed like a waste of time. Until the BLM repairs the fences needed to keep livestock away from the river, the cows will just be right back there, he said.

Court order 'didn't really change anything'

The center sued the BLM in October 2021 over the stray cattle issue, and the two sides agreed to a settlement in August designed to address the centers concerns and speed up the bureaus response to reports of unauthorized livestock activity.

Since then, though, Silver has lodged more than 80 complaints about cows where they do not belong. His most recent report to the bureau on Monday included photos and GPS coordinates for a cow that was discovered dead in the water along the river north of Highway 82, near the ghost town of Contention.

The court-ordered settlement didnt really change anything, Silver said. Were going to go back into court. I dont know what else to do.

Ultimately, he wants the conservation area to be transferred from the BLM to the National Park Service so it can be protected as Congress intended.

The almost-57,000-acre preserve 80 miles southeast of Tucson was established in 1988 to protect the San Pedro as it flows north across the U.S.-Mexico border on its winding route to the Gila River near Winkelman.

The ribbon of water supports marshlands, grasslands and groves of cottonwood, willow and mesquite that attract more than 530 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, including several that are listed as threatened and endangered.

Legal challenges are also expected over the bureaus recent decision to issue 10-year extensions for a handful of grazing leases within the conservation area.

Those leases will allow up to 180 cows to graze in four areas comprising about 12% of the preserve.

Tuell said her organization plans to appeal the decision on the grounds that any grazing goes against the bureaus congressional mandate to conserve, protect and enhance the conservation area.

I feel like theyre breaking the law and they know theyre breaking the law, and they just dont care about that or about public sentiment, she said.

The BLMs Lowery declined to comment on the grazing lease extension, citing bureau policy against discussing what she called active litigation.
American and Filipino forces have launched their largest combat exercises in decades in Philippine waters across the disputed South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where Washington has warned China over its increasingly aggressive actions. The annual drills called Balikatan will run up to April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel. It's the latest display of American firepower in Asia, as the Biden administration strengthens an arc of alliances to better counter China, including in a possible confrontation over Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Philippine foreign and defense secretaries will meet their American counterparts in Washington to discuss the American military presence and proposed joint naval patrols. China has warned against the U.S. deployment in the region.
Feature: Chinese doctors win hearts with dedication, professionalism in Djibouti

Xinhua) 09:58, April 11, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Unionizing is the workers' way of having a united voice in demanding fair treatment from the companies they work for. Should a company hold a meeting regarding that right, the workers might think that their superiors are meddling to avoid such events, which is what happened with Apple.

Apple's Passive Warning

The company held meetings in its 270 US-based stores to discuss potential unions and what the risk of it is. Some have taken it as somewhat of a warning and attempted to undermine such notions before they even happen.

Managers began the meeting with a statement from corporate leadership, which was seen as a prepared speech by those who listened. It was followed by a discussion about the union negotiations in Townson, Maryland, which is where the first unionized store is.

Bloomberg reports that the cast election at Maryland's complicated process was presented as somewhat of a "cautionary tale," so that workers would think twice before they even make plans for unionizing against the company.

Although Apple did not explicitly say it, the company seems to want to convey that having their store unionize may have them at a disadvantage, as mentioned in Engadget, which may sound like a scare tactic to employees.

The National Labor Relations Board general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo believes that these kinds of meetings are a violation of the National Labors Act, which she expressed back in 2022 when Apple Store employees in Atlanta were subjected to an "anti-union captive audience meeting."

Abaruzzo stated that forcing employees to listen to an employer's speech under threat of discipline, which leverages the employees' dependence on their jobs, "plainly chills employees' protected right" to choose not to listen to the speech.

Read Also: Apple Retail Workers in Atlanta Backs Out From Forming Union - But Was It Voluntary?

Apple's Actions Toward Unions

Apple doesn't have a good track record when it came to dealing with unions. The way the company dealt with the first union election caught the attention of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after the labor union filed a complaint.

The tech giant was accused of using illegal union-busting tactics by interrogating workers and influencing voting. Employees were required to attend anti-union meetings daily, wherein the NLRB deemed was illegal, as mentioned in Tech Crunch.

CWA Organizing Director Tom Smith stated that Apple executives think that the rules don't apply to them. He added that holding an illegal forced captive audience meeting is both union-busting and an example of "psychological warfare."

Although Apple has been trying to discourage workers from unionizing to get fair treatment, Apple workers have already won two unions, which are in Oklahoma City and Maryland. Apple Vice President of People and Retail Deirdre O'Brien expressed his concerns.

The Apple executive said that he was worried that the union would bring its own legally mandated rules, which would determine how they would work through issues. He added that it could make it harder for the company to act fast when addressing the concerns raised.

To an outsider, it might even sound like Apple is passively telling its employees that unionizing will mean that it'll take longer for them to get their due, which could land Apple in more trouble than they already are with the NLRB.

Related: Apple Staff Make Bid for First Union - How Much Does the Union Organizers Want Workers To Be Paid?
Rep. Liz Harris, R-Chandler. Photo by Gage Skidmore (modified) | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Republican state Rep. Liz Harris engaged in disorderly conduct, violating rules of the Arizona House of Representatives and damaging the institutional integrity of the House, the House Committee on Ethics announced Tuesday.

The panel said the full House of Representatives should determine what disciplinary measures to take against her. Legislative rules give the body wide latitude to punish members, including censuring or even expelling them.

Harris faced the House Ethics Committee on March 30, after Democrats asked for her to be formally censured for inviting real estate agent Jaqueline Breger to a Feb. 23 joint House and Senate elections committee meeting. In her testimony, Breger accused numerous local and state officials, including members of the legislature, of involvement in a money laundering scheme that involved a Mexican drug cartel and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The Ethics Committee unanimously found that Harris engaged in disorderly conduct in violation of House rules.

Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Arizona Mirror.

Breger provided no proof of her wild and unfounded allegations, but that didnt stop them from spreading like wildfire, fueled by fringe conservative media.

While Harris claimed during the Ethics Committee hearing that no criminal allegations were made during Bregers Feb. 23 presentation, the panel rejected that claim, finding that the legislative record contradicted Harriss testimony.

The committee also rejected Harriss testimony that she was not aware that Breger would make criminal allegations during her presentation, citing text messages between Harris and Breger before the meeting that indicated the opposite. The committee specifically highlighted a text exchange between Harris and Breger as they were working to come up with a name for Bregers presentation.

We are trying to think of something that wont raise a red flag, Breger wrote to Harris in a text message.

The committee also noted that Harris discovered Breger through a press release about an upcoming book release by John Thaler, Bregers boyfriend. The book, which was a point of focus during the election committee presentation, highlights the supposed housing deed money laundering scheme, along with allegations of bribery.

The Ethics Committee also found that Harriss warning to Breger prior to her presentation that she was not to impugn any member of the legislature or bring up any religious institution meant that she knew Breger intended to make allegations against members of the legislature and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

In other words, that Representative Harris believed it necessary to make those requests of Breger suggests that sheat the very leasthad reason to believe that they could be included in the presentation, the Ethics Committee wrote in its report.

In addition, the committee found that Harris took steps to avoid compliance with internal House deadlines, which required disclosure of Bregers presentation in advance of the elections committee meeting. Harris told Breger that all electronic presentations would have to be sent to House Speaker Ben Toma by the day prior to the presentation, so Harris advised her to pass out paper handouts instead.

Toma was one of the legislators listed in those handouts as being involved in bribery and the housing deed scheme.

Representative Harriss inconsistent testimony leads the Committee to believe that she had a more detailed understanding of Bregers presentation than she led the Joint Elections Committee to believe, and that Representative Harris had hoped to avoid providing the presentation to House leadership before the hearing, the Ethics Committee wrote in its report.

While Harris said that she believed Bregers testimony would focus narrowly on a supposed back door into county computer systems that would allow someone to change election results, and a cache of ballots supposedly being kept outside of a Mesa residence, the Ethics Committee didnt buy those claims.

The committee finds that Representative Harris was not surprised or upset by Bregers testimony and rejects Representative Harriss testimony to the contrary, the committee wrote in its report. Representative Harris wrote that she knew that the Joint Elections Committee would shut down the presentation, and that doing so took the committee longer than [she] thought it would. These messages show that not only was Representative Harris not taken by surprise by the presentation or shocked by the inclusion of the table naming persons alleged to have accepted bribes, but that she expected the precise reception that it received.

The Ethics Committee then found that, as the primary organizer of the Joint Elections Committee Meeting, and the acting vice chair of the committee during Bregers presentation, Harris violated the inherent obligation to protect the integrity of the House.

The Ethics Committee pointed out that Harris didnt try to stop Breger as she made unfounded allegations on Feb. 23, but that it was Republican Sen. Ken Bennett who finally stopped Breger and accused her of impugning members of the legislature.
PHOENIX  Republican lawmakers sent two measures dealing with guns and students to Gov. Katie Hobbs on Tuesday, likely courting one veto, if not two.

The GOP-led House voted along party lines to allow parents with state-issued permits to carry concealed weapons to bring guns to a school campus where they have children enrolled. SB1331 already had been approved by the Senate.

Separately, the Republican-led Senate approved HB2332, which would require public and charter schools to provide students in grades 6 through 12 with age appropriate training in firearms safety.

That legislation does not involve any actual instruction on how to operate weapons or on hunting education. Instead, it is being promoted as teaching simple, easy-to-remember steps so individuals who receive the training know what to do if they ever come across a firearm.

It already was approved by the House.

Senate supporters of the latter measure, sponsored by Rep. Selina Bliss, R-Prescott, said education is the best way to cut down on accidental shootings by children who stumble across firearms.

When were talking about gun safety, the best way to maintain a safe environment with a firearm is for education to be provided, said Sen. Janae Shamp, R-Surprise. There are no stories of guns going off by themselves. They go off because they have been touched by a human hand.

Republican Sen. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills criticized opponents of the measure for implying it involves hands-on training with guns, which it does not.

Its safety training. Its a prevention program, Kavanagh said. This is about training kids what to do when they stumble upon a firearm which may be loaded, so they dont pick it up, so they dont discharge it accidentally.

Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, called the legislation yet another unfunded mandate that takes time that could be invested in academics.

Lawmakers would do better to focus on preventing gun violence rather than on culture wars issues, said Anna Hernandez, D-Phoenix.

Every week we see a new shooting either in a school or in a public place, she said. And yet time after time, we have the opportunity to introduce legislation that will actually keep our children safe, like red flag laws or safe storage laws or universal background checks. I feel that if were serious about keeping our kids safe in schools, we should be looking at those measures of legislation and not worry about what books are going to be banned in schools or drag story hour.

It is the proposal to allow guns onto school campuses  something now prohibited under state law  that has proven more controversial. Given the record of Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who already racked up 43 vetoes this session, it could meet the same fate.

Current law requires anyone coming onto a campus, including into a parking lot, to first unload any weapons.

Shamp said that makes felons of parents who forget they had a weapon on them. She said having to unload and reload a gun actually is more dangerous, as that is when accidents occur.

But Rep. Keith Seaman, R-Casa Grande, said all his experience as an educator convinces him the legislation is a bad idea.

I find this bill totally unacceptable and dangerous, he told colleagues.

Seaman said his job was to keep everyone on campus safe.

In todays educational atmosphere, with accusations of fake woke items being taught  which is not being done, by the way  I could not be certain that some parent would (not) brandish that weapon and threaten a teacher, he said.

As a principal, I need to know who is carrying a weapon. As an educator, I know that guns do not belong in school under any circumstances. There are too many chances for misfirings or angry shots, Seaman continued.

But Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, said his vote in support of the measure came down to a simple four words: shall not be infringed, quoting from the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

There is a federal law that requires school campuses to be gun-free zones. But that law has a number of exceptions, including for people licensed by the state. And supporters say the concealed weapon permit fits that definition.
PHOENIX  Rep. Liz Harris violated House rules by inviting a witness to present false charges about lawmakers and others at a committee hearing and then lying about knowing what was going to be said, the House Ethics Committee says.

In a report released Tuesday, the committee found that the Chandler Republican lawmaker knew ahead of time that Jacqueline Breger, a Scottsdale insurance agent, was going to allege that numerous people, including House Speaker Ben Toma, other lawmakers, and judges were all part of schemes involving money laundering, drug trafficking, public corruption, bribery of public officials and election fraud. Breger also asserted during the hearing that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints controls government agencies and has been integral to the laundering activities.

Harris, who invited Breger, also did nothing during the hearing to stop the presentation, the Ethics Committee said. Toma has said Breger presented unsubstantiated and defamatory allegations.

Harris violated House rules against disorderly behavior and damaged the institutional integrity of the House, the five-member bipartisan Ethics Committee unanimously concluded.

But the panel made no recommendation on discipline. Instead, its report says all 60 House members should read the full report, look at the exhibits and draw their own conclusions.

Punishment could be as little as a censure or as much as expulsion. The latter action would require a two-thirds vote of the full chamber.

Harris expressed little concern. God knows the truth, she told Capitol Media Services Tuesday.

Make sure this doesnt happen again

Even before the Ethics Committee probe, House Democrats had asked for a motion of censure, which was rejected by the Republican majority.

The report now clearly demonstrates that Rep. Harris has damaged the integrity of the institution that we all hold dear, said House Minority Leader Andres Cano of Tucson. House Republicans need to tell us what their plan is to make sure this doesnt happen again.

There was no immediate response from Toma or House GOP leadership.

The investigation is fallout from a five-hour meeting in February of representatives and senators, requested by and organized by Harris, designed to hear presentations related to election integrity by pre-selected individuals. Breger was the last to testify.

During her testimony, the ethics panel found, Breger unequivocally and repeatedly accused many government officials of criminal conduct. That list included Toma, other legislators, local officeholders, Maricopa County Superior Court judges, prosecutors and attorneys. Breger specifically said that in Arizona, public officials accepting bribes include members of the Legislature.

Text messages cited by ethics panel

At an Ethics Committee hearing last month, Harris insisted she didnt know what Breger was going to say.

The report said the evidence shows otherwise. Backing that up is a series of text messages.

For example, when Harris asked Breger ahead of time for a title for her presentation, Breger responded, We are trying to think of something that wont raise a red flag.

There also was testimony that Harris spent more than two hours with Breger four days before the presentation. And in the next four days, the report says, Harris had at least one phone call with Breger, two online virtual meetings and an ongoing group text with Breger and her boyfriend, attorney John Thaler, who first aired some of the allegations in court proceedings related to his divorce and child custody case.

Ethics Committee members also said Harris took steps to avoid providing the materials ahead of the February hearing as required by internal House deadlines, and that she specifically wanted to keep the information, including the criminal allegations, away from House leadership.

The totality of the evidence shows that Rep. Harris used her elected position to provide Breger with a legislative platform as a substitute for a criminal court, the Ethics Committee concluded. As Rep. Harris stated in a text message reply to Breger about the hearing, It was all how it was intended to be. 

Erodes public trust

During the Ethics Committee hearing, Harris presented a defense that included repeated references to the state Constitution and her belief that lawmakers are obliged to allow citizens to come and present information to the Legislature.

The people have the right to speak freely, petition the government and hold their government officials accountable, Harris said in her lengthy rebuttal to the allegations. We must ensure that these rights are protected and that the people are empowered to exercise them.

In its report, the Ethics Committee said it was not commenting on the constitutional rights of any individual to speak freely. But the report said House rules have long required not just the chambers own members but the public and press to maintain proper decorum during House proceedings.
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb in 2022. Photo by Gage Skidmore (modified) | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Republican Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb announced Tuesday he is running for U.S. Senate seat currently held by Kyrsten Sinema.

Lamb is the first Republican to enter the 2024 contest, but is unlikely to be the last. Sinema, who won in 2018 as a Democrat but last year left that party to become an independent, has already drawn a challenge from U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Phoenix Democrat.

Lamb was first elected sheriff of Pinal County in 2016, and since then has been a fixture in Arizona politics and has grown a national profile, regularly appearing on mainstream and far-right fringe media outlets. It is his appearances and alliances with those fringe outlets that could sow trouble for Lamb on the campaign trail.

Gallego has already begun noting his connections to the far right, and issued a statement Tuesday with Capitol Hill Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell condemning Lambs perpetuation of the Big Lie.

Lamb has partnered with groups like True the Vote that have pursued far-flung conspiracy theories of election fraud and lied to law enforcement.

Lamb and the political fringe

While Lamb has been making a name for himself appearing on mainstream conservative media outlets like Fox News, where he opines about immigration issues, he has also been appealing to a different audience as well.

Lamb has railed against vaccines and is part of a group known as constitutional sheriffs.

The movement, led by former Arizona Graham County Sheriff Richard Mack, is a sovereign-citizen group in which its leader, Mack, believes that the New World Order is aiming to take away guns  and that sheriffs are on the frontlines of stopping election fraud.

Lamb has claimed he is not a constitutional sheriff, though he appears as a signatory with the organization in some of their material, and Mack himself has called Lamb a constitutional sheriff.

The group takes a favorable view of armed citizen militias, including militias that are active along Arizonas border with Mexico. Such groups are largely anti-government, and some of their leaders have been in attendance at the Jan. 6 riot.

Some of the militias also are also steeped in the QAnon conspiracy theory that a cabal is actively participating in sex trafficking in order to help the elites, often to help the Democratic party and hinder the Republicans. There is no proof to these claims.

Lamb has signaled to these conspiracy theorists, signing a copy of a book for a QAnon influencer with the QAnon slogan WWG1WGA.

Other QAnon proponents have claimed to have been working with Lamb, like Melody Jennings, also known as TrumperMel, the woman behind an effort to organize armed observers to monitor drop boxes in Arizona during the 2022 election. The courts ultimately blocked Jennings and her group, which included members of the extremist Oath Keepers, from staking out the drop boxes.

Lamb has also appeared on a number of QAnon-related shows, as well, including one that with a history of antisemitic comments. TruNews has published antisemitic rhetoric on its site, including a piece in which founder Rick Wiles spent an hour and a half saying that seditious Jews were orchestrating to impeach Trump and calling the Jewish people tyrants.

Wiles has also claimed that the anti-Christ will be a homosexual Jew. He was interviewed by Lauren Witzke and, during an episode in which Lamb also appeared, Wiles said that Jews squash and crush people. Witzke is a conspiracy theorist and has echoed white nationalist beliefs herself. During an appearance on the white nationalist podcast No White Guilt, Witzke echoed the racist great replacement theory.

Lamb supported Witzke when she ran for U.S. Senate in Delaware.

Lamb has also echoed the great replacement theory while on a QAnon talk show, saying that illegal immigration is a benefit to their agenda.

The racist ideology, popular among white supremacists, holds that white Americans are being replaced by immigrants. It has been seized upon by extremist groups such as the American Identity Movement and Generation Identity.

It has also stoked violence, including Anders Behring Breiviks murderous rampage in 2011 at a Norwegian youth summer camp and the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in United States history. Just before it took place, the killer took to right-wing social media site Gab to say he believed that immigrants were being brought in to replace and kill our people.

The next year in New Zealand, 51 people would be killed and 40 injured but not before the shooter would post a 74-page manifesto titled The Great Replacement.

Again in 2019, in El Paso, Texas, a shooter who killed 23 in a Walmart cited the great replacement in his manifesto, saying the murders were a response to the hispanic invasion of Texas.

While Lamb testified to Congress earlier this year said he saw zero evidence of widespread voter fraud, he has continued to ally and work with groups that have continued to pursue unfounded allegations of fraud in the 2020 and 2022 elections.

One of those groups is True the Vote, the group that has been behind debunked claims behind the discredited film 2000 Mules.

Lamb partnered with TTV on an election hotline that sent voters to TTV for election issues instead of to election officials. He wrote the Sheriffs Toolkit for TTV and he attended an invite-only event in Pinal County by TTV dubbed The Pit.

The event, which hosted QAnon influencers and other conspiracy theorists, pushed unfounded fraud allegations and allowed for many in the election fraud sphere to rub noses with the likes of Lamb and other high profile people in Arizona. In May of last year, Lamb also said he had no doubt that there was fraud in the 2020 election, later mentioning 2000 Mules prior to its release.

Lamb is likely to not be the only GOP contender in the Senate race.
BENGALURU, India  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.

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, told their own stories of how they were 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 about 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 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.
Pima Community College

Re: the April 8 article Community colleges face reckoning.

Ive attended PCC for six years. I study with really talented, hard-working students that have to devote too many hours at a fast food joint to pay their rent and gas, even with financial aid. These students struggle to make ends meet and stay in school. They have to miss learning opportunities due to work. And worst of all, the school demands precise completion schedules or they lose their aid, and receive constant pressure to follow an exact path, or else. Finding intelligent life in administration is almost futile. PCC eagerly drives these students away to ignore their talent and make a career in fast food. Ive also seen the school make awful decisions on staff, and as a learning source vital to us seniors keeping our melons active, forget it, you have to be able to flash memorize like an 18-year-old, and we cant, but we do learn. So much for the community part.

Thad Appelman

Northwest side

Hybrid over EV

Every product or service a person buys has a carbon footprint. Want to know your footprint? Add up how much money you spend in a year. The person that spends $80,000 per year will have roughly double the footprint of someone that spends $40,000. Which brings us to electric cars. They cost a lot more than gasoline cars because they are a lot heavier and have a much higher carbon footprint at purchase. It takes tens of thousands of miles of driving, depending on several factors, before the electric car has a lower carbon footprint when compared to an equivalent gasoline car. And if the source of electricity is coal, then it may never have a smaller footprint. And this is why I am so disappointed when I see electric cars on the streets. Do the buyers really own them for 10 years? Hybrids are much more friendly to the environment.

Randy Park

SaddleBrooke

Teachers on food stamps

Re: the April 8 article Community colleges face reckoning.

Jon Marcus does not address a key factor leading to community college decline; namely, the national practice of hiring contingent, part-time faculty. At Pima Community College, where I work, adjunct faculty pay is approximately $25/hour, and the great majority of faculty receive no benefits like health care, retirement, etc. Nationally, this is standard practice.

These faculty directly serve our students and often do so while working multiple other jobs and/or performing additional caretaking roles at home.

I am disheartened that no legislation exists to earmark a higher portion of the community college budget for teachers. What is education without teachers? If your teacher is on food stamps and Medicaid, it can be hard for her to provide the kind of support community college students need, many of whom are underprivileged to begin with.

Lets stop the downward spiral of community colleges by advocating for legislation that transforms the budgets of community colleges. Lets stop telling teachers they are worthless and pay them for the critical work they do.

Dr. Sarah Jansen

Midtown

Wash, rinse, repeat

I hope that our so-called Legislature will soon get tired of the pass, veto, repeat game they are playing and actually begin to legislate, i.e. pass bills that deal with the many crises our state is facing.

Bruce Hilpert

North side

Vote NO on Prop 412

The TEP franchise agreement increases costs to our community with no binding performance or tangible benefits. It does not address the legally declared Climate Emergency Crises and needs more work. Although other lower total cost alternatives are available, TEP plans to continue to generate harmful emissions with coal/natural gas, use billions of gallons/year of precious and expensive aquifer water, for another decade and then generate 34% of electricity with natural gas. Per EPA, methane released when natural gas is mined traps 25 times more heat in the atmosphere, increasing temperatures that reduce local rainfall while increasing electricity usage, TEP revenues. After approval, Council members have held/are holding meetings to review unanswered questions and have identified several significant options that provide assured benefit to our community. The current agreement is active for two more years, why the rush to enable TEP to continue to increase, instead of requiring them to decrease, community damages and costs?

Terry Finefrock,

CPIM TEP Ratepayer

Foothills

Prop 412 is premature

Tucson Electric Power wants voters to quickly, quietly approve a 25-year agreement for electricity distribution in Tucson. Their campaign signs for the May 16 election promise clean reliable energy.

We wish it were so, but after 25 years, the facts are TEP continues to source 90% of its energy from climate-changing fossil fuels, a third from coal. Their claim that using natural gas (methane) is clean contradicts what scientists say: methane is a global warming amplifier. Even the United Nations finds cutting methane is the strongest lever to slow climate change over the next 25 years.

While TEP is promising to deliver 100% renewable power for City of Tucson operations, many other cities are far ahead in delivering truly clean, more reliable, less expensive energy to their residents.

The climate crisis is here and getting worse. With community in mind, we can make a much better agreement.

Robert Cook

Midtown

Free mass transit in Tucson

Regarding free rides on Tucsons mass transit system. My question is: why do all taxpayers owe everyone a free ride? The great majority of people in this vast country either own cars which they use for transportation or utilize mass transit which they pay to use.

I can see the need for subsidies for low-income or destitute citizens, but to provide free transportation for everyone smacks of the welfare society that we are becoming.

William Johnson

Northwest side

Bad dream

Observing the great progress Republicans have made in stripping women of their reproductive rights, I have to ask: When was the separation of church and state removed from the First Amendment of the Constitution? How can a judge in one state rule that mifepristone cannot be used by anyone in any state, when SCOTUS left abortion decisions up to individual states? What medical school did Judge Kacsmaryk attend that gives him more medical knowledge than the physicians advising the FDA? Where is it written that anyone must be forced to have an abortion if it is available? Mifepristone has been proven safe for decades. Women who choose to carry a pregnancy to term are welcome to do so. But forcing large numbers of people to follow religious doctrine and faulty scientific logic turns the Constitution on its head. Please, someone, wake me up and tell me this has all been a bad dream.

Pamela Parker, MD

Obstetrician/Gynecologist

South Tucson

Blind justice?

It seems we hear about conservative judges and liberal judges. We hear about Republican judges and Democrat judges. Judges are supposed to interpret the law without favor or prejudice. To have liberal Democrat judges and conservative Republican judges defeats the principles of a justice system. Justice is supposed to be blind to partisan manipulation. Without an objective and unbiased judicial system, we dont have a democracy.

Richard Bechtold
Kansas City Star. April 4, 2023.

Editorial: Missouri human rights chair opposes LGBT protections. Parson must ask him to resign

Will Mike Parson be remembered for fighting discrimination during his tenure as Missouris governor? That is a question all of us should ask. But here in the Show-Me State, actions speak.

First order of business: The governor must urge the Rev. Timothy Faber, the Missouri Commission on Human Rights chair he appointed in 2021, to resign.

Then, with urgency, Parson should fill seven vacant seats on the 11-person board tasked with enforcing the Missouri Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on a persons race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability or age.

As of this week, the commission doesnt have enough members for a quorum. How is that fair as it sorts through complaints about businesses accused of discriminatory practices? It isnt.

Parson cannot ignore pleas from state Democrats who want Faber gone.

Faber is a legislative liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention and an ordained minister. He recently testified in opposition of the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, or MONA, a measure that would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Yes, you read that correctly: The chair of the commission charged with enforcing the Missouri Human Rights Act is against a bill that would add much needed protection to a small percentage of deserving Missourians.

This bill cannot be separated from religion and particularly religious liberty, Faber testified to members of the Senate General Laws Committee.

Why is that?

Religious liberty is a constitutional right, he said. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not constitutional rights.

Under current state law, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is allowed. But it shouldnt be. MONA, officially known as Senate Bill 60, would remedy that.

Every resident of this state has a right to public accommodations. No one should be denied housing or employment opportunities based on gender or orientation.

I see no reason to resign, Faber told us via email Tuesday afternoon. For anyone to demand, or even request, another person to resign (basically silence them) because they disagree on some issue is un-American. I would also remind you and the readers of (The Star) that in the hearing on the MONA bill I introduced myself as the Legislative Liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention. I am a registered lobbyist for the MBC with the (Missouri Ethics Commission). I was not deceiving anyone in the hearing on S.B. 60 by not disclosing my position as a commissioner with MCHR. I simply did not mention it because I was not speaking as a commissioner and I know that it would not be proper for me to do so. I did not volunteer the information that I and a grandfather to 4 grandchildren, I did not mention what schools I graduated from, I did not mention that I dont like tomatoes. Why? Because none of that is relevant. I was there in the hearing as the Legislative Liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention, that is what is relevant.

The decision to replace Faber and appoint members to the human rights commission who oppose discrimination should be an easy call. Will Parson, a devout Christian, ignore pleas for a compassionate commission chair in Fabers stead?

Weve known Parson to be both a kind and gentle statesman when he wants to be, as well as a staunch Republican who favors state control of the Kansas City Police Department. He has signed into law other measures that prove hes willing to buck his partys extremes to do the right thing for all Missourians, as any great governor would do.

We are not here to bash Parson or his political appointments for hard-right turns. We simply want the governor to consider the importance of the human rights commissions stated mission to eliminate discrimination in public places in Missouri.

Faber is unfit to serve in his role, state Sen. Greg Razer of Kansas City said. The head of the Missouri Human Rights Commission should not advocate against adding sexual orientation or gender identity to Missouris nondiscrimination act, other LGBTQ advocates told us.

In a letter to Parson, 10 Democratic state senators called for Fabers removal. We join them in that call.

As chair, Fabers lobbying against the proposal is a direct contradiction to the mission of the commission, the senators wrote.

Our hope is that during his final term in office, Parson will make sure he falls on the right side of history.

That work must begin with Fabers ouster.

I do not speak for the Human Rights Commission, Faber told reporters this week.

But by virtue of his position, he does.

He cant do the job without bias, Razer said of Faber. He sure cant.

In Missouri, every minority group needs to be protected, Razer said.

Faber has every right to express his personal views. But in the best interests of all Missourians, Gov. Parson must immediately fill vacancies on the state human rights commission with qualified, compassionate members and ask Faber to step aside.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 9, 2023.

Editorial: Once again, Missouri lawmakers are rolling over for the puppy mills

Once again, Missouri legislators are demonstrating their odd and disturbing allegiance to puppy mills. The state already is notorious nationally as ground zero for this shady industry. Now, in keeping with the recent trend among Republicans of refusing to let local governments make their own decisions, pending legislation would prevent St. Louis and other cities from clamping down on pet stores that enable the industry. This bill deserves to the relegated to the lining of the cages where these puppies are kept.

Puppy mills  defined as large commercial operations in which dogs are bred for sale in overcrowded and often unhealthy conditions  have been a Missouri scourge for many years. The state has topped the Human Societys list of the Horrible Hundred worst puppy mills in the U.S. for each of 10 years since the organization began putting out the annual report.

Abuses in that industry were glaring enough that Missouri voters in 2010 passed a ballot initiative imposing restrictions and standards of care. The state Legislature, as it tends to do, promptly reversed the will of the voters at the behest of the dog-breeding industry. Then, in 2014, lawmakers won passage of a constitutional right-to-farm amendment that was actually a thinly disguised shill to puppy mills.

In addition to denying women the right to biological autonomy and making sure criminals and the mentally ill arent thwarted from getting their hands on guns, Missouris ruling Republicans are more than happy to roll over for the puppy-mill industry.

So it is that the House last week approved a bill that would prevent local municipalities throughout Missouri from banning or restricting pet shops. Theres no such local statute in St. Louis or anywhere else in the state right now, but blue states like Illinois and liberal communities elsewhere have done just that. The Missouri bill is a preemptive strike, clearly designed to ensure that industry giants like Petland, the Ohio-based pet store chain with lobbyists in Jefferson City, arent limited in their business practices by pesky local elected officials attempting to carry out the wishes of their local constituents.

Missouri Republicans have a long history of serving the interests of puppy mills and their adjacent industries. Eviscerating local control over local issues is a new thing with todays GOP, not just here but around the country. Like once-vaunted Republican principles of family values, law and order and fiscal responsibility, local control still gets some GOP lip service now and then, but its clearly no longer what the party stands for.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where Republican leaders have occasionally shown more restraint and adherence to their own principles than do their House GOP counterparts. This would be a good time to display those qualities and bury this cynical bill nice and deep.

END
RICHMOND, Ind. (AP)  Authorities urged people to evacuate Tuesday near a large industrial fire in an Indiana city near the Ohio border that sent massive clouds of black smoke into the sky.

The fire occurred at a former factory site in Richmond, 70 miles (112.6 kilometers) east of Indianapolis, that lately had been used to store plastics and other materials for recycling or resale, Mayor Dave Snow said.

They were under a city order to clean up and remediate that site, Snow told The Associated Press. We knew that was a fire hazard the way they were storing materials.

Snow described it as a serious, large-scale fire" that apparently started in a tractor-trailer parked onsite and spread quickly. He said the fire had been contained on three sides by early evening. The cause was not immediately known.

This is an indoor and outdoor storage facility  very, very large, the mayor said.

There were no reports of injuries. But hundreds of people living within a half-mile (0.80 kilometer) of the fire were told to leave. People outside that radius who live downwind of the fire were advised to keep windows closed and pets inside.

Wind from the west blew black smoke across the state border into Ohio.

Bethesda Worship Center in Richmond offered temporary shelter for people forced out of their homes, while other agencies were trying to arrange hotel rooms if necessary, Pastor Ken Harris said.

Snow said state and federal regulators were at the scene to assess air quality and other environmental impacts.

Richmond has a population of 35,000.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)  A judge on Monday declined to stop a strike by more than 2,000 graduate students who teach at the University of Michigan, just eight days before the term ends.

Washtenaw County Judge Carol Kuhnke acknowledged that undergraduate students have been affected by the strike, but she said she doesn't see evidence of "irreparable harm."

Irreparable harm is an extremely high standard, Kuhnke said.

Graduate students walked out on March 29 over better pay and other benefits. The current contract expires May 1.

University attorney Craig Schwartz said some classes have been canceled due to the strike and grades might not be completed in a typical way. A student testified that anything short of a traditional letter grade could spoil his chances of getting into law school.

But an attorney for the Graduate Employees Organization said the COVID-19 pandemic was proof that the university knows how to adjust the grading system.

The strike isnt going to wipe out grading at the university and there will be some courses in which grades will not be issued and the university has a method for responding to that, Mark Cousens said.

Union President Jared Eno hopes the judge's decision will lead to a breakthrough in negotiations.

Weve really lacked a problem-solving relationship with the university at the bargaining table, Eno said.
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.

According to federal prosecutors, Rangel-Rubio and his brother recruited migrant workers living illegally in the U.S. to work for a tree-trimming business in southeast Georgia, then routed more than $3.5 million of the workers earnings to their own accounts.

Employee Eliud Montoya filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was fatally shot in August 2017 outside his home near Savannah. Prosecutors said Rangel-Rubio pulled the trigger after plotting the killing with his brother, Pablo Rangel-Rubio, and a getaway driver, Higinio Perez-Bravo.

Both co-defendants had previously received prison sentences for conspiring to kill Montoya, a U.S. citizen. Prosecutors said the Rangel-Rubio brothers and Perez-Bravo were all Mexican citizens living in the U.S. illegally when the killing occurred.

Eliud Montoya was murdered for doing the right thing and revealing Juan Rangel-Rubios scheme to profit off his use of undocumented workers, Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said in a news release. As a result of the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners, Juan Rangel-Rubio will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.
The dispute between Twitter and Substack is now over.

The company behind the popular microblogging platform recently reversed its decision of throttling tweets with Substack links in them, allowing users to interact again in a limited manner in the meantime.

Twitter possibly decided to throttle tweets with Substack links as a response to Substacks' new service called Substack Notes, which seeks to mimic Twitter's format in many ways, per Fox Business.

Substack's Return To Twitter

Twitter users adding Substack links were greeted with a much-welcomed development: Twitter is once again allowing users to interact with Substack links freely, though in a limited manner. According to an Engadget report, Twitter users can retweet, reply, and like posts featuring a Substack link newsletter; Twitter won't issue a safety warning if users click on them, either.

Previously, Twitter users couldn't retweet, reply, or even like a tweet with an outgoing Substack link, with Twitter displaying an error message saying it disabled some actions on such tweets, per Mashable. Additionally, the microblogging platform marked Substack links as unsafe despite being perfectly otherwise, per The Verge.

It is unknown if users' limited interaction will last for the foreseeable future. Interestingly enough, Twitter searches for "substack" still return results involving the word "newsletter."

Read More: Ransomware Attack on Oakland Worsens with More City Data Leaked on the Dark Web

Substack rejoiced with Twitter's decision to reverse its throttling of tweets with Substack links. According to the company's official Twitter account, it is glad to see that Twitter's suppression of Substack publication Twitter appears to be over and that doing so is the right move for writers worldwide who deserve "the freedom to share their work."

Substack also hopes that it can coexist with Twiterr and complement each other.

The throttling is possibly due to Substack's efforts to roll out its new Substack Notes service to the public, which seems to mimic Twitter's format in many ways. This new Substack service allows writers to publish ideas or discussions that can travel through the platform's network, much like a tweet.

However, instead of rewarding users who create content that garnered views regardless of its value to users, Substack Notes will reward users for "respecting the trust" of their readers.

Elon Musk: A Free-Speech Hypocrite?

Twitter's CEO, Elon Musk, is in a bind. He previously claimed to champion free speech on Twitter when he acquired the microblogging company in late 2022 but chose to go back on his word on numerous occasions, per Tech Crunch.

A few of the more prominent examples of this behavior is his suspension of users posting links to other social media sites, particularly links from Twitter alternatives. Additionally, Musk suspended various journalists without giving any reason why he did it, though it could be due to them tweeting about the jet tracker issue before.

As a result of this behavior, Dr. Joyojeet Pal, associate professor of information at the University of Michigan, said that Musk is only a free speech absolutist "so long as it works within his business interests," per Forbes.

Related Article: Substack is Adding 'Notes' to the Platform Which Appears like Tweets
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
A man who surrendered in connection with a north Tulsa homicide last April has pleaded guilty to an amended charge.

Lucky Calvert, 43, pleaded guilty last week to charges of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction in the death of Elliott Zachery. He was originally charged with first-degree murder.

Calvert killed Zachery, 44, before dawn April 7, 2022, outside a unit at the Seminole Hills Apartments, 1624 E. Virgin St. A neighbor discovered Zachery shot to death that morning, and his autopsy noted that he was shot three times in his head, face and wrist. A toxicology report recorded methamphetamine in his blood.

Calvert called the police late the next day and arranged to meet them at a convenience store to turn himself in.

His attorney wrote in plea documents that, previously convicted of three felonies, Calvert possessed a firearm and "during the course of that felony and as a result of it, (Calvert) took the life of E.Z."

Tulsa County District Judge Clifford Smith ordered Calvert to serve at least 85% of two concurrent 25-year sentences in Oklahoma Department of Corrections custody before he can become eligible for parole.

Calvert remained in the Tulsa County jail on Monday, according to online records.
A 23-year-old bank employee opened fire at his workplace Monday in Louisville, in the US state of Kentucky, killing four people and wounding nine in a live-streamed attack before police shot and killed him. Police identified the gunman in America's latest 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. Police received reports of gunfire in the bank at 8:38 am (1238 GMT) and 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. "The suspect was live-streaming and unfortunately that's tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured," said Gwinn-Villaroel. A spokesperson for Instagram parent Meta told AFP the company is "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. Three of the wounded people are in critical condition including a police officer who took a bullet in the head, Gwinn-Villaroel said, adding that another officer was also wounded. The people killed were men aged 40, 63 and 64 and a 57-year-old woman, she said. In a show of the randomness of gun violence, one of the men killed, Tommy Elliot, 63, happened to be 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. "Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career. Helped me become governor. Gave me advice on being a good dad," Governor 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?" 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 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 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.

A 23-year-old bank employee opened fire at his workplace Monday in Louisville, in the US state of Kentucky, killing four people and wounding nine in a live-streamed attack before police shot and killed him.

Police identified the gunman in America's latest 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.

Police received reports of gunfire in the bank at 8:38 am (1238 GMT) and 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.

"The suspect was live-streaming and unfortunately that's tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured," said Gwinn-Villaroel.

A spokesperson for Instagram parent Meta told AFP the company is "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.

Three of the wounded people are in critical condition including a police officer who took a bullet in the head, Gwinn-Villaroel said, adding that another officer was also wounded.

The people killed were men aged 40, 63 and 64 and a 57-year-old woman, she said.

In a show of the randomness of gun violence, one of the men killed, Tommy Elliot, 63, happened to be 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.

"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career. Helped me become governor. Gave me advice on being a good dad," Governor 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?"

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 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 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.
Vietnam is among four European and Asian countries that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit from April 11 to 18, the U.S. Department of State announced in a press release on Monday. During his trip, he will travel to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Vietnam, and Japan. This will be his first official visit to Vietnam as U.S. Secretary of State. Blinken had visited the Southeast Asian nation in April 2016 when he was serving as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State. A delegation of U.S. senators announced Secretary Blinkens trip at a press conference on April 8 during their trip to Vietnam. Secretary Blinkens visit comes after a phone call on March 29 between Vietnams Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and U.S. President Joe Biden. The U.S. Department of State did not reveal the date Blinken would visit Vietnam. Instead, it stated that U.S. Secretary Blinken would travel to Hanoi to advance key discussions with Vietnamese partners in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the two nations comprehensive partnership. The U.S. diplomat will meet with senior Vietnamese officials to discuss both sides shared vision of a connected, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Indo-Pacific region. He will then travel to Karuizawa, Japan to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting and discuss with his counterparts the chart for a path forward on a range of global issues between April 16 and 18. Prior to Blinkens trip to Asia, he will accompany President Biden on his trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland from April 11 to 14. Vietnam and the U.S. established their diplomatic relations in 1995 and upgraded their ties to a comprehensive partnership in 2013. The two nations have exchanged a number of high-level delegation visits under the Biden administration. In May last year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh traveled to the U.S. to attend the U.S.-ASEAN summit and met with President Biden at the White House. The two leaders later met each other on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit taking place in Cambodia in November last year. U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris is the highest-level official under President Biden to visit Vietnam in August 2021, at the invitation of Vietnams Vice-State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. In a phone call late last month, Vietnams Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and President Biden repeated invitations to visit each others nation. The two leaders accepted the invitations and assigned relevant agencies to arrange a proper time for the visits. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Vietnam is among four European and Asian countries that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit from April 11 to 18, the U.S. Department of State announced in a press release on Monday.

During his trip, he will travel to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Vietnam, and Japan.

This will be his first official visit to Vietnam as U.S. Secretary of State.

Blinken had visited the Southeast Asian nation in April 2016 when he was serving as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State.

A delegation of U.S. senators announced Secretary Blinkens trip at a press conference on April 8 during their trip to Vietnam.

Secretary Blinkens visit comes after a phone call on March 29 between Vietnams Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and U.S. President Joe Biden.

The U.S. Department of State did not reveal the date Blinken would visit Vietnam.

Instead, it stated that U.S. Secretary Blinken would travel to Hanoi to advance key discussions with Vietnamese partners in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the two nations comprehensive partnership.

The U.S. diplomat will meet with senior Vietnamese officials to discuss both sides shared vision of a connected, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.

He will then travel to Karuizawa, Japan to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting and discuss with his counterparts the chart for a path forward on a range of global issues between April 16 and 18.

Prior to Blinkens trip to Asia, he will accompany President Biden on his trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland from April 11 to 14.

Vietnam and the U.S. established their diplomatic relations in 1995 and upgraded their ties to a comprehensive partnership in 2013.

The two nations have exchanged a number of high-level delegation visits under the Biden administration.

In May last year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh traveled to the U.S. to attend the U.S.-ASEAN summit and met with President Biden at the White House.

The two leaders later met each other on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit taking place in Cambodia in November last year.

U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris is the highest-level official under President Biden to visit Vietnam in August 2021, at the invitation of Vietnams Vice-State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan.

In a phone call late last month, Vietnams Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and President Biden repeated invitations to visit each others nation.

The two leaders accepted the invitations and assigned relevant agencies to arrange a proper time for the visits.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
One Chinese sailor died and two others lost consciousness on Sunday due to suspected gas asphyxiation in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam. The three sailors were unconscious while their Panamanian-flagged ship VIGOR SW was docking at the Nghi Son International Port in Nghi Son Town, Thanh Hoa, the provincial Border Guard Command said on Tuesday morning. The trio are Zhuang Lijn, 54, Li Wen Liang, 33, and Kong Deshan, 23. Border guards and other agencies in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam rush the victims to the hospital. Photo: Supplied by Thanh Hoa Border Guard Command Border guards at the Nghi Son International Port coordinated with the medical center of Nghi Son Town gave the three sailors first aid and rushed them to the Hop Luu International General Hospital. However, one of them died on Sunday and the two others are still being treated at the hospital. The Thanh Hoa authorities are investigating the cause of the case and working with diplomatic agencies to hand over the body of the deceased. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

One Chinese sailor died and two others lost consciousness on Sunday due to suspected gas asphyxiation in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam.

The three sailors were unconscious while their Panamanian-flagged ship VIGOR SW was docking at the Nghi Son International Port in Nghi Son Town, Thanh Hoa, the provincial Border Guard Command said on Tuesday morning.

The trio are Zhuang Lijn, 54, Li Wen Liang, 33, and Kong Deshan, 23.

Border guards and other agencies in Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam rush the victims to the hospital. Photo: Supplied by Thanh Hoa Border Guard Command

Border guards at the Nghi Son International Port coordinated with the medical center of Nghi Son Town gave the three sailors first aid and rushed them to the Hop Luu International General Hospital.

However, one of them died on Sunday and the two others are still being treated at the hospital.

The Thanh Hoa authorities are investigating the cause of the case and working with diplomatic agencies to hand over the body of the deceased.

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Check out what is in the news today in Vietnam: Society -- Tran Qui Thanh, the 70-year-old chairman of Vietnams largest private beverage producer Tan Hiep Phat, was arrested on Monday on charges of illegally appropriating property. -- A 37-year-old man from Hanoi drowned due to strong waves during his swim with a friend at a beach in Quy Nhon City, south-central Binh Dinh Province on Monday afternoon. -- Police in Gia Lam District, Hanoi on Monday initiated legal proceedings against a 39-year-old man who drove a car under the influence of alcohol into a security guard at the Vinhomes Ocean Park urban area, causing the latters death last month. -- Construction units are rushing to complete the final stages of the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet Expressway to put the 99km-long route connecting Dong Nai and Binh Thuan Provinces into operation before April 30 in celebration of Reunification Day. -- Researchers officialy announced on Sunday two new species of plant which are the type of the genus Lasianthus and in the family of Rubiaceae after their discovery at Vu Quang National Park in north-central Ha Tinh Province in 2016, according to Nhan Dan (People) newspaper. -- Rangers in southern Dong Nai Province have arrested one man and are looking for another after the duo illegally hunted wild animals at Cat Tien National Park on Monday. Business -- Vietnam has issued a national action plan on building a transparent, responsible, and sustainable food and foodstuff system until 2030, with a goal of maintaining the export turnover of over US$30 billion each year, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Lifestyle -- A hot-air balloon festival kicked off in Hue, the capital city of central Thua Thien-Hue Province, on Monday and will last until April 20. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Check out what is in the news today in Vietnam:

Society

-- Tran Qui Thanh, the 70-year-old chairman of Vietnams largest private beverage producer Tan Hiep Phat, was arrested on Monday on charges of illegally appropriating property.

-- A 37-year-old man from Hanoi drowned due to strong waves during his swim with a friend at a beach in Quy Nhon City, south-central Binh Dinh Province on Monday afternoon.

-- Police in Gia Lam District, Hanoi on Monday initiated legal proceedings against a 39-year-old man who drove a car under the influence of alcohol into a security guard at the Vinhomes Ocean Park urban area, causing the latters death last month.

-- Construction units are rushing to complete the final stages of the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet Expressway to put the 99km-long route connecting Dong Nai and Binh Thuan Provinces into operation before April 30 in celebration of Reunification Day.

-- Researchers officialy announced on Sunday two new species of plant which are the type of the genus Lasianthus and in the family of Rubiaceae after their discovery at Vu Quang National Park in north-central Ha Tinh Province in 2016, according to Nhan Dan (People) newspaper.

-- Rangers in southern Dong Nai Province have arrested one man and are looking for another after the duo illegally hunted wild animals at Cat Tien National Park on Monday.

Business

-- Vietnam has issued a national action plan on building a transparent, responsible, and sustainable food and foodstuff system until 2030, with a goal of maintaining the export turnover of over US$30 billion each year, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Lifestyle

-- A hot-air balloon festival kicked off in Hue, the capital city of central Thua Thien-Hue Province, on Monday and will last until April 20.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Tran Qui Thanh, chairman of Vietnams largest private beverage producer Tan Hiep Phat Group, and his daughter Tran Uyen Phuong, deputy CEO of the firm, have been apprehended for allegedly abusing trust to appropriate assets. Investigators of the Ministry of Public Security also filed charges against Thanhs other daughter, Tran Ngoc Bich, who is also a deputy CEO of Tan Hiep Phat, but she was not taken into custody. Police searched their residences and workplaces at nine locations on Monday afternoon after getting the Supreme People's Procuracys approval. Police officers started looking into their case in March 2021 but it was suspended in November last year due to the expiration of the investigation period and the need to clarify the reported losses. Investigators launched criminal proceedings against the case after receiving an accusation letter of Le Van Lam, CEO of Kim Oanh Dong Nai Investment and Development Company, and some other individuals, accusing Thanh, Phuong, Bich, and others of illegally appropriating assets, specifically large real estate projects in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Dong Nai Province. They allegedly abused their trust to appropriate assets and evaded taxes through the transfer of projects and corporate shares, causing losses of over VND1 trillion (US$42.7 million) for Kim Oanh Dong Nai Investment and Development Company. The Ministry of Public Security in December 2020 asked the Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to freeze 33 land lots owned by Phuong in Thu Duc City and Binh Tan District. The ministry also required the Dong Nai authorities to put a hold on all transactions of Minh Thanh Dong Nai Real Estate JSC and a residential area in An Phuoc Commune, Long Thanh District, land which Lam claimed had been acquired illegally. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Tran Qui Thanh, chairman of Vietnams largest private beverage producer Tan Hiep Phat Group, and his daughter Tran Uyen Phuong, deputy CEO of the firm, have been apprehended for allegedly abusing trust to appropriate assets.

Investigators of the Ministry of Public Security also filed charges against Thanhs other daughter, Tran Ngoc Bich, who is also a deputy CEO of Tan Hiep Phat, but she was not taken into custody.

Police searched their residences and workplaces at nine locations on Monday afternoon after getting the Supreme People's Procuracys approval.

Police officers started looking into their case in March 2021 but it was suspended in November last year due to the expiration of the investigation period and the need to clarify the reported losses.

Investigators launched criminal proceedings against the case after receiving an accusation letter of Le Van Lam, CEO of Kim Oanh Dong Nai Investment and Development Company, and some other individuals, accusing Thanh, Phuong, Bich, and others of illegally appropriating assets, specifically large real estate projects in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Dong Nai Province.

They allegedly abused their trust to appropriate assets and evaded taxes through the transfer of projects and corporate shares, causing losses of over VND1 trillion (US$42.7 million) for Kim Oanh Dong Nai Investment and Development Company.

The Ministry of Public Security in December 2020 asked the Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to freeze 33 land lots owned by Phuong in Thu Duc City and Binh Tan District.

The ministry also required the Dong Nai authorities to put a hold on all transactions of Minh Thanh Dong Nai Real Estate JSC and a residential area in An Phuoc Commune, Long Thanh District, land which Lam claimed had been acquired illegally.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Nha Trang City Peoples Committee in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam has asked a market surveillance team to work with relevant agencies to address a complaint that some foreign tourists were overcharged by a seafood restaurant in the coastal city. Nguyen Sy Khanh, chairman of the Nha Trang Peoples Committee, said on Monday that the agency was notified of a claim made on social media about overcharging at the Nha Be seafood restaurant on Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward in the famous beach city. The foreign diners were required to pay a bill of over VND8.7 million (US$372) for 11.8 kilograms of seafood, according to a Facebook user. The provincial Peoples Committee ordered the verification result to be submitted prior to 10:00 am on Wednesday. At 11:00 am on Monday, a Facebook account named Le Thai Son posted a story claiming that three Chinese nationals were ripped off after having a dinner at the seafood eatery in Nha Trang City. According to the post, Sons boss and two other Chinese nationals went to the Nha Be seafood eatery for dinner. After asking for a bill, they were shocked at the total, so his boss called him to the eatery. The VND8.7-million bill includes VND1.2 million ($51.3) for 2.8 kilograms of first-rate crab, VND950,000 ($40.6) for two kilograms of squid, VND420,000 ($18) for 3.5 kilograms of diamond shell clams, and VND580,000 ($24.8) for 3.5 kilograms of sea urchin. These Chinese diners said that they were not informed of menu prices and did not check the weight of these sea creatures," the Facebook user wrote in doubt. "Due to not noticing the menu prices, they had to pay for the bill. "It is acceptable. However, it is unbelievable that three people could eat as much as 11.8 kilograms of seafood. The eatery has no bank account and asked for a cash payment. The bill excluded the value-added tax, he recounted. V.Q.K., the manager of the Nha Be seafood eatery, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday that he had just been informed of the case as on that day, when these diners had a meal there, he was not present. He said he would check it again. Many eatery owners in Nha Trang City said that the prices of the seafood listed in the bill were higher than those at some others, but they were not overpriced. The prices were calculated based on fresh materials and space rent. The eatery sits on the crowded Tran Phu Street. The bill for 11.8 kilograms of seafood at the Nha Be seafood restaurant on Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Screenshot Prices are quoted at the Nha Be seafood restaurant on Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Screenshot The leftovers of the seafood at the Nha Be seafood restaurant on Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Screenshot Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

The Nha Trang City Peoples Committee in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam has asked a market surveillance team to work with relevant agencies to address a complaint that some foreign tourists were overcharged by a seafood restaurant in the coastal city.

Nguyen Sy Khanh, chairman of the Nha Trang Peoples Committee, said on Monday that the agency was notified of a claim made on social media about overcharging at the Nha Be seafood restaurant on Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward in the famous beach city.

The foreign diners were required to pay a bill of over VND8.7 million (US$372) for 11.8 kilograms of seafood, according to a Facebook user.

The provincial Peoples Committee ordered the verification result to be submitted prior to 10:00 am on Wednesday.

At 11:00 am on Monday, a Facebook account named Le Thai Son posted a story claiming that three Chinese nationals were ripped off after having a dinner at the seafood eatery in Nha Trang City.

According to the post, Sons boss and two other Chinese nationals went to the Nha Be seafood eatery for dinner. After asking for a bill, they were shocked at the total, so his boss called him to the eatery.

The VND8.7-million bill includes VND1.2 million ($51.3) for 2.8 kilograms of first-rate crab, VND950,000 ($40.6) for two kilograms of squid, VND420,000 ($18) for 3.5 kilograms of diamond shell clams, and VND580,000 ($24.8) for 3.5 kilograms of sea urchin.

These Chinese diners said that they were not informed of menu prices and did not check the weight of these sea creatures," the Facebook user wrote in doubt.

"Due to not noticing the menu prices, they had to pay for the bill.

"It is acceptable. However, it is unbelievable that three people could eat as much as 11.8 kilograms of seafood.

The eatery has no bank account and asked for a cash payment. The bill excluded the value-added tax, he recounted.

V.Q.K., the manager of the Nha Be seafood eatery, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday that he had just been informed of the case as on that day, when these diners had a meal there, he was not present.

He said he would check it again.

Many eatery owners in Nha Trang City said that the prices of the seafood listed in the bill were higher than those at some others, but they were not overpriced.

The prices were calculated based on fresh materials and space rent. The eatery sits on the crowded Tran Phu Street.

The bill for 11.8 kilograms of seafood at the Nha Be seafood restaurant on Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Screenshot

Prices are quoted at the Nha Be seafood restaurant on Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Screenshot

The leftovers of the seafood at the Nha Be seafood restaurant on Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Screenshot

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A sixth grader in Vietnam died while warming up in a physical education class on Monday morning, according to a report on Tuesday by the local education authority. The victim was identified as N.P.H., who was studying at Tan Buu Middle School, located in Buu Long Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province. On Monday morning, he was reportedly fatigued and fainted while running to warm up in the physical education class. He was immediately given first aid and was rushed to a local medical station, where medical staff gave him oxygen therapy and performed CPR on him, but there was no pulse. The boy was then transferred to Hoan My ITO Dong Nai Hospital in the city's Thong Nhat Ward for emergency treatment but he was pronounced dead. A representative of the hospital told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the victim died before being admitted to the hospital. Local authorities took the body of the victim to the Dong Nai General Hospital for further investigation. The school management board and his teachers visited the bereaved family to send their condolences. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

A sixth grader in Vietnam died while warming up in a physical education class on Monday morning, according to a report on Tuesday by the local education authority.

The victim was identified as N.P.H., who was studying at Tan Buu Middle School, located in Buu Long Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province.

On Monday morning, he was reportedly fatigued and fainted while running to warm up in the physical education class.

He was immediately given first aid and was rushed to a local medical station, where medical staff gave him oxygen therapy and performed CPR on him, but there was no pulse.

The boy was then transferred to Hoan My ITO Dong Nai Hospital in the city's Thong Nhat Ward for emergency treatment but he was pronounced dead.

A representative of the hospital told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the victim died before being admitted to the hospital.

Local authorities took the body of the victim to the Dong Nai General Hospital for further investigation.

The school management board and his teachers visited the bereaved family to send their condolences.

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ABC will spend $67.2m on its Sydney Accommodation Project move to a new Parramatta base and refurbishment of its Ultimo headquarters, following the $95m sale of its former Artarmon site.

Sydney Morning Herald reports $27.8 million will be spent on the modernisation and refurbishment of the ABCs Ultimo headquarters, including $25.4m in refurbishment.

$39.4m will be spent on the Parramatta base, of which $12.2m is fitout, and $23.6m in technology.

Reinvestment in the Ultimo site will improve the working environment and facilities available to remaining teams and importantly will provide an opportunity for the ABC to sub-lease some of its facilities and gain an ongoing revenue stream, ABC said in a statement.

ABC is planning to move 236 staff members to Parramatta. More than 100 come from the NSW newsroom, ABC News channel and current affairs teams.

ABC Managing director David Anderson previously told a Parliamentary Committee on Public Works the fit-out does not require government funds.

We will fund it through the sale of our property at Artarmon on Sydneys north shore and by leasing out space in our Ultimo head office, he said.

ABC Parramatta will include a state-of-the-art studio, from where well broadcast the NSW 7pm News and at least one block of News Channel programming.

Teams will have access to a variety of spaces for live and pre-recorded video and audio, including seven audio and six video production suites.

The ABC is also expecting to base 45 positions from the Radio National, education, arts and music teams in Parramatta along with 40 staff from ABC Radio Sydney and its lifestyle division, ABC Everyday.

The new bureau will be operational by 2024.
From left, actors Seo Young?hee, Kim Seo-hyung, and Yoo Sun pose during the press conference for the new thriller series "Pale Moon," held at Lotte Cinema World Tower, in Songpa District, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of KT Studio Genie



By Lee Gyu-lee



Actress Kim Seo-hyung expressed that she fell in love with the strong female-centric story of KT Studio Genie's new thriller series "Pale Moon," and had been wanting for the past six years to join the project.



Led by director Yoo Jong-sun, whose previous work includes the 2018 rom-com series "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim," the new series revolves around a stay-at-home mom, Yoo I-hwa (Kim). In a childless marriage, Yoo lives a comfortable but somewhat empty life, dealing with her ambitious and power-hungry husband's indifference.



One day, she gets a job offer to work at a bank. And when she starts stealing money from the bank's VIP clients, her life soon heads toward a pit of misery.



The series, which kicked off Monday, is based on the Japanese novel "Paper Moon" by author Mitsuyo Kakuta. The novel was also adapted into a movie and a series in Japan, titled "Pale Moon."



"I came across 'Pale Moon' (live-action adaptation) six years ago. At the time, there were even fewer works with female-oriented stories, so I fell in love after watching it," she said, during the press conference for the series, held at Lotte Cinema World Tower, in Songpa District, Seoul, Monday.



"I wondered if there will be a remake in Korea and asked around. The current production company (of the series) held the IP (intellectual property rights). I was considering using it to make something else and I expressed I wanted to take part."





A scene from the series "Pale Moon" / Courtesy of KT Studio Genie
Foreign Correspondent this week profiles Bahrain as the nation looks to reinvent itself as liberal oasis in the Persian Gulf.

Every weekend in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, thousands of young Saudis flock to the city to party. Here they can do things that would be utterly forbidden just over the Johnny Walker bridge.

This week Foreign Correspondent takes you to a place in the Middle East that few people know exists. Bahrain wants to be a liberal oasis in a conservative region and its selling that image to the world to attract tourists and real estate investors to the smallest country in the Persian Gulf.

Bahrain is reinventing itself now because its rich oil reserves are beginning to run out and it needs ways to diversify the economy. From the nightclubs to the luxury car garages of the super-rich, this story shows the modern Bahrain and contrasts it with those who are trying to preserve a more traditional way of life.

8pm Thursday on ABC.
The FOX Footy team will hit the road this week, making their way to Adelaide for the inaugural Gather Round, in which 18 clubs descend on South Australia for an entire round of matches.

It all kicks off on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings direct from Adelaide Oval when AFL 360 will host special live audiences and showcase a bevy of guests, including South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, dual Crows premiership captain Mark Bickley, Port Adelaide star Travis Boak, Adelaide veteran Rory Sloane and Gold Coast captain Touk Miller.

FOX Footy experts Dermott Brereton, Nathan Buckley, David King, Leigh Montagna, Jordan Lewis and Eddie Betts will also join the desk to preview an exciting line-up of matches all taking place in the City of Churches.

The FOX Footy commentary teams will cover all the action of every game live and direct from each stadium, beginning with the blockbuster opener on Thursday night between Adelaide and Carlton and finishing with a bang when top-of-the-table St Kilda clash with Collingwood on Sunday as part of a national exclusive on Fox Footy, available on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

On Saturday evening in prime-time Mark Howard, Kath Loughnan, Jonathan Brown, Nathan Buckley and Eddie Betts make their much-anticipated return to Best on Ground for the first time this year. The fun fivesome will be joined by footy fans live from the Fox Footy stage at Adelaide Oval, taking a light-hearted look at all Gather Round games.
UK prison drama Time, which starred Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, is getting a second season, now set inside a womens prison.

Jimmy McGoverns three-part drama will be led by Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us, His Dark Materials), Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) and Tamara Lawrance (The Silent Twins, The Long Song) as Kelsey, Orla and Abi, with Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley, Downton Abbey) reprising her role from series one as Marie-Louise, a prison chaplain.

An original new story told through the lens of three very different inmates, Time is a moving and high-stakes portrayal of life inside a womens prison. Arriving at Carlingford Prison on the same day, Kelsey (Bella Ramsey), Orla (Jodie Whittaker) and Abi (Tamara Lawrance) are thrown together to face an unfamiliar world. But even with the ever-present threat of violence within its walls, they discover that an unexpected sense of community, and a shared understanding, still might be possible.

Bella Ramsey says: Im very happy to be a part of this project, working with an incredible team and following on from a stellar first season. And its such an honour to be Kelsey, Im really excited to experience the world through her for a few months.

Jodie Whittaker says: Time was such an incredible and powerful show created by an extraordinary team, and being a part of this project in its second iteration is an absolute dream.

Tamara Lawrance says: Being a part of women-centred stories and productions is very important to me, as well as projects that challenge a prejudice. Time series two humanises a sector of society that is too often and easily vilified by elucidating the layered reasons why people end up in the criminal (in)justice system. Im excited for us to platform the complexity of these characters and their experiences.

Siobhan Finneran says: I am delighted to be returning for Time two. It was a privilege to be involved in the first series and to be asked back is an honour, the scripts are again heartbreakingly brilliant.

Series creator and co-writer Jimmy McGovern says: This is the best cast I have ever seen assembled for any drama of mine. The best crew too. I am so, so looking forward to it.

Co-writer Helen Black says: To be asked to write the second season of Time with the incomparable Jimmy McGovern has been a joy and an honour.

Season 1 screened on both BBC First and ABC in Australia.
By Mushtaque Rahamat

hai raam ke vajud pe hindostan ko naaz

ahl-e-nazar samajhte hain is ko imam-e-hind (Allama Iqbal)

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This year again like previous years the festival of Ram Navami has been turned into venom-spewing and hate-filled, against Muslim, processions. For more than a century, certain elements in Hindu society have been using religious festival processions to harass, demean and demonize Muslims. Such precisionists make sure to pass through, deliberately deviating from the approved routes, Muslim populated areas, stop in front of the Mosques, Madrasas, and Dargahs play loud hate-filled music, brandish weapons, hurl slur at Muslims, their faith, and the Prophet. In case of any objection or retaliation runs amok on people and properties. This years Ram Navami processions were no different. For the last few years, the only veneer of civility of condemnation from the common citizen, ordinary Hindus, and above all the government of the day sometimes without really meaning condemnation, instituting of commission of inquiry have also been done away with. Rather, in some cases, after the processions have passed it is the turn of the police wallahs and the law enforcement agencies riding on earth excavators to bulldoze the houses of, mostly, Muslims and register cases amongst them. The lumpens, hooligans, and the organizers mostly remain unknown to the administration and to the books of law somehow, if they are brought before the law, only to walk free.

Ram Navmi is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Rama the seventh avatar of the deity Vishnu by fasting, singing devotional songs, spiritual readings, and distributing jaggery drinks. Taking out a procession to celebrate Ram Navami in India is relatively new . For some years, the festival of Ram Navmi among other Hindu festivals have become a tool to harass Muslims, incite violence against Muslims, and spew profanity about the Prophet of Islam. I am sure Ram would have never allowed this to happen in his name. Ram is known as Maryada purush; a man of conviction, ethics, and morality. So much so that he asked his wife Sita to prove chastity; a trial by fire, to set a high standard of morality and commitment. How could this maryada purush have allowed such filth and profanity in his name?

Hinduism, like all faiths, has a streak of extremism albeit not as strident and obvious as others due to its vast and wide definition of what can be defined as faith and faithful. Hinduism even embraces those who dont believe in it; nastiks. For more than a century, the face of Hinduism has been changing from benign, all-encompassing to angrier, parochial, and exclusionary. There have been instances of politicians and Islamophobes usurping the faith and demonstrating their mean and ugly hate for Muslims and Islam.

Usurpation of the religious procession by fanatics and islamophobes

Although the term and reference of Islamophobia came into existence around mid-90s , the practice of harassing Muslims, and damaging Muslim properties & businesses had been going on for some time. The usual practice has been to organize religious processions along with Muslim-dominated areas, stop near Mosques or places of interest of Muslims and play objectionable music, indulge in anti-Muslim, and anti-Islam sloganeering, and if someone objects unleash terror on Muslims and their properties. Usually, procession routes have to be approved by the local administration. But as has been the practice these routes were seldom adhered to and always veered to Muslim-populated areas to indulge in wanton and abhorrent activities in the name of their faith. The shameless display of bigotry is hard to accept as part of ones faith.

In India, violence against Muslims has almost been a regular affair from the colonial days to this day. Its frequency and severity have, notably, increased from the mid-80s to the early 2000s; as the movement to rebuild Ram Temple gathered momentum at the exact same spot where once Babri Masjid stood, which was demolished by kar sevaks on 6th December 1992. The movement to re-build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, one should note, hasnt been led and fructified by and for religious zeal, rather it was led by quasi-political and cultural but extremist organizations VHP, Bajrang Dal and others under the overarching organization RSS for history correction and political domineering.

Many inquiry commissions instituted in the wake of various riots have established the link between religious processions organized by Hindu militant organisations/individuals, pusillanimity, connivance of Police, judicial amnesia, and the collusion of and conflagration by politicians. The procession or rath organisers come from RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, and many more nameless and faceless organizations. And violence does break out after such processions and yatras as highlighted by Commission of Inquiry on Communal Disturbance at Sholapur  September 17, 1967  chaired by Justice Raghubar Dayal, former judge of the Supreme Court, the Commission included Col. B.H. Zaidi, M.P., and retired bureaucrat Shri M.M. Philip. Commission of Inquiry to Inquire Into the Communal Disturbances at Bhiwandi, Jalgaon, and Mahad in May 1970 , a one-man Inquiry by sitting Bombay High Court Judge, Justice D.P. Madon established link of Jan Sangh members in fomenting riots after Shiv Jayanti procession. As Chandar Uday Singh highlighted in his recent article A Single Factor Is Common to All Communal Riots During Religious Processions in India

 found that 1964 was the year when the Shiv Jayanti Procession began its practice of stopping in front of mosques, shouting provocative and anti-Muslim slogans, and throwing excessive gulal. Coincidentally, this was also the year when the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor to the BJP, established its Bhiwandi branch.

Similarly, for Jamshedpur the commission of enquiry headed by Justice Jitendra Narain , a retired judge of the Patna High Court, found the RSS and Dinanath Pandey primarily responsible.

For Bhagalpur riots the Commission of enquiry concluded The Muslims of Bhagalpur and the surrounding areas were inflicted by divine wrath through marauding mobs in close alliance of the district police, recorded the Commission in para 567 of its Report, and that this is manifest by over 900 corpses with injuries and also over 900 individuals in handcuffs and manacles. The Enquiry Commission found that there were sufficient indications since more than a year before the commission of the riotThe District Administration as we have said, suffered from culpable amnesia, deliberate indifference, and patent communal bias, incompetence in not anticipating the riot. Lack of impartiality in the District Administration also compounded the problem  (para 570 ).

The Supreme court of India came down heavily on the government of Maharashtra for failing to rein in a series of hate speeches by BJP MLA T.Raja and observed State is impotent, the state is powerless; it does not act in time. Why do we have a State at all if it is remaining silent? Around 50 rallies took place in Maharashtra in the last four months whose highlights have been call to violence against Muslims .

The word Dharam Sansad echoes in our ears the spirituality, divine subjects, and matter of tranquillity but instead, many Dharam Sansads were held in Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi only to call upon Hindus to take up arms against Muslims. As per these Sansads their route to Hindu Rashtra must waddle through corpses of Muslim men, women, and children. They even suggested Myanmar-style ethnic cleansing.

Hindus are in danger of surrendering their faith to lunatics and fanatics

Muslims have suffered at the hands of compatriots, Al Qaeda, ISIS, and others, who scourged their faith by hate and violence unleashed on hapless men and women under the pretext of taking on Western Imperialism, the perceived loss of Islamic dominance and the establishment of a global caliphate. In the case of Islam, the victims were Muslim themselves but others, also, had their fair share as is evident from Planes crashing in the World Trade Centre, a Train bombing in London, and blasts in 3 churches in Sri Lanka besides others. Such acts of cruelty and mindless violence are committed in the name of Islam. This certainly could be ascribed to, to an extent, passive acceptance of extremist interpretations of Islam. However, overwhelming numbers of ordinary Muslims and clergy stood against this queer face and interpretation of Islam and professed their solidarity with victims of their fellow believers actions. They drew clear dividing lines backed by actions and scriptures between what is true Islam and where the divergent sects stood.

However, for the last few years, many Hindu festivals have been defined by the act of hooligans, wanton profanity, and unfiltered hate against Muslims and Islam. Festivals are the most obvious and loved manifestation of any religion. Religious festivals are opportunities for believers to showcase their faith to those outside their fold. Religious festivals are happy occasions to connect with families, friends, and neighbours. These are celebrated with zeal, happiness, and love in places of worship, at home with families and friends, and on the street with all others with love and affection.

Lately, Hindu festivals splurged from temples and homes onto the roads in front of masjids, Muslim places of interest. And, it is not celebrated for spirituality, zest, and happiness, rather this occasion is taken to hit the street to harass Muslim men, women, and their properties. It is up to ordinary Hindus and their spiritual leaders to wake up to denounce such acts and reclaim their faith. They are in real danger of losing their faith to the bigotry of vested interest of politicians and religious fanatics whose acts will one day scourge the beautiful faith beyond recognition.

_______________________________________________________________________

Mushtaque Rahamat is an alumnus of AMU and writes for various portals. The views expressed are personal.
Sami Ahmad, TwoCircles.net

Muslim students in Bihar show upward trends in topping board examinations if their performance of the last five years is tracked. Data collected from the Mukhymantri Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojna (MVPY, Chief Minister Students Incentive Scheme) shows interesting outcomes regarding the performance of girls and boys, revealing significant facts about the district-wise performance of Muslim students.

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A cursory study of the scheme-related data shows that the overall top-performing districts of Muslim students are Darbhanga, East Champaran, Prunea and Araria. Interestingly, among girls Darbhanga, Araria and Purnea districts have recorded the top performers in board examinations. Capital Patnas performance is nowhere near the top but analysts suggest it might be because the number of Muslim students studying in government schools is not that high in the city. Similarly, a prominent district in South Bihar, Gayas performance is also not attractive. It figured only once among the top 5 of first divisioners.

What is Mukhymantri Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojna?

Under this scheme, all minority community students of Matriculation (10th) and Muslim girl students of Intermediate (12th) who secure first division in their board examination receive a lumpsum amount as an incentive.

Zaman Khan, Minister of Minority Welfare Department told Twocircles.net, MVPY is a dream project of chief minister Nitish Kumar for the upliftment of minority students. The incentive programme also includes the Bihar Madrassa Board students who secure first divisions in the Fauqaniya and Maulvi levels. For the Fauqaniya first divisioners an incentive of Rs. 10,000 is reserved while Rs. 15,000 is awarded to the Maulvi first division holders.

Our officials say that this scheme has helped in enhancing the performance of the minority students and we are trying to benefit more students in the coming years, added Khan.

Girls outsmart boys in Bihar state boards at matriculation and intermediate: MVPY data

There were 33148 Muslim girls who secured first division in their Intermediate Board examination in 2022, the highest since 2018. It is estimated that the number of first rankers among girls will reach around thirty-five thousand this year in 2023.

In 2018, only 5394 girls had scored first division marks in the Intermediate Board examination while in 2019, this figure rose to a whopping 28115. An increase in 2021 to 26684 from 26324 in 2020 was recorded in official figures. Many believe that the decrease in 2020 was caused due to Covid-19.

For the 10th board examinations, the number of minority students (including both girl and boy students, even those opting for Bangla as a subject) who secured first division in 2022 was 50420. The current number is a slight jump from 50114 in 2021. Further, the government data shows that there is a constant increase in this number over a period of five years with the figures being 21863 in 2018, 31613 in 2019 and 41522 in 2020.

Muslim girls securing first division in the Intermediate Board examination from Darbhanga was maximum in 2022 at 2133. The district had a good number in previous years too (1615 in 2021 and 1586 in 2020 respectively). Figures for the Matriculation Board examination for Darbhanga recorded 1399 first divisioners among girls in 2022  again being the highest. The figures suggest that dropout rates and good performance in Darbhanga balance out the figures.

Followed by Darbhanga is Muzaffarpur with 2090 first divisioners in the Intermediate. Siwan, Gaya and East Champaran fared at the third, fourth and fifth positions with 1770, 1754 and 1708 first divisioners.

Increasing dropouts, performance deficiencies plague Bihar madrassa board

The Bihar Madrassa Board equivalent of Matriculation i.e. Fauqaniya and Intermediate i.e. Maulvi also showed some surprising outcomes. The number of girls (including both Muslim and non-Muslims) who passed out in Maulvi was only 5613. Data from the MVPY showed that the first divisioners in Maulvi witnessed a decrease of over forty percent in the past five years.

Similarly, the madrassa equivalent of Intermediate  Fauqaniya, recorded 9829 first divisioners in 2022. This number was quite less in earlier years, having hardly crossed three thousand figures. This downward trend in numbers in Fauqaniya indicate both increasing dropout rates and performance deficiencies among madrassa education.

Secretary of Bihar Rabita Committee, Afzal Hussain has prepared a compendium of important government schemes, particularly for minorities. He told Twocirle.net that this scheme (MVPY) has certainly helped the students and it is heartening to see that the number of Muslim students securing first division is on a strong uptrend. However, the amount for this scheme should be doubled as it has not been revised after its inception, he added.

Araria and Purnea excel in Madrassa education

Araria district recorded the highest number (1102) of first divisioners in the Maulvi Board examination of Bihar State Madrassa Education Board in 2022. Katihar, Purnea, East Champaran and Kishanganj held the second, third, fourth and fifth spots with 769, 768, 712 and 447 first division holders respectively in the Maulvi Board examination.

Similarly, in the Fauqaniya level, Purnea was the topper with overall 1195 first divisioners. The district topped with 680 girl first rankers and 515 boy first divisioners respectively. Meanwhile, Katithar came second with 665 girl first rank holders and 488 boy first divisioners in Fauqaniya.

Girls ahead in madrassa boards matric and intermediate but receive incentive only once

The number of girls getting first division in the Fauqaniya Board examination in 2022 was 5825 while among boys the number was 1820. At the Matriculation level, 23817 girls got first division whereas 26603 boys secured the rank.

Altogether, out of 30 districts from the total 38 districts of Bihar, the number of girls getting first division is much higher than boys even in madrassa boards. Additionally, in 11 districts including Aurangabad, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Nawada, Patna, Saran, Siwan and Vaishali, girls have outshone boys in getting first division at the Matriculation level.

While Minority Welfare Departments Khan praised the MVPY saying ethe minority girl students are getting incentives in good numbers, it is interesting to note that despite girls scoring much higher in both the state and madrassa examinations of Bihar, only those passing at the Intermediate level are awarded with the incentive.
Samsung Electronics' Hwaseong Semiconductor Factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



Tech giant Samsung Electronics will allow smaller domestic companies to use more of its royalty-free technologies to achieve shared growth, the industry ministry said Tuesday.



Samsung will transfer 272 kinds of its patent technologies in eight sectors, including semiconductors, displays and mobile gadgets, to smaller firms without receiving royalties, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.



The government launched the tech-sharing program in 2013, and 33 conglomerates and state-run companies have since shared 2,979 patents with 1,416 smaller companies.



Samsung took part in the program in 2015 and has shared 959 patents with 502 companies, the ministry said.



"This program has served as a good chance for smaller companies to upgrade their tech competitiveness," a ministry official said. "This year, we will also take more of such tech transfer chances in cooperation with SK Group, POSCO and the Korea Electric Power Corp." (Yonhap)




EQS Newswire /

SEAPRwire Announces that It Will Provide Customized PR Distribution Services to Web3 Meta-verse Startups Singapore - SEAPRwire, a news distribution company serving the Southeast Asian region, recently announced that it will provide customized news release distribution services to Web3 metaverse technology enterprises. The company's services cover Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Greater China. Web3 metaverse technology enterprises are those that create virtual worlds using blockchain, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality technologies. These enterprises have special needs for news release distribution services, and SEAPRwire is able to provide flexible solutions to meet their needs. 1 SEAPRwire's news distribution services have a special feature - they can provide customized services for clients in different regions. These regions include Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Greater China. These regions are all important areas of focus for Web3 metaverse technology enterprises. Thus, SEAPRwire's customized services can effectively meet the branding needs of clients in these areas. The development of Web3 metaverse technology in Southeast Asia is an important trend. Such enterprises need professional news release distribution services to support their development in the region. SEAPRwire is a company that provides such services. With the company's support, Web3 metaverse technology enterprises can focus on their business development without worrying about branding issues. We recently interviewed SEAPRwire's CMO, Yaqin Tan, who said: "We are very pleased to provide customized news release distribution services for Web3 metaverse technology enterprises. We believe our services can provide more professional branding exposure, help them expand market share in Southeast Asia." We also interviewed William Wong, CEO of MetaXons, a typical client of SEAPRwire. Wong said: "We are a startup technology company that provides underlying technical engines for many Web3 gaming and NFT gaming companies. We are very grateful for the professional news release distribution services provided by SEAPRwire. These services provide important support for our business development in Southeast Asia. We believe they will help us expand our business more effectively." SEAPRwire's customized news release distribution services also serve other industries, including start-ups in the Fin-tech and Crypto industries. The company's services have been highly recognized by clients, who say that SEAPRwire's services provide important support for their branding exposure and market share expansion. If you would like to learn more about SEAPRwire's services and customized news release distribution solutions, please visit our website: https://www.seaprwire.com. About SeaPRWire SeaPRWire (https://www.SeaPRWire.com/) is a leading global provider of wire distribution services to media relations and marketing communications professionals. SeaPRWire's platform allows clients to identify key factors of their press releases and measure meaningful impact. It has a strong media network in Southeast Asia, indexing news from thousands of worldwide sources. SeaPRWire's media network support multi-lingual press release distribution, including English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, Indonesian, Filipino and more. Media Contact Tina Lee, PR manager cs@SeaPRWire.com https://SeaPRWire.com SOURCE: SeaPRWire



File: SEAPRwire Announces that It Will Provide Customized PR Distribution Services to Web3 Meta-verse Startups



11/04/2023 Dissemination of a Marketing Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


Warning: this story contains graphic descriptions of violence. Pseudonyms are used to protect the interviewees identities.

Angela had already been in the UK as an asylum seeker for nine years and four months when we interviewed her. She was still in a state of limbo, unsure whether asylum would be granted, and her story was disturbing to hear.

Angela told us she had left Nigeria after an appalling terrorist attack. Her father was a high-ranking regional politician, a Christian in a mainly Muslim area. Following a political dispute, the family compound was attacked by members of the militant Islamist Boko Haram organisation. Angela told us that her father, her husband and others were killed  and that she was shot at, raped, beaten and left for dead:

I was raped not one, not two, not three  I cant remember how many times. The shocking thing is the person  I remember his face  who chopped my husbands legs is still very much alive. He comes on social media almost every day.

Angela is one of 12 asylum seekers and refugees from Africa and the Middle East we interviewed for a study published in 2020. We wanted to examine not only the experiences that drove them to the UK, but also the psychological effects of their subsequent experiences in the UKs asylum system.

These accounts bear revisiting amid current widespread concerns about the record numbers, welfare and experiences of asylum seekers detained in the UK immigration system.

This article is part of Conversation Insights

The Insights team generates long-form journalism derived from interdisciplinary research. The team is working with academics from different backgrounds who have been engaged in projects aimed at tackling societal and scientific challenges.

Like all the women and men we spoke to, Angela now lives in West Yorkshire. A decade after the attack on her home in Nigeria, she told us she was still having regular flashbacks and experiencing severe trauma. She probably wouldnt have survived the attack without the help of an elderly couple from a nearby village, who initially cared for her. But incredibly, this wasnt the end of her ordeal.

Story continues

The couple contacted their daughter in Lagos and arranged for Angela to travel there, where they thought it would be safer. But when she had medical treatment in the city, members of a Boko Haram cell became aware of her presence and attacked the hospital. She escaped unharmed  but when the elderly couples daughter collected her, the car was shot at and their daughter was killed. Angela told us:

I had to pretend I was dead as well because there was blood all over the car. I think thats when they stopped shooting, because they thought I was dead.

As she talked, Angela pointed to a scar on her calf caused by one of the bullets. It was one of many scars all over her body that offered graphic evidence of her traumatic experiences in Nigeria. Despite this, when a friend of her fathers arranged a UK visa for her, she was only thinking in terms of a temporary stay:

I didnt seek asylum at first because it didnt even cross my head. I never thought Id end up living in the UK.

Taken into detention

Once she reached the UK, Angela hoped her suffering would be over. For the next ten years, she lived in a variety of detention centres, hostels and shared houses in different towns and cities around the UK. For most of this time, she survived on food vouchers and the help of charities and refugee support organisations.

Asylum seekers currently receive a maximum allowance of 45 per week, compared with 77 for those on unemployment benefit. If asylum seekers live in accommodation that provides food (such as a hotel), this drops to to 8.24 per week to cover clothes, non-prescription medication and travel.

Angela was sometimes unable to find a solicitor, so had to represent herself at court hearings and appeals. But since her cousin in Nigeria was a barrister and her mother had a law degree, she adapted to this role quickly  describing how her encounters in court brought out the boldness, the lioness in me. She recalled telling one judge:

I had a beautiful life in Nigeria and its not something I would ever [give up] in my wildest dreams  For the Home Office representative to grate me down to rock bottom  I will not take it  I wont come here and start fabricating lies because I want to stay in the United Kingdom.

A few months before we spoke, after almost a decade in the asylum system, Angela was served with a deportation notice and redetained. She told us:

That was worse than the first time because there was a very hopeless situation. I had no case anymore. All my appeals, everything, court hearing, everything, had been dismissed, refused.

Angela was desperate, aware of the danger she would face on her return to Nigeria. A friend advised her to contact Medical Justice, a charity that supports victims of torture in immigration detention. It found her a lawyer who made a last-minute legal intervention  and she was reprieved:

My ticket was supposed to be for the 25th of May, and it was cancelled on the 24th  ten oclock in the night  I just ran to the room and rolled on the floor like I was going crazy. It was such a shock.

Victims of torture

We didnt seek out traumatised individuals for our research, nor people who had been subject to torture. Yet all 12 who we interviewed described highly traumatic experiences before coming to the UK, including several accounts of torture. Given the sensitivity of their cases, our interviews were all conducted under the condition of strict anonymity.

Gloria had been living in the UK for three years  the shortest time of all our studys participants  having arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country in the grip of civil war and conflict for decades. Gloria described how her home was attacked by an armed group who abducted both her and her brother. He was killed; she was raped and tortured.

Gloria was vague about how she had arrived in the UK, telling us: I was brought here by someone  I had tortures and then someone helped me to flee and come to here.

She hoped she had reached a safe haven but was put straight into detention, despite her traumatised state. Like Angela, the multiple scars on her body bore witness to the torture she had experienced. Yet she told us in her halting English:

Detention is not just detention  it is prison  Its like youre a criminal, but I am not a criminal. I am in trouble. I am sick but I go in the prison  In the detention, I never ate. I was just crying [and I thought:] Its better maybe they kill me even here.

Glorias account came soon after a report by Freedom From Torture found that the Home Office would sometimes reject the evidence of scars from torture on the grounds that these might be self-inflicted wounds. This changed in 2019 when the UK Supreme Court declared that self-inflicted torture was inherently unlikely.

A supportive solicitor fought for Glorias release from detention, and she was moved to a hostel in Leeds, then one in Wakefield. Her solicitor organised an appeal for asylum, but it was rejected after a few months.

Gloria told us she was then coerced into signing a form agreeing to her deportation after being denied an interpreter  despite immigration rules stating that interpreters are available to all asylum seekers, free of charge, whenever necessary. Her claim of coercion is in line with historical allegations made of some Home Office officials. Refugee organisations also highlighted to us other cases of asylum seekers reporting that they had been tricked or forced into signing voluntary return forms.

Gloria told us:

I was not able to understand or to speak English well. I told them there [should] be an interpreter because Im not going to understand. They said: No, its not the big interview  Then they give me the papers to sign. They just said: We need to put your status, that you are Congolese, in your documents.

When Gloria was finally allowed to read the text translated into French, she realised it related to travelling documents to take me back and deport me. But they didnt tell me that. They told me it was for my nationality.

After this Gloria was taken into detention again, until her solicitor managed to free her and put her in contact with Freedom From Torture, a charity supporting torture survivors in the UK. It arranged a medical examination including photographs of her scars, which enabled her to make another appeal for asylum which, at the time we spoke, was still ongoing.

Gloria told us she had made a mistake coming to the UK, due to the hostility she encountered from the Home Office and the constant uncertainty, anxiety and stress she experienced in the asylum system. She said she had frequently contemplated suicide, even while out of detention and living in a hostel. Despite the horrors she had suffered in DRC, she told us:

I thought I come here to find refuge but  Ive come to find worse problems for me.

After their suffering, further trauma

Having come to the UK to escape appalling suffering, all of our interviewees described experiencing further trauma while in the asylum system.

Between them, they highlighted a number of factors, including the protracted nature of the process, the perceived hostility of the Home Office, the traumatic effects of detention, a lack of control over their own lives, and the humiliation and frustration of being unable to work or contribute to UK society while seeking asylum here. (Asylum seekers cannot do paid work while their claims are being considered. They can do voluntary work as long as it does not interfere with their appointments and hearings.)

Woman waving in the window of a detention centre

One of the most protracted cases was Joys, an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe who had been trapped in the UK system for 14 years when we met her. She was a political activist who came to the UK to escape persecution after fellow activists in Zimbabwe had been arrested, abducted and tortured. She explained:

Im one of the people at the forefront of campaigning against the human rights abuse that are happening in Zimbabwe  We have activists on the ground [there] who have suffered. Theyve been tortured, theyve been beaten, theyve been arrested. They are being abducted for voicing [against] what the government is doing.

Joy had left two young children in the care of her parents in Zimbabwe, hoping to return when it was safe. After her initial asylum claim was rejected, the Home Office ended Joys financial support and ordered her to move out of her accommodation. Her solicitor appealed the decision while she survived on weekly food parcels from the Red Cross.

In all, she had made four applications for asylum when we met her, all of which were beset by very long delays. In the most recent case, she told us:

The judge at the judicial review ruled the Home Office had made an error, and that they should go back and have a look at the case again  [But] the Home Office  just sort of copied-and-pasted the same refusal letter again  although this time they said I could appeal to the tribunal.

When we spoke, Joy was still hoping to return to Zimbabwe and see her children again, but knew the situation was too dangerous. After 14 years, she accepted the uncertainty of her life:

Ive come to a point where I  dont want to keep on thinking of what if, what if, what if, what if? I will just take it as it comes. And then I will make a decision from there.

The Home Office says it aims to process initial claims within six months, but in practice it takes much longer. For example, in November 2022, the Home Affairs Select Committee revealed that, of all people who arrived in the UK by boat to claim asylum in 2021, only 4% had had their claims processed.

Protesters outside a hotel

Sleeping with fear

For all our interviewees, the protracted UK asylum process brought a constant sense of uncertainty, and the continual fear of sudden deportation.

Farah, from Iran, described awaiting a decision from the Home Office as living fear for four years. Fleeing persecution from the Islamic regime, she had paid for a smuggler to bring her into the UK by plane, along with her 11-year-old daughter.

In the UK, they lived in shared houses and hostels with other asylum seekers and refugees from a variety of countries. Farah said that every so often, Home Office officials would arrive to deport residents. She was constantly afraid that they would be next:

I couldnt get out of the depression it made for me  I used to open my window to hear if [the immigration authorities] were coming  Imagine every single night, you are sleeping with fear. I was scared to open the door to people. I didnt have confidence to go out.

But Farah was one of the lucky ones. After four years, her asylum appeal was accepted. In the seven years since then, her daughter has completed a university degree, while she has worked as a teaching assistant and in a variety of voluntary roles  most recently, as an interpreter at her local GP surgery.

Most of our participants expressed a strong desire to contribute to UK society while stuck within the asylum system. They found it intensely frustrating that they were unable to do so, since they werent allowed to work. Some are highly educated and professionally successful in their original countries, and were desperate to use their knowledge and expertise. As Farah put it:

You need to contribute something  Im not a parasite person. You know, I wanted to do something.

According to Anne Burghgraef of Solace, a Leeds-based organisation that offers mental health support for refugees and asylum seekers:

People who come with great knowledge and expertise are forced into years of passivity. There are so many highly skilled people who just need to learn the language properly and adapt to the UK system.

Nevertheless, most of our participants strived to be of service to others within the limited environment of the refugee and asylum seeker community  for example, by volunteering as interpreters or organising social activities. In fact, our research highlighted this as an important coping strategy for our interviewees, to mitigate their ongoing anxiety and trauma.

A hostile environment

It is hard to imagine how any of the asylum seekers and refugees we spoke to would have coped  and in some cases, even survived  without the support of national and local organisations such as Solace.

In every case, our interviewees initial applications for asylum had been rejected. They quickly learned  either from fellow asylum seekers or legal advisers  that this was common practice, a ploy of deterring even the most valid claims. As another asylum seeker from Nigeria, Ebele, said of her initial rejection:

Its part of the process  its like they want to stress people  They want [you] to think  that you can go back [home].

Leon had paid for a trafficker to take him to the UK from Guinea. From an affluent family, he was making a comfortable living as a businessman and owned several shops. However his father, a high-ranking soldier, had a dispute with government officials. Leon described government-sponsored thugs ransacking his shops, stealing his goods, then burning the shops to the ground.

On arrival in the UK, he was taken to a detention centre where he stayed for three months and 11 days. And it was really bad for me, because Id never been to jail in my life.

Aerial view of Manston migrant processing centre in Kent

After a lawyer helped Leon apply for asylum, he moved to temporary accommodation in Huddersfield and then Leeds. His initial application was processed within six months, and refused. He was instructed to leave his accommodation immediately, but had no money and no other options:

In the winter, the Home Office told me to leave the house. I didnt have anywhere to go. It was snowing everywhere. I had to go to stay in the park.

Shortly afterwards, Leon was beaten up and had his bag stolen:

[I lost] all my clothes. I didnt have anything. The same clothes I was wearing. I didnt have anywhere  I was crying.

Leon sought help from Pafras, a Leeds-based asylum seekers charity which assigned him a case worker, gave him clothes, and found him temporary accommodation. He told us the Home Office officials that he dealt with had no concept of what life was like in Guinea or any other troubled African country, and couldnt comprehend the terror he had experienced or would encounter if he returned:

They think we are fine  that everythings fine in my country. Anything you tell them, they always say its a lie  And you cant force them to believe you.

Having been a successful businessman in Guinea, Leon  like many of our interviewees  told us he found it humiliating to live on food vouchers, food parcels, clothes donations, and other forms of charity.

The only thing I hate all my life is begging  to beg for something. I work. I always worked  So [if] I stay with you and youre helping me for some time, Im having difficulty  because its like Im begging you, or Im telling you my problem [so you will] help me.

Digging my grave

Imani is one of our three interviewees who were eventually granted refugee status  in her case, after six years as an asylum seeker. She had come to the UK from Guinea aged only 13.

After the death of her mother, she said she was treated as a slave by her stepmother and suffered genital mutilation. Her family arranged for her to marry an elderly man, but an old friend of her mothers helped her to escape and paid for her to be trafficked to the UK.

Placard lit by candle during night-time protest.

During the six years of her asylum process and despite her young age, Imani said she was faced with constant disbelief and hostility by officials who regularly threatened her with deportation. The Home Office questioned her stated age, and didnt believe that my parents can give me to marriage at the age of 13 years to someone who has another wife.

In her words, the Home Office were digging my grave without even killing me. It was so difficult.

The Home Office notes that cases involving age disputes can be extremely challenging, and that the safety and welfare of children in its care is paramount. In Imanis case, there was a positive resolution.

Having finally attained refugee status, she was able to secure a paid job as a mental health support worker. She also campaigns against female genital mutilation, organising conferences and speaking in the media. She told us:

I share my story, to let them know Im a survivor.

On suicide watch

Previous studies have shown that asylum seekers and refugees generally are around ten times more likely to experience psychiatric disorders than the general population. They have been found to experience high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicidal ideation.

This was true of all of our participants. Several reported seriously contemplating suicide. Some, including George, an African asylum seeker who had spent 11 years in the UK system when we met him, had attempted to take their life. He told us:

Ive thought of committing suicide. I was on suicide watch for some time. Twice now, Ive tried to take my own life.

George, who is bisexual, described in graphic detail how, as a teenager, he had been designated a witch and subjected to severe physical and sexual abuse during rituals. He showed us multiple scars and injuries all over his body, including marks where his fingertips had been cut to draw blood.

After 11 years in the UK, George told us that his case was still ongoing, and ongoing and ongoing:

Its hard to be living this life of uncertainty. You dont know what is going to happen. You could just be in the house tonight and theyll come with their squad, break down your door and get you out. Just like that. You just take the life hour by hour.

Like Gloria, George told us he was experiencing constant flashbacks to his earlier violent trauma:

When I try to sleep, I see faces. Sometimes I hear the voice of my mother  shes crying sometimes  And I hear the man that abused me  you know, what he was saying to me. And there was this sperm that he rubbed, you know, he put on my face when he was abusing me. That smell never leaves my nostrils.

More detention and trauma

Under the governments controversial illegal migration bill, introduced on March 7 2023, none of the individuals weve heard from would have been admitted to the UK. The bill effectively denies asylum to anybody who is not part of an agreed scheme, no matter how compelling or urgent their case.

If the bill is passed by parliament, anyone who seeks asylum in the UK without being a part of an agreed scheme will either be returned to their home country or shipped to a third-party country, such as Rwanda, without recourse to any form of legal appeal.

Read more: 'A toxic policy with little returns'  lessons for the UK-Rwanda deal from Australia and the US

In reality, however, it is doubtful that more than a tiny number of asylum seekers will be shipped anywhere. If enacted, the governments bill is predicted to lead to more long-term detention. As Peter William Walsh from the Migration Observatory has pointed out:

One strange quirk of the new bill is that it appears to make it harder, not easier, for the government to remove people who are not considered refugees.

Asylum seekers can only be sent back to their home countries if they are deemed safe  but since the new bill doesnt allow claims to be assessed, there is no way of determining this. This suggests that they would have to be sent to a third-party country.

So far, though, only Rwanda has agreed to serve this role, and is presently only capable of taking 200 people. No one has actually been sent there yet, and it is possible that, due to legal challenges, no one will be. The implication is that most new asylum seekers will be detained indefinitely in the UK, no matter how valid their claims.

According to the most recent statistics, the Home Office has a backlog of 166,100 asylum cases, including 101,400 cases awaiting an initial decision, 4,900 awaiting the outcome of an appeal, and around 38,900 cases subject to removal action.

The Home Office acknowledges the asylum system has been under mounting pressure for several years. It states that it is recruiting more decision-makers to help clear the backlog of cases, with a target of employing 2,500 by September 2023.

However, research by the Refugee Council suggests the governments new illegal migration bill could mean that, over the next three years, 190,000 more people are locked up or forced into destitution. This figure  which the Home Office has disputed  includes 45,000 children and even factors in the possibility that 30,000 asylum seekers could be sent to Rwanda. The cost to the British taxpayer is estimated at around 9 billion by the Refugee Council study.

In practice, the governments new bill may achieve little beyond, in the words of Solaces Burghgraef: Exerting unbearable pressure on thousands of already traumatised and extremely stressed sanctuary seekers, putting them at risk of long term entrenched mental health difficulties.

When some of the issues raised by this article were put to the Home Office, a spokesperson commmented:

We have not been able to investigate the individual [anonymised] accusations as we have not received their details. But we recognise many asylum seekers have experienced challenging circumstances when making their way here, which is why we ensure our staff are robustly trained to identify vulnerabilities throughout the process.

The spokesperson added:

The UK has a proud record of providing protection to individuals fleeing persecution, underpinned by a robust framework of safeguards and quality checks to ensure protection is granted to those who genuinely need it.

Tired of everything

In The House of the Dead, the Russian novelist Dostoevsky wrote that the degree of civilisation in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. In a similar way, we can judge how civilised a society is by the way it treats asylum seekers and refugees. By this criterion, we are clearly failing.

Our interviews offer a reminder that every asylum seeker or refugee is not a political statistic but an individual with a complex personal history. At a time when some MPs and commentators are attempting to delegitimise the whole concept of seeking asylum  claiming that most asylum seekers are either criminals or economic migrants  the stories illustrate that a great many are, in fact, deeply traumatised individuals with extremely poor mental health.

Mariama, from Sierra Leone, was one of the lucky ones whose claim for asylum had been approved when we interviewed her. She had previously struggled to survive in the UK for nine years, spending most of the time squatting on the floors and sofas of acquaintances or strangers  who, she told us, often exploited her by requiring her to work for them:

You have to work in houses, cook for them, do everything for them  and during those times you dont even have your freedom. Youre not free because you are in somebody [else]s house.

Now that she had refugee status, however, Mariama said she felt relieved and grateful to still be alive  like a survivor at the end of a long war. But she was also quick to point out that many others in the UKs asylum system are not so fortunate:

Ive heard of asylum seekers who committed suicide  left a note [saying] they shouldnt blame anybody. [Theyre] just tired of everything  So I feel grateful Im still alive. And I feel grateful that there are still good people out there, who can come to your aid when you need them.

If youre struggling with suicidal thoughts, the following services can provide you with support. In the UK and Ireland  call Samaritans UK at 116 123. In the US  call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or IMAlive at 1-800-784-2433. In Australia  call Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14. In other countries  visit IASP or Suicide.org to find a helpline in your country.

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Steve Taylor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. He is the author of DisConnected: The Roots of Human Cruelty and How Connection Can Heal the World (Iff Books).
Rishi Sunak has condemned the abhorrent attack which claimed the lives of three members of a British-Israeli family.

Lucy Dee, 48, died on Monday from injures suffered during the terrorist attack in the West Bank on Friday which killed her daughters Rina, 15, and Maia, 20.

Rabbi Leo Dee said his daughters were killed by 20 bullets from a Kalashnikov rifle and his wife was shot twice in the suspected Palestinian shooting on Friday.

Maia (left) and Rina Dee, the two British-Israeli sisters who were killed in a gun attack in the occupied West Bank (Office of Israeli Prime Minister/PA)

The Prime Minister said: The killing of British-Israeli citizens, Maia, Rina and Lucy Dee is abhorrent.

The UK condemns this appalling attack on civilians and I send my deepest condolences to Rabbi Dee and his family.

We continue to urge all sides to de-escalate tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and end the deadly cycle of violence.

 The whole of #Israel stands united with Rabbi Leo Dee and his family, following the horrific murder of his wife and two daughters. Join me in showing your solidarity on #DeesDay by sharing a photo of you and the Israeli flag. pic.twitter.com/3Lp58vLgK2  Tzipi Hotovely (@TzipiHotovely) April 11, 2023

The attack took place during a wave of violence across the region which has continued in recent days.

Israels ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely said: The whole of Israel stands united with Rabbi Leo Dee and his family, following the horrific murder of his wife and two daughters.
Tonight I imagine God in judicial robes. I cant quite imagine Gods face  the image flickers between every face of every human being who has ever been or ever will be  but I imagine an expression at once serious and kind. Both gentle and solemn. Ready to give us the benefit of the doubt, and also able to see right through us to the things we dont want to admit.

This is not usually my go-to image of God. I like to imagine Shechinah, the immanent, reachable, intimate aspect of God, sitting in my car in bluejeans and listening to me pour out my heart as I drive. I like to connect with God as Creator, as Beloved, as Source of Life. But Kol Nidre invites me into a different kind of dialogue with the sacred. It invites me to open myself to the metaphor of God as source of Justice.

In that legal filing, we ask to be released from all the vows, promises, and oaths we make with God, the things we say only to regret them, the things we promise and forget, the resolutions we fail to keep. We make this request in front of a beit din, a rabbinic court  symbolized by the rabbi or cantor flanked with two Torah scrolls. But really were making this request in front of the ultimate Judge. The Kadosh Baruch Hu  the Holy Blessed One. God on high.

In the melody of Kol Nidre , I hear aching. I hear yearning. I hear the heartbroken cry of a soul who knows theyve missed the mark. How the melody descends  and descends again  and then rises in hope! Its such a powerful piece of music, I suspect most of us dont think much about the fact that its a setting of a legal filing.

As some of yall may know, earlier this year I got a summons for jury duty. The jury being selected was for the trial of two men accused of involvement in a fairly high-profile local shooting. When many in the jury pool had been disqualified, the judge called each of us who remained up to the bench for a private conference. Almost all of us in the room were white, as are 87% of Berkshire county residents.

The judge asked me questions like: the defendants in this case are people of color. Would that make it hard for you to be fair and keep an open mind? One of the defendants speaks Spanish and needs an interpreter. Are you inclined to think negatively about him for that reason? Jurors must operate on the presumption of innocence unless proven otherwise. Are you able to do that?

And I thought: I could opt out of jury service by claiming to have bias in one of these ways. But I dont want to be the kind of person who would do that. So I answered truthfully, and the next three weeks were a rollercoaster.

Witness testimony was sometimes searing in its intensity. Some days I came home and cried. Each day I thought about Pirkei Avots injunction to "Give others the benefit of the doubt, which is a lot like what the judge told us to do.

It isnt easy to balance the presumption of innocence and the possibility of guilt. Justice is hard work. It asks us to listen attentively, to root out preconceptions or prejudice, and to approach everything with an open mind. It also asks us to be willing to call things what they are, and to accept that choices have consequences.

That set of instructions makes for pretty good spiritual practice: listening without bias, giving the benefit of the doubt, cultivating empathy and upholding accountability. Our mystics would say, this balances hesed / boundless love, and gevurah / boundaries. God holds these qualities in perfect balance, and we strive to do the same. And what happens when hesed and gevurah are in harmonious balance?





We get this years high holiday theme, Tiferet. Balance that lifts us up. Or as we learned on erev Rosh Hashanah, the sacred "and."

Were supposed to give each other the benefit of the doubt, and uphold accountability. But what about ourselves? I may never know someone elses heart, but I know my own, if Im willing to look at it. Tonight we stand before the Judge and ask for our vows to be annulled. For errors bein adam lMakom, between us and our Source  where we miss the mark in our spiritual practice or our intentions or our hearts  God forgives us with hesed, overflowing love. I believe this with all my heart.

But for errors bein adam lchavero, where we miss the mark in relationship with each other, Yom Kippur does not atone until we do our work.

As Talmud teaches, Yom Kippur does not forgive transgressions between people unless they seek forgiveness. (Yoma 8:9) Or in the words of Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, The holy atonement reset button doesnt work until weve cleaned up our own mess.





According to Maimonides, a person doesnt just get to mess up, mumble, Sorry, and get on with it. Theyre not entitled to forgiveness if they havent done the work of repair. (And theyre not necessarily entitled to forgiveness even if they have.) Another human beings suffering is not magically erased because the person who caused it says that they didnt mean to do it. This is true in our personal lives, and its also true of politicians caught saying racist things, celebrities named as sexual abusers, human resources departments that cover up employee complaints, and governments perpetrating harm against individuals or groups. Fixing damage involves taking specific steps; theres a process. We cant ever undo what happened, but we can transform the situation and ourselves.

Thats from her new book On Repentance and Repair. It draws on Judaisms most enduring text about repentance, Hilchot Teshuvah by Moses Maimonides.

Another human beings suffering is not magically erased because the person who caused it says that they didnt mean to do it. I wish we could teach that to everyone. Kindergarteners. Adults. Celebrities. Politicians. Honestly the kindergarteners might have the easiest time internalizing it. The rest of us might get defensive, or deflect, or refuse to recognize that the other person is suffering at all, much less that our own actions caused the suffering.

This book applies Rambams principles of teshuvah on both a national and a personal scale. There are chapters about harm in the public square, about what national repentance can look like, about what our institutions can and should do. And tonight I am focusing closer to home. Kol Nidre is a night for taking an accounting of our own souls. So I want to share R. Ruttenbergs distillation of teshuvah into five simple steps. Simple, but not easy.





Step one is naming and owning harm. Rambam calls this public confession, and its evoked in our communal Yom Kippur prayers. Those prayers are in the plural  weve abused, weve betrayed... But often naming and owning harm needs to be in the first person singular. I recognize that I did this specific thing that caused harm. And it needs to be specific.

If youre thinking:

I didnt hurt anyone this year. Or: every harsh word I spoke was necessary, they deserved it. Or: its not my fault if they felt attacked.

 stop and notice and ask yourself why you cant bear to see yourself as the bad guy. What parts of your self-image would crack if you had to admit that you had hurt someone?

Remember, Another human beings suffering is not magically erased because the person who caused it says that they didnt mean to do it. Or the person who caused it says, I dont know why youre so sensitive about this. Sometimes we're more comfortable being the victim of harm than owning the fact that we've also caused harm. Because if I'm a victim, then I don't have to do all this work. But if I caused harm to someone, I have a responsibility to name it and own it and try to bring repair.

Addressing harm, R. Ruttenberg writes, is possible only when we bravely face the gap between the story we tell about ourselvesthe one in which were the hero, fighting the good fight, doing our best, behaving responsibly and appropriately in every contextand the reality of our actions. Harm happens to all of us, and all of us cause harm sometimes. This doesnt mean were bad people. It means were people, full stop. And the reason to do this work is that we want to be people who care about each other, and that includes admitting when we screw up.





Step two is starting to change. She acknowledges that this one can take a long time, and can coexist with the steps that follow. Changing ourselves is not one-and-done, its continuing work. And if we dont deal with our underlying issues, well bring ourselves repeatedly to the same conflicts and flashpoints.

So we need to deal with our stuff. Our habits, our unconscious patterns, our blind spots. Maybe something in childhood shaped us. Maybe were carrying old trauma we havent wanted to examine. Like jury duty, this step of teshuvah asks us to notice and root out preconceptions and prejudice that get in the way of seeing clearly. It asks us to look inward and discern why we do the things we do.

This step asks balance between judging ourselves too harshly, and not judging ourselves seriously enough. If we are too harsh with ourselves, we'll be too demoralized to change. And if we're too lenient with ourselves, we'll never have the impetus to become better than we have been.





Step three is restitution and accepting consequences.

If I broke your favorite coffee mug, I have to buy you a new one at least as nice as the old one. If I took money from you, I need to repay it and then some. When it comes to harms like stealing or property damages, this is pretty straightforward. But its also true for other kinds of harm  emotional harm, reputational harm, psychological harm.

Many harms can never be undone. We still have to make restitution. I think of the Hebrew verb  / lshalem, which means to pay someone, to make restitution, to make them whole, to bring them peace. That's what we're after here: making restitution so significantly that the injured party can feel some peace.

The other piece of this step is accepting consequences. Maybe the person who was harmed draws a boundary and says I dont want to speak to you anymore. Or you admit to stealing money out of your parents wallet, and they say Thank you for coming clean, and also, youre grounded. Accepting consequences is part of teshuvah. This is true on the interpersonal scale of a parent reprimanding a child. It is also true on the much larger scale of celebrities, public figures, and government.





Step four is apology. Notice how far down the list weve gone before getting to Im sorry. This might seem counterintuitive: if I realize Ive harmed someone, shouldnt I apologize right away? But Rambam and Rabbi Ruttenberg say nope. Ive got to own up to my mistake, start doing my inner work to become a better person, make restitution and accept whatever consequences come my way, and then I can apologize.

I love this because it cuts off the avenue of I said I was sorry, what else do you want me to do? (Real teshuvah, that's what!) We dont get to say were sorry until were well and truly doing the work of trying to change. And, she notes, the apology needs to be genuine: spoken from a place of vulnerability, reflecting real regret and sorrow. Im sorry if you were hurt by this perfectly reasonable thing that I did is not an apology.







Step five is making different choices. Thats the biggest one, and the most difficult one. Its also how we know weve actually changed. When were met with a similar opportunity to cause harm, and we choose otherwise, repeatedly. The goal here isnt merely making amends, Rabbi Ruttenberg writes. Its transformation.

The goal is becoming a person who wouldnt do the harmful thing again. Thats real teshuvah: growing into the self we know we could be if we lived up to our highest ideals. Rabbi Ruttenberg writes:

The work of repentance, all the way through, is the work of transformation. Its the work of facing down false stories and engaging with painful reality. Its the work of being open to seeing ourselves as we really are. Its about figuring out how to be the kind of person who sees others suffering and takes responsibility for any role we might have in causing it.

The work of teshuvah asks us to look inward and to make outward changes. (There's that sacred and again.) We need to engage in self-reflection and in taking action to make things right. This balance of introspection and outward action -- there's Tiferet again.

In the criminal trial where I served as a juror, one man was acquitted and the other was found guilty. I wonder whether the one who was acquitted feels like he got a second chance. I wish the man who was convicted could have an opportunity to learn about owning harms, making restitution, offering real apology, starting anew. In his prison sentence I see consequences, but not restitution or repair: not for the family of the boy who was shot, nor for the one who fired the gun. I do believe that repentance is always possible. I dont think our criminal justice system is designed for transformation.

For mis-steps that harm ourselves and our Source, God is ready to forgive. When our actions or inaction harm others, forgiveness isnt Gods to grant. The holy atonement reset button wont work until we do what we can make it right. Whether or not forgiveness happens, this is the work. It might be the work of a lifetime, and thats okay. Its better to be doing it than ignoring it. Now is always a good time to start.





Ill close with one more anecdote from R. Ruttenbergs book. This comes from Danielle Sered, talking about a young man going through a restorative justice process. She says to him, Now that the threat of prison is no longer hanging over your head, are you just going to go back and do the same stuff you used to do? And he says, Nah. She asks why, and he points to his heart and says, the judge is in here now.

May the Judge be in here now, in our hearts, opening us to the work of repentance. May this Yom Kippur strengthen our resolve to clean up our own mess. To practice these steps not just today, but every day. To make teshuvah with humility. To balance inner work and outer transformation. And in that merit, may we be sealed for a good and sweet year.

This is the sermon I offered at Kol Nidre at Congregation Beth Israel of the Berkshires (cross-posted to the From the Rabbi blog.) Shared with deepest gratitude to R. Danya Ruttenberg for her work, and to all of my advance readers.




It's the sixth day of Pesah. Our mystics creatively read the holiday's name as peh sah, "The mouth speaks." Seder is a night of story, and that story begins with our ancestors' cry. This whole month of Nisan is dedicated to healing our speech. What better time to offer some small teachings about (potentially) harmful silence and harmful speech?

(On a weird gender note, try searching for an image of an open mouth speaking. Notice how many of the mouths depicted are femme / wearing lipstick / somewhat flirty / etc. The image search algorithm seems to have a certain bias -- implying that women sure do like to talk, or something? Wow.)

The subject of lashon hara, harmful speech (literally evil tongue) has been floating around my corner of the internet lately, and a friend asked if I had any thoughts to share. I do! Ive spent some time with this subject, and I hope that my thoughts and citations will shed light rather than heat. Buckle up: this is nuanced stuff, and isnt easily condensed. First, some definitions:

Lashon hara is true speech about someone that damages the person being discussed. A related term is rechilut, gossip / speaking about someone behind their back. Also hotzaat shem ra, making a bad name, slander / untrue statements about someone. All are prohibited by Jewish texts, though slander or defamation is considered to be the worst of the bunch.

Theres a famous story (heres one version) in which someone comes to a rabbi asking for absolution for gossip. The rabbi invites them to cut open a feather pillow. Once cut open, its feathers are picked up by the wind. The moral of the story is that words fly like those feathers: they cant be unspoken, including to places the speaker may never have intended.

This Talmud text gets cited a lot:         / One who whitens anothers face (shames or embarrasses them) in public, it is as if that person shed blood. (Bava Metzia 58b) In context, its part of a conversation about verbal mistreatment. Clearly our tradition does not subcribe to sticks and stones etc. Words do matter.

Part of what makes lashon hara complicated is that were instructed not to cause halbanat panim / shame even if what were saying is true. Remember, lashon hara is presumed to be true speech. But what about the risk of allowing abusive behavior to stand? Is there an ethical obligation to speak in order to protect? (Short answer: yes, I believe there is.)

If someone does something wrong and I call them on it, strictly speaking that is lashon hara. Sometimes both speaking and silence cause harm to the vulnerable, and then we have to choose as best we can. In my understanding (and others, too  e.g. R. Avi Friedman / @AvFriedman) saving others from harm is often the highest ethical obligation.

For more on that, heres a great summary of the Hofetz Hayims teachings on when lashon hara is permissible, maybe even obligatory. We may speak lashon hara (its arguable that we must) in order to help others. And, we mustnt do so lightly. Note that he offers further stipulations, e.g. dont pass along hearsay, think hard about intentions, this should be a last resort, etc.

Torah tells us not to stand idly by when our fellows blood is being shed. (Lev. 19:15) Given Talmuds understanding of whitening the face, we can say: If person A is slandering person B, we must not stand by as person B is shamed. We should name the slander for what it is. And yet if we speak up, theres a risk of shaming person A for doing the slandering.

(This is part of why the Hofetz Hayim is insistent that one must be ethically scrupulous and ensure that if one is going to speak, the 7 preconditions be met: firsthand knowledge, awareness of Jewish law, private tokheha first, the truth and only the truth, constructive intentions, no other available path, and not causing greater punishment than would a court.)

Torah also tells us to rebuke our fellow when our fellow has done wrong  but not to sin in so doing. (Lev. 19:16) Rashi says the sin, the missing-of-the-mark, lies in offering tokheha (rebuke) in a way that causes shame, e.g. the whitening of the face. Its our obligation to try not to shame others. And its also our duty to protect the vulnerable. Sometimes these two imperatives conflict.

Sometimes the obligation to prevent more harm (Person C, the thing you are doing is hurting me and may hurt others; please stop) outweighs the obligation to avoid halbanat panim. If by offering tokheha or naming a wrongful act one might protect others from being harmed, speaking up is an obligation. (More on that in this @jdforward piece by R. Mira Wasserman.)

I dont think there are easy rubrics for balancing the imperative to speak when others are at risk with the imperative to avoid public shaming. I think its an endless and necessary balancing act. Much has been written about this  see the resources compiled in The Torah of #MeToo. (Some of the pieces Ive already linked or cited are included in that collection.)

A false accusation (of wrong behavior) can cause enormous harm. It seems clear to me that slander and false accusations should be named and rejected. To weaponize a false accusation of unethical behavior not only harms the person falsely accused, it also indirectly harms actual victims of that behavior, making it harder for everyone to take victim testimony at face value.

A parallel harm can also be perpetuated by the weaponized accusation that someone is speaking lashon hara. If a tokheha / critique is genuine, then accusing the critic of lashon hara can be a way to silence them. That in turn can shift the focus in unhelpful ways from the critique (which is a legitimate area of inquiry) to the character or motivations of the critic.

We see this a lot in #MeToo contexts: when someone is accused of rape, people often bemoan how the accusation has marred his bright future, ignoring the worse impacts on the person who experienced the rape. Accusing the rape victim of ruining [the accuseds] reputation with lashon hara is a way of weaponizing Jewish tradition in order to silence the victim.

R. Mira Wasserman notes that in todays climate, to be the object of an accusation is to suffer public humiliation. I find myself thinking a lot about R. Danya Ruttenberg (@TheRaDR)s book On Repentance and Repair. What if being accused of doing something wrong could be a springboard to inner change work and the outer work that must follow?

Its not easy to respond to an accusation in that way. Halbanat panim: the blood drains from the face, the heart pounds, the limbic system activates, anger surges. Its difficult to breathe through that and reach the other side, and then to look with clear eyes: did I do something wrong? Is there truth in this accusation? What work is there for me to do here?

And of course this too can be weaponized. Imagine an innocent person who is first accused of unethical behavior, and then told that their unwillingness to be gaslit about their own behavior is further example of whats wrong with them. Any holy teaching can be misused. My hope is that we who are invested in right speech try hard not to misuse this body of Jewish wisdom.

These dynamics come into play in non-#MeToo settings too, of course. Imagine that I know from personal experience that someone is abusive toward employees. I would feel obligated to warn one applying for a job there; otherwise my silence would make me complicit in their potential harm. I would also feel torn about naming it, because I dont want to engage in lashon hara.

The obligation to protect the vulnerable takes precedence over the obligation to guard my tongue. In a case like that one, I would probably reach out privately to share my own experience as a cautionary tale. Id have to balance my desire to communicate privately against the knowledge that sometimes speaking publicly is the best way to prevent harm.

And if I did choose to speak publicly about harms Id experienced, I know Id run the risk of being accused of lashon hara for saying what happened, and people would question my character and my motivations in speaking. (This is hypothetical! I am not talking about my beloved shul! Im just trying to show that trying to make ethical choices takes nuance.)

Today we aspire to be aware of power dynamics, and those do matter here. We all occupy different positions of power in different relationships. I can be in a position of power because of my skin (white), and also a marginalized one because of my gender (female.) Or in a position of power because Im cisgender, and also a marginalized one because Im Jewish.

Relative power in a relationship can impact how we receive critique / tokheha. The same critique might land differently depending on the gender of the person making the critique or the gender of the person receiving it. Sexual orientation, gender expression, age, skin color, level of education  all of these impact who has the power in any given interaction.

Im always aware that being a rabbi is a position of power. I dont think of myself as someone who wields power in an angular or frontal way, but I need to be extra careful. Someone could still experience me as exercising power over them because of my role. And when a spiritual leader causes harm, that harm can be redoubled because of the import of what we do.

I know that if I harm someone, as a rabbi, I risk damaging their relationship not only with me but with Judaism writ large and perhaps even with the Holy One of Blessing. When I comport myself well, it reflects on my tradition. When I comport myself poorly, the same is true. Whether in actions or in words, I owe it to everyone I serve to be both careful and principled.

Like the book says, Being a rabbi means serving as a Symbolic Exemplar of the best that is in humankind, being experienced and treated and expected to act as a stand-in for God, and a walking, talking symbol of all that Jewish tradition represents. No pressure, or anything. (Hah.) I know that no one can always live up to that. I also know that its my job to try as best I can.

So what should one do if one realizes that one has engaged in lashon hara? Own it, and make restitution, including accepting any consequences. Then apologize, though the relationship might or might not be reparable. Then make different choices in future. (This is R. Danya Ruttenbergs formulation, based in Rambam; I gave a sermon about it last year.)

That same teshuvah (repentance / repair) framework is also the answer if one realizes that one has engaged in any wrongful interpersonal act. Teshuvah is our constant spiritual and ethical curriculum. Everyone causes harm, and everyone experiences harm. Our task as Jews is to use our traditions wisdom in the service of building a world of less harm and more justice.

Judaism instructs us to avoid gossip and lashon hara and especially slander  AND to balance the obligation to avoid shaming others with the obligation to protect the vulnerable from mistreatment. Weaponizing any false accusation is never okay. Neither is weaponizing the language of lashon hara to silence the voice of anyone whos experienced harm.

This post also exists as a long Twitter thread.
Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho, who doubles as the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, arrives at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, April 9, to head for the United States to attend a meeting of the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors. Yonhap



Korea's trade surplus with China is expected to be weaker than in the past down the road, although it is unlikely to result in a deficit, the finance minister has said.



"It is clear that China will not give our economy a chance to rebound as quickly as it has in the past," Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said during a meeting with South Korean reporters in New York on Monday (U.S. time).



Exports to China, Korea's top trading partner, plunged 33.4 percent on-year in March to reach $10.42 billion, extending the losing streak to the sixth month, as its demand for chips and petrochemical products has weakened amid an economic slowdown.



Choo added the recovery of the Chinese economy is nevertheless expected to have a spillover effect on the South Korean economy with a time lag.



"If China's manufacturing industry is vitalized, it will give a boost to our exports. The consumption by Chinese tourists will also have a positive impact on South Korea's service exports," Choo said.



Regarding Korea's economic growth, Choo maintained a 1.6 percent rise outlook but added that the country needs to monitor situations in the United States and Europe.



"As the Korean economy is so open, it is unclear how economic unrest in the U.S. and elsewhere will impact us," Choo said, mentioning the latest banking crisis in the world's top economy. "We always remain vigilant."



Choo was visiting the U.S. to participate in a string of events, including the Group of 20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' meeting. (Yonhap)


BEIJING  A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien is attending the third International Consumer Products Expo (Hainan Expo), which is being held from April 10-15 in Haikou City, Hainan Province (China).

At the opening ceremony, Dien said the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and China has been developing well, bringing practical benefits to both sides.

Despite the severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, China has continuously maintained its position as the largest trading partner of Viet Nam. Viet Nam is currently also the largest trading partner in ASEAN and the sixth largest of China globally.

The trade scale between Viet Nam and China currently accounts for about a quarter of Viet Nam's total foreign trade turnover. In the overall economic and trade cooperation relationship between the two countries, Hainan has a particularly important position because the locality has a close geographical location to Viet Nam.

The Chinese Government planned it as the world's largest free trade port with many important preferential policies.

The minister believed that with such important policies in the context of regional bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation mechanisms being actively implemented by stakeholders, Hainan would soon play an important role in trade relations between ASEAN - China in general and between Viet Nam - China in particular.

Speaking highly of the significance and practicality of the expo, which is one of the few major national-level fairs held right after the Chinese Government announced the successful control of the pandemic, the Vietnamese minister expressed his hope that participating businesses will have more information, be proactive and creative, and soon turn ideas and cooperation opportunities into specific programmes, projects and contracts that contribute to bringing economic and trade co-operation between countries to a new height.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade is willing to support and create the most favourable conditions so that Vietnamese, Chinese and foreign enterprises can boost cooperation and achieve the highest results, he added.

At the opening ceremony, Dien had a discussion with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao on creating favourable conditions to boost two-way trade, especially opening doors to more Vietnamese agricultural products.

He proposed Wang back the Vietnamese ministrys opening of trade promotion offices in Hainan and Chengdu. The Chinese minister accepted the proposal, stressing the need for the two ministries to coordinate closely to boost two-way trade.

Over 3,100 brands from 65 countries and regions are partaking in the third expo. The exhibition area is set to increase by 20 per cent over the previous edition, reaching 120,000sq.m.

On April 10 afternoon, Minister Dien is scheduled to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Viet Nam pavilion, a Viet Nam -China trade and investment promotion conference, and an inaugural ceremony of a Southeast Asia Investment Service Centre at the Hainan Free Trade Port.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nams non-life insurance market has continued to attract foreign investors in the first months of this year.

Two domestic insurance companies, Vietnam National Aviation Insurance Joint Stock Corporation (VNI) and Military Insurance Corporation (MIC), welcomed new capital from foreign investors in the first quarter of 2023.

PYN Elite Fund, an investment fund from Finland, has announced it has bought 500,000 shares of MIC, raising its ownership rate from 4.99 per cent to 5.29 per cent.

After this transaction, PYN Elite Fund officially became the second largest shareholder in MIC, along with the parent company Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBBank), which holds 68.4 per cent of MICs stake.

PYN Elite Fund, formerly known as Mutual Fund Elite, was established in early 1999 by PYN Fund Management (Finland). This is an investment fund targeting Asian markets.

MIC is currently among the top companies with a charter capital of VN1.3 trillion with nearly 2,000 employees. In a development strategy in the 2020-25 period, MIC set the ambition to be the Top 3 leading non-life insurance companies in Viet Nam by 2025.

Previously, in February 2023, DB Insurance officially became the parent company of VNI with an ownership rate of 75 per cent after signing a contract to receive share transfers from a group of shareholders, including 19 individual investors and one institutional investor in VNI.

DB Insurance has been present in the Vietnamese insurance market for more than ten years. In addition to VNI, this large Korean group has also invested in Post and Telecommunications Joint Stock Insurance Corporation (PTI) since 2015. It is currently a major shareholder of PTI with an ownership of 37 per cent of the capital.

One of DB Insurances strengths is motor vehicle insurance and the fact that after becoming a major shareholder of PTI, this shareholder has focused on investing in PTIs retail segment of motor vehicle insurance, helping the insurer continuously maintain the number one market share in the motor vehicle insurance segment in Viet Nam.

Meanwhile, VNI is also one of the Top 10 companies with the largest market share in Viet Nams non-life insurance market in 2022, the Top 2 companies with the highest revenue in compulsory auto civil liability insurance, and the Top 3 companies with the highest revenue in motor vehicle insurance. Therefore, the strategy to develop VNI shortly after DB Insurance becomes the controlling shareholder is a question of interest.

In addition to the above two cases, the market is also waiting for new moves in the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) disbursement roadmap in Bao Minh Insurance, whose personnel structure has changed a lot in recent years.

Experts said with new movements in the market, the competition in the motor vehicle insurance segment would become fiercer.

Non-life insurance still has a certain attraction to foreign capital flows though the profits of this segment mostly declined last year, and the market is not as positive as before the pandemic. However, for investors interested in the non-life insurance market in Viet Nam, the potential remains huge because of the low insurance penetration.  VNS




HA NOI  The northern province of Quang Ninh has been named the most competitive province in Viet Nam for the sixth year in a row, according to the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) 2022 report released by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday.

With an impressive score of 72.95, Quang Ninh has maintained its lead in the rankings for six consecutive years, thanks to its outstanding economic management quality and friendly and supportive business environment.

The efficient performance of the Quang Ninh Investment Promotion Agency (IPA Quang Ninh), as well as the various public administrative service agencies at the provincial, district, and commune levels, has earned high praise from businesses.

Bac Giang is in second place for the first time, with a score of 72.80, 8.06 higher than the previous year. Hai Phong is third with a score of 70.76, followed by Ba Ria-Vung Tau (70.26 points) and ong Thap (69.68 points).

The remaining positions in the Top 10 PCI 2022 were Thua Thien Hue (69.36 points); Bac Ninh (69.08); Vinh Phuc (68.91); a Nang (68.52) and Long An (68.45).

Compared to PCI 2021, three centrally-run cities, Ha Noi, HCM City and Can Tho, were not in the Top 10 and even dropped from last year's ranking.

Can Tho dropped five places to 19th, while Ha Noi dropped ten places to 20th. HCM City dropped 13 places to 27th.

The 2022 PCI report reveals the tremendous efforts of both businesses and provincial governments to navigate through the rough waters of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Pham Tan Cong, VCCI chairman.

Both domestic and foreign firms reported improvements in administrative procedures, reductions in the time costs of bureaucratic compliance, and liberation from the burdens of informal charges.

However, the effects of the challenging economic context are also clear in this year's report, as reforms in many policy areas slowed and business optimism remained low.

Many firms report multiple difficulties in access to finance, hiring employees, limited infrastructure growth, and a gap between central policy and implementation at the grassroots level.

"Businesses in Viet Nam face multiple obstacles from the challenging economic context," Cong said. "We hope that provincial and municipal governments will further strengthen business support policies that contribute to a more enabling and stable domestic business environment to make up for the instabilities of the global market for firms."

In this year's report, VCCI also launched the Provincial Green Index (PGI) for the first time, an initiative developed by VCCI with support from the USAID and private sector partners.

This index evaluates and ranks provinces' environmental policy from the perspective of businesses to promote better business behaviour and practices, including the application of new green technologies.

Tra Vinh, Lang Son and Bac Ninh are the TOP 3 PGI performers in this inaugural edition.

"The new Provincial Green Index builds on this prior success, and it signals a greater recognition among the private sector that environmental considerations are equally important for business success and long-term economic growth," said Aler Grubbs, USAID/Viet Nam Mission Director.

With the introduction of the PGI, we hope to encourage provinces and cities in Viet Nam to pay greater attention to environmentally responsive economic development, provide up-to-date information that informs investment and environmental policy, and ultimately promote an environmentally friendly business ecosystem that contributes to the country's green growth orientation, according to her.

The Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), the result of a long-standing collaborative effort between VCCI and USAID, is designed to assess provincial economic governance, the ease of doing business, and administrative reform efforts by provincial governments in Viet Nam to boost private sector development.

The 2022 PCI report was developed from responses from 11,872 firms, including 10,590 domestic private businesses and 1,282 foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) operating in Viet Nam.

In total, a stunning 176,496 unique businesses have participated since the beginning of the PCI survey in 2005, reflecting different facets of the Vietnamese business environment.

Developed and introduced in 2005, PCI comprises ten sub-indices: entry costs, land access and tenure, transparency, time costs, informal charges, provincial leadership proactivity, policy bias, business support programmes, labour policy, and law and order.  VNS
VIENTIANE  President Vo Van Thuong expressed his delight at the growing special solidarity between Viet Nam and Laos during a reception in Vientiane on Monday for President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune.

President Thuong hailed cooperation between LFNC Central Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee as well as Vietnamese partners over the past years, especially the signing of a cooperation agreement for the 2022-2026 period.

He said both sides had regularly maintained the exchange of delegations at all levels via different channels while locality-to-locality and people-to-people exchanges had been further deepened.

To build on the positive effects of the Viet Nam-Laos, Laos-Viet Nam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, the Vietnamese leader suggested that the LFNC Central Committee work closely with Viet Nam to effectively realise cooperation agreements in areas such as front, mass mobilisation, religious and ethnic affairs, and raise public awareness of the tradition of Viet Nam-Laos special relationship.

On the occasion of Laos' traditional New Year festival Bunpimay, he wished the LFNC Central Committee and its President success and development, continuing to make positive contributions to preserving and upholding Viet Nam-Laos special relationship.

Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, for his part, expressed his joy when President Thuong chose Laos as the first country to pay an official visit after assuming his new position.

He affirmed that he always remembered and was grateful for the valuable assistance that the Vietnamese Party, State and people offered to Laos in the past struggle for national liberation and the current national construction and development.

The Lao official vowed to continue working closely with the VFF Central Committee to build on the success of Viet Nam-Laos, Laos-Viet Nam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

He also promised to raise awareness of Lao people, especially young generations, about the Laos-Viet Nam special relations while partnering with Lao agencies to offer all possible support to the Vietnamese living and working in the country.



Receiving President of the Laos-Viet Nam Friendship Association (LVFA) Boviengkham Vongdala the same day, President Thuong hailed diverse cooperation between Laos-Viet Nam and Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Associations over the past year, including the active and effective contribution of the LVFA to the success of the Viet Nam-Laos, Laos-Viet Nam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

He suggested the two associations continue working closely together to hold people-to-people exchanges, thus connecting the two peoples together, especially young generations.

Boviengkham Vongdala, in reply, said in his capacity as Lao Minister of Science and Technology, he initiated cooperation activities with Vietnamese partners, including building a Vietnamese teaching centre and launching projects nurturing bilateral friendship.

He stressed that the LVFA would continue partnering with the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Association to uphold the success of the Viet Nam-Laos, Laos-Viet Nam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

It would also further step up awareness campaigns among Lao people, especially young generations, to further deepen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples.  VNS
HA NOI  United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Viet Nam this weekend, according to a notice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued on Tuesday morning.

The visit, from April 14-16, is made at the invitation of Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

The trip to Ha Noi is expected to advance key discussions with Vietnamese partners as Viet Nam and the US are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership.

He is scheduled to meet with senior Vietnamese officials to examine a shared vision of a connected, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Indo-Pacific region, said the US State Department.

The US diplomat also will attend the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Japan on April 16-18, after accompanying President Joe Biden on his trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland from April 11-14.

Earlier, in a press conference, the deputy spokesperson for the foreign ministry Pham Thu Hang noted that US-Viet Nam relations were deepening and growing increasingly substantial on a bilateral, regional, and global scale.

Economic trade and investment cooperation had been a highlight in the bilateral ties as last year's trade value hit US$123 billion, up four times from 2013.  VNS
VIENTIANE  Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong on Tuesday visited former Party General Secretaries and Presidents Choummaly Sayasone and Bounnhang Vorachith, and former Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, on the last day of his official visit to Laos.

Thuong conveyed New Year (Bunpimay) wishes from Viet Nam's Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue to the former Lao leaders.

He thanked them for their great contributions to the two countries special solidarity as well as their support for the comprehensive development of bilateral friendship and collaboration.

Appreciating the great achievements that the Lao Party, State and people have gained in recent years, the Vietnamese leader expressed his belief that under the sound leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the country will soon overcome difficulties and develop further.

The former Lao leaders showed their delight at the fine development of the two countries' relations in all fields and thanked them for the valuable support and assistance from the Viet Nam.

They proposed the two countries continue sharing experiences, nurturing their special friendship, and improving the efficiency of the implementation of signed agreements.

They also stressed the need to maintain the dissemination and education work on the bilateral relations for the two peoples, especially younger generations.

The same day, President Thuong laid a wreath at President Kaysone Phomvihanes Monument.

Before concluding his official trip and returning to Ha Noi on Tuesday afternoon, the President had a meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese embassy in Laos and representatives of the 100,000-strong Vietnamese community in the country.

The representative of Vietnamese businesses in Laos proposed that the Government provide support measures for businesses investing in Laos, especially in terms of capital, so that these firms can enhance their competitiveness, expand investment, and contribute even more to Viet Nam-Laos economic and trade cooperation.

The President reiterated that Viet Nam values relations with Laos, and the Party and State always pay attention to the overseas Vietnamese community, considering it an inseparable part of the national unity bloc.

Expressing his sympathy with the difficulties faced by our overseas Vietnamese community, the President stated that during his visit and discussions with Lao leaders, the Party and the State always request support for our fellow countrymen regarding citizenship, legal status, safety and security, and assistance the Vietnamese community in terms of doing business, education, and daily lives.

He called on the community to exert stronger efforts to weather difficulties to do long-term and sustainable business so as to help with bilateral economic and investment partnerships.

President Thuong also expressed his hope that the Vietnamese people in Laos will keep upholding solidarity, develop a strong community, contribute more to socio-economic development in Laos, and help maintain and strengthen the special and close-knit relations between the countries.  VNS
Thu Hang

HA NOI  Nguyen Thanh Thao rises at the sound of the 5am alarm, ready to hit the books.

As she gears up for the impending high school entrance exam, early-morning study sessions have become the norm for the ninth-grader.

Gone are the days of leisurely hobbies, as Thao's recent months have been filled with a gruelling routine of eating, sleeping, and studying.

The unrelenting schedule of supplementary classes can leave her feeling like she is operating on autopilot.

Come 5:30pm, Thao hastily eats a quick bite before hurrying to her extra class, keen not to be late.

"Every day I go to bed at 11pm, even later, and wake up at 5 am to continue studying," Thao told Viet Nam News. "Each week I have four extra lessons after class. I don't have free time. If I have, I'll take advantage of that time to sleep."

"Sometimes, I return home at 9:30pm."

"Studying seems to be more stressful when both my parents and I want me to be able to get into Kim Lien High School, one of the good high schools in Ha Noi."

Like Thao, Hoang Cong Chung, a ninth grader of Vinh Hung Secondary School in Ha Noi's Hoang Mai District, is also busy with a study schedule.

After school, he has to take part in extra classes in literature, math and English. His daily extra classes often end at 9pm.

He said that he felt under pressure for the coming exam, but he has to try to get into a state-owned high school.

"I encourage myself by thinking about relaxing after the exam," Chung said.

Similarly, Nguyen Kim Dung in ong a District also hopes her daughter can enrol in Kim Lien High School.

"This is a school with many outstanding achievements in training," said Dung. "Moreover, the percentage of students who can enter good universities of this school is also very high. It will be a very good environment for my daughter to study here."

Tran Khanh Chi, Dung's daughter, said she knew her mother's expectations and she is under pressure with it.

"I used to tell my mother that I could not successfully enrol in Kim Lien High School because the competition is very tough," Chi said.

"My mother always encourages me to try harder. She even signed me up for an extra math class in hopes that my math score would improve on the upcoming exam."

Bui Thanh Huyen, a literature teacher at Linh Nam Secondary School, Hoang Mai District, said that many parents are so worried about the upcoming exam that they are putting pressure on their children.

"Teachers in the school always try to help students study and prepare well for the upcoming exam," Huyen said. "Studying at school is enough, there is no need to take extra classes outside of school."

"Studying too much will put pressure on children, and it even has the opposite result."

However, many parents still send their children to several centres to study a subject, according to Huyen.

Nguyen Kim Oanh, the mother of a ninth grader in Hoang Mai District, said that she sent her son to two math classes weekly, hoping he could learn the same lessons several times.

"Studying the same lesson many times will help your child remember that lesson better and can do well in the exam if he encounters a problem that he has studied many times."

She said that the entrance exam would take place on June 10-11, and students do not have much time to prepare for the exam.

About 102,000 students will be enrolled in high schools, an increase of about 1,000 students compared to the previous school year. Of this number, 72,000 students can sit in public high schools, accounting for 55.7 per cent, Kinh te & o thi (Economics & Urban Affairs) newspaper reported.

About 30,000 students are enrolled into private high schools and vocational education centres.

The high school entrance exam is even tougher than the exam to university, Oanh said. If your son fails to apply for a university, he/she can apply to other schools. If he cannot enter high school, he will have to stay home."

"To be able to enter university, my son needs to successfully enrol in high school first."  VNS
Visitors to a liquor store in Seoul take a look at whisky bottles, March 21. Yonhap



By Lee Min-hyung



The National Tax Service (NTS) has launched a council dedicated to promoting exports of Korea's traditional alcohols, in a bid to tackle a rising liquor trade deficit, the tax agency said Tuesday.



The K-Liquor Promotion Council pledged to rebrand the identity of Korean alcohols by developing proper naming that can better represent all the exported alcoholic products. The decision reflects the growing worldwide popularity of K-pop and other forms of Korean pop culture products. The NTS said Korean alcoholic beverages can also join the global bandwagon, but the lack of a cohesive brand identity has blocked Korean alcohol from gaining traction abroad.



Toward that end, the government and private sector will join hands to build a co-prosperous environment, not just for big companies, but also minor ones that are selling traditional and lesser-known alcoholic drinks, the agency said.



The NTS said it plans to encourage large firms to engage in marketing collaboration with minor liquor producers when the former exports their products.



Data showed that liquor imports have soared for the past few years, during the COVID-19 pandemic, but local ones failed to extend their footing abroad due to a general lack of awareness by consumers there. In 2019, liquor imports reached 1.02 trillion won, but the figure soared to 1.72 trillion won last year, according to NTS data.



However, exports of local liquor products did not report outstanding growth during the same period. Liquor exports amounted to 404.7 billion won as of 2019, but declined to 324.3 billion won in 2020 and 325.7 billion won in 2021 before bouncing back to 397.9 billion won in 2022.



Despite the slight recovery of exports, the top ten-largest firms accounted for 81.1 percent of total liquor exports, with small traditional liquor producers losing more ground to bigger players.



Most small liquor producers want to sell their products abroad, but said a lack of a network and infrastructure has prevented them from making inroads into non-Korean territories, according to a survey that the agency conducted on 1,006 officials from the nation's small- and medium-sized alcohol makers.



According to the survey, the biggest obstacle they face is a lack of information and experience in overseas markets. They also cited a lack of government support as the second reason behind their failure in exporting their products.





National Tax Service (NTS) Commissioner Kim Chang-ki, front row fifth from left, poses with food chain entrepreneur Paik Jong-won, front row sixth from left, and other members of the council for the promotion of traditional alcohol exports at the council's launch ceremony in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of NTS
PHU YEN  Nguyen Van Trung, a resident of An Thach Commune in Tuy An District of Phu Yen Province, has farmed shrimp for ten years.

It used to be a high-paying business, but now diseases triggered by water pollution, decreasing prices and unstable demand have put his livelihood in a precarious position.

After feeding the lobster in the Xuan ai Bay, known as the shrimp capital of the province, Trung dived into the cages to check on them, only to find out that a few lobsters as big as his wrists could only move slowly, a sign that they had contracted diseases.

The shrimp was clung by hau chi (a type of oyster), meaning it is unable to change shell - this is a sign of sickness, he said.

Three years ago, when Trung was about to harvest the shrimp for sale, the water changed colour due to the pollution, leading to 90 per cent of his lobsters dying.

The lobsters of various types were supposed to be sold for VN1 million to 1.8 million per kg.

I was empty-handed, he said.

According to the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of Phu Yen, black gill disease and infection caused by rickettsial-like organisms bacteria have spread widely in shrimp farms in Song Cau Township and affected all types of shrimps farmed here.

The department said that the main cause of this spread was the high density of cages, which affected the water flow rate and hindered the circulation of water.

Aquaculture activities also contributed to water pollution, with environmental indicators exceeding the allowed threshold, it said.

Xuan ai Bay, which stretches Xuan ai, Xuan Thanh, Xuan Yen wards and Xuan Phuong Commune in Song Cau Township, is well known by many people as the shrimp capital of Phu Yen Province and of the whole country.

Song Cau Township is now home to 55,000 lobster cages, mainly scalloped spiny lobsters, according to its People's Committee.

Bui Van Phong, who has been in this business for 15 years, also has to scale down his business due to concerns over disease and weather conditions.

What concerns farmers here the most is sudden downpours. Lobsters don't die in freshwater, but they can go into shock, Phong said.

The first month of the rainy season is when lobsters easily fall sick, leaving local farmers worried about their health.

Decreasing prices have also hit local shrimp farmers hard.

Currently, the price of tom hum bong (Ornate spiny lobster) ranges from VN930,000 to 950,000 a kg, tom hum xanh (Scalloped spiny lobster) at around VN750,000 a kg.

In previous years, they could be sold for VN800,000-1 million a kg for tom hum bong and up to VN1.9 million for tom hum xanh.

Nguyen Trong Tung, Director of Phu Yens Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the department advised shrimp farmers to check the quality of feed.

The use of fresh food as feed must ensure quality and be supplemented with probiotics, vitamins and minerals to increase resistance in changing weather conditions so that shrimp can better withstand pathogens, he said.  VNS
LANG SON  Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang visited religious and belief organisations in the northern border province of Lang Son on the occasion of Easter 2023.

At the Lang Son-Cao Bang Diocese and My Son Parish in Lang Son City, Quang extended his greetings to local Catholic priests and followers.

He affirmed that the Party, State and Government always paid great attention to, respect and ensure human rights, including the right to freedom of belief and religion; and create favourable conditions for religious organisations to operate in accordance with the Constitution and laws.

The strong development of Lang Son Province had been thanks in part to the responsible contributions from Catholic compatriots, he stressed.

Quang expressed his hope that in the coming time, Lang Son leaders, people of all ethnic groups and Catholic compatriots would maintain solidarity, well observe the Partys guidelines and policies and the States laws, and promote the cultural and historical traditions and the national great solidarity.

Bishop Chau Ngoc Tri of the diocese thanked leaders of the Party, State, Government, socio-political organisations and local authorities for always paying attention and creating favourable conditions for cultural and religious activities of Catholics in the locality.

On the same day, the Deputy Prime Minister also visited the Bac Son Evangelical Church in Bac Son District.  VNS
AN GIANG  Leaders of the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on April 11 visited and offered greetings to Buddhist dignitaries, monks and followers at Thom Mit and Prolai Meas pagodas in Tinh Bien township, ahead of Khmer ethnic minority peoples traditional New Year festival Chol Chnam Thmay.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Hong Quang highlighted local socio-economic development along with guaranteed political security, maintained social order and safety, and peoples improved material and spiritual lives. He attributed those achievements partly to major contributions by local people, including Khmer, dignitaries, monks and residents.

He called on the Khmer community to keep upholding the spirit of great national solidarity; join hands with authorities to realise socio-economic development, defence, and social safety ensuring targets; and promote livelihoods to help with the development of An Giang.

For their part, local dignitaries and monks appreciated the Party, State, and provincial leaders attention to the ethnic group, affirming that Khmer people always believe in the Party and States leadership.

Most Venerable Chau Cat, deputy head of the executive board of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sanghas chapter in An Giang and head of Prolai Meas pagoda, pledged to continue encouraging Khmer monks and people in the province to further bring into play the solidarity among ethnic groups, comply with the Partys guidelines and the States policies and laws, and lead a good secular and religious life.

An Giang is home to more than 94,500 Khmer people, accounting for 4.2 per cent of its population.

The Chol Chnam Thmay festival is an occasion to celebrate the ethnic groups New Year and pray for good health, bumper crops, wealth, and happiness. It will last from April 14 to 16 this year.

On this occasion, many delegations of provincial and local officials have visited 65 Khmer pagodas across An Giang to share the New Year joy with locals.  VNS
HCMC  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Vietnam at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son from April 14 to 16.

The Vietnam visit is expected to promote bilateral relations as the two countries are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Partnership. This will be the first visit by Blinken to Vietnam in his capacity as U.S. Secretary of State.

He will have meetings with senior Vietnamese officials to discuss a shared vision of a connected, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Department of State said in a statement.

In late March, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had a phone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden.

The two leaders praised Vietnam-U.S. relations and sought to bolster the partnership for peace, cooperation and development.

On July 25, 2013, Vietnam and the U.S. agreed to upgade bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership.
Reportedly, to celebrate its 9th birthday, fashion brand Yody posted a video and image of a map design of Vietnam missing two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. Immediately, the public reacted, and many opinions demanded a boycott.

On the morning of April 10, YODY officially issued a statement apologizing to the Vietnamese people for the above incident. "After receiving the information, we swiftly examined the suitable content and admitted that the aforementioned omission had occurred in a film conveying a thank-you greeting to consumers on the occasion of the 9th birthday celebration. This problem emerged because our communications staff was careless in processing the image and censoring the video's content." YODY said.

"YODY asserts that as a Vietnamese firm formed by Vietnamese people, it is well aware that this error is unforgivable. As a result, we sincerely apologize to the people of Vietnam for our error. It is an important lesson in the process of dealing with clients.", the YODY statement stated.

Read more:

Fashion brand Yody apologizes for using a map with incorrect sovereignty  Breaking News, Latest World News Updates - VietReader Viet Nam

Not the first time a brand has used the wrong image of Vietnam's map. Previously, users discovered that the map of Grab's application in Vietnam showed false information about Vietnam's sovereignty in the East Sea. In particular, for the Truong Sa archipelago, in addition to a few Vietnamese entity names such as Son Ca, Sinh Ton, and so on, the names of other entities are displayed in Chinese and English.

Mischief Reef, which is under Vietnamese jurisdiction, is only represented in English and Chinese. Grab's map also displays Fiery Cross Reef as "Nansha District" or "Nam Sa District" under the Vietnamese administration.

"This has nothing to do with Grab's appreciation for the Vietnamese country and people." "We attentively consider all concerns and sincerely apologize for any troubles that may arise. "Grab Vietnam is committed to the Vietnamese market for the long term and is continually seeking new methods to contribute to the country's socioeconomic development." said a Grab Vietnam representative.

Read more:

Grab launches grocery delivery service GrabSupermarket in Malaysia  Breaking News, Latest World News Updates - VietReader Viet Nam

Earlier, Khanh Hoa Provincial Police said that it had just issued a decision to sanction Peak Events Joint Stock Company - the organizer of the Oceanman international swimming tournament - for violating the law. Peak Event Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City), the organizer of the event "OCEAMAN International Outdoor Swimming Tournament 2023," was fined 25 million VND by the Khanh Hoa Provincial Police for the behavior of posting, broadcasting, or using images of maps of Vietnam that do not fully represent or misrepresent national sovereignty, as specified in Point b, Clause 3, Article 99 of the Government's Decree 14/2022.

It is thorough that these are not isolated instances of maps being used to distort Vietnam's sovereignty. Many websites currently use map data from OpenMapTitles and OpenStreetMap. These two open-source tools provide location and location data from many sources, including user contributions. The original OpenStreetMap map currently contains lots of incorrect information about Vietnam's sovereignty over the water and islands in the East Water.

Also read:
Noi Bai International Airport (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  The Ministry of Transport will sketch out a planning scheme on the second airport in the capital region for 2026-2030, and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval.

This is part of an action programme launched by the ministry to materialise the Politburos Resolution on orientations and tasks to develop Hanoi by 2030 with a vision towards 2045.



Accordingly, the ministry will locate and put forth standards for the airport which is expected to meet development requirements in the capital region and the north at large.



It will also upgrade and expand the existing Noi Bai International Airport, contributing to turning Hanoi into a smart and modern urban area, and promoting regional connectivity for urban areas in the north and across the country.



Investment in Duong Bridge will be stepped up to raise the transportation capacity of the Hong (Red) River, and preparations will be made for the construction of the Co Tiet-Ben Market expressway by 2025, which is scheduled to be put into service by 2030.



The ministry will work on investment mobilisation for the Noi Bai-Ha Long expressway, and coordinate with Hanoi to accelerate the investment in Belt Roads No. 4, 2 and 5, urban rail routes, and other bridges.



Apart from the state budget, it will call for official development assistance and preferential loans from international donors, among others.



Railways, inland waterways and air routes will be prioritised in order to ease pressure on road transport.

Van Don intl airport to pilot biometric authentication for passengers The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has announced that passenger biometric authentication (facial recognition) will be piloted at check-in desks in Van Don international airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh.
Tech companies such as Intel Corporation and Apple are planning to increase investments in the country, photo: Le Toan

It is hoped by many quarters that Vietnam and the US will raise bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during a visit to Vietnam by US President Joe Biden or a visit to the US by a Vietnamese leader later this year, when both nations celebrate the 10th anniversary of the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership.

During a phone call over a week ago, Vietnams Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Biden both extended and accepted invitations to visit the others country. They agreed to further boost, develop, and sharpen the bilateral relationship for the sake of both countries, peace, cooperation, and development. They have assigned authorised agencies of the two nations to exchange specific contents to continue expanding ties in the coming time, according to a press release from the Vietnamese government.

President Biden reinforced the United States commitment to a strong, prosperous, resilient, and independent Vietnam, said a White House statement. The two leaders discussed the importance of strengthening and expanding the bilateral relationship, while working together to address regional challenges such as climate change, ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, and the deteriorating environmental and security situation along the Mekong.

Commenting on the possibility for both nations to forge a new cooperation framework, Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales, said, This year presents an opportune moment to raise relations to a strategic partnership. The White House reported that the two leaders discussed the importance of strengthening and expanding the bilateral relationship, thus laying the foundation for upgrading the comprehensive partnership.

If a strategic partnership becomes true, Vietnam and the US will issue new favourable mechanisms for enterprises from both sides to perform in their respective markets.

Accumulatively as of March 20, 2023, total US registered investment capital in Vietnam reached $11.43 billion for 1,239 valid projects, making the US the 11th biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, according to Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment.

During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit to the US in May 2022, enterprises from both countries exchanged many cooperation deals and trade contracts worth over $30 billion.

Many other US groups are also exploring opportunities in Vietnam, such as CFM International, Cargill, Intel, Cantor Fitzgerald, DeLong, Valero, AGP, and UPC Group. Representatives of groups like these have said that Vietnam is a dynamic market with great potential, and hope to expand their business in the country.

Steven Cranwell, CEO and regional head of Client Coveragein the Americas at Standard Chartered Bank, said, Despite the uncertainty of global economic conditions, we remain confident in Vietnams outlook. The countrys business friendly atmosphere, strategic location as a gateway to other fast-growing markets, plentiful and skilled labour, competitive labour cost, and incentives have been compelling propositions to companies looking to expand their manufacturing in the region.

Cranwell gave the example of US giant Apple. While Vietnam has yet to host an Apple plant, the country is already home to 31 companies with 160,000 workers producing and assembling parts for Apple products. Other tech companies such as Intel Corporation are also planning to increase their investments in the country. Nike is another example of a company which has expressed interest in expanding its investment and production in Vietnam.

The recent increase in the S&P Global Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index to above 50 in February is also a positive sign of its manufacturing sectors renewed strength, Cranwell added.

Economic ties between the United States and Vietnam have flourished since the mid-1990s. In 2022, the level of bilateral trade was more than 300 times greater than it was in 1995, said US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper. Last year, Vietnam was the eighth-largest trade partner for the United States. This is a far cry from when I was last here in Vietnam working at the US Embassy in 2004, when bilateral trade stood at less than $7 billion.

Statistics from Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade showed that the Vietnam-US bilateral trade has expanded almost 250-fold, from $450 million in 1995 to $123.7 billion last year. In 2022, the US was Vietnams largest export market, with an estimated turnover of $109.1 billion, up 13.3 per cent on-year.

The two-way figure in the first three months of 2023 touched $23.7 billion, including Vietnams exports of $20.6 billion, down 21.6 per cent on-year largely due to the Lunar New Year in January.

However, according to Cranwell, while US companies are optimistic about new plans to expand into Vietnam, there are challenges to ensure this trajectory continues at pace.

It is not uncommon to hear of companies voicing concerns that Vietnams infrastructure needs improvement, particularly in ports, transportation infrastructure, and logistics capabilities, for the country to continue its rate of growth, Cranwell said. Additionally, Vietnams reliance on raw materials from China may impede the diversification efforts of companies.

Building US-Vietnam ties via trade As the United States and Vietnam will approach the 10-year anniversary of the Comprehensive Partnership, it is an exciting time for our bilateral relationship and the United States engagement with the broader Southeast Asia region.

Building on far-reaching US-Vietnam cooperation As we welcome a new year, we at the US Mission in Vietnam take this opportunity to wish the Vietnamese people every joy and happiness in what we hope will be a very prosperous year filled with blessings and good fortune. During this special time of year, we reflect on the bonds that bring together friends and family, as well as the growing ties that unite our two countries and our peoples.
According to the General Statistics Office, international cruise ship tourists to Vietnam surged more than 2.8-fold compared to the previous month.

In the first quarte, this figure soared 936.3 times to exceed 33,700 tourists.

A representative from Saigontourist, a major travel firm, said that in Q1 the company continuously hailed and served visitors and cruise ships of different global cruise ship firms, including Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, TUI Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and others.

International cruise ship tourists at Halong Bay in Quang Ninh

During March 1-8, Saigontourist oversaw four foreign cruise ships landing in Vietnam with more than 4,200 visitors from different countries.

This set a record in 2023 in the density of international cruise ships docked at Vietnamese ports, marking the strong rebound of inbound travel.

Khanh Hoa has become one of the most appealing venues for international cruise ship visitors. From now until the year-end, about 20 international cruise ships are expected to make landfalls in Nha Trang, according to the Maritime Administration of Nha Trang.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, director of Tourism Development Research Institute, said that Vietnams green sector has ample potential to attract high-paying visitors as the country has a favourable position in regional maritime shipping routes.

Vietnam possesses 3,260km coastline, spotted with more than 4,000 islands, rock fields, beautiful bays and beaches, and the strong presence of deepwater ports, allows big vessels to dock near-shore.

In the past years, cruise ship travel has seen a robust development, contributing to facilitating tourism development and upscaling status in the global market, Tuan said.

Vietnam's tourism development strategy for the next decade has set sea and island tourism at the top priority.

However, it is difficult to tap cruise ship travel's immense potential due to the roadblocks related to marina infrastructure, weak and insufficient human resources, and unfocused marketing.

For instance, from 2019 until present, cruise ships have to dock at Phu My Port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, then take bus trips to travel more than 60km to Ho Chi Minh City amid frequent and heavy traffic jams.

Lim Jiun Yan, managing director at Resorts World Cruises Singapore, noted that cruise ship tourists often have to close the date of leasing a quay a year before. Hence, it is necessary for target destinations, like Vietnam, to make clear where are docking places and associated fees, avoiding making changes in the final minutes, which causes difficulties for both ship firms and visitors.

Besides infrastructure, hailing cruise ships and associated tourists is often time-consuming with cumbersome procedures, and the number of firms capable of providing services for cruise ship tourists remains modest.

To effectively tap cruise ship travel's immense potential, Vu The Binh, chairman of the Vietnam Travel Association, has proposed forming coastal tourism routes and from there creating new distinct products for each locality.

It is also important to strongly develop inland port systems capable of receiving cruise ships, open ocean resorts with good infrastructure, thereby attracting tourists to Vietnam by cruise ships more and more.

Khanh Hoa adjusts transport rules to welcome cruise ship tourists Khanh Hoa People's Committee has removed the transport bottlenecks to bring more cruise ship tourists to the locality.

Overnight cruise ship service piloted in Nha Trang Bay The south central province of Khanh Hoa has just approved a new tourist service: an overnight cruise ship in Nha Trang Bay.
The prime ministers of both countries plan to exchange visits this year as the nations celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations and are expected to lift existing ties, with more favourable mechanisms created for trade and investment.

More robust trade mechanisms aid Australian ties

During bilateral talks between Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong and Australian Governor-General David Hurley last week in Hanoi, both leaders agreed on discussions to lift bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership at a suitable time.

Vietnam suggested that Australia import more Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products to soon balance bilateral trade.

Last year, two-way trade reached $15.7 billion, up 26.7 per cent on-year. In which, Vietnamese exports hit $5.6 billion  up 26.2 per cent; imports touched $10.1 billion  up 27.3 per cent.

Australia is now the seventh-largest trade partner of Vietnam, and the Southeast Asian nation is the 10th largest trade partner of Australia. The achievement is largely attributed to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.

In Q1 this year, total trade hit $3.4 billion, with Vietnams exports of $1.3 billion  down 2.4 per cent on-year, and imports of $2.1 billion  equal to the same period last year. While the reduction is due to global difficulties and negative impacts of the pandemic, it is expected that two-way trade will flourish this year thanks to more favourable trade mechanisms.

Vietnam welcomes enterprises and investment funds from Australia to come to Vietnam to invest in renewable energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, finance-banking, education, high-tech agriculture, aviation, and tourism, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Governor-General Hurley.

It is also suggested that Australia continues to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese companies to invest in Australia in agriculture, mining, aviation, and tourism.

According to the recent Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy, the Vietnamese market is high on the radar of Australian companies.

To supplement their domestic operations and make the most of Vietnams comparative advantage in manufacturing, a number of Australian companies have significant investments here. These companies are joined by a growing cohort of small- and medium-sized enterprises looking to expand and diversify their manufacturing capacity.

Australian investment is mainly concentrated in manufacturing and processing industries, food services, and agro-forestry-fisheries. Prominent Australian investors in Vietnam include Austal, RMIT University, Blackstone Minerals, BlueScope Steel, CBH Group, and LOGOS.

For example, shipbuilder Austal is capitalising on Vietnams expertise as part of a strategy to expand its manufacturing operations for commercial vessels at its production facility in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Austal Vietnam commenced operations in 2018 as part of a strategy for the group to expand its global manufacturing operations for commercial vessels. The shipyard begins its life with core design and fabrication teams ably supported by Austal Australias design and construction resources.

Elsewhere, BlueScopes $105 million flat steel metallic coating and painting facility in Phu My 1 Industrial Zone in Ba Ria-Vung Tau was commissioned in 2005.

Moreover, SunRices investment in a rice processing mill in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap has helped secure rice supply for its established markets, particularly in the South Pacific. This offsets the variable annual rice production in Australia due to fluctuations in water availability.

Vietnam is going to require continued foreign investment inflows into many sectors to sustain its current rates of growth. Australian investors are well-placed to capitalise on this demand, particularly in aviation, transport, logistics, mining, and resources, said Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Consistent with Australias foreign investment regime, Vietnamese companies are welcoming investors in Australias agricultural sector, helping to create jobs in rural and regional areas.

For example, TH Group has made a large-scale agricultural investment in Australia since 2019 by acquiring and developing three beef farms in the north and west of Australia with an investment of $87.8 million. The project currently has more than 775,000 hectares of land and over 62,000 wild-grazing cattle, supplying beef to the Australian domestic market and exporting to other countries.

Since the investment, TH has continuously strengthened the farms capacity, increased profits, and contributed to promoting local economic development. With this project, TH is currently the largest Vietnamese enterprise in Australia.

Australias total registered investment capital in Vietnam has reached about $2 billion for almost 600 valid projects, according to Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Vietnam and Australia promoting bilateral trade and investment As Business Champions Vietnam-Australia 2022 celebrates its first anniversary, it promises to continue facilitating trade and investment.

Cross-border ties, Australian-style The relationship between Vietnam and Australia is built on respect, trust, and loyalty. Ranjit Thambyrajah, chairman of cross-border funding and investment arranger Acuity Funding, offers his analysis on the investment relationship between the pair.
The UK on March 31 announced the conclusion of talks with member countries of agreement (CPTPP), which is a vast free trade area spanning the Indo-Pacific, after 21 months of negotiations.

UKs entry to CPTPP makes deal go global

The bloc is home to over 500 million people and will have a total GDP of $13.53 trillion once the UK joins.

As the fifth-largest economy in the world by GDP in 2021 and with a market of 67 million consumers, the UK is an attractive market for Vietnam. Expanding the CPTPP to include the UK will help the agreement to diversify their supply chains, remove trading barriers, and encourage more trade for our businesses, said a statement from the British Embassy to Vietnam.

According to UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch, joining the trade bloc will also mean more than 99 per cent of UK goods exports to CPTPP member states will be eligible for zero tariffs. In the long run, it could boost the UK economy by 1.8 billion ($2.21 billion) and lead to a 1.7 billion ($2.09 billion) increase in UK exports to CPTPP countries as result of the reduction of barriers across goods and services, according to the UK governments published scoping assessment.

The UK is the first European country to join the dynamic trade bloc, and the first new member since CPTPP was created, taking it from a Pacific agreement to a truly global one. The UKs accession could mean lower tariffs on some exports to this market which are not already removed through the UKs bilateral agreements with member countries, including Vietnam.

UK membership could also benefit businesses and investors in Vietnam through modern rules that make it easier to establish, operate investments and do business in the UK, according to the embassy.

As for Vietnam, joining the CPTPP will complement our existing UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), upgrading our bilateral relationship with additional preferential tariffs, the embassy said. The removal of trade barriers will support our mutual economic security by deepening participation in each others supply chains and diversifying our trade.

British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew said, This is an important milestone for the UKs trade relations with Asia-Pacific countries. UKs accession will contribute additional economic strength to this progressive and dynamic trade alliance, adding 2 trillion ($2.46 trillion) to the combined GDP of the bloc.

The British government had been under fire to boost its trade after leaving the EU, but some detractors said that joining a bloc like the CPTPP means not only little benefit, but also that some standards will be lowered in the UK, meaning a raw deal in various sectors.

In addition, according to The House of Commons Library, a research service based in the UK Parliament, the economic benefits from the CPTPP appear to be small. The UK governments scoping assessment indicated that the long-run increase in GDP would be 0.08 per cent. Trade expert Sam Lowe pointed out that this is largely because the UK already has bilateral trade agreements with most CPTPP members.

Concerns have been raised that the UK might import more palm oil as a result of the CPTPPs tariff reductions on the product. The UKs current tariff on imports of palm oil from Malaysia, with whom the UK does not currently have a bilateral FTA, ranges between 0-12 per cent. These tariffs will be reduced to zero when the CPTPP enters into force for the UK. Environmental groups argue that palm oil production is linked to deforestation and damages the habitats of orangutans.

A spokesperson for the UKs Department of Business and Trade told the Guardian, The UK is committed to tackling illegal deforestation within our supply chains, and our agreement to join the CPTPP does not change that.

At present, the Vietnam-UK trade and investment ties are largely driven by the UKVFTA which took effect in May 2021, in addition to the Southeast Asian economys improved investment and business climate.

Once the CPTPP enters into force with tariff reductions and removal, businesses from the UK and Vietnam can select the CPTPP or the UKVFTA to apply for their exports to their respective markets based on their own conditions and ability to meet requirements under each agreement. If they fail to meet the requirements, their exports will not be able to benefit from any incentives from both agreements and instead, still have be subject to export conditions as usually applied.

As part of the UKVFTA, 85.6 per cent of tariff lines for goods imported by the UK from Vietnam were eliminated in January 2021, and 99.2 per cent will be removed by January 2027, according to the UKs Department for International Trade.

Additional benefits of UK accession to CPTPP - Boosting services: The UK is the worlds second-largest services provider and services accounted for 43 per cent of this nation trade with CPTPP member states last year. Joining the bloc will slash red tape  British firms will not be required to establish a local office or be resident to supply a service, and will be able to operate on a par with local firms. - Increased flexibility: Modern rules of origin could make British businesses more competitive by allowing them to trade more freely across the bloc. For example, UK car manufacturers could sell engines tariff-free to a carmaker in the bloc who could then sell those cars tariff-free to any member country. This is currently not possible under all the bilateral trade agreements the UK has in place with CPTPP members, and will help exporters diversify their supply chains and create new export opportunities. - Pro-investment: Investment between the UK and CPTPP countries is expected to increase, as the agreement contains provisions to limit barriers and encourage more inward investment. Inward investment stocks to the UK from CPTPP countries were worth 182 billion ($223.75 billion) in 2021. - Cutting-edge: Remotely delivered services from the UK to the CPTPP were worth 20.5 billion ($25.2 billion) in 2020. The CPTPP sets modern rules for digital trade across all sectors of the economy and will support UK businesses of all sizes to seek new opportunities in CPTPP markets. Source: UK Scotland Office and UK Department for Business and Trade
State Department interim spokesman Vedant Patel, second from left, listens as Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a briefing on the 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices at the State Department in Washington, March 20, 2023. AP-Yonhap



The United States remains fully committed to the security and defense of South Korea, a state department spokesperson said Monday, amid reports of leaked U.S. intelligence documents that suggest the U.S. may have been eavesdropping on conversations at the South Korean presidential office.



Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the state department, reiterated that the U.S. is still working to verify the validity of the leaked Pentagon documents, but said the country is also in talks with allies and partners to reassure them of U.S. defense commitments.



"I would start with by saying that our commitment to the Republic of Korea is ironclad," he said when asked about the leaked documents in a daily press briefing, referring to South Korea by its official name.



"The Department of Defense and intelligence community are working to review and assess the validity of these documents," added Patel.





Korea, US defense chiefs hold phone talks over US military leak reports Leaked documents 'very serious' risk to security: Pentagon US spying report feared to overshadow Yoon-Biden summit Earlier news reports said a set of leaked Pentagon documents revealed that U.S. intelligence services eavesdropped on conversations at South Korea's presidential office early last month.



"U.S. officials are engaging (at) high levels with our allies and partners over this to reassure them as it relates to our commitment to safeguard intelligence and sensitive documents, as well as ensuring our commitment to the security and partnerships that we have with these countries," said Patel.



The department spokesperson declined to comment when asked if the incident may affect the upcoming meeting between President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk Yeol.



"I will let the White House National Security Council (NSC) speak to any specific schedule or programming, but it's something that we are very much looking forward to as an administration, and again, our commitment to the ROK is ironclad," he told the press briefing.



Yoon is scheduled to make a state visit to the U.S. from April 24. He and Biden are set to hold a bilateral summit here in Washington on April 26.



John Kirby, NSC coordinator for strategic communications, later said the U.S. will continue to work closely with its allies while insisting that the classified documents, regardless of their authenticity, should not have been released to the public in the first place.



"There is no excuse for these kinds of documents to be in the public domain. They don't deserve to be in the public domain. They deserve to be protected," he told a White House press briefing.




Rice from Vietnam is becoming popular when exported to markets such as Japan and the EU, photo Le Toan

In its latest report to the government, the ministry noted that in 2022 Vietnam counted $3.45 billion in total export value from rice exports, a 5.1 per cent jump on-year. The export price averaged $486 per tonne.

From August 2022 until the year-end, exports of rice containing 5 per cent broken rice reached the highest worldwide, surpassing Thailands prices by $15-27 per tonne, and India by $40-50.

The price hike of Vietnams rice export lingered in the first two months of this year, averaging $520 per tonne. This explains why the countrys rice export value surged 7 per cent despite a more than 20 per cent decline in volume in January.

Despite headwinds in the global food market, Vietnamese rice has set a firm foothold in markets with stringent quality requirements, such as Japan and the EU.

Fragrant types like ST24 and ST25 have seen their export price surpassing $1,000 per tonne, more than double that of common rice.

Rice production has broadly been streamlined in the direction of lowering output and raising quality, focusing on top-grade varieties that meet the worlds demand, with green production, emissions reduction and increased use of organic fertiliser. This approach has resulted in higher export prices for Vietnamese rice.

Another highlight from last year, was local rice exporters effectively tapping the EU market, with a zero-tariff 80,000-tonne rice export quota granted to Vietnam in light of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. In fact, Vietnamese firms exported 94,510 tonnes of rice to the EU market, showcasing how Vietnamese rice has been constantly improving in quality.

Last year, Loc Troi Group, a rice exporter based in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, managed over 200 per cent growth in rice exports to the EU. In late 2022, Loc Troi received an export order for 400,000 tonnes of rice from the bloc.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) forecasts that rice exports will continue to be favourable this year, with the export volume rising from 6.5-7 million tonnes, as traditional markets such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, and China pick up. In the year to date, rice export orders from China and the Philippines have increased sharply.

In the first two months of this year, China imported 152,640 tonnes of rice from Vietnam, worth $90 million, an 86 per cent jump in volume and 120 per cent hike in value on-year.

The average export price to China sits at $590 per tonne, up 18.3 per cent on-year. Chinese customers have mainly imported high-grade rice varieties from Vietnam, which fetch higher prices.

Pham Thai Binh, CEO of Trung An Hi-tech Agriculture, said that the company has inked an order to export 2,000 tonnes of rice to China, and is now engaged in negotiations for a further 20,000 tonnes.

The Philippines is forecast to import a further 2.8 million tonnes of the 2022-2023 crop, providing great opportunities for Vietnam. While India, the worlds top rice exporter, saw its rice area shed 380,000ha due to drought, rendering further opportunities to rice exporters in Vietnam.

However, there are several challenges facing rice exports this year. Local rice traders are still poor in executing market diversification strategies, with exporters chiefly relying on several markets and the amount of high-grade rice types remains modest.

Phan Van Chinh, director general of the MoITs Agency of Foreign Trade, said that although Chinas recent reopening was positive for local rice exporters, many difficulties persisted, such as high shipping charges and production costs.

Farmers also need to better meet requirements on pesticide usage and product origin to be able to fully harness the advantages of free trade agreements. Firms must form alliances to invest in green production to make best use of the EU quota scheme and diverse tariff incentives under other new-generation trade agreements, Chinh added.
A Waco man remained in McLennan County Jail on Monday after he was accused of driving drunk and causing the deaths late Saturday of a man and a woman on Highway 84 northeast of Bellmead.

Isaias Martinez Resendez, 26, was charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault stemming from the fatal crash around 9 p.m. Saturday.

Carlos Garcia, 30, of Mexico, and Elsa Lopez-Villa, 21, of Waco, died after Resendez's Dodge Ram truck struck the Honda Accord they occupied on the side of Highway 84 near Boys Ranch Road, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety statement.

Two others in the Honda were transported to a local hospital with injuries, according to Sgt. Ryan Howard, a DPS spokesperson.

Howard said Resendez was traveling eastbound onto the improved shoulder and crashed into the Honda, which was stopped on the shoulder, causing both vehicles to travel down an embankment, Howard said.

Resendez was driving alone in the truck and could not see the lights of the car in front of him when he crashed into it, according to his arrest affidavit.

He could not tell his arresting trooper whether the vehicle he hit was driving or parked, the affidavit says.

The trooper smelled alcohol on Resendezs breath, saw his bloodshot eyes and heard his slurred speech, the affidavit says. The trooper performed field sobriety tests on Resendez and found more than six clues of intoxication, the affidavit says.

Resendez voluntarily provided a sample of his blood at an area hospital while personnel there medically cleared him to be taken to jail, the affidavit says. His blood alcohol level is not recorded in the affidavit or in his jail records.

In addition to the charges stemming from the wreck, Resendez's jail record also shows an immigration detainer, which officials say means he could face a deportation hearing after his trial and any punishment.
Authorities Monday arrested a suspect in the April 10 shooting of Zachary Hughes in South Waco and charged him with murder, Waco police said.

Charles Earl Ervin, 29, was arrested by the U.S. Marshal's Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in partnership with the Waco Police Department, according to a press release from police spokesperson Cierra Shipley.

Police were called to the 1800 block of Richter Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. and found two gunshot victims, who were transported to a hospital, police have said.

Hughes, 24, died of his wounds at the hospital. Police have not reported the condition of the other victim, a female.
Discussions on Waco teacher support and school safety dominated a candidate forum Monday on the May 6 local school and city races.

Nine candidates in the Waco city, Waco Independent School District and McLennan Community College races shared their qualifications and reasons for running at the Lester Gibson Leadership forum held at the Bledsoe-Miller Community Center. Early voting in the election begins April 24.

Though the forum featured two city council candidates and three in the MCC trustee elections, audience questions dealt largely with Waco ISD concerns, primarily on teacher hiring and retention, student and teacher mental health and campus safety.

Waco ISD candidates at the forum included at-large Place 7 Trustee Angelo Ochoa and his opponent Peaches Henry, an MCC professor and president of the Waco NAACP. Waco ISD District 5 candidates Ashley Stone and Jim Patton also appeared, while candidate Abigail Ramirez was absent.

The Waco ISD candidates, three of whom were former or active classroom teachers, agreed teachers were a key to the districts success and pledged their attention to salaries, working conditions and other support.

If we take care of the educators, theyll take care of the district, Stone said.

Ochoa, the lone incumbent up for re-election, pointed to board action in raising salaries, approving hiring bonuses for certified teachers and implementing measures to improve retention. He said that while progress can be slow to achieve, our numbers are trending in the right direction.

Some at the event Monday pointed teacher needs beyond money: mental health resources, mentoring for young teachers and support beyond the first year in the classroom.

The Rev. Rod L. Ewell Sr, an audience member, raised one of the more contentious issues discussed at Waco ISD board meetings last year, the safety of the designs for the new Waco High, Carver Middle and Tennyson Middle Schools presently under construction.

Those designs included glass wall panels for interior classrooms that some trustees questioned in light of the school shooting in Uvalde on May 24, 2022 and others afterwards. Trustees voted twice last year not to revisit the previously approved plans, despite criticism voiced by teachers and community leaders at board meetings that the glass would leave students and teachers vulnerable to an in-school shooter.

What would you do about these beautiful schools with glass walls? Ewell asked the candidates.

Ochoa said the new schools were being built with safety in mind, but other issues needed addressing as well, such as students easy access to guns. Henry called for a return of behavioral health specialists to campuses to deal with concerns underlying student violence.

We need to ask why are the children bringing these guns to school and why are they unable to regulate their emotions? she said.

Patton and Henry felt the district could do more to tap community and parental resources for student support. Stone said parents needed better guidance for how to secure whats best for their children from the district. Responding to a question about how to keep politics out of the classroom, she replied that trustees should listen to parents and not politicians.

The forum also included brief candidate statements from city of Waco candidates: Waco District 2 Councilperson Alice Rodriguez and District 4 candidate Darius Ewing.

Also participating were MCC District 1 Trustee Jonathan Hill and challenger Arash Abnoussi; and MCC District 3 candidate Ilda Sabido.

Not at the forum were Waco District 2 candidate Tiffany Vidana and District 4 candidates Don Gray and Anthony Johnson; and MCC District 3 candidate James SoRelle.

The forums sole non-WISD question came from East Waco resident Epharm Herring, who wondered why Elm Avenue street improvements were still not finished and why its street design seems to hamper access for large vehicles.

Rodriguez said the city had a schedule to fix every street, but the council had not made a decision on a street maintenance fee floated at a recent council work session. Ewing encouraged citizen input at council and board meetings as necessary input to city planners and leaders.

Rodriguez highlighted her lengthy council experience and her familys roots in Waco among her qualifications for re-election.

Ewing, who served briefly as an appointee to the District 4 seat in 2020 before losing to Kelly Palmer in an election for the seat, said hed spent the two years since then involved in community organizations such as Keep Waco Beautiful, the Waco Downtown Farmers Market and the United Way. He said he would focus on prioritizing jobs skills training, revamping public transportation and increasing housing stock if elected.

MCC candidates Hill and Abnoussi pointed to the role that MCC had played in their personal education and career successes, with both intending to maintain it as an affordable college and career training option. Sabido said her youth and community involvement would bring a different perspective to board discussions on the college.

The forum began with candidates briefly stating their qualifications and reasons for running. Stone, owner of Footprintz Dance Company, cited her parental involvement and two children in Waco ISD schools.

Patton, a retired educator, touted more than 20 years as a Waco ISD teacher and principal, followed by extensive volunteer work and tutoring within the district. Ochoa noted he was a former teacher, and is now married to a current teacher and father to four current Waco ISD students. Henry recounted her more than 30 years as a high school teacher and collegiate professor.

McLennan County Commissioner Patricia Miller presided over the forum. The audience included several elected officials, including Waco District 1 trustee Jeremy Davis, Waco Councilperson Andrea Barefield, Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace James Lee and Lacy-Lakeview Police Chief Jeron Barnett.
The city of Waco is aiming to turn vacant and tax-foreclosed lots in established neighborhoods into new housing.

A lot release program will begin late this month with the goal of addressing a shortage of affordable housing as outlined by the 2022 Waco Strategic Housing Plan.

As tax-foreclosed lots are auctioned off at the courthouse steps each week, those that arent sold are turned over to the city, Development Services Director Clint Peters said.

A decade ago, the city would receive 20 to 30 properties a month, but with a real estate boom in recent years, private buyers have snapped up more of the foreclosed lots, leaving fewer in the citys hands.

The citys goal in the past has been to sell the surplus lots quickly to get them back on the tax rolls, but the new rules require houses to be built on them.

When you start looking at some of the requirement of this program, theyre tied to timelines, quality, Peters said. It goes back to mission of turning lots into housing.

John Alexander, executive director of Waco Habitat for Humanity, said the need is great for affordable lot sales at the core of the city, and local housing organizations have been waiting intently for the city to announce the program.

Waco Habitat is one of a few local nonprofits designated as Community Housing Development Organizations, which qualify them to partner with local and federal governments to build affordable housing.

Probably our biggest limiting factor for building affordable homes is the lack of affordable lots, so this program by the city is very welcome, Alexander said.

Alexander said Waco Habitat does buy some foreclosed lots at the courthouse steps when it can. He agreed with Peters that fewer lots are making it to the citys inventory because demand has grown for inner-city lots over the last 20 years.

Waco Habitat tries to spend no more than $20,000 on a lot, Alexander said, but some vacant lots are now listed for $40,000. He said he hopes the city will offer lots for less than $20,000.

The citys inventory includes 42 buildable lots, plus 50 more that could be added once their floodplain, road and utility needs are evaluated, Peters said.

Peters 32 of the 42 buildable lots come from tax foreclosures.

We do have an inventory of all the lots, and some of these have been in our inventory since 1998, Peters said.

City of Waco Housing Director Galen Price said the lot sale program carries stipulations to ensure quality and timely development, including a development agreement that sets out building standards and construction timeline.

Buyers are required to provide a construction timeline within 180 days of the lot purchase, with construction required in the first two years. If the lot buyer wishes to sell the property before the two-year mark, the city would have the first right to repurchase it at its original price, and the buyer must submit a written request.

With a limited number of properties that we have remaining in inventory, we want to be very strategic in how we develop these remaining properties, Price said.

In cases where three or more lots are bundled for sale, the city will add an affordability requirement in the sale.

Either one lot or 25% of the homes, whichever is greater, must be constructed for buyers making 80% or below the areas median income. A second lot or quarter of homes would be designated for someone at 120% the median income and the remaining lot could be sold at a market rate.

A batch of lots will be set aside for Community Housing Development Organizations, which include Grassroots Waco, NeighborWorks Waco and Waco Habitat. Price said those designated lots must be developed by a CHDO and must be built based on current standards if CHDO funding is used. CHDOs are open to bid on any other package as well, Price said.

The lots will be sold in accordance with state law, and requirements for sale differ property to property, Peters said, though some will be eligible for bidding. The prices of the lots will vary, but he said the city would likely use the McLennan County Appraisal Districts value for minimum bids.

For most lots, developers looking to purchase will be scored based on the description of their proposed project, financial stability, timeline and adherence to property sale instructions. Developments would be held to current design standards, and scoring would consider compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.

Those looking to purchase three or more lots at a time will have to include their construction experience and history. Once each development is chosen by city staff, the agreement will go to city council for final approval, Peters said.

The first group of lots for sale is in the Carver Neighborhood Association, comprised of 13 lots split into eight different packages, including some that would meet affordability requirements on Selman Street and around Calumet Avenue. The first group will be available for sales near the end of the month, Peters said.

The second group of packages is also in the Carver neighborhood. Group three has lots in the Northeast Riverside neighborhood, group four in Brook Oaks, group five in Sanger Heights and group six in Downtown and University Neighborhood Associations. The final group, set aside for CHDOs, is also within the Carver neighborhood near Seley Avenue and Clifton Street.

Peters said a group will be released every four to six weeks, so the city will constantly have lots available over the next year.

Council Member Jim Holmes said at the April 4 council meeting he likes the thoughtfulness of the program because it encourages relatively immediate development. He said the program should be successful in getting homes on lots and properties back on the tax rolls.

We want people to buy these and build immediately, Holmes said. And I kind of like the way youre thinking about different areas too, where we already have the infrastructure  where we want to take advantage of the infrastructure and the roads and the water that we already have there, which is a reason to build more urban.

Council Member Andrea Barefield echoed Holmes and said the program is an opportunity to strengthen and breathe life into already established neighborhoods.

We have seen for a very long time folks buy stuff and sit on it and it just continues to blight communities and neighborhoods, when we have clearly said in all our statements every time we are housing deficient, she said. An empty house will collapse on itself because there is no air, and I think that an empty and vacant community will collapse because theres no air.
WATERLOO  Iowa native Elizabeth Klinge has joined KWWL TVs evening newscast. She began co-anchoring KWWL News at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. on Friday.

This is a return to her home state after spending the last three years as an anchor/reporter at KOVR-TV in Sacramento, California.

Klinge grew up on a farm near Elkader, according to a news release from the TV station. She attended the University of Iowa, earning a bachelors degree in journalism. She graduated with honors and high distinction.

After college, Klinge was a reporter/anchor at WHO-TV in Des Moines for nearly seven years. She also worked as an anchor/reporter at KCCI-TV in Des Moines for almost five years. She has been honored with an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award for Best Morning Newscast and nominated for News Anchoring.

We are thrilled to be getting someone with so much experience covering news in Iowa, KWWL News Director Andrew Altenbern said in the release. Elizabeth will be a very strong addition to our evening anchor team of Ron Steele and Collin Dorsey. We feel Eastern Iowans will really enjoy and appreciate her skills, professionalism and Iowa values.

I loved my time in California, but Iowa is home, said Klinge. I am so grateful for the opportunity to return home and work at a station with such a respected news team and great tradition of excellence. Its an honor to work with Ron Steele and Collin Dorsey and I cant wait to team up with them to cover Eastern Iowa.

We are delighted to have someone with Elizabeths broadcasting experience and love for Iowa join our team, said John Huff, KWWL vice president and general manager. Its great for our station and our viewers.

17 political cartoons tackle Donald Trump's indictment
The front of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building (KCCI) / Korea Times file



The leading business organizations of Korea and Japan have agreed to resume top-level conferences this year, as part of efforts to revitalize private business exchanges amid a thaw in bilateral relations, a Korean business lobby said Tuesday.



The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) held a working-level meeting at the KCCI headquarters in Seoul on Monday to discuss plans for what will be the first chair-level conference in six years, the KCCI said in a release.



They agreed to continue consultations to hold the event at an early date, the KCCI said.



"We agreed to expand the scope of economic exchanges in the private sector to areas including global supply chains, cooperation in relation to carbon neutrality and youth employment," the KCCI said.



The chairs' conference had taken place annually since the inaugural session in 2001, but it was not held after 2017 amid the deterioration in bilateral relations over disputes stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.



Relations rapidly thawed after Korea announced in March it will compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor on its own and without involving the accused Japanese companies, a decision hailed by Tokyo that led to a summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. (Yonhap)


WATERLOO  VGM has earned The Best Place for Working Parents business designation.

VGM is continuing to find new ways to support working parents, including the recent announcement of an on-site child care center that will open later this year.

"We are proud to receive this honorable recognition for our efforts in providing a family friendly work culture, Katie Morris, VGM director of employee benefits, said in a news release. Our continued efforts are easing the way for working parents, and we look forward to all the exciting opportunities coming this year.

VGMs on-site child care center is planned to open during the winter of 2023 at VGMs main campus in Waterloo in partnership with a longtime local child care provider. The center will help fill a critical gap in child care availability in the community.

For years, a significant shortage of child care options has put extra pressure on many working parents in the Cedar Valley, including our employee owners, Sara Laures, VGMs chief people officer, said in the release. We wanted to be part of the solution, and we are excited to offer much needed support to families by helping address child care needs with a reliable, quality, reasonably priced option.

VGM also added a Family Fund Fundraising Committee in 2022 to offer financial support for employees in their time of need. The VGM Family Fund is an employee-funded program.

To date, over $70,000 has been awarded to employees in need. In addition to this hard-earned recognition, VGMs continued family friendly, employee-focused efforts have earned the company recognition from several organizations over the past decade. These include designations as a Cedar Valley Employer of Choice and an Iowa Top Workplace on multiple occasions.

For more information, go to www.bestplace4workingparents.com.

Photos: Waterloo Black Hawks vs. Fargo, April 8 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 1 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 2 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 3 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 4 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 5 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 6 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 7 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 8 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 9 HKY Waterloo vs. Fargo 10
TUESDAY, April 11, 2023 (HealthDay News)  The U.S. Justice Department on Monday appealed a Texas court ruling that invalidates the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval in 2020 of mifepristone, the first of two drugs taken during a medical abortion.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas is extraordinary and unprecedented, the Justice Department said in its appeal. 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."

Pharmaceutical executives have also weighed in on the ruling, signing a letter on Monday warning about the impact if the Texas order was to take effect.

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, stated the letter, according to the Associated Press.

While Kacsmaryks ruling said the order would not take effect for seven days, within 20 minutes of the order a federal judge in Washington state issued a ruling directing the FDA to make no changes that would restrict access to the drug in 17 states where Democrats had sued, the AP reported. The Justice Department has asked for clarification on that ruling.

The Texas lawsuit was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the same group that filed a suit leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court last June. It alleges that the FDA should not have approved mifepristone because it did not adequately review its safety risks.

Mifepristone has been used in the United States for more than 20 years. It is typically used along with misoprostol. Its not clear whether, if its banned, providers will switch to prescribing just misoprostol for medication abortions or perform only surgical abortions where they are legal.

We dont know exactly what will happen, Jennifer Dalven, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Reproductive Freedom Project, told the AP. What we do know is that there will be significant confusion and chaos as providers try to provide the best care they possibly can for their patients.

Abortions are banned or unavailable in 14 states, while 16 states have laws directed toward abortion medications, the AP reported.

More information

The nonprofit KFF has more on the availability and use of medication abortion.

SOURCE: Associated Press
IONIA, Mich. (AP)  A western Michigan man who said he accidentally shot an 84-year-old woman campaigning against abortion rights at his home has pleaded no contest to assault and two other charges, records show.

The shooting occurred in September in Ionia County. Richard Harvey, 75, said Joan Jacobson was talking to his wife about opposing a constitutional amendment on the November ballot and had refused to leave.

Harvey pleaded no contest Monday to assault, careless discharge of a gun and reckless use of a gun, according to online records. A no-contest plea is treated like a conviction at sentencing.

Messages seeking comment were left for the prosecutor and Harvey's attorney Tuesday.

Harvey last year told WOOD-TV that his shotgun fired when he tried to knock away Jacobson's clipboard. Jacobson was treated at a hospital for a shoulder wound.

It was an accident, Harvey insisted.

Jacobson had a different opinion.

I think he knew what he was doing, and I think it was intentional, she said in September.
WATERLOO  A Davenport man who was convicted of robbing a Waterloo convenience store while a face mask dangled from his chin in 2020 said the crime didnt make any sense.

In court for sentencing on Monday, 27-year-old Diontay Marcus Cobbs began disputing the evidence and testimony in his case.

Police never found the gun shown during the holdup, and the defense had suggested it wasnt real.

And there was no reason to drive a more than two-hours  with a group to teenagers  to steal $500 in cash, two bottles of liquor and a pack of cigars, he said.

Why would I go all the way to f***ing Waterloo to rob?  I had no reason to go to Waterloo, said Cobbs, who was convicted for first-degree robbery and using a minor to commit an offense.

But, as he continued to talk, he didnt deny his role in the crime, which was captured by the surveillance cameras at Alis Corner on East Fourth Street.

What I did was wrong, yes, Cobbs said, noting that what he did eats him up inside and he should have never traveled to Waterloo.

He admitted he picked up a 14-year-old girl he knew and her friends that he didnt know in the Quad Cities, suggesting it was their idea to drive to Waterloo. Then there was a phone call from a parent threatening to charge him with kidnapping.

I really didnt have any other means of getting out of this scenario without getting money, Cobbs said. I was pushed to the edge.

He said he was improvising so he planned to scare the clerk to get money to get the kids back to where they belong. The teens waited in the car and would later testify they didnt know about the robbery until Cobbs emerged with a bag of cash.

Cobbs, whose face mask didnt cover his actual face, was identified through images from the stores security camera. Investigators documented him carrying a real gun during an earlier traffic stop in Davenport.

He was arrested for the robbery following a July 2021 car chase with authorities near West Union.

A jury found him guilty during a February 2023 trial.

Because of the brazen nature of the crime, and the fact guns and juveniles were involved, Judge David Odekirk chose to run Cobbs sentences consecutive for a total of up to 35 years behind bars with 17 years and six months before parole eligibility.

Cities with the highest rate of motor vehicle fatalities Cities with the highest rate of motor vehicle fatalities #50. Oklahoma City #49. Salt Lake City #48. Wichita, Kansas #47. Newport News, Virginia #46. St. Petersburg, Florida #45. Miami #44. Montgomery, Alabama #43. Huntsville, Alabama #42. Toledo, Ohio #41. New Orleans #40. Phoenix #39. Bakersfield, California #38. Fresno, California #37. Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government, Georgia #36. Tulsa, Oklahoma #35. Fayetteville, North Carolina #34. Milwaukee #33. Akron, Ohio #32. Hollywood, Florida #31. Mobile, Alabama #30. Kansas City, Kansas #29. Indianapolis #28. Nashville-Davidson metro, Tennessee #27. Orlando, Florida #26. Tampa, Florida #25. Knoxville, Tennessee #24. Atlanta #23. Dallas #22. Shreveport, Louisiana #21. Springfield, Missouri #20. Palmdale, California #19. Kansas City, Missouri #18. Lancaster, California #17. Louisville-Jefferson County metro, Kentucky #16. Chattanooga, Tennessee #15. Fort Lauderdale, Florida #14. Albuquerque, New Mexico #13. Macon-Bibb County, Georgia #12. Glendale, Arizona #11. Jacksonville, Florida #10. Cleveland #9. San Bernardino, California #8. Birmingham, Alabama #7. Little Rock, Arkansas #6. Tucson, Arizona #5. Baton Rouge, Louisiana #4. St. Louis #3. Detroit #2. Jackson, Mississippi #1. Memphis, Tennessee
WATERLOO  A social media threat recently reported about a Waterloo school isnt a viable threat, according to police.

Officials with Waterloo Community Schools and Waterloo Police were alerted to the threat against Lou Henry Elementary School on Monday.

These types of threats have become commonplace and we take these types of threats seriously and thoroughly investigate them, said Capt. Jason Feaker with the Waterloo Police Department.

He said the threat was investigated by the department with the assistance of state and federal authorities.

They determined it wasnt credible.

The US surpasses 160 mass shootings in 2023. Here's every event mapped Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones The US surpasses 100 mass shootings in 2023here's every event mapped
DES MOINES  Dry conditions and warming temperatures helped Iowa farmers by increasing the days suitable for fieldwork to 3.5 during the week ending Sunday, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A storm cell brought strong winds and hail to parts of Iowa. Field activities included fertilizer applications and oat seeding.

April 10 marks the earliest date to plant corn and remain eligible for federal crop insurance. That means we should begin seeing planters in fields this week, said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. Farmers can take advantage of the quieter weather pattern, unseasonably warm conditions and increasing soil temperatures to jumpstart their spring field work.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 3% very short, 19% short, 73% adequate and 5% surplus, the USDAs National Agricultural Statistics Service said. Subsoil moisture condition rated 7% very short, 27% short, 62% adequate and 4% surplus.

Thirteen percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, a day ahead of last year but one day behind the five-year average. There were limited reports of oats beginning to emerge.

Pastures were starting to turn green although growth was still minimal. Calving continued. Overall, livestock conditions improved with warmer weather.

Weather report

Aprils first full week was once again active as another widespread severe weather outbreak occurred across Iowa and several other states. State Climatologist Justin Glisan said pockets of large hail and heavy downpours brought moisture across Iowas southeastern half, though much of the state experienced drier-than-average conditions. Statewide temperatures varied from four degrees above normal southeast to three degrees below normal northwest; the statewide average temperature was 46.2 degrees, 2.1 degrees above normal.

Weekly precipitation totals ranged from no accumulation at western Iowa stations to 1.45 inches in Clinton (Clinton County). The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.26 inch while the normal is 0.62 inch. Lamoni (Decatur County) and Shenandoah (Page County) reported the weeks high temperature of 88 degrees on April 4, on average 28 degrees above normal. Atlantic (Cass County) and Audubon (Audubon County) reported the weeks low temperature of 13 degrees on Thursday, on average 19 degrees below normal. Four-inch soil temperatures were in the mid to upper 40s east to low 50s west as of Sunday.

US Navy deploys more chaplains for suicide prevention
Here's a look at some trending topics for today, April 10:

Louisville shooting

A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace Monday morning, killing four 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.

Read more about it here:

Succession

In one astonishing turn, "Succession" took its audience back to where the show began five years ago, and indeed, the very roots of its title.

The Emmy-winning HBO show kicked off, after all, with a media empire being thrown into chaos when its imperious leader fell ill, leaving his children and underlings to jockey over how to replace him, and to contemplate if anyone possibly could. The very title dealt with that scenario, while the intervening seasons have reinforced the sense that in terms of corporate savvy and grit, the apples can fall pretty far from the tree.

The power of Brian Cox's performance as that mogul, Logan Roy, made him seem practically immortal, the occasional infirmities of his age notwithstanding.

Read the rest of the review here:

Dalai Lama

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama apologized Monday after a video showing him kissing a child on the lips triggered criticism.

A statement posted on his official website said the 87-year-old leader regretted the incident and wished 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 incident occurred at a public gathering in February at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamsala, where the exiled leader lives. He was taking questions from the audience when the boy asked if he could hug him.

Get more info here:

***

Get more of today's trending topics here:

Expelled Tennessee lawmakers

Trump appeal
Tesla and the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone authorities have signed an agreement to build a super factory for the production of Megapack high-capacity commercial energy batteries, the company reported on Twitter.

~But they said China is evil.~

Here we are with a massive American company building a massive factory in china because their profits will be huge. Money is the god of Americans and all the trash talk about stopping buying Chinese, buy American, will always fall on deaf ears. China makes better and cheaper products than the USA can

***

Now what a blessing this would be and peace on earth would entail, behind them leaving

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  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

America: Please leave Europe and take the paid lackeys home with you

WtR
Taiwan issue not related to democracy: Chinese Foreign Ministry

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua)  The Taiwan issue has nothing to do with democracy, and supporting separatist forces advocating Taiwan independence under the pretext of defending democracy and using the Taiwan issue to contain China is extremely dangerous and will lead nowhere. This was stated today by the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning.

https://russian.xinhuanet.com/20230407/d0ab5bb17ad4444cbd489fef91276466/c.html

PLA Eastern Combat Command Zone Begins Patrols and Military Exercises Around Taiwan Island

The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Combat Command (PLA) on Saturday began patrols and military exercises in the waters around the island of Taiwan, which will last from April 8 to 10 Beijing time, as planned.

Patrols and military exercises are taking place in the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the sea and airspace to the north, south and east of the island, said Shi Yi, spokesman for the PLAs Eastern Combat Command Zone.

These operations serve as a stern warning against collusion between separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and outside forces and as a response to their provocations, Shi Yi said, adding that these are necessary measures to protect Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

***

China Takes Countermeasures Against Hudson Institution and Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua)  China has decided to take countermeasures against the American Hudson Institute, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the leaders of these organizations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Despite repeated submissions and strong objections from China, the US persisted in allowing Taiwanese chief Tsai Ing-wen to make a transit trip to the US for political activities, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the two organizations have provided a platform and facilities for its separatist activities aimed at Taiwan independence, which seriously violates the One China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques, and seriously undermines Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In accordance with the PRC Foreign Sanctions Prevention Law, China will strictly restrict related transactions, exchanges and cooperation between universities, organizations and individuals in China with the two organizations, the statement said.

According to the statement, countermeasures will also be taken against four individuals, namely Sarah May Stern, John P. Walters, John Hoybush and Joanna M. Drake, who hold senior positions in these two organizations.

Their movable and immovable property, as well as other types of assets in China, will be frozen. Any organizations and individuals located in China will be prohibited from conducting relevant transactions and interacting with them, the statement said. The four individuals will also be denied visas to China and banned from entering the country.

Appropriate countermeasures come into force on Friday.

WtR
A survivor of six heart attacks and a brain tumor, a grumpy bear of a man, whom has declared Russia as his new and wonderful home. His wife is a true Russian Sweet Pea of a girl and she puts up with this bear of a guy and keeps him in line. Thank God for my Sweet Pea and Russia.
This photo provided by Seoul's foreign ministry shows Dokdo, a set of Korea-controlled rocky islets in the East Sea. Yonhap



Korea lodged a strong protest against Japan on Tuesday over Tokyo's renewed territorial claim to Dokdo, a set of rocky islets in the East Sea, in its latest annual diplomatic book.



The claim, strongly disputed by Korea that has long maintained effective control of Dokdo with the permanent stationing of security personnel there, was included in the 2023 Diplomatic Bluebook that was reported to the Cabinet by Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.



The Bluebook stated that Korea has continued an "illegal occupation" of the area with no legal basis.



Lim Soo-suk, spokesperson for Korea's foreign ministry, said Seoul "strongly protests Japan's repeated unjust claims of sovereignty over Dokdo, which is of our sovereign territory historically, geographically and under international law."



He added Japan should "clearly recognize" that repeating such claims does not contribute to the building of a future-oriented relationship between Seoul and Tokyo.



The ministry called in Naoki Kumagai, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to deliver a formal protest message.



Japan has also omitted in the Bluebook its expressed pledge to honor the "historical perceptions of previous governments" in its description of the administration's handling of the issue of wartime forced labor of Koreans.



Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the pledge last month after a holding summit with Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Tokyo. It came as Seoul announced a plan to compensate Korean victims of brutal forced labor during World War II through a domestic foundation without the involvement of Japanese firms.



The Bluebook stated that Japan, since the launch of the Yoon administration in May of last year, sought an early resolution to the forced labor issue through consultations between diplomatic channels and meetings between the two countries' leaders. (Yonhap)


Weather Alert

.Near record high temperatures Thursday through Sunday will bring significant streamflow rises, especially for snow covered terrain below about 8000 feet. Rises will likely increase daily through the weekend following a diurnal melt cycle with the highest flows often in the evenings and overnight. ...FLOOD WATCH FOR SNOWMELT IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by snowmelt is possible. * WHERE...Portions of California and western Nevada, including the following areas, in California, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties, Mono County and Surprise Valley California. In western Nevada, Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties. * WHEN...From Thursday afternoon through Monday morning. * IMPACTS...Creeks and streams will be running high and fast. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Minor mainstem flooding is currently forecast along the Forks of the Carson River beginning late Friday. The Susan and Walker Rivers will also need to be closely monitored as flooding cannot be ruled out. Anyone participating in outdoor recreation this weekend should use caution as water will be running high, fast, and potentially out of banks for some creeks and streams. The water will be extremely cold as well, quickly causing shock. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
Alonzo King Lines Ballet raises the curtain on Friday, April 15th for a thrilling new collaboration between choreographer Alonzo King, acclaimed photographer Richard Misrach, and Grammy Awardwinning vocalist Lisa Fischer.



With each collaboration, King investigates deeply rooted affinities between Eastern and Western classical forms, elemental materials, the natural world, and the human spirit. This spring, King works with Misrach and Fischer to create a new work exploring our innate connection to nature.

For this project, Misrach traveled with the Lines Ballet dancers to a remote location in Hawaii and created a series of photographs featuring bodies in motion against the landscape. Those striking images will be incorporated into the performance, which also features Fischer performing live alongside Lines Ballets dancers.

// April 15-23 at Blue Shield of California Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SoMa), 700 Howard St.; for more information and tickets ($40$115), go to linesballet.org/spring-2023.
This spring, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) welcomes its community of artists and supporters to the second-annual Art and Film Benefit, on Saturday, May 6th.

This festive event will honor two path-breaking creatives with deep ties to the Bay Area: filmmaker and artist Cauleen Smith and conceptual artist and photographer Catherine Wagner. For the first time, BAMPFA will hold its annual gala fundraiser inside the museums downtown Berkeley home, which was designed by Diller Scofidio + Refro and opened in 2016.

As renowned artists and educators, Catherine and Cauleen have pushed the social, aesthetic, and conceptual boundaries of their fields and paved the way for many others, said BAMPFAs executive director, Julie Rodrigues Widholm. I am deeply honored that we have this chance to celebrate them.



Cauleen Smith is a Los Angelesbased artist whose innovative work in film, video and installation has opened portals to new narratives around Black aesthetics and Afro-futurism for 30 years. Her acclaimed 1998 feature debut, Drylongso, set and shot on location in Oakland, is returning to BAMPFA on the big screen on Sunday, May 7th, in a 4K restoration undertaken by the Criterion Collection, Janus Films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

At BAMPFAs benefit, artist and filmmaker Arthur Jafa will offer a special tribute to Smith. Renowned as a black culture theorist, Jafas film work ranges from Julie Dashs Daughters of the Dust and Spike Lees Crooklyn to the acclaimed short film Love Is the Message, the Message Is Death. In 2018 Jafa received the Venice Biennales Golden Lion award for best artist for his video The White Album, an unsparing portrait of whiteness in contemporary America that was commissioned for and premiered in BAMPFAs MATRIX program.

From left: Artists Cauleen Smith and Catherine Wagner. (Joshua Franzos, Phil Bond)

Catherine Wagner is a Bay Area native whose award-winning photographic work has pushed the physical and conceptual limitations of photography as a medium for decades. Wagners process of observing the built environment as a metaphor for how we construct our cultural identities is poignantly brought to light in her etched glass installation documenting the development of the Moscone Center neighborhood between 1978 and 1984, unveiled as one of 10 public art in SFs monumental new Central Subway stations in November 2022. With recent solo shows at Jessica Silverman Gallery and Crown Point Press, her work is part of the permanent collection at SFMOMA, the Tate Modern in London, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and many other museums around the world. Connie Butler, Chief Curator of the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, will offer Wagners tribute at the event.

BAMPFAs 2023 Art and Film Benefit follows the inauguration last spring of the new event concept, which reimagined the museums annual fundraising gala as a tribute to two luminaries from the worlds of film and visual art. The 2022 event honored the renowned experimental filmmaker Trinh T. Minh-ha and pioneering artist Amalia Mesa-Bains, who is currently receiving her first career retrospective at BAMPFA through July 23rd. The inaugural Art and Film Benefit included more than 250 friends and supporters of the museum, including many notable artists including Sadie Barnette, Tammy Rae Carland, Woody De Othello, Mildred Howard, George McCalman, Jim Melchert, Adia Millett, Michele Pred, Stephanie Syjuco, Lava Thomas, Leila Weefur, Lena Wolff, and Wanxin Zhang among many others.

The celebration on May 6th will include a cocktail reception and exhibition viewing, followed by a festive dinner and program held in BAMPFAs downstairs galleries. Proceeds from this event will play a vital role in supporting the full scope of programs and exhibitions at BAMPFA, including transformational encounters with art and film and unique educational opportunities for thousands of U.C. Berkeley students each year.

A limited number of tickets are still available for the big night, but seats are going fast. You can reserve a ticket today by visiting bampfa.org/gala.
6. Hettys power has yet to be revealed. If you could have a real-life superpower, what would you hope for?

Time travel would be very wonderful. [Hettys] one of the few characters [wherein] we dont know how she dies specifically or what her special powers are, or even if she has one. I think it might be very interesting if shes the one ghost without any kind of power because that would drive her so crazy, and that would be another wonderful journey to take.

7. Of the guest stars so far on Ghosts, who stands out to you, and who would be your dream guest?

Mark Hamill has expressed his admiration for the show, so were all waiting to see when and if Mark Hamill comes to us. Also, Id love for [English actor/writer] Martha Howe-Douglas to come on. Our show is based on the original BBC format, and those creators are also producers on our show, and theyve been so generous with this concept and idea. I hope that we are doing them proud. I believe that we are. Martha Howe-Douglas plays Lady Button, who is the similar character in the BBC version as Hetty. It would be wonderful if they could construct some way to have her visit. [Former Saturday Night Live cast member] Laraine Newman just came on, and shes an icon. I was so thrilled to meet her, and she did not disappoint one bit.

8. Ghosts has been picked up for another season. Do you enjoy shooting in Montreal?

We are going to head back in July to start shooting Season 3. Our show looks like a film. The design is so luscious and specific, and every single one of our craftspeople who works on our show is local and specific, and were very lucky to have them. We love the people there. Weve all loved picking up a little more French. And the food  my husband [theatrical lighting designer Lap Chi Chu] and I love to eat.  Last year he was there quite a bit. We have three big dogs that go up there with us. The whole circus goes up to Montreal for six months out of the year.

9. With the success of the show, you seem to be having a moment. Do you feel opportunities are getting better for women in their 50s in Hollywood?

I can only speak to my individual experience, and Ill start by saying that Ive looked like I was 40 years old since I was 12. I always knew I would work later in life. I was lucky enough to play older than I was for many, many years, and was often the youngest person in the room, although I didnt look it. Now with Ghosts, Im the oldest actor in the cast, but I feel grateful just as a journeyman actor to be working at all. Especially now to be doing work that is deeply joyful and fun that Im extraordinarily proud of.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, left, shakes hands with his Korean counterpart Han Duck-soo during their meeting at the government complex in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa visited Seoul, Tuesday, the first such visit by a Portuguese head of government in 23 years, bringing a wealth of opportunities for Korea to establish partnerships with the southern European country.



Costa's two-day visit includes a series of meetings in the fields of renewable energy, semiconductors, the automotive industry, green hydrogen and lithium and batteries, highlighting the numerous areas of interest for Korean companies in Portugal.



"This visit will have an important focus on fostering our economic cooperation. The instability that we are facing at a global level showed us that we need to reinforce and reorganize our value chains. We believe that Korean and Portuguese expertise and experience can complement and strengthen each other," Costa said during a written interview with The Korea Times.



Costa emphasized that Portugal has more to offer than just access to the European market of 500 million people as the country also enjoys a strong relationship with the global Portuguese-speaking community. He also highlighted the country's strategic geographical position as the nearest European country to North and South America and most of Africa with an advantage of direct submarine cable connections to all continents.



Portugal has the largest lithium reserves in Europe and the eighth-largest in the world with over 60,000 tons of reserves. It poses a great potential to collaborate with Korea as the mineral is a key component for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.



"We are the world's seventh-largest producer of lithium and the first in Europe. In 2023, we will launch six public tenures for lithium prospecting and exploration and we want to foster the development of integrated value chains for critical raw materials," Costa said.



"There is also the automotive industry, where Korean firms can take advantage of our strong automotive cluster and expertise in innovation, green urban mobility and self-driving cars."



Portugal's expertise and know-how in renewable energy presents an opportunity for economic cooperation with Korea, particularly in the area of green hydrogen.



"There are Portuguese investments in Korea and Korean investments in Portugal. We have an ambitious strategy that is a great opportunity. We plan to invest 60 billion euros by 2030. We intend to significantly increase our solar energy capacity: over 9 GW incorporation by 2030 and we have plans to install 10 GW capacity for offshore wind energy, the auction for which will be launched still this year  with a lot of international interest," Costa said.









"Green hydrogen also has a lot of potential. Proximity to water and attractive energy costs are strategic assets that are drawing the attention of multiple investors, seeking to produce hydrogen from solar and wind power, particularly in Sines."





Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa delivers a speech during the Korean-Portuguese Business Forum at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, Wednesday. Costa met with major Korean companies including Hanhwa, Samsung, SK, Hyundai and Lotte during his two-day visit to Korea. Yonhap
Everyone knows what it means to say an executive receives a salary. But it can be surprisingly hard to give legal definitions to everyday words. Thats because the laws goal isnt to capture the meaning of the words but rather to create a system of classification that allows the whole universe of possibilities to be divided into only two groups, those that meet the definition and those that dont.

Consider the pay system at Helix Energy Solutions. Based in Houston, the company is an international offshore energy services company that provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, according to its website. It specializes in getting the last oil or gas from old offshore wells and then decommissioning them, returning the seabed to its original state in an environmentally safe manner. It provides services for offshore renewables, too.

Michael Hewitt worked for Helix as a supervisor  a toolpusher  in charge of a crew of 12 to 14 workers. Because he worked offshore, his schedule was typically 28 days on, 28 days off. While on duty, he worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. (What else was there to do?) He was paid handsomely, from $963 to $1,341 per day for the days he worked. It added up to more than $200,000 per year.

So was he an executive? Was he on salary?

Those questions matter  a lot  because the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 mandates overtime pay for work beyond 40 hours a week, with an exception for those working in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity.

Congress expressly directed the Secretary of Labor to issue regulations setting forth legal tests for determining whether a given workers duties are those of an executive. (Extra points to anyone who can name the current secretary of labor, by the way. Its curious how little attention our news media pays to cabinet-level initiatives, allowing much of the actual day-to-day business of government to pass by unnoticed.)

The Department of Labors regulations set forth a variety of interlocking tests to determine whether an employee qualifies as an executive. One key test is whether the employee is paid on a salary basis, as opposed to receiving wages.

Hewitt contended he was not an executive, despite his supervisory duties, because he was paid by the day. Getting paid by the day, he maintained, was conceptually no different from being paid by the hour. Therefore he demanded overtime pay. Helix refused. The lawsuit was on.

Resolution of the case required interpretation of the regulations, which are a web of cross-references because they try to encompass every possible system of compensation, anticipating every possible objection, closing every possible loophole. That made the legal arguments intricate, too.

The case produced a series of opinions by the very conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Texas and other Gulf states, before eventually reaching the Supreme Court. In late February, the court ruled in Hewitts favor.

For all the intricacies of the legal arguments, the courts bottom line was simple. Even for a highly compensated employee, payment by the day isnt a salary. Helix could have chosen to pay Hewitt an annual amount, the way (one assumes) it pays the people in the nice clothes who work at the main office in Houston. You know, the real executives. But it didnt. Consequently, Hewitt was entitled to overtime.

The case has obvious ramifications for New Mexicos oilfield industries. In the Fifth Circuit, according to Judge James Ho, the Texas Oil and Gas Association groan[ed] that a ruling in Hewitts favor would threaten the entire hydrocarbon industry. Thats an exaggeration. The Supreme Courts decision may expose many companies to retroactive demands for overtime pay, which could prove expensive indeed. But it seems a straightforward matter for a company to alter its pay structure going forward.

The majority opinion was written by Justice Elena Kagan. Justice Neil Gorsuch dissented on procedural grounds. Only Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito sided with Helix.

The dissents are noteworthy for a reason unrelated to the case before the court. Kavanaugh, joined by Alito, speculated about a potential future litigant who might challenge the Labor Departments regulations as a whole for being inconsistent with the original 1938 legislation. He helpfully outlined the argument such a litigant might want to make.

Gorsuch, who has never hidden his ambition to rewrite the entire body of administrative law, called this the larger statutory argument. Whichever corporation brings a comprehensive challenge to wage and overtime regulations can reasonably expect the support of those three justices.

Supreme Court justices used to be subtle about signaling how they would vote in hypothetical future cases. Now they lay out explicit agendas.

Joel Jacobsen is an author who in 2015 retired from a 29-year legal career. If there are topics you would like to see covered in future columns, please write him at legal.column.tips@gmail.com.
Rainbow Ryders CEO and founder Scott Appelman has said for years that theres been an unofficial partnership between TourABQ, founders of ABQ Trolley Co. and the hot air balloon company.

But as of last week, the companies are going steady, Appelman said.

When the New Mexico tourism season kicks off, both companies will be offering discounts between 10% and 20% for each others services.

The folks we fly, we always refer them over to the trolley, Appelman said. The trolley has always referred folks over to Rainbow Ryders. So now were just kind of formalizing it.

TourABQ and ABQ Trolley Co. were founded in 2009, and gained notoriety for their tour of Breaking Bad locations, the BaD Tour. ABQ Trolley Co. offers a variety of other tours, including the Albucreepy Ghost Walk and the Duke City Pedaler party bike tour.

TourABQs season runs from October to April.

The hot air balloon company, which has operated for more than 40 years, has had a longstanding partnership with the Sandia Tramway. Although there are no discounts associated with the Tramway, Appelman said the two services cross-promote each other. Besides the discounts, Rainbow Ryders and TourABQ have agreed to similarly cross-promote their respective businesses.

We want to make sure that were doing everything we can to show the best side of Albuquerque for people visiting, Appelman said.
University of New Mexico regents on Monday said no to a proposed 3% tuition increase and yes to a budget that would give university employees a raise. Regents expressed hope increased enrollment would help fund the budget.

Regent Robert Schwartz pointed out that the university has seen huge increases in enrollment in the past couple of years, and that the university should expect at least a small increase in the coming year.

It might be worth taking a little chance and figuring out whether we can provide these services without the tuition increase, it would only take 300 new students, for example, to bring in that same tuition that 3% increase will bring us, Schwartz said.

Last month, a UNM committee made up of three regents sent a proposed budget to the full board seeking 3% increases in tuition and fees.

The full board of regents, however, was concerned about the tuition raise and instead voted for one of two alternative recommendations included in the proposal.

Voting unanimously, the regents signed off on a budget that keeps tuition flat but would increase fees 3% in fiscal year 2024.

Next school year, tuition and fees for in-state students would be $11,124, which is $245.29 more than the current year. In the proposal, in-state students would have paid $11,380 per year.

(Tuition)s too high for some students and there are some people who cant study here for that reason, and I think that keeping that tuition lower in itself will bring in students who will change the nature of the budget, Schwartz said.

Regent Randy Ko also talked in favor of keeping tuition flat.

We need to think about providing that education for a diverse range of students and for those students who are low income  making sure that financial considerations dont stand in the way of talented individuals and quality education, he said.

Branch campuses wont raise tuition or fees at all next year.

Though regents expressed hope that more students will attend UNM in the coming years, Provost James Holloway said UNM is predicting enrollment will stay flat after seeing the size of the freshman class increase in recent years amid the rollout of an Opportunity Scholarship in the state.

Holloway argued that funds obtained from the proposed tuition increase would have been used for faculty recruitment and retention, to support student success and more areas of education of importance to the state, enhance IT services and cybersecurity and improve student safety on campus.

UNM has about a decade history of  making commitments with a kind of hope that we will figure out a way of doing them, and that has led us to significant difficulties, Holloway said. We have found ourselves short a number of times.

State appropriations to UNMs main campus are slated to increase 9.6%, going from about $222 million in the 2023 fiscal year to about $244 million in the next fiscal year.

The budget OKd by regents adds $6 million in new recurring funding requests.

Per the budget, university employees will get a 6% raise next year.

The UNM committee had recommended an average salary increase of 6%, giving managers leeway in how to spread out the money. However, according to the university, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday veteoed language within a bill that would have allowed for an average increase.

Watch the regents meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFiILOTWDZE

Note to readers: This version of the story clarifies several figures, including the amount student fees will be raised, the amount of new recurring funding requests and the amount of employee salary increases.

UNM budget at a glance

Tuition and fees proposal

 Current: $10,879 per year

 Next year: $11,124 per year

State appropriations

 FY2023: $222 million

 FY2024: $244 million

Employee raises

 Each employee will get a 6% raise
An Espanola man pleaded guilty Monday in the 2019 beating death of his 5-year-old stepdaughter, whose body was found in the Rio Grande three days after her disappearance.

Malcolm Torres, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of Renezmae Calzada, who was found dead on Santa Clara Pueblo after a massive search was launched when she went missing.

Torres faces a minimum of 30 years and up to life in prison, according to his plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court of New Mexico. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

Renezmaes disappearance prompted an Amber Alert on Sept. 8, 2019, and a search that led to the discovery of her body on Sept. 11, 2019. That evening, some 500 people gathered for a candlelight vigil in Espanolas city plaza to mourn the little girls death.

While a guilty plea does not bring back the life that was taken, we hope it brings closure to (Renezmaes) family and confidence that justice will find those who harm the most vulnerable, Alexander Uballez, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, said in a written statement issued Monday.

Torres initially was indicted on Sept. 24, 2019, on a charge of second-degree murder, court records show. He was arrested three days later at Pojoaque Pueblo.

Torres admitted in the plea agreement that on Sept. 7, 2019, he was the sole adult caring for his step-daughter and his 18-month-old son at his home on Santa Clara Pueblo.

I was extremely intoxicated by alcohol during the time I was caring for the children, Torres said in the agreement. I do not remember what happened the night of the girls death, it said.

But while in his care, the girl sustained blunt force trauma to her head, torso, and extremities, as well as a broken left wrist, he acknowledged.

Torres admitted that he inflicted the injuries that caused Renezmaes death, the plea said.

Torres claimed he was too intoxicated to remember how he injured Renezmae, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a written statement.

Torres became aware of Jane Does injuries while she was still alive, but failed to seek or provide necessary medical care, the statement said.

Renezmaes grandparents returned home that afternoon and were told by Torres that the girl had been missing since that morning, the statement said. The grandmother alerted Renezmaes mother, who then contacted law enforcement.

The girls disappearance resulted in a massive search that ended when Renazmaes body was found in the Rio Grande on Santa Clara Pueblo.

The investigation found that Torres had driven 5 miles from his home and left the girls body in the river on Sept. 8, 2019, the statement said. Torres failure to cooperate resulted in the three-day delay in the discovery of the girls body, it said.

This conviction demonstrates the continuing commitment of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials to work together to combat violent crime on Native American tribal lands, said Raul Bujanda, FBI Special Agent in Charge.
Thats a wrap for The Christmas Classic.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the feature film finished production in Ruidoso in March.

The film stars Malin Akerman and Amy Smart. It is directed by Shane Taylor and produced by Daniel Cummings.

It tells the story of Elizabeth, who returns to her hometown of Ruidoso after living in San Francisco for the past 10 years. Elizabeth tries to convince Randy, the owner of the local ski resort, to sell the resort to her billionaire fiance Conner who wants to turn it into a private ski resort. If she doesnt, she risks ending her relationship and losing her job. She could turn her family and the entire community against her if she does. Randy agrees to sell the resort if she wins the yearly Christmas Classic, a series of outrageous events that her controlling older sister Lynn has won for nine years.

According to the New Mexico Film Office, the production employed 80 New Mexicans  30 as background talent, 38 crew members, and 12 principal actors.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Democrats announced Tuesday that they will hold their partys 2024 national convention in Chicago, choosing the biggest liberal city in the Midwest as they try to keep the momentum going after a strong midterm election performance in the key battleground region.

Organizers from Chicago, Atlanta and New York spent months lobbying to be the site of the convention, but the final decision lay with President Joe Biden, who is expected to formally launch his reelection campaign in the coming weeks.

Chicago is a great choice, Biden, who was flying to Northern Ireland, said in a statement. Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down.

The Democratic National Committee said its convention would be held Aug. 19-22 and noted that Illinois, along with Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, was part of the critical Midwestern blue wall, which was key to Democrats success in the 2020 and 2022 elections. That rosy language omits the fact that Michigan and Wisconsin narrowly broke for Donald Trump in 2016, helping the Republican win the White House.

Chicago is solidly Democratic, as is Illinois. But holding the partys presidential nominating gathering in such a pro-union city demonstrates Bidens commitment to organized labor. The move also could counter Republicans, who are holding their 2024 convention in Milwaukee, located in another swing Midwestern state, Wisconsin.

Republican National Committee Chairman Ronna McDaniel blasted Democrats radical agenda and predicted that voters will soundly reject whichever out-of-touch liberal the Democrats nominate in Chicago.

The convention will be held at the United Center, home to the NBAs Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. Chicago made sense for logistical reasons, with plenty of hotel space and public transportation.

The city is also home to major Democratic donors who can help with raising money to cover costs of a convention. That includes Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire businessman and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune who has contributed millions to Democratic causes and candidates, and was a major proponent for his city getting the convention.

The DNC said that Chicago represents the partys diversity and formidable coalition and that the Midwest will showcase President Bidens economic agenda including spending on public works as part of a sweeping bipartisan infrastructure package that cleared Congress in 2021.

The 2020 Democratic convention was supposed to be held in Milwaukee but unfolded virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden delivered a speech accepting his partys nomination that year at a nearly empty convention center in Wilmington, Delaware.

Chicago hosted the infamous 1968 Democratic convention, which is best remembered for a brutal clash between police and protesters opposing the Vietnam War. The last Democratic National Convention in the city was in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was headed to a second term.

Pritzker promised Tuesday that the convention would be an unforgettable event. He had pointed to Democrats desires to expand their Midwestern electoral gains, particularly in Michigan, where their party held the governorship and won control of both chambers of the Legislature during last falls midterms.

That Chicago beat out Atlanta was nonetheless a surprise given Georgias strategic importance as a swing state. Biden won Georgia two years ago, becoming the first Democrat to do so in a presidential election since Clinton in 1992, and his party now controls both of its Senate seats after wins that drew national attention the last two cycles.

Though Atlanta is as thoroughly Democratic as Chicago and New York, Georgia could very well be a major deciding factor in the 2024 presidential race in a way Illinois will not be.

Still, some top Democrats worried about Georgias Republican-controlled Legislature and state laws discouraging union membership and LGBTQ rights. There were also concerns about Georgias relaxed firearms laws, especially given the rash of mass shootings around the country  despite gun violence being a persistent problem in Chicago.

But shunning Atlanta for the convention could ultimately serve as a double blow to Georgia, which may also eventually lose its early place in a new Democratic primary calendar.

Biden endorsed moving Georgia to the No. 4 position in a revamped Democratic primary calendar for 2024  changes meant to better empower the partys deeply diverse voter base than the old system, which led off with overwhelmingly white Iowa.

But Republican state officials have balked at the Democrats holding a primary on a date that doesnt coincide with the GOPs 2024 primary.

As Biden prepares an expected reelection campaign, he is already focused on 2024s general election, rather than the primary, facing only token opposition from Democratic challengers Marianne Williamson, a spiritual adviser and author, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist.

New York City and state are also deeply blue in presidential races. But choosing the city for the convention might have helped Democrats in other parts of the state, its advocates said. Those other parts include Long Island, where Republican gains in key congressional districts helped the party flip the House last year.

Supporters of Atlantas bid had argued that the city and the rest of Georgia could help lead a resurgence of Democrats in the South, which remains largely steadfastly Republican.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Tuesday that Biden personally called him to say that Chicago had been chosen.

They said Atlanta was top two in all the nation, we were hoping wed be top one, Dickens told reporters. But they said next time, maybe.
MovieMaker Magazine says welcome back.

The trade magazine named the Santa Fe International Film Festival to its annual 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee list.

The Santa Fe-based festival was on the list from 2014-2020 and returns to the coveted list. It is also the lone New Mexico festival on the list.

A designation like this is really powerful, said Jacques Paisner, SFiFF artistic director. It helps us work to get tourists here for the festival. It also gets the word out to filmmakers about the festival being one of the best.

SFiFF takes place in Santa Fe every October and has built itself as a premiere film festival, often bringing in films that later go on to be Oscar nominated.

MovieMaker, a film magazine and website based in Los Angeles, compiles its annual list based on surveys, filmmaker testimonials, and visits to festivals, among other factors. Key considerations include how much assistance a festival provides to traveling filmmakers; recent premieres at the festival; opportunities to meet distributors, fans, fellow filmmakers, and press; and whether festivals are Academy-qualifying.

According to MovieMaker, the festival is based in the No. 1 smaller city on our list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker.

The magazine said Santa Fe blends an artistic spirit with natural wonder all around and understated elegance.

Attending the festival is an excellent way to get to know a town that has inspired everyone from Georgia OKeeffe to John Ford. Its sophisticated audience is hungry for new discoveries, foreign films, and filmmakers who take chances, and the festival rewards artists handsomely, the article stated.

SFiFFs Best Narrative Feature earns a $90,000 prize package from Panavision and Light Iron, and SFiFFs Best Narrative Short receives a $15,000 Panavision camera package.

Key events include parties, industry panels, and workshops on acting, editing, and animation.

Located in the No. 1 town on our list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker, SFIFF gives back to its thriving film community in every sense  from programs for students to some of the most generous prize packages of any festival in the world, said Tim Molloy, MovieMaker Magazine editor-in-chief. Its a great way to link up with distributors and to learn from masters like Catherine Hardwicke, and were certain that anyone who visits Santa Fe will find it as artistically inspiring and rejuvenating as we do.

Paisner said the festival tries to keep the entry fee low for filmmakers to submit.

The early bird rates are low when you look at some of the Chicago festivals that charge bout $200, Paisner said.

A short film runs $40 and a feature film runs $45 in the early bird. Paisner said the prices increase after the initial early bird dates. The 2023 festival runs Oct. 18-22.
BOULDER CITY, Nev. (AP)  The Biden administration released an environmental analysis Tuesday that outlined two ways that seven Western states and tribes reliant on the overtapped Colorado River could cut their use, but declined to publicly take a side on the best option.

One option would be more beneficial to California and some tribes along the river that have high-priority rights to the rivers water. The second option is likely to be more favorable to Nevada and Arizona, who share the rivers Lower Basin with California and say its time for an approach that more fairly spreads the pain of cuts. That approach would force cuts on a proportional basis, when water levels at key reservoirs along the river dip below a certain point.

The Interior Department defended its authority to make sure basic needs such as drinking water and hydropower generated from the river are met  even if it means setting aside the priority system.

At the end of the day, the Interior secretary has the authority and the responsibility to operate the system, Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau told The Associated Press. He said those duties give the federal government the ability to make some decisions that defy the priority system.

The alternatives explore how the federal government could deal with water shortages at Lake Powell and Lake Mead through 2026. Lake Powell, located in Arizona, and Lake Mead, which sits behind Hoover Dam in Nevada, are the largest built reservoirs in the U.S. and serve as barometers of the rivers health. The federal government typically announces in August how much water is available for the coming year.

The 1,450-mile (2,334-kilometer) powerhouse of the West serves 40 million people across seven states, which span tribal land, and Mexico. It also generates hydroelectric power for regional markets and irrigates nearly 6 million acres (2,428 hectares) of farmland.

A multidecade drought in the West intensified by climate change, rising demand and overuse has sent water levels at key reservoirs along the river to unprecedented lows. Thats forced the federal government to cut some water allocations, and to offer up billions of dollars to pay farmers and cities to cut back.

Officials expect some relief this year from a series of powerful storms that blanketed California and the Western Rocky Mountains, the main source of the Colorado Rivers water. But Beaudreau said states, Native American tribes and other water users recognized that it would be in no ones interest to stall talks because of the winters healthy snowpack.

The snow is great. Its a godsend. But were in the midst of a 23-year drought, Beaudreau said.

Last year the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation called for the states to figure out how to cut their collective use of the rivers water by about 2 to 4 million acre feet  or roughly 15% to 30% of their annual use  but an agreement has since been elusive.

An acre-foot of water is roughly enough to serve 2 to 3 U.S. households annually.

In January, six of the seven U.S. states that rely on river  Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado  outlined how they would conserve significantly more water, but California disagreed and released its own ideas a day later.

The proposal released Tuesday builds on some of those ideas and rejects others, including a call by the six-state coalition to account for water loss from evaporation and leaky infrastructure as the river travels to states, cities and farms. One of the options would achieve similar cuts but through different means. Both largely focus on cuts to the Lower Basin users  California, Arizona and Nevada.

The lengthy environmental analysis released by the Biden administration explores two options for cuts, as well as a third that takes no action. States, tribes and other water users now have until May 30 to comment before federal officials announce their formal decision.

The two plans outlined by federal officials Tuesday would achieve at least 2 million acre-feet of cuts in 2024, on top of existing cuts that states and other users previously agreed to.

Among the main differences between the two plans from the Interior is whether states in the rivers Lower Basin should have their water supplies cut on a proportional basis if water levels at Lake Mead fall below a certain level.

The other plan allocates cuts based on the priority system  in which water users in the West with more senior rights, like California  face fewer cuts.

The Department of Interior is not promoting one option over the other.

Some of the commentary has depicted an us-versus-them dynamic in the basin, Beaudreau said. I dont see that at all.

Arizona and California are looking at how to develop a true seven-state consensus in the coming months, said JB Hamby, who chairs the Colorado River Board of California.

Hamby is also a board member of the Imperial Irrigation District, a vast farming region in Californias southeastern corner that holds rights to the largest share of the rivers water. The district said Tuesday it was concerned by any plan that involves equal cuts among water users.

The Quechan tribe along the Arizona-California border also opposes plans that throw out the priority system.

Weve got senior water rights and last we checked, we still live in a priority-based system, said Jay Weiner, the tribes attorney.

Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said its imperative that the states reach an agreement that avoids legal action.

Once litigation occurs, its going to be very difficult to negotiate something moving forward. Litigation that might take 10 or 15 or 20 years is going to be occurring while the system and the lake behind us is going to crash, he said.

Reclamation also didnt say how Mexico might contribute to the savings, but that discussions are ongoing. The country is entitled to 1.5 million acre feet of water each year under a treaty reached with the U.S. in 1944. In recent years, Mexico has participated in water savings plans with the U.S. amid worsening drought in both countries.

___

Naishadham reported from Washington, D.C.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
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The Chloe x Halle member, who released her debut solo album 'In Pieces' on Friday, March 31, suggests in a new Twitter post that she 'enjoyed every moment' of making the record.

Apr 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - Chloe Bailey seemingly couldn't care less about the sales of her debut solo album, "In Pieces". After it was unveiled that it only sold 10,000 units, the Chloe x Halle member suggested that she "enjoyed every moment" of making the record.

"in pieces was about letting go & trusting myself. i've enjoyed every moment of it and i love everyone who listened to it," Beyonce Knowles' protege wrote on Twitter on Monday, April 10. "tour starts tomorrow in chicago and im so ready to perform these songs for yall."

Chloe's post arrived after Chart Data tweeted, "Chloe's 'In Pieces' debuts at #119 on this week's Billboard 200 (10K sold; @ChloeBailey)." The report surprised fans considering Chloe's hard work in promoting the album.

"She was everywhere promoting this album. I wonder what happened," one person in particular penned on the blue-bird app. Another, in the meantime, declared, "Who cares where it charted. It was an amazing project."

Chloe dropped "In Pieces" on March 31. To celebrate the album release, she shared the "Cheatback" visuals. The clip narrates Chloe getting revenge on Future, who seemingly acts as her unfaithful partner.

Directed by Audrey Ellis Fox, the music video shows the reversal of Chloe smashing out the windows of a car's windshield. While tears on her cheek are erased, she sings, "I'm not gonna cry anymore/ I'm not gonna wait up at night/ I'm not gonna answer your calls/ Whenever you're down."

"I'm not gonna bleach your clothes/ I'm not gonna do you like that/ What I really, really want/ Is to cheat back," the 24-year-old continues. She later cozies up to Joey Bada$$, who plays her other "boo from the hood with some tats."

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The Oscar-winning actress is clapping back at a troll who left a hate comment underneath her Instagram post featuring a picture of her drinking wine nude on a balcony.

Apr 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - Halle Berry's day isn't about to be ruined by a troll. The Oscar-winning actress could be seen clapping back at a troll who left a hate comment underneath her Instagram post featuring a picture of her drinking wine nude on a balcony.

Upon seeing the star's racy post on Saturday, April 8, the hater left a disapproval comment that read, "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." The 56-year-old caught wind of the comment and quickly responded, "Did you guys know the heart of a shrimp is located in its head?"

Despite the criticism, the "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" actress received praises from fans and fellow celebrities, including Halle Bailey and Lena Waithe who both sent out clapping hand emojis. Audra McDonald, meanwhile, wrote, "You won the internet today with this clap back." Also hopping on the positivity train was Kelly Rowland, who simply said, "YES!!!!"

Fans also left some encouraging and supportive comments. "& will always love you for it No one does it like Halle," one said. "You look amazing!! Man, some of these people with their negativity should try some of your fitness routines that you share with us, then they wouldn't have to be so jelly," one other raved.

Halle is no stranger to sharing risque photos on social media. Last month, the "Catwoman" star treated her Instagram followers to bathroom mirror selfies in which she posed with her hands across her breasts. She captioned it, "Mump day self love."

Prior to this, Halle discussed embracing her body in an interview with AARP magazine. "We're all going to get older," she explained in January. "Our skin is going to shrivel up and we're going to look different. I see things changing with my face and body."

Despite the changes, the "Moonfall" actress noted, "I've never put all my eggs in that basket. I've always known that beauty is deeper than the physical body you're walking around in."

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Museums in China take measures to improve visitor experience

People's Daily Online) 10:45, April 11, 2023

Recently, museums in many places across the country have been enjoying a peak season. Driven by this, the museums have taken various efforts to try to make full use of their resources and satisfy Chinese citizens' ever-growing spiritual and cultural needs.

Days ago, a Gandhara art exhibition, which is the largest Gandhara cultural exhibition ever held in China, kicked off at the Palace Museum in Beijing. The artifacts displayed at the exhibition have attracted many visitors.

Photo shows a Gandhara art exhibition at Beijing's Palace Museum. (Photo courtesy of the Palace Museum)

The exhibition entitled "Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London" at Shanghai Museum in Shanghai enjoys so much popularity that the museum has decided to extend the opening hours of the exhibition during the day and keep the exhibition open at night from March 28 to May 7.

On April 1, an exhibition on cultural relics unearthed in north China's Shanxi Province kicked off at the Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan, capital city of Shanxi.

In addition to showcasing a variety of cultural relics, the museum has taken some measures to improve visitor experience, including using low reflective glass to showcase the exhibits, employing modern multimedia equipment to better display the exhibits, and applying virtual reality technology to bring historical scenes to life.

Photo shows a cultural relic on display at Shanxi Museum. (Photo courtesy of Shanxi Museum)

Among those visiting museums are people who want to learn something about the exhibits, as well as people who come just to snap photos of the exhibits and share their experiences on social media.

Industry insiders pointed out that they are delighted to see that museums have become a popular option for many people.

"We should appreciate people's enthusiasm for museums and interest in cultural relics," said Zhang Jingwei, an associate research fellow at Shanghai Museum.

Photo shows the exhibition hall of Liangzhu Museum in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo courtesy of Liangzhu Museum)

Museums built upon archeological sites provide new scenes to better tell stories of cultural relics. Liangzhu Museum in Hangzhou city, east China's Zhejiang Province is an example.

Liangzhu Museum has worked to organize its exhibits in new ways, according to Huang Li, deputy curator of the museum. For instance, the layout of the museum offers a big exhibition space and allows visitors to follow their own course throughout the space.

The museum craze reflects the general public's deep love for traditional culture, and is attributable to the museums' growing ability to organize exhibitions, as well as their rising service awareness.

Zhang said to maintain the good momentum, museums need to know about the audience's interests through self-reflection and interaction with them.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)


Presidential office claims CIA wiretapping allegation is 'untrue'



By Nam Hyun-woo



The presidential office described allegations of U.S. intelligence services spying on high-ranking Korean government officials as being "groundless and untrue," Tuesday, while Seoul and Washington agreed that "some of the leaked U.S. documents were fabricated."



Suspicions have been raised concerning the revelation of purported Pentagon documents leaked online earlier this week.



"Unlike the past when various offices of the presidential secretaries were scattered in the Cheong Wa Dae compound, the Yongsan presidential office maintains ironclad security and the suspicion that the office was being eavesdropped is a groundless and false accusation," the office said in a statement.



Cheong Wa Dae is the former presidential compound and Yoon relocated the presidential office to Yongsan District, Seoul, when he took office last year.



The statement added that the two countries' defense chiefs spoke by phone and agreed on the assessment that much of the information contained in the leaked documents was fabricated, adding that the two countries will deepen their mutual trust and cooperation.







"Korea and the United States agreed that most of the leaked information was fabricated" and "since this is a matter of the U.S., its authorities will begin investigating what happened and who's behind this and it will take time (for Washington to come up with results)," First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Tae-hyo said before leaving for Washington, D.C., Tuesday.



The comments came after news reports said that the classified military and intelligence documents that were leaked online in recent weeks contain internal discussions of Korean presidential secretaries on whether to provide the U.S. with artillery shells to be used in Ukraine, violating Seoul's policy of not providing lethal weapons.





U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said the U.S. is "taking this (the documents leak) very, very seriously" and "there is no excuse for these kinds of documents to be in the public domain."



Although the White House said it has no excuse for the leak, the Korean presidential office said this does not mean that the U.S. is acknowledging that it wiretapped Korean officials.



"The revelation itself becomes a controversy and there are different opinions on whether those documents are valid or not, while the U.S. is investigating that," an official at the presidential office said. "After checking the facts  whether those documents were doctored or not  then there should be measures."



Kirby also said, "We know that some of them have been doctored," but added that he "won't speak to the validity of all the documents."



Despite the Korean presidential office's denial, doubts are still lingering regarding the explanation and Seoul's response to Washington.





The presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul / Courtesy of presidential office
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The 42-year-old reality TV star has been confirmed to star on Ryan Murphy's hit FX anthology series in its upcoming season 12, joining returning star Emma Roberts.

Apr 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kim Kardashian is taking her acting career to the next level. The reality TV star has been confirmed to star on Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Story" in its upcoming season 12, joining returning star Emma Roberts.

"The Kardashians" star took to her Instagram account on Monday, April 10 to announce the big news, sharing a teaser video with a creepy version of "Rock-a-bye, Baby". The video additionally features a text stating Kim and Emma "are delicate." Emma also posted the same video with the caption, "This summerKim and I are DELICATE."

Following the casting announcement, "AHS" co-creator Ryan explained his decision to cast the SKIMS founder in the new season of the hit FX horror series. "Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the 'AHS' family," he said to The Hollywood Reporter.

"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," the statement added.

Not many details about Kim's character are revealed, but a representative for Ryan told Variety that the cosmetics mogul, who previously made appearances on "Last Man Standing", "How I Met Your Mother","Drop Dead Diva" and "CSI: NY", has a lead role in "American Horror Story" season 12.

Meanwhile, Kim allegedly is "really excited for such an amazing opportunity to be cast in 'AHS'. It really is an honor particularly because she's working alongside some of the most talented people in one of the most iconic franchises." Another source revealed to Us Weekly, "She was a bit nervous to take on such an important project, [but] she knew it was something she couldn't pass up."

The insider also noted that the 42-year-old Hulu star's part on the horror anthology series was a "hard secret to keep." The source continued, "She can't wait for them to see her step into this role. Of course, she's acted before, but this feels next-level."

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The sentencing, which was scheduled for Monday, April 10, is pushed back next week as the Canadian rapper's legal team tries to get him a new trial after he was convicted of shooting the Texas raptress.

Apr 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - Sentencing for Tory Lanez in the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion has been delayed again. The sentencing was scheduled for Monday, April 10, but it has been pushed back next week following his legal team's appeal in the case.

The sentencing, which was originally scheduled for January, has been rescheduled multiple times. Tory has hired new attorneys since his conviction and in late March, he filed an appeal in the case asking for a new trial.

On Monday, his defense team said in court that they wanted to raise new issues. The sentencing was thus pushed back again as his attorneys asked for more time to supplement the previous filing. A hearing on Tory's motion for a new trial has since been rescheduled to next Monday, April 17 at his legal team's request.

In December 2022, Tory was found guilty of shooting Megan in the back of her feet following a verbal altercation after a party at Kylie Jenner's house in July 2020. He was charged with one felony count each of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. He was also convicted of an additional felony count of discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

In late March, his attorney filed an appeal, claiming prosecutors tried to dirty him up with "irrelevant evidence." His attorney said in legal documents obtained by TMZ that it was a "reversible error" for prosecutors to threaten to present the "Jerry Sprunger" emcee's rap lyrics to the jury.

Additionally, the lawyer pointed out that he believes it was wrong for the jury to have heard an 80-minute interview prosecutors had with Megan's former BFF, Kelsey Harris, who was in the vehicle with both rappers the night of the shooting. Kelsey's interview was hurtful to the case even though she later recanted most of what she said.

Tory is facing up to 22 years and eight months in prison if he's given the maximum sentence on each charge. There's also a "strong likelihood" that he will be deported back to Canada following time served.

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Having left fans confused about where she lives after teasing about her family's Easter getaway, the 'Christina on the Coast' host assures her family often visits their 'home away from home.'

Apr 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - Christina Hall has not relocated to Tennessee. Having aroused speculations that she "stole" her kids on Easter after offering peeks at her family getaway over the Easter weekend, the "Christina On The Coast" host was quick to set things straight.

Over the holiday weekend, the 39-year-old TV personality made use of Instagram Story to clear the air about where she and her family live. "For everyone confused.. we do NOT live in Tennessee," she kicked off her clarification. "We live in California ... we have a second home in Tennessee."

The former "Flip or Flop" co-host went on to address questions about her taking the three children she shared with ex-husbands, Tarek El Moussa and Ant Anstead, away from California. "For all those people thinking I left the kids or stole the kids ... false info. We just frequently visit our home away from home," she stressed.

Christina, however, did not dwell too long on the matter. On Sunday, April 9, she shared on Instagram a series of photos capturing her family's Easter celebration in their Tennessee home. One in particular saw Christina, her children and her parents in a park. Another photo displayed her two sons, Brayden and Hudson, posing with an Easter bunny.

In the same post, Christina's children were also seen enjoying gifts from their Easter baskets. Another snap showed her and husband Joshua Hall sitting close to each other as Joshua held a pair of baby goats. Other photos captured her children handling baby chicks. Accompanying the family pictures was a simple caption that read, "Easter 2023. Complete with baby goats and baby chicks."

Christina was never shy in publicly sharing pictures from her family events. In March, she let out via Instagram a photo that captured her, her children and her grandparents. In the caption of the post, she explained, "Celebrated these two today. My grandparents, Pete and Pat, 97 and 92 years young. My Grandma is always dressed to the nines and has more energy than me lol. Happy Birthday to them both."

The real estate investor shared her two eldest children, 12-year-old Taylor and 7-year-old Brayden, with ex Tarek. She is also a mother to 3-year-old Hudson whom she had with former husband Ant.

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The CNN anchor appears to diss the 'Problem with Jon Stewart' host while weighing in on a viral video of Stewart's interview with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

Apr 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - CNN anchor Don Lemon appeared to diss Jon Stewart on-air before he made a quick recovery. In the Monday, April 10 broadcast of "CNN This Morning", Lemon seemingly suggested on a hot mic that Stewart "gets a lot of leeway" as a comedian.

During the episode, Lemon weighed in on a viral video of Stewart's interview with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks in Chicago last week. In the clip, Stewart could be seen grilling Hicks over 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 f**king corruption," he said.

After playing the video, Lemon appeared to shade the "The Problem with Jon Stewart" host. "He gets a lot of leeway with the comedian thing, though," the anchor told his co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. Following a brief moment of silence, the TV personality quickly attempted to backtrack on his remarks.

"We were just discussing that Jon Stewart is so much more than a comedian. He is a thought leader," he explained. "When I was saying comedian and television host, he's so much more than that. I don't even know if you need to qualify Jon Stewart as that. But good interview there."

According to TMZ, Lemon was innocent in the alleged hot mic incident as it took place during his conversation with the show's producer about how best to introduce Stewart. The source told the news outlet that as it was scripted, Lemon referred to Stewart as a "comedian and host."

However, during soundbite, he and his co-anchors told the producer it's more fair to label him an advocate for veterans' rights. None of them allegedly realized viewers were hearing their convo.

The awkward moment arrived after Lemon was accused of sending threatening text messages to his "Live From with Kyra Phillips" co-host when Kyra landed an assignment in Iraq over him. One of the messages read, "Now you've crossed the line, and you're going to pay for it." The messages were traced back to Lemon and it led to him being demoted to a weekend anchor role.

It was also said that he expressed his disappointment "by tearing up pictures and notes on top of and inside Phillips' desk in the news pod they shared."

In response to the allegation, CNN said in a statement, "Don says the alleged incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation. CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago." Meanwhile, Kyra declined to comment.

As for Lemon, he denied all the allegations leveled at him in the story published on Variety on Wednesday, April 5. "The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip," a spokesperson for Lemon stressed. "It's amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless."

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The former First Lady's public message and appearance with her husband reportedly come after Donald made a plea to her to be a fixture on his upcoming White House campaign.

Apr 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - Donald Trump has made sure his wife knows he needs her by his side. The former president has reportedly made a plea to Melania Trump to show a united front in the wake of his indictment and arrest.

A source says that the couple, who has been married for almost 20 years, had "a major talk" over the weekend, before she agreed to be a fixture on his upcoming White House campaign. "He told her, 'I really need you for this because we are going to be campaigning,' " the source tells Page Six. "They had a major talk over the weekend, and she has ... agreed to be on board."

Melania was previously absent when her husband delivered a fiery speech following his arraignment on April 4. Her former aide and best friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff later said her absence wasn't unexpected.

"Melania lives in an ivory tower of denial," Stephanie said earlier this month. "I never expected to see her there. Her silence is deliberate, it is her weapon of choice and her protective armor."

Stephanie, who was Melania's advisor until 2018, said of the Slovenian-born beauty, "Of course she knows about Donald's affairs, she knows everything. But her silence is her dignity. She will stand by her husband, as she always does. I don't think Melania is humiliated by his affairs - but she is angry."

However, Melania was later seen for the first time with her husband after his arrest on Sunday, April 9. The pair enjoyed an Easter brunch at his Mar-a-Lago club, where he dressed in his usual suit and tie, while she sported a white blouse with a purple floral pattern.

"She wanted just to be alone with him; that was her request," a so-called insider said of the holiday meal. "The fact it was the two of them alone was a big statement. This was a statement [saying], 'We are together, I stand by my husband.' "

The source said of the velvet rope, "It was two of them and they had roped off the table. I think she wanted to show support, but didn't want to have to talk about any of this s**t."

Melania also broke her social media silence after the arrest by posting on Instagram over the weekend. "Happy Easter!" she wrote along with an image of a pink rose.

Meanwhile, Donald sent a bitter message on Easter. "Happy Easter to all, including those that dream endlessly of destroying our country because they are incapable of dreaming about anything else," he wrote on his platform Truth Social, "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."

The 76-year-old continued, "& to all of those weak & pathetic rinos, radical left democrats, socialists marxists, & communists who are killing our nation, remember, we will be back!"

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The happy couple exchanges vows in front of their friends and family in an outdoor ceremony in Los Angeles which is attended by several of her former co-stars.

Apr 11, 2023

AceShowbiz - "I Still Believe" star Britt Robertson and Paul Floyd have got married. The happy couple tied the knot in an outdoor ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 8 in front of their friends and family.

Britt shared several professional pictures of her nuptials on Instagram. She wrote in the caption, "Worlds collide. What a wonderful Robertson-Floyd day it was."

Several of her former co-stars attended the wedding, including Kristoffer Polaha, who portrayed Britt's father on "Life Unexpected". He wrote on Instagram: "My first-ever TV kid got married yesterday and it was a big, beautiful, fun day! Baze was proud, so was I!"

"The Secret Circle" actress Phoebe Tonkin and actor Thomas Dekker were also in attendance at the nuptials.

Last May, Britt took to Instagram to reveal she and Paul were engaged following a rooftop proposal. Paul shared a video of the moment he asked the "Tomorrowland" star, who appeared alongside George Clooney and Hugh Laurie in the film, if she will marry him, and she replied,

"So much so. We are getting married?! I love you so much!" The happy couple then embraced in a passionate kiss.

He also wrote on Instagram: "Introducing Brittany Leanna Robertson-Floyd. My wife to be x (sic)" She commented: "Love you bbb (sic)"

Britt, who was previously romantically linked to her fellow "A Dog's Purpose" star KJ Apa, took to her Instagram Stories to show off her new engagement ring, and she was congratulated by several of her famous pals. Model Sydney Lima wrote: "OH MY GOD WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!! (sic)." "Teen Wolf" star Shelley Hennig posted, "Im a little partial to slide 2 THE FUN FLOYD'S!! "Wedding at universal? (sic)"

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The Hawkeye actor had an 'emergency knife' jammed in his chest to save his life while he was airlifted to hospital for treatment following near-fatal snowplough accident.

Apr 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Jeremy Renner was airlifted to hospital with an "emergency knife" plunged into his chest after his nightmarish snowplough accident. "The Avengers" actor, 52, was left with his chest and legs crushed after being hit by his 14,000-lb Pistenbully Snowcat as he tried to stop it hurtling into his nephew on New Year's Day, and told how he endured agonising surgery as he was flown from the scene of the horror to hospital.

"Once I got into the helicopter to the hospital, that's when they jammed some sort of emergency knife or whatever they do in your chest. I don't know, that's when I was like, I got to go to sleep," he said on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Monday, April 10, less than four months after he nearly died in the accident, which shattered more than 35 of his bones.

Jeremy also admitted he was "kicked out" of the first hospital where he was treated as he reacted so badly to his medication. He added, "I'm going back this week to apologise to everyone of those nurses yes, I'm going to apologise."

Jeremy added the seriousness of his injuries hit him when "everybody" who saw him was "acting like it's an open casket and you are living through it." He also told how his A-list pals such as Chris Evans, 41, whom he consulted with as he recovered, weren't good enough actors to shield their fear he could die.

Jeremy added, "The reaction made me feel like I think I really hurt myself, (and that) I might not pull out of this. They are terrible actors - they could not hide the fact that I looked awful."

Jeremy also recently said on "Jeremy Renner: The Diane Sawyer Interview - A Story of Terror, Survival and Triumph" he wrote his "last words" to his family as he languished in hospital. He said, "I'm writing down notes in my phone - my last words to my family."

Jeremy also told how he fears he would have died in the aftermath of the accident if his nephew - whom he was trying to save being hit by the machine - had not been at his side. The Hawkeye actor added, "If I was there, on my own, that would've been a horrible way to die. And surely, I would've. Surely. But I wasn't alone - my nephew (was there). Sweet Alex. And the rest of the cavalry came."

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ABP Ganga, the leading news channel of Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand, organised a successful music concert, NAAD, at Uttaranchal University of Dehradun. The event celebrated the music and culture of Uttarakhand and witnessed a massive turnout of more than 8000 music enthusiasts.

ABP Ganga's NAAD brought together some of the most renowned names in Uttarakhand folk music and administration for a captivating mix of musical performances, engaging conversations, and insightful discussions. The event provided a platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage and musical brilliance of the region and the state.

The four-hour event featured top performers in Uttarakhand's folk music heritage, including Jubin Nautiyal, Narendra Singh Negi, Pritam Bhartwan, Sangeeta Dhoundiyal, Kalpana Chauhan, Priyanka Mehar, Digvijay Singh Pariyar, Inder Arya, Jitendra Tomkyal and Pandavas  The Band. These legends and doyens of Uttarakhand's folk music were joined by a new generation of artists who expressed themselves on a national stage while keeping their roots and heritage intact.

Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, graced the event as a chief guest. His presence highlighted the government's support for the event and its recognition of the importance of promoting Uttarakhand's music and culture.

The event also featured a session with a panel of Uttarakhand bureaucrats who are active in the performing arts. These sessions provided insights into the role of music and culture in Uttarakhand's development and showcased the state's commitment to promoting its rich cultural heritage.

Overall, ABP Ganga's NAAD was a resounding success, showcasing the best of Uttarakhand's music & culture, and highlighting the state's commitment to preserving and promoting its rich cultural heritage.

Witnessing the overwhelming response from the audience, ABP Ganga looks forward to organizing many more such events that celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions of India.

ABP Gangas NAAD will be aired on ABP Ganga on 15th April from 5 pm to 8 pm.
Violinist Big Lux / Courtesy of Big Lux



By Jon Dunbar



It's been over five years since Big Lux last set foot in Korea, but he's happy to be back in a place he considers a "second home."



"The last time I came back to Korea in 2017, even after being gone two years, I couldn't walk down the street in HBC (Seoul's Haebangchon) without bumping into someone I knew," he told The Korea Times.



The violinist is here until the end of the month, with shows lined up so far in Seoul and Busan.



His music brings the violin to a variety of musical genres, including classical, jazz, bluegrass and hip-hop, wowing audiences from here to Afghanistan and all the way back to the U.S.





Violinist Big Lux / Courtesy of Big Lux



"Bowed string instruments  the violin, viola and cello  are the instruments that sound closest to the human voice," he said. "The human voice gives us everything from metal to R&B, hip-hop to opera. It took me a long time to grow into my singing voice so I just used the tools I had to make the kind of music I wanted to hear. It's 2023  the only limits we have are those we put on ourselves."



Big Lux originally came to Korea in 2011, where he was first stationed at Camp Hovey in Dongducheon, northern Gyeonggi Province.



"Living on base was tough, especially with the curfew in effect at 11 p.m.  That's just when the clubs are getting started, right?" he said. "I often came to Seoul and I usually stayed in a guest house in Hongdae then busked in the street or near the small park outside the university gate."



After a couple years there, he requested a transfer to U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan where he got to live off-post.



"I spent two years in Seoul gigging, dodging police after curfew and having the time of my life," he said.



During that time, he played HBC Fest three times, headlined the St. Patrick's Day festival with his band Bold Coast and hit Boryeong Mud Festival, among other smaller festivals and venues.



His four-year stint in Korea was a formative period of his life.



"The expat community in Korea is like an extended family," he said. "It helped give me an identity, then gave me so many opportunities to perform and grow. Every artist should have the opportunity to be a part of a creative scene like the one I found in Seoul  There is no place like it."



It was also during that time that he took on the name Big Lux.



"I started calling myself Lux in Korea, because it was a very Korean way of using English and I saw it on a lot of buildings  I don't know if that's still true," he recalled. "To me, Big Lux represents the juxtaposition between the strong and the delicate  a big brother who plays the violin."



What he was named before that doesn't matter, he says.



"I'm always fascinated and a little confused by people asking about my 'real name'  I and a lot of other black people call it our government name," he said. "My government name isn't memorable, it's hard to pronounce and it's a slave name with no connection to my ancestry. I think that makes Lux even more real because it connects me to people and places that shaped me."





Violinist Big Lux / Courtesy of Big Lux



In 2015, Big Lux moved back to the U.S., and found it hard to readjust to the new normal there after so many years away.



"It was wild for me to come back to the U.S. in 2015. I had to readjust to the political climate and was surprised to find out it had gotten so polarized. I had to learn about gentrification, get reintroduced to the concept of police violence and realize that there were in fact a lot of people who didn't believe that racism exists," he said. "There are fewer and fewer places where people with different opinions can mix and those places  like city council and school committee meetings  are becoming a flashpoint. The U.S. is still a great place of opportunity; your personal armor just needs to be a little thicker than usual to navigate daily life."



In June 2020, he released the single "Red March" after a series of high-profile police murders of Black men. The music video for the song shows many acts of police violence and the protests that broke out as a result. It also examines the history of the U.S. civil rights movement and the deeply engrained racism in a society that denies fair access to financial services and housing.



The video is restricted to adults only on YouTube, which Big Lux admits he finds "fascinating."



"The point blank shooting of Philando Castile, the choking of Eric Garner, the knee on George Floyd's neck... Maybe it should be restricted because the images are so violent, but this is violence the U.S. government is acting on us. I think everyone should be aware and march to change things. That's what the song is about."



Even after earning his master's degree in business, Big Lux shows no signs of slowing down or settling down. He's been eager to return to Korea, having made his first return trip in 2017. A second trip was planned for April 2020, but we all know what happened next.





Violinist Big Lux / Courtesy of Big Lux
The One Club for Creativity has announced the entries from 69 countries and regions on the 2023 shortlist for The One Show, now celebrating its 50th year.

Shortlisted entries were selected by this years esteemed jury to move into the second round of judging, which is taking place now. This years finalists  entries which will win a Gold, Silver or Bronze Pencil, or Merit  will be announced later this month.

FCB New York leads the world with 86 shortlisted entries. They include 31 for the A Song For Every CMO series for Spotify Advertising, 29 for McEnroe vs McEnroe on behalf of ABInBev Michelob ULTRA, and 15 for ABInBev Budweiser The Billboard Is Yours To Take.

With 64 shortlisted entries is Ogilvy UK London, including 26 for Dove Toxic Influence, 24 for Relate The Hornicultural Society, and 11 for Have a Word on behalf of Mayor of London.

Rethink in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver is close behind with 60 on the shortlist for 19 different entries, including 10 for Penguin Random House The Unburnable Book, and seven for Kraft Heinz Ketchup AI.

Dubai-based  and us has 55 shortlisted entries, including 26 for Anghami Sole Music and 16 for The Undeniable Street View on behalf of United24, Nova Ukraine, Voices of Children and Boctok SOS. With 53 is Droga5 New York for 15 different entries, including 14 for two Instacart entries: seven for Cart Couture and six for The World is Your Cart, and one for the integrated campaign of the two.

Other top agencies for shortlisted entries are TBWAParis Boulogne-Billancourt with 48, Ogilvy Mumbai with 45, Wieden+Kennedy New York with 43, and BBDO New York with 40.

A total of 4,975 entries from 69 countries and regions are shortlisted this year. The top five countries are the US with 1,781, Canada with 452, UK with 334, Germany with 284, and France with 265.

The One Club for Creativity, producer of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, ONE Asia Creative Awards, Type Directors Club competition, TDC Ascenders, Young Guns, and more, is the worlds foremost non-profit organisation whose mission is to support and celebrate the global creative community. Revenue generated from entries to its global awards shows goes back into the industry to fund programming under the organizations four pillars: Education, Inclusion & Diversity, Gender Equality, and Creative Development.
InfluSurf Communications, the creative unit of the Media Mantra Group, and digital media powerhouse wins the digital media mandate for Recliners India. Recliners India is India's leading manufacturer of recliners with a long-standing pedigree.

The account was won following a multi-agency pitch and will be managed out of the Gurgaon office. As part of the mandate, InfluSurf will handle the brands digital strategy nationally, along with managing its Social Media, Website and SEO presence in the country.

Neeraj Bansal, CEO, Recliners India, adds, We are pleased to partner with InfluSurf, one of Indias fastest-growing creative agencies, and thereby leverage InfluSurfs domain expertise to drive our digital campaigns and built robust digital assets.

Speaking on the new win Nikhil Sharda, VP, InfluSurf, said, We are so excited and honoured to be working with such a well-known company as Recliners India with a long-standing pedigree, as they begin the next stage of their digital transformation. Their vision and expectations for digital are in perfect alignment with our strategy of using new-age mediums to have measurable business impact. We are looking forward to a long-standing partnership with this iconic brand.

Udit Pathak, Founder & Director, Media Mantra Group, adds, Recliners India is a very well-known brand having more than 80% of the market share in an overcrowded industry of recliners. We are delighted and humbled by the trust the brand has in us to take it to newer heights. This win is also a testimony to Influsurf's rapidly-growing reputation as one of the most sought-after creative digital agencies that is bolstered by a diverse and talented team working towards transforming modern-day businesses in the ever-competitive world.

gs innovation to the existing ecosystem.
New data from Nielsen Consumer Media Insights (CMI) MediaEngagement, New Zealands most comprehensive consumer engagement and sentiment measurement service, shows that 82% of Kiwis (around 3.4 million) get their news at least once a week from various sources, including daily newspapers, local and community press, social media, as well as New Zealands many news apps and websites.

Those aged 45 and over are more likely than the rest of the population to consume news from more than just

one media source, often using a mix of print and online news brands. In contrast, those between the ages of

15 and 44 tend to stick to just one platform for their news  most often NZ news brands on social media.

When it comes to financial services, Kiwis pay close attention to news  its a driving factor in their investment

decisions. Nielsens CMI Media Engagement data shows that when New Zealanders are considering financial

products and services, they are:



 26% more likely than the average New Zealander to engage with NZ news brands (i.e. newspapers,

digital, on social media)



 20% more likely to be of the opinion that the financial information they get from NZ news sources is

trustworthy and credible, and;



 18% more likely to feel that NZ financial news helps them form opinions and think differently



The figures come from Nielsens CMI Media Engagement data, which covers many media types, engagement

sentiment, and insights on how NZs media informs, inspires and guides purchase intention across multiple

categories.



Executive Director of Nielsen NZ, Tony Boyte said, These latest news engagement numbers from Nielsen

CMI demonstrate the countrys strong appetite for news content and the power it has in shaping consumer

opinion and influence on purchasing behaviour across categories.



The numbers also showcase the importance of news content to brands and advertisers keen to engage with

New Zealanders on a daily and weekly basis, says Nielsens NZ Director of Client Development, Helene

Maurer: Nielsen CMI Media Engagement highlights the role that different types of media play in our purchase

decisions. Having a greater knowledge of consumers is crucial for a competitive advantage in this space and

CMI helps advertisers and brands align with content that reaches their key demographics to maximise

consumer engagement. Its crucial in navigating the volatile consumer and media landscape faced by media

owners, advertisers and agencies today.
TATA Projects Limited, one of India's fastest growing and most admired Technology led Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies, has unveiled HACHI as its safety mascot under its campaign India @ 100, growing responsibly and safely.

India @100, growing responsibly and safely is not just a campaign. It is a vision for an India that is future-ready to lead the world towards a more sustainable, resilient, and safer place for the generations to come.

This campaign is further supported by a compelling 9-part YouTube series that enhances the safety quotient in our day-to-day lives, as India makes its impact on the global economic landscape. Being a leading EPC company, Tata Projects is committed to creating a better future for all by increasing safety awareness and lauding safety champions.

Tata Projects has chosen a bee as its safety mascot. Bees are considered indispensable to the existence of humankind as they pollinate approximately 35% of the crop species consumed by us. The mascot goes by the name HACHI. Hachi, is a Japanese word, and it means Bee. It epitomizes the six-sigma of safety, respect, and environment. Additionally, bees personify perseverance and symbolize community and teamwork.

Mr. Himanshu Chaturvedi, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Tata Projects Ltd, said, In today's world, businesses must make focused efforts to ensure the occupational safety of their workforce. This is because the well-being of workers is crucial for the success of any business. At Tata Projects, we understand the importance of workplace safety and make sure that it is our top priority. We believe that every worker has the right to return home safely at the end of the day.

To achieve this, we have put in place various measures to ensure the safety of our workers at our sites. One of the programs we have in place to promote a culture of safety at Tata Projects is the Zero Tolerance Assurance program. This program is designed to reduce the risks for workers on the job and to prevent accidents and injuries. It is a comprehensive safety program that covers all aspects of workplace safety. We provide regular training to our workers on the importance of workplace safety, the hazards they might encounter on the job, and how to protect themselves from these hazards. We also invest in the latest safety gear to protect our workers. Safe construction at project sites is critical not just for the workers, but also for the public. Many construction sites are located in populated areas or are accessible to non-project staff. Stringent protocols ensures that project execution is safe to all persons.

At Tata Projects, we are committed to ensuring that our workers are safe and healthy. We believe that safety should be the way of life.

This campaign will enable us to promulgate our belief that the safety of stakeholders takes precedence over everything else. With this campaign, we not only endeavor to eliminate accidents at project sites, but also educate and enlighten the masses about industry-wide safety practices.
VLCC, India's premium beauty and skincare brand has announced the appointment of Vikas Gupta as CEO with immediate effect. The announcement comes after Carlyle, a global investment firm with US$ 369bn in Assets Under Management, announced a strategic partnership with VLCC through the acquisition of majority stake in the company in Dec 2022.

Prior to joining VLCC, Vikas was the CEO of SuperStore by Nykaa. Before that, he was the Chief Customer and Marketing Officer for Flipkart between 2019-21. Vikas started his career as a management trainee with HUL in 1998 and spent 21 years with Unilever, leading brand marketing for Lux, Dove, Dirt Is Good brands and was Executive Director of Home Care for Unilever Indonesia.

Amit Jain, Managing Director and Head, Carlyle India Advisors said, We are excited to welcome Vikas as the Group's CEO. He brings muti-decadal, global experience in building leading consumer brands and digital platforms. Vikas will focus on business growth, leveraging technology and customer centricity to bring the best of beauty and skincare propositions to the Indian market. I am confident that the organization will benefit from his leadership.

For over 3 decades, VLCC has put customers at the heart of its approach. We will continue to do that with a clear focus on innovation through cutting-edge science. We will continue to build on our strengths, while also exploring new opportunities for growth and expansion. Our focus will be on creating value for our stakeholders and making a positive impact in the beauty and skincare industry. said Vikas Gupta, on his appointment as Group CEO of VLCC.
Rwanda has issued international arrest warrants against Burundians presumed to have been involved in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ethnic community of this tiny central African country, judicial sources in Kigali said on Saturday.

We are forced to take action against Burundian refugees suspected at the time of having been involved in the 1994 genocide, the Public prosecutor, M. Ngoga was quoted as saying by the Anglophone daily, The New Times.

The principle underlying these legal proceedings is that we are going to closely collaborate with the Burundian legal establishment to arrest these suspects, the newspaper quoted him as saying.

There are already hundreds of presumed Burundian genocide perpetrators who are jailed in different prison centres in Rwanda, Mr Ngoga added without giving details.

There are several testimonies made during sessions of the Gacaca peoples jurisdictions that confirm the involvement of Burundians in the 1994 tragedies.

We hope that the Burundian legal establishment is going to collaborate in this legal action against Burundian perpetrators of genocide.

The Gacaca court is part of a system of community justice inspired by tradition and established in 2001 in Rwanda in the wake of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when hundreds of thousands of Rwandans, mostly Tutsis, were slaughtered by Hutu extremists who controlled political power at the time.

This is the first time since the 1994 genocide that a Rwandan official has gone on record on possible legal action against foreigners who were involved in the genocide.
Phillies Pub in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, April 9 / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar



By Jon Dunbar



After more than 26 years in its current location, Phillies is moving out and reopening nearby.



The restaurant-pub has undergone ownership changes many times and gone through a few rebrandings and expansions, but it has been a fixture of central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood since opening in 1997 .



Last year, it was announced that the place would be closing its doors on Dec. 31, 2022, when the lease was to expire. All other tenants living in the apartments upstairs have also moved away.



Somehow Phillies managed to stay open a few months more as the details were negotiated.



But shortly after celebrating its 26th anniversary, a deal has been reached, and Phillies will close on April 17.



"It is tough losing the space," said Jim Cuthbertson, who took over ownership of Phillies in 2011. "There are a lot of great memories. I met my wife and a lot of great friends at Phillies."





Phillies owner Jim Cuthbertson, center, gives a speech during the restaurant-pub's 26th anniversary party, April 1. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar



However, with its next location already ready, this is not the end. Phillies will be relocated a short distance up the street, into the current location of Gogi Boys, a barbecue restaurant under the same ownership as Phillies. The space will switch to Phillies immediately after the first location closes, and plans are being made to change the sign.



The new location is nice and new, a split-level establishment with a nice bar and a large kitchen space, plus large, clean washrooms.



"It's gonna be a big change for everyone," said David Dunne, who has been managing live events in Phillies' basement. "There's definitely some pros and cons. Obviously losing the history of the space is a massive disappointment, but there are definitely some positives to be gained. The building is starting to show its age, so moving to a newer building will remove some of the structural headaches we've been having to deal with. The new location is much larger too so we will be able to have more seating and have a kitchen big enough to try some new things."



The one major drawback is that the Gogi Boys location lacks a basement space where events can be held. While events like trivia, comedy and acoustic music might continue in the new space, there will be no room for loud live bands.



"Live music in the basement has been a staple of Phillies since I've been involved," Cuthbertson said. "That space has been fantastic for music. It will be tough losing it."



"This will be the biggest disappointment for me personally when we move," Dunne said. "Music is a big passion of mine, especially heavy/alternative music. I felt like I had developed some great traction and relationships with bands over the last two years and had helped to create a little bit of a 'heavy' scene in HBC for the first time. It took some work but we started to finally get bands to leave Hongdae and play on our side of the city. Hopefully, we can find an alternative venue and keep the momentum that we've generated going."





David Dunne performs with the metal band Rogue Warriors at Phillies, Dec. 3, 2022. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
An MMA-trained fighter is accused of killing a Florida resident during a fight outside a Panama City Beach bar Sunday night.

According to Panama City Beach police, officers were called to the Coyote Ugly Bar on Front Beach Road, where they found 31-year-old Dayvon Larry of Malone, Fla., unconscious in the parking lot.

Larry was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Preliminary autopsy results determined the cause of death as homicide by blunt force trauma.

Through witness statements and surveillance video, 23-year-old Ross Johnson was identified as the suspect. Witnesses told police Johnson had been involved in a verbal altercation with a group inside the bar, which then escalated as it moved to the parking lot.

The witnesses and surveillance footage show Johnson punching Larry behind his left ear, with Larry then falling to the pavement.

Johnson then engaged in a physical altercation with another unknown male before fleeing the scene via a rideshare service.

Witnesses also told police Johnson is an amateur MMA fighter with three years of advanced fighter training, according to the police report.

Investigators located Johnson Monday and took him into custody. After providing police with what they said were inconsistent statements, Johnson ultimately admitted to striking Larry.

Johnson was booked into Bay County Jail, where he is awaiting an initial court appearance.

WMBB in Panama City reported that Larry was an airman stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base just east of Panama City. He was a member of the 325th Security Forces Squadron, according to the report.
A deputy with the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriffs Office is accused of having sexual contact with a prisoner during transport to the county jail, the sheriffs office announced Tuesday.

Eric Glenn Lambeth Jr. was arrested last Friday following an investigation which began three days earlier after a complaint that Lambeth had sexual contact with an inmate en route to the jail.

Lambeth was terminated Friday. He had worked as a corrections officer in the Escambia County Detention Center, as well as the patrol division.

He is charged with custodial sexual abuse and a felony ethics violation. He was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center and later release after posting $45,000 bond.

Custodial sexual abuse is a Class C felony in Alabama, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The ethics violation charge is a Class B felony and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
A crowd gathered outside the Alabama State House today to urge lawmakers to repeal the state sales tax on food, an idea that has been proposed without success for decades but that appears to have more support this year.

Alabama Arise Action, which has advocated for more than 20 years to repeal the tax, organized a news conference that included two Democratic lawmakers who said they would introduce bills to repeal the 4 percent state tax on food. Republican legislators have also introduced bills. Alabama is one of only three states, along with Mississippi and South Dakota, that collects the full state sales tax on food.

Rep. Patrice McClammy, D-Montgomery, said she knows what families face trying to stretch dollars to cover necessities, including food and the sales tax it carries. Alabama Arise says the average family spends $600 a year on the state sales tax on food.

I know what it feels like to make decisions on buying Depends, Ensure, medication, McClammy said. What we call healthy foods, the most expensive foods in the grocery store. I know what it feels like to have to buy aspirin for blood thinners. I know what it feels like to make a decision on, We have to pay our bills right now. You pull in the whole family because when you retire sometimes you make less than what you made. So the whole family pulls their income together.

McClammy and Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove said they are working on bills to repeal the grocery tax. One reason previous proposals to repeal the state sales tax on groceries is that the tax is a main funding source for public education, providing more than $600 million a year to the Education Trust Fund. Coleman said her proposal would replace that revenue by repealing the state income tax deduction for federal income taxes, which she said disproportionately benefits higher income taxpayers. Colemans bill would require a constitutional amendment to be approved by voters.

We have more equitable and fair ways to fund our education budget than taking food away from families who are struggling to pinch every penny to keep food on the table, Coleman said.

Coleman and McClammy have not yet introduced their bills. Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur has introduced a bill to gradually repeal the tax, taking off one percentage point each year over four years. The reduced rate would apply only to certain basic foods, like eggs, bread, milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, infant formula. The list is based on the foods that are available through the federal Women, Infants, and Children food assistance program. The bill would pause the annual reductions in the tax rate if revenue growth to the Education Trust Fund fell below 5 percent. Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, has introduced the same bill in the House. Garrett said it would reduce revenue to education trust fund by about $200 million a year. Orr and Garrett are the chairmen of the education budget committees in the House and Senate.

Alabama Arise is calling for broader legislation than Orrs proposal, one that would repeal the tax on all foods eligible under the SNAP program, previously known as food stamps. Alabama Arise Executive Director Robyn Hyden told the crowd today that families need immediate relief from the tax instead of the phased approach. Hyden said Alabama Arise is involved in ongoing discussions about legislation.

Coleman said she would support other bills to repeal the tax but said would prefer her version. Coleman said the multiple proposals would stimulate more discussion and help advance the issue.

McClammy told the crowd she hopes that lawmakers are not having the same discussions at this time next year. Weve talked about this over and over and over, McClammy said. And its time. You all come here every year and stand right here and you send your message that we need to take our sales tax off of groceries. You send us here. You elect us to be your mouthpiece. You have spoken. Its time for us to speak up here now.
Airbus announced plans to hire 800 people in the U.S. in 2023, including new jobs at the Mobile site where its expanding assembly facilities for its popular A321 family of jetliners.

In an announcement released Tuesday, the company said that the planned U.S. hires are separate from a target of 800 hires this year in Canada. Out of the 800 U.S. jobs, more than 500 will fill new positions, the company said.

Airbus story is one of continued growth in America. After recruiting more than 1,500 employees in 2022, we are maintaining our momentum and hiring at least another 800 across the country in 2023, said C. Jeffrey Knittel, President and CEO of Airbus Americas. We are growing a diverse and talented team of individuals dedicated to designing and building the future of sustainable aerospace.

Recruitment needs in the U.S. are varied, said Tuesdays announcement. Roles include engineering, IT, procurement, and quality, as well as production and support team members for its A320/A220 manufacturing facilities in Mobile, Alabama, and Airbus Helicopters facilities in Texas and Mississippi among others.  Approximately two-thirds of the jobs will support the companys rapidly expanding Commercial Aircraft production activities, with the remaining third primarily supporting Airbus Helicopters and Airbus U.S. Space & Defense.

Airbus manufactures helicopters in Columbus, Miss. And while its Final Assembly Line for A320- and A220-family jets is by far its biggest operation in Mobile, its Space & Defense branch has a presence near Mobile Regional Airport, where it operates a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility.

Airbus has set ambitious targets for the post-pandemic ramp-up of production for its A320-family of airliners. Within a few years, it aims to produce 75 of the aircraft per month, across four facilities in Germany, France, China and the United States. In May 2022 it announced plans to build a new assembly line in Mobile, a project that could mean 1,000 new jobs for the area.

Work has begun on that project. A company representative said Tuesday that plans call for the new assembly line to begin production in the second quarter of 2025. More recently, as reported by Aviation Week, the company announced similar plans to add a second A320 assembly line to its facility in Tianjin, China, doubling production there as well.

Airbus reports that more than 4,600 people work for it in the United States. According to Tuesdays news release, the company will allocate one-third of its positions to young graduates and early-career professionals, and will maintain its goal to increase the number of female new hires and promotions.

Details of current job openings can be found on the Airbus website.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning people against using free phone charging stations at places like airports and shopping centers.

In a tweet from its Denver office, the FBI said bad actors can use the devices to steal your data.

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, the agency said.

On its website, the FBI describes the process as juice jacking.

USB power charging stations in airports, hotels, and other locations because they may contain dangerous malware. USB connections were designed to work as both data and power transfer mediums, with no strict barrier between the two, the FBI said. As smartphones became more popular in the past decade, bad actors figured out they could abuse USB connections to hide and deliver secret data payloads that a user might think was only transferring electrical power. This is called juice jacking.

Here are some tips to protect your information:
A Florida middle school teacher is accused of overseeing fights between girls in her classroom, and she now is facing criminal charges.

Angel Footman, 23, a teacher at Griffin Middle School in Tallahassee, is charged with four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, NBC News reports.

She was booked last week into the Gadsden County jail and was released two hours later, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

WCTV reports that court documents show that sixth-graders in Footmans class tell investigators they participated in the planned fights during school hours. Footman is accused of inviting some students to the classroom after school to continue fights.

Sixth-graders told investigators that Footman set the rules for the fights, telling students 30 seconds, no screaming, no yelling, no phones, reports say. The Democrat reports Footman was fired on March 24 after parents of students saw videos of the fights.

WCTV reports that Footman denies organizing the fights, but says she didnt take action to stop altercations or report them to administrators.

There were three fights over two days in March, NBC News reports, involving six girls. There were no reported injuries.
A high school psychology teacher has been fired after he asked his students to write their own obituaries as the school was getting ready to have an active-shooter drill on the same day.

But Jeffrey Keene, 63, who was a teacher at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, is standing by his decision on the assignment, telling NBC News In my mind, Ive done nothing wrong.

It wasnt to scare them or make them feel like they were going to die, but just to help them understand whats important in their lives and how they want to move forward with their lives and how they want to pursue things in their journey, Keene tells NBC News.

Despite his intent, the assignment was not received well by some students or school administrators. A student who was in Keenes first-period class became upset about the assignment and went to a counselor, WSVN Channel 7 reports. During second period, a supervisor came to the class to observe, WSVN reports.

Keene was fired before the end of the school day by Orange County Public Schools, NBC News reports.

He tells the Washington Post that his intent with the lesson, which also asked students about positive actions they could take to prevent mass shootings, was to get students to share their perceptions on the epidemic of gun violence in U.S. schools.

I said, How can we fix this situation? How is it affecting you or isnt affecting you? Keene tells the Post. And thats how I approached it. And Im thinking to myself, How in the world could that upset 16-, 17-, 18-year-old students?

Keene, who had just started teaching at the high school in January, tells NBC News he plans to look for another teaching job and has no intent on changing his methods.
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Tupperware, an iconic American company thats name is synonymous with at-home parties, may be shutting down.

In a regulatory filing late Friday, the container maker said there was a substantial doubt about the companys ability to continue as a going concern, CNN reported. Its working with financial advisors to find financing to stay in business.

The warning came after the New York Stock Exchange warned Tupperwares stock could be de-listed due to failure to file an annual report for 2022. The report may be coming in the next 30 days but the company offered no assurance it could meet the required deadlines.

Tupperware has embarked on a journey to turn around our operations and today marks a critical step in addressing our capital and liquidity position, said Miguel Fernandez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tupperware Brands in a statement. The company is doing everything in its power to mitigate the impacts of recent events, and we are taking immediate action to seek additional financing and address our financial position.

Founded in 1942, Tupperware has relied mostly on direct-sales models for much of its history.

Tupperwares shares fell almost 50% Monday following the report.
President Yoon Suk Yeol presides over a meeting on promoting cooperation between the central government and local governments at the BEXCO exhibition center in the port city of Busan, 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul, April 6. Yonhap





The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol made clear Tuesday that suspicions of the U.S. having spied on its internal discussions are "absurd and false."







"The presidential office in Yongsan is a military facility, and a system, which is far stronger than that at Cheong Wa Dae in the past, is in operation to prevent eavesdropping," it said in a statement, referring to the former presidential compound.







It emphasized that the presidential compound maintains "watertight security" through the integrated security system and personnel in charge of it, unlike the Cheong Wa Dae era. After taking office last year, Yoon relocated the presidential office to the central Seoul district of Yongsan from Cheong Wa Dae.







Some lawmakers at the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) have argued that the Yongsan office is more vulnerable to such spying activities than Cheong Wa Dae.







They leveled the criticism against Yoon's office in the wake of news reports, based on purported Pentagon documents, that Washington overheard conversations of top South Korean presidential officials in connection with the issue of helping supply weapons to Ukraine.







"Clearly, the allegations are an absurd, false suspicion," the presidential office said.







The office accused the DPK of trying to incite people with "false, negative suspicions."







"This is a self-harming act that shakes the Korea-U.S. alliance amid North Korea's incessant provocations and nuclear threats, and is also an act of infringing on national interests," the office said.






A bill to reduce how much state inmates can shave off their sentences under correctional incentive time, also called good time has won final approval in the Alabama Legislature.

Good time has been in state law since 1980 but has come under criticism the last couple of years for being too generous and for not being consistently applied. The men charged in the slayings of law enforcement officers in 2021 and 2022 had earned substantial amounts of good time while in prison.

The House of Representatives passed SB1 by Sen. April Weaver, a Republican from Bibb County, by a vote of 79-24. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey, who can sign it into law.

The bill is named after former Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson, who was fatally shot in June 2022 while in pursuit of a suspect in a stolen car. The man charged in Johnsons death, Austin Patrick Hall, has a long criminal record but had accumulated more than 2,000 days of good time while incarcerated, the Associated Press reported. The fatal shooting took place near Weavers home.

Bibb County Deputy Chris Poole was also struck by a bullet during the pursuit in which Johnson was killed. Poole has recovered and was at the State House when the Senate passed the bill in March. He returned today and was on hand when the bill won final passage.

Im grateful to see this bill pass and to know that Brad Johnson is going to save the lives of many others, Poole said today. Very grateful.

Rep. Russell Bedsole, a Republican who is a captain in the Shelby County sheriffs department and supervises the county jail, sponsored the bill in the House today.

During debate on the House floor, Democratic lawmakers questioned whether the bill was the right response to Johnsons death. They said it was wrong to reduce good time opportunities from other inmates because of the incident.

Why would you punish the entire system? Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, said.

Democrats also questioned whether flaws in the good time law were to blame for Hall being released from custody at the time of Johnsons death.

Most state inmates in Alabama are not eligible for good time. As of January, about 14 percent were eligible, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. Anyone with a sentence longer than 15 years and those charged with Class A felonies, manslaughter, or sex offenses involving a child are ineligible.

But those who are eligible can substantially reduce their time behind bars. The law categorizes eligible inmates as Class I, Class II, and Class III. Class I inmates can reduce their sentences by 75 days for every 30 days served, Class II by 40 days for 30 served, and Class III by 20 days for 30 served.

The bill by Weaver and Bedsole, if signed into law by the governor, will reduce that to 30 days for 30 served in Class I, 15 days for 30 served in Class II, and five days for 30 served in Class III.

Bedsole said the tragedy of Johnsons death prompted a close look at the correctional incentive time law. He said he was surprised to learn that an inmate sentenced to 10 years could potentially reduce that to three years, two months, and 18 days under good time. Bedsole said incarceration should come with education and rehabilitation programs and said good time could shorten sentences to a point where those programs are not effective.

I want to take this as a positive that were offering an opportunity to improve so that we dont fail the system overall and were not failing the inmates inside the system, Bedsole said. Were offering them an opportunity to have a better outcome after the incarceration is over.

Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said some changes were needed in the good time law. But he disagreed with the point that longer sentences are important for rehabilitation. And he said the states correctional system is broken and bills like the one that passed today are response to the symptoms and not the root problems.

Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall have spoken out about what they said were inconsistent and lax policies on good time. In January, Ivey issued an executive order setting new rules for good time, including sanctions to take away good time for inmates who commit violations. Ivey said the changes were needed because the system was too lenient and the rules were applied differently in different prisons.

Marshall was at the State House today for the debate on the bill and expressed his support for the bill.

Its not taking anything away, Marshall said. Its not punishing anybody. But instead its doing what correctional incentive time is designed to do, is to make sure inmates abide by the rules. And allow them if theyre eligible to get days taken off their sentence.

Last year, the Legislature passed a bill to make inmates convicted of manslaughter ineligible for good time. That came in response to the shooting death of Sheffield Police Sgt. Nick Risner in 2021. The man charged in Risners death had served only three years of a 10-year sentence for manslaughter because of good time.
The Louisville gunman who killed five people in a Kentucky bank where he was about to lose his job livestreamed his minute-long rampage, which ended with him seemingly waiting for law enforcement to arrive, then shooting a police officer in the head.

A city official described no-longer-available Instagram footage of Mondays massacre at Old National Bank to CNN. It begins with shooter Connor Sturgeon filming his AR-15-style rifle, then engaging a colleague who wishes him a good morning.

He reportedly tells that woman You need to get out of here, then attempts to shoot her as she flees, only to realize the gun is unloaded and its safety is engaged.

See also:

Sturgeon then loads the weapon, unlocks the safety, and shoots that woman in the back, according to CNN. Her condition is unclear.

Officials said the 25-year-old shooter purchased his weapon legally from a local dealership on April 4.

Video shows other bank employees scrambling as Sturgeon picks them off.

Police identified the victims as as Joshua Barrick, 40, Deanna Eckert, 57, Thomas Elliot, 63, Juliana Farmer, 45, and James Tutt, 64

After firing at his colleagues, Sturgeon sits in a lobby facing the street and appears to wait for police to arrive. Cops reportedly arrived quickly and acted decisively, killing the gunman.

The shooter reportedly learned he was going to be let go by the bank that employed him for roughly two years.

Louisville Metro Police Department Officer Nickolas Wilt  a 26-year-old rookie who graduated from the police academy March 31  underwent brain surgery after taking a round to his head during that exchange. He remained in critical condition Tuesday afternoon.

Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, has worked to scrub footage from the shooting off their platforms.

Sturgeon reportedly left behind notes for his family and a friend, though their contents have not been made public. A former classmate of the shooter described him as a standout athlete who suffered multiple concussions.

Police said Tuesday their investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate to give details on how many shots were fired Monday. Officials said 170 units of blood were used to treat victims.

2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
For the second time in about one month, the Mobile County District Attorneys Office is getting a sizable subsidy from local taxpayers.

The Mobile County Commission voted Monday to move $1.5 million of their American Rescue Plan Act allocation to the District Attorneys office to help with hiring additional prosecutors who would then assist in dwindling down a backlog of criminal cases. About one month ago, the Mobile City Council also voted to allocate $1.5 million to the office for the same reasons.

Im grateful for the county commissions support and their trust in me and my office because we are going to use these funds to hire additional personnel to work through this backlog at an even faster rate than we already are so (the backlog) is a thing of the past, said Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood.

The allocations could come in one lump-sum payment, or it could be allocated over a three-year time period. The Mobile City Councils payments are being allocated in $500,000 annual allotments over three years.

Blackwood said the combined additional funds will allow the District Attorneys Office to hire six to seven prosecutors. He said the goal is to have a staff of 35 prosecutors, and to have at least two prosecutors positioned in every circuit courtroom within the county.

This will do a tremendous amount for us in working through these cases and making sure every case is handled appropriately and responsibly and so we can seek justice for not only our victims and the accused, but for our entire community, Blackwood said.

Commissioner Connie Hudson said the funding represents a finite amount that is not intended to be a reoccurring expense by county taxpayers.

The money comes from a portion of the approximately $80 million Mobile County got from the pandemic relief money authorized by Congress in 2021.

Mobile County Commission Connie Hudson at the commission's meeting on Monday, April 10, 2023, at Government Plaza in downtown Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

We have confidence in the District Attorney to do what he is planning to do and that is trying to get the case loads to manageable levels in three years, Hudson said. He thinks this extra staff can do that.

She added, He understands this is a finite source of funding and beyond the time (it is used up), he anticipates additional funding sources to supplant this funding.

But where that funding source from the state might come from remains a lofty unknown. District Attorneys have long struggled with an updated formula for funding prosecutors statewide, and there has been no legislation introduced in Montgomery to address it.

The funding holes are becoming more pronounced after Alabama courts were closed during the height of the pandemic, leaving a backlog of criminal cases. The closures also led to a freeze in the collection of court fees from the court system, which is an amount that provides a crucial annual funding source.

District Attorneys have since sought assistance from local governments. Aside from the $3 million in Mobile and Mobile County, other cities have approved allocations to support their prosecutors. In Tuscaloosa County, District Attorney Hays Webb sought funding last year from local governments and was able to secure $30,000 from the City of Northport. That funding came from a federal court settlement with opioid producers.

Blackwood called the states funding system for district attorneys as antiquated, and said the Alabama District Attorneys Association is working with the 42 district attorney circuits statewide to find a solution.

A representative with the District Attorneys Association did not return a call for comment.

Blackwood said he is pleased with legislation introduced this spring to fund additional judges. Specifically, SB144 would require $3.1 million during fiscal year 2025 and $4.1 million thereafter to create six additional circuit judicial jobs and four district judges (including one in Mobile), according to the legislations fiscal note.

I think that is absolutely needed, he said. We have eight circuit judges assigned to criminal cases, and thats just not enough. We need more judges, but there is a need for additional funding for more prosecutors to prosecute those cases.

Mobile Countys support of the District Attorneys office stands in contrast to how things materialized for years leading up to 2017, when the office under then-District Attorney Rich butted heads with commissioners including Hudson over a dispute over funding. The matter wound up in the legal system and made its way up to the Alabama Supreme Court before a final settlement was reached.

In 2017, the county agreed to contribute an additional $1.2 million to the District Attorneys office, above the $1.5 million it had already been allocating for more than a decade.

Hudson said the approximately $3 million represents over half the revenues the office receives.

She said she hopes state lawmakers find a way to resolve the funding issue.

The county is paying for over half of the revenues for the DAs office, and its a state agency, she said.
All Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have called on Chief Justice John Roberts to investigate undisclosed luxury trips that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted from a wealthy Republican donor.

The panel, the Democrats said in a Monday letter, would soon hold a hearing on the courts ethical standards.

The committee has a role to play in ensuring that the nations highest court does not have the federal judiciarys lowest ethical standards, the senators, led by Chairman Dick Durbin, said in the letter.

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 lawmakers also asked Roberts to take the lead in adopting a code of conduct that would for the first time subject the justices to the types of standards now applied to lower courts, and vowed to consider legislation to resolve the issue if the Supreme Court does not act on its own.

A ProPublica report last week detailed gifts of trips on jets and private yachts, as well as luxury accommodations, accepted by Thomas over two decades from Dallas real estate magnate Harlan Crow but never reported. That included a 2019 island hopping vacation with costs that could have exceeded $500,000, along with travel to Californias Bohemian Grove retreat for men, and Crows East Texas ranch.

Thomas last Friday issued a one-paragraph statement defending himself, saying hed sought guidance from colleagues and others in the judiciary early in his 32-year tenure on the Supreme Court. He said he was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the court, was not reportable.

It did little to assuage the 74-year-old justices critics, who insist the lack of reporting ran afoul of a Watergate-era law requiring justices and other federal officials to disclose most gifts they receive and that tougher rules for the justices are needed. The nine justices of the Supreme Court are the only federal judges who arent formally bound by a code of conduct.

Roberts in the past has not embraced the idea of the court taking action. In a 2011 year-end Supreme Court report, he said the court has had no reason to adopt the Code of Conduct as its definitive source of ethical guidance.

Even as Senate Democrats are suggesting legislation could come, its prospects would be in doubt. Republicans have been silent in recent days about the matter, and at least nine Senate Republicans would have to back legislation for it to proceed to the floor in that chamber. Republicans control the House.

With assistance from Greg Stohr.

___

2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall continued to elevate a tough-on-crime message during a speech before a college conservative organization on Monday, despite concerns raised over the prospects of a state prisoner release if federal officials take over Alabamas prisons.

Marshall downplayed the concern, while highlighting legislation this session aimed at restricting early release for state prisoners, enhancing penalties against gang activity, and legislation restricting parole eligibility for a repeat criminal offender.

He also blasted left-leaning prosecutors for backing policies that he believes have led to a crime uptick in large metropolitan cities nationwide.

The reality is that prosecutors are those gatekeepers of the criminal justice system, Marshall said during an event hosted by Turning Point USA at the University of South Alabama. Turning Point USA was founded a decade ago by GOP activist Charlie Kirk and operates a controversial professor watchlist to identify college professors viewed as discriminatory toward college conservatives.

When you have certain prosecutors and say, we will ignore crime or they look in a different direction because either its quality of life crimes that dont matter or they are non-violent property offense that are not something we value as important, well tell that to people of San Francisco  Chicago and New York City. They will tell you a very different story.

His comments come ahead of legislation surfacing before the full Alabama House today that should slash the amount of good time inmates can receive, which critics fear will lead to further overcrowding of the states prisons.

But legislation aimed at putting more inmates into the states deadly prisons is alarming some folks about whether there could be a widespread release if federal authorities take over Alabamas prisons.

During a Q&A session portion of the nearly two-hour session, Marshall was asked if a federal takeover of the states prisons would nullify the tough-on-crime legislation pitched this year.

Marshall cited the concerns stemming from California in 2011, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the state had to vastly reduce its prison population within two years out of concerns over the prisons.

He said he does not believe Alabama will face a similar scenario.

We are a long way before of any of that being in place, Marshall said. There are multiple stages a federal judge has to go through before releasing inmates.

He added, We have a fundamental responsibility to make sure we have safe and appropriate environments for our prisons. It doesnt mean its a Holiday Inn. But at the same time, it should meet constitutional standards for care of our inmates and guards and that remains a priority.

Good time law

Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson was killed in the line of duty in June 2022, leaving behind two daughters - Lana and Livy. (GoFundMe)

For now, Marshall said his focus is on the legislative session and advancing priorities that could keep state prisoners locked up for longer terms.

One such legislation is named after Brad Johnson, the Bibb County sheriffs deputy who was shot and killed in 2022. The accused killer had been released early from prison under the states good time incentives, despite escaping from a work release center in 2019. He had served less than four years of a nearly 10-year prison sentence for theft.

It will rectify many of the wholesale problems in our good time law, Marshall said.

Under the proposal, inmates who commit certain offenses while in prison  including attempting an escape  forfeit all their accrued time and would be prohibited from earning additional credits for early release.

Critics say the legislation, approved already by the Alabama Senate, will exacerbate the overcrowded conditions at Alabamas prisons. The prison conditions are the subject of an ongoing lawsuit by the federal government, which has long threatened to take partial or full control of the institutions.

(The legislation) also says we are not going to give you good time credit if, in fact, you assault an inmate or assault a guard or escape from prison, Marshall said. Ive been called radical for believing that. Can you imagine? We are not going to give you credit because you are beating on someone else. If thats radical, call me crazy. I think if you incentivize good behavior, you ought to hold (inmates) account for that.

About 13% of state prisons are eligible for good time incentives, which allows certain inmates sentenced to 15-year terms or fewer to earn up to 75 days of credit for every 30 days of good behavior they display while incarcerated.

The legislations advancement through the supermajority GOP Legislature comes after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, through an executive order in January, set forth parameters for inmates to have good time restored. That move was also criticized for instituting harsh guidelines at a time the state prisons are plagued with overcrowding.

Violent offenders, gangs, parole

Marshall also shot back at critics for suggesting that certain crimes not be classified as violent, which would further restrict whether an inmate would be eligible for early release. A dispute over the classification of a violent offense has surfaced within the past year, with tough-on-crime politicians arguing that nearly all inmates in the state prisons are considered violent.

Marshall said drug traffickers commit what he labels as violent offenses, pointing to the rash of fentanyl overdoses that continue to plague Alabama and elsewhere. Lawmakers recently approved legislation that creates among the harshest penalties in the country against traffickers of illicit fentanyl.

Over 80 percent of those in prison are there for violent offenses, Marshall said. Its interesting, we have some on the left who want to criticize us for that stat. (They will say that) drug trafficking, thats not a violent offense. Oh really? Tell that to the cartel. Go have that discussion about the loss of life occurring from fentanyl on our streets and those who are dead as a result of it. Those are violent offenses.

Marshall, meanwhile, said he anticipates legislation called the Alabama Gang Prevention Act rolled out soon that will increase penalties against people who commit crimes to support or promote a criminal gang which constitutes three or more people. The legislation will also set a minimum prison term for carrying or using a gun during a gang-related crime.

He said the only legislation on gang-related law in the state is related to recruitment of people into gangs.

We dont have any laws that try to de-incentivize those coming together for bad purposes, Marshall said. That needs to change, especially when we are seeking record homicide rates occurring in our cities.

He also said he anticipates movement on SB97, which disqualifies an inmate from any consideration of early parole if he or she is charged with a criminal offense that is punishable by up to six months in prison.

That legislation is inspired by the fallout of murderer Jimmy ONeal Spencer, killed two women and 7-year-old boy in 2018, less than one year after being granted early release from prison. The killing is credited to motivating the state to begin denying the number of paroles granted, plummeting to an all-time low of only 10% of inmates granted parole last year.

He shouldnt have been eligible for parole, Marshall said. There was no reason why he shouldve been out.

He added, Interestingly after Spencer was a paroled and committed the three murders, and was charged with capital murder, he became eligible for (parole) on that same offense. Call me crazy, but its what the law is allowed. We need to close that loophole.

Marshall said he would not anticipate the parole board to let Spencer out early again. But he said the mere potential of it happening was concerning.

Absolutely, he shouldnt be given that privilege, Marshall said. We want to see the legislature close that loophole and we think it will be valuable.
An Alabama nurse who became Exhibit A of the anti-vaxxer movement after she collapsed shortly after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine addressed the skeptics after more than three years of silence.

My message is simple: its that Im alive, Im well. Thats it. I hope they believe it, Tiffany Dover, a north Alabama resident and former nurse manager at a Tennessee hospital, told NBC News in an interview that aired Monday.

Dover, who is also the subject of the NBC News podcast Truthers: Tiffany Dover is Dead*, fueled anti-vaxxer conspiracy theories when she passed out while addressing the media after being vaccinated against COVID-19 in December 2020.

She said she has episodes where she passes out, including when receiving vaccines.

Despite regaining her composure after her collapse and answering questions from the media assembled at CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, conspiracy theorists online claimed that Dover actually died from the vaccine.

People thought that I was dead, people thought that I was an actress paid to do this, that I was paid off by Big Pharma, Dover told NBC News. It was completely overwhelming, to be honest.

So-called Tiffany Truthers showed up to her house in Higdon, Dover said. Members of her family received death threats over the incident.

The conspiracy theories ran rampant online.

Dover wanted to rebut the skeptics, but she claimed CHI Memorial prevented her from doing so.

It would be irrecoverable damage is what I was told if I was to speak out and had another episode, she said the hospital told her at the time.

Instead, CHI Memorial created a video that showed Dover, but the conspiracy theories persisted.

Dover said she believed her silence helped fuel the conspiracy theories.

Its hard to think that you are being used to deter somebody from getting the vaccine, and that was hard for me to cope with, she said.

Dover blamed her silence for fanning the flames.

I wish that we would have used [the collapse] as a platform to speak out on the fact that people do pass out after getting shots, vaccines. But that is not a reason to not proceed with getting them, she said.

CHI Memorial denied to NBC News that it silenced Dover.

Dover left CHI Memorial last year and her nursing career is currently on hold as she focuses on reclaiming her life.

She said she cant control what the conspiracy theorists think about her.

At this point, Ive done what I needed to do. Ive put it out there that Im alive, she said. They have to choose whether they believe that or not. And thats all I can do is put out the truth.
Voter fraud charges against Perry County Commission Chairman Albert Turner Jr. have been dismissed.

Turner was indicted earlier this year on charges of voting more than once, which is a misdemeanor, and harvesting ballots, a felony.

Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Marvin Wiggins dismissed charges on April 6 following a request by state prosecutors, court records show.

The charges were initially brought by former District Attorney Michael Jackson, who lost his reelection bid to Turners first cousin.

Turner was accused of stuffing ballot boxes at a Perry County polling place in the May 2022 Democratic primary. He was also accused of mailing a large number of absentee ballots in Novembers general election.

Turners parents were unsuccessfully prosecuted for voter fraud by then-U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions in the 1985. He was first appointed to the commission in 2000 to serve the remainder of his fathers fourth term of office after his death. He has since won multiple re-elections.

Turner, who previously said the prosecution was politically motivated, posted this on Facebook about the dismissal:

After months of speculation and false claims, the Perry County Commission Chairman Albert F. Turner rigged the election to elect his cousin to office, the court has spoken. The attorney from the Alabama Attorney Generals Office stood before the Perry County Circuit Court and asked that the case against Albert Turner be dismissed for lack of evidence. The Attorney Generals Office stated that after an extensive investigation of the complaint filed by the former District Attorney Micheal Jackson and the former Secretary of State John Merrill of alleged voter fraud committed by Albert F. Turner was false and unsubstantiated.

Chairman Turner, who was never arrested, fingerprinted, appeared in court, or had a mug shot taken, did not appear for the motion hearing before Judge Marvin Wiggins. The Attorney General wanted to nol. pros. the case, but Chairman Turners attorney Robert Turner, Sr., would only agree to an Order of Dismissal by the Court signed by the Judge. The State approved, and the judge signed the Order ending the political persecution case.

Chairman Turner, who was informed by phone that the case had been dismissed, said, Let it be known that no prosecutor should use their office for a political vendetta. My children were upset, and my 86-year-old mother suffered anxiety attacks after hearing that her son would have to face what she, her husband Albert Sr., and Spencer Hogue went through as a defendant in 1986. I dont care if its me, Donald Watkins, or Donald Trump; a prosecutor should not target individuals because of politics. Michael Jackson and John Merrill will pay for this.

Chairman Turner noted that the case against him directly resulted from the 2022 election that saw Robert Turner, Jr. take down Michael Jackson, with Perry County giving Robert Turner, Jr. an 80% vote over Jackson.

Jackson wanted to use this fake charge against Chairman Turner as payback to the Chairman for helping to orchestrate Jacksons defeat. The criminal case is over, and now here comes the civil lawsuit against Michael Jackson and John Merrill, Turner said.
Walmart is closing four additional stores, the company announced today.

All of the stores slated for closure are located in Chicago. The shutdowns come after the nations largest retailer announced it was closing seven locations across five states: one each in New Mexico, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Florida and three others in Illinois.

We know the community will have questions about why we are closing these locations, Walmart said in a statement. " The simplest explanation is that collectively our Chicago stores have not been profitable since we opened the first one nearly 17 years ago  these stores lose tens of millions of dollars a year, and their annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years.

The remaining four Chicago stores continue to face the same business difficulties, but we think this decision gives us the best chance to help keep them open and serving the community.

READ MORE: Walmart plans a handful of store closures: Heres the list

The following stores will close by Sunday, April 16:

No. 5781 Chatham Supercenter, the Walmart Health center, and the Walmart Academy, 8431 S. Stewart Ave.

No. 3166 Kenwood Neighborhood Market, 4720 S. Cottage Grove Ave.

No. 5645 Lakeview Neighborhood Market, 2844 N. Broadway St.

No. 5646 Little Village Neighborhood Market, 2551 W. Cermak Road

All associates in the stores are eligible to transfer to another Walmart location. All associates will be paid trough Aug. 11, unless they transfer to other locations, and those who dont stay with the company are eligible for severance benefits.

READ MORE: Walmart closing all stores in a major U.S. city
Sign up for Alabamafication: Kyle Whitmires newsletter, Alabamafication examines the outsized influence of this very strange state, taking aim at corruption, cruelty, incompetence and hypocrisy while also seeking out those righteous folks making their state and country better places for all.

This is an opinion column.

An Alabama lawmaker wants to raise the stakes for criminals who dare to ask for a jury trial.

A bill introduced by state Rep. Jim Hill, R-Moody, would allow judges to hammer defendants even harder when they take their chances in court and lose.

Never mind that the data doesnt back up what Hill is arguing. Never mind that the odds are already stacked in favor of the house, that defendants who face a jury already risk far harsher sentences.

Just consider the case of LaKeith Smith.

Smith was 15 years old when he and several friends set out to rob houses.

No one contests that he committed crimes.

But prosecutors charged him with as many as they could muster, including some crimes that seemed redundant, like theft and burglary.

They also charged him with murder.

They charged him with murder even though it was one of his friends who died.

They charged him with murder even though he didnt pull the trigger.

They charged him with murder even though it was the police who shot the other teen as he and Smith were fleeing. Smith didnt know his friend had died until police told him later at the station.

Alabama law allows for participants in a crime to be charged with felony murder if someone dies in the course of that crime, no matter who actually killed the victim. Typically, this might be something like a fatal car wreck when fleeing the scene.

In this instance though, police shot 16-year-old ADonte Washington as he fled out of another door of the house.

Washingtons parents said they didnt blame Smith for their sons death, but prosecutors didnt seem to care. Even though Smith didnt hurt anyone, a jury convicted Smith and the trial judge gave him 65 years in prison.

The other two surviving accomplices served only 14 months.

They pleaded guilty, you see.

Smith dared to ask for a trial.

Before trial, Smith had been offered 25 years. Hardly an inducement.

But after the jury found him guilty, a judge gave him a sentence more than twice as long as the deal hed been offered.

Recently, Smith was resentenced after his lawyers pushed back. This time he got 30 years in prison, meaning hell be done when hes older than I am now  a middle-aged man.

For a burglary. As a teen.

In criminal justice, this is known as the trial tax. Prosecutors incentivize defendants to plead guilty in exchange for lighter sentences.

But this dynamic works the other way, too.

If you make the prosecutors prove you did it, you will face a much stiffer sentence if youre found guilty.

Never mind that jury trials are a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

Invoke that right  make those judges and prosecutors work for their dinner  and it could cost you.

Again, this already happens all the time  but Rep. Hill, whos also a former judge and chairman of the Alabama House Judiciary Committee, wants to hardcode this penalty into Alabama law and make the stakes higher for defendants.

We cant try every case in the criminal justice system, Hill said when I spoke with him. Again, everyones Constitutional right, but it costs money and costs prosecutors and judges time so HB 38 would allow judges to deviate from the presumptive sentencing standards if a defendant is convicted of an offense after requesting a jury trial.

Hill says he thinks too many defendants are opting to go to trial and that the sentencing guidelines dont do enough to incentivize defendants to take plea bargains.

Some people are taking the opinion that were just not going to plead because the judge cant do anything to me except that which is contained within the guidelines, therefore, there is no risk whatsoever to going to trial, Hill said.

Id like to tell you that Hill is full of it, but I dont have to.

Data from the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts does that for me.

Each year the AOC publishes an annual report which includes the number of criminal cases and what percentage of those cases went to trial.

In 2001, about 2.1 percent of criminal cases went to trial.

If that doesnt seem like a lot, just wait.

Over the last two decades, criminal trials have declined steadily.

Since 2016, less than 1 percent of criminal cases went to trial in every year except 2019, when they clocked in at a whopping 1.06 percent.

The cost of jury trials has gone down steadily, too. In 1999, Alabama courts spent $2.3 million on jury trials. In 2019, the last year before the pandemic disrupts the data, that number had fallen to $1.3 million.

Over the last 20 years, the number of criminal cases the courts deal with each year has remained roughly the same  between 65,000 and 70,000 cases each year.

But jury trials have dropped by half.

When Hill says the system is being overrun with defendants demanding jury trials, theres no data to support that. Somebody  Hill or whoevers pushing this bill on Hill  is just making that up.

According to the AOC data, St. Clair County  where Hill lives and where he served as a circuit judge before joining the Alabama Legislature  recently went four years straight without a single criminal jury trial.

In that same period, from 2017 through 2020, the courts there disposed of 4,274 criminal cases.

Plea bargains seem to be doing just fine.

Whether its politically popular or not, a plea bargain is supposed to be a bargain: If you take this offer, the state saves money and you serve less time. Hills bill flips that proposition on its head. It makes the guidelines the starting point and says If you dont take this deal, you get more time.

For certain, there are many voters in Alabama who would be fine with that  until they have to pay for it.

This bill, if passed, would result in more people spending more time in prison.

More people in prisons that are already at 160 percent capacity.

Alabama already has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world.

We have so many people in prison that the state is spending at least $1.6 billion to build two new mega-prisons and the project isnt expected to solve the overcrowding or end the federal case against Alabamas woeful prison system.

Meanwhile, few get out. Our state parole board denies early release to 90 percent of the folks who go before it. That board shuffles through denials so quickly, it recently denied parole to a man even though hed died two weeks before. They hadnt noticed, which gives you some sense of how much consideration Alabama gives to prisoners.

But by all means, lets make prison sentences even longer than the law already allows.

Lets build even more prisons to hold those inmates as long as we can.

And lets make Alabamians cough up billions more when we cant find room for them all.

All so a teenager can serve time until hes an old man for breaking into somebodys house.

Just remember  the trial tax isnt something only a defendant pays.

In the end, its Alabama taxpayers who will pick up the tab, too.

Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group, 2020 winner of the Walker Stone Award, winner of the 2021 SPJ award for opinion writing, and 2021 winner of the Molly Ivins prize for political commentary. Sign up for his weekly newsletter and get "Alabamafication" in your inbox every Wednesday.

More columns by Kyle Whitmire

Is Kay Iveys education spending plan legal? No one from the state will say.

Alabama governor wants $100 million of school funds for prison construction

Alabama governor sends education dollars to water park

Alabamas billion-dollar no-bid prison disaster is only the beginning
This story is republished with permission from The Birmingham Times

By Ryan MichaelsThe Birmingham Times

When doctors told Angelyn Lyles she had cancer 18 years ago, she had no fear.

Im not going anywhere until its my time to go. Im not leaving until its time to go.  Dont get me wrong, Im totally sane. Its just that my faith is so strong, said Lyles, a lifelong Christian and a minister since 1999.

Shes relied on her faith ever since, and its helped her endure.

Lyles has overcome three different cancers since 2005, having each time confronted the illness with the same sense of purpose, she said, found in her faith.

I dont say I am a cancer survivor. I am a cancer overcomer.  I use scripture to support that, [as well as] my still being alive because it started in 2005, and Im still here, she said.

Even before the cancer diagnosis, Lyles knew the importance of faith. She and her family were members of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, but most of them missed church on Sept. 15, 1963, when the building was bombed, killing four little girls. Her brother DeWayne was standing on the balcony when the bomb exploded, and he may have carried post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) into a military discharge during the Vietnam War, she said.

Lyles, who was 11 at the time, described the bombing as a harrowing experience, particularly for fellow students of the girls that were killed.

Looking back as Birmingham commemorates 60 years since the momentous Civil Rights marches, Lyles said, We didnt get counseling or anything.  We went to school the next day as if nothing happened. Can you imagine that? Nowadays, they wouldnt do that.  Thats where faith comes in, though.

Faith that has sustained her. After wrapping up treatment for anal cancer in 2005, Lyles not only recovered but also believed she had been made whole, she said. In 2009, Lyles discovered two lumps in her breasts and had a mastectomy. In 2016, cancer was once again found, this time on her lungs. Today, Lyles has stabilized and chalks her success up to the strength of her faith.

When you know you have a purpose and something comes at you negatively, you can say, This too shall pass. [Dont] try to avoid the negativity, just go through because  God said he would never leave me nor forsake me, Lyles said.

Nothing Was Hidden

Lyles, 70, was born in 1954 and spent her early childhood in the Smithfield neighborhood, where she lived doors away from legendary Civil Rights attorney Arthur Shores, whose home was bombed by white supremacists multiple times.

Lyles remembers growing up relatively sheltered during her time in Smithfield. Born to Nelda and Joe Nathan, Lyles grew up with two sisters, Deborah and Joycelyn, and two brothers, DeWayne and Marvin. Her father worked at US Steel, so the Lyles were kept from poverty and didnt suffer like a lot of Blacks suffered, she recalled.

Still, Lyles remembers not being able to go to the fair, except on colored days, she said.

Despite that, Lyles said being born in Birmingham is one of the greatest blessings because of the insight it gave her.

I [would rather] have been born in Birmingham than to have been born in Ohio or someplace that denied there was racism, she said. We knew here. We knew [former Birmingham Public Safety Commissioner Theophilus Eugene] Bull Connor.  It was very open here. Nothing was hidden.

After graduating from Arthur Harold Parker High School in Smithfield, she went off to the University of Alabama (UA) in Tuscaloosa in 1970 to study political science, with the longer-term goal of becoming an attorney.

Lyles said, I was so anti-everything, so I said [to myself], You know what? You need to study political science,  study about the government, and know why youre radical. Then you can do something about it to change it.

Lyles didnt last long in Tuscaloosa, having had a little too much fun, she said. She returned home, where she transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and in 1976 earned a bachelors degree in political science with a minor in urban studies.

When I left school, I said, What am I gonna do? I remember when you were in fourth grade, you used to play school by yourself. You want to be a teacher. So, that passion came to me, said Lyles, who taught kindergarten at the former Robert E. Lee Elementary School in Birminghams West End community from 1988 to 2011; she also returned to UAB, where she earned a masters degree in early childhood education in 1995.

Before retiring in 2014, Lyles spent 24 of her 26 years as a teacher working with kindergarteners (she taught second grade for two years).

Arrival of Cancer

When Lyles was first diagnosed with cancer in 2005, she had been dealing with severe bleeding from what she understood to be hemorrhoids, or swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum. A doctor at Ascension St. Vincents found a malignant tumor on Lyles anus, which led to chemotherapy and radiation treatment for the cancer for four to five weeks. Lyles chemotherapy lasted for two weeks, from Monday to Friday, then a port was implanted, opening a connection to a vein in her chest for further treatment.

During her first experience with cancer treatment, Lyles said she prayed and believed it worked.

The radiation didnt affect me, she said. My hair grew, and I didnt lose any hair. I didnt have any burns. My nails didnt turn dark. Some of the side effects they mentioned, none of those happened to menone, that I can recall.

The same year her anal cancer was discovered, Lyles needed further investigation after a mammogram showed some kind of growth. She said to herself, Im trying to deal with this tumor right now and not think about that. Ill deal [with that] when its time, when I have to.

That time came in 2009, when Lyles self-discovered lumps in both of her breasts. Susan Winchester, M.D., a physician at St. Vincents Hospital, told Lyles she could have a lumpectomy, meaning the doctor could remove the cancerous tissue along with a small amount of surrounding tissue. But Lyles wanted to have a double mastectomy, removal of both breasts, and be done with the process.

[Dr. Winchester] really thought I was in shock because why do both when you only have to have one minor surgery?  For me, I had no one to answer about my body but me. I dont have a husband or anything like that, so I figured I could make that decision for myself, and I did, Lyles said.

In 2016, another doctor found spots on Lyles lungs. A biopsy was conducted and malignant cells were found, so Lyles began treatment that year. Though the nodules on her lungs have stabilized, she continues to take exemestane, a hormone pill intended to help treat the effects of breast cancer.

Purpose

Through all of her medical challenges, Lyles said her sense of purpose has kept her strong.

I know who I am and whose I am, she said. That means, I know Im here for a purpose, and its not just to have fun like I thought years ago.

While her primary purpose for many years was to teach kindergarten, shes also found another calling.

In 1999, she became a minister. And though Lyles doesnt regularly attend church, her focus is to minister to people wherever she is: Right here, Walmart, it doesnt matter.  If God says, Pray with this person or That persons hurting, Hell lead me to talk to somebody.  I just ask God to send somebody my way, she said.

Thinking back to the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in September 1963, Lyles said she couldnt remember why she and her family missed church that day, but she knew there was a reason.

Our assignment has not been completed, she said.

Updated at 4:19 p.m. on 4/11/2023 to correct Lyles age at the time of the 1963 church bombing, clarify that it was unconfirmed if Lyles brother Dewayne had PTSD and clarify the nature of Lyles chemotherapy treatment in 2005.
Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, right, speaks at a press conference with his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, after their talks at Lee's office in central Seoul, Jan. 31. Yonhap



The defense chiefs of Korea and the United States held phone talks Tuesday over recent media reports about a leak of purported U.S. military documents, Seoul's defense ministry said.



During the conversation, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin explained to his Korean counterpart, Lee Jong-sup, about media reports on the leak, and affirmed that Washington will closely communicate and fully cooperate with the Korean government over the issue, according to the ministry.




The family of Tedarrius Quentez Smith demanded authorities release body cam footage a week after the father of nine was shot and killed by a Jefferson County sheriffs deputy following a pursuit from Fairfield to Collegeville.

The Birmingham chapter of Black Lives Matter, whose leader joined the family for a prayer vigil remembering the 28-year-old Smith as a dedicated family man, also demanded the creation of a countywide civilian complaint review board following the death of Smith and others in Jefferson County at the hands of law enforcement.

I just want to honor him by saying that hes a go-getter, said Smiths wife, Tyneasha Smith. He loved his family so much ... he had three kids, biological, but he took on six other kids, like, he just loved his family.

I need closure, she continued before the vigils attendees released blue and white balloons at the grassy area where her husband was killed April 3 under the bridge near the Collegeville public housing community. I need to know exactly what happened. I need to know from when the chase began in Fairfield to Collegeville. I want to know everything. I need to see footages of what the police had on. I need to see the cameras out here. I need to see everything. I just need closure. I need justice and thats exactly what Im going to get for my husband and its not a threat, thats a promise.

Brittany Smith, Tedarrius Smiths sister, said her brother put family above all else.

He wasnt perfect but, anybody who was around him came and he made sure everybody was straight, she said. He just loved family. Like, you could be mad at him, but it wont be for long because he will always do something to make you happy.

Smiths brother, Tyrone Dizaar, said Tedarrius looked out for him.

I dont know how to live without him, Dizaar said.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, which is handling the investigation instead of the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office since a deputy was involved, said a deputy tried to stop Smith for traffic violations.

Sheriffs Deputy Chief David Agee said the pursuit began in Fairfield, when the deputy learned there was an outstanding warrant for someone in the vehicle for kidnapping.

The pursuit ended when the black Infiniti came to a chain fence at the public housing community and could not go any further.

Three people reportedly then exited the vehicle.

ALEA officials said Smith fled on foot and pointed a gun at the deputy. Thats when the deputy shot Smith.

Two others reportedly taken into custody.

But the family claimed Smith did not own a gun, according to Eric Hall, leader of the Birmingham chapter of Black Lives Matter.

We have many questions about what took place, Hall said. The [law enforcement account] that was given to the media conflict with the stories that the community is telling us. BLM have people on the street, we have been walking the streets ... I was told that he did not have a gun. I was told that he did not point a gun at an officer.

Hall said the community deserves to know what happened, and he called on Gov. Kay Ivey to press ALEA into pulicly releasing body cam footage and other evidence in the case.

You need to make ALEA give us the reports, give us the data, give us an autopsy, he said, addressing Ivey. Let us know where this man was shot at so that we can get the justice that Tedarrius Smith deserves.
The investigation into a shooting at a family Sunday gathering in Tarrant is ongoing, and authorities have released updated information about the suspect and the victims.

Tarrant police officers responded about 7 p.m. to a home in the 1800 block of Enfield Street.

Chief Wendell Major said when officers arrived, they received information that a woman had been shot by her brother. She was taken by private vehicle to UAB Hospital with serious injuries.

The brother, whose identity has not been released, fled the scene before police arrived. He is not yet in custody.

Major said two additional victims were found wounded. Those victims are the mother and the grandmother of the brother and sister.

The female sibling, the chief said, sustained the most severe injuries  three gunshot wounds to her chest and stomach. She is expected to recover.

The womans mother and grandmother were treated at UAB as well, and also are expected to recover.

Major said there were at least 10 adults and several children at the home when the shooting took place. Detectives are still in the process of interviewing all of the witnesses.

The gun used in the shooting has been recovered.

Anyone with information is asked to call Tarrant police Det. Sgt. Morrow at 205-849-2811.
A GoFundMe has been launched to help the family of a 3-year-old girl who was killed in a Tuscaloosa County hit-and-run crash that also injured her brother and mother.

Kimora Minnie Landrum was killed shortly after 11 p.m. on March 29 on Alabama 69, about seven miles south of Tuscaloosa.

She, her 4-year-old brother and 24-year-old mother - Shadereka Green - were all ejected from Greens Hyundai Genesis that had struck a Ford F-350.

Trooper Cpl. Reginal King said after the crash, another vehicle struck Kimora and fled the area.

Kimora was pronounced dead on the scene. Green and the 4-year-old were taken to area hospitals.

Husband and father Trent Landrum started the GoFundMe.

As most of you know, March 29th my life took a turn for the worst, Landrum wrote. Never did I ever think something so tragic would happen.

To know Kimora (Minnie) was to love her, Landrum wrote. There was so much more life my daughter deserved. As I grieve typing this, I am absolutely devastated by my daughters passing.

Landrum said he and his family are struggling to the cost of Kimoras funeral, as well as other expenses.

My wife is currently still in the hospital having to undergo a series of surgeries, Landrum said. She is unable to work and has a long road to recovery.

We are still searching for justice for my 3 year old daughter, he said.

Anything will be helpful and grateful to help with the home going service of Kimora.

Donations to the GoFundMe can be made here.

Anyone with information on the driver who fled the scene is asked to call Troopers at 205-553-5531.
One person was killed this morning when a train collided with an 18-wheeler near Tuscumbia.

Colbert County Coroner Justin Gasque said the incident happened at about 10:20 a.m.

The crash happened at a rail crossing just off U.S. 72 at Golden Road, five miles west of Tuscumbia, according to Senior Trooper Justin ONeal.

Mario C. Peterson, 48, of Killen, was driving a 2011 Freightliner tractor-trailer that was struck by a Norfolk Southern train.

Peterson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the incident.
A 16-year-old wanted in connection with a shooting last week in Tuscumbia is in custody in Mississippi.

WHNT is reporting that the juvenile fled from police in Memphis in a stolen vehicle on April 8, and crashed in Alcorn County, Miss.

Another person in the car was not wanted in connection with the shooting.

The juvenile is being held in the Alcorn County Detention Center on charges of aggravated assault, attempted murder, robbery, burglary, and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.

Tuscumbia Police Chief Tony Logan said police are still looking for another juvenile suspect, who they believe may be in the Memphis area.

The shooting victim, wounded April 5, was taken to Huntsville Hospital.
An Alabama man is under arrested for reportedly killing one of his own dogs.

Eric Zeth Wheeless, 27, is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, Lee County sheriffs officials announced Tuesday. In addition to that felony charge, Wheeless is also charged with drug possession.

Sheriffs officials received a report on April 8 regarding potential animal abuse in the 11000 block of Lee Road 240 in Phenix City, said Investigator Drew Peacock.

Wheeless, Peacock said, admitted that he killed one of his dogs because the dog urinated on the carpet.

Deputies were able to confirm that the dog had been brutally killed and buried in a shallow grave in the wooded area behind the residence, Peacock said.

Officials did not say how the dog was killed.

Wheeless is being held in the Lee County Jail on bonds totaling $6,500.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
This is a guest opinion column

If you or a loved one is receiving mental health services in Alabama, chances are this vital care could be delivered by a community mental health provider.

Community-based mental health providers serve the overwhelming majority of Alabamians who receive state care for mental illness, addiction, and intellectual disabilities.

Its critically important that we continue to offer these services in community settings that are most affordable and accessible to the people who need it. But as the leader of an organization that represents 20 of these providers, I can tell you that our important work is in jeopardy.

If the state doesnt make necessary investments that will allow our mental health system to keep up with rising costs and, specifically, the rising costs to recruit and retain staff, the services we offer our communities will be affected. Without mental health professionals and direct care staff, we cant do our jobs. Its as simple as that.

Recognizing this reality, the Alabama Department of Mental Health asked for $30.6 million in additional funding from the states next budget to address these workforce needs. Our community mental health providers urge the Alabama Legislature to fully fund this request  for the sake of the individuals and communities we serve.

Our providers offer a wide range of services for people across the lifespan -- everything from outpatient mental health counseling to inpatient care; from day programs to group homes for people with developmental disabilities; and from court-ordered drug monitoring to residential substance abuse programs. These are needs that, when not met, have serious repercussions for our families and our communities.

But as it stands, the state funding we receive does not allow us to pay competitive salaries in todays hyper-competitive healthcare workforce environment. Our direct care workers on average start at $12 an hour  less than many chain stores and fast-food restaurants are paying. On average, our masters level mental health professionals make less than a bachelors level teacher. Its easy for our workers to leave us for comparable jobs and increase their annual salary by $10,000 to $20,000 or more.

Even though the state has made important investments in specific areas of mental health services in recent years, the basic workforce issues faced by community mental health providers have grown even worse. Its the same story for mental health providers stretching from the Shoals to the Wiregrass, Mentone to Mobile and all points in between.

Almost one in five of our providers jobs is vacant right now. Vacant positions have increased by more than 50 percent since late 2020. Without the people who are the heart and hands and feet of our mission, we cannot continue to sustain current services.

Most Alabamians know all too well why this matters.

The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that an astounding 41 percent of Alabama adults sought treatment for a mental health issue between 2017 and 2019.

Yet, according to 2023 data from Mental Health America, Alabama ranks near the bottom for access to mental health care. Only Texas ranked worse than us on this list. This is based on a number of factors, including unmet needs, uninsured population and, importantly, workforce availability.

On the workforce availability front, we ranked dead last. Our states residents compared to the number of mental health practitioners was 850 to 1. Nationally, the ratio is 350 to 1. This represents a huge gap between the needs and our ability to meet those needs.

If we dont address this issue, we will have to make difficult choices about consolidating or cutting services so that we can pay competitive wages to attract and keep our teams intact.

Job shortages have already had an impact in recent years. Caseloads for mental health clinicians continue to increase because the need far outweighs the systems capacity to serve, and people sometimes have to wait months for appointments. Forty-two agencies that operated 140 settings and served 1,012 individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities have closed due to workforce issues. As you can see, our services are in jeopardy when mental health providers have such a critical shortage of workers.

To be sure, this $30.6 million of new investment is only part of the solution. We must also create a better pipeline of people who are trained to meet the mental health needs of Alabamians. But it doesnt matter how many people we train if our mental health providers dont have enough money to hire them.

We urge Alabama lawmakers to help us keep mental health working  by making sure community mental health providers can pay competitive salaries and maintain the necessary staff to serve our communities needs.

Holly Caraway McCorkle is executive director of the Alabama Council for Behavioral Healthcare, which is made up of 20 community mental health providers that currently employ 5,200 people, provide services across Alabama, and meet the needs of more than 115,000 individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders and lifetime developmental disabilities that require ongoing supports.
Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo heads to Washington, D.C., U.S. for consultations on planned summit talks between President Yoon Suk Yeol and President Joe Biden, April 11. Yonhap



The defense chiefs of Korea and the United States spoke by phone and agreed on the assessment that much of the information contained in purported Pentagon documents leaked online was faked, a senior Korean official said.



Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo made the remark to reporters as he headed to Washington, D.C., for talks about preparations for an upcoming state visit to the U.S. by President Yoon Suk Yeol.



"The defense ministers of the two countries had a phone call this morning and the views of the two countries matched," Kim said. "The two countries have the same view that a great deal of disclosed information was fabricated."



Yoon plans to hold talks with his counterpart, Joe Biden, at the White House on April 26.



Officials of the allies have been perplexed by a slew of news reports based on the leaked documents that Washington had recently wiretapped conversations of top Korean national security officials.






Lawyer Kwon Gyeong-ae / Yonhap



By Jun Ji-hye



The Korean Bar Association is considering disciplinary action against high-profile lawyer Kwon Gyeong-ae, who was in charge of a lawsuit over a teenager's death due to school bullying and lost the case because of her repeated failures to attend hearings.



The mother of the teenager claimed she can neither understand nor forgive Kwon and urged the bar association to deliver the heaviest punishment by stripping her of her qualification and banning her from working as a lawyer for life.



On Monday, the bar association decided to launch an investigation into Kwon's repeated failures to attend hearings that resulted in the loss of a years-long legal battle. The association will decide whether to punish the 58-year-old lawyer and the level of disciplinary action based on the results of the investigation.



"We will mobilize all possible means to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents," Kim Hyung-cheol, a spokesman for the bar association, said.



Kwon rose to fame as a political commentator with her outspoken criticism against liberals, especially former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who was considered one of the closest confidants of former President Moon Jae-in.



The former minister, who left office just 35 days after his appointment amid intensifying controversy over academic fraud and other corruption allegations involving his family, was found guilty in February this year and sentenced to a two-year prison term.



Kwon represented the mother of the 16-year-old girl who took her own life in 2015 after suffering from school bullying, as the girl's mother filed a compensation suit against the perpetrators, their parents and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.





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How did we get to lockdown and did it save lives? Will a future pandemic trigger another lockdown? Were told Santa Clara County (SCC)s public health director (DPH) Dr. Sara Cody convinced six other Association of Bay Area Health Officers (ABAHO) to order shelter in place (SIP) mandates in a single day, which triggered the first U.S. lockdown. These health officers describe their decision-making in Crisis Decision-making at the Speed of COVID19, giving us insight to their thoughts and rationale.

What happened? According to the paper, decision intelligence begins with tackling the right problem to solve if the primary problem is insufficient hospital beds will cause unnecessary deaths, then increasing hospital bed capacity solves the problem. Apparently, Two weeks to flatten the curve was a ruse. Their cited primary problem was uncontrolled community transmission and their solution was to increase countermeasures to control transmission. Cody explains that a proven way to slow the transmission is to limit interaction among people to the greatest extent practicable and asymptomatic spread means limiting gatherings since gatherings result in preventable transmission.

In their hurry to control transmission they abandon SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goals, which my kids created at the start of every school year from kindergarten to 8th grade? If my 8th grader had made his years goal to achieve Zero Covid, his teacher would request he choose an Achievable goal. Historically, no highly-transmissible respiratory RNA virus had ever been controlled. Once your goal is Achievable, you must define a Measurable benchmark, establish Relevance between the countermeasures and goal, and Time-Bound benchmarks to validate completion. The ABAHO members also questioned the goals Achievable status by acknowledging that the efficacy of face masks, physical distancing, and increased ventilation as prevention countermeasures had not been established yet. Nevertheless, they push forward while there were too many unknowns, high stakes consequences, and no time for further deliberation.

Lockdowns, now familiar to the world, may sound scientific  silo every person in prison-like, solitary confinement until the virus incubation period has expired. Without a new host the virus is unable to propagate and will be wiped out. Will this strategy work for SARS-CoV-2 if it doesnt work for influenza? The proof, the authors state, is Shelter-in-place (SIP) worked in China and in the 1918 influenza pandemic. Their basis is unpublished Chinese data and a re-analysis of the 1918 pandemic of dubious scientific merit.

Who says SIP worked in 1918? ABAHO, founded to tackle HIV/AIDS in 1985, convened a Pandemic Influenza Working group in 2006 that ultimately created guidelines with trigger points for public health intervention by influenza severity levels. Funded by BigPharma and later the CDC, SCC likely adopted the 2007 CDC Pre-Pandemic Guidance which aligned with Bush43s NSC pandemic planning manual. The CDC authors acknowledge that their plan of early, targeted, layered multi-non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) is based on historical review, common-sense, and biological plausibility so the CDC solicited research studies to bolster the scientific cred of lockdown and NPI. Never mind that lockdown or social distancing or SIP or masks had never proven effective. The CDC ultimately funded 11 studies, including mechanistic mask studies, border screening studies, and Merkles 1918 re-analysis frequently cited as proof of NPIs efficacy.

Lockdowns scientific basis was CDC consultant Howard Markels 43-city 1918 pandemic data subject to mathematical modeling, which concluded that social distancing measures can be an effective community mitigation measure provided they are implemented early, are sustained, and are layered. The layered approach involved combining the beneficial strategy of isolating the sick with dubious lockdown measures that include school closures, gathering size restrictions, and quarantining healthy contacts.Thus, while NYC and Chicago never shuttered schools, both cities began isolating the sick early, recruited nurses to make house calls, and required well-ventilated spaces  measures that kept its population healthy but also helped prove the utility of all NPIs. Thus, the benefit of isolating the sick is used to justify lockdown measures like closing schools and businesses.

2009 H1N1 was the first opportunity to test their theories, and San Francisco DPH Aragon wrote a first-person account of ABAHO pandemic influenza H1N1 response in real-time with interviews of each members local office. In response to the CDC recommendation that schools with high absenteeism or a single probable case shutter for 7 to 14 days, Aragons research reported that 5 of 12 ABAHO counties decided to close schools. One DPH describes so we were in this awkward place where the formal recommendation says you have to do this but everyone thinks you dont, suggesting that school administration resisted closure. The CDC subsequently changed their guidance to request those with symptoms should stay home until 24 hours after full recovery.

The H1N1 pandemic assessment pushed ABAHO meetings to strengthen consensus-building, improve access to laboratory testing data, and coordinate school school closure protocols with school districts. In fact, the SCC Superintendent of Schools ordered all SCC schools closed on March 13, 2020 while DPH Cody ordered the most restrictive gathering size limits. Why didnt Cody mandate lockdown on Friday, rather than wait to order a multi-county lockdown? What changed from the prior weeks commonsense recommendation of staying home when ill and requesting high-risk residents with underlying medical conditions stay home. Why mandate SIP when you could recommend SIP?

Was catastrophe averted or created? The authors self-declared that SIP proved victorious over COVID in their November 2020 self-assessment just as the deadliest winter wave started, reflecting their ineffectiveness at protecting the vulnerable rather than control over transmission or their claims of reopening the economy and schools without comprehensive SIP restrictions. In fact, most SCC schools stayed virtual until August 2021, and when school finally reopened, contact tracing kept 10%+ of students home isolating or quarantining on any given day. The SCC independent Covid-19 assessment was due March 2023 but no report is forthcoming.

ABAHO engaged in simulation exercises, including Dark Zephyr, like Event 201 and Crimson Contagion played elsewhere in the nation, which asks its participants to save their citizens from pandemic death. Each game uses lockdown, test and trace, masks, and vaccines as strategies and ends the simulation by reporting lives lost but acknowledging earlier threat detection could save one million more lives. Each iteration reinforces Neil Fergusons mathematical model (2006 Nature editorial) coded for their efficacious arsenal of strategies and based on influenzas transmission characteristics. Since children are superspreaders, schools must shutter early, and layered mitigations work to reduce peak spread. The virtuous stay home and wear the mask to protect others. The narrative script, written and discussed for 15 years, made our ABAHO players the experts  the psychology is inbred and nothing could deter them from their plans. Our gamer generation humans playing PANDEMIC will play again for the win while maintaining cognitive bias against evidence that their plan isnt working.

These experts had been pandemic planning for so long that they couldnt conceive of a world where their assumptions were wrong. Or perhaps cognitive dissonance didnt allow them to see that their policywhich destroyed small businesses, drove a mental health crisis, robbed a generation of children, and led to millions of excess deaths failed. In what game does the expert get to assess their own response?
Victor Davis Hanson recently published an essay titled Our French Revolution. In it, he describes the cultural upheaval we are experiencing in America today and how we should view those presently in control of our government who clearly intend to destroy what America once was. In short, we are in the midst of a modern-day Jacobin revolution.

Once again, however, left unsaid is what exactly should patriots be doing between now and the next elections in 2024 to stop this emerging tyranny before our nation reaches a point of no return.

Every day, we hear from many patriots who tell us that well be able to fix it all in 2024 when Trump is re-elected and we take the White House back from the Democrats.

But, to be safe, should we not be asking, is that a realistic strategy or only a form of group denial by some among us who refuse to accurately assess our present reality? The indictment of President Trump this week strongly suggests it very well could be the latter.

Set aside the legitimacy of the charges, whether President Trump will eventually emerge victorious over Alvin Bragg and even whether he would be your first choice to be our next President. The fact is, the ruling elite now in power are aware that even if he is not convicted, under no circumstances can they ever risk his again regaining control of our federal governments levers of power. Those elitist members of the swamp know that to allow President Trump to return to the White House would likely expose them to being indicted, prosecuted, and most likely convicted by his administration for the crimes they have all committed in the course of their numerous malicious conspiracies to illegally interfere with our elections for the overall intentional purpose of overthrowing the administration of a duly elected President of the United States of America.

In pertinent part, Proverbs 28:1 tells us this truth: A guilty man flees when no one is chasing Translated to the present circumstances: the elitists know that the indictment of President Trump last week not only motivated him to want to hold them accountable for the witch hunts they have plagued him with over the last six years, but has also opened for him the precedent he needed to be able to indict them for their crimes. Moreover, all of President Trumps persecutors no doubt have a very real fear of being held accountable should he regain power because they know in their hearts such retribution is something they would do if they were him. Thus, whether or not President Trump would actually follow through with such a purge of these corrupt elitist criminals does not matter. What does matter today is that they think he would, and they will therefore do anything they can between now and the next election to stop him. Which, in turn, means that is all that should matter to all patriots right now, because it is that fear that will drive their actions to stop President Trump in his tracks between now and 2024. All that is left is for patriots to anticipate the means by which these tyrants will attempt to accomplish this purpose, which is anyones guess at this point.

Will the Democrats again attempt to rig the elections as Biden did in 2020?

Some may say, We wont let them do that again this time around. But that assumes they will even care whether you witness their cheating in 2024, which, in turn, denies the truth that, at this point, they have become completely indifferent as to whether anyone even knows of their cheating any more. This was clearly demonstrated in 2022 with the otherwise inexplicable upset of Kari Lake in Arizona and the equally inexplicable victory of John Fetterman in Pennsylvania.

Remember, these bad actors are also the folks who encouraged unethical federal prosecutors to callously force Jacob Chansley -- who posed no real threat to them whatsoever -- to enter a plea for four years in prison while they knowingly hid from him, his defense attorneys, and the court, the exculpatory videos that established his innocence. In a fair world such prosecutors would be fired, disbarred, and sent to prison to take the place of the man they wrongfully forced to go there.

But so far, they havent been, and such is but one more example of justice wrongfully delayed that should be a warning to us all.

If such unethical -- and indeed, criminal -- federal prosecutors, and the tyrants they work for, would be so evil as to do that to a powerless man like Chansley who posed no real threat to them whatsoever, there is little doubt that such evil people will not hesitate to do far worse to prevent a presidential candidate like Trump from gaining victory and therefore, continue to insulate themselves from any accountability for their wrongs.

All this to say that our hope that the 2024 elections will enable us to restore Americas greatness is very likely a mere mirage and, it is to our peril -- as well as President Trumps -- if we continue to deny it and do nothing now to challenge the tyranny before us.

Cliff Nichols is the author of A Barristers Tales, the curator of The American Landscape and the drafter of The Declaration of Liberty.

Image: PxHere
President Biden's policies are detrimental to the United States' strategic interests and outright violations of federal law and the Constitution. Joe Biden is a puppet of the Chinese and Ukraine (here). Hunter Biden, the princeling, was raking in millions from the Chinese, Russian, and Ukrainian oligarchs for no credible business purpose other than gaining access to Joe Biden [The Big Guy].

The World Economic Forum (WEF), the Deep State, the Radical (Marxist) Left, self-interested and corrupt politicians, the ruling elite, the leftist media complex, big tech, and multinational corporations manipulate Biden. In so doing, These actors have robbed the public treasury of billions of dollars in broad daylight. These actors seek and are driven by retaining and gaining more power and money.

A conspiracy with mutual interests through deception and disinformation is destabilizing our country in a move toward a totalitarian state. Under the guise of Democratic Socialism. Democratic Socialism is a rebranding of the New World Order or Globalism, Marxism, Fascism, Nazism, and Communism. As VDH calls it, Our French Revolution."

The conspiracy sought to delegitimize, impede, sabotage, and unseat a duly elected President by using faux impeachments, abuse of power by public officials, bribery, thefts by fraud, money laundering, perjury and the obstruction of justice, violations of civil rights, the attack on and subversion of the rule of law and equal justice, the violation of the inalienable rights of the people and the defilement of the US Constitution in an ongoing criminal enterprise as defined in Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

Donald Trump in 2016 was a direct threat to the conspiracy. Trump, as an outsider, was not constrained by the political establishment in DC. The voters understood that our elected were self-dealing, lining their pockets with public funds, and acting counter to the best interests of our country. The voters knew; Trump was no angel, unpresidential, and sometimes crude. The people knew what they were getting when they voted for Trump.

Hillary Clinton had to win the 2016 election, or the dike holding back the truth would burst. If the truth were laid bare, it would expose the Obama Administration, Hillary Clinton, the Senate and House, and many executive departments for their complicity in abuses of power and collaboration with our adversaries. Much to their dismay, Donald Trump won the election.

US Attorney William Barr accused the liberal resistance of trying to sabotage Trump. A soft coup with the false Russian collusion narrative and other illegal actions to cover for its collective crimes before and after the 2016 election continued through the 2020 election and is now in the campaign cycle before the 2024 election. So is evidenced by the recent indictment of Trump for a crime that doesn't exist  "Show me the man, and I'll show you the crime. Alan Dershowitz says this conspiracy will do anything to Get Trump.

Dr. Anthony Fauci was the last straw. Everyone was personally affected by the COVID fraud under the cloak of a public health crisis. The perpetrators intentionally obscured the origin of COVID-19. The totalitarian actions of mandatory vaccination, needless lockdowns, and denial of effective treatment therapies that killed millions worldwide had more to do with concealing the profits made and reinforcing the control of the people setting the stage for election fraud in 2020. The truth was actively suppressed and censored at the behest of government agents. Many people now see the lying by politicians and experts of the administrative state about COVID.

During my 35-year law enforcement career, including as a police detective, I investigated many elaborate criminal conspiracies, including public conflict of interest cases, embezzlements, financial crimes, and frauds, as well as illicit nonprofits engaging in money laundering to divert funds. I wrote and served hundreds, if not thousands, of criminal search warrants. Most of these cases were successfully prosecuted.

There sometimes comes a point when common sense dictates that seemingly unrelated incidents are connected and were intentional acts. With a jaundiced eye, I watched this COVID kabuki theater unfold. An elaborate illusion to cover for criminality is now exposed for all to see.

In my professional opinion, there is substantial probable cause (PC) to believe that agents of our government, including President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, aided or abetted by others engaged in an ongoing criminal conspiracy with a common purpose, committed serious felonies and concealed these crimes over many years.

This PC warrants an investigation of the perpetrators. There must be accountability to restore the peoples faith in our elected politicians and the unelected administrative state government, lest we descend into a dictatorial Banana Republic.

See the facts, information, and opinions in support of my conclusion. This list is not exhaustive. I will write more about solutions later.

Facts, Information, and Opinions:

Ron Wright is a retired detective, having served thirty-five years with Riverside PD, CA. Ron earned a BA in political science from Cal State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Administration from the University of California, Riverside. Facebook at Ron T. Cop.

Caricature by Donkey Hotey CC BY 2.0 license
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  Albert Einstein

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.  King Solomon

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.  British Naval Officer Ralph Clark

First things first: it is imperative for westerners to cease explaining away centuries-long, Islamist terror. For the more curious, its basis can be found in Chapter 33 of the Islamic holy book, Muhammads Koran, which means Recital. Unwaveringly, it is the recital of their prophet  a madman!

Alas, for this go-around, the following recaps must be deemed snippets of the jihad enveloping the Jewish Homeland, both foreign and domestically fueled. Yet, for the purpose of time and space, this analysis will exclude all of the precursors to the so-called spontaneous jihadi combustions plaguing the domestic front  not to be conflated with the domestic Marxists running rampant via mob rule. See the following headlines:

(Atop countless other Islamist attacks to cite!)

Assuredly, the above are (samplings of) the bitter fruits of the New Israeli  humiliation + prostration + enemy incitement = rewards/incentives for continuous bloodletting! A natural calculus.

Most significantly, for the historical record, lets document (a few of) the ways in which the innocent become the offenders and perpetrators become the victims  complete inversion. Read on:

A (Jewish) Samaria man was detained and his car impounded after drawing a pepper spray pistol in self defense. Over 21,000 PA enteredIsrael this morningmost of them en-route to Friday afternoon prayers at the Temple Mount. Last Friday, approximately 52,000 PA Arabs entered the country, etc. Israeli police are restricting Jewish access to part of the Old City of Jerusalemduring the first intermediate day of the Passover festival. Honenu claimed to have received multiple reports Friday from Orthodox Jews attempting to reach the Western Wallthat they have been denied entry by Border Police officers, while Arabs, non-Jewish tourists, and others who are not visibly Jewish were permitted to continue on their way. Government to ban Jewish entry to Temple Mount during Final 10 days of Ramadan.

Par for their bent course, around and around the Israeli crazy traingoes, as it wends its way through the Jewish maimed, and buried, littering the streets!

Madness. In Hebrew: 

The Einstein-inspired original question becomes: Why would the supposed Jewish leadership, once again, signal surrender, and thereby alert Islamist jihadis that Israel is up for grabs? Per the Times of Israel:

Israel wants to avoid wider conflicts on multiple fronts and move away from major escalations in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly conveyed to senior ministers on Friday.

Read on, that is, for an essential piggyback  query.

How can it be that since the last Ramadan war in May 2021 (yes, Israels Arab-Muslim communities played a significant role in the violence, as aiders and abettors, akin to an absolute blitzkrieg), that the aggressors were left standing and unmolested to re-group, re-arm, and re-initiate the fighting?

For those who prefer auditory and visual aids (attesting to there is nothing new under the sun), listen up to this writers beloved brother, Terrorist Cop, or Morty Dzikansky. (Dzikansky is a retired NYPD homicide detective, the expert of all jihadi experts, and an American-Israeli, too.) Furthermore, see my additional writings on the subject here and here.

Truth dare be told, the only logical conclusion is this: Jewish blood is expendable to the New Israelis sitting astride Israels helm  be they left, center, or right.

Take an honest look back to 2005, a time when the most heinous, brutish, wrecking balls were perpetrated by a so-called right-winger  that is, PM Sharon, AKA the bull-dozer  against the most law-abiding Jews in Israel. Mind you, in juxtaposition to internal traitors, Marxists and Islamists were treated with kid gloves.

Without ever atoning for their sins, the governmental, military, media enablers (many of whom were promoted) committed the gravest of crimes as they rendered tens of thousands of loyal Jews into refugees within the Homeland. Naturally, as a knock-on effect, Gush Katif turned into Gazas Hamastan, with all of the attendant jihadi onslaughts, up through this day! Perfectly summed up: The Paradox of Israeli Politics: Vote Right, Get Left.

The treachery. Never forgive. Never forget.

When leadership strives to be Israeli as opposed to Jewish (whether religious or secular), it goes against the (mental) grain to strike a final and decisive blow to enemy hordes threatening the safety of Israels people.

Decidedly, the bandied about strategic calculi  so-called proportionality and de-escalation  amounts to one and the same: pile-ups of dead Jews!

Again, it stands to reason why, and how, Israel hasnt won a clear victory over murderous zealots, since the 1967 War of Annihilation. After all, they gave away the farm so to speak. After conceding the heart of Zion, The Temple Mount, The Holy of Holies, well, the New Israelis added on more gifts: chunks of Judea and Samaria  the heart of Judaism! Ipso facto, why would the Islamists stop attacking?

And while many Israelis have come to see this abnormal situation as business as usual trust, it doesnt have to be this way.

Concomitantly, in March 2015, the interviewer asked this American-Israeli writer: Can Israel Survive As The Jewish State? As excerpted:

To discuss the Zionist perspective on the future of the Jewish state, the Inquisitr welcomes back Adina Kutnicki for another no-holds-barred interview, Adina is an investigative journalist, Political Commentator and security expert who has never hesitated to speak out on behalf Israel and the Jewish people. She is committed to maintaining the Jewish character of the worlds only homeland for the Jewish people with an undivided Capital in Jerusalem. Israel is now surrounded by well-armed bitter enemies, none of whom are calling for a Palestinian state to exist side-by-side in peace with the Jewish state of Israel. Instead, they have all called for the destruction of Israel and the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state from the river to the sea. These enemies include Hamas in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon in the North and the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria. In the north, Syrian troops, Hezbollah and ISIS have set up positions in the Golan Heights near the Israeli border. Lebanon, ruled by Hezbollah, has literally thousands of Iranian-supplied rockets aimed at Israels civilian population centers, which they will launch any time Iran gives them a green light. Hamas in Gaza is bragging that they are rearming and digging new tunnels, and they have openly declared they intend to wage a war of extermination against every Jew on earth. The Palestinian Authority says whatever they have to in English to keep the foreign aid flowing, but in Arabic, they too talk about eliminating Israel, and there are several heavily armed terror group [sic] in Judea and Samaria that are all affiliated with the Palestinian Authority.

History repeats.

To wit, it begs the ultimate question: when will the sacrifices of peace (Jewish blood ) suffice to satiate political guilt complexes?

Summarily, the above instances tally-up the oft-crowed, naked truths from Muhammads barbarians at (and inside) Israels gates:

The demise of the Jewish peoples patrimony courses through death by a thousand cuts via a salami-style victory.

Pray tell: who are the real crazies?

Adina Kutnicki is an investigative journalist, living in Israel since 2008. Her work concentrates on militant Islamic jihad and its western knock-on effects, as well as the red/green alliance. She is the co-author of BANNED: How Facebook Enables Militant Islamic Jihad, She blogs at: Adina Kutnicki, A Zionist & Conservative Blog (www.adinakutnicki.com) and is an op-ed contributor at several news sites.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required.
When news broke a few weeks ago about the FBI targeting the Catholic Church's Latin Mass enthusiasts as part of the great Joe Biden hunt for "extremists," outrage ensued, and the bureau moved quickly to dismiss the matter as the doing of an errant field office, which put out a bum policy paper. It certainly wasn't the FBI's policy to target Americans for their beliefs, FBI director Christopher Wray testified, adding that the miscreants in the Richmond local field office would be given refresher courses to put them back on the straight and narrow. Never mind that they'd committed a violation of the First Amendment rights of American citizens under the Constitution. The refresher courses would fix everything.

Well, now it turns out there was more to the matter than simply a bad policy paper from the FBI's local yokels out in the Richmond backwoods who didn't understand the First Amendment.

According to National Review:

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 agency's intelligence-gathering initiative targeting Catholic Americans.

Meaning it was more than a policy paper; it was an anti-Catholic operation that was advanced pretty far along, complete with the recruiting of at least one informant.

Who the heck was this informant for this illegal act, how'd they find this character, how did the FBI make the recruitment pitch, and how much taxpayer money was the informant paid?

Meanwhile, the leftists dominating the Catholic Church itself have been attempting to stamp out the Latin Mass, too  so why was the FBI trying to uselessly duplicate its efforts? Or was it a government-private "partnership" here?

Those seem like valid questions for Jordan to ask as his subpoena brings Wray back to testify under oath.

We could leave it to the Catholics to sort out whether he went to confession afterward for his misdeed, informing on his fellow parishioners for an intrusive government agency in a blatantly illegal act.

The fact that they had an informant (and who knows if it was really one, let alone confined to the Richmond field office?) puts the FBI squarely in the league of Russia's KGB, which, after the Soviet empire collapsed, was found to have infiltrated the Russian Orthodox Church like termites, spying on people going to church, listening in on confessions, driving clergymen to issue state policy pronouncements. It was an ugly period, and obviously, many Russians abandoned religion altogether as the ugly spectacle became obvious, both before and after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Might that be the real aim of the Bidenites  to separate people from their churches, making them distrustful, and no longer wanting to be associated with them? That certainly would be convenient for the state, whether the Soviet one or the American one.

This is just astounding to consider, given the scope of this operation. Jordan has his hands full with this revelation and an urgent mission to get to the bottom of it. The U.S., according to a recent poll, is already showing signs of falling into irreligion, and church attendance in many faiths is down. While the press may be blaming COVID, the state intrusion factor shouldn't be overlooked, either. Church and faith are the social glue for the creation of civil society and the amassing of a culture of trust, the social capital of society. An atomized society dominated only by the state is a Soviet state, and we all know what became of that.

This outrageous intrusion into religious freedom has got to be nipped in the bud fast. Jordan is right to be on it.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Old row houses are seen in Incheon's Bupyeong District, April 3. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg



By Jack Greenberg



The past few months have been filled with headlines about wartime forced labor as the Yoon Seok Yeol administration tries to resolve the issue and repair bilateral ties with Japan.



While many are likely to be familiar with the general contours of this history, fewer are probably aware that remnants of the mobilization exist in a state of crumbling decay just a short distance from Seoul.



The area that is now Bupyeong 2-dong in Incheon was once known as Samneung Village. Samneung, when written with Chinese characters, corresponds to "Mitsubishi" in Japanese. At this location, which is only a five-minute walk from Dongsu Station on Incheon Subway Line 1, one can find the traces of an industrial housing complex once occupied by the Korean wartime laborers of private Japanese firms.



The remaining staff row houses, which date to 1938-39, were built by Hironaka Commerce and Industry as it tried to accommodate its 1,000-plus workforce. Hironaka, however, folded in 1942 after suffering heavy losses from rapid expansion. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which was then one of the largest firms in Japan's empire, took possession of the residences and rechristened its factory as Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing.



The factory was located across from Incheon Arsenal  now a shuttered U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) installation formerly known as Camp Market  on the current site of Bupyeong Park, which until 1997 housed the Korean Army's 88th Maintenance Battalion.



As the war progressed, Mitsubishi and other companies serving Incheon arsenal drew in an influx of workers, including students from local schools. Threatened with the prospect of being taken into sex slavery or conscripted into the colonizer's army, the Korean staff toiled away making bulletproof steel plates, and eventually weapons like mortar rounds and artillery shells.





Old row houses stand along a road in Incheon's Bupyeong District, April 3. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg



South Korean victims of wartime forced labor and related parties are still seeking the seizure of Mitsubishi's local assets, despite the government's compensation plan. A suit filed on March 16 asked the Seoul Central District Court to allow the collection of compensation on behalf of two victims from Mitsubishi sub-subsidiary MH Power Systems Korea. Additionally, on April 5, the Daejeon District Court seized four additional patent rights from Mitsubishi on behalf of the victims and their families, bringing the current total to 10.



Visiting Mitsubishi Row Houses allows one to imagine the living conditions of the forced laborers. The units measure no more than 16.5 square meters and the single story is barely tall enough for an average adult to stand up in.





Some units remain occupied in the row house in Incheon's Bupyeong District, April 3. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg



An exposed portion of an outer wall reveals the use of clay and bamboo as building materials. Upkeep of some roofs has long been neglected. Loose ceramic tiles and car tires hold down shredded tarps and cheap vinyl sheets. Shattered glass and cracked shards of tile scatter the ground and crunch underfoot as one walks past a row of units.





Damage to a wall exposes bamboo and clay, April 3. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg



A look inside reveals peeling walls and ceilings, and large black patches of mold growth. Most units are clearly abandoned and have long been fastened shut with now-rusted locks. One of them, however, was held open with a wire and signs of life were visible inside. It is possible that a squatter still occupies it or has until quite recently.





Furniture remains in an abandoned unit of the row house in Incheon's Bupyeong District, April 3. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg



A red Buddhist swastika was pasted in the window of another unit, suggesting that it had been occupied by a private religious practitioner. At the end of the opposite row, a hand-painted signboard indicated a unit previously served as a small senior citizens' welfare center and bathhouse.





Red graffiti announces the demolition of the row house in Incheon's Bupyeong District, March 19. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg



Although their demolition is announced in red spray paint on most of the buildings, it appears the lodgings will not be demolished after all.



In 2019, some of the blocks were razed to make way for a new district administration office that opened in 2021. The row houses that still stand were to become a parking lot for the office. The move had the support of neighboring residents who saw the derelict structures as eyesores.





A contrast of architecture in Incheon's Bupyeong District, April 3. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg



At the request of the Culture Heritage Administration (CHA), the district eventually agreed to reconsider the parking lot plan and initiated a public-private council in July 2021. The council was tasked with studying the site's historical significance and recommending how it could be protected considering it is the only place in Korea where this type of housing is still found.



In mid-March, the district finally confirmed that it would apply for Mitsubishi Row House to be recognized under the CHA's classification system as registered cultural heritage. The application is expected to be filed in May.





A roof is in bad shape at a historic row house in Incheon's Bupyeong District, April 3. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg



Though it is still unclear exactly how the Mitsubishi Row House will be repaired without sacrificing its original character given its current condition, the initiative can be considered positive news for preservationists across the country who are fighting to prevent modern heritage sites from disappearing without their history being recorded.



All eyes are now on the nearby Camp Market where a citizens' council is fighting a desperate last stand to preserve another remnant of forced mobilization.





Banners are displayed, highlighting the protest concerning the planned demolition of heritage buildings at Camp Market in Incheon's Bupyeong District, March 19. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg



Jobyeongchang Hospital was built by the Japanese to treat Korean laborers injured in the wartime arsenal. It sits on military land that the U.S. began to return in 2019, after 16 years of delays over environmental pollution issues. The Ministry of National Defence plans to convert the entire former base area into a community park by 2028, but soil remediation must take place first.



Studies have found severe contamination at the site with TBH compounds and other dioxins that are highly toxic and carcinogenic. The defense ministry was scheduled to turn the land over to the quasi-governmental Korea Environment Corp. in April for decontamination, and officials have said this requires the demolition of the hospital. To prevent this from being pushed ahead, the citizens' council filed for a temporary injunction against the ministry at the Incheon District Court on March 23.





A relay hunger strike is ongoing at this tent near Camp Market in Incheon's Bupyeong District, March 19. Courtesy of Jack Greenberg
America First Legal (AFL) filed a FOIA request with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to find out more information about the raid on Mar-a-Lago last year. Rather unexpectedly, the OIG responded honestly to the request, turning over records that revealed the White House helping to set up the FBI for the raid.

As a preliminary matter, Trump had an absolute right to possess any records he wanted, if he gained possession of them (as he did) while he was still president. It is black-letter law (that is, unquestioned, uncontested, absolute law) in America that the President of the United States is the last, best word when it comes to document classification:

In Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518 (1988), the court examined whether a civil service board can review a laborer's being denied national security clearance. In that context, the Supreme Court was clear about the president's plenary power, unimpeded by congressional acts:

The President, after all, is the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States. U.S.Const., Art. II,  2. His authority to classify and control access to information bearing on national security and to determine whether an individual is sufficiently trustworthy to occupy a position in the Executive Branch that will give that person access to such information flows primarily from this constitutional investment of power in the President, and exists quite apart from any explicit congressional grant. See Cafeteria Workers v. McElroy, 367 U. S. 886, 367 U. S. 890 (1961).

Some Trump supporters think theyre helping Trump by pointing to the fact that he was working with NARA in accordance with the Presidential Records Act. Theyre not, because that still buys into the concept that there is some sort of limitation on the presidents declassification power. In fact, the President Records Act is a procedural device that is utterly irrelevant when it comes to the presidents plenary power over document classification status. Neither Congress, nor NARA, nor any other bureaucrat who stamps the word classified on a document can undo Trumps ultimate presidential power to declassify documents at will, without following procedures, filling out forms, or making announcements.

Image: Joe Biden. YouTube screen grab.

Of course, its quite different when it comes to all the classified documents that Joe Biden has squirreled away over the decades. Whether he was a senator or the vice president, he had no power whatsoever to declassify documents unilaterally. What he did was purely illegal, something compounded by his carelessness with the documents once he illegally possessed them, and he should be locked up for a long time.

With that in mindthat is, President Trump acted legally and constitutionally at all timesheres what AFL discovered when it got the requested documents from NARA:

On August 8, 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an unprecedented raid of Mar-a-Lago on the ground that potentially classified records existed there. According to press reports, Biden Administration aides were stunned to hear of this development. However, new NARA records obtained through America First Legals investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Mar-a-Lago raid further confirmed that the FBI obtained access to these records through a special access request from the Biden White House on behalf of the Department of Justice (DOJ). What this effectively means is that there are substantial discrepancies between what the Archives has told Congress and what appears in its internal communications. For example, Acting Archivist Debra Wall told Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) on August 16, 2022, that NARA had not been involved in the DOJ investigation or any searches that it has conducted. This stunning revelation suggests that NARA was misleading Congress about the White Houses role in the shocking raid of President Trumps home, and the fact that the Biden White House was acting on behalf of the DOJ raises significant legal concerns.

In other words, the White House lied to the public, and NARA lied to Congress. In reality, the White House, ignoring controlling U.S. law, worked with the DOJ and FBI to raid the residence of Donald Trump, a former president and Bidens most serious opponent in the 2024 election, to smear Trump (and, they hoped, arrest him) as someone who had violated National Security laws.

Game theory says that, when your opponent changes the rules (i.e., cheats) to win, you dont just keep playing politely and accepting your losses. Instead, you go after your opponent twice as hard using his own rules until he cries, Uncle.

In this case, given that Biden repeatedly violated national security laws, when Republicans regain control of the DOJ, it is imperative that they indict him and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. And depending on the statute of limitations, its time to get Hillary, too, along with any other Democrats (and I bet there are a lot of them) who have ignored national security laws.
Its been a busy time in Nashville, Tennessee. During a two-week period, a so-called transgender man went to an elementary school and slaughtered three children and three adults. That was followed by an anti-Second Amendment, pro-transgender riot at the Tennessee capitol building, which led to the (temporary) ouster of two Tennessee representatives. The Biden administration was outraged, and Kamala Harris came to town, where she gave a speech that, while intended to attack the Second Amendment, effectively celebrated and defended the January 6 protesters.

American Thinker already noted Kamalas attempted fiery Southern preacher moment in Tennessee. While the Biden administration had nothing to say about a transgender hate crime against Christians, both children and adults (very Boko Haram of her), it had an entirely different response when an angry, violent mob protested outside and inside of the Tennessee capitol building, complete with attacks on the police:

Three legislators, breaching all protocol, joined in the protest, which had reached the floor of the Capitol while the legislature was in session.

For those who have been paying attention for the last three years and two months, the Democrat response was perplexing. Weve consistently been told on a daily basis that protesting inside and outside of a legislative building and stepping onto the floor of said building, is a crime that is literally as heinous as the Civil War itself. Any representatives who show even the slightest support for this kind of protest are as bad as the protesters themselveswhich goes a long way to explaining the craven silence on the part of Republican legislators.

Image: Kamala Harris. YouTube screen grab.

Since the January 6 protests, thousands of people have been rounded up, almost all of them for the crime of paradingthat is, walkingin and around the Capitol. Dozens of them are still sitting in a squalid D.C. jail without parole and without the speedy trial guaranteed them under the Sixth Amendment. The Biden DOJ wants everyone to know that nothing is more terrible than making your voice heard regarding politics, and you should never do that again.

However, Kamala Harris has a different take. According to her, this is what Democracy looks like:

JUST KIDDING!

As Im sure you realized very quickly, I took part of the audio from Kamalas speech in Nashville and applied it to the footage of the January 6 protesters walking through the Capitols rotunda, all the while staying nicely between the lines.

As a reminder, no police were killed during either protest, although on January 6, a Capitol police officer shot Ashley Babbitt to death in cold blood (an act for which he was quickly exonerated).

The hypocrisy is stunning and telling. Its a reminder, too, that the only permanent fixture in the leftist universe is the pursuit of power. Everything else is a tool in the arsenal, to be used or abandoned as necessity dictates.
The fraudulent indictment of former president Donald Trump underscores the truth that the swamp no longer hides its hostile motives or pretends to favor the rule of law and the Constitution over tyranny. Since Joe Biden entered the Oval Office, the socialist far-left Democrats have openly attacked American values and societal norms.

Under the guise of saving the planet, a false religion was created that would use the vitality of impressionable youth to divide the nation  sons against their fathers and brother against brother.

From the corrupt editorial pages of their dishonest newsprint bibles, the Democrat left preached the fallacy that man is the destroyer of the planet, which is to be worshiped as some deity. And that radical energy measures that produce pain, poverty, and death to third-world populations, not to mention the economic collapse of the United States, are the repentant price for past climate offenses.

Young Americans were taught that there was no sacrifice too great to be paid by the unwashed. Still, they were not told that such economic and physical calamities were not to be encountered by the Democrat priests and priestesses of the false climate theology.

President Obama's multi-million-dollar 30-acre waterfront mansion, situated near Edgartown Great Pond; climate guru Al Gore's Tennessee estate that consumes more electricity in twelve months than the average American family utilizes in 21 years; and Pelosi's palatial manor with refrigerator-sized, power-hungry freezers stocked with gallons of ice cream tell the truth about these pseudoenvironmentally friendly charlatans.

As divisively serious as the idolatry of climate change is, it is merely a pretext for a much more dangerous objective. So if climate change is the ruse, what is the goal?

There is no doubt that the nation is split, but it is divided not by the fear of rising seas or temperature, but between those believing that God created and sustains the world and those with the idea that government is a god and hence can change reality.

The first telling indication that far-left Democrats were serious about their contempt for America and the Creator was by putting to a vote that the word "God" be removed from the party platform at the 2012 Democrat convention. It has been a steady decline ever since.

The heinous anarchy of open borders, purposeful lawlessness in the streets of America's major cities, and the sexualization of children are done by design and a result of the propaganda alignment among the fake media, government, and industry.

The left undertakes the double-standard injustice of the illegal and unethical persecution of supporters of Donald Trump for a reason: to usurp the authority of God in the American system of government and to demoralize the American people.

In that regard, the biggest gamble the left has made thus far is the lawless indictment of the former 45th president. Would it dishearten Americans to the point of acquiescence and abandoning the notion of "In God We Trust"? Or would it be seen as the first salvos in a great struggle like the ones heard at Fort Sumter in 1861?

The unprecedented and contemptible indictment by the Manhattan D.A.'s office has changed America forever. Although we will never again be seen on the world stage as a nation of laws, there is an opportunity for the country to rise as our forefathers did and meet the challenge by once again turning to God as the source of truth, justice, and inner strength.

Image via Picryl.
Let's concede that Republican officials are, generally, not welcome in Manhattan -- unless, like former president Trump, they are in this politically intolerant part of New York City to be charged with crimes before a judge.

Still, it was likely imprudent of freshman Congressman Daniel Goldman, a very junior member on the Homeland Security Committee to tell House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan that he was "not welcome in my district" to hold a hearing, April 17, on whether the policies of the ultra-leftist Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney, are putting law-abiding New Yorkers in harm's way. The fact that the hearing is scheduled to be held in Goldman's district, in the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in lower Manhattan, does not remove Mr. Goldman from the petard on which he has placed himself.

More likely than not, Goldman, heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and an attorney for the Democrats in Trump Impeachment I, is taking a page out of Rep. Jamaal Bowman's book when Bowman used a vulgar, vile term to tell Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene to get out of Manhattan and back to Washington, D.C. But even if Goldman did not tell Chairman Jordan to get his a-- back to the nation's capital, he is treading in possibly turbulent waters. Does Mr. Goldman presume the authority to tell senior members of Congress where, in the homeland, they are welcome, and where they are not? What good can be accomplished when a freshman member of the House of Representatives claims the power to tell a House committee chairman where he may hold hearings, and where he is barred from holding hearings? In brief, no good can possibly come of this brazen expression of arrogance -- and a laudatory editorial from The New York Times, or an opinion column praising such brashness is not a sensible person's idea of a good thing.

Goldman's reaction to Chairman Jordan's decision to hold a Judiciary Committee hearing in Manhattan is remarkably confrontational, even incendiary, for any member of Congress, and the more so for a mere first termer. This is the stuff, Mr. Goldman may come to learn, that leads to disciplinary action in the House. (Action, by the way, that Speaker McCarthy should have taken against Rep. Bowman for tending to place the House in disrepute by his vile, vicious insult aimed at MTG.)

Yet, Mr. Goldman's intemperate response to the Manhattan visit of the House Judiciary Committee, April 17, is, likely, to be more than a hint of what is yet to come. This observer looks forward to joint House Oversight/Judiciary Hearings on Biden-Justice Department collusion leading to the Jan. 6 Planned Scenario by the Deep State. Meanwhile, one can expect New York Mayor Adams to blame Chairman Jordan for the overtime police costs the city will incur as a result of the April 17 hearing -- and demand reimbursement from the House Republicans.

Photo credit: official portrait
After President Jimmy Carter left the White House, he established the Carter Center (CC) in 1982. One of the CC's primary missions is to observe other countries' elections to ensure that their voting procedures are free, fair, and impartial. Carter and the CC have observed at least 101 elections in 39 countries on four continents. Some of the hallmarks of fair elections include the right and opportunity to vote, freedom to assemble, and the right to elect candidates of the voters' choice. In other words, the voters, not the government, must determine the political candidates. In North Korea, Russia, and Iran, the ruling party is the party in power, and it decides who is allowed to oppose it.

The United States can now join the ignoble list of authoritarian regimes where the party in power is the government, and it decides who can oppose it. In the U.S., become a threat to the ruling party or get too popular, and you'll be arrested and thrown in jail. You disagree? What do you call having President Trump arrested for a non-crime? The NYC D.A. who arrested Trump didn't even bother to state a crime that Trump committed. Oh, he listed 34 counts, but no crime. Even anti-Trump Politico questioned the legal basis for charging him. Trump's crime is that he opposes the Dems and Biden's authoritarian regime. Hey, Alvin Bragg, 75% of rural Georgia opposes Biden and his regime. You gonna arrest us all?

Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador (a banana republic), blasted the arrest when he tweeted, "Think what you want of President Trump and the reasons he's being indicted, but imagine if this happened in any other country, where a government arrested the main opposition candidate. The United States' ability to use 'democracy' as foreign policy is gone." Bukele is 100% correct; he sees what's happening. Think about when Putin, the ayatollahs, and Castro have their opponents arrested just before an election, and we say, "Thank God that doesn't happen in America." Oh, yes, it does  Joe Biden and the Democrats just did it.

The Dems are despicable. Not one Dem opposes Trump's arrest. Not one has said anything against it. Remember when you Dems screamed, "Silence is violence"? Well, your silence, in the face of an illegal arrest of President Trump, is deafening.

Trump was arrested for a non-crime only because he's running against Biden (or whoever is nominated) in 2024. It's no more complicated than that. Disagree with a Dem, and you become the enemy. The Democrats have criminalized opposition, not at all different from the old Soviet Union, Cuba, or any other dictatorship. They no longer debate the issues. And why should they bother debating when their playbook tells them to accuse anyone who disagrees with them of being a racist, sexist, homophobe, or xenophobe, and then have him arrested? You doubt me? Bragg, during his election campaign, said he was going to "get Trump" so that Trump could never seek office again.

The arrest of candidate Trump is the boldest, most blatant election interference in our nation's 247-year history. You want more proof? In 2020, the judge assigned to the case donated dollars to Biden, and the judge's daughter worked for Biden's election campaign. But nothing to see; move along.

Why shouldn't the Dems arrest Trump? After all, our Republicans have allowed it to happen as they stand by and do nothing. Where are our elected Repubs at the national, state, or local level? Where are Austin Scott (R-GA, 8th District) and every other national Repub? Where is Governor Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, or Attorney General Christopher Carr? Where are state senator John Kennedy, representatives Dale Washburn, Robert Dickey, or David Knight? All of them should be screaming. Instead, we hear hardly a peep out of any of them.

Hey, Repubs  they will come for all of you. As I said before, they (the Dems) don't just dislike us; they hate us (but none more hated than Trump) and all who don't agree with their radical agenda. Our elected Repubs need to stand up and start shouting, or soon it'll be too late.

Image: Petri Damsten.
Manhattan D.A. Bragg recently indicted and arraigned former president Trump on 34 individual felony counts. According to statements from "star" grand jury witness and former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, the matter concerns his payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to buy her silence concerning an alleged 2006 affair  which she cannot prove and later denied in 2018. Trump reimbursed Cohen just before the 2016 election and apparently labeled it as legal expenses in his business records rather than "hush money reimbursement," leading to Bragg's business records misdemeanor charge. No less a legal scholar than Alan Dershowitz labeled this as "utter nonsense."

D.A. Bragg claims that this is the misdemeanor of false business records under New York state law. He further claims that because this was done with intent to conceal a second crime, it becomes a felony  in fact, 34 felonies, as the indictment shows, each under the same identical N.Y. state law.

These indictments are fatally defective for three separate reasons, any one of which should get the indictments dismissed before trial.

1. Charging 34 separate indictments from what is essentially one event violates the very clear (in New York and most other states) criminal doctrine of multiplicity. It is a pretrial form of the trial/post-trial proscription on double jeopardy provided by the 5th Amendment as extended to the states by the 14th Amendment. The multiplicity doctrine simply holds that an alleged criminal indictment concerning events that are reasonably contiguous (for example, in time or space  here, both) cannot be broken up into separate indictments, each separately risking a jury's guilty finding. The charged indictments are defectively multiplicitous under clear New York case law on the doctrine.

2. The felonies were created via the additional allegation of "false records with intent to conceal another crime." But that second alleged crime is not specified in any of the 34 felony indictments. That is a clear violation of the 6th Amendment, which requires that an accused be informed of the "nature and cause of the accusation." There were mutterings in Bragg's post-arraignment press conference that the second crime could be a couple of different things.

a. A violation of election laws. Since 2016 was a presidential election, federal rather than state law governs. This raises a murky jurisdictional question about whether D.A. Bragg could use a federal "crime" for state law purposes. But the jurisdictional question need not be addressed because we already have the answer: there was no crime. Both the head of the Federal Elections Commission and the thenacting head of DoJ say the question was actively investigated at the time and that there was no election issue found, let alone a criminal election issue.

b. A violation of some state income tax law. By law, the president's federal income tax filings are audited each year of the presidency, and the audit result is then filed with the National Archives. For Trump, this would have been his 2017 filing for 2016. The IRS found no problems; there was no refile. That is relevant for his New York state filing, because New York expressly adopts the federal definition of adjusted gross income (AGM) and the federal definitions of allowable itemized deductions. There is one express New York variance; the state removes the federal $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions (SALT). Since there is no federal tax problem, there can be no state tax problem.

Both (a) and (b) explain why the indictments were mute about the alleged second crime and therefore are constitutionally defective.

3. The New York felony statute of limitations is five years. The charged events took place about six and a half years before the indictments. The statute of limitations expired about a year and a half before the indictments were brought. However, D.A. Brag might claim one of the two express statute of limitations exceptions under New York criminal law. Neither factually applies

a. If the indicted individual was continuously outside New York jurisdiction for five years, the limitation can be extended. But Trump provably was not continuously outside New York during the five years since the 2016 election. He traveled to the U.N. in Manhattan to address the U.N. in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

b. If the indicted individual's whereabouts remain unknown during the five years. But Trump's whereabouts were known at all times  primarily at the White House or at Mar-a-Lago.

There is a separate factor to be considered. Bragg expressly campaigned for Manhattan D.A. on the claim that he was the best candidate "to get Trump." That is express evidence of malice aforethought, and therefore of the resulting prosecutorial misconduct that all three indictment defects evidence. He should be disbarred after the indictments are dismissed.

A final thought: It is possible that the trial court judge, who had previously shown animus to Trump, would fail to dismiss or recuse. But each of the three defects above is directly appealable pretrial. And at least one of the three defects is also a violation of the federal Constitution, so it gets to federal court also if necessary.

Rud Istvan graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1972, then from the Harvard Joint Law School/Business School program in 1976. He was then admitted to the Massachusetts Bar. After a long multi-company career practicing both business and law, he is now happily retired with time to do research on matters of interest.

Photo credit: YouTube screen grab (cropped).
A couple of weeks back, Samsung released a massive new camera update for the Galaxy S23 series in its homeland of South Korea. The update has since reached users in other parts of Asia as well as in Europe and Africa. It has now reached the US as well. Both carrier-locked and unlocked variants of the latest Samsung flagships are picking up the big update stateside, complete with the April security patch.

This update for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with the firmware build numbers S91*USQU1AWC8 and S91*U1UEU1AWC8 for carrier-locked and unlocked units, respectively. Samsungs changelog doesnt mention anything apart from the latest security patch. However, the phones are receiving a plethora of goodies here. The Korean firm has already announced several new camera-related changes and improvements.

For starters, the Galaxy S23 lineup is getting an autofocus speed priority feature that lets you capture photos even if the frame is not in focus completely. This is to ensure that you dont miss any moment. If you have ample time, you can wait until the frame is fully in focus before capturing. Samsung gives you the option to disable this feature, while the Camera Assistant app adds further controls over focus priority.

The Galaxy S23 phones are also getting improvements for low-light videos from the ultrawide camera. Samsung says the footage should contain lesser flickering than before.

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The stabilization of Full HD videos captured at 60fps with Auto FPS turned off has been improved too. If youre shooting the night sky in high-resolution mode (50MP or 200MP), you should now get sharper footage with no line-shaped banding noise or intermittent blurring. The occasional green line appearing on the camera viewfinder is gone too. Additionally, Samsung has improved the quality of low-light photos captured without enabling the Night mode. It has also fixed face recognition bugs and improved your Gallery experience.

The Galaxy S23 series is also getting the April security update in the US

Along with all of these goodies, the latest update for the Galaxy S23 series in the US also brings this months security patch. The new SMR (Security Maintenance Release) contains patches for more than 70 vulnerabilities, including a handful of critical ones. If youre using the new Samsung flagships in the US, all of these new features, improvements, and security enhancements should be available to you shortly. You can check for updates from the Settings app.
Google Assistant is a huge part of Androids culture, and its extremely useful with third-party smart displays. While its been available to use on displays from the likes of Lenovo, LG, and more, that time has come to an end. Google is killing support for Assistant on a handful of third-party displays.

This is disappointing news, but its not all too unexpected. Google extended Assistants reach to several third-party displays in 2018 with an announcement at CES. The company announced that the LG ThinQ WK9, Lenovo Smart Display (8 and 10), and JBL Link View would support Assistant.

However, Google started to distance itself away from this starting in 2019 when it stopped development on the operating system that these displays ran on. It was called Android Things, and it was targeted at lower-powered IoT devices.

Now, Google Assistant is no longer supported on third-party displays

According to 9To5Google, Google sent an update to one of its support articles. It brought a notice saying that the aforementioned tablets (along with the 7 Lenovo Smart Display) will no longer receive software updates. The reason that Google gave was that it would impact the quality of video calls and meetings.

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That could be true, but we also cant rule out it being the softwares time. Google discontinued support for it four years ago, so its a surprise that these devices were supported until now.

Google is looking toward the future

Now that Google closed the book on those devices, it can look forward. In case you dont know, Google announced the Pixel Tablet last year. The company gave us more information on this device during the Pixel 7 launch event, and that made us more excited.

Weve been getting a lot of information on that device as time went on. We expect this device to have a 10.95-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600. As for the processor, this tablet is expected to use the Google Tensor G2 SoC and have up to 256GB of storage and either 8GB or 12GB of RAM.

We expect this tablet to launch later this year alongside the Pixel 7a. We will have more information before then.
Former President Park Geun-hye puts her hands together in a Buddhist hand gesture in front of a Buddha statue at Donghwa Temple in Daegu, April 11. Newsis



Former President Park Geun-hye visited a Buddhist temple in the conservative-leaning southern city of Daegu on Tuesday in her first official public appearance since relocating to the city last year following a presidential pardon.



Donning a white jacket and a pearl necklace with her signature updo hairstyle, Park arrived at Donghwa Temple of the Jogye Order in northern Daegu, 237 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in the late morning.



A senior monk greeted Park at the temple and the former president briefly put her hands together in a Buddhist hand gesture and burnt incense in front of a Buddha statue before exchanging pleasantries with the monk.



It was her first official public event since she moved to a house in her hometown of Daegu in March 2022. Park was pardoned in December the previous year after spending four years and nine months in prison on a 22-year sentence for corruption.



Since the relocation to Daegu, Park had largely stayed out of the public eye.



A crowd of journalists and supporters gathered for her rare public appearance on Tuesday, but she did not make any political remarks.





Former President Park Geun-hye shakes hands with a supporter during her visit to Donghwa Temple in Daegu, April 11. Yonhap
In a bid to improve consumer trust and transparency, Google has launched a new data deletion policy. This aims at giving users more control over the data present on apps and services. Through this means, users will be able to delete their accounts with apps and web platforms without fear that it is still accessible.

The announcement of this launch came via the Google Android Developer blog a few days ago. Since its announcement, this has become a sensation across the internet. This goes to prove that the new data deletion policy has been something users have looked forward to.

Well, this new feature is not only useful to netizens but also for developers. For users, they get to ensure their data is protected and for developers, they get to gain user trust. So how will this new policy be implemented, and how can users access it?

Control your online data with the new data deletion policy coming to the Google Play Store

Everyone signs up for apps and services they wont use in the long term now and then. Once done with these apps and services, deleting your account and the data linked to your account becomes an issue. Certain developers hold onto the data of users after they delete their accounts with them for certain reasons.

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Sometimes these are not genuine, and Google is out to curb such uncalled-for holding back of user data. With the new data deletion policy, developers will need to provide an option to initiate account and data deletion from within their apps and web platforms. This will give users more control over their data, assuring them that their data is deleted along with their accounts.

Also, users will be able to confirm which apps have provision for this option before downloading it from the Play Store. Google now requires that developers link their account deletion options under the Data safety form. This form is a recent addition to the app instalment page on the Play Store.

Users will be able to get all the data deletion information they need regarding any app they wish to download. Developers will also be transparent on how they handle user data after account deletion. By providing information on account deletion, developers will be able to gain user trust.

Thanks to the new Google data deletion policy, users can rest assured that their data is deleted along with their accounts. They will also be able to tell why certain data is not deleted, with the assurance that it will not be misused or sold to bad actors. This change will become available on the Google Play Store early next year after developers submit their apps Data Safety on December 7.
The next Sony Xperia Compact phone wont exactly be as compact as it should be. Ross Young, a well-known display analyst, has just revealed the display size of the upcoming handset from Sony.

The next Sony Xperia Compact phone wont exactly be as compact as you think

It seems like Sony plans to launch a new Compact phone as part of the Xperia 5 series. The display size will be 6.05 inches. That is considered to be rather compact by todays standards, but not truly compact, many would say.

Now, we dont know if Ross Young meant that Sony will revive the Compact lineup, or if he meant the next Xperia 5 phone in general. He did use the word Compact, and capitalized it, so perhaps Sony is bringing back that branding? Theres a low chance of that, but there you go.

Sony hasnt released a Compact series phone since 2018. The Xperia XZ2 Compact was the last Compact device, and it featured a 5-inch display. This upcoming phone is tipped to include a display that is over 1 inches larger in diagonal.

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For comparisons sake, the iPhone 13 Mini includes a 5.4-inch display. The ASUS ZenFone 9 has a 5.9-inch display. The Galaxy S23 features a 6.1-inch panel. So it will include a slightly smaller display than the Galaxy S23.

Chances are it will be larger than the Galaxy S23, despite its display size

Knowing Sony, and its tendency to include a bit thicker top and bottom bezels, this device could easily be larger than the Galaxy S23. Well, at least taller. Sure, it will be compact compared to most higher-end phones nowadays, but nowhere near as compact as the last Compact phone the company released.

It is possible (and even more probable) this is just another Xperia 5 phone (the Xperia 5 V), and they tend to have displays around 6.1 inches in diagonal. In any case, well have to wait and see. Regardless, Ross Young did confirm that the phone will be a part of the Xperia 5 series. We still dont know when will it launch, though.
The Steam Deck so far has proven to be a wonderful little machine for playing games, but one thing youll want is at least one microSD card for storage, and we thought wed round up the best ones to consider.

Now, if you ended up with the 512GB version of the Steam Deck you may have just enough storage for games you plan to play. 512GB isnt a lot of storage especially for how big games are these days, but if youre the type to juggle your installs when you need to make room for something, then it might suffice.

If youre like us and dont want to deal with that kind of hassle, then a microSD card for the Steam Deck is definitely the way to go. Its easier than replacing the internal SSD and if you arent sure how to do it, then chances are you might have to pay to have someone do it for you. Making the microSD option cheaper as well.

In short, for the majority of users, a microSD card is going to be the best way to get more game storage on the Steam Deck. But, which ones should you be looking at? You shouldnt just use any old microSD card. You can, but you shouldnt, as you want one with optimal speeds for loading games. So heres our list of the best microSD cards for the Steam Deck that will meet those standards.

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The Best microSD cards for the Steam Deck

SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDXC UHS-I (128GB  1TB)

Price: From $21

Where To Buy: Amazon

Kicking things off were suggesting the SanDisk Extreme Pro card for a few reasons. For starters, it comes from Western Digitals SanDisk brand which has been around forever and is a trusted name in storage products. For another, the Extreme Pro is one of its newer cards and comes in a variety of sizes. Though we wouldnt suggest anything under a 128GB and for our own purposes, wed probably go higher than that. Because as noted above, many AAA games these days are insanely large.

More importantly though, this card in particular will give you fast read and write speeds. Which is going to help with load times. In general you want to be looking at something that offers a read/write speed of around 100MB/s. This card has a read speed of up to 170MB/s and a write speed of up to 90MB/s. So it fits right in with you should be looking for.

The only downside to this card is that the 1TB and even the 512GB are a little expensive. That being said, there are other options on this list that cost less and will give you the same amount of storage. For us though, this has performed really well during our testing so far.

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PNY XLR8 Gaming Class microSDXC UHS-I (128GB  512GB)

Price: From $14.99

Where To Buy: Amazon

This is actually the first card we started using with the Steam Deck and like the SanDisk Extreme Pro, it has fast read and write speeds. It also comes in up to 512GB in size. We have the 512GB model in our Steam Deck, and its been a real boon for allowing us to install more games.

Since we went with the 256GB version of the Steam Deck, storage began to fill up fast with games like Elden Ring and Final Fantasy XIV. So a larger size card was definitely needed. PNY also designed this card specifically to be used for gaming in devices like the Nintendo Switch, mobile devices, and the Steam Deck. That doesnt mean it can only be used for those devices. But it does help that PNY had portable gaming in mind when making this product.

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As for read and write speeds, youre looking at up to 100MB/s for read and up to 90MB/s for write. Putting it mostly on par with the card above. And easily making this one of the best microSD cards for the Steam Deck.

PNY XLR8 Gaming 128GB - 512GB

Samsung Evo Select microSDXc UHS-I (256Gb & 512GB)

Price: From $123

Where To Buy: Amazon

Samsung is another trusted brand in memory and storage so naturally wed suggest the Evo Select card as an option. It has the same read and write speeds as the PNY XLR8 Gaming class card, but youre looking at over twice the price for it right now on Amazon. Normally it retails for $69.99 which is only $10 more than the 512GB PNY card above.

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But all of the 512GB models seem to be from third-party resellers. Unfortunately, Samsungs website is out of stock on this one so Amazon is probably your best bet if you want this particular card. We would suggest the PNY though since youll spend less.

That being said, you can also pick up the Evo Select in a 256GB for $29.99 which is pretty affordable.

Samsung Evo Select 256GB & 512GB

Lexar microSDXC UHS-I 512GB

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Price: $49.99

Where To Buy: Amazon

Another good option is this Lexar card which comes in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage sizes. Its also a high-speed card with read speeds of up to 100MB/s. The one downside is that the write speeds are a bit slower at up to 30MB/s. So in comparison to any of the other cards so far, it loses out there.

However, this might not make that much of a difference to you. And if thats the case you cant go wrong here. We still think the PNY is a better value though with higher write speeds and the same amount of storage for a lower price.

Nevertheless, this is still one of the best microSD cards for the Steam Deck.

Lexar microSDXC 512GB

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SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I 1TB

Price: From $164.99

Where To Buy: Amazon, B&H, Newegg

If you really prefer a SanDisk card but dont want to pay as much, then you might want to consider the SanDisk Extreme as opposed to the Extreme Pro. You can pick up this model of microSD card in a 1TB storage size for $167.71 on Amazon at the time of writing. Which is a fraction of the $399.99 price of the Pro model at 1TB.

As for read and write speeds, youre looking at up to 160MB/s for read and up to 90MB/s for write. So really, youre not losing much by not getting the Extreme Pro, and you still get a SanDisk card with 1TB of storage for all those games.

SanDisk Extreme 1TB

Lexar Play microSDXC UHS-I (256GGB  1TB)

Another one of the best cards is the Lexar Play card, which can come in up to 1TB and has read speeds up to 150MB/s. And, the 1TB model only costs $133.99 at the time of writing so this is a pretty good deal compared to other 1TB cards on this list. This was also designed with gaming in mind and works great in devices like the Nintendo Switch. So naturally itll be a great option for the Steam Deck too.

If you dont need a whole lot of extra space, a 128GB version of this card is only $16.99. Not bad, not bad at all.

Lexar Play 256GB - 1TB

Lexar Professional 1066x microSDXC UHS-I 512GB

Price: $94.61

Where To Buy: Amazon

One last option from Lexar is the Professional 1066x card. This comes in up to 512GB in size and for under $100 you get a pretty decent card with some fast read and write speeds. Specifically, read speeds are up to 160MB/s and write speeds are up to 120MB/s.

Its not the cheapest 512GB model card on this list but it definitely has faster write speeds than any other option on it. So make of that what you will.

Lexar Professional 1066x 512GB

Samsung Evo Plus microSDXC UHS-I 512GB

Rounding out this list is the Samsung Evo Plus in a 512GB model card. Its available at a slightly cheaper price than the Lexar card above and it comes from Samsung so its a well-known brand. Read and write speeds arent as fast as some of the other options though.

Value-wise, wed lean towards one of the earlier options, but this is still one of the best microSD cards for the Steam Deck and it isnt too expensive. Again though, the 512GB card from PNY is the cheapest 512GB option available thats in this list. And for the combination of read and write speeds and price, plus it being a card that was designed for portable gaming devices, we think its a better option.

That being said, all the cards listed should work great for the Steam Deck. So it really comes down to what you want.

Samsung Evo Plus 512GB
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.
Experts have warned that bird flu may threaten the very survival of some species in Scotland.

The study, which looked at avian flu in wild birds, found long-term conservation measures will be the most effective tool against the virus.

The NatureScot report, published on Tuesday, analysed the unprecedented avian flu outbreak among wild birds since 2021, providing advice to support the work of Scotlands avian flu task force.

Alastair MacGugan, a NatureScot wildlife manager, said: Although theres no silver bullet to solve this complicated dilemma, this report will be a great help as the task force plan action to reduce the effect of avian flu on Scotlands important populations of wild birds.

This is an upmost priority for our partners and ourselves as the geographic scale, range of species of wild birds affected, and severity of impacts, may threaten the very survival of some species.

We have already stepped up our collaborative monitoring work in Scotland, and will continue to build on the recommendations in this vital report to make sure seabirds in Scotland have the best chance possible to rebound from the effects of this disease.

The study found the number of wild birds which have been affected by avian flu in Scotland is unclear, as not all dead birds are found or reported.

However, the worst hit species is the population of barnacle geese originating in Svalbard, Norway. The virus was first detected in them in late October 2021 as they wintered in the Solway Firth region.

Golden eagles have also been affected by the virus (Phil Wilkinson/PA)

By the end of that winter, estimates suggest 13,200 of the geese  about a third of the migrating population  had been killed by the virus.

Barnacle geese originating from Greenland have been the most affected wild birds this year with 1,190 deaths from the virus recorded and local population counts suggesting actual losses of at least 5,000 birds.

Other species hit by avian flu include raptors such as golden eagles and buzzards, as well as seabirds such as herring gulls and gannets.

The report highlighted that bird flu will continue to be an issue for wild birds into the 2023 nesting season and beyond.

It found the most effective solutions will likely be long-term conservation measures for species which are particularly susceptible, accompanied by enhanced disease surveillance, monitoring, and continued research.

The study also looked at the effectiveness and benefits of short-term measures and found once bird flu is present in the wild bird population, it is difficult to control.

Measures such as carcass removal or reducing human activity across sites are unlikely to significantly reduce the impact of an outbreak on wild birds.

Professor Dan Haydon, population ecologist at the University of Glasgow, said the report was an important and timely piece of work to protect the seabird population.

He said: We were pleased to be able to collaborate with a range of experts and advise on the route we need to take to better understand this avian flu outbreak and help manage seabirds into the future.
US president Joe Biden will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast later during a historic four-day trip to the island of Ireland.

The meeting at the Grand Central Hotel in the regions capital will be the third in-person meeting between the two leaders.

Their discussions are expected to focus on Northern Ireland, the anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the war in Ukraine.

Mr Sunak greeted the US president after Air Force One landed at RAF Aldergrove on Tuesday night ahead of engagements across the week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1998.

The two leaders met briefly before the president drove away in an armoured car amid a scattering of snow.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris was also present as Mr Biden alighted from the aircraft with US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy.

A Stars and Stripes flag flies close to Kilwirra cemetery and church ruins, where the relatives of US President Joe Biden are buried, near Carlingford in Co Louth (Niall Carson/PA)

In a briefing to journalists, Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council, said it is not anticipated that Mr Biden and Mr Sunak will discuss a free trade agreement.

I think their conversation is going to focus primarily on the situation in Northern Ireland given that thats where theyre meeting, as well as the chance to touch base on Ukraine and some other issues, she said.

Ms Sloat said the two leaders had the opportunity to touch briefly on economic issues when they met in San Diego, a conversation which she said will be furthered and deepened when they meet in Washington in June.

Were continually looking for ways to engage with the UK on a whole range of economic issues, she added.

The US President will later meet the leaders of Northern Irelands main political parties before he delivers an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

The Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at RAF Aldergrove to greet Joe Biden (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA)

However, the White House said there will not be a formal group meeting with the leaders.

Ms Sloat was asked what Mr Bidens strategy will be to encourage the DUP to end its boycott of the Stormont Assembly.

She said the US leader would like to see the devolved institutions back up and running, but really the main focus of his visit is to mark the anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

The main message of the President to all parties, to all people of Northern Ireland, is to reaffirm support for the Good Friday Agreement  and the devolved institutions here in Northern Ireland are a fundamental part of the Good Friday Agreement, and so I think the Presidents message  as he said on St Patricks Day, and I expect he will reaffirm today  is the United States strong support for that, the belief that the people of Northern Ireland deserve to have a democratically-elected powersharing representative governance, she said.

Mr Sunak will not attend Mr Bidens keynote speech, with Downing Street on Tuesday denying that the engagement between the pair would be low-key.

Speaking to reporters before his departure, Mr Biden said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are accompanying him for the trip.

A major security operation is in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

A police officer from the TSG demonstrates a security inspection of a drain, close to the Grand Central Hotel, Belfast (PA)

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including a speech in Dublin as well as visits to ancestral homelands.

After he leaves Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

The motorcade at RAF Aldergrove (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA)

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will take part in a tree-planting ceremony and the ringing of the Peace Bell at the Presidents official residence, Aras an Uachtarain.

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The US Presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

He will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit.

Mr Biden will then make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
Joe Biden has said he will use his visit to the island of Ireland to keep the peace, as he left the US for his four-day trip.

The US president invoked the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the recently negotiated Windsor Framework as he prepared to set off for Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden will arrive later on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo  from where his ancestors hail.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

Mr Biden, speaking to reporters before his departure, said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

Thats the main thing, he said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening.

The two leaders will also hold a meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

Mr Sunak will not attend Mr Bidens keynote speech, with Downing Street on Tuesday denying that the engagement between the pair would be low-key.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet President Joe Biden when he arrives in Northern Ireland (Leon Neal/PA)

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

It is expected that Mr Biden will hold a meeting with Northern Irelands main political parties before the Ulster University talk.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

Irish President Michael D Higgins is expected to meet President Joe Biden in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair has described Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland as significant as the US President is due to arrive on Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The ex-Labour leader spoke of the importance of using the American influence on the process with care and with sensitivity adding theres a difference between influencing and pressurising and the one tends to be positive and the other can be negative.

Mr Biden is expected to meet members of Stormonts main political parties as part of a visit he said will underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in Northern Ireland.

Sir Tony told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Well, it is significant. Youve got to use the American influence on the process with care and with sensitivity.

I obviously had a very close relationship with President Clinton outside of the peace process, but I found him immensely helpful.

He would immediately understand strategically what was important and what wasnt and the Americans can play an important part of this, but youve just got to be, youve got to insert them at the right moment and in the right place.

Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair with former US president Bill Clinton (Johnny Green/PA)

He added: I dont know what the up-to-date situation is with President Biden and our Prime Minister now, but for me at that time and actually also afterwards with President Bush who came to Northern Ireland and was actually extremely helpful at a crucial moment in the peace process.

The Americans can play a real role but its something that you need to do carefully because theres a difference between influencing and pressurising and the one tends to be positive and the other can be negative.

He went on: One thing I learned about the unionist is if you try and pressurise them to do something that theyre fundamentally in disagreement with, its usually futile pressure, even if it comes from the US, so youve got to use that influence carefully.

The Good Friday Agreement negotiations he said were a rollercoaster, but characterised by an overwhelming sense of desire to succeed.

He said: It was an exhausting three days or more and the most intense negotiation Ive ever been involved in and my deepest recollection was just the rollercoaster of it because sometimes it looked like the deal was on and sometimes it looked like it was off and then it only really came together literally in the moments before we announced it 

There was this overwhelming sense of desire to succeed because had we failed, it would have been a very humiliating and public failure.

He added: We dont have the executive up and running at the moment, we want that and the agreement should be reviewed over time.

The only thing is, if youre going to review it, whatever comes out of the review will only work if it brings the communities together.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland.
Joe Bidens opening of Ulster University is hugely symbolic, says the universitys student union president.

As part of his visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, President Biden will give a key address at Ulster Universitys new Belfast campus.

An OECD assessment estimates the regeneration of the Belfast campus of the university will benefit the NI economy by 1.4 billion.

Grace Boyle is the president of the Ulster University Students Union and said President Bidens choice to visit Ulster University was symbolic.

This is the first time that President Joe Biden has been to the Island of Ireland and Northern Ireland since he has taken up office as president and this is hugely symbolic 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, she said.

She added: I think its a time of reflection.

Opening the new Belfast campus to 15,000 students just shows you the impact of the new campus, bringing thousands of students into Belfast city centre, bringing them into local businesses and supporting a newer, brighter future for Northern Ireland.

Some students have been critical of US political figures involvement with their schools, as seen with protests at Queens Universitys decision to appoint former secretary of state Hillary Clinton as chancellor in January 2020.

Ms Boyle said Ulster University students have diverse opinions on the visit, and are aware of issues that still need to be addressed.

Our students are a diverse population and there will be different opinions on every issue, she said.

She added: Our students play a huge role in the prosperity of Northern Ireland and to be very clear that this weeks visit is about the progress that weve made as a society in signing the Good Friday Agreement and thats what we should be focusing on.

There are things that we still need to address.

We are in a cost-of-living crisis, there is a brain drain and a lot of young people still feel that they have no other option but to leave so theres still work to be done, but I think what we need to bring it back to is that young people want to create a society thats thriving and the building in Belfast campus is that.

Ms Boyle said that President Bidens visit demonstrated the possibility of a better future for the ceasefire generation.

When President Biden took office, he defined America in one word, and thats possibilities and thats what we hope and strive for, in Northern Ireland society, 25 years on, she said.

And thats what I think his visit demonstrates, is that possibility of bringing a better future for not only students but for everyone in Northern Ireland for this generation.

A lot of our students would have been born after the Good Friday Agreement and dont have living memory of what it was like before.

I think thats what a lot of students want to see, is that vision for possibilities and for a better future.

Jodie OReilly, a final year law student at Ulster University, said the presidents visit was a sign of progress for the University.

I think it shows a lot about how far Ulster has come as a university that the president of the United States is coming to open it, she said.

Ms OReilly also said that the visit was a chance for students and other young people to reflect on how things have changed here since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

We have so many amazing opportunities that would never have been a thing for our parents, she said.

When they were voting for peace 25 years ago for a lot of them it was, if peace didnt come theyd leave, whereas we get to stay and not only that but all these massive global firms are now creating jobs in Northern Ireland that we can stay in Northern Ireland and take advantage of.
Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, speaks during a press conference hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Seoul, April 11. Yonhap



Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said Tuesday recent allegations of the United States' eavesdropping on South Korea's presidential office would be "very disappointing" if true.



Lee of the main opposition Democratic Party made the remark during a press conference hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club, referring to the reported leak of purported Pentagon documents with information that U.S. intelligence services eavesdropped on South Korean presidential officials discussing whether to provide weapons support to Ukraine.



"If it is true, it would be a very disappointing situation damaging the South Korea-U.S. alliance based on trust," he said.



"I hope it is not true and the result of faked documents, as announced by the South Korean government," he added. "But the objective circumstances show that it's difficult to exclude the possibility that the eavesdropping actually took place."



Lee went on to say his party will do its best to investigate the facts surrounding the eavesdropping allegations at the National Assembly level and that if they are found to be true, demand an apology from the U.S. government and efforts by the South Korean government to prevent eavesdropping. (Yonhap)


A 17-year-old boy has died after being stabbed in east London.

The teenager was found in Longshaw Road, Chingford, at around 9.20pm on Easter Monday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Teams from both the land and air ambulance services as well as members of the public tried to save him but he died at the scene. His family has been told.

A friend told news website MyLondon that a man had jumped out of a car and chased the victim before stabbing him.

He said: I was with him yesterday and it happened three hours later after I left. We were just chilling minding our own business.

I went out with my dad and got home, then got a call saying your friend had got stabbed at the bottom of your road. I could not get past the tape.

Cabinet Member for Community Safety @khev_limbajee has released a statement after an incident in #Chingford last night in which a 17-year-old male sadly died. Anyone with info can contact police on 101 w/ crime ref CAD 6358/10Apr or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 pic.twitter.com/ex3v1muiEw  Waltham Forest Council (@wfcouncil) April 11, 2023

He was with his friend, they were walking this way and a guy jumped out a car and appeared out of the dark, pulled a knife out and started running after them.

One ran that way and my friend ran that way and the guy targeted him for some reason.

Detectives are viewing CCTV and carrying out door to door inquiries, and have already spoken to some witnesses, although they are keen to hear from anyone else who has information about what happened.

Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, local policing commander for north-east London, said: This is a tragic incident and I am devastated that a young life has been lost as a result of knife crime.

My thoughts are with the victims family at this incredibly difficult time. Incidents such as this have a devastating impact on families, friends and our local communities.

We have a dedicated team of detectives working on the investigation. They have been at the scene overnight and will remain there today as they carry out further enquiries.

This work is being supported by additional local patrols who are there to respond to any concerns within the community.

Waltham Forest Council cabinet member for community safety Khevyn Limbajee said the local authority is working with police to reassure people living in the area.

He said: I join the community in expressing deep sadness following an incident yesterday in which a 17-year-old male tragically lost his life.

I urge anyone who knows anything about this shocking crime to contact the police.

The council is working closely with local police colleagues to reassure the community, and we will provide extra presence in the area over the next few days.

Please speak to our neighbourhood officers about any concerns you have when you see them. They will listen and take forward these concerns as we work to make the area safer.

Too many of our young people are afraid of violence in Waltham Forest when they should instead feel secure.

We and our partners are using all the powers and tools available to us to make our community a safer place where young people and their families can enjoy their lives.

Witnesses can contact police in the incident room on 020 8345 3985 or by calling 101 or on Twitter at @MetCC quoting the reference CAD 6358/10Apr. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
A cancer patient who had his check-up delayed despite discovering alarming lumps has stood in solidarity with striking junior doctors on a picket line, saying NHS staff pay transcends a lot of our individual troubles.

Junior doctors across England began a four-day strike on Tuesday in a worsening dispute over pay which threatens huge disruption to the NHS.

An estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, will be cancelled as a result of the walkout by members of the British Medical Association (BMA).

Patients including a man with cancer who had an appointment delayed and a former NHS dental nurse who had a procedure cancelled have spoken to the PA news agency about the strikes.

Phil Sutcliffe, a 75-year-old retired journalist from Streatham, south London, joined striking junior doctors on a picket line at St Thomas Hospital with his wife, who was a nurse for 40 years.

He held up a sign that read: Today my cancer check-up was delayed by the strike but I support the junior doctors! We must pay them properly and the nurses and everyone who cares for us.

Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside St Thomas Hospital in central London (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Sutcliffe said he has a form of lymphoma that has returned after being in remission for nearly five years.

He said he started to feel some lumps returning, which he described as alarming, and due to the strikes his check-up appointment has been delayed to early May.

He said: I have a slow-developing form of cancer which has been in remission and is now starting up again, so its starting to get a bit alarming. But Im in good hands  despite this little delay.

He added he entirely understands that people with much more urgent conditions feel angry and frightened with appointment delays.

But at the same time, these doctors do the most fantastic job for very modest pay, in particular the junior doctors, so the Government needs to get to the negotiating table and start talking, Mr Sutcliffe said.

The issue of pay for the doctors, for the nurses, for all the health workers, is just so crucial it transcends a lot of our individual troubles, so I am supporting these guys.

For Rebecca Lawson, a former NHS dental nurse who has private healthcare with Bupa, the strikes have meant an operation she was due to have this week to investigate severe stomach issues was cancelled due to doctors having to cover for the BMA strike at NHS hospitals.

The 43-year-old, who lives in Horsham, West Sussex, told PA: I dont blame the doctors because their wages are extremely low. I just dont think it needed to come to the point of strikes because the Government should not have let it get this far.

Junior doctors are fighting for better pay (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Ive been meaning to have this procedure over the last six weeks and it was cancelled twice because of strikes.

Going private and needing a procedure and being constantly told it needs to be postponed or it needs to be cancelled because all the doctors have to come out of the private hospital and cover for doctors striking  its just a mess.

Its frustrating because you think, were paying for this to get away from the disruption of the NHS and were still being impacted.

A new date has not been given for her procedure.

Mrs Lawson lived in Singapore for nine years and she said that when you needed a private operation there, you would be seen in three days maximum.

Private healthcare in the UK is not as efficient as private healthcare in other countries, she added.

It really highlights how bad things are here.

Mrs Lawson added that one of the main reasons behind her decision to go private was because she suffers from a permanent migraine from a head injury she had five years ago, which has left her unable to work, and found it difficult to get an appointment on the NHS.

Im paying 1,500 every three months for medication I need and theres another medication I need that I couldnt get a NHS neurologist appointment for.

These are all drugs I should be able to get on the NHS, but couldnt get appointments for, so it is having a huge impact.
The cost of childcare is forcing one in four UK parents to give up their job or drop out of education, according to a new study.

More than 7,000 parents and carers from the UK, Brazil, India, Netherlands, Nigeria, Turkey and the US with children under the age of seven were questioned for global childrens charity Theirworld.

The research found 23% of UK-based parents had either quit work or dropped out of their studies to avoid childcare costs, compared with 17% of their counterparts in Brazil, 16% in Turkey and 13% in Nigeria.

Some 74% of parents in the UK said they find it difficult to meet childcare costs, compared with 52% in India, 57% in the Netherlands, 59% in Nigeria, 68% in the US and Brazil, and 72% in Turkey.

Theirworld chairwoman Sarah Brown is calling on governments to urgently prioritise spending on early years childcare (Lewis Whyld/PA)

Theirworld chairwoman Sarah Brown, who is married to former UK prime minister Gordon Brown, is calling on governments to urgently prioritise spending on the early years.

The survey has laid bare the scale of the global early years crisis and its impact on children in rich and poor countries alike and change is needed because early years childcare is as essential to a countrys infrastructure as roads, hospitals and telecommunications, Mrs Brown said.

Sixty-five percent of UK parents questioned said they have had to make major financial changes, including taking on more work and spending less on food, in order to afford childcare.

Some 22% said they spend between 30% and 70% of their income on childcare.

We are working with partners around the world to launch #ActForEarlyYears. This international campaign will bring together workers and experts, youth and business leaders, media and civil society, and families to take action for the #EarlyYears It's time to #ActForEarlyYears  Theirworld (@theirworld) April 10, 2023

Theirworld said children from wealthier and educated backgrounds tend to begin primary school ready to learn, but there are nearly 250 million children in low- and middle-income countries who are at risk of not reaching their full development potential due to poverty, inadequate nutrition, exposure to stress, and a lack of early stimulation and learning.

The charity noted that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt made childcare a central part of his Budget, providing an extra 4 billion over three years.

He also announced that in all eligible households in England every child under five will receive 30 hours a week of free childcare from the moment maternity leave ends.

However, critics have pointed out that this will not be in place until September 2025.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, appearing before the Commons Liaison Committee last month, denied that the childcare system is in crisis.

He said: I think that announcements in the Budget were warmly welcomed by the childcare sector for what theyre going to do, which is to increase the funding for childcare as it is now, but also expand the provision to cover some of the gaps in the existing system and move us into a internationally quite generous position relative to our peers on childcare.

Elvira Grob and her partner spend 975 a month on childcare for their 10-month-old daughter Yoomi (Michael Simpson/Theirworld/PA)

Elvira Grob, 41, who is a lecturer in design on a zero-hours contract, has been left feeling close to burnout as she and her partner Michael spend 975 a month on childcare for their 10-month-old daughter, Yoomi.

The London-based couple do not want to give up their daughters place at nursery to save money because she loves it there and it is good for her development.

Ms Grob, who is also retraining and studying for a degree, returned to work two days a week when Yoomi was six months old.

She said: I work in the evenings, I work when Yoomi sleeps, and I work at weekends.

My income covers Yoomis childcare but I have rent to pay, and I also have to pay for my studies. Its got to a point where Im considering dropping my degree to help us pay our bills.

Mrs Brown added: For a child, the first five to six years are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but this is being squandered on a global scale.

Providing for children in their early years must be treated as a public good, not a private test of a familys financial strength.

Parents around the world should no longer be reduced to hoping for the best, crossing their fingers that the inadequate care they are often forced to use isnt a risk to their childs safety or their future prospects in life.

We need to see a revolution for the early years that brings together governments, businesses, international agencies, parents, frontline workers, civil society, youth campaigners and grassroots groups to improve the lives of the worlds youngest children.

 A total of 7,226 parents or childcare professionals took part in the survey carried out for Theirworld by Hall & Partners.
The town of Ballina in Co Mayo will never have witnessed anything like the visit of Joe Biden, a relative of the US President has said.

Joe Blewitt, a third cousin of Mr Biden, said there is a great buzz in the area ahead of the presidents arrival.

Preparations are well under way for the event on Friday, which will be the culmination of Mr Bidens trip to the island of Ireland.

Mr Biden is to give a public address at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

His great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827, which helped him to afford to buy tickets for himself and his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.

US President Joe Biden will visit Ballina in Co Mayo on Friday (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Blewitt was helping with final preparations on Tuesday when he spoke to the PA news agency.

He said: We are building the stage at the moment.

I am very excited, there is a great buzz all around the town. It has just been crazy.

The town will never have known anything like it, it is just great.

Ballina is twinned with Scranton in Pennsylvania in the US, Mr Bidens hometown.

Independent councillor Mark Duffy said Ballina is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year.

He said: President Biden coming to Ballina on Friday is a huge celebration of our story.

So many people emigrated during the darkest hour in Irish history, the famine time.

His great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, left here. He was a builders merchant here in Ballina and supplied 27,000 bricks towards the building of the cathedral where on Friday night he is going to make a historic address to the people of Ballina and the people of Ireland.

It is a really symbolic moment between Ballina and his hometown of Scranton which are already linked. It shows the strong ties between the two places.

As a council we are working around the clock, cleaning streets, the painters are out, community groups are painting different shop buildings. Businesses are decorating their shops; flags, buntings, banners are going up all over.

There is a real celebratory mood in the town at the moment.

It will be huge. He visited in 2016 as vice-president and he always promised he would come if he was US president.

Mark Duffy is an independent councillor in Ballina (Brian Lawless/PA)

Councillor Annie May Reape said: It is fantastic to see. It is gearing up and the people are so excited.

There has never been anything like this before. He did visit us in 2016 as vice-president, but this is on a different scale.

Having the president coming to a small west of Ireland town is beyond anyones expectations.

The town is tremendously proud of the links we have with the president.

I was walking around this morning and seeing it all. I just hope the weather stays good.

The president did say he was coming home. Hes a lovely man and so, so friendly. I think he is really happy himself about coming back.

Can you imagine the pride for us every time he mentions Ballina on the world stage?

It puts us on the map. It will do wonders for us.

Ambrose Carroll flies an American flag in his garden in Whitestown, near Carlingford in Co Louth, close to Kilwirra Cemetery (Niall Carson/PA)

Before his visit to Co Mayo, Mr Biden will spend time in Co Louth, where his great-grandfather, James Finnegan, was born.

He will tour Carlingford Castle on Wednesday.

Excitement was building in the county with several homes decorated with US flags near Kilwirra Church, where some of Mr Bidens relatives are believed to be buried.

A significant security operation is also continuing in the area with members of the defence forces carrying out searches of undergrowth.

Local resident Ambrose Carroll was one of those to erect a Stars and Stripes flag in his garden.

He said: We did it last time he was here, a lot of people did the same. We said we would do it again because theres a lot of excitement around the place.

I feel great about it. He seems to be a lovely man and I am looking forward to it.

All round the area there are cousins.

A member of the defence forces carries out searches at the entrance to Carlingford, Co Louth, ahead of a visit from US President Joe Biden (Niall Carson/PA)

Robert Brown, who runs a confectionery stand in Carlingford, said police have asked him to close on Wednesday.

We have been asked for security reasons to vacate the area when the president is here, he said.

From the point of view of the presidents visit, it will be good for tourism, it will be good for the economy, and hopefully it will bring some investment to this part of the world.
Disneys next Star Wars Celebration will take place in Japan in 2025, it has been announced.

The franchises annual convention, which is scheduled for April 18 to 20 in two years time, will be held at the Makuhari Messe convention centre, outside of Tokyo.

The news was confirmed at the closing ceremony of this years festival, which took place at Londons ExCel Centre.

Thousands of fans attended the event, many in elaborate cosplay costumes, which included exclusive panels, screenings and sneak peaks at upcoming spin-off series.

Star Wars celebration was previously held in Japan in 2008.

The franchises creator George Lucas has previously said he drew inspiration from Japanese mythology for his films, as well as the work of filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.

Organisers said that the return of the event to Japan would see Star Wars return to its creative roots for the first time in 17 years.

Stars of the franchise including Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew were among those at the event in 2008.

Visitors dressed in costumes pose for a group photograph during the Star Wars Celebration at the ExCel London in east London Yui Mok/PA)

During this years convention, fans were treated to previews of upcoming shows including series Ahsoka  due to be released in August, and appearances from stars including Jude Law and Daisy Ridley.

Ridley revealed on Friday that she will be reprising the role of jedi knight Rey in a live action film, set to take place after the events of 2019s Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker.

The film will see Rey build a new Jedi Order after the apparent defeat of the dark forces in her last movie.

Elsewhere, a new trailer for upcoming Indiana Jones film The Dial Of Destiny was released.
Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of a British-Israeli woman who died of her wounds three days after her two daughters were killed in a terrorist attack which has been condemned as abhorrent by Rishi Sunak.

Lucy Dee, 48, died on Monday from injures suffered during the shooting attack in the West Bank on Friday which killed her daughters Rina, 15, and Maia, 20.

Rabbi Leo Dee said his daughters were killed by 20 bullets from a Kalashnikov rifle and his wife was shot twice in the suspected Palestinian shooting on Friday.

The funeral, held at the Kfar Etzion settlement south of Jerusalem on Tuesday, was packed with mourners who sang and swayed during the service.

Maia (left) and Rina Dee, the two British-Israeli sisters who were killed in a gun attack (Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu)

Rabbi Dee, who was accompanied by his three remaining children, said: Lucy, I have a choice: I could lament over the next 25 years of marriage that Ive lost, but I actually feel blessed to have had 25 years of a beautiful marriage with you.

He added: If we support the good and reject the evil, then we can all play our part in building a better world.

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.

Husband and children of Lucy Dee mourn during her funeral at a cemetery in the West Bank (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

The UK Prime Minister said: The killing of British-Israeli citizens, Maia, Rina and Lucy Dee is abhorrent.

The UK condemns this appalling attack on civilians and I send my deepest condolences to Rabbi Dee and his family.

We continue to urge all sides to de-escalate tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and end the deadly cycle of violence.

The attack took place during a wave of violence across the region which has continued in recent days.

Israels ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely said: The whole of Israel stands united with Rabbi Leo Dee and his family, following the horrific murder of his wife and two daughters.
Junior doctors across England have launched a four-day strike in a worsening dispute over pay which threatens huge disruption to the NHS.

An estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, will be cancelled as a result of the walkout by members of the British Medical Association (BMA).

Doctors mounted picket lines outside hospitals from 7am on Tuesday until Saturday morning in the longest stoppage of the wave of unrest, which has seen nurses, ambulance crews and other health workers take action since last year.

Managers have said patient care is on a knife edge because of the strike, while NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said the number of appointments cancelled, previously suggested to be 250,000, was likely to rise by another 100,000.

The strikes centre around a pay row between the BMA and Government, with the union claiming junior doctors in England have seen a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation.

The union has asked for a full pay restoration that the Government said would amount to a 35% pay rise  which ministers have said is unaffordable.

BMA officials said the pay issue is making it harder to recruit and retain junior doctors, with members previously walking out for three days in March.

National medical director of NHS England Professor Sir Stephen Powis said on Sunday the strikes will put immense pressures on staff and services.

Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside Leicester Royal Infirmary (Jacob King/PA)

NHS England said staff will be asked to prioritise emergency and urgent care over some routine appointments and procedures to ensure safe care for those in life-threatening situations.

The health body said appointments and operations will only be cancelled where unavoidable and patients will be offered alternative dates as soon as possible.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: It is extremely disappointing the BMA has called strike action for four consecutive days.

Not only will the walkouts risk patient safety, but they have also been timed to maximise disruption after the Easter break.

I hoped to begin formal pay negotiations with the BMA last month but its demand for a 35% pay rise is unreasonable  it would result in some junior doctors receiving a pay rise of over 20,000.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay (PA)

If the BMA is willing to move significantly from this position and cancel strikes we can resume confidential talks and find a way forward, as we have done with other unions.

People should attend appointments unless told otherwise by the NHS, continue to call 999 in a life-threatening emergency and use NHS 111 online services for non-urgent health needs.

The BMA has previously said it was willing to enter talks with Mr Barclay and suspend strikes if members were presented with a credible pay offer to resolve 15 years of pay erosion.

Mr Taylor, head of the NHS Confederation which is a membership organisation that represents healthcare bodies in the UK, said the likely impact of the strike is heartbreaking and called on both sides to end their battle of rhetoric.

He 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 on Monday: Its depressing that there seems to be no movement at all from the two sides of this dispute over the last few days.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting (PA)

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.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: The junior doctors strike this week will cause huge disruption to patient care.

Where is the Prime Minister and why hasnt he tried to stop it?

Rishi Sunak says he wouldnt want to get in the middle of NHS pay disputes.

Patients are crying out for leadership, but instead they are getting weakness.

BMA junior doctor committee co-chairman Dr Vivek Trivedi said: We were knocking on the Health Secretarys door, asking to meet with him to negotiate a settlement to this dispute, long before the current strike got underway.

We have been in a formal dispute since October. He refused to respond and meet us until we had a strike ballot result. He has had months to put a credible offer on the table and avert industrial action, so for him to say, Its disappointing, is at best disingenuous.

We have always maintained our aim is for full pay restoration  to reverse the more than 26% real-terms pay cuts Mr Barclays Government have imposed on us over the past 15 years, putting starting salaries up by just 5 per hour to 19.

We have always maintained we are willing to negotiate on how to achieve pay restoration, so for Mr Barclay to suggest we had any preconditions is yet again disingenuous.

The reality is that the Health Secretary has had every opportunity to bring an end to the dispute. His decision to refuse to table a credible offer  indeed he has not tabled a single offer so far  means that this action is solely due to this Governments repeated inaction.

We would still be willing to suspend strike action this week if the Secretary of State makes a credible offer that can be the basis of negotiation.
Liz Truss is to renew her advocacy of low taxes in a speech questioning whether western nations are match fit to take on China.

Britains shortest-serving prime minister will suggest the 1980s Anglo-American economic model of increased privatisation and limited government is being strangled into stagnation in the latest leg of her comeback to the political limelight.

The Tory backbencher, whose tenure in Downing Street lasted only 49 days, will urge the UK and the US to better promote free markets and free speech in the face of the threat from authoritarian regimes.

Ms Truss beat Rishi Sunak in last summers Tory leadership contest running on a tax-cutting agenda before her disastrous economic plans sunk her premiership, handing him the keys to No 10.

Delivering the Margaret Thatcher Lecture for the right-wing think tank Heritage Foundation in the US on Wednesday, she is expected to say: It was Anglo-American individualism that made the world prosperous Low taxes, limited government and private enterprise were what won the Cold War. I worry that we are now seeing this model strangled into stagnation.

And we have to ask ourselves: are we still match fit to take on China and to take on the whole concept of state capitalism?

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss during a hustings event at Wembley Arena, London, as part of their campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

She will add: Weve allowed our opponents to own our institutions, crowd our campuses and fill our airwaves.

Not long ago the United States and the United Kingdom were absolute bastions of free enterprise, free markets and free speech  But what weve seen now is self-flagellation  lashing out at the very things that made us great.

The speech will accuse western leaders meeting with Chinese president, Xi Jinping, of displaying weakness.

It comes days after French president, Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, met with the Chinese leader in a show of European unity in dealings with Beijing.

Ms Truss will also accuse a cartel of complacency of advocating for higher taxes as she takes aim at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) global economic body.

Putin and Xi have made it clear they are allies against Western capitalism. That is why Western leaders visiting President Xi to ask for his support in ending the war is a mistake. And it is a sign of weakness, Ms Truss is expected to say.

She is due to urge conservatives around the globe to mount a fightback for freedom and get real about the threat from authoritarian regimes and their unwitting allies in the anti-growth movement.

Not content with high taxes in their own countries, we now see governments seeking to agree high taxes around the free world.

Im talking about the OECD minimum tax agreement, which will stop countries lowering things like corporation tax and becoming more competitive, she is expected to say.

The speech comes as the Prime Minister meets US president, Joe Biden, in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Ms Trusss recent comments on China, described as hawkish by one ally, could stoke divisions within the Tory Party.

Many are more eager to hastily cut taxes than Mr Sunak and hold a more aggressive stance on China.

Ms Truss had been expected to officially re-designate China as a threat in official speak instead of a systemic competitor during her leadership, while Mr Sunak has described the nation as a systemic challenge rather than a threat.
A man has denied sending an offensive email to Labour Party deputy leader Angela Rayner.

David Perry, 66, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday facing two charges under the Communications Act.

They both relate to an email allegedly sent to the Ashton-under-Lyne MP, 43, on May 3 last year.

Perry, from Weybridge, Surrey, pleaded not guilty to both charges: the first charge alleges the message was grossly offensive and the second that it was indecent, obscene or menacing.

The court heard Perry will say he did not send the email after telling police his computer might have been hacked.

The deputy chief magistrate granted Perry unconditional bail ahead of a trial at the same court on November 16.
Scientists have developed a modified form of Botox that could give long-term pain relief to patients with persistent nerve injury.

Botox is the brand name of a muscle relaxant that is injected into the face in small doses to smooth out lines and wrinkles.

It is a protein made from Botulinum toxin, which the bacterium Clostridium botulinum produces.

However, Botulinum toxin is dangerous in large quantities and can temporarily paralyse muscles.

Researchers in the UK and the US have engineered Botox to provide pain relief without inducing paralysis or producing adverse side effects.

Much like cosmetic Botox, the effects of the modified Botox can last for up to five months, although it has not yet been tested on humans.

The team said its work, published in the journal Life Science Alliance, could help provide relief for those who find chronic pain hard to manage  as drugs that are currently available are limited by dangerous side effects.

Dr Maria Maiaru, from the University of Reading, said: People with chronic pain need new options for managing their symptoms.

They need safer and more effective drugs.

These new Botulinum molecules are effective in reducing pain-like behaviour in models of human pain.

We believe that this approach could open the way for the development of pain treatment to improve the quality of life of millions of people living with chronic pain.

It is estimated that about seven in every 100 people in the UK have chronic nerve pain.

Drugs such as morphine and fentanyl can only be used for short-term pain relief due to the risk of addiction, abuse, and overdose associated with long-term use.

Scientists from the Universities of Sheffield and Reading, University College London (UCL), and US-based biopharmaceutical company Neuresta, developed a new way of rebuilding Botox by using elements of C. botulinum.

The researchers said they broke Botox into two separate parts and rebuilt an elongated version.

When tested on rats, this modified Botox was found to be non-toxic and did not cause paralysis.

Professor Bazbek Davletov, from the University of Sheffields School of Biosciences, said: Currently, painkillers can only relieve chronic pain temporarily and often have unwanted side effects.

A single injection of the new nonparalytic blocker at the site of pain could potentially relieve pain for many months in humans and this now needs to be tested.

We hope that the engineered drug could improve the quality of life for the millions of people worldwide who suffer from chronic pain.

The results from the research have led to the transfer of the technology to a US-based biopharmaceutical start-up company Neuresta, which is now working on tailoring nerve blockers to different neurological conditions using the technique.

The research was funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC).
Iran says rapprochement with Saudi Arabia to positively impact on regional peace, stability

Xinhua) 10:49, April 11, 2023

TEHRAN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will have positive impacts on regional peace, stability and security, Iranian official news agency IRNA reported.

Making the remarks at his first press conference in the current Iranian calendar year, Nasser Kanaani said the Beijing-brokered agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to normalize ties has met with "very positive reactions" in the region, and welcomed at the international level, according to the report.

The agreement would definitely have positive impacts on strengthening regional cooperation, so as to foster peace, stability and security in the region, as well as on boosting trade and economic relations not only between Iran and Saudi Arabia but also with other regional countries, Kanaani noted.

Meanwhile, he said that Iran and Saudi Arabia will exchange ambassadors after the reopening of their diplomatic missions.

China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran announced on March 10 that the latter two had reached a deal that includes the agreement to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and diplomatic missions within two months.

In a meeting in Beijing on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a joint statement announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)


By Kwon Bong-woon







The son of a former high-ranking official was criticized much by society for making harsh abusive remarks to his fellow student in high school. These days verbal violence is also common among social leaders including lawmakers. I think violence occurs when there is a lack of consideration for others. Violence can lead to and is linked to a wide range of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression suicidal thoughts and post-traumatic stress disorder. Many people are concerned about violence in Korean society these days.







Bullying is just one way people misuse power to harm others. To reduce school bullying we need to look at what is known as the invisible violence that young people are typically exposed to in their everyday lives. Invisible violence is not direct action, such as bullying. It is a feeling of violation experienced through culturally accepted behaviors and power imbalances. Violence is a social problem, which has unfavorable effects on the physical and psychological health conditions of individuals.







There are invisible forms of violence in our society, too. Speaking ill of someone behind their back or discriminating against someone because they are not one of us but come from a different place, school or faction is surely an invisible form of violence. Criticizing or slandering someone anonymously on social media is another type of invisible violence. Furthermore, not tolerating different opinions or threatening others is violence, too. All these things contribute to making Korea a violent society both physically and spiritually.







One of the marked tendencies of a civilized and advanced country is that it is nonviolent. Discontent with society's system and the hardship of livelihoods drive many people to violence. Being a decent citizen requires civic virtue which is considered a cultural value. A decent person assumes responsibility, but a small mind almost always blames others even for their own faults and mistakes. A decent person also recognizes and encourages a person's merits. For all his defects and shortcomings, a decent person tries to defend the other's position. On the contrary, a small mind is pleased with the failures and ill fortunes of others and becomes displeased at another's happiness.







The difference between a decent person and a small-minded person is that the former pursues morality with single-minded dedication, while the latter pursues profits with equal single-minded dedication. In order to become a truly advanced country, we should not tolerate violence and banish it from our society. Society and people should change and begin respecting others. Violence is not a means of solving the problem in any case. Being considerate of others is able to help solve the problem without resorting to violence.







Being considerate of others requires virtue linked to basic ethics of altruism derived from human conditions. That can be a solution that can change people's minds about violence.









) worked at a bank in Seoul.



The writer ( kbw8234664@naver.com
Junior doctors across England will launch a four-day strike on Tuesday in a worsening dispute over pay which threatens huge disruption to the NHS.

An estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, will be cancelled as a result of the walkout by members of the British Medical Association (BMA).

Doctors will mount picket lines outside hospitals from 7am until Saturday morning in the longest stoppage of the wave of unrest, which has seen nurses, ambulance crews and other health workers take action since last year.

Managers have said patient care is on a knife edge because of the strike, while NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said the number of appointments cancelled, previously suggested to be 250,000, was likely to rise by another 100,000.

The strikes centre around a pay row between the BMA and Government, with the union claiming junior doctors in England have seen a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation.

The union has asked for a full pay restoration that the Government said would amount to a 35% pay rise  which ministers have said is unaffordable.

BMA officials said the pay issue is making it harder to recruit and retain junior doctors, with members previously walking out for three days in March.

On Sunday, national medical director of NHS England Professor Sir Stephen Powis said the strikes will put immense pressures on staff and services.

A retriever named Amaya joins striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital in Norwich (PA)

NHS England said staff will be asked to prioritise emergency and urgent care over some routine appointments and procedures to ensure safe care for those in life-threatening situations.

The health body said appointments and operations will only be cancelled where unavoidable and patients will be offered alternative dates as soon as possible.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: It is extremely disappointing the BMA has called strike action for four consecutive days.

Not only will the walkouts risk patient safety, but they have also been timed to maximise disruption after the Easter break.

I hoped to begin formal pay negotiations with the BMA last month but its demand for a 35% pay rise is unreasonable  it would result in some junior doctors receiving a pay rise of over 20,000.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay (PA)

If the BMA is willing to move significantly from this position and cancel strikes we can resume confidential talks and find a way forward, as we have done with other unions.

People should attend appointments unless told otherwise by the NHS, continue to call 999 in a life-threatening emergency and use NHS 111 online services for non-urgent health needs.

The BMA has previously said it was willing to enter talks with Mr Barclay and suspend strikes if members were presented with a credible pay offer to resolve 15 years of pay erosion.

Mr Taylor, head of the NHS Confederation which is a membership organisation that represents healthcare bodies in the UK, said the likely impact of the strike is heartbreaking and called on both sides to end their battle of rhetoric.

He 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 on Monday: Its depressing that there seems to be no movement at all from the two sides of this dispute over the last few days.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting (PA)

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.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: The junior doctors strike this week will cause huge disruption to patient care.

Where is the Prime Minister and why hasnt he tried to stop it?

Rishi Sunak says he wouldnt want to get in the middle of NHS pay disputes.

Patients are crying out for leadership, but instead they are getting weakness.

BMA junior doctor committee co-chairman Dr Vivek Trivedi said: We were knocking on the Health Secretarys door, asking to meet with him to negotiate a settlement to this dispute, long before the current strike got underway.

We have been in a formal dispute since October. He refused to respond and meet us until we had a strike ballot result. He has had months to put a credible offer on the table and avert industrial action, so for him to say, Its disappointing, is at best disingenuous.

We have always maintained our aim is for full pay restoration  to reverse the more than 26% real-terms pay cuts Mr Barclays Government have imposed on us over the past 15 years, putting starting salaries up by just 5 per hour to 19.

We have always maintained we are willing to negotiate on how to achieve pay restoration, so for Mr Barclay to suggest we had any preconditions is yet again disingenuous.

The reality is that the Health Secretary has had every opportunity to bring an end to the dispute. His decision to refuse to table a credible offer  indeed he has not tabled a single offer so far  means that this action is solely due to this Governments repeated inaction.

We would still be willing to suspend strike action this week if the Secretary of State makes a credible offer that can be the basis of negotiation.
Three National Trust rangers have moved into a lifeboat house on a remote shingle spit to monitor a colony of one of the UKs rarest seabirds through the breeding season.

Rangers will live on site at Blakeney Point on the north Norfolk coast for eight months, from March to October, warding off predators to help threatened little terns.

Assisted by around 30 volunteers, the trio will also count nests and fledglings, and speak to visitors to limit disturbance to the ground nesting birds.

National Trust ranger Duncan Halpin keeping watch from the old lifeboat house (National Trust/Hanne Siebers/PA)

The population of little terns has dropped by 40% since the 1980s, according to the National Trust.

Blakeney Point is also an internationally important nesting site for common and Sandwich terns.

The conservation charity said as many as 25% of the UKs population of Sandwich terns and 16% of the little terns have sought to breed at Blakeney Point in recent years.

Its remote and wild landscape provides a perfect habitat for residential and migrating wildlife, the National Trust said.

A little tern chick on the beach at Blakeney Point (National Trust/Hanne Siebers/PA)

Terns have been breeding at Blakeney Point since the 1800s, with 2021 being a particularly successful year as the team counted 3,678 pairs.

Duncan Halpin, National Trust ranger for the Norfolk coast and Broads, has moved back into the lifeboat house for his third year.

He said: The first tern nests are expected from late April, beginning with Sandwich terns, and then from mid-May onwards little terns will arrive.

Little terns are one of the UKs rarest seabirds and are afforded the utmost protection from disturbance.

The Old Lifeboat Station at Blakeney Point (National Trust/PA)

The UK has around 1,300 pairs of little terns, and the Point can host up to 200 pairs, although this varies from year to year.

With such a low population concentrated only on a handful of sites around the country, protecting these is paramount to ensure their survival.

He urged visitors to follow signage and always watch their step as birds do not obey fence lines.

Walking down at the waters edge is usually the safest thing to ensure as little disturbance as possible, he said.
Air Force One will touch down at Belfast International Airport on Tuesday evening, marking the start of US President Joe Bidens four-day trip to the island of Ireland.

The visit has been timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles.

Mr Biden will also use the visit to reconnect with his family in Co Louth and Mayo, as well as attending several engagements in Dublin.

A huge security operation has swung into place on both sides of the border, with the public warned to expect delays in areas where the president will visit.

Mr Biden will have a packed itinerary during the four-day trip.

A police officer inspects a drain in Belfast as part of the security operation already under way ahead of the visit of US President Joe Biden (Aaron Chown/PA)

Tuesday:

 Mr Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland where he will be greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Wednesday:

 The president will hold bilateral talks with Mr Sunak in Belfast in the morning.

 Mr Biden is also expected to hold talks with Northern Irelands main political parties. The powersharing Assembly established by the Good Friday Agreement is currently not operating due to a protest by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

 In his main engagement in Northern Ireland, Mr Biden will deliver a keynote speech at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus. The president tweeted that he would use the occasion to underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in the region.

 Mr Biden will then cross the border. He will travel to Co Louth where he has ancestral roots. His great-grandfather Owen Finnegan left the county for the US in the 1840s. During the visit, he county, he will tour Carlingford Castle.

 Mr Biden will stay overnight in Dublin.

The US president will meet Irish counterpart Michael D Higgins on Thursday (Niall Carson/PA)

Thursday:

 The US president will meet Irish President Michael D Higgins at his official residence Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park. The park will be closed for 24 hours to accommodate the visit. Mr Biden will also take part in a tree-planting ceremony and a ringing of the Peace Bell.

 Mr Biden will travel for talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom he recently hosted at the White House on St Patricks Day.

 He will then address the Dail, becoming the fourth US president to do so  following John F Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995.

 On Thursday evening, Mr Biden will attend a banquet dinner in his honour at Dublin Castle.

A view of the church ruins and Kilwirra cemetery, where the relatives of US President Joe Biden are buried (Niall Carson/PA)

Friday:

 The president will travel to the west of Ireland, where he will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit.

 The visit will conclude when Mr Biden makes a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina. Mr Bidens great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827, which helped him to afford to buy tickets for himself and his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.
People Before Profit is to boycott a historic speech by the US president to the Dail this week over objections to Joe Bidens foreign policy.

The partys four TDs  Richard Boyd Barrett, Brid Smith, Gino Kenny and Paul Murphy  will stage a protest against the visit.

People Before Profit said the the move to not attend the speech was due to Mr Bidens record on Palestine, Iraq, and Nato expansion  as well as the absence of opportunity for Dail parties to ask questions.

It will hold a protest outside the General Post Office in Dublin on Wednesday.

Mr Boyd Barrett said: Joe Biden needs to be forcefully challenged over his long-standing and unconditional support for the apartheid regime in Israel and its brutal and criminal treatment of Palestinians; his pivotal role in promoting the US invasion and occupation of Iraq; his active promotion of Nato expansion and the on-going and blatant double-standards of US foreign policy globally.

People Before Profit said it would attend the special Dail sitting if there were an opportunity for all Dail parties and groupings to make statements or ask questions after the presidents speech, but with that opportunity not being offered, the event was a pointless charade and propaganda exercise for the US president.

The party said: The Irish government are allowing President Biden to use the Dail as a political soapbox and as part of their on-going campaign to further undermine Irelands neutrality and draw Ireland closer to Nato and US foreign policy.

Mr Boyd Barrett added: The Irish government are trying to present Joe Biden as some sort of great peacemaker when he is very much the opposite.

He said: Tragically, the Irish government are also using the Ukraine crisis as an opportunity to further undermine Irish neutrality and there is no doubt the decision to roll out the red carpet for Biden and insulate him from any critical questioning in the Dail is part of that campaign to draw us ever closer to Nato.

Given the governments plan to shield Joe Biden from any criticism or questioning in the Dail, we urge those who wish to protect Irelands neutrality, who oppose war and militarism, and who want to see justice and self-determination for oppressed peoples such as the Palestinians, to join the protest against Bidens policies on April 12 at 5pm at the GPO.
As the first female boss of GCHQ, Anne Keast-Butler will take the helm at the intelligence agency as it responds to some of the most challenging issues of our time.

Russias invasion of Ukraine, the threat posed by China and fighting cyber attacks will all be high on a complex to-do list facing the next director as well as continued efforts to diversify the organisation.

 Russia and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine

As her appointment was announced, Ms Keast-Butler said: GCHQs mission to keep the UK safe is as inspiring today as it was when it was founded more than 100 years ago, operating at the very heart of the UK and our allies response to some of the most challenging issues of our time.

She highlighted how in the last year alone GCHQ had contributed vital intelligence to shape the Wests response to the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, among other work.

Outgoing spy chief Sir Jeremy Fleming last year described Vladimir Putins decision making during Russias invasion of Ukraine as flawed.

He also told how the conflict represented a sea change in the release of secret intelligence to inform public debate  with information revealed by western agencies helping to counter Moscows narrative.

Sir Jeremy Fleming steps down as director of GCHQ next month (Yui Mok/PA)

 Working with and against China

Ms Keast-Butler will also be faced with another challenge the security services are grappling with  the need to balance concerns about threats China may pose to national security against the reality that the country remains a key economic partner for the UK  particularly in a post-Brexit world.

Despite the potential immediate threat posed by Russia, Sir Jeremy previously told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that China was the real long-term threat to UK national security  saying the country was deploying its ideologies in ways that we think are against our national interests.

China is using science and technology as a way of bringing other countries into its sphere of influence, he warned.

Sir Jeremy said countries seeking economic support from China might find this comes with a lot of strings attached, such as the imposed adoption of Chinese technologies, suggesting it could have potential security implications.

Anne Keast-Butler, who will become the first female director of GCHQ (GCHQ)

 Cyber attacks and ransomware

Another key strand of work is the continued focus on cyber security  particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic amid a growing threat of cyber attacks when GCHQ worked to protect vaccine research targeted by hackers.

An arm of GCHQ known as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) leads on this work and last month director Lindy Cameron highlighted the importance of business bosses taking a hands-on approach to cyber security.

Ms Keast-Butler will also be taking on her role in the wake of more details being revealed about GCHQs work with the Ministry of Defence to carry out daily cyber operations to protect the UK from threats, support military missions and fight serious crime.

Last week James Babbage, a GCHQ intelligence officer for nearly 30 years, was named publicly for the first time as the commander of the so-called National Cyber Force  which was launched in 2020  in a bid to remove the secrecy behind some of this work.

The covert work is legal and ethical but uses techniques that have the potential to sow distrust, decrease morale, and weaken adversaries including disrupting terrorist groups and hostile state disinformation campaigns as well as removing child sexual abuse images from the internet and tackling attempts to interfere in democracy.
Patches depicting a Formosan black bear holding Taiwans flag and punching Winnie the Pooh at a store in Taoyuan

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.

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)
The late Queen authorised the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex to fight in Afghanistan saying my grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty, claims a new documentary.

General Sir Mike Jackson reveals Queen Elizabeths comments in an ITV series chronicling the royal family, but says it was decided William, as a future king, would not serve on the front line.

The Real Crown: Inside The House Of Windsor is a five-part series which can been viewed in full from April 20 and which features interviews with contemporary figures.

Harry served on the front line while his brother William did not (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

General Sir Mike Jackson, who served as Chief of the General Staff (CGS) from 2003-06, says in the final documentary episode: The chiefs have an audience with the Queen once or twice a year. You need to have done your homework.

Shes very wise. I used to tell my staff, see if you can get the midday slot because after half an hour or 40 minutes the Queen would ring a small bell and Time for a sherry I think, CGS. Very good idea, maam.

What goes on in those audiences and who says what to whom, remains for the two people involved.

And I will break the rule  about not divulging what goes on on this one occasion when she was very clear, she said, My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty.

General Sir Mike Jackson served as Chief of the General Staff from 2003-06 (Niall Carson/PA)

And that was that. But it was decided that for William as heir to the heir, the risk is too great. But for his younger brother, the risk was acceptable.

Harry was an army officer and William an officer cadet when Sir Mike was head of the army, with Harry going on to serve two tours in Afghanistan where UK forces were part of a multi-national operation fighting the Taliban insurgency.

Harrys first tour of Afghanistan, during 2007-08, saw him work as a forward air controller co-ordinating air strikes on Taliban positions.

His tour of duty was abruptly ended when foreign websites broke a media blackout on reporting details of his service.

With a burning desire to return to the front line the royal retrained as a helicopter pilot and was deployed back to the front, serving as an Apache helicopter co-pilot gunner during 2012-13.

William served as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot but was not deployed into an active combat zone, unlike his uncle the Duke of York.

At age 22, Andrew saw active service in the Royal Navy as a Sea King helicopter pilot in the Falklands War in 1982. His service included flying his aircraft as a decoy target, trying to divert deadly Exocet missiles away from British ships.
Scientists have designed a robotic hand that can grasp objects  and not drop them  using just the movement of its wrist and the feeling in its skin.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge said that this mechanical hand does not require its fingers to move independently and utilises passive movement using wrists, making their technology low-cost as well as energy-efficient.

The robot hand was also able to predict whether it could drop the objects it grasped by using the information provided by the sensors placed on it.

The experts said their findings, published in the journal Advanced Intelligent Systems, could be used in the development of low-cost robotics where mechanical hands can learn to grasp a wide range of objects while being capable of natural movement.

The scientists said that the human hand is highly complex, which means recreating all of its capabilities in a robot can be a massive research challenge.

The robotic hand can grasp a range of objects  and not drop them  using just the movement of its wrist and the feeling in its skin (University Of Cambridge)

For example, the experts said, humans instinctively know how much force to use when picking up an egg  but for a robot, this is a challenge.

If the robot applies too much force, the egg could break, and if there is not enough pressure, it could drop the egg.

The scientists created a 3D-printed robotic hand implanted with sensors that could enable the hand to sense what it was touching.

This hand was only capable of passive, wrist-based movement and the individual fingers were not fully motorised.

More than 1,200 tests were carried out using the robotic hand.

The hand was initially trained using small 3D-printed plastic balls, after which it then attempted to grasp different objects  including a peach, a computer mouse, and a roll of bubble wrap.

The robotic hand was able to successfully grasp 11 of 14 objects, the researchers said.

Dr Thomas George-Thuruthel, formerly of the University of Cambridge who is now a lecturer in Robotics and AI at the University College Londons Department of Computer Science, said: The sensors, which are sort of like the robots skin, measure the pressure being applied to the object.

The robotic hand was able to successfully grasp 11 of 14 objects (University Of Cambridge)

We cant say exactly what information the robot is getting, but it can theoretically estimate where the object has been grasped and with how much force.

The hand is very simple, but it can pick up a lot of objects with the same strategy.

Fumiya Iida, professor of robotics at the University of Cambridges Department of Engineering, added: The big advantage of this design is the range of motion we can get without using any actuators.

We want to simplify the hand as much as possible.

We can get lots of good information and a high degree of control without any actuators, so that when we do add them, well get more complex behaviour in a more efficient package.

The research was funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and software design company Arm Ltd.
Rishi Sunak is to personally present a six-year-old boy who is awaiting a heart transplant with an award recognising his outstanding contribution to his community.

The presentation to Daithi Mac Gabhann is one of the Prime Ministers engagements coinciding with US President Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland.

A new organ donation law for Northern Ireland is named in honour of the Belfast boy in recognition of his and his familys campaign for law changes.

Mr Sunak will meet Daithi and his family as part of the Prime Ministers daily Points of Light award.

Daithi Mac Gabhann and his parents Mairtin MacGabhann and Seph Ni Mheallain (Liam McBurney/PA)

Number 10 said he will thank the Mac Gabhanns for their tireless campaigning for Daithis Law, which implemented an opt-out organ donation system, bringing Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK.

Their efforts prompted the Secretary of State for Northern Irelands decision to bring forward amendments to the Executive Formation Bill earlier this year, which allowed Daithis Law to become a reality and save lives across Northern Ireland, No 10 said.

From June, all adults in the region will be considered potential organ donors unless they choose to opt out or are in an excluded group.

Those excluded from deemed consent legislation are children under 18, people who lack the mental capacity to understand the change in law and visitors to Northern Ireland and temporary residents.

In a letter to Daithi, who is awaiting a new heart, Mr Sunak said: Every day I write a letter to thank someone for doing something remarkable for others. Today is very special, because I get to thank you.

The bravery and determination you have shown in campaigning to change the law on organ donation in Northern Ireland is truly inspiring.

With Daithis Law you are helping others in your situation to get the life-changing help they need. It is a huge achievement.

Daithi Mac Gabhann (Department of Health/PA)

In your fathers words: Exceptional things happen for exceptional people.

I agree with him that you are truly exceptional and so I am delighted to recognise your courage by naming you as the UKs 2029th Point of Light.

The whole country is with you as you continue your treatment.

Mr Sunak will host his third meeting with President Biden since taking office, where Number 10 said they will discuss the UK and USs extensive and deep relationship, evidenced by collaborative UK and US investment in Northern Irelands economy and people.

The Prime Minister is expected to use President Bidens visit and his engagements with business leaders and others in Belfast to encourage further long-term investment.

Events marking the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement will continue into next week, with the Prime Minister making another trip to Belfast to address Queens Universitys Agreement 25 conference and host a special Gala Dinner to commemorate the anniversary.
Government plans to deal with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland should be on the agenda when Rishi Sunak meets Joe Biden, Amnesty International has said.

The organisation has called on the Prime Minister to scrap its Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, stating that it erodes the Good Friday Agreement.

The legislation proposes offering immunity for people accused of crimes during the Troubles as long as they co-operate with a new truth recovery body.

It would also would stop future court processes or inquests.

Along with Amnesty International, victims groups have expressed opposition to the Bill.

To @POTUS: Your visit to Northern Ireland comes at a time when @RishiSunak is threatening rights and peace in Northern Ireland through the outrageous #TroublesBill. You must raise your voice to try & stop this from happening. We must #ProtectRights #ProtectPeace #GFA25 pic.twitter.com/UwXz2kHI04  Amnesty UK (@AmnestyUK) April 11, 2023

Several protests have taken place over the last several weeks, with victims families carrying banners and placards demanding truth and justice for loved ones.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet with US President Joe Biden during the latters visit to Northern Ireland.

Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International UKs Northern Ireland deputy director, said the Troubles bill must be on the agenda.

Biden and Sunaks meeting is a key moment to acknowledge the Good Friday Agreements achievements, but we cannot ignore the reality of UK Government actions that recklessly undermine it, she said.

It rings entirely hollow that the Prime Minister is celebrating the Agreement whilst simultaneously pursuing a legislative agenda that erodes the rights commitments central to it.

Polling results on the Bill of Rights are the final research outputs from @cjhumanrights @qubschooloflaw and Dr Anne Smith @TJI_as part of their phenomenal body of work to help support the development of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement commitment to a NI Bill of Rights. 1/5 pic.twitter.com/59OfBQU4Vt  Human Rights Consortium NI (@BillofRightsNI) April 4, 2023

The Prime Minister must scrap the widely-opposed Troubles Bill that violates the Good Friday Agreement, and end threats to the European Convention on Human Rights which has been a cornerstone of Northern Irelands peace settlement.

Speaking last week, Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin said the Irish Government wants the UK Government to pause progress of the legacy Bill and re-engage with Northern Ireland political parties and victims groups.

He also said the Bill would need to be human-rights compliant.

The Bill has already passed through the House of Commons and is currently being considered in the House of Lords.

A string of amendments were suggested in the House of Lords, including a provision that would ensure that any person engaged in activities that preclude reconciliation  such as glorifying terrorism  would not be eligible for immunity.
By Bernard Rowan



The contest between the alliances for autocracy and freedom continues. Its energy gains pace. The year 2023 has been a busy year thus far. Russia's prosecution of a war on Ukraine has stalemated, with a spring offensive by Ukraine in the offing. Finland has joined NATO, a major blow to Russian regional ambitions and autocracy. Other members will join in time. South Korea, Japan and the United States engaged in successful military exercises. These countries also joined with nine others to form the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Alliance members stand up, and the course of freedom continues. The domestic politics of NATO countries has not seen a decrease of support for Ukraine. Global condemnation of autocratic efforts persists and grows.



Nonetheless, one shouldn't adopt a romantic delusion about these scores for freedom's alliance. The war in Ukraine continues to exact a terrible toll, and Russia has shored up her supply lines, thanks to China, Iran and North Korea. Iran continues to act as a regional spoiler, providing aid and support to terrorists in the Middle East and continuing its own silo efforts against her own people. Saudi Arabia emerges as the great pretender, proving both the need to develop alternative energy technologies and resources as well as the contemporary world's overdependence on crude oil. The Saudis compromise all comers whose development and advancement rely on fossil fuels. Kim Jong-un and daughter go on parade surrounding various planned and real missile launches and exercises. Chinese development and power projections continue, notably about Taiwan. Autocrats have their bragging points this year.



Global bipolar politics is a disappointing reality. It's necessary because much good comes from the relations of nations and peoples, much cooperation and sharing of technologies, cultures, goods and services. It's dissatisfying because of the possibilities for conflict, war and insecurity. The virtual world also has brought more civilization, advancement and commerce. It also causes conflict, war and insecurity. Witness the predatory North Korean cyberattacks and cryptocurrency scams.



South Korea continues to follow her commitments and develop her economy and society as a member of the alliance for freedom. The Yoon administration soon hopes to settle free trade agreements (FTAs) with Ecuador and the Gulf Cooperation Council. It carried out a successful summit between Yoon and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, with related talks following. It has begun to develop further cooperation with France for maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. These moments mark important steps in the continuing march of Korean civilization.



It can't give complete reassurance for South Korea to put itself in a position that rankles Chinese views and interests. Cooperation for security with the United States, diplomacy with Japan or trade and security partnerships to which China isn't a partner amounts to a decision and choice. American and European partners should support Korea's decision-making and allow for greater South Korean leadership. Any rational alliance must understand that its members have diverse contexts and needs. South Korea long has excelled in being a nation between rival powers, and its surest sign of success is her rise to status as an advanced nation, economically and in military terms.



This score's value for freedom is inestimable. No other nation has achieved its version of democratization and economic progress so well! Besides today's vanguard actions of the Ukrainian people and government, there is no greater achievement. Freedom and world democracy should premise the advance of South Korea. I hope the people of South Korea take stock of this singular achievement. In times of rapid change and discontinuity, her advance is one of the brightest spots on Earth. It's a sign of God's presence in our midst at this Easter season. Let us pray it continues to forevermore.





Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and academic services and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.








Suella Braverman has been accused of using racist rhetoric by a Conservative former co-chairwoman of the party.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi hit out at a number of remarks the Home Secretary has made, and said it has it has got to stop.

The Tory peer did not specify which specific remarks she was referring to as racist, but highlighted Ms Bravermans comments on small boats crossing the Channel, and her singling out British Pakistani men over concerns about grooming gangs.

Baroness Warsi (Yui Mok/PA)

It follows letters sent to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for him to act on Ms Bravermans rhetoric, including from the British Pakistan Foundation, which accused the Home Secretary of seeking to portray all British Pakistani men in a divisive and dangerous way.

Speaking to LBC, Lady Warsi said: I think the Prime Minister has to get a really strong message that this kind of rhetoric, whether its on small boats, whether its the stuff she was saying on the weekend which is not based on evidence, not nuanced, not kind of explanatory in any way, it has got to stop.

And you know, again today, weve woken up to a story where shes having a go at the police for removing golliwog dolls from a pub.

Later in the interview, she said: I dont think any of my colleagues can use the pigment in their skin as some sort of a defence mechanism to say they are not racist. You know brown people can be racist too.

Asked if she was calling the Home Secretary racist, she said: I am calling her rhetoric racist. I am.

She went on: I say that as somebody who was subjected to racism growing up, you know, in the 70s and 80s. This is not a term that I use loosely.

And its certainly not a term that I use easily when I talk about another woman of colour. Another Parliamentarian of colour. But I think that somehow we have to call this out.

The Tory peer also told the Mirror: I genuinely felt with the change in leadership with Rishi Sunak becoming Prime Minister that we were going to return to some level of grown up politics. I just think the Home Secretary keeps dragging him back into the gutter.

She said: I think we need to make it clear that this isnt going to be our strategy for the next 18 months  racist rhetoric and rabble rousing.

Further criticising Ms Bravermans remarks, Lady Warsi added: Theres either an issue of deliberate divisive rhetoric or theres an issue of competence, but either way the Prime Ministers got to get a grip on this.

Essex Police has denied being directly reprimanded by the Home Secretary for sending five officers to seize a collection of dolls considered racist from a pub.

On April 2, Ms Braverman was speaking about Government measures to tackle grooming gangs when she singled out British Pakistani men as a major source of concern.

Ms Braverman drew criticism for repeatedly alluding to cases including in Rotherham and Rochdale that involved groups of men of mainly Pakistani ethnicity.

She described a predominance of certain ethnic groups  and I say British Pakistani males  who hold cultural values totally at odds with British values, who see women in a demeaned and illegitimate way and pursue an outdated and frankly heinous approach in terms of the way they behave.

Her language was criticised by some campaigners, with the NSPCC emphasising that only considering race could create new blind spots.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The Home Secretary has been clear that all despicable child abusers must be brought to justice. And she will not shy away from telling hard truths, particularly when it comes to the grooming of young women and girls in Britains towns who have been failed by authorities over decades.

As the Home Secretary has said, the vast majority of British-Pakistanis are law-abiding, upstanding citizens but independent reports were unequivocal that in towns like Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford cultural sensitivities have meant thousands of young girls were abused under the noses of councils and police.

Thats why we have announced a raft of measures, including a new police taskforce and mandatory reporting, to ensure this horrific scandal can never happen again, and bring members of grooming gangs to justice for the victims.
A red squirrel that became trapped in a manhole cover has been freed by firefighters in Germany, despite being uncooperative during its rescue.

The city fire department in Dortmund was alerted to the trapped animal by a pedestrian on Monday afternoon, after she spotted its head poking out in the road.

The squirrel was covered with a scarf to calm it down until a crew of firefighters arrived at the scene.

However, the rodent did not make life easy for the crew as they carefully tried to separate it from the plate.

The trapped squirrel was described as being uncooperative (Feuerwehr Dortmund)

This turned out to be quite complicated as the squirrel was uncooperative, the fire department said.

It took several attempts for the crew to free the squirrel before it fled up a nearby tree, appearing unharmed.

A similar rescue was required in the same city back in 2019, when firefighters, police and a veterinary clinic saved a red squirrel that got its head stuck in a manhole cover.

In a statement, the fire department said: It could not be determined if it was the same squirrel that had to be rescued from the same situation four years ago.

Red squirrels can be found across Europe and Asia and are thought to have lived in the UK for around 10,000 years, according to the Wildlife Trusts.
US President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Stormonts main political parties as part of a visit he said will underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

He tweeted: 25 years ago, Northern Irelands 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.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet President Joe Biden when he arrives in Northern Ireland (Leon Neal/PA)

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

It is expected that Mr Biden will hold a meeting with Northern Irelands main political parties before the Ulster University talk.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

Irish President Michael D Higgins is expected to meet President Joe Biden in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
The kiss that launched a Bravo scandal. Tom Sandoval revealed that his affair with Raquel Leviss started before her hookup with Tom Schwartz.

During the Tuesday, April 11, episode of the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, Sandoval, 40, noted that he had already kissed Leviss, 28, before Scheana Shay and Brock Davies wedding in August 2022.

Tom Sandoval Blames Lack of Sexual 'Intimacy' for Ariana Madix Split- Bombshells From His Howie Mandel Interview - 954

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We just kissed. It was magnetic, he recalled, before throwing shade at his romance with Ariana Madix. I felt something that I hadnt felt in so long emotionally.

The TomTom co-owner said his first kiss with Leviss pushed him to get into therapy. The feelings were something very, very strong, he continued. Those feelings that I had started to take over in a sense. Logic went out the window. Because I wasnt experiencing that [with Ariana]  I hadnt experienced that [before].

Sandovals bombshell confession came one month after news broke about his split from Madix, 37, due to his infidelity. Ariana found out [about the affair] after looking at Toms phone while he was on stage performing his new song, a source shared exclusively with Us Weekly in March.

Shutterstock; Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock

At the time, the insider revealed that Sandoval and Leviss were hoping to have a future together. Tom and Raquel are the real deal. This isnt just a regrettable fling or one-night stand. the source added. Its no excuse for what they did and the people they hurt, but they see a long-term future together. Only time will tell if their bond can survive the backlash.

The Missouri native broke his silence after Vanderpump Rules fans shared negative comments about his restaurants in response to the scandal. He later issued a separate statement apologizing to Madix.

I want to first and foremost apologize to everyone Ive hurt through this process. Most of all, I want to apologize to Ariana, he wrote via Instagram. I made mistakes, I was selfish and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly.

A Comprehensive Guide Vanderpump Rules Hookups Over Years James Kennedy Raquel Leviss

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Sandoval added: I can only imagine how devastating this has been for Ariana and everyone around us. I feel really horrible about that. My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana. I never meant to disappoint so many people, including our loving families and friends.

Earlier this month, Schwartz, 40, weighed in on how much he knew about the affair before it made headlines.

From Katie to Andy: Pump Rules Stars React to Sandoval, Raquel Scandal

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I learned about the affair in August. The one-night stand was in August and then it became, from my point of view, it became an emotional affair, the Minnesota native, who hooked up with Leviss in August 2022 after his split from Katie Maloney, said on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Wednesday, April 5. Which is still inappropriate, but I didnt think it was linear. [Then] in January, he came to me and told me that he was in love with Raquel.

Schwartz admitted he had some concerns about his business partners behavior amid the drama. Hes not realizing the negative impact this has had on his other ventures, he added. Businesses, bars, the band.  Hes addicted. Its an infatuation of all infatuations.  Raquel is Toms heroin.
Matthew McConaughey is sharing his views on aging and mental health. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Matthew McConaughey isn't afraid of being older  and wiser.

The actor and author, 53, shared his life philosophies in a recent interview with Dax Shepard on his Armchair Expert podcast, during which he spoke candidly about aging and how he handles stress in his life.

"It seems to me this aging thing, right, it's like, how do you do it gracefully but how do you deny it?" McConaughey said "And there are awkward ways to deny it, we've all seen it."

The star isn't immune, either. He shared that he contemplated getting a hair transplant in the late 90s.

"I had a silver-dollar bald on top and I went, 'Go gracefully, be all face,'" McConaughey said. "I remember going, wait a minute, I'm not ready to go quietly into the night on this. I considered hair plugs then I was like, nah, I don't wanna do that, none of those look that good. So I found this topical treatment ... I started working on it topically, and son-of-a-b****, I have a better hairline now than I did in 99. So, I still use it daily. I'm not going to quit and see if it's all going to stick."

Matthew McConaughey attends the premiere of EDtv on March 16, 1999 in Universal City, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

That's not to say he hasn't seen the effects of aging in other areas  especially when it comes to keeping up with his three kids: sons Levi, 14, and Livingston, 10, and daughter Vida, 13, which he shares with wife Camila Alves McConaughey.

"I blew both my knees out a couple years ago," he explained. "[Levi] was 12, good athlete, so obviously he's beating me in sports, right? And so, I get surgery, they're better, but I'm not back to where I was and he still kind of beating me at a lot. But I chose to go, I'm not ready to accept that fact yet."

That's when McConaughey went "hardcore" into post-surgery rehab, where he "really worked on my knees" to get them back in shape. "At least I'm back to competing," the dad of three said. "He's better in some [sports], but I'm still whooping him in some. I wasn't ready to concede."

McConaughey also makes sure he gets "nine-and-a-half hours of sleep a night," which he says helps balance his stress and anxiety levels.

Still, embracing his emotions is par for the course.

"Stress is a word that has such a bad name right now, and I think it's getting a bad name kind of unfairly," he said. "Having a little bit of stress means you give a s***."

"We're labeling everything stress," he says, pointing to a child psychologist he's researched who interviewed children about what stresses them the most. "They were like, 'Well, I don't have as good of grades as Joe, I don't have the shoes that Jane has, I don't look as good as so and so' and he says, 'that's not stress, that's envy.' As soon as he relabelled it envy for the child, the child was like, 'Oh, I can deal with that. I just didn't know how to deal with stress.'"

Changing his perspective on feelings like envy and jealousy, he says, is key to living a happier life. And that's something he tries to practice daily.

"I don't remember the last person I was jealous of. I am jealous of people with traits of what I'm chasing to get to, the man I'm trying to become," he says. "I'm jealous of people that don't seem to need accomplishment and achievement as much as I do to feel significant ... I'll have bouts of insignificance if I don't get what I want, or pull off what I want, or maybe don't feel I'm relevant in the right way. I get jealous of people that have the full belief in themselves, even in those times.

"They're playing the long game, man," he says of people with a positive mindset. "I get jealous of that, of people who can live that way. You dont know if they've had the freaking worst day, you don't know if they've lost their ass financially, or you don't know if they've just had their best day in the biggest acquisition. That, I really respect."

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
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.

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.

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.
The U.S. does not yet know whether the full extent of leaked Pentagon documents has been made public, the White House announced Monday.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby made the announcement during a press briefing at the White House on Monday, telling reporters that the investigation was ongoing and few conclusions have been made. Multiple classified documents have leaked online in recent weeks, purporting to detail U.S. assessments of Ukraine and other things.

Kirby confirmed that President Biden has been briefed on the issue and continues to be kept up-to-date on the investigation. The Pentagon referred the matter to the Justice Department for criminal investigation.

"Does the U.S. government at this point have any sense of who was behind [the leak]?" a reporter asked.

LEAKED PENTAGON DOCUMENTS PAINT GRIM PICTURE OF UKRAINIAN AIR DEFENSE SUPPLIES, MAY ONLY LAST A MONTH

The Department of Defense suffered a seemingly extensive leak last week after classified documents began circulating online, detailing U.S. communications and assessments of allies.

"As you know, the Department of Defense has referred this to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation. I certainly would refer you to them, but I'm not aware that they've come to any conclusions about where [the leaks] are coming from," Kirby responded.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"At this point, do you believe the leak is contained? Are there more documents out there that have not yet been released publicly? Is this an ongoing threat?" the reporter pressed.

"We don't know," Kirby responded. "We truly don't."

UKRAINE WAR PLANNING DOCUMENTS LEAKED ONLINE, PENTAGON INVESTIGATING

The Pentagon said on Sunday that an interagency task force is assessing the validity and impacts of the "sensitive and highly classified material" that has leaked online.

The leaked documents pertain to a wide range of issues and countries, detailing one instance in which a British spy plane was nearly shot down by a Russian jet off the coast of Crimea last year. U.K. 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 leaks also suggested that Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad, had secretly encouraged the mass protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month.

Leaks from the Pentagon suggested that the Mossad had supported protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though his office denied the reports.

It alleged that Mossad "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."

Netanyahu's office, which is in charge of Mossad, dismissed the claims in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"The report that was published overnight in the American press is 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 prime minister's office wrote on behalf of the Mossad.
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has issued a subpoena to FBI Director Christopher Wray in connection with a now-withdrawn memo that explored avenues for gaining information on white supremacists interaction with local Catholic churches.

The memo, a product of the Richmond, Va., FBI field office, discussed meeting with church leaders to review the warning signs of radicalization and to enlist their assistance to serve as suspicious activity tripwires.

The memo has become the basis for GOP lawmakers accusing the department of developing an anti-Catholic bias in the wake of last years Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade that spurred threats at both churches and abortion clinics.

The FBI memo detailed growing overlap between white nationalist groups and Radical-Traditionalist Catholics, which it identifies as a small minority within the church.

Jordan is in possession of the memo, which has been redacted in some places.

The limited information that was provided to the Committee makes clear that we must possess all responsive material without redactions. From this selective production, we know that 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, Jordan wrote, pointing to two prior letters seeking information on the memo.

Americans attend church to worship and congregate for their spiritual and personal betterment. 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.

Wray himself has condemned the memo.

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, he said in a March hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

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.

The FBI on Monday acknowledged receipt of 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 agency said in a statement.

Wray is the highest-level official to be subpoenaed by the committee under GOP leadership, though the panel has sent numerous letters to other officials across numerous inquiries, including Attorney General Merrick Garland and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

Updated at 3:15 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - E. Jean Carroll talks to reporters outside a courthouse in New York, March 4, 2020. Federal Judge Lewis A. Kaplan issued an order Monday, April 10, 2023, directing parties to notify him if Trump plans to attend a New York trial later in the month resulting from Carroll's claims that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

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.


By Cho Hee-kyoung



You would've had to have been living under a rock for the last few months to have not heard about ChatGPT, the latest generative artificial intelligence (AI) developed by OpenAI, that is designed to understand natural language input and generate human-like responses in various contexts. Goldman Sachs, an investment bank, recently issued a report predicting that AI could replace 300 million full-time jobs worldwide, but that it would also lead to the creation of new jobs and a productivity boom, thanks to greater automation and efficiency that the use of AI would bring.



Juxtaposed in this context, the South Korean government's recent proposal to increase the maximum number of work hours per week seems like a peculiar throwback. Korea has been notorious for its long working hours. On average, working hours in South Korea are around 20 percent longer than in other OECD countries. In 2018, the previous Moon Jae-in administration introduced a mandatory cap of 12 hours of overtime per week, halving the previous cap of 24 overtime hours. In addition to the standard 40 hours per week, this set the maximum weekly working hours at 52, amid growing concerns regarding overwork and its adverse impact on workers' health and welfare and also the recognition that long hours are inversely proportional to productivity.



However, citing the need for labor reform, the Yoon Suk Yeol government has pushed forward a proposal that it argues would give more flexibility for workers and improve work-life balance, especially to workers with children. Under this new proposal, the average total weekly working hours would remain at 52, but companies would be able to calculate the average over a longer period of time, for example, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. It means that workers can put in longer overtime hours during busy periods and bank those hours that they could later take as additional leave.



If the proposal became law, workers would be able to do up to 52 hours of overtime in a month on top of their 40 standard-hours per week. But since the current Labor Standard Law requires a half-an-hour break for every four hours worked and eleven hours of continuous break during a 24-hour period, this means that the maximum number of hours that can be worked per week cannot exceed 69 hours, which is where the headline "69-hour work week" came from. However, if workers are not guaranteed 11 hours of continuous rest during a 24-hour period, the maximum allowed weekly overtime is reduced to 64 hours under the proposal.



President Yoon is fond of using the example of a software developer who may have to put in 100 hours a week when the software is about to be launched but then is able to take a month off for a stay in Jeju once the busy period is over. Another oft-cited case is that of seasonal businesses, like an ice cream manufacturer, whose workers would be able to work longer hours during the summer months and then take longer leave when it is less busy.



In principle, labor flexibility and banking overtime to take extra holiday sound all well and good. Unfortunately, the reality does not quite match the ideal. One of the biggest criticisms is that even now workers are unable to take leave that is legally due to them. One survey conducted shortly after the proposal was introduced asked office workers how many annual leave days they took last year. The legal entitlement is 14 days a year for a person with five to ten years of work experience. The answer to the survey was that employees on average took only 6 days of annual leave last year.



The reason why workers are unable to take their full holiday entitlement was largely because no one who would be able to fill in for them while they are on leave so their other colleagues end up having to take up the slack. This problem was particularly severe in small and medium sized enterprises, or SMEs, where more than 80 percent of total workers are employed. So when workers do not even get to use their current annual leave entitlement how could they possibly take a whole month off?



Overtime pay instead of banking extra hours as leave is also likely to be undermined because of the rampant misuse of what is known as a "blanket pay" system where workers agree that their total compensation would include any overtime worked. The system is designed to protect casual or irregular workers or workers whose remuneration depend on the outcome rather than hours put in but which is too often exploited and applied to even those workers who should be entitled to overtime pay for extra hours worked. Typically, workers with little bargaining power have no choice but to agree to a "blanket-pay" contract waiving their right to overtime pay entitlement.



The argument regarding flexibility and its necessity for seasonal or cyclical businesses is also weak. Certainly, if there is unforeseen demand, it may be that employees do need to work longer than usual for a limited period. But for big product launches or for annual sales peak seasons, the demand for extra labor does not just occur overnight. They can be predicted and planned for and extra labor can be hired if necessary even on a temporary basis. It is not that businesses cannot do this but that they do not want to, because it costs more.



I asked my students what they thought about the proposal and put to them the argument that the increased flexibility would benefit parents who could bank extra leave so that they could spend more time with their children during school holidays, for example. Their response was that raising a child cannot be crammed into short spurts of time. It would seem that the policymakers in the current administration have far less insight than undergraduate students.





Cho Hee-kyoung (hongikmail@gmail.com) is a professor at Hongik University College of Law.


White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denied Monday that the administration was "trying to protect" President Biden from the media by preventing him from answering its questions.

"Is the administration trying to protect the president from our questions? Please answer that question," one reporter asked Jean-Pierre during the daily White House press briefing after a number of other reporters questioned why Biden had no formal press conferences scheduled, including on his upcoming trip to Ireland.

"Absolutely not. Absolutely not," Jean-Pierre replied.

REPORTERS ERUPT ON JEAN-PIERRE OVER BIDEN NOT TAKING QUESTIONS FROM PRESS POOL: THATS NOT TRUE'

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House on April 10, 2023, in Washington, DC.

The reporter then pressed Jean-Pierre on why Biden had nothing formal in place on the calendar for the press to ask him questions. She claimed Biden "takes shouted questions," but the reporter pushed back. Jean-Pierre, however, spoke over the reporter and continued claiming Biden does take questions.

"I understand, John. I understand. I understand. I have dealt with this question about three times already. I understand. It is the job of you all to ask this question to me. I totally get that. And that's not a problem at all," Jean-Pierre said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"But certainly the president, many times, has stood in front of all of you, has taken questions on his own because he wanted to see what was on your minds. He wanted to see what the questions you all were going to ask him, and he wanted to answer them directly. That has happened multiple times, many times, during this administration. And that will certainly continue to be. When it comes to a formal press conference, I don't have anything to share with you at this time," she said.

WHITE HOUSE'S KARINE JEAN-PIERRE STUMBLES WHEN PRESSED ON BIDEN ABSENCE AT KING CHARLES' CORONATION

President Joe Biden holds a meeting with his science and technology advisors at the White House on April 04, 2023, in Washington, DC.

The reporter didn't relent, and told Jean-Pierre that Biden was diverting from "the norm" of previous administrations. He added that the press had not had the opportunity "in quite some time" to ask Biden questions in a formal setting.

"So I'll say this: It is also unprecedented that a president takes as many shouted questions as this president has, and he has," Jean-Pierre said.

Reporters across the room erupted at the claim, grumbling inaudibly in what appeared to be sharp disagreement.

WHITE HOUSE'S KARINE JEAN-PIERRE LAUGHS WHEN ASKED IF IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR INDICTED PERSON TO RUN FOR OFFICE

Jean-Pierre chuckled, and said, "Okay. Well, we'll certainly get the data and share that with all of you  I hear you. I hear you on the press conference, on a formal press conference. We get this probably every couple of months when you guys ask us about a formal press conference. I don't have anything to share with all of you at this time, And I'll just leave it there." She then moved on.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a Fourth of July event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Sunday, July 4, 2021.

This isn't the first instance Jean-Pierre has face pressure in the briefing over Biden's lack of availability to the press. Last month, reporters erupted when she told them they would have the opportunity to ask the president questions from the press pool during a meeting with the Irish prime minister at the White House.

They immediately started pushing back, with one saying, "But he never answers questions during those periods," referring to Biden.
A security camera captured images of a man using marker to write anti-Islamic words on the Islamic Center of Southern California in Koreatown early Sunday, police said. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles police arrested a man on suspicion of defacing a mosque in Koreatown with anti-Islamic hate words, Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday.

A surveillance camera had captured video of a man 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. Sunday.

Carlos Moran, 43, was taken into custody in the 500 block of Shatto Place near the mosque, Moore said, adding that he claimed he was a king and appeared to be struggling with mental health issues. The chief described the writings as hate-motivated. Police received a tip about the suspect's whereabouts hours after releasing a screen grab of the surveillance footage, Moore said.

The district attorney's office has filed felony vandalism charges against Moran, he said.

Los Angeles police released this surveillance image of a man suspected of defacing the Islamic Center of Southern California. (Los Angeles Police Department)

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 to bring them closer to God.

"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."

Speaking to reporters after Tuesday's meeting of the Police Commission, Moore denounced the "blatant and hateful act of violence."

"Why does the department spend so much time on this type of case? And it's because it is oftentimes a precursor to further acts and acts of violence," Moore said. "We know there's an onramp, if you will, to extremism, an onramp to people escalating in their actions to where they actual commit violent crimes."

Moore added that while the suspect appeared to be unhoused, that had nothing to do with his actions.

With Ramadan, Passover and Easter all coinciding, the Los Angeles Police Department had deployed additional resources to patrol houses of worship.

Police Chief Michel Moore, center, arrives for a news conference at the Islamic Center of Southern California on Monday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Omar Ricci, a 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.

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.

According to the report, released in December, there were 786 victims of hate crimes in 2021, an increase of 23% since 2020 and the most since 2002. More than half of the crimes were motivated by racism.

Hate crimes motivated by religion increased 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.

Moore said Monday that Los Angeles had seen a slight decrease in reported hate crimes this year. 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."

Times staff writers Summer Lin and Jeong Park contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
WASHINGTON  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Republican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, asking a court to block elements of the congressional inquiry into his case against former President Donald Trump.

Calling it an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack of an ongoing investigation, Bragg said in the suit that allowing Jordan's demands, including subpoenaing former Assistant DA Mark Pomerantz, would cause imminent irreparable harm if the secret and privileged material is compelled to be disclosed.

Bragg's suit asked the court to block Jordan's subpoena of Pomerantz. Jordan, R-Ohio, wants Pomerantz to sit for a deposition as part of the Judiciary panel's investigation into the indictment of Trump. The former president pleaded not guilty last week to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to his role in hush money payments made toward the end of his 2016 presidential campaign.

"Chairman Jordans subpoena is an unconstitutional attempt to undermine an ongoing New York felony criminal prosecution and investigation," Bragg said in a statement Tuesday. "As our complaint details, this is an unprecedented, illegitimate interference by Congress that lacks any legal merit and defies basic principles of federalism."

A federal judge in New York has scheduled an April 19 hearing for Braggs lawsuit.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference in New York (Jeenah Moon / The Washington Post via Getty Images file)

Bragg is also suing Pomerantz "to protect the District Attorneys Offices interests and privileges and in light of the District Attorneys Offices instruction to Mr. Pomerantz not to provide any information or materials relating to his work in the District Attorneys Office in response to the subpoena."

In response, Jordan tweeted that the lawsuit attempts to block congressional oversight.

"First, they indict a president for no crime," he wrote. "Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it."

Pomerantz didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit said that beginning in March, Jordan launched a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" Bragg, "making demands for confidential documents and testimony from the District Attorney himself as well as his current and former employees and officials."

Bragg's office argued that "basic principles of federalism and common sense" as well as Supreme Court precedent forbid Congress from demanding "highly sensitive and confidential local prosecutorial information."

Congress doesn't have any power to supervise state criminal prosecutions or power to serve subpoenas "for the personal aggrandizement of the investigators or to punish those investigated," the lawsuit said.

Jordan's subpoena of Pomerantz last week "is no less of an affront to state sovereignty than subpoenaing the District Attorney himself," it continued.

The lawsuit is the culmination of a weekslong dispute between Bragg and Jordan, who issued the subpoena to Pomerantz two days after Trump was charged with 34 felony counts. In response, Bragg said that the GOP chairman of the Judiciary Committee was attempting to "undermine" the criminal case against the former president by seeking Pomerantz's testimony.

Jordan said last week that Pomerantz's previous role in the DAs office leading the probe into Trumps finances makes him uniquely situated to provide information that is relevant and necessary to his committees investigation into Braggs prosecution of Trump. Jordan argued that Pomerantz had already shared information publicly, in a book that was published in February, as well as in media interviews.

In addition to asking the court to declare the subpoena to Pomerantz invalid, Bragg also asked in the complaint to declare any future subpoenas "on the District Attorney himself or any of his current or former employees or officials" invalid and unconstitutional.

Jordan had also requested testimony last week from Matthew Colangelo, senior counsel to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office.

Separately, Bragg's office criticized Republicans on Monday after the House Judiciary Committee announced that it would hold a field hearing on crime in New York City. GOP lawmakers have repeatedly asserted that the Manhattan district attorney has been too busy investigating Trump and is not doing enough to combat violence.
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.

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.

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A video promotes Samsung Electronics' computer software education program, Samsung Software Academy for Youth (SSAFY). Captured from Samsung's YouTube channel





Logo for Samsung Electronics / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
The office of Google Korea / Newsis



Korea's antitrust regulator said Tuesday it has decided to slap a fine of 42.1 billion won ($31.8 million) on Google LLC and its regional arms for unfair business practices aimed at solidifying its dominance in the Korean mobile gaming app market.



The punishment came as the U.S.-based global tech giant made shady agreements with Korean mobile game companies between June 2016 and April 2018, banning them from releasing their content on One Store, according to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC).



One Store is a major homegrown app market launched in January 2016 by Korea's three mobile carriers, along with Naver Corp.



"Google analyzed that the launch of a competitive and comprehensive app market, One Store, will have a major impact on its sales in Korea," the FTC said.



Under the agreement, the U.S. behemoth asked game companies to release their content exclusively on its platform Google Play, in return for having the content appear on the market as "featured," along with providing other marketing benefits.



Being aware of a potential violation of fair trade rules, Google also internally required its employees to delete related emails, and discuss issues offline to avoid leaving traces of such agreements, the FTC said.



The regulator said that the agreement helped Google solidify its dominance in the local app market.



According to the data compiled by the FTC, Google, which accounted for around 80 to 85 percent of the local app market in terms of amount spent in 2016, was able to expand its presence to 90 to 95 percent in 2018.



On the other hand, One Store fell from 15-20 percent to only 5-10 percent over the period, the FTC added.





This photo released by the Fair Trade Commission shows an example of "featured" apps listed on the platform Google Play, April 10. Yonhap
Mod govt had brought about a conceptual policy change to develop the areas and help the locals living here by providing basic amenities

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inspects the border outpost of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and took stock of the force's preparedness, in Arunachal Pradesh, Monday, April 10, 2023. (PTI Photo)

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.
by Dario Salvi

The UN and Oman have brought the government and rebels closer to the negotiating table. Saudis released 13 Houthi prisoners. A ceasefire could be announced before the end of the month. Some major issues must still be dealt with before peace is achieved. Meanwhile, other players, like al-Qaeda, could play troublemakers.

Milan (AsiaNews)  After years of a brutal war forgotten by the international community and western powers, there are some glimmers of hope that Yemen might finally find some peace or at least a truce with an exchange of prisoners.

A Yemeni government official spoke to that effect following a meeting between Saudi and Omani officials and Iranian-backed Houthi leaders in Sana'a, Chinas Xinhua reports.

This follows a long period of tensions and a stalemate in negotiations that saw the United Nations try to find a way to end the Yemen conflict to little avail. Neighbouring Oman has also tried to mediate between the parties.

The recent Chinese-brokered Saudi-Iranian rapprochement appears to have paved the way for revived diplomatic activity in the region, in Yemen but also elsewhere.

The meeting in the Yemeni capital on Sunday is the first between senior Houthi and Saudi officials in the presence of Omani representatives.

Saudi ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber said that the meeting was intended to revive a previous truce and resume negotiations. As a result, a prisoners exchange might be in the cards, ahead of a sustainable and comprehensive political solution in Yemen."

Prisoner exchange

Yemen's internationally recognised government welcomed the latest efforts. The atmosphere is more favourable than any time before to restore peace in Yemen, said Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani in a statement.

Achieving peace would be a victory for constitutional legitimacy and the Saudi-led coalition, he added, noting that the recent Saudi-Iranian deal to resume diplomatic ties has made the atmosphere favourable for achieving peace.

Last week, the Yemeni government said that it had agreed with Houthi rebels to extend a previous truce by six months to one year. According to various sources, a deal should be announced before the end of the month.

A recent prisoners exchange is the first sign that this time the parties might be serious about finding a solution. A Houthi official, Abdul-Qader el-Murtaza, said that 13 Houthi prisoners were released in exchange for a Saudi prisoner.

The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross brokered an exchange last month in Switzerland, involving a total of 887 detainees.

Repeated diplomatic failures to stop a war that began in 2014 has caused the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with 400,000 deaths, including 11,000 children, compounded by the devastating" impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presently, millions of people are on the brink of starvation and children are likely to suffer the consequences for decades. More than three million Yemenis are internally displaced persons, most living in conditions of poverty, hunger and epidemics, like cholera.

The war itself has not seen any major changes on the ground. The Houthis (Ansar Allah) hold one third of the country with two-thirds of the population. The main front is in Marib governorate where the pro-Iranian rebels have launched an offensive that has met with tough government resistance.

To rule, the rebels have not hesitated from using violence, with no respect for human rights. Dissenters have been summarily tried, jailed and executed, minors included.

Children have been forcibly drafted to fight by both sides.

In Houthi-held areas, there is no freedom of expression and journalists have been arrested and punished. Women have seen their rights and freedoms curtailed, placed under a male "guardian", a situation that has blocked the work of humanitarian groups.

Cautious optimism

A year ago, timid attempts were made to prop up a tentative truce and reduce the suffering of the population.

The UN special envoy Hans Grundberg, appointed in September 2021, was able to get the parties to agree to a two-month truce, which was renewed for six, followed by the start of negotiations.

At the same time, Yemeni President Abdu Rabbu Mansur Hadi was replaced by an eight-member Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), after a ten-year rule.

However, the UN-brokered truce expired on 2 October and was not renewed. As fighting resumed, the two sides blamed each other for the failure of negotiations.

Speaking to the AP news agency, Grundberg praised the ongoing diplomatic efforts, in particular the meeting over the weekend between Houthis, Saudis and Omanis, which constitutes 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 explained.

Ahmed Nagi, a Yemen expert at the International Crisis Group, said that the Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement has boosted Saudi-Houthi talks, and that both sides are close to announcing the truces renewal.

However, the second track of the Houthi-Saudi negotiations is still a major challenge. "Each party has different interpretations and expectations," he noted. "Given the complexities of the situation, it is hard to see progress on this track very soon."

The terms of any deal have not been made public, but they are expected to include a commitment to pay public employees wages and reopen all ports and airports, as well as more ambitious goals, such as rebuilding the country, the departure of foreign forces, and an agreement on a political transition. All of these have been stumbling blocks in the past.

Yemens civil war is complicated by the presence of multiple actors; even a peace deal between Houthis and the pro-Saudi government may not be enough to stop fighting and bring relief to an exhausted population.

Other players, like al-Qaeda and South Yemen separatists once supported by the United Arab Emirates have their own agenda. Talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia might not be enough.

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by Mathias Hariyadi

The building was handed over to the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) on Easter Sunday, but some members of the congregation refuse to use it because it was not built at its original site. According to some members, local authorities disregarded court rulings while politicians are just trying to win votes ahead of next year's elections.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  After a dispute that lasted 15 years, members of the GKI[*] Yasmin Church in Bogor City finally got their own place of worship on Easter Sunday; however, the new building remains controversial, as some faithful refuse to use it.

In 2006, local authorities in Bogor (West Java) granted a permit (IMB)[] to the GKI congregation to build a church near the Taman Yasmin housing complex, which they revoked in March 2011, following protests by radical Muslim groups claiming that the place of worship undermined communal peace.

The following year, Bogors mayor proposed to build the church at a different location, in West Bogor district. Some members of the Yasmin congregation refused the offer, arguing that giving in to pressure would set a bad precedent for minorities, already subject to government decisions.

Two days ago, Easter Sunday, Mayor Bima Arya handed over the new building to GKI leaders at a ceremony attended by several high-level officials, including Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin (Mahfud MD), Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, and National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)[] Chairwoman Atnike Nova Sigiro.

Although the mayor hailed the new church as a "peaceful solution" to a crisis that went on for 15 years, the inauguration has deepened a rift within the GKI Yasmin congregation, pitting those who are happy with the new place of worship and those who refuse to attend it.

For some members of the congregation, the new building cannot be regarded as the best peaceful solution" Bogor authorities could have found; in their view, the latter failed to respect the constitution and Pancasila, the Indonesian state philosophy.

In their view, the authorities ignored the legal ruling granting GKI Yasmin land at its first site, not another place.

Bona Sigalingging, spokeswoman for GKI Yasmin, told AsiaNews that the solution proposed by the Bogor administration ignored the fact that the Church owned other assets at the original site.

For other members, the new church is just a "political gimmick" by people in power to win votes ahead of next year's general election.

[*] Gereja Kristen Indonesia, Indonesian Christian Church, a Presbyterian denomination.

[] Izin Mendirikan Bangunan in Indonesian.

[] Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia.
by Melani Manel Perera

In his Easter homily, the archbishop recalled the first anniversary since the April 9, 2022 start of the protests that led to the fall of President Rajapaksa. "Young people have shown courage, we cannot resign ourselves to evil." Remembered in an interfaith celebration the victims of the crackdown on the demonstrations.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - The Sri Lankan people's struggle to defend their rights in the country's grave situation is a witness to the new life transmitted by the Risen One said the Archbishop of Colombo, Card. Malcom Ranjith, in his Easter Sunday homily delivered in the cathedral.

It was a message linked to the fact that in the very same hours Sri Lanka commemorated the first anniversary of the beginning of Aragalaya, the popular uprising that began on April 9, 2022 and would later lead to the resignation of then President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in July.

Card. Ranjith noted that "Christianity is a faith of people who know how to smile even in the midst of problems. This is the resurrection. And that is what Jesus showed on the cross: he challenged the negative attitudes of life."

"Some people," he continued in his homily, "say not to try to change, but to let things go on by themselves. Instead, the young people who went to the square in front of Parliament wanted to be agents of change in this country. They showed courage. And resurrection means just that."

"Instead, if we let ourselves be overcome by the force of habit, let things go, we no longer oppose evil. We are the ones who have to change. As Christians, we must commit ourselves: this is resurrection."

The anniversary of the start of the protests was commemorated Sunday morning at the Galle Face Green with a windfall attended by religious leaders including Buddhist monks, a Methodist priest, a Catholic nun, Muslim representatives and several civil society activists. Relatives of people who died in Aragalaya were also present.

During the commemoration, organizers unveiled a memorial, lit lamps and performed religious rites in memory of the victims of the crackdown. One of the protest leaders, Ajantha Perera said that if progress has been made in the country since the year 2022, it is because of the people's struggle.

"We see that the current government is also working to turn the people's struggle into terrorism through various laws, but we say we are not afraid of them. Regardless of the threats and obstacles, we will continue to carry on this struggle to achieve the change we want in this country."
Today's headlines: Chinese naval and air forces remain around Taiwan; Indian military worried by Chinese construction on Bhutan border; Seoul says US intelligence documents posted on web are fake; Burmese military bomb village and kill 11 civilians; Tensions in Ukraine between population and Orthodox clergy loyal to Moscow.

ISRAEL

Benjamin Netanyahu reinstated yesterday as head of the Defense Ministry Yoav Gallant, who was fired two weeks ago for calling for a freeze on controversial judicial reform. The Israeli premier is under pressure from street protests, clashes in the Palestinian Territories, attacks from Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip, and a drop in public approval.

CHINA-TAIWAN

Chinese ships and warplanes remain stationed around Taiwan at the end of three days of military exercises announced by Beijing on April 9. The maneuvers began upon the return to the island of President Tsai Ing-wen, who days earlier had met with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.

INDIA-CHINA

The Indian Armed Forces expressed serious concern about massive construction by the Chinese in the Amo Chu Valley. The area lies on the disputed Himalayan border between Delhi and Beijing, and is formally part of Bhutan. In 2017, the two armies faced off against each other in this section of the mountain range.

SOUTH KOREA-USA

The South Korean government said today that a significant portion of the U.S. intelligence documents leaked on the web are false, especially regarding Seoul's alleged opposition to arms transfers to Ukraine. For Washington, publication of the material poses a serious threat to national security and relations with allies.

MYANMAR

An airstrike by the coup military junta killed 11 civilians in Falam, a village in Chin State. The bombing was triggered yesterday after local opposition forces stormed and set fire to a police station.

UKRAINE-RUSSIA

Residents of the Ukrainian city of Kamenetsk-Podolsky gathered en masse in front of the gates of the local Orthodox church to demand that priests break away from the Orthodox patriarchate in Moscow and move from Upz jurisdiction to the autocephalous Pzu jurisdiction. In Ternopol, Upz worshippers were forced to enter the church amid two wings of crowds protesting them.

TURKMENISTAN

In the velayat of Balkan, local hospitals have begun accepting, as payment for treatment of patients also on the list for urgent operations, blood donations from relatives and friends, who crowd in front of laboratories for blood samples.
An American Airlines flight and a private jet are pictured at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport on a recent afternoon. A review committee selected by Pitkin County is currently in the process of evaluating candidates to be the airports next fixed-based operator, or FBO, which provides various services for private aircraft and also refuels commercial and private planes.
Korea's first 3000-ton-class Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine is on display at a launching ceremony at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering's shipyard on Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province, in this September 2018 file photo. Korea Times file



By Park Jae-hyuk



The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) told the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) last week that Hanwha Group's acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) will not restrict competition in the warship market, according to government officials, Tuesday.



The state arms procurement agency's opinion is expected to prompt the antitrust regulator to speed up its review of the conglomerate's plan to take over the shipbuilder.



After Hanwha decided to buy DSME from the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), the shipbuilder's rivals raised concerns about the possibility of the conglomerate monopolizing the nation's warship market by taking advantage of its status as the sole supplier of defense systems for warships.



As a result, the FTC asked the DAPA to review the reasonability of their concerns.



Hanwha has therefore not been able to get approval for its acquisition of DSME from the Korean government, while the antitrust authorities of other countries gave the green light to the deal. Earlier this month, Hanwha even received unconditional approval from the European Commission, which had vetoed HD Hyundai's previous attempt to acquire DSME in 2022.



Industry officials anticipate that the FTC may also give unconditional approval, based on the opinion of the DAPA. The antitrust regulator was initially expected to give conditional approval, asking Hanwha to take measures to prevent the supply of its defense systems to DSME's rivals for higher prices.



The FTC emphasized that it has gone all out to finish its review as soon as possible, considering the significance of Hanwha's acquisition of DSME.



While the FTC has delayed its decision, however, it has faced growing protests from both Hanwha and DSME, as well as politicians and residents of Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province, where the shipbuilder's shipyard is located.



A civic group based on Geoje Island held a press conference on Monday to urge the FTC to immediately approve the deal.



"The FTC should respond to the suspicion that DSME's rivals have intentionally interrupted the review of the merger deal," the civic group said at the press conference.



The group also plans to hold a rally on Wednesday in front of the FTC headquarters inside the Sejong Government Complex.


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According to The Telegraph, the British Parking Association verified several older parking buildings and discovered they might not be able to handle too many of these BEVs. Many of these facilities were built in the 1960s and 1970s  when vehicles tipped the scale a lot lower than what BEVs currently weigh. It is worth remembering that a first-generation 1976 Ford Fiesta had a curb weight of 715 kg (1,576 lb). The lightest seventh-generation car released in 2017 weighs 1,113 kg (2,454 lb). BEVs only make that worse.The Telegraph gives three examples: the Tesla Model 3, the Audi e-Tron , and the Nissan LEAF. According to the British newspaper, they tip the scale respectively at 1,672 kg (3,686 lb), 2,351 kg (5,183 lb), and 1,580 kg (3,483 lb). Now imagine an entire fleet of these machines willing to park in old buildings, some of which may be poorly preserved.That made the association elaborate new guidance recommending a higher design loading limit for concrete floors to be higher than they are today. Instead of 2.5 kilonewtons per square meter, they should present at least 3 kN/m2. For older parking buildings, the British Parking Association suggests the owners should inspect their properties and even impose weight limits if they feel these new BEVs will represent a risk.Chris Whapples, the structural engineer who wrote the new British Parking Association guidance, said that this should not be a problem considering several facilities already impose height limits. The main difference is that there are easy ways to see if a vehicle is too tall to enter a parking spot. When it comes to weight, you either need to know the precise weight of all BEVs or you have to place a vehicle scale somewhere. That may not be a feasible option for most parking buildings.Supposing these parking buildings adopt these measures, they may soon face a customer shortage. The UK recently published the Zero Emissions vehicle mandate , which will eventually ban sales of new vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines by 2030. If the British governments plans do not change, it may not take that long for most customers to drive much heavier cars than they do today.The Telegraphs article approaches an issue that may be limited to parking buildings, butweight issues extrapolate that scenario. What about bridges? Will they deal well with the added weight? Are they being well preserved? Several countries currently facing theshift have issues with road infrastructure maintenance. Collapsing bridges are not as rare as they should be, which makes the subject even more pressing. Potholes are made worse by heavy vehicles as well. Roads designed to deal with lighter vehicles may not handle a massive number of these larger machines.The British Parking Association may have anticipated a broader problem affecting way more than its members. One of these associates said it is more concerned about charging infrastructure than if their buildings will deal well with the heavier vehicles they were created to protect. That reminds us that electric cars also need more than just sturdier buildings. In the UK, complaints about the charging infrastructure are increasing. But there is another challenge ahead involving these machines.Fuel taxes are used in several countries to fund road maintenance. BEVs do not pay them for obvious reasons. Those governments that depend on this tax are between a rock and a hard place. While they want to stimulate customers to buy electric cars, they will also run out of money to fix road infrastructure if they do not find an alternative way to compensate for fuel taxes. As a consequence, it will be harder to repair and keep bridges and highways in pristine condition. Most are already pretty far from that and are happy enough not to have too many potholes to fix.As I have mentioned in my article about the automotive Easter (or Passover, if you prefer), we are ahead of a profound transformation that will affect many more things than just the way we refuel our cars. There are implications we are just starting to grasp, such as the need for stronger parking buildings (reading this article requires a subscription) and roads. There must be several other ramifications to this fundamental change that we have yet to discover. As much as we hope that none of them will be insurmountable, we may just be sure about that when they are already unavoidable. Lets hope that is not the case.
DCT

The Modena-based automaker started investigating this problem on February 27, following a routine inspection at the assembly plant. Maserati determined that potentially affected vehicles don't meet specific testing requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 208, thus forcing the Italian automaker to issue a recall.11 examples of the MC20 Cielo are called back stateside, comprising vehicles produced between October 10, 2022 and March 21, 2023. Ineffective adhesion of the windshield frame increases the risk of injury in a crash, and the concern goes against two sections of FMVSS 208, as per the report attached below.Turin-based Cecomp S.p.A. is the supplier of the windshield frame's lower crossbar, but as mentioned earlier, this company has no fault whatsoever in this whole affair. Maserati doesn't explain how the ineffective adhesion issue was corrected on the assembly line, but chances are that Maserati reinstructed plant workers in this regard. Dealers will be informed of this problem on May 22, the day owners will be informed as well via first-class mail. Dealers will first reattach the vehicle's windshield frame, then replace the windshield.A rather exotic sighting both at home and abroad, the MC20 Cielo doesn't have a price tag on the automaker's build & price tool. Definitely priced higher than its coupe-bodied sibling, which is $216,995 at press time, the open-top model features a twin-turbocharged V6 that drives the rear wheels via an eight-speed transmission.Said tranny is a Tremec-suppliedshared with the mid-engined Corvette. Given that it comes with an electronic limited-slip differential as standard, it's more closely related to the transmission of the Z51-equipped C8 Stingray than the Stingray without the Z51 package.Falsely advertised as being 100 percent Maserati by design, the Nettuno twin-turbocharged V6 has a few strong connections to Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, beginning with the 1-6-3-4-2-5 firing order and 90-degree V angle. The bore and stroke, oil filter mounting, and cooling passages are eerily similar as well, although the heads are unique thanks to Formula 1-derived tech.The pre-chamber combustion system, which features twin spark plugs, enables an extremely quick combustion cycle. Both port and direct fuel injection are employed, as is a dry-sump lubrication system. Capable of 630 ps and 730 Nm on full song, as in 621 horsepower and 538 pound-feet stateside, the MC20 Cielo is built around a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis unique to Maserati.Going forward, the MC20 Cielo and MC20 will both receive a full-electric option under the Folgore nameplate, the Italian word for thunderbolt. The GranTurismo Folgore is currently limited to 818 ponies in boost mode, but given time, its three-motor powertrain will belt out just around 1,200 horsepower




President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, shakes hands with Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, left, at the groundbreaking ceremony of Kia AutoLand in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Yonhap



By Kim Hyun-bin



Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled its medium- to long-term strategy for joining the global top three in the electric vehicle (EV) market by 2030 by injecting 24 trillion won ($18.1 billion), the company said Tuesday.



The announcement was made during a groundbreaking ceremony to build the country's first customized electric car factory, AutoLand, in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. President Yoon Suk Yeol was in attendance, along with around 200 people, including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, Kia Corp. CEO Song Ho-sung and executives and workers of Hyundai Motor and Kia.



Yoon pointed out that the global automotive industry is undergoing a huge paradigm shift, as the movement towards carbon neutrality accelerates, the adoption rate of EVs increases rapidly and high-speed data transmission and AI are triggering a mobility revolution.



"We will raise Korea's electric vehicle production capacity five times by 2030 to make Korea a Global Top 3 in Future Cars," Yoon said. "Kia's EV-only plant is the first new plant built by Hyundai Motor Group in Korea in 29 years and the first step in investing 24 trillion won in the domestic electric vehicle sector by 2030."



The comments aligned with, Hyundai Motor, Kia and Hyundai Mobis' announcement that they would invest 24 trillion won in Korea over the next eight years to expand domestic production and export of EVs and strengthen related industries.



"Hyundai Motor, Kia and Hyundai Mobis plan to invest a total of 24 trillion won in the domestic EV sector by 2030, contributing to Korea's leap forward to become one of the top three global EV powerhouses," Kia CEO Song Ho-sung said.



The company aims to join the top 3 in global EV sales by 2030, by expanding annual production to 1.51 million vehicles including exports of 920,000 vehicles and increasing global EV production to 3.64 million vehicles.



The automotive group's large-scale investment is aimed at advancing the domestic EV industry and is expected to promote a virtuous cycle for domestic EV production, R&D, infrastructure and related industries.



It is promoting the conversion of production to EV-only lines at existing factories along with the establishment of a new factory for EVs tailored to customers' needs in order to expand domestic production capacity.





President Yoon Suk Yeol, front row thirdfrom left, applauds next to Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, front row third from left, and other company and government officials at the groundbreaking ceremony for an EV factory held at Kia's AutoLand in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Yonhap
EV

Tesla only gave a little thought to vehicle testing very recently. " Deliver now, fix later " was the company's motto for years. Little seems to have changed if we look at customers complaining about reliability and build quality issues. Things did change slightly, considering that we've seen many Tesla prototypes undergoing testing on public roads in the past year. This was a rare sighting just a couple of years ago, but it's now part of everyday life in some areas of California and Texas.First, the Model 3 prototypes made the headlines as Tesla readied the Project Highland refresh. Soon after, as few people thought it was still possible, Cybertruck prototypes started popping out everywhere. The sightings became denser as the electric pickup approached the start of production, which is rumored to happen this summer. We know what the production Cybertruck would look like, but Tesla is more concerned about how it drives.The most recent sighting around the Fremont factory was a strange Cybertruck prototype equipped with steel wheels. People were up in arms about the controversial wheels on the Cybertruck Owners Club, where the prototype pictures were posted. Steel wheels are an excellent option for people torturing the truck in rough terrain. They are less prone to being scratched or less expensive to replace when something goes wrong. Still, people don't like the steel wheels and instead have the Cybertruck with its signature rims.A closer look at the prototype reveals that the truck's body is covered in wires and sensors following the truck's body edges. A trained eye can also see that the steel wheels are not just cosmetic but also packed with sensors. According to more knowledgeable people, wheel force transducers are attached to them, providing a wealth of data during passenger car development and testing phases. Based on the manufacturer's website description, wheel force transducers "replace the standard wheels, measuring the forces and moments acting on the tire contact patch."Using specialized testing equipment shows that Tesla finally "means business" with the Cybertruck, leaving no stone unturned when polishing the truck. People expect the electric pickup truck to be perfect, especially as they must wait a long time to enter production. The hype surrounding the Cybertruck is impressive. Unless Tesla does a marvelous job with it, people will be utterly disappointed.Tesla's job is even more difficult, considering the Cybertruck arrives late at the electric pickup truck party. Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning , and the GMC Hummeralready enjoy fame in one way or another. Other models like the Chevy Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and Ram 1500 REV are also waiting for the limelight.
Photo: Worth Avenue Yachts

Photo: Northrop & Johnson

Photo: Northrop & Johnson

Sunrays is the billionaires version of a family boat. It was built for private leisure and fun, but to most of us, it looks more like a floating five-star resort. Its one of those designs that didnt revolutionize yachting but stayed true to what superyachts are essentially about  opulent luxury and ultimate comfort.More than a decade ago, in 2010, Sunrays was delivered as the latest model in Oceancos highly successful Y700 series. Oceanco is a name that has made waves even among those who arent the biggest yachting fans. For those who arent familiar with it, two yacht names would be enough to suggest this brands outstanding reputation  Seven Seas (Steven Spielbergs former yacht, now operating as Man of Steel) and Koru (Jeff Bezos fresh luxury toy).Whats fascinating about this Dutch builder is that even though its relatively young for the world of boat building, especially compared to the historic Dutch shipyards that are dominating the market today, it grew extremely fast, and now enjoys a solid reputation worldwide. One of the reasons could be that it focused on superyachts over 80 meters (262 feet) right from the start.This yacht-building company was founded in 1987, and at first, the hulls and superstructures were built in Durban, South Africa, and then sent to the Netherlands, where the building process would be completed. Eventually, Oceanco moved all of its operations to the Netherlands, where it brought to life multiple famous superyachts, that went on to win prestigious awards.Considering the size category it focuses on, its no surprise that this Dutch builder knows what billionaire yacht owners are looking for. Sunrays is also said to have an ultra-rich owner  Ravi Ruia. Ravi and Shashi Ruia are known as the billionaire Mumbai brothers who own the Essar Group, with multiple branches.Sunrays is undoubtedly made for the high life. It easily turns heads with its rare, teal blue color, which perfectly matches the French Riviera. This is where Sunrays feels most at home and where it has spent most of its life.Although a mammoth vessel of over 260 feet (85.5 meters), it doesnt typically go any further than the Mediterranean. Whenever its not enjoyed by its owner and his family, this beautiful blue toy can be chartered by other families, but not for a small price. Those who want a taste of luxury must be willing to part with a whopping 1.1 million per week (more than $1.25 million).But how often do you hear of yachts that boast no less than four pools? And this is in addition to a giant helideck that converts into a disco stage, and sophisticated accommodation for up to 12 guests. The spectacular result is owed to the creativity of two industry giants  the late Bjorn Johansson, who designed Sunrays aggressive yet majestic silhouette, and the acclaimed Terence Disdale, who envisioned an interior described by Oceanco as timeless.Sunrays accommodation definitely raises the bar in terms of luxury. It offers a total of nine suites, all with beautiful views and a flexible layout. The master suite and a VIP cabin are both on the upper deck and can be joined to create a lavish owners deck.The master suite has access to its own terrace and jacuzzi and can integrate a third cabin that could be used by kids or nannies, while the VIP stateroom also has a private balcony. Five more cabins, including a second VIP stateroom, are placed on the main deck, while a third VIP stateroom, on the lower deck, offers sea-level views from its private balcony.In addition to the typical large jacuzzi on the sun deck, Sunrays also spoils its guests with a huge, double pool on the main deck, flanked by cozy sun pads. An entire deck is dedicated to a state-of-the-art spa, with both a Hammam and a sauna, and theres also a modern indoor/outdoor gym.Originally, an Airbus H145 sporting a matching teal blue color scheme waited proudly on the yachts helipad. The helideck is still functional and also doubles as a club area at night, thanks to the premium lighting and sound systems.During the day, a cinema, a main salon, and numerous indoor and outdoor lounge areas provide both fun and relaxation. In fact, one of the most interesting features of Sunrays is that delicate, Asian-inspired panels are used throughout to help create intimacy in bigger spaces. This makes the lounge areas more versatile  they can be enjoyed as such or converted into smaller, more private spots for relaxation.Powered by twin MTU engines, the beautiful Sunrays is easily propelled to 16 knots (18.4 mph/29.6 kph) and it claims to be in excellent shape, following its most recent refit in 2018. Mainly a popular charter yacht, Sunrays is also up for grabs, although the 129 million ($140 million) price tag isnt as inviting as its exquisite amenities.
The Wienermobile is one of the most iconic, if not actuallymost iconic, promotional vehicle in the United States, hailing from the early days of on-the-road marketing. It started roaming the streets of Chicago in 1936 and continues to travel across the country even today, catalytic converter thieves be damned. The Wienermobile continues to deliver fun, good taste, and a sense of humor wherever it goes, and its next stop will combine all of these together with a very hefty side dish of love.Paris might be the universal city of love, but when it comes to celebrating said love, Las Vegas has it beat. So, for the April 15-16 weekend, one Wienermobile will be parked outside the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it will be turned into a wedding chapel, called the Wienermobile of Love. Of course.The idea is that hot dog lovers looking to tie the knot in an informal, stress-free, and free-of-charge location will be able to do so at the Wienermobile of Love, with Oscar Mayer covering all fees, including for the actual ceremony, and afterward drinks and snacks. All you have to bring is your Las Vegas marriage license and, of course, your significant other. Oscar Mayer is taking bookings online, on a first-come, first-served basis.Since this is a hot dog promotional vehicle , expect the ceremony to be hot dog flavored. The company mentions that Hotdoggers will be dressed to the nines to greet the party, including the one officiating the ceremony, and that a live wiener whistle quartet will provide the backing track, while guests indulge in a wonderfully odd wiener cake. If you love processed meat on a bun, there is literally no better way to start married life than with a hot dog-themed wedding ceremony, and the fact that its an all-expenses-paid kind of treat isnt even the reason why.In the pun-tastic announcement for this one-off use of a Wienermobile, Oscar Mayer points to the stress and the financial considerations that usually turn any couples wedding day into a nightmare. That much is true and you know it, if you ever had to plan a wedding, yours or someone elses. In the spirit of the Wienermobiles mission to bring fun wherever it goes, this time-limited campaign will bring some levity to a stressful moment, and free hot dogs to the party.
Ordering food from the car is a common thing these days, but most drivers still rely on the traditional phone call method.In the last few years, however, modern app integration provided us with more convenient alternatives, including options bundled with navigation apps. Such capabilities are already part of Google Maps , for instance, though they are still limited to staying in touch with the restaurant.Dominos says its customers want to order pizza right from their cars and avoid waiting in a drive-thru lane or anything like that. This is precisely why it updated its iOS app with support for CarPlay and two options to order pizza.First of all, its the integration of Call or Order. With a self-explanatory name, this option allows drivers to talk to a customer service representative and send their order the old-fashioned way. Second of all, the option called Tap to Order is the big star of the show.Thanks to the CarPlay integration, drivers can send an order with a few taps on the screen. The feature supports a saved Easy Order or a recent order. When you launch the app on CarPlay and try to order pizza, you should see an option to choose from favorites. The Easy Order menu includes everything you typically order and previously saved, so you dont need to go through the menu again.The Recent Orders section shows a list of your latest orders. Theres a quick list of what you ordered, so you can tap any of them and send it again.In addition to sending an order, the updated Dominos app also supports tracking the order. Dominos Tracker is already a popular option, and thanks to the CarPlay integration, its now available for drivers as well. Users can therefore know precisely when their order is ready for pickup.Dominos CarPlay integration is living proof that such systems are becoming more popular. As such, it makes it even clearer that General Motors is making a huge mistake by stepping away from Android Auto and CarPlay. The American carmaker wants to give up on the two platforms beginning in 2024. Its new EVs would no longer feature Android Auto and CarPlay, as the company is betting big on Android Automotive as part of a subscription model.The long-term goal is to turn subscriptions into a money-making machine. By giving up on Android Auto and CarPlay, however, General Motors is leaving behind two very popular platforms that are getting more traction not only among drivers, but also in the world of software developers and businesses out there.
The integration of a sleep timer has been spotted in the Android version of the app. Google is yet to release any announcement on this front, but the availability of the sleep timer is still very limited.The sleep timer has long been a top requested feature on YouTube Music. With such an option, users can continue listening to their music and configure the app to automatically stop the playback after a certain time. This way, if they fall asleep, YouTube Music wouldnt continue playing the audio in their speakers or earbuds.The sleep timer has been in the works since 2022, but Google never promised it would ship it to users. Given the feedback, however, the company didnt have much choice, as the sleep timer was a top request on Android and iPhone.The sleep timer appears to be exclusive to Android devices, but it should go live on iPhones soon as well. The feature is part of Google's strategy of turning YouTube Music into a more advanced streaming platform. The race against Spotify and Apple Music is getting fiercer, so Google must align YouTube Music with users' expectations.The option is integrated into the Now Play menu at the bottom of the screen.I feel like this menu is getting a little cluttered, especially because it includes so many options. In the long term, I believe Google will start moving options around, especially as its adding new functionality to YouTube Music. The sleep timer should be placed in the main UI, with a dedicated toggle in settings to enable it.YouTube Music was the recommended destination for everybody running Google Play Music on Android Auto . At first, the app was severely lacking in terms of features versus its predecessor, forcing some users to jump ship completely. Many people who purchased and downloaded music on GPM ended up unable to listen to their tunes on YouTube Music without paying for a subscription.The service didnt come with a free tier at the beginning, so even listening to purchased music was blocked. Google eventually listened to feedback and updated the service with support for a free version. This way, former Google Play Music could continue listening to their music without the need for getting a subscription.In the meantime, YouTube Music has evolved to become a more advanced alternative to the likes of Spotify. Google is working non-stop on adding modern capabilities. Live lyrics, a feature that has long been available in Spotify, is now rolling out to users on YouTube Music as well. The feature seems to launch in waves.
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Chief Commercial Officer of Microsoft Judson Althoff, left, and LG CNS CEO Hyun Shin-gyoon pose after holding a meeting at Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, on April 6. Courtesy of LG CNS



By Kim Jae-heun



LG CNS, a company specializing in digital transformation (DX), has decided to strengthen its strategic cooperation with Microsoft in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud-based DX, the company said Tuesday.



LG CNS CEO Hyun Shin-gyoon visited Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, on April 6, and held a meeting with Judson Althoff, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Microsoft.



The Korean firm agreed with Microsoft Korea on ways to cooperate for the Azure Open AI Service business with an aim to develop new services based on AI, such as Chat GPT of OpenAI installed in Microsoft's cloud platform service Azure. It plans to provide various AI functions such as language understanding and image and emotion analysis by using open AI technology.



"We will lead the market by quickly creating new AI services based on Microsoft's innovative cloud infrastructure, data analysis, and open AI technology on Azure," Hyun said.



LG CNS will also join hands with Microsoft to expand its business in the field of "generative AI" based on data analysis and machine learning technology. Generative AI refers to a technology that creates pieces of writing, pictures or imitates a human voice.



The two companies plan to gather their experts in the fields of AI and cloud technology and form a special team to develop AI services.



LG CNS is in charge of developing services such as the Artificial Intelligence Contact Center and Knowledge Chatbot that give expert knowledge and information in certain fields, while Microsoft will provide advice and technical support.



Furthermore, LG CNS will explore new AI business opportunities for customer firms that operate businesses in manufacturing, finance, retail, e-commerce and game industries together with Microsoft.



Since its declaration of a "Cloud First" strategy in 2019, the company signed a strategic cloud partnership with Microsoft and has been conducting an Azure Activation Program on a yearly basis.


11 April 2023 11:52 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijan's Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan, Azernews reports, citing the agency.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the city of Astana within the framework of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The document was signed by the chairman of SMBDA Orkhan Mammadov and the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan Ayan Yerenov.

In the Memorandum, promotion, and support of cooperation between SMEs of both countries, trade, investment opportunities, economic cooperation, mutual information on innovations and various events in the field of SMEs, exchange of experience in the field of service to SMEs, joint events and exhibitions to strengthen cooperation between SMEs are envisaged.

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11 April 2023 17:17 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Discussions about natural gas transportation from Turkiye to Nakhchivan through the gas pipeline are ongoing, Azernews reports, citing Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Donmez.

The Minister noted that the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and TANAP projects have been put into operation and Turkiye has an opportunity to gain access to world markets. He added that Turkiye also cooperates with Azerbaijan in the field of electricity, and continues to cooperate in other fields.

Annual 500 million cubic meters of natural gas will be transported through the 85-kilometer line to Nakhchivan.

On December 15, 2020, Azerbaijans Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the supply of natural gas to Nakhchivan in Ankara.

The Memorandum of Understanding is of strategic importance for the supply of natural gas to Nakhchivan. It ensures the cooperation of the companies of both countries - State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and BOTAS in technical, commercial, administrative, legal, and other issues related to the supply of natural gas. The gas supply from Turkiye to Nakhchivan will diversify the gas supply and increase the reliability of the energy supply. With support from both Iran and Turkiye, Nakhchivan will be able to fully satisfy the growing energy demand.

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11 April 2023 17:59 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Araz Valley Economic Zone Industrial Park will produce Italian IVECO brands of cars, Azernews reports citing the Chairman of the Economical Zone Development Agency Elshad Nuriyev.

"The project work on the setting up of a service center for IVECO has been completed and the construction of the center will be started as soon as possible," he said.

We should note that by the Decree of the Azerbaijani President in 2021, the Araz Valley Economic Zone Industrial Park was established in Jabrayil district, which is a part of the East Zangazur economic region.

Currently, two business entities have received resident status and one non-resident status in the "Araz Valley Economic Zone" industrial park.

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11 April 2023 16:14 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Honored Art Worker Ali Amirli has proposed to give ESA Theater the status of a state theater.

The playwright made a remark at the Theater Forum on "Azerbaijani theater - 150: development prospects", Azernews reports.

In his speech, Honored Art Worker outlined that ESA is the only inclusive theater operating in the country, and therefore it should be given the status of a state theater.

Founded in 2016, it is the country and the Caucasus' first inclusive theater with actors with disabilities.

The name of the theater consists of three words  Unobstructed, Unlimited and Free.

The theater's progressive goals include ensuring and accelerating social integration of the persons with disabilities, ensuring joint activity of people with or without disabilities, raising their social and public welfare, promoting them to deal with not only theater, but also other fields of the art, etc.

Note that the Theater Forum on "Azerbaijani theater - 150: development prospects" is underway at Heydar Aliyev.

The forum is being held within the framework of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev.

The event is co-organized by the Culture Ministry and the Heydar Aliyev Center in partnership with Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts.

The forum agenda includes panel discussions on the topics "Traditions and trends in the Azerbaijani theater", "Modern acting school in the national theater: a systematic approach in the renewal process", "Concept and strategic goals", "Development of human capital in the theatrical field".

The proposals collected on the basis of the exchange of ideas and discussions during the forum will be taken into account in the action plan drawn up in connection with the "State Strategy of Culture of Azerbaijan for 2020-2040".

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11 April 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Earlier this month, the failed attempts of Armenia's armed forces to participate in the NATO military drills was not left hidden in the Armenian public. True to its mission, the Armenian press tried to dress up the information in different ways.

It is all about the reports in the late March in which the name of Armenia had been listed in NATO's military drill under the motto of Defender 23, however, later its name for some reasons or another was removed from the list. Of course, as it is clear from the general discussions, this situation was not welcomed by the Armenian community. Given that a similar situation that had happened in 2021, and the Armenian side had been very dissatisfied with it, the recurrence of it as though reopened the wound of Armenia.

In an interview given to Armenpress by the press secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry, Aram Torosyan noted that Armenia will not participate in Defender 23, but will participate in two other military exercises that NATO will hold in Europe, more precisely in KFOR (Kosovo Force) and Saber Junction military exercises.

The hesitancy of Armenia forms an idea that there is an ambiguity in the Armenian administration, and that the orders come not only from Yerevan but from Moscow as well.

In an interview with Azernews, the political analyst Ilgar Valizade has commented on the issue. He noted that Armenia has never conducted and will never conduct truly independent foreign policy as it is bound to Russia's consent.

The air defense system of Armenia is controlled by the Russian military and the airspace is also protected by the Russian military. Also, Russian border guards protect Armenia's borders with Turkiye and Iran, and some parts of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Besides that, Armenia is a member of the CSTO.

Armenia is integrated with Russia to such an extent that it is impossible to get out of this integration and participate in any training organized by NATO within 1-2 years, the expert opined.

He thinks that this is a spectacle performed by the Armenian government for the domestic audiences and Armenian diaspora abroad. Being aware of this show, Russia is sure that nothing is going to change and does not concern too much. Only, the uproars in Armenian media outlets irritate Russia, since it is directed against Russia.

More effective mechanisms are needed for real changes, and more effective steps need to be taken. The Armenian political leadership lacks courage for this, and Armenia has neither political nor military-political capabilities for this. These are all games, Valizade said.

As for Armenian-Iran relations on the backdrop of NATOs military drill, the analyst pointed out that Armenia and Iran are much alike, so Iran understands Armenia very well.

Like Russia, Iran knows very well that Armenia's intention of participating in the NATO organised drills are just show-off. Armenia will not join NATO, and NATO troops will not come to Armenia. The arrival of a few members of the EU observer mission to Armenia does not mean the arrival of NATO, the analyst said.

Also, Ilgar Valizade added that the visits of several Armenian military personnel to the headquarters of NATO cannot be considered a NATO-Armenia relations because there are no joint projects between the parties.

Which of NATO's regional projects can be pointed that Armenia participates in? There are no such projects. Until today, Armenia has not participated in any NATO projects and will not participate in any of them. Firstly, there is a Turkish factor. Secondly, Armenia is an uninteresting country for NATO.

I repeat once again, in order to achieve a better result, Armenia carry out reforms in its foreign policy. First of all, Armenia should review its foreign economic relations, leave the CSTO. Besides, the Russian military base should be removed from the territory of Armenia, and Armenian borders should be free of Russian guards. It should leave the joint air defense system as well. Otherwise NATO has nothing to do in Armenia unless all these things are put in order, Valizade added.

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11 April 2023 10:45 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

During the recent telephone conversations between the foreign ministers, detailed views were exchanged on the known situation between Azerbaijan and Iran. The Azerbaijani side evaluates these negotiations positively and considers it important to continue consultations, Azernews reports, citing the Press Secretary of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizade telling about the telephone conversations held between Azerbaijani and Iranian Foreign Ministers on April 7-8.

He noted that Azerbaijan has always been interested in the development of neighborly relations with all neighboring countries, including Iran. Mutual respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states is an unchanging priority of the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. In this regard, the Azerbaijani side continues its efforts to ensure the national interests and national security of our country.

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11 April 2023 12:18 (UTC+04:00)

Sabina Mammadli Read more

A group of Western Azerbaijani women have sent an appeal to the European Commission to support the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis to their homes. The appeal has been made to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Addressing the EU official, the letter informed her of the ethnic cleansing and other crimes against humanity against Azerbaijani people, noting that the Western Azerbaijan Community established in 1989, is dedicated to defending the rights of Azerbaijanis who have been forced to flee their homes in Armenia.

The community pointed out that not a single Azerbaijani is left in Armenia after the total ethnic cleansing, which has had a devastating effect on the community, particularly on women and girls, who have suffered greatly as a result of the expulsion.

We would like to highlight that the Western Azerbaijan Community places a specific emphasis on the women, peace and security agenda in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Our organization has developed the Concept of Return, in which the interests of women, children, and vulnerable social groups are considered the main priority, and the internationally accepted progressive concepts and standards in this field, including the women, peace and security agenda, are envisaged to play a central role in the return process, the appeal reads.

Furthermore, it was specified that the empowerment of women is essential to creating a peaceful and stable society, which the community is committed to promoting.

The appeal also drew attention to the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Armenia, and the refusal of Armenia to allow Azerbaijanis to visit their cemeteries, cultural heritage, and sacred places, despite the fact that such visits are crucial for peace and reconciliation.

Besides, the community pointed out that an appeal has previously been written to EU Council President Charles Michel to raise awareness of the organization's work and to seek political support for its efforts to enable the safe and dignified return of expelled Azerbaijanis from Armenia.

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the EU's mediatory role in the normalization of inter-state relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It goes without saying that the return process will also require substantial practical support from the international community. We would appreciate relevant practical assistance of the European Commission for our return, particularly for devising and implementing programs for addressing special needs of Azerbaijani women and girls during their repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration in Armenia, the community underlined.

Moreover, the women also stated that they count on von der Leyens personal support and understanding, as a woman and mother, of the plight of Azerbaijani women and girls who are suffering as a result of the ethnic cleansing carried out by Armenia.

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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SabinaMmdl

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11 April 2023 14:15 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Kazakh media outlets have highlighted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Kazakhstan, the speech of the two countries, and the development prospect of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, Azernews reports.

The news website .kz runs a headline titled Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan plan to increase trade turnover to $1 billion, which talks about the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The international information agency of Kazakhstan KazTAG provides data confirming the positive dynamics of the growth of trade turnover. The article reports that in 2022, Kazakhstan's exports to Azerbaijan increased by 30.4% and amounted to $375.3m, and imports - by 95.2%, amounting to $86.6m and showing an increase of 95.2%. The review indicates that the number of Azerbaijani investments in the economy of Kazakhstan reached $69.7m in 2022.

Kazakh mass media write about the age-old ties of brotherhood and friendship between the two peoples, which are united by common spiritual and cultural values. As noted by , recent initiatives in the humanitarian field, in particular, the decision to hold the Days of Culture of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan in Kazakhstan, will help bring the two peoples even closer and strengthen interstate relations.

Internet news agencies Orda and Tengrinews note that one of the brightest examples of friendship between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is the Kurmangazy Center for Children's Creativity, which Kazakhstan is currently building in the city of Fuzuli. Reporting that the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, invited the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the opening of the center, the online magazine Vlast cites the words of the head of the Azerbaijani state: This will be a good symbol of friendship and brotherhood of our peoples, because we have a lot of work to restore the destroyed infrastructure, including social infrastructure, and such an initiative from fraternal Kazakhstan, of course, evokes a feeling of great gratitude among all Azerbaijanis.

The Kazakh mass media pay special attention to the contribution that the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev made to the strengthening of strategic ties between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The publications emphasize that the Great Leader, who led the country in a difficult period, is rightfully considered the architect of modern independent Azerbaijan. According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, it was under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev that the young Azerbaijani state became a full member of the world community in a short time, and the life path of the great leader is a vivid example of selfless service to the nation, Kazakh media say.

According to the BaigeNews agency and other mass media, this year Kazakhstan will host a number of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev and the perpetuation of the memory of the national leader.

Kazinform agency writes about the upcoming premiere of a documentary film dedicated to the outstanding statesman of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. The article says that the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was informed about the premiere of the film Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during negotiations in an expanded format. He said that today the premiere of the documentary film "Gaziz Gumyr" or "Outstanding Life" about Heydar Aliyev, which was filmed on behalf of the President of Kazakhstan by the TV and Radio Corporation Kazakhstan will take place.

Many media outlets reported about the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Street in the center of Astana on April 10 with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. As the inAstana news site and other media outlets emphasize, this event was another evidence of respect for the great son of the Azerbaijani people.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda writes, the President of Kazakhstan said that modern strong and harmonious relations between Astana and Baku are invariably developing in the spirit of strategic partnership and alliance. The publication also says that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highly appreciated the strong leadership of Ilham Aliyev, who continues the creative work of his father with dignity and leads his country along the path of progress with confident steps.

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11 April 2023 16:47 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to newly elected President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic.

Dear Mr. Milatovic,

I cordially congratulate you on your election as the President of Montenegro.

Relations of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Montenegro have good traditions. I believe that we will make joint efforts to further strengthen our interstate relations and expand our cooperation for the interests of our peoples.

I extend my best regards to you, and wish you robust health, happiness and success in your future responsible activities for the sake of welfare of the friendly people of Montenegro.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 11 April 2023

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11 April 2023 18:19 (UTC+04:00)

Sabina Mammadli Read more

Azerbaijan as a key regional player greatly values its allies in the international arena, especially the other Turkic states, which are united by common language roots and traditions.

In this manner, Azerbaijan pays particular attention to its cooperation with the countries of Central Asia, considering the relations with these countries to be more than simple diplomacy and rather warm, familiar ties. Frequent bilateral visits, as well as multilateral cooperation and events organized within international organizations, give impetus to these relations. In this way, the recent visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Tajikistans Dushanbe, which proved to be a successful step in bilateral ties, was another such gesture of mutual commitment.

Approaching from the same aspect, the April 10 visit of the Azerbaijani president to Kazakhstans Astana city particularly demonstrates the existence of close ties between the two fraternal nations based on historical roots and geographical proximity.

We are allies, we are brothers, we are friends, President Aliyev stated further emphasizing the atmosphere of the visit.

In the framework of the visit, President Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration ceremony of one of the biggest streets in Astana named after the great Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev on the instruction of Kazakhstan. Such a grand gesture is the perfect example of fraternal cooperation between the two states and mutual respect for each other.

Our duty is to perpetuate and preserve the memory of such eminent personalities as Heydar Aliyev. By opening a street named after him in Astana, we are making an important contribution to this noble cause. This is a sign of our warm attitude and sincere respect for the great son of the Azerbaijani people, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

Talking about Kazakh-Azerbaijani relations, the Azerbaijani national leader himself noted that the roots of our peoples, which go back into the depths of history, form the basis of relations between the people of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Decades passed since then but the moral remains standing: the relations between the two countries are as resilient and loyal as ever.

Cementing relations through signed documents

During the visit, the sides signed numerous documents and mulled cooperation in political, trade, economic, and cultural spheres, expressing satisfaction with the current affairs but always striving for further success.

Some exceptionally important documents were signed today, fostering the development of our multifaceted cooperation. The future of allied and partnership relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is bright and promising. Therefore, there is no doubt that we will continue to adhere to common positions in terms of serving the peoples of our states. Thank you for your attention, Tokayev stated.

Besides, the sides noted a 40 percent increase in trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, which is approaching the half-billion mark last year. The heads of state underlined that there are possibilities for increasing the trade turnover between the two countries to a billion dollars. Special value is paid to the development of cooperation in the energy sector with a priority to further diversify energy supplies to world markets.

The two nations also cooperate in the cultural sphere with the organization of such significant events as the Days of Culture of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan.

Agreement has been reached to organize Days of Azerbaijan Culture in our country. Separately, I would like to note that a number of commemorative events will be dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of national leader and outstanding statesman of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyevich Aliyev in Kazakhstan this year, the Kazakh leader pointed out.

Such a high level of cooperation and respect between Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia highlights Azerbaijans position as the international hub and a reliant partner, which can not be said about some of its neighbors.

--

Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SabinaMmdl

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A Ukrainian forces' M113 APC drives at an undisclosed location near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, 10 April 2023. Russian troops entered Ukrainian territory, Feb. 22, 2022, starting a conflict that has provoked destruction and a humanitarian crisis. EPA-Yonhap



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 don't know," he said. "And is that a matter of concern to us? You're darn right it is."









Kirby said at this point, "we don't know who's behind this, we don't 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.





John Kirby, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications, answers questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 10. Reuters-Yonhap
11 April 2023 18:47 (UTC+04:00)

Sabina Mammadli Read more

The peaceful protest of the Azerbaijani eco-activists and youth representatives on the Lachin-Khankandi road against Armenia's illicit exploitation of mineral resources continues back-to-back for the 121st day, Azernews reports.

Activists started the day with the performance of the national anthem of Azerbaijan.

Furthermore, a convoy of eight passenger cars and five trucks of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has driven along the road. It was noted that the vehicles were carrying Armenian residents living in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region and children from Khankandi in the direction of Lachin.

It should be noted that 67 vehicles of Russian peacekeepers and 13 vehicles of the ICRC have passed through the area throughout the day.

Recall that following the talks with the Russian peacekeepers' command on December 3 and 7, 2022, a group of experts from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Property Service under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC was going to begin preliminary monitoring of the illicit mineral resource exploitation, as well as emerging environmental implications on Azerbaijani lands, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, on December 10, 2022.

The expert team was expected to inspect the environmental condition at the Gizilbulagh gold deposit and the Damirli copper-molybdenum deposit, monitor various areas, organize cadastral property records, assess potential risks and threats to the environment, as well as underground and surface water sources.

However, the expert group, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers, faced provocations when arriving at the monitoring area. The planned initial inspection and monitoring did not take place due to the fact that the Russian peacekeepers not only did create necessary conditions but also prevented the entire process from carrying on.

--

Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SabinaMmdl

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11 April 2023 20:55 (UTC+04:00)

On April 11, using small arms, units of the Armenian armed forces stationed in the directions of Digh settlement of the Gorus region shelled positions of the Azerbaijani army in Lachin District, Azernews reports per Defense Ministry.

Then, the opposing side continued firing Azerbaijan Army's positions using mortars and large caliber weapons.

As a result of the vigilance of the servicemen, the provocation of the Armenian side was resolutely prevented, and the firing positions were suppressed.

During the retaliatory measures taken by the Azerbaijan Army, the Armenian armed forces units suffered significant losses.

Currently, the situation in this direction is relatively calm. The Azerbaijan Army Units completely control the operational situation.

Azerbaijan Army's servicemen Zalov Vidadi Nizami, Hasanov Elshad Gabil and Taghiyev Sabuhi Gunduz became Shehids (Martyrs) during the suppression of the Armenian provocation.

The leadership of the Ministry of Defense expresses its deepest condolences to the families of Shehids (Martyrs).

May Allah rest the souls of Shehids in peace!

---

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11 April 2023 17:39 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

In April of 2023, Kazakhstan plans to export 125,000 tons of oil through Azerbaijan, Azernews reports citing Zhumangarin Serik, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan - Minister of Trade and Integration.

"Based on the agreement signed between KazMunayGaz and SOCAR companies last year, we will supply 1.5 million tons of oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline in 2023. The process started in March and the first two tankers with 20,000 tons of oil were sent. Another 125,000 tons of oil will be exported in April," the minister said.

According to him, Baku also offers other routes.

"For example, the technical characteristics of the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline are currently being reviewed, and oil can also be transported to the ports of Batumi and Poti by rail," the Deputy Minister noted.

Zhumangarin Serik also said that the issue of establishing a single operator on the transit route of Jumangar - a joint venture with cheap transit facilities and using innovative technologies was actively discussed with the Azerbaijani side.

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Jurors in the triple murder trial of a woman accused in the death of her two children and a romantic rival were shown gruesome photographs of the slain children Tuesday afternoon
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Ukrainian servicemen train to shoot a machine gun from M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) during a training session in Donbas region, Ukraine, April 8, Reuters-Yonhap



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.





A police officer inspects remains of a Russian missile which hit a residential area in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, April 9. Reuters-Yonhap



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.



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."





A volunteer inspects remains of a residential house damaged by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, April 9. Reuters-Yonhap



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.





Ukrainian serviceman reacts as he throws a grenade during a training in Donbas region, Ukraine, April 8. Reuters-Yonhap
https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/spring-spawning-plan.html

Fish Facts

By Eric West / April 10, 2023

Image If you want to improve bluegill spawning, enhance shallow ledges with gravel. If not, don't.

It's that time of year again. Spring is well underwayand that means spawning soon in your waters.

The Pond Boss Forum has numerous threads on aiding spawning by making spawning beds (nest sites), adding cover (brush or dense trees) near nesting sites, or supplemental feeding to increase the numbers and growth of hatchlings. A few years back, we even did an issue on decreasing hatchling numbers and survival if the need arose. For example, removing Yellow Perch egg ribbons from the pond to reduce potential hatching numbers is a method of population control, as is interrupting spawning nests to make eggs and fry more vulnerable. A study titled Factors Influencing Nest Survival in Florida Bass by Z. Slagle and S. L. Shaw in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 146:696-702, 2017 Volume 146.2017 - Issue 4) ( American Fisheries Society 2017) gives insight. Male bass create shallow nests in the substrate, where females deposit their eggs. The male fish guards the fertilized eggs against predators until after they hatch, grow, and become free swimming or swim-up fry, often staying with the swim-up fry until the school of fry (or fry ball) disperses. Knowing what can disrupt nesting and survival is a must to use this tool.

The survival of both Largemouth and Smallmouth bass offspring can depend on several physical and biological factors, including the size and age of the guarding male, bed fishing pressure, and environmental changes during the nesting period. Many nest attempts fail, and hatchling abandonment is expected due to storms, sudden temperature changes, angling, and nest predation. If the male bass abandons the brood (or is fished or runoff off of the nest), the brood is unlikely to survive long. Often, bass nests are easily visible and can be fished. If the guarding male is removed, you have likely eliminated his hatchlings from increasing the bass population. This can be an effective tool in reducing bass recruitment and overcrowding. This method can also be used for any nesting type fish, like bluegill. For example, Bluegill populations can be managed like bass by interrupting the nesting process. However, it takes more effort because bluegill often spawn multiple times during a year. Keep in mind, though, because bluegill are colony spawners, you can interrupt many nests at the same time in one location. However, this method will not work on pelagic spawners like Shad and Golden Shiners.

On the plus spawning side, some factors can help increase spawning success. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Spawning Periodicity and Hatching Duration in the Northern Great Plains, USA by Jeffrey C. Jolley, Kris R. Edwards & David W. Willis in Journal of Freshwater Ecology. Pages 29-38 Published online: 06 Jan 2011 discusses some factors affecting bluegill spawning. Factors may include abiotic factors such as physical habitat, temperature, weather, and biotic factors such as food availability and competition, predation, and lake productivity. Some factors, such as supplemental feeding, reducing predation using blocking nets, and possible fertilization, can be augmented. Temperature and weather - well, those are better left alone.

The Pond Boss Forum has extensive information on augmenting physical habitat in its Structure archive. This is one area where pond owners can increase or decrease spawning. An article titled Factors Associated with Bluegill Nest Site Selection within a shallow, natural lake by Kristopher J. Stahr, Mark A. Kaemingk & David W. Willis in the Journal of Freshwater Ecology. 2013. D01:10.10 80/0270506020127 55647 gives a good overview of the factors affecting the nest selection processor and the habitat requirements for bluegill in their early life stages.

Image Bluegills are prolific. Expect this if you have the best spawning sites.

In that study, the authors found suitable spawning substrate throughout West Long Lake, and all nests were located along the south shoreline (wind and wave protection). In contrast, other studies found nest sites along multiple shorelines in areas with gravel and hard bottom substrate, which were not found throughout the lake.

Therefore, bluegill in that lake appeared to select sites primarily based on substrate with less influence from wind and wave protection. Alternatively, bluegill nesting substrate was similar throughout West Long Lake. It contained lots of sand, which allowed bluegill to nest in areas that provided the most protection from wind and waves. Research identifies the following factors that pond managers can manipulate to aid or reduce bluegill nesting success: substrate composition (sand and gravel), submersed plants and woody cover, wind and wave action, and siltation.

We can add optimum-sized gravel to nests, locate nests in places with the least wind and wave action, remove or add as-needed plants and woody cover and avoid locations where silting could exist. Another idea is to leave large nesting male bluegill alone during the spawn, as removing them from guarding the nest even for short periods results in high predation on the fry/eggs.

Thank goodness spring is upon us, and the spawning ritual is about to begin.

Reprinted with permission from Pond Boss Magazine
This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is CJ Staff The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a trial court's ruling favoring Chapel Hill in a dispute over fees charged to developers for affordable housing. Appellate judges agreed the plaintiff waited too long to file suit.The complaint stemmed from the $803,250 fee charged to developers of Courtyards of Homestead, a 63-unit single-family housing development.The project secured a special-use permit in 2014, four years after the town adopted an ordinanceandaccording to the 4th Circuit court opinion.Developers must include affordable housing in any project in Chapel Hill with at least five single-family homes. The town also can agree to let the developer pay a fee instead.Epcon, owner of the Courtyards of Homestead property, chose to pay the fee in installments. The last payment reached Chapel Hill in May 2019. The company filed suit to recover the fee in October 2019.In addition to state constitutional claims, Epcon argued that Chapel Hill's affordable housing fee amounted to anunder the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment and aunder the 14th Amendment.A trial judge dismissed the case, ruling that Epcon had failed to file suit within a three-year statute of limitations.wrote Appeals Court Chief Judge Roger Gregory.Gregory wrote.Judges rejected the company's argument that each fee payment amounted to a new constitutional violation. A new violation would have extended the state of limitations.wrote Judge Allison Jones Rushing in a concurring opinion.Judge Stephanie Thacker joined Gregory's opinion.
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola

MONOPOLY - Who owns the world? Documentary by Tim Gielen

https://rumble.com/vmyx1n-monopoly-who-owns-the-world-documentary-by-tim-gielen.html

These major investment firms are in turn owned by their own set of shareholders. One of the most amazing things about this scheme is that the institutional investors also own each other. Theyre all shareholders in each others companies. At the very top are Vanguard and Blackrock. Blackrocks largest shareholder is Vanguard, which does not disclose the identity of its shareholders due to its unique structure

No matter what industry you look at, the top shareholders, and therefore decision makers, are the same: Vanguard, Blackrock, State Street and/or Berkshire Hathaway. In virtually every major company, you find these names among the top 10 institutional investors

These parent companies, in turn, are owned by shareholders, and the largest shareholders are the same in all of them: Vanguard and Blackrock

While there appear to be hundreds of competing brands on the market, like Russian nesting dolls, larger parent companies own multiple smaller brands. In reality, all packaged food brands, for example, are owned by a dozen or so larger parent companies

A handful of mega corporations  private investment companies  dominate every aspect of our lives; everything we eat, drink, wear or use in one way or another. These investment firms are so enormous, they control the money flow worldwide

Editors Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published October 29, 2021.

Until recently, it appeared economic competition had been driving the rise and fall of small and large companies across the U.S. Supposedly, PepsiCo is Coca Colas competitor, Apple and Android vie for your loyalty and drug companies battle for your health care dollars. However, all of that turns out to be an illusion.

Since the mid-1970s, two corporations  Vanguard and Blackrock  have gobbled up most companies in the world, effectively destroying the competitive market on which Americas strength has rested, leaving only false appearances behind.

Indeed, the global economy may be the greatest illusionary trick ever pulled over the eyes of people around the world. To understand whats really going on, watch Tim Gielens hour-long documentary, MONOPOLY: Who Owns the World? above.

Corporate Domination

As noted by Gielen, who narrates the film, a handful of mega corporations  private investment companies  dominate every aspect of our lives; everything we eat, drink, wear or use in one way or another. These investment firms are so enormous, they control the money flow worldwide. So, how does this scheme work?

While there appear to be hundreds of competing brands on the market, like Russian nesting dolls, larger parent companies own multiple smaller brands. In reality, all packaged food brands, for example, are owned by a dozen or so larger parent companies.

Pepsi Co. owns a long list of food, beverage and snack brands, as does Coca-Cola, Nestle, General Mills, Kelloggs, Unilever, Mars, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez, Danone and Associated British Foods. Together, these parent companies monopolize the packaged food industry, as virtually every food brand available belongs to one of them.

These companies are publicly traded and are run by boards, where the largest shareholders have power over the decision making. This is where it gets interesting, because when you look up who the largest shareholders are, you find yet another monopoly.

While the topmost shareholders can change from time to time, based on shares bought and sold, two companies are consistently listed among the top institutional holders of these parent companies: The Vanguard Group Inc. and Blackrock Inc.

Pepsi and Coca-Cola  An Example

For example, while there are more than 3,000 shareholders in Pepsi Co., Vanguard and Blackrocks holdings account for nearly one-third of all shares. Of the top 10 shareholders in Pepsi Co., the top three, Vanguard, Blackrock and State Street Corporation, own more shares than the remaining seven.

Now, lets look at Coca-Cola Co., Pepsis top competitor. Who owns Coke? As with Pepsi, the majority of the company shares are held by institutional investors, which number 3,155 (as of the making of the documentary).

As shown in the film, three of the top four institutional shareholders of Coca-Cola are identical with that of Pepsi: Vanguard, Blackrock and State Street Corporation. The No. 1 shareholder of Coca-Cola is Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

These four  Vanguard, Blackrock, State Street and Berkshire Hathaway  are the four largest investment firms on the planet. So, Pepsi and Coca-Cola are anything but competitors, Gielen says. And the same goes for the other packaged food companies. All are owned by the same small group of institutional shareholders.

Big Tech Monopoly

The monopoly of these investment firms isnt relegated to the packaged food industry. You find them dominating virtually all other industries as well. Take Big Tech, for example. Among the top 10 largest tech companies we find Apple, Samsung, Alphabet (parent company of Google), Microsoft, Huawei, Dell, IBM and Sony.

Here, we find the same Russian nesting doll setup. For example, Facebook owns Whatsapp and Instagram. Alphabet owns Google and all Google-related businesses, including YouTube and Gmail. Its also the biggest developer of Android, the main competitor to Apple. Microsoft owns Windows and Xbox. In all, four parent companies produce the software used by virtually all computers, tablets and smartphones in the world. Who, then, owns them? Heres a sampling:

Facebook  More than 80% of Facebook shares are held by institutional investors, and the top institutional holders are the same as those found in the food industry: Vanguard and Blackrock being the top two, as of the end of March 2021. State Street Corporation is the fifth biggest shareholder

Apple  The top four institutional investors are Vanguard, Blackrock, Berkshire Hathaway and State Street Corporation

Microsoft  The top three institutional shareholders are Vanguard, Blackrock and State Street Corporation

You can continue going through the list of tech brands  companies that build computers, smart phones, electronics and household appliances  and youll repeatedly find Vanguard, Blackrock, Berkshire Hathaway and State Street Corporation among the top shareholders.

Same Small Group Owns Everything Else Too

The same ownership trend exists in all other industries. Gielen offers yet another example to prove this statement is not an exaggeration:

Lets say we want to plan a vacation. On our computer or smart phone, we look for a cheap flight to the sun through websites like Skyscanner and Expedia, both of which are owned by the same group of institutional investors [Vanguard, Blackrock and State Street Corporation].

We fly with one of the many airlines [American Airlines, Air France, KLM, United Airlines, Delta and Transavia] of which the majority of the shares are often owned by the same investors ...

The airline we fly [on] is in most cases a Boeing or an Airbus. Again, we see the same [institutional shareholders]. We look for a hotel or an apartment through Bookings.com or AirBnB.com. Once we arrive at our destination, we go out to dinner and we write a review on Trip Advisor. The same investors are at the basis of every aspect of our journey.

And their power goes even much further, because even the kerosene that fuels the plane comes from one of their many oil companies and refineries. Just like the steel that the plane is made of comes from one of their many mining companies.

This small club of investment companies, banks and mutual funds, are also the largest shareholders in the primary industries, where our raw materials come from.

The same goes for the agricultural industry that the global food industry depends on, and any other major industry. These institutional investors own Bayer, the worlds largest seed producer; they own the largest textile manufacturers and many of the largest clothing companies.

They own the oil refineries, the largest solar panel producers and the automobile, aircraft and arms industries. They own all the major tobacco companies, and all the major drug companies and scientific institutes too. They also own the big department stores and the online marketplaces like eBay, Amazon and AliExpress.

They even own the payment methods we use, from credit card companies to digital payment platforms, as well as insurance companies, banks, construction companies, telephone companies, restaurant chains, personal care brands and cosmetic brands.

No matter what industry you look at, the top shareholders, and therefore decision makers, are the same: Vanguard, Blackrock, State Street and/or Berkshire Hathaway. In virtually every major company, you find these names among the top 10 institutional investors.

Who Owns the Investment Firms of the World?

Diving deeper, we find that these major investment firms are in turn owned by their own set of shareholders. One of the most amazing things about this scheme is that the institutional investors  and there are many more than the primary four weve focused on here  also own each other. Theyre all shareholders in each others companies.

At the top of the pyramid  the largest Russian doll of all  we find Vanguard and Blackrock.

Together, they form an immense network that we can compare to a pyramid, Gielen says. Smaller institutional investors, such as Citibank, ING and T. Rowe Price, are owned by larger investment firms such as Northern Trust, Capital Group, 3G Capital and KKR.

Those investors in turn are owned by even larger investment firms, like Goldman Sachs and Wellington Market, which are owned by larger firms yet, such as Berkshire Hathaway and State Street. At the top of the pyramid  the largest Russian doll of all  we find Vanguard and Blackrock.

The power of these two companies is something we can barely imagine, Gielen says. Not only are they the largest institutional investors of every major company on earth, they also own the other institutional investors of those companies, giving them a complete monopoly.

Gielen cites data from Bloomberg, showing that by 2028, Vanguard and BlackRock are expected to collectively manage $20 trillion-worth of investments. In the process, they will own almost everything on planet Earth.

BlackRock  The Fourth Branch of Government

Bloomberg has also referred to BlackRock as the fourth branch of government, due to its close relationship with the central banks. BlackRock actually lends money to the central bank, the federal reserve, and is their principal adviser.

Dozens of BlackRock employees have held senior positions in the White House under the Bush, Obama and Biden administrations. BlackRock also developed the computer system that the central banks use.

Who Owns BlackRock?

While Larry Fink is the figurehead of BlackRock, being its founder, chairman and chief executive officer, hes not the sole decision maker, as BlackRock too is owned by shareholders. Here we find yet another curiosity, as the largest shareholder of BlackRock is Vanguard.

This is where it gets dark, Gielen says. Vanguard has a unique structure that blocks us from seeing who the actual shareholders are. The elite who own Vanguard dont want anyone to know they are the owners of the most powerful company on earth. Still, if you dig deep enough, you can find clues as to who these owners are.

The owners of the wealthiest, most powerful company on Earth can be expected to be among the wealthiest individuals on earth. In 2016, Oxfam reported that the combined wealth of the richest 1% in the world was equal to the wealth of the remaining 99%. In 2018, it was reported that the worlds richest people get 82% of all the money earned around the world in 2017.

In reality, we can assume that the owners of Vanguard are among the 0.001% richest people on the planet. According to Forbes, there were 2,075 billionaires in the world as of March 2020. Gielen cites Oxfam data showing that two-thirds of billionaires obtained their fortunes via inheritance, monopoly and/or cronyism.

This means that Vanguard is in the hands of the richest families on earth, Gielen says. Among them we find the Rothschilds, the DuPont family, the Rockefellers, the Bush family and the Morgan family, just to name a few.

Many belong to royal bloodlines and are the founders of our central banking system, the United Nations and just about every industry on the planet. Gielen goes even further in his documentary, so I highly recommend watching it in its entirety. Ive only summarized a small piece of the whole film here.

A Financial Coup Detat

Speaking of the central bankers, I recently interviewed finance guru Catherine Austin Fitts, and she believes its the central bankers that are at the heart of the global takeover were currently seeing. She also believes they are the ones pressuring private companies to implement the clearly illegal COVID jab mandates. Their control is so great, few companies have the ability to take a stand against them.

I think [the central bankers] are really depending on the smart grid and creepy technology to help them go to the last steps of financial control, which is what I think they're pushing for, she said.

What we've seen is a tremendous effort to bankrupt the population and the governments so that it's much easier for the central bankers to take control. That's what I've been writing about since 1998, that this is a financial coup d'etat.

Now the financial coup d'etat is being consolidated, where the central bankers just serve jurisdiction over the treasury and the tax money. And if they can get the [vaccine] passports in with the CBDC [central bank digital currency], then it will be able to take taxes out of our accounts and take our assets. So, this is a real coup d'etat.

The Spartacus Letter

Again, I urge you to watch the documentary at the top of this article, and keep an eye out for my interview with Austin Fitts, which will be published in the near future. In closing, I want to highlight a mysterious letter posted by an anonymous individual who goes by the name Spartacus.

COVID-19  The Spartacus Letter was originally posted on docdroid.net, but has since been deleted.1 The Automatic Earth2 and ZeroHedge3 have also published the letter in full. The letter starts out saying, My name is Spartacus, and Ive had enough:

We are watching the medical establishment inject literal poison into millions of our fellow Americans without so much as a fight. We have been told that we will be fired and denied our livelihoods if we refuse to vaccinate. This was the last straw.

What follows is a compilation of data showing the COVID pandemic was a biowarfare attack that has been kept going using sophisticated psychological warfare tactics. It also reviews the dangers of the COVID shots, noting that the virus and the vaccines were made by the same entities.

A summary of Spartacus findings is as follows. Each summary point is elaborated upon in later sections of the letter, which you can read in any of the three references provided.

COVID-19 is a blood and blood vessel disease. SARS-CoV-2 infects the lining of human blood vessels, causing them to leak into the lungs.

Current treatment protocols (e.g. invasive ventilation) are actively harmful to patients, accelerating oxidative stress and causing severe VILI (ventilator-induced lung injuries). The continued use of ventilators in the absence of any proven medical benefit constitutes mass murder.

Existing countermeasures are inadequate to slow the spread of what is an aerosolized and potentially wastewater-borne virus, and constitute a form of medical theater.

Various non-vaccine interventions have been suppressed by both the media and the medical establishment in favor of vaccines and expensive patented drugs.

The authorities have denied the usefulness of natural immunity against COVID-19, despite the fact that natural immunity confers protection against all of the viruss proteins, and not just one.

Vaccines will do more harm than good. The antigen that these vaccines are based on, SARS-CoV-2 Spike, is a toxic protein. SARS-CoV-2 may have ADE, or antibody-dependent enhancement; current antibodies may not neutralize future strains, but instead help them infect immune cells. Also, vaccinating during a pandemic with a leaky vaccine removes the evolutionary pressure for a virus to become less lethal.

There is a vast and appalling criminal conspiracy that directly links both Anthony Fauci and Moderna to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

COVID-19 vaccine researchers are directly linked to scientists involved in brain-computer interface (neural lace) tech, one of whom was indicted for taking grant money from China.

Independent researchers have discovered mysterious nanoparticles inside the vaccines that are not supposed to be present.

The entire pandemic is being used as an excuse for a vast political and economic transformation of Western society that will enrich the already rich and turn the rest of us into serfs and untouchables.

A Criminal Conspiracy

Its a long letter, so I wont reproduce the whole thing here. However, the following sections are of particular interest, with regard to a criminal elite that is orchestrating the destruction of life as we know it, in an effort to usher in a technocracy-led system of global governance and control:4

In November of 2019, three technicians at the Wuhan Institute of Virology developed symptoms consistent with a flu-like illness. Anthony Fauci, Peter Daszak, and Ralph Baric knew at once what had happened, because back channels exist between this laboratory and our scientists and officials.

December 12th, 2019, Ralph Baric signed a Material Transfer Agreement (essentially, an NDA) to receive Coronavirus mRNA vaccine-related materials co-owned by Moderna and NIH.

It wasnt until a whole month later, on January 11th, 2020, that China allegedly sent us the sequence to what would become known as SARS-CoV-2. Moderna claims, rather absurdly, that they developed a working vaccine from this sequence in under 48 hours.

Stephane Bancel, the current CEO of Moderna, was formerly the CEO of bioMerieux, a French multinational corporation specializing in medical diagnostic tech, founded by one Alain Merieux. Alain Merieux was one of the individuals who was instrumental in the construction of the Wuhan Institute of Virologys P4 lab.

The sequence given as the closest relative to SARS-CoV-2, RaTG13, is not a real virus. It is a forgery. It was made by entering a gene sequence by hand into a database, to create a cover story for the existence of SARS-CoV-2, which is very likely a gain-of-function chimera produced at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and was either leaked by accident or intentionally released. The animal reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 has never been found.

This is not a conspiracy theory. It is an actual criminal conspiracy, in which people connected to the development of Modernas mRNA-1273 are directly connected to the Wuhan Institute of Virology and their gain-of-function research by very few degrees of separation, if any. The paper trail is well- established.

The lab-leak theory has been suppressed because pulling that thread leads one to inevitably conclude that there is enough circumstantial evidence to link Moderna, the NIH, the WIV, and both the vaccine and the viruss creation together.

In a sane country, this would have immediately led to the worlds biggest RICO and mass murder case. Anthony Fauci, Peter Daszak, Ralph Baric, Shi Zhengli, and Stephane Bancel, and their accomplices, would have been indicted and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Instead, billions of our tax dollars were awarded to the perpetrators.

The FBI raided Allure Medical in Shelby Township north of Detroit for billing insurance for fraudulent COVID-19 cures. The treatment they were using? Intravenous Vitamin C. An antioxidant. Which, as described above, is an entirely valid treatment for COVID-19-induced sepsis, and indeed, is now part of the MATH+ protocol advanced by Dr. Paul E. Marik.

The FDA banned ranitidine (Zantac) due to supposed NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine) contamination. Ranitidine is not only an H2 blocker used as antacid, but also has a powerful antioxidant effect, scavenging hydroxyl radicals. This gives it utility in treating COVID-19.

The FDA also attempted to take N-acetylcysteine, a harmless amino acid supplement and antioxidant, off the shelves, compelling Amazon to remove it from their online storefront. This leaves us with a chilling question: did the FDA knowingly suppress antioxidants useful for treating COVID-19 sepsis as part of a criminal conspiracy against the American public?

The establishment is cooperating with, and facilitating, the worst criminals in human history, and are actively suppressing non-vaccine treatments and therapies in order to compel us to inject these criminals products into our bodies ...

Conclusions: The current pandemic was produced and perpetuated by the establishment, through the use of a virus engineered in a PLA-connected Chinese biowarfare laboratory, with the aid of American taxpayer dollars and French expertise ...

Either through a leak or an intentional release from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a deadly SARS strain is now endemic across the globe, after the WHO and CDC and public officials first downplayed the risks, and then intentionally incited a panic and lockdowns that jeopardized peoples health and their livelihoods.

This was then used by the utterly depraved and psychopathic aristocratic class who rule over us as an excuse to coerce people into accepting an injected poison which may be a depopulation agent, a mind control/pacification agent in the form of injectable smart dust, or both ...

They believe they can get away with this by weaponizing the social stigma of vaccine refusal. They are incorrect. Their motives are clear and obvious to anyone who has been paying attention.

These megalomaniacs have raided the pension funds of the free world. Wall Street is insolvent and has had an ongoing liquidity crisis since the end of 2019. The aim now is to exert total, full-spectrum physical, mental, and financial control over humanity before we realize just how badly weve been extorted by these maniacs. The pandemic and its response served multiple purposes for the Elite:

Concealing a depression brought on by the usurious plunder of our economies conducted by rentier-capitalists and absentee owners who produce absolutely nothing of any value to society whatsoever ...

Destroying small businesses and eroding the middle class.

Transferring trillions of dollars of wealth from the American public and into the pockets of billionaires and special interests.

Engaging in insider trading, buying stock in biotech companies and shorting brick-and-mortar businesses and travel companies, with the aim of collapsing face-to-face commerce and tourism and replacing it with e-commerce and servitization.

Creating a casus belli for war with China, encouraging us to attack them, wasting American lives and treasure and driving us to the brink of nuclear Armageddon.

Establishing technological and biosecurity frameworks for population control and technocratic- socialist smart cities where everyones movements are despotically tracked, all in anticipation of widespread automation, joblessness, and food shortages, by using the false guise of a vaccine to compel cooperation.

... The Elites are trying to pull up the ladder, erase upward mobility for large segments of the population, cull political opponents and other undesirables, and put the remainder of humanity on a tight leash, rationing our access to certain goods and services that they have deemed high-impact, such as automobile use, tourism, meat consumption, and so on.

Naturally, they will continue to have their own luxuries, as part of a strict caste system akin to feudalism. Why are they doing this? Simple. The Elites are Neo-Malthusians and believe that we are overpopulated and that resource depletion will collapse civilization in a matter of a few short decades.

They are not necessarily incorrect in this belief. We are overpopulated, and we are consuming too many resources. However, orchestrating such a gruesome and murderous power grab in response to a looming crisis demonstrates that they have nothing but the utmost contempt for their fellow man.

To those who are participating in this disgusting farce without any understanding of what they are doing, we have one word for you. Stop. You are causing irreparable harm to your country and to your fellow citizens.
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The Revolutionists is a play. It is about a playwright. Who is writing a play? The action takes place during the real events of the French Revolution. The characters are real. Well, the actors are playing real people  who may or may not be imagined.

If this all sounds very meta that is by design. Real playwright Lauren Gunderson serves up a clever and entertaining story that is thought-provoking, witty, moving and, at times, even silly.

Lamar Universitys department of theatre and dance will present The Revolutionists, April 13 through 16 in the University Theatre.

The play takes place during the Reign of Terror from Sept. 5, 1793, to July 27, 1794. The action revolves around Olympe De Gouge, a playwright who is trying to overcome writers block. As she tries to make sense of the chaotic world around her, she is joined by assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette and Marianne Angelle, a Haitian rebel.

As the four women banter, debate and argue, they touch on themes of feminism, legacy and sisterhood during an upheaval that has degenerated into violence in the hands of masculine provocation.

Guest director Laura Moreno said the historical setting does not obscure the fact that it deals with themes that are still relevant today.

A lot of students that say, why do we need to know this now? Moreno said. The way (Gunderson) frames things is, we have to know these things now because they're still happening now. And I think she does it in such a fresh and fluid way that anybody can really understand what she's putting out there.

A lot of the things that the women are fighting for are the same things we're having conversations about right now  bodily autonomy, women's rights, and having a voice and not being erased from history.

The play deliberately plays with the nature of reality and imagination as Olympe struggles to get her words and thoughts onto the page.

A lot of times we feel as though the play should mirror reality, but reality isn't that cut and dry, Moreno said. There's a lot of gray area and I feel like this meta-theatrical lens allows us to see theater in a more abstract way. It allows us to be playful with it. Not exact with it, more of an essence, which I think are all really fun components for the actors, but also for the audience to play with.

Brianna Cobos plays Olympe and said she has learned a lot about French Revolution as she researched the character.

Although it's all just dialogue, it was real experiences, she said. These are real feelings of people who were at the edge, basically they didn't know when they were going to die. This whole play, as I'm playing Olympe, she is basically walking on her toes. It really does hurt because I never know when she's going to die because she's never aware.

She knows that she's risking it all for art. She's very optimistic though. She believes that this is a perfect time to write something and save people's lives through the play that she wants to write.

Dominique Roman plays Marianne, who is a composite of a many inspirational Black figures during the revolution, she said. Marianne represents the entire movement for the abolition of slavery. She is Olympes main sounding board, acting as both a foil and support.

I think the most interesting aspect of this play is truly the sisterhood, Roman said. In trying times, they're all able to lean on each other and build this network of trust within one another, even though they all have different struggles. I feel like that's really important in today, especially when so much is going on in the world. We can all find a common ground.

While there are strong feminist vibes, Roman said the play has universal appeal.

For the most part, it's about the people, she said. It's about history and being able to really make your own world, really own up to your own decisions. So, regardless of it being about feminism or not, I feel like there's some really relatable themes that anybody can grab onto and grasp.

Shelby Eason plays Charlotte, who, in real life, killed the revolutionary leader Jean-Paul Marat.

She ended up assassinating Marat to protect the people she cared about most, because he was publishing articles that led to the death of her family members and neighbors, Eason said.

Charlotte represents Olympes rage at the injustice that is going on, Eason said.

She acts a lot of times without considering all possibilities, Eason said. She has her strong moral compass. She sees injustice, she acts out against it no matter what that means for her.

Eason said she drew on her experiences as a woman to tap into Charlottes sense of injustice.

My own past experiences definitely helped me navigate the emotions that go through this play, she said.

For all the serious emotions the actors tap into during the show, Eason said audiences will have plenty of reason to laugh as well.

It's a funny retelling of the French Revolution in a way that modern audiences haven't seen yet, she said. It's genuinely hilarious at times. And very serious at times as well.

C.J. Jeffcoat completes the quartet as Marie Antoinette, who she describes as almost the comic relief.

She's very bright and very joyful most of the time, but also unexpectedly profound, Jeffcoat said. She has a lot to say and sometimes it's funny and witty, but then also sometimes it's very profound and very caring and very unique to the sisters that she's befriended.

Jeffcoat said the four actors personalities are similar to the characters they play.

Our director keeps telling us, instead of putting on somebody else and pretending to be somebody else, she tells us to be ourselves and just on a costume of another character, Jeffcoat said. I think that's pretty easy for all of us to do just because we've found so many similarities between all of our characters and ourselves. So, the dynamic between the four characters and the dynamic between the four of us literally, is pretty much OK.

Moreno said her style of directing is to make sure every actor, costumer and set designer is given a chance to shine.

This has become a very collaborative effort, she said. Everyone has brought something to the table. Everyone brings ideas and it really feels like it is something we've created together rather than an idea that I had and I'm trying to execute through them.

Showtimes for The Revolutionists are 7:30 p.m., April 13, 14, 15, and 2 p.m., April 16. For tickets, visit lamar.edu/lutdtix.
China, Japan hold high-level consultations on maritime affairs

Xinhua) 13:11, April 11, 2023

TOKYO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan held the 15th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs in Tokyo on Monday, exchanging views on maritime affairs in an all-round and in-depth way.

As this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the two sides agreed that under the guidance of the important consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries, efforts should be made to review and abide by the spirit of the treaty, properly handle maritime disputes and differences through dialogue in accordance with the four-point principled agreement between China and Japan, and deepen practical maritime cooperation.

In order to build the East China Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship, more work should be advanced to build China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era.

The Chinese side made clear China's solemn position against Japan's recent negative moves on the issues of East China Sea, Diaoyu Islands, South China Sea and Taiwan Straits, demanding Japan stop all words and deeds that infringe on China's territorial sovereignty, undermine China's maritime rights and interests, and complicate the situation, and refrain from meddling in the Taiwan question.

The Chinese side once again expressed China's concern over Japan's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean, urging Japan to face up to the legitimate concerns of the international community, take a responsible attitude towards the marine environment and human health, and properly handle the matter in an open, transparent, scientific and safe manner.

During the talks, the two sides reached multiple consensuses including accelerating the direct telephone line connection under the maritime-air liaison mechanism for the two countries' defense affairs departments in efforts to safeguard maritime security.

The two sides decided to strengthen their collaboration in maritime search and rescue operations, combating transnational maritime crime and illicit fishing, and dealing with marine plastic waste.

Both sides also agreed in principle to hold the 16th round of high-level consultations on China-Japan maritime affairs within this year in China.

The consultations were co-chaired by Hong Liang, director-general of Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Takehiro Funakoshi, director-general of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The two sides held a plenary session and three working group meetings on maritime defense, maritime law enforcement and security, and maritime economy, attended by officials from foreign ministry, defense ministry, maritime law enforcement, transport and ocean management departments.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in a ceremonial yellow hat arrives at the Tsuglakhang temple to give a sermon in Dharamsala, India, March 7. The Dalai Lama apologized, Monday, after a video showing him kissing a child on the lips at a public gathering in February provoked outrage. AP-Yonhap



Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama apologized Monday after a video showing him kissing a child on the lips triggered criticism.



A statement posted on his official website said the 87-year-old leader regretted the incident and wished 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 incident occurred at a public gathering in February at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamsala, where the exiled leader lives. He was taking questions from the audience when the boy asked if he could hug him.



The Dalai Lama invited the boy up toward the platform he was seated on. In the video, he gestured to his cheek, after which the child kissed him before giving him a hug.



The Dalai Lama then asked the boy to kiss him on the lips and stuck out his tongue. "And suck my tongue," the Dalai Lama can be heard saying as the boy sticks out his own tongue and leans in, prompting laughter from the audience.



The footage triggered a backlash online with social media users condemning his behavior as inappropriate and disturbing.



"His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras," the statement from the Dalai Lama read.



The Dalai Lama has made the hillside town of Dharmsala his headquarters since fleeing from Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. India considers Tibet to be part of China, though it hosts Tibetan exiles. (AP)


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Make-A-Wish has granted a Southeast Texas boy's wish by sending him and his family to WrestleMania 2023 earlier this month.

Kelly Kersh, Director of Community Engagement at Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana, said JJ Staneks attended a WrestleMania kickoff meeting in Los Angeles before stopping by the WWE superstore. He also attended a VIP luncheon, called the Circle of Champions Luncheon, and visited Universal Studios Hollywood before attending WrestleMania itself.

This is the third wish that Del Papa Distributing Company has granted.

RELATED: Newton girl battling leukemia 'makes a wish'

Along with the trip, Stanek also receive a WWE belt, three action figures, a replica ring pillow, a board game, a coloring book, a backpack and a blanket -- all WWE themed.

At Make-A-Wish, we are on a quest to grant a wish to every eligible child throughout the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana region. So, partners like Del Papa are truly essential in making that happen, Kersh said.

Carlyle Stanek, JJ's father, said they found out that their son had lymphoma on Halloween 2021, when they rushed him to the hospital in Kingswood because he had been running a fever.

RELATED: Beaumont stylist John Wright is key part of cancer patients' journey

When they arrived at the hospital, they thought it may have been an issue with his appendix but instead discovered a tumor the size of an adult fist. Seven days later, it doubled in size.

Jesilyn Stanek, JJ's mother, said JJ has been in remission since May 2022 and is now back in school as a third grader at Dr. E.R. Richter Elementary in Dayton, located in Liberty County.

Jesilyn said JJ was very excited leading up to the event, "it's all he's been talking about I think sister is just as excited."

Nancy and Gary Boostrom, JJs wish granting volunteers, helped ensure the trip went smoothly.

RELATED: Kountze woman describes breast cancer journey amidst pandemic

The Boostroms had just moved back to Texas, and Nancy wasn't working anymore. While reading a newspaper, she learned Make-A-Wish needed volunteers.

So I said, 'I think that's a good match for me, because I love kids and (I'm) good with kids and everything and I love the cause, Make-A-Wish is a wonderful organization,' Nancy said.
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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP)  Prosecutors in the Virginia city where a 6-year-old shot his teacher in an elementary school classroom are investigating whether the actions or omissions" of any school employees could lead to criminal charges, according to court documents released Tuesday.

Howard Gwynn, the commonwealth's attorney in Newport News, filed a petition for a special grand jury to probe if any security failures contributed to the shooting at Richneck Elementary in January that seriously wounded teacher Abby Zwerner.

Gwynn wrote that an investigation could also lead to recommendations "in the hopes that such a situation never occurs again."

Gwynn's petition was released a day after his office charged the boy's mother with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm. The child used his mother's 9mm handgun to shoot Zwerner. Police say the weapon was legally purchased.

Last week, Zwerner filed a $40 million lawsuit against the school system, accusing school officials of gross negligence and of ignoring multiple warnings from teachers and other school employees that the boy had taken a gun to school on the day of the shooting.

Zwerner also alleges that school officials knew the boy had a history of random violence at school and at home, including that 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, Diane Toscano, an attorney for Zwerner, said Monday.

The prosecutor's decision to investigate school employees for any criminal activity is the latest fallout from the shooting, which sent shockwaves through Newport News, a shipbuilding city of about 185,000 people near the Chesapeake Bay.

Days after the shooting, school officials revealed that Richneck administrators suspected the child may have had a weapon, but they didnt find it despite searching his backpack.

Parents and teachers lambasted administrators, saying students who assault classmates and staff rarely face consequences, and that Zwerners shooting could have been prevented if not for a toxic environment in which teachers concerns are ignored.

It is not the first school shooting to spark a criminal investigation into school officials, although they are quite rare, experts said. Civil suits are far more common, but have varying degrees of success.

For instance, authorities in Florida accused a former school resource officer of hiding during the Parkland school massacre in 2018. Scot Peterson was charged with negligence for not entering the building during the rampage that left 17 people dead. Peterson has said he did the best he could; his trial is scheduled to start next month.

In 2021, the families of the people killed in Parkland, most of the wounded and others reached a $25 million settlement with the Broward County school district in a negligence lawsuit.

A prosecutor in Michigan criticized Oxford High's decision in 2021 to keep a teenager in school before he killed four students, stating that an investigation would determine if any school officials should be charged. No school employees have been charged.

A civil suit was filed over the Oxford shooting. But a judge ruled that school staff and administrators cannot be sued and dismissed Oxford Community Schools from lawsuits, citing governmental immunity.

After the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999, a federal judge threw out all but one of the lawsuits against the school district and sheriffs office, ruling that the gunmen were responsible. The daughter of a teacher who bled to death reached a $1.5 million settlement in her lawsuit against the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office.

In Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School last May, some parents filed a federal lawsuit against the school district, the school principal, the fired school police chief and others.

The police response to the shooting was sharply criticized as nearly 400 officers responded, but waited more than an hour before confronting and killing the gunman. Litigation is ongoing.

Chuck Vergon, a professor of educational law and policy at the University of Michigan-Flint, said it is rare for a teacher or school official to be charged in a school shooting because allegations of criminal negligence can be difficult to prove. More often, he said, those impacted by school shootings seek to hold school officials liable in civil court.

Vergon, who has been studying school shootings and liability for about seven years, said he thinks the increase in the number of school shootings combined with hundreds of new school safety laws passed after Parkland could lead to more civil actions to hold school officials accountable.

Those laws begin to make more explicit the duties of schools and school districts in terms of preparing for and hopefully preventing or minimizing school shootings, Vergon said.

In the wake of the Newport News shooting, the school board fired the districts superintendent, and Richnecks assistant principal resigned. The elementary schools principal is still employed by the district but no longer holds that position.

James Ellenson, the attorney for the 6-year-old's mother, said she has no criminal record and will turn herself in before the end of the week. Ellenson did not comment on the charges, but he has said her gun was secured on a top shelf in her closet and had a trigger lock.

The family has said the boy has an acute disability and was under a care plan that included his mother or father 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.

Michelle Price, a spokeswoman for Newport News Public Schools, declined to comment.

___

This story has been corrected to show Chuck Vergon is a professor at University of Michigan-Flint, not Michigan State University-Flint.

___

Associated Press reporter Curt Anderson in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this story.
A new bill Texas lawmakers are currently debating would change what products can be labeled as Texas honey.

According to House Bill 590 which has passed in the House and is currently in the Senate, "a person may not label, sell, a product identified on its label as 'Texas Honey' unless the product consists 'exclusively' of honey produced from apiaries in Texas."

Anyone found mislabeling this honey could face misdemeanor charges.

But Texas beekeepers often sell honey that is a blend from hives in different states. Weather can also impact hives, causing some beekeepers to take their hives to other states to pollinate. Beekeepers who live on border territories can have nectar DNA that inevitably blends between the two states.

"Whenever a person is doing it for livelihood, theres a lot of things they have to take into consideration and theyve got such a small margin of error. Something can wipe out their bee colony just in next to no time," said Michael Nickell, beekeeper at Sibley Nature Center in Midland.

How many of our constituents do you think we should subject to Texas prisons, who have done nothing more than make and sell honey? Texas state Rep. Brian Harrison said.

Another lawmaker proposed an amendment to the bill, allowing producers to label their product as made in Texas as long as it consisted of predominantly Texas honey. The bill ultimately failed.

The Texas Beekeepers Association has remained neutral on the issue but has raised concerns about how producers can prove their honey was made inside Texas and whether the bill will even help make Texas honey more profitable.

The state contributed 8.9 million pounds of honey worth $17 million from 157,000 Texas bee colonies to the national honey production in 2020.
It takes a seasoned insider to know the ins and outs of Washington, D.C., and were not talking about politics. James Ryan just took over as the general manager of The Darcy, one of D.C.s most elegant hotels, located just blocks from the White House and the National Mall, and featuring top-notch restaurant Gerrard Street Kitchen. But Ireland-born Ryan has made D.C. his bailiwick since his hospitality career began, previously helming the InterContinental Wharf hotel as GM and boasting the Willard, the St. Regis and the venerable Hay-Adams on his resume as well.

Here, he shares his favorite spots for adventures a bit off the beaten path, as well as a few classics  think the Einstein Memorial and the giant blue rooster, which, it turns out, is not actually called the giant blue rooster.

InsideHook: Where can I get a cup of coffee and go for a good walk?

James Ryan: Bluestone Lane Coffee is located on our lower level at The Darcy, which is my personal favorite  I love all their healthy options. However, if I need a brisk walk, I head over to Logan Circle to Slipstream, where they have great hearty sandwiches and coffee cocktails.

How about a restaurant where only locals go?

The Red Hen is my go-to for a dependably good yet fuss-free meal.

Where should I go for a big night out on the town?

Head to the recently reopened Heist, where celebrities including Michelle Obama and Dave Chapelle have partied.

Best budget eats in town?

If you love Venezuelan food, like I do, try Arepa Zone.

Where can I go for the best dessert?

Crepeaway on L Street holds me over until I can get my next French fix in Paris.

Best place for a sunset cocktail?

Hi-Lawn is a cool place for drinks and games while enjoying the sunset at their rooftop bar-restaurant.

Best neighborhood to take a long stroll if I want to get better acquainted with the city?

Take a long stroll down the U Street Corridor for authentic cuisine, unique boutiques and amazing nightlife.

Whats a less-visited but must-see D.C. monument?

The giant blue rooster [Ed. Note: Hahn/Cock by artist Katharina Fritsch] is on the roof terrace of the National Gallery of Arts East Building. You can see a great view of the city from here. The Albert Einstein Memorial is well known, but if you look down you can see the star map with more than 2,700 metal studs marking the positions of the planets, stars, sun and moon.

D.C. is known for its parks. Whats your favorite one, and why?

Along the border of D.C. is Great Falls. The rapids on the Potomac River there are breathtaking, youll see some expert-level whitewater kayakers and meet a ton of cute pups while you hike along the river.

Wed like to get out on one of the rivers surrounding D.C.  any suggestions as to how to do that?

Rent a kayak or paddleboard at the Boathouse in Georgetown to see the monuments from a different angle, then end your day with the great dining and shopping options in Georgetown.

What food does your city do better than anywhere else?

You cant go wrong with a half-smoke from Bens Chili Bowl on U Street. Theres even a vegan option.

Whats the best thing that you can only do in D.C.?

The best things you can only do in D.C. are visiting the Washington Monument and the White House.

Im looking for a low-key brunch. Where to?

Great brunches in town include Butter Me Up or the Gallery Cafe.

Best place to eat a meal or have a beer outside when the weathers better?

Urban Roast is a really fun outdoor dining spot.

Whats the best way to get around town?

D.C.s a super walkable city. I recommend taking the Metro to get from end to end, but then make the most of your visit by walking the majority of the way.

Finally, whats the best book to read about the area before I come?

After you learn about the museums and tourist attractions in the Smithsonian Guide, read the latest edition of the Not For Tourists Guide to Washington DC. The book breaks D.C. down by neighborhood and highlights cultural attractions you wont find on the National Mall.

This article was featured in the InsideHook DC newsletter. Sign up now for more from the Beltway.

The post What to Do, See and Eat in DC, According to The Darcy GM James Ryan appeared first on InsideHook.
Howard Jackson, DPM, who practiced in East St. Louis, Ill., pleaded guilty to a $144,694 healthcare fraud scheme, the Justice Department said April 7.

From January 2016 to December 2020, Dr. Jackson, of Florissant, Mo., admitted he billed Medicare and Medicaid routinely for nail avulsions he did not perform.

He often billed for the surgical procedure, which involves the separation and removal of the toenail from the tip to the base of the nail, for routine foot care procedures, according to a Justice Department news release.

His sentencing is set for July 27, and he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
New York City-based urologist Darius Paduch, MD, PhD, has been arrested for sexual abuse of patients, among other charges, the Justice Department said April 11.

Dr. Paduch, 55, is also charged with the inducement of a person to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity and inducement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.

According to a Justice Department news release, Dr. Paduch sexually abused multiple male patients, including minors, while conducting urological exams.

From around 2015 to 2019, Dr. Paduch also induced multiple patients to travel to his medical offices in New York City so he could sexually abuse them. In 2019, he relocated to a hospital in Long Island, N.Y., where he continued to sexually abuse patients, the release said.

He also sent victims text messages, including inappropriate and sexual comments, from his personal cellphone.
Becker's was joined by 32 leaders who discussed the increasing consolidation of the ASC industry.

Here are three factors that could push ASCs to consolidate:

1. ASCs in certificate-of-need states

ASCs in states with certificate-of-need laws  which require healthcare providers, including ASCs, to receive permission to build facilities, make expansions or buy expensive equipment  could see more consolidation than others.

"Overall healthcare continues to see significant consolidation, but ASCs should be somewhat less impacted related to the ability of physicians to own their own facilities  up to 100 percent of a facility," Adam Bruggeman, MD, CEO of San Antonio-based Texas Spine Care Center, told Becker's. "Certificate-of-need states will see higher consolidation while those states without certificate of need should see less consolidation when compared to the consolidation we see in the hospital market."

2. Single-specialty ASCs

Single-specialty ASCs could be more likely to consolidate because it can allow them to access economies of scale.

"Consolidation of single-specialty ASCs where only certain common surgical procedures are performed can result in better GPO contracts, more efficient supply management and improved revenues," Thomas Moshiri, MD, chief business officer of Scottsdale-based Arizona Pain Relief, told Becker's. "Add to that the efficiency that is derived from a patient safety and personnel standpoint of doing the same type of case over and over again. This is one direction in which ASC consolidation may move in the future."

3. ASCs in markets with strong health systems

ASCs in markets with strong healthcare systems could be more likely to consolidate so they can compete with the deep pockets of hospitals.

"In some areas, private ASCs seem to be booming. However, in my area, private ASCs are struggling to survive competing against big healthcare systems," Fawn Esser-Lipp, BSN, executive director of Franklin, Wis.-based The Surgery Center, told Becker's. "Short answer is that the consolidation trend will be dependent on the area. I do expect to see more ASCs combining their resources and forming their own MSO."
Here are four dental headlines from the state of Colorado that Becker's has reported on since March 9:

1. A retired Colorado dentist sold his practice to a first-time dental practice owner.

2. US Endo Partners added Thornton-based Colorado Root Canal Specialists.

3. Denver-based Espire Dental acquired Fox Creek Family Dental, a five-location dental practice in the state.

4. Southlake, Texas-based Allied OMS added Advanced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Englewood, Colo.
Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai and Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine partnered with patient advocacy group HeartValveSurgery.com to launch a campaign centered around mitral valve disease.

The campaign, dubbed "Mitral Valve Disease Awareness Week," aims to raise awareness for mitral valve disease by exploring the health risks of the disease and treatment options, according to an April 10 news release from HeartValveSurgery.com.

The campaign will run April 10-16 and will feature digital educational content, a patient webinar and a live hosted by HeartValveSurgery.com.
What happens to your patient portal when you die?

As a Kentucky family found out, it disappears pretty quickly, WBKR reported.

A day or so after her husband, George, died, Connie Morgan, of Owensboro, Ky., tried to log into his MyChart account to resolve a medical billing issue  but it was already disabled, according to the April 4 story.

"If you pass away, there's no reason for your account to still exist," Fallon Henson, the director of health information management at Owensboro (Ky.) Health, told the news outlet. "Once a patient's status is updated to deceased, MyChart is then disabled.  That could happen almost immediately."

However, she added, a family member of a deceased patient can contact the health system to access their medical records via an authorization process.
Philippine Army Major General Marvin Licudine, from left, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff General Andres Centino, United States Charge d'Affaires Heather Variava, Philippine Navy (Marines) Brigadier General Noel Belaran and United States Marine Corps Major General Eric Austin link arms during the opening ceremony of the 38th Philippines-U.S. "Balikatan" exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Tuesday. AP-Yonhap



More than 17,000 Philippine and U.S. soldiers began their largest ever joint military drills on Tuesday, as ties between the long-term allies warm over shared concerns about China's assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.



The expanded annual exercises underscore improved defense ties under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr after his predecessor scaled back drills to pursue closer ties with Beijing.



For the first time, the Philippines and the United States will hold live-fire drills at sea during the three-week event known as the "Balikatan" or "shoulder-to-shoulder" exercises.



"The highlight of the exercise will be the combined joint littoral live-fire exercise, which aims to rehearse joint and combined tactics techniques and procedures to execute maritime strike," Major General Marvin Licudine, Philippines exercise director, said in a speech at the opening ceremony.



China's foreign ministry on Monday criticized the joint exercises, saying they "must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests."



The long-scheduled drills got underway as China ended three days of war games around Taiwan, which included precision strikes and blockading the island, after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.



Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory, while the democratically governed island rejects its claims.



Major General Eric Austin, acting U.S. exercise director, said the Balikatan exercises will ensure "we are prepared to respond to real world challenges together."



U.S.-Philippines relations have warmed considerably under President Marcos, who in February granted Washington increased access to his country's military bases.



The countries' defense and foreign ministers are due to meet for the first time in seven years in Washington this week.



The drills, which will be carried out in different parts of the country, will also include training in amphibious operations, aviation operations, cyber defense, urban operations, counter-terrorism and humanitarian and disaster relief.



President Marcos is expected to witness the live-fire sea drills which will involve the sinking of an old Philippines navy ship, according to a Philippine military official. (Reuters)




Morrison Healthcare, a vendor providing food services to Our Lady of the Lake System, is laying off 196 workers at the end of May when its contract with the health system expires, the Daily Advertiser reported.

The company said it is laying off workers at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Our Lady of the Lake Childrens Hospital, both based in Baton Rouge, La., and Our Lady of the Lake Ascension in Gonzales, La.

Most of the affected workers are patient dining associates, cooks, food service workers and shift supervisors, according to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with state regulators.

"On March 1, Our Lady of the Lake Health began transitioning food and nutrition services at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Our Lady of the Lake Childrens Hospital and Our Lady of the Lake Ascension from Morrison to food and nutrition service provided by Sodexo," the health system said in a statement shared with Becker's. "Current Morrison food and nutrition services team members have been offered the opportunity to speak with Sodexo representatives about transitioning their role to a like Sodexo position and continue serving in our ministry. We are grateful to both the Morrison and Sodexo teams who are working to ensure a smooth transition that supports our team members, our patients, our guests and our on-site Morrison team members."
UnitedHealth Group's Optum continues to scoop up physician groups and cement its place as the largest employer of physicians in the U.S.

Its most recent acquisition of Middletown, N.Y.-based Crystal Run Healthcare  a multispecialty physician group  added more than 400 providers and over 30 locations to its network.

Optum now employs or is affiliated with more than 70,000 physicians  significantly ahead of St. Louis-based Ascension (49,000), Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA (47,000) and Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente (24,000).

In the last year, it has also acquired Healthcare Associates of Texas, a Dallas-based physician practice management company; Houston-based Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, a group that employs more than 500 physicians and allied health professionals; and Newton, Mass.-based Atrius Health, a 30-location independent physician group, among other practices.

But its not just physicians Optum is snapping up.

It has also spent billions of dollars on mergers and acquisitions with tech companies, including its $7.8 billion merger with Change Healthcare, a healthcare data and analytics company, and its $5.4 billion acquisition of home health business LHC Group.

Coinciding with this M&A activity, many workers are also leaving Big Tech companies like Google and Meta to work for health tech companies such as Optum because of the mission of healthcare and the opportunity to apply artificial intelligence to the sector.

A recent American Hospital Association report also cited Optum as the biggest disruptor "transforming primary care"  ahead of CVS Health, Walgreens, Amazon and Walmart  and encouraged hospitals and health systems to look for partnership opportunities.

While some health systems consider partnering with Optum for the opportunity to expand their network, others aim to leverage the size and scale of a partner like Optum to alleviate some of their financial or staffing pressures.

For example, in January, 1,400 office-based employees at Brewer, Maine-based Northern Light Health  including those in revenue cycle management, inpatient care management and analytics  were transferred to Optum, while 575 Owensboro (Ky.) Health employees switched over to Optum after it assumed the health system's revenue cycle management and IT operations.

"Over the past specifically five to six years, we've been aggregating a ton of assets that can help enable the administrative functions of these systems," Mike Valli, president of Optum's Northeast Region, told Becker's. "The idea behind these relationships is, really, how do we bring everything Optum has to offer for a provider system to them in one relationship?"

Since 2011, when Optum was established, the company has significantly expanded beyond its initial offerings in pharmacy benefits management, care delivery, and data and analytics. Now Optum is one of the biggest players in healthcare, serving 127 million consumers a year across more than 2,200 care sites and working with nine in 10. U.S. hospitals, according to a January report from CB Insights.
We are experiencing a health crisis in Black and brown communities across the United States that is ravaging our neighborhoods and leading to unimaginable loss for many families.

Life expectancy for Black men is 10 years less than the general population average, minorities are more than two times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women and my adopted hometown  Cleveland, Ohio  has been ranked the least livable place in America for Black women. This is unacceptable in a nation as rich and technologically advanced as the United States, and it is unacceptable in the city of Cleveland, where we have access to some of the best medical resources in the world.

For me, these numbers are not statistics. They are my reality and my pain. I lost my mother to a rare form of leukemia when she was only 46. Both of my grandmothers died of breast cancer and just over a year ago, my baby sister also died of breast cancer at the age of 39. And my own life was at risk twice with preeclampsia, which resulted in premature births of two of my children and weeks of separation as my babies struggled for survival.

But I have not been deterred by these experiences. They motivate me. They are the reason I am committed to eradicating healthcare disparities and zeroing out the death gap. They are why I am laser focused on lifting the health and wealth of all our communities and fixing the brokenness in the healthcare system to ensure everyone gets the high-quality medical care they deserve. Period.

To accomplish this goal, we first need to ensure that everyone has a say in the medical care they receive. Healthcare organizations need to treat our communities as patients and work to identify and better address their collective needs. This includes making a conscious effort to include diverse community voices in every aspect of our organizational structure from the medical care we provide, to how we address social drivers of health, to the buildings we build and where we build them.

Secondly, we need to make improving representation a real priority and make sure our caregivers look like the people they care for. This is acutely necessary when less than 6 percent of physicians and less than 7 percent of nurses in the U.S. are Black. We trust people who look like us, who have the same concerns we have, who know our stories, who know our struggles. And I say this as a Black female CEO in healthcare  an industry where less than 1 percent of its leaders look like me.

Finally, we need to empower patients. We need to give them the tools to be advocates for themselves and their family members. We need to make it as easy as possible for them to ask questions, get information and ensure they are receiving the best possible care available. And we need to better educate our caregivers so that they have the training and "soft skills" necessary to make every patient feel empowered and in charge of their own health.

Making these changes to our healthcare system will not be easy, but it is an achievable goal if we all work together. Individual healthcare systems do not have all the answers, nor do we always know the right questions to ask. We need to partner with social service organizations, government agencies, businesses and community groups to better define the problems we need to solve and develop solutions that all of our communities are helping to build.

And above all, we need to listen more. When everyone has a real voice and an actual seat at the table, we make better decisions that have more positive impact for our communities.

Airica Steed, EdD, RN, is the CEO and president of Cleveland-based MetroHealth System, the public, safety-net hospital for Northeast Ohio.
New Haven, Conn.-based Yale Health has named Jason Fish, MD, its next CEO, effective July 1.

Dr. Fish currently serves as chief medical officer for Southwestern Health Services  an integrated population-based healthcare network formed by Texas Health Resources and the Dallas-based University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The 31-hospital network is based in Farmers Branch, Texas, according to an April 10 news release from Yale University. Dr. Fish also serves as chief medical officer for its Medicare Advantage plan.

He succeeds Paul Genecin, MD, who retired Jan. 6 after 26 years as Yale Health's CEO.
Mark Cuban and his online drug company are floating prospective deals with more payers and pharmacists, he told Becker's Hospital Review at its 13th Annual Meeting in April.

He said Cost Plus Drugs' main product isn't the catalog of thousands of discounted drugs currently for sale, but the trust he's working to build with consumers.

"When nobody is transparent, nobody has to be. And when nobody has to be, it's really easy to charge more," Mr. Cuban said. "When you see an industry like this, it's ripe for disruption."

About a year after launching the online pharmacy, these are 10 new pieces of information he discussed in Chicago on April 4:

1. Mr. Cuban has been in talks with CMS regarding Medicare drug pricing and sent the agency a price list for drugs on April 3. Generic specialty drugs like imatinib, which treats cancer, have been discussed.

In June, a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found Medicare recipients could have saved up to $3.6 billion on generic drug costs in 2020 if the program paid the same prices as Cost Plus Drugs. Mr. Cuban tweeted the results, urging President Joe Biden and other elected officials to "have your people call my people and let's get this done."

2. With Cost Plus Drugs offering about 1,100 generics and four brand-name products, Becker's asked Mr. Cuban about his ideal ratio of generics and brand drugs.

"We want them all," he said, with the caveat of controlled substances and specialty drugs not cleared for mail orders.

Cost Plus Drugs recently added four brand-name drugs: one from IBSA Pharma and three from Janssen, a J&J company. Generic drugs cost anywhere from 20 percent to 70 percent less than brand-name medications, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

3. During his keynote, Mr. Cuban floated the idea of raising the company's $3 pharmacy labor fee to $5 because of "the way that pharmacy handling costs are going right now." He said this could happen in September.

4. The company is working with independent pharmacists and retail grocery chains nationwide to broaden patient access beyond mail-order drugs through an affiliated network.

"We're putting up a network of pharmacies so that people can pick medications up as opposed to having to do a mail order," he said. "That's happening now."

5. Mr. Cuban called local pharmacists the "lifeblood of care" and said they need more support to stay open because "if we lose them, then the PBMs control everything. I'm gonna do all I can to prevent that."

"It's not to say the big three pharmacies don't have great pharmacists that really care and have relationships," he said, "but you can't trust the pricing."

6. After nabbing Capital Blue Cross as its first payer partner, Cost Plus Drugs is in talks with more insurers for future collaborations. Capital members can use their insurance cards on the site and then get reimbursed or put the cost toward their deductible (if eligible) by submitting a claim.

"We're talking to a lot of them," Mr. Cuban said. "They see the experience that Capital and their customers have had. Once we connect the insurance companies to our affiliate network, they'll be able to pick up prescriptions."

7. Despite widespread federal and state support for further regulations around PBMs, Mr. Cuban believes the biggest players "could not be happier" with the current political environment.

"[PBMs] have a lot of subsidiaries and they're smart," he said. "They're smarter than the politicians. I think the focus on PBMs is just a shiny object. Anybody in the industry knows it is crazy with all the rebates. But no one's asking the question, if it's not rebates, what will it be?"

8. With his focus on disrupting the PBM space, Mr. Cuban said drug manufacturers have received more flak for high drug costs than they should. He mentioned the recent trimming of insulin list prices to about $30 per month's supply, and said drugmakers are "demonized" while PBMs, payers and pharmacies push the blame for high drug costs to pharmaceutical companies.

9. Mr. Cuban said Cost Plus Drugs currently employs about 40 people. That figure does not include a 22,000-square-foot, $11 million drug manufacturing facility in Dallas that is expected to open this year.

10. Cost Plus Drugs now has 2.25 million individual accounts, compared to 2 million at the end of February. The company hit the 1 million mark in September 2022.



To attend future conferences with Becker's, contact agendateam@beckershealthcare.com. More information is available here.






Only 5 percent of U.S. adults say a physician or healthcare provider has ever spoken with them about gun safety, according to new research from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

There have been 101 days in 2023 and 147 mass shootings in the U.S. in that same time, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Gun violence is increasingly affecting the lives of American adults and children at unprecedented rates that are not seen in other high-income countries.

As gun violence alters more and more lives, physicians and public health experts alike need to "keep the visibility of the issue front and center," Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling told Becker's in a previous interview on the topic. However, the Kaiser Family Foundation's new research points out that this is where healthcare is falling short.

While few have ever been asked about gun safety or gun violence, of the ones who have, 14 percent of adults say a healthcare provider has at some point asked if they have guns in their home, according to the research. Additionally, only 26 percent of parents say their child's pediatrician has asked them if there are guns in the home  even though gun violence now accounts for 20 percent of childhood deaths.

The research also highlights that 54 percent of individuals have been threatened with a gun, have witnessed someone being shot, know someone who has been killed by gun violence (including suicide), been injured in a shooting or have had a family member who experienced one of these things.

Michael Weiner, DO, the chief medical officer of Michigan State University Health in East Lansing, underscored to Becker's in a previous interview after the Michigan State shooting that gun violence is "truly a public health issue," and added that his two asks for the nation regarding the increase in gun violence would be for more "research on gun violence and more funding to support the mental well-being of our citizens."
A 32-year-old nursing student received a dual-organ transplant thanks to her more than 250-person team at Rochester, N.Y.-based Strong Memorial Hospital.

Ashley Cuylear received a heart and kidney transplant after more than 14 hours of surgeries and a decade of illness, University of Rochester Medical Center said in an April 9 news release. Clinical and support staff from nearly 20 departments aided in the dual-organ transplant.

"A dual-organ transplant requires tremendous coordination and communication between the two transplant teams  heart and kidney in this case. We started working on this as soon as Ashley was added to the waiting list for the heart transplant," Karen Pineda-Solis, MD, kidney transplant surgeon, said in the release. "It stretches our teams all across the center."

Strong Memorial Hospital is the only center in Upstate New York to provide heart and liver transplantation, among other dual-organ transplants, according to the release.
Members of the Oregon Nurses Association planned a rally April 10 outside PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center over what they say is a staffing crisis at the facility, according to a news release shared with Becker's.

The union represents 1,500 front-line nurses at Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, Ore., and Sacred Heart Medical Center University District in Eugene, Ore., and Sacred Heart Home Care Services. PeaceHealth, a nonprofit health system based in Vancouver, Wash., has medical centers, critical access hospitals and medical clinics in Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

Union members contend there are hundreds of vacant nursing positions at Sacred Heart, which can jeopardize patient safety and result in longer wait times and more expensive hospital stays. They are asking PeaceHealth executives to adopt safe staffing standards as part of a fair contract agreement.

PeaceHealth shared the following statement with Becker's: "ONA's rally is not a strike nor a refusal to work and will have no impact on the accessibility to or care provided at our facilities. PeaceHealth respects the rights of our caregivers to participate in these kinds of activities as part of on-going union contract negotiations. We remain deeply committed to our caregivers, and we are proud of the high-quality, compassionate care and service they provide to patients and the community. Our patients and their families can continue to count on us to deliver that care without interruption."
Members of Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West will hold events this week to speak against alleged chronic understaffing at their hospitals, according to a news release shared with Becker's.

The union said short-staffed hospitals can result in long wait times, mistaken diagnosis and neglect, making it harder to provide quality care. Union members are asking hospital management to provide adequate staffing and additional support.

"When you don't have proper staffing, we feel like we end up cutting corners on patient care," Gaby Hernandez, a lab assistant at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, said in the release. "We are so understaffed and overworked. It's hard to give patients the quality care that they deserve."

Events are planned at the following locations:

Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (April 11)

Kaiser Permanente-Modesto (April 11)

Kaiser Permanente-Walnut Creek (April 11)

Kaiser Permanente-Downey (April 12)

Kaiser Permanente-Antioch (April 12)

Kaiser Permanente-Baldwin Park (April 13)

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center (Burbank, Calif.) (April 13)

Kaiser Permanente-Roseville (April 13)

Kaiser Permanente-San Jose (April 13)

In a statement shared with Becker's, Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente noted that the events are not strikes or formal picketing, and said it will begin contract bargaining with SEIU-UHW and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions later in April.

"We look forward to bargaining in good faith with our labor partners and discussing staffing ideas and solutions as well as other important topics with the union at the bargaining table," Kaiser said.

Kaiser also emphasized its commitment to ensuring excellent care.

"The last several years have been extraordinary for all healthcare employees," the health system said. "Our physicians, managers and staff worked side by side through some of the most difficult days of the pandemic to care for one another, our members and our communities.

"Right now, every healthcare provider in the nation is facing staffing shortages and fighting burnout, and Kaiser Permanente is not immune. Regardless of these challenges, our staffing approach reflects our shared commitment to ensure every Kaiser Permanente patient receives extraordinary care, every time and in every place."

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center  which is part of the 11-hospital Providence Southern California system and under the umbrella of Renton, Wash.-based Providence  also emphasized its appreciation for employees, and it noted that the hospital has received the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award the past two years.

"Providence recognized the impacts of the pandemic on our care teams, and quickly realized the need to advocate for employee and physician wellness to help them weather this unprecedented health crisis. No-cost wellness care programs continue," the hospital said in a statement shared with Becker's.

Saint Joseph also said it is prioritizing recruitment and retention and that Providence "has been aggressive in recruiting, providing bonuses and opening coveted jobs to newly graduated nurses."

Hollywood Presbyterian shared the following statement with Becker's: "CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center's priority is to provide our patients safe, high-quality care and value our caregiver's voice and well-being. CHA HPMC is currently negotiating with SEIU-UHW and will continue to work with the union in good faith until a contract is reached. We look forward to future discussions and fair negotiations with the union as we value the dedication and hard work of all CHA HPMC employees, including SEIU-UHW members."

SEIU-UHW represents about 13,500 workers at the facilities above that are involved in the events this week.






A class-action lawsuit that alleges Florida's Medicaid program has denied coverage for incontinence supplies for adults with disabilities is moving forward, radio station WMNF reported April 10.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard cleared the way for the lawsuit, which was filed in July on behalf of two women who said the state violated federal laws, including Medicaid and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The women received incontinence supplies, such as briefs, diapers and underpads, until they turned 21, according to the report.

"Plaintiffs are medically fragile adults each with bladder and bowel incontinence," the lawsuit said. "As low-income Florida residents with significant disabilities, they receive their health services through Florida's Medicaid program. Plaintiffs' physicians have prescribed certain incontinence supplies, including briefs and underpads, as medically necessary to treat plaintiffs' incontinence, keep their skin dry and clean, prevent skin breakdowns and infections and maintain their ability to live in the community."

The state has fought the lawsuit, saying the Medicaid program operates under regulations approved by CMS.

"[The state] has a comprehensive, effectively working plan for providing qualified individuals with necessary services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization," the state said in a court document. "Alternatively, any relief the court deems necessary should be limited to narrowly address the harm before it and not unnecessarily affect defendant's otherwise comprehensive, effectively working plan for the delivery of Medicaid services that has been reviewed and approved by CMS."

It is unclear how many people are affected by potential cutoffs, but the judge's March decision estimated at least 480 Medicaid beneficiaries a year turn 21 and lose coverage for incontinence supplies.

The trial is scheduled for January, the report said.
Nurses are rallying at Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Hospital over patient safety concerns, nurses being sent home, and unsafe working conditions, Fox affiliate WHNS reported April 10.

National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United said nurses at the hospital are reporting long patient wait times, broken hospital equipment and unsafe staffing levels. One nurse also claimed her colleagues are being sent home.

"As an emergency room nurse, it is unacceptable to have patients waiting more than 12 hours to receive care," Hannah Drummond, RN, who works in the emergency department at Mission Hospital, told WHNS. "Instead of increasing staffing in the emergency department to reduce wait times, HCA cut staff and sent nurses home. This is unconscionable."

Nancy Lindell, a spokesperson for Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA, told Becker's, "Despite the union's endless allegations, there has not been any finding that Mission Hospital has violated their contract in any way, including how we assign RNs to provide safe, appropriate patient care. While facing a national shortage of healthcare workers, Mission Health is continuing to recruit team members and, in the last two weeks, has hired more than 100 colleagues. We have more nurses working in the hospital now than we did a year ago at this time. We offer shift incentives and are building our talent pipeline through our relationship with our local education partners, our own get-paid-to-learn CNA program and the recent opening of the Galen College of Nursing. Mission Health also made a $20 million annual investment in salary increases for direct patient care staff."

HCA owns and operates Mission Health.
Escondido, Calif.-based Palomar Health has launched its new $100,000 registered nurse incentive program to recruit and retain staff, according to an April 10 news release shared with Becker's.

Under the program, Palomar Health's currently employed and newly eligible RNs will receive up to $100,000 over a three-year commitment period. Newly hired RNs will also receive a sign-on incentive.

"Nurses are such a critical and important part of the healthcare experience, and this program is going to demonstrate our commitment to them," Palomar Health CEO Diane Hansen said in the release. "It doesn't just say how much we value and appreciate them; it proves it by offering them $100,000 to be part of San Diego's best and California's biggest healthcare district. Part of our 'Reimagining' brand strategy is reimagining the way we compensate and reward our team. We're committed to doing things differently, to get the best results for community."

For current internal staff, the commitment window for the program began April 3 and ends April 21, Palomar Health said. RNs who join the health system team between April 10 to July 17 also qualify for the program. Newly hired RNs who started before April 10 are also eligible to enroll in the program during the April 3 to April 21 window.

Palomar Health has an 800 square-mile service area and includes two medical center campuses.
Nurses say some Massachusetts hospitals have turned to mandatory overtime to help ease workforce shortages, according to The Boston Globe.

Hospitals and health systems across the U.S. have experienced labor challenges, including shortages. A new report from Fitch Ratings indicates signs of easing labor cost pressures for hospitals. However, healthcare organizations continue to grapple with filling jobs and retaining top talent.

In Massachusetts, several hospitals have required nurses to work beyond their scheduled shift, according to The Boston Globe, which cites reports filed with the state health department. The state prohibits mandatory overtime for nurses except in an emergency situation "where the safety of the patient requires its use and when there is no reasonable alternative."

Some argue nurse overtime could add strain to the state's healthcare workforce and drive resignations, according to The Boston Globe. Katie Murphy, RN, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, said in the report that the state is no longer dealing with a state of emergency, pointing to the fact hospitals must now maintain nurse-patient ratios in ICUs as proof.

Hospitals, meanwhile, said the state of emergency is ongoing and told the newspaper they have worked to address staffing challenges through investing in temporary traveler staff, adopting new technology and working with unions on contract language for workers, but no quick solutions exist.

"Mandatory overtime is not a routine practice and is viewed as a final measure taken to preserve safe patient care when other options have been exhausted," Michael Sroczynski, senior vice president and general counsel for the Massachusetts Hospital Association, said, according to The Boston Globe. "Hospitals are closely following the law set more than a decade ago, including reporting all instances of its use to the Department of Public Health."

Data compiled by The Boston Globe showed about a dozen hospitals reported more than 350 mandatory overtime instances between June 2022 and February 2023. That marked a decrease from the same period a year earlier (more than 600 instances reported from about two dozen hospitals).

Read the full report here.














Detroit-based Henry Ford Health appointed orthopedic surgeon and shoulder specialist Jonathan Braman, MD, as its chair and medical director of orthopedic services.

Dr. Braman's appointment is effective April 17. He will oversee all administrative, clinical, research and academic activities for orthopedics across Henry Ford Orthopedics' more than 20 locations, according to an April 10 news release from the health system. He will also implement advancement strategies for orthopedic surgery and clinical services.

Dr. Braman joins Henry Ford from the University of Minnesota Department of Orthopedic Surgery in Minneapolis, where he was chief of shoulder surgery, professor of orthopedic surgery, vice chair of faculty development and director of orthopedic research at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University has welcomed its first Black female neurosurgery resident, according to an April 10 report from Fox affiliate KTBC.

Tamia Potter, 26, will begin her residency in July and plans to finish by 2030, according to the report.

She previously spent a month with the Vanderbilt neurosurgery service as a visiting student from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland.

Vanderbilt trained its first neurosurgery resident in 1932. In 2019, there were only 33 Black women in the field of neurosurgery nationwide, the report said.
Jan Cunningham, managing partner, Millar McCall Wylie

Millar McCall Wylie was founded in 1997. In a relatively short time, the firm has had to deal with the outworkings of the Good Friday Agreement, an economic crash, the pandemic, Brexit and more. We believe facing these hurdles has increased our resilience and we are delighted that we have experienced a period of sustained growth.

As an indigenous law firm, we are immensely proud of our roots in Belfast. We embrace our ethos of expertise for everyone - remaining committed to traditional business and private legal services, whilst at the same time evolving into more niche areas of expertise.

There is however a significant challenge facing our profession  one to which many can no doubt relate  and that is how to nurture and attract the best talent.

Thanks to Invest Northern Ireland and other stakeholders, Northern Ireland has secured foreign direct investment (FDI) to take advantage of our fantastic local talent pool in recent years.

Whilst the arrival of global businesses has undoubtedly been an economic advantage for NI plc, creating jobs and putting us on the international map, it has also changed the recruitment landscape, particularly for locally-owned, independent companies. This is true not just for local law firms but also those providing other professional services.

For the legal sector, this development has also highlighted a shortage of legally qualified individuals who choose to actually practice law in Northern Ireland. This was highlighted by the Law Society NI in its 2022 centenary report, which indicated that less than 50% of those on the Roll of Solicitors and qualified to practice hold a current practising certificate.

We need to drive the message out there that Belfast is a great place to practice law. The opportunities for both homegrown and international students are considerable. Our local universities have increased places for law students and diversified into complimentary programmes embracing law and technology. The impact of this will however take some time to filter through and for expertise and experience to develop.

Every employer thinks about what sets them apart and how they can attract the best people.

We firmly believe the quality of service we offer across all key legal areas and our ability to work with and on behalf of local business, individuals and overseas investors, sets us apart and creates better long term career prospects for local solicitors.

Over the years we have realised that nurturing talent starts at education level. We recognise the benefits of ongoing collaboration with higher education, such as Queens University, to help shape outcomes for our students and identify talent for the next chapter of our firm. Building valuable partnerships within the education sector is key.

We try to stay fresh. Having provided legal support to our vibrant film and TV industry, we have seen first-hand the huge contribution to our economy NI Screen and others in the creative and digital sector continue to make. This is an area of growth for our team and is attracting high interest from new recruits keen to specialise in this type of law.

Perhaps most important for us is to understand what our employees really need to do their job to their full potential. The package an employer offers now goes way beyond remuneration. Weve placed a great deal of focus on how we support our people, how we communicate internally and externally and how we bring our values to life.

As a locally-owned, independent company we can own and protect our culture. We see this as one of our most valuable assets. Overall, we remain positive about meeting the recruitment challenge. Whilst it is more competitive than ever, we believe the people we are bringing on board are second to none.

We now think of the talent pool as something we can add to and enrich for everyones benefit.

A challenge  and an opportunity.
US firm Terex is one of many with operations in Northern Ireland

From banking and finance, to technology and manufacturing, US investment in Northern Ireland in the last decade has been worth 1.5bn and created around 13,000 jobs.

One business leader said he expects US investment to continue on a significant scale here for the foreseeable future.

America is NIs leading source of foreign direct investment (FDI) and also the countrys second-largest exporter, with the export market worth around 1bn.

While during the Troubles US FDI in Northern Ireland was scarce, today there are scores of American firms with operations here.

When in post, Stormonts Economy Minister usually makes a trade visit to the US to drum up investment, while President Joe Biden recently appointed Joe Kennedy III as special economic envoy to Northern Ireland.

Speaking at a dinner organised by the British Irish Chamber of Commerce earlier this month, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill said of Mr Kennedy: I want him to drum up business, I want him to bring investment  and thats what hes up for.

Looking at the US companies that have planted their feet here in recent years, they range from multi-national banking firms to global manufacturing businesses.

US firm Terex is one of many with operations in Northern Ireland

Back in 1998, technology firm Allstate set up a small base here and it has now grown to become NIs largest IT company, employing 2,500 people.

American investment bank Citi has four offices in Belfast, employing more than 3,000 people, while US global markets company CME Group has 325 people working at its offices in the city.

Looking at manufacturing, Seagate Technology in Londonderry makes electronic equipment and employs around 1,000 people, with about 20% educated to PhD level.

Other major US firms with operations here include Caterpillar, Sensata Technologies and Terex.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Stephen Kelly of Manufacturing NI said Terex is a prime example of how US firms have been dipping their toes in the water here and then going on to significantly expand. Terex makes lifting and material processing products.

Terex first came here in 1999 and had a fairly small operation. Before the Good Friday Agreement, there wouldnt have been a chance on earth that a company like that would choose Northern Ireland as a smart place to invest their money, Mr Kelly said.

Now Terex has expanded massively. They currently have nine sites here, employ over 1,500 people, and the products they make here are used all around the world. Weve seen that approach mirror in other US firms coming here. They dip their toes in the water and then see the quality of our people and the environment. It helps that we share the same language with the US, broadly the same culture, and there is the same legal approach.

My own view, when it comes to manufacturing anyway, is that well continue to see US investment on a huge scale going into the future.

In the wake of the unveiling of Rishi Sunaks Windsor Framework Brexit deal at the end of February, there were reports in the US media that American firms are ready to invest billions in Northern Ireland, if the deal leads to political stability.
The CBI has sacked director-general Tony Danker following an independent investigation into complaints of workplace misconduct (Jonathan Brady/PA)   Jonathan Brady

The Confederation of British Industry has sacked boss Tony Danker and suspended three other employees after a series of misconduct allegations rocked the powerful trade body.

The board of the business group, which claims to represent 190,000 companies across the UK, said that Mr Dankers conduct fell short of what was expected of him.

The group admitted there had been serious failings in how it acted as an organisation and promised to do better.

The CBI suspended three other unnamed members of staff.

Last week, the Guardian newspaper said that it had been approached by more than a dozen women who claimed to be victims of various forms of sexual misconduct, including one who said she was raped at a staff party.

Tony Danker has been sacked (Jacob King/PA)   Jacob King

The trade body has been rocked by allegations of a toxic workplace culture since Mr Danker was last month accused of allegedly making unwanted contact with a woman who works for the CBI.

She considered the contact to be sexual harassment, the Guardian reported at the time.

The group launched an investigation into his behaviour and he agreed to step down in the meantime. The first part of this investigation by an outside law firm has been completed, the CBI said.

Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him, it said.

The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director-general.

The board appointed former chief economist Rain Newton-Smith to take the top job from Mr Danker. She left the organisation just last month to join Barclays.

The CBI said: The allegations that have been made over recent weeks about the CBI have been devastating.

While investigations continue into a number of these, it is already clear to all of us that there have been serious failings in how we have acted as an organisation. We must do better, and we must be better.

We apologise to the victims of this organisational failure, including those impacted by the revulsion we have all felt at hearing their stories. Nobody should feel unsafe in their workplace.

The CBI said that the outside law firm would continue its investigation and the business group would cooperate fully if the police launch any investigations.

The group will also launch a root-and-branch review of its culture, governance and processes, and create a new position of chief people officer.

We wish to thank all those who have had the courage to speak out, through internal or external channels, and encourage them to keep doing so, it added.

Following her appointment, Ms Newton-Smith said: Its a huge privilege to be asked to return to the CBI to serve as its director-general.

I passionately believe in the power of business to transform our society. I want the CBI to be an organisation of which we can all be proud.

I am grateful and determined to lead the team through this challenging time. I look forward to working with the team, our members and stakeholders as we work together to achieve sustainable growth.
From problematic colleagues to power struggles in the office, work life can be stressful but it can be managed
Huge spoiler below: Read only if youve already watched Season 4, Episode 3 of Succession

Youll keep it light? Roman (Kieran Culkin) asks his father Logan (Brian Cox) in the opening minutes of this weeks episode of Succession. No such luck for us, the viewer: 20 minutes later, the King is finally dead, the great catalysing incident the show has been building towards for the last 29 hours of its screen-time finally landing like a crashing, flaming private jet. Viewed retroactively, Logan Roys uncharacteristic declaration of familial love last week takes on an additional note of desperation, as if the Successionpatriarch might have known more about the frailty of his health than he was letting on. Either way, Cox will be missed, and with Logan dead, the show will lose some of its roaring, rushing power, and a new Succession  one that does not orbit a dark, immovable locus, like a black hole at the centre of a galaxywill be forced to take its place.

Nicholas Braun as Greg and Matthew Macfadyen as Tom in Succession

Eggwatch

It feels necessary to begin with something lighta Greg-the-egg salad, if you will, in contrast to the three-course meal of grief and rage and weeping that makes up the bulk of this episode. It will come as no surprise that most of this weeks notable, quotable lines belong to cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun), who we first see calling Tom (Matthew McFadyen) to check that he has appropriate backup for the meeting Logan is currently en route to with Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard) in Sweden. Yeah, I got like three or four people Gregging for me, Tom replies. Gregging? Greg wails. Yeah, I roped in a few little mini Gregs from the pigpen. Little Greglets, Tom responds with evident glee.

Okay, well, dont turn me into a word, Tom, Im a guy! Greg huffs, shambling around Connors wedding in a manner that, in fact, absolutely begs for Gregging to be made into a verb. Who are all these little guys, these little Greggies running around? Who are these little Gregs? That Greg himself, in spite of being played by the six-foot-seven Nicholas Braun, is a Greglet and a little guy himself is obvious, even if it does defy the laws of physics.

Loony Cake

It would not be a Successionwedding without at least one haunting or sexual anecdote about somebodys mother, and because this season it is Connor (Alan Ruck)s wedding, it is Connors turn to air his Mommy issues  he is triggered by his wedding cake, a Victoria sponge, because it too closely resembles one that he was given as a child on the day his mother was committed to a mental institution. He says its a loony cake, Willa (Justine Lupe) informs Kendall (Jeremy Strong), looking as if it might be occurring to her that her husband-to-be is a loony cake himself.

Elsewhere, Roman (Kieran Culkin) has been told to fire Gerri (J Smith-Cameron), the surrogate Mommy with whom he has had an arguably haunting and inarguably sexual relationship over the course of seasons one through three. I guess you just lost [Logan]s confidence, he tells her, shamefaced. Since when? Gerri fires back. Since you sent me repeated images of your genitalia? Well thats reductive, Roman mutters, although if there was a motivation behind his mid-meeting penis spam last season beyond its just like, heres my dick I guess, we dont get to hear it. Furious with his father for what he believes is an emotionally manipulative power play, Roman calls Logan to complain about being made to dismiss his former I-have-no-idea-what-word-to-use-to-define-Gerri-and-Romans-thing, ending his voicemail with: so, like, are you a c***, I guess thats the question, give me a buzz!

Matthew Macfadyen   WireImage

Youre going to be a monster and youre going to be OK

If Roman feels a little proud of standing up to Logan in that voicemail, his pride comes before what might be the most dramatic fall in the shows history, as Tom calls him from the private jet halfway to Sweden and informs him, on a line thats crackling with static, that Logan is sick, hes very, very sick  its very, very bad. Roman, who unfortunately answered said call with the indelible and immortal greeting f***y sucky brigade, how can I help you?, pulls in Kendall, and then Shiv, and the three of them swing wildly between optimism and panic as Tom holds the phone to Logans ear and lets them say their last goodbyes.

In his much-discussed New Yorker profile last year, one of the many thinkers Jeremy Strong quoted was the playwright Harold Pinter. The more acute the experience, Strong described him saying, the less articulate its expression. Part of what reduced me to entirely unexpected tears in the scenes that surrounded Logans death was the depiction of this very inarticulacy, which felt like a truer reckoning with grief in the immediate aftermath of death than the usual tidy speeches and redemptive moments one so often sees on television. Time and time again, the Roy children contradicted themselves, one minute declaring their love for their monstrous father, and the next offering a caveat. I love you, dad, Kendall mumbles, even though you f***inI cant forgive you. But its okay. (Even Shiv (Sarah Snook), whose tearful Daddy, dont go was the thing that finally pushed me towards something close to sobs, immediately follows up her plea with the same expression of inchoate rage: You f***in) Here there were no zingers, no quotable lines; the transcriptions in my notes, seen altogether, look more like a cry for help than like memorable screenwriting.

Something else that struck a chord: I could not help noticing that as Tom put the phone to Logans ear, Roman and Kendall and Shiv all offered some variation on the phrase its going to be okay, and it occurred to me that this is something parents usually say to their children. Had Logan Roy ever uttered this particular phrase? It is impossible to know, although its extremely possible to take an educated guess. When Shiv and Kendall walk back into Connors wedding holding hands, they look as if they might be eight years old, and the image is heart-breaking; when they tell Connor whats happened and he says, unthinkingly and calmly, oh, he never liked me before switching into a more appropriate expression of his grief, its doubly so.

What is or is not appropriate in the face of death is the central question of the episode, just as the central question ofSuccession as a whole has often seemed to be what is appropriate or sincere as an expression of love  whether a father who behaves tyrannically towards his children in order to teach them strength can be a loving parent in his own way, and whether a child who tries to beat their father at his own game might be doing so only in order to win his respect and affection. When Kerry (Zoe Winters), Logans girlfriend and assistant, emerges from the bathroom on the private jet where he has died with a strange grin, her affect is as wildly incongruous as it was in her audition tape last week; when Tom calls Cousin Greg and says hes passed away, and youve looked out [for me], and whats at the bottom of your stocking, Greg? An old guy who f***ing hated you and then dissolves into a horrible, frightening laugh, it is jarring but not exactly unnatural. What do we do when cruel men die, and what do we do when those cruel men are our bosses, or our lovers, or, especially, our fathers?

In the end, Willa and Connor go through with their loveless marriage, and after considering whether or not they should conceal Logans death in order to preserve the companys value on the market, the Roy siblings find out that his ill-health has already hit the news, and decide to do the right thing and release a statement. Every single thing we do and say today is going in the memoirs, Kendall reasons. Its going in the congressional recordwe are highly liable to misinterpretation, so what we do today will always be what we did the day our father died. The last part of this statement is true even for those of us who are not responsible for multi-billion-dollar companies, and it is another reason why no form of grief is right or fitting. By the time the episode concluded with a shot of Kendall gasping, watching Logans body being unloaded from the private jet, I was dazed, a little overwhelmed, and generally left thinking more or less the same thing Jeremy Strong is described as thinking in that wild New Yorkerprofile: what the Shrek just happened?
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)   BBC Studios/Ferne Corrigan

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.
A man was remanded into custody today (Tuesday) accused of attacking a new mum in her own home.

Police were called to Upper Dunmurry Close in west Belfast in the early hours of yesterday (Easter Monday) to reports of people fighting in the street.

The complainant, who gave birth just two weeks ago, told police her ex-partner Ryan Shortt came in through an unlocked door, punched her in the face, headbutted her and banged her head against the wall.

Officers at the scene noticed the kitchen table had been damaged, make-up was scattered over the floor and disturbingly, the Moses basket of their two-week-old baby was knocked over but fortunately, he wasnt there.

Shortt was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries, including a suspected fractured cheekbone.

Lisburn Magistrates Court was told that Shortt spat in an officers face on the way to the hospital.

The court was told that although doctors released him as fit to be charged, theres a note on the file that he has to go back for treatment.

During interviews, Shortt, from Carrickvale Manor in Lurgan, refused to answer police questions or provide any explanation for the injuries he sustained.

Detective Constable Burns said police were objecting to bail due to concerns about witness interference and further offending.

Appearing at court by video link from police custody and sporting a black left eye, Shortt was charged with causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage and assaulting police on April 10.

Defence solicitor Pat Vernon submitted that with a bail address with Shortts mother 15 miles away from the complainant, he could be freed with conditions and Shortt himself added: I will take a tag or anything.

District Judge Anne Marshall said she needed to consider a vulnerable injured party who needs protected.

Refusing bail on the grounds of a risk of further offences and witness interference, Shortt was remanded into custody and the case was adjourned to April 24.
We talk to the people who played a part when Bill Clinton and Barack Obama visited

Since Bill Clinton made history by being the first US President to visit Northern Ireland back in 1995, the region has garnered a respectable reputation for hosting the leaders of the western world.
A Troubles victim has empathised with families who will not see justice for their loved ones following the death of Freddie Scappaticci.

Scappaticci, the informer known as Stakeknife, died in England where he had been living in witness protection since he fled Belfast when he was outed as a double agent.

Ann Travers, whose sister Mary was murdered by the IRA, said: He has joined his fellow nutting squad colleague Joe Haughey.

For all the families that this person hurt, causing a lifetime of trauma, and who have yet again been robbed of any earthly justice, Im so sorry.

Catholic mother-of-three Caroline Moreland was tortured and killed by the IRA in July 1994 on suspicion of being an informer.

Ms Morelands family ended a six-year legal battle in 2022 after they were given assurances her case will feature in Operation Kenova  the probe examining activities of the state agent codenamed Stakeknife.

Despite an RUC investigation at the time, no-one has ever been charged or prosecuted in connection with her death.

Read more Freddie Scappaticci: Informer known as Stakeknife dies

It is alleged that Stakeknife was directly involved in her interrogation and shooting.

UUP leader Doug Beattie said: Died in secret, buried in secret... lets hope the evidence he brought forward doesnt remain a secret.

Its time those who directed terrorism within PIRA leadership were held to account.

Kenny Donaldson, of South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), a group formed to help innocent victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland said the name Scappaticci for those who werent impacted by his actions is a name which denotes mystique and almost sick intrigue.

However, for those whose families were murdered as a consequence of his alleged involvement as kingpin of the IRAs nutting squad, the name means something very different, the SEFF Director of Services said.

It is highly regrettable that the report conducted into his alleged activities as Stakeknife has not been published whilst he was alive and for families involved, many will have very difficult feelings to navigate through over the coming period.

It has been said by many well-placed sources that the Provisionals were infiltrated to its highest level with well-placed informants and it is understood that a considerable number of the files before the PPS contain allegations of serious criminal-based activity by Provisional IRA terrorists.

Mr Donaldson continued: Our thoughts this evening are with those innocents whose loved ones were callously kidnapped, tortured and murdered by the Provisional IRAs nutting squad as well as wider crimes alleged to have been committed by Freddie Scappaticci.
US President Joe Biden arrives on Air Force One at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, for his visit to the island of Ireland. Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA Wire   PA

US President Joe Biden arrives on Air Force One at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, for his visit to the island of Ireland. Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA Wire   PA

President Joe Biden disembarks from Air Force One upon arrival at Belfast International Airport on April 11, 2023 in Antrim, Northern Ireland. (Photo by WPA Pool - Charles McQuillan / Getty Images)   Getty Images

President Joe Biden arrives at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

US President Joe Biden has landed in Northern Ireland as he begins his four-day visit to the island of Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The president touched down at Belfast International Airport at around 9.20pm.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Mr Biden off the plane.

US President Joe Biden arrives in Northern Ireland

Mr Biden then left in his motorcade before heading to his hotel in Belfast City Centre.

The US leader will give a speech at Ulster University tomorrow afternoon before travelling onwards to the Republic of Ireland for further events.

Read how our live coverage of the Presidents arrival in Northern Ireland unfolded here:
Huge security operation in place in Belfast city centre for President Joe Bidens visit

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

President Biden arrived in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Ahead of his visit, the public has been warned of significant travel disruptions  heres what you need to know.

The PSNI has warned the public of traffic disruption in Belfast city centre on Tuesday and Wednesday and have closed a number of roads to facilitate the security operation surrounding the presidents visit.

The M5 leaving York Street will be closed from 1.50pm on Wednesday for a short time. The police have asked that nobody parks in prohibited areas or leaves their vehicle abandoned as this will cause delays.

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Roads around Ulster University, where the president is to give a speech on Wednesday, are also closed.

These roads currently closed in the city centre are:

James Street

Franklin Street

Bedford Street

Clarence Street West

Great Patrick Street

Bedford Street

Bedford Street will remain closed to traffic in both directions for some time and police will be present to facilitate pedestrians.

The PSNI has also advised the public of lane restrictions on Dunbar Link into the City Centre.

Massive security operation in Belfast city centre ahead of President Bidens visit to Northern Ireland

The following roads around the university are closed from 9pm on Tuesday:

York Street

Donegal Street

Academy Street

Frederick Street

The PSNI have advised motorists that Clifton Street from the West Link to Carrick Hill will be closed from 11am.

Traffic restrictions will also be in place in Carrick Hill during this time.

Members of the public have also been advised to not congregate or park vehicles in and around the Fortwilliam Roundabout or Hightown area.

A spokesperson said: "There is a significant policing operation in place and you will only cause unnecessary disruption."

Police have said all the roads mentioned will remain closed until Wednesday afternoon.

The have also asked that those wishing to attend the event or the motorcade should make sensible provisions for parking or walking to the venue.

Travellers to and from Belfast International Airport also faced disruption on Tuesday night, with parts of the M2 closed for a time for the presidential motorcade.

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Translink has cautioned that public transport may be affected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It said that any delays are most likely to affect those travelling in and out of Belfast, as well as around the city centre.

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will greet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland later.

The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster University's new 350 million Belfast campus at 1pm.

Security measures in place outside Grand Central Hotel ahead of President Joe Bidens visit to Belfast on April 11th 2023 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

President Biden will travel to the Republic after his speech at Ulster University for a number of other engagements and is expected to meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Irish President Michael D Higgins later this week.

His visit comes after he confirmed he plans to run for re-election as president next year.

The President 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."
Planning permission for a statue of US abolitionist Frederick Douglass is set to go before Belfast councillors.

A former slave, Douglass visited Belfast in 1845 as part of a lecture tour, following an invite from the Belfast Anti-Slavery Society, and again the following year.

Back in 2020, a Belfast City Council (BCC) proposal to have a statue of the activist erected in the city was approved.

The statue is to be erected on Lombard Street and will be made of bronze, measuring around 2.43m in height.

Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland in 1818 and escaped in 1838.

He got married, changed his surname and became one of the country's most prominent abolitionists.

Douglass went around the world telling of his life as a slave and wrote a book about his experiences called Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, which was published in 1845.

He addressed huge crowds in Great Britain and Ireland and some of his supporters paid off his owner, meaning that Douglass could be free legally and not fear being recaptured.

Before leaving Belfast, Douglass said: Wherever else I feel myself to be a stranger, I will remember I have a home in Belfast.

Following the abolition of slavery in the US he campaigned for equal rights for African-Americans.

Douglass argued against those, including Abraham Lincoln, who had called for liberated slaves to leave America and establish a colony elsewhere.

The statue is to be funded by BCC and Stormont's Department for Communities.

A tender for the design and installation of the statue went out last September.

Lord Mayor Tina Black said: Frederick Douglass is an inspirational historical figure, famous for his oratory and anti-slavery writings. He delivered at least 11 lectures during his four weeks in Belfast in 1845, including in the Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church, close to where it is intended that the sculpture will be installed.

Douglass was aged 27 when he visited Ireland, so it is appropriate that the statue will depict him at that age. I am sure that the project will help increase footfall in this part of the city centre as locals and tourists, interested in Douglass and his campaigning in this part of the world, visit the sculpture.
A blaze which broke out at the site of a former nightclub in Belfast is being treated as deliberate.

Emergency services attended the scene of what used to be El Divino on Mays Meadow just outside the city centre on Tuesday afternoon.

A number of Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) appliances were dispatched.

It is understood the blaze started around 4:30pm.

Plumes of smoke could be seen across the city.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Police attended a report of a fire at derelict premises at the Mays Meadow area of Belfast this afternoon.

Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service also attended the fire, which is being treated as deliberate ignition.

"Police would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to this incident, to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 1491 11/04/23.
US President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One, as he departs for Northern Ireland, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 11, 2023. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)   AFP via Getty Images

US President Joe Biden approaches to speak to the press before boarding Air Force One, as he departs for Northern Ireland, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 11, 2023. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)   AFP via Getty Images

US President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One, as he departs for Northern Ireland, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 11, 2023. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)   AFP via Getty Images

US President Joe Biden is on his way to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Commander in Chief boarded Air Force One which took off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland shortly before 3.30pm (BST).

The journey should take around six to seven hours with the plane expected to touch down at Belfast International Airport between 9pm and 10pm on Tuesday evening.

Biden says visit is to keep the peace ahead of Belfast arrival

Asked on the runway what his top priority was for the trip, the President said: "Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place; keep the peace. That's the main thing."

Mr Biden confirmed two of his family members will accompany him on the visit, Hunter Biden and Valerie Biden Owens.

Rishi Sunak is expected to greet the US leader on the runway in Belfast.

Mr Biden will spend half a day in Belfast on Wednesday and is expected to deliver a speech at Ulster University to emphasise his country's commitment to preserving peace here.

A huge security operation is already in place in Belfast for the visit.

Read more Joe Biden: Travel disruptions and road closures during NI visit

First Minister Designate Michelle ONeill has described the historic visit as a special moment and said she is delighted to welcome President Biden to Belfast.

This historic peace accord which was painstakingly negotiated at that time was made possible due to the vast and substantial contribution from the United States under the administration of President Clinton, she added.

As we look back with pride at just how far we have all come, and all that has been achieved, we also look forward with hope, ambition, and opportunity for the next twenty-five years.

However Baroness Kate Hoey has warned that any attempt by Mr Biden to bring Stormont back could actually backfire.

"We all know where his allegiance lies and its not with the pro-Union community in Northern Ireland, she told TalkTV.

Baroness Hoey said the current President does not have the charisma and non-partisanship that was demonstrated by Bill Clinton, who played a pivotal role in securing peace.

We saw that time and time again with the things he has done and the things hes actually said, she continued.

"That very famous little picture of him meeting a BBC journalist who said Im from the BBC and he just stopped immediately and said Im Irish and stomped off.

Baroness Hoey said there will be no change at Stormont until the Windsor Framework is changed.

"If Stormont is working then members have to implement the Windsor Framework, she said.

"They actually have to make sure the structures are set up that means you are asking pro-Union MLAs to implement the breaking away of their own country from their own country and that is not acceptable.

Joe Biden, whose Secret Service codename is Celtic, has spoken proudly of his Irish roots.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said his visit to the Republic later this week is about "welcoming a son of Ireland home".

The US president can trace his ancestry to opposite sides of the island after his great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan emigrated to the US from the Cooley peninsula of Co Louth in the east.

Meanwhile, his great-great-grandfather, Patrick Blewitt, was born in Ballina, Co Mayo, in the west.

His father Edward sold 27,000 bricks to a cathedral in the town to help him purchase tickets to sail to America with his family in 1851.
Belfast man had been living in witness protection in England

A police message telling Freddie Scappaticci that the IRA believe he is an informer

Forensics at Freddie Scappaticci's house in west Belfast in 2003 after a suspect device was discovered   Photopress Belfast

Freddie Scappaticci, the informer known as Stakeknife, has died in England where he had been living in witness protection since he fled Belfast when he was outed as a double agent.

The 77-year-old, who was originally from the Markets area of Belfast, died earlier this month with his funeral thought to have taken place in secret.

The son of an Italian immigrant, he was interned during Operation Demetrius before being released in 1974 and was by this time a member of the IRA having joined in prison.

By 1980, Scappaticci was heading up the internal security unit (ISU) for the organisation and was tasked with investigating informers. He was later unmasked as one of the most high profile double agents in the IRA.

It was reported that he was considered the jewel in the crown of British military intelligence.

As a member of the so-called Nutting Squad, he was responsible for the torture and murder of dozens of alleged informers. He was directly linked to the execution of 18 people.

In 2003, Scappaticci was outed as a high level informer. He always denied the allegations, even taking part in a planned press conference from a solicitors office, but later fled his home in west Belfast.

He was also awarded a High Court injunction banning the press from revealing his whereabouts.

In 2021 the father of an IRA murder victim lost a High Court challenge to the decision not to bring perjury charges against Scappaticci.

Senior judges rejected Frank Mulherns case against the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) for directing that Freddie Scappaticci and three other individuals should face no criminal proceedings.

Alfredo 'Freddie' Scappaticci at the 1987 funeral of IRA man Larry Marley

It related to evidence given to the High Court during the injunction hearing, that ruling now dies with the infamous double agent.

At the time of his death he was subject to investigation by the Kenova team.

Former Chief Constable Jon Boutcher is leading the independent team which conducted the investigation into Stakeknife.

The focus of the investigation was to ascertain whether there is evidence of the commission of criminal offences by Scappaticci.

This included murders, attempted murders and unlawful imprisonments attributed to the Provisional IRA.

Kenova is also investigating alleged criminal offences having been committed by members of the Army, the Security Services or other government personnel who were handling the agent.

In 2019 Scappaticcis wife Sheila Cunningham, who was in her early 70s, also from the Markets area of Belfast, died after a short illness.

Forensics at Freddie Scappaticci's house in west Belfast in 2003 after a suspect device was discovered   Photopress Belfast

Devoutly religious she had kept in touch with her husband after his departure from Belfast. However, he was estranged from the majority of his family.

He was known to suffer from a heart condition although the cause of his death is at this time unknown.

He died sometime before the Easter holidays .

Stakeknife: Freddie Scappaticci, IRA executioner and British agent

Double agent Freddie Scappaticci   Photopress Belfast

In a statement, Mr Boutcher said his team were made aware last week of the passing of Mr Scappaticci. He said his team are working through the implications of the death of Mr Scappaticci in terms of the investigation, and said they will publish an interim report on findings this year,

We remain committed to providing families with the truth of what happened to their loved ones and continue to actively pursue criminal charges against several individuals, he said.

We will publish an interim report on Kenovas findings this year.

We also recognise that people may now feel more able to talk to the Kenova team following the death of Mr Scappaticci, who had been long accused by many of being involved in the kidnap, murder and torture of potential PIRA informants during the Troubles.

I appeal to anyone with information that might help those impacted by the events we are investigating to contact us in confidence to help families understand what happened during these difficult times.

A police message telling Freddie Scappaticci that the IRA believe he is an informer

Kevin Winters, a lawyer representing relatives of people killed by the Provisional IRA during the Troubles, said the news will frustrate many families who have been waiting for more than six years on the imminent publication of Mr Boutchers independent report.

He said: Some initial feedback from clients suggests annoyance about the timing of the death, coming as it does on the cusp of the reports publication later in the summer.

Not only that but the PPS have been deliberating on prosecution decisions in 33 cases referred by Kenova nearly three years ago. Clearly the death will have an impact on both the content of the report and whether or not criminal prosecutions go ahead.

Families of victims will rightly ask questions. Their cynicism is heightened upon learning that news of Scappaticcis burial seems to have been kept quiet by the authorities over the Easter weekend.

People just arent happy and thats only to be expected given the unexpected news.

In 2018 Scappaticci was given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images, including images of bestiality.
This week, 25 years ago, the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) was signed in Belfast. Heralding it as nothing less than the beginning of a new epoch for the North of Ireland, the British and Irish government signatories  along with its American architects  were inebriated with their own success. History had been made!

The very day after its signing, on 11 April, the mouthpiece of Irish bourgeois society  The Irish Times  put it in no uncertain terms:

Where the inherited historic icons were the rebels of 1916 [] those of the coming times will be the peacemakers who buried the quarrel of 400 years inside the grey, prefabricated huts of the Castle Buildings at Stormont.

Finally! After some long and dark 400 years, everything has been solved for Ireland. And yet history has been cruel to our modern-day historic icons who buried the quarrel of 400 years. New Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair has entered the history books as a war criminal, and Fianna Fail Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as the head honcho of the den of corrupt thieves that was his government. Has anyone yet put posters of these icons up on their wall, right next to James Connolly?

New Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair has entered the history books as a war criminal / Image: Titanic Belfast, Wikimedia Commons

Today, one can hardly believe that such words were ever uttered by someone living on this planet. Twenty-five years on, hardly a stone remains standing of the GFA and all the promises made.

Not a stone standing

Of the much vaunted peace dividends, working-class communities around the Six Counties have nothing to show.

If anything, on the back of the terminal crisis of British capitalism, they are poorer now than ever before. The North is one of the most deprived areas of Northern Europe  with persistently high rates of economically inactive people and services stripped to the very bone.

The little money that has flown into the region has gone straight into the pockets of landlords, bosses and of the upper layers of the middle classes. The acute crisis of the NHS. Unemployment. Industry has been dismantled. Education in the North of Ireland sees spending per pupil almost 20 percent lower than in England, with massive cuts on the agenda this year. 10 percent of young people leave school with no qualifications. Or we can look at the difference between any workers neighbourhood in Belfast and the revitalised city centre with its selection of fine restaurants and luxury hotels  it is as stark as it gets. As a commentator recently put it in the Financial Times, Its a mile away, but it may just as well be a different planet.

And to be sure, the workers planet has been left in the same state as it was found in 1998.

Stormont

But, perhaps the most clear illustration of the GFAs failures is the circus of its political institutions  the Stormont assembly. Mired in scandals and constantly paralysed, Stormont has been shut for almost half of its existence since 1998.

Even in its best days, the devolved assembly has proved to be little more than a glorified local council, with the single job of administering Westminster rule in the North. It is direct rule with a middleman.

Consecutive Unionist-Nationalist coalitions have implemented the harshest austerity measures contained in the Tory-allocated budgets. Services and welfare provisions have been utterly destroyed  most recently, with the criminal removal of holiday hunger payments for heavily deprived children, just a few days before Easter.

To crown it all, while paying lip service to the wonders of the GFA, Sunaks government has just last week issued a not-so-veiled threat to again impose direct rule from London, if Stormont fails to get back on its feet soon. This would amount to effectively scrapping the GFA and an admission of the whole projects failure.

No wonder, a poll last year found that almost three in four people have grown disillusioned with the Assembly. But the crisis at Stormont is nothing more than a reflection of the crisis of capitalism at large and of the wounds kept alive by partition, which the GFA hoped to conceal with a sticking plaster, but beneath which over decades have continued to fester.

On this day, the 23rd anniversary of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement, we remember all that has been achieved & all that can still be achieved as we honour its principles - peace, consent, respect for different identities, change by democratic means only, co-operation N/S & E/W pic.twitter.com/LjBKGjKBA2  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 10, 2021

Sectarianism

Sectarianism is of course anything but gone. In fact, all the GFA did was to hard code it into the regions political setup, forcing parties to identify as nationalist and unionist and then bringing all the parties together into one, grand, mandatory coalition.

In terms of gross statistics, little has changed since 1998. A whopping 93 percent of children still attend segregated schools. 83 percent of people date strictly from within the same community. The overwhelming majority still decide where to shop based not on convenience, but on sectarian geography.

In 2005, an estimated 1,400 people were forced to move house as a consequence of sectarian intimidation. Even as late as last year, a couple was forced out of their East Belfast home after being seen with a hurling stick. Just a few days ago, three teenagers were brutally attacked in Belfast city centre by two middle-aged men for identifying as Catholics. A primary school was threatened with being firebombed for planning to host a GAA taster event. These are just a few of the episodes that make the news. And every July, Eleventh Night bonfires decked with Irish tricolours and racist statements tower higher and higher.

Whilst the Provisional IRA called a ceasefire in 1994 and decommissioned their weapons in 2005, the loyalist paramilitary groups never reciprocated. Their stranglehold over many communities, that they blight with drug dealing and other anti-social behaviour, is in many instances stronger than ever, as the recent armed feuding that has blown up between loyalist factions in Newtownards demonstrates.

An estimated 12,500 are still organised between the various loyalist paramilitary groups. To put the figure into perspective, the whole regular army of the South has just 8,000 members!

In referenda, the GFA was ratified by a big majority of the electorate, who earnestly desired an end to the violence. But the promises made by politicians that this Agreement would end sectarian violence have ended in bitter disappointment. Sectarianism, that poisonous legacy of Britains centuries-old policy of divide and rule, still leeches off the anger and despair in depressed working class communities, distorted beyond recognition by demagogues. Unionist politicians pander to it to shore up their careers. And is fed by the spiralling crisis of British capitalism. It continues to hang like a Sword of Damocles over the region, capable of flaring up with disastrous results.

Which way forward?

Although the picture painted looks quite bleak, the reality is that the majority of people, along with the overwhelming majority of the youth, are sick to the stomach of the hostile status quo, with its poverty, violence and sectarian division.

Sinn Feins presence in Stormont has not induced British imperialism to move a single inch either / Image: Orfhlaith Begley MP, Twitter

The overwhelming majority simply want to have a peaceful and dignified existence. One where you can apply for a job without worrying that the school listed on your CV will give away your religion and ruin your chances. One where everyone is, in fact, guaranteed a job. One where you could just play whatever sport you like without risking getting viciously beaten up for it.

It is this feeling that was cynically played upon by Irish, Americans and especially British politicians 25 years ago.

After having created the monster of sectarianism in the first place, and having whipped up bigotry, pogroms and having pushed the region over and over again towards conflict in order to defend their cynical interests  they had the cheek to present themselves as its peace-loving saviours!

In the referendum 25 years ago, the GFA was overwhelmingly welcomed, and naturally so. Having to choose between the status quo, and the status quo with the promise of less violence, who would go for the former?

Almost three decades of armed struggle had, after all, failed to move the British even a single inch, nor did it win a single concession from Westminster. Indeed, the GFA is almost a carbon copy of the Sunningdale agreement, first put on the table 25 years earlier. Its signing was an admission on the part of Sinn Fein and the Provo leadership that they could not win by arms alone. At the same time, it was an admission on the part of the British ruling class that they could not crush the fighting spirit of the nationalist community, and that they would have to co-opt a section of the republican leadership into their political machinations to gain acquiescence.

The GFA represented the institutionalisation of this stalemate into the political setup of the North. Of course, it did not solve the underlying problems  nor was it designed to.

It was on this ground that the Marxists rejected the GFA at the time. And we believe that twenty-five years have proved the Marxists right.

What is necessary is to go back to the ideas of the great Marxist revolutionary James Connolly / Image: Raquel Meigasblue, Flickr

Sinn Feins presence in Stormont has not induced British imperialism to move a single inch either. The existing setup maintains the Unionist veto of legislation. The constitutional arrangements of the GFA guarantee Sinn Fein, the right to seek constitutional change by peaceful and legitimate means, but the right to effect constitutional change is reserved wholly by Westminster. Despite Sinn Fein being the most voted party North and South, on the basis of reformism, a United Ireland seems as far away as it has ever been.

What is necessary is to go back to the ideas of the great Marxist revolutionary James Connolly. The sectarian divide can be buried once and for all only on the basis of common class struggle. Unity can only be forged in action, fighting against the common enemy of all the workers in the North, in the South, across the Irish Sea, and everywhere around the world. That is the capitalist class.

The republic Connolly fought for is the Workers Republic, in which the means of producing goods and services, and the land, are owned and democratically managed by the working class.

The task in front of us is that of overthrowing capitalism and fighting for a Socialist United Ireland and for world revolution. Only thus shall we be able to win a dignified existence for every single worker and young person living in Ireland.

The Irish Marxists are fighting toward this goal under the revolutionary banner of James Connolly. Join us in this fight!
Downing Street has denied that Rishi Sunaks interactions with Joe Biden in Northern Ireland this week are low-key, despite reports their talks were downgraded by the US to a coffee meeting.

The Prime Minister will greet the US president off Air Force One when he arrives on Tuesday evening, with talks to follow in Belfast the next morning.

The White House pushed to scale back their meeting from a bilateral to a less formal coffee, the New York Times reported, quoting an official jokingly dubbing it a bi-latte.

Asked why the plans appeared low-key, a No 10 spokesman told reporters: I wouldnt characterise it as that. As Ive said the Prime Minister will see him tonight, he will see him again tomorrow.

Youve seen the presidents actions during his time demonstrate that we have a close relationship. His first visit outside of North America was to the UK, where he met both the Queen and the Prince of Wales.

We continue to have an incredibly positive working relationship with the president and the US government.

Mr Sunak would raise the UKs enduring partnership with the US, trade and investment and other areas of shared interest, he said.

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He played down the prospect of negotiations being reopened on a post-Brexit free trade deal with the US, saying this was not the only way of strengthening the UK-US trade relationship and highlighting pacts with individual states.

A free trade deal with the worlds largest economy had been touted as one of the prizes of leaving the European Union but talks have stalled.

The Prime Minister will not attend Mr Bidens main engagement in Northern Ireland  a keynote speech at Ulster University on Wednesday.

The US presidents visit has been timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles.

Mr Sunak said he was focusing on fulfilling the promise of the peace deal ahead of the commemorations, which come as powersharing in Stormont remains collapsed due to a protest by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

The Prime Minister is not planning to meet Northern Ireland political leaders while in the region, but Downing Street denied this was a sign he had given up on getting the DUP back into powersharing.

The spokesman said: Its the Secretary of State for Northern Irelands priority to get the executive up and running and he has had extensive engagement with the Northern Ireland political parties, as has the Prime Minister, over recent months.

Youll be aware that he met with leaders over the past few months with regards specifically to the Windsor Framework.

Our continued hope is that we can get Stormont back up and running as quickly as possible.
As its been confirmed President Joe Biden will travel to Northern Ireland alongside his son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden, we take a closer look at the two relatives making the trip with the US President to Belfast.

Who is Hunter Biden?

The most controversial member of the Biden family, Hunter Biden regularly appears in headlines across US media in stories his famous father would most likely not prefer to read.

Born to Joe Biden and his first wife Neilia Hunter, Robert Hunter Biden (53) is the second son of the US President and is a former attorney and businessman.

Read more Joe Biden: Travel disruptions and road closures during NI visit

When he was three-years old, Hunter alongside his late older brother Beau were involved in a car crash which killed their mother and baby sister.

He was subsequently primarily raised by Biden and his second wife, Jill Jacobs.

Famously, Hunter Biden was a factor in President Bidens predecessor Donald Trumps first impeachment trial, when the Republican leader asked Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate claims the then-Democratic nominees son was involved in alleged suspect business dealings in the country.

Just prior to his fathers election a story involving Hunters laptop, which contained sensitive information and nude photographs of himself, made headlines across the world after it was alleged supressed in the media.

In 2021, he published Beautiful Things a memoir which documented his substance abuse difficulties, his divorce, and the death of his older brother from cancer.

Who is Valerie Biden?

President Bidens younger and only sister largely keeps out of the spotlight in contrast to some of her family members but has played a key role in her brothers political career.

Born in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania in 1945, Valerie is a political strategist, and former campaign manager.

She advised her older brother during all three of his presidential campaigns in 1988, 2008 and 2020 as well as his previous Senate runs, becoming one of the first women in the United States to have managed a modern U.S. Senatorial campaign.

She received the 'Women Inspiring Change" award from Harvard University in 2015 and also served as a fellow at the world famous prestigious university in 2014.

Married to Jack Owens, a lawyer and businessman, she is the mother of three children. Valerie is also the current chair of the Biden Institute and like her nephew, published a memoir titled Growing Up Biden in 2022.

The exact level of involvement of both Valerie and Hunter Biden in their famous brother/fathers trip is unknown, but expect to see them at his side as he makes his way around Northern Ireland and the Republic.
US President Joe Biden approaches to speak to the press before boarding Air Force One, as he departs for Northern Ireland   AFP via Getty Images

Northern Irish politicians have reacted to US presidents visit to Northern Ireland as Baroness Kate Hoey warns that any attempt by Joe Biden to help restore Stormont could backfire.

The visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster University's new 350 million Belfast campus.

First Minister Designate Michelle ONeill has welcomed the visit, calling it a special moment.

The Sinn Fein MLA said she was delighted to welcome President Biden to Belfast.

To have him come to mark 25 years of peace and the signing of the Good Friday Peace Accord of 1998 and to address both houses of the Oireachtas is a special moment.

Michelle O'Neill in Washington   Getty Images

This historic peace accord which was painstakingly negotiated at that time was made possible due to the vast and substantial contribution from the United States under the administration of President Clinton, she continued.

As we look back with pride at just how far we have all come, and all that has been achieved, we also look forward with hope, ambition, and opportunity for the next twenty-five years.

I welcome the commitment of President Biden to this work through his appointment of Special Envoy Joe Kennedy III and I look forward to working with him now to deepen further US investment and economic growth to the benefit of all our communities, she continued.

We have developed close economic ties with US companies over the past two decades who have chosen the north as their gateway to Europe, creating thousands of good jobs.

Peace, stability and economic opportunity are all connected and the onus is on the governments, parties and not least the DUP to restore the Executive and other GFA institutions so that we can push on and get back to business.

As an incoming First Minister, I am absolutely determined to work with others to make politics work, and to serve every single citizen. It is time to form an Executive now to support workers, families and communities.

Massive security operation in Belfast city centre ahead of President Bidens visit to Northern Ireland

It comes as Baroness Kate Hoey told TalkTV that Biden is not like Bill Clinton who played a pivotal role in securing peace here 25 years ago.

"Im afraid his [Bidens] attempts to bring Stormont back, if he tries to get involved politically, could actually backfire, she said.

"We all know where his allegiance lies and its not with the pro-Union community in Northern Ireland.

By contrast, TUV leader Jim Allister said he found nothing to celebrate in the occasion.

Like the Belfast Agreement itself, I find nothing to celebrate in the visit of President Biden.

Biden is irredeemably partisan having as a Senator fought any easing of laws which would have allowed wanted IRA terrorists to be extradited to face justice in the United Kingdom. His continuing stance is anti-British and anti-Unionist, he continued.

With our public finances in Northern Ireland severely stretched we could do well without squandering 7m for Biden to try and put a face on celebrating of failed agreement. In one sense indeed his visit only serves to underscore what a lamentable failure the Belfast Agreement has been.

TUV leader Jim Allister speaking at his party conference   PA

UUP leader Doug Beattie posted on Twitter about the visit.

He said: The President of the United States will visit Northern Ireland met by the UK Prime Minister.

The worlds media will be watching. We can promote Northern Ireland as a welcoming, positive placeor promote it as unwelcoming & negative, he added.

I wont be taken in by angry negative voices.

Doug Beattie (Liam McBurney/PA)   Liam McBurney

The president is expected to meet with Stormont's main political parties as part of a visit he said will underscore his nation's "commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity" in Northern Ireland.

He will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay.
Peter Robinson: DUP should have talked to SF earlier, and McGuinness, via his actions, recanted from his IRA past

Former First Ministers latent moderation demonstrated in interview where he says replacing the RUC with the PSNI has worked, and Paisley was mistaken to demand IRA sackcloth and ashes

It was a mistake for Ian Paisley to demand 'sackcloth and ashes' from the IRA before heading to negotiate St Andrews Agreement, Peter Robinson said (Credit: Charles McQuillan/Getty)   Getty Images

Sam McBride Belfast Telegraph Tue 11 Apr 2023 at 19:31
US President Joe Biden is expected to meet the five main parties on Wednesday ahead of his address at Ulster University.

It is understood all the parties are to spend a short amount of time with the president in an unofficial capacity at the universitys Belfast campus.

In what could be a rare moment of unity by the five parties since the collapse of the Executive last year, if they have an audience together it would be the first time they have presented a united front since condemning the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, who was shot by the New IRA in February.

It comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the bravery and compromise exhibited by the political leaders who secured the Good Friday Agreement as he called for power-sharing to swiftly return to Northern Ireland.

President Biden will arrive on Air Force One at Belfast International Airport on Tuesday night where he will be greeted by Mr Sunak.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has restricted the Co Antrim airports airspace throughout Tuesday and Wednesday due to the presidents visit.

His cavalcade will then take the president to an undisclosed location in Belfast.

The presidents visit comes following scenes of violence against police in Londonderry during a dissident parade.

Asked about the matter during a press briefing, a White House spokesman said the president is more than comfortable visiting Northern Ireland despite the recent violence.

National security council co-ordinator for strategic communications John 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.

Violent disorder in Derry (Pic by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)   Kevin Scott

Read more PSNI reviewing footage in terror probe after officers attacked with petrol bombs during Easter Rising parades in Derry

The White House spokesman said the US President has been very excited about visiting the island of Ireland for quite some time.

Marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, President Biden will deliver a keynote speech at Ulster University on Wednesday which is the only official event planned by the White House in Northern Ireland. Mr Kirby said Mr Biden will 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.

The PSNI has warned the public of traffic disruption in Belfast city centre on Tuesday and Wednesday and have closed a number of roads to facilitate the presidents visit.

President Biden will travel south of the border after his speech at Ulster University for a number of other engagements and is expected to meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Irish President Michael D Higgins later this week.

His visit comes after he confirmed he plans to run for re-election as president next year.
A Conservative MP has announced he will not stand for re-election in Henley, which it was said Boris Johnson may have eyed amid speculation he might seek a safer seat.

John Howell, who has served as the Henley MP for 15 years, became the latest Tory to announce they will not run at the next general election.

In a letter to the South Oxfordshire Conservative Association on Tuesday, the 67-year-old said he would be retiring and wanted to pursue other avenues.

There has been speculation that Boris Johnson considered running for his former seat of Henley at the next election (Kirsty OConnor/PA)   Kirsty OConnor

He was first elected to the constituency in a 2008 by-election triggered by former Henley MP Mr Johnson becoming Mayor of London.

Mr Howell went on to win the seat in four general elections, gaining a 14,053 majority over the Liberal Democrats in 2019.

He said: By the time of the end of the next Parliament I will be coming up towards my mid-70s. I do not want to be in Parliament until that time as I would like to pursue other avenues.

I am a strong supporter of Rishi Sunak and I hope that the South Oxfordshire Conservative Association will continue to get behind him.

Mr Howell leads the British delegation to the Council of Europe and has served as a parliamentary private secretary to several ministers.

Mr Johnson represented the Henley constituency from 2001 to until his election as London mayor in 2008.

The former prime minister was last month re-selected as the Conservative candidate in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.

It followed speculation that he might seek out a safer seat ahead of the next general election, expected next year.

While Mr Johnson holds a 7,000-vote majority, his west London seat is seen as a target for Labour at the next Westminster poll.

But allies of the former prime minister have always rejected any suggestion he would seek a new or safer seat, or that he plans to do anything else than run for his current seat.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: Boris Johnson is standing in Uxbridge and South Ruislip at the next general election and was recently reselected as the Conservative candidate there.

A string of senior Tories and rising stars in the party have detailed their exit plans amid a polling slump, including former chancellor Sajid Javid and Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee.
US President Joe Biden is set to begin a four-day trip to the island of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)   Niall Carson

Air Force One will touch down at Belfast International Airport on Tuesday evening, marking the start of US President Joe Bidens four-day trip to the island of Ireland.

The visit has been timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles.

Mr Biden will also use the visit to reconnect with his family in Co Louth and Mayo, as well as attending several engagements in Dublin.

A huge security operation has swung into place on both sides of the border, with the public warned to expect delays in areas where the president will visit.

Mr Biden will have a packed itinerary during the four-day trip.

A police officer inspects a drain in Belfast as part of the security operation already under way ahead of the visit of US President Joe Biden (Aaron Chown/PA)   Aaron Chown

Tuesday:

 Mr Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland where he will be greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Wednesday:

 The president will hold bilateral talks with Mr Sunak in Belfast in the morning.

 Mr Biden is also expected to hold talks with Northern Irelands main political parties. The powersharing Assembly established by the Good Friday Agreement is currently not operating due to a protest by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

 In his main engagement in Northern Ireland, Mr Biden will deliver a keynote speech at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus. The president tweeted that he would use the occasion to underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in the region.

 Mr Biden will then cross the border. He will travel to Co Louth where he has ancestral roots. His great-grandfather Owen Finnegan left the county for the US in the 1840s. During the visit, he county, he will tour Carlingford Castle.

 Mr Biden will stay overnight in Dublin.

The US president will meet Irish counterpart Michael D Higgins on Thursday (Niall Carson/PA)   Niall Carson

Thursday:

 The US president will meet Irish President Michael D Higgins at his official residence Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park. The park will be closed for 24 hours to accommodate the visit. Mr Biden will also take part in a tree-planting ceremony and a ringing of the Peace Bell.

 Mr Biden will travel for talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom he recently hosted at the White House on St Patricks Day.

 He will then address the Dail, becoming the fourth US president to do so  following John F Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995.

 On Thursday evening, Mr Biden will attend a banquet dinner in his honour at Dublin Castle.

A view of the church ruins and Kilwirra cemetery, where the relatives of US President Joe Biden are buried (Niall Carson/PA)   Niall Carson

Friday:

 The president will travel to the west of Ireland, where he will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit.

 The visit will conclude when Mr Biden makes a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina. Mr Bidens great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827, which helped him to afford to buy tickets for himself and his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.
A major leak of classified US documents that has shaken Washington and exposed new details of its intelligence gathering may have started in a chatroom on a social media platform popular with gamers. (Jeff Chiu, AP Photo)   Jeff Chiu

A major leak of classified US documents that has shaken Washington and exposed new details of its intelligence gathering may have started in a chatroom on a social media platform popular with gamers.

Held on the Discord platform, which hosts real-time voice, video and text chats, a discussion originally created to talk about a range of topics turned to the war in Ukraine.

As part of debates about Ukraine, according to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that were allegedly classified, first typing them out with the posters own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, beginning to post images of papers with folds in them.

The posts appear to have gone unnoticed outside of the chat until a few weeks ago, when they began to circulate more widely on social media and get picked up by major news outlets. The leaks have alarmed US officials and sparked a Justice Department investigation.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby (Patrick Semansky/AP)   Patrick Semansky

The records have provided startling and surprisingly timely details of US and Nato assistance to Ukraine. They also provided clues about efforts to assist Ukraine in its war with Russia, including an anticipated spring offensive.

The scale of the exposure has yet to be determined. Also unclear is whether any government worked to share the documents or manipulate them.

Asked on Monday if the US Government was effectively waiting for more intelligence documents to show up online, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby replied: 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.

Chris Meagher, top spokesman for the Pentagon, urged caution in promoting or amplifying any of these documents, adding that it does appear that slides have been doctored.

But the breach underscores the difficulties the US and other governments face in securing classified information.

Congressional reviews and experts have long warned of weaknesses in US counterintelligence, of the challenges of monitoring an estimated 3 million people with security clearances, and of agencies producing and over-classifying so much information they cannot reliably control it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)   Efrem Lukatsky

The Associated Press interviewed a person who said he was a member of the Discord chat group in which documents appeared for several months. The person, who said he was 18-years-old, refused to give his name, citing concerns for his personal safety.

The AP could not independently confirm many details shared by the person, and the original chatroom has been deleted.

The AP reviewed images of documents that appeared in recent weeks in the discussion forums.

They include a top-secret analysis of deepening intelligence service ties between Russias FSB and agencies in the United Arab Emirates, the oil-rich Persian Gulf nation that hosts a US air base and cooperates on many security matters with Washington.

Citing signals intelligence, the March analysis says officers from the FSB were caught claiming that the UAE had agreed with Russia to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies.

A spokesman for the Emirati government said the allegations are categorically false. US officials at several agencies declined to comment on the document.
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What is Gods justice, and what makes it different from human justice? The nightly news has tons of stories about crimes executed against humanity. Details of criminal activity are shared in the local and world news, television, radio, social media and word of mouth. These reports bring anger and tears at times. So how are Christians supposed to handle justice, and whats our responsibility?

Where does the Bible discuss Gods justice?

Scripture shares Gods commandments. God showed Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and the Ark of the Covenant kept the stone tablets. Since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and defied God, their actions have had consequences. Those commandments are the rules for life, and each word is God-given.

The Old and New Testaments discuss Gods justice. In the Old Testament, Psalm 37:27-29 tells us to do good and turn away from evil because the Lord loves the just and wont forsake the faithful. Meanwhile, wrongdoers will be destroyed, and the wickeds children will die. The righteous will take over the land and live in it forever. In the New Testament, Romans 12:19 states that we shouldnt take revenge because Gods wrath will take care of everything.

What does the Bible say about pursuing justice?

The Bible has several verses discussing judgment and justice that come from God. On earth, punishment is necessary when laws are broken, and harm is done. Still, the ultimate justice comes from God. Rules and regulations keep us safe, so we must follow them. When bad things happen, the justice system seeks justice through the court system, which can be flawed. However, if we remember that justice ultimately belongs to God, that can help guide us through worrying times.

The apostle Paul had strong thoughts on numerous topics. In 2 Corinthians, Paul says believers shouldnt tie themselves with unbelievers, so does that mean justice for believers and non-believers should be different? No, according to Gods plan, justice is for all. If a believing or non-believing neighbor breaks the law, we can still love them, but not their actions. There are differing opinions in all walks of life. Unfortunately, some people are stuck in their ways and wont try to understand or listen to another point of view.

However, others are open to other ways of thinking and discussing different ways of thinking. Believers can assist non-believers with learning about God. Showing non-believers Gods love through actions and words may be the thing that leads them to come to know God. Everyone is a sinner who can seek Gods forgiveness and cultivate a relationship with Him.

How have Christians pursued justice in the past?

Sadly, history is filled with terrible stories of people taking justice into their own hands. From lynchings to different kinds of murder, evil was and is still present in the actions of some people. When a crime happens to our loved ones, the need for swift justice might take over. Feelings run deep when the news shares crime reports. There are examples of people trying to take over a situation in the present and past. From cruel words to vile actions, there have been times when Christians tried to take justice into their hands. However, God wants us to care for and love each other, and we sometimes have to make more of an effort.

How can Christians work with others to get justice?

The journey to religious freedom has brought numerous conflicts worldwide. Sometimes, Christians travel to other areas of the world and country to assist with bringing justice. As missionaries travel to foreign lands, there are various necessary adjustments. For example, learning a new language, receiving medical updates, sleeping in dangerous locations, and eating new food are some things missionaries must endure.

Some groups might not be Christian, but theres an opportunity to work with non-believers and display Christs love. Prayers, discussions, and simple ways of life could be different. However, as Christians seek justice in domestic and foreign lands, Christians can learn how to seek it from others, then apply what theyve learned to their spiritual journeys.

How can we achieve justice today?

In modern times, there are several ways to help achieve justice. For example, knowing where the items we buy are sold and made can be a critical way of helping. From staying informed about local groups assisting others in search of justice to choosing to purchase items from people not involved in human trafficking or sweatshops are ways to get involved. It would help if you made yourself aware of injustices in the world and your local area. From exploitation of the homeless or poor to child and elder abuse, injustice is sinful, and we should not allow evil to prevail.

In some areas, nursing homes need advocates and volunteers. Elder abuse is a particular area that requires attention, while domestic violence shelters also need help. In your pursuit of justice, pray and ask God to show you different ways to help. Find other ways to find information and learn more about becoming involved. Maybe God is calling you to start a justice group in your church or community. Ask your local clergy for wisdom and other leaders who might have important information.

Will God get justice in the end?

God will get justice on Judgement Day when Jesus judges the dead and living, as stated in 2 Timothy 4:1. Romans 2:6 also reminds us that on Judgement Day, God will repay everyone according to their past actions. 2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us that we will all appear before Christ on Judgement Day, so believers should take comfort in knowing that God will return. He is the creator, and His justice is final. Believers should also know that God has the final say, which He will give on Judgement Day.

Sadly, injustices will continue until Jesus returns. However, as we deal with those injustices, we can show our love for God to the world. We should remain one in spirit so that others will know Christians, and we should continue to pursue Gods justice over our own.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (second from left) meets with Bangladesh Foreign Minister A. K. Abdul Momen (third from right) at the State Department in Washington, April 10, 2023.

The United States has expressed concern to Bangladesh about threats and physical attacks against the media in the South Asian country, including under a draconian digital law, ahead of national elections.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized to his Bangladesh counterpart at a meeting here on Monday that an impartial and lawful election and a high regard for human rights were crucial to the bilateral relationship.

The top U.S. diplomats comments came hours after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lambasted Washington in parliament saying it was working to bring an undemocratic party to power in her country in the upcoming election.

In his meeting with Bangladesh Minister for Foreign Affairs A.K. Abdul Momen, Blinken reiterated the U.S. commitment to promoting freedom of expression in Bangladesh, but also touched on recent incidents of arrests and cases against journalists.

Secretary Blinken expressed concerns about violence against and intimidation of the media and civil society, including under the Digital Security Act, Principal Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said about the meeting in a statement issued Tuesday.

He underscored that free and fair elections and respect for human rights in Bangladesh are critical as we seek to deepen our bilateral relationship.

The Digital Security Act, passed in September 2018, the same year Hasinas ruling Awami League came to power for a third consecutive term, gives law enforcement the power to arrest people without a warrant based merely on suspicion that a crime has been committed online.

Hasina also railed against Bangladesh national daily Prothom Alo, which last month was hit with two cases under the act, for allegedly undermining the countrys independence with a news report that quoted a citizen complaining about the high cost of food.

Worlds most draconian laws for journalists

Patel was grilled at the State Department briefing on Monday about Hasinas comments slamming Washington and Prothom Alo, which she called an enemy of the people.

One journalist asked Patel to comment on Hasinas statement that Washington was trying to force a regime change and about the cases against Prothom Alo journalists.

Patel didnt address Hasinas comments about the U.S. but spoke about the Digital Security Act.

[T]he latest world freedom  World Press Freedom Index ranked Bangladesh 162 out of 180 countries, a drop of 10 places from the previous year. And one of the biggest reasons that Bangladesh scored that is the Digital Security Act, which per our assessment is one of the worlds most draconian laws for journalists, he told reporters.

And we have made our concerns about this law quite clear. A free press and an informed citizenry are key for any nation and its democratic future, and we are concerned that  media and content restrictions and the impact that they might have.

Another journalist asked about Washingtons stance on the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Partys demand for a neutral caretaker government ahead of the election scheduled for December or January 2024, to ensure a fair election.

Patel said the U.S. was looking forward to deepening its relationship with Bangladesh which is why Blinken was meeting with Momen.

[B]roadly, the U.S. supports the principle of free and fair elections in Bangladesh and around the world, but Im not here to endorse one political candidate or party versus another, Patel said.

Hasina on Monday did not name which so-called undemocratic party she believed the U.S. wanted in power. She also accused Washington of supporting corrupt people in Bangladesh.

Again, Hasina did not name anyone, although the Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairwoman Khaleda Zia has been convicted in two graft cases.

The U.S. and other Western countries have in recent months urged Bangladesh more than once to ensure free and fair elections amid reports of the government muzzling critics and the opposition.

Opponents have noted that Hasinas administration has increasingly and brazenly targeted her critics and journalists, using state machinery and oppressive laws. The issue has come to the attention of other democracies and rights groups as well.

For instance, critics of the government  mostly journalists, cartoonists, activists, entrepreneurs, educators and students  have been targeted by the Digital Security Act, analysts say.

The Center for Governance Studies, a Bangladesh think-tank, reported that about 280 journalists were accused under the act between October 2018 and August 2022, while 84 were arrested.

The most striking highlight of the study is the clear indication that the DSA is being used to target journalists and political opponents by members of the ruling party, the center said on its website in January, using an acronym for the act.

While figures for last year were not available, Bangladesh saw a nearly nine-fold increase in cases filed under the Digital Security Act in 2021 compared to the previous year.

These cases were filed for perceived online criticism of officials, including Hasina, and her father, the countrys founder, according to rights organizations.
A worker carries election materials as he prepares ballot boxes before their distribution to polling stations, at a warehouse in Jakarta, April 15, 2019.

An Indonesian appeals court on Tuesday overturned a lower courts controversial ruling that ordered the elections authority to postpone next years presidential polls and other votes.

The Jakarta High Courts decision in favor of the General Election Commission (KPU) handed a victory to democracy advocates who worried that term limits on the presidency could be jeopardized in the country with a long past history of authoritarian rule.

The commission had appealed the verdict of the Central Jakarta District Court. Last month, the lower court ruled for the plaintiff in a lawsuit brought by a minor political party, Prima, which had failed to pass the verification process to participate in the elections.

The district court had ordered the KPU to postpone preparations for the elections for more than two years  effective immediately  and restart the verification process from scratch. If enforced, the ruling could delay the elections by more than a year.

We hereby grant the defendants appeal and declare that Central Jakarta District Court is not competent to judge the case and that the plaintiffs lawsuit cannot be accepted, the head of the three-judge panel, Sugeng Riyono, said as the high court issued its decision.

Prima can still appeal to the Supreme Court.

The initial verdict caused a backlash from constitutional law experts, political parties, and civil society groups, who argued that it violated the constitution and exceeded the courts authority.

The constitution stipulates that the president and vice president can only serve two five-year terms. That means that incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo, who was re-elected in 2019, will have to step down in 2024.

Any delay in the elections would require a constitutional amendment, which is unlikely to happen given the lack of political consensus.

After Tuesdays ruling, Indonesias top security minister urged the election commission to keep its eye on ensuring that preparations for the 2024 general election be held on time, as he congratulated the polls body for the legal victory.

Everyone must focus on keeping the February 14, 2024 election on schedule as it is in accordance with the law. Neither district nor high courts have jurisdiction over election issues, said Mohammad Mahfud MD, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs.

He described the initial lawsuit as frivolous.

With more than 270 million people, Indonesia is the worlds third most populous democracy and the largest Muslim-majority country, but after its independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1949, dictators ruled it for decades until President Suharto fell from power in 1998.

The 2024 general election is expected to be a tight race among several potential presidential candidates, including Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, former Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan and Central Java Gov. Ganjar Pranowo.

The elections will also determine the composition of the national parliament and local legislatures across the archipelago.

According to the current schedule, the elections will be held on Feb. 14, 2024, with campaigning starting on Nov. 28 this year.

Bivitri Susanti, a constitutional law expert at the Jentera Indonesian Law School (STHI), praised Tuesdays decision.

The lower court had no jurisdiction over the case, which should have been handled by the State Administrative Court (PTUN), she said.

This is a good correction because it is based on the correct legal authority, she told BenarNews. The KPU is a state institution that falls under administrative law, not civil law.
Aswin Siregar (right), spokesman for the police counterterrorism unit Densus 88, speaks to reporters at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta, April 11. 2023.

Three suspected Uzbek militants allegedly fatally stabbed an officer and injured four others when they escaped an immigration detention center in Jakarta before being hunted down, police said on Tuesday.

The trio, allegedly affiliated with al-Qaeda, escaped Monday, with two of them captured later in the day. The third suspect drowned in a Jakarta canal, also on Monday, while being pursued by police, according to Aswin Siregar, a spokesman for the police counterterrorism unit Densus 88.

They incapacitated and attacked the officers using a kitchen knife or whatever they could get from the pantry, Aswin said at a news conference.

Officers found the two surviving suspects hiding in a vacant lot near the immigration office, Aswin said.

Police are investigating the case as a murder and a terrorist act, Aswin said, adding that officers seized a knife used in the attack and an autopsy was conducted on the victim.

The trio was among four Uzbek nationals detained by counterterrorism officers on March 24, Aswin said. Police said they had tracked down the suspects after receiving information from Uzbek authorities that they were spreading propaganda and recruiting followers on social media.

The fourth suspect, who did not join the escape attempt, remained in custody.

Aswin said the suspects had tried to flee because they did not want to be sent back to Uzbekistan.

They did not want to be deported to their home country because they would face heavier punishments there, he said.

The police said the Uzbek suspects  whom they identified only by their initials  had entered Indonesia through Malaysia in February.

Aswin said the suspects were part of Khatiba Tawhid Wal Jihad, a militant group added in 2022 to the sanctions list of the United Nations Security Council for its links to al-Qaeda.

The group is a splinter faction of the Uzbek-led militant organization Jannat Oshiklari, which operates under the umbrella of al-Nusrah Front, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, the U.N. said.

The group has about 500 fighters and operates in the Syrian provinces of Hama, Idlib and Ladhiqiyah, where it cooperates with other terrorist groups such as Khatiba Imam al-Bukhari and the Islamic Jihad Group, according to the U.N.

The sanctions imposed by the Security Council include a travel ban, an assets freeze and an arms embargo.

Police said two of the suspects previously traveled to Syria and joined a militant training camp there.

When they were arrested in March, police seized several items including passports, money receipts, iPads, cellphones and screenshots of their online posts.

Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim-majority nation, has been grappling with religious extremism for decades and has suffered several deadly attacks by militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

These include the October 2002 Bali bombings, in which 202 people were killed.
Demonstrators shout slogans and burn an American flag as they protest against the Balikatan joint military exercises, outside the headquarters of the Philippine military in Quezon City, Philippines, April 11, 2023.

Updated at 6:55 p.m. ET on 2023-04-11

Treaty allies the United States and the Philippines kicked off their biggest-ever annual joint military exercises on Tuesday, amid growing regional tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan and anti-American protests by Filipinos.

Meanwhile, the top diplomats and senior most defense officials of the two nations held a five-hour meeting at the Department of State in Washington, addressing evolving regional and global security challenges, among other topics.

The Balikatan Exercise 2023 brings together 17,680 troops  an estimated 12,000 Americans, 5,000 Filipinos, and more than 100 Australians  who will participate in live-fire drills and other activities until April 28.

Balikatan, which means shoulder to shoulder in Tagalog, got underway a day after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sought to allay public fears that a beefed-up American military presence here would unnecessarily draw the Southeast Asian country into a conflict in case China attacked Taiwan.

Gen. Andres Centino, the Philippine militarys chief of staff, said the drills would not only bolster bilateral ties but contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region in a definitive manner.

Among the drills on the program are a command post exercise, which aims to strengthen the allies ability to plan, coordinate, and provide command-and- control of forces against a range of scenarios and simulated challenges.

And during this years Balikatan, participants for the first time will carry out a live-fire training with Patriot missiles and Avengers air-defense systems, which Ukraine has used against invading Russian forces.

Gen. Andres Centino, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, speaks during the opening ceremony of the annual Balikatan exercises, at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Philippines, April 11, 2023. [Basilio Sepe/BenarNews]

In a live-fire exercise at sea, Filipino and American troops will target and sink a 200-foot-long mock enemy vessel in the waters off Zambales province, in a part of the South China Sea that lies within Manilas exclusive economic zone. Beijing and Manila, as well as other Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan, have overlapping claims in the strategic waterway.

Another new component of the war games this year is cyber defense.

All these major events are intended to ensure the achievement of the end state of our Balikatan 2023 exercises, which is to fully develop mutual defense capabilities to enhance cyber defense operation and strengthen the countrys maritime security and domain awareness, Centino said in a speech Tuesday inaugurating the drills.

The two countries are bound by a Mutual Defense Treaty to assist one another in case of an armed attack on either of their armed forces, or aircraft or public vessels, anywhere in the South China Sea, a point U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated in Washington.

During the third U.S. Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue the two sides discussed plans to conduct combined maritime activities with like-minded partners in the South China Sea later this year, Austin told a press conference following the meeting.

And a joint statement voiced strong objections to Chinas repeated massing of maritime militia ships inside Manilas exclusive economic zone, as well as new reports of Beijings covert land reclamation on unoccupied features in the Spratly Islands.

The two nations also agreed to accelerate implementation of EDCA projects, the statement said, referring to a controversial plan to grant U.S. forces access to four more Philippine bases under an expanded defense pact, as tensions build between China and Taiwan.

On Monday, Marcos tried to calm jitters and criticism among Filipinos about his administrations decision, saying Americans would use the newly selected locations to preposition equipment that they could readily access in times of natural disasters.

Now, the reaction of China is not really surprising because they worry too much. But  the Philippines will not allow the bases to be used in offensive action. The bases are only to help the Philippines if the country needs help, Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of an event honoring Filipino war veterans.

Three of the four bases are located on the main and northernmost Philippine island of Luzon, including two sites that face Taiwan. A fourth site, in Palawan province, faces the South China Sea where territorial tensions between China and the Philippine have been high in recent years.

This largest iteration of the Balikatan drills began a day after the Chinese military concluded three days of maneuvers and war games around Taiwan, including simulated precision strikes. China launched the drills as a response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens visit to the United States early this month, where she met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The unprecedented meeting on U.S. soil further angered China, which also expressed its displeasure over the Marcos administrations move to grant the U.S. access to other bases in the Philippines.

The U.S. military has been coming all the way from the other side of the Pacific to stir up trouble in the South China Sea and ganging up with its allies from other parts of the world to flex muscle, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a March 12 statement.

The U.S. has heightened tensions, driven a wedge between China and the Philippines, and upset the joint effort of countries in this region to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, it alleged.

Opposition to war games

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Philippine activist groups held protests outside Camp Aguinaldo and the U.S. Embassy in Manila to express their opposition to the joint military drills in different parts of the country and the expanded access for U.S. forces at local bases.

The Philippines is ours. U.S. get out of our country! some protesters chanted outside the militarys headquarters in Quezon City.

In a separate statement, the anti-U.S. International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS) said the Balikatan exercises were nothing but a blatant display of U.S. imperialisms military intervention and aggression in the country and region.

The presence of foreign troops in local communities poses a grave threat to safety, security, and welfare of the people. We have witnessed how these exercises have resulted in environmental destruction, displacement of indigenous peoples and peasants, sexual abuse and exploitation of women and children, extrajudicial killings, torture, harassment, and intimidation of activists and critics, ILPS chairman Len Cooper said in a statement on Monday.

A fisherfolk group also criticized a no-sail zone policy being enforced during the military drills in at least five towns in Zambales, as the exercises coincide with the peak fishing season from February to May. The coastal towns affected are San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan, and Botolan.

What difference does the United States make to China when it comes to disrupting the livelihood of Filipino fishers in the West Philippine Sea? The Filipinos do not deserve to be displaced from their livelihood only to provide a security blanket to foreign forces carrying out war games accompanied with live-fire exercises in our fishing grounds, said Bobby Roldan, vice chairperson for the Luzon chapter of Pamalakaya.

Basilio Sepe and Gerard Carreon contributed to this report from Manila.

This report has been updated to include details about the five-hour meeting of defense and foreign affairs officials in Washington.
Three anti-junta Peoples Defense Force fighters from Myanmar  Thiha (left), Htet Nay Win and Saw Phyo Lay  were arrested by Thai authorities in Mae Sot earlier this month.

One of three Burmese armed resistance fighters who sought medical assistance in Thailand was killed as Thai authorities handed them over to junta authorities en route to Myanmar, Radio Free Asia (RFA) has learned.

The incident prompted Thailands opposition Commoners Party on Monday to condemn the Thai government for cooperating with Myanmars military regime in what it said was a violation of domestic and international law.

The three members of the anti-junta Peoples Defense Force entered the Thai border town of Mae Sot, across from Myawaddy in Myanmars Kayin state, on April 1 seeking medical treatment, but were arrested by Thai authorities at the Thai-Myanmar border immigration gate. On the morning of April 4, they were sent back across the border to Myanmars Karen Border Guard Force, who arrested them and transferred them into the custody of junta troops.

Following their deportation, reports emerged that the three PDF members  Thiha, the Lion Battalions deputy platoon commander, and fighters Htet Nay Win and Saw Phyo Lay  were killed in junta captivity.

On Monday, the Lion Battalion spokesperson Anyar Thar told RFA, a news service affiliated with BenarNews, that Saw Phyo Lay was shot as he attempted to escape during the handover and later died from his injuries. The status of the other two men remained unclear.

When [the PDF fighters] learned that they were being handed over to the BGF [Border Guard Forces], they jumped out of the boat that was carrying them, he said.

Troops from both sides shot at them. [Saw Phyo Lay] who was about to die [from his injuries] was even handcuffed, put back into the boat and sent over to the BGF. This shows how good the relations are between the BGF and Thai authorities.

Anyar Thar said that Thiha and Htet Nay Win have been sent to the juntas Southeast Regional Military Headquarters based in the Mon state city of Mawlamyine.

Neither the junta nor the Karen Border Guard have released any news regarding the incident and attempts by RFA to reach Col. Saw Chit Thu, the head of Myanmars Border Guard Force, went unanswered on Monday.

Opposition condemnation

On Monday, Thailands opposition Commoners Party issued a statement criticizing the Thai government for collaborating with Myanmars junta and accusing it of perpetrating an inhumane act by assisting the junta in committing war crimes.

The statement also called on Thailands Immigration Department to publicly clarify why it violated international and domestic laws by repatriating the PDF fighters after they entered Thailand in need of medical attention.

I do not accept the Thai governments policy toward Myanmar anti-junta activists and refugee applicants, Commoners Party spokesperson Kornkanok Khamta told RFA Burmese. The government is sending them back to unsafe locations. We all have to show that we are one with the people of Myanmar.

Two of the Peoples Defense Force fighters from Myanmar are seen in the back of a vehicle before being transferred to Myanmar security forces earlier this month. [RFA screenshot from Twitter]

When asked about the Thai governments response to the Commoners Party statement, Kornkanok Khamta said none was provided.

They silently neglect the statements of other organizations as well, she said.

Attempts by RFA to contact Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kanchana Patarachoke went unanswered on Monday.

Human rights groups have also called on the Thai government to examine its immigration departments handling of the three resistance fighters.

Speaking to RFA, Patrick Phongsathorn, a legal analyst for the NGO Fortify Rights, urged the Thai government to investigate the situation as soon as possible and to prosecute the officer responsible for deporting the PDF members under Thailands anti-torture law.

Refugees fearful

Previously, Thai authorities arrested Myanmar nationals seeking shelter in Thailand after fleeing fighting between the military and anti-junta forces and warned them to abide by Thai law, but mostly allowed them to stay on humanitarian grounds.

One Myanmar refugee in Thailand named Nikki told RFA that members of the Burmese community there are worried for their safety after the three PDF fighters were arrested and returned across the border.

This incident has seriously scared the Burmese people who are taking refuge in Thailand, she said.

We are too scared to even go out to buy food. Thai police are regularly arresting Burmese refugees in Mae Sot, targeting the undocumented and political refugees.

Reports of the deportation came amid an April 5 to 8 attack by a combined force of the ethnic Karen National Liberation Army and the Lion Battalion on military and Karen Border Guard Force bases north of Myawaddy.

Although details of the attacks were not immediately clear, injuries have been reported and nearly 10,000 residents of the area are believed to have fled the fighting to safety.

Some of the anti-junta fighters injured in the battle were taken to the Thai side of the border on April 9 and later arrested by Thai police.
Members of the Mayflower Church pose for a photograph upon their arrival in Dallas, April 7, 2023.

Dozens of members of a persecuted Protestant church in China arrived in the United States after escaping the country via Thailand, where they were also detained by the immigration authorities amid fears of repatriation.

All 63 members of the Mayflower Church arrived in Dallas on Good Friday after a coordinated effort from advocacy groups and politicians to bring them to the country, according Texas-based Christian rights group ChinaAid. The group previously told Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service affiliated with BenarNews, that a family of four was not traveling with the others.

In 2019, Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church [also known as the Mayflower Church] left China to seek religious freedom, ChinaAid said in a statement on their arrival. They faced constant persecution from the Chinese Communist Party.

They embarked on a nearly four-year journey for religious freedom [that] some believed ... would come to an abrupt end when Thailand immigration apprehended the 63 members, it said, adding that the church members had been released into American custody and put on planes for Dallas following negotiations with the Thai authorities.

It is the most joyful homecoming to welcome the Mayflower Church to Texas, said Bob Fu, ChinaAid founder and president. None of this would have been possible without the help of partners, members of Congress, and U.S. government staff who worked countless hours in order to bring the Mayflower Church to safety.

Now they can live out their faith fully without fear of persecution, Fu said.

Families were separated and held in two different detention facilities, one of which was the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok, described by ChinaAid as notorious.

The quick intervention by the United States government surely saved the lives of all the men, women and children, ChinaAid said.

The church members will be resettled in Tyler, Texas, which is represented by Rep. Nathaniel Moran, a Republican in the U.S. Congress.

"The immediate action taken by U.S. officials signals that as a nation, we are still committed to standing for the persecuted," Moran said in a statement. Every individual should be free to practice their faith safely and without fear of persecution.

Led by Pastor Pan Yongguang, members of the Mayflower Church sing psalms upon their arrival in Dallas, April 7, 2023. [Wang Yun]

Track record of abduction

Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican who chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, hit out at the treatment of the group by Thai officials.

Thai government officials must be more vigilant when it comes to malign Chinese Communist Party activities within their country, and work to hold accountable any police officers or officials who colluded with Chinese Communist agents in an attempt to deprive church members of rights under international refugee law, he said.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz commented: The Mayflower Church congregation is now free to exercise their faith after years of religious persecution.

The group of 28 adults and 35 children were accused of illegally overstaying their visas in Thailand and taken into custody pending a deportation hearing.

Abraham Cooper, vice chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said on Twitter that the Chinese government had a record of abducting Chinese dissidents from Thailand, so he urged the U.S. government to use all feasible tools at its disposal to ensure the safety of the Mayflower Church members.

While the United Nations refugee agency can designate people as refugees if they apply for the status in Thailand, it doesnt always follow up by offering resettlement, leaving an unknown number of Chinese nationals vulnerable to detention and forcible repatriation should the Thai authorities choose to do Beijing a favor and detain them.

Rights groups said Beijings law enforcement agencies routinely track, harass, threaten and repatriate people who flee the country, many of them Turkic-speaking Uyghurs, under its SkyNet surveillance program that reaches far beyond Chinas borders. Chinese officials use a variety of means to have them forcibly repatriated.

Chinese police are calling up people who have booked flights to leave the country and interrogating them about where they are going and when they plan to be back, sources in the country told RFA in February.
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A handful 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 to last for more than a year
FILE - Independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler speaks at a news conference, Nov. 3, 2010, in Portland, Maine. The wealthy former gubernatorial candidate charged with possession of child pornography plans to change his plea next month in Hancock County. The hearing for Cutler, who previously pleaded not guilty, is scheduled for Thursday, May 4, 2023, in Superior Court, a court clerk said Tuesday, April 11.
Criminal charges possible for one of the drivers in the two-car crash in Lenox, police say
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.
NORTH ADAMS  For the last 20 years, I have lived in the historic Blackinton section of the West End of North Adams.

Growing up in Williamstown and residing in North Adams for more than 30 years, I have lived in North Adams most of my life, since moving to the Berkshires with my family in 1982. As a photojournalist, I travel the roads of Berkshire County more than most.

Over the last couple of months, Ive been following various road and bridge closures. Most Ive had to document and some now directly impact my daily commuting life.

I knew that some kind of construction was happening on Ashton Avenue in North Adams, which is literally right down the street from me but I didnt know what the impact would be until I alerted our reporter Greta Jochem to the closure and she did a story.

As a North Adams resident, I have signed up to receive alert calls from the city for various notifications. From hydrant flushing and parking bans to road closures and winter storm notifications, I find the service very informative. However, no such call was issued to alert residents of the closure of Ashton Avenue. Furthermore, it took a while to get the signage to alert motorists and residents of alternate routes.

Ashton Avenue has proven to be a valuable road to get easy access to many destinations on State Road. Greylock Animal Hospital, The Colonial Shopping Center in Williamstown, Spruces Community Park, Wild Oats Food Cooperative and even Stop and Shop are usually within a few minutes drive from my home, just off of Massachusetts Avenue.

When Ashton Avenue closed in mid-February, I learned the road closure is part of a project to divert water from Wood Street to a catch basin on Ashton Avenue. The projects aim is to eliminate flooding on Massachusetts Avenue in Blackinton when a mountain stream swells with heavy rain. No doubt a worthy project that is long overdue, the construction site is a busy one with bulldozers, heavy machinery and larger-than-life cement culvert pipes.

With Ashton Avenue closed, the nearest traffic access between Massachusetts Avenue and State Road is now at Protection Avenue in North Adams and Cole Avenue in Williamstown. Ashton Avenue construction and road closure is expected to last several months.

A little more than a month after the closure of Ashton Avenue, the Brown Street bridge was closed after a state inspection deemed it unsafe. Farther up the road by nearly three miles, the bridge had just become a regular route for me as I sought a convenient way to get to West Main Street from River Street.

In Williamstown, the Walley Bridge, which spans the Green River on Main Street, has been under construction, with one lane open to two-way traffic since 2021. While such construction is an inconvenience at times, it is a very important project as we try to concentrate on our aging infrastructure. However, when I looked over at the cement capstone with the date of the completion of the bridge, imagine my surprise when I saw 2026.

Our commonwealth, and country as a whole, has clearly ignored the maintenance of our infrastructure to the point where we can no longer do so. I expect that over the next few years, we may see more closures of roads and bridges and that is going to be felt by all of us, no matter your economic status.

With Ashton Avenue closed, my only closest options to get over to State Road from Massachusetts Avenue are now Protection Avenue in North Adams and Cole Avenue in Williamstown. Often it adds as much as five minutes to my drive. If the train is traveling at the crossing at Protection Avenue, the next opening is at Demond Avenue to the east, adding even more time.

During a recent train derailment in North Adams, Protection Avenue was closed for several hours as the train sat parked at that intersection.

While I am learning to navigate the various road closures, I wonder what the future holds. In my neighborhood, there was once a bridge over the Hoosic River at a railroad crossing at Galvin Road in North Adams. The bridge, which was a steel truss structure with a narrow wooden deck, was removed years ago after the road closed.

The state actually approved replacement of the Galvin Road bridge in 1976. In 1979, an article in the North Adams Transcript refers to replacing the bridge with construction to begin in late 1980. In 1981, the bridge, which was constructed in the late 19th century, was linked to a revolutionary war hero. In June 1985, the bridge closed for repair work. In 1986, missing wooden planks in the bridge closed it once again. Finally, in 1988, the bridge was closed indefinitely.

Despite its historical significance, the structure was later removed and has never been replaced. While I am sure the residents of Galvin Road, formerly Williamstown Road, are happy not to have the traffic on their street, if the bridge had been replaced, it could be serving the community today.

I cannot help but wonder just how many more bridges and roads in Berkshire County will be deemed unsafe and, without funding to repair or replace, closed indefinitely in the coming months and years.
A 22-year-old University of Zimbabwe student was on Saturday arrested for allegedly raping his lover in an office.

Tamuda Dyirakumunda of Mt Hampden stands accused of raping his lover aged 23.

The victim is also a student at the UZ but currently on attachment under the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, confirmed the arrest.

The victim has since been referred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for medical examination.

Police arrested a University of Zimbabwe student for allegations that he raped his lover aged 23, said Insp Chakanza.

Circumstances are that the complainant and accused were girlfriend and boyfriend and are both students at the University of Zimbabwe.

On March 26, the complainant was reported to have invited the accused to her workplace for an appointment.

They met in complainant`s office at around 5pm when everyone else had gone home.

The accused person asked to have sexual intercourse with the complainant but the complainant refused.

The accused person started caressing the complainant who was wearing a pair of jean trousers and ended up raping her without protection.

The complainant did not tell anyone about the abuse.

He added: On April 7, the accused person told the complainant that their relationship was over.

On April 8, the complainant lodged a police report against the accused leading to his arrest. Newsday
State Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, and a colleague were expelled from the Tennessee State House last week for loudly supporting for protesters in the House chamber as they were calling for a ban on assault weapons.
The Bible is the Word of God written for His people, spanning 66 books in the Old and New Testaments combined. It is the best selling book of all time with over 50 billion copies sold and distributed. According to Wycliffe Global Alliance, at least one portion of Scripture has been translated for 3,350 of the 7,099 existing languages; the Bible in its entirety has been translated in 683 languages.

Is the Bible like every other sacred text in world religions then? The answer must be an indelible, no. Of course, you would say that, some might respond skeptically, All religions make the same boast. All of their books are written by their respective deities? Right? Well, actually, no. There is a dramatic difference between the Bible and other collections of holy writings.

The Holy Bible Was Written by God

C.S. Lewis was not only the extraordinarily gifted writer of now-classic works such as Mere Christianity but one of the greatest medieval English literature scholars of his time, serving at both Oxford and Cambridge. In one of his essays, he wrote that the Bible was different from all the other books in the world. The other sacred texts that we read  and theres no reason that we shouldnt read them to learn more about what others believe  come off as something more akin to mythology. Mythology was a considered study of Dr. Lewis. In fact, the Chronicles of Narnia come out of C.S. Lewis command of the mythological genre, as well as C.S. Lewis faith. Lewis told the reader to consider the Bible alongside other sacred texts and folklore.

The Bible reads nothing at all like mythology. To be sure some of those books called the Apocrypha have a decided ring of fable. There is important historical content to be considered but the Apocrypha lacks the authenticity of the sixty-six books of the Bible. Thus, that collection of 15 books did not make it into the Canon of Scripture, recognized by the Church as divinely inspired. And that last phrase, divinely inspired, leads us to answer the question, Who Wrote the Bible. We are back to the original answer and that reply that you assumed I would give: the Holy Bible, containing sixty-six books was written by God.

Indeed, the celebrated, late Scottish Bible scholar, John Murray, of Westminster Theological Seminary, began his essay on the subject with a brilliantly simple but carefully crafted summary:

CHRISTIANS of varied and diverse theological standpoints aver that the Bible is the Word of God, that it is inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it occupies a unique place as the norm of Christian faith and life.1

But as the Lord God ordains whatsoever comes to pass (or He couldnt rightfully be the Almighty), He does so by means: secondary forces orchestrated by God to bring about His will. Thus, it is with the Bible. God wrote the Bible through 40 writers, possibly fewer or more depending on how one views the authorship identification in respective books (e.g., The Epistle to the Hebrews), in 66 books, across at least 1,500 years, and in both Near Eastern Ancient culture and the Greco-Roman culture of the first century. The singular message, the scarlet thread of truth that binds each of the books together as one, the witness of Jesus of Nazareth, and the witness of the Holy Spirit all converge to make the Bible, alone against all other revered texts, a revelation of God to Man.

The Scriptures Self-Attest that the Bible is the Word of God

The Bible attests to the authorship of the Almighty in numerous places. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, (Heb 1:1).

In fact, biblical writers write unequivocally that the Bible is divine over 3,000 times!2 Dr. Michael J. Kruger, a noted New Testament scholar, rightly affirmed, the Bible bears evidence within itself of its own divine origins.3

One of those places of self-attestation is in the Psalms. Psalm 19 is one of the better-known Psalms of King David. The Psalmist composes a sacred song to the glory of Gods revelation to humankind. Psalm 19 is divided into two parts. The first part of the song says that we know God from (what theologians call) General Revelation. Consider verse one as it describes how we know God through creation: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

For six verses, David extols God for having revealed himself through creation. The second half of Psalm 19, beginning with verse seven, begins with these words: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

Theologians call this way of knowing God as Special Revelation. In summary, Psalm 19 teaches that while we can know God through creation  standing in an open field and looking into the incomprehensibly deep and dark night-sky studded with innumerable stars, a million suns illuminating other unseen galaxies, twinkling like diamonds against black velvet  but we do not know God personally through this observable form of revelation. When David writes that the Lord is perfect converting the soul, he is saying that we recognize there is a God in general creation, but we come to know this God and His will for our lives through special revelation. This special revelation is the Word of God, the law of the Lord that is perfect, converting the soul: that is, the Holy Bible.

So, the Bible self identifies as a supernatural word from another world.4 But how do we know that the Bible is the Word of God?

What Does it Mean to Be Inspired by the Holy Spirit?

Peter, Paul, and the New Testament writers agree with Jesus: The Bible is the Word of God by virtue of His ministry through chosen vessels to reveal His intent. First, Peter says,

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21 ESV).

Then, Paul writes unequivocally:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Does inspired mean that God mechanically directed the hand of each biblical author to record Gods own voice? Absolutely not. What is so marvelous about the Bible is that Gods Word comes to us through the personalities, the circumstances, the challenges, the joys and sorrows with people just like us. Just as God sent His only begotten Son to live the life we could never live and die the death that should have been ours, who rose from the grave on the third day, so God wrote the Bible. He revealed His Word to us in a way that we could understand, in a way that is accessible, and a way that is both beautiful and unified.

It is important to say that there is a difference between inspiration and illumination. The Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit  God breathed out (2 Timothy 3:16) through the instrument of human beings. Illumination is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that helps us to understand and apply Gods Word. Faithful gospel preachers, therefore, were not inspired themselves or of their own accord. But it was the Holy Spirit illuminating their minds so that they could proclaim the inspired Word of God. Those of us who listen to the Word of God expounded, also, should pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit: that we may hear, receive, and inwardly digest the inspired word of the Lord (Collect [a gathering prayer] from the Book of Common Prayer).

Did God Write the Bible through Humans?

Yes, the Lord used human instrumentality to bring forth his own word. Of course, God could have spoken directly or immediately, but he chose to do so immediately  that is, through human agents. Therefore, we must recognize that these writers  prophets and priests, kings and servants, lawyers and fishermen, scholars and uneducated  wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Who Were the Old Testament Authors?

There are 39 books or collected documents in the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament, written mostly by Moses, and then, prophets, Kings David and Solomon, priests, and scriveners or scribes. The Tanakh (an acronym based upon the division of the ancient Hebrew Scriptures by genre: Torah [five books of Moses], Nevim [the Prophets, their books named after the respective prophet], and the Ketuuvin [the Writings, comprised of the Poetry and Wisdom books, e.g., Job, Psalms, Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; as well as historical accounts like Ezra-Nehemiah, Daniel, 1 and 2 Chronicles].

Old Testament Authors Listed:

Moses

Joshua

Jeremiah

Ezra

David

Solomon

Isaiah

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

other psalmists and proverb writers

unknown authors

possible authors: Samuel, Nehemiah, Mordecai

Who Compiled the Old Testament?

Compiling and ascribing divine inspiration of the Old Covenant Scriptures occurred over time, by consensus, by evidences of unity, self-attestation, personal spiritual devotion, and by liturgical usage in communities. There are theories of canonization of selected books by councils (e.g., the General Assembly of rabbis and scholars in 450 BC). However, much of this is reliant upon commentary (i.e., Midrash). The sacred texts, preserved by Israel as Gods Word to them, were more formally recognized, particularly, after the Babylonian Captivity. By the time of Jesus, the texts that Jesus affirmed as being the Word of God were complete. God is sovereign over all things including His Word.

Who Were the New Testament authors?

The New Testament authors were a mix of unparalleled scholars (e.g., St. Paul) and businessmen (St. Peter, a fisherman), medical doctors (St. Luke), and clergy (St. John). Eight men, some Apostles (those with a direct commission from Jesus Christ to minister in His name and to lead the mission of the Early Church), wrote the epistles of the New Testament over a course of about seventy years, with the Apostle John being the final author (Revelation written in c. 80-85, under Domitian according to a second-century bishop, Irenaeus).

New Testament Authors Listed:

Matthew

John Mark

Luke

John

Paul

James

Peter

Jude

*unknown (Hebrews)



Who Compiled the New Testament?

One of the great New Testament scholars of our time was Bruce Metzger of Princeton Theological Seminary. In his now classic book, The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance, this erudite and godly pastor-scholar wrote,

The recognition of the canonical status of the several books of the New Testament was the result of a long and gradual process, in the course of which certain writings, regarded as authoritative, were separated from a much larger body of early Christian literature.6

The Apostle Paul wrote, "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you..." (1 Cor. 11:23). Not only did Paul recognize his writings as inspired (God breathed), but Peter, with whom Paul had an obvious undulated relationship, nevertheless, taught the Church that Pauls writings were on the same inspirational canonical level as the Old Testament:

Bear in mind that our Lords patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16).

Like the Old Testament, the New Testament was not compiled by a committee or council. Rather, it was recognized as divinely inspired by the Early Church. To understand this process one can examine the letters of the Early Church leaders, like Clement of Rome, Papias of Hierapolis, Polycarp of Smyrna, Hermas; as well as documents like the Didache.

Who Compiled the Bible as a Whole?

The late New Testament scholar, F.F. Bruce, wrote convincingly,

The Bible is not simply an anthology; there is a unity which binds the whole together.

Thus, the Early Church recognized the ancient Hebrew Scriptures that by then were canonized. They also recognized a singularity of purpose, of voice, and of redemptive history in the Old and New Testaments. An old guide to the continuity between Old and New Testaments remains true and helpful, The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.

God wrote the Bible. As the Westminster Confession of Faith puts it with faithful brevity:

The supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence, we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the scripture.

Jesus Declared that the Bible is the Word of God

Jesus knew the Word of the Lord from infancy. The doctrine of His nature, fully God and fully Man, yet never mixed or confused, let us recognize that as God in the flesh, the Lord Jesus knew that the Triune God wrote the Bible. But as a human being, from infancy, Jesus received the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God. Each Shabbat Jesus gathered with his family at the synagogue to hear the lectionary readings. He learned the Bible at home. He sat under others. We know that at 12 years of age He was instructing the rabbis and the priests. But there are clear instances in our Lords life when He declared the authorship of the Bible, its inerrancy, infallibility, and intent. While each of them should be considered, none is more explicit that the resurrected Saviors attestation of the Bible concerning His being raised from the dead:

Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things (Luke 24:44-48).

The Holy Spirit Witnesses to Us that the Bible is the Word of God

When we read the Bible, it is unlike any other book. Gods Spirit breathed out His Word. And the Holy Spirit in the Word recognizes the activity of the Holy Spirit in you and brings the two together.

When I was in seminary, many years ago, I inquired of my professor, the late, great Dr. Laird Harris, How do we know the Apocrypha is not inspired? He answered by telling me that one of the ways we know the Bible is inspired is the witness of the Holy Spirit. Mike, this weekend I want you to read two books in the Apocrypha. Then, immediately read the Gospel of John. Lets talk on Monday. I did as the master scholar directed. On Monday, he asked me, Well, Mike, what is the answer? How do you know the Bible is inspired? I answered, Dr. Harris, I know because the Lord attends the reading of His own Word. He spoke to me through the words of John. Very good! Now, did you have that same reaction from reading the Apocrypha? I smiled at Dr. Harris. My smile communicated that No, I didnt recognize God attesting to His own Word in the reading of the non-canonical books. Something is different. Dr. Harris turned to the entire class to make the point:

Now, you know. God speaks to us in His Word. Never forget that after all of the other evidences are considered, which they should be, the greatest proof remains the lives that have been transformed by the Spirit of the Living God brooding over His own Word and applying it, with divine intent, to the hearts and minds of those who read.5

The Bible is Sufficient

The Holy Bible is not only inspired. The Bible is sufficient. The Bible is sufficient for all things in faith and life. No revival of true religion was ever released in mass-converting power unless there was a rise in the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. So, let us attend to these important questions about who wrote the Bible with a humble, teachable heart, that says, Lord, write Your Word upon my heart. Thus, the Book of Common Prayers wonderful petition:

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen (The Book of Common Prayer).

After all is said and done, the question remains, Not merely who wrote the Bible, but who will listen? And who will follow the living Word of the Bible, Jesus Christ?



Michael A. Milton,PhD (University of Wales; MPA, UNC Chapel Hill; MDiv, Knox Seminary), Dr. Milton is a retired seminary chancellor and currently serves as the James Ragsdale Chair of Missions at Erskine Theological Seminary. He is the President of Faith for Living and the D. James Kennedy Institute a long-time Presbyterian minister, and Chaplain (Colonel) USA-R. Dr. Milton is the author of more than thirty books and a musician with five albums released. Mike and his wife, Mae, reside in North Carolina.



Notes:

1. John Murray, The Attestation of Scripture, The Infallible Word (1946): 154.

2. Claims of Divine Authorship, Answers in Genesis.

3. What Do We Mean When We Say the Bible Is Self-Authenticating?, Canon Fodder.

4. See part one of Robert L. Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith (Nashville: T. Nelson, 1998).

5. Dr. Laird Harris, personal notes from Knox Theological Seminary, 1991.

6. Bruce M. Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance(Oxford University Press on Demand, 1997).

7. Gerald Irvin Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith: For Study Classes (Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Company, 1964).



Additional Reference

Geisler, Norman L., and William C. Roach. Defending Inerrancy: Affirming the Accuracy of Scripture for a New Generation. Baker Books, 2012.

Photo credit: Thinkstock/Vladimir Zapletin
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A retired firefighter who threw a fire extinguisher at police officers during the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced on Tuesday to more than four years in prison.

Robert Sanford struck two police officers in the head with the fire extinguisher that he threw as he stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with a mob of Donald Trump supporters. He also threw an orange traffic cone at a Capitol police sergeant.

Sanford also hurled obscenities and insults at the law enforcement officers on the Lower West Terrace, calling them traitors, a prosecutor, Janani Iyengar, wrote in a court filing.

One of the officers struck by the fire extinguisher had a bump and swelling on his head; the other had a headache and went to a hospital for a medical exam, prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sentenced Sanford to four years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to an online court record. Federal prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of five years and 11 months.

Sanford, 57, of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, worked as a firefighter for 26 years before retiring in 2020. A fire extinguisher is an instrument that he was uniquely familiar with and should have known how much damage it could cause, the prosecutor wrote.

Sanford traveled to Washington, D.C., with friends from Pennsylvania on bus trip organized by the conservative activist group Turning Point USA. He listened to speeches at Trump's Stop the Steal rally before joining the crowd that marched over to the Capitol and disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying Democrat Joe Biden's electoral victory over Trump.

Sanford was arrested on Jan. 14, 2021. He has been jailed since he pleaded guilty last September to assaulting, resisting or impeding police officers using a dangerous weapon  a felony punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. He wasn't accused of entering the Capitol building on Jan. 6.

Sanford began to work with a specialist in cult deprogramming in August 2022 and was confronted with facts about the baseless conspiracy theory that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election from Trump, according to defense attorney Andrew Stewart.

"Even after he was incarcerated, he participated in regular discussions designed to challenge his ideology and belief structure, then help him understand how and why he developed the beliefs that led him to make the decisions that he did on January 6," Stewart wrote in a court filing.

Sanford believed that police had attacked him and others without provocation when he picked up and threw what felt like an empty fire extinguisher, his lawyer said.

Certainly, this is not a justification for his action nor is it intended to be, Stewart wrote.

More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 riot. Over 600 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or judge. Over 450 of them have been sentenced, with over half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years.

More than 100 police officers were injured during the Jan. 6 riot.

Also on Tuesday, a Nevada man who joined other rioters in assaulting police officers in a tunnel on the Lower West Terrace was sentenced to six years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols also ordered Josiah Kenyon, 35, of Winnemucca, Nevada, to pay over $43,000 in restitution for damaging a window at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Kenyon was dressed as the character Jack Skellington from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas when he joined the mob's attack. He used a table leg with a protruding nail to strike an officer in the leg and hit a second officer so hard that it lodged in the officers face shield and helmet, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of seven years and four months for Kenyon, who pleaded guilty to assault charges in September 2022.

Kenyon drove to Washington from Reno, Nevada with his wife and young children to attend Trump's rally. Kenyon told FBI agents that he hated Trump and went to the Capitol because he was trying to raise the violence level, prosecutors wrote, adding, His idea was to have 'the Trumpers' charge the police line which would in turn cause the officers to shoot the rioters."
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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With this acquisition, Calibre has taken a step forward to further enhance its R&D capabilities, especially in the field of complex organic chemistry

Calibre Chemicals, a leading nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and personal care speciality chemicals company, has reached an agreement with the proprietors of Bengaluru-based Tina Life Sciences, to acquire Tina's laboratory and product development business with immediate effect.

With this acquisition, Calibre has taken a step forward to further enhance its R&D capabilities, especially in the field of complex organic chemistry. Calibre will enhance the pace of new product development and the breadth of its Custom Development and Manufacturing (CDMO) Service offerings.

Dr Pintoo Ganguly, an accomplished chemist having diverse experience in developing products and processes in the Indian chemical industry, would lead Caibre's R&D activities.

"We are excited to accredit broader and newer R&D capabilities and welcome Dr Ganguly and his team to Calibre family," said Deepak Chander, CEO, Calibre Chemicals. "Our collective expertise and knowledge of organic synthesis, electrochemistry, process development, and manufacturing excellence, will enable us in serving our valued customers better."

Calibre's R&D centre is based in Bengaluru and another laboratory-cum-pilot-plant at our manufacturing facility in Sarigam, Gujarat.
Inverroche launches an immersive gin academy at Ellerman House in Cape Town

Inverroche, the distiller of a unique range of craft gins infused with fynbos from the Cape Floral Kingdom, launched its third gin academy partnership at the exclusive Ellerman House Hotel, located at the scenic Bantry Bay, now offering a truly bespoke and shareable experience.

Mmanaka Kelobonye

Each Inverroche Gin Academy is the ultimate extension of the Inverroche Brand Home based in Stilbaai that founder and CEO, Lorna Scott, started in 2017. Scott designed this experience to allow guests the opportunity to enter the luxurious and tailored world of Inverroche by crafting their own gin. Each guest is taken on a journey which begins with choosing their selection of fynbos botanicals and a base spirit, witnessing the distillation process and, ultimately, bottling their own personalised creations.

The Inverroche range, which pioneered the craft gin scene in South Africa and introduced an entirely new category into the local and international industry, brings together traditional botanicals and uniquely African notes derived from Cape fynbos, says Scott. Now gin connoisseurs who share our commitment to traditional values like the importance of family and the pride taken in handcrafting something in a slow, authentic way, can share in the gin-making experience and create their own limited editions.

Khanyisile Msomi

On Wednesday, 29 March 2023, in celebration of the partnership between Inverroche & Ellerman House, guests were hosted to a beautifully curated, nature-inspired space at Ellerman House where they enjoyed high-end cocktails, delectable canapes from the resident chef, and distinctive Inverroche gins paired with handmade chocolates, all while listening to the sounds of Acoustic Elements live performance.

Since 2020, Inverroche has collaborated with Ellerman House to produce its very own bespoke gin exclusive to Ellerman House, says Scott. Now our iconic brands are partnering to present the Inverroche Gin Academy to Ellerman House guests.

Mmanaka Kelobonye Lorna Scott, Inverroche (founder and creative director) and Cassandra Twala

Highlights of the launch event included a mobile Gin Academy showcase where guests were educated on the Inverroche processes and the making of the exclusive gin. Guests were also afforded an opportunity to participate in a bespoke gin making process where they were able to personalise their very own craft gins by choosing the ingredients; a selection of a fynbos and base spirit, their preferred colour, their preferred bottle shape and label, and finally, a closure that reflected their individual personalities.

The Inverroche Gin Academy is exclusive to Ellerman House in Cape Town and is available only to in-house guests every Thursday evening. To enquire about availability, please contact az.oc.namrelle@tnaruatser.
Instinct, the South African-born surf brand that was wildly popular in the 80s and 90s, is relaunching in its native country after being dormant here for decades.

Source: Instinct

In 1979, world champion surfer Shaun Tomson founded Instinct in Durban in partnership with a local family. The brand grew quickly and eventually was sold in 13 countries employing people across the globe.

Instinct relocated to California in 1982, and was the number three brand in the US behind Quiksilver and Gotcha. The brand featured an accomplished surf team and sponsored prominent surfers including Mike Burness, Dave Parmenter and Greg Anderson. It also sponsored Barton Lynch to his world title in 1988 and Tom Carroll to his two titles in 1984 and 1985.

Instinct's ad campaign 'Surfing is lifeThe rest is details' was created by Rod Dyer and David Lees and brought the brand significant additional exposure in the 80s.

Source: Instinct

In 1990, Tomson sold off his share of Instinct to his business partners when he retired from competitive surfing, and the Instinct brand faded.

A charitable gesture from TFG

In the 2000s, Tomson reacquired the brand's trademarks everywhere except South Africa where the Instinct intellectual property rights had been sold many years prior to The Foschini Group (TFG).

Tomson approached TFG recently about acquiring Instinct and says the fashion retail group was happy to return the brand to its original founder. All TFG has asked in return is that a contribution in perpetuity from every product sale goes to the 9Miles Project in Cape Town, an NGO focused on empowering underprivileged youth through surfing. "I personally experienced an incredibly warm gesture from Foschini," said Tomson.

In 2021, Tomson and his apparel designer wife Carla relaunched Instinct in Australia and will relaunch it in South Africa this April through a licensing agreement. The relaunch in SA is being carried out in partnership with Oh Two Clothing, a local manufacturer that cuts, sews, prints and produces apparel in Tomsons home town of Durban. "Homegrown and home-sewn" is said to be the ethos of the relaunched surf brand.

"Relaunching Instinct in my hometown where I started it and incorporating revenue from every sale to empower underprivileged students is a dream come true. Business can solve big social problems but if I can just help with one small problem, the life trajectory of a student, then my mission will be fulfilled.

"I'm excited to be partnering with Oh Two Clothing and the 9Miles Project to improve the lives of kids through the life lessons of surfing. Over the last 17 years, I have dedicated my life to helping uplift organisations, schools and universities through inspirational programmes and I'm excited to be incorporating Instinct into my programme of self-empowerment, says Tomson.

Instinct in 2023. Source: Instinct

Simon de Robillard, director Oh Two Clothing, comments, "The entire team at Oh Two is stoked to partner up with Shaun and Carla to relaunch one of South Africa's most iconic homegrown and heritage brands and we will be making the product in our factory in South Africa  made by South African hands for South Africans  homegrown and home-sewn.

"We have created a unique collection of surfwear with inspiration from the past, present and future and we are really excited to support Shaun's worldwide mission of youth transformation by contributing a portion of every sale to the 9Miles Project to empower underprivileged youth through surfing."

Tomson has added 'author' and 'leadership speaker' to his job title, and is currently in the middle of a world speaking tour following the launch of his number one Amazon best-selling book The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive and Ride Lifes Waves.
...to learn how to access funding and services for higher education...

merSeta acting CEO, Disa Mpande

The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSeta) invited the youth of South Africa to attend this year's Rand Show, which took place this Easter long weekend. The event showcased the organisation's products and service offerings and informed the public, particularly the youth, of the opportunities available through the merSeta.

The merSeta is committed to empowering young South Africans through education and training initiatives. At the expo, the organisation highlighted the various opportunities available to the youth, including bursaries to further their studies at higher education institutions in the country, apprenticeships, learnerships, and entrepreneurships.

Through the funding provided by the merSeta, young people can pursue numerous fields of study at universities and TVET colleges, particularly in engineering-related fields such as auto mechanics, motor mechanics, boiler making, fitting and turning, electrical, plumbing, and more. The organisation aims to equip young South Africans with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in these fields and contribute to the country's economic growth.

"Attending the Rand Show was an excellent opportunity for young people to learn about the various opportunities available to them through the merSeta," said the merSeta acting CEO, Disa Mpande. "We are committed to helping the youth of South Africa access the funding and services they need to succeed in their education and future careers. We invited all young people to visit our exhibition and learn more about the exciting opportunities available to them."

The merSeta exhibition at the Rand Show allowed young people to engage with the organisation's representatives, ask questions, and learn about the various programmes and services available. The exhibition was an informative and interactive experience for all visitors.

For more information about the merSeta and the opportunities available to young people, visit the organisation's website and the social media platforms below.

Contact: Temana Masekela

Email: az.gro.atesrem@alekesamt

Website: www.merseta.org.za

Twitter: @mersetasocial

LinkedIn: mersetasocial

Facebook: mersetasocial

Youtube: mersetaengineering
Students are often required to write essays as part of their coursework. However, many students struggle with the writing process, which can lead to frustration and, at times, low grades. To help students succeed in their writing endeavors, the team at FundiConnect has compiled a list of tips for writing a great essay.

Whether it's for an English class or a research paper, writing an essay is a key skill that can help us succeed in our academic pursuits. Not only that, but knowing how to write properly can help you in all areas of life, whether its at college or university, or even at your future job.

If youre wondering how to get started, dont worry, the team at FundiConnect has got you covered. Heres how to write a great essay as a South African student:

1. Understand the assignment

Before you start writing your essay, make sure you fully understand the requirements and instructions of the assignment. Look for key information such as the essay length, the formatting requirements and the topic or prompt. Also, pay attention to any specific instructions, such as the number of sources required or the citation style to be used. If you are unclear about any aspect of the assignment, don't hesitate to ask your professor for clarification.

2. Plan your essay

Once you understand the requirements of the assignment, create a plan or outline for your essay. This will help you organise your thoughts and ensure that your essay has a clear structure. Start with an introduction that sets the stage for your essay and includes your thesis statement. Next, outline the main points or arguments you will make in the body of the essay, and include supporting evidence for each point. Finally, create a conclusion that summarizes your main arguments and restates your thesis in a compelling way.

3. Conduct research

To write a great essay, you will need to conduct thorough research on your topic. Use credible sources such as academic journals, books and reputable websites to gather information and support for your arguments. Take detailed notes on the key points and ideas you want to include in your essay. Be sure to record the source information for each note so you can properly cite your sources later.

4. Write a clear introduction

Your essay introduction should be attention-grabbing and clearly state your thesis. It should provide the reader with an overview of what to expect in the essay and set the tone for the rest of the writing. A strong introduction can make a huge difference in how your essay is received by your audience.

5. Develop your argument

The body of your essay should present and develop your argument in a logical and coherent manner. Each main point or argument should be supported by evidence and examples. Be sure to address any counterarguments and explain why your position is the stronger one. Use transitional phrases to connect each point and ensure that your essay flows smoothly.

6. Write a strong conclusion

Your essay conclusion should summarise your main points and restate your thesis in a compelling way. It should leave the reader with a clear understanding of your argument and a sense of closure. Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion; instead, focus on synthesizing the information you have presented in the essay.

7. Edit and proofread

Before submitting your essay, take the time to edit and proofread it carefully. Check for errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation. Look for any sentences or paragraphs that could be rephrased to improve clarity or coherence. Pay attention to the overall flow of your essay and make sure that your argument is clear and well-supported. Consider having a friend or family member read your essay to provide feedback and catch any errors you may have missed.

For more information, visit www.fundiconnect.co.za. You can also follow FundiConnect on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.
Our sense of urgency is rising. To keep up in a world of ChatGPT and groceries in under 60 minutes, we have to act fast.

Christelle Hargroves, founder and CEO of Avita

Part of acting fast is hiring fast. But this isnt that simple.

When a company has a vacancy, there is a workload that needs to be done by someone but with skills shortages and high unemployment rates, the search for and screening of appropriate candidates can take months.

In the interim, either there is no one to fill the gap, or fellow team members are forced to step up and manage the pressure.

In some cases, this mounting pressure causes employees to resign, creating further vacancies and further pressure. Hiring fast often means hiring wrong, leaving companies back to where they started but with money lost.

Vacancies can result in low productivity, reduced competitiveness and higher staff turnovers.

According to South African Talent Acquisition Managers, there are 12 blockers to fast hiring:

1. Skill shortages

According to a PwC survey, chief executives see the unavailability of skilled employees as the largest threat to their business.

Two factors impact this according to Businesstech. The first is expensive tertiary education and the second is low wages resulting in highly skilled workers leaving South African for international opportunities.

2. Job hopping

Low wages dont only impact highly skilled roles according to a South African talent manager of a retail chain. This company finds that its employees in lower skilled roles were leaving for as little as R100 to increase wages. This leaves them back to the recruiting process with attention taken away from finding highly skilled candidates.

3. Ineffective assessments

Talent managers advise that they have to be careful to hire correctly and with due diligence to ensure candidates actually have the skills they claim to have. If candidates are incorrectly assessed, both for skills and culture, companies and the candidates find themselves in a problematic situation.

4. Poor cultural fit

Its not enough for an employee to be skilled, they need to have the right attitude and cultural fit. This can be hard to establish and it becomes harder when hiring internationally.

5. High volumes

On average, South African talent acquisitions teams are flooded with approximately 1,400 CVs per advertised vacancy. This number escalates to 20,000 CVs for roles like internships. What makes this harder is that these teams are usually small, under extreme pressure and struggling to find time in manager diaries to schedule interviews.

6. Extreme costs

According to CareerAdvice.com, hiring one employee can range between R30,000 and R60,000. This excludes advertising costs and includes travel-related expenses, recruitment time, interview time and opportunity costs of managers spending time in interviews over value-driven items.

7. Race for top talent

What distinguishes one company from another is their talent. But finding talent is exceptionally difficult, particularly in the technology space. This takes time but with time comes the potential of losing talent. The top 10% of candidates are snapped up within the first 10 days.

Ninety-four percent of candidates say the hiring experience affects the decision. Talent managers not only need to find these candidates as they enter the market, but provide them with an outstanding interview process.

8. Lack of value time

Most talent managers complain that they spend too much time on admin and not enough time on value-driven tasks.

One talent manager explains that they spend hours acting like a call centre agent, trying to get candidates on a call to schedule a meeting or have a pre-interview.

When interviews finally take place, talent teams and hiring managers often realise cultural or skills fit is missing and they spend the rest of their time politely asking questions.

9. Lack of candidate visibility

Companies are prescriptive of what they want from a candidate but this often leaves promising candidates unseen because they are rejected by algorithms. Worse, companies are still leaning heavily on CVs as core screening criteria.

10. Insincere candidates

Many candidates arent actually interested in the roles they interview for and some candidates say they would interview for roles they are not equipped to take. There are also cases of candidates that use interviews as a way of getting offers as bids for their ideal companies.

11. Remote hiring

Companies now need a way to hire candidates remotely. Assessing someone virtually can be difficult and talent managers are seeking virtual experiences that are as close to in-person as possible.

12. Inconsistent hiring processes

Talent managers complained of managers asking inappropriate and ineffective questions without following a consistent hiring process that is fair and allows for comparison.

Technology as the solution

Technology is enabling talent managers to overcome these hiring blockers and to hire urgently, with many new forms emerging.

The urgency to hire fast will only increase, especially as technology evolves and emerging skills are needed. In todays world, a sense of urgency is a competitive advantage. Finding ways to hire right and hire fast is what will put one company ahead of another.
Following the arrest of Thabo Bester and Nandipha Magudumana in Tanzania, police have confirmed they have also arrested Magudumana's father.

Magudumana's father, Zolile Cornelius Sekelani and former prison warden, Senohe Matsoara are connected with assisting Bester escape from Manguang Correctional Centre.

Matsoara and Sekelani were arrested in Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth, respectively.

Bester, together with prison officials, arranged his jailbreak, where his body was swapped with an unknown persons body in Cell 35 at Manguang Correctional Centre.

The unknown body was burnt to death and the remains found in the cell.

The identity of this person remains unknown.

A government delegation comprising top officials from the correctional services and police departments have landed in Tanzania to organise the return of Bester and Magudumana to South Africa.
With the Deeds Office in Pretoria having closed down indefinitely, property buyers and sellers are grappling with the uncertainty surrounding the status of their transactions.

Bernard Cowley, real estate agent, Fitzanne Estates

Bernard Cowley, a real estate agent at Fitzanne Estates, provides insights into the implications of the closure, as well as advice on how buyers and sellers can mitigate the effects.

"Firstly, it is important to understand the role of the Deeds Office in the property transaction process," advises Cowley. "The Deeds Office is responsible for registering property transfers, ensuring that the transfer of ownership is legal and valid. Without the Deeds Office, property transactions cannot be completed, and buyers and sellers are left in limbo."

Its closure means that property transfers cannot be registered, which in turn means that the transfer of ownership cannot take place. This has led to uncertainty and delays in the property industry, with many transactions being put on hold indefinitely.

Implications for sellers, buyers

As a seller, the closure of the Deeds Office may have legal and financial implications for you. For example, if you have already sold your property and have not yet received the proceeds of the sale, you may be unable to access these funds until the property transfer is registered. Additionally, if you have any outstanding debts on the property, you may be unable to clear these debts until the transfer is registered, which could result in additional fees and interest charges.

As a buyer, if you have already paid a deposit on the property, you may be unable to take possession of the property until the transfer is registered. Additionally, you may be unable to access any funds from your bank or mortgage lender until the transfer is registered, which could result in additional fees and charges.

It is important to note, Cowley says, that while the duration of the closure is indefinite, efforts are being made by industry stakeholders, such as the Pretoria Attorneys Association, to address the issue.

Ensure your paperwork is in order

While the situation is challenging, it is important to remain patient and to continue working towards a successful transaction, Cowley advises.

"To soften the blow, ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed and submitted as soon as possible," suggests Cowley. "This includes transfer documents, bond applications, and any other legal documents required for the transaction. Work closely with your professional property practitioner and legal team to ensure that everything is in order and that all paperwork is submitted as soon as possible."

"Buyers should ensure that they have the necessary funds available to cover the purchase price and any associated costs, such as transfer fees and bond registration fees. Sellers should ensure that they have paid off any outstanding debts on the property and that they have the necessary funds available to cover any outstanding payments."

Communication with all parties is key

"Communication is key to ensure a successful transaction during this challenging time," says Cowley. "Regularly communicate with all parties involved in the transaction, including the real estate agent, the legal team, and the buyer or seller. This can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that any issues or concerns are addressed as soon as possible."

"Finally, it may be worth considering alternative options for completing the transaction," suggests Cowley. "Buyers and sellers may be able to complete the transaction using a different Deeds Office, or by using an alternative registration process. Consult with your legal team and real estate agent to explore all available options and determine the best course of action."
Approximately 11% (6.5 million) of South Africa's population is food insecure. While the effects of the pandemic exacerbated this insecurity, the country has been in a hunger crisis for many years, driven by instability, poverty, and an increasing population, and changing climate.

The latter continues to impact South Africas hunger crisis significantly, with its recent impact triggering one of the countrys deadliest disasters  the catastrophic KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape floods. A study by the World Weather Attribution service finds that climate change doubled the likelihood of the disaster  from an event expected once every 40 years to every 20 years.

Long-term temperature shifts and weather patterns continue to create an increasingly hostile agricultural environment characterised by natural disasters like heavy rain, hail, and drought. Thats why its more crucial than ever that the countrys farmers receive as much support as possible to help them create a sustainable business and continue contributing to South Africas food security.

Helping farmers build climate change resilience

Insurance is an important risk management tool. Agricultural insurance can protect farmers in the agricultural sector by covering losses from adverse weather events. This can help farmers to maintain their income level and to continue farming even if a harvest is lost.

Agricultural insurance can also assist farmers in accessing credit markets, which can provide financing for food production and act as a catalyst for economic growth, for example, by enabling farmers to buy new equipment, fertiliser and seed, thus increasing their output. Insurance also has the potential to change behaviour by reducing uncertainty and putting a price on risk.

As one of the most risk-prone industries in the world, the agriculture insurance industry realises the importance of addressing the effects of climate change, with solutions like crop insurance providing farmers with an edge against climate, environmental, and other risks. When heavy rains and hail cause damage to crops before they can be harvested and sold, crop insurance provides the resources that enable farmers to plant the following season. Settlements for weather damage allow farmers to protect their livelihoods.

Theres an increasing need for insurance solutions like Santam, which uses risk assessment expertise and decades of reliable data to support the agriculture industry. The insurer also has an experimental farm dedicated to scientific research on the effects of various perils on key crops in order to keep up to date with new cultivars.

Adopting new innovative tools

These efforts give farmers peace of mind knowing they can effectively mitigate even more risks that threaten their business, even as the country experiences an increased frequency of these significant events. By adopting new innovative tools, the insurance sector can broaden its climate change risk assessment and better map out possible outcomes. Because of the nature of climate risks and the inherent uncertainty surrounding future events, standard risk modelling methodologies do not adequately assess them.

South Africa can't afford to allow these destructive events to continue contributing to the current food insecurity crisis. The insurance industry must, therefore, use innovative techniques and tools to identify future climate change-related risks and assist farmers in operating more sustainably.
Launch of cross-border passenger service on China-Laos Railway seen as historic event

Xinhua) 13:22, April 11, 2023

VIENTIANE, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The cross-border passenger service on the China-Laos Railway to be launched on Thursday has been regarded as a historic event, which will be a significant achievement of the China-Laos cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

As the only landlocked country of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with mountains and plateaus that account for about 80 percent of its land area, Laos has realized its dream of becoming a land-linked hub in the region with the cross-border railway, Director General of Lao News Agency (KPL) Khampheuy Philapha told Xinhua on Monday.

The China-Laos Railway is a docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub.

"Cross-border passenger service on the China-Laos Railway will support the Lao government's policy to transform itself from being a landlocked country into a land link, as a regional one or even a global one," Khampheuy said.

He added that it would greatly benefit Laos, given its significant role in bolstering the Southeast Asian country's economic development.

As a major part of the trans-Asian railway network, the China-Laos Railway will also become a "golden key" for Laos to connect with China and other ASEAN members, which will positively impact the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation.

"The launch of the cross-border passenger service will be a historic milestone in the cooperation between Laos and China," Vanxay Tavinyan, deputy chief of the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, told Xinhua.

"The cross-border passenger train will make cross-border travel between Laos and China more convenient and boost cultural exchanges between the two countries. It will also facilitate foreign visitors' travel to and from China," he said.

Tourism experts predicted that millions of Chinese tourists will visit ASEAN nations, and many will travel on the China-Laos Railway.

Vanxay believed that the cross-border train will bring more tourists, especially Chinese, to Laos, create development opportunities for tourism-related industries and help improve local people's livelihood.

The China-Laos Railway, which links the Lao capital Vientiane with Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, has brought great benefits to the Lao people and opened up a new path for Laos' development and prosperity.

The railway marks a monumental and historic milestone in developing modern infrastructure for Laos, said Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith at the launching ceremony on Dec. 3, 2021.

Editor-in-Chief of the local daily Vientiane Times, Thonglor Duangsavanh, told Xinhua on Monday that the cross-border passenger service will greatly promote Laos' national socio-economic development, adding that the cross-border service facilitates people-to-people exchanges between the two neighbors.

"That's going to be a proud moment for the Lao people since it will be a historic milestone in the cooperation between Laos and China. Moreover, Lao people can travel to China more conveniently by using the railway," said Thonglor.

The first cross-border passenger service between Vientiane and Kunming will be launched ahead of the Lao New Year holiday, which falls on April 14-16.

Passengers can buy train tickets for cross-border service starting on Tuesday via the Laos-China Railway Company (LCRC) ticketing mobile app, which allows passengers to book and manage their journeys on mobile phones, according to the LCRC.

The start of cross-border passenger service on the China-Laos Railway has also made the headlines on social media in Laos, with the public expressing their excitement.

"I am ready to travel to China by train!" "Welcome Chinese visitors to Laos! We hope you enjoy staying here," said Lao netizens.

"I hope the cross-border passenger train will help Lao people, especially students, save time and money when traveling to China to study."

"Very good news! The railway is fast and cost-effective. Traveling to China will be more convenient now."

The China-Laos Railway, which began operation in December 2021, has offered domestic passenger services, while trains regularly carry freight across the Laos-China border.

The Lao government is taking steps to prepare for the start of the cross-border passenger service on the China-Laos Railway to ensure the safe and smooth travel of all travelers.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Despite the challenges faced by South African SMEs at the start of 2023, 87% of business owners are remaining optimistic and focused on growth. Rising fuel costs and interest rates, coupled with ongoing load shedding, can often create a challenging economic environment for small businesses, but there are several strategies that can be employed to help SMEs navigate these waters and take a step up.

One of the most effective ways for SMEs to stay optimistic and focused on growth is to take a long-term view. Instead of getting bogged down in short-term challenges, small business owners should focus on building their businesses over the long haul. This means taking a strategic approach to growth, setting realistic goals, and constantly evaluating progress to ensure that they are on track. Let's take a closer look at the three ways SMEs can create a steady stream of business and come out on top:

1. Embrace strategic technology

Small businesses that embrace new technologies are far more inclined to succeed than those that dont, with 30% of SMEs saying that technology has enabled them to reach new customers as well as streamline their processes.

By automating processes and using various software and AI tools, SMEs can save time and money on tasks such as bookkeeping, inventory management, and customer service. This allows business owners to focus on core operations and strategic growth rather than getting bogged down in administrative tasks.

However, not all SMEs have the cash flow to be investing in the latest and greatest technology, so its about carefully assessing your business goals before making this decision.

If youre in need of a better overall customer experience, digital onboarding tools likes Gathr allow SMEs to onboard 40% more customers. Furthermore, customer relationship management tools like Zoho and Salesforce are popular all-in-one platforms which can assist with managing potential leads and existing customers. SMEs that want to ensure they are managing various projects in a timely manner can use project management tools like Asana and Trello.

Additionally, SMEs that leverage digital channels such as social media, online marketplaces, and e-commerce platforms, can reach a wider audience and provide a more convenient and personalised customer experience. Its important for SMEs to prioritise the use of technologies that are easily compatible with their existing systems and processes to minimise disruption and facilitate integration.

2. Seek support and advice (constantly)

Its a notion of the past that only struggling businesses seek out help. As a small business owner, its your responsibility both for your own success as well as your teams to constantly look for ways to grow and be better. The first step is finding a small business community, whether that be something formal like a business incubator or something more informal like a Facebook group where SMEs can share tips and ask questions. SMEs need to build a support network, and not be afraid to constantly seek advice from peers and industry experts.

Navigating the world of finance can also be daunting for entrepreneurs. Many don't understand their options and can find the process overwhelming. When it comes to government funding, most don't even know where to start. Applicants are often vaguely aware of potential grants but struggle with the difficulty of applying and securing them. There are a number of small enterprise agencies that can assist SMEs with this type of funding.

SMEs contribute to 40% of South Africas GDP, and if they have the financial support needed to help them grow, their potential could be even greater. With only 34% of the businesses using formal bank accounts, and most of these SMEs having below-average credit scores it can be difficult for them to get access to a traditional business loan. Alternative lenders can often be the solution to this dilemma, and marketplace platforms make it easier for small business owners to compare business finance offers.

3. A tax break for solar solutions

Load shedding has put a huge damper on SME operations, and alternative energy will be the way forward for continual business growth. The National Treasury proposed a solar tax incentive for both businesses and individuals. Additionally, as part of the bounce-bank covid scheme, SMEs can be expected to receive government grants if they invest in any solar-related projects.

Starting from 1 March 2023, businesses will have a two-year opportunity to receive a 125% tax deduction on qualifying investment costs, without any limit on the investment cost. This will enable businesses to receive a cost plus 25% allowance for renewable projects in the year of investment.

The Treasury has also announced that businesses investing in wind, concentrated solar, hydropower below 30MW, biomass, and photovoltaic (PV) projects above 1MW, will be able to deduct 50% of the costs in the first year, 30% in the second year, and 20% in the third year, as qualifying investments. Furthermore, The Treasury stated that if a business has a positive taxable income, the deduction will help to decrease its tax liability.

Although this is the proposed plan for the solar tax incentive for businesses, we will only see it take effect between 1 March 2023 and 28 February 2025. This adjusted incentive will only be available for investments brought into use for the first time during this period.
South Africa is said to have some of the most expensive medical aid in the world. According to the World Health Organization , South Africa spends more on voluntary private health insurance (42%) as a share of total health expenditure than any other country. It serves, however, only 16% of the population. With inflation and unemployment on the rise - and now the confirmed greylisting status and looming recession - that number is likely to shrink even further.

Sadly, this could mean that even more people will be left without medical aid coverage. The situation is forcing patients to seek care from the already inundated state hospitals, which are doing their best to serve incredibly high numbers of patients with minimal resources. Many are now asking, will South Africans be able to afford medical aid in a shrinking economy heading for recession?

What does greylisting of the SA economy mean for consumers?

Greylisting is the temporary country listing by the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF). A country on the grey list has been recognised as having compliance issues but has committed to addressing strategic inadequacies to counter money laundering and terrorist financing within a given timeframe. During this time, the FATF closely monitors the country, imposing stringent regulations on them.

Serious potential problems follow this listing, including a lack of trade opportunities, a downgrade of ratings, and a subsequent shrinking economy. Greylisting will most likely damage the country's reputation making it extremely difficult to do business with other countries. This reduction in foreign investment and access to financial markets can have a ripple effect on the economy and the affordability of goods and services, including healthcare and medical aid.

We should all work together to prioritise healthcare access

during economic hardship to ensure everyone can

access necessary medical care.

During a greylisting, healthcare providers may face increased costs due to restrictions on foreign investment, which could also lead to higher patient prices. In turn, this might affect the sustainability of a medical scheme, or the costs could eventually be passed onto medical aid members through higher premiums or reduced coverage. The affordability of medical aid during and after greylisting and, ultimately, a recession will depend on the severity and duration of the economic downturn and the individuals financial situation. Many people will likely experience financial hardship and struggle to make ends meet.

The real impact on medical aid members

It is vital for members to monitor the situation and be prepared for potential changes in the cost and availability of healthcare. Make sure your medical scheme has a higher-than-average solvency rate, as Medshield does, to ensure your healthcare claims are covered during such challenging times. In addition, knowing the available medical aid benefit options that fit one's pocket is another important way to manage these difficulties and remain covered. Medshield's MediSwift hospital plan, as an example of an affordable benefit option, offers ample hospitalisation cover in case of emergencies, but also provides for active and generally healthy people who might require treatment but whose injuries are not severe enough for a hospital admission. It includes physiotherapy and biokinetics benefits, with two family practitioner visits annually. The MediSwift plan also features an annual Medshield Wellness benefit that provides for the Covid vaccine, flu vaccine and birth control, and tests for cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose and BMI, amongst others.

Individuals must carefully assess their financial situation and healthcare needs before deciding whether to maintain or change their medical aid coverage. You can reduce your day-to-day spending using the Designated Service Provider recommended by your medical scheme. These are providers who have an agreement with the scheme on how much they will charge. You are then unlikely to land a bill from the specialist that charges more than your medical scheme rate. The bottom line is that it is the smart choice if you can afford a basic hospital plan. In addition to access to a private hospital, you will receive cover for 271 life-threatening conditions and 26 chronic illnesses and many preventative care benefits.

Making healthcare affordability recession-proof

While some economists believe healthcare is recession-proof, the data is mixed and complex. The actual relationship between healthcare and economic recession is not clear. What is clear is that, in general, South Africans struggle during a recession and often decide to forego medical treatment that they need due to financial constraints. But it doesn't only rest on the individual to ensure affordability.

In response to a recession, governments and other organisations should increase their support for citizens by expanding the public healthcare system or offering subsidies. Charitable organisations and community groups may also increase their efforts to care for those in need. We should all work together to prioritise healthcare access during economic hardship to ensure everyone can access necessary medical care. Yes, greylisting and a looming recession are our current reality, but we can continue enjoying medical aid benefits with closer management.




I do realise that some global brands - particularly in the car industry - don't do huge business in South Africa and, therefore, without a massive marketing budget, they import most of their advertising material. That awareness, though, doesn't make it any less irritating to see left-hand-drive vehicles on European streets lined by stainless steel and glass buildings, driven by clean, pretty, Europeans.

Its a clear indication of the financial health and market share of brands like Kia and Hyundai that they are spending their marketing budget locally and, in the process, producing some authentic South African advertising.

An ad with legs

Kias Tsamaya TV ad has been around since late last year and is proving it has legsas well as showing the company is committed to maximising return on its ad investment by flighting it often.

What I really like about it is that it was, I have discovered, effectively birthed from a blank sheet brief, which included commissioning composer Zethu Mashika to come up with the campaign anthem. Kia says that In Setswana, Sesotho and Sepedi there are the words kea and ke ya which sound like Kia and which relate to movement and travel.

The anthem is described as having an old-school 80s type vibe and will feel familiar to many. That familiar feel is carried through in the theme of the ad, which encapsulates the joy and freedom of a road trip.

So, we see a diverse group of South Africans  and I do mean diverse, because there is a couple from the LGBTQ community, a brave move by Kia in a conservative society like ours  all heading off on their various journeys in various models of Kia vehicles.

Sense of hope

Under the direction of Matshepo Maja, the little vignettes outline the different travel stories and capture the anticipation, the fun and the freedom perfectly. Of course, this is about more than just people having fun and travelling, this is about the cars which make it all possible. Yet, the presence of the Kias is not overdone and there is no hard sellthey are always in the background, faithful companions and facilitators.

The ad also captures a sense of hope and a sense of optimism  to slightly bend the words of the cheesy poem Desiderata, With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, South Africa is still a beautiful country

Nowhere is that more apparent than when the LGBTQ couple arrive home, clearly worried about the reception they will get from conservative parents and family. There is a disapproving looking father, who disappears briefly, to return with a cake with layers in the rainbow colours of the Gay Pride flag.

Its brave and its touching and, while some might feel offended, my bet would be that Kias young, live and let live target market would appreciate the gesture.

All in all, its a great, brave South African ad, which not only showcases Kias products, but also sees the company giving a resounding thumbs-up to South Africa. And we certainly need that now.

Orchids to Kia and all concerned.

Customer data

Some years ago, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) was one of the hottest marketing buzz-phrases. Cynics like me would say the best form of CRM  and, of course, the cheapest form of advertising because it offers the best return on investment  is good customer service. But the marketing boffins harped on and on about the data and how this could be mined to the benefit of the brand.

Thats why I am constantly surprised about how badly companies in South Africa either look after their customer data or outright abuse it, to the detriment of their brands.

For example, how it is possible to mail shot a customer more than five years after she stopped buying your products and has, indeed, had no contact with you for that period, is beyond me.

Yet, that is what the subscription department geniuses at Independent Media Subscriber Services managed to do this week by sending my sister an Easter weekend reminder that the Saturday Star would not be publishing. sublimely unaware, clearly, that she had cancelled her subscription more than five years ago.

That did little more than make my sister laugh, especially because she struggled on multiple occasions to get her paper delivered and then battled to get refunds for undelivered copies. As an aside, while it is true that print newspapers have been devastated by digital competition, it is also true that they were their own worst enemies by failing to improve their distribution and subscriptions processesand this is a case in point.

I dont know whether the Onion from me will help you repair the hole in your foot from where you shot yourself, Independent Media Subscriber Services
I visited with a distressed friend recently. I feel I dont know enough, he said with a pained expression. I want to understand fully whats happening, but theres so much out there to learn.

My friend is a voracious reader and student of history. Being in communications, hes always been about gathering jigsaw pieces from books, magazines and the Internet, to assemble a bigger picture. He knows enough to have a broad outline of how the world really works, from the local to national to global level, and that alone disturbs him. Hes both heartfelt and smart.

Smart is an interesting word. Ive long found it interesting that its Germanic root references pain.

From Oxford Languages:

SMART Old English smeortan (verb), of West Germanic origin; related to German schmerzen; the adjective is related to the verb, the original sense (late Old English) being causing sharp pain; from this arose keen, brisk, whence the current senses of mentally sharp and neat in a brisk, sharp style.

Being smart can smart. Through the sideways association of pain, sharpness, and mental agility, the word seems like a capsule inversion of that fabled expression, ignorance is bliss.

When I was a girl just setting out on my quest, wrote the journalist and author Barbara Ehrenreich in her memoir Living With a Wild God, I asked myself whether I would want to know the truth even if I was given the foreknowledge that it would only be a bitter disillusionment.

This possibility had been impressed on me at a very young age by a radio drama, long ago, when there were such things in America, with actors and scripts. Four mostly paralyzed veterans occupy a hospital room, where only one can see out the window. He whiles away the hours by describing the outside world to his roommates the comings and goings, the laughing children, the pretty girls-until one of the other men demands that he get a turn in the bed by the window. The switch is made. The new guy gets the window and discovers that what actually lies outside is nothing but a brick wall-no comings and goings, no laughter or sunshine. Would I want to know a truth like that? Courageously, or so I thought at the time, I decided that I would.

At some point in our lives my friend and I tacitly chose to pursue the same path Ehrenreich did, as have millions of others. And although its sometimes is difficult to understand why anyone would take a path in the opposite direction, its actually the easiest thing in the world to decode.

None of us wants to see a brick wall when the curtains are drawn back. Thats entirely natural and human. But some of us are willing to risk that possibility out of curiosity, a desire to know the truth, and sometimes even a sense of justice. Thats also entirely natural and human. The one impulse  to avoid pain  is aversive. The other impulse  to hazard it  is exploratory.

Without the latter, there never would have been Rachel Carsons Silent Spring, Daniel Ellsbergs Pentagon Papers, Julian Assanges WikiLeaks revelations or Aaron Kheriaty and others successful FOIA of Pfizer documents.

A GOD TRAPPED IN THE STOMACH OF A BEAST

Most of us do our best, writes the psychoanalyst Todd Hayen in the essay Ignorance is Bliss for OffGuardian:

The point I am making is that it is instinctual to focus on our position with regard to contentment and happiness in the current moment, where we do have at least a modicum of control. Since, as I said earlier, many of us (and probably everyone reading this) are privy to the real happenings in the world that will have profound effect on our in the moment life at some future point. We are sitting in the tension of awareness that any contentment and peace we now feel is fleeting. Reality will soon hit us hardthe other shoe will soon drop

We each have different nuanced reasons for engaging in this fight, Hayen continues. For some of us it is religious and spiritual, for others it concerns the world we are leaving behind for our children, and for others it is due to our intense belief in freedom, character, and fundamental values as a human being.

Back to my distressed friend. I asked him this: even if you were able on a superhuman level able to absorb enough accurate knowledge to give a complete, crystal clear accounting of the world and its workings, how would you get it to the ones who need to see it the most? And would they follow it openly but critically, all the way through? And assuming theyre convinced, would they act on the information?

(As most of the readers here know, its dispiriting trying to communicate with people whose reflexive position is dont show me that, or dont tell me that. Or who squawk misinformation or disinformation, parroting a mass media they were suspicious and skeptical of only a few short years ago. Most of us have given up on trying.)

I wasnt trying to discourage my friend about digging for the truth, I was trying to encourage him about human limitations. Its impossible for any of us to have an omniscient view of the world and its workings, and we all have our cognitive biases hacking away in the background like neural gremlins. Someone today with true understanding would be like a god, Nietzsche wrote back in the 19th century, but a god trapped in the stomach of a beast.

The last human being said to have an expansive understanding of the world, with a good grasp of multiple, unrelated disciplines  the last real Renaissance person  is said to be the writer Aldous Huxley. He wrote essays on everything from medieval painting to psychopharmacology, and though he died over a half century ago, in his fiction and nonfiction he prophecized the biotechnocratic fascism now at our doorstep.

Huxley was an amazing thinker. But the important point here is that he wasnt a lettered expert in science, medicine, history, political science, or art. He was a generalist. And although knowledge has increased exponentially since his death, and we wont likely see anyone able to range quite as widely as Huxley again, we still need the generalists like my smarting friend every bit as much as we need the specialists (once defined by some wag as someone who knows more and more about less and less).

Recent generalists that come to mind are James Corbett, Whitney Webb, and even media fixtures like Russell Brand and Joe Rogan, whose talent as generalists is to showcase specialists in a compelling and entertaining manner.

LISTENING SUFI STYLE

The American writer Robert Anton Wilson  another brilliant generalist  once had an audience engage in a Sufi listening exercise. He gave out pens and notepads, and asked everyone to sit in silence and listen intently, writing down all the different sounds they could hear (distant traffic outside the auditorium, creaking chairs, fabric rustling as people shifted in their seats, etc.).

When Wilson asked for a show of hands, he found the most sounds heard by any single person came to almost two dozen. Then he asked the audience if anyone had heard anything this fellow had not. Hands shot up, and Wilson added the noted sounds to the list, for a total of over forty. This upshot? This proved, he said, that even the most observant person in the room was aware of only about half of what was really going on.

Wilson demonstrated how awareness is a collective effort. We have to keep paying attention with full consciousness to the moment, not just for ourselves, the red-pilled, but for the blue-pilled, the ones with their hands to their ears. Because hands are dropping. As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. observed, our numbers are growing, but theirs are not.

Most of us struggle to understand, to know, even though the big picture is discouragingly immense in scope, and cognitive biases colour our interpretations. Yet as Einstein once observed, imagination is more important than knowledge. The transhumanists and their backers are hammering together a vast, open-air Skinner box for us all, and it will take great imagination to think  and act  outside of it.

HUBRIS AND OVERREACH

Yes, it looks very dark, but it looked very dark in the last century, too. In the 1940s, millions of Europeans genuinely feared their democratic civilization was coming to an end. And it very likely would have, had not Hitler made the insane decision to invade the Soviet Union. And this is very often the way that authoritarian regimes collapse  through hubris and overreach.

One of Einsteins contemporaries, Charlie Chaplin, released one of his most memorable films in that dark hour. In the final speech from the 1940 film The Great Dictator, the reluctant leader confesses:

We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost

Theres an echo in Chaplins words in the more recent quote below from Alex Krainer. I believe this the best piece of advice to convey to my smarting friend and the curious reader.

Do not allow yourself to be discouraged by fear and despair that the media shovels our way 24/7. We are witnessing the manifestations of old systems collapsing. And while some of those manifestations appear fearsome, do keep in mind Confucius counsel: A seed grows with no sound. But a tree falls with huge noise. Destruction has noise but creation is quiet. This is the power of silencegrow silently. Destruction is all around us, creating great noise, but you carry a seed that grows silently within. Be mindful of it and shield it from anxiety as you would shield your child. Things that emerge from seeds are worthy of our reverence. If we cultivate them with attention and love, they can grow beautiful and majestic. As Dostoevsky said, beauty will save the world. That beauty is us  you and I  our children, our parents, our friends, all of us. We cant see what all these seeds will become, but it should be easy to believe  natures creations are always so beautiful. And be sure to turn your love inward as well as outward.

Geoff Olson is an award-winning journalist and cartoonist whose writings and cartoons have appeared in The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Adbusters, Common Ground, This Magazine, Macleans and newspapers across Canada. For three decades Olson was a weekly columnist for The Vancouver Courier, and has supplied commentary to both CBC Radio, CBC NewsWorld and Roundhouse Radio. His work has been reproduced in journals and textbooks across the globe, and has given lectures on journalism at Langara College, Simon Fraser University. In the eighties he taught astronomy at the Gordon Southam Observatory and in the Vancouver School System. You can read more his work through his SubStack.
In recent months, the Pentagon has moved to provide loans, guarantees, and other financial instruments to technology companies it considers crucial to national security  a step beyond the grants and contracts it normally employs. So when Silicon Valley Bank threatened to fail in March following a bank run, the defense agency advocated for government intervention to insure the investments. The Pentagon had even scrambled to prepare multiple plans to get cash to affected companies if necessary, reporting by Defense One revealed. Their interest in Silicon Valley Bank stems from the Pentagons brand-new office, the Office of Strategic Capital. According to the Wall Street Journal, the secretary of defense established the OSC in December specifically to counteract the investment power of adversaries like China in U.S. technologies, and to secure separate funding for companies whose products are considered vital to national security. It enjoys special authority to use loans and guarantees not normally available to the Defense Department to attract private investment in technology. The full extent of OSCs authorities has not yet been determined, as its charter is still being drafted, an OSC official not authorized to speak publicly told The Intercept. OSCs website identifies its mission as twofold: first, identifying critical technology areas, and second, funding those investments using investment tools. These financial tools are new to the Department and will be complementary to ongoing technology innovation efforts, the agencys mission states. OSC is so new that it does not yet have its own budget, but President Joe Biden recently requested $115 million in funding.

According to Defense One, the Pentagon worried about supply chain disruption and startups needing to stop work. But although SVBs clients included tech startups, The Intercept was not able to identify specific Pentagon contractors whose viability might have been at risk. Major defense contractors like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing gave no public indication that they had any cash in SVB. Instead, it appears the Defense Department wanted to ensure that the entire venture capital system did not suffer a blow. It was an opportunity to really get serious about growing that connective tissue between the national security enterprise and the commercial capital markets  and show that were good and sophisticated partners, said Michael Madsen, acting director of the Pentagons Defense Innovation Unit, at a Reagan Institute event, as noted by Defense One. SVB provided a mechanism where you dont need to go find investors, you can work with an institution like Silicon Valley Bank to finance that transition from prototyping to production, Joe Laurienti, the founder of a rocket engine company who spoke at the Reagan Institute event, also said. I think this is a huge opportunity for DoD and the federal government to find new forms, new mechanisms for financing that bridge. I know of no precedent for DoD to invest in the financial system itself or to bail out financial institutions in any way, Gordon Adams, a former associate director for national security programs at the Office of Management and Budget and professor emeritus at American University, told The Intercept. The national security argument for bailout, notably, found an influential friend in the Senate. As the Biden administration intervened to protect Silicon Valley Bank depositors on March 12, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who chairs the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee and also sits on the Banking Committee, issued a press release warning that the bank run posed a national security risk. After an unprecedented and reckless run on Silicon Valley Bank, there were very real risks of instability spreading to other institutions and undermining our national security and technology innovation system, the statement said. Warner  the only member of Congress to have publicly tied SVB to national security  has received significant contributions from the financial sector, including maxed out donations from SVBs super PAC. When our financial system is under assault, that is a national security issue, Warner told The Intercept, adding that he also had concerns about deepfakes: doctored videos purporting to be real videos of real people. If you see adversaries potentially being able to use, and Im not suggesting this, Im going to ask this question, but Ive been worried about deepfakes in the system for awhile, he said. It was not clear how deepfakes related to SVB; when asked to clarify, Valeria Rivadeneira, a spokesperson for Warner, did not respond. But deepfakes are often used as a stand-in for the possible threat posed by artificial intelligence and disinformation.

In 2018, Mark Warner led 16 other Democratic senators in joining with Republicans to revoke key parts of the Dodd-Frank Act, legislation put in place after the 2008 financial crash to regulate banks out of risky lending practices. Warner helped write the original Dodd-Frank Act and describes himself as one of its key authors, saying last month that his yes vote put in place an appropriate level of regulation on midsize banks.

Senators who supported the revisions to Dodd-Frank claimed in recent days that they dont have enough information to reach a determination about whether the 2018 rollback had an effect on Silicon Valley Banks collapse. The Intercept asked Warner whether his vote had any impact. The question that I have for you, though, he said, is, you tell me what regulatory system can get rid of 25 cents on every dollar, he said in reference to the amount of SVBs bank run, where 25 percent of their deposits were withdrawn in a day.

In 2022, Mark Warner was the only senator to receive a campaign donation from Silicon Valley Banks super PAC.

Since 2012, Warner has received over $21,000 from Silicon Valley Banks super PAC, and in 2022 was the only senator to receive a campaign donation from the PAC. His net worth has hovered around $200 million, with tens of millions in mutual funds, government bonds, and equity stakes making up huge parts of his portfolio. Before his career as a senator, Warner founded the investment fund Columbia Capital with the earnings he made flipping Federal Communications Commission telecom licenses in the mid 1980s. Warner is a major recipient of campaign contributions from the very banks hes invested in, with the securities & investment listed as his top industry donor, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. Warner has had a cozy relationship with both Silicon Valley startups and some of the largest venture capitalist players in the country. In 2019, he invited a dozen firm leaders and the president of the National Venture Capital Association into a Senate SCIF (a sensitive compartmented information facility, designed for handling classified materials) to discuss competition with China. The day after Warners statement, on March 13, the Pentagons OSC reportedly sent out an internal email saying that it was assessing impacts to national security posed by the collapse of SVB.

The defense budget is already bloated, without having to additionally ensure the financial health of the investment economy.
Illustration by Gretchen Selke 00 of the two House representatives penalized for protesting gun violence: Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson 17

Jack Andrews 25, another student in the class, also appreciated hearing about Pearson's involvement in Memphis, especially about his victorious work to halt the construction of a pipeline that would have cut through a Black neighborhood. "It was inspiring to see that their efforts prevailed," Andrews said. "I think his enthusiasm and dedication really resonated with a lot of people in class, including myself."

At Bowdoin, Pearson majored in government and legal studies and education, and was active with BSG throughout his time at the College. Most people at Bowdoin assumed he would enter politics one day.

"The thing that struck me about him, in addition to his intelligence, was his earnestness and sincerity," Associate Professor of Government Jeffrey Selinger said. "Students can opt to take a deeply cynical approach to politics, and he steadfastly resisted or opposed that approach."

Pearson's realistic optimism, rooted in his study of politics and history, was "a winning formula," Selinger said, and he and other faculty encouraged him to pursue politics. "Being all doom and gloom does not help a candidacy. But being a person who has a grounded optimism, in addition to intelligence and eloquence, means that people take well to him."

Others at Bowdoin reminisced about how kind Pearson always was, how he would go out of his way to make thoughtful gestures.

Director of Student Accessibility Lesley Levy, who was Pearson's upperclass dean at the time, remembered that he would occasionally swing by the student affairs office for a friendly visit. "There aren't a lot of students who stop by to say 'hi' to the deans!" Levy said. "He was so engaged on the campus level, and was always seeking to make connections with people."

Lisa Rendall, director of residential and housing operations, recalled that Pearson was "always aware and appreciative of the work employees did to make Bowdoin a special place he called home for four years."

Brennan, too, remarked that "hes singularly genuine and kind," and remains invested in the relationships he made as a student. "Every time I talk with him about his travels back to Bowdoin, hes always combining it with a visit to the church community he formed [at First Parish Church in Brunswick] and to the retirement home where his host mother at Bowdoin now lives."

Some also interpret another memorable quality that Pearson had as a studentthat he was always immaculately dressed, rarely not in a suit and tieas yet another way he showed his appreciation and respect for Bowdoin.

"Wearing a suit is in keeping with his optimistic outlook," Selinger said. "It was almost as if to say that his place at Bowdoin and what we do here is very important, that it is a gift and we should take it seriously."

Pearson applied the same care with his dress to his public voice. As a senior, he scheduled regular appointments with Director of Writing and Rhetoric Meredith McCarroll to discuss and write about current events, as a way "to polish" how he communicated about the world around him, she said.

The two would talk about news articles, "seeking deeper understanding and connections through our discussions. I was simply someone who sat with him, asked him questions, and encouraged him to use his voice," she added.

Working toward self-improvement was an essential part of his character, said Director of Residential Life Whitney Hogan. "Justin was always endeavoring to be the best person he could be," she said. "He took himself and his work seriously, but in a way that brought people into his orbit. He had a strong moral compass as a student and always made decisions based on his values."

And he never lost sight of the connection between self-improvement and working to improve a community, especially his beloved home of Memphis. McKeen Center Director Sarah Seames had frequent interactions with Pearson during his time as a Bowdoin student.

"One of my strongest takeaways of Justin as a student," she said, "was that he was always thinking about Memphis and home when he was here."
A vegetable processing and packaging business paid a Sunday allowance of 5 cent per hour to a minimum-wage worker who was regularly required to work 15-hour days.

At the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Adjudicator Catherine Byrne ordered Monaghan-based vegetable processing firm, Sillis Green Veg Ltd to pay Ms Aldona Pileckiene 15,000 compensation for two breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act and one breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act.

Ms Byrne has found that Ms Pileckienes working conditions relating to Sunday work and her excessively long working hours resulted in serious contraventions of the OWT Act.

On behalf of Ms Pileckiene, Joe Smith BL, instructed by Elena Gray of Barry Healy & Co Solicitors, told the WRC hearing that Ms Pileckiene started work at 4am and sometimes 3am, and was required to work until finished, meaning she regularly worked 13, 14 or 15 hours a day.

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In evidence, Lithuanian national Ms Pileckiene said a busy week could see her working 65, 66 or 67 hours, and the longest she ever worked was 75 hours in a week. She added she sometimes worked 17 or 18 hours a day.

In her ruling, Ms Byrne ordered Sillis Green Veg to pay Ms Pileckiene 10,000 over its failure to prevent her from working in excess of 48 hours a week.

Ms Byrne said it was most disturbing that Ms Pileckiene persistently asked not to be rostered for such long hours.

Ms Byrne stated Ms Pileckiene - who worked for the firm from 2013 to March 2020 - had family responsibilities and was suffering from a hernia.

"Not surprisingly, her illness and her long hours at work were making her feel depressed," she added.

Ms Byrne pointed out that all the hours were paid at the minimum rate of 10.10, apart from the 5 cent allowance per hour on Sundays, with no overtime premium.

Ms Byrne said no evidence was given of any action taken by the employer to ensure that the health of employees was not put at risk due to long hours.

Sunday allowance

The business employs 58 people, the majority of whom are from abroad, and the WRC heard Ms Pileckienes job was to clean vegetables.

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In response to the firms failure to pay a reasonable Sunday allowance, Ms Byrne directed Sillis Green Veg to pay Ms Pileckiene 2,000.

Payroll Manager with the firm, Mairead Flanagan told the hearing that to compensate for working on Sundays, employees receive an additional five cents per hour.

Under cross-examination from Mr Smith, Ms Flanagan described the Sunday premium of 5 cents per hour as not as fair as it could be.

In relation to Ms Pileckienes claim of being penalised under the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act, Mr Smith stated that when Ms Pileckiene advised her managers that she had a hernia and she was depressed, she was told that she had to continue to work.

In her findings on this aspect of her claim, Ms Byrne ordered the firm to pay Ms Pileckiene 3,000 after finding she was penalised when she was intimidated into continuing to work excessively long hours.

Ms Byrne stated Ms Pileckiene was not dismissed or threatened with dismissal, but was told that she could leave if she did not accept the long hours she was required to work.

She stated the failure to give any consideration to Ms Pileckienes request to work 40 hours a week, and being told where the door is, seems to me to meet the definition of intimidation as intended by the Health & Safety Act.

Ireland Mayo town buzzing ahead of Biden visit, says rel... Read More

Ms Byrne said Ms Pileckiene was attempting to exert her entitlement to safer working conditions.

It is not an easy decision for a foreign national in a rural town to move jobs and the effect of telling her that she could leave if she wasnt happy was effectively telling her that she had very little choice but to keep working.

She did not contemplate simply going home after working eight hours, but, at a risk to her health and welfare, she continued to work up to 15 hours a day.

At hearing, the firm stated Ms Pileckiene never made a complaint under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, and if a complaint had been made, the firm would have investigated it immediately and thoroughly.
US president Joe Biden has said he will use his visit to Ireland to keep the peace, as he left the US for his four-day trip.

Mr Biden invoked the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the recently negotiated Windsor Framework as he prepared to set off for the North.

Mr Biden will arrive later on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden will travel to the Republic on Wednesday, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Louth and Mayo  from where his ancestors hail.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

Speaking to reporters before his departure, Mr Biden said his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

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Thats the main thing, he said.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening.

The two leaders will hold a meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak will meet US president Joe Biden when he arrives in Northern Ireland. Photo: Leon Neal/PA.

It is expected that Mr Biden will also hold a meeting with the Norths main political parties before his talk at Ulster University.

The visit comes as the Stormont Assembly is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from Britain being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

President Michael D Higgins is expected to meet US president Joe Biden in Dublin. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

After he leaves Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the Border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The US president has traced his ancestral roots to the area, and will tour Carlingford Castle before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

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The White House said Mr Biden will take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at Aras an Uachtarain.

Following that ceremony, he will meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom the US president hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Oireachtas and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

Ireland Explained: The full itinerary for Joe Biden's visi... Read More

His trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
Former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair has described Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland as significant as the US president is due to arrive on Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The ex-Labour leader spoke of the importance of using the American influence on the process with care and with sensitivity adding theres a difference between influencing and pressurising and the one tends to be positive and the other can be negative.

Mr Biden is expected to meet members of Stormonts main political parties as part of a visit he said will underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in Northern Ireland.

Former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair with former US president Bill Clinton (Johnny Green/PA)

Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Well, it is significant. Youve got to use the American influence on the process with care and with sensitivity.

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I obviously had a very close relationship with President Clinton outside of the peace process, but I found him immensely helpful.

He would immediately understand strategically what was important and what wasnt and the Americans can play an important part of this, but youve just got to be, youve got to insert them at the right moment and in the right place.

He added: I dont know what the up-to-date situation is with President Biden and our Prime Minister now, but for me at that time and actually also afterwards with President Bush who came to Northern Ireland and was actually extremely helpful at a crucial moment in the peace process.

The Americans can play a real role but its something that you need to do carefully because theres a difference between influencing and pressurising and the one tends to be positive and the other can be negative.

He went on: One thing I learned about the unionist is if you try and pressurise them to do something that theyre fundamentally in disagreement with, its usually futile pressure, even if it comes from the US, so youve got to use that influence carefully.

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The Good Friday Agreement negotiations he said were a rollercoaster, but characterised by an overwhelming sense of desire to succeed.

He said: It was an exhausting three days or more and the most intense negotiation Ive ever been involved in and my deepest recollection was just the rollercoaster of it because sometimes it looked like the deal was on and sometimes it looked like it was off and then it only really came together literally in the moments before we announced it 

There was this overwhelming sense of desire to succeed because had we failed, it would have been a very humiliating and public failure.

He added: We dont have the executive up and running at the moment, we want that and the agreement should be reviewed over time.

The only thing is, if youre going to review it, whatever comes out of the review will only work if it brings the communities together.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic.
President Joe Biden's visit to the island of Ireland starts on Tuesday, making him the eighth US president to visit Ireland.

Mr Biden is visiting to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, with the trip set to take in Belfast, Dublin, Mayo and Louth.

The 45th US president's family ancestry can be traced back to Ballina, Co Mayo, and the Cooley Peninsula, Co Louth.

Here, we take a look at the itinerary for his visit.

Tuesday, April 11th

Mr Biden is expected to arrive in Belfast late in the evening. He will be greeted by UK prime minister Rishi Sunak. He will stay the night at an undisclosed location in the North, reportedly a Belfast city centre hotel, with some suggesting the Grand Central Hotel on Bedford Street.

Wednesday, April 12th

Mr Biden will hold a bilateral meeting with Mr Sunak on Wednesday morning.

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The meeting is expected to take place at the Belfast city centre hotel hosting the US president.

He will then travel to Ulster University, where he will deliver a speech at the university's newly opened campus.

Vice-chancellor and president of Ulster University Professor Paul Bartholomew said it would be a significant day for the institution.

We are looking forward to what will be a very special day in the Universitys history, and to hosting President Biden on his first visit to Northern Ireland since becoming president, he said.

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.

After his speech at Ulster University, Mr Biden will travel to Co Louth, where his great-grandfather James Finnegan was born.

In Louth, Mr Biden will first head to the Cooley Peninsula to visit Carlingford. He has a number of distant relatives here, and he visited Lily Finnegans pub when in Ireland as vice president in 2016.

Mr Biden spoke fondly of the pub afterwards, but it is unclear whether another stop here will be included.

He is expected to visit Carlingford Castle, a Norman castle that was built circa 1190.

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Mr Biden will then visit Dundalk for a walkabout of the town centre.

In a statement, Louth County Council said: "There is expected to be high security in operation and people are being advised not to carry bags of any sort, as is normal in such circumstances. Residents and visitors are very welcome to attend and celebrate the historic occasion of a US President coming back to visit his ancestral county."

Councillor Conor Keelan, Cathaoirleach, Louth County Council said: We are delighted that Joe Biden is visiting Louth, this time as President of the United States. I expect that he will receive a very warm welcome once more in Carlingford and then in Dundalk, where I have no doubt that we will see a great crowd in the town centre tomorrow afternoon to mark the historic visit.

After his visit in 2016, Mr Biden was awarded the Freedom of Co Louth. He remains the only individual to hold this honour.

Mr Biden will then return to Dublin, where he will stay overnight.

Thursday, April 13th

At a White House press briefing, national security council co-ordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said Mr Biden will meet President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, whom the president just hosted here for St Patricks Day.

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In both meetings, the president will discuss our close cooperation on the full range of shared global challenges."

US president Joe Biden with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on St Patrick's Day. Photo: Getty Images

After his meeting with President Higgins, Mr Biden will become the fourth US president to address the Oireachtas.

He follows John F Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995.

On Thursday evening, Mr Biden will attend a banquet dinner in Dublin Castle.

Friday, April 14th

Mr Biden will fly into Ireland West Airport to spend the final day of his visit in Co Mayo.

He will visit the Knock Shrine and the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit before going on to Ballina.

He will finish his visit with a speech 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.

Gates will open at 5.30pm and the programme begins at 7pm. This is a free public event and entrance will be on a first come, first served basis.

The time for Mr Biden's speech is not confirmed, but it could be as late as 9pm.

You can register to attend here Tinyurl.com/biden-ballina.

After the speech, Mr Biden will travel to Dublin Airport to fly back to the United States.
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 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 Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities, he said.

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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.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden (Niall Carson/PA)

He will tour Carlingford Castle on Wednesday before spending the night in Dublin, 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 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.

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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.

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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.
People Before Profit is to boycott a historic speech by US president Joe Biden to the Dail this week over objections to his foreign policy.

The partys four TDs  Richard Boyd Barrett, Brid Smith, Gino Kenny and Paul Murphy  will stage a protest against the visit.

People Before Profit said the move was due to Mr Bidens record on Palestine, Iraq, and Nato expansion  as well as the absence of opportunity for Dail parties to ask questions.

It will hold a protest outside the GPO in Dublin on Wednesday.

Mr Boyd Barrett said: Joe Biden needs to be forcefully challenged over his long-standing and unconditional support for the apartheid regime in Israel and its brutal and criminal treatment of Palestinians; his pivotal role in promoting the US invasion and occupation of Iraq; his active promotion of Nato expansion and the ongoing and blatant double-standards of US foreign policy globally.

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People Before Profit said it would attend the special Dail sitting if there were an opportunity for all Dail parties and groupings to make statements or ask questions after the presidents speech, but with that opportunity not being offered, the event was a pointless charade and propaganda exercise for the US president.

The party said: The Irish government are allowing President Biden to use the Dail as a political soapbox and as part of their ongoing campaign to further undermine Irelands neutrality and draw Ireland closer to Nato and US foreign policy.

Mr Boyd Barrett added: The Irish Government are trying to present Joe Biden as some sort of great peacemaker when he is very much the opposite.

He said: Tragically, the Irish Government are also using the Ukraine crisis as an opportunity to further undermine Irish neutrality and there is no doubt the decision to roll out the red carpet for Biden and insulate him from any critical questioning in the Dail is part of that campaign to draw us ever closer to Nato.

Given the Governments plan to shield Joe Biden from any criticism or questioning in the Dail, we urge those who wish to protect Irelands neutrality, who oppose war and militarism, and who want to see justice and self-determination for oppressed peoples such as the Palestinians, to join the protest against Bidens policies on April 12th at 5pm at the GPO.
Air Force One, carrying US president Joe Biden, has landed in Belfast.

The aircraft landed at the RAF Aldergrove airbase, which is adjoined to Belfast International Airport.

He was greeted off the aircraft by British prime minister Rishi Sunak.

Mr Biden and Mr Sunak left the runway in separate cars, with the US president departing with a large motorcade.

Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris was among the welcoming party, in addition to the personal representative of to Britain's King Charles for Co Antrim, Lord-Lieutenant David McCorkell.

The US president is due to speak at Ulster University and meet with politicians from the North before travelling to the Republic on Wednesday.

His four-day stay in the Republic will involve engagements across Louth, Dublin and Mayo, including meeting with President Michael D Higgins and giving an address before the Oireachtas.

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His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

Joe Biden arrives on Air Force One at RAF Aldergrove (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA)

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from Britain being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden will attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit President Michael D Higgins on Thursday. Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and will address the Oireachtas and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

US president Joe Biden being greeted off Air Force One in Belfast. Photo: Getty Images

Earlier, a White House spokesperson said Mr Biden has been "very excited" about his visit to Ireland "for quiet some time".

The visit was planned to coincide with the 25th of the Good Friday Agreement. Ahead of his visit, Mr Biden said the top priority of his visit to Ireland is to keep the peace.

Asked at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on his departure about his top priority for the trip, Mr Biden said: Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place, to keep the peace. Thats the - thats the main thing. And it looks like were going to - keep your fingers crossed.

Mr Biden has often spoken of his Irish heritage, tracing his roots back to Louth and Mayo.
The visit of Joe Biden to Mayo, the tragedy which claimed the life of a teenager in Laois and a women who is a victim of coerecive control is among the headlines in today's regional papers.

The Nationalist leads with the chilling story of a women in Carlow who has spoken about her family's expereince of being harrassed by a loved one's former partner for the past year.

The front page of the Western People is a picture of US President Joe Biden as preperations continue for his highly anticipated visit to Ballina on Friday.

The Roscommon Herald claim masked thieves are linked to recent burglaries in Ballingare, while the paper also lead with a photo of Roscommon's victory over Mayo on Sunday.

Ireland Critical incident response in place at Galway scho... Read More

The Laois Nationalist leads with tributes to 15-year-old David Brow, who died after a quad bike accident on Sunday.

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The Kildare Nationalist leads with plans for one of the county's eyesores, the Donnelly Mirrors site, has been levelled after 16 years of dereliction.
The deaths of two teenagers in a car crash in Co Galway dominate Tuesday's newspaper front pages.

The Irish Times carries a story on the tragic accident, along with a lead story on criticism of the treatment of child asylum seekers.

The Irish Examiner leads with a story on 14,500 people being left without A&E treatment in January and February.

The Irish Independent leads with a story on private nursing homes receiving millions in Covid supports, while the tragic accident in Galway is also covered on the front page.

The Echo leads wit the personal story of a carer in Cork who contacted the newspaper.

The Irish Daily Star, Irish Sun and The Herald lead with stories on the Co Galway crash.

Tuesday's front page pic.twitter.com/ia5j0peaWJ Advertisement  Irish Daily Star (@isfearranstar) April 11, 2023

Today's front page of The Irish Sun pic.twitter.com/3xJbNZlNi4  The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) April 11, 2023

Teachers are looking for a pay rise to address the rising cost of living, the Irish Daily Mail reports.

Don't miss your fantastic Good Health supplement every Tuesday in the Irish Daily Mail. pic.twitter.com/S3VgyYmABN  The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) April 11, 2023

In the North, the Joe Biden visit makes the front pages of the Belfast Telegraph and The Irish News.

The latest NHS strikes dominate Tuesdays UK newspaper front pages with the majority of titles focusing on the impact.

Junior doctors are beginning a four-day strike and many of the headlines concentrate on how long the disruption will last and warnings to patients.

The Guardian has a bleak prognosis, saying the doctors could continue striking until the next general election without a credible offer to increase wages.

Guardian front page, Tuesday 11 April 2023: Junior doctor strikes could run until general election pic.twitter.com/jQahCU1F1K Advertisement  The Guardian (@guardian) April 10, 2023

The Times diagnosis is slightly healthier, even though it predicts a month of disruption with health leaders urging people to avoid risky behaviour.

The Times: NHS strike will cause a month of disruption #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/CPSe5vzaZt  George Mann  (@sgfmann) April 10, 2023

Thousands more patients will miss treatment than expected, according the the i, which says up to 350,000 operations and appointments will be cancelled.

Tuesday's front page: Thousands more patients than expected won't be treated due to doctors' strike#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/3yqQ3l5VlL  i newspaper (@theipaper) April 10, 2023

There is a similar theme in Metro which asks simply: Is there a doctor in the house?

The Daily Mirror focuses on what the doctors are fighting for as it reports on the poor pay of junior medics.

Tuesday's front page: We save lives for 14 an hour #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/L2XigbIhGI  The Mirror (@DailyMirror) April 10, 2023

There is a warning from the Daily Express which urges people not to get ill during what it labels a catastrophic walkout.

Daily Express: DONT GET ILL! DOCTORS STRIKE Going to Hurt #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/B8Dtuq068D Advertisement  George Mann  (@sgfmann) April 10, 2023

And The Independent digital front page focuses on what it calls the real cost of the strike, with a list of delayed and cancelled treatments for a leaked NHS report.

Independent digital front page: The real cost of the strike by junior doctors #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/lK02AdEFTV  George Mann  (@sgfmann) April 10, 2023

The strike also makes the front of The Daily Telegraph, but it leads on the visit of US president Joe Biden to Northern Ireland, saying he will push for all sides to unite and break the powersharing deadlock at Stormont.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Biden will push to unite all Stormont parties'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/LjZQkSSy9z  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 10, 2023

The Sun looks elsewhere for its front page, reporting on an ITV documentary which it says reveals the Queen wanted both William and Harry to see military service in Afghanistan.

The Sun: Queen - Send Wills & Harry to war #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/EsdBQuv78Z  George Mann  (@sgfmann) April 10, 2023

Migrants dominate the front of the Daily Mail, which says 19 terror suspects have arrived in Britain by crossing the Channel.

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Daily Mail: 19 terror suspects among channel arrivals #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/QSAT7GFnV0  George Mann  (@sgfmann) April 10, 2023

The Financial Times focuses on the success of company flotations after a change of rules for Chinese listings.

FT: Ireland trip - Biden trusts in lasting peace #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/gmQTVi6lyX  George Mann  (@sgfmann) April 10, 2023

And the Daily Star looks at drugs labs on lengthy space missions to save the lives of astronauts.
US president Joe Biden has spoken to the parents of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich  nearly two weeks after the Moscow-based journalist was detained in Russia and charged with espionage.

Mr Biden made the call on Tuesday as he flew to Belfast to start a four-day trip to Ireland.

The call happened a day after Mr Bidens administration formally declared the reporter has been wrongfully detained.

The designation elevates Mr Gershkovichs case for the US government and means a particular State Department office will take the lead on seeking his release.

US President Joe Biden (PA)

Before departing Washington on Tuesday, Mr Biden again condemned the journalists detention.

Both the US government and Wall Street Journal have vehemently denied the Russian accusation that Mr Gershkovich is a spy.

Were making it real clear that its totally illegal whats happening, and we declared it so, Mr Biden said.

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It changes the dynamic.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters after the call that Mr Biden felt it was really important to connect with Evans family, his parents.

She said Mr Gershkovich (31) has been top of mind for the president.

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

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the Russian government has yet to grant US consular access to Mr Gershkovich.

Its not for lack of trying, Mr Kirby said, adding that the State Department has been seeking access ever since the moment we found out that he was detained.

Russian authorities arrested Mr Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg, Russias fourth-largest city, on March 29th.

He is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying.
Scotlands first minister has said he would very imminently confirm if he will launch a legal battle with the British government after it blocked a Bill backed by MSPs which would have made it easier to change gender.

Humza Yousaf, who took over as leader of the SNP less than a month ago, said on Tuesday that while he was considering legal advice, he had made it clear in his campaign to become first minister the block was a undemocratic veto over legislation that was passed by a majority of the Scottish Parliament.

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill sparked controversy when it was passed by the MSPs in December.

The Bill was blocked by Scotland Secretary Alister Jack in January, who used Section 35 of the Scotland Act to stop it becoming law, after the MP said he was concerned that this legislation would have an adverse impact on the operation of Great Britain-wide equalities legislation.

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Demonstrators take part in the Let Women Speak rally organised by the group Standing for Women in George Square, Glasgow. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA.

The deadline for the first minister to launch a legal challenge against the decision is approaching and, on Tuesday, when asked if he would confirm he would launch of the appeal, Mr Yousaf said he would confirm very imminently.

I made it clear during the election contest that my first principle was to challenge what I consider to be an undemocratic veto over legislation that was passed by a majority of the Scottish Parliament, he said.

And theres a range of views over the GRR Bill, but actually almost regardless of what the Bill is, the fact that a Section 35 order has been used is something that I think is unacceptable in this circumstance.

People take part in a demonstration for trans rights outside the UK government Office at Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA.

So Ill make that decision known very, very soon.

World Police divers return to river where Nicola Bulley... Read More

Im considering, as youd imagine with any court case or any potential court case, the legal advice.

I cant go into the detail of that legal advice, as youd imagine. And as I say, Ill make a decision on very imminently.

The deadline for the lodging of a judicial review into the use of Section 35 falls in the middle of April, shortly after the Scottish Parliament returns from its Easter recess.
Israels national Holocaust memorial has criticised a new agreement renewing Israeli school trips to Poland, saying it recommends a number of problematic sites that distort history.

Yad Vashem issued its statement weeks after Israel and Poland announced a breakthrough agreement meant to repair ties that had been badly damaged due to disagreements over how to remember Polish behaviour during the Holocaust.

Israeli youth trips to Poland had been one of the key points of contention.

The March 22 agreement, which still needs to be ratified by both countries parliaments, stresses the importance of youth education and the need to tell the full story of the dark times of the Holocaust and the Second World War.

The contents of the agreement were first reported by the liberal daily Haaretz.

A Polish soldier visits the Museum Of Cursed Soldiers And Political Prisoners Of The Polish Peoples Republic in Warsaw (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

It also calls for visits to sites commemorating the Holocaust and other crimes of the Second World War, including sites of special importance to each countrys history.

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Student groups are required to visit at least one site on a long list of museums and memorials recommended by the other government.

In its statement, Yad Vashem said the trips must maintain complete historical accuracy, including the role of Poles in the persecution, handing in and murder of Jews during the Holocaust, as well as in acts of rescue.

It said the list of authorised sites in Poland had been compiled without its input and includes problematic sites that should not be visited in an educational context.

The list includes dozens of sites, including art galleries, royal palaces and Jewish history museums that already are popular destinations for Jewish visitors.

Polands Foreign Ministry said the two nations have come to an agreement that it is good for young people to learn about all aspects of Jewish, Israeli and Polish history, not limited to the Holocaust.

Jewish people visit the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp after the March Of The Living annual observance in Oswiecim, Poland on April 28 2022 (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

Yad Vashem did not say which sites it considers problematic but the list includes the Ulma Family Museum, a site that tells the story of a Polish family that rescued Jews during the Holocaust.

The museum has been criticised for portraying the family, which was murdered along with the Jews they sheltered, as representative of mainstream Poles at the time, instead of a small minority who risked their lives.

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Another museum commemorates Polands so-called cursed soldiers, anti-communist resistance fighters, some of whom collaborated with the Nazis and killed Jews towards the end of the war and after the war as they tried to prevent the imposition of communist rule.

Israels Foreign Ministry played down the controversy.

It said the list had been approved by Israels Education Ministry and included dozens of choices, including the popular Polin museum, which presents the history of Polish Jewry.

The inclusion of more controversial sites that are unlikely to be visited might be rooted more in Polish politics than international education.

Polands nationalist government can point to the list as it appeals to its political base ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn.

Poland has been one of Israels closest allies in Europe.

For years, young Israelis made pilgrimages to Auschwitz and other Holocaust and historic Jewish sites (The Church of Scotland/PA)

But in recent years, relations have deteriorated due to disagreements over how to remember Polish involvement in the killing of Jews by German forces during the Second World War.

Nazi Germany occupied Poland in 1939 and killed millions of Jews and non-Jews.

Unlike other countries occupied by Germany, there was no collaborationist government in Poland.

While some Poles risked their lives to save Jews, others helped the Germans hunt down and kill them.

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Polands governing nationalists have sought to depict Polish crimes as a marginal phenomenon and focus almost exclusively on remembering the Polish heroes who helped Jews.

Historians, Israeli authorities and Jewish survivors who suffered persecution at Polish hands before, during and after the war have condemned the nationalist position and accuse the government of seeking to whitewash history.

For years, young Israelis made pilgrimages to Auschwitz and other Holocaust and historic Jewish sites.

But Israel cancelled the trips last year, claiming the Polish government was trying to control the Holocaust-studies curriculum taught to Israeli children.

In its lead editorial on Tuesday, Haaretz said the agreement comes at a heavy cost to Israel and accused the government of cheapening the memory of the Holocaust in the name of diplomatic expediency.

Noting that Israel marks its annual Holocaust memorial day next week, it said: We must also not forget who the people are who agreed to sell out Holocaust remembrance.
Italys right-wing government has declared a six-month national state of emergency to help it cope with a surge in migrants arriving on the countrys southern shores, state TV said.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and her Cabinet approved imposing the emergency status to deal with the migrant influx, state TV said, adding that a special commissioner was expected to be named.

Initial funding of 5 million was also approved as part of the measure.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP)

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Italys governing coalitions also imposed a state of emergency, enabling the Cabinet to mandate many coping measures by decree, temporarily bypassing the usually long parliamentary process for funding and regulations.

Lets be clear, this doesnt resolve the problem, whose solution is tied to a mindful and responsible intervention of the European Union, Italy's civil protection and sea policies minister Nello Musumeci was quoted as saying by the Italian news agency ANSA.

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Largely unsuccessfully, Ms Melonis government, like several others before, has pressed for more solidarity from fellow EU countries, which often fail to make good on pledges to accept some of the asylum seekers hoping to find relatives or work in northern Europe.

Since the start of this year, some 31,000 migrants, either rescued by Italian military boats or charity ships or reaching Italy without assistance, have disembarked, according to Interior Ministry figures. That is nearly four times the roughly 8,000 for the same period in each of the two previous years.

The arrivals of migrants, who set out in unseaworthy vessels launched by smugglers from northern African shores, seem destined to swell.

The Diciotti Italian Coast Guard vessel enters the port of Reggio Calabria (Valeria Ferraro/AP)

Early on Wednesday, a smugglers boat, crowded with some 700 passengers, was expected to pull into the port of Catania, a major city in eastern Sicily.

Italian coast guard boats had been escorting the distressed fishing vessel toward shore when a breakdown forced it to need towing, slowing its advance.

The coast guard had already transferred some 100 of the passengers when rough seas made that operation too risky, and the decision was taken to leave the rest of the migrants aboard until the vessel could reach port.

On one recent day alone, 26 migrant boats, many of them without needing rescue, reached the Lampedusa, a tiny Italian island south of Sicily.

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The facility on Lampedusa which shelters migrants so they can be provisionally identified as a first step toward any asylum application, was reeling under the relentless stream of arrivals.

The shelter is meant to accommodate about 350-400 people, but in recent days, there were 3,000. Italy chartered empty commercial ferries to transfer hundreds of them to Sicily or the mainland.

On Tuesday, some 1,600 migrants were staying in the Lampedusa structure, and authorities were hoping for weather to improve so that by evening some 400 could be ferried off the island.

There are many women with small children, plus there are unaccompanied minors, the migrant centre director, Lorena Tortorici, told Italian Sky TG24 TV.

We are in an emergency situation. The staff are trying to do what they can.

The biggest number of migrants arriving so far this year are from Ivory Coast, followed by people from Guinea, Pakistan, Egypt, Tunisia and Bangladesh, according to the Interior Ministers tally.

For years, most of the smugglers boats plying the dangerous central Mediterranean route set sail from western Libya. But recent months have seen many of the voyages start from eastern Libya or from Tunisia. Another route starts from Turkey, aiming to reach Calabria or Puglia in the southern end of the Italian mainland.
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 4th, as part of an investigation into an allegation of hate crime reported on February 24th.

A source close to the UK 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 UK 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.

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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 UK government research finding no clear link between gang members and ethnicity.

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The British 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.

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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.
Cox was told of the decision just weeks before production began on season four. Jesse told me right before the season started, this was going to happen, the Scottish actor confirmed to Deadline. And I knew that I was going to be going; Im very proud of myself that I managed to keep this secret. One take of heartbreak The sequence where the siblings learn that Logan died en route to Sweden will go down as one of the finest scenes in Successions history, a naturally emotional moment heightened by the way it was shot. For director Mark Mylod it became crucial that the sequence was captured in one unbroken, unflinching take. In the planning of the shots, the camera had to be sadistically voyeuristic; it had to stay really close without taking its eye off them, he explains. In order to capture the emotional landscape required, director Mark Mylod opted to shoot the phone call scene in one single take using three cameras. Credit: HBO / BINGE

The only problem is, Succession is shot using multiple 35-mm film cameras with magazines that could hold a maximum of ten minutes of footage before reloading. And this was going to be a single 28-minute take. The camera operators hid rolls of film around the set, and we hid a third camera body, so basically, we were doing superfast reloads, making sure that one camera would always be running, so they would need to reload at the same time. Mark Mylod has revealed the exhausting 28-minute take that changed the course of Succession Credit: Screenshot The end result? Kieran Culkin said, It was like doing a one-act play on a boat. Across several rooms with hundreds of background actors and three hidden cameras. Filming the death scene

Part of what made Logans exit from the series so grand was that it wasnt grand at all. After three and a half seasons of mythological presence, the great Logan Roy keels over in a bathroom, sight unseen. In an interview with Variety, Mylod explains the logic behind not delivering audiences an indulgent Logan death scene. Instinctively, it felt oddly disrespectful. It became a point of discussion, chatting to Jesse about it, and he felt exactly the same as I did, says Mylod. So we moved forward with that, and we just showed Brians face, or Logans face, just the one time in what, I hope, is quite a poignant scene of the phone being up against his ear. The decision was also made not to force Cox to play dead - literally - so the body we see on the plane is a stunt double. Getting into the real machinations of it, 90 per cent of the time, it was a stunt double down there, that one shot where you see of Brian laying on the floor, whilst the heart compressions continue, is actually a composite shot and Brians head - we stuck them together in post.

Its 2 am in London

To maintain the level of emotion required on set Mylod wanted to ensure that the actors were bouncing off one another in real time. The Roy siblings finding out Logan had died was the first sequence shot for this episode, meaning Welsh actor Matthew Macfadyen (whose scene on the plane was filmed after the boat) had to jump on the phone to deliver his lines. Welsh actor Matthew Macfadyen on the set of Succession. Credit: Screenshot When we were shooting on the boat, Matthew was always there on the phone. He was actually in London at the time  the poor man was with us until two oclock in the morning sometimes, Mylod tells Variety. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the cast returned the favour when the time came for Macfadyen to film his scenes. When we get onto the plane, the rest of the cast, the other siblings, were there off-camera for him to give him the kind of quid pro quo back. Keeping the send-off a secret

In a strange case of life imitating art, production was wary that if Logans death leaked, there would be real-world consequences (maybe the stock market wouldnt crash, but fans would undoubtedly be sad). To avoid spoilers, the cast and crew signed NDAs, especially those involved with the boat scene, including more than 250 extras. We spoke to the extras and asked them for their cooperation, and on that occasion as well as on subsequent episodes, everybody kept themselves zipped, Mylod explained to Vulture. The director also confirms that Cox was invited back to set on several occasions to film scenes that were ultimately a ruse. We basically bring him on to shoot dummy scenes  scenes that didnt actually exist. As a misdirect. But the greatest bit of misdirection fell to Brian Cox, who crashed the filming of his own funeral just to confuse paparazzi stalking the set. As soon as I got out of the car, paparazzi were shooting me left, right and centre, and therefore, they thought, Logans at the funeral, what is he doing?, the actor told Deadline.
Investors in managed funds are paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year in fees to investment managers who are failing to outperform simple, low-fee index funds.

New figures from major market operator S&Ps SPIVA scorecard shows just how hard it is for active Australian share funds to deliver on their promise of beating the market in the long term after fees.

Over the past 10 years, only 22 per cent of Australian Equity General funds outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index, which tracks the top 200 companies on the local bourse. Over five years, fewer than one in five outperformed.

Are active fund managers more likely to back a winner? Not according to new data. Credit: Getty

Betashares, which provides exchange-traded funds (ETFs), estimates investors in actively managed large-cap Australian equity funds are paying almost $750 million more in fees than if they invested in Betashares A200 ETF, which tracks the Australian sharemarket and has an annual management fee of 0.04 per cent.
Few items fit the definition of essential spending better than prams, cots and baby clothes.

These infant goods are ASX-listed retailer Baby Buntings bread and butter, and the business has become a major force in selling the basics  and extra bells and whistles  to Australians for their little ones.

Baby Buntings profits plunged in the first half of 2023. Credit: Louie Douvis

But while the companys core products are some of the least likely victims of a spending slowdown, Baby Bunting has been flagging tough conditions. Profits for the first half of this year collapsed by 67 per cent and its share price is down by more than 57 per cent over the past 12 months.

Sales grew strongly during the lockdown era when Baby Bunting stores were allowed to remain open when many other retailers shuttered. Now the business has to adjust to the post-pandemic trading environment, where families are being increasingly savvy when it comes to kitting out their nurseries.
When Tanya Davidson started suffering debilitating symptoms soon after she underwent a new contraceptive procedure with a device called Essure, a gynaecologist told her it was all in her head.

When her sex drive suddenly dried up, a GP told her she could improve her libido by painting a wall in her room red.

Tanya Davidson wants a recognition her experience after being fitted with the Essure was real and not in her head. Credit: Jason South

Davidson, a busy mother of four young children, then in her 30s, said she was experiencing excessive bleeding, pain and hair loss so severe that it sometimes came out in clumps.

But she said it was an uphill battle to even get her symptoms recognised as real, even though some  such as a face rash  were clearly visible.
A Sydney man has been jailed for 15 years after he led a terrorist organisation that planned to attack the Mardi Gras, a naval base, a courthouse, and Australian Federal Police officers who attended court.

Hamdi Alqudsi, 48, faced trial in the NSW Supreme Court accused of directing the activities of an organisation known as the Shura, which plotted attacks between August and December 2014. After hearing weeks of evidence, a jury found him guilty last year.

Hamdi Alqudsi pictured in 2015. Credit: Daniel Munoz

Justice Stephen Rothman said on Tuesday the Shura was formed to help people travel to Syria to fight, but it soon shifted to plotting domestic terrorism. Alqudsi described himself as the commander of the group.

Rothman said the group discussed pledging allegiance to Islamic State or al-Qaeda, including by flying an IS flag on Sydney Harbour Bridge, and having someone come to Sydney from Syria to teach them to make improvised explosive devices.
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.
Shadow Attorney-General announces resignation from the frontbench

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Its clear that the shadow cabinet and the party room and I have taken a different position, he said. He added that he resigned without rancour or bitterness and I remain a loyal Liberal, fully committed to the leadership of Peter Dutton. The shadow attorney-general, Julian Leeser, has resigned from the opposition front bench to campaign for the Voice to Parliament. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Shadow ministers are bound by the partys decision to oppose the Voice but backbenchers will be allowed to freely campaign in line with their personal views, as is the norm in the Liberal Party. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is currently on leave, praised Leeser in an Instagram post, saying he had made a principled decision while claiming that Dutton had underestimated the number of Liberal and National voters who will show generosity and goodwill and vote yes to constitutional recognition in this referendum.

Speaking in Brisbane, Dutton said Leeser was a man of great character whose position on the Voice was unique due to his long-term advocacy, but said it was at odds with the overwhelming majority of the Liberal Party partyroom. He repeated his criticisms of the Voice to parliament, deriding the proposal as a Canberra Voice that would not deliver change for Indigenous people on the ground, and affirming that his determination in campaigning for the No vote remained unshaken. The more you look at the Canberra Voice model, the more you realise that its going to change our system of government forever and not for the better, Dutton said. While Leeser has been highly critical of Labors handling of the referendum process and led calls for more detail about the Voice will operate, Duttons decision to bind his frontbench put his shadow attorney-general in an invidious position.

Leesers support for the concept of an Indigenous Voice pre-dates his entry into federal parliament, having worked with Indigenous leaders Noel Pearson, Marcia Langton and Megan Davis on early concepts, and founding the Uphold and Recognise organisation to build support for constitutional recognition in conservative circles. Loading Leeser said he would now focus on advocating for alternative wording for the Voice amendment, which he proposed in a speech to the National Press Club last week, as he claimed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had handled the referendum process poorly and needed to change course. The risk to our country and the risk to our shared national reconciliation project of failure needs to be recognised by the government, he said, adding that the Voice was on track to fail with its current level of support. An all-or-nothing approach could deliver nothing, he said.

[My] changes will deliver a Voice that is in every way constitutionally safe, a voice that honours Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and gives them a place in our founding document. It will have a better chance of convincing more Australians to support this. At the National Press Club last week, Lesser urged for the second clause of the proposed constitutional amendment, which enables the Voice to make representations to the executive government of the Commonwealth as well as the parliament, to be deleted, arguing it was too broad and open to activist judges to expand its meaning. But he clarified on Tuesday that he would support the Voice even if he failed to secure this change. Its clear that the shadow cabinet and the party room and I have taken a different position. Julian Leeser The Voices ability to advise the executive branch - that is, ministers and the public service - has been furiously opposed by some constitutional conservatives and lawyers on the grounds it would hamstring government decision-making by creating an avenue for High Court litigation if the Voice was not consulted. Other legal experts have rejected this, arguing the amendment poses a limited legal risk of litigation. Liberal backbencher Andrew Bragg, also a Voice supporter, praised Leeser as someone who had done more than any other constitutional conservative to advance the Indigenous Voice and said a Yes vote would be more likely because of his support.

He has invested a huge amount of his political capital in an issue which has been highly contested within the Liberal Party, Bragg said. Julian has always understood a successful referendum would be considerably more likely with Liberal and conservative support. This referendum is too important to play politics and it is not good enough to oppose the referendum on process grounds. Tasmanian Liberal MP and Yes supporter Bridget Archer said Dutton was speaking to a very narrow base and needed to take some lessons from Leeser and Wyatts resignations. It should be a long-overdue wake-up call in my view, but Im not sure its a lesson that will be heard, she said.

She said it was shameful for the party to have put Leeser in the position of having to uphold the cabinet line knowing all that work he has done for such a long time on the issue. Loading Archer said the party had failed to heed the lessons of the 2022 election and this months Aston byelection, and the party was positioning itself adjacent to people who do have inflammatory, divisive and in some cases racist views. Victorian Liberal MP Russell Broadbent, a supporter of the Voice, described Leeser as a brave man. Its a decision each person has to make, he said when asked for his response to Leesers frontbench resignation.
Bangkok: Airstrikes by Myanmars military have killed as many as 100 people including many children who were attending a ceremony held by opponents of army rule, said a witness, a member of a local pro-democracy group and independent media.

The military is increasingly using airstrikes to counter a widespread armed struggle against its rule, which began in February 2021 when it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 3000 civilians are estimated to have been killed since then by security forces.

The aftermath of an airstrike in Pazigyi village that may have killed more than 100 people. Credit: AP

A witness told The Associated Press that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly into a crowd of people who were gathering at 8am on Tuesday (Myanmar time) for the opening of a local office of the countrys opposition movement outside Pazigyi village in Sagaing regions Kanbalu township. The area is about 110 kilometres north of Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city.

About half an hour later, a helicopter appeared and fired at the site, said the witness, who asked not to be identified because he feared punishment by the authorities.
London: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will not attend this years NATO summit, as the international security situation surrounding Russias war on Ukraine deteriorates.

It follows Foreign Minister Penny Wongs decision to send a junior bureaucrat to last weeks foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, where NATO is headquartered, despite her Asia-Pacific counterparts attending to help coordinate the Wests responses to the war in Ukraine and Chinas increasing aggression.

In an interview with this masthead last week, NATOs secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said the leaders of Australia, Japan, Korea and New Zealand, the so-called AP4, would be invited for the second time to the trans-Atlantic blocs annual gathering.

The elite grouping was only invited for the first time to NATOs summit last year in Madrid, Spain, and the then-freshly elected Albanese attended.
Five bank staff killed in Kentucky mass shooting

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Northern Ireland police seize pipe bombs ahead of visit by US President Joe Biden

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Latest News High-price growth suburbs a dream result for brokers Bryon Bay leads way with decade of growth

MFAA releases ebook on digital marketing The guide can be downloaded from the MFAA website

Brokers Olympia Andronicos and Leah Busby say they believe providing a full broking service means ensuring customers have a back-up plan to protect them in case of unexpected illnesses or death.

Choice Finance Specialists Andronicos (pictured above), based in Albury Wodonga, and Leah Busby, director at Blackfish Finance in Adelaide, both offer ALIs My Protection Plan as an option for customers.

Andronicos said her 20-year background in banking made her aware of limited advice insurance products and the role they played in providing some customers with financial protection.

While customers would need to understand the difference between them and financial advice, Andronicos said the important thing was ensuring that finance customers thought about their back-up plan.

Its important to have a back-up plan  thats the conversation I have with them, she said. Its not about the product, but about having a back-up plan in place for if something unforeseen should happen  so its a conversation I have with every single one of our customers.

Busby said the bigger picture in her business had always been about providing the same information for her clients that she would give someone in her family or her group of friends.

Whether they are a first homebuyer, they are refinancing or they are an investor, customers are coming to us and saying, this is what I want, and we can do that and we help them do it, said Busby.

But I also thought that it was really important for everyone to understand what their options were when it comes to insurance as part of that bigger, broader picture.

Andronicos said it presented an option that clients could then go and compare. If they dont have anything else in place it is easy and quick to implement for our customers, she said.

We are not saying it is the best solution for them, but it is a solution available and it is also easy to cancel  there is no lock-in contracts, so its very flexible in that sense.

A natural part of the customer conversation

The ALI Group product has long been offered in conjunction with home loans to cover borrowers in the event that they are unable to meet financial obligations due to illness, injury or death.

Both brokers say they have integrated the conversation about a back-up plan into every customers journey, to ensure that all customers benefit from thinking about insurance protection options.

Andronicos said she raised it with customers as something to think about after providing them with finance options.

We flag it from the beginning as something to think about, and when we go through the signing of loan contracts face-to-face, we go through the loan protection option at the same time, she said.

They dont have to decide then  they can go away and think about it if they like  and they can even access the product up to settlement, or even after that if they want it.

Busby said Blackfishs systems tracked the entire customer journey from initial customer data collection all the way through, and she told customers at the beginning of the process.

This was in addition to Blackfish offering customers access to a wider suite of services within the business, including financial planning, accounting and conveyancing services.

Once we provide the quote, and the loan is approved, at the stage where we go through the loan documentation and we ask for a clear yes or no answer on whether they want the product, Busby said.

We ensure every single client says yes or no  we shouldnt assume that a client doesnt need it or doesnt want it  and we also then know it will be consistent data point in our system.

Building brokers reputations for customer service

Andronicos said providing options such as insurance was important in terms of standing out from the crowd.

This is what gives you reputation in a smaller town. Having a reputation for providing support and guidance is what makes us stand out from any other brokers, that care factor is paramount.

We want to be known for thinking about everything customers may not have thought of and looking after them so they can sleep at night knowing they have made informed decisions.

Andronicos said that with the added costs of travel and accommodation likely for those needing healthcare from Albury Wodonga, having the conversation provided protection for clients.

For me it is about knowledge and education and making sure people are aware there are such policies out there, she said. They need to know  people dont know what they dont know.

If they have a conversation with mum and dad and they say theyll be there for them, at least they know theyve had that discussion  we are making sure that conversation happens.

If they have insurance in their super, then thats great  we encourage them to check it out. Although some think they have more protection there than they do.

At least they have had the discussion and have decided on a back-up plan  as long as that thought process has happened then that is all I want.

Do you have experience with  or are you planning to  offer limited advice loan protection insurance? Share your thoughts or stories on this topic in the comments section below.
Electric commercial vehicle manufacturer Euler Motors has laid off around 200 employees six months after raising $60 million in its Series C funding round. GIC-backed Euler became the third EV start-up to cut jobs. It said it had laid off 10 per cent of its employees.

The Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC backed Euler at least became the third electric vehicle (EV) startup to cut jobs this year after Bounce, and OLA laid off its staff in January to preserve funds amid a market volatility and funding slowdown.



Our decision to restructure, however, meant that we had to part with approximately 10 per cent of our employees from across the organisation, the company spokesperson said. Euler, while confirming the layoffs said that the company is restructuring to better deliver to customers as well as to investor expectations of greater efficiency in the context of changing global circumstances.



As per the companys LinkedIn page, Euler Motors has over 500 employees in the startup. However, according to sources the number of impacted employees stands at around 200. The severed roles were largely related to sales and R&D, sources said.

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The development comes at a time when the startup ecosystem across the world is facing challenges since last year amid global macroeconomic uncertainty and a severe funding crunch. The layoff comes at a time when securing additional funding has become difficult for startups, forcing them to cut costs and become leaner, often shelving new projects to focus on existing lines of business.



Euler Motors layoff also comes on the heels of the launch of its new vehicle. The startup announced the launch of its advanced version of HiLoad EV 2023, which it claims to have the highest battery pack and range in the three-wheeler cargo segment. However, so far, layoffs in the EV industry were a rarity due to increased adoption and capital infusion by investors. Indias electric vehicle (EV) industry has touched the milestone of one million unit sales in the financial year 2023.



Euler has sold 1,542 vehicles since its launch in 2018, according to Vahan data. More than 3 million commercial three-wheeler vehicles have been sold since 2018. The startup had raised $60 million in funding last October led by GIC. Other investors included Moglix, Blume Ventures, Athera Venture Partners, QRG Holdings, and ADB Ventures.


During the course of the year, the industry saw intensifying competitive trends from smaller incumbents with yields also being challenged, said Redseer report. However, despite this, the market is an attractive long-term bet with the overall e-commerce logistics opportunity to grow at a minimum CAGR of 20 per cent to comfortably exceed 10 billion parcels by FY28 on the back of steady e-commerce growth, the report added. Indias e-commerce logistics space to exceed 10 billion parcels by FY28 as it rides on new categories, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands along with growth in Tier 2 plus cities, according to a report by Redseer Strategy Consultants. The total shipments (forward plus reverse) for e-commerce logistics grew to 4 billion in FY23 (excluding hyperlocal shipments). Within this pie, in-house logistics versus third-party players had a roughly equal share.



Redseer said logistics players with relevant and customized offerings for D2C brands are well-positioned to capture market share in this high-growth segment. They are also expected to have a stronger yield profile going forward. D2C has emerged as a strong growth segment within e-commerce. Redseer said D2C brands across channels are expected to grow overall GMV (gross merchandise value) at 35 per cent in the next few years, with brand.com accounting for a significant share of this growth. A total of $ 33 billion of GMV is expected to be generated from D2C brands across all channels by CY27.



Despite intensifying competition threats, logistics firm Delhivery remains the clear market leader in FY23 within e-commerce 3PLs (third-party logistics) parcels-as per Redseer data. Its wide set of offerings for D2C brands along with its fast-growing non-e-commerce business also makes it better insulated from the recent macro trends in the e-commerce space and a more resilient logistics business overall. Despite funding headwinds in e-commerce and Internet sectors, there are multiple pockets of high growth and high-yield opportunities available for e-logistics players, be in D2C or large goods or non-e-commerce segments, said Mrigank Gutgutia, Partner, Redseer Strategy Consultants.

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It has always been Amul and Nandini. Both are co-operatives that work in the interest of farmers, Mehta told Business Standard. While Amul belongs to Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), Nandini is a brand of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). Amid raging controversy in poll-bound Karnataka over Amuls entry into Bengaluru market and its competition with local dairy brand Nandini, its interim Managing Director Jayen Mehta on Tuesday stressed there has always been cooperation between the two dairy co-operatives.



Even as we talk, Amuls ice-creams are made using Nandinis milk and their plants and facilities, Mehta said. The Gujarat based dairy co-operative has been using Nandinis facilities for its ice-creams since 1998. It has never been Amul versus Nandini, he further stressed.



Mehta noted that Amuls products are already sold in northern Karnataka in Hubli and Belgaum since 2015-2016 and its volume in the state is at 8,000- 10,000 litres per day. He also clarified that Amul products would only be sold in Bengaluru via e-commerce platforms and not through general trade.

Also Read Milky way: Beyond Amul vs Nandini, dairy brands that dominate their states Amul's utterly butterly supply melts; eateries switch to alternatives All you need to know about Amul-Nandini controversy in poll-bound Karnataka RS Sodhi steps down as Amul MD; Jayen Mehta given interim charge Amul not a competitor of Nandini, says MD Jayen Mehta amid row in Karnataka Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable launches over 15 products for summer 2023 Astec LifeSciences launches its R&D centre in Maharashtra's Rabale PE investments in India decline over 75% in Q1 of CY23, lowest since 2018 Goldman Sachs names new global head of private banking, lending, deposits Lenders of Reliance Capital fix Apr 26 as new date for second auction



After Amuls post, political parties began protest against its entry into Bengalurus dairy market. The Assembly election in the southern state would be held in a single phase on May 10. On April 5, Amul had announced on its social media that it is taking its milk and curd into Bengaluru.


ONDC has two mobility apps on its network: Kerala Open Mobility Network (KOPN); and Namma Yatri, an auto-rickshaw booking app recently launched in Bengaluru. The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is finally seeing user traction with mobility services in the lead. And officials believe that with PhonePe launching its app, Pincode, on ONDC, the network will gain currency in the ecommerce segment as well.



ONDC Chief Executive Officer T Koshy is of the opinion that the network is slowly recording an uptick in transactions. When it comes to ecommerce, we have seen transactions going up since December  from 30-odd in a day to 400-500 now, he said. KOPN sees over 200 transactions per day, while Namma Yatri has 18,000-19,000 transactions.



The launch of Pincode could be a game changer for the network, senior executives Business Standard spoke to said. Thats because buyers can now use Pincode to see all the neighbourhood stores/products in one place. Within ecommerce, transactions in grocery and food have dominated, but with beauty and fashion also coming on board, Koshy expects more movement.

Also Read How is Switch powering up green mobility in India? Shiprocket becomes first inter-city logistics provider to join ONDC network India's ONDC forays into the mobility segment; takes on Uber and Ola Marico to acquire 100% stake in Vietnamese personal care brand Beauty X Unicorn Meesho joins ONDC to connect hyperlocal sellers and customers IRB Infra March toll collection revenue grows by 20% to Rs 370 cr Assotech Realty expects Rs 120 cr rental income from Noida project S Korea fines Google $32 mn for squeezing local rival in mobile app market Govt to invite bids for privatisation of Shipping Corp in May: Report Tata Group to set up Air India's new ground handling business: Report



PhonePe CEO and Founder Sameer Nigam agrees: During the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone was doing some kind of commerce within local communities using WhatsApp. We are trying to formalise that and make it more convenient. With this, Pincode could give competition to WhatsApp, which had become the de facto platform for neighbourhood stores as the pandemic forced people to shop online and many small businesses turned to the platform to reach out to them.



PhonePe has built an independent shopping application for ONDC, unlike the others (like Paytm and Snapdeal) who are just integrating the ONDC link into their apps. Pincode is meant to build a shopping experience, said a senior official from ONDC. At Pincodes launch on ONDC on April 4, Nigam had said the platform already has on boarded over 500 sellers for groceries, 3,000 for food and 200 for pharmacy. PhonePe said the app would offer consumers a better and wider selection of products than its competitors and would include both national brands as well as locally manufactured groceries, apparel, footwear, accessories etc.



The report says that for buyers, ONDC can unlock access to micro-economies. Local commerce is limited to how far people can travel to get what they want. ONDC will probably give consumers the choice to get what they want at their doorstep without having to worry about logistics, said Antler Director Sumit Patodia in the report. As more kirana stores and local suppliers and sellers come on the network, consumers who were normally underserved will benefit from lower prices and better delivery options, he added. The Pincode experience could be a starting point for ONDC. According to a report by Antler (Unpacking the $80+ billion ONDC Opportunity: India's next startup catalyst), despite meteoric growth in recent years, Indias ecommerce sector has managed to tap barely 5-7 per cent of the retail potential.

Pincode could bring in the numbers for ONDC. Nigam expects the app to see 100,000 transactions per day in the next few months. Industry sources say both ONDC and the app will benefit, given that the network has a presence in 200 cities; and of these, 15 cities have over 100 merchants.
The EU is a key market which, according to Crisil Market Intelligence, accounted for 25-30 per cent of Indias finished steel exports over the last three fiscals (FY20-FY22).

The CBAM, aimed at preventing carbon leakage, will be phased in gradually. As things stand, starting October 1, importers in the European Union, of products from specific sectors such as iron & steel, aluminium, electricity, certain fertilisers, cement and hydrogen, would have to start collecting and reporting carbon data. CBAM will come into force in2026, with a levy linked to the EU carbon market price.


The minister is here on an official visit to hold meetings with his French counterpart and top CEOs.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said there are huge opportunities for French investors in India in areas such as manufacturing and infrastructure.



He said the Indian economy is expected to reach about USD 35 trillion in the next 25 years from the current level of about USD 3.5 trillion.

"Huge delta of opportunities are there in India," he said while addressing the India France Business Summit here.



"We are one the largest consumers of goods and services. Exports of goods and services are growing by over 50 per cent and we hope to continue this growth trajectory. We hope to see our exports of goods and services to triple from USD 765 billion to USD 2 trillion by 2030," he added.

According to the minister, young population, presence of huge talent pool and digital connectivity offer opportunities for investors.

Also Read Goods and services exports may cross $750 bn-mark this fiscal: Piyush Goyal Countries eager to sign FTAs with India: Piyush Goyal in Rajya Sabha Large companies must take responsibility to handhold MSMEs: Piyush Goyal Piyush Goyal co-chairs India-US CEO Forum with US Commerce Secretary Global uncertainty could have implications on India's exports: Piyush Goyal National Career Service portal lists record 3.5 mn vacancies in 2022-23 Power demand rises 7% in March quarter on robust economic activity: Report Four states raise Rs 5,800 crore through SDLs at bond auction RBI announces guidelines to accept green deposits by banks, NBFCs CNG penetration to rise to 18% by 2027 from 11% in 2022, says Icra



The minister held a meeting with Olivier Becht, Minister delegate of Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France. Both co-chaired the India-France Business Summit.

Goyal invited French businesses to become part of India's exports growth.



There are hundreds of French businesses in India in different sectors such as defence, ITES, consulting, engineering services, and heavy industry.

Goyal is accompanied by a delegation of top 16 Indian CEOs.



India-France bilateral trade stood at USD 12.42 billion in 2021-22. During April-January 2022-23, India's exports to France stood at USD 6.5 billion while imports aggregated at USD 4.36 billion. The trade gap is in favour of India.

France is the 11th largest foreign investor in India, with a cumulative FDI of USD 10.5 billion between April 2000 and December 2022. It accounted for about 1.7 per cent of the total FDI of USD 625.3 billion that India has received during the period.



He said that French companies operating in India are participating in Make in India initiative and smart cities.

The French minister too invited Indian companies to invest in France in sectors such as aerospace and pharmaceuticals.

"We want to ensure business friendly environment for companies and attract more Indian companies in strategic sectors," Becht said, adding France is one of the key foreign investments destination in Europe.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India deeply values its 25 years of strategic partnership with France and 75 years of friendship.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Paris on Monday during his ongoing visit to France, Goyal said that France is India's preferred partner in defence and various other sectors and this 25-year journey is truly reflective of India's journey of progress.

He further said that India desires to strengthen this partnership with France.

The minister further noted that this year India is celebrating 25 years of partnership with France and 75 years of India's Independence.

He said that while it's a great moment to reflect on all the good things that have been achieved in the last 75 years, it's also a great opportunity for each one of us to reflect on new ideas about how our country should progress in the future.

Goyal claimed during the course of the interaction that half of India until 2014 did not have a toilet.

Also Read India, France review cooperation in areas of nuclear energy, trade Goods and services exports may cross $750 bn-mark this fiscal: Piyush Goyal Countries eager to sign FTAs with India: Piyush Goyal in Rajya Sabha India-US bilateral trade may reach $500-600 billion by 2030: Piyush Goyal EAM Jaishankar calls on Australian PM to discuss bilateral strategic ties Govt relaxes wheat procurement norms in Punjab, Haryana, C'garh, Rajasthan India to put across concerns of Global South at G20: EAM Jaishankar Why the European Union's CBAM is worrying for Indian steel exports India's pension scheme review must prioritise fiscal prudence: Economists Interest rates may fall to pre-Covid levels in advanced economies: IMF

"Governments came and went but somehow that sensitivity was missing that our mothers, our sisters and our daughters deserve better dignity," he said.

He said that respect and dignity which can come from a basic amenity like a toilet was realised by the NDA government and toilets were constructed throughout the country under the Swachh Bharat Mission so that not a single woman has to face the indignity of not having this facility at home.
By Ira Dugal

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The federal government's decision to review the pension scheme for its employees must not come at the cost of prudent fiscal management, economists told Reuters on Tuesday.

They feared that a higher share of government revenues going towards salaries and pensions will compromise development expenditure.

The centre's decision to review the pension system - a committee for which was set up last week - follows a move by a few large states to revert to an older scheme.

Under this scheme, the burden of funding pensions fell on the government with no contribution from the employees.

"Questions of fiscal sustainability and intergenerational equity need to be at the core of the review," said Radhika Pandey, senior fellow at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP).

Also Read IMD issues alert in south coastal Andhra as cyclone 'Mandous' intensifies Tamil Nadu NEET PG 2022 Counselling Round 2 Allotment List released Scholarships worth Rs 75 cr misappropriated by institutes in UP: ED RBI may pause on rate hikes at next meet also: ICICI official Prasanna States may fall short of spending targets, posing growth risk: Economists Interest rates may fall to pre-Covid levels in advanced economies: IMF Oil and Natural Gas Co to bet on deepwater oil as India seeks to cut import Revenge tourism, World Cup fever drive transactions in FY23: Razorpay India's foreign direct investment flows to see modest pick-up in FY24: Citi Reserve Bank likely to help states to analyse, frame their capex numbers

The federal government's fiscal deficit, targeted at 5.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) in fiscal 2024, is higher than the medium-term target of 4.5%.

The country's debt-to-GDP ratio of close to 84% of GDP is also well above the 60% recommended by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Review Committee in 2018.

Nearly 41% of the government's revenue receipts go towards interest payments and another 9% goes towards pensions, squeezing space available for other spending.

The federal government cannot afford any change in the pension scheme, which would add to its fixed liabilities, said Govinda Rao, former member of the 14th Finance Commission.

There is no reason to go back to the old pension scheme or a defined benefits scheme and "any decision on this will be purely political," said Rao.

GRAPHIC: India's fiscal deficit India's fiscal deficit, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/INDIA-BUDGET/zdpxdndwwpx/chart.png

States that have decided to move back to a plan commonly known as the old pension scheme include Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have said they are reviewing their options.

The federal government and most state governments replaced the old pension scheme with the National Pension Scheme (NPS) in 2004, under which employees and the government shared the financial burden.

The NPS is a voluntary retirement savings scheme requiring employees to contribute 10% of their basic salary, while employers contribute up to 14%. In return, employees get an annuity when they retire based on their contributions.

States that have opted for this scheme already have a large share of their revenue going towards salaries and pensions, said NR Bhanumurthy, vice chancellor of the BR Ambedkar School of Economics in Bengaluru.

Any return to the old pension scheme will compromise developmental expenditure, he added.

GRAPHIC: States opting for the old pension scheme already have high committed expenditure, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/INDIA-PENSIONS/zgvobjkaopd/chart.png

The state of Andhra Pradesh adopted a middle path - it is continuing to ask employees to contribute towards their pensions but is also guaranteeing a pension equivalent to 33% of the last drawn basic salary.

"The question of guaranteed return is fraught with arbitrariness," said NIPFP's Pandey. "They run the risk of making the system complex."

Any such move will also benefit a very small section of government employees, as nearly 90% of India's workforce is employed in the informal sector where there are no such benefits.

"Instead, to fund something like this, you would tax the rest of the workforce further," said Rao.

(Reporting by Ira Dugal; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is all set to visit West Bengal on April 14-15 as a part of the ongoing preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

He is slated to address a public rally in Birbhum and hold several meetings.

As per a BJP source, "Home Minister Amit Shah will visit West Bengal on April 14 and April 15. He will address a public rally in Birbhum, hold organisational meetings both on April 14. He will also visit Dakshineswar temple on the Bengali New Year, which is celebrated on April 15."

"There will be organisational meetings to discuss the ongoing campaigning at the ground level for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Also, review the government policies reach to the beneficiaries," the source added.

Shah will visit West Bengal at a time when the saffron party is looking to strengthen its organisational machinery ahead of the panchayat election. However, the ruling Trinamool Congress declined to give much importance to the visit.

--IANS

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dr/khz/
Amul Managing Director Jayen Mehta said on Monday that there is no competition between Amul and Karnataka Cooperative Dairy brand Nandini, according to a report in the Economic Times.

"Just like Amul is a cooperative of farmers in Gujarat, Nandini is a brand of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), a cooperative of farmers in Karnataka. There is no question of any competition between two cooperatives and two farmer-owned organisations," Mehta was quoted as saying by the ET.

Mehta, in an interview with The Indian Express, had also said, "It is not about Amul versus Nandini, but Amul and Nandini. Both are farmer-owned cooperatives working on similar interests. We are not here to compete with Nandini".

"Amul and Nandini have a good relationship, and it will continue to be so," said Mehta.

Amul, which is backed by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), recently tweeted about its Bengaluru expansion plans. This sparked a political debate, with opposition parties and some locals charging that the move is part of a "conspiracy" to destroy the Nandini brand and the cooperative movement in the state.

Meanwhile, Mehta claimed that the company has always been supportive of dairy development in Karnataka.

"Amul fresh milk and curd will only be sold through e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, which will be launched soon. We won't even sell these fresh-range products through our parlours in Bangalore," he told the Economic Times.

Mehta also noted that Amul ice cream has been produced at KMF's flagship facility in Bengaluru for more than ten years using milk that is purchased from Karnataka farmers. Amul has also purchased large quantities of cheddar cheese from KMF in the past, he said, adding, "So, Amul has always been supportive of the dairy development in Karnataka."

What is the Amul-Nandini controversy?



-- The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation recently announced plans to introduce Amul milk and curd in Bengaluru through quick commerce platforms.

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

-- The action was criticised by Karnataka's opposition leaders, who claimed that it would harm the interests of the KMF-owned Nandini brand.

-- The hoteliers in the state extended support to the Nandini brand because there is a Rs 11 difference between the two brands, with Amul milk priced at Rs 54 per litre and Nandini milk at Rs 43 per litre. They also came forward in support of Karnataka farmers.

-- KMF's Bangalore Milk Union Limited (BAMUL) claimed that the milk production in the state had increased amid the onset of summer. However, the Karnataka State Hotels' Association (KSHA) alleged that an artificial scarcity of Nandini products has been created in favour of Amul's entry into Karnataka, as reported by PTI.

-- Siddaramaiah pointed out how Baroda Bank subsumed Vijaya Bank and claimed that ports and airports were handed over to Adani. And now it is Amul's turn.

It was Gujarat's Baroda Bank that subsumed our Vijaya Bank.



Ports & 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 for Gujaratis?#SaveNandini

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, on the other hand, said there is no merger between Amul and KMF and that Amul is not entering the state.

(With agency input)

 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 9, 2023


Indias technology capital has shown a high growth of 525 per cent in direct tax collection, comprising personal income tax and corporation tax, during the period 2007-08 to 2022-23. Bengaluru, which houses global and Indian IT giants, is set to overtake Delhi to become the second-highest contributor in the countrys direct tax collection, after Mumbai, an internal analysis of the Income-Tax Department showed.



On the other hand, Mumbai and Delhi collected Rs 4.95 trillion and Rs 2.07 trillion, respectively, during the fiscal year ended |March 31, 2023. In FY23, it collected Rs 2.04 trillion as against Rs 32,692 crore in FY08.



Growth in Bengaluru is mainly due to the start-up ecosystem leading to a spike in individual tax collection. Also IT firms have grown multi-fold over the years. Infosys and Wipro are among top advance taxpayers, a tax official told Business Standard. He said steep growth in direct taxes nationally was because of the rise in the tax kitty in cities like Bengaluru. In 2007-08 Mumbai was at Rs 1.14 trillion and Delhi at Rs 47,639 crore. The analysis highlighted that Mumbais contribution to the direct tax kitty remained the highest but it had come down to about 30 per cent in 2022-23 from over 37 per cent from 2007-08.

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The combined share of Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai in the direct tax corpus has risen to 44 per cent in 2022-23. In FY23, Chennai collected Rs 1.05 trillion, Pune Rs 91,973 crore, and Hyderabad Rs 88,438 crore. On the decline in Mumbais share in the direct tax kitty, the official is of the view that it is mainly due to the decentralisation of corporate offices over the years. Earlier almost all banks and big corporate houses had registered offices in Mumbai and tax used to be paid in a centralised way. Now over the years there have been transfers of permanent account numbers from Mumbai to other cities because corporate offices were decentralised, he said.



Patna, for example, collected Rs 15,000 crore in FY23, as against Rs 2,368 crore in FY08, while Lucknow mopped up Rs 13,823 crore as against Rs 2,246 crore in 2007-08. The revenue department wants laggard states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to emulate the Bengaluru model and be significant contributors like the city.



Growth was 17.63 per cent in FY23 over Rs 14.12 trillion in the previous year. Direct tax collection jumped 463 per cent to Rs 16.61 trillion in FY23 as against Rs 2.95 trillion in 2007-08.



Direct tax collection has exceeded the BE by 16.97 per cent and RE by 0.69 per cent for the year. The Budget Estimate (BE) for direct tax stood at Rs 14.20 trillion and the Revised Estimate (RE) at Rs 16.50 trillion for FY23.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basaaraj Bommai on Tuesday said the first list of BJP's candidates for the May 10 Assembly polls, can be expected to be released today.

Party leaders have been holding a series of meetings in New Delhi for the last two days to finalise the list. State BJP strongman and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has indicated that the first list may contain the names of 170-180 candidates.

"The list can be expected today," Bommai told reporters in New Delhi.

According to party sources, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on his return to the national capital from a visit to Arunachal Pradesh is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Chief Minister and other senior leaders to finalise the list, following which it will be released.

Senior BJP leaders, including from Karnataka had held a daylong deliberation on Monday to finalise candidates for the state assembly polls, incorporating in their discussions the suggestions made at the recent BJP Central Election Committee meeting.

Shah, party president J P Nadda, Bommai, Yediyurappa and other leaders from the state attended these meetings. Shah later left for Arunachal Pradesh while other leaders continued the deliberations.

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Bommai had on Sunday said after the CEC meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave some directions. The CM told reporters on Monday that the party is working on various inputs. He, however, did not elaborate on the nature of directions or inputs.

There are speculations that the high command is unhappy with some leaders or legislators seeking tickets for their children too; also some sitting legislators and Ministers may not make it to the list. Too many aspirants is also said to be a cause of concern.

The filing of nominations will begin on April 13, with the poll notification being issued, and the last day for filing papers is April 20.

The BJP, aiming to return to power in Karnataka with absolute majority, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the Assembly.

While the Congress has already announced a total of 166 candidates, including Karnataka Sarvodaya Party's Darshan Puttannaiah for whom it has extended support in Melukote constituency, in two lists, JD(S) has announced one list of 93 candidates.
The BJP will not give tickets to relatives of the ministers, MPs and MLAs in the upcoming local body elections.

A decision to this effect was taken at a late-night meeting of the party leadership held at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's official residence on Monday.

The meeting also discussed the strategy to ensure maximum win percentage for the party.

According to a senior minister who attended the meeting, the leadership also took feedback from ministers and gave their valuable suggestions.

The BJP leadership was categorical in its statement that no MP, MLA and minister should lobby for their kin.

This is a setback for Uttar Pradesh Minister Nand Gopal Nandi whose wife Abhilasha Gupta is the outgoing mayor of Prayagraj. She has been preparing for a second term.

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Similarly, deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was said to be keen to fieled his wife Namrata Pathak for the post of mayor in Lucknow.

The meeting also decided that the ministers in-charge of the districts would also be responsible for the organisational work of the party in their jurisdiction.

The chief minister said that the voter should be made aware of the work done by the Modi government and the state government.

"In-charge ministers should ensure that the BJP wins maximum seats in the local bodies elections," he said.

State BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary said that the in-charge ministers have the added responsibility to ensure winnable candidates get the ticket.

Those in-charge should also ensure that those who could not get the ticket are not dissatisfied and effort should be made to encourage them to work for the party's victory.

The ministers were directed that they have the responsibility not only to look after the districts of which they are in-charge but also of their native districts.

"Everyone should ensure that the party wins all the 762 urban local bodies, including 17 municipal corporations," he said.

--IANS

amiat/dpb
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 party's 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.

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"Pilot's day-long fast is against the party's 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 Pilot's 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 Pilot's 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 Pilot's 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.
A General Court Martial (GCM) instituted by the Indian Air Force has recommended sacking of a Group Captain for the crash of a Mi-17 V5 helicopter in Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir after it was hit by a missile on February 27, 2019, official sources said on Tuesday.

The attack helicopter was struck by the IAF's own surface-to-air missile when the chopper was on its way back to Srinagar on the day Indian and Pakistani air forces were engaged in a dogfight, according to a Court of Inquiry.

The sources said the GCM ordered dismissal of Group Captain Suman Roy Chowdhury, who was serving then as the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the Srinagar Air Force Station.

Six IAF personnel on board the chopper and a civilian on the ground were killed in the crash.

The sources said the IAF can only act on the GCM's recommendation after a decision on a case relating to the incident by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

According to laid down norms, the Chief of Air Staff has to give an approval on the recommendation of the GCM for sacking of the official.

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The sources said the order of the GCM will be put up before the IAF chief after a decision on the case by the court.

The GCM was constituted based on the findings of a Court of Inquiry (CoI) into the incident.

The CoI into the incident found that the Mi-17 V-5 helicopter was hit by a ground-based missile.

The probe had found that the 'Identification of Friend or Foe' (IFF) system on-board the helicopter was switched off and there were "vital gaps" in communication and coordination between the ground staff and the crew of the chopper.

It also found violations of standard operating procedures. The IFF helps air defence radars identify whether an aircraft or helicopter is friendly or hostile.

The helicopter crashed in Budgam around 10 am on February 27 when Indian and Pakistani fighter jets were engaged in fierce aerial combat in Nowshera, a day after India's air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan.
The General Insurance Council has decided to take on the hospitals that are overcharging the health insurance policy holders and indulging in frauds through a series of actions, said a senior industry official.

Speaking to the media, S. Prakash, Managing Director, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Ltd, and Executive Committee member, General Insurance Council, said the industry/council will take a unified approach against frauds.

Stating that the industry will identify the pattern and take action, Prakash said "We want to send a strong signal to the hospitals. The action against the hospitals could be - issuance of a warning letter, suspension of cashless facility and even exclude (blacklist) the hospital as a service provider except in the case of an emergency."

Majority of the business of the hospitals in major cities come from patients holding health insurance policies, he said.

According to Prakash, the Council will also have an appellate mechanism where the affected hospital can make its appeal.

Prakash said the topline of the non-life insurers contribute to the bottomline of the hospitals.

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Several decades ago, the public sector non-life insurance companies tried to blacklist hospitals that gave false bills and other papers so that the health insurance policyholders can make prefer fraudulent claims. But the insurers scrapped the move soon after.

That apart, the General Insurance Council plans to have a common information technology platform to empanel hospitals, he said. It is said that the Council will seek using the Insurance Information Bureau's Rohini portal for this purpose.

In addition, the non-life insurance industry is also looking at working with the National Health Authority to have a common portal for intimating the case details by the hospitals in case the patient is a health insurance policyholder and prefers cashless settlement of the hospital bills, i.e., the insurance company pays the hospital directly.

--IANS

vj/arm
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."

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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.
India on Tuesday firmly rejected China's objection to Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and asserted that the state "was, is and will" always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the reality.

The home minister visited Arunachal Pradesh on Monday during which he launched the ambitious 'Vibrant Villages Programme' that is aimed at improving the standard of living of the people in villages in frontier areas.

"We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India," Bagchi said.

"Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality," he said.

Bagchi was responding to media queries on the Chinese reaction to Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

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From a border village in Arunachal Pradesh, Shah, in a clear message to China, on Monday said that no one can dare cast an evil eye on India's territorial integrity and encroach even an "inch of our land".

He said the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of India was over.

The home minister's statement came days after Beijing announced Chinese names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh which the neighbouring country claims as the "southern part of Tibet."



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 tranquillity in the border areas. We are firmly against this," he told a media briefing in Beijing.
Paris [France], April 11 (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.

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"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.


A Constitution bench of Justices K M Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy, and C T Ravikumar was hearing the petitions challenging the latest privacy policy of WhatsApp and seeking enforcement of privacy rights in the digitial world. The Centre told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that a new data protection bill will be introduced in the Monsoon session of Parliament.



The matter has been posted for hearing in the first week of August 2023. The case has now been placed before Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud as two judges on the bench (Justice Joseph and Justice Rastogi) are to retire this June. "It will meet all the concerns expressed by the petitioners about personal data protection," Attorney General R Venkatramani told the bench.



Divan also pointed out that when the matter came up for hearing earlier, the Bench was told that the Bill would be introduced in the Winter Session of the Parliament, but that did not happen. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, said the court should not link the hearings to the legislative process, which is complex and may be again referred to some committees, causing a delay.

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At the outset, he added, "The Bill is ready. It just has to be introduced in the Parliament. It will be introduced in the Monsoon session in July. I may be considered after that. Responding to this, the AG said, "The consultation process is a continuous process so it went through a very qualified consultation process.



Last year(October 14), the court had cleared the path for the Competition Commission of Indias (CCIs) probe into the messaging platforms updated privacy policy of 2021. The court was hearing a plea filed by two students  Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi  challenging the contract entered into between WhatsApp and its parent Facebook(now Meta) to provide access to calls, photographs, texts, videos and documents shared by users, saying it is a violation of their privacy and free speech.
Maharashtra minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Chandrakant Patil on Monday said not a single worker of the Shiv Sena was near the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya when it was brought down by the Bajrang Dal and Durga Vahini on December 6, 1992.

Patil, minister of higher and technical education in the Eknath Shinde government and a former Maharashtra BJP chief, made the comment while speaking to a regional news channel.

Incidentally, Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray has often been quoted as saying that he was proud if any of his Sainiks took part in the demolition of the disputed structure.

"I was placed there by the Bajrang Dal for three-four months to facilitate kar sevaks arriving in Ayodhya. People participating were either from Bajrang Dal, VHP or Durga Vahini. Former Bihar state deputy CM (and senior BJP leader) Sushil Kumar Modi, legislator Harendra Kumar and I were given the task to manage the kar sevaks and ensure their safe passage," Patil claimed.

"We three were working there as national general secretaries. The RSS' strength was behind us but it did not participate openly. It had distributed its work to like minded organisations," Patil claimed.

Patil further said Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut keeps talking about the Babri Masjid demolition, adding he wondered if the latter was even there at the temple town in Uttar Pradesh at the time.

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He also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray for accusing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of stealing the legacy of Bal Thackeray.

The late Shiv Sena founder was not the property of anyone and was someone who was hugely respected by the people, Patil added.

"Balasaheb is the property of all Hindus and everyone is free to use his name (legacy)," said Patil.

The Shiv Sena split in June last year after the rebellion by Shinde, who got the party name and 'bow and arrow' symbol, while Uddhav Thackeray's faction was christened Shiv Sena (UBT) with a flaming torch as its symbol.
Xi inspects south China's Guangdong Province

Xinhua) 14:34, April 11, 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a mariculture base in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

GUANGZHOU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province.

He first went to the city of Zhanjiang, where he visited a mariculture base, an area of mangrove forests, a port, and a water resource allocation project.

Xi learned about efforts in developing marine aquaculture, strengthening the protection of mangrove forests, boosting transportation infrastructure connectivity, advancing the collaborative development of Guangdong with its neighboring island province of Hainan, and optimizing water resource allocation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about efforts in developing marine aquaculture at a mariculture base in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about efforts in developing marine aquaculture at a mariculture base in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about efforts in developing marine aquaculture at a mariculture base in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a mariculture base in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a port in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about efforts in boosting transportation infrastructure connectivity and advancing the collaborative development of Guangdong with its neighboring island province of Hainan at a port in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a port in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a port in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a port in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learns about efforts in strengthening the protection of mangrove forests at an area of mangrove forests in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits an area of mangrove forests in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a water resource allocation project in Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, April 10, 2023. Xi on Monday inspected south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)


With this, Pilot has opened a front against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, with whom he has been at loggerheads ever since the Congress formed the government in the desert state in December 2018. Disregarding a warning issued to him by the Congress, former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot sat on a daylong fast at the Shaheed Smarak here on Tuesday to demand action in cases of alleged corruption related to the previous BJP government in the state.



Unfazed by the warning of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who said any such protest against the state government would amount to anti-party activity and go against the party's interest, Pilot launched his fast. Pilot was the Rajasthan Congress chief when the party came to power in the state.



A banner put up at the venue of Pilot's gitation read -- "Vasundhara Sarkar Me Hue Bhrastachar ke Viruddh Anshan". The song "Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye" was also being played in the background. He offered floral tributes to social reformer Jyotirao Phule at his portrait and then launched his fast at 11 am. The fast will continue till 4 pm.

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Before arriving at the Shaheed Smarak, Pliot went to the 22 Godown Circle from his residence and offered tributes to Phule at his statue. No incumbent MLA of the ruling party went to the venue of the fast as they were asked by Pilot not to come, but several other leaders and his supporters, including MLA Santosh Saharan and Ramnarayan Gurjar, were present.



Pilot's agitation amid a factional feud in the Congress is being seen as an attempt to put pressure on the party high-command to resolve the leadership issue in the state ahead of the Assembly polls due by the year-end. Pilot announced his decision to sit on a fast at a press conference here on Sunday. He also targeted the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan for not taking action against alleged corruption of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, led by Vasundhara Raje.



"If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed at party forums instead of in the media and in public," Randhawa said. Taking strong objection to the proposed "dharna" by Pilot, Randhawa issued a statement on Monday night, saying the former Union minister's daylong fast would be against the party's interests.



"This is clearly anti-party activity. I am in touch with him (Pilot) and I still appeal for dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress," Randhawa said. He said he has been the AICC in-charge of Rajasthan for five months and Pilot never discussed any such issue with him during this period.



The Congress high-command appointed Gehlot to the top post for a third time and Pilot was made his deputy. The tussle between Gehlot and Pilot began during the formation of the government in December 2018 over the chief minister's post.



Following the revolt by Pilot and 18 other MLAs, Gehlot used terms such as "gaddar" (traitor), "nakara" (failure) and "nikamma" (worthless) for his former deputy and accused him of being involved with BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government in the state. In July 2020, Pilot and a section of Congress MLAs rebelled openly against Gehlot, demanding a change of leadership in the state. It led to a month-long political crisis that ended after the party high-command's assurance to look into the issues raised by Pilot.



In September last year, a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting was convened at the chief minister' residence to pass a one-line resolution authorising the party high-command to take a decision on a change in the state leadership as Gehlot was in the race for the party president's post. Pilot has been demanding that the party leadership take action on the issues raised by him.



Right before former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan from Madhya Pradesh in November last year, Gehlot again targeted Pilot, calling him a "gaddar" in an interview with a television news channel. However, the meeting could not take place because a parallel meeting was convened at the residence of the state parliamentary affairs minister, where many of the Congress MLAs offered their resignation letters addressed to the Assembly speaker against any move of the party high-command to make Pilot the new chief minister.

Pilot responded to it, saying it does not befit his upbringing to use such language.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Monday denied having any connection with the petition filed by a Mumbai-based lawyer in the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of all movable and immovable property belonging to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Shinde faction.

"The petition filed by one Dr Ashish Giri has not been filed on behalf of the party and the lawyer has no relation with the Shiv Sena," Naresh Mhaske, Shiv Sena State convenor and spokesperson said.

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to restrain the Uddhav Thackeray group from alienating movable or immovable assets of the Shiv Sena party and it should be transferred to the new party president.

The plea filed by Mumbai-based lawyer Ashish Giri sought direction to restrain Thackeray group from transferring party funds.

"All the movable and immovable assets of shiv sena along with the frontal organisations and aligning organisations be transferred to the new party president as per the order of ECI," it stated.

The advocate said that the funds and assets were collected by all the workers and leaders of any political party and there is no personal gain or rights of any group, if the party divided in two or more groups.

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"The original party name and its symbol is given to any group by the Election Commission of India, the funds, assets and moveable and immovable property should be kept with original party. Any leader of any political party can not keep its assets and moveable and immovable properties personally and cannot divert to any other accounts or names," the plea added.

Following the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to allot the party name 'Shiv Sena' and the symbol 'Bow and Arrow' to the Eknath Shinde-led faction, leaders from Uddhav Thackeray's camp fear that the former will now stake its claim to Shiv Sena Bhavan, local party offices, also known as shakhas, and the party funds, the petition stated.

There are various petitions pending before the apex court filed by both the rival factions Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in relation to the Maharashtra political crisis.
In an obvious message to China, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said today's India is not what it was in 1962 but a country that belongs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

In the presence of Shah, Khandu also said it was perhaps for the first time that a Union home minister came to a place located so close to the border with China.

Shah was here on Monday to launch the Modi government's ambitious "Vibrant Villages Programme" (VVP) to ensure all-round development of the villages located along the northern border.

China had, on Monday, objected to Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

"It is not an India of 1962. Today, it is Narendra Modi's India, it is Amit Shah's India," Khandu said amid applause from the audience that mostly consisted of those living close to the Sino-Indian border.

India had faced Chinese aggression in 1962 and Kibithoo and neighbouring Walong had witnessed a fierce battle between the Indian Army and the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).

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Khandu's remarks also bear significance as they came days after Beijing announced Chinese names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, which the neighbouring country claims as the southern part of Tibet.

The chief minister said the Modi government has been wholeheartedly supporting the all-round development of the northeast, especially Arunachal Pradesh.

As part of the "Vibrant Villages Programme", the BJP-led Centre will provide Rs 4,800 crore for the development of villages all along the northern border -- from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

Shah had said the objective of the programme is to stop the exodus of people, develop the villages as tourists attractions, generate jobs and usher in an era of all-round development.

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 on coverage, including 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh.

The VVP will help improve the quality of life of residents in identified villages and encourage people to stay put at their native places, thereby reversing out-migration from these villages and adding to the security of the border, officials said.

The district administration, with the help of appropriate mechanisms at the block and panchayat levels, will prepare action plans for the identified villages to ensure a 100-per cent saturation of the 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.

At the function, Shah also launched nine micro hydel projects of the Arunachal Pradesh government that are being constructed under the "Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme" for the benefits of those living along the border areas.

Besides the locals, the electricity generated in these mini hydel projects will also be given to Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) installations.


Cryptocurrencies are a very important part of the discussion under Indias G20 Presidency, given so many collapses and shocks in cryptocurrencies. We seek to develop a common framework for all countries to deal with this matter. We are not expecting all of them to agree to it, but at least discuss (it), said Sitharaman. To deal with the risks accompanying cryptocurrencies in the wake of recent shocks in the cryptocurrency market, developing a common framework to tackle the digital currency risks will be the primary focus under Indias Group of 20 (G20) Presidency, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told an American think-tank in response to a query, on Tuesday.



Sitharaman is currently visiting the US. Her visit started Tuesday, and she will be there for a week. She will be attending spring meetings and a G20 finance ministers meeting. Last year, following a spat with Binance, the Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange FTX had gone bankrupt, which triggered a huge sell-off in the market and reduced liquidity, thus highlighting the vulnerability of cryptocurrencies as an asset class.



In G20, there is an opportunity for India to bring all countries together to address debt distress in middle-income and low-income countries on account of continuing geopolitical tensions and the pandemic. Multilateral institutions are coming up with resolutions for debt-laden countries in three to five years, which is not excusable. Although, multilateral bodies are now speeding up the process, she said. Responding to a question on issues that will be of importance under the Indian Presidency, Sitharaman said that bringing together all countries to address the issue of debt distress of middle- and low-income countries will remain on top.

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I would love the World Trade Organization (WTO) to be a lot more progressive, listen a lot more to all countries, and be fair to all countries. It has to give more space to hear voices of countries that have something different to say, and not just hear, but also somewhat heed, because todays message for the WTO should be to have more openness, she said. On the question of the usefulness of multilateralism, Sitharaman said India is committed to open and free trade and is actively pursuing trade agreements with several countries and regional groups. Still, it would like multilateral institutions to hear the voice of many emerging countries as well.



You need to have value chains come to India, come and produce in India, not just for India, but to export from India, for which again, we have come up with a production-linked incentive scheme, particularly in 13 such areas, which are priority sectors, sunrise sectors, where India didnt produce at all earlier. At the same time, you need to get your raw material and intermediaries which otherwise you do not have. Its not as if youre going to be so blindfolded that youll just take a decision and itll have no impact whatsoever outside, she said. Sitharaman also said that to achieve a level playing field in global trade, it is necessary to prioritise domestic production, as India hopes to produce and meet both internal and external demands, although there will be some collateral damage in the process.



Funding is there, but not available. Committed, but not disbursed yet. So the $100 billion weve been talking about has not happened at all. That could be something many countries will want to speak about, she said. During her interaction, Sitharaman also drew attention towards a lack of funding for developing countries to achieve their climate objectives. She said India has come up with very ambitious, nationally determined goals in its fight against climate change and has been meeting its climate commitments through its funding.
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Shares of Neogen Chemicals surged 5 per cent to Rs 1,491.40 in Tuesdays intra-day trade, after the company signed agreement with Japanese MU Ionic Solutions Corporation (MUIS). In the past three trading days, the stock of specialty chemicals rallied 15 per cent, as against 0.3 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex, as of 9:20 am.Neogen is one of Indias leading manufacturers of Brominebased, and Lithium-based specialty chemicals. 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.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, USA, UK and China.As per the agreement terms, Neogen will obtain license from MUIS for proprietary and confidential manufacturing technology for making Neogens electrolyte solutions at its manufacturing facility in India, with a planned max installed capacity of up to 30,000 metric tonne (MT) per annum. These electrolytes will be targeted by Neogen to meet the growing demand of lithium-ion cell manufacturers in India.The agreement will allow Neogen to ensure manufacturing plants meet stringent global standards for quality, reliability, safety and efficiency for electrolytes production."It will also help Neogen to greatly reduce approval times with lithium-ion battery makers. Neogen is honoured to be a recipient of this first-ever license issued by MUIS the part of MCC of electrolyte manufacturing technology anywhere in the globe," the company said.This acquisition, therefore, will help Neogen to strengthen its position in the electrolyte market in India, said analysts at ICICI Securities."The standardised Japanese technology can help to improve battery performance, including power output and lifetime, with functional additives tailored to the purpose, which will ultimately led to gain customers confidence in domestic market. The capex for additional electrolyte capacity beyond the earlier guidance of 10,000 MT by FY26 will depend upon additional demand from customer," the brokerage firm added.
The Appropriation Bill, which empowers the government to withdraw money from the Consolidated Fund of India to spend under various schemes and projects, was also passed quickl

The passage of the Budget was preceded by the guillotining of as many as 102 demands for grants on March 23. These grants were part of the Budget and placed before the Lok Sabha for discussion. But since no deliberation was possible, these were deemed as passed or guillotined in accordance with the rules followed by the Indian Parliament.
I searched Google N-gram for the occurrence of the term honest enterprise from 1800 till the present time. The frequency of occurrence of honest enterprise was initially low, suggesting the topic was not prominent. Around 1900 (robber baron years), it shot up to a peak of 328 index. The use of the term, honest enterprise, collapsed thereafter, and is n

In just the last week, China arrested an executive of Japans second largest pharmaceutical company, Astellas, on charges of espionage, and news came that EY in the United States is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for failing to report cheating in the professional exam by its employees. We hear every day, and with increasing frequency, about Icarus-like enterprises, which fly too close to the Sun, like Winsome Diamonds, Kingfisher, SVB, and Credit Suisse. Contemporary surveys suggest that public trust in companies is low, perhaps at a nadir. Is this state inevitable?


On Tuesday morning, the company took wraps off to reveal the barricade for Apple Saket. It features a design that takes inspiration from Delhis many gates, each signifying a new chapter to the citys history. Apple on Tuesday announced that it will open its doors to customers at two new retail locations in India from next week. The Apple BKC in Mumbai will be open to the public from April 18, and the Apple Saket in Delhi on April 20. These new retail locations mark a significant expansion in India that will offer great new ways to browse, discover, and buy Apple products with exceptional service and experiences for customers, said the company in a statement.



Apple BKC, Mumbai The colourful artwork celebrates Apples second store in India  located right in the nations capital. Beginning April 20, customers will be able to stop by to explore Apples latest product lineup, find creative inspiration, and get personalised service and support from the stores team of Specialists, Creatives, and Geniuses, said Apple.

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Ahead of opening day, Apple is inviting customers to download custom Apple BKC and Apple Saket wallpapers, and specially curated playlists on Apple Music. The Apple BKC opens Tuesday, April 18, at 11 am, and Apple Saket will open for customers April 20 at 10 am.



In celebration of the first Apple Store opening in India, Apple BKC has announced a special Today at Apple series  Mumbai Rising  running from opening day through the summer. With this activity Apple aims to bring together visitors, local artists, and creatives. Apple said these sessions will offer hands-on activities with Apples products and services that celebrate the local community and culture in Mumbai. Customers need to sign up at Apple India web port to explore the Mumbai Rising sessions.
A total of 100 Ukrainian captives, including 20 women, were released in the latest prisoner swap with Russia, Ukrainian authorities have said.

Among those freed were Ukrainian army soldiers, national guard and navy servicemen, and border guards, Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President's Office, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

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.

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--IANS

int/sha
An estimated 7 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war.

Out of them, about 4.8 million people were officially registered within government agencies as internally displaced persons (IDPs), Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying, Xinhua news agency reported.

Some 1 million children were forced to leave their homes due to the war, but are residing inside Ukraine, Vereshchuk noted.

According to the latest UN estimates, more than 8.1 million people have fled Ukraine for European countries after the start of the war.

--IANS

int/sha

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Twitter Inc.s former chief executive officer revealed the US Justice Department and the US Securities and Exchange Commission investigated the social-media platform in the past as part of his effort to force the company to cover legal fees related to lawsuits and government probes.

-By Jef Feeley



Agrawal said in the complaint his lawyer was contacted by representatives of the Justice Department late in 2022 regarding certain investigations related to the company. He didnt elaborate. The New York Times had reported on the lawsuit earlier. Parag Agrawal, ousted last year by new owner Elon Musk, and other former executives said in a Delaware Chancery Court lawsuit Monday that theyve spent more than $1 million on lawyers in connection with the probes and shareholder lawsuits over their management of the firm.



Twitters former managers claim in their suit that their lawyers have sent repeated letters to Twitters attorneys outlining the legal expenses theyve racked up, but the company is violating its own bylaws by refusing to advance money to cover their expenses, according to the 20-page complaint filed Monday. Musk had been contacted earlier in 2022 by the SEC and the Federal Trade Commission over his initial disclosure of acquiring a major stake in Twitter. The billionaires lawyers sought to limit disclosures of the contacts with the government, citing confidentiality rules around communications with attorneys.

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Representatives of San Francisco-based Twitter didnt respond to an email seeking comment on the suit. Other executives demanding Twitter advance legal fees include Vijaya Gadde, its former top lawyer and Ned Segal, Twitter onetime chief financial officer There can be no legitimate dispute that my clients are involved in these proceedings by reason of the fact each was an officer of the company, and therefore the company is obligated to advance the expenses we have submitted, Dave Anderson, a lawyer for the ex-Twitter managers, said in a March 23 letter to the platforms attorneys. Anderson is with Sidley Austin LLP based in Chicago.



Over the last year, Musk has launched a massive cost-cutting effort at Twitter, laying off thousands of workers and refusing to pay leases negotiated by former managers. The billionaire faces more than $1.5 billion in debt payments this year over the acquisition as advertising revenue has plummeted. Twitter is facing several investor suits over the fallout from Musks purchase of the platform for $44 billion last year after his failed effort to get out of the deal. Its also facing suits by other former Twitter employees who claim they were wrongfully denied promised stock grants after getting laid off.

The case is Agrawal v. Twitter Inc., No. 2023-0409, Delaware Chancery Court (Wilmington)
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.

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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.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has condemned China's military drills in the Taiwan Strait, saying Tuesday that China did not demonstrate the responsible behaviour of a major Asian nation.

China's three-day, large-scale drills that ended Monday were retaliation for Tsai's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week on her tour of Taiwan's official and unofficial allies.

As the president, I represent our country in the world, whether it's a visit to allied countries or stopping through in the U.S. and interacting with our international friends, and not only has this been going on for years, it's the Taiwanese people's shared expectation, Tsai said in a short statement.

But China used this as a pretext to start military drills, creating instability in the Taiwan Strait and region. This is not the attitude of a responsible major nation in this region."



China sees such meetings as encouraging people who formal independence for the island, a step China's ruling Communist Party says would lead to war.

The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the government says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

The People's Liberation Army issued a threat as it concluded the exercises.

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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 PLA's eastern command said in a statement.

In recent years, China has been increasing its military presence in the Taiwan Strait, with warplanes being sent on a near-daily basis and military drills being conducted in the waters and skies near Taiwan.

Last August, after then-Speaker Nancy 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 exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting more than 200 flights by Chinese warplanes.

On Monday alone, Taiwan's defence ministry tracked 91 flights by Chinese warplanes.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the PLA, said the exercises simulated sealing off the island and striking important targets in waves.

Tsai also urged the public to not believe any disinformation about Taiwan's defences, saying the military was fulfilling its duties and the public should encourage the forces.

Our nation's soldiers and national security team will continue to stand fast at their posts to defend our country," she said.

As of Tuesday morning, Taiwan's defence ministry said eight Chinese navy vessels were still in the waters surrounding the island.
BYD releases the BYD DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, dedicated to new energy vehicles (NEV) with a lineup of DiSus-C, DiSus-A, and DiSus-P.

The BYD DiSus System is the first full-stack self-developed intelligent body control system launched by a Chinese automobile company.

The BYD DiSus System assures the safety and reliability required in different driving scenarios, empowering an upgrade across BYD brands.



BYD, the worlds leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles (NEV), today released the BYD DiSus Intelligent Body Control System (DiSus System) through its technology launch event held in its headquarters at Shenzhen. The full stack self-developed BYD DiSus System is exclusively designed for NEV, representing BYD becomes the first Chinese automobile manufacturer to own the intelligent vehicle body control technology throughout. The BYD DiSus System significantly improves the driving experience for its users.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005261/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

The BYD DiSus System is profiled in three branches, including 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).

After making breakthroughs in core NEV-related technologies. BYD took the lead in researching vertical motion control, outpacing its peers in providing systematic solutions to vertical motion control and mastering the intelligent body control system technology for NEVs.

The BYD DiSus System is the first self-developed intelligent body control system launched by a Chinese automobile company, marking the breakthrough from zero to one. The BYD DiSus System will further secure the globally pioneering stance for BYD in the industry, said Mr. Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD.

A systematic solution for vehicle body control, redefining intelligent and luxury driving experience

Differentiated from the solutions only focused on a single technology or a single component enhancement, BYD offers a systematic solution for vertical motion control.

The BYD DiSus System makes full use of NEVs advantages in electrification and intelligence to build up a comprehensive system of perception, decision-making, and execution to significantly improve the driving experience. Meanwhile, the BYD DiSus System offers collaborative control in body dynamics (lateral, longitudinal, and vertical motions), which provides a foundation for the future development of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

DiSus-P will be firstly equipped on Yangwang U8 and DiSus-A on DENZA N7. A number of BYD HAN, BYD TANG and DENZA models with hardware availability will be able to equip DiSus-C through over-the-air (OTA) upgrade.

Safety is the real luxury

The BYD DiSus System is another technology breakthrough following a series of key vehicle technologies including the DM Super Hybrid technology, e-Platform 3.0, Blade Battery, and e4 Platform.

As a systematic body control system, the BYD DiSus System ensures 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. In addition, the BYD DiSus System can protect the vehicle from scratches and damages under a variety of road conditions such as snowy, muddy, and water areas.

The BYD DiSus System, designed for ultimate safety and intelligent driving experience, is uplifting the BYD brand image through cutting-edge NEV technology. The BYD DiSus System will be available in several models under the BYD Dynasty series, BYD Ocean series, DENZA, Yangwang, and the new brand launching this summer that specializes in professional and personalized identities.

The Easter egg, DiSus-X

At the end of the event, the reveal of DiSus-X is the painted egg for this evening. The Yangwang U9 equipped with DiSus-X showcased its ability to dance, jump and drive even with only three wheels, and this is an extraordinary example of the BYD DiSus System - the most advanced vehicle body control system of the industry globally.

As a global leader in new energy vehicles, BYD keeps driving technological advancement with a technology-based, innovation-oriented mindset and approach, with the aspiration to take the development of Chinese new energy vehicles to the next level globally and the commitment to providing technological innovations for a better life.

About BYD

BYD is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1995 as a rechargeable battery maker, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics, with over 30 industrial parks in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and India. From energy generation and storage to its applications, BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. Its new energy vehicle footprint now covers 6 continents, over 70 countries and regions, and more than 400 cities. Listed in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, the company is known to be a Fortune Global 500 enterprise that furnishes innovations in pursuit of a greener world.

For more information, please visit www.bydglobal.com.

About BYD Auto

Founded in 2003, BYD Auto is the automotive subsidiary of BYD, a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Aiming to accelerate the green transition of the global transportation sector, BYD Auto focuses on developing pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company has mastered the core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, such as batteries, electric motors, electronic controllers, and automotive-grade semiconductors. It has witnessed in recent years significant technological advancements, including the Blade Battery, the DM-i and DM-p hybrid technology, the e-Platform 3.0, and the CTB technology. The company is the worlds first carmaker to stop the production of fossil-fueled vehicles on EV shift and has remained top of new energy passenger vehicle sales in China for 9 years in a row.

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Cadence Design Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of Cadence Design Systems, Inc., today announced that it has partnered with Vidya & Child and completed the construction of a school for underprivileged children in Noida. The school construction was funded by Cadence, which worked closely with Vidya & Child, a non-government organization (NGO), to ensure the building was architected to the highest standards.

The school has been fully operational since February 2023 and provides an encouraging learning environment for more than 300 students from the surrounding area of Khoda Village (Noida, Uttar Pradesh). Most of the students are first-generation learners whose parents are daily wage earners from underserved areas of the local community. The school caters to students from nursery to eighth standard, after which students are enrolled in mainstream schools in the locality. After the students join mainstream schools, they continue to attend Vidya & Child School for additional educational support and extra-curricular activities.

The new school features modern and environmentally friendly amenities, including electricity backup through solar energy, rainwater harvesting, a dedicated computer lab, and a STEM lab. In addition to monetary and advisory support for the construction, Cadence also provided laptops to the schools STEM lab in order to encourage students to pursue careers in technology.

Cadence has been a long-standing Vidya & Child partner for the past 23 years, supporting several of its after-school centers. A notable highlight of this collaboration is the Vidya & Child center in Barola, Noida, which has benefitted 400 students. Additionally, 25 students from the Barola center have joined the Cadence Scholarship Program, which has provided higher education scholarship funding and mentorship support.

Empowering underprivileged children with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve their full potential is a major focus area for Cadences CSR activities. We are proud to have helped build this school for the betterment of these children, and in particular, providing a conducive environment for girls to study STEM. The school paves the way for educational opportunities that may not have otherwise existed, said Jaswinder Ahuja, corporate VP and India managing director, Cadence. This latest collaboration with Vidya & Child furthers our commitment to cultivating local talent, encouraging girls to study and making an impact in our local communities.

Supriya Akhaury, founder trustee and director of Vidya & Child said, Vidya & Child was started with the belief that every child needs access to good-quality, holistic education that allows them to strive for opportunities equally in todays world. Over the years, Cadence has provided Vidya & Child with both financial and advisory support, which has helped educate more than 2,000 children, 400 of whom have completed schooling with Vidya & Child and are now either in college or have joined the workforce. By establishing this new school with Cadence, were jointly creating a way for local children to obtain a competitive skill set that can prepare them for more advanced schooling later in life and fuel inspiration for future career paths.

About Cadence

Cadence is a pivotal leader in electronic systems design, building upon more than 30 years of computational software expertise. The company applies its underlying Intelligent System Design strategy to deliver software, hardware and IP that turn design concepts into reality. Cadence customers are the worlds most innovative companies, delivering extraordinary electronic products from chips to boards to complete systems for the most dynamic market applications, including hyperscale computing, 5G communications, automotive, mobile, aerospace, consumer, industrial and healthcare. For nine years in a row, the Great Place to Work Institute in India has named Cadence one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn more at cadence.com.

 2023 Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Cadence, the Cadence logo and the other Cadence marks found at www.cadence.com/go/trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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ExaGrid, the industrys only Tiered Backup Storage solution, today announced that it had its strongest Q1 in the companys history, for the quarter ending March 31, 2023.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005306/en/

ExaGrid had a record first quarter of 2023 and grew over 20% as compared to Q1 of 2022. ExaGrid continues to grow at over 20% per year while maintaining positive P&L, EBITDA, and free cash flow. ExaGrid added 141 new customers in Q1 2023, including over 60 six-figure new customer deals. The new customer ASP was once again well over $100K in the quarter. ExaGrid has more than 3,800 active upper mid-market to large enterprise customers that use ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage to protect their data. ExaGrids growth is accelerating, and the company is hiring to expand its sales teams worldwide.

ExaGrid is continuing to expand its reach and now has sales teams in over 30 countries worldwide and has customer installations in over 80 countries. We have also added dedicated sales teams for the large enterprise and large IT Outsourcer organizations. Outside of the United States, our business in Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific is rapidly growing, said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid.

Years ago, ExaGrid realized that no vendor was building storage specifically for backup, as they were all selling primary storage products as backup storage targets which is expensive or they were selling inline deduplication appliances, which are slow for backups and restores and result in costly forklift upgrades. Backup storage has unique needs, due to large backup jobs, incrementals, synthetic fulls, backup rotation, long-term retention and many other aspects that make backup different than primary storage. ExaGrids unique Tiered Backup Storage was built specifically to improve backup performance, restore performance, scalability as data grows, security, ransomware recovery, disaster recovery and the economics of backup, with low costs up front and over time, said Andrews. Primary storage is not as fast for large backup jobs, is typically not scalable, and it is very expensive for longer-term retention, and it is network-facing making it vulnerable to security attacks. Inline deduplication appliances are slow for backups, slow for restores, are not scalable, and are also network-facing making them vulnerable to security attacks.

ExaGrid prides itself on having a highly differentiated product that just works, does what we say it does, is sized properly, is well supported, and just gets the job done. We can back up these claims with our 95% net customer retention, NPS score of +81, and the fact that 92% of our customers have our Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery feature turned on, and 99.2% of our customers are on our yearly maintenance and support plan, said Andrews.

Highlights of Q1 2023:

Strong competitive win rate at 74.5% for the quarter

Brought on 141 new customers

Over 60 six-figure new customer deals and 3 seven-figure new customer deals

Sales and support teams in 30 countries and customer installations in over 80 countries

Company remains Cash, EBITDA, and P&L positive over the last 10 quarters

More than 3,800 customers protect their data with ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage

ExaGrid has a customer retention of 95% and over 99% of customers are on a yearly maintenance and support contract

NPS Score of +81

About ExaGrid

ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, and scale-out architecture. ExaGrids Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrids scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier, delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks.

ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iberia, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions.

Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score!

ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

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Startek (NYSE: SRT), a global customer experience (CX) solutions provider, announced today that the Company has won the Bronze Stevie Award in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards. The Company was recognized in the Customer Service Award category for its exceptional work in helping clients navigate and overcome challenging customer experience scenarios.

"We are thrilled to be recognized in the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards," said Bharat Rao, Global CEO, Startek. "This award is a great motivator for us to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible and delivering outstanding results to our clients. We remain committed to enhancing our customer experience management solutions, leveraging the latest technology and tools to drive innovation that supports our clients to achieve their goals."

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all 29 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. The Stevie Awards are widely considered to be the world's premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in programs such as The International Business Awards for 21 years. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for crowned, the winners will be celebrated during a virtual (online) awards ceremony on Tuesday, 27 June.

The 10th edition of the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards attracted many remarkable nominations, said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. The organizations that won this year have demonstrated that they are committed to being innovative and we applaud them for their perseverance and creativity. We look forward to celebrating many of this years winners during our virtual awards ceremony on 27 June.

This year, over 800 nominations were reviewed from organizations across the Asia-Pacific region, covering categories such as the Award for Excellence in Innovation in Products & Services, the Award for Innovative Management, and the Award for Innovation in Corporate Websites, among several others. Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 100 executives around the world acting as judges in February and March.

About Startek

Startek is a global provider of tech-enabled customer experience (CX) management solutions, digital transformation, and technology services to leading brands. Startek is committed to impacting clients business outcomes by enhancing customer experience and digital and AI enablement across all touchpoints and channels. Present in 13 countries, Startek has more than 43,000 CX experts servicing clients across a range of industries, including banking and financial services, insurance, technology, telecom, healthcare, travel and hospitality, e-commerce, consumer goods, retail, energy and utilities. To learn more, visit www.startek.com

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

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A sandstorm darkens the sky in an urban area of Jinan on April 11. Photo: VCG

Beijing residents woke up to dust-laden winds and yellow skies Tuesday as the capital and many other parts of China were hit by yet another sandstorm from neighboring Mongolia, sending air pollution soaring to extremely hazardous levels.

Across most of Beijing at 8 a.m., concentration levels of PM10, fine particles that are damaging to the lungs, exceeded 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 20 times the one-day maximum average recommended by the World Health Organization, according to the Beijing Municipal Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center.
Bihar Board Compartment Intermediate Exam 2023: The Bihar School Examination Board will going to conduct the Bihar Board Class 12th compartment examination from April 20, 2023. The board has uploaded the admit card on the BSEB official website at seniorsecondary.biharboardonline.com.

Students should note that this is the admit card for the practical exams. The admit card for the BSEB inter compartment exam admit card will be made available soon.

The BSEB board stated that the students will receive their admit cards for the practical examination with the necessary seal and signature. BSEB has also provided the helpline number to contact 0612-2230039, if they face any issues while downloading their admit cards.

The BSEB ended the Bihar Board Class 10th compartment exam registration yesterday, April 10, 2023. Students will have to obtain 30% of the total marks in theory and 40% of total marks in practical exams in each subject to pass the class 10 matric exam.

Students who were not satisfied with their exam they have applied for the re-checking their answer sheets till April1, 2023. Over 13 lakh candidates have been appaered for the BSEB Class 12th compartment exam. Around 10,51,948 students have passed the Bihar Board class 12th exam.
NEET UG 2023: The National Testing Agency will going to re-open the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET UG 2023 ) registration window today, April 11, 2023. Candidates can apply for the NEET UG 2023 exam till April 13, 2023.

Candidates should note that the deadline to accept the application fees is April 13, 2023.

The NEET application window is r-open for those candidates who have not completed their application form and for those candidates who have not applied yet for the examination. Students will have to visit to the official website to apply for the NEET 2023 at neet.nta.nic.in. NTA has scheduled to conduct the NEET UG 2023 examination on May 7 from 2pm. The examination will be conducted for the duration of 3 hours 20 minutes in pen and paper mode.

NEET UG 2023: Steps to Apply

Students are required to follow the steps given below to apply for NEET UG 2023

Visit to the NTA website at neet.nta.nic.in.

On the homepage, open the NEET 2023 application form link under candidates activity.

Register and fill in your login credentials.

Now, login and fill your application form.

Fill all the details, make the payment and click submit.

Now, download the application form and take a print out of it for future use.

Those candidates who have any queries or issues regarding the NEET UG form filling and fee payment process can contact at 011- 40759000 or email at neet@nta.ac.in. Earlier, the NEET UG 2023 application form was released on March 6.

According to the reports, over 21 lakh candidates have registered for the exam. To apply for NEET UG 2023 exam, candidates will have to register, fill out the application form by entering personal details and upload the required documents. To successfully submit the application form, it is mandatory to pay the NEET UG 2023 application fee. Once the form is duly filled, candidates should download the confirmation page as it may be required for further processing.
UPSC NDA AND NA(1) Exam: The Union Public Service Commission will going to conduct the NDA 1 2023 exam on April 16 in two shifts in afternoon and forenoon. Candidates who are going top appear for the exam they have been issued the admit cards on March 24, 2023.

The written exam for the NDA 1 2023 is divided into two subjects 1, GAT and Maths and carries 900 marks.

NDA 1 exam analysis 2023 and answer key will be provided as soon as the exam gets over.

With just a few days left for the exam, candidates must focus on revision and attempt mock tests. Candidates must also solve previous years' question papers and attempt mock tests. Candidates clearing the written exam are called for the

interview.

NDA 1 notification 2023 was released on December 21 to fill up a total of 395 vacancies. Interested candidates could fill their application forms till January 12, 2023. NDA 2 notification 2023 will be released on May 17, 2023. The application form will be available from May 17 to June 6, 2023. NDA 2 2023 exam will be conducted on September 3.

For aspirants who want to apply for the defence exams after Class 12, NDA is the best choice for them. UPSC conducts National Defence Academy & Naval Academy examination to select eligible candidates who have passed Class 12 for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of National Defence Academy and Indian Naval Academy courses. The selection process comprises the written exam and SSB interview.

NDA 1 2023 notification was released on December 21, 2022. The online applications was accepted till January 12, 2023. The notification was released for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 148th Course and the 110th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from January 2024.

UPSC NDA and NA(1)Exam 2023: Important Schedule
Every year, thousands of candidates go to various regions of the world to pursue higher education. The worldwide learning environment has become exceptionally welcoming and flexible in terms of enabling students with a wide range of academic backgrounds and passions. Some educational standards must be reached, nevertheless, to get admission to overseas universities and institutions.

Aspirants can accommodate these benchmarks based on their admission exam scores. pupils who achieve better test results may be eligible for scholarships and other types of financial aid for a more accessible and effective education.

While the worldwide overseas study scene has expanded dramatically to enable pupils with different educational experiences and backgrounds, some educational standards must still be completed to qualify for admittance to a university or college overseas. They are obtained by passing extremely competitive global entrance tests. Competitive study abroad' tests can also help you earn scholarships and other kinds of monetary assistance.

Let's go through the exams for the students to study abroad

List of Examinations

Graduate Record Examination - GRE

Another prominent exam among Indian students wishing to study in the United States or Canada is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). It is a reasonably standardised test that assesses the candidate's verbal, mathematical, and general reasoning skills, however, the structure has evolved considerably over the years.

International English Language Testing System - IELTS

It is an English language evaluation exam that is primarily utilized by students interested in studying abroad. The British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations collaborated to create, develop, and manage IELTS. This ranks among the most common English Language Exams taken by students looking to study abroad.

Pearson Language Examination - PTE

Major universities and institutions in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and English Britain embrace PTE. It evaluates your skills in communication by assessing your writing, composing, presenting, and understanding capabilities.

Scholastic Aptitude Test - SAT

The SAT is used for undergraduate admissions in the United States and Canada. The SAT is a written exam that assesses students' verbal and mathematical abilities. The College Board administers the SAT. The exam is available in two formats: with an essay and without an essay, each lasting 3 hours and 50 minutes.

Test of English as a Foreign Language - TOEFL

The TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, assesses non-native English communicators' capacity to evaluate and interpret the language at the collegiate level. Several schools and universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries prefer applicants to have a minimum Grade to qualify for admission.

Graduate Management Admission Test - GMAT

This is the preferred exam for MBA candidates who are interested in studying overseas. It is used as part of the admissions process at top management and business schools throughout the world. It measures management and business skills including problem-solving, logical and rational thought, insightful writing, and more.

Medical College Admission Test - MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required for admission to medical school in the United States. The MCAT is a multiple-choice exam used to assess an examinee's aptitude and understanding of relevant areas. MCAT is a standardised and dependable method of assessing the millions of medicine learners who are interested in learning in the United States each year.

Law School Admission Test - LSAT

Law School Entrance Exam is a graduate standardized test taken by students enrolling in law schools in nations such as the United States, Canada, and other. It assesses skills considered crucial for a legal career.
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...
The Carter Center has a long history in Sudan  in fact, 70% of the countrys population hadnt even been born when we started working there.

We began in 1986 by helping farmers improve crop yields. In 1995, we started assisting the government in the battle against Guinea worm disease and river blindness. In 1999, we took up the fight against the eye disease trachoma.

The Center has also worked to help bring peace to Sudan. President Carter negotiated the famous Guinea worm cease-fire in 1995, providing a six-month respite from civil war during which health workers were able to access conflict zones. Weve observed elections and helped broker peace deals with neighbors. More recently, weve begun training young people to monitor the countrys transition from dictatorship to democracy.

Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander recently made her first trip to Sudan, spending a whirlwind week meeting staff and partners and witnessing both peace and health program activities. You can tag along with her in this video.

During the visit, Alexander:

Took part in the celebration of a major milestone in the Sudan Public Health Training Initiative  after nine years of Carter Center support, the Ministry of Health is now ready to take over the initiative, which helps medical institutions better train health workers to meet maternal and child health needs.

Visited a refugee camp where a Carter Center team was screening residents for trachoma.

Witnessed a surgery to reverse the painful, blinding effects of advanced trachoma.

Talked with young people about the revolution that ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir and their hopes for their countrys future.

Toured a Carter Center-established laboratory where the government screens black flies for the parasite that causes river blindness.

Spoke at a ceremony announcing that weve expanded our Sudan portfolio to include lymphatic filariasis, a mosquito-borne disease that can cause debilitating swelling of limbs.

Visited the Kosti Academy of Health Sciences to meet with professors and students using supplies provided by the Public Health Training Initiative.

"What a privilege to spend a week in a country where The Carter Center has such a rich history," Alexander said. "All of us at the Center are committed to continuing to partner with the Sudanese people to improve health and build a sustainable democracy."
Four days of excellent conditions here in Buenos Aires, from +16 knots to perfect flat mid range to 4 knots racing. Tight battle for the title till last race almost, Agustin Krevisky & Juan Martin Tigre Benitez prevailed of Cruz G Smith & Mariano Heuser, both Scorpion / 1D. Third position for Juan Pablo Sucic & Juan Cruz Benitez (Scorpion / Landenberger) who pushed hard to the International Arg crews and were 3pts from the leaders reaching last day.

4th for Vilate & Dorbessan who continue to pressure for the podium.

We had a visitor from Chile, Paulo Gabella was invited by Agustin, and raced his former 2015 Scorpion with the current owner as crew. He did pretty well for sailing first time this platform, first time crew and else. Paulo visited us already Worlds 2016 and is an avid racer in International events.

Plenty of fun as always racing F18s, downwinds day 1 with the Phantom F18 at 21 knots of speed were a blast. Happy to be racing again every regatta, which was not possible for me since 2016.

All photos: Flor Gonzalez Alzaga / Nautico San Isidro
Throwing AI into the cement decarbonisation mix

ICR Research By

Published 11 April 2023

While reducing the carbon footprint of the cement industry is a global challenge, there are technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), available today that are enabling cement producers to transition to net zero. By Carbon Re, UK.

There is no silver bullet to reduce carbon emissions in the cement industry. Achieving this by 2030 will require a collective effort from all stakeholders adopting multiple technologies. However, progress can be made on this front while maintaining product quality, particularly if the sector takes advantage of the newest breakthrough technologies available. Tools based on artificial intelligence (AI) are already helping global industries move forward on their sustainability goals and business objectives by improving on existing processes, making a sustainable return on investment that is good for both the environment and the economy.

To continue reading this story and get access to all News, Articles and Video sections of the CemNet.com website, please Register for a subscription to International Cement Review or Login
Taylor Conti sews the teddy bear shells at her sewing machine Pictured, left to right: Family Dynamics students Samantha Chapman, Lindsey Kennedy, Kaydence Gryder and Paige Angel stuff and finish the teddy bears Finished teddy bear Previous Next

Cleveland State Community College Early Childhood Education Family Dynamics class at the McMinn Center for Higher Education in Athens wanted to do something to support the children of Covenant Christian School in Nashville, where a shooter claimed three childrens' and three adults lives in March.Winona Christiansen, Cleveland State Early Childhood Education instructor, said, In our Family Dynamics class, students learn how to become effective partners alongside families and the community through early childhood education and advocacy.A portion of this class deals with current events and how they affect children, families, teachers and the community.After brainstorming several ideas, the class decided to make homemade teddy bears. Taylor Conti, a student who sews small teddy bears in her free time, volunteered to make 50 teddy bears. Conti cut out and sewed the teddy bears, then classmates met on their own time to stuff and finish the bears with an orange ribbon, the color representing gun violence against children. A note was attached to each bear with the message that stated, We care about you, and you are not alone. The teddy bears were sent to Nashville and will go to the victims families and the classroom of students who lost fellow students.Ms. Christiansen said, The hearts of the students can be felt throughout this whole project. I couldnt be more proud and humbled by their collaboration and compassion. They worked together, listened to each other and came together during their free time to complete this. They give me hope for the next generation of students, knowing they will be in the early childhood classroom.Dr. Ryan Thompson, Cleveland State dean of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, said, "Like others across our state and nation, I am horrified by the senseless tragedy at Covenant School in Nashville. But I am also inspired by the outreach of support for the students and families affected, including a group of our own students who are preparing to become teachers themselves. I am so proud of this group who want to demonstrate their care and concern for children they've never met by creating teddy bears for them. I hope the students in Nashville know that there is a whole community of people anxious to help and support them in their time of need."
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 Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution announces the winners of the school year 2022-2023 Elementary School Poster Contest. The winners in order were: 1st Place Miss Bella Lee, Griffith Elementary, 2nd Place Miss Any Kelley, Selmer Elementary, 3rd Place Miss Khloe Nolan, Griffith Elementary and 4th Place Miss Chloe Hughes, Griffith Elementary.

The society awarded the following prizes: 4th Place a Presidents Certificate, 3rd Place an SAR Outstanding Citizens Pin with Certificate and a check for $35, 2nd Place an SAR Outstanding Citizens Pin with Certificate and a check for $65 and 1st Place an SAR Good Citizenship Medal with Certificate and a check for $100.

The SARs elementary school poster contest is open to all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students interested in the American Revolution. The contest is open to public and private schools, parochial, home schooled, Scouting, or Children of the American Revolution member students in that same grade range.

Young artists with an enthusiasm toward art, a love of American history, were able to submit their posters to their local SAR chapters for the competition.

The John Sevier Chapter, TNSSAR sponsors students living in Bledsoe, Hamilton, Marion, and Sequatchie counties. One hundred seventy students from the Griffith Elementary School in Sequatchie County participated in this years contest which had the theme a Person or Persons of the Revolution. The seven 4th grade teachers selected the top three posters from each of their classes to be judged by the chapter prior to the 2022 Christmas break. The Chapter selected 10 posters to receive a cash prize and certificate with the three top scoring posters moving on to the District SAR level competition.

Posters created by Miss Bella Lee, Miss Khloe Nolan and Miss Chloe Hughes advanced to the District Level to compete against posters from several other South Eastern Tennessee Counties. The three students from Griffith were selected to represent the 3rd SAR District at the State Level round of the competition which was conducted at the Societys late March 2023 Annual Conference. The membership of TNSSAR voted on line and in person for the top three posters.

The Miss Bella Lees TNSSAR winning poster will travel to the SARs National Annual Congress meeting to be held at Orlando, Fl. in July where it will compete against the other state society winners.

The Americanism Poster Contest will begin again at the start of the 2023-2024 School Year with the theme of an Event of the Revolution. Students, parents and or teachers interested in participating in the poster contest can contact the John Sevier Chapter at email: johnsevierchapter@tnssar.org






Possible Betty Lou Gerson McCallie Avenue birth residence on left Former Marlboro Avenue home of Betty Lou Gersons aunt and uncle Former Marlboro Avenue home of Betty Lou Gersons aunt and uncle Movie posters for Betty Lou Gersons movies Gerson biography cover, left, and author Dr. Lona Bailey, right Previous Next

Many baby boomers and others from the Chattanooga area grew up watching the classic 1961 Walt Disney movie, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and hearing the voice of the villainess woman, Cruella de Vil.

Her mean, scary and authoritative voice with a slight British accent might sound like someone from faraway, but the person behind that voice  Betty Lou Gerson  was born in the Scenic City and spent her very early life here.

The collectively forgotten fact has come to the forefront with the recent publication of the first known biography of Ms. Gerson, The Voice of Villainy: The Betty Lou Gerson Story, by Dr. Lona Bailey of Manchester, Tn.

While known for the Cruella role, in real life Ms. Gerson was the opposite. The author said in a phone interview that her work on the book uncovered a very upbeat and positive woman with a winsome manner.

Dr. Bailey, who has a doctorate in psychology and has worked as a therapist and stay-at-home mother, had already written a book about Virginia Gregg, who was the also-distinctive voice of Norman Bates mother on the movie, Psycho.

The current book came about when Dr. Baileys oldest daughter was watching and enjoying the original movie, One Hundred and One Dalmatians. While Dr. Bailey was also watching it, the voice of the Cruella character caught her ear.

I said, These voices are great. Who is she? Her voice is very unique. I didnt recognize her name, but it said she was born in Chattanooga. I didnt think of her as a small-town Southern girl.

Ms. Gersons family would later move to Birmingham before moving to Chicago, where she got her first taste of radio dramatic work. After moving to New York in her 20s, she would become even better known for her voice talent, including with the soap opera The Guiding Light.

She later moved to Los Angeles and was in a few films, but it was her voice work with which she became best known. She was the narrator in the 1950 Walt Disney animated film, Cinderella, but would become most famous as the voice of Cruella in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

This woman who also had usually small on-camera parts in such movies as Mary Poppins and such television shows as Perry Mason died in 1999 at the age of 84 from a stroke.

The movie in which with she gained her greatest fame became more commonly called 101 Dalmatians. Disney also released a 1996 version of the movie, with which she was not involved on screen, although she was named a Disney Legend that year.

The 1961 version, based on a 1956 novel of the same name by Dodie Smith, was a financial hit for the Walt Disney Co. after struggling in the numbers ledger following the production of the expensive Sleeping Beauty.

The popular movie tells the story of some dalmatians being rescued by their dog parents from the sinister Cruella character, who wanted to sell their coats for furs.

Through her research and writing, Dr. Bailey learned Ms. Gersons father, Max Gerson, had been a steel mill operator and official in Birmingham, where he and his wife, Jennie, had their first daughter, Sid, in 1913. Due to some long-term contractual work in Tennessee, the family soon moved to Chattanooga.

And that is where Betty Louisa Gerson, later shortened to Betty Lou, was born on April 20, 1914. She was named for mother Jennies younger sister, Flora Betty Lesser.

Dr. Bailey said a Chattanooga Times story about the birth erroneously refers to her as a boy. She mentions in the book that the Gerson family stayed in Chattanooga for only about a year or so.

But they and their extended family did become part of a slowly growing local Jewish population in Chattanooga at that time. Mr. Gersons brother-in-law, Sam Cassell, who was married to Jennies older sister, Kate, became the manager of Mr. Gersons Chattanooga operations, and they would live here for many years.

Of the Gersons move back to Birmingham not long after she was born, Dr. Bailey writes in the book, After Maxs Chattanooga contract was fulfilled and with World War I underway, the Gersons moved back to Birmingham in 1915, where Sid and Betty did the majority of their growing up. The girls knew elite Southern privilege from the moment they were born with more memories of nurses and governesses than of mother before their boarding school days."

Some information found at the Chattanooga Public Library lists the Gersons only in the city directory of 1915. It identified Max J. Gerson as a broker and resident of unit 24 of The Alberta Apartments in the 300 block of Houston Street, between Fifth and Vine streets.

A check this week found that the apartment building is no longer standing, and the West Campus Housing facility of UT-Chattanooga is there.

Dr. Bailey said she found a Times article that said the family lived at 732 McCallie Ave. at the time she was born. The street numbers on McCallie Avenue were later changed, but since it was near ONeal Street, a check in the 1000 block shows two older homes still standing in that block. If it is not one of those, it was likely one located in a vacant lot on the Missionary Ridge side of the two homes.

The 1914 city directory says that the McCallie Avenue home that year was resided in by David R. Weill, who ran the Read House Cigar Co.

Her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Cassell, for a period in the mid-1930s lived at 2512 E. Fourth St. before living for several decades beginning in the late 1930s at a still-standing home at 101 Marlboro Ave. in Brainerd between Belvoir Avenue and Moore Road.

Old city directories say Mr. Cassell was an assistant manager with Chattanooga Auto Wrecking Co. in 1935 but by 1938 was an assistant manager with the S.C. Weber Iron and Metal Co. Determining whether the Great Depression had affected the Gerson Chattanooga operations and caused him to find work elsewhere would require further research.

Mr. Cassell, who had been born in Manchester, England, and worked as a pottery artist with the Wedgewood company in that country before coming to the United States, died in January 1957. He was buried at Bnai Zion Cemetery off Lullwater Road in Red Bank.

Ms. Cassell, who was Ms. Gersons aunt by blood relations, lived until dying in Memphis in June 1975. She had also lived in the Marlboro Avenue home into the 1970s as a widow. She was likely no doubt proud when One Hundred and One Dalmatians came out in the early 1960s while still living in that home, which coincidently was on street number 101.

The connection between Ms. Cassell and Ms. Gerson is highlighted in one Chattanooga Times article from 1935 found on newspapers.com with the help of the Chattanooga Public Library. It says that she was by then a blossoming radio actress in Chicago.

After saying she had been an amateur only 15 months earlier, the article added, Now she has the leading womans part in The First Nighter drama over the air over WEAF at 10 oclock each Friday night. It also mentions she is the niece of Ms. Kate Cassell.

Ms. Gersons name can also be found in an old Chattanooga Times movie ad from 1959 as one of the headline actresses in the movie, The Miracle of the Hills, which played at the Capitol, Broad Street and Highway 58 outdoor theaters locally when it came out.

Dr. Bailey, who called the book work of slightly more than a year a really fun project, said that she did not come across a lot where Ms. Gerson had referenced Chattanooga. But the professional entertainer did talk about her Southern roots, she said.

She was very proud of being from the South, she said. In interviews she talked about that.

Dr. Bailey was also able to interview Ms. Gersons nephew, Joseph Thornton, who was in his 90s. He recalled living with Betty during the World War II years and helping Ms. Gerson and her first husband, Joe Ainley, run the farm in Barrington outside Chicago while the couple continued doing radio work. Its hard to imagine Cruella de Vil having domestic work., the author said with a laugh.

Ms. Gerson was considered an attractive woman, and Dr. Bailey said she learned that she was also a glamorous and appealing person to many people with her approachable manner.

She was one of those larger-than-life people, she said. She loved being around people and loved to talk and discuss things. She was very likable and a fun lady. She made everything an adventure.

Dr. Bailey added that the actress and professional voice character later had trouble believing that in the 1960s she had scared so many children with her voice in the Dalmatians movie, as that was not her nature at all.

To her, it was a fun, villainous role, Dr. Bailey said. She really had no idea how significant Cruella became. She was so cute and so modest about her performance. But everybody knows Cruella.

In short, this actress had a good voice for work and apparently a good heart for life.

The author added that the book has garnered some attention so far, with some talks at area libraries and other events. The book is available in print and online editions through Amazon and bookstores.

* * *

jcshearer2@comcast.net
A supermajority in Tennessee wants common sense gun laws, supports Medicaid expansion, and opposes Tennessees near-absolute abortion ban. Yet as evidenced by how they spent their Holy Week, the supermajority in the Tennessee House of Representatives goes to great extremes to silence the supermajority of the people.

A Vanderbilt University poll last year found 80 percent of Tennesseans believe abortion should be legal at least under some circumstances  rape, incest, or health of the mother. After open debate allowed rural health care interests to be heard, two-thirds of Republicans in the North Carolina House of Representatives voted for Medicaid expansion  no good reason that should not happen in Tennessee. In another Vanderbilt poll just last month (before the Covenant School shooting), 71 percent of Tennessee parents favored expanding background checks to all gun purchases.

Open debates on these issues are unwinnable for the supermajority in the Tennessee House of Representatives. It is impossible to justify government forcing a woman to risk her life and chances of having a child in future by carrying an inviable pregnancy to term or natural miscarriage. It makes no sense to refuse federal funds that provide health insurance to the working poor, help keep rural health care facilities open, and reduce health care costs for all. By no rational cost benefit analysis, constitutional test, or religious principle do the second amendment rights of mass murderers, white supremacist paramilitary groups, and the gunrunners who supply street gangs and Mexican drug cartels outweigh the value Tennesseans place on their childrens and grandchildrens lives.

What does the supermajority do when it cannot win an argument? They cut off debate. When that does not work, they change the subject back to the culture war, code for their wolflike dominance and aggression toward the vulnerable Jesus called the least of these.

The Holy Week hullabaloo the supermajority in the Tennessee House of Representatives created is just the latest example. They target the LGBTQ community one week and two young Black members the next. The Speaker of the House even goes as far as to equate the young March for Our Lives protesters outside to the Jan. 6 rioters who committed thousands of violent acts against law enforcement, upset the peaceful transfer of power, and destroyed public property, some defecating and smearing the MAGA on the walls inside the U.S. Capitol. It does not matter to them who they target as long as they divert attention from the arguments they cannot win with a supermajority of the people.

Do not get me wrong. The Democratic Party in Tennessee is every bit as guilty of ignoring the better part of its own constituency in the past as the Republican Party is guilty of ignoring the better part of its own constituency today.

For too long, Democratic mayors and city councils placed the real estate development interests of a tiny few ahead of their broader constituencys interests. While Chattanoogas overall population grew, its Black population fell by seven thousand, most displaced by such policies. Democratic legislators too often went along to get along with the economic power elite in metro areas of the state. The Democratic Party ran candidates who appealed to sentiments opposed to their own constituents interests. The low point, perhaps, was the 2018 U.S. Senate candidacy of Phil Bredesen who lost disastrously not even bothering to advance policies Democrats wanted.

Democrats need more candidates with the courage of Representatives Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson, and Justin Pearson. Better to lose by tens of thousands of votes statewide to represent all than to lose by hundreds of thousands and represent none.

For too long, the Tennessee legislature under control of either party has failed to represent supermajorities of the people. Both parties have contributed to the problem. Republicans have held a supermajority in both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly for more than a decade, however, so the ownness has fully turned on them now.

Republicans of sound mind and goodwill have a choice. They can either embrace an unholy culture war that divides or embrace the values of freedom, democracy, and equality that unify. They can either silence those with whom they may disagree or stand for the right of all voices to be heard in the Tennessee House of Representatives. They can either close the agenda to all but those policies that benefit their political fundraising or open the agenda to policies a supermajority of the people demand.

Frank Wrinn
A team of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga students had five weeks to produce plans to wow judges in a competition with 124 teams from universities across the world.They did it.The eight-member team of students from the Department of Interior Architecture and Design and the College of Engineering and Computer Science entered the U.S. Department of Energys 2023 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge to design a house to be energy- and cost-efficient, while also a comfortable living space.An entrant in the Attached Housing divisionfor designs of multi-family structures such as apartmentsthe UTC students preliminary floor plans submitted in February impressed the judges.The team ended up as one of 10 finalists in the category.We want to have energy- and cost-efficient housing, but, at the same time, what can we do with interior design? asked Dr. Eun Young Kim, assistant professor of interior design and faculty advisor for the UTC Design Challenge team.The interdisciplinary group of UTC students will head to Golden, Co. next week to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge. The UTC team is comprised of interior architecture and design students Landon Parker, Blake Burba, Jacob Ridenour and Robyn Wood; mechanical engineering student Caleb Traxler; chemical engineering student Daron Lyons; and construction management students Lina Abdelkarim and Kenisha Gardner.
The Jewish Cultural Center will commemorate Yom HaShoah on Monday, April 17, at 7 p.m.

Yom Hazikaron will be commemorated on Monday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. This is a ceremony to mourn and remember fallen soldiers and all lives lost by terror.

The Jewish Cultural Center is at 5461 North Terrace.

RSVP at Israel@jewishchattanooga.com.
U.S. Louisville shooting kills 6, including shooter

Xinhua) 15:02, April 11, 2023

CHICAGO, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A shooting in downtown Louisville in the U.S. state of Kentucky left six people dead, including the shooter, and nine others injured Monday morning.

Following an initial death toll of four, local authorities announced in the evening that a fifth victim, a 57-year-old woman, had died of her injuries, adding to another woman and three men killed in the attack, who were aged between 40 and 64.

Three people were in critical condition, including one of the two police officers who took a bullet to the head, Louisville police confirmed in a news conference.

Local police made to the scene in three minutes. Police said the suspect, 25-year-old white man Connor Sturgeon, shot at officers, who returned fire and "stopped that threat," killing the shooter, said Louisville Interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel at a news briefing Monday afternoon.

The incident started around 8:30 a.m. Monday (1230 GMT) at the Old National Bank on the E. Main Street, the Louisville Metro Police Department tweeted.

The gunman was an employee of Old National Bank, located downtown in Kentucky's largest city, Gwinn-Villaroel said.

There was a heavy police presence at the scene, with damaged glass and discarded medical equipment at one location, local media reported.

Gunshots could be heard on video clips posted on social media.

Gwinn-Villaroel said 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.

This was the latest in a string of gun crises that have already left more than 4,900 people dead of firearm-related violence in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
An Oak Ridge National Laboratory researcher, the chief scientist with a Denver-based quantum startup and UTCs own quantum optics expert headline three UTC-hosted presentations offered in conjunction with Gig City Goes Quantum, an initiative to prepare for education, jobs and business opportunities in the emerging quantum technology field.

The initiative is led by EPB and Qubitekk, which are partnering to offer the EPB Quantum NetworkS powered by Qubitekk to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies. Efforts focus on collaboration with community leaders, universities, schools and companies, starting in Chattanooga and spreading cooperatively across the U.S.

Gig City Goes Quantum, the initiative, is also supported by GigCityGoesQuantum.com, the interactive website. Its packed with educational resources to engage people of all ages in 1,000+ quantum learning activities from World Quantum Day, April 14, through May 31.

Among those activities are two events on Fridayone at Chattanooga State Community College and the other at Tyner Academythat feature Qubitekk co-founder Dr. Duncan Earl and are followed the next week by three UTC-hosted presentations open to campus and the public.

All three presentations at UTC begin at noon in the UTC Center for Professional Education in the James R. Mapp Building on campus. Each is free and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

On Monday, April 17, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Senior Research Scientist Dr. Raphael Pooser discusses quantum computing. On Wednesday, April 19, Dr. James Troupe, chief scientist for quantum communications company Xairos will deliver a presentation on quantum networking. On Friday, April 21, quantum optics expert and UTC Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. Tian Li discusses quantum sensing.

Dr. Li has spent 14 years as a quantum optics scientist and joined UTC in August 2022. He is among six faculty members affiliated with the Universitys new Quantum Initiative.

Im very glad that UTC hired me to join the Quantum Initiative on campus, and it is no doubt that quantum information science and engineering will be the next technological breakthrough, he said. Its right there, and it can impact everybodys everyday life.

Quantum physics provides the most accurate description of the world around us. Quantum technologies are transforming communication, computation, information processing and providing new insights into fundamental understanding of large complex systems in chemistry and biology as well.

This emerging field, Dr. Li said, offers scientists the most convenient tools to image fundamental processes at cellular and molecular levels to comprehend the myriads of biological interactions occurring in living cells, where our current understanding is limited by the spatial resolution, specificity and precision of available methods.

In addition to biological applications, We also have the plan to implement quantum communication using the quantum network being established by EPB and Qubitekk, Dr. Li said.

Potential benefits of quantum communication include harnessing the power of emerging technologies in quantum information to develop tools for a secure, resilient and reliable power grid.

Quantum networked sensors will detect equipment failure and monitor grid integrity through parameters such as temperature or the physical state of power lines, Dr. Li said. These sensors will address critical aspects of security and resilience such as handling large amounts of data simultaneously, data security, trustworthy components and detection of anomalous events.

Thats the kind of study we would like to do, and thats why we will have the facilitythe EPB Quantum Network node on UTC campus. Its the worlds first commercial quantum network, with four nodes so far, but it will provide us a testbed to do quantum network sensing experiments.

Compared to even state-of-the-art classical (historically available) measures used by scientists, measurements involving quantum sensing are vastly superior, thanks to the phenomenon of quantum entanglement.

This entanglement, Dr. Li explained, refers to two or more quantum particles that are strongly correlated. Any change to one particle simultaneously impacts the otherseven if others are indefinitely far apart. Quantum-based communications involves reproducing this otherwise naturally occurring phenomenon.

The idea is we will first create entanglement via quantum optical experiments, Dr. Li said. We then distribute the entanglement to the different nodes of the network, and we eventually take advantage of the distributed entanglement to do the measurement.

Our ultimate goal is to prove that the measurement sensitivity rendered by the networked quantum sensors is significantly advantageous over the best classical sensors.

Dr. Li said he and his fellow UTC researchers have a lot of ideas for experiments, and quantum research capabilities hold great promise for students, too.

There are many education thrusts, as well, he said. UTC is also en route to launch a certificate program aiming at training technology professionals, in particular non-physicists (such as bankers, programmers, telecom engineers) in the art of quantum information science, such as quantum communications and quantum computing. This is just one of the many benefits of having a quantum node on campus. We want to first develop a certificate program, then a minor and eventually a major.

"Thats why this is such an important campuswide initiativeinvolving physics, mathematics, engineering and even businessand it is going to make UTC a unique place with exceptional quantum opportunities.



The initiative also is an effort of UTC to support workforce development and new business investment and serve as a gateway for building partnerships with universities across the country, Chancellor Steven R. Angle noted upon the November 2022 announcement of UTCs collaboration in EPBs quantum network. The network is expected to be in operation by summer.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined 16 states in filing an amicus brief supporting Floridas healthcare regulation that denies Medicaid coverage for gender transitioning procedures. After commissioning a comprehensive review of the medical literature, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration determined that the available scientific evidence does not support the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and reassignment surgeries as safe and effective treatments for gender dysphoria. Alabamas brief was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.

Biased special interest groups cannot bully a state into adopting bad policy, General Skrmetti said. Mounting evidence has persuaded a growing number of European countries that puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgery are not appropriate treatments for kids showing symptoms of gender dysphoria. Florida has every right to jump off the bandwagon and focus its efforts on mental health treatment.

While the plaintiffs challenging Floridas regulation relied heavily on medical interest groups to argue that transitioning treatments are supported by medical opinion, Alabamas brief points out that these groups are at odds with European governmental healthcare authorities that have, like Florida, openly assessed the evidence base for the treatments. After doing so, the brief notes, healthcare authorities in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, and Norway all called for drastically curtailing the availability of transitioning treatments for minors.

The brief also argues that medical interest groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health operate as self-interested advocacy organizations when it comes to transitioning treatments. The brief highlights a number of episodes that reveal that these medical organizations have suppressed dissent and rebuffed calls from doctors for a transparent review of their policies. The interest groups do not represent medical opinion, the brief concludes, just an outspoken slice of it.

General Skrmetti has been assisting Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshalls as numerous states and many countries around the world have grown concerned about how best to help the skyrocketing number of children suffering from gender dysphoria and other forms of gender-related psychological distress. For the past year, the Alabama Attorney Generals Office has been defending the States law prohibiting the use of gender transitioning hormones and surgeries on minors. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is currently considering Alabamas appeal of the district courts preliminary injunction order. The trial is set to begin in August.

In addition to General Skrmetti and General Marshall, state attorneys general signed onto the brief from Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia.




Several years ago, as a state Senator, I went through some intense public demonstrations that were louder and bigger than those of the last week, and actually destructive of state property.

I also saw tempers flare among legislators on several occasions. In fact, one time two Republican legislators became so direct and pointed in their remarks to one another when speaking about a bill (when properly recognized) that one taunted the other to meet him outside the chamber. They both hastily left the chamber to our collective alarm.

I have personal knowledge of Republican and Democrat speakers seeking to silence the representation of whole districts by threatening consequences to their elected representative if he did not do the Speakers will on legislation.

Reflecting on what is different about the situation this time

I have seen a lot of bad things in 28 years at the Capitol, but never have I seen the actions in a legislative chamber like those of the three legislators last week or the response their actions generatedvotes on their expulsion and the expulsion of two of them. Those actions brought reactions from citizens on every side of the issue.

Unlike the past, I was not personally caught up in these events. I had the opportunity to observe and reflect.

Thats what I did Good Friday morning. As I reflected on and prayed about the events of the last week, the passages of Scripture that follow below came to mind. I began to wonder what I would have done had I been a House member.

The Question

More specifically, I asked myself this question, Is it possible that all involveddemonstrators, legislator protestors, and legislators voting for or against expulsiontook a swing at what they perceived the problem to be, and missed swinging at the deeper problem?

I hope you will join me in thinking and praying about what we have all witnessed through the lens of these Scripture passages and others that may come to your mind.

Finally, I pray we will think about what Jesus said of those who a week later would crucify himyou do not know the things that make for your peace (Luke 19:42)and what things they would be.

In a future episode of the God, Law & Liberty podcast, I will examine these verses, not just in relation to the events of the last week, but to our larger understanding of law and politics.

James 3:13-17

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

[Query: what is the truth being denied here, and as explicated in the following verses and the whole of the book?]

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

These verses from James tie into my Good Friday commentary on what things make for peace, though it does not reference them. In the Old and New Testament selections below, I asked myself this question: Is there a relevant common theme in relation to God that underlies them that pertains to agitation and peace among the characters?

Old Testament

2 Samuel 15:13-14

Now a messenger came to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom. So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.

2 Samuel 15:37(b)

And Absalom came into Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 16:5-13 :

Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

Also Shimei said thus when he cursed:

Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!

Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!

But the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him, Curse David. Who then shall say, Why have you done so?

And David said to Abishai and all his servants, See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the has ordered him. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.

And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.

New Testament

Acts 5:16-18 .

Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits [to the Apostles], and they were all healed.

Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

Acts 5:27- 33

Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Mans blood on us!

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:

We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.

When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.

Acts 5:34-39

Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them:

Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow itlest you even be found to fight against God.

Acts 5:40

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

David Fowler, President of the Family Action Council of Tennessee
Organizers of the Chattanooga Beer Fest have announced the 2023 date: Saturday, May 27, from 12-3 p.m. at the First Horizon Pavilion. The festival is a celebration of craft beer offering attendees unlimited samples from all participating brewers at one flat ticket price. Its a way to not only sample unique craft beers, but also an opportunity to talk directly with the brewers themselves. This celebration of craft beer brings together an abundance of local and regional breweries who are excited to offer their best and newest brews to festival attendees for a third year, said organizers.

The 2023 Chattanooga Beer Fest is presented by Hutton & Smith Brewing Company. Additional participants include Black Abbey (Nashville), Bold Rock (Charlotte, NC), Cherry Street Brewing (Chattanooga), Five Wits Brewing (Chattanooga), Highland Brewing (Asheville, NC), Gatlinburg Brewing Company, Monkey Town Brewing Company (Dayton), Naked River Brewing (Chattanooga), Odd Story Brewing (Chattanooga), Sycamore Brewing (Charlotte, NC), Tennessee Brew Works (Nashville), Wanderlinger Brewing (Chattanooga), Wiseacre Brewing (Memphis), and the Barley Mob Brewers Club (Chattanooga). Additional breweries are being confirmed, and will be updated periodically.

And, from title sponsor Hutton & Smith Brewery, We have an unbridled passion for the best drink in the world and are inspired by the desire to share the fruits of our labors with other thirsty souls. There's nothing quite like a great craft brew, and we at Hutton & Smith are fanatically dedicated to the process so we can provide beer drinkers with a memorable tasting experience.

Additional sponsors include Chattanooga Market and Tri-Star Beverage.

For a third year, Chattanooga Beer Fest will host dozens of breweries from around the region. While the list is still being cultivated, breweries are being added every day and the current lineup can be viewed on ChattanoogaBeerFest.com. Each patron will receive a commemorative tasting glass to sample from all of the breweries. No tokens or additional funds are needed past the ticket price. Tickets are $48 in advance or $58 at the door, while available.

Adding to the festival, patrons can shop with a sampling of artists and makers from Chattanooga Marketseveral dozen. Local eats will be a part, as well, with two food trucks. Jonny Poppers (burgers) and I Love Tacos. Additional snacks and treats such as Freaky Funnels will be available too. Water and soft drink options will be onsiteorganizers encourage participants to sample alcohol safely.

The music line-up for the event boasts FlashDrive an "energetic, versatile, and talented" 7-member cover band based out of Chattanooga. With years of musical experience behind them, they enjoy entertaining audiences by playing Top 40 dance tunes from 10 different genres (classic rock, rock, pop, funk, disco, R&B, folk, indie, alternative, modern country) covering seven decades of music.

A portion of the proceeds from Chattanooga Beer Fest will benefit the non-profit 501(c)(3), Chattanooga Market.

This is an over 21 only event; a valid legal ID is required for admission.
I have read many opinions recently about the issue of weapons regulation (often referred to as "gun control") and engaged in discussions with friends and associates. Certainly the tragedies in Nashville and more recently in Louisville, Ky., have increased the level of concern and focus on this serious problem.

I am not in favor of any government agency confiscating weapons from any lawful owner (emphasis on "lawful") nor of a repeal of the 2nd Amendment to the Bill of Rights. I am, however, in strong favor of the initiation/re-establishment/continuation of background checks for weapon purchase/ownership and permits for the "carry" of a weapon. The absence of such processes and the idiotic idea that "more weapons make us safer" have contributed to an increase in weapons violence and killing - just read about the trend in any printed or online publication or simply watch the evening news.

During several discussions with friends and associates, I have found that responses from people who demand their rights over the lives of anyone else can be categorized under a few "I" words.

Ignorance - none of the people with whom I have talked can tell me how, when, or by what process any government entity plans to "take my guns." When I pose the question about how "they" will do this "taking" I get blank looks, vague comments about "liberals," "Democrats" "Hunter Biden's laptop (?)" and "Hilary," none of which answer the question. To me, these nonsense responses tell me that the people who fear confiscation most are not sure how, or if, it could happen. They have been convinced - without any solid facts to support the allegation - by lobbyists and the NRA that "the government" is planning to grab all the weapons in the country. Who? FBI? CIA? Who? DOJ? How? I read the Fact Sheet about Biden's March 14 Executive Order -- did not see a word about confiscation/collecting weapons - what facts support this likelihood?

Insensitivity - this "I" word is not strong enough to convey my contempt for the lack of concern some of the people I have talked with felt for lives of the children, school administrators, families, law enforcement officers or shoppers in a mall or bank who were killed by someone who "lawfully" bought the murder weapon. Their focus is on my "rights" and they start gaslighting by attempting to blame the deaths on the schools, police, or anyone other than the perpetrator or weapon lobbyists whose influence has enabled legislators to allow too much laxity in weapon sales. It is as though they believe the killing of children is a risk we have to assume in order to guarantee some thug's weapon rights. Well, the Nashville shooter's 2nd Amendment rights were protected at five different stores where she bought weapons --- at the cost of how many lives, including her own?

Irresponsibility - during discussions with these people rarely do I hear a word about rights requiring responsibilities. What responsibilities: (1) the responsibility to ensure that a weapon is under control or secured at all times, not left out where a child can find it, nor left on a car seat where it is readily visible to any passerby, nor left in an unlocked vehicle overnight where it can easily be pilfered; (2) the regulatory/legislative irresponsibility that allows anyone to buy and carry a weapon with either no background check or an ineffective one and no permitting/investigative process, and no limits whatsoever for criminally-minded, psychotic or sociopathic people; (3) the irresponsible demand that their rights to carry a weapon are more important than the rights of children to attend school safely, or teachers to teach safely, or citizens to drive the streets safely with worrying that some thug with "road rage" with pull up beside them and open fire; (4) that the weapon is used only for self-defense when deadly force is actually justified.

Important - state legislators must be constantly reminded that they have responsibilities to the families in their districts to enact laws that provide for safety for their children. It is too important an issue to be allowed to slide back into the back chamber now only to be slipped through a vote later when lobbyists show up with cash and gifts for continued laxity.

My intent is not to write a lengthy discourse; however I must make one more comment to address the likely rebuttal from weapons "rights" people that I (1) I am just another crazy "liberal"; and (2) that I never actually fired a weapon. I am neither liberal nor conservative; I am, however, a retired Army lieutenant colonel with 28 years total service in Active and Reserve Component units (including overseas service in Korea, Japan and Germany). I have trained on and fired many of the weapons in the Army system ranging from the M9 9mm pistol, M1911 .45 caliber pistol, M16A1 and M16A2 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, M60 machine gun, crew-served M2.50 caliber machine gun, to the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and am a qualified Field Artillery officer who trained crews to fire the large caliber artillery weapons in the Army system. I fired and/or supervised all these weapons systems safely and responsibly.

I also expect American weapons owners and legislators at every level to act responsibly to work toward reducing the murder of children and families.

Tim McDonald
The Signal Mountain Town Council has declined to pay an auditing firm extra money it said was due because of inadequate help from city employees in preparing the annual city audit.

There was discussion before voting whether or not to pay an extra amount for auditing services this year to Johnson, Murphey and Wright PC. The firm had a contract to perform the 2022 year-end audit for $26,135, but in order to complete it, the CPAs had to spend a lot of time doing extra accounting work that the previous town employees had failed to do, it was stated. For the extra hours, an additional $6,040 was billed. At a February meeting, CPA Paul Johnson explained the reasons for the increase.

Accounting problems in Signal Mountain began in 2021 and increasingly got worse, he said. His firm was told that the problems would get better, and they believed it. New employees who were meant to straighten up the problems were not hired until a couple of months before the audit began. The contract with his firm was based on cooperation with Signal Mountains personnel, he said. What was not done by the town had to be done by the accountants. They spent five days in Signal Mountain versus the two days that had been planned. He said that each year the firm had donated some time and that nothing had been said because it would have been embarrassing for the town. Instead, the town employees were praised for their cooperation and good work.

After acknowledging that there had been problems last year, the council members objected to the added charges because the original contract included that the town would be advised of any changes that were made before they were done. Vice Mayor Elizabeth Baker objected to paying any amount above the amount of the contract because she said the council was not made aware that there were any problems before the bill was sent. And she said since then, it has been discovered that for the two previous years, there were the same issues that the council was unaware of.

It is now known that in 2021 an extra $5,000 over the contract price had been paid. She said the auditors work for the citizens of Signal Mountain and not the city manager or finance director, and that the council should have been notified.

Council members Clay Crumbliss and Andrew Gardner saw both sides of the issue and considered paying a smaller amount than what was requested, but in the end, the vote to pay any additional amount failed because the council felt that Johnson, Murphey and Wright did not follow the correct procedure. They also questioned if some of the extra work had been caused by turnover of staff at JMW.

The council followed that vote with another that approved moving forward with Waycaster CPA to audit the towns accounts for fiscal year 2023. The contract price is $23,135.

Cara McGowan was appointed to the library board. With the resignation of another board member, one more seat will be opening soon. And with Susannah Murdock joining the council, council liaisons with several boards were shuffled. Council member Murdock will work with the library board and the planning commission. Vice Mayor Baker will be the liaison with the history and stormwater boards. Ms. Murdock will also be in charge of the councils objective for improved communications with citizens.

Earlier this year, Signal Mountain bought equipment to stream and record council and board meetings so residents of the town would have access to them. But some boards have approached Mayor Poss asking to be able to meet in other locations. He suggested there could be the option for boards to meet at town hall only when changes that would effect citizens were being discussed. But Town Manager Elaine Brunelle said that trying to track all the changing locations would be an administrative nightmare. Mayor Poss suggested getting opinions from the boards.

The vice mayor proposed a way to keep Signal Mountain residents informed about the upcoming budget process by posting information on Facebook and with email blasts. A consensus of the council agreed that would be a good idea to educate the public about why and how a budget is done. An explanation of the budget process, the scheduling of the steps it takes to create a budget, the differences the various funds, will be some of the subjects included and available so the citizens can understand the revenue and expenditures planned for the year.

The town of Signal Mountain received $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan money for Covid Relief. Plans are now being made for where to spend that money. Signal Mountains 2023 budget included $50,000 for new Enterprise Resource Planning software that will be used to manage day-to-day operations of the town. The actual cost will be a one-time expense of $105,000 and $50,000 annually. Before making the purchase, the council wants to get clarification for terms of the contract and ask the seller Edmunds Govtech for a payment schedule rather than a one-time payment. A special called meeting on Mon. April 17 will be held so the contract can be voted on before the price quoted expires at the end of May.

The yearly paving of streets has been categorized into two projects. One includes a variety of roads that are in bad condition and the other project includes Timberlinks Drive and Shackleford Ridge Road leading to the high school. Public Works Director Loretta Hopper told the council that $655,000 has been allocated in the budget for paving this year which has been planned for the group of around a half dozen roads that need it the most. The streets around the school could be done with ARP money, she said. The council would like to look at the roads as a whole and asked Ms. Hopper to prioritize those for resurfacing with the amount of money that is available regardless if ARP money can be used.

The purchase of a new John Deere Gator that will replace a Cub Cadet for the public works department was approved. The new vehicle has more functionality and versatility, said Ms. Hopper. It can be used to clear trails and be used for maintenance issues. The cost of the Gator is not to exceed $31,452.
K-drama fans have a lot more projects to look forward to. While Netflix has a long list of original K-dramas, unscripted series, and more planned for 2023, so does Disney+. The streaming platform is ready to release a few K-dramas fans have been eager to see since last year. Fans got their first teasers from Go Yoon-jungs Moving to Nam Joo-hyuks latest role while serving in the military.

The Devil, Vigilante, and Dr. Romantic Season 3 K-dramas | via Disney+

Disney+ will release the 2023 K-drama Han River about its police enforcers

Anyone who knows about South Korea knows one of its biggest attractions is the Han River. It is a go-to spot for couples, tourists, or friends who want to hang out and have fun. Disney+ developed an original K-drama for 2023 titled Han River. The action-comedy stars Kwon Sang-woo and Kim Hee-won as the leading characters.

Du-jin (Kwon) and Chun-seok (Kim) work for the Han River police and have different personalities. While Chun-seok is level-headed, Du-jin has a bit of a temper. Their job is to protect the Han River and its patrons. Along the way, they solve a few crimes that take place. Han River is scheduled to release in the second half of 2023.

Race has a female lead prove her superiors wrong

Fans are getting another worthy office K-drama, but this time from Disney+. Race will star Welcome To Wedding Hells Lee Yeon-h ee and Hong Jong-hyun. According to NME, the drama will follow Park Yoon-jo (Lee), a PR professional who gets a job at a company where her friend works. Ryu Jae-min (Hong) is a bit of a stickler who separates his work life from his personal one.

Leading cast for Race K-drama | via Disney+

The K-drama follows her as she works with PR expert Ku Yi-jung (Moon So-ri) and meets the CEO Seo Dong-hoon (U-Know yunho). But Yoon-jo also learns she was given the job as part of a diversity tactic and looks to prove her worth to her superiors.

Race is scheduled to release on Disney+ on May 10.

Moving will star Alchemy of Souls Season 2 actor Go Yoon-jung

Adapted from the webtoon by Kang Full, Moving is one of Disney+s long-awaited 2023 K-dramas. The fantasy action thriller focuses on three teenagers. Kim Bong-seok, Jang Hee-soo, and Lee Gang-hoon appear ordinary by most standards. But in reality, they have special superhuman abilities inherited by their parents. Bong-seok can fly, while Hee-soo can heal quickly from wounds. Gang-hoon has immense power and speed.

Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, and Zo In-sung for Moving K-drama | via Disney+

Fans will watch as the three teens try to understand their powers with the help of their parents. Meanwhile, their parents try to shield them from people who wish to use them for their powers. Moving has fans excited as Alchemy of Souls star Go Yoon-jung will star as Hee-soo, Lee Jung-ha as Bong-seok, and Kim Do-hoon as Gang-hoon.

Moving is set to release in August with 20 episodes.

The Worst of Evil has married police officers take on a criminal organization

Since Squid Game, actor Wi Ha-joon has appeared in Little Women and Bad and Crazy. But fans are gearing up to see him in a sinister role for Disney+s 2023 K-drama, The Worst of Evil. The crime thriller has The Sound of Magic stars Ji Chang-wook in the role of police officer Park Joon-mo.

Wi Ha-joon and Ji Chang-wook in The Worst of Evil K-drama | via Disney+

During an investigation, he becomes aware of a criminal and drug organization running through South Korea, China, and Japan. While he infiltrates the organization, his wife also becomes involved. Actor Lim Se-mi stars as police officer Yoo Ui-jung. The married couple takes on a dangerous threat as the organization is run by newcomer boss Jung Ki-cheol, played by Wi.

The Worst of Evil is set to premiere in the second half of 2023 on Disney+.

Vigilante was actor Nam Joo-hyuks last role before military enlistment

In late January, Twenty-Five Twenty-One star Nam Joo-hyuk announced he would enlist in the military for mandatory service. Nam entered the military on March 20, 2023. While fans wait for his return, they had something to look forward to. Disney+s 2023 webcomic K-drama Vigilante will be Nams latest role while in the military.

The K-dramas title is self-explanatory. As a child, Kim Ji-Yong (Nam) witnessed his mother brutally beaten to death by a thug in the street. The thug got a minimal prison sentence. As an adult, Ji-yong sees that his mothers killer is still prone to violence. Seeing that the justice system failed him, he became a vigilante.

By day, he is a model student at a police university. With the help of Jo Gang-ok (Lee Joon-hyuk), Ji-yong is known as Vigilante and punishes criminals. But police detective Jo Heon (Yoo Ji-tae) wants to take down Vigilante.

Vigilante is scheduled to release on Disney+ in the second half of 2023.

Disney+ will stream Dr. Romantic Season 3 and a few other K-dramas

Alongside a few original K-dramas, Disney+ will also stream Shadow Detective Season 2. The first season was an original by the streaming platform, and developed a second season for 2023. Kim Taek-rok (Lee Sung-min)is a veteran detective who received a call from an old friend. The friend claimed they killed Taek-roks colleague and has the detective become a suspect. Trying to prove his innocence, they look for the real killer.

Shadow Detective Season 2 will continue to explore Taek-roks mysterious past and who the friend really is. Coming back with new seasons on Disney+ is also First Responders and Dr. Romantic. First Responders Season 2 will continue to focus on the first season characters and their stories.

It was announced that Dr.Romantic Season 3 would bring back the original cast from the second season. But the K-drama is originally by SBS, with Disney+ having the honors of streaming the third season. Fans are also looking forward to the SBS K-drama, The Devil. The 20-episode drama follows Ku San-young (Kim Tae-ri), who becomes possessed by a demon. Yeom Hae-sang (Oh Jung-se) can see the demon inside her, and they work together to uncover the truth behind mysterious deaths related to the five sacred objects.

Disney+ will also stream the 2023 K-drama Family: The Unbreakable Bond. The spy-comedy series focuses on a secret agent husband hiding his profession from his wife. But his wife also has a few secrets about why she is the way she is.
Prince Harry discussed his life as the spare to his older brother and heir to the British throne in his memoir. Now, a new documentary is detailing something that may explain just why Harry feels the way he does.

In The Real Crown, the former head of the British Army relayed a conversation he had with the late Queen Elizabeth II about her grandsons going to war. Heres what he said the queen told him.

Prince William, Prince Harry, and Queen Elizabeth II watch a fly past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace | Samir Hussein/WireImage

General says queen decided Harry could fight but risk of William fighting was too great

Queen Elizabeth initially wanted both William and Harry to fight in Afghanistan when the war broke out in 2001, but her feelings changed. The Mirror noted that in The Real Crown, Army General Sir Mike Jackson broke protocol by revealing details of his private audience with the queen.

The Chief of the General Staff from 2003 to 2006 said: I will break the rule about not divulging what goes on on this one occasion when [the queen] was very clear. She said, My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty  and that was that. But it was decided that for William, as heir to the heir, the risk is too great. But for his younger brother, the risk was acceptable.

Harry served in the British Army for 10 years and did two tours of Afghanistan. Prince William served seven years of military service and joined the Royal Air Force as a search and rescue pilot but was not in combat.

As explained in the documentary William was stopped from joining the war, despite wanting to, due to his position as future king. Mark Cann, director of the British Forces Foundation, said in the series: William was very keen to go. Unequivocally  But it was complex, and some very great minds and experienced people took a view on it.

Queen Elizabeth II smiles at Prince Harry as she inspects soldiers at Sandhurst Military Academy | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Prince Harry revealed his kill count in Spare

The Duke of Sussex opened up about his time in the military in his autobiography and claimed that he killed 25 suspected Taliban insurgents during combat in Afghanistan.

According to Harry, the number wasnt a statistic that filled me with pride but nor did it make me ashamed. When I was plunged into the heat and confusion of battle, I didnt think about those as 25 people. You cant kill people if you see them as people. In truth, you cant hurt people if you see them as people. They were chess pieces taken off the board, bad guys eliminated before they kill good guys. They trained me to other them and they trained me well.

Multiple outlets including CNN and the Associated Press reported that several active duty and British military veterans believe Harrys remarks about killing suspected Taliban soldiers are worrisome because it puts his safety, his familys safety, and the safety of others in the military community at risk.

Prince Harry sitting on his bed at a camp in Southern Afghanistan | John Stillwell POOL/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

Related Prince Harry Said the Happiest Time of His Life Was When He Was Far Away From the Royal Family

Duke of Sussex explains why he decided to share that information

In January while on a promotional tour for Spare, Prince Harry appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and talked about why he chose to share that information in his book.

I made a choice to share it because, having spent nearly two decades working with veterans all around the world, I think the most important thing is to be honest and to be able to give space to others to be able to share their experiences without any shame, he said. My whole goal and my attempt with sharing that detail is to reduce the number of suicides.
The Young and the Restless Speculation: Are Paul and Christine Headed for an Offscreen Split?

Paul Williams (Doug Davidson) and Christine Blair (Lauralee Bell) are a popular couple on The Young and the Restless. Since the 1990s, the Genoa City detective and the attorney have had an on-again, off-again relationship. Although the couple got their happily ever after in 2013, trouble in paradise might be looming.



Paul Williams and Christine Blairs relationship history on The Young and the Restless

Paul and Christine are vital characters on the soap opera. Their romance has earned them the honor of being a The Young and the Restless super couple. Like many couples, they had their challenges and split several times.

In 2013, the couple remarried as per the wishes of their late friend Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper). As with many veteran characters, Paul and Christines screen time has diminished. While Christine continues to make random appearances, Paul hasnt been seen since November 2020.

Just a Paul and Christine appreciation post.  How cute is this #YR couple? pic.twitter.com/i1xBzEvsxy  Young and Restless (@YandR_CBS) April 2, 2019

The chances of Paul returning are slim since Davidsons made it clear hes done with the show. According to Soap Central, Davidson was reportedly angry that he was bumped to recurring status.

Pauls absence has been a mystery to fans, but the bicentennial gala provided answers. Christine attended the event solo and revealed the whereabouts of her retired husband. Christine mentioned that Paul was in Portugal visiting Heather Stevens (Vail Bloom).

Is trouble in paradise looming for Paul Williams and Christine Blair?

The Young and the Restless finally explained Pauls absence, but now the question is what becomes of him and Christine. Back in December, Christine met with her ex-husband Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) for a chat. As they reminisced about their past, it was evident they still loved each other.

Although Christines made it clear she loves Paul, her behavior at the gala says otherwise. Christine looked upset that Paul wasnt there with her, and its sparked speculation of marital problems. The couple is on opposite paths in their careers, with Paul retired and Christine thinking of getting back into law.

Their different career paths couldve led to tension in the marriage. Paul, needing some space, decided to go to Portugal to clear his head. Meanwhile, Christine is back in Genoa City, wondering about the state of her marriage.

Will The Young and the Restless break up the couple?

With Christine staying and Paul not coming back, The Young and the Restless has to decide what to do with the couple. The writers are hinting at a reunion with Christine and Danny, but to move forward, they must address her marriage to Paul. Unless the show recasts Paul or works out a deal with Davidson, its obvious Pauls not returning.

Get excited for a week featuring the incredible @DougDavidsonYR and @LauraleeB4real!  Paul and Christine Week begins tomorrow on #YR.  pic.twitter.com/K7yDgymfUw  Young and Restless (@YandR_CBS) June 28, 2020

Paul could decide to live out his retirement in Portugal with his daughter and granddaughter. Christine will choose to stay in Genoa City, leading to a painful decision. Christine will divorce Paul and focus on moving on with her life.

It will be heartbreaking having Paul and Christine split offscreen, but its no use keeping them together if Paul isnt in Genoa City. With Christine divorced, itll open up new opportunities for her.














Oxygens true crime series Violent Minds: Killers on Tape takes Dr. Al Carlisles work to further explore the mind of Ted Bundy. The series is based on never-before-seen records, notes, and recordings of Dr. Carlises conversation with Bundy that his colleagues thought were lost forever. In shocking detail, Violent Minds: Killers on Tape dives into how the psychologist became friends with a serial killer.

Ted Bundy charged with killing FSU coeds image used in Violent Minds: Killers on Tape | via Getty Images

Dr. Carlisle met Ted Bundy after his first major arrest

In 1976, Dr. Carlisle worked as a clinical psychologist at the Utah State Prison. His work was to evaluate inmates sent by the state in a 90-Day Evaluation Program. He was to determine for a judge if an inmate was prone to violent tendencies for a prison sentence or send them on probation. It was before the BSU or the Mindhunter program fans see in Mindhunter. Dr. Carlisles work soon led him to Ted Bundy.

But Violent Minds: Killers on Tape is not about Ted Bundy the prolific serial killer, but the seemingly ordinary man who Dr. Carlisle felt was hiding a sinister secret. When Dr. Carlisle met Bundy, the public had no idea about his serial killer ways or crimes. Instead, Bundy was sent for an evaluation after his first arrest in August.

Bundy failed to stop at the request of an officer and was later arrested for having in his possession burglary tools. Ten months later, he was charged with the kidnapping of a young woman. Due to public unrest that a handsome Mormon law student could have committed the crime, the judge was unsure of how to sentence Bundy.

Violent Minds: Killers on Tape uses one of Dr.Carlisles interviews where he explained his job was not to prove Bundys crimes but to determine if he had a violent streak that would be dangerous to the public. Dr.Carlisles notes read he went into the interviews unbiased by what the case files said about Bundy. Ted approached me as if he already knew the outcome of my assessment. In his favor, of course. And his goal was to get to know the man who would return him to society when his 90 days had concluded, said Dr. Carlisles writings.

Violent Minds: Killers on Tape revealed how Dr. Carlisle changed his tactics for Bundy

When first meeting Bundy, Dr. Carlisle was surprised by his uncharacteristically happy nature despite his circumstances. After administering many psychological tests, Dr. Carlisle concluded he had to try something new. He began to speak to the people around Bundy like ex-girlfriends. But in an interview with TV Insider, Carrie Anne Drazewski-Keller, the creative consultant for one of his books, further breaks down how Bundy developed a bond with Dr. Carlisle.

Dr. Carlisles approach was very succinct. He was short and sweet. Most of the time when he did ask you a question, it wasnt a question you could just answer yes or no. It allowed people to open up. Questions he would ask to dig into the story he heard, she explained. Violent Minds: Killers on Tape also revealed how Bundy soon began to talk to Dr. Carlisle like a son telling his father about the fish he caught.

On Sundays episode of #ViolentMinds, Dr. Carlisle broke down what happened on a fateful rafting trip taken by Ted Bundy. If you missed the series premiere, catch up at the link ?https://t.co/HuxLIcl0ym pic.twitter.com/wv5NOTxI2t  Oxygen True Crime (@oxygen) April 5, 2023

I really could see the relationship that Ted Bundy had with Doc and Doc had with Ted Bundy. They were friends, said Drazewski-Keller. After Bundys escape in Colorado, he contacted Dr. Carlisle. Hes talking about it like he is talking to a friend going on a camping trip. Its very relaxed. He is laughing. There is a lot to it that you feel shouldnt be there in this situation of seriousness. The laughing and chuckling. There is some psychopathy there.

Violent Minds: Killers on Tape even revealed how Bundy somehow got Dr. Carlisles address and sent him a Christmas card. Dr. Carlisles ability to see Bundy as a fascinating test subject seemed to have enthralled Bundy. As well as his decision to accept Bundys odd tactics, like calling him Al and wanting to dissect him.

What was the outcome of Dr. Carlisles assessment of Ted Bundy in Violent Minds: Killers on Tape?

Dr. Carlisle only talked to and studied Bundy for 90 days, as requested by the program. Violent Minds: Killers on Tape documents a moment when he and Bundy were in the hallway. Bundy asked if Dr. Carlisle believed he had killed those girls. Dr. Carlisle said yes, but could not give a definitive answer because Bundy was going to court.

In the series premiere of #ViolentMinds, Dr. Carlisle is asked to run a psychological evaluation on a man who would become one of Americas most notorious killers. Violent Minds premieres Sunday 7/6c on Oxygen True Crime. pic.twitter.com/5WinyMo8OF  Oxygen True Crime (@oxygen) April 1, 2023

The pressure was on Dr. Carlisle as he had to give his assessment of Bundy, which had some public scrutiny behind it. In June 1976, he submitted his findings and Bundy was sentenced for the kidnapping of Carol DaRonch. In his report, Dr. Carlisle agreed Bundy was guilty of the violence associated with the type of crime.

I cannot comfortably say he would be a good risk if probation was granted, read the report. Bundy was angered by the assessment and claimed it was created to fit the crime and he was innocent. Because of Dr. Carlisles report, Bundy was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Before the Behavioral Science Unit and the Mindhunter program, Dr. Al Carlisle was behind some of Americas worst serial killers. Oxygens true crime series, Violent Minds: Killers on Tape, dives into Dr. Carlisles records, documents, and conversations with notorious killers, especially Ted Bundy. But who was the clinical psychologist and Mormon who became fascinated with the violence in a killers mind?

Dr. Al Carlisle (left) in Violent Minds: Killers on Tape | via NBC/Universal

Dr. Carlisle was a devout Mormon who helped the justice system with violent offenders

According to Violent Minds: Killers on Tape Episode 1, Dr. Carlisle initially did not go to college with the thought of pursuing criminal psychology. He attended Utah State University in 1937 and became fascinated by Charles Manson. It sparked his desire to understand a violent mind and what would lead them to commit killer acts.

Dr. Carlisle graduated with a BS and MS from Utah State University before earning a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Brigham Young University. Charlene Harmon, Dr. Carlisles daughter, explained that the term serial killer had not been invented while her father was in school. He was a clinical psychologist who got a job at the Utah State Prison.

What some viewers may find surprising about him were his beliefs. So invested in uncovering what makes serial killers tick, Dr. Carlisle was a devout Mormon. According to TV Insider, creative consultant for Dr. Carlisle, Carrie Anne Drazewski-Keller explained, His belief system is that everyone is born good and is always good people, but that good people do bad things. Thats what he told me. He needed to understand why.

His beliefs and inquisitive mind led his work at the Utah State Prison to come face to face with what would be some of Americas worst killers in history. Violent Minds: Killers on Tape helps explore how Dr. Carlisle became integral to the justice system and future study of these offenders.

Violent Minds: Killers on Tape explores Dr. Carlisles 90-Day evaluation work at the prison

Everything fans see in Netflixs Mindhunter is only part of the story of the states attempts to understand serial killers. Before the BSU, Dr. Carlisle became integral to helping the justice system. He helped determine whether an offender deserved a lengthy prison sentence.

Violent Minds: Killers on Tape uses a 2017 interview with Dr. Carlisle, where he explains how his path got started. In 1967, after graduation, he began working at the prison. He and Dr. Allan Roe were the only two psychologists at the facility. But Roe explained they had to start the department from scratch because no one knew what we were supposed to do or what psychologists did.

In the new series #ViolentMinds, Dr. Carlisle reveals the shocking admissions he learned from speaking to some of Americas most notorious killers. Dont miss the series premiere, Sunday 7/6c on Oxygen True Crime. pic.twitter.com/d7keMEPv6X  Oxygen True Crime (@oxygen) March 31, 2023

Dr. Carlisles granddaughter reads some of his notes in Violent Minds: Killers on Tape. He explained he was a part of the states 90-Day Evaluation Program. His task was to evaluate inmates sent to the program by the state. Why? To conclude whether or not an inmate is prone to violent offenses or future crimes. Inmates were often sent to Dr. Carlisle if a judge was uncertain how to sentence an offender, either send them to jail or probation.

In March 1976, Violent Minds: Killers on Tape details Dr. Carlisles first meeting with none other than Ted Bundy. His time with Bundy was before Utah knew of his crimes and his infamy as a serial killer. Bundy would be Dr. Carlisles most prolific study but not his last.

Where is Dr. Carlisle now?

Ted Bundy is inarguably part of Americas horrid history with serial killers. Violent Minds: Killers on Tape explored how Dr. Carlisle got into his mind to understand if Bundy indeed was evil or where his murderous tendencies stemmed from. But Dr. Carlisle was only at the start of Bundys story.

His evaluation of Bundy allowed Americans to be free of his murderous ways for over 10 years, as he was sentenced to prison based on Dr. Carlisles report. After Bundy, Dr. Carlisle also studied Arthur Gary Bishop, who killed five young boys and more. Through his work, one of his areas of expertise, according to Oxygen, was dissociative identity disorder.

In the series premiere of #ViolentMinds, Dr. Carlisle is asked to run a psychological evaluation on a man who would become one of Americas most notorious killers. Violent Minds premieres Sunday 7/6c on Oxygen True Crime. pic.twitter.com/5WinyMo8OF  Oxygen True Crime (@oxygen) April 1, 2023

In 1989, he retired from the prison but continued to share his insights, having published several renowned books like The 1976 Psychological Assessment of Ted Bundy. He also gave seminars about serial homicide and was a Salt Lake City rape crisis consultant.

Dr. Carlisles died at the age of 81 in 2018. Violent Minds: Killers on Tape was created after his family discovered his notes, tapes, and documents of his case studies. Many of his colleagues thought they were lost. What they found on Bundy and Bishop had never been seen or heard before.
3-D tomography images of the discharged state (top) and the recharged state (middle), as well as the difference between the two (bottom), showing where the mobile lithium ions (green) are located.

Solid-state Lithium-Sulfur batteries offer the potential for much higher energy densities and increased safety, compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, the performance of solid-state batteries is currently lacking, with slow charging and discharging being one of the primary causes. Now, a new study from HZB shows that sluggish lithium ion transport within a composite cathode is the cause of this slow charging and discharging.

The scientists designed a special cell in order to observe the transport of lithium-ions between the anode and the cathode in a solid-state Lithium-Sulfur battery. Since lithium can hardly be detected with x-ray methods, HZB physicists Dr. Robert Bradbury and Dr. Ingo Manke examined the sample cell with neutrons, which are extremely sensitive to lithium. In conjunction with Dr. Nikolay Kardjilov, HZB, they used neutron radiography and neutron tomography methods on the CONRAD2 instrument at the Berlin neutron source BER II. Groups from Giessen (JLU), Braunschweig (TUBS) and Julich (FZJ) were also involved in the work.

Lithium ions observed directly

"We now have much better idea what is limiting the battery performance," says Bradbury: "We see from the operando neutron radiography data that there is a reaction front of lithium ions propagating through the composite cathode confirming the negative influence of a low effective ionic conductivity." Additionally, the 3D neutron tomography images show trapped lithium concentrated near the current collector during recharging. "This results in a diminished capacity because only some of the lithium is transported back when the battery is charged."

The observed lithium distribution was an excellent fit to a model based on the theory of porous electrodes: "What we observe here in the neutron imaging data correlates well with the relevant electronic and ionic conductivity conditions from the model" says Bradbury.

Bottleneck identified

These results unveil a previously overlooked development bottleneck for solid-state batteries, showing that limitations exist in the cathode composites due to the slow ionic transport. The challenge now is to enable faster ion delivery within the cathode composite. "Without direct visualization of the reaction front inside the cathode composite this effect might have gone unnoticed, despite its importance for solid-state battery development," Bradbury says.
If youve ever been through a breakup or a divorce, have you ever wondered what it would be like if your ex-partner still had to live in the same home as you?

One woman is dealing with a lot of stress after her ex had a heart attack and asked to move back into her house for a month while she looks after him.

When she was 22-years-old, she began dating a man who was 21 years older than her named Kevin. Early into their whirlwind relationship, she became pregnant with their son, Adam. She and Kevin split about three years later due to issues she says were mainly related to Kevin.

Now, shes 29, Kevin is 50, and Adam is six. Over the years, she and Kevin developed a great co-parenting relationship.

I dont regret our relationship because I got our beautiful little boy out of it, and I dont consider myself to have been taken advantage of, she said.

However, Kevin recently suffered a heart attack, which has put a lot of stress on their family. Kevin has daughters from another relationship, but they all live far away from him.

Since she and Adam live nearby, she was the one to visit the hospital and make sure Kevin was okay. She stayed with him and told Kevins daughters to get on a plane.

Kevin had a procedure to remove a clot that caused the heart attack. His doctors said that he should stay with a family member for the next month so that someone could keep an eye on him.

Although Im not technically family to him, I am his sons mother, she explained.

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When you were in school, did you ever get the chance to learn the story of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson? If not, now is your chance to learn about a woman who achieved a lot of firsts.

Born in London, England, in 1836, Elizabeth was born into a family that supported her need for education. She was home-schooled until she went to a boarding school for girls as a teenager.

At the age of 23, when she was finished with school, she met Elizabeth Blackwell. You may recognize this Elizabeths name, as she was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States.

After she met Elizabeth Blackwell, she was inspired to become a doctor. However, getting her medical degree was a long and challenging process.

One year after meeting Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth became a surgery nurse at Middlesex Hospital in London, where she learned so much about what it takes to be a doctor.

As she tried to get into medical school, she learned as much as she could during her time as a nurse and had opportunities to work in the outpatient clinic. She was also able to sit in on her first operation.

However, she still felt alienated as she continued to get rejected from medical schools. To further her education, Elizabeth decided to take private lessons in subjects like anatomy and physics in the evenings while continuing to be a great nurse.

She got her degrees in anatomy and physiology and found hope in the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, which admitted her in 1862.

By 1865, after becoming the first woman to take their exam, she received her license to practice medicine.

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Just hours after the Easter service at Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge, a fire broke out and engulfed the church. As the fire grew, six alarms were raised, and the parishioners of the church and the clergy were scared and shocked.

The church's pastor, Rev. Robin Lutjohann, said that the fire started after the worship had ended, and on a positive note, there were no people inside the church. As the firefighters fought the fire, the people who attended the earlier service watched the church they were in a few moments ago.

6-Alarm fire Eats up Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge

According to the report in Boston Globe, the people in faith and the Lutjohann have given their trust in God that they would be guided and salvaged from the devastation. The pastor emphasized that in those difficult times, God is still with them and helps them in every way he could do.

The fire that was notified at around 5:30 p.m. received assistance from the Cambridge fire department, located at 311 Broadway. When they first arrived on the site, they requested a second alarm; as the fire grew, they then asked for a third and fourth alarm. According to the authorities, the fire hastily reached six alarms around 7:45 p.m.

The church's front doors were locked when the firefighters arrived. The firefighters were met with intense fire as soon as they broke through the front doors. They attacked the fire aggressively but could not put water on its source.

According to another source, Cambridge Day, the fire that destroyed the church raged unabatedly for hours. When a firefighter heard unmistakable cracking sounds coming from the steeple at 7:42 p.m., firefighters were ordered to keep a safe distance in case it fell.

A sixth alarm was called for, which dispatched more engines from Medford, Chelsea, and Newton. The fire was still being fought in the dark as it entered its third hour, with significant flames on the first level venting through the spire. A firefighter gave a lengthy time estimate for the operation. State Representative Mike Connolly, who was present, expressed concern about the community.

On Sunday, a text message was sent to Lutjohann inquiring as to where the church should gather and what assistance might be required.

Also Read: Fountain of Life Center Recovery from Fire, Parishioners to Hold Easter Sunday Mass as Scheduled

Fear and Hope for the Church Community

A story shared in Boston 25 News reported that the Easter Sunday worship service was held at 10:00 a.m. Just hours after, the fire hastily engulfed the church. Despite the tragedy of their place of worship, the churchgoers remained to hold on to their faith and were still hopeful that the church would be okay.

Churchgoers who were baptized there, Kristin Griffin and Diane Garner, expressed their sadness and grief as they feared the church might get serious damage and recovery would be hard. The firefighter arranged a collapse area as a precaution, but fortunately, the church remained standing.

No one was hurt during the incident, and Lutjohann believes that the church is not the building; it is the people and added that the church would remain and have strong endurance.

Related Article: Burlington County Community Mourns As Historic Church Falls Victim to Devastating Fire
Wikimedia Commons/Duane Lempke

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was charged by the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services of denying Catholic service members and veterans their right to practice their faith.

The charges come from the Holy Name College Friary, a Franciscan community of priests and brothers who have worked at the facility for 20 years, being given a cease-and-desist order and the cancellation of a contract for pastoral care. This order was issued days before the Holy Week started, and the contract for Catholic Pastoral Care ended at the end of March.

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Chared With Religious Discrimination

According to New York Post, the archdiocese has released a statement replying to the actions that Walter Reed made. They criticized their actions and labeled them an infringement upon the First Amendment's right to exercise one's religion freely. The archdiocese was so disappointed that their appeal to reinstate the ministry through Easter has gone unanswered.

Archbishop Timothy Bergolio said they do not understand why they must take the essential pastoral care away from the sick and the old when it was readily available. He also expressed his concern that by giving the contract to the lowest bidder may have forgotten and overlooked the importance of the necessary services.

Another report source, Fox News, states that the service members and the veterans are hardly being denied their right to practice their faith since Catholic priests are banned in Walter Reed. The absence of these priests prevents important events in Catholicism, such as Mass celebrations and religious confessions.

Walter Reed responded to these criticisms by saying that they have always provided religious sacraments, which include those that an ordained priest of the Catholic offered. The response also states that currently, there is a review of the pastoral care contract that is happening in order to ensure enough support for the religious needs of the beneficiaries, most importantly the patients.

Furthermore, Walter Reed announced that there would be Catholic Easter Services, which would include the performance of Mass and the giving of confession by a priest who has been consecrated in the Catholic Church. The patients at the facility may still seek their assistance even if the Franciscan Diocese won't be holding services on Sunday.

Also Read: Christians Face Individual Religious Discrimination in The Workplace for Their Morals, Study Finds

History of the Archdiocese for Military Services

The Catholic Archdiocese for Military Services was founded by the late St. Pope John Paul II to serve the Catholics serving the military in the United States and worldwide. According to Vigour Times, the care of about 1.8 million Catholics worldwide is within the jurisdiction of the archdiocese, which has responsibilities that transcend geographical limits. This includes over 220 installations in 29 countries, 153 V.A. Medical Centers, and federal employees stationed in 134 countries.

According to their website, the Archdiocese for the Military Services, the history of the organization starts with Archbishop Joseph T. Ryan becoming the first common of the Archdiocese of Military Services in March 1985. In the vicinity of Washington, DC, he constructed the administrative center in January 1986. The Most Reverend Joseph T. Dimino was chosen to serve as the second ordinary for the Military Services upon the retirement of Archbishop Ryan in 1991. The Most Reverend Edwin F. O'Brien, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, succeeded Archbishop Dimino after he retired in 1997. On October 1, 2007, Archbishop O'Brien assumed his position as Baltimore's archbishop.

Related Article: Rising Religious Persecution: The Top 50 Countries Where Following Jesus Is Most Dangerous in 2023
Pixabay/Christine Sponchia

Christians around the world celebrates Easter as a happy time for it is the revival and return of the Saviour Jesus Christ. Although most of the believers around the world celebrate with events such as Easter egg hunts, family feast gatherings, and worships in churches, Easter also can be a mark of danger for some believers, especially in places with high in Christian Persecution.

The threat of persecution against Christians is increased during Holy Week in many nations in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. During Easter, Christian communities are frequently targeted by religious extremists, authoritarian governments, and other hostile actors who take advantage of their vulnerability as they come together to worship and remember Jesus' resurrection.

Easter Sunday Celebrations Sometimes a Traget for Christian Persecution

According to the article in The Hill, the American church and those nations which Christian persecution is uncommon, must recognize and confront the ongoing troubles that their fellow believers experiences. One tragic exapmle is the 2019 Sri Lankan Easter bombings, in which an Isis-inspired suicide bombers attacked three churches and three hotels. The tragedy took the lives of over 250 people and injuries of more than 500, and the victims were mostly Catholic worshipers.

Incidents like these are not uncommon, for there are also several countries that faced massacre during these times of the year. In 2012, Boko Haram militants have used a car as a bomb and detonated it outside a church in Nigeria during Easter Sunday services that killed 41 people.

Also, one Good Friday attacked happened, when gunmen in Nigeria's Benue State ambushed and murdered 11 parishioners who were leaving the church. Radical Hindu nationalists attacked an Easter service last year in India, a country where religious freedom is meant to be respected, beating worshippers with clubs, including women and children. Additionally, three Christian homes were vandalized and their food supplies were destroyed by associated extremist groups. The entire Christian community must acknowledge and respond to such atrocities against Christians.

In the article in Angelus News, the "Open Doors" Christian persecution watchdog group reported atleast 526 Christians were killed all over the world during celebration of Easter Sunday between 2013 and 2020, with hundreds more got injured during these attacks. This year, it is still a mystery if where will the attacks will occur, but Christian leaders are now urging for additional security for every Christians who innocently celebrates the ressurection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Holy Land, violence has been increasing in these past few months, mainly targeting Christians, with churches, funeral processions, worship services, and public gatherings becomes the main targets. Many of their sacred places, including their burial grounds, have been vandalized, and venerable rituals like the Holy Fire Ceremony and the Palm Sunday Procession have been off-limits to hordes of devotees. The call for additional security has been disclosed.

Also Read: North Korea Named Worst Persecutor of Christians Worldwide: Believers Sent to Labor Camps Or Killed

The Number One Christian Persecutor Last Year

Christianity Daily reported that last year, North Korea was named the number one Christian persecutor worldwide. The persistent animosity toward the faith in the communist country was underlined by the annual report, which tracks the persecution of Christians in more than 50 countries. The research detailed the different forms of persecution, such as imprisonment, torture, and execution, that Christians experience in North Korea.

This serves as a depressing reminder of the serious human rights violations occurring in the nation and the urgent need for international involvement. The report also emphasizes the unwavering bravery and tenacity of the Christian community in North Korea, who continue to practice their faith despite the oppressive circumstances.

Related Article: Rising Religious Persecution: The Top 50 Countries Where Following Jesus Is Most Dangerous in 2023
Pexels/Haley Black

It has been a struggle for Israeli Christians, as the new government has made the life of the people in faith there hard. Even though violence persists, the Israeli authorities mostly are giving a blind eye to these situations.

This is due to the ongoing hostility of the fundamentalist Jews toward the Christian community of Jerusalem, and not just the Armenians suffer from these hostilities, but all in Israel.

Rise of Violence Against Christians in Jerusalem Persists in New Israeli Government

In the article shared on Aljazeera, Miran Krikorian, owner of a Wine Bar in the Old City of Jerusalem, was not even surprised when he received a call that reports that a group of Israeli settlers was attacking his bar last January. The attackers shouted, "Death to Arabs, death to Christians!" Even with the lack of efforts of the police, Krikorian already knew the situation they were in.

According to the article, the police captured three people from the mob following a quick inquiry, although it took two months and some media attention before they did so. The police nevertheless requested Krikorian's surveillance footage, even though there are many security cameras in the Old City, and it had previously been posted online.

Krikorian became frustrated and asked why the police required his film when the nearby cameras could take detailed pictures, even down to a person's underpants. It was evident that the police were doing it on purpose.

The Christian community leaders are concerned about the rise in the attacks on Christian sites and individuals and are believed to be motivated by an ideological belief of "Messianic Syndrome." This belief is mainly followed by the same religious group of Jews, which involves their desire to take over the land and is often associated with young yeshiva students.

This "syndrome" is believed to be dismissed as a mental illness, which is the reason why the police minimize their actions to catch and punish these perpetrators. The attack on Christian symbols, particularly the cross, is common and is currently growing in the current Israeli government. Christians put the blame on the government because of the lack of action.

Christians in East Jerusalem are victims of the ongoing violence that the Jewish extremists are doing. According to the Jerusalem Post on Mount Zion, which is thought to be the site of Jesus' Last Supper, one recent event involved the vandalism of a Christian grave. Such events include spitting, cursing, and pushing Armenian priests in Old City alleyways.

Young guys with ultra-Orthodox appearances regularly gather in groups to identify priests and degrade them in the harassment which has occurred for several years. The local Armenians contend that despite police reports, they have not received a sufficient reaction, follow-up, updates, or indications that the harassment is ceasing.

Also Read: Desecration of Jerusalem Christian Cemetery: Two Suspects Arrested, Justin Welby and Israel's Foreign Ministry Speak Out

Recent Celebration of the Holy Week

Recently, Christians in Jerusalem pushed through on celebrating the Holy Week amid the struggle to stay present in the Holy Land. According to a recent story in Christianity Daily, after mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and raised, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, expressed hope for love and life to rule people's lives.

The emergence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist-religious cabinet early this year has raised concerns among Christian leaders about rising violence against their minority. Some people worry that the Christian population, which is no longer seen as being crucial to the identity of the city, may be squeezed out by the rise of Jewish neighborhoods around the Old City of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives.

Related Article: Christians in Jerusalem Celebrate Palm Sunday Amid Struggle to Maintain Presence


Pexels/Huynh Van

In his Easter Sunday sermon at Canterbury Cathedral, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, praised the Church of England's work facilitating peace in Mozambique and Northern Ireland. He emphasized the church's role in providing a "force of life and hope" against threats such as the death cult of ISIS in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

The Archbishop also acknowledged the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement signed 25 years ago, highlighting the "extraordinary and courageous work" of those involved in reaching it, stating that it was churches and monasteries that built bridges in secret, at significant risk, to pave the way for the first ceasefires and peace talks.

Archbishop Emphasizes the Importance of Hope and Resilience

According to Yahoo News, in his sermon, the Archbishop emphasized that true peace is not a "one-off event" but a "long journey requiring determination, stamina, and faith." He also noted that the church's response to historical investment in slavery is not driven by "ambivalent wokery" but "the living presence of Christ."

As mentioned, the Church Commissioners intend to set aside 100 million for a social impact investment fund to assist domestic and international communities negatively impacted by the body's previous investments in slavery.

Moreover, the Archbishop also talked about sin, foolishness, renewal, and new bravery in the world church. He told the people in the church that real peace was possible because Christ rose from the dead. It might look like cruel and oppressive masters only get stronger. Still, he said, the power of the rising is much more immense than they are.

He concluded his sermon by stating that policies that cause suffering and pain will disappear, and those who oppress and subjugate others will face divine justice. The Easter service began with the congregation singing the Easter hymn Lyra Davidica, followed by a series of prayers and readings, with the breaking of the bread and the distribution of communion concluding the service.

Also Read:Easter, Passover Lessons 'Important' To America's Future, Most Americans Believe: Poll

Easter Sunday

As per Catholic Online, Christians worldwide celebrated Easter on Sunday, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The holiday is the culmination of Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday and includes Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Easter is one of the most important Christian holidays, commemorating the central event of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Moreover, Christianity Daily reported that Easter Sunday services typically begin around midnight on Easter Saturday in many Christian churches, with the lighting of candles to remind Christians that Jesus is the world's light and that when he resurrected from the dead on Easter Sunday, he triumphed over death and the power of evil.

Furthermore, Different countries, religions, and traditions celebrate Easter Sunday. In Greece, churches are decorated with beautiful bouquets, and priests don their finest robes. In Italy, a vast Mass or Communion ceremony is held by the Pope at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, and sunrise services are held to mark the beginning of Easter Day. Easter eggs are typically distributed to children on Easter Day.

Related Article:Easter Egg Symbolism: What Does It Mean for Christians?
Unsplash/Sasun Bughdaryan

The Brooklyn Congregational Methodist Church was forced to close its building in 2019 due to the theft of $90,000 by Carmen Ramer Davis, who served as the church's secretary. Davis was reportedly given a prison sentence after almost four years.

Fraudulent Activity of Carmen Ramer Davis

According to the testimony and documents of the court, Davis was appointed as the secretary at the Brooklyn Congregational Methodist Church in Coffee County in 2006, Al.com reported.

Davis, as the church secretary, was granted the authority to pay the church's bills and other expenses and access the church's bank accounts. In the end, she successfully obtained a debit card linked to the church's bank account without the church's knowledge.

The authorities stated that Davis started using the card to make illegal cash withdrawals at ATMs and purchase personal things at various businesses. Additionally, she used the church's bank account to fraudulently write cheques to herself or make them out to cash.

Moreover, the U.S. News reported that when a church leader checked the church account, they found insufficient money to cover a check for $75 that had been written from the church account. During the investigation, evidence indicated that Davis spent some of the ill-gotten gains on excursions to casinos in Mississippi and Alabama.

As a result, on Friday, Apr. 7, an announcement made by the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama, Sandra Stewart, said that she pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud. She was given a sentence of 18 months in prison. In addition, U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. ordered that Davis complete a year of post-release supervision after her time in jail. Furthermore, Huffaker concluded that Davis had defrauded the church out of a total of $89,440 between July 2008 and July 2019. The judge also gave her an order requiring her to make restitution to the church in the sum stated.

Also Read:Pantano Baptist Church's Former Member Accused of Stealing Over $100,000 Fund

Closing of Brooklyn Congregational Methodist Church

According to Casino.org, the sole casinos in Alabama are Class II casinos, which means they can only offer bingo-based gaming machines rather than slot machines and table games in the form of those found in Las Vegas. Despite this, Mississippi is one of the most prosperous states in the United States when it comes to commercial gambling. In 2017, the state's 26 casinos brought over $2.6 billion in gross gaming revenue.

The Department of Justice did not reveal the names of the casinos Davis visited with the illegally obtained money from the church. Even though she was ordered to pay restitution for the amount she was found to have stolen, which was $89,440.32, Davis claimed to the court that she no longer possessed the money because she gambled it away and used it to support her own needs.

Thus, 2019 marked the end of the Brooklyn Congregational Methodist Church services. The FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown asserted, "The actions of the defendant significantly damaged not only the church but also the community at large. I am proud of the work by the FBI and U.S. Attorney's office to hold Davis accountable for her actions and work toward repairing the public's trust."

Related Article:Former Employee of Saint Matthew Catholic Church and School Sentenced 2 Years in Prison After Stealing $574k For Gambling and Vacation
Unsplash/Agatha Depine

On Easter Sunday, people of faith gathered for worship, prayers, and other religious observances worldwide. With that, Pope Francis celebrated Easter with an inspiring mass attended by tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis' Easter Mass

According to Mail Online, a solemn Mass on Easter Day was held indoors due to unseasonably chilly weather. It was presided over by the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. To celebrate the day Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead, the area was decorated with a carpet of 38,000 flowers that the Netherlands generously gave.

In addition, CBS News reported that in an Easter message that focused on hope, Pope Francis solicited prayers for both the people of Ukraine and Russia, lauded nations that accept refugees, and called on Israelis and Palestinians who are afflicted by the recent increase in fatal violence to establish a "climate of trust." The message was delivered on Easter Sunday.

Because of his recent hospitalization for bronchitis, the Pope, who is 86 years old, could not participate in the traditional "Way of the Cross" procession on Friday in Rome. The most recent Pope, John Paul II, was the only one to skip Holy Week services in 2005 before he passed away eight days later.

Moreover, the event was capped off by Francis' customary address, which focused on problematic regions worldwide. Francis observed that the pleasure of Easter "illuminates the darkness and gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped." He encouraged "trust among individuals, peoples, and nations" when he made this statement. The Easter speech by Pope Francis is commonly referred to by its Latin title, "Urbi et Orbi," which translates to "to the city and the world."

Also Read:Pope Francis Urges Wealthy Christians to Fight Against 'Throwaway Culture'

Easter Mass Celebration

As the world celebrates Easter Sunday, the King and Queen Consort of the United Kingdom greeted members of the public with the phrase "Happy Easter" as they entered St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle to participate in the first Easter Sunday service of Charles's reign, Independent reported.

Before the morning service, members of the royal family could be seen in large numbers strolling around the castle grounds, taking in the warm spring sunshine. Charles and Camilla wore identical royal blue ensembles, with the King donning a suit, and the Queen Consort donning a coat dress by Anna Valentine and a hat by Philip Treacy.

On the other hand, Yahoo News reported that the Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, lauded the efforts of the Church of England to promote peace in Mozambique and Northern Ireland during his sermon on Easter Sunday at Canterbury Cathedral. He strongly emphasized the Church's role in offering a "force of life and hope" in the face of dangers such as the death cult practiced by ISIS in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

The Archbishop also acknowledged the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement signed 25 years ago, highlighting the "extraordinary and courageous work" of those involved in reaching it. He stated that churches and monasteries built bridges in secret, despite the enormous risk involved, which opened the way for the first ceasefires and considerations of peace.

Related Article:'Mormon Land' Offers Insights on How Latter-Day Saints Can Engage With Easter
Pexels/Alem Sanchez

Every Good Friday, devotees in the Philippines hold Bloody Crucifixions as part of their tradition. However, a Catholic priest says that this practice reflects the church's inability to inform Filipinos properly about the fundamentals of Christian belief.

Bloody Crucifixions

A report from Yahoo News reported that in the time leading up to the crucifixions, worshipers hiked more than a half mile up a hill while carrying large crosses on their backs. Other individuals, numbering in the hundreds, likewise wandered around barefoot and flogged themselves with poles made of sharp bamboo.

Later on, villagers dressed up as Roman centurions drove stainless steel nails measuring four inches in length through the palms and feet of the eight men. They were then exposed to the sun on the cross for around ten minutes while they remained there.

As mentioned, after a three-year hiatus brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the crucifixions that occur in the farming community of San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga province, which is located north of Manila, have started up again. About a dozen locals signed up, but only eight men took part in the event. One of those participants was a sign painter named Ruben Enaje, who was 62 years old and was nailed to a wooden cross for the 34th time in San Pedro Cutud.

Enaje said he prayed to eliminate the COVID-19 virus and end Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has led to the skyrocketing prices of gas and food worldwide. Enaje reportedly underwent the ordeal in gratitude for surviving a 1985 three-story building fall. After loved ones recovered, he considered it a miracle and became a village celebrity as the "Christ" in the Lenten Way of the Cross reenactment.

This year, event organizers reported that more than 15,000 people from the Philippines and other countries visited Cutud and two different towns. Moreover, a British tour organizer named Johnson Gareth brought 15 tourists from eight nations to view the crucifixions.

Gareth mentioned that one of the reasons they enjoy this is that there is nothing else on earth quite like it. It's not nearly as gruesome as many seem to believe it is. They anticipate that it will be extremely horrible or revolting, but it is neither of those things. It is carried out respectfully.

"I respect it, I'm very open-minded," a tourist from the Czech Republic, Milan Dostal, noted. However, religious authorities in the country have voiced their opposition to the crucifixions in the past, pointing out that adherents can demonstrate their faith by engaging in charity work instead.

Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported that a famous Catholic priest and human rights activist in the nation, Robert Reyes, stated that the bloody rites represent the church's inability to completely teach many Filipinos Christian tenets, leaving individuals on their own to discover personal means of seeking divine help for a wide variety of ailments.

Also Read:Catholic Church Practices on Abstinence and Fasting During Holy Week

Importance of Crucifixion on Devotees

According to the BBC, most Christian denominations teach that the crucifixion of Jesus took place in the exact manner portrayed in the Bible. Crucifixion is significant to Christians because they believe that God gave up Jesus, his only son, as a sacrifice to make one for the sins of humanity. Accordingly, crucifixion holds no importance for Christians adhering to the Unitarian and Quaker traditions who reject the notion that Jesus was the divinely begotten son of God. Moreover, the Eucharist, which is a celebration of the crucifixion of Jesus, is not a component of the worship that these Christians practice.

Related Article: Pope Francis Says Jesus Christ's Crucifixion 'Embraced Every Man's Death, Pain, Weakness'
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A notice of suspicion of war propaganda and glorification of the Russian army was served to a priest blogger of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the authorities, Archpriest Andrii Tkachov, a Lviv native, actively spread pro-Kremlin narratives through the media questioning Ukrainian Statehood's existence.

In 2022, when Russia invaded fully, he escaped to Moscow and openly backed the Russian occupiers.

The Advocation of Violence Against Ukrainians

According to Yahoo! News, Tkachov, a Moscow cleric, has been documented in his comments suggesting that the Russian projectiles of the troops must have religious inscriptions. He regularly appears on outlets supporting the Kremlin, defending its war crimes. According to law enforcement officials, the results of the suspect's unlawful behavior have been entirely confirmed by forensic analysis.

The aggression of Russia against Ukraine has been ongoing for almost eight long years, with a group of people that strongly supports Russian imperialist policies in Ukraine. According to UAPC, these groups include politicians and religious leaders that consist of the clergy.

Tkachov is one example, and one Archbishop, Taras Petranuk. These archbishops have been in support of the aggression of the Russian army against Ukraine. Petranuk is hiding in Ternopil on Ruska Street 22 as part of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. It is a national treason and a crime against Ukraine and its people to support Russian aggression in that country. While the Petranuk brothers and other wolves in sheep's clothing threaten national security, Ukrainian priests nonetheless play a significant role in promoting national unity and defending national interests. Actions must be taken to guarantee Ukraine's national security and protect its territorial integrity.

An extract from Archpriest Andriy Tkachov's sermon that has gained popularity on social media underscores the value of prayer in combat. He quotes Suvorov when he claims that one must pray to draw a sword, load a gun, and triumph in battle. Tkachov adds that in war, one does not do what one wants but what is essential and that even loading shells takes prayer, likening it to packing a cigarette while saying, "Lord have mercy." The speech has garnered criticism, mainly because Tkachov has previously called for the murder of civilians in Ukraine.

Also Read: Pope Francis Declares Global Conflict As 'Third World War' In Christmas Message

Recent Updates on Ukraine War

According to recent reports, Richard Branson has joined United 24, a fundraising initiative started by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to gather funds for Ukraine. According to Sky News, the businessman joined Star Wars star Mark Hamill as project ambassador during his visit to Kyiv to discuss the specifics of his collaboration with United 24.

Virgin Unite expressed their happiness that Branson has joined the U24 ambassador program in a statement following their meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, greeted Branson as an ambassador.

According to the UN, a hospital in Kherson was attacked by Russia, and in the same area, an ambulance was also damaged, resulting in two injuries to medical personnel. This occurs amid an ongoing battle in Ukraine, where medical personnel and facilities have been hit. Considering that 70% of all attacks on healthcare professionals and facilities last year occurred in Ukraine, the UN spokeswoman raised concern about the war's effects on them. The UN emphasized the significance of safeguarding medical personnel and facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Related Article: Monks, Worshippers at Ukrainian Orthodox Church Decline Government's Order to Leave Kyiv Monaster
About Us

Christianity Dailys main office is located in Los Angeles. Christianity Daily first started on January 23, 2004, in Los Angeles. Our English publication was launched in January 2014 in celebration of our 10th anniversary. With hard dedication, weve grown to be the leading Christian news source within the nation.

Christianity Daily is dedicated to present the biblical values of Christianity based on evangelical viewpoints to the people of the US churches. We also have been striving for mission through media that promote the spirit of unity, reconciliation and contribute to the development of Christian culture.

In the era of diversification in the 21st century, the absolute value standard is broken, and many people are wandering without knowing where to follow. At this time, we desire to be the tools of a mission to preach about Jesus Christ, who is 'the way, the truth, and the life' to many who do not know Christ.

Christianity Daily has been providing our best to spread the message of the Gospel. We will strive representing the truth before God and spreading the words that God wants us to convey with evangelical perspectives and a prophetic voice even more quickly, clearly, and accurately.

Email us at info@christianitydaily.com or christianitydaily@gmail.com
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In renewing one's mind, repenting and using Bible prayers is important. God affects transformation in us through the process of repentance. It enlightens us about the wrongful acts we've been committing.

According to Life Hope and Truth, "repentance" comes from the Greek word, which means "to transform one's way of life as the result of a total change of mind and attitude with respect to sin and righteousness."

It involves examining something you did in the past, discovering that what you did was unrighteous because it violated God's commandments, and concluding that you need to modify your behavior to improve. The Center for Church Renewal provided different Bible prayers to help people to renew their minds.

1. Prayer To Be Made New (Ephesians 4:22-24)

The explanation of the gospel that the Apostle Paul provided earlier in this letter serves as the basis for his appeal to his followers to demonstrate their Christian faith in their daily lives. Being "made new" or rejuvenated is an action that can be thought of as having both an active and a passive component. While God is making us new, we must do our part by casting off our former selves.

2. Prayer for Freedom (Romans 12:2)

There is a lot of pressure on people today, especially young people, to live the same way as the culture around them. The most important thing is to follow in the footsteps of one's culture and succeed in the wider world. The verse from Leviticus 19:2 that says, "Be holy, since I am holy", comes to mind. It continually works to renew our thinking because the Holy Spirit knows that this path leads to change.

3. Prayer for Freedom (Romans 12:2)

After experiencing a severe lapse in moral judgment, David penned this prayer. This is a profound and sincere prayer for forgiveness, renewal, and restoration. We return to it frequently throughout worship, in confessional prayers and in songs of adoration.

4. Prayer For Strength (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Paul is discussing our daily struggles. He's referring to Christ's resurrection power so we can endure. Our souls are being rejuvenated even though our churches are failing or we are aging. Yet, despite our aging bodies, we are still healthy inside.

5. Prayer Of Gratitude (Psalm 103:1-5)

This remarkable sacred song written by David describes the history of salvation and directs our attention to the Creator, whom Jesus would later refer to as "Abba." This is a reminder to reflect on the individual and collective ways God rescued His people. The redemption that God gives has delivered our lives from many different kinds of impasses and has fulfilled our most profound yearnings. If you would like to adore him through song, Rivers & Robots' song "Satisfy" is a good choice for you to listen to.

Also Read:Biblical Prayers Could Be Banned In The UK Should Lawmakers Succeed In Pro-LGBT Strategy

Significance of Renewing Your Mind

As per the Banner of Truth, when Christians stay in this world for a more extended period, they gain a greater awareness of the impact of the words and thoughts they choose to speak and think. We sometimes need to realize how much of a crucial part the believer's mind plays. According to the scriptures, a person is the same as the thoughts that go through his head. As time passes, we realize that the fight in the Christian life is truly a fight to have one's mind refreshed and dominated by the truth God has revealed. The way a person "thinketh" in their heart is the way that they are and the way that they will continue to be. As stated by the Mount Bethel Ministries, when we renew our minds, we experience personal development. We get to understand things from God's perspective, which causes a shift in the way we react to the circumstances and people in our environment; as a result, we mature.

Related Article:What We Can Learn From Peter in the Bible
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A group of Catholic nuns published a public statement on behalf of thousands of religious women and some partner organizations. The alliance reaffirmed its support for persons who identify as nonbinary, transgender, or gender-expansive.

The letter denounced previous statements by the United States and declared that these people are "loved and cherished by God." On March 31, which is also International Day of Transgender Visibility, the coalition released a letter.

A Letter of Affirmation of the Nuns Supporting the Trans Community

According to the article in Washington Post, the letter stresses the importance of recognizing and acknowledging to acceptance of the transgender community and other members of the LGBTQ within the Christian community. The letter argues that they will continue to be oppressors if the Catholic Church continues to put a blind eye and not accept the LGBTQ community in their congregations.

Additionally, the letter raises concerns over state-level legislation targeting LGBTQ+ rights, hurtful rhetoric from some Religious institutions and leaders, and prejudice that transgender person experience. The letter aims to foster a deep connection among all members of the faith community, especially transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people.

In another source, Religion News, the representatives from the different communities have prepared a letter that lists the orders of nuns and other organizations representing more than 6,000 vowed religious across 18 states. These communities include the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth JPIC office, the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, and Indiana.

The letter was signed by the Justice Office of the Medical Mission Sisters, several offices of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the Dominican Sisters of Houston, the leadership of the Presentation Sisters of Dubuque, the Sisters of Loretto/Loreto Community, and various offices of the Sisters of Charity.

The letter further offers methods to take action, such as helping New Ways Ministry, a Catholic LGBTQ outreach group, or signing a DignityUSA declaration that underlines a "Catholic commitment to trans-affirmation." The letter tries to refute a recent doctrinal pronouncement by a committee of the U.S. With the justification that they violate the "intrinsic oneness of body and soul," the Conference of Catholic Bishops forbade Catholic healthcare organizations from performing a variety of gender-affirming medical procedures.

Also Read: Iowa Passes Controversial Bills Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Minors and Imposing Restrictions on Transgender Bathroom Use

Recent Attacks on the Transgender Community

Recently, the Transgender community has been experiencing attacks as some medical-related procedures of gender-affirming care have restrictions and bans specifically on minors. Some states believe that it is too early for children to engage in Transgender care that they may later regret if they made a wrong decision while young.

The report in Christianity Daily shows the different states that have already passed the law banning gender-affirming care for minors. It includes Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Kentucky, and West Virginia, among the states that have formally passed such laws. Some states are not included in the list because they have only made minor adjustments or banned gender-affirming child care outright. The states that have prohibited gender-affirming consideration did so after official deliberation and voting.

Related Article: Doctor Challenges Opponents' Understanding of Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth
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The Covenant School, the Christian School in Nashville, has been in the headlines for the recent massacre wherein seven people died, including a child and a school officer. The school said it would not complete its academic year in the facility.

An alternative has been proposed wherein the 200 students and 40 staff members will resume classes at the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ. The church has agreed to hold the courses for the Presbyterian school. The church has a congregation of 1,200 people and is located approximately five miles from Covenant's campus.

Church of Christ Helps The Covenant School

According to Christian Chronicle, the classes will start the next week and go until the end of May. The Brentwood Hills church's executive minister, Jonathan Seamon, stated that there was no difficulty in providing the school use of the church's facilities.

After the tragedy in the school that resulted in the death of seven people, the school officials considered using the facilities of a nearby Lipscomb University. The school has reached out to Brentwood Hills' pulpit minister, Walt Leaver, to explore this possibility and for them to continue giving education to the poor students that are greatly affected. Leaver also advised them to think about utilizing the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ's resources.

The Tennessee Department of Education and other agencies have inspected the building to be given the grant to use it as an emergency status as their school. Jonathan Seamon, the executive minister of Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, stated that the state has been very supportive and cooperative to the process as it usually takes two months in just two days.

'Days after the shooting, Nashville held several vigils to mourn the massacre's victims and have the families left behind thought of support from the community. According to NBC News, Henry Seeley, the lead pastor of Belonging Co Church, noted that several churchgoers' families also send their kids to the school. Leaver proposed that they consider using the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ facilities.

He acknowledged the difficulty of the circumstance and underlined the significance of banding together for mutual assistance. Bishop J. Mark Spalding said that throughout the event, many parishioners cried as they needed to be with one another during such a trying time. The bishop said people had come to the mass full of anguish and loss.

Also Read: DOJ Agrees to $144.5 Million Settlement with Sutherland Springs Church Shooting Victims

The Schools' Motivation to Teach Christian Values to the Students

According to the News Covenant Schools website, Christian values are given and imparted to the students in their institution. They emphasize that the Scriptures are the word of God and Jesus Christ is the one who saved everyone from sin, which is being taught every day. Prayers, The Scriptures, and the Ten Commandments are also being taught actively and read together.

The middle school students use the Book of Common Prayer for worship and attend chapel once a week. Their website states that the organization is firmly evangelical and Christian. They uphold the Apostles' and Nicene's Creeds and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, which serve as the cornerstone of the English Church.

Related Article: Nashville Christian School Shooting Takes 6 Lives Including 3 Students; Shooter Found Dead at the Scene
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From Saturday, Apr. 1 to Sunday, Apr. 2, the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints brings together its members worldwide to discuss the significance of having a relationship with God.

General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

A report from The Daily Universe reported that men, women, and children who traveled from Ghana to Brazil would be present in person to hear the prophetic guidance at the event. Those who attended the conference in person and those who watched it online gained new insight into how critical it is to strengthen their trust in Jesus Christ.

"As we come unto Him, we have His promise of eternal life. People who trust the doctrine of Christ endure to the end," said Elder Evan A. Schmutz of the Seventy. As mentioned, believers in Jesus Christ can take solace in the gospel's message and find joy in their faith despite the difficulties that exist in the world.

Daily Herald reported that the meeting started with an unexpected announcement that one of the Quora of the Twelve Apostles members would not be there. After coming down with COVID-19, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland will not be present in the building, as stated by President Dallin H. Oaks of the first presidency, who noted this information to those in attendance and those watching from around the world.

Moreover, Elder Gary E. Stevenson told the congregation on the second day of the conference on Palm Sunday, Apr. 2, emphasizing the significance that should be placed on Holy Week and Easter, even more than Christmas.

He pointed out that the Book of Mormon, in addition to the New Testament, is a testimony to Jesus and the narrative of his journey in his resurrected glory to his descendants who lived in the Americas.

Stevenson recommended reading chapter 11 of the Book of Mormon's 3 Nephi, which details Christ's resurrected visit to the Nephites after his arrival to their land. These biblical passages on Easter provide accounts of the resurrection.

According to President Henry B. Eyring, the second counselor in the first presidency, the only way for the world's people to find peace is through Christ and the sacrifice he made for them.

Also Read: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Pay $5M Settlement Following Concerns on Church's Investment

Growth and Oppositions in The Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Missionary work has always been an integral part of the Christian faith, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is no exception. Around the middle of the nineteenth century, converts were actively urged to join the saints at their gatherings in the United States. The ever-increasing numbers of immigrants from Europe and the eastern parts of the United States quickly fueled the ever-increasing opposition.

The church's headquarters was initially located in New York, but they were relocated to Ohio, then they went to Missouri, and finally, they moved to Illinois. In 1839, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founded the town of Nauvoo, Illinois, in a problematic swampland located along the Mississippi River. They began building a city of beautiful homes, prosperous farms, and thriving enterprises under Joseph Smith's direction, during which time they drained the swamps and removed the obstacles that stood in their way. Moreover, they constructed a temple, and by 1844, the population of Nauvoo was comparable to that of Chicago. The rising suspicion fostered an atmosphere of intense tension and distrust, and fear that spread among nearby villages.

Related Article: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Catholic Charities Help Mexican Consulate in Orlando to Build Self-Reliance Courses for Latino Community
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Easter is a religious event celebrated by Christians worldwide to commemorate the rose to the life of Jesus Christ. Following the observance of Lent is the celebration of Easter Egg Sunday. Many different traditions are practiced during this event, including egg hunting and lighting candles.

Symbol of Easter Egg for Christians

In their traditional form, Easter eggs are meant to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the new life Christians receive through him. For this reason, they are also known as the eggs of resurrection.

According to the Master's Hand Collection, the boiling represents Jesus' tomb being sealed off after being used to hold his body. And the breaking of the egg is meant to represent the triumphant bursting forth of Jesus' return after he was put to death.

Through His strength, He overcame death and rose from the dead after being buried. Because Christ was able to rise from death, people have the opportunity to have their sins forgiven and the assurance that they will spend eternity in heaven with Him. As mentioned, Jesus is the one who gives life. He has made it possible for those who believe in Him to have a new beginning in life.

As per Reader's Digest, to prepare for Easter, several holy festivities occur in the weeks leading up to it, such as Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday. During the Christian holiday of Easter, customs such as making hot cross buns and stuffing empty eggs with candy represent Christ's crucifixion on the cross and resurrection from the tomb. Listening to performances of Handel's Messiah and watching Easter movies like "The Passion of the Christ" are two other customs based on the Christian story and observed during Easter.

Also Read: City Blasted For Removing 'Easter' From Egg Hunt Promos

Tradition of Christians During Easter Sunday

Why Easter stated that Easter Sunday services typically begin around midnight on Easter Saturday in many Christian churches. The Easter Day Midnight celebrations are traditionally kicked off with the lighting of candles in churches worldwide. Christians sometimes burn candles on Easter to remind themselves that Jesus is the world's light and that when he resurrected from the dead on Easter Sunday, he triumphed over death and the power of evil.

There are particular churches where the service does not begin until after dark. After then, twelve candles are lit, and those candles are carried around the rest of the cathedral to light the other candles. Upon lighting each candle, the priest announces, "Christ is Risen!" to which the congregation responds, "He is Risen Truly!" In Greece, the beginning of the service will frequently begin with pyrotechnics.

Every Easter, churches are decorated with beautiful bouquets. They signify the beginning of a new life. In honor of the occasion, priests don their finest and most vibrant robes. On Easter morning, if a church has a model of the tomb that was there on Good Friday, it will be empty with the stone removed, just as it was the first time Easter was observed.

Moreover, although Easter Day marks the conclusion of Lent, it also marks the conclusion of fasting for some individuals. A vast Mass or Communion ceremony is held in Italy each week by the Pope at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. It is a destination for Easter Sunday celebrations for thousands of people from all over the world.

Many Christians also attend sunrise services, which are held very early in the morning to mark the beginning of Easter Day. Easter eggs are typically distributed to children on Easter Day.

Related Article:Easter Egg Hunt Ideas: Christian Traditions During Easter Sunday
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Throughout religious institutions, there have been numerous instances of abuse and cover-ups, and the majority of those responsible hold positions of authority. In response to charges of abuse and cover-ups, Bloomington-Normal's Eastview Christian Church is due to face an integrity assessment for the health and safety of its employees and workplace culture.

These allegations stem from accusations that Caleb Baker, a former pastor at Eastview and the son of longtime lead pastor Rev. Mike Baker, engaged in inappropriate sexual relationships with congregation members while working at the church in 2016.

Road to Recovery of Eastview Christain Church Will be Hard

The allegations surfaced after Caleb Baker was fired from his job as lead student pastor and associate preaching pastor at a church in Arizona as a result of an extramarital relationship, according to the report in Pantagraph. Former Eastview employees stated on social media that the church had suppressed efforts to expose Caleb Baker's behavior and covered up his actions.

Eastview church elders have acknowledged that trust has been questioned, eroded, and pledged to investigate the allegations thoroughly. Rev. Mike Baker has denied the accusations, and Caleb Baker has not commented on the situation. The audit will evaluate the church's staff and workplace culture to ensure the safety and well-being of all members.

According to WGLT, a former staffer who initiated the investigation has expressed doubts about the investigation's independence, given the elders' involvement. The former worker also noted that the church's insurance company would likely require such an investigation.

Transparency is critical to recovery, according to Unitarian Universalist Minister Gail Seavey, who has helped two congregations recover from misconduct scandals. However, there is a tension between transparency, protecting employees from unjustified reputational damage, and safeguarding the privacy and safety of victims. Seavey suggested that the congregation must know enough information to feel safe in their community without knowing the case details. She added that institutional change is complicated, but transparent institutions are healthier.

Also Read: How to Spot, Prevent, and Handle Sex Abuse in Religious Institutions, Public Places, and Homes

Father of the Accused Pastor Denied the Allegations of Cover-ups

The Senior Pastor of Eastview Christian Church in Illinois, Mike Baker, has resigned after it was revealed that his son, Caleb, was fired from the church in 2016 for sexual misconduct. According to a story in the Christian Post, the church's elder board claimed they were unaware of the situation and are conducting an external review.

However, Baker has denied accusations that he covered up his son's behavior, stating that he did not know about the allegations until after his son had left the church. He claims to have taken action when he discovered his son's behavior, telling him to resign from his new job after another allegation of sexual misconduct. He also said he did not know about his son's affair until two weeks ago. Baker has faced criticism for his sermon on sex that asserted homosexuality is a choice. He suggested non-traditional families are less influential than those with a father and mother.

Related Article: Portuguese Bishops Unveil Measures to End Church Sexual Abuse as Pope Urges Prayers for Victims
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Aimenn D. Penny, 20 years old, was apprehended due to an alleged firebombing of a church using a Molotov cocktail to prevent a drag queen show. The story hour for children has been halted since this incident occurred, where it was held at the Community Church of Chesterland (UCC) in Chesterland, Ohio, last March 25.

Penny was apprehended and has been taken into custody on Friday. The offender in issue was additionally charged with possessing a harmful device and one count of using explosives improperly. These crimes have a specific number of years of sentence to serve in prison

Man Arrested for Attempted Arson, May Serve Sentence in Prison if Found Guilty

According to Fox News, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohi said that using violence and destruction to protest a particular viewpoint is unacceptable. He also emphasized the essence of the peace agreement and the protection of citizens' right to freedom of speech peacefully, and the U.S. Attorney's Office is committed to protecting this right.

The arrest of the said suspect was made possible through the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force and also with the help of the Chester Township Police Department. Gregory Nelsen, special agent in charge of the FBI Cleveland Field Office, thanked the Lake and Geauga County authorities for their help and applauded the effective cooperation amongst the law enforcement agencies involved in the arrest.

If Penny is decided guilty, he will face a minimum sentence of five years in prison for the malicious use of explosive materials and up to ten years for possession of a destructive device. According to the report in Christian Post, the Community Church expressed their gratitude to the authorities through Facebook and thanked them for their assistance in providing more security for the story hour event, which was held the following Saturday.

The church acknowledged the importance of the several police cruisers, "swat-style" vans, and tactical mobile unit from the nearby Chagrin Falls, which would have dissuaded any prospective threats. The church claimed that their team's planning efforts and the support of law enforcement contributed to the day's success and love and joy.

Also, in an earlier message, the Community Church expressed their forgiveness towards the criminal. Still, they believe that he should face the consequences of his actions and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The church added that this would serve as a voice to others with the same intentions and that the groups that use violence as means of force to promote any agenda are unacceptable and criminalized today.

Also Read: UK Christians Hit Scottish Teacher's Union For Creating Blasphemous Play Starring A Transgender Jesus

Community Church Expressed Thanks as Donation Flooded, Promises to Continue Doing These Events

According to the article in Insider, following the threats of violence, the Community Church reportedly received enormous support and money, according to Pastor Peacock, who used they/them pronouns. They said the church remains steadfastly dedicated to holding LGBTQ-welcoming activities, especially in light of the triumphant staging of the county's first Pride celebration last summer.

Peacock emphasized the significance of such occasions, saying that the encouragement and support from so many people had been cheering and greatly appreciated.

Related Article: United Methodist Church Associate Pastor And Drag Queen Gives Blasphemous Speech On How 'God Is Nothing'
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The First Methodist Church of Irving has officially severed its ties with the United Methodist Church denomination. The Irving church announced they have recently joined the Global Methodist Church, a more conservative denomination.

According to the church's statement, its new allegiance became effective on Saturday. The church was one of 41 local congregations that received the authority to quit the United Methodist Church's North Texas Conference in March.

First Methodist Church of Irving Joins Global Methodist Church

In the article in Dallas News, the First United Methodist Church in Irving, Texas, has recently been officially added as a member of the Global Methodist Church after having to go into a disaffiliation process from the United Methodist Church of the North Texas Conference. The congregation has over 500 members, showing their utmost excitement to create disciples of Jesus Christ worldwide.

Their acceptance and affiliation were celebrated on Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week. One of the church's transition team leaders, Mickey Wheeler, said it was the best time to initiate a change as they prepare to spread the good news more. Thirty-nine North Texas Conference disaffiliations, including the First Methodist Church in Irving, were effective on March 31. The Tyler Street UMC in Dallas and Korean North Central Fellowship UMC in The Colony are scheduled to disaffiliate by the end of April and December.

These disaffiliations are still connected to the efforts of these churches to leave the denomination by the end of 2023 because of internal conflicts, specifically over the disagreements on same-sex marriage and the LGBTQ members of the church. Conservatives believe this decision is not being enforced and that many seek to leave the denomination.

Also Read: Arkansas Church Wins Legal Battle Against UMC, Secures Ownership of Cherished Property

The Disaffiitaion Due to Issues in Homosexuality

Several emotions have rained at Christ United Methodist Church in Plano as hundreds of the members have gathered to approve the leaving of several local churches from the UMC denomination over the issues of homosexuality. According to NBC DFW, the North Texas Conference has approved 41 churches during a special session for them to leave the UMC.

This move is just part of the ongoing trend across the United States, as these churches disagree with the move of the UMC regarding same-sex marriage and sexuality concerns. Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. acknowledged the congregants' struggle of that day, saying that these other denominations would become independent while the others would join a new and more conservative denomination.

Last 2019, the UMC held a special session of the General Conference in St. Louis to address the denomination's stance on LGBTQ rights in the church. In the article in Denton Record-Article, the vote supported the viewpoint against same-sex marriage and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy.

Due to the pandemic, the annual General Conference in 2020 has been rescheduled for 2024. A proposal was made that would allow congregations and conferences that favor laws prohibiting same-sex unions and LGBTQ clergy from resigning from the United Methodist Church and joining a new, "traditionalist" denomination with property and $25 million. Following the third postponement of the General Conference, the Global Methodist Church began operations in May 2022.

Related Article: Traditionalist UMC Group Dissolves, Joins New Denomination as Fulfillment of Mission
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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
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The celebration of the Holy Thursday came as pope Honors this holy day by following a tradition of washing the feet of 12 young people.

Pope Francis has decided to hold the mass of the Lord's Supper with the washing of feet ritual in a penitentiary institute. The pope has chosen to visit the Casal del Marmo confinement for minors located on the outskirts of Rome.

The Tradition of Washing of Feet of 12 People Performed by the Pope

The gesture of washing of the feet symbolizes the pope's solidarity with these young inmates. It becomes a sign of acceptance for them as they are being rejected and abandoned by society for what they have done to become imprisoned. According to Vatican News, Father Raffaele Grimaldi has expressed his affection for the pope's closeness to those people who are rejected and dubbed as the "problem" of society, such as criminals.

He added that Pope Francis' visit to the facility after a ten-year absence demonstrates his extraordinary compassion for the prisoners and reflects his desire to encourage society, institutions, and policymakers to prioritize social integration, education, and positive role models. Fr. Grimaldi hopes that everyone should make these gestures of the pope as an inspiration, welcoming everyone despite what the person is.

Cleveland 19 reported that Pope Francis compared the foot-washing ritual to the one Jesus performed during the Last Supper before his crucifixion. The pope stressed that Jesus washed the feet of all of his apostles, knowing what they were vulnerable from. Of the 12 prisoners, some are minors, while the others became adults serving their sentences.

They included a Muslim from Senegal and people from Romania, Russia, and Croatia. According to the pope, foot washing is more than simply folklore; it also symbolizes how people should interact with one another. He voiced his sadness at society's current state, characterized by injustice and unpleasant things. He also stated that anyone could fall from grace and that washing one's feet represents the honor of being a sinner. He urged people to assist one another and improve life.

Also Read: Exploring the Spiritual Significance of Fasting During Ramadan, Lent, and Other Holy Days

Acceptance and Solidarity Among the Rejected

The pope reminded the inmates that every people could be tempted and fall victim to society's bad influences, and with the help of the grace of God, we can be redirected to the right path. In the article in CBCP News, Francis has made it a tradition to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass with the imprisoned, and his very first mass appointed as the pope was at Casal del Marmo prison. The juvenile detention center harbors almost 50 young people from different races, countries, backgrounds, and religions.

More than 1,800 priests attended a chrism Mass at St. Peter's Basilica earlier on Thursday, and Pope Francis presided over it. He thanked the priests for their excellent work, which is frequently done in secret. Despite recently becoming unwell and being admitted to the hospital, he was nevertheless expected to preside over a busy schedule of liturgies and services during Holy Week.

Related Article: Holy Week Traditions and Practices Around the World
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Severe storms ripped through some parts of the United States in just two days. It had a wide-ranging impact, including the deaths of around 26 individuals. As a result, Christian groups such as Samaritan's Purse and Convoy of Hope deployed relief teams to help the victims.

Christian Organizations That Assist the Victims of the Storm

According to CNN, on Friday night, Mar. 25, powerful storms pounded the Southeast, tearing roofs off homes, almost flattening some communities, and cutting power to thousands of people. At least twenty-six persons were found dead, while dozens more have been hurt.

As mentioned, over 20 million people might be affected by severe storms throughout a large area of the southern United States and parts of the Midwest. The National Weather Service has issued a severe storm warning with a level 3 risk out of a possible 5 in certain parts of eastern Louisiana, south-central Mississippi, and south-central Alabama.

The Christian Post reported that on Friday, Mar. 31, Little Rock, Arkansas, suffered significant damage. On Saturday, Apr. 1, Samaritan's Purse announced that it had sent staff members to the affected area, and a Disaster Relief Unit from their Southwest Outreach Center in Texas was also on its way there. This unit is currently traveling on one of its tractor-trailers stocked with essential supplies and equipment. The vehicle is anticipated to arrive early on Sunday morning, Apr. 9.

Franklin Graham, the president of Samaritan's Purse, revealed photographs taken by staff members working on the ground in Little Rock in a post he posted on Facebook. He also asked for prayers for individuals who had lost loved ones, homes, and businesses. In addition, teams from the Christian group Convoy of Hope have been sent to several different sites across Arkansas.

Moreover, the team's members are in the greater Little Rock area, and another group is currently deployed to Wynne, Arkansas. Also, trucks carrying water, food, and relief supplies are on their way to different locations throughout the state. Distribution is expected to start as soon as the trucks arrive at their destinations. Furthermore, Convoy of Hope reported that as of Saturday evening, Apr. 1, 81,000 people in Arkansas were powerless. The organization also stated that it would be on alert to respond as severe weather concerns continue across the Midwest.

Also Read:United Church of Christ's Annual Mission, 'One Great Hour of Sharing' Aims to Help More Than 25 Million Global Refugees

Impact of Storms on the United States

The Mississippi Conference of United Methodist Churches still receives church and house damage reports. Three churches and a parsonage were damaged, including Tranquil United Methodist near Wren, Mississippi. The 172-year-old Tranquil congregation rebuilt following another disaster 101 years ago, UM News reported.

Accordingly, a man in Alabama died after severe storms repeatedly toppled his mobile home. Two North Alabama Conference United Methodist churches, Forrest Chapel in Hartselle and North Wood in Florence, were also damaged. The tornado that hit Rolling Fork and Silver City was rated EF-4 by the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi, with top wind gusts between 166 and 200 mph. Authorities think the tornado lasted an hour.

Related Article:Churches Offer Comfort and Support to Affected Communities Amidst Mississippi Delta Tornadoes
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Before the start of Holy Week, an act of vandalism was committed in St. Paulinus Catholic Church. St. Paulinus Catholic Church's pastor, Father Ryan Salisbury, said, "Somehow, in the Lord's providence, this was allowed." His journey was reportedly defined by injustice, brokenness, and injury done to his own body, and in certain instances, this was permitted to happen in Syracuse.

Vandalism at St. Paulinus Catholic Church

A report from the Catholic News Agency reported that on Saturday morning, Apr. 1, a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue was shattered beyond repair, as were the candlesticks and the altar stone damaged. The pastor said that the damage came to a total of $5,000. Luckily, the Tabernacle and the Eucharist did not suffer any damage.

As mentioned, Father Salisbury said that an investigation had been opened into the alleged criminal act, which was not captured on a surveillance camera. Moreover, a Mass and baptism took place on the same day, and the church could be cleaned up in time. The pastor extended the individuals responsible for the crime an offer of forgiveness.

"While this does not excuse what took place, we want to meet them with forgiveness in any ways that they're hurting or broken because Our Lord wants to bring them healing as well," Father Salisbury added.

As per Fully Catholic, on Twitter, state Senator Julie Slama of Nebraska, also a parishioner of St. Paulinus, expressed her grief over the devastation at the church. Slama, who had recently converted to Catholicism, requested prayers on behalf of the local parish. She said that people who desire to worship should be allowed to do so without being restrained by fear and in complete freedom.

Also Read:Wooden Statues of Virgin Mary Damaged By Fire on Three Separate Incidents at the Start of Holy Week

Act of Vandalism at Catholic Churches

According to the findings of the report "Hostility Against Churches Is on the Rise in the United States," published by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (COAI), there were 420 incidents of hostility committed against 397 churches in the United States between January 2018 and September 2022. The New York Post reported that the attacks were carried out in all 45 states that make up the United States and Washington, D.C.

In addition, the report's authors stated that the increase in attacks might be related to "a collapse in societal reverence and respect for houses of worship and religion," specifically churches and Christianity.

Survey says that Americans seem increasingly comfortable striking out against church buildings which points to a bigger cultural problem of marginalizing essential Christian teachings. These beliefs touch on contentious political issues connected to human dignity and sexuality. Accordingly, CatholicVote has found that just 25% of the attacks against churches it has documented have resulted in arrests.

In a letter that he sent to the Department of Justice in December 2021, the President of CatholicVote, Brian Burch, cited at least 114 incidents that had occurred since May 2020 and criticized its leadership for making "no meaningful effort to raise awareness or address the disturbing rise in hate-filled attacks on Catholic religious symbols, shrines, statues and churches."

Related Article:Holy Family Roman Catholic Church's Angel Statue Destroyed By Teenagers
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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
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In December 2022, United Methodist Church stopped member churches from leaving their congregation by renouncing its disaffiliation process. As a result, hundreds of churches took legal action against the regional body of the United Methodist Church.

Lawsuit Filed Against United Methodist Church

The complaint was filed by 186 churches on Thursday, Mar. 30, in Cobb County Superior Court in Marietta, Georgia, involving over a quarter of the almost 700 congregations in the North Georgia Conference, UMC News reported.

That is also the most prominent congregation that has joined forces in a single lawsuit since the church began enduring a slow-motion separation due to decades of escalating disagreement over including LGBTQ people.

The action is a response to the decision made by the leadership of the North Georgia Conference last year to stop the disaffiliation process under church law. The management cited widespread "defamatory" misinformation as the reason for their decision. The leaders stated that the conference would revisit the disaffiliation process after the next General Conference, which is the highest law-making assembly of the church and is currently slated to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, between Apr. 23 and May 3, 2024.

A report from The Christian Post stated that before the prohibition of disaffiliation was implemented in June 2022, 70 congregations, which accounted for 9% of the conference's churches and 3% of its people, severed their ties with the United Methodist Church.

By 2022, more than 1,800 churches had voted for disaffiliation, with their respective conferences accepted. The disaffiliations came about mainly as a result of the current discussion within the church regarding whether or not to permit the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of individuals in romantic relationships with others of the same sexual orientation.

Even though the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church prohibits both of these practices at present, many progressive clerics have continued to refuse to enforce the rules, and theological liberals within the UMC have been engaged in a years-long effort to change the denomination's position, but they have been unsuccessful. On the topic of LGBT rights, confident, progressive denominational leaders have chosen not to adhere to or enforce the standards of their church.

Moreover, although many congregations have been permitted to disaffiliate, others have encountered financial obstacles or had their disaffiliation votes flatly disallowed, resulting in several litigations affecting numerous conferences.

Also Read:Anglican Church in Singapore Expressed Dismay Over Church of England's Blessing of Same-Sex Marriage

Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church

According to the Oklahoma Conference of The United Methodist, the Book of Discipline lays down the framework for how members of the United Methodist Church are to govern themselves. It reflects their understanding of the church and the expectations placed upon its laity and clergy as they strive to be effective witnesses worldwide as a component of the entire body of Christ.

The discipline comprises the church's history, doctrinal, constitution, standards, and mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Additionally, it consists of the practical processes through which their congregations connect and assist each other in evangelizing to the world.

Related Article:Cornerstone Church Believes Leaving United Methodist Church Is a "Healthy Step"
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The ongoing disaffiliation within the United Methodist Church is increasing as the issue of different beliefs regarding homosexuality still intensifies. This also has spread throughout the Bible Belt to New York State.

Among others, the ongoing division is said to center around the LGBTQ community members of the church. This conflict has been one of the constants and never stopping debates within the religious community, whether to accept or continuously persecute them.

UMC Split Come to Upstate New York

According to the article in Syracuse, a former bishop in upstate New York, Mark Webb, has joined the Global Methodist Church, wherein is a more conservative and orthodox denomination. He also has partaken in the creation of this new denomination. He is now the first bishop to do so north of the Bible Belt. In recent months, a few churches in upstate New York have likewise decided to leave the United Methodist Church.

The split within the United Methodist Church denomination started in 2019 over a debate on whether to allow LGBTQ marriage and ordinations. Many of the conservative churches have decided to disaffiliate themselves, and some of the observers believe that a tide is about to turn towards a much more progressive view of the church doctrine.

The majority of the churches which have decided to disaffiliate come from the South, with just almost one-third of the UM congregations leaving in a single day in the North. As has been observed, the split has been less severe in New York, wherein 26 churches have chosen to leave so far. These divisions show that, given their customs of decency and democratic decision-making, the six million members of the American church are ideologically divided. It's important to note that most of the Upstate New York region's 800 United Methodist churches have small congregations.

Also Read: United Methodist Church Renounce Disaffiliation Process, 186 Churches Filed Lawsuit

United Methodist Split and a Court Trial in Officiating a Gay Marriage

The United Methodist Church in North Alabama split in a referendum that saw 198 churches sever ties with the group, leaving 440 congregations. According to an article in AL, Debra Wallace-Padgett, bishop of the United Methodist Church, expressed disappointment about the outcome but thanked the congregations still around and resolved to carry on the Conference's objective of advancing disciple-making ministry.

The vote was the final joint worship and business meeting for many clergies and lay leaders who had collaborated for years. The North Alabama Conference is concentrating on new opportunities to serve communities in the name of Jesus Christ despite the loss of nearly one-third of its churches.

Related Article: Cornerstone Church Believes Leaving United Methodist Church Is a "Healthy Step"

A court trial happened when one of the Methodist preachers officiated the wedding of his gay son. According to Reuters, the trial officials found Methodist preacher Reverend Frank Schaefer guilty of breaking church law.

Despite having mixed feelings about the choice, Schaefer said he officiated his son's same-sex wedding in 2007 because he loved him. A jury of nine men and four women reached the decision. It is at least the ninth trial in the past 20 years in which a clergyperson has been charged with breaking church law by officiating a same-sex wedding or coming out as gay.
Pexels/Bennet P Biju

A different fire occurred at the beginning of Holy Week and caused damage to three wooden statues of the Virgin Mary. These incidents happened in the town of Chiclana in Cadiz province, the town of Velez-Malaga and the town of Almaden de la Plata in Seville province.

Three Separate Incidents on Wooden Statues of the Virgin Mary

The statues of the Holy Mother in Spain are generally draped in elaborate robes, as the country has a strong religious tradition. However, throughout the weekend, two Virgin Mary statues were burned by candles, and an electrical short circuit likely caused one.

The Catholic News Agency reported that on Mar. 31, the Friday before Holy Week, also known as the Friday of Sorrows in Spain, the mantle of Holy Mary of the Disconsolate in Candiz went up in flames as a result of a piece of wick that fell from a candle. This day is observed to honor the seven sorrows that the Mother of Jesus experienced as her son's crucifixion drew closer.

The organizers said that the fire destroyed the mantle and caused damage to "the polychromy of her cheek and right hand," but the picture of Jesus as the Father of the Afflicted remained unharmed due to the rapid intervention of those who were aiding with the reverence of the image.

In addition, during the Holy Week procession in Velez-Malaga, two congregation members were hurt while attempting to extinguish the flames consuming the mantle of the Lady of El Roco. The incident occurred on Palm Sunday.

As mentioned, in the procession planned by the Confraternity of Our Father Jesus in his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and the Mary of El Roc'o, a candle shattered and caused a fire to start.

A portion of the mantle sustained some damage, and the confraternity initially stated that it appeared as though the carving had only suffered "superficial" damage.

On the other hand, on the night of April 1-2, a fire broke out at the Virgin Mary of Grace Church in Almaden de la Plata, Seville province. The local government claims that "one of the altarpieces began to burn," The firemen initially thought that the blaze had been started "by an electrical short circuit."

Also Read: Indian Government Destroys 20-Foot Jesus Statue

What Happens When A Religious Statue is Broken or Destroyed?

According to the Archdiocese of Superior, Catholics are acquainted with having religious artifacts "blessed," which refers to permanently sanctifying an object and devoting it to some sacred purpose. After a holy thing has been consecrated and blessed for divine worship or adoration, it must be handled with reverence. It cannot be utilized in a manner that is either improper or profane.

However, burning or burying the rosary or statue is the recommended disposal method when the rosary or statue breaks. It is called the "rule of thumb" and applies to the object itself and the ashes it produces.

Moreover, About Catholics stated that it is not a sin to throw away sacred objects; nonetheless, one should do it appropriately out of respect for those items. The holy artifacts should be buried, as this is believed to be the most respectful way to get rid of something blessed.

Related Article:Holy Family Roman Catholic Church's Angel Statue Destroyed By Teenagers
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The use of Tracking Technologies by Third Party Advertising Service Providers and Advertisers is within their control and not ours. Even if we have a relationship with the Third Party Advertising Service Provider or Advertiser, we do not control their websites or their policies and practices regarding your Information and you should be aware that different rules might apply to the collection, use or disclosure of your Information by third parties in connection with their advertisements or promotions and other sites you encounter on the Internet. This Privacy Policy does not cover any use of Information that a Third Party Advertising Service Provider or Advertiser may directly collect from you. Use of Third Party Advertising Service Providers' and Advertisers' Tracking Technologies is governed by the Third Party Advertising Service Providers' or Advertisers', as applicable, own specific privacy policies and not this Privacy Policy. However, please see " Opting-Out of Certain Uses of Your Personal Information and Other Information (Other than Wireless Marketing Services and Associated Promotional Opportunities)" Section for more information on how to opt-out of the collection and/or use of Information collected by certain Third Party Advertising Service Providers.

4. OPTING-OUT OF CERTAIN USES OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AND OTHER INFORMATION (OTHER THAN WIRELESS MARKETING SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES).

a. Opting-Out of Certain Uses of Personal Information.

i. In Connection with Marketing and Promotional E-mail and Offers. You may "opt-out" of receiving marketing and promotional e-mails from us at any time by going to the Site's home page, logging in, clicking the "Account" link, to (1) deactivate your account or (2) change or edit your preferences. You may also use the opt-out mechanism that is contained in each such email. Please note that when you opt-out of receiving marketing and promotional e-mails from us, you are not opting out of receiving newsletters from us that you have requested. Further, when you use the opt-out mechanism that is contained in an email, you are not opting out of receiving marketing and promotional e-mails from other VMN brands. Please see Section 4.a.ii below for your newsletter options.

i. In Connection with Marketing and Promotional E-mail and Offers. You may "opt-out" of receiving marketing and promotional e-mails from us at any time by going to the Site's home page, logging in, clicking the "Account" link, to (1) deactivate your account or (2) change or edit your preferences. You may also use the opt-out mechanism that is contained in each such email. Please note that when you opt-out of receiving marketing and promotional e-mails from us, you are not opting out of receiving newsletters from us that you have requested. Further, when you use the opt-out mechanism that is contained in an email, you are not opting out of receiving marketing and promotional e-mails from other VMN brands. Please see Section 4.a.ii below for your newsletter options.

i. In Connection with Marketing and Promotional E-mail and Offers. You may "opt-out" of receiving marketing and promotional e-mails from us at any time by going to the Site's home page, logging in, clicking the "Account" link, to (1) deactivate your account or (2) change or edit your preferences. You may also use the opt-out mechanism that is contained in each such email. Please note that when you opt-out of receiving marketing and promotional e-mails from us, you are not opting out of receiving newsletters from us that you have requested. Further, when you use the opt-out mechanism that is contained in an email, you are not opting out of receiving marketing and promotional e-mails from other VMN brands. Please see Section 4.a.ii below for your newsletter options.

ii. In Connection with Wireless Marketing Services. See "Termination of Wireless Services by Users" under the "Wireless Marketing Services and Associated Promotional Opportunities" Section for more information on how you may unsubscribe from receiving text messages.

iii. Certain Continuing Rights Regardless of Opt-Outs. However, even if you exercise your opt-out rights above, we, or our Parent Companies or Affiliates, may continue to contact you for the other purposes described in the "Use of Information" Section above, such as for maintenance and administrative purposes.

b. Opting-Out of Use of Certain Other Information Collected by Tracking Technologies.

i. Tracking Technologies Set By Third Party Advertising Service Providers and Advertisers.

With respect to the Tracking Technologies set by Third Party Advertising Service Providers and Advertisers, you have a number of options:

Third Party Advertising Service Providers and Advertisers may collect Other Information about you when you visit this Site to help identify products and services that may interest you and deliver advertising tailored to your interests.

You can opt-out of the use of Other Information for these advertising purposes by two such Third Party Advertising Service Providers, Adobe AudienceManager (formerly known as Demdex) and DoubleClick/Google, by using those Third Party Advertising Service Providers' opt-out tools. You can access Adobe AudienceManager/Demdex's tool at http://www.donottarget.com/ and DoubleClick's tool at http://www.google/com/intl/en/privacy/ads/ or as described in the next bullet point.

We also may from time to time permit other Third Party Advertising Service Providers and Advertisers to collect Other Information on the Site. Some of these Third Party Advertising Service Providers and Advertisers may participate in the Network Advertising Initiative's Opt-Out Tool and/or the Self-Regulatory Program for Online Behavioral Advertising. Please click on the links to these tools to learn more about your choices.

Please note the following with respect to opting out:

The opt-out tools discussed above are "cookie based." This means that the tools rely on cookies to remember your choices with respect to the use of your information by the parties that offer you those choices. If you delete Tracking Technologies using the controls in your Web browser (a process described below) after opting out, you may have to opt out again to re-establish your opt-out preferences

Opt-outs are "browser-specific." The opt-out preferences that you choose will apply only to the Web browser that you used when you selected these preferences. This means, for example, that if you opt-out while using Internet Explorer 9, this choice will not affect the use of Other Information collected by Tracking Technologies when you use Mozilla Firefox on the same Device. It also means that opting-out on one Device will not affect the use of Other Information by Tracking Technologies on other Devices that you may use to access the Site.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE USE AND STORAGE OF FLASH COOKIES TYPICALLY CANNOT BE CONTROLLED THROUGH YOUR BROWSER. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO MANAGE FLASH COOKIES.

ii. Tracking Technologies Set By the Site.

With respect to the Tracking Technologies set by the Site, you have a number of options:

You can prevent the use of certain Tracking Technologies (other than Flash cookies) by using the controls in your Web browser. To do so, you must:

Delete existing Tracking Technologies through the "Internet Options" sub-option of the "Tools" menu option of your browser or otherwise as directed by your browser's support feature; and

Disable future Tracking Technologies through the same browser controls. Additional information on enabling or disabling most Tracking Technologies may be available through your browser's support feature. (See the "help" section of your browser for more information.)

You can choose to have the Device you use to access the Site warn you each time a cookie or most other Tracking Technologies is being set (other than Flash cookies), or you can choose to turn off such warnings. This is done through your browser on the Device you use to access the Site. Additional information on warnings and removal of warnings may be available through your browser's support feature.

This Site is committed to complying with the Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising. Click here for more information about this Site and online behavioral advertising.

Some Device manufacturers may preset their browsers to block Tracking Technologies from websites other than those you visit directly and, if so, certain services or advertisements may not work for such Devices. Further, if you delete, reject, disable or turn off Tracking Technologies, you may not have access to certain features of the Site and some of our other services may not function properly.

iii. Flash Cookies.

Please note that deleting, rejecting, disabling or turning off Tracking Technologies set by Third Party Advertising Service Providers and Advertisers and set by this Site through the above options will not remove Flash cookies. For more information about Flash cookies and how to remove them from your computer, please visit http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/526/52697ee8.html4.

5. WIRELESS MARKETING SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

ChristianityDaily may provide users and viewers with the opportunity to register for special Promotions, services, news, programming and information delivered via text messaging and other wireless devices such as mobile phones and, in the event we do so, users are required to provide their consent to receive such information from ChristianityDaily, either by registering on the Site or via their wireless device. Such services and promotional opportunities are provided by the Parent Companies and/or Affiliates for IVC POST. The Information requested as part of the online registration process may include a user's telephone number or a wireless email address, but only if specifically requested, and the carrier's name. Additional Information may be requested for specific Promotions, such as a user's preferences regarding goods or services, choices of music or artists, or other similar survey information. Depending on the Promotion, we may also collect an Internet email address or other Information and, depending on the Information collected, the user may also be required to confirm his or her agreement to this Privacy Policy and the Terms of Use Agreement.

We caution that most wireless transmissions are not secured and there is a greater risk of an unknown third party's interception of messages or a user's Personal Information when using a wireless communications device.

Users that register for ChristianityDaily's wireless marketing services acknowledge, understand and agree that they will be charged by the user's wireless carrier for all messages sent to the user from ChristianityDaily. Standard messaging rates will apply, unless noted otherwise. Under no circumstances will the Site, ChristianityDaily, its Parent Companies or Affiliates be responsible for any wireless email or text messaging charges incurred by a user or by a person that has access to a user's wireless device, telephone number, or email address.

a. Registration. To the extent we provide wireless marketing services, there are two registration methods provided for ChristianityDaily wireless marketing services. Standard rate Promotions will be subject to either the "single opt-in" or the "double-opt-in" (Site/SMS) method, at the discretion of ChristianityDaily depending on the type of Promotion. Premium rate services will require the "double opt-in" (Site/SMS or SMS/SMS) method.

i. Single Opt-in Method: In response to print, radio, television, Internet, or other promotional messages, users will be directed to send a specific word or code via a text message to a designated telephone number to register for the service promoted. The user's voluntary submission of the designated word or code to ChristianityDaily will mean that the user has freely and affirmatively granted permission to ChristianityDaily to send text messages to him or her. ChristianityDaily will thank the user for his or her registration by sending a "Thank you" message. The user may terminate the service at any time by using the unsubscribe command in any text message from IVC POST or by sending a text message to ChristianityDaily that says "STOP", "END", "CANCEL", "REMOVE", "UNSUBSCRIBE" or "QUIT".

ii. Double Opt-in (Site/SMS) Method: In response to print, radio, television, Internet, or other promotional messages, users will be directed to this Site to start the registration process. The user must affirmatively consent to IVC POST's sending of wireless messages to his or her designated wireless device by submitting a telephone number (or wireless email address, only if requested by ChristianityDaily) and by clicking the consent statement on the Site's registration page. The user must also agree to the Site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Agreement before the online registration process is completed. ChristianityDaily will then send a "Confirmation" message to the user's designated wireless device and will request that the user confirm that he or she has agreed to receive messages from ChristianityDaily to that particular telephone number (or wireless domain name when appropriate). The user must respond to the "Confirmation" message with a text message that states "YES" or "Y" that will indicate the user's acceptance of ChristianityDaily's wireless marketing service. Until the user responds to the "Confirmation" message, the user is not registered for the specific wireless marketing service subject to the Promotion. A user may respond to the "Confirmation" message at any time provided that IVC POST may choose to terminate offering wireless marketing service at any time and the user's response to the "Confirmation" is only valid if the response is received while ChristianityDaily continues to offer the specific wireless marketing service.

iii. Double Opt-in (SMS/SMS) Method: In response to print, radio, television, Internet, or other promotional messages, users will be directed to send a specific word or code via a text message to a designated telephone number to register for the service promoted. ChristianityDaily will then send a "Confirmation" message to the user's designated wireless device and will request that the user confirm that he or she has agreed to receive messages from ChristianityDaily to that particular telephone number (or wireless domain name when appropriate). The user must respond to the "Confirmation" message with a text message that states "YES" or "Y" that will indicate the user's acceptance of ChristianityDaily's wireless marketing service. Until the user responds to the "Confirmation" message, the user is not registered for the specific wireless marketing service subject to the Promotion. A user may respond to the "Confirmation" message at any time provided that ChristianityDaily may choose to terminate offering wireless marketing service at any time and the user's response to the "Confirmation" is only valid if the response is received while ChristianityDaily continues to offer the specific wireless marketing service.

b. Use of Information. ChristianityDaily will not use a wireless telephone number, wireless or conventional Internet email address, or other Information submitted for its wireless marketing services for any other purpose but to provide the service requested, unless we provide advance notice of any other use. We will not share any Personal Information with Advertisers or other third party marketers unless you opt-in to such disclosure. We will share Personal Information with the operational service providers that assist us in delivering these wireless services to you and with the Parent Companies and Affiliates.

6. SHARING AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION AND OTHER INFORMATION.

a. Sharing and Disclosure of Personal Information. Generally, we do not sell, rent, lease or disclose your Personal Information to third parties, except if you consent to such disclosure or as described in this Privacy Policy.

i. Disclosure to Parent Companies and Affiliates. We may disclose Personal Information to Parent Companies and Affiliates for marketing and/or administrative purposes. You can choose to opt-out of certain such uses as described in the "Opting-Out of Certain Uses of Personal Information" Section above.

ii. Disclosure of Certain Information in Postings Intended to Be Disclosed. Certain Personal Information associated with a Posting may be intended for disclosure ("Posting Information"), such as username. We will disclose Posting Information in connection with the display of, and other services relating to, such Posting.

iii. Disclosure In Connection with Co-Branded Services and Features. The Site may also offer co-branded services and features, such as events and Promotions that we put together with another company or our Parent Companies or Affiliates ("Co-Branded Partner") and that may be hosted on the Site and/or our Co-Branded Partner's website. We may share your Personal Information with our Co-Branded Partner and your voluntary use of or participation in a co-branded service or feature means that you opt-in and give your affirmative consent to both the Site and our Co-Branded Partner to collect the Information provided in connection with the specific co-branded feature or service and to use such Information for the fulfillment of the feature or service and for marketing or administrative purposes. The Co-Branded Partner will be identified on the co-branded feature or service, along with the Co-Branded partner's privacy policy. If you wish to opt-out of a Co-Branded Partner's future use of your Personal Information for marketing purposes, you will need to contact the Co-Branded Partner directly and the use of such information by Co-Branded Partner is subject to Co-Branded Partner's privacy policy.

iv. Disclosure to Operational Service Providers. We also have the right to disclose your Personal Information and Other Information to third parties for the purpose of administering and maintaining the Site's services, features, functions and operations. We will refer to these third parties as "operational service providers". We use operational service providers to efficiently provide the full range of content, activities, services, features and functions we bring you and we disclose your Information to operational service providers for the purpose of providing services to us.

v. Disclosure to Certain Other Third Parties. In addition to the above, we will make your Personal Information and Other Information available to certain third parties in the following limited circumstances:

When we are compelled to do so by a governmental agency, court or other entity (e.g., to respond to subpoenas, court orders or legal process) or if requested by a governmental agency or other authority as part of an investigation;

If we believe your actions violate any law, rule, regulation and/or the Terms of Use Agreement, including, without limitation, this Privacy Policy, Rules or Additional Terms;

In connection with Promotions, as necessary to administer the Promotion or as required by applicable laws, rules or regulations (for example, to provide winners' lists or make required filings as appropriate);

If you opt-in or otherwise agree to have your Personal Information shared with or otherwise disclosed to a third party for marketing purposes, in which case the third party's use of your Information is subject to the third party's own privacy policy;

If, in our sole discretion, we believe such disclosure to be necessary or appropriate: to investigate or resolve possible problems or inquiries; to protect our business and assets or the rights, property or safety of the Site, the Parent Companies, the Affiliates, or any of its or their operational service providers, licensors, suppliers, Advertisers, customers, users, or any other party; to limit our legal liability; to defend our interests; to enforce this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Use Agreement and/or to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations or requests by law enforcement agencies or governmental authorities and/or

In the event of a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, sale, transfer of control, joint venture or other business combination involving us, or our Parent Companies or Affiliates.

In the event of a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, sale, transfer of control, joint venture or other business combination involving us, or our Parent Companies or Affiliates.b. Sharing and Disclosure of Other Information. We may share or otherwise disclose Other Information with third parties, but we do not disclose Personal Information to them except as described in this Privacy Policy.

7. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY AND NOTICE.

We reserve the right to revise this Privacy Policy at any time by posting an updated Privacy Policy without advance notice to you. Such revisions shall be effective immediately upon posting. Notice of material changes will be posted on the Site's homepage and/or will be provided by e-mailing you or notifying you upon login about these changes; the form of such notice is at our discretion. However, we encourage you to check this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Agreement often for updates.
Terms of Service

Welcome to ChristianityDaily.com. As used in these Terms and Conditions, the term "Web site" refers to the Web site located at www.ChristianityDaily.com as well as online services that include, but are not limited to, our E-mail newsletters, our archives, our premium online content, and our online discussion forums. ChristianityDaily.com does not control, and is not responsible for, any third-party site to which the Web site links.

You agree that your use of the Web site is subject to the following Terms and Conditions. These Terms and Conditions may be modified at any time and from time to time; the date of the most recent changes or revisions will appear on this page. Continued access to the Web site by you will constitute your acceptance of any changes or revisions to the Agreement. If you do not agree with the Terms and Conditions, please do not use this Web site.

The materials contained on the Web site are provided by ChristianityDaily.com as a service to you for your noncommercial, personal use on an "as is, as available" basis and may be used by you for information purposes only. You acknowledge that you are using the Web site at your own risk. ChristianityDaily.com assumes no responsibility for error or omissions in these materials. ChristianityDaily.com makes no commitment to update the information contained herein. ChristianityDaily.com makes no, and expressly disclaims any and all, representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the ChristianityDaily.com Web site, including without limitation the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of text, graphics, links, products and services, and other items accessed from or via the Web site, or that the Web site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components. No advice or information given by ChristianityDaily.com or any other party on the Web site shall create any warranty or liability.

ChristianityDaily.com does not warrant or make any representations regarding the use or the results of the use of the materials at the Web site in terms of their correctness, accuracy, timeliness, reliability, or otherwise. Under no circumstances shall ChristianityDaily.com or any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, or their respective partners, officers, directors, employees, or agents be held liable for any damages, whether direct, incidental, indirect, special, or consequential, and including, without limitation, lost revenues or lost profits, arising from or in connection with your use, reliance on, or performance of the information on the Web site.

ChristianityDaily.com periodically schedules system downtime for maintenance and other purposes. Unplanned outages also may occur. ChristianityDaily.com shall have no liability for the resulting unavailability of the Web site or for any loss of data or transactions caused by planned or unplanned system outages, or any outages of webhost providers or the Internet infrastructure and network external to the Web site.

Copyright

All materials published on the Web site are protected by copyright laws, and may not be reproduced, republished, distributed, transmitted, resold, displayed, broadcast, or otherwise exploited in any manner without the express written permission of either ChristianityDaily.com or, in the case of content licensed by ChristianityDaily.com from third parties, the entity that is credited as the copyright holder of such licensed content.

You may download freely accessible material (one copy per page) from this Web site for your personal and noncommercial use; or for ministerial or educational purposes only, without altering or removing any trademark, copyright, or other notice from such material; you must pay a fee to access articles from our archives and our premium online content. This permission is granted with the understanding that no more than 1000 copies will be made, the material is distributed free of charge, and that the following credit line appears on each manufactured copy:

"This article first appeared in the (insert date) issue of The Christian Post. Used with permission."

The Christian Post does not grant permission for its articles to appear on a non-CP online site; you may however use a one-paragraph summary that is no longer than 50 words with a direct link to the full article available on www.ChristianityDaily.com.

For any other use, advance permission must be obtained from the author. Please contact the general administrator for copyright permission via our Contact Us page.

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Attention: Intellectual Property Rights

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Furthermore, ChristianityDaily.com reserves the right to terminate, without notice, subscriber's access for any activity related to threatening to injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress or otherwise coerce any other person in connection with the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege guaranteed to him or her under the United States or any national or state constitution on account of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender or sexual orientation or because the subscriber perceives that another has one or more of these characteristics. This includes, but is not limited to, threats to inflict evil, injury or damage on another individual.

If you upload, post, or otherwise transmit content to the Web site, you acknowledge that any such submissions may be edited, removed, modified, published, transmitted, and displayed by ChristianityDaily.com in any medium now existing or hereinafter invented, and for any purpose, including commercial uses. You waive any moral rights you may have in having the material edited, removed, modified, published, transmitted, or displayed in a manner not agreeable to you.

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ChristianityDaily.com reserves the right to release subscriber information to comply with an investigation into any activity which violates these terms, and may report such activity to the appropriate authorities. Third Party Content Provider Notices

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Privacy Policy

This privacy policy applies to the Web site only and does not cover information collected on any third-party sites to which this Web site links. This privacy policy is part of, and must be read in conjunction with, the Web site's Terms and Conditions. You can read the entire Terms and Conditions by either scrolling up to the top of this Web page. If you do not agree with the Terms and Conditions in their entirety, please do not use this Web site.

Web Site Users

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How does the Web site use information supplied by me?

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About Advertising

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Many people become suspicious at the mention of critical theory, especially as it applies to controversial matters of race, gender, law, and public policy. Some see the ideologies traveling under that banner as abstruse frameworks only minimally related to real-world affairs. Others see critical theory as a ruse meant to confer unearned scholarly legitimacy on highly debatable political and cultural opinions.

Christopher Watkin, an Australian scholar on religion and philosophy, wants to reorient discussions of critical theory around Scriptures grand narrative of redemption. In Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bibles Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture, he shows how Gods Word furnishes the tools for a better, more compelling critical theoryone that harmonizes the fragmentary truths advanced by its secular alternatives. Mark Talbot, professor of philosophy at Wheaton College, spoke with Watkin about his book.

Lets begin with a basic question: How do you define critical theory?

Theres more than one answer to that question. Theres a narrow sense and a broad sense. The narrow sense is probably the one that most people come across first today. People have heard of things like critical race theory that involve very particular ways of critiquing society through a specific lens. But critical theory, more broadly conceived, is a way of engaging with society that points out whats wrong with the world on a deep level and then suggests what needs to change to make it better.

As Ive studied critical theories over the years, Ive noticed that almost all of them do three things. First, critical theories make certain things viable so that you begin to think those things are possiblelike Marxist revolution, for example. Second, they make things visible, like the unequal treatment of women in society that many people ignored or simply didnt see for a long time. Third, they make things valuable. They catechize us about what to desire and what to condemn.

You mention critical race theory, which has become a flash point for some Christians and a big reason why critical theory has a bad name among them. Where do we tend to go wrong in our attitudes toward critical theory?

Critical theory does have a particularly bad name among certain groups of Christians. It also has an unusually good name among others. Both responses are problematic because Christians should not expect worldly ideology to represent either a perfect ideal for the church or the Devil incarnate.

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There are very important theological reasons for that. First, only God is good, and so we should expect everything in the world to be a mixturea shadow of Gods good creation but also somehow twisted, misunderstood, and distorted because sin has pulled it out of shape. Thats true of critical theory and other ideologies as well. There are some things that critical theory seeks to do that I think Christians should also want to doupholding justice and fairness, for example. Yet the ways critical theory goes about doing those things are different from biblical ways, and thats part of how critical theory has taken biblical principles and distorted them and misunderstood them to some extent.

But the problem for the church is when Christians see critical theory as the only thing that must be opposed, as if everything else is either neutral or positive. It becomes the single thing that Christians must fight tooth and nail. Theres a naivete in thinking, If we just get rid of this one thing, then society will be wonderful. So thats how I think some Christians have gotten unsettled about critical theory, by either utterly embracing it or utterly rejecting it.

How do you see the biblical narrative functioning as a kind of critical theory?

Starting with those categories Ive already laid out, a critical theory makes things viable, visible, and valuable. The Bible is of course the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit that makes us wise for salvation. But it also makes certain things viable. Many today would laugh at the idea of trusting Gods promises. But when you read enough of the Bible, you begin to see what it would be like to trust this sort of God. Trusting him then becomes viable.

The Bible also makes things visible. You may have seen many sunsets, for instance, but as you read from Psalm 19:1 that the heavens declare the glory of God, you learn to see that glory in beautiful sunsets. His glory is made visible for you.

And the Bible also makes things valuable. Heres an example from my own life. Before I was a Christian, I would have looked at you very quizzically if you had told me that I should seek to serve other people. It would have made no sense to my 14-year-old self. But you cant read far in the Bible without coming across exhortations to serve others, especially from Jesus lips. So service becomes something you value if youre seeking to conform your view of the world to the biblical view.

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In all these ways, then, the Bible is acting like a critical theory, in that it makes things viable, visible, and valuable.

What is the relationship between your project and Augustines project in his great City of God?

Augustines book provides the pattern that I, very falteringly, have sought to follow. What I found in City of God was a breathtaking example of someone surveying the whole of the culture in which he lived. Augustine leaves no stone unturned. In the first half of the book, he overviews the whole of Roman society, which is incredibly important because cultures are ecosystems and you cant understand one part in isolation from the whole.

In the second half of the book, Augustine then travels through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, as a way of engaging with late Roman culture. And he does so with the aim of telling a more convincing and richer story about both God and Rome than Rome could tell about itself. I found that pattern incredibly compelling, and I knew that if I wanted to bring late modern culture into conversation with the Bible, this was the blueprint to follow.

What is the ultimate goal of developing a biblical critical theory?

The ultimate goal must be loving God and neighbor. Now, of course, there are millions of ways to do that, so that doesnt tell you anything very specific about the ultimate goal of biblical critical theory. But unless thats your highest goal, you have to ask as a Christian whether what youre doing is really worthwhile.

More specifically, this project helps us love God and neighbor like this: Its hard to love God well in a culture thats catechizing you in ways you arent aware of or dont understand. If we dont realize how contemporary Western society is shaping us, then we wont know which aspects of that shaping are more or less benign, and which aspects we should resist or transform.

And in leading Christians through the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation, biblical critical theory is also teaching us the wonderful big picture of Gods plans for us. Theres a wow that comes from seeing the big sweep of redemptive history and seeing how Gods complex, multilayered story makes sense of our world and our own lives within it.

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In your introduction, you describe your experience writing grant proposals. Sometimes, when you figured you had written a slam-dunk proposal, the grant committee would come back with the question, So what? In the context of your book, you explain how asking, So what? is different than asking, say, What is this doctrine? or Why should we believe it? Could you explain that difference more fully?

Take the Bibles first verse: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. A doctrinal approach would seek to understand things like: Who is this God? And how does this creation account differ from other ancient creation accounts? A traditional apologetic approach would seek to justify the claim in the verse and to demonstrate why this is a reasonable thing to claim and why the alternatives may be less reasonable.

Both of those are great approaches. Theyre just not the approach Im taking in the book. The So what? approach to that verse would ask: What difference does the fact that God created the heavens and the earth make to the way we understand reality, our culture, and ourselves? One difference is that, given this universe was made by one God alone, theres a coherence to it. Its not the result of a war between different gods or a chance occurrence with no intention behind it. Theres a purposefulness to this world. That shapes the way we engage with other people and understand ourselves and our purpose as well.

Another difference is that it is very clear in the Bible that nothing compelled God to create. He was not following some iron law of necessity; he was not bowing to some greater principle. As far as we can tell from the Scriptures, he made the world because he loves us, as strange as that may seem to modern ears. And that means that right at the heart and origin of the universe is not necessity or law but gift, grace, overflow, and superabundance. And if thats how our universe began, then its a very different place to live in than a place governed by iron necessity and endless chains of causality. It affects the way that we live in modern society in all sorts of ways, some of which I tease out in the book.

You highlight two tools that help you develop a biblical critical theory, the first of which you call diagonalization. In your view, diagonalizing helps us avoid the mistake of treating Christianity and contemporary culture as completely distinct in their patterns and rhythms. Could you say more about how diagonalization works?

The principle begins from the beautiful reality that a biblical view of the world holds together in harmony things that the modern world has wrenched apart from each other and put into conflict. Take the image of God as an example. There are two beautiful, complementary truths held together in this language: a human dignity that comes from being made in the image of God, and a humility that comes from being reminded that we are not God himself. Both our dignity and our humility come from the same source.

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But if you then look to the modern world, youll see that these two beautiful, harmonic biblical principles have been ripped apart from and opposed to each other. On the one hand, you have the idea that we are nothing more than machines or animals, which very imperfectly captures something of the humility of human beings in Genesis. We were even created on the same day as the other animals.

But then some modern anthropologies also treat us as if we were gods, suggesting that nothing should stand in the way of our will. This comes through in thousands of catch phrases: Set your heart on whatever you desire, and you can get it. You can be whoever you want to be. You do you. And other language in that vein.

Modernity awkwardly gives us these two anthropologies and says, Youre a machine and youre also a god; now go and live your life in peace and harmony. Psychologically, its incredibly burdensome to sit on the horns of that dilemma. To diagonalize is to say that both aspects of modern anthropology are actually dismembered limbs of a beautiful biblical whole where they harmonize perfectly. So we need to recover the biblical harmony.

What we mustnt do is split the difference and say Im half machine and half god. Thats ridiculous and not biblical. So to diagonalize doesnt mean compromising and meeting in the middle. It means showing that the two alternatives are both derivative and partial when compared to the biblical whole.

The second tool is something you call out-narrating. You talk about Scripture out-narrating its cultural rivals. And you show, for instance, how Christianity out-narrates the late-modern answer to the question Who am I? which traces back to Rene Descartes, the father of modern philosophy. How does the Christian understanding of personal identity make more sense than the late modern position?

Of course, its not the case that everything was perfect until Descartes. Right from the earliest philosophers, there were problematic ways of thinking about ourselves. Its just that the particular story that Im telling begins with Descartes.

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What Descartes does with identity is to ground our understanding of ourselves inside ourselves for the first time. This is the upshot of his famous saying Cogito ergo sum, or I think, therefore I am. The idea then develops and changes, and by the time that you get to John Locke you have this idea that political scientist C. B. Macpherson calls Lockes possessive individualism. It is the odd idea that we own ourselves, we possess ourselves, and therefore we can do with ourselves what we would do with any other possession. In Lockes thinking, this has various caveats around it, but the Western tradition has tended to drop those caveats as time has gone on, so that weve come to see our bodies and our very selves as a possession.

If I possess myself, I can do what I want with myself because I own myself. Therefore, you get an emerging idea that nobody can tell me either who I am or how I should be. Nobody else has a claim on me. Nobody else can legitimately make me do anything that I dont want to do, in the same way that they cant just take one of my possessions.

This leads to a view of the self that is incredibly liberating on the surface. Theres something beguiling and attractive about it, especially to people who have lived in societies where they are always told what to do and where they have no autonomy. But one problem with this view of the self is that it inscribes identity into a logic of the market. I buy myselfand this is what weve found in recent decades: We construct our identities through our purchases. On one level, its the brands that we choose to adorn ourselves with, but its also the indie philosopher or theologian we want to be overheard namedropping. What new trend do we want to be out in front of?

From there, its not much of a jump to identity being a commodity that is bought and sold. I guess the most vivid place to see that today is online, where we curate particular identities. We market them to gain likes and follows and ultimately financial and reputational rewards.

The biblical view of identity is a profound subversion of that market paradigm, because in order to know who I am biblically, I dont start within myself. I reach outside myself. Augustines Confessions is a beautiful example of this. Its been called the first autobiography in the Western tradition, but of course its not written as a normal autobiography. Its written as a prayer, in the second person. To find out who he is, Augustine knows that he must reach outside of himself to the God whose he is. The philosopher Michael Hanby, in his book Augustine and Modernity, has a very helpful way of putting this. He says that Christian identity is constructed as what he calls doxological dispossession. Doxological in the sense that I find myself as I adopt an attitude of praise to God. Dispossession in the sense that the way to find myself is to lose myself in knowing Christ. In the Gospels, he who seeks to save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life, for Christs sake and for the sake of the gospel, will find it.

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Augustine has a very rich way of putting this in the Confessions. He says, If I look inside myself, what I find is a messan impenetrable swirl of different desires and ideas. Theres no coherence, no stable identity there. But then he says that when he reaches outside himself to God, hes gathered together. He uses this beautiful imagery of being gathered as a self.

This frames Christian identity not as a possession that is bought and sold, but as a gift, a superabundant gift from God. And it makes us fundamentally relational beings as well. I cant think of myself as an atom isolated from everyone else. Theres something incredibly healthy, both individually and socially, in this view of identity that isnt subject to the vicissitudes of the market, that sends me outside myself and points me toward God and others.

What is your greatest hope for how developing a biblical critical theory can strengthen our posture and witness as believers?

I think it will, by Gods grace, equip and empower Christians to be shaped by biblical patterns and rhythms in the way we live, think, and engage with the world, rather than unthinkingly being shaped by the patterns and rhythms of late modern society. As Christians, we want to be people of the Book. We want to be people who love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and who love our neighbor as ourselves. In the terms of Jeremiahs letter to the exiles in Babylon, we want to be people who work for the peace and prosperity of the city where God has put us. Yet all those things are incredibly hard if we have no sense of the distinctive patterns and rhythms of the Bible and how they might stand againstor in some cases even sit alongsidethe patterns and rhythms of our society.

[ This article is also available in Francais. ]
Billy Graham tried.

He preached in the White House the first Sunday after Richard Nixon was inaugurated in 1969, and he tried to preach clearly enough that the new president would hear his message. Graham engaged directly with Nixons inaugural address and said Nixon was wrong to rely so much on himself, his own ingenuity, his own goodness. Nixon was wrong when he said, We need only look within ourselves to solve the countrys most pressing problems. The president and the American people, Graham preached, should humble themselves, turn, and put their trust in God.

Or at least that is what he meant to say. His critique was so subtle that no one in the East Room of the White House noticed. After the service, they all drank orange juice and coffee and commented how nice it was, winning an election, taking control of the White House, and having a worship service under the famous portraits of George and Martha Washington. They completely missed the call to humility, because Graham couldnt quite bring himself to make it.

What the founder of CT was really saying is only clear if you look at what he quoted from the inaugural address and then look at what Nixon said next and compare that to what Graham said next and see Graham is directly countering the president. No one did that though, so no one noticed. Not even the notoriously sensitive Nixon.

The new president just felt affirmed. Grahams message was missed. And he kept getting invited to the White House, where he had access to power, as long as he continued to make morally devastating compromises.

The temptation to appease people in power is a strong one. The temptation to compromise for the sake of access isnt new. For white evangelicals, it didnt start with Donald Trump.

This was Grahams temptation. This was CT founding editor Carl Henrys temptation. And it is also ours.

Recent American evangelical history has been explained, frequently, with what historians call a declension narrativethings were good, and then they declined. Evangelicals used to hold high moral standards, the story goes, and then they enthusiastically embraced a lying, cheating reality TV star for president.

But we didnt just suddenly jump the tracks. Historian Lerone A. Martin makes this clear in his new book, The Gospel of J. Edgar Hoover.

From the beginning, Martin writes, the founders of modern white evangelicalism preached that American politics needed Christian piety and traditional morality while their political practice was marked by the gospel of amoral pragmatism.

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Martin specifically looks at evangelicals relationship with the man who led the FBI for almost half a century. Hoover was incredibly powerful, forcing successive presidents to cede him authority. He fashioned himself into Americas indispensable defender, as if he alone stood between the country and communism, crime, revolution, and all manner of chaos and disorder. He used that reputation to accrue more power and push a moral vision of America that maintained unjust hierarchies and brooked no criticism, especially not criticism from Black people long denied their civil rights.

Evangelicals came alongside Hoover in this project. The founding editors of CT, in particular, embraced Hoover as a moral leader and eagerly associated the magazine that was meant to define evangelicalism with the head of the FBI. They sought out and published multiple articles carrying Hoovers byline and used them to promote the magazine.

Editors like Carl Henry were under no illusions that Hoover had been born again or had a personal relationship with Jesus. He preached a kind of patriotic deism. But that didnt seem to matter.

Image: WikiMedia Commons / Edits by CT

Henry, normally the more discerning member of the first editorial team, even fawned over Hoover in their correspondence.

It is always a privilege and pleasure to carry your essays in Christianity Today, he wrote. You have a part not only in the message of Christianity Today but in its mission.

Martin interprets this to mean that the magazines real aim was political: establishing white Christian nationalism. He even suggests evangelicalism is at bottom, at its core, in its essence white Christian nationalism.

Im not convinced that part is right. For one thing, I dont think it makes sense to talk about the essence of evangelicalism. It is not unchanging or unchangeable. Evangelicalism exists in the contingency of history. Reckoning with the past, as Martin challenges evangelicals to do, has the potential to bring reform.

Im also not convinced that the CT editors were embracing Hoovers full vision of what America should be. A close look at the record shows something sadder and smaller than that. They werent responding to Hoovers grand political agenda, but just a little bit of flattery.

Graham, Henry, and others in those Cold War days certainly wanted evangelicalism to serve as a spiritual resource in the conflict with global communism. They called America back to God. In the process, they sometimes confused the nation and the church. But the aspect of Hoovers vision for America emphasized the most in CTs archives is the importance of ministers. Thats what they were so enthusiastic about.

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The clergymen of America have a vital role, Hoovers first article said. The Church is the heartbeat of America.

A year later, almost plagiarizing himself, he said, The ministers of America hold a vital place, because each Sunday morning literally millions of Americans listen to church sermons. Sermons represent one of the most potent forces for good in the nation today.

These banalities are what pulled them in. This promise of importancea powerful man saying they mattered to the fate of the nation, the fate of the free worldwas seductive.

That flattery worked on a lot of people. Martins research is meticulous, if marred somewhat by claims and conclusions that go beyond the evidence. His book shows Hoover wasnt working uniquely with evangelicals. Hoover collaborated very closely with Catholicsso closely that many people thought the FBI director himself was Catholic. He also worked with fundamentalists and creedal conservatives who didnt like Billy Graham. He lured at least one Black minister to his cause. He had no trouble winning over liberal mainline Protestants, including the nations most elite Episcopalians and a United Church of Christ minister who offered to spy on the American Civil Liberties Union to prove his allegiance to Hoover.

Image: WikiMedia Commons / Edits by CT

Anybody who wanted a little more respectability in Cold War America wanted an approving word from J. Edgar Hoover. The FBI director made use of that.

The Bureau had virtually every white Protestant congregation in the metro DC area bidding for the privilege of hosting and worshipping with the FBI, Martin writes.

I suppose its possible to see all of them as white Christian nationalists, depending on how you define the term, but what Martin documents is probably better described as what sociologist Robert Bellah called civil religion. The religious groups lent symbols and ceremonies, pulpits and magazine pages to proclaim America and the FBIs defense of America as sacred causes. Hoover, reciprocally, granted access to power (though it was mostly symbolic) and respect.

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This isnt to exculpate the religious leaders who lent their faith to causes of inequality and visions of exclusion. But it is accurate to note that many were succumbing to a much more basic temptation. They wanted respect. They wanted access. They wanted someone, sometime, to throw them a parade.

This means, though, that evangelicals who abhor white Christian nationalism today and are appalled at the idea of spreading the gospel through state power are, nonetheless, susceptible. We, like Carl Henry, can be tempted. We evangelicals who want to be relevant and winsome will find the incentive to compromise is always right there.

Correct views are no protection against this temptation. Which is why it is also not, as some would have it, a uniquely evangelical problem. Go back to the church service in Nixons White House: Maybe Graham struggled to clearly critique the new president because he was evangelical. But the same thing happened over and over to ministers across traditions who were invited to Pennsylvania Avenue. Mainline clergy would start out bold, imagining what they would preach to the president in his own home, and then they would think better of it. One threw away a draft defending radicalism and instead talked about the nobility of the human spirit. Another wrote a sermon directly addressing Nixon, but then edited out every instance of the phrase Mr. President, lest his words seem too pointed.

A rabbi went even further, ending his sermon by saying, The finger of God pointed to Richard Milhous Nixon, giving him the vision and wisdom to save the world and civilization.

From what I can tell, its not a specific theological inclination that makes someone susceptible to political idolatry. Seeing power as anointing and mistaking a president for a messiah is a danger for us all. Like most sins, its easier to spot when someone else does it. But the desire for a political champion and the willingness to accept amoral pragmatism for a little access to power infects us all.

That means, though, that Martin is right that we cant neatly separate good evangelicals from bad evangelicals. We are wrong to imagine that being more like Carl Henry or Billy Graham will simply inoculate us. We are wrong to imagine that there was some before time, when we did not have this problem. This is not just an issue for evangelicals who supported Donald Trump. Nor will it go away when the former presidents influence in American politics ultimately fades. The temptation we will always have with us.

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CTs embarrassing history of publishing the FBI directors pablum should stand for evangelicals as a reminder of the dangers of appeasing powerful people. It might also redirect us to the wisdom of the sermon that Billy Graham tried and failed to preach to Richard Nixon: We too are wrong to rely so much on ourselves, our own ingenuity, and our own goodness. We too should be humble. We too need to be aware of our inclination to pursue power instead of trusting God.

Christ taught us to pray for a kingdom to come. He also showed us how it does: not through nationalism, or cooperation with the FBI, or publishing articles that will be loved by people in places of privilege, but by taking up a cross and proclaiming the Good News.

Daniel Silliman is news editor for Christianity Today and a historian with a doctorate from Heidelberg University. He is currently working on a religious biography of Richard Nixon, forthcoming from Eerdmans.

[ This article is also available in Francais. ]
Ben* couldnt wait to tell his loved ones about his new-found faith. A recent convert to Christianity who discovered the gospel through evangelical websites, Ben was bursting with joy. But when he told his family about his new hope in the gospel, their response was far from celebratory.

Instead, Bens family members brutally beat him.

For many of us, its hard to imagine such a response to any kind of news, much less an enthusiastic, personal proclamation. But, tragically, Bens experience is not unique. As a member of a Muslim household in Afghanistan, Ben was subjected to ongoing abuse as dictated by Islamic Law. For his family, Bens conversion to Christianity dishonored them and their community. This was an affront so great that had Bens family murdered him, it would have been considered an honor killing.

After a particularly violent attack that left Ben unconscious, he woke up in the hospital. Unsure how he got there, Ben knew that this was his opportunity to run for his life. Trusting in Gods sovereignty, he slipped out of his hospital bed and, despite serious injuries, fled to Kabul, the nations capital.

A New Home, A New Horror

In Kabul, Ben became part of a house church that helped him establish a new life, provided him with Christian community, and supported his growing faith. That is, until the day that Taliban terrorists entered the house church and murdered the pastor, his two children, one of Bens friends, and another Afghan boy before a suicide bomber blew up the compound.

This unspeakable tragedy drove Ben to make a decision that many Christians in Afghanistan,

widely considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Jesus-followers, have had to makehe went underground. Staying off the radar of public life, Ben found connection and purpose through college studies and online mentorship. Physically, though, he was alone, grieving ongoing losses, and doing all he could to continue trusting God.

Little did he know, God was already leading some fellow believers to start a ministry that would eventually transform Bens life. All along, God had been preparing the way for Ben to find safety and a new life.

The Escape

When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, the sudden foreign policy shift profoundly impacted all religious minorities. Many Afghan Christians had managed to keep their identity a secret, but Bens faith was known. His family, loyal to their Islamic faith, exposed their son to the Taliban. At that point, Ben knew he was risking his life by staying in the country.

Through a series of God-ordained connections and conversations, Ben became acquainted with Shai Fund, a nonprofit organization that assists those living in volatile environments. Shai Fund assigned a team to Ben, moving him from a western Afghan city near the Iranian border. All communication between Shai Fund and Ben was prearranged and encoded to make sure he was interacting with their partners and not a covert member of the Taliban.

When it was time for Ben to board a plane for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he had only minutes to leave his house. He was a high-profile target, so the evacuation plan was exact. Shai Fund mapped out every Taliban checkpoint on the way to Bens flight, and his path to the airport was meticulously choreographed until he was on the airplane to Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Once Ben arrived in the UAE, Shai Fund continued working with him to find a permanent home in Canada. He is now living there, meeting with a house church of other Afghan Christians. Even now, Bens whereabouts and real identity cannot be disclosed for fear of those who would kill him for his faith. While the danger remains, Ben continues to pursue opportunities for friendship and a full life.

Peace for the Persecuted

There are many other stories like Bensstories of suffering abandonment, betrayal, and violence because of ones faith. Shai Fund plays an integral role in bringing these brothers and sisters to safety, and these discreet, complex extractions are only possible with the support of friends like you.

Since 2014, Shai Fund has directly assisted over 170,000 people with practical and immediate assistance. They work tirelessly with teams on the ground to assist those most at risk, find long-term solutions, and offer support to those still in Afghanistan.

Ben will never forget those days, a time in which he faced life-threatening danger but also found a new beginning in Christ. He can now envision a new life, with a God-given future and hope. Your gift can bring another persecuted person to safety, empowering them to experience peace and possibilitiesjust like Ben.

*Bens real name is being withheld for his protection.
4 things to know about Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal report

A year-and-a-half after the removal of United States troops from Afghanistan, the Biden administration is defending its actions surrounding its hasty pullout, which received immense condemnation from political opponents, allies and the American people.

In a document published last week, the Biden administration analyzed the impact of the pullout of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021. The withdrawal of the remaining troops was criticized by President Joe Bidens political opponents and is widely seen as a factor responsible for orchestrating a prolonged decline in his approval rating, which was consistently in positive territory before the evacuation.

A poll conducted in August 2021 revealed that 70% of Americans disapproved of the presidents handling of the Afghanistan pullout. That poll was conducted before an explosion at the airport in the country's capital of Kabul amid the effort to evacuate U.S. citizens and vulnerable Afghans from the country that left 13 U.S. soldiers dead.

Public figures, including critics of the administration and Christian leaders, issued blistering statements condemning the execution of the withdrawal. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned of a genocide against Christians in light of the ascendant Talibans hostility to those who refuse to conform to its interpretation of the Muslim faith. He put the blame for the potential atrocities squarely at the feet of the Biden administration, asserting that The Biden Administration Has Created a Humanitarian Crisis and Potential Genocide in Afghanistan.

The Biden administration remains unphased by the criticism, using the document published last week to make the case for why and how it acted appropriately. Here are four things to know about the Biden administrations defense of its handling of the Afghanistan pullout.

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FBI director subpoenaed over memo warning of 'radical-traditionalist Catholic' threat

The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has issued a subpoena to FBI Director Christopher Wray as the federal law enforcement agency continues to face criticism over a rescinded memo suggesting that "radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology" constitutes a potential national security threat.

In a letter published Monday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, subpoenaed Wray to produce documents related to a document produced by FBI's Richmond, Virginia, field office outlining the threat posed by "radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology."

The leaked document, which has since been rescinded, made headlines in February as it cited the Southern Poverty Law Center, a far-left activist group that categorizes conservative organizations with different views on abortion and marriage as "hate" groups.

Jordan contends that a subpoena is necessary in light of Wray's "disregard of [the committee's] earlier requests" for relevant material.

While Jordan acknowledged that the organization responded to his committee's requests with 18 pages of documents on March 23, he described the response as "substandard."

He said the FBI's response featured "significant redactions of 'personally identifiable information' or 'specific non-public information about [FBI] investigations, sources, and methods' that prevents the Committee from fully assessing the content and context of the documents and obtaining information requested from the Bureau."

Jordan highlighted concerning findings from the small batch of documents provided by the FBI, including an effort to "use local religious organizations as 'new avenues for tripwire and source development.'"

Additionally, the FBI's Richmond field office suggested that an undercover employee "engage in outreach to the leadership of the [Society of Saint Pius X] to sensitize these congregations to the warning signs of radicalization and to enlist their assistance to serve as suspicious activity tripwires."

Part of this outreach plan involved reaching out to "mainline Catholic parishes" and the local "diocesan leadership" for assistance. The revelations exposed by the documents did not sit well with Jordan.

"This information is outrageous and only reinforces the Committee's need for all FBI material responsive to our request," he wrote. "The documents produced to date show how the FBI sought to enlist Catholic houses of worship as potential sources to monitor and to report on their parishioners."

Noting that "Americans attend church to worship and congregate for their personal and spiritual betterment," Jordan proclaimed, "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."

In the Jan. 23 memo, the FBI's Richmond field office warned that "the increasingly observed interest of racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists (RMVEs) in radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology almost certainly presents opportunities for threat mitigation through the exploration of new avenues for tripwire and source development."

The memo, which was rescinded amid pushback, identified adherents to "radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology" as those "typically characterized by the rejection of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) as a valid church council; disdain for most of the popes elected since Vatican II, particularly Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II; and frequent adherence to anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT, and white supremacist ideology."

Vatican II occurred from 1962-1965 and reformed "the liturgy, attitudes towards non-Christian religions, roles and responsibility of the laity, views on religious freedom, etc.," the memo described. The document attempted to distinguish "radical-traditionalist" Catholics from "'traditionalist Catholics' who prefer the Traditional Latin Mass and pre-Vatican II teachings and traditions."

At the same time, the memo warned that "RMVE interest in RTCs is likely to increase over the next 12 to 24 months in the run-up to the next general election cycle" and predicted that RMVEs and RTCs would find common cause on the issues of "abortion rights, immigration, affirmative action, and LGBTQ protections."

The document drew particular concern from lawmakers because of its reliance on the SPLC as a source.

In a Feb. 16 letter to Wray, Jordan and Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, requested "all documents and communications referring or relating to intelligence products about 'racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists' and 'radical-traditionalist Catholics' for the period of January 20, 2021, to the present" as well as "all documents and communications referring or relating to the basis" for the Jan. 23 memo.

The lawmakers also sought to obtain "a list of the FBI investigations, local law enforcement agency reporting, and liaison reporting, with varying degrees of cooperation and access that the FBI's Richmond Field Office relied upon to make its assessments." The lawmakers also sought a list of employees involved in "drafting, reviewing, approving, or disseminating" the memo.

The limited response from the FBI, provided on March 23, came in response to a follow-up letter authored by Jordan on March 20.

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, sent a letter to Wray Tuesday asking the FBI Director to "make public those documents that are related to the FBI's outreach program to 'mainline Catholic parishes' and 'local diocesan leadership.'"

"This is taking the FBI into new, and disturbing territory. We know from previous disclosures that the FBI was probing 'Radical-Traditionalist Catholics' (RTCs). To this day, we have not seen any evidence that they are a threat to anyone," Donohue wrote.

"Now, the FBI has upped the ante," he added. "The First Amendment provides for a healthy measure of autonomy between church and state, so when the state encroaches on religious bodies, it had better have unambiguous and very serious reasons for doing so. I would like to know what they are in this instance."
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.
Manhattans New Church sells historic building to Serbian govt for $15M

The New Church, a historic Manhattan building described as one of New Yorks most picturesque houses of worship in the Murray Hill neighborhood, has been sold to the Serbian government for $15 million just over two years after the nearly 200-year-old congregation shuttered its doors and put the building up for sale in 2020.

The sale was first reported by the New York Post, which was told by Craig M. Dix of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, which represented the church in the sale, that other groups that sought to buy the property included a performing arts group and a religious institution. Tristan Harper of Douglas Elliman who represented the buyers, further noted that the church will likely house Serbias new United Nations mission.

Also known as The Church of the New Jerusalem, or Swedenborgian, The New Church, is a very small denomination whose teachings were developed by Swedish scientist, philosopher, mystic and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg. It had fewer than 10,000 members worldwide as of 2,000.

According to New York magazine, there were some 30-odd Swedenborgian congregations in the U.S., and membership in the denomination peaked at 7,000 in 1900.

Today there are about a quarter as many, notes Christopher Bonanos, the magazines longtime New York City editor.

Followers of Swedenborgs teachings, who reportedly rejected or challenged traditional church doctrines, brought his message to New York City in 1805. In the early days of the movement in New York, adherents met at different locations for several years before they were able to settle down in a building they purchased in 2021 on Pearl Street.

In 1838, the church sold the Pearl Street building to the Zion Baptist Society and started meeting in different locations again. They were later offered three lots on 35th Street, near Fourth Avenue, in the 1850s, by James Chesterman, on the condition that a new church building be erected on the property, according to the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

On July 1, 1858, the cornerstone was laid for a Gothic-style edifice that would measure 75 by 50 feet and cost about $15,000. Designed by James Hoe, the church occupied the rear of the property and was actually in the Italianate Renaissance style, the website says.

Some eight years later in 1866, a design was made to extend the churchs property on the right side of the building.

By 1990, when the church membership dwindled to 18 members, the church had to close due to water damage to the roof timbers. The church sold some of its property to cover the repairs.

Ultimately, an adjacent row house was sold for $3 million to finance the $1.6 million restoration of the church, as designed by Alexander Gorlin. Since the reopening of the church, the congregation has encouraged the use of its 220-seat church as a wedding venue, the Guild notes.

Among the churchs notable members was Samuel L. Waldo, a successful artist who lived near Cooper Square.

The New Church in Manhattan joins a long list of churches that have shut down after the lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

First Presbyterian Church of Des Moines in Iowa, which had been in operation since 1848, closed for good in April 2022. Other churches, like the 221-year-old First Presbyterian Church in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, permanently closed its doors on Christmas Eve 2021 due to declining membership and attendance.

The Potters House of Denver also announced plans in December 2021 to sell its $12.2 million megachurch in Arapahoe County, Colorado, and go completely virtual amid declining donations during the pandemic.
United Methodist conference sues Pennsylvania church for trying to leave denomination

A regional body of The United Methodist Church, the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States, is suing a Pennsylvania congregation on the grounds that church leaders violated UMC bylaws by not properly disaffiliating from the denomination.

The UMC Susquehanna Conference filed a lawsuit against people tied to Cortez Community Church of Jefferson Township, formerly known as Cortez United Methodist Church.

The lawsuit was filed in Lackawanna County Court and names church members Daniel Hulse Jr., Cathy Strickbein, Alicia Clarke Witkowski, Ken Witkowski and Abbigale Clarke as defendants, reports The Times-Tribune of Scranton.

The Christian Post contacted the Susquehanna Conference. However, a spokesperson declined to provide comment, saying the matter is "active litigation."

According to the lawsuit, the defendants, who held various leadership roles at Cortez UMC, decided to unilaterally leave the denomination in February, taking control of the church property and seizing bank accounts.

According to the legal filing, the defendants changed church signs to reflect the new name and religious identity on Feb. 9. On Feb. 19, the defendants allegedly took action to seize the church's bank accounts.

A hearing is scheduled for May 28 before Lackawanna County Judge Julia Munley, the newspaper noted. The departed congregation reportedly still occupies the church building located on Cortez Road and is holding services.

Attached to the conference's legal filing was a Feb. 28 letter church leaders sent to congregants explaining that other discussions were held about disaffiliation before the disaffiliation decision was made final, according to The Times-Tribune.

"You remain a United Methodist Church until the conference says you are not a United Methodist Church," conference chancellor Joseph Layman told the local news outlet. "The fact they changed the name and claim to be the Cortez Community Church has no impact. We still consider it to be the Cortez United Methodist Church."

In March, the conference held a special session on May 17 at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport to vote on whether "to affirm or not affirm the current qualified requests for disaffiliation."

"This special session will allow those who have chosen to disaffiliate to vote on their disaffiliation during this special session. Upon the adjournment of the special session, all decisions of the special session will be final and cannot be reversed," a March announcement reads.

"Therefore, in concert with the Disaffiliation Covenant, lay members of disaffiliating congregations to the Annual Conference have agreed not to attend the regular session of Annual Conference which will convene May 18. Clergy who are in the process of withdrawing from the denomination are also encouraged not to attend the regular session."

In 2022, over 1,800 congregations disaffiliated from the UMC amid the ongoing debate over the denomination's rules barring the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals.

Theological conservatives have taken issue with several progressive leaders within the mainline Protestant denomination refusing to enforce or follow the official rules.

Many congregations that have disaffiliated from the UMC have joined the Global Methodist Church, a theologically conservative denomination launched last May after the denomination delayed its General Conference initially set for May 2020 for a third time amid the COVID-19 pandemic to 2024. Delegates were expected to negotiate a denominational split.

The 2019 UMC General Conference established a disaffiliation process requiring two-thirds approval from eligible church members in each congregation and a majority vote from annual conference members.

While many congregations have been allowed by their regional conferences to disaffiliate, others have faced financial roadblocks, and some have had disaffiliation votes denied.

Hundreds of congregations have filed lawsuits against their regional bodies amid opposition to their disaffiliation requests.

Last month, over 180 churches in Georgia filed a lawsuit against the UMC North Georgia Conference in Superior Court in Cobb County after the conference moved in December to prohibit more congregations from disaffiliating.

Also in March, 38 churches in Maryland sued the UMC Baltimore-Washington Conference, accusing the conference of "holding their church buildings and property hostage" through an "encumbered by an irrevocable trust for the benefit of the UMC."

The complaint argues that "the only way for Plaintiff Churches to disaffiliate without surrendering the buildings and property that are central to their congregations is by the permission of the UMC and payment of a financial ransom."
Afghanistan's first female mayor says Taliban is waging 'genocide' against minority group

A woman who served as the first female mayor in Afghanistan is urging the U.S. government to declare the Taliban's treatment of the Hazara ethnic group a genocide as the first anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Central Asian country approaches.

Azra Jafari, who formerly served as mayor of Nili in Afghanistan's Daykundi province, was one of several speakers to address the annual International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., late last month.

Jafari was appointed the first female mayor in Afghanistan in 2008 and held the post until 2014. She has become a vocal advocate for women's rights and a staunch critic of the control the Taliban has taken since the U.S. military's withdrawal from the country last year.

In an interview with The Christian Post, she shared concerns about religious freedom in Afghanistan and the threats to women and minorities in the country.

Nearly a year after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Jafari says the situation on the ground has turned bleak for women and her Hazara ethnic group.

Hazaras are a predominantly Shia Muslim ethnic group of over 3.5 million that primarily reside in central Afghanistan. The ethnic group has long been subject to violence at the hand of state actors and militant groups and is considered by some to be historically the most discriminated against ethnic group in Afghanistan.

As violence against the minority group has escalated in the past year, she said: "the Taliban [is] trying to ban the internet" to prevent journalists from covering incidents in the country.

Jafari stated that the Taliban has engaged in a deliberate campaign to "kill and then displace" members of the ethnic group from their homes which has led to the displacement of more than 1,400 families.

Reports have surfaced in the past year of massacres targeting Hazara people, including the killing of 13 Hazaras in the Daykundi province. Reports have also emerged of evictions of thousands of Hazara families from their homes in the Daykundi province and Mazar-e-Sharif based on claims they had no ownership over their land.

The Taliban look for the "smallest cues" to determine whether someone is part of the Hazara ethnic group or not, she said. This includes looking at their face or learning their name. Jafari reported that once the Taliban determines that someone is a Hazara, "they kill you right away."

"This is like a genocide against Hazaras," she said.

Jafari maintained that "the international community is silent and they cannot do anything with this situation right now" because of the Taliban's effort to take control of the internet.

Jafari hopes that her appearance at the International Religious Freedom Summit would raise awareness about the plight of the Hazaras.

"I want to ask for the U.S. government to take action  for the protection of Hazara minorities in Afghanistan because really it is genocide," she proclaimed.

While Jafari dates the beginning of the genocide against Hazaras to more than a century ago, she sees now as the time to "protect the Hazara community from Afghanistan" and wants the U.S. to "recognize what happened [to the] Hazara ethnicity in Afghanistan as a genocide."

Jafari, a Shia Muslim, insisted that the Taliban, a Sunni nationalist movement, does not believe in "rights for minorities or other religions in Afghanistan." From their perspective, she maintained, Sunni Islam should be the only religion practiced in the country.

Since retaking power, Jafari declared, the Taliban has "started exactly the same model of governance" they embraced when they last ruled Afghanistan before the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 and the subsequent U.S. military involvement in the nation.

"This is not acceptable for not only women, it is not acceptable for anybody, especially for the religious minorities."

Although the Taliban is "trying to act like they are changed" and accept "all religions or every people that live in Afghanistan," Jafari sees such pronouncements as insincere.

She highlighted the Taliban's refusal to honor Afghanistan's constitution that essentially declares that "everybody is the same," whether male or female or Sunni or Shia. The Taliban has also "closed the last worship place" for Hindus in Afghanistan and prevented religious minorities from holding "special events in the streets."

Jafari characterized reports of violence between the Islamic State and the Taliban as "fake news" designed to distract "international communities" and the media from the "other big issues" in Afghanistan, specifically the violence against the Hazaras. She acknowledged that there may be a "small conflict" between the two groups and predicted they could "solve it very easily."

Jafari elaborated on the oppression of women and other ethnic minorities at the hands of the Taliban, stating that they are banning women from "society," "politics" and the "economy."

"All women are in the house and then they can't do anything," she said.

She reported that "women cannot go to school and don't have any right to do any jobs like as a judge or in [a] high-ranking position."

Jafari identified elementary school teachers and hospital employees as among the only jobs open to women following the Taliban takeover.

For her part, Jafari is free from the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, as she has resided in Maryland since 2014. The Taliban's threat against her prompted her to escape to the U.S.

As a teenager and young adult, Jafari had previously spent time as a refugee in Iran, where she opened a school for other refugees who could not go to school because they lacked the proper identification from the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees. She started the school when she was 17 years old and worked there for almost six years.

Jafari returned to Afghanistan shortly after the 9/11 attacks. While her school operated without permission from the Iranian government as an "underground school," it educated over 8,000 students. Her friends took control of the school after she returned to Afghanistan for about one year before the government closed the school because it was illegal.

Jafari expressed gratitude that many children who went to the "underground school" ended up continuing their education and obtaining college degrees at institutions worldwide.
Pentagon confirms Americans have been beaten by Taliban fighters en route to Kabul airport

Americans have been beaten by the Taliban while attempting to reach the U.S.-held airport in Kabul, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said during a Defense Department briefing held after U.S. citizens were told Saturday not to travel to the airport due to security threats.

We know of cases, a small number that we know of," Kirby said at the briefing. "We don't have perfect visibility, but we know of a small number of cases where some Americans and certainly, as [Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin] also said in that statement, Afghans  Afghans that we want to evacuate, it wasn't just Americans that he talked about  have been harassed and in some cases beaten. We don't believe it is a very large number. And a matter of fact, the numbers would indicate ... that ... by and large, most Americans who have their credentials with them are being allowed through the Taliban checkpoints and ... into the gate and onto the airfield.

"We are aware of sporadic cases where they aren't being allowed, where there is some harassment going on, and yes, some physical violence has occurred" within the last week.

"What appears to be happening is that not every Taliban fighter either got the word or decided to obey the word [to allow Americans to get to the airport]," he added.

U.S. Army Major General Hank Taylor also provided updated numbers on evacuations, saying that among the 17,000 evacuated this week, 2,500 were Americans.

On Friday, minutes after President Joe Biden said the U.S. wasnt aware Americans were being harassed or assaulted by the Taliban at checkpoints in Afghanistan, the defense secretary and a spokesman for the Department of Defense said U.S. citizens trying to leave that country had been beaten by militants.

The president said the U.S. government "doesn't have the exact number" of Americans who are in Afghanistan or where they're located and is working to "verify" their whereabouts.

During a briefing call with House members Friday, Austin said the reports of Taliban beating Americans on their way to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistans capital city of Kabul was unacceptable, Politico reported, based on several people who participated in the briefing and other top officials.

Were also aware that some people, including Americans, have been harassed and even beaten by the Taliban, Austin was quoted as saying by multiple sources.

This is unacceptable and (we) made it clear to the designated Taliban leader, Austin added.  With the exception of those cases, we continue to see Americans and appropriately credentialed Afghans continue to move through.

During the briefing call, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., called the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan an enormous mistake, Politico reported.

Kirby had also acknowledged the harassment of Americans in Afghanistan on Friday.

Were certainly mindful of these reports and theyre deeply troubling, and we have communicated to the Taliban that thats absolutely unacceptable, that we want free passage through their checkpoints for documented Americans, Kirby was quoted as saying by The Epoch Times.

Earlier on Friday, Biden said during a press conference, we have no indication that Americans seeking to flee the country have been unable to safely reach the airport in Kabul.

Weve made an agreement with the Taliban, the president continued, answering a question. Theyve allowed them to go through. Its in their interests to let them go through. We know of no circumstance where American citizens are carrying an American passport, are trying to get through to the airport. But we will do whatever needs to be done to see to it that they get to the airport.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul had sent out a security alert published online, noting that the U.S. cannot ensure safe passage to the Hamid Karzai International Airport."

Following the drawing down of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country, eventually taking the capital Kabul and forcing the government to flee.

In response to the unexpected speed at which they retook the nation, tens of thousands of Americans, Afghan allies, and others have desperately tried to leave the country.

The Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritans Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has called for a day of prayer for the people of Afghanistan on Sunday.

There is no hope for these people to get out safely  apart from a miracle from the hand of God  and thats what we need to pray for, Graham said in a statement.

A return to Taliban rule for Afghanistan has led many to express concern over the treatment of women, as well as religious minorities, such as the small Christianity community.

On the website of the missionary group Frontier Alliance International, an anonymous pastor posted a statement saying the Taliban was already cracking down on Christians.

The Taliban has a hit list of known Christians they are targeting to pursue and kill. The U.S. Embassy is defunct and there is no longer a safe place for believers to take refuge, said Pastor X.

All borders to neighboring countries are closed and all flights to and from have been halted, with the exception of private planes. People are fleeing into the mountains looking for asylum. They are fully reliant on God, who is the only One who can and will protect them.

Melissa Barnhart contributed to this report
Kentucky shooting forces PCUSA headquarters to go on lockdown

The headquarters for the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States was locked down during the Louisville bank mass shooting Monday that was just two blocks away.

Presbyterian Church (USA)s downtown Louisville headquarters, known as the Presbyterian Center, was forced to lock down the morning of the shooting at the Old National Bank.

As employees could not enter or exit the building, they held a brief prayer service led by Kathy Lueckert, who serves as president of PCUSAs A Corporation, which is the corporate entity of the PCUSA General Assembly.

Its a beautiful morning and yet death is all around us. Its a sad commentary that we have to have a service like this. We should not be here as we think about what has happened so close to us, Lueckert said, as quoted in a PCUSA press release.

I think of first responders who are processing all of this. I think of all those families who went to work today and wont go home tonight. Life is so fragile and here we are again, thinking about the epidemic of gun violence in this country.

The Rev. J. Herbert Nelson II, Stated Clerk of the PCUSA's General Assembly, was also quoted in the press release, noting that just two blocks away from us, blood has been shed.

We offer our prayers of consolation for those who have suffered injury or loss and we cry out yet again, to all not directly caught up in this violence, in the words of Bob Dylans painful ballad, How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesnt see? stated Nelson.

To the leaders among us who have failed to adequately address the curse of gun violence in our country, and who continue to block legislative efforts to curtail the proliferation of weapons designed to kill, we say, once again, ENOUGH!

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.

Four individuals were killed by the shooter that morning: Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliot, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and James Tutt, 64. A fifth victim, 57-year-old Deana Eckert, died of her wounds later that evening at a hospital.

At a press conference held Monday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear explained that Elliot was a close friend of his, who had helped him with many issues and challenges in his life.

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, Beshear said.

The shooter was identified as Connor Sturgeon, a 25-year-old bank employee who reportedly knew that he was going to be fired and had livestreamed his violent actions on Instagram.
Michael Shellenberger tells Joe Rogan he returned to Christianity in response to societal 'hatred, anger'

Journalist Michael Shellenberger recently shared on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience that he embraced Christianity after seeing it as the only viable solution to the intense hatred and anger prevalent in society today.

In a March 30 interview with podcast host Joe Rogan, Shellenberger revealed he returned to the Christian faith while writing his chart-topping book Apocalypse Never, which counters the ideology promoted by climate alarmists like Greta Thunberg.

Whats the remedy for this intense hatred and anger against civilizations? And I was like, its love, obviously, he said.

Loving your enemies is, for me, what Christianity is about. Its the heart of Christianity. Its really hard.

Forgiveness, Rogan interjected.

Forgiveness, Shellenberger agreed. Its really, really hard. And so, for me, it was like, Im interested in having a faith thats hard, not easy. If it were easy, whats the point? Its got to make you better in some way.

Shellenberger, who was one of several journalists tasked with writing the Twitter Files, previously revealed that while he was raised by a congregationalist mother, he fell away from the faith and adopted existentialist views. He released Apocalypse Never in 2020.

Earlier in the episode, Rogan and Shellenberger discussed the outrage from trans activists stemming from the misgendering of school shooter Audrey Hale, who shot and killed six people, including three children, at The Covenant Christian elementary school in Nashville on March 27.

Rogan said it was wild that anyone would defend the chosen gender identity of a school shooter, adding: First of all, that persons dead, OK? It doesnt matter if you call it a boy or a girl, thats a dead person who killed three children and three adults in a horrific way, went into a school, and shot a bunch of people.

The podcast host said that the confusion surrounding how to identify the shooter is nonsense, and said he doesnt give a f--- what their feeling is about misgendering a shooter. He stressed that an archeologist would be able to identify the persons gender if they analyzed their skeleton hundreds of years from now.

What mental gymnastics we have to do for this craziness, Rogan said.

Shellenberger pointed out that Rogan was among the first to draw attention to the fact that "all the confusion around sex and gender, was a symptom of civilizations in decline.

Rogan said it was political commentator Douglas Murray (associate editor of The Spectator and author of The War on The West and The Madness of Crowds), who helped form his opinion on the matter: It seems like every civilization when theyre at the brink of collapse becomes obsessed with gender, and [Murray] talked about ancient Greece, in ancient Rome, and it just seems like a thing that people do when theres no real physical conflict, so people look for conflict that doesnt exist, and they find conflict in standard norms, they find conflict in societal norms," he said.

Shellenberger contended that wokeism is like a new religion, adding: I think all this stuff  its sort of the end of civilization, but its also the end of belief in religion." He cited a recent survey that highlighted the decline in values like patriotism, community involvement, religion and birth rates among Americans.

First of all, its terrifying, you just kinda go, I hope these trends are non-linear and somethings going to turn around, because otherwise, it doesnt look good, Shellenberger said. He added that such trends indicate that there are elites trying to gain control over the society and that society no longer has any foundational myths.
Texas churches pledge to sponsor exiled Mayflower Church members

Churches in Texas have pledged to sponsor the resettlement of 64 Christians from Chinas persecuted Mayflower Church who fled to South Korea in 2019 but were denied asylum.

Southern Baptist congregations and other churches in East Texas have said they will sponsor the exiled members of Shenzhen Holy Reformed house church, which came to be known as Mayflower Church after some 60 Chinese Christians, including 32 children, arrived in South Koreas Jeju Island in 2019. Sixteen families are now in Thailand awaiting responses to their refugee applications first submitted to the U.N.'s refugee agency UNCHR on Sept. 5, 2022.

The name Mayflower comes from the English ship that carried passengers  some of whom were Protestant separatists seeking religious freedom from the Church of England  who traveled to the colonies in the 17th century.

Deana Brown, the founder and CEO of Freedom Seekers International, and Bob Fu of ChinaAid have been collaborating to help resettle the Chinese Christians who fear repatriation to China after South Koreas Gwangju High Court rejected their final asylum appeal.

The Midland, Texas-based ChinaAid, which monitors human rights violations inside China, said 10 more families still need resettlement sponsors.

Members of the church have applied for refugee status with the U.N., but are still awaiting approval from the office in Thailand, added ChinaAid, which is assisting the 64 Chinese Christians living in Thailand, while Freedom Seekers International in Tyler is seeking sponsors for their resettlement to the U.S.

So far, only two of the 16 families have been granted a second refugee determination interview with the U.N., said Brown of FSI, a former Southern Baptist missionary, in an interview with Baptist Standard.

The sponsoring churches include First Baptist Church, Tylers South Spring Baptist Church, Flint Baptist Church, Sylvania Church in Tyler, Grace Community Church and Rose Heights Church.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, recently sent a letter on behalf of the Mayflower Church to Rashad Hussain, U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, and Julieta Valls Noyes, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Immigration, urging them to speak to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees about their status.

In the letter dated Feb. 24, McCaul also raised concerns about China's "ability to compel the repatriation of Chinese citizens who have sought refugee status."

The letter stated in part:

At every step of the journey for the Mayflower Church, there has been substantial opposition from the PRC. When the group first sought asylum in the Republic of Korea, the PRC Consulate refused to issue a passport to a members newborn child, rendering the baby stateless and unable to travel. In interrogations with family members who remained in China, Ministry of Public Security agents have accused the church members of treason, collusion with foreign forces, and subversion of state powers for their desire to practice religion independent of the State. Church members have also received dozens of phone calls from Chinese government officials accusing the church of committing national security offenses by leaving China. Furthermore, in October 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand demanded the Thai police send over all 58 passports to be examined, implying that they may be illegal. ... "The United States must intervene to help ensure the safety of the group, protect them against refoulement and continued harassment by the PRC, and support their prompt assessment for protection as refugees, including consideration by the United States Refugee Admission Program."

Last March, Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Libertarian think-tank the Cato Institute, wrote in an op-ed published by Foreign Policy that refusal to give asylum to the Chinese Christians was a particularly bizarre stance for outgoing President Moon Jae-ins government.

It is not hard to envision the reception Mayflower refugees will face if forcibly repatriated to China, Bandow continued.

Bandow noted that in 2018, Pan Yongguang, pastor of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, signed a statement along with 456 other house church pastors and his friend Wang Yi, who led a 500-member unregistered home church, to protest against the increasing persecution of Christians. Later that year, the authorities arrested Wang and about 100 members of his church during a Sunday evening service. Wang was tried and convicted in 2019, receiving a nine-year prison sentence for the charge of subversion of state power.

ChinaAid said that another reason for the Christians' decision to flee China was related to the ongoing interrogations they endured during the Hong Kong protests in 2019. Even though members of the church did not participate in the Hong Kong protests, they faced tremendous pressure and were interrogated by authorities in Shenzhen, which is near Hong Kong. Repeated threats and interrogation led members to vote en masse to flee China.

The Wall Street Journal reported in June 2021 that the Chinese Christian families wanted to resettle in the U.S. A couple of church members who had returned to China after fleeing to South Korea faced retribution. Their homes were raided by police who confiscated Christian books and electronic devices and monitored and restricted their movements.

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 Chinas 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.
Transgender movement is nothing more than 'ideology masquerading as science,' Christian physician says

When it comes to transgender ideology, Dr. Andre Van Mol says simply being a board-certified family physician in todays political climate could be considered controversial.

Speaking at The Christian Post's Generation Indoctrination conference last month, Van Mol, who is also the co-chair of the American College of Pediatrician's Committee on Adolescent Sexuality, said if he was to give testimony in a court of law, attorneys for the other side would work to get his testimony thrown out, claiming he is not an expert. But if he worked for a gender clinic, he would be considered an "expert."

If I were a family physician working for the gender clinic, now Im an expert, he noted, pointing to what he described as the ideological capture of medical organizations, legislators, media as a whole, [and] the academic world by gender politics.

Van Mol called the trans movement ideology masquerading as science, reinforced with emotional blackmail  You have to support them or theyre going to kill themselves'  which is also not true.

That dynamic, he added, is perhaps best encapsulated by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which Van Mol calls an advocacy group.

All roads lead back to WPATH, he explained, using the acronym for the organization formerly known as the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association.

Under WPATH Standards of Care (SOC) for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People, said Van Mol, all age restrictions for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery have been removed.

The latest version of WPATHs SOC now includes eunuch as a gender identity, which it describes as individuals [who are] assigned male at birth and wish to eliminate masculine physical features, masculine genitals or genital functioning.

Van Mols response to the change was brief but to the point.

This cannot be science, he said.

There's always a more honest answer to gender dysphoria or confusion in a minor than chemical sterilization and surgical mutilation in what is otherwise a very healthy young body, he said. What they need is to address those underlying issues.

Oftentimes, said Van Mol, much of the controversy stems from a toxic mix of mainstream media headlines and low-quality scientific research.

He pointed to the familiar trend of media outlets chasing headlines rather than following the science.

Youll notice that whenever theres a new study singing the praises of transition, magically, immediately, its covered in the media from coast to coast, with pretty much the same talking points, and that cant be coincidental, he said.

Van Mol also said studies that support sex-change procedures uniformly show that those studies are of low to very low quality.

By definition that means they fail to show what they claim they are showing, he added.

He also pointed to the closure of the Tavistock Clinic, Britains Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), the worlds largest pediatric gender clinic, set for later this year following six comprehensive literature reviews out of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland and Florida.

What we see now is  four nations that were leading the world in gender-affirming transition medical interventions have done a complete turnaround, a complete 180, again, they were leading in it, and now theyre like, No, this is not supported by good data, he said.

According to recent data, the number of minors in America receiving a diagnosis of gender dysphoria tripled from 2017 to 2021, with more than 42,000 receiving the diagnosis in 2021. On the social media platform TikTok, which is especially popular among younger people, the hashtag trans has logged 50.2 billion views, nearly doubling within the space of a year.

More European nations, he added, are turning away from this junk science and instead telling minors who are experiencing gender dysphoria to undergo comprehensive psychological evaluation and therapy  both for the patient and the family.

There's decades of literature showing overwhelming probability in a gender dysphoric minor of underlying health problems of adverse childhood experiences, bad family dynamics and a way over-representation of autism spectrum dysphoria, and that these all predate the gender dysphoria, Van Mol explained.

This approach, said Van Mol, is a more holistic method of addressing what tends to be a deeply complex condition.

And theres absolutely no way that happens in a 40-minute visit to Planned Parenthood that gives you hormones, he added.
UK's largest teacher's union demands schools support drag queen story time, set up LGBT spaces

A new motion from the largest teacher's union in the United Kingdom demands schools support drag queen story time to help create safe spaces for LGBT students.

During its annual conference in Harrogate, England, last week, the National Education Union passed Motion 34, titled "Raising the aspirations of LGBT+ students in our schools." The conference highlighted what it says is an apparent lack of "LGBT+ inclusive education" and spaces for students to discuss their gender or sexuality.

The motion claimed that some schools have not allowed LGBT authors to visit and that the "far right" has attacked "[c]reative initiatives" like drag queen story time.

According to the motion, the government is creating a "hostile" environment for trans-identifying people by using Section 35, which allows the U.K. government to stop a Scottish Parliament Bill from receiving Royal Assent, to block the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Act. The bill changed the process for obtaining a "gender recognition certificate."

The teacher's union acknowledged that some schools have "developed good practice" regarding LGBT curriculum and LGBT student spaces since the abolition of Section 28, which prohibited the promotion of homosexuality through teaching or published material. However, the motion stated that these LGBT student groups "often exist in isolation from each other."

"It is the educational duty of the union to publicly raise the aspirations, hopes and dreams of LGBT+ students and encourage all schools to set up LGBT+ spaces," the motion reads, arguing that creating spaces for these students challenges "the homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in schools."

"Initiatives like Drag Queen Story Time and inviting LGBT+ authors into schools can help challenge the heteronormative culture and curriculum that dominates Education," the conference agenda continued.

The NEU called for the executive to publicly support initiatives like drag queen story time and work with LGBT educators to build on "inclusive resources" that already exist on the online platform Mobilize and continue to expand it. In addition, the teachers union believes there should be a guidance booklet for setting up a "LGBT+ space/lunch club," believing this will encourage more schools to participate.

The NEU did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

In a Wednesday statement on the passing of Motion 34, NEU Joint General Secretary Mary Bousted believes that the push for "inclusive teaching" is necessary at a time when many young people are being "targeted online with intolerant and divisive ideas" from social media influencers like Andrew Tate.

The former professional boxer was arrested in December alongside his brother and two Romanian women on allegations of human trafficking, rape and committing the crimes of constituting an organized criminal group.

"The NEU is committed to sharing and disseminating teaching resources and strategies to help members support success and positive school experiences for all LGBT+ students, including trans and non-binary students," she stated. "Teachers need time and support to develop curriculum resources which are inclusive and representative, and such time for building a creative curriculum is in very short supply."

Bousted asserted that LGBT spaces and networks are "now more necessary," accusing the government of not doing enough to protect trans-identifying individuals.

The motion comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed concern about the content of sex education materials being taught in U.K. schools. The prime minister is reportedly considering the option of launching a review of "age-appropriate" sex education materials, according to The Telegraph.

Last October, Christian parents who pulled their children out of a church-run school and claimed two boys in their sons' classes at the age of 6 were allowed to identify as girls received a commitment from the British government to reform trans-affirming policies in schools.

As CP reported in October, a report from the U.K.'s National Health Service advised doctors against encouraging minors to socially transition, proposing a more watchful approach to treating gender dysphoria in children. The report warned doctors that children who profess to identify as the opposite gender may be in the middle of a "transient phase."

"The clinical management approach should be open to exploring all developmentally appropriate options for children and young people who are experiencing gender incongruence, being mindful that this may be a transient phase, particularly for prepubertal children, and that there will be a range of pathways to support these children and young people and a range of outcomes," the proposed guidelines state.
Watermark Church leader looks to the Bible to answer Gen Zers questions about 'gray areas' and sin

A Texas megachurch leader says there are gray areas in life when it comes to making certain decisions that could lead to sin, and it's best to look to the Bible first and apply it to one's present circumstances.

Is it OK to drink alcohol? Is it OK to move in with my fiancee if we sleep in separate bedrooms so we can save money? These were just a couple of the questions read by Josiah Jones, young adult director of volunteers for Watermark Community Church, during a recent gathering where he addressed "Gray Areas of Christianity" at a weekly gathering of millennials and Gen Zers in their 20s and 30s called The Porch in Dallas, Texas.

You know those things in life that aren't always black and white? For some of you, the gray areas are a sin. But for others of you ... like the things that we're going to propose tonight, it's not a sin for you, Jones said.

Drinking alcohol

One example of a gray area, Jones said, is drinking alcohol.

It's 100 percent clear from God's Word  that getting drunk is a sin. Ephesians 5:18 says this: 'Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.'

In other words, thats sin. ... But it's also clear that the Bible doesn't say anything about you not being able to have a drink. That's also clear. We have the freedom to drink moderately."

Although drinking alcohol is not like the forbidden fruit in Genesis, Jones said there are times when it might not be good for someone to have even one drink. Jones recounted having an addiction to alcohol, with this battle leading him to dedicate five years of his life to sobriety.

Before Christ, I was nearly an alcoholic. And when I came to Christ, it's not like everything just cleaned up and I never had a drink. And so, I would go out even after [saying], Hey, Jesus is my Lord and Savior. And I would drink, and sometimes that would lead me to drunkenness. [And that led to] just one too many times of drunkenness. So for me, it was bringing me under its power, Jones admitted.

For the next five years, I just said, Hey, I'm just going to cut it off. I'm going to starve my flesh of this privilege. The Bible doesn't say you can't drink. But for me, I couldn't, because it led to an unhealthy place.

Christians need to determine what is best for themselves when it comes to whether or not they should drink a minimal or moderate amount of alcohol, Jones added.

He stressed, however, that Christians shouldnt make that decision on their own. Instead, they should let trusted voices into [their] life that can help make that decision.

I think the tendency for us is [to say], Yeah, check. I'm good. And we're just not very thoughtful in wanting that circle and asking people  that know us and we know them. And they can help make that decision for us and give you some more thoughtful questions to possibly ask based on your history, Jones said.

You should ask questions like, 'Are you running to alcohol as a means of escape because you're stressed?

Smoking marijuana

Jones said another gray area is whether or not smoking marijuana in states where it's legal is OK.

Even though I believe most people don't let borders stop them from smoking weed, I can see how you get there. Like some of you have this mindset, Well, it's OK to have that glass of wine, you know, or that beer, liquor at 21, [so] it's OK for me to hit this blunt, Jones illustrated.

And again,  I'm genuinely asking  is it really to help you with your anxiety and sleep? Or if you had to be honest, you like how you feel? [or] it allows you to check out of reality?

Jones said Ephesians 5:1 which states, Do not be drunk with wine. For that is debauchery. But be filled with the Spirit, is only about alcohol.

I think [the verse is] for a lot of different things.  Can you be filled with the Spirit and filled with weed? I would love to have that discussion. I genuinely want to learn because I don't want you to do anything that would suppress the Spirit of God in you. Because He's our guide, Jones declared. The Bible says that when you commit your life to Jesus, He gives you another power so that you would submit to that power, not to the ways of the world's power.

Dressing modestly

When it comes to the gray area of choosing what clothes to wear, Jones said, it is vital that Christians question why they choose to dress a certain way.

[Is it] in the name of body positivity or this is what everyone else is doing? You kind of justified your actions in wearing this or going here or buying that. But deep down you really want the attention from the opposite sex, Jones said.

You really want that guy to slide into your DMs. Or guys, you just want that girl to ... tell you how great you are. And you just want someone to gas you up because you've been in that gym looking good and you've lost your 20 pounds and you're down to 10% body weight or whatever it is, he continued.

I'm just saying, what's the motivation of your heart? These things are bad in and of themselves. The motivation of your heart can tell everything.  Is there any real reason to show that much body to anyone other than just to kind of get praise?

Listening to secular music

Jones said listening to secular music can be considered another gray area, as some might be led deeper into sins when they listen to secular music. For them, he said, they should avoid being tempted further into sin.

As an example, he said: You've had a long day. It was a frustrating day. You turn on the Spotify playlist. When you get in your car, you go to a rap song and it's hooking up with girls [and] explicit language. Let me ask, do you need more of the world in that moment or do you need more of the Kingdom of God in that moment?

Is that going to hook you to a place of, Hey, Tinder  I just need a quick hookup.  Is that going to lead you to that place?  Is it going to lead you to not glorify God?

Self-reflection

Jones told the audience of young adults that there are four questions Christians should ask themselves when trying to decide whether something that is in a gray area that could potentially lead to sin:

Is it helpful physically, mentally and spiritually?

Does it bring me under its power?

Does it hurt others?

Does it glorify God?

If you ask these questions, think over it. Go be free, man. Go enjoy it for the glory of God and try your best not to entertain what would be evil and sinful, Jones said.

In the Bible, it is clear that not all sin is a gray area and not all gray areas are sin. But I think, for some of us, we want to make all gray areas gray. And I don't see that in my Bible, he added.

And so, what I see in my Bible is this: That there is none righteous. No, not one.  What I see in my Bible, in Romans 3:23, is that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. What I see in my Bible is Jesus stepping onto the scene, and He says, 'I am the way. John 14:6. 'I am the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Do the basics of the Christian faith still matter?

Nowadays its hardly received that, Jesus is the answer. Its cultural now to think that Christianity is a personal preference that may answer questions for some but not necessarily for everyone.

Cultural thought has keenly normalized objections to the Christian faith. Why should believers continue to build their faith on the basics of Christianity? Isnt the sophistication of advanced humankind demanding that we rethink our basic tenets?

The short answer is no, because when it comes to critiques of our understanding of sin and redemption, in the wisdom of Solomon, there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc. 1:9).

When conversing casually with people about the Gospel, I often encounter polite but skeptical comments. I dont mind, but I have realized that staunch skepticism can never be satisfied. Christian faith appeals to an intangible entity and so whatever is presented can always be rejected by empirical demands. It can become a game of heads skepticism wins and tails Christian faith loses.

To illustrate, lets pretend the Bible did not record any supernatural events or miracles. In other words, the Old Testament was a book of supposed historical events and the New Testament was a reportage of Jesus as a great moral teacher. Skepticism could then question why there werent any recordings of miracles? Commenting that, there is nothing special about the Christian faith. Why didnt the biblical writers witness God parting the sea and allowing the Israelites to escape enemies, or Jesus walking on water and healing the sick, or that He rose from the dead?

Such attestations would strengthen Christian faith as probably special, but there was no witness to anything supernatural. Determined skepticism will always find something to push back on. Thus our focus cannot be to satisfy a culture of skepticism by rejigging basic Christian beliefs.

Everyone agrees that we are compelled to live in an imperfect and broken world wherein life hankers for antidotes. In his highly successful book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, Jordan B. Peterson wrote: It is my firm belief that the best way to fix the world  a handymans dream if ever there was one  is to fix yourself. Interestingly enough, Peterson entitled them Rules, and not suggestions for life.

We all think with rules, even deconstructionists do so. Intrinsic to humanity is an insatiable search for a rule to fix the sad predicaments of sin. Such an exercise often becomes complicated, sometimes eccentric, and fraught with intellectual strife. Yet the topic of the Christian faith is inescapably part of the discussion, albeit in a manner that is naturalized and far removed from what the Lord Jesus intended for humankind. So whether favorably or unfavorably, Christian faith seems unavoidable. Its not going away.

When properly understood, the Christian faith remains the powerful antidote to fixing lives, but cultural trends have been successful in portraying it as anachronistic. Consequently, many believers are being challenged to rethink the belief that there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:5). This central tenet has been pressured into silence by a culture that deems it as untenable for advanced people. Its thus becoming an almost irresistible temptation for a believer to deconstruct ones Christian beliefs in order to accommodate cultural thought. However, its really the temptations validity that should be doubted.

Recently, I was delightfully enriched by a less popular essay by C. S. Lewis, Fern Seed and Elephants. He was commenting on how critical views of the Christian faith were focusing on the minutest discrepancies (fern seed) in the New Testament and ignoring its glaring Truths (elephants). Lewis challenged the critics to Try doubting something else. That is, try doubting the alleged weight of the discrepancies, and consider the overwhelming elephants of Truth.

Let us also try doubting the need to deconstruct basic Christian faith. Lets try doubting that humanity is better served by the repackaging of sin. Lets try doubting that the grace of God is not sufficient. And lets try doubting that cultural thought can suggest a better antidote to sin than the Good News of the Gospel. Of course, there are vastly more considerations to take into account than a simple juxtaposition of doubt versus belief. Yet when it comes to the basic Christian faith, an identified discrepancy is usually exploited with maximum extrapolation towards doubt. So, indeed, lets try doubting something else.

People continue to experience genuinely the multi-dimensional efficacy of basic Christian faith. Existential angst is often remedied dramatically. A Canadian scholar, John G. Stackhouse Jr., once described insightfully what transpires in humanity when the Christian faith is embraced:

Intellectually, one believes propositions one did not believe before. Morally, one has a different sense of what counts as good and evil, what one ought or ought not to do. Emotionally, one loves what one used to hate or ignore; one shuns former pleasures as toxic and wasteful. One cares about God, other people, the rest of the planet and oneself in a way one didnt before.

Believers throughout the centuries have presented Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life, and He has been faithfully regenerating lives for over 2,000 years. Christian faith 101 has withstood the proverbial test of time.

Believers of bygone eras, however, were not challenged in their cultures by a systemic disposition of skepticism. We are called to articulate the Christian faith cogently, while the powerful media default to a skeptical attitude. Our nomenclature is not only misunderstood and misappropriated, but now misrepresentations can also go viral. Movies, documentaries, sitcoms, news outlets, and magazines, participate in a narrative that often creates subtle, but influential, negative assumptions about Christianity.

Its in the very air that we breathe. Spiritual and intellectual battles are unavoidable. A Christian is now required to discern cultural thought astutely, and courageously engage with it. Let us neither be intimidated nor crestfallen by the task, because our confidence is that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:5).
The 'package deal' Satan offers

Without question, God loves you deeply and wants to reveal the personal, custom-made plan that He has just for you. He wants to flood your life with peace, joy and purpose. Ultimately, He wants to spend all eternity with you in a place that exceeds your wildest dreams  a place called Heaven.



God says, For I know the plans I have for you ... They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT).

But just as surely as there is a loving God who cares for you, there is a hateful devil who wants to destroy you. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8, NLT). Jesus, in speaking of Satan, said that he comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10, NLT).

That pretty much sums up Satans agenda: steal, kill, and destroy.

On the other hand, Jesus comes that [we] may have life, and that [we] may have it more abundantly (John 10:10, NKJV).

In Scripture, we find the story of a man who had been completely taken over by the power of the devil. He was a tortured, suicidal, miserable, lonely shell of a man in an absolutely hopeless situation.



This basically shows us the package deal Satan has in store for every person in his grip. First and foremost, he wants to keep you from coming to Jesus Christ. He may entice you with all the glitz and glamour this world has to offer. It may be greed for the acquisition of things. It may be for fame or notoriety. It may be sexual lust.

But once he has you where he wants you, hell chew you up and spit you out.

The stuff this world offers us can look so cool and so appealing  but it is a complete rip-off, and the end result is frightening. The New Testament story before us illustrates these points.

So, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time, he had been homeless and naked, living in a cemetery outside the town.

As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, dont torture me! For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him (Luke 8:26-29, NLT).

Marks account adds that he would beat and bruise himself, as well as cut himself with sharp rocks. He was so strong that when he was put in chains, he broke them.

So here was quite a creepy scenario: a frightening, evil man with superhuman strength, who hung out at the graveyard. No doubt local people gave this place wide berth, especially at night. This man who lived in the tombs was certainly a dangerous and frightening man, but underneath that dark exterior was a truly tortured soul. And, as I mentioned earlier, he is a picture of Satans ultimate goal  the finished product.

What steps led to this state we can only imagine. Sin truly is a living death, and the unbeliever is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1, NKJV). The Bible says that she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives (1 Timothy 5:6, NIV).

Nevertheless, this is a story with a happy ending. Why?

Because Jesus came into this poor, tortured mans life and made him into an altogether different kind of person.

When Jesus showed up at this place seeking out this man, Satan reacted with force, and the man began screaming at him. The power of Satan was so entwined with this man that most would not have been able to see the hurting person deep inside, but only the crazed, suicidal maniac roaming the graveyard. Yet in this cry, Jesus must have also heard a cry for help.

Perhaps that describes you right now. Underneath all of your talk and bravado and arguments against God, you secretly long for His help and for some peace and purpose in your life. Underneath an outward show of confidence, you may be lonely and afraid.

This man may not have been doing many right or wise things, but on that day he did. He realized that he did not have power and that he was trapped beyond human hope by the enemy.

So, he cried out to Jesus. And Jesus came to him. The only thing stronger than the power of Satan is the power of Jesus.

The apostle James tells us, You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror (James 2:19, nlt). In other words, its not enough to simply believe in God. Its not enough to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Its not enough to believe that the Bible is the Word of God. You must personally choose to follow Jesus.

In Lukes account, we read that Jesus asked, What is your name? (Luke 8:30). He answered, Legion, because many demons had entered him. This man was so wrapped up in demonic powers that he couldnt even answer for himself. A Roman legion consisted of 6,000 soldiers, which means this man was possessed by perhaps hundreds, even thousands, of demons.

Somewhere along the line, he had opened himself up to satanic invasion. He had played around with sin, and now sin was playing around with him. He had lost everything  home, family, friends, sanity, and even his will. He was completely under the power of the devil. We must remember this when we start playing games with sin. Satan will dangle what he must in front of you to get you to take the bait.

There are many who open that door through their use of drugs, as there is a definite link between drugs and the occult. The Bible warns of the sin of sorcery, and in fact, the word sorcery comes from the Greek word, pharmakia, the same word from which our English word pharmacy is derived. When people begin to use illicit drugs, whether its marijuana (which really is a gateway drug to cocaine), heroin, opioids or any other mind-controlling substance, it opens them up to the. And these days, of course, there are extremely lethal drugs pouring across our borders that are disguised as more familiar opioids.

I did drugs for a couple of years, as portrayed in the recent film, The Jesus Revolution. I had already been drinking and into the party scene and thought drugs would finally be the thing that would fill some of those big empty places in my life.

But drugs only made my problems worse and made that void in my heart seem even deeper and wider. That huge emptiness in my life could only be filled by God Himself.

With all of its wonderful scientific achievements, society, and culture still cannot cope with the problems caused by Satan and sin.

No one could help this demon-possessed man. His situation was absolutely hopeless. But what the chains could not do, Jesus did with one word.

What did Jesus do for this man? He sought him out in his spooky little graveyard and offered him hope. Lukes account of this story tells us what happened to this man who was delivered: People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid (Luke 8:35, nlt).

What a change! If you want proof of the existence of God, then just look at the changes He has made in the lives of people you know who have given their lives to Jesus Christ.

The fact is, Jesus is a gentleman. He will not force His way into your life. He says, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3:20, NIV). He doesnt say, Open up or Ill kick the door in!

There never has been a better time for you to get right with God than now. The Bible says, Today is the day of salvation (1 Corinthians 6:2, NLT), and Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near (Isaiah 55:6, NLT).

You may never have another opportunity like this one.
Pope says LGBT+ are welcome in Church

Pope Francis has given his views on LGBT+ relationships and a number of other hot button issues in an interview for a new Disney+ documentary.

The 86-year-old was interviewed by 10 young people for 'The Pope: Answers' documentary.

They asked him his views on a range of issues that matter to them.

These included asking him if he knew what a non-binary person was, which he said he did.

When he was asked about LGBT+ people, he said they were welcome in the Church.

"All persons are the children of God, all persons. God does not reject anybody, God is a father. And I have no right to expel anyone from the Church," he said.

On abortion, the Pope suggested a "merciful" approach but stressed that this did not equate to approval.

"It good to call things by their name. It is one thing to accompany the person who had one, quite another to justify the act," he said.

Asked about sexual matters, the Pope said that sex was a beautiful gift from God but that masturbation deviated from this.

"Sex is one of the beautiful things that God has given to the human person," he said.

"To express yourself sexually is a richness. So anything that detracts from real sexual expression lessens you and depletes this richness."

He thanked the young people for their questions, saying, "I learned a lot from you, it has done me a lot of good."
(Bloomberg) -- Twitter Inc. has ceased to be an independent company after merging with a newly formed shell firm called X Corp., driving speculation about what Elon Musk intends for the social media platform.

Twitter no longer exists after being merged with X Corp., according to an April 4 document submitted in a California court for a lawsuit filed against the company and its former chief executive officer, Jack Dorsey, last year by conservative activist Laura Loomer.

Its unclear what the change means for Twitter, which has seen a sweeping overhaul since Musk bought the company for $44 billion last year. The billionaire owner has in the past suggested that buying Twitter would be an accelerant for creating X  which he dubbed an everything app. Musk tweeted about the move Tuesday with the single character X.

Read More: Musks Everything App X Sounds a Lot Like Chinas WeChat

The worlds second-richest man has professed his desire to make X similar to Chinas WeChat, a super-app owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd. used for everything from payments and booking event tickets to messaging. But hes been vague about how it will fit in with his sprawling business empire, ranging from the electric car giant Tesla Inc. to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Musk also owns the domain X.com  the name of the online payments company he started and eventually merged with PayPal.

Musk first set up a trio of holding companies in Delaware with a variation of the name X Holdings in April last year as part of his takeover bid for Twitter. But X Corp. was established on March 9 in Nevada, according to records filed in the state. Its merger with Twitter was submitted on March 15. Musk is president of the firm and its parent, X Holdings Corp., which was also created last month and has an authorized capital of $2 million, filings show. The recent changes were first reported by Slate.

It is understood in the corporate world that incorporating in Nevada is what you do if you want to have fewer fiduciary obligations, said Ann Lipton, associate dean at Tulane Universitys law school. Its just harder to sue officers and directors of Nevada companies for breach of fiduciary obligations if youre an investor. Twitter was previously incorporated in Delaware, and Musks battle over acquiring the company took place in its chancery court.

Twitter, which no longer has a team handling media queries, did not respond to questions sent by Bloomberg News. Lawyers for the law firm representing Twitter in the case, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: Musk Says Most Twitter Advertisers Have Returned as Profit Nears

Musk said during a Twitter Spaces interview with the BBC late Tuesday at the companys San Francisco headquarters that he had plans for the new holding company X, reaffirming that Twitter was an accelerant toward his vision of an everything app. But he declined to elaborate, saying observers will just have to stay tuned to find out.

The move sparked intense speculation on Twitter about what it meant, with Musks tweet attracting more than 13 million views within hours. In Japan, the topic Twitter Gone started trending, with users joking that Twitters new name will resemble that of a local rock band, X Japan.

Musk could create a parent structure, similar to Alphabet, where he has all his companies, said Mandeep Singh, analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence. I dont see how he can layer e-commerce or payments in Twitter right when larger peers such as Alphabet and Meta have struggled to become an everything app on the consumer side.

--With assistance from Diana Li, Aisha Counts and Vlad Savov.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Houston author Nick Flynn has spent the better part of a decade trying to bring an epic poem by Romantic writer William Blake to the stage. During that time, he's endured hurricanes in the North Sea and a global pandemic. Now, a film version of that performance is set to make its world premiere in Houston this weekend at the Silos at Sawyer Yards.

The performance, called The Nine Dreams, will be an immersive experience featuring nine filmed vignettes, each about five minutes long, installed inside the silos. Viewers will be invited in groups of 10 or so to walk through the installation, which culminates in a live performance by Albanian actress Drita Kabashi. Experimental musicians Sarah Lipstate and Guy Barash have created a custom score for the experience, and Flynn's wife, actress Lili Taylor, also performs in the films. The event is free and open to the public.

The Nine Dreams is based on a mythological epic poem by Blake called Vala, which consists of nine volumes and nearly 150 pages. Blake began writing the poem, which deals with themes of temptation and the apocalypse, in 1796, at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. He would continue working on it for over a decade without ever completing it. The manuscript is alternatively referred to as both messy and complex, and one of Blake's masterpieces.

Flynn, a poet and memoirist who also teaches creative writing at the University of Houston, first began working on a "distillation" of the poem for a Blake-themed reading at Bowery Poetry several years ago. For the Bowery event, Flynn says, he focused only on the first volume of Vala. Then he got invited to the United Kingdom for an event celebrating Blake, and decided to tackle the rest of the poem.

"It was the language itself that really interested me," Flynn says. "I just kept going back to it. I've worked on this almost as long as Blake did."

Flynn took some of the most evocative language from the original poem and created an hour-long performance in which four of Blake's primary characters, called zoas, would enact the epic on stage. After performing in London, the cast was on their way to Manchester when a hurricane-force storm hit the UK. Some of the devastation they saw, including lorries toppled by winds and a car crushed by a tree, stuck with them even as they took the stage that night, he says.

"We were traumatized," he says.

The Nine Dreams

The premiere of the finalized stage production of The Nine Dreams was set to be performed at the Silos as part of Houston's Countercurrent Festival in spring of 2020. But that performance was canceled due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With performances stalled, Flynn and his director Meghan Finn decided to regroup and figure out how else they could present the performance. They decided to gather the four actors in New York and create a film version, which is debuting in Houston this weekend. A grant from the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts made the filming of the project possible.

"Now we can bring it back to the Silos," Finn says.

The industrial nature of the silos, formerly owned by the Mahatma Rice Company, make a perfect spot for the performance of The Nine Dreams.

"It's a heightened theatrical space," says Finn, who calls the installation abstract and surreal.

Flynn said the location fits right in with the themes of Blake's Vala and other works. One of the main storylines of Vala is passion at war with reason.

"Blake was very connected to the natural world, and he saw the factories being built and people leaving the land and going into the factories," Flynn says. "He was also an abolitionist who believed in freedom for everyone."

Flynn points to one of Blake's best-known quotes: What is now proved was once only imagined. "He hated anything that killed the imagination."

With a once-in-a-century storm and a global pandemic under their belt, the installation's organizers wonder if they might be tempting fate with the production. Either way, an epic poem written more than 200 years ago still has relevance.

"It's about the apocalypse and the end of human existence," Finn says. "We thought it was fitting before the pandemic.

"Listening to his words against a contemporary backdrop, people will be able to draw a connection to contemporary events."

The Nine Dreams will be presented April 14 and 15 starting at 7 p.m. at SITE Gallery, 1502 Sawyer St. Suite 400. Admission is free.
Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope

By Sarah Bakewell

Penguin Press. 454 pp. $30

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Sarah Bakewell, our premier popularizer of the history of philosophy, just keeps going bigger. Her breakthrough 2010 smash, "How to Live," was an innovative exercise in writing the life of a sole subject - in that case, essayist Michel de Montaigne. Her 2016 follow-up, "At the Existentialist Cafe" (2016), looked at the enduring influence of a handful of 20th-century thinkers. Now, with "Humanly Possible," she attempts a group biography with a cast of dozens, from antiquity to now. Her topic is humanism, and she's given us a chatty, discursive survey of way more than the "seven hundred years" of "freethinking, inquiry and hope" that her subtitle promises.

Bakewell is interested in describing the nontheistic tradition that urges us to be happy in the here and now, rather than waiting for an afterlife, and to seek that happiness through good works and kindness to others. She begins in the 5th century B.C., when Democritus formulated his atomism, locating the ultimate nature of things in matter rather than divinity. Before it's all over, she has roped in literary humanists like Petrarch and Montaigne (naturally); Enlightenment skeptic David Hume; the utilitarian John Stuart Mill; Thomas Paine, Frederick Douglass, Ludwik Zamenhof (inventor of the international language Esperanto), Thomas Mann, Bertrand Russell and Zora Neale Hurston, among many others.

Her goal is to offer them up as models, reminders that there have always been alternatives to religion, fascism and other forms of idol worship; her method is to introduce us to a favorite thinker, put him or her in context (that context usually being Europe, mostly from 1300 to 1950 or so), and then sprinkle some anecdotes, like fairy dust (too religious a metaphor?), to make them come alive. Some humanists are explicitly interested in alternatives to religion; others, like Leonardo da Vinci, are important to the humanist project because of their avid attention to the glories of man.

Bakewell is not blind to the failings of humanists, who can be racist, sexist or just more generally stupid. They can be quixotic and daft, like the post-revolutionary Frenchman Auguste Comte, who tried to create a godless religion, replacing the Virgin Mary as an object of veneration with Clotilde de Vaux, a freethinking French intellectual who died in 1846, at age 31, and on whom Comte had a big crush. Comte also briefly considered making himself the pope of this new religion. (Somehow, it never caught on.) Bakewell has fun at her subjects' expense, as when she describes how 16th-century physician Vesalius wrote an anatomy textbook in which he mislabeled the clitoris.

But often enough, Bakewell believes, humanists have acted with courage and integrity, in societies that have often believed that only Christians can be trusted. In 1961, at the age of 89, the philosopher Bertrand Russell, a lifelong atheist and activist, accepted a jail sentence for "inciting the public to civil disobedience" at an anti-nuclear demonstration rather than make a promise of "good behavior." He spent a week in Brixton Prison.

But do these diverse thinkers really have that much in common, other than Bakewell's admiration? "It all seems gently foggy," Bakewell writes at the outset, "and yet I do believe that there is such a thing as a coherent, shared humanist tradition." Not all of her subjects are atheists - the Dutchman Erasmus (1466-1536) was a Christian humanist, and there are to this day Jews, Christians and other religious people who see the human being as a wondrous creation, to be exalted and respected, rather than simply as a natural sinner.

Halfway through, Bakewell pauses to offer the four principles she says humanists have in common: a belief in shared humanity, a respect for human diversity, the valuing of critical thinking and the belief that moral lives "are best served by looking for ways of connecting." I find this persuasive. By elevating universalism alongside diversity - she returns many times to E.M. Forster's fixation on "connection" - Bakewell implicitly argues that our current polarization is not some sort of inevitable natural state. And although she mostly steers clear of contemporary politics, it's impossible to read this book without concluding that Bakewell laments the fashionable obsession with individual identities (racial, national, religious, sexual) at the expense of all that humans share.

At times, I was troubled by the utopianism running through this work, a preference for monks and eschatological dreamers over people who make an actual difference. I would have replaced Zamenhof, whose Esperanto never conquered the globe, with his fellow Jew Eliezer Ben-Yehuda (1858-1922), who did more than anyone to make Hebrew a living language for millions - one of the great humanistic achievements ever. I was perplexed by the omission of Sigmund Freud, who is mentioned once, in passing. His critique of the religious impulse, his deep interest in the human mind and his compulsive correspondence with peers, building connections, are all humanistic activities par excellence.

Bakewell's treatment of the contemporary humanist movement is cursory and inadequate. There is no mention of the famous atheists of the last century: no Madalyn Murray O'Hair, no Christopher Hitchens. Both could be famously unpleasant, so perhaps she does not want them at her party. She overlooks the weird infighting and persistent misogyny that have characterized contemporary humanist associations in the United States. And while this may be beyond the scope of the book, humanism can be distorted into the sci-fi human-potential nonsense that infects Silicon Valley and will almost certainly, with artificial intelligence, continue to make human life worse. When I think about who is pushing back, offering alternative models, I think of religious people, like Sabbath-observant Jews and those in Catholic religious orders. They would say they love God above all, but in practice they love humans far more than most secular computer scientists.

Still, "Humanly Possible" is a terrific invitation to argument, to conversation, to all the fun people make together, on their own. Bakewell is particularly fond of Erasmus, who was "repelled by the aggression of Luther," his fellow Protestant reformer. "Courtesy, of course, was everything" to Erasmus, she writes. It was not "just a social veneer" but "the very basis for all mutual respect and concord." The United States is increasingly irreligious, but until we relearn - on social media, in our politics, in person - that Erasmian courtesy, we shall not deserve to call ourselves humanists.

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Mark Oppenheimer is the author of "Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood."
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.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed new health protections intended to reduce ethylene oxide exposure on Tuesday after stating last year it found increased cancer risk at sterilization facilities around the country including in Laredo.

The two proposed changes from the EPA include stricter standards for air emissions and more protection for workers exposed to ethylene oxide, as it is used to sterilize medical devices and some spices. The EPA reported its proposals would cut these EtO emissions from commercial sterilization facilities into the air by approximately 80% per year.

EPAs No. 1 priority is protecting peoples health and safety, and we are committed to taking decisive action thats informed by the best available science, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement. These proposals build on EPAs extensive outreach to communities across the nation and reflects close coordination among key federal partners. Together they would significantly reduce worker and community exposure to harmful levels of ethylene oxide. EPA will continue to use every available tool to safeguard our nations communities, including workers, from exposure to toxic chemicals and to deliver important public health protections.

According to the EPA, long-term exposure to EtO over a 35-year career with a sterilization facility or a 70-year lifetime in or near a commercial sterilizer can potentially increase the risk for certain cancers. However, it also said risks vary based on a facilitys control measures for workers and citizens, and proximity to the facility also plays a factor.

In a statement to the Associated Press, Darya Minovi -- a senior research analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists -- said the move was overdue by almost a decade and still should have gone further.

Im relieved and pleased that the EPA has finally issued proposed standards that are based on their own scientists recommendations on an updated, higher cancer risk value, Minovi said.

The AP added that EtO is classified as a pesticide, and a medical sterilization worker over the course of a career could see their risk shoot up by as much as one extra case of cancer for every 10 people exposed -- well above the EPAs generally acceptable increase in lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 10,000.

Christian Alejandro Ocampo

Last year, the EPA warned residents who live near medical sterilizing plants that they may face health risks from EtO emissions, with Laredo reportedly being one of the communities facing the highest risk. The EPA visited Laredo to hold a public meeting at TAMIU during September of 2022 outlining the risks presented to the community from the emissions.

Since then, the EPA has said that its previous risk warning regarding Laredo was "no longer current" regarding the information presented, as commercial sterilizers in general around the country "have made improvements or changes to operations that have reduced risks to residents."

Midwest Sterilization Corp. is scheduled to present on EtO emissions and the steps it has taken at the next Laredo City Council meeting on April 17. According to Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino, the company has claimed it has a lot of new equipment and will present on that and more at that time.

Reacting to the EPAs announcement Tuesday, Midwest Sterilization Corp. released a statement about how the company anticipated the news from the EPA and is working to make sure it meets those standards.

Midwest Sterilization Corp. sterilizes life-saving medical devices used in everyday medical procedures and surgeries. The company has been anticipating the proposed EPA rule and working hard to make changes ahead of its release to the public, the statement said. We are currently reviewing the proposed rule to understand its impact on our operations. Its important to note that most of the changes proposed by the EPA, have already been achieved by Midwest, or are currently being implemented.

Midwest has worked diligently to remain in compliance with all state and federal rules and in some cases, exceed them. At the same time, we will continue to do the very important work of sterilizing life-saving medical devices that benefit millions of patients across the nation and in the communities where we work and live.

Midwest Sterilization Corp. has operated for over 30 years providing sterilization services to medical device manufacturing companies. Its two facilities are located in Laredo and in Jackson, Missouri, and they combine for over 55,000 cubic feet of sterilization chamber volume within 376,000 square feet of warehouse space.

Laredo Morning Times/Staff file

Rep. Henry Cuellar said he has stayed in contact with the EPA about the issue and is thankful for the steps being taken.

The EPA previously acknowledged that certain communities within Laredo are at an elevated risk of cancer due to exposure to ethylene oxide emissions. My priority has always been the health and safety of Laredoans, Cuellar said. I have worked closely with the EPA and spoken with Joseph Goffman, EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, to identify a solution to this issue. I also appreciate local advocates and community leaders for their important work on this matter. I look forward to finding a balanced measure that reduces Laredos cancer risk while safeguarding access to critical sterilized medical equipment.
A San Antonio woman traveled to Laredo to pick up a migrant who was concealed inside a subwoofer box, according to an arrest affidavit.

Jackeline Palomo was arrested on the charges of transport, attempt to transport the migrants.

A silver 2017 Chevrolet Spark driven by Palomo arrived at the Interstate 35 checkpoint on April 5.

Asked about her destination, Palomo did not respond and continued to drive as if she was released. An agent yelled at her stop. When an agent asked her again where she was going, she stated, Oh, San Antonio.

A K-9 unit alerted to possible contraband within the vehicle. Palomo then allowed agents to search the trunk. Agents opened the trunk and noticed a subwoofer speaker box. Agents then referred Palomo to secondary inspection.

Agents then discovered a female hidden inside the subwoofer speaker box with no means of escape. The female was determined to be a migrant from Mexico.

In a post-arrest interview, Palomo stated that she lives in San Antonio and drove to Laredo to meet with a man whom she had met before at a gas station on Chihuahua Street. He told Palomo she could make money transporting migrants past the checkpoint.

She stated that the man picked her up and took her to a compact car near the Chacon area. Palomo stated he instructed her to drive to South Park Mall in San Antonio.

Palomo stated her trip to Laredo was for the purpose of transporting (migrants) past the immigration checkpoint. Palomo stated she knew there was a person inside the vehicle but did not know where, states the affidavit.

Palomo added she was going to get paid $1,000 to smuggle the migrant, according to court documents.
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Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled the last name of Yale's Tony Leiserowitz as Leisorowitz. The article has been corrected.

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To science teachers attending a recent convention, the comic book titles "Simon the solar-powered cat" seemed unremarkable at first. The story began with Simon, an orange-and-white cat, begging for more food in typical feline fashion.

But on Page 5, the story took an unusual turn: A "friendly scientist" explained that Simon subsisted not on kibble, but on carbon dioxide. The scientist concluded that CO2 was a "miracle molecule" that fueled all life on Earth by helping plants turn sunlight into food.

That message and the comic book were the brainchild of the CO2 Coalition, a group that rejects the scientific consensus that carbon emissions are causing catastrophic climate change. The group claims that it distributed about 700 comic books to teachers at the National Science Teaching Association's convention in Atlanta last month before being kicked out of the event.

"We were overwhelmed by the positive response from the teachers at the convention," Gregory Wrightstone, executive director of the CO2 Coalition, said in an interview. "In fact, by the second day, we had handed out all of the comic books we had brought."

The episode, details of which have not previously been reported, raised concerns among scientists and education experts that the teachers could spread climate misinformation to their students. It comes as states take divergent approaches to climate instruction in public schools, with New Jersey requiring students to learn about climate change in nearly every class and the Texas Board of Education calling for science textbooks to emphasize the "positive" effects of fossil fuels.

A large majority of climate scientists agree that humans are causing global warming by emitting massive amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Humanity must rapidly reduce these emissions, scientists say, or face catastrophic consequences such as dramatic sea level rise over the next few decades.

"By focusing 100 percent on this idea that plants need CO2, they're intentionally misleading people by avoiding the real problems of CO2, which they didn't talk about at all," said Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University. "It's kind of like if you're talking about cigarettes, and all you talk about is how cool they make you look."

The influence of climate denial groups has waned over the past several decades, as the science has become clearer and the impacts of global warming have become starker. But the Virginia-based CO2 Coalition, which describes its mission as informing policymakers and the public of the "important contribution made by carbon dioxide to our lives and the economy," has persisted in spreading its message.

Members of the coalition, which has received money from far-right organizations and donors with ties to the fossil fuel industry, ran a booth at the National Science Teaching Association's convention. They spent the first day distributing three comic books and accompanying lesson plans to some of the roughly 6,500 attendees.

All of the comics featured three young sisters named Sophia, Ariana and Elyssa - the owners of Simon the cat - and their neighbor, a scientist named Mr. Gordon. In a book titled "Once upon a time: A true story about the miracle molecule - carbon dioxide," Gordon tells the sisters that CO2 has net benefits for the planet.

"Everything green in our very green world owes its existence to carbon dioxide," Gordon says to them. "And every person and every animal . . . are built from the carbon in CO2, which we get from eating vegetables and meat."

While it is true that CO2 helps plants grow, its accumulation in the atmosphere will have net negative effects for plants and people alike, Dessler said. Telling kids they need CO2 to survive, he said, "is like telling a drowning person they need water to survive. It's not helpful."

On the second day of the convention, an official with the National Science Teaching Association asked members of the CO2 Coalition to stop distributing their materials or leave, according to a YouTube video uploaded by the coalition.

"You can take down your literature or you can go home - it's your choice," NSTA chief operating officer Ryan Foley says in the video. When Wrightstone refuses to comply, Foley responds, "All right, then you're being kicked out. You should pack up and get out."

When coalition members requested a booth at the convention, they signed a contract certifying that their materials were consistent with the association's position statement on the teaching of climate science, NSTA executive director Erika Shugart said in an email. But then they violated the contract, she said.

In addition to the comic books, she said, coalition members circulated a pamphlet that criticized the position statement, which recognizes the "overwhelming scientific consensus" that the "Earth's climate is changing, largely due to human-induced increases in the concentrations of heat-absorbing gases" such as CO2.

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Debating the science

The CO2 Coalition does not disclose its source of funding, and it declined to do so for this story. But in 2017, the coalition received $170,000 from the Mercer Family Foundation and more than $33,000 from the Charles Koch Institute, according to tax filings obtained by the Climate Investigations Center, a watchdog group.

The Mercer Family Foundation - financed by New York hedge fund executive Robert Mercer and directed by his daughter Rebekah - has also helped finance the Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank that has denounced climate science as rigged. Heartland in 2017 mailed some 200,000 teachers books titled "Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming."

It remains unclear whether the Mercers have continued to fund the coalition. Wrightstone said in an email that although "we cannot release details on our funding sources," the "vast majority" of donors are individuals making small contributions. While the CO2 Coalition paid an artist to create the comic books, the members of the group's Education Committee are unpaid volunteers, he said.

These volunteers include William Happer, a physicist at Princeton University who has challenged the idea that carbon dioxide could damage the planet. Under President Donald Trump, Happer served as a senior director on the National Security Council, where he oversaw a controversial initiative to reassess the federal government's analysis of climate science.

Sharon Camp, a retired high school science teacher, designed the lesson plans accompanying the comic books. One lesson encourages teachers to use beads, Legos or Styrofoam balls to help students visualize CO2 molecules.

Camp, who taught Advanced Placement environmental science at Walton High School in Marietta, Ga., for 15 years, said students should be allowed to reach their own conclusions about climate science. "This is the only branch of science where you are not allowed to debate, you are not allowed to question," she said in an interview. "Science is not supposed to work that way."

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Climate in the classroom

The coalition's efforts come as some states have failed to update their standards for teaching climate change in public schools, leaving students at risk of learning incorrect ideas.

In a 2020 report, the National Center for Science Education and the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund graded all 50 states on their standards for teaching climate change. The groups examined whether the standards helped students understand that climate change is real, caused by humans, and already affecting nature and society, among other criteria.

Twenty-seven states scored a B+ or better. Of the rest, 20 scored a C+ or lower. In the coal state of West Virginia, the standards require students to debate climate change in their science classrooms, despite little debate among scientists. Those standards received a D. And in Alabama, which received an F, the standards suggest that human activity "may have caused" a rise in global temperatures, similarly downplaying the scientific consensus.

In March, the Republican-dominated Texas State Board of Education altered its internal guidance to say science textbooks should emphasize the "positive" aspects of fossil fuels, a leading cause of global warming. As a result, the state would probably still score an F if the report were conducted today, said Glenn Branch, deputy director of the National Center for Science Education.

Some Democratic-led states have moved in the opposite direction. New Jersey in 2020 became the first state to adopt learning standards obligating teachers to instruct kids about climate change across grade levels and subjects.

Shannon Falkner, an English teacher at Chatham High School in Chatham, N.J., said her freshman English students have written climate fiction, or "cli-fi." Some students have penned dystopian tales about flooded cities, while others have offered more hopeful stories about the nation's transition to renewable energy. Falkner said the reaction from students has been largely positive, and no parents have complained about the assignment.

There is evidence that climate instruction is popular. About 77 percent of Americans agreed with the statement that "schools should teach about global warming" in a 2021 poll by Yale University's Program on Climate Change Communication; about 22 percent disagreed.

"It's actually one of the most supported policies we have measured," said Tony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale program. Both the CO2 Coalition and conservative policymakers, he said, "are standing in front of the tide of public opinion and trying to hold it back with a piece of cardboard."
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP)  A bank robbery suspect was arrested in northern Virginia Tuesday after a short standoff with police.

No injuries were reported.

Arlington County Police said they received a report Tuesday shortly after 3 p.m. about an attempted armed robbery at a Wells Fargo bank on Washington Boulevard in the city's Clarendon neighborhood.

A suspect entered the bank, implied he had a weapon and demanded money, police said.

The suspect was barricaded in the bank with four adults and a child, a group that included patrons and employees, police said.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m., police reported on Twitter that the suspect had been arrested, and that the five trapped inside with the suspect had exited safely.

Traffic cameras showed a heavy police presence throughout the barricade situation.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Yingxiao Zhang, University of Michigan and Allison L. Steiner, University of Michigan

(THE CONVERSATION) Brace yourselves, allergy sufferers  research shows pollen season is going to get a lot longer and more intense with climate change.

Our study finds that the U.S. will face up to a 200% increase in total pollen this century if the world continues producing carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles, power plants and other sources at a high rate. Pollen season in general will start up to 40 days earlier in the spring and last up to 19 days longer than today under that scenario.

As atmosphericscientists, we study how the atmosphere and climate affect trees and plants. While most studies focus on pollen overall, we zoomed in on more than a dozen different types of grasses and trees and how their pollen will affect regions across the U.S. in different ways. For example, species like oak and cypress will give the Northeast the biggest increase, but allergens will be on the rise just about everywhere, with consequences for human health and the economy.

If your head is pounding at just the thought of it, we also have some good news, at least for knowing in advance when pollen waves are coming. Were working on using the model from this study to develop more accurate local pollen forecasts.

Why pollen is increasing

Lets start with the basics. Pollen  the dust-like grains produced by grasses and plants  contains the male genetic material for a plants reproduction.

How much pollen is produced depends on how the plant grows. Rising global temperatures will boost plant growth in many areas, and that, in turn, will affect pollen production. But temperature is only part of the equation. We found that the bigger driver of the future pollen increase will be rising carbon dioxide emissions.

The higher temperature will extend the growing season, giving plants more time to emit pollen and reproduce. Carbon dioxide, meanwhile, fuels photosynthesis, so plants may grow larger and produce more pollen. We found that carbon dioxide levels may have a much larger impact on pollen increases than temperature in the future.

Pollen changes will vary by region

We looked at 15 different pollen types, rather than treating all pollen the same as many past studies have.

Typically, pollination starts with leafy deciduous trees in late winter and spring. Alder, birch and oak are the three top deciduous trees for causing allergies, though there are others, like mulberry. Then grasses come out in the summer, followed by ragweed in late summer. In the Southeast, evergreen trees like mountain cedar and juniper (in the cypress family) start in January. In Texas, cedar fever is the equivalent of hay fever.

We found that in the Northeast, pollen seasons for a lot of allergenic trees will increasingly overlap as temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions rise. For example, it used to be that oak trees would release pollen first, and then birch would pollinate. Now we see more overlap of their pollen seasons.

In general, pollen season will change more in the north than in the south, because of larger temperature increases in northern areas.

Southeastern regions, including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, can expect large grass and weed pollen increases in the future. The Pacific Northwest is likely to see peak pollen season a month earlier because of the early pollen season of alder.

Silver lining: We can improve pollen forecasting

Most pollen forecasts right now provide a very broad estimate. Part of the problem is that there arent many observing stations for pollen counts. Most are run by allergy clinics, and there are less than 100 of these stations distributed across the country. Michigan, where we live, doesnt have any.

Its a very labor-intensive process to actually measure different types of pollen. As a result, current forecasts have a lot of uncertainties. These likely are based in part on what a station has observed in the past and the weather forecast.

Our model, if integrated into a forecasting framework, could provide more targeted pollen forecasts across the country.

We can estimate where the trees are from satellite data and on-the-ground surveys. We also know how temperature influences when pollen comes out  what we call the phenology of the pollen. With that information, we can use meteorological factors like wind, relative humidity and precipitation to figure out how much pollen gets into the air, and atmospheric models can show how it moves and blows around, to create a real-time forecast.

All of that information allows us to look at where pollen might be in space and time, so people dealing with allergies will know whats coming in their area.

Were currently talking with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lab about ways to integrate that information into a tool for air quality forecasting.

There are still some unknowns when it comes to long-term pollen projections. For example, scientists dont fully understand why plants produce more pollen in some years than others. Theres not a good way to include that in models. Its also not fully clear how plants will respond if carbon dioxide levels go through the roof. Ragweed and residential trees are also hard to capture. There are very few ragweed surveys showing where these plants are growing in the U.S., but that can be improved.

Pollen levels are already on the rise

A study in 2021 found that the overall pollen season was already about 20 days longer in North America than it was in 1990 and pollen concentrations were up about 21%.

Increasing pollen levels in the future will have a much broader impact than a few sniffles and headaches. Seasonal allergies affect about 30% of the population, and they have economic impacts, from health costs to missed working days.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/pollen-season-is-getting-longer-and-more-intense-with-climate-change-heres-what-allergy-sufferers-can-expect-in-the-future-179158.
A leak of classified U.S. military documents has offered a glimpse of not only how the United States gathers intelligence, but also what it thinks about countries across the world. The documents, which number in the dozens and were leaked over a month ago on Discord, a chat service popular with gamers, mostly focus on the war in Ukraine, offering frank assessments of the capabilities of both the Ukrainian and Russian militaries.

Still, the countries included in the documents range far beyond the immediate participants in the conflict, with geopolitical giants like China and smaller regional nations like Haiti bearing mention.

1. Ukraine

The documents primarily concern Ukraine's military strength after a year of heavy fighting, pointing to weak spots in Ukrainian air defenses and potential problems with ammunition supplies.

Among the worrying details in the documents: One late February snapshot designed for the Defense Department's Joint Staff stated that Ukraine's "ability to provide medium range air defense to protect the [front lines] will be completely reduced by May 23. UKR assessed to withstand 2-3 more wave strikes" from attacking Russian missiles and drones.

Ukrainian officials have publicly downplayed the leaks. Privately, though, some have been angered that vulnerabilities shared with the United States have now become public.

1. Russia

Several documents offer further evidence that the U.S. intelligence community has infiltrated the Russian military to a considerable degree. In some cases, the United States has been able to warn Ukraine of impending attacks, the documents suggest. The documents also make reference to internal planning by the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency, and the Wagner Group, the private military contractor crucial to Russia's war effort, suggesting both are compromised by the United States.

Some of the documents also provide more detail about alarming events. One report states that a Russian fighter jet nearly shot down a British surveillance plane on Sept. 29 off the coast of Crimea - an incident that could have been far more dangerous than was publicly acknowledged at the time and fits into a pattern of harassment by Russian air forces in the area.

Russia has begun analyzing the documents, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, adding that they appeared to be "quite interesting." Some pro-Russian military bloggers have warned against reading too much into the leak, arguing without evidence that it could be a U.S. disinformation campaign.

1. China

The documents included analysis on wide-ranging risks posed by China, including Beijing's willingness to send lethal aid to Russia and details of an experimental hypersonic weapons test conducted by China in February.

One assessment published in the leak said that a Ukrainian attack on Russian soil using NATO weaponry could draw Beijing into the war. It said that a Ukrainian hit on a significant strategic target - or senior leader - in Russia, may act as "further justification China to send lethal aid" to Moscow.

Another document included details of a test conducted by Beijing of one of its advanced experimental missiles - the DF-27 hypersonic glide vehicle - on Feb. 25. It said the vehicle flew for 12 minutes across a range of 2,100 km, and that it possessed a "high probability" of penetrating U.S. ballistic missile defense systems.

One section of the leaked documents said that British State Secretary for Defense Ben Wallace had tasked his ministry to explore plans to deploy one of its two naval aircraft carriers to the Indo Pacific, potentially in cooperation with Asian allies or the United States. The document weighed potential negative reactions from Beijing.

China and Britain's Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

One leaked document said that a Chinese state backed engineering firm was in negotiations in 2022 with Nicaragua's government for the development of a deep sea port that raised military concerns. It said the Nicaraguan government "probably would consider offering Beijing naval access in exchange for economic investment."

Other information shared in leaks included details of a newly certified Chinese warship and a rocket launch in March that delivered two satellites expected to enhance Beijing's military mapping capabilities.

1. Egypt

One document dated Feb. 17 summarizes purported conversations between President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and senior Egyptian military officials which referenced plans to supply Russia with artillery rounds and gunpowder. In the document, Sisi instructs the officials to keep the production and shipment of the rockets secret "to avoid problems with the West."

The document quotes a person identified as Salah al-Din as saying he would "order his people to work shift work if necessary because it was the least Egypt could do to repay Russia for unspecified help earlier." The document does not make it clear what the earlier Russian help was.

1. Iran

Iran has long been a top target for U.S. espionage, and the CIA has notched notable successes in penetrating the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and security apparatus in the past. The leaked documents suggest that U.S. agencies are still able to routinely monitor at least some of Iran's secret weapons activity, as well as internal deliberations by top Iranian officials.

One report with a top-secret label describes what appear to be private discussions among senior Iranian leaders over how to spin an upcoming visit by Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Iranians are seen debating whether to allow domestic news media coverage of the visit, and if so, how to shape the coverage to benefit the government. Grossi was traveling to Iran in part to confront Iranian officials over what the IAEA suspects are undeclared facilities where nuclear weapons research occurred in the past. A separate document, sourced to intercepted communications and satellite photos, describes advanced preparations by Iran for testing a new space launch missile and satellite.

The documents hint at U.S. monitoring of the IAEA itself, as a further means of gaining insight into Iran's nuclear efforts. Previous intelligence leaks have confirmed routine U.S. monitoring of international organizations such as the U.N. and IAEA as well as foreign embassies.

1. South Korea

One document reports that South Korea's National Security Council in early March "grappled" with a U.S. request that the country sends artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Seoul was concerned that the request could anger Moscow, the report said, citing signals intelligence.

South Korea's presidential office on Monday said it would seek "appropriate measures" from the United States if the leaks were verified.

1. Israel

Israel is also named in the documents. One report says that in February, senior leaders of the Mossad spy service "advocated for Mossad officials and Israeli citizens to protest the new Israeli Government's proposed judicial reforms, including several explicit calls to action that decried the Israeli Government." The report cites signals intelligence.

In response, the Israeli government put out a statement that emphasized the traditional political neutrality of the intelligence service. "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," the statement read.

1. Turkey

One report suggests that Turkey, a NATO ally, was approached by Wagner to help procure supplies. The documents state that Wagner's representatives "met with Turkish contacts to purchase weapons and equipment from Turkey for Vagner's efforts in Mali and Ukraine," using a variation on the spelling of the group's name. It is unclear how much Turkey may have known about the efforts and whether they were concluded.

1. Canada

The documents say that Zarya, a pro-Russian hacking group, shared screenshots on Feb. 25 with a purported officer from the Russian intelligence agency FSB in which they claimed they had gained access to Canadian gas infrastructure and could, among other things, start an emergency shutdown of a gas distribution site. The FSB believed a "successful operation" would cause an explosion, according to the documents.

It's not clear that such an explosion has taken place. Enbridge, Canada's largest natural gas utility, said Monday that it was neither attacked nor compromised. Laura Payton, a spokeswoman for the Communications Security Establishment, Canada's cryptologic agency, did not comment on whether there has been an attack on gas infrastructure or whether steps have been taken to avert such an incident, saying the agency does not comment on "allegedly leaked intelligence."

"Generally, we do not comment on specific cybersecurity incidents, nor do we confirm businesses or critical infrastructure partners that we work with," she said in an email. "However, we continue to provide advice and guidance to Canadians and Canadian organizations, if and when requested."

1. Haiti

One of the leaked documents says that Wagner Group associates had plans as of late February to "discreetly" travel to Haiti to assess the potential for a contract with the government to fight the gangs that control vast swaths of the capital and that have murdered and kidnapped thousands.

In October, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry requested the deployment of a foreign security force to stem the gang violence, but the United States and its allies haven't been keen to lead one and the idea is controversial in a country with a history of destabilizing foreign interventions.

Jean-Junior Joseph, a government spokesman, denied that Henry's government had contacted Wagner or had meetings with its associates. Gary Desrosiers, a police spokesman, said he was not aware of any meetings between the Wagner Group and the police.

1. Hungary

A "CIA Operations Center Intelligence Update" included in the leaks said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban identified the United States as one of his party's "top three adversaries" during a political strategy session on Feb. 22, citing the U.S. Embassy in Budapest. The comment "constitutes an escalation of the level of anti-American rhetoric in his discourse," the intelligence update read.

The Hungarian government's press office did not respond to questions over the Easter weekend.

The right-wing populist leader has ramped up his anti-American public statements since President Biden took office, regularly expressing his admiration for former president Donald Trump. In his first post on Twitter after joining the social networking platform last year he mentioned his "good friend" Trump, before describing him as the only "hope for peace" in Ukraine in a talk a few days later.

- - -

Taylor and Hill reported from Washington; O'Grady from Cairo; Colleta reported from Toronto; Merancourt from Port-au-Prince; Morris from Berlin.
Federal transportation officials are shutting down a novel air traffic control system at Virginia's Leesburg Executive Airport after five years, a setback for an operation intended to help small airports that has state officials lobbying for a reversal.

Since 2018, takeoffs and landings at Leesburg's airport have been managed using a "remote tower," where air traffic controllers manage operations off-site using cameras and radio feeds, rather than from a traditional airport-based tower. During that time, traffic at the airport has increased substantially, in part because it attracted large corporate jets that prefer facilities where controllers manage traffic.

While such systems are used at several small airports in Europe, Leesburg is the first in the United States to test the concept under an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration. Under the plan, the FAA is to provide oversight of the remote tower until the technology developed by Saab Inc. is certified by the agency. In February, the company announced it was dropping plans to seek FAA approval.

The FAA then told Leesburg officials last month the town-owned airport would have to stop using the system in mid-June, saying it wasn't certified for use.

The two announcements have set off a fierce lobbying campaign, including from local and federal lawmakers, who are urging the agency to reconsider while citing possible harm to the airport and the economy. The decision is a blow for a concept that spurred growth - and supporters say increased safety - at the small airport and has Leesburg wondering about the future of flights into exurban Washington.

"The airport has served as an economic driver for the town and for the county," said Leesburg's mayor Kelly Burk. "Businesses come here because there's an airport close by that they can bring their executives to."

Supporters say the "remote tower" arrangement could save communities money because multiple airports could be managed from a central control center, eliminating the need to build and maintain individual towers. Several airports in Sweden and the United Kingdom use remote towers to manage traffic. Congress showed interest in the concept in 2018, when it included $28 million to set up remote tower programs at six U.S. airports. But the technology is new to the United States, and the FAA - which spent $21 million to test and manage Leesburg's system - is evaluating the safety implications of the technology behind it.

Only one other airport, Northern Colorado Regional Airport, has signed on to the remote tower program. The launch of its system, which uses technology from a different company, was delayed by the pandemic, said David Ulane, director of the aeronautics division of the Colorado Department of Transportation. Ulane said the state is eager to move forward with the project, saying it could give a boost to the economy by giving the state an option for operating flights at smaller airports where demand is seasonal.

In Leesburg, airport traffic includes small planes and a growing number of private jets flying into some of the most complex airspace in the country. It also serves as a reliever for Dulles International Airport.

Saab said that after years of work, it was a difficult decision not to seek approval of its system in Leesburg. The decision came after the FAA revised its certification process in February 2022.

"Unfortunately, we recently determined there is no reasonable path forward for approval of [Leesburg's] system under these new requirements and informed the FAA that Saab can no longer pursue the extended process," the company said. "We hope the agency will strongly consider the tower's proven safety and reliability record and allow air traffic control (ATC) services to continue there."

Among the new requirements outlined by the FAA, the company would have to re-create testing performed 10 years earlier and create new operational modes before it could be formally approved for use at Leesburg. Those changes, the company said, could add $10 million and as much as three more years to a process that already has taken eight.

Even if the FAA were to certify the current system, Saab officials said the technology could be used only at three U.S. airports. Given those options, the company said it will focus on getting certification for a newer version that could be deployed at more airports.

In a statement, the FAA said that the remote tower can't continue to operate because "continued use of this unapproved system posed an unacceptable level of risk."

John M. Maffei, an official in FAA's NextGen office, wrote in a March letter informing Burk of the decision: "We at the FAA understand and appreciate your frustration with the decision to cease remote tower services at [Leesburg Executive Airport], but for safety reasons, there was no other choice to be made."

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen, Virginia Democrats, including Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, and Rep. Jennifer Wexton, asked that they reconsider the decision, noting the airport's location about 10 miles from Dulles. They added that the airport operates within the region's restricted flight zone, which requires special protocols for flights operating in the area.

The lawmakers also suggested the agency bring in an outside firm to determine whether Saab's system - developed by a Syracuse-based division of the Swedish company - already meets FAA requirements.

"We are concerned that the certification process used for this innovative system . . . has changed several times over the years, and after five years changed again, and we strongly believe that an approval limited to Leesburg would recognize the system's demonstrated reliable and safe performance," the lawmakers wrote.

FAA officials said the loss of tower services will not compromise safety at Leesburg Executive Airport. The airport will essentially revert to operations similar to those in place before the remote tower's arrival.

"Pilots routinely fly in and out of towered and hundreds of non-towered airports every day," the agency said in a statement. "The safety standards are the same."

Even so, airport director Kevin Coffman said much has changed at the airport since the remote tower system began managing flights.

Unlike other U.S. airports, the number of flights at Leesburg rose during the pandemic as those who could afford it increasingly used private jets for travel. The number of takeoffs and landings jumped from just over 53,000 in 2019 - the first full year the tower operated - to more than 77,700 last year.

The number of international flights at the airport prompted officials to open a U.S. Customs and Border Protection office in 2019 to speed the processing of travelers. The airport also is home to five flight schools.

Bill English, assistant chief instructor at Aviation Adventures, said the remote tower has been an important addition for air traffic operations.

"It's definitely been a safety enhancement," he said.

On a recent spring day, the steady buzz of propeller noise filled the air as pilots readied their aircraft for takeoff. A loud boom could be heard intermittently - cannons used to scare birds away from the airport property. Coffman walked visitors around the airport's well-appointed lobby.

In front of the terminal, he pointed to what he called the "crow's nest," the array of communications equipment atop the airport's terminal that sends feeds to an office park about a quarter-mile from the airport, where two air traffic controllers listen to radio communications, monitor cameras and use other tools manage traffic at the airport. The tower is staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

The remote tower program has benefited the airport, as well as the pilots and businesses that use it, Coffman said.

"It has made things work smoothly in very complicated airspace," he said. If the FAA's decision sticks, he said the airport 35 miles northwest of Washington would have to explore other options.

One possibility: Leesburg was accepted to the FAA's contract tower program, which would allow it to build a traditional tower. While that would give the airport the air traffic control services it hopes to maintain, some longtime airport users say they find the FAA's decision to be frustrating.

John Somiak, manager and chief pilot at North Point Aviation, who has flown in and out of Leesburg since 1984, said he is puzzled the FAA appears to be turning its back on the new technology.

"It makes no economic sense to make a small town build a brick-and-mortar tower when this technology is available," he said.

The FAA said its decision to end remote tower operations doesn't mean it won't pursue other opportunities to see if the technology will work at other airports. In his letter, Maffei said the agency is committed to the concept, but added that "it must be done safely, in accordance with the agency's primary mission."
Ukraine's challenges in massing troops, ammunition and equipment could cause its military to fall "well short" of Kyiv's original goals for an anticipated counteroffensive aimed at retaking Russian-occupied areas this spring, according to U.S. intelligence assessments contained in a growing leak of classified documents revealing Washington's misgivings about the state of the war.

Labeled "top secret," the bleak assessment from early February warns of significant "force generation and sustainment shortfalls," and the likelihood that such an operation will result in only "modest territorial gains." It's a marked departure from the Biden administration's public statements about the vitality of Ukraine's military and is likely to embolden critics who feel the United States and NATO should do more to push for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

The document, which has not been previously disclosed, is among a trove of U.S. national security materials discovered last week on an online messaging platform. Both the Pentagon, where much of the leaked materials appear to have originated earlier this year, and the Justice Department are investigating the matter.

The leak has produced remarkable insights into U.S. intelligence activities worldwide, but its revelations about the Russia-Ukraine war have proved particularly illuminating. It has revealed, for instance, where American officials have detected critical weaknesses in Ukraine's air defenses and access to ammunition while exposing considerable deficiencies within the Russian military, too. Many of the assessments date to February and March.

The document forecasting only modest success in Ukraine's forthcoming counteroffensive indicates that Kyiv's strategy revolves around reclaiming contested areas in the east while pushing south in a bid to sever Russia's land bridge to Crimea, the peninsula Moscow illegally annexed in 2014 and now uses as a supply route for its forces inside Ukraine. The potency of entrenched Russian defenses coupled with "enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive," the document says.

Its markings suggest the information was supplied by human and signals intelligence, likely involving sensitive methods used by the CIA and the National Security Agency. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which appears to have produced the leaked document, declined to comment, as did the National Security Council. The Defense Department declined to address the document's contents.

At the Pentagon on Monday, spokesman Chris Meagher said officials were moving aggressively to determine the leak's scope, scale and impact, and how they can prevent similar incidents in the future. He declined to comment on the materials' veracity. A State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, said U.S. officials also are working to reassure allies and partners "of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence."

Beyond the leaked document, U.S. officials said the prospects for a modest outcome in the spring offensive also were reinforced in a classified assessment by the National Intelligence Council. That assessment, which was recently briefed to a select group of people on Capitol Hill, found that Ukraine was unlikely to recapture as much territory as Kyiv did last fall in Ukraine's stunning breakthroughs in the east and south, people familiar with the matter said.

In the weeks since the leaked document was drafted, U.S. officials have held talks with Ukrainian leaders to ensure that Kyiv's ambitions for the offensive match its capabilities, said U.S. officials who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. One senior-level exchange occurred in mid-March during a call among Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Jake Sullivan, the president's national security adviser; Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; and their Ukrainian counterparts.

U.S. officials also have held tabletop exercises with Ukrainian military leaders to demonstrate how different offensive scenarios could play out, and the consequences of spreading forces too thin, one official said. This could stretch supply lines too far, making it difficult to hold retaken territory while trying to push further into occupied areas.

All parties came away from those conversations with a sense that Ukraine was beginning to understand the limitations of what it could achieve in the offensive and preparing accordingly, U.S. officials said. While severing the land bridge is unlikely to happen, these people said, the United States is hopeful that incremental gains could at least threaten the free flow of Russian equipment and personnel in the corridor, which has been a lifeline for invading forces.

A senior Ukrainian official did not dispute the revelations in the document and pointed to logistical backlogs that have slowed promised deliveries of Western aid. It is "partially true," the official said, "but the most critical part is a delay of the already promised systems, which delays training of newly formed brigades and the counteroffensive as a whole." Several nations, including the United States, have committed battle tanks and other armored vehicles to Ukraine but only after agonizing over the decision to do so, drawing criticism from Kyiv and its staunchest backers in Eastern Europe. Washington has accelerated plans to send a bloc of Abrams tanks, but delivery remains months away.

Another senior Ukrainian official said the leaked documents were unlikely to compromise the planned counteroffensive. "Everyone knows we're low on ammunition - the president and the defense minister talk about that openly," the official said. "And it's been obvious to everyone since November that the next counteroffensive will be focused on the south, first Melitopol and then Berdyansk. But the exact place - we can change that the week before."

Military officials and independent analysts have publicly suggested the likelihood of a counteroffensive through Ukraine's east and south. Russia has bolstered its defense of the Crimean Peninsula with a dense web of fortifications and trench lines in apparent anticipation of such an operation.

Moscow's troops also face considerable challenges, including low morale in the wake of major strategic blunders that have lead to significant casualties and left pockets of soldiers poorly equipped. Russian units in the east are particularly shabby, according to a separate document contained in the U.S. leak, with intelligence revealing substandard care in camouflaging sensitive sites and reckless ammunition storage.

The West has sent Ukraine tens of billions of dollars' worth of weapons and military equipment, touting the injection of aid as a significant boost. But the newly leaked document signals what many commanders and troops already know: The difficult fight against Russia has exhausted Ukraine's troops and hardware, making every day the war drags on an advantage to the larger Russian military.

Ukrainian units are burning through historic levels of artillery ammunition and have begun rationing shells, according to soldiers. Artillerymen supporting operations in the embattled city of Bakhmut, for instance, have said their aging Soviet howitzers are less accurate than Western guns, requiring them to fire more and wear down their equipment faster. Soldiers are just as worn out, and Kyiv has reached deeper into its population to mobilize additional fighters, sometimes stopping men on the street to hand them draft papers.

Military personnel in the field have in recent weeks complained that newly mobilized troops arriving on the front lines are poorly trained. But the situation on the battlefield now may not reflect a complete picture of Ukraine's forces, because Kyiv is training troops for the coming counteroffensive separately - deliberately holding them back from the current fighting, including the defense of Bakhmut, a U.S. official said.

The prospect of pouring billions of dollars into a military stalemate with only incremental gains in one direction or another could weaken the resolve of Kyiv's backers in Europe and in the United States, possibly sharpening calls for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

But opening talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin could be risky for Ukraine's leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky, given the acute animosity toward the Kremlin among the Ukrainian people, who have suffered extraordinary levels of violence and hardship during the conflict yet have held together with the promise of achieving a total victory.

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Khurshudyan reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. The Washington Post's Serhiy Morgunov in Kyiv, and Dan Lamothe and Ellen Nakashima in Washington contributed to this report.
Virginia State Police on Monday revised its account of the events preceding a shootout along Interstate 95 last week in which an abduction victim was killed after officers traded gunfire with the man suspected of taking her against her will.

The state police disclosed in a news release for the first time that a trooper talked to the woman said to have been abducted, Tatiana N. David, 34, during a traffic stop Wednesday that came just before a police chase and the shootout on the major highway. Authorities declined to give more details about what was said during the stop.

But clarifying an earlier account, the Virginia State Police said that the trooper did not know when he first pulled over and approached the Jeep Cherokee in which David was riding that the vehicle was connected to a possible abduction, or that New York authorities considered its occupants the suspect and victim of a crime. The Virginia State Police said the trooper pulled over the SUV knowing only that it had the wrong license plates displayed on it.

The trooper, who was not identified by authorities, returned to his vehicle after talking to both David and the man suspected of abducting her, Michael C. Davis, only to watch the SUV speed away, police said. Troopers gave chase, and Davis and police exchanged gunfire after the Jeep Cherokee crashed into a patch of woods off the roadside in Prince William County, police said.

Davis, 34, was wanted by the New York State Police in connection with David's suspected abduction from her home in Ithaca, N.Y., earlier that day.

Authorities have said David was found deceased after the shootout with a gunshot wound, but have not said whose gunfire struck her. Davis was also struck and critically wounded, and he was still hospitalized on Monday, police said.

Virginia State Police declined to answer questions about why troopers fired in David's direction. A Fairfax County police officer also participated in the shootout, authorities said. Emanuel Espada, David's brother, has questioned Virginia authorities' handling of the incident, including why they didn't immediately detain Davis when he initially pulled over for a traffic stop, and why authorities opened fire in David's direction.

"I need dash cams, I need body cams, I need information," he said last week.

In the hours after the shootout, the state police in a news release about the fatal encounter said the trooper had pulled over the Jeep Cherokee because "the vehicle had an improper registration - the wrong license plates were displayed on it - and was wanted out of New York for an alleged abduction of an adult female earlier in the day."

In an email to The Washington Post later, state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said: "An LPR [license plate recognition notification] alerted to the license plate as it had been entered into the system by New York State Police as being wanted in connection with the abduction. The LPR alerted the trooper who initiated the traffic stop."

But on Monday, Geller said: "It was not until the trooper returned to his patrol car to verify the driver's information that he learned that the driver was wanted by New York State Police for abducting the adult female passenger. Within seconds of receiving that confirmation, the Jeep pulled away from the shoulder and fled south on I-95. A pursuit was initiated."

Asked about the discrepancy, Geller acknowledged Monday that she was revising the account the Virginia State Police gave last week, and stated that the trooper did not know the vehicle was connected to the abduction.

"Today's release clarifies exactly how the traffic stop was initiated and conducted," Geller said. "The trooper did not know Davis was wanted by New York authorities for abduction when he initiated the traffic stop. The traffic stop was initiated on the Jeep for improper registration."

Geller also said a news release last week from the New York State Police, which said David "was located deceased outside the vehicle at the crash location with an apparent gunshot wound," had been inaccurate.

On Monday, Geller said that, in fact, "troopers and assisting agency personnel pulled both Davis and David from the Jeep, and immediately began rendering medical aid to both."

State police are investigating whether the officers' use of force was justified, authorities said.
The Biden administration is launching a $5 billion-plus program to accelerate development of new coronavirus vaccines and treatments, seeking to better protect against a still-mutating virus, as well as other coronaviruses that might threaten us in the future.

"Project Next Gen" - the long-anticipated follow-up to "Operation Warp Speed," the Trump-era program that sped coronavirus vaccines to patients in 2020 - would take a similar approach to partnering with private-sector companies to expedite development of vaccines and therapies. Scientists, public heath experts and politicians have called for the initiative, warning that existing therapies have steadily lost their effectiveness and that new ones are needed.

"It's been very clear to us that the market on this is moving very slowly," Ashish Jha, the White House coronavirus coordinator, said Monday. "There's a lot that government can do, the administration can do, to speed up those tools . . . for the American people."

Jha and others said the new effort will focus on three goals: creating long-lasting monoclonal antibodies, after an evolving virus rendered many current treatments ineffective; accelerating development of vaccines that produce mucosal immunity, which is thought to reduce transmission and infection risks; and speeding efforts to develop pan-coronavirus vaccines to guard against new SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as other coronaviruses.

Officials note that several coronavirus-driven outbreaks in the past two decades, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in 2002 and Middle East respiratory syndrome in 2012, have spurred worries about the potential for future health crises related to the viruses. That said, a universal coronavirus vaccine could take years to develop; researchers have sought unsuccessfully for decades to create such a vaccine against influenza.

Some of the lab work is underway, and the government has begun efforts to find potential private-sector partners, said Dawn O'Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services.

"We've begun surveying the landscape out there - assessing what vaccine candidates are available, [and] moving through what exciting technologies are there," O'Connell said. Her team last week informed companies working on monoclonal antibodies that the government may make new investments in the technology.

Jha declined to set timetables for when the products might come to market, saying that would depend on drugmakers' production plans, reviews by the Food and Drug Administration and other factors. "The timelines are really going to be predicated on how quickly the scientific advancements continue, and how quickly we can study and measure the efficacy and safety of these products," he said.

The planned launch comes after Biden health officials had funding requests for the program repeatedly rebuffed by Congress, with Republicans insisting the administration had funds left over from prior coronavirus aid packages. A pot of money was finally created after the White House directed HHS to free up $5 billion for the initiative. The agency shifted funds intended for coronavirus testing and other priorities, potentially teeing up new questions from Republicans about why those funds were available.

The White House also held several events to promote the need for new therapies and engage scientists around those goals.

"We need vaccines that are more durable. Vaccines that offer broader and longer-lasting protection. Vaccines that can stand up to multiple variants. Vaccines that can handle whatever Mother Nature throws at us," Jha said at a July 2022 White House coronavirus vaccine summit.

The Biden administration's vaccine accelerator was originally dubbed "Project Covid Shield," and some GOP lawmakers had suggested launching an "Operation Warp Speed 2.0" to build on the Trump administration's effort and signal a bipartisan approach. But White House officials wanted some distance from the Trump effort as well as from covid-focused branding, when much of the country had moved on from the pandemic, said two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations.

Jha said "Project Next Gen" made sense as branding for a program focused on next-generation vaccines and treatments. "It's a different time. We have a different set of goals. The name we have much more accurately captures what it is that we are trying to do," he said.

Jha also said that investing in next-generation coronavirus vaccines could have beneficial effects across the health system. "Our ability to develop . . . vaccines that generate mucosal immunity will have very large benefits for other respiratory pathogens we deal with all the time, like flu and RSV," he said.

Experts have said that government commitments are critical to accelerating the pace of next-generation therapies.

"We need to move quickly to start testing these nasal vaccines in humans, and that requires significant U.S. government input - both resources and help with manufacturing and delivery as well as acceptance across society," Yale University immunologist Akiko Iwasaki said at last year's White House vaccine summit.

Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, said he had talked to Jha repeatedly about the importance of moving forward on nasal vaccines and also a pan-coronavirus vaccine.

"It doesn't take much to get the nasal vaccine across the goal line - that should be the first priority," Topol said.

More than 1.1 million Americans have died of covid-19 since the pandemic began, including more than 250,000 in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the number of serious cases and deaths have receded, at least 35,000 Americans have died this year, and some projections suggest that the coronavirus could surge again this fall and winter.

Current and former Biden administration officials, including Anthony Fauci, had spent months pressing Congress for billions of dollars that could be used to develop next-generation vaccines and treatments - arguments that largely fell flat, with GOP leaders asking for a thorough accounting of the billions of dollars already allocated to the broader covid response.

"This was designed to pressure Republicans to open a checkbook, sign the check and let the administration fill in the balance," Richard Burr, who was the top Republican on the Senate's health panel, said at a June 2022 hearing with Biden health officials.

In recent months, Biden officials have argued to GOP lawmakers that both peer and rival countries, such as Japan and China, are moving ahead with similar projects.

Key parts of the new initiative are not yet finalized. The White House is still considering candidates to lead the program, officials said. The vetting process has been complicated by Democrats' desire to avoid questions of conflicts of interest that dogged Operation Warp Speed, after Trump officials selected Moncef Slaoui, a pharmaceutical industry executive with significant stock holdings, to lead that program. That decision had prompted criticism from Democrats although health officials praised Slaoui's knowledge of the industry and credited his successful bets on vaccine candidates from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

Project Next Gen also faces key differences from its predecessor, including its smaller size and more open-ended mission. The Trump-era project, focused on an urgent need with a defined virus, drew on funds that officials viewed as a blank check and was budgeted at $18 billion in 2020. While the new initiative is more modest, administration officials said they might secure additional money, even as they focus on blunting variants and viruses that have yet to emerge.

Even some of the Republicans who blocked the White House's coronavirus funding requests last year said they wanted a "Warp Speed 2.0" to rush updated vaccines and treatments that would better fight the virus.

"Operation Warp Speed was the most successful public health program since small pox. It saved millions of lives, and it should be resurrected as soon as possible," Burr and then-Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) wrote to Biden in August 2022.

O'Connell said the Biden administration had drawn lessons from Operation Warp Speed, such as how to expedite vaccine development, that would be applied to Project Next Gen.

"We've learned a lot in these three years," she said.
Karen Desjardin/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  A woman has been charged in federal court after prosecutors said she caused a disturbance that forced a flight to be diverted to Kansas City International Airport.

Chloe DaSilva, 32, whose hometown was not available, was charged with one count of interfering with a flight attendant, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
A missing Texas woman was discovered alive inside a car that ended up submerged in a lake last week.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office told KHOU 11's Chloe Alexander that the woman, who had been missing since Wednesday, Apr. 5, was found two days later by a fisherman. The fisherman apparently noticed the roof of a black Jeep bobbing in the water about 40 feet from a boat ramp leading into the lake, sheriff's deputies told Alexander.

According to a statement from the Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook, "The fisherman stated he was on the south side of Lake o the Pines in south west Marion County, Texas," located in east Texas, near the Texas-Louisiana border.

The details just get weirder from there: "As the jeep was being prepared for removal from the water, it was discovered a person was still in the vehicle and moving," the Sheriff''s Office stated.

"With the assistance of the wrecker service, fisherman, and Marion County deputies, a female was safely rescued from the submerged jeep. EMS responded to the location and transported the female to a local hospital. During the incident, it was determined the woman was listed as a missing person from the Longview Texas Police Department," the Sheriff's Office continued in the statement.

According to KHOU 11's Alexander, the woman was taken to a nearby hospital following the vehicle's recovery from the water. Her condition is currently unknown, per Alexander. The Marion County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Chron's request for comment regarding the case.
LONDON (AP)  Anne Keast-Butler, who has spent 30 years working in national security for Britain, was named Tuesday as the first woman to head the U.K.'s communications intelligence agency.

Keast-Butler, currently deputy director general at MI5, the domestic intelligence agency, will head the Government Communications Headquarters  better known as GCHQ. Her appointment comes as intelligence agencies focus on threats from Russia and China.

Anne Keast-Butler has an impressive track record working at the heart of the U.K.s national security network; helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in announcing her appointment.

In her current post, Keast-Butler has been responsible for operational, investigative and protective security work that included preparing for and responding to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Keast-Butler will start her new job in May, replacing Jeremy Fleming, who announced in January that he would step down after six years in the post.

She's the first woman to lead a U.K. intelligence agency since Eliza Manningham-Buller retired from MI5 in 2007.

Keast-Butler said she was looking forward to returning to the agency where she previously worked as head of counter terrorism and serious organized crime.

GCHQ collects intelligence through communications to prevent cyber-attacks, terrorism and espionage.

GCHQs mission to keep the U.K. safe is as inspiring today as it was when it was founded more than 100 years ago, operating at the very heart of the U.K. and our allies response to some of the most challenging issues of our time, Keast-Butler said.

In the past year, the agency has provided intelligence on the Ukraine invasion, helped disrupt terror plots and tried to stop ransomware attacks, Keast-Butler said.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Democrats announced Tuesday that they will hold their partys 2024 national convention in Chicago, choosing the biggest liberal city in the Midwest as they try to keep the momentum going after a strong midterm election performance in the key battleground region.

Organizers from Chicago, Atlanta and New York spent months lobbying to be the site of the convention, but the final decision lay with President Joe Biden, who is expected to formally launch his reelection campaign in the coming weeks.

Chicago is a great choice, Biden, who was flying to Northern Ireland, said in a statement. Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down."

The Democratic National Committee said its convention would be held Aug. 19-22 and noted that Illinois, along with Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, was part of the critical Midwestern blue wall, which was key to Democrats' success in the 2020 and 2022 elections. That rosy language omits the fact that Michigan and Wisconsin narrowly broke for Donald Trump in 2016, helping the Republican win the White House.

Chicago is solidly Democratic, as is Illinois. But holding the partys presidential nominating gathering in such a pro-union city demonstrates Bidens commitment to organized labor. The move also could counter Republicans, who are holding their 2024 convention in Milwaukee, located in another swing Midwestern state, Wisconsin.

Republican National Committee Chairman Ronna McDaniel blasted Democrats' radical agenda and predicted that voters "will soundly reject whichever out-of-touch liberal the Democrats nominate in Chicago.

The convention will be held at the United Center, home to the NBA's Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. Chicago made sense for logistical reasons, with plenty of hotel space and public transportation.

The city is also home to major Democratic donors who can help with raising money to cover costs of a convention. That includes Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire businessman and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune who has contributed millions to Democratic causes and candidates, and was a major proponent for his city getting the convention.

The DNC said that Chicago represents the partys diversity and formidable coalition and that the Midwest will showcase President Bidens economic agenda including spending on public works as part of a sweeping bipartisan infrastructure package that cleared Congress in 2021.

The 2020 Democratic convention was supposed to be held in Milwaukee but unfolded virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden delivered a speech accepting his partys nomination that year at a nearly empty convention center in Wilmington, Delaware.

Chicago hosted the infamous 1968 Democratic convention, which is best remembered for a brutal clash between police and protesters opposing the Vietnam War. The last Democratic National Convention in the city was in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was headed to a second term.

Pritzker promised Tuesday that the convention would be an unforgettable event. He had pointed to Democrats' desires to expand their Midwestern electoral gains, particularly in Michigan, where their party held the governorship and won control of both chambers of the Legislature during last falls midterms.

That Chicago beat out Atlanta was nonetheless a surprise given Georgias strategic importance as a swing state. Biden won Georgia two years ago, becoming the first Democrat to do so in a presidential election since Clinton in 1992, and his party now controls both of its Senate seats after wins that drew national attention the last two cycles.

Though Atlanta is as thoroughly Democratic as Chicago and New York, Georgia could very well be a major deciding factor in the 2024 presidential race in a way Illinois will not be.

Still, some top Democrats worried about Georgia's Republican-controlled Legislature and state laws discouraging union membership and LGBTQ rights. There were also concerns about Georgias relaxed firearms laws, especially given the rash of mass shootings around the country  despite gun violence being a persistent problem in Chicago.

But shunning Atlanta for the convention could ultimately serve as a double blow to Georgia, which may also eventually lose its early place in a new Democratic primary calendar.

Biden endorsed moving Georgia to the No. 4 position in a revamped Democratic primary calendar for 2024  changes meant to better empower the partys deeply diverse voter base than the old system, which led off with overwhelmingly white Iowa.

But Republican state officials have balked at the Democrats holding a primary on a date that doesnt coincide with the GOPs 2024 primary.

As Biden prepares an expected reelection campaign, he is already focused on 2024s general election, rather than the primary, facing only token opposition from Democratic challengers Marianne Williamson, a spiritual adviser and author, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist.

New York City and state are also deeply blue in presidential races. But choosing the city for the convention might have helped Democrats in other parts of the state, its advocates said. Those other parts include Long Island, where Republican gains in key congressional districts helped the party flip the House last year.

Supporters of Atlantas bid had argued that the city and the rest of Georgia could help lead a resurgence of Democrats in the South, which remains largely steadfastly Republican.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Tuesday that Biden personally called him to say that Chicago had been chosen.

They said Atlanta was top two in all the nation, we were hoping wed be top one, Dickens told reporters. "But they said next time, maybe.
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved an overhaul of the state's sentencing laws Tuesday that will eliminate parole eligibility for certain violent offenses.

The Republican governor signed into law legislation that will require anyone convicted of any of 18 violent offenses, including capital murder and rape, to serve 100% of their sentences. That section takes effect next year, so it doesn't impact people sentenced before 2024.

Another part of the law that takes effect in 2025 will require offenders convicted of several other offenses to serve at least 85% of their sentences.

No more letting violent offenders back on the street without serious prison time, Sanders said at a bill signing ceremony at State Police headquarters.

The sentencing overhaul comes as parts of Arkansas have seen a spike in crime in the past year. Arkansas' capital of Little Rock reported a record number of homicides last year.

Republicans in a number of states have been proposing longer prison sentences after making tough-on-crime promises a cornerstone of last year's election. Its not yet clear how many of those proposals will pass into law. In Georgia, for example, only a limited number of proposals for longer sentences passed. Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday sent the governor legislation that reduces the use of good behavior incentives to shorten prison stays

Critics of the sentencing changes have cast doubt on whether they will reduce crime and said the measure could further crowd a prison system that is already beyond capacity. More than 2,000 state inmates are being held in local jails to ease the crowding. The states prisons are at least 106% above capacity, according to the Department of Corrections.

Opponents also have warned that eliminating or restricting parole eligibility will eliminate an incentive for prisoners.

I think that's going to make prison a more dangerous place, Democratic Rep. Andrew Collins, who voted against the measure, said during debate last week.

Sanders has called for 3,000 new prison beds to ease overcrowding, and lawmakers have set aside $330 million for that.

The Corrections Department plans to open 500 beds at prisons around the state within the next month as a temporary measure, Secretary Joe Profiri said.

I'm looking at every opportunity that I can provide some level of relief for those particular sheriffs and those county jails" that are housing state inmates, Profiri told reporters.

The new sentencing law also will require other offenders to serve at least 25% or 50% of their sentences. The law doesnt spell out how crimes will fall under each of those minimums. Instead, they will be determined by a table set up by the state sentencing commission and approved by the Legislative Council.

The changes are projected to cost the state more than $163 million over a 10-year period because of the increase in prison population, according to an estimate from the state sentencing commission.

Sanders on Tuesday also signed legislation that creates an aggravated death by delivery charge for someone who delivers fentanyl to another person who dies from taking the drug. If convicted, the person would face between 20 and 60 years or life in prison.
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP)  President Joe Biden spoke to the parents of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on Tuesday, nearly two weeks after the Moscow-based journalist was detained in Russia and charged with espionage.

Biden made the call as he flew to Belfast to start a four-day trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland. The call happened one day after the Biden administration formally declared the reporter had been wrongfully detained."

The designation elevates Gershkovich's case for the U.S. government and means that a particular State Department office will take the lead on seeking his release.

Before departing Washington on Tuesday, Biden again condemned the journalist's detention. Both the U.S. government and Wall Street Journal have vehemently denied the Russian accusation that Gershkovich is a spy.

Were making it real clear that its totally illegal whats happening, and we declared it so," Biden said. It changes the dynamic.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters after the call that Biden felt it was really important to connect with Evans family, his parents, She said that Gershkovich, 31, has been "top of mind for the president.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the Russian government has yet to grant U.S. consular access to Gershkovich.

Its not for lack of trying, Kirby said, adding that the State Department has been seeking access "ever since the moment we found out that he was detained.

Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich 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.

___

Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed reporting.
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BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Hungary signed new agreements Tuesday to ensure its continued access to Russian energy, a sign of the country's continuing diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow that have confounded some European leaders amid the war in Ukraine.

Speaking at a news briefing in Moscow, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Russian state energy company Gazprom had agreed to allow Hungary, if needed, to import quantities of natural gas beyond the amounts agreed to in a long-term contract that was amended last year.

The price of the gas, which would reach Hungary through the Turkstream pipeline, would be capped at 150 euros ($163) per megawatt hour, Szijjarto said, part of an agreement that will allow Hungary to pay down gas purchases on a deferred basis if market prices go above that level.

Szijjarto's trip to Russia's capital was unusual for an official from a European Union country. Most members of the 27-nation bloc have distanced themselves from Russian President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine and sought to wean their countries off of Russian fossil fuels.

The Hungarian government has lobbied heavily in the EU to be exempted from any sanctions imposed on Russian gas, oil or nuclear fuel, and also has threatened to veto proposed EU actions against Moscow.

Szijjarto is one of the only officials from an EU country to have met with Russian officials in Moscow since the war in Ukraine began more than a year ago. A February trip also made the minister the first senior official from an EU country to visit Belarus since the nation's authoritarian president, an ally of Putin's, initiated a harsh crackdown on opposition in 2020.

While in Moscow, Szijjarto met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Alexander Novak and the chief executive of Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev. During the news briefing, he insisted that access to Russian energy supplies was crucial for Hungary's security regardless of political considerations brought on by the war.

As long as the issue of energy supply is a physical issue and not a political or ideological one, like it or not, Russia and cooperation with Russia will remain crucial for Hungarys energy security, Szijjarto said.

___

Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war

___

This story was first published on April 11, 2023. It was updated on April 12, 2023 to correct that Hungary had agreed on a price cap on Russian gas of 150 euros per megawatt hour, not 150 euros per cubic meter.
BATON ROUGE, La (AP)  Richard Ieyoub, a three-term Louisiana attorney general who lost bids to become governor and U.S. senator, died Monday in Baton Rouge at age 78.

Gov. Jon Bel Edwards announced Ieyoub's death, which was also confirmed to KPLC-TV by Ieyoub's nephew, Lake Charles City Councilman John Ieyoub. The Advocate of Baton Rouge reported Ieyoub died from an aneurysm rupture.

If you knew Richard, he was a genuine and kind-hearted man, Edwards told lawmakers Monday before beginning his State of the State speech.

Ieyoub had served for the last seven years as Louisiana's conservation commissioner, its top oil and gas industry regulator, after being appointed by Edwards, a fellow Democrat.

Ieyoub served in his hometown of Lake Charles as Calcasieu Parish District Attorney from 1984 to 1992, winning election as attorney general in 1992 for the first of three terms through 2004.

Ieyoubs top accomplishment as attorney general came when he joined other states in suing the Liggett tobacco company in 1995, over the opposition of then-Gov. Mike Foster. Louisiana won a $4.6 billion settlement in lawsuits against all tobacco companies for medical expenses it incurred, and tobacco companies agreed to stop advertising to children.

Ieyoub also settled a lawsuit against Texaco for failing to pay oil royalties, winning a $250 million payment.

His attempts at higher office failed, though. Ieyoub barely missed a 1996 U.S. Senate runoff, in a race won by Mary Landrieu, after reports questioned his use of campaign funds to furnish his house, buy books and artwork, travel and dine out. Ieyoub said all the spending was relating to campaigning and after a two-year probe, U.S. Justice Department officials announced that they would not file any criminal charges.

Ieyoub again finishing third and missing the runoff in the 2003 gubernatorial election won by Kathleen Blanco.

He was a lawyer in private practice after losing the 2003 race.

I love my state, Ieyoub told the American Press of Lake Charles during a 2003 interview. I love the people of my state, and if I can make it a better place  if I can touch peoples lives and make our people safer, happier and more productive, then my life and my mission as  a human being will have meaning and purpose.

Ieyoub is survived by his wife, Caprice, and seven children.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation on Tuesday to end Maryland's statute of limitations for when civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse can be filed against institutions.

The bill signing comes less than a week after the state's attorney general released a report that documented the scope of abuse spanning 80 years and accused church leaders of decades of coverups.

Under current law, people in Maryland who say they were sexually abused as children cant sue after they reach the age of 38.

There is no statute of limitations on the hurt that endures for decades after someone is assaulted," Moore, a Democrat, said. "There is no statute of limitations on the trauma that harms so many still to this day, and this law reflects that exact truth.

The Maryland General Assembly passed the bill last week, hours after Attorney General Anthony Brown released a long-awaited report of nearly 500 pages with details about more than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore abusing over 600 children.

State investigators began their work in 2019. They reviewed over 100,000 pages of documents dating back to the 1940s and interviewed hundreds of victims and witnesses.

The measure to end the statute of limitations has been sponsored for several years in Maryland by Del. C.T. Wilson, a Democrat who has testified about being abused in his youth.

I thank all the survivors that came up year after year and told their stories," Wilson said.

David Lorenz, the Maryland leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests who attended the ceremony, said he was thrilled for my fellow survivors.

Maryland has stopped saying: Church, tell us what to do,' and said: People, what do we do? Were not beholden to the church anymore, and we should never have been, Lorenz said.

Twenty-four states have approved revival periods known as lookback windows, which are limited time frames during which accusers can sue, regardless of how long ago the alleged abuse occurred. Maryland's law creates a permanent window with no time limit.

Marci Hamilton, the founder and CEO of Child USA, a think tank that advocates for better laws to protect children, said she testified to change the law in Maryland 20 years ago.

This has been an extremely long haul," Hamilton said, crediting Wilson and victims for persevering. "It was a heavy lift, but they did it.

The Maryland law, which takes effect Oct. 1, is the only one in the nation that includes some caps for damages, Hamilton said.

For private entities, under the bill, damages are capped at $1.5 million for non-economic damages like pain and suffering, but there isnt a cap for damages relating to costs for services like therapy. For public entities like school boards and local governments, damages are capped at $890,000.

This is the first window ever to have caps," Hamilton said. "Weve resisted them, but these caps are fair enough.

The Maryland Catholic Conference, which represents the three dioceses serving Maryland, contended in testimony that the bill is unconstitutional, because of the disparity in monetary judgements.

The concerns we raised during the legislative session remain, including questions about constitutionality and the disparate treatment between public and private organizations in Maryland, the conference said in a statement Tuesday.

The Baltimore archdiocese says it has paid more than $13.2 million for care and compensation for 301 abuse victims since the 1980s, including $6.8 million toward 105 voluntary settlements.

In anticipation that the law will be challenged in court, the measure includes a provision that would put lawsuits on hold until the Supreme Court of Maryland can decide on the laws constitutionality.
South Africa: N West mourns passing of Amahlubi traditional leader Chief Madoda Zibi

North West Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape has expressed sadness at the passing of Chief Madoda Shadrack Zibi.

Chief Zibi was the Principal Traditional Leader of Amahlubi in both the Eastern Cape and North West.

According to a statement issued by the Zibi Royal Council, the Chief passed away peacefully on Saturday, 8 April, at his homestead of Khayakhulu, surrounded by family.

Maape described Chief Zibi as an astute traditional leader, who led his people with respect and dignity.

The late Chief served as chairperson of the North West Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders and worked closely with government in addressing several issues relating to traditional leadership in the province.

The Premier said the province is poorer without him.

He was an academic and equally an intellectual in his own right. He was a proponent of the history, culture and heritage of African people. Throughout his life, he championed the socio-economic development and self-reliance of communities in rural areas, many of which fall under the jurisdiction of traditional leaders, Maape added.

According to the provincial government, Amahlubi settled among the Batswana people after World War I.

They arrived in the North West on 20 September 1924. They were then led by Chief Zibi, who was among the young men who volunteered to serve as soldiers in France alongside the Allied Forces in World War I.

This led to some of these men dying when their ship, the SS Mendi, sunk.

According to the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA), Chief Zibi was an elder who was very instrumental in the establishment and sustenance of the Khayakhulu Congregation, which is on the outskirts of Rustenburg, within the Presbytery of Tshwane.

He was the longest-serving clerk of the session of that congregation, the statement read.

He was a retired Professor of Humanities from the University of North West, where he also served as a Deputy Vice Chancellor.

The funeral service will be held at the Amahlubi Great Place in Khayakhulu on Saturday, 15 April 2023, at 09:00.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-04-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Travel back in time in Luoyang, C China's Henan

People's Daily Online) 15:59, April 11, 2023

Photo shows a night view of the Jiuzhou Pond Scenic Area in Luoyang city, central China's Henan Province. (Photo courtesy of Jiuzhou Pond Scenic Area)

An immersive activity featuring performances of Guochao, a fashion trend characterized by a combination of modern designs and traditional Chinese cultural elements, is being held at the Jiuzhou Pond Scenic Area in Luoyang city, central China's Henan Province from April 8 and 16.

The scenery of the scenic area is blended with various performances. This includes a fashion show for costumes of Chinese dynasties, an immersive trip to discover the splendor of Luoyang city in the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a music festival, camping activities, recreating ancient paintings, nighttime tours and a Hanfu wedding dress show. They offer citizens and tourists immersive experiences.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romanias top defense body approved on Tuesday the acquisition of an unspecified number of American-made F-35 fighter jets, as the NATO-member state pushes to modernize its air force, Romanias presidential office said.

The office of President Klaus Iohannis, who chaired a Supreme Council of National Defense meeting in the capital Bucharest on Tuesday, said members of the council approved the purchase of the latest generation Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft.

The achievement of robust, credible, interoperable, flexible and efficient air defense operational capabilities  assumed as a result of NATO and EU membership, as well as to deter a possible aggression, is the essential condition for fulfilling the objectives of the defense policy of Romania, the statement read.

The process of modernization of the Air Force will continue with the purchase of the latest generation F-35 aircraft, it said.

Iohannis office did not specify how many F-35 fighters Romania would look to purchase or when it would buy them. The acquisition would also need Parliamentary approval but is expected to be widely supported.

The announcement comes after Romania, which joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007, boosted defense spending last year following Russia's war in Ukraine, Romanias neighbor.

After Moscows forces rolled into Ukraine in February 2022, NATO bolstered its presence on Europes eastern flank by sending additional multinational battlegroups to alliance members Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia.

Romania has played an increasingly large role in the alliance throughout the war, including hosting a NATO meeting of foreign ministers in November.
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PHOENIX (AP)  Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb said Tuesday he's running for the U.S. Senate in Arizona, becoming the first Republican to jump into a high-profile race for the seat now held by independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.

Lamb, who has built a profile in Arizona and beyond as a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump and an advocate for cracking down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling, pledged in a video announcing his candidacy to take on drug cartels, calling for the U.S. military to wipe them out just like we did to ISIS.

The Arizona race is a top target for Republicans looking to take control of the Senate, which Democrats control 51-49, including Sinema and two other independents who generally vote with Democrats. The 2024 Senate map heavily favors the GOP, with Democratic-held seats up for grabs in three states Trump won.

Sinema, who left the Democratic Party in December after her relationship with many members of the party ruptured, is raising money for a potential reelection campaign but has not said whether she will seek a second term. U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego is the only Democrat in the race. He said last week he raised $3.7 million in the first quarter.

Fast-growing Pinal County is sandwiched between the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. Its small agricultural and mining towns have been dwarfed in recent decades by master-planned exurbs and retirement communities where newcomers gobble up affordable homes. While the county is not on the U.S.-Mexico border, it has a number of active drug and human smuggling routes through remote desert terrain.

Lamb is a fixture in border-themed television ads that show him walking through the desert, rifle in hand, with Republican candidates. The border played a prominent role in his campaign launch, which presented him as a lawman with firsthand experience taking on dangerous cartels and confronting the fentanyl scourge.

We need leaders in this country that arent too politically correct to protect us, Lamb said in his announcement video.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020, Lamb refused to enforce Republican then-Gov. Doug Duceys stay-at-home order. He also created a streaming service called American Sheriff Network to highlight the work of law enforcement agencies.

Lamb could wind up in a crowded Republican primary and will likely face a formidable fight for the GOP nomination.

Kari Lake, a former television news anchor who became a star among many Republicans before losing the 2022 race for governor, is considering a Senate run and would be the immediate front-runner. Others considering running include Blake Masters, Jim Lamon and Karrin Taylor Robson, who lost 2022 races for Senate or governor.

All of Lambs potential Republican rivals have, to varying degrees, something the sheriff lacks  easy access to large sums of money. Lake can raise it from her legion of fans, while the other potential candidates have personal fortunes or benefactors they can draw from. Lambs ability to raise money will be an early test of his viability.

Lamb said he's confident he can win no matter which other Republicans decide to run because he can talk with authority about issues related to the border.

Theres nobody better suited for the border, to deal with this crisis, to fight against the fentanyl, to stop the poisoning of our loved ones, Lamb told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Despite his aggressive proposals to send the military to attack drug cartels, Lamb said the U.S. should work in partnership with the Mexican government.

Arizona Republicans have embraced Trumps false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, last year nominating for statewide offices a slate of candidates who put election conspiracies at the center of their campaigns. All lost in the general election, prompting fears in some Republican circles of a repeat that could hinder their path to a Senate majority.

Lake has continued to aggressively push claims of interference in her own election loss last year that have been rejected by courts.

Lamb appeared to distance himself from election conspiracies this month, saying he hasnt seen evidence of material, large-scale fraud that he could take to a jury. Lambs own Pinal County had serious issues last year that were blamed on ineptitude rather than fraud.

Where I thought there was smoke, I looked for fire, Lamb said in an interview with the Phoenix Fox affiliate. I got involved with some of the groups that were actively out saying they had evidence. To this day, Ive never been provided any evidence of significant material fraud.

On Tuesday, however, Lamb told the AP he was talking only about Pinal County and sidestepped questions about whether voters can trust that the last two elections were fair.

I dont get into other peoples business, Lamb said. I focus on whats happening in our county.

Lamb experienced tragedy late last year when his 22-year-old son, the sons fiancee and their 1-year-old daughter were killed in a car crash. He said his son, Cooper Lamb, had struggled with fentanyl use and spent time in jail but had been sober for more than a year before the crash.
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GENEVA (AP)  Switzerlands parliament opened a special session Tuesday to scrutinize the state-imposed takeover of Swiss bank Credit Suisse by rival UBS  and consider strengthening the legal arsenal to better gird against financial blowups.

The debate could run up to three days, with lawmakers voicing  and needing to iron out  disagreements over the 3 billion Swiss franc ($3.25 billion) fusion of Switzerland's top two banks, a thunderclap for a country that prides itself on finesse and acumen in finance.

Swiss authorities stepped in as shares of Credit Suisse plunged last month and depositors pulled their money after the failure of two U.S. banks sparked concerns about the stability of global financial system and the long-troubled lender. Credit Suisse is among 30 globally systemically important banks, and authorities worried about the fallout if it were to fail.

The situation on the financial markets has calmed down, but it is not fully stabilized, and our country  Switzerland  has emerged shaken by this painful episode, Swiss President Alain Berset said at the session.

He said lawmakers would need to ensure that the legal framework was as solid as possible to prevent this kind of crisis from happening again. The executive branch also would look into too big to fail rules for key banks passed after the 2008 global financial crisis that may need changing, Berset added.

Lawmakers also are considering accountability for Credit Suisse and concerns about thousands of expected job cuts and looking at state-backed guarantees of over $100 billion aimed at holding the bank together until the merger is completed and buttressing UBS against possible losses.

They also are debating what it will mean for Switzerland to have one giant bank.

Johanna Gapany, a centrist lawmaker and rapporteur for the upper chamber's finance commission, said the parliamentary panel had made three main proposals: change competition rules in light of the emergence of megabank UBS, examine how Credit Suisse executives might be held accountable and block the executive branch from unilaterally releasing more emergency funds for the rescue plan.

The proposals showed a "clear intention to not only prevent this situation from happening again, but to make sure that the solution protects the interests of citizens as much as possible  thus by taking the least risk with the guarantees that have been provided, Gapany said.

Despite the talk, few concrete results were expected from the session, which is primarily to flesh out ideas  and possibly some vitriol  from lawmakers who all face reelection this fall.

Yvan Lengwiler, an economics professor at the University of Basel, suggested that the debate would play into a longtime tug-of-war between lawmakers who have lobbied in favor of Swiss banks over the years and others who have long sought to stiffen regulation.

It seems that the pendulum, after this debacle weve seen, has clearly shifted towards strengthening, he said. Two years from now  the political situation might be very different, and it could be quite difficult to get this through parliament.

Jakob Stark, an upper-house lawmaker from the populist, right-wing Swiss People's Party, said the rescue of Credit Suisse was was probably right and ultimately unavoidable but that the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority  known as FINMA  must become more decisive."

It should, for instance, get the authority to impose fines, but then it should also really impose the fines, and particularly on the big institutions, Stark said of the regulator. "My feeling is that it was too considerate toward Credit Suisse, perhaps because of a legal basis that wasnt sufficiently clear.

The Swiss attorney generals office has already opened a probe into events surrounding Credit Suisse ahead of the takeover, and the executive branch last week ordered tens of millions in cuts to the bonuses of top Credit Suisse executives.

Lawmakers largely were expected to line up behind the rescue plan  even if reluctantly for some  and were not yet expected to authorize a parliamentary investigation of the epochal rescue of Credit Suisse, a 167-year-old pillar of Swiss banking.

Lengwiler, who specializes in financial market regulation, noted that the combined bank will have a balance sheet that will be twice as large as Switzerlands annual economy.

Thats nothing new: Both Credit Suisse and UBS had bigger balance sheets than the Swiss economy before the 2008 financial crisis. But this combined bank will be unprecedented in size and heft, presenting new challenges for government officials.

Whats new here is that its the only kid on the block now, Lengwiler said. UBS is really the only game in town and  has become extremely dominant, and that is a problem for Switzerland.

Its maybe too large for the country, he added.

___

AP reporter Geir Moulson contributed from Berlin.
BANGKOK (AP)  Human rights groups and opposition politicians in Thailand are criticizing the government for forcibly repatriating three men who were reportedly members of an anti-government resistance movement in military-ruled Myanmar.

The Bangkok-based Peoples Empowerment Foundation said the action violated universal human rights principles and Thailands own policy because the men were likely to be in danger as a result of their activities fighting against Myanmar's government.

Given the situation of generalized violence in Myanmar, all Myanmar nationals in Thailand should be given temporary protective status and, as per Thai law, no one should be forced to return to a situation where they may face grave human rights abuses, Patrick Phongsathorn of the human rights organization Fortify Rights said Tuesday.

A document issued by Thailand's National Security Council that was leaked to local media and seen by The Associated Press said the repatriation followed official policy and the men had not presented themselves as combatants in Myanmars often-brutal civil conflict.

Myanmars independent media, which operate underground and in exile, reported that the three men were members of a resistance group called the Lion Battalion Commando and crossed into Thailand last month to have at least one of them treated for injuries.

There has been serious fighting for the past two weeks in eastern Myanmars Myawaddy township, part of an ongoing struggle that began in February 2021 when the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. When initial nonviolent protests against military rule were put down with lethal force, armed resistance broke out in much of the country.

The Myanmar media reports said the three men, identified as Thiha, 38, Saw Phyo Lay, 26, and Htet Naing Win, 31, were arrested on March 31 at a Thai road checkpoint and sent back to Myanmar on April 4.

The reports said the men were sent on a boat across the Moei River, which marks the border. They jumped out to try to escape but were shot and wounded and then captured by Myanmar's Border Guard Force, which is composed of ethnic minority militias allied with the military government.

The Border Guard Force later turned them over to Myanmars military. One was reported to have died of his wounds, but the details of their repatriation, sourced to their resistance group and witnesses, could not be independently confirmed.

The Thai government has not given a full public account of what happened, but the leaked National Security Council document said the three men were among a larger group of Myanmar nationals who were arrested after crossing illegally into Thailand and had not been singled out to be sent back. Several thousand villagers fled the fighting in Myanmar last week and were given temporary shelter in Thailands Tak province.

According to the document, the three men were arrested at a checkpoint, had no passports or any identification documents and were charged with illegal entry. It said the three told authorities they had entered Thailand to attend the funeral of the mother of a friend.

The document also said that Thai officials had not been notified that the men were anti-government combatants in Myanmar and no groups had contacted them to ask that they not be sent back.

The Peoples Empowerment Foundation challenged the NSC account, suggesting that the men were not part of a larger group of detainees. It also said local human rights groups had approached officials to discuss the men's situation but were told to return the following day. When they did so, the men had already been sent back, it said.

Thai border security officials are fully aware that BGF (Border Guard Force) is not a safe zone for Myanmar nationals fleeing combat. Sending the three men to BGF territory therefore is inevitably sending them to their death by torture. Why did Thai security officials do that? the group said in a statement Monday.

Two Thai political parties raised similar criticisms.

On Saturday, Rangsiman Rome, a spokesperson for the opposition Move Forward Party, said the repatriation reflected the close relationship between Thailand and Myanmars military government.

The Commoners Party, another opposition party, said in a statement Saturday that Thai authorities may have violated international law.
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MANILA, Philippines (AP)  American and Filipino forces on Tuesday launched their largest combat exercises in decades in the Philippines and its waters across the disputed South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where Washington has repeatedly warned China over its increasingly aggressive actions.

The annual drills by the longtime treaty allies called Balikatan  Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder  will run up to April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel. It will be the latest display of American firepower in Asia, as the Biden administration strengthens an arc of alliances to better counter China, including in a possible confrontation over Taiwan, an island democracy that Beijing claims as its own.

That dovetails with efforts by the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety, by boosting joint military exercises with the U.S. and allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in additional Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact.

The relationships that we have, that we build into these exercises, will make us faster to respond to conflict, crisis, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Eric Austin said.

About 12,200 U.S military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts are taking part in the exercises, the largest since Balikatan started three decades ago. The drills will showcase U.S. warships, fighter jets as well as Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers and anti-tank Javelins, according to U.S. and Philippine military officials.

In a live-fire drill the allies will stage for the first time, U.S. and Filipino forces will sink a target ship in the Philippine territorial waters off the western province of Zambales on April 26, in a coordinated inland and coastal artillery bombardment and airstrike, Col. Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesman for Balikatan, told reporters.

We have to fire at a target that is closer to what we would expect in an actual threat, which is an intrusion coming from an adversary by sea, Logico told reporters. We are demonstrating that we are combat ready."

Asked if Marcos raised any concern that Beijing may be antagonized by the rocket-firing near the busy waterway that China considers its territory, Logico said that did not come up when he briefed the president about the event. Marcos wants to witness the live-fire drill, he said.

In western Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea, the exercises will involve retaking an island captured by enemy forces, Logico said.

Philippine military officials said the maneuvers were aimed at bolstering the countrys coastal defense and disaster-response capabilities and were not aimed at any country.

Such field scenarios will test the allies capabilities in combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between maneuver units, logistics operations, amphibious operations, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said.

In a sign of deeping defense cooperation, the Philippine foreign and defense secretaries will meet their American counterparts in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the American military presence and proposed joint naval patrols, officials said.

Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over the long-seething territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines and four other governments, and Beijings goal of annexing Taiwan, by force if necessary.

China last week warned against the intensifying U.S. military deployment to the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular news briefing in Beijing that it would only lead to more tensions and less peace and stability in the region."

The Balikatan exercises opened in the Philippines a day after China concluded three days of combat drills that simulated sealing off Taiwan, following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week in California that infuriated Beijing.

On Monday, the U.S. 7th Fleet deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Milius within 12 nautical miles off Mischief Reef, a Manila-claimed coral outcrop which China seized in the mid-1990s and turned into one of seven missile-protected island bases in the South China Seas hotly contested Spratlys archipelago. The U.S. military has been undertaking such freedom of navigation operations for years to challenge Chinas expansive territorial claims.

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, the 7th Fleet said.

___

Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila contributed to this report.

___

Find more AP coverage of the Asia-Pacific region at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
CAIRO (AP)  Bloodshed in Sudan's long-troubled Darfur region has left at least 14 people dead over the last three days, two activists said Tuesday.

Adam Haroun, a local activist, said clashes erupted Sunday in West Darfur province after Arab gunmen on motorcycles shot and killed a trader in the remote town of Fur Baranga.

The killing sparked a series of reprisal attacks between Arabic and African tribal groups and looting, said Adam Regal, spokesman for a local organization that helps run refugee camps in Darfur.

The violence continued Tuesday and the death toll was likely to rise, Haroun said.

On Monday, the governor of West Darfur declared a two-week state of emergency and introduced a night-time curfew across the state.

Analysts see an uptick in violence in recent months between different tribal groups across Sudans far-flung regions as a product of a power vacuum and tensions caused by political turmoil.

In late March, at least five people were killed in clashes in West Darfur. Last October, over 170 people were killed in clashes in Blue Nile province, situated in the remote southeast corner of the African country.

Sudan has been steeped in chaos since a military coup, led by the countrys leading Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, removed a Western-backed government in October 2021, upending its short-lived transition to democracy.

Also Tuesday, the United Nations said it was "deeply concerned" after a video surfaced on social media showing a man calling for the U.N. special representative in Sudan to be assassinated.

I request a fatwa, said the man, who identified himself in the video as Abdelmoneim. I volunteer myself to assassinate Volker (Perthes).

The remarks were made during what appeared to be a small conference held by an umbrella group consisting of Islamist factions affiliated with Sudan's ousted president, Omar al-Bashir.

"The language of the incitement and the violence will only deepen divisions on the ground," Stephane Dujarri, the U.N. spokesman, said during Tuesday's briefing.

Under intense international pressure, Sudan's ruling military and various pro-democracy forces signed a preliminary agreement in December pledging to reinstate the transition to democracy. But after months of wrangling, cross-party talks brokered by the U.N. and other international actors, Sudan's political factions have yet to agree to a final deal.

Sudan's Islamists have remained staunchly opposed to the deal.

The conflict in Darfur first broke out in 2003 when rebels  mostly from the regions ethnic central and sub-Saharan African community  launched an insurgency, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.

The then-government, headed by al-Bashir, responded with a campaign of aerial bombings and scorched earth raids by janjaweed militias. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes in Darfur over the years.



Associated Press writer Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
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PARIS (AP)  French investigators are treating the deaths of at least six people who were killed when a building collapsed in the city of Marseille as a possible involuntary homicide case, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Prosecutor Dominique Laurens said an investigation was opened on that basis after the first body was found in the building, which collapsed in a fiery explosion early Sunday.
BERLIN (AP)  Germany on Tuesday ordered Chad's ambassador to leave the country, responding to the central African nation's expulsion last week of the German ambassador.

Chad's government on Friday gave German Ambassador Gordon Kricke 48 hours to leave, citing his discourteous attitude and accusing him of failing to respect diplomatic customs. A brief statement from the Chadian government gave no further details about the reason for his removal.

Kricke arrived in Germany on Sunday after having been seen off at the airport in N'Djamena, the Chadian capital, by several colleagues from allied countries, German news agency dpa reported.

Germany retaliated on Tuesday against what it called the unfounded expulsion of our ambassador. Chad's ambassador in Berlin, Mariam Ali Moussa, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and given 48 hours to leave Germany.

We regret that it had to come to this, the ministry said in a tweet. Ambassador Kricke carried out his job in N'Djamena in an exemplary manner and advocated for human rights and the quick transition to a civilian government in Chad.

It said that Germany's embassy in Chad would continue this work together with our partners on the ground. Germany still has lower-ranking diplomats in N'Djamena.

Media reports have pointed to criticism of Chad's transitional government as a likely motivation for the German ambassador's expulsion.

Hours after the death of Chad's longtime President Idriss Deby Itno in 2021, the military named his son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, as the countrys interim leader for what was intended to be an 18-month period.

However, last year the government announced it was extending the transition for two more years, which led to protests across the country.
NIAMEY, Niger (AP)  Gunmen killed five soldiers and wounded others during a weekend ambush of a military convoy performing escort duties in northern Niger, the army said Tuesday.

No one has claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack, which occurred in the Agadez region on the road to Arlit town, the chief of staff for Niger's army, Abdou Sidikou Issa, said in a statement.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexican prosecutors formally presented homicide charges Monday against four soldiers implicated in the Feb. 26 shooting deaths of five men in the border city of Nuevo Laredo.

The killings in the cartel-dominated city of Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Laredo, Texas, caused outrage, because the occupants of the vehicle the army fired on were apparently not armed.

The civilian court system said the four soldiers will be held in pre-trial detention at an army base in Mexico City which houses a military prison. They also face attempted homicide charges, because a sixth man was wounded.

The four had said they heard a loud bang and opened fire on what they claimed was a fleeing vehicle.

Mexico has a separate military court system, but soldiers must be tried in civilian courts for offenses that involve non-military victims.

The court will hold an initial hearing on the charges on April 12.

In March, Mexicos governmental human rights agency called the shooting unjustified.

The commission took the unusual step of issuing a report stating that four of the 21 soldiers on patrol that morning opened fire. The report claimed those four soldiers fired a total of 117 shots at the pickup, with three soldiers saying they opened fire to support the first soldier who started shooting.

Soldiers in four patrol vehicles had followed the pickup in the pre-dawn hours based on just a suspicion, and did not follow proper procedure in engaging the vehicle, according to the report.

Without giving verbal orders (to pull over), one soldier opened fire into the back of the private vehicle, and three other soldiers did the same to support the first one, according to the report.

The Defense Department earlier said the soldiers heard gunshots, and approached a pickup with no license plates and no lights in the pre-dawn hours.

Upon seeing the army troops, they (the occupants) accelerated in a brusque and evasive way, according to the statement.

The soldiers said the speeding pickup then crashed into a parked vehicle. Soldiers said that when they heard the crash, they opened fire. The army did not say whether they thought the bang was a gunshot.

There was no indication in crime scene reports of any weapons found in the vehicle after the shootings, and the human rights commission said there was no evidence of any shots fired at the army patrol.

Nuevo Laredo is dominated by the violent Northeast drug cartel, an offshoot of the old Zetas cartel. Soldiers and marines have frequently come under fire from heavily armed cartel gunmen in Nuevo Laredo.

The city has also been the scene of human rights violations by the military in the past.

In 2021, Mexicos navy turned 30 marines over to civilian prosecutors to face justice in the cases of people who disappeared during anti-crime operations in Nuevo Laredo in 2014. Marines were accused of rounding up supposed suspects, some of whom were not heard from again. Through 2018, dozens of people disappeared in Nuevo Laredo.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Puerto Ricos governor declared a state of emergency on Tuesday to fight worsening coastal erosion across the U.S. territory that officials blame on climate change.

The government is setting aside $105 million in federal funds to implement nearly two dozen measures to offset the ongoing loss of land and minimize its effects. The measures include relocating homes, creating artificial reefs, planting mangrove trees and adding sand to beaches.

This is an ambitious agenda, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said at a press conference.

Puerto Rico has nearly 700 miles (1,200 kilometers) of coastline, and two-thirds of the islands 3.2 million resident live along coastal areas. Of that population, more than 20% live in areas at high risk for flooding.

A study by the University of Puerto Rico found that more than 60 miles (99 kilometers) of shoreline have migrated inland in previous years. Much of the erosion is blamed on storms including Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm that slammed into the island in September 2017, with experts warning that future storms will be more powerful and occur more often.

By July 2018, erosion was identified in 40% of Puerto Ricos beaches and accretion, which is the accumulation of sand, was found in 60% of beaches, according to the Institute of Coastal Investigation and Planning of Puerto Rico.

The measures announced Tuesday will be implemented in municipalities that have been hit the hardest, including Rincon, Cabo Rojo, Isabela and the neighboring sister island of Vieques, all extremely popular with tourists.

The islands Department of Natural Resources also was ordered to create a new protocol to deal with coastal erosion and update its coastal zone management plan.

Other measures include the creation of a committee charged with fighting coastal erosion, the demolition of abandoned coastal structures and the demarcation of public domain assets in the maritime-terrestrial zone.

The announcement comes as activists and environmentalists continue to demand a moratorium on coastal zone construction and decry an increase in illegal coastal structures, some of which judges have ordered demolished.

Pierluisi said he would not rule out such a moratorium, but only for certain areas.
Endangered Missing Person Alerts are issued sparingly to ensure they get urgently needed attention. One issued last week has indeed done that, raising questions about whether a 6-year-old child with serious disabilities slipped through the cracks and, if so, how it happened.

According to Everman police, Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez has been missing since November. Though police initial sent out an Amber Alert, which is focused on likely abductions, this case has every bit of the urgency and peril. Child Protective Services has regularly been involved with his mother, how did the agency just realize, based on an anonymous tip received March 20, that he was missing? Should she have lost custody? Were any neighbors or friends aware of or curious about Noels disappearance? Should other social-service agencies or health care providers have raised alarms?

The case involves multiple countries, a deported biological father who is in Mexico, a relocated stepfather and remaining family who are either in Turkey or India. Everyone hopes there is a surprisingly simple explanation, but theres no time to lose. The Tarrant County District Attorneys Office should determine immediately if its time to build a case.

Noel has serious disabilities including a chronic lung disease that requires medical treatment and occasional oxygen treatment. While some family members said theyd seen the boy recently, Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer said those claims were disproved, though he added that almost all of them have been highly cooperative with police.

After the CPS tip, police said, Noels mother Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, told them the 6-year-old was in Mexico with his father. When Texas CPS spoke to Noels biological father, they realized his mother had lied, because the father is confirmed to have been deported before his son was born.

Police also learned that Noels four siblings have been absent from school and their mother had asked Everman ISD about unenrolling them. Noel was not enrolled in school, but should that have raised red flags? So far, Rodriguez-Singh hasnt cooperated with police.

In addition to the CPS inquiries, Rodriguez-Singh and she also had an extensive criminal history involving alcohol-related offenses. Wed really like to talk to Mom, Spencer said Monday.

So far, theres no physical evidence that Noel has been harmed or taken anywhere. But that seems of little comfort.

What I do know is that a 6-year-old, severely disabled boy cannot be accounted for and is missing, the mother has not been willing to cooperate with investigators to help us simply assure the child is safe, and we desperately need the publics help, Spencer said Sunday.

Of all the Amber Alerts issued in 2021, the majority of kids were found to have been taken by family members, not strangers, and because of custody issues. Just one was due to human smuggling and four were due to criminal activity.

We hope, for Noels sake, that his disappearance is due to family issues gone awry, not malice. We hope he is found soon. Whatever happens, the public needs thorough investigation and answers to whether government failed a child so badly in need of protection.
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More than 850 volunteers, charity and community representatives have been invited to King Charles IIIs coronation service in Westminster Abbey next month.

Over 450 British Empire Medal recipients, often awarded in recognition of a persons local charitable or volunteering activity, will attend the congregation on 6 May.

Another 400 young people representing charitable organisations have been invited to watch the coronation service and procession from St Margarets Church after being nominated by the king and queen consort and the government.

The king and queen consort nominated 200 young people involved with two charities he founded  the Princes Trust and the Princes Foundation  as well as Barnardos, the National Literacy Trust and Ebony Horse Club.

The government invited the remaining 200 young people from the Scout Association, Girlguiding UK, St John Ambulance and the National Citizen Service for their contribution to the coronation.

These four charities are providing stewarding, route lining and first aid services on 9 May across London.

Queen Elizabeth II was the former royal patron of the Scout Association, Girlguiding UK and Barnardos.

The British Empire Medal recipients who have been invited include:

Max Woosey, Braunton, Devon  For services to fundraising for the North Devon Hospice during Covid-19.

Katrina Moffat, north Tyneside  Leader, Girlguiding UK. For services to young people in north Tyneside.

Franstine Jones  Volunteer and trustee, National Black Police Association. For services to Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in Suffolk.

Manju Malhi, London  a professional chef who has acted as the resident chef for charity Open Age since 2016.

Ongoing investigations

OSCR, the Scottish charity regulator, has an open inquiry into the Princes Foundation . The Met Police also opened an investigation last year.

The Charity Commission has ongoing statutory inquiries into a charity linked to the Princes Foundation  the Mahfouz Foundation  and a connected charity, the Burkes Peerage Foundation .

It also has an ongoing compliance case into the Barrowman Foundation , a significant donor to the Princes Trust.

sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
The Treasurys Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has asked some British aid charities to supply details of all payments made in Gaza since 31 December 2020.

Bond and the Muslim Charities Forum told Civil Society News that a number of charities working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) received a letter from the financial sanctions regulator over their operations there.

The letter, seen by Civil Society News, is intended to support compliance with the legislative framework, without unnecessarily impeding legitimate humanitarian activities overseas, it said.

The recipients, which include some Muslim charities, have until 28 April to respond or risk facing sanctions.

Bond said that this is a new development for the sector and organisations are taking legal advice to ensure they properly fulfil their responsibilities.

Comply or risk facing sanctions

OFSI formally asked charities to confirm whether they operate in Gaza and provide details of any payments such as local authority charges, taxes, utilities, and services including water supply, waste services, telephone or broadband payments that you have made in the area since 31 December 2020.

Charities must also include the name of the organisations or people who received the payments, a summary of why the payments were made and any relevant supporting documents such as receipts or invoices.

The letter warned charities that they might face sanctions under counter-terrorism regulations if they fail to send the requested information by 28 April.

It said that Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK in its entirety and that current legislation prohibits a person from making available funds to or for the benefit of an organisation designated under the 2019 Regulations unless permitted.

This can include any payments to a designated organisation or entities owned or controlled by it, or to entities independent of that organisation but where payments will be for its benefit, it said.

As a charity with operations in the OPT, potentially in Gaza, it is your responsibility to ensure you are compliant with financial sanctions obligations.

Charities shouldnt be obstructed

In an online statement, Human Aid & Advocacy said that the correspondence is nothing more than an attempt to disrupt legitimate aid work, and thereby maximise the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Chair Nur Choudhury said: It is startling that when the UK government seeks to expand a 7-bn trade relationship with Israel  a state that has been roundly condemned for maintaining apartheid  it is also turning on its own citizens and restricting the delivery of aid to Palestinian survivors.

Charities and volunteers that are helping to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians living under apartheid deserve every support from UK authorities. They should not be obstructed nor threatened with prosecution. We call on the OFSI to reverse its decision and to stop the intimidation of Muslim charities especially during the month of Ramadan.

Threat of offence seems unnecessarily heavy-handed

Tom Keatinge, a director at the Royal United Services Institute charity, questioned why OFSI requested the information and how this would help support compliance.

Im wondering if someone in OFSI has recently woken up to the fact that, given the control Hamas has of Gaza, there is likely to be some sort of financial connection between the provision of utilities and municipal services and Hamas  with the associated implications, he told the Middle East Eye .

The fact that the letter includes the threat of an offence seems unnecessarily heavy-handed.

The Treasury did not wish to comment on the letter and referred to the governments bespoke guidance for the charity sector.

sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
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Heart Research UK  healthy heart grants

Grants available: up to 15,000

Deadline to apply: 27 April

Who is the funding for?

Community groups that are helping people look after their heart health can apply for Heart Research UK's grants. Organisations across the UK can apply but must have an annual income of less than 1m. The funding must go towards projects delivering health initiatives mainly focusing on the risks of heart disease such as smoking, alcohol etc.

When will you hear back?

Unspecified.

Find out more here.

Youth Investment Fund  refurbishment grant programme

Grants available: up to 150,000

Deadline to apply: 12 May

Who is the funding for?

The Youth Investment Fund, created by the government, has opened the Refurbishment grant programme for applications. It is looking for applications from eligible youth services that can use the funding to renovate their service and refurbish to refresh their offer to young people. These could be from improving the accessibility of their services, insulation, improving doors and window, damp proofing and more. The first round closed for applications on 11 April, but the second round opens on 24 April with a deadline of 12 May to apply.

When will you hear back?

Unspecified.

Find out more here.

Lloyds Bank Foundation  racial equity fund

Grants available: up to 75,000

Deadline to apply: 31 May

Who is the funding for?

Charities and community interest companies led by the communities they serve, and with an annual income between 25,000 - 500,000 can apply for a three-year unrestricted grant. It is inviting charities and CICs that work with people experiencing inequality due to their race or ethnicity. This 3m funding pot is tailored towards organisations outside of London as they tend to receive less funding than charities operating inside the capital. It is open to organisations in England and Wales but excludes London.

When will you hear back?

Unspecified.

Find out more here.

Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund  match funding

Grants available: Match funding

Deadline to apply: Rolling deadline

Who is the funding for?

Aviva, in partnership with RSPB and WWF, is offering match funding for donations up to 250. Organisations can receive up to 50,000 in match funding. Eligible projects must be either supporting people's financial wellbeing or climate action.

When will you hear back?

Unspecified.

Find out more here.

sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
A little over ten years ago, a long-awaited report, authored by Lord Justice Leveson, examined the incestuous relations between powerful media figures and leading politicians in the UK. It outlined egregiously intrusive and otherwise unethical tabloid reporting practices. And it recommended the establishment of a new regulatorindependent of the government, but underpinned by the force of lawwith the teeth to curb such abuses.

Leveson reached broad conclusions, but the judicial inquiry that led to his report was triggered by one abuse, in particular: the accusation that the News of the World had accessed the phone of Milly Dowler, a missing teenager who was later found murdered, in search of scoops in her messages. The paper was owned by Rupert Murdoch, who, as British media figures go, is the most powerful, and whose relations with politicians have been the most incestuous. The Guardian, which broke the Dowler story, had previously reported on other allegations of phone-hacking. The News of the World said that the practice was confined to a pair of bad apples, and Britains old press regulator essentially agreed. But hacking, it turned out, was widespread. Among the hundreds of alleged victims of the practice were the actor Hugh Grant, Princes William and Harry, and survivors of the 7/7 London subway bombing.

The phone-hacking scandal subsequently ballooned beyond the Murdoch press, in ways that have recently been back in the headlines; Harry and other famous plaintiffs are currently suing Associated Newspapers, the owner of the Daily Mail, alleging that they were illegally targeted. The scandal has also reappeared in recent stories on the other side of the Atlanticin which Murdoch has been front and center. After Murdoch was (privately) deposed in the defamation case that Dominion Voting Systems is bringing against Fox News, NPR compared his testimony to the time he was called to answer questions about phone-hacking in Britains Parliament (though this time, he didnt take a foam pie to the face). The New York Times characterized behind-the-scenes revelations stemming from the Dominion case as the most damning to rattle the Murdoch media empire since phone-hacking. The LA Times called Dominions suit the biggest threat to Murdochs company since then. The headline asked: Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different?

The details of the phone-hacking scandal and the Dominion lawsuit, and their respective fallout and potential remedies, are very different: one (to a significant extent) was about privacy, and triggered a political process; the other is about election denialism and defamation, and has led to a civil trial, which is scheduled to start next week. But recent coverage of the Dominion case has got me thinking again about the phone-hacking scandal. If Murdoch did survive it, then how, and why? And what, if anything, does the episode tell us about his survival prospects this time?

The phone-hacking scandal did have consequences for Murdoch and his media empire, at least in the immediate sense of the term. Top Murdoch lieutenants faced criminal prosecution: Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor (who went on to work as a government spin doctor), went to jail; Rebekah Brooks, who ran Murdochs British businesses, went to trial, but was acquitted. Amid the initial tidal wave of public anger, Murdoch shuttered the News of the World, which until that point had been Britains best-selling tabloid. The scandal also derailed Murdochs bid to take full control of BSkyB, a major British news and pay-TV company.

Despite reviving the bid years later, Murdoch would never win control of Sky; in 2018, he sold his stake to Comcast. But the void left by the closure of the News of the World would soon be filled by the launch of a Sunday edition of The Sun, which remains widely read. And in 2015, Murdochs British businesses appointed a new chief executive: Rebekah Brooks. She remains in post to this day; Tina Brown recently described her as an unknown force in Murdochs global empire.

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Meanwhile, Levesons ambitions for a deeper structural overhaul of the British print-media landscapewith Murdoch titles at its corewere also largely thwarted. Speaking on a 2021 panel discussion about Levesons legacy, Alan Rusbridger, who edited The Guardian at the time, said that the immediate aftermath of the phone-hacking scandal felt like an Arab Spring moment for the British press, but that the feeling quickly faded; speaking on the same panel, Nick Davies, the Guardian journalist who broke open the story, said he felt that his reporting achieved nothing significant. Davies had anticipated that Levesons report might lead to a decent regulator. In the end, the principal regulator that emerged post-Leveson was not backed by law, after the bulk of major British outlets balked at what they called a slippery slope for government intervention in the press; most of them signed on to a new independent body, while others, including The Guardian, decided to essentially regulate themselves. A law aimed at incentivizing titles to sign up for an officially-approved regulator by threatening them with higher legal costs was never enforced, and is now in the process of being formally repealed. Egregious tabloid violations of privacy continue.

The phone-hacking scandal did have some important downstream consequences. At the 2021 event, Rusbridger and Davies agreed that, to the extent knowable, it stamped out overtly criminal newsgathering practices in the British press, and that it at least reset broader cultural (and legal) norms toward a greater expectation of privacy. While the main regulator that emerged post-Leveson has many critics, it is at least an improvement on the body that came before; meanwhile, a second regulator, called Impress, is Leveson-compliant and oversees more than a hundred publishers. But these are much smaller than the big beasts of British journalism. And as Davies noted, Murdoch, personally, has retained outsize political influence.

Sweeping regulatory reform is not on the table in the Dominion-Fox case, for reasons ranging from the relatively narrow claims that are legally at issue, to the US First Amendment. But it is proving damaging for Fox and Murdoch, including in ways that recall the fallout from the phone-hacking scandal in the UK. Firstly, as with the Leveson process, it has opened a rare window into behind-the-scenes machinations at a Murdoch property, via the disclosure of messages showing that various figures at Fox, including Murdoch himself, knew that Trumps election claims were false but were scared of losing viewers. (Fox says Dominion took this evidence out of context.) In both cases, Murdoch himself has been forced to answer questions about his news operations. A recent ruling in the Dominion case makes it likelier that he will have to do so again at trial. (Fox says Murdoch isnt relevant to the claims at issue.)

Then theres the financial side. More than a decade later, Murdochs empire is still having to put money aside to settle phone-hacking lawsuitsincluding against The Sun, even though that paper has never conceded any liability. Dominion, for its part, is seeking 1.6 billion dollars in its suit against Fox; Smartmatic, a different elections firm, is demanding even more as part of its own defamation suit, which has moved forward even as media attention has largely fixated on the Dominion case. Murdoch is notoriously obsessed with his bottom line.

Its still unclear, though, whether Fox will have to pay more than legal fees in the Dominion and Smartmatic cases, and if so, how much. Whatever the verdict, it is, clearly, inconceivable that Murdoch would shutter Fox, as he did the News of the World. And Tucker Carlsons recent January 6 coverage, to cite one example, does not offer hope for a change of tone.

For all their differences, neither the phone-hacking nor the Dominion case were ever likely to be unsurvivable for Murdoch because of the degree of financial and political power that he has been allowed to accumulate, in both the US and the UK. This was a key reason that Leveson did not prove a watershed moment in changing the power dynamics of the British press. And why Dominion may not fundamentally restructure the American media landscape either.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: On the Tennessee expulsions, and a week of local stories that went national

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.
The husband of a deceased worker is not ineligible for workers compensation death benefits merely because he no longer lived with his wife when she died, a divided Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday.

In a 4-2 decision, the high court affirmed rulings by both the Polk County District Court and the state Court of Appeals that found Roger Blasdell was entitled to death benefits if further proceedings determine his wifes death resulted from a workplace accident. A deputy commissioner had determined Blasdell was not entitled to benefits because he had willfully deserted his wife Heather before she was injured.

The high court peered back deep into history, citing a 1919 court decision and quoting one of the Federalist Papers to support its finding that Roger and Heather Blasdells relationship was a marriage even if was unconventional.

The majority said the couples separation did not necessarily mean their marriage was illegitimate.

Although Roger engaged in a romantic relationship with another woman during this time, there is no exception under the statute precluding a surviving spouse from receiving workers compensation benefits for adultery, the majority opinion says, citing an Iowa statute. Nor is it within our authority to create such an exception.

Heather Blasdell injured her right heel in November 2012 while working as a caregiver for Linnhaven Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A deputy workers compensation commissioner determined that she was permanently and totally disabled as a result of the injury in conjunction with a more serious psychological impairment.

Heather died in September 2016 as the result of overdosing on the prescription drugs that had been prescribed to her to treat the work injury. Roger paid for his wifes burial expenses and then filed a claim for workers compensation survivors benefits.

Linnhaven and its workers compensation insurer, Accident Fund National Insurance Co., contended that Blasdell was not eligible for benefits. Spouses are generally presumed to be dependents entitled to death benefits under Iowa workers compensation law, but Section 85.42(1)(a) creates an exception if it is shown that at the time of the injury the surviving spouse had willfully deserted the deceased without fault of the deceased.

Roger and Heather had lived together since 1998 and had a daughter together in 1999, according to the Supreme Courts opinion. They married in 2008.

In 2011, however, Heather lost her job and moved from the couples home in Delhi, Iowa to Clinton Iowa, about 90 miles away. She later moved into a friends home in Cedar Rapids, and accepted a job with Linnhaven. Roger, in the meantime, moved to Manchester, Iowa because he could no longer afford to pay the rent at the home had had shared with Heather.

The couple stayed in touch but no longer had an intimate relationship, according to testimony. Roger became involved with another woman and lived with her for a time, but the couple later broke up. Roger, nonetheless, continued to speak with Heather regularly and gave her money occasionally, relatives said.

A deputy workers compensation commissioner determined that Roger was not eligible for benefits because he had willfully deserted Heather for no fault of her own. Roger asked for judicial review. A Polk County judge overturned the deputy commissioner, noting that it was Heather who had decided to leave the family home to look for work elsewhere. The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision that Roger was entitled to benefits.

The Supreme Court majority found little case law to inform its decision. The opinion cites a 1919 ruling that found a husband who had left the family home to find work had not deserted his wife. The majority opinion also quotes Federalist Paper No. 78, written by Alexander Hamilton, which says courts may truly be said to have neither force nor will, but merely judgment.

The opinion cites decisions from other states that have found spouses who lived apart were nevertheless entitled to survivor benefits.

By all appearances, Roger and Heather made a mutual decision to live apart and had an unconventional marriage at the time of Heathers 2012 injury, the opinion says. But the statutory language of Iowa Code section 85.42(1)(a) is clear that the spousal desertion exception only applies if at the time of Heathers injury, Roger had willfully deserted Heather without fault by Heather.

Justices Christopher McDonald and Dana Oxley dissented, and Justice David May did not take part in the decision. McDonald said in a dissenting opinion that the majority seemed to have gone of its way to find fault with the deputy commissioners ruling, despite precedent that establishes findings of fact by lower courts should be respected.

The case is far from settled. The decision returns the case to the Iowa Workers Compensation Division, which must decide whether Heather Blasdells overdose was a consequence of her injury or a willful act that is not compensable.
Railroads reported two derailments, one in Alabama on Saturday and another in Texas on Monday, but no injuries or toxic chemical spills were reported.

Three empty tank cars derailed but remained upright in a southeast Texas rail yard on Monday, the trains owner said.

A locomotive leaked fuel but it was contained, Kansas City Southern spokesperson C. Doniele Carlson said in a statement.

The derailment took place at around 7 a.m. in Kendleton, Texas, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Houston, Carlson said.

No injuries were reported and there is no track damage, she said. The impacted rail line was expected to reopen later Monday morning.

Officials with the Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office said they did not respond to the incident because it was contained to the rail yard.

The cause of the derailment is under investigation, Carlson said.

Federal regulators and members of Congress are urging railroads to do more to prevent derailments after recent fiery wrecks involving hazardous chemicals in Ohio and Minnesota prompted evacuations.

Norfolk Southern said Sunday that a train derailment in Alabama did not involve toxic materials and did not create danger for the public. Workers were cleaning up diesel fuel and engine oil that spilled from the locomotive.

Norfolk Southern said in a statement Sunday that the derailment of a locomotive and 11 train cars happened Saturday night in Jasper, AL.com reported. The company said two of the trains crew members were briefly trapped in the engine room, and that they were treated at a hospital and released.

Jasper is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Birmingham.

During the derailment, the locomotive rolled onto its side and as a result spilled some diesel fuel and engine oil, the railroad said Sunday. Norfolk Southern crews have responded and have been working through the night on cleanup, and all of the involved cars have been cleared from the track.

The derailment happened weeks after several Norfolk Southern train cars went off the tracks March 9 in a rural area of Calhoun County, Alabama, which is northeast of Birmingham.

The National Transportation Safety Board said in March it will begin a broad look at Norfolk Southerns safety culture  the first such investigation within the rail industry since 2014. The board said it has sent investigation teams to look into five significant accidents involving the company since December 2021.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 General Motors robotaxi unit Cruise LLC is recalling the automated driving software in 300 vehicles after one of its driverless vehicles crashed into the back of a San Francisco bus.

The March 23 collision was the fault of a software error in a Cruise automated vehicle (AV) that inaccurately predicted the movement of an articulated San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority bus, Cruise said on Friday. The crash caused moderate damage to the Cruise but did not result in any injuries.

Cruise in a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) filing on Friday said the software was updated on March 25 to address concerns that the system may inaccurately predict the movement of articulated vehicles such as buses and tractor trailers.

Fender benders like this rarely happen to our AVs, but this incident was unique, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt said in a blog post. We do not expect our vehicles to run into the back of a city bus under any conditions, so even a single incident like this was worthy of immediate and careful study.

Cruise in a separate filing with California said the vehicle was traveling on Haight Street when a bus stopped ahead of it and the Cruise struck the rear bumper.

Vogt said, The buss behavior was reasonable and predictable. It pulled out into a lane of traffic from a bus stop and then came to a stop. Although our car did brake in response, it applied the brakes too late and rear-ended the bus at about 10 mph.

The driverless vehicles view of the buss front section became fully blocked as the bus pulled out in front of the AV.

Since the AV had previously seen the front section and recognized that the bus could bend, it predicted that the bus would move as connected sections with the rear section following the predicted path of the front section, Vogt said, adding that it was the only crash of its kind that the company has experienced.

Cruise said after the update it determined the crash would not recur.

Cruise in September disclosed that it recalled and updated software in 80 self-driving vehicles after a June crash in San Francisco that left two people injured.

NHTSA last year said the software could incorrectly predict an oncoming vehicles path.

NHTSA in December opened a formal safety probe into the Cruise autonomous driving system after it received reports of incidents in which self-driving Cruise vehicles may engage in inappropriately hard braking or become immobilized.
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)
MEDINA, Ohio -- A lot of history revolves around war.

On April 8, about 80 guests of the Medina County Historical Society learned about such conflicts impact on local communities.

Retired Col. David Taylor shared a talk on Medina County at War. Taylors program featured a Power Point presentation showing photographs of soldiers from conflicts beginning with the Civil War through the current Global War on Terrorism.

Taylor focused on the service and sacrifice of Medina County citizens during times of war.

Three Medina County residents have died in deployments to Afghanistan or Iraq. All three -- Mike Finke, Jacob Frazier and Devin Grella -- attended Claggett Middle School, where a special wall in the lobby honors their sacrifice. (Mary Jane Brewer, special to cleveland.com)

In early 1860, Medina Countys citizens were willing to fight a war to save the Union from being divided. The county began forming local militias and infantry units in case of war.

In April 1861, the Civil War began and was mistakenly predicted to be a short war. As the war continued, drafts for men were called, and young men had to leave their Medina County farms to serve in the army.

Women supplied clothes and medical dressings, all of it collected at the county courthouse to be sent to army hospitals.

The cost of the war in human lives and torn bodies was very high, Taylor said. Twelve percent of the families in Medina County suffered the loss of a loved one; for every one soldier who died in battle, three died of disease.

World War I drew the service of hundreds of men from 14 of Medinas 17 townships. Of the 42 county citizens who died in the war, 19 were killed in action; the rest died of illness -- 15 from the Spanish flu.

Courtney Lawrence was the first county citizen to die in World War I. He was wounded by a German shell fragment and died pril 24, 1918. American Legion Post 202 in Medina is named after him in honor of his sacrifice.

World War II was the next conflict to take Medina County lives. Horace Messam Jr., from Wadsworth, was killed in Japans attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

The Permold Plant in Medina became a major manufacturer of aluminum castings to build warships. Workers for Permold came from Kentucky and West Virginia to live in special housing built for them.

Bobby Ring of Litchfield was captured by the enemy on one of the Philippine Islands and was made to walk 60 miles in The Bataan Death March. He died in a Japanese prison camp in 1944, suffering from malaria, cholera, dysentery and abuse from the guards.

Just five days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, 59 men from Medina County volunteered to serve in the military. By wars end, almost 3,000 county citizens served in the war, and 150 were killed or declared missing in action.

Lt. Stan Vanselow, from Granger Township, a B-24 bomber pilot, was Medina Countys first killed when his plane crashed in Tunisia in August 1942.

Medina County farmers and citizens lived on rations during the war, as food crops, gasoline, tires and scrap metal were given to the government for the war effort. Citizens also purchased War Bonds to help the government pay for the cost of building tanks, planes and ships.

Medina soldiers Jim Anderson and Ralph Waite fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Sevilles Sid Meager and Medinas Capt. Junior Woodruff each received two Silver Star medals for bravery.

Sgt. C.B. McClure saw the atrocities of the German concentration camps. He participated in the war crime trials and, after the war, eventually was elected mayor of Medina.

The Korean War claimed the lives of four Medina County citizens: Army soldiers Jack Lilley, Nathan McDonald and Billy Varney and the Marine Corps Clarence Huff.

Don Santee, a Korean War veteran, helped establish Medinas Meals on Wheels program. Robert Lewis served his country in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. George Rodgers, an Army combat veteran, served on Medinas City Council and as mayor.

Americas combat forces began arriving in Vietnam in 1965. Medina County lost 33 of its citizens -- the average age of those killed was 21.

Medina Countys Vietnam Memorial was dedicated in 1991. Col. Taylor himself served in Vietnam and was severely injured. But he credits the war with his introduction to his wife, Sue, an Army nurse who cared for him back in the States.

Three Medina County residents have died in deployments to Afghanistan or Iraq. All three -- Mike Finke, Jacob Frazier and Devin Grella -- attended Claggett Middle School, where a special wall in the lobby honors their sacrifice.

Taylor ended his presentation with a sobering prediction that If history is any indication, more sacrifice will be given in the future.

Read more from the Medina Sun.
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- In 2020, City Council passed a resolution that set a goal for all city facilities to run on 100 percent green energy by 2025 and for the community at large to reach the same goal by 2035.

On Monday (April 10), council approved a resolution to move toward those goals when it voted 7-0 for the city to become a SolSmart-designated community.

SolSmart is a national organization that helps communities and counties, as well as regional organizations, become leaders in solar energy use.

Becoming a SolSmart-designated community will demonstrate that South Euclid is committed to driving continual improvement in our nascent solar market and, in the process of doing so, working to fulfill the green energy goals outlined by Resolution 61-19 (committing the city fully to solar energy use), Community Services Director Keith Benjamin wrote in a memorandum to City Council members three days before the vote.

In partnership with the SolSmart technical assistance team, we will work to improve solar market conditions, making it faster, easier and more affordable for our residents and businesses to install solar energy systems, he wrote.

SolSmart will help the city and its residents increase the efficiency of local processes related to solar development, helping save time and money for all as the switch is made to green energy.

Solar soft costs -- which include business processes or administrative costs that can increase the time and money needed to install a solar energy system -- represent about 64 percent of the total cost of such a system.

Additionally, cumbersome and often confusing local government processes can add $2,500 or more to the cost for a homeowner going solar.

Technical assistance is available from SolSmart to South Euclid at no cost through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Benjamin told council.

The city will seek to achieve three goals through its association with SolSmart. They include:

-- Providing clear guidance for the permitting, inspections and installation of solar structures across all zoning classifications

-- Providing training for city employees on best practices in planning, zoning, permitting, inspections, installation, safety, financing options and best practices for solar installations

-- Sharing best practices in solar development regionally with other local governments.

City to host job fair

The city, together with Ohio Means Jobs and Cuyahoga County, will host a Job & Opportunity Fair for those 18 and older from 1 to 3:30 p.m. April 21 at the South Euclid Community Center, 1370 Victory Drive.

Some of the employers who will be present include Cleveland Clinic, Hillcrest YMCA, ODOT, Cleveland Builds, Dollar Bank, FirstEnergy, Daves Supermarket, MetroHealth, Cuyahoga County Public Library, South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools and more.

Belvoir Boulevard resurfacing

City Council also approved Monday an agreement with Cuyahoga County for funding assistance for the resurfacing of South Belvoir Boulevard, from Mayfield Road north to Bluestone Road.

County Council recently approved a $250,000 Department of Public Works Grant for the summer project. The city will match that grant with its own $250,000 payment.

In addition, County Council approved another $400,000 for the job. This money comes from the countys share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money.

City Engineer Anthony DiRenzo estimates that the job will take six to eight weeks to complete.

Based on the awarded lowest and best bidder, the projects total cost is $972,286. This amount is $479,276 less than 2022s lowest bid, which was not awarded.

Read more from the Sun Messenger.
SANDUSKY, Ohio  A Lorain woman was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Cleveland after she was ejected from car in a crash early Monday morning in which investigators believe drug use was a factor.

Maria Camacho, 41, was first taken to Firelands Hospital in Sandusky before being flown to MetroHealth Medical Center, according to the State Highway Patrol. The patrol says her injuries were life-threatening.

A news release from the patrol says a 2000 Lincoln passenger car, driven by a 35-year-old male from Lakewood, was going north on Columbus Avenue at about 1:03 a.m. Monday when it went off the right side of the road. The car struck a utility pole, ejecting Camacho, before it struck a house just north of Jefferson Street.
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio  Hazardous waste can be found nearly everywhere, from sprawling factories to household garages. But getting rid of waste can be a tricky proposition.

The train derailment in East Palestine illustrates that challenge.

Thirty-eight Norfolk Southern train cars derailed in the Feb. 3 wreck. No one was injured but about half of East Palestines population was evacuated for days when authorities ignited vinyl chloride in five cars to prevent explosion.

Gov. Mike DeWine said in March that 24,400 tons of excavated soil were piled at the scene and need to be removed.

But when word got out that contaminated soil and liquids laced with chemicals were to be sent to southeastern Michigan for storage, residents there and politicians were livid.

People were seeing pictures of what happened in Ohio  the smoke plumes, wildlife dying, Jordyn Sellek, director of a local government coalition, told The Associated Press. They were hearing about people having health issues, and thats scary. And now its coming into your community.

The outcry forced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to halt shipments from the crash site in the Eastern Ohio town of 5,000 to a hazardous waste landfill and underground deep-injection wells in suburban Detroit.

Resistance was fierce elsewhere, too  in Roachdale, Indiana, and in Oklahoma, where Gov. Kevin Stitt barred the waste from a landfill there.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott scuttled a companys plan to treat East Palestine liquids and dispose of them in the city wastewater system.

The outcry forced the EPA to finally issue a pointed reminder that states cannot interfere with federally authorized waste transport, Associated Press reported.

We ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the mess it made, and no one should be impeding, preventing or getting in the way, Administrator Michael Regan said March 17, adding it would take about three months to finish the job.

The controversy illuminates an uncomfortable truth: Hazardous waste is everywhere, byproducts of industrial processes and goods consumers value. And when people want to get rid of waste, it has to go somewhere.

The U.S. has 667 facilities that treat, store and dispose of hazardous wastes and are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, according to EPA. Of those, 252 are commercial facilities that receive waste from offsite customers. The others, including factories, handle only waste generated on the premises.

Seventeen commercial facilities have landfills, three have deep injection wells and 12 have incinerators, according to The Associated Press. Others store waste in containers while awaiting treatment or disposal.

The cleanup at East Palestine is massive. Ohio officials are pressing Norfolk Southern and EPA to get rid of tainted dirt and water. Some of that was hauled to three facilities in Ohio and others in Michigan, Indiana and Texas before protests stalled removal.

Government officials say air and water testing hasnt found dangerous pollution, but residents have complained of headaches, rashes and other health problems.

Long-term exposure to vinyl chloride is associated with liver damage and cancer, EPA says.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Cleveland man was fatally shot Friday in the citys North Broadway neighborhood, authorities said.

Anthony Norman died at 9 p.m. from several gunshot wounds to his chest, according to police and the office of the Cuyahoga County medical examiner. Officers found an empty white SUV in an open field before they spotted Norman lying in a driveway in the 4900 block of Anson Avenue, near Barkwill Avenue.

Norman, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police on Tuesday provided the first details of Normans death.

Police said residents saw a white SUV that traveled at a high speed in the area before they heard gunshots.

Homicide detectives are investigating.

No arrests have been made. Police have not identified any suspects in connection to the shooting.

The case is ongoing. Anyone with information should contact police at 216-623-5464.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A man was arrested Tuesday and accused of shooting a woman in Elyria, authorities said.

Police allege that Juan E. Kimbro, 55, shot Rickyisha K. Kimbro, 42, twice on April 6. Juan Kimbro has been charged with felonious assault, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, discharging a firearm on or near a prohibited premises and aggravated menacing, police said.

Police did not define the relationship between the Kimbros.

The shooting happened after midnight in the 400 block of Cambridge Avenue.

Juan Kimbro left the scene after the shooting. Rickyisha Kimbro was initially taken to University Hospitals in Elyria before she was transported to the hospitals Cleveland campus for treatment.

Juan Kimbro was arrested by Elyria police and U.S. marshals. He is being held in Lorain County Jail.

Last month, Kimbro was accused of drug possession and kidnapping. He has also been convicted previously of identity fraud and falsification, court records show.

Anyone with information related to the shooting should contact Elyria detectives at 440-326-1205.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Most Ohio K-12 students now qualify for $1,000 to help pay for before- and after-school activities as a new state law took effect expanding the eligibility for a $125 million program.

The Afterschool Child Enrichment, or ACE, educational savings account program last week increased from $500 per child to $1,000.

Traditional public, charter, private and home schooling students qualify if their families earn as much as 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is up to $111,000 for a family of four. The income limits jumped from the programs original cap of 300% of the poverty level, or up to $83,250 for a family of four.

Additionally, some students will qualify for ACE accounts regardless of family income if they live in school districts that struggle with chronic absenteeism or low performance on standardized tests, or if theyre in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

The Ohio Department of Education has a list of qualifying school districts and a table of eligible household incomes at https://www.aceohio.org/. The money can help pay for a variety of activities, including tutoring, day camps and music or language lessons.

The General Assembly first directed federal coronavirus school relief funds for the ACE accounts in 2021, in the states two-year operating budget. It expanded the ACE accounts in December, in House Bill 45, to increase the pool of children who qualify and increase the grant amounts.

Students in Ohio, as in the rest of the country, have fallen behind during the pandemic, which sent many children home for remote learning or sick days.

In English Language Arts, 64.6% of Ohio students were proficient on the test in the 2018-2019 school year. That dropped to 57% in 2020-2021 and ticked up slightly to 59.5% in 2021-2022. In mathematics, 61% of Ohio students were proficient in 2018-2019, 48.2% in 2020-2021 and 50.5% in 2021-2022, according to Ohio Department of Education data.

The Department of Education is contracting with Sunnyvale, California-based Merit International Inc. to administer the program. Merit OKs tutors and activity providers to ensure theyre offering a legitimate educational experience, and considers suggestions of new tutors and providers to approve for state money. It manages the ACE digital accounts, where parents can look up their balance, said Taimarie Adams, Meritss executive director of education.

In addition to students falling behind academically, the isolation of the pandemic resulted in some students falling behind socially. Thats why the state has accepted many group activities, such as day camps, to strengthen kids social skills, Adams said.

Once families know that theyre eligible, theres really no reason not to participate, she said. Its $1,000, if youre qualified, to get those flexible, customized education services for your students.

Thus far, parents have signed up over 25,000 Ohio students for ACE accounts. There are close to 1,000 approved vendors offering services.

Currently enrolled families can continue in the program and get $1,000, Adams said. The money may help families with enrichment their children are already enrolled in, such as tutoring sessions, Adams said.

Theres no data to reveal whether Ohio students have benefitted academically and socially from the activities paid for by their ACE accounts, since its just a year in. However, there is plenty of research showing children benefit from enrichment, Adams said.

What we do know is we know the impact of tutoring, and so we do know the impact of summer camps and students interacting with other kids, she said. And so those are the types of programs that are qualified.

Laura Hancock covers state government and politics for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  The Ohio State Board of Education decided Tuesday to delay hiring a search firm for a new permanent state superintendent of public instruction, with most members saying they were waiting for the legislature, which appears ready to overhaul the positions duties.

Shortly after voting to delay the search, the state school board passed a separate resolution that condemns the bills in the Ohio General Assembly that would remake the superintendents responsibilities and remove most of the boards power, putting education policy decisions under the governor.

The state hasnt had a permanent superintendent of public instruction since September 2021, when former Superintendent Paolo DeMaria retired, except for 11 days when Steve Dackin briefly filled the role but resigned amid an ethics investigation.

Read: Ohio state superintendent of public instruction finalist led job search for the position for months before applying, emails show

In that time, education has suffered due to the pandemic, when children were sent home for remote learning and sick days. Ohio students test scores are beginning to increase, but havent yet reached the levels seen before the pandemic.

The state board of education needs to find someone to lead the Ohio Department of Education, since current Interim Superintendent Stephanie Siddens is expected to take a position at a suburban Columbus school district.

Read: Ohio school board must find a new education leader, as schools chief looks to exit

At its Tuesday meeting, a majority of board members voted to delay, until the May meeting, the hiring of a search firm.

Last year, the board published a request for firms to bid for the job of leading the superintendent search. Nine proposals were reviewed by three members of the state board. Three firms scored the highest: Ray & Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; McPherson & Jacobson of Omaha, Nebraska; and the National Association of State Boards of Education in Alexandria, Virginia, said Aaron Rausch, the Ohio Department of Educations chief of budget and school funding.

But since then, the full school board has delayed selecting a firm because the superintendent job would change under Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 112, a pair of bills that would overhaul the Ohio Department of Education and rename it the Department of Education and Workforce. The new department would be led by a director who is a member of the governors cabinet.

That director would oversee the duties the superintendent now performs for Ohios 1.6 million students  administering testing, funding public schools and dispensing private school vouchers, licensing teachers, among other duties.

The bills would make the superintendent an advisor to the DEW director and a secretary to the state school board. The board would only oversee educator licensing, school district territory transfers and the hiring of a superintendent.

Gov. Mike DeWine has said he supports the proposal, all but assuring that it would become law if it passes the legislature.

School board members said the proposed legislation is unconstitutional, since a 1953 constitutional amendment passed by voters created an independent state board of education, moving it away from the governor.

Thats why a majority of them voted for a separate resolution Tuesday that said the state board is the most transparent way to enact education policy, that the state board should make rules about learning and that the lawmakers need to contact state board members when problems arise. Each member of the General Assembly will get a copy of the resolution.

State school board meetings are broadcast on the Ohio Channel, members of the public can comment at board meetings, or contact a board member who represents the region where they live to discuss an issue.

It is the right of Ohio citizens to hear that discussion, to hear that debate, said member Michelle Newman, of Newark, outside Columbus, who is elected to the board and voted for the resolution.

Board members are concerned that under the executive branch, education policy would be made behind closed doors, without officials hearing from families, teachers and administrators directly affected by it.

The board has 11 elected members and eight members appointed by the governor. Most of the governors appointees voted against the resolution.

I dont think the pendulum should swing one way or the other, said Brandon Kern, an appointee who voted against the resolution. I think theres probably a middle ground to be had.

State Sen. Andrew Brenner, a Delaware County Republican who chairs a Senate education committee and backs the move to overhaul Ohio education, said the resolution comes too late. SB 1 has passed the Senate and is in the House. Lawmakers have had four hearings on HB 112.

The current structure of education results in little accountability for the Ohio Department of Education, he said, because the state board isnt holding it accountable.

Laura Hancock covers politics and policy in Columbus for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. Read more of her work here.
 
Matthew Kacsmaryk, deputy counsel for the First Liberty Institute, answers questions during his nomination hearing by the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13, 2017, in a still image from video.

Attorneys general for nearly half of U.S. states in a new court filing warn that a federal judge's decision to suspend the Food and Drug Administration's 23-year-old approval of mifepristone across the country "presents devastating risks to millions of people," including those in states where abortion remains legal.

The attorneys general in their filing Monday called on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to keep mifepristone on the market as litigation over the legality of the abortion pill plays out.

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court in Amarillo, Texas, on Friday effectively revoked the FDA approval of mifepristone.

But he put his decision on hold for one week to give the Biden administration time to appeal.

Kacsmaryk's ruling will take effect at 12 a.m. CT on Saturday if the 5th Circuit does not halt it.

In their filing Monday, the Democratic attorneys general for 23 states and the District of Columbia condemned Kacsmaryk's ruling as "legally erroneous" and warned it would undermine the FDA's approval process.

The attorneys general argued that Kacsmaryk's order would "eviscerate the sovereign decisions" made by the states to protect access to abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision last summer to overturn Roe v. Wade, the case that since 1973 had said there was a federal constitutional right to abortion.

Mifepristone, used in combination with another drug, misoprostol, is the most common method of terminating a pregnancy in the U.S., accounting for about half of all abortions.

The attorneys general cited that fact in their brief.

"Because medication abortion is the most common method used to terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, curtailing access to this method will result in more abortions taking place later in pregnancy, further increasing costs and medical risks," the attorneys general wrote.

The Department of Justice on Monday asked the 5th Circuit to rule on its request to halt Kacsmaryk's decision by noon Thursday "to enable the government to seek relief in the Supreme Court if necessary."

Danco Laboratories, the distributor of mifepristone, also has asked the appeals court to pause Kacsmaryk's decision for at least 14 days so the company has the opportunity to "seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court."
As Wall Street gears up for another earnings season, analysts see some stocks better positioned than others for gains. The S & P 500 jumped a hair more than 7% in the first quarter of 2023, marking its second positive quarter in a row. A tech-stock rally helped fuel the broad market's rise, even overshadowing a regional banking crisis caused by the failure of Silicon Valley and Signature banks. Just look at the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK), which is up 20% so far this year, through Monday's close. Meanwhile, the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) has declined 6% so far in 2023. As investors keep one eye out on the financial sector and the other on the Federal Reserve's continued rate-hiking campaign, first-quarter earnings reports will answer which companies are truly resilient. Against this backdrop, CNBC Pro used FactSet data to screen for stocks that Wall Street analysts think have the largest potential upside heading into a new earnings season. The screen searched for names in the S & P 500 that met all of the following criteria: At least five upward revisions of earnings per share estimates in the past three months Forward per share earnings estimates changes of at least 10% for the next three- and six months Five or less downward earnings revisions in the past three months Average price target increased at least 10% in the past three months Online reservations provider Booking Holdings has the highest estimated increase for earnings per share over the next six months, reaching almost 51%. Meanwhile, its average price target is up more than 19% during the past three months. Shares have gained nearly 28% year to date after dropping 16% in 2022. And more than half of analysts covering Booking Holdings still rate it a strong buy or buy, according to Refinitiv data. BKNG YTD mountain Shares of Booking Holdings Another stock expected to outperform during earnings season is Paccar . The truck manufacturer's shares have surged more than 26% over the past 12 months (they haven't fallen since 2018), and analysts polled by Refiniv estimate the shares will gain another 9% over the next year. Per-share earnings estimates have increased 42% over the past six months. The Peterbilt and Kenworth truck maker has also seen its price target rise nearly 11% over the last three months. The only fly in the ointment might be that almost two-thirds of analysts covering Paccar the stock give it a hold rating, according to Refinitiv data. Customer relations management software maker Salesforce also made the screen. Salesforce's stock has soared about 45% in 2023 after tumbling 48% last year, and in the wake of activist moves from hedge funds , led by Dan Loeb at Third Point, Elliott Investment Management, Starboard Value, Inclusive Capital, and ValueAct Capital Partners. Salesforce's earnings per share are estimated to climb by 24% over the next six months. CRM YTD mountain Salesforce stock Software companies Ansys and Ceridian HCM Holdings also popped up on our screen. CNBC's Chris Hayes contributed to this report.
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway raised its stakes in Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co., Itochu, Marubeni and Sumitomo  all to 7.4%.

Shares of Japanese trading houses rose on Tuesday after Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway , raised his stakes in the firms and said he may increase his holdings even further.

In an interview with Nikkei, Buffett said he is considering additional investment in five major Japanese trading houses, adding that he was "very proud" of his existing investments in them.

Shares of Mitsubishi Corp. rose 2.08% in Japan's afternoon trade, Mitsui & Co. gained 2.66%, Itochu Corp climbed 2.98% and Marubeni Corp. advanced 4.55%. Sumitomo Corp. also rose 3.19%.

Berkshire Hathaway has raised its stakes in all five trading houses to 7.4%, according to CNBC's Becky Quick. That's up from positions of 6.6% in Mitsubishi Corp., 6.6% in Mitsui & Co., 6.2% in Itochu Corp., 6.8% in Marubeni Corp. and 6.6% in Sumitomo Corp, according to November filings.

Buffett told Nikkei that he is planning to meet with the companies later in the week "to really just have a discussion around their businesses and emphasize our support," according to the report.
An aerial view of the engines and fuselage of an unpainted Boeing 737 MAX airplane parked in storage at King County International Airport-Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, June 1, 2022.

Boeing delivered 64 planes last month, the most since December, while some customers continue to await new aircraft to capitalize on a boom in travel.

The handovers included seven Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which the company resumed deliveries of in mid-March after addressing a data analysis flaw that was reported in late February. Boeing also handed over 52 of its bestselling 737 Max jets, just as it gears up to increase production of the planes.

Both Boeing and Airbus planes have arrived late to some customers as the world's two largest manufacturers of commercial jets grapple with lingering supply chain and worker training strains from the Covid pandemic.

Last month, Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing's commercial aircraft unit, told reporters at an industry event in New York that the company plans to increase production of the 737 Max planes "very soon" from the current rate of 31 a month, but he didn't provide further detail. The company has targeted deliveries of more than 400 Max planes this year.

Boeing also reported net orders for 38 planes in March as demand picks up for new jets. Recent high-profile sales have come from United Airlines , which ordered at least 100 Dreamliners late last year, Air India and two Saudi airlines.
DETROIT  Ford Motor will invest 1.8 billion Canadian dollars (about $1.3 billion) in its Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, to transition the facility into a new electric vehicle hub, the automaker said Tuesday.

The plant, which will be renamed the Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex, will build the company's next-generation EVs that are expected to arrive to market around mid-decade. The retooling is expected to take six months and begin in the second quarter of next year, Ford said.

"We're reusing all of its infrastructure, from the land itself to the buildings and even its roads to quickly prepare for a new generation of manufacturing," said Dave Nowicki, director of EV manufacturing at the automaker, during a media call.

Ford declined to disclose the plant's expected production capacity or how many electric vehicle models the retooled facility will build. When the automaker initially agreed to the investment deal with Canadian auto union Unifor in 2020, the plant was expected to produce five EV models. However, those plans may have been scaled back to two vehicles, according to Automotive News.

The changes to the Oakville complex will include combining three body shops into one and adding battery pack assembly, Ford said. The facility will use cells from a battery plant that's currently under construction in Kentucky.

The Oakville complex will be the company's first time completely retooling a North American facility producing gas-powered vehicles into one that manufactures EVs. It has previously retooled parts of plants, built onto existing plants or announced new production facilities for EVs.

The Oakville plant will continue to build the gas-powered Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus crossovers up until the plant's downtime next year. A company spokesman declined to disclose its production plans for those vehicles after the investment is completed.

The investment is part of Ford's plan to have production capacity for 2 million EVs globally by the end of 2026.
Whirlpool is trading at a discount, and investors should take advantage of it, according to Goldman Sachs. Analyst Susan Maklari upgraded the stock to buy from neutral. Maklari's price target of $160 implies the stock could rally 24% over the next 12 months. "Although the near-term path is likely to remain choppy, we believe the current valuation provides an attractive entry point," she said in a Tuesday note to clients. Whirlpool has lost 8.8% since the start of 2023. It's also down more than 26% over the past 12 months. WHR YTD mountain Whirlpool The company has announced initiatives such as a majority stake divestiture in its unprofitable European operations, the acquisition of high-quality assets in InSinkErator and a cut of $500 million in structural costs. Those initiatives such help the company achieve longer-term revenue, cash flow and return targets, Maklari said. She said channel checks showed promotions have stabilized in North America in March, helping the stabilize pricing despite commodities remaining volatile. Maklari also noted that Goldman Sachs has predicted appliance industry shipments should hit a trough in 2023 after three years of elevated demand, though Whirlpool should outperform the broader sector by about 1% in the year as the company's supply chain issues continue resolving. A challenging economic environment can be somewhat mitigated in the appliance industry given that 50% of more of demand comes from product replacement, she said. That can make the industry more defensive compared with other building product categories. Maklari said operating margin should improve modestly through 2024, helped by deflation in raw materials and sustained list prices increases. Cost takeouts should offset any rise in promotional activitiy or any volume deleveraging seen in 2023, she said. To be sure, she said near-term visibility is limited and execution risk remains. But the analyst noted that's more reflected in valuation.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
An Android statue is displayed in front of a building on the Google campus on January 31, 2022 in Mountain View, California. Google parent company Alphabet will report fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday after the closing bell.

Google no longer requires people to be vaccinated against Covid in order to enter its buildings.

In a companywide email sent to employees Tuesday, which was viewed by CNBC, Google VP of global security Chris Rackow said "vaccines will no longer be required as a condition of entry to any of our buildings."

"Last month marks three years since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic," Rackow wrote in his memo. "We put in place emergency measures such as our Covid-19 vaccine policy to keep everyone safe, but now the world is in a very different place. Most people today have some level of immunity against COVID-19, case rates and hospitalizations have stabilized for many months now, and governments all around the world  including the U.S.  are ending emergency declarations, lifting restrictions and ending vaccination mandates."

In December 2021, Google told employees that they must comply with vaccine policies or theyd face losing pay and then eventually losing their job, citing rules for government contractors. Then, in February, ahead of asking employees to come back to offices and the U.S. appeals court deciding that rule's legal standing, the company relaxed policies around requiring vaccines for employment, as well as other rules around testing, social distancing and masks.

However, it still required employees to be vaccinated to enter company sites.

Several hundred Google employees at the time signed and circulated a manifesto opposing the company's Covid vaccine mandate, arguing leadership's decision will have an outsized influence in corporate America. It also noted outbreaks kept happening at Google offices among vaccinated employees while those who declined to declare their vaccination status were still banned from offices and other gatherings including off-sites, summits and team events.

In his email, Rackow encouraged employees to remain up to date with their Covid vaccines going forward, just as we encourage everyone to get a flu shot every year," adding that the vaccines have been "critical" to keeping Google employees safe in the workplace.

The mandate change comes after President Joe Biden signed a bill Monday to end the national emergency declared during the Covid pandemic that has been in place for more than three years. In January, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Covid remains a global health emergency, though weekly Covid deaths have dropped 70% since the peak of the first massive omicron wave in February 2022. However, deaths started increasing again in December as China, the world's most populous country, faced its largest wave of infection yet.

The mandate change also comes as Google has struggled to get employees back into physical offices and as the company has begun downsizing its real estate amid broader cost-cutting efforts. A CNBC report last month showed Google plans to ask cloud employees and partners to share desks at the division's five largest locations, which include New York and San Francisco.

Google declined to comment.

Read the full memo below:

Last month marks three years since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. We put in place emergency measures such as our Covid-19 vaccine policy to keep everyone safe, but now the world is in a very different place. Most people today have some level of immunity against Covid-19, case rates and hospitalizations have stabilized for many months now, and governments all around the world  including the U.S.  are ending emergency declarations, lifting restrictions and ending vaccination mandates.

Based on this, were now lifting our global vaccine policy. This means that vaccines will no longer be required as a condition of entry to any of our buildings. Those with existing accommodations will receive an email with further guidance.

Covid-19 vaccines have been a critical part of our overall strategy to keep Googlers safe, especially in the workplace. They also have the benefit of reducing the risk of severe disease if you get infected and have helped to protect vulnerable members of our community. We encourage everyone to remain up to date with their Covid-19 vaccines going forward, just as we encourage everyone to get a flu shot every year.

Well continue to follow all local regulations and will maintain our cleaning and ventilation standards in the office, and we ask that you do your part by monitoring your health and staying home if you feel sick.

Weve come through an extraordinary time, which called on us to adapt and come together in ways we couldnt have imagined. I am proud and grateful for the resilience youve all shown as we navigated so much uncertaintyfor our company and the worldover the past few years.

Thank you again for everything you do to keep your colleagues and communities safe.

Chris"
There are plenty of reasons to attend an Ivy League institution if you're one of the lucky students to be admitted. The eight famed colleges consistently earn top honors on various rankings, based on factors like academics and career outcomes.

Attending an Ivy may also help you earn a high salary. The University of Pennsylvania in particular reports the highest median incomes among former attendees who received federal aid. Data shows 10 years after starting at Penn, federal aid recipients earn a median salary of $103,246 annually.

Plus, Forbes's 2022 list of the 400 richest people in America featured 17 Penn graduates  and only 11 each from Harvard and Yale.

Even those who don't make it to the highest echelon of wealth may be able to expect a decent salary after attending an Ivy League school. Former Ivy League attendees who received federal aid earn a median of about $90,500 a decade after starting school, according to Department of Education (ED) data.

To help prospective students make informed decisions about where to attend college, ED publishes college scorecards showing data related to tuition, costs and outcomes for students who received federal student aid, including post-attendance earnings and debt upon completion.

Seeing what a school's former attendees earn after leaving school can give you an idea of the value of that institution's education and help you determine if it's worth the cost.

Here's a look at all eight Ivy League schools, ranked by median earnings among federal aid recipients.
This story is part of CNBC Make It's The Moment series, where highly successful people reveal the critical moment that changed the trajectory of their lives and careers, discussing what drove them to make the leap into the unknown.

In early 2006, Peter Beck took a "rocket pilgrimage" to the U.S.

The native New Zealander always dreamed of sending a rocket into space. He even skipped college because of it, taking an apprenticeship at a tools manufacturer so he could learn to work with his hands, tinkering with model rockets and propellants in his free time.

By the time of his pilgrimage, he'd built a steam-powered rocket bicycle that traveled nearly 90 mph. He hoped his experiments were enough to convince NASA or companies like Boeing to hire him as an intern. Instead, he was escorted off the premises of multiple rocket labs.

"On the face of it, here's a foreign national turning up to an Air Force base asking a whole bunch of questions about rockets  that doesn't look good," Beck, now 45, tells CNBC Make It.

Still, he learned that few companies were actually building what he wanted to build: lightweight, suborbital rockets to transport small satellites. On the flight back to New Zealand, he plotted his future startup, even drawing a logo on a napkin.

Convincing investors to back someone without a college degree in an industry where he couldn't even land an internship wouldn't be easy. Failure would push him even further away from his lifelong dream.

Beck launched the company, Rocket Lab, later that same year. In 2009, it became the Southern Hemisphere's first private company to reach space. Today, it's a Long Beach, California-based public company with a market cap of $1.8 billion. It has completed more than 35 space launches, including a moon-bound NASA satellite last year.

Here, Beck discusses how he turned his disappointment into opportunity, the biggest challenges he faced, and whether he ever regrets his decision to create Rocket Lab.

CNBC Make It: When you didn't land an aerospace job in the U.S., you immediately started thinking about launching your own company. Why?

Beck: One of the things I'm always frustrated with is how long everything takes. Ask anybody who works around me: There's a great urgency in everything. I don't walk upstairs, I run upstairs. As we've grown as a company, it's always a sprint.

I wish things would get faster. I'm always battling time.

How do you recognize a window of opportunity opening, and when is it worth the risk to jump through it?

Back your intuition and go for it.

I would classify my job as taking an enormous risk and then mitigating that risk to the nth degree. Given that, you have to see windows of opportunity and run into them.

The challenge is that, especially within this industry, you have to poke your head into the corner but not commit too deeply. Otherwise, you'll get your head cut off. I start by being very analytical: "OK, we're here. What happened for us to get here? And how do we get out of here?"

Sometimes, you can take big risks. Sometimes, you need to be very safe and methodical about how to back out of situations. Control the things you can control and acknowledge the things you can't control.

Running a rocket company is kind of like that scene in "Indiana Jones," where he's getting chased by that giant ball. You have to flawlessly execute, because the moment that you don't, the consequences can be terminal for the company pretty quickly.

What do you wish you'd known when you decided to start your own rocket company?

At the end of the day, I probably wouldn't change anything. There were plenty of errors and failures along the way, but ultimately, those things create the DNA of a company.

Getting your first rocket to orbit is the easiest part. On rocket No. 1, you've got all your engineers and technicians poring over one rocket for a large period of time. Now, there's one rocket that rolls out of that production line every 18 days. That's just immensely more difficult.

Sometimes, it's really good to have a bit of a bad day. Not during a flight, obviously, but during testing. Just when you think things are going good, you're reminded of how hard this business really is. Every time that you take too much of a breath, you'll be humbled very quickly.

What's the biggest challenge you faced getting started?

Nothing happens without funding in this business. When I first started Rocket Lab, I ran around Silicon Valley trying to raise $5 million.

At that time, that was an absurd amount of money for a rocket startup. A rocket startup was absurd [in general], it was only SpaceX then. A rocket startup from someone living in New Zealand was even more absurd.

We grew up and tried to raise really small amounts of funding. That really shaped us about being ruthlessly efficient and absolutely laser-focused on execution. The hardest thing [we did] is actually the thing that shaped the company into the most successful form it could be.

When do you feel the most pressure?

The most terrifying thing I've ever done is the staff Christmas party. That's the moment you realize that your decisions are responsible for these people's livelihoods. As a public company, I take that even more seriously. It's a tremendous amount of pressure.

On top of that, you have a customer. That can be a national security customer, where lives are depending on you delivering that asset to orbit. It can be a startup, and there can be hundreds of people at a company that you can destroy just by putting the payload into the ocean.

So I absolutely hate launch days. Now that we've done 35 launches, I'm not puking in the toilet like I used to. But man, I still really don't enjoy it, because there's just so much invested in each launch. So much responsibility.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Check out more from The Moment: Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky made a $220 million mistakeit turned his startup into a $5 billion company
New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks after former U.S. President Donald Trump appeared at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, after his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury following a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, in New York City, April 4, 2023.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a House Judiciary Committee subpoena issued by its chairman Rep. Jim Jordan to a former prosecutor who played a key role in Bragg's criminal investigation of ex-President Donald Trump.

The suit also asks a judge to rule that any potential future subpoena by the Judiciary Committee or Jordan on Bragg himself, or other of his current and past employees, will "be invalid, unenforceable, unconstitutional."

Bragg's suit escalates a battle that began when the Jordan, R-Ohio, and other Trump allies in the House recently opened an inquiry into the D.A.'s prosecution of Trump that has demanded documents and other material.

The suit calls that inquiry an "unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress on an ongoing New York State criminal prosecution and investigation of former President Donald J. Trump."

Later Tuesday, a magistrate judge rejected Bragg's request for a temporary restraining order against the subpoena issued to Mark Pomerantz, a former special assistant D.A.

But that judge scheduled an April 19 hearing in Manhattan federal court on his challenge to the subpoena. The hearing was set a day before Pomerantz's testimony would occur pursuant to the subpoena.

Bragg's 50-page complaint says that "Congress has no power to supervise state criminal prosecution," and accuses Jordan and his committee of engaging in "a campaign of intimidation, retaliation and obstruction."

The suit names as defendants Jordan, the Judiciary Committee and Pomerantz.

Pomerantz and another prosecutor quit the D.A.'s office in early 2022 after Bragg indicated he would not pursue an indictment against Trump in connection with false statements around the valuations of real estate assets owned by the Trump Organization. Pomerantz later wrote a book about his work on the probe.

Jordan and the committee had Pomerantz served with a subpoena last week, two days after Trump was arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court on a grand jury indictment alleging 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

The prosecution, the first of any U.S. president, former or otherwise, is related to a $130,000 hush money payment that Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election.

Bragg's suit says that the subpoena, and other demands by Jordan for information, "seek highly sensitive and confidential local prosecutorial information that belongs to the Office of the District Attorney and the People of New York."

"Basic principles of federalism and common sense, as well as binding Supreme Court

precedent, forbid Congress from demanding it," the suit says.

Bragg argues that the subpoena for Pomerantz "has no legitimate legislative purpose," and that even if it did it is still not enforceable because it could allow the Judiciary Committee to seek secret grand jury material and other investigative information that is protected by law.

Jordan quickly responded to Bragg in a tweet.

"First, they indict a president for no crime," Jordan wrote. "Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it."
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
The Social Security Administration office in Brownsville, Texas. Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc | Corbis Historical | Getty Images

White House funding proposal may not be enough

President Joe Biden has proposed a 10% increase in funding for Social Security with his fiscal 2024 budget to help improve customer service. The Social Security Administration's operating budget is is $14.1 billion this fiscal year, a $785 million increase over fiscal year 2022. But that increase is only 55% of the requested increase in Biden's proposed budget, Hinkle noted. "Even with incredible efforts from Social Security employees, we need the president's full [fiscal year] 2024 budget request to improve service," Hinkle said. While Biden is calling for $15.5 billion in funding for the agency, AFGE said it needs $2 billion more, or almost $17.5 billion. The Social Security Administration's staffing is at the lowest levels in 25 years, according to both the agency and AFGE. "As a result, the remaining employees are burned out," said AFGE Council 220 President Jessica LaPointe. "The public is not getting timely services they desperately need."

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AFGE's surveys show 76% of Social Security staffers say they have overwhelmingly large workloads that prevent them from performing their jobs to the best of their abilities. Meanwhile, 9 out of 10 workers know someone who has left their job due to overwhelming work-related stress. Poor employee retention is causing public service to deteriorate, LaPointe said. Hiring is down by 50% since 2010, according to LaPointe, while promotions are down by 25%. "Simply put, other employers offer better pay, benefits, telework and remote work options, upward mobility and support," LaPointe said.

'Sufficient staff' needed to reduce backlogs

The Social Security Administration is using the extra funding in its budget this year to restore staffing in field offices, teleservice centers, processing centers and state disability determination services, according to Hinkle. The agency onboarded 3,200 new hires through mid-March and continues to make progress, he said. The Social Security Administration is on track to hire more agency employees than normal this year, with hiring in the first half of fiscal year 2023 already surpassing total hiring in fiscal year 2022, Hinkle said. Agency attrition has also slowed so far this year, he said. Thus far in fiscal year 2023, separations are down by more than 25% per month compared to fiscal year 2022. As a result, hiring is outpacing attrition, Hinkle said. "Our planned hiring efforts for the remainder of this year will significantly increase the size of our agency workforce," Hinkle said. To improve services, the agency needs to be able to hire staff, which Biden's proposed budget increase would support, according to Hinkle. "We need to have sufficient staff to handle our growing workloads and reduce backlogs," Hinkle said. "To hire the staff needed, we must have sufficient funding." AFGE's $17.39 billion budget proposal for 2024 would include 56%, or $9.62 billion, for employee salary and benefits; 17%, or $2.92 billion, for state Disability Determination Services; 16%, or $2.75 billion, for rent, equipment, furnishings, security guards and other items; and 11%, or $1.89 billion, for technology.

Beneficiaries deserve a Social Security system that works and that means a fully funded Social Security Administration. Linda Benesch communications director at Social Security Works

It would also include $100 million for employee retention pay, $90 million for mailed Social Security statements and $20 million for magnetometers, or metal detectors. Biden's budget request of 10% more for the Social Security Administration is the "absolute bare minimum that Congress needs to approve for SSA," Linda Benesch, communications director at advocacy organization Social Security Works, said Monday. "Beneficiaries deserve a Social Security system that works and that means a fully funded Social Security Administration," Benesch said.
Check out the companies making headlines before the bell Tuesday.

CarMax  Shares of the vehicle retailer soared 7% on the back of better-than-expected quarterly earnings. CarMax earned 44 cents per share, beating a Refinitiv forecast of 24 cents per share.

Newmont  The stock lost 2.9% in early morning trading on news that Newmont raised its price proposal in its offer to acquire Australia's Newcrest Mining for $19.5 billion, which is 16% higher than Newmont's initial bid. If the deal goes through, it would further secure Newmont's position as the world's biggest gold producer.

Upstart  Upstart fell about 2% after JPMorgan initiated coverage of the lending stock with an underweight rating, citing a worsening environment for loans.

Whirlpool  Shares gained more than 2% after Goldman Sachs upgraded Whirlpool to buy from neutral. The bank said the appliance stock is cheap and can rally more than 20%.

Moderna  The biotech giant slid 4.9% after the company said it's delaying its flu vaccine due to a lack of enrolled cases in a late-stage trial. The news comes after a company spokesperson told CNBC on Monday that Moderna hopes to release a slew of new vaccines that target cancer, heart disease as well as other yet-to-be confirmed conditions by 2030.

LendingClub  The lending platform gained 4.8% after JPMorgan initiated coverage of the stock as overweight. The bank said the LendingClub's recent selloff was likely too harsh as investors grew nervous about financial institutions and the potential for a recession.

Bumble  Shares of the matchmaking company gained 1% after Baird initiated coverage of Bumble and gave it an outperform rating, noting the stock has lagged the S&P 500 this year and is now trading at a "relatively inexpensive" valuation. The firm assigned a $23 price target on Bumble, suggesting the stock stands to gain more than 23%.

Array Technologies  Shares of the solar technology company gained 2% after Wolfe Research initiated coverage of Array with an outperform rating. Wolfe said in a note to clients that Array should benefit from the expansion of utility-scale solar energy production.

WW International  Shares popped more than 28% after Goldman Sachs said the weight loss company could triple in value. "WW's subscriber base and earnings power has been shrinking, but we believe a catalyst for a turnaround has emerged with its new obesity drug on-ramp solution," Goldman said.

 CNBC's Brian Evans, Alex Harring, Sarah Min, Samantha Subin and Jesse Pound contributed reporting.
Shares of electric vehicle giant Tesla have risen more than 70% this year, after falling 65% in 2022 in its largest-ever annual decline. Investors have flocked to the EV darling, with rising appetite for growth stocks and signs of a rebound in EV demand. But competition is getting stiffer and there's the prospect of further price cuts . So is it time to buy the stock? Two investors faced off on CNBC's " Street Signs Asia " on Wednesday. Bull vs. bear Ross Gerber, president and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth Management, is an unabashed Tesla bull. To him, Tesla is the undisputed "leader in the world globally" in sustainable transportation and energy. "When you look at a company whose full focus is advancing sustainable transportation and energy, Tesla's technology is so far advanced, and I'm just talking the technology around EVs and not even talking full self-driving technology, but just the technology that they have built is so far advanced that their moat is so deep that they will be a leader for hopefully a decade or more to come," he said. Gerber added that Tesla is already producing more EVs than any other automaker in the world, save for BYD . And it's only "at the beginning" of a "massive shift" from oil-based infrastructure. Gerber is excited about the prospects for Tesla's first pickup truck  the Cybertruck  which is expected to begin production by end-2023. He named "unrelenting pressure" on margins as one such downside, given the stiff competition in the EV industry. Tesla cannot be the EV leader without cutting prices, Bido added. "The exact reason why you need to be a bull is that the Cybertruck is coming. And the truck business is a massive opportunity not just for Tesla, but for Rivian , Ford and many others that are going to go into the truck business," he said, calling the market "massive." But Francisco Bido, senior portfolio manager of Integrated Alpha Group at F/m Investments, said now's not the time to bet on Tesla. "We have a quantitative process at Integrated Alpha. And because of this process, it's leading me to believe that Tesla is not really a good investment at this point. We look at our quant scores, and then we look at the story behind Tesla and we're not that happy with it. We believe it has more downside than upside," he said. Gerber, however, said he's expecting margin growth later in the year. "I think the worst is happening now for margins, and I think margins will get better throughout time," he added. Though the first quarter looks "questionable" to Gerber, he expects Tesla to see "massive" cost savings once its Gigafactory in Berlin reaches "profitable scale." One of the most important components of an EV is the battery, and Gerber said Tesla is a leader in battery technology. Tesla works with Panasonic and Contemporary Amperex Technology to supply batteries for its vehicles, and also produces batteries through its massive Gigafactories  an advantage that competitors such as Ford and GM don't have, Gerber said. But Bido is less bullish when it comes to Tesla's leadership in battery EVs. "Toyota has the most and the highest number of patents for EV batteries," he said. "They have it, not Tesla." 'Over-promising and under-delivering' Tesla's first-quarter vehicle deliveries may have fallen short of Wall Street's expectations , but they represent an improvement from the previous quarter and were in line with the company's own guidance. But according to Bido, it's not enough that a company like Tesla merely meets expectations. "That's simply not enough to get them forward. That's not a strategy for the long term. That's just getting a run in the short term, right? That doesn't tell me anything about what they're going to do next year," he said. Bido said Tesla has to "get past this stage of over-promising and under-delivering," citing the Cybertruck as an area in which the company has overpromised. "Promises are not good enough. You really have to deliver at some point." He urged investors to "do their homework" and examine the competition. But Gerber, for his part, said Tesla is a buy, given that it's fairly valued and is trading at "far" multiples for its potential and its long-term growth rate. "You have this wonderful opportunity to invest long term in an extremely unique company that is a leader in their industry and in many different segments of technology," he said. "And because it's an extremely volatile investment, they should dollar cost average into the company and they will be best-served in the long term."
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on his economic priorities at a Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) training center in DeForest, Wisconsin, U.S. February 8, 2023. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

U.S. President Joe Biden concluded his brief visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement  a landmark peace deal that effectively ended decades of sectarian conflict. Biden was greeted off the plane on Tuesday evening by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to begin a four-day visit to the island of Ireland. In a Wednesday speech at Ulster University in Northern Ireland, he urged Northern Irish political leaders to restore their power-sharing agreement in order to seize the economic opportunities available via potential U.S. corporate investment in the region. A British government readout of the meetings between Biden and Sunak on Wednesday stated that the two leaders "both expressed their sincere hope that the institutions in Northern Ireland will be restored as soon as possible." "The Prime Minister thanked President Biden for the role the U.S. people and businesses have played in Northern Ireland's prosperity," it added. Biden will now travel south of the border to the Republic of Ireland, where he will remain until Friday to deliver speeches, conduct meetings with officials and visit distant relatives.

Stalemate in Stormont

The president's visit to Belfast came against a febrile political backdrop. The Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature established as part of the Good Friday Agreement, has been suspended since February 2022, as unionist parties refuse to take their seats in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol. A key tenet of the post-Brexit Withdrawal Agreement signed between the U.K. and the European Union during former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's tenure, the Protocol effectively established a trade border in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the U.K. while the Republic of Ireland is a separate nation state that remains part of the EU. The Good Friday Agreement established a power-sharing devolved administration in Northern Ireland that ended three decades of violence between largely Catholic Irish republicans, who seek a united Ireland, and predominantly Protestant pro-British unionists who wish to remain part of the U.K.

DERRY/LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland - April 10,2023: Derry is host to annual parades by dissident republican groups that mark the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, the armed insurrection against British rule in Ireland that catalysed the creation of an independent state of Ireland. Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently signed the Windsor Framework, a renegotiated deal that sets out to address the problems with the Protocol. But the prominent pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party rejected the proposals and has yet to return to the Assembly in Stormont. Theresa Villiers, former U.K. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland between 2012 and 2016, told CNBC on Tuesday that further changes would be necessary to the Windsor Framework. "Whilst it's positive in many ways  particularly on movement of food and medicines between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it really removes a lot of the frictions  it doesn't deal with all the problems of the Northern Ireland protocol, so I'm afraid it's unfinished business," Villiers told CNBC's Tania Bryer. "Continuing negotiations with the EU to resolve those issues is the best way to bring the unionists back into government and to get those Good Friday Agreement institutions up and running again." Unrest Unionist dissatisfaction with the Northern Ireland Protocol has led to riots in recent years, but political unrest continues to emerge on both sides of the traditional divide. Annual parades held over the weekend by dissident Irish republican groups in the border city of Derry  a long-standing focal point for sectarian violence  also resulted in police vans being petrol bombed. The parades were held to mark the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising  the armed rebellion against British rule in Ireland that paved the way for the establishment of Irish independence.

DERRY/LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland, U.K. - April 10, 2023: Dissident republican youths create a road block following an illegal Dissident march in the Creggan area of Derry. Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Portions of the dissident republican movement reject the Good Friday Agreement and its compromises to this day, though many of the current rioters were born after the deal was signed. Villiers noted that the weekend riots appeared to be "pre-planned" and geared towards "optics" and "attention," while the vast majority of the Northern Irish population is committed to a peaceful and democratic future. Fringe dissident groups have increasingly drawn disaffected young people towards militant causes in recent years  a development that has raised concerns among politicians and public bodies. The flare up highlights the simmering generational resentments that can still be inflamed in Northern Ireland, particularly during the April to July period, when politically charged marches are held by both nationalist and unionist communities. Political impasse focused on Brussels, not Washington The Good Friday Agreement was signed on April 10, 1998, by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and then-Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, after 71% of voters in the North and 94% of those in the Republic approved the proposals and compromises borne out from years of painstaking negotiations. The Agreement ended three decades of sectarian violence known as the Troubles, which claimed more than 3,000 lives. It brought nationalist and unionist parties together in Stormont, near Belfast, to share power through the devolved government.

DERRY/LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland - April 10, 2023: A Police vehicle is attacked with petrol bombs during an illegal Dissident march in the Creggan area. Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is perceived to have played an instrumental role during the Northern Irish peace process, with the Good Friday Agreement cited as one of his administration's major foreign policy successes. Clinton became the first sitting U.S. President to visit Northern Ireland and the first to appoint a U.S. special regional envoy. Since then, both George W. Bush and Barack Obama have visited, while Clinton was awarded the Freedom of the City of Belfast in 2018. Speaking to reporters before departing for Belfast on Tuesday, Biden said that his top priority was to "make sure the Irish accords and Windsor agreements stay in place" and to "keep the peace." The Biden administration has long been keen to highlight both the president's Irish roots and the historic ties between the island and large swathes of the American population. However, the influence of Irish-American culture has often led to skepticism from unionists in Belfast who perceive Washington as susceptible to nationalist influence. Though Biden used the trip to promote a return to functioning government in Stormont, his previous support for the Northern Ireland Protocol and current support for the Windsor Framework has drawn criticism from DUP politicians. DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson reportedly told journalists following a meeting with Biden on Wednesday that the president's visit "doesn't change the political dynamic in Northern ireland," adding "we know what needs to happen." Donaldson called on the British government to further protect Northern Ireland's place and trade access within the U.K. in order to restore order to the region's political institutions.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland - April 10, 2018: Former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US President Bill Clinton at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images
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Life expectancy in the U.S. is between three and five years lower than the average in other high-income countries  and the gap comes in part from misinformation, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said. "It's looking worse, not better, over the last several years," Califf told CNBC in an interview Thursday at the agency's headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. It's not just the Covid pandemic contributing to the decline, he said, pointing out the gap with peer nations is widening. Califf said a new factor has joined the list of known causes of life expectancy disparities like race, ethnicity, income and education: living in a rural area, where he noted that people are exposed to different information sources. "Why aren't we using medical products as effectively and efficiently as our peer countries? A lot of it has to do with choices that people make because of the things that influenced their thinking," Califf said.

The commissioner is just more than a year into his second turn at the top of the agency, one of only two top leaders of the FDA to return to the job for a separate second term. Since he left in January 2017, at the end of the Obama administration, the pandemic and rising political tensions have made combating misinformation even more complicated  and led Califf to make it one of his top priorities at the agency. "You think about the impact of a single person reaching a billion people on the internet all over the world, we just weren't prepared for that," Califf said. "We don't have societal rules that are adjudicating it quite right, and I think it's impacting our health in very detrimental ways."

He said there's a need for better regulation, including "specific authorities at FDA, FTC and other areas" to root out misinformation.

A bigger bully pulpit

Califf spoke to CNBC a day before a federal judge suspended the FDA's approval of abortion pill mifepristone, a decision that could have broad implications both for abortion access and regulation of future drugs. The FDA commissioner spoke about multiple topics including efforts to cut drug prices, a priority for the Biden administration and lawmakers from both parties in Congress.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing to examine an update on the ongoing Federal response to COVID-19, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., June 16, 2022. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

Califf noted that while the FDA doesn't play a direct role in pricing medicines, it has tools to influence drug costs. "We have an indirect role, and we have a bully pulpit to make the public aware and put some pressure on," he said, noting that he has previously said drug prices are set by "what you can get minus the shame factor." Califf recently wielded some of that power after the agency approved the first over-the-counter version of Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal drug. He tweeted that the FDA encouraged the manufacturer, Emergent BioSolutions , to make the drug available "as soon as possible and at an affordable price." He plans to use that bully pulpit in a bigger way to rein in drugmakers on pricing  while trying to walk a fine line with checking a pharmaceutical industry that he noted produces lifesaving products from vaccines to statins. "There's a balance here that we have to reach," he said. "And in some areas we're not in the right balance right now."

Incentives for research

Califf is also encouraging the drug industry to consider investments in neglected areas of research. He spoke with CNBC the day the agency withdrew approval of the only available drug for preterm birth, Makena, after a confirmatory trial didn't verify its clinical benefit. "The data were quite clear," he said. "But we should be reminded that we're seeing an explosion of maternal mortality in this country and a lot of premature delivery leading to prolonged illness and neonatal intensive care unit stays for infants." "We need effective treatments," Califf said. "And the industry is not producing much in the way of effective treatment." He also pointed to tobacco cessation products and nonaddictive medicines for chronic pain as areas "where the industry is not really producing." Incentives put in place by the FDA and others in areas like cancer and rare diseases have revolutionized drug development for those conditions, and similar efforts could help in the development of other treatments, Califf said. "Now we've got to go back to these other areas and figure out what to do to stimulate activity," he said.

New obesity drugs
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While the US and China are fierce technology trade rivals, they appear to share something new in common: concerns about accountability for, and possible misuse of, AI. On Tuesday, the governments of both countries issued announcements related to regulations for AI development.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a branch of the US Department of Commerce, put out a formal public request for input on what policies should shape an AI accountability ecosystem.

These include questions around data access, measuring accountability, and how approaches to AI might vary in different industry sectors, such as employment or health care.

Written comments in response to the request must be provided to NTIA by June 10, 2023, 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

The news comes on the same day that the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) unveiled a number of draft measures for managing generative AI services, including making providers responsible for the validity of data used to train generative AI tools.

The CAC has said providers should be responsible for the validity of data used to train AI tools and that measures should be taken to prevent discrimination when designing algorithms and training data sets, according to a report by Reuters. Firms will also be required to submit security assessments to the government before launching their AI tools to the public.

If inappropriate content is generated by their platforms, companies must update the technology within three months to prevent similar content from being generated again, according to the draft rules. Failure to comply with the rules will results in providers being fined, having their services suspended, or facing criminal investigations.

Any content generated by generative AI must be in line with the country's core socialist values, the CAC said.

China's tech giants have AI development well under way. The CAC announcement was issued on the same day that Alibaba Cloud announced a new large language model, called Tongyi Qianwen, that it will roll out as a ChatGPT-style front end to all its business applications. Last month, another Chinese internet services and AI giant, Baidu, announced a Chinese language ChatGPT alternative, Ernie bot.

AI regulation vs. innovation

While the Chinese government has set out a clear set of regulatory guidelines, other governments around the world are taking a different approach.

Last month, the UK government said that in order to avoid heavy-handed legislation which could stifle innovation, it had opted not to give responsibility for AI governance to a new single regulator, instead calling on existing regulators to come up with their own approaches that best suit the way AI is being used in their sectors.

However, this approach was criticized by some, with industry experts arguing that existing frameworks may not be able to effectively regulate AI due to the complex and multilayered nature of some AI tools, meaning conflation between different regimes will be inevitable.

Furthermore, the UKs data regulator issued a warning to tech companies about protecting personal information when developing and deploying large language, generative AI models, while Italys data privacy regulator banned ChatGPT over alleged privacy violations. A group of 1,100 technology leaders and scientists have also called for a six-month pause in developing systems more powerful than OpenAI's newly launched GPT-4.

When it comes to technology innovation and regulation, theres a certain natural path that most governments or legislators usually follow, said Frank Buytendijk, an analyst at Gartner.

When there is new technology on the market, we learn how to use it responsibly by making mistakes, he said. Thats where we are right now with AI.

After that, Buytendijk said, regulation starts to emerge  allowing developers, users and the legal systems to learn about responsible use through the interpretation of the law and the case law  followed by the final phase, where technologies having responsible use built-in.

We learn about responsible use through those inbuilt best practices, so its a process, Buytendijk said.
Singapore sees 3.5 times Indian tourists in 2023 so far compared to last year: STB

The number of Indian visitors to Singapore in 2023 so far has seen a surge when compared to last year. Tracking the post-pandemic surge in tourist arrivals to the Lion City, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced that visitor numbers topped expectations, with over 2.9 million arrivals in the first three months of this year.

Singapore has seen 193,230 tourists from India so far this year, which is about 3.5 times more than the 54,530 who arrived in the same time period in 2022. Photo courtesy: CAG

This is 62 per cent of 2019's first quarter figure of the 4.7 million people who visited Singapore in the first quarter of 2019, the STB stated.

Singapore has seen 193,230 tourists from India so far this year, which is about 3.5 times more than the 54,530 who arrived in the same time period in 2022. Indian residents are the fourth largest source of tourist arrivals in the first quarter after Indonesians (523,300), Malaysian (278,910) and Australians (265,730). Americans made up the fifth largest group of visitors by country of origin at 168,960.

Visitors from China, who have traditionally been the largest source of tourists for Singapore with over 3.75 million visitors in 2019, made up the ninth largest group of tourists in Q1 with only 124,560 coming to Singapore so far.

The Free Singapore Tour, which was suspended during COVID, also resumed operations from April. Photo courtesy: CAG

To inspire travel to Singapore, the STB together with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced the launch of an SGD 10 million (USD 7.5 million) Singapore On-screen Fund and has partnered with various portals to launch tourist campaigns and web series such as 'On my own in Singapore'.

The fund will support selected projects by key M&E companies, which must be set in Singapore and launched before the first quarter of 2027. Successful projects will receive funding support of up to 30 per cent of qualifying costs related to featuring Singapore, including production and marketing costs.

The Free Singapore Tour, which was suspended during COVID, also resumed operations from April. This tour is organised by STB together with Changi Airport and is meant for transit passengers at Changi who have a layover period of at least five-and-a-half hours but less than 24 hours. They must also have valid entry visas for Singapore to be eligible for the tours.

The two-and-a-half hour-long tours include the City Sights Tour, Heritage Tour, Jewel Tour, and a new Changi Precinct Tour. Over 80,000 passengers participated in the Free Singapore Tour in 2019.

Another exciting development for tourism in Singapore is the announcement of a memorandum of understanding between the STB and Disney Cruise Line. Starting from 2025, a brand-new Disney Cruise Line ship with a passenger capacity of about 6,000 and a crew strength of 2,300 will be stationed in Singapore for five years.

The ship will take passengers on cruises around Southeast Asian countries, which are home to more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Disney Cruise Line ship is expected to attract millions of local and foreign cruise passengers, including fly-cruise passengers who arrive in Singapore by air, and bring significant spillover benefits for the wider economy.

"We look forward to welcoming the magic of Disney Cruise Line to Singapore in 2025," Keith Tan, chief executive of STB, said. "This is an important milestone for STB and reflects Disney Cruise Line's strong confidence in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The new Disney cruise ship will be an attraction itself and is expected to boost the tourism sector in Singapore for many years to come."
US involvement in Ukraine crisis odious

Chinadaily.com.cn) 16:05, April 11, 2023

This photo taken on Dec 8, 2022 shows the US Capitol building in Washington, DC, the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

A small number of Pentagon documents on the Russia-Ukraine military conflict, including some marked "top secret", were posted on Twitter and Telegram on Wednesday. Since then, journalists, researchers and social media sleuths have uncovered additional classified documents posted as early as March 1 on additional sites.

But it is not the leak that is the most surprising aspect about the classified documents but how deeply the United States is involved in the conflict and how much it is doing to help Ukraine. Despite its denial of direct involvement, the US is already a de facto participant in the conflict, considering both the military and intelligence aid it has offered to Ukraine.

The documents that have appeared on social media only serve to tell the world that the US is part of the hostilities, and what it has been doing is meant to make the conflict continue. Behind the rhetoric of "supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression" is the US' geopolitical thinking of dividing the world into two camps as it did during the Cold War.

With another camp which is supposed to pose a threat both militarily and ideologically to the camp headed by the US, Washington can continue to make the case that the European Union countries must unite under the banner of North Atlantic Treaty Organization to seek the protection of the US.

Only under such a "dual-polar" global framework will the US be able to maintain its hegemony, which has been almost shattered by the globalization of the world economy and the increasingly multipolarized world.

If anything, the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine has provided Washington with a glimmer of hope that it may be possible to make the military conflict a protracted war and thus divide the world into two camps: the one that supports Ukraine and the other that supports Russia.

That explains why Washington has made no efforts at all to mediate between the two parties and has excluded any possibility of a political settlement of the conflict.

Think what will happen if the war continues for years to come and EU countries have to continue their military aid to Ukraine, and the world is deeply divided because of the conflict.

The global industry and supply chains will be disrupted or even shattered. The EU's economy will be seriously affected. The development of the global economy which has already suffered considerably because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict will see no hope of recovery. Neither will those in need of help for survival in developing countries see any hope of shaking off poverty.

It is both selfish and callous of Washington to do whatever it can to make the hostilities continue and do nothing to seek a political settlement of the conflict. Global efforts are needed to bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiation table for a political solution as early as possible. That is the way to maintain world peace and development, and that is what China is doing.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
So what a weird double bill hes on now, touring the country as the opening act for Mr. Jeannie Buss, Jay Mohr. The two comics recently played Philadelphia and while reviewer A.D. Amorosi found Mohr funny enough, it was Hammond who made the bigger impression, as it were. Take in this one-sentence summary:

Like an insistently vague and hypnotizing David Lynch character you cannot look directly at, or away from, Hammond was self-immolating/self-critical about his dumb schooling and stupid past, a drunken father who hated the childs bedroom impersonations, hinted at various drug and drink addictions, and wound up telling stories about smoking crack as a celebrity in New York and running around with one-time hookers, lost and in need of directions by following Dominos pizza delivery vans.

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Wed pay to see that David Lynch movie. One can only imagine the slackened jaws of fans who came for Mohrs less  complex bro humor. (A typical Mohr bon mot: They give you a hotel room; you have sex. What is it about a hotel room, the second you walk in, you start bumpin', makin' sandwiches?)

But this isnt a phase for Hammond. Hes been telling these stories for years, most famously in his autobiography, God, If You're Not Up There, I'm F-cked: Tales of Stand-Up, 'Saturday Night Live' and Other Mind-Altering Mayhem. Even while a regular cast member on SNL, Hammond regularly checked into a psychiatric hospital for treatment and that undercurrent of sadness made its way into impressions of Bill Clinton and others. His empathy for John McCains experiences with torture during the Vietnam War made an impression nearly impossible. I didnt want to make fun of a guy whose body, soul, and voice were changed by combat, he told CNN in 2011. This is why I had a hard time playing John McCain and didnt want to play John McCain.

Hes still making art out of struggle. Ive never actually written a joke, he told an audience recently during a comedy special taping. I just tell stories about how fucked up I am.

For Amorosi, those painful stories added up to more than comedy during his recent Philly show: Uncomfortable or not, Darrell Hammond was brilliant, and sad, and brilliant and haunted and brilliant and worth hearing and watching wherever he plies his slow motion disaster stand-up comic mirth and madness.
There are two things that seemingly everyone loves about the French: their protests and their patisseries. This genius put them together.

Luis Sal is one of Italys premier content creators, boasting millions of followers across his many social media accounts. The stand-up comedian/actor/videographer is also an avid traveler, and his most recent trip to the land of ratatouille and riots coincided with ongoing protests organized by French labor unions over their governments decision to overhaul the national pension system and raise the legal retirement age by two years.

Sal arrived at the French capital city with a mission: to taste each of the top five highest-rated croissants in Paris and compare their quality. The picket line could not stop Sal from achieving his goal  only the bread line could do that.
Reporting an incident to the correct authorities or vulnerability clearinghouses can be an experience fraught with frustration. You pour time, energy, and resources into fighting an intrusion, all while keeping company officials and stakeholders up to date and preventing sensitive information from getting into the wild. Explaining what happened might seem just like another layer of hard work and exposure to potential embarrassment when the details are out there for all to see.

But legislators have been pushing enterprise executives to share more information about security incidents and theyre creating new requirements in the United States and around the world to mandate the disclosure of such information. Why?

As painful or counterintuitive as it might seem to explain how the bad guys did what they did to your organization, there are some great reasons to report breaches. Many security leaders say they fully support requirements that mandate organizations to report incidents of compromise (IOCs) and provide information on how they occurred, saying authorities can use that intelligence to help cybersecurity community better combat bad actors.

Creating a proper culture of notification and investigation

To facilitate the sharing of incident information, many jurisdictions are implementing laws such as the US Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA), which when fully implemented will require covered entities in the critical infrastructure sector to report incidents and ransomware payments within specific timeframes to the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

In Australia, the 2018 Security of Critical Infrastructure Act requires covered entities to report to the Australian Cyber Security Centre within 12 hours of becoming aware of a critical cyber security incident. Singapores Cybersecurity Act of 2018 also contains a reporting requirement for critical information infrastructure owners and the European Unions NIS2 Directive seeks to streamline reporting obligations in EU member countries.

What we need is a proper culture of notification and investigation of all incidents, aimed not at assessing blame (or worse, mocking the victims, as sometimes happens) but rather at learning lessons and improving security for everyone, says Stefano Zanero, a Polytechnic University of Milan professor whose research focuses on cybersecurity and is an Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) International board member.

Simply put, the reporting process helps organizations defend themselves and others in their industry, says Sara Sendek, managing director for cybersecurity and data privacy communications at FTI Consulting. It helps others know what to look for, and it would give CISA a better view of whats happening so the government could take more offensive actions to disruptive these [hacker] gangs, says Sendek, a member of the US Secret Service Cyber Investigations Advisory Board and a former CISA public affairs director.

Incident reporting has many benefits

CISOs and their teams, analysts and researchers, security vendor professionals, and even some government officials have a long history of sharing information  albeit not because sharing has been mandated. Rather, they have typically shared intelligence through industry-aligned nonprofit Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs), roundtables, conferences, and their own personal networks.

But security officials say many members of the security community have been less inclined to officially report security incidents to government officials or law enforcement. That hinders organizations and government agencies, says Michael Daniel, CEO of Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA) a nonprofit information-sharing organization. The level of reporting getting to the government and law enforcement is not what it should be for the government to do its job right, he says.

The FBI provided some statistics around this in January 2023 when FBI Director Christopher Wray announced that the agency had disrupted the Hive Ransomware Group; in that same announcement Wray noted that only about 20% of Hives victims had contacted law enforcement.

Government authorities and some cybersecurity leaders are calling for security executives to report incidents as well as to more openly and more frequently share information  specifically the hacker tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) theyre seeing in their own enterprise operations.

In that announcement, Wray specifically spoke about the value of reporting incidents to authorities, thanking those victims and private sector partners who worked with us and who helped make this operation possible.

Sharing is caring when it comes to cyber incidents

Reporting has multiple benefits, Daniel says. To begin with, reporting IOCs allows law enforcement and other government agencies to assist organizations during cyber events. It also enables authorities to collect data, including forensics and evidence. That information can be used to alert others to TTPs so they can better defend against them and thwart attacks, so you can potentially reduce the impact of ongoing activity, Daniel says. Those data can also be used by authorities to counteract hacker activities through diplomatic, technical, or other channels as well as take down or prosecute bad actors.

Additionally, reporting helps officials to build a better understanding of cybercrime and its impact  an area where Daniel and others say estimates certainly exist but are all over the map. That in turn leads to yet another reason to embrace reporting mechanisms: a way to track progress. As Daniel explains, reporting helps establish the baseline of the rate and volume of malicious cyber activity across the Internet so we can determine whether what were doing is effective.

The world is digital and interconnected, notes Dena Kozanas, associate general counsel and chief privacy official at MITRE. We cannot be an island unto ourselves when it comes to protecting critical assets, like data, in our society. Each entity, whether a government unit or business organization, must think of itself as part of a larger, interdependent community. This is why it is more important now than ever to encourage and even mandate reporting of cyber incidents.

Existing information-sharing networks

As vice president and CISO of global tech company Insight and a former security leader at RSA, a security software company, Jason Rader has for years regularly met with US government officials to provide intelligence. It wasnt uncommon for me to give a dossier to the government, he says, noting he and his research teams often reported suspicious activities that indicated that a cyberattack was imminent to government agencies.

Rader continues to communicate with agencies such as CISA and the FBI. He regularly meets with other CISOs, engaging in roundtables governed by Chatham House Rule, whereby participants can use the information being discussed but may not disclose specifics. He passes information along through his professional network, sharing insights on security events via phone calls and the like. All these channels, Rader says, help him and other CISOs pass along critical insights in a relatively short amount of time, something that helps validate security strategies and even stop or limit attacks in action.

In addition to those channels described by Rader, institutions exist for more formalized information gathering and sharing. While ISACs are a good place to start, there is, for example, InfraGard, a partnership for information sharing between the FBI and the private sector for the protection of US Critical Infrastructure. Europe and other countries have similar entities, such as the National Cyber Security Centre in the Netherlands, which shares cybersecurity news and facilitates multiple ISACs.

Yet their data comes only through voluntary sharing, and to date that has limited their potential impact, some experts say. Weve largely operated in a voluntary world for sharing, says Jeff Pollard, vice president and principal analyst with Forrester Research. You have email, chat, Slack, or Discord, and subscription email lists where people informally pass along information. You have these whisper networks where practitioners share [information] when they see something interesting.

Pros and cons of todays intel-sharing channels

Each reporting channel has advantages and disadvantages, benefits, and limitations. For example, one-to-one sharing among enterprise security professionals can quickly distribute relevant information such as a new attack technique or a hackers actions following an initial breach to those in the field who can put the information to immediate use.

That kind of one-to-one sharing among professional colleagues can more easily pass along context and even offers of mutual aid during actual attacks. When its organic information sharing, people are sharing the information they think is most useful. Thats really important because they need those technical indicators, they need to know the tactics, techniques, and procedures of the adversaries, Pollard says. What I worry about, when its formalized or forced, is that the information becomes less relevant, or too much information might be shared so its less useful, or it might be dated and the adversaries have moved on.

Meanwhile, existing informal and formal sharing networks can protect the identities of organizations witnessing the hacker activities that are raising alarms  something that can be important to executives and legal teams particularly when the incidents are concerning but not compromising the business (and thus dont need to be publicly disclosed or officially reported).

Furthermore, security leaders say existing networks often disseminate information that wouldnt have to be disclosed under existing or future reporting laws  a novel attack attempt, for example  yet is valuable intelligence, nonetheless.

Todays sharing networks arent perfect

Experts also acknowledge that there are problems with todays information-sharing networks. First, the networks, particularly informal ones based on relationships and professional connections, exclude large numbers of security workers who could benefit from the insight. As Sendek asks: Shouldnt everyone have the same access to information to protect themselves?

Additionally, because whether and what to share is voluntary among such networks, CISOs and their executive and legal teams may be unwilling to disclose critical details, fearing repercussions or liabilities. Everyone I have ever spoken to agrees that sharing incident intelligence is the wise thing to do to build industry-wide capability, awareness, strength, and resilience, says Steve Wilson, an Australia-based vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research. But opening ones kimono is difficult.

Its hard to get permission (or even understanding) from non-cyber specialists in a firms management, Wilson says. Incident details of course are often highly commercially sensitive. So, theres a prisoners dilemma: participants in principle will agree to share sensitive information about their own organisations if everyone agrees to do so for the common good, but at the same time they all suspect their peers are going to hold back.

Such networks also tend to be formed around industries, as is the case with ISACs, which means information can be readily distributed in one sector but may not make it to others.

A push for more comprehensive data

Consequently, there is an emerging consensus among many security leaders who believe the existing networks of information sharing are not adequate to build the collective knowledge required to better defend against bad actors. We dont know everything, and thats what makes everyone uneasy, Rader says.

Others also point out that even though security practitioners are sharing information, theres no comprehensive centralized repository of whos hitting whom with details on the actor type, attack type, and other critical information. Thats the kind of information the cybersecurity profession could use to evolve and mature, says Charles Harry, an associate research professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, director of the schools Center for Governance of Technology and System (GoTech), and a senior research associate with the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM).

Some data, of course, exists. In fact, CISSM has the Cyber Events Database, which collects publicly available information on cyber events, beginning in 2014 to the present. (Information on the website notes It was created to address a lack of consistent, well-structured data necessary for making strategic decisions about how to invest resources to prevent and respond to cyber events.)

We are the largest source of repository data in the world, which is sad, because Im doing this with undergraduates. Thats a major problem, Harry says.

He says he supports more mandatory reporting requirements to ensure officials truly have the most complete data possible. If you look at the data, we need both the informal networks, because theyre effective, and we also need the formal networks to bring the industry forward in a more methodical way.
Recent destructive attacks against organizations that masquerade as a ransomware operation called DarkBit are likely performed by an advanced persistent threat (APT) group that's affiliated with the Iranian government. During some of these operations the attackers didn't limit themselves to on-premises systems but jumped into victims' Azure AD environments where they deleted assets including entire server farms and storage accounts.

Researchers from Microsoft track this cluster of malicious activity under the temporary identifier DEV-1084, but they found strong links between it and resources and techniques used in the past by an Iranian APT group known in the security industry as MERCURY or MuddyWater. Last year, the US Cyber Command officially attributed MuddyWater to a subordinate element within the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).

"Microsoft assesses that MERCURY gains access to the targets through remote exploitation of an unpatched internet-facing device," the Microsoft researchers said in a report. "MERCURY then handed off access to DEV-1084. It is not currently clear if DEV-1084 operates independently of MERCURY and works with other Iranian actors or if DEV-1084 is an effects based sub-team of MERCURY that only surfaces when MERCURY operators are instructed to carry out a destructive attack."

Extensive lateral movement through compromised networks

The attackers start by identifying internet-facing server and web applications that have unpatched remote code execution vulnerabilities, such as Log4Shell. After successful exploitation, they plant web shells on the servers that allow them to execute system commands remotely.

This is followed by the creation of local user accounts and elevating their privileges to administrator, the deployment of a PowerShell backdoor for persistence and Active Directory credentials theft and the deployment of remote access tools such as RPort, Ligolo, and eHorus. Once this foothold has been established, the attackers begin extensive network discovery and lateral movement, using the credentials they manage to progressively escalate their privileges and compromise more systems.

The goal is to eventually gain administrative access on domain controllers and use Group Policy Objects (GPO) to disable security tools and deploy a ransomware payload to as many systems as possible along with a scheduled task to execute it. This ransomware program leaves encrypted files with the extension DARKBIT and drops a ransom note.

Jumping into the cloud infrastructure

However, if the victim organizations run hybrid Windows domain environments that combine local AD with Azure AD, the attackers will try to move into the cloud infrastructure. In the incidents seen by Microsoft, the attackers abused the high-privileged accounts created by the Azure AD Connect agent. This is an on-premises application that allows organizations to keep their local and Azure AD environments in sync, with features such as password hash synchronization for shared identities, pass-through authentication, objects synchronization and more.

When this agent is installed, it creates several accounts in the local Windows Server Active Directory and cloud Azure AD environments with automatically generated long and complex passwords. One of these accounts is called the AD DS Connector Account and typically has powerful permissions including the ability to replicate directory changes, modify passwords, modify users and modify groups.

Another account is called the Azure AD Connector Account and is used by the synchronization service to manage Azure AD objects. In an older solution called DirSync this account had the Global Administrator role on Azure AD, while in recent versions it has the Directory Synchronization Accounts role.

The attackers were seen compromising the system hosting the Azure AD Connect agent and then setting up a SSH tunnel on it that called back to an attacker-controlled device. The attackers then deployed the AADInternals tools, which have a feature called Get-AADIntSyncCredentials that allows local administrators to extract the plaintext credentials for both the Azure AD Connector account and the AD DS Connector account.

"Shortly before the ransomware deployment, we observed authentication from a known attacker IP address into the Azure AD Connector cloud account," the Microsoft researchers said. "Investigating this sign-in showed that the threat actors were able to access the account on the first attempt without any guessing or modification of the password, indicating that the actors possessed the password for this account. The Azure AD Connector account is configured with single-factor authentication, making it easier for the attacker to gain entry and elevate privileges."

The attackers also abused another compromised administrator account that did have multifactor authentication (MFA) enabled. However, they chose to access the account via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which can be used to evade MFA. They used the Azure Privileged Identity Management (PIM) to claim the Global Administrator privileges for the account in Azure and then elevated its access to get permissions to the organization's Azure management groups and Azure subscriptions.

"The Azure AD Connector account and the compromised administrator account were then used to perform significant destruction of the Azure environmentdeleting within a few hours server farms, virtual machines, storage accounts, and virtual networks," the Microsoft researchers said. "We assess that the attackers goal was to cause data loss and a denial of service (DoS) of the targets services."

Separately, the attackers used their access to give the legitimate Exchange Web Services app the full_access_as_app permission in the account, which gave it full access to all mailboxes. They then issued new certificates that allowed them to issue access tokens and authenticate to cloud resources as the Exchange application. This access to the API was then used to access many mailboxes and perform thousands of search activities in them, likely with the goal of identifying and copying sensitive data.

The attackers also gave the Azure AD Connector account the SMTP Send on behalf permission to allow it to send email as one of the organization's high-ranking employees. They then proceeded to send both internal and external emails impersonating the employee.

Microsoft advises organizations to follow the Azure Identity Management and access control security best practices and to enable Conditional Access and continuous access evaluation (CAE) policies. Conditional access allows organizations to enforce device compliance and trusted IP requirements for account access in addition to MFA, while CAE evaluates in real time changes to user conditions that could trigger security risks.
Cybersecurity provider ZeroFox has announced a partnered capability with Google Cloud to warn users of malicious URLs and fake websites in a bid to disrupt phishing campaigns.

As part of the partnership, ZeroFox will automatically detect phishing domains for customers and submit verified, malicious URLs through Google Clouds Web Risk Submission API, disrupting attacks and warning users of malicious content on billions of devices using browser warnings. This is expected to help both ZeroFox customers as well as Google Cloud users.

If a URL or domain flagged by ZeroFox is validated as malicious, Google will provide a warning message to users across its 5 billion devices in a matter of minutes, advising them not to access the domain in question, said James Foster, founder, and CEO of ZeroFox.

AI engine used to take down malicious domains

ZeroFox provides a SaaS-based offering that uses global intelligence collection and AI analysis across a broad set of data sources to deliver continuous domain monitoring to accurately detect instances of account takeovers, website spoofs, and impersonations.

It also features a domain takedown service built on an AI analysis engine that automatically detects malicious domains including typosquatting, homoglyphs  common spelling-based, domain-jacking methods  and other early indicators of phishing sites. Post detection, ZeroFox works with its global disruption network consisting of domain hosts, registrars, and other partners to have these malicious sites taken down or blocked.

The ZeroFox external cybersecurity platform collects intelligence across the internet, looking for indicators of threats targeting our customers, including malicious domains, social media impersonations, data breaches, and more, Foster said. We leverage AI analysis and detection capabilities in order to provide internet speed and scale of the collection as well as detection of otherwise hidden threats, such as object detection in images and logo infringement.

ZeroFox uses AI mainly in the processing and analysis phases of its backend pipeline. During the processing stage, AI technologies such as computer vision and natural language processing are applied to all content. At the analysis stage, more specific AI techniques are used depending on the use case.

This results in highly accurate alerts being generated and sent to customers through the platforms service delivery model, with 100% (all true positives) precision, Foster said.

To ensure that relevant and actionable alerts are delivered quickly, ZeroFox employs a combination of AI and human intelligence in its service delivery model. This approach is consistent with other cybersecurity monitoring, alerting, and response systems.

While protection against external attacks is a crucial add-on to an organizations security regime, only a few security products cater to this segment. Most solutions, however, have some form of machine learning and behavior analysis component in place to detect and protect against malicious activities.

The most popular approach is for security companies to OEM this service from OpenText/Webroot, through BrightCloud reputation service, which is the recognized market leader for this segment, said Dave Gruber, principal analyst at ESG. Some other security companies maintain their own databases of malicious URLs, embedding similar services within their offerings through a Gateway or API-based add-on security offering.
Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media

FAIRFIELD  Metropolitan Transportation Authorities have released the name of a local woman who died Sunday afternoon after being struck by a train near the Fairfield Station.

She was identified as 43-year-old Jamie Ann Lynn.
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  French President Emmanuel Macron laid out his vision of a bold, assertive European future on Tuesday, but not before simmering anger at his domestic pension reforms boiled over once more as he began his speech in the Netherlands.

Some members of the audience at a theater in The Hague shouted at Macron, accusing him of undemocratically forcing through his plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Macron's pension reforms have prompted massive protests and strikes in France. Critics were additionally infuriated when he used a special constitutional power last month to push the bill through parliament without a vote.

Some protesters in The Hague theater Tuesday brandished a banner calling Macron the president of violence and hypocrisy.

I can answer these questions if you give me some time," Macron responded, speaking in English. The protesters were quickly removed from the hall.

Its very important to have this type of discussion, an unflustered Macron said. The day you consider that when I disagree ... Im the one to decide ... you put democracy at risk, he added, citing the examples of rioters storming the U.S. Capitol in 2021 and Brazils top government buildings earlier this year.

Earlier in the day, before Macron laid a wreath at the national monument in Amsterdam, a small group of people protesting Macrons pension reforms briefly held up a banner in French that said: We will not be beaten into retirement. More protesters also demonstrated peacefully outside the theater in The Hague where he made his speech.

In his scripted speech, Macron outlined his vision for the future of European sovereignty, saying it should be based on the five pillars of competitiveness, industrial policy, protectionism, reciprocity and cooperation.

Russias war in Ukraine opened probably one of the most perilous times of our European union. Our union is said to grow stronger through crisis but never had we faced such a threat," Macron said.

Both the COVID-19 pandemic and the war "were big accelerators of this European sovereignty, he added.

We can set up a new economic doctrine which will allow us to reconcile creating jobs, financing our social model, dealing with climate change and being more sovereign and deciding for ourselves, he said. This is critical in this period when we have war and our economy is being weaponized.

The speech in The Hague came after Macron raised eyebrows with his comments on Taiwan after his recent visit to China.

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 an interview published Sunday in French newspaper Les Echos and by Politico Europe.

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 remarks 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.

The interview was given 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 U.S. last week.

China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war. The government in Beijing says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

Macron 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. His speech in The Hague also called for Europe to become ever more self-sufficient to avoid becoming reliant on other powerful trading partners.

Macrons two-day trip to Amsterdam and The Hague is the first state visit by a French leader since Jacques Chirac 23 years ago and underscores the close links between the Netherlands and France and the two leaders.

After arriving in Amsterdam, Macron  with Dutch King Willem-Alexander  inspected a guard of honor on the square outside the capital's royal palace as a military band played and the French and Dutch flags fluttered in a brisk breeze.

In the evening, Macron and his wife, Brigitte, returned to Amsterdam for a banquet hosted by Willem-Alexander.

On Wednesday, Macron's itinerary includes visiting a science park in Amsterdam, talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and viewing a blockbuster exhibition of paintings by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum.

___

Corbet reported from Paris. Peter Dejong contributed from Amsterdam.
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.
BRIDGEPORT  Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are looking for Derrick Francis, accused of killing Brianna McKoy in front of her baby last week, police said.

McKoy, 23, was found shot dead in a Coachlight Square condominium complex on Vincellette Street around 11:20 a.m. last Thursday. Her infant was in the condo at the time of the killing, but was found unharmed, Bridgeport Police Capt. Kevin Gilleran said.

McKoy is the daughter of popular Jamaican reggae figure Ricky Trooper, who took to Instagram to express his grief.

"You're gone, but not forgotten," Trooper said during a montage of music and photos of McKoy. "Your memories will live on."

A manhunt has ensued for Francis, 41, who police said was dating McKoy and is considered "armed and dangerous." Police said Francis, who has an arrest record in New York, is known to frequent the North End of Bridgeport and the Bronx, N.Y.

Multiple agencies at the local, state and federal level are involved in the hunt, Gilleran said.

"They are partnering with us in locating the suspect," he said.

McKoy and Francis were in a dating relationship when she died, Gilleran said. Bridgeport police had been called in the past to deal with incidents involving the couple, he said. Police are calling the death a domestic violence homicide.

Anyone who sees Francis should call 911 to report his location and then follow up with case officer, Detective Keith Hanson, at 203-581-5243, police said.
BRIDGEPORT  Police said a local mother brought her teenaged son back to the scene of a dispute and then stood waving a gun around as he cut a 25-year-old man with a knife.

Sjenelei Sky Casper, 33, of Louisiana Avenue, was charged Sunday with first-degree threatening, risk of injury to a child, breach of peace and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Her son was charged with first-degree assault, carrying a dangerous weapon and breach of peace, and was turned over to state juvenile authorities.

During Caspers arraignment Monday afternoon, Assistant States Attorney Justina Moore urged Superior Court Judge Maria del Pilar Gonzalez to set a high bond for Casper.

This was a very serious incident that she was involved in, Moore said.

But Caspers lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Carli Riccio, asked the judge for leniency for her client arguing that Casper is the mother of four children and has no prior record.

She fully cooperated with police, Riccio added.

The judge set Caspers bond at $100,000 and continued the case to April 25.

While according to the police report she was not involved in the most serious conduct, the allegations are that she was involved and had a handgun, the judge said.

According to police, Caspers son had been involved in a dispute with another teen over a mutual girlfriend.

At about 7 p.m., Sunday, police said Casper drove her son to the other teens home on Goddard Avenue. Police said Casper then stood in the street, waving a handgun, demanding the teen come out of the house so that she and her son could end the dispute.

But instead, police said the teens 25-year-old brother came out of the home and confronted Casper.

When the man refused to bring his brother out to fight Caspers son, police said the teen then took a knife and sliced the man's abdomen. Both mother and son fled.

Police said when officers got to the scene they managed to wrap the victims waist in a towel until an ambulance arrived. They said the victim was in surgery on Monday.

Police said Casper later surrendered herself and her son to officers, claiming her son stabbed the victim in self defense.
MILFORD  More than a dozen criminal cases against a Shelton man accused of illegally contacting a domestic violence victim 69 times after pleading guilty to several felonies could be resolved next month, attorneys involved in the case said Tuesday.

The suspect, Gordon Cole, 27, appeared briefly at Superior Court in Milford Tuesday before Judge Peter Brown.

Cole was charged last month with contacting a person who had a protective order against him dozens of times when he was locked up following a Dec. 29 arrest on charges of violating a protective order.

At the time of the Dec. 29 arrest, he was free on bond while awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty to three counts of violating a protective order, as well as second-degree reckless endangerment and motor vehicle charges in connection with arrests in March, September and December 2021.

In court Tuesday, Assistant States Attorney Alanna Paul said that Coles more recent arrests complicate his prior plea agreement.

The prosecutor said she had met with Coles lawyer, Benita Lee, and the judge Tuesday about a path to resolve these cases as a whole.

She said she and Lee would meet again prior to Cole being brought back to court next month.

Well try to meet before that next court date to see if we could come to an agreement, Paul said.

The prosecutor also said the alleged victim in the case has asked that a protective order be modified to allow contact with Cole, but Paul said she doesnt support the change.

The judge said the issue could be addressed when Cole, who is currently being held in lieu of bonds totaling $600,000 is scheduled to return to court May 11.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Cole and the victim talked in codes using a pseudonym during phone calls while Cole has been incarcerated following his Dec. 29 arrest. The warrant said Cole made a total of 69 calls to phone numbers for the alleged victim.

Cellphone video of the arrest prompted protests at the police department, after which Shelton cops released bodyworn camera video of the incident and said an internal review into the use of force used to arrest Cole was ongoing.

In a letter to Mayor Mark Lauretti Lee shared Tuesday, she called the incident horrific.

The body camera images are so disturbing it invokes an emotional response, Lee said in the letter, calling into question an internal review and instead calling on the mayor to try to work together for a solution.

As you are aware, Black males are dying at the hands of police officers around the country, Lee wrote. What I recently witnessed by way of body camera via the Shelton police department, had the potential to add to that number.

The lawyer said her client was a victim of bad policing, inadequate training, excessive force and police misconduct."

Lauretti said Tuesday he had not seen the letter, but said he had watched video of the incident and defended the actions of police.

"If you watch the video I think our guys acquiesced way too long," he said. "They were more than willing to try to amicably remove him from the house."

He blamed Cole for not obeying officers' commands.

"This whole issue, the knife cuts both ways," Lauretti said. "There has to be cooperation on both ends. You cant continue to resist and provoke and push people."

Hearst Connecticut Media Group has requested a copy of any materials connected with the police departments use of force review.
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TRUMBULL  High schoolers once again got a taste  in some cases literally  of cultures from around the world.

The schools World Languages Department hosted World Language Week from April 3 to April 6. The event included a variety of cultural programs, including Connecticut Council of Language Teachers poetry contest participants reciting poetry in more than 20 different languages. Other events included International Dance Day presentations and French Cafe Night performers.

This week opens students eyes to the range of beautiful cultures that make up our school, said sophomore Kibali ODonald, who was instrumental in event planning and as a liaison among World Language teachers and the student body.

I was able to see and experience a multitude of different cultures and learn more about those I know a little about, ODonald said. This helps students to love how diverse their school community is, and how big of a world there is to discover.

Susanna Lavorgna Lye, a teacher at Trumbull High for 25 years  the last nine as World Languages Department chair  said this was the first World Language Week since the pandemic, with more than 200 students participating in some fashion.

The students were able to get a taste of all different cultures in many ways, she said. From learning an ethnic dance, to creating a food to share from their own culture, to learning about Spanish history to listening to poetry in Russian, the students are being exposed to culturally rich themes throughout the week. They have learned so much in just a few days.

Senior Michael Lye participated in French Cafe Night, worked the international photo booth and taught the Tarantella (an Italian dance) for International Dance Day.

"This week increases appreciation for other cultures because it allows students to get involved and truly understand what cultures are compared to learning about it in the classroom, Lye said. It was a real-life experience and so much fun for everyone.

ODonald said the week-long experience allowed students to understand the importance of learning a second language to broaden their worldview.

At the poetry contest, ODonald said, people were reciting poems in languages such as Portuguese, Mandarin, and Hindi.

Even as someone who does not speak the language,I could feel the emotion conveyed by every one of the presenters," ODonald said. "By being involved in all these programs, I was able to experience a slice of people's cultures, while also having the responsibility of teaching people mine.

As someone whose parents are immigrants from Cote D'Ivoire and Barbados, Im able to understand the importance of keeping your traditions while experiencing new ones, ODonald added. I am thankful to my parents for letting me experience the beauty of my own culture, which inspired me to participate in this week.

In class this week, Susanna Lavorgna Lye said her students played an international Kahoot, which was created by one of the schools Spanish teachers. Many of the questions were derived from the activities that the students were involved with during the week.

The students did so well, mainly because they had been actively participating in our culturally rich activities of World Language Week., Lye said.

Among the activities this week was dressing up in cultural clothing or wearing a shirt which represented a different country or culture. This sparked conversations as students asked questions about the cultures of their peers, and as a result, gained knowledge of the country that they were representing.

"This week is so important because it gets to showcase the beautiful diversity in the world, said junior Nicole Soares. In the poetry recitation show, Im thinking about my mother and how she worked hard to give me a little part of her home country. I know sharing that part of our culture means a lot to her and myself.

"By immersing the Trumbull High community in so many different cultures we end up becoming a more accepting community that learns to value everyones differences, Soares added. This appreciation is only developed by being immersed in the culture.
Opinion: Idaho legalized firing squad executions for death row inmates, causing ethical complications to arise.

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Idaho is now one step closer to using a firing squad for execution. On March 24, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 186, which permits the use of a firing squad on inmates awaiting execution when lethal injection is unavailable. The death penalty is already known to be a controversial topic, yet this new form of execution questions new levels of morality.

The law gives the director of the Idaho Department of Correction a five-day period to verify if lethal injection is available for a death warrant. If inaccessible, the department must use the firing squad.

The House of Representatives passed the bill with a 24-11 vote and a 50-15 vote in the Senate. It plans to go into effect on July 1. However, House Assistant Minority Leader Lauren Necochea expressed her concerns after the vote.

This would open Idaho up to lengthy, expensive legal challenges related to the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, Necochea Tweeted.

Idaho isnt the first state to authorize execution by a firing squad; the state joins Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah and South Carolina. Fortunately, the implementation of this method of execution is uncommon. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, only three executions by firing squad have transpired since 1976, compared to 1,387 from lethal injection and 163 from electrocution.

The push for HB 186 amplified after Idaho death row inmate Gerald Pizzuto Jr. had his execution postponed repeatedly. Pharmaceutical companies have barred correction departments from using their drugs for lethal injections, as they intended them to save lives.

Republican Gov. Little aims to not only speed up Pizzutos sentence but death warrants as a whole.

For the people on death row, a jury convicted them of their crimes, and they were lawfully sentenced to death. It is the responsibility of the state of Idaho to follow the law and ensure that lawful criminal sentences are carried out, Little said in his transmittal letter.

The firing squad controversy boils down to its ethical complications. The goal of death row is to make execution as painless as possible. Yet execution from firing squads is far from that. Anestheologist Joseph Antognini found the inmate can remain conscious for 10 seconds and the shots can be severely painful, especially related to shattering of bone and damage to the spinal cord.

Thirty-eight percent of the U.S. population already view the death penalty as morally unacceptable. Putting death row inmates through a painful, gruesome death isnt going to be very popular.

Aside from the convict, the method would negatively impact individuals involved in the executions. Firing squad executions traumatize those who carry them out, those who witness and those who clean up afterward.

I've seen the aftermath of shootings, and it's psychologically damaging to anybody who witnesses it, Republican Sen. Dan Foreman said. The use of the firing squad is, in my opinion, beneath the dignity of the state of Idaho.

In extreme cases, I find a death warant to be a justified penalty. However, no human should undergo a painful execution against their will. The crime they committed is irrelevant.

The state will need to pay a one-time $750,000 cost for the department to recondition its execution facility. But even with a new death chamber, firing squads come with legal and moral challenges. Directors are already hesitant to ask their staffers to participate in upcoming executions.

The death penalty isnt going anywhere as of right now. The current issue we must address is how these warrants are occurring. Ultimately, firing squads challenege the Eighth Amendment as painless deaths arent guaranteed. But if the lethal injection scarcity continues, neighboring states are destined to consider other options.
As people have become more interested in spiritual and metaphysical practices, crystal jewelry and crystal home decor have become increasingly popular in fashion.

But long before they were spotted on the catwalks of Missoni or Balenciaga, crystals were used by Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans for their protective and healing properties.

Fine jeweler Jacquie Aiche reveals the benefits of wearing crystals, while Energist and Founder of Evolve by Erika, Erika Polsinelli, details how to create positive energy in your home with crystal decor.

Long before they were spotted on the catwalks of Missoni (pictured) or Balenciaga, crystals were used in ancient times by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans for their protective and healing properties

As people have become more interested in the spiritual and metaphysical practices, crystal jewelry and crystal home decor have become increasingly popular

'There are so many benefits that a crystal layer can bring its beholder - it all depends on the type of healing you need and where you need it most,' said fine jeweler Jacquie Aiche.

No matter if it's a ring, necklace or earrings, Jacquie believes that you'll feel the energy of the crystal if you wear it close to the body.

'Working through the vibrations of the chakras, crystals harness the elements of the earth to connect you with the energy of the Universe.

'Whether you're seeking to manifest intentions, release negative energy, or cultivate a balanced spirit, each sacred stone is believed to hold special properties that will guide you on your journey.'

The celeb-beloved jeweler whose clients include Vanessa Hudgens, Gigi Hadid and Alessandra Ambrosio, to name a few, favors Opal, Emerald and Turquoise.

'Opal enhances creativity and inspires optimism. The way it catches the light makes it incredibly alluring.

'Strongly associated with the heart chakra, Emerald is a stone that strengthens your relationship with yourself and the world around you. Ive found it to be very powerful when seeking to manifest something special.

'And Turquoise is my ultimate summertime stone. Its known as the master healer, bringing both balance and bliss.'

According to the jeweler, choosing a crystal is a personal experience.

'Whether you're seeking to manifest intentions, release negative energy, or cultivate a balanced spirit, each sacred stone is believed to hold special properties that will guide you on your journey.' Pictured: Jacquie Aiche jewelry

Crystals commonly used in jewelry Clear Quartz - This crystal is a colorless mineral known as the master healer. It is believed to amplify energy, enhance clarity of thought, and bring spiritual peace. Labradorite - This gemstone is known as a stone of transformation said to enhance intuition, stimulate creativity, and promote courage and spiritual awakening. Moonstone - This milky white crystal is said to promote inner growth, strength, emotional balance, and enhance intuition. Amethyst - This purple crystal is a protective stone. It is said to promote calmness, balance, and inner peace. Rose Quartz - This pink crystal is known to open the heart and promote feelings of love, self-love, and compassion. Citrine - This yellow crystal is said to promote motivation, activate creativity, bring positivity, abundance, and joy. Black Tourmaline - This black crystal is said to provide protection against negative energies, improve circulation, reduce muscle pain and promote balance. Advertisement

Energist and Founder of Evolve by Erika, Erika Polsinelli says 'crystals in the home are definitely more than just decoration'

'As you may know, everything is energy and holds a frequency. Crystals are known to hold high frequencies, helping to elevate the energy of the home,' said Erika

Crystals used in home decor

It's believed that crystals bring positive energy and balance to a space.

Energist and Founder of Evolve by Erika, Erika Polsinelli says 'crystals in the home are definitely more than just decoration.'

'As you may know, everything is energy and holds a frequency. Crystals are known to hold high frequencies, helping to elevate the energy of the home.'

Erika is a fan of selenite.

Selenite is a very soft high-energy crystal that vibrates at a high frequency.

'It helps to keep the energy clear in the home, always clearing out the old or lower vibration frequencies.

'I also love a beautiful piece of quartz, citrine, or smoky quartz!'

In the foyer or entry way, the energist who teaches others to live in their purpose, favors tourmaline or smoky quartz for their protective properties.

'In the bedroom you may want to have a soothing crystal that helps to calm you such as amethyst or rose quartz which is known to enhance your self love and relationships.

'In your office you may want to bring in a crystal that helps to enhance your creativity such as citrine.'
From dealing with drunk customers to long hours on their feet, working in a bar is not always the most enviable job.

And if you want to make sure you get service with a smile, it's worth knowing the pet peeves of bar workers so that you don't annoy them and ending up waiting until last to be served.

Thankfully, Bored Panda has collated an online gallery of snaps that give an insight into the things you're doing that will annoy your bartender immensely.

One revealed how a customer asked for her Pina Colada to be made 'extra creamy',. prompting him to write 'I hate it here' on her receipt.

Another bar, in the US, decided to put up a hilarious sign to warn indecisive customers a 'surprise me' drink will cost them $8.

Bartenders from around the world shared customer behaviour that they absolutely despise and Bored Panda collated the best into an online gallery including one bar, in the US, who decided to put up a hilarious sign to showcase how annoying it is when customers ask for a 'surprise me drink'

Elsewhere a man decided to bring his own laminated drink recipe, with 13 ingredients, to the bar with him for servers to make - which naturally didn't go down well.

Confusingly, a customer asked for a classic Martini in a bar, but wanted to make it non-alcoholic.

Meanwhile, a server revealed she carried four pints to a customer's table and he asked where the other drinks were.

Here FEMAIL takes a look at some of the most annoying customers bartenders have had to endure...

One customer even asked a bartender to make her Pina Colada 'extra creamy' so he wrote 'I hate it here on her receipt'

Another bartender used to handout a 'cut off' card to rowdy customers when they had a little too much to drink

Elsewhere a man decided to bring his own laminated drink recipe, with 13 ingredients, to the bar with him for servers to make

A server, from Amsterdam, revealed she carried four pints to a customers table and he asked the where are the other three drinks

Another annoying reaction from customers is when they say 'dammmn..' when they hear the price

This bar, in the US, was fed up of customers ordering Tito's (which is an American vodka) with vodka instead of soda so they claimed they will charge $100

This bartender was annoyed after he was asked to make customers 'special shots' and deliver them to the table and they only tipped him $3

This server said every evening when they put the chair up on the tables customers still enter to ask if they are closed

This bartender was fed up with a customer ordering cocktails at a local 'dive bar' so he pretended not to know how
Chelsea Clinton has spoken out about the immense scrutiny that she was put under after her father became president when she was only 12 years old - as she recalled Rush Limbaugh's 'vicious' comments that she was the 'White House dog.'

The author, now 43, opened up about the downsides that came with growing up in the public eye during a recent appearance on Dear Media's The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast with Lauryn Evarts Bosstick and her partner, Michael.

She explained that when her dad, Bill, was elected as the 42nd President of the United States, people all over the globe had 'opinions' about her and her family.

Most notably, famous political commentator Limbaugh referred to her as a canine during a television appearance in 1993.

Chelsea Clinton (seen in 1992) has spoken out about the immense scrutiny that she was put under after her father became president when she was only 12 years old

Chelsea (left in 2022), now 43, opened up about the downsides that came with growing up in the public eye during a recent appearance on Lauryn and Michael Bosstick's (right) podcast

The author explained that her dad, Bill, was elected as the 42nd President of the United States when she was only 12, which resulted in people all over the globe having 'opinions' about her

Most notably, famous political commentator Rush Limbaugh (seen in 2019) referred to her as the 'White House dog' during a television appearance in 1993

'Socks is the White House cat. But did you know there is also a White House dog?' Limbaugh said at the time, while holding up a snapshot of then-12-year-old Chelsea.

'I don't think adults really should have opinions on kids,' she said during her recent appearance on the podcast, while reflecting on Limbaugh's 'creepy and inappropriate' statement.

'Rush was quite vicious to me. He said terrible things about my appearance and called me the "White House dog" repeatedly,' Chelsea continued.

'I was 12 or 13. I remember thinking, "This is just so odd and wrong. Why is this old man obsessed with me? This is so weird and creepy and inappropriate."'

Chelsea explained that her parents were 'furious' over what he said, adding that they did their best to 'protect her.'

But it got worse as she got older. She said people would show up at her college campus and shout nasty things at her like, 'Don't you wish your mother would've aborted you?'

Chelsea, who is now a mother-of-three, also recalled a more recent time that someone said to her, 'I hope that your children die so that your family's evil isn't perpetuated.'

'What do you say when people say things like that? Like, I'm so sorry you have that much pain and anger inside you, but I'm not gonna dwell on that,' she said.

'I don't think adults should have opinions on kids,' Chelsea (seen in 2000) said during her appearance on the podcast, while reflecting on Limbaugh's 'creepy' comments

Chelsea (seen at Stanford in 1999) said people would show up at her college campus and yell nasty things at her

The mother-of-three (seen in 1996) recalled one time that someone said to her, 'Don't you wish your mother would've aborted you?'

Chelsea explained that because her dad was the Governor of Arkansas before he became president, she was in the public eye long before he would lead the nation.

And being subjected to scrutiny from a young age helped her develop thick skin.

'In some ways I was really privileged to have grown up as the daughter of the Governor of Arkansas because I grew up being aware on a deep cellular level that people are always watching me,' she said.

'I have memories of being a kid and people commenting on what I was wearing or what I looked like, and I remember thinking, "That's so weird. Why are you commenting on what a six- or seven-year-old is doing?"

'I think that really did prepare me for just the huge onslaught of attention and scrutiny when I was living in the White House.'

While reflecting on her unusual upbringing, Chelsea said she 'gives her parents so much credit' for 'trying to ensure' that her childhood was 'as normal as possible.'

She said that while they made her 'aware' of how 'privileged' she was to be living in the White House and were very vocal about the 'responsibility' that came with it, they also encouraged her to participate in activities that any other child would.

Chelsea (seen with her mom as a baby) explained that because her dad was the Governor of Arkansas before he was president, she was in the public eye long before he led the nation

While reflecting on her upbringing, Chelsea said she 'gives her parents so much credit' for 'trying to ensure' that her childhood was 'as normal as possible.' The family is seen in 1997

She said that while they made her 'aware' of how 'privileged' she was to be living in the White House, they also encouraged her to participate in activities that any other child would

She recalled them teaching her, 'You need to be respectful because we're living in the White House. But also, it is your home.'

'That really helped me feel like I could bring my friends over,' she added.

'I mean, we weren't gonna be wild and crazy, we were gonna be respectful, but it also was my home.

'My friends could come over for sleepovers and to watch movies, or we could do our homework or study for exams. And so it very much was ordinary and also extraordinary.'

She added that while it was 'odd' to have Secret Service around her at all times, they also did their best to give her a normal childhood.

'If I was in a friend's home, Secret Service wasn't in the home with me or if I was in the White House, they weren't on the same floor as me and my friends while we were studying or talking about boys or whatever we were doing,' she revealed.

'And many of the agents that I was really privileged to grow up around were parents themselves and were deeply, not just sympathetic, but empathetic to the dynamic. And I always understood that they had a job to do and I never ran away from them.'
Princess Margaret's fractured marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones lasted 18 years before they finally divorced - yet one of Lord Snowdon's male lovers has shared his surprise that the pair's relationship even made it that far.

British society interior designer Nicky Haslam, 83, claimed in his memoir Redeeming Features (2010) that he had 'a very brief romance' with the late Earl a year before his 1960 wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister.

Nicky appears in ITV's new five-part royal docuseries The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which airs on Thursday 20 April on ITVX, to discuss society photographer Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret's relationship.

In the first episode, titled Love and Duty, Nicky explains: 'Tony was a terrific seducer, he could seduce that table leg. He was terrific fun, Tony, a devil incarnate but a charmer at everything.

'He was naughty but wonderful, I mean naughty in the nicest sense,' says the socialite, before admitting: 'I was quite surprised that it went that far, as far as marriage [between Antony and Margaret].'

Princess Margaret's fractured marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones (pictured together in 1974) lasted 18 years before they finally divorced - yet one of Lord Snowdon's male lovers has shared his surprise that the pair's relationship even made it that far

Lady Anne Glenconner, the late Princess Margaret's lady-in-waiting, also features on the episode - but has less than positive words to say about the royal's husband.

She says: 'Once the marriage started to go wrong, I was there for her when she was having a difficult time. I did see the way Tony treated her, which I didn't like at all.

'The thing about Tony was, that he was so spiteful - and did these horrible things. he used to leave little notes,' claims Lady Glenconner.

The socialite, 90, who was a maid of honour at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, tells the programme how one message to his wife apparently read 'I hate you'.

'I don't know why he behaved like that really, I just felt very sorry for her,' confesses Lady Glenconner.

She adds that 'Tony was quite clever... he kept in with The Queen and The Queen Mother. Absolutely. I mean they thought he was wonderful.'

Elsewhere in the programme, Nicky recalls a not-so blissful moment between the Earl and Princess.

'We were at a party and Tony had one of those matches that would light anywhere, you'd strike them on, old fashion matches, and he was sort of lighting them and throwing them at Princess Margaret,' explains the socialite.

British society interior designer Nicky Haslam (pictured), 83, claimed in his memoir Redeeming Features (2010) that he had 'a very brief romance' with the late Earl a year before his 1960 wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister

Nicky appears in ITV's new five-part royal docuseries The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which airs on Thursday 20 April on ITVX, to discuss society photographer Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret's relationship (seen in 1966)

'And she said: "Oh Tony, don't do that. You could've set my dress on fire, and he said "Good thing too, I've always hated that material."''

Margaret, who died in 2002 aged 71, met Antony in 1958 at a dinner party organised by mutual friends, and wed at Westminster Abbey in May 1960, the first royal wedding to be televised.

However, the union was not a good one, and the pair soon drifted apart, with both royals entering into extra-marital affairs.

Margaret famously invited Roddy Llewellyn, a lover who was 17 years her junior, to the island of Mustique in 1974, where they were photographed by paparazzi, precipitating the end of her marriage.

Margaret and Antony, who passed away in 2017, made their divorce official in 1978, after 18 years of marriage.

The romance between Anthony Armstrong-Jones and the royal has been romanticised more than once, most recently in the second and third season of Netflix royal drama The Crown.

The full series is available on Thursday 20 April on ITVX
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Dame Deborah James' You, Me and the Big C podcast co-host recalled grieving their fellow presenter Rachael Bland's death in a candid new interview, as she fondly remembered her late friend.

Lauren Mahon revealed that the morning after the Welsh presenter passed away in 2018, she asked Deborah why the illness couldn't have affected her instead.

'I actually said to Deb the next day, "I'm the one who doesn't have a husband and kids. Why her? Why you?",' she told Radio Times for the publication's latest cover story, which shines a spotlight on Deborah's legacy.

'And she told me off very severely and said, "Lauren, you're the hope  I'm glad you're not in our situation." That was typical of her.'

Deborah, who was made a dame by Prince William for her fundraising efforts, died last June aged 40 following a five-year battle with bowel cancer.

Lauren Mahon spoke to Radio Times for the publication's latest cover story, which shines a spotlight on Deborah's legacy

She had launched the Bowelbabe cancer research fund - which has now raised a whopping 11.3 million - to raise money for research into personalised medicine for patients with the disease.

The You, Me and the Big C podcast was originally hosted by Deborah, Lauren and Rachael.

The BBC programme offered a more light-hearted and conversational take on issues around cancer and how to navigate it.

Last year, Lauren opened about the 'anguish and grief, numbness and shock' of losing Deborah - as well as the 'sheer elation, pride and gratitude' at what she has achieved.

'You can ask me how I am feeling at any point during the day, and it will be different,' she told the Daily Mail.

'We've been through something so powerful together  what we have created with the podcast has changed the way cancer is talked about and experienced in the UK.

'The thing I'm really struggling with is that Rachael, Deb and I started this together as a threesome and the prospect of not having either of them around is difficult. I can't get my head around it.'

The You, Me and the Big C podcast was originally hosted by Deborah (right), Lauren (centre) and Rachael (left)

Deborah (pictured), who was made a dame by Prince William for her fundraising efforts, died last June aged 40 following a five-year battle with bowel cancer

Lauren, a former social media manager who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 aged 31, and the late Rachael were the other two points of this powerhouse broadcasting triangle.

Tragically, Rachael died from breast cancer in September 2018 at the age of 40, just six months after the podcast was launched.

Rachael's widower Steve subsequently took her place, and the podcast continued to go from strength to strength, even as Deborah navigated one cancer-related health crisis after another.

Lauren's struggles with the illness began after she found a lump in her breast in May 2016. She let it be, hoping it would go away, until a friend urged her to get it checked.

A few weeks later, she was sitting in a breast clinic, being told that she had stage three cancer and an aggressive 2.8cm-long tumour.

Months of gruelling chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a lumpectomy followed. By the time she was given the all-clear, she had set up GirlvsCancer, a vivid, honest and relatable blog platform where women can share their stories.

Last year, Lauren opened about the 'anguish and grief, numbness and shock' of losing Deborah. Both pictured in 2020

Rachael's widower Steve subsequently took her place, and the podcast continued to go from strength to strength. The trio pictured in 2019

In 2018, the site brought her to the attention of BBC journalist Rachael, who had been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in November 2016 and had come up with the idea of a podcast to raise awareness.

Being a fan of Lauren and Deborah's work, she asked them to come on board.

It comes as Deborah this month thanked supporters for helping her raise more than 11million for bowel cancer in the final seven weeks of her life in previously unseen footage from an upcoming documentary about the campaigner.

Never-before-seen video recorded shortly before her death shows the so-called Bowel Babe telling her 'awesome' supporters that she is beyond grateful for their donations.

At the same time, she announced she was receiving end-of-life care and would be looked after at her parents' home in Surrey.

Lauren, a former social media manager who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 aged 31, and the late Rachael were the other two points of this powerhouse broadcasting triangle

A new documentary about Dame Deborah's life - titled 'Bowelbabe: In Her Own Words' - will air on BBC 2 in the coming weeks and give fans an intimate insight into the campaigner's bittersweet journey from living with incurable disease, to Damehood and to her untimely death.

Deborah's family and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) revealed that the former deputy head teacher helped raise 11.3million before she died.

She also left behind a video message expressing her gratitude over the success of her campaign and her plans for how the funds raised would be used.

'One thing I wanted to do before I passed away was to set up the Bowelbabe fund,' Dame Deborah said in the video. 'I wanted to set it up to ensure that more people can benefit from some of the things that I benefited from.

'We will ensure that more people have access to personalised medicine, clinical trials, cutting edge technology to help more and more people live longer with cancer.'

She added: 'Every penny counts. I cannot thank you enough for your support of the Bowelbabe fund. You are awesome.'

CRUK has also announced the initial research projects that will receive Bowelbabe funding.

One study will look at laying the foundations for new precision treatment that could stop bowel cancer spread. It will be led by Professor Trevor Graham, director of the Centre for Evolution and Cancer at the Institute of Cancer Research, London.

Another project, involving a team of leading scientists, will look at targeting microbes that might cause bowel cancer.

This team has already discovered a type of bacteria that increases the risk of bowel cancer in some people under 50 and is exploring whether it might be possible to target these bacteria to reduce bowel cancer risk.

A further project, led by Dr Oleg Blyuss from Queen Mary University of London, will look at using artificial intelligence and blood tests to detect the earliest signs of cancer.

At the Royal Marsden cancer hospital in London, an advanced IR X-ray machine will also offer better imaging resolution that will allow more patients to be treated.

The projects announced, collectively totalling around 4 million, are the first round of funding, with more projects due to be confirmed later this year.
An adult film star who has been working in the industry for more than 30 years has revealed she now refuses to work with men.

Julia Ann filmed her first porn scenes in 1992 and has been lauded as one of the most revered stars in the industry, but she has recently discussed why she now only films scenes with women.

Speaking on the Holly Randall Unfiltered podcast, Julia said she made her decision shortly before tying the knot with her husband, who is not a porn star.

However, the 53-year-old performer added that he was not the reason for her decision.

Instead she revealed her body changes as she reaches menopause have led her to prefer filming scenes with women.

Julia Ann, 53, revealed on the Holly Randall Unfiltered podcast that she will no longer shoot adult film scenes with men

Speaking to Holly, who herself has 20 years of experience in the industry, Julia said she 'hates the gym' and spends more time thinking about her body looks onscreen, Lad Bible reports.

She added she found it easier to control how her body looks while she is performing with women than with men.

Julia explained: 'When I have sex with a girl, I can position myself, I can work it a certain way, I can be a little bit more 'oh how you doing today'.'

She admitted that, as she gets into her 50s, she feels 'insecure' and conscious of wrinkles appearing on her body.

The adult performer, who has been working in the industry for more than 30 years, revealed how going through menopause has changed her body

Holly said she agreed with her co-star and 'understood' where she was coming from.

The stars talked about how more experienced male porn stars were more likely to move them 'into whatever position you want', which they said was ok when they were 'thin and little and petite'.

Julia added: 'Yeah and after menopause, your body moves separate from itself.'

During the episode, the stars also discussed dating people who are not in the porn industry, and how other people look at their relationships with confusion.
She may have sadly never had the chance to meet Grace Kelly - but Camille Gottlieb appears to be the spitting image of her glamorous grandmother.

Over the weekend, the influencer, 24, from Monaco, shared a new photo of herself with her 99,000 Instagram followers.

In the selfie, posted on her Instagram Stories, the fashionista styled her blonde hair in her late grandmother's signature loose waves.

But the similarities didn't stop there - as Camille also seems to have inherited the American's actresses full pout and bone structure that made her one of Hollywood's most in-demand actress in the 1950s.

Posting on her Instagram Stories, Camille tagged the brand APM Monaco - who designed the gold chain necklace she was wearing with a dainty padlock charm.

Camille Gottlieb, 24, who lives in Monte Carlo, styled her blonde hair in her grandmother's signature loose waves as she tagged her necklace's brand in an Instagram Stories selfie

The late Grace Kelly pictured in a promotional image for the 1954 Hitchcock film Dial M for Murder

What's more, it seems as though Camille also turned to her grandmother for style inspiration too.

For her springtime ensemble, the royal opted for a pretty white broderie anglaise top with a sweetheart neckline - a silhouette Grace often wore over the course of her acting career.

Over her white top, Camille threw on a pastel blue blazer and finished off her look with a black leather shoulder bag.

The influencer, who lives in Monte Carlo, is the daughter of Princess Stephanie of Monaco and former palace security guard Jean Raymond Gottlieb, who is understood to have been head of the princess's security detail when they started a relationship.

Although Camille shares Gottlieb's surname, his name is not on her birth certificate and Stephanie has never publicly confirmed that he is Camille's father.

However Camille herself has identified Gottlieb, a former Paris gendarme, as her father in a gushing birthday post shared on Instagram in 2017.

As Stephanie and Gottlieb never married, Camille is not in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne, unlike Stephanie's two elder children, Louis, 30, and Pauline, 28, whom she shares with her first husband, bodyguard Daniel Ducruet.

When Camille was three years old, Stephanie began a relationship with married elephant trainer Franco Knie and moved, along with her three children, into Knie's circus caravan

Camille is the daughter of Stephanie and former palace security guard Jean Raymond Gottlieb, who is understood to have been head of the princess's security detail when they started a relationship. Pictured, the couple in 1997

Princess Stephanie of Monaco (left) and Camille Gottlieb pictured with Prince Albert of Monaco in December 2022

However the relationship came to an end the following year and Stephanie returned with her children to Monaco.

In 2003 Stephanie married Portuguese acrobat Adans Lopez Peres, who had been a member of Knie's circus, but the marriage ended in 2004.

Earlier this month, Stephanie's eldest son Louis Ducret and his wife Marie announced the arrival of their daughter.

The couple, who tied the knot in Monaco in 2019, celebrated the birth of their newborn with an adorable photograph showing the baby's leg, which revealed her name to be Victoire.

The beautiful name was visible from the hospital identification tag which was tied around her tiny ankle that eagle-eyed royal fans spotted.

Grace Kellys grandson Louis Ducruet and his wife Marie have announced the arrival of their little girl. Taking to Instagram, the couple, who tied the knot in Monaco in 2019, celebrated the birth of their newborn with an adorable photograph showing the baby's leg, which revealed her name to be Victoire

Camille pictured with her half-brother Louis and her uncle Prince Albert and his two children Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques in January 2023

Louis, the nephew of Prince Albert of Monaco, and his French wife Marie shared some words about the special moment where they welcomed Victoire into the world.

Translated from French to English, the post said: 'Our little family has grown with the arrival of our little Victoire.'

Louis and Marie tied the knot in July 2019 and announced that they were expecting the new addition to their family in November last year.

The French name Victoire is translated to mean 'Victory' and is a variant of the name 'Victoria' - which has been popular among many British royals.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was elegant in mustard yellow as she welcomed President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to Amsterdam this morning.

The French President is set to deliver a speech outlining his vision for the future of Europe during his two-day state visit to the Netherlands.

Macron's trip to Amsterdam and The Hague is the first state visit by a French leader since Jacques Chirac 23 years ago and underscores the close links between the Netherlands and France and the two leaders.

After arriving in Amsterdam, Macron met with Willem-Alexander and inspected a guard of honor on the square outside the capital's royal palace as a military band played and the French and Dutch flags fluttered in a brisk breeze.

Queen Maxima, 51, was dazzling in a yellow ensemble, pairing a smart wrap coat with an orange and blue fascinator.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 51, was elegant in mustard yellow as she welcomed President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to Amsterdam this morning

The French President is set to deliver a speech outlining his vision for the future of Europe during his two-day state visit to the Netherlands

She was beaming as she shook hands with Brigitte, before the group stood side-by-side to watch the guard of honor.

Macron is set to lay a wreath at the national monument near the palace in the historic heart of the city later today.

He is later set to travel to The Hague for a meeting with leaders of both houses of the Dutch parliament before delivering his speech.

In the evening, Macron and his wife, Brigitte, will return to Amsterdam for a banquet hosted by Willem-Alexander.

On Wednesday, Macron itinerary includes visiting a science park in Amsterdam, talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and viewing a blockbuster exhibition of paintings by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum.

The afternoon speech at a theater in The Hague comes after Macron raised eyebrows with comments on Taiwan after his recent visit to China.

'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 an interview published Sunday in French newspaper Les Echos and by Politico Europe.

Queen Maxima was dazzling in a yellow ensemble, pairing a smart wrap coat with an orange and blue fascinator

After arriving in Amsterdam, Macron met with Willem-Alexander and inspected a guard of honor on the square outside the capital's royal palace

The couples stood side-by-side as a military band played and the French and Dutch flags fluttered in a brisk breeze

Queen Maxima stood alongside Brigitte as she and King Willem-Alexander welcomed the couple to Amsterdam

Brigitte and Queen Maxima watched as King Willem-Alexander and Emmanuel Macron walked past

'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 remarks 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.'

The interview was 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 and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Beijing last week for talks and urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to 'bring Russia to its senses' over its war in Ukraine.

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.'

China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war, and the government in Beijing says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

Last week, King Willem-Alexander revealed that his daughters 'see everything' posted about them on social media but said that they have to learn to deal with online criticism.

Speaking on the Through the eyes of the King podcast, Willem-Alexander, 55, told Dutch radio presenter Edwin Evers that he has 'very open discussions' with his three daughters who are encouraged to share their feelings about online trolling.

Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima, 51, have three children: Catharina-Amalia, 19, who is heir apparent to the Dutch throne, Alexia, 17, and Ariane, 15.

President Macron was in high spirits as he was welcomed to the city by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima

The couples were beaming as they greeted one another in the square in Amsterdam (pictured left and right)

Royal fans gathered as French President Macron kicked off his state visit to Amsterdam earlier today

As quoted in the NL Times, he said: 'They are not blind and deaf, they see everything on social media, they read everything, they hear everything. We don't cut them off from anything. And they talk about it.'

'It affects them,' he added, saying that he has also had to learn to deal with negative comments on social media during his time in the public eye.

The monarch explained that he encourages his daughters not to see social media criticism as a personal attack, saying that for children growing up, it was 'very annoying' to see the criticism posted online.

'Kids dont have a filter in that regard, but its reality, and they have to learn to deal with that.'

He said it is important to teach his children not to take things personally as, for the most part, he believes online trolling is not personal.

According to RoyalCentral, the King has recorded ten episodes of the podcast to mark his first decade on the Dutch throne.

Elsewhere, Willem-Alexander told the podcast that he hopes his eldest daughter Catharina-Amalia, formally known as the Princess of Orange, can enjoy spending time on herself and with her family before she becomes a monarch in the 'distant future'.

He said he wished the heir apparent a long time to prepare for the role so she can start a family or do whatever she pleases.

Then he revealed he will sit down with his daughter to decide together when she will ascend the throne, but added it was a decision to be made 'between Amalia and me'.
An internationally renowned conductor has revealed how King Charles asked him to perform at King Charles' Coronation.

Charles has personally selected the musical programme for the ceremony on May, 6, at Westminster Abbey, which has been designed to showcase a range of musical talent and styles from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

Upon the monarch's request, Sir John Eliot Gardiner will lead the Monteverdi Choir, which he founded while at Cambridge in 1964, at the event.

Speaking to The Times, Sir John called Charles 'very approachable and congenial', explaining he was 'summoned to Windsor' before Christmas where the duo discussed the service over 'very large gin and tonic and supper.'

Meanwhile he said he was surprised by how many 'diversity boxes' Charles felt he had to tick when deciding the music, adding: 'The pressure on him is enormous in that respect.'

Sir John Eliot Gardiner revealed how King Charles 'summoned him to Windsor' before Christmas where they discussed his Coronation over G&Ts

Upon the monarch's request, Sir John Eliot Gardiner will lead the Monteverdi Choir, which he founded while at Cambridge in 1964, at the event

Sir John, who has been friends with Charles for a number of years, said the monarch 'sticks out' as a royal who 'really cares about the arts and music.'

While Charles won't be at Westminster Abbey when Sir John is performing with his choir, the conductor said the monarch will drop in to watch rehearsals.

It was revealed in February that an anthem written by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been commissioned by the King for his coronation.

On a personal note, the monarch has asked for Greek Orthodox music to be played in tribute to his late father, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died in 2021.

It will be performed by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble.

Six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission have been created by British composers whose styles include classical, sacred, film, television and musical theatre.

Lord Lloyd-Webber, who is known for hit musicals including The Phantom Of The Opera, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar, described himself as 'incredibly honoured' to have been asked to compose a new anthem.

He said: 'My anthem includes words slightly adapted from Psalm 98. 'I have scored it for the Westminster Abbey choir and organ, the ceremonial brass and orchestra. 'I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion.'

A Coronation March has been created by Patrick Doyle, while a piece by Iain Farrington for the solo organ takes in musical themes from countries across the Commonwealth.

There will also be new works by Sarah Class, Nigel Hess, Paul Mealor, Tarik O'Regan, Roxanna Panufnik, Shirley J Thompson, Judith Weir, Roderick Williams, and Debbie Wiseman.

A handpicked gospel choir - The Ascension Choir - will perform as part of the service, as will the Choir of Westminster Abbey and the Choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace - together with girl choristers from the Chapel Choir of Methodist College, Belfast, and from Truro Cathedral Choir.

The King's Scholars of Westminster School will proclaim the traditional 'Vivat' acclamations. Bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel along with soprano Pretty Yende and baritone Roderick Williams will be among the soloists.

Britain's Prince Charles met Andrew Lloyd Webber during a visit to the Royal Albert Hall to discuss the arts and creativity in school, in London on Wednesday, September, 5, 2018

The composer has written one of the 12 new pieces of music commissioned by the King for his coronation

Andrew Nethsingha, organist and master of the choristers at Westminster Abbey, is taking charge of the musical arrangements and directing the music during the service.

Coronations have taken place in Westminster Abbey since 1066 and all services are 'a mixture of deep-rooted tradition and contemporary innovation', he said.

'It has been a privilege to collaborate with His Majesty in choosing fine musicians and accessible, communicative music for this great occasion,' he added.

Sir Antonio Pappano, music director for the Royal Opera House, will be conducting the Coronation Orchestra, which will be made up of musicians drawn from orchestras of the former Prince of Wales' patronages including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

He said: 'His Majesty has chosen a most beautiful and varied programme that I believe will enhance the splendour of this very special celebration.'

Music which has been played at coronation services over the past four centuries will also be part of the programme, along with the work of Sir Karl Jenkins - who is one of the most-performed living composers in the world.

The historical sounds will include music by the likes of William Byrd, George Frideric Handel, Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Henry Walford Davies, Sir William Walton, Sir Hubert Parry and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Fanfares will be played by The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry and The Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner will conduct The Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque soloists in a pre-service programme of choral music.
The Spanish royals were out in full force today to attend the bicentenary of Ateneo De Madrid.

Queen Letizia, 50, and King Felipe VI of Spain, 55, beamed as they greeted guests at the event.

The royals then sat in the front row to listen to the speeches that were prepared.

The Ateneo De Madrid was founded at the beginning of the 19th century.

During this time, political, social and cultural turmoil took place between 1808 and 1814 when the Napoleonic invasion occurred.

Queen Letizia of Spain, 50, sported the Floral Intarsia Knit Dress in navy from Galcon Studio which had two cream coloured flowers on the front of it

Queen Letizia let her chocolate brown locks sit just below her shoulders and sat in the front row while she listened to the speeches

Queen Letizia, 50, and King Felipe VI of Spain, 55, sat in the front row to listen to the speeches that were prepared

Queen Letizia, 50, beamed as she greeted guests at the event, shaking hands with people while also holding onto her stylish black handbag

Queen Letizia of Spain, 50, sported the Floral Intarsia Knit Dress in navy from Galcon Studio which had two cream coloured flowers on the front of it.

The elegant, long-sleeved dress - which retails for 229 and is made from 100% light merino wool - came down to below her knees at a midi-length.

Letizia fans may recognise the garment, because she has worn it before at the start of March for 'The Talent Tour' in Malaga.

The Queen paired her knit with dangly white flower earrings and a simple black belt.

She opted for onyx coloured stilettos and a black leather handbag which featured gold metal detailing.

She also opted for natural makeup, with a hint of smokey magenta eyeshadow and some lipgloss

She opted for onyx coloured stilettos and a black leather handbag which featured gold metal detailing

King Felipe VI of Spain looked dapper in his matching navy pinstriped suit, which he paired with a white shirt and a pink and red patterned tie

The Queen greeted a woman outside of the event and held on to her arms as she chatted with her

The bicentenary of Ateneo De Madrid will be celebrated from April 11 to April 30, where activities will take place to reflect on the occasion

Queen Letizia let her chocolate brown tresses sit just below her shoulders and she also opted for natural makeup, with a hint of smokey magenta eyeshadow and some lipgloss.

King Felipe VI of Spain looked dapper in his matching navy pinstriped suit, which he paired with a white shirt and a pink and red patterned tie.

The bicentenary of Ateneo De Madrid will be celebrated from April 11 to April 30, where activities will take place to reflect on the occasion.

Queen Letizia recently wowed when she stepped out in a scarlet long-sleeved top and matching tailored trousers as she attended a literature event with King Felipe in Madrid.

The event which was held to commemorate the centenary of the first Casa Del Libro bookshop.
She joined the Royal Family over the weekend at Windsor Castle to celebrate Easter - but it was back to work for the Duchess of Edinburgh today.

In her role as sponsor, Sophie, 58, visited HMS Daring in Portsmouth, while the docked Royal Navy destroyer undergoes maintenance and renovation.

During her visit, the mother-of-two watched a presentation on the progress of the ship's lengthy refit and regeneration programme before completing a tour around the vessel.

To board the ship, the radiant Duchess swapped her smart cream suit for full protective gear, including overalls, safety boots and glasses, a helmet and gloves.

Prince Edward's wife teamed her suit with a white shirt, and added a touch of glitz to her ensemble with a pair of dainty blue earrings.

In her role as sponsor, Sophie, 58, visited HMS Daring in Portsmouth, while the docked Royal Navy destroyer undergoes maintenance and renovation

She completed her elegant look with a smattering of glamorous makeup, while keeping her blonde locks in a sophisticated up-do.

On Sunday, the Duchess seemed to pull out all the stops when attending the Easter service alongside other senior royals.

Mother-of-two Sophie commanded attention in a cream Philip Treacy hat, which boasted a wide brim and eye-catching height as she arrived at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

She teamed her statement headpiece with a pink Catherine Walker coat and cream knee-high boots, as well as a matching clutch bag.

Attending the royal event alongside her husband Prince Edward, 59, and their 15-year-old son James, Earl of Wessex, Sophie looked effortlessly elegant for her first appearance at the annual service since gaining the title of Duchess of Edinburgh.

It's unclear why Sophie and Edward's daughter Lady Louise, 19, wasn't at Sunday's occasion.

Edward and Sophie, previously the Countess and Earl of Wessex, were given their new titles in February, some six months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September.

Sunday's service was likely bittersweet for members of the Firm, as it marked the first without the late Queen - and the second anniversary of the death of Prince Philip.

During her visit, the mother-of-two watched a presentation on the progress of the ship's lengthy refit and regeneration programme before completing a tour around the vessel

To board the ship, the radiant Duchess swapped her smart cream suit for full protective gear, including overalls, safety boots and glasses, a helmet and gloves

Sophie completed her look with a smattering of glamorous makeup, while keeping her blonde locks in a sophisticated up-do

Prince Edward's wife teamed her suit with a white shirt, and added a touch of glitz to her ensemble with a pair of dainty blue earrings

Mother-of-two Sophie was particularly close to the late monarch, with whom she spoke daily, and called 'Mama'.

Other royals making an appearance in their Sunday best included the Prince and Princess of Wales, who brought their children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, to the event.

Also in attendance were the Tindalls, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Princess Anne, who was accompanied by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

Following in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who always held Easter Court at her beloved Berkshire residence, Charles was accompanied by his wife, the Queen Consort.

A staple in the royal calendar, last year's event saw the now-Prince and Princess of Wales attend in the spring sunshine with their two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The Princess of Wales and the Queen Consort both opted for royal blues as their outfit of choice for Easter Sunday, with the mother-of-three arriving hand-in-hand with her youngest son Prince Louis, who was joining the family at the service for the first time.
Late designer Karl Lagerfeld's beloved pet cat has already earned herself a unique status as one of the world's most fashionable felines - but the fluffy animal now has another string to add to her already-impressive bow after landing an invite to the ultra-exclusive Met Gala.

Choupette, an 11-year-old Birman, has been asked to attend the event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in May.

The dress code for the occasion, which will be overseen by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, is simply 'in honor of Karl.'

But it has not yet been formally confirmed whether the feline will attend.

Late designer Karl Lagerfeld's beloved cat Choupette has been invited to this year's Met Gala in May

The 11-year-old Birman has been asked to attend the event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

Choupette (pictured with Naomi Campbell in Vogue's May edition) began her modelling career in August 2012

Choupette's agent, Lucas Berullier, confirmed to the New York Post that the feline had received a formal invite.

Berullier added: 'It's an event in honor of the legacy of Karl, and Choupette is obviously a central part of the legacy.'

There had previously been speculation that Choupette could steal the show at the annual gala.

Michelle Baron, who illustrated Where's Karl?: A Fashion-Forward Parody, told the publication: '[I'd imagine] her entering with a big entourage  maybe Anna, or Grace Coddington.

'I think the way to show stop would be [entering] by herself, or with the biggest celebrity, maybe Beyonce.

'Or maybe she'll be escorted by Karl's old bodyguard, Sebastien Jondeau.'

The theme of The Met Costume Institute's spring exhibition is also in honor of the late designer and is titled Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.

The exhibition, which opens to the public on May 5, features more than 150 objects spanning Lagerfeld's six-decade career at Chanel, Chloe, Fendi, and his own label.

The dress code for the occasion, which will be overseen by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, is simply 'in honor of Karl' (pictured together previously)

From the moment the creative director was gifted Choupette, the feline's life was changed forever

Vogue's May 2023 cover is also in celebration of the legendary designer.

Shot at Paris's Grand Palais amid a sweeping renovation, the publication asked ten designers inspired by Lagerfeld's visionary work to interpret it anew.

Their creations appear on ten of the models that Lagerfeld loved most: Anok Yai, Shalom Harlow, Kendall Jenner, Liu Wen, Adut Akech, Natalia Vodianova, Naomi Campbell, Amber Valletta, Gigi Hadid, and Devon Aoki.

After Lagerfeld died on 19 February 2019 at the Hopital Americain in Paris, his beloved pet was trusted to his former governess, Francoise Cacote, who has since kept her Instagram account alive.

Vogue's May 2023 cover, shot at Paris's Grand Palais amid a sweeping renovation, is also in celebration of the legendary designer

At the time of the designer's passing, it was believed Choupette and her new carer stood to inherit a chunk of his 178m fortune, but the amount she and Francoise eventually received was not disclosed.

In 2020, Caroline Lebar, head of communications for the Karl Lagerfeld brand in Paris, told The Times why Choupette, who is believed to be one of the world's richest cats, has her own agent.

'She has an agent because she has a lot of requests. So far she hasn't done anything because they are ultra-selective,' she said.

The feline was Lagerfeld's great love, flying with him on private jets, adorned in diamond necklaces and raking in millions as a 'model.'

Originally belonging to French model Baptiste Giabiconi, Lagerfeld 'met' Choupette while house sitting for him in 2011.

If Choupette does attend the event, she will be among a star-studded line-up. Pictured: Kim Kardashian (left) and Cara Delevingne (right) at the Met Gala in 2022

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour (pictured at the event last year) will oversee the event that honor's the late designer's legacy

After two weeks, Lagerfeld simply told Giabiconi: 'I'm sorry but Choupette is mine,' and would later joke that he abducted her before turning her into an international model.

From the moment the creative director was gifted Choupette, her life was changed forever.

Choupette began her modelling career in August 2012, first posing in the arms of French supermodel Laetitia Casta by the Eiffel Tower.

The cat has since been used in numerous advertising campaigns, including for Opel cars and various make-up ranges.

A whole collection titled 'Choupette in Love' was launched in honour of the feline and a Chanel range was inspired by the cat's eyes.

The stunning cat, which has a silky white coat and deep blue eyes, has more than 133,000 Instagram followers.
People are only just discovering the reason why Polos - dubbed 'The mint with the hole' - have their distinctive shape.

The peppermint-flavoured sweets were first manufactured in the UK in 1948, by a man named John Bargewell at the Rowntree's Factory in York - and a range of delectable flavours have since followed.

The crunchy sweets have stood the test of time and outlived competition  but why are these refreshing mints punctured in the middle?

According to Nestle, the mint with the hole was conceived by confectionery entrepreneur, George Harris, who was the man behind some of Rowntrees biggest brands in the 1930s including KitKat, Smarties, Aero, Black Magic and Dairy Box.

Before the Second World War, legend had it that George was inspired by US brand Life Savers, an identical sweet brand that too contained a hole  initially created to resemble a life-saving floating device.

The peppermint-flavoured sweets were first manufactured in the UK in 1948, by a man named John Bargewell at the Rowntree's Factory in York

The Nestle website explained: Before the war George had been inspired by the US brand Life Savers (a mint with a hole designed to look like a life-saving rubber ring) and had decided to make something similar in the UK.

Company legend has it that he chose the name Polo because it derived from Polar and he thought that this implied the cool freshness of mint.

Now that we know what inspired the conception of Polo mints, how did the Popular American treat get its shape?

US social forum Quora suggests the unique shape was inspired by a safety precaution to save the lives of young children.

People have been debating the isssue on discussion forum Quora, but some insist that the idea of the hole being created for safety reasons is a myth

One user explained that Life Savers were created following an alarming number of child deaths in the US due to choking on bar candies. The candy manufacturer believed that if there was a hole in the candy, even if it became lodged in the throat, a child could still breathe.

He wrote: In the early 20th century, a number of child deaths in the U.S. were reported in the press due to choking on bar candies. An enterprising candy manufacturer came up with the idea that if there was a hole in the candy, even if it became lodged in the throat, a person could still breathe.

The new candy was marketed as a "life saver." The fact that the candy now resembled the flotation devices on ships served to reinforce the image and attractiveness of the product on the public. And the rest is history.

However one user hinted at a more economical reason behind the hollow treat, and called the life-saving theory nonsense.

He wrote: The hole increases the volume of the candy in the package saving the company money in candy material. Kind of like putting glue and sand on only one side of a book of matches saving half the cost of doing both sides.

It also quickens the time it takes to melt it in your mouth so you are likely to eat more of them in the same time frame. This makes it likely for you to buy more.

'The idea that the hole could save your life if it got stuck in your throat is nonsense. First the item is not large enough to get stuck and second if it did it would have to position itself in just the right way for the hole to do so. Very, very unlikely to occur.
Lady Amelia Spencer was the picture of newlywed bliss as she put on a loved-up display with her husband Greg Mallett during their honeymoon in the Maldives.

Princess Diana's niece Amelia and Greg, both 30, tied the knot at exclusive venue La Cotte Farm, which offers a 'unique winelands experience', on March 21.

In her first Instagram post since sharing her wedding photographs, the socialite took to her social media profile today to offer a glimpse of her honeymoon to her 56,000 followers.

'The first few days of our magical honeymoon @coco_resorts #cocomoments,' she captioned the collection of picturesque images.

In one photograph the affectionate couple share a kiss while standing in the sea, and others showed the newlyweds enjoying breakfast in a pool.

Lady Amelia Spencer was the picture of newlywed bliss as she put on a loved-up display with her husband Greg Mallett during their honeymoon in the Maldives

In one snap, Amelia can be seen showing off her physique in an ivory ribbed one-piece while standing in a pool in front of a backdrop of waves. In another, the beauty poses as she enjoys the sun in the same infinity pool.

There are also plenty of couple pictures, with one sweet photo capturing a kiss the newlyweds shared on a night out.

Dressed in a striped shirt and blue trousers, Greg can be seen kissing his bride, who is donning a short white dress and glittering platforms with a matching clutch bag, her blonde locks tied into a neat bun.

Loved-up Amelia also immortalised her husband horsing around with a pair of goggles and black rubber fins.

A selfie taken by the pair showed the couple smiling on their terrace, fresh off their dive, while another shared a glimpse of their breakfasts, served on floating racks in the pool.

The pair first met through mutual friends in Cape Town 13 years ago. In July 2020, Lady Amelia Spencer got engaged to long-term boyfriend Greg following a romantic proposal in South Africa.

The society beauty, who is the cousin of Princes William and Harry, met her real estate beau while they were both studying at the University of Cape Town.

The couple were together for 11 years before Greg, 32, popped the question at the exclusive Clouds Wine & Guest Estate in Stellenbosch.

Princess Diana's niece Amelia (pictured) and Greg, both 30, tied the knot at exclusive venue La Cotte Farm, which offers a 'unique winelands experience', on March 21

In her first Instagram post since sharing her wedding photographs, the socialite took to her social media profile today to offer a glimpse of her honeymoon to her 56,000 followers

'The first few days of our magical honeymoon @coco_resorts #cocomoments,' she captioned the collection of picturesque images

Announcing their engagement on Instagram, Greg wrote: 'So this was the best day of my life. 22nd of July 2020, I asked the love of my life to spend the rest of her life with me and she said YES.

'Couldn't be happier and I love you with all my heart @ameliaspencer15.'

Speaking to Hello magazine shortly afterwards, Greg explained how he presented Amelia with a pink box - which contained eight smaller ones.

He said: 'In each box was a photograph of a "first time". The final box contained a note instead of a picture, that said: "But most importantly, I know that you will remember tonight as the night that I proposed."

'As Amelia was reading the note, I dropped to one knee with the ring.'

'I burst out crying,' Amelia added. 'I was in shock, I said: "Yes, yes, yes!" and gave him a hug and a kiss. I'm used to Greg being very romantic but I really had no idea.'

Amelia showcased her slender figure in an elegant swimsuit during her honeymoon, pictured

In one photograph the affectionate couple share a kiss while standing in the sea, and others showed the newlyweds enjoying breakfast in a pool

The pair (pictured together) first met through mutual friends in Cape Town 13 years ago

Charles, the younger brother of the late Princess of Wales, previously revealed that Greg had asked for his blessing before proposing in South Africa.

Taking to Twitter last year, he said: 'So happy for my daughter, Amelia, engaged to her boyfriend of 11 years, Greg - its wonderful to hear them both so excited about their future.

'Sending them both love, and every good wish for their life together. I love that Greg asked my blessing before proposing. Very sweet.'

In 2021, the couple relocated from South Africa to London shortly after Amelia's big sister Kitty's lavish wedding in Rome - with celebrations being spread over four days.

The couple tied-the-knot at exclusive venue at Quoin Rock Manor House on a mountaintop in the winelands of South Africas Western Cape on March 21.

The bride wore a custom Versace dress which took over two-and-a-half months to craft.

Speaking to Hello following their ceremony, Greg said: 'My love for Amelia has been reborn. Every day I fall more in love with this beautiful human by my side.'
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands made a bold fashion statement with a gorgeous scarlet gown as she and her husband welcomed President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte for a state dinner at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.

The royal, 51, donned an elegant bright red dress which featured puffed ornate sleeves and exposed her shoulders.

She and King Willem-Alexander, 55, wore matching sashes adorned with badges as they posed for a photo ahead of a decorated banquet for their guests.

Opting for a personalised touch, the mother-of-three also accessorised with a decorative brooch in the shape of a butterfly, with stunning pearl-drop detail.

Maxima also wore her tiara and a pearl necklace, whereas her husband cut a dapper figure in a tuxedo and white bowtie, putting his military medals on display.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands made a bold fashion statement with a gorgeous scarlet gown as she and her husband welcomed President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte for a state dinner at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam

Elsewhere Brigitte, 69, was effortlessly elegant in an indigo maxi-dress which showed off silver and bronze designs.

The wife of President Macron, 45, collected her blonde tresses up in an up-do as her husband wore a suit and a blue and yellow sash - suggesting that he received the Order of the Netherlands Lion, a renowned civil honour in the Netherlands.

The French politician - who was pictured clinking glasses with Willem-Alexander, and delivering a speech at the table - is set to outline his vision for the future of Europe during his two-day state visit to the country.

Macron's trip to Amsterdam and The Hague is the first state visit by a French leader since Jacques Chirac 23 years ago and underscores the close links between the Netherlands and France and the two leaders.

After arriving in Amsterdam, Macron met with Willem-Alexander and inspected a guard of honor on the square outside the capital's royal palace as a military band played and the French and Dutch flags fluttered in a brisk breeze.

Maxima was dazzling in a yellow ensemble, pairing a smart wrap coat with an orange and blue fascinator.

She was beaming as she shook hands with Brigitte, before the group stood side-by-side to watch the guard of honor.

Earlier today, Macron lay a wreath at the national monument near the palace in the historic heart of the city and then travelled to The Hague for a meeting with leaders of both houses of the Dutch parliament - before delivering his speech.

The Dutch Queen looked glamourous in her crimson gown and pearl tiara, which matched her necklace and earrings

Macron and the King were pictured clinking glasses as they sat down for the ornate royal banquet

President Macron attentively listened to King Willem-Alexander during the state banquet tonight

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, pictured alongside an effortlessly elegant Brigitte at the state dinner

Maxima proudly looked on as her husband delivered a speech at the table during the evening festivities

The Dutch monarch welcomed his guests to the dinner with a speech to kick off their two-day state visit

Maxima appeared delighted as she took in the speeches at the royal banquet in Amsterdam this evening

Willem-Alexander and Brigitte Macron happily toasted one another as they enjoyed the state dinner

President Macron and King Willem-Alexander grinned as they toasted one another at the dinner

Macron and Willem-Alexander then turned to cheers each other's better halves at the banquet table

Macron was all smiles as he kicked off his speech at the table, kicking off his two-day state visit in the Netherlands

The French President looked to be delighted during the dinner as he enjoyed the company at the banquet

The royal and King Willem-Alexander, 55, wore matching sashes adorned with badges as the posed for a photo ahead of a decorated banquet for their guests

President Macron looked to be delivering a speech at the table as the royals and their guests sat down

King Willem-Alexander address his and his Queen's guests, with the French president listening with interest

Maxima and Macron smiled while Willem-Alexander delivered his speech during tonight's glitzy dinner

On Wednesday, Macron itinerary includes visiting a science park in Amsterdam, talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and viewing a blockbuster exhibition of paintings by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum.

The afternoon speech at a theater in The Hague comes after Macron raised eyebrows with comments on Taiwan after his recent visit to China.

'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 an interview published Sunday in French newspaper Les Echos and by Politico Europe.

'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.'

King Willem-Alexander also delivered a speech next to the French President, his wife Brigitte Macron and Queen Maxima

The monarch appeared to be in high spirits as he said some words at the table, during the banquet

Elsewhere Brigitte, 69, was effortlessly elegant in an indigo maxi-dress which showed off silver and bronze designs

Macron's trip to Amsterdam and The Hague is the first state visit by a French leader since Jacques Chirac 23 years ago and underscores the close links between the Netherlands and France and the two leaders

Opting for a personalised touch, the mother-of-three also accessorised with a decorative brooch in the shape of a butterfly, with stunning pearl-drop detail

Maxima also wore her tiara and a pearl necklace, whereas as her husband cut a dapper figure in a tuxedo and white bowtie, putting his military medals on display

After arriving in Amsterdam, Macron met with Willem-Alexander and inspected a guard of honor on the square outside the capital's royal palace

On Wednesday, Macron itinerary includes visiting a science park in Amsterdam, talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and viewing a blockbuster exhibition of paintings. Pictured with his wife

The Dutch King and Queen had set up a beautifully ornate hall as they invited their guests for a royal banquet

President Macron and his wife are in the Netherlands for the next two days, as part of a state visit

Earlier today, Macron lay a wreath at the national monument near the palace in the historic heart of the city. He concluded the evening with a banquet

The remarks 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.'

The interview was 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 and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Beijing last week for talks and urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to 'bring Russia to its senses' over its war in Ukraine.

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.'

China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war, and the government in Beijing says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

The wife of President Macron, 45, collected her blonde tresses up in an up-do as her husband wore a suit and a blue and yellow sash - suggesting that he received the Order of the Netherlands Lion, a renowned civil honour in the Netherlands

Maxima donned a stunning bright red dress as she and her husband welcomed their guests today

The Dutch royals grinned as they, alongside Macron and his wife, greeted guests for tonight's banquet

Earlier today Maxima, pictured at the banquet, was beaming as she shook hands with Brigitte, before the group stood side-by-side to watch the guard of honor

Last week, King Willem-Alexander revealed that his daughters 'see everything' posted about them on social media but said that they have to learn to deal with online criticism.

Speaking on the Through the eyes of the King podcast, Willem-Alexander told Dutch radio presenter Edwin Evers that he has 'very open discussions' with his three daughters who are encouraged to share their feelings about online trolling.

Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima, 51, have three children: Catharina-Amalia, 19, who is heir apparent to the Dutch throne, Alexia, 17, and Ariane, 15.

As quoted in the NL Times, he said: 'They are not blind and deaf, they see everything on social media, they read everything, they hear everything. We don't cut them off from anything. And they talk about it.'

'It affects them,' he added, saying that he has also had to learn to deal with negative comments on social media during his time in the public eye.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 51, was elegant in mustard yellow as she welcomed President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to Amsterdam this morning

The monarch explained that he encourages his daughters not to see social media criticism as a personal attack, saying that for children growing up, it was 'very annoying' to see the criticism posted online.

'Kids don't have a filter in that regard, but it's reality, and they have to learn to deal with that.'

He said it is important to teach his children not to take things personally as, for the most part, he believes online trolling is not personal.

According to RoyalCentral, the King has recorded ten episodes of the podcast to mark his first decade on the Dutch throne.

Elsewhere, Willem-Alexander told the podcast that he hopes his eldest daughter Catharina-Amalia, formally known as the Princess of Orange, can enjoy spending time on herself and with her family before she becomes a monarch in the 'distant future'.

He said he wished the heir apparent a long time to prepare for the role so she can start a family or do whatever she pleases.

Then he revealed he will sit down with his daughter to decide together when she will ascend the throne, but added it was a decision to be made 'between Amalia and me'.
The newlywed also joined her mother at worship service at a megachurch

Tiffany Trump celebrated Easter with both her mother and father on Sunday at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

The 29-year-old and her new husband, billionaire heir Michael Boulos, joined her mother, Marla Maples, at a worship service at a megachurch before enjoying brunch at her dad's resort.

Tiffany wore a black strapless dress to church and then changed into a cream frock featuring an orange and yellow floral pattern. She completed her Easter Sunday look with a pair of nude heels.

Susan Malzoni, the wife of Brazilian real estate developer Victor Malzoni, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a photo of herself posing with Tiffany and Marla in front of a flower arch at Mar-a-Lago.

Tiffany Trump (center) and her mother, Marla Maples (left), celebrated Easter at her father Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. They posed for a photo with their friend Susan Malzoni (right) at the resort

Tiffany, 29, and her new husband, billionaire heir Michael Boulos, 25, also attended a worship service at a megachurch with her mother

Tiffany was all smiles while sandwiched between the two women, who were both dressed in white.

Susan, a close family friend, had hosted Tiffany's bridal shower at her Miami mansion in November, just a few weeks before her wedding to Michael.

'Special Easter blessings surrounded by loved ones,' she captioned the post.

Mar-a-Lago puts on a lavish Easter brunch for its members 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.

Marla, 59, posted a video montage of their Easter celebration, including footage of them at church and Mar-a-Lago.

'May it be Easter in our hearts everyday [sic],' she wrote.

Marla is uniquely spiritual, and in addition to going to church, she keeps Shabbat, kosher, and studies Kabbalah.

Marla, 59, posted a video montage of their Easter celebration, including footage of them at church together

Marla is uniquely spiritual, and in addition to going to church, she keeps Shabbat, kosher, and studies Kabbalah

Tiffany, who was dressed in a black strapless, stood between her mother and husband

Tiffany is her only child with the former president, and prior to their daughter's wedding, they typically celebrated holidays separately. The video Marla shared showed that she was seated with Susan, not her ex-husband.

Trump had been married to his first wife, Ivana Trump, for over a decade and shared three young children with her  Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric  when he started his highly-publicized affair with Marla in 1989.

Fresh off his divorce from Ivana, he tied the knot with Marla in 1993. They separated just four years later, and their divorce was finalized in 1999.

The businessman went on to marry his third wife and future first lady, Melania Trump, nee Knauss, in 2005. They welcomed their son, Barron, the following year.

Marla relocated to Southern California, where she raised Tiffany as a single mom. She later followed her daughter back to the East Coast when she started college at the University of Pennsylvania.

The actress moved from New York to Florida a few years ago to once again be closer to her only daughter. She has never remarried.

The law school grad later changed into a cream frock featuring an orange and yellow floral pattern. She completed her Easter Sunday look with a pair of nude heels

Not only was the Easter brunch a chance for Tiffany to spend the holiday with both of her parents, but it also marked the first time her stepmother, Melania, was spotted in 10 days.

Social media users posted pictures of the former president and first lady in the ballroom together. The couple walked into Mar-a-Lago's ornate ballroom to a standing ovation from the crowd, videos posted online showed.

They sat alone together with red velvet ropes blocking off their large table from the rest of the holiday goers.

It was the first time Melania was seen at her husband's side since her notable absence from his speech on Tuesday at their Palm Beach home. In his remarks, he railed against the indictment he faces on charges of falsifying business records in relation to hush money payments he allegedly made to porn star Stormy Daniels and a former doorman.

Her father Viktor Knavs was present for the speech, sandwiched between the former president's two eldest sons, Don Jr. and Eric, while she was mysteriously absent. Tiffany was also there, but Trump's oldest daughter, Ivanka, was not.

Melania was seen chatting with Trump at the brunch, leaning in close to talk with him as they ate. 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.'

For the 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.

Tiffany and Marla happily posed for photos together at Mar-a-Lago

Marla was dressed in a cream halter top and white pants for the occasion

The actress appeared to be having a great time having brunch with Susan in the ballroom

Mar-a-Lago puts on a lavish Easter brunch for its members with a buffet that includes oysters, shrimp, and champagne. There's also an Easter egg hunt on the club's grounds for the kids

Mar-a-Lago was decorated for the holiday with paper mache bunnies and pink roses, and their table had pink and orange tulips on it.

Trump appeared to have worked the ballroom. Several users on social media posted selfies with the former president.

Melania had broken her radio silence earlier in the day online by tweeting a simple 'Happy Easter!' message.

Trump also shared an Easter message on Sunday, although his holiday post was more of a rant.

'HAPPY EASTER TO ALL,' he wrote on Truth Social, using all capital letters.

'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.'

The sighting of Melania at Easter brunch was remarkable after she was careful to stay away during the most public parts of Trump's indictment.

The Easter brunch marked the first time Melania Trump was seen by her husband's side since her notable absence from his speech on Tuesday

The couple received a standing ovation when they came into the ballroom, where they sat alone together with red velvet ropes blocking off their table from the rest of the holiday goers

Melania broke radio silence on Sunday with a simple 'Happy Easter!' tweet

Meanwhile, the ex-president accused his political opponents of 'dreaming endlessly of destroying our country' in his Easter message shared on Truth Social

She did not join him in New York last week when he turned himself over to authorities and pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges.

Nor was she at his rally at Mar-a-Lago in the aftermath when the former president gave a speech that included a special shoutout to all of his children  but made no mention of his wife.

It remains unclear why she skipped his speech, but sources previously told DailyMail.com she is hurt and angry about the allegations that he 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 drags on.

Those who know her well now 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.

Melania had previously gone missing in action in January 2018, days after Trump's alleged affair with 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 Trump  soon after Melania had given birth to their son, the report said.

Then-President Trump promptly denied everything.

At the time, Melania, 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.
The 22-year-old said you should park near windows and get a steering wheel lock

She has revealed her top tips for deterring thieves from stealing your car

A woman with a grand theft auto felony has revealed sage advice for preventing your car from being stolen, including where to park and how to decorate your vehicle.

Alana Flynn, from Oregon, frequently shares videos about her journey to recovery after reaching a milestone of more than a year sober from drugs.

Taking to her TikTok account, the 22-year-old decided to use her past to help warn others who could be possible targets for lurking thieves.

In a viral clip, which had garnered more than 590,000 views at the time of writing, the content creator - who had an existing record because of a grand theft auto felony - detailed how you could stop car burglars from stealing your vehicle.

Alana Flynn, from Oregon, has a grand theft auto felony and has revealed her tops tip to prevent your car from being stolen

The 22-year-old frequently shares videos about her journey to recovery after reaching a milestone of more than a year sober from drugs

Taking to TikTok, she decided to use her past to help warn others who could be targeted by lurking thieves. She suggested viewers buy a steering wheel lock (pictured)

Keep lurking thieves away! A criminal's top tips for protecting you car Park by windows

Get a steering wheel lock

Keep stickers that deter people away, such as ones that read, 'You're on camera'

Never keep anything valuable in your vehicle Advertisement

Her first tip is to park by windows or anywhere that your car can be seen easily.

'Park near windows, park somewhere that is in eye-view of windows, places that they can see you,' she explained.

Alana's second and most important tip is to get yourself a steering wheel lock.

Showing her own, she explained that no one was 'going to take the time' to saw it off.

Alana then eased the minds of those who had luxury cars, noting that most car thieves were looking for older models.

'I don't give a f*** how nice you think your car is, they don't want the nice cars,' she said.

'They want ones that are made at least 14-15 years back. They want ones that aren't high-tech, so ones that they can easily steal, easily get into, and all that other stuff.'

The 22-year-old revealed that most thieves didn't want to even think about dealing with cars that had a lot of gadgets, so they stayed away from them.

She added that any car made before 2009 was more likely to be stolen.

Then Alana said you should keep stickers on your car that would deter burglars.

'Put stickers in your car or things that would continue to deter somebody from wanting to take it. "You're on camera" is a good one or 'This car has a high-tech alarm system" s*** is going to make the person who is trying to steal your car paranoid as f***,' she said.

Alana said you should always park near windows and then eased the minds of those who had luxury cars, noting that most car thieves were looking for older models

Viewers rushed to the comments section to thank her for her tips, while others even shared their own advice to keep thieves away

Lastly, she told viewers to never keep anything valuable in their cars.

'Don't leave stuff that looks valuable in your car. I really wouldn't leave anything in your car, I would take everything out when you get out,' she explained.

Viewers rushed to the comments section to thank her for her tips, while others even shared their own advice to keep thieves away.

One person wrote: 'Y'all get a dash cam. Then a security system sticker. If they break it after at least u got evidence of it happening saved online.'

'This is the most honest criminal ever,' another added.

A third user said: 'It's true. Hotel I work at 13 cars broken into, all old models because no car alarm or it doesn't work. Not a single alarm was sound.'

'I threw an air tag in mine, even if they get pinged there's an air tag in it I don't expect them to go looking for it. I'll let that paranoia set in,' someone else added.
Queen Rania of Jordan showed off her impeccable sense of style in Japan during a recent trip.

The royal, 52, who is completing an official visit to the country with her husband King Abdullah II this week, displayed her sartorial flare with three looks for three different engagements.

She first wore a bespoke blush pink suit from the designer Mohamed Benchellal for a sit down meeting with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako this morning.

The elegant royal then performed an outfit change and donned a 2,801 black suit from Alexandre Vauthier with red pumps to tour an exhibition at Japan's National Museum of Modern Art in Kitanomaru Park.

She then opted for a floral set from Zimmerman costing 1,645 to meet with the wife of the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Mrs Yuko Kishida, in Tokyo.

Queen Rania of Jordan showed off her impeccable sense of style in Japan during a recent trip, where she met the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Mrs Yuko Kishida, in Tokyo, right

The royal looked elegant in the Benchellal colour block look she wore to meet the Imperial couple this morning.

She cinched the tailored coat dress shirt with a leather belt adorned with a golden bow from Marni and accessorised with nude pumps from Jennifer Chamandi and a bag from Fendi costing 3,500.

Her honey locks were styled cascaded down her back in a sophisticated wavy ponytail for the occasion.

She was accompanied by King Abdullah and their son Crown Prince Hussein, who both wore finely tailored blue suits.

She later performed an outfit change to visit the National Museum of Modern Art, where she was treated to a private tour of the Tokyo 70th Anniversary Exhibition titled Secrets of Important Cultural Properties.

She switched to an elegant wide-legged power suit with a blazer from Alexander Vauthier fitted at the waist to highlight her petite silhouette. The suit's jacket costs 1,676, while the trousers cost 1,125.

Rania completed the trendy look with a crocodile leather clutch bag and added a pop of colour with red stilettos.

The elegant royal donned a black suit from Alexandre Vauthier with red pumps to tour an exhibition at Japan's National Museum of Modern Art in Kitanomaru Park

She let her hair down into a glamourous blow-dry for her solo engagement, sporting elegant day makeup with a touch of eyeliner, a caramel eyeshadow and a strong brow, coupled with a pink lip.

She returned to pink for the third engagement of the day, which saw her enjoy a one-on-one meeting with the Prime Minister's wife.

The royal donned a feminine silhouette in a floral ensemble from Aussie designer Zimmermann.

The look consisted of a delicate crepe top with a floral applique on both sleeves, which the stylish Queen tucked into a matching midi length skirt with the same floral detail.

She opted for a floral set from Zimmermann costing 1,645 to meet with the wife of the Japanese Prime Minister

The Queen and King of Jordan, accompanied by their son Crown Prince Hussein, met with Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako

The mother-of-four looked ultra glamourous in the fitted suit from Alexandre Vauthier which emphasised her trimmed waist

Rania added a touch of colour with a pair of red stilettos and accessorised with a small clutch bag, while wearing her hair in a glamourous blow dry

Pictured left to right: Crown Prince Al Hussein with Queen Rania and King Abdullah II with the Japanese Emperor and Empress

It appears Rania altered the look by removing some of the florals on her top. She paired it with soft pink leather stilettos, and accessorised with a small ivory handbag and drop pearl earrings.

The mother-of-four styled her tresses in a ponytail, framing her features with two loose strands of hair.

She sported a soft makeup look that complimented her healthy sun-kissed glow for the meeting.

Meanwhile, Mrs Kishida looked elegant in a cream set made of a flowy skirt and matching jacket.

The royal visit aimed to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and to honour their historical bond.
TLC star Shauna Rae has moved on from former love interest Dan Swygart as he laid bare the 'huge amount of hate' and 'crushing' relationship criticism.

The 23-year-old, from Pennsylvania, is 3ft 10in tall and weighs just 50 pounds after her growth was stunted following brain cancer treatment as a child.

Shauna has previously been candid about the unique dating struggles she has faced as a result of her condition with her most recent relationship with Swygart, 27, causing widespread uproar.

He appeared on the latest episode of The Sarah Fraser Show podcast to open up about the intense criticism before revealing that the former pairing, who had never been physically intimate, are now just good friends.

TLC star Shauna Rae has moved on from former love interest Dan Swygart as he laid bare the 'huge amount of hate' and 'crushing' relationship criticism

The 23-year-old, from Pennsylvania, is 3ft 10in tall and weighs just 50 pounds after her growth was stunted following brain cancer treatment as a child

Speaking on the podcast, Dan said: 'We got very, very close on an emotional level. It never really got physical, we kissed once.

'Of course, I wasn't there for long periods of time... so it never really progressed into a relationship.'

Dan, from Wales, revealed that critics accused him of being inappropriately attracted to Shauna who has smaller stature than an average adult due to pituitary dwarfism.

He continued: '[There was] this big, huge amount of hate, and I felt like the world was crushing me because obviously the media and people, YouTubers as well, they categorized me in the most hated group of people on the planet.

'Obviously, because of Shauna's condition they put me in that category. I just felt like that world was crushing me.'

The entrepreneur, who was branded a creep, admitted that the intense scrutiny dragged him to the lowest point he had ever been and caused him to 'lose faith' in humanity.

But he said that he was thankful for the support he did receive after publicly denouncing those who said Shauna was undeserving of finding love.

Dan went on to reveal Shauna will always have a special place in his heart but that the pair are now just 'very, very good friends' as they both continue to learn and grow emotionally.

Dan, 27, opened up about the widespread criticism before revealing that the former pairing, who had never been physically intimate, had decided to go their separate ways

Elsewhere, Shauna also addressed why referring to her as a 'woman trapped in an eight-year-old's body' was inaccurate

It comes after Shauna recently explained the importance of raising awareness for pituitary dwarfism.

She wrote: 'This is something that happens to me very often, and use to be an every time I went out occurrence.

'I'm hoping that by raising awareness for my type of dwarfism and disability, that it will help the world and us as humans be more open minded when it comes to the variety of people we have in our world.'

Elsewhere, Shauna also addressed why referring to her as a 'woman trapped in an eight-year-old's body' was inaccurate.

She said: 'I know that "the woman stuck in the body of an eight-year-old" is the catchphrase that's attached to me but I don't personally connect with it.

'I think it's actually very inaccurate. I am not stuck in the body of an eight-year-old.

'I am a 23-year-old woman whose body is 23 years old, it's matured, it's gone through puberty. I've grown in areas that eight-year-olds don't until they hit puberty which is later in life.'

Shauna concluded: 'Therefore I'm not in the body of an eight-year-old. I am just a shorter statured woman... My body is my body, it's a 23-year-old body and it works like every other 23-year-old.'
A newlywed woman has shared the one piece of advice she wishes she listened to before her wedding day so other brides don't make the same mistake.

Sydney Westra, who tied the knot with her partner Ryan in October 2022, said she heard brides online warning against wearing open-toed shoes.

The bride, from LA, ignored the words of wisdom and found her toes were poking out the bottom of her dress in most of her photos.

She went against the sound advice because she thought her dress was long enough to hide her exposed feet.

Sydney laughed about the gaffe and advised others getting married to wear closed shoes down the aisle.

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Sydney Westra (pictured) who married her partner in October 2022, has shared the one piece of advice she wished she followed on her wedding day

The LA bride said, against online advice, she went for open-toed shoes thinking her dress was long enough to cover her feet. However, her toes were peeking out in most of her photos

'The piece of wedding planning advice that I did not listen to from TikTok was to not wear open-toed shoes because your toes are going to be hanging out in your photos,' Sydney said in an online video.

'I thought that wouldn't happen because I have a long enough train but sure as heck, the dogs are out like in every photo.'

Sydney said the blunder 'didn't bother' her and 'was not the end of the world' but 'made her giggle'.

Viewers were in hysterics over Sydney's wedding day mistake and were thankful for the advice.

Sydney said the blunder 'didn't bother' her and 'was not the end of the world' but 'made her giggle'

'Hahah this is the first I'm hearing this! Whoops, praying for my photos,' a bride commented.

'Well what the heck. I already spent over $100 on shoes, lmao it's too late for me now,' a second laughed.

'I have never heard this advice until right now and HEARD,' a third said.

One added toes are 'super easy' edit out of photos while some weren't so put off by shoes that exposed your toes.

'Personal preference, but I'd rather my lil toes be out than a closed toe shoe peeking out from a long dress,' someone wrote.
A British woman has shared the struggles she's faced since moving to Australia from trying to find a house to rent to making new friends.

Catherine Owen, who's been living in Australia for four months, revealed the 'realities' of moving Down Under from the UK on a holiday visa and many Aussies agreed with her.

The 26-year-old said she has found it hard to land a job after weeks of setting up a bank account and tax file number.

She said, while she 'loves' Australia, finding a house amid the country's rental crisis has been 'the ultimate pain' and she struggled to find a job.

Catherine was also shocked by how expensive things are in Australia and how big the country is which makes it hard to 'see everything'.

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Catherine Owen (pictured) moved to Australia four months ago and revealed the 'realities' she's struggled with while trying to set up her life Down Under - and many Aussies agreed

She said while she 'loves' Australis, finding a house amid the country's rental crisis has been 'the ultimate pain' and she struggled to find a job

Despite the challenges, Catherine told FEMAIL she and her boyfriend have found a room in a share house on the Gold Coast for $400 a week.

She has not yet landed a job but her partner scored a constriction job which he found through a recruitment company.

'Don't get me wrong, this country is so amazing and I love it here but just want to be transparent about some of the difficulties!' the expat said in a TikTok post.

'When you get here you have to set up a bank account and get a tax code which can take a while before you can get a job,' she said.

Catherine added many jobs require the candidate to pay for and complete a training course like a Responsible Service of Alcohol certification for hospitality roles and a White Card for the construction industry.

'Jobs are so oversaturated and hard to find! Even if you have good experience you might still struggle,' she wrote.

Catherine took aim at the country's housing crisis which she called 'the ultimate pain'.

British expat: These are the ten realities of moving to Australia You have to set up a bank account and get a tax code which can take a while before you can get a job For most jobs you need to pay to do a course eg RSA, white card etc Everything is so expensive and it's hard to balance working with exploring as you don't want to spend too much money Renting can be quite difficult as sometimes you'll need renter's history or huge deposits Australia is so far away from family with big time differences Australia is huge and it's hard to get to see everything The housing crisis has been the ultimate pain! There's no where to live! Finding places is so difficult and there are so many scammers Greyhound buses get booked up so quickly so you need to plan trips in advance Jobs are so over-saturated and hard to find! Even if you have good experience you might still struggle It's quite hard to make friends if you aren't partying and staying in hostels Advertisement

'Renting can be quite difficult as sometimes you'll need renter's history or huge deposits,' she said.

'No where to live! Finding places is so difficult and there are so many scammers.'

The traveller said everything is so expensive in Australia and she's struggled balancing work and exploring the country for fear of spending too much money.

She added Greyhound buses book up very quickly so travel plans need to be planned well in advance.

Catherine said Australia is 'huge' making it hard to see everything and is very far away from family with large time differences.

Her final point is: 'It's quite hard to make friends if you aren't partying and staying in hostels.'

Both Aussies and expats alike said they had experienced many of the same struggles Catherine listed.

Catherine said everything is so expensive in Australia and she's struggled balancing work and exploring the country for fear of spending too much money

'Took me one to two years to establish myself in Australia with a good job and solid friendship group. I'd never leave now so stick at it, it's worth it,' one viewer said.

'I've lived here my whole life and this is exactly how I feel!' another wrote.

'It's literally all the exact same for a Sydney girl moving to London so I know how you feel!! Literally relate to everything you said,' a third added.

'It's good to see one of these with the true reality of moving to the other side of the world. I had the same issues in reverse,' a fourth commented.

Not everyone found the move challenging while others offered Catherine some advice to make the shift easier.

'I've lived here for four plus years and have never found it hard to get a job! I don't have any degrees/formal qualifications! It's different for everyone,' one expat explained.

'Bartending is desperate for workers and same as baristas,' someone suggested.

'Sydney girl here, moved from Perth and had no friends initially. Downloaded Bumble BFF and met a lot of cool people so definitely look into that,' a second recommended.
Keen travellers have discovered a little-known destination in Europe that is just like a Balinese paradise.

The coastal Albanian village of Dhermi has been dubbed the 'hidden pearl of Europe'.

While many European sight-seers are flocking to the tourist-filled beaches of Greece and Italy, others are instead booking a trip to the spectacular town which has been hailed as one of the continent's best-kept secrets.

Adventurers are heading to the dreamy Bali-like hidden gem for its 'crystal clear' beaches, jaw-dropping scenery and luxurious bars, hotels and restaurants.

Travel bloggers Scott and Sal, from the UK, wowed thousands after they documented their stay in Dhermi which they called 'underrated' and the 'European Bali'.

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While many travellers are flocking to the tourist-filled beaches of Greece and Italy, others are heading to Dhermi, Albania, they say is just like a Balinese paradise

Adventurers are heading to the dreamy Bali-like hidden gem for its 'crystal clear' beaches, jaw-dropping scenery and luxurious bars, hotels and restaurants

Dhermi is just over three hours' drive south of Tirana, Albania's capital city, and has five kilometres of stunning coastline peppered with incredible beach clubs and resorts.

It has two sections: the upper half, where the quaint old town lies while the lower half is where the beach, restaurants and stays are located.

As temperatures start to plummet in Australia, Albania is now entering its summer months making it a perfect escape from the winter chill.

'POV: You discover the European Bali in the most unexpected place,' Scott and Sal wrote in an Instagram video which has amassed more than 1.6million views.

'10/10 Bali style beachfront hotel. Stunning tropical beach clubs. Crystal clear water and so much to do!'

The pair stayed at La Brisa Boutique Hotel which boasts spectacular sunsets views, rooms from $145 per night and a private beach.

Dhermi is just over three hours' drive south of Tirana, Albania's capital city, and has five kilometres of stunning coastline peppered with incredible beach clubs and resorts

Scott and Sal took in the panoramic views of the sparkling waters of the Ionian Sea at Sanur Beach House, which was inspired by the popular beaches of Bali

They also took in the panoramic views of the sparkling waters of the Ionian Sea at Sanur Beach House, which was inspired by the popular beaches of Bali.

'It's so beautiful!' one viewer wrote and another said: 'Albania is the hidden pearl of Europe'.

'Bit of a different European spot but looks amazing,' a third added.

'This place is soooo dreamy,' a fourth agreed.
TB is a dangerous disease which is spread by coughing, speaking and singing

An infectious woman wanted by the police for refusing to isolate or get treated for tuberculosis (TB) has been caught flouting the rules  by getting on a public bus and hanging out at a casino.

The patient from Tacoma, Washington state has refused to isolate or take medication since being diagnosed with the contagious bacterial infection over a year ago

The woman, who has been deemed a public safety risk by a judge and will be quarantined and medicated against her will, was spotted by an officer watching her house getting dropped off at a casino last month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TB is the leading infectious disease killer in the world, killing 1.5 million lives annually. However, the vast majority of cases can be easily treated with medicine.

Laws allowing the courts to order a person to stay home or isolate from others after they are deemed a public health risk are on the books in 38 US states, including the three of the most populous in California, Texas and New York (red)

Deaths from tuberculosis dropped significantly over the past three decades. They have fallen from around 1,800 in 1993 to around 600 in 2020, the CDC reports

A warrant was issued for her arrest and involuntary detention at the Pierce County Jail on March 2.

According to an April 3 court filing seen by The Tacoma News Tribune, Chief of Corrections Patricia Jackson said she had: 'directed an officer to surveil the respondent to determine her habits in order to execute the warrant in a safe manner.'

The filing stated the officer 'observed a person they believed to be respondent leave her residence, get onto a city bus, and arrive at a local casino.'

If caught, she will face detention in Pierce County Jail.

It added that in the days after, 'the officer continued surveillance only to find respondent was not home.'

The woman was diagnosed with TB in January 2022, after reportedly being a passenger in a car crash and going to an emergency room with chest pains.

X-rays showed progressing TB. She had also tested positive for Covid.

She was given her first order to isolate in mid-January and more than 20 orders since, until the order of contempt and arrest warrant last month.

The March order called for her to be detained in the Pierce County Jail to undergo testing and treatment for TB, until medical tests show 'she no longer presents a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare'.

Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that usually affects the lungs and spreads through prolonged exposure to others.

BCG vaccination gives up to 80 percent protection in babies and young children, but the shot is less effective against TB in the lungs in adults.

The BCG vaccine is not used widely in America and does not prevent infection.

Symptoms depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing but include chest pain, no appetite, chills and fever.

It is spread when someone infected with TB of the lungs coughs, speaks or sings, but you would have to spend several hours in close contact to catch it.

The TB mortality rate was 0.2 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2020, 13 percent higher than the rate in 2019.

Treatment includes a three to nine-month course of the antibiotics isoniazid and rifampicin. Depending on the type and severity of the infection, the drugs can be used anywhere from daily to weekly.

Documents filed early in the case's history stated that the woman began, but did not complete, prescribed treatment for tuberculosis.

Officials fear that the woman's refusal to isolate puts the rest of the community at risk.

In the latest hearing on April 5, Nigel Turner, division director of Communicable Disease Control for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, said that the case would be 'referred to the Pierce County sheriff to arrange for detention of the individual'.

The next court hearing is scheduled for May 19.
A million smokers will be offered vape 'starter kits' in a world-first policy to make England smoke-free.

Despite a torrent of evidence on the health risks of vaping, the free kits are set to be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England.

The NHS has long advised that vaping can help smokers quit  but has never given people the equipment to start doing it.

Vaping devices typically cost around 20 to 30, plus more for replacement cartridges. Critics say vaping is not particularly effective in helping people give up.

But it is the focus of a new crackdown, which will see pregnant women offered up to 400 in vouchers to stop smoking, and a consultation launched on introducing mandatory advice about quitting smoking on cigarette packs.

Despite a torrent of evidence on the health risks of vaping, the free kits are set to be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England (stock image)

The Government is striving to meet its target of being smoke-free by 2030  which means reducing smoking rates to 5 per cent or less.

Health minister Neil O'Brien, who will launch the schemes today, is expected to say: 'Up to two out of three lifelong smokers will die from smoking. Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly.

'We will offer a million smokers new help to quit. We will be funding a new national "swap to stop" scheme  the first of its kind in the world.'

But Professor Martin McKee from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said: 'Given the pressure the NHS is facing, one does wonder if this is a good use of resources given that a substantial increase in tobacco taxes would be more effective.

'E-cigarettes have only ever been shown to help people quit if they are part of a supervised, time-limited package of behavioural support  and even then they are not especially good.

'We need to focus on plain packaging, a ban on attractive e-liquid flavours, and a halt to advertising of vape products.'

The starter kits will offer smokers a choice of products, strengths and flavours, and they will get support to quit tobacco at the same time.

It is understood they can be requested from community health centres or stop-smoking services.

More than three million people in England are believed to vape and experts agree the devices are safer than smoking as they contain a liquid form of nicotine that is heated into vapour to be inhaled, avoiding harmful tobacco smoke.

Supporters of vaping point to UK research estimating that in 2017, e-cigarettes helped more than 50,000 smokers in England to quit.

But the World Health Federation has warned there are many studies casting doubt on using e-cigarettes to quit smoking.

Supporters of vaping point to UK research estimating that in 2017, e-cigarettes helped more than 50,000 smokers in England to quit

The stop to swap scheme is estimated by officials to cost around 45million over two years.

Officials say 9 per cent of women smoke during pregnancy in England and hope all will stop by the end of the year with a financial incentive and behavioural support.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the Action on Smoking and Health campaign, said: 'Vapes increase smokers' chances of successfully quitting, as do vouchers for pregnant smokers, so these are welcome steps in the right direction, but they are nowhere near sufficient.'

The Government is also set to announce a 3million 'illicit vapes enforcement squad' to crack down on underage and illicit sales.

A popular vape was pulled from UK stores after the Mail revealed it was 50 per cent over the legal nicotine limit.

Elf Bar withdrew its 600 product, which accounted for two-thirds of disposable vapes bought in the UK, after the healthcare watchdog intervened.
A skincare breakthrough has produced a face cream which could provide hope for healing burns and scars.

Anti-ageing skin creams aim to repair damage from decades of sun exposure which makes the skin appear less elastic and youthful.

Dermatologists have spent the last 20 years striving to do this using peptides  artificial versions of protein fragments in the skin which can trigger damage repair.

Now a new No7 skin cream uses two promising new peptides.

These took 15 years to identify, using artificial intelligence to understand how to produce them from proteins in the lab.

The anti-ageing skin creams aim to repair damage from decades of sun exposure which makes the skin appear less elastic and youthful

Tests on real human skin suggest the peptides regenerated the extracellular matrix  the layer of proteins which makes the skin springy.

But they also showed signs of repair in the upper layers of the skin, which could potentially help burn victims and people with serious wounds, although more research is needed to establish that.

Findings on the technology were presented last month at the annual meeting of the British Society for Investigative Dermatology and at the American Academy of Dermatologys conference.

The new skincare range, No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal, will launch on Wednesday, including a day cream, night cream, serum and eye serum priced from 24.95.

Mike Sherratt, professor of biochemistry at the University of Manchester, who was involved in developing the skin cream, said: The peptides we have found cause cells to make the same type of proteins that would need to be produced to heal burns and wounds so that is very promising.

Our approach is to produce artificial peptides which we think play an important role in the body.

The multi-billion-pound skin cream industry relies on certain proteins, like collagen and fibrillin, which keep skin looking youthful.

The proteins do this by breaking up into smaller fragments called peptides, which signal to the skin to repair damage.

The new skincare range, No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal, will launch on Wednesday, including a day cream, night cream, serum and eye serum priced from 24.95

Professor Sherratt and his team set out to find which of around 3,000 proteins in the skin were most damaged by the sun, so most likely to produce peptides.

Then they needed to know the precise location of each protein where it broke apart to become a peptide.

The calculation of that location, using artificial intelligence, allowed researchers to make artificial peptides which they say should be far closer to those actually found in the body.

This is why they believe the peptides worked so well on skin cells and real people.

When the cream was applied to the arms of eight volunteers in Manchester, they began producing more proteins including fibrillin  an important protein which makes skin elastic.

The peptides boosted the production of more than 50 proteins, making skin more youthful.

Tests on real human skin suggest the peptides regenerated the extracellular matrix  the layer of proteins which makes the skin springy

The research team say separate dermatologists want to look at its medical applications next.

The skin cream came from a shortlist of 22 peptides, which was whittled down to two, based on those which could get through the skin and be synthesised in the lab.

The two peptides together, in large quantities throughout the cream, may send a strong enough repair me signal for the body to pick it up.

No7 says it is the biggest development since the company produced its Protect & Perfect serum, which was so advanced that it featured on the BBCs Horizon programme in 2007.

In the aftermath, five months worth of stock flew off shelves at Boots in a single day and more than 50,000 people joined a waiting list for the product.

Arne Akbar, professor of immunology at University College London, who was not involved in the research, said: This is a team with impeccable credentials.

The peptide prediction that has been developed is a very interesting concept.

Its innovative, robust work that is the first exciting step on a long journey.

Theyve shown that in terms of skin, you can reconstitute parts of it.
Alzheimer's experts believe life-changing treatment for the most common form of the disease will be found within the next 20 years.

A team at Cardiff University has now identified 92 genes that significantly increase the risk of having Alzheimer's, whereas just three genes were known when their research began in 2009.

Professor Julie Williams, the Cardiff Dementia Centre's director, said: 'By 2040 I think we'll be in the position to offer a range of treatments and we might not know exactly why, but one of them will be able to act on the huge range of causes.'

Gene therapy and an improved understanding from international studies are contributing to experts' increasing knowledge of the disease - one of the UK's biggest killers of those over-50.

Professor Williams, who was awarded a CBE for her work, said: 'Once you know where to start looking then you can study the effects which genes have on specific brain activity.

Alzheimer's experts believe life-changing treatment for the most common form of the disease will be found within the next 20 years (stock image)

A team at Cardiff University has now identified 92 genes that significantly increase the risk of having Alzheimer's (stock image)

She has studied Alzheimer's for 30 years and said: 'Things are speeding up and improving all the time. I've learnt more in the last seven years than I did in the previous 20.

'Tests which cost millions in the 90s can be carried out for around 30.'

Development in research has meant experts discovered that microglia cells, known as 'bin lorries of the brain' are mistakenly killing off healthy brain cells, including synapses.

Synapses are connections between neurons and, if eliminated unnecessarily, can make a person lose connections which generate thought and memories.

But Professor Williams told the BBC her study of thousands of cases made her realise there will never be one smoking gun.

Instead, the disease must be considered more like heart disease where many factors contribute, and several therapies will help delay and prevent it.

Some drugs have already been cleared for use in other Alzheimer's conditions and could be in use within five years.

Professor Tara Spires-Jones, a leading expert at the University of Edinburgh, told the Daily Mail last year that a drug to stop memory problems developing beyond initial mild confusion may be available within a decade.

Some drugs have already been cleared for use in other Alzheimer's conditions and could be in use within five years (stock image)

She said: 'I am wary of using the word cure, which is a very strong word, but I think we will have a disease-modifying drug within 10 years.

'That is a drug which can stop Alzheimer's disease in its tracks, or even - although this is less likely - reverse it once it has started.

'I know all these decades of research can seem disheartening, when there is still no drug for Alzheimer's, but game-changing, miracle drugs have been found for other brain diseases, and one is coming for this one.'

Professor Spires-Jones said neuroscience has recently had some big wins, including the discovery of Zolgensma, which is helping children with severe spinal muscular atrophy crawl and walk for the first time.

The expert is particularly excited by research on the 'Sigma-2 receptor', which is found on brain cells, and appears to attract clumps of a protein called amyloid beta, which are linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Early research, although only 19 people, suggests a drug blocking this process could prevent the progression of Alzheimer's.
Taking a probiotic pill before a night out could prevent a hangover and stave off alcohol's lasting ill effects, academics say.

Tests on mice suggested a specially created supplement might also stop humans getting as drunk.

It is packed full of 'good' gut bacteria, similar to a Yakult yoghurt.

But the genetically engineered pill, yet to be trialed on humans, also contains an enzyme proven to break down alcohol in the body.

Experiments on mice revealed rodents given the probiotic absorbed less alcohol.

US scientists discovered that mice treated with the probiotic had reduced alcohol absorption, prolonged alcohol tolerance, and shortened the animals' recovery time after exposure to alcohol

They also recovered more quickly from the effects of booze.

The results have left the researchers, from the Chinese Academy of Science, hopeful that it will lead to a new miracle hangover cure for humans.

They also believe probiotics could, in the future, be used to reduce alcohol-related damage to the liver and intestines.

Writing in the journal Microbiology Spectrum, researchers told how they genetically engineered a probiotic to express the enzyme dehydrogenase in mice.

So, how much is TOO much? NHS recommendations state adults shouldn't drink more than 14 units each week  that's 14 single shots of spirit or six pints of beer or a bottle and a half of wine. They should also spread their drinking over three or more days to avoid bingeing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises Americans do not drink more than 14 standard alcohol drinks per week for men and seven for women. A standard alcoholic drink includes 12oz of 5 per cent beer, 8oz of 7 per cent malt liqour, 5oz of 12 per cent wine or 1.5oz of spirits including rum, gin, vodka or whiskey. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years is already linked to a plethora of health issues such as high blood pressure, stroke risk, and a range of cancers. Advertisement

It regulates how the body converts alcohol into a substance called acetaldehyde, a byproduct released when we drink alcohol.

Acetaldehyde causes the feelings of a hangover by accumulating in the liver, causing the associated headaches and nausea as a result.

Previous studies on mice have shown that a specific type of the enzyme, called ADH1B, can speed up the breakdown of alcohol internally.

But that approach hasnt yet been shown to be safe in humans.

Seeking a safer method, the researchers used the probiotic lactococcus lactis  a bacteria often used in fermentation  and cloned ADH1B into it.

Testing it on three groups of five mice, each were exposed to different levels of alcohol.

Mice without the probiotic - the control group - showed signs of drunkenness just 20 minutes after exposure to alcohol.

When the mice were also placed on their backs, they were unable to get back on their feet.

But of the mice who received a probiotic that expressed human ADH1B, half were still able to turn themselves over an hour after alcohol exposure.

A quarter never lost their ability to turn themselves over.

Further tests showed that two hours after exposure, blood alcohol levels in the control group continued to rise, while those in the probiotic-treated mice had begun to fall.

Researchers also found that treated mice showed lower levels of lipids and triglycerides - types of fat - in their livers, suggesting that the probiotic could alleviate alcohol-related damage to the organ.

While the probiotic hasn't yet been tested on humans, the scientists predict that if offering the same benefit, it could present a new way to reduce alcohol-induced health problems, and liver problems.

Leading experts have rowed about the harms of moderate drinking for decades.

Studies have suggested that a glass of wine or pint of beer a day can stave off a host of illnesses.

Read more: Why taking PROBIOTICS could ease your hay fever symptoms after bacteria in nose is linked to condition Advertisement

While others have argued that even light drinking is dangerous.

The WHO estimates that excessive alcohol consumption kills 3million people around the world each year.

In February, The Canada Centre on Substance Use and Addiction also recommended the nation's 38million residents should scale back their alcohol intake to just two bottles of beer a week - a major drop from ten drinks a week for women and 15 for men.

Britons are urged not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis  the equivalent of six pints of lager or ten small glasses of wine.

The NHS also advises spreading drinking over three or more days to avoid bingeing.

Meng Dong, a post doctoral researcher at the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who worked on the study, said: 'We believe that genetically engineered probiotics will provide new ideas for the treatment of liver diseases.'

The researchers behind the peer-reviewed study will now investigate whether the effects of modified probiotics seen on mice extend to humans, she added.

'We are excited about the improvement of recombinant probiotics in acute alcohol-induced liver and intestinal damage,' she said.

It comes as the Swedish company Myrkl launched its own 'hangover cure pill' in the UK last year.

The company claims the supplement is scientifically proven to prevent a hangover.

Users are instructed to take two pills 30 minutes before drinking.

According to Myrkl, the pill contains bacteria capable of breaking down the majority of alcohol in the body before it reaches the liver.

Research shows that when the liver breaks down alcohol, it releases toxins into the body which trigger an immune response.
A 32-year-old model has told of how she was left legally blind after doctors missed her vision-robbing condition.

Hazal Baybasin claims she was made to feel like a 'drama queen' and told she might just have a 'low tolerance for pain' when she complained of agonising headaches to a doctor over the phone.

Days later she went to A&E, where a CT scan showed her brain was 'absolutely fine'. Ms Baybasin was sent home with co-codamol.

Minutes after arriving home, she collapsed on the sofa and was found by her mum and brother, who immediately called an ambulance.

Ms Baybasin was admitted to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, London, where she was diagnosed with intracranial hypertension  a build-up of pressure around the brain.

Hazal Baybasin went to Barnet Hospital A&E on March 31, 2019 - where she claims medics said a CN scan showed her brain was 'absolutely fine'

Minutes after arriving home, Ms Baybasin collapsed on the sofa and was found by her mum and brother, who immediately called an ambulance

She was admitted to Northwick Park Hospital, where she was diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension - a build-up of pressure around the brain. She went completely blind nine days after arriving at Northwick

She completely lost her vision more than two weeks after arriving at hospital, describing her horrifying ordeal as 'the most scared I'd ever been in my life'.

After being transferred to Charing Cross Hospital, doctors managed to bring back some of her sight but she has been left with 'tunnel vision' and registered legally blind.

Ms Baybasin, from Edgware, London, claimed medics who saved some of her sight said her blindness was preventable had she been seen by them sooner.

Detailing her experience now, four years later, Ms Baybasin said she began getting headaches in January 2019, which continued for three months.

She claims her GP at Lane End Medical Practice dismissed these as migraines and told her she had a 'low pain tolerance'.

The sales worker, then aged 28, said she felt like her life was 'falling apart', as she could hardly sleep or eat, and was being pulled into meetings for missing targets and snapping at colleagues.

She said: 'When I called the doctor up they kind of pushed it aside as a migraine.

'I'd never even really had a migraine before, and the doctor told me it was just an extreme headache and that maybe I just have a low tolerance for pain.

'I felt like I was going to be a drama queen if I carried on saying I was in pain after that.'

But a colleague later said to her: 'Hazal, I don't care what your GP told you over the phone, this isn't a migraine.'

Ms Baybasin, who has since created an accessible skincare brand called BlindBeauty, went to Barnet Hospital's A&E, where she had a CT scan.

She walked because she felt she couldn't drive with the pain.

But she claims she was told her brain was 'absolutely fine' and that doctors sent her away with co-codamol.

Shortly after arriving home by taxi, Ms Baybasin collapsed and was taken to to Northwick Park hospital.

Ms Baybasin was admitted to hospital and medics later discovered three large clots in her brain, which were spreading down her neck. Clots can cause intracranial hypertension.

She was then moved to intensive care, a week after arriving, where her condition got worse. One week after being moved to the ICU, her vision went blurry, and 48 hours after that she had gone completely blind.

Ms Baybasin said: 'My sight literally went overnight. My family were sitting in the room with me and I asked them to turn the lights on and they said they were on.

'That's when I got this really cold feeling and thought f***, it's not just blurry, it's dark now'. At this point it had turned pitch black so I couldn't see anything at all.'

She claims her GP at Lane End Medical Practice dismissed these as migraines and told her she had a 'low pain tolerance'

Ms Baybasin went to Barnet Hospital A&E, forced to walk as she felt she couldn't drive with the pain, where she had a CT scan

Ms Baybasin was admitted to hospital and medics later discovered three large clots in her brain, which were spreading down her neck

She claims specialists said the only way to bring back her sight was through a risky operation that could leave her paralysed.

But her brother wanted a second opinion and Ms Baybasin was transferred to Charing Cross Hospital - where medics said the procedure to bring her sight back 'wouldn't be risky at all'.

Ms Baybasin said: 'The neurologists [at Charing Cross] immediately knew what was wrong. They didn't sound scared or worried, they'd seen things like it before.'

Doctors carried out a lumbar puncture - where a thin needle is inserted between the bones in your lower spine - and Ms Baybasin 'saw three immediate flashes of light'.

This was repeated every other day and a pinprick of tunnel vision in the centre returned after about ten days. Ms Baybasin was then taken in for neurosurgery.

She woke up in intensive care to the news that the tunnel vision was all medics could recover regarding her sight. She is now registered as legally blind.

Ms Baybasin claims she was told by specialists at Charing Cross that her condition was preventable from the beginning if she had been taken seriously by doctors.

'They said it was a shame I didn't get to them sooner because they could have preserved more of my sight,' she said.

'They said if [previous doctors] took me seriously, rather than telling me to take stronger pain killers, it would have been picked up and it would have been prevented from happening at all. Hearing that made me so angry at the time.'

After her surgery, Ms Baybasin was in the intensive care unit for a week. She then spent three months there having daily physiotherapy and training to help adjust to her condition.

A spokesperson for London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust told MailOnline: 'We're sorry to learn of Ms Baybasin's concerns and urge her to contact our complaints team so we can investigate further.

'We can't comment on individual cases due to patient confidentially but do work closely with specialist services at other hospitals in complex cases like this.'

A Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: We are very sorry to hear about Ms Baybasin's experience. We have not been made aware of any issues related to her treatment but if she would like to contact us we can follow this up with her.

MailOnline approached Lane End Medical Practice for comment.
***Have you been affected by the strike? Email emily.craig@mailonline.co.uk***

Thousands of junior doctors in England took to picket lines today in what has been labelled the 'most disruptive' strike action in NHS's 75-year history.

The walkout is part of a growing row between the British Medical Association (BMA), which represents medics, and the Government over pay. The union, which plotted the 96-hour walkout, is demanding a 35 per cent salary hike.

Up to 350,000 appointments and operations are expected to be cancelled as a result.

Officials have urged the public to only call 999 or attend A&E in genuine emergencies and to avoid anything 'risky'.

Here, MailOnline has answered key questions about the walkouts.

Junior doctors take to picket lines outside University College Hospital in London on April 11

What should I do if I'm ill today?

Those with a life-threatening emergency should call 999. The ambulance service is working as normal and hospitals are prioritising emergency cases.

And Brits with serious injuries should go to A&E.

Health chiefs have urged the public to 'think twice' over whether they need to call 999 or show up at A&E, however.

NHS 111 online should be the 'first port of call' for all non-urgent needs.

Most other ailments can be managed at pharmacies or by a GP, health bosses say.

Will my appointment be cancelled?

Up to 350,000 appointments and operations are expected to be cancelled this week due to the strikes.

Warning people will die as junior doctors begin 4-day strike in hunt of a 35% pay rise - as NHS bosses fear union will plot MORE chaos The British Medical Association, which is coordinating the 96-hour walkout, is demanding a 35 per cent pay rise, which the Government says is unaffordable. Pictured: Striking NHS junior doctors outside Leicester Royal Infirmary on April 11 Advertisement

Many patients have already been told that their consultation or op has been called off, while others will be informed in the coming days.

Outpatients are the most likely to be affected.

However, if a patient has not been contacted by their local NHS, they should attend their appointment as planned.

The NHS has told hospitals to reschedule cancelled appointments as quickly as possible but admits this will take weeks to recover from.

What kind of 'risky' behaviour should I avoid?

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, urged Brits to 'try to avoid risky behaviour' this week.

He did not give examples of the activities people should avoid.

Official NHS advice recommends taking 'simple steps during industrial action' for people to look after themselves, loved ones and the vulnerable.

It advises taking 'sensible measures' to avoid ending up in A&E, such as drinking responsibly and stocking up on medication.

Do junior doctors REALLY earn 14 an hour?

Junior doctors can earn 29,384 in the first year of foundation training, which they enter after completing their medical degree.

It is part of their training and involves working 40 hour weeks, during which they complete a series of rotations within a hospital in different specialties.

This works out at around 14.13 per hour.

However, the most experienced junior doctors make 58,398 per year.

This equates to 28 per hour, working a 40-hour week.

Medics can boost their salary by opting to work overtime and their hourly rate is increased for working nights and weekends.

The BMA has highlighted the low pay as part of a new advertising campaign in support of the pay dispute by junior doctors in England

After around six to eight years as a junior doctor, medics can become consultants, who earn 120,000 for a 40-hour week.

At this point, they can also opt to work extra hours and take on management or education responsibilities to further boost their pay.

Will there be more strikes?

No further strike dates have been announced by the BMA, which is coordinating the strike action.

However, union sources have suggested that junior doctor strikes could rumble on until the next general election, which is expected to take place in autumn 2024.

And Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chair of the BMA junior doctors committee, today warned the union is 'reserving the right for further industrial action' if the Government doesn't negotiate.
Drs say vapes' long term health impact isn't known and new scheme won't work

The Government's vaping push could see smokers trade one addiction for another and suffer health problems down the line, a doctor warned today.

A million smokers are set to be offered vape 'starter kits' in a world-first policy aimed at making England smoke-free.

The free kits are set to be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England at an estimated cost of 45million over two years.

Despite a torrent of evidence underlying the health risks of vaping and the long-term risks still being unknown, the cheap gadgets are broadly accepted as being far safer than traditional cigarettes.

But GP Dr Monah Mansoori argued vaping isn't 'risk free' and she had concerns about the new scheme.

Despite a torrent of evidence on the health risks of vaping, the free kits are set to be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England (stock image)

Professor Martin McKee, an expert in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is another health expert opposing the new scheme

'Certainly, we don't know what's going to happen 30, 40, 50 years down the line,' she told Sky News.

She added that the new swap scheme could also see smokers just trade one addiction for another without the right support.

'I do feel concerned slightly about this news because I think that you're potentially stepping down to something you may never be able to come off at all,' she said.

'Most respiratory consultants and doctors don't really like vaping because we are seeing lung damage caused by vaping and e-cigarettes... even in the short term.'

The new policy, announced this morning as part of a raft of anti-tobacco measures from the Government, will see the vaping devices handed out to smokers.

E-cigarettes allow users to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke. They work by heating liquid that contains nicotine and flavourings.

This doesn't burn tobacco or produce tar or carbon monoxide like with traditional cigarettes, and is and why they are deemed healthier than smoking.

They can come as vape pens  shaped like a small tube with a tank to store e-liquid and batteries  or pod systems that are rechargeable, resembling USB sticks. They can cost in the region of 20-30.

While the NHS has long advised vaping can help smokers quit, the health service has never given people the equipment to start doing it.

But some critics argue vaping is not particularly effective in helping people give up smoking.

Professor Martin McKee, an expert in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: 'Given the pressure the NHS is facing, one does wonder if this is a good use of resources given that a substantial increase in tobacco taxes would be more effective.

'E-cigarettes have only ever been shown to help people quit if they are part of a supervised, time-limited package of behavioural support  and even then they are not especially good.

'They don't increase quitting rates that much, and when people do use them to quit they are more likely to relapse than those who didn't use them.

'We need to focus on plain packaging, a ban on attractive e-liquid flavours, and a halt to advertising of vape products.'

Other parts of the new smoking crackdown include offering pregnant women up to 400 in vouchers to stop smoking, and a consultation on introducing mandatory advice about quitting smoking on cigarette packs.

The measures are designed to help the Government meet its target of being smoke-free by 2030  which means reducing smoking rates to 5 per cent or less.

Health minister Neil O'Brien, who will officially launch the schemes in a speech today is expected to say: 'Up to two out of three lifelong smokers will die from smoking.

'Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly.

'We will offer a million smokers new help to quit.

'We will be funding a new national "swap to stop" scheme  the first of its kind in the world.'

More than 3million people in England are believed to vape with health experts and the NHS stating the devices are much safer than smoking.

Supporters of vaping point to UK research estimating that in 2017, e-cigarettes helped more than 50,000 smokers in England to quit but some brands' colourful packaging and sweet flavours have been blamed for a rise in vaping in children (stock image)

Vape kits being offered to smokers is part of raft of new smoking cessation policies announced by Government with another being offering pregnant women up to 400 in vouchers to kick the habit (stock image)

Read more: Inside Britain's child vaping epidemic: Our horrifying investigation exposes predatory tactics of sweet shops selling e-cigs, vibrant 'dupes' made to resemble Skittles and Jolly Ranchers... and the kids left scarred for life MailOnline discovered dupe vapes mimicking Chupa Chups, Skittles, Jolly Rancher, Rubicon and Calypso (pictured), with near-identical branding to the popular sweets and drinks in other stores along Oxford Street Advertisement

Supporters of vaping point to British research estimating that in 2017 e-cigarettes helped more than 50,000 smokers in England to quit.

But the World Health Federation has warned that multiple studies casting doubt on the use of e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking, as people often just end up both smoking and vaping.

And the World Health Organization has said e-cigarettes are 'undoubtedly harmful'.

Some of the liquids used to flavour e-cigarettes have been linked in rare cases to 'popcorn lung'  a severe health problem which in extreme cases can require a lung transplant.

The starter kits will offer smokers a choice of products, strengths and flavours, and they will get support to quit tobacco at the same time .

It is understood people will not be prescribed vaping starter kits by their GPs, but can request them from community health centres or stop-smoking services.

The stop to swap scheme is estimated by officials to cost around 45million over two years.

Officials say 9 per cent of women still smoke during pregnancy in England and hope a financial incentive alongside behavioural support will get all of them to stop by the end of the year.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the Action on Smoking and Health campaign, said: 'Vapes increase smokers' chances of successfully quitting, as do vouchers for pregnant smokers, so these are welcome steps in the right direction, but they are nowhere near sufficient.'

The Government is also set to announce a crackdown on underage and illicit vape sales to stop children taking up the habit.

NHS Digital data shows the number of children who are current vapers has soared in recent years, jumping from 6 per cent in 2018 to 9 per cent in 2021

Experts have stressed their concern at children not being fully aware of the contents of e-cigarettes, with many so anxious for their next 'fix' they are begging teachers to let them vape at school

Concerns have been growing that some vape manufactures are targeting their products to children using colourful branding and candy flavours.

Inside Britain's child vaping epidemic: Our horrifying investigation exposes predatory tactics of sweet shops selling e-cigs, vibrant 'dupes' made to resemble Skittles and Jolly Ranchers... and the kids left scarred for life

But despite this the UK's advertising watchdog has sensationally claimed the devices are not targeted at kids despite being marketed the same way as sweets.

NHS figures for 2021 showed that 9 per cent of 11 to 15-year-old children used e-cigarettes, up from 6 per cent in 2018.

Some 3million of funding will be used for an 'illicit vapes enforcement squad'.

But, despite health chiefs insisting vaping is safer than smoking, it is not risk-free.

E-cigarettes still contain harmful toxins, according to a study by researchers at the Medical University of Silesia in Poland.

And their long-term effect on health remains a mystery, with some doctors fearing a wave of lung disease and even cancer in the coming decades.

Experts are also concerned the high nicotine content might increase blood pressure and cause other heart problems.

Britain's best-selling vape, which is known to be popular with children, was pulled from stores after the Mail revealed it was 50 per cent over the legal nicotine limit.

Elf Bar withdrew its 600 product  which accounted for two-thirds of disposable vapes bought in the UK  after the healthcare watchdog intervened.

Despite it being illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s, their use among kids has been surging for years.
Pilot scheme comes after they were also testing wastewater for Covid

A county in California has started testing residents' wastewater for fentanyl and other drugs in an attempt to get a handle on the growing overdose crisis.

Marin County, north of San Francisco, is also testing sewage water for cocaine, nicotine and methamphetamines  with plans to add xylazine, or 'tranq', to the list.

Local health chiefs say the data will help them spot and crackdown on drug hotspots. Places where fentanyl and other opioids are rife could benefit from the overdose medication Narcan, they say.

The scheme comes after health officials pioneered wastewater testing during the Covid pandemic, when the goal was to track new variants of the virus.

Marin County, north of San Francisco, will begin testing its wastewater for drugs including fentanyl and metamphetamines. It is hoped the data will tell them which areas need more of the overdose medication Narcan (Pictued above is the Central Marin Sanitation Agency facility where samples will be extracted)

Deaths caused by fentanyl in the US surged in the 2010s. At the start of the decade, 2,666 Americans died of a fentanyl overdose. This figure shot up to 19,413 by 2016. Covid made the situation worse, with a record 72,484 deaths recorded in 2021

The drugs crisis has surged to record levels in the US, with overdose deaths hitting 108,000 in 2022 for the first time.

Authorities have already rolled out expanded treatment programs, policies to limit painkiller prescriptions and toughened up policing to manage the crisis.

But Marin County has now joined a small but growing list of counties that are using sewage water to fight drug overdoses.

Dr Matt Willis, Marin County's public health officer, said: 'The problem of overdose is a public health crisis. We're losing one resident every five days in Marin County.

'And so we really think it's important for us to develop the same kind of surveillance methods, the same kind of intelligence we had applied to the Covid pandemic, to this new crisis of overdoses.'

Marin County has seen its overdose deaths more than double since 2018, rising to 65 per year in 2021. Drugs are also the third leading cause of death in the county for those under 75 years old  behind heart disease and cancer.

The pilot scheme testing wastewater began in early February.

Twice a week, workers with the Central Marin Sanitation Agency collect a 50-milliliter sample of wastewater from the roughly 8million gallons that flow into its San Rafael facility daily.

That wastewater comes from residential, commercial, and industrial sources like kitchen and bathroom sinks, toilets, and showers.

The sample is then shipped to Biobot Analytics, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to be analyzed for the presence of drugs. Results are fed back to the county's health officials.

Dr Willis added: 'With Covid, we had strong data systems to maintain visibility.

'This problem, by contrast, is largely hidden. We're really trying to find ways to gain better visibility to wrap our arms around this issue.

'This could potentially be very powerful for us.

'But we are not going to hang our hat on any results until we have a better understanding of how accurate it is and how well it correlates to other data sources.'

Biobot declined to say how many US counties are specifically testing for substances but said they test samples from more than 700 locations across more than 50 states, territories, and provinces.

Wastewater managers in the Half Moon Bay area were also previously signed up to the scheme, but they are now calling on San Mateo county to run it.

The scheme does not yet include testing for other drugs such as xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer, although public health chiefs are looking into the possibility of adding this drug to swabs.
Other measures could include a new mandatory message of hope in cig packets

Vapers who've switched from cigarettes in the Government's new 'swap to stop' scheme will also be given help to quit.

Under an anti-smoking push, a million cigarette addicts will get e-cig 'starter kits'.

Health chiefs hope the world-first policy will make England smoke-free, despite a torrent of evidence cataloguing the health risks of vaping.

Neil O'Brien, who unveiled the new policy today, said once smokers who sign up to the scheme kick their traditional habit they will then get support to quit vaping.

'Smokers who join this scheme which will run initially over the next two years must join on one condition  they commit to quit smoking with support,' he told a press conference.

Despite concerns about health risks of vaping, the free kits are set to be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England

Health minister Neil O'Brien unveiled a raft of new measures today designed to help Brits kick their smoking habits but ruled out one of the most radical

'Once that is done, we will offer support to those who want to go on to quit vaping too.'

Mr O'Brien did not, however, rule out offering vape kits to either pregnant women or kids.

He said more details would be forthcoming and that it was 'a very powerful tool to help a lot of people quit smoking'.

The free kits are set to be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England at an estimated cost of 45million over two years.

But experts have raised concerns that this would effectively give smokers a new form of nicotine addiction, one for which the long-term health impacts are still unknown.

Describing vaping as a 'double-edged sword', Mr O'Brien said the Government was worried about a rise of vaping among children. NHS data for 2021 shows 9 per cent of 11 to 15-year-old children used e-cigarettes, up from 6 per cent in 2018.

He echoed concerns from experts that colourful packaging and candy flavours were being used to lure kids into taking up the addictive habit.

Launching a 8-week consultation on the issue Mr O'Brien said: 'Today we step up our efforts to stop kids getting hooked on vaping.

'My message is this: if your business plan relies on getting kids hooked on nicotine, we are coming for you.'

He also announced a 3million taskforce to enforce the current rules of selling of vapes which are forbidden from being sold to under-18s.

'Companies failing to comply with the law will be held accountable,' he said.

However, Mr O'Brien ruled out progressively raising the age of sale of tobacco to make it so today's kids could never buy cigarettes.

Such measures, famously brought in by New Zealand, would gradually raise the age of tobacco purchase each year, from 18 currently to 19, 20 and so forth.

This move would effectively render today's children incapable of ever legally buying cigarettes.

Such a measure was recommended in last year's Khan review as a part of package of measures to make England smoke-free by 2030, a level which is defined as less than 5 per cent of people smoking, compared to the current 15 per cent

However, Mr O'Brien ruled out the policy saying it would be 'too big a departure' from the current efforts of encouraging smokers to stop instead of introducing new legal restrictions.

'We think that's too big a departure from the policy we've been involved in for many decades which is of helping people to quit rather than banning adults from buying cigarettes,' he said.

The 15 recommendations to help England be smoke-free by 2030 of the Khan review which was published in July last year

'So that's not something we're going to pursue  instead we want to major on measures to help people quit smoking rather than do that.'

Charities and public health experts said they were disappointed with the 'missed opportunity'.

Cancer Research UK's chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said: 'If the Government is to reach its own target of a smokefree England by 2030 and reduce pressures on the NHS it needs to go much further and faster.'

'While today's announcement is a step in the right direction, Government has missed a key opportunity by only substantially implementing 1 of the 4 critical recommendations made by the Independent Review of Smoking.'

She added that since the Khan review was published in June last year 40,000 people would have been diagnosed with a smoking-related cancer.

NHS Digital data shows the number of children who are current vapers has soared in recent years, jumping from 6 per cent in 2018 to 9 per cent in 2021

MailOnline discovered dupe vapes mimicking Chupa Chups, Skittles, Jolly Rancher, Rubicon and Calypso (pictured), with near-identical branding to the popular sweets and drinks in other stores along Oxford Street

Read more: Inside Britain's child vaping epidemic: Our horrifying investigation exposes predatory tactics of sweet shops selling e-cigs, vibrant 'dupes' made to resemble Skittles and Jolly Ranchers... and the kids left scarred for life MailOnline discovered dupe vapes mimicking Chupa Chups, Skittles, Jolly Rancher, Rubicon and Calypso (pictured), with near-identical branding to the popular sweets and drinks in other stores along Oxford Street Advertisement

'To help reduce these numbers the Government should follow the evidence by raising the age of sale on tobacco and committing more funds to help people quit,' she said.

'Bold action is required to protect future generations from the suffering caused by smoking addiction  and we urge the Government to act further.'

The Association of Directors of Public Health policy lead for addiction Alice Wiseman added that while they welcomed what was announced, the Government's measures failed to go far enough.

'Nine months ago, the Khan Review set out a clear pathway for the Government to follow which had widespread support from the public health community,' she said.

'While some measures are now being implemented, too many  such as the recommended raise to the age of sale  have been overlooked and with less than seven years to go, we are in serious danger of missing the 2030 target.

'The inevitable conclusion will sadly be that we create another generation of smokers, who will suffer from preventable ill-health that impacts not only on their quality  and length  of life but also on their ability to work.'

But Simon Clark, director of the smokers' group Forest welcomed the abandonment of raising the age of tobacco purchase, which had been described as 'nanny state style policy' by critics.

'Education is always better than coercion so we're pleased the government appears to favour the carrot not the stick approach to smoking cessation,' he said.

'Vaping is a significantly less harmful alternative to smoking so it makes sense to encourage smokers to switch to e-cigarettes.

Experts have stressed their concern at children not being fully aware of the contents of e-cigarettes, with many so anxious for their next 'fix' they are begging teachers to let them vape at school

'If however adult smokers still prefer to smoke tobacco, government must respect that choice.'

Another measure unveiled in Mr O'Brien was the potential of new mandatory message of 'hope' on cigarettes packages.

While grim warnings and images have been in place on cigarettes packaging in some form in the UK since 1991, ministers are now considering changing it up.

Mr O'Brien said: 'We will consult this year on introducing mandatory cigarette pack inserts with positive messages and information to help people quit.

'We are exploring how best we can use innovative approaches within this, such as the use of QR codes to make it as easy as possible for people to get help to quit.

'You could take a pic with your phone and be taken straight to stop smoking support.'

Another measure included in today's raft of anti-smoking policy announcements was giving expectant mums 400 of shopping vouchers to help them quit smoking.

It is hoped this will help reduce incidence of still birth and miscarriage which can occur as result of smoking during pregnancy.

Around 6million people smoke in the UK and it is estimated to cause 64,000 deaths every year.

It also costs the NHS 2.4billion every year to treat smoking-related conditions.

The raft of policies announced today were part of the Government official response to Khan review.

That review found that England will miss its 2030 smoke-free target by at least seven years without action.

And smoking rates in the poorest parts of the country will not fall below five per cent until 2044.

It put forward 15 recommendations including banning the sale of cigarettes in supermarkets and strengthening smoke-free legislation in hospitality, hospital ground and public spaces.

But, despite health chiefs insisting vaping is safer than smoking, it is not risk-free.

E-cigarettes still contain harmful toxins, according to a study by researchers at the Medical University of Silesia in Poland.

And their long-term effect on health remains a mystery, with some doctors fearing a wave of lung disease and even cancer in the coming decades.

Experts are also concerned the high nicotine content might increase blood pressure and cause other heart problems.

Britain's best-selling vape, which is known to be popular with children, was pulled from stores after the Mail revealed it was 50 per cent over the legal nicotine limit.

Elf Bar withdrew its 600 product  which accounted for two-thirds of disposable vapes bought in the UK  after the healthcare watchdog intervened.

Despite it being illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s, their use among kids has been surging for years.
Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton has revealed she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

The 54-year-old mother-of-two who serves Virginia's 10th congressional district released a video on Tuesday morning saying it 'sucks', but vowed to keep serving in Congress.

Parkinson's is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world and there is currently no cure. However, knowing the symptoms of Parkinson's can lead to earlier diagnoses and access to treatments that improve patients' quality of life.

Around 90,000 Americans and 18,000 Brits are diagnosed every year, with charities estimating that one in 37 people alive today will be diagnosed in their lifetime.

Here, DailyMail.com reveals some of the warning signs of the crippling disease:

Knowing the symptoms of Parkinson's can lead to earlier diagnoses and access to treatments that improve patients' quality of life

Wexton is pictured above with her family

Tremors

A tremor or an uncontrollable movement is one of the most well-known signs of Parkinson's and can be the very first symptom to appear.

It usually starts in the hand before spreading to the rest of the arm, or sometimes down to the foot on the same side of the body, charities say.

Tremors are more likely to happen when the limbs are relaxed.

Although there is no cure for tremors, it can be managed with the help of a specialist or Parkinson's nurse.

Parkinson's is caused by the death of nerve cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which are responsible for producing dopamine.

Dopamine is a vital neurotransmitter that acts as a messenger between the parts of the brain and nervous systems that help control and coordinate body movements.

It is a lack of this chemical that causes tremors and an array of other Parkinson's symptoms.

Slow movements

Everyday tasks may take a lot longer to do if you have Parkinson's.

This can see daily activities, such as paying for items at a store, doing up buttons and walking to the bus, take more time, says Parkinson's UK.

Parkinson's can cause symptoms related to movement as well as pain, depression and loss of smell, experts say

Wexton pictured being sworn in to Congress in 2019

Slowness of movement, medically known as bradykinesia, includes walking with short, shuffling steps.

It can also lead to smaller movements  such as not smiling as widely as normal  difficulties swallowing and chewing and a lack of coordination.

Slow movement is also caused by reduced dopamine levels in the brain, which impacts the way the muscles work.

Muscle stiffness

Stiff muscles are another symptom of Parkinson's that can slow you down.

Tension and a lack of flexibility in the muscles can make it hard to make facial expressions and move around.

This can lead to painful muscle cramps and problems with balance.

What is Parkinson's ? Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative condition. The illness effects the nerve cells in the brain that control movement. Over time the symptoms gradually get worse. It can cause symptoms related to movement as well as pain, depression and loss of smell. Most people who get Parkinson's are over 60, but one in ten are under 50 and it affects more men than women. What causes the symptoms? Nerve cells in the brain send messages to the rest of out body to control our movements. This is done using chemicals called neurotransmitters. An area of the brain called the substantia nigra produces one of the neurotransmitters that controls movement: dopamine. But in 70 to 80 per cent of people with Parkinson's these dopamine producing cells deteriorate and die. The loss of dopamine-producing neurons results in low levels of dopamine in the part of the brain that controls movement and balance. Source: Parkinson's Europe Advertisement

Swinging the arms, getting out of chairs and turning over in bed can all become harder as a result, as can breathing and speaking clearly.

Just like reduced dopamine levels can cause slow movements and tremors, it is also thought to disrupt the balance between the muscles which extend and relax for each movement, leading to rigidity and stiffness, according to Parkinson's Europe.

Loss of smell

Losing your sense of smell is an early warning sign of Parkinson's disease.

This symptom affects 95 percent of those with the condition and can start years before any other symptoms develop, says Parkinson's UK.

But loss of smell can affect people in different ways, with some losing or gaining weight as they can no longer smell food, while it may hit others' mood.

For some, it can be subtle and only dampen their smell, while others may struggle to smell at all.

It can also lead to safety concerns, with sufferers struggling to smell burning, for example.

Research suggests that the symptoms is caused by part of the brain, known as the 'olfactory bulb' and responsible for processing smells, being smaller in some people who have Parkinson's, according to Parkinson's UK.

Studies have also found that this bulb is the first part of the body to see a build-up of alpha-synuclein  a protein found in dopamine-producing cells.

In Parkinson's patients, the proteins become tangled and form clumps, which experts believe may spread the disease throughout the brain.

Bladder or bowel problems

Getting up in the night to go to the toilet can plague may people as they age.

But it is also another early sign of the Parkinson's.

Going to the bathroom more than once or twice a night  medically known as nocturia  could be a sign of the disease.

Urge incontinence, needing to pass urine immediately and struggling to 'hold on', may also be a symptom.

In Parkinson's, the symptoms are down to dips and fluctuations in dopamine levels, as this can affect how the bladder muscles and nerve function.

The loss of dopamine can also lead to the brain signals that tell the bladder to retain or expel urine to get disrupted, according to Parkinson's Europe.

Constipation is also a symptom of the disease, as slowness of movement and rigidity  tell-tale signs of the condition  can affect the muscles in the bowel wall.

Depression and anxiety

Feelings of extreme sadness for a long period of time could be a sign of depression.

Depression and anxiety are common among those with Parkinson's but it is not fully understood why, according to the NHS.

In some cases, these feelings occur months before other symptoms are revealed.

Studies suggest the symptoms is down to the drop-off in dopamine among Parkinson's patients, which can lead to tiredness and low mood.

Parkinson's UK says this can trigger depression, worry and anxiety.

Additionally, some patients may find they are not able to socialise as much as they used to, leading to loneliness and isolation increasing the risk of depression.

But the charity also notes that being diagnosed with Parkinson's itself can be very stressful, so it is understandable that you may experience these feelings.
Junior doctors began the first of four continuous strike days this morning at 7am

Junior doctors began their unprecedented four-day strike today as part of a union campaign for pay 'restoration'.

British Medical Association representatives claim the trainee medics are earning 26 per cent less now in real terms than they would have 15 years ago.

Health chiefs warn the strikes will prove the 'most disruptive in the NHS's history' with up to 350,000 appointments and operations expected to be cancelled.

So, why are junior doctors striking again? MailOnline shares the reasons of some on the picket line...

One junior doctor posted his payslip on Twitter, showing a take home pay of just 1823.50. He said: 'If you are wondering why we are striking. This is my payslip right at the very end of my second year as a doctor

Nima Maleki, 28, an emergency medicine trainee at Southmead Hospital in Bristol on the picket line

Nima Maleki, 28

Nima Maleki, 28, an emergency medicine trainee at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, said he has felt 'ashamed' of the care patients are receiving because of under-resourcing in the NHS.

Dr Maleki said: 'I'm seeing people not getting the care they should be, and for instance over the winter period I was ashamed of the care that I was giving to patients in A&E.

'But often I was being asked to do the job of two or three junior doctors and it makes it impossible for you to do your best for people.

'On a personal level, I worry about my own family if they have to see a healthcare professional: go to A&E, have a planned appointment.

'I worry for them and I think what if it takes too long? What if they have an accident and they're not seen in an appropriate amount of time?'

He added that junior doctors are not asking for a pay rise, but for pay to be restored back to the level it was in 2008 to 2009.

'It's the same job but actually we're working so much harder while being paid in real terms a lot less,' Dr Maleki said.

Annie Brown, 30

Chairwoman of the Mersey regional junior doctors committee 30-year-old Dr Annie Brown

Dr Annie Brown, chairwoman of the Mersey regional junior doctors committee, said she earns just 14 per hour.

She said: 'As a junior doctor in my first year of working, when a patient becomes unwell on the wards the nurses will call me and if that patient's having difficulty breathing, or if their heart were to stop even, I would attend the ward, try to start their heart again and do all of that for 14 an hour.

'We're asking for full pay restoration back to the levels it was at previously in 2008/2009.

'The reason we're asking for this is because we're not doing 26.1 per cent less work, we're not seeing 26.1 per cent less patients, if anything the patients are more complex than ever.'

Dr Brown, 30, who was on the picket line outside the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, said there was a 'mass exodus' of doctors from the NHS: 'Every day I see targeted advertisements online inviting me to go and work in Australia or New Zealand, where I could get paid significantly more.

'This is causing doctors to leave the UK and leave the profession because we're not feeling valued by the Government and we're not feeling valued by our patients often as well.'

Mike Andrews, 32

Dr Mike Andrews, 32, who has been a junior doctor for six years says he is frequently too busy to take a lunch break

Dr Mike Andrews, 32, who has been a junior doctor for six years, was among those on the picket line outside the Royal London Hospital.

He said: 'Four of my close friends went to Australia and New Zealand to work and never came back. That's what we've got to contend with. We need to attract doctors here and to keep doctors that we do have here.

'I can't leave because of my family but I am worried about how I am going to do my job in a week, a month, a year's time when we can't staff the wards already because they are leaving. Half of the jobs I've worked on, there's been 25 to 50 per cent staff vacancies.'

Dr Andrews said it is often too busy to even take a lunch break: 'I grab a sandwich and eat it while taking notes and eating on the ward, calling families to update them.

'The sad thing is the goodwill has gone. People are feeling so angry and frustrated and doctors are starting to burn out.'

He added: 'Money is tight right now, paying nursery fees. I'm struggling, like anyone else. I don't think people would expect that.

'I've been seriously considering changing my career, I've been looking at LinkedIn myself. At the moment I don't want to. But who knows for the future?'

Katrina Forsyth, 29

Katrina Forsyth, 29, who works in general surgery, has to rely on family and her partner to afford living and working in London

Katrina Forsyth joined the BMA picket line after finishing her night shift at St Thomas' Hospital in London.

The junior doctor, who works in general surgery, said she has to rely on family and her partner to be able to afford to keep working in London.

The 29-year-old said: 'We were clapped during Covid, I qualified early to try and help.

'When it comes to the point when we are really struggling to pay rent, people don't care.'

The doctor revealed she often has to tell three or four families a day that a relative has died and she sometimes goes home and cries at the end of a shift.

Dr Forsyth added: 'We have had a massive cut and we are filling more gaps because people are leaving.

'It's becoming less safe for patients.'

George Dovey, 28

George Dovey, 29, says working conditions have got harder and claims he is just above the breadline

Dr George Dovey said he is working harder than ever to make sure patients are not left in the corridors at St Thomas'.

The 28-year-old said: 'Our working conditions have got harder. I keep getting less resources.

'I often spend at least 10 minutes a day trying to find a computer that works. I have to do my work while sitting on a bin or desk.

'I am very much just above the breadline. I spent last night looking at jobs in Australia.'

Ada Zembrzycka, 27

Ada Zembrzycka, 27, knows colleagues using food banks and claims if pay cuts continue she will struggle to afford necessities

Trainee anaesthetist Ada Zembrzycka, 27, said her colleagues are using food banks as they struggle to stay above the breadline.

The doctor, who works at Whipps Cross Hospital in East London, said: 'If the pay cuts continue I will not only struggle to pay (for) my exams but for groceries and my Tube tickets.

'Rent is increasingly going up and I can't keep up.

Speaking on the picket line outside St Thomas' Hospital in London, she added: 'Junior doctors have received a 26 per cent pay cut over the last 15 years yet we are not worth a quarter less than our colleagues were in 2008.

'Over 7million patients are on the NHS waiting list - to put that in perspective that's more than the population of Scotland.'

Dr Zembrzycka, who earns 19 a hour, added: 'I do have colleagues who have to borrow money from their families to pay rent this year.'

Doctors on strike outside St Thomas' have been cheered on by cyclists and motorists as they begin four days of industrial action.

Sam Taylor-Smith, 27

Sam Taylor-Smith, 27, a junior doctor and co-chairman of the Severn regional junior doctors committee within the BMA, said underfunding of the NHS had led to this week's strike action

Sam Taylor-Smith, 27, a junior doctor and co-chairman of the Severn regional junior doctors committee within the BMA, said underfunding of the NHS had led to this week's strike action.

Dr Taylor, who is on the picket line outside Southmead Hospital in Bristol, said: 'On a personal level, I've seen the impact of underfunding and understaffing on the NHS.

'It means stretched emergency care, continuously cancelled and postponed elective care, it's burnout at a really high level and it's junior doctors not being able to perform at their best because there aren't enough staff to be able to safely cover the wards.'

Dr Taylor said before the strikes were announced, his dad was told he had to wait three-and-a-half years for an orthopaedic procedure.

'For my dad's sake I want to see a better NHS in the future because I know he's going to need it again,' he added.

'And I do think that every junior doctor who's out here today is doing this because they want the NHS to succeed.'

Arjan Singh

Junior doctor Arjan Singh told doctors in Trafalgar Square that 'stories of patients having heart attacks in waiting rooms are far too common'.

Junior medic shares his NHS payslip showing a take home pay of just 1823.50 for what he says is a 'huge level of responsibility' A junior doctor who has taken to the picket lines today has shared a picture of his payslip to justify why medics have decided to hold a four-day strike. The medic, going by the username Dr Dean S said the payslip, which he shared on Twitter, showed his earnings at the end of his second year as a doctor in July 2022. Pre-tax, Dean earned 2,834, an annual salary of approximately 34,000. But after deductions for his pensions and student loans his take home pay fell to 1823.50. However, the costs didn't stop there, with Dr Dean S adding he had to pay 565 pounds that month for medical exams, taking his pay down to 1,258.50. In a separate Tweet he added that the responsibilities junior medics take on 'from day one' are huge. 'The doctor who she's you in the emergency department, the doctor that does your surgery, the doctor who comes to see you in the middle of the night, the doctor that delivers your baby. Most are junior doctors,' he wrote. Advertisement

He said: 'When we risked our lives going into work during the pandemic, this Government responded with a meaningless round of applause. But claps don't pay the bills.

'And we had to share masks, wear bin bags for PPE, and watch on as our colleagues lost their lives for this country.

'They responded with pay cuts after pay cuts after pay cuts.

'Right now, every single week, 500 patients, enough to fill a Boeing jet, die in the NHS needlessly due to a lack of doctors.'

Doctors will march to Downing Street after the speeches in Trafalgar Square.

Mivanyi Kadala

Dr Mivanyi Kadala, who has been a junior doctor for nine years, was among those on the picket line outside the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

The registrar in infectious diseases said: 'One of the key things for me about all of this is how much the NHS is losing staff.

'If you haven't got good staff retention you're going to continuously struggle to offer a good service and something that will be safe for patients.

'Going on strike is difficult and people will be, very understandably, frustrated.

She said it was not a decision the BMA or any doctors had taken lightly but said if 'painful decisions are not taken now we are in for more pain in the future'.

Stuart Innes

Junior doctor Stuart Innes said a trainee surgeon he works with was getting distracted while operating as they were worried about taking on extra shifts.

The 28-year-old said on the picket line at St Thomas' Hospital in London: 'If I was going under the knife I'd want them to only be thinking about me and me alone and not have to worry about the fact they have got to pay for gas and electric and they've got their rent coming up.'

He added: 'Over Christmas and over the winter period, we were getting emails saying our ICU was at capacity. We had no acute admitting beds for medicine left.

'We needed to urgently get people out of hospital because there were people sitting at A&E for hours with just nowhere to go.

'Ambulance were getting stuck. They were unable to offload their patients and that's persisted outside of winter.'
Shortages of cancer drugs are rendering patients defenseless against the disease, doctors in hospitals across the US have warned.

The circumstances are dire for potentially tens of thousands who rely on these medications for conditions such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, metastatic ovarian and bladder cancer, and advanced-stage prostate cancer.

With some shortages expected to carry on for months, healthcare professionals say people will certainly die before manufacturers can ramp up production and remedy supply problems.

Doctors are now scrambling to find alternative treatment routes for their patients, potentially leaving them with substandard care.

The graphs shows at each point the number of active shortages at the end of each quarter going back to 2018. At its peak last year, there were 295 drugs in shortage

Pluvicto, a new medication for advanced prostate cancer, will remain in shortage until June at the earliest due to production delays at Novartis' facility in Italy

Drug shortages are becoming more common in the US as financial investment in the development of generic medications dries up.

A Senate report published last month found that shortages of even common medications like amoxicillin and Tamiflu and over-the-counter cold and flu medication such as childrens Tylenol have increased nearly 30 percent between 2021 and 2022.

Generic drugs are versions of more expensive brand-name drugs that are cheaper for companies to make, but bring in less profit.

Dr. Vimala Raghavendran, senior director of the pharmaceutical supply chain center at US Pharmacopeia said last month: 'Manufacturers only receive pennies per dose for some of these drugs.'

In fact, generic manufacturers now sell many of the most widely prescribed generic drugs in the US for 1 cent to 5 cents per pill.

The injectable methotrexate, which is used to treat cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children is in short supply, as is the drug cisplatin for metastatic ovarian and bladder cancer.

Fluorouracil, which is used to treat skin, colon, breast, pancreas, and stomach cancers is also scarce, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

Methotrexate makers Accord and Pfizer told the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) that the drug is on back order due to manufacturing delays, while Fresenius Kabi, Teva, and Hikma didn't provide a reason for the shortage.

Cisplatin makers WG Critical Care, Hikma, and Teva also gave no reason for the scarcity while fluorouracil supplier Fresenius Kabi cited increased demand for the drug.

The shortages may not be alleviated until June in some cases, according to the manufacturers.

Millions of Americans could be affected by the shortages. Methotrexate is very common with more than 5.8 million prescriptions doled out in 2020. Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug that is given as a treatment for many types of cancers. Meanwhile, roughly 962,000 prescriptions for fluorouracil were written in 2020.

Dr David Margraf, a pharmaceutical research scientist at the the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy said: Patients may have already exhausted other treatment options and have few remaining choices. Oncology drug shortages reduce the expected survival times of patients, which leaves them less time to spend with their loved ones. It's truly a tragedy.

Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug that is commonly used for bladder cancer and improves the likelihood that surgery will be successful.

It is the gold standard for treating certain forms of cancer, but shortages have left oncologists wondering if they will be able to continue treating their patients.

Heng Yang, clinical pharmacy specialist at UChicago Medicine said: So far, we are running at a historically low numberthat I can say definitely.

The injectable drug Pluvicto, used to treat advanced prostate cancer, is also in shortage.

Drug behemoth Novartis explained production hiccups at its manufacturing facility in Italy had caused the company to halt further supply to new patients until it can produce more of the drug.

Pluvicto is made in small batches at a manufacturing facility in Italy, with only a 5-day window for each dose to reach its patient and no possibility of stockpiling. The FDA reported the Pluvicto shortage on March 7, saying the drug is expected to be unavailable for four months while it gets approval to open US facilities.

A patient with late-stage prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of their body does not have the luxury of waiting months for their medication to come back in stock. Robert Landfair, a 76-year-old Chicagoan with stage 4 prostate cancer is confronting the shortage head-on.

Mr Landfairs doctor, Alan Tan of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, started his patient on Pluvicto after several unsuccessful rounds of chemotherapy. Now, Landfair is on a waitlist for the medication, which likely wont become available for at least a couple of months.

Landfair told NBC News: I definitely need that drug. Its the only way I see my life.

An FDA approval of Novartis application for a manufacturing facility in New Jersey will come too late for thousands of men who will die this year of prostate cancer.

Jonathan McConathy, director of the division of molecular imaging and therapeutics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham told the Wall Street Journal: People will die from this shortage, for sure.

And Andrei Iagaru, a professor of radiology-nuclear medicine at Stanford University said: Youve got to tell people that they have to wait when you actually know that they dont have that much time left Any delay is impactful.

There were 295 drugs in shortage at the end of 2022, 17 of which have been in shortage for over a decade. Because manufacturers of cheaper generic drugs only make a small profit per dose, there is little financial incentive for multiple manufacturers to make a generic medicine.
*****Have you been affected by the strike? Email MailOnline's Health desk via emily.craig@mailonline.co.uk *****

*****Have you been affected by the strike? Email MailOnline's Health desk via emily.craig@mailonline.co.uk *****

*****Have you been affected by the strike? Email MailOnline's Health desk via emily.craig@mailonline.co.uk *****

An estimated 350,000 NHS appointments will be cancelled due to the strikes

Emergency departments may struggle to keep patients safe overnight due to staff shortages triggered by the junior doctors' strike, health chiefs warned today.

NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said that bosses in England are 'worried about securing adequate cover' for night shifts during the 96-hour walkout.

The action, coordinated British Medical Association (BMA), is a bid to secure a 35 per cent pay rise for junior doctors. It is expected to see up to 350,000 appointments cancelled this week.

Officials fear the 'unparalleled' disruption  at a time when hospital staffing rotas are 'very fragile' because of the Easter holidays  will take weeks to recover from.

On picket lines across the country, junior doctors mocked Health Secretary Steve Barclay for not caving in to the BMA's pay demand, accusing him of trying to 'look tough in front of unions' rather than averting strike action.

NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said bosses in England are 'worried about securing adequate cover' for night shifts during the 96-hour walkout. Pictured: Junior doctors hold a rally at Trafalgar Square in London on April 11

The action, coordinated British Medical Association (BMA), is a bid to secure a 35 per cent pay rise for junior doctors. It is expected to see up to 350,000 appointments cancelled this week. Pictured: Junior doctors hold a rally at Trafalgar Square in London on April 11

Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said: 'Keeping patients as safe as possible, trusts' number one priority, will be even harder than in previous strikes so it's all hands on deck.

'It's not just consultants and specialist doctors stepping into the breach.

'We're seeing support from GPs, paramedics, pharmacists, community matrons and others playing their part to minimise the risk.

'Getting through today is just the start. Trust leaders are worried about securing adequate cover for the night shifts ahead. This is going to be a very long, difficult week for the NHS.'

She said that, while junior doctors are frustrated with their pay, it is 'exasperating to hear the Government and unions talking about why they can't get together rather than just sitting down and talking'.

Gov tells junior doctors it WON'T discuss pay until militant union abandons strike and accepts less than 35% Downing Street insisted there would be no talks with the British Medical Association (BMA) unless it abandons its demand for 35 per cent rise and calls off the strikes. A No 10 spokesman said Rishi Sunak was being kept up to date about the impact of the industrial action. The spokesperson said: 'It continues to be the case that we call on the BMA junior doctors to cease their strikes and revise their starting point for negotiations, which is 35 per cent, which we continue to believe is unreasonable and is not affordable for the British taxpayer.' The 35 per cent demand is 'completely out of step with pay settlements in other parts of the public sector' and would cost 2billion, they said. The spokesman added: 'We know that the strike action will have an impact on patient care. The last set of strikes saw around 180,000 operations cancelled and that was a three-day strike, so we'd expect to see higher numbers this week.' However, Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairman of the BMA junior doctors' committee, said that the 35 per cent increase is not a 'tall ask'. He told BBC Breakfast: 'All we're asking is for a doctor who's paid 14 an hour to be paid 19 an hour, so it's not a tall ask. 'We've offered multiple dates to Mr Barclay to try and meet and he's only met us twice, he didn't have a mandate to negotiate once, and didn't even give us an offer the second time.' Advertisement

'We need a leap of imagination from all parties involved in this dispute to end the strikes now,' she added.

Up to half of doctors in England took to picket lines from 7am this morning, in action that will run until 7am on Saturday, marking the 'longest period of industrial action' that the NHS has ever seen.

It immediately follows the four-day bank holiday weekend, which is expected to cause huge disruption, as many senior medics are on annual leave or have childcare commitments, meaning fewer are available to fill in.

There is also usually a spike in pent-up demand after the Easter weekend.

Sir Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, warned 'cover is very fragile', with hospitals forced to rely on consultants and other staff to do the work that junior doctors usually do.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We are working very hard to ensure those emergency services are kept safe  that is our priority.

'But I've also got no doubt that that cover is very fragile.

'We will endeavour to keep patients safe, particularly in those emergency services, but that is becoming harder every time we have this strike action.'

Hospital bosses told the Health Service Journal that they are 'stuffed if staff get sick'.

One unnamed official in the East of England told the trade magazine: 'We have all areas covered but they are very fragile. If a couple of key posts go sick, we're in trouble.'

Another based in the North of the country added: 'There's a wicked mix of issues which together with the bank holiday make this strike feel much more worrying.'

The NHS said it will continue to prioritise emergency, critical, neonatal, maternity and trauma care during the action.

But it has warned that 'hundreds of thousands' of appointments, including cancer care, will be postponed and there will be 'significant impact' on local services.

Officials have urged patients to attend appointments as normal, unless they have been told that it is cancelled.

Patients should only call 999 or attend A&E in life-threatening emergencies and use NHS 111 for non-urgent care.

Health leaders advised Brits to avoid 'risky behaviour' this week as the health service can't provide the level of care that it wants to.

Sir Stephen called on the public to 'think twice' before going to A&E. The plea comes after warnings from hospitals that patients did not stay away during junior doctors' 72-hour strike in March.

Dr Camilla Hill, a neuroscientist, who was due to have operation this week to treat her misaligned kneecaps, which can leave her in pain when walking, kneeling or using the stairs has had her procedure postponed and accused striking medics of being 'off their rocker'

Paul Turnbull, an occupational physician, was booked in for a now canceled thigh bone replacement this week and accused junior doctors of 'living in la-la land' over their pay demands

Junior doctors hold a rally at Trafalgar Square in London on April 11

Junior doctors hold a rally at Trafalgar Square in London on April 11

Junior doctors hold a rally at Trafalgar Square in London on April 11

Junior doctors hold placards at a picket while on strike outside University College Hospital in London on April 11

Junior doctors hold placards at a picket while on strike outside William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent on April 11

Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside Southmead Hospital in Bristol on April 11

Striking junior doctors outside Leeds General Infirmary on April 11

Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside St Thomas' Hospital in London on April 11

Almost 325,000 operations and appointments have been cancelled because of NHS strikes this winter

Patients have told of feeling like their 'life has been put on the line for money' and accused the BMA of being 'off their rocker' and in 'la la land' over their 35 per cent pay demand.

Dr Camilla Hill, a neuroscientist, was due to have operation this week to treat her misaligned kneecaps, which can leave her in pain when walking, kneeling or using the stairs.

The 42-year-old, who has already had her procedure postponed once, told the BBC that she understood if it was cancelled because it could not be performed safely.

But Dr Hill accused the medics of being 'off their rocker'.

She said: 'Everyone is feeling the squeeze and there is a limited pot of money.

READ MORE What should I do if I'm ill this week? What kind of 'risky' behaviour should I avoid? And do junior doctors REALLY earn 14 an hour? Everything you need to know as 4-day NHS strike begins Junior doctors take to picket lines outside University College Hospital in London on April 11 Advertisement

'Their 35 per cent pay demands are unfeasible and they have to realise they are unfeasible.'

Paul Turnbull, an occupational physician, was booked in for a thigh bone replacement this week. It has already been cancelled once for a medical issue and a second time due to last month's junior doctors' strike.

The 61-year-old occupation physician told the broadcaster: 'The welfare of patients is first and foremost.

'Junior doctors are living in la-la land if they think they are going to get a 35 per cent pay rise, and I don't believe they are badly paid compared to people in other professions and the general population.'

Nick Gladwell, a bowel cancer patient, was due to have an appointment today at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. But it was cancelled due to the strike action.

He told ITV News: 'It shouldn't be involving me. This is two parties at loggerheads and I'm stuck in the middle and I feel like my life has been put on the line for money.'

Mr Gladwell added: 'Wherever you stand on the side of the Government or the doctors, it's people lives at risk.

'Having two young children and being a single father, I've got to be there for them.

'I've got people who rely on me, so I want to get well as soon as possible.'

Marilyn Mee, from Watford, has told of how she has been 'left on tenterhooks' over whether her shoulder operation will go ahead at Watford General Hospital on Thursday.

The 77-year-old, who has been waiting 18 months for the procedure, said she has so far had 'no news' on whether the operation will take place on Thursday.

She said: 'The theatre is booked, equipment has arrived and two consultants are ready to operate in tandem as long as they are not called to cover for junior doctors. I'm on tenterhooks.

'I appreciate the junior doctors have worked very hard and do overtime and are not paid very much but I don't believe in striking when it affects people's health.'

It comes after Dr Hilary Jones today warned that patients will die as a direct result of the junior doctors' strikes, due to delayed treatment.

He told Good Morning Britain: 'If you've got one doctor there, trying to look after ten patients and they're all acutely ill, you can't get to them all at the same time.'

And Dr Jones warned that a heart attack patient will not receive the same care at hospital today that they would have had a week ago.

'You're going to be in a queue with others in the same situation. This is disruptive, this is dangerous, it's never been more dangerous,' he said.

Dr Sumi Manirajan, deputy co-chair of the BMA's junior doctors committee, said she 'can't guarantee that no lives will be put at risk' but said 500 patients are currently dying each week while waiting for care.

Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside Leicester Royal Infirmary on April 11

Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside Leicester Royal Infirmary on April 11

The walkout is the latest move in a growing row between the Government and junior medics over pay.

The BMA is seeking a 35 per cent pay rise to address the 26 per cent real terms pay cut junior doctors have faced over the last 15 years.

Starting salaries for junior doctors are 29,384. This rises to 58,398 by the end of their training, and within six years of graduating from university, they can become a consultant, who earn starting salaries of 88,000 a year.

The BMA has said it is 'willing to negotiate on how to achieve pay restoration'.

But Health Secretary Steve Barclay has repeatedly insisted that this demand is unaffordable.

READ MORE Warning people will die as junior doctors begin 4-day strike in hunt of a 35% pay rise worth up to 20,000 per medic - as NHS bosses fear union will plot MORE chaos after King Charles' Coronation and other May Bank Holidays Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside Leicester Royal Infirmary on April 11 Advertisement

He said: 'It is extremely disappointing the BMA has called strike action for four consecutive days.

'Not only will the walkouts risk patient safety, but they have also been timed to maximise disruption after the Easter break.

'I hoped to begin formal pay negotiations with the BMA last month but its demand for a 35 per cent pay rise is unreasonable  it would result in some junior doctors receiving a pay rise of over 20,000.

'If the BMA is willing to move significantly from this position and cancel strikes we can resume confidential talks and find a way forward, as we have done with other unions.'

Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chair of the BMA junior doctor committee, said: 'We were knocking on the Health Secretary's door, asking to meet with him to negotiate a settlement to this dispute, long before the current strike got under way.

'We have been in a formal dispute since October. He refused to respond and meet us until we had a strike ballot result.

'He has had months to put a credible offer on the table and avert industrial action so for him to say 'it's disappointing' is at best disingenuous.'

He added: 'The reality is that the Health Secretary has had every opportunity to bring an end to the dispute.'

Dr Trivedi said the plea, which is thought could cost in the region of 2billion, was not a 'tall ask'.

Dr Sam Taylor-Smith, a junior doctor and BMA representative on the picket line outside Southmead Hospital in Bristol, led a group of around 30 junior doctors in a chant criticising the Health Secretary.

The group chanted: 'There was a man named Steve, he cause the doctors a lot of grief, he refused our meeting, then took to late night tweeting.'

The BMA has highlighted the low pay as part of a new advertising campaign in support of the pay dispute by junior doctors in England

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: 'It is extremely disappointing the BMA has called strike action for four consecutive days. Not only will the walkouts risk patient safety, but they have also been timed to maximise disruption after the Easter break'

Vivek Trivedi (left) and Rob Laurenson (right), co-chairmen of the BMA's junior doctor's committee, speak to the media after a meeting with Health Secretary Steve Barclay on March 2

Four in ten junior doctors plan to leave the health service 'as soon as possible', according to the BMA, which quizzed nearly 4,000 members in November and December on whether they were looking to quit the NHS.

In response to a question on whether they planned to work as a doctor in another country within the next year, one third of the group agreed, according to the BMA results. Australia was the top destination, with 42 per cent of the cohort planning to move there

The 27-year-old said: 'I'm really disappointed in Steve Barclay's attitude to be honest.

'We wrote to him on March 31 asking for a reopening of negotiations and asking him to take us seriously and offer us a serious pay offer.

'He waited five or six days to respond to that letter, so that doesn't strike me as a man who is concerned about averting a strike at all possible costs.'

Dr Taylor-Smith added: 'I think he's just concerned with looking tough in front of unions rather than actually trying to avert strike action.'

At Trafalgar Square in central London, junior doctors, many dressed in orange hats and vests, chanted and held up signs, such as 'Steve (Barclay) did your dog eat your homework'.

Nearly 4MILLION NHS 111 calls abandoned in 2022, analysis shows Almost four million calls to NHS 111 were abandoned last year  the equivalent of 10,000 a day  analysis reveals. The hotline is widely used by members of the public who need medical help when not in a life-threatening situation. But millions in need of urgent health advice gave up before getting through to a call handler, figures suggest. The House of Commons Library data shows 17.8 per cent  nearly one in five  calls to NHS 111 last year were abandoned. This is the equivalent of 3.7million calls over the course of 12 months, or around 10,000 per day. The worst-hit area was the South East, where half of all callers gave up getting through to the helpline at the end of last year. Across the whole of England patients faced excruciatingly long delays to get through to a health advisor, with the average time taken to answer a call reaching 25 minutes in December. The NHS target is to answer a 111 call in 20 seconds on average. Long delays to the service risk piling even more pressure on to overcrowded hospitals, as those unable to get through are likely to turn to their local A&E instead. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, which commissioned the analysis, said: 'It is completely unacceptable that so many people in need of urgent medical advice are struggling to get through to NHS 111. 'Staff are exhausted, patients are left in pain, but still Conservative ministers are burying their heads in the sand. 'The government must urgently hire and train more staff to take 111 calls, or else millions more people will be left in pain for far too long.' NHS data also shows that in December last year, nearly 95,000 calls were received by the 111 service  an increase of more than a third compared to the previous month. Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said: 'People should be able to get the care they deserve when they need it. 'No-one should be forced to abandon a call because wait times are so long when they are in need of urgent medical help. 'The Government must urgently address this dire situation. We need a proper long-term plan to tackle staff shortages, or the NHS will be exposed to the same winter crises year after year.' Advertisement

Insiders are concerned that the BMA is plotting even more carnage around the three Bank Holidays next month  on May 1, 8 and 29  including for King Charles' Coronation.

The union has warned already that strikes may continue 'all the way until the next General Election', which is expected to take place in autumn 2024.

BMA sources have already told The Guardian that strikes could continue 'all the way through to the next General Election'. But no dates for further action have been confirmed.

Dr Trivedi today warned the BMA is 'reserving the right for further industrial action' if the Government doesn't negotiate.

One NHS official, speaking anonymously to The Times, warned that the 'real harms will occur afterwards', as medics battle overcrowded wards, while scrambling to discharge patients and reschedule procedures.

They warned that the health service hasn't recovered from the previous junior doctors' strike in March and it would be 'perfectly reasonable' to expect the NHS to take a 'month or more to recover' from the current walkouts.

They source said: 'It's important to recognise that the harm of the strike happens afterwards; there's this perception that it falls out of the news and everything goes back to normal and that's not the case. Teams will be run ragged.'

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'The junior doctors' strike this week will cause huge disruption to patient care.

'Where is the Prime Minister and why hasn't he tried to stop it?

'Rishi Sunak says he 'wouldn't want to get in the middle of' NHS pay disputes.

'Patients are crying out for leadership, but instead they are getting weakness.'

Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Health and Social Care spokesperson, said: 'By refusing to talk to junior doctors, Steve Barclay is putting our NHS and thousands of patients at unnecessary risk.

'We need to recall Parliament so Conservative ministers can be held to account.

'The Government needs to get round the table immediately to resolve this impending crisis facing our NHS.

'NHS staff deserve a fair deal but this Health Secretary has slammed the door on urgent talks.'

Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the BMA Council, warned that medics in their droves are leaving the NHS to work for better pay, terms and conditions abroad.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that colleagues are 'frequently going to Australia, New Zealand and Ireland'.

The BMA is highlighting low pay as part of a new advertising campaign in support of the pay dispute by junior doctors in England.

It claimed that three junior doctors would make just 66.55 between them for taking out your appendix.

Three doctors with ten, seven and one year of experience would make just 28, 24.46, and 14.09, respectively, by performing the potentially life-saving procedure, the BMA said.

However, the Government said the campaign is 'misleading' as it fails to account for the 'additional earning capacity and pay progression available to junior doctors'.
Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are on the rise across the US and show 'no signs of slowing,' official data shows.

There were 2.53million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up almost 6 percent from the figure in 2020 and a 7 percent increase on 2017.

While certain STIs were still not as high in 2021 and in pre-pandemic years, other, such as syphilis, are seeing the highest numbers in more than 70 years.

Officials have blamed limited access to healthcare during the pandemic and increasingly lax attitudes towards contraception.

'The U.S. STI epidemic shows no signs of slowing,' said Dr. Leandro Mena, director of the CDC's division of STD prevention, in a statement.

Of the nearly 54,000 reported primary and secondary syphilis cases in 2021, over 31 percent were among men who have sex with men only, while men who have sex with men only combined with men who have sex with both men and women accounted for nearly 36 percent of all cases

During 2020 to 2021, the gonorrhea rate among men increased more than six percent (from 234.8 to 249.7 per 100,000) and the rate among women increased over two percent (from 173.8 to 177.9 per 100,000)

Chlamydia was not reportable in all 50 states and the District of Columbia until 2000. Steady increases in chlamydia case rates beginning in 1996 are due in part to improved reporting and testing infrastructure

In 2021, there were a total of 2,855 cases of congenital syphilis reported for a rate of about 78 per 100,000 live births. During 2020 to 2021, the rate of reported congenital syphilis increased more than 30 percent

'The reasons for the ongoing increases are multifaceted - and so are the solutions.

'For the first time in decades, we're seeing promising new STI interventions on the horizon, but these alone will not solve this epidemic.'

Health experts are now hopeful that a common antibiotic medication could act as a prophylactic.

Dr. Leandro Mena, director of the CDC's STD prevention division told the Associated Press is drafting recommendations for using it for this purpose.

Doxycycline, a cheap antibiotic that has been sold for more than 50 years may be able to put a dent in the soaring figures.

Dr Mena believes that it could act as a sort of 'morning after' pill for sexually transmitted infections, able to prevent STDs within 72 hours of having unprotected sex.

The CDC figures show there were 176,713 syphilis cases in 2021, the highest since the 217,558 cases reported in 1950 and up a third on 2020.

The report also found a surge in congenital syphilis, which happens when a baby is born with the infection after catching it from her mother during pregnancy.

Cases rose by 32 percent from 2,148 in 2020 to more than 2,800 in 2021. This resulted in 220 stillbirths and infant deaths in 2021, the CDC said.

Cases of gonnhorea rose nearly five percent from 2020 to 2021, from 677,769 cases to more than 710,000, the highest yearly total in four years.

Chlamydia cases, which were more common to begin with at 1,579,885 in 2020 shot up to 1,644,416 in 2021.

Despite this roughly four percent increase, total yearly cases of chlamydia have declined since 2019 when more than 1.8 million cases were reported.

New data published in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding doxycycline is giving doctors some measure of hope that the epidemic of STIs could be curtailed.

In the study funded by the National Institutes of Health, 501 gay men, bisexual men and transgender women in Seattle and San Francisco with a history of STD infections took one doxycycline pill within 72 hours of unprotected sex.

Researchers refer to this course of treatment in the study as doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis, or doxyPEP for short.

Participants who took the pills were about 90 percent less likely to get chlamydia, 80 percent less likely to get syphilis, and more than 50 percent less likely to get gonorrhea compared with people who did not take the pills after sex.

Doctors at the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Washington said: 'The combined incidence of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis was lower by two thirds with doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis than with standard care, a finding that supports its use among [men who have sex with men] with recent bacterial STIs.'

Dr. Philip Andrew Chan, who is consulting with the CDC on the doxycycline recommendations said that using an antibiotic to prevent STDs will not be 'a magic bullet' but it 'will be another tool'.

Citing continuous study in this field by the team of researchers from Washington and California, the San Francisco Department of Public Health endorsed doxycycline's use as a prophylactic in October last year.

The department said last fall: 'Doxy-PEP is the first biomedical prevention tool that has been shown to be effective and well-tolerated, community awareness is growing, and many providers in SF are already prescribing doxy-PEP to their patients at risk for STIs.'

Derrick Woods-Morrow, a 33-year-old artist and an assistant professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, is an early adopter. He isn't a fan of condoms as they can break and sometimes people slip them off during sex. Still, he wants to stay healthy.

Mr Woods-Morrow started taking an anti-viral medication before sex to protect himself from HIV infection about 10 years ago. Five years ago, a doctor told him about research into whether doxycycline might protect people from other diseases.

He said: 'I thought it was probably in my best interest to protect myself, and my partners as well,' adding that he has not tested positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis while using it.

'I feel like it's a tool to sort of take back the sexual freedoms that someone may have lost and to really enjoy sex and interactions with people with a piece of mind.'

Recently, the health research firm Innerbody compiled an extensive list of 100 US cities with the highest rates of STDs, including HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

Memphis, Tennessee, comes out as America's STD capital where around one in 70 people were estimated to have been infected with one in 2021. In second and third place are Jackson, Mississippi, and Columbia, South Carolina, where the rate was around one in 75 during that year.

When the CDC will formally recommend doxycycline as a de facto morning-after pill remains to be seen, but officials will have many factors to consider before then, such as the drug's adverse health risks.

For instance, when combined with the blood thinner warfarin to treat or prevent blood clots, doxycycline can thin out blood further, raising a person's risk of severe bleeding and bruising. Other medications including over the counter antacids and some barbituates render the medication less effective.

Doxycycline can also cause nausea and vomiting, bloating, dizziness, chills, constipation, and, in more severe cases, rashes, swelling and hives, and blurred vision.
The abortion pill at the center of a landmark court case has a stronger safety profile than commonly used drugs such as Viagra and Tylenol, data shows.

Mifepristone, sold under the name Mifeprex, was pulled from shelves by a US District Court Judge in Texas last week, citing safety concerns with the drug.

The main argument from plaintiffs was that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not properly establish its safety before its 2000 approval.

But in the 23 years since mifepristone - one-half of a two-tablet abortion treatment - a total of one per every 200,000 users have died from complications from the drug.

Mifepristone causes deaths in 0.5 per every 100,000 people who use the drug. The figure pales to the number of users of Tylenol and Viagra that die because of the medication's side effects. According to official data, 0.8 per every 100,000 Tylenol users and 4.9 per every 100,000 Viagra users will die

Around 48.9 per every 100,000 mifepristone users experience adverse effects to the drugs, compared to 93.3 per 100,000 Tylenol users and 59.4 per every 100,000 Viagra users

When stacked up against other common drugs, mifepristone proves itself to be one of the safest pills behind the pharmacy counter.

According to an analysis of FDA data from Ohio State and the University of Virginia, 4.9 of every 100,000 users of the class of drugs that includes Viagra suffer deadly complications  nearly ten-fold that of mifepristone.

Also, 59.4 of every 100,000 suffer an adverse event of some sort.

Viagra works by loosening blood vessels and increasing circulation across the body.

While almost always safe, its effects on the circulatory system can cause a heart attack or irregular heartbeat in rare cases.

Acetaminophen, known as Tylenol, is one of the most popular drugs in America but famously comes with its own risk factors.

While safe in small doses, long-term use of the medicine cabinet staple can cause toxins to gather in the liver. Because it can be purchased over the counter, there is no regulation on how much a person takes at a time.

In the most serious of cases, it can cause deadly liver failure.

According to a Desert Regional Medical Center report, the drug is responsible for 500 deaths and 56,000 hospital visits caused by adverse events each year.

This suggests that out of 60 million regular users, 0.8 per 100,000 will die and 93.3 per 100,000 will seek treatment for an adverse event.

Both of these figures eclipse the safety risks reported for mifepristone.

According to official Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data from June 2022, 5.6million women had used mifepristone since it became available in September 2000.

Among that group, 28 women were determined to have died from complications using the drug.

Also included in the data set was 2,740 women who suffered an adverse event of any type, including 768 who required hospitalization to treat these issues.

The drug works by blocking the body's secretion of the hormone progesterone. This, in turn, leads to a breaking down of the uterus lining and terminates the pregnancy.

Known side effects include nausea, weakness, fever, vomiting and headaches, among others.

In many cases, a woman will use the stomach ulcer drug misoprostol afterward, which causes the body to eject the terminated fetus through heavy vaginal bleeding.

Potentially dangerous side effects were at the center of a case brought to court by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a conservative anti-abortion group.

The plaintiffs argued that they, as doctors, had seen many patients seek treatment after receiving the medication abortion.

They also cited studies that highlighted the known side effects of mifepristone.

Government lawyers representing the FDA and Department of Justice (DoJ) argue that this data was considered when the agency approved the drug in 2000.

US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ruled for the drug's approval to be frozen on Friday.

He said in his decision: 'The Court does not second-guess FDA's 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.'

Mifepristone's approval was not controversial based on trial data, and the drug has continued to show its safety and efficacy in the 22 years it has been used.

Mifepristone first received FDA approval in 2000, in the time since 5.6million women have used it to induce an abortion (file photo)

The Federal Government and pro-choice groups across the US swiftly condemned the decision by Judge based on these safety concerns.

The DoJ immediately announced plans to appeal the ruling, saying Friday: '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.'

An appeal was filed Monday.

Dr Heminia Palacio, president and CEO of The Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit that fights for abortion rights across America, wrote to DailyMail.com: 'The decision handed down by Judge Kacsmaryk that attempts to revoke the decades-long FDA approval of mifepristone flies in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence.

'It's critical to note that the decision will not go into effect for at least a week after it was first handed down on April 7.

'The facts are clear: Mifepristone is safe and effective, underwent lengthy and rigorous review by the FDA, has been used well over four million times since it was first approved in 2000, and has become so widely accepted by patients and providers that it now accounts for more than half of all US abortions.'

It is still legal to prescribe and dispense mifepristone 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.
The H3N8 strain is not thought to spread between humans

The woman became ill on Feb 22, but the WHO was not informed until March 27

A Chinese woman has become the first person to die from the H3N8 strain of bird flu.

The 56-year-old, from the Guangdong province, first became ill on February 22 and was admitted to the hospital with severe pneumonia on March 3. She died 13 days later on March 16.

She is only the third person ever to officially be diagnosed with H3N8, which is one of the most common strains in birds but is poorly adapted to infect people.

Two young boys were struck down with the same virus in April and May last year in China in unlinked cases - but both survived.

The WHO was not informed about the case until March 27 - a month after Chinese health officials were aware of the infection. China has previously faced criticism for not making important information about the spread of Covid available.

It is thought the woman caught the virus from a wet market where she spent time before becoming ill, after samples taken from the market tested positive for influenza A(H3)

The woman, from the Guangdong province, first became ill on February 22. She was admitted to the hospital with severe pneumonia on March 3 and died on March 16

It comes as vaccine makers have said they are 'standing ready' for a human bird flu pandemic as fears mount about a zoonotic spillover.

The Chinese patient had several underlying conditions and a history of exposure to live birds prior to falling sick, as well as previous wild bird presence around her home.

It is assumed she caught the virus from a wet market where she spent time before becoming ill, after samples taken from the market tested positive for influenza A(H3).

So far, no close contacts of the woman have any symptoms of an infection.

The case was picked up through the World Health Organisation's severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance system, which tracks these types of infections.

The H3N8 variant is common in birds, horses and dogs and has even been found in seals, but it has rarely found its way into the human population.

Like other forms of bird flu, human infections can occur when enough virus gets into a persons eyes, nose, mouth or is inhaled.

Although there have only been a limited number of cases of this strain globally, the illness is believed to be similar to other bird flus in people.

Usual symptoms include fever, fatigue, nausea and other flu-like symptoms.

Sufferers may experience diarrhea, sickness, stomach pain, chest pain and bleeding from the nose and gums, and pink eye.

The WHO said: 'Since avian influenza viruses continue to be detected in poultry populations, further sporadic human cases are expected in the future.'

China's slow reporting of this infection draws parallels to the nation's initial response to the Covid pandemic.

The country has been accused of covering up early cases and has not been compliant in the search for the virus's origin.

Dr Steven Salzberg, a professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, told DailyMail.com: 'Of course China should report any such cases promptly, as should any country, but occasional avian influenza cases happen every year in China.

'The (much) bigger problem is the continuing practice in China of selling birds and other animals for food at live animal markets. Scientists have been saying for years (decades now) that China should shut down these markets, but they don't.

'So a good question is whether this case originated from a live animal market. The [WHO] report is vague on that question.'

Back in 2003, China was accused of covering up details about the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The Chinese government was criticised for its slowness in releasing information about the outbreak after a Beijing hospital was shut down.

This case is among a spate of human bird flu cases that have emerged in the early parts of 2023.

Earlier this year, a Cambodian man and his daughter were diagnosed with H5N1, another strain of bird flu.

Their cases sparked international concern, with many experts fearing they signalled the virus had mutated to infect people better after tearing through the world's bird population.

The bird flu outbreak, which began early last year, is the biggest in history, affecting more than 200million domestic birds globally, on top of countless wild birds.

It has already spilled into mammals like mink, foxes, raccoons and bears, sparking fears it may soon acquire worrying new mutations that would allow it to cause a human pandemic.

Further testing found the Cambodian family did not have the H5N1 strain rapidly spreading among the world's wild birds  but instead a variant known to spread locally in the Prey Veng province they resided in.

People with close or prolonged unprotected contact (not wearing respiratory and eye protection) with infected birds or places where sick birds or their mucous, saliva, or faeces have been contaminated might be at greater risk of bird flu virus infection.

A human is unlikely to catch the virus from eating poultry and game birds because it is heat-sensitive, and properly cooking the poultry will kill the virus.

An infected bird might appear lethargic, stop eating, have swollen body parts, and cough and sneeze. Other birds might die suddenly without any symptoms.

The symptoms in humans are high fever (often above 100F), a cough, sore throat, muscle aches and a general feeling of malaise.

Additional early symptoms could include pain in the abdomen and chest and diarrhoea.

It can quickly develop into serious respiratory illness, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and pneumonia.

People may also suffer an altered mental state or seizures.
More Britons are relying on credit amid the cost-of-living crisis but Gen Z (aged between 11 and 26) and Millennials (27 to 42) are four times more likely to take on debt this year to meet rising costs.

Research from credit broker Credit Karma has found there is a generational divide in how Britons obtain credit, with younger borrowers more likely to use overdrafts or buy now, pay later options while baby boomers (age 59 to 68) overwhelmingly rely on credit cards.

Buy now, pay later is a relatively recent borrowing method that allows you to make a purchase via a loan provided by a third party. It is commonly available when shopping online and popular providers include Klarna, Clearpay and Afterpay.

Buy-now, pay later can be a useful budgeting tool if used correctly

You pay off the loan either in several equal payments, or pay the full amount in one go after a fixed period. Often the loan is interest-free for an initial period.

As with any borrowing, using BNPL comes with risks. Unlike applying for a personal loan or credit card BNPL providers often do not run a credit check on customers, meaning vulnerable users and those with a bad credit history could find themselves saddled with even greater debt.

This is especially true for those without a regular income who may find themselves unable to pay off the loan, exposing them to high interest payments.

Young people are also more likely to struggle with keeping on top of instalments as 11 per cent of Gen Z and 10 per cent of Millennials admit to falling behind on repayments.

Akansha Nath, head of partnerships at Credit Karma UK said: 'While our new research shows that young people are unfortunately feeling the effects of this financial pressure more than any other age group, there are a number of steps that all borrowers can take to put themselves in a better long-term position.

'Shopping around for competitive rates, paying as much of your balance off as you can afford to each month, and ensuring your credit score is as strong as it can be, can ultimately reduce the interest you end up owing over the long term.'

So is buy now, pay later ever a good option for managing your outgoings, and what can borrowers do to make sure they stay in control?

Are there benefits to using buy now, pay later?

Making large one-off purchases such as a holiday or piece of furniture can be daunting and in some cases simply not manageable with a fixed monthly income.

Using BNPL can split the cost into multiple manageable payments usually made over a period of three months.

This is similar to the way that someone might use a credit card with an interest-free period to split the cost of a big purchase, although the credit check requirements for using BNPL are usually less strict and there aren't minimum payments to make.

BNPL customers should familiarise themselves with the terms of their borrowing to ensure they have a plan for repayment

In theory, BNPL could be a valuable budgeting tool if you know when the payments are coming up and can ensure you have the money in place to cover them without impacting any essential spending.

At the same time most major BNPL providers including Klarna and Clearpay  the biggest in the UK  do not charge interest and are fee-free if you stick to the repayment plan, so it shouldn't cost you to borrow.

The lenders make their money by taking a cut of the price you pay for your purchase.

Most providers do charge fees if you don't stick to the repayment schedule, so it is worth checking your agreement before signing up and making sure you have a clear plan to meet the payments.

It is out of sight, out of mind until you make the payment and I think it can become quite dangerous if you don't use it correctly

Noah Maury, is 23 and lives in East London has been using Klarna since he was at university in Lincoln. 'I use them two or three times every two to three months,' he told This is Money, when he spends around 100 using the providers.

'It varies on if there is a special event, a friend's birthday - a planned event. I use it in summer more.'

He says it is not only him  all his friends in the city use BNPL to help manage cash flow. However, he accepts there are risks.

'It is out of sight out of mind until you make the payment and I think it can become quite dangerous if you don't use it correctly and don't have the funds.'

While Noah has been fine, he has friends who have struggled to make the repayments for larger purchases.

What are the red flags to look out for when using BNPL?

The first dangerous habit to look out for is using BNPL to pay for everyday goods, such as the weekly shop, says Simon Dukes, chief executive of Fair for You, a not-for-profit credit provider.

'The customer must understand that they can take out more and more, and they have to exercise some self-control and awareness about it because they aren't going to get that from the loan provider,' he says.

At Fair for You the lender offers a food club which loans people money on a special, pre-paid Mastercard which can only be spent at Iceland, but it has been created so borrowers cannot rely on it.

You can only use it a maximum of six times a year  predominantly during school holidays  and new loans are only approved once you have paid off the last. These are the sort of safeguards that BNPL will not offer, says Dukes.

Losing track of how much you owe to BNPL providers or the dates payment is due can also be a warning sign to reduce your spending this way.

'Know what the payment dates are,' says Dukes. 'If they are all coming out at once that may be more helpful for budgeting, but if they are staggered that may be more helpful for cashflow,' says Dukes.

'I think it's like any financial product, that if you do use it sensibly and are aware of the risks that's what it is there for.'
In this series, we bust the jargon and explain a popular investing term or theme. Here it's LTAF.

Sounds a little rude

That point has been frequently made ever since the Government first committed to the launch of the LTAF in November 2020.

It stands for Long Term Asset Fund, designed to hold a wide range of assets, most notably 'private' investments which are stakes in companies not quoted on a stock market. Such holdings must make up at least 50 per cent of the assets of an LTAF.

Risky: Concerns have been raised about the marketing of LTAFs to individuals

What's the aim?

The Government believes that backing such companies, particularly those in the fintech, infrastructure and social housing sectors, is a way to stimulate economic growth. Ministers would like to see a lot more pension fund cash being channelled into such start-up British ventures and many pension savers would support this.

Who are LTAFs aimed at?

The principal clientele is to be defined contribution (DC) company pension schemes  the type that cover the vast majority of workers. However, wealthy investors who can afford to take the long-term view  and have a liking for a gamble  will also be targeted in due course.

Concerns have been raised about the marketing of LTAFs to individuals, with warnings that these funds may be 'an accident waiting to happen'.

High risk?

Yes, and there are also liquidity issues. Stakes in private companies tend to be illiquid, that is difficult to sell in a hurry.

As a result, the Financial Conduct Authority rules require an LTAF to have a minimum period for redemption of at least 90 days. Some funds are likely to have longer periods. This feature  which should limit the possibility of a 'run' on the fund, when hordes of investors hurry for the exit at once  ought to allay the anxieties, but somehow they remain.

Why?

It seems to be because LTAFs are open-ended. That is, funds that can issue an indefinite number of shares. Several big name open-ended property funds were gated late last year, as office blocks and other premises could not be sold quickly enough to meet the level of withdrawals.

The apprehension over this aspect of LTAFs could be unfounded. Nevertheless, the concerns are not going away.

Who's offering them?

Schroders and Aviva have both announced launches in recent weeks. BlackRock may follow. The Schroders Capital Climate+ LTAF aims to help DC schemes support the net-zero transition.

LTAFs can provide much-needed diversification. But they could also be a new source of revenue for managers facing mounting competition from low-charge index funds.

Aren't there similar funds?

Some investment trusts are similar, which is why a number of commentators are questioning why LTAFs are even necessary.

Dzmitry Lipski, of the Interactive Investor platform, argues that investment trusts are the most appropriate structure for illiquid assets since they are closed-end funds with a fixed number of shares that cope better with redemptions.

Private equity investment trusts, such as HarbourVest and Pantheon, focus on private companies.
He once turned Madonna away from a nightclub for refusing to pay the entry fee

Hailed 'king of New York's downtown scene' after opening a string of eateries

Opened his first restaurant, the Odeon, in 1980, with his first wife and brother

Brit-born Keith McNally rose from a working class background in the east end of London to become the king of the New York downtown restaurant scene.

And the influential restaurateur, who owns a string of eateries including the celebrity hotspot Balthazar in SoHo, Manhattan, is famed for his no-nonsense approach to diva-ish stars.

The outspoken boss of who confronted James Corden over his 'abusive' behaviour towards servers has rules for his waiters, including not to give stars any special treatment.

The fiery restaurateur, a twice-divorced father-of-five, branded James Corden a 'tiny cretin of a man' after claims the Late Late Show host yelled 'like crazy' at staff over an omelette and fries - and previously demanded free drinks 'this second' at Balthazar.

McNally is no stranger to putting celebrities in their place. Famed for refusing to give special treatment to stars, in 1986 while running the nightclub Nell's in Manhattan, he turned Madonna away for refusing to pay the entry fee.

Recounting the story, he told the Guardian: 'Every customer had to pay $5 to come in. Madonna, used to waltzing into clubs for free, refused to pay so I didnt let her in.

'She was so pissed off she called me a f**king b*****d.

And McNally has told how he is happy to hand out champagne to single diners to make them feel at ease - 'but never to Al Pacino.'

McNally, 71, built his reputation as the 'restaurateur who invented downtown' by opening a string of upscale Manhattan eateries including Cafe Luxembourg, Odeon, Minetta Tavern, Morandi, Lucky Strike, Pravda and Pastis.

Keith McNally, 71, built his reputation as the 'restaurateur who invented downtown' by opening a string of upscale eateries in New York

McNally moved to New York in 1975, intent on becoming an actor after starring in Alan Bennett's Forty Years On in the West End - but he started working in restaurants

The owner insists that waiters should never rush a guest and that they shouldn't give stars any special treatment. He is seen with Anna Wintour at the restaurant

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 built his reputation as the 'restaurateur who invented downtown' by opening a string of upscale Manhattan eateries including Cafe Luxembourg, Odeon, Minetta Tavern, Morandi, Lucky Strike, Pravda and Pastis.

Balthazar owner McNally pictured with Sienna Miller

Balthazar's owner, Keith McNally, regularly shares updates from his staff - including, on Monday, excoriating James Corden for his behaviour

The restaurant, pictured on Monday, is a popular spot for celebrities, tourists and locals alike - everyone from Anna Wintour to Sienna Miller has eaten at Balthazar

McNally was born in Bethnal Green in east London in 1951, to Joyce, a cleaner and Jack, a dock worker and amateur boxer.

Before turning to restaurants, McNally did a stint in acting after the 16-year-old was discovered by American film producers in 1967 while working as a bellboy at the Hilton on Park Lane.

He was cast in a film about Charles Dickens starring alongside Michael Redgrave, before starring in Alan Bennett's Forty Years on at the Apollo Theatre in the West End for a year.

After this, he travelled around India and Afghanistan and then returned to London where he worked on the lighting board at the The Rocky Horror Show and as stage manager at Nell Gwynne strip club in Soho, the only job he ever got fired from.

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.

James Corden and his wife Julia Carey are accused of sending back an egg yolk omelette because it had a 'little bit of egg white' in it while dining at the plush restaurant, Balthazar. The situation then got worse when it returned with fries rather than a salad, the owner claims

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.

He divorced Lynn two years after Odeon opened and a feud with Brain saw the brothers take off on different restaurant ventures.

Since then McNally's opened Cafe Luxembourg, Nells, Lucky Strike, Pravda, Balthazar, Pastis, Schillers, Morandi, Minetta Tavern, Cherche Midi, and Augustine, as well as Balthazar in London.

In November 2016, McNally suffered a debilitating stroke which left him paralysed on one side of his body, and soon after his second wife Alina served him with divorce papers.

The pandemic hit McNally both personally and professionally. In 2020, he was hospitalised after contracting coroanvirus and was also forced to close six of his restaurants after losing 5,000 a day.

Balthazar, which first opened in 1997, was among those to close, something which affected McNally deeply.

But it finally reopened in March last year and since then has been packed with celebrity diners on a daily basis - most recently Anna Wintour and James Corden.

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 behaviour.

But McNally said Corden has since called him to apologise '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'.
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They started out as 'best friends' - two of the highest profile hosts on Fox News - but now, DailyMail.com can reveal that friendship has bloomed into a committed relationship so strong they've blended their lives and their families.

Seen in these exclusive images obtained by DailyMail.com, Sean Hannity, 61, and Ainsley Earhardt, 49, have now settled into domestic bliss, with the couple stepping out and traveling together as a family unit, three years after setting off dating rumors.

The two have always remained tight-lipped about their romance that has been growing day-by-day amid years of speculation, but now these pictures are doing the talking.

Arm-in-arm over breakfast at a Waffle House in South Carolina in January, or cozying up over corn in the cob at an Oyster festival on Long Island last Fall, these never-before-seen photos give a glimpse of just how undeniable their bond has become.

And with Earhardt's seven-year-old daughter, Hayden, never far from their side, those close to the couple have confirmed that what began as a working relationship is now well and truly a family affair, with Hannity proving an 'adoring' step-father-like figure to the young girl.

Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt's romance has evolved into a committed relationship, with exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com showing the couple stepping out in public as a blended family. They are pictured together at a Waffle House in South Carolina in January

After years of rumors and speculation, Earhardt and Hannity are letting their intimate relationship speak for itself, going on dates in plain sight and attending events as a couple. They also attended Oyster Fest in Long Island last fall where they playfully posed together while sharing some corn on the cob

Earhardt, Hannity, and her seven-year-old daughter were seen spending time together as a family most recently in late February during a trip to Palm Beach, Florida

'They are extremely happy together and have been for a while. It's not a surprise to anyone who knows them, but they're very private people and prefer to keep their personal life private and lowkey,' a source close to the pair told DailyMail.com.

'They started out as best friends and the relationship evolved over time.

'He's a generous and kind guy and she is just an incredibly wonderful person  they're a really sweet couple with so much love for each other.'

Most recently, Sean, Ainsley and Hayden were seen spending time together as a family in late February during a trip to Palm Beach, Florida - where Hannity owns a seaside townhouse.

The Fox News pundit, who has two children of his own, has evidently developed a close relationship with little Hayden, whom Earhardt shares with ex-husband Will Proctor.

'Sean adores Ainsley's daughter Hayden,' the insider added.

The tight bond was evident during the trio's trip to Florida on February 26, when they were seen visiting The Colony Palm Beach Hotel - located just two miles from Hannity's close friend Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.

The four-star hotel is a popular hangout among Florida Republicans who are known locally to frequent its restaurant or pool areas for a tete-a-tete.

The three were spotted in the lobby of The Colony Palm Beach hotel - known locally as a popular Republican hangout - where Earhardt appeared to be on vacation mode, sporting a palm tree printed beach dress and sunglasses

Hannity, 61, meanwhile, was dressed slightly more formally, in a crisp button shirt and black pants, but went without a tie. Earhardt's daughter is standing to his left

The four-star hotel is a popular hangout among Florida Republicans who are known to frequent its restaurant or pool areas for a tete-a-tete

But despite its reputation as a hotspot, the two television hosts had no qualms about potentially being spotted together at the hotel that Sunday afternoon.

Earhardt appeared to be on vacation mode, sporting a palm tree-printed beach dress and sunglasses.

Hannity, 61, meanwhile, was dressed slightly more formally, in a crisp button shirt and black pants. He did lose the tie, however.

A guest at the Colony who spotted the couple told DailyMail.com the three had been leaving the hotel, where Hannity had a meeting with someone earlier, when they were held up in the lobby by Hayden.

The bystander told DailyMail.com: 'A lot of these Trump people have meetings outside by the pool and the restaurant. Hannity was coming back from the pool area and ready to leave the hotel.

'Hannity and Ainsley were waiting for Hayden who had her eye on something in the lobby gift shop.

'She kept saying, "I want one of these." And in true daddy fashion Hannity told her, "You have that at home." After going back and forth for a bit, the girl finally relented and they left the hotel,' the witness added.

It's likely the three had stayed at Hannity's $5.3million townhouse in Palm Beach during their trip to the Sunshine State.

A source close to the pair told DailyMail.com: 'They are extremely happy together and have been for a while'

Sources tell DailyMail.com Hannity and Earhardt started off as 'best friends' but their friendship gradually evolved into something more

It's likely the three had stayed at Hannity's $5.3million townhouse in Palm Beach during their trip to the Sunshine State

The pair's relationship goes back as a far as 2020, when Earnhardt was reported to have been shooting Fox & Friends remotely from the basement of Hannity's mansion in Long Island

The television anchor was reported to have bought the three-bedroom, 3,813 sq ft oceanfront property, which is just a seven-minute drive from Trump's estate, in 2021.

Sources told DailyMail.com Hannity is now working on adding a fourth bedroom to the home as his relationship with Earhardt becomes even more serious.

Hannity and Earhardt's rumored romance has been reported in the past, however, the two have repeatedly refused to comment on the speculation over the years.

In June 2020, just weeks after it was revealed Hannity and former journalist Jill Rhodes had quietly divorced years earlier, a Vanity Fair report citing several sources at Fox claimed he and Earhardt had been dating for 'quite some time.'

One Fox employee even told the publication that Earhardt had been shooting Fox & Friends remotely from the basement of Hannity's mansion in Oyster Bay, Long Island, at the time.

But when asked to respond to the claims, Hannity refused to comment and Earhardt denied she was even dating anyone at all.

'Right now I am focused on raising my daughter and I am not dating anyone,' she said in a statement at the time.

'As anyone at FOX News will tell you, Sean is a wonderful person and whomever he chooses to date will be extremely fortunate.'

Through a Fox News spokesperson, Hannity told DailyMail.com at the time: 'I do not discuss my personal life in public.'

Despite years of rumors and speculation, the two have remained notoriously tightlipped, refusing to comment on the nature of their relationship

Insiders say the relationship is 'not a surprise to anyone who knows them', including their colleagues at Fox News

While it's been an open secret among Fox staffers, sources say Hannity and Earhardt (pictured with Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2016) are 'private people and prefer to keep their personal life private and lowkey'

But the undeniable closeness and intimacy between the two seen in photos is no secret to their Fox News colleagues.

'Ainsley and Sean are genuine, lovely people who are both truly beloved at Fox News, so everyone at the network has been happy for them for a while,' the source added.

'Sean was there for Ainsley through her mother's illness last fall (she died in October 2022) and was by her side picking up all the pieces  she leaned on him during some extraordinarily difficult times.'

When rumors about the two first began to swirl in 2020, Earhardt was reported to have been spotted near Hannity's home during lockdown after she rented a house in the Hamptons, Page Six reported at the time.

'Sean has a studio at his home, and Ainsley has been using his studio as her remote broadcast location for Fox & Friends,' the source said.

The two were said to have been staying together in Oyster Bay and are '100 per cent dating', another insider said.

Hannity and Earhardt are known for their unwavering support of Trump and are among Fox's most high-profile television personalities

Page Six first reported the divorce between Hannity and then wife Jill Rhodes, who share two children. They separated in 2015, but managed to keep it quiet.

Meanwhile, Earhardt and ex-husband Will Proctor, split in 2018 and their divorced was finalized in 2019.

A family friend explained to DailyMail.com at the time that Hannity and Rhodes still have a great co-parenting relationship and when together, 'you don't even realize they split'.

The insider said Hannity took the divorce hard and blamed it on his endless workload, saying the cable news host 'didn't slow down, [and] it unfortunately broke his marriage.'

The close friend told DailyMail.com the exes still maintained a friendly relationship, and get together to spend time with their son Patrick, who is in college, and younger daughter Merri Kelly.
President Joe Biden needs to be on his best behavior during his visit to Northern Ireland and avoid making any anti-British gaffes that could further derail the region's deadlocked political system, according to one of the province's MPs.

Claire Hanna, who represents South Belfast for the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party, said unionists were ready to seize on any clumsy jokes or asides for political gain.

Biden has a habit of peppering remarks about his Irish links with memories of his mother's anti-English sentiment and dubious jokes about the Protestant community.

'Any such gaffes would be mercilessly weaponized by the Democratic Unionist Party,' said Hanna, referring to the biggest unionist party.

Biden is due to arrive in Belfast on Tuesday at the start of a four-day visit.

Belfast MP Claire Hanna said President Joe Biden will need to mind his manners during his visit to Northern Ireland. Any gaffe will be seized on by pro-British unionists, she said

Biden arrives at a politically awkward time. Northern Ireland's government has not sat in nearly a year amid wrangling over post-Brexit trade arrangements

The timing is designed to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence.

But it comes at a time of political crisis. The province has not had a government since May last year.

The DUP has refused to take part because of wrangling over post-Brexit trade arrangements.

Biden is expected to meet the leaders of Northern Ireland's five political parties on Wednesday.

But experts hold out little hope that any encouragement from a U.S. president known for his pro-Irish sentiments could help ease the impasse. Instead, they fear his occasional anti-British comments could further alienate unionists who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.

As vice president, for example, Biden caused huge offence to Northern Irelands unionist community when, during a St Patricks day event, he joked: 'If youre wearing orange youre not welcome here.'

Northern Ireland's mostly Protestant unionist community associate themselves with the color in celebration of William of Orange's victory over Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Hanna said unionists would be looking for any similar slights during Biden's visit.

Biden is visiting for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence. This 1975 photograph shows the aftermath of a bomb attack on the Europa Hotel

Easter is always a flashpoint in Northern Ireland, and republican youths clashed with police in Derry on Monday, a reminder that the 1998 peace deal was only the start of a process

While many of Biden's gaffes can be shrugged off as inconsequential, Northern Ireland's febrile political scene means they could have a profound impact.

'I mean, I think from from day one, they characterize Biden's Irish roots as meaning that he was hostile to Northern Ireland,' she told DailyMail.com.

'You know in Northern Ireland, people go out of their way to be offended. They'll be on high alert looking for something to be cross about in what he says.'

Biden is spending less than a day in Northern Ireland, before heading south of the border.

That schedule has already annoyed some in Belfast who believe he should be spending more time in the province.

But it does reduce the potential for gaffes in such a politically sensitive place.

Biden's maternal line emigrated from Ireland during the Great Famine. The Blewitts left Co. Mayo and settled in Scranton, PA, while the Finnegans left Co. Louth and came to New York

Unionists have long been suspicious of Biden and his Irish Catholic heritage. As a senator in 1985 he spoke out against making it easier to extradite Irish Republican Army militants from the U.S. to Britain, a sentiment popular with Irish-Americans but not in Britain.

He has talked often about his mother's hatred for England, which was so intense that she once refused to use a bed that Queen Elizabeth II had slept in.

In his memoir, 'Promises to Keep,' he recalls a degree of embarrassment at his English surname Biden.

And he describes how his Irish-American aunt Gertie Finnegan once told him: 'Your father is not a bad man. He's just English.'

In 2020, as president-elect, he took a cheeky dig at the UK's national broadcaster when a BBC reporter shouted a question at him. 'The BBC?' he said moving on with a smile. 'I'm Irish.'

'It's part of the persona,' said Hanna. 'He's clearly not mean spirited and it's sort of a Dad joke. But it's genuinely not helpful.'
China and Brazil write a new chapter of partnership

16:14, April 11, 2023 By Chen Yuanting ( China Daily

That a 240-member business delegation is accompanying Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his upcoming state visit to China suggests 2023 will be a milestone year in China-Brazil relations. The year is also important because Xi Jinping was re-elected China's president and Lula took office on Jan 1, starting his new term as Brazilian president.

Lula's visit will push the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level, especially because the two countries have established a long-term relationship and Brazil was the first developing country to establish a strategic partnership with China.

Lula laid a solid foundation for strengthening bilateral relations during his two terms as Brazil's president from 2003 to 2010. In fact, China-Brazil relations became a model of South-South cooperation. Lula's presidency also saw a great leap in bilateral trade and institutionalization of inter-government exchanges, with the two sides working together to establish BRICS(a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

The world, including many large developing countries, has undergone drastic changes because of factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which have also had huge impacts on the world order.

As such, the strategic need for a stronger China-Brazil relationship has increased. President Xi attached great importance to the development of the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership in the congratulatory message he sent to Lula on his inauguration. Lula responded by bringing a large business delegation with him on his visit to China.

Economic cooperation between the two sides has made considerable progress in recent years, and bilateral trade increased despite the devastating impact of the pandemic on the global economy. For example, bilateral trade exceeded $100 billion for the first time in 2020 and reached a historic high of $171.49 billion in 2022.

Sino-Brazilian cooperation has expanded from traditional areas such as agriculture, animal husbandry, energy and infrastructure to emerging areas such as innovations in the field of science and technology, the digital economy and the green economy. Brazil is China's biggest export destination, import source and investment destination in Latin America.

Besides, BRICS has entered the second "golden decade" of cooperation with influences beyond the five member states. BRICS has also played a constructive role in the growth of the global economy, and helped improve the global governance system and make international relations more democratic.

By cashing in on new opportunities, China and Brazil can further deepen bilateral cooperation. The two countries are likely to coordinate their development policies, and could facilitate common development through stable effective head-of-state talks, broader economic and trade cooperation, and increasing people-to-people exchanges.

Moreover, by fulfilling their responsibilities toward the international community, the two countries can promote closer multilateral cooperation. Indeed, China and Brazil should make greater contributions to the global economy and the international community, as both have benefited from economic globalization.

To this end, President Xi has put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. The GDI calls for making more concerted global efforts to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and highlights eight priority areas of global cooperation  poverty alleviation, food security, COVID-19 medicines and vaccines, development financing, fighting climate change and promoting green development, strengthening industrialization, improving the digital economy, and boosting infrastructure connectivity. And the GSI urges the international community to make more efforts to maintain lasting peace by settling disputes through negotiation and consultation. And the GCI advocates nations to promote in-depth inter-civilization exchanges and dialogue to advance human civilizations through inclusiveness and mutual learning.

The initiatives will help resolve disagreements between and among countries, and promote peace and development. And by carrying out practical cooperation for the implementation of the two initiatives, China and Brazil can make big contributions to global prosperity and stability, which in turn will benefit the two countries and their peoples.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
When President Joe Biden arrives in Belfast on Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement even the choice of hotel illustrates how the city has been transformed by two-and-a-half decades of peace.

When President Bill Clinton visited in 1995 he stayed at the Europa Hotel. It was famous as the most bombed hotel in the world  but was the only place for VIPs to stay in a city riven by sectarian violence.

This time Biden will stay in the Grand Central hotel one of the swanky new places that have opened in the past five years as part of the city's renaissance.

Today Belfast markets itself as a city break destination, with fine dining restaurants and boutique hotels.

That is far cry from when the Clintons visited in the mid 1990s amid a new push for peace to end decades of violence, as republicans and loyalists fought over the future of British rule in Northern Ireland.

British troops stand guard after yet another attack on Belfast's Europa hotel in 1975. It was known as the 'most bombed hotel in the world' but was the only option for visiting VIPs

Now Belfast city center is full of gleaming new hotels. In 1994 there were only 900 hotel bedrooms in the whole city, according to Visit Belfast. Today the number is 5,500

Gerry Lennon, chief executive of Visit Belfast, said back then there would have been only 900 hotel bedrooms in the whole city, mostly catering to visiting journalists and officials or weddings.

'In the 90s, although there was a political process leading up to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Belfast would have been discussed in the same breath as Beirut and Bosnia,' he said.

'Now we regularly compete with Barcelona and Berlin for international conferences, cruise ships and city breaks.'

VIPs had few options back then.

The Europa with more than 200 rooms would have been the only place that could cater to the sort of entourage that would arrive with a U.S. president.

It also had a restaurant, which made it a gathering place for politicians and journalists covering the Troubles, as the years of violence were known.

More than 3000 people died in political and sectarian unrest that lasted about 30 years.

On one side was the Provisional IRA and assorted republican groups who wanted an end to British rule and to reunite with the Republic of Ireland. On the other were loyalist groups, loyal to the British Crown.

In 1995, the Clintons stayed at the Europa. Hillary Clinton is seen here waving as she arrives

Another bomb alert at the hotel, this time in 1972. The place was used by visiting journalists and officials. Its restaurant and bar were where political gossip was swapped

Some 25 years of peace have transformed the city of Belfast. The Titanic Museum opened in 2012, and is a major tourist attraction, along with a Game of Thrones studio tour

The British Army was sent in to quell unrest in 1969. They were initially welcomed by Catholic, nationalist communities, who felt under threat from Protestants, but quickly came to be seen as an occupying force.

Belfast was frequently rocked by terrorist attacks. And the Europa was targeted more than 30 times  its high profile all but guaranteeing media coverage of attacks.

It opened in 1971, in the early years of the Troubles. And quickly earned the nickname the 'hardboard hotel' for the frequency with which its windows were boarded up.

Sometimes, though, its reputation overtook the truth.

Years later, Hillary Clinton described her trepidation when she stayed with her husband in 1995.

'When Bill and I first came to Belfast, we stayed at the Europa Hotel ... even though then there were sections boarded up because of damage from bombs,' she said during a visit in 2009.

Biden arrives in Belfast on Tuesday evening before heading to Dublin the following day

Today the Europa is still a key part of the hotel scene. But visiting VIPs now have other options

In fact, it had not been bombed in at least a year and had been recently refurbished.

Claire Hanna, who represents Belfast South for the Social Democratic and Labour Party in the British parliament, said downtown then was not known as a place to visit in the evening.

'I would struggle to name another hotel that was open at that time in the mid in the 90s,' she said, before referring to attacks by the Provisional IRA terrorist group.

'Despite the fact of the Provo bombing campaign, it probably had decent security, so it probably was the only option.'

Things have changed in the past 25 years, since the Good Friday Agreement cemented a ceasefire into a political solution with powersharing institutions.

Where British Army patrols would have once been spotted there are now 'party bikes', with boisterous bachelorette parties pedaling from pub to pub.

Belfast MP Claire Hanna said President Joe Biden will arrive in a city that is very different to the one that the Clintons found in 1995. Back then there was little nightlife down town

Some 170 cruise liners are expected to bring 360,000 visitors to Belfast this year. The Balmoral is seen here docked in Belfast in 2019

Biden will stay at a 23-floor hotel, with more than 300 bedrooms, just around the corner from the distinctive facade of the Europa.

New hotels loom over the central city hall, and tourists wheel their suitcases through the streets.

Belfast's 900 hotel rooms in 1994 are now up to 5500.

In 1994, said Lennon, the tourism chief, some 200,000 people stayed overnight  many of them journalists  today the number is 1.7 million.

The Titanic Museum opened in 2012 and is a major tourist draw, along with a Game of Thrones studio tour just outside the city. (The hit HBO show was filmed in Northern Ireland.)

And this summer will bring in 170 cruise liners, disgorging 360,000 visitors in to the city.

'The only tourists in the 1990s were intrepid visitors, like journalists,' he said.

'Now we have a phenomenal food scene, restaurant scene, fantastic pubs where tourism is now a major contributor to the economy, and we can still do a lot more.'
A Florida school library has removed a graphic adaptation of Anne Frank's diary after a parent group complained it is sexually explicit and minimizes the Holocaust.

The book titled 'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation' was pulled from the shelves at Vero Beach High School in Indian River County after advocacy group Moms For Liberty voiced their concerns.

It is one of four books that have been removed from school libraries in the county - as school officials continue to review literature deemed contentious by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Jennifer Pippin, chairwoman of the group's Indian River chapter, told WPTV that they objected to the book as it contained a 'graphic scene' in which Anne Frank asks a friend to expose themselves to each other.

She also argued that another scene, which features the character walking among nude statues, was inappropriate.

'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation', based on the original 1947 diary, has been pulled from the shelves at a Florida high school

'We think true history absolutely needs to be taught, the Holocaust, the Anne Frank diary,' she told the outlet, but she opposed the visual depiction of sexuality in the graphic novel.

After Moms For Liberty complained to the principal, the school determined that some of its text did not add to the themes of Holocaust education.

Dr Kyra Schafte, the district's director of academic compliance and equity, said: 'When districts address Holocaust education, it does so without denying or minimizing the events of Holocaust education.

'In these times, the content did not promote behaviors we would want our students to have access to.'

'The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank, published in 1947, chronicles her experience hiding from the Nazis alongside her family in Amsterdam during the Second World War.

Frank was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944, and later died at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945 - mere weeks before it was liberated.

In the original diary, the young girl describes how she asked a friend if she wanted to show each other their bodies, and how she felt when she saw images of statues in an art history book.

Dr Schafte confirmed that the original 'Diary of Anne Frank' is still available in school libraries.

The book was removed from Vero Beach High School in Indian River County after advocacy group Moms For Liberty voiced their concerns

Anne Frank was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944, and later died at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945

Jennifer Pippin, chairwoman of Moms for Liberty's Indian River chapter said the group objected to 'graphic' scenes

Dr Kyra Schafte, the district's director of academic compliance and equity, confirmed that the original book would remain in school libraries

'Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation' was adapted by Ari Folman, the son of Holocaust survivors, and illustrated by David Polonsky.

It is one of four books that have been axed from school libraries in the county, according to TCPalm, with the three others part of a series entitled 'Assassination Classroom'.

Moms for Liberty chairwoman Jennifer Pippin said that the advocacy group would never challenge the accuracy of Anne Frank's original diary.

'True history needs to be taught,' she said.

She added that the group has around 250 more titles that it plans to challenge in the future.

Indian River County has recently created a 'District Objection Committee', which will meet if there are formal challenges for books to be removed district-wide.

It comes as book banning has been the subject of widespread controversy in Florida in recent months amid DeSantis' crackdown on 'woke' literature in classrooms.

More than 100 titles have already been nixed in parts of the state after the passing of educational policies that allow the removal of books based on parents' complaints.

Thousands more are under review based on laws that restrict classroom topics revolving around race, gender, and sexual orientation, including the Stop WOKE Act and the Parental Rights in Education law.

The review, which began in January and has sparked heavy backlash, is part of a larger purge of literature nationwide, predominantly due to topics revolving people of color or LGBTQ themes.
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Multi-millionaire designer Calvin Klein spent his Easter Sunday grocery shopping and picking up premade sushi for dinner.

The 80-year-old fashion legend was spotted by DailyMail.com at upscale Erewhon Market in the heart of Beverly Hills Sunday evening.

Klein made a beeline for the sushi section of the trendy shop where he studied his many dinner options before settling on a shrimp roll.

Dressed in his trademark monochromatic look, Klein wore a black hoodie and black jogger pants, with grey and white Nike sneakers.

The famed fashion designer Calvin Klein, 80, was grocery shopping at upscale Erewhon Market in Beverly Hills on Easter Sunday. Despite the former New Yorker looking thin and frail, he seemed to have loads of energy as he zipped around the store unnoticed by other shoppers

Klein grabbed a sushi roll for $13 and a banh mi wrap for $16 before heading out of the pricey store

DailyMail.com spotted Klein dressed in his trademark monochromatic look, wearing a black hoodie and black jogger pants, on Sunday

Despite the former New Yorker looking thin and frail, he seemed to have loads of energy as he zipped around the store unnoticed by other shoppers.

He grabbed a sushi roll for $13 and a Vietnamese banh mi wrap for $16 before heading out of the pricey store.

Klein returned to a black SUV with flashing hazard lights where a driver waited for him in a no parking zone on bustling Beverly Boulevard.

Erewhon has become the Studio 54 of supermarkets and the place to spot celebrities.

Justin and Hailey Bieber and Cate Blanchett have been photographed at this specific Beverly Hills location in the last month alone.

Items come with a hefty price tag, but with a net worth of approximately $800million, it likely didn't faze Calvin Klein.

The designer made a beeline for the premade sushi section of the trendy shop where he studied his many options for dinner

Klein looked thin and frail but seemed to have loads of energy as he zipped around the store

Klein returned to a black SUV where a driver waited for him on bustling Beverly Boulevard

Klein was once a household name with his controversial ad campaign in 1980 starring a then 15-year old Brooke Shields uttering the famous line: 'Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.'

He has been making headlines lately thanks to Shields' Hulu documentary Pretty Baby, which premiered earlier this month.

Shields reflects on the controversial ad campaign, saying she was naive about the sexual innuendo.

'Brooke has a fresh, sexy beauty,' Klein told People magazine in advance of the documentary. 'When we first met, she was a teenager, two years after filming Pretty Baby. We were launching jeans and wanted to say something new. Brooke was the perfect fit - young and confident with a modern spirit.'

His active wear and underwear ad campaigns now include stars like Justin Bieber, Kaia Gerber, Kendall Jenner, Lil Nas X, Bella Hadid and are sold around the world.

Klein has been with his model beau Kevin Baker, 35, for years since their first public outing in 2016. Pictured together at the 2016 Future of Fashion Runway Show

Klein has been making headlines lately thanks to the Brooke Shields' documentary Pretty Baby on Hulu, that premiered earlier this month. The 57-year-old actress was just 15 when she became the face of Calvin Klein's brand

From 1964 until 1974 Klein was married to textile designer Jayne Center with whom he shares a daughter, TV producer Marci Klein.

In 1986 he married his assistant Kelly Rector who he was with until they divorced in 2006.

In his heyday, he frequented the famed Studio 54 nightclub and was photographed with some of the biggest stars of the era.

These days he rarely makes public appearances and seems to be content puttering around Los Angeles with his model beau of seven years.

He has settled into life on the West Coast with longtime boyfriend Kevin Baker, 35.

The couple live in a 9,300 square foot mansion in the Hollywood Hills that Klein purchased in 2015 for $25million.
Forecasters have warned that a freezing polar blast that hit Australia over the Easter weekend and led to temperatures far below average is here to stay.

The cold front hit the country on Good Friday and brought severe thunderstorms to parts of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

Temperatures in NSW, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia were between five and 10 degrees below the yearly average, leading to a bleak public holiday period for many.

In Melbourne, the temperature peaked at 15.5C on Easter Sunday, the lowest on that day since 2020.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore has now warned that the cold spell is set to continue across most of the country over the next week, with temperatures up to 10C below the average for this time of year.

He said the Easter weekend brought heavy rainfall, high winds and hazardous surf conditions, and those conditions would continue into Wednesday, when another weather system moves in with more heavy rainfall.

He also warned of a tropical storm that is set to ravage WA this week.

Another weather system with more heavy rainfall is set to ravage Australia this week

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Narramore has warned that the cold spell is set to continue across most of the country over the next week

The tropical cyclone is developing off the coast of Kimberley and is expected to turn south and make land between Port Hedland and Broome on Thursday.

'We're talking winds in excess of 200km/h, possibly even 250km/h, near the core as well as very heavy rainfall that is likely to lead to widespread flash and riverine flooding,' Mr Narramore said.

'So, dangerous conditions [are] likely to develop up there Thursday night into Friday morning.'

Residents in areas from Port Hedland to Broome have been told to prepare for cyclonic weather ahead of the intensifying storm.

It is expected to continue growing in intensity, potentially becoming a category-four cyclone by Thursday before shifting over land.

At category-four strength, the storm is likely to lead to buildings being damaged and widespread power failures.

The rest of the country will continue facing a cold snap.

In Melbourne, some suburbs were it by 40mm of rain on Monday, while snow also fell in some places.

'[On] Tuesday, those showers will finally ease through southern Victoria,' Mr Narramore said.

'We're likely to see temperatures still 2 to 5 degrees below average before the next weather system moves in on Wednesday with another burst of widespread showers and even possible storms across much of the state, and cooler conditions continuing.'

Temperatures in NSW, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia were between 5 and 10 degrees below the yearly average over the weekend

The BoM says 'severe impact is likely along the coast between Port Hedland and Broome, during Thursday or Friday'

In south-east Queensland, the temperature fell to 5C on Monday and is expected to be even lower on Tuesday.

Mr Narramore added: 'For south-east Queensland we're likely to see these chilly mornings continue on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, down into single figures for large parts of inland south-east Queensland.'

In Tasmania, the snow fell down to 700 metres over the weekend, while Hobart saw its coldest Easter Sunday in 17 years.

Meanwhile, NSW saw severe storms on Friday with the bad weather leading to hazardous surf warnings along the coast.

Sydney will continue to be hit with showers as the week progresses.

The BOM's strongest warning, however, was over the cyclone set to batter WA.

Mr Narramore told ABC: 'Those kinds of winds are likely to see widespread property damage,'

'Bring down trees, powerlines, power outages and hundreds of millimetres of rainfall is likely to wash out roads.

'Possible isolation and stranding of communities, residents and travellers - so yeah, some really terrible conditions up there when it does cross later this week.'
A mother-of-two has been forced to organise her own farewell party and say goodbye to her children after being given just weeks to live.

Gold Coast woman Laura Patience has been battling terminal liver and kidney failure since the end of last year.

She has constantly been on and off life support with her husband Matt, son Lucas, 12, and daughter Zoe, 11, staying by her bedside the entire time.

The family was dealt another blow in February when doctors informed them Ms Patience only had one more month left to live.

The news was given in the same month Ms Patience celebrated her 18-year anniversary with her husband.

Ms Patience has defied expectations and continued to fight on almost two months since the heartbreaking prognosis.

She was desperate to spend as much time with her children and family as possible and wanted to organise a final farewell with loved ones.

A mother-of-two who has been given just weeks to live has made a touching plea to help celebrate her end of life

Her story captured the hearts of Australians around the country after she made a public appeal for help to organise the event before Christmas.

Ms Patience's appeal not only drew in an outpouring of support but also a very generous offer from her local radio station.

She told SeaFM she planned to throw a party with friends and family and took to Facebook in search for someone who could make a poster for it.

'I was hoping that someone could make a poster, as people were coming in, just saying, "Have fun, don't ask about my illness, or I'll throw you in the pool",' she said.

'Just making a joke of it all.'

Ms Patience said she received all kinds of responses but one particular poster had caught her eye.

'I even had someone paint a picture of me kicking the bucket, which I thought was hilarious. Nobody else did,' she said.

Ms Patience explained she has been on and off life support since the Christmas holidays.

She is suffering from internal bleeding, which is considered the end stage of terminal liver and kidney failure.

'I'm still here proving all the doctors wrong,' she said.

She was placed into a coma during the holiday season meaning she did not get to spend Christmas with her family.

Ms Patience said just wanted to make up for the lost time and spend her remaining days with her family.

'It's school holidays, so I plan on squeezing my kids as much as I can during this time.'

'They just light up my life, that's what keeps me going, when I'm laying there in a boring hospital bed. I think of the kids always smiling. I love them to bits.'

She said her children had been her anchor of support and were remaining strong during the terrifying ordeal.

'It means everything to me now that I have a bit of a break, just trying to do fun things, enjoy every minute with them, spoil them rotten as much as I can,' she said.

'Make some happy memories for them to hold onto.'

Her son Lucas, 12, said it had been a 'little bit rough at home' revealing his mother had been put on life support immediately after her end of life party.

Ms Patience's daughter Zoe, 11, said she was proud of her mum.

The mother-of-two and her partner Matt also celebrated their 18th anniversary with each other in February.

The touching story prompted the Gold Coast radio station to gift Ms Patience and her family $1,000 to spend at Robina Town Centre and a trip to Seaworld.

Her story has also drawn an outpouring of support from members of the community who have been left struck by the story.

'To Laura and her family, we love you and are in awe of your strength and positive attitude! If anyone would like to help the family with anything else, please comment below, we are grateful for any help you can give,' one wrote.
Premier Daniel Andrews is seeking a massive bailout from Anthony Albanese as Victoria's state debt soars amid the fallout from the world's longest Covid lockdown.

Victoria's debt is $115billion and is expected to blow out to around $165billion by 2025-26 if the state does not get a huge handout in the upcoming federal budget to be handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on May 9.

The dire state of Victoria's finances is made even worse by the interest on its debt, which is expected to increase to $7.32billion within three years.

If the state does not get a very large cash injection from the federal government, thousands of jobs and services in Victoria's public sector could face the chop.

'We'll always lobby, push, pressure and advocate and put a good quality case to the Commonwealth government for more and more support,' Mr Andrews told the Financial Review.

Daniel Andrews (pictured right with his wife Catherine) is seeking a massive bailout from Anthony Albanese as Victoria's state debt soars amid the fallout from the world's longest Covid lockdowns

He said Victoria had been 'fundamentally ripped off for almost a decade by the Liberal National Party (federal government)'.

This view has long been echoed by Victoria's Treasurer Tim Pallas who said, under Scott Morrison's former government, the state got 'less than six per cent of new (infrastructure) funding, despite us having 26 per cent of the nation's population'.

Mr Pallas said that under a 'distorted' GST distribution decided on by Mr Morrison, Victoria could lose $1billion a year.

Mr Andrews said Victoria's budget, which will be handed down on May 23, will be very difficult, with tough choices to be made.

He said the tens of billions of dollars spent on health and safety measures during the pandemic now has to be paid back.

But there are also serious ongoing pressures on the government's finances from public sector unions' wage demands, the property market slowing and unexpected cost increases to infrastructure projects.

Discussions between the Victorian and Commonwealth governments are reportedly about to take place due to concerns that budget cuts in Victoria could have a knock-on effect on the national economy.

Speaking on Channel 9's Today show on Tuesday morning, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged that 'state budgets around the country are under pressure, so is the Commonwealth budget'.

He said the national government was talking to all the state and territory governments about funding.

When it was put to him that Victoria has 'got a bad credit rating', Mr Chalmers did not disagree.

'(Mr Andrews') budget is under pressure. No doubt about that. But so is mine. So are a number of the other state colleagues and so we try and work with people, rather than against them,' he said.

'We have a lot of agreements coming up in the course of the next year or so. We'll work with the Victorians and with others to try and land them.'

Victoria's state debt is $115billion and is expected to blow out to around $165billion by 2025-26 if the state does not get a huge handout in Anthony Albanese's (pictured with his partner Jodie Haydon) May 9 federal budget

How Victoria's state budget looks next month will largely depend on how much extra funding it gets from the federal budget two weeks earlier.

International ratings agencies - which have a huge influence on the terms a state gets when seeking a loan - will keep a close eye on Victoria's budget.

It already has the lowest rating of Australia's states after a double-notch downgrade in December 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A Victorian government spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that 'Victoria isnt seeking any more than our fair share  which we were denied by the former Coalition government for far too long.'
Millions of patients face disruption and delays in the NHS lasting a month after junior doctors stage a four-hour strike.

Senior NHS officials have urged the public to avoid doing anything 'risky' this week ahead of a 96-hour walkout following the Easter break.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, called on the public to use the health service in 'the most responsible way you can' during the four-day walkout which starts today.

Up to 47,600 medics could take industrial action in pursuit of a 35 per cent pay rise, which bosses have warned could 'utterly overwhelm' the health service.

And while emergency care will be prioritised, there will be 'risks to patient safety and dignity' that cannot be avoided. Hundreds of cancer operations are likely to be cancelled and health experts could not say what the impact would be on those forced for wait for crucial procedures.

One senior health official told The Times that the 'real harm' to patients will come after the strikes, when wards are overcrowded. Staff will be left scrambling to discharge patients and organise beds after the four-day disruption.

Staff will be left scrambling to discharge patients and organise beds after the four-day disruption, senior officials said, which will cause overcrowding on wards (junior doctors on strike in March)

'I don't think we're recovered from the March strike yet. It would be perfectly reasonable to think it will take a month or more to recover,' they said. 'It's important to recognise that the harm of the strike happens afterwards; there's this perception that it falls out of the news and everything goes back to normal and that's not the case.'

'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.'

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said the public should avoid 'risky behaviour' during the walkout (a strike in March)

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 storm in terms of the capacity of the health service.'

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.

There could be up to 350,000 cancellations this week alone, Mr Taylor said, adding the strikes are going to have a 'catastrophic impact' on the NHS's ability 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.

Last night, the Guardian reported that junior doctors were prepared to go even further.

One BMA official told the paper: 'Escalation could be on the cards. There is enough motivation and resources for junior doctors to keep going for another year.'

Another added: 'The next set of strikes could be longer ones if [Health Secretary Steve] Barclay doesn't move. He has to be pressured to start making offers. I'm sure the juniors have got a five-day strike on their minds.'

Mr Taylor urged the BMA and ministers to call in conciliation services to help break the stalemate. The junior doctor walkout starting today will not end until Saturday morning, making it the most extensive action on record.

GP surgeries are suspending routine appointments amid fears it will be the 'most disruptive strike in NHS history'.
The Queen wanted both William and Harry to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan when war broke out in 2001, before deciding it was too risky to send the future heir to the throne, an ex-Army chief has revealed.

The decision over whether the princes should take part in the conflict was discussed at a meeting between the late Elizabeth II and General Sir Mike Jackson, then head of the British Army.

In an upcoming ITVX documentary called The Real Crown, Sir Mike breaches protocol by revealing details of his private audience with the Queen. He said: 'What goes on in those audiences and who says what to whom remains for the two people involved, and I will break the rule about not divulging what goes on on this one occasion.

'She was very clear. She said, "My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty". And that was that. But it was decided that William as heir to the heir, the risk is too great. But for his younger brother, the risk was acceptable.'

Prince William leaving his Tucano training airplane at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire

Prince William and Prince Harry at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant on June 3, 2012

The Real Crown reveals that the Queen had put a lot of thought into the decision as she had detailed information about the risks faced by UK armed personnel in Afghanistan.

Sir John Scarlett, at the time head of MI6, said: 'Of course she has complete clearance to everything. She has complete access to an exceptional amount of info and insight for longer than anyone else. William was very keen to go.'

He added: 'She's very, very discreet, completely reliable and completely on top of the detail.

'I remember thinking at the time, "Wow, Her Majesty knows more about this than we do".'

Prince Harry at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan in 2012

The Real Crown reveals that the Queen had put a lot of thought into the decision as she had detailed information about the risks faced by UK armed personnel in Afghanistan

William completed a training course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst spanning 44 weeks after graduating from university. He was commissioned as an Army officer in December 2006.

He joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) until 2008 and was later attached to the Royal Air Force and Navy.

Harry served in the Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and undertaking two operational tours of duty in Afghanistan, in 2007-8 and 2012-13.

The documentary shows that William was stopped from joining the war, despite wanting to, due to his position as future King.

Mark Cann, director of the British Forces Foundation, said in the series: 'William was very keen to go. Unequivocally.

'But it was complex, and some very great minds and experienced people took a view on it.

'I think it was really tricky. Anybody who's in the military who hasn't actually been on operation feels a sense of disappointment.

'And I think especially that was the one (war) at the time, you've got everyone around you at the time who's been involved in it. So there is a sense of disappointment.'

The series, which airs on April 20, also examines storylines from Netflix drama The Crown.

ITV notes that the documentary includes rare archive footage and new interviews with key figures, some of whom have never previously spoken on camera, while also offering insight into the Queen's perspective during key moments.

Harry sitting in his position on a Spartan armoured vehicle in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Harry holding his SA80 rifle as he prepares to patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir

Harry on patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir close to FOB Delhi (forward operating base)

Harry firing the 50mm machine gun at Taliban fighters from the observation post at JTAC Hill, close to FOB Delhi (forward operating base), in Helmand province

Prince Harry revealed in his memoir Spare that he killed 25 Taliban fighters during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The Duke of Sussex, who was known as 'Captain Wales' in the military, wrote that he did not think of those killed 'as people' but instead 'chess pieces' he had taken off the board.

It was the first time he had specified the number of insurgents he personally killed during his time in Afghanistan, where he spent four months as an Apache helicopter pilot during his second tour.

Prince Harry said his military career 'saved him' after the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, by helping him 'turn his pain into purpose'.

During an explosive tell-all interview with 60 Minutes, which premiered on January 8, he told host Anderson Cooper: 'My military career saved me in many regards. It got me out of the spotlight from the UK press.

'I was able to focus on a purpose larger than myself - to be wearing the same uniform as everybody else, to feel normal for the first time in my life, and accomplish some of the biggest challenges that I ever had.'

Queen Elizabeth II 'broke Edward VIII's heart' when she denied his 'dying wish' to grant Wallis Simpson HRH title, Duke of Windsor's nurse claims

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, 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. Pictured: The Queen, Wallis and Prince Philip during the visit

'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 she 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 present 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 quite sort 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.

Following his abdication, Edward was made the Duke of Windsor by his brother and granted the style of His Royal Highness.

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.

Lord Snowdon's lover Nicky Haslam says Princess Margaret's husband was a 'terrific seducer' but he never thought the royal couple would go 'as far as marriage' in new docuseries

Princess Margaret's fractured marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones lasted 18 years before they finally divorced - yet one of Lord Snowdon's male lovers has shared his surprise that the pair's relationship even made it that far.

British society interior designer Nicky Haslam, 83, claimed in his memoir Redeeming Features (2010) that he had 'a very brief romance' with the late Earl a year before his 1960 wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister.

Nicky appears in ITV's new five-part royal docuseries The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which airs on Thursday 20 April on ITVX, to discuss society photographer Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret's relationship.

In the first episode, titled Love and Duty, Nicky explains: 'Tony was a terrific seducer, he could seduce that table leg. He was terrific fun, Tony, a devil incarnate but a charmer at everything.

'He was naughty but wonderful, I mean naughty in the nicest sense,' says the socialite, before admitting: 'I was quite surprised that it went that far, as far as marriage [between Antony and Margaret].'

Princess Margaret's fractured marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones (pictured together in 1974) lasted 18 years before they finally divorced - yet one of Lord Snowdon's male lovers has shared his surprise that the pair's relationship even made it that far

Lady Anne Glenconner, the late Princess Margaret's lady-in-waiting, also features on the episode - but has less than positive words to say about the royal's husband.

She says: 'Once the marriage started to go wrong, I was there for her when she was having a difficult time. I did see the way Tony treated her which I didn't like at all.

'The thing about Tony was, that he was so spiteful - and did these horrible things. he used to leave little notes,' claims Lady Glenconner.

The socialite, 90, who was a maid of honour at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, tells the programme how one message to his wife apparently read 'I hate you'.

'I don't know why he behaved like that really, I just felt very sorry for her,' confesses Lady Glenconner.

She adds that 'Tony was quite clever... he kept in with The Queen and The Queen Mother. Absolutely. I mean they thought he was wonderful.'

Elsewhere in the programme, Nicky recalls a not-so blissful moment between the Earl and Princess.

'We were at a party and Tony had one of those matches that would light anywhere, you'd strike them on, old fashion matches, and he was sort of lighting them and throwing them at Princess Margaret,' explains the socialite.

British society interior designer Nicky Haslam (pictured), 83, claimed in his memoir Redeeming Features (2010) that he had 'a very brief romance' with the late Earl a year before his 1960 wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister

Nicky appears in ITV's new five-part royal docuseries The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which airs on Thursday 20 April on ITVX, to discuss society photographer Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret's relationship (seen in 1966)

'And she said: "Oh Tony, don't do that. You could've set my dress on fire, and he said "Good thing too, I've always hated that material."''

Margaret, who died in 2002 aged 71, met Antony in 1958 at a dinner party organised by mutual friends, and wed at Westminster Abbey in May 1960, the first royal wedding to be televised.

However, the union was reportedly not a good one, and the pair soon drifted apart, with both royals entering into extra-marital affairs.

Margaret famously invited Roddy Llewellyn, a lover who was 17 years her junior, to the island of Mustique in 1974, where they were photographed by paparazzi, precipitating the end of her marriage.

Margaret and Antony, who passed away in 2017, made their divorce official in 1978, after 18 years of marriage.

The romance between Anthony Armstrong-Jones and the royal has been romanticised more than once, most recently in the second and third season of Netflix royal drama The Crown.

The full series is available on Thursday 20 April on ITVX
Wife does not want tradies inside the home

A couple who are renovating their home have kicked off a bitter debate after arguing over whether tradies should be allowed to use the toilet inside their house.

The Adelaide husband and wife organised and paid for contractors to build a retaining wall on their property, a job expected to take about two weeks to finish.

Soon enough, the pair were in disagreement over whether to allow the tradies working at their property to use the toilet inside their home.

The husband took to Reddit to ask fellow homeowners on Monday whether they should allow contractors access to their bathrooms, explaining his wife refused to let anyone in the house when they are not home.

'My wife and I will be at work while they are here and my wife basically refuses to let anyone inside the house while we aren't home,' he wrote.

An Adelaide couple renovating have sparked an online debate over whether the contractors working on their property should have access to the toilet inside their home while they are at work (stock image)

He said while his wife's feelings were understandable he thinks not allowing them access to the home would be a 'huge inconvenience'.

'The reason for not allowing access to the toilet is they would also have access to our whole house all day without us being there and risk letting our dog escape,' he wrote.

'I feel like it will be a huge inconvenience and waste of time having the contractors drive to a public toilet all the time so would rather leave the house open for them.

'What is the standard etiquette in this situation?'

The man explained he had not been asked about the toilet situation nor had he addressed it with the contractors.

The post kicked off a huge debate, with many claiming giving the contractors' access to the toilet was 'common decency'.

'Common human decency to allow someone to use the toilet,' one person wrote.

'Treat people how you would like to be treated. Give them a spare key to use if needed,' another person commented.

'What has come of our society when you can't let someone use your toilet when they are working for you?' a third person added.

'Seriously, people in this thread seem to think tradies are from the dark ages,' a fourth chimed.

'Just because we work outside doesn't mean we're animals, like really?,' another comment read.

Many claimed it was 'common decency' to allow the contractors access to the toilet inside the home, while others argued giving tradies unfettered access to the entire home while the couple was not there is 'insane'

However, others did not agree, arguing the man should never have to give unfettered access to his home.

'Bulls**t. Give a crew of random humans your house key? No f***ing way,' one person wrote.

'Letting them use the toilet when you are home is common decency, giving them a spare key is insane,' another commented.

'If I wasnt home and they were working outdoors, then no. I wouldnt leave my house unlocked while Im not home and wouldnt allow unfettered access to use the toilet,' a third person chimed.

'You're delusional if you think it's unreasonable to not want strange men in your home when you're not there,' a fourth added.

Some Aussies gave the husband a simple solution to his conundrum - 'just hire a portaloo. Problem solved.'
Over 16 tonnes of illegal tobacco with an estimated tax value of nearly $30million has been seized by cops in one of the largest drug busts in the country's history.

Police raided the illicit crop, which was being grown by a suspected criminal tobacco syndicate on a property in Murga, roughly 55km east of Parkes in the NSW central west, last Wednesday.

Footage of the record bust shows a convoy of police cars swooping on the property before officers smash down the door with a battering ram.

Cops tore across the fields in dirt bikes to inspect the massive plantation, which they estimated to have an excise value of $28million

Shouts of 'police, search warrant!' are heard as the officers flood through the door.

Cops then tear across the fields in dirt bikes to inspect the massive plantation, which was roughly 20 acres in size.

They estimated the tobacco would have been worth $28million in taxes, meaning the actual value of the crop could be in the hundreds of millions.

At one stage a voice heard on a police radio says: 'just confirm that no one's hiding'.

No arrests were made in the raid and investigations are ongoing.

Video then shows the property being patrolled by sniffer dogs and drones.

Huge tractors then come in to systematically destroy the crop fields.

A set of industrial scales were discovered near some farm buildings.

Police inspect the fields of illicit tobacco crops believed to be grown by a criminal syndicate on a farm in Murga, in NSW's central west

Tractors destroyed the crops after the police raid

The raid police was conducted by state and federal detectives from Operation Phobetor in a joint investigation with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Australian Border Force (ABF).

Detective Superintendent Stuart Cadden, the Commander of Operation Phobetor, said the seizure had disrupted the supply chain and prevented profits from being funnelled into organised crime.

'The tobacco is simply one source of income that organised criminals use to fund their other illicit activities,' he said.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Justin Clarke explained that organised crime syndicates continue to orchestrate illicit tobacco growing operations around Australia.

'These operations are not run by genuine farmers or landowners, but by criminals living and operating in local communities,' he said.

'Criminals who deal in illicit tobacco pose a serious threat to the Australian community. They use their profits to fund their lifestyles and engage in criminal behaviour well beyond the sale of illicit tobacco.

A set of industrial scales were discovered at the property

'Evading excise duty on tobacco costs the community millions of dollars that could be spent on essential community services.'

ABF Superintendent Sasha Barclay said criminal syndicates are increasingly turning to cultivating their own illicit tobacco crops in order to bolster supply as a direct result of the ABF's highly effective detection and disruption work on illicit importations at the border.

'What we're seeing is more and more criminal syndicates are trying their hand at cultivation to keep up supply as ABF continues to increase the amount of illicit tobacco being detected and seized at the border,' Superintendent Barclay said.

'These criminal syndicates are sophisticated and run like a business, so they will do whatever it takes to ensure they have a supply and can continue to bring in a profit at the expense of legitimate business owners and the wider Australian community.'

It is estimated that in Australia the illegal tobacco trade is worth $822 million.

It has been illegal to grow tobacco in Australia since 2006.

If convicted, growing tobacco carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.

Spanning across a combined 100-acres, the crops and processed tobacco bales were located at three locations across the two states in Kyalite, NSW and Vinifera and Beverford in Victoria.
A Tesla driver has been ruthlessly mocked online after becoming bogged in sand.

The Tesla Model Y had to be towed from a beach on Queensland's southeast coast just metres from a large sign that warned vehicles were not permitted.

The photo was posted to social media with the caption: 'Sign needed to be more specific"Beach Closed To Vehicles & Tesla's".'

Aussies were quick to poke fun at the Tesla driver's dilemma.

The white Tesla became stuck on a beach on Queensland's southeast coast just metres away from a large sign that warned vehicles were not permitted (pictured)

A number of inexperienced drivers who are buying kitted out 4WD's and other expensive vehicles are getting bogged on beaches and other surfaces

'Just another Tesla driver trying to do an insurance job on one that's all,' one joked.

'Not stuck, just stopped to sip his soybean latte and adjust his man bun,' another added.

A third joked: 'It was heading for the water, to put the fire out but ran out of battery.'

'The Tesla ran out of power, anyone have a spare generator,' another added.

'First rule of beach club, if you can get on there, you must be able to get off...' a forth said.

It comes after tow truck drivers issued a warning to reckless 4WD drivers who became bogged on beaches, grasslands and swamps.

Many are unaware of how to safely operate these vehicles on surfaces other than tarmac and get stuck or break down hundreds of kilometres away from help.

Tow truck drivers have been making a fortune rescuing blokes 'with all the gear and no idea'

Many who have opted to spend their weekends taking their new 4WD's out onto different terrain are usually unaware on how to safely operate these vehicles on new surfaces

James Stewart, director of Driving Solutions, previously told Daily Mail Australia that more drivers purchased 4WD's to travel around Australia during the pandemic when international travel was out of the question.

'There's more people travelling around Australia so the number of bogged vehicles is more visible,' he said.

'The cars [4WD's] are more compatible [with off-road terrain] now and it makes drivers more comfortable and overconfident. Eventually conditions are catching people out.'

'They [drivers] then usually give us a call and think, 'Oh s**t, I wish I had done this course'.

Andrew Boyd from Toyota Land Cruiser Club of Australia said Aussies are buying 4WD's without being properly informed by dealers on how to safely operate them.

'They [buyers] take them out of the showrooms. The dealers would not tell these people the different buttons to press,' Boyd said.

'They then take them out to the beaches and get into all sorts of trouble.'

A group of travellers have been slammed for driving their Maseratis worth upwards of $150,000 onto a popular beach - only for the luxury cars to get bogged in the sand dunes

Last year, one driver became stuck when they took their $150,000 Maserati Levante SUV out onto Stockton Beach in northern New South Wales.

A photo surfaced online showing the bogged luxury vehicle, with a Land Rover Discovery behind it.

Locals from Newcastle, north of Sydney, said the tourists should have known that the Maserati was not equipped for driving on deep sand.

'This is one of the dumbest things I've seen in my life,' one person commented.

'Money doesn't buy brains.'
Britain is set to be battered by gales of up to 60mph today as forecasters predict washouts and powerful winds.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind, covering the west coast and Northern Ireland for 12 hours from 3pm today, after the sunny Easter bank holiday weekend weather turned dank on Monday.

Commuters face possible chaos this morning, with flood warnings in place across southern England.

Temperatures are predicted to range from around 11C in northern Scotland to 16C in the south of England during the weather warning, a significant drop after the balmy Easter weekend.

A second warning was put in place for south-west England and south Wales throughout Wednesday.

A yellow warning for wind, covering the west coast and Northern Ireland for 12 hours from 3pm on Tuesday, has been issued by the Met Office (left). Another warning is in force for Wednesday (right)

Mods brave the rain on there way to the unveiling of a blue plaque in Brighton for the film 1979 Quadrophenia

Many yellow weather warnings are issued when it is 'likely the weather will cause some low level impacts, including some disruption to travel in a few places', the Met Office website says.

The forecaster said: 'After a brief lull in winds through the early hours of Wednesday, west or north-west winds are expected to increase once more during Wednesday morning, then remain strong for much of the day.

'Gusts of 40-50mph are expected widely within the warning area, but some coastal areas, especially in parts of south-west Wales and Cornwall, could see gusts above 60mph at times.

A pedalo is caught in a downpour in the Serpentine in London on Easter Monday. Further wind and rain is predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday

People brave the rainy conditions in Battersea Park, London on Easter Monday. Some parts of the country can expect gale-force winds today

Yesterday's rainy weather was dramatically different from the beautiful weather we saw over the weekend

The weather has turned after the balmy Easter weekend, which saw parts of the country warmer than Rome (people huddle under umbrellas in Cambridge on Monday)

People are covered by umbrellas as they go for a punt on the River Cam in Cambridge on a cold and wet Easter Monday

Yesterday kicked off with wet and chilly weather, followed by damaging 60mph winds arriving from the Atlantic this morning. Pictured: People struggling with umbrellas on Westminster Bridge in central London this morning

A commuter struggles with an umbrella during wet and windy weather on Westminster Bridge on Monday morning

'Outbreaks of heavy rain or showers will accompany the strong winds.'

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates urged people to prepare for 'a distinct possibility of some disruptive wind for parts of the UK', especially in southern and western areas.

He also said there is 'potential for heavy rainfall and even some snow, though the latter probably confined to high ground in the north'.

Tourists shelter from the rain on the mall under Union Jack umbrellas during a washout Easter Monday

Competitors donned rain gear as they lined up for the London Harness Horse Parade on Easter Monday

Two swimmers take a dip in the rough sea at the seaside resort of West Bay in Dorset on a cold, windy and overcast Easter Monday morning

Easter Monday downpours saw roads flooded near Stockport, Manchester today. A woman is forced to carry her kids to safety after her car became waterlogged

A man was seen yesterday as he tried to attach a tow rope to his waterlogged van which became stuck in the floods in Stockport, Manchester

Treacherous driving conditions on the A14 near Cambridge on Easter Monday as people make their way back home after the holiday weekend

Mr Keates added: 'Although subject to a large degree of uncertainty, gusts of wind could be in excess of 60mph in some exposed upland or coastal regions, with around 35mm (1.4in) to 50mm (2in) of rain possible for some areas.'

After the recent warmth, it will turn colder across much of the country over the coming few days, before temperatures recover towards next weekend.

Temperatures dropped on Monday after a balmy Easter Bank Holiday when the UK was hotter than Rome.

A high of 17.3C (63.14F) was recorded in Chertsey, Surrey - only slightly cooler than the hottest temperature of the year so far, 17.8C (64.04F), recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on March 30.

People walking through heavy mist on Deal Pier in Kent on Easter Monday as the weather turned after a beautiful bank holiday weekend

The long range forecast says temperatures in early May are likely to be higher than the average for the time of year

Looking ahead to next weekend, the Met Office's long range forecast suggests that Saturday will offer much of the country some respite from the rain.

A west-east split then develops, with rain and showers focused mainly in the northwest during Sunday and early next week. Nights will remain chilly as we head into late April.

Although there is not much certainty about forecasts for early May, the Met Office does say that temperatures are likely to be above average for the time of year.

There will still be a chance of early morning fog patches and late season night frosts.
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California's prolonged, wet winter has resulted in a beautiful burst of spring wildflowers carpeting the landscape of the Golden State.

The state was battered this winter by at least a dozen atmospheric rivers - long plumes of moisture from the Pacific Ocean - as well as powerful storms fueled by arctic air that produced blizzard conditions in mountainous areas.

The wintry weather flooded homes, triggered power outages and brought much-needed rain to drought-parched agriculture, though in some cases, more water than the crops could withstand.

But now, California's normally arid desert sands have become awash with color thanks to a rare 'super bloom' of poppies caused by the massive amounts of rainfall.

Rain-fed wildflowers that lay dormant for years have suddenly sprouted - creating a spectacular display that has drawn record crowds and led to traffic jams on rural roads.

The super bloom of wild flowers, as a result of extremely heavy winter rainfall, has resulted in the hillside being completely covered in bright orange poppies over the last two weeks

The super bloom, which was the result of extremely heavy winter rainfall, sees the area covered in poppies

Wildflowers have been sprouting from California's desert sands after lying dormant for years - producing a spectacular display that has been drawing crowds

California poppies and wildflowers bloom near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

California's landscape has been transformed into a vibrant display of spring wildflowers following a prolonged, rainy winter

Rancher's Fireweed (Amsinckia menziesii) blooms at Carrizo Plain National Monument on April in San Luis Obispo County, California

Powerful storms brought heavy rains across much of the state in January, leading to a 'Super Bloom' of wildflowers

Visitors take photos with wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument this past weekend in San Luis Obispo County, California

A 'super bloom' is a term for when a mass amount of desert plants bloom at one time.

In California, that happens about once in a decade in a given area and it hadn't happened for some time given the state's recent drought.

'The superbloom is really a cultural phenomenon, where people decide that there are enough flowers here, right now, that we'll call it a superbloom,' Daniel Winkler, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, told the Los Angeles Times.

Locals call those who come to view the tiny wildflowers from their cars 'flower peepers.'

But some focal points for flower tourism, including Lake Elsinore with its golden poppies, are telling visitors to stay away this year after they were harmed by crowds in 2019 that trampled over the flowers.

Visitors hike a path to see the California poppies and wildflowers at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster, California

A super bloom occurs when warm temperatures follow stretches of winter rain and the explosion of flowers exceeds average spring-time blooms

The beautiful and overwhelming bloom of the wild flowers has attracted tens of thousands of flower-crazed tourists

Over the past two weeks the green hills transformed slowly but surely into poppy fields

The poppies stretch across the mountains, crop up alongside highways, and transform rolling hills of green into captivating golden slopes

Tourists arrive in the area early in an attempt to beat the crowds

In February, Lake Elsinore Mayor Natasha Johnson told a press conference where she recounted the chaos of 2019.

'The flowers were beautiful; the scene was a nightmare,' Johnson said.

The poppies are blooming but the canyon where they grow and parking areas are now completely off-limits.

Poppies are found throughout California in spring and summer, but usually not as extensively as the blankets of gold that in 2019 covered slopes near Lake Elsinore, a city of 71,000 in Riverside County about 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

The focus of the excessive attention was Walker Canyon, a natural area with a hiking trail located just off heavily traveled Interstate 15.

'Back in 2019 numerous safety incidents occurred on the trail and on our roadways,' Johnson said. 'Tens of thousands of people, as many as 100,000 in a weekend  Disneyland-sized crowds  seeking to experience nature trampled the very habitat that they placed so high in regard and sought to enjoy.'

People illegally parked their cars along the freeway and neighborhoods were so gridlocked that parts of the city were essentially severed, affecting emergency services and the ability of residents to go to stores and work, Johnson said.

People waited for hours in queues to see the canyon and many were unprepared for the hike, resulting in injuries.

California Highway Patrol Lt. Craig Palmer said the agency has already begun saturation patrols of the area, and that freeway shoulders are only for use in emergency situations.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco warned that there will be zero tolerance for parking violations and the result could be a citation, a vehicle being towed or worse.

'It is a misdemeanor infraction, and you're subject to arrest and booking into jail,' Bianco said.

The mayor said Lake Elsinore usually welcomes visitors but the 2019 phenomenon came at a cost that was too high for residents.

Visitors walk to see wildflowers in bloom at Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, California

Wildflowers are springing up in different landscapes across California  producing spectacular displays

Wildflowers bloom along Henderson Canyon Road in Borrego Springs, California

Visitors walk among the poppy bloom at Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster

Thousands of others have left their vehicles to traipse across the desert and analyze the array of delicate yellow, orange, purple and magenta blooms up close.

'It's really hard as a naturalist to enjoy the places that are overrun with tourists and Instagram models and people that are not used to being out in these places,' Joan Dudney, assistant professor at the department of environmental studies at UC Santa Barbara said.

She noted how visitors are too often 'out there for the spectacle' and 'haven't yet developed a connection with these natural spaces.'

Beekeepers are particularly hopeful that the superbloom could provide ample forage for bees and potentially translate into a good year for honey.

Among the blooms are desert sunflowers, lilies and dandelions, poppies, sand verbena, lupine, dune evening primrose, Canterbury bells, monkeyflower, Phacelia and Cryptanth.

Officials say in addition to traffic problems, people are leaving trails and trampling the flowers

Instagram was filled with super bloom photos of people posing among the flowers

A couple is pictured posing among the flowers as thousands of people flocked to the area for a glimpse of the super bloom

Visitors in their vehicles wait in line to enter the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

The color of the poppies is so vivid it can be seen from mountain tops hundreds of feet above

Among the blooms are desert sunflowers, lilies and dandelions, poppies, sand verbena, lupine, dune evening primrose, Canterbury bells, monkeyflower, Phacelia and Cryptanth

Common Goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis) bloom at Carrizo Plain National Monument

The super bloom is the result of extremely heavy winter rainfall that saw the hillside covered in bright orange poppies

Some meccas for flower tourism, including Lake Elsinore with its golden poppies, were harmed enough by crowds in 2019 that visitors have been warned to stay away this year

A couple pose among the poppies and wildflowers in Antelope Valley, California, Poppy Reserve

Tens of thousands of tourists have been spotted posing and lying among the scores of flowers for their photos

Wildflowers bloom near Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, California

Wildflowers bloom along Henderson Canyon Road in Borrego Springs, California

Tidy tips (Layia platyglossa) bloom at Carrizo Plain National Monument

As epic rainstorms gradually give way to brighter spring weather, wildflowers have started to bloom at several parks across California

Tens of thousands of tourists have been spotted posing for pictures among the scores of flowers over the last month

Tourists have been flocking to the area for several weeks to see the super bloom

An Ocotillo blooms along Coyote Canyon in Borrego Springs
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have written a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts, demanding he open an investigation into Justice Clarence Thomas's gifts from his billionaire friend, as they announced their own hearing into court ethics.

Calling the gifts 'plainly inconsistent' with the ethical standards Americans expect of 'any person in a position of public trust,' the letter, led by Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, urged the Republican-appointed chief justice to 'immediately' open an investigation to ensure Thomas's behavior isn't repeated.

Durbin wrote his committee will hold a hearing 'in the coming days,' adding: 'If the Court does not resolve this issue on its own, the Committee will consider legislation to resolve it.'

Some Democrats have called on the high court to adopt a formal code of ethics - it is currently the only court in the federal judiciary that does not have one for its nine members.

The letter noted there had been call for a code of ethics over reporting on Thomas's gifts from real estate billionaire Harlan Crow in 2011, which Roberts 'dismissed' at the time.

Thomas, who has been showered with exotic vacations and luxurious gifts by the Republican megadonor, made a rare statement last week insisting colleagues and 'others in the judiciary' had told him such 'personal hospitality' was allowable.

Crow called Thomas a dear friend, and got to know him after he joined the Supreme Court. Crow is a Dallas-based real estate magnate

Thomas flew on Crow's private jet, sailed around the world on his yacht and stayed at his resort in the Adirondacks nearly every summer for around two decades, according to a Pro Publica report released Thursday

Thomas flew on Crow's private jet, sailed around the world on his yacht and stayed at his resort in the Adirondacks nearly every summer for around two decades, according to a Pro Publica report released Thursday.

Monday's letter turns up the heat on Roberts. Some have even called on the 74-year-old justice to resign. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib have called for his impeachment.

Crow has donated millions to Republican campaigns and conservative groups. He has also presented Thomas with a series of peculiar gifts, including an Abraham Lincoln bust and a $19,000 bible that once belonging to Frederick Douglass.

Thomas did not disclose trips to Indonesia, New Zealand and Sonoma, California, that he took with Crow - and which he would not have been able to afford on his $285,000-a-year salary.

Thomas takes annual trips to Topridge, Crow's Adirondacks estate

The retreat offers opportunities for boat rides and fishing, and features exotic furnishings

Crow issued a lengthy statement in response to the revelations about his travels with Thomas.

'My wife Kathy and I have been friends with Justice Thomas and his wife Ginni since 1996. We are very dear friends,' he said.

'The hospitality we have extended to the Thomases over the years is no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends,' he said.

'Justice Thomas and Ginni never asked for any of this hospitality. We have never asked about a pending or lower court case, and Justice Thomas has never discussed one, he continued.

Crow called the trips 'gatherings of friends.'
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 has slammed the gunman who murdered the girls and their mother.

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 tragically described how their 'family of seven is now a family of four' after his wife died from her wounds.

Speaking at the press conference, broadcast on the BBC, the heartbroken rabbi said: 'This anonymous terrorist with a Kalashnikov, what did he achieve, temporary victory? Where's his future? Is he spending time with his children, to teach them decent life values? Does he even have children or is he a child himself? Is he the product of a broken culture that doesn't differentiate between good and evil so he doesn't see a future for himself?'

He added: 'We will never accept terror as legitimate... There is no such thing as a moral equivalent between terrorist and victim. The terrorist is always bad.'

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 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 continued: '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.

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

'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, 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 on Monday.

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 on Monday, 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

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 35-year-old New York woman has been arrested on charges of forging a deed to seize ownership of an elderly woman's house - but she insists she was given the house as a thanks for caring for her.

Aurelia Soogea, 35, appeared in court in Nassau County, on Long Island, on Friday and pleaded not guilty to forgery and theft.

She is accused of paying $10 to transfer the deed of her mother's neighbor's $350,000 home to her name.

The owner, 78-year-old Rosemarie Mika, claims that she was informed of the deed transfer in a letter from Nassau County authorities.

Mika then called the police.

Rosemarie Mika, 78 (left), accused Aurelia Soogea, 35, of forging documents to steal her house

The house in Lakeview, Long Island, is valued at $350,000

The deed was transferred to Soogea on October 11, and Mika claims she found out about it thanks to a letter informing her. Soogea says she and Mika went to the offices together to fill out the paperwork

Soogea's lawyer, Lawrence Carra, told NBC New York that Mika gave Soogea the house as a gift.

'We are vehemently contesting it, we've entered a plea of not guilty,' he said.

'She provided services and she stayed there from time to time as a caring loving aide.'

Carra said there is 'conflicting evidence' that will show 'Soogea did not forge the deed.'

Soogea said she has recorded conversations between her and Mika confirming the transfer of the home.

She also provided stickers from their visit to the county building on the day the deed was signed over, arguing that Mika was there and willingly handed over the property.

Mika's attorney said Soogea's documentation and audio records are fabricated.

Soogea is next due in court on Thursday.

Accusations of deed forgery are common throughout the United States.

In May 2022, a Georgia man was accused of stealing six properties throughout North Carolina.

Isaiah Robert Louise Baskins Jr., of Macon, Georgia, was accused of carrying out his forgeries between December 2018 and September 2019, using the names and addresses of six people and the social security card of another person to forge deeds.

Soogea is seen with her lawyer, Lawrence Carra. He says that Soogea was given the house as thanks for being Mika's carer

He allegedly presented the forged documents to the register of deeds to transfer their real property to him.

The case continues.

In December, a California-based woman, Shaneika Seymore, was arrested after allegedly forging false quit claim deeds to sell properties across Memphis that she did not own.

That same month, the New York attorney general, Letitia James, announced the indictment of five purported members of a deed theft ring on charges they stole three homes from elderly homeowners in Jamaica and St. Albans, Queens.

According to the indictment, the defendants impersonated the homeowners by using forged driver's licenses and Social Security cards and closed on the properties with forged signatures on deeds and documents.

'No one should face the nightmare of having their home stolen from them without any warning, knowledge, or reason,' James said in a statement accompanying the announcement of the charges.

'Deed theft is a merciless crime that targets seniors, and often people of color, who are asset rich but cash poor, and reliant on their homes as a stabilizing force for their families and loved ones.'
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has clashed with Hamish Macdonald over the Indigenous Voice to Parliament as the ABC host encouraged her to explain why the Coalition was opposed to the idea.

Senator Price called in to ABC's Radio National on Tuesday morning to speak about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, days after the Coalition announced it would be opposing the idea proposed by the federal government.

The Country Liberal Party senator, who sits in the Nationals' party room, is staunchly opposed to enshrining a national body in the constitution, saying it would divide Australians down racial lines and add another layer of bureaucracy.

Macdonald and Senator Price repeatedly clashed over radio on Tuesday as the ABC host pressed her to properly explain the Coalition's policy.

'I would be pushing for leadership in those remote communities to be better heard through what already exists,' she said.

'The detail is about empowering regional voices'.

Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Price (pictured centre) has been accused of 'double speak' after a fiery clash with ABC's Hamish Macdonald over the Indigenous Voice to Parliament

Senator Price also said that some Aboriginal land council members struggled to read.

'I know executive members of land councils, some of them aren't necessarily literate, and this is the basics we have to go back to,' she said.

'There's a whole lot of work that needs to be done before getting to the broader discussion. Until we do that, we can't improve the situation on the ground.'

At the end of the ABC interview, a frustrated Senator Price said 'even media ... doesn't listen to people in remote communities because it's difficult to have people from remote communities on air on a radio program because of the language barrier that exists'.

Macdonald then put it to her, 'doesn't the referendum model do that?'

'On a fundamental principle, I don't believe we need this in our Constitution to actually do what it says on the cover,' she replied.

'If the government is so sure that their model is going to work, then they can legislate it right now if they want to.

'But what's happening is we're having this debate, which is taking away from the issues that are actually going on, on the ground, right now.'

Veteran political commentator Paul Bongiorno accused Senator Price of using 'double speak' and said voting no for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament would be 'rebadging existing failed and ignored structures'.

'The sophistry (using clever but false arguments) of Senator Jacinta Price (was) exposed in a respectful Hamish MacDonald interview,' Bongiorno tweeted.

Bongiorno also accused (pictured) Jacinta Price of using 'more double speak' to make her point

Senator Price, who is a former Alice Springs deputy mayor, said she wanted to ensure local governments were further empowered.

She pointed out systemic problems that she said should be ironed out before a national body such as the Voice is considered.

'I know they know their communities well. If they were strengthened they would certainly be able to contribute better to their communities, because they understand what's going on on the ground,' she said.

Senator Price said a disadvantage gap exists between rural and metropolitan areas, and that Indigenous people in major cities have the same opportunities as non-Indigenous Australians.

'The gap exists between people in remote communities whose first language is not English in really remote places,' she said.

But this was disputed by Indigenous activist and referendum working group member Jack Beetson.

'To say the gap is about rural and city is so wrong to begin with,' Professor Beetson told AAP.

'If you look at the cities, you get the same socio-economic problems you get elsewhere.

'Regardless of where you are, whether it's geographical isolation or social or economic isolation, there's no difference - you' re still isolated one way or another.'

The leader of the Young Liberals has also expressed a willingness to go against the federal party's position, saying he is open to voting 'Yes' to the Voice.

Federal president Dimitry Chugg-Palmer said he wants to support the Voice, but echoed calls for more details about the proposed body.

'Raising those questions and raising those doubts is not a way of trying to frustrate or stop it, it's about being honest so we know what it is we are voting for,' he told the ABC's Q&A program.

'I want to see us reconcile with First Australians. I think it's the right thing to give them a say on decisions that affect them. That is a fundamentally Liberal principle.'
The Coalition's Indigenous affairs spokesman has quit Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's shadow cabinet over the Liberal Party's plan to campaign against the Voice.

Longtime Voice supporter Julian Leeser announced his resignation from the frontbench on Tuesday morning, saying he made the call to say to his children that 'your father stood up for something he believes in'.

It comes after Mr Dutton last week announced the Liberal Party will campaign against Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament, like its junior Coalition partner the Nationals.

His resignation from the Coalition frontbench - as shadow attorney-general and shadow minister for Indigenous Australians - comes just days after former Indigenous Australians cabinet minister Ken Wyatt resigned from the Liberal Party for the same reasons. Mr Wyatt had made history in 2010 as the first Aboriginal member of the House of Representatives.

Andrew Gee MP quit the Nationals in December to sit as an independent over the Voice issue, which is going to a referendum in 2023.

Tasmanian Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff, now Australia's only conservative state leader in power, will be campaigning for the Voice, along with Liberal state Opposition Leaders.

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The Coalition's Indigenous affairs spokesman is set to quit Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's shadow cabinet over the Liberal Party's aversion to the Voice

Mr Leeser had wanted a free vote among the Liberal Party frontbench, which Mr Dutton isn't allowing. Instead, all shadow cabinet members are bound to support the party's opposition to the Voice.

'I'm resigning without rancour, but on a point of principle,' he said on Tuesday.

'What I want to be able to say to my children in the future is: your father stood up for something he believes in.'

The Liberal Party supports recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution but not an enshrined national Voice in the Constitution, with Mr Dutton rubbishing it as a future Canberra bureaucracy in the making.

In a statement, Mr Leser said that as a backbencher, he would be free to campaign for the Voice, with a referendum likely to be held later this year.

'Our tradition in the Liberal Party is grounded in a belief in conscience and freedom,' he said.

'While shadow ministers are bound by the decisions of the shadow cabinet and the party room, backbenchers are free to vote on every piece of legislation according to their own conscience.

'Because I intend to campaign for a yes vote, I have resigned from the shadow ministry.'

What is the Voice? An elected body of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals who would give advice to the federal government. Only Australians of Indigenous heritage would be able decide the representatives. To be established, a referendum would be held and would require a majority of votes in a majority of states. Unlike the old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission - formally abolished in 2005 with bipartisan support - the Voice would be enshrined in the Constitution. While Parliament would decide the make-up of the Voice, it would not have the power to abolish it without taking the issue to another referendum. The Voice would give advice to the cabinet and executive government about legislation, particularly proposed laws that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The Uluru Statement from the Heart - based on the input of 250 Aboriginal leaders - in 2017 called for a the 'establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution'. The Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report was given to former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison's government in 2021. It was co-authored by Tom Calma, a human rights activist, and Marcia Langton, an academic. Advertisement

In a media conference, Mr Leeser said he believed in a national Voice - putting him at odds with Mr Dutton who only wants regional and local bodies that are not enshrined in the Constitution.

'I believe the time for the Voice has come,' he said.

'I believe in local and regional Voices, I believe in a national Voice, drawn from local and regional bodies and I will support the referendum being put this year.

'It's clear that the shadow cabinet and the party room and I have taken a different position in relation to the Voice.'

Responding to Mr Leeser's resignation, Mr Dutton said his colleague was 'a man of great character, of strength'.

'The personal attacks that have been levelled against him over the course of the last couple of months - including by the Prime Minister - have been quite disgraceful,' he said.

'I think in light of Julian's announcement today, it's proper that people, including the Prime Minister, should apologise to Julian Leeser.

'He's a person that has our country's best interests at heart .'

Mr Dutton said Mr Albanese had divided Australians over the 'Canberra Voice' - which he argued could decide interest rates, environmental and defence policies.

'If anyone in this debate has divided this country, it's Anthony Albanese,' he said.

'I do not believe the Canberra Voice in this country's best interests.

'I know people are motivated by the feel good vibe.'

Mr Dutton argued the co-designers of the Indigenous Voice, Tom Calma and Marcia Langton, had favoured local and regional voices instead of a national Voice, and spoke out against the notion Voice opponents were racists.

'It doesn't make you a racist,' he said.

'It can be a respectful debate.'

But Mr Leeser said the Voice would help improve the living standards of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders - a position Indigenous Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price rejects as a member of the Nationals party room.

'I believe that the Voice can help move the dial on Indigenous education, health, housing, safety and economic development,' he said.

Mr Leeser, who joined the Liberal Party in 1992 as a resident in Sydney's upmarket eastern suburbs, said he had resigned without 'rancour or bitterness'.

'I remain a loyal Liberal fully committed to the leadership of Peter Dutton,' he said.

Mr Leeser said he had reflected on the issue over the Easter long weekend and during Passover - which accords with his Jewish faith.

'It was clear on the day before shadow cabinet and the party room meeting last week that I was in a different position to a majority of my colleagues,' he said.

'My resignation today as a frontbencher is not about personality, it's about trying to keep faith with the very chords of belief and belonging that are part of who I am.'

Mr Leeser is a 'constitutional conservative' who supports keeping a British monarch, King Charles, as Australia's head of state.

He had also been instrumental in establishing Uphold and Recognise, 'to encourage constitutional conservatives to support the idea of the Voice'.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured with wife Kirilly) will campaign against the Voice, like the Nationals

Unlike Labor, the Liberal Party allows backbenchers to remain in the party even if they campaign against the position of the party room.

But in 1999, then Liberal prime minister John Howard had allowed his frontbench to campaign either for or against a republic - in a referendum that ultimately failed without bipartisan support.

Peter Costello, the then treasurer and deputy Liberal leader, had campaigned for a republic as his leader Mr Howard, a constitutional monarchist, backed the no case.

Mr Leeser last week told the National Press Club he wanted that approach for the Voice.

'I think the proposal during the republic referendum was good,' he said.

Mr Leeser had also told the National Press Club there needed to be more detail on Labor's proposal, arguing the Voice design had to stop activist High Court judges from deciding policies so only Parliament could implement its recommendations.

'What we have witnessed  in word, deed and actions, has been a repudiation of the collaborative spirit that has marked this process since 2014,' he said.

Julian Leeser, who is also the member for Berowra in Sydney's north, said he resigned from the Coalition frontbench without 'rancour or bitterness'

'Good process builds consensus. It helps narrow the issues for debate in a referendum.

'But Labor is messing this up.'

Mr Leeser on Tuesday said the referendum could fail if Labor didn't compromise with Liberal Party supporters of the Voice like himself.

'The risk to our country and the risk to our share national reconciliation project of failure needs to be recognised by the government,' he said.

'An all or nothing approach could deliver nothing.'

He holds the affluent seat of Berowra, taking in parts of Sydney's upper north shore.

Berowra is also next door to the teal independent seat of Mackellar on the northern beaches.

It also borders Mr Leeser's frontbencher colleague Paul Fletcher's electorate of Bradfield, where a teal independent last year seriously challenged the Liberal Party's dominance in a once safe seat.

His Liberal predecessor in Berowra, Philip Ruddock, in 1988 crossed the floor to support a motion from then Labor prime minister Bob Hawke's government calling for non-discriminatory immigration policies, following then Coalition Opposition Leader John Howard's call to reduce Asian immigration.

Just eight out of 44 referendums have been carried since Federation in 1901 with the last successful yes vote occurring in 1977.

A successful yes vote for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution would be the first proposed by a Labor government since 1946.

Moderate Liberals are in favour of the Voice, including shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham, who is likely to remain silent on the issue to remain on the Coalition frontbench.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reviewing his attack plans on South Korea after calling for an expansion of his nuclear arsenal, state media said Tuesday, to counter what it called 'frantic' aggression by the United States and South Korea.

Pyongyang has opened the year with a flurry of weapons tests, including what state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones and the launch of two intercontinental ballistic missiles.

On Monday, Kim attended a meeting of the Central Military Commission to discuss ways to 'cope with the escalating moves of the US imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression,' Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency said.

Kim ordered that the country's deterrence capabilities be strengthened with 'increasing speed' and in a 'more practical and offensive' manner.

North Korea last year declared itself an 'irreversible' nuclear power, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks.

Pyongyang has opened the year with a flurry of weapons tests , including what state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones and the launch of two intercontinental ballistic missiles

On Monday, Kim (pictured) attended a meeting of the Central Military Commission to discuss ways to 'cope with the escalating moves of the US imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression,' Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency said

The Supreme Leader visited a hall displaying what appeared to be various types of nuclear warheads designed to be mounted on missiles or rocket launchers in pictures released in March

Earlier this year, Kim ordered the military to intensify drills to prepare for a 'real war'.

In response, Washington and Seoul have intensified defence cooperation, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets.

US Marine forces have been flexing their muscles during assault drills with South Korea in a massive display of joint fire power.

On March 29, thousands of troops and high-end weaponry were used to practice an amphibious assault, which took the form of a maneuver offensive, to claim territory rather than protect it.

The commander of the 2,200 US Marines involved in Exercise Ssang Yong in Pohang, on the eastern coast of South Korea, said it was not meant to aggravate the opposition.

It came days after North Korea's saber-rattling display of a tactical nuclear warhead.

In photos provided by the North Korean government in March, Kim Jong-un visited a hall displaying what appeared to be various types of nuclear warheads designed to be mounted on missiles or rocket launchers.

The photos showed Kim talking with officials inside the hall. The warheads included around 10 khaki-green capsules with red tips.

Other weapons included devices that looked like a black-and-white cone with fins or a large torpedo.

He could also be seen standing next to smaller, blunter and more rounded nuclear devices.

Kim ordered that the country's deterrence capabilities be strengthened with 'increasing speed' and in a 'more practical and offensive' manner

US and South Korea's marines take part in an amphibious landing drill called the Ssang Yong exercise, in Pohang, South Korea, on March 29, 2023

These weapons were originally called Fat Man nukes following their use in the detonation of Nagasaki in August 1945, due to their rounded, wide shape.

North Korea in 2023 so far has fired around 30 missiles in 11 different launch events, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that demonstrated potential range to reach the U.S. mainland and several shorter-range weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on South Korean targets.

The North was already coming off a record year in weapons testing, after launching nearly 70 missiles in 2022.

Experts say Kim's provocative run in weapons displays is aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power and negotiating economic concessions from a position of strength.

Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since 2019 over disagreements in exchanging crippling U.S.-led sanctions against the North and the North's steps to wind down its nuclear weapons program.

South Korean officials say North Korea may soon up the ante by staging more provocative displays of its military might, including its first nuclear test detonation since 2017.

North Korea last month unveiled what appeared to be a new nuclear warhead designed to fit on various delivery systems as Kim called for his nuclear scientists to increase production of weapons-grade material to make bombs to put on his growing range of weapons.

North Korea has also issued veiled threats to test fire an ICBM on a normal ballistic trajectory toward the Pacific, which would be seen as a major provocation as its previous long-range tests were conducted on high angles to avoid the territories of neighbors.

The North also previously said it aims to finish preparations to launch a military spy satellite into space by April, an event its rivals would almost certainly see as a test of ICBM technology banned by international sanctions.

Other weapons included devices that looked like a black-and-white cone with fins or a large torpedo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting nuclear warheads at an undisclosed location

One of the nukes was a warhead called the Hwasan-91, as described by a poster in the hall.

The poster's graphics implied that the weapon could fit on some of North Korea's short-range ballistic systems, cruise missiles and a purported nuclear-capable underwater drone the country first unveiled last week.

North Korea has been strengthening its ballistic missile arsenal on the stated premise that it requires it to stave off an attack by US and South Korean forces.

Washington and Seoul have been displaying their firepower through a growing number of exercises, which the two allies claim are of a defensive nature.

North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion, and on Tuesday described them as 'frantic' drills 'simulating an all-out war against' Pyongyang.
Nearly four years after a devastating fire, the Notre Dame cathedral is finally rising from the ashes thanks to painstaking restoration work.

Sculptures have been replicated, gargoyles are being cleaned and 2,000 oak trees have been felled across France to recreate parts of the 13th-century building  including the iconic 315ft spire.

Around 1,000 workers  including roofers, quarrymen and carpenters  have been involved in the project, which is expected to cost more than the 745million raised by donors.

The cathedral is not expected to reopen until December next year, with final restorations unlikely to be completed until 2025.

And throughout, one man has been charting the painstaking work on 'Our Lady of Paris' in these stunning photographs as, little by little, it is reconstructed and restored.

Sculptures have been replicated, gargoyles are being cleaned and 2,000 oak trees have been felled across France to recreate parts of the 13th-century building  including the iconic 315ft spire

Around 1,000 workers  including roofers, quarrymen and carpenters  have been involved in the project, which is expected to cost more than the 745million raised by donors

Photographer Patrick Zachmann, who is not a believer and had rarely set foot inside the medieval cathedral, witnessed the blaze on April 15, 2019, and was so moved by what he saw he decided to document its rebirth.

Mr Zachmann, 67, who works for the Magnum picture agency, told the Mail: 'I was alerted by a friend who was working not far from Notre Dame and saw some smoke. It wasn't clear exactly what was going on at first, you wondered if it was maybe a terrorist attack.

'I was on my scooter so I rushed there and stayed for a few hours watching from a nearby bridge, the Pont de la Tournelle.

'The reaction of tourists and Parisians, they were really shocked and I could feel the emotion  it was like a piece of our memory was disappearing.

'So that's why I later wanted to go inside and see for myself what happened and the reality of the damage, and to document the whole restoration process.

'Usually I like to cover people's lives, not old stones and monuments, but I've come to see that the cathedral and its restoration is all about human adventure and experience.

'It's fascinating, and the restoration has brought together so many people from so many places, from the architects to the stone masons.'

There's a workforce of around 1,000 ironworkers, master glassworkers, roofers, quarrymen, paint and sculpture restorers, carpenters and supervisors; more than 3,000 tons of scaffolding has been erected; and the French National Centre for Scientific Research has given high-tech assistance by creating a 'digital double' of the cathedral that has provided information to help with the stabilising of the building.

Some 1,000 cubic metres of stone have been quarried for the restoration. When the work is finally finished a further 41,000 square metres of stone surfaces, 2,000 square metres of stained glass and almost 2,000 statues and sculptures will have been cleaned and restored.

Mr Zachmann, 67, who works for the Magnum picture agency, told the Mail: 'I was alerted by a friend who was working not far from Notre Dame and saw some smoke. It wasn't clear exactly what was going on at first, you wondered if it was maybe a terrorist attack. Pictured: The Notre-Dame on fire in April 2019

There's a workforce of around 1,000 ironworkers, master glassworkers, roofers, quarrymen, paint and sculpture restorers, carpenters and supervisors. Pictured: A craftsman chisels an angel sculpture

When the work is finally finished a further 41,000 square metres of stone surfaces, 2,000 square metres of stained glass and almost 2,000 statues and sculptures will have been cleaned and restored. Pictured: Three gargoyle structures

The mammoth project is likely to cost more than the 745 million which was raised from donors across the world after the blaze.

General Jean-Louis Georgelin, 74, France's former chief of the defence staff, who is in charge of the huge project said: 'The return of the spire in Paris's sky will, in my opinion, be the symbol that we are winning the battle of Notre Dame.'

French officials have said it is not planned to reopen Notre Dame  which stands on small island in the middle of the Seine and is possibly the world's most famous church, a place of pilgrimage for Roman Catholics from all over the world and symbol of French nationhood  to visitors and churchgoers alike until December 2024. Some of the final renovations are not expected to be completed until 2025.

The cause of the fire has still not been established, but investigators have ruled out arson.

Previously reported theories have included a short circuit in the electrical wiring or a cigarette discarded by a workman.

The mammoth project is likely to cost more than the 745 million which was raised from donors across the world after the blaze

Some of the final renovations are not expected to be completed until 2025. Pictured: A craftsman touches up a wood carving

The cause of the fire has still not been established, but investigators have ruled out arson. Pictured: rows of recovered statues

Photographer Mr Zachmann said it was frightening when he first saw the fire and the challenges firefighters faced in trying to control the fire and secure the cathedral without themselves damaging it, or even causing it further to collapse.

'It was difficult to know if they would succeed, especially when the spire collapsed,' he said. 'At that same moment I could hear people shouting in shock.'

He went inside the cathedral just over two months after the fire and has returned more than 100 times since.

'It's a fantastic feeling to see it being restored. It's a piece of history, a symbol of Paris and France, that was disappearing.

'Sometimes I go in ten days apart and I can't believe what they have done so quickly and how it has changed in that time,' Mr Zachmann said.

'Now, little by little, the cathedral is being restored  it's really emotional to see. And they are going further than repairing the fire damage, they are also cleaning things that weren't damaged by the fire but just by time.'

So to him, he says, perhaps the fire can be seen in some way as 'un mal pour un bien'  or a blessing in disguise.

Damaged sculptures will be copied and replaced at the cathedral while the originals will be in a museum

A craftsman works on the catherdral's tiles behind a scuplture surrounded by scaffolding

New wooden beam structures inside the northern part of the Notre-Dame cathedral
Latitude Financial has been hit with a ransom demand from hackers who stole the details of millions of customers last month - but the company has insisted it will not be paying.

It said on Tuesday said it would not reward criminal behaviour and did not think coughing up the ransom money would see customers' stolen information returned or destroyed.

About 7.9 million people had their driver's licence details taken, and about 53,000 passport numbers were stolen in the hack, which was detected last month.

Latitude admitted an additional 6.1 million records dating back to at least 2005 were also poached, including names, addresses, telephone numbers and dates of birth.

Latitude Financial has revealed it has been hit with a ransom demand by hackers

Fewer than 100 customers had a monthly financial statement stolen, the consumer finance company told the ASX in March.

The attackers had, as part of their ransom threat, detailed stolen data consistent with Latitude's disclosure about how many customers were affected, the company revealed.

'Latitude will not pay a ransom to criminals,' company chief executive Bob Belan said on Tuesday.

'Based on the evidence and advice, there is simply no guarantee that doing so would result in any customer data being destroyed and it would only encourage further extortion attempts on Australian and New Zealand businesses in the future.

'Our priority remains on contacting every customer whose personal information was compromised and to support them through this process.

'In parallel, our teams have been focused on safely restoring our IT systems, bringing staffing levels back to full capacity, enhancing security protections and returning to normal operations.

'I apologise personally and sincerely for the distress that this cyber-attack has caused and I hope that in time we are able to earn back the confidence of our customers.'

The hack is under investigation by the Australian Federal Police while Latitude Financial work with the Australian Cyber Security Centre and cyber security experts to find its cause.

The firm added in its update: 'We are in the process of contacting all customers, past customers and applicants whose information was compromised, outlining details of the information stolen, the support we are providing and our plans for remediation.

The March 16 hack stole around 14million pieces of personal information, including 7.9million driver's licence numbers, 53,000 passport numbers and 6.1million customer records (stock)

'We will complete this process as quickly as we can. We encourage all our customers to remain vigilant and alert to potential scam attempts.

'To the best of our knowledge, there has been no suspicious activity inside Latitude's systems since Thursday 16 March 2023.'

Elliot Dellys, founder and CEO of Phronesis Security said Latitude's position was consistent with government policy.

He explained: 'Echoing the defiant stance taken by Medibank last year in the face of a similar threat, Latitude has declared they will not be paying the ransom, stating that there is 'no guarantee that doing so would result in any customer data being destroyed'.

'This is a position that is consistent with that of the Australian Government, with Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil urging Australian businesses in February to not give in to ransom demands, claiming that doing so makes Australia look like a 'soft target'.

'The Australian Government has also publicly stated that it is considering criminalising such payments, which have in part been driven by a surge in the uptake of cyber insurance policies.'

He also explained how paying the ransom could seen as 'funding future attacks'.

Mr Dellys added: 'For a broad cross-section of cyber security professionals, it is heartening to see organisations standing up to these criminal attacks  while prevention is always preferable to cure, it is common knowledge that ransom payments inevitably fund future attacks.

'Historically, the trend has been for businesses to try to make the problem go away as quickly as possible, regardless of the long-term consequences.

Research by McGrathNicol last year found that 79 per cent of Australian businesses hit by a cyber-attack pay the ransom, with an average payment sum of $1.01 million.

'This is a frustrating statistic for many in the industry, when many businesses remain hesitant to invest in cyber security due to a belief they would never be the target of an attack.

'All clouds have a silver lining however, and after a disastrous 2022 for Australian data security, this recent trend of businesses standing up to the attackers  typically with significant public and Government support  may be one of them.

'The more that businesses invest in proactive data retention and disposal practices and cyber security measures, the fewer CEOs will be forced to face the dilemma of whether or not to pay a criminal ransom demand.'

News of the ransom comes after it was revealed law firms Hayden Stephens and Associates and Gordon Legal announced a potential class action against the company, which provides consumer finance services for David Jones, JB Hi-Fi, Apple, The Good Guys and Harvey Norman.

The law firms will investigate the hack as part of a potential class action and is urging customers to sign up for updates.

Lawyer Hayden Stephens said it must be established how the breach occurred and what harm has been passed on to Latitude customers.

'Very much part of our investigation is to get answers to those questions,' Mr Stephens, director of Hayden Stephens and Associates, told Sunrise.

'It is possible, even probable, that this breach could have been avoided.'

Mr Stephens previously told The Australian newspaper that the option for compensation was being explored.

While all customers are encouraged to register for updates from the investigation, customers will likely need to prove harm suffered as a result of the breach in order to join a potential class action lawsuit.
Still dithering over their Coronation RSVPs, could Harry and Meghan be quibbling over bringing their children?

Demanding that Archie be let in for part of the service (so Prince George doesnt steal all the limelight) and Lilibet be held up at the Palace window to see the Coronation procession depart would imitate the roles played by Charles and Anne back in 1953.

Whatever the cause of delay, they need to get a move on if they want their names in the order of service. A source says the first draft has been drawn up and proofed and once the King signs off on it then no changes will be possible.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London, June 3 2022

Along with his scarlet coat, white breeches and stockings, Coronation page of honour George will be equipped with a small ceremonial sword to defend the monarch against marauders. Dont mess with George!

In the stands with his father the Prince of Wales as they cheered on Aston Villas 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last Saturday, George hasnt always been so devoted to the West Midlands club.

When speaking about his sons allegiance in 2019, FA president William revealed: I try not to be too biased, I said you can support anyone but Chelsea... so naturally he supports Chelsea.

The One Show presenter Alex Jones, pictured, did not have her parents Mary and Alun cheering from the rafters when she appeared on Strictly.

My mother said, episode one, youre really spoiling this for me, she tells a podcast. And then my dad chimed in, Probably not that long Mary. The family agony persisted until the week before the final, when Ms Jones was eliminated.

The One Show presenter Alex Jones, pictured, did not have her parents Mary and Alun cheering from the rafters when she appeared on Strictly

Drawing breath as she concludes her 40-date UK tour at the London Palladium, Prue Leith confirms that she is taking the one-woman show to Las Vegas in the autumn. Will she include details of her romantic teenage obsession?

I wanted to marry a horse, she recalls. I had read about a woman in Cheltenham who so loved her dog that she married it, an Alsatian. I thought, Why cant I marry my horse? When I told my father he said, You do realise all your children will be centaurs.

Sex Pistol John Lydons wife Nora, who has died aged 80, was the daughter of Der Spiegel publisher Franz Karl Maier.

She inherited 97million when he died suddenly of a heart attack in 1984. It was the shock of my secret marriage [to Johnny], she once claimed.

An old photo of John Lyndon with his wife Nora Forster, who has died aged 80

Curmudgeonly David Walliams apparently has no hard feelings about being replaced on Britains Got Talent by choreographer Bruno Tonioli, who reveals: He was the first person to send me a message saying congratulations. He also sent a fantastic bottle of Italian wine to my dressing room on my first day. Have you uncorked it yet Bruno?
U.S. spies caught Russia boasting of a new alliance with oil-rich United Arab Emirates, according to purported Pentagon documents released in a wide-ranging leak.

Russian intelligence officers had said they had convinced the UAE 'to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies,' according to documents 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 report comes at a time of concerns that the U.S. is ceding influence in the Middle East to adversaries like China and Russia. Just last month China brokered a surprise peace deal with Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Other leaked documents revealed U.S. ally Egypt was prepping to ship arms to Russia.

Egypt, one of the U.S.'s closest allies and a recipient of close to $100 billion in U.S. aid over the last 50 years, recently ordered around 40,000 rockets to be secretly shipped to Russia.

Egypt, one of the U.S.'s closest allies and a recipient of close to $100 billion in U.S. aid over the last 50 years, recently ordered around 40,000 rockets to be secretly shipped to Russia

A portion of the top secret Feb. 17 document contained purported conversations with President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi of Egypt and senior military officials referencing plans to also supply Russia with artillery rounds and gun powder, according to the Washington Post.

Sisi instructed officials to keep the production and shipment under wraps 'to avoid problems with the West.'

The document was part of a trove of images of secret and top secret files posted on February and March on gamer chat app Discord.

Egypt has remained neutral throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict of the past year.

A U.S. official said U.S. intelligence is 'not aware of any execution' of the plan for Egypt to sell arms to Russia.

In response to questions about the document, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesman for Egypts Foreign Ministry said that 'Egypts position from the beginning is based on noninvolvement in this crisis and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides, while affirming Egypts support to the U.N. charter and international law in the U.N. General Assembly resolutions.'

'We continue to urge both parties to cease hostilities and reach a political solution through negotiations,' he said.

Meanwhile, 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
After being placed on life support he was given a one percent change of survival

He is on the 'road to recovery' and now suing the Kappa Sigma frat for damages

Former San Diego State University student Benjamin Brennan was 'almost killed' during a hazing ritual in 2021 in which he allegedly drank 750 ml of rum in 30m

A San Diego State University student who alleges he was 'almost killed' during a hazing ritual is suing Kappa Sigma fraternity and nine former members.

Benjamin Brennan has alleged in a lawsuit that he was left in a coma as a 19-year-old freshman after being forced to drink 750ml of rum in 30 minutes as part of a pledge in April 2021.

His unconscious body was then left in a car in a hospital parking lot by frat members who drove off without having him admitted, a complaint filed on Thursday states.

Brennan was discovered by hospital staff, put on life support and given a one percent chance of survival, according to the lawsuit. He 'miraculously' survived but two years later, aged 21, remains on a 'difficult road to recovery'.

He is now seeking an unspecified amount in damages from the fraternity, which was suspended from the school in 2020 after separate reports of hazing and the forced consumption of alcohol. The chapter was expelled altogether in 2022.

Benjamin Brennan alleged in a lawsuit that he was left in a coma as a 19-year-old freshman at San Diego State University while pledging to join Kappa Sigma fraternity

He is now seeking an unspecified amount in damages from the fraternity, which was suspended from the school in 2020 and expelled altogether in 2022

The complaint names the national Kappa Sigma fraternity, its defunct San Diego State University chapter, as well as several of its suspended members.

'He can't work, and we don't know if he'll be able to. He can't go back to school now. All those types of damages, and all the emotional distress damages he's going to suffer,' his lawyer James Frantz told ABC7.

'There was a 750ml bottle of Captain Morgan rum. He was instructed, he was commanded to drink it all. And, they provided tobacco and marijuana, and he was supposed to consume that as well,' he added.

'Despite doctors' giving Brennan less than a one percent chance of surviving, Brennan miraculously survived and is on a very long and difficult road to recovery,' reads the lawsuit.

'He can't work, and we don't know if he'll be able to. He can't go back to school now,' his lawyer James Frantz (pictured) told ABC7

'Pre-incident, Ben was everyone's favorite guy. He lit up a room,' his sister, Kaitlin Brennan, told ABC7. 'Now, it feels like we're getting to know a new Ben.'

On April 16, 2021, Brennan was pledging to join the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

It is alleged in the suit that on arriving to the frat house his cell phone and car keys were taken from him, preventing him from either leaving the house or documenting what was going to happen to him that evening.

In addition to drinking rum, he was also ordered to smoke potent tobacco which was 'much stronger than that found in normal cigarettes', according to the lawsuit.

Around an hour and a half after he lost consciousness, Brennan was put in a vehicle and transported to a hospital, where he was allegedly left. Frat members failed 'to provide any information whatsoever that could have assisted the hospital's efforts to treat him.'

The lawsuit states: 'Brennan was dumped from the car... in the entryway of the emergency department of the hospital.

'Defendants drove away... without facilitating [his] admission into the hospital in any manner whatsoever, or without facilitating any medical care or medical attention to [him].'

The lawsuit also claims that frat members conspired and tried to cover up what had happened by telling investigators they had nothing to do with it.

Brennan was eventually found in his car, vomiting and 'not protecting his airway'. He was immediately placed on life support and given a one percent chance of survival due to a blood alcohol level of 0.489.

San Diego State University told FOX 5 San Diego in a statement that it 'does not have a comment on the lawsuit, in which it is not named.'

'These boys just abandoned their brother and left him for dead. That's not brotherhood,' his mother, Lindsay Gibson, told ABC7.

San Diego State University told FOX 5 San Diego in a statement that it 'does not have a comment on the lawsuit, in which it is not named'.

'However, the university can speak to its ongoing approach to educate students in an effort to mitigate behavioral and other issues within our SDSU community.' it said.

'Kappa Sigma was suspended from SDSU in 2020 and expelled in 2022. The chapter appealed the university's decision earlier this year, and the university has upheld the expulsion. The chapter is not an approved, recognized student organization (RSO), and has not been since May 2020.'
Homeowners in the city of Portland, Oregon say a group of homeless people have built their own makeshift shacks overlooking the scenic Willamette River without any planning permission.

The rickety cabins and tents have been built on a patch of dirt that is considered no-man's land and situated next to the Union Pacific rail yard.

But for those living across the river who have paid up to one million dollars for what should be beautiful uninterrupted views, the setups are a blight on the landscape.

One of the main problems is that the area is challenging to reach and as it is not directly on land owned by the rail yard, it's unclear who is in charge of the shoreline.

Some property records show a portion of the beach does in fact belong to the rail yard but there appears to be little to no inclination to intervene.

Homeowners in Portland, Oregon are complaining about a group of people who have built makeshift cabins and tents on a patch of dirt overlooking the river

From the other side of the river bank, the luxury apartment blocks and also be seen clearly

Views of what seem to be encampments along the banks of the Willamette River in Portland

The settlement sit on a very thing strip of land between the river and rail yard

The strip of land, seen far left, is so thin there are no clear signs as to whom it belongs to

Cabins have been set up on a no-man's land that is challenging to access

Tents have also been erected but it is unclear who is responsible for the shoreline

Larry Purtle and Ric Scaramella have been watching people set up about nine makeshift cabins across from their own condo for the past five years and say they've complained to authorities about 40 times.

The couple say they are 'concerned' about the people living in the cabins and worried about pollution going into the river.

'These are not tents. These are structures. Pretty much everyone comes back and says that they don't have jurisdiction because it's Union Pacific, it's a railroad,' Scaramella said to KOIN.

The community of cabins which are built out of driftwood appear almost slum-like with no bathroom facilities or running water - yet some have solar panels to provide power to the inhabitants. Garbage has been left strewn along the shore.

One of those living in the cabins is Paula who prefers it to being in a shelter.

'There's a few shelters I like. They would have been great, except for the no drugs thing. That sucks. I don't think drugs are my problem,' Paula told KOIN News.

'I think my problem is I have no place to wash my hair and go to the bathroom.'

Larry Purtle and Ric Scaramella, have raised concerns about pollution and the lack of facilities for those living in the area but nobody is taking responsibility

Purtle and Scaramella live in luxury apartments across the river want authorities to take charge

Garbage has been left strewn along the shoreline with nobody taking responsibility

The settlers appear to have been making homes for themselves for the last five year

The area has also become something of a dumping ground

A map showing where homeless camps have been reported across the city of Portland - with plenty dotted along the river

Recently, the City of Portland, the Oregon Department of State Lands, the Oregon Marine Board, Metro, and the Port of Portland pulled out 10 tons of debris and two abandoned boats from the area called Lindbergh's Beach, owned by the Port of Portland.

Union Pacific spokesperson Daryl Bjoraas said when it comes to ownership of the land, it is complicated.

'This area is particularly challenging to enforce, because cabins are near the water's edge. Under Ordinary High Water Mark common law, the boundary separating public land from private land is determined by natural fluctuations of the water, making it a legal gray area,' Bjoraas explained.

Similarly, the Oregon Department of State Lands, which regulates rivers, is also taking a hands-off approach to the issue.

'The bad news is, at this point, it's hard to say if we have a role. Where public ownership of the riverbed/bank ends and upland ownership begins is complicated,' a spokesperson said.

Multnomah County funds non-profit organizations that provide outreach with homeless people but it is unclear if those living in the cabins have been spoken to.

'There's a few shelters I like. They would have been great, except for the no drugs thing. That sucks. I don't think drugs are my problem,' one woman called Paula, living in a cabin KOIN News. 'I think my problem is I have no place to wash my hair and go to the bathroom.'

Homelessness - as seen on the Oregon river

Some of the cabins even appear to have solar panels to provide electricity

Those living across the river now have views of shoreline wasteland

Workers with the Willamette Riverkeeper nonprofit group clean up garbage along the banks of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. Photos of the trash posted June 2022.

There are huge amount of trash littered along the banks of the river in Portland

What appears to be a pleasant strip of woodland actually contains a lot of junk left by the inhabitants of the makeshift settlements

The riverside camps are just the latest issue to blight Portland which has been suffering from rising crime and homeless camps - which have spread from downtown and into the suburbs, pushing out countless businesses and residents.

Dilapidated RVs are used by homeless people throughout the city, and are often spotted parked near encampments.

The Democratic city has one of the most deserted downtowns in the United States, with soaring crime rates and homelessness scaring away both locals and tourists.

In 2021, there were 90 homicides amid a surge in gun violence, which shattered city's previous record high of 66 set more than three decades ago.

There were 101 murders recorded in 2022 - a new record for the city.

Portland currently has more than 700 homeless encampments across the city within less than 150 square miles.

Some of the most charming, trendy and expensive neighborhoods of the Pacific Northwest city are now overrun with tent cities crowding residential sidewalks and littered with trash.

Portland currently has more than 700 homeless encampments across the city within less than 150 square miles, and the ordeal has also led to skyrocketing crime in the area

Some of the most charming, trendy and expensive neighborhoods of the Pacific Northwest city are now overrun with tent cities crowding residential sidewalks and littered with trash - and the issue is scaring away both locals and tourists

Portland City Council rushed to return funds to the police in November 2021 after defunding them by more than $15 million in 2020. Officials instead voted to add $5.4 million to the force's budget.

When the police was defunded in 2020, the Portland Police Bureau suffered a rush of retirements and resignations.

Portland saw a dramatic increase in shootings and murders after George Floyd's Minneapolis death.

The city saw a 250 percent increase in murders within the first six months of Floyd's death and shootings rose almost 175 per cent.
Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart is taking her cattle empire in a different direction as she offloads millions of hectares of land held by her company S Kidman & Co.

The properties, spread across Queensland and the Northern Territory, were put up for sale in November.

The company said it was turning its attention to expanding its grain-fed Santa Gertrudis and Kidman Premium beef brands which 'utilise a combination of Santa and wagyu genetics'.

S Kidman and Co, which was founded in the late 1800s, has been jointly owned by Mrs Rinehart's Hancock Agriculture and Chinese-owned CRED Pastoral since 2016.

The company confirmed the sale of its stations in Durrie, Naryilco and Glengyle on Tuesday.

It did not confirm a sale price however the Australian Financial Review reported it was around $200million.

Property mogul and Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart (pictured) offloads cattle stations in Durrie, Naryilco and Glengyle and Brunchilly as she moves to diversify her assets

Mrs Rinehart continues to reduce her cattle landholdings with her company S Kidman & Co confirming the sale of four more properties. The move comes after Rinehart sold the 171,000-hectare Willeroo Station for $40 million in 2021 (pictured)

The land sold by Mrs Rinehart is bigger than the size of Denmark, with the properties acquired by the Appleton Cattle Company, with a fourth site, Brunchilly Station in the Northern Territory, purchased by the Harris family.

'The above sales have received all necessary statutory approvals and have settled, with formal handover to the new owners having just occurred,' the company said in a statement.

'The sale of these properties is consistent with S Kidman & Co's strategy of divesting properties where significant investment has improved them by focusing on essential maintenance and specific areas including improved animal welfare and employee safety, the use of technology and innovation and improvements across the herds.'

S Kidman & Co retain four existing properties in Queensland and the Northern Territory but continues to diversify its assets, moving its focus to a blend of Santa Gertrudis and Wagyu cattle - both highly sought-after beef breeds.

The properties cover around two million hectares and are located in Helen Springs in the NT, and Morney Plains, Durham Downs and Rockybank in Queensland.

'S Kidman & Co will further focus on expanding its grain-fed Santa Gertrudis and Kidman Premium beef brands, which utilise a combination of Santa and wagyu genetics and which are served both domestically and internationally in many premium restaurants,' the company statement said.

'The sale of these stations will assist in providing further capital to focus on purchasing and improving other properties for S. Kidman & Co's agricultural operations.'

Spikes in commodity prices has seen Mrs Rinehart cement her spot in 2023 as Australia's wealthiest person, according to the most recent Australian Financial Review rich list

Spikes in commodity prices has seen Mrs Rinehart cement her spot in 2023 as Australia's wealthiest person, according to the most recent Australian Financial Review rich list.

The mining magnate is Australia's biggest landholder but has continued to sell off land in recent years after Hancock Prospecting's financial accounts showed the cattle business is nowhere near as lucrative as the company's main earner, iron ore.

However, Mrs Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting still own several grazing and cropping properties in NSW, Queensland, and Western Australia, and runs one of Australia's largest herds of Fullblood Wagyu cattle.

The mining magnate is Australia's biggest landholder but has continued to sell off land in recent years after Hancock Prospecting's financial accounts showed the cattle business is nowhere near as lucrative as the company's main earner, iron ore (pictured: mine site in WA)

In September 2022, Mrs Rinehart sold around $100 million in assets to local beef producers including the more than 200,000-hectare Nerrima Station in the West Kimberley.

At the start of the year Mrs Rinehart's investment company also listed for sale a 531 sqm Noosa site, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast for $17.2 million after acquiring it in February 2022 for $11.2 million.

It is understood Mrs Rinehart and her associates have close to $75 million worth of sites in the area.

In March 2021, the property mogul put up for sale $300 million worth of properties, consisting of six cattle stations, one feedlot and 110,000 head of cattle, across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, which included the 171,000-hectare Willeroo Station.
A Sydney house narrower than a car space has sold for a staggering $1.3million.

The 44sqm home, located on Avon Street in Glebe, in the city's inner west, previously sold for just $185,000 almost 30 years ago in 1994.

The property - nicknamed 'the dollhouse' boasts views of the city skyline, is barely wider than a 4WD and is half the size of properties considered 'small houses'.

Agent Renae Dickey, from BresicWhitney, told Daily Mail Australia the majority of prospective buyers who came to inspect the home had been shocked by its size.

'A lot of first-time buyers said they loved it but that they wouldn't be able to have many people over or entertain,' she said.

'You can't fit many people. Every space is built for two people max, the backyard, you could maybe fit four but it would be a stretch.'

The 44sqm home, located on Avon Street in Glebe, in Sydney's inner west, previously sold for just $185,000 almost 30 years ago in 1994 and is barely wider than a 4WD

Agent Renae Dickey, from BresicWhitney, told Daily Mail Australia the majority of prospective buyers inspecting the home had been shocked by its size

At least 100 groups came to look at the two-bedroom home, which features a long narrow corridor and a spiral staircase to the upper level.

Ms Dickey said the 44sqm home could 'quite possibly' be the smallest in Glebe but is situated on one of the most sought-after streets in the suburb.

The main bedroom is barely big enough to fit a wardrobe while the second bedroom has just enough room for a small study nook.

The kitchen runs along one side of the home with the 'dining room' - consisting of a small round table and two chairs - is tucked beside the base of the spiral staircase.

The 44sqm home could 'quite possibly' be the smallest in Glebe but is situated on one of the most sought-after streets in the suburb (pictured is the entrance and living room)

The property sold in March for $1,305,000 after just two weeks on the market and was snapped up by a couple who own a 'gigantic dog' (pictured is the front entrance)

Despite referring to the property as a 'doll house', Ms Dickey said she could understand the appeal and wasn't surprised the home sold before auction.

'What carried it is that it's on one of the best streets in Glebe with beautiful city views. It was a very unique little dolls house, this one was special,' she said.

The property sold in March for $1,305,000 after just two weeks on the market and was snapped up by a couple who own a 'gigantic dog'.

Ms Dickey said come Easter time, people searching for their 'dream' home were fatigued, especially if they had been making offers since the end of 2022.

Some prospective buyers at the auction had missed out on the 10th home they had bid on, as Sydney's property market becomes increasingly competitive.

Professor Nicole Gurran, expert in urban planning and housing affordability, previously told Daily Mail Australia: 'Young people who've abandoned hope of getting on the housing ladder are right to feel aggrieved.

The main bedroom (pictured) is barely big enough to fit a wardrobe while the second bedroom has just enough room for a small study nook

'They've been let down by an unfair system which supports landlords rather than renters and existing home owners over those trying to break into the market.'

Professor Gurran said the Australian government could do more to help young people have a fair chance of getting on the housing ladder.

'They have ignored three decades of research evidence on how to make the housing system fairer and more efficient,' she said.

'While recent promises of a national housing plan and increased social and affordable supply are important, obvious and immediate measures.

'Things like increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance; reforming the private rental sector; and requiring new housing developments to include affordable homes to buy and rent  continue to be overlooked.'
A six-year-old girl is recovering in hospital with abdominal and chest injuries after being dragged over a fence and attacked by two bullmastiff dogs.

Laquarna Chapman Palmer from Woodridge, south of Brisbane, was taken to Queensland Children's Hospital on Monday afternoon, where she remains in a serious condition.

She was playing on a fence when one of her neighbour's dogs jumped at her and pulled her over the fence. Two dogs then mauled her.

Her uncle, Reece Chapman, heard her screams and quickly came to her rescue, but suffered injuries himself in the process.

Laquarna Chapman Palmer, six, from Woodridge, south of Brisbane, was taken to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane on Monday afternoon where she remains in a serious condition

Both dogs, who were not registered, have been taken by Logan City Council and are set to be put down today.

After being bitten by the dog, Mr Chapman needed ten stitches to his legs and is now on crutches.

'I thought she was dead,' he told 7News.

She was playing on a fence when one her neighbour's dogs jumped at her and pulled her over the fence. Two dogs then mauled her, one dog is pictured

'I just heard my mother screaming in panic and ended up jumping the fence to help her.

'One of the dogs was going to attack her face. I threw a chair at the dog.

'I tried chucking her over the fence, then I ended up getting mauled by the dogs.'

Her mother has remained by her side in hospital, and says she is 'doing okay'.

Both dogs, who were not registered, have been taken by Logan City Council and are set to be put down today

The family said that the neighbours were 'nice' and they hold no hostility towards them.

Regional Acting Deputy Commission Mark Wheeler said the 'absolutely horrendous' and is being investigated by police.

'So obviously our thoughts are with the young girl, her family and the friends, and we wish her a speedy recovery,' Mr Wheeler said.
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Flats have black mould and a long list of maintenance problems, tenants say

A landlord is living a life of luxury with his social media star wife while raising rents for tenants by up to 70 per cent.

Denis Sinilov celebrated Christmas with an enormous Christmas tree in the middle of his expansive family home and takes regular lavish holidays.

Photos show the property developer and his wife Svetlana Sinilova on a luxury resort in the Maldives and another to a different beach paradise.

Ms Sinilova, an influencer, famously holidayed at $4,000-a-night resort Kokomo Private Island in Fiji at the same time as PR queen Roxy Jacenko in 2018.

Meanwhile, tenants at a block of flats he owns in Tamarama, in Sydney's east, say they are living with black mould, crumbling cabinets, and poorly maintained facilities.

Denis Sinilov and his influencer wife Svetlana Sinilova enjoy a life of luxury while his tenants say they endure black mould and crumbling units - and he raises their rent by up to 70 per cent

Mr Sinilov bought the property in Tamarama, in Sydney's east, for about $15 million in October 21 and tenants claimed since then maintenance sharply declined

Despite the conditions his tenants says they live in, Mr Sinilov, is suddenly raising the rent of every unit at the Pacific View building.

One tenant said his rent jumped 65 per cent from $670 a week to $1,100, another from $630 to $850, and others from $630 to $1,100.

All nine tenants are challenging the rent hikes at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, claiming they are 'unethical and untenable', with the first case to be heard on Wednesday.

The cases will be heard against the building's property manager Cohen Farquharson, run by Luxe Listings star Simon Cohen.

'It took all of five minutes for everyone to band together and decide to push back on this,' one tenant said.

'I don't know if we'll be able to stay, and if not, where to.'

Mr Sinilov bought the property for about $15 million in October 21 through his Infinity 10 company and tenants claimed since then maintenance sharply declined.

Photos show the property developer and his wife Svetlana Sinilova (left) on a luxury resort in the Maldives, and Ms Sinilova at a $4,000-a-night resort in Fiji (right)

The tenants didn't have their rent raised in the four years before the sudden hike, and with apartment rent rising 24 per cent in the past year one was expected.

But they claimed the increases were unjustified due to the state of the units, which they say are plagued by black mould and in a poor state of repair.

Windows leak, cabinets are falling apart, paint is flaking off, and some tenants report problems with their hot water.

Mr Sinilov, who also owns commercial fitout firm Metric Interiors, applied to the local council to radically redevelop the 650sqm site last year but later deferred the request.

Then the enormous rent increased suddenly arrived in his tenants' letterboxes.

Tenants can appeal rent hikes that are not in line with market rates, and the tribunal will take into account the age and condition of the property and what similar ones cost.

Nine tenants are challenging Mr Sinilov's rent hikes at the NSW State Administrative Tribunal, claiming they are 'unethical and untenable'

Denis Sinilov celebrated Christmas with an enormous Christmas tree in the middle of his expansive family home and takes regular lavish holidays

Mr Sinilov could not be reached for comment and Cohen Farquharson only provided media with a statement.

'It is part of our role as leasing agents to provide an assessment of the rental market to help our clients determine if they are receiving rents in line with current market conditions,' it said.

'Ultimately, it is the landlord's decision as to what rental increases are passed on to the tenant.

'Even in this rental market, large rental increases are atypical, so when you do see them it is often because tenants have not received regular year-on-year increases for an extended period of time.'
All South Australian prisons have been placed into lockdown as correctional officers take action against staff shortages.

The lockdown is expected to last most of Tuesday with striking workers saying it is targeted at cutbacks and a lack of action over staffing shortages.

The PSA union says their complaints are at the previous government's policies - but add that the current Labor government have taken no action over staffing levels since being elected.

It says the shortages have led to unreasonable workloads and increased overtime for officers.

They have also led to drug-testing backlogs, a decrease in out-of-cell time for prisoners and reduced rehab opportunities.

Lockdown of South Australia's prisons is expected to last most of Tuesday with striking workers saying it is targeted at cutbacks and a lack of action over staffing shortages

PSA general secretary Natasha Brown explained how 'critical' roles in each prison had been by the former government's 'Better Prisons' policy.

The union is now calling for those roles to be reinstated and has prepared a 'Safer Prisons' proposal that was presented to government in December and again last month.

'The action today is an indication of how serious our members' concerns are, and reflects the sheer frustration our members feel,' Ms Brown said.

'The PSA developed a detailed proposal outlining how modest increases in, and reallocation of, staffing could result in a more efficient prison system that is safer for both staff and prisoners.

'Our realistic, practical and achievable plan for better and safer prisons in South Australia is based on the vast and expert experience of our members who work in prisons every day.

'Our members are calling for a small number of staff to be deployed into key roles specific to each prison site to ensure the safe and efficient operation of those prisons.

'The Department and the Minister have essentially dismissed our members' concerns and have so far refused to consider, let alone commit to, any of the changes we have proposed.

Unions claims staff shortages have led to unreasonable workloads and increased overtime for officers

'The Department and Minister have ignored our consistent calls since June last year to review the consequences of the previous government's discredited job slashing policy.'

In response to the lockdown, Correctional Services Minister Joe Szakacs said the issues raised by the union were 'ongoing' and the lockdown wouldn't affect 'operational safety'.

'As far as I've been briefed, there are some out-of-cell restrictions that will occur today but otherwise operational safety hasn't been compromised at all,' he said.

'We can only do so much responding in a timely way but that's exactly what we are doing  we are responding, and the department is responding, in a timely way.

'Where there is opportunity to recruit more, particularly with existing budgets, everything is on the table and that's, up to six or seven days ago, the face-to-face conversations I was having with the PSA.'

Regarding claims of a backlog in drug testing because of staff shortages, Mr Szakacs said he did not have any information about the issue.

He said 3600 drug tests were undertaken last year amid Covid restrictions, and another 1000 have been undertaken since January.
Delivery start-up MilkRun has announced it will close its doors and make all staff and riders redundant, becoming another victim of Australia's economic squeeze triggered by inflation and rising interest rates.

Company founder Dany Milham sent an email to its 400 workers on Tuesday informing them the delivery service would be closing for good by the end of the week.

'I'm writing to let you know that we have made the difficult decision to wind down the business, and as a result, MilkRun will cease trading this Friday,' Mr Milham wrote.

Entrepreneur Mr Milham, the co-founder of popular mattress-in-a-box brand Koala, founded the grocery start-up in 2021.

It serviced select suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne, promising rapid delivery of food and essentials.

MilkRun appeared to have a promising future after Mr Milham closed one of the largest early-stage venture capital raisings in Australian history, securing $75million for the company in 2022.

Major delivery company MilkRun has announced it will close its doors and make all staff and riders redundant

The CEO blamed tough economic and capital conditions for the decision to close MilkRun.

'Since we announced our structural changes in February, economic and capital market conditions have continued to deteriorate, and while the business has continued to perform well, we feel strongly that this is the right decision in the current environment,' he wrote in the email.

Who is Dany Milham? Dany Milham is the co-founder of mattress company Koala and the brains behind grocery delivery app MilkRun. He is estimated to have a net worth of around $150million. Mr Milham was born in Byron Bay, on the NSW north coast. His first entrepreneurial endeavour was building gaming computers and selling them at the age of 13. Mr Milham then went on to work for Mude Creative before he then co-founding Koala in 2015. He is regarded as one of the most successful and high-profile start-up owners in NSW. Advertisement

Mr Milham reassured staff they would be paid severance packages.

'We've always been committed to doing things the right way, and winding down the business while we still have a sufficient cash balance enables us to ensure our people and suppliers are paid in full.'

There have been signs of trouble at MilkRun for some time. Just weeks ago, the company announced it was slashing 20 per cent of its workforce.

'With economic and market conditions changing rapidly, we need to get ahead of the curve and evolve the way we operate to fit the current environment and extend our runway,' Mr Milham wrote to a letter addressed to staff two months ago.

'This means making some structural changes and some tough decisions that will unfortunately impact some of our people.'

MilkRun was launched in 2021 and became one of the first companies to offer ultra-fast delivery to customer's homes.

It promised to deliver groceries, alcohol and other supplies to the doorstep in as little as 20 minutes.

MilkRun was able to deliver its products quickly as it maintained a number of warehouses, known as 'dark stores', around the area.

They were stocked with 2,000 products making it easy for staff and riders to quickly collect the orders and distribute them.

The company had serviced more than 50 suburbs across Sydney and 26 suburbs in Melbourne.

Company founder Dany Milham sent an email to its 400 workers informing them the delivery service would be shutting up shop for good by the end of the week

MilkRun was launched in 2021 and became one of the first companies to offer ultra-fast delivery to customer's homes

The start-up had been supported by the tech giant founders of Atlassian, billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar.

Last June, Mr Milham apologised to customers who complained they had failed to receive their orders within the promised 20 minute timeframe.

Mr Milham admitted the company had experienced an 'unacceptable' decline in service.

'There have been a number of factors which have, at times, led to an unacceptable decline in our delivery experience in busy periods,' he wrote.

'These included ongoing Covid cases affecting the availability of riders and hub staff, record rainfall in Sydney, and the challenges involved with scaling a fully employed workforce faster than anyone has ever tried before.'

The problems became more pronounced eight months later when Mr Milham laid off a substantial part of the workforce - and culminated with his email today.
A woman found dead in a pool of blood inside her home has been identified as a special strike force investigates the Easter tragedy.

Emergency services were called to a unit in Merrylands in western Sydney late Sunday night in relation to welfare concerns for a woman.

When police arrived at the address, they found the body of the woman who has since been identified as Erin Gilbert, 42.

A crime scene was established, which was extensively examined by specialist forensic police on Monday.

A man, 38, believed to be Ms Gilbert's husband, who also lived at the home, spoke to police and was released without charge.

Detectives have launched Strike Force Trevelyan to get to the bottom of the tragedy, and are set to hold a press conference this afternoon.

Police released a photo of Erin Gilbert(pictured) as a strike force investigation into her death in Merrylands was launched

Ms Gilbert's body has been discovered face down in a pool of blood inside a unit block (forensic police pictured)

Police shared a photo of Ms Gilbert on behalf of her grieving family who have requested privacy.

It's believed Ms Gilbert's body was found on a bed and the incident is being treated as a homicide.

Forensic officers swarmed the unit block on Monday, and were seen taking swabs of the metal balcony railing and the inside of the doorway.

A rainbow, round rug hung over the railing, while the balcony was cluttered by other items, including a telescope, a wooden jewellery box and a number of plastic tubs.

The group, dressed in blue hazmat suits, sealed a number of items from the home into brown evidence bags as uniformed officers watched on.

One bag was marked 'mascara found next to deceased on bed in bedroom', and stacked against the wall of the unit block with at least five others.

Strike Force Trevelyan has been set up to investigate Erin Gilbert's death. Pictured are police at the crime scene on Monday

Officers were also seen closely inspecting the open entrance area under the apartment, with one holding a bloodsoaked sock.

It's understood sheets and a doona in the home were also stained with blood.

Police have established a crime scene at the address, and investigations are underway to determine the woman's cause of death.
The grief-stricken husband of a woman who was found face down in a pool of blood inside their home has broken his silence, as a strike force is formed to investigate her gruesome death.

Paramedics were called to a unit in Merrylands in western Sydney late on Easter Sunday after the lifeless body of Erin Gilbert, 42, was found by her husband, Nic, in their living room.

Mr Gilbert performed CPR and paramedics rushed to try and revive her, however, she could not be saved.

Mr Gilbert assisted police with their inquiries on Sunday evening and has been released without charge.

Mr Gilbert has since taken to Facebook to pay tribute to his late wife, updating his bio to say: 'I was broken and then I found my best, my better half.

'Without you bub... I love you'.

In a twist, an earlier gushing post - published in May 2019 and dedicated to Ms Gilbert and their pet cat Bonnie - featured a hint that someone had tried to 'come between them.'

Erin Gilbert's lifeless body was found in pool of blood by her husband Nic at their Merrylands home. Pictured are the couple on their wedding day

Ms Gilbert's body was discovered face down in a pool of blood inside a unit block (forensic police pictured)

'They are my world and with out them I would be lost,' Mr Gilbert wrote.

'To the horrible fake lonely person who keep trying to come between us, well I suppose thank you for reminding us that we are so deeply in love that no matter what games you try play or how good at them you may be you will not come between us.

'And the day you do I promise you there will be no God to protect you from me!'

Mr Gilbert that same year spoke of lovingly of his future wife, saying: 'I fell in love because after getting to know you, I realised I wanted to make you a permanent part of my world.'

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Gilbert or the unknown 'lonely person' is responsible for Ms Gilbert's death.

The couple were both known to police for 'minor matters'.

Detectives have launched Strike Force Trevelyan to get to the bottom of what happened in Ms Gilbert's final hours at her home on Sunday night.

'Definitely we believe something's happened on Sunday night ... when police arrived, she hadn't been passed away for long,' Cumberland Police Superintendent Andrew Holland told reporters on Tuesday.

'Erin was at home in her unit block that evening ... we are aware that neighbours have heard her at the unit block, she's been speaking that night.

'We're just concerned somebody else may have been at the unit block with her.'

'We need to know what happened, who was there.'

The Facebook page of Erin Gilbert's husband is filled with gushing tributes to her

Erin Gilbert's husband (pictured with Erin) has been interviewed by police and released without charge

Forensic officers used a ladder to scour for clues on Erin's unit balcony

Supt Holland revealed her husband made the triple-0 call, and has been 'very forthcoming' with police during their inquiries.

He added Ms Gilbert's family has requested privacy and that her partner is well known in the local community.

No one has been ruled in or out as a suspect. 'Anyone who has lost a daughter can only imagine how difficult it is for (the family),' Supt Holland said.

'People don't realise that something they saw days earlier could be a useful piece of information.

'We need to get a timeline of what took place before the incident.'

It's understood the couple moved to Merrylands seven months ago.

'I knew her and her husband, they were pretty quiet people,' a shocked neighbour told the Daily Telegraph.

'I sew and she came to me and asked if I could teach her how to sew, so we were going to do that.'

Erin and her partner were dating when he shared this gushing post in 2019

He also hinted at the time that someone had been trying to come between he and Erin

Forensic police collected a blood-stained sock at the crime scene to be taken away

A crime scene was established was extensively examined by specialist forensic police on Monday.

Forensic officers swarmed the Newman Street unit block and were seen taking swabs from the railing of the balcony and inside the doorway.

A rainbow, round rug hung over the railing, while the balcony was cluttered by other items, including a telescope, a wooden jewellery box and a number of plastic tubs.

Forensic officers dressed in blue hazmat suits, sealed a number of items from the home into brown evidence bags as uniformed officers watched on.

Erin Gilbert and her partner (pictured) had been together for at least four years

One bag was marked 'mascara found next to deceased on bed in bedroom', and stacked against the wall of the unit block with at least five others.

Officers were also seen closely inspecting the open entrance area under the apartment, with one holding a blood-soaked sock.

It's understood sheets and a doona in the home were also stained with blood.

Police have established a crime scene at the address, and investigations are underway to determine the woman's cause of death.

Police released a photo of Erin Gilbert (pictured) as a strike force investigation into her death was launched on Tuesday

Strike Force Trevelyan has been set up to investigate Erin Gilbert's death. Pictured are police at the Newman Street crime scene on Monday
A pair of senior-care nurse aides are currently facing felony charges - for filming themselves mistreating a dementia-stricken patient for followers on social media.

The disturbing video shows Shy'Tiona Bishop, 20, and 18-year-old Jada Harris, terrorizing the female senior at an assisted living center in Northeastern Florida, laughing and mocking her throughout.

The footage was livestreamed on one of the staffers' Instagram accounts on April 3, and was subsequently aired during a press conference presided over by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office Monday.

The unnamed senior - since confirmed to be a dementia patient at the Melbourne facility - can be heard screaming as the pair repeatedly joke and laugh at the camera and ignore the woman's cries.

At one point, the staffers purposely block the woman from entering her bathroom, and begrudgingly help her put on a pair of pants while complaining about being forced to look after the senior. Both women have since been fired.

Disturbing video aired by cops Monday shows 18-year-old Jada Harris (left) and Shy'Tiona Bishop, 20, terrorizing a female senior at an assisted living center in Northeastern Florida

'I'm sorry, yeah. She is embarrassing,' Harris can be heard saying in the clip, which was livestreamed on April 3, and subsequently aired during a press conference presided over by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office on Monday

'I'm sorry, yeah. She is embarrassing,' Harris can be heard saying in the clip, which Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey slammed as 'disgusting' Monday after announcing the charges against the duo, who have since been relieved from their posts at the old folks home.

Chiding the women for their behavior, Ivey also decried the state for setting both of the suspects' bond at $6,000 or less, with Bishop's only set at $4,000 despite the range of offenses.

The meeting saw the sheriff unveil the elderly abuse case for the first time, after receiving a tip from someone working at the facility, identified Monday as Market Street Viera in Melbourne, about the April 3 livestream and a week of investigations.

'I'm disgusted,' Ivey said during the meeting, which was also livestreamed.

'The perpetrators in this case are not only disgusting but they are vile individuals who live-streamed themselves abusing one of our elderly citizens who suffers from dementia.'

He continued 'Abusing an elderly person or abusing anyone is disgusting enough, but to make matters even worse, they livestreamed the abuse.

'They actually put it up on a livestream platform so that their friends could watch it, laugh about it as they mocked this elderly person in her condition.'

The ensuing snippets laid bare the aforementioned behavior, and showed how followers of Harris's account laughed along with the retirement home aides as they abused their elderly mark.

The footage was livestreamed on Harris' account on April 3, and has since seen both women fired and jailed for felony elderly abuse

The unnamed senior - since confirmed to be a dementia patient at the Melbourne facility - can be heard screaming as the pair repeatedly joke to the camera and ignore the woman's cries

At one point, the staffers purposely block the woman from entering her bathroom, and begrudgingly help her put on a pair of pants while complaining about being forced to look after the senior. Both women have since been fired

The footage showed how followers of Harris's account laughed along with the retirement home aides as they abused their elderly mark

'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,' Ivey reiterated.

The sheriff further revealed the initial tip pointing to the livestream - which was still up at the time - came from a staff member at Market Street Memory who noticed the elderly woman seemed to be distressed the day after the video was filmed.

Officials added the patient had been living at the facility since August 2022, and praised the facility for correctly contacting law enforcement as soon as they became wise to the footage, and firing the two employees immediately after.

Ivey, however, would go on to criticize Florida lawmakers for hitting the duo with relatively relaxed bonds given the extent of their offenses.

'Sadly the bond is only $6,000 for Jada and $4,000 for Shy,' Ivey said, visibly exasperated. 'Please know, a lot of times well get about the bonds too low and I agree, it is truly too low.'

He added: 'Unfortunately, the state sets the bond limits when theyre first arrested. They dont let us do it because I can tell you if they let me do it, the bond would be when hell freezes over when these two get out.'

According to local lockup records, both women remain incarcerated, and have not yet made bail. They were seen being led away by cops from the retirement facility over the weekend, which bills itself as a 'luxury elderly care facility.'

Harris seen being arrested by cops after being fired from the retirement facility, which bills itself as a 'luxury elderly care facility'. The 18-year-old is also facing additional charges of aggravated abuse and interception and disclosure of wire, oral or electronic communications

Bishop, 20, was arrested on similar charges, including video voyeurism along with abuse and neglect of an older person

The facility said in a statement after the pair's arrest Sunday: 'We are shocked and horrified to learn of this incident of elder abuse at the hands of two individuals who were trusted to provide care for a vulnerable resident of our facility.'

'We take this situation very seriously and took immediate action to terminate the two individuals involved in this incident. The behavior depicted in the video footage live streamed by these two people is abhorrent and will not be tolerated."

Staffers went on to insist that the two axes employees' actions had gone unseen until the livestream, and goes against the facility's standards.

'Our mission is to welcome, care, and serve our elders. Our facility should stand as a beacon of quality senior living, where a sense of family is created by servant leaders. What occurred in this incident goes against our facility standards in every possible way,' the retirement home's statement, adding the victim had no injuries.

'We are grateful to report that the victim did not suffer any physical injuries, and is being provided with every comfort and care.'

The facility said they are currently working with the victim and her family, and are still cooperating with local law enforcement.

They said: 'Our hearts go out to the victim and her family, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.'
Last year the counties that are home to LA, Chicago and New York City suffered the largest exodus of people in the country - while tens of thousands flocked to Arizona, Texas and Florida.

Los Angeles County, which is still the most populous in the US, saw an average of 143,000 people leave between July 2021 and July 2022, according to the latest US Census data.

It was followed by Cook County, home to Chicago, which lost around 94,000 people to other parts of the country. Three of New York City's counties - Kings, Queens and the Bronx - were all among the top five counties facing a mass migration.

On the other hand, Maricopa County in Arizona, home to Phoenix, had the largest influx of domestic migrants, around 33,000.

It was followed closely by Collin County in Texas, and Polk County in Florida, which sits between Orlando and Tampa.

Last year the counties that are home to LA, Chicago and New York City suffered the largest negative migration of people in the country. Maricopa County in Arizona, home to Phoenix, had the greatest influx

About a third of the entire US homeless population - 171,521 people - is in California, and LA is the state's hotspot, with 65,111

The five counties which lost the most residents are all located in high-tax states, namely California, Illinois and New York.

By contrast, counties experiencing the largest influx of people were in Arizona, Texas and Florida, where taxes are significantly lower.

Population change is driven by migration, both within the US and due to the arrival of people from other countries. It also depends on whether births outpace deaths. Domestic migration figures are concerned only with internal migrants.

Although LA County lost people to domestic migration, it did see people arriving from abroad, gaining almost 34,000 last year.

California has been hit worst by homelessness, and LA is at the center of that crisis. About a third of the entire US homeless population - 171,521 people - is in California and LA hosts around 65,000.

In general the population of counties in Florida and Texas increased significantly between July 2021 and July 2022

Homelessness on 1st Avenue between 20th and 21st street in Manhattan, New York

Chicago followed a very similar trend to LA. While it lost massively to domestic migration it recovered some of its numbers by way of international migration - it was the fifth-most popular destination for people arriving from other countries.

The city's population problems could get even worse, however, if its mayor-elect Brandon Johnson's tax proposals become reality, Illinois Policy reported.

One of Johnsons key campaign platforms is to drastically raise taxes on what he calls 'the suburbs, airlines and ultra-rich'. It could mean more businesses and people fleeing the city.

Kings County in New York, which encompasses Brooklyn, lost nearly 47,000 people, but the decline was almost half that of the previous year.

The county of 2.5 million residents had a solid natural increase and healthy international migration, but more than 77,000 residents in total left.

In contrast, Phoenix retained its popularity among both domestic and international migrants. Maricopa County grew by almost 57,000 new residents and now has a population of 4.5 million people.
A child rapist serving a jail term for a raft of vile sex offences has claimed he has been discriminated against for having to share a prison cell.

Jason Daron Mizner told a civil tribunal his 'impairments' meant he was not suitable for shared accommodation at Queensland's Wolston Correctional Centre - something he said amounted to 'indirect discrimination' on the state's part.

On Tuesday he gave evidence he suffered from sleep disturbances, describing how he could be woken up by something as simple as another inmate turning the prison's common room lights on.

'If they did that, the light fluctuation would wake me up,' Mizner, a former Gold Coast yoga teacher, said.

He claimed shared cells were 'full of conflict' that triggered traumatic flashbacks to his prior incarceration in a Thailand prison.

Child rapist Jason Daron Mizner (pictured) gave evidence he suffered from sleep disturbances, describing how he could be woken up by something as simple as another inmate turning the prison's common room lights on

Mizner told a civil tribunal his 'impairments' meant he was not suitable for shared accommodation at Queensland's Wolston Correctional Centre (pictured)

'You're not seriously suggesting being in a shared cell at Wolston is in any equivalent to what you say you experienced in Thailand, are you?' Chris Murdoch KC, acting for the State of Queensland, asked.

'It triggers a similar response, yes,' Mizner answered.

The 48-year-old has launched discrimination action against the state of Queensland, claiming he was discriminated against over the prison's decision to keep him in shared cell accommodation despite his multiple impairments.

He further claims his human rights have been violated because of the decision not to include him on the prison's Do Not Double Up list.

But in his submissions Mr Murdoch said Mizner was not discriminated against, saying any triggers within the prison occurred 'regardless' of his cell arrangements.

Mr Murdoch also pointed to the support available within the correctional centre and that prisoners could request to be placed on the prison's Do Not Double Up list.

'There's a disconnect in this case,' he said.

'There were criteria in place, there was an option to be on the Double Up list ... the allocations are monitored and reviewed.'

Mizner is currently serving a 19-year jail term for a raft of child-sex offences.

He spent 11 years in a Thai prison before he was deported to Australia in 2018 and charged by police.

During Tuesday's hearing before the Queensland Civil Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), he said he was sensitive to sleep disturbances that ranged from external noises to his 'anxiety level or traumatic mood fluctuations'.

Mizner said during cross-examination he would be woken up by people 'going about their business' in the common area, even if they 'turned the lights on'.

He said noise levels were higher in shared cells and would cover the edge of his bed with blankets and wrap a towel around his head to stop 'light fluctuations'.

'It reduces feelings of intrusion and sensations on my skin,' Mizner said.

'Inmates in Thai prisons almost all do the same thing because we're forced to sleep on fluorescent lights ... it constantly wakes you up.

'I didn't experience natural darkness for 11 years.'

Mizner said he would have 'panic attacks' if there were sudden changes in light, such as when the cell lights were suddenly turned on or off.

But he rejected suggestions he was a light sleeper.

He also rejected suggestions from Mr Murdoch that no-one in the prison said he couldn't ask to share a cell with someone of his choice.

'That's assuming they wanted to share with me and if their lifestyle was suitable to mine,' Mizner said.

'I don't want to share a cell with someone, that's traumatic.'

Mr Murdoch suggested to Mizner he had a preference to have his own cell and he was running this litigation to 'achieve' his preference while 'overstating' his medical conditions.

'I'm not overstating it; if anything I have trouble explaining how severe my condition is,' he answered.

The tribunal was told Mizner had difficulty convincing authorities he had been 'tortured' while serving time in a Thai prison.

He claimed he felt he was 'gaslighted' and flagged he would complain about his treatment.

The 48-year-old has launched discrimination action against the state of Queensland, claiming he was discriminated against over the prison's decision to keep him in shared cell accommodation despite his multiple impairments

The tribunal was told Mizner had worked in crowded workshop areas of the prison - at times for up to 18 months - but found it 'distressing'.

He said he then moved to the prison's textile area, describing the 'white noise' of the workshop's electric circular saws 'incredibly calming'.

Mr Murdoch questioned how Mizner could work in the prison's textile area alongside 25 other prisoners and the sound of heavy machinery like saws.

'It's an electric engine, it is calming to me, it provides a continuous humming sound ... like a white noise,' he replied.

The QCAT hearing continues.
A Kentucky congressman's tasteless Christmas card has resurfaced following Monday's Louisville shooting which left five people dead.

Rep. Thomas Massie tweeted the photo of him, his wife and their five kids posing with assault rifles in front of a Christmas tree in December 2021, but the photo once again resurfaced in hours following the tragedy.

The picture shows Massie and seven members of his family brandishing large assault rifles. 'Merry Christmas!,' Massie captioned the photo, alongside a Christmas tree emoji. 'PS. (SIC) Santa, please bring ammo,' he added, followed by a gift emoji.

At the time Massie was criticized for being tone deaf in the wake of yet another deadly high school shooting in Michigan.

Massie represents Kentucky's 4th congressional district which comprises the eastern suburbs of Louisville and Northern Kentucky.

The Christmas photo in question which resurfaced on Monday shows Rep. Thomas Massie and his family armed with assault rifles in front of a Christmas tree

'Merry Christmas!,' Massie captioned the photo on Twitter, alongside a Christmas tree emoji, pictured. 'PS. (SIC) Santa, please bring ammo,' he added, followed by a gift emoji

Twitter users were unhappy at seeing the Christmas card appear once again

Tommy Elliott, 63, a close friend of Governor Andy Beshear, was named among the dead, as were Joshua Barrick, 40; James 'Jim' Tutt, 64; Juliana Farmer, 57 and Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer at the bank and a mother of two.

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 state's governor and his wife also had friends killed in that shooting just as Kentucky's governor did on Monday.

Social media companies have imposed tougher rules in recent years to prohibit violent and extremist content but family portraits such as these still appear to be common.

Representative Andy Ogles (left) is pictured with his wife Monica and their three kids - holding what looked like assault rifles as they posed for a Christmas card in 2021

A similar photo emerged last month following the Nashville school shooting, where Tennessee Congressman posed with his family.

Ogles faced fierce backlash after saying he was 'utterly heartbroken' over the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Tennessee today - because of a controversial image of the politician bearing arms

Representative Andy Ogles faced fierce backlash after saying he was 'utterly heartbroken' over the mass shooting at the Covenant School which killed three children and three staff members - yet he continued to defend himself after a picture emerged of him and his family holding up rifles for their 2021 holiday card.

In a picture posted online Ogles, his wife Monica and two eldest children all posed with what appeared to be assault rifles in front of a Christmas tree in their home.

The image resurfaced hours after transgender shooter Audrey Hale, 28, used two automatic rifles and a handgun to spray bullets at innocent schoolchildren, teachers and cops.

When questioned about the picture, the congressman said he was 'exercising his constitutional rights.'

He was asked by Sky if he regretted the image, and quickly shot back: 'Why would I regret taking a family photo with my family and exercising my constitutional rights.'

Ogles then refused to answer further questions over the use of the guns, instead leaving his response as one being supportive of the Second Amendment.

However, he has since removed the post from his Facebook page, after being bombarded by criticism over the image.

At the time he posted with the quote: 'The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good.'

In 2015, Fiore sent out a Christmas card of her family holding pistols and semi-automatics, including her five-year-old grandson Jake, who held a Walther p22; also pictured are Fiore's mother, Lili, daughters Sheena and Savannah and their husbands, David and Kyle; as well as five of her now seven grandchildren, Jake, twins Morrigan & Mara, Jayden and Jemma

Ogles nor Massie are not the only politicians to find themselves in hot water for promoting pictures of their family while armed.

Michele Fiore, 51, a former Republican politician from Nevada was found in 2015 to have sent out a Christmas card of her family holding pistols and semi-automatics, including her grandson Jake, who was five at the time.

He was pictured holding a Walther p22.

She defended the image saying: 'If you look real close, you'll see that his finger is not on the trigger.

'That five-year-old grandson of mine has total trigger control.'

'I think giving firearms as a present and getting firearms as a present is a great present, and I think because Christmas is a family affair, our ultimate responsibility is to protect and make sure our family is safe.'

The Trump-supporting Republican has also voiced support for the Proud Boys militia in the past.

Fiore posed with her two daughters to promote the protection of second amendment rights

In Louisville on Monday, 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 chief identified the shooter as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, who she said was livestreaming 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.'

Police identified the shooter as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon

Multiple agencies arrive at a building after a shooting took place in Louisville on Monday

Two people embrace outside of a building where a shooting took place in Louisville

Law enforcement, ambulances, and public safety vehicles line the street at the scene

Nine people, including two police officers, were treated for injuries.

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.'

'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.

A Louisville Metro Police officer walks outside of the home of the suspected shooter in the Camp Taylor neighborhood in Louisville

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear arrives at the scene of a shooting in Louisville

Louisville metro Police and emergency personnel block the streets outside of the Old National Bank building in Louisville

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during a press conference after the shooting took place

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 south of the downtown shooting.

The street was blocked as federal and local officers talked to residents.

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.'

The 15 mass shootings this year is the largest number recorded 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.
He was working underground at WA's Sunrise Dam gold mine

Miner in his 30s dies from suspected medical event at site

A gold miner has died from a suspected medical episode while working in the middle of the night on a gold mine in Western Australia.

The man, aged in his 30s, was working as a contractor at the Sunrise Dam gold mine near Laverton in Western Australia's northern Goldfields when he passed away.

WA Police confirmed the man died around 3am on Tuesday morning but his death was not being treated as suspicious.

A report will now be prepared for the coroner.

AngloGold Ashanti, which own the mine, suspended work at the site for a short period of time while police investigated the man's death but normal operations have now resumed.

A gold miner in his 30s has died after suffering from a 'medical event' while working at Sunrise Dam gold mine in Western Australia's northern Goldfields (pictured: Sunrise Dam gold mine)

AngloGold Ashanti, which owns the mine, said the man died of an 'apparent medical event' and that they were in the process of notifying his next of kin (pictured: a worker at Sunrise Dam gold mine)

A spokeswoman for AngloGold Ashanti told ABC News the man died of an 'apparent medical event' and said they were in the process of notifying his next of kin.

The death is the first in 2023 at a West Australia mine site after the industry suffered two fatal accidents last October when two men were killed working at a gold mine in a single week.

October's fatalities stunned the entire sector and resulted in increased safety measures being introduced, spearheaded by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS).

Underground driller Terry Hogan, 37, was killed by a rockfall at the Hamlet gold mine and two days later, a 59-year-old man died when the light vehicle he was operating was run over by a dump truck at Karlawinda gold mine.

DMIRS inspectors subsequently visited 147 different sites in December to ensure safety protocols were being followed, all but seven carried out without prior notice given to the site.

The inspections led to 142 improvement notices being handed out by inspectors in the December quarter.
After three month battle she has been granted residency

A British woman who was facing deportation after living in Australia for 11 years has been granted permanent residency after the immigration minister dramatically intervened in her case.

Belinda Checkley, 36, first came Down Under as a backpacker in 2012 and stayed in Byron Bay for more than a decade. But her visa was suddenly rejected when her employer sold the business she works for.

The cafe worker was told she would need to leave the country in March, but was granted a three-month bridging visa just hours before she was due to board a plane.

Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal she has been granted permanent residency in Australia after Immigration Minister Andrew Giles intervened in her case allowing her to stay permanently.

A British woman who was facing deportation after living in Australia for 11 years has been granted permanent residency after the immigration minister dramatically intervened in her case

In a video posted to her Instagram on Tuesday, Ms Checkley explained: 'Last Thursday, I received a phone call from my lawyers and they said that Andrew Giles has reviewed my case and has decided to intervene with the previous decision and has granted me permanent residency.

'So I am now a permanent resident of Australia. It's an surreal outcome.

'I'm so so happy I can't believe it is turned around since December when I was looking at leaving and where am I going to live and and now I am permanent in Australia.

Belinda Checkley, 36, first came Down Under as a backpacker in 2012 and stayed in Byron Bay for more than a decade, but her visa was rejected when her employer sold the business she works for

'I never have to worry again or do another visa or write another letter or spend any more thousands.

'And I feel like I can finally move forward with my life. So I'm so so happy and I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me because it's been so amazing the support and I've literally blown me away'.

More than 35,000 people signed a petition urging Mr Giles to let Ms Checkley stay.

Ms Checkley first came to Australia on a working holiday visa and 'instantly' fell in love with Byron Bay .

The cafe worker was told she would need to leave the country in March, but was granted a three-month bridging visa just hours before she was due to board a plane

After a three-month stint working on a farm, she studied hospitality management before getting a job in the New South Wales tourist town and working her way up to cafe manager.

But in 2018, the cafe changed ownership, causing her visa to be cancelled.

Ms Checkley then appealed for public support to stay, with many Byron locals speaking out in support of her place in the community

She says she's built a 'beautiful life' in Byron Bay and has 'no life' back in the UK.

'I have worked hard to build a secure future and my goal has been to obtain permanent residency,' she said previously.

But now she has been granted permanent residency in Australia after immigration minister Andrew Giles intervened in her case allowing her to stay

'It has been a long journey - one filled with countless personal, emotional and financial sacrifices  to work within the Australian immigration system,' her change.org petition explained.

At Christmas she was told she would have to leave, and informed she wouldn't be able to apply for another visa without further review.

'I had three months to prepare for my deportation. Once outside Australian borders, I would be legally barred from re-entering the country for the next three years,' she explained.

After successfully being granted a last-minute bridging visa, Ms Checkley then appealed for public support to stay, with many Byron Bay locals speaking out in support of her place in the community.

'I'm a hardworking, law-abiding and productive member of Australian society. I work in an industry desperate for talented and reliable staff.

'I've proven myself again and again and sacrificed so much just to call this place home. My only crime is that I was not born here.

'I came, like so many of us still in Byron Bay, as a backpacker in my 20s. I loved it and have never left. I'm now 36 years old, settled down, and trying to begin my own family with my partner who grew up here.

'I have no life back in the UK. It's a cold and distant memory.'

Her case had parallels with those of the Murugappan family from Sri Lanka who won the support of the township of Biloela, and the Green family from Scotland who had also been in Australia for a decade but were denied a visa due to changes of employer.

In both cases, significant media attention saw those families allowed to stay.
Prince Andrew's catastrophic Newsnight appearance where he defended his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein showed how overconfident and out of touch he really is, a new bombshell documentary has claimed.

The Duke of York's BBC sit-down with Emily Maitlis led to the Queen stripping him of his military affiliations, royal patronages and use of his HRH title even before he settled a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Roberts Giuffre for a reported 12million ($16.3m).

In an upcoming ITVX documentary called The Real Crown, Tory peer Lord Patten said that the Newsnight interview, which backfired so spectacularly, revealed Andrew's blind self-assurance.

He said: 'He thought he was capable of getting away with some answer which inevitably turns around and hits him over the head. It says he's not plugged into the same reality as the rest of us.'

In the most disastrous royal interview in history in 2019, Andrew claimed he was at Pizza Express in Woking on the night Ms Giuffre claimed he had sex with her when she was 17. He also tried to dispel her claims he 'sweats profusely' by claiming that being shot at during the Falklands War left him with a condition that means he is unable to perspire. He also suggested a photo of them together at Ghislaine Maxwell's London mews house was faked.

Defending his decision to stay with Epstein in New York after the financier's release from prison for child sex offences, Andrew insisted it felt like' the right thing to do' and he did so because he was 'too honourable' to refuse.

King Charles III, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew walk to church on Easter Sunday. A new documentary claims the Duke of York is out of touch with reality

Andrew speaks to Emily Maitlis on Newsnight in 2019 - an appearance that was an unmitigated disaster for the royal later stripped of his titles by his mother

Prince Andrew took an ironing board and entourage on trade mission visit, ex-diplomat reveals Former diplomat Simon Wilson has told the documentary how Andrew insisted on taking his own ironing board on a trade mission in 2002. The Duke of York was in Bahrain when he was Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. Mr Wilson said: 'Prince Andrew always brought a large entourage with him. A private secretary, an equerry, a valet, a lady clerk and a business adviser. We were shocked when a 6ft ironing board was trying to be negotiated into one of the embassy cars. 'I asked the valet and said, "this is insane". And the valets reply was, "no one knows how to iron his Royal Highness's trousers like me".' Advertisement

Over the Easter weekend there was some support for him from Princess Anne, who walked ahead of her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as a gesture of support for her disgraced sibling when they walked to church in Windsor.

The King has made clear that while he backed his mothers decision to force Andrew to step down from public life following the Epstein scandal, he is still his brother. Church is a family event, therefore he would be allowed to attend.

But the brothers are at loggerheads over Charles demand that he move out of Royal Lodge, his Windsor home. Andrew has resisted efforts to evict him by summer.

Lord Patten's views on the Duke of York emerged in the five-part ITVX documentary called The Real Crown, which is set to air later this month.

The show also claims that the Queen wanted both William and Harry to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan when war broke out in 2001, before deciding it was too risky to send the future heir to the throne, an ex-Army chief has revealed in a breach of protocol.

The decision over whether the princes should take part in the conflict was discussed at a meeting between the late Queen and General Sir Mike Jackson, formerly head of the British Army.

Sir Mike breached protocol by revealing details of his private audience with the Queen. He said: 'What goes on in those audiences and who says what to whom remains for the two people involved, and I will break the rule about not divulging what goes on on this one occasion.

'She was very clear. She said, "My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty.". And that was that. But it was decided that William as heir to the heir, the risk is too great. But for his younger brother, the risk was acceptable.

Prince William and Prince Harry at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant on June 3, 2012

Prince William leaving his Tucano training airplane at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire

Prince Harry at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan in 2012

The Real Crown reveals that the Queen had put a lot of thought into the decision as she had detailed information about the risks faced by UK armed personnel in Afghanistan

The Real Crown reveals that the Queen had put a lot of thought into the decision as she had detailed information about the risks faced by UK armed personnel in Afghanistan.

Sir John Scarlett, at the time head of MI6, said: 'Of course she has complete clearance to everything. She has complete access to an exceptional amount of info and insight for longer than anyone else. William was very keen to go.'

He added: 'She's very, very discreet, completely reliable and completely on top of the detail.

'I remember thinking at the time, "Wow, Her Majesty knows more about this than we do".'

William completed a training course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst spanning 44 weeks after graduating from university. He was commissioned as an Army officer in December 2006.

He joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) until 2008 and was later attached to the Royal Air Force and Navy.

Harry served in the Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and undertaking two operational tours of duty in Afghanistan, in 2007-8 and 2012-13.

The documentary shows that William was stopped from joining the war, despite wanting to, due to his position as a future King.

Mark Cann, director of the British Forces Foundation, said in the series: 'William was very keen to go. Unequivocally.

'But it was complex, and some very great minds and experienced people took a view on it.

'I think it was really tricky. Anybody who's in the military who hasn't actually been on operation feels a sense of disappointment.

'And I think especially that was the one (war) at the time, you've got everyone around you at the time who's been involved in it. So there is a sense of disappointment.'

The series, which airs on April 20, also examines storylines from Netflix drama The Crown.

ITV notes that the documentary includes rare archive footage and new interviews with key figures, some of whom have never previously spoken on camera, while also offering insight into the Queen's perspective during key moments.

Harry sitting in his position on a Spartan armoured vehicle in Helmand province

Harry holding his SA80 rifle as he prepares to patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir

Harry on patrol through the deserted town of Garmisir close to FOB Delhi (forward operating base)

Harry firing the 50mm machine gun at Taliban fighters from the observation post at JTAC Hill, close to FOB Delhi, in Helmand province

Prince Harry revealed in his memoir Spare that he killed 25 Taliban fighters during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The Duke of Sussex, who was known as 'Captain Wales' in the military, wrote that he did not think of those killed 'as people' but instead 'chess pieces' he had taken off the board.

It was the first time he had specified the number of insurgents he personally killed during his time in Afghanistan, where he spent four months as an Apache helicopter pilot during his second tour.

Harry said his military career 'saved him' after the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, by helping him 'turn his pain into purpose'.

During an explosive tell-all interview with 60 Minutes, which premiered on January 8, he told host Anderson Cooper: 'My military career saved me in many regards. It got me out of the spotlight from the UK press.

'I was able to focus on a purpose larger than myself - to be wearing the same uniform as everybody else, to feel normal for the first time in my life, and accomplish some of the biggest challenges that I ever had.'

Queen Elizabeth II 'broke Edward VIII's heart' when she denied his 'dying wish' to grant Wallis Simpson HRH title, Duke of Windsor's nurse claims

The Queen denied her 'favourite uncle' - the Duke of Windsor - his dying wish just 10 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...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 she 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 present 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 quite sort 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.

Following his abdication, Edward was made the Duke of Windsor by his brother and granted the style of His Royal Highness.

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.

Lord Snowdon's lover Nicky Haslam says Princess Margaret's husband was a 'terrific seducer' but he never thought the royal couple would go 'as far as marriage' in new docuseries

Princess Margaret's fractured marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones lasted 18 years before they finally divorced - yet one of Lord Snowdon's male lovers has shared his surprise that the pair's relationship even made it that far.

British society interior designer Nicky Haslam, 83, claimed in his memoir Redeeming Features (2010) that he had 'a very brief romance' with the late Earl a year before his 1960 wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister.

Nicky appears in ITV's new five-part royal docuseries The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which airs on Thursday 20 April on ITVX, to discuss society photographer Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret's relationship.

In the first episode, titled Love and Duty, Nicky explains: 'Tony was a terrific seducer, he could seduce that table leg. He was terrific fun, Tony, a devil incarnate but a charmer at everything.

'He was naughty but wonderful, I mean naughty in the nicest sense,' says the socialite, before admitting: 'I was quite surprised that it went that far, as far as marriage [between Antony and Margaret].'

Princess Margaret's fractured marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones (pictured together in 1974) lasted 18 years before they finally divorced - yet one of Lord Snowdon's male lovers has shared his surprise that the pair's relationship even made it that far

Lady Anne Glenconner, the late Princess Margaret's lady-in-waiting, also features on the episode - but has less than positive words to say about the royal's husband.

She says: 'Once the marriage started to go wrong, I was there for her when she was having a difficult time. I did see the way Tony treated her which I didn't like at all.

'The thing about Tony was, that he was so spiteful - and did these horrible things. he used to leave little notes,' claims Lady Glenconner.

The socialite, 90, who was a maid of honour at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, tells the programme how one message to his wife apparently read 'I hate you'.

'I don't know why he behaved like that really, I just felt very sorry for her,' confesses Lady Glenconner.

She adds that 'Tony was quite clever... he kept in with The Queen and The Queen Mother. Absolutely. I mean they thought he was wonderful.'

Elsewhere in the programme, Nicky recalls a not-so blissful moment between the Earl and Princess.

'We were at a party and Tony had one of those matches that would light anywhere, you'd strike them on, old fashion matches, and he was sort of lighting them and throwing them at Princess Margaret,' explains the socialite.

British society interior designer Nicky Haslam (pictured), 83, claimed in his memoir Redeeming Features (2010) that he had 'a very brief romance' with the late Earl a year before his 1960 wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister

Nicky appears in ITV's new five-part royal docuseries The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, which airs on Thursday 20 April on ITVX, to discuss society photographer Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret's relationship (seen in 1966)

'And she said: 'Oh Tony, don't do that. You could've set my dress on fire, and he said 'Good thing too, I've always hated that material.'''

Margaret, who died in 2002 aged 71, met Antony in 1958 at a dinner party organised by mutual friends, and wed at Westminster Abbey in May 1960, the first royal wedding to be televised.

However, the union was reportedly not a good one, and the pair soon drifted apart, with both royals entering into extra-marital affairs.

Margaret famously invited Roddy Llewellyn, a lover who was 17 years her junior, to the island of Mustique in 1974, where they were photographed by paparazzi, precipitating the end of her marriage.

Margaret and Antony, who passed away in 2017, made their divorce official in 1978, after 18 years of marriage.

The romance between Anthony Armstrong-Jones and the royal has been romanticised more than once, most recently in the second and third season of Netflix royal drama The Crown.

The full series is available on Thursday 20 April on ITVX
The body of a retired teacher who went missing a fortnight ago was collected by a rubbish truck from a wheelie bin outside her home, investigators have revealed.

Queensland Police believe Lesley Trotter, 78, died sometime between midnight on March 27 and 12pm the following day after finding blood near her unit complex bins in the west Brisbane suburb of Toowong last Friday.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said on Tuesday afternoon that a garbage truck had collected Ms Trotter's body from a general waste wheelie bin outside her home during the weekly collection service two weeks earlier on March 28.

Her remains are yet to be found and police will now mount a large-scale search at several waste facilities.

Police will now launch a large-scale search for Lesley Trotter's remains at a garbage tip

Police believe a garbage truck had collected Ms Trotter's body from a wheelie bin outside her Toowong unit complex during the weekly collection service. Pictured are police at the complex in Brisbane's west

'Ongoing investigations can reveal that on the morning of Tuesday, the 28th of March this year, the body of a female we believe was Lesley Trotter was located in a general waste wheelie bin,' Det Supt Massingham told reporters.

'It was evident she was deceased. Due to the positioning of the body, we can't rule out foul play.

'Later that morning that bin was collected by a rubbish truck.'

The truck travelled to Nudgee Waste Transfer Station, where the rubbish was dropped into a pit.

An additional 22 trucks also visited the site on that Tuesday before the loads were compressed and taken away in six B-double semi-trailers.

The rubbish was then transported to two dump sites in Rosedale and Swanbank, which have since been quarantined as police launch the extensive search to recover Trotter's remains, which is expected to be a difficult 'piece by piece' operation.

'These types of searches are not uncommon, but I think the scale of this one will make it quite complex for us,' Det Supt Massingham said.

'It will require a combination of resources to ensure we leave no stone unturned.'

Lesley Trotter last spoke to her family on March 27, sparking a desperate land and water search

The rubbish truck that carried the 78-year-old's remains has also been seized by police.

Once found, Ms Trotter's remains will be forensically examined to determine her cause of death.

Ms Trotter's family has been advised of the new 'disturbing development'.

'This is traumatic to them. I think this is confronting for them, the nature ... would be concerning for any family, particularly a lady of that age ... looking forward to the next chapter of her life,' Det Supt Massingham said.

The breakthrough comes several days after police revealed blood was found near bins that Ms Trotter would regularly rummage through to sort recyclables.

Police said Ms Trotter's habit of leaving rubbish on the ground and in the driveway as she rummaged through the bins to find and sort recyclables had caused 'some angst among some people' in her street.

The investigation into Ms Trotter's death is expected to be 'lengthy and complex'.

The retired teacher was an avid hiker and bushwalker before she went missing

'I thank those members of the public ... we have so far interviewed,' Det Supt Massingham added.

'Our doorknocks in the area are coming towards the end.

'It was important the information relevant to the location of her body was kept quiet across the weekend until we were able to exhaust people's memory with respect to their recollections on Tuesday the 28th of March.'

Police have not confirmed how officers know Ms Trotter's remains were inside the bin but said they have 'strong evidence'.

Ms Trotter last spoke to her family at about 11am on March 27 and wasn't at her Toowong home, on Maryvale St, when they visited the following day.

Her mobile phone and wallet were found in the unit and her car was still in the garage.

Investigators said last week they believed she was dead after conducting extensive searches at Brisbane's Mt Coot-tha, based on the fact Ms Trotter was an avid hiker and bushwalker.
ARE YOU JOINING THE ACTION AGAINST ASTRAZENECA?

The widower of a BBC presenter who died from coronavirus vaccine complications has launched legal action against pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca together with 75 people whose 'relatives died or suffered injuries related to the jab'.

Mother-of-one Lisa Shaw, 44, died from 'vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia' in May 2021, about a week after receiving her first Covid jab. She worked for BBC Radio Newcastle.

Lawyers for her husband, Gareth Eve, reportedly sent pre-action protocol letters to AstraZeneca last year on the behalf of nearly 75 people who allege that their relatives died or suffered injuries related to the vaccine.

Her husband, Gareth Eve, reportedly spent two years trying to get the Government, MPs and three prime ministers to address what happened to Lisa and now feels he has 'no alternative' but to pursue legal action.

Mr Eve, who is vaccinated himself, says the lawsuit is not about 'whether somebody is anti-vax' but about those who lost loved ones and have been 'made to feel like it's a dirty secret'.

'It's not about Covid, it's not about how many lives the Covid vaccination has saved, it's about what this vaccination has done to Lisa and other families,' he told the BBC.

ARE YOU JOINING THE ACTION AGAINST ASTRAZENECA? Email tips@dailymail.com and natasha.anderson@mailonline.com

Gareth Eve says he has 'no alternative' but to pursue legal action against AstraZeneca after his wife, BBC Radio Newcastle presenter Lisa Shaw, died from coronavirus vaccine complications

Ms Shaw died from 'vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia' in May 2021, about a week after receiving her first Covid jab

Mr Eve said he sought legal action after two years of failed attempts to contact officials, alleging no one had 'reached out or engaged with us at all'.

He reiterated that he and the fellow claimants are 'not crackpots or conspiracy theorists' but instead family members who lost someone because of the vaccine.

'These things have happened to too many people and we're made to feel like it's a dirty secret, that we're talking about something we shouldn't be talking about.'

The father of one said the lawsuit is aimed at drawing attention to 'what this vaccination has done to Lisa and other families'.

He added that it's established that his wife's death was 'caused by AstraZeneca's Covid vaccination'.

Mr Eve said he is seeking 'some sort of acknowledgement or recognition that these deaths have occurred'.

He also stated that the complaint is not about financial compensation because no amount of money is 'going to bring my son's mam back'.

Mr Eve is pursuing a lawsuit after he reportedly spent two years trying to address the vaccine-related deaths and illnesses with UK leaders

The claimants have taken legal action against AstraZeneca under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

It is understood that they are pursuing damages on the basis that the Covid vaccine was a 'defective product in that it was not as safe as consumers generally were reasonably entitled to expect'.

HOW MUCH COULD THE FAMILIES WIN? The claimants have taken legal action against AstraZeneca under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. It is understood that they are pursuing damages on the basis that the Covid vaccine was a 'defective product in that it was not as safe as consumers generally were reasonably entitled to expect'. The claimants have also demanded payment under the Government's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. The Government says that if a person is 'severely disabled' as a result of a vaccination against certain diseases, they could get a one-off tax-free payment of 120,000. One can also apply for this payment on behalf of someone who has died after becoming severely disabled because of certain vaccinations. The relative must be managing their estate to apply. The Vaccine Damage Payment is not a compensation scheme. Applicants can still take legal action to claim compensation, even if they get a payment from the scheme, the Government says. Advertisement

The claimants have also demanded payment under the Government's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

The Government says that if a person is 'severely disabled' as a result of a vaccination against certain diseases, they could get a one-off tax-free payment of 120,000.

The Vaccine Damage Payment is not a compensation scheme. Applicants can still take legal action to claim compensation, even if they get a payment from the scheme, the Government says.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was first approved for use in the UK in December 2020 when the Government ordered 100million doses of it as part of its inoculation programme. The jab was rolled out alongside Pfizer's Covid vaccine.

Ms Shaw died from a vaccine-linked condition that induces brain swelling and bleeding the following May.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson told MailOnline: 'More than 144 million Covid vaccines have been given in England, which has helped the country to live with Covid and saved thousands of lives.

'All vaccines being used in the UK have undergone robust clinical trials and have met the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agencys (MHRA) strict standards of safety, effectiveness and quality.

'The Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (VDPS) provides financial support to help ease the burden on individuals who have, in extremely rare circumstances, been severely disabled or died due to receiving a government-recommended vaccine.'

Similarly, a spokesman for AstraZeneca - declining to comment on pending litigation - told MailOnline that patient safety is its 'highest priority'.

'We are unable to comment on ongoing legal matters. Patient safety is our highest priority and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines. Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has reported health problems,' the spokesperson said.

'AstraZeneca and regulatory authorities, carefully record and assess all reports of potential adverse events associated with use of Vaxzevria. From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, Vaxzevria has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) granted conditional marketing approval for Vaxzevria for the UK based on the safety profile and efficacy of the vaccine.

'Over 3 billion doses of the vaccine have been supplied to more than 180 countries and, according to independent estimates, Vaxzevria helped to save more than six million lives worldwide in the first year of availability alone (December 2020 to December 2021).'

One death for every two million jabs in the UK... but each one a tragic loss for their heartbroken families

Seventy-five Brits have been killed by Covid vaccines, official statistics published in February show.

It equates to roughly one death for every 2million jabs dished out in the UK.

Leading experts the claim the low death toll is proof the life-saving vaccines are incredibly safe. They also admitted it could be a slight under-count.

But no matter how low the count, the deaths have taken a heartbreaking toll on the families of those who passed.

Among those whose deaths were linked to Covd jabs includes a 'wonderful' mother-of-two, a design graduate and a father who died from an ultra-rare blood clot triggered by AstraZeneca's jab just ten days before he would have been recommended for an alternative vaccine.

Dawn Woolridge, 36

Dawn Wooldridge (right), 36, pictured with her husband Ashley. Mrs Wooldridge died on June 15, 2021 - 11 days after having her first Pfizer vaccine

Dawn Wooldridge, 36, was found dead in her home in June 2021 after having failed to collect her five-year-old son from school.

Her unexpected death, which happened 11 days after Mrs Wooldridge's first Covid jab, was likely caused as a result of the vaccination, an inquest heard last year.

A postmortem examination showed showed Mrs Wooldridge had been healthy at the time of her death and the toxicology report had found no signs of alcohol or drugs in her system at the time.

The only points noted were inflammation of the heart, fluid in her lungs alongside a small clot on her lungs. These, alongside menstrual irregularity and complaints of pain in her jaw and arm in the days after the vaccine - the pathologist suggested, were linked to myocarditis.

The doctor argued, on the balance of probabilities, that it is more likely than not she died from acute myocarditis due to her recent vaccination.

Concluding the inquest, assistant Coroner Alison McCormick ruled: 'I give the narrative conclusion that her death was caused by acute myocarditis, due to recent Covid-19 immunisation.'

Tom Dudley, 31

Tom Dudley, 31, from Sheffield, died from a blood clot triggered by the AstraZeneca jab ten days before medics were told to offer an alternative to the age group

Tom Dudley, 31, who had no underlying health conditions, got his first dose near his home in Sheffield on April 27, 2021.

But the carpet salesman soon began to suffer headaches  a common side effect of the British-made vaccine that normally fades within days.

Two weeks after getting the jab, he was found unresponsive in the early hours at the home he shared with his partner Simone and their two daughters.

The Sheffield United fan was rushed to Northern General Hospital, but doctors said the bleed on his brain was 'incurable' and he died three days later.

Britain's medical regulator recommended under-30s should get an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine in early April when it became clear that younger people were at greater risk of the clots  but it did not widen the advice to under-40s until May 7.

Mr Dudley's GP said that given his age, lack of underlying conditions and the medical advice at the time, it was appropriate to give him AstraZeneca's jab.

A medic who treated the father-of-two in hospital following the clot told the inquest it was 'fair to say' he would still be alive if he was given a different vaccine.

Coroner Tanyka Rawden recorded his cause of death as a bleed on the brain, caused by the vaccine

Jack Hurn, 26

Jack Hurn, 26, died less than two weeks after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine in June 2021. An inquest heard he was told there was no Pfizer jab in stock and was given out-of-date information in relation to blood clot risks associated with the vaccine

Jack Hurn, from Redditch, died from 'catastrophic' blood clots on his brain two weeks after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

The 26-year-old graduate died in June 2021, less than two weeks after receiving the jab at a Dudley vaccine centre.

A week-long inquest at Birmingham Coroner's Court heard that a GP informed Mr Hurn the risk of blood clots on the brain for his age group was one in 250,000, when NHS guidance had actually estimated it to be one in 50,000.

The inquest heard the automotive design graduate chose to go ahead with the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on May 29, 2021, after being told there was no Pfizer jab in stock.

Mr Hurn, originally from Devon, began suffering with headaches within days and died on June 11 at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital despite emergency surgery.

Doctors allegedly described him as having 'catastrophic' blood clots on the brain.

Emma Brown, HM Area Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, ruled in a report that Mr Hurn's death was 'due to a rare but recognised complication' of the vaccination.

Kelly Dunley, 38

Kelly Dunley, pictured, died weeks after having the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, something a coroner has ruled contributed to her death

Kelly Dunley, 38, tragically died after developing a deep vein thrombosis - a type of blood clot - after receiving the AstraZeneca Covid jab, a coroner ruled.

Ms Dunley, from Stoke-on-Trent, had her first jab on March 2, 2021.

She was rushed to Royal Stoke University Hospital on May 17, 2021, after collapsing.

Despite the best efforts of medics she died at the hospital, and a post-mortem found a blood clot in her leg had travelled to her lung.

The examination also found she had a laceration to her liver, which was likely caused by the attempted resuscitation, and an abnormal spleen.

A coroner ruled last year that her death was a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis and linked to 'complications of the vaccine'.

Oli Akram Hoque, 26

Trainee solicitor Oli Akram Hoque, 26, received a dose of the vaccine on March 19, 2021 before suffering increasingly 'excruciating' headaches

Oli Akram Hoque, 26, from Ilford, died from a rare blood clot weeks after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine, an inquest heard.

The trainee solicitor received a dose of the vaccine on March 19, 2021 before suffering increasingly 'excruciating' headaches.

His condition deteriorated and resulted in his death at Queen's Hospital in Romford, on April 15, 2021 - one month before his 27th birthday.

His father told the court that Mr Hoque had gone to the Urgent Treatment Centre located at the Royal London Hospital ten days before his death on April 5.

However, he said his son was was 'discharged without proper diagnosis or investigation' with an injection to stop him being sick.

Mr Hogue 'requested a scan to be carried out but his request was declined'.

He later had a seizure and was taken to Queen's Hospital where a CT scan identified a blood clot. He was then put on blood thinners and later died in hospital.

Mr Hogue's only medical history was a childhood asthma diagnosis with no mention of migraines

Britain's medical regulator recommended under-30s should get an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine in early April when it became clear that younger people were at greater risk of the clots.

Nicola Weideling, 45

Nicola Weideling died of a stroke caused by the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab. She is pictured with her husband, Kurt

Nicola Weideling died of a stroke caused by the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

The 45-year-old Oxford University Press executive suffered catastrophic bleeds on her brain after being hospitalised with blood clots caused by the vaccine which she had received 24 days before dying, a coroner has ruled.

She had complained to her GP about neck pain but she was not diagnosed with vaccine side effects until she was taken to hospital with several other symptoms of blood clots.

A post-mortem examination showed Mrs Weideling died on May 15, 2021 after suffering a stroke caused by Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT), otherwise known as blood clots caused by a vaccine.

Alpa Tailor, 35

Alpa Tailor, 35, fell ill just over a week after getting her first dose of the coronavirus jab in March 2021

Healthy mother-of-two Alpa Tailor, 35, died from blood clots on her brain caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine, a coroner ruled.

Ms Tailor fell ill just over a week after getting her first dose of the coronavirus jab in March 2021.

St Pancras Coroner's Court heard that Ms Tailor was complaining of a headache before she suffered stroke-like symptoms including including slurred speech and a facial droop.

She was rushed to hospital on April 8 and quickly diagnosed with the then-new condition known as vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT).

Ms Tailor had surgery to relieve pressure on her brain and whilst doctors initially thought she had responded well to treatment, on April 22, medics discovered she was suffering from massive brain hemorrhaging.

Tragically, the devoted mother - who had the jab to 'protect her family' - then died and a post-mortem examination found she had suffered multiple brain clots.
The collapse of super-fast delivery start-up MilkRun was 'not a shock' because its business model was unsustainable in the face of competition from Australia's top two supermarkets, according to a leading retail expert.

MilkRun announced today that it will close its doors and make all staff and riders redundant by the end of the week, becoming the latest in a long line of rapid grocery delivery firms to go under.

Company founder Dany Milham sent an email to its 400 workers on Tuesday in which he blamed worsening market conditions for his company's collapse despite the business 'performing well'.

But Professor Gary Mortimer, business and retail expert at the Queensland University of Technology, told Daily Mail Australia the company's collapse was 'not a shock'.

'The writing was on the wall for these hyper-grocery delivery start-ups for some time,' he said.

Super-fast grocery delivery company MilkRun went into administration on Tuesday

A leading retail expert said the 'writing was on the wall' for the company for some time

THREE REASONS MILKRUN COLLAPSED 1. Pandemic is over: people are no longer in lockdown therefore reducing the demand for grocery delivery 2. Supermarket duopoly caught up: Woolworths and Coles introduced their own rapid delivery services 3. Business is not sustainable or scalable: tough to find riders when unemployment is as low as 3.5 per cent Advertisement

'They grew significantly during the pandemic. It was opportunistic entrepreneurship at its very best. We had populations in Sydney and Melbourne locked down and people not wanting to venture out of the home.

'Obviously as the pandemic came to a close, people ventured back into supermarkets and we started to see these businesses start to fall over.

'First to go was Deliveroo, then there was Send, then Quicko and Voly. For Milkrun the writing was on the wall for sometime. It's incredibly difficult to scale that business when you're needing riders and bikes to deliver the groceries in some cases under 15 minutes  it's just not sustainable.

'When you've got 3.5 per cent unemployment  people aren't choosing to ride bikes, they are choosing to get jobs elsewhere.'

Prof Mortimer said that small and agile start-ups like MilkRun and Voly had been able to exploit the demand for rapid deliveries in urban areas during lockdown because for Woolworths and Metro it was a case of being 'tough to turn a big ship around'.

However, they had now introduced their own quick-turnaround delivery services which squeezed the start-ups.

'It's really hard to compete with the might of big supermarkets that offer not just speed but also range,' Prof Mortimer said.

'The investment that both big supermarkets have put into their online operations and automated fulfilment centres  they are really scaling up to be ready for consumers to continue shopping online for food and groceries.

'Ten cents in every dollar of food and grocery is now purchased online and then benefit is they have got the capital behind them to invest in this infrastructure and customers trust them.'

Milkrun founder Danny Milham (right) with his Koala co-founder Mitch Taylor (pictured left)

Company founder Dany Milham sent an email to its 400 workers informing them the delivery service would be shutting up shop for good by the end of the week

Last year, Woolworths introduced Metro60, which aims to delivery groceries in under an hour, while Coles has introcued a 60-minute click and collect service across around 600 stores.

MilkRun serviced select suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne, promising rapid delivery of food and essentials.

It appeared to have a promising future after its co-founder Mr Milham closed one of the largest early-stage venture capital raisings in Australian history, securing $75million for the company in 2022.

The CEO blamed tough economic and capital conditions for the decision to close MilkRun.

'Since we announced our structural changes in February, economic and capital market conditions have continued to deteriorate, and while the business has continued to perform well, we feel strongly that this is the right decision in the current environment,' he wrote in the email.

Who is Dany Milham? Dany Milham is the co-founder of mattress company Koala and the brains behind grocery delivery app MilkRun. He is estimated to have a net worth of around $150million. Mr Milham was born in Byron Bay, on the NSW north coast. His first entrepreneurial endeavour was building gaming computers and selling them at the age of 13. Mr Milham then went on to work for Mude Creative before he then co-founding Koala in 2015. He is regarded as one of the most successful and high-profile start-up owners in NSW. Advertisement

Mr Milham reassured staff they would be paid severance packages.

'We've always been committed to doing things the right way, and winding down the business while we still have a sufficient cash balance enables us to ensure our people and suppliers are paid in full,' he wrote.

Prof Mortimer praised the company's handling of their downfall.

'They've made sure that they are going to be able to meet their liabilities, including their staffs' wages,' he said.

'It's disappointing to see small start-ups like this close but they are not alone.'

Some of MilkRun's riders expressed sadness about the company's fate.

Gary Nunn, an award-winning journalist and author, tweeted: 'I loved moonlighting as a #Milkrun courier. They were exceptional b/c they paid per hour, not per delivery. It disincentivised us from breaking road rules. And it got me away from my laptop!'

There had been signs of trouble at MilkRun for some time. Just weeks ago, the company announced it was slashing 20 per cent of its workforce.

'With economic and market conditions changing rapidly, we need to get ahead of the curve and evolve the way we operate to fit the current environment and extend our runway,' Mr Milham wrote to a letter addressed to staff two months ago.

'This means making some structural changes and some tough decisions that will unfortunately impact some of our people.'

MilkRun was launched in 2021 and became one of the first companies to offer ultra-fast delivery to customer's homes.

It promised to deliver groceries, alcohol and other supplies to the doorstep in as little as 20 minutes.

MilkRun was able to deliver its products quickly as it maintained a number of warehouses, known as 'dark stores', around the area.

They were stocked with 2,000 products making it easy for staff and riders to quickly collect the orders and distribute them.

Some of MilkRun's employees expressed sadness about the company's demise

The company had serviced more than 50 suburbs across Sydney and 26 suburbs in Melbourne.

The start-up had been supported by the tech giant founders of Atlassian, billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar.

Last June, Mr Milham apologised to customers who complained they had failed to receive their orders within the promised 20 minute timeframe.

Mr Milham admitted the company had experienced an 'unacceptable' decline in service.

'There have been a number of factors which have, at times, led to an unacceptable decline in our delivery experience in busy periods,' he wrote.

'These included ongoing Covid cases affecting the availability of riders and hub staff, record rainfall in Sydney, and the challenges involved with scaling a fully employed workforce faster than anyone has ever tried before.'

The problems became more pronounced eight months later when Mr Milham laid off a substantial part of the workforce - and culminated with his email today.
A rainbow has appeared at a popular surf spot just two hours after a horror drowning took place with many devastated locals seeing it as a sign from the heavens.

An Italian man who had just arrived in Australia drowned after he took to the water at the unpatrolled Killalea Beach in Shell Harbour, 20km south of Wollongong on the NSW south coast, on Easter Sunday.

The tragedy comes after NSW was hit with two separate drownings at Port Stephens and the Tweed River on the same day.

Saddened locals were astonished by the rainbow that appeared for one hour after the tragedy.

'I thought it was a sign,' one person wrote on social media.

Locals from the Shell Cove suburb were astonished by the rainbow (pictured) that appeared for one hour after the tragic death at Killalea Beach with one saying, 'I thought it was a sign'

Surf Life Saving NSW State Operations Centre received reports of the swimmer in distress at 3pm after he was caught in wild surf 50 metres offshore

The man who had come to Australia to work as an engineer in Sydney could not find his way back through the surf after swimming out (pictured, Killalea Beach)

Another said: 'Both ends of the rainbow are showing through the clouds.'

Surf Life Saving NSW State Operations Centre received reports of the swimmer in distress at 3pm after he was caught in wild surf 50 metres offshore, the Illawarra Mercury reported.

The man who had come to Australia to work as an engineer was pulled to shore by rescuers but was declared dead after attempts to revive him by NSW paramedics failed.

NSW Ambulance's chief inspector in Illawarra, Terry Morrow, said the man had been in the water for a significant amount of time before he was brought ashore unconscious.

'Unfortunately he had gone swimming at northern end of Killalea beach and got into trouble and subsequently drowned,' Insp. Morrow said.

'The person had come from Italy and had been here for a short period of time.'

Various emergency crews were involved in the desperate bid to save the man's life including a 4WD and a Toll rescue helicopter which had dropped off a doctor and a paramedic at the beach.

Inspector Morrow said it makes it harder when swimmers choose to go out at secluded beaches.

The tragic Shell Cove incident at Killalea Beach, also known as The Farm, comes after two other drownings on Easter Sunday.

A man in his 70s drowned after he went into the surf at Fingal Beach in Port Stephens to rescue a girl at around 10am, 7News reported.

It is understood the girl who had been struggling in the surf had made it back to shore.

The body of another man was found in the Tweed River at Banora Point in Northern NSW at around midday while investigations into his death are underway.

The tragic Shell Cove incident at Killalea Beach (pictured), also known as The Farm, comes after two other drownings on Easter Sunday

SLSNSW CEO, Steve Pearce said the three drownings are a part of a horror year for in the state and the worst summer in NSW history.

He added every drowning has been at an unpatrolled beach or outside of patrol hours and reminded swimmers to swim between the red and yellow flags.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology warned surf and swell conditions were expected to remain hazardous for swimmers in NSW including the Illawarra and Sydney Coasts on Tuesday.

There was also a hazardous surf warning for Wednesday affecting the coastal areas of Byron, Coffs Coast, Macquarie, Hunter and Sydney.
Republican terrorists were today accused of exploiting and grooming children in Northern Ireland after masked youths pelted police with petrol bombs ahead of Rishi Sunak's meeting with Joe Biden in Belfast tonight.

The US President is flying in to the UK to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement which set a framework for peace in Northern Ireland, but has arrived at a time of political instability.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has appealed for calm after harrowing images showed masked Republicans parading the streets of Londonderry while others carried boxes of homemade petrol bombs before launching them at police Land Rovers.

Police turned up because one parade was illegal, and their vehicles were firebombed.

John McVea, who retired after 33 years at the PSNI in January, said that the incident reveals it was right to raise the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland from substantial to severe two weeks ago.

A police vehicle is attacked with petrol bombs flung by children during an illegal Dissident march in the Creggan area of Londonderry yesterday

A police van is attacked with petrol bombs by masked youths

The trouble in Northern Ireland came as Jo Biden jet into the UK to mark 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement

The veteran of the serious crime branch said that political stalemate at Stormont is not helping. He said: 'Where there is a vacuum , the terrorists specialise in filling that void. When there is a gap they then come in and exploit it because that is their currency and you saw that yesterday with the petrol bombing where you can tell very clearly see that many of the people throwing petrol bombs are children and young people.

'They are being exploited because that is what terrorist groups and paramilitaries do. Yesterday they were exploiting children'.

He added: 'The threat level returned to severe in recent weeks. It had been reduced for a short period of time. That means that they have the intent and the capability, but if you were to look back to 25 years ago when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, what we have today is nothing like the terrorist campaign then'.

US President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Stormont's main political parties as part of a visit he said will underscore his nation's 'commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity' in Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

He 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 dissident republican youth 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

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he hoped the situation would quickly calm down

Masked members of a Dissident Republican colour party take part in a march yesterday

Former Head of Criminal Investigation Branch, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Chief Superintendent John McVea, says that terrorists are exploiting children into carrying out violence

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'

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster University's new 350 million Belfast campus.

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

It is expected that Mr Biden will hold a meeting with Northern Ireland's main political parties before the Ulster University talk.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Biden's visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

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'

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'

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublin's Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins' official residence is within the park's grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at the president's official residence, Aras an Uachtarain.

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patrick's Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The president's trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina.
HAVE YOU EMIGRATED FOR A BETTER WAGE?

Australia's population is booming as Britons are lured by the prospect of tripling their income while being able to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle.

The country is set to see its biggest-ever immigration surge, with government figures revealing 650,000 migrants are predicted to arrive this financial year and next as Australia entices skilled workers to fill gaps.

Laurel Dyer, 28, is one of those who has contributed to the largest two-year population rise Australia has ever recorded.

The nurse, from the Isle of Mull, Scotland, moved to Australia last year and has undertaken roles in Western Australia and New South Wales - while fulfilling her love for the outdoors.

Laurel, who is employed by a nursing agency, told The Times her income was around triple what she earned back home and revealed some of her Scottish nursing colleagues have followed her lead.

HAVE YOU EMIGRATED FOR A BETTER WAGE? Email tips@dailymail.com and danya.bazaraa@mailonline.co.uk

Western Australia earlier launched an audacious bid to 'steal' 31,000 skilled workers to work Down Under

Nurses from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in England at a picket line during a strike in February

'They came at a very similar time to me and are loving it out in Australia,' she said.

'I think the friends that are still at home are more settled in their life, but they are very envious of the job, the money, the lifestyle of Australia.

'I think if it wasn't for those roots there, they would probably be out in a heartbeat.'

Western Australia earlier launched an audacious bid to 'steal' 31,000 British doctors, police officers and teachers to work Down Under, sparking a furious backlash.

In a nod to the post-war 'Ten Pound Poms' scheme, a delegation of state government and industry officials are trying to tempt workers away to fill more than 31,000 vacancies.

They have also been on the hunt for miners, plumbers, mechanics and builders, trying to sell the Australian dream in the UK.

They promise hard-working Brits can 'have it all' and boast Australian power bills are almost half the price of those in the UK.

Some of the positions on offer include nursing staff on a salary of $85,713 (45,968.74) which is 58 per cent more than the average UK salary of 30,586, GPs with a salary of $232,963 (124,940.39) compared to their UK salary of 72,070 and civil engineers on a salary of $120,193 (64,460.71) compared to their UK salary of 37,398, Belfast Live reports.

Australia is predicted to see its biggest two-year population growth ever with some 650,000 migrants arriving this financial year (pictured, skilled workers)

NHS nurses and other medical workers hold placards during a strike, amid a dispute with the Government over pay earlier this year

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary Pat Cullen joined members on the picket line outside the Royal United Hospital in Bath in February

Police and defence industry minister Paul Papalia previously highlighted Western Australia's wine regions, coral reefs and culinary scene.

'Our wages are higher and our cost of living is lower,' he promised. 'Our health system is world class. You will be taken care of.

'Many of our ancestors were sent from the UK to Australia as convicts. Now, it would be a crime not to make the move.'

Treasury officials in 2019 predicted a total of 1.2million migrants would arrive in the country by the end of 2024, but that figure has now been revised down to 950,000.

The analysis published at the end of last month means the country is expected to see 650,000 migrants start a new life in Australia by the end of the 2024 financial year.

At least 350,000 are predicted to settle in Australia this financial year with 300,000 more in the following 12 months.
A Kuwaiti news outlet has unveiled the country's first ever virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence, with plans for her to read online bulletins.

Kuwait News stunned social media users by uploading a short clip of 'Fedha' - an AI-generated blonde-haired female news reader who sported a black jacket and white T-shirt as she introduced herself.

'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 Arabic.

The online website 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'.

   #   



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        #   ..   pic.twitter.com/VlVjasSdpb    (@KuwaitNews) April 8, 2023

A Kuwaiti news outlet has unveiled the country's first ever virtual news presenter (pictured) generated using artificial intelligence

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.

One user said: 'What do you guys think of her, are real-life newsreaders about to be taken over by robots??'

However, others were in favour of the move, with one simply tweeting: 'Love this idea.'

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.

Dr Clare Walsh, director of the Institute of Analytics and AI, told MailOnline: 'There are many excellent applications of AI to solve real world problems. Clearly, this is not one of them.'

However, AI expert Rehan Haque said he 'could not see a significant issue with an AI-generated news presenter.

The CEO of metatalent.ai does believe, however, that the development of AI could affect relationships. 'Consumers normally build trust through the newsperson/anchor, which could jeopardise the originality of the editorial process,' he told MailOnline.

'With something as essential and consumer-facing as the news, it's important news corporations using AI are transparent about its use to avoid the risk of eroding trust with their audience.

'In this case, it's clear that the Kuwaiti news channel behind this viral tweet has been forthcoming and open about their intentions to use an AI-generated newsreader, so I'm always going to favour technology that I see as advancing humanity.'

Those who have spoken out about its rise include Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak - who along with 1,000 other technology leaders called for a pause on the 'dangerous race' to develop AI.

In an open letter on The Future of Life Institute, Musk and the others argued that humankind doesn't yet know the full scope of the risk involved in advancing the technology.

In future Fedha could adopt the Kuwaiti accent and present news bulletins on the site's Twitter account, which has 1.2 million followers

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is among those who have called for artificial intelligence development to be paused

They asked all AI labs to stop developing their products for at least six months while more risk assessment is done.

Just last week, a law professor was falsely accused of a sexually harassing a student by ChatGPT.

Meanwhile, last month, a Belgian married father-of-two killed himself after talking to an AI chatbot about his global warming fears.

Musk and others fear that the technology will become so advanced that it will no longer require - or listen to- human interference.

It is a fear that is even acknowledged by the CEO of AI - the company that created ChatGPT - who said earlier this month that the tech could be developed and harnessed to commit 'widespread' cyberattacks.
The Philippines and the United States launched their largest-ever joint military exercises on Tuesday, as the longstanding allies seek to counter growing Chinese assertiveness in the region, as Beijing continued to harass Taiwan.

The exercises will be highlighted by a ship-sinking rocket barrage in waters across the disputed South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where Washington has repeatedly warned China over its increasingly aggressive actions.

The annual drills by the longtime treaty allies called Balikatan - Tagalog for 'shoulder-to-shoulder' - will run up to April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel, and will for the first time include a live-fire drill.

It will be the latest display of American firepower in Asia, as the Biden administration strengthens an arc of alliances to better counter China, including in a possible confrontation over Taiwan, an island democracy that Beijing claims as its own.

As the opening ceremony marked the start of the drills, Chinese warships and aircraft were still operating around Taiwan, Taipei's defence ministry said, a day after Beijing declared an end to its massive war games.

The Philippines and the United States launched their largest-ever joint military exercises on Tuesday, as the longstanding allies seek to counter growing Chinese assertiveness in the region, as Beijing continued to harass Taiwan. Pictured: Ships of the Taiwan Navy take part in a military exercise in Taiwan in this handout picture released on April 10, 2023

The exercises will be highlighted by a ship-sinking rocket barrage in waters across the disputed South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where Washington has repeatedly warned China over its increasingly aggressive actions. Pictured: A US High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is fired during live fire exercises as part of US-Philippines army-to-army joint drills on March 31, 2023 in Laur, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Pictured: The opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercises or Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 11

Philippine Army Major General Marvin Licudine (left) and United States Marine Corps Major General Eric Austin (right) link arms during a press conference after opening ceremonies of the 38th Philippines-US 'Balikatan' exercise at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines 11 April 2023

China said Monday saw the conclusion of a three-day Chinese military exercise that simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

READ MORE: As Beijing finishes its war games on the doorstep of Taiwan, IAN BIRRELL reports from the front line so close to China you can see it across the bay Advertisement

But Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the island as of 11:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday.

China 'organised military aircraft this morning and crossed the median line from the north, the centre, and the south,' the ministry said, referring to the unofficial but once largely adhered-to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait.

The Philippines, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been working to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety, by boosting joint military exercises with the US.

The country allows rotating batches of American forces to stay in additional Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact.

'The relationships that we have, that we build into these exercises, will make us faster to respond to conflict, crisis, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,' US Marine Maj. Gen. Eric Austin said ahead of the drills.

The allied force involved in the exercise will be made up of about 12,200 U.S military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts - making it the largest since Balikatan started three decades ago.

The drills will showcase US warships, fighter jets as well as Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers and anti-tank Javelins, according to the US and Philippine military.

In a live-fire drill the allies will stage for the first time, US and Filipino forces will sink a target ship in the Philippine territorial waters off the western province of Zambales on April 26, in a coordinated inland and coastal artillery bombardment and airstrike, Col. Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesman for Balikatan, told reporters.

It is understood that the target will be a 200-foot decommissioned fishing vessel.

'We have to fire at a target that is closer to what we would expect in an actual threat, which is an intrusion coming from an adversary by sea,' Logico told reporters. 'We are demonstrating that we are combat ready.'

The two armies originally planned to fire live rounds at sea off the northern province of Ilocos Norte, about 355 kilometres from Taiwan's south coast, but later on had to move it further down the South China Sea.

The original site was 'not sufficiently prepared' for unloading the needed equipment, Philippine Army Major-General Marvin Licudine said. The new venue is less than 300 kilometres east of the Chinese-held Scarborough Shoal.

Asked if Marcos raised any concern that Beijing may be antagonized by the rocket-firing near the busy waterway that China considers its territory, Logico said that did not come up when he briefed the president about the event.

Marcos wants to witness the live-fire drill for himself, he said.

In western Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea, the exercises will involve a simulated retaking an island captured by enemy forces, Logico said.

Philippine military officials said the maneuvers were aimed at bolstering the country's coastal defence and disaster-response capabilities and were not aimed at any country in particular.

Such field scenarios will 'test the allies' capabilities in combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between maneuver units, logistics operations, amphibious operations,' the US Embassy in Manila said.

A US soldier fires an assault rifle during live fire exercises as part of US-Philippines army-to-army joint drills on March 31, 2023 in Laur, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

US and Philippine troops take part in live fire exercises as part of US-Philippines army-to-army joint drills on March 31, 2023 in Laur, Nueva Ecija, Philippines.

It will be the first time the exercises have been held under President Ferdinand Marcos, who has sought to strengthen ties with the United States after his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte trashed the alliance.

WATCH MORE: China releases chilling video showing how it would bombard Taiwan in an invasion Advertisement

'In order for us to protect our sovereign territory, we really have to drill and exercise how we are going to retake an island that's been taken away from us,' Logico told reporters after the opening ceremony at a military camp in Manila.

In recent months, Manila and Washington have agreed to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and struck a deal to expand the US forces' footprint in the Philippines, which has infuriated China.

US troops will be allowed to use an additional four Philippine military bases under the pact, including a naval base not far from Taiwan.

The Philippines' proximity to the island could potentially make it a key US partner in the event of a Chinese invasion of the island.

At a joint news conference Tuesday, both armies did not address questions about the Taiwan tensions and a possible role for the Philippines if China invaded Taiwan.

Last week, Beijing said Taiwan is an 'inseparable' part of China as it sent warplanes and aircraft near the country, after President Tsai Ing-wen angered CCP officials by meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China has ramped up its rhetoric against Taiwan in recent years, with President Xi Jinping emboldened by being handed an unprecedented third term - seeing him become the country's most powerful leader since Chairman Mao Zedong.

He has made it clear that he wants to bring Taiwan under Chinese rule during his time in office. The CIA's director William Burns warned in February that Xi has ordered his military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, and China has carried out several rounds of war games, seemingly in preparation for an assault on Taiwan.

News of the expanded access to bases in the Philippines had prompted China to accuse the United States of 'endangering regional peace and stability'.

'Countries in this part of the world must uphold strategic independence and firmly resist the Cold-War mentality and bloc confrontation,' China's ambassador to Manila, Huang Xilian, said last week.

In a sign of deeping defense cooperation, the Philippine foreign and defence secretaries will meet their American counterparts in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the American military presence and proposed joint naval patrols.

Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over the long-seething territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines and four other governments, and Beijing's goal of annexing Taiwan, by force if necessary.

China last week warned against the intensifying US military deployment to the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular news briefing in Beijing that it 'would only lead to more tensions and less peace and stability in the region.'

Pictured: A map showing the disputes in the South China Sea. China claims almost the whole of the sea, clashing with the claims of countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. The on-going dispute has led to high tensions in the region

The Balikatan exercises opened in the Philippines a day after China concluded three days of combat drills that simulated sealing off Taiwan.

On Monday, the U.S. 7th Fleet deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Milius within 12 nautical miles off Mischief Reef, a Manila-claimed coral outcrop which China seized in the mid-1990s and turned into one of seven missile-protected island bases in the South China Sea's hotly contested Spratlys archipelago.

The U.S. military has been undertaking such freedom of navigation operations for years to challenge China's expansive territorial claims.

'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,' the 7th Fleet said.

On the final day of the Chinese drills, Taiwan said it had detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island, with 54 planes crossing into Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

The ADIZ incursions were the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021.

During the exercises, J15 fighter jets had been deployed off China's Shandong aircraft carrier and were among the aircraft that crossed the median line, the defence ministry added.

The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace, and includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own ADIZ and even some of the mainland.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen condemned the military drills hours after China said they had ended, saying China was using Taiwan's engagement with the US as an 'excuse to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region'.

'Although China's military exercise has come to an end, our military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country,' Tsai said in a post on Facebook.

After the three-day exercise, the Chinese military said it had 'successfully completed' tasks related to its 'Joint Sword' drills.

The war games saw Beijing simulate 'sealing' off the island, with state media reporting dozens of planes had practised an 'aerial blockade'.

A jet fighter takes off from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, over Pacific Ocean waters, south of Okinawa prefecture, Japan, in this handout released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan April 10, 2023

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.

The deployment triggered condemnation from China, which said the vessel had 'illegally intruded' into its territorial waters.

Separately, Beijing warned that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were 'mutually exclusive', blaming Taipei and unnamed 'foreign forces' supporting it for the tensions. The White House made clear that relations with Beijing were rocky following the drills.
Closure cuts off main line connecting the Midlands and North to the south coast

Millions of train commuters are facing up to ten weeks of travel disruption after a wobbly railway bridge over the River Thames in Oxfordshire was closed for emergency repairs.

The Nuneham viaduct was forced to shut on April 4 after an inspection found it to be unstable, cutting off the main line connecting the Midlands and northern England with the south coast.

Network Rail have now confirmed it is not expected to reopen for at least another eight weeks, until June 10.

The bridge, which is a few miles south of Oxford and connects the city to Didcot and Reading, requires urgent work due to 'a lot of movement in the structure'.

Millions of train commuters face travel chaos after the wobbly Nuneham viaduct (pictured) was shut down for emergency repairs

The railway bridge is located a few miles south of Oxford and takes trains over the River Thames

It had been monitored for a number of months, but measures put in place to make its foundations more secure had not worked.

There are knock-on effects for timetables across the south of England, reaching up to the Midlands and the North.

Rail replacement bus services from CrossCountry and Great Western Railway are running to keep passengers on the move, as well as local shuttle rail services between Didcot and Appleford and Culham, and between Radley and Oxford.

Furious commuters took to social media to express their grievances, with two comparing the closure to the blockage in the Suez Canal that brought global trade to its knees in 2018.

Commuters took to social media to express their frustration at the travel disruption

The closure was compared to the blockage of the Suez Canal that brought global trade to its knees in 2018

One worker said he planned to work remotely until the bridge was fixed

One person branded it 'shocking' that works had not yet been done, given the thousands of pounds it costs for a season ticket from Oxford to London

One social media user claimed Oxford is becoming a 'remote island'

The closure was branded a 'total pain' by one user on Facebook

Jackie on Twitter said: 'The closure of Nuneham viaduct between Oxford and Reading for me is like when the Suez Canal got blocked by the Ever Given.'

Another Twitter agreed: 'The Nuneham viaduct partial collapse is my personal Suez Canal blockage.'

Helena Downton on Facebook branded it a 'total pain', while James Cope said: 'Looks like I'm 100% remote until it's fixed.'

Simona Leon exclaimed: 'Oxford is becoming a remote island, before 15 minute City closes its gates.'

The railway bridge was experiencing 'a lot of movement' before it was closed for safety reasons

JasonSarah Spencer-Buckel wrote: 'I think it's shocking that this vital maintenance wasn't picked up/carried out by 'whoever' is responsible for it. An annual season ticket incl. all zone travel was 6696.00 from Oxford to Paddington, which has just increased to over 7000.00!'

Kate Moore added: 'It is an impressive level of broken!! Can advise that the Rail Replacement Bus here is also struggling to be on time or arrive in a timely manner. However long you think it will take: double it.'

Also having issues with the buses was Graham Davies, who said on Friday: 'Seemed to be hundreds of people waiting for rail replacement buses at Didcot this morning and only one bus.'

Network Rail has confirmed that the bridge is not expected to reopen until June 10

Romy Jane Ashmore noted that there was 'no point in renewing my railcard then', but Sonia Dods said: 'Annoyingly, I have recently renewed my rail card!'

Rory Carter said: 'As usual NR and GWR have no (sic) considered anyone beyond the immediate rail user too, no [unfoldable] bikes are allowed to be taken on the replacement bus services, which has a big effect on those of us who cycle beyond the station and do not take the bus. It's about time they took responsibility for their failings and starting providing a service for EVERYONE.'

Rosalind Richardson urged: 'Need to put longer trains from Oxford, I had to stand from [Oxford Parkway] into London 3 carriages !!! Full from Oxford.

'Think about it, if people can't travel through Didcot because of the damage to the viaduct. They go through Oxford Parkway, so double capacity than normal !! Hence need longer trains.'

One commuter said they would not renew their railcard if they could not travel on the line

Another commuter lamented renewing their railcard recently

Rail replacement buses will take 'double' the time expected, one rail traveller warned

'Hundreds' waited for just one rail replacement bus in Didcot, said one person affected

A commuter who cycles on after getting off the train complained that bikes are not allowed on the rail replacement buses

One traveller urged for longer trains on alternative routes to avoid overcrowding

On Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for the infrastructure provider said: 'Network rail has confirmed that it is now working to install a temporary structure that will stabilise the viaduct at Nuneham in Oxfordshire in order for trains to run again between Didcot Parkway and Oxford by 10 June.'

Apologising to passengers, Nicky Hughes, Network Rail Western's communications director, said in a video posted to Twitter: 'We're really sorry for passengers and freight users that we've had to close this critical stretch of the line between Didcot and Oxford.

'That's because the bridge is starting to move and it's moving now to the extent that we don't consider it safe to run trains over.

'We've been monitoring this bridge for a number of months now and we've been taking measures to try and make the foundations of the bridge more secure, but unfortunately, those measures don't appear to be working.'

She said that 'significant rainfall' in the past month had added to the structural problems with the bridge.'

Ms Hughes concluded: 'Because the structure is not safe, we cannot run passenger and freight trains over it. That's why we've had to close it.'

Freight trains, which usually use this route to travel to and from Southampton Docks, will be operating on alternative routes, including via Acton in West London.

Network Rail said it would be able to share more details of its plans on Wednesday.

The rail bridge at Nuneham, which has stood for over 100 years since being completed in 1907, was deemed unsafe after cracks appeared and it was said to be 'shaking'.

Passengers travelling from the Midlands and North into London will be affected

Engineers are said to have been working 'round the clock' since the line was closed last Tuesday.

Network Rail announced: 'We are now working to install a temporary structure that will stabilise the viaduct at Nuneham in Oxfordshire in order for trains to run again between Didcot Parkway and Oxford by 10 June.

'Engineers have been working round the clock since the line was closed for safety concerns on 4 April and are now able to confirm this timescale.

'To help keep passengers moving GWR, CrossCountry, Chiltern Railways and Network Rail, are working closely together with a revised timetable in operation for the duration of the line closure, with a rail replacement service and local shuttle services running. Please check before you travel with your train operator or National Rail Enquiries.

Rail replacement bus services are being provided, as well as local shuttle train services

'Freight trains will continue to operate on alternative rail routes, including via Acton in West London.

'We are sorry for the inconvenience this issue will cause as we work to make this viaduct safe for passenger and freight trains to run again.'

David Davidson, Network Rail's interim Western route director, said: 'We are disappointed that the work we've done so far hasn't been successful and our efforts haven't been helped by the wettest March in over 30 years.

'Safety is our top priority and our engineers are now working round the clock to identify what can be done to make this viaduct safe for passenger and freight trains to run again.'

Commuters branded the closure a 'total pain' and compared it to the Suez Canal blockage in 2018

GWR spokesman Paul Gentleman said: 'This has been a major impact on customers, lots of disruption as a result of this line closure.

'We have been able to operate a rail replacement service between Oxford and Didcot but I'm afraid this disruption will continue. The bridge will remain closed.'

Maggie Simpson, director general of Rail Freight Group, said: 'We run around 40 freight trains on that route. That's the equivalent of around 2,000 lorries.

'Those trains are carrying vital and important goods, retail products - the things we buy in the shops every day, imports, exports, even finished cars..'

She added 'Container trains, the big metal boxes, can only go on certain routes.

'It's absolutely the worst case scenario to put those goods on a lorry, and we're trying to avoid that.'
The moment a 'gentle' and 'amazing' father-of-two was held under a spotlight and fatally shot in 'cold-blood' was caught on video, a court has heard.

On Tuesday, former private school captain Marco Anthony Yandle, 19, and his father Keith Russell Yandle, 46, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with the murder of Steve Murphy.

The father-son duo were arrested last week after police received a tip off about the location of Mr Murphy's remains and searched a property in Kudla, about 46km north of Adelaide.

Magistrate Justin Wickens on Tuesday heard prosecutors had obtained CCTV footage from the shed where Mr Murphy was allegedly shot - footage that allegedly shows he was defenceless and alone.

Prosecutors allege that on the night of February 19, Keith and Marco equipped themselves with an illegal firearm and a bat after they suspected an intruder was on the property.

Marco Yandle, 19, (pictured) has been charged with murder

Keith Russell Yandle, 46 (pictured), is also charged with murder

Steve Murphy (pictured) was found dead in a bunker at a remote farm

The father and son then allegedly emptied Mr Murphy's pockets before Keith Yandle allegedly shot him in the head.

The alleged footage shows a first shot was fired into a shed 60m away from the main house on the property in Kudla - which defence counsel described as a 'warning shot' - before Mr Murphy was discovered 'huddling in the corner'.

Marco allegedly held a torch over Mr Murphy, illuminating him as his father pulled the trigger.

The court heard there was a 10 to 15 minute gap between the warning shot being fired, and the shot that allegedly killed Mr Murphy.

Prosecutor Lucy Boord KC said the footage showed Mr Murphy's 'cold-blooded execution' after the two accused had already determined he was 'defenceless'.

'What some of that footage shows amounts tentatively to a cold blooded execution of an unarmed, vulnerable, defenceless man,' Ms Boord told the court.

'The firearm is allegedly held and discharged by (Keith), however (Marco) is standing and illuminating the victim with a torch as he is shot by his father.'

Mr Wickens asked if Marco's assistance was required in the alleged murder, to which Ms Boord said he was willingly participating.

Lifelong friends of Mr Murphy (pictured) said outside court their former Kadina High School friend was a keen motorcycle enthusiast who was just trying to be close to his kids

The father-son duo were arrested last week after police received a tip off about the location of Mr Murphy's remains and searched a property in Kudla, about 46km north of Adelaide

Prosecutors allege that on the night of February 19, Keith and Marco equipped themselves with an illegal firearm and a bat after they suspected an intruder was on the property (pictured)

'I don't think it was essential, but he was certainly present, willing to give his assistance and illuminating the victim at the time the shots were fired.'

Defence counsel for Marco Yandle, Sean Nottle, said his client was simply investigating an intruder on his property with his father and argued he was a suitable candidate for bail.

'These two men went to their shed to confront an intruder, first and foremost,' Mr Nottle said.

'It is going to be a real question for the director to be able to establish how (Marco) Yandle has either aided and abetted, or is party to some sort of joint enterprise in which there is the possibility or the foresight on the actions that have been extensively taking place at the hands of his father.

'It's clear on the footage that at the moment the shots are discharged Mr Yandle senior interacts with Mr Yandle junior to leave the shed, and he does so. (Marco) Yandle's entire involvement is to be present, to illuminate the scene.'

'And be ready to lend a hand?' Mr Wickens asked.

'There's no suggestion that he has in fact lent a hand with respect to anything perpetrated against the deceased person,' Mr Nottle responded.

Mr Nottle said it would be on the DPP to prove whether Marco would have helped his father, had he been asked to.

Lifelong friends of Mr Murphy told NCA NewsWire outside court their former Kadina High School friend was a keen motorcycle enthusiast who was just trying to be close to his kids.

'He was a ratbag who could instantly melt you with those eyes,' they said.

'Steve was a quiet, gentle soul who was doing an amazing job raising his kids.

'He was living rough and squatting to try and be close to his kids.

'He will always have a special sport in my heart, and I'll always remember the fun times we had together.'

Marco Yandle (pictured) allegedly held the torch over Mr Murphy as he was murdered, a court heard

Supporters of Marco (pictured) were silent in court, but hostile towards the media outside

Mr Murphy's former partner Danielle Rogers took to Facebook to share her distress, saying the hardest part was having to tell his children of his passing.

'The hardest part about all this was having to tell my boys that their father is no longer with us,' she wrote.

'We have just lost a big part of us.'

Supporters of Marco were silent in court, but hostile towards the media outside.

Mr Wickens dismissed Marco's application for bail due to the 'seriousness of the offence' and his risk of interfering with witnesses.

Both Keith and Marco will remain behind bars to face court again in October.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to enhance North Korea's nuclear arsenal in more 'practical and offensive' ways as the despot lashed out in the face of his rivals' 'frantic' military exercises.

Kim joined with his senior military officials to discuss the rogue country's war preparations at a meeting of the dictator's Workers' Party's Central Military Commission on Monday.

This came amid heightened tensions following an intensified pace of both the North Korean weapons demonstrations and the U.S.-South Korean joint military drills in recent weeks in a cycle of tit-for-tat.

North Korean state news said the commission's members discussed unspecified issues related to strengthening defense capacities and perfecting war preparations to counter the threat posed by the allies' drills, which the North portrays as invasion rehearsals.

The North Korean tyrant reviewed frontline attack plans and various combat documents and stressed the need to bolster nuclear deterrent with 'increasing speed on a more practical and offensive' manner, Korean Central News Agency said.

Kim Jong Un talks to officials while pointing to certain spots on a blurred map that appeared to be of South Korea during a meeting in Pyongyang

Kim joined with his senior military officials to discuss the rogue country's war preparations. Pictured: A missile is fired by the North Korean military at an undisclosed location, March 20, 2023

The report did not specify the directions the North intended to take. KCNA also published photos of Kim talking to officials while pointing to certain spots on a blurred map that appeared to be of South Korea.

KCNA said Kim and the military commission members analysed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula 'in which the U.S. imperialists and the (South) Korean puppet traitors are getting ever more undisguised in their moves for a war of aggression' and discussed preparation for proposed military actions that their enemy has no way of counteracting.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in years last month and separately held joint naval and air force drills involving a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group and nuclear-capable U.S. bombers.

North Korean state news claimed the drills simulated an all-out war against North Korea and communicated threats to occupy Pyongyang and decapitate its leadership.

The United States and South Korea described their exercises as defensive in nature and said that the expansion of those drills are necessary to cope with the North's evolving threats.

Tensions are likely to be prolonged as the allies continue their drills and North Korea uses them as a pretext to advance weapons development and intensify military training involving its nuclear-capable missiles.

Kim Jong Un attends the 6th Enlarged Meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang

Kim joined with his senior military officials to discuss the rogue country's war preparations at a meeting of the dictator's Workers' Party's Central Military Commission on Monday

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un inspects nuclear warheads at an undisclosed location and undated image

A TV screen shows an image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea

The North Korean report came as South Korean officials said the North did not respond to South Korean calls placed over inter-Korean liaison and military hotlines for the fifth consecutive day. South Korean officials say North Korea cut off communications after the South last week urged the North to stop using without permission South Korean assets left at a now-shuttered joint factory park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong.

The paused military hotlines are particularly concerning in a time of heightened tensions as they are intended to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals' sea borders. Jeon Ha Gyu, spokesperson of South Korea's Defense Ministry, said Tuesday the South's military wasn't immediately detecting unusual activities by North Korea's military after the hotlines were paused.

South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse, Seoul's point man on the North, in a news conference expressed 'strong regret' over North Korea's 'unilateral and irresponsible attitude 'over the communication lines and also warned of unspecified legal action over its use of the Kaesong assets.

When asked about Kim's comments during the military meeting, Kwon said it's likely that North Korea currently sees the buildup of tensions as favorable to its interests and that Seoul is closely analyzing the North's intent.

South Korea pulled its companies out of Kaesong in 2016 following a North Korean nuclear test, removing the last remaining major symbol of cooperation between the rivals. North Korean state media recently showed what appeared to be South Korean commuter buses running in the streets of Kaesong and Pyongyang.

North Korea in 2023 so far has fired around 30 missiles in 11 different launch events, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that demonstrated potential range to reach the U.S. mainland and several shorter-range weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on South Korean targets.

The North was already coming off a record year in weapons testing, after launching nearly 70 missiles in 2022.

North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-un observes a cruise missile exercise conducted in Jakdo-dong, South Hamgyong Province

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is pictured inspecting a nuclear weapons project

A U.S. Navy sailor stands guard near F/A-18 fighter jets on the deck of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) aircraft carrier in Busan, South Korea

Experts say Kim's provocative run in weapons displays is aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power and negotiating economic concessions from a position of strength.

Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since 2019 over disagreements in exchanging crippling U.S.-led sanctions against the North and the North's steps to wind down its nuclear weapons program.

South Korean officials say North Korea may soon up the ante by staging more provocative displays of its military might, including its first nuclear test detonation since 2017.

North Korea last month unveiled what appeared to be a new nuclear warhead designed to fit on various delivery systems as Kim called for his nuclear scientists to increase production of weapons-grade material to make bombs to put on his growing range of weapons.

North Korea has also issued veiled threats to test fire an ICBM on a normal ballistic trajectory toward the Pacific, which would be seen as a major provocation as its previous long-range tests were conducted on high angles to avoid the territories of neighbors.

The North also previously said it aims to finish preparations to launch a military spy satellite into space by April, an event its rivals would almost certainly see as a test of ICBM technology banned by international sanctions.
Paris may be on fire and full of stinking rubbish - but that should not prevent you from enjoying your morning croissant.

That's the message from fearless video reviewer Luis Sal, who braved riots and strikes on a city-wide taste test of flaky pastries last Thursday.

The 25-year-old Italian found himself at the centre of a day of action against President Emmanuel Macron's decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote last month.

'My name is Luis and today I'm in Paris to try the top five croissants, and we're going to see which one is the best,' he says in a YouTube video which had 650,000 views within a day of being posted.

Luis is immediately shoved in the back by a riot policeman, as La Rotonde  Mr Macron's favourite Paris restaurant  burns in the background.

Fearless video reviewer Luis Sal (pictured) braved riots and strikes to taste test croissants in Paris

Before he could even introduce himself, he was shoved in the back by a riot policeman, as La Rotonde  Macron's favourite Paris restaurant  burns in the background

The 25-year-old Italian found himself at the centre of a day of action against President Macron's decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote

Youths in black cagoules swarm around, some of them picking up street furniture which is later thrown at officers.

READ MORE - Fire and fury in France: Battles on the streets of Paris as riot cops charge at protesters amid country's biggest security operation in recent history Advertisement

Super calm Luis marches on, however, despite telling Le Parisien newspaper: 'The croissants tasted better without the tear gas.'

'The idea of my video was to be as real and transparent as possible with the public so that they could taste the real experience of the croissant.'

Luis, who is from Bologna, asks some of the demonstrators around him how to pronounce certain French words as the sound of explosions fills the air.

He is clearly a committed foodie, who soon begins to ignore the rioting, as he praises 'the perfect shape' of certain croissants, and praises one of the boulangeries for 'knowing what it's doing' and 'flexing its achievements'.

But he is highly critical of some of the less salubrious areas of Paris, including around the Gare du Nord Eurostar hub, from where high-speed trains leave for London.

'The area is not the best, I mean, there's a Subway, there's a pub right there, there's a Popeye's chicken, there's a train station.

'And usually in Europe, where there's a train station and a McDonald's, there's no good people.

'It's very hard to find good quality in an area that's this touristic.'

Nonetheless, Luis does find quality in Carton, a bakery just in front of Gare du Nord, which comes second in his Top Five.

Luis somehow managed to wade through the crowds while also having time to taste test the croissants

The food critic was testing out the best croissants in Paris, which included Tout Autour du Pain (behind him)

The 25-year-old Italian joked that the croissants 'tasted better without tear gas'. Pictured: Protesters under tear gas on April 6

France has been engulfed in riots and strikes over President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reforms

President Emmanuel Macron's decided to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote last month

As his review comes to an end, Luis attempts to have a nibble at the hugely upmarket Cedric Grolet, on Avenue Grolet, but the queue is too long, and it is out of croissants.

This forces Luis to put the boulangerie into fifth place, without a taste test.

Luis's video comes as Mr Macron continues to face huge domestic problems, with more strikes and street demos planned for this week.

On Friday, France's Constitutional Council will rule on whether Mr Macron's decision to push his retirement plans through without a parliamentary vote was legal.
CBI boss Tony Danker today said he was shocked' after being sacked following an investigation into claims he harassed a female member of staff - as three employees were suspended amid sexual misconduct allegations from a dozen women.

The board of the scandal-hit business lobby group said that the married father of two's conduct 'fell short' of what was expected of him and admitted 'serious failings' in how it had acted.

Following this morning's announcement, Mr Danker issued a statement complaining that he had been dismissed 'before being invited to put my position forward' and claimed 'many' of the allegations against him had been 'distorted'.

He said: I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office. I was appalled to learn about them for the first time last week.

'I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed. Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that.'

Mr Danker had faced allegations from a female employee that he made 'unwanted contact with her and considered this unwanted conduct to be sexual harassment'

Today, Mr Danker said he was 'shocked' to have been sacked 'before being invited to put my position forward'

The CBI said Mr Danker, 51, will now be replaced as director-general by Rain Newton-Smith, the group's former chief economist who left the organisation last month to join Barclays.

The group also revealed three other employees had been suspended pending further investigation into several ongoing allegations. It added that it was liaising with police and would 'cooperate' with any investigations.

Last week, the Guardian said that it had been approached by more than a dozen women who claimed to be victims of various forms of sexual misconduct, including one who said she was raped at a staff party. Today, the CBI made clear none of these claims related to Mr Danker.

The trade body has been rocked by allegations of a toxic workplace culture since Mr Danker was last month accused of allegedly making unwanted contact with a woman who works for the CBI.

READ MORE: Sexual misconduct claims are an existential threat to the CBI, writes ALEX BRUMMER Advertisement

According to reports, Mr Danker sent a female employee a barrage of messages, some featuring sexually suggestive language, over more than a year. She considered the contact to be sexual harassment, it was reported at the time.

The group, which claims to represent 190,000 companies across the UK, launched an investigation into his behaviour and he agreed to step down in the meantime.

After he was suspended, Mr Danker expressed regret over his behaviour. He said: 'It's been mortifying to hear that I have been the cause of anxiety to any colleague. It was completely unintentional and I apologise profusely.

'The CBI is the employers' organisation and I am very proud to be its leader. We always strive for the highest standards. I therefore support the decision we've taken to review any new allegations independently.

'And I have decided to step aside while the review takes place and will cooperate fully with it.'

The CBI said today that the first part of this investigation by an outside law firm had been completed.

'Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him,' it said.

'The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director-general.'

Rishi Sunak's Government suspended its relationship with the CBI after the claims of sexual misconduct emerged. Mr Sunak is seen with Mr Danker in May 2022

The board appointed Mrs Newton-Smith, 47, to take the top job from Mr Danker.

It said in a statement: 'The allegations that have been made over recent weeks about the CBI have been devastating.

'While investigations continue into a number of these, it is already clear to all of us that there have been serious failings in how we have acted as an organisation. We must do better, and we must be better.

'We apologise to the victims of this organisational failure, including those impacted by the revulsion we have all felt at hearing their stories.

'Nobody should feel unsafe in their workplace.'

The CBI said that an outside law firm would continue its investigation and the business group would cooperate fully if the police launch any investigations.

The group will also launch a review of its culture, governance and processes, and create a new position of chief people officer.

'We wish to thank all those who have had the courage to speak out, through internal or external channels, and encourage them to keep doing so,' it added.

Mr Danker will now be replaced by Rain Newton-Smith, its former chief economist and a former Barclays director

Following her appointment, Ms Newton-Smith said: 'It's a huge privilege to be asked to return to the CBI to serve as its director-general.

'I passionately believe in the power of business to transform our society. I want the CBI to be an organisation of which we can all be proud.

'I am grateful and determined to lead the team through this challenging time.

'I look forward to working with the team, our members and stakeholders as we work together to achieve sustainable growth.'

Today, Former Siemens UK boss Juergen Maier described developments at the CBI as a 'wake-up moment'.

He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: 'It's been a bad week for the CBI and for business more broadly acting responsible, but I am pleased that the CBI are acting decisively and that they've taken good independent advice...

'I think the CBI should be allowed to now sort this issue and get back to representing the voice of strong business and responsible business.'

The vice-chairman of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership added: 'I think this is a wake up moment to us all. We've seen far too much of this in organisations up and down the country, whether it's in the police, whether it's in government and of course in business and I think for any leader this is a wake up moment to make sure that we do, do root and branch reviews of our organisation and make sure that we've got the cultures in place that don't allow these sorts of behaviours to happen.'

The CBI, founded in 1965, is a non-profit organisation which works to promote business interests by lobbying and advising governments.

It had cancelled all public events while it investigated the raft of allegations against its employees, including its annual dinner on May 11.

This is regularly attended by the Chancellor and was due to host Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey this year.

High-profile names including Rolls-Royce, EY and Marks & Spencer have all raised concerns about the allegations.
The controversial video which emerged of the Dalai Lama kissing a boy is not the first time the prominent figure has been involved in controversy.

The recent video emerged from a charity event he was attending in India in February 2023.

From the most recent video to previously saying a female successor would need to be 'very attractive', he has been involved in an increasing number of polemic incidents in recent years.

But did the Dalai Lama kiss a boy? What other controversies has the Dalai Lama been involved in?

Read on below for all you need to know about the Dalai Lama's previous controversies.

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

Who is the Dalai Lama?

The Dalai Lama is a title given by the people of Tibet to the most prominent leader of the Gelug, or 'Yellow Hat', school of Tibetan Buddhism.

He currently lives as a refugee in India having fled the Tibetan capital Lhasa during the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

Representing Buddhist values and traditions, the Dalai Lama is seen as an important status for Tibetan independence.

After winning the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, he was the subject of great interest around the globe.

However, the deluge of invitations to meet 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 influence.

Beijing accuses him of wanting to split China, and has referred to him as a 'wolf in a monk's robe'.

Did the Dalai Lama kiss a boy?

The Dalai Lama issued an apology 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 2023.

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.

What did the Dalai Lama say about women?

This is not the first time the Dalai Lama has landed himself in hot water.

In 2019, the spiritual leader was forced to issue an apology after he said that any woman who succeeded him as a reincarnation 'should be more attractive'.

Each Dalai Lama is believed to be a reincarnation of their predecessor.

After being asked about the possibility that his own reincarnation could be a woman, he said: 'If female Dalai Lama comes, then she should be more attractive.

He suggested that otherwise, 'people I think prefer, not [to] see her, that face'. He also said in 2015 that a female Dalai Lama 'would not be much use'.

On the subject of comments made by the Dalai Lama at the time, his office said: 'Responding to a question about whether his own reincarnation could be a woman, and suggesting that if she were she should be attractive, His Holiness genuinely meant no offence.

'He is deeply sorry that people have been hurt by what he said and offers his sincere apologies.'

The Dalai Lama accused Donald Trump (pictured) of 'lacking moral principle' during his time as US President

Was the Dalai Lama involved in the NXVIM 'sex cult'?

Back in 2018, MailOnline exclusively revealed that the Dalai Lama was paid $1 million to travel to America and endorse a 'sex cult', which brainwashed and branded women.

He was paid to speak at an 2009 event in Albany, New York, hosted by NXIVM, pronounced 'nexium', a self-help organization described by former members as a 'sex cult'.

The plot involved wooing the Tibetan Buddhist leader's American aide with expensive gifts, foreign travel and allegedly included a steamy affair with the heiress to a drinks fortune.

The deal was set up by the Dalai Lama's self-styled 'personal emissary of peace' to the U.S., Lama Tenzin Dhonden, who was later replaced amid accusations of corruption.

The deal saw the Dalai Lama speak to 3,000 followers of NXIVM and place a khata - a traditional ceremonial Tibetan scarf - around the neck of the group's founder, Keith Raniere.

Raniere was subsequently convicted of human trafficking, sex offences and fraud in 2019, and was sentenced to 120 years in prison.

Convicted criminal Raniere, 62, could transfer to one of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' two Communication Management Units (CMU) - known commonly as 'Guantanamo North' - which house some of the country's most violent offenders, terrorists, and extremists.

Raniere faces being moved to either the CMU in Terre Haute, Indiana or Marion, Illinois. The prison branches are designed to completely isolate prisoners from other inmates and the outside world.

On 13 April, 2009 the Dalai Lama also wrote and signed off the foreword for a book co-authored by Raniere entitled The Sphinx & Thelxiepeia.

What did the Dalai Lama say about immigration?

Previous comments by the Dalai Lama on immigration have also caused a stir.

Commenting on immigration into Europe, he said that the continent should educate and train immigrants with a view to them returning home.

The 83-year-old said: 'European countries should take these refugees and give them education and training, and the aim is - return to their own land with certain skills.'

'Whole Europe eventually become Muslim country? Impossible. Or African country. Also impossible... Keep Europe for Europeans,' he had said.

The new communique said that these comments 'may have been misinterpreted', saying that he 'appreciates that many of those who leave their countries may not wish or be able to return'.

In September 2018, he said: 'When refugees from other countries have come to Europe, it's wonderful that Germany and other European countries have given them help.

'However, I think that most of those refugees think of their own lands as home, but just now there is lots of killing, bullying and suffering there.

'That's why they escaped. So, in the short term, European countries should provide them with shelter, and should particularly provide children with facilities for education and training, including mechanical training, for the young people'.

The Dalai Lama was forced to issue an apology in 2019 for saying that any woman who succeeded him 'should be more attractive'

What did the Dalai Lama say about Trump?

In a 2019 BBC interview, the Dalai Lama also accused former US President Donald Trump of 'lacking moral principle'.

This came in contrast to remarks he made about Mr Trump in 2016, when he said that he had 'no worries' about Trump becoming President of the US.

He said that Trump's emotions were 'a bit too complicated', before reprimanding Trump's America First slogan, saying: 'That is wrong. America should take the global responsibility.'

He also appeared to mock Donald Trump in a 2016 interview on Good Morning Britain by placing one hand on his forehead and using the other to mimic the movement of Trump's mouth.

Since the Tibetan's comments on Trump, the ex-president appeared in court, where he pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records.
A newly-leaked top-secret Pentagon document reveals American planners doubt Ukraine's ability to launch an effective counteroffensive against Russian invaders this spring.

Outlining the developments of the war since February, the document picks up on 'force generation and sustainment shortfalls', predicting Ukrainian forces will fail to capitalize on decimated Russian lines.

The document predicts Ukraine will have only modest success in achieving its aims, to break Russia's land connection to the Crimean peninsula while exploiting weaknesses to reclaim contested territories in the east.

This report breaks from Biden's public reassurances of Ukraine's military successes in deflecting the Russian offensive since the winter slowed progress on both sides.

It is part of a wider collection of US intelligence materials leaked on social networks last week, which the Pentagon and the Justice Department are investigating.

Ukraine remains committed to advancing south and severing Russia's land ties to Crimea

New Ukrainian army brigade recruits take part in a military exercise on 27 March. Veteran troops reportedly air concerns many new troops are arriving without sufficient training

Ukrainian tank opens fire during firing practice in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on 29 March 2023

The leaked document paints a bleak picture of the months ahead from the Ukrainian point of view.

Despite global efforts to supply weapons and training to Ukraine, the document warns that 'enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive.'

What have we learned from the leaks so far? Emerging from the muddy 'rasputitsa' season, Ukraine is worn down after a year of war and will struggle to launch an effective counter.

The defenders are lacking the training and munitions supplies needed to retake ground.

However, US intelligence claims to have infiltrated Russia's military and can warn Ukraine of upcoming attacks.

On top of security concerns, Russia's military remains battered by the failed offensive.

Months before a Russian Su-27 clipped an American reaper drone over the Black Sea, a Russian fighter came close to shooting down a British recon plane in September near Crimea.

The Russian Wagner Group of mercenaries reportedly approached Turkey to buy weapons and equipment for its operations in Ukraine and Mali.

The US reportedly asked South Korea to send aid to Ukraine.

There are 97 special forces personnel from NATO countries in Ukraine, including 50 from Britain and 14 from the US.

Separately, the leaders of Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence agency, reportedly encouraged citizens and officials to protest proposed judicial reforms.

Egypt also once planned to secretly ship 40,000 rockets to Russia, despite being a close American ally. Advertisement

Veterans in Ukraine reportedly worry that new troops are arriving without proper training.

Leaks also suggest Ukraine will run out of S-300 anti-air missiles by 2 May at the current rate, hindering the ability to hold off Russian advances.

In the weeks since, President Biden has committed billions to Ukrainian aid, including high-tech drones, tanks and HIMARS systems.

Accounting for Western-supplied air-defense, reports note that Ukraine is 'unable to match the Russian volume' of fire.

On 4 April the US committed to sending Ukraine more interceptor missiles.

Congress has approved more than $113bn of aid and military assistance to support Ukraine and allies since the war started in February last year.

The American public is, as of this year, divided on whether or not to continue sending funds directly to Ukraine to support the war effort.

This proves a problem for Biden, with Trump and likely presidential candidate Ron DeSantis less supportive of sending aid.

The leaks may fuel the fire of war critics demanding peace negotiations as Ukraine struggles to reclaim its territory.

China has become increasingly vocal about its 12-point 'peace plan', which included calling for an end to Western sanctions, negotiations that would see Ukraine ceding territory, a NATO pull-back from its eastern borders and reconstruction efforts that are likely to benefit Chinese contractors.

Secretary of state Anthony Blinken has raised doubts that China was safeguarding the 'sovereignty and territorial integrity' of Ukraine with its 'peace' plans.

American security forces continue to investigate the source of the leaks.

Yesterday, Pentagon spokesperson Chris Meagher said officials were looking into the leak's source and impact.

He said the US was keen to reassure partners of its 'commitment to safeguarding intelligence'.

The Washington Post also warned that some of the documents released previously appeared to have been doctored.

Information reported on social channel Telegram was shown to inflate Ukrainian casualty figures while downplaying Russian losses.

It was clear that the US remains unsure of the total number of Ukrainian losses.

Ukrainian servicemen stand with Kalashnikovs in a trench near their position near the frontline town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region on April 8, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Buildings destroyed in the eastern city of Bakhmut on 9 April after months of bombardment

Earlier this week, classified documents leaked on social media suggested the US knew more about the Russian campaign than Ukraine's operations, despite investing some $200bn into advanced military hardware and spying equipment for Ukraine.

READ MORE: Russia nearly SHOT DOWN British RAF spy plane in near miss over Black Sea, leaked US intelligence documents reveal Advertisement

Intelligence agencies were believed to have fully infiltrated Russia's military and spy agencies, collecting substantial knowledge on future maneuvers, as well as knowledge of how poorly the Russian war was going.

In light of the revelations about South Korea and Israel, the leaks also remind American allies that intelligence services collect information on them.

Today, AP reported that US spies had caught Russian intelligence officers boasting they had convinced the UAE to 'work together against US and UK intelligence agencies'.

Thomas Rid of Johns Hopkins University said the leaks were perhaps the most significant since WikiLeaks' "Vault 7" leaks on the CIA, revealing the scope of the agency's ability to conduct cyber attacks and espionage worldwide.

Despite the overall concerns around Ukraine's ability to stage an effective counteroffensive, the documents also reveal the sorry state of the Russian military.

Russia continues to push forward with 'human wave' tactics reminiscent of World War I, demoralizing its forces.

Depleted lines have pressed Russia to recruit troops from new demographics, reportedly 'press-ganging women convicts' into joining the military.

Above all, however, the leaks show the US has deeply infiltrated Russia's military and can forewarn Ukraine of planned attacks before they happen.

Russia is, however, likely to adapt its processes in light of the leaks, as Ukraine has been forced to alter its plans.

New Ukrainian army brigade recruits take part in a military exercise in the eastern Donetsk region on 27 March as troops look to recover contested zones in a spring counteroffensive

Ukrainian troops ride tanks, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, near the front line city of Chasiv Yar, on 10 April. Pentagon officials doubt Ukraine's ability to recover significant land

Most of the documents released are some degree of classified, including a number marked "top secret" - the highest level of US security classification.

If accurate, some are intended to be shared with allies, others "NOFORN" and not to be shared with foreign nationals.

Chris Meagher, spokesperson for the Pentagon, has warned against reading too much into the leaked documents, stressing that 'it does appear that slides have been doctored'.

Asked whether the US government expects more leaks of American intelligence, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: 'The truth and the honest answer to your question is: We don't know. And is that a matter of concern to us? You're darn right it is.'
Joe Biden is expected to meet with the leaders of Northern Ireland's main political parties tomorrow as he seeks to intervene in its stalled political system.

The US president will use a visit to the UK and Ireland on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement to underscore his nation's 'commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity' in Ulster.

His visit comes at a time of political paralysis, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocking the resumption of the power-sharing executive - under a Sinn Fein first minister - over its Brexit complaints.

Mr Biden will touch down in Belfast tonight, to be met by Rishi Sunak, ahead of a speech in the city tomorrow.

It is expected that the president will hold a meeting with Northern Ireland's main political parties before a speech at Ulster University.

It came as Tony Blair suggested he tread 'with care and with sensitivity' in his efforts to help.

The US president will use a visit to the UK and Ireland on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement to underscore his nation's 'commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity' in Ulster.

It came as Tony Blair suggested he tread 'with care and with sensitivity' in his efforts to help.

The former prime minister, who signed the GFA in 1998, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'There is a difference between influencing and pressurising, and the one tends to be positive, the other can be negative.'

The former prime minister, who signed the GFA in 1998, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The Americans can play an important part on this but you have just got to insert them at the right moment and in the right place.

'There is a difference between influencing and pressurising, and the one tends to be positive, the other can be negative.'

Mr Biden last night 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.'

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Biden's visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublin's Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins' official residence is within the park's grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at the president's official residence, Aras an Uachtarain.

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patrick's Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The president's trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina.
The Ritz has apologised after a job applicant was mistakenly sent a policy document outlining how 'spiky or Afro-style' hair was banned at the prestigious hotel.

Jurelle Jules appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain today to detail how he had reached the final round of the application process to become a dining reservations supervisor at the five-star establishment.

But he withdrew his interest in the job after being left 'shocked and disappointed' when he was erroneously sent a staff grooming policy.

The policy said 'unusual hairstyles' such as 'spiky hair, afro style' were not allowed in the five-star hotel.

He contacted his MP over the issue, following which he received a call from The Ritz to be told 'their black hair stylist had looked at these documents before and had approved them'.

Jurelle Jules appeared on ITV 's Good Morning Britain today to detail how he was mistakenly sent a policy document outlining how 'spiky or Afro-style' hair was banned at The Ritz

He withdrew his interest in the job after being left 'shocked and disappointed' when he was erroneously sent the document

The Ritz later said the document had been sent to him in error, adding that it is 'committed to a policy of inclusivity and equality'.

Speaking to GMB presenters Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh, Jurelle said: 'It was more the language that was used, the language could have been non-discriminatory, they could have said length of hair and I would have been quite ok about it.

'But the trouble is, I think to myself that I have daughters and now that they have got to be approached with jobs that discriminate against them before they are even able to get into these roles.'

He added: 'My biggest concern was that this was done in 2021, and I feel like the language used [was] something out of the 70s, something that my grandparents had to face when they came here.

'I felt like most companies that I have been to haven't had policies like this and to see something like this was quite surprising, it was disconcerting for me as well.'

During the discussion, Madeley said he was unable to understand why 'any kind of organisation' would take issue with a particular hairstyle.

Jurelle contacted his local MP over the issue, following which he received a call from The Ritz to explain the policy

The Ritz later said the document had been sent to him in error, adding that it is 'committed to a policy of inclusivity and equality'

Speaking to GMB presenters Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh (left), Jurelle said he withdrew his interest in the job after being left 'shocked and disappointed'

Also joining the discussion was journalist and TV presenter Marverine Cole, who detailed her experience of changing her hairstyle before going on air.

Madeley asked: 'No one ever told you to do this, but you felt compelled to straighten your hair! Why do you think it happens?

Ms Cole then explained how how she felt pressured due to a lack of representation of afro hairstyles on TV.

A spokesman for The Ritz said: 'On investigation we have discovered that an out-of-date and incorrect grooming policy was regrettably sent to Mr Jules.

'We have been in contact with Mr Jules directly to offer our unreserved apology for this error and are happy that he has agreed to reschedule his interview with us. We look forward to having the opportunity to meet Mr Jules in person at the hotel later this week.

'The Ritz London does not condone discrimination of any form and are committed to a policy of inclusivity and equality throughout the hotel.'
A 70-year-old grandmother has reportedly had her kneecaps broken by Iranian prison officials in Tehran's notorious Evin jail.

Human rights campaigner Mahvash Sabet Shahriari was said to have been under interrogation by officials when she was inflicted with the barbaric punishment.

She had been serving a 10-year prison sentence in Evin jail for participating in anti-government protests.

The news of the attack emerged from independent Iranian media which said the activist's knees had been broken by an interrogator during questioning.

Evin jail has a brutal reputation for its inhumane living conditions and merciless treatment of its detainees, with prisoners frequently subject to beatings and torture.

Mahvash Sabet Shahriari was said to have been under interrogation by officials when she was inflicted with the barbaric punishment.

Mahvash Sabet Shahriari, with her husband. Her knees were reportedly broken during interrogation in Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran

Evin prison has been labelled a hellhole and has a reputation for its inhumane living conditions and merciless treatment of its detainees

Frud Sabet, son of Shahriari, said he was yet to hear of his mother's condition since her initial trial.

He told RFERL Radio Farda: 'The family is very worried about her health. We don't know where she is, and we don't know if she's alive.'

Shahriari, a poet, was seized last summer as part of the Iranian regime's repression of the Baha'i community that saw several community leaders detained.

The Bahai faith is a religion that counts up to eight million members in the world.

It was founded in the 19th century and developed in Iran and other areas of the Middle East, where its members have faced ongoing persecution.

The Islamic Republic of Iran does not recognise the Baha'i faith and the nation's judicial authorities have repeatedly called them 'spies and enemies' and issued death sentences, arrests and prison terms.

Followers are often deprived of education and banned from working, according to Radio Farda, the Iranian branch of the US-government-funded Radio Free Europe.

'We assume that the overcrowding of prisons and courts has affected my mother's fate,' Sabet told RFERL Radio Farda.

'But being completely unaware of her after issuing such a heavy sentence is not justified,' her son added.

Shahriari was seized last summer as part of the Iranian regime's repression of the Baha'i community that saw several community leaders detained

Shahriari's son said he was yet to hear of his mother's condition since her initial trial

Human rights activists and international organisations have repeatedly called out the Iranian authorities for the 'systematic violation of human rights' against members of the Baha'i faith, with widespread arrests and heavy sentences inflicted on them.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called the Baha'i faith a cult and in 2018 issued a religious fatwa.

As well as discrimination against those from the Baha'i faith, other Iranians are not allowed to have contact with them or engage in business with them.
A children's book about King Charles III has been ridiculed for urging youngsters to have 'big dreams'.

The book, titled King Charles, belongs to the Little People, Big Dreams series which teaches children to be inspired by 'trailblazers' who have an impact on the world.

It features people who overcame barriers for social change, including Harriet Tubman, a former slave, and Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban.

But parents were quick to point out Charles became King because the UK has a hereditary monarchy, meaning the succession of power passes from one ruling family member to another.

Charles inherited the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth II passed away last September.

A children's book about King Charles III has been ridiculed for urging youngsters to have 'big dreams' about being a monarch like him

The 'inspiring' new book aims to help children discover the life of King Charles, the publisher claimed.

King Charles, currently available in hardback for 9.99, features 'stylish and quirky illustrations' as it shares the story of how Charles rose to be king.

The book also has additional facts in the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the royal's life, 'from little prince to grown-up king.'

The promotional blurb reads: 'Little Charles always knew that, one day, he would have a big job to do.

'As the son of Queen Elizabeth II, he was a prince, and in the future, he was to inherit the throne of the United Kingdom.'

The book is said to be suitable for children aged four to seven-years-old.

It is on sale in High Street stores like Waterstones and WHSmith plus online on Amazon.

The book, titled King Charles, belongs to the Little People, Big Dreams series which teaches children to be inspired by 'trailblazers' who have a big impact on the world

King Charles, currently available in hardback for 9.99, features 'stylish and quirky illustrations' as it shares the story of how Charles rose to be king

The Little People, Big Dreams website - promoting the series - reads: 'Now with more than 7.5 million copies sold worldwide, the series continues to grow and expand.

'Introducing children around the world to artists, trailblazers, and dreamers who each made a big impact in the world around them.'

But parents have slammed the latest installation, alleging it offers a misleading message about becoming royalty.

Colleen McKenna said: 'So inspirational to think that any of us can be a king if we work hard enough.'

Rebecca Jules said: 'Teaching children the valuable lesson that if you just believe in yourself, you too can become monarch.'

Colin Poppshed said: 'He dreamed of being the king, and thanks to who his parents were, he did. The end.'

But parents were quick to point out Charles became King because the UK has a hereditary monarchy, meaning the succession of power passes from one ruling family member to another

Mark Plastow said: 'If I try and dream really, really hard, I will be able to get the thing that I was always going to get, due to an accident of birth.'

Rob Heighton said: 'Gobsmacked when I saw this in Waterstones the other day..'

Someone else joked: 'From the 'Know your place' series.'

Amazon customer Andy Dobson said: 'A great addition to this inspiring range of books. My son now knows that if he works hard enough, he too could become king.'

MailOnline has approached Little People, Big Dreams for comment.
A controversial 12-storey 'T*rd hotel' made from swirling, stainless steel coating and earmarked to be operated by Marriot luxury brand W when it finally opens later this year is still a point of bitter debate amongst Edinburgh locals seven years after construction began.

The 'ribbon hotel' - so named because of its distinctive design- is the centrepiece of the city's 850million St James Quarter development but its opening has repeatedly been pushed back - most recently from a winter 2022 date.

However, ever since plans for the hotel were first tabled there have been concerns that its ultra modern design will sit at odds with Edinburgh's nearby World Heritage listed buildings and spoil existing views of the historic city.

As recently as March this year, developers were forced to abandon plans to install an enormous illuminated 'W' sign on top of the building as planners deemed it could harm Edinburgh's World Heritage status by being 'too prominent' on the city's skyline.

Edinburgh's new 'ribbon hotel' is part of a 850 development of the St James Quarter

The hotel has a distinctive design which some have compared to the 'poop emoji'

It has been a controversial addition to the city skyline since plans were approved in 2015

Much of the city's St James Quarter development - which includes a shopping centre, cinema and restaurants- has now opened after being delayed by the Coronavirus pandemic, however the 244-room hotel has been repeatedly pushed back.

Once completed and open to the public, the five star destination will have a host of amenities including a spa and a three-storey penthouse restaurant with outdoor terrace for viewings and drinks.

But even though plans were approved in 2015, Edinburgh's residents have still not all come on board with the hotel's ambitious design.

Despite not operating yet, the hotel is already the subject of a parody Twitter account named 'Golden T*rd Hotel' which claims it is 'like a golden pile of pure sh**e' and the winner of the worst building of 2020.

Elsewhere other locals have expressed concern that the building in its current state detracts from the awe inspiring views of the skyline that can be seen from viewpoints like Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat.

The building has received a mixed reaction from locals on social media

Taking to Twitter this week, one person said: 'Excuse the hot take, but I still think it's total madness that one of the world's most iconic city skylines was tarnished by the architectural embodiment of the poo emoji.'

The post sparked a wave of condemnation against the pricey landmark, with several others voicing their disapproval of the 'hideous' structure.

One opined: 'It's ugly from afar, but even uglier up close, it's not just the awful design, but it's out of scale, when you come round the corner at Register House it's like the giant Puff Pastry Man from Ghostbusters looming over the St James Centre at you.'

Another said: 'I couldn't agree more. It's a real eyesore.

'Also, it's not even open!! It's been empty of life for so long now I'm beginning to wonder it it's a white elephant.'

However there were some who defended the structure.

One said: 'I disagree, it's lovely. Cities can't stay the same, they have to evolve.'

Another agreed: 'It's quite nice to walk around it. Time will tell if it's looks are good or bad.'

MailOnline approached the owners and operators of the Edinburgh W Hotel for clarification on the delayed opening.

A spokesperson for W Edinburgh said: 'W Edinburgh will mark W Hotels' debut in Scotland. W Hotels embraces originality and curiosity, reflecting the city's festival spirit.

'We are excited to be creating new jobs for local talent to be part of this landmark destination, inspiring locals and visitors alike.'
When Northern Ireland marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that brought an end to decades of violence at events next week, it will be Bill and Hillary Clinton taking a bow  with President Biden Joe back at home after making only a brief stopover in Belfast.

As officials consider the sacrifices and good fortune that have allowed the achievement to hold, some are pointing to the pivotal role of U.S. diplomacy and to interventions by President Clinton during his tenure. As the agreement came together, Clinton brought the skills he honed in U.S. politics  from glad-handing to cajoling and late night gamesmanship  to the task.

Clinton, who has been sitting for TV interviews on the anniversary, will headline a panel under the heading of 'the guarantors' next week, with his wife former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton serving as chair. That comes just two days after Biden wraps up his own swing through Northern Ireland and a visit to his ancestral homeland in Ireland.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern inked the deal on April 10, 1998, after negotiations that ran on for two years but ultimately helped end one of the globe's most implacable armed conflicts. Voters approved the agreement weeks after it was signed, helping turn the page on a violent period known as 'The Troubles.'

Guarantor: Former President Bill Clinton has been recalling the makings of the Good Friday Agreement in documentaries pegged to the 25th anniversary, which came Monday. He was interviewed by RTE's Miriam O'Callaghan for one project

'This would not have happened without Bill Clinton [and] the United States,' said former New York Republican Rep. Peter King. 'Clinton was a driving force. He was the first president really ever to get involved. He took on his own State Department and the British government when he gave the visa to Gerry Adams,' King said of the Sinn Fein leader who was allowed to come to the U.S. for a two-day visit.

'Nobody understood all of the bizarre, unusual characteristics of these different Irish leaders. To Bill Clinton, to him, rather than being a mess, it all fit it into a mosaic.'

It is Clinton, 76, whose contributions are set to be lionized during a major conference at Queen's University in Belfast, which come after the completion of Biden's week-long rip to Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Clinton identified the issue as one he wanted to focus on before he took office, and when the time was right, he tapped former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to help oversee negotiations.

'He was a great diplomat, but he also would have been a great therapist, incredibly patient  listening to the same stories time after time after time' said Gary Mason, a methodist minister who was involved in the Northern Irish Peace Process.

President Joe Biden flies to Belfast on Tuesday. He departs for the Republican of Ireland Wednesday afternoon

In this April 10, 1998, file photo, from right, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, pose together after they signed the Good Friday Agreement for peace in Northern Ireland. Clinton called Mitchell's role ''the most onerous part-time job in history'

'And really, I think that was of immense benefit to move people in the right direction,' he said.

Clinton in a new interview pegged to the anniversary called it 'the most onerous part-time job in history.'

On his trip this week, President Biden, 80, will address the breakthrough during remarks Wednesday at Ulster University, which is opening a new campus in Belfast.

'And he'll 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,' said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. 'President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there,' he added.

But while the White House says the trip is timed to be close to the actual anniversary, which has come and gone, Biden will be back in Washington by the time major events marking the agreement take place.

Christopher Heaton-Harris, the UK's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said this week Biden's short visit to Northern Ireland wasn't a snub and that people should 'make the most' of it so it is a positive event. (It didn't help that the assembly in Stormont isn't currently functioning due to a Brexit-related impasse).

Biden's own trip will include tracking down distant family connections in County Louth and County Mayo in the Republican of Ireland  after spending two years in office regularly invoking his Finnegan ancestors in speeches.

Biden tweeted about the anniversary Monday, saying it 'ended decades of violence and brought stability' and saying he looked forward 'to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the U.S. commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity.'

One source never recalled Biden not being highly involved in the peace process despite his perch on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during the 90s, crediting Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and the late Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts with helping provide 'cover' for key steps in the process.

'I never remember him being involved at all,' said the source.

The multi-party agreement brought together the British government, the Irish government, and most parties in Northern Ireland. In addition to requiring armed factions on both sides to lay down their weapons, it set up political structures and guaranteed representation in the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont.

While taking a personal interest in the issue, Clinton used the power of the White House to try to generate movement, even inviting Adams to the White House in 1995 for a reception around St. Patrick's Day.

Critical to the foundation of success for the agreement is that people who had been living through neighborhood violence wanted to bring an end to the terror and were willing to make sacrifices through negotiations.

'People eventually have to sit around the table. There's no question about that,' said Mason.

'I remind people in a little boy in 1972, we had a terrorist every 40 minutes. My life as a child was going to bed listening to the sound of guns, bombs in the distance and sometimes reasonably close. That world has completely gone.'

Clinton himself pointed out in an op-ed timed to the anniversary that the process was 'driven by the people,' and aided by political leaders willing to show 'real courage.'

Former Irish Toiseach Bertie Ahern in a recent interview called the necessary ingredient 'cross community consent.'

If Biden is temped to use his office and platform to try to score a win on getting a power sharing arrangement back on track in Northern Ireland, he should tread lightly, according to former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

'Americans can play a real role but its something that you need to do carefully because there is a difference between influencing and pressurising,' he said.
US President Joe Biden has accepted an invitation from King Charles III to come to the UK on a state visit.

Mr Biden will not be attending the official coronation ceremony of King Charles, which takes place on Saturday, 6 May, 2023 at Westminster Abbey.

Instead, the US will be represented at the event by First Lady Jill Biden.

So, when will Joe Biden meet King Charles in London? How long will the US President be in the UK?

Here is everything you need to know about Joe Biden's state visit to the UK.

Joe Biden (pictured) has accepted an invitation from King Charles III to come to the UK on a state visit

When will Joe Biden meet King Charles in London?

Whilst the White House confirmed that a 'friendly' conversation took place between Mr Biden and the reigning monarch - including the offer to Biden of a state visit - a date is yet to be confirmed.

'During that call the King offered for him [Biden] to come and do a state visit which the president accepted', said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre.

'So they will see each other again very soon.'

Ms Jean-Pierre stated the King and President Biden 'have a good relationship' and see eye to eye on issues such as climate change.

During the call on Tuesday, which lasted nearly half an hour, Ms Jean-Pierre said the president discussed how he enjoyed meeting the late Queen at Windsor in 2021.

She said there was currently no timeframe for the visit, but it would be 'in the near future'.

What else is on the itinerary?

As dates are still to be revealed, it is not yet clear what is on the itinerary for Mr Biden's UK visit, other than the confirmation that he will meet King Charles.

However, the US President begins a four day trip to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, 11 April.

He will begin in Belfast as part of a visit which will also see Prime Minister Rishi Sunak present to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed on 10 April, 1998.

It is anticipated that the president will hold a meeting with Northern Ireland's main political parties before a speech at Ulster University.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

Through his Irish relatives, Biden has occasionally played up the idea that it makes him anti-British.

When a reporter for the BBC tried to ask him a question in 2020, he responded: 'The BBC? I'm Irish.'

King Charles III (pictured) will be officially crowned at a ceremony on Saturday, 6 May, which will be held at Westminster Abbey

Why isn't Joe Biden going to the coronation?

Traditionally, the US have adopted a policy of not sending presidents to such events.

In 1953, then-US President Dwight D. Eisenhower did not attend the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, but the country did send four representatives from the Special Delegation.

The full guest list for the coronation is yet to be revealed, with the possible attendance of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still unknown.

However, heads of state and representatives from a number of key British allies and Commonwealth nations are expected to be part of the guest list for the coronation.

Heads of state from Ireland, France, Spain, Belgium, Japan, Hungary and Monaco will be at the coronation.

All three presidents of the European Union  Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola and Charles Michel  will attend.

Andrzej Duda, the current president of Poland, was the first head of state to be confirmed as attending the event.
A model, a singer and a student have been found tortured and buried in a shallow grave with their throats slit after disappearing on a beach trip in Ecuador.

The bodies of the three missing young women - Nayeli Tapia, 22, Yuliana Macias, 21, and 19-year-old Denisse Reyna - were uncovered alongside the Esmeraldas River near Quininde, Ecuador, last week.

Police are now desperately trying to track down who carried out the heinous killings, as the victims' families plead with people not to speculate that their deaths were linked to drug trafficking.

The horrifying discovery of the bodies was made by local fishermen who noticed a dog sniffing the ground alongside a river bank. They alerted officials after also noticing a foul stench.

Police officers were called to the scene where they dug up and uncovered the bodies of the young women from the shallow grave.

The slain women were identified as (L-R) Yuliana Macias, Denisse Reyna and Nayeli Tapia

The horrifying discovery was made by some fishermen who noticed a dog sniffing the ground alongside a river bank, where they also smelt a foul stench

Their bodies were each tied up, their throats slit, and their mouths covered, media in Esmeraldas Province reported. Pictured: Denisse Reyna, 19 (left), and Nayeli Tapia, 22 (right)

The women's bodies were were uncovered alongside the Esmeraldas River near Quininde, Ecuador, last week

Their bodies were each tied up, their throats slit, and their mouths covered, local news in Esmeraldas Province reported.

Diego Velastegui of the Quininde Police told local media: 'They were young, had beach clothes, bathing suits, light clothing, shorts.'

The young women had left their homes in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas - over 50 miles from where they were found - after heading to the beach on April 4.

After not returning or getting in contact, their families reported the three girls missing later that day.

Crime scene investigators say the women were tortured due to the injuries sustained and the fact it appeared they had been tied up and gagged.

The victims' families have said that they do not know the friends their relatives were supposed to meet.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the women were killed in the rural locality of Malimpia, in Quininde Parish, on April 5.

Investigators have reportedly identified the rental car that allegedly took the young women to the crime scene.

Police officers were called to the scene, where they dug up and uncovered the bodies of the young women from a shallow grave

The victims, aged between 19 and 22, have been named as Nayeli Tapia (right), Denisse Reyna (left), and Yuliana Macias

Nayeli Tapia (pictured) was the oldest of the group of three women found dead together

Local media reported that this was the final video of Yuliana - in which she was singing at a restaurant table with some friends

In addition to the bodies, police officers found a mobile phone, which they hope will help them solve the case.

Yuliana's aunt, Paulina Rueda, told local media: 'All we want is justice, and if the public knows, they should report who is responsible for this horrible murder, because it's three murders in one day.'

Relatives of the slain women, as well as police, have confirmed that the three did not belong to a musical group as previously rumoured, although Yuliana was a solo artist by the name of Siria having been part of the group Las Diablitas before.

Heart-breaking footage has since surfaced on social media of Yuliana singing at a table restaurant with friends before she went missing. Local media in Ecuador report it to be the last footage there is of her alive.

Victim Nayeli, 22, grew up in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas but lived in Quito. She worked as a model.

Meanwhile, the youngest of the women, Denisse, 19, was studying Agricultural Engineering at the State Technical University of Quevedo.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the women were killed in the rural locality of Malimpia, in Quininde Parish, on April 5. Pictured: 19-year-old Denisse Reyna

The victims' families have said that they do not know the friends their relatives were supposed to meet. Pictured: Denisse Reyna

Footage shared online showed the funeral of one of the victims, Yuliana, who was in a closed casket, surrounded by floral tributes

Grieving Paulina told local media that she and other relatives have been receiving threats for demanding justice.

She said: 'I will stand until the last consequences, despite the fact that my life has been in danger since yesterday.'

She has pleaded with the public to not link the young women's deaths to drug trafficking.

The victims were laid to rest on the Easter weekend. Footage shared online showed the funeral of one of the victims, Yuliana, who was in a closed casket, surrounded by floral tributes. She is believed to have been buried at the Santo Domingo Drivers Union.
Two young teenagers have been killed in an Easter weekend tragedy after a car reportedly being driven by a 13-year-old boy smashed into a tree in Ireland.

The two 14-year-old's - named locally as Kirsty Bohan and Lukas Joyce - were travelling in the car outside Headford, County Galway, when it crashed just before 6am on Easter Monday.

Lukas, who is believed to have been in the passenger seat was instantly killed, while Kirsty - sitting in the back - was rushed to hospital but died shortly after.

Both the young driver and another teenage girl, who was sat in the back with Kirsty, are now being treated in hospital.

The injured girl has been transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where she was in a serious condition yesterday, while the driver's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Two young teenagers have been killed in an Easter tragedy after a car reportedly driven by a 13-year-old boy smashed into a tree in Ireland. Pictured: People leave floral tributes at the scene of the accident

All four schoolchildren were friends and second year students at Presentation College Headford, Dublin Live reports.

In a statement last night, the school - who are currently on Easter holidays - said that they had lost 'two treasured members' of their community.

'We pray for all the families and friends of those involved that they may be granted some peace and succour at this tragic time,' they added.

'We also pray for our own school community, that we may find the strength to support each other and carry on. We ask for your support, prayers and the space to grieve as a school community.'

Although students are on holiday, the school have opened their study hall this afternoon from 11am to 2pm to support anyone who is affected by the tragedy.

'You are all very welcome to come and have a cup of tea in a warm and safe environment,' they added.

Members of the public were pictured leaving flowers at the scene of the crash yesterday and today.

As tributes flooded in, local councillor Andrew Reddington told the Irish Mirror yesterday: 'As a community we are all thinking of the two families who have lost their loved children.

'There's a dark cloud over the community in the Headford area. Each and every person is thinking of the families of the young persons who lost their lives last night and are praying for the people that are in hospital.

All four schoolchildren were friends and second year students at Presentation College Headford (pictured)

'As a community we will rally together to support the families but ask for everyone to respect the families who need to grieve the loss of their children.'

Gardai confirmed that they are investigating the collision that took place at around 5.45am on the L6127 at Glennagarraun in the Ballyfruit area of Headford, County Galway.

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'The only vehicle involved in this collision had four occupants on-board, two boys and two girls, all of whom were young teenagers.

'One boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining three occupants were taken to University Hospital Galway where a girl has since been pronounced dead.

The other occupants remain in University Hospital Galway for treatment on their injuries.'

Officers confirmed the road has now reopened while specialists are engaging with teh families of all involved.

Gardai are now appealing for any witnesses and any motorists who may have camera footage.
A top MI5 agent who led the security service's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been announced as the new head of GCHQ.

Anne Keast-Butler will replace Sir Jeremy Fleming as director of Government Communications Headquarters next month, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly confirmed today.

Ms Keast-Butler is currently Deputy Director General of MI5 and was responsible for 'preparation for and response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine'.

The Oxford-educated married mother-of-three and dog lover, who grew up in Cambridge, was previously seconded to the Cheltenham-based intelligence service as its Head of Counter Terrorism and Serious Organised Crime.

While there she played a role in launching the National Cyber Security Programme.

She will take over as head of GCHQ when Sir Jeremy leaves after six years in charge, making her the security agency's 17th leader since its inception in 1919.

A colleague of Ms Keast-Butler told the BBC: 'She didn't get the top post because she's a woman, she got it simply because she's bloody good at her job.'

GCHQ said that in her 30-year career working in national security Ms Keast-Butler had held 'key operational roles' in intelligence.

She said she was 'delighted' to be appointed to the top job and 'can't wait to get started'.

Ms Keast-Butler also described GCHQ's mission 'as inspiring today as it was when it was founded'.

Ms Keast-Butler is currently Deputy Director General of MI5 and was responsible for 'preparation for and response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine'.

She will replace Sir Jeremy Fleming as director of Government Communications Headquarters next month

Mr Cleverly said: 'Anne Keast-Butler has an impressive track record at the heart of the UK's national security network, helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers.

'She is the ideal candidate to lead GCHQ, and Anne will use her vast experience to help keep the British public safe.'

Ms Keast-Butler added: 'GCHQ's mission to keep the UK safe is as inspiring today as it was when it was founded more than 100 years ago, operating at the very heart of the UK and our allies' response to some of the most challenging issues of our time.

'In just the last year GCHQ has contributed vital intelligence to shape the West's response to the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine; helped disrupt terrorist plots; and worked tirelessly to tackle the ongoing threat of ransomware, the impact of which costs the UK dearly.

'I was privileged to work in GCHQ a few years ago, so I know I am again joining a world-class team of people from diverse backgrounds with a broad range of skills, who share a singular focus on making our country safer, more secure, and more prosperous.

'I am passionate about continuing to ensure that GCHQ is an organisation where everyone can perform to their very best.'

National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow said Ms Keast-Butler was an 'exceptional candidate in a talented field' and thanked Sir Jeremy for his service, adding: 'Jeremy's insights and analysis have been hugely valuable through one of the most demanding periods of our recent history.'
King Charles is facing fresh calls to return the remains of a 'stolen' Ethiopian prince who is buried at Windsor Castle.

A favourite of Queen Victoria, Prince Alamayu had been brought to Britain after his father, Emperor Tewodros II, killed himself as British forces stormed his hilltop palace in northern Ethiopia in 1868.

Prince Alamayu was educated at Sandhurst military academy but tragically died at the age of 18 from pneumonia in 1879 and was buried in catacombs next to Windsor's St George's Chapel.

In 2019, the Queen refused to allow the repatriation of his bones, but now a new book about his life has led to renewed calls by campaigners to return them.

However, experts have insisted that moving his bones now would be a mistake. Royal historian Hugo Vickers told MailOnline that it would be 'pointless' to return his remains and explained that Queen Victoria 'generously' took the prince in as a 'great honour'.

King Charles is facing fresh calls to return the remains of a 'stolen' Ethiopian prince who is buried at Windsor Castle. A favourite of Queen Victoria, Prince Alamayu had been brought to Britain after his father, Emperor Tewodros II, killed himself as British forces stormed his hilltop palace in northern Ethiopia in 1868. He tragically died in 1879 aged just 18

The Ethiopian government first demanded the return of Alamayu's remains in the 1990s.

But Palace officials have insisted that they cannot recover them without disturbing those of others.

Campaigner Alula Pankhurst, who sits on Ethiopia's cultural restitution committee, told The Times that the argument is just an 'excuse for not dealing with it.'

'Bringing this young man home means unearthing uncomfortable truths that people don't want to think about.'

New book The Prince and the Plunder, by Andrew Heavens, re-tells the story of the prince and his family.

It tells how Alamayu's father, King Tewodros II, known as 'Mad King Theodore', had wanted to be friends with the British and wrote a letter to Queen Victoria in 1855.

After she failed to reply to that and a follow-up letter, Tewodros took the British consul and several missionaries hostage in a high mountain jail.

A huge army of nearly 40,000 British troops were sent to rescue the 44 hostages. As the successful mission neared its conclusion, Tewodros took his own life.

The prince was buried in catacombs next to Windsor's St George's Chapel (pictured)

Prince Alamayu is seen posing for a photograph in western clothing after being taken to Britain

Tewodros's wife, Alamayu's mother, died on her way down the mountain, leaving her son an orphan.

Alamayu was put under the care of towering colonial officer Captain Tristram Speedy and taken back to Britain.

According to Speedy, Alamayu's mother had told him that he 'take my son and treat him as your own'.

Alamayu was taken to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight to meet Queen Victoria, who later wrote in her diary that he was 'a very pretty sight, a graceful boy with beautiful eyes and a nice nose and mouth, though the lips are slightly thick'.

Whilst the Queen had wanted him to remain on the Isle of Wight, he went first with Speedy to India before the Treasury ordered that he be properly educated.

He was sent to Cheltenham and Rugby and then on to Sandhurst, but struggled with his studies.

The prince caught pneumonia when he fell asleep outside one night. After refusing to eat, he passed away whilst living in Headingly, in Leeds.

After learning of his death, Victoria wrote: 'It is too sad! All alone in a strange country, without a single person or relative belonging to him... His was no happy life, full of difficulties of every king.'

Near his burial spot is a plaque bearing the inscription: 'I was a stranger and you took me in.'

Responding to the calls to return his remains, Mr Vickers said: 'Queen Victoria generously took him in as a great honour and allowed him to be buried next to St George's Chapel, and he should remain there because that is what everyone wanted at the time.'

Referring to the military coup which ended the life and reign of Ethiopia's Emperor Haile Selassie, Mr Vickers added: 'I don't know why they want him back since in Ethiopia they killed the last emperor in 1975.

'Are they so keen to have their imperial family back now?

'He had a pretty awful time, this poor prince. It is pointless sending him back. I don't understand why on earth they want to do that.'

Fellow historian Alexander Larman added: 'The Palace are unyielding on things like this.

'I suspect they won't do anything because if they set a precedent there will be other things they have to do.

'I would be amazed if they ever do anything. It is quite standard policy with the Royal Family to ignore these things and hope they go away in due course.'

Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment. A spokesman previously said: 'We are aware of this sensitive and complex issue and have communicated with the Ethiopian government over a number of years.'

In 2019, Ethiopia's ambassador to London, Fesseha Shawel Gebre, urged the Queen to consider how she would have felt if one of her relatives was buried in a foreign land.

'Would she happily lie in bed every day, go to sleep, having one of her Royal Family members buried somewhere, taken as prisoner of war?' he asked. 'I think she wouldn't.'

Alamayu was put under the care of towering colonial officer Captain Tristram Speedy and taken back to Britain. Above: The pair pictured together

Speedy and Alamayu. The officer took the prince to India with him, before the Treasury ordered that he be sent to school and then Sandhurst

He insisted that the boy was 'stolen'.

The Ethiopian government has previously said that it will repeat its demand at every meeting its ministers have with their British counterparts.

In 2007, the Ethiopian government wrote to the Queen requesting the return of his body so he could be buried beside his father.

'Had he not been taken, had he not lost his father, he would have been the next king of Ethiopia,' Mr Fesseha previously said.

The embassy claimed that a letter from the Queen's private secretary said that she sympathised but there were concerns about disturbing the remains of others buried alongside him.

It is understood more than 40 bodies were buried in the catacombs between 1845 to 1887. It is claimed that it would therefore be impossible to identify and exhume his body.
It came hours before Joe Biden is due to arrive in Northern Ireland

Police have discovered four suspected pipe bombs from a cemetery in Londonderry after masked mobs attacked officers with petrol bombs, stones and bottles ahead of Joe Biden's visit to Northern Ireland.

The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement has already been marked by episodes of violence after masked youths pelted a police van with petrol bombs ahead of President Biden's arrival in Belfast tonight.

Derry's City Cemetery was closed to visitors for much of the day after the discovery of a suspicious device at 6.30am.

Officers carrying out the security operation on Tuesday were attacked with petrol bombs, stones and bottles.

Police have recovered four suspected pipe bombs (pictured) from a cemetery in Londonderry where a republican commemoration was staged on Easter Monday

Army Technical Officers operate remote bomb disposal robots to check for devices at Londonderry City Cemetery

A PSNI vehicle inside Londonderry City Cemetery, which is temporarily closed

Local authorities have called for calm after masked Republicans paraded through the streets of Londonderry yesterday

A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Police have recovered four suspected pipe bombs from inside the City Cemetery in Creggan following a public safety operation there today, Tuesday April 11.

'The operation was implemented following the discovery of a suspected pipe bomb in the cemetery just after 6.30am this morning. Following subsequent searches within the cemetery grounds, a further three suspected pipe bombs were discovered.

'These devices have been made safe and taken away for further forensic examination.

'All of these devices were located in the same area where clothes worn by participants in yesterday's unnotified Easter parade were removed under the cover of umbrellas and burnt.

A PSNI officer patrols at Derry/Londonderry City Cemetery whilst bomb disposal robots carry out checks

The police have said the people of Londonderry are once again caught in a game of 'cat and mouse'

'For a time today, during the public safety operation, our officers again had petrol bombs, stones and bottles thrown at their vehicles. Two vehicles were damaged, but thankfully no officers were injured.'

The police operation has now concluded.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said: 'Last week we warned that we had strong community intelligence there may be attempts to draw police into serious public disorder in Derry/Londonderry, and to use that as a platform to launch terrorist attacks on police.

'That intelligence played out yesterday and today in the form of disorder, involving young children throwing ready-made petrol bombs and other missiles at police.

'The discovery of these devices was a further sinister and worrying development.

'The actions of those responsible are reprehensible and show a complete disregard and utter contempt for the community.

'These suspected pipe bombs were left in a cemetery, a place where people lay loved ones to rest and visit to pay their respects. That is absolutely shameful.

'Colleagues from Terrorism Investigation Unit will now lead on this investigation. Anyone who can assist their investigation is asked to call police, or contact Crimestoppers, which can be done anonymously.'

Mr Singleton added: 'We understand today's operation caused disruption in particular to those unable to access the City Cemetery.

'Public safety was our priority. We thank the public for their understanding, and our partners in the community for their support.'

Cordons were in place for much of the day and one home was evacuated.

Two robots, usually deployed to examine suspicious objects, were seen moving within the site.

A police vehicle is attacked with petrol bombs flung by children during an illegal Dissident march in the Creggan area of Londonderry yesterday

One small funeral was held at the cemetery during the closure.

The operation was undertaken a day after the republican event at the cemetery.

Prior to the event at the republican plot in the cemetery, there were scenes of violence in the Creggan area of Derry/Londonderry when a number of missiles, including petrol bombs, were hurled by young people at a police Land Rover monitoring the pre-commemoration parade.

The illegal parade 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.

Commenting on the security operation, Foyle MP Colum Eastwood tweeted: 'People can't get to the graves of their loved because of the actions of a few with no political mandate and no support.

'Hoping the city cemetery is made safe as soon as possible.'

The action follows a dissident Republican parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday that saw some burn paramilitary uniforms.

Confirming that authorities were dealing with the incident, SDLP MLA and Policing Board member Mark H Durkan, urged for calm on social media and said 'the people of Derry are caught in the middle of this dangerous game of cat and mouse'.

He added: 'All that violence does is create victims. It's time to leave it behind for good and focus on building a fair and just new Ireland for all.'

The US President is flying in to the UK to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which set a framework for peace in Northern Ireland.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has appealed for calm after harrowing images showed masked Republicans parading the streets of Derry/Londonderry while others carried boxes of homemade petrol bombs before launching them at police Land Rovers.

A police van is attacked with petrol bombs by masked youths

The trouble in Northern Ireland came as Jo Biden jet into the UK to mark 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement

Police turned up because one parade was illegal, and their vehicles were firebombed.

John McVea, who retired after 33 years at the PSNI in January, said that the incident reveals it was right to raise the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland from substantial to severe two weeks ago.

The veteran of the serious crime branch said that political stalemate at Stormont is not helping. He said: 'Where there is a vacuum , the terrorists specialise in filling that void. When there is a gap they then come in and exploit it because that is their currency and you saw that yesterday with the petrol bombing where you can tell very clearly see that many of the people throwing petrol bombs are children and young people.

'They are being exploited because that is what terrorist groups and paramilitaries do. Yesterday they were exploiting children'.

He added: 'The threat level returned to severe in recent weeks. It had been reduced for a short period of time. That means that they have the intent and the capability, but if you were to look back to 25 years ago when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, what we have today is nothing like the terrorist campaign then'.

US President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Stormont's main political parties as part of a visit he said will underscore his nation's 'commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity' in Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

He 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 dissident republican youth 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 Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, April 10, 2023

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said he hoped the situation would quickly calm down

Masked members of a Dissident Republican colour party take part in a march yesterday

Former Head of Criminal Investigation Branch, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Chief Superintendent John McVea, says that terrorists are exploiting children into carrying out violence

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'

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster University's new 350 million Belfast campus.

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

It is expected that Mr Biden will hold a meeting with Northern Ireland's main political parties before the Ulster University talk.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Biden's visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

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'

Youths carrying petrol bombs stand outside Derry/Londonderry City Cemetery

One speaker described the event as 'respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead'

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublin's Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins' official residence is within the park's grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at the president's official residence, Aras an Uachtarain.

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patrick's Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The president's trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina.
President Joe Biden said the main aim of his trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland was to protect peace deals as he flew out of Washington on Tuesday morning for a four-day visit.

'Keep your fingers crossed,' he told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One.

Also traveling with him are his son Hunter and sister Valerie.

Meanwhile, police in Belfast, his first stop, laid down a ring of steel, deploying armored cars in a reminder of the violence that plagued the city for decades.

The bulk of Biden's visit will take him south of the border, to counties that were home to his ancestors, but his brief time in Northern Ireland will include a chance to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and other deals that secured peace.

'Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place,' said Biden when he was asked about the purpose of the trip.

'Keep the peace. That's the main thing, and it looks like we're gonna.'

President Joe Biden spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One for Belfast, for a four-day trip that will also take him to the Republic of Ireland

Police in Belfast set up a ring of steel around the city center hotel where President Joe Biden will stay during his brief visit to Northern Ireland

In Belfast, armored vehicles parked up outside the Grand Central hotel, where barriers were erected to close the street to traffic.

The president arrives during a fragile time for politics in Northern Ireland - a day earlier teenagers threw petrol bombs at police in Derry.

The violence is nothing compared with the decades of violence known as the Troubles, but Britain's MI5 intelligence agency recently increased the threat level from domestic terrorism to 'severe' - meaning an attack is highly likely.

The result is a major policing operation. Some 300 officers have been drafted in from elsewhere in the U.K. to bolster numbers, with the whole cost coming to about 7 million (about $8.7 million).

Biden is in town to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement that ended the years of sectarian attacks.

'Twenty five years ago, Northern Ireland's leaders chose peace. I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the U.S. commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity,' he wrote on Twitter.

He will be met by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when Air Force One touches down. And the two leaders will have a more formal meeting on Wednesday.

But the huge security operation is a reminder of the province's troubled history.

On Easter Monday, a traditional flashpoint, youths allied to a dissident republican group clashed with police in Derry, about 70 miles from Belfast.

Police said they had intelligence that a major attack had been planned so when masked teenagers threw petrol bombs at a vehicle, they simply withdrew rather than being sucked into what they thought might be an ambush.

Biden arrived with his son Hunter (far left) and sister Valerie Biden Owens for the trip

Easter Monday brought violence to Derry, where masked teenagers through petrol bombs at a police vehicle during a march by dissident republicans opposed to the 1998 peace deal

There is a heavy police presence in the center of Belfast ahead of Biden's arrival

The following day they said they had recovered four pipe bombs from a cemetery near the city.

'The discovery of these devices was a further sinister and worrying development,' said Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton.

Biden arrives in Belfast late on Tuesday at a delicate political time in Northern Ireland as he helps mark the 25-year anniversary of a peace deal that

And days earlier it emerged that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had disrupted plans for an attack to overshadow Biden's visit.

The resident is due to arrive on Tuesday evening. He will spend only a few hours in Belfast before heading south to Dublin, and a visit that will include touring Co. Mayo and Co. Louth, home to his ancestors.

While in Belfast Biden, who has long been known for his pro-Irish views, has been warned to tread carefully for fear of offending unionists loyal to London and who are boycotting the province's power-sharing government.

The president is expected to meet leaders from five Northern Irish parties on Wednesday.

'The president will have the opportunity to engage with the political parties of Northern Ireland before his speech, and as we've said, he looks forward to continuing to engage them as we work to improve the lives and livelihoods of all communities there," said John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson.

Biden is bringing his special envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III.

Roads have been closed around Biden's hotel amid a huge police operation to keep him safe

And he is expected to float the idea of close investment ties between the U.S. and Northern Ireland to try to end the current political deadlock.

But at times his comments have angered unionists as they tried to thrash out post-Brexit trade regulations.

'The American involvement here has been a positive and a constructive one and fair in respect to the protocol issues,' Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin told national broadcaster RTE, referring to the trade barriers that the European Union and U.K. agreed to ease in a recent deal endorsed by Biden.

EXCLUSIVE: MP warns Biden to avoid anti-British gaffes during Belfast visit: Political foes are waiting to 'weaponize' president's jokes for political gain to derail Northern Ireland's deadlock

President Joe Biden needs to be on best behavior during his visit to Northern Ireland and avoid making any anti-British gaffes that could further derail the region's deadlocked political system, according to one of the province's MPs.

Claire Hanna, who represents South Belfast for the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party, said unionists were ready to seize on any clumsy jokes or asides for political gain.

But Biden has a habit of peppering remarks about his Irish links with memories of his mother's anti-English sentiment and dubious jokes about the Protestant community.

'Any such gaffes would be mercilessly weaponized by the Democratic Unionist Party,' said Hanna, referring to the biggest unionist party.

Biden is due to arrive in Belfast on Tuesday at the start of a four-day visit.

Belfast MP Claire Hanna said President Joe Biden will need to mind his manners during his visit to Northern Ireland. Any gaffe will be seized on by pro-British unionists, she said

Biden arrives at a politically awkward time. Northern Ireland's government has not sat in nearly a year amid wrangling over post-Brexit trade arrangements

The timing is designed to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement with ended decades of violence.

But it comes at a time of political crisis. The province has not had a government since May last year.

The DUP has refused to take part because of wrangling over post-Brexit trade arrangements.

And Biden is expected to meet the leaders of Northern Ireland's five political parties on Wednesday.

Experts hold out little hope that any encouragement from a U.S. president known for his pro-Irish sentiments could help ease the impasse. Instead they fear his occasional anti-British sentiments could further alienate unionists who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.

As vice president, for example, Biden caused huge offence to Northern Irelands unionist community when, during a St Patricks day event, he joked: 'If youre wearing orange youre not welcome here.'

Northern Ireland's mostly Protestant unionist community associate themselves with the color in celebration of William of Orange's victory over Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Hanna said unionists would be looking for any similar slights during Biden's visit.

Biden is visiting for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement which ended decades of violence. This 1975 photograph shows the aftermath of a bomb attack on the Europa Hotel

Easter is always a flashpoint in Northern Ireland, and republican youths clashed with police in Derry on Monday, a reminder that the 1998 peace deal was only the start of a process

While many of Biden's gaffes can be shrugged off as inconsequential, Northern Ireland's febrile political scene means they could have a profound impact.

'I mean, I think from from day one, they characterize Biden's Irish roots as as meaning that he was hostile to Northern Ireland,' she told DailyMail.com.

'You know In Northern Ireland, people go out of their way to be offended. They'll be on high alert looking for something to be cross about in what he says.'

Biden is spending less than a day in Northern Ireland, before heading south of the border.

That schedule has already annoyed some in Belfast who believe he should be spending more time in the province.

But it does reduce the time for gaffes in such a politically sensitive place.

Biden's maternal line emigrated from Ireland during the Great Famine. The Blewitts left Co. Mayo and settled in Scranton, PA, while the Finnegans left Co. Louth and came to New York

Unionists have long been suspicious of Biden and his Irish Catholic heritage. As a senator in 1985 he spoke out against making it easier to extradite Irish Republican Army militants from the U.S. to Britain, a sentiment popular with Irish-Americans but not in Britain.

He has talked often about his mother's hatred for England, which was so intense that she once refused to use a bed that Queen Elizabeth II had slept in.

In his memoir, 'Promises to Keep,' he recalls a degree of embarrassment at his English surname Biden.

And he describes how his Irish-American aunt Gertie Finnegan once told him: 'Your father is not a bad man. He's just English.'

In 2020, as president-elect, he took a cheeky dig at the UK's national broadcaster when a BBC reporter shouted a question at him. 'The BBC?' he said moving on with a smile. 'I'm Irish.'

'It's part of the persona,' said Hanna. 'He's clearly not mean spirited and it's sort of a Dad joke. But it's genuinely not helpful.'
Joe Biden is responding to the staggering uptick in fentanyl overdoses by cracking down on the synthetic opioid supply chain, most of which is entering the U.S. by way of the southern border.

The president's imposition of sanctions comes as Republicans are upping their calls for military action in Mexico  and even conducting bombings  to stop the drug cartels from continuing the flow of deadly fentanyl into the country.

Nearly 71,000 American deaths in 2021 were connected to fentanyl and other synthetic-opioid overdoses, a 26 percent increase from 2020, according to the National Safety Council.

In a December report, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) assessed that 'most' fentanyl distributed by two massive cartels 'is being mass-produced at secret factories in Mexico with chemicals sourced largely from China.'

The Biden administration announced Tuesday it plans to issue new economic sanctions on illicit drug syndicates in Mexico after nearly 71,000 Americans died in 2021 from fentanyl overdoses

Drug Enforcement Administration shows some of the 1.1 million fentanyl pills seized in the state this fiscal year.

The Biden administration released a fact sheet Tuesday morning detailing steps it plans to take to tackle the massive increase in illicit drug smuggling from Mexico, only exacerbated by the southern border crisis.

The main move would be to issue sanctions in an attempt to financially cripple the illegal drug syndicates, which Republicans want to be classified as foreign terrorist organizations because they claim they operate 'more like ISIS than the mafia.'

'Drug traffickers, who are primarily driven by profits, require significant funds to operate their illicit supply chains,' the White House fact sheet notes. 'The Biden-Harris Administration will expand its efforts to disrupt the illicit financial activities that fund these criminals by increasing accountability measures, including financial sanctions, on key targets to obstruct drug traffickers' access to the U.S. financial system and illicit financial flows.'

But Republicans are likely to say that economic sanctions don't go far enough to address the crisis.

While the Texas National Guard has already been deployed to the border for the last few years with the spike in illegal immigration, some Republicans want to move military action into Mexico to attack the root of the problem.

Republican Reps. Dan Crenshaw of Texas and Mike Waltz of Florida, a former Green Beret, introduced a bill that seeks authorization of military force to go to 'war with the cartels.'

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas also said that he is open to targeting drug cartel leaders by sending troops into Mexico  as long as the U.S. southern neighbors agree.

'We need to start thinking about these groups more like ISIS than we do the mafia,' Rep. Waltz told Politico.

Some administration officials have pushed back on designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, claiming that this change in title would not impact any authority to act against the groups.

Migrants continue to flow over the southern border, leading to more confusion and ability for smugglers to get through to the U.S. with illicit drugs. Pictured: Hundreds of Venezuelan migrants approach the border by foot on Monday, April 10 from Juarez, Mexico into El Paso, Texas

'The Biden-Harris Administration will expand its efforts to disrupt the illicit financial activities that fund these criminals by increasing accountability measures, including financial sanctions,' a Tuesday White House fact sheet on the fentanyl crisis notes

The White House noted in its fact sheet on the fentanyl crisis that the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has already designated nearly 100 individuals and entities for involvement in the illicit drug trade.

According to the administration, this includes those tied to significant trafficking organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels.

Republicans blame Democrats for the drug crisis, claiming that weak border policies have led to a mass migration crisis and facilitated an environment ripe for drug smugglers to cross and bring deadly loads of fentanyl over covertly.

The Biden administration has lauded its massive seizure of fentanyl as proof that they are quelling the crisis, but Republicans point out that the amount making it through far outweighs what is recovered.

Listing fentanyl recovered at the border, the White House notes that the DEA has seized more than 57.5 million fentanyl-laced pills in 2022 and 13,740 pounds of powder.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also seized 14,700 pounds in the last fiscal year  a 31 percent increase from what it took in 2021.
A 12-year-old boy yawned and was told to take his feet down from the front of a dock as he appeared in court accused of murdering a grandmother.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today charged with running over Marcia Grant, 60, with her own car outside her home in Greenhill on Wednesday.

Dressed in a light-brown hooded tracksuit, the child sat in the dock in Court 7 with three staff from his secure accommodation and a court security officer.

He gazed around the court as lawyers discussed the case, occasionally leaning back, putting his hands behind his head and looking up at journalists and police officers sitting in the public gallery.

At one point during the hearing, he yawned and was told by one of the officers accompanying him to take his feet down from the front wall of the dock.

Marcia Grant (pictured) has been described as 'a wonderful and beautiful lady with a heart of gold'

Floral tributes and messages left in Hemper Lane, Greenhill, Sheffield, following the fatal incident last week

The boy spoke only at the beginning and end of proceedings, first to confirm his name and then to acknowledge he understood what was happening when the judge explained the next steps in the case.

The Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said the case had to be prioritised due to the age of the defendant and fixed a provisional trial date for August 14.

The judge dispensed with his normal robes for the hearing, as did prosecutor Ian Goldsack and Ben Campbell, who was representing the boy.

He said everything possible should be done to bring the case to trial in August, but he set a fallback date of October 3.

A case management hearing will take place on May 5 at 2pm.

The boy was remanded into secure youth detention accommodation following the 20-minute hearing.

Mrs Grant, described as 'a wonderful and beautiful lady with a heart of gold', was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene of Wednesdays incident outside her house in Hemper Lane, Greenhill.

The boy is also charged with possession of a bladed article relating to a silver kitchen knife alleged to have been found by police officers called to the incident.

A prison van believed to contain the 12-year-old boy pictured as he arrived at Sheffield Crown Court today

A vehicle pictured inside a police cordon in Hemper Lane, Greenhill, following the incident last week

Marcia Grant, 60, was pronounced dead at the scene in the Greenhill area of Sheffield on Wednesday. Pictured: Police officers at the scene

Mrs Grants family released a statement after her death which said: 'Marcia was a warm, loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and a pillar of her community.'

Flowers have been laid outside her semi-detached home.

One message attached to the flowers said: 'You were such a wonderful and beautiful lady with a heart of gold.'

Another said: 'Marcia was such a lovely lady.'
Joe Biden's administration has given some members of Congress access to the classified documents found at the homes of Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Mike Pence, according to a new report out on Tuesday.

The 'Gang of Eight' began getting access to the documents last week, Punchbowl News reported, in a majority victory for the legislative branch.

The Justice Department originally blocked Congress' access after special counsel Jack Smith was appointed to investigate the documents found at Trump's Palm Beach home Mar-a-Lago, arguing it was protecting its investigation.

Later Robert Hur was appointed special counsel to investigate the documents found in Biden's Wilmington home, which date back to his time as vice president.

Lawmakers are going to get access to the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago

But lawmakers who have oversight on intelligence matters pushed back, arguing they are investigating the safeguarding of America's secrets and assessing the impact of the documents' potential disclosure.

Now a select group of lawmakers with access to the nation's highest security secrets will get to see the documents found in possession of Trump, Biden and Pence.

The 'Gang of Eight' consists of the leaders of each of the two parties from both the Senate and House of Representatives - Democrat Chuck Schumer, Republican Mitch McConnell, Republican Kevin McCarthy and Democrat Hakeem Jeffries.

It also consists of the chairs and ranking minority members of both the Senate and House intelligence committees - Democrat Mark Warner, Republican Marco Rubio, Republican Mike Turner and Democrat Jim Himes.

Warner and Rubio led the pressure campaign to get President Biden's administration to give access to the materials to lawmakers and staff.

Federal law requires all presidential records - and especially those with classified markings - to be turned over to the National Archives at the end of a presidential administration.

Both Trump and Biden are facing federal probes for having classified documents in their private homes.

Pence also found some classified documents at his Indiana home in February. He immediately notified authorities and allowed federal agents to search his home.

Classified documents were found in Joe Biden's Wilmington home - above is the entrance to his Delaware residence

On Nov. 2nd, Biden's personal attorney discovered approximately 10 documents with classified markings on Nov. 2 at the Penn Biden Center, his private think tank run by the University of Pennsylvania.

The material dated back to the Obama administration. The National Archives and Justice Department were informed of the discovery.

But the crisis did not come to public attention until January after CBS News reported their existence, earning criticism for the Biden administration, which has promised transparency.

Days later more classified documents were discovered at Biden's Wilmington, Delaware, residence. Additional searches found more classified records - about two dozen total.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took a public beating for saying on multiple occasions the search for documents was over only to have to reveal additional searches found additional documents.

The lack of disclosures, the misstatements, and Biden own testiness when asked about the issue contributed to the impression the White House had not been forthcoming on the matter.

Administration officials countered that the Archives and other federal agencies were notified immediately.

Some members of Congress access to the classified documents found at the homes of Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Mike Pence

Meanwhile, Justice Department investigators have constructed a timeline of Trump's case and the actions they believe the former president took:

May 2021: National Archives realizes some records from Trump's presidency are missing

December 2021: Archives requests the documents from the former president

January 2022: Archives received 15 boxes of material that had been stored at Mar-a-Lago, some of which were found to contain classified material

February 2022: The matter is referred to the Justice Department

May 2022: After several back-and-forths with Trump's legal team, the Justice Department issues a subpoena for additional records they believe to be in the former president's Florida home

Investigators believe after that subpoena arrived, storage boxes, including some containing classified material, were moved from a Mar-a-Lago storage area, so Trump personally examined some of them

June 2023: Three FBI agents and one DOJ attorney go to Mar-a-Lago to retrieve the additional material. They were given a single Redweld envelope, double-wrapped in tape, containing the documents, according to later court filings. That envelope contained 38 records with classification markings, including five papers marked confidential, 16 marked secret and 17 marked top secret.

August 2023: DOJ applied for a search warrant for Mar-a-Lago, citing 'probable cause' that additional presidential records and records containing classified information remained at Trump's Florida home. Court papers show that the original search warrant application showed agents believed that 'evidence of obstruction will be found at the premises.'

August 8, 2023: FBI agents raid Mar-a-Lago: They recover 18 documents marked as top secret, 54 marked secret, 31 marked as confidential, and 11,179 government documents or photographs that had no classification markings.

Trump has criticized the federal investigation of the classified documents found in his possession.

At Mar-a-Lago last week, when he was defending himself against his indictment in New York tied to a hush-money payment to a porn star, the former president launched into a long, detailed defense on why he thinks he committed no crime by having his White House records at his Florida home.

The Presidential Records Act says all material from a presidential administration is the property of the federal government and must be turned over to the National Archives.

'There is no criminality under the Presidential Records Act,' Trump said.

'That is not what it's all about. We were negotiating in very good faith, a proper way in order to return some or all of the documents that I openly, and in very plain sight, brought with me to Mar-a-Lago from our beautiful White House just as virtually every other president has done in the past.'

He condemned the August raid that revealed he had more documents on hand, despite a subpoena from the Justice Department to return all the material he had with him at his Florida home.

'As President I have the right to declassify documents and the process is automatic. If I take them with me, it's automatic. Declassified,' Trump claimed, which is false.
Billy McFarland, the creator of the infamous failed Fyre Festival, teased a possible second round of the shockingly disastrous event that landed him behind bars.

In 2017, McFarland was in the middle of a scandal in which ticket holders, who thought they were heading to a 'luxury music festival' held on Pablo Escobar's former private island, were actually lured to a catastrophic event mired in issues with everything from food to accommodation.

Ultimately, festivalgoers - who paid as much as $13,000 for luxury packages - were left stranded, with unfinished shelter, no transportation, and no food aside from cheese sandwiches served out of polystyrene boxes, images of which quickly went viral.

One year later, McFarland pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and was sentenced to six years in prison, in addition to being ordered to pay back roughly $26million to his investors. He was released in March 2022.

On Sunday, McFarland tweeted: 'Fyre Festival II Is finally happening.'

Failed Fyre Festival creator Billy McFarland announced Sunday that the sequel to his disastrous music event is 'finally happening'

Followers of the convicted businessman were quick to hop into the comments section, some curious about how to score an invite, others questioning why he isn't still in jail

Response to the shocking announcement was swift. One fan replied: 'I'll show up with 100 crates full of bananas. No one will go hungry this time around.'

'I'm just waiting for the documentary sequel,' wrote another. In 2019, two Fyre Festival documentaries were released detailing the cataclysmic downfall of the event.

Join Circle CEO Satvik Sethi wrote: 'If you need any help with planning, there's a great documentary on this!'

When one user asked why McFarland isn't still be in jail, the formerly incarcerated businessman wrote: 'It's in the best interest of those I owe for me to be working.

'People aren't getting paid back if I sit on the couch and watch TV. And because I served my time.'

McFarland asked his followers to tell him 'why you should be invited' to the follow-up festival.

Last year, in his first interview since being released from prison, McFarland admitted that he was 'wrong' to proceed with the doomed event.

'I was wrong,' McFarland said during an appearance on Good Morning America.

'I messed up. I was so driven by this desperate desire to prove people right. I had these early investors, backers, employees, and I think I was just so insecure that I thought the only way to prove myself to them was to succeed and that led me down this terrible path of bad decisions.

'I need to apologize and that is the first and last thing that needs to be done. I let people down... I just really should have cancelled everything and stopped lying.' he said.

McFarland claims his time in jail - which saw him placed in solitary confinement on multiple occasions as punishment for violating the rules by doing several interviews while behind bars - also gave him a new perspective on how to do business.

'I used to take pride in getting things done and not how things got done,' he shared. 'I think going forward the biggest thing for me is building relationships throughout the process. Whether there's success or failure in the business sense, it's more about how it's done instead of taking pride in this "by all means" idea that's wrong.

McFarland famously used a spate of beautiful Instagram models to promote the festival

Celebrity faces of Fyre Festival included Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber - several of whom were subpoenaed for their role in the scam

The gourmet meal packages offered to guests of the festival, many of whom paid upwards of $1,000 for the retreat, were served barely passable school cafeteria food

Luxury accommodations turned out to be tents that looked like disaster relief shelters and barely kept out the bad weather that plagued guests

Guests of the festival were left without places to stay or put their luggage and when the festival was canceled on day one, they were stranded

The models who had promoted the festival for months leading up to its failure to launch each said they had no understanding of exactly how much of a fraud McFarland was

McFarland worked closely with rapper Ja Rule on the failed festival. Ja Rule was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing

Since his 2022 release from prison, McFarland has been public about plotting his return to the business realm

The initial Fyre Festival disaster saw McFarland team up with rapper Ja Rule to draw millions in investments, with the promise of putting on a first-of-its-kind luxury music festival event in the Bahamas with models, DJs, luxury dwellings and extravagant meals.

McFarland paid models like Kendall Jenner to promote the event on Instagram and blasted seductive promo videos and pictures to lure people into buying tickets at thousands of dollars each.

But the event was a disaster, with people arriving on the island of Great Exuma to find a scene more closely resembling a disaster relief camp than a luxury festival.

Court documents described the scene as 'total disorganization and chaos.' The 'luxury accommodations' were FEMA disaster relief tents, the 'gourmet food' was barely passable cheese sandwiches served in Styrofoam containers and the 'hottest musical acts' were nowhere to be seen.

The festival sold around 8,000 tickets for two weekends, with attendees spending between $1,000 and $12,000 on tickets. It was cancelled on its opening day, leaving people stuck on the island without many basic amnesties.
A British Rabbi has paid a heartbreaking tribute to his wife at her funeral today, days after she was gunned down in a West Bank attack.

Lucy Dee, 48, died yesterday after succumbing to critical injuries sustained in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank on Friday.

Her death came just one day after the funeral of her daughters Rina, 15, and Maia, 20, who were killed instantly in the attack launched by suspected Palestinian gunmen.

Lucy's husband Rabbi Leo Dee spoke at the funeral today saying of his slain wife: 'We literally traveled the world together, we made aliyah together. We built a new life for ourselves in the promised land.

'You were airlifted from a murder scene. I can't imagine the pain, physical and mental, if you were conscious in any way for that journey.

'Nothing will ever replace you, your soul is part of my soul.'

The funeral was attended by thousands of mourners who lined the roads in the rain leading to the service in Kfar Etzion, close to the Efrat settlement where the Dee family lived.

One of Lucy's daughters, Karen, said: 'Yesterday, beside the grave of Maia and Rina, I closed my eyes and prayed that you would wake up, so that we wouldn't need to go through this pain twice. My heart is already so full of pain, I am paralyzed by all the pain. To lose your mother is like losing your life. I don't want to move on.'

The fatal shootings came 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.

Relatives and mourners attend the funeral of Lucy Dee, a British-Israeli woman who died of her injuries three days after a suspected Palestinian gun attack, in which two of her daughters were also killed, at the Kfar Etzion settlement cemetery in the occupied West Bank, on April 11, 2023

The death of Lucy Dee, 48, came a day after the funeral of her daughters Rina, 15, and Maia, 20, who were also killed. All were described as 'idealistic, pure-hearted and kind'. Husband and father Rabbi Leo Dee is seen far right

Three days after the attack, Lucy 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

Relatives and friends of Lucy Dee, the mother of British-Israeli sisters Maia and Rina Dee who were killed last week in a shooting attack as the family were driving their car, mourn at her funeral in Kfar Etzion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 11

Lucy was seriously injured in the surprise attack on their car near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank on Friday.

On Monday, Israel's Hadassah hospital announced that she had died. Hospital staff said the Dee family decided to donate her organs to help save the lives of others.

Five people have since received life-saving organ transplants thanks to Lucy, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The Dee 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 suspected Palestinian assailants, and the Dees were on their way to Tiberias in the Galilee for a family holiday when they were blasted.

Rabbi Leo Dee told a press conference at the Efrat Settlement on Monday that 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 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.'

He said that he saw a photograph on Instagram of his car with a bullet hole in it, with the family's suitcases with blood on them, and drove 'like a lunatic' to the scene.

Rabbi Dee told the BBC 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.'

He then hit out at the attacker who killed his family.

Children of Lucy Dee, the mother of British-Israeli sisters Maia and Rina Dee who were killed last week in a shooting attack as the family were driving their car, hug each other next to her body at her funeral in Kfar Etzion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 11

Mourners attend the funeral of Lucy Dee, 48, a British-Israeli woman who died of her injuries three days after a suspected Palestinian gun attack, in which two of her daughters were also killed

Settlers stand by the side of the road with Israeli national flags paying their respects during the funeral of Lucy Dee

Mourners turned out in their droves for Lucy's funeral at the Kfar Etzion settlement cemetery in the occupied West Bank, on April 11, 2023

Maia (left) and Rina Dee, sisters who were killed in a terrorist shooting attack in the West Bank on April 7, 2023

Mother Lucy Dee 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

'This anonymous terrorist with a Kalashnikov, what did he achieve, temporary victory? Where's his future? Is he spending time with his children, to teach them decent life values? Does he even have children or is he a child himself? Is he the product of a broken culture that doesn't differentiate between good and evil so he doesn't see a future for himself?'

He added: 'We will never accept terror as legitimate... There is no such thing as a moral equivalent between terrorist and victim. The terrorist is always bad.'

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 reports.

His wife's funeral earlier today came after Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the 'abhorrent' attack.

The Prime Minister said: 'The killing of British-Israeli citizens, Maia, Rina and Lucy Dee is abhorrent.

'The UK condemns this appalling attack on civilians and I send my deepest condolences to Rabbi Dee and his family.

'We continue to urge all sides to de-escalate tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and end the deadly cycle of violence.'

Israel's ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely said: 'The whole of Israel stands united with Rabbi Leo Dee and his family, following the horrific murder of his wife and two daughters.'

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.

In footage from his daughters' funeral on Sunday, 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 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.'

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

Lucy's death on Monday coincided 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.

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.

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.

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.

Muslim worshippers perform Friday prayers outside the Dome of Rock Mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Israeli police clashed with Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City for second time on Wednesday, witnesses said

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, 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.
Barclays is closing another 15 branches this year in a fresh blow to customers who value face-to-face banking.

The latest series of closures, which will all take place in July, includes sites in Essex, London, Northumberland, North Wales and Northern Ireland.

The announcement means Barclays will now shut at least 84 banks in 2023.

It comes after two of the UK's other biggest high street banks, NatWest Group and Lloyds Banking Group, revealed plans last month to close more than 80 branches between them across the country.

Nationwide and TSB have also announced a smaller number of closures each.

The latest series of closures, which will all take place in July, include sites in Essex, London, Northumberland, North Wales and Northern Ireland

The raft of closures comes despite a survey revealing a third of people in the UK would rather do all their banking in person.

Revealed: Full list of Barclays branches selected for closure 35 Market Hill, Sudbury - July 7 235 Northolt Road South Harrow - July 14 7 The Cross, Oswestry - July 14 9 Castle Street, Llangollen - July 7 62 Station Road, Hayes - July 13 1 High Street, Canvey Island - July 7 61 Bow Street, Lisburn - July 21 3 High Street, Portadown - July 28 15 High Street, Chipping Norton - July 6 76 High Street, Yarm - July 14 1 Gravel Hill, Wombourne - July 12 78 Regent Street, Kingswood - July 6 20 Bondgate Within, Alnwick - July 7 1 Seafield Road, Seahouses - July 14 18 Main Street , Bentham - July 12 Advertisement

People still want to go into their local bank branch to seek human advice amid cost-of-living pressures, despite increasingly being able to do so digitally, the survey found.

While 44 per cent of over-55s said they would rather visit a branch, the survey found it is not just the older generations who are hesitant to fully switch to mobile banking.

A fifth of 18 to 34-year-olds said they prefer to do all their banking in person, according to the survey of more than 2,400 banking customers by professional services company Accenture.

Meanwhile, more cash was handled by the Post Office in March than any month since last September, excluding Christmas when withdrawals are usually at their highest.

People are increasingly using their local post office to manage money as a result of banks shutting branches, which often make it 'the only location where consumers and businesses can do their banking', it said.

Banks say they are cutting branches because they have noticed big drops in the number of customers visiting, as people opt for using their mobile phones or computers to manage their money instead.

Many now offer services such as mortgage calculators, mortgage offers before credit score checks, and information hubs online, as well as being able to switch current accounts, freeze a card or take out new savings products through mobile apps.

But Accenture's research found that a significant proportion of people still want to visit their bank to access human advice, from setting up a savings account to taking out a mortgage or life insurance.

This branch of Barclays in Sudbury is one of those that have been earmarked for closure

Furthermore, while 38 per cent of Britons now have a digital-only bank account, just a tenth use it as their main bank, it found.

Customers still want the option to visit a branch or speak to staff, or have concerns about data security and the financial stability of digital banks, Accenture found.

Big banks plot to axe eight in ten of their branches in Armageddon on the British high street Advertisement

Tom Merry, managing director of banking strategy for Accenture, stressed that the desire for human interaction and reassurance at branch visits do not come 'at the expense' of digital banking.

He said: 'The big banks must balance a fantastic digital experience with human interventions which really matter.

'For some, these can be easily delivered via improved remote video and voice experiences without a branch.

'But for now, for some, nothing beats being in the room when it comes to complex and confusing financial matters.'

He added that it will be critical to find the right role for branches in a digital era rather than being 'allowed to wilt'.

A Barclays spokesperson said: 'As visits to branches continue to fall, we need to adapt to provide the best service for all our customers.

'Where there is no longer enough demand to support a branch, we maintain an in-person presence though our Barclays Local network, live in over 200 locations, based in libraries, town halls, mobile vans and our new banking pods.

'We also support access to cash with our cashback without purchase service, 24-hour deposit-taking ATMs and by working alongside the Post Office and Cash Access UK.'
Melania Trump on Tuesday hit back at 'assumptions' about her stance on 'personal and political matters in a statement that failed to mention husband Donald and whether she intends to support him during his indictment and other legal investigations.

The ex-First Lady's office released a statement criticizing articles using 'unnamed sources' in response to widespread speculation cause by her absence at his New York court hearing last Tuesday and his speech at Mar-a-Lago.

She wasn't seen for 10 days as the former president was arraigned over the hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels, the porn star he has denied having an affair with.

But she finally emerged to attend an Easter Sunday brunch and was seen sitting next to the former president at his personal club.

In a short statement posted to Twitter on Tuesday, the Office of Melania Trump responded to a flurry of news stories and asked readers to 'exercise caution' when reading theories of why she wasn't by his side.

'News organizations have made assumptions about the former First Lady's stance on subjects that are personal, professional, and political over the past few weeks. In these articles, unnamed sources are cited to bolster the author's claims.'

'We ask readers to exercise caution and good judgment when determining whether or not stories concerning the former First Lady are accurate, particularly when they fail to cite Mrs. Trump as a source of information.'

But notably absent was any mention of the former president's legal fight in New York over a hush money payment paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Donald Trump a year after he married Melania.

Various reports have said the former first lady remains angry over the cheating allegations of her husband, is keeping busy raising their son Barron, 17, and intends to campaign with the former president.

But Melania Trump herself hasn't spoken until now.

And her statement - the first since Donald's criminal indictment - still leaves many questions about her level of support for her husband.

She didn't join him in New York when he was formally arrested and arraigned on more than 30 felony charges. And she was notably absent when the former president gave a speech at Mar-a-Lago repudiating the charges against him.

But she did join him for Easter brunch at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday, sitting at her husband's side to mark the holiday occasion.

She and the former president walked into Mar-a-Lago's ornate ballroom to a standing ovation from the crowd, videos posted online showed. The couple sat together, with red velvet ropes blocking off their large table from the rest of the diners.

Melania was seen chatting with her husband, leaning in close to talk as they ate. 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.'

Melania Trump issued her first statement since Donald Trump's indictment

Trump appeared in court for his arraignment on April 4, 2023, on criminal charges surrounding hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels.

Viktor Knavs - Melania Trump's father - stands between Eric and Lara Trump and Don Jr and his fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle; Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos are seen to the right - but Melania was missing from Donald's April 4th speech at Mar-a-Lago

Melania joined Donald for Easter brunch at Mar-a-Lago

Donald and Melania received a standing ovation when they came into the ballroom

The former first lady broke her radio silence online by tweeting a simple 'Happy Easter!' message on Sunday.

For the Christian 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.

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 - with perhaps more indictments to come.

The former president's legal woes continue this week as he is scheduled to return to New York for a deposition Thursday in a business fraud lawsuit filed against him and his company by the states attorney general, according to a person familiar with the matter.

It will be Trump's first trip to New York City since his arraignment last week on felony charges in a separate criminal case.

Trump is expected to face questioning at New York Attorney General Letitia James office in lower Manhattan, according to the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and did so on condition of anonymity.

The former president previously sat for a deposition at James office last August, just weeks before she filed the lawsuit. That time, Trump declined to answer questions, invoking his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times.
Police have arrested a man after a terrifying arsenal of weapons bound for UK-based Albanian gangsters was found in a van.

Six Glock pistols, a Browning and a Helstar handgun were discovered concealed in a van with UK plates along with more than 200 rounds of ammunition.

The shock find will raise fears that Albanian gangsters based in the UK are upping their game in a bid to seize control through fear of lucrative drug markets across the country.

Officials in the Albanian port of Durres found the guns using a hi-tech scanner and are thought to have been acting on intelligence from British police.

The van - a white Mercedes van registered in the UK - was due to have been driven onto the ferry linking Durres with the Italian port of Brindisi, a two day drive from the UK.

Police have arrested a man after a terrifying arsenal of weapons bound for UK based Albanian gangsters was found on a van

The van - a white Mercedes van (pictured) registered in the UK - was due to have been driven onto the ferry linking Durres with the Italian port of Brindisi

Six Glock pistols, a Browning and a Helstar handgun were discovered concealed in a van with UK plates along with more than 200 rounds of ammunition

Albanian media identified the driver as Jermir Kaloshi, who has since told officers he had no idea he was carrying a consignment of guns.

He said:' I'm just a driver. We drive from Kosovo to England, where we serve as a post office.

READ MORE: The blood-soaked Albanian narco gangs that mean people can get cocaine in British cities quicker than a Deliveroo pizza Advertisement

'We receive packages from Kosovo and taken them to England and receive packages from people there and take them to Kosovo, usually furniture.

'I didn't know there was a gun in there, if I did I wouldn't have taken it. It's my fault, I should have checked but I didn't know what was inside.'

Officials at the Albanian Police Special Investigations Unit (SPAK) have told MailOnline the weapons were bought in Serbia and bound for Albanian gangs in London and have given British police a Luton address to look at.

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'At this stage of the investigation information stored in the mobile phone of the driver which has a UK SIM card is being investigated and it is crucial to find the other people involved.

'The driver has so far denied all knowledge of the guns saying he was taking food and furniture to the UK. This is an ongoing investigation involving law enforcement agencies from several countries.'

Violent gangs from Albania have taken over the drug trade in Britain since they began moving into the country after the fall of Communism in 1990.

Officials in the Albanian port of Durres found the guns using a hi-tech scanner. Pictured: The van being scanned by Albanian police

Officials at the Albanian Police Special Investigations Unit (SPAK) have told MailOnline the weapons were bought in Serbia and bound for Albanian gangs in London

Violent gangs from Albania have taken over the drug trade in Britain since they began moving into the country after the fall of Communism in 1990

Among them is the ruthless Hellbanianz gang, who are based in Barking, east London and who regularly post images of themselves surrounded by drugs, cash, guns and luxury cars online as they boast of their criminal empire.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported last year that the Albanian mafia have in recent years 'imported expertise gained from industrial-scale cannabis farming in their home country to the UK' and they also control the country's cocaine market.

The UK government has shown a huge interest on the security of Durres port and this emerged in a large cache of leaked documents, allegedly hacked by the Iranians, and marked 'sensitive'.

They were posted onto the encrypted Telegram channel and reveal confidential negotiations between Britain and Albania over measures to tackle crime gangs and illegal immigration in and out of the port of Durres.

The internal documents published on the Telegram channel include email correspondence in February 2022 between Gledis Nano, Albania's then director of police, and Alastair King-Smith, the UK ambassador to Albania.

Albanian police also used dogs to rifle through items found in the British-based Mercedes van loaded with weapons

The Albanian Police Special Investigations Unit told MailOnline that the driver has so far denied all knowledge of the guns saying he was taking food and furniture to the UK

It is among a cache of 1,400 hacked and leaked emails involving Mr Nano. In one email, the police chief thanks Mr King-Smith for his help, stressing that 'indeed we need your support now and in the future for our joint efforts against organised crime'.

It reveals that Border Force proposes to deploy officers to Albania to help 'scope' plans for a major expansion of ports in Albania and to advise on security measures that could be taken to combat illegal immigration and the import of cocaine into Europe by organised crime gangs.

The memo, revealed in the leak, shows the Border Force role will focus on the Albanian ports of Durres and Porto Romano to 'assess the container traffic, Ro/Ro, passengers, port and law enforcement IT systems, and the current operational capabilities that exist within the port'.
The beachside restaurant in Worthing, West Sussex first opened in July 2021

Kenny and Lucy Tutt announced they are closing Bayside Social on Instagram

A Masterchef winner has been forced to shut one of his restaurants due to rising costs.

Kenny Tutt and his wife Lucy opened Bayside Social in July 2021, but announced on Instagram last week that they are set to close down soon less than two years later.

The beachside restaurant in Worthing, West Sussex, suffered long-lasting effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, the owners said.

Its final weekend will be April 15-16, with the couple adding that they will now focus on their other restaurant Pitch, also in Worthing, a town 10 miles west of Brighton.

Masterchef winner Kenny Tutt (pictured) and his wife Lucy are closing their seaside restaurant due to rising costs and long-lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic

The couple opened Bayside Social (pictured) in Worthing, West Sussex, in July 2021

A post on their Instagram a week ago read: 'We're sad to say that we will be closing Bayside Social in a couple of weeks - our last weekend will be 15th and 16th April.

'We have loved being at this location on the beach, but with rising costs and long-lasting effects of Covid on hospitality businesses, we've made the decision to concentrate on our other site, Pitch in Worthing, and we're really excited for what's yet to come.

'A huge thank you to our customers - we look forward to seeing as many of you here before we close, and hopefully at our other restaurants in the future.

'Kenny + Lucy Tutt, and the whole Bayside Social team x.'

The pair thanked their customers and said the last days of the Bayside Social will be April 15-16, after which they will be focusing on their other Worthing restaurant, Pitch

Mr Tutt, 41, who won Masterchef in 2018, spent 20 years in banking before deciding to take up cooking and was persuaded to enter BBC cooking competition by his wife.

He wowed judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace with his three-course meal of roast scallops and smoked cauliflower, shimeji mushroom and pancetta, followed by squab pigeon breast and bon-bon, heritage beetroot, baby turnip, spiced cherries, bread sauce and game jus, topped off with bitter chocolate, ale ice-cream, malt tuile and smoked caramel.

He later went on to be a guest judge on the hit cooking show.

'Bayside Social is an all-day casual dining and takeaway venue from Masterchef Champion Kenny Tutt with 180-degree views of the Worthing coastline.

Beachside Social is located in Beach Parade and is known for its brunches, relaxed atmosphere and stunning views.

Kenny Tutt, 41, won Masterchef in 2018 after stunning the judges with his three-course meal

Mr Tutt (left) went on to be a guest judge on Masterchef alongside Wahaca co-founder Thomasina Miers (middle) and fellow Masterchef winner Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed (right)

The description on its website reads: 'Located in Beach Parade, Worthing, along the stunning seafront next to Bayside Apartments.

'We welcome our guests to a relaxed beachfront setting with a laid-back ambience.

'A variety of choices are available at the panoramic restaurant, including a seasonal changing menu, nourishing takeaway, indoor/outdoor dining, breakfast and brunch options, as well as fantastic cocktails.'

The news of Beachside Social's closure was met with sadness from locals in the comments of the post.

Emily Mason wrote: 'This is such sad news and so bad for Worthing the council should be supporting local businesses instead of crippling them with rates etc.

'We've been so often lately to eat - so so sad!!'

Richard Drew said: 'What a huge shame - b****y love Bayside.'

Emily Georgina added: 'No!! Devastating! Love the food here and there's no better place for a glass of rose by the beach! Will be sad to see you go!'

Yasmin Govin said: 'Noooooo wayyyy this is my favourite place in Worthing and, in my opinion, the food is far superior to Pitch.

'I'm absolutely gutted!! Took my mum here for Mother's Day and we were talking about sunbathing close by and using the hatch in the summer.

'I am beyond devastated!!'

Customers flooded in with comments expressing their disappointment at the closure

One Instagram user said there was 'no better place' for a glass of rose by the beach

Another resident criticised the council for its business rates, which they said were 'crippling' local businesses

Commenters wished the pair luck as they move on from Bayside Social

One customer asked: 'Where do I go for brunch now?'

Another fan of Bayside Social lamented the loss of 'another vibrant, popular attraction'

Instagram user @hazzachazza21 wrote: 'This is bulls***. Where do I go for brunch now?' to which Hannah Merritt replied: 'Another vibrant, popular attraction having to close - it's terrible!'

Instagram user @meshirtkits added: 'Oh no!!!! So gutted about this. Every time my mum comes down from London it's her fave place to watch the world go by with us.

'So many lovely places having to close at the moment, massive luck for the next chapter.'

Worthing visitor Rachel Morgan said: 'This is sad news, whenever we come down to Worthing we love coming here & was looking forward to the summer afternoons and evenings to come!'

Meanwhile, Bill Barker wrote: 'This is a very sad loss for Worthing. You've created a fantastic destination here with a best class team. I wish Mijj and the rest of the staff good luck in the future.'

The news comes after celebrity chef Mark Hix begged for more support from his local council after they refused to keep a temporary outdoor seating area at his restaurant in Dorset.

He posted pictures of the decking area at his Oyster and Fish House in Lyme Regis being ripped out - and warned it may mean he has to lay off staff.
After Tupperware Brands Corporation warned it could soon go out of business, the iconic company's failure to adapt to modern trends and attract new customers is in the spotlight.

Once a mainstay at American dinners and backyard barbecues, Tupperware containers shot to fame through the company's direct-sales model and 'Tupperware parties' hosted in sellers' homes.

While the brand's sales briefly surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, as families prepared more home-cooked meals during lockdown, the trend sharply reversed last year as restaurant dining boomed once again.

On Friday, Tupperware disclosed it has 'substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern' in the face of a cash crunch and pressure from creditors, after errors in its financial statements left it unable to timely file an annual report.

Experts say financial missteps, the demise of the direct-sales model in the age of e-commerce, and the rise of cheap alternatives - including re-useable containers from food deliveries - may have all played a role in Tupperware's downfall.

Tupperware sales have been in decline since peaking in 2013. A bump in sales during pandemic lockdowns sharply reversed last year, and the company is facing insolvency

Dixie Longate, the drag persona of Kris Andersson, has long been among Tupperware's top sellers, combining comedy routines with actual product sales

Linda Bolton Weiser, managing director and senior research analyst for consumer products at D.A. Davidson, told DailyMail.com that Tupperware failed to invest adequately under former CEO Rick Goings.

'They were especially deficient in IT investment,' said Bolton Weiser, noting that the company's free cash flow instead went toward high dividends for shareholders.

Goings led the company from 1998 to 2018. Tupperware suspended its quarterly dividends in 2019, after paying yields as high as 8.4 percent.

'They also have failed to fix the basic fundamentals of their core direct selling business,' added Bolton Weiser, who officially dropped coverage of Tupperware's stock last week.

Launched in 1946 by entrepreneur Earl Tupper, Tupperware has long remained reliant on the direct sales model, in which individual sellers buy the product from the company, and then sell them door-to-door or at neighborhood Tupperware parties.

In the 1950s and 60s, Tupperware parties and the company's iconic food containers exploded in popularity, and the company expanded internationally, selling in some 100 countries at its peak.

But over the years, the direct sales model has generally suffered with the rise of e-commerce, and companies that rely on an army of individual neighborhood sellers have been forced to re-think their business model.

A Tupperware party is seen in the UK in 1963, as the food boxes exploded in popularity abroad

A Tupperware seller is seen with the company's products in 1989

Former Tupperware CEO Rick Goings led the company from 1998 to 2018. One analyst criticized the company for failing to invest during his tenure, instead paying big dividends

Tupperware long stuck primarily to direct sales through neighborhood Tupperware parties, and online sales through its own website, but last June began selling on Amazon.

In October, Tupperware also launched a partnership with Target to put the food containers on store shelves, but it appears the new sales channels may not be enough to save the business.

Bolton Weiser argued that Tupperware's shift into retail sales has been scattershot, saying, 'they have embarked on too many initiatives to diversify away from direct selling, which have required too much investment, like selling into regular retail channels.'

Others note that Tupperware faces stiff competition from alternatives such as Rubbermaid, Glad, Ziploc, and even the reusable containers from food carry-out and delivery orders from the likes of DoorDash and Grubhub.

'I don't know about you, but I just save my takeout containers and reuse those,' said Yahoo Finance anchor Julie Hyman in a Monday broadcast.

Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData Retail, told CNN that a 'sharp decline in the number of sellers, a consumer pullback on home products, and a brand that still does not fully connect with younger consumers' were all issues facing Tupperware.

He said the firm is in a 'precarious position' because it's struggling to grow sales and being 'asset-light' means it is hard for it to raise money.

'The company used to be a hotbed of innovation with problem-solving kitchen gadgets, but it has really lost its edge,' he added.

Tupperware CEO Miguel Fernandez said the company has 'embarked on a journey to turn around our operations'

The iconic brand has seen its market dominance threatened by competition from other popular brands including Rubbermaid, Glad, Pyrex and Oxo

The company's shares last traded at $1.30 on Tuesday morning, down 48 percent from one week ago, and a 93 percent drop from one year ago

A spokesperson for Tupperware did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Tuesday morning.

Tupperware's dire straights came to light in a regulatory filing on Friday, in which it said it was working to find financing to stay in business, but that it wouldn't have enough cash to fund operations if it failed to do so.

The company is reviewing its workforce and real estate portfolio as cost-cutting options, it said.

CEO Miguel Fernandez said in a statement: 'Tupperware has embarked on a journey to turn around our operations and today marks a critical step in addressing our capital and liquidity position.

'The company is doing everything in its power to mitigate the impacts of recent events, and we are taking immediate action to seek additional financing and address our financial position.'

Tupperware is also battling to avoid being delisted, after the New York Stock Exchange issued it with a warning for not filing an annual report by the March 31 deadline.

The company's shares last traded at $1.30 on Tuesday morning, down 48 percent from one week ago, and a 93 percent drop from one year ago.
The family of a nine-year-old boy who nearly died after falling off his scooter outside of his home are raising money to thank those who saved his life.

Ioan Watts from Bedwas, south Wales, was rushed to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on October 3 last year.

Tragically, he was left critically ill after falling down an eight-foot drop and landing directly onto his head on the concrete floor.

The horror accident left him in a coma for nearly a month, and six months later, he is still recovering from his injuries, his mother Lydia Watts, 43, has said.

But if it wasn't for the life-saving work of the Welsh Air Ambulance charity and Noah's Ark Children's Hospital, the mother says that her son would not have survived the incident.

As a thank you for all the hard work the hospital has undertaken to save Ioan's life, Mrs Watts says that her son will be running the Caerphilly 2k with his brother Rhodri and around 30 friends from his school. Ioan has already exceeded his target of 1,000

His mum Lydia Watts said Ioan fell down an eight-feet drop and landed directly onto his head on the concrete floor. The accident left him in a coma for nearly a month

Describing the nightmare incident, Mrs Watts said: 'We were getting ready for school and he was ready early because it was his brother Rhodri's eighth birthday. He went outside on his scooter and he fell. It wouldn't have been a major disaster but then he slid and fell off a ledge at a height.

'His brother heard him yelling, so we went to see and as soon as we saw him I could tell something really bad had happened. He sat up and was briefly conscious, but when I got to him he had a fit, fell back and went unconscious.'

At this point, Mrs Watts says that she went into 'survival mode' and shouted for her husband Rich to call the emergency services.

She recalled the paramedics arrived at the scene quickly, before the air ambulance crew took over, saying: 'After my husband called the ambulance, I stayed with Ioan and put him in the recovery position. Then the ambulance call handler told me to put him on his back because they thought I might have to do CPR on him. Luckily he didn't stop breathing.'

When paramedics checked her son's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to monitor how unwell he was, where Mrs Watts said they recorded a score of three - which is the lowest possible score and is associated with an extremely high mortality rate.

The mother continued to say that air ambulance staff worked on Ioan for 'an hour or more,' adding: 'They put a breathing tube on him and gave him medication to minimise the swelling in his brain. They stabilised him the best they could and then took him to the hospital. He went straight to resuscitation in the main hospital.

'There were about 20 medical professionals working on him while we stood in the corner in a daze. They put him through a scanner and said there was a bit of swelling in his brain and his skull was fractured in multiple places.'

Once Ioan was stabilised, Mrs Watts said that her son was transferred to the Noah's Ark paediatric intensive care unit, where he stayed for three-and-a-half weeks and was 'probably the illest child there for quite some time'.

Doctors were on hand to continuously monitor Ioan's brain swelling, but rather than improving the pressure, his continued to increase.

This meant that Ioan needed emergency surgery to save his life.

Mrs Watts said: 'They needed to remove part of his skull to relieve the pressure on his brain. They said if they didn't operate straight away, he would be gone.

'They put him in an MRI scanner to see what was happening before the operation and said they weren't sure he would come out the other end because they couldn't monitor him as closely and it took about an hour.'

After the life-saving operation, doctors and nurses continued to reduce the swelling on the nine-year-old's brain - including keeping him at a cool temperature and laying him at an angle.

However, it remained unclear if Ioan would survive and he remained in a coma for around two more weeks.

Ioan Watts from Bedwas was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on October 3 last year after he fell off his scooter and was left critically ill

As soon as Ioan was breathing independently he was transferred to a ward with Noah's Ark's neuro rehabilitation programme. Each day there he would have physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy

Mrs Watts said: 'He was doing very little and they weren't particularly hopeful. He was "do not resuscitate" for a while. They said if his heart stopped beating it wouldn't be in his best interest to resuscitate him.

'Then little tiny things started happening. His pupils started reacting and his eyes opened a little bit. He started breathing for himself and began to urinate by himself.

'After three-and-a-half weeks in intensive care they agreed to take his breathing tube out. They didn't know if he was going to be able to breathe for himself but he did. That was a huge relief for us. They had been talking about doing that for 10 days but he hadn't been strong enough previously.'

As soon as Ioan was breathing independently he was transferred to a ward with Noah's Ark's neuro rehabilitation programme, where he received physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.

There, he spent the next 10 weeks until he finally left in January.

Mrs Watts said: 'We were basically living there from October until after Christmas. He couldn't speak or sit up when he first woke up so we didn't know if he was going to be bed ridden for the rest of his life, wheelchair ridden or incontinent or if he would ever speak again, but in November, his recovery was so astonishingly quick.

'At the start of November he couldn't speak or move, but by the end of November he could walk, talk and play on his Xbox - not quite as he could before as he was still relearning a lot. Now we are four or five months later and he can do almost everything he could do before.'

Although Mrs Watts said the family feel incredibly lucky to have Ioan almost back to his former self, they have been informed by medics that it could take two to three years before the full extent of Ioan's brain injury is known.

The 43-year-old mother has said her son wouldn't have survived the incident if it wasn't for the life-saving work of the air ambulance charity and Noah's Ark Children's Hospital

The mother said that the recovery has been a 'really long process' as her son is 'still changing every week'. However, she said that Ioan is gradually transitioning back to school full-time, with extra support.

In looking back on the last six months, Mrs Watts said the family feel a combination of 'lucky and traumatised', adding: 'It's going to take us all a bit of time to process it all, adding that Ioan 'is aware of what happened and talks about it a lot. He doesn't want to be treated any differently than anyone else, he just wants to be normal.

'He gets upset sometimes thinking about what happened but we encourage him to talk about it but not to dwell on it too much.'

As a thank you for all the hard work the hospital has undertaken to save Ioan's life, Mrs Watts says that her son will be running the Caerphilly 2k on Sunday 14 May with his brother Rhodri and around 30 friends from his school.

Ioan has already exceeded his target of 1,000, but wants to raise as much as he possibly can for both the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital and Wales Air Ambulance.

Explaining why she set the fundraiser up, Mrs Watts said: 'The air ambulance came so quickly when he had his accident and I don't think he would be alive if it wasn't for them. The work they did on him before he even got to hospital probably made all the difference to him.

'Staff on the paediatric intensive care unit were also amazing. They are there nursing your child for 24 hours. Even when we were not sure if Ioan was going to survive, they were always so positive, trying to get the family involved with reading to him and things like that.

'They would always answer our questions and tell us what was happening. They always had time for us even though they were very busy. Once we were on the ward at Noah's Ark, they had a team there who brought toys to your children and things they were interested in and chatted to them.

'We want to raise money for these charities because Ioan wouldn't be here without them. He's lucky that he's recovered as well as he has and he now wants to try and do something positive.'

You can support his fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lydia-watts
A shopper has discovered a possum crawling on top of meat trays in a Coles supermarket prompting customers to try and catch the critter.

Teresa Carratelli noticed the marsupial while she was at the grocery store with her dad in Mitcham in Melbourne's east on Monday and initially thought it was a rat.

Footage of the possum showed it clambering over sausage, mince and steak meat trays on sale on the bottom shelf of the aisle.

Ms Carratelli said shoppers tried to get a hold of the creature after it was spotted checking out the meat specials.

She told the Herald Sun she screamed when she first saw it.

'I got a little bit closer and realised it was a possum, and I thought poor little thing must be so scared,' Ms Carratelli said.

'There were a couple of girls trying to scoop it up with a basket or bag.'

She said she had not seen anything like it in the two years she has been going there and the incident would not stop her from shopping at the store.

'You would hope that all that meat was protected, at the same time you would want them to clean out the area,' Ms Carratelli added.

The shopper also said she felt sorry for the possum and hoped authorities would safely remove it.

Meanwhile, vision of the native animal in the Coles aisle drew jokes on social media.

'Poor possum, someone please direct him to the fruit/veg dept,' one commenter said.

An image of the possum (pictured) showed it clambering over sausage, mince and steak meat trays on sale on the bottom shelf of the aisle

The brown and white possum (pictured) was seen trying to navigate the products that were on special at the end of the Easter weekend

'Just looking for post Easter bargains,' another wrote.

'The one that got away,' a third said.

'Even the possum doesn't want to be Vegan,' a fourth wrote.

'I hope somebody helped the poor terrified creature,' said another.

A Coles spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the company takes food safety seriously and it works hard to keep stores clean.

'We have an integrated pest management system, which primarily focuses on keeping pests out of our stores, then controlling pests should they find their way into our stores,' the spokesperson said.
Whole Foods this week closed its flagship store in Downtown San Francisco due to widespread drug use, theft and violent behavior towards staff

San Francisco is still 500 police officers short of the number it needs

Mayor Breed has come under fire since the brutal murder and separate attack

Facing growing criticism of the escalating crime in her city, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has urged people not to 'jump to conclusions' about the high profile murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee and separate attack on a former fire commissioner.

Lee was stabbed to death last week while visiting San Francisco. Police have released no information about his death, nor have they made any arrests.

One day after his brutal murder, former fire commissioner Don Carmignani was beaten outside his mother's home by Garett Doty. Doty's attorney claims Carmignani pepper sprayed him first, provoking the attack.

Carmignani has since appealed to Breed to enact policy changes to make the city safer.

Rather than heed those calls, she defended the city on Saturday and even appeared to suggest that the incidents were not examples of senseless crime.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has urged people not to 'jump to conclusions' about the high profile murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee and separate attack on a former fire commissioner

Cash App founder Bob Lee, left, was stabbed to death last Tuesday. Former fire commissioner Don Carmignani, right, was attacked outside his mother's house the next day

'I want to start by making it clear that both of these cases the information is still not yet public they are under investigation.

'When some of the facts of many of these cases come out, people are going to be surprised,' Breed told ABC News without giving any further details.

She also claimed social media - where many have complained about the state of the city - was exacerbating the problem.

'It is really heightened events like this as well as people who are jumping to conclusions about what they think is happening.'

Neither Lee's family nor Carmignani have yet responded to her remarks.

Disturbing cell phone footage shared on a local neighborhood app shows a man wandering the nearby area with a metal crowbar in hand

Lee was stabbed to death last week while visiting San Francisco. Police have released no information about his death, nor have they made any arrests

San Francisco's police force is still 500 officers short of the total it needs to keep the city safe, according to Breed's office.

The city is now funneling an extra $25million to meet overtime pay requirements for the officers who are still on the force.

Breed claimed on Saturday that this would be enough to ease the crisis.

Democratic City Supervisor Joel Engardino is among those urging the Mayor to do more.

'Were short more than 500 officers for a city our size. Hundreds more officers are eligible to retire in June and many will. The last police academy graduated 12 new officers. The current academy only has eight cadets.

Lee, shown with his children, was visiting San Francisco from Miami when he was attacked

'Thats not going to cut it when were short 500. This tells me more money isnt the only solution. Yes, we need this overtime funding.

'But we have to talk about the real reason we have a police staffing crisis  because too few people want to be a police officer anymore,' he said in a recent statement.

Harrowing surveillance footage shows Lee stumbling through the city streets after being stabbed at around 2.30am.

The father and tech investor was visiting from Miami, where he now lives.

He died in the hospital after suffering at least two stab wounds, but little else is known about his killing.

The video - which DailyMail.com revealed first - showed him begging a taxi driver for help and stumbling around outside an apartment building.

Meanwhile, one of the largest supermarkets in Downtown San Francisco was forced to close just one year after opening due to widespread drug use, theft and aggressive behavior towards staff members.

Organic food giant Whole Foods opened a new 'flagship' location at Trinity Place in the city's Tenderloin district in March 2022, hoping to revitalize footfall after two years of draconian COVID restrictions severely impacted businesses in the area.

But a Whole Foods spokesperson declared the store closed down last night due to safety concerns for its staff.

'We are closing our Trinity location only for the time being,' the spokesperson said in a statement. 'If we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate a reopening of our Trinity location.'
Horrific photos of JJ Vallows remains were shown to jurors on Tuesday afternoon after the trial was briefly paused while Vallow lodged a failed request to be excused for the evidence.

Vallows lawyers said she found the testimony of Detective Ray Hermosillo earlier in the day emotional and didnt want to hear the remainder of his evidence.

But Judge Steven Boyce dramatically denied the request and Vallow was forced to stay in court as jurors saw pictures that included JJs remains taken to the Ada County Coroners office.

There were gasps in the courtroom as harrowing photographs of the boy were projected onto large screens.

After the medical examiner removed the bag wrapped around JJ, the little boys body was found to be bound by thick layers of duct tape - with 'a thick layer across his mouth jaw line to jaw line', Hermosillo said.

He was wearing red pajamas, a pull-up night diaper and covered in a blue childs blanket.

Detective Ray Hermosillo, pictured arriving at the courthouse on April 10, 2023, was part of the team who found JJ and Tylee's burnt bodies on Chad Daybell's property

Lori Vallow, pictured, allegedly killed her children after believing they were 'zombies'

Vallow spent much of the afternoon session slouched in her seat with her head propped up by her arm, in an apparent attempt to avoid eye contact with anyone else in the courtroom - a marked shift from her previously calm appearance during much of the proceedings.

JJs grandfather, Larry Woodcock, broke down and sobbed in the public gallery during the highly distressing testimony.

Hermosillo said: Through the videos and pictures that we had seen of JJ for the last eight months... the tips coming in, everything we had obtained and looked at, I was able to recognize that same little boy lying on the table to be JJ Vallow. He had the same haircut.

He added there 'was some visible bruising on his arms that the medical examiner had pointed out to us.'

Tylees remains were so badly damaged and burned that the coroner was unable to conduct an autopsy, the detective said.

The distressing images were shown hours after Hermosillo, who searched for the missing children of doomsday cult mom Vallow, described in gruesome detail how investigators had to take turns digging at the property because the smell of decomposing flesh was so unbearable.

Detective Hermosillo apologized as he recounted the discoveries because he was forced to use such grim language in the description, which came as jurors were also shown harrowing photographs of the burial sites.

Vallow sat motionless as shocked jurors heard how JJ's decomposed remains were discovered first wrapped in a black plastic bag bound with duct tape. Tylee's badly burned remains were found shortly after in a pet cemetery in Daybell's yard.

The burnt remains of Tylee Ryan, left, were so badly damaged that the coroner was unable to perform an autopsy

The 'doomsday cult' mom allegedly murdered the two youngsters 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 and Chad Daybell's ex-wife Tammy, 49. Daybell - who will 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. They deny the murders.

During the second day of Vallow's trial Tuesday, Hermosillo revealed in grisly detail how JJ's remains were found by the FBI's Evidence Response Team as they searched near a tree in the yard.

'As they began to remove the top layer of soil, it began to expose three white rocks,' said the detective. 'At that point there was a strong odor. Through my experience, it was a decomposing body.'

He said more wood paneling was slowly and methodically removed from beneath the rocks, which revealed a black, round object starting to protrude.

The hole where JJ was buried was just a few inches deep.

They scraped away some more solid around the round object and it began to take the shape of - it looked like the crown of a head protruding from the dirt, the detective said.

The digging exposed what appeared to be a small body wrapped in black plastic.

A separate dig at the yards pet cemetery later exposed Tylees remains, he said.

He added: As we began digging we were on our hands and knees. We started to uncover just burnt flesh, charred bone, the smell was again of a decomposing body. We had to take turns digging because the smell was so bad. We could only dig for a couple of minutes.

The team used paintbrushes and small trowels to carefully remove solid and eventually we uncovered bits and pieces of Tylee - who we assumed was Tylee.

The best I can describe was just blobs of flesh that were falling apart, Hermosillo said.

Once we removed some of that, under them there was another round blobs - Im sorry, its the best I can describe it - just burnt flesh, what appeared to be put in a green bucket. The bucket was melted so it was kind of deformed.

The flesh and bone was all kind of stuffed in that melting bucket, he said.

He said Tylees remains were a mass. Under the bucket they found a partial human skull.

Three or four detectives climbed into the ditch to try and remove the remains but they were too damaged. We had to go in and pick up the pieces out of the hole, said Hermosillo.

As the discoveries were made, Daybell attempted to flee the scene in his car at a high rate of speed but was stopped and arrested.

Hermosillo, a 22-year veteran of the force, recounted harrowing details over the case that shocked the nation

Lori Vallow, right, pictured with her daughter Tylee

The 'doomsday cult mom', pictured August 2022 outside Fremont County Courthouse in Idaho, fled to Hawaii hours before detectives issued a search warrant on her home

Lori Vallow, 49, had been due to stand trial alongside her husband Chad Daybell, 54, but their cases were separated earlier this month

When her trial began Monday, Vallow sat emotionless while tragic photos were shown to the jury of the gruesome scene detectives found at the Salem, Idaho, property in June 2020.

But on the second day of her case, the 'cult mom' was in good spirits, laughing and chatting with her defense attorneys, John Thomas and Jim Archibald, as proceedings got underway.

When he first took the stand Tuesday, Hermosillo, the third witness in the case, recounted how authorities discovered guns, knives and childrens toys scattered around Vallow's Idaho apartment hours after she allegedly fled for Hawaii with Daybell.

The detective, the third witness in the trial, described in detail the chilling scene after police raided Vallows apartment in November 2019 during the search for her son, JJ Vallow, seven.

Police had obtained a warrant to search the home after a welfare check for JJ days earlier failed to locate the boy. Prosecutors allege JJ and his sister, Tylee Ryan, had already been murdered by the time the search took place.

Investigators found food in the fridge and dishes in the sink, everything that looked like someone had lived there, Hermosillo said. But there were no clothes on the hangers.

There were some toys on the front step, [they] appeared to be a little boys, scooters, toys, there was a little blue suitcase under the stairwell, there was also an old prescription [for] JJ Vallow. Aside from that, there was nothing else, said the detective.

There were several guns in the garage of [the apartment], several different army-type knives, several different empty magazines for various weapons. There were things of that nature in the garage that caught our eye.

Vallow pictured during a court hearing in March 2020

Vallow appeared for the trials second day in a pink blouse and navy trousers, with shackles around her ankles. She once again wore her curled haired below her shoulders.

Jurors were shown photographs of the discoveries at her apartment, including a ghillie suit used by hunters and snipers to conceal themselves, a lot of ammunition, rifles, handguns and suppressors for the weapons. Police also found a frightening Halloween mask, rope and duct tape among the haul.

Hermosillo recounted that after the discoveries at Vallows apartment, police obtained a warrant for a storage unit used by Vallow.

There, they found a personalized blanket with photographs of JJ and Tylee, Colby Ryan [Vallows other son], the defendant Vallow. Family photographs they had sewn onto a blanket.

Police alerted the FBI that JJ and Tylee were believed to be missing and the nationwide search was launched. Throughout the hunt, Vallow maintained the children were safe and never sounded the alarm about their disappearance.

Hermosillo also described the welfare check the triggered the warrants to search Vallow's apartment, after red flags were raised during his conversations with Daybell and Alex Cox, Vallows brother, on November 26.

The pair refused to answer questions about JJ and instead both 'looked at each other' blankly, Hermosillo said. Cops were also unable to find Vallow.

I raised some red flags just based on the way they acted with that question,' he added. 'I then again asked Alex if he knew where JJ was at, and he stated that JJ was with Kay Woodcock in Louisiana.

Detectives say the claim set off alarm bells, as they knew it to be false because it was Kay Woodcocks concerns that triggered the welfare check.

Daybell also denied that he was close to Vallow - even though the couple married weeks earlier.

(Daybell) said he felt like I was accusing him of something, Hermosillo said, adding that he was suspicious of Daybell and Cox 'based on the deception and the way they looked at each other - their evasive answers and their lies.'

Vallow is accused of killing her kids, seven-year-old Joshua (JJ), left, and 16-year-old Tylee, right

The 'charred remains' of Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ Vallow, seven, were found at the couple's home in Salem, Idaho. Pictured: Investigators searching the property on June 9, 2020

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.

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. Jurors heard the bodies were found after Vallow referred to her children as 'dark' and 'possessed'.

Blake argued that the gruesome crime was carried out by Vallow after she became motivated 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.

Prosecutors allege that Vallow and Daybell were religious fanatics who used their faith to 'justify' their actions, with Blake adding: 'What she did on earth no longer counted for her.'
Shocking video footage has revealed the moment a Target security guard punched a woman in the face after she demanded her $1,000 grocery bill be paid by the store in 'reparations'.

Security staff member Zach Cotter, 28, was caught on camera hitting Karen Ivery, 37, at Target in Blue Ash, Hamilton County, Ohio, in October last year after she grew 'aggressive' with a manager.

CCTV footage from the store shows Mr Cotter intervening after an altercation broke out with a manager when Ms Ivery claimed she wanted the store to pay for her purchases in 'reparations'.

Mr Cotter claims he was acting in self defense, and told officers after the incident that she 'charged' at him. She was later arrested for Menacing and Disorderly Conduct.

A police report seen by Dailymail.com said: 'Ivery was very argumentative and confrontational about the whole incident. She was confrontational with officers on scene and didn't want to explain her actions that evening.'

Startling CCTV video footage shows Mr Cotter punching Ms Ivery in the face, causing her to fall to the floor

Ms Ivery was taken away in a police car after the incident at a Target store in Hamilton County

Reparations for slavery have been a topic of growing political significance and divisive debate as a number of cities and states pursue their own proposals.

According to the manager's statement after the incident, a cashier called her over when Ms Ivery asked for her grocery bill of over $1,000 by covered by reparations.

She claimed Ms Ivery said she had a 'privileged life' and that she was 'owed this'.

The manager said that if she wanted a donation, she would need to call in the morning. She claimed this caused her to become verbally aggressive.

CCTV footage from the store shows the woman walking forcefully towards the manager, which led her to put her hands up and back into a nearby counter.

Mr Cotter can then be seen running across the store to interrupt the altercation.

He reportedly told her to calm down, before video footage shows her backing him into the security office.

Inside the office, he continues to back away as Ms Ivery walks towards him.

Mr Cotter then punches her in the face, causing her to crash to the floor and her belongings to scatter around the room.

The footage then shows him using his cell phone to call the police.

CCTV footage shows Ms Ivery speaking to a store manager before the security member intervened

The incident took place at a Target store in Blue Ash, Hamilton County, Ohio

Ms Ivery told officers she wanted to have a 'larger conversation about how money works' with staff

Ms Ivery was floored by the punch, which caused her belongings to scatter across the floor

In bodycam footage from an officer at the scene, Mr Cotter said: 'I told her she needed to back up or leave. She started charging at me.

'I came all the way back into my office, into an enclosed space, and I hit her in the face. I have it all on video.'

After being asked if she is OK by the officer, Ms Ivery replied: 'Physically I am OK. Emotionally I am very, very angry.'

After being told to stop talking by an officer, she said: 'Do you know who I am? Clearly you don't know who I am.'

Later in the bodycam video, when she is asked by an officer about the incident, she said: 'I was asking the cashier to 'reach out to her manager so we could have a larger conversation about how money works, and how provision works, and how it's been working in our community in a very wrong way.'

'This is my Rosa Parks moment,' she added.

A police report from the incident said: 'After watching the video footage we determined that Ivery was the aggressor'.

Ms Ivery was sentenced to one day in confinement and charged $110 for Disorderly Conduct.
John Olsen, one of Australia's most acclaimed artists who was known for his distinctive depictions of landscapes and nature, has died at age 95.

He died on Tuesday surrounded by family, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The Newcastle-born painter's career spanned more than 60 years, with his work exhibited in galleries across the nation and overseas, and he was a winner of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes.

Among his acclaimed works is Salute to Five Bells, which hangs in the Sydney Opera House.

A tribute to his long career will be beamed onto the building's sails next month during the Vivid Sydney festival.

Australian artist John Olsen has died at the age of 95 (pictured taking up the artist in residence role at Sydney's Taronga Zoo in 2011)

Olsen has an acclaimed 60-year career as a painter (pictured in front of his work Flight to Minderoo in Orange in 2022)

Olsen spoke to AAP in 2022 about his affinity with rural and remote Australia, having long captured its wild terrain.

'To be an Australian landscape painter is to be an explorer,' he said after donating several of his works to a regional NSW gallery.

'There is so much to look at and observe about the Australian landscape, how it varies from tropical to the coastal fringe, and the interior.

'It's so multiple. It's a beautiful animal, that landscape.'

After receiving an Order of Australia in 2001, Olsen described art as a form of compulsion, which he started developing at age four.

'Artists are born, not made,' he said.

Olsen received numerous other awards in his long career, including an OBE in 1977.

He won the Archibald for Self portrait Janus Faced in 2005, the Wynne Prize for The Chasing Bird Landscape in 1969 and A Road to Clarendon: Autumn in 1985, and the Sulman Prize for Don Quixote Enters the Inn in 1989.
Convicted double murderer Alex Murdaugh is reportedly being held at the maximum security McCormick Correctional Institution which houses some of South Carolinas most violent prisoners.

The killer was moved into the statewide protective custody unit of the prison following a 45-day evaluation at Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia, according to NewsNation.

Murdaugh, 54, will be kept from the general population because of 'validated protective concerns' and will be housed in a cramped single eight by ten cell that contains a bed, toilet, and sink.

The disgraced lawyer will be surrounded by 28 other prisoners in the protective custody unit and his privileges will be no different to the other inmates.

Murdaugh executed his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at their home in June 2021 - shooting them with two different weapons before calling 911 and claiming he discovered the bodies. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in March following a six-week blockbuster trial.

McCormick Correctional Institution has a violent and chaotic history which includes prisoners rioting, inmates murdered in their cells and drugs being smuggled in via drone.

Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh is reportedly being held at the maximum security McCormick Correctional Institution which houses some of South Carolinas most violent prisoners

He was moved into the statewide protective custody unit of the prison from Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia following a 45-day evaluation

A mugshot released shows Alex Murdaugh with his head shaved smiling in yellow prison overalls

The life Murdaugh now faces is a far cry from the privileged world of multi-million dollar homes from the coast to the hunting lands of the Lowcountry he is used to

Murdaugh is now in McCormick Correctional Institution which has a maximum capacity of 1,128 adult male inmates.

The life he now faces is a far cry from the privileged world of multi-million dollar homes from the coast to the hunting lands of the Lowcountry he is used to.

Prisoners can be held in the general population or in special management, which is reserved for those who are difficult to manage, are on disciplinary, who have safety and security concerns or are in protective custody.

The offenders at the level 3 maximum security institution, located on the Georgia-South Carolina border, have usually committed violent acts. They are closely supervised and held in single or double bunked cells.

Offenders can take adult literacy courses, earn a GED, and various religious worship services and substance abuse treatment programs are provided.

McCormick Correctional Institution also participates in the correctional industries program and inmates are employed in an upholstery shop, in powder coating metal products, and in a modular furniture plant.

It also houses infamous prisoner Stephen Ross Kelly who raped and killed 18-year-old Briana Rabon in February 2014.

He pleaded guilty to raping, strangling and stashing the body of the woman who was found dead in a wooded area of a subdivision in Elgin. Kelly was later sentenced to 50 years in prison for the horrific crime.

Alex Murdaugh, 54, was sentenced last month to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of his wife, Maggie, 52, and son, Paul, 22

Stephen Ross Kelly (pictured here in two separate mug shots), 28, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the rape and murder of Briana Rabon. He is being held in McCormick Correctional Institution

The institution also has a violent and chaotic history with murders, beatings and riots.

Deshawn Livaughn Simmons, 28, was stabbed to death by two fellow inmates in 2020, while Reico Lamont Welch was murdered in his cell in 2016 by a prisoner.

Five inmates escaped from the prison in December 2020 after a guard was locked in a cell and held hostage but were quickly caught.

And in 2017, officers lost control of the prison yard for two hours during a brawl which resulted in hundreds of prisoners running around in large groups.

No officers were targeted or hurt in the incident.

And a man was arrested in January with a backpack filled with drugs and a drone outside of McCormick Correctional Institution and was accused of trying to smuggle items into the prison.

Arnez Thompson, 24, was found with 113 grams of a substance that field tested positive for Fentanyl, four pounds of marijuana, six pounds of tobacco as well as cellphones, cigarettes, cigars, rolling papers and lighters.

South Carolina Department of Corrections charged him with trafficking in more than 28 grams of heroin and morphine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, criminal conspiracy and providing contraband to prisoners.

Following his sentencing, Murdaugh was held in his own cell at the Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center, where he underwent 45 days of testing, which the South Carolina Department of Corrections carries out on every prisoner to assess where to hold them permanently.

As he is a convicted double murderer, Murdaugh was housed with the state's most brutal and violent inmates.

Kirkland is one of South Carolina's most notorious facilities. Far from being safe inside the prison's fortified walls, inmates like Murdaugh are under constant threat from the killers, sex offenders and armed robbers they call neighbors.

Prison officials feared his former role as the patriarch of a prominent legal family makes him a target for other inmates.

Meals were brought to the 54-year-old in his cell. On the rare occasions he was given a break from confinement, Murdaugh was escorted by at least one prison officer.

During his time there authorities conducted medical tests, mental health checks and gathered other additional background information.

The decision to move Murdaugh into protective custody came on March 30 after a recommendation from the Protective Custody Review Board.

His case was evaluated at the Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia.

The disgraced lawyer will be kept from the general population because of 'validated protective concerns.' The four member board takes into account security, mental health and classification, before taking their decisions.

South Carolina's corrections department does not disclose the exact location of inmates in protective custody for their own safety. There are six maximum security prisons in the state.

Many had raised concerns over Murdaugh's possible influence over the judiciary stemming from years of operating within the state's legal sphere.

Murdaugh, the scion of a legal dynasty, was branded a 'monster' by a judge after a six-week trial.

Prosecutors said he executed his family - making it look like outside murder - to cause a distraction and generate sympathy as investigators closed in on his own murky finances.

In his sentencing last week, Judge Clifton Newman described Murdaugh as a 'monster' who continued to lie even when the evidence was damning

Alex Murdaugh with wife Maggie and their sons Buster (left) and Paul (right)

At the time of the killings he faced a hearing that could have revealed what he later admitted to be an $8.5million theft from his South Carolina law firm.

His lawyers Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin filed a motion to appeal his conviction and sentencing.

Buster Murdaugh, 26, the sole surviving son of the disgraced legal scion, supported his doomed father every day during his six-week trial.

During the trial, jurors heard from more than 75 witnesses and viewed nearly 800 pieces of evidence.

They also heard about Murdaugh's betrayed friends and clients, his failed attempt to stage his own death in an insurance fraud scheme, a fatal boat crash in which his son was implicated and the housekeeper who died in a fall in the Murdaugh home - and the grisly scene of the killings.

Eventually, the lawyer took the stand to admit to stealing millions of dollars from the family firm and clients, saying he needed the money to fund a crippling drug habit.

He also admitted he had lied to investigators about being at the kennels where Maggie and Paul died, saying he was paranoid of law enforcement because he was addicted to opioids and had pills in his pocket the night of the killings.

Prosecutors did not have the weapons used to kill the Murdaughs or other direct evidence like confessions or blood spatter.

But they had a mountain of circumstantial evidence, including the video putting Murdaugh at the scene of the killings five minutes before his wife and son stopped using their mobile phones forever.

When he gave evidence, Murdaugh appeared to cry as he denied again and again that he killed his wife. But juror Craig Moyer said he saw through yet another lie.

'He never cried. All he did was blow snot,' Moyer said. 'No tears. I saw his eyes. I was this close to him.'

It took the jury just a few hours to convict him.
Two thirds of US voters say they want Nashville police to release the manifesto of transgender school shooter Audrey Hale  a sign of growing frustration with the investigation into the deadly attack two weeks ago.

Americans by wide margins want to see the screed, which many believe will reveal an agenda of violent trans extremism, and equal numbers are concerned that Hale's attack will inspire more copycat strikes on Christian schools, pollsters found.

The Rasmussen Reports survey heaps pressure on Nashville cops to release Hale's writings, even as officials backtrack on claims she left behind a manifesto, and say her texts are just 'journal-type rantings.'

Walter Hudson, a Minnesota state representative, became the latest Republican politician to seek the documents' release, saying they may explain Hale's killing spree at The Covenant School on the morning of March 27.

'We should absolutely know what motivated someone to shoot and kill six people, including three nine-year-old children,' Hudson tweeted this week.

Americans by wide margins want to see the screed and are concerned that Hale's attack will inspire more copycat strikes on Christian schools

David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, says Hale's writings are deranged 'rantings' and do not amount to a 'manifesto'

Caitlyn Jenner, Vernon Jones, former Trump White House adviser Sebastian Gorka, and other conservatives have urged the Metro Nashville Police Department and the FBI to release the writings.

'Why is the FBI keeping the transgender Nashville mass-murderer's manifesto hidden?' Gorka posted on Monday.

Hale was shot and killed by police at the school within minutes of the start of the attack.

Officers have since retrieved a 'manifesto', hand-drawn maps, a suicide note, 20 journals, laptops, phones, and several writings, from her home and the Honda Fit she left in the school parking lot.

They have been shared with the FBI's behavioral analysis unit in Quantico, Virginia, and detail Hale's 'planning over a period of months to commit mass murder' at the school, police said in a statement.

A police spokeswoman on Tuesday told DailyMail.com the manifesto was still being studied in an 'active investigation' and that she did not 'have a date, if, when, or how we'd release it at this point.'

In a television interview, David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, said he had studied Hale's writings and that it was 'mischaracterization' to call them a 'manifesto.'

Poll Should police release Audrey Hale's writings? Yes No Not sure Should police release Audrey Hale's writings? Yes 201 votes

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They feature none of the 'ideological expressions' found in other mass killers' screeds, he said, such as the 35,000-word essay about the collapse of industrial society by 'Unabomber' Ted Kaczynski in 1995.

'One is specifically a plan, and the other is some journal-type rantings,' Rausch said.

'It's really unfortunate mental health issues you can see as you read through the journals.'

Experts in manifestos have also told DailyMail.com that Hale's writings more likely relate to her emotional difficulties than the blueprint for violent transgender extremism that some have been expecting.

During the attack, Hale fired 152 rounds from two assault rifles and a handgun, murdering three adults and three nine-year-old children

Caitlyn Jenner (left), a transgender conservative former athlete, and Vernon Jones, a veteran Georgia Republican politician, are among the pundits and politicians who want Hale's manifesto to be released

A police warrant describes the writings and items that were seized during a raid on Hale's home

Reporters have revealed that Hale's conservative, Christian parents could not accept she was gay or trans, which may amount to personal motivations for the attack. She was also grieving the recent death of a friend in a vehicle accident.

Hale was born female but used the names Audrey and Aiden, together with he/him pronouns. There is a debate over how to correctly refer to her in media reports. She's been described as having 'high-functioning autism.'

For some, Hale's decision to target the Christian elementary school she once attended, together with her changing gender identify, suggest the attack was a manifestation of violent transgender activism.

Members of America's roughly 1.6-million strong trans community often complain of discrimination, abuse, and even of being victims of 'genocide' at the hands of a straight, or 'cisgender,' majority.

Jason Silva, an expert on manifestos from William Paterson University's Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, said Hale's 'manifesto' could more likely reflect her grievances, inner turmoil and relationship woes.

'The purpose of a manifesto is to spread one's beliefs to the public,' Silva told DailyMail.com.

Hale 'did not spread the manifesto online. Which leaves me, as a mass shooting researcher, wondering: Is it an example of what we traditionally conceive of as a manifesto?'

Another trans person, William Whitworth, 19, who goes by the name Lilly and is referred to with female pronouns in arrest documents, is in police custody over a plan to attack schools and churches in Colorado

US voters blame the nation's spate of mass shootings on mental health problems, the widespread availability of firearms, and social media

Nashville police would be loath to reward Hale with 'a platform and attention' by releasing the documents, as it would stoke the 'fame-seeking' drive that fuels others to commit mass murders, added Silva.

'They may choose not to release it because they do not want other potential mass shooters to glorify and idealize this shooter, and copy their actions and behaviors,' he said.

During the attack, Hale fired 152 rounds from two assault rifles and a handgun, murdering Hallie Scruggs, William Kinney, Evelyn Dieckhaus, all nine, and headmistress Dr. Katherine Koonce, 60, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and chef Mike Hill, 61.

Hale has since been surpassed by another American mass shooter.

Connor Sturgeon, 23, a bank employee armed with a rifle shot dead five colleagues and wounded nine other people at his workplace in Louisville on Monday while livestreaming the attack on social media

Another young transgender person  William Whitworth, 19, who goes by the name Lilly  is in police custody, after officers recovered a manifesto detailing her plan to attack three schools and churches in Colorado.

The Rasmussen Reports survey of nearly 1,000 Americans, carried out between March 30 and April 3 after Hale's attack, found that respondents blame the nation's spate of mass shootings on a range of reasons.

Some 42 percent say killers are driven by mental health problems, while 29 percent attribute attacks to the widespread availability of firearms. Others causes include social media (11 percent), school problems (7 percent), and family issues (6 percent).
A cowboy hat-wearing Republican sheriff in Arizona is running for Senate to compete for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's seat.

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, a hard-on-immigration pro-Trumper who lost his son and granddaughter in a car crash a few months ago, filed paperwork Monday to enter the race. By doing so, Lamb has become the first major GOP candidate to launch his campaign officially.

Sinema changed her party affiliation from Democrat to an independent late last year, sparking further speculation that voters might oust her when she's up for reelection in 2024 after becoming a spoiler to some leftist legislative proposals in the razor-thin split upper chamber.

Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego is already running for the Democratic nomination now that Sinema is out of that primary race. He has taken the position of attacking Sinema's record as a moderate.

Arizona's Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb filed paperwork to run for Senate in Arizona in 2024

He would be competing for independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's (left) seat as her term comes to an end. She switched her party affiliation from Democrat last year, which has opened the way for a new Democrat to run. Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego (right) filled that void and entered the primary race for the Senate seat

Failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has also been mulling a primary bid for Sinema's Arizona seat, which could turn into a bitter battle between the two MAGA-type candidates.

Arizona, a southern border state, is second to Texas in bearing the brunt of the migration crisis  and many Republicans are pushing for more harsh laws to quell the surging flow from Mexico.

Lamb's first priority as a senator on his now-live campaign website is to 'secure the border.'

'I have fought on the frontlines against the unmitigated disaster on the Southern Border created by Joe Biden and the Democrats,' a statement on the priority reads. 'Americans, especially citizens in border states like Arizona, have been betrayed by weak leadership in Washington.'

'Allowing unrestricted illegal immigration is unfair to legal immigrants who played by the rules and waited in line,' he continued. 'America needs a return to sanity with a merit-based immigration system that upholds the rule of law.

'It is a false choice that we cannot simultaneously be a nation of laws and a generous, welcoming nation.'

For weeks, Lamb has hinted at a run  and his website claims: 'Washington needs a new Sheriff in town.'

Whoever wins the Republican primary will likely end up in a three-way race between Sinema and Gallego.

Sinema, however, has not yet said whether she is running for reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2024 to continue serving alongside Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly.

In recent years, Lamb has developed a more high-profile persona within the conservative world  frequently appearing on Fox News to defend former President Trump and denounce President Joe Biden's immigration policies.

Lamb came under fire from liberals during the coronavirus pandemic for refusing to enforce or observe COVID-related shutdown orders.

The sheriff backed Lake and failed senate candidate Blake Masters, a venture capitalist, in their respective campaigns.

Failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is also mulling a run for the Senate in 2024

Lamb has a hard-line immigration approach and has taken to Fox News to go to bat for former President Donald Trump in recent years. The two are pictured together on April 5, 2019 during the then-president's visit with law enforcement at the southern border in Calexico, California

Both Lake and Masters, who ran far-right campaigns, have not ruled out running for Sinema's seat.

'If I was a betting man, which I'm not, I'd bet the farm that Kari Lake ends up running for Senate,' her senior adviser Colton Duncan said in a statement.

He added: 'I'm 99 percent sure she'll run, and if she does, I'm 100 percent certain she will win. However, Kari is entirely dedicated to her legal battle.'

In a December 2022 collision, Lamb's son Cooper and his 1-year-old daughter died at the scene. Cooper's fiance was severely injured and in critical condition  she died about a week after the crash.

Brian Torres, 21, was driving the truck that collided with Lamb's son and granddaughter. He was initially arrested for DUI and Maricopa County Attorney's Office submitted charges of three counts of manslaughter against him in February, a Class 2 felony.

Analysis of Torres' blood shows he was below the legal limit of alcohol in his system to be able to drive, but he also had THC, the substance found in marijuana, in his system at the time of the crash. He was also speeding by at least 20 miles per hour, according to Gilbert Police officials.
A woman was forced to have surgery on her finger after what she thought was a spot turned out to be a false widow spider bite that developed into a pustule so painful she thought her 'finger would explode.'

Crystal Rudd, 28, first noticed the painful pimple on her finger on March 25 and tried to pop it with a sterilised pin.

However the Lincolnshire mother-of-three said the pain didn't go away and she went to A&E a few days later where medics suspected it was a horsefly bite.

She was sent away with antibiotics and told to take antihistamines - but the swelling continued and the redness in her hand was beginning to spread to her arm.

In actuality, Mrs Rudd had been bitten by a false widow spider - the most venomous arachnid in the UK.

Crystal Rudd, 28, had the scare of her life after she was bitten on her finger and required surgery

The mother-of-three claims she was bitten by a False Widow spider (pictured)

Initially she assumed that the small mark on her finger was just a spot

But as time went by the bite began to fester, swell and become more painful

The spiders were first spotted in the UK in Torquay in 1879, and it is thought that it may have made its way to these shores from Madeira or the Canary Islands in a shipment of bananas.

According to the Natural History Museum, while the spider has a venomous bite it is not particularly potent.

Their guidance reads: 'Although false widows do have a venomous bite, the venom is not particularly potent. Usually the only symptom is pain at the site which may radiate away from the bite.

What is the false widow spider and what to do if you get bitten False widow spiders are distinctive for their shiny, black flesh, bulbous bodies, thick legs and skull-like patterns. Millions of false widows, Britain's most venomous spider, have been found across the UK and the population is believed to be growing. The species has a brown bulbous abdomen with cream markings that look like a skull. They have long legs and can reach about 15mm in size. Also known as steatoda nobilis, the spider is frequently confused for the black widow, which has deadly venom. The Natural History Museum says that warmer summers mean the spider is spreading northwards through the UK, having previously been found mainly in southern England. IF YOU GET BITTEN... The first thing you should do is wash the area thoroughly with soap and water to prevent infection - and don't scratch, as if you break the skin there's more chance for bacteria to get in. Cover bites with a plaster and apply an antihistamine sting cream to calm any inflammation or itching. Any redness, pain or swelling should subside after three days. Be alert to potential signs of infection, such as weeping blisters or painful swelling, that continue to get worse after a few days. If this happens, seek advice from your GP. Advertisement

'It ordinarily lasts between one and 12 hours, and rarely for more than 24 hours.

'Often, the symptoms are no worse than the pain of a wasp sting.

'There are sometimes reports of false widow bites that present with more sinister symptoms like rotting flesh and excruciating pain. But these are usually not backed up with formal spider identification.

'The extreme side effects experienced are most likely the result of a secondary infection, likely bacterial, if the wound is not kept clean.'

By April 1, Mrs Rudd was in so much pain she couldn't sleep and said her finger was so tight and sore it felt like it was going to split open.

She said: 'The pain began to become excruciating.

'It began to grow bigger and bigger.

'I was prescribed stronger antibiotics but the pain was so bad that I couldn't bend my knuckles properly and it was too painful to look after my children.

'I had to ask my eldest - who is eight- to help me get dressed because I couldn't move my hand.

'The pain was down to my elbow, it was all around my forearm like it felt bruised and tender like I pulled a muscle.

'My finger where I was bit, it was angry red and very tight it felt like my finger was going to split open.

'It felt like my finger was going to explode.'

The next day her husband Stephen Rudd, 25, took her to Peterborough City Hospital.

Medics took blood and X-rayed her finger before telling her it was False widow spider bite.

She was rushed for surgery on April 3 where doctors cut her finger open to clean and remove the infection around the knuckle join.

She said: 'In A&E I saw a triage nurse who I showed the progression photos to.

'She said it looked like from the photos it's getting better.

'I said it's not and it was very painful but she suggested I go home and carry on the stronger antibiotics.

'I was in shock I didn't know what to do.

'I wanted the pain to stop and I felt I wanted to cut my finger off to help as it was so tight and swollen.

'I asked if I could have someone else look.

'On the ward I had a doctor speak to me and he said 'that looks like a false widow spider bite'.

'He said he doesn't mess about and gets things done.

'He said I would have an operation, they wanted to cut from my knuckle to just past the bite to clean it and remove the infection and around the knuckle join.'

Eventually the pain became unbearable and she took her finger into hospital to have it looked at

Crystal was rushed for surgery where doctors cut her finger open to clean and remove the infection

Following her surgery she still doesn't have mobility in her hand as it is bandaged up and might need physio for her finger in the future

Mrs Rudd was released a few days later but she still doesn't' have mobility in her hand as it is bandaged up.

She said she might need physio for her finger in the future.

The stay-at-home mother said she wouldn't want anyone else to go through the same terrifying ordeal and is urging people to be vigilant around spiders.

She said: 'In recovery I woke for pain relief it felt horrible but when back on the ward I felt relief and I was glad it was done and the pain in arm, elbow had gone.

'The next day I had the doctor back in the morning he got a nurse to remove the bandage to have a look and change the dressing.

'I saw my finger I felt sick and was shocked how bad it looked.

'I wouldn't want anyone to have to go through what I did being in that pain.

'Not being able to get dressed, cook, I wasn't able to mother my children.

'I went to A&E very early on when I noticed in two days but some people may not and go for even longer than I did.

'People need to be vigilant.'
Laughing at someone when they fall over at work isn't harassment, a judge has ruled - as a pub worker lost a tribunal claim after his boss chuckled when he slipped over.

Kesarajith Perera was left red faced after taking a tumble on a patch of oil at The George pub in Harrow, London, prompting his manager Hesham Badra to laugh out loud at his expense.

Mr Perera was later dismissed over an unrelated matter, prompting him to sue Stonegate Pub Company Ltd claiming racial and religious harassment and cite Mr Badra's response to his accident as evidence.

But employment judge David Maxwell threw out his case, saying that the 'slapstick element' of someone falling over was likely to provoke laughter.

'Whilst it might be tempting to hope that one colleague would only ever react in a sympathetic way towards the misfortune of another, common experience suggests this is not always the case,' he said.

Kesarajith Perera was left red faced after taking a tumble on a patch of oil at The George pub in Harrow, London

The tribunal, held in Watford, heard Mr Perera started working at The George in January 2020 as a kitchen team member before suffering the fall in March.

In October, following failure to provide documentation for his proof of right to work in the UK, he was dismissed, prompting him to take the pub's owners to a tribunal complaining of racism.

School business manager who lost her job of 25 years just 17 days before she was eligible for her pension wins age tribunal Advertisement

Mr Perera suggested his boss had deliberately put oil on the floor to make him slip up before laughing when he succeeded.

However, his claims were dismissed, with the panel ruling that it was 'ridiculous' to think Mr Bandara put oil on the floor deliberately.

'Unfortunately, it appears to us, Mr Perera has a tendency to jump to conclusions when he encounters misfortune,' the tribunal said.

'Furthermore, Mr Perera's allegation was undermined by his own evidence, which was to the effect that the location where he fell was one prone to spillages.'

The panel concluded the laughter had nothing to do with Mr Perera's race or religion.

Mr Perera's additional complaint that he had been given the 'full time role of cleaning toilets' was also dismissed.

Judge Maxwell added: 'Cleaning the toilets could scarcely be made into a full-time role.

'Mr Perera's objection was the same as before - this was an unpleasant duty he did not think he should have to carry out.'

Employment judge David Maxwell threw out his case, saying that the 'slapstick element' of someone falling over was likely to provoke laughter

Dismissing his claims of harassment, Judge Maxwell said: 'None of the treatment complained of had the proscribed purpose or effect.

'The conduct itself, objectively, came nowhere near having the proscribed effect, and his view of matters was unreasonable.'

However, the tribunal did rule in his favour regarding unlawful deductions of wages and awarded him 1,426.11.

He was also handed 908.91 for the pub's 'abysmal' paperwork after he was not provided with a written particulars of employment.
The Florida teacher reportedly instructed her students to fight under certain rules, including 'no screaming' and 'no phones

Angel Footman, 23, was arrested after allegedly hosting student brawls at Griffin Middle School in Tallahassee

A Florida middle school teacher has been arrested after allegedly hosting fight-club style brawls in her classroom.

Angel Footman, 23, reportedly allowed her students to erupt into frenzied fights while she sat at her desk, under strict rules including 'no screaming' and 'no pulling hair'.

According to documents obtained by WCTV, the 23-year-old was caught after students alerted a school resource deputy that they were repeatedly involved in fights planned by the educator.

School administrators at Griffin Middle School in Tallahassee were also reportedly shown videos of the student fights occurring on March 22 and March 23.

Angel Footman, 23, is facing four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor

The educator allegedly hosted a series of fights from inside her classroom

After being investigated for the in-classroom brawls, the documents reportedly indicated that several sixth-grade girls told detectives that not only did they participate in planned fights, they were also invited back for more.

The schoolgirls also alleged that Footman would give instructions during the brawls, including '30 seconds, no screaming, no yelling, no phones.'

In a probable cause affidavit, a detective says they reviewed videos of Footman sitting at her desk failing to intervene in the fighting.

The document also adds that no records of the educator ever reporting the clashes to administrators were found in the investigation.

'Footman stated outright that she knows she has poor classroom management skills,' the documents stated, which also alleged students were pulled out of other classes to participate in the fights.

Footman denied orchestrating the fights in any way when confronted by investigators, but reportedly admitted failing to report, call for help or intervene when the students fights broke out.

The 23-year-old is facing four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Ministers must begin 'tough talking' to secure a migrant returns agreement with France, security experts said today, after it emerged terror suspects have exploited the Channel crisis to reach Britain.

The Mail revealed today that 19 men with terrorism links arrived in the UK by small boat across last year and are living freely in this country.

Some of the men  who included five with links to Islamic State and its offshoots  are understood to have lodged asylum claims and are housed in hotels at the taxpayers' expense.

Downing Street insisted any terror suspects who slip across the Channel will be subject to 'law enforcement measures'.

Lord Carlile KC the former terrorism watchdog, said: 'This is not a legal problem it is a political problem and it seems to me that the UK is playing it far too softly with Europe, and particularly France.

Ministers must begin 'tough talking' to secure a migrant returns agreement with France, security experts said today, after it emerged terror suspects have exploited the Channel crisis to reach Britain (pictured: migrants crossing the English Channel)

Lord Carlile, who was the Government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation for nine years until 2011, added that the 19 should be placed on Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures

'It's time for some tough talking between the UK and Europe, including France.

'The Home Office is chaotically incompetent to remove people who should not be here, starting with suspected terrorists.'

He added: 'It is absolutely not a surprise to me that suspected terrorists have been able to reach the UK hidden among refugees.

'It illustrates a much bigger problem, which is the porosity of the very disorganised system which is in place between Britain and France.

'The Prime Minister has announced plans to give 500million to France to prevent boats reaching Britain, but what have the French actually done?'

Lord Carlile, who was the Government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation for nine years until 2011, added that the 19 should be placed on Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures, (TPIMs).

They replaced 'control orders' in 2011 and can impose curfews and other restrictions  including access to the internet  on terror suspects.

'If these people are not already under TPIMs they should be placed under them without delay, because if they are properly implemented it should help ensure they can do no harm,' Lord Carlile said.

A group of migrants being brought ashore on a boat at Dover in Kent

The Home Office declined to set out any specific measures which may have been taken against the 19 arrivals.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister refused to comment in detail on the Mail's revelation but said any suspects identified by the security services would be monitored.

'Our first priority is the need to provide security and safety for the people of the UK,' he said.

'I wouldn't comment on specific cases, but any individual of national security interest would obviously be subject to appropriate law enforcement measures.'

Professor Anthony Glees, a security and intelligence expert from the University of Buckingham, also called for a 'determined effort' to secure a new returns agreement with France.

'The Home Secretary must use all her available powers to ensure these terrorists are dealt with properly,' the academic said.

'In the medium to long term we have to have a deal with France, and other European countries, to ensure that those who have come here via European countries will take them back.

'This needs to be a determined effort to secure the kind of agreement we had prior to Brexit, the so-called Dublin agreements.

'In the meantime the Home Office must be making sure any arrivals with terrorism connection are segregated so they cannot radicalise others. They shouldn't be in hotels alongside other migrants.'

Asylum seeker Ahmed Hassan, who arrived from Calais hidden in the back of a lorry, set off a 'Mother of Satan' bomb on a London Tube train at Parson's Green, west London, in 2017 injuring 23 people

Seven of the 19 terror suspects were already under 'active investigation' in other countries when they arrived here, it is understood.

Five of the known terrorists who arrived last year are Iraqi, five are Iranian, four are Afghan, four are from Somalia and one is Libyan.

Three Iraqis are linked with Islamic State (Isis) and two are associated with Isis' Afghan affiliate, Islamic State in Khorasan.

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK which campaigns for tougher border controls, said it was 'shameful' that terrorists had been able to reach Britain with such ease.

'It shows the state of our border is lamentable  it is full of holes and we seem helpless to do anything about it,' Mr Mehmet said.

'That is a shameful state of affairs for any country to be in.'

A terrorist attack was carried out in Britain in 2017 by an asylum seeker who arrived from Calais hidden in the back of a lorry two years earlier.

Ahmed Hassan set off a 'Mother of Satan' bomb on a London Tube train at Parson's Green, west London, injuring 23 people.

Prosecution of the 19 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 courtrooms, for fear of exposing surveillance capabilities or endangering covert sources.

Official figures show 4,899 small boat migrants have reached Britain so far this year after last year saw a record 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 focussed 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.'
New York City restaurateur Keith McNally has been blasted for saying English people are the worst tippers as critics said he should pay staff more instead of blaming customers.

The London-born owner of celebrity hotspot Balthazar ignited a social media storm Monday after slamming his countrymen on Instagram.

In a post featuring the Union Jack, he raged: ASHAMED TO BE ENGLISH. I Wonder Why English People Are Generally The WORST TIPPERS in N.Y. Restaurants?

'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).'

But followers were quick to point out that McNally should know the tipping system in the US - where it is custom to add between 15 and 25 per cent - is alien to Brits.

Keith McNally says he's 'ashamed to be English' after calling out Brits for being terrible tippers

Instagram users slammed McNally for blaming customers and said the 'system in NYC is weird'

McNally regularly posts photos of himself with his famous guests, including Sienna Miller

Despite counting British-born Vogue editor Anna Wintour a Balthazar regular, McNally launched a blistering attack on English people labelling them the worst tippers

Others suggested McNally and other New York restaurateurs should be paying their staff more instead of leaving it to customers to top up their wages.

Daniel Milner said: Why defend restaurant owners rights to not actually pay their staff and attack their customers instead, are you paid for your opinions?

Another user added: Change the system ! Going to a restaurant should be an all inclusive experience. Expecting an extra payment to get the food to the table is anathema to many. The concept of needing to factor in an extra fee for service will only create confusion and resentment when it does not happen. The price on the menu should be the price for EVERYTHING.

Anna Wahlberg pointed out that it wasnt just Brits who found the New York tipping customs strange, saying: In Europe tipping is so differentThe system in NYC is weird

But McNally doubled down: 'I dont believe this is the reason,' he said.

'Time and again my servers have given English customers perfect service only to often receive way less than the standard 15% tip,' 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.'

The restaurateur then followed his original post by sharing a photo of a card left by a British customer at another of his New York restaurants, Minetta Tavern.

It read: Keith. Your comment about Brits not tipping stressed me out. I always tip >20%. Dinner @Minetta tonight was sublime, as was service from Jeremy. Today I tipped 50%. Thankyou.

McNally wrote alongside it: I never wanted this to be a consequence of my last post about English people tipping.

One follower quipped in response: How much did James Corden leave? A reference to McNallys infamous spat with James Corden, when the restaurateur barred the British talk show host from his restaurants over his abusive behaviour towards servers.

Corden subsequently called McNally to apologize and the ban was revoked.

The average salary for a hostess at Balthazar is $31,559 a year, according to Glassdoor, a website where millions of workers anonymously review companies.

Glassdoor says the average waiter at The Wolseley, a comparably upmarket restaurant in London, earns 31,461 a year, equivalent to around $39,000.

However, it is estimated that the cost of living in New York is up to 30 per cent higher than in London, suggesting The Wolseley pays significantly more in real terms.

The Mail has contacted McNally for comment.

The restaurateur followed his original post by sharing a photo of a card left by a British customer at another of his New York restaurants, Minetta Tavern, which said he had tipped 50% after seeing McNally's rant

McNally has strict rules for staff on how to serve celebrities and doesnt want them given special treatment

McNally barred British talk show host James Corden (pictured above with wife Julia in 2018) from his restaurants last year over his abusive behavior towards servers. Corden apologized and the ban was revoked

On Sunday, McNally revealed a mystery celebrity who dined at Morandi, another of his restaurants, had left a $1,000 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, he said.

The 71-year-old regularly posts photos of himself with his famous guests, including Anna Wintour and Sienna Miller.

Other famous guests have included Mick Jagger, Cher and Andy Warhol, but McNally has strict rules for staff on how to service celebrities and doesnt want them given 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.'

McNally was born in Bethnal Green in east London in 1951, to Joyce, a cleaner and Jack, a dock worker and amateur boxer.

He moved to New York in 1975 to become a director, but soon turned his sights to restaurants after working a series of kitchen jobs from oyster shucker to busboy.

McNally believes 'famous people get really p***ed off by over-elaborate service. They just want to be left alone.'

McNally moved to New York in 1975 before opening his first restaurant The Odeon, in 1980

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.

McNally has frequently courted controversy on Instagram, where he is an outspoken, unvarnished version of himself.

Like many restaurateurs, he has also had his fair share of failures over the years. The pandemic put paid two: his Soho bistro Lucky Strike, which he opened in 1989, and Augustine in the financial district.

McNallys Lower East Side bistro Cherche Midi closed in 2017, just four years after opening, while Schillers Liquor Bar followed a year later.
A New Zealand-based adventure firm has bagged 4million of taxpayers' cash to build a huge cable car ride over Swansea.

Skyline Enterprises plans to build a 34million sky-style cable car and chair lift system, luge runs, a sky swing, walking trails and a zipline.

It will zoom from the 633ft-tall Kilvey Hill above the Welsh city down to the coast in the hope of attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

But news of the proposal comes just days it was announced a similar 2.3million cable car 40 miles away was shutting after just eight years, sparking concerns Swansea's proposal was doomed to fail.

The Labour-led Welsh government has agreed to pump in 4million towards the plan, with Dawn Bowden, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, insisting: 'This project is significant in the further development of Swansea as a vibrant city destination.

New Zealand-based Skyline Enterprises plan to build a sky-style cable car and chair lift system, luge runs, a sky swing, walking trails and a zipline. Pictured is an artist's impression of what it would look like

The Welsh Government is investing 4million into the attraction, which will zoom from a mountain above the Welsh city down to the coast in the hope of attracting tens of thousands of visitors. Pictured is the Swansea cityscape with the mountain in the background

'It complements other regeneration projects in the area as well as supporting economic growth and all year-round jobs.

'When in New Zealand last year, I saw first-hand how Skyline Enterprises in Queenstown has used the natural landscape as a beautiful backdrop to a successful enterprise.

'This is a unique inward investment opportunity for us, and I wish the team well with their latest venture in Wales.'

But Tom Giffard, Tory Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport and member of the Welsh Parliament for South Wales West, had his reservations.

Mr Giffard, who grew up in Swansea, said there was no clear business plan to prove the multi-million attraction would be a success - or was even wanted by locals.

And he added last week's news the breakdown-plagued Ebbw Vale cable car - which cost 52,000 a year to run and is just 40 miles away - would be be axed was a real concern.

He told MailOnline: 'Im really conscious that doesnt happen again. I want to see a robust business case to show the demand is there because just 40 miles down the road weve seen one last week close.'

He also voiced concerns about the 'connectivity' of the scheme, claiming it's outside the city centre.

But concerns have been raised about the viability of the plan, with Tom Giffard, Tory Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport and member of the Welsh Parliament for South Wales West saying no clear business plan had been drawn up

The 4million funding is dependent on the 34million scheme being granted planning approval and work starting on site. Pictured is an impression of what the site could look like when built

'It's got great views but unless youre driving there how do you get there,' he added.

Skyline Enterprises has two outdoor adventure parks featuring cable car rides and other attractions and restaurants in New Zealand - ands luge parks in Canada, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said: 'What's being proposed by Skyline Enterprises for Kilvey Hill is a world-class leisure attraction for the people of Swansea and visitors to the city.

'I'd like to reassure residents in communities close to the proposed development that no aspect of the scheme would pass over peoples' homes.'

The funding is dependent on the 34million scheme being granted planning approval and work starting on site.

Skyline Enterprises chief executive Geoff McDonald said it was grateful to the Welsh Government for its support.

He said: 'Ever since we first came to Wales in 2017 and mooted plans for Kilvey Hill, we have enjoyed an extremely positive relationship with them, and they have shown great enthusiasm for our vision which has a strong strategic alignment with their own tourism strategy.'

The Ebbw Vale lift was scrapped as part of a 6.6m of cost-cutting effort by Blaenau Gwent council.

The mechanical lift was built to help people walk 140ft up a steep hill to a town centre. It carries up to 22 passengers from Ebbw Vale town centre.

It was paid for with part of a 12m European Convergence Programme grant, a European Union programme for poorer areas.
She is due to report to prison on April 27

Holmes, who is the mother of two young children, defrauded investors in the failed blood-testing startup that was once valued at $9 billion

Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison in November. She asked a judge to allow her to remain free during her appeal

A U.S. judge has denied Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes' request to remain free on bail while she appeals her conviction on charges of defrauding investors in the failed blood-testing startup that was once valued at $9 billion.

She will instead report to prison on April 27, as previously scheduled.

Holmes, who rose to fame after claiming Theranos' small machines could run an array of diagnostic tests with just a few drops of blood, was convicted at trial in San Jose, California last year.

U.S. District Judge Edward Davila sentenced Holmes to 11 years and three months in prison in November. Holmes asked Davila to postpone the sentence while the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reviews her case.

Davila on Monday concluded that even if Holmes won her appeal to challenge the Theranos technology evidence, it wouldn't result in a reversal or a new trial of all the counts she was found guilty of.

Holmes is the mother of two children, and gave birth to her second child earlier this year. Her attorneys previously asked the judge to take into consideration her maternal role.

A U.S. judge has denied Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes' request to remain free on bail while she appeals her conviction on charges of defrauding investors in the failed blood-testing startup that was once valued at $9 billion. Holmes, pictured in October last year, was pregnant when she was sentenced

Holmes' defense team previously argued that she is the 'mother of two young children.' She gave birth to her first son in July 2021. They are pictured here with her fiance Billy Evans

'Contrary to her suggestion that accuracy and reliability were central issues to her convictions, Ms. Holmes misrepresentations to Theranos investors involved more than just whether Theranos technology worked as promised,' he said.

Holmes, who is scheduled to begin serving her sentence in April, may ask the 9th Circuit to grant bail.

In denying the release appeal, Davila noted that Holmes was unlikely to flee or endanger the community.

Davila previously recommended that Holmes serve her sentence at a minimum security prison camp in Texas, though federal prison authorities have the final say on where she will be locked up.

The prison - Camp Bryan - is about 100 miles north of Houston, where Holmes attended high school. It is designated for female inmates and currently houses about 540 inmates.

Those serving time at the facility are allowed to accept multiple visitors on weekends.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the facility bares similarities to the one in West Virginia where Martha Stewart served time close to 20 years ago - the same one where former NXIVM president Nancy Salzman is now serving her three-and-a-half year sentence.

Holmes will have access to tennis courts and a running track. But, she will be forced to give up her signature all-black look in exchange for pastel green, gray and white outfits.

Distance may make visitation hard for Holmes' family, whom she would be much closer to were she sent to the minimum-security prison in Dublin, California, which is just an hour drive outside of San Francisco. Actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, who were involved in the college admissions scandal, both served their short sentences at the Dublin facility.

Federal prosecutors have also said that Holmes could receive close to a 15% reduction on prison time with good behavior, which would put her sentence at closer to 9.5 years with no possibility for parole.

Holmes and Evans appear outside of court during her most recent hearing

The minimum-security women's prison in Bryan, Texas where a California judge has recommended Elizabeth Holmes serve her 11.25 years behind bars

Holmes has been dating Evans since shortly after the demise of Theranos. He has stuck by her side throughout her trial and conviction and the pair now share two children

The Theranos founder has appeared unbothered by her predicament for years

The pair have appeared ever in love and inseparable throughout Holmes' various legal woes

Prosecutors said during the trial that Holmes misrepresented Theranos' technology and finances. Holmes testified in her own defense, saying she believed her statements were accurate at the time.

On appeal, Holmes plans to challenge several of the judge's rulings, including his allowance of evidence about Theranos' test accuracy that postdated her statements to investors.

Holmes' co-defendant, former Theranos President Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani, was convicted of defrauding Theranos investors and patients at a separate trial and sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in prison.

In March, Davila denied Balwani's request to remain free on bail during his appeal. The 9th Circuit also ruled that Balwani's sentence should not be postponed while it considers his case.

Last January, Holmes, 39, was convicted by a jury of four counts of criminal fraud for deceiving investors during her years long scheme to peddle bad blood testing technology at Theranos.

Following her conviction, Holmes became pregnant with her second child.
President Joe Biden and Democratic Party leaders have selected Chicago as the city to host the 2024 convention as part of an effort to capitalize on recent successes in the heartland and cling to battlegrounds that got him to the White House.

The news comes a day after Biden said 'I plan on running' but declined to definitively confirm his plans during remarks at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

The city is heavily Democratic and racially diverse, and lies within a reliably Democratic state  while also not far from to Michigan and Wisconsin.

'Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down. From repairing our roads and bridges, to unleashing a manufacturing boom, and creating over 12.5 million new good-paying jobs, weve already delivered so much for hard working Americans  now its time to finish the job,' Biden said in a statement.

His kind of town: The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago in 2024, the DNC announced

The decision comes after Biden chose Chicago over finalists that also included Atlanta and New York.

The bid 'was supported by a wide range of midwestern Democrats who represent the diversity of the party, demonstrating the formidable coalition that will help re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris, and elect Democrats up-and-down the ticket,' according to the DNC.

Nevertheless, the choice carries some risks. The site of the party's 1996 convention, also held at the United Center, it previously featured angry clashes over Vietnam and Civil Rights and a 'police riot' 1968. Chicago has featured an increase in crime, and former President Donald Trump regularly attacks the city as overrun with violent crime.

Twenty people were shot there over the weekend, with three fatalities. Trump called the city 'embarrassing' and 'worse than Afghanistan' while he was in the White House.

The 1996 convention also featured then-first lady Hillary Clinton clapping along while delegates did the Macarena.

Said DNC Chair Jaime Harrison: 'The Midwest reflects America and will give Democrats an opportunity to showcase some of President Biden and Vice President Harriss most significant accomplishments for American families.'

Chicago is heavily Democratic, features a range of hotel options, and is close to battleground Michigan and Wisconsin

Biden and DNC Chair Jaime Harrison picked the city over New York and Atlanta

The city hosted Bill Clinton's convention in 1996

Then-first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton clapped along to the Macarena

The 1968 convention featured a 'police riot' and angry clashes over Vietnam

Chicago continues to contend with a spate of shootings and violent crime, including 20 shootings last weekend

But holding the partys presidential nominating gathering in such a pro-union city again demonstrates Bidens commitment to organized labor - which will be critical to his bid to win a second term in the White House.

The move also could counter Republicans, who last summer decided to hold their 2024 convention in Milwaukee in another critical Midwestern battleground state, Wisconsin.

The 2020 Democratic convention was supposed to be held in Milwaukee but unfolded virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden delivered a speech accepting his partys nomination that year at a nearly empty convention center in Wilmington, Delaware, where he has a home and often spends weekends away from the White House.

Milwaukee, however, used its 2020 convention preparations to argue to Republicans that it had a "turnkey" operation ready for next year.

Chicago hosted the infamous 1968 Democratic convention that is best remembered for a brutal clash between police and protesters opposing the Vietnam War. The last Democratic National Convention in the city was in 1996, when President Bill Clinton won a second term.

Illinois Democratic Gov. J. B. Pritzker was a key voice in lobbying for Chicago. He pointed to Democratic desires to expand their electoral gains in the Midwest, particularly in Michigan, where the party held the governorship and won control of both chambers of the Legislature during last falls midterms.

That Chicago beat out Atlanta was nonetheless a surprise given Georgias strategic importance as a swing state. Biden won Georgia two years ago, becoming the first Democrat to do so in a presidential election since Clinton in 1992, and his party now controls both of its Senate seats after wins that drew national attention the last two cycles.

Though Atlanta is as thoroughly Democratic as Chicago and New York, Georgia could very well be a major deciding factor in the 2024 presidential race.

Still, some top Democrats worried about its Republican-controlled Legislature and state laws discouraging union membership and LGBTQ rights. There were also concerns about Georgias relaxed firearms laws, especially given the rash of school shootings around the country - despite gun violence being a persistent problem in Chicago.

But shunning Atlanta for the convention could serve as a double blow to Georgia, which may also eventually lose its early place in a new Democratic primary calendar.

En route to Ireland, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre commented only briefly about the news.

'I know theres a lot of excitement about this,' she said, without specifying the president's role in the selection.

'This is something that the DNC is running and is kind of operating,' she said, deferring to the Party organization.

Biden endorsed moving Georgia to the No. 4 position in a revamped Democratic primary calendar for 2024 - changes meant to better empower the partys deeply diverse voter base than the old system, which led off with overwhelmingly white Iowa.

Under a new primary order approved by the Democratic National Committee in March, Georgia would have gone after leadoff South Carolina, and following Nevada and New Hampshire, which were set to go second simultaneously. It was slated ahead of Michigan, a new early Democratic primary state at No. 5.

That top five would have the chance to vote before much of the rest of the country on Super Tuesday in early March.

Georgia, though, could be stripped of the fourth spot since Republican state officials have refused to move to an earlier date that wouldnt coincide with the GOPs presidential primary next year. Securing the convention might have softened the blow of being forced out of the primarys early lineup - but wasnt to be.

As he seeks reelection, the president is already focused on 2024s general election, rather than the primary, facing only token opposition from Democratic challenger, Marianne Williamson, a spiritual adviser and author, and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

New York City and state are also deeply blue in presidential races. But choosing it for the convention might have helped Democrats in other parts of the state, its advocates said. That included Long Island, where Republican gains in key congressional districts helped the party flip the House last year.

Supporters of Atlantas bid had argued that the city and the rest of Georgia could help lead a resurgence of Democrats in the South, which remains largely steadfastly Republican.
A mother fears her one-year-old son's respiratory illness is linked to their mouldy home which leaves his pillows 'damp' and sees their walls covered in spores.

Hannah Williams, 28, reported the problem to her landlord last year but feels it has not been addressed, while her baby has been in hospital with breathing problems.

She lives with her partner and son in a two bedroom Gloucester City Homes property in Matson. They have lived there for about a year, and last summer Ms Williams noticed a horrible smell in her son's bedroom.

'It was June last year we started to notice the damp. There was a funky smell coming from my son's room so I had a look and saw the wallpaper was bubbling,' she said.

Hannah Williams (right) fears her one-year-old son's respiratory illness is linked to their mouldy home which leaves his pillows 'damp' and sees their walls covered in spores

The mother lives with her partner and son in a two bedroom Gloucester City Homes property in Matson. She said she noticed the mould last year due to a 'funky smell' coming from her son's room, and saw the wallpaper was bubbling

'I peeled a corner of the wallpaper away and you could see the paper and wall underneath was discoloured with mould spores. Then we discovered the mould had spread through the wall to our bedroom which is next to my son's room.

'We live in a ground floor flat and damp is coming through the front of the building through the damp course.'

Ms Williams reported the issue to Gloucester City Homes, which is an independent housing association.

She said work was authorised by the landlord to have contractors visit the home to deal with the problem.

'My son has been in hospital because he had bronchiolitis and is prone to ears, nose and throat problems. Before we could not figure out why, but I think it is because of all the damp and mould around the flat,' said the mother.

'Contractors were meant to come out and treat the three walls for damp and mould but they only did the corner where I had peeled the wallpaper away.'

Ms Williams said it has been a struggle to transition her little boy from sharing with her to his own room.

Ms Williams reported the problem to her landlord last year but feels it has not been addressed, while her baby has been in hospital with breathing problems

'We tried to transition our son to his own room. When we were going to put him to bed, his pillows were wet from the damp in the room,' she said.

'We have had him in bed with us which means no one gets any sleep. My son is always poorly, and this needs to be sorted.'

Gloucester City Homes said they will continue to monitor the situation.

Director of Homes and Sustainability at Gloucester City Homes Robert Panou said: 'We understand Mrs Williams' concerns about damp and mould in her home, and we are mindful that she has a young child in her household.

'We treat all cases of damp and mould in our properties seriously and we have been working with Mrs Williams to resolve her concerns as quickly as we can.

'We arranged hotel accommodation for the family whilst work was being done in their home on a range of repairs and improvements. We also engaged an external expert to provide independent advice and have offered some thermal improvements under our energy efficiency programme.

'We are confident that these repairs and improvements, together with other preventative measures that the customer can take, will resolve the reported issues. We will continue to monitor the situation.'

MailOnline has contacted Gloucester City Homes for further comment.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday slammed a Texas court ruling that invalidated the approval of the most commonly used abortion drug in the U.S., calling it 'completely out of bounds.'

'My thoughts are it's completely out of bounds what the judge did,' he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews ahead of his departure for a four-day trip to Ireland.

Biden's Justice Department is appealing the ruling and his spokesperson has predicted the legal battle will end up at the Supreme Court. Abortion rights is expected to be one of the dominant issues in the 2024 presidential election.

DoJ lawyers argue the challengers had no right to file the lawsuit since they were not personally harmed by the abortion pill.

'My thoughts are it's completely out of bounds what the judge did,' President Joe Biden said of a Texas judge's ruling on an abortion drug

And White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre warned on Monday that the administration is 'ready to fight' the case - and could push it all the way to the Supreme Court.

The Justice Department filed the appeal on Tuesday in response to Texas Judge Matthew Kascmaryk, a Donald Trump appointee who, on Friday, ordered the Federal Drug Administration to revoke its approval of mifepristone  one of the two medications used in more than half of all abortions in the United States.

The DoJ asked the 5th Circuit judges to put Kascmaryk's order on hold until their appeal is ruled upon.

'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.

Whatever the right-leaning 5th Circuit rules, the White House expects the fight to continue.

'It probably is gonna go up to the Supreme Court, which we feel pretty confident that we're gonna win,' Jean-Pierre said at her briefing on Monday.

'We're ready to fight,' she said. 'We stand by the FDA's approval.'

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

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 10 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 are now stockpiling misoprostol ahead of uncertainty about how much longer mifepristone will be available.

New York on Tuesday became the latest to do so. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state would be stockpiling misoprostol int he wake of Texas ruling, joining California, Massachusetts and Washington state in doing so.

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 a halt on the abortion pill mifepristone over fears surrounding its safety

Proponents point out mifepristone has been used for decades without major complications

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.
Vibrancy returns to Changsha as catering industry bounces back

People's Daily Online) 16:43, April 11, 2023

Despite the continuous drizzle in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, visitors show no signs of losing their enthusiasm for the city. This spring, the Instagram-worthy city of Changsha is experiencing a resurgence of popularity.

Statistics show that Changsha welcomed around 2.79 million tourists during this year's Spring Festival, a remarkable year-on-year increase of 109.25 percent. After the holiday, the daily passenger flow in Changsha's subway rose for three consecutive weeks to a record high of about 3.26 million.

A wide range of new consumption forms and brands have sprung up, including 24-hour bookstores and gyms, live music venues catering to young audiences, and traditional Chinese retro style dessert shops, which have boosted local economic recovery and become new calling cards for the city.

Busy breakfast stalls, trendy milk tea shops, late-night food stalls these are all examples of the city's bustling vibes. Click on the video to learn more about the vibrant city of Changsha.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
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.
French President Emmanuel Macron was interrupted and heckled by protesters on Tuesday as he delivered a keynote speech about European sovereignty in The Hague during a state visit to the Netherlands.

Macron arrived in the Netherlands earlier today to give his hotly-anticipated speech on Europe as he battles a furore over his controversial remarks on Europe and China.

It comes after the 45-year-old French leader said in an interview on Friday that Europe must not be a 'follower' of either Washington or Beijing on Taiwan and 'should not be caught up in a disordering of the world and crises that aren't ours'.

One day later, China launched large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan that simulated sealing off the island in response to the Taiwanese president's trip to the U.S. last week.

Macron is also facing widespread protests at home over his attempt to force much-criticised pension reforms through Parliament without a vote.

'Where is French democracy? When did we lose it?' shouted the demonstrators, who dangled a banner that read 'President of violence and hypocrisy' from the balcony of the theatre amid Macron's speech at the Nexus institute.

'I can answer this question if you give me some time,' Macron responded, before security guards bundled the demonstrators out of the hall.

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, looks at demonstrators unfolding a banner reading 'President of Violence and Hypocrisy' as he explains his vision on the future of Europe during a lecture in a theatre in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Macron arrived in the Netherlands earlier today to give his hotly-anticipated speech on Europe as he battled a furore over his controversial remarks on Europe and China, but was interrupted almost immediately as he began his speech

French President Emmanuel Macron explains his vision on the future of Europe during a lecture in a theatre in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, April 11, 2023

King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron with an official welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace on April 11, 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands

A group of around two dozen protesters also chanted slogans outside the theatre before Macron's speech.

The French president fielded the heckling well, recognising that it was 'very important to have social debate' and that 'I can answer all the questions you have on what we are discussing in France'.

He said that people who do 'whatever (they) want' against laws they disagree with 'put democracy at risk'.

Making the first state visit by a French president to the Netherlands for 23 years, Macron and his wife Brigitte were greeted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima on their arrival in Amsterdam.

The French leader stood to attention alongside them outside the Royal Palace as a band played the Marseillaise, the French national anthem. He later laid a wreath at the Dutch National Monument.

But amid the pomp and ceremony, all eyes are on Macron's comments on China, which he visited last week.

The Elysee Palace insisted Tuesday that the president had never called for Europe to keep an 'equidistance' from the United States and China.

'The United States are our allies, we share common values,' the French presidency said.

Macron used the address to present 'a doctrine of economic security' against China and the United States, amid European unease over US climate subsidies.

The speech comes after Macron said in an interview with media including French business daily Les Echos and Politico that 'we don't want to depend on others on critical issues', citing energy, artificial intelligence and social networks.

Macron's comments in the same interview on Taiwan - that Europe risks entanglement in 'crises that aren't ours' and should 'depend less on the Americans' in matters of defence - have raised questions, like his past remarks on 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 said after his three-day state visit to Beijing.

Beijing says contact between foreign officials and Taiwan'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.

Macron's comments raised eyebrows on both sides of the Atlantic.

French President Emmanuel Macron looks at demonstrators unfolding a banner reading 'President of Violence and Hypocrisy', left and not in the picture

King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron with an official welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace on April 11, 2023

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands welcomes Brigitte Macron with an official welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace on April 11, 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The French president is in the Netherlands for a two day state visit

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the alliance with the United States was an 'absolute foundation' of European security.

'Some Western leaders dream of cooperation with everyone, with Russia and with some powers in the Far East,' he added, without naming those leaders.

US Senator Marco Rubio said on Twitter that 'we need to find out if Emmanuel Macron speaks for Europe'.

'A brain death has occurred somewhere, no doubt,' said the director of the Polish Institute of International Relations (PISM), Slawomir Debski, referring to the words used by the French president to describe NATO in 2019.

But the White House said Monday it was 'confident' in the relationship with France despite Macron's comments.

During the two-day Dutch state visit, Macron will have a state dinner with the king and queen, see the hot-ticket Johannes Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and meet Prime Minister Mark Rutte on a canal boat.

The visit is meant to highlight a new dynamic between Paris and The Hague after the turning point of Brexit.

In the wake of the speech, France and the Netherlands will sign a 'pact for innovation' on Wednesday focusing on cooperation in semiconductors, quantum physics and energy.

They will also work to finalise a defence pact by 2024.

The French president's domestic political troubles also threaten to intrude on the visit, with a new day of strikes against his pension reform plans scheduled for Thursday.
Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy on Tuesday questioned why Congress wasn't informed about U.S. ally Egypt's plans to give weapons to Russia, as revealed in alleged leaked Pentagon documents.

Egypt, one of the U.S.'s closest allies in the Middle East and a recipient of almost $100 billion in U.S. aid over the last 50 years, recently ordered around 40,000 rockets to be secretly shipped to Russia. A U.S. official said they were 'not aware of any execution' of the plan for Egypt to sell arms to Russia.

'Why wasn't Congress -- why weren't leaders of the Foreign Relations Committee given that information?' Murphy, D-Conn., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, asked on CNN.

A portion of the top-secret Feb. 17 document contained purported conversations with President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi of Egypt and senior military officials referencing plans to supply Russia with artillery rounds and gunpowder, according to the Washington Post.

Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy on Tuesday questioned why Congress wasn't informed about U.S. ally Egypt's plans to give weapons to Russia, as revealed in alleged leaked Pentagon documents

Sisi instructed officials to keep the production and shipment under wraps 'to avoid problems with the West.'

'We have adversaries who are constantly probing at classified information and have experience in releasing that information as a way to embarrass the United States,' Murphy said.

'I'm trying to avoid the trap of getting in the business of criticizing the administration ... But clearly, this is a growing problem, the ability of our adversaries to be able to get confidential or classified information and leak it as a means of embarrassing. United States, government leaders or candidates.'

The document was part of a trove of images of secret and top-secret files posted in February and March on the gamer chat app Discord.

Egypt's Ambassador to the U.S., Ahmed Abu Zeid and spokesman for Egypts Foreign Ministry, said that 'Egypts position from the beginning is based on noninvolvement in this crisis and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides, while affirming Egypts support to the U.N. charter and international law in the U.N. General Assembly resolutions.'

'We continue to urge both parties to cease hostilities and reach a political solution through negotiations,' he said.

In another problematic development for the U.S., alleged leaked Pentagon documents revealed U.S. spies had caught Russia boasting of a new alliance with the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (right) on board the Moskva cruiser in August 2014

Egypt, one of the U.S.'s closest allies and a recipient of close to $100 billion in U.S. aid over the last 50 years, recently ordered around 40,000 rockets to be secretly shipped to Russia

Russian intelligence officers had said they had convinced the UAE 'to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies,' according to documents 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 report comes at a time of concerns that the U.S. is ceding influence in the Middle East to adversaries like China and Russia. Just last month, China brokered a surprise peace deal with Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Meanwhile, 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 also 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.

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.

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

These are two of the leaked documents which have been shared by the New York Times

An initial batch of documents labeled 'Secret' and 'Top Secret' - reportedly containing charts on the war in Ukraine and 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.
A university lecturer who stabbed his estranged wife 20 times outside a school parents evening and was only stopped from killing her by a hero driver has been jailed for life

Dr Ying Zhang, 55, displayed 'bizarre, jealous and obsessive behaviour' before stabbing Hannan Xiao outside their child's school in north London in September 2021.

He followed his wife to the school before launching the attack as she returned to her car, stabbing her ten to 15 times with a kitchen knife before an electrician intervened and kicked Zhang with a steel toe-capped boot.

Zhang, a lecturer at the University of West London, was today jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years for attempted murder possession of a knife.

The court heard the couple, both Chinese academics, met in 2004 and married two years later.

Dr Ying Zhang, 55, displayed 'bizarre, jealous and obsessive behaviour' before stabbing Hannan Xiao outside their child's school

But the marriage began 'faltering' in 2019 and Zhang was left furious over the suggestion of a divorce.

Their separation prompted Zhang to engage in 'controlling behaviour' to 'ensure that he controlled the assets within the family' and caused Dr Xiao to take the decision to leave him.

Zhang repeatedly assaulted his wife and she had been to court several times to stop him harassing her and, in the year leading up to the attack, he began spying on his wife, who was also a senior lecturer.

The court heard this was evidenced by his use of a guesthouse opposite the former family home during the summer and a number of spreadsheets tracking the movements of his wife and colleagues from January 2021.

CCTV footage from the date of the incident showed the defendant following Dr Xiao to a parents evening in north London.

Although he had been notified of the meeting, he was not invited or expected to attend, with only one parent being allowed to do so.

As his wife returned to her car, he stabbed her between 10 and 15 times in the chest, neck and back using a kitchen knife he was carrying in a rucksack.

Members of the public had prevented the defendant continuing the attack and killing her, and it was only emergency surgery that saved her life.

Electrician Richard OBrien said Zhang seemed relentless and did not flinch at anything anyone said.

He kicked Zhang to the side of the head, knocking him unconscious and restrained him, the court heard.

Zhang was later arrested and denied attempted murder and having a bladed article, but was found guilty of the charges by a jury.

Passing sentence, Judge Rupert Mayo told the court: 'There was a long standing failure by the defendant to accept his wifes entitlement to a greater share of the joint finances and this was entrenched in his mind long before any decision to separate was made.

'I am satisfied that in his mind was a desire to...benefit financially from her death.'

Judge Mayo went on to say he rejected Zhangs claims that he had no knowledge of possessing the knife or any memory of the incident.

He said: 'I am sure that Dr Zhang knowingly and deliberately took a knife to the scene.

'He knew and planned where his wife would be and I am satisfied that his claim not to have memory of the attack is entirely false.'

The court heard the couple, both Chinese academics, met in 2004 and married two years later

The judge concluded that Zhang should be treated as a 'dangerous offender'.

Ms Xiao earlier told the trial that she believed her husband attacked her to get hold of her pension and the family home.

In a victim impact statement read to court, she said: 'For all those who are experiencing domestic violence right now, please you must report every instance to the police and go to the court to give evidence.

'Please you must protect yourself but not the abuser. If the abuser ever threatens you with killing do not think a threat is just a threat. They will do it one day.'

She went on to express her gratitude to the people who have helped her, particularly the members of the public 'who saved my life from his (Zhangs) knife'.

Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, told jurors that Zhang was in a 'cold fury' with his wife, who had been seeking a divorce.

The couple, both Chinese academics specialising in cybersecurity, had married in the UK in 2006.

But Mr Hornsby said their relationship 'was not always a happy one and was marred by a number of incidents of domestic violence'.

The victim had reported to police that her husband had threatened to kill her but did not pursue charges against him.

In 2020, the defendant had accused her of being unfaithful with a man at work, the court heard.

She had said she was 'very frightened of his behaviour due to its escalation and increased paranoia', the court heard.

The couple separated and she successfully applied for a non-molestation order preventing the defendant, from Hatfield, approaching her at her new home in Watford.

The defendant was said to have breached the order in January and August 2021.

Zhangs defence barrister rejected the suggestion that the attack was done for financial gain and argued it was 'plainly an act of something which might be better described as rage'.

His depression at the time of the incident was also put forward as mitigation.
Vladimir Putin appears to be clamping down on Russian men trying to dodge his invasion of Ukraine by creating a new digital conscription system which would leave them unable to flee abroad.

Under new legislation advanced by Russian lawmakers today, the draftee would be banned from travelling abroad and would have to report to an enlistment office after being called up.

Currently, draft notices have to be delivered in person in Russia, which many Russian men have managed to doge by refusing to pick up the enlistment orders and fleeing the country.

Last year, Putin's order to call up hundreds of thousands of men to boost regular forces in Ukraine kicked off an exodus, with tens of thousands rushing to leave the country.

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved the legislation on second and third readings today, sparking fears more men will be forced to help beef up Putin's regime.

Russian lawmakers today advanced on a controversial bill that would create a digital conscription notice system. Pictured: Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma

It would be far more difficult to doge a call-up to the army if the conscription papers became electronic - something Putin appears to be clamping down on

The proposed changes come months after Putin ordered in September a 'partial' military call-up to boost regular troops fighting in Ukraine in what has become the first military mobilisation in Russia since World War II.

Hundreds of thousands of men have been drafted, while tens of thousands more have fled the country.

Some lawmakers complained on Tuesday that the legislation was rushed, with Nina Ostanina of the Communist Party saying many did not have time to study dozens of pages of the proposals.

'We all bear responsibility for this bill,' she said in parliament.

Another Communist, Artyom Prokofyev, asked why the bill was being adopted under 'such a veil of secrecy'.

But Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, urged MPs to avoid 'sabotaging' the readings.

The bill would next have to be backed by senators and signed by Putin to officially become law.

Those who fail to show up at the enlistment office within the 20 days following receipt of the electronic draft notice will not be able to take out loans, register property or work as individual entrepreneurs.

The clamp down on conscription risks barring men from leaving Russia as Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine stretches into a second year. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline of Donetsk

Hundreds of thousands of Russian men have been drafted, while tens of thousands more have fled the country. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers go to the Donetsk frontline

Some Kremlin critics say the provisions will also punish Russians who have already fled the country by barring them from continuing to have remote jobs or from selling property.

'Now, with just one click, it is possible to send almost everyone to the trenches,' StalinGulag, one of Russia's most popular opposition bloggers, wrote on social media.

READ MORE: Huge swathes of Putin's empire is cut off from the internet in mystery outage amid suspicions of sabotage linked to Ukraine war Advertisement

He warned that many officials would be tempted to disregard disqualifying conditions for the military service including health or family circumstances.

'You will be talking about your flat feet or three children including children with disabilities somewhere near Bakhmut,' said the anti-Kremlin blogger, referring to the frontline hotspot in eastern Ukraine.

Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is mandatory in Russia, with conscription carried out twice a year.

Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the defence committee at parliament's lower house, said before the vote that the new rules would apply not only to young conscripts but all men liable for military service.

'The draft notice is considered received from the moment it is posted in the personal account of a person liable for military service,' Kartapolov said in televised remarks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday denied plans to conduct a second wave of mobilisation, saying the new amendments were needed to 'perfect and modernise' the country's military call-up system.

'This work is absolutely necessary,' he told reporters.

Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the defence committee at parliament's lower house, said before the vote that the new rules would apply not only to young conscripts but all men liable for military service

He also said the Kremlin did not expect the legislation to spark fresh panic and more men to flee the country.

'Absolutely not,' he said. 'Because this is not related to the mobilisation.'

The latest move by Moscow comes despite Putin reportedly struggling to maintain loyalty among local officials due to discontent over the cost of the ongoing invasion.

Military analysts claim that Putin has been forced to resort to installing vending machines, offering free city parking and preferential bank loans to try and boost morale.

Ukraine, meanwhile, maintains that its spring offensive remains un-impacted by the leak of dozens of secret US documents, which include fears that Kyiv's attack will fall short amid shortages of newly-trained troops and anti-aircraft missiles.
The former employee who killed five people at the bank where he had worked on Monday was living in a one-story house with his close friend, who says he did not know his roommate was planning an attack, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

Shooter Connor Sturgeon's roommate Dallas Whalen, 24, has been cooperating fully with the police investigation, his lawyer told DailyMail.com.

'It was as unknown and surprising to Dallas as everybody,' the lawyer said.

The lawyer said that just minutes before he opened fire, Sturgeon sent his family a simple 'I love you' text message.

Whalen has kept a low profile since the shooting. His father went to the home Monday night to retrieve some of his son's belongings and also to help a young woman, who is believed to have been staying there.

Connor Sturgeon's roommate Dallas Whalen, 24, (right) has been cooperating fully with the police investigation, his lawyer told DailyMail.com

The pair lived in this modest two-bedroom home for about a year before Monday's shooting that left Sturgeon and five victims dead. An officer is seen at the home

Connor Sturgeon (far right) is pictured with his parents Todd and Linda, and his younger brother Cameron, a professional model. He sent his family and 'I love you' text just minutes before the shooting

Authorities tell DailyMail.com that the murder weapon was 'legally purchased from an arms dealer in Louisville on April 4.'

Whalen was unaware of the purchase and did not have any advanced knowledge or information about Connor's plan or intentions, his lawyer, who is also representing the Sturgeon family, added.

Whalen's lawyer said he's working with the Sturgeon family and through them is offering Whalen counsel as well.

'The family is still working with law enforcement,' the lawyer said. 'They don't know much.

'We were told by police that there are letters and things. We do not have them. We have not seen them, so we're still trying to put that together too.'

His lawyer said that Whalen does not wish to make a formal statement at this time.

Neighbors told DailyMail.com that Sturgeon and his friend had been living in the modest two-bedroom house for about a year and described the shooter as quiet but friendly.

The neighbor said Sturgeon and Whalen were always polite and would invite her family over to their home when his friends would gather in the backyard, sometimes playing beer pong.

Sturgeon was killed by police in Louisville after storming Old National Bank on Monday.

Armed with an AR-15 assault rifle, he burst into the morning conference at 8:30am - before the bank was open to the public - and killed Tommy Elliott, 63; Joshua Barrick, 40; James 'Jim' Tutt, 64; and Juliana Farmer, 57.

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.

Sturgeon reportedly live-streamed the attack on Instagram, left a suicide note for his parents and posted memes announcing the imminent attack.

Sturgeon began working as a commercial development professional at the bank in June 2021 and moved into his most recent role in April 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile

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. Armed with an AR-15 assault rifle, Sturgeon burst into the morning conference at 8:30am - before the bank was open to the public

Sturgeon began working as a commercial development professional at the bank in June 2021 and moved into his most recent role in April 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile.

'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.

In 2022 he left his parents' home in Greenville, Indiana and moved to Louisville to live with Whalen.

Neighbors said the pair were unassuming and did not cause problems.

'Can't say nothing really bad about the guy,' said one neighbor, Kera Allgeier.

'Very quiet, soft-spoken. They invited us over a couple of times for cookouts during summer, you know, very friendly. I just don't understand.'

Allgeier's husband Michael said that he saw Sturgeon coming into the house with his girlfriend, and agreed that Sturgeon seemed very ordinary.

He 'seemed like a real normal dude - every day he'd wave to me,' he told The Daily Beast. 'And he would go his way, and I would go mine.

'Quiet guy. You'd see him and his girlfriend carrying groceries into the house, just seemed like a regular dude.'

His girlfriend has not been named.

Officers were seen entering the home on Monday and leaving with what appeared to be a computer, and boxes of material.

Jim Ryan, the 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.'

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.'
Undercover officers carried out a sting operation to stop a historically important Viking hoard of coins worth 766,000 being sold to an American buyer, a court heard.

Collectors Craig Best and Roger Pilling deny conspiracy to sell criminal property, namely 9th century Anglo-Saxon minted coins which had not been declared as 'treasure' and therefore had not been handed to the Crown, jurors were told.

Durham Crown Court was told an expert believed that the silver coins were part of the Herefordshire Hoard, only some of which were recovered, and that they were 'extremely significant for our understanding of the history of the unification of England'.

The Crown does not allege that either of the defendants, who were both interested in metal detecting, made the find themselves.

Collectors Craig Best and Roger Pilling deny conspiracy to sell criminal property, namely 9th century Anglo-Saxon minted coins which had not been declared as 'treasure' and therefore had not been handed to the Crown, jurors were told

Undercover officers carried out a sting operation to stop a historically important Viking hoard of coins worth 766,000 being sold to an American buyer, a court heard

It was believed the coins were made between 874 and 879 and were buried by a Viking during this particularly violent period of English history.

They included two extremely rare examples of two-headed coins, showing Alfred of Wessex and Ceolwulf, a figure who was discredited by Saxon writers as a Viking puppet ruler.

Best, 46, from South View, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, and Pilling, 74, from Loveclough, Lancashire, also deny individual charges of possessing criminal property - the same coins.

Best had taken three coins to a meeting at a hotel - including one of the exceptionally rare Alfred and Ceolwulf examples which itself was worth 70,000 - with undercover officers he thought were part of a team brokering a deal with a US-based buyer.

Uniformed officers then swooped in to arrest him and handcuff him in the Royal County Hotel, Durham, Matthew Donkin, prosecuting, said.

Police then raided Pilling's home in Lancashire and recovered a further 41 coins from the hoard, bringing the total to 44.

Durham Crown Court in Durham

Jurors were told police recovered an image from Pilling's home showing 46 coins in total, meaning two remain missing.

The prosecution allege Best and Pilling were in a conspiracy to sell the coins, despite knowing they came from a hoard and should have been declared as treasure and handed over to the Crown.

In 2018, Best had made contact with a US-based Professor Ronald Bude who had an interest in ancient coins, and tried to interest him in buying some, including an 'Alfred penny'.

Prof Bude was not sure they were real and contacted another UK-based expert and, as word got around about the availability of extremely rare coins, the authorities were contacted and the undercover operation was mounted, the court heard.

Best also told the professor that the coins were 'big money' and that he should fly over to the UK to see them him for himself.

When Prof Bude asked Best where they came from, in an email Best replied, 'near Worcester'.

Mr Donkin told the court that the Herefordshire Hoard was found in Leominster, some 30 miles from Worcester.

After he failed to sell the coins to Professor Bude, Best moved on to try to sell the collection to the fictitious US-based buyers - who were really undercover police officers, the court heard.

The trial continues on Wednesday.
South Korea has branded a trove of leaked documents purportedly detailing Ukraines war efforts as fake.

The classified intelligence files contained claims that the US was snooping on the South Korean government, as well as other allies.

But President Yoon Suk Yeols office said the idea that American spies had monitored senior officials in Seoul was an absurd false suspicion.

The South Korean president said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has already agreed with his counterpart Lee Jong-Sup that a significant number of the documents in question were fabricated.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin agreed with his office's assessment that many of the documents are fake.

This document appears to show the state of Ukraine's air defenses in February and in May, when it is anticipated they will be badly depleted

South Koreas Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo added: The two countries have the same assessment that much of the information disclosed is altered.

He provided no further details, and Pentagon officials have not yet issued their readout of the call.

But Britains Ministry of Defense appeared to back Seouls claims, saying the leaks had demonstrated a serious level of inaccuracy.

'Readers should be cautious about taking at face value allegations that have the potential to spread disinformation,' a British government spokesman said.

Some files reportedly show concern among top South Korean national security officials that arms, manufactured by their country might end up being used in Ukraine.

Despite US pressure, South Korea is among the worlds largest weapons exporters, but it has not approved the sale or donation of weapons to Kyivs armed forces.

One intercepted memo outlined how two senior presidential advisers discussed how to deal with US pressure to help arm the Ukrainian military.

An aide is quoted as saying shells could be sent to Poland to avoid appearing to have given in to the US or breaching long-standing South Korean policy.

Publicly, officials in South Korea have pointed to domestic laws forbidding them from sending arms directly into war zones.

Apart from including details on weapons and training for Ukraine, the papers also touch upon China, the Middle East and Africa, as well as Americas relationship with Israel.

Because according to the leaked documents, Ukraine's stockpile is rapidly depleting, which in turn, opens up a window for Russian planes to attack

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

Investigators at the Department of Justice have opened a criminal probe into the possible identity of the leaker.

They have refused to rule out Russia being behind the embarrassing security breach, but it is widely thought that a US source helped to publish the documents online.

It is the most significant intelligence leak since the WikiLeaks case in 2013, when more than 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables appeared on the self-styled transparency platform.

Although the public response is new, dozens of photographs of the documents have been circulating on social media platforms and messaging services, including Twitter, Telegram and Discord for several weeks.

On Monday, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby admitted that some of the files had been doctored.

Were still working through the validity of all the documents that we know are out there, he said.

Oleksiy Danilov, one of the most senior Ukrainian defense officials, moved to downplay the leak and the risk posed to their troops on the battlefield.

The opinion of people who have nothing to do with this, do not interest us, the head of the countrys national security and defense council said.

The circle of people who possess information is extremely restricted, he added.
Three men have gone on trial over the murder of a father-of-three at a shopping centre in Essex.

Michael Ugwa, 29, from Rainham, east London, died at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock after he was assaulted on April 28 last year.

Muhammad Khan, 23, and 20-year-old Brandon Lutchmunsing deny his murder and are on trial at Basildon Crown Court.

Khan, of Ilford, east London, and Lutchmunsing, of Dagenham, east London, also deny affray.

Jurors were told Khan has admitted possession of a knife.

Michael Ugwa (pictured), 29, from Rainham, east London, died after being assaulted at an Essex shopping centre on April 28, two people have now been charged in relation to his death

The alleged attack took place at Lakeside shopping centre (pictured) on the afternoon of Thursday, April 28, 2022

A third defendant, Shannon Weston, of Canewdon, Essex, denies three counts of assisting an offender and is also on trial.

The 21-year-old is accused of driving Khan and Lutchmunsing away from the shopping centre, and of helping Lutchmunsing to evade police between April 28 and May 4.

A jury was sworn in on Tuesday and judge Samantha Leigh sent them away to return on Wednesday, when they will hear prosecutor Karim Khalil KC open details of the case to them.

The trial, estimated to last six weeks, continues.
Billy Murray claimed men approached his daughter and tried to kidnap her kids

TV star Billy Murray today claimed that an eastern European gang tried to kidnap his grandchildren.

The actor, who played corrupt cop Don Beech on The Bill and was friends with the Kray twins in his youth, told his fans on social media that while his daughter was out on a walk in the village of Orsett, Essex with her children, a black Audi A6 blocked her path.

Murray claimed that the driver of the car, who sounded eastern European, then got out and started talking to her.

He said that the other three people in the car got out and started to approach his grandchildren, but that his daughter's partner Mick then shouted at the children to run.

The men then allegedly jumped back in the car and they sped off, Mr Murray said. He claimed that police said they were unable to do anything about it as the alleged gang 'did not touch' the children.

Star of hit TV police drama The Bill, Bill Murray (pictured), has warned parents after he claimed that an eastern European gang tried to 'kidnap' his grandchildren from the street

Murray got his first help as an actor after being given 400 to go to the East 15 Acting School by gangsters the Kray Twins, as he boxed for West Ham Boxing Club, which they owned. Reggie and Ronnie said they 'liked his attitude'.

He is most well known for playing Don Beech, who was a bad cop on The Bill from 1995 to 2004, as well as playing another villain Johnny Allen on Eastenders in 2005 and 2006.

Billy has four children, including daughter Jaime Murray, who followed in his footsteps to become an actor, appearing as the charming Stacie Monroe in scam-drama Hustle in the first four series.

Murray told his followers: 'My daughter and my two grandchildren and her partner were out yesterday in a little tiny village just round the corner from our little farm. And they were just walking along and picking some wildflowers or whatever and she got kind of separated because a telephone call came for her partner and she just took it and he just stood there for a minute talking.

'A black Audi pulled up in front of her blocking the way she was walking. The driver got out and she could see through the screen that there was a passenger and three other guys sat in the back. And he walked up to her and he was very familiar with her or whatever, chatting to her. He was eastern European. It was a black four-door Audi A6.

'They kept looking at the children and she had this terrible fear, all of a sudden, come over her and she panicked and she called out to Mick.

'He looked over and saw exactly what was happening because the guys in the back and the passenger were getting out of the car to approach the children.'

Mr Murray (pictured) told his fans while his daughter was out on a walk in an Essex village near Basildon with her children and partner, a black Audi A6 blocked way she was walking

Billy Murray played Don Beech on police drama The Bill

Billy Murray as Eastenders villain Johnny Allen, who he played on the show from 2005 to 2006

Billy Murray with his daughter Jaime at the 2005 National TV Awards at the Royal Albert Hall

Billy Murray got his first help as an actor after being given 400 to go to the East 15 Acting School by gangsters the Kray Twins (pictured), as he boxed for West Ham Boxing Club, which they owned

Mr Murray added: 'They were going to kidnap my grandchildren, that's they assumed anyway. And as soon as Mick, her partner, saw it he yelled and screamed at them to run and he ran over.

'And as he ran over, because he was across the other side of the road, they all jumped in their car and squealed off - tyres burning, everything.

'Beware, they're out there. There's five guys in an Audi A6.

'Didn't get the number but it's been reported to the police. They said they can't do anything because they never actually touched the children. But be warned, they out there.

'It's happening in Basildon and Greys. People are reporting it on Facebook all the time. Please could you pass this on, I would appreciate it very much.'

A spokesperson from Essex Police said: 'We received a call shortly after 12.35pm on Sunday 9 April reporting concerns about an incident from around 3.30pm the previous day (Saturday 8 April).

'The caller reported three men  described as being in their mid-20s to mid-30s all with short dark hair, one wearing a leather jacket and another wearing a cap  in a black Audi A5 had engaged her in conversation as she crossed the road in The Green, Orsett.

'It was reported a door of the car opened but it wasnt reported to us that anyone got out.

'The caller stated her partner approached the vehicle and it drove off.

'No physical contact between any of those involved, or attempts at physical contact, was reported.

'No further information about the car was disclosed.

'Based on the information provided no offences have been identified but the call has been noted for intelligence purposes.

'We know the public will be concerned by a video circulating online relating to this incident and high visibility patrols are taking place in the area.

'We are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any concerns or suspicious activity to us.

'If you have any information or concerns you can report them via our online reporting services: www.essex.police.uk/digital101

'Please quote incident 474 of 9 April.'
A truck carrying soil polluted by the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment overturned Monday afternoon in Columbiana County, spilling out 20,000 pounds of toxic soil.

According to local authorities and the Ohio EPA, the truck was carrying 40,000 pounds of contaminated soil from the derailment site at the time.

Despite dumping out thousands of pounds of contaminated soil along the roadway, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said, 'the spill was contained and is not a threat to nearby waterways.'

The crash comes just two months after a Norfolk Southern train went off the tracks on February 3 in East Palestine while carrying numerous hazardous substances.

Residents in the area have been jostled back and forth by local officials, having been forced to evacuate initially and then later told there was no cause for concern.

A truck carrying soil polluted by the East Palestine , Ohio train derailment overturned Monday afternoon in Columbiana County, spilling out 20,000 pounds of toxic soil

The crash comes just two months after a Norfolk Southern train went off the tracks on February 3 in East Palestine while carrying numerous hazardous substances

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers were called to state Route 165 around 1pm on Monday for a single vehicle crash involving a tractor with a trailer.

The tractor trailer had an open top, Highway Patrol officials said.

74-year-old driver, Phillip Falck, traveled off the side of the road for unknown reasons, hitting a ditch and utility pole before eventually overturning.

Upon arrival at the scene, troopers said they found the truck 'on its side, off of the right side of the roadway.'

Officials said Falck was 'cited for operating a vehicle without reasonable control.'

He sustained minor injuries in the crash, FOX 8 Cleveland reported.

The truck was removed from the site immediately after the crash.

Local outlets captured footage of crews cleaning up the scene along the road, using an excavator to pick up the spoiled soil.

Several 'Road Closed' signs were placed along state Route 165 for hours on Monday and the area was closed off to the public throughout the day.

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers were called to state Route 165 around 1pm on Monday for a single vehicle crash involving a tractor with a trailer

74-year-old driver, Phillip Falck, traveled off the side of the road for unknown reasons, hitting a ditch and utility pole before eventually overturning

This was the original site after the crash in East Palestine in February

As of April 10, rail operators have said some 20,000 tons of contaminated soil have been removed from the derailment site

Nearly 10 million gallons of wastewater have been removed from the derailment site

On the same day that the tractor trailer overturned, a new health clinic was opened in East Palestine to address health concerns following the derailment.

'The grand opening of the East Liverpool City Hospital East Palestine Clinic represents our continued commitment to this community,' Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a release on Monday.

'We realize that the people of East Palestine need long-term support, and they deserve another primary care option close to home. This new clinic will provide that,' DeWine continued.

In February, spillage from the train caused contaminants to be leaked into the surrounding environment and thousands of fish were killed.

Despite widespread and continued concern, Norfolk Southern said at the end of February that 'substantial contamination' in soil and water had been removed.

As of April 10, rail operators have said some 20,000 tons of contaminated soil have been removed from the derailment site.

The EPA has stated that more than 17,000 tons of toxic soil remain and will still need to be removed.

Nearly 10 million gallons of wastewater have also been removed from the derailment site.

This was the massive plume of smoke over East Palestine, Ohio after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed in eastern Ohio

The fire and smoke were constant for days in the area after the derailment

This is the original evacuation map released by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's office

'You need to leave, you just need to leave. This is a matter of life and death,' said Gov. DeWine at a press conference back in February, pleading with residents to evacuate

Another view of the massive plume of smoke coming from the train derailment in Ohio

East Palestine is located right near the border of Ohio and Pennsylvania

This is an overhead shot of some of the train cars damaged in the derailment

In February, the EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the contaminated mess and said that if the train company did not comply with the order, the agency will do the work and bill Norfolk Southern triple the cost.

Cleanup efforts since then have been ongoing and hefty, even amid reports that the air in East Palestine may be toxic.

Experts from Texas A&M and Carnegie Mellon University have been conducting their own air quality tests using a mobile testing unit in East Palestine.

The group said that if the chemicals persist at the current levels, it could cause long-term health issues for residents.
NASA is seeking an additional $180 million in 2024 to continue planning de-orbiting the 419-ton ISS (International Space Station). NASA already has $10 million to begin planning for the 2030 retirement of the ISS and developing a plan to do it in a safe manner. This will involve putting a de-orbit space vehicle into orbit next to the ISS and pushing it into a lower orbit at the right time so the ISS will enter the atmosphere to where it is pulled by gravity to the surface. Most of the ISS burn up during the reentry and all that reentry heat will also tear apart the ISS. If the de-orbit vehicle does its job, the surviving pieces will head for the surface and a landing at Point Nemo. This is the most remote (from land) ocean area on the planet. It is 2,685 kilometers from one of the Pitcairn Islands off South American and north of Antarctica. Point Nemo covers such a large area of ocean that even if the de-orbit process is a little off target, no debris will hit an inhabited area.

The ISS is the last major space station put into orbit by Western nations. The relatively new Chinese space program is expected to become dominant by the 2030s. The most obvious aspect of this is space stations. Currently there are only two in orbit. The ISS is the largest (419 tons) occupied (usually by a crew of six), the longest in orbit (over 23 years) and the longest occupied (21 years). The ISS was initially expected to have a useful (occupied) life of fifteen years. The ISS was not completed until 2011. The longer it was up there the more space station tech was developed. That led to extensions to useful life. Until recently the ISS was to be used until 2028 but it is proposed to extend that to 2030. Without any new government proposals for a new space station, the only one up there after 2030 would be the Chinese Tiangong 3, which has been occupied since 2021 and will be completed in 2022 as a 66-ton unit with a useful life of 15 years. Tiangong 3 was designed to easily be doubled in size and extend its useful life to 30 years.

China's new space station could be built so quickly because space tech has advanced over the years. For that reason, there are several proposals by Western firms to finance, build and operate commercial space stations. This development is no surprise to veteran space program engineers and administrators. Most of these new developments go unnoticed by the public because it is kind of boring tech stuff. One exception was commercial firm SpaceX with its revolutionary SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) tech which greatly reduced the cost of putting anything into orbit. The Chinese didnt use SpaceX tech to build their new space station.

So far, the ISS has cost about $150 billion to build and operate. The Tiangong 3 is expected to cost much less, as in over 50 percent less, because it's now cheaper to build and launch satellite components and China plans to include lots of space for profitable science experiments. The large number of such experiments carried out in the ISS demonstrated that there is a market for this and thats the motivation behind commercial space stations, especially those using SpaceX SLV tech and similar new tech developed by SpaceX and a number of other firms. Space stations no longer have to be government funded science experiments. Few noticed how much the costs were coming down at the same time income sources increased. Current plans are to have the first commercial space station operational before ISS retires in 2030. More commercial stations will follow.

China seemed to sense this trend when, without much fanfare, they put their first space station into orbit during 2011. This was the eight-ton Tiangong 1. It lasted two years and provided practical experience for the construction and launch of the 8.6-ton Tiangong 2 in late 2016. This one was built to last longer and in early 2017 a Chinese cargo vehicle made an automated docking with the Tiangong 2. This was a major step for the Chinese, who could now maintain two or three people in the Tiangong 2 for up to 30 days with the supplies from one cargo vehicle. China put the first 22 t0n module of the Tiangong 3 in orbit during April 2021 and it has been occupied since September, 2021. Two laboratory modules, each weighing the same as the first, are planned for 2022. The first of these was launched in July with the second one scheduled for October. This will make the initial Tiangong 3 complete. Three more modules can be added to double the crew size to six.

China wanted to join the consortium (United States, Russia, European Union, Japan and Canada) that built and managed the ISS. There was opposition within the U.S. government about Chinese espionage efforts that had obtained data from the United States for peaceful use of space but used it for military purposes. The new U.S. Wolf Act passed in early 2011 prohibited the American space agency NASA from cooperating with China on the ISS. That ended Chinese efforts to participate in the ISS. Later in 2011 China launched, on schedule, Tiangong 1, its first space station.

Russia is withdrawing from space station efforts because their space program (Roscosmos) cant afford it, and sanctions because the invasion of Ukraine only added to the many problems the Russian space program has had in the last decade. The Mir space station was the last of eight Russian built space stations and the one that remained occupied the longest (4,594 days). The 130-ton Mir was brought down in 2001 after Russia joined the ISS consortium. The 420-ton ISS has been in orbit since 1998, when the first of 17 modules was operational. Other nations have built similar, and rather temporary space stations. That effort began in the 1970s with the Russian Salyut 1 but since the 1990s most nations with space programs have put their resources into supporting the ISS. Now the development of commercial space stations will dominate simply because its cheaper and more efficient than government run operations. This has already happened, again without much media fanfare, to the design, launch and operation of space satellites.
The Louisville shooter had told a female colleague to 'get out of here' as he entered the Old National Bank Monday morning  before firing at the woman as she fled and he livestreamed his massacre.

Authorities have said that Connor Sturgeon, 25, legally purchased an AR-15 on April 4 from a local dealer and could be seen wielding the weapon in his livestream on Instagram as he entered his former workplace at around 8.30am.

Though the livestream of the attack at Old National Bank has not been released to the public, a city official who saw the footage described to CNN how Sturgeon told a woman near the entrance to run before he tried to shoot her.

But the gun was unloaded and the safety was still on at the time.

Quickly realizing his mistake, Sturgeon is then said to have loaded ammunition into the assault rifle and took off the safety. He then aimed at her again, and this time successfully shot the woman in the back. It is unclear if she survived.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, opened fire at the Old National Bank using an AR-15 he bought legally the week before

Members of the Louisville Fire Department are seen cleaning the steps of the Old National Bank following the shooting on Monday

The livestreamed footage of the attack is said to be in police custody as they continue their investigation into the massacre.

But the unnamed city official who viewed the footage said it shows a friendly colleague wishing Sturgeon a good morning as he entered the Old National Bank with his AR-15.

'You need to get out of here,' the gunman reportedly tells the woman  before trying to shoot her in the back as she fled.

The attempt, though, failed because the weapon was still unloaded at the time with its safety on.

Once Sturgeon took the safety off and loaded the gun, the official said, he tried again and shot the staff member in the back. It is unclear if the woman survived.

The shooter then allegedly proceeded to spray fire inside the bank as frantic employees tried to to outrun him.

He did not travel to any of the other more populated floors in the building, which also houses a real estate firm, during the targeted attack.

After just about one minute, the official said, the gunman sat in the lobby of the bank and waited for police to arrive on the scene.

They arrived soon after, and started exchanging gunfire with Sturgeon, who died at the scene. It remains unclear whether he was killed by a self-inflicted shot or from officers at the bank.

Police-worn body camera footage of the incident is expected to be released Tuesday afternoon.

Also killed in the massacre were Thomas Elliott, 63, Joshua Barrick, 40, Juliana Farmer, 45, James Tutt, 64, and Deana Eckert, 57.

A total of eight people were injured, including rookie cop Nicholas Wilt, 26, who remains in critical condition after being shot in the head.

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

Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer at the bank, was declared dead on Monday evening

Louisville Metro police responded to the scene within three minutes of Sturgeon opening fire

Multiple bullet holes could be seen through the windows of the bank Monday night

Glass was strewn across the ground outside the bank following the massacre

Authorities have said that Sturgeon, who was recently fired from the bank, stormed into a conference room with the AR-15 shortly after 8.30am - around half an hour before the branch opened to the public.

He was suicidal, friends said.

Officers arrived within three minutes and found the shooter still firing, Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said.

Videos posted online also showed officers at the scene running out into the street during rush hour traffic and warning drivers to get out of their cars because there was an 'active shooter.'

At least three gunshots could be heard in the footage.

Photos showed blood splattered on the steps leading up to the bank, and broken glass on the ground.

Sturgeon, left , pictured with his mom, dad and younger brother, did not have a prior criminal history

A man is pictured on Tuesday leaving a bouquet of flowers on the steps outside the bank

One mourner also left a bouquet of white roses with a note at the bank

Workers inside the building have described how they fled from the blood-soaked scene and scrambled to the vault to hide from the killer as he rampaged through the building.

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 after she dropped her son off at his job.

'I had just dropped my son off at work on River Road,' the 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.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg is pictured at a news conference on Tuesday, when officials announced that Sturgeon legally purchased the weapon. He is now calling for further gun control measures

Members of the Louisville Police Department talk on the steps of the Old National Bank during an investigation following the shooting

Some mourners left rose petals in the shape of a heart at the entrance to the bank

Authorities announced on Tuesday that Sturgeon bought the gun he used in the attack legally just one week before.

'As I was sititng 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.'

The morning of the shooting, he also posted a series of ominous Instagram post including one that said: 'They won't listen to words or protests. Let's see if they hear this.'

Sturgeon had no previous criminal history, and his mother Lisa and younger brother Cameron were said to have approached police at the scene outside the bank to confirm his identity.
Hardened IRA man turned British spy Freddie Scappaticci, who was one of the most controversial figures in the bloody history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, has died.

Freddie Scappaticci, who was aged in his 70s and always denied that he was the agent Stakeknife, died several days ago and was buried last week, it emerged on Tuesday.

Stakeknife worked within the IRA's notorious 'nutting squad' interrogating suspected informers during the Troubles. The alleged activities of Stakeknife and the role of security services including MI5 are under investigation in Operation Kenova led by former Bedfordshire chief constable, Jon Boutcher.

The probe is examining claims that Scappaticci could have been responsible for the kidnap, murder and torture of as many as 50 individuals. Last week, it was announced that the publication of the report had been delayed, it now appears, because of his death.

The news of Scappaticci's death came just hours before US President Joe Biden touched down in Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

In 2003, Stakeknife was named as Scappaticci, an allegation he denied, just as he rejected claims that he was an IRA informer. Pictured: Scappaticci in west Belfast in 2003

The man said to be the Army's top agent within the Provisional IRA, Freddie Scappaticci (pictured), from Belfast, has died

Pictured: Scappaticci walking behind Gerry Adams (right) at the 1988 funeral of IRA man Brendan Davidson

Stakeknife had worked his way into the 'nutting squad', the IRA's version of the KGB, which interrogated and punished suspected spies.

In 2003, Stakeknife was named as Scappaticci, an allegation he denied, just as he rejected claims that he was an IRA informer.

Stakeknife was also accused of lying under oath in affidavits between 2003 and 2006 following files sent by the Operation Kenova team.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Boutcher said his team were made aware last week of the passing of Mr Scappaticci.

He said his team are working through the implications of the death of Mr Scappaticci in terms of the investigation, and said they will publish an interim report on findings this year.

He said: 'We remain committed to providing families with the truth of what happened to their loved ones and continue to actively pursue criminal charges against several individuals.

'We also recognise that people may now feel more able to talk to the Kenova team following the death of Mr Scappaticci, who had been long accused by many of being involved in the kidnap, murder and torture of potential PIRA informants during The Troubles.

The news comes just hours before President Biden touches down in Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement. Pictured: Biden boards Air Force One for travel to Ireland, as he departs Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, today

Freddie Scappaticci, who came out of hiding on May 14, 2003, and protested his innocence against claims that he spied on the IRA (PA Photo: BBC News 24)

It is claimed 'Stakeknife' was feared by even the most hardened IRA gunmen and bombers. Pictured: Freddie Scappaticci from Andersonstown, west Belfast

After it was claimed Scappaticci was a British agent his home was attacked in 2003

'I appeal to anyone with information that might help those impacted by the events we are investigating to contact us in confidence to help families understand what happened during these difficult times.'

It is claimed 'Stakeknife' was feared by even the most hardened IRA gunmen and bombers. A brutal beating persuaded him to become an informer, previous reports have claimed.

Who was Freddie Scappaticci - the IRA hardman turned double agent for the British? Born in the Markets area of West Belfast, the son of Italian immigrants, Scappaticci began working as a bricklayer, but in 1971 aged 25, he was interned without trial, along with many of the next generation of Republicans including Gerry Adams. When he was released in 1974 he was a volunteer in the Provisionals and by 1980 he had joined the Nutting Squad. His first involvement with British Intelligence is believed to have been in 1978, when he is said to have volunteered to become an informer after being assaulted in an argument with a senior IRA comrade. His first contact was with the RUC's Special Branch, but when the British later formed the shadowy Force Research unit to co-ordinate Army intelligence, Stakeknife became their best asset. Stakeknife is said to have provided a goldmine of intelligence to the British, including allowing them to identify IRA members involved in the kidnapping of wealthy Irish supermarket magnate Ben Dunne in 1981, as well as those who tried to abduct Canadian business tycoon Galen Weston in 1983. Advertisement

In 2012, former Northern Ireland General Sir John Wilsey described the agent Stakeknife as 'a golden egg' and the 'jewel in the crown' of intelligence sources. The agent reportedly received payments of up to 80,000 a year for information about kidnappings, bombings and shootings.

The allegations against Stakeknife were laid bare in a damning report by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens in 2003. Discussing the report in Parliament in 2003, Labour MP Kevin McNamara said: 'It is alleged that Stakeknife was a low-ranking Irish Republican Army volunteer, who was recruited to the FRU in 1978.

'As a double agent, he was tasked with advancing himself in the paramilitary group, and he became head of the IRA internal security unit, the nutting squad. For that service, he was paid the salary of a then Cabinet Minister - 80,000 a year; moneys were deposited into a bank account based in Gibraltar.

'As head of the nutting squad, Agent Stakeknife would have been in charge of vetting all recruits to the IRA and seeking out British moles.

'If that were true, he would have been involved in kidnap, interrogation, torture and punishment.

'He would have taken part in anything up to 40 murders of suspected informers. He would be guilty of colluding in the murder of IRA volunteers, police officers, soldiers and civilians.'

After Scappaticci was alleged to be 'Stakeknife' by disaffected Army agent Kevin Fulton in 2003, he was reportedly moved to a safehouse.

A newspaper report at the time stated: 'Wherever he tries to begin a new life with a new identity he will always be a hunted man.'

Kevin Winters, a lawyer representing families of people killed by the Provisional IRA during the Troubles said of Freddie Scappaticci's death: 'The news will frustrate many families who have been waiting for over six years on the imminent publication of Mr Boutcher's independent report known as Operation Kenova.

'Some initial feedback from clients suggests annoyance about the timing of the death, coming as it does on the cusp of the report's publication later in the summer. Not only that but the PPS have been deliberating on prosecution decisions in 33 cases referred by Kenova nearly three years ago.

Freddie Scappaticci, from Belfast , had denied the allegation that he was the agent codenamed Stakeknife

The alleged activities of Stakeknife are under investigation in Operation Kenova led by former Bedfordshire chief constable, Jon Boutcher (pictured). In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Boutcher said his team were made aware last week of the passing of Scappaticci

'Clearly the death will have an impact on both the content of the report and whether or not criminal prosecutions go ahead.

'Families of victims will rightly ask questions. Their cynicism is heightened upon learning that news of Scappaticci's burial seems to have been kept quiet by the authorities over the Easter weekend. People just aren't happy and that's only to be expected given the unexpected news.

'Answers will be needed sooner rather than later, given heightened expectations that after all these years they would finally get some degree of closure.

'There is a significant volume of litigation ongoing all of which is linked to the deceased. That includes over 35 high court civil actions alleging collusion against him and state agencies together with judicial review challenges touching upon his status as a protected state intelligence asset.

'We have seen it before so many times previously with agents and informants dying before legal processes played out and robbing victims of some semblance of justice. Unfortunately, we may now be seeing that again.

'Key to keeping families engaged and on board with the final outworkings of the inquiry is a positive indication that the latest news won't serve to undermine or prejudice decision making.

'The terms of reference of Kenova were narrowly drawn up to keep the inquiry Freddie Scappaticci-centric, thereby removing any spotlight on other alleged high-profile PIRA ISU agents. It remains to be seen whether or not the untimely death of the key witness in all of this serves to further constrict any focus on wider allegations of Republican-state collusion.'

The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) victims' group said it was 'highly regrettable' that the report into the alleged activities of Stakeknife was not published before the death of Freddie Scappaticci.

SEFF director of services Kenny Donaldson said many families 'will have very difficult feelings to navigate through over the coming period'.

'Our thoughts this evening are with those innocents whose loved ones were callously kidnapped, tortured and murdered by the Provisional IRA's nutting squad as well as wider crimes alleged to have been committed by Freddie Scappaticci,' he added.

BY NICK CRAVEN FOR MAILONLINE

'Stakeknife', the code-name of hardened IRA man turned British spy Freddie Scappaticci, was one of the most controversial figures in the bloody history of the Troubles.

When his identity emerged in 2003, it seemed inconceivable that the British government could have planted a mole deep in the heart of the IRA's command structure for more than two decades, but though he often denied it, Scappaticci is now generally accepted to have been that double-agent.

Despite the risks he took, Scappaticci's passing will merit no hero's funeral, not even from those he worked for.

For the 25 years that he worked for British intelligence in Northern Ireland are mired in blood and treachery  with police still investigating claims that he could have been responsible for the kidnap, murder and torture of as many as 50 individuals during that time.

He was one of the leading figures in the so-called 'nutting squad', the ruthless IRA internal security unit which interrogated and often killed suspected informers.

'Stakeknife', the code-name of hardened IRA man turned British spy Freddie Scappaticci (pictured), was one of the most controversial figures in the bloody history of the Troubles

Born in the Markets area of West Belfast, the son of Italian immigrants, Scappaticci began working as a bricklayer, but in 1971 aged 25, he was interned without trial, along with many of the next generation of Republicans including Gerry Adams.

When he was released in 1974 he was a volunteer in the Provisionals and by 1980 he had joined the Nutting Squad.

His first involvement with British Intelligence is believed to have been in 1978, when he is said to have volunteered to become an informer after being assaulted in an argument with a senior IRA comrade.

His first contact was with the RUC's Special Branch, but when the British later formed the shadowy Force Research unit to co-ordinate Army intelligence, Stakeknife became their best asset.

Stakeknife is said to have provided a goldmine of intelligence to the British, including allowing them to identify IRA members involved in the kidnapping of wealthy Irish supermarket magnate Ben Dunne in 1981, as well as those who tried to abduct Canadian business tycoon Galen Weston in 1983.

Born in the Markets area of West Belfast, the son of Italian immigrants, Scappaticci (bottom left) began working as a bricklayer, but in 1971 aged 25, he was interned without trial, along with many of the next generation of Republicans including Gerry Adams

One of Scappaticci's most notable claims was that former Sinn Fein leader and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness was involved in the death of Frank Hegarty, an IRA man killed by them in 1986 as an informer after they blamed him for the discovery of a huge Libyan arms cache by the Gardai.

According to other sources, Hegarty himself was an FRU agent, and Scappaticci was involved in his torture and murder, to protect his own skin.

Scappaticci is alleged to have worked closely with his FRU handlers in the 1980s and 1990s to protect and promote his own position within the IRA, with accusations that the FRU even killed individuals who might have exposed Scappaticci as an informer.

The alleged activities of Stakeknife have been under investigation in Operation Kenova led by former Bedfordshire chief constable, Jon Boutcher for seven years and in 2018, Scappaticci was arrested and questioned.

The report from the probe into crimes such as murder and torture linked to Stakeknife, and the role played by the security services, including MI5, was due to be published in early 2023.

Last week, it was announced that the publication of the report had been delayed, it now appears, because of his death.

His first involvement with British Intelligence is believed to have been in 1978, when he is said to have volunteered to become an informer after being assaulted in an argument with a senior IRA comrade

Mr Boutcher said: 'We were made aware last week of the passing of Frederick Scappaticci. We are working through the implications of his death with regards to our ongoing casework, which will be progressed in consultation with victims, bereaved families, advocacy support groups and a wide range of statutory and non-statutory partners.

'The very nature of historical investigations will mean a higher likelihood that old age may catch up with those affected, be they perpetrators, witnesses, victims, family members, or those who simply lived through those times, before matters are concluded.

'We remain committed to providing families with the truth of what happened to their loved ones and continue to actively pursue criminal charges against several individuals. We will publish an interim report on Kenova's findings this year.'

Ironically, Scappaticci's death may mean that much more is revealed about his activities than would have otherwise been the case, said Mr Boutcher.

'We also recognise that people may now feel more able to talk to the Kenova team following the death of Mr Scappaticci, who had long accused by many of being involved in the kidnap, murder and torture of potential PIRA informants during The Troubles.

'I appeal to anyone with information that might help those impacted by the events we are investigating to contact us in confidence to help families understand what happened during these difficult times.'
Video footage shows the terrifying moment scientists run for cover under their snowmobiles as a volcano erupts in Russia's far east, spewing a toxic ash cloud 12 miles into the sky.

Shiveluch, the largest and most active of Kamchatka's volcanoes, erupted early this morning, spreading thick ash over 41,700 square miles.

The doomsday scene on Tuesday turned day to night as ash rose high above the volcano in the Kamchatka Peninsula.

The eruption took place just after midnight, reaching a crescendo about six hours later.

Lava flows tumbled from the volcano, melting snow and prompting a warning of mud flows along a nearby highway, while villages were carpeted in drifts of grey ash reaching up to 3.3 inches (8.5cm), the deepest in 60 years.

Ash cloud billows from the Cotopaxi volcano as seen from Quito on April 10, 2023

A view shows a house and a car covered in volcanic dust following the eruption of Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka region, Russia on April 11, 2023

A group of volcanologists captured in one video were far too close to the crater as it erupted.

The apocalyptic scenes began with a snowmobile racing over the mountainside. The video shows the scientists huddled around their snowmobiles trying to decide how best to navigate the situation.

Fragments of rock can be seen blowing in their direction, narrowly missing them.

The footage shows the scientists darting under their snowmobiles as a dark storm cloud of ash approaches, covering them moments later in a thick orange haze.

The group can be seen sheltering under the vehicles as the ash surges over them.

A group of volcanologists captured in one video were far too close to the crater as it erupted

The apocalyptic scenes show the scientists trying to decide how best to navigate the situation

The footage shows the scientists darting under their snowmobiles as a dark storm cloud of thick ash approaches, before covering them in an orange haze

The group can be seen sheltering under the vehicles as the ash surges over them

Streets covered with volcanic ash after the Shiveluch volcano erupted, in Klyuchi, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, on April 11, 2023

Lava and steam spews out following an eruption on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia

A car is covered in dark ash following the eruption of the Shiveluch volcano in Russia

As the cloud passed, it covered villages in the Kamchatka peninsula.

'The sun should be shining but is nowhere to be seen,' said one local resident. 'It's pitch dark. You cannot see anything.'

The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team issued a red notice for aviation, noting 'ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft'.

The Tokyo Volcanic Ash Advisory, which keeps track of volcanic activity on the world's eastern flank, has also sent out an advisory to airlines.

Nearby villages were carpeted in drifts of grey ash as deep as 3.3 inches (8.5cm), the deepest in 60 years

Shiveluch volcano erupted in Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula

The last major eruption at Shiveluch took place in 2007 but today's eruption was the most extreme since 1964, according to scientists.

A climatologist has warned that the eruption may have even more serious consequences than Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland in 2010, which caused the biggest disruption to aviation since the Second World War.

'The ash reached 20 kilometres high, the ash cloud moved westwards and there was a very strong fall of ash on nearby villages,' said Danila Chebrov, director of the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Survey.

'The volcano was preparing for this for at least a year... and the process is continuing though it has calmed a little now,' Chebrov said.

He said the volcano would probably calm now, but that further major ash clouds could not be excluded. He said lava flows should not reach local villages.

The plume of ash sat above an area of 41,700 square miles (108,000 square kilometres) - an area larger than Scotland and Wales combined

A cloud of ash shot far up into the sky and smothered villages in drifts of grey volcanic dust

Lava flows tumbled from the volcano, melting snow and prompting a warning of mud flows along a nearby highway

The ashes threatened air traffic, local schools were closed, and residents were asked to stay indoors

A person in protective clothing makes a snow angel in the grey ash that covered the ground

The doomsday scene on Tuesday turned day to night as ash rose 12 miles (19 kilometres) into the air

Some schools in the Kamchatka peninsula, about 6,800 km east of Moscow, were closed and residents ordered to stay indoors, head of the Ust-Kamchatsky municipal region Oleg Bondarenko said in a Telegram post.

'Because what I have just seen here with my own eyes, it will be impossible for children to go to school, and in general, the presence of children here is questionable,' Bondarenko said.

He said residents' power had been restored and that drinking water was being supplied.

The region was also hit by a 4.5 magnitude earthquake with an epicentre in the waters of Avacha Bay.

Vehicles and nearby villages were scattered with grey dust following the eruption overnight

A view from inside a car shows a road covered in volcanic dust following the eruption of the Shiveluch volcano

A view shows the Shiveluch volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula on November 20, 2022

A view shows the Shiveluch volcano spewing volcanic ash and smoke, on the Kamchatka Peninsula in November last year

Scientists posted pictures of the ash cloud billowing swiftly over the forests and rivers, and of villages covered in ash.

Officials said there was a threat that streams of hot lava could block roads.

Shiveluch has two main parts, the smaller of which - Young Shiveluch - scientists have reported as being extremely active in recent months, with a peak of 2,800 metres (9,186 feet) that protrudes out of the 3,283 metre-high Old Shiveluch.

The volcano has experienced 60 major eruptions in the last 10,000 years.
A group of former Twitter executives who were fired by Elon Musk on his first day in charge are suing the company for more than $1million over unpaid legal bills.

The lawsuit filed in Delaware Chancery Court, Monday is on behalf of the social media networks former chief executive Parag Agrawal, its former chief financial officer Ned Segal and former head of legal and policy Vijaya Gadde.

They spent more than $1million in personal legal bills related to government investigations, including by the Department of Justice, inquiries by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and shareholder lawsuits.

The trio, who were fired by Musk when he bought Twitter for $44billion in October, racked up significant expenses related to their former positions.

They claim the company has refused to acknowledge its obligations and to remit payment of any invoices.

Parag Agrawal (pictured) is part of a trio of former Twitter executives who are suing the company for more than $1million over unpaid legal reimbursements

Former chief financial officer Ned Segal (pictured) was contacted by the justice department in 2022 regarding certain investigations related to the company, according to the lawsuit

Vijaya Gadde (pictured), former head of legal and policy at Twitter, was forced to pay legal fees related to her February testimony in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability

The justice department contacted counsel for Agrawal and Segal in 2022 regarding certain investigations related to the company, according to the lawsuit.

But the nature of the probe and whether it is still active is unknown.

The pair also incurred legal expenses responding to inquiries by the SEC in 2022, the lawsuit states.

The SEC has been investigating whether Musk breached securities regulations by failing to make timely disclosures when he bought a 9.2 per cent stake in Twitter early last year.

Agrawal and Segal were contacted by federal authorities in July while still in their roles at Twitter and in September the SEC asked Agrawal to preserve documents.

They are also named with Gadde in a shareholder lawsuit and she was forced to pay legal fees related to her February testimony in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

She was subpoenaed to appear in front of the committee and it focused on Twitters decision to briefly censor a New York Post story about the contents of Hunter Bidens laptop.

The lawsuit said Twitters corporate bylaws and its contracts with former executives require it to pay their legal fees in matters related to the social media company.

And the former executives notified Twitter of the expenses incurred more than two months ago but they are yet to be reimbursed.

Elon Musk fired Agrawal, Segal and Gadde for cause last year which voided the large severance payouts they were expected to get

Agrawal (left) and Segal (right) racked up significant expenses related to their former positions

Twitter has been accused of refusing to pay bills owed to landlords, suppliers and vendors as well as missing payment which has led to lawsuits

Aaron Zamost, a spokesman for Segal and Gadde, said: Once again, Twitter has failed to honor its contractual obligations to pay its bills.

Musk has aggressively cut costs relating to Twitter since he took over and fired more than 75 per cent of its 7,500 employees.

He terminated Agrawal, Segal and Gadde for cause last year which voided the large severance payouts they were expected to get, which would have amounted to nearly $60million for Agrawal.

It is not known if the former executives plan to challenge this in court.

Twitter has been accused of refusing to pay bills owed to landlords, suppliers and vendors as well as missing payments to software services, real estate management firms and janitorial contractors which has led to lawsuits.

Musk told employees in an email last month that he valued Twitter at $20billion which is less than half of what he paid for it.
A friend of Rep. Lauren Boebert's teenage son is alleging that an accident, in which Tyler Boebert was driving, left him with multiple concussions and a debilitating hand injury - and accused the political family of covering it up.

On Monday, Westword interviewed 19-year-old Noble D'Amato, who was hospitalized with concussions and a severely lacerated hand after Tyler, now 18, took a curve too fast and flipped his father's SUV into a creek bed at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 17.

D'Amato alleges that the injuries left him unable to continue his welding career.

'I still have problems with my hand,' he told Westword, a Denver-based publication. 'My thumb almost got cut off. It prevented me from getting a welding job, because I can't hold a TIG torch anymore. I'm a personal-care provider now.'

D'Amato says the younger Boebert - who's a soon-to-be father - was 'stone cold sober' at the time of the accident. 'And he still f**king flipped us,' D'Amato said. 'That shows you how much he just doesn't care. He was driving so f**king fast.'

D'Amato's backpack contained unprescribed Xanax pills and a 'silver marijuana grinder w/small amount of marijuana,' which got the 19-year-old charged with unlawful possession of a schedule IV controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

A friend of Rep. Lauren Boebert's (left) teenage son is alleging that an accident, in which Tyler Boebert (rihgt) was driving, left him with multiple concussions and a debilitating hand injury - and accused the political family of covering it up

'I remember waking up with blood pouring out of my hand. I had put my hands up in the air to protect myself and got messed up really bad by the window or something. I was just glad to be alive,' D'Amato said.

Tyler, Westword reported, got a careless driving ticket, which was later dropped down to a 'defective vehicle for headlights' ticket after the teenager accepted a plea deal.

He had to go through a court-ordered driving school, dubbed 'Alive at 25,' and attend a court hearing on Monday, which is how news of the accident got out.

Boebert's Congressional office infuriated D'Amato by releasing a statement to Westword, downplaying his injuries in an April 4 statement.

'The injury reported was superficial at best and was addressed by medical professionals out of caution,' Boebert's office said.

D'Amato said the statement was 'bulls**t,' and said it was likely the congresswoman who was trying to sweep the severity of his injuries under the rug.

'She's never liked me,' D'Amato said. 'But that doesn't give them the right to try and hide the fact that I was injured. They just don't give a f**k. It's the entire family.'

Rep. Lauren Boebert's (pictured) Congressional office infuriated accident victim Noble D'Amato, 19, by releasing a statement downplaying the extent of his injuries after the congresswoman's son flipped a vehicle into a creek bed

Boebert's office's statement also said 'the incident involved two minors,' which is inaccurate, as D'Amato was 19 when the crashed occurred.

When it happened, Tyler was still 17 and a minor, and thus his name was redacted.

When he turned 18 in March, the official report and case file became public.

Tyler's father, Jayson Boebert, is listed as the owner of the black 2020 Ford Expedition that he crashed into the creek bed.

Westword reported that investigators said the 17-year-old 'failed to negotiate a left-hand curve in the roadway and traveled off of the right side of the roadway' before 'entering into a creek bed' and overturning '1/2 of a rotation.'

Tyler told that police that he and D'Amato were on their way to a 'gathering' and he was attempting to look at the 'pin drop' on his phone when the accident occurred.

'I was giving my friend a ride up to a campsite or something and was taking the corner too fast and before I noticed it was too late,' the young Boebert told cops. 'I locked up the breaks [sic] and it slid across the gravel into the creek then tipped over.'

'Side airbags deployed, and my friend cut his hand open and hit his head,' Tyler said.

He told police another truck stopped by to help them and another car brought them down to get service.

D'Amato was taken by ambulance to Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, Colorado and interviewed by police where he told them he had taken 'a bar' - meaning Xanax - earlier in the evening, claiming to have gotten it 'from a Mexican at a skate park in Rifle,' Colorado.

Officers observed D'Amato was acting 'impaired on a substance as eyes were dilated, speech was rapid [and] incoherent to slow [and] mumbling.'

D'Amato insisted that Tyler was sober at the time of the accident.

'It's the fame,' D'Amato said was the younger Boebert's problem. 'He doesn't give a f**k.'

Since the accident, D'Amato said he's been working on his sobriety and to get others clean.

'Tyler is a good kid. I certainly wish that he and the family could take responsibility for what he did, because I know he didn't mean to do it. It was an accident. But the fact that they're downplaying it like this is something else. Superficial injuries? I got multiple concussions. My thumb was almost cut off. I couldn't hold a torch. It prevented me from getting a welding job,' he said. 'So, yeah, harm was definitely done.'

D'Amato said if it was up to Tyler 'and he didn't have his mom affecting his mind so aggressively - he'd take responsibility and not act like it wasn't a big deal.'

'But he's the son of Lauren Boebert,' the 19-year-old added. 'If I did what he did, I'd still be in jail.'
A Texas lawmaker is accused of conducting an 'inappropriate relationship' with his intern, who is below the legal drinking age, according to a complaint filed against him.

Representative Bryan Slaton, a Texas Republican, is being investigated for an alleged meeting with his intern at his Austin apartment last weekend.

Slaton, who is 45 and married with two children, allegedly called the intern after 10pm on March 31 and invited her to his Austin condo.

The incident was initially reported to the state House General Investigating Committee by a legislative staffer. It was also corroborated by another source at the Capitol with direct knowledge of the incident, according to the Texas Tribune.

The outlet also reported that Slaton drank alcohol with the intern, who is under 21.

Slaton has been married to his current wife, Sharmen, since 2017. The pair filed for divorce in April of 2022, but agreed to cease divorce proceedings last November.

Texas House Representative Bryan Slaton has been accused of plying an underage intern with alcohol and inviting her back to his Austin condo last weekend

Slaton is a married father of two. He and his wife, Sharmen, have been married since 2017 and filed to divorce last year before halting proceedings in November

Aside from his role as a legislator, Slaton is, among other things, a youth pastor and graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Following the incident, Slaton allegedly showed the intern fake emails that purported to have information about the incident as something of a loyalty test, according to the complaint.

After presenting the young woman with the emails, Slaton allegedly told her not to speak with anyone about the meeting.

Slaton has since retained the services of criminal defense attorney Patrick Short, who issued a statement Monday morning confirming his representation of Slaton.

'We are aware of outrageous claims circulating online by second-tier media that make false claims against Representative Slaton. As a result, he had been advised to forward all inquiries in this matter - including any that may relate to a possible complaint - to his legal counsel,' it read.

A representative for the intern said she had been advised not to comment by the House committee.

In a statement, House Speaker Dade Phelan - also a Republican - said 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.

Slaton is known throughout the Capitol as a conservative rabble rouser. In his 2021 House race, he ousted a longtime Republican incumbent, who Slaton called too moderate.

Notably, Slaton missed last Thursday's legislative session, one of the most important days of the year, because the House was debating the budget.

His absence was especially odd because the lawmaker had proposed 27 amendments to the budget.

Last year, he called for a blanket ban on minors at drag shows, arguing that children need to be protected from 'perverted adults.'

Earlier this year, the representative also filed a bill that would allow for a referendum on Texas secession from the United States during the state's next general election.

The married father of two has been called on to resign by several members of his caucus since news broke of his alleged misdeeds

Aside from his role as a legislator, Slaton is, among other things, a youth pastor and graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

The past few days in the Texas House, screams of everything thats wrong with a small segment of its elected officials.

Unfortunately calling the behavior of @BryanForHD2 inappropriate is a gross understatement.



Whats most troubling about the events of this story is that his  Steve Toth (@Toth_4_Texas) April 11, 2023

A campaign poster for Slaton shows off his wife, Sharmen, and son, Maximus

Two state lawmakers have already called for Slaton's resignation in the aftermath of the complaint about him surfacing.

State representative Steve Toth (R), wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning: 'The past few days in the Texas House, screams of everything that's wrong with a small segment of its elected officials. Unfortunately calling the behavior of @BryanforHD2 'inappropriate' is a gross understatement.'

'He needs to resign.'

Toth went on to tell the Texas Tribune that Slaton's actions were humiliating to his wife, and said he should step down in order to take care of his family.

Last Friday, before news of the allegations against Slaton had broken, Representative Briscoe Cain (R), also said Slaton should step down - though he did not name the embattled lawmaker in his tweet.

'I am absolutely furious at a republican whom I believe to be a sexual predator,' wrote Cain. 'I've never been to ticked off at another legislator.'

Cain later confirmed he was referring to Slaton.

Both Cain and Toth are themselves conservatives, who are usually aligned with Slaton's political positions.
FedEx is undertaking a vast restructuring to consolidate its separate delivery companies into a single entity, in a move to cut costs that could spell the end of the staff delivery driver.

The delivery company said last week that FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Services and other units will be rolled together in a companywide reorganization intended to slash $6 billion in costs by fiscal 2027.

The FedEx Express division currently only hires staff drivers, but the Ground unit uses non-employee contractors to move parcels, and some analysts believe staff drivers could be phased out entirely in the combination.

'Will they go all the way to independent contractor service-providers? Yes, I see that happening,' Satish Jindel, founder of logistics consultancy ShipMatrix, told Bloomberg News.

FedEx has been vague about its plans, telling investors only that it plans to use a 'hybrid' of the employee and contractor models, and the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.

FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Services and other units will be rolled together in a companywide reorganization intended to slash $6 billion in costs by fiscal 2027

The FedEx Express division (above) currently only hires only staff drivers, but the Ground unit uses non-employee contractors to move parcels

FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam announced the plan to streamline operations last Wednesday, almost a year after activist investor D.E. Shaw pushed for change and won two additional board seats.

'We believe now is the right time to reorganize how we work together,' Subramaniam told a company meeting in New York City.

'We will be leaner, more agile and better positioned to execute on our mission to help customers compete and win with the world's smartest logistics network.'

The combined business is expected to handle all deliveries from June 2024 as part of the wider plan by the Memphis-based group to cut $4 billion in permanent costs by the end of fiscal 2025, with an additional $2 billion in savings by 2027.

FedEx said in September that its operating expenses were rising and that it was maneuvering to address those costs, including the closure of over 90 FedEx Office locations and five corporate offices. It also said it would defer on new hires and operate fewer flights.

The new combined structure would end roughly two decades of separate delivery operations and create an entity similar to cost-conscious rival UPS, which has outperformed FedEx despite having a more expensive union labor force.

The company is testing the new combined service in Minneapolis, executives said. FedEx Express is already handling FedEx Ground's pickups and deliveries in Alaska and Hawaii where air service dominates.

FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam (above) announced the plan to streamline operations last Wednesday, almost a year after activist investor D.E. Shaw pushed for change

The first FedEx delivery vehicle, a 1973 Ford E150 van, is seen on display at the FedEx headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee

The combined business is expected to handle all deliveries from June 2024 as part of the wider plan by the Memphis-based group to cut costs

The recent company changes have fueled concern among Ground contractors worried about their ongoing role at the company.

Subramaniam said FedEx will use a 'hybrid' employee and contractor model for deliveries. The CEO added that the company will remain non-union.

Executives said FedEx has been 'looking' at this project for the last couple years, but analysts noted that the company's 'standstill' agreement with activist D.E. Shaw was set to expire at the end of May.

That agreement put activities to influence company control or governance on hold.

Regardless of the reason for the timing, the company now has about a year to bring about massive change.

Satish Jindel, who helped found the company that eventually became FedEx Ground, attended Wednesday's meeting and now leads consultancy ShipMatrix. He told Reuters it was an achievable goal that should boost profit and shares.

Critics noted that FedEx executives had a years-long struggle with its TNT integration in Europe and let overhead expenses swamp its labor cost advantage over UPS.

'There's no way that this isn't fraught with risk,' said Dean Maciuba, managing partner at Crossroads Parcel Consulting and former FedEx sales executive. But, he said, 'if they do it right, they can evolve as a lower-cost service provider than UPS.'
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has begun an expedited investigation into whether or not to grant clemency to the man convicted of killing a BLM protester in 2020.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott requested that the board swiftly review the case and recommend a pardon, a procedure that must be done before a pardon can be granted in the state of Texas.

Army Sgt. Daniel Perry, previously stationed at Fort Hood in Texas, was found guilty of murder on Friday for the 2020 death of Garrett Foster.

Less than 24 hours after the guilty verdict, Abbott publicly called for a pardon for Perry, which as governor he cannot unilaterally do - unlike in some other states.

'Chairman [David] Gutierrez, the Presiding Officer of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has received a request from Governor Abbott asking for an expedited investigation, along with a recommendation as to a pardon for U.S. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry,' the director of the board's support operations Rachel Alderete said in a written statement to CBS Austin.

She added: 'The board will be commencing that investigation immediately. Upon completion, the board will report to the governor on the investigation and make recommendations to the governor.'

U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry was convicted Friday of murder for fatally shooting Garrett Foster, an armed protester in 2020, during nationwide BLM protests

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott requested the expedited pardon process less than 24 hours after the conviction. Governors in Texas cannot unilaterally issue pardons

Perry killed Garrett Foster, 28, during BLM protests in 2020. Pictured: Foster with his wife Whitney Mitchell, a quadruple amputee who uses a wheelchair

Foster, who was 28 at the time of his death, was a protester attending Black Lives Matter demonstrations following the police murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020.

The Fort Hood Army Sgt. was driving his car as an Uber that evening to earn extra cash, when he tried to get through a crowd of protesters, which included Foster, who pointed his AK-47 in the window of Perry's car.

Perry opened fire in response and killed 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,' Governor Abbott tweeted Saturday afternoon in response to the guilty verdict.

Abbott asked the Board of Pardons to begin an investigation into Perry's case and expedite his pardon request so he could sign it as 'soon as it hits my desk.'

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton slammed Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza as 'Soros backed' after the jury convicted Perry.

He said Garza had 'weaponized the judicial system' and cowed to the 'racial agenda' of liberal mobs and extremists groups.

On Friday a jury in Garza's district convicted Sgt. Perry of murdering Foster in downtown Austin on the night of July 25, 2020.

Perry could face life in prison for the conviction.

Paxton railed on Garza for funding he'd received from billionaire George Soros, and said he had criminalized personal freedoms like the 'God-given right' to self defense.

Garrett Foster is seen at the driver's window of Perry's car, which the soldier was driving for Uber. The barrel of Foster's 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

Texas attorney General Ken Paxton said Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, who presided over the case, had 'weaponized the judicial system' to follow liberal agendas by allowing persecution of Perry

Whitney Mitchell, the partner of Garrett Foster, cries as the verdict is read that Perry is guilty in the killing of her late fiance

In a statement to Fox News, Paxton delivered a strongly worded rebuttal to Garza's conviction of Perry.

'Self-defense is a God-given right, not a crime. Unfortunately, the Soros-backed DA in Travis County cares more about the radical agenda of dangerous Antifa and BLM mobs than justice,' he said.

'This week has shown us how rogue prosecutors have weaponized the judicial system. They must be stopped!'

Both men's guns were legally-obtained, with jurors in Austin claiming Perry had other, non-deadly means of self-defense available to him.

Garza told Fox News he thought Paxton should focus on his own 'own legal troubles,' referring to his ongoing indictment over 2015 securities fraud charges.

'The Texas Attorney General is currently under felony indictment and under a federal criminal investigation. He should focus on his own legal troubles instead of attempting to interfere with the work of a Travis County jury,' Garza said.

Sgt. Daniel Perry was stationed at Fort Hood and driving Uber at night to earn extra cash

Garrett Foster and his wife, Whitney Mitchell, are seen at the July 2020 protest

Jose Garza, DA from Travis County, Texas

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.

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.

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

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.
House GOP conference chair Elise Stefanik has raked in $3 million in fundraising in the first quarter of 2023 for the GOP and is now launching a 'battleground fund' to bolster Republican gains in blue New York.

Since assuming the number three position among House Republicans following the ouster of Rep. Liz Cheney, Stefanik has become a prolific fundraiser - in the 2022 midterm cycle she raised $9 million for her campaign and $9 million for national PACs supporting GOP candidates, more than any conference chair in history.

In the last election cycle House Republicans eked out a narrow majority thanks in large part to four seats they flipped in the Empire State. But Democrats are hungry to reclaim their territory - in February a liberal super PAC announced it would spend $45 million in New York alone next cycle.

'The path to a Democratic House majority runs through New York,' Mike Smith, House Majority PAC President said about the campaign spend.

Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) has raked in $3 million in fundraising in the first quarter of 2023 for the GOP and is now launching a 'battleground fund' to bolster Republican gains in blue New York

Stefanik was one of the first to endorse Donald Trump's third run for the presidency and has insisted he is still the leader of the GOP -- as others insist, he should take a backseat after Republicans' lackluster showing in the midterms.

'I am grateful for the hundreds of thousands of grassroots donors in Upstate New York and across the country,' the 38-year-old New York Republican said in a statement. 'We will work our hardest to defeat the Democrats across New York and the country, to protect and expand our House Majority and elect President Trump.'

Empire State Republicans sang her praises for her fundraising efforts. 'Elise has been tremendously helpful to the entire New York delegation,' said Rep. Marc Molinaro.

'New York Republicans are incredibly grateful to Elises strong leadership for our State,' said New York's GOP chairman Ed Cox.

Molinaro, along with Reps. Anthony D'Esposito, Mike Lawler and George Santos, are the four freshman who flipped blue seats in New York in 2022, and each of them is up for a contentious election again next cycle.

Stefanik was one of the first to endorse Donald Trump's third run for the presidency and has insisted he is still the leader of the GOP

Rep. Elise Stefanik (left) poses with former President Donald Trump (right)

Stefanik has started a 'battleground fund' to boost New York Republicans - who count George Santos among their ranks

The embattled Santos' seat has been rated 'lean Democratic' for the 2024 cycle, while the other three are considered toss-ups.

Stefanik was first elected in 2014 -- 29-years-old at the time, she was the youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress. She flipped a district President Obama had won twice.

She's since gone from a moderate Republican focused on bringing more GOP women into Congress to a MAGA front liner now being talked about as a vice presidential contender for Trump.

All 435 House seats are up for re-election in 2024 - and 42 of those races are considered competitive. Eighteen of those seats are held by Republicans in districts won by Joe Biden in 2020, five are held by Democrats that Trump won.
A pub landlord at the centre of a row over golliwogs has denied that he is racist after controversial social media posts from him emerged declaring support for 'White Lives Matter'.

In another post, Chris Ryley wrote: 'They used to hang them in Mississippi years ago' alongside a picture of the dolls hanging from his bar.

He faced a huge social media backlash and was accused of being racist after his hard-hitting posts were circulated by critics.

Last week, Mr Ryley and his wife Benice, who are in their 60s, had six officers enter the pub they run in Grays, Essex and take away 20 golliwogs displayed on a shelf behind the bar after an anonymous complaint was made against them.

They also seized an assortment of golliwog badges and magnets that adorned the bar.

In the latest twist to the controversy, historic Facebook posts from Mr Ryley also show him posting: 'Black Chancellors matter' in October 2022 in a reference to former Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng.

Pub landlord Chris Ryley (left) and his wife Benice, 62 had six officers enter the pub they run in Grays, Essex and take away 20 golliwogs displayed on a shelf behind the bar after an anonymous complaint was made against them last week

The moment six police officers stormed The White Hart pub and confiscated 20 'golliwog' dolls from behind the bar last Tuesday

The exterior of The White Hart pub in Greys, Essex

In another from June 2020, a golliwog is pictured with the caption 'Sadiq's new ideas.'

Others include a post asking: 'When is White History Month please. Anybody know?' while in another a golliwog is pictured with the caption: 'Hello Great Britain Am I Allowed Back In?'

Referring to the hard-hitting post from March 2016 of the hanging dolls and his controversial comment, Mr Ryley told MailOnline: 'It was a tongue in cheek remark, but I was just expressing a historical fact. I wasn't trying to offend anyone.

'In the 1800s when slaves used to run away in the deep south of America they either beat them or hanged them. My comment was a reference to that. It was not meant to be detrimental to anybody. I was just repeating something that used to happen, you can't accuse me of being racist for that.'

Referring to his 'White Lives Matter' post from June 2020 he said: 'Everybody was going on about Black Lives Matter and to be honest, I was getting sick of it. Nobody seemed to care about other lives.

'I don't care if you're black, brown or white because to me, all lives matter. That was the point that I was trying to make. And I would like to know when white history month is because we also have a history to celebrate.'

Mr Ryley, who is currently in Turkey, where he spends most of his time, vehemently denied that he is racist.

Mrs Ryley was quizzed by officers after police received an anonymous complaint about the golliwog display at The White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex

History of the golliwog doll: How the outdated children's toy became a symbol of bitter controversy The issue of whether the dolls are racist or not often sparks fierce debate. The golliwog was created by Florence Kate Upton in 1895 in her book 'The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls and a Golliwog', where it was described as 'a horrid sight, the blackest gnome'. After the author created the golliwog, it became a favourite for collectors and was popular in the UK as the mascot of Robertson's jam. But by the 1980s, it was increasingly seen as an offensive racist caricature of black people. Some people hark back to fond childhood memories of the dolls, whereas others argue golliwogs are a racist icon of a bygone age. Marmalade firm Robertson's removed its iconic golliwog logo from its preserve jars in 2002 following complaints from campaigners. In a YouGov poll last year 53 per cent of respondents said they thought selling or displaying golliwogs was 'acceptable' compared to 27 per cent who did not. Asked if it was racist to sell or display a golliwog doll, 63 per cent of respondents said it was not, while 17 per cent did. Advertisement

He added: 'I haven't got a racist bone in my body, anybody who knows me will tell you that. I used to have an Indian business partner and my company trades under the name India Inns. If I was racist, would I do that? I can assure you I'm not racist, I just believe in equality for all races.

'I have all races and cultures drinking in my pub and I've got friends from all kinds of backgrounds. People have looked at my previous posts and taken them out of context. These are uneducated, politically correct people who are just jumping on the bandwagon and want to make a cheap political point at my expense.'

Mr Ryley, who is the licensee of The White Hart pub is due to be questioned by police when he returns from Turkey next month. He is being investigated for a hate crime because of the display of golliwogs in his pub.

He added: 'I will have a solicitor with me and I'm looking forward to defending my position. The golliwogs are not me being racist, they are a reminder of my childhood. I don't understand how anybody could be offended by them.'

Mr Ryley admitted that he is not a 'big fan' of London mayor Sadiq Khan and that he also believed Kwasi Kwarteng was doing a 'rotten job.'

He added: 'I'm not the only one thinking that. Some people claim that because I used a picture of a golliwog alongside a reference to Sadiq Khan, I'm being racist. But that's ridiculous and it's their problem, not mine. He's ruining London and that's the only point I wanted to make.

'Kwasi Kwarteng was a terrible chancellor, I think we'd all agree on that. I wasn't being racist, I just wanted to make it clear that he was doing a rotten job.'

Social media users condemned Mr Ryley's posts.

One wrote: 'Wow, I never would have suspected that someone who puts fifteen golliwogs on public display in their pub could possibly be racist.'

Another said: 'If it looks racist, sounds racist, whines like a racist the chances are they're a racist.'
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shelby Duncan, 33rd Rescue Squadron special missions aviator, conducts pre-flight inspections on a GAU-18 .50 caliber weapon system at Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 29, 2023. The GAU-18 is capable of firing between 650 and 800 rounds per minute at ranges of up to 1,800 meters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth)

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Chuck Schumer has a plan to test Republican support for Donald Trump's call to 'defund' the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Senate Majority Leader on Tuesday warned his colleagues he'll make his move on April 17, when the Senate returns from recess. He'll put forth a resolution denouncing the former president's demand.

Trump, the day after his arraignment in New York on charges related a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniel, called on his Republican allies to defund the two federal agencies in a blistering attack on all the legal investigations into his activities.

Schumer will gauge the level of support in the Senate among Republicans when he makes them go on the record with their vote for or against his resolution.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will test Republican support for Trump in the Senate

'The good work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice sends criminals to prison for bank robbery, sex trafficking, child pornography, hate crimes, terrorism, fraud, and so much more. The former President and his allies in Congress must not subjugate justice and public safety because of their own personal grievances,' he wrote in a letter to colleagues.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio, in a counter move, vowed to amend the resolution to reflect some GOP concerns.

'I will attempt to amend it by adding language that condemns something that actually happened, DOJ & FBI trying to infiltrate Catholic parishes & cultivate "sources" inside Catholic Churches,' he wrote on twitter.

The senator from Florida was referring to a report on Monday that the FBI tried to develop sources inside Catholic churches as part of their effort to combat domestic terrorism.

The issue is one of political potency.

Trump has announced he's seeking another term in the White House and many Republican lawmakers haven't made it clear if they'll support him or one of the other contenders.

Additionally, Democrats, who have been painted as soft on crime, would get a chance to vote for a measure praising law enforcement.

Trump, meanwhile, is focused on the federal investigations into his actions. Neither the FBI nor the Justice Department has any involvement in the New York case, where Trump has pled not guilty.

Donald Trump, after his arraignment in New York, called on his Republican allies in Congress to defund the FBI and the Justice Department

But the Justice Department has two separate investigations into Trump: one on his possession of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home and a second on his actions related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.

'REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SHOULD DEFUND THE DOJ AND FBI UNTIL THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TOTALLY WEAPONIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COUNTRY AND ARE VICIOUSLY USING THIS ABUSE OF POWER TO INTERFERE WITH OUR ALREADY UNDER SIEGE ELECTIONS!,' Trump demanded on his Truth Social platform.

But GOP lawmakers don't have enough votes in Congress to make that happen.

Republicans have the majority in the House of Representatives. But 15 of those lawmakers represent districts Joe Biden won in the 2020 election, making it unclear if there are even enough votes among the GOP for such a move. Speaker Kevin McCarthy has a scant five seat majority.

Some lawmakers however, including powerful Rep. Jim Jordan, have indicated they support Trump's position.

Jordan heads the committee investigating the 'weaponization' of the federal government and has said he supports 'limiting' funds to federal agencies he believes are engaged in such practices.

Trump has repeated claimed to be the victim of a 'weaponized' government targeting him for political reasons.

But it's different in the Senate, where Republicans only have 49 seats, which is not enough to pass such legislation.

The White House has said President Joe Biden would veto the defunding of the DoJ or FBI on the off chance it passes.
Police pulling a sinking Jeep from a Texas lake found a woman alive inside, two days after she went missing.

The miraculous discovery was made by a local fisherman at Lake o the Pines on Friday after he spotted the vehicle almost completely submerged in the water.

Photos from the scene show only the roof of the car was visible.

Police said it was unclear how long the woman had been in the water, but it has been suggested locally that she had been trapped in her car overnight.

The womans identity, condition and the circumstances of her disappearance have not been made public.

Deputies and a local wrecker service saw a woman was moving inside the vehicle as they were preparing to haul it out of the lake, according to Marion County Sheriff Office.

Deputies and a local wrecker service saw a woman was moving inside the vehicle as they were preparing to haul it out of the lake

Photos from the scene show only the roof of the car was visible. Police said it was unclear how long the Jeep had been in the water

The submerged vehicle was found around 40ft from a boat ramp at the water's edge, but police said they had found nothing suspicious about how the Jeep ended up in the lake

It was while the woman was being rescued and taken to a local hospital that it was determined she was listed as a missing person from the Longview Texas Police Department.

She had been reported missing just hours earlier at 12.35am in Longview, a town around 24 miles southwest of the lake.

Justen Hollis, from Longview, said on Facebook his coworker was the fisherman who found the vehicle, adding that 'she was there since last night'.

Commenters took to social media to express their amazement at the discovery.

Rebekah Lee Butler said: 'Praise God! Thank you to everyone involved. That's pretty awesome she survived and that rescue workers could get to her in time.'

Others speculated on divine intervention. Brooke Drake wrote: 'What are the chances there was an air pocket big enough to last who knows how long? Then what are the chances that the police promptly respond to a car under water? This is just a miracle.'

Melissa Dobbs, records administrator at Longview Police, told NPR they were as yet unable to release further information given the details of this case.

The sheriffs department said it hasnt found anything suspicious as to how the Jeep ended up in the lake.

It was discovered about 40 feet away from a boat ramp, but Captain Chuck Rogers of Marion County Sheriff Office said: There was nothing uncovered during the investigation to suggest this case was anything more than an accident.
'Stakeknife', the code-name of hardened IRA man turned British spy Freddie Scappaticci, was one of the most controversial figures in the bloody history of the Troubles.

When his identity emerged in 2003, it seemed inconceivable that the British government could have planted a mole deep in the heart of the IRA's command structure for more than two decades, but though he often denied it, Scappaticci is now generally accepted to have been that double-agent.

Despite the risks he took, Scappaticci's passing will merit no hero's funeral, not even from those he worked for.

For the 25 years that he worked for British intelligence in Northern Ireland are mired in blood and treachery  with police still investigating claims that he could have been responsible for the kidnap, murder and torture of as many as 50 individuals during that time.

He was one of the leading figures in the so-called 'nutting squad', the ruthless IRA internal security unit which interrogated and often killed suspected informers.

'Stakeknife', the code-name of hardened IRA man turned British spy Freddie Scappaticci (pictured), was one of the most controversial figures in the bloody history of the Troubles

Born in the Markets area of West Belfast, the son of Italian immigrants, Scappaticci began working as a bricklayer, but in 1971 aged 25, he was interned without trial, along with many of the next generation of Republicans including Gerry Adams.

When he was released in 1974 he was a volunteer in the Provisionals and by 1980 he had joined the Nutting Squad.

His first involvement with British Intelligence is believed to have been in 1978, when he is said to have volunteered to become an informer after being assaulted in an argument with a senior IRA comrade.

His first contact was with the RUC's Special Branch, but when the British later formed the shadowy Force Research unit to co-ordinate Army intelligence, Stakeknife became their best asset.

Stakeknife is said to have provided a goldmine of intelligence to the British, including allowing them to identify IRA members involved in the kidnapping of wealthy Irish supermarket magnate Ben Dunne in 1981, as well as those who tried to abduct Canadian business tycoon Galen Weston in 1983.

Born in the Markets area of West Belfast, the son of Italian immigrants, Scappaticci (bottom left) began working as a bricklayer, but in 1971 aged 25, he was interned without trial, along with many of the next generation of Republicans including Gerry Adams

One of Scappaticci's most notable claims was that former Sinn Fein leader and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness was involved in the death of Frank Hegarty, an IRA man killed by them in 1986 as an informer after they blamed him for the discovery of a huge Libyan arms cache by the Gardai.

According to other sources, Hegarty himself was an FRU agent, and Scappaticci was involved in his torture and murder, to protect his own skin.

Scappaticci is alleged to have worked closely with his FRU handlers in the 1980s and 1990s to protect and promote his own position within the IRA, with accusations that the FRU even killed individuals who might have exposed Scappaticci as an informer.

The alleged activities of Stakeknife have been under investigation in Operation Kenova led by former Bedfordshire chief constable, Jon Boutcher for seven years and in 2018, Scappaticci was arrested and questioned.

The report from the probe into crimes such as murder and torture linked to Stakeknife, and the role played by the security services, including MI5, was due to be published in early 2023.

Last week, it was announced that the publication of the report had been delayed, it now appears, because of his death.

His first involvement with British Intelligence is believed to have been in 1978, when he is said to have volunteered to become an informer after being assaulted in an argument with a senior IRA comrade

Mr Boutcher said: 'We were made aware last week of the passing of Frederick Scappaticci. We are working through the implications of his death with regards to our ongoing casework, which will be progressed in consultation with victims, bereaved families, advocacy support groups and a wide range of statutory and non-statutory partners.

'The very nature of historical investigations will mean a higher likelihood that old age may catch up with those affected, be they perpetrators, witnesses, victims, family members, or those who simply lived through those times, before matters are concluded.

'We remain committed to providing families with the truth of what happened to their loved ones and continue to actively pursue criminal charges against several individuals. We will publish an interim report on Kenova's findings this year.'

Ironically, Scappaticci's death may mean that much more is revealed about his activities than would have otherwise been the case, said Mr Boutcher.

'We also recognise that people may now feel more able to talk to the Kenova team following the death of Mr Scappaticci, who had long accused by many of being involved in the kidnap, murder and torture of potential PIRA informants during The Troubles.

'I appeal to anyone with information that might help those impacted by the events we are investigating to contact us in confidence to help families understand what happened during these difficult times.'
A legal group run by former Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller is claiming that their independent probe found the Biden administration was involved in giving authorization for the FBI to raid Mar-a-Lago last year.

America First Legal says results of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request found the bureau initially obtained access to Trump's records through a 'special access request' from Biden's White House.

'I called it the morning of the Mar-a-Lago raid. Biden knew everything!!!' Trump's middle son Eric Trump tweeted in response to the new report.

The latest revelations from the conservative world contradict claims from the Biden administration that they found out about the August 8, 2022 raid on social media.

New claims from America First Legal, run by longtime Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller, says that a FOIA request response proves that President Joe Biden's White House was involved in authorizing the FBI raid of former President Donald Trump's home last year

Police on guard at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on August 8, 2022 after the FBI raided Trump's home

America First Legal, self-dubbed as a 'long-awaited answer to the ACLU,' is calling on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to turn over materials related to Biden's involvement in the raid of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.

In August 2022, the FBI conducted a raid on Trump's residence in Palm Beach, Florida to obtain documents and materials he took from the White House when they were required to be handed over to the National Archives for preservation.

Many of the documents had classified markings on them.

Attorney General Merrick Garland held a press conference days after the raid confirming he had personally approved the law enforcement action.

America First Legal claims that Biden was also specifically involved in allowing the raid to be carried out and slammed it as a 'politically motivated' move.

These claims are only further justified after such classified documents were also found at the homes of both former Vice President Mike Pence and President Joe Biden  but no FBI raids were conducted on their residences.

'I called it the morning of the Mar-a-Lago raid. Biden knew everything!!!' Trump's middle son Eric Trump (pictured on right) tweeted in response to the new report from America First Legal

America First Legal senior counselor Reed Rubinstein said in a statement Monday: 'The evidence further suggests that Biden officials in the Executive Office of the President and the Department of Justice unlawfully abused their power and then lied about it to the American people.'

'This government, it seems, acknowledges no limits on its power to harass, intimidate, and silence its political opponents,' said Rubinstein, who serves as the director of oversight and investigations at the conservative legal center.

Stephen Miller, a longtime senior aid to Trump, is president of America First Legal, which focuses on issues like 'politicalization' of the Justice Department, First Amendment issues, immigration and cracking down on the teaching of Critical Race Theory.
Crowds of Bay Area residents took the steps of Alameda County's main courthouse in Oakland on Monday to demand that the city's liberal district attorney be recalled.

The rally came amid reports that DA Pamela Price's office is reviewing the murder charges against a trio of gang members who are accused of shooting dead a two-year-old boy.

Jasper Wu, aged just 23 months, was shot dead after he was caught in the cross fire during a rolling gun battle between two rival gangs across Interstate 880 in November 2021. The gangs, Chopper City and Eddy Rock, are among the most active street gangs in the Bay Area.

On the steps of the courthouse, protesters chanted: 'Justice for Jasper,' Recall Pamela Price' and 'Do your job.' As citizens held signs that read: 'Victims matter' and 'Hold criminals accountable.'

The three men accused of Wu's murder, Trevor Green, Ivory Bivins and Johnny Jackson, were supposed to appear in court on Monday. They were first apprehended and charged this past December.

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price's office is reviewing numerous charges in cases brought by her predecessor

Jasper Wu was killed by a stray bullet while sleeping in his car seat as his mother drove down I-880 on November 6, 2021

On the steps of the courthouse, protesters shouted: 'Justice for Jasper,' Recall Pamela Price' and 'Do your job.' As citizens held signs that read: 'Victims matter' and 'Hold criminals accountable'

'I want to clear the record. I assured the parents of Jasper Wu that the men we believe are responsible for his death are charged with serious crimes and they will be held accountable,' Price said in a video statement.

Among those who spoke on Monday, where representatives of the Wu family as well as other members of the public whose lives have been impacted by the Bay Area's seemingly never ending crime wave.

One of the organizers, Bob Yee, accused Price of 'laying the groundwork for no jail time for the people who killed a 23-month-old,' reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

While the president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, Stewart Chen, read out a letter from Wu's mother.

'I am extremely worried about Jasper's case and the direction it might go,' she wrote. She said that she expected her son's killers to receive the 'maximum possible sentence to prevent this from ever happening to anyone else again.'

Chen told the crowd that the Wu family wants to go on with their lives but that they will be unable to do so until their son's killers are brought to justice.

The original charges against the gang members were brought by Price's predecessor Nancy O'Malley.

An and Jihao Wu, Jasper's parents, are now considering leaving California because they feel so unsafe

Johnny Jackson, one of the three men charged in Jasper's death, remains in custody

According to multiple reports, the concern among the community that Wu's killers may not face murder charges stem from the fact that Price's office offered a plea deal to triple murderer Delonzo Logwood.

Last month, it emerged that Price's office was advising her team of prosecutors not to pursue enhancement charges on crimes as part of an effort to 'reduce recidivism'.

It means that any criminal enhancement that could have been applied now likely won't - and will reduce the time Jasper's killers spend behind bars.

Green and Bivins, who are allegedly members of the Chopper City gang, were driving in an Infiniti along the freeway, while Jackson and Lee, alleged members of the Eddy Rock gang, were in a Nissan Altima, prosecutors said.

A shot fired from the Infiniti missed the Altima, prosecutors said, and instead went through the windshield of the Wu family's car. The bullet was found lodged in the seat behind Jasper's car seat.

Wu's mother, Cherry Wu, was driving in a white Lexus sedan in the southbound direction of Interstate 880 from San Francisco heading back to her home in Fremont, when the tragedy happened.

There were three other children in the car at the time.

Two officers at the scene when 23-month-old Jasper Wu was fatally struck on I-880 in Oakdale

Cherry Wu's car (pictured, a white Lexus sedan. Little Jasper, who had been seated in a car seat in the back of the car, had been in the vehicle with other relatives, including three other kids

Grief-stricken mother Cherry Wu's son Jasper was killed in a freeway shooting November 6, 2021 by rival gang members from the San Francisco area

A fourth suspect in the shooting, Keison Lee, was killed in a separate shooting, in November 2022.

Jasper's mother, An Wu, told ABC7 in San Francisco that it would be the wrong move.

'If that happens, what kind of message are we sending to the public?' she said.

She added that she still 'feels fear' every time she drives through Oakland.

ABC obtained an internal memo from Price's office which describes her desire to 'bring balance back to sentencing and reduce recidivism' by no longer allowing prosecutors to file 'enhancements'.

She has not yet responded to the Wu family's criticism of her plans.

Price announced in January that her office had set up a new Public Accountability Unit will re-investigate eight police shootings and custody deaths, including two killings of unarmed men by the same Oakland police officer.

The review also included two 15-year-old shootings by Oakland Officer Hector Jimenez. In July 2008, Jimenez killed 27-year-old Mack 'Jody' Woodfox, who was shot in the back while running away from a traffic stop.

Seven months earlier, Jimenez and another officer shot and killed Andrew Moppin-Buckskin, 20, who also ran away after a traffic stop.

In both cases, Jimenez told investigators that he believed the suspects were reaching for guns in their waistbands.

Oakland is a stone's throw from San Francisco, where some of the most progressive changes in the country were made by former DA Chesa Boudin.

Crime and homelessness soared under his watch, with open-air drug markets becoming commonplace.

He was replaced by Brooke Jenkins last year. She has vowed to restore order to the city.
The 50-page suit said Jordan was launching a 'transparent campaign to intimidate and attack' Bragg after he unveiled 34 felony charges against Trump

Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed Bragg's former employee, demanded documents and planned a field hearing in NYC to disparage his office

The suit accused Jordan of a 'brazen and unconstitutional attack' on the prosecution of Trump

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sued Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan on Tuesday in a remarkable move intended to keep him from interfering in the criminal indictment of Donald Trump.

The suit accused Jordan (R-Ohio) of a 'brazen and unconstitutional attack' on the prosecution of Trump after the committee subpoenaed Bragg's former employee, demanded documents and planned a field hearing in New York City to disparage his office.

The 50-page suit said Jordan was launching a 'transparent campaign to intimidate and attack' Bragg after he unveiled 34 felony charges against Trump last week over hush money payments.

Lawyers for Bragg seek to prevent Jordan's subpoena of Mark Pomerantz, who formerly led the office's investigation into Trump before resigning once Bragg rejected his legal theories, according to the New York Times. He later wrote a book about the need to prosecute Trump.

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 lawsuit also seeks to prevent any further subpoenas from Jordan, who has left the door open to issuing legal papers directly to Bragg.

Last month Jordan and the GOP chairs of two other committees sent a letter that demanded the district attorney's office provide communications, testimony and documents related to Bragg's investigation into Trump. After the Trump charges were made public, they issued the subpoena of Pomerantz.

Bragg has refused to comply with documents requests from Republicans. He has described Republicans' requests as improper interference in a criminal case.

The charges against Trump included 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments. Allegations include a $130,000 check 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.

Meanwhile, Republicans are bringing their fight with Bragg to New York City on Monday, where they will hold a House Judiciary field hearing with 'victims' of the district attorney's policies.

Republicans, led by Jordan, have claimed Bragg is turning a blind eye to crime in his city while using a novel legal theory to indict Trump.

The witness list has not yet been shared, and it's unclear if Republicans will invite Bragg himself to join. At least some Democrats will be at the hearing.

Since taking office in January 2022, 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, led by Judiciary Chair Jim 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 50-page suit said Jordan was launching a 'transparent campaign to intimidate and attack' Bragg after he unveiled 34 felony charges against Trump last week over hush money payments

Bragg's office pushed back against Republicans' New York crime narrative, noting that homicides and shootings have declined in Manhattan since Bragg took office.

'Don't 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 firearm-related crime 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.

Most violent crimes are now down from April 2022 to April 2023, but felony assaults and car thefts are up.

The city was far safer in 2022 than during a dangerous period in the 80s and 90s -- murders and robberies were down 80 percent in 2022 compared to 1990, rapes were down 50 percent.
An elderly Long Island woman who lost ownership of her $350,000 home to a neighbor who allegedly forged her signature on the deed has vowed to pursue her 'until she is in prison'.

Rosemarie Mika, whose parents bought the Lakeview home in 1953 and where she has lived all her life, has also branded Aurelia Soogea a 'vicious psychopath'.

Soogea, 35, pleaded not guilty to forgery and theft after being arrested last week for paying $10 to transfer the deed of Mika's home into her name. She lives next door in a home owned by Mika's neighbor.

The 78-year-old was only aware that her home ownership had been transferred after receiving a letter from the Nassau County clerk's office.

'This lady [Soogea] made a mistake. She thought that I was senile, and because I am semi-disabled and walk with a cane, she thought I would be a pushover, boy was she wrong,' Mika told DailyMail.com.

'We're not going to relent until we get her in prison. She's a vicious sociopath.'

Rosemarie Mika, whose parents bought the Lakeview home in 1953 and where she has lived all her life, has also branded Aurelia Soogea a 'vicious psychopath' for allegedly forging her signature on a deed to transfer ownership

Soogea, 35, has pleaded not guilty to forgery and theft after being arrested last week for paying $10 to transfer the deed of Mika's home into her name. She lives next door in a home owned by Mika's neighbor

The $350,000 home at the center of the dispute where Mika lives. The 78-year-old woman has lived in it for 70 years - ever since her parents bought it in 1973

Mika told DailyMail.com that Soogea took the title of her home in October 11, 2022. Two weeks later, she received a letter from the county clerk's office informing her of the deed transfer.

'Stealing the title to people's homes is the fastest rising crime in America. They target elderly people who are living alone who paid off their mortgage. I paid off my mortgage years ago,' Mika said.

Mika then contacted police, and in Soogea was arrested last week Friday.

The elderly woman also paid $850 to a handwriting analyst to examine the signature - and her lawyer said the forgery was 'established to a certainty'.

'On my clients behalf, I brought an action to set aside the deed almost immediately after my client became aware of the deed,' Mark Goidell said.

Mika claims that Soogea 'wouldn't leave her alone' last summer and she refused to let the younger woman into her house.

'She is a liar and a criminal. I will absolutely get my house back,' Mika said.

So far, the legal battle to regain ownership of her home have topped $12,000 - and some of her family members are helping her out financially.

When Soogea, who made bail after being arrested last week, was asked about the charges against her by DailyMail.com, she said: 'I don't know what you are talking about'.

When Soogea was asked about the charges against her by DailyMail.com, she said: 'I don't know what you are talking about'

Soogea, pictured in a mugshot, has pleaded not guilty to forgery charges

Soogea, 34, lives next door to Mika in a home owned by her neighbor

Her lawyer, Lawrence Carra, told NBC New York that Mika gave Soogea the house as a gift.

'We are vehemently contesting it, we've entered a plea of not guilty,' he said.

'She provided services and she stayed there from time to time as a caring loving aide.'

Carra said there is 'conflicting evidence' that will show 'Soogea did not forge the deed.'

Soogea said she has recorded conversations between her and Mika confirming the transfer of the home.

She also provided stickers from their visit to the county building on the day the deed was signed over, arguing that Mika was there and willingly handed over the property.

Mika's attorney said Soogea's documentation and audio records are fabricated.

Soogea is next due in court on Thursday.
Joe Biden will meet with Northern Irish parties today in an attempt to break the Stormont power-sharing deadlock.

The US President has vowed to 'keep the peace' as he tours the island on a historic four-day trip to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The American leader was met by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after he touched down last night at RAF Aldergrove, near Belfast, in Air Force One. He shook hands with the British PM before being taken away in an armoured car dubbed 'The Beast' amid a scattering of snow.

The leaders of Northern Ireland's main political parties will have the opportunity to talk to Mr Biden before he delivers an address at Ulster University's new 350million Belfast campus on Wednesday.

The Stormont power-sharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not operating at the moment because of a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

Joe Biden landed at a military base on Tuesday evening in Co Antrim, where he was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the steps of Air Force One (pictured)

Biden was seen stepping off Air Force One onto the tarmac of RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim on Tuesday

Joe Biden arriving at City Hall in Belfast

However, the White House said there will not be a formal group meeting with the leaders.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris was also present as Mr Biden alighted from the aircraft on Tuesday evening with US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy.

The US President will carry out several other engagements across the week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1998. He will meet the Prime Minister again on Wednesday for a bilateral meeting.

Mr Sunak will not attend Mr Biden's keynote speech, with Downing Street on Tuesday denying that the engagement between the pair would be 'low-key'.

Speaking to reporters before his departure, Mr Biden said that his top priority was to 'make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace'.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Biden's visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

Where will Biden go on his four-day tour? TUESDAY - Land in Belfast WEDNESDAY - Meet Rishi Sunak in Belfast and go to Ulster University to mark the Good Friday agreement. Biden will travel to Dublin and then to County Louth. THURSDAY - Biden will hold separate meetings in Dublin with Irish President Michael Higgins and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar before addressing Dail Eireann, the Irish parliament. FRIDAY - Biden will visit County Mayo, exploring family genealogy and giving a speech about ties between the US and Ireland Advertisement

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including a speech in Dublin as well as visits to ancestral homelands.

After he leaves Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth. The President has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin. He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublin's Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit. Mr Higgins' official residence is within the park's grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at the President's official residence, Aras an Uachtarain. Following that ceremony, he will meet again with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patrick's Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The President's trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday. 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 make a public speech at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina.

Monday marked 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland and left 3,600 people dead.

The President tweeted he would use the Belfast leg of his trip to underscore his nation's 'commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity' in the region.

But he was cautioned against exerting too much pressure on unionists by former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

He told Radio 4 Today: 'One thing I learned about the unionists is if you try and pressurise them to do something that they're fundamentally in disagreement with, it's usually futile pressure, even if it comes from the US, so you've got to use that influence carefully.'

Biden was greeted at Belfast International Airport by Rishi Sunak just before 9.30pm

The American President was seen in conversation with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

President Joe Biden was greeted by Rishi Sunak and US Ambassador to the United Kingdom Jane Hartley (centre). To his right was United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy III

Biden and Sunak were all smiles as they spoke to each other on the tarmac of the air base

US President Joe Biden arrived in Air Force One at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday evening

U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Air Force One at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland April 11

The Prime Minister was pictured waiting for the American president at the bottom of the steps to Air Force One

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets U.S. President Joe Biden on his arrival at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland April 11

The American leader and the First Lady, Dr Jill Biden, touched down in Belfast in Air Force One on Tuesday, where he was greeted by the British Prime Minister before being taken away in his armoured car, dubbed 'The Beast' (pictured)

US President Joe Biden was seen smiling and pointing as he rode in 'The Beast' on Tuesday evening

The UK is observing the milestone anniversary with a reunion of key players in the peace process alongside Biden's visit.

Deep divisions remain over the conflict's legacy, and authorities raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to 'severe' in March as they warned of IRA dissidents opposed to the peace process.

Youths threw petrol bombs and set a police vehicle on fire during a dissident march in Londonderry on Monday.

Police said they had intelligence that a major attack had been planned so when masked teenagers threw petrol bombs at a vehicle, they simply withdrew rather than being sucked into what they thought might be an ambush.

The following day they said they had recovered four pipe bombs from a cemetery near the city.

'The discovery of these devices was a further sinister and worrying development,' said Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton.

Security preparing for Joe Biden's visit Meeting between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden, Belfast, Northern Ireland

President Joe Biden spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One for Belfast, for a four-day trip that will also take him to the Republic of Ireland

Easter Monday brought violence to Derry, where masked teenagers through petrol bombs at a police vehicle during a march by dissident republicans opposed to the 1998 peace deal

Biden arrived with his son Hunter (far left) and sister Valerie Biden Owens for the trip

In Belfast, armored vehicles parked up outside the Grand Central hotel, where barriers were erected to close the street to traffic.

The violence is nothing compared with the decades of violence known as the Troubles, but Britain's MI5 intelligence agency recently increased the threat level from domestic terrorism to 'severe' - meaning an attack is highly likely.

The result is a major policing operation. Some 300 officers have been drafted in from elsewhere in the U.K. to bolster numbers, with the whole cost coming to about 7million (about $8.7million).

Biden said last month that nothing would change his travel plans. 'They can't keep me out,' he said.

While in Belfast Biden, who has long been known for his pro-Irish views, has been warned to tread carefully for fear of offending unionists loyal to London and who are boycotting the province's power-sharing government.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: '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.'

Ending decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, a period referred to as 'the Troubles,' meant balancing competing identities in the country, which remained in the United Kingdom when the rest of Ireland won independence a century ago. Irish nationalists in the north - most of them Catholic - seek union with the Republic of Ireland, while largely Protestant unionists want to stay with the U.K.

The Good Friday Agreement, struck on April 10, 1998, after almost two years of US-backed talks, committed armed groups to stop fighting, ended direct British rule and set up a Northern Ireland legislature and government with power shared between unionist and nationalist parties.

Brexit, which left Northern Ireland poised between the rest of Britain and EU member Ireland, has upset a delicate political balance, including the power-sharing system set up by the peace accord.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has not sat for more than a year, after the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new trade rules for Northern Ireland brought in after Brexit.

A more recent accord between the UK and the EU, known as the Windsor Framework, addressed some of the issues that arose around commerce and goods sent across the Irish Sea from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Biden praised the framework as an important step in maintaining the peace, though Northern Ireland's political leaders have called for changes.

Asked as he prepared to leave Washington about his priorities for the trip, Biden said, 'Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place. Keep the peace. That's the main thing.'

Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, said he would expect Biden to use the anniversary to highlight the positive role the US can play in forging peace around the world.

'This is a real success, 25 years later, of US diplomacy, where the US was asked and then played a very critical role in bridging the divide between two of its friends and partners,' Bergmann said in an interview. 'I think this is a moment to mark that progress can happen in the world and the United States can play a central role in it.'

Excitement over Biden's trip has been growing in the town of Ballina, from which one of the President's great-great-grandfathers left for the United States in 1850.

Buildings are getting fresh coats of paint and American flags are being hung from shopfronts in Ballina, a bustling agricultural town of about 10,000 residents at the mouth of the River Moy in western Ireland. The center of town already has a mural of a beaming Biden, erected in 2020.

There is a heavy police presence in the center of Belfast ahead of Biden's arrival

Roads have been closed around Biden's hotel amid a huge police operation to keep him safe

Many people from Ballina and the surrounding County Mayo moved to Pennsylvania in the 19th century, and Ballina is twinned with Scranton, Biden's hometown.

Joe Blewitt, a distant cousin who first met Biden when he visited Ballina as Vice President in 2016, said the US leader pledged to return once he'd won the presidency.

Blewitt said: 'He said, ''I'm going to come back into Ballina.'' And sure to God he's going to come back into Ballina.

'His Irish roots are really deep in his heart.'

The 43-year-old plumber was among Biden relations invited to the White House for St. Patrick's Day last month. Blewitt said it was a 'surreal' experience; it included a half-hour private meeting with Biden.

Biden, who was accompanied on the trip by his sister Valerie and son Hunter, often peppers his public remarks with sayings from his late mother and father, and he regularly quotes Irish poets, including Seamus Heaney and William Butler Yeats. He recently boasted to White House guests that the mansion was designed and built by an Irish American, James Hoban.

Ireland's Irish Family History Centre says Biden 'is among the most `Irish' of all US Presidents' - 10 of his 16 great-great-grandparents were from the Emerald Isle. All left for the US during the Great Famine of the mid-19th century, which killed an estimated one million people.

More than 30 million people in the US, or about one in 10, claim Irish ancestry.

Biden is expected to float the idea of close investment ties between the U.S. and Northern Ireland to try to end the current political deadlock.

At times his comments have angered unionists as they tried to thrash out post-Brexit trade regulations.

'The American involvement here has been a positive and a constructive one and fair in respect to the protocol issues,' Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin told national broadcaster RTE, referring to the trade barriers that the European Union and UK agreed to ease in a recent deal endorsed by Biden.

Biden's arrival to Northern Ireland on Tuesday came after news broke that hardened IRA man turned British spy Freddie Scappaticci, who was one of the most controversial figures in the bloody history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, had died.

Freddie Scappaticci, who was aged in his 70s and always denied that he was the agent Stakeknife, died several days ago and was buried last week, it emerged on Tuesday.

Stakeknife worked within the IRA's notorious 'nutting squad' interrogating suspected informers during the Troubles. The alleged activities of Stakeknife and the role of security services including MI5 are under investigation in Operation Kenova led by former Bedfordshire chief constable, Jon Boutcher.

The probe is examining claims that Scappaticci could have been responsible for the kidnap, murder and torture of as many as 50 individuals. Last week, it was announced that the publication of the report had been delayed, it now appears, because of his death.
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The New York City apartment of the late ABC World News Tonight anchor Peter Jennings is heading to market at an asking price of $10.45million.

The co-op, which is being sold by Jennings' widow Kayce Freed Jennings, boasts three bedrooms, five bathrooms, and an expansive wood paneled kitchen.

The Upper West Side home with views of Central Park was purchased by Jennings in the 1990s, at which point he did an extensive renovation to the unit.

Freed Jennings said that while her late husband began the renovations on his own, she helped finish them. The pair married in 1997 and lived in the apartment together until the time of Jennings' passing from lung cancer in 2005.

Freed Jennings said she lived in the unit full time for about 25 years, but is selling it because she wishes to downsize.

The massive living room looks out over Central Park and is filled with natural sunlight during the daylight hours

Central Park views are an appealing facet of the Central Park West apartment, which looks out onto the lush tree-scape of New York's most famous park

The corner unit apartment is located in a prewar building between 71st and 70th street on Central Park West, several blocks from the Natural History Museum.

It spans 3,600 feet and includes a working wood-burning fireplace as well as a sizable foyer and a library.

Freed Jennings said the apartment is exceptionally well-designed for entertaining and has been the site of many book parties and events for nonprofits over the years.

'The apartment is really well designed for that,' she told the Wall Street Journal of the Classic 9 room apartment, adding that it would be hard to part with the sunlight and astounding views of the park.

From the apartment, a clear view of Central Park's lush green treetops from the south is visible. It is also situated just blocks away from ABC's Upper West Side headquarters, where Jennings worked for years.

Peter Jennings and his wife Kayce Freed Jennings at the 100th Anniversary of the New York Times

The wood paneled kitchen was expanded from the original home's model and boasts an island, two sinks and a gas range

The home also comes with a fully functional wood burning fire place

The spacious foyer is perfect for entertaining and leads into a large living room and dining area

The apartment boasts three bedrooms, including the master bedroom off the spacious foyer

Wood paneling is the theme of the home as demonstrated by the bathrooms, of which there are five

101 Central Park West where Jennings long resided just blocks away from his ABC studio, alongside The Majestic (right)

Jennings was ABC's lead nightly anchor for more than two decades, competing for ratings alongside Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather

Peter Jennings was the anchor of ABC World News Tonight from 1983 to 2005. He received more than a dozen Emmys over the course of his career and two Peabody awards and was considered one of the 'big three' newsmen alongside Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather.

He died of lung cancer in 2005.

The apartment's listing agents are Bonnie Chajet and her daughter Lisa Chajet of Coldwell Banker Warburg.
Villalobos' comments came weeks after the Times' union was criticized for questioning the paper's coverage of LGBTQ issues

A human resources executive at the New York Times has attracted the ire of the grey lady's LGBTQ staffers after she asked them to stop complaining about the company on a Slack channel.

On April 3, executive Natalia Villalobos made the comments in a post on a channel named TimesOut, a group specifically for LGBTQ employees, reports the Daily Beast.

'I just wanted to share a note about discussing or reporting about your workplace experience to ensure everyone knows about our resources,' the post read.

Villalobos, who previously worked as the Head of Developer Inspiration & Inclusion at Google, asked Times staff to either contact a manager directly with a grievance, go to human resources or use the Ask the Company Slack channel.

'Going forward, I want to encourage folxs here to raise concerns or issues via the places above ^^^^ rather than in this ERG channel,' Villalobos added.

New York Times HR executive Natalia Villalobos, shown here, made the comments in a post on a channel named TimesOut, a group specifically for LGBTQ employees

This is just the latest scandal to hit the grey lady after more than a dozen of the New York Times' top reporters signed a letter attacking their own union for backing woke staff members who criticized the outlet's coverage of transgender issues in February

The remarks were met with immediate backlash from Times staffers.

'I cant help but feel lately like Im expected to just shut up and deal with the negativity because it might make some of my coworkers feel uncomfortable if I speak up,' one reply read, according to the Daily Beast.

'It feels completely surreal and disrespectful to get corporate swag branded with a pride flag at the same time as were being instructed not to publicly discuss our experiences as queer people in the workplace,' said another.

Less than 24 hours later, Villalobos addressed the concerns saying that her intent was to 'support the community by offering channels for reporting workplace concerns like discrimination and harassment' to ensure that they are reviewed by the relevant person.

'It was not meant to reduce sharing, eliminate community support, or tamp down community building,' she went on.

The executive said that when she returns from personal leave, she will post her office hours publicly.

In her response, Villalobos did not comment on the timing of her request.

In February, more than a dozen of the New York Times' top reporters signed a letter attacking their own union for backing woke staff members who criticized the outlet's coverage of transgender issues.

New York Times contributor Jeremy Peters, left, published a letter criticizing The News Guild of New York President Susan DeCarava, right, for saying that employees critical of the Times coverage of transgender issues are protected from a 'hostile work environment'

GLAAD parked a mobile billboard outside The New York Times' offices in Manhattan in February

The letter, written by correspondent Jeremy Peters, accused the paper's union - known as its guild - of effectively stifling journalistic independence.

It is the latest chapter in a saga that began in February, when 1,000 current and former writers criticized the Times for its increasingly skeptical coverage of transgender issues in an open letter.

Executive editor Joe Kahn responded by emailing staff saying that they should not participate in 'protests organized by advocacy groups.'

He noted that participating in 'such a campaign is against the letter and spirit of our ethics policy.' Some unnamed staffers are said to have been disciplined for signing the letter.

News Guild of New York President Susan DeCarava then sent a letter to its members at the Times  on a private mailing list  saying that the employees who wrote the letter are protected against a 'hostile work environment.'

But in his letter, Peters argued the union was wrongfully getting involved in editorial decisions  and was stifling 'journalistic independence.'

Peters' letter - and the Times' defense of its journalism - marks a remarkable turnaround for a paper whose bosses were once seen as being cowed by woke staff's insistence on covering contentious social stories in a skewed way that matches their own beliefs.

The first letter was the one signed by present and former contributors.

Meanwhile, GLAAD (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and the Human Rights Campaign coordinated a separate public letter signed by celebrities and activist groups condemning the New York Times' 'irresponsible, biased coverage of transgender people'.

They singled out the science team for particular condemnation, arguing they had set about 'undermining support for transgender youth by writing "just asking questions" stories about medically approved best practices for gender-affirming healthcare'.

And they criticized the opinion desk for publishing articles by staff columnist Pamela Paul, insisting The New York Times was wrong to give 'space for her unfounded thoughts about how LGBTQ people should describe themselves.'

The New York Times published an op-ed in defense of J.K. Rowling's trans views a day after two open letters, signed by celebrities, campaign groups and hundreds of the paper's own writers, accused the Times of bias in its reporting of trans issues

The same month, the iconic newspaper published an op-ed defending controversial author J.K. Rowling, in a piece written by former books editor Pamela Paul.

She referred in her article to the new 'The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling' podcast by Megan Phelps-Roper - a former member of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church - based on nine hours of interviews with Rowling which explore her views on trans issues and the backlash she faced.

The op-ed states: 'As Rowling herself notes on the podcast, she's written books where from the very first page, bullying and authoritarian behavior is held to be one of the worst of human ills.

'Those who accuse Rowling of punching down against her critics ignore the fact that she is sticking up for those who have silenced themselves to avoid the job loss, public vilification and threats to physical safety that other critics of recent gender orthodoxies have suffered.'
Pakistan and IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) governments remain divided over how to deal with the TTP (Pakistani Taliban). The IEA refuses to admit that the TTP uses camps in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. TTP regularly carries out attacks across the border in Pakistan. This was not supposed to happen because there are pro-Pakistan officials in the IEA government. Pakistan misjudged how much influence these pro-Pakistan Afghan officials had when it came to IEA/TTP relations. Pakistan was dismayed to discover that TTP has much more support among IEA leaders than Pakistan. Most IEA leaders back TTP efforts to overthrow the secular government of Pakistan and replace it with something like the IEA. Not exactly an IEP (Islamic Emirate of Pakistan), but something similar.

Pakistan believed that once the IEA took over, the pro-Pakistan members of the IEA government would give Pakistan their long-desired control over the Afghan government. That might have happened except for the fact that the official leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada, had a lot more supporters in Afghanistan than Pakistan realized. Before the IRA took over Pakistan was convinced that Akhundzada was unpopular with many Taliban faction leaders, in part because Akhundzada was seen as a figurehead and his chief deputy, the head of the Haqqani Network, was actually in charge. That was true but the secret was that Akhundzada only acted as a figurehead because he had to operate from the Pakistan sanctuary in Quetta, a city just across the border from the Afghan province of Kandahar, where many of the original Taliban came from. Kandahar was where Akhundzada went after the IEA replaced the IRA (American backed-Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) in mid-2021. Once back in Afghanistan, Akhundzada could exercise his power as the official head of the Taliban and do so without potentially lethal pressure from Pakistan. The Taliban factions Pakistan believed were hostile to Akhundzada, and openly supported him once he was back in Kandahar.

Pakistan underestimated how widespread the hatred of Pakistan was in Afghanistan, even among the many Afghan Taliban who seemed to maintain a pro-Pakistan attitude. Pakistan believed this would neutralize the many Afghan Taliban factions who had openly expressed their opposition to Pakistan interference in Afghanistan. Mullah Akhundzada was a highly respected Islamic scholar who rarely commented on his political beliefs. The Pakistani ISI (military intelligence service) that created the Taliban in the mid-1990s and managed them ever since misjudged Akhundzadas silence on his attitude towards Pakistan. This was seen as agreement with or neutrality towards the ISI and Pakistan in general. Akhundzada had widespread support in Afghanistan while the pro-Pakistan IEA officials who were appointed while the Taliban were still in Quetta had little such support.

When Akhundzada overruled Pakistan-backed IEA officials, it was clear he was no longer a figurehead. Akhundzada was not a rigid religious fanatic either. When he imposed a ban on womens higher education in December 2022, he paid attention to the reaction of most Afghans and agreed to lift most of the restrictions. Akhundzada understands he is responsible to what Afghans, not the ISI, want.

This revelation created a lot of problems for the ISI and the Pakistan military, who are in trouble with Pakistan voters and elected officials who want to curb the independence of the Pakistan military. The militarys policy towards Afghanistan played a minor role in this, but the revelation that the Afghans hate the Pakistani military as much as most Pakistanis do make it clear that the Pakistani generals overestimated their power. Inside Afghanistan, the pro-Pakistan Haqqani government officials would not criticize IEA leader Akhundzada openly because that might lead to more anti-Pakistan violence inside Afghanistan.

Another Afghan problem with Pakistan is that Pakistanis tend to take their Islam very seriously and are more violent against any group that has different beliefs. Afghans, in contrast, tend to be more tolerant. The exception is radical Afghan Moslems like the original Taliban. Their radical attitudes were the result of the Taliban being created by the Pakistani military in the mid-1990s. This left a lethal legacy as clashes in northwest Pakistan between Pakistani troops and Islamic terrorists continues. To a lesser degree, violence occurs in the southeast (Baluchistan) with Baluchi separatists. Afghans and Pakistani elected officials blame the Pakistani military for causing the separatist and religious violence and the resulting economic problems. While Pakistanis complain of their Afghan problem the Afghans are more justified complaining about a much more damaging Pakistan problem.

April 10, 2023: The IEA continues to fail at convincing foreign aid donor nations that the IEA can be trusted to distribute aid, especially food aid, to those that need it most. UN experts believe $800 million worth of aid is needed to deal with looming starvation for millions of Afghans. Only a third of that sum has been pledged, which is half what was pledged last year. Erratic and harmful decisions by IEA leaders continue to be the norm and discourage more foreign aid donors. The UN tries to be reasonable with the IEA but that has not worked either. Foreign aid groups believe that half the Afghan population (thats 20 million people) face severe food shortages. This will cause some starvation deaths and even more fatalities because prolonged hunger makes victims more likely to die from some other affliction. A year ago the UN estimated that 95 percent of Afghans were not getting enough food and eventually there would be starvation deaths. The UN experts calculated the total need and costs to transport the aid to where it is needed most. The major flaw in this plan is that few foreign aid donors are willing to donate. Disaster areas have earned unofficial risk level ratings that measure how much of the aid disappears (is stolen) before it can get to those in need. Afghanistan is considered one of the riskiest aid recipients in the world and has earned and sustained that designation over the last fifty years. This has already happened this year. In February 2022, Pakistan allowed a 50,000-ton Indian wheat shipment into Afghanistan, where most of it did not reach those most in need. The IEA sent the food to loyal groups and withheld it from areas where there was a lot of opposition, some of it armed to IEA rule. A further complication is the war in Ukraine, which has disrupted Ukrainian and Russian grain exports, which normally comprise about 30 percent of world grain exports. Russia started this war and refuses to end it. That means grain supplies are lower and prices higher. That means even less potential food aid for Afghanistan and more incentive for the IEA to mismanage food aid. There is a similar situation with non-food aid, especially medical supplies and equipment. Donors believe the IEA will use access to medical care as another item that can be withheld from Afghans who do not support the IEA.

April 7, 2023: The IEA is maintaining its ban on Afghan women working for foreign aid organizations even though that policy limits the amount of foreign aid donors are willing to provide. The IEA is unpredictable when it comes to how it treats foreign aid and non-Afghan foreign aid workers. Another aspect of that is the seizure of Westerners inside Afghanistan and using them as hostages when the IEA negotiates with Western governments over foreign aid. This is also why the IEA has still not received any diplomatic recognition. Over a dozen nations have representatives in Afghanistan to maintain non-diplomatic lines of communication for trade and border-control issues. In other words, most of these foreign reps are from countries in the region that have borders or long-standing trading relationships. The IEA needs to maintain access to traditional markets for Afghan exports, especially the perishable commodities that cannot be stockpiled. India and Pakistan have resumed importing these items in a big way. Nations that are importing from Afghanistan are also more likely to turn over the local Afghan embassy and consular offices to the IEA. Many of these diplomatic facilities are still controlled by the IRA (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) that the IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) deposed in 2021. While the foreign embassies and many government staff are in Kabul, the official capital, the senior IEA leaders, including supreme leader Hebatullah Akhundzada, are based in the southern city of Kandahar.

April 4, 2023: In the north (Balkh province), IEA security forces raided a hideout of the local ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) affiliate, ISK (Islamic State Khorasan). The IEA is on good terms with al Qaeda but ISK considers al Qaeda as an enemy of Islam and carries out terror attacks against the IEA as well as against Shia Afghans. About 20 percent of Afghans are Shia and ISIL considers Shia heretics and heretics must be killed. ISK has a lot of supporters in Afghanistan. Despite the local supporters, ISK has suffered major losses inside Afghanistan during the last year. This is a common situation in countries where ISK is present. In Afghanistan the IEA has captured or killed many ISK members and identified who the most senior leaders are and gone after them. Since the IEA took over in mid-2021, over 2,000 ISK members have been killed or captured in Afghanistan. This has not eliminated the ISK in Afghanistan and some ISK factions have maintained a low profile and concentrated on planning and carrying out attacks outside Afghanistan, especially in the West. The IEA will tolerate this kind of ISK presence, but not one that attacks Afghans.

March 30, 2023: The IEA has slowly hired and organized security forces. There are about 150,000 armed men available now and they are stationed throughout the country. While they are all armed, few wear uniforms or have a complex organization and chain of command. This force includes some men who were soldiers or officers in the deposed IRA army and police. These men were hired more for their organizational skills than to serve as commanders. Nearly all the command jobs go to trusted IEA loyalists. In the coming year the IEA expects to add another 30,000 or 50,000 men and supply more of them with uniforms and official ranks. This sort of thing already exists for some of the security forces in Kabul. Outside of Kabul there are complaints about the IEA hiring men for the security forces and not supplying uniforms. Some gangsters take advantage of this and commit crimes while describing themselves as members of the security forces. The lack of uniforms is due to the lack of cash income for the IEA. That makes it difficult to pay for essential services. The IEA has found that taxes on imports and exports is a reliable way to obtain cash to keep the government going. In the past year, government revenue had increased nearly 60 percent. There is still widespread hunger and the IEA expects donor nations to eventually relent and send food. Meanwhile the drug gangs are allowed to keep operating as long as they continue providing cash to IEA and keeping the peace as well as reducing the amount of drugs reaching Afghans rather than being exported. This has always been a problem and now the IEA is demanding a solution or else. The drug gangs consider this a major threat and one they cannot bribe or fight their way out of.

Inside Afghanistan, the only organized opposition to IEA rule was a successor to the 1990s Northern Alliance. This anti-Taliban group reassembled in 2022 as the NRF (National Resistance Front) and appeared to be a major threat to IEA rule and possibly something that was more than the IEA could handle. Some of the NRF leaders are sons of successful Northern Alliance commanders. Iran threatened to provide more support to the NRF than they gave the Northern Alliance. By late 20221 the NRF dominated Panjshir province (northeast of Kabul) and believed they could resist any IEA attack. That was optimistic because IEA forces suffered some losses initially but soon turned that around and inflicted heavy losses on NRF in terms of gunmen, territory and local support. This was not a repeat of the 1990s when the Northern Alliance dominated the Panjshir Valley (a 90-minute drive from Kabul) right up to the defeat of the Taliban government after September 2001. Northern Front leaders became members of the IRA government and now their sons reassembled as the NRF, which had some initial success but no staying power. Not enough Panjshir Valley residents willing to die opposing the IEA government.

The NRF faced many of the same problems the Northern Alliance did in 2001; they were seen by Pushtuns as representing the ethnic minorities of Afghanistan, which make up over half the population and vilely deny the expected respect to Pushtuns. For centuries the Pushtuns dominated Afghan politics and the minorities tolerated that until the Islamic radicals came along with Pakistans creation of the Taliban. One thing nearly all Afghans agree on is the damage Pakistan has done to Afghanistan and unwillingness to give up that interference. Afghans see themselves as the victim of neighbors seeking to control the country. Afghans prefer to restore the modern state of Afghanistan, which was peacefully created over a century ago. That quasi-monarchical/quasi-tribal form of government was doing fine because until the 1970s there was an agreement that largely kept the peace. This arrangement meant Afghanistan was a constitutional monarchy presided over by a Pushtun king who largely dealt with foreigners and left the tribes (60 percent of them non-Pushtun) to negotiate their differences. At that point Afghanistan was still largely medieval as far as cultural norms and economic activity was concerned. The 20th century was making an impression and the educated urban minority was calling for radical change. This was tempting to many leading Afghans but the vast majority of Afghans were still in the countryside ruled by tribal leaders. Most of these rural Afghans opposed any radical change. The reform factions, mainly the pro-communist ones, tried violence to overthrow the monarchy, failed and in 1979 Russia intervened to rescue their fellow communists. That led to a civil war that was still going on until 2021. The IEA government was intolerant and anti-Pakistan but also seemed capable to maintaining more peace than Afghanistan had known for decades. It is uncertain how long this will last, but for the moment it is.

March 27, 2023: In Kabul, a suicide bomber was intercepted at a police checkpoint as he approached the Foreign Ministry. The bomb went off at a checkpoint, killing the bomber and six bystanders as well as wounding another six.

March 24, 2023: The IEA cooperated with China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, India, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia to reoccupy their embassy buildings and offices and use them to facilitate trade and other matters of mutual interest. The IEA treats these embassies as diplomatic operations and provides protection even though no ambassadors have been sent to Afghanistan yet. Some of these nations have said they will soon send ambassadors and the others are monitoring how this process is going. Foreigners, and many Afghans, still consider the IEA unstable and unpredictable.
Walmart is shuttering half of its stores in Chicago, mostly located on the crime-ridden city's south and west sides, that have been losing millions each year.

The four stores closing their doors have 'not been profitable' for several years, even after efforts to turn them around, according to a statement released on their website.

'The simplest explanation is that collectively our Chicago stores have not been profitable since we opened the first one nearly 17 years ago,' Walmart said.

'These stores lose tens of millions of dollars a year, and their annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years,' the statement continued.

At least 11 other stores have closed across the country so far this year from Hawaii to Washington, D.C.

The closings were announced just days after Chicago's newly elected liberal mayor Brandon Johnson blamed the city's poverty and crime rates on businesses that don't pay taxes.

Walmart is shuttering half of its stores in Chicago, saying the four stores closing their doors have 'not been profitable' for several years, even after efforts to turn them around

The closings were announced just days after Chicago's newly elected Mayor Brandon Johnson blamed the city's poverty and crime rates on businesses that don't pay taxes

Johnson will replace outgoing mayor Lori Lightfoot, who fell out of favor after crime surged by 47% under her watch

While Walmart in their statement did not specify the exact causes for the continued losses over the years in the Chicago stores, some on social media immediately pointed to crime rates in the area.

To date in 2023 over 2022, thefts are up by 25 percent according to the Chicago Police Department while robberies are up 11 percent.

In 2022, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon had warned that theft in stores around the country could impact stores and cause additional closings.

Despite the previous warnings, the company noted the decision as difficult.

'The decision to close a store is never easy. The impact is greater than just closing a building. It affects people  people who work in, shop in and live in communities near our stores  and we never take that lightly,' Walmart said.

Walmart officials cited 'business difficulties' in their statement addressing the remaining four stores in Chicago, as well.

'The remaining four Chicago stores continue to face the same business difficulties, but we think this decision gives us the best chance to help keep them open and serving the community,' Walmart said.

In their statement, they also explained that while they are shuttering the four locations, they are offering employees the chance to transfer in the coming weeks.

Chicago's closings come just days after Walmart closed several stores in Portland, Oregon in March, also in regard to overall profitability.

Other stores throughout the U.S. are set to close, including in Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, New Mexico and Arkansas.

Just last week, Walmart announced they are axing more than 2,000 warehouse jobs, including more than 1,000 roles at a warehouse Texas, 600 jobs at a Pennsylvania fulfillment center, 400 in Florida, and 200 in New Jersey.

While Walmart in their statement did not specify the exact causes for the continued losses over the years in the Chicago stores, some on social media immediately pointed to crime rates

To date in 2023 over 2022, thefts are up by 25 percent according to the Chicago Police Department while robberies are up 11 percent

Crime is one major issue the city's mayor - who has already been branded 'Lori Lightfoot 2.0' - will have to address immediately.

Just last week the city's new mayor said the city doesn't have money to solve its problem because '70 percent of large corporations in the state of Illinois don't pay a corporate tax.'

'It's that type of restraint on our budget that has caused the type if disinvestment that has led to poverty, of course that has led to violence,' said Johnson.

The mayor has proposed heavily taxing corporations and wealthier residents.

Johnson said he hopes to raise more than $800 million in new taxes that will ultimately go toward helping the city's residents and neighborhoods.

In terms of addressing crime, however, Johnson has taken a root-cause approach.

The Democrat has said he is focused on poverty rates and mental health issues which he believes will in turn impact the crime rates in the city.

He beat out Paul Vallas who had been endorsed by the city police union.

Another issue near the top of Johnson's agenda will be dealing with homelessness, which has seemingly spiraled out of control since the beginning of the COVID pandemic.

Pictures emerged in February of homeless encampments that have sprung up inside O'Hare International Airport, leading some travelers to express concerns for their safety.

Just last week the city's new mayor said the city doesn't have money to solve its problem because '70 percent of large corporations in the state of Illinois don't pay a corporate tax'

The mayor has proposed heavily taxing corporations and wealthier residents

The Democrat has said he is focused on poverty rates and mental health issues which he believes will in turn impact the crime rates in the city

Part of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has been turned into a homeless shelter

Chicago saw violent crime increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting a 25-year high of 797 homicides in 2021, though the number decreased last year.

As a solution, Johnson says he will promote 200 new detectives from the existing pool of police officers. He also wants to strengthen police accountability.

His other priorities include a struggling public school system, the city's fiscal woes and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic that closed many businesses and offices.

The issues in Chicago have led some high-profile residents to flee the city and the state, including now several businesses.

Illinois' former richest man, Ken Griffin, left last year and moved his billion dollar firms Citadel and Citadel Securities with him to Florida.
An intoxicated man had to be physically restrained mid-flight by two off-duty police officers after he carried out a string of offences, including making sexual advances to a woman sitting next to him and threatening other passengers.

Adam David Seymour was on Alaska Airlines flight 49 from Seattle, Washington, to Anchorage, Alaska, on April 5 when he allegedly drank himself into a stupor and assaulted a woman.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Beast, he also lit up a cigarette mid-flight and told his seatmate that 'the plane was going to crash'.

The horrifying incident only ended when a pair of off-duty cops managed to restrain Mr Seymour with flex cuffs - which he even managed to bust out of.

When the flight landed at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Mr Seymour was detained by airport police and refused to carry out a breathalyzer test.

The disturbing incident took place on a flight from Seattle, Washington, to Anchorage, Alaska

A criminal complaint details a string of alleged offences carried out by Mr Seymour

According to the criminal complaint issued by the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, the victim, identified as D.S., thought that Mr Seymour 'seemed friendly at first'.

Mr Seymour, who was seated in the aisle seat with the victim in the middle seat then pulled out three colored bottles - pink, green and blue - approximately three ounces in size.

'Seymour opened the green bottle and proceeded to drink the contents. D.S. could not see what was inside the bottle because they were colored,' the report said.

After ordering two Jack Daniels and coke, the victim said that Mr Seymour's 'behavior changed'.

'He started slurring his words, began moving physically closer to D.S. rubbed her lower thigh and knee on the inner and outer areas without her consent and tried to rest his head on her shoulder,' according to the complaint.

In an interview with officers after the plane landed, the flight attendant said: 'He groped me, assaulted a woman, threatened my life, and was clearly so wasted it was impossible to tell if he would explode.'

Mr Seymour allegedly made multiple comments about her sexuality, including that 'he thought she "looked like a lesbian"', before telling her 'we're all going to die', and making a gesture that looked like an airplane crashing.

Despite trying to catch the attention of the flight attendants, the victim claimed she was unable to.

A few moments later she 'heard a sparking sound and turned to see Seymour holding an ignited lighter and a lit cigarette, which he was starting to smoke,' the complaint reads.

'Seymour then started shaking the lit cigarette to put it out, and told D.S., Im a bad person.

The victim was then allegedly forced to write a message on her phone to get the attention of the people sitting in the seats in front, who were both off-duty cops.

According to the criminal complaint issued by the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Mr Seymour's 'behavior changed' when he started drinking

Mr Seymour allegedly told the victim 'we're all going to die', and made a gesture that looked like an airplane crashing

Mr Seymour then allegedly told one of the men, identified as R.N., that he was going to 'kill' him, before asking one of the flight attendants to bring him a beer, which she declined.

The flight attendant reportedly 'witnessed Seymour drinking something and asked him what it was, to which he replied, hand sanitizer.'

The off-duty cops had to restrain Mr Seymour repeatedly, and stayed with him until the plane landed in Anchorage and Airport Police arrived.

Police said Mr Seymour refused to take a breathalyzer test, but an airport officer said his hands were swabbed which 'alarmed for the presence of cocaine.'

He now faces two federal assault charges.

This incident is the latest in a long line of complaints about disruptive passengers on domestic flights.

According to The Daily Beast, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) fielded 2,456 unruly passenger reports, initiated 831 investigations, and 567 enforcement actions, proposing nearly $8.5 million in fines last year.

Earlier this year, an American Airlines passenger was arrested after trying to breach the cockpit following an argument with the crew over alcohol - forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.

Corporal Steven Heilman, from Anchorage International Airport Police and Fire Department, told DailyMail.com Mr Seymour's case is still under investigation.
President Joe Biden might end up walking city streets with locals on his visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland  but he won't give a formal news conference, the White House confirmed en route.

'There will not be a press conference on this trip,' said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre while traveling with the president aboard Air Force One.

She was asked whether the White House had changed its plans, after reporters had spent days trying to get a definitive answer on whether he would hold such a formal availability.

One reason for the pressure, aside from Biden not having done one in weeks, is the hybrid nature of the trip. Jean-Pierre acknowledged that it is both an official trip for the president but also a personal journey back to his ancestral homeland for the first time as president.

'The President is very much looking forward to this trip, for a personal reason, but also work reasons,' she said. (On the professional side, Biden will speak about the 25th anniversary of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement.

We are family: Biden was joined on Air Force One by his son Hunter Biden and his sister Valerie Biden Owens. He won't hold a press conference during his trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland

Highlighting the personal aspects was the people Biden brought in tow  not to mention the itinerary. He was accompanied by Sister Valerie Biden Owens and son Hunter Biden. Biden's prior trip to Ireland, as vice president in 2016, also included a gaggle of Bidens.

One question Biden is likely to get frequently is: Do you remember me? The president plans to meet with an assemblage of descendants of the Finnegans from the eastern county of Louth and the Blewitts from the western county of Mayo. He connected with many of them on a 2016 trip when he was vice president. Some are third cousins or even more distantly related. Some have pictures memorializing the last time he was here.

Jean-Pierre kept her cards close when questioned about which immediate family members would be with the president on the trip  only confirming the pair after they had already been pictured boarding the plane.

'I can confirm that his sister Valerie Biden, Owens is traveling I can confirm that Hunter Biden is traveling as well,' she said. It was not immediately clear if other family members would be joining.

Although Jean-Pierre might not have had the answer reporters were looking for when asked about a press conference, she did come armed with information.

'The President is very much looking forward to this trip, for a personal reason, but also work reasons,' said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

Follow-up questions. Aoibhinn Brennan (12), and her dad Shane, from Lordship, Co. Louth, outside Fitzpatrick's Pub & Restaurant in Jenkinstown, Co Louth, where as a five-year-old she and her dad met then Vice-President Biden during his visit in 2016

Brick wall: The White House finally said definitively the president would not hold a news conference on the trip. Biden will, however, visit Carlingford Castle in Ireland

The White House was circumspect about disclosing which Bidens will be on the trip

'Look, as you know the President regularly takes questions from the press informally as well at different locations, in different formats,' she said, referencing the times Biden takes shouted questions or speaks briefly to reporters when traveling or leaving events.

'Right before he got on Air Force One he took about five very newsy questions for all of you, which I think was very important for all of you and also for the American people to hear from him directly on.

'I told I mentioned all of you yesterday that we actually had some some data to share. It's more than President Trump. It's more than Obama combined. We're happy to share that I'm just letting you know. So it's more than President Trump and Obama combined, or President Obama and George W. Bush. And here you go. To your question, he has answered over 320 questions, and that's not even including more more formal press conference and interviews,' she said.

When Biden met with President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina at the White House last month, he did not hold a 'two and two' press conference that might allow for a few questions from each side.

When she got asked on Monday whether Biden would hold a press conference, Jean-Pierre tried to put some of the blame on the hosts.

'So when it comes to two-plus-twos or anything like that, clearly that is not just on us, that is also on the country that we're visiting,' she said. 'But as far as a standalone press conference, I just don't have anything to share at this time.'

Biden held a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa last month. According to Mark Knoller of CBS, it was his 11th with a foreign leader.

He has done a dozen solo press conferences as president.
Former President Donald Trump claimed that 'there's something wrong' with President Joe Biden, expressing doubt that the 80-year-old would make it through the 2024 presidential race.

Trump sat down for an interview with Tucker Carlson, which will air Tuesday night, and was asked by the Fox News Channel host if he believed Biden would stay in the race.

'Look, I watch him just like you do. And I think it's almost inapproriate for me to say it - I don't see how it's possible - but there's something wrong,' the 76-year-old Trump replied.

The former president pointed to an interview Biden gave at Monday's White House Easter Egg Roll with Today's Al Roker.

'I saw his answer today. On television. About whether or not he was going to run. To a very nice guy named Al Roker. You can't get a softer question than that. That was a long answer, talking about the eggs and the this and that,' Trump said. 'Look, I don't think he can.'

Former President Donald Trump claimed that 'there's something wrong' with President Joe Biden, expressing doubt that the 80-year-old would make it through the 2024 presidential race in a new sit-down with Tucker Carlson

Trump (left) sat down for an interview with Tucker Carlson (right), which will air Tuesday night, and was asked by the Fox News Channel host if he believed Biden would stay in the race.

Former President Donald Trump referenced President Joe Biden (center) and first lady Jill Biden's interview with NBC's Al Roker when discussing with Tucker Carlson whether he believed Biden would stay in the race

Roker talked to Biden and first lady Jill Biden on the Truman Balcony and asked the president if he planned to take part in Easter Egg Rolls after 2024.

'I plan on - at least three or four more Easter Egg Rolls,' Biden replied. 'Maybe five,' he continued, his childhood stutter slightly apparent. 'Maybe six, what the hell?'

Roker asked if that meant Biden would be running for reelection.

'I'll either be the guy rolling the egg or the guy pushing them out,' Biden answered.

He then clarified.

'I plan on running, Al,' he said, 'but we're not prepared to announce it yet.'

Trump announced his intentions to retake the White House in mid-November, directly after the midterm elections, elongating the already lengthy presidential campaign timeline.

Biden, however, has yet to officially announce a reelection campaign.

An Axios report last week quoted some Biden sources suggesting it could come as late as this fall, while others thought he'd announce sometime this summer.

Meanwhile, Trump is trying to make quick work of the Republican primary field - which has officially attracted Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Vivek Ramaswamy, but with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo all flirting with a bid.
President Joe Biden landed in Belfast late Tuesday evening to kick off a long-sought trip to his ancestral homeland surrounded by heightened security because of the 'severe' threat of terrorism and amid a new political crisis.

He arrived to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement accompanied by Joseph Patrick Kennedy III, the U.S. envoy to Northern Ireland, whose grand uncle JFK made his Irish roots a part of his political identity.

Also traveling on Air Force One was son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owens, a close advisor  in a signal of how the president intends to make his trip a family affair.

The decision to bring his son also served as a defiant gesture to House Republicans, who are investigating Hunter's business practices and the Biden family's role in foreign deals.

President Joe Biden landed in Belfast late Tuesday evening, kicking off a long-sought trip to his ancestral homeland

He was accompanied by Joseph Patrick Kennedy III, the U.S. envoy to Northern Ireland, whose grand uncle, JFK, made his Irish roots a part of his political identity

Biden, whose Irish ancestors set sail for the U.S. 165 years ago, was greeted in Belfast by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on a visit the White House says is both personal and professional.

Although part of his trip will include celebrating the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement that helped bring peace 25 years ago, there were reminders of threats that once dominated life in Belfast.

Police said they discovered four suspected pipe bombs at a cemetery in Derry, a day after people threw gasoline bombs at police during parades on Easter Monday.

As he flew out of Washington on Tuesday morning, Biden said the main aim of his four-day trip was to protect peace deals. 'Keep your fingers crossed,' he told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One.

Meanwhile, police in Belfast, his first stop, laid down a ring of steel, deploying armored cars in a reminder of the violence that plagued the city for decades.

The bulk of Biden's visit will take him south of the border, to counties that were home to his ancestors, but his brief time in Northern Ireland will include a chance to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and other deals that secured peace.

'Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place,' said Biden when asked about the trip's purpose.

'Keep the peace. That's the main thing, and it looks like we're gonna.'

Biden also made a special phone call from Air Force One - to Kennedy family matriarch Ethel Kennedy  the widow of Robert F. Kennedy  to wish her a happy 95th birthday.

Biden also made a special phone call from Air Force One - to Kennedy family matriarch Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, to wish her a happy 95th birthday.

'@Potus just called to wish Grandma Ethel happy birthday,' Ethel's daughter Kerry Kennedy wrote on Instagram. 'He was 35,000 feet above the earth with @JoeKennedyiii, U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland. He said how much of a difference Joe K is making, especially on economic development in Northern Ireland, and how happy he is to be traveling with Joe K today on the way to Belfast.'

In her Instagram post, Kerry added that the president told Ethel 'he had two heroes sitting right by his desk, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King.'

In Belfast, armored vehicles parked up outside the Grand Central Hotel, where barriers were erected to close the street to traffic.

The violence is nothing compared with the decades of violence known as the Troubles, but Britain's MI5 intelligence agency recently increased the threat level from domestic terrorism to 'severe' - meaning an attack is highly likely.

The result is a major policing operation. Some 300 officers have been drafted in from elsewhere in the U.K. to bolster numbers, with the entire cost coming to about 7 million (about $8.7 million).

Biden is in town to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement that ended the years of sectarian attacks.

'Twenty-five years ago, Northern Ireland's leaders chose peace. I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the U.S. commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity,' he wrote on Twitter.

Biden arrived with his son Hunter (far left) and sister Valerie Biden Owens for the trip

Police in Belfast set up a ring of steel around the city center hotel where President Joe Biden will stay during his brief visit to Northern Ireland

Easter Monday brought violence to Derry, where masked teenagers through petrol bombs at a police vehicle during a march by dissident republicans opposed to the 1998 peace deal

There is a heavy police presence in the center of Belfast ahead of Biden's arrival

While in Belfast, Biden, who has long been known for his pro-Irish views, has been warned to tread carefully for fear of offending unionists loyal to London and who are boycotting the province's power-sharing government.

The president will meet leaders from five Northern Irish parties on Wednesday.

'The president will have the opportunity to engage with the political parties of Northern Ireland before his speech,' said John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson.

Roads have been closed around Biden's hotel amid a huge police operation to keep him safe

EXCLUSIVE: MP warns Biden to avoid anti-British gaffes during Belfast visit: Political foes are waiting to 'weaponize' president's jokes for political gain to derail Northern Ireland's deadlock

President Joe Biden needs to be on best behavior during his visit to Northern Ireland and avoid making any anti-British gaffes that could further derail the region's deadlocked political system, according to one of the province's MPs.

Claire Hanna, who represents South Belfast for the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party, said unionists were ready to seize on any clumsy jokes or asides for political gain.

But Biden has a habit of peppering remarks about his Irish links with memories of his mother's anti-English sentiment and dubious jokes about the Protestant community.

'Any such gaffes would be mercilessly weaponized by the Democratic Unionist Party,' said Hanna, referring to the biggest unionist party.

Belfast MP Claire Hanna said President Joe Biden will need to mind his manners during his visit to Northern Ireland. Any gaffe will be seized on by pro-British unionists, she said

Biden arrives at a politically awkward time. Northern Ireland's government has not sat in nearly a year amid wrangling over post-Brexit trade arrangements

The timing is designed to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence.

But it comes at a time of political crisis. The province has not had a government since May last year.

The DUP has refused to take part because of wrangling over post-Brexit trade arrangements.

And Biden is expected to meet the leaders of Northern Ireland's five political parties on Wednesday.

Experts hold out little hope that any encouragement from a U.S. president known for his pro-Irish sentiments could help ease the impasse. Instead, they fear his occasional anti-British sentiments could further alienate unionists who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.

As vice president, for example, Biden caused massive offense to Northern Ireland's unionist community when, during a St Patrick's Day event, he joked: 'If you're wearing orange, you're not welcome here.'

Northern Ireland's primarily Protestant unionist community associate themselves with the color in celebration of William of Orange's victory over Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Hanna said unionists would look for similar slights during Biden's visit.

Biden is visiting for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement which ended decades of violence. This 1975 photograph shows the aftermath of a bomb attack on the Europa Hotel

Easter is always a flashpoint in Northern Ireland, and republican youths clashed with police in Derry on Monday, a reminder that the 1998 peace deal was only the start of a process

While many of Biden's gaffes can be shrugged off as inconsequential, Northern Ireland's febrile political scene means they could have a profound impact.

'I mean, I think from day one, they characterize Biden's Irish roots as meaning that he was hostile to Northern Ireland,' she told DailyMail.com.

'You know, in Northern Ireland, people go out of their way to be offended. They'll be on high alert looking for something to be cross about in what he says.'

Before heading south of the border, Biden will spend less than a day in Northern Ireland.

That schedule has already annoyed some in Belfast who believe he should spend more time in the province.

But it does reduce the time for gaffes in such a politically sensitive place.

Biden's maternal line emigrated from Ireland during the Great Famine. The Blewitts left Co. Mayo and settled in Scranton, PA, while the Finnegans left Co. Louth and came to New York

Unionists have long been suspicious of Biden and his Irish Catholic heritage. As a senator in 1985, he spoke out against making it easier to extradite Irish Republican Army militants from the U.S. to Britain, a sentiment popular with Irish-Americans but not in Britain.

He has talked often about his mother's hatred for England, which was so intense that she once refused to use a bed that Queen Elizabeth II had slept in.

In his memoir, 'Promises to Keep,' he recalls with a degree of embarrassment at his English surname Biden.

And he describes how his Irish-American aunt Gertie Finnegan once told him: 'Your father is not a bad man. He's just English.'

In 2020, as president-elect, he took a cheeky dig at the UK's national broadcaster when a BBC reporter shouted a question at him. 'The BBC?' he said, moving on with a smile. 'I'm Irish.'

'It's part of the persona,' said Hanna. 'He's clearly not mean-spirited, and it's sort of a Dad joke. But it's genuinely not helpful.'
A cross-channel ferry was forced to change route by a French warship on Easter Sunday so it could escort two migrant boats to the UK, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The P&O ferry Spirit of Britain was told to make the detour so the naval vessel could hand over 90 migrants to the Border Force craft Typhoon waiting to bring them to Dover.

The controversial manoeuvre, delaying the ferry's journey, happened in thick fog at 10.27am.

In the message to the P&O ferry, the warship's female officer says in stilting English: 'I am currently ahead of you for three nautical miles. About to start operation with two small migrant craft and Border Force Typhoon. Is it possible for you to take a wide berth on your port side?'

The Spirit of Britain's officer responds by correcting her estimated distance between the vessels saying it is five nautical miles. He adds: 'Unfortunately, due to the shipping traffic we can't come to port in restricted visibility. So, we will alter course to starboard.'

The P&O ferry Spirit of Britain (pictured in 2022) was told to make the detour so the naval vessel could hand over 90 migrants to the Border Force craft Typhoon waiting to bring them to Dover

Charts show the ferry changing route to the right before returning to its course and entering Calais.

The French warship steams on, escorting the migrant boats to the border of French and English waters where Typhoon took them aboard and on to Dover just after 11am.

A private shipping company, under contract to the Government, picked up the abandoned migrant boats at the same spot and brought them to Kent later in the morning.

Charts reveal the warship, A602, had been on search and rescue operations to find migrant boats leaving the coast near the port of Gravelines since 5.31am on Sunday.

But, instead of turning the overcrowded rubber boats back to France, the warship can be seen escorting them towards Britain.

Erratic course in shipping lanes

Vessel-tracking websites show the warship and Typhoon liaising mid-Channel for the handover. The British coastguard, based in Kent, was heard by fishermen inquiring about the progress of the transfer and the altered Spirit of Britain's route on various public radio channels on Sunday morning.

Fishermen said that the incident, which happened in the world's busiest shipping lane, was a 'dangerous operation which could have cost lives of migrants and seamen'.

One fishing boat skipper said: 'Visibility was down to 100 metres because of heavy fog. The French warship made an erratic course through the shipping lane after telling the ferry to get out of its way.

'The sole aim of the operation seemed to be getting the two migrant boats out of French waters and handed over to the British as swiftly as possible.' A trawler skipper told the Mail from the Channel: 'This operation should not have been happening in the foggy conditions.'

In the message to the P&O ferry, the warship's female officer says in stilting English: 'I am currently ahead of you for three nautical miles. About to start operation with two small migrant craft and Border Force Typhoon. Is it possible for you to take a wide berth on your port side?'

The French warship steams on, escorting the migrant boats to the border of French and English waters where Typhoon (pictured in 2022) took them aboard and on to Dover just after 11am

Numbers of migrants (pictured on an inflatable craft last year) reaching Britain have risen in a spell of calm, if foggy, weather

The skipper added: 'The migrant boats ought to have been stopped by the French Navy from leaving France in such bad weather. The enthusiasm for search and rescue operations by the French even in very low visibility at sea is extraordinary.

'They appear to be 'grazing' the waters off Calais and Dunkirk until they find a migrant boat and then escorting it directly towards the UK.'

Numbers of migrants reaching Britain have risen in a spell of calm, if foggy, weather. In the week to Monday, traffickers sent more than 1,000, including 180 in four boats on Easter Sunday  two of which were escorted by the French warship. The Home Office, under pressure to remove 51,000 boat migrants from 400 UK hotels, is scrambling to find housing for the never-ending arrivals.

It has proposed sites for 5,406, including a barge in Dorset, RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, a Ministry of Defence site in Essex and a former prison in East Sussex.

The UK has agreed to pay 480million over three years to beef up measures by the French to stop crossings.

There is to be a new detention centre near Calais and beach patrols have been increased.

But there has been no agreement to return migrants to France despite a special summit between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and president Emmanuel Macron.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Our Small Boats Operational Command is working alongside our French partners and other agencies to disrupt the people smugglers.

'Government legislation will ensure people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country, so we can stop the boats.'
Louisville police have released dramatic body camera footage from Monday's bank shooting, showing officers arriving, being ambushed and then shooting dead the 25-year-old disgruntled employee who murdered five colleagues.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, was seen entering the Old National Bank on East Main Street in Louisville at 8.33am with his legally-purchased AR-15 in hand.

Over the course of six minutes, police are then seen driving up to Old National Bank as gunshots are echoing through the building, and then charging at the doors. One officer is shot in the head in an ambush: Sturgeon was then killed.

The footage was released at a news conference on Tuesday, detailing the Louisville Metro Police Department's quick response to the massacre.

Officials arrived at the scene within just three minutes of receiving a call about an active shooter at the bank, and just three minutes after that, Sturgeon was pronounced dead.

The footage begins at 8:40am, with Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, driving to the scene in his 10th day on the job.

In the passenger seat is his training officer, Officer Cory 'CJ' Galloway.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, was identified as the lone gunman in an attack at the Old National Bank on Monday morning that killed five people and wounded nine others, including two police officers. He is pictured in surveillance footage casually dressed while holding an AR-15

Officer Cory 'CJ' Galloway (left) was training Officer Nickolas Wilt (right) on Monday, on Wilt's 10th day in the job

Wilt drives at speed towards the scene: Galloway urges him to pull up outside the bank but, on hearing a volley of gunshots, yells at Wilt to reverse so they are protected by a wall.

'Back up, back up, back up!' Galloway yells, then tells Wilt: 'Pop the trunk.'

The two officers get out the patrol car and run to the trunk. Galloway takes a long rifle: Wilt has a hand gun.

Galloway leads the way, and the pair pause behind a wall to assess the situation for a couple of seconds before Galloway at 8:41am walks up the steps.

Body camera footage taken from Officer Nickolas Wilt shows his training officer, Cory 'CJ' Galloway, at 8:41am retrieving his rifle from the back of the patrol car. Wilt's drawn pistol is seen at the top of the picture

Body camera footage taken from Officer Nickolas Wilt shows his training officer, Cory 'CJ' Galloway, advancing before him with a rifle at 8:41am. Wilt is behind, with a handgun. Sturgeon lies in wait behind a mirrored glass door

Galloway pauses briefly to radio headquarters and say they are approaching the bank

How the shooting unfolded 8:33am - Connor Sturgeon, a 25-year-old employee of Old National, arrives at the bank. He shoots a receptionist, goes into the conference room and murders five. He then returns to the lobby and awaits the arriving officers. 8:38am - Police officers are dispatched. 8:41am - Officers Nickolas Wilt and Cory Galloway arrive on scene. They approach the building, and Wilt, second up the steps, is shot in the head. 8:42am - Galloway falls to the floor then scrambles down the steps to seek cover, looking for a clear sight to take the gunman down. 8:44am - Gunfire is exchanged, and Galloway yells: 'I think I got him down. I think he's down! Suspect down, get the officer.' 8:45am - Galloway enters the building and confirms Sturgeon is dead. Advertisement

Galloway radios to headquarters: 'We are making entry to the east side.'

Wilt is behind him. His camera then stops. Wilt was shot in the head, and underwent brain surgery on Monday evening. He remains in critical condition.

Galloway's body camera continues recording as he hears the gunshots, turns, and sees Wilt on the steps of the bank.

Galloway falls to the ground, appears to roll, then scampers down the steps behind a wall.

A bystander across the road films the attack, and Galloway's fall is captured.

'God damn it!' Galloway yells.

Sirens can be heard, indicating more emergency personnel arriving.

'The shooter has an angle on that officer, we need to get up there,' Galloway says.

'We need to get up there. I don't know where he is, the glass is blocking him.'

Galloway tries to see where Sturgeon is, looking around a bush in an effort to get a clear line of sight.

Another officer arrives behind Galloway.

'He's shooting straight through these windows, right at the officer,' Galloway tells him.

Galloway says they 'need to plate somehow, to be able to get there and pull him down off those stairs' - an apparent reference to donning body armor.

Soon, another barrage of gunfire can be heard.

Galloway tries to see where Sturgeon is inside the bank, but is unable to get a clear sight of him

At 8:44am, Galloway yells: 'I think I got him down. I think he's down! Suspect down, get the officer.'

Louisville police have not confirmed who shot and killed Sturgeon.

Galloway immediately thinks of Wilt, who is still lying on the steps.

'Yank him down the stairs!' he yells to arriving police.

At 8:45am, Galloway repeats: 'I think he's down.'

Galloway advances, and confirms that Sturgeon is indeed dead.

Galloway announced that the suspect was 'down' after a few minutes of exchanging gunfire

Galloway kept his gun drawn as he approached the suspect, lying on the ground

'Suspect down, get the officer,' he shouts to other police. When someone yells an unintelligible question, Galloway replies: 'I don't know - get the officer!'

Galloway is then seen entering the building, still at 8:45am, and Sturgeon can be seen lying dead in the lobby of the bank, surrounded by shattered glass.

Sturgeon was said to have been suicidal and was seen waiting for police to arrive in a livestream of the attack he posted on Instagram.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials said at a news conference that nobody else was shot after police arrived on the scene at around 8.41am Monday.

Sturgeon had arrived at the bank at 8:33am.

The gunman livestreamed the entire event on Instagram.

The video has not been released to the public, but a city official with knowledge of the investigation described to CNN how a friendly colleague wished Sturgeon a good morning before he started firing.

'You need to get out of here,' the gunman reportedly tells the woman  before trying to shoot her in the back as she fled.

The weapon was still unloaded at the time, with its safety on.

Once Sturgeon took the safety off and loaded the gun, the official said, he tried again and shot the staff member in the back.

It remains unclear whether she died from the wounds.

At that point, officials said, Sturgeon made his way to a conference room in the back of the bank to carry out his massacre.

His victims - senior executives at the bank - were targeted, police said.

Some of the financiers were in a Microsoft Teams meeting when Sturgeon burst into the room and opened fire - leaving their horrified colleagues to witness the killings.

Authorities say Sturgeon did not travel to any of the other more populated floors in the building, which also houses a real estate firm.

Sturgeon then made his way back to the lobby, where he waited for a minute and a half for police to arrive on the scene.

When they did, at 8:41am, Sturgeon hid behind a mirrored door and shot at them through the glass.

In scenes captured on the body camera footage, Wilt is shot in the head and Galloway takes cover, eventually confirming that Sturgeon is dead.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, was identified as the lone gunman in an attack at the Old National Bank Monday morning that killed five people and injured eight others

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. Also killed was James 'Jim' Tutt, 64, a marketing executive at the bank

Joshua Barrick, 40, a vice president of commercial real estate at the bank, was also killed by the lone gunman, as was Juliana Farmer, 45

Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer at the bank, was declared dead on Monday evening

The five who were killed have been named as Thomas Elliott, 63; Joshua Barrick, 40; Juliana Farmer, 45; James Tutt, 64; and Deana Eckert, 57.

Videos posted online in the aftermath showed officers at the scene running out into the street during rush hour traffic and warning drivers to get out of their cars because there was an 'active shooter.'

At least three gunshots could be heard in the footage.

Photos showed blood splattered on the steps leading up to the bank, and broken glass on the ground.

Workers inside the building have since described how they fled from the blood-soaked scene and scrambled to the vault to hide from the killer as he rampaged through the building.

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.

But a manager told how she witnessed her colleagues being murdered live on a Microsoft Teams session.

Rebecca Buchheit-Sims said her meeting was already in progress by the time Sturgeon entered the room.

'I'm just in shock and was in disbelief as I watched it unravel,' she told CNN, adding it 'happened very quickly.'

She said she did not work with Sturgeon, but knew him because his father was her son's high school basketball coach  and her husband was an assistant coach.

The bank manager described Sturgeon as someone with 'just kind of a monotone personality.'

'His temperament is pretty low-key. I've never seen the kid get angry or upset about anything in public,' she said. 'He was pretty much just relaxed.'

Buchheit-Sims said she was unaware of any threats or issues, but noted that Sturgeon was 'extremely intelligent.'

Louisville Metro police are pictured outside the bank Monday morning as an investigation was underway

Authorities have said they arrived on the scene within just three minutes of getting a call about an active shooter

The gunman had apparently been planning out his attack, leaving his parents a note informing them of his intentions and buying the AR-15 one week prior.

He also reportedly texted a friend that he would 'shoot up the bank.'

And in the hours before he stormed the building, Sturgeon made a series of ominous Instagram posts including one that said: 'They won't listen to words or protests. Let's see if they hear this.'

Sturgeon had no previous criminal history, and his mother Lisa and younger brother Cameron were said to have approached police at the scene outside the bank to confirm his identity.
That he didnt die from a bullet to the back of the head, the thrust of a knife to his heart, or was beaten to a pulp as many of his victims were, will be a consolation to his loved ones.

To those who believed the spy codenamed Stakeknife was a savage torturer responsible for some of Ulsters bloodiest acts of retribution while also working for the British Army, it will be enough that he is dead.

As the IRAs brutal enforcer, Freddie Scappaticci had the power of life and death over fellow paramilitaries accused of being informers.

He ran the nutting squad that specialised in interrogating those suspected of aiding the security forces during The Troubles. They acted as judge, jury and executioner and their justice was dispensed with a gunshot at close range to the head, hence the nut-squad nickname.

But Scappaticci, whose Italian forebears migrated to work in Northern Irelands mills in the 19th century, was not just the nutter-in-chief, he was also  for 25 years  one of British intelligences most prized assets and an informer himself. He was the key figure in the dirty war against the terror gangs and his stock-in-trade was kidnap, murder and torture.

Freddie Scappaticci, pictured in west Belfast in 2003, died several days ago aged 73

Scappaticci (circled) at an IRA funeral in 1988 with pallbearer Gerry Adams (far right)

One of the most senior British officers to serve in the Province described the man known as Scap as the jewel in the crown . . . the golden egg for military intelligence in the conflict between 1969 and 1997.

The announcement of his death  and details are sketchy  just hours before President Biden was due to touch down in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement can surely not have been a coincidence.

Police, who have been investigating multiple incidents of murder and torture linked to Scappaticci and the role played by security services, including MI5, believe his death at the age of 73 might finally remove the fear many witnesses had that in testifying against him they were signing their own death warrants.

Even today, long after Stakeknife was unmasked, his capacity to inspire fear was unmatched, such was the nature of his brutality.

A speciality was extracting admissions of treachery by IRA operatives through extreme violence. Often these so-called confessions were taped and recordings played to relatives to convince them the victim had been guilty of treachery.

His particular brand of ruthlessness was revealed during the trial of Sinn Feins former publicity director Danny Morrison in 1991.

Belfast Crown Court heard how police informer Alexander Lynch was questioned by two IRA teams. Lynch testified that a man called Scappaticci had warned him that if I didnt admit to being a tout [IRA slang for informer], Id wake up in South Armagh and hed be able to talk to me the way he wanted, hung upside down in a cattle shed. He said it didnt matter about me screaming because no one would be able to hear.

As the IRAs brutal enforcer, Scappaticci had the power of life and death over fellow paramilitaries accused of being informers. Pictured: Scappaticci in 1974

In an hour Lynch had admitted everything. He only lived to tell the tale because an Army and police unit burst into the building.

Certainly Lynch was one of the lucky ones. The nutting squad was responsible for more than 40 killings, as well as countless abductions, beatings and torture sessions. Torture techniques varied from stubbing out cigarettes on a victims body to branding them with hot pokers, and beating the soles of their feet.

A confession rarely saved the victims life  most faced the same grisly end: a single gunshot to the back of the head.

Rather than burying the corpse, Scappaticci and his men would leave the body to serve as warning to others suspected of betrayal.

Even in the blood-soaked annals of Ulsters sectarian violence, Stakeknife was one of the cruellest and most notorious of thugs, a figure to rank alongside the wicked Shankill Butchers, the Loyalist gang that specialised in cutting the throats of their victims.

That such an evil man should be treasured by the authorities only serves to highlight the depths to which they sank in attempting to end Ulsters cycle of violence. Intelligence chiefs say Scappaticcis recruitment in the early 1970s was the most brilliant coup in the years of civil unrest.

It was later claimed he was turned by an undercover British soldier following his imprisonment after the introduction of internment without trial by British authorities in 1971. He agreed to work as an agent after himself suffering an IRA punishment beating.

Scappaticci pictured at the 1987 funeral of IRA man Larry Marley

Over the years he was to become Britains most important spy of modern times, penetrating the IRAs command structure and relaying priceless information to his handlers. In return he is said to have earned at least 1 million.

With Scappaticci divulging the terror groups darkest secrets, intelligence chiefs had files on all its leading protagonists.

Scappaticci was regarded as having close associations with both Gerry Adams, the ex-Sinn Fein chief, and the late Martin McGuinness, one-time Provisional IRA commander. He is said to have provided the information that led to the Death On The Rock killings of three IRA members by the SAS in Gibraltar in 1988.

But while this treasure trove was handed to the Armys secretive Force Research Unit, allegations of state collusion with Loyalist death squads emerged. Among claims examined by police is the suggestion that innocent Roman Catholics may have been killed to prevent Stakeknifes real identity being revealed.

Questions have also been asked about how Scappaticci the super-spy, while operating as a paid agent of the state, was allowed to commit serious crimes to bolster his fearsome reputation within the wider Republican movement.

The families of those abducted and killed by his unit  ghoulishly known as the head hunters claim his handlers, ie the British, could have saved their loved ones but failed to act.

They allege that the intelligence he passed about the IRA was more important to British interests than saving lives. It is this central allegation that is being investigated by Bedfords former chief constable, Jon Boutcher.

The truth is The Troubles were a nasty conflict, mainly fought beyond the rules of normal warfare. Morality took a back seat in a battle in which both sides became masters of betrayal and blackmail. For understandable reasons, the Force Research Unit would go to any lengths to protect its key agent. If the price for that was a few innocent lives, went the thinking, it was worth paying.

Loyalist paramilitaries planned a hit to take out Scappaticci in October 1987. The FRU was alerted and, terrified of losing its star asset, is said to have engineered an alternative target, retired taxi driver Francisco Notarantonio, 66.

The British fed a tip-off naming the innocent Roman Catholic as a leading IRA operative. The Loyalists took the bait and Notarantonio was murdered in front of his grandchildren. Scappaticci lived to fight another day.

It was not until 2003 that Stakeknife was dramatically unmasked. He had consistently denied he was a spy but, with his cover blown and under an IRA death sentence, he fled Belfast for Italy.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Boutcher said his team were made aware last week of the passing of Scappaticci and were working through the implications of his death. An interim report is expected this year.

Meanwhile, there will be no heros send-off for Freddie Scappaticci of the kind he so often used to attend, where  for propaganda purposes  IRA men would fire a fusillade over a volunteers coffin.

Instead it is rumoured he may already have been buried... with his body laid to rest in an unmarked grave.
A mother and her three children are dead following a suspected murder-suicide shooting in North Carolina Tuesday.

The shooting happened sometime before noon inside the family's quiet suburban home in Winston-Salem, and saw cops flock to the grisly scene and remain there throughout the day.

Inside, cops found the body of 40-year-old Ethal Syretha Steele, as well as those of Sakenlo Shawn Steele Jr., 14, and sisters Sakenya Syretha Steele, 12, and Sakendra Syann Steele, 9.

Cops said the elder Steele died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and that her children were shot dead as well.

It is believed she shot and killed the kids before turning the gun on herself. Cops were called to the scene around 11:54 am, though it is unclear by whom. An unidentified man was seen sobbing outside the home later in the afternoon.

The shooting happened sometime before noon Tuesday morning inside the family's quiet suburban home in Winston-Salem, seen here. It is believed 40-year-old Ethal Syretha Steele shot and killed the kids before turning the gun on herself

Cops flocked to the grisly scene around 11:54 am, remained there throughout the day

'It's a sad situation,' Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough told bystanders who flocked to the scene on the 3100 block of Brookhill Drive Tuesday. 'That's all I can tell you.'

Other members of Kimbrough's force also kept mum on details of the suspected murders, though some neighbors offered some insight on previous behavior from the Steeles while speaking to local reporters.

One unnamed resident, speaking to the The Winston-Salem Journal, described the family 'very reclusive' - with the three school-aged children only occasionally coming out to play with her kids.

Others showed shock over the sudden deaths in a normally quiet community, with residents describing the cul de sac where the family lived as safe, and even sleepy.

'This is a quiet area, very quiet,' another neighbor who also asked to not be identified told the paper.

Angela Terrill, speaking to local Fox affiliate Fox 8, expressed similar surprise.

'This happened in my neighborhood. You dont want to see this. You see this on the news, and it is another neighborhood.

'For it to happen here in our neighborhood, is very concerning. Its close to home.'

None of the neighbors mentioned the children's father, who cops would not confirm Thursday was the one who made the late-morning call to cops.

Inside, cops found the body of 40-year-old Steele, as well as those of her children, Sakenlo Shawn Steele Jr., 14, and sisters Sakenya Syretha Steele, 12, and Sakendra Syann Steele, 9.

Cops said the elder Steele died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and that her children were shot dead as well. The Winston-Salem Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division is handling the case

Other members of Kimbrough's force also kept mum on details of the suspected murders, though some neighbors offered some insight on previous behavior from the Steeles while speaking to local reporters

The murders have rocked the normally quiet North Carolina community, with residents describing the cul de sac where the family lived as safe

Other members of Kimbrough's force also kept mum on details of the suspected murders, though some neighbors offered some insight on previous behavior from the Steeles while speaking to local reporters

While he was not explicitly seen among the crowd of pedestrians, officers, and press outside the home Tuesday afternoon, deputies were seen comforting an unidentified, crying man at the scene.

As of 7pm Tuesday, it is still unclear how the man is connected to the incident.

Similarly, it is not known whether Ethal Steele lived with a spouse, or if she was still romantically linked to the children's' dad.

Cops would not confirm Tuesday that the siblings shared the same father.

They are still probing what led to the apparent murders, which likely occurred sometime in the morning, but could possibly have happened earlier.

Members of the Winston-Salem Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division handling the case would not say whether the caller who alerted them to the shooting had heard gunshots.

Neighbors questioned also added that they did not see or hear anything out of the ordinary in the early-morning hours, fueling speculation that the murders could have been carried out the previous night or even earlier.

Cops were not seen removing the bodies from the residence, and are likely still surveying the scene. Their investigation is still ongoing, with the case more than likely being treated as a murder-suicide.

Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough (seen here), speaking to bystanders flocked to the scene on the 3100 block of Brookhill Drive, called the scene 'a sad situation.' He told press: 'That's all I can tell you'

When contacted Tuesday evening, officers from the Winston-Salem department's investigations division said there is currently no threat to the neighborhood, and they are not searching for any suspects.

They are asking members of the public with any relevant information on the case to contact the Crime Stoppers hotline, as the family's bodies are transferred to a local coroner.

The childrens deaths are the 14th, 15th and 16th homicides in the North Carolina city this year,
Former President Donald Trump claimed court officers were crying and apologizing to him when they booked him last Tuesday during his Manhattan arraignment.

Trump sat down with Fox News Channel's Tucker Carlson for an interview, which will be aired Tuesday night.

While he bashed Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg and other top prosecutors charged with looking into his conduct and businesses, he sent out a statement last week that called the cops and court employees 'unbelievably nice.'

Asked about the experience by Carlson, Trump called the on-the-ground staff 'incredible.'

'When I went to the courthouse, which is also a prison in a sense, they signed me in and I'll tell you people were crying - people that work there, professionally work there, that have no problems putting in murderers and they see everybody,' Trump said.

'It's tough, tough place, and they were crying. They were actually crying. They said "I'm sorry."'

Former President Donald Trump claimed court officers were crying and apologizing to him when they booked him last Tuesday during his Manhattan arraignment

Trump walks through the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York last week, after becoming the first former president to be indicted

Trump's first interview since his arraignment. Tonight at 8PM ET on Fox News. pic.twitter.com/C3kKkboTXw  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) April 11, 2023

'So in one sense it was beautiful,' Trump said. 'Because they get it.'

The ex-president then joked that they never taught arraignments at Wharton, where he attended business school.

Trump's day in court marked a first for an American president - becoming the first to be indicted after leaving office.

He was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to a $30,000 payoff to a doorman trying to sell information about a child that Trump allegedly fathered out of wedlock, $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

He pleaded not guilty at the New York Criminal Court, after the 16-page indictment was unsealed.

That night, Trump ranted at his Mar-a-Lago home about the key prosecutors and judges involved.

He said Bragg campaigned 'on the fact that he would get President Trump.'

He also went after Judge Juan Manuel Merchan, who's presiding over the New York hush-money case.

'I have a Trump-hating judge, with a Trump-hating wife and family, whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris and now receives money from the Biden-Harris campaign and a lot of it,' Trump charged from the podium at his Florida home and resort.

He also blasted Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis - calling her a 'local racist Democrat district attorney in Atlanta.'

Trump sits with his defense team during his day in court a week ago in Manhattan

Trump (left) sat down for an interview with Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson on Monday, which will air Tuesday night

Willis, who is black, is overseeing a case where Trump could be charged over his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election result in the state of Georgia.

Trump also called New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is also black, a 'racist in reverse' for pursuing fraud cases against his businesses.

The ex-president also labeled Special Counsel Jack Smith a 'lunatic.'

Smith, who was appointed by President Joe Biden's Attorney General Merrick Garland, is handling two federal, Trump-related probes - his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House and his role in the January 6 Capitol attack.

The next day, however, he released a statement cheering the professionalism of the police officers and court employees he interacted with.

'The GREAT PATRIOTS inside and outside of the Courthouse on Tuesday were unbelievably nice, in fact, they couldn't have been nicer,' Trump said. 'Court attendants, Police Officers, and others were all very professional, and represented New York City sooo well.'
Police have launched a probe over sex misconduct claims at Britain's biggest business lobbying group after it sacked its boss yesterday.

The Confederation of British Industry said its director-general Tony Danker had been 'dismissed with immediate effect' following an independent probe into claims made against him earlier this year.

City of London police confirmed they had launched an investigation in the wake of more recent sexual assault allegations, not involving Mr Danker, which include one woman saying she was raped at a staff party on a boat on the Thames.

The CBI's board said Mr Danker's behaviour 'fell short of that expected' of his position as it confirmed three other employees had been suspended pending further investigations into other claims.

They include accusations of rape, sexual harassment and drug abuse by some of its staff.

The Confederation of British Industry said its director-general Tony Danker (pictured) had been 'dismissed with immediate effect' following an independent probe into claims made against him earlier this year

In a statement on Twitter, Mr Danker described his removal as a 'shock', but acknowledged he had made colleagues 'uncomfortable' with his behaviour

City of London Police said they had approached the CBI after the details emerged in The Guardian newspaper. A spokesman declined to comment on whom detectives had spoken to.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Waight said: 'The City of London Police takes all acts of sexual misconduct and violence against women and girls extremely seriously.

'We approached the CBI following media reports and our investigations are at a very early stage.'

The CBI said it was 'liaising with the police' and would 'co-operate fully' with any investigations.

Following Mr Danker's dismissal, the group said Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI's former chief economist and a managing director at Barclays, would rejoin as its new director-general.

'It is already clear to all of us that there have been serious failings in how we have acted as an organisation. We must do better, and we must be better,' the CBI said in a statement.

It added: 'We apologise to the victims of this organisational failure... Nobody should feel unsafe in their workplace.'

In a statement on Twitter, Mr Danker described his removal as a 'shock', but acknowledged he had made colleagues 'uncomfortable' with his behaviour.

He wrote: 'I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office.

'I was appalled to learn about them for the first time last week. I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed.

Downing Street also said relations with the CBI would remain suspended until the organisation completed its investigations into the claims. The Government 'paused' engagement with the group last week. Pictured: Rishi Sunak and Tony Danker at the CBI annual dinner in London last May

'Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that.'

His firing comes as the future of the CBI hangs in the balance following a litany of allegations that have rocked the organisation.

The crisis has escalated to such an extent that government officials have discussed the possibility of disbanding the lobbying group, which claims to speak for 190,000 firms. A new group to represent business would be formed in its place.

Several companies have said they are reviewing their links with the CBI, with high-profile names including Rolls-Royce and Marks and Spencer having raised concerns about the allegations.

Downing Street also said relations with the CBI would remain suspended until the organisation completed its investigations into the claims. The Government 'paused' engagement with the group last week.

No 10 said Mr Danker's departure was 'a matter for the CBI'. A Downing Street spokesman said it would not trigger a reset of government relations with the group.

He added: 'We expect any allegations to be taken seriously.' Dr Andy Wood, boss of Suffolk-based brewery Adnams, said the allegations had 'totally rocked' the CBI and warned the fallout from the debacle 'wasn't over yet'.

'This is a corporate earthquake and aftershocks will follow,' Mr Wood said, adding the company would await the outcome of the CBI's investigation.

Others were upbeat about the arrival of Ms Newton-Smith.

Neil Carberry, head of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, said the announcement was 'an important first step' in tackling the reported allegations.

'Rain Newton-Smith is an excellent appointment as director-general and enjoys our full confidence and support. She has a big task to take on,' he said.

Yet a former employee, who had previously raised concerns with the CBI's human resources department over the treatment of junior staff by more senior managers, told the Financial Times: 'She was sitting on the executive committee the entire time a lot of this stuff was going on.'
She will hit out at plans to implement a global minimum rate for corporation tax

Britain and the West need to slash taxes in order to get 'match fit to take on China,' Liz Truss will warn today.

The former prime minister will urge Western countries to 'get real about the threat' posed by China, Russia and other dictatorships.

Delivering the annual Margaret Thatcher Freedom Lecture, she will also warn that the Anglo-American economic model which helped the West win the Cold War is being 'strangled into stagnation' by a combination of high taxes and big government.

And she will hit out at plans to implement a global minimum rate for corporation tax, describing the move as a 'global cartel of complacency'.

Her intervention comes just days after Emmanuel Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen made a conciliatory trip to China.

Britain and the West need to slash taxes in order to get 'match fit to take on China,' Liz Truss will warn today

Ms Truss will take a thinly veiled swipe at the French president, saying that 'too many in the West have appeased and accommodated these regimes'.

'Putin and Xi have made it clear they are allies against Western capitalism,' she will say. 'That is why Western leaders visiting president Xi to ask for his support in ending the war is a mistake. And it is a sign of weakness.'

Ms Truss will use today's speech at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC to warn of a new 'global battle between free societies and dictatorships'.

She will say the West faces a 'disease of ever-larger government', with the size of the British state rising from 35 per cent of GDP at the turn of the century to 47 per cent today, and the US seeing a rise from 29 per cent to 35 per cent over the same period.

'We have to ask ourselves, are we still match fit to take on China and to take on the whole concept of state capitalism?' she will say.

'The sad truth is that we have seen stagnation, redistributionism and woke culture taking hold in business and the economy in the UK and the US. It results in more tax, more subsidies, more regulation.' Ms Truss will lament the West's failure to stand up for core values such as free speech and free enterprise, saying that both the UK and the US have suffered from 'self-flagellation, lashing out at the very things that made us great'.

Truss will also hit out at plans to implement a global minimum rate for corporation tax, describing the move as a 'global cartel of complacency'

The former prime minister will urge Western countries to 'get real about the threat' posed by China, Russia and other dictatorships

'We've allowed our opponents to own our institutions, crowd our campuses and fill our airwaves.'

She will warn that authoritarian regimes are taking succour from the West's confusion, saying that those who 'hate freedom have been gaining ground'.

And she will step up calls for the world to adopt a tougher approach to Beijing, saying that the West needs to 'put economic pressure on China before it is too late'.

Western countries 'need to make sure Taiwan is able to defend itself' from a potential Chinese invasion, she will say.

Ms Truss's comments go much further than Rishi Sunak's policy of 'robust pragmatism' towards Beijing and will fuel Tory calls for him to toughen the Government's approach. She will also step up the pressure on her successor over tax, saying that low growth, rising living costs and declining wage levels are 'symptoms' of a high tax society.

And she will directly criticise the Government's decision to sign up to an initiative by the OECD and G20 to set a global minimum tax rate of 15 per cent. The move is designed to prevent multinational corporations avoiding tax.

But Ms Truss will argue that it risks preventing countries from cutting taxes to boost competitiveness. 'It's nothing short of a global cartel of complacency,' she will warn.

'This agreement on high taxes, which is basically an agreement on high spending and low growth, will damage freedom.'
If alien life does exist in our solar system, scientists believe they're most likely to find it on Mars or the icy moons of Saturn or Jupiter.

That's why there is so much excitement about a new spacecraft that will this week depart Earth and make an arduous eight-year journey towards the largest planet in our solar system.

Once it arrives, the Juice satellite  one of the most daring space missions Europe has ever attempted  will make a series of flybys of Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons Callisto, Ganymede and Europa.

As it soars closer to these worlds than ever before, the six-tonne spacecraft will use an advanced suite of instruments to explore the gas giant and investigate whether any of the satellites that surround it are habitable.

Juice will blast off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana at 13:15 BST on Thursday (April 13)  piggybacking on an Ariane 5 rocket similar to the one that propelled the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit in December 2021.

Ambitious: Europe's Juice spacecraft (pictured in an artist's impression) will blast off from French Guiana at 13:15 BST on Thursday (April 13)

It will then make a 4.1 billion mile (6.6 billion km) trip to the Jovian system over a period of eight-and-a-half years, arriving at Jupiter in July 2031.

JUICE: KEY FACTS Name: JUpiter ICy moons Explorer Weight: 6 tonnes Cost: 1.4 billion Led by: European Space Agency Launch date: 13:15 BST on April 13 Journey time: 8.5 years Journey distance: 4.1 billion miles (6.6 billion km) Target: Jovian system Worlds to explore: Jupiter and its icy moons Callisto, Ganymede and Europa Date of arrival: July 2031 Number of instruments: 10 Advertisement

Members of the public can watch the launch through ESA Web TV or the space agency's YouTube channel from 12:45 BST.

The satellite, which stands for JUpiter ICy moons Explorer, will carry out 35 flybys of the gas giant's three moons before entering a permanent orbit around Ganymede in late 2034.

It will survive on as little power as half a hair dryer and features a 'nuclear bunker' to shelter its electronics from radiation.

Among the 10 tools Juice possesses is one that British scientists led the development of, while the UK Space Agency also injected 9 million of funding into the building of the 1.4 billion spacecraft.

Dr Caroline Harper, head of space science at the UK Space Agency, said: 'Juice will take us to a part of the solar system that we know relatively little about, to study Jupiter, our largest planet, and to investigate whether some of its icy moons are home to conditions that could support life.'

Europa may be the most likely of Jupiter's moons to host extraterrestrial life but Juice will only be able to take the briefest of glimpses of it.

That's because the environment around the moon is so harsh NASA says it would kill a spacecraft in a couple of months at best.

In fact, just reaching Jupiter is tricky in itself. The closer you get to the gas giant and the longer you want to stay in its vicinity, the harder it becomes.

British involvement: Scientists in the UK led the development of one of the 10 instruments on the spacecraft, while the UK Space Agency provided 9 million of funding for the project

Hitching a ride: Juice will piggyback on an Ariane 5 rocket (pictured) similar to the one that propelled the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit in December 2021

After separating from the rocket (pictured), Juice will make a 4.1 billion mile (6.6 billion km) trip to the Jovian system over a period of eight-and-a-half years, arriving at Jupiter in July 2031

Mission plan: This graphic shows Juice's goals, firsts and the three Jupiter moons it will visit

Jupiter is five times farther away from the sun than Earth, meaning it receives just 4 per cent of the sunlight that our planet gets.

COULD EUROPA HOST ALIEN LIFE? Europa is the smallest of Jupiter's four Galilean moons but it is seen by most experts as the most likely to have the right ingredients for life. Part of the reason is its massive subsurface, and potentially salty, ocean which is heated up by tidal forces. A big contender: Europa is the smallest of Jupiter's four Galilean moons but it is seen by most experts as the most likely to have the right ingredients for life This is believed to create an internal circulation system which keeps waters moving and replenishes the icy surface on a regular basis. Such a theory is significant because it means scientists would not necessarily have to delve deep into the underground ocean to find evidence of life, as the fact that the ocean floor interacts with the surface means it could throw up clues there. 'Of the Galilean satellites, Europa is the most likely [to have alien life] as the ocean is likely in contact with sand/rock according to models,' Professor Coates told MailOnline, 'whereas at Ganymede and Callisto the ocean floor would be ice due to lower temperature'. He added that because Europa is bathed by Jupiter's energetic radiation belts this too could be useful for emerging life, as it could result in oxygen potentially finding its way into the subsurface oceans. Advertisement

The knock-on effect is that any spacecraft visiting the twilight zone where it exists has to have huge solar arrays if it is to rely on solar power.

Engineers and mission controllers also have a very short launch window if they are to get a probe to reach Jupiter, which is a key consideration for Juice.

This is because Venus and Earth need to be in the perfect position for Juice to perform a manoeuvre known as gravitational assist, where it will use the gravity of these planets to slingshot towards Jupiter.

Justin Byrne, head of science for Airbus and the mission's lead contractor, said that despite having three-and-a-half tonnes of fuel, it is not enough for Juice to get to Jupiter directly.

He said: 'We have to use planets  Earth and Venus  just to get to Jupiter.

'We will minimise the amount of fuel we need to use by using gravitational support.'

However, if the first window is missed Mr Byrne said there will be more opportunities in April, and then later in August.

Juice is not equipped to search for signs of life but its aim is to explore the conditions that could support life.

Europa is the smallest of Jupiter's four Galilean moons but it is seen by most experts as the most likely to have the right ingredients for life.

Part of the reason for this is that beneath the ice crust of Europa is thought to lie a huge ocean of liquid water, containing twice as much water as Earth's oceans combined, which is heated up by tidal forces.

This is believed to create an internal circulation system which keeps waters moving and replenishes the icy surface on a regular basis.

Such a theory is significant because it means scientists would not necessarily have to delve deep into the underground ocean to find evidence of life, as the fact that the ocean floor interacts with the surface means it could throw up clues there.

'Of the Galilean satellites, Europa is the most likely [to have alien life] as the ocean is likely in contact with sand/rock according to models,' Professor Coates told MailOnline, 'whereas at Ganymede and Callisto the ocean floor would be ice due to lower temperature'.

However, for the purposes of the Juice mission, scientists are more interested in Ganymede.

Juice (pictured) is not equipped to search for signs of life but its aim is to explore the conditions that could support life

Tough: The spacecraft has been built to withstand harsh radiation and extreme conditions, ranging from 250C around Venus to minus 230C near Jupiter

Preparation: Engineers and mission controllers have a very short launch window to send the spacecraft on its journey

Jupiter's largest moon is thought to have a salty ocean beneath its icy shell and one of Juice's key goals is to explore this body of water to determine whether this world may be habitable.

COULD GANYMEDE OR CALLISTO BE HOME TO EXTRATERRESTRIALS? Ganymede has a saltwater ocean so vast that it is believed to contain more water than all of Earth's oceans combined, a potential breeding ground for life. The moon also has two more things going for it which would be beneficial for any extraterrestrial lifeforms. The first is an extremely thin oxygen atmosphere and the second is a magnetic field, something that is vital in protecting worlds from the sun's radiation and an attribute that no other moon in the solar system has. Biggest moon in the solar system: Ganymede has a saltwater ocean so vast that it is believed to contain more water than all of Earth's oceans combined, a potential breeding ground for life The problem is that Ganymede is much colder than Earth, with daytime surface temperature ranging from 90 to 160 Kelvin (or -297 to -171 degrees Fahrenheit). Not only that, but Jupiter and its moons receive less than 1/30th the amount of sunlight that the Earth does, and Ganymede has essentially no atmosphere to trap heat. Callisto also has a large ocean deep underground and an interesting atmosphere. It is thin, but Callisto's atmosphere is more Earth-like than most other moons in the solar system as it contains oxygen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The drawback to there actually being life is again how cold the moon is, meaning that many experts think it is unlikely. Advertisement

The spacecraft has been built to withstand harsh radiation and extreme conditions, ranging from 250C around Venus to minus 230C near Jupiter.

Sensitive electronics are protected inside a pair of lead-lined vaults within the body of the probe, which boasts 10 instruments to help collect data.

Experts from Imperial College London led the development of the magnetometer, known as J-MAG, which will measure the characteristics of the magnetic fields of Jupiter and Ganymede.

It will also play a key role in detecting moving salts in the oceans beneath Europa, Callisto and Ganymede.

Scientists hope the data from the latter will allow them to establish the depth and salt content of Ganymede's ocean to see if it may hold the conditions for life.

Professor Michele Dougherty, head of the Department of Physics at Imperial College London and principal investigator for J-MAG, said: 'With our instrument's measurements, we are almost looking inside these worlds.

'What we're doing however is extremely difficult, as the signals we're trying to detect are extremely small.

'It's like trying to find lots of needles in a haystack, and those needles are changing shape and colour all the time.

'But we think the results are going to be spectacular.'

UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), along with the Open University, also have science roles in Juice's optical camera system called Janus.

Dr Chiaki Crews, research fellow at The Open University, said: 'The Juice mission aims to answer many exciting questions, including whether the ocean worlds beneath the surfaces of Jupiter's icy moons could potentially harbour life.

'One of the many instruments needed to make detailed scientific observations to help answer such questions is a camera.

'A large part of our work was to irradiate test sensors with high doses of radiation, just like it is expected to experience during the Juice mission lifetime, to check that Janus will still be able to take images without too much degradation.'

Juice will be later joined by Nasa spacecraft Europa Clipper in its mission to explore Jupiter's moons.

Although Juice and Europa Clipper have different priorities, there will be opportunities for the two to collaborate.

Once Juice runs out of fuel, it will perform a controlled crash into Ganymede, marking the end of the mission.

Task: The satellite, which stands for JUpiter ICy moons Explorer, will carry out 35 flybys of the gas giant's three moons before entering a permanent orbit around Ganymede in late 2034

Once Juice (pictured in an artist's impression) runs out of fuel, it will perform a controlled crash into Ganymede, marking the end of the mission

Launch plan: This graphic shows the build up to lift-off of Juice and its first few days in space
Pearl is the niece of previous record holder Milly, who was 3.80 inches (9.65 cm)

She claimed her record in August 2022, but was recently shown on Italian TV

The smallest living dog is Pearl, a Chihuahua just 3.59 inches (9.14 cm) tall

Meet the world's smallest living dog; Pearl, a Chihuahua who measures just 3.59 inches tall (9.14 cm).

The two-year-old pooch is just five inches (12.7 cm) long - less than a 20 note - and weighs 1.22 lb (553 g).

She was presented on the set of 'Lo Show Dei Record', an Italian television programme that showcases Guinness World Record holders, on Sunday.

However she was formally recognised as the world's smallest dog in August 2022, after she was confirmed to be smaller than the previous record holder, Milly.

Milly was also a Chihuahua, with a height of 3.80 inches (9.65 cm), and happened to be Pearl's aunt.

Two-year-old Pearl (pictured) measures just five inches in length (12.7 cm) - less than a 20 note - and weighs 1.22 lb (553 g)

Pearl (pictured) was formally recognised as the world's smallest dog in August 2022, after she was confirmed to be smaller than the previous record holder, Milly

She held the record from February 2013 up until she died in 2020, but during that time had 49 clones made of her.

The nine funniest Guinness World Records achieved by DOGS - READ MORE HERE An English Setter was awarded the Guinness Word Record for having the longest animal tongue - measuring 3.74 inches (9.49 cm) Advertisement

Pearl was born in Orlando on September 1 2020 and weighed less than an ounce (28 g).

She still lives there with her doting owner Vanesa Semler.

The pint-sized pup is now almost seven times shorter than the world's shortest living woman, Jyoti Amge, and almost eight times shorter than the shortest living man Edward Nino.

To verify her height, she was measured three times consecutively using a dog measuring wicket by a vet at Crystal Creek Animal Hospital.

Between measurements, she was described as 'active', meandering about the dog pee pad.

This was taken from the base of the front left foot up to the ridge between the shoulder blades.

On 'Lo Show Dei Record', Pearl was taken on stage inside an Easter egg-shaped carrier basket.

Ms Semler told host Gerry Scotti that she has expensive taste, enjoying high-quality chicken and salmon for dinner, and loves 'dressing up nice'.

She also takes Pearl on shopping trips, and has an unusually calm temperament.

A recent study found that small, short-snouted dogs, such as Pugs, Bulldogs and Shih Tzus, are the most badly-behaved breeds.

Ms Semler said: 'We're blessed to have her, and to have this unique opportunity to break our own record and share with the world this amazing news.'

Pearl (pictured) was presented on the set of 'Lo Show Dei Record', an Italian television programme that showcases Guinness World Record holders, on Sunday

The two-year-old pooch measures just five inches in length (12.7 cm) - less than a 20 note - and weighs 1.22 lb (553 g)

To verify her height, she was measured three times consecutively using a dog measuring wicket by a vet at Crystal Creek Animal Hospital

The Chihuahua breed was first noted in the mid-19th century, named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

It is thought to have originated in Mexico, and been selectively bred by indigenous people over a thousand years ago to be companion dogs.

Their small size, which is usually about five to eight inches (13 to 20 cm), made them easy to carry around, but they also have a notably rounded head and a short muzzle.

Chihuahuas were introduced to the United States in the late 1800s, and gained popularity among the wealthy as a fashionable accessory.

But the breed does not claim the title of the smallest dog that ever lived, because that was a dwarf Yorkshire terrier called Sylvia, who stood at 2.8 inches (7.11 cm) tall.

Pearl was born in Orlando, Florida, USA on September 1 2020 and weighed less than an ounce

Ms Semler says that Pearl has expensive taste, enjoying high-quality chicken and salmon for dinner, and loves 'dressing up nice'

On the other end of the scale, in 2011, a Great Dane by the name of Zeus stomped his way to claim the title of 'tallest ever dog'.

The gargantuan hound stood 44 inches (1.1 m) at the shoulder, and 7 feet and 4 inches (2.23 m) when he was standing on his hind legs.

He broke the previous record held by another Great Dane named Giant George, by one inch.

Owner Denise Doorlag, who lived in Otsego, Michigan, USA, said Zeus was so huge, small children thought that he was a horse.

'We [would] frequently get: 'Hey do you have a saddle for that horse?' or 'Is that a dog or is that a pony?' some people are just floored. It was very amusing.'

Zeus, the tallest dog ever, pictured with owner Denise Doorlag. He ate 30lb of food every day

The massive pooch weighed 155lb (70 kg) and chewed through 30lb (14 kg) of dog food every day.

Sadly, Zeus passed away in 2014 just after his sixth birthday, but his name is still in the Guinness Book of World Records, as no dog has bested him vertically.

However, last year, another Dane was given the record for the world's tallest living male dog, and he was also named Zeus.

He measures a whopping 3 feet and 5.18 inches (1.05 m), and lives in Bedford, Texas, USA with his owner Brittany Davis.

She says it's expensive feeding such a large dog, with Zeus consuming twelve cups of 'Gentle Giants' large breed dog food in the morning and another six in the afternoon to help fuel his 'zoomies'.
A Tesla Cybertruck was spotted in the streets of California, sparking criticism from the public, who said it 'looks like a hot pile of rusted garbage.'

An image of the steel-plated vehicle surfaced online, showing it at a standstill in a Fremont parking lot that looked nothing like the one Elon Musk unveiled in 2019.

Along with bizarre cords lining the top, the Cybertruck also featured different wheels and front chassis that 'looks like something a four-year-old created with Lego blocks.'

The futuristic truck- expected to start at $39,900 - has been seen in the wild several times, but the 1.5 million people who reserved one have yet to receive it.

These individuals only put a $100 deposit down, but they were promised delivery by late 2022 - but production has now been set to begin this summer.

An image of Tesla's Cybertruck in a California parking lot was shared on Twitter - and users are horrified over how it looks

Telsa's Cybertruck became a sensation when revealed to the world in November 2019.

The celebrated event quickly became a nightmare for Musk after the glass on his new electric 'Cybertruck' was smashed just after he boasted about it being 'shatterproof.'

During the announcement of the truck - which looks like an armored vehicle with angular sides - Tesla design chief Franz von Holshausen tried to prove the glass was 'shatterproof' by throwing a heavy metal ball at close range.

Musk was heard muttering 'oh my f***ing God' when the glass smashed.

Some speculated the hiccup may have been part of the show, but it did not stop people from reserving one for themselves.

The waitlist with no reservation is at least three years from when the first Cybertruck is delivered.

Musk had promised production would begin in early 2021, but that date slipped away. And each year, a new date is set and missed.

The CEO has previously blamed battery supply issues for the delay, saying that each Cybertruck would 'literally cost a million dollars a piece or more' if Tesla had started producing the futuristic vehicle in 2021.

However, the latest sighting could mean plans for the Cybertruck are moving forward, but the public hopes what was spotted is not the final model.

An image of the steel-plated vehicle surfaced online, showing it at a standstill in a Fremont parking lot that looked nothing like the one Elon Musk unveiled in 2019. Pictured is a replica of the original truck unveiled by Musk

Along with bizarre cords lining the top, the Cybertruck also featured different wheels and front chassis that 'looks like something a four-year-old created with Lego blocks'

Twitter users jumped at the chance to share their distaste for the truck, with one saying it looked like a hot pile of rusted garbage

And while Elon Musk has said it is the future of trucks, Kathy said it is the ugliest thing she has ever seen

TESLA CYBERTRUCK WILL CHANGE THE WHOLE PICKUP TRUCK INDUSTRY COMPLETELY. pic.twitter.com/C4v82LKEY0  TESLA CARS ONLY (@teslacarsonly) April 10, 2023

'The only way this could work out for Musk is if he announces 'Just Kidding!' and releases a reasonable-looking truck that's been developed in secret all along. Otherwise, this will be a massive flop. It looks like crap,' Twitter user Hilson Valli tweeted.

Some compared it to 'something that got rejected for a role in Mad Max: Fury Road' or the Megaweapon from the 1983 film 'Warrior of the Lost World.'

'Yikes, I'll admit most of the promo shots made it look pretty bad*** but this side profile is ugly af. The stainless steel is gonna be a mess of scratches and finger smudges,' one user tweeted.

Some compared it to 'something that got rejected for a role in Mad Max: Fury Road' or the Megaweapon from the 1983 film 'Warrior of the Lost World'

Another user is convinced that the Cybertruck is a joke and a genuine version of the truck will be revealed to the world

The wiring lining the top and doors of the Cybertruck have baffled viewers, with some saying the truck comes 'pre-strung with Christmas lights.'

However, others suggest the cords are connected sensors that could be used for testing.

The lasted update about the Cybertruck was shared during Tesla's first Investor Day, which was held on March 1.

Tesla's lead designer Franz von Holzhausen confirmed the truck 'is coming this year,' but that was only details given about the futuristic vehicle.
Facebook was down for tens of thousands of users worldwide Tuesday morning.

According to Down Detector, a website that monitors such outages, reports began around 11:30 am ET and the glitch appeared to be fixed about one hour later.

Users cited issues with the social media platform's app and website, but what sparked the problems is not known.

The outage hit New York, Washington DC, California and other US states, Australia, China and parts of Europe.

Facebook was down for tens of thousands of users worldwide Tuesday morning. According to Down Detector, a website that monitors such outages, reports began around 11:30 am ET and the glitch appeared to be fixed about one hour later

Users reported having issues searching for people and events within the app, while others cannot log into their accounts.

'Is it just me or what. Because I am unable to see my friend list from my home page and no one else's either. And of course, we hop on Twitter to see what's wrong with Facebook,' Twitter user Amanda Savoury shared on Twitter.

Another user joked in a tweet: 'I got some Facebook stalking to do and they down.'

However, Facebook's status page showed 'No known issues' for all of its tools and platforms.

DownDector showed 58 percent of reported problems are with the app, 35 percent for the website and a small six percent are having issues logging in.

How many users impacted by the outage and what caused it is unclear.

Facebook and other social media platforms experience random glitches on what seems to be every month.

Users were having issues searching for people and events within the app, while others cannot log into their accounts

Search was showing a blank screen in their accounts. DownDector shows 58 percent of reported problems are with the app, 35 percent for the website and a small six percent are having issues logging in

However, Mark Zuckerberg's platform was hit with a record seven-hour global outage in October 2021 that cost the company an estimated $ 100 million in lost revenue, an insider had claimed.

The outage impacted Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger and was caused when a faulty update disconnected its servers from the internet.

Engineers had to travel to its Santa Clara data center to fix the glitch in person - at the time, much of Facebook's staff was still working from home.

Facebook issued a statement saying the cause of the problem was a configuration change to the company's 'backbone routers', which coordinate network traffic between the tech giant's data centers.

'This disruption to network traffic had a cascading effect on the way our data centers communicate, bringing our services to a halt,' the statement said.
New Yorkers are outraged after the NYPD and mayor announced a new fleet of 'Big Brother' robocops that will patrol the city's streets and subways.

The Tuesday announcement was held in Times Square, where three robots debuted - one discontinued by the previous administration after it was deemed 'racist.'

The reintroduced robotic police dog will help officers navigate dangerous situations, and the city is trialing two for $750,000.

And the K5 Autonomous Security Robot and StarChase GPS system will monitor people and vehicles - these costs are unclear.

Mayor Eric Adams ran his campaign on a promise to drive down crime in New York City and believes the robotic recruits will be used to save lives and deter atrocities in the Big Apple.

However, New Yorkers are not on the same page as the mayor when it comes to unleashing robocops in the concrete jungle.

One resident shared their frustration about the new recruits on Twitter: 'We want fully funded libraries and schools, not more expensive toys for the NYPD.'

While other residents said the robots are 'dystopian surveillance technologies.'

The K5 Autonomous Security Robot (pictured) is on lease to the NYPD on a trial basis, which is set to start June or July, and will roam around Times Square or subway stations

The Tuesday announcement was held in Times Square, where three robots debuted - one discontinued by the previous administration after it was called 'racist'

The New York City Police Department released its annual round-up of crime over the past year - revealing figures were up in virtually every category, despite recent assertions from the mayor.

The statistics paint a bleak picture of the city's efforts to address crime that's rocketed since the pandemic - despite Adams repeatedly claiming his campaign to resolve the issue has been successful.

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell opened the event, highlighting that to safeguard the modern city, officers must be 'equipped with the tools, training and technology necessary to do that job safely and effectively,' she said.

The first to hit the streets will be the K5 autonomous security robot that features artificial intelligence to provide real-time incident notifications to first responders.

The egg-shaped machine, made by Knightscope, is equipped with microphones, a camera, and sonar and lidar sensors.

And the robot uses self-driving technology like the robotic vacuum Roomba.

It stands about 5.5 feet tall and weighs 400 pounds, with a maximum speed of three miles per hour.

Jeffrey Maddrey, chief of department at the NYPD, said at the press conference: 'The K5 has been used by law enforcement agencies, including the Huntington Park Police, college campuses throughout this country, corporations, shopping malls, and other places where needed security and additional deterrents of crime was needed.'

The K5 is on lease to the NYPD as a trial basis, which is set to start June or July, and will roam around Times Square or subway stations.

New Yorkers are not on the same page as the mayor regarding unleashing robocops into the concrete jungle

Crime in New York City skyrocketed from 2020 to 2023. Eric Adams believes the robots will help deter criminals in the city

The StarChase GPS tracking comes in two forms: handheld and vehicle-mounted devices.

It discharges a projectile onto the vehicle, allowing the police to use GPS to track it.

Chief John Chell said: 'On Saturday night, we had it deployed with some trained officers.

'There was a stolen car in Queens. The car was followed into the Bronx. One of our Bronx units had this device. They utilized this device.

'The car pulled over, we made the arrest, we took a stolen car off the street. And just as important, we kept our officers safe, mitigated the pursuit, and kept the community safe.'

The device, used in shopping centers and other locations for several years, will at first be joined by a human partner, police said.

The final robocop was a yellow four-legged machine that trotted around in the street.

Adams said the remote-controlled, 70-pound Digidog will be deployed in risky situations like hostage standoffs starting this summer.

He also said that he will not bow to anti-robot dog pressure.

'It was something that was introduced previously under the previous administration. And a few loud people were opposed to it, and we took a step back,' he said.

'That is not how I operate. I operate on looking at what's best for the city.'

Adams explained that the robots are also capable of two-way communication. For example, if an officer needs to talk with a suspect, they can without getting in harm's way.

However, the robot dog was canceled in 2021 after the dystopian four-legged surveillance machine was condemned for targeting 'low-income communities of color'.

Mayor Eric Adams (center) ran his campaign on a promise to drive down crime in New York City. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell (left) joined him in unveiling the robots

The final robocop was a yellow four-legged machine that trotted around in the street

Progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called it a 'robotic surveillance ground drone.'

'Shout out to everyone who fought against community advocates who demanded these resources go to investments like school counseling instead,' Ocacio-Cortez tweeted on February 25, 2021.

'Now robotic surveillance ground drones are being deployed for testing on low-income communities of color with under-resourced schools.'

The $94,000 contract was scheduled to end in August but was terminated on April 22.

The robot dog faced comparisons to an episode of the British dystopian show Black Mirror - which the show's creator has said was inspired by similar robots made by Boston Dynamics.

During this week's event, a reporter asked Adams how he plans 'to calm people's suspicion of the device and reassure that, being transparent, that it's going to be used.'

'Well, first this is New York, 8.5 million people, 35 million opinions. So no matter what you do, there are going to be pros and cons,' the mayor replied.

'We are doing what others didn't do. We're putting it right here in Times Square.'

'We're allowing people to come in and look at Digidog and K5 and others. And we are going to bring in community leaders and say, "Here's the technology that we have. Would you like this in your community?"'

Adams' promise of safety has fallen flat among New Yorkers who see the crime-fighting tech as surveillance tools.

The robot dog was tested by the NYPD in 2021. It appeared at crime scenes in February (pictured) when two men were being held hostage in an apartment in the Bronx. However, its use was quickly blasted by everyone from local politicians to late-night TV hosts

'Mayor Adams continues to pour money into the NYPDs bloated budget, enabling police to impose new, dystopian surveillance technologies throughout the city without meaningfully engaging New Yorkers in a conversation about whether this is how we want to live,' said Legal Aid Society, a non-profit based in New York City.

New Yorkers are not just angry about the potential for spying - they're also in an uproar about the cost of the robots.

'Eric Adams just spent $750K on 2 new NYPD robot dogs - while forcing other agencies to cut 4% from budgets (on top of 3% a few months ago), adding to food insecurity, eviction crises etc,' one Twitter user shared.

Civil libertarians and police reform advocates also questioned the need for high-tech devices.

Ileana Mendez-Penate, program director of Communities United for Police Reform, said: 'This latest announcement is just the most recent example of how Mayor Adams allows unmitigated overspending of the NYPDs massively bloated budget.

'The NYPD is buying robot dogs and other fancy tech while New Yorkers cant access food stamps because city agencies are short-staffed, and New Yorkers are getting evicted because they cant access their right to counsel.'
Emma Cowing explores Loch Tay, which is tucked away in Highland Perthshire

Late afternoon on an early spring day and the surface of Loch Tay is like glass.

A sprinkling of snow covers the nearby hills while the fading sun casts rugged reflections on the water. If you had one, you could indeed hear a pin drop.

Loch Tay is tucked away in Highland Perthshire about an hour north of the city of Perth.

You wont find the noisy powerboats that beset Loch Lomond here nor the clamorous hordes of monster-hunting tourists who lay siege to Loch Ness.

Instead there is a stillness and privacy, not to mention scenery so spectacular it once seduced Queen Victoria, and inspired an Ed Sheeran song.

Rural splendour: Emma Cowing tours around Loch Tay in Highland Perthshire. Above is the 'absurdly pretty' lochside village of Kenmore

There are four boathouses, part of the larger portfolio of luxury holiday retreats owned by the Loch Tay holiday company. Perched on the water, our house, Dipper Lodge, stands on stilts, its floor-to-ceiling windows giving uninterrupted views of the loch. It feels wonderfully remote.

The likelihood of bumping into another guest is highest en route to the woodshed when picking up more logs.

The magnificent wood-burning stove is the only heating you need, even when the Highland mists draw in. Other than that, the only signs of life we spot during our stay are a pheasant outside our bathroom window and a heron flying above the loch, its wings so low they graze the water.

It is an area that has proved popular with celebrities, specifically because of its privacy. J.K. Rowling has a house near here. Actor Alan Cumming, who grew up in nearby Aberfeldy, returns frequently. Ed Sheeran is a regular visitor to the area, so much that The Hills Of Aberfeldy, on his upcoming album, is dedicated to the landscape.

Then there is the magnificent Taymouth Castle, which perches serenely at one end of the loch.

Back in 1843 it played host to Queen Victorias honeymoon  one she loved so much it kick-started her love affair with Scotland and ultimately led to her being given Balmoral as a gift.

The magnificent Taymouth Castle, pictured, 'perches serenely' at one end of the loch

The loch's scenery is 'so spectacular' that it inspired an Ed Sheeran song, Emma reveals. Back in 1843, Loch Tay's Taymouth Castle played host to Queen Victorias honeymoon

'Perched on the water, our house, Dipper Lodge (pictured), stands on stilts, its floor-to-ceiling windows giving uninterrupted views of the loch,' writes Emma

Emma says that Dipper Lodge 'feels wonderfully remote'

The castle is undergoing a 300 million revamp under the watchful eye of its new owner, American billionaire John Paul DeJoria, who founded Paul Mitchell hair care systems. In the 90s, Madonna and Cher expressed an interest in buying it.

If youre staying for a few days, there are plenty of peaceful pleasures to explore. The nearby village of Kenmore is absurdly pretty while the larger town of Aberfeldy is perfect for supplies and a wander up to Dewars Distillery, which offers regular tastings and tours.

There are walks aplenty while, for the more adventurous, Highland Safaris offers 4x4 off-road trips to spot wildlife that can include red deer, mountain hare and golden eagles.

On colder nights, Dipper Lodge's hot tub provides the ideal balm against the chilly temperatures

A bird's eye view of the loch. 'You wont find the noisy powerboats that beset Loch Lomond here nor the clamorous hordes of monster-hunting tourists who lay siege to Loch Ness,' writes Emma

For those hunkering down at Dipper Lodge, there is no end of more familiar creature comforts.

Built as a studio with a cosy bed on a platform at one end, there is also a well-stocked kitchen, bathroom with underfloor heating, and a balcony for those warm evenings when dining outside seems by far the most appealing option.

On colder nights, the hot tub provides the ideal balm against the chilly temperatures.

From there, gazing across the darkening loch, its easy to imagine that you have this vast, silent landscape all to yourself.
Petra is full of mysteries. One that astonishes me is hearing our guide say that 95 per cent of this abandoned ancient city remains unexcavated.

And, says Abdullah, as we peruse the vast archaeological site from a lookout known as the High Place of Sacrifice, its only recently that Jordanians have realised the worth of our treasures. In the past, ancient sites would be dismantled to use for building materials but now theyre protected.

Like most, I feel familiar with Petra only from the scene in Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade when Indy (Harrison Ford) and his father (Sean Connery) venture into the Treasury to seek out the Holy Grail. But nothing compares with the real thing.

And you could base yourself here for days and still only scratch the surface as its spread over 100 square miles  four times the size of Manhattan. While old Petra, which was founded in the year 312 BC as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom with a 30,000-strong population, is no longer a working city and a protected Unesco site, the steadily growing, modern-day town of Wadi Musa is within walking distance.

Im on a whirlwind seven-day tour travelling the length of Jordan arranged by adventure tour operator Exodus and our 16-strong group check in to a basic hotel in the heart of Wadi Musa. Ive just always dreamed of visiting this place, says Donna, a retired climbing instructor, as we clamber out of the white tour bus.

Rich in culture: Sadie Whitelocks explores Jordan on a seven-day trip arranged by adventure tour operator Exodus. A highlight of the trip is a visit to the abandoned ancient city of Petra, where she sees the Treasury (pictured) temple before the crowds arrive for the day

The problem is that many others have had the same dream  and on our first day in Petra its impossible to get a clear shot of the Treasury without tourists and weary-looking camels in view. It is not possible to go inside the elaborate Greek-style temple but Abdullah reassures us theres not much to see inside, with one main chamber.

In a bid to beat the crowds, James, another solo traveller, and I get up at 6am the next day and jog down to Petra from our hotel to get there for when it opens.

We are rewarded with an eerie silence as we snake through the towering sandstone gorge before standing in front of the Treasury. Hardly anyone else is around.

From there, we embark on a hike to Petras other big draw, the Monastery. Built by the Nabateans  a lesser-known Arab tribe hailing from the south east of the Arabian Peninsula  around the first century, this place of worship or tomb has a huge sandstone facade, measuring 47 metres in width and 48 metres in height.

The descent from the Monastery follows the same route, with a peppering of small Bedouin souvenir shops along the way selling everything from colourful scarves to black kohl eyeliner used by the Arabs to protect their eyes from the suns glare.

In Petra, Sadie hikes to the Monastery, pictured, a place of worship or tomb that was built around the first century

Half the group reconvene at one of Petras more unusual features, a cave bar inside a 2,000-year-old tomb teetering on the edge of the ancient city.

Legend has it that Jesus drank wine from a small town in northern Jordan with his disciples at the last supper. We had started our tour in the bustling Jordanian capital of Amman, hitting a spread of historical sites in and around the metropolis. And after Petra, our bus takes us to another famous site, Wadi Rum.

Nicknamed the Valley of the Moon, this rust-coloured desert does feel otherworldly. Vast, echoing and God-like, was how Lawrence of Arabia described the 720 square kilometre area almost a century ago.

We transfer into ramshackle open top Jeeps to get to our Bedouin-style desert camp, which would be our base for the night. Here, the rooms take an even more basic turn, with metal beds housed inside stilted cloth-covered huts.

'Nicknamed the Valley of the Moon, this rust-coloured desert does feel otherworldly,' Sadie says of Wadi Rum (pictured)

Above, a Bedouin makes tea in Wadi Rum. Lawrence of Arabia once described the desert as vast, echoing and God-like' (file photo)

The next day we head back north, stopping in Aqaba for a restorative beach day by the Red Sea and our final port of call lands us on the shores of the Dead Sea in our fanciest hotel yet, a sprawling Holiday Inn. After a long day in the bus, all of us swiftly change into our swimming gear and head to the beach to experience the unique floating effect of one of the worlds saltiest bodies of water.

I enjoy some effortless bobbing in the briny waters and slather the Dead Seas slimy mud all over me, hoping it will give my skin a more youthful look.

The remnants of muddy minerals in my hair arent the only enriching takeaway from this ancient land.
The swimmer stands atop the bridge. The river, far below, gleams in the sun.

A crowd gathers, watching with a mixture of dread and excitement. With a wink, he jumps some 30ft  theres a vast crash followed seconds later by his triumphant emergence downstream.

Cheers erupt from those of us on high and the crowd, young and old, spread out along the deck of Flussbad Unterer Letten, one of Zurichs river pools.

Ive come to the city for a very different kind of break. One that puts swimming in these spectacular pools  lidos built out into the fast-flowing rivers and lake  at its heart, eschewing museums and churches for something less cerebral but no less wonderful.

Zurich has got a thing about water. It is home to more than 1,200 fountains, all of which bubble with fresh drinking water. Public baths ring the edge of Lake Zurich and its rivers are home to some of the most spectacular, not to mention historic, bathing spots in Switzerland.

Daredevils: Joe Minihane travels to Zurich to explore its outdoor swimming spots, including Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen (pictured), a lagoon that 'caters for swimmers of all kinds'

The Romans kicked off the craze with the citys first bath, in what is now Weinplatz. Long after they left, the trend re-emerged, and by the 20th Century there were ten Kastenbader timber box baths, designed to boost citizens wellbeing as well as keep them clean.

These days it can sometimes feel as if the entire citys population has taken a collective holiday to loll and lounge at their favourite spot by the water.

After the exploits of the local daredevils, I opt to take the safer option and follow the path to the proper entrance to Flussbad Unterer Letten.

The oldest riverside bathing facility in Zurich, dating from 1909, this bath runs parallel to the main body of the River Limmat.

The current is rapid and the pool acts like a flume, with swimmers sliding in from the steps at one end and being washed down to the far side. It has the power to make even the most rudimentary front crawl look Olympic speed.

The water is a glorious 24C and soon Im barrelling along with the Limmat at my back. But there is something of a challenge approaching: how to get out. I opt for the steps to the side  but these sail quickly beyond reach. So instead I head straight towards the towering gate where the pool ends.

I come to an ungainly halt before hauling myself up and out, the current raging beneath me. I turn to my friends, let out a laugh and head back to the start. I seem to have found the perfect city break, and its only just started.

The next morning, Lake Zurich sparkling beyond the balcony of my room in the delightful Bellrive au Lac Hotel Ameron, I head across the road to Seebad Utoquai.

Above is Flussbad Unterer Letten, the city's oldest riverside bathing facility

Joe says the current at Flussbad Unterer Letten 'has the power to make even the most rudimentary front crawl look Olympic speed'

Built in 1890, these lake baths also have separate mens and womens pools, as well as a cafe. I choose to head up to one of the fabulous upper decks for an hour of pre-breakfast yoga. I contort myself into a reclined pigeon pose as sparrows dart between our mats, the sun already beating down relentlessly.

Then, sweaty after the exertion, I dive into the lake and swim leisurely to the nearest pontoon, where I pull myself out and take in the view.

Mansions dot the shore to the south. To the east theres another decked pool, Seebad Enge, which has fountains spraying high into the summer sky. Their cooling embrace is calling to me, especially as Seebad Enge also hires out stand-up paddleboards  the perfect way to get further out on the water and enjoy a workout at the same time.

Above is Seebad Utoquai where Joe does some pre-breakfast yoga before taking a dip

So after a quick mezze lunch on the rooftop of the swanky Globus department store, I take to the water once more. Despite the stiffening breeze, I manage to stay upright, paddling around the fountains while locals sunbathe on the decks, sipping white wine spritzers in the sun. When my arms are exhausted and my thighs are burning, I head back to the waters edge and plunge back in head-first for a cooling pre-dinner dip.

The next morning, as the sun slips through the curtains, Im in need of a long swim to work off the five-course meal Id enjoyed at Coco, one of Zurichs hottest restaurants.

This time I walk 15 minutes south, to try out a new spot.

Joe stays at Bellrive au Lac Hotel Ameron (above) where he has a view of Lake Zurich from his room

'Kids splash each other with abandon while parents lie beneath parasols,' Joe says of Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen (above)

Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen caters for swimmers of all kinds, featuring both diving platforms and easy steps in. Kids splash each other with abandon while parents lie beneath parasols.

Wading out, I swim a languid breaststroke, reflecting on a magical 48 hours.

Whether you want wild rapids or the sedate pleasures of a lakeside dip, Zurich is nothing short of a swimming paradise.
Set sail on the rivers that thread together the countries of Europe and youll enjoy a unique perspective of the continent's rich history.

These waterways have charted the rise and fall of empires, generated thriving trade, supported winemaking traditions and connected communities. They are fringed by medieval villages and splendid cities, fairy tale castles and lush vineyards.

A Saga river cruise offers the chance to enjoy it all at a leisurely pace, stepping aboard your boutique hotel on water, unpacking just once and visiting a variety of distinctive destinations in one unforgettable journey.

Saga river cruises are a fantastic way to explore Europe's great waterways (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)

Glittering new ships, design with guests in mind - Spirit of the Danube and Spirit of the Rhine each offer elevated elegance (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)

Choose from Sagas two new Spirit ships, designed to offer elegant style and soothing surrounds, or one of their hand-picked ships, selected to offer that same signature Saga service, so you can enjoy a truly memorable experience.

All those little details that make your journey a seamless experience come included. From the chauffeur-driven car that will pick you up from home and whisk you to your UK departure point, to your Eurostar or flight, exquisite dining, drinks+ and even gratuities like onshore excursions, you wont need to worry about a thing.

Simply relax, enjoy the intimate atmosphere on board your ship, the personalised service and the beautiful spaces as the scenery slips past your windows.

From the mighty Rhine to the meandering Danube, the vineyard-flanked Moselle and Douro to the Elbe, Oder and the Dutch and Belgian waterways, you can take your pick from thoughtful itineraries that showcase the best of every region youll visit.

Set sail in style

Saga's river cruises feature a selection of elegant and stylish ships, hand-picked to provide the ultimate cruising experience. Spirit of the Rhine and Spirit of the Danube, their two newest ships, each promise the warmest of welcomes on board.

Choose where to dine at no extra cost with an all-inclusive river cruise (Pictured: Spirit of the Danube)

Rheinfels onboard Spirit of the Rhine and Delta onboard Spirit of the Danube gives guests the chance to partake in a speciality dining experience (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)

As Saga's first purpose-built river cruise ship, Spirit of the Rhine was designed to offer an unmatched standard of comfort, service, and value.

There is sense of space throughout the ship, from the panoramic lounge and bar to the shaded sun deck with its splash pool and barbecue area. Cabins are spacious and those on the ship's middle and upper decks come with a French balcony.

With both the main Panorama restaurant and speciality restaurant Rheinfels included in your cruise, youll enjoy gourmet cuisine, as well as afternoon tea and drinks, with both Wi-Fi and gratuities included in your cruise, too.

On both ships, buffet breakfasts and waiter-served lunch and dinner are on the menu at the Panorama restaurant (Pictured: Spirit of the Danube)

Not to be outdone, Spirit of the Danube, Saga's newest river cruise ship, maintains the same high standards as her boutique sister ship.

Equipped with the latest engine technology to significantly reduce emissions, she is one of the greenest ships on the rivers. Panoramic windows invite you to enjoy the every-changing vistas, the majority of cabins come with balconies, and the Panorama restaurant is joined by speciality restaurant Delta.

With the large sun deck and same inclusions as Spirit of the Rhine, youre sure to enjoy an equally exclusive experience. Both ships welcome just 182 guests aboard, ensuring a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and crew wholl know you by name and remember that favourite tipple you like to order.

Discover enchanting destinations

Saga's boutique ships sail along some of Europe's most storied rivers, offering guests an array of unforgettable itineraries.

Each journey is carefully crafted to showcase the rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cultures of the regions that the rivers wend their way through.

Set sail on a seven-night Castles of the Rhine itinerary from Amsterdam to Basel and youll meander past majestic castles, fortresses, and rolling hills. Drifting between the Netherlands and Germany, with a darling excursion to France, this a cruise for travellers who enjoy their history.

As the world rolls by: Sail from historical landmarks to darling wine towns (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)

Hungary to Austria along the Danube - stopping by an array of destinations along the way (Pictured: Spirit of the Danube)

Over this weeklong tour of medieval gems, you'll get acquainted with flower-filled Koblenz where the Rhine and Moselle merge, with the red-sandstone ruins of Heidelberg Castle and with the striking cobbled streets of Strasbourg.

Then on the Danube, Europes second-longest river which flows from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, you can join a cruise to explore majestic cities as varied as Vienna, Prague and Budapest.

The 10-night Autumn Colours of the Danube cruise sails from Hungarian capital Budapest to pretty Linz in Austria, via golden-hued vineyards, an 11th-century Benedictine monastery, medieval towns and stoic castles.

For a taste of Iberian charm, glide along the Douro River, where you'll encounter ancient cities, terraced vineyards, and dramatic gorges on the seven-night Douro Discovery.

Meanwhile, the enchanting Moselle River offers an equally tranquil experience, as you make your way through lush valleys, charming towns, and picturesque vineyards.

Visit the wine town of Cochem, see the Renaissance architecture of Bernkastel-Kues and explore historic Trier on an included excursion on the 14-night Magnificent Rhine, Main and Moselle river cruise. The fortnight concludes with a visit to a traditional dairy farm on the outskirts of Amsterdam where you'll sample delicious locally produced cheese.

Everything included, all cruise long

No matter which itinerary you select, Saga's river cruises promise a captivating journey through Europe. Each voyage is carefully curated to deliver unique and immersive experiences, with an elegant atmosphere on board.

Service unlike you've ever experienced before - Saga river cruises pride themselves on a high standard of attentiveness (Pictured: Spirit of the Rhine)

With so many inclusions, from your chauffeur-driven UK transfer service to return travel and excursions in selected ports of call, youll feel like a VIP from the moment you close your front door.

Along with delicious on-board dining and premium drinks at no extra cost+, you can also make the most of complimentary Wi-Fi and you wont need to worry about gratuities. Saga even offers included travel insurance^ with up to 5m emergency medical and repatriation cover.

As you traverse the captivating waterways, all thats left is for you to delight in the opportunity to uncover hidden gems and immerse yourself in the local culture. From the grand architecture of Vienna to the fairy tale charm of winemaking town Rudesheim, to the vineyards of the Alto Douro and Roman delights in Trier, you can explore it all in incredible style.

Find out more and book your river cruise at saga.co.uk/mail-rivercruise or call 0800 056 9947

+All-inclusive includes a choice of wines, Saga house-branded spirits, cocktails containing Saga house-branded spirits, draught beer and lager, non-alcoholic cocktails, all mixers and soft drinks.

^Travel insurance is underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Limited and includes up to 5m emergency medical cover. A price reduction is available if you choose not to take the included insurance and additional cancellation cover. Cover is subject to a few medical questions. Pre-departure cancellation cover is provided by Saga, and only available when taking the included optional travel insurance. Saga cruising is for guests over 50.
A cargo aircraft that struck the top of a tree at the end of a runway as it took off was 606lbs (274kg) overweight, according to an investigation into the incident.

On February 3, 2022, an Aerosucre Boeing 737-200 with a crew of five took off from Puerto Carreno Airport in Colombia at a dangerously low altitude and, as it became airborne and the landing gear retracted, clipped the top of a 46ft- (14m) high tree located 295m (967ft) past the end of the runway.

Startling video footage from a doorbell camera installed at a house beyond the runway shows the aircraft passing low overhead, missing electrical wires by mere feet and causing significant movement in the vegetation beneath.

The crew returned to the airport around 20 minutes after departure after the left-hand engine lost power.

A subsequent inspection found that the engine had ingested vegetation and vegetation was discovered embedded in parts of the left wing.

On February 3, 2022, an Aerosucre Boeing 737-200 took off from Puerto Carreno Airport at a dangerously low altitude. Startling video footage (above) from a doorbell camera installed at a house beyond the runway shows the aircraft passing low overhead

Before returning to the airport the Bogota-bound aircraft climbed to 2,500ft and the crew restarted the left-hand engine. However, it was overheating and smoke was seen coming out of it after the aircraft landed, though no fire was evident.

As reported in the Aviation Herald, Colombia's Aeronautica Civil released its findings into the 'serious incident' this week, concluding that the aircraft became airborne too far down the runway owing to 'extreme conditions of aircraft weight', with thinner air density caused by a warmer temperature than expected - 33.9C - pinpointed as another contributing factor.

It was also noted that the first officer claimed that the captain did not get the aircraft airborne when he called out that take-off speed had been called - possibly because of the extra weight.

The report said that 'late rotation [when the pilot pulls the nose of the aircraft up to take off] caused by extreme conditions of aircraft weight and density altitude did not permit the aircraft to achieve a sufficient climb rate, climb angle and altitude to clear the obstacles in the take-off trajectory'.

The crew was apparently aware that the aircraft was overweight  at 108,577lbs versus a maximum take-off weight of 107,950lbs - and was criticised in the report for being 'overconfident' in their assumption that they could lose weight during the taxi for departure.

The Aerosucre Boeing 737-200 pictured at Puerto Carreno Airport after it hit a tree upon take-off

The incident comes seven years after an Aerosucre plane overshot the runway at Puerto Carreno and crashed, killing five people, with one person surviving.

Witnesses captured dramatic footage of the flight overshooting the runway and struggling to gain altitude.

The footage then shows the Boeing 727 aircraft descending into a field and bursting into flames.
Andrew Garfield has been dogged by claims that he launched into a furious rant at a group of onlookers who were watching him film his new movie.

Andrew, 39, who is currently shooting a rom-com with actress Florence Pugh called We Live In Time in south-west London, has apparently had a cross word or two with onlookers who were 'distracting' his film shoot.

English-American actor Andrew is the latest luvvie to kick off amid an ongoing row about theatre-goers singing during performances, which thespians have insisted is disrespectful to the work they have put into the show.

Last week police were called to the Palace Theatre in Manchester when the show starring former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton had to be stopped twice as a rowdy crowd caused chaos by shouting and singing during the show.

Andrew was spotted shooting one scene outside of a row of flats, when residents noticed what was going on outside and came to the window to watch.

Oh no! Andrew Garfield has been dogged by claims that he launched into a furious rant at a group of onlookers who were watching him film his new movie

On set: The English-American actor, 39, is currently shooting a rom-com with actress Florence Pugh called We Live In Time in south-west London

The onlookers have claimed that Andrew 'motioned at them to open the window' before yelling at them for 'distracting' him while he worked.

A source wrote into gossip site Deux Moi, saying: 'Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh currently filming a new movie in London.

'On Monday AG was filming in a scene right outside his flat (S London). My bf and flatmates were looking through their second story and AG saw them watching.

'Then AG cut the scene, motioned for them to open the window and started yelling a them, saying how disrespectful it was for them to be distracting him by looking out of their own living room window??'

A video with no sound was also included in the post, which showed Andrew approaching the flat window mentioned in the message.

The same day [Monday April 3] Andrew was spotted by the Deux Moi source, he was pictured on set in London with Florence, 27.

In the photographs, the pair were seen enjoying a coffee before heading to a small farmer's market where they picked out some fruit and veg.

The film's plot has been closely guarded but is being described as a 'funny, deeply moving and immersive love story'.

Claims: Andrew was spotted shooting one scene outside of a row of flats, when residents noticed what was going on outside and came to the window to watch

MailOnline have reached out to representatives for comment.

Last month, it was reported that Florence and Andrew were set to co-star in a new romantic film together.

The Don't Worry Darling actress and Andrew - who presented together at the Oscars - were in negotiations on the project.

Florence recently confirmed on the Jimmy Fallon Show: 'We are doing a movie together don't worry that's not a lie. We are doing a movie together.

'I met him the day before in rehearsals and we instantly got along and I was taking the p*ss out of him and he loved it and he was taking the p*ss out of me and I loved it. It was great!'

John Crowley will direct the film from a script by Nick Payne, according to Deadline.

Florence recently confirmed on the Jimmy Fallon Show: 'We are doing a movie together don't worry that's not a lie. We are doing a movie together' (pictured)

London calling: Andrew was spotted walking in Herne Hill on a separate occasion by another fan

On Monday, This Morning presenter Alison Hammond took to social media to apologise after being slammed for 'encouraging' disrespectful theatre audiences on Wednesday's This Morning.

The host, 48, joked she was 'devastated' about a new ban on audience's singing, just days before a 'mini riot' broke out during a production of The Bodyguard in Manchester.

Police were called to the Palace Theatre when the show starring former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton had to be stopped twice before ending early after a woman was dragged out by security after refusing to stop singing along.

Earlier that week 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,'

Former BGT winner, and theatre star, George Sampson, 29, angrily hit out - taking to Twitter writing: 'People [in theatres] just behave how they want, where they want, probably doesn't help that @ThisMorning are encouraging this behaviour.'

Sorry: On Monday, This Morning presenter Alison Hammond took to social media to apologise after being slammed for 'encouraging' disrespectful theatre audiences on Wednesday's This Morning

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 a rowdy crowd causing chaos (Melody pictured with co-star Ayden Callaghan)

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'.

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.

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 few 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.

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.

Slammed: Alison joked she was 'devastated' about a new ban on audience's singing, just days before a 'mini riot' broke out during a production of The Bodyguard

Fuming: Former BGT winner, and theatre star, George Sampson, 29, angrily hit out taking to Twitter writing: 'People [in theatres] just behave how they want, where they want, probably doesn't help that @ThisMorning are encouraging this behaviour'

The singer explained: 'I just wanted to send a special message to the people in Manchester who came to the show tonight to say thank you and I respect that you paid your money.'

She continued: 'I am so grateful to the people who respect those on stage, who wanted to give you a beautiful show.

'For everything that happened tonight, I can't say, I don't have all of the details. I just am very, very sorry that we couldn't finish the show, I fought very hard, it feels awful.'

'I just hope that we see you again. The Bodyguard is a great show, it's a wonderful show, a love story and I know people were out to see a really beautiful show.

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'

'I like to thank everyone who was respectful of the performers and sorry for those who weren't, thank you, love you.'

Melody's apology comes after a woman was dragged out of the performance by security after she refused to stop singing along despite the venue's rules.

Shocking footage shows the moment the woman was forcibly removed from the Palace Theatre in Manchester as riot police were called.

The show was paused in its first act as staff at the theatre were forced to drag out several people singing loudly during the performance.

It was halted again just ten minutes from the final curtain as police arrived on the scene.

Others attending said that 'fights' and 'mini riots' erupted in the theatre during the chaotic performance, Manchester Evening News reported.

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

Members of the audience applauded security guards as disruptive fans were dragged outside.

Around six police officers were pictured at the venue, while several police vans were parked outside.

One person at the show posted online: 'Seen a lot of reports about bad behaviour at the theatre lately, and wondered if they were a bit overblown. Anyway, at the Palace tonight and they had to stop the show during the first act to eject disruptive audience members.

'They've had to stop the show AGAIN during the finale because of people shouting out, screaming and being incredibly disruptive. Just unbelievably disrespectful to the actors. And they're refusing to leave. This is horrendous. Never seen anything like it.

'They decided not to finish the performance because of the disruption. Feel so sorry for the whole cast. Respect to all the staff at the Manchester Palace for trying to deal with an incredibly difficult situation. Three police vehicles outside the theatre. Awful.'

Performance: The show was paused in its first act as staff were forced to drag out several people and then was halted again just ten minutes from the final curtain (Melody on stage during The National Lottery's Big Night Of Musicals)

Another said: 'There was a lot of heckling at Melody Thornton [the lead singer] who was on the stage solo at this point.

'Her mic was cut and the curtain was brought down for the second time. A fight broke out in the upper stands as security tried to deal with members of the audience.

'It was about ten mins to the end after an earlier stoppage in the show as others were removed.'

Someone else added: 'Can't believe we was all kicked out ten minutes before the end. Disrespectful idiots singing and screaming. I felt for the amazing performers and gutted I didn't get to see the end.'
An ambitious new documentary which follows six presenters who are passionate about the natural world is set to air on BBC One.

Our Changing Planet will see Chris Packham, Liz Bonnin, Steve Backshall, Gordon Buchanan, Ade Adepitan and Ella Al-Shamahi visit six beautiful yet vulnerable habitats across the globe, with the hosts returning over a period of to chart pivotal changes at a critical moment in Earths history.

They will meet scientists and local conservationists who are fighting to make a difference in California, Greenland, the Maldives, Brazil, Kenya and Cambodia as they look at the ecological threats the planet faces.

With earth facing the effects of melting glaciers, global warming, urbanisation, desertification, and the warming and acidification of our seas, the presenters will tell the stories of hope from residents, scientists and local conservationists as they work to preserve the ecosystems and restore Earths natural balance, saving the communities and wildlife under threat.

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 said while presenting an upcoming episode of the new series.

On air: An ambitious new documentary, Our Changing Planet, which follows six presenters who are passionate about the natural world is set to air on BBC One (L-R: Ade Adepitan, Gordon Buchanan, Chris Packham, Ella Al-Shamahi, Steve Backshall and Liz Bonnin)

Discovery: The hosts returning over a period of to chart pivotal changes at a critical moment in Earths history (Chris Packham pictured in Greenland for the series)

Natural world: Professor Niels Martin Schmidt and conservationist Mikkel Stelvig pictured with a muskox in Greenland, where Chris travelled to to film

When asked what he hoped viewers will take away from the second series, Chris 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 wouldn't 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 that's another one of our messages.

'We're saying that this simple system in Greenland can tell us a lot but you don't need to go that far, you can look out the window.'

The environmentalist, who fronts the BBC's Winterwatch and Springwatch shows, travelled to the north-eastern side of Greenland to talk to a group of scientists following the muskox.

Chris 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 I'd 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 Ade 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.

On location: Elsewhere, BBC presenter Ade Adepitan 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 Ade returned, he said he saw people and elephants now fighting over food and water supplies.

He explained: 'I travelled to Kenya and Savo National Park. I was there to look at the plight of the elephants dealing with the drought.

'It's been the worst four years in Kenya, in terms of rainfall, in terms of how they're dealing with the drought, and how it's evolved into this conflict between humans and elephants and the innovative sort of solutions that both sides are coming up with.

'I was also in Nairobi, doing some stuff with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, seeing how they're coping with this massive influx of orphan elephants that are coming in that have been orphaned because of the drought.'

On returning to the same habitat after the first series last year, he continued: 'I'll be honest with you, in terms of the way the terrain looks, it looked worse, it looks a lot more dry and arid and it was worrying to see that they still hadn't had enough rain.

'But when I remember and look back at the kind of work the shelter trust is doing out there, they're improving their techniques, looking after the orphans, one of the elephants actually was pregnant.

'When the elephants are in this sort of situation, which is a real stress situation, that's usually not the most conducive situation to have children.

'So for one of the elephants to have felt comfortable enough to have a baby and become pregnant is really positive news.'

Troubles: When he visited the country in 2021, the elephants were being severely affected by drought

Endangered: Gordon Buchanan travelled to the Pantanal region in South America to report on a Jaguar habituation project that has seen unprecedented protection to the vulnerable cats

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 there's 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.'

The series launches on Sunday 16 April at 7pm on BBC One.
Iconic Neighbours stars Ian Smith and Anne Charleston will reunite in Melbourne on Sunday for the final installment of Neighbours: The Celebration Tour, a nostalgic live show featuring appearances from beloved cast members.

The pair played lovebirds Harold and Madge for years, and previously reunited for Neighbours' July finale last year where Anne, 80, played the ghost of her deceased character.

Other cast members set to take the stage at the concert include Alan Fletcher, Lucinda Cowden, April Rose Pengilly, Tim Kano and Annie Jones.

Alan Fletcher, who plays Dr Karl Kennedy, said they will pay tribute to the soap's past and future when they perform their last show on April 16 at Hamer Hall.

'We have the privilege of having Anne Charleston and Ian Smith and the wonderful Tim Kano to provide a more recent perspective on the show,' he told the Herald Sun.

Iconic Neighbours stars Ian Smithand Anne Charleston, 80, (pictured together) will reunite on stage in Melbourne on Sunday for the final performance of the series' Celebration Tour

The pair played lovebirds Harold and Madge Bishop and previously reunited for its July finale last year where Anne played the ghost of her deceased character

The cast have been touring the UK for the past month performing Neighbours: The Celebration Show to sold-out crowds.

It comes ahead of filming resuming on the show on Monday in Melbourne, following its initial axing last year, after Amazon Freevee agreed to fund the production.

More than 2,000 people bought tickets to Neighbours: The Celebration Show for its debut at the London Palladium on March 14, where the actors shared behind-the-scenes stories and archival footage.

Journalist Jennifer Hansen, who is married to series veteran Alan Fletcher, posted a photo on Instagram showing the line-up of stars backstage before their curtain call.

The cast have been touring the UK for the past month performing Neighbours: The Celebration Show to sold-out crowds

Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy), Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson), Ryan Moloney (Toadie Rebecchi), Annie Jones (Jane Harris) and April Rose Pengilly (Chloe Brennan) appeared on stage to discuss their roles in the original Channel 10 show.

The group smiled in front of the famous backstage mirror, which has been at the venue ever since the theatre was built in 1910.

'Hundreds of legendary performers have all posed here before they went on stage... what a night! A standing ovation and rapturous applause,' Jennifer wrote.

The original Neighbours series was cancelled in March 2022, only for its revival to be announced in November.

In a press release from mid-November, Fremantle Australia's Chief Executive Officer Greg Woods said the writers would start to plot new storylines immediately.
Tamara Ecclestone enjoyed a family getaway to Disney World in Florida with her husband Jay Rutland and their two daughters on Saturday.

The Formula One heiress, 38, posted a slew of adorable snaps from her luxury trip to the Magic Kingdom.

She posed for a picture in front of the iconic castle with Jay and their children Sophia, nine, who she affectionately nicknames Fifi, and Serena, three.

Tamara looked practical for the family day out in a T-shirt and denim shorts, while an excited Fifi looked adorable in her Minnie Mouse shirt.

Writing alongside her post, the model, who is the daughter of former Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone, said: 'Pure magic at the Magic Kingdom'.

Family holiday: Tamara Ecclestone shared snaps of her trip to the Magic Kingdom Florida with husband Jay Rutland and daughters Sophia and Serena on Saturday

Adorable: Serena, three, was thrilled to meet the Disney characters with heiress mother Tamara

Sharing details from her trip with her followers, Tamara showed the family meeting characters and exploring the park.

Fifi in particular looked over the moon to be meeting Mickey Mouse while wearing a matching Minnie shirt, as the little girl sweetly beamed with happiness.

Tamara married her husband Jay, 41, in 2013 after just six months of dating.

The trip is just the latest in a series of lavish getaways that most recently saw the family travel to New York City.

And the travelling is not over yet, as Tamara shared a snap of Serena on a plane to her Instagram story on Monday, writing: 'Disney done right onto the next'.

It comes after Tamara put on a brave face last month as she was spotted out for the first time since her father-in-law David's death.

In late February, Tamara's husband Jay shared the sad news of his dad's passing on Instagram, writing about how heartbroken he is. No cause of death was given.

Jay wrote: 'Absolutely heartbroken writing this. A day I always worried about, but much sooner than I ever expected.

'Dad, I love you and miss you more than you would ever realise. You loved my girls so much and I know how much joy it gave you seeing all the things they get up to.'

Beaming: Sophia, nine, who is nicknamed Fifi was thrilled to meet Mickey Mouse, matching her T-shirt

In the air again: The family were on the move again soon after their trip to an undisclosed location

'So often you would call me in disbelief having seen the latest thing Fifi had accomplished. I am so incredibly sad that they wont get to see you again.

'I think thats what hurts the most. The little bond you already had with Riri makes my heart hurt.

'I am so glad we got to do the things we did together and I hope you knew how loved you truly were by all of your family.'

He continued: 'You were a unique man, not one for much emotion or feelings but when I saw your IPad screensaver was Fifi last night it made me laugh and cry at the same time.

'I now have an overwhelming sadness that you are gone but they say that grief is the price we pay for love. 

'God bless Dad, you are with Mark now and we will all meet again one day X.'
Just hours after his shocking final episode of Succession aired on HBO, Brian Cox was spotted heading into The Late Show with Stephen Colbert studios.

The 76-year-old Scottish actor arrived at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City for a taping of Monday night's episode of The Late Show.

While it was already confirmed before Season 4 began that it would be the last season of the hit series, fans were still shocked that Cox's patriarch character Logan Roy was killed off in the third episode on Sunday night, entitled Connor's Wedding.

Cox was spotted entering the studio wearing a bright orange button-down shirt over a green Falconeri sweater.

He also sported matching orange-framed sunglasses with light blue jeans for his talk show outing.

Brian out: Just hours after his shocking final episode of Succession aired on HBO, Brian Cox was spotted heading into The Late Show with Stephen Colbert studios

Killed off: While it was already confirmed before Season 4 began that it would be the last season of the hit series, fans were still shocked that Cox's patriarch character Logan Roy was killed off in the third episode on Sunday night, entitled Connor's Wedding

The actor completed his look with a pair of matching orange boots while he walked into the studio.

He was also spotted posing with and hugging some fans before heading into the studio for the talk show.

Cox even stopped to sign a few autographs for the fans waiting outside the Ed Sullivan Theater.

While many fans expected Cox's character Logan Roy to die at some point in the final season, since his health has been in decline for some time, many didn't expect the death to happen as early as it did in the third episode.

Even Cox himself revealed in an interview with The New York Times that he was expecting his character to die... but not that soon.

Cox revealed the show's creator Jesse Armstrong called him and told him, 'Logan's going to die.'

'And I thought, "Oh, that's fine." I thought he would die in about Episode 7 or 8, but Episode 3, I thought "Well that's a bit early." Not that I was bothered,' Cox said.

'Well, they had to end it somehow, and it was Jesse's choice. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the problem with a lot of television, particularly American television, is it goes past its sell-by date,' Cox added.

Brian's fans: He was also spotted posing with and hugging some fans before heading into the studio for the talk show

Hugs: Brian Cox stops to give a fan a hug before heading into the Ed Sullivan Theater for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Autographs: Cox even stopped to sign a few autographs for the fans waiting outside the Ed Sullivan Theater

'And the great thing about Jesse and the writers is they wouldn't do that. It was difficult for them because it wasn't easy to bring this to an end. And I think Jesse found it sad  at the premier, 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 it's at its height, not when it's going down,' he added.

The actor also said he thinks the death of his character will certainly change the trajectory for the rest of the final season.

'It does change the stakes. The main protagonist is gone. And the kids are having to deal with it, or not. 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,' Cox admitted.

'Logan was coming to a rest point anyway. He realized that his children were never going to be  he's got that great line when he says, "I love you, but you're not serious people." And I think that is so fundamental,' Cox added.

'The whole premise is really about entitlement and the rich and the fact that he's plowed this particular furrow. And the consequences of that plowing are these kids and how f***ed 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,' Cox said.

With seven episodes left in the final season, it will be interesting to see how Logan's death affects the fate of his children and the company he built.

Logan was on the heels of finalizing the sale of Waystar Royco to GoJo, the company founded by Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard), though after he died, Waystar Royco's stock price took a massive tumble, as viewers saw when Roman (Kieran Culkin) checked his phone, which could put the acquisition in jeopardy.

Great: 'And the great thing about Jesse and the writers is they wouldn't do that. It was difficult for them because it wasn't easy to bring this to an end. And I think Jesse found it sad  at the premier, somebody shouted out, "Well, if it was so sad, why did you do it?'
He visited Southern California theme park with family over the weekend

Jeremy Renner's recovery and reemergence into the limelight continues.

The Marvel star, 52, was seen headed into the Hollywood, California studio for Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday as he looked to appear on the late night show for the first time since he nearly died in a New Year's Day snow plow accident that left him with 30 broken bones.

The Hawkeye star was clad in a stylish ensemble of a dark brown suede over a patterned button-down top with black slacks and black dress shoes.

The Modesto, California born actor wore his brown locks neatly parted and aviator sunglasses as he used a black cane to assist in walking on the cool spring day in Southern California.

The Academy Award-nominated star was cheered by fans as he made his entrance to the studio and signed autographs for a number of them ahead of getting ready for the network TV appearance.

The latest: Jeremy Renner, 52, was smiling as he was pictured making his entrance to film Jimmy Kimmel Live in Hollywood on Monday. The Oscar-nominated actor is just more than three months removed from a neat-fatal snow plow accident that left him with severe injuries

Over the weekend, he visited Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California with his family, posing for photos with relatives at the popular amusement park.'

He captioned a picture on Instagram: 'Good Friday, made magic on the mountain with some of my amazing family! @sixflagsmagicmountain #thankyou.'

He was seen on the outing to Six Flags with his daughter Ava Berlin, 10. The actor kept a mobility scooter nearby to assist with his trek at the vast theme park.

Renner has been open about his recovery - which could potentially last for years - in the wake of the horrifying January 1 accident.

More than 30 bones in Renner's body were broken in the January 1 accident that left him in 'critical condition' at first, ahead of multiple surgical procedures.

He was making a valiant attempt at protecting his nephew from harm at the time of the incident.

In March, Renner took to social media to share that he had been progressing in his physical recovery from the accident, as he was seen walking on a treadmill on social media.

In addition to his appearance on Kimmel Monday, Renner is slated to walk the red carpet at the debut of his Disney+ show Rennervations on Tuesday.

The Marvel star was seen headed into the Hollywood, California studio for Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday as he looked to appear on the late night show

The Hawkeye star was clad in a stylish ensemble of a dark brown suede over a patterned button-down top with black slacks and black dress shoes

The Modesto, California born actor wore his brown locks neatly parted and aviator sunglasses as he used a black cane to assist in walking on the cool spring day in Southern California

Renner beamed ahead of his late night appearance on the ABC staple

The Academy Award-nominated star was cheered by fans as he made his entrance to the studio

He signed autographs for a number of them ahead of getting ready for the network TV appearance

Renner has been open about his recovery - which could potentially last for years - in the wake of the horrifying January 1 accident

Over the weekend, he visited Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California with his family, posing for photos with relatives at the popular amusement park'

Renner's friend Rory Millikin, who is an executive producer on the streaming service, said that the actor has been surrounded by supportive family amid his recovery from the snow plow accident.

'His mom's here constantly,' Millikin told People Friday. 'I mean, his mom moved in to take care, just like moms do. Mothers play such an incredible role of support.'

He continued: 'You should see this house - it's just overflowing with nieces, nephews and cousins and siblings all the time. It's like a wonderful big family compound and everyone has played a huge role.'

While on the show, late night host described Renner as 'indestructible' and introduced him as the 'toughest Avenger'.

Kimmel had joked: 'Was this a publicity stunt?'

In response, Renner quipped back: 'Absolutely.'

'Now if there was any question as to who the toughest Avenger was, that's settled now,' Kimmel said. 'Forget [Chris] Hemsworth. Forget these guys. It's you. You're the guy.'

'Yeah, I guess so,' Renner replied back.

Renner was seen out with his mother Valerie and supportive family members by his side

While on the show, late night host described Renner as 'indestructible' and introduced him as the 'toughest Avenger'

Kimmel had joked: 'Was this a publicity stunt?' In response, Renner quipped back: 'Absolutely.'

On the show, Renner had joked that he had a 'very bad start to the year'. He talked about how the accident had caused him to break '35 or so', and he said he was 'lucky' the plow had 'missed every vertebra, didn't hit any organs, my brain didn't swell, nothing like that.

'I think I speak for all of us when I say, thank God, look at you, you look great,' Kimmel continued. 'We're glad to see you here.'

On the show, Renner had joked that he had a 'very bad start to the year'.

He talked about how the accident had caused him to break '35 or so', and he said he was 'lucky' the plow had 'missed every vertebra, didn't hit any organs, my brain didn't swell, nothing like that.

'My eye did pop out,' he added. 'That's weird, but yeah... I got very lucky that none of the organs got messed up.'

He then joked about how the accident cleared up his schedule.

'My first conscious thought was like, "Holy hell! My calendar is freed up for the rest of the year!

'My year was pretty jammed up until I got crushed,' he continued.

He also said being in recovery helped him accomplish a resolution of his: '[The accident] was like a New Year's resolution, so I did drop like 20 pounds. I quit smoking. It's the easiest way to quit smoking.'

He also said being in recovery helped him accomplish a resolution of his: '[The accident] was like a New Year's resolution, so I did drop like 20 pounds. I quit smoking. It's the easiest way to quit smoking.'
Bachelor star Faith Williams has endured a nightmare Easter after the trendy hair salon she owns was ransacked by burglars.

Faith, who featured on Richie Strahan's season of the Channel 10 dating show in 2016, owns two salons in Brisbane and was horrified to discover on Tuesday that one of them had been broken into over the weekend.

Thousands of dollars was stolen from her Blondee Salon in Newstead and it has left the reality TV star distraught.

The business owner told Daily Mail Australia that she discovered the salon had been robbed when she arrived to work on Tuesday morning after the long weekend.

'The thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of laptops, equipment, cash, hot tools, sonos speakers, and a lot of products and made a mess of everything,' she said.

Bachelor star Faith Williams (pictured) has endured a nightmare Easter after the trendy hair salon she owns was ransacked by burglars

'They even took the security camera, so we cannot access any footage from the past week.

'I discovered the break-in this morning when I arrived at 7:30 am and found that the thieves had used a screwdriver to break through the backdoor.

'We have reported the incident to the police, but they could not confirm when they will be able to investigate the matter, however it should be today [Tuesday].'

The Bachelor star Faith Williams had a nightmare Easter weekend as her hair salon was broken into

Faith added that while the salon closed for the morning, they are now luckily back in business.

Sharing a photo of the salon's lock that had been tampered with on Instagram, the 33-year-old wrote: 'Newstead was broken into over the weekend.'

'They have made a mess, stolen our phone, 4 x laptops and heaps of other stuff,' she continued.

'If you need to contact us please reach us on Instagram or email hello@blondee.com.au for the time being. Thank you'.

Faith added that while the salon closed for the morning, they are now luckily back in business

On the Blondee salon Instagram page, it was announced that the release of tickets for an upcoming masterclass by Faith was postponed due to 'unforeseen circumstances'.

The post added: 'We have had to postpone the release of tickets to the Blondee Education X Faith Williams masterclass to tomorrow, Wednesday April 12 at 10am xx'.

Faith previously thanked The Bachelor for giving her the opportunity to launch her successful business Blondee.

On the Blondee salon Instagram page, it was announced that the release of tickets for an upcoming masterclass by Faith was postponed due to 'unforeseen circumstances'

Two years ago, she told The Wash: 'I guess I leveraged off the Bachelor to do my own thing. I have the show to thank for the exposure.

'I just started being a sole trader, renting a chair. I did that for about a year and a half.

'Then work just really took off from there and I was just always fully booked, couldn't take on any new clients, couldn't grow any more.'

It was from those humble beginnings that she opened the first of her two salons.
Gangland heiress-turned-OnlyFans star Dhakota Williams celebrated Easter in a rather racy way this weekend - twerking for fans in a skintight Peter Rabbit onesie.

The social media sensation, 21, wished her fans a 'happy Easter' by posting the sultry video on her Instagram account.

In the clip, Dhakota shows off her curves in the outfit before wriggling her pert behind while posing in the mirror.

She also posed up for a mirror selfie going braless and wearing a tight T-shirt and which highlighted her ample cleavage.

Dhakota was nine years old when her father, drug kingpin Carl, was bludgeoned to death at Barwon Prison by fellow inmate Matthew Charles Johnson in 2010.

Gangland heiress-turned-OnlyFans star Dhakota Williams, 21, (pictured) celebrated Easter in a rather racy way this weekend, by twerking for fans in a skintight Peter Rabbit onesie

Her racy Easter post comes after she posed up in a racy nurse lingerie set on Instagram.

She added a pair of miniscule bottoms and added a nurse cap to complete the illusion.

The buxom beauty was anything but matronly in the ensemble, donning a clean makeup look and wearing her hair down.

The social media sensation wished her fans a 'happy Easter' by posting the sultry video on her Instagram account

In the clip, Dhakota shows off her curves in the outfit before wriggling her pert behind while posing in the mirror

Her racy Easter post comes after she posed up in a racy nurse lingerie set on Instagram

In her caption, Dhakota added just a hospital emoji, which fitted her nurse theme of the evening.

Her fans were delighted with the post, with one writing: 'I suddenly have cancer help me please'.

Another added: 'Hurry up my cat just ran me over', while another wrote, 'Your curves are beautiful'.

Dhakota is making a mint from selling her raunchy content on OnlyFans.

The 21-year-old shared a series of photos in which she was wearing tiny nurse-themed lingerie

She proved she likes to splash the cash last week as she posed in her bedroom in a Versace robe, which retails for $750.

Dhakota recently treated herself to a $100,000 brand new BMW after turning 21.

Dhakota joined OnlyFans in August and her mother soon followed.

Dhakota recently treated herself to a $100,000 brand new BMW after turning 21

The pair recently discussed their foray into the sex industry with The Daily Telegraph, revealing they had 'no choice' due to their infamous history.

'I can't get a normal job like anyone else,' Roberta told the publication.

Meanwhile, Dhakota said she'd been thinking about joining for some time before finally pulling the trigger.

'Mum gave me the courage to do it. There is no shame in owning your femininity,' she declared.
Jonah Hill's rumored fiancee, Olivia Millar, was spotted showing off her growing baby bump on Monday in Calabasas, California.

Olivia - who was first linked to the 39-year-old actor in August of 2022 - looked to be without her other half as she did some grocery shopping after recently sparking engagement rumors.

The beauty soaked in the sunny day in just a light grey long-sleeve shirt and a pair of cream-colored sweatpants, which she let hang low on her hips to reveal her stomach.

On her left ring finger, she could be seen wearing a large square-cut diamond ring as she headed to her car, further fueling the unconfirmed rumors that she's engaged to the 21 Jump Street actor.

She kept her cozy look going with a pair of Sherpa slippers and went for a makeup-free face. Olivia also wore her brunette locks naturally as they fell down around her shoulders.

Bump out: Jonah Hill's rumored fiancee, Olivia Millar, was spotted showing off her growing baby bump on Monday in Calabasas

The daughter of top model Esme Marshall pulled a shopping cart along next to her, which was filled with large paper grocery bags.

Not much is known about the brunette mother-to-be aside from her work as co-founder of the online vintage site Chasseresse with her big sister Raychel Roberts.

It appears that the couple is expecting their first child together after the actor's latest love interest first unveiled her bump and her ring in March.

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Hill, who has so far been unavailable for comment.

The pair have kept their relationship private and have not made any red-carpet appearances together nor confirmed their relationship on social media.

Jonah was first pictured passionately kissing Millar in Malibu on August 28. In September 2022, the duo was also seen spending time together in Santa Barbara while on a road trip together.

Before Olivia, Hill dated surfer and law student Sarah Brady in 2021.

The Winning Time director - who's also dated Brooke Glazer, Erin Galpern, and Isabelle McNally - ended his year-long engagement to KITH NYC head stylist/producer Gianna Santos in 2020.

Shopping day: Olivia seemed to be without her other half as she did some grocery shopping

Out and about: The beauty flaunted her baby bump after sparking engagement rumors with the Superbad actor

Sparks flying: Jonah and Olivia were first linked in August 2022 after they were seen kissing in Malibu; Pictured 2023

Future Mrs. Hill? She is the co-founder of the online vintage site Chasseresse with her big sister Raychel Roberts

Recently, Jonah was spotted looking unrecognizable after he transformed into his alter ego 'Prophet Ezekiel Profit,' to attend an LA Lakers game with Lisa Rinna.

He donned a dark-haired wig and sported matching outfits from Meaningful Existence as he sat beside the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reality star.

The Superbad star was seen in a white sweatsuit from his new clothing line that was emblazoned with his brand logo.

The Days of Our Lives actress copied his look from top to bottom but in a bright yellow color  and minus the wig.

The eye-catching stunt appeared to be an effort to promote his new label that mocks those profiteering off the booming wellness industry.

The duo were also seen with a crowd of people  acting as his alter ego's disciples  wearing neon green Meaningful Existence sweatsuits.

According to the brand's official profile, 'Meaningful Existence is the lifestyle and wellness community founded, run, and ruled by Prophet Ezekiel Profit.

'Based on the teachings of Profit, we have one simple goal: to spread joy throughout the universe by monetizing happiness,' the blurb reads. 'Here at Meaningful Existence, we believe that no one is born into happiness.

Former flame: Before Olivia, Jonah dated surfer and law student Sarah Brady; seen together in 2021

Ended engagement: He also ended his year-long engagement to Gianna Santos in 2020; the pair seen in 2019

Legends: Jonah was recently spotted looking unrecognizable after he transformed into his alter ego 'Prophet Ezekiel Profit,' at a Lakers game with Lisa Rinna
Keri Russell put on an elegant display as she stepped out in New York City on Monday.

The 47-year-old actress donned a black button-up blouse paired with flowing, wide leg trousers as she arrived at the Ed Sullivan Theater for her appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The Cocaine Bear star looked stylish in the bottoms with slits along the sides and ruched detailing along the sides of her hips.

The Americans alum sported a pair of minimal sandal heels with single-toe and ankle skinny straps.

The Golden Globe winner  who will be appearing in upcoming Netflix series The Diplomat  finished off her look with a rhinestone-encrusted, folded clutch.

Effortlessly chic: Keri Russell, 47, put on an elegant display as she stepped out in New York City on Monday

The California native styled her shoulder-length brunette hair in loose, casual waves.

For makeup, she opted for a light makeup look to highlight her radiant beauty.

She rocked a simple eye makeup look paired with rosy blush and a bold pink lip.

Earlier last week, the trailer for her latest project dropped on Netflix.

The brunette beauty  who rose to fame after portraying the title character in Felicity  will be returning to the small screen with The Diplomat.

In the new political drama, Russell plays Kate Wyler, a newly-named U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.

According to the synopsis, the career diplomat 'lands a high-profile job she neither wants nor believes she is suited for.'

She was originally on her way to Afghanistan until the United States government enlists her to serve as the ambassador during an international crisis.

Stylish: The actress donned a black button-up blouse paired with wide leg trousers as she arrived at the Ed Sullivan Theater for her appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Dazzling: The Golden Globe winner  who will be appearing in upcoming Netflix series The Diplomat  finished off her look with a rhinestone-encrusted, folded clutch

War: The Diplomat is slated to premiere on Netflix later this month on April 20

She will have to forge international alliances and prevent war from breaking out across the globe.

At the same time, she is also married to another longtime diplomat named Hal  played by Rufus Sewell  and she must keep their relationship from collapsing as well.

On April 5, the trailer for the upcoming series dropped  introducing Russell back to television five years after her FX show The Americans concluded.

The Diplomat is slated to premiere on Netflix later this month on April 20.
Jeremy Renner says he 'got lucky in a lot of ways' in surviving a ghastly New Year's Day snow plow accident.

The Marvel star, 52, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, less than four months after he nearly died in a New Year's Day snow plow accident that left him with more than 35 broken bones.

'We kept discovering them, because they went from critical order of priority of one of my going to die for them or not?' the Modesto, California born actor. 'Another break, another break.'

The Hawkeye star emerged with a cane in good spirits for the late night appearance, in which he said he was 'happy to be here.'

The Academy Award-nominated star described the mechanics of the snow plow accident, noting how lucky he was that critical parts of his anatomy were spared as he was caught under the weight of the machine.

The latest: Jeremy Renner says he 'got lucky in a lot of ways' in surviving a ghastly New Year's Day snow plow accident appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Monday

'It's like a giant metal - like cookie roller, right?' he said. 'And it just missed every vertebrae, did not hit any organs, membrane did not swell - my eye did pop out, that's weird. But I got pretty lucky that none of the organs got messed up.'

Renner has been open about his recovery - which could potentially last for years - in the wake of the horrifying January 1 accident.

More than 30 bones in Renner's body were broken in the January 1 accident that left him in 'critical condition' at first, ahead of multiple surgical procedures.

He was making a valiant attempt at protecting his nephew Alex from harm at the time of the incident, and said his initial thoughts were about his nephew's trauma witnessing the harrowing ordeal.

Renner said, 'I had to think about Alex's, because he was there during the entire time and he had to his uncle Jeremy on the ground - I did not see any of this stuff, but the blood and the thing and the eye, and all that stuff right? I had to see what his perspective was.'

Renner said he continued to take into account the feelings of his loved ones amid his critical health ordeal.

'It's pretty harrowing to take the time to really consider somebody else's perspective,' Renner said.

Kimmel shared an image of the A-list actor as he was hospitalized in critical condition in the wake of the accident. Renner said that it was 'probably' his mother who took the photo.

The Hawkeye star emerged with a cane in good spirits for the late night appearance, in which he said he was 'happy to be here'

The venerated actor opened up in-depth about the harrowing incident on the ABC show

The Academy Award-nominated star described the mechanics of the snow plow accident, noting how lucky he was that critical parts of his anatomy were spared as he was caught under the weight of the machine

Renner said of his broken bones, 'We kept discovering them, because they went from critical order of priority of one of my going to die for them or not?'

Renner's family was in attendance at the taping, as the actor noted, 'They've been at my side the entire time.'

Renner said that in the wake of the accident, he was on the ground for about 45 minutes, and remembers 'all of it' up until he was transported to a nearby hospital.

'Once I got into the helicopter to [go] the hospital, that's when they jammed some sort of emergency knife or whatever they do in your chest - I don't know, that's when I was like, I got to go to sleep,' he said.

Renner said he personally knew the local firefighters who were first responders in the incident, and overheard them saying they did the best they could, presuming the accident would be fatal.

'Yes, some people thought I was dead and was going to die,' he said. 'I'm like, "No, man. I'm trying to get out of the hospital as soon as I was in it." I'm like, "I'm out of here."'

Renner told Kimmel he was in two hospitals after he 'got kicked out of the first one' as he was unsettled while on heavy medication.

'I'm going back this week to apologize to everyone of those nurses,' Renner said. 'Yes, I'm going to apologize.'

Renner said he was overwhelmed speaking with friends about the accident, as it clued him in to how serious his condition was.

Kimmel shared an image of the A-list actor as he was hospitalized in critical condition in the wake of the accident

Renner said he continued to take into account the feelings of his loved ones amid his critical health ordeal

Renner's family was in attendance at the taping, as the actor noted, 'They've been at my side the entire time'

Renner said that in the wake of the accident, he was on the ground for about 45 minutes, and remembers 'all of it' up until he was transported to a nearby hospital

Renner said that he spoke with famous friends such as Chris Evans 'and the reaction was what made me feel like I think I really hurt myself, [that] I might not pull out of this'

'That's where I found out I think I was really messed up - like I think I really got injured,' Renner said. 'It was like, everybody is acting like it's an open casket and you are living through it. Like everybody is walking by.

'You are like, whoa - oh, yeah, everybody is giving me a reaction, I didn't know what to say.'

Renner said that he spoke with famous friends such as Chris Evans 'and the reaction was what made me feel like I think I really hurt myself, [that] I might not pull out of this.'

He joked, 'They are terrible actors, they could not hide the fact that I looked awful!'

He noted how his friend Paul Rudd made him a parody Cameo clip to cheer him up after the accident.

Over the weekend, Renner visited Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California with his family, posing for photos with relatives at the popular amusement park.

Renner captioned a picture on Instagram: 'Good Friday, made magic on the mountain with some of my amazing family! @sixflagsmagicmountain #thankyou.'

He was seen on the outing to Six Flags with his daughter Ava Berlin, 10. The actor kept a mobility scooter nearby to assist with his trek at the vast theme park.

Renner was smiling as he was pictured making his entrance to film Jimmy Kimmel Live in Hollywood on Monday. The Oscar-nominated actor is just more than three months removed from a neat-fatal snow plow accident that left him with severe injuries

The Marvel star was seen headed into the Hollywood, California studio for Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday as he looked to appear on the late night show

The Hawkeye star was clad in a stylish ensemble of a dark brown suede over a patterned button-down top with black slacks and black dress shoes

Over the weekend, he visited Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California with his family, posing for photos with relatives at the popular amusement park'

'It's spring break, and my daughter turned 10, and she got my niece and nephews and all of her cousins, I had to treat them to a nice time and to the roller coasters,' Renner told Kimmel of the trip, noting that he went on rides on the outing.

'I just live by the principle of if it hurts I will stop,' he said. 'But if it doesn't hurt, I'll try it. So I did everything that didn't and I had a great time - more importantly my daughter and all the kids did.'

Asked by Kimmel what the best thing to come out of the New Year's Day situation was, Renner joked that he realized his calendar was freed up for the rest of the year.

He joked, 'I was start making plans, I was making so many plans. I was going to buy a boat. I was going to live in Mexico. And all of these plans I was going to make, because my year was pretty jammed up until I got crushed, right?'

He added, 'And then also it was like a New Year's resolution, I did drop like 20 pounds - I quit smoking. It's easy! Easiest way to quit smoking! I'm telling you!'

In March, Renner took to social media to share that he had been progressing in his physical recovery from the accident, as he was seen walking on a treadmill on social media.

In addition to his appearance on Kimmel Monday, Renner is slated to walk the red carpet at the debut of his Disney+ show Rennervations on Tuesday.
Carrie Bickmore and Fifi Box are heading to Fiji for a fun holiday with their children.

The former Project stars and single BFFs were seen checking into Sydney Airport on Monday ahead of their flight.

Carrie dressed casually in a pink jumper, maroon coloured tights and black sneakers as she arrived to the airport with her son Oliver and daughters Evie and Adelaide.

She held a navy backpack and left her long blonde locks out as she waited in the line to check in ahead of boarding the plane.

Fifi looked stylish in a black crop top, tights and a denim jacket as walked alongside her daughter Daisy.

Carrie Bickmore and her best friend Fifi Box checked into Sydney Airport with their children on Monday ahead of a fun holiday to Fiji

Carrie dressed casually in a pink jumper, maroon coloured tights and black sneakers as she arrived to the airport with her son Oliver and daughters Evie and Adelaide

She completed her look with a pair of black slides, a straw hat and sunglasses as she held a bag full of her belongings.

The pair were seen standing alongside their luggage before getting ready to board the plane with their kids.

The trip comes three months after Carrie announced her split from her longtime partner Chris in January, saying the pair are focused on co-parenting their three children.

She had been in a relationship with Walker for 11 years.

She held a navy backpack and left her long blonde locks out as she waited in the line to check in ahead of boarding the plane

Fifi looked stylish in a black crop top, tights and a denim jacket as walked alongside her daughter Daisy

She completed her look with a pair of black slides, a straw hat and sunglasses as she held a bag full of her belongings

'It's with immense sadness that Chris and I have decided to separate,' she wrote in a statement on Instagram.

'While this is a tough time, our focus is on parenting, loving and supporting our three children Ollie, Evie and Addie with everything that we've got.

'They are doing great. We won't be making any further comment.'

Bickmore and Walker's love story captured the hearts of Australians.

Fifi went makeup free for the short flight and wore silver hoop earrings

The pair were seen standing alongside their luggage before getting ready to board the plane with their kids

Fifi held her youngest daughter and gave her a kiss as they waited in the line

The trip comes three months after Carrie announced her split from her longtime partner Chris in January, saying the pair are focused on co-parenting their three children

They met as colleagues on The Project - she was a presenter and he was a producer - and they began dating in late 2012, two years after she lost her husband Greg Lange, the father of her eldest child Ollie, 15, to brain cancer.

Despite his terminal diagnosis, Bickmore had married Lange in 2005 when she was just 25 years old.

After Lange died in 2010 at the age of 35, a widowed Bickmore started the charity Carrie's Beanies for Brain Cancer in his memory.

Two years later and Bickmore had found love again with Walker, who became a stepdad to Oliver, and with whom she later had, Evie, born in 2015, and Adelaide, born in 2018.

She had been in a relationship with Walker for 11 years
Just days after Taylor Swift broke up with her boyfriend Joe Alwyn after six years, Nick Cannon revealed he'd love to have his 13th child with her.

Cannon, 42, who shares 12 children with six different women, appeared on The Howard Stern Show on Monday, when the host asked if he was done having kids.

'Every time I answer this question I can never answer it correctly because I don't know,' adding one time he said he would, 'leave it in God's hands' which angered many religious people.

He added that he's, 'happy now with the dozen that I got' but Stern asked if he could have any woman to have a child with, who would it be.

Cannon laughed and said he couldn't do this, adding, 'I can see the headlines now,' but when Stern mentioned Taylor Swift, Cannon said, 'Absolutely. I'm in. Let's go.'

Break-up: Just days after Taylor Swift broke up with her boyfriend Joe Alwyn after six years, Nick Cannon revealed he'd love to have his 13th child with her

All-in: Cannon laughed and said he couldn't do this, adding, 'I can see the headlines now,' but when Stern mentioned Taylor Swift, Cannon said, 'Absolutely. I'm in. Let's go'

'That's the one. That... I'm all in,' Cannon added, as Stern's co-host Robin Quivers asked Cannon what it was about Swift that made him say that.

'First of all, she's an amazing songwriter and what I do love about Taylor Swift is the fact that she has been so open and vulnerable with all of her music since she was a young girl,' Cannon said.

He added, 'And, she's kinda like me. Me and Taylor's numbers are very similar when we're talking about being out here in these streets.'

'I think she would relate to me very well, based off of like... yo, you've dated a lot of people in the public eye, so have I, so we probably would really understand each other,' Cannon added.

Stern mentioned that it's been reported that she broke up with Joe Alwyn, and Cannon added, 'You know that I know that, Howard. You know my Spidey senses was tingling.'

Stern added he would love it if he had a baby with Taylor Swift, adding he thinks it would be 'fantastic.'

'Me too. I think that would be amazing,' Cannon admitted.

Back in 2016, Cannon was asked about Swift's feud with Kim Kardashian, and he said, 'I'm gonna go with Taylor, all day. That's an easy one.'

All-in: 'That's the one. That... I'm all in,' Cannon added, as Stern's co-host Robin Quivers asked Cannon what it was about Swift that made him say that

Vulnerable: 'First of all, she's an amazing songwriter and what I do love about Taylor Swift is the fact that she has been so open and vulnerable with all of her music since she was a young girl,' Cannon said

Numbers: He added, 'And, she's kinda like me. Me and Taylor's numbers are very similar when we're talking about being out here in these streets'

Spidey senses: Stern mentioned that it's been reported that she broke up with Joe Alwyn, and Cannon added, 'You know that I know that, Howard. You know my Spidey senses was tingling'

Cannon shares 11-year-old fraternal twins Monroe and Moroccan with ex-wife Mariah Carey, who he was married to from 2008 to 2014.

He shares son Golden Sagon, 6, daughter Powerful Queen, 2, and son Rise Messiah, 6 months, with Brittany Bell.

He also shares twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, 21 months, and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin, 4 months, with Abby de la Rosa

Cannon also shares son Legendary Love, 9 months, with Bre Tiesi, daughter Onyx Ice, 6 months, with LaNisha Cole and daughter Halo Marie, 3 months, with Alyssa Scott.

His son Zen with Alyssa Scott, Zen, passed away in December 2021 at just five months of age from a brain tumor.

Cannon recently clarified comments that he's a 'provider' to the six women who bore his children, adding he doesn't give them 'a monthly allowance' or a 'set amount' of money for them.

Cannon recently clarified statements that he's a 'provider' to his six baby mamas by admitting that he actually doesn't give any of them a 'monthly allowance' or 'set amount' of money for the children they share.

'I don't give myself that [guideline]. What they need, they get it. There's never been something that one of the mothers of my children has asked for and they didn't receive,' he clarified.

Father: Cannon shares 11-year-old fraternal twins Monroe and Moroccan with ex-wife Mariah Carey, who he was married to from 2008 to 2014
She recently opted for a boob job in a bid to 'get her confidence back' after having three children.

And Helen Flanagan showcased her surgically enhanced figure as she hit the beach on a recent family holiday in Dubai.

The former Coronation Street star, 32, stayed at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort with her children Matilda, seven, Delilah, four, and Charlie, two and seemingly her ex-fiance Scott Sinclair - after confirming they've reconciled.

Enjoying a day out at the beach, Helen looked sensational in a baby pink Moda Minx bikini that complemented her tanned complexion,

Her ample cleavage and toned stomach were on full display in the tiny two-piece as she strolled along the sand with Matilda and Charlie.

Stunning: She recently opted for a boob job to 'get her confidence back' and Helen Flanagan showcased her surgically enhanced figure as she hit the beach on a recent holiday in Dubai

Fun in the sun: Her ample cleavage and toned stomach were on full display in a tiny two-piece as she strolled along the sand with children Matilda and Charlie

Helen's middle child Delilah was not seen on the outing and was no doubt enjoying some quality time with dad Scott, who is said to have joined Helen in Dubai for a secret family getaway after their reconciliation.

Helen and Scott supposedly called it quits last year after she finished filming I'm A Celebrity All Stars in South Africa - although the pair never confirmed the rumours.

However, it hasn't been all plain-sailing on the Dubai getaway as the former I'm A Celebrity campmate revealed she's been arguing non-stop with her eldest child.

Helen admitted her relationship with Matilda has been temperamental of late, with the star admitting they've 'had a few fallouts'.

Last week, the TV personality told of her shock at how 'grown up' her girl now is, admitting that the 'change' in her has been 'just crazy'.

Detailing how she's been struggling with her daughter, Helen told the camera: 'We've come on holiday and the change in Matilda is just crazy she's so grown up now.

'We've had to make friends a few times, had a few fallouts - just looking at her in the corner she'll come to tell me off. Apparently I'm embarrassing, been told to go away a few times.

'I always call my kids baby - like come on baby and I've been told not to call them baby again and not to call her princess, I always call her princess.'

Family break: The former Coronation Street star, 32, stayed at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort with Matilda, seven, Delilah, four, and Charlie, two and seemingly her ex-fiance Scott Sinclair

Three's company: Helen's middle child Delilah was not seen on the outing and was no doubt enjoying some quality time with dad Scott, who is said to have joined Helen in Dubai

Gorgeous: Enjoying a day out at the beach, Helen looked sensational in a baby pink Moda Minx bikini that complemented her tanned complexion

Loving life: Helen frolicked on the beach with her children while topping up her tan

Sitting pretty: She chilled out by the shore as her children ran along playing on the sand

She went on to share how grown up her daughter is, with the youngster also pestering her throughout the 'whole holiday' to have a TikTok account while also being 'obsessed' with her 'phone'.

She said: 'And she's obsessed with her "phone". She's never had a phone. I'm not letting my seven-year-old have a phone. It's an iPod so she can FaceTime Scott's mum.'

The Rosie Webster actress went on to say her other daughter Delilah has been 'really good' barring a 'a few run-ins' after leaving her 'tantrum stage', while son Charlie has been 'beautiful' and full of 'proper little boy- pure boy energy.'

The holiday has provided the perfect excuse for Helen to showcase her new figure, however, after she underwent a breast augmentation and got lip fillers to help her feel more 'confident'.

In January, Helen said her decision to have a boob job was influenced by a reduction in her bust from an E cup to 'not filling a B cup bra' caused by breastfeeding.

She said in a vlog: 'Hi, so I wanted to pop on here. I'm actually really nervous about sharing this actually but I've had a boob job.

'I had it done on Thursday. Yeah, so I'm in recovery at the moment. I have been really nervous about sharing this, because you always get some, like, not very nice comments or what have you.

'But yeah, it's just something that I did for myself, I really wanted to do it for my confidence. I have been really nervous about sharing this.

'Obviously I very much am for body confidence, and very much for supporting other women, but supporting women in all choices that they decided to do.

Stunning: The holiday has provided the perfect excuse for Helen to showcase her new figure after she underwent a breast augmentation and got lip fillers to help her feel more 'confident'

Boosted: In January, Helen said her decision to have a boob job was influenced by a reduction in her bust from an E cup to 'not filling a B cup bra' caused by breastfeeding

Back on: Helen and Scott supposedly called it quits last year after she finished filming I'm A Celebrity All Stars in South Africa yet they are now back together and he joined them in Dubai

She continued: 'I think if something really is bothering you, then I think, you know, it's a good thing to do something about it.

'I'm on day two of recovery, I've literally... my friend just helped me wash my hair and dry it because you can't actually... you can't, you can't shower properly, you have to keep the wounds dry, I have this kind of like, support bra on, and you can't get it wet.

'So these Stories are probably going to be quite long so you might want to get yourself comfy, but I'm just going to talk about the whole thing, really.'

Helen confessed she decided on having the operation after becoming a mother to Delilah but waited until she'd welcomed Charlie, since she wanted to have another baby.
Amanda Holden has hit back at criticism of last year's Britain's Got Talent by insisting this series is full of much more 'home grown' talent.

The show was hit by accusations of being a fix last year, after a number of acts in the live shows were revealed to be professionals.

Comedian Axel Blake was crowned the winner of the 15th series, despite already having his own Amazon show, Axel Blake: I'm Not Gonna Lie.

Meanwhile, Loren Allred was awarded the coveted golden buzzer by Amanda, despite already reaching huge success as the voice behind The Greatest Showman hit Never Enough.

However, Amanda, 52, has defended the show, saying that the reason for so many professional acts last year was because they had struggled due to the pandemic.

'Home grown': Amanda Holden has hit back at criticism of last year's Britain's Got Talent by insisting this series is full of much more 'home grown' talent

Criticism: The show was hit by accusations of being a fix last year, after a number of acts in the live shows were revealed to be professionals (L-R) Ant McPartlin, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli, Declan Donnelly

She further insisted that this year, there were less professional acts and more 'amateurs'.

She said: 'It feels more home grown [this year]. It feels like stuff people would be doing in their bedrooms and less professionals this year, but the standard is still exceptionally high.

'Last year, we had a lot of people who had struggled professionally because of lockdown - a lot of people that needed to remind themselves and their audience that they could do it.

'It was great for us to give them that platform after what had been a very tough time for performers.

'But this year, I think it's evened out again and it's back to more amateur, home grown people queuing up and coming in.'

It comes after Declan Donnelly admitted he and his partner-in-crime Ant McPartlin pulled some pranks on the new judge Bruno Tonioli.

Fix: Comedian Axel Blake was crowned the winner of the 15th series, despite already having his own Amazon show, Axel Blake: I'm Not Gonna Lie

Professional: Meanwhile, Loren Allred was awarded the coveted golden buzzer by Amanda, despite already reaching huge success as the voice behind The Greatest Showman hit Never Enough

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 said: '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.

What a pair! It comes after Declan Donnelly admitted he and his partner-in-crime Ant McPartlin pulled some pranks on the new judge Bruno Tonioli

'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.'

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.
Pregnant Gogglebox star Ellie Warner showed off her blossoming baby bump in new snaps uploaded on Tuesday.

The hairdresser, 32, posed at a pal's baby shower in a pretty leopard print dress and looked happy and healthy.

Ellie first announced that she was expecting a baby with boyfriend Nat Eddleston in an episode of the show in December last year, in which she spoke about going for an ultrasound.

She looked great in the stylish number which showed off her changing shape and was teamed with chunky boots and sheer tights.

Ellie wore her blonde hair in loose waves, donned trendy glasses and opted for a bronzed makeup look.

Lovely: Pregnant Gogglebox star Ellie Warner showed off her blossoming baby bump in new snaps uploaded on Tuesday

Mother-to-be: The hairdresser, 32, posed at a pal's baby shower in a pretty leopard print dress and looked happy and healthy

She penned in the caption as she posed with her friend who was also expecting: 'Abbie's baby shower! Such a precious moment when our bambino's shared a little kick whilst bump to bump!'

Co-star and sister Izzi commented: 'Gorgeous' an two love hearts underneath the sweet snap.

It comes just weeks after Ellie revealed the gender of her little one during a recent episode of Gogglebox - sharing that she is expecting a baby boy.

The TV personality appears on the Channel 4 show with her sister Izzi, with the pair discussing the new arrival while filming.

Joined by Izzi's children Bessie and Bobby, Ellie explained that they were going to have a little male cousin - while prompting them to say hello to the bump.

'Bessie, what's in Ellie's tummy? What baby?,' Izzi asked her daughter during the show, who responded: 'A boy'.

Relaxing on the sofa, the expectant mum displayed her tummy by lifting up her sweatshirt to show the kids her bump - which was covered by leather-look leggings.

Izzi continued: 'Are you going to say "hello" to the baby boy? Go on, use your voice, say: "Hello, I'm Bessie."'

Happy: She penned in the caption as she posed with her friend who was also expecting: 'Abbie's baby shower! Such a precious moment when our bambino's shared a little kick whilst bump to bump!'

News: It comes just weeks after Ellie revealed the gender of her little one during a recent episode of Gogglebox - sharing that she is expecting a baby boy

While Ellie then told her niece: 'Do you know that the baby can hear you?'

The sisters were trying to get Bobby to introduce himself to the bump too, to which the youngster replied: 'No, not yet'.

Again confirming for the first time that it is a little boy, she said to him: 'Are you happy that you're going to have a boy cousin, Bobby?', to which he confirmed.

The hairdresser had excitedly unveiled her pregnancy on the last episode of the previous series just before Christmas, sweetly showing her sister a baby scan.

It's a family affair as Ellie's other sister Katie is also expecting a new arrival, with the pair over the moon that they can raise the little ones together.

Sharing a snap from her sister's baby shower last month, Ellie enthused: 'Fab day at our lovely Katie's baby shower today. Can't wait for our babies to grow up together.'

It came after Ellie and boyfriend of four years Nat recently took a trip to Paris, 10 months after a horror car crash that left him fighting for his life.

He suffered a broken neck and back, two collapsed lungs, and needed life support following the horror smash on March 18 last year.

Soon to be parents! Ellie first announced that she was expecting a baby with boyfriend Nat Eddleston in an episode of the show in December last year, in which she spoke about going for an ultrasound (pictured with Nat)

Milestones: At the start of the year, Ellie enjoyed a trip to Paris with Nat, 10 months after a horror crash left him fighting for his life

But just under a year later, the pair were back and better than ever - smiling under the Eiffel Tower.

Sharing the snaps with her 460K followers, Ellie wrote: 'Ellie and Nat in Paris'.

She then shared various selfies of the pair outside iconic sights in the city - including the Louvre and next to the Mona Lisa.

The pair bundled up in warm hats and coats as they faced the winter temperatures.
Big Brother star Skye Wheatley has revealed that she endured a hair-raising audition for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The 28-year-old influencer, who did not makes the cast this season, said she found her dry run for Channel 10's reality hit pretty tough going.

Skye says her audition included having bugs dumped all over her head while hanging in a cage suspended over jungle.

The blonde made the surprising admission while congratulating Domenica Carlarco, after the Married at Sight 'bride' announced she was heading into the jungle.

'Hahahaha dead,' Skye posted on Dom's Instagram.

Big Brother star Skye Wheatley (pictured) has revealed she endured a hair-raising audition for I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

The reality TV veteran and influencer made the surprising admission while congratulating Domenica Carlarco, after the Married at Sight 'bride' announced she was heading into the jungle. Pictured: Skye's comment's on Dom's post

The 28-year-old influencer, who did not makes the cast this season, said she found her dry run for Channel 10's reality hit pretty tough going (pictured)

'I did the trial version of this and they put me in a f*cking tank hanging over the jungle and dropped bugs over my head.

'And I tell you I COULD NOT COPE,' Skye gushed, 'I thought I would be okay I WAS NOT OK.'

Skye signed off by wishing Dom luck.

Rising to fame on Big Brother in 2014, Skye now lives in Queensland with her partner Lachlan Waugh and their two sons, Forest, three, and Bear, one.

Now a full-time influencer with 634,000 followers, Skye is known to enjoy life's luxuries.

Pictured: Domenica as she appears in the current season of I'm A Celeb

Earlier this month Skye sold her 'spare' Mercedes Benz for $75,000 to help pay for renovations on her Gold Coast mansion.

And the now the star has opted to rent a $300,000 black Mercedes-AMG GT to get around town.

The vehicle is one of the best in the business with it often compared to a Porsche with its sleek body and luxurious finishes.

Taking to Instagram, Skye also posted a photo of the renovation work currently being undertaken on the garage loft of the Gold Coast property she purchased in 2019.
Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh suffered a technical blunder while presenting Tuesday morning's installment of Good Morning Britain.

The presenting duo, 66 and 45, were talking with NHS Confederation Chief Executive Matthew Taylor for a segment about the current junior doctor strikes, when fans noticed the slip-up.

As Matthew shared his thoughts via a virtual appearance, the camera remained on his screen - with Ranvir and Richard not to be seen.

But despite not being on screen, the pair appeared to have left their microphones on and could be heard 'whispering' over the top of their guest.

While their exact words couldn't be made out, the moment didn't go unnoticed by fans - with some taking to Twitter to note the moment.

Awkward! Good Morning Britain suffered an embarrasing mic blunder on Tuesday as hosts Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh were caught 'whispering' off camera

Oops: The pair could accidentally be heard but not seen as they talked amongst themselves unkowingly

Ranvir questioned Matthew on what kind of wage rise that doctors should aim for, if they were to recieve one.

The camera then focused on him as he began to answer, but an off-screen Ranvir could be heard whispering to Richard through her microphone.

The inaudible conversation could be heard in the background of Matthew's answer, with Richard coughing and then replying back.

Taking to Twitter following the moment, one viewer questioned: 'What were they whispering about?'

While another added: 'Ranvir we can hear you whispering over the mic when people are talking'.

The awkward moment comes just a day after Ranvir was left speechless while presenting the show, as co-host Richard told an unsettling story.

The news anchor, covered her mouth as her co-star read a viewer message relating to the recent controversy surrounding disrespectful audiences in theatres.

Segment: The presenting duo were talking with NHS Confederation Chief Executive Matthew Taylor for a segment about the current junior doctor strikes, when fans noticed the slip-up

Apologising to audiences who might have had a mouthful of breakfast, he read: 'We were in the theatre and the woman behind us was drinking champagne like water with a rowdy man who was slugging lager after lager.

'Just before the intermission - I'm sorry about this if you're having your breakfast block your ears.

'The lady sicked up all over the person next to us and then the man joined them by vomiting right into my lap.'

He then joked: 'A great night out was had by all.'

A shocked Ranvir responded: 'At the theatre! It used to be this elitist thing. It's turned into something quite... it should be for everybody of course, I'm not saying it should be elitist.'

Richard chimed in: 'I suppose it's almost Shakespearean. There were riots at Shakespeare at his plays in the 16th century.'

But Ranvir warned: 'We don't want that, do we?'
It appears Netflix has another major hit on its hands, after its latest series Beef secured a perfect 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The ten-episode comedy series, which debuted on the streaming platform last Thursday, tells the story of two strangers who get involved in a road rage incident and the aftermath.

It stars Steven Yeun as Danny Cho, a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder, who goes head-to-head with Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a person living a far different, picturesque life as a self-made entrepreneur.

While the programme has been universally lauded by critics and fans alike, a perfect rating on the review-aggregation site is measured by each professional review and is often considered among the best films ever made.

So, as Beef makes the highly-coveted list, MailOnline rounds up the 10 most recent films with a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

One to watch: It appears Netflix has another major hit on its hands, after its latest series Beef secured a perfect 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes

The Disappearance of Shere Hite

Shere Hite, a German feminist and sex educator who was born in America, is the subject of the film, which is narrated by actress Dakota Johnson.

Nicole Newnham is the director of the documentary, which had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20.

Its IMDb description reads: 'Shere Hite's bestselling book The Hite Report liberated female orgasm by revealing most private experiences of thousands of anonymous surveys.

'Her findings rocked American establishment and current conversations about gender, sexuality.'

Wow! In The Disappearance of Shere Hite, a German feminist and sex educator who was born in America, is the subject of the film

All Dirt Roads Taste Of Salt

American drama All Dirt Roads Taste Of Salt is a 2023 movie that Raven Jackson both wrote and directed. Chris Chalk, Sheila Atim, Moses Ingram, and Charleen McClure are the main actors. Under his Pastel label, Barry Jenkins is a producer.

On January 22, 2023, it made its global debut in the U.S. Dramatic category at the Sundance Film Festival.

The movie follows a Black woman's development, loves, and heartbreaks in Mississippi from infancy until adulthood.

Spellbinding: American drama All Dirt Roads Taste Of Salt is a 2023 movie that Raven Jackson both wrote and directed

Cassandro

Roger Ross Williams is the director of the 2023 American biographical drama film, with Gael Garca Bernal, Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaqun Coso, Ral Castillo, El Hijo del Santo, and Bad Bunny among its cast members.

It had its world premiere on January 20, 2023 at the Sundance Film Festival, and is scheduled for release on Amazon Prime Video.

Sal Armendariz, a gay wrestler in the early 1980s, often travels from El Paso, Texas, to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to compete in lucha libre contests.

He competes as El Topo until he meets Sabrina, a new trainer, who advises him to wrestle as an exotico, which results in his new identity and rising fame as Cassandro.

Phenomenal: Roger Ross Williams is the director of the 2023 American biographical drama film, Cassandro

The Other Fellow

The lives of genuine men with the name James Bond from all across the world are examined in the 2022 British documentary drama.

The movie combines interviews with live action footage and scenes when its subjects are reenacted. Australian director Matthew Bauer wrote, produced, and directed the movie.

After interacting with hundreds of James Bond clones on social media and learning that many of them had unexpected and dramatic tales to offer, Matthew made the decision to make the film.

He spoke with almost a hundred James Bond actors before choosing the fifteen charactersfive of them were the key charactersthat appeared in the movie.

Surprise: The lives of genuine men with the name James Bond from all across the world are examined in the 2022 British documentary drama, The Other Fellow

Lotawana

The IMDb description for Lotawana reads: 'A monotonous life has pushed the unfulfilled Forrest (Todd Blubaugh) to a voyage of self-discovery by living aboard his sailboat on an alluring, Missouri lake.

'Soon he catches wind of the rebellious and free-spirited Everly (Nicola Collie) and their idealistic dreams align for a romantic adventure.

'Can they survive, reconnect with nature, and rewrite their own rules of modern existence, or will they discover that society operates the way it does for a reason?'

The 2022 picture was written and directed by Trevor Hawkins and stars Todd Blubaugh, Nicola Collie and Anita Cordell.

Incredible: Lotawana was written and directed by Trevor Hawkins and stars Todd Blubaugh, Nicola Collie and Anita Cordell

Belle Vie

The IMDb description for Belle Vie reads: 'A much loved Parisian-style bistro located in Los Angeles between a thriving McDonalds and KFC, Belle Vie is owned and operated by the charming and hopeful Vincent Samarco, who struggles to adapt, survive and keep the bistro alive in the midst of a pandemic that has ravaged small businesses everywhere.'

Cedric Nicolas, Ornella Samarco and Vincent Samarco lead the cast of the 2022 movie while Marcus Mizelle directs.

Talented: Cedric Nicolas, Ornella Samarco and Vincent Samarco lead the cast of Belle Vie while Marcus Mizelle directs

No Bears

The 2022 Iranian drama film depicts 'two parallel love stories in which the lovers struggle with hidden and unavoidable obstacles, the force of superstitions and the mechanics of power'.

Jafar Panahi is the writer, director, and producer of the covertly-shot film while Panahi, Naser Hashemi, Vahid Mobasri, Bakhtiar Panjei, and Mina Kavani star.

Without the filmmaker, who had been detained and given a 6-year prison sentence in Iran before to the film's release.

No Bears had its world premiere at the 79th Venice Film Festival without the director, had had been arrested and sentenced to six years in Iranian prison.

Sensational: The 2022 Iranian drama film No Bears depicts 'two parallel love stories in which the lovers struggle with hidden and unavoidable obstacles, the force of superstitions and the mechanics of power'

The Pez Outlaw

The IMDb description for The Pez Outlaw reads: 'Steve Glew spent the 1990s smuggling rare pez dispensers into the USA from Eastern Europe, making millions of dollars.

'It was all magical until his arch-nemesis, The Pezident decided to destroy him.'

Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel directed the 2022 film while Steve, Kathy and Josh Glew star.

Insightful: The IMDb description for The Pez Outlaw reads: 'Steve Glew spent the 1990s smuggling rare pez dispensers into the USA from Eastern Europe, making millions of dollars'

We Feed People

The 2022 American documentary, which was directed by Ron Howard, follows chef Jose Andres and his charity World Central Kitchen as they rebuild countries after natural disasters by feeding the displaced.

It made its international premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, and was distributed by National Geographic Documentary Films on March 19, 2022, in the United States, and on May 19, 2022, in Canada.

At the 74th Emmy Awards, the movie won praise from the critics and was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Good cause: The 2022 American documentary, We Feed People, follows chef Jose Andres and his charity World Central Kitchen as they rebuild countries after natural disasters by feeding the displaced

Is That Black Enough for You?!?

The 2022 documentary film 'tracks the history of Black cinema, focused mainly on the '70s, with archival and new interviews with many of the key players from the era'.

It includes recent interviews with Margaret Avery, Harry Belafonte, Charles Burnett, Laurence Fishburne, Whoopi Goldberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Suzanne de Passe, Glynn Turman, Billy Dee Williams, and Zendaya.

Is That Black Enough for You?!? premiered at the 60th New York Film Festival on October 9, 2022 before being released through Netflix on November 11, 2022.

Great watch: Is That Black Enough for You?!? premiered at the 60th New York Film Festival on October 9, 2022 before being released through Netflix on November 11, 2022
Jessica Tomlinson rose to fame as the rogue Bachelor star who sabotaged her ex-best friend Bronte Schofield's Married At First Sight wedding.

But it appears the 24-year-old FIFO worker, who appeared on Channel 10's doomed season of The Bachelors, isn't quite ready to give up her time in the spotlight.

On Tuesday, the brunette bombshell took to Instagram to showcase her incredible figure, uploading a gallery of bikini-clad photos from a recent overseas getaway.

'Uninterested. unavailable. unreachable,' she cheekily captioned the post.

In one close up photo, the Perth-based beauty flaunted her ample cleavage as she sat on the edge of a pool in a strappy beige bikini and G-string bottoms.

FIFO worker Jessica Tomlinson (right) rose to fame as the rogue Bachelor star who sabotaged her ex-best friend Bronte Schofield's Married At First Sight wedding. Both pictured

It appears the Bachelor star, 24, isn't quite ready to give up her time in the spotlight as she showed off her figure in a gallery of bikini-clad photos on Instagram on Tuesday

Another sees the busty babe flaunting her derriere while looking back at the camera.

Despite a stint on The Bachelors, Tomlinson made headlines back in January when she confronted Bronte on her wedding day to 'expose' her partner Harrison Boon.

Jess infamously pulled Bronte aside to let her know that Harrison had been secretly seeing her co-star right up until 24 hours before their wedding.

Another sees the busty babe flaunting her derriere while looking back at the camera

'Uninterested. unavailable. unreachable,' she cheekily captioned the post

Tomlinson then dropped a series of leaked voice notes after the wedding aired, that all but proved Bronte knew all about her groom's past weeks before filming began - and plotted with her friend to 'put on a show' for the cameras.

The audio files show that not only did Bronte know Harrison was going to be one of the grooms on MAFS beforehand - although she didn't know for sure she would be matched with him - but also prove she knew details about his alleged 'girlfriend'.

She used this intel to ramp up the drama on her wedding day by arranging for Jessica to 'break the news' of Harrison's other relationship to her at the couple's reception, then acting completely blindsided in front of the cameras.

In one voice note, Jess is heard warning Bronte about Harrison's '21-year-old girlfriend' - who has since been identified as Abby Miller - and Bronte responds by saying she is willing to 'play this up like crazy'.
BBC crime drama Blue Lights will reportedly be returning to screens for a second series.

The six-part TV series is currently airing on Monday nights on BBC One and has already been commissioned for another instalment, according to TV Zone.

It has been claimed that BBC bosses gave the green light for series two, but the broadcaster has not yet confirmed any news on a potential second series.

The BBC declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Blue Lights follows three rookie cops in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as they try to keep the peace in the post-Troubles era.

More to come: BBC crime drama Blue Lights will reportedly be returning to screens for a second series

Series two: The six-part TV series is currently airing on Monday nights on BBC One and has already been commissioned for another instalment, according to TV Zone

The new police drama has been written by the team behind Novichok drama The Salisbury Poisonings.

It stars Sherlock actress Sian Brooke as Grace, a single mother and ex-social worker who's decided to switch careers in mid-life to become a probationary cop.

The series sees probationary cop Grace frequently out of her depth and finding herself in unexpected danger.

Nathan Braniff also stars as rookie Tommy while Katherine Devlin plays Annie, and their Belfast station is a buzzing hub where the newbies get both pranked and helped by their peers, as well as told off by their superiors.

They appear alongside Game Of Thrones's Richard Dormer as experienced policeman Gerry, who partners with under-confident Tommy.

The Fall's John Lynch plays their adversary James McIntyre, an organised crime gang leader who's recruiting local lads, which provides the central storyline of the six episodes.

The show was filmed in Belfast and actor Nathan recently told the BBC of filming in the location: 'I've lived in Belfast for most of my life and that was the main draw for me.

'First of all that a show like this was being made in Belfast. There have been other police dramas set in Northern Ireland but they haven't focused on what makes policing in Northern Ireland so different.'

The debut episode aired on BBC One at the end of March but viewers couldn't help but notice a glaring blunder on the show.

At the end of the first episode, Grace offers one woman, Angela, a lift home in her Audi - however viewers quickly spotted the steering wheel was from a Skoda.

Many of those watching couldn't help but spot the mistake and took to Twitter, with one writing: 'How can you get the vehicle exterior and interior shots so wrong? Discovery/Freeland and then Audi/Skoda.'

Another commented: 'So picked up in an Audi. Which turns out to be a Skoda on the drop off...tv bloopers at its best.'

A third added: 'I maybe wrong but Grace is not driving an Audi...look again.'

Crime drama: The show stars Sherlock actress Sian Brooke as Grace, a single mother and ex-social worker who's decided to switch careers in mid-life to become a probationary cop

Oh dear! The debut episode aired on BBC One at the end of March but viewers couldn't help but notice a glaring blunder on the show

Oops! At the end of the first episode, Grace offers one woman, Angela, a lift home in her Audi - however viewers quickly spotted the steering wheel was from a Skoda

A fourth wrote: 'Towards the end, one minute it's an Audi in the rain, next minute they're in a Skoda, then when you see it drive off, it's an Audi again!

'That was a second rate afternoon show at best. Not good.'

During the first episode, Grace tries to help Angela, whose son is very familiar with a gang after he crashed a stolen car that belonged to gang leader James.

Despite warnings from her colleagues that Angela is trying to lure her into a false sense of security, Grace is determined to help her and ends up offering her a lift home.

Blue Lights continues on Mondays at 9pm on BBC One.
She'll be tasked with facing her fears alongside seven other stars.

And Scarlett Moffatt has admitted that she is most worried about trying to shower while in pitch black conditions, ahead of Channel 4's gruelling new reality series Scared of the Dark.

Speaking ahead of the new series, which begins on April 16, the former Gogglebox star, 32, admitted she has stocked up on dry shampoo and deodorant in case she can't brave washing in darkness.

Asked how she's going to handle hair and makeup in the darkness, Scarlett said: 'Well, I've brought dry shampoo. So hopefully, I'm using dry shampoo and not deodorant.

'I'll give it the old sniff test to double check. Do you know what I'd like to think? 'Oh, I'll still put a bit of bronzer on and that.'

Insight: Scarlett Moffatt has admitted that she is most worried about trying to shower while in pitch black conditions, ahead of Channel 4's gruelling new reality series Scared Of The Dark

Not so glam! The Gogglebox star, who has since revealed her pregnancy, admitted she has stocked up on dry shampoo and deodorant in case she can't brave washing in darkness

'Even though it's in the dark, you're still on telly and that. But It's going to be next to impossible to do anything. I'm very, very excited to just rough it.

'I'll definitely brush my teeth, but the shower scenario is a bit scary. I'm so clumsy. Do you know what I mean? I know my own house and my own bath and shower, and I still slip and slide.

'Maybe, I don't know, by day four, I'll give it a go or something. Basically, everybody will be able to smell me coming. They'll be like, ''There she is.'''

Detailing why she decided to sign up for the show, Scarlett added: 'To be honest, all of my career in this mad industry has been made up of fun and quirky opportunities.

'Whether it's going to Namibia, or doing I'm a Celeb, or watching the TV with my family, it's all been a little bit outside the box.

'So I think, whenever I get given an opportunity I just grab it with both hands, because I think, ''Who else is ever going to get to do this?'' Do you know what I mean? So I always just go, ''Yeah, of course. Yeah.'''

In February, Scarlett announced she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Scott Dobinson, with the couple set to welcome a son this summer.

Scarlett will join Chris Eubank, Paul Gascoigne, Chris McCausland, Donna Preston, Chloe Burrows, Max George and Nicola Adams on the show, which will be hosted by Danny Dyer.

New show: Scarlett will join Chris Eubank, Paul Gascoigne, Chris McCausland, Donna Preston, Chloe Burrows, Max George and Nicola Adams on the show

To prove their mettle, each of the celebrities will take on a series of challenges designed to test either their primal fear of total darkness or their ability to function in the pitch black.

Those that fail at their challenges will have to take on herculean tasks to save their place on the show.

Each celebrity will be motivated to conquer their fears because at the end only one will step out into the light as series winner.

Scared Of The Dark starts on April 16 at 9pm on Channel 4.
Myleene Klass cut a chic figure as she arrived for work at Classic FM on Tuesday.

The television personality and radio host, 45, donned a white trouser suit and ab-flashing black crop top from her Next range as she strolled into the Smooth studios.

Myleene added a cap and a stylish bum bag to the ensemble, accessorising with a pair of large black sunglasses.

She wore her brunette tresses in a loose straightened style, also opting for a pair of large silver hoops.

The star complemented the glamorous outfit with a pair of chunky black heels.

Glam: Myleene Klass cut a chic figure in a white trouser suit with an ab-flashing black crop top as she arrived for work at Classic FM in London on Tuesday

Stylish: Myleene added a cap and a stylish bum bag to the ensemble, accessorising with a pair of large black sunglasses

Myleene was all smiles and looked glowing as she made her way through the sunny streets of London.

It comes after it was reported that Myleene will recreate her iconic I'm A Celebrity shower scene in the All Stars spin-off show.

The former pop star famously set pulses racing in 2006 by sporting a white two-piece in the outside shower.

Now, it has been reported that she will be revisiting the look as she joins the South Africa show as a latecomer.

Speaking to The Sun, a source said: 'Myleene couldn't wait to have her moment again and bring out the white bikini.

'She knows the impact it had last time and wanted to do a cheeky nod to it.

'She's proud of her body 16 years on from the original show and wants to show women they can be body confident and strong in their 40s.'

The source added that Myleene will allegedly be launching a Next swimwear range as the show airs so that fans can recreate the iconic look.

Looking good: She wore her brunette tresses in a loose straightened style, also opting for a pair of large silver hoops

Looking good: The star complemented the glamorous outfit with a pair of chunky black heels and was all smiles and looked glowing as she made her way through London

Myleene has become synonymous with white bikinis ever since her appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here 18 years ago.

The nation's attention was grabbed when the star went for a shower in the jungle while sporting a tiny two-piece, which showcased her incredible frame.

The famous tiny white bikini was auctioned for charity for 7,500 and Myleene later revealed it was a last-minute purchase.

She explained she had spent just 20 on the skimpy two-piece after producers informed her the striped number she had originally packed would not look good on film.

Back in 2020, she reflected on the swimwear that helped to make her a household name on I'm A Celebrity.

She penned: 'It feels like I was in the jungle only yesterday! Every time I see this pic pop up, I can't believe how fate handled it all.

'I remember one of the shows producers looking at my bikinis in the hotel before I went to camp.

'One was covered in stripes. ''We'll have to stop at the shops as that's probably going to strobe on camera''.

'I ran into the shop en route to the jungle, asked the shop assistant for the plainest bikini she had. Best $40 I ever spent....especially as it raised so much for charity.'

Iconic: It comes after it was reported Myleene will reportedly recreate her iconic I'm A Celebrity shower scene in the All Stars spin-off show (pictured in 2006)

Since her appearance, a slew of female stars have tried to recreate her iconic shower scenes during their time in camp.

Myleene ultimately finished in second place, behind Matt Willis, and is heavily tipped to be one of the surprise latecomers to the All Stars camp, alongside Georgia Toffolo and Joe Swash.

Icon Gillian McKeith - who was renowned for her dramatic fainting scene - Dean Gaffney and Andrew Whyment could also be among those making a return on the South Africa show.

They will allegedly join previously announced stars Helen Flanagan, Carol Vorderman, Amir Khan, Janice Dickinson, Paul Burrell, Jordan Banjo, Shaun Ryder, Fatima Whitbread and Phil Tufnell.
Cat Deeley has revealed she was so 'uninvolved' in planning her wedding with Patrick Kielty that she didn't even visit the venue before the big day.

The couple shocked fans when it emerged in September 2012 that they secretly tied the knot in Rome with just close family and friends present.

And 11 years on from their intimate ceremony, Cat - who divorced her first husband, businessman Mark Whelan, in 2006 - revealed that she let Patrick take the lead with planning.

Speaking to Closer magazine, the 46-year-old revealed she wouldn't be taking part in the current trend of flashy celebrity vow renewals, scoffing: I barely even did my own wedding!

'Patrick went and tried the food and did all that, I never even saw the place where I got married before I got married, that's how uninvolved I was.'

Not impressed: Cat Deeley has revealed she was so 'uninvolved' in planning her wedding with Patrick Kielty that she didn't even visit the venue before the big day (pictured at Ant McPartlin and Anne-Marie Corbett's wedding in 2021)

Explaining that her only goal was to have their loved ones by their side and that everyone had a good time, she mused: 'I'm quite lucky I get to dress up and have really special occasions all the time, so to me that wasn't the most exciting thing to happen.'

Cat and Patrick first met when they hosted TV talent show Fame Academy in 2002.

The couple went public with their romance in May 2012 and just four months later it emerged they'd tied the knot.

They have two sons: Milo, six, and James, four, and the family moved back to London at the beginning of the pandemic after living in America for 15 years.

Cat previously revealed that she bought her wedding dress before she even met Patrick.

She confessed during an appearance on Lorraine: 'Mine is in the cupboard somewhere but I'd actually already got my dress before...

'It wasn't because I was feeling lucky, I promise! It was a couture dress from Alexander McQueen - a shift white dress,

'It was so beautiful that I just couldn't not buy it and I hadn't even met Paddy at that stage.

'I literally put it in my cupboard and I was like I'll wear it to something... I'll wear it to some awards. There you go!'

Laidback: 11 years on from their intimate ceremony, Cat - who divorced her first husband, businessman Mark Whelan, in 2006 - revealed that she let Patrick take the lead with planning

Despite enthusing about how gorgeous the gown was, Cat has kept her wedding photos under wraps and never released snaps from the special day.

Speaking to the Made By Mammas podcast in 2020 Cat revealed Paddy 'knocked her socks off' while they were dating.

She said: 'It was my birthday and hed rung me, he was at a pub in Ireland and hed rung me from the pub.

'Bear in mind it was probably about 2 oclock in the morning because theyd had a lock-in.'

When Cat told him she was having a birthday brunch at Beverly Hills Hotel with a few friends, she said: 'He said, "Ill see you there!" I was like, theres no way!

'He went home, set his alarm for five, got up, went to the airport, flew from Belfast to London, then jumped on the first plane from London to LA, got in a cab, told the cabbie on his way from the airport what he was doing, and the driver was literally like "do you want me to wait for you?!"'

'He walked in, dropped his bags at the concierge, walked in and came and sat down for lunch! It knocked my socks off a little bit!'
Stephanie Davis looked every inch the doting mother as she left a business meeting in Manchester with son Caben on Tuesday.

The actress, 29, plumped for a stylish white blouse as she strolled through the Northern city.

Stephanie, who stars in Hollyoaks, paired the look with a denim midi skirt and nude heels, adding inches to her height.

She wore her long blonde locks in an elegant straightened style as she enjoyed her day out with her son.

The beauty, who accessorised with a pair of silver earrings, was all smiles and held Caben's hand as they walked together.

Doting mother: Stephanie Davis looked every inch the doting mother in a white blouse and denim skirt as she left a business meeting in Manchester with son Caben on Tuesday

The star, who shares Caben, six, with ex Jeremy McConnell, is currently dating Joseph McKalroy.

It comes after Stephanie shared a slew of sweet family throwback snaps to Instagram in January ahead of her son's birthday.

The actress also posted clips from the special moment she gave birth to Caben.

The Hollyoaks star also included boyfriend Joseph in the montage, whom she went public with a year ago.

The mother-of-one, who starred as Sinead Shelby in the Channel 4 soap from 2010 to 2015 before dramatically returning in 2018, penned a lengthy caption alongside the adorable video.

Stephanie wrote: 'My last night with you being 5! This time 6 years ago I was getting ready to bring you into the world! I used to sing youll be in my heart to Caben through my tummy every night when I was pregnant.

'The odds were against us and we had a tough start, we walked out that hospital together just you and me and fought through everything Together. Together we created an Unbreakable bond and a beautiful life.'

She continued: 'I remember grabbing the midwifes arm and you can see it in this video of me just wanting her to tell me its ok, its alright now. You are wise beyond your years, you are the most intelligent, funny & inquisitive little boy with 1 million questions a day.

Glam: She wore her long blonde locks in an elegant straightened style as she enjoyed her day out with her son

'Id be lost without you, you're my reason': It comes after Stephanie shared a slew of sweet family throwback snaps to Instagram in January ahead of her son's birthday

'You are only going to be 6 yet you show me how to be a better person on a daily basis. At Christmas I said are you excited for your presents and your replied mummy its not about whats under the tree its whos around it . You blow me away every day and I cant believe your mine.

'There is never a dull day with you, I mean how can there be when you dont stop from the moment you get up till midnight he moment you go to sleep, your a whirl wind full of fun.'

Stephanie added sweet snaps of Caben as a baby giving her cuddles and a kiss as she admitted she'd be 'lost' without him.

She continued: 'Your an empath, you love so hard and care so deeply for people. Whenever you see someone homeless you stop and give them something your always making sure everyone is included & cared for. I am in awe of your little mind and them beautiful blue eyes.

'I cant believe Im now going to be saying I have a 6 year old. Your my best friend and bring us so much joy!!

'I hope you have the best time tomorrow with your best mates & a beautiful day Saturday filled with family to celebrate YOU! Id be lost without you, your my reason.

'I was a young 23 year old in that video and Nanna Mary was also there sat up on the chair all night with nanny and I know shes smiling down on you today.

'My world, my Son xx Thank you god for bringing Caben to me. I love you.'

Sweet: The actress posted clips from the special moment she gave birth to Caben and penned a lengthy caption about him

Stephanie shares son Caben with her ex Jeremy.

They embarked on a turbulent relationship during their time on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2016.

Their on/off relationship resulted in public spats, domestic violence and a consequential three-year restraining order.

Jeremy was charged for domestic violence in August 2017 after being accused of assaulting Stephanie in a drug-fuelled row, and was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and 200 hours community service.
Alan Fletcher touched on his journey with alopecia areata during an appearance on Loose Women on Tuesday.

The Neighbours actor, 66, explained that he lost all of his hair, including eyebrow hairs and eyelashes, to the disease back in 2022.

And sharing his joy at the positive work of medication, the star showed off his head of hair and beard regrowth during the show.

He is known for portraying Karl Kennedy on the Australian soap since 1994, and was one of the first cast-members confirmed for the new series.

Talking with the Loose Women panel on his hair journey this week, Alan shared: 'Last February it started, patchy hair loss, I lost everything, eyebrows, eyelashes.

Journey: Neighbours' Alan Fletcher detailed his year-long battle with alopecia on Tueday as he shared hair growth journey after losing 'everything' to the disease (pictured left this week, right in May 2022)

On screen: The actor, now 66, has played Karl Kennedy on the Australian soap since 1994 (pictured)

'My physician thinks it's probably a virus and it started attacking my own hair. However, Im pleased to say Ive got a fair bit of it back [takes off his hat to show longer hair] audience applauses.'

He added: 'He's treating me with some medications which help surpress the immune system, I believe it is under review in the UK now so hopefully will be available for treatment here soon.'

Alan has also kept fans updaded on his hair journey via Instagram, sharing a picture from a barbershop back in February as he got a beard trim for the first time in a while.

'After losing all my hair to #alopecia 12 months ago, lovely to be back at the barber for a beard trim in #dublin. Thanks #mario. Perfetto!'

Alopecia areata  a patchy version of alopecia  is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system causes hair to fall out.

It can affect hair on any part of the body and can happen to anyone at any age  it can be triggered by stress.

It comes after Alan recently revealed that he once nearly died while filming Neighbours.

Talking during an appearance on Saturday Night With Hayley Palmer, he told the presenter how his character had been attempting to rescue his fiancee Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte), when things went south.

Sharing; Talking with the Loose Women panel on his hair journey this week, Alan shared: 'Last February it started, patchy hair loss, I lost everything, eyebrows, eyelashes'

Update: Alan has also kept fans updaded on his hair journey via Instagram, sharing a picture from a barbershop back in February as he got a beard trim

WHAT IS ALOPECIA AREATA? Alopecia areata  a patchy version of alopecia  is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system causes hair to fall out. It can affect hair on any part of the body and can happen to anyone at any age  it can be triggered by stress. The hair usually begins to fall out in patches and leave bald, smooth areas. It is not possible for doctors to predict how much hair someone will lose, nor can they tell if the hair will ever grow back. Alopecia areata cannot be cured but if only patches of hair are lost there is an approximately 60 to 80 per cent chance of it growing back within a year. However, there is no guarantee it will grow back and doctors cannot predict whether it will, nor how much hair will be lost. If hair does grow back, it can take months or years and usually starts as sparse white hairs in the bald patches which can eventually thicken and regain their colour. Regrowth is less likely if all someone's hair falls out. Source: British Skin Foundation Advertisement

Talking about the ordeal, Alan claimed he only survived the near-death-experience after a speedboat came to his rescue.

He went on to tell viewers he collapsed a week later due to 'delayed shock', but has lived on to tell the tale.

The Perth-native said: 'This was a terrifying incident, Karl proposed to Izzy... she got so excited she pitched into the water.

'After they fished her out, I had to dive in to try and rescue her, obviously in a fictional way, but I forgot to take my shoes off so they filled up with water and every time I went down I thought, "Gee, am I gonna come up again?

'The third time I went down, I thought, "I don't know if I am gonna come up," so I got a bit flustered, put my hand up in the air and the speedboat had to rush out and rescue me.

'A week later, I actually collapsed from a delayed shock to the body, it was very weird.'

It was recently revealed Neighbours would be making a return to the small screen, less than a year after its 'final ever episode' ended on a high in July.

And it's since been announced that filming dates for a new batch of episodes will begin on April 17 at Nunawading Studios in Melbourne.

Veteran cast members revealed the news on stage during their final show of their 'Neighbours  The Celebration Tour' at the London Palladium.

Alan, Jackie Woodburne, Stefan Dennis, Ryan Moloney, Annie Jones, and April Rose Pengilly have all been confirmed to a return to the series after it had originally ended last year.

The reboot is expected to premiere in Spring on Amazon Freevee in the UK.

According to TV Blackbox, the new storylines are set a few years after the finale.

No specific amount of episodes have been ordered and there is still uncertainty whether the same locations from the original series will be used for the reboot.
Jennifer Garner looked cheerful as she rocked five timeless looks while making the rounds in New York City on Tuesday.

The actress, 50, who revealed she won't let her kids have social media accounts, first stepped out first in a chic, form fitting ensemble consisting of a simple white button down blouse, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, a pink skirt and lavender pumps.

The Party Down star styled her chestnut bob straight and appeared to be wearing natural looking makeup a neutral pink lip and she accessorized with two stacked gold necklaces and a gold bangle.

Later in the morning, Jennifer rocked a sleek two-piece white suit with cuffed pants.

The Adam Project actress wore a taupe camisole beneath the single button jacket.

Classics: Jennifer Garner, 50, rocked five timeless looks while making the rounds in New York City on Tuesday to promote her latest project, The Last Thing He Told Me, which debuts on Apple TV+ Friday

Looking good! For her appearance on the today show, she showed off her toned arms and legs in a sparking off-the-shoulder dress, before switching into a cool tweed mini dress

Burgundy pumps with a gold embellishment added a pop of color and the look was accessorized with a platinum toned necklace and hoop earrings.

The Emmy nominee carried a pen with her, and signed autographs to the delight of waiting fans.

For a third appearance Jennifer rocked a brown sugar toned long sleeve sweater tucked into a brown A-line ankle length skirt with pocket and a matching belt.

The Yes Day star accessorized that look with simple but stunning diamond star earrings, and added dark sunglasses as she stepped out into the street.

She changed into her most glamorous look yet ahead of her appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

Jennifer had on a sleek black off-the-shoulder dress that highlighted her toned arms and legs.

The look was covered in shimmering sequins, and it hugged her enviable curves.

She completed the outfit by elevating her stature with classic black pumps.

While at The Late Show, the beauty posted on her Instagram stories talking about how she would be taking over the show's Instagram that night.

Jennifer smiled at the camera and made sure to joke around about how she wasn't sure exactly what she was taking over.

The star penned on the video: 'It's the stories! That's what I'm taking over,' to clarify for her fans and fans of the show.

First stop: Jennifer's first stop of the day was Today, where she chatted with Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie about her new series

Lobbied: The actress revealed she lobbied for the part of Hannah after Julia Roberts became unavailable. 'I put my kids to be, I brewed up some coffee and I stayed up all night writing impassioned letters about "I don't do this very often, but I really feel called to play this role"'

Book: Jennifer said the book by Laura Dave drew her to the project. 'Laura Dave's writing is propulsive, it's exciting and it's very human at the center,' she explained

Suspense: Regarding the suspense in the book, the star said, 'At the end of every couple of chapters, she (author Laura Dave) turns everything on a dime and you kind of go "what just happened?' and the series, I hope, makes good on that promise'

Relationship: The mother of three, who shares kids Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14 and Sam, 11 with ex-husband Ben Affleck, 50, was also drawn to the main relationship in the story about a woman who must protect her step-daughter after her husband mysteriously disappears

Family: 'It's a love story between... a woman becoming a mother and a child becoming a step-daughter and how you can find family no matter what... They're adversarial in the beginning and they become true partners in crime'

Cook: The actress who often shares recipes with fans on her Pretend Cooking Show shared her source of inspiration. 'I'm such a fan of Ina Garten and and so I really did think, "Oh, this is fun. I want to do what she does"

Happy gal: The star announced on her Instagram stories that she would be doing a Colbert Show social media takeover

Takeover: Jennifer smiled at the camera and made sure to joke around about how she wasn't sure exactly what she was doing

Big smiles: She then penned over the video that she was going to be on the Instagram stories to clarify for her fans and fans of the show

She looked classy and chic after the taping when she emerged from the studio in a striking black-and-white tweed mini dress with red accents hidden in its busy pattern.

She wore the look atop a white blouse, and her thick white cuffs stuck out from her sleeves.

She covered her legs in black pantyhose and looked chic with pointy-toed black leather boots that reached up just above her ankles.

Jennifer has been busily promoting her latest project, The Last Thing He Told Me, which debuts on Apple TV+ Friday. In addition to starring in it, the versatile star is also an executive producer on the series.

The series was a passion project for the versatile actress and she told Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb on Today, she lobbied for the role of Hannah after Julia Roberts dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.

'I put my kids to bed, I brewed up some coffee and I stayed up all night writing impassioned letters about "I don't do this very often, but I really feel called to play this role. I love it so much and here's why."'

Jennifer said it was the book that first attracted her the to the project.

'Laura Dave's writing is propulsive, it's exciting and it's very human at the center,' she explained.

'At the end of every couple of chapters, she turns everything on a dime and you kind of go "what just happened?' and the series, I hope, makes good on that promise.'

The mother of three, who shares kids Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14 and Sam, 11 with ex-husband Ben Affleck, 50, was also drawn to the main relationship in the story about a woman who must protect her step-daughter after her husband mysteriously disappears.

'It's really a story about motherhood.'

Final outing: She changed into her most glamorous look yet ahead of her appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Back in black: Jennifer had on a sleek black off-the-shoulder dress that highlighted her toned arms and legs. The look was covered in shimmering sequins, and it hugged her enviable curves

Standing tall: She completed the outfit by elevating her stature with classic black pumps.

Stunner: She looked classy and chic after the taping when she emerged from the studio in a striking black-and-white tweed mini dress with red accents hidden in its busy pattern. She wore the look atop a white blouse, and her thick white cuffs stuck out from her sleeves

Legs for days: She covered her legs in black pantyhose and looked chic with pointy-toed black leather boots that reached up just above her ankles

'It's a love story between... a woman becoming a mother and a child becoming a step-daughter and how you can find family no matter what... They're adversarial in the beginning and they become true partners in crime.'

Before leaving, Hoda and Savannah gave Jennifer a parting gift, an apron from Today food and an invitation to come back and share a recipe from her popular Pretend Cooking Show on Instagram.

The Llama Llama voice actress contended she's 'not a good cook... but I do love to do it and I do love to celebrate recipes that I love that I feel like other people might like out there.'

'I'm such a fan of Ina Garten and and so I really did think, "Oh, this is fun. I want to do what she does."'

Jennifer later attended a special screening of her new Apple TV+ limited series The Last Thing He Told Me in New York City where she teamed up with her former Alias co-star Ron Rifkin, 83.

Special screening: Jennifer later attended a special screening of her new Apple TV+ limited series The Last Thing He Told Me in New York City

Together again: The actress teamed up with her former Alias co-star Ron Rifkin at the event
Rachel Weisz cut a stylish figure as she hit the red carpet at a special screening of her new Prime Video series Dead Ringers at BFI Southbank in London on Tuesday.

The actress, 53, stunned in a chic purple velvet suit which boasted dramatic shoulder pads and prominent lapels.

Rachel completed the ensemble with matching trousers and added height to her frame with black peep-toed platforms.

She styled her long brunette locks into loose waves and accentuated her features with a light dusting of make-up.

The six-episode miniseries is a gender-swapped adaptation of director David Cronenberg's 1988 psychological thriller of the same name, which starred Jeremy Irons as twin gynaecologists operating a infertility clinic.

Stylish: Rachel Weisz, 53, cut a stylish figure as she hit the red carpet at a special screening of her new Prime Video series Dead Ringers at BFI Southbank in London on Tuesday

Effortless: The actress stunned in a chic purple velvet suit which boasted dramatic shoulder pads and prominent lapels

Double take: The six-episode mini series is a gender-swapped adaptation of director David Cronenberg's 1988 psychological thriller of the same name, which starred Jeremy Irons as twin gynaecologists operating a infertility clinic

It comes after the actress, who shares a daughter with husband Daniel Craig, revealed she was 'obsessed' with the original movie and that it was she who brought the idea of a female-led remake to Amazon.

Amazon first announced the project in August 2020, giving it a straight-to-series order, with production beginning in August 2021.

Set in New York, Weisz plays both Elliot and Beverly Mantle, twins who share everything: drugs, lovers and an unapologetic desire to do whatever it takes.

They team up to push the boundaries of medical ethics -in an effort to challenge antiquated practices and bring women's health care to the forefront.

The key to the plot is the relationship between them, she explained.

She said: 'Beverly is altruistic, thoughtful, careful, and kind. She wants to change the way women give birth.

'Elliot is very, very different. She's not altruistic and she's pushing the boundaries of what's ethical.'

'It's quite deliciously mischievous at times. Emotional. Moving. And there is some humour, also  darkly, darkly humorous,' Weisz told the Hollywood Reporter.

Girl power: Rachel completed the ensemble with matching trousers and added height to her frame with black peep-toed platforms (L-R) Show runner Alice Birch, Rachel Weisz and co-star Britne Oldford

Beaming: Rachel (centre) couldn't wipe the smile off her face ahead of the screening

Host: Edith Bowman (far left) hosted the event in central London

And they've never spent a day apart - leading showrunner/writer Alice Birch to say that the series is a 'twisted, darkly comedic thriller about these two dangerously co-dependent twins who are obsessed with each other.

'It's a very intense relationship. They love each other very deeply, but I think they kind of feel everything about each other very deeply, and that takes us to more of a dangerous co-dependent place.'

Dead Ringers is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Annapurna Television, with series creator Alice Birch serving as the series showrunner and executive producer.

Original: The 1988 movie on which the Amazon Prime series is based starred Jeremy Irons as twin gynecologists, pictured here with co-star Genevieve Bujold in a scene from the film

With her telling the publication: 'It's a very intense relationship. They love each other very deeply, but I think they kind of feel everything about each other very deeply, and that takes us to more of a dangerous co-dependent place.'

The original David Cronenberg film was adapted from the 1977 novel Twins by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland, which was loosely based on the true story of twin gynaecologists Stewart and Cyril Marcus.

They were both found dead in July 1975 in separate rooms of Cyril's Manhattan apartment at just 45 years of age, with Stewart dying of a barbiturate overdose and Cyril suspected of possibly taking his own life in a suicide pact after finding his brother dead.
Chyna Mills and fiance Neil Jones were seen for the first time since announcing their engagement and pregnancy earlier this month.

The Love Island star, 24, was spotted meeting her beau, 40, following Strictly tour rehearsals in rainy London on Tuesday.

Chyna, who went official with the dancer in August, cut a causal figure for the outing and disguised her growing bump beneath an oversized black hoodie.

She also donned blue jeans and kept warm with a Burberry mackintosh that featured the brand's famous plaid lining.

The former reality star slipped her feet into comfy white trainers and opted for a natural make-up look while wearing her hair in braids.

Cute couple: Chyna Mills, 24, and fiance Neil Jones, 40, were seen for the first time since announcing their engagement and pregnancy as they stepped out in London on Tuesday

Expecting: Chyna, who went official with the dancer in August , cut a causal figure for the outing and disguised her growing bump beneath an oversized black hoodie

Meanwhile Neil rocked a Rolling Stones sweater and black jeans following his intense nine hours of training.

Ever the gentleman he held an umbrella above his bride-to-be as they headed off together looking happier than ever.

It comes after Neil's ex-wife Katya Jones responded to the news the couple are expecting a baby together.

The couple revealed Chyna is currently 13 weeks pregnant and are set to welcome their newborn in the autumn.

Katya, 33, who still works alongside Neil as a professional on BBC ballroom dance contest Strictly, married Neil in 2013 before they split in 2019.

And she shared some kind words for her former flame and Chyna after they announced their happy news on Sunday.

Television personality Chyna took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of the pair to reveal she was pregnant.

Sweet: Ever the gentleman he held an umbrella above his bride-to-be as they headed off together looking happier than ever

Fashion: Neil rocked a Rolling Stones sweater and black jeans following his intense nine hours of training

Neil popped the question to Chyna as they enjoyed a romantic getaway in Bali recently.

He told Hello!: 'I'd already planned to ask Chyna to marry me before we knew she was pregnant. Then we found out and I was like, "Oh, this is brilliant, everything is coming together".'

Chyna admitted it took her a moment to accept the proposal as she wasn't 100 per cent sure if it was genuine.

She said: 'At first, I thought he was joking because we play jokes on each other all the time.'

She wrote: 'I feel like I'm dreaming.'

Taking to the comments section, Katya wrote: 'So happy for these two!

'@mr_njonesoffiicial You deserve all the happiness.'

Neil and Chyna took their relationship public in August last year when they enjoyed a romantic trip to Paris.

The reality star first caught Neil's eye when she appeared on ITV2's Love Island last summer.

Speaking out: It comes after Neil's ex-wife Katya Jones (pictured) responded to the news the couple are expecting a baby together

Baby on the way: The couple revealed Chyna is currently 13 weeks pregnant and are set to welcome their newborn in the autumn

The pair have since stepped out together at a number of red carpet events and share a number of loved-up posts to Instagram.

It comes two years after Neil's previous relationship with South American dancer Luisa Eusse came to an end.

Neil was previously married to his Strictly professional co-star Katya Jones, for six years before calling it quits in August 2019, following her kiss with her 2018 Strictly partner Seann Walsh.

It comes after Katya said she's planning a 'husband hunting holiday'.

The twinkle-toed star revealed she is in the market for a new spouse and is hoping a trip with a friend will help her find 'The One'.

She told The Sun on Sunday: 'We will be definitely going on a husband-hunting trip very soon.

Ex: Neil was previously married to his Strictly pro co-star Katya Jones for six years before calling it quits in August 2019 following her kiss with her 2018 Strictly partner Seann Walsh (pictured in 2018)

'I mean were constantly husband-hunting. Modern dating is very complicated, I dont always understand mens thinking, but Id like to think Im a good judge of character.'

However, Katya admitted she has had no luck with dating apps.

She said: 'They are rubbish. I am on Raya. Im looking for someone who can handle a self-sufficient woman and add value to my life.

'Someone who is caring and loving  all I want is unconditional love.'
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Rumer Willis paid homage to her mother Demi Moore in a series of stunning images that closely resembled her famous mom's iconic Vanity Fair cover from 1991.

Ahead of the imminent arrival of her first child with boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas, the eldest daughter of legendary actor Bruce Willis recreated a photo shoot of the Ghost actress, 60, in which she posed nude, seven months into her pregnancy with Scout LaRue Willis, now 31.

In a black and white photograph of the expectant star, she can be seen cradling her stomach while rocking an off-the shoulder sweater from NakedCashmere and blanket around her waist.

Her resemblance to Moore is particularly striking in another shot, uploaded to her Instagram on Tuesday, as she stared into the distance with her burgeoning belly on display as she sat on the ground under just a brown throw.

'In my natural habitat [brown heart emoji] covered in all things cozy,' she captioned the image.

Just like mom! Rumer Willis paid homage to her mother Demi Moore in a series of stunning images that closely resembled her famous mom's iconic Vanity Fair cover from 1991

At the time, Moore's August 1991 Vanity Fair cover, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, shocked the world and was even censored at some newsstands.

Over the years, many other celebrities have been inspired by Moore to pose nude while pregnant, including Mariah Carey, Britney Spears and Cindy Crawford.

Rumer's comment section was flooded with sweet comments, which described her as 'mesmerizing,' 'simply beautiful' and a 'gorgeous mama.'

Willis also used the snaps to announce her collaboration with NakedCashmere, which she revealed was a 'capsule collection for mamas and babies with the most cozy and glorious goodies.'

'This is truly a dream come true and a long time in the making. I can't wait to share with you all!' she gushed to her more than one million followers.

Last week, the Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood actress revealed the best piece of parenting advice she has received from her parents, who divorced in 2000 after 11 years of marriage, was that she will have 'no control over anything' once her baby arrives.

Additionally, they advised her to 'have a lot of grace with' herself.

She went on to rave that her musician beau, who she began dating in 2022, has been 'an angel' through her pregnancy.

Stunning: Her resemblance to Moore is particularly striking in another shot, uploaded to her Instagram on Tuesday, as she stared into the distance with her burgeoning belly on display as she sat on the ground under just a brown throw

Firstborn: In addition to Rumer, Moore and her ex-husband Bruce Willis share daughters Scout LaRue Willis, 31, and Tallulah, 29

'He's been so lovely, and he's just so excited to be a dad, and we're both just so delighted to meet whoever this little person is,' she told People. 'I could not have asked for a better partner, and he's going to be such a great dad.'

Rumer, who is waiting to learn her little one's gender, stated that she just 'can't wait to meet' her baby.

'I'm just so delighted. I feel sometimes I can just feel the energy of this kid sometimes, and I just can't wait to hear them laugh, to figure out who they are, play with them and get to know them,' she continued.

The Dancing with the Stars champion, whose father diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in February, noted that her pregnancy has been 'humbling' and furthered her 'reverence and respect for women.'

'I feel I've had an easier time physically than most of my friends,' she reflected.

Baby daddy: She recently raved that her musician beau, who she began dating in 2022, has been 'an angel' through her pregnancy
Jodie Comer put on a casual display as she strolled through New York City on Tuesday.

The Killing Ever star, 30, is due to make her Broadway debut later this evening, in the one woman play Prima Facie at the John Golden Theatre.

And keeping calm before the big night, Jodie appeared relaxed in an oversized denim jacket and charcoal grey trousers.

The star opted for a make up-free look and tied her blonde locks under a black cap.

She carried two duffel bags with her and looked trendy in a pair of grey and white trainers.

Relaxed: Jodie Comer put on a casual display as she strolled through New York City on Tuesday

The Free Guy star is coming off the high of taking home Best Actress at the 2023 Olivier Awards held at London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, April 2.

This is her first ever Olivier Award, and she earned the honour for her role in the one woman play Prima Facie.

Making her Broadway debut in a matter of hours, the play is scheduled to run for 10 weeks at the John Golden Theatre starting April 11.

The play follows 'a young, brilliant barrister who loves to win' and who 'has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game.

'But an unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge,' the official synopsis reads.

During her acceptance speech, Comer gushed over how much the play has 'changed my life' and thanks playwright Suzie Miller for 'for writing the most exquisite play I have ever had the pleasure of reading.'

She then spoke directly to aspiring actors, encouraging them to not give up on their dreams.

'One thing I would like to say to any kids who haven't been to drama school, who can't afford to go to drama school, who has been rejected from drama school, don't let anyone tell you that it isn't possible.

Big night: The Killing Ever star, 30, is due to make her Broadway debut later this evening, in the one woman play Prima Facie at the John Golden Theatre

Casual: And keeping calm before the big night, Jodie appeared relaxed in an oversized denim jacket and charcoal grey trousers

'It might take the stars to align and you to be met with generous, kind, patient people but it is possible,' she said.

Comer closed out her speech by sending love to her mother and father and wishing her grandfather a happy 82nd birthday.

Prima Facie - which has a 100-minute runtime - first premiered at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End in April 2022.

The show's final performance was held on June 18, 2022.

Comer was met with critical acclaim, which she said was 'incredible' and something she 'could never have dreamed of' in an interview with the PA news agency ahead of Sunday's ceremony.

'It really does feel as though the audience has become so much a part of this as we are.

Winner: The Free Guy star is coming off the high of taking home Best Actress at the 2023 Olivier Awards held at London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, April 2 (pictured)

'It's so incredibly heart-warming to be in the theatre every night and feel the presence of everyone and the energy kind of shared so I'm so excited, I feel very lucky that I'm able to revisit it.'

For the Olivier Awards - which is considered the biggest night in UK theatre - Comer stunned in a red high-low gown that showed off her killer legs.

She strolled the step-and-repeat photo op in sexy red sandals.
Alessandra Ambrosio celebrated her birthday a little early, but in style.

The model, who has been enjoying a spring break holiday in Brazil, finished up the holiday as the guest of honor at a luscious beachside party marking her 42nd birthday on Easter surrounded by friends and family.

The popular cover model looked chic in a mocha toned lace dress with puffed sleeves and a ruffled hem.

She wore transparent high heel sandals and styled her hair in a loose half pony tail.

The runway veteran donned gold framed sunglasses and wore daytime friendly makeup with a red lip as she blew out the candles on her multi-color cake with her nickname 'Ale' on it.

Birthday girl: Alessandra Ambrosio celebrated her birthday a little early, but in style. The model, finished up the holiday in Brazil as the guest of honor at a luscious beachside party marking her 42nd birthday on Easter surrounded by friends and family

Alessandra was joined in the celebration by her children, Anja, 14, and Noah, 10, whom she shares with her former fiance Jamie Mazur.

Her mother Lucilda, father Luiz and sister Aline, as well as a cousin joined in the fun.

Aline, who is one of Alessandra's GAL Floripa partners, looked stylish in a white linen dress with a low neckline, puffed sleeves and a thigh high slit.

The bathing suit designer looked comfortable in a pair of brown leather sandals.

Anja, looking very much like her famous mother in a strappy black crop top and gray lounge pants, led the group in singing a Brazilian 'Happy Birthday' tune.

'Happy and surrounded by love, blessed beyond measure what a ride its been! May every new chapter be better than the last. Happy birthday to me!' the Daddy's Home actress wrote next to the Instagram post.

A dessert buffet included banana pudding, strawberry trifle and lots of dark and milk chocolate.

Dozens of flowers in pastel shades adorned the table.

Candles: The cover model looked chic in a mocha toned lace dress with puffed sleeves and a ruffled hem. The runway veteran donned gold framed sunglasses and wore daytime friendly makeup with a red lip as she blew out the candles on her cake with her nickname 'Ale' on it

Dessert buffet: A dessert buffet included banana pudding, strawberry trifle and lots of dark and milk chocolate. Dozens of flowers in pastel shades adorned the table

The kids seemed to enjoy spending time with their mom on the Ilha da Magia - Floripa.

Alessandra shared a photo of the three of them drinking some refreshing coconut water straight from the source after a swim in the warm ocean waters.

She and Noah also posed for a mother and son snap wearing shorts and T-shirts by the shore.

And while she was enjoying family time, Alessandra managed to get a little work done as well.

Family time: The kids, Anja, 14, and Noah, 10, seemed to enjoy spending time with their mom on the Ilha da Magia - Floripa. Alessandra shared a photo of the three of them drinking some refreshing coconut water straight from the source after a swim in the warm ocean waters

Mother and son: The model and Noah also posed for a mother and son snap wearing shorts and T-shirts by the shore

She posed in one of her her bikinis while zooming around on a private yacht with her sister, Aline, fellow GAL Floripa founder Gisele Coria, and Brazilian model Cassia Lara, 43.

The swimsuit was made with a red paisley fabric and with turquoise accents on the top.

The runway veteran made sure to wear a red billed hat and dark shades to protect her flawless complexion from the intense rays of the sun.

Beside her work with the swimsuit brand, Alessandra has continued to build partnerships with various companies.

Most recently, she has teamed up with the ethical brand, Bottletop.

'Ive worked with them since 2019,' she told Hello!

Working trip: Alessandra mixed work with pleasure, showing off her toned abs and libms in one of her GAL Floripa bikinis while zooming around on a private yacht. The runway veteran wore a red billed hat and dark shades to protect her complexion from the intense rays of the sun

Girls' day: Alessandra enjoyed a fun girls' day sailing with Brazilian model Cassia Lara, 43 fellow GAL Floripa founder Gisele Coria, and her sister, Aline, who is also a GAL Floripa designer

Collaboration: Beside her work with the swimsuit brand, Alessandra has continued to build partnerships with various companies. Most recently, she has teamed up with the ethical brand, Bottletop

Empowerment: Alessandra said one of the goals of her business ventures is to empower native women 'Its important to me to support the economic empowerment of women, especially in Brazil,' she explained to Hello!

'Im happy to be part of the new Representation, Regeneration and New Narratives initiative to support economically-disadvantaged women and indigenous communities in Brazil, Nepal and the Amazon rainforest.

'Its important to me to support the economic empowerment of women, especially in Brazil,' she explained.

Alessandra and her kids looked comfortable but a little sad at the airport in Florianapolis Tuesday, with their bags packed for their return to Los Angeles.

Even in comfortable clothes, the cover model looked chic. She donned cocoa toned yoga pants, a white sleeveless T-shirt and sneakers with a black sweater wrapped around her waist.

Flight home: Alessandra and her kids looked comfortable but a little sad at the airport in Florianapolis Tuesday, with their bags packed for their return to Los Angeles

Casual: Even in comfortable clothes, the cover model looked chic. She donned cocoa toned yoga pants, a white sleeveless T-shirt and sneakers with a black sweater wrapped around her waist

Travel looks: Anja followed her mom's example, wearing loose fitting gray joggers and flashing a glimpse of her toned tummy with a strappy black crop top. Noah looked at ease in loose fitting gray shorts, a white graphic T-shirt and white crocs, carrying a skate board

The entrepreneur tried to keep a low profile with a billed cap and sunglasses.

Anja followed her mom's example, wearing loose fitting gray joggers and flashing a glimpse of her toned tummy with a strappy black crop top.

Noah looked at ease in loose fitting gray shorts, a white graphic T-shirt and white crocs, carrying a skate board.
Adriana Lima looked remarkable in a sharp, white pantsuit as she celebrated the relaunch of Victoria's Secret fragrance Heavenly in New York City.

The 41-year-old Brazilian beauty - who recently attended the Air premiere in LA - stunned in her exquisite look, which she elevated with black accents.

Underneath her blazer, the mother-of-three flashed her cleavage in a black top with a plunging crisscross design.

Her lengthy raven locks were styled in a precise, deep center part as the hair spilled around her in structured waves.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel showed off her long legs in a tailored pair of straight trousers with a pleat down the center.

Stunner: Adriana Lima looked remarkable in a sharp, white pantsuit as she celebrated her new Victoria's Secret fragrance Heavenly in New York City

Phenomenal: The 41-year-old Brazilian beauty stunned in her exquisite look, which she elevated with black accents

Adriana's accessories included a small black handbag with gold hardware, including a pendant and a chain strap.

The picture-perfect fashionista flaunted a glossy red manicure on oval-shaped nails and wore gold rings.

The pockets of her blazer featured black trim and she stepped out in a pair of black leather pointy-toe heels.

Lima, who was part of the brand's Angel collective from 1999-2018, looked typically flawless in a full face of makeup.

She arrived at the event with her full brows carefully shaped, providing a structured frame for her visage.

And she drew attention to her piercing blue eyes with elongating black mascara applied to fluttery lashes.

The superstar dusted pink blush on her cheeks and finished with a matte, nude pink lipstick and soft brown liner.

It comes after the lingerie brand took to social media earlier this month to tease the perfume's relaunch.

Detail: The flawless beauty clutched a gorgeous bouquet of flowers with a glossy red manicure

Cute: The longtime model posed with a bottle of the fragrance, holding it up to her cheek

On April 3 the Instagram account shared a reel featuring behind-the-scenes footage of a sheer yellow dress being steamed in preparation for Adriana to wear it in the official ad.

The caption gave no details as it simply teased to its 74.7 million followers: 'Tomorrow.'

Then, last Tuesday the commercial was shared to the platform with the caption, 'Reunited and it feels so good.'

Yet another post, which showed Lima looking otherworldly as the fabric of the dress swirled around her, said: 'Reintroducing an ethereal classicHeavenly Eau de Parfum. Bask in a warm glow that captures your timeless radiance, now in a striking new bottle.'

Another extended clip paid homage to the supermodel's historic partnership with Victoria's Secret as it flashed multiple images of the beauty gracing its magazine cover various times.

The caption read, 'Wish, grantedits an ethereal dream to be back together.'

Adriana's spoke throughout the promotional clip, first introducing herself as she said, 'I'm back. If I would have a last wish in my life, it would be to be with Victoria's Secret.'

Underneath her blazer, the mother-of-three flashed her cleavage in a black top with a plunging crisscross design; pictured with Emira D'Spain, Elle Smith, and Olivia Ponton

B-roll showed her laughing and spritzing herself with the eau de parfum as she continued, 'And here I am.

'Heavenly translates into femininity, in a subtle, powerful way. It makes you feel unforgettable. Honestly, I'm living a dream today.'

And in the final post of the rollout, Victoria's Secret captioned: 'Allow us to reintroduce @adrianalima and Heavenly Eau de Parfum.

'Aka: one duo thats eternal.'
Hailey Bieber displayed her effortlessly cool style on Tuesday as she stepped out in New York City.

The 26-year-old supermodel - who got into the Easter spirit on Sunday - was dressed in a striped yellow and red, long-sleeved, crewneck shirt that flashed a slither of her midriff.

Justin Bieber's wife pulled the sleeves up to her elbows and teamed the look with medium wash, low-slung jeans.

The fashionista added a pair of black Asics sneakers with white detail and carried a small black leather handbag over her shoulder.

Hailey's hazel eyes were obscured by a pair of sporty, lightly-tinted narrow sunglasses.

It girl: Hailey Bieber displayed her effortlessly cool style on Tuesday as she stepped out in New York City

Underneath the posh shades the Who's In My Bathroom YouTuber showed off a light face of makeup.

Her cheeks were dusty in a rosy hue and she completed the 'clean girl' look with a swipe of clear lip gloss.

The Rhode skincare founder slicked her bob haircut back, styling the locks in a precise center part.

The fuss-free hairstyle allowed her to show of a pair of chunky gold earrings.

As for other jewelry, Mrs. Bieber sported a delicate watch around her wrist and flashed her huge diamond wedding ring.

The multihyphenate left no detail of her look untouched as she also showed off a milky nude manicure on almond-shaped nails.

Hailey took time out of her busy day to snap a selfie in the backseat of a car with a black leather interior.

She interacted with her 49.4 million followers as she shared the snapshot, which showed her using a fun filter, to her Instagram Story.

Designer gal: The 26-year-old supermodel was dressed in a striped yellow and red, long-sleeved, crewneck shirt that flashed a slither of her midriff

Casual look: Justin Bieber's wife pulled the sleeves up to her elbows and teamed the look with medium wash, low-slung jeans

In recent weeks Hailey has been busy touting her brand's latest item, her passionfruit jelly lip treatment.

Last week Bieber shared sexy, tropical 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  dubbed 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 planning a global expansion, with the line's launch in Canada to be followed by a United Kingdom branch.

Cute: Hailey appeared on Instagram to interact with her followers as she snapped a car selfie with a filter

Another selfie: The Rhode skincare founder posted a photo of herself applying her new passionfruit jelly lip treatment

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.
On Monday, two-time Grammy nominee Selena Gomez shared another epic throwback snap of herself and 'bestie' Connar Franklin, this time twinning in wolf T-shirts and messy hair.

The 30-year-old 'Texican' pop star - who boasts 658.5M social media followers - captioned her photo: 'What do we do during our sleep that this is the result? I thought I never moved... love you bestie.'

The Georgia-born 25-year-old Instastoried: 'LOL [for real though] no matter what I do my hair wakes up looking like this.'

Connar also wrote in the comments of Selena's Instagram post: 'I love you! Serving some looks lol - the shirts are getting me.'

It's been a week since Gomez and Franklin reunited for the 'best weekend ever' attending Taylor Swift's concert at Texas' AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Twinning! On Monday, two-time Grammy nominee Selena Gomez (L) shared an epic throwback snap of herself and 'bestie' Connar Franklin (R) coordinating in wolf T-shirts and messy hair

The 30-year-old 'Texican' pop star - who boasts 658.5M social media followers - captioned her photo: 'What do we do during our sleep that this is the result? I thought I never moved... love you bestie'

The daughter of Free Chapel pastors Jentezen & Cherise Franklin appeared as a 'special guest' in the fourth season of the Emmy-nominated producer's HBO Max cooking series Selena + Chef last year.

Selena will serve bridesmaid duties for Connar's upcoming wedding to former Vine star Aaron Carpenter, and she previously hosted her 22nd birthday bash back in 2019.

Gomez and Franklin are believed to have been friends as far back as 2018.

The Rare Beauty founder has been hard at work on the Manhattan set of Hulu's Only Murders in the Building executive producing and reprising her role as Mabel Mora in the 10-episode third season.

Selena likely earns well over $600K/episode to executive produce and portray true-crime podcaster, Arconia resident, and artist in the most-watched comedy in the cable network's history.

Season three of Steve Martin and John Hoffman's critically-acclaimed who-done-it features guest stars - three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep and Golden Globe nominee Paul Rudd.

Gomez will next compete for three trophies - best performance, best kiss (with co-star Cara Delevingne), and best music documentary (for My Mind & Me) - at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards, which air May 7 from the Barkar Hangar in Santa Monica.

On the personal front, the former Disney Channel star was last romantically linked to former One Direction boybander Zayn Malick, who has a two-year-old daughter Khai with IMG Model Gigi Hadid.

The Georgia-born 25-year-old Instastoried: 'LOL [for real though] no matter what I do my hair wakes up looking like this'

Connar also wrote in the comments of Selena's Instagram post: 'I love you! Serving some looks lol - the shirts are getting me'

'[I love you] so much Sel thank you for the perfect time!' It's been a week since Gomez (L) and Franklin (R) reunited for the 'best weekend ever' attending Taylor Swift's concert at Texas' AT&T Stadium in Arlington

Action! The daughter of Free Chapel pastors Jentezen & Cherise Franklin appeared as a 'special guest' in the fourth season of the Emmy-nominated producer's HBO Max cooking series Selena + Chef last year (pictured September 2)

'Congratulations to some of my favorite people on this Earth!' Selena will serve bridesmaid duties for Connar's upcoming wedding to former Vine star Aaron Carpenter (M), and she previously hosted her 22nd birthday bash back in 2019

Oldest known pic: Gomez and Franklin are believed to have been friends as far back as 2018

Busy: The Rare Beauty founder has been hard at work on the Manhattan set of Hulu's Only Murders in the Building executive producing and reprising her role as Mabel Mora in the 10-episode third season (pictured last Thursday)
Jessica Alba took to Instagram on Monday to give fans a rare glimpse into her family life with husband Cash Warren and their three children.

The 41-year-old Honest founder - who was pictured on vacation in Hawaii last week - wore a red dress as her eldest child, daughter Honor, 14, towered over her.

Jessica leaned in and rested her head on the teenager's shoulder as the family-of-five smiled for the camera.

The actress-turned-entrepreneur wrote in the caption to her 20.2 million followers, 'Island time w[ith] my mains.'

Her younger daughter, Haven, 11, wore a dark mini dress with a white floral pattern as she posed next to her father.

Quality time: Jessica Alba took to Instagram on Monday to give fans a rare glimpse into her family life with husband Cash Warren and their three children

Group photo: The 41-year-old Honest founder - who was pictured on vacation in Hawaii last week - wore a red dress as her eldest child, daughter Honor, 14, towered over her

Honor was also clad in a bright frock - the teenager donned a long blue maxi dress with cap sleeves.

She added a long necklace with a pendant to the look, which featured a modest, square-shaped neckline.

Meanwhile, the couple's 5-year-old son Hayes looked adorable in blue shorts, a gray t-shirt, and a white shirt worn unbuttoned.

Cash, a film producer, looked like a proud father as he wore a dark, long-sleeved shirt as he wrapped his arm around his daughters.

The family posed outdoors, standing on lush green grass in front with a blue sky above them.

Jessica shared a second image that showcased the happy clan in a close-up selfie.

The whole family flashed megawatt smiles and he little boy held up a peace sign.

The outtakes appear to be from their recent getaway to Hawaii, where they were pictured on the beach in Kauai.

Environmentalist: Jessica kicked off April with a post in tribute to the planet ahead of Earth Day on April 22

Cash, who is the son of Hill Street Blues actor Michael Warren, met Jessica while assistant directing her 2005 hit film Fantastic Four.

The couple spontaneously decided to get married at a Beverly Hills courthouse one day in 2008 while Jessica was pregnant with Honor.

They welcomed their baby girl one month after the nuptials. She was followed by Haven, who was born in June 2011, and Hayes, born on New Years Eve in 2017.

In a 2021 interview for the Instagram show Before, During and After Baby, Alba admitted to Katherine Schwarzenegger that it can be challenging to find alone time with her husband while parenting three kids.

'It's not even him, I would say it's us. When I'm seeing him and spending time with him and were really enjoying each other, its an "us" thing and it feeds me as well. It's hard. It's impossible,' she explained.

The star added, 'If youre both every day deciding to do it, its gonna work out, regardless of the drama, regardless of anything that happens. If youre both like, "I want to figure this out," nothing can really break that.

'The second one of you is checked out then its a one-sided relationship. Because youre not always gonna be on the same page, and youre not always gonna grow at the same pace.'

Sibling love: The mother-of-three shared a photo of Haven and Hayes posing in front of a double rainbow

Solo shot: Her little boy made an appearance by himself

And during an episode of the Raising Good Humans podcast she shared that the duo have a similar outlook when it comes to parenting.

She pointed out that, although her spouse had 'a different experience' from her in terms of growing up, they still agree about many parenting topics.

'We have a lot of the same values when it comes to families and raising kids,' she stated, adding, 'The hardest part about being a parent is allowing your kids to make a mistake and knowing when it is going to be too hard or too much.'

The Sin City star has dominated Hollywood for over 20 years, having starred in a series of blockbuster films, including Machete, Spy Kids and Fantastic Four.
Emmerdale viewers insist they've spotted what will be the downfall of Caleb Milligan and his son's Nicky amid their sinister plan against Kim Tate.

Caleb (Will Ash) and nanny Nicky (Lewis Cope) are working together in a bid to get their hands on businesswoman Kim's (Claire King) fortune.

During Tuesday's episode of the ITV soap, Caleb spoke of a solicitor he's enlisted the help of to target Kim without her knowing.

While Kim is working to ensure her assets are safe, Caleb and Nicky may not succeed with their plot as Emmerdale fans think they have spotted what will be their downfall - a baby monitor of close to Nicky while he is working as a nanny.

Taking to Twitter during the episode this week, one person wrote: 'I reckon the baby monitor will be the downfall of Caleb and Nicky #emmerdale.'

Dastardly plan: Emmerdale viewers insist they've spotted what will be the downfall of Caleb Milligan and his son's Nicky (Lewis Cope, pictured) amid their sinister plan against Kim Tate

Scheming: Caleb (Will Ash, pictured) and nanny Nicky are working together in a bid to get their hands on businesswoman Kim's (Claire King) fortune

Someone else shared: 'That baby monitor is a big clue to what will happen #emmerdale.'

Another person posted: 'We need Will to overhear on the baby monitor #emmerdale.'

While someone else wrote: 'Someone is going to overhear Nicky talking to Caleb over the baby monitor #emmerdale.'

Meanwhile, other viewers offered their opinions on their tricks, with one person writing: 'I think Nicky will crack and tell Kim what Caleb is up to. I dont think Nicky is as bad as Caleb, hes definitely a wrong en but I think Caleb is worse #Emmerdale.'

Someone else wrote: 'We need Kim to catch Caleb and Nicky soon #Emmerdale IMAGINE if he succeeds and takes over the Tate Home Farm, no questions asked just one day "Im the owner".'

Another person posted: 'Would love for Kim to catch on and get the better off Caleb and Nicki #Emmerdale.'

It comes after Caleb and Nicky's true identities were finally revealed during last Thursday's episode.

The dramatic instalment exposed Home Farm nanny Nicky as Leyla's (Roxy Shahidi) stalker.

Filling in the gaps: Taking to Twitter during the episode this week, fans insisted nanny Nicky would get caught out on the baby monitor while babysitting

And if that wasn't enough, Nicky was also revealed to be the son of Caleb.

Emmerdale fans were concerned for Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) earlier this month after her new flame Nicky proposed.

Viewers have been given quite an insight into Gabby's relationship with nanny Nicky following their frequent passionate kisses as they lay flat on Kim's couch.

Gabby was left open-mouthed this month when Nicky got down on one knee and asked her to marry him in front of Bernice Blackstock (Samantha Giles), Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) and Kim.

She accepted and the pair embraced and shared a kiss despite Kim's disgust at the situation, with Kim having hired Nicky to look after the children who live at her country pile.

But it wasn't just Kim who was unimpressed by Nicky popping the question, viewers were convinced the proposal was part of a bigger plan to get at Gabby or Kim's money.

Taking to Twitter to express their fears for Gabby, one person wrote: 'Just by watching this clip, of Nikki proposing to Gabby, you know Nikki is up to something. You only met her a few months ago. And Gabby is well smitten. Something ain't right. #emmerdale.'

Too close to home: Nicky has been working as a nanny for Kim at her lavish country pile Home Farm

Someone else shared: 'Hes got to be after Gabbys (or Kims) money.'

Another person posted: 'Nicky must have a reason for proposing to Gabby. He obviously has to move things along for some part of a plan #emmerdale.'

I still dont trust Nicky! Him and Gabby have been together for 5 minutes and hes already proposing to her #Emmerdale.

While someone else shared: 'Nicky is about to become a villain who manipulates Gabby to the extreme #Emmerdale.'

One other viewer tweeted: 'Proposing? seriouslytheyve not known each other that long.'

And someone else wrote: 'They haven't even been on a date yet. #ridiculous #emmerdale.'

Someone else shared: 'Nicky, claiming Gabby means the world to him. They know nothing about one another, apart from how to remove each other's clothing #Emmerdale.'

In previous episodes, Nicky confessed he had feelings for Gabby, but he insisted they couldn't be together as it could put his job in jeopardy.

He admitted that despite their chemistry he could not have sex with the young mother.

Nicky first caught Gabby's eye when he arrived in the village as a nanny for Clemmie and Lucas, but soon learned his services were no longer needed when Dawn (Olivia Bromley) decided she didn't want to work for Kim.

Luckily, Gabby reassured Nicky that she still needed someone to look after her son Thomas, and Kim agreed, meaning he could stay at Home Farm.

After learning she'd got the job as Kim's deputy, a delighted Gabby decided to celebrate with Nicky by enjoying some champagne.

However, when she leaned in for a kiss, he quickly pulled back and admitted he didn't like her that way.

Speaking about the story, actor Lewis previously told Metro: 'Potentially it could be a problem at Home Farm if they get together. Nicky kind of focuses on his job and thinks  we shouldn't be doing this and backs away from it.'

Co-star Rosie agreed that the pair made a good match, adding: 'They both fancy each other, it's very obvious.

Romance? It comes after Emmerdale fans were left concerned for Gabby Thomas an episode after this month her new flame Nicky proposed

'I think the audience are going to be egging them on to be honest, because they see two young people who fancy each other, it's very obvious what they are going to want from that. But whether they get it or not, who knows?'

However, Lewis has already warned that Nicky has a dark side that viewers may get to see in the coming weeks.

He said last month: 'At the moment he's a lovely person and there's nothing to say otherwise, but he's quite too good to be true though.'

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1, and ITVX.
The Terminator has traded his shotgun for a shovel.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was seen in a social media clip Tuesday literally taking to the street to fill in a problematic pothole that has been a pox to the neighborhood.

'Today, after the whole neighborhood has been upset about this giant pothole thats been screwing up cars and bicycles for weeks, I went out with my team and fixed it,' the community-minded action star, 75, captioned the post.

The Austria-born star, who was California's 38th governor from 2003 to 2011, said he'd rather directly address the issue at hand than grouse about it.

'I always say, lets not complain, lets do something about it,' he said. 'Here you go.'

The latest: Arnold Schwarzenegger, 75, was seen in a social media clip Tuesday literally taking to the street to fill in a problematic pothole that has been a pox to the neighborhood

In the adjacent clip, Schwarzenegger was seen filling in the pothole with associates, with passersby thanking him for his efforts.

'You have to do it yourself - this is crazy - for three weeks I've been waiting for this hole to be closed,' the Hollywood star told a driver who slowed down to commend him on his efforts.

In the clip, Schwarzenegger donned black sunglasses with a brown leather jacket, black top, black sweatpants and brown work boots.

He was later seen enjoying the spring weather in Southern California on a bicycle ride.

Schwarzenegger's efforts come amid a recurring issue of damaging potholes in his native Los Angeles following extended months of a winter storm.

Officials in Los Angeles told CBS LA last month that it got more than 1,300 requests for pothole repairs in a single week.

Authorities said Los Angeles citizens in need of repair should dial 311 or use the app MyLA311 to report areas in need of care.

The Austria-born star was seen smoothing over asphalt with a shovel on the spring day

The Austria-born star said he'd rather directly address the issue at hand than grouse about it

Schwarzenegger served as California's 38th governor from 2003 to 2011

In the clip, Schwarzenegger donned black sunglasses with a brown leather jacket

Schwarzenegger was seen filling in the pothole with associates, with passersby thanking him for his efforts
Shirley Ballas has reportedly been given a 'take it or leave it' deal by Strictly bosses to stay on the show - after the judge revealed she may quit over online trolling.

The head judge and Latin expert, 62, was subjected to much criticism last year in which trolls slammed her decisions and accused of ageism and sexism.

But despite previously threatening to quit, Shirley has been in talks with bosses over a potential return to Strictly, revealing on the Jonathan Ross show on Sunday that 'their people are talking to my people'.

Shirley joined the judging panel as head judge in 2017, following the departure of Len Goodman.

The 'Queen of Latin' has now reportedly been offered a raise in line with her fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.

Negotiations: Shirley Ballas has reportedly been given a 'take it or leave it' deal by Strictly bosses to stay on the show

Line-up: The ballroom dancer, 62, has been offered a raise in line with that of fellow judges Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood

A TV insider told The Sun: 'The team on the show care very deeply about Shirley's wellbeing and will continue to do whatever they can to alleviate the effects of what's said on social media.

'But they are also very conscious that we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis and a licence fee freeze and it's against this whole backdrop that the deal has been put to Shirley.

'Nobody wants her to walk, but Strictly has proved throughout its history that no one is bigger than the show.'

Shirley recently hinted that she may not return to Strictly Come Dancing this year following the torrent of vile online abuse she received during the last series.

In a candid interview, she indicated the previous series may have been her last as she'd hit an 'all-time low' after the abuse 'snowballed out of control'.

The ballroom dancer told how she was constantly left in tears after every show and struggled in silence, telling how it was 'the most negativity' she had ever faced.

She told the Mirror: 'Last year I was struggling. It wasn't just a little bit, it was a lot  the majority of it was in silence. I felt the abuse snowballed out of control and impacted me in such a negative way. I'm a pretty stoic person, and I tend to hold everything in.'

She explained that when the abuse began, it seemed 'larger than anything else', with the star telling how it left her 'crying and emotional', while she was 'embarrassed' about how she felt and didn't confide in anyone.

On the way out: The professional dancer, who appears as a judge on the show, previously revealed she'd 'had conversations' about leaving the ballroom contest

Troubles: Shirley was targeted by members of the viewing public who accused her of ageism and sexism while critiquing the contestants during the last series (L-R judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley and Anton Du Beke seen on the show in December 2022)

Shirley added: 'And that was an all-time low since I joined the show  it was the most negativity I'd ever experienced. The BBC were brilliant, checking in on me and offering counselling and support.'

When asked if she'd considered quitting Strictly, she replied: 'It was a difficult series, I'll leave it at that... Will I go back to Strictly? I always take one step at a time.'

She went on to say that she 'absolutely loved' her job and if it was just down to her judging with none of the trolling involved, it would be the most 'rewarding' job she could think of to do.

The Queen of Latin went on to say that after Strictly finished in 2022, she to a 'break' from TV for 're-focus' on her own industry as well as to 'protect her sanity'.

Shirley went on to reveal the shocking extent of the messages she received - of which one in five were hateful - saying that the thousands of comments she got whenever she sent someone home were 'truly awful'.

She added that she was accused of not liking young people or old, men or women, noting that it 'didn't matter' what she'd do, she could 'never win'.

However, she proudly said that she stood by her decisions and never 'regretted' sending anyone home based on how they performed in the dance off, noting she could 'sleep at night' with her choices.

In December, Shirley revealed she was taking some time off over Christmas after facing an 'immense amount of trolling' throughout the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Hesitant: Shirley previously indicated the previous series may have been her last as she'd hit an 'all-time low' after the abuse 'snowballed out of control' (pictured in 2022)

The BBC show's head judge said she was going to 'get myself together for the new year' by enjoying some time away for the 'first time ever'.

The dancing icon decided not to do panto last year, explaining how a scary incident which saw a letter being hand delivered to the theatre last year has affected her decision.

She told S magazine: 'It's the first time I've taken any time off  ever! I'm taking two and a half weeks off, because of the immense amount of trolling I got throughout this series.

'I decided I wouldn't do panto this year. Last time I did it, I got a letter hand-delivered to the theatre that was very off-putting.'

'I actually kept it. I don't know why. So I'm going to take some time off and just get myself together for the new year.'

In November Shirley revealed how 'cruel' trolls had left her seeking medical help for 'low mood and anxiety'.

She explained that, for the first time in a career spanning over five decades, she has been to her doctor to find a way to manage the impact the taunts have had on her.

Shirley told OK! Magazine of the abuse she's endured during the current series of Strictly: 'It took its emotional toll, that's why I'm not going to do panto.

'[I'm] emotional and low and I'm not going to lie to you, it did affect me this year for sure... When it gets personal, that's cruel.

'It makes you [go] 'Do I look right? Am I too heavy? Am I this? Am I that? Cover up your bingo arms. Should I wear a dress with sleeves?'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Shirley Ballas for comment.
Continuing his offensive against the ruling BJP, after Amul announced its plans to sell milk and curd in the Bengaluru market, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Sunday tweeted asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was visiting Karnataka on Sunday, whether the purpose of his visit wasto loot the State.

Alleging that the States milk production had been affected since the day Union Cooperative Minister Amit Shah spoke about the possibility of merging the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) with Amul, the former Chief Minister in a series of tweets asked the Prime Minister what his role had been in this.

Amuls move is being seen by many, especially Opposition parties, as a threat to KMFs 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.

It was Gujarats Baroda Bank that subsumed our Vijaya Bank. Ports and Airports were handed over to Gujarats Adani. Now, Amul from Gujarat is planning to eat our KMF (Nandini).

Narendra Modi, Are we the enemies for Gujaratis?

Instead of giving 2 crore jobs a year to youths, Narendra Modi took away jobs of Kannadigas from our banks, ports and airports, he further said, adding thatNow Karnataka BJP wants to hurt the prospects of our farmers by giving KMF to Amul.
Trinamool Congress's (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP and former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro has tendered his resignation from the Upper House of Parliament, party sources said on Tuesday.

Long being sidelined from the party affairs in Goa, Faleiro was being nudged by the TMC leadership to resign from the Rajya Sabha.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party has been upset with Faleiro after he refused to contest the 2022 Assembly election from Fatorda against Goa Forward Party's Vijai Sardesai, according to TMC sources.

When the TMC made a much-hyped foray in the coastal state, it had asked Rajya Sabha MP Arpita Ghosh, who had a term till 2026, to quit and sent Faleiro to the Upper House in 2021.
A police team from Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday left with gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad from Sabarmati Central Jail here for Prayagraj by road in connection with Umesh Pal murder case, an official said.

Pal and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year.

Based on a complaint lodged by Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.

The Uttar Pradesh Police had on March 26 also taken Ahmad from the Sabarmati jail in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city to Prayagraj in UP to produce him in a court.

On March 28, the court there had sentenced Ahmad and two others to life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case.

The 60-year-old former Uttar Pradesh MLA and Lok Sabha member was brought back to the high-security jail in Gujarat in a UP police van on March 29, after a nearly 24-hour-long road journey from Prayagraj.

In 2006, Atiq Ahmad and his aides abducted Umesh Pal and forced him to give a statement in court in their favour. Umesh Pal had registered a complaint in this regard.

The Supreme Court had in April 2019 directed that Ahmad be shifted to a high-security jail in Gujarat after he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of a real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal while in jail.

Ahmad has been named in more than 100 criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case, police said.

Among the most sensational murders in which Ahmad is allegedly involved was that of Raju Pal, the MLA from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) who was shot dead in 2005.

Umesh Pal, a key witness in this murder case, was gunned down outside his residence in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

Ahmad last month moved the Supreme Court for protection, claiming he and his family have been falsely implicated as accused in the Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj and he may be killed in a fake encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

In his plea, Ahmad had said the UP Police were in all likelihood seeking his transit remand and police remand to take him from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj and he "genuinely apprehends that he may be eliminated during this transit period".
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals AAP received a major shot in the arm as the Election Commission (EC) on Monday recognised it as a national party.

On the other hand, Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) lost their national party status in the latest set of decisions by the poll panel.

In an order issued on Monday, the EC also revoked the State party status granted to Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh, Bharat Rashtra Samiti in Andhra Pradesh, Pattali Makkal Katchi in Puducherry, Mizoram Peoples Conference, Peoples Democratic Alliance in Manipur and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) in West Bengal.

The EC had issued show-cause notices to the three parties in July 2019, asking them to explain why their national party status should not be revoked after their performance in the Lok Sabha elections that year.

Last week, the Karnataka High Court had directed the EC to pass appropriate orders regarding the national party status of AAP by April 13.

In its order, the EC said the AAP has been named as a national party based on its electoral performance in four States - Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat.

The Kejriwal-led party is in power in Delhi and Punjab.

Review of poll performance of the AAP in the general election to the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat, 2022 shows that the candidates set up by the party have polled 12.92 per cent of the valid votes polled in the said general election, and in addition, the party has won five out of the one hundred eighty-two seats in the Legislative Assembly.

It is seen from the above poll performance of the party that it has fulfilled the requirements for recognition as State party in the State of Gujarat, as laid down in Paragraph 6A(i) {6 per cent of total valid votes in Legislative Assembly and 2 seats in Legislative Assembly}, 6A(iii) {3 per cent of total seats in Legislative Assembly or at least 3 seats in the Legislative Assembly, whichever is more} and 6A(v) {8 per cent of total valid votes polled in Legislative Assembly in the State}.

Thus, the party has become eligible for recognition as State party in the State of Gujarat. Accordingly, the Commission has recognised the party as State party in the State of Gujarat, the EC said in the order.

Reacting to the order, Kejriwal said becoming a national party in such a short time is nothing less than a miracle.

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 Lord, to bless us to fulfil this responsibility with full dedication, Kejriwal tweeted.

The BJP, Congress, CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National Peoples Party (NPP) and the AAP are now national parties.

The EC said the status of NCP, CPI and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as national political parties would be withdrawn.

While Sharad Pawar led NCP was recognised as a national party in 2000, the TMC was granted the status in 2016. NCP was also recognised as a state party in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.

However, in its order, the EC said NCP did not fulfill the criteria of recognition in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, and Meghalaya during the general elections held in 2014 and 2019.

TMC is recognised as State party in Bengal (on basis of actual poll performance) and Tripura (deemed continuation up to 2024). It will also be recognised as a State party in Meghalaya henceforth on the basis of Meghalaya.

The Commission said the 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.

Chirag Paswans Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has been recognised as a State party in Nagaland. In Assembly election held earlier this year, Chirags party got 98,971 votes with 8.65 per cent vote share and won 2 seats. Tipra Motha Party, too, has been recognised as a state party in Tripura.

As per the ECs order, KCRs BRS (earlier Telangana Rashtra Samiti) has been derecognised as a State party in Andhra Pradesh.

The EC grants national party status to political parties based on certain criteria. The party must secure at least 6 per cent of the valid votes polled in any four or more states at a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the State Legislative Assembly.

The party must win at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha from any State or States. The party must win at least 2 per cent of the seats in the Lok Sabha (i.e. a minimum of 11 seats) from at least three different States. The party should be recognised as a State party in at least four States.

The recognition gives a number of advantages like common party symbol across States, and free airtime during elections on public broadcasters, among others.
Latching on to the allegation levelled by former Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has ties with undesirable businessmen, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said Rahul must respond to the serious charge.

He also sought to know if Rahul 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.

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

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? 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.

The BJP wants to know how the National Herald Trust was converted into a family trust by the Gandhi family, he said.

Referring to Rahul, Prasad said the person who is out on bail in the National Herald case and is currently facing trial is levelling baseless allegations.
Elderly couple found dead with throats slit

New Delhi: An elderly couple was found dead with their throats slit at their residence in Northeast Delhis Gokalpuri on Monday, police said, adding that their daughter-in-law Monika, has been arrested for killing them, with the help of her boyfriend. The house of the victims  Radhey Shyam Verma (72) and his wife Veenas (68)  was found ransacked and `5 lakh cash and other valuables were missing.

States must account subsidies clearly: CAG

New Delhi: The Comptroller & Auditor General of India on Monday said 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.

SC gives states 6 weeks to identify minorities

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday gave the States of Rajasthan and Telangana and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir six weeks to submit their responses on the issue of identification of minorities at the State level, after the Centre pleaded for giving them a last opportunity.

7 killed, 37 injured as tree falls in maha

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 Maharashtras Akola district, officials said on Monday.

wont field Atiqs wife in mayoral polls: maya

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Monday said her party will not field gangster Atiq Ahmads wife Shaista Parveen or any other member of his family in the mayoral election in Prayagraj.
In an apparent effort to counter Congress leader Rahul Gandhis allegation of Rs 20,000 crore coming in to the conglomerate through shell companies, Billionaire Gautam Adanis group on Monday 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.

The firms rebutted reports in an international publication, which was the basis of Rahuls statement late last month questioning how Rs 20,000 crore suddenly arrived in Adanis shell companies.

It said 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.

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 werent 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 groups seven listed companies or make their balance sheets look healthier.

While Adani group had denied all, which strenuously denied Hindenburgs 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 Adanis 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.
Within a week of China announcing invented names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh and calling the Indian State southern part of Tibet, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Kibithoo border village in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday in a clear message to Beijing.

Shah said no one can dare cast an evil eye on Indias territorial integrity and encroach even an inch of our 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..., Shah, who is on his first visit to the northeastern State as Union Home Minister, said at a public function after launching the Vibrant Village programme in the border village of Kibithoo which is the countrys easternmost point.

Shah also said the Modi Governments policy is to maintain peace with all countries but if anyone tries to occupy even an inch of Indias land the country would not tolerate it.

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 countrys 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.

He said enhanced facilities for border guarding troops of the ITBP and the Army will also be provided. Our policy is that no one can challenge the honour of our borders and our forces.

Shah also inaugurated, through video conferencing, nine micro hydel projects of the Arunachal Pradesh Government constructed under the Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme here.

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 `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.

Shah 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.
A minor boy, who had gone missing and was allegedly kidnapped from Jharsuguda district, was traced in Bilaspur of Chhattisgarh, police on Monday.

However, police clarified that he was not abducted and was travelling on his own in a train.

The boy was being brought back to Jharsuguda and would be handed over to his family members, police said.

According to reports, the boy of Buromal area went missing on April 7. His family members had lodged a complaint in this regard with the Jharsuguda police alleging that he was kidnapped.

Mother of the missing boy fell sick and was admitted to hospital on April 7. The boy, who was with his brother on the fateful day, went missing from there, sources said.

After the allegation of kidnapping by his family, the Jharsuguda police launched a search operation to trace the victim. A kidnapping case was lodged as per the complaint.

Coming close on the heels of the kidnapping and murder of a businessmans son Samarth Agarwal for ransom, the incident had triggered shockwaves in the district.
Culture-themed China-Europe freight train leaves Xi'an for Kazakhstan

People's Daily Online) 17:14, April 11, 2023

A China-Europe freight train loaded with intangible cultural heritage works recently left for Kazakhstan from Xi'an International Port in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The first China-Europe cultural freight train departs from Xian, northwest Chinas Shaanxi Province to the North Kazakhstan Region in Kazakhstan. (Photo/Li Zhiqiang)

The intangible cultural heritage works, including painted scarves, shadow puppets and paper cutting works, together with paintings by children in Xi'an and letters conveying friendship, will be distributed to local women and children in the North Kazakhstan Region.

At the launch of the train, an activity was held for Kazakh students studying in China to experience Chinese intangible cultural heritage items, including embroidery, knotted buttons, face masks, clay figurines, shadow puppets, paper cutting artworks and sachets.

"The activity will provide a new platform for women and children from countries and regions along the Belt and Road to exchange ideas, build emotional connections and strengthen cooperation," said Xue Linli, chairwoman of the women's federation in Xi'an.

By March 21, the Chang'an China-Europe freight trains had made 1,006 trips this year. The number of trips made by the trains, the cargo transport volume and the overall ratio of laden containers on departure and return trips are among the highest in the country.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Two men and a woman were killed after being run over by a roadways bus in Sitapur on Monday, police said.

A speeding bus of Lakhimpur Kheri depot, which was going towards Lucknow from Sitapur, crashed into a service road after hitting a road divider in Kamalapur police station area. As the driver lost control over the wheel, the bus ran over some people who were buying goods from the shops there, police said.

Paras Kumar, Raju and an unknown woman died on the spot while three injured persons were rushed to a community health centre in Kasmanda and their condition was stated to be critical.

The bodies were sent for post- and efforts were on to identify the woman.

No arrest has been made in his connection so far.

Meanwhile four devotees, including three women, returning after visiting Maa Pitambara Devi in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, died in a road accident in Jhansi on Sunday night.

Police sent the bodies for post-mortem.

The accident took place on Kanpur-Jhansi highway near Karguan village under Chirgaon police station.

According to reports, the accident took place as one of the tyres of the car burst near Shani Dev temple in Karguwan village after which the driver lost control over the wheel and the vehicle collided head-on with a speeding truck.

Two persons were also critically injured in the mishap and shifted to the medical college hospital in Jhansi.

Among the dead are Kiran Mishra (48), wife of Rakesh Mishra; Kusumalata, wife of ED Awasthi, and Neelam Tiwari and Suresh Chandra Tewari.

The injured were identified as Mahesh Chandra Tiwari (55) of Unnao and Rakesh Mishra (65).

On getting information, the Chirgaon police immediately reached the spot and admitted the injured to the medical college hospital in Jhansi.
A delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday handed over a memorandum to the Chhattisgarh Governor demanding a high-level inquiry into the mass suicide by a Pahadi Korva family.

Leader of Opposition Narayan Chandel led the delegation which included former chief minister Raman Singh and state President Arun Sao. The delegation handed over the report of an eight-member team which went into the details of the reasons for the suicide by the primitive tribe family on April 2.

Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan was told that the district administration had not yet disclosed the reason for the suicide. So, they wanted a high-level inquiry.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, on Monday, distanced the party from mafias, announcing that her party would not field gangster Atiq Ahmads wife Shaista Parveen or any other member of his family in the mayoral election in Prayagraj.

The BSP chief took the decision after holding a state-level meeting of her party leaders and office-bearers on the party's strategy for the upcoming urban local bodies polls.

Shaista Parveen had joined the BSP in the presence of its senior leaders on January 5 and was reportedly being considered as the partys mayoral candidate for Prayagraj. The urban local bodies elections will be held in the state on May 4 and 11.

"Certain facts have come to the fore in the Umesh Pal murder case that happened in Prayagraj. The situation changed after Shaista Parveen absconded as her name emerged in the case. Our party would not give a ticket for the post of mayor either to Shaista Parveen or to any family member of Atiq Ahmed," Mayawati said, making it clear that the party would not go with criminals or their kin.

The BSP chief said that the decision to let Shaista Parveen remain in the party would be taken after her arrest.

Mayawatis statement comes two days after police booked Atiq Ahmad, his wife and his son Ali in a forgery case linked to the murder of Umesh Pal. The FIR was registered on Saturday at the Dhoomanganj police station in Prayagraj.

Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf and wife Shaista Parveen have been booked in connection with the murder on February 24 of Umesh Pal, a witness in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case. Two security personnel were also gunned down in the attack on Umesh Pal.
A Chhattisgarh Bandh called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday to protest against the murder of a 23-year-old after a communal clash in Bemetara district evoked wide response across the state.

Businesses including petrol pumps and educational institutions remained closed in almost all areas.

Bandh supporters including from the VHP and BJP took to the streets in the morning and urged traders to support the protest.

Tension prevailed in village Biranpur and in Bemetara district amid reports of a crowd setting fire to a house.

State BJP chief Arun Sao was prevented from reaching Biranpur village to meet the family of the deceased. He sat on a protest at Saja in Bemetara and was later arrested to maintain law and order.

Durg Range IG Anand Chabra is camping in Bemetara.

Collector P.S. Alma said the assembly of five or more people has been banned in Biranpur. A total of 11 persons were arrested on charges of rioting.

The Collector urged representatives of the society and heads of organizations to maintain peace.

He said police forces have been deployed in Biranpur. Barricading was done in Biranpur village so that outsiders cannot enter the village.

He said FIRs have been filed against miscreants who tried to disrupt the law and order.
The AAP on Monday said it has collected more than 10 lakh signatures during its door-to-door campaign against the arrests of its leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain. Following this, a letter will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protest the arrest of Sisodia and Jain, the AAPs Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai said.

The party had launched the campaign on March 13 and decided to begin a door-to-door campaign throughout Delhi to demand the release of its senior leaders who have been lodged in jail by the central investigative agencies over fake cases. Our target was to collect 10 lakh signatures and we achieved it on Sunday. Our district incharges, Lok Sabha incharges and councillors were involved in the campaign. The party members and councilors visited around 2,800 polling stations in the 70 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Delhi and got the signatures from the people, Rai said.

Everyone knows that Sisodia and Jain were the people who transformed the education and healthcare system in the national capital, Rai claimed. Sisodia transformed the government schools while Jain gave the model of mohalla clinics. People are angry at the fact that these people have been put behind bars, he said during a press conference.

He also pointed out how the central investigative agencies raided the residence, office, bank locker and ancestral village Sisodia and yet found nothing to prove any crime. Similarly, multiple locations were raided in the case against Jain and yet nothing against him was found as well, but yet both of these ministers had been lodged in jail.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj thanked the people of Delhi for supporting the campaign. The CBI had on February 26 arrested Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

Jain was arrested in May last year by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.

Both resigned from the Delhi cabinet in February.
A Curtain-Raiser event of the International Conclave on Digital HR for "Capability Building in Metals & Mining Industry (CBMM 2023)" was held here on Monday MTI, SAIL, Ranchi. The tone was set by distinguished speakers Harsh Nath Mishra, Director (Personnel), CCL and Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Director (HRD), MTI. Ujjwal Bhaskar, Chief of Communications, SAIL Ranchi welcomed the media and anchored the event.

HN Mishra informed the august gathering of the tremendous impact potential of Digital AI technologies into the very fabric of our daily life. He opined that an EcoSystem is gradually evolving with statutory safeguards as the technology is disruptive with manifold Pros and Cons in the social, cultural and ethical milieu. However, the industry has to modulate these technologies professionally considering its mandates on profitability, productivity, quality, customer satisfaction etc. within a good Corporate Governance framework.

Sanjeev Kumar deliberated on the nuances of the technologies especially of the adoption of SMAC technologies, i.e. Social Mobile Analytics & Cloud by big corporations for leaner & agile organisations. These will optimise the operational efficiencies and provide great Customer Satisfaction. Answering a question from the media he opined that SAIL has already started implementing these emerging technologies and is poised to leverage these for reducing Carbon Footprints.

He informed that the conclave was organised by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), in association with Central Coalfields Limited (CCL-CIL), Manganese Ore India Limited (MOIL), Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), and National HRD Network, Ranchi Chapter, is organising an International Conclave on Digital HR for Capability Building in Metals & Mining industry on 12th  13th April 2023 at Management Training Institute (SAIL), Ranchi. More than 250 Delegates from various leading organisations, such as SAIL, CCL, CMPDIL, HCL, Maithan Ispat, RINL, MOIL, GAIL, HINDALCO, IBM, XISS, etc. will participate to share and discuss the challenges and progress of digital journey in their organizations.

The conclave has got huge support and sponsorship from various state of the art technology suppliers such as Schneider Electrics, Beldon, Fuji Electrics, RiT, Phoenix, Paloato, Johnson Controls, IBM, Lotus, Maco, Bharat Bijlee, Trend Micro, Sify, Mantra, etc.
In what could further sour the relations between the Raj Niwas and AAP dispensation, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday accused Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena of claiming credit for projects undertaken by the city Government. He said the Delhi Government will soon launch many projects and asked Saxena to visit them to claim their credit.

On Sunday, LG sahab went to supplementary drain in Wazirabad. Because of his visit, officials planted 1,000 saplings in plastic bags. This is sheer wastage of money. We can help LG with the list of projects that are underway, where he can go and claim credit, Bharadwaj said in a press conference. The AAP national spokesperson listed out several projects that will soon be started.

Very soon Delhis Mohalla e-bus scheme will be started. The buses must be parked somewhere. LG sahab can go and flag off these buses. Twenty of our new mohalla clinics are ready for inauguration. He can go there too.

Education Minister Atishi is expected to visit the IP University East Campus, where construction is going on. He can go there before her and claim credit. Two new blocks of Delhi Technological University are ready. They have sought time from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for inauguration. LG sir can go there and inaugurate the new blocks he said.

Bharadwaj on Sunday accused Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena of taking credit for the work being done by the city government to reduce the pollution load in the Yamuna river.
COVID preparedness review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Executive Director AIIMS Bhopal in Director's board room on Monday. The Dean academics, HoDs, Medical superintendent and the Deputy Medical Superintendants attended the meeting.

Medical Superintendant informed in the meeting that some oxygen beds are identified to be earmarked for COVID patients. He was instructed by the Director to display DOs and Don'ts posters in the OPDs for the health awareness regarding COVID prevention precautions by the patients and their attendants.

HoD pulmonary Medicine informed that on the pattern of last time management, the ICU beds will be earmarked in a phased manner for COVID patients who may need ICU care. HoD anesthesiology said in the meeting that the oxygen supply at the moment is sufficient to tackle any eventuality.

HoD trauma and Emergency said that the sample collection area is ready and the department takes swab samples of the patients who report to the department with strong suspicion of COVID infection. Sufficient RTPCR testing kits are available for time being in the department of microbiology and the department will be doing the sequencing of the positive cases, said the HoD of microbiology.

HoD General Medicine will convey the requirement of Medicines to the Medical superintendent so that sufficient inventory of Medicines is ensured in the hospital Stores and the Amrit pharmacy stores for any eventuality.

Executive Director said that although the situation is not alarming at the moment and the most of the patients who report to OPDs get treated on the OPD basis but as an Apex institutions AIIMS Bhopal will take all necessary measures from time to time to combat any challenge due to the COVID. Director also instructed to MS to conduct a mock drill for COVID preparedness. He passed on instructions to all the HoDs, MS and DMSs to prepare their department for any rise in number of COVID patients.
Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram Nishant Kumar Yadav inspected three health institutions during a mock drill organised on Monday regarding the preparedness to deal with Covid-19. On the first day of the two-day (April 10-11) nationwide mock drill, centers were set up at ESI Hospital Sector-9, Civil Hospital and SGT Medical College in Gurugram.

Yadav reviewed the necessary resources in ESI Hospital and Civil Hospital. Health officials said this mock drill will be conducted in the private hospitals on Tuesday. During the mock drill, the Deputy Commissioner instructed to make a portable Covid ward for Covid in Civil Hospital, Sector 10.

Along with this, he inspected three PSA plants of 500-250 and 750 LPM capacity installed in the hospital premises for self-sufficiency of oxygen. Apart from this, he also instructed the health department officials to increase the tests.

Giving information about the drill, Civil Surgeon Dr. Virender Yadav said that proper arrangements have been made for Covid patients in the civil hospital. The hospital has 174 beds available. Along with this, the capacity of the hospital will further increase with the formation of a portable Covid ward, he said.

The Haryana government has also issued instructions in this regard. Masks and social distancing should be followed in crowded places where 100 or more people gather.
The Delhi High Court asked the Centre and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) on Monday to state their stand in response to a petition alleging the closing down of the Kendriya Vidyalaya NTPC Badarpur.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma directed the authorities concerned not to close down the school and ensure that it is maintained properly, lawyer Ashok Agarwal, who appeared in the matter for petitioner NGO Social Jurist, said.

The counsel representing the KVS said the organisation has not taken any decision to close down the school.

However, the Education Ministry has taken a decision in this regard in consultation with the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is yet to be made known to it, the KVS counsel said.

The Bench, also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad, directed that the matter be listed for further consideration on July 27.

The petitioner has alleged that the authorities have contemplated closing down the Kendriya Vidyalaya NTPC Badarpur, which would have a major adverse impact on its students as well as the aspirants residing in the nearby areas. The petitioner said the shutting down of the school, which was opened in 1981-82 and was running as a project funded by the NTPC, would be in violation of the fundamental right to education as guaranteed to students and the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

It argued that there is no justification behind closing down a functional school only because the NTPC project has shut down.

The NTPC plant at Badarpur was shut down in October 2018. It is submitted that since 2018 and onwards, parents of the students studying in respondent Kendriya Vidyalaya NTPC Badarpur have been approaching respondent Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, respondent Ministry of Education and other authorities to stop the contemplated action of closing down the school, the plea filed through lawyer Kumar Utkarsh said.
The Supreme Court on Monday orally observed as to how can the Lieutenant-Governor (LG) act without aid and advice of the Council of Ministers in nominating 10 members to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

The top court, which had earlier issued a notice on the plea of the Delhi Government, granted 10 days to the Office of the LG, represented by Additional Solicitor-General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, to file the response to the petition seeking quashing of the nomination of the 10 members. How can the LG take the decision without aid and advice of the Council of Ministers? This has to be exercised on the aid and advice..., a Bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala said.

The ASG, at the outset, said an amendment to Section 44 of the GNCTD Act (the Government of National Capital Territory Act) was made after the 2018 judgement of a constitution bench of the top court.

In view of the amendment, a notification, which is under challenge in a separate petition, was issued, the law officer said, adding that the response by way of an affidavit will be filed. Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the Delhi government, opposed the submissions saying they were patently wrong and the constitutional interpretation of Article 239AA (which deals with Delhi) by the Supreme Court cannot be negated by amending a statute.

He alleged the Delhi government officers were emboldened as they were sending the files directly to the office of the LG without first sharing them with the Delhi government. This way, every time we have to come to the court for relief and they are enjoying the power. The statute cannot change the constitutional interpretation, he said, adding that strictures be passed against the Delhi government officers.

This MCD is divided into 12 zones and each zone has a ward committee and each committee gets a nominated aldermen to sit. So what is there by electoral majority is nullified by the aldermen and thus standing committee is chosen. The whole object is patently illegal, Singhvi said. The bench said it will list the petition.

Earlier, the top court had sought a response from the office of the LG on the plea. In the petition filed through lawyer Shadan Farasat, the Arvind Kejriwal government has challenged the decision of the LG to nominate the members allegedly without the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

The bench had taken note of the submissions of Singhvi and issued notice to the Office of Lieutenant Governor through its principal secretary for April 10. Last month, the top court had ensured the polls for mayor and deputy mayor were held after getting deferred thrice amid chaos by making it clear that the 10 nominated members of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi cannot vote in the mayoral election.

Besides seeking quashing of the nominations, the plea has sought a direction to the LGs office to nominate members to the MCD under Section 3(3)(b)(i) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act..., in accordance with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

This petition has been filed by the elected government of the NCT of Delhi seeking inter alia quashing of orders dated..., and consequent gazette notifications ..., whereby the Lieutenant Governor has illegally appointed 10 (ten) nominated members to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on his own initiative, and not on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, the plea said.
A 22-year-old youth was robbed of his mobile phone by a miscreant near Barkhedi railway crossing while travelling in train on Sunday; Jehangirabad police station have started investigation. Police said that the victim Vivek Vishwakarma was robbed while he was on his way to Vidisha by train.

The victim border Jhelam Express from Rani Kamlapati station and when the train reached Barkhedi crossing a miscreant snatched his mobile while the victim was talking over mobile phone.

Victim was travelling in a general compartment and he travels daily for work from Vidisha in the night. He works as a security guard in Bhopal. After work he leaves in the morning for home.

Based on the complaint after the preliminary investigation the police have registered a case under section 392 of the IPC and started searching for the accused.

Police suspect that the miscreants would be those of the nearby area and target those passengers travelling in the train talking over the phone. During the further investigation police would search for details of miscreants in the footage of CCTV cameras installed in the area, said police.

The number of mobile robbery and other thefts would be revealed after the accused is arrested and a gang of robbers might be revealed in the further action. The help of GRP and RPF would be taken in the further investigation,said police.


--After they flee from TN kiln



: Thirteen migrant workers of Jambahali village of Nuapada district fled from a brick kiln of Tamil Nadu on March 24 complaining of lack of treatment for their ill health in the kiln. However, presently, they are in constant fear and are afraid of going out of their village as a local contractor is threatening them of dire consequences if they do not return the advance paid to them.



Advance money is paid to the labourers well before they set out for the destination area as a sort of a contract to work there. Especially, the Sardar or labour contractor make the labourers agree to migrate from their villages by paying some money in advance when the latter are in need of money.



"The second Sardar - Chhabi Majhi of Sunapur village- is coming to our village everyday with some rowdy people and threatening us in abusive language demanding return of Rs 2.25 lakh, said Jamuna Kand. "We joined the kiln on December 12 and worked there for three months twelve days working overtime @ 10 hours every day. The wretched living conditions and forced overtime labour work resulted in deterioration of our health conditions. How could we have continued there when the employer didn't provide us with a health facility?" the workers said.



According to the workers, the Sardar had asked them to work in a brick kiln in Tukuguda but took them to a kiln named Anand Brick near Minjur, a town located on the outskirts of north Chennai. "The kiln was new to us; the employer didn't understand our language; so, we could not communicate our problem. We were being given Rs 200 a week each for fooding out of which Rs 60 was spent towards bus fare to visit the Minjur market for purchase of ration. How could we have sustained that meagre amount, when our health conditions deteriorated?" they rued.



The workers said that they have lodged a complaint against the local Sardar who is threatening them.


A case has been registered against the organisers of a Hindu Rashtra Panchayat held in north-east Delhi, which was rocked by the 2020 riots, for not taking permission to hold the meeting. According to police, the panchayat, held on Sunday, gave a call for making north-east Delhi the first Hindu Rashtra district of the country and asked its residents not to sell or rent out their properties to minorities.

A senior police official said a case has been registered against the organisers under IPC section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) as they did not take permission for holding the meet.

Once more facts emerge during the investigation, action will be taken accordingly, another police officer said. The meet in northeast Delhi was organised by BJP leader and Hindu United Front head Jai Bhagwan Goyal and attended by BJP Parliamentary Board member and former Union minister Satyanarayan Jatiya and former north Delhi mayor Awatar Singh among others.

A Delhi BJP spokesperson said the event did not have the approval of the party and that Goyal was not holding any party post.

Addressing the gathering on Sunday, Goyal said no Hindu should sell or rent out his or her houses or shops to members of other religions. We will first make north-east Delhi a Hindu Rashtra district and then the entire country a Hindu Rashtra, he said. In February 2020, riots in northeast Delhi left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.

Referring to the north-east Delhi riots, Goyal alleged that there was a plan to turn the area into a mini Pakistan.
Sayaji Hotels launched its another property Effotel by Sayaji at Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal. This hotel is a stand out product for the Bhopal market, being 6th in Madhya Pradesh and 22nd in the country.

Guests will be offered an immersive experience with 63 well-appointed rooms, spacious conference halls of 2700 sq.ft, 1900 sq.ft and a well-equipped business board room along with a buffet restaurant and other amenities.

On the occasion, Raoof Dhanani, Managing Director, Sayaji Group of Hotels told media persons, "Bhopal has huge business potential with numerous large and medium industries operating in and around the city. We are looking to add more hotels to our existing portfolio in Madhya Pradesh which will further cater to the needs of business and leisure travelers".

Sayaji Hotels is India's premier upscale lifestyle hospitality brand, renowned for its bespoke experiences, signature hospitality, and ushering new standards of opulence in the 4-star and 5-star hotels category. Each of the properties boasts luxurious rooms with a host of banqueting and F&B facilities.
After taking rein as district collector of the state capital, Ashish Singh has imposed section 144 of the CrPC in Bhopal on the arbitrariness of schools. Under this, stern action would be taken against the schools that put pressure on purchasing uniforms and books from a specified store; DEO-SDM will investigate any such cases.

Section 144 has been imposed on the arbitrariness of private schools in the capital Bhopal. Strict action will now be taken against the school operators for pressurizing the parents to buy uniforms and books from the same shop.

Collector Ashish Singh issued the order on Monday asking DEO and SDM to investigate. Parents can also complain to the officers. Notably, similar order was issued in Gwalior district on Sunday.

Bhopal Collector has issued orders under section 144 to end the monopoly of private school operators, book publishers and booksellers. Now the operators of the private schools of the city will not be able to force the students or parents to buy uniforms, shoes, ties, books, notebooks etc. from the designated shops only. Nor can you be forced to buy the entire set of books.

Surprisingly, all schools have opened since April 03 and in such a situation, most of the parents have already bought uniforms and books. In the present situation, it is almost impossible that the administration would get any complaint now.

Collector Singh has instructed all SDMs and DEOs that prohibitory orders under section 144 continue in the district. Under which no educational institution, school management will force its students to buy books, books and stationery items from any particular institution, shop nor will give any such instructions. If a complaint is received against any school or institution, disciplinary action should be taken against it.

At present parents in Bhopal are forced to buy expensive uniforms and books. Because of this they have to pay the asking price. Sets of books from 1st to 8th are available from 2500 to 6000 rupees.
Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar alleged that the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress were trying to instill fear of Bharatiya Janata Party among the Muslims.

He said the three parties were particularly targeting the Pasmanda Muslims who belong to Other Backward Classes.

Rajbhar said these parties, when in power, never cared for the Muslims or any other section of society and now they had suddenly developed affection for the Muslims.

He said the SP, the BSP and the Congress were rattled by the prospects of Pasmanda Muslim vote shifting towards the BJP during the election of urban local bodies.

The BJP with its Muslim outreach programme is trying to win the support of the Pasmanda Muslims and other castes among the Muslims like Muslim Jat, Muslim Tyagi and Muslim Rajput.

Rajbhar said SP president Akhilesh Yadav was suddenly gripped by love and affection for the Dalit community. He pointed out that Akhilesh Yadav as chief minister had changed the name of Kanshiram Nagar district as Kasganj.

If Akhilesh Yadav is so concerned for the welfare and empowerment of the Dalit community then his party should forge alliance with the BSP and project Mayawati as the next prime minister of India, Rajbhar said and added, If Akhilesh Yadav is unable to mend fences with Mayawati then he should project some other face from the Dalit community for the office of the prime minister.

The SBSP president said his party would not enter into alliance with any political party and would go to the urban local bodies polls on its own. He said his party would field candidates in eastern UP district, only in those towns where it had sizeable support base.
Amidst the rising cases of Corona in the country and the state, a mock drill was conducted at Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal regarding preparations to deal with Corona.

Medical Education Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang reviewed the arrangements during the mock drill. He told that complete arrangements have been made in the Covid Hospital so that the Corona infected patients can get treatment within the stipulated time. The situation of Corona in Madhya Pradesh is currently under control, the state government is fully prepared to deal with any kind of situation. After the mock drill, Minister Sarang held a review meeting with senior officers and gave necessary instructions.

In the presence of Minister Sarang, the dummy patient brought from the Life Support Ambulance was taken to the Covid Dedicated Ward on a stretcher with an oxygen mask. There he was registered in casualty and taken to the ventilator bed in the ICU.

During this entire process, the time was recorded using a stop watch. It took 2:59 minutes to transport the patient from ambulance to casualty and less than 5 minutes from casualty to ICU.

Minister Sarang said that the situation of Corona in the state is completely under control. At present, there is no need to hospitalize the Corona infected patients. All the patients are in home isolation and continuous consultations are being given through telemedicine. Along with this, their condition is also being recorded. He also appealed to the citizens to wear masks and avoid going to crowded areas.

Minister Sarang also observed the mock drill of oxygen plant at Hamidia Hospital. He told that the capacity of the oxygen plant is 2 thousand LPM. The plant is being monitored 24 hours. GPS system has been installed for monitoring. Every activity is being monitored through this system. He said that to deal with the possible threat of Corona, mock drills would be done every month at the oxygen plant for adequate availability of oxygen in the hospitals.

After the mock drill, Minister Sarang took a meeting of senior officials at Gandhi Medical College regarding preparations related to Corona. It was told that there are 35 labs in the state, whose testing capacity is 1 lakh 24 thousand per day. On the other hand, 20 thousand tests can be done daily in medical colleges.

There are 42 thousand 974 Covid beds available in the state. Out of these 13 medical colleges have 8 thousand 459 Covid beds. Minister Shri Sarang also reviewed the capacity of the oxygen plant in the state. It was informed that 215 PSA plants are operational. From these, 1 lakh 21 thousand liters of oxygen can be made per minute. So far 13 crore 39 lakh vaccines have been administered in the state.

During the review, Minister Sarang expressed satisfaction over the preparations and gave necessary instructions. Director Medical Education Dr AK Srivastava, Commissioner Bhopal Division Mal Singh Bhadiya, Dean Gandhi Medical College Dr Arvind Rai, Hamidia Hospital Superintendent Dr Ashish Gohiya and senior officers were present.
A Telugu Socio-Cultural Association since 1972 of Telugu employees working in MECON & SAIL residing with their families in Shyamali and Satellite colony has organised Golden Jubilee Celebration (1972-2022) & Ugadi (Telugu New Year) on 9th April, 2023 at MECON, Community hall to commemorate 50 years of its existence.

The program started by welcoming the guests followed with delicious Telugu style breakfast served from 9.30 AM onwards.

The main event started with welcome song by Dr. Vaishnavi and Lighting the lamp by our Guests of Honour TGK Murthy (Senior Ex-Pragathi Member), P. Rajendra Naidu (Forest Conservative, IFS, Ranchi), Dr. Bhavana (Sr. Scientist, ICAR, Ranchi), Dr. MRS Murthy (Associate Professor & Assistant Registrar (I/c), NUSRL, Ranchi) and Dr. K. Syamala (Associate Professor, Director (Reasearch & Training, NUSRL, Ranchi) along with family of President & Secretary of PRAGATHI.

Dr. VVSN Pinakapani, President - PRAGATHI & Sr.GM (Env), MECON addressed the gathering with his opening remarks.

TGK Murthy delivered an inspiring and message oriented speech to the audience and released E-PRAGATHI souvenir to commemorate legacy of 50 years of PRAGATHI existence. Felicitation was done to Guests of honour as a mark of respect. Memories of Ex-PRAGATHI members were displayed during the event. KK Rao, EX-Pragathi member read Ugadi Panchanga Sravanam as a mark to Telugu New year.

More than 150 members attended the event where, Telugu officials from CMPDI, CCL, GAIL and Ex-Pragathi members from Ranchi as well as from other parts of the country have attended this event.

Further, telugu students from BIT-Mesra, IIIT and NIFFT have participated in the event. Young and energetic children's, ladies and gents of PRAGATHI as well as children of Guest of honour participated in the cultural programs such as singing, solo dances, group dance, riddles and skits. Mementoes were presented to EX-Pragathi members, Guests of honour and PRAGATHI families as a mark of Golden Jubilee celebrations. Vote of Thanks was addressed by V. Gopinath, Secretary, Pragathi and Sr. Manager (I&QA), MECON. The Programme concluded with lunch packed with Telugu traditional dishes.
Meerut was rocked with a series of sensational murders in which a former chairman's nephew was sprayed with bullets while two more, including a lady, were killed in a separate incident.

The killing of the former chairman's nephew also sparked tension in the area and a heavy police force was camping there to avert any untoward incident.

According to reports, a heavy police force was deployed in Palda village on Monday after tensions prevailed following the murder of a 24-year-old nephew of a former chairman on Sunday.

Sources confirmed that relatives of the deceased torched fields that belonged to the accused of a different community.

Police officials, who staged a flag march in the Hastinapur block, later said the situation was under control.

Several roads were blocked and restrictions were placed on the movement of people inside the block, especially those from outside the village.

The victim was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants in Palda village of Meerut on Sunday. According to the police station in-charge, the incident took place when the youth, identified as Vishnu, was sitting with a friend near a primary school in the village. Five shots were fired at him by the assailants.

After the fatal attack, the youth was rushed to a hospital, where the doctors pronounced him dead.

Soon, the relatives of the deceased blocked the road stretch, demanding justice for the youth and arrest of the killers. The police detained several persons from the spot.

According to the locals in the village, members of different communities of the victim and the assailants had earlier also scuffled during Holi celebrations. However, the situation was controlled.

Commenting on the incident, Meeruts Senior Superintendent of Police Rohit Singh said the motorcycle-borne assailants had fired shots at three people sitting on the boundary wall of a school in the village. Of the three people, one died of bullet injuries, he said.

"The police have detained several people in the case, while further investigations are underway," Singh said.

Meanwhile, two persons, including a woman, were shot dead in Salempur village after an argument among children escalated, leading to a heated exchange of words and scuffle among the elders, officials said on Monday.

Mehraj and Iqbal, both residents of the village, had a fight on Sunday following an argument among their children, police said.

"Mehraj (35) was shot at when he had gone to offer namaz at the village mosque. He was rushed to a hospital where he died during treatment," Superintendent of Police (Rural) Kamlesh Bahadur said.

Following this, some people reached Iqbal`s house and fired at his wife, Afroz (45). She was taken to a private hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, the police officer said.

The district police chief said that family members of both sides were absconding following the incident.

A case has been registered against six members of each side and efforts are on to arrest them, he said.
M Shivraj Singh Chouhan paid tribute to the great freedom fighter and former Prime Minister of the country, Bharat Ratna Late Morarji Desai on his death anniversary. CM garlanded Desais portrait in the auditorium located at the residence office and offered floral tributes. Chouhan also remembered his struggle and contribution in the freedom movement to re-creation of the nation.
Don't mess around with my authority, an angry Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud Tuesday warned a lawyer when he mentioned a case for early hearing before a Supreme Court bench presided over by him.

The CJI, who rarely loses his cool during judicial proceedings, got irked when the lawyer first sought an early hearing of his case and, after being told that it will be listed on April 17, asked for liberty to mention it before another bench.

I can mention before another bench if permitted, the lawyer said.

Do not play these tricks with me. You can't mention it here and then elsewhere for an earlier date, the CJI, who was sharing the bench with justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, said.

Sensing the mood of the bench, the lawyer expressed regret and said he should be be excused for his submissions.

Yes, you are excused. But do not mess around with my authority, the CJI said sternly and proceeded to hear mentioning of other cases for urgent hearing.

Every morning, the CJI-led bench hears around 100 cases on an average for their urgent listing before benches in the Supreme Court.
Disregarding a warning issued to him by the Congress, former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot sat on a daylong fast at the Shaheed Smarak here on Tuesday to demand action in cases of alleged corruption related to the previous BJP government in the state.

With this, Pilot has opened a front against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, with whom he has been at loggerheads ever since the Congress formed the government in the desert state in December 2018.

Pilot was the Rajasthan Congress chief when the party came to power in the state.

Unfazed by the warning of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who said any such protest against the state government would amount to anti-party activity and go against the party's interest, Pilot launched his fast.

He offered floral tributes to social reformer Jyotirao Phule at his portrait and then launched his fast at 11 am. The fast will continue till 4 pm.

A banner put up at the venue of Pilot's gitation read -- "Vasundhara Sarkar Me Hue Bhrastachar ke Viruddh Anshan". The song "Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye" was also being played in the background.

No incumbent MLA of the ruling party went to the venue of the fast as they were asked by Pilot not to come, but several other leaders and his supporters, including former MLAs Santosh Saharan and Ramnarayan Gurjar, were present.

Before arriving at the Shaheed Smarak, Pliot went to the 22 Godown Circle from his residence and offered tributes to Phule at his statue.

Pilot announced his decision to sit on a fast at a press conference here on Sunday. He also targeted the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan for not taking action against alleged corruption of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, led by Vasundhara Raje.

Pilot's agitation amid a factional feud in the Congress is being seen as an attempt to put pressure on the party high-command to resolve the leadership issue in the state ahead of the Assembly polls due by the year-end.

Taking strong objection to the proposed "dharna" by Pilot, Randhawa issued a statement on Monday night, saying the former Union minister's daylong fast would be against the party's interests.

"If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed at party forums instead of in the media and in public," Randhawa said.

He said he has been the AICC in-charge of Rajasthan for five months and Pilot never discussed any such issue with him during this period.

"This is clearly anti-party activity. I am in touch with him (Pilot) and I still appeal for dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress," Randhawa said.

The tussle between Gehlot and Pilot began during the formation of the government in December 2018 over the chief minister's post.

The Congress high-command appointed Gehlot to the top post for a third time and Pilot was made his deputy.

In July 2020, Pilot and a section of Congress MLAs rebelled openly against Gehlot, demanding a change of leadership in the state. It led to a month-long political crisis that ended after the party high-command's assurance to look into the issues raised by Pilot.

Following the revolt by Pilot and 18 other MLAs, Gehlot used terms such as "gaddar" (traitor), "nakara" (failure) and "nikamma" (worthless) for his former deputy and accused him of being involved with BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government in the state.

Pilot has been demanding that the party leadership take action on the issues raised by him.

In September last year, a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting was convened at the chief minister' residence to pass a one-line resolution authorising the party high-command to take a decision on a change in the state leadership as Gehlot was in the race for the party president's post.

However, the meeting could not take place because a parallel meeting was convened at the residence of the state parliamentary affairs minister, where many of the Congress MLAs offered their resignation letters addressed to the Assembly speaker against any move of the party high-command to make Pilot the new chief minister.

Right before former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan from Madhya Pradesh in November last year, Gehlot again targeted Pilot, calling him a "gaddar" in an interview with a television news channel.

Pilot responded to it, saying it does not befit his upbringing to use such language.
India on Tuesday firmly rejected China's objection to Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and asserted that the state "was, is and will" always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the reality.

"We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India," Bagchi said.

"Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality," he said.

Bagchi was responding to media queries on the Chinese reaction.

In a clear message to China from the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, Shah on Monday had said no one can dare cast an evil eye on India's territorial integrity and encroach even an "inch of our land."

He said said the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of India was over.
Apple will next week open its first retail store in India, in signs of importance the iPhone manufacturer attaches to the world's fastest growing smartphones market.

The company will open its first official store in Mumbai on April 18 and the second in Delhi on April 20.

The company at present sells its products in India through exclusive Apple Premium Reseller (APR) stores, large format retail chains like Reliance Digital, Croma etc, mutli-brand retail stores and through e-commerce platforms.

"Today Apple announced it will open its doors to customers at two new retail locations in India: Apple BKC in Mumbai on April 18, and Apple Saket in Delhi on April 20," the company said.

The barricade for Apple Saket was revealed this morning and features a unique design that takes inspiration from Delhi's many gates, each signifying a new chapter to the city's storied past, Apple said.

In celebration of the first Apple store opening in India, Apple BKC announced a special Today at Apple series  Mumbai Rising  running from opening day through the summer.

"Bringing visitors, local artists, and creatives together, these sessions will offer hands-on activities with Apple's products and services that celebrate the local community and culture in Mumbai," it said.

According to CyberMedia Research (CMR) , Apple captured 4 per cent market share in India with 17 per cent year-on-year increase in its shipments in 2022.

CMR, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, Prabhu Ram said offline retail is a critical touchpoint in India, especially for a majority of Indian consumers who love to touch, feel and explore the products, before making their device purchase considerations.

"For Apple, the Apple BKC and Apple Saket flagship stores are pivotal to turbocharge Apple's future growth in a strategic market. Apple's retail stores globally set a standard in terms of consumer experience, staff knowledge and expertise, and the service standards, beyond products," Ram said.

He said the Apple flagship stores enjoy some strong tailwinds, with the premium smartphone segment in India growing in double digits. Apple shipped USD 6 billion worth smartphones in 2022 comprising 79 per cent of iPhones in the super-premium (Rs 50,000-Rs 1 lakh) smartphone segment, according to CMR.

The Unbiased Blog Founder Nikhil Chawla said the launch of official Apple stores in India completes the holistic Apple experience.

"Consumers would now be able to experience the entire ecosystem of Apple products, accessories and customisation options under one roof.Finally, people in India can spend hours at a technology store without being forced to buy something," Chawla said.

He said consumers at the Apple store could get to learn something new by signing up for programmes like 'Today at Apple', getting help setting up devices, and migrating from Windows or Android to the Apple ecosystem.

"Also, note that India is becoming a preferred manufacturing base for some Apple products, including iPhones," Chawla said.

Apple has over 100 APR stores in India that sell Apple products only.
Thousands of Israelis led by at least seven Cabinet ministers marched on 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, Israel 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.Mondays 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 unauthorised 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 US 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 Knesset were taking part in the march. Speaking at the march, Ben-Gvir said that we are here to say that the Israeli nation is strong and that we are here and will remain here. 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 Mondays 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. 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 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 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.
A joint session of Pakistans 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 justices 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 Commissions decision to extend the date of the poll from April 10 to October 8.

The apex courts 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 Khans 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.
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 agencys 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 Afghanistans 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 agencys 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 worlds biggest humanitarian crisis.
A year after his ouster as the prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan on Monday said that he was cautioned by the ruler of a Gulf nation last year that then Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was conspiring to topple his government.

Last year in April, Khan was ousted as the prime minister of Pakistan and his government toppled through a no-confidence motion brought in Parliament by the opposition parties led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). On Sunday, Khan, who is the chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), issued a white paper on the one-year performance of the PML-N-led coalition and termed it the worst in the countrys history.

Before the no-confidence motion against me was tabled in April last year, the ruler of a Gulf country told me that my Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was conspiring against my government to get his extension (from the PML-N and its allies). Bajwa was a mastermind of this conspiracy, Khan claimed. He criticised Bajwa for destroying Pakistan merely for his extension which he could not get despite a promise by (prime minister) Shehbaz Sharif.

Things have revealed later that the conspiracy to overthrow my government was not hatched by the US. Gen Bajwa hired former envoy to US Hussain Haqqani to launch propaganda that Gen Bajwa was pro-America and Imran Khan was anti-America, Khan said.

Following his removal, Khan had initially blamed the US for playing a role in his governments toppling. However, later he held Gen. Bajwa responsible for the conspiracy which resulted in his ouster. Months before his retirement in November last year, Gen Bajwa had repeatedly said that he was not seeking another extension in service.

He also made it clear that the Pakistan Army has decided to distance itself from the countrys politics.
BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:BFZ  Get Rating) major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 9,210 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 6th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $11.76 per share, with a total value of $108,309.60. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 3,617,332 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,539,824.32. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Saba Capital Management, L.P. also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, April 4th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 15,288 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $11.69 per share, with a total value of $178,716.72.

On Tuesday, March 28th, Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 26,517 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The stock was bought at an average price of $11.42 per share, for a total transaction of $302,824.14.

On Thursday, March 23rd, Saba Capital Management, L.P. bought 27,924 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $11.21 per share, with a total value of $313,028.04.

On Tuesday, March 21st, Saba Capital Management, L.P. purchased 54,414 shares of BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of $11.38 per share, with a total value of $619,231.32.

BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Stock Up 0.8 %

BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust stock traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $11.86. 62,943 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 86,065. BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust has a fifty-two week low of $10.03 and a fifty-two week high of $11.92.

BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust Announces Dividend

About BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust

The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a $0.039 dividend. This represents a $0.47 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th.

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BlackRock California Municipal Income Trust is a closed-end investment fund. Its investment objective is to provide current income exempt from Federal and California income taxes. The company seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and California income taxes.

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Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) (TSE:DEE  Get Rating) shares were down 7.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as C$0.33 and last traded at C$0.35. Approximately 29,072 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 29% from the average daily volume of 40,712 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.38.

Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) Price Performance

The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$0.35. The stock has a market cap of C$8.41 million and a PE ratio of -0.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 140.95, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.63.

Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) Company Profile

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Delphi Energy Corp., an oil and natural gas company, explores for, develops, and produces crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Western Canada. The company primarily holds interests in the Bigstone Montney property located in the Deep Basin of Northwest Alberta. It distributes natural gas through Alliance pipeline system in Chicago.

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Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL  Get Rating) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a note issued to investors on Monday.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the company. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $20.00 price objective on shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. from $6.50 to $7.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.75.

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Greenhill & Co., Inc. Trading Down 10.5 %

GHL stock traded down $0.82 on Monday, hitting $7.02. 91,719 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 68,473. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.33, a current ratio of 2.50 and a quick ratio of 2.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $128.54 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -100.29 and a beta of 1.21. Greenhill & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $5.64 and a twelve month high of $15.21. The businesss fifty day moving average is $10.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $9.78.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Greenhill & Co., Inc.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. ( NYSE:GHL Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The financial services provider reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $95.82 million during the quarter. Greenhill & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 1.27% and a return on equity of 4.87%.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky purchased a new stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. during the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Barclays PLC increased its stake in Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 139.0% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 3,456 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 2,010 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 1st quarter worth $40,000. Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter valued at about $62,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter valued at about $63,000. 74.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. Company Profile

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Greenhill & Co, Inc is an independent investment bank, which engages in the provision of financial and strategic advice. It specializes in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, and capital raising. The company was founded by Robert F. Greenhill in 1996 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Shares of Indra Sistemas, S.A. (OTCMKTS:ISMAY  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $6.13 and last traded at $6.13, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $6.13.

Indra Sistemas Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $5.89 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $5.04. The stock has a market cap of $2.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.72 and a beta of 0.96.

Indra Sistemas Company Profile

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Indra Sistemas SA is a global consulting, technology, innovation, and talent company, which engages providing information technology services. The company offers consulting services & outsourcing of business processes. It also provides solutions & services for the transport & traffic, energy industry, public administration, healthcare, financial services, security & defence and telecom & media sectors.

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Mediaset Espana Comunicacion, S.A. (OTCMKTS:GETVY  Get Rating)s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $4.14 and last traded at $4.14, with a volume of 0 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.14.

Mediaset Espana Comunicacion Stock Performance

The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $4.14 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.88.

About Mediaset Espana Comunicacion

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Mediaset Espana Comunicacion, SA, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the television broadcasting business in Spain. The company operates seven television channels comprising TELECINCO, FactorAa de FicciAn, BOING, Cuatro, Divinity, Energy, and Be Mad. It is also involved in the production and broadcast of audiovisual content; provision of news agency services; exploitation of advertising space on television channels; and advertising promotion activities.

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Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY  Get Rating) had its price objective increased by Wells Fargo & Company from $64.00 to $65.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Mizuho boosted their target price on Occidental Petroleum from $82.00 to $83.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $76.00 to $69.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 19th. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Occidental Petroleum from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their target price for the stock from $63.00 to $70.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Roth Capital restated a neutral rating on shares of Occidental Petroleum in a report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $71.00 to $62.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Occidental Petroleum presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $74.50.

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Occidental Petroleum Price Performance

Shares of NYSE OXY opened at $64.09 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $61.42 and a two-hundred day moving average of $64.87. The company has a market capitalization of $57.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.18, a PEG ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.78. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. Occidental Petroleum has a twelve month low of $51.53 and a twelve month high of $77.13.

Occidental Petroleum Increases Dividend

Occidental Petroleum ( NYSE:OXY Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.61 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.83 by ($0.22). The business had revenue of $8.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.21 billion. Occidental Petroleum had a net margin of 35.87% and a return on equity of 52.68%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 97.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.48 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Occidental Petroleum will post 5.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th will be paid a $0.18 dividend. This is a boost from Occidental Petroleums previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.12%. Occidental Petroleums payout ratio is presently 5.82%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Occidental Petroleum news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc acquired 1,678,017 shares of Occidental Petroleum stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $61.56 per share, with a total value of $103,298,726.52. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 198,392,755 shares in the company, valued at $12,213,057,997.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Over the last quarter, insiders have bought 12,371,716 shares of company stock worth $735,557,715. Insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. bought a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the 1st quarter worth $334,000. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum by 47.2% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 55,697 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $3,160,000 after purchasing an additional 17,859 shares during the period. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in shares of Occidental Petroleum during the 1st quarter worth about $1,124,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Occidental Petroleum during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $313,000. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. grew its holdings in Occidental Petroleum by 12.4% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 54,540 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $3,094,000 after buying an additional 6,018 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.45% of the companys stock.

Occidental Petroleum Company Profile

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Occidental Petroleum Corp. engages in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. The Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops and produces oil and condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas.

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Pure Storage (NYSE:PSTG  Get Rating) was upgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on PSTG. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Pure Storage from $38.00 to $32.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $40.00 target price on shares of Pure Storage in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. UBS Group dropped their price target on Pure Storage from $33.00 to $31.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on shares of Pure Storage from $37.00 to $31.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, KeyCorp dropped their target price on shares of Pure Storage from $39.00 to $35.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $36.58.

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Pure Storage Trading Up 1.6 %

PSTG stock traded up $0.42 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $26.04. 5,353,622 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,402,372. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $26.90 and a 200 day simple moving average of $27.90. The company has a market cap of $8.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 124.00, a P/E/G ratio of 14.40 and a beta of 1.22. Pure Storage has a one year low of $21.90 and a one year high of $32.45.

Insider Activity at Pure Storage

Pure Storage ( NYSE:PSTG Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 1st. The technology company reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.10 by $0.17. Pure Storage had a net margin of 2.65% and a return on equity of 16.59%. The company had revenue of $810.21 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $811.30 million. Analysts forecast that Pure Storage will post 0.19 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, CRO Dan Fitzsimons sold 28,481 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.49, for a total transaction of $697,499.69. Following the completion of the sale, the executive now directly owns 192,530 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,715,059.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 6.80% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pure Storage by 121.7% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 21,660 shares of the technology companys stock worth $765,000 after acquiring an additional 11,891 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new stake in Pure Storage during the first quarter worth approximately $233,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Pure Storage during the first quarter valued at approximately $596,000. Synovus Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Pure Storage by 1.7% in the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 43,894 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,547,000 after purchasing an additional 744 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Pure Storage by 0.7% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,035,914 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $36,582,000 after purchasing an additional 6,756 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.96% of the companys stock.

About Pure Storage

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Pure Storage, Inc engages in the provision of flash-based storage solutions. Its technology replaces storage systems designed for mechanical disks with all-flash systems optimized end-to-end for solid-state memory. The company was founded by John Hayes and John Colgrove in October 2009 and is headquartered in Mountain View, CA.

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Sierra Metals Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:SMTS  Get Rating) shares traded down 5% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $0.20 and last traded at $0.20. 625,400 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 51% from the average session volume of 413,899 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.21.

Sierra Metals Trading Down 5.0 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.60 and a beta of 1.05.

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Institutional Trading of Sierra Metals

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SMTS. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Sierra Metals by 5.8% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,885,301 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,125,000 after purchasing an additional 378,500 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new stake in Sierra Metals in the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, UBS Group AG lifted its position in shares of Sierra Metals by 158.3% during the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 42,705 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 26,172 shares in the last quarter. 54.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Sierra Metals

Sierra Metals Inc, together with its subsidiaries, focuses on the production, exploration, and development of precious and base metals in Peru and Mexico. It primarily focuses on exploration of silver, copper, lead, zinc, and gold deposits. The company's flagship property is the 81.84% owned polymetallic Yauricocha Mine covering an area of 18,778 hectares located in the Yauyos province in Peru.

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Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (NYSE:AXTA  Get Rating) has been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the nineteen analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have issued a hold recommendation and eleven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $31.36.

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup upgraded shares of Axalta Coating Systems from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from $30.29 to $35.19 in a research report on Monday, January 30th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Axalta Coating Systems from $29.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Axalta Coating Systems from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. TheStreet upgraded Axalta Coating Systems from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Axalta Coating Systems from $23.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 30th.

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Axalta Coating Systems Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of AXTA opened at $29.92 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.45, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.94. The company has a market cap of $6.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.79, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.43. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $29.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $26.66. Axalta Coating Systems has a 52-week low of $20.66 and a 52-week high of $32.56.

Insider Buying and Selling at Axalta Coating Systems

Axalta Coating Systems ( NYSE:AXTA Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.22 billion. Axalta Coating Systems had a return on equity of 23.50% and a net margin of 3.92%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.30 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Axalta Coating Systems will post 1.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other Axalta Coating Systems news, Director William M. Cook acquired 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $29.55 per share, with a total value of $73,875.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 4,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $132,975. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Axalta Coating Systems news, Director William M. Cook purchased 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $29.55 per share, for a total transaction of $73,875.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 4,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at $132,975. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Chris Villavarayan purchased 34,440 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $29.20 per share, for a total transaction of $1,005,648.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 34,440 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,005,648. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 0.50% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Axalta Coating Systems by 1.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,744,832 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $436,886,000 after purchasing an additional 284,713 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners raised its position in Axalta Coating Systems by 4.7% in the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 17,892,171 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $458,445,000 after buying an additional 803,925 shares during the last quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC raised its position in Axalta Coating Systems by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 16,664,259 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $350,950,000 after buying an additional 827,684 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in Axalta Coating Systems by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,849,808 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $333,799,000 after acquiring an additional 168,389 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Axalta Coating Systems by 32.9% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 11,883,465 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $302,672,000 after acquiring an additional 2,944,248 shares during the last quarter.

Axalta Coating Systems Company Profile

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Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. engages in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of coatings systems. It operates through the Performance Coatings and Mobility Coatings business segments. The Performance Coatings segment provides liquid and powder coatings solutions to a fragmented and local customer base.

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BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc (LON:BRLA  Get Rating) announced a dividend on Monday, April 3rd, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be given a dividend of $0.06 per share on Tuesday, May 16th. This represents a yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. The official announcement can be seen at this link.

BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust Trading Up 3.8 %

Shares of BRLA opened at GBX 358 ($4.43) on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of 105.43 million, a P/E ratio of 1,045.45 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 362.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 374.92. BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust has a 1 year low of GBX 330 ($4.09) and a 1 year high of GBX 457 ($5.66). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.63, a current ratio of 0.09 and a quick ratio of 0.09.

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BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust Company Profile

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BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock Fund Managers Limited. The fund is managed by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. It invests in public equity markets of Latin America. The fund invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Shares of Coca-Cola HBC AG (OTCMKTS:CCHGY  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $28.93 and last traded at $28.57, with a volume of 5555 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $27.44.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Credit Suisse Group cut their target price on Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,600 ($32.20) to GBX 2,500 ($30.96) in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Barclays boosted their target price on Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,500 ($30.96) to GBX 2,700 ($33.44) in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,580 ($31.95) to GBX 2,545 ($31.52) in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,200 ($27.24) to GBX 2,125 ($26.32) in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th.

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Coca-Cola HBC Trading Up 4.1 %

The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $25.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.01.

Coca-Cola HBC Company Profile

Coca-Cola HBC AG engages in the production, sale and distribution of non-alcoholic and ready-to-drink beverages. It operates through the following segments: Established Markets, Developing Markets, and Emerging Markets. The Established Markets segment consists of Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Switzerland.

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Geneos Wealth Management Inc. reduced its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV  Get Rating) by 11.9% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 151,001 shares of the companys stock after selling 20,311 shares during the quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $9,602,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,868,627 shares of the companys stock valued at $334,570,000 after acquiring an additional 408,717 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 11.6% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,660,030 shares of the companys stock valued at $208,658,000 after acquiring an additional 379,548 shares during the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 19.0% during the 3rd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 1,900,733 shares of the companys stock valued at $108,361,000 after acquiring an additional 303,844 shares during the last quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 4,532.2% during the 3rd quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,775,291 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,779,000 after acquiring an additional 1,736,966 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,643,176 shares of the companys stock valued at $118,540,000 after acquiring an additional 5,445 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Trading Down 0.4 %

BATS:EFAV traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $68.57. 358,858 shares of the companys stock traded hands. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $66.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $63.44. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF has a 12 month low of $64.68 and a 12 month high of $76.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.01 and a beta of 0.60.

About iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of developed-market equities, ex-US and Canada, selected and weighted to create a low volatility portfolio subject to constraints including sector exposure.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFAV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV  Get Rating).

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General Electric (LON:GEC  Get Rating)s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as GBX 105 ($1.30) and last traded at GBX 105 ($1.30), with a volume of 589 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 105 ($1.30).

General Electric Stock Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average of GBX 102.43 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 98.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 92.45. The company has a market capitalization of 1.14 billion, a PE ratio of 198.11, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 1.19.

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General Electric Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 25th. Investors of record on Monday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a yield of 0.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 6th. General Electrics dividend payout ratio is currently 6,037.74%.

About General Electric

General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers.

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Global Business Travel Group (NYSE:GBTG  Get Rating) is one of 35 publicly-traded companies in the Transportation services industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare Global Business Travel Group to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, valuation and risk.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Global Business Travel Group and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Global Business Travel Group 0 2 4 0 2.67 Global Business Travel Group Competitors 101 898 1773 31 2.62

Global Business Travel Group currently has a consensus target price of $8.68, suggesting a potential upside of 28.26%. As a group, Transportation services companies have a potential upside of 9.37%. Given Global Business Travel Groups stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Global Business Travel Group is more favorable than its rivals.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Global Business Travel Group N/A -2.83% -0.87% Global Business Travel Group Competitors -3,276.52% 3.63% -4.03%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Global Business Travel Group and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Global Business Travel Group and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Global Business Travel Group $1.85 billion -$25.00 million -11.10 Global Business Travel Group Competitors $3.77 billion $226.95 million 3.78

Global Business Travel Groups rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Global Business Travel Group. Global Business Travel 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.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

15.9% of Global Business Travel Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 56.2% of shares of all Transportation services companies are owned by institutional investors. 12.9% of Global Business Travel Group shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 18.0% of shares of all Transportation services companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

Global Business Travel Group has a beta of 0.28, meaning that its share price is 72% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Global Business Travel Groups rivals have a beta of 2.06, meaning that their average share price is 106% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Global Business Travel Group rivals beat Global Business Travel Group on 7 of the 12 factors compared.

Global Business Travel Group Company Profile

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Global Business Travel Group, Inc. provides business-to-business (B2B) travel platform in the United States of America and internationally. The company's platform offers a suite of technology-enabled solutions to business travelers and clients; travel content suppliers including airlines, hotels, ground transportation, and aggregators; and third-party travel agencies. It manages travel, expenses, and meetings and events for companies. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

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Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG  Get Rating) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,597 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the quarter. Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $720,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Financial Corp IN lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 18.3% during the third quarter. First Financial Corp IN now owns 994 shares of the companys stock valued at $72,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. RNC Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the third quarter valued at $207,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 373.4% during the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 1,747 shares of the companys stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 1,378 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 81.7% during the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 919,109 shares of the companys stock valued at $73,979,000 after purchasing an additional 413,241 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 41.8% during the third quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 52,120 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,782,000 after purchasing an additional 15,372 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Stock Performance

Shares of BATS:EFG traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $93.57. 600,102 shares of the companys stock traded hands. The company has a market cap of $11.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 0.87. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a one year low of $67.58 and a one year high of $85.81. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $90.62 and a 200 day moving average of $85.23.

iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Profile

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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Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLC decreased its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 4.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 38,824 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,691 shares during the quarter. Charles Schwab makes up 2.4% of Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Hutchens & Kramer Investment Management Group LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $3,232,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. West Branch Capital LLC bought a new stake in Charles Schwab in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Phocas Financial Corp. acquired a new stake in Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Selway Asset Management acquired a new stake in Charles Schwab in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Exos TFP Holdings LLC bought a new position in Charles Schwab during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.49% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, insider Bernard J. Clark bought 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $54.83 per share, with a total value of $274,150.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 120,653 shares in the company, valued at $6,615,403.99. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Bernard J. Clark acquired 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $54.83 per share, with a total value of $274,150.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 120,653 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,615,403.99. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Charles A. Ruffel sold 5,176 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.88, for a total value of $418,634.88. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 12,073 shares in the company, valued at $976,464.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have acquired 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,706,960 and have sold 728,106 shares valued at $58,067,403. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Charles Schwab Stock Up 0.7 %

NYSE SCHW traded up $0.38 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $52.10. 9,323,598 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 22,369,533. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $86.63. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $67.70 and a 200 day simple moving average of $74.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The company has a market capitalization of $93.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.89, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.88.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $5.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.55 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.60% and a return on equity of 24.94%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 16.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.86 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.81 EPS for the current year.

Charles Schwab Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 10th were given a $0.25 dividend. This is an increase from Charles Schwabs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 9th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SCHW has been the subject of a number of research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on Charles Schwab from $89.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Charles Schwab in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley cut Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $99.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Barclays decreased their target price on 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. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their target price on Charles Schwab from $100.00 to $95.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Charles Schwab currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $78.27.

Charles Schwab Profile

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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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Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (NYSE:NXC  Get Rating) announced a dividend on Thursday, April 6th, investing.com reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.0435 per share on Monday, May 1st. This represents a dividend yield of 3.88%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th.

Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio Trading Down 0.9 %

NYSE NXC opened at $13.49 on Tuesday. Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio has a twelve month low of $12.40 and a twelve month high of $15.35. The firms 50 day moving average price is $13.89 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $13.61.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NXC. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio by 1,050.0% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 2,300 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 2,100 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio during the second quarter valued at about $56,000. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio by 10.0% in the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 22,485 shares of the companys stock valued at $319,000 after buying an additional 2,046 shares during the period. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio during the third quarter valued at about $350,000. Finally, UBS Group AG raised its holdings in Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio by 17.1% in the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 34,218 shares of the companys stock valued at $491,000 after acquiring an additional 4,988 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.33% of the companys stock.

Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio Company Profile

Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of California. The fund invests in the securities of companies that operate across diversified sectors.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (LON:RR.L  Get Rating) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the eight ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have given a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 97.83 ($1.21).

A number of research analysts have issued reports on RR.L shares. Barclays reissued an overweight rating and issued a GBX 110 ($1.36) target price on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a research note on Monday, January 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an underweight rating and issued a GBX 70 ($0.87) price target on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a report on Monday, February 6th. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a GBX 100 ($1.24) price objective on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an underweight rating and set a GBX 70 ($0.87) target price on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a report on Monday, February 13th.

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Insider Activity at Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

In other news, insider Angela Strank bought 9,847 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 126 ($1.56) per share, with a total value of 12,407.22 ($15,364.98). 0.11% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Stock Performance

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has a 52-week low of GBX 64.44 ($0.80) and a 52-week high of GBX 239.70 ($2.97). The company has a market capitalization of 12.14 billion, a PE ratio of -517.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 1.70. The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 105.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 89.06.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc operates as an industrial technology company in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Civil Aerospace, Power Systems, Defence, and New Markets. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services.

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Shilanski & Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 100,729 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $3,336,000. Bank of America makes up about 1.5% of Shilanski & Associates Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Bank of America by 6,772.7% in the 4th quarter. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 756 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 745 shares in the last quarter. Avondale Wealth Management purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of America in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. WD Rutherford LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of America in the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Bank of America by 1,491.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,162 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 1,089 shares in the last quarter. Finally, McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of America in the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. 68.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Bank of America Stock Up 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:BAC traded up $0.24 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $28.18. The company had a trading volume of 9,484,376 shares, compared to its average volume of 54,889,906. The stock has a market capitalization of $225.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.76, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.37. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $31.93 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.77. Bank of America Co. has a one year low of $26.32 and a one year high of $40.37.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $24.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.17 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.41% and a net margin of 23.93%. The businesss revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.82 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Bank of America Co. will post 3.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced 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 3.12%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 2nd. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is 27.59%.

Insider Activity

In related 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 214,747 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,711,564.77. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 214,747 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,711,564.77. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total value of $3,600,200.58. Following 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. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BAC has been the subject of several analyst reports. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of Bank of America from $53.00 to $44.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Bank of America from $51.00 to $48.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Odeon Capital Group downgraded shares of Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $35.20 target price for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded shares of Bank of America from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and cut their target price for the company from $35.00 to $33.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $37.75.

Bank of America Profile

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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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Wilkinson Global Asset Management LLC raised its position in Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE:KNSL  Get Rating) by 65.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,975 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,175 shares during the period. Wilkinson Global Asset Management LLCs holdings in Kinsale Capital Group were worth $778,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kinsale Capital Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Kinsale Capital Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kinsale Capital Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. National Bank of Canada FI bought a new stake in shares of Kinsale Capital Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Kinsale Capital Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Institutional investors own 85.97% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Anne C. Kronenberg sold 930 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.40, for a total value of $289,602.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 9,292 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,893,528.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Michael P. Kehoe sold 3,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $317.30, for a total transaction of $1,110,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 311,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at $98,740,269.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Anne C. Kronenberg sold 930 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $311.40, for a total value of $289,602.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 9,292 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,893,528.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 20,180 shares of company stock worth $6,454,792 in the last ninety days. 6.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Kinsale Capital Group Stock Performance

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on KNSL shares. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Kinsale Capital Group from $335.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Kinsale Capital Group from $313.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Monday. Compass Point lowered Kinsale Capital Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $330.00 to $350.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Kinsale Capital Group from $230.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Kinsale Capital Group from $350.00 to $360.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Kinsale Capital Group has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $334.00.

NYSE KNSL traded up $2.20 on Tuesday, reaching $312.07. The stock had a trading volume of 25,260 shares, compared to its average volume of 160,050. The company has a market cap of $7.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.36 and a beta of 0.86. Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $196.00 and a 1-year high of $337.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.18 and a quick ratio of 0.18. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $301.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of $291.29.

Kinsale Capital Group (NYSE:KNSL  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 17th. The financial services provider reported $2.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.16 by $0.44. Kinsale Capital Group had a return on equity of 27.08% and a net margin of 19.42%. The company had revenue of $242.96 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $236.01 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.76 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. will post 9.86 EPS for the current year.

Kinsale Capital Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 13th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.14 per share. This is an increase from Kinsale Capital Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.18%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 27th. Kinsale Capital Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 8.14%.

Kinsale Capital Group Profile

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Kinsale Capital Group, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of property and casualty insurance services. It operates the Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance segment. The Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance segment provides commercial excess and surplus lines liability and property insurance products through underwriting divisions.

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Yong Rong HK Asset Management Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Zhihu Inc. (NYSE:ZH  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 800,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,040,000. Zhihu accounts for about 0.7% of Yong Rong HK Asset Management Ltds holdings, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Yong Rong HK Asset Management Ltd owned 0.12% of Zhihu as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. bought a new position in Zhihu in the 3rd quarter worth $183,000. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in Zhihu by 5,608.3% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 5,235,314 shares of the companys stock worth $5,550,000 after purchasing an additional 5,143,600 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System increased its stake in Zhihu by 49.2% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 333,566 shares of the companys stock worth $354,000 after buying an additional 110,050 shares in the last quarter. Matthews International Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Zhihu by 54.8% in the 3rd quarter. Matthews International Capital Management LLC now owns 4,158,868 shares of the companys stock worth $4,408,000 after buying an additional 1,472,068 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd increased its stake in Zhihu by 61.8% in the 3rd quarter. IQ EQ FUND MANAGEMENT IRELAND Ltd now owns 177,763 shares of the companys stock worth $188,000 after buying an additional 67,906 shares in the last quarter. 11.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Zhihu Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of Zhihu stock traded up $0.02 on Tuesday, hitting $1.31. 1,143,265 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,573,410. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $1.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.34. Zhihu Inc. has a 52 week low of $0.89 and a 52 week high of $2.33. The company has a market cap of $837.36 million, a PE ratio of -3.31 and a beta of 0.25.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

About Zhihu

Separately, CLSA started coverage on Zhihu in a research note on Wednesday, December 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $1.50 price target for the company.

(Get Rating)

Zhihu Inc operates an online content community in the People's Republic of China. Its community allows people to seek inspiration, find solutions, make decisions, and have fun. The company also offers technology, business support, and consulting services; information transmission, software, and information technology services; information and marketing services; vocational training; and internet services, as well as holds audio-visual permit.

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This page may be updated if the event is repeated

Past Event - Saturday, April 15, 2023 This page may be updated if the event is repeated

Welcome Dayton presents Hispanic Community Welcome Event Saturday, April 15 at the Dayton Metro Library

The City of Dayton, in collaboration with the Dayton Metro Library, is hosting a Hispanic Community Welcome Event on Saturday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Dayton Metro Library (215 E. Third St., second floor Community Room).

The Hispanic Community Welcome Event is an opportunity for those recently arriving in Dayton from Spanish-speaking countries to connect and network with each other and learn about resources available locally.

Participating organizations will include Latinos Unidos, El Puente Educational Center, ABLE Law, Aspire, Catholic Social Services, the Dayton Police Department, the Dayton Mediation Center, Sinclair College, The Foodbank, Artemis Center, the Alzheimer's Association, Dayton Public Schools, Ebenezer Healthcare Access, and Dayton Metro Library. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information contact Welcome Dayton Coordinator Jeannette Horwitz at 937-333-3679 or WelcomeDayton@daytonohio.gov.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav arrives to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the railways land-for-jobs scam, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday grilled Bihar's deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav in connection with an ongoing money laundering probe linked to the alleged land for jobs scam case.

Yadav, the 33-year-old son of RJD chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, reached the CBI's office in central Delhi in a carcade around 10.45 am and he was questioned for about nine hours, the sources said. Earlier, he was questioned by the CBI in this case on March 25, while his elder sister and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti was grilled by the ED on the same day.

The Central financial probe agency booked a separate case under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on the CBI FIR and it recorded the statement of Yadav on Tuesday, the sources said.

Both the Central agencies recently initiated action in the case, with the CBI questioning Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi. The ED had carried out multiple raids against the RJD chief's family members on February 10 in Delhi, Bihar and other locations in the land for jobs case.

The searches covered the premises linked to Lalu Yadavs daughters Ragini Yadav, Chanda Yadav and Hema Yadav and former RJD MLA Abu Dojana in Patna, Phulwari Sharif, Delhi-NCR, Ranchi and Mumbai, the officials in the agency said.

After the searches, the ED said that it seized "unaccounted cash" of Rs 1 crore and detected proceeds of crime worth Rs 600 crores. The agency officials said that the investigation was underway to unearth more investments made on behalf of Yadav's family and their associates in various sectors, including real estate, at various places.

On March 15, the Delhi Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Lalu Yadav, his wife, their daughter Ms Bharti and 13 others accused in the case.

The alleged scam pertains to the period when Lalu Prasad was the railway minister in the UPA-1 government at the Centre.

Referring to a specific mention about Yadav, the ED said a property in New Friends Colony in south Delhi, registered in the name of A.B. Exports Private Limited, has been dubbed "beneficiary firm" in this case. It added that the company is "owned and controlled" by Yadav and his family. This house was shown to have been acquired for a mere Rs 4 lakhs, while its market value is approximately Rs 150 crores.

"It is suspected that a huge amount of cash/proceeds of crime have been infused in the purchase of this property and few Mumbai-based entities dealing in the gem and jewellery sector were used to channel ill-gotten proceeds of crime in this regard," the ED had alleged.

"On paper, the property has been declared the office of A.B. Exports Private Limited and A.K. Infosystems Private Limited, but it is being exclusively used as residential premises by Yadav. During the searches, Yadav was found to be staying at this house and was found to be using this house as his residential property," the ED said.

The probe agency sleuths alleged that during the period 20042009, various persons were appointed to Group D positions in various zones of the Indian Railways. In lieu thereof, the persons concerned transferred their land to Yadav's family members and A.K. Infosystems Pvt Ltd.

The CBI alleges in its FIR that no advertisement or public notice was issued for the appointment, but some residents of Patna were appointed as substitutes in different zonal railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hajipur.

Denying the allegations, Yadav, after the questioning of his parents by the CBI, told reporters that the then railway minister had "no powers" to give employment in exchange for favours.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will lay the foundation stones for various development works and address a public meeting at SVKP Degree College Grounds. (Photo: Twitter)

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will visit Markapuram of Prakasam district on Wednesday and transfer the YSR EBC Nestham funds into the beneficiary accounts.

The CM will lay the foundation stones for various development works and address a public meeting at SVKP Degree College Grounds. He is crediting the financial assistance of Rs 658.60 crore to 4,39,068 bank accounts of eligible poor women from the Reddy, Kamma, Arya Vaishya, Brahmin, Kshatriya, Velama and other OC communities across the state. The Chief Minister would do so with the click of a button in Markapuram.

Explaining the motto of YSR EBC Nestham, the CM said, "Life stories of women are as glorious as the biographies of the legendary men. I strongly believe that the well-being of the family is directly dependent on the well-being of the women in each household. The smiles on their faces reflect the happiness of their families. I desire that every woman in the state become self-reliant and prosperous."

Reeling out the Jagan Mohan Reddy governments assistance to the poor parents to educate their children, the officials said that the government is offering a financial assistance to perform marriages through "YSR Kalyanamasthu" for the girls belonging to SC, ST, BC, Minorities, Disabled, as also the construction worker families and for the girls of Muslim Minority communities through the YSR Shaadi Tohfa.

They said registration of house sites and houses in the name of women has been carried out to empower women. The state government so far distributed 30.76 lakh house sites and is constructing over 22 lakh houses. Each woman would benefit with an asset worth Rs 5,00,000 to Rs 10,00,000.
ongress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi upon their arrival in Wayanad. (PTI Photo)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said his disqualification from the Lok Sabha is only going to deepen the relationship with the people of the Wayanad constituency, which had elected him with a record margin of over four lakh votes in 2019.

Gandhi, who arrived in Wayanad for the first time after his disqualification, was given a rousing reception by Congress workers.

Thousands of Congress workers joined Rahul and his sister and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the nearly 1-km "Satyamev Jayate" roadshow from the helipad to the venue of a public meeting in Kalpetta.

At the public meeting, Gandhi said his relationship with the people of Wayanad is not going to change a bit because of the disqualification.

"I am saying my relationship with you is not going to change for the entire lifetime. Let them put me in jail or do whatever they want to," he said.

Gandhi said he will continue to represent the people of Wayanad on issues like night traffic, medical college and buffer zone. "It doesnt matter if I am an MP or not. I will make sure these things happen here," he said at the jam-packed meeting.

He accused the BJP of dividing the people. "You divide people. You threaten people and you make people fight each other. You can abuse as much as you want, but I will keep uniting them. I will keep respecting every single community, every religion and every single idea. You can be as nasty as you want, be as evil as you want, I will continue to be as kind as I can even to you," he said.

Mr Gandhi said the fight is between two visions of India. "You represent one vision of India and we represent another vision of India. We are not scared of your intimidation, aggression and your nastiness. In fact, we find it quite amusing," he said.

The Congress leader said he had only asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi some questions regarding his relationship with businessman Gautam Adani.

"I just asked the PM to explain his relationship with the businessman. Adani, who was 609 among the worlds wealthiest persons, climbed up to the No. 2 position. How did the Prime Minister facilitate his growth? But the PM has not replied to these questions till date," he said.

He said his questions regarding transformation of defence relationship with Israel to favour Adani, change of rules to help Adani take over airports and change in foreign policy to help the businessman, have not been replied to by the ruling party.

"So how do I know that what I am doing is correct? If the BJP is taking my house, disqualifying me from Parliament and attacking me personally 24x7, I know I am doing the right thing. The more the BJP attacks me, the more I know this is exactly the path on which I have to walk. I am not going to stop no matter what happens," he said.

Earlier addressing the public meeting, Vadra said the BJP says that Congress is raising the issue of one individual in the name of fighting for democracy. "You the people of Wayanad have understood that this is not the issue of one man or one individual. This is the issue about the kind of country that we want for our children. It is about building a strong and brave country for our children. It is about building a country in which everybody is free to express dissent, to ask for accountability and a true democracy is established again".
Among the nominees there are 9 doctors, 31 post graduates, a retired IAS officer and a retired IPS officer. (BJP Party logo)

Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its first list of 189 candidates for the ensuing Assembly polls in Karnataka and the party has fielded its leaders and minister for Revenue R. Ashoka and minister for Housing V. Somanna on dual seats.

The list by BJP incharge of Karnataka affairs Dharmendra Pradhan and Arun Singh said R. Ashoka will take on president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) D.K. Shivakumar in Kanakapura Assembly seat in Ramnagar district, Ashoka will also contest from his Padmanabhanagar seat in Bengaluru.

Another leader of the party who is contesting dual seats in Minister for Housing V. Somanna. Somanna will fight from Varuna Assembly seat in Mysuru which is contested by Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Somanna will also contest from Chamarajnagar seat. Somanna had won from Govindarajanagar seat in Bengaluru.

Arun Singh exuded confidence that Siddaramaiah would be defeated in the ensuing Assembly polls and pointed out that in the previous election, he won with great difficulty. He termed Somanna a strong contender to fight Siddaramaiah.

Earlier in the day, Somanna had told reporters that he had conveyed his decision that he is not keen on contesting from Varuna Assembly seat but would contest if party fielded him from the seat. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be contesting from his earlier represented seat-Shiggaon in Haveri district.

In Vijayanagar Assembly seat, Minister for Tourism Anand Singh will make way for his son Siddharth. B.Y. Vijayendra, son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa will be contesting from Shikaripura Assembly seat which has been represented by his father.

Among the nominees include 9 doctors, 31 post graduates, a retired IAS officer and a retired IPS officer Bhaskar Rao, 3 academicians, 5 advocates, 8 social activists, 8 women and 3 retired government employees.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said the first list of BJP's candidates for the May 10 Assembly polls, can be expected to be released today.

Party leaders have been holding a series of meetings in New Delhi for the last two days to finalise the list.

State BJP strongman and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has indicated that the first list may contain the names of 170-180 candidates.

"The list can be expected today," Bommai told reporters in New Delhi.

Also Read | Amit Shah will decide when to release BJP candidate list, says Karnataka CM Bommai

According to party sources, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on his return to the national capital from a visit to Arunachal Pradesh is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Chief Minister and other senior leaders to finalise the list, following which it will be released.

Senior BJP leaders, including from Karnataka had held a daylong deliberation on Monday to finalise candidates for the state assembly polls, incorporating in their discussions the suggestions made at the recent BJP Central Election Committee meeting.

Shah, party president J P Nadda, Bommai, Yediyurappa and other leaders from the state attended these meetings.

Shah later left for Arunachal Pradesh while other leaders continued the deliberations.

Bommai had on Sunday said after the CEC meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave some directions.

The CM told reporters on Monday that the party is working on various inputs. He, however, did not elaborate on the nature of directions or inputs.

There are speculations that the high command is unhappy with some leaders or legislators seeking tickets for their children too; also some sitting legislators and Ministers may not make it to the list.

Too many aspirants are also said to be a cause of concern.

The filing of nominations will begin on April 13, with the poll notification being issued, and the last day for filing papers is April 20.

The BJP, aiming to return to power in Karnataka with absolute majority, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the Assembly.

While the Congress has already announced a total of 166 candidates, including Karnataka Sarvodaya Party's Darshan Puttannaiah for whom it has extended support in the Melukote constituency, in two lists, JD(S) has announced one list of 93 candidates.
Uzbekistan has invited India's Election Commission to witness a "historic" referendum it is holding on April 30 on a series of amendments to the country's Constitution, Uzbek diplomats said on Tuesday.

Uzbekistan's ambassador to India Dilshod Akhatov said constitutions of 190 countries including that of India were studied to bring in holistic and comprehensive changes to the Constitution of the country.

In an address at a seminar on the constitutional reforms, Akhatov said his country has witnessed significant reforms in the last few years under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the changes to the Constitution has been part of the overall initiative.

Also Read | India yet to decide on inviting Zelenskyy for G20 summit

"The country has been going through historic transformations in the last few years. The draft constitution has been prepared after examining modern various global laws and norms and constitutions of 190 countries including India," he said.

"Our Constitution will be a holistic and comprehensive one that will take Uzbekistan on a new path of growth, development and prosperity," Akhatov said.

The ambassador said the referendum seeks to change about two-thirds of the existing constitution of Uzbekistan.

Another official said India's Election Commission has been invited to witness the "historic" referendum on the constitutional reforms on April 30.

The ties between India and Uzbekistan have been on an upswing in the last few years. Both sides have shown keen interest in further expanding the ties in a number of areas including trade and investment, energy and people-to-people exchanges. President Mirziyoyev had talked about the need for constitutional reform in November 2021 in his inaugural speech, specifying that the proposal has come from the people of the country.

The envoy said more than 2,22,000 proposals from the general public were received during discussions on the constitutional reform.

Beruniy Alimov, an Assistant Professor at New Media Education Centre at the Uzbekistan State World Language University, said that some of the new provisions in the Constitution were focused on protecting human rights of the citizens, enhancing human dignity and ensuring their freedom.

"The Constitution provides that the state will assume a number of new obligations to reduce poverty, provide employment and address social issues effectively. It shows that Uzbekistan is becoming a social state," he said at the seminar.

"The highest duty of the state is to ensure human rights and freedom. According to the new norms, the ambiguities arising in the legislation will be interpreted in favour of the citizens," he said.

Alimov said the Constitution will strengthen guarantees of personal rights and freedoms of citizens in accordance with most advanced international standards.
Police have raided a fake call centre operating from a farmhouse in Maharashtra's Palghar district and arrested 49 of its employees, an official said.

The call centre is located near Rajodi Beach at Arnala in Virar township, the official from Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar police said.

The accused, posing as employees of an online payments company, used to intercept the inbound calls of an Australian firm.

Also Read | Mumbai: Bank official gets 3-year sentence for cheating

They would allegedly steal its customer database and pass it on to the call centre associates to defraud the firm's customers, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone III Virar, Suhas Bawche told reporters on Monday evening.

The police also seized equipment and gadgets worth Rs 16.19 lakh from the call centre following the raid on Sunday and arrested 49 employees, including 10 women, who hailed from different states, he said.

Also Read | Mangaluru: Man arrested for job fraud, cheating

Efforts were on to trace its owner as well as the property owner who rented the premises for the call centre, he said.

The police were probing who all were involved in the racket and how customers of the Australian firm were cheated, Arnala police station's senior inspector Kalyan Karpe said.

The arrested persons have been booked under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act and the Indian Telegraph Act, Bawche said.
In what seems to be a change in his political stand, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar - one of the seniormost politicians of India - said that for the larger interests of the Opposition unity he would not oppose a Joint Parliamentary Party (JPC) probe into the Adani Group-Hindenburg Report issue.

The Congress, along with many other Opposition parties, are demanding a JPC probe.

Also Read | Modi's degree not national issue: Sharad Pawar



"A friend's opinion could be different from mine, but we have to be united in this. I expressed my opinion. But if colleagues feel that a JPC probe is needed, I will not oppose it. I may not agree with their opinion, but will not allow the Opposition strength to be affected, Pawar told a Marathi TV news channel in an interview, which was aired on Tuesday evening.

"If a JPC was formed, majority members would be from BJP because of its majority in the Lok Sabha and the remaining few from the Opposition, however, if Opposition wants, I will not object, he said.

Last week, in an interview to a national channel, Pawar had expressed his reservations over a JPC probe and later in Mumbai told reporters: (Though) my party has supported the JPC but I feel that the JPC will be dominated by the ruling party thus the truth will not come out...so I feel that an SC-monitored panel is a better way to bring out the truthWhen we attacked the government of the day (earlier) we would name Tata Birla. Now we don't take these names. But Tatas have contributed to the development of the countrymore than Adani Ambani, people are facing more important issues like unemployment, price rise and problems of farmers.

Pawars fresh statement, which seems to be softening of his stand, has come as a boost to the Opposition unity against the BJP.
A host of activities is planned for Creggan Community Park as it celebrates the first birthday of its Community Fridge.

The event is taking place on Saturday (April 15) from 12 noon until 3.00pm and it is free, thanks to funding from Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland.

Activities will include: Inflatable assault course, outdoor games, face painting, nature therapy, bug hunt games and messy play in the Nature Hub, and recycled art with artist Sheila, photo scavenger hunt.

Get up close to nature at Creggan Community Park.

There will also be stalls to peruse, from: Northern Ireland Resources Network, Foyle Foodbank, Zero Waste North West, and the Northern Ireland Bat Group.

Anyone who is interested will also be able to pick up information on how to join Creggan Community Parks environmental volunteering programme and the Moor Environment Forum.

The Tasty Reel cafe will be open for lunch and is fully licensed. Booking a table is recommended as it is expecting to be very busy.

Speaking to Derry Now, Environmental Officer Karen Healy said: 'Creggan Connected' is the community fridge at Creggan Country Park which was officially launched in April 2022.

The project was one of only 300 across the UK to secure funding from a pilot programme from the National Lottery Community Fund and IKEA called 'Places called Home.'

A community fridge is a social space that brings people together to connect, learn new skills and reduce food waste. No registration is required, and food is collected and redistributed on the same day. Visitors can go for a walk, bring along a reusable bag and just take what they want from the fridge and shelves during its opening hours.

Community fridges help tackle climate change at a local level as food waste can produce large amounts of greenhouse gases. In 12 months, the community fridge has saved 5.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide and distributed 1.6 tonnes of surplus food (4021 meals), said Karen Healy.

Karen added that Creggan Community Park is used as a base to deliver free environmental events throughout the year including Dawn chorus, Bat Walk, Painting Nature classes, Nature Therapy, climate change and biodiversity talks, and planting activities.

She added: A community fridge is not a food bank, instead it aims to bring people together, reduce food waste and take action to help the planet at a local level.

The wider project also installed a wheelchair friendly picnic bench at the nature hub and buddy bench for children; provides free tea/coffee and comfortable seating area for people to enjoy after their walk around the park. Toys, games and mini library are available for children to enjoy so that parents/guardians can sit and relax with a cuppa.

Leaflets and posters of local services will be on display so that local residents know where to go for help in the area - from money worries to healthy eating we will signpost people to local community groups for help.

We have been overwhelmed with the support and interest in our community fridge this past year. We achieved what we set out to do which is to provide a home from home for people to relax, take part in nature themed and cooking workshops and to help tackle climate change locally, said Karen.

Karen said she would like to thank the six students from St Josephs Boys School, our volunteers, and our artist Sheila for helping to create the community fridge space.

She added: Looking at the amazing transformation of the space just shows how hard they worked, and they should be very proud. We continue to use the space to raise awareness on climate change and biodiversity issues that affect us all.

We would like to thank our funders, The National Lottery Community Fund, IKEA, Department for Communities and Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland for making it all possible.

We also want to thank Northern Ireland Resources Network and Foyle Food Bank for their fantastic support over the past year and to Derry City and Strabane District Councils Environmental Health team for all the help and advice when we were getting our hygiene rating in place."

Eimear Montague, from Northern Ireland Resources Network said: Creggan Country Park offers activities which support the local community as well as promoting environmental projects.

Creggan Connected is a fantastic initiative. Since April 2022, the community fridge has prevented over a tonne of food waste and over five tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This helps tackle climate change at a local level, enables food to be shared, improves lives and strengthens the local community. Many congratulations to all involved.

For opening times and updates visit www.creggancountrypark.com, Facebook: Creggan Country Park. Twitter: @CregganCountry1 or Instagram: @CregganCountryPark18.
Speaking after an un-notified Easter Parade in Creggan earlier today, Monday 10th April, Derry City & Strabane Area Commander Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard 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.

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 un-notified, 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 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."

Masked men in the Colour party at the Easter Monday Republican Commemoration. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

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.

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.
Sinn Fein MLA Emma Sheerin has congratulated organisers of a number of wreath laying ceremonies and commemorations across South Derry which seen big numbers in attendance across the board.

On Easter Saturday, republicans flocked to the Loup where the annual commemoration in honour of Brigadier Sean Larkin seen a particularly special celebration for the 100th anniversary of his death. A reenactment of Larkin's last moments before he was shot by a Free State firing party in Drumboe Castle was accompanied by a pagentry parade, with members in period dress.

South Armagh republican Sean Hughes addressed the crowd, making reference to the tumultuous period which followed the partition of Ireland, namely the civil war which took the lives of Sean Larkin and his three comrades at Drumboe. In the time since, politics in Ireland have changed immeasurably, and the path to a new and United republic has never been clearer. Hughes spoke of the election last May which put a republican into the office of First Minister, which obviously has been unfortunately blocked by those who cannot accept democracy. This cannot last forever and it is clear that change will not be stopped indefinitely.

The change in date of the traditional Loup commemoration was to facilitate the journey of many South Derry republicans to the very spot where Sean Larkin was killed, at a special commemoration outside Stranorlar, in Drumboe Woods. The crowd at Drumboe listened to a speech from Pearse Doherty TD, who all present agreed is likely to be the next minister for Finance in the 26 counties, and who reminded the crowd of the damage that successive conservative governments have done to the state - damage that a Sinn Fein government can and will change.
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.

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.
The Cupertino brand is opening the first couple of Apple Stores in BKC, Mumbai and Saket, Delhi. Apple Store BKC will be open to the public on April 18 at 11 am IST and Apple Store Saket will open on April 20 at 10 am IST. In the teasers, the stores appear to have elegant architecture and thats one of the 3 reasons why some would consider Apple Stores as more than just regular stores.

3 unique Apple Store experiences

1. The store design

Apple Store BKCs design reportedly resembles the Kaali Peeli taxis in Mumbai. we can see the use of black and yellow paint as well as colourful illustrations depicting Indian culture.

As for the Apple Store Sakets teaser, even the logo screams the bright colours and contours of what looks like Mughal architecture.

These design rarity and appeal are true for every Apple Store out there. In an interview with Bloomberg, Tim Kobe, the guy who designed the original Apple Store revealed that Steve Jobs apparently wanted to get rid of the metal bolts binding the glass panels on the store. That was the reason behind the genesis of glass cube architecture, airy space and floating staircase.

2. The indoor ambience

Tim Cook once said that "Im not even sure store is the right word anymore. Theyve taken on a role much broader than that. They are the face of Apple for almost all of our customers. People come to the Apple store for the experience  and theyre willing to pay a premium for that  Apple is in the relationship business as much as the computer business.

Apple Stores have been rechristened as Town Square and Genius Bar (the spacious sitting areas to try Apple products) as Genius Grove. Also, tech specialists over at Apple are called Geniuses.

3. Empathetic assistance

The tech specialists at Apple Store are not just there to answer customer queries but to enrich peoples lives. They apparently get trained on The Genius Training Student Workbook to follow the three Fs: feel, felt, found. They are known for their empathetic behaviour and endearing communication skills.

So, besides helping out the customer, their expertise and skills give Apple Stores a leg-up over the competition.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
Amazon is offering great deals on vast categories of laptops, just like that there is one Everyday Laptops. If you are looking for a laptop for daily use, today is your lucky day. Amazon has offered instant discounts and exchange offers on laptops.

Along with that, the e-commerce company has also offered bank offers such as:

Flat 1500 Instant Discount on HDFC Bank Credit Card.

7.5% Instant Discount up to 1500 on Yes Bank Credit Card.

Flat 1500 Instant Discount on HDFC Bank Debit Card.

7.5% Instant Discount up to 2000 on HSBC Credit Cards.

5% Instant Discount up to 250 on HSBC Cashback Card Credit Card.

Here are the top four laptops for daily use at discounted prices.

1. HP 15s

HP 15s is available on Amazon at a price of 39,990 after a 23% instant discount. The laptop is also available with an exchange offer which promises a discount up to 14,000.

The HP 15s is powered by the Intel Core i3 11th Gen processor paired with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage. The laptop operates on Windows 11 Home.

It comes with a 15.6-inch LED display with FHD resolution. The display also comes with Anti-glare support.

It has 6 ports which are 1x SuperSpeed USB Type-C 5Gbps signalling rate, 2x SuperSpeed USB Type-A 5Gbps signalling rate, 1x headphone/microphone combo, 1x AC smart pin, 1x HDMI 1.4b.

Buy the HP 15s from here.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is priced at 38,400 but can be bought at a lesser price by availing of the bank offers listed above.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is equipped with an 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processor paired with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage. The laptop runs on Windows 11 Home.

It features a 15.6-inch LED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

It also has 6 ports including 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-A 2.0, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (Data transfer), 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack, 1x HDMI 1.4b, 1x 4-in-1 media reader (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC).

Buy the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 from here.

3. Dell Vostro 3420

This laptop is listed on Amazon at a price of 41,990. Amazon has also offered an exchange offer worth up to 14,000 and the bank offers.

The Dell Vostro 3420 is powered by the 12th Gen Intel Core i3 processor paired with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage. The laptop runs on Windows 11.

It features a 14-inch LED display with a FHD resolution.

This laptop has 7 ports including 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port with DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, 1x USB 2.0 port, 1x Headset jack, 1x HDMI 1.4 port,1x Flip-Down RJ-45 port 10/100/1000 Mbps, 1x SD 3.0 card slot.

Buy the Dell Vostro 3420 from here.

4. Fujitsu CH

The Fujitsu CH is available on Amazon at a price of 59,990, also available with exchange offer worth up to 14,000 off and bank offers.

The Fujitsu CH is powered by 11th Gen Intel Tiger Lake Core i5 processor paired with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. This laptop also runs on Windows 11 Home.

It comes with a 13.3-inch IGZO Panel with FHD resolution.

The laptop has two ports; 1x USB 3.0 port and 1x HDMI port.

Buy the Fujitsu CH from here.

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.
Have you been eyeing the flagship smartphones for some time now? Now is the right time to do it as the phone is available at a steal under Flipkarts ongoing Sale. The e-commerce company has discounted the price of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE which launched in 2020, five months after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S20 series.

Lets check out the deal Flipkart has offered on this premium smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE on Flipkart

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is originally priced at 74,999. However, Flipkart is offering a flat 60% discount on this Samsung Galaxy phone which will bring down its price to a steal of 29,525. This deal allows you to save a whopping 45,474.

Not just this, you can also avail of a cashback of 5% if you have a Flipkart Axis Bank Card. By using this, you can further reduce the price to Rs.28048. With this offer, your total savings will be Rs.46,951.

So, if the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has been on your cart for a long, you should avail the benefits of the ongoing Flipkart sale.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a flagship 5G smartphone which runs on a Snapdragon 856 Octa-Core processor paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage option that has an expandable memory of up to 1 TB. It runs on the Android 11 operating system out of the box.

The phone boasts a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED Display with FHD+ resolution which offers a refresh rate of 120Hz.

On the camera front, you can see a triple camera setup. It has a 12-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. It also has a 32-megapixel selfie shooter which has been placed in a punch-hole cutout.

The phone is packed with a 4500mAh battery which supports 25-watt fast charging support and 15-watt wireless fast charging support.

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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BYD launches self-developed body control system featuring vertical motion control

China-based EV maker BYD unveiled its DiSus Intelligent Body Control System designed for new energy vehicles (NEV) on April 10. The system, which features vertical motion control, will be available on several models across the company's four brands.

While luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and Audi have their unique body control systems, BYD is the first Chinese automaker to develop the technology, according to chairman and president Wang Chuanfu.

BYD said DiSus is a comprehensive system of perception, decision-making, and execution focusing on vertical motion control to improve the driving experience. The system can minimize a vehicle's risk of rollover and reduce the displacement of occupants during high-speed cornering, full-throttle acceleration, or emergency braking, the company added.

The DiSus system consists of three branches - DiSus-C, DiSus-A and DiSus-P. According to CnEVPost, the DiSus-C can receive thousands of signal inputs every second. With the high-speed processing of the DiSus intelligent computing center, the system can enable rapid damper adjustment.

DiSus-P is the most advanced among the three branches, CnEVPost reported. BYD claimed it is the world's first intelligent hydraulic body control system. The DiSus-P suspension can lift four wheels simultaneously. It can also trigger the third-stage stiffness in an emergency to reduce the impact load by 50%.

BYD said the DiSus system will protect cars from scratches or damage under snowy, muddy, or flooded road conditions. The company will put the system into several models of the BYD brands DENZA, Yangwang, and a new professional and personalized brand it will introduce to the market in the summer of 2023. But the carmaker did not specify the time the system will be available.

Wang has said BYD is targeting 3 million vehicles in sales this year, aiming to become the largest Chinese automaker by the end of 2023.

According to Reuters, the announcement of the self-developed body control system showed BYD's intention to expand to the premium market. Currently, most of the company's cars are priced below CNY300,000 (US$43,641), which is considered the mass market segment.
PRE-TAX profits at the main Irish subsidiary of iPhone maker, Apple, last year increased by 2% to $69.3bn (63.4bn).

The pre-tax profits recorded by Cork-based Apple Operations International Ltd and subsidiaries equate to daily pre-tax profits of $189.87m for the 12 months to the end of September 24, 2022.

The business recorded an increase in pre-tax profit as revenues rose by $11.69bn or 5.5% from $211.05bn to $222.75bn for the 12-month period. AOI is registered at the companys Hollyhill campus in Cork and covers most of Apples non-US subsidiaries.

The company acts as a holding company for a number of Apple subsidiaries. It manufactures and develops everything from the companys iPhone and iPad products to Mac computers. The directors state that the group has international operations with sales outside Ireland representing a majority of the groups net sales.

The new consolidated accounts show that the business last year paid dividends of $20.7bn to Apple Inc and this was down on the $25.3 billion dividend payout in 2021. The accounts state that the dividends are fully subject to US tax.

AOI incurred a corporation tax charge of $11.08bn last year across a number of countries where Apple operates and that figure excludes US-based taxes. The figure was down marginally on the $11.57bn tax charge for 2021.

The firm paid corporation tax of $7.69bn. The businesss total provision for corporation tax of $11.08bn takes account of deferred tax of $3.29bn.

The 7.69bn cash paid in corporation tax in fiscal 2022 is a 73% increase on the 4.44bn cash paid in corporation tax by the business in the prior year.

The accounts dont disclose corporate tax paid in Ireland but state that a 12.5% corporate tax charge would have resulted in corporation taxes of $8.66bn.

The filing does not say where the tax was paid but the greatest share is likely to have been paid here, where the company is based. Underlining the importance of Apples operation to the States corporation tax take, the State last year received total corporation tax receipts of 22.6bn, 48% or 7.3bn ahead of the previous years total.

The accounts refer to the Apple and Irish Governments successful appeals against the European Commission decision six years ago that the iPhone maker owed Revenue 13.1bn in back taxes, plus interest of 1.2bn.

In July 2020, Europes second-highest court ruled that the Government didnt give Apple any State Aid and the accounts refer to the European Commission appealing that decision to the European Court of Justice.

A note attached to the accounts states that Apple may request approval from the Irish Minister for Finance to reduce the recovery amount for certain taxes paid to other countries. The note states that as of September 24 last, the adjusted recovery amount was 12.7 billion, excluding interest.

The 12.7bn plus interest is funded into escrow where it will remain restricted from general use pending the conclusion of all legal proceedings.

AOI last year recorded post-tax profits of $58.22bn. Numbers employed at AOI and subsidiaries last year totalled 56,639 - a 4,076 increase on the 52,563 employed in September 2021. Some 6,000 of those employees are based in Ireland.

Staff costs totalled $6.33bn and that included share-based compensation of $1.39bn.

The companys cost of sales last year totalled $126.29bn resulting in a gross profit of $96.46bn. AOIs selling, general and administrative expenses last year totalled $11.38bn. The groups Research and Development costs last year totalled $15.5bn compared to $12.4bn in 2021.

AOIs shareholder funds at the end of September last amounted to $97.64bn compared to $58.77bn at the end of September 2021. The groups cash funds increased from $16.8bn to $17.48bn.
JP Quinn, head of the UCC Visitor Centre and author of his second childrens book, A Tree At UCC, is the right man for the job.

His pride in his alma mater means he is always thinking of new ways to tell the stories of UCC. One outlet is his books, very much a labour of love. Writing for five to ten year olds, JP says his favourite people are children.

Theyre the most honest people, he says. For the most part, theyre incapable of lying. They have a magnificent sense of wonder and honesty.

However, for years, JP and his wife, Belcy, tried to have a child. It was a source of heartache for the couple. They suffered a miscarriage six years ago and a number of failed IVF cycles.

When my first book (A Bee At UCC) came out, I was very proud of it and happy. But I was also very sad because people I know, friends and colleagues, were sending me pictures of their own children reading my book. I never thought the day would come when Id read to my own children.

But that day has come. Twins, Joseph and Corazon, were born to the couple on November 10 last year, two months premature. The little baby boy and girl spent their first two months in the neonatal ward at CUMH.

They got the most positive care from the most wonderful people. Theyre thriving now. Ive been reading to them every day since the day they were born.

Any spare time I have now, which is very limited, is spent going around bookshops and charity shops looking for childrens books.

JP (45) and Belcy (50), a nurse from the Philippines who was recruited to work with the COPE Foundation in Cork, got news last April that Belcy was pregnant.

Author JP Quinn, of UCC Visitor Centre

We went for a scan. The nurse said there was one very strong heartbeat. And then she told us to take a breath because there was another strong heartbeat. I burst into tears.

Last November, Belcy went for a routine scan.

She didnt come out of hospital. The babies were born two days later. It was very scary. We had the most wonderful obstetrician, Dr Moya McMenamin, and the babies were in the care of consultant paediatrician, Professor Eugene Dempsey.

You hear a lot about how consultants can be aloof. But these were the most humane people.

JP met Belcy 15 years ago in Cork.

She was actually thinking of going to Australia, he says. But we fell in love almost immediately. We got engaged seven months later and we were married after a year.

I worship the ground she walks on.

The proud parents are a little bit annoyed with themselves.

We wasted time before the babies were born. There were days when we just sat and did nothing. I didnt read as much as Id like to have read. Now, there is so little time and it goes so fast. We measure time between feeds.

Ive been trying to find time to write more (on a childrens novel as well as short stories). I dont drink or smoke and I dont go out much. I only started writing when we lost the first baby.

The two people who helped me most in finding my voice were writers Madeleine DArcy and Danielle McLaughlin. I wouldnt have anything published without them.

A Tree At UCC is a sequel to JPs first book, A Bee At UCC. It started as a lockdown project at the university. Because UCC makes its own honey from hives at the North Mall distillery, with plans to put new hives in the lower grounds of the main campus, JP wanted to tell the story of Alma Nectar as UCCs honey is called.

The book did very well. Its in its fifth print run, available in bookshops and every library in Ireland. The Cork School of Clinical Therapies where kids go for speech therapy use the book.

I was thinking of how to do a second book. We have a very strong arboretum at UCC with 2,500 trees. We have a lot of trees on campus ranging from weeping willows to pine trees and one of the rarest trees in the world, the Wollemia Nobilis. Its a native tree of Australia. Its behind the main quadrangle.

JP says the robot trees in Cork city (which clean pollutants from the air) were being talked about by environmental scientists at UCC.

They were saying how all efforts to improve sustainability are good but you cant improve on real trees. Our academic experts say there should be a ban on cars in the city and a focus on planting real trees.

The conversations inspired JP to write A Tree at UCC. He latched onto the way kids can interpret things in the wrong way.

So my story is that the two redwood trees outside the library overhear two scientists talking about the robot trees. The trees get their lines crossed and think the robot trees came from outer space. They have come to Cork and theyre taking over the jobs (of the trees.) The trees set up a committee called The Society for the Preservation of Real Trees. The trees explain to children reading the book why trees are an important part of our ecology. The call to action at the end of the book is to encourage children to go and get acorns - and plant their own trees.

Sounds like a worthy and amusing book.

A Tree At UCC will get a reading at the Cork World Book Fest on April 18 at the Grand Parade library.
A Cork housing advocate who has travelled to Dublin to protest against the housing crisis every week for almost a year has vowed that even a visit by the US president wont stop him.

Martin Leahy (47) has protested outside Leinster House every Thursday since May of last year, travelling up from his home in Bandon, and he says that even if President Bidens visit means he cant get onto Kildare Street this week, hell get as close as he can.

The US president is due to give an address to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas on Thursday, and security will be extremely tight in Leinster House and in the surrounding area, with TDs and senators told they cannot use either of the complexs car parks on the day, and political journalists warned they will need extra accreditation to get inside the gate.

With that in mind, Mr Leahy, who has, every week for the past 47 weeks, sang outside the railings of the national parliament the song he wrote to protest against the housing crisis, Everyone Should Have A Home, has said he will perform the song this week, although he doesnt yet know where.

I will still go there, but I wont be outside the Dail, I will get as close as I can, though, Ill be however near security will leave me, he said.

Mr Leahy said he was hopeful that he might get relatively close to Kildare Street, perhaps somewhere like the far end of Molesworth Street, which faces down toward Leinster House.

I think its just shocking that the Government could recall the Dail because Joe Biden is visiting but they couldnt recall the Dail to discuss the housing crisis, he said.

Mr Leahy is one of several thousand people facing eviction following the lifting at the end of March of the Governments temporary ban on no-fault evictions.

He received an eviction notice last year, but the temporary ban had protected him until now, and he said he is facing an uncertain future.

The Cork activist said he had never had a concrete plan to travel to Leinster House every week, but he intends to continue, at the very least until the first anniversary of his protest

I didnt really plan to do this, but I do have the 52 [consecutive weeks] in my sights now, he said.
Cork University Hospital (CUH) is set to commence advance works on the construction of the paediatric care building and helipad projects in the northern section of the hospital campus.

The works are part of the HSEs investment in the development and enhancement of quality healthcare at the hospital.

Both projects have been separately granted planning permission by Cork City Council.

The necessary work that will take place will include the realignment of the existing northern campus road, the undergrounding of the existing overhead power line along the northern boundary of the hospital, and the removal of existing trees and shrubs along the northern boundary embankment, which were planted in the 1980s.

The tree removal works will be undertaken by a specialist tree care company in full compliance with health and safety legislation, with prior inspection of a nesting bird and bat survey by qualified ecologist.

The retained hedgerow along the northern boundary of the hospital will be retained and protected during the works.

The tree removal works will be then followed by the rerouting and undergrounding of the overhead powerline.

Once safely underground, works will progress to the realignment of the campus road with the construction of a new retaining wall by spring 2024.

The helipad works in their entirety should be completed by the end of 2023.

The lands north of the access road will be landscaped and extensively planted with a mixture of evergreen or deciduous hedges and tree planting in the next available planting season.

CEO of Cork University Hospital David Donegan said this is a welcome development in the progress of the two projects.

It is necessary work to ensure that CUH can provide better specialist care to the patients across south of Ireland who use our services, to centralise paediatric hospital care in Cork, as well as to provide much quicker access for patients being airlifted into and out of Cork in an emergency, he said.
A man with five different aliases who has been charged in connection with luxury car thefts is alleged to have used an Apple AirTag to track cars he allegedly wanted to steal.

Vehicles were up for sale privately and 46-year-old Rosmarin Serban has admitted viewing them. Owners say they were told by the Romanian father-of-four he wanted to test-drive their vehicles before buying them.

He and an accomplice are then alleged to have collected the cars at their owners homes and then either cloned or swapped the spare keys for the cars they were test-driving. However, Mallow District Court also heard that Mr Serban was arrested in one of a number of cars he is alleged to have stolen.

The wrapping from a brand new AirTag found in one of the stolen cars was also found in the car. Some seven car keys were also found as well as an iPhone which was also linked to the AirTag, which he has admitted buying.

As well as that, gardai say they found messages from various injured parties on the phone. The court, in a special sitting in front of Judge Joanne Carroll, also heard it took the gardai three days to determine who Mr Serban was.

As well as discovering he was not Spanish, as he had claimed he was when arrested, detectives also discovered there was a European Arrest warrant out for him.

Application for bail

Arrested by Detective Denise Fitzgerald on April 5, he has been in garda custody ever since, but was applying through his lawyer Daithi ODonnabhain for bail.

Mr ODonnabhain said his client  who has been charged with 17 offences, including theft of four cars, the attempted theft of a fifth car and using a false ID  was the subject of an extraordinary amount of custody.

He told the court that while there was CCTV evidence of his client viewing the cars, there was no evidence he stole them. There was, he said, a leap in law from viewing a car to stealing a car.

In his application for bail, he also pointed out that gardai  despite exhaustive checks through Interpol  have not been able to find a track record of any convictions in any other jurisdiction. Judge Joanne Carroll said: There is strong evidence against him, while he enjoys the strong presumption of innocence.

Made no reply to charges

Detective Fitzgerald, of Fermoy Garda Station, said after she arrested and then cautioned him, he made no reply to any charges. The detective said she was opposing bail because of the seriousness of the charges against him.

The vehicles are all high-end vehicles and all of high value, she said.

This was a sophisticated operation.

She then proceeded to say how on April 3 Mr Serban and an accomplice went to a house in the village of Conna, near Fermoy, east Cork.

She said they took a 55,000 white 171-reg Audi that the house owner was selling for a test-drive and she said this is when it is suspected the spare key was taken and replaced with a fake key.

Detective Fitzgerald also said:

It is suspected an Apple AirTag was placed in the vehicle to track it.

She said that on April 5, Mr Serban asked the car owner for another viewing. It is our view that they planned to take control of the vehicle then, Detective Fitzgerald said.

On his arrest, she said he was found with false identity documents. She said Mr Serban accepted he had viewed the Audi with his accomplice and had access to it.

The court heard details of four vehicles that were stolen between March 13 and April 5, and it heard how in most cases gardai had obtained CCTV footage of Mr Serban at or near the cars.

They say he has also admitted to viewing the cars, which were taken from addresses in Kerry, Tipperary, Monaghan and Dundalk, as well as Cork. Detective Fitzgerald said: It is our view that if Rosmarin is given bail, he will commit further offences.

The fact that he knows (car owners) identities causes them a great deal of distress and this would be heightened if he was given bail.

Judge Carroll refused bail and remanded Mr Serban in custody until April 14 when he is due in Fermoy District Court.
Gardai have issued an appeal for the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 26-year-old Cork man Peadar Lynch, who was reported missing on Thursday 6 April, having last been seen on St Patricks Day.

Peadar, who is from Macroom, is described as being approximately 6 foot 4 inches in height and of a slim build with brown hair and brown eyes.

Peadar was last seen in Ennis in Co Clare on Friday 17 March.

Gardai and Peadars family are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with any information on Peadar's whereabouts are asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 684 8100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
NEW measures are to be introduced to clamp down on holidaymakers overstaying their welcome in Cobh.

Cobh Municipal District Council has decided to introduce new bylaws that will prohibit campervans hogging camping spaces.

The local authority has revealed that many campers have been staying longer than the maximum 48-hour limit due to a lack of enforcement.

This had led to spaces being occupied for days at a time, causing other tourists to seek vacancies elsewhere, which it says is detrimental to the towns tourist trade.

Tourists are required to pay a 10 charge for the use of a camping spot for 24 hours along the Five Foot Way, situated on the edge of Cork Harbour. However, without a means for parking wardens to check when the vehicle arrived, there has not yet been a way to discourage campers remaining on the site for a long period of time.

The senior executive officer for the Cobh Municipal District, Paraig Lynch, has told local councillors that it is hoped the new draft bylaws will produce a greater turnover of tourists in the area.

The new laws, which are to be published before the end of the month, will see vehicle owners required to present a ticket with the time stamp of their arrival. This will allow traffic wardens to ensure these campers are not exceeding the allowed time.

At present, many holidaymakers are believed to leave their space after the allocated 48 hours but return to the same space following a brief drive around the block when wardens are present, according to Mr Lynch.

Trouble is they leave, go around the corner and come back minutes later, he said.

The new proposed bylaws would see these campers be prohibited to returning to the same space for 72 hours after the 48-hour slot. Following their publishing at the end of April, the regulations will be put forward for public consultation for a six-week period before councillors will decide.
Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) has welcomed Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler to Kinsale to officially open the Kinsale Community Health and Wellbeing Resource Centre (The Well).

The Well is the first project of its kind in Ireland and provides accommodation for three community groups which are involved in promoting mental health and wellbeing in the community.

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare provided the location, the former Health Centre on Market Lane, and The Well volunteers secured funding for work on the building.

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare has also provided some funding to complete the work needed to transform the centre into a community resource.

Board members Tom Reilly, Geraldine Machin, Christopher O'Sullivan TD, Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People Mary Butler, Chairperson Carmel Murphy, John O'Connor and Gearoid Wycherley pictured at the official opening of the Kinsale Community Health and Wellbeing Resource Centre, known as The Well, by Minister Mary Butler TD Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People. Photography By Gerard McCarthy.

The three groups now located at the centre are Kinsale Youth Support Services (KYSS), the Kinsale Youth Centre/Cafe and the Kinsale Mens Shed.

The name The Well was chosen as traditionally, a well was a community resource where people gathered and was the provider of a life-giving force. The Well is also an acronym for Wellness, Education, Life-giving and Life-skills.

The centre will foster inclusive community participation by providing an environmentally-friendly facility where health and wellbeing, education, recreation, celebration, and arts are all enjoyed.

The Well volunteers have worked over the last four years to renovate the building, connecting with Clann Credo to secure a loan and successfully accessing funding from SECAD and Pobal to reimagine the building.

They also ran several fundraising events, including a car draw and selling tickets to guess the number of lobster pots in the Lobster Pot Christmas Tree.

Minister Mary Butler pictured at the official opening of the Kinsale Community Health and Wellbeing Resource Centre. Picture: Gerard McCarthy.

Speaking in Kinsale, Minister Butler said: It gives me great pleasure to see this collaborative, multi-agency project which will benefit the health and wellbeing of people of all ages in Kinsale and the wider community.

It is wonderful to see so many people and groups come together with a shared vision to improve health and wellbeing facilities for the community.

This vision has been turned into a reality here today thanks to the hard work and commitment of all involved.

Interim Chief Officer of Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Gabrielle O'Keeffe said it is a fantastic achievement to see the centre up and running in the heart of the town.

I know just how vibrant and important these three groups are within this community and it is wonderful that they now have a permanent hub, fully kitted-out, where they can work together to improve the mental health of both young and old.

The fact that a Youth Cafe sits alongside a Men's Shed here is truly inclusive and mutually beneficial.

"The repurposing of the vacant health centre premises is an absolute credit to Carmel Murphy and her Well volunteer team, who have worked so hard and fund-raised so much to help make this happen.

"We are delighted to be able to support 'The Well' by providing the premises and wish to congratulate everyone involved on such a remarkable achievement.
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 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 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.

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.

Pictured are Gardai passing a litter bin which has been taped closed as extra security precautions are put in place ahead of the visit of US President Joe Biden this week.. Photographer: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

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.

'KEY ECONOMIC PARTNER'

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.
A protest outside Cork City Hall on Tuesday evening heard calls for the reinstatement of the Governments temporary ban on no-fault evictions.

The rally, which drew a crowd of some 40 people on a damp evening in the city, was organised by the Cork Cost of Living Campaign.

The protest took place before Tuesday's meeting of Cork City Council, and occurred in the wake of the Governments controversial decision to allow the eviction ban to lapse at the end of March.

Tuesdays council meeting was due to debate a motion calling for the reinstatement of the ban and was to hear a report from the councils strategic policy committee (SPC) on housing on the councils preparedness for dealing with a possible post-ban wave of applications for emergency housing.

Socialist Party TD Mick Barry had earlier appealed to people who wanted to see the eviction ban reinstated to attend the protest.

The Government are trying to hide behind a two week Dail recess to dodge public pressure on the eviction ban issue, Mr Barry said.

The Government needs to be put under pressure to reinstate the eviction ban and the council needs to be put under pressure to provide accommodation, including emergency accommodation, for all who need it.

It is a disgrace that roughly 300 council properties are vacant at a time when a wave of evictions is underway, the Cork North Central TD said.

Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, said renters were terrified in the wake of the Governments decision to allow the eviction ban to lapse.

Right now there are 975 people and families in Cork facing eviction, a thousand families facing eviction in Cork.

This country had evictions while the British were in charge and now we have Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and theyre doing to the Irish what the landlords and the Tories did back in the day, and its not good enough, and we wont accept it, Mr Gould said.

Sinn Fein, the Workers party and the Cost of Living Coalition protesting about the eviction ban and housing crisis outside the City Hall, Cork Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Gary Baus of People Before Profit asked where those evicted are supposed to go, saying there was nowhere for them but the streets.

Likening the current housing emergency to Famine times when food was hoarded and exported for profit while people starved, Mr Baus said housing was being hoarded and traded for profit while people sleep on the streets.

The English landlord gave way to the Irish landlord, and the Irish landlord gave way to the multi-national landlord, he said.

The problem was never the nationality of the landlord, the problem is the landlord. We don't need landlords - we need housing.

Mr Baus said that through what he called an organised rebellion evictions could be resisted and the right to housing could be won.

If youre facing an eviction you are not alone. Contact Threshold, the RTB, and the Community Action Tenants Union, and alongside tens of thousands of us we will fight alongside you, he said.

We as renters are over a million strong. We should take inspiration from history and remember what we can achieve when we work together.

Mr Baus said there was an urgent need to cut and freeze rents and to extend the eviction ban.

We need to renovate all vacant properties and ghost estates and build public housing on public land through a not-for-profit national construction company, he said.

Sinn Fein, the Workers party and the Cost of Living Coalition protesting about the eviction ban and housing crisis outside the City Hall, Cork Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Overall, we need to put public need over private greed. We want housing for the people, not a housing market for the rich.

Despite strong criticism from housing charities and opposition voices, some have defended the housing policies of the Government and Cork City Council, among them former lord mayor of Cork, Fianna Fail councillor Colm Kelleher, who told The Echo the State has spent 878 million on housing in Cork in the past 18 months.

Last year in the city under Housing for All, the Governments housing policy, we delivered 934 social and affordable homes across the city, and that represented an investment of over 357 million, Mr Kelleher said.

A further 1,151 social homes are under construction, representing an investment of over 402 million, and theres a total of 385 homes across seven schemes recently approved by the Department of Housing that will commence construction over the next number of months totaling just over 149 million.

The above, and the homes delivered in 2022, and those currently onsite and those commencing construction, represents an investment of 878 million in total," he said.
THE Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey has confirmed that a barrier will be going into the old Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall despite repeated calls from several councillors at Tuesdays full council meeting to delay the erection of the barrier.

The local authority recently announced that due to health and safety concerns, it was necessary for the pier to be blocked off with a safety barrier.

The proposed cutting off of access to the pier has prompted protests from local residents who are opposed to plans to cut off access to the pier.

They say it is important for people engaging in leisure activities, such as fishing boats, rowing and sailing clubs.

Mr Lucey said the barrier will be going in place at the pier, but pledged that the local authority will carry out a survey as quickly as possible before submitting an application for funding to the national government.

Separately it was agreed at Tuesday's council meeting that a letter would be issued to the Cork South West Oireachtas members to request a meeting with the Minister for the Marine Charlie McConalogue to discuss the issue.

The motion which was brought to the chamber by the West Cork Municipal District prompted a heated debate at times with the Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey taking exception to comments from Independent councillor Paul Hayes who had accused Mr Lucey of picking and choosing from a consultants report from 2020.

Mr Lucey denied the very serious allegation and asked for the councilllor to withdraw the remark. Cllr Hayes subsequently apologised which was accepted and acknowledged by Mr Lucey.

The community and fishermen from Union Hall trying to stop the closure of Keelbeg Pier took their protest to the County Hall Cork today, where Cork County Council were due to meet. A total of twenty of the protest group were allowed into the Council Chambers to witness the meeting, with the Keelbeg Pier closure on the agenda. Credit: Andrew Harris

Fianna Fail councillor Joe Carroll said people want the pier to be 'restored' properly. There is a complete lack of communication. There is no plan B in place and that is annoying people. They know that if barriers are put up on the pier it could be locked forever more. They want the pier restored properly.

Independent councillor Paul Hayes said the pier provides huge economic benefits and is a fantastic facility, while Independent councillor Karen Coakley said the pier is the life and soul of the village in Union Hall.

Independent councillor Declan Hurley criticised the shambolic approach from the local authority. There has been a shambolic approach to the situation. It needs to be sorted out.

I want to be clear the barriers will be going in place, said the CEO of Cork County Council Mr Lucey. What is proposed is the closure of part of the pier. The council met with representatives of the Keelbeg Pier Users Community Group on several occasions and we will continue to engage with the group. Before an application for funding can be submitted a comprehensive survey has to be undertaken.

"The programme to complete that finalised report could take up to 15 months. We need to get on with doing the survey ourselves. We will progress it as quickly as we possibly can he said.
US President Joe Bidens plane has landed in Northern Ireland.

Air Force One touched down on a dark and wet evening in the region.

The US leader is on a four-day trip to the island of Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The President 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 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 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.

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.
CORK City Council is confident it can keep pace with the demand for housing up to 2026.

City Hall director of services Niall O Donnabhain told the council that it is committed to delivering on an almost 4,000-unit target up to 2026, with 2,839 units having been built in the five-year period to 2022.

We are very aware of where our numbers are at in terms of social housing presentations, with the lifting of the thresholds, and that has obviously increased the number of applications, said Mr O Donnabhain.

No one is dismissing the seriousness of the issues, the challenges that are facing certain families out there, and kids and single people, but our offices will always be open to provide a service within our authority, but also as a guidance to identify alternative solutions.

Mr O Donnabhains comments came as a protest led by the Cork Cost of Living Campaign took place outside City Hall which heard calls for the reinstatement of the Governments temporary ban on no-fault evictions.

'975 people facing eviction': Protest on housing crisis takes place at Cork City Hall https://t.co/1GasSXdOPA  EchoLive.ie (@echolivecork) April 11, 2023

Details were provided to the council meeting on notices of termination data. Of 50,499 tenancies in the city registered with the Residential Tenancies Board, 0.9%, or 144 tenancies, have been issued with a valid notice to quit.

The total verified number of notices of termination in Cork City and county totals 336 tenancies. Of 2,956 HAP and RAS tenancies in Cork City, 64 were issued with valid terminations, which equates to 2% of Cork Citys qualified social housing applicants.

Under the social housing plan, the target is 3,934 social and affordable homes, and out of that, 729 homes are being delivered. The current pipeline to 2026 is 1,962 homes, with proposals under consideration to 2026 at 775 homes, the meeting heard.

Fianna Fail councillor Tony Fitzgerald said the councils record in social housing delivery from 2017 to 2022 is 2,839 homes delivered.

Cork City Council are aware that households in the Cork City area who have received a Notice of Termination from their landlord, are worried or unsure of what to do next



For information and advice, please visit our website: https://t.co/8zQ3gOgszE pic.twitter.com/nMmcrW0i0r  Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) April 11, 2023

Some 1,151 homes are under construction across 32 sites. Currently, at post-planning design and pre-tender, 332 homes, and going through the current planning process, there are 45 homes with 190 homes in pre-planning, said Mr Fitzgerald.

Progress in the affordable and cost-rental pipeline were also highlighted. These showed 320 units developed and in development across six sites across 105 cost-rental units.

Some 412 units are due to be available through 2023, showing significant uplift on the 2022 returns.

Mr Fitzgerald said a dedicated email, tenantinsitu@corkcity.ie, has been set up for people with queries on tenants in situ.
What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is how people are trained in a craft, trade or profession. You can get training in a traditional craft apprenticeship such as plumbing or carpentry or a new apprenticeships such as accounting technician.

An apprenticeship programme provides on-the-job training with an employer along with off-the-job training in an education centre.

You can start an apprenticeship from age 16 to 18, depending on the programme. It can last 2-4 years, during which you will spend some time in off-the-job training. When you complete an apprenticeship programme, you will get a recognised qualification at Level 5 or above on the NFQ framework.

Types of apprenticeships

The main craft trades and professions are set by SOLAS, employers and unions.

Craft apprenticeships: This generally lasts four years, during which time you will spend three different periods in off-the-job training. Craft apprenticeships include carpentry, plumbing, motor mechanics and electrical apprenticeships.

Generally, the first off-the-job training phase will take place in an Education and Training Board (ETB) while the subsequent off-the-job training phases will be in a Technological University or Institute of Technology. The skills you develop will be assessed through on-the-job competence testing as well as off-the-job modular assessment and examinations and, if you complete these assessments successfully, you will be awarded an Advanced Certificate - craft (level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications).

New apprenticeships in other areas of industry: Apprenticeships introduced from 2016 on lead to an award between Levels 5-10 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Each apprenticeship programme is between 2-4 years. New apprenticeships in ICT, finance and hospitality include software development, accounting technician and commis chef.

There are a number of models of on-the-job and off-the-job training, as well as different models of delivery and different target groups (including people already in employment).

Industry-led groups work with education and training providers and other partners, to oversee the development and roll-out of new apprenticeships. You can search for apprenticeships on apprenticeship.ie.

Funding supports for apprenticeships

Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme: This pilot project offers bursaries for members of the Traveller community to access apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship employer awards: Certain employers who provide apprenticeships can get an apprenticeship employers grant of 2,000 per year for each registered apprentice. They can also avail of a gender-based bursary.

Apprenticeship fees

Generally, an apprentice does not pay fees. However, apprentices pay a pro-rata registration fee (student contribution) if their off-the-job training takes place within a college such as an Institute of Technology or Technological University. The registration fee is generally based on the amount of time the apprentice spends in the college. Apprentices are not eligible for the student grant.

Apprenticeship wages and allowances

Rates of apprenticeship wages and allowances can vary depending on the type of apprenticeship and industry you have chosen:

Apprenticeships developed before 2016: While you are training on the job, your employer will pay you a recommended apprenticeship wage. The ETB pay a weekly allowance equivalent to that wage while you are training off the job. In some cases, the ETB will contribute to your travel and accommodation costs.

Apprenticeships developed in 2016 and after: Your employer will pay you for the duration of the apprenticeship. The rate of pay is agreed between you and your employer.

Annual leave: Your statutory holiday entitlements continue to accrue during the off-the-job phases, but must be taken during the on-the-job phases at times agreed with your employer.

Apprentices who have children:

Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children. If you are an apprentice and you have at least one child you may qualify for WFP, if you meet the conditions for WFP. Contact your local CIC for more details.

Other allowances

Check with your employer or local ETB if you are entitled to any allowances such as a Tool Allowance. You should also check if you qualify for employment tax credits and reliefs.

How to qualify for an apprenticeship

To be eligible, you must be at least 16 and have a minimum of grade D in 5 subjects in the Junior Cycle or equivalent exam. However, higher educational qualifications and other requirements may be required by employers. If you dont have these qualifications, you may still register as an apprentice with an employer if you:

Complete an approved preparatory training course followed by an assessment interview.

Are over 18 and have at least three years of relevant work experience, in which case you will also be asked to do an assessment interview.

You will be asked to pass a colour-vision test for some apprenticeships.

How to apply for an apprenticeship

You can find apprenticeship jobs for craft and new apprenticeships on apprenticeship.ie. Apply directly to the employer before the closing date. You can also approach an employer to ask if they will consider taking you as an apprentice. If you are interested in a craft apprenticeship, contact the Apprenticeship Section of your local ETB for details on applying.
CALLING the commemoration of the arrest, torture and execution of Jesus Christ Good Friday has always jarred.

Good in this context is associated with piety, but it is still a day that I think could do with a rebrand.

Listening to the Easter stories this year, remembered thinking as a child, shouldnt we be getting more upset about these stories?

The betrayal by friends, public whipping, crown of thorns, taunting and nailing to a cross are awful examples of human cruelty, but the priests and the mass-goers had heard these appalling stories plenty of times before and were inured to the violence. They didnt seem to be getting upset so I followed suit and let the horrors go over my head.

The horrors of the Troubles are a closer example of how violence and depravity can become commonplace, and growing up, I let much of what happened go over my head.

Again, I wondered how the adults were accepting of something that seemed so sad and scary. That you could be blown up while out shopping on a Saturday afternoon was, in a way, accepted. Accepted, in that it continued for 30 years before a resolution to stop the violence could be agreed.

The reminiscences around the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (a much more appropriate use of the word good) brought back memories.

In the mid-1990s, I found myself wandering around a Belfast graveyard with a gang of teenagers listening to stories of uncles and cousins who had died senseless deaths. Later, we piled into the minivan to visit another graveyard to hear the equally sad stories of the other side.

Green or Orange. Protestant or Catholic. These teenagers with their strong Northern Irish accents all seemed the same to me. In fact, they seemed just like me, except for the cloud of violence that loomed over their lives.

It was a strange excursion for a group of teenagers, but was part of a Cooperation Ireland exchange programme endeavouring to bring young people from all communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic together.

I was a member of a drama group representing the South and our gang didnt really understand the intricacies of the politics or how that shadow of fear could impact someones life.

We were excited to go to a new city, stay in a hostel and meet other teenagers. We were maybe a little nervous that we were visiting places that we had only ever heard about previously in news reports.

To me, from cloistered Cork, the Troubles were something that played out on TV. For my entire life, violence and murder had been a regular feature at the other end of the island. The Troubles were normalised because Id never seen another way of life for Northern Ireland. I didnt know peace was an option.

Id watch a politician condemning such atrocities but I didnt see concrete action to stop the anguish. Like the crucifixion story, I wondered shouldnt we be getting more upset about this?

As a teenager, I interpreted inaction to stop the violence as resignation. I thought a solution must be impossible because, otherwise, surely, society and governments would stop innocent people being murdered.

In July, 1997, I sat at my kitchen table listening to the late Gerry Ryan and his morning radio patter. His usual cheery banter was replaced by urgent gravitas as he spoke about the restoration of the 1994 IRA ceasefire. Listening to him, I understood the significance of the event and it sounded like the much needed action that had been absent for so long. This was historic.

The heroics of the negotiations of the Good Friday Agreement were revisited over the past week and we have a lot of determined people to be grateful for, for taking a stand that violence was no longer tolerated.

Just six weeks after the signing of the agreement, referendums were passed by landslide victories (72% in support in Northern Ireland and 94% in the Republic). I was too young to vote in that referendum, but was, and am still, so relieved that peace had come to the island. Its a peace we can never take for granted.

Measles

The year I was born the world was declared free of smallpox. Almost 200 years after the smallpox vaccine, the first ever vaccine, was developed. Thanks to vaccination the world is free of the deadly disease. It is gone.

Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in the early 1960s, measles claimed the lives of two million people every year.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 23.2 million deaths have been prevented thanks to vaccination during 2000-2018.

Measles is a highly infectious virus and can be an acute and serious infection. It causes a rash illness, with cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis and high fever.

Complications of measles include ear infections, pneumonia, seizures and, less commonly, brain inflammation. Sadly, in 2018, there were 142,000 global deaths from measles.

For the past two years, many children around the world have missed their routine immunisations because of disruption to healthcare services by the pandemic and measles are bouncing back. Outbreaks have been reported around the world because of low immunisation rates.

Last year, just 88% of Irish kids received their second dose of MMR to protect them from measles, well below the 95% uptake rates recommended by the WHO to stop measles transmission.

The National Immunisation Office has been urging parents to make sure childrens vaccinations are up to date.

The MMR vaccine is the most effective protection we have against measles, and if everyone is immunised we have the prospect of eventually consigning the illness to the smallpox category of human diseases. Gone.
MBABANE  Gawuzelas son and his co-accused SWALIMO and EFF Swaziland members do not want investigators to switch on the cellphones police took from them during their arrest.

Five cellphones are among 16 items that were detained by the police from Zweli Simelane, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Swaziland member Siphosethu Malinga and Mxolisi Jabulani Simelane, who is a member of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO). The cellphones are a Nokia, black Stk, black Samsung J4 Core, purple/blue Huawei and a black VPhone. The detained items include four SIM cards

Contravening

The trio was arrested on March 9, 2023. They face three counts of allegedly contravening the Suppression of Terrorism Act, 2008, two of robbery and one of contravening the Passport Act of 1971. They appeared at the High Court yesterday for their second remand hearing. They made their first court appearance on Monday at the High Court, which is the court of first instance for terrorism cases.The Crown obtained an order to detain the accused persons items on Monday. The application to detain the items was made in terms of Section 23 (1) of the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008.

Detention

The section provides for the detention of a person. The accused persons have filed a notice to raise points of law for the court to issue an order discharging the detention order. During the remand hearing, Lucky Howe, who represents Zweli, told Judge Justice Mavuso that their difficulty was that Section 21 provided that the detention should be for a period of 48 hours and an extension should not exceed seven days. Howe, who appears in the matter alongside Human Rights Lawyer Thabiso Mavuso and Professor Dlamini, who appears for Mxolisi and Malinga respectively, said a period of 48 hours lapsed on Thursday. As a result, Howe said the detained cellphones should be released to the accused persons.

Independent

They should return our phones, give them to the court, which will direct on what should happen and find an independent person to keep them, said Howe. Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Lomvula Hlophe applied that the cellphones be kept wherever they are and not be released to the accused persons. Howe said the cellphones must not be switched on until the matter in which they challenged the order to detain the accused persons items was finalised. Judge Mavuso said it was in the interest of justice that all the parties must be heard. The judge said if there was any filing, it must be such that the court would have a balanced view of what was before it. Judge Mavuso stated that since the accused persons argued that the detention period of 48 hours had lapsed, the court would have to ascertain on the papers to be filed the obtaining situation.

Trust

Howe applied that during the period of filing papers before the matter was heard, may the phones not be switched on. We trust that the DPP will not have an issue with that. Judge Mavuso said he could not respond to that because he was yet to see the full set of papers to be filed. Hlophe told the court that the Crown would file its papers next Wednesday and was not ready to proceed with the matter yesterday. Thabiso said he held a different view regarding the operation of Section 23 of the Act and that he would file his papers on Monday. In the notice to raise points of law, the accused persons submitted that the Crowns application to detain their items in terms of Section 23(1), of the Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2023, was irregular, defective to such an extent that it could not be cured and did not meet the requirements in terms of the mentioned section.

The application is fatality effective in that it does not meet the requirements in terms of Section 23 (2), which is a prerequisite, prior to the application being made by the applicant (Crown).The applicant has not demonstrated and or presented to the court, that he has the written consent of the attorney general, prior to him moving the said application. The said Subsection 23(2), only makes provision for the detention of a person, not items found by a police officer or any items or property belonging to an individual, if it does who may have been the subject of an investigation, reads the accused persons papers.

Defective

They also submitted that the Crowns application was allegedly further defective in that the section of the Act makes provision that such detained person shall only be detained for a period not exceeding 48 hours, in the first instance, and may on application made by a police officer, be extended for a further seven days. The present order, according to the trio, could not be enforced in that it was moved by the Crown more than four days after Malinga and Mxolisi had been detained. The said 1st and 2nd accused (Malinga and Mxolisi) were arrested and detained by police officers on Thursday the 9th day of March 2023, and have been under their custody since then until they were presented to the court, submitted the accused persons. They also informed the court that the application in the notice of motion made no provision, where the said individuals were to be detained, which is a prerequisite in terms of the said section.

Prerequisite

Section 23(5) makes it a further prerequisite that the applicant should state the conditions upon which the person is to be detained, including conditions related to access to medical offices as the case may be. Accused is an amputee and therefore requires medical attention and no such provision has been made by the applicant when it is glaring that the accused person shall require same. Further the said application does not meet the requirements of the section in that the applicant has not placed before the court any evidence confirming that the items belong to the 2nd and 3rd accused (Mxolisi and Zweli) and form part of an investigation and the detention is to prevent interference with an investigation under the Act.



The trio alleged that no facts or allegations, which were contained in the application, connect and or that the said accused persons had in anyway interfered in or disrupted any form of investigation by the police officers in relation to an offence to which they were charged or to be charged with.

When the application was made before the court, they argued that they had already been detained and were represented by their legal representatives in terms of Section 21 of the Constitution.

Application

They said the order, therefore, should not have been granted by the court, in view of the fact that the application had not been served on them as they had not appeared before the court. The trio pointed out that the items sought to be detained were already in police custody and possession. The matter is pending in court.
NHLANGANO  Some Mkhitsini residents say they feel their area is being neglected and fear missing out on the upcoming national elections, more especially after the collapse of their traditional leadership structures.

In an interview with some of the residents, they highlighted that currently, there was a civic voter education exercise that was ongoing countrywide. They said they were seeing other areas surrounding their community being visited by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) for the said exercise, but so far, nothing had been communicated to them about the exercise. They said usually, such activities were done through the assistance of the umphakatsi but for them, it seemed hard as they had no existing umphakatsi.

Nephew

Mkhitsini Umphakatsi was set alight by residents in 2021 after the areas Chief, Mfukama Mndzebele, shot dead his nephew in a land dispute. Mdzebele was arrested and convicted of murder. His entire family was sent packing by the angry residents, who burnt his homestead. A few months later, the areas Indvuna Mbongeleni Vilakati was also shot dead. Following the death of Vilakati, members of the inner council (bandlancane) were also attacked, such that one of them (Secretary to bandlancane David Ngwenya) had his home set alight as well, forcing his family to seek refuge in other areas. The residents mentioned that they were aware that after the arrest of the chief and the death of the indvuna, the Shiselweni Regional Administrators (RA) Offices promised to take over the leadership of the area in the interim. The residents said, however, no one from the RAs Office had ever met them as residents to this date regarding issues that may be affecting them as a community.

They said that this was an indication that they were on their own. One of the residents, *Jubela said they felt neglected whereas not all of them were part of the disputes in the area. He said they also wanted to be involved in the national activities such as the elections as they were still citizens of this country. Jubela said following the death of the chief, the level of crime had increased exponentially, coupled with mob killings that had been happening in the area. Last month, a Jericho priest at Mkhitsini was killed by a mob from the area. Mkhitsini Bucopho Samkelo Nzima concurred with the residents that things were hard in the area as everyone was now a law unto themselves. He said the residents needed to be reminded that despite everything that happened, the law was still there and applicable to everyone living in this country.

Nzima said it was hard living at Mkhitsini because people were killing each other and police were having difficulties in working around the area. He opined that the RA should keep his promise and meet the residents in order to find a way forward in terms of making the area peaceful again. He said a lot of things were getting ruined at Mkhitsini as everyone was doing as they pleased, without being reprimanded. Nzima noted that the RA promised to meet the residents way back in 2021, but still that meeting had not taken place and it seemed the RA as well was scared or reluctant to go to that area.

Exercise

On the ongoing voter education exercise, Nzima said their community was part of the many communities forming Shiselweni II Inkhundla and they were aware that some of those communities had the chance to be educated on the elections but nothing had happened in the area yet. He said he would check with the EBC if there were plans to visit the area for the same purpose. Nzima said there were some of the Mndzebele elders whom he was reporting to and he would often meet them under a tree. He said the challenge was that these elders were not that close to the chief prior to his incarceration. When sought for comment, Shiselweni RA Peter Mamba referred this reporter to Ludzidzini Council Chairman Chief Mdlaka Gamedze as the rightful person to respond on issues pertaining to Mkhitsini residents.
Twitter faces yet another lawsuit over unpaid bills. As first reported by The New York Times, three former executives sued the company on Monday. In a complaint filed with the Delaware Chancery Court, former CEO Parag Agrawal, former CFO Ned Segal and former chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde allege Twitter owes them more than $1 million in unreimbursed legal fees.

Elon Musk fired all three execs after taking control of the company last fall. The former executives allege Twitter spent months ignoring letters they sent asking it to honor a reimbursement agreement they had in place before their termination. According to the complaint, Twitter finally acknowledged the letters last month but did little else. As of Monday, the trio was still waiting on the company to repay the fees.

The former execs say they incurred the legal fees responding to shareholder lawsuits and several government investigations, including one involving the US Department of Justice. The complaint states federal officials began sending requests to Agrawal and Segal last July. Then, late last year, the Justice Department contacted Agrawal and Segals lawyers to discuss multiple investigations into Twitter. As CNN notes, the Justice Department has not previously disclosed an investigation into Twitter.

The lawsuit highlights Twitters ongoing financial challenges. At the end of last year, the owner of the building that houses Twitters San Francisco headquarters sued the company for failing to pay rent. Musk has eliminated more than 75 percent of the approximately 7,500-person workforce Twitter employed under Agrawal. Last month, Musk said Twitter saw a 50 percent decline in ad revenue.

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Google has called Bard an "experimental conversational AI service" since first announcing it earlier this year. The company says it's constantly tweaking its models, but without a central place to learn whats changed, it can be hard to know what it's actually capable of. In an attempt to be more open about Bard's development, Google has created a new "experiment updates" page where anyone can find information on recent updates to Bard, including new features and bug fixes.

So far each update posted includes a "what" and a "why." For the updates page itself, Google says it was created so "people will have an easy place to see the latest Bard updates for them to test and provide feedback."

Google added two other announcements in the same post. The first one explains there are now additional search options when a person clicks "Google it." The other is an update to Bard's math and logic skills, with Google explaining that Bard isn't always giving the right answers there  something the company is attempting to fix. This improvement comes shortly after Google switched Bard to a more advanced language model.

While the breakdowns are pretty short and vague as to exactly how Google is creating these updates, it's definitely a start in the right direction for giving the public more insight into their thought process. Plus, at a time when both industry professionals and people in general are openly worrying about unregulated advancements in AI technology, Google's transparency is likely to win them a few trust points.
Google TV is becoming more like basic cable. The company announced today its adding content from several new providers to make browsing ad-supported live TV channels a central part of the platform. The news comes several months after the company was reportedly negotiating with media companies to add similar content to YouTube.

Starting today, Google TV is adding Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels from Tubi, Plex and Haystack News to its existing FAST content from Pluto TV. In addition, Google is adding built-in channels from Google TV that you can watch without even downloading or launching an app. The company says the service now aggregates over 800 free channels.

FAST is the industry term for ad-supported linear streaming content, meaning its broadcast at specific times like traditional television. (Think standard afternoon programming on TNT or TBS.) Already embraced by competitors like Roku, FAST channels turn streaming into an experience akin to channel-surfing in the old days  further proving that live TV streaming has essentially become cable sent through a different pipe.

Google says the content will include shows like Westworld (which Warner Bros. Discovery removed from HBO Max), Law & Order: SVU and The Walking Dead. Additionally, it includes news content from NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox. It also has international programming in more than 10 languages, including Spanish, Japanese and Hindi. In addition, the programming is organized in an updated TV guide, which Google says makes browsing easier and faster. The Google TV Live tab will also include content from YouTube TV or Sling TV (if you subscribe), putting all your live TV content in one spot.

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Although the Google TV changes arrive beginning today, the company says it will roll it out over the coming weeks, (a Google classic) so you may have to wait a bit before trying it. First, of course, youll need a Google TV device like Chromecast with Google TV or a television from Sony, TCL, Hisense and Philips with Google TV built-in. The company says the feature will trickle down to Android TV devices later this year.
LOBAMBA - His Majesty King Mswati III says there is no need for other powers other than the blood of Jesus Christ as it also silences guns.

This, he said, during his 30-minute sermon which started just after 3:40pm. He appreciated that the congregants had gathered at the stadium as this depicted the importance of the day. He said the anniversary of the death of Christ was unlike others, which were one day events. He said the Easter celebrations were a season for forgiveness and a time for restoration and revival. The King said it was a symbol that Jesus Christ conquered death and also revealed that He was a unique being. This, he said, was because He was crucified and later taken to the tomb, which was sealed with a boulder. The King said those who did this were oblivious to the fact that Jesus Christ was unique and was feared by all demons.

Demonstration

If you walk with Jesus Christ, you walk with a mighty man indeed. Im happy when we see emaSwati in the country strong in the Lord. If we speak of a season, weve already seen a demonstration as while we were praying, there was rainfall, which is a sign that God is within us, he said. He said God was blessing emaSwati and subsequent to the rain, the King said he saw a rainbow. Thereon, he invited the attendees to raise their hands and shout hallelujah. The King said when such a message was received; it was confidence to the kingdom. He said the Bible stated that when the people had sealed the tomb with the boulder, they assumed nothing else would happen; however, from their expectations, they were shocked.

The Monarch said there were soldiers assigned to guard the tomb and they were to ensure that the tomb was not opened; however, because the power of God was beyond any understanding, the tomb was opened. This, he said, shocked the soldiers despite that they were on guard 24/7. He said this was a reflection that Gods powers were beyond understanding as He opened wherever its closed and once God had done this, no person could alter it. The King said it would have been easy if the soldiers had seen the stone being pushed. The King said Jesus Christ was trinity and as such, things that happened with Him would not happen to any normal person.

Crucifiers

He said when reporting, the soldiers reported that the stone had been moved, which must have brought humiliation to those who crucified Christ. This, he said, must have resulted in crucifiers telling the soldiers not to share the information. The King supposed that they must have been paid larger sums to keep quiet; yet in Christ there was no buhwicihwici. The King said the soldiers supposed that the pastors had stolen Jesus Christ; but what they had forgotten was that he had prophesied his death. It is great to hear this. Jesus Christ rose again. All the people who thought they had conquered Him had lost. These people were disappointed as the tomb was opened and the Holy Spirit was needed to open it. People love tricky things and some get powers to be feared. When speaking to him, you shake but Gods powers dont need this, he said.

The King said if God had resurrected in ones heart, they did not need special powers. He said some people wanted to fit in and shout hallelujah yet the heart was not aligned to Christ. The King told the congregants that the Holy Spirit meant that people should seek Jesus and be like Pethro, Mary Magdalen, who went to see Jesus and establish if he had resurrected indeed. When it comes to Christ, you should establish if he has risen. This was a lesson to us, check if he resurrected in our hearts. Let us not do it to fit in. Miracles happen in Christ. As emaSwati, we shall get a blessing and introspect on what the resurrection of Christ means to us. The King said Jesuss resurrection protected the people from everything and all that was needed was to have Him within their hearts. The King said people should not do things seeking to fit in or please other people.

He then thanked God for taking care of the country and for all the things He had done for the kingdom. He said because of the power of God, while people swore that they had completed their missions, nothing would happen as long as people were with Christ. The King was also happy that the Zulu King had seen the testimony that emaSwati were still living through following the Word of God as prophesied by King Somhlolo. He said: (Siphila kahle kaNgwane) we are living well kaNgwane. The King said for walking with God was a blessing. He also thanked the messages from the various pastors, the Indlovukazi and the Zulu Ingonyama.

Challenges

The King said he was happy that the Zulu King had received a siSwati Bible and as such, he had spent time reading it. This, the Monarch said, had pleased him. The Monarch said God had been with the country through all situations and had shown his powers. He said it was for this reason that emaSwati had to humble themselves and state they would never leave God despite all challenges. The King said Jesus shall lead the country at all instances and in the same breath invited Christ to bless all people at the stadium and that they should leave with Christ, who had shown through the rainbow that he was within their midst. He shall bless everything in the country and we shall never forsake God. Today was a restoration. We are getting a renewal in God and we should thank Him for His love, grace and mercy.

The King said in all the challenges the country faced, Jesus had been with the nation and it would not be possible to forget Him. He said there were no words worthy for expressing gratitude to Jesus. He said the kingdoms commitment could be that it would not forsake Him despite all challenges. The King made a commitment that the country would not forsake worshipping God. We thank God for dying for us despite that there is nothing we could offer. He became a hero and this gives us a challenge to be sincere and hold on to Him. We pray for everything and even things we cant see.
A bank employee who was later identified as Connor Sturgeon shot dead four people and wounded nine others in an attack on his workplace in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, per city officials.
Taiwans defense ministry condemned China for conducting military exercises in the waters around Taiwan.
Thousands of Israelis, including ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government, marched to an evacuated Jewish outpost in the West Bank in support of settlements viewed as illegal under international law.
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Frustrated that U.S. oil refineries are still allowed to dump massive amounts of toxic chemicals and heavy metals into lakes, rivers and streams, more than a dozen environmental groups are urging a federal court to order more stringent regulation of some of the nations biggest polluters.

A petition filed Tuesday accuses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of violating the federal Clean Water Act by failing to require standards reflecting current pollution-control technologies for refiners and six other industries.

No one should get a free pass to pollute, said Jen Duggan, deputy director of the Environmental Integrity Project, one of the groups suing the agency.

Also involved in the suit is San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper, an environmental advocacy organization headed by Diane Wilson, a fourth-generation retired shrimper and longtime environmental activist who reached a $50 million settlement with Formosa Plastics Corp. in 2019 after she sued the company for discharging plastic waste into Lavaca Bay and nearby waterways.

OTHER CONCERNS: Environmental advocates push feds to investigate Texas enforcement of water quality

During 2021 alone, 81 refineries in the United States that treat waste on-site released 1.6 billion pounds of chlorides, sulfates and other dissolved solids harmful to fish and other aquatic life, the groups determined in their review of federal data. Seven Texas companies landed on the top 10 biggest polluters for dissolved solids dumped into waterways in 2021.

The refineries also collectively discharged 60,000 pounds of selenium, an element that can mutate fish, and 15.7 million pounds of nitrogen, which contributes to water-fouling algae blooms and dead zones in important fisheries such as the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay.

The lawsuit, which asks the federal government to direct the EPA to review its decision to not revise pollution limits earlier this year, was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco.

Pollution standards for the industries were last updated 30, sometimes nearly 40 years ago, according to a letter sent by the organizations to EPA Administrator Michael Regan.

The EPA declined to comment.

Under the Clean Water Act  the 1972 law designed to reduce pollution in Americas waterways  at least once every five years the EPA is required to evaluate and revise pollution limits for different types of industries based on the best available technology economically achievable  which will result in reasonable further progress toward the national goal of eliminating the discharge of all pollutants.

TOP TEXAS POLLUTERS: Exxons Baytown and Valeros Corpus Christi refineries top list of U.S. water polluters in 2021

The lawsuit aims to force industrial plants to install modern controls to reduce the volume and toxicity of the pollution being discharged.

New technologies that can reduce pollution include denitrification technology, which removes nitrogen from wastewater. Duggan said its already required for municipal sewage treatment plants that discharge into the Chesapeake Bay on the East Coast. She said the technology should be required at Texas refineries and other large producers of nitrogen pollution, which in many cases are operating under rules she called ancient.

Its really time for the EPA to do its job and require these plants to install modern wastewater-treatment controls and bring them into the 21st century, she said.

Environmental advocates say the lack of regulations harms low-income communities and communities of color, which bear a disproportionate burden of industrial pollution.

The groups' report listed the most frequent violators, including the Phillips 66 Sweeny Refinery, south of Houston, which exceeded its permitted pollution limits 44 times from 2019-21; 42 violations were for discharging unpermitted cyanide pollution into the Brazos River, the report says. The company was penalized $30,000 for the violations, according to EPA records obtained by EIP.

Phillips 66 declined to comment.

TOXIC TEXAS: Texas now the nations biggest emitter of toxic substances into streams, rivers and lakes

Wilson, the founder of San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper, said pollution limits are crucial. The 75-year-old Calhoun County residents family has lived on the Gulf Coast for more than a century and battled Formosa for decades.

When you walk on the beaches, you can literally see microplastics in the water rolling in, she said. When you have a boat tied up at the docks, you get a line of plastic around the hole of the boat. It blows your mind.

Other groups behind the suit include Bayou City Waterkeeper, Center for Biological Diversity, Clean Water Action, Waterkeeper Alliance, Food & Water Watch, Environment America, Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Healthy Gulf, San Francisco Baykeeper and Tennessee Riverkeeper.
A closed nursing home and rehabilitation facility in the Government Hill neighborhood near Pearl could be replaced by a multifamily development if those behind the proposal can overcome opposition from the nearby community.

Owner Meridian RJ Care Realty Group of SA III LLC is seeking to have a 1.2-acre property at 815 E. Grayson St. rezoned and its land use category changed to allow 92 residential units to be built. A plan submitted to the city shows a four-story building and 105 parking spaces at the site, where the boarded-up Meridian Care at Grayson Square facility sits.

But city staff and neighbors are pushing back.

The city recommends that the Zoning and Planning commissions reject Meridians request on the grounds that the project is inconsistent with the density and development in the area. The Meridian Care center is surrounded by small apartment complexes and offices, as well as single-family homes.

Zoning commissioners were scheduled to take up the rezoning case April 4, but the applicants attorney, Emilie Weissler, asked that the item be postponed because her clients need a lot more time for ongoing discussions with neighbors.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio home appraisals jump, but less than last year as market cools

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In a voicemail played for commissioners, Marlene Hawkins of the Government Hill Community Association said she agreed with city staff and wants to discuss repurposing the property to make it more usable and city-friendly. Among the 50 rezoning notices the city mailed to those within 200 feet, one was returned in favor and six in opposition.

The Zoning and Planning Commissions make recommendations to the City Council, which has final authority on requests. Both commissions are scheduled to vote on Meridians case in mid-May after the company requested more time.

Through its attorney, Meridian declined to comment.

Tensions rise as neighborhood changes

The Government Hill neighborhood  sandwiched between Pearl, downtown and Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston  is morphing. Apartments and offices are being built, new restaurants are opening, and neglected properties are being renovated.

The changes have prompted concerns about rising property taxes and gentrification, and tension over development.

The 78208 ZIP code in Government Hill ranked third among the 10 ZIP codes with the biggest increase in the median price of a home from 2015 to 2020, according to the San Antonio Board of Realtors. The price climbed 153.7 percent during that period to $212,500; nearly half of the 10 ZIP codes were on the East Side.

On ExpressNews.com: Chick-fil-A opens restaurant in downtown San Antonio

The median value of a home in the neighborhood more than doubled from 2017 to 2022, rising from $90,820 to $206,000, according to the Bexar Appraisal District.

More white residents have moved into the neighborhood, while Hispanic residents have moved out. From 2010 to 2020, the percentage of white residents more than doubled to 29 percent, according to Census Bureau data. The percentage of Hispanic residents fell from 78 to 60 percent. The overall population jumped 11 percent.

Development plans abound

The Meridian Care site is about four blocks east of Broadway Street, where complexes such as 1800 Broadway and The Mosaic, Credit Human and Jefferson Banks new headquarters and more office space have been built in recent years.

Local firm GrayStreet Partners said it was working with Houston-based developer Midway to turn about 20 acres across Broadway from Pearl into a 1.6-million-square-foot development with housing, retail and hospitality space, offices and outdoor plazas called Broadway East. GrayStreet sold most of that land in 2021 to San Antonio-based Fulcrum Development, which has remained tight-lipped about its plans.

Earlier this year, GrayStreet bought a 0.8-acre site that includes the Pig Stand diner and a sliver of land next to it. Pig Stand owner Mary Ann Hill closed the business, citing health concerns.

Roughly half a mile west of Meridian Care, a group of investors and developers led by JJ Feik plans to build 281 apartments, a parking garage and retail space outside Fort Sam Houston. Feik has said he expects the housing to appeal to workers at Fort Sam, students in the Alamo Colleges District and young professionals employed at Credit Human and Jefferson Bank.

Farther west, a battle erupted in 2020 over plans to rezone a residential site in the 2000 block of North Walters Street to facilitate commercial development.

Some nearby homeowners said they were concerned about razing houses on the site and the kinds of businesses that could end up there, while others said they wanted to see more development in the area. They eventually struck a compromise for a less-intense commercial zoning than was originally sought.

In 2018, a group of residents who worried that the neighborhood was not doing enough to control development tried unsuccessfully to take over the Government Hill Alliance Neighborhood Association. They accused the associations leaders of being too friendly with developers, failing to alert them about proposed projects, and lacking transparency.

The neighborhood now has two groups: the Government Hill Alliance and the Government Hill Community Association.
The location where a movie about a cannibalistic family who viciously murder a group a friends was filmed is taking it down a notch. It will be a Southern-style restaurant.

Simon Madera, owner of Austin-based franchise Taco Flats, is acquiring Grand Central Cafe, according to the Dallas Morning News  a location that once featured in the 1974 film, "Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

Madera, along with his wife and business partners, plans to transform the restaurant in the Central Texas town of Kingsland into a Southern-style restaurant that pays homage to the horror classic, first by naming it Hoopers, in honor of Tobe Hooper, the director of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Hooper, a native of Austin, died in 2017 at the age of 74.

READ MORE: San Antonio's Dawson Wayne reaches the Top 26 of American Idol

The film follows a group of friends who head to rural Texas, where they discover a group of murderous cannibals living in an old farmhouse. In the film, they have to find a way to escape the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface, who terrorizes them while wearing a mask of human skin.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

The property purchased by Madera is where the cannibalistic family resides in the film.

The home was originally located near Round Rock where it was used by Hooper to make the film, but it was moved in 1998 to Kingsland, where it was placed on the grounds of the Antlers Hotel. The home is a pattern-book house that could easily be broken apart and transported, if needed.

In Kingsland, the home was repurposed and turned into the Grand Central Cafe and Club Car Bar, where its history was rarely acknowledged.

There was no real nod to it, Madera said. One of the things that we wanted to do is become a little bit more respectful (to the movie). Part of it is Hoopers, the last name of Tobe Hooper.

Locals will have the opportunity to donate old chainsaws that will be used in an art installation for the restaurant.

Gabriella.Ybarra@express-news.net
Dawson Rice, who goes by the stage name Dawson Wayne, has reached American Idols Top 26 after performing the song Flying by Cody Fry.

The 21-year-old singer who graduated from Reagan High School impressed the judges enough to advance to the next round. Usually a top 24, the American Idol judges revealed Monday that the field would be expanded to 26.

Dawsons performance on Mondays episode was part of the contests Showstoppers round, which is the first time the contestants are backed by a band onstage. Last week, the singer performed an original song called Sour Skies.

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Showstoppers was the best two minutes of my life, Dawson told the cameras after his performance that aired Monday. Ive always wanted to be on the American Idol stage, and being able to do that was just so cool.

Dawsons emotive display drew the audience in, and he said he aims to tell a story with his performances.

I dont pretend Im the biggest voice, he said, but I feel like I can really put (out) an emotion and really just connect with people.

Judge Katy Perry told Dawson hes carved out a niche on the competition.

Dawson, youve got your own identity, Katy Perry said. Dont try and compete with anyone else. Strength in your lane  this is your mission now.

Watch Dawsons performance in the video below:
A federal grand jury has indicted members of a San Antonio family that has been heavily involved in Fiesta, charging them in an alleged conspiracy to bribe Army contractors to win multimillion-dollar cleaning contracts.

Kenneth "Ken" Flores, his brother, Christopher Flores, and their parents, Antonio "Tony" Flores Jr. and Irma Flores, are accused of conspiring to defraud the United States by rigging federal contracts for the housekeeping and janitorial services at Army hospitals and medical centers.

"The alleged scheme involved a corrupt partnership between the Floreses and co-conspirator government employees Karisa Waysepappy Kelley and John Jordan 'Chip' Mathes, involving millions of dollars in work ... in return for bribes and kickbacks, eliminating the Flores competition in the process," U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza said in a statement.

The investigation has centered on allegations that the Floreses corrupted the contracting process to keep a lucrative agreement and secure new work worth more than $80 million.

Indicted last week, the Floreses appeared before a federal magistrate judge in San Antonio on Monday and were released on recognizance bonds pending their arraignments, which are scheduled for April 19.

The four Floreses are each charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted on all charges, they each face a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison.

Mike McCrum, who represents Ken Flores, previously said his client's company won its contract because of its strong qualifications. He said the work included handling hazardous materials. His firm also was required to follow many quality-control procedures and provide a lot of employee training.

The facts, once they come out, will show Kens company won the contract based primarily on the high quality of service they were able to provide compared to other competitors, said.

Tony Flores served as Rey Feo during the 1996 Fiesta celebration, and Ken Flores served as Rey Feo in 2018, the year his company, Allegiance Environmental Services, won an $83.6 million contract  one of two the feds are targeting in the case.

Known as Fiestas Peoples King, a new Rey Feo is elected annually by members of the Rey Feo Consejo Educational Scholarship Foundation, which supports the Rey Feo Scholarship Program. Those serving as Rey Feos help raise funds for scholarships.

In 2003, Irma Flores became the first Hispanic woman to serve as president of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission.

"Antonio and Irma Flores have a legacy of over 50 years of exemplary service for our military and our veterans," Nico LaHood and Jay Norton, attorneys representing the couple, said in a written statement. "We disagree with the government's accusations and will, ultimately, trust in a jury of their peers."

The Express-News chronicled the investigation earlier this year, when federal prosecutors filed paperwork showing they struck deals with Kelley and Mathes in exchange for information about the Floreses. Kelley and Mathes pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

In August 2020, criminal investigators from the Defense Department searched the Flores homes in Shavano Park and their San Antonio-area businesses.

Beginning in 2014, Flores companies received three hospital housekeeping contracts worth more than $200 million from the Army Medical Command headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. The command oversees a far-flung network of military hospitals and clinics.

Kelley, of Wichita Falls, and Mathes, of Manhattan, Kan., were civilian Army employees who admitted providing inside information to help the Flores firms win or keep the contracts.

According to court filings, Tony Flores San Antonio company, Helpful Hands Inc., or HHI, won a $59.5 million fixed-price contract in 2014 to provide janitorial services at three facilities in Washington state  Madigan Army Medical Center, Puyallup Medical Home and South Sound Medical Home  and the Presidio of Monterey, Calif.

Kelley was on the evaluation board for that contract in September 2014, the filings said.

In August 2018, Kelley and Mathes formed a corrupt partnership" with the Floreses to rig the contract bidding process to give the Floreses an unfair  and illegal  edge, prosecutors allege.

In August of that year, Mathes incorporated C&S Consulting to provide consulting services and bidding assistance on government housekeeping and custodial contracts. In January 2019, Kelley formed Waysepappy Consulting. Prosecutors contend that Kelley and Mathes created the two firms, both based in Washington, to receive bribes disguised as consulting fees.

Kelley, as contract officer representative, allegedly helped Helpful Hands secure an amendment to its 2014 Army contract that resulted in additional payments of nearly $2 million. Mathes provided the Floreses with sensitive government information to assist them during negotiations for the amendment, court documents said.

The filings said Kelley was on the evaluation board for another contract the Army Medical Command put out for bid in early 2018  for housekeeping work at Tripler Army Medical Center and associated medical facilities in Hawaii. Ken Flores company, Allegiance, won the $83.6 million contract, beating nine other bidders.

The documents said Mathes divulged confidential information to Ken Flores to contrive fraudulent quotes to Army that were roughly equal to the government budget amounts.

Kelley and Mathes also used their positions to help give HHI the edge when the contract for hospitals that included Madigan Army Medical Center came up again for bid, the documents said.

In April 2020, the Army awarded a contract for nearly $84.5 million to HHI, extending the companys work at Madigan and other medical facilities in Washington state and California. The estimated completion date is April 14, 2025, records show.

The indictment said the Floreses used AES and HHI to fund the kickbacks to Kelley and Mathes. Christopher Flores used his company, Alliance Supply, to pay the former government workers the bribes, the indictment said.

Federal prosecutors also filed forfeiture paperwork on Monday to try to get back $216,710 from Mathes, the amount he allegedly received in bribes. They filed similar forfeiture paperwork seeking to recover $57,097 from Kelley.
LOBAMBA  Some pastors are accused of siding with political enemies and taking advantage of being close to the authorities.

Chairperson of the League of Churches, Bishop Samson Hlatjwako said this in his sermon, after welcoming Their Majesties to the Sunday Service at Somhlolo National Stadium. The service was attended by His Majesty King Mswati III, the Queen Mother and the King of Zululand, Misuzulu KaZwelithini and members of the royal family. Also present were members of the diplomatic corps, members of both Houses of Parliament, chairpersons of commissions and Boards of various church denominations. Just before 1pm, Hlatjwako, who was leading the programme, said it was a blessing for the nation to meet and celebrate the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ as He died and rose for the cleansing of peoples sins.

Scripture

He said the Sunday service was set to celebrate that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Hlatjwako then read the scripture from the Book of Mathew 21 verses 18  22, after which he narrated that many people had lost their faith as Christ was no longer with them. There are many people who claim to be Christians yet they are on the other side, despite that they have to pray for peace. This is despite that like me, they are pastors, he said. He went on to state that if people had faith, they could pray that the Mdzimba Mountain should move and same would happen. He said this meant that the challenges that the country faced could be conquered if people could be united and remove the mountain that caused a wedge among emaSwati.

He said it was disheartening that some pastors were contributing to the political turmoil. Hlatjwako supposed that there were people who were close to the Monarch yet offering assistance in overthrowing the government. These pastors, on one side pray for peace while on the other side want to overthrow government. If they want to leave, let them do so and not be on both sides. Your Majesty, it is true that you can also find me in a meeting plotting against the authorities. These meetings are held at night and not during the day because they are evil.

Meetings

Hlatjwako said when such meetings were held during the course of the day, doors and windows were closed. He said if the nation could be united and be honest, while Christ was within people, all would be well. He said as the nation was engaged in preparation to elect parliamentarians, it would be best for emaSwati to pray for legislators who would assist in the development of the country. Hlatjwako said the country should not regress but must be prosperous. He said there were so many divisions because there were wedges among people. He further supposed that gossip was on the rise even among prominent pastors who were chitchatting a lot. This, he said, was stalling progress in the country and if it could be thwarted, the country could be prosperous.

The verses quoted by the bishop:

Matthew 21:18-22: Jesus curses a fig tree.

18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, He was hungry.

19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, May you never bear fruit again! Immediately the tree withered.

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. How did the fig tree wither so quickly? they asked.

21 Jesus replied, Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done.

22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
When Spurs' legend Gregg Popovich called for tighter gun control on Sunday, he likely wasn't aware of a shooting just 20 miles away the night prior.

Early Sunday morning, multiple gunshots rang out at a crowded nightclub on the far North Side. A video of the shooting was posted to TikTok by the account "f4irymama" on Monday, quickly accumulating nearly 170,000 views and more than 1,000 comments.

The video includes the voices of multiple women as they hide from the shooter underneath a truck. In a follow-up video, posted just six hours after the original video, the user, who goes by the name Saev on TikTok, said that the women were waiting for their ride and detailed how one person was reported as shot due to the incident.

In the original video, the women can be heard asking where their friends are and reacting to the gunshots, heard in the background.

"Please, please, where do we go, where do we go," one of the women is heard asking. "It's OK. It's OK, baby," another is heard saying, attempting to calm her friends.

The action of the video is described in captions on the video, while the video itself is mostly shot from underneath a truck as the women hide.

"We gotta get out of here," one says, as their friend pulls up with his car "We gotta go," the voices tell one of their friends, Gabby, as she panics about the shooting.

READ MORE: 1 child dead, 2nd child and mother injured after shooting near Alamo Heights

The San Antonio Police Department wrote that officers were dispatched to the nightclub, at 19141 Stone Oak Pkwy #505, around 2 a.m. Sunday due to a shooting in progress. However, when officers arrived, SAPD wrote, they didn't find a victim at the scene, although a victim showed up at a nearby hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.

"Officers were able to speak to several witnesses and they began their investigation," Melisa Cruz, a press information officer with SAPD wrote in an email. "Victim advised he was dancing with a woman at the club and her boyfriend (the suspect) got jealous. Suspect started a fight inside the club."

Following the fight, staff members at Fortytwo advised everyone to leave the bar, while the suspect went to his vehicle and got a gun. The suspect proceeded to fire his weapon several times at the victim, according to police, striking him. The victim was transported to the hospital in fair condition and the unknown suspect has not been located.

San Antonio police said they're investigating.

shepard.price@express-news.net
The small, nearly collapsed Southwest Side home just a block from Leal Middle School posed a threat to human safety in the eyes of the city of San Antonio.

Last week, city officials ordered the 70-year-old home with the sagging roof on Fitch Street to be demolished, despite pleas from the homeowners family to give them more time.

Family of the owner, who has a mental illness, told the Building Standards Board, a quasi-judicial panel that rules on repair and demolition cases on behalf of the city of San Antonio, that the move would make the man homeless.

Related: Her West Side home was powered by car batteries. She pleaded with the city not to raze it.

Armando Rivera, who days earlier had received power of attorney privileges to speak on his brothers behalf, said his sibling had lived in the home a long time and had no income.

Rivera wanted time to work with a real estate agent to sell the property. He said if the home were torn down, there'd be no feasible way for his brother to pay the city back for the demolition.

Rivera said he did not disagree with the citys assessment of the propertys condition. Photos of the home, taken last month, were displayed on a nearby screen.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

What you see in the pictures is a failure on our part to help bring the property up to code, Rivera said.

No water or electricity fed the home, which had belonged to the mans deceased mother.

Daylight spilled in through the boarded windows and holes in the wall, spotlighting piles of trash and other debris that littered the soft, spongy floor. The sheetrock was broken and threatened to fall on the people who were given permission by the owner to live there with him.

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The city said the man allowed vagrants to live in the backyard, too, and that a separate structure had been built out of spare plywood, cardboard and other unstable materials.

The city first noted a litany of code violations there last March. A $1,200 lien was placed on the property after the city attempted to clean it up.

The owner, who the Express-News is not naming because of his illness, was unresponsive to the citys efforts, code enforcement told the board.

This property did not get like this overnight, Member Evelyn Brown told Rivera. You live right here in the city and now youre talking about the concern of your brother. I dont mean this harshly, but your concern didnt go back far enough.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

Rivera was asked multiple times when exactly he knew about the condition of the home.

He was vague, saying only that the family had known about its condition for some time and only recently had received notice about the violations.

Rivera said the problem was getting ahold of his brother, who often refused to come out of the house when family came to drop off a care package.

For us to show up and explain to him about violations to city codes and roof damage and floors  that goes under the assumption that youre talking to someone thats in the right frame of mind, Rivera said. My brother is not in that frame of mind. So you could be sending him notices from here until the end of time. To him he doesnt comprehend.

Courtesy of the city of San Antonio

Eric Burns, the assistant city attorney, called into question the validity of Riveras power of attorney privileges, given his brothers mental state.

The document entitled Rivera to receive reimbursements and/or the ability to profit off the property.

Based on what youre telling this board, was he competent to sign this power of attorney that allows you full control of the house? Burns said. Thats the concern here. Youre stating that hes not of sound mind, but hes the one who signed this power of attorney two days ago.

Rivera said that he brought the citys warnings to his brother and explained that he would talk to the Building Standards Board.

He added: I know you keep saying Im going to make a profit off it. I know thats what it shows on the power of the attorney. My whole point is that if we embark on and spend $1,200 on the lien, my hope was that not only can we set up my brother in an efficiency (apartment) or something, but we can also recoup the money we invested.

Burns responded: No one thinks youre trying to fool anyone. But based on the information you provided, I am concerned with the power of attorney, the signature and how it would stand on a challenge.

The vote to demolish the home was unanimous. It will be torn down next month.

But board member Jesse Zuniga wanted to make one thing clear for Rivera: We are not trying to run your brother out into the street. The city doesnt kick people out.

timothy.fanning@express-news.net
Mayor Ron Nirenberg is facing his easiest re-election bid since taking office in 2017 when he unseated first-term incumbent Ivy Taylor.

But he isnt counting on that. The mayor brought in nearly $200,000 in donations since the start of the year.

He also hasnt shied away from taking a public position against Prop A, a ballot proposition that has far overshadowed his own campaign and that of most of his council colleagues, all of whom are up for re-election on May 6.

Beyond believing that most of Prop As provisions  which include amending the city charter to decriminalize abortion and expand the police departments cite-and-release program  are at odds with state law, the mayor told the Express-News Editorial Board on Monday thats he concerned the measure will erode trust in local government if approved.

People are voting on something that is not going to happen in the way that theyve been led to believe, he said.

The city attorney has said the only part of the charter amendment that the city could enforce would be creating a justice director position to help oversee public safety policies.

Sam Owens/Staff photographer

READ MORE: Misinformation and fear: Policy nuances lost in Prop A debate about cite-and-release

The most important job anybody has in government in a democracy is to continue to fortify the trust that the public has in our system of government, Nirenberg said. Thats the most important responsibility I have.

Measures like Prop A, which he called symbolic, will lead voters to become further disenchanted with government, he said, something he believes will teach them not to vote. The state must instead take up the issues addressed in the proposition, Nirenberg said.

If we continue to add to that cycle of erosion of trust, were going to continue to get what we get at the state (level). But if we can work together and align our efforts and hopefully encourage people to get back involved, I believe we will change the direction of this state for the better.

Here are three other takeaways from the mayors conversation with the Editorial Board:

He intends to finish out his term

In 2014, then-Mayor Julian Castro stepped down to serve in the Obama administration as Secretary of Housing and Development. At the time, Castro was in his third term.

I have no plans to be anywhere else, Nirenberg said when asked whether he would commit to finishing out a full fourth term. That term runs through May 2025.

The city charter caps mayor and council tenure to four two-year terms.

Ready to Work isnt failing

The mayor believes its too early to say whether Ready to Work is failing definitively.

Still in its first year, the $200 million sales-tax funded job training program, which he championed and successfully pitched to voters in November 2020, has not drawn anywhere close to the number of applicants expected. Those numbers were largely based on record-high unemployment at the coronavirus pandemics onset.

If we are saying that the program is failing, I think thats unfair and I think its way too early to start judging it in that way, Nirenberg said.

READ MORE: City expands struggling job training program to military, first non-San Antonio residents

Focusing on monthly enrollment and graduation numbers, he said, is a myopic approach. Instead, hes focused on the long-term goal of improving the economic prospects of adult workers through access to city-funded job training and education.

Its not going to be easy, Nirenberg said. But we are changing lives, and if we can do that at scale, we will change the trajectory of the city. And Im confident that we will.

To date, 2,016 people have enrolled in the program, according to city figures. Of those, 278 have finished their training or education program  96 of whom the city has been able to verify have been placed in a job paying at least $15 an hour. The average hourly wage for graduates is just under $19, per city data.

The program initially aimed to enroll 10,000 people a year, a figure that has been re-adjusted since it officially launched last May.

ACS funding increase

In the more immediate future, as the city heads into budget season, Nirenberg said he supports increasing Animal Care Services budget to ensure the department can better respond to dangerous dogs. This comes after two dogs mauled an 81-year-old man to death in February.

Weve got to make sure that dangerous dogs are investigated and properly quarantined more effectively, and we are able to more easily follow up on those cases, he said.

Nirenberg also expressed frustration that ACS has not, except last year, requested additional resources. Last years budget request was to fund a spay and neuter clinic.

I expect there to be a major correction starting with this years budget moving forward into the next few years in terms of (funding more) Animal Control officers, he said.
San Antonio police are seeking help identifying several persons of interest in a fatal incident downtown last month.

Justin Cliffe, 26, was killed outside a bar in the 100 block of Alamo Plaza on March 5. Police said Cliffe got into a confrontation about 2 a.m. with a group of men and two women outside the bar.
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It took a little more than three decades, but Melvin George Quinney Jr., 74, walked out of a packed courtroom Monday a completely free man.

State District Judge Christine Del Prado signed an order exonerating Quinney of indecency with a child and expunging his conviction, the final action in a chain of events that began when his son recanted the story that sent Quinney to prison in 1991.

As he presented the states motion to dismiss the charge, Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales told Del Prado he was doing so because the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had deemed Quinney actually innocent in February.

The right thing to do is dismiss this case, Matt Howard, director of the DAs Office Conviction Integrity Unit, told Del Prado, crediting an investigation by The Innocence Project of Texas.

Im so sorry it took so long to get your good name back, Del Prado said to Quinney, shaking his hand after signing the document.

It was 1990 when Quinney, then 43, was accused by his 10-year-old son John, arrested and charged. At his trial, Quinney watched his son testify against him. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison but released for good behavior in 1999 and completed parole in 2011.

In a hearing last year, Quinneys son, who goes by John Parker, testified that what he said as a boy was not true.

The allegations, he said, were planted by his mother and reinforced by her evangelical friends, therapists he was ordered to see, Child Protective Services caseworkers, law enforcement officers and the prosecutors in his fathers case.

Once he became older and no longer needed the medication he had been prescribed, Parker said, he started to remember things  specifically that he was never abused by his father.

Today we can say Mr. Quinney has officially been exonerated, Gonzales said at a news conference on the steps of the historic Bexar County Courthouse following the proceeding in the 227th District Court. Our prosecutors take an oath and have an obligation to do the right thing. We have had the opportunity to right a wrong and give Mr. Quinney his good name back.

Howards voice broke when he described John Parker as a hero for pursuing his fathers exoneration and for his courage in having the difficult conversations to get to the truth.

We could not be happier for Mr. Quinney and his family, he said.

Mike Ware, executive director of The Innocence Project of Texas, said Quinney, like many others during the 1980s and 1990s, had been swept up in Americas Satanic panic hysteria.

It was a moral panic, not the first nor the last, he said, stating that most of the people caught up in the wave of child abuse accusations have been exonerated. This is a good day for justice, truth and common decency.

Quinney was flanked by two of his four adult children, John and Sarah Parker, and a grandson. He lives in San Antonio and plans to move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. As a sex offender he could not be left unsupervised with his grandkids and would have had a hard time finding a place to live close to family there.

Hey, its an exciting day for sure, Quinney said.

He had a lengthy list of people to thank for supporting him through the process, especially his daughter and son.

I was a victim  so what? My four children were the real victims, he said. I hope they can get through the healing process.

John Parker wept as he spoke of the journey to free his father from an unjust conviction. He thanked relatives who had supported his dad during his imprisonment.

Its been about 30 years. It will be nice to put it behind us, Parker said.
Scott Huddleston / Staff

Jim Bowie is having a moment. Why? It's his birthday. He was born on this date in Kentucky in 1796.

The famed knife fighter, land speculator, slave trader and Texas revolutionary died at the Alamo in 1836, securing his place in history.
We recently gave ChatGPT the Test of Understanding of College Economics, a standardized test used in economics for the past 50 years. The results floored us. ChatGPT scored in the 91st percentile in microeconomics and the 99th percentile in macroeconomics when compared with economics students.

It is better on these tests than almost all the students.

It is also an incredible cheating machine.

While anti-plagiarism tools can compare a students work with existing sources, ChatGPT can generate original content in seconds, making plagiarism almost impossible to detect. Furthermore, ChatGPT is free and simple to use.

This presents two big new problems. How should teachers assess our students, given the boost that AI gives to potential cheaters? And what should we teach, given that AI can learn certain kinds of information better and faster than our students can?

We could pretend our students wont take advantage of ChatGPT to cheat, and many of them wont. We would be poor economists, though, if we didnt reckon with how the new AI software changes the whole incentive structure. For many traditional assignments, cheating is now the lowest-cost way to earn a high grade. And not cheating, in some circumstances, puts students at a disadvantage. In the jargon of economics, the dominant short-run strategy is to cheat.

Economists describe this type of game as a prisoners dilemma. Each student can secure the best possible course grade by cheating. This comes at the cost of learning, however, which is best achieved by studying for the test or writing the paper.

One way to reduce cheating is to give in-person, proctored exams. Its not impossible to cheat even in this context, but the goal would be to make the challenge of cheating great enough that most students will rationally decide their time is better spent studying.

We can design new types of exams and assessments that begin from where ChatGPT leaves off. We should require students to critique and evaluate written material rather than simply replicate and rehash. Assessments that evaluate higher-level thinking skills such as analysis, evaluation and creation can help engage students in meaningful learning experiences while making it more difficult for ChatGPT to circumvent the process. Experiential learning, including more internships and more empirical research opportunities, can also play an expanded role in economics education.

We should also learn to embrace ChatGPT and other AI systems as continuations, rather than disruptions, of a long process through which technology has supported teaching and learning. We already use an online course management system to communicate. We give online homework that is automatically graded, play Kahoot! games in class to discern in real time how well students understand what is being taught, write on a document camera or tablet instead of a chalkboard, and access online databases with thousands of educational clips to reinforce key learning points. Teaching and learning economics are easier than they have ever been because of technology.

Education overall must embrace this technological disruptor to better prepare students for the jobs of the future. We dont know yet what this should look like with these new systems, much less with their successors, which will be capable of replicating a broader range of human-like traits. Our job as educators, however, is to stay ahead of the curve, or at least not too far behind it.

G. Dirk Mateer is a professor of instruction at the University of Texas at Austin. Wayne Geerling is a professor of instruction at the University of Texas at Austin.
Anthony Comstock, the mutton-chopped anti-vice crusader for whom the Comstock Act is named, is back from the dead.

Comstock died in 1915, and the Comstock Act, the notorious anti-obscenity law used to indict the Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, ban books by D.H. Lawrence and arrest people by the thousands, turned 150 last month. Had this anniversary fallen five or 10 years ago, it barely would have been worth noting, except perhaps to marvel at how far wed come from an era when a fanatical censor like Comstock wielded national political power. The Comstock Act represented, in its day, the pinnacle of Victorian prudery, the high-water mark of a strict and rigid formal code, wrote the law professors Joanna Grossman and Lawrence Friedman. Until very recently, it seemed a relic.

Yet suddenly, the prurient sanctimony that George Bernard Shaw called Comstockery is running rampant in America. As if inspired by Comstocks horror of literary poison and evil reading, states are outdoing one another in draconian censorship. In March, Oklahomas Senate passed a bill that, among other things, bans from public libraries all content with a predominant tendency to appeal to a prurient interest in sex. Amy Werbel, the author of Lust on Trial: Censorship and the Rise of American Obscenity in the Age of Anthony Comstock, described how Comstock tried to suppress photographs of cross-dressing women. More than a century later, Tennessee has banned drag performances on public property, with more states likely to follow.

And now, thanks to a rogue judge in Texas, the Comstock Act itself could be partly reimposed on America. Though the act had been dormant for decades and Congress did away with its prohibitions on birth control in 1971, it was never fully repealed. And with Roe v. Wade gone, the Christian right has sought to make use of it. The Comstock Act was central to the case brought by a coalition of anti-abortion groups in Texas seeking to have Food and Drug Administration approval of mifepristone, part of the regimen used in medication abortion, invalidated. And it is central to the anti-abortion screed of an opinion by Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, the judge, appointed by Donald Trump, who on Friday ruled in their favor.

Its true that, as Kacsmaryk noted, the Comstock Act bars mailing every article, instrument, substance, drug, medicine or thing which is advertised or described in a manner calculated to lead another to use or apply it for producing abortion or for any indecent or immoral purpose. The law imposes a five-year maximum prison sentence for first offenses and up to 10 years for subsequent ones. Thats why, almost as soon as the Supreme Court tossed out Roe, social conservatives started clamoring for the Comstock Act to be enforced against medication abortion. When 20 Republican attorneys general wrote to Walgreens and CVS warning them against distributing abortion pills, they invoked the Comstock Act.

Many legal scholars see this invocation of the Comstock Act as legally dubious. As David S. Cohen, Greer Donley and Rachel Rebouche explain in the draft of a forthcoming article, circuit court cases in the 1930s found that the Comstock Act applies only to materials meant to be used unlawfully. But for judges hellbent on banning abortion, as weve seen, precedent doesnt mean much. The Comstock Act plainly forecloses mail-order abortion in the present, wrote Kacsmaryk. He added, Defendants cannot immunize the illegality of their actions by pointing to a small window in the past where those actions might have been legal.

On Friday, a Washington judge issued an opinion directly contradicting Kacsmaryks and ordering the FDA to continue to make mifepristone available. The dispute now is likely headed to the Supreme Court. The emphasis on Comstock in Kacsmaryks decision, tweeted the legal scholar Mary Ziegler, could appeal to self-proclaimed textualists on the Supreme Court like Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, who emphasize the ordinary meaning of words in a statute, outside the context of legislative intent or history.

Such a reading of the Comstock Act could do far more than prohibit patients from getting mifepristone by mail. 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, wrote Cohen, Donley and Rebouche.

There is something head-spinning about how quickly Comstocks spirit of punitive repression has settled on a country where, not long ago, social liberalism seemed largely triumphant, with the rapid acceptance of gay marriage, the growing visibility of trans people and over-the-counter access to emergency contraception. The notion that its the governments job to protect people from vice appeared increasingly passe as states legalized marijuana and gambling. Its true that even before the end of Roe, conservatives had a lot of success rolling back reproductive rights in red states. But just a year ago, the idea of a judge using the Comstock Act to halt medication abortion nationwide would have seemed hysterical.

Maybe we should have seen it coming. Comstocks power, after all, derived from a reaction to the sexual radicalism that took root in the Gilded Age. (One of his great nemeses was Victoria Woodhull, the suffragist, spiritualist, free-love advocate and presidential candidate.) By the time the Comstock Act was passed, vulcanized rubber, invented in 1839, had allowed for the mass production of rubber condoms and diaphragms. Other forms of birth control were widely sold in pharmacies. Before Comstock had Madame Restell arrested, which apparently drove her to suicide, she was a celebrity abortionist with a mansion across from St. Patricks Cathedral. Theres a dialectic relationship between freedom and reaction.

Werbel described Comstock as representing antiquated Christian nationalism. She added, He just doesnt change over time. And the world around him does. Ultimately, she argued, the cruelty of Comstocks crusade helped spark the creation of the modern civil liberties movement, and she hoped that once again, Americans would rebel against religious authoritarianism. Indeed, the nationwide backlash against abortion bans suggests they already are rebelling. But a lot of people had to suffer before the first iteration of Comstockery subsided, and a lot of people are going to suffer from its rebirth.
For eight days, a jury of Daniel Perrys peers, all Travis County residents doing their civic duty, listened and evaluated evidence as Perry stood trial for the 2020 killing of Black Lives Matter protester Garrett Foster, an Air Force veteran.

They then deliberated for 17 hours before reaching the unanimous decision that Perry, a U.S. Army sergeant, was guilty of murder.

READ MORE: Abbott vows to pardon Army sergeant who killed BLM protester

Less than 24 hours later, Gov. Greg Abbott, in a deeply troubling move, called for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to expedite its review of the case so he can pardon Perry. The board has begun to do so, even before a sentencing date has been set by the judge and before his attorneys have done any appeal work or submitted a pardon application. This is justice?

Its not unusual for a jury to render a verdict that seems unfair, nor is it unheard of for a compassionate governor, moved by the obvious injustice of a verdict, to announce a possible pardon.

But this isnt one of those verdicts, and Abbott isnt one of those governors. Abbotts shameless and opportunistic request not only reeks of political calculation and cavalier disregard for democratic norms, but it demonstrates a clear disrespect for the legal process. This is what appeals are for, right?

Associated Press

On the night of July 25, 2020, Perry was moonlighting as an Uber driver in Austin when he ran a red light and drove toward a Black Lives Matter march before stopping. A group of protesters, including Foster, who was legally carrying an AK-47, approached Perry who rolled down his window and shot Foster five times with his legally owned.357 revolver. Perry drove away and called 911.

Perrys attorneys claim their client shot Foster in self-defense after Foster raised his rifle at him. In calling for Perrys pardon, Abbott referenced Texas Stand Your Ground law, which allows people to avoid criminal prosecution if they respond to threats when they are in a place where they have a right to be. But that doesnt apply if a person provokes a threat.

Prosecutors said Perry provoked the violence by driving his car toward the marchers and that Foster was defending himself when he approached Perry. Witnesses said that Foster wasnt aiming his gun at Perry, a point Perry appeared to support.

In a videotaped interview with police, Perry said, I didnt want to give him a chance to aim at me, you know?

Prosecutors also introduced texts and social media post by Perry expressing a desire to shoot protesters. To one friend he wrote, I might go to Dallas to shoot looters.

In a Facebook Messenger chat with another friend, Perry wrote that shooting protesters was legal if it was in self-defense.

Never has Abbott expressed, so quickly, his desire to pardon someone and never for a convicted murderer. But in a case in which a legally armed veteran is killed while protesting by a legally armed active member of the military who had made statements about killing protesters, Abbott has decided that the injustice was done to the convicted murderer.

What happened to being tough on crime, governor?

Abbott talks tough when threatening local district attorneys who decline to prosecute certain nonviolent cases, but when the Travis County district attorney successfully prosecutes a murder case, Abbott sees this as a bridge too far?

If this tragedy had been reversed and Foster killed Perry and then been convicted, would Abbott be calling for the pardon of Black Lives Matter protester?

Its a dangerous precedent to signal that should someone be convicted of a crime, including murder, and if the governor agrees with your politics, a pardon is possible.

Nowhere in Abbotts tweet about pardoning Perry did he mention Foster. Nowhere are there condolences for parents who lost a son, or to Fosters grieving fiancee.

In not acknowledging Garrett Fosters humanity, Abbott revealed the absence of his own. In seeking an expedited pardon for Perry, Abbott undermines the rule of law he claims to support.
Re: Trump arraigned on litany of charges, Front Page, Wednesday:

Former President Donald Trump was arraigned in criminal court in early April. The next scheduled court date is Dec. 4. I know it is said the wheels of justice move slowly, but this is ridiculous.

No wonder our faith in the justice system has deteriorated over the past several years.

Herman Fisher

Limit CPS transfers

Re: CPS to sell ex-Malibu Grand Prix site, Business, Wednesday; Bill would devastate the citys budget, Editorial, Wednesday:

The first article reports that CPS Energy is selling surplus real estate properties because the utility is cash-strapped. The editorial says for more than 70 years CPS Energy ratepayers have transferred up to 14 percent of CPS Energys revenues to the city annually. This is expected to translate into $391.8 million or 26 percent of the citys $1.5 billion general fund.

Senate Bill 110, authored by Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, would limit municipal utilities in Texas from transferring revenue to the cities that own them. Senate Bill 110 is not a ban on transfers, but a curb on excess transfers to address, according to Schwertner, an inappropriate transfer that overly burdens utility ratepayers by enterprising city councils that want to utilize the utility as a piggy bank to fund whatever they want in their general fund.

Now, if CPS Energy is so cash-strapped that it is dumping property, why are the ratepayers, putting $391.8 million dollars into city coffers? I understand the city needs to get funding from somewhere, I just dont want City Council to have untethered access to the piggy bank, especially if the utility is cash-strapped. I support S.B. 110.

Rebecca Bennett

Dont revive Chapter 313

Re: Restore Texas business incentives program, Other Views, Friday:

I was disturbed to read this guest commentary from Michael Lynd Jr. and Gary Farmer offering Texas need for competitive business incentives as a reason to support a revival of Chapter 313, which was rightly allowed to expire last year.

As Express-News columnist Michael Taylor recently pointed out  Like a zombie, Texas corporate welfare threatens to rise from its grave, S.A. Inc., April 2  Chapter 313 is corporate welfare, doled out to businesses that were already planning to come to Texas.

Texas taxpayers end up footing the bill because the tax income lost to the schools is made up by the state. Businesses love the extra money to fatten their bottom line.

Susan Hull, Bandera
MBABANE - Patrons of a popular bar in Mbabane reportedly thought they were in the company of a member of the underground forces.

This was when an armed warder in civilian clothing walked in and started imbibing alcohol with his gun visible. The Correctional Services officer had been deployed at the Central Transport Administration (CTA) Depot in Mbabane to man security. Security at the CTA had on numerous times been reported to be lax and thugs were helping themselves to car parts and other material. As a result, members of Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF), officers from Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) have been providing security at the government garage, which was previously watched over by security guards who were armed with knobkerries.

Workstation

On Thursday evening, the Correctional officer is said to have left his workstation and proceeded to the bar opposite the bus rank. He was armed with a Galil firearm. A Galil is a family of Israeli-made automatic rifles. This type of firearm is among those that were reportedly found in possession of some of the people who were arrested and charged with offences stemming from the incidents of violence perpetrated during the political unrest, which saw the murder of State security officers. The arrival of the warder, who was not dressed in uniform, according to sources, confused and surprised many in the bar, since he was armed.

The name of the warder, who is based at Sidwashini Correctional facility, is known to this publication, but will not be mentioned for now pending further investigations by his superiors.

Some of us thought he was a member of the solidarity forces, while others supposed he wanted to stage a robbery since the bar is situated in the same building that houses Smiles Supermarket, where recently a robbery was staged by four men who shot dead a taximan and made away with coins amounting between E6 000 and E7 000. We thought he was en route to an operation or he was from killing someone. The mood in the bar changed. We feared for our safety. He was drinking alone and kept to himself. Some of us walked out, said the source.

According to the source, some of the patrons called the police because they did not understand what was going on or what his mission was. The source told this publication that the police, together with members of the Serious Crimes Unit (Lukhozi), arrived at the bar almost immediately and took the warder to the police station. It was at the police station that one of the police officer identified him (warder) and the matter was reported to his superiors, said the insider.

Confirmed

HMCS Public Relations Officer (PRO) Senior Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini confirmed that the matter was reported to them. She said it was currently under investigation and proper disciplinary measures would be taken against the officer. The PRO said the COMGEN of HMCS frowned upon such conduct, hence her office would ensure that disciplinary measures were taken against the officer. Senior Superintendent Dlamini further highlighted that such conduct was against their code of conduct and/or ethics. Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said there was no record of the incident, but stated that it might happen that it was still under investigation.
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San Antonio's May 6 municipal election is just around the corner.

Voting early is one way to make sure you don't miss out, and there are two ways to do it: in person or by mail.

Voter Assistance: Your guide to San Antonio's May 6 election

Let's start with the first option, because it's simpler. You just go to an early-voting polling place and cast your ballot. You don't need a reason. You can do it just because it's convenient.

When does in-person early voting begin?

It starts on Monday, April 24, and runs through Tuesday, May 2.

Are polling places open every day during that period?

That would be too easy. Early voting locations will be closed on Friday, April 28, and Sunday, April 30.

Where do I go to vote early?

So many choices.

You can vote early in-person at the Bexar County Elections Department at 1103 S. Frio St. or in the basement of the Bexar County Justice Center at 300 Dolorosa.

There are many other locations  branch libraries, community centers and other facilities across the county. You can vote at any of them regardless of where in Bexar County you live. There's a list and a map here.

What do I bring?

A photo ID such as driver's license or passport. Here's a list of types of ID that are accepted at polling places.

What about voting by mail? How do I do that?

It's complicated. You can vote by mail if:

You'll be 65 or older on Election Day

You have an illness or disability that prevents you from going to a polling place

You'll be out of the county during the early voting period and on Election Day

You're in jail but eligible to vote

What's the first step?

You have to submit an application for a mail ballot to the Bexar County Elections Department.

Go here to download or print out an application.

Where do I send it?

Bexar County Elections (Early Voting Clerk)

1103 S. Frio St., Suite 200

San Antonio 78207-6328

What's the deadline?

5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25. That's two weeks from today.

What happens after that?

The elections department will send you your mail ballot.

And then?

You fill it out and send it back to the elections department.

What's the deadline?

It has to be post-marked by 7 p.m. on Election Day, May 6.

Sounds simple enough

Hold on. The Texas Legislature placed new restrictions on voting by mail after the 2020 presidential election, a byproduct of the national drama over Donald Trump's unsupported claims that the election was stolen from him.

Under Senate Bill 1, you now have to list your driver's license number and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Where?

In two places: on your application for a mail ballot and on the envelope that contains your completed ballot.

There are other very specific requirements. For detailed instructions on voting by mail and a list of do's and don'ts, go to this page on the elections department website.

What's on the ballot?

It depends on where you live. In San Antonio, you can vote for mayor, your district city council representative, your district school board trustee and Proposition A, a proposed amendment to the city charter.

For the whole nine yards on Prop A, read this FAQ by Express-News City Hall reporter Molly Smith.

To get an advance look at the ballot for your location, go to this page on the elections department website. Type in your date of birth and house number, and the site will verify that you're registered to vote and display a sample ballot, along with a list and map of early voting locations.

There's an abundance of information about the candidates, editorial board endorsements and more in the Express-News Voter Guide.

How do I register to vote?

What? You didn't do it already? The deadline to register for the May 6 election was last Thursday.

But you might as well register for the next election. Go here to find out how.
Gov. Greg Abbotts school vouchers push looked destined for another hurdle Tuesday, as a key member of a Texas House committee appeared unswayed that the legislation wouldnt permanently wreck the states public school system.

Rep. Harold Dutton, a Houston Democrat, said the idea of handing parents public money to subsidize private education could essentially destroy public schools. That comes after Dutton remarked months ago that he thought the governor, a Republican, was going against the will of the people in Texas with his voucher campaign.

THE LATEST: Texas House votes to block school vouchers, clashing with governor, Texas Senate

A voucher policy is a top priority this session for Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who heads the Senate. But as in past sessions, it looks doubtful theres enough votes to pass the House. Previous attempts have been thwarted by Democrats in general and by Republicans in rural areas, where public schools are major employers and community centers.

In order to even reach a full House vote this session, the proposal will have to win a majority of support in the Texas House Public Education Committee, which held public hearings for several bills that would create voucher-like programs on Tuesday. Under one proposal that has already passed the Senate, parents who take their children out of public schools would receive $8,000 to spend on private school tuition or home-schooling materials for each child.

But its unclear if there are enough committee members to get behind the measure. The committee has 13 members, six of whom last week voted for an amendment to the state budget that would ban any state funds from being used for private schools. Four Republican members opposed the amendment, while three declined to take a stance  Reps. Brad Buckley and Cody Harris, each Republicans, and Dutton.

If just one of those three members were to oppose the voucher bills, it would likely be enough to tank the effort.

All three voted against school vouchers in 2021. But last week, Buckley attempted to block the amendment from receiving a vote, and throughout the day Tuesday he seemed open to arguments for vouchers. Harris, meanwhile, has said in campaign materials that he opposes a statewide private school voucher program that could weaken our local schools and send our tax dollars to private Islamic schools in the big cities.

At the committees packed hearing Tuesday, a parade of invited witnesses made the case for vouchers to the members, saying it would empower parents, allow kids to receive education better catered to their particular circumstances and introduce competition that would lift up all schools. About 200 signed up to testify, and there were so many people on-hand that the committee chair announced there would be two separate overflow rooms.

Teachers unions and advocates for public education are staunchly against the policies, viewing them as an existential threat to the school system.

VOUCHER CONCERNS: Critics claim school vouchers will wreck Texas Friday Night Lights. Abbott assures fans they wont

Ron Matus, the director of research and special projects with Step Up for Students, a Florida nonprofit that administers Floridas voucher programs, said he had heard the same rhetoric before vouchers were enacted there. Our schools kept getting better, and our outcomes kept getting better.

The sky is falling in Texas public schools, responded Rep. James Talarico, an Austin Democrat and former schoolteacher, noting an ongoing teacher shortage and the fact that Texas lags far behind the national average in per-student funding. Were trying to figure out how to get (schools) every dollar that we can. And any effort to divert dollars elsewhere is going to be viewed, rightly, with a certain amount of suspicion.

This year, Abbott has been hyperfocused on breaking the logjam that has stymied previous voucher campaigns. The third-term governor announced vouchers as a priority policy during his annual statewide address in February, and he has traveled the state visiting private schools and delivering speeches calling for school choice policies. Abbott was set to lobby for vouchers at events in McAllen and San Antonio later in the week, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation wrote in an email that he had paid for dinner for a group of conservative advocates from around the state who came to Austin on Tuesday to support the legislation.

Ahead of the pivotal vote last week in the House, Abbott was seen on the chamber floor speaking with lawmakers. But despite the appearance, a majority of House members rejected the notion of vouchers during the lengthy process of passing a state budget.

As he has in past sessions, Rep. Abel Herrero, a Robstown Democrat, offered the budget amendment prohibiting any public funds from being used for private schooling. The amendment has almost no chance of making it into the final budget, but it passed the House 86 to 52  a major win for those who oppose vouchers. It was, however, a slimmer margin than in 2021, when the same measure received 115 votes.

A spokeswoman for Abbott later said the governor viewed the vote as progress.

IN-DEPTH: Texas House speaker fills key panel with past school voucher opponents

Abbott has attempted to weaponize parents culture war concerns about school curriculum as part of his push for vouchers.

Our schools are for education  NOT indoctrination, he wrote in a tweet during Tuesdays hearing. We must remove woke agendas from the classroom and get kids back to the basics of learning.

The rhetoric in the room sounded much different, at least before it got to the public testimony portion of the event.

I want parents who are not even citizens, who are participants in our community, who want for their children, to have a better opportunity. They have more problems than education  poverty  but without education, therell be no solution to poverty, to addiction, to any of these other things, said Michael Olson, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth.

Im talking about access for these people. Im not talking about public schools, all right, in that sense, Im talking about the students in public schools, and their parents.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spoke at afternoon briefing about a shooting on April 10, 2023 in Louisville. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

LOUISVILLE  Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel was joined Monday afternoon by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg to name the victims of a mass shooting earlier in the city, one of them a close friend of the governor.

According to LMPD, the victims:

 40-year-old Joshua Barrick

 63-year-old Thomas Elliot

 45-year-old Juliana Farmer

 64-year-old James Tutt

Gwinn-Villaroel identified the shooter as 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon, an employee of Old National Bank where the shooting happened. She said he used a rifle in the shooting, he was livestreaming on social media and that police officers killed him.

The evil that took place today, we shouldnt hear the tears that were coming out from these families, Gwinn-Villaroel said. That right there sticks, because they are weeping because someone decided that they wanted to take life today.

Beshear, his voice choking at times, said Thomas Elliott was a close friend of his who helped the governor start his law career, helped with his gubernatorial campaign and offered advice on how to be a good father.

These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals that a terrible act of violence tore from all of us, Beshear said. What we need most right now in a word is love. I mean just love  love for these families. They are going to need it.

Beshear said there would be time in the future to talk about issues related to gun violence but that the focus should be on the victims and their families.

Elliott was the senior vice president at Old National Bank, and former Gov. Steve Beshear  the father of current Gov. Andy Beshear  appointed Elliott to the Kentucky Retirement Systems board. Elliott served as chairman of the pension board during the elder Beshears administration.

Dr. Jason Smith at the University of Louisville hospital said nine victims remained at the hospital, three in critical condition. Gwinn-Villaroel identified the police officer in critical condition at the hospital due to a gunshot wound to the head as Nikolas Wilt, who she said was just sworn into the police force in late March.

Gatherings for the victims are planned in Louisville Monday evening.

Earlier in the day, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said officers arrived at the downtown bank within three minutes of being dispatched after receiving a report of an active shooter at 8:30 a.m. ET and exchanged gunfire with the lone suspect.

Ultimately that suspect did die on the scene.

He said four of the five dead from the shooting were found deceased inside the bank and that officers are trying to contact families of the victims. Eight injured were taken to the University of Louisville hospital, with two in critical condition.

One of those in critical condition is a LMPD officer, and another officer had non-critical injuries.

CNN reports the shooter used an AR-15 style weapon, according to a federal law enforcement source.

Humphrey said that there was no active threat and that the investigation into the shooting would take pretty much into the night. He said officers believe the lone shooter was a previous employee of the bank but were still trying to establish a connection to the business.

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, said Louisivlle Mayor Craig Greenberg.

Greenberg said that the city is a stronger community because of the work of law enforcement and said his prayers go out to the victims and their friends and families.

Beshear said he had a close friend that didnt make it in the shooting and another one who was being treated at the hospital.

This is awful, Beshear said. Weve got to wrap our arms around these families. And everybody who needs it, dont be afraid to get some help.

This story was originally produced by the Kentucky Lantern which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

The post Five dead in Louisville shooting, nine injured appeared first on Daily Montanan.
A-Plan Rural Insurance have set up a Rural Community blog as part of their work on social media to contribute to farmers' efforts in showcasing British farming.

The blog invites farmers to give their experiences in the industry, sharing their contributions to over 120,000 followers on Instagram.

Bridging the gap between farm and the consumer is something that lots of farmers are trying to do in an effort to help more people understand the reality of what goes into producing their food.

Since starting the blog, A-Plan Rural have worked with a great variety of farmers from differing backgrounds and locations all over the UK.

They previously spoke with Ioan Humphrey, a sheep farmer based in Wales, who has generated a large Instagram following from his content that shares the ups and downs he experiences on his farm.

Millie, a sheep farmer based in Kent, who used to work in the public services but is now a shepherdess, was featured in a separate blog.

Sophie Mitchell-Smith, a cattle hoof trimmer based around Manchester who works with her father, starred in it recently.

And Rhi Pinches, a suckler beef and sheep farmer based in the Shropshire Hills, who works with her father on their family farm, was also featured.

Now in A-Plan Rural's latest, they spoke with Milly Fyfe, who has held numerous positions across multiple agricultural initiatives.

From the Cotswolds, she owns her own small business, blog and produces her own podcast all aimed at closing the gap between farm and fork.

Read the full blog here.
Compulsory housing measures for poultry and captive birds introduced to combat the UK's worst ever bird flu outbreak will be lifted next week.

Provided that there are no new significant cases, the mandatory housing order will be relaxed on Tuesday 18 April, the government confirmed today (11 April).

The strict measure was introduced in November as one of a range of measures to stop the spread of avian influenza.

The scale of outbreaks across the UK and Europe have been unprecedented, with over 330 cases confirmed across the country since late October 2021.

As part of the housing order, it is a legal requirement for all farmers and keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures.

But the government recently lowered the risk of avian influenza to kept poultry from 'high' to 'medium' as the frequency of new cases of the disease begins to slow.

Dr Christine Middlemiss, the UKs chief veterinary officer, said 'scrupulous biosecurity' remained the most critical form of defence to help keep birds safe.

She said: It is thanks to the hard work of all bird keepers and vets who have played their part in keeping flocks safe this winter that we are in a position to take this action.

"However, the unprecedented nature of this outbreak has proven its more important than ever for bird keepers to remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent standards of biosecurity.

Responding to the announcement, the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) said farmers had seen the worst season for avian influenza ever.

The decision means that from 18 April, eggs laid by hens with access to outside range areas can return to being marketed as free range eggs.

BFREPA CEO Robert Gooch said that free range egg producers would be 'relieved' to see their hens ranging outside again.

However, it is vital that all poultry keepers  regardless of poultry numbers  continue to treat the situation as high risk," he added.

This message is particularly important to small flock and backyard keepers who may not be aware that practising good biosecurity principles can help protect nearby farms.

BFREPA will continue to work with the government and other industry stakeholders to explore options which may reduce the threat of avian influenza to commercial poultry.

How can I help prevent avian flu?

The government has advised that poultry keepers apply enhanced biosecurity measures at all times to prevent and mitigate future outbreaks.

They can help prevent avian flu by maintaining good biosecurity on their premises, including:

 Fencing off ponds, streams, boggy areas or standing water and draining them where possible

 Netting or covering ponds

 Removing any wild bird feed sources

 Deterring wild birds by regularly walking through the area or by using predator decoys

 Cleansing and disinfecting concrete or other permeable areas

 Putting down wood shavings in wet areas

 Limit the number of people who come onto the site

 Use disinfectant foot dips when entering and exiting enclosures or houses
Global poultry software, data solutions, and carbon footprinting specialist Eggbase have appointed Tom Willings as their new director of strategy and partnerships.

Tom has a wealth of experience from across the poultry sector, encompassing roles in farming, processing, and retail.

Most recently, he was supply chain director of Stonegate Farmers, a leading supplier of eggs to the UK supermarket and food manufacturing industry.

Designed by poultry specialists, specifically for the poultry sector, Eggbase has a global client base.

It is recognised as the leading production, data integration, health and welfare software provider to the worldwide egg and poultry industry, and for its unique carbon footprint calculator.

Eggbase managing director Anne Fleck said she was 'absolutely delighted 'to welcome Tom to the team at this 'exciting time' for the business.

"This appointment will ensure that Eggbase continues to play a major role throughout the egg and poultry sector," she added.

"Tom is very familiar with our work, and he is ideally placed to guide the evolution of our software so that it continues to deliver maximum benefit to producers, pullet rearers, broiler growers and their supply chain.

"Toms wealth of knowledge and expertise will be a great asset to Eggbase, and we are very much looking forward to working with him.

Tom Willings said: Im incredibly proud and excited to be joining the Eggbase team.

"With ever more focus on the impact and efficiency of food production, the need for validated, high quality data to unlock opportunity and to inform strategic decision making cannot be understated.

"I cant wait to get underway in supporting the tremendous work that Anne and her brilliant team have done to date, and helping our clients continue to measure, manage, and adapt their businesses toward a more sustainable future.
Northern Ireland has moved a step closer to a badger cull after an expression of interest call was made to tackle bovine TB in the region.

The announcement by Department of Agriculture (DAERA) invites companies to confirm their interest and ability to deliver a badger cull.

This is the first stage of the appointment process, with any successful company to enter a contract with DAERA.

The incidence rate of TB in cattle in Northern Ireland has been increasing steadily, reaching record highs.

The cost of the disease to the public purse is in excess of 50 million per year.

Delivery of a cull would be on a not-for-profit basis with the farmer-led company funding the cull itself, DAERA said.

It explained that the department would provide authorisation and oversight.

"At this time, no cull has been authorised," DAERA stressed, "This stage in the process enables DAERA to work with the appointed cull company in preparatory work prior to any cull taking place."

The closing date for receipt of completed expression of interest forms is 21 April 2023.
NHLANGANO  Chief Prince GasawaNgwane is requesting the nation to assist the families to bury their loved ones.

This was said by the Qomintaba Chiefdom Secretary, Computer Mhlungu, who shared that the prince sent Mavela Sigwane to request help from the nation. Sigwane will be working together with Bonisile Dlamini, who can be contacted on 7656 8037/ 7956 8037. Sigwane shared that the prince was concerned about the rate at which people under his chiefdom were dying, as not very long ago, four people were killed. He also requested for a national prayer to cast out the dark cloud that had engulfed the area, he said. Meanwhile, Sigwe Member of Parliament (MP) David Cruiser Ngcamphalala shared that they were saddened by the death of the people. He sent his condolences to the affected families. Ngcamphalala shared that they were also reaching out to the nation for help. We will engage the families and the royal kraal from tomorrow (today) and we are asking individuals with mealie-meal or just anything to bring it forward to assist the families, he said.

Claimed

Meanwhile, the Easter weekend claimed the lives of 18 people who died in separate incidents, including the 10 who died in the accident. According to police reports, on Friday, a 36-year-old woman of Mabhudlweni, Siphofaneni, died tragically after she was hacked in the head and upper body several times with a bush knife while at Enzama next to Great Usuthu River.

The incident happened on Good Friday at around noon. A 34-year-old man of Nyakeni, who is believed to be her boyfriend, was arrested and charged with murder. In another incident, a 27-year-old man of Manzimhlophe was reported to have been stabbed in the back three times with a sharp object and died at around 10:30pm. An investigation is ongoing. On Saturday, at around 9am, a 21-year-old of KaPhunga was stabbed twice with a sharp object in the chest by an unknown person and died while undergoing treatment at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital the following day.

Furthermore, a one-year-old toddler was strangled with a headscarf and discovered lying dead in a bushy valley at KaMfishane. Also, a 19-year-old Form V pupil of Hlatikhulu Central High was murdered while at her home, allegedly by her jilted boyfriend. The incident happened at Mzimkhulu under Hlatikhulu in the Shiselweni Region. It was gathered that the teenager was home with her grandmother, who had an errand to run on the day she passed away. According to a source privy to the incident, the jilted boyfriend was seen sneaking into the homestead, after which the pupil was found with two stab wounds; one in the neck and another in her stomach. It was said that at first; the family thought it was a suicide until the police came and accessed the scene, however, the object used was nowhere to be found.

A family member disclosed that a neighbour then confessed to have seen the now prime suspect in the matter getting into the homestead. The same man had been calling the now deceased pupil as countless missed calls were found in her phone as well in her grandmothers phone, narrated the source. It was said that one of the family members eventually picked one of the calls, wherein the jilted boyfriend was enquiring if the pupil was well. Later on the day, it was gathered that the jilted boyfriend tried to commit suicide, but failed as he is currently recovering. On the other hand, a seven-year-old pedestrian of Mahlabatsini, who was knocked down by a vehicle driven by a 40-year-old man of Gilgal, died while receiving treatment at the Good Shepherd Catholic Hospital (GSCH).

The pedestrian sustained serious injuries to the head and he died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Furthermore, a 44-year-old man of Hlatikhulu fell from a moving motor vehicle, driven by a 45-year-old man of Msunduza. The passenger sustained serious head injuries and was certified dead upon arrival at the Mbabane Government Hospital. In another accident, a 36-year-old pedestrian of Ndzevane was knocked down by a motor vehicle driven by an unknown driver.

Pedestrian

The accident happened near Matata junction, bus stop along Siphofaneni/Lavumisa MR8 Public Road. The pedestrian was seriously injured on the waist and had a fractured left leg. She was conveyed to GSCH where she was certified dead upon arrival. Meanwhile, police arrested and charged two people who were found in possession of firearms. A 40-year-old man of Zibonele was found in possession of two 9mm pistols with scratched serial numbers and 46 live rounds of ammunition without a licence or permit at Nkonjaneni. Another man from Lonhlupheko was arrested and charged for being found in possession of a 9mm pistol without a licence or permit. There were 26 cases of drink-driving that were reported over the Easter weekend. All the reports were confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati.

NB: Additional reporting by Sithembile Hlatshwayo
Elon Musk will not silence the Russian government on Twitter.

Elon Musk won't place Twitter restrictions on Russian government figures

The maverick tycoon has championed free speech since buying the social media platform last year and has now overturned the decision to limit content from over 300 official Russian government accounts, including that of Vladimir Putin.

In April 2022 - six months before Musk's acquisition of the site - the company said that it would take action against any country that "restricts access to the open internet while they're engaged in armed conflict".

Musk wrote on Twitter: "This platform will neither pronounce 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."

The billionaire also revealed that Putin had called him a "war criminal" for "helping Ukraine" by providing Starlink satellite internet terminals made by his SpaceX company to the war-torn nation.

Musk said: "I'm told Putin called me a war criminal for helping Ukraine, so he's not exactly my best friend. All news is to some degree propaganda. Let people decide for themselves."
Katie Maloney thinks Tom Schwartz "crossed every f****** line" when he kissed Raquel Leviss.

Katie Maloney has blasted her ex-husband

The 36-year-old star - who was married to Tom between 2019 and 2022 - slams her ex-husband in an upcoming episode of 'Vanderpump Rules'.

Katie said: "What he did crossed every f****** line. There's no coming back from this. I've sat them both down, tears in my eyes."

Katie and Tom, 40, previously agreed that they wouldn't hook up with anyone who is in their friendship group.

Katie also confessed to being angry with Raquel, 28.

She said in a clip from the upcoming episode: "I want to light them both on f****** fire."

Tom and Raquel locked lips when the cast took a trip to Mexico in August 2022.

The TV star recently confessed to regretting the kiss.

He said on 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen': "In hindsight, I don't think it was [worth it]."

Tom also regretted hurting his ex-wife.

He shared: "I never wanted to hurt Katie. The fallout I got, the blowback I got from that kiss, my God!"

Meanwhile, it recently emerged that Raquel also had a months-long affair with Tom Sandoval, which prompted his split from Ariana Madix.

Raquel subsequently took to social media to issue an apology.

The reality star wrote on Instagram: "I want to apologize for my actions and my choices foremost to Ariana, and to my friends and the fans so invested in our relationships. There is no excuse, I am not a victim and I must own my actions and I deeply regret hurting Ariana. (sic)"

Raquel also promised to reflect on her mistakes.

She said: "I am reflecting on my choices, speaking to a counselor and I am learning things about myself such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved. I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I am taking steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices."
NHLANGANO  The Easter weekend ended in tragedy for two families after 10 of their loved ones died in a tragic road traffic accident.

The 10 victims were among 25 people who were on board a mini-truck that landed in a ditch. They were mainly from two families who were returning from a traditional ceremony.

The accident happened at Siphambanweni at around 7pm on Saturday, just a few kilometres from Hluthi in the Shiselweni Region. The occupants were from attending a traditional wedding (sitsinjana) at Ondiyaneni in Hosea, heading to Tidulini at Sigwe, when the driver of the Toyota Dyna they were travelling in lost control of the vehicle.

Discharged

The driver, who is aged 31 years, was rushed to hospital where he was treated and discharged. Sources privy to what transpired shared that the driver lost control of the mini-truck, which landed in the ditch. Some people are said to have been trapped under the truck. Police were called to the scene wherein all the injured occupants were rushed to Matsanjeni Health Centre.

According to eyewitnesses, nine of the people were certified dead upon arrival at Matsanjeni Health Centre and one died while undergoing treatment at Hlatikhulu Government Hospital.

Passengers

The source further related that 10 passengers were admitted to Hlatikhulu and Matsanjeni health facilities while five, including the driver, were treated and discharged. Yesterday, there were still some traditional regalia strewn at the scene and there were broken glasses, supposedly from the vehicle. Meanwhile, attempts to interview some of the family members hit a snag, as they stated they were still trying to come to terms with what befell their relatives. Some stated that they were still devastated and requested that they be accorded privacy.

One of the deceaseds family members, however, shared that her loved one was home for the holidays as he resided in Matsapha.

It pains us to even think that he would be alive if he did not come home last weekend, said the family member, Doris Zwane. Zwane had requested the community members who were later involved in the accident to accompany her daughter to the ceremony. She stated that they were hoping to have a mass funeral as some of them could not afford burial costs. We are hoping to meet in one of the homesteads for the whole week and hold a mass funeral, she said. She further stated that they reached out to the indvuna requesting for assistance in terms of purchasing coffins or caskets to bury their loved ones. She went on to state that they were yet to meet and discuss other logistics. Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the accident. She said the 10 deceased passengers were from Timphandzeni and Tidulini and among them was a 12-yead-old.
The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) recently called for a temporary halt on cotton yarn import for use by the readymade garment (RMG) industry to retain forex reserves and to boost value addition.

BTMA president Mohammad Ali Khokon conveyed the proposal in a letter to the Bangladesh Bank governor. Exporters, who have opposed the proposal, argue the move would undermine their competitiveness in global markets.

Bangladesh textile millers have called for a temporary halt on cotton yarn import for use by the readymade garment industry to retain forex reserves and to boost value addition. While mills have a significant stock of raw material due to a fall in demand, RMG units import cotton carded and combed yarn spending a lot. Exporters have opposed the proposal.

Some 510 local spinning mills, with a 3,600 million kg production capacity, can meet 70 per cent of the demand for cotton yarn by the export-oriented RMG industry, BTMA claimed.

While mills have a significant stock of raw material due to a fall in demand, the export-oriented RMG industry imports a large quantity of cotton carded and combed yarn through bonded warehouse facilities, which requires a considerable amount of US dollars, Khokon said.

If domestic cotton yarn is used, the value addition would be up to 60 per cent against the 30 per cent seen using imported ones, he said.

Khokon urged the central bank governor to take measures to stop back-to-back letters of credit (LCs) opening for cotton yarn imports, saying that Bangladesh is fully capable of producing cotton yarn.

The decision will lead to a domestic oligopoly, and as buyers cannot raise the price of garment items, it will reduce competition, said Shahidullah Azim, vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The knitwear sector, which sources most of its yarn and fabric from domestic suppliers, also opposed any restrictions on such imports.

Moreover, domestic spinners cannot meet the export sector's full demand for yarn and fabric, The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) executive president Mohammad Hatem said.

Value addition in the RMG sector declined to 54.38 per cent in fiscal 2021-22 against 64.32 per cent in fiscal 2018-19, primarily due to the high import of raw materials, central bank data showed.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Netherlands manufacturing industry output declined by 2 per cent in February 2023, compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This follows a 2.3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decrease in January, highlighting a downward trend in the sector's output.

Despite the overall decline, three out of five manufacturing industries saw an increase in their output year on year. Adjusting for seasonal and working-day effects, manufacturing output increased by 0.4 per cent between January and February, demonstrating significant short-term fluctuations.

The Dutch manufacturing industry experienced a sharp decline in output in the spring of 2020, reaching a low point in May of that year. Since then, the trend has been generally upward, but it has reversed since May 2022, as per CBS.

The Dutch manufacturing industry witnessed a 2 per cent YoY decrease in output in February 2023. Short-term fluctuations were also observed, with a 0.4 per cent increase between January and February. Producer confidence improved in March, while Germany, a crucial market for Dutch manufacturers, also experienced a rise in business confidence.

In March 2023, producer confidence among Dutch manufacturers improved, with manufacturers expressing more positivity about future output and less negativity about their stocks of finished products.

Germany, which is a crucial market for the Dutch manufacturing industry, also experienced a rise in business confidence in March, according to the IFO Institute's Business Climate Index. German entrepreneurs were less pessimistic about their future situation and more positive about the current situation. The average daily output generated by the German manufacturing industry was up by 1.7 per cent YoY in February, according to Destatis, the Federal Statistical Office of Germany.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
Eurozones seasonally adjusted productivity purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 48.9 in March 2023, up from 48.1 in February 2023, indicating a tenth consecutive deterioration in workforce efficiency, according to S&P Global. However, the lates figure highlighted the weakest rate of contraction since June 2022.

While PMI data had showed falling output and rising staffing levels in the second half of 2022, employment growth has supported higher volumes of business activity in each month of 2023 so far. As has been the case for nine months in a row, eurozone manufacturing firms registered lower productivity. PMI data showed improvements in growth of both employment and business activity at the end of the first quarter.

Eurozone's productivity purchasing managers' index (PMI) improved to 48.9 in March 2023, the weakest rate of contraction since June 2022, as per S&P Global. While employment growth supported business activity in 2023, manufacturing firms recorded lower productivity for the ninth consecutive month. Italy showed the first increase in ten months.

Goods producer recorded a solid fall in productivity that was nonetheless the slowest since May 2022. Still, the latest outcome took the current sequence of contraction to a year and a half. Employment rose moderately in March, while production increased at a fractional pace, as per S&P Globals PMI data.

Nationally, Germany and France recorded solid, albeit softer, deteriorations in workforce efficiency. Currently, Italy posted the first increase in ten months.

March data highlighted the best trend for labour productivity in Italy since December 2021. The rate of expansion was moderate, but above its long-run average. Private sector companies took on extra staff at the fastest pace since May 2022, which helped push output growth to a 16-month high.

The aggregate results for Italy masked divergent trends at a sector level. Job creating picked up to a ten-month high, and business activity marked pace that was the joint-fastest since November 2021.

Italian goods producers registered an eleventh consecutive deterioration in workforce efficiency. That said the rate of contraction was marginal and the slowest over this period.

Germany posted an eleventh successive decline in productivity during March. Despite being solid the pace of reduction eased to the weakest since June 2022.

Softer declines in productivity were recorded in German manufacturing firms. The rate of reduction in manufacturing firms was solid but slowest since May 2022.

There was a ninth consecutive decline in French productivity during March. The rate of contraction was solid but the weakest since September.

Among all nations and sectors for which data are published, only, Frances manufacturing saw a worsening productivity trend. The downturn quickened to the fastest in nearly three years. While manufacturing jobs rose further in March, there was another solid reduction in production, according to S&P Globals PMI data.

Quarterly trends in aggregate productivity improved across the three monitored nations and hence the eurozone. That said, growth was only noted in Italy. In the manufacturing industry, softer reductions in Germany and Italy differed from a sharper fall in France.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
Turkiyes budget deficit has risen to 257.83 billion Turkish liras ($13.65 billion) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023, as per the Turkish treasury and finance ministry. The data showed that the countrys revenues for the first three months of the year amounted to 801.15 billion liras ($42.4 billion), which was up by 30.8 per cent on a yearly basis.

Compared to January-March 2022, the budget expenditures rose substantially by 57 per cent to reach 1.06 trillion liras ($55.7 billion) during the same period, said local media reports quoting the ministry.

The treasury and finance ministry also reported that the budget earned 3.2 billion liras ($169 million) from privatisation activities during the first quarter. During the three-month period, the primary balance, which does not take into account interest payments, amounted to a negative 172.68 billion liras ($9.1 billion).

Turkiye's budget deficit reached 257.83 billion Turkish liras in the first quarter of 2023, with expenditures rising 57 per cent year-on-year to 1.06 trillion liras. The country's primary balance amounted to a negative 172.68 billion liras. The USD/TRY exchange rate averaged at 18.9 in the first quarter, and was at 19 specifically in March.

In March alone, Turkiyes budget deficit stood at 32 billion liras ($1.68 billion), adding to the countrys ongoing economic challenges. The USD/TRY exchange rate averaged at 18.9 in the first quarter, and was at 19 specifically in March, as per central bank data.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)
Exports of textiles and apparel from the US grew by 2.52 per cent in January-February 2023, reaching a value of $3.815 billion, compared to $3.721 billion in the same period last year, according to data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), US department of commerce.

Category-wise, apparel exports increased by 13.91 per cent year-on-year to $1,169.211 million, while fabric exports rose by 1.88 per cent to $1,366.608 million in January-February this year. However, exports of yarn and made-up and miscellaneous articles decreased by 2.11 per cent to $685.527 million and 9.08 per cent to $594.115 million, respectively, during the same period.

Among the top ten markets, textile and apparel shipments to the Netherlands increased by 44.45 per cent to $77.987 million in the first two months of 2023. Exports also increased to the United Kingdom (30.29 per cent) and Mexico (2.71 per cent). However, shipments to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Canada, China, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Japan experienced a decline of up to 43.26 per cent. The US supplied $1,116.960 million worth of textiles and apparel to Mexico during this period, followed by $860.248 million to Canada and $215.519 million to Honduras.

US textile and apparel exports grew by 2.52 per cent in January-February 2023, reaching $3.815 billion. Apparel exports increased by 13.91 per cent, while fabric exports rose by 1.88 per cent. However, yarn and made-up/miscellaneous article exports decreased. Among the top ten markets, exports to the Netherlands, the UK, and Mexico increased.

US textile and apparel exports increased by 9.77 per cent to $24.866 billion in 2022 compared to $22.652 billion in 2021. In recent years, US textile and clothing exports have remained in the range of $22-25 billion per annum. In 2014, they stood at $24.418 billion, while the figure was $23.622 billion in 2015, $22.124 billion in 2016, $22.671 billion in 2017, $23.467 billion in 2018, and $22.905 billion in 2019. The value dropped to $19.330 billion in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
New Delhi: After Priyanka Chopra's shocking revelations, several celebrities have expressed their anguish over bullying and lobbying that exists in Bollywood. Joining the list is Shekhar Suman's son, Adhyayan Suman. The actor talked about losing several projects at the last moment. He said that he was removed from several big banner films to take revenge 'take revenge' on his father.

ADHYAYAN SHARES HE DID NOT LAND INTO WORTHY PROJECTS

Adhyayan, who made his Bollywood debut with the 2008 film Haal-e-dil, was talking to Hindustan Times and said that he did not land into any worthy film after his second film, Raaz: The Mystery Continues.

During his interaction with the leading daily, the actor said people took offense to Shekhar Suman's statement about the popular chat show, Movers and Shakers. He was quoted as saying, "The bullying and lobbying could be the result of revenge that people are taking from my father Shekhar Suman".

ADHYAYAN SHARES PEOPLE TOOK OFFENSE OF WHAT HIS FATHER SAID ABOUT THE SHOW MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Adhyayan added that his father performed what he was gavin in the scripts, but people got offended as he said it. "I did not get a lot of films because of a show that my father did - Movers and Shakers. Though he was given a script for every episode, a few people got offended because of what he said and held grudges that 'Shekhar ne humaare baare mein kaise baat kari'. There were neither any personal attacks nor he used any abusive language. He just did his job, and it was just a show. But their egos were very fragile perhaps, and they took it personally. And thought ki iska badla iske bete par nikaalenge (They thought they will take revenge on his father)," added the actor.

The actor even recalled an incident where a producer asked another producer not to cast Adhyayan alleging he was not punctual and did drugs. The actor said, "There was a producer, who in front of me called another producer and said, 'Hum Adhyayan ko cast karne ki soch rahe hain' and the person replied, 'Isko mat lo, he is not punctual, he does drugs' and all that stuff."

Adhyayayan also revealed that the way Bollywood industry is never going to change. And he did not come early as people might not believe him.
New Delhi: Bollywood actor Salman Khan has been on the receiving end of death threats. After an email threat, the actor received another death threat over a call on Monday. Mumbai police identified the caller as a person hailing from Jodhpur. In the latest development, the caller has been nabbed.

The Mumbai police control room had received the call threatening to kill Salman Khan on April 30. The call was made on Monday night and the police soon started the investigation and arrested a 16-year-old boy from the Thane district. The information was shared by the Mumbai police, who will soon hand over the boy to the Azad Maidan police in Mumbai.

MUMBAI POLICE DETAIN CALLER WHO THREATENED TO KILL SALMAN KHAN

As per a report in PTI, the Mumbai police were able to track the caller who threatened to kill the actor with technical help. The number was traced to Shahapur in Thane district, 70 km from Mumbai. Cops followed the location and arrested the 16-year-old boy who had called to threaten the actor. The boy will now be handed over to the Azad Maidan Police Station in Mumbai for further investigation. A probe will be carried out to know the intention of the boy.

Earlier today, the police had revealed that a person named Roki Bhai had made a threatening call and said that he would kill the actor on April 30. "In a call received at Police Control Room yesterday, a man who identified himself as Roki Bhai from Rajasthan's Jodhpur threatened to kill actor Salman Khan on April 30. Further investigation underway: Mumbai Police," tweeted ANI.

Meanwhile, Salman Khan's family is extremely worried about the safety of the actor. As per a report in Etimes, a source was quoted as saying, "Everyone in Salman Khan's family and his team are serious and very concerned about his safety. These new threats have shaken things up, but they also know that the police has responded well and is making sure that the security arrangements are appropriate."
Salman Khan who is currently gearing up for his upcoming release, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan has received another death threat over a call. The caller has been identified as Roki Bhai, who hails from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The person identified is a gau-rakshak (cow protector). He threatened to kill the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor on April 30.

SALMAN KHAN RECEIVES A DEATH THREAT OVER A CALL

As per a tweet by ANI, "In a call received at Police Control Room yesterday, a man who identified himself as Roki Bhai from Rajasthan's Jodhpur threatened to kill actor Salman Khan on April 30. Further investigation underway: Mumbai Police"

The death threat call has left the actor's fans and well-wishers worried. The latest threat comes just days after Salman bought a high-end bullet-proof SUV amid previous threats that were received over email. Mumbai police splurged into action as soon as the call was received. Reports suggest that the call was received by the Mumbai Police control at around 9 pm on Monday night.

As per a tweet by ANI, "In a call received at Police Control Room yesterday, a man who identified himself as Roki Bhai from Rajasthan's Jodhpur threatened to kill actor Salman Khan on April 30. Further investigation underway: Mumbai Police"

SALMAN KHAN'S FAMILY EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT THE ACTOR'S SECURITY

As per a report in Etimes, a source close to the police revealed that the family of Salman Khan is quite serious about the threats the actor has been receiving over the past few months. The source was quoted as saying, "Everyone in Salman Khan's family and his team are serious and very concerned about his safety. These new threats have shaken things up, but they also know that the police has responded well and is making sure that the security arrangements are appropriate."
Rhea Chakraborty announced her comeback on TV as she shared a promo of MTV's Roadies season 19. The latest promo features the actress who will be seen as the new gang leader in the show. Soon, after the promo was unveiled, Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Priyanka Singh took to Twitter and shared a cryptic note in Hindi.

PRIYANKA SINGH CLARIFIES HER TWEET

Netizens speculated Priyanka's cryptic tweet was directed towards Rhea Chakraborty. Now, the late actor's sister has shared another tweet clarifying her stance and said that her post was not meant for anyone but was her general angst.

Her tweet reads, "Just a clarification: My below tweet was not directed to any specific person as it has been reported in media which is ill-conceived and looks motivated. It was my general angst against the state of affairs prevalent in our world around."

Just a clarification:

My below tweet was not directed to any specific person as it has been reported in media which is ill-conceived and looks motivated.

It was my general angst against the state of affairs prevalent in our world around. https://t.co/zEACayHvFp  Priyanka Singh (@withoutthemind) April 11, 2023

RHEA CHAKRABORTY'S MTV ROADIES PROMO

For the unversed, the Roadies promo showed Rhea saying, "Aapko kya laga mein wapas nahi aaungi, darr jaungi? ab darne ki baari kisi aur ki."

Just a few hours later, Priyanka in her tweet in had said, "Tum kyun darogi? Tum to vyashya thi, ho aur rahogi! Prashna ye hai ki tumhare upbhogta kon hai? Koi sattadhari hi ye himmat de sakta hai. (Why would you be afraid? You were, are, and will remain a pr*stitute! The question is who are your consumers? Only a ruler can give this courage). WhoResponsible 4Delay InSSRCs is obvious."

Meanwhile, Sushant Singh Rajput passed away on June 14, 2020. He was found hanging in his flat in Mumbai. His sudden demise left the entire nation shocked. His untimely demise shocked everyone, and several allegations were made that he was murdered. The actor was said to be dating Rhea Chakraborty, who was later arrested in a drug case in relation to Sushant Singh Rajput's death. However, she was released on bail.
After winning hearts with her impressive stint on Bigg Boss 16, Tina Datta is now making headlines for her new show Hum Rahe Na Rahe Hum. Also starring Jay Bhanushali and Kitu Gidwani in the lead, the romantic drama has finally premiered and is grabbing eyeballs.

Interestingly, Hum Rahe Na Rahe Hum has managed to leave the audience intrigued with its teasers and fans have been in awe of Tina and Jay's chemistry. This isn't all. There have been frequent comparisons between Tina's Hum Rahe Na Rahe Hum and Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan's 2014 release Khoobsurat. In fact, netizens seem to be drawing similarities between the two.

However, Tina has now cleared the air and said that her show is no where close to the movie. "I don't think so it is anywhere related. I don't even know the storyline of Khoobsurat but it is no where close because this kahani is based on a true story, it is an adoption of a true story. So it is no where close to anybody else's storyline," she was quoted saying. For the uninitiated, Hum Rahe Na Rahe Hum is an adaptation of the popular Turkish series Istanbullu Gelin, known as Bride of Istanbul.

To note, Tina is seen playing the role of Surili Ahluwalia in the movie and her modern avatar has left everyone in awe. She even asserted that her character is different from her popular character Iccha from Uttaran which has been carved on the audience's hearts for years. Talking about her character, Tina said, "Surili is a modern independent girl who runs her own cafe. She doesn't take anybody's nonsense and is very opinionated".

Apart from Hum Rahe Na Rahe Hum, Tina is also set to make her debut in the South with a big budget Telugu movie. However, an official announcement in this regard is yet to be made.
Atmosphere Core, a new identity for the registered company Atmosphere Core Private Limited, has unveiled its third brand - Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts.

Migrating from the actual company name, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts paves the way for refreshingly different destinations in South Asia while also blending in the companys footprint in the Maldives, said the company.

One of the fastest-growing hospitality companies in South Asia, Atmosphere Core capitalises on its experience to stay ahead of competition through an innovative approach. Atmosphere Core includes three distinct brands -- The Ozen Collection, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, and Colours of Oblu.

"The Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts brand will be renowned for its big heart and a vision to create novel and memorable experiences for guests through every property. There will always be something new to unwrap; with an enriching experience awaiting to be discovered every time, while keeping authenticity as the brands North Star, as its compass," it said.

Atmosphere Core has an aggressive pipeline for future development across India. With Ozen Mansion Kolkata opening in Q1 2024 and key signings to be announced soon as the company paves its way for a strong presence in the region.

Salil Panigrahi, the Managing Director at Atmosphere Core, says: As a company, we are always evolving and innovating. Within 10 years, we have launched eight resorts in the Maldives. Our new brand, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts offers an abundance of choices both for travellers as well as property owners. And I am confident that with this enhanced Power Of Portfolio, we will accelerate our growth with 20 properties opening in the next two years.

Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts brand achieves the rich diversity of experiences through seven well-defined sub-brand options giving property owners maximum flexibility while leveraging world class, turnkey solutions, the company said.

 Atmosphere offers a classic luxury experience highlighting the individuality of each resort. The current portfolio includes Atmosphere Kanifushi.

 By Atmosphere offers a charming getaway with heart-warming hospitality. The current portfolio includes VARU By Atmosphere.

The AH&R sub-brand portfolio also includes An Atmosphere Experience that will weave local culture and natural surroundings into the design, A Signature Atmosphere for an enriching and elegant stay in iconic properties, and Elements of Nature By Atmosphere for tranquil wellness retreats.

A conversion sub-brand, Heritage By Atmosphere will curate historical properties  from ancient havelis to colonial bungalows. An Urban Atmosphere will feature authentic hotels and resorts located in the heart of the city.

Atmosphere Core is poised for strong growth in South Asia, with three The Ozen Collection properties in the pipeline -- Ozen Mansion Kolkata opening in Q1 2024 in India, Ozen Prive Athiri Gili set for Q4 2024 in the Maldives, and Ozen Secluded Tangalle in Sri Lanka. -TradeArabia News Service
Well, the most awaited peek into the grand Maldivian babymoon holiday of RRR star Ram Charan and Upasana have finally surfaced. Contrary to the usual, it is the actor who shared a set of pictures from their holiday from the most beautiful place on earth for the pristine beach lovers.

Ram Charan has taken to his social media handles to share these pictures from his holiday. In one picture, the couple were seen enjoying the breeze and blue ocean sitting in a jet boat. Also, the second picture is of Ram Charan, who is clicked from behind, leaning on to the pillar, from his lavish Maldives hotel bungalow.

Ram Charan & Wifey Babymoon Photo Credit: Twitter

Earlier, Ram Charan and Upasana along with their lapdog Rhyme have gone to the USA for the Oscar award events. During that time, the duo escaped to a short and sweet babymoon where they enjoyed shopping till they dropped. Upasana also posted about her bucket-list Whale watching experience, which she ticked off.

On the professional front, Ram Charan, who is shooting for Shankar Shanmugam's direct Telugu film titled Game Changer, will join the sets after he is back in India.

Game Changer has story by Karthik Subbaraj and is being made in Tamil simultaneously. Kiara Advani collaborated with Ram Charan for the second time as the female lead, after Vinaya Vidheya Rama. S Thaman is on board as the film's music director.

The movie stars an ensemble cast in the form of SJ Suryah, Anjali, Srikanth, Sunil, Naveen Chandra, Nassar, Samuthirakani, and Rajeev Kanakala among others in pivotal roles.

Game Changer is produced by Dil Raju under the Sri Venkateswara Creations, on a budget of a whopping Rs 170 Crore. Shameer Muhammed and Tirru are on board as the editor and cinematographer of the movie.

On the other hand, Ram Charan will also start shooting for a sports-based drama under the direction of 'Uppena' fame Buchi Babu Sana. The movie will be launched in September this year.
Vetrimaaran is a director who needs no introduction, at least to film buffs all over the world and to people of south India. The exceptionally talented producer-director-writer has won five National Film Awards for his work. From Polladhavan to Visaranai, Vada Chennai, Kodi, and Asuran, the director made an everlasting impact on Indian cinema and Kollywood.

Vetrimaaran's recent outing Viduthalai: Part 1, starring Soori and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead roles was released all over the world on March 31. The movie garnered widespread appreciation and positive reviews from all over the world, including critics and his fans. The movie is now ready to hit the screens in Telugu dubbed version on April 15.

Vetrimaaran Comments On Working With Jr NTR Photo Credit: Internet

During the special screening of Viduthalai Part 1's Telugu version titled 'Vidudhala Part 1' in Hyderabad, the maverick director sat for a question and answer session with the regional media.

He tried to answer as many questions as possible and what piqued the interest of many present on the occasion was his probability of making a movie with RRR star Jr NTR.

He responded, "After Asura, post lockdown, I have met and we are talking. it is bound to happen but you know, I take some time to make a film. It takes a long time for me to finish one film and move to the next. That is the problem. Otherwise, we want to try."

When asked about whom he will first work with- Jr NTR or Allu Arjun, Vetrimaaran replied, "That time will have to tell."

Viduthalai explores the plot: After a train bombing, the police commence 'Operation Ghosthunt' to trap Vaathiyar Perumal (Vijay Sethupathi), the leader of the People's Army. A novice and honest constable Kumaresan, who joins the force as a driver begins to involve himself in the course. What happens next is to be seen on the screen.

Viduthalai stars Bhavani Sre, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Rajiv Menon, Ilavarasu, Chetan, Munnar Ramesh, Balaji Sakthivel, and Saravana Subbaiah among others in prominent characters.

Vetrimaaran's next is Vaadivaasal and the movie is currently in the pre-production phase.
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2023) - TourismX (TRMX), the leading blockchain-based platform for the tourism industry, is proud to announce a new main partnership with the Global Tourism Forum (GTF), a leading organization focused on promoting sustainable and responsible tourism practices and tourism investments around the world. The aim of the partnership is to drive the crypto and blockchain revolution for the tourism industry.

This partnership is an important step forward in TourismX's efforts to transform the tourism industry through the use of blockchain technology. As part of the partnership, TourismX will collaborate with GTF to develop innovative solutions that leverage blockchain technology to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the tourism industry today.

"Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the tourism industry, making it more transparent, secure, and accessible for everyone involved," said Partnership Bureau of umbrella brand World Tourism Forum Institute. "Through this partnership we aim to drive this revolution forward and create a more sustainable and responsible tourism industry and make it easier to reach finance and investment for all destinations with potential."

As part of the partnership, TourismX and GTF will work together to promote the use of blockchain technology in the tourism industry and develop educational programs and training opportunities for tourism professionals. TourismX and GTF hopes to raise awareness of the benefits of blockchain technology by providing training on how to implement blockchain-based solutions. This partnership also helps TourismX to locate its direct tourism investments such as hotels, restaurants, marinas etc GTF hopes to accelerate the adoption of this revolutionary technology.

"We are excited for aims of this cooperation and working to drive the crypto and blockchain revolution for the tourism industry," said WTFI's Partnership Bureau. "Blockchain technology has the potential to transform the way we travel, and we believe that through this partnership, we can help make this transformation a reality."

In addition to developing blockchain-based solutions and promoting the use of this revolution in the tourism industry, ToursimX will participate in GTF's events as main sponsor and collaborate with other leading industry players to drive the adoption of blockchain technology.

Upcoming GTF Events Scheduled for 2023:

Year 2100 - Futurism for Tourism Summit

Annual Meeting 2023 - Brussels

Blockchain For Travel Summit 2023 - Dubai

About TourismX:

TourismX is a blockchain-based platform and decentralized investment fund for the tourism industry, designed to provide both investors and travelers with a more personalized, secure, and affordable travel and investment experience. Our solutions are built on top of the latest blockchain technology, making it possible to create a decentralized finance and transparent travel ecosystem that benefits everyone involved.

About Global Tourism Forum:

Global Tourism Forum is an initiative of London based World Tourism Forum Institute. Starting from 2020, World Tourism Forum Institute's events will be entitled as Global Tourism Forum.

The Global Tourism Forum, or GTF for short, is an international collaboration platform focused on addressing the challenges for the travel industry. Combining the joint efforts of government agencies, industry stakeholders and academia, GTF strives to achieve sustainable development models for emerging travel markets, as well as devising strategies to ensure tourism growth.

World Tourism Forum Institute organizes several initiatives aiming to promote the hosting country internationally. As an initiative of WTFI, Global Tourism Forum organizes select activities designed to strengthen the host country's branding abroad.

Global Tourism Forum also plays a leading role in attracting foreign direct investment to the target country, by working to identify business opportunities, promoting strategic events and lending support to foreign investors willing to allocate resources in target country.

For more information:

www.globaltourismforum.org

www.tourismx.io

www.worldtourismforum.net

Contact:

Hanni Tran

h.tran@worldtourismforum.net

+44 20 3289 0252

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161866
Revised conditional and non-binding proposal is at 0.400x exchange ratio and, in addition, permits Newcrest to pay a franked special dividend of up to US$1.10 per share

Represents an aggregate implied value of A$32.87 per share to Newcrest shareholders 1

Newcrest has agreed to grant Newmont the opportunity to conduct confirmatory due diligence to put forward a binding proposal

Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 10, 2023) - Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) (PNGX: NCM) advises that it has received a revised conditional and non-binding proposal (Revised Proposal) from Newmont Corporation (Newmont) to acquire 100% of the issued shares in Newcrest, by way of a scheme of arrangement.

Under the Revised Proposal, Newcrest shareholders would be entitled to receive 0.400 Newmont shares for each Newcrest share held.

In addition, the Revised Proposal permits Newcrest to pay a franked special dividend of up to US$1.10 per share2 on or around the implementation of the scheme of arrangement. In aggregate, the Revised Proposal represents an implied value of A$32.87 per share to Newcrest shareholders1.

Following Newcrest's announcement of 16 February 2023, Newcrest and Newmont signed a non-disclosure and standstill agreement. Newcrest subsequently provided Newmont with access to limited, non-public information on a non-exclusive basis to determine if Newmont could provide an improved proposal that appropriately reflected the value of Newcrest.

The implied consideration which would be received by Newcrest shareholders under the Revised Proposal from Newmont, when aggregated with the franked special dividend, represents an increase of 16.0%3 to Newmont's initial proposal (0.363x exchange ratio) and represents:

an implied Newcrest share price of A$32.87 per share 1 ;

; an implied equity value of A$29.4 billion and enterprise value of A$32.0 billion for Newcrest 4 ;

; 31.1% ownership of the combined group by Newcrest shareholders on implementation;

a 46.4% premium to Newcrest's undisturbed closing price of A$22.45 per share on 3 February 2023 5 ; and

; and a 41.2% premium to Newcrest's undisturbed 30 day volume weighted average price (VWAP) of A$22.22 per share on 3 February 20235,6.

Newmont has indicated that the Revised Proposal represents its best and final price in the absence of a competing proposal.

After assessing the Revised Proposal, Newcrest has agreed to grant Newmont the opportunity to conduct confirmatory due diligence to enable it to put forward a binding proposal. Due diligence is expected to be completed within approximately four weeks. Newcrest will also undertake confirmatory due diligence on Newmont during this period.

The Revised Proposal is subject to several conditions, including:

satisfactory completion of confirmatory due diligence by Newmont and Newcrest;

entry into a binding scheme implementation agreement that will be subject to a range of conditions, including obtaining regulatory approvals, Newcrest shareholder approval in respect of the scheme of arrangement and Newmont shareholder approval authorising the issuance of Newmont shares as consideration under the scheme of arrangement; and

the unanimous recommendation from the Newcrest Board that shareholders vote in favour of the Revised Proposal (in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to an independent expert concluding that the Revised Proposal is in the best interests of Newcrest shareholders).

Newmont has requested exclusivity during the due diligence period as a condition of the Revised Proposal and Newcrest intends to grant exclusivity on acceptable terms.

There is no certainty that the Revised Proposal will result in a binding offer for consideration by shareholders.

Shareholders do not need to take any action at this stage. Newcrest will continue to keep the market informed of any material developments in accordance with its continuous disclosure obligations.

Authorised by the Newcrest Board

For further information please contact

Investor Enquiries

Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au



Rebecca Lay

+61 3 9522 5298

+61 438 355 511

Rebecca.Lay@newcrest.com.au

North American Investor Enquiries

Vlada Cvijetinovic

+1 604 335 9202

+1 604 240 2998

Vlada.Cvijetinovic@newcrest.com.au

Media Enquiries

Tim Salathiel

+61 3 9522 4263

+61 407 885 272

Tim.Salathiel@newcrest.com.au



This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com

Forward Looking Statements

This document includes forward looking statements and forward looking information within the meaning of securities laws of applicable jurisdictions. Forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "target", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "objectives", "outlook" and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding estimated reserves and resources, internal rates of return, expansion, exploration and development activities and the specifications, targets, results, analyses, interpretations, benefits, costs and timing of them; certain plans, strategies, aspirations and objectives of management, anticipated production, sustainability initiatives, climate scenarios, dates for projects, reports, studies or construction, expected costs, cash flow or production outputs and anticipated productive lives of projects and mines. The Company continues to distinguish between outlook and guidance. Guidance statements relate to the current financial year. Outlook statements relate to years subsequent to the current financial year.

These forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance, and achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements, or industry results, expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of resources or reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which the Company operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. For further information as to the risks which may impact on the Company's results and performance, please see the risk factors discussed in the Operating and Financial Review included in the Appendix 4E and Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2022 and the Annual Information Form dated 14 December 2022 which are available to view at www.asx.com.au under the code "NCM" and on Newcrest's SEDAR profile.

Forward looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reflect Newcrest's good faith assumptions, judgements, estimates and other information available as at the date of this report and/or the date of Newcrest's planning or scenario analysis processes as to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect Newcrest's business and operations in the future. Newcrest does not give any assurance that the assumptions will prove to be correct. There may be other factors that could cause actual results or events not to be as anticipated, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of Newcrest. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements, particularly in the current economic climate with the significant volatility, uncertainty and disruption caused by global events such as geopolitical tensions and the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. Forward looking statements in this document speak only at the date of issue. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, Newcrest does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward looking statements or to advise of any change in assumptions on which any such statement is based.

1 Based on: 1) exchange ratio of 0.400x (with implied Newcrest price calculated using Newmont's closing price on the NYSE of US$52.05 per share as of 6 April 2023 and an AUD:USD FX rate of 0.667 as of 6 April 2023); and 2) a franked special dividend of up to US$1.10 per share.

2 Newcrest expects to have sufficient franking credits available to frank a dividend to an amount of US$1.10 per share. The franking of the special dividend amount is subject to change based on timing of completion of the transaction, business performance, foreign exchange movements and ATO ruling.

3 Based on an aggregate implied offer ratio of 0.4211x, which assumes the US$1.10 per share dividend is paid in full and reflects spot AUD:USD FX rate of 0.667.

4 Equity value based on: 1) exchange ratio of 0.400 (with implied Newcrest price calculated using Newmont's closing price on the NYSE of US$52.05 per share as of 6 April 2023 and an AUD:USD FX rate of 0.667 as of 6 April 2023); 2) a franked special dividend of up to US$1.10 per share; and 3) 894,230,732 Newcrest shares outstanding. Newcrest enterprise value calculated as implied equity value and net debt of US$1.7 billion.

5 Represents the last trading day prior to Newcrest's 6 February 2023 market release confirming Newmont's previous proposals.

6 Calculated using Newmont's undisturbed 30 day VWAP on the NYSE of US$51.56 per share, converted to A$74.51 per share using spot AUD:USD for each trading day.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161916
SINGAPORE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia-Pacific countries have been a magnet for tourists over the years. They are incredibly diverse and culturally rich, with many incredible sights to explore. Before the pandemic, the Asia-Pacific tourism sector was thriving, attracting visitors from around the world year after year.





According to Statista (2023), the volume of inbound travellers is expected to grow throughout 2023 and 2024, rising by 94% compared to the previous year. Regarding tourism growth throughout APAC, Trip.com data analyses the booking trends to popular destination spots, including Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, and has consistently had high search figures for this region.

Recently, Trip.com Group has strengthened its partnerships with stakeholders to position Japan as a top destination, with Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Bo, meeting the commissioner of Japan in March 2023. Japan has consistently been ranked among the top five destinations globally in terms of bookings and search volumes since entry restrictions were eased in Q4 2022. According to Trip.com data, global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March and 30 June increased by 237% YoY. Global flight bookings also increased by 317% (2022-2023) for travellers during the same period. The most popular European flight routes were from London to Tokyo and Paris to Tokyo.





The best time to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka is between March-April for cherry blossom season in Japan, to witness the world-famous flowers bloom in top tourist spots. Japan's unique blend of fascinating culture, incredible landscapes and delicious food makes for a sought-after destination for travellers. According to Trip.com data, the top three cities visited in Japan were Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka, known for famous landmarks such as Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium Dotonbori and Tennoji Park, is part of a long list of must-visit landmarks. The ancient city of Kyoto was the traditional home of the Japanese royal family, drawing tourists with its rich history and stunning architecture.

The South Korean government has recently promised to boost exports and attract tourists (Reuters 2023). It has set the goal of attracting 10 million foreign visitors this year. The number of foreign tourists reached a record 17.5 million in 2019, generating revenue estimated at $20.7 billion, according to the Korea Tourism Organisation.

Trip.com data reveals that global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June, increased year-on-year (2022-2023) by more than half (51%). Flight bookings from Europe (UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) increased by 456% year-on-year (2022-2023) for arrivals during the same period. The most popular flight routes were from London to Seoul, followed by Paris to Seoul.





The capital, Seoul, is the most popular visited city, according to Trip.com data, boasting jaw-dropping skyscrapers and grand palaces, and offering a mix of ancient landmarks and attractions of historical and cultural significance. The Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the finest examples of classic Korean architecture, destroyed and rebuilt several times since 1395.

Jeju Island is the second most popular destination, also favoured among locals. One of Netflix's biggest K-dramas, 'Our Blues' brought international recognition to the volcanic island, with its windswept coastline and mountainous horizons. Seogwipo on the south side of Jeju Island is for tourists wanting a more relaxing trip, with its volcanic coastline famous for its sea views and scuba diving.

Following China's decision to reopen borders in December 2022, Hong Kong was one of the cities which led the surge as one of the top five tourist destinations for outbound visitors from mainland China. Trip.com data shows that the most popular attractions within Hong Kong for its customers include Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping 360 - a cable car experience across the rolling green hills - and The Jurassic Dinosaur Adventure Park.





Trip.com data shows global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June increased year-on-year by 13% from 2022 to 2023). Flight bookings from Europe (UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) increased by a huge margin of 1,362% year-on-year from 2022 to 2023, for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June. The most popular flight route was from the UK - Hong Kong, followed by Germany - Hong Kong, and the top five destinations for tourists were mainland China, Singapore, the UK, America and Canada.

Over time, the Asia-Pacific region has transformed into a major travel hub for all types of tourists. The past decade has also experienced a dramatic increase in domestic and international tourist arrivals, and the region has gained a reputation as an in-trend destination for its attractions and natural landscapes.

About Trip.com

Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 20 languages across 27 countries and regions in 31 local currencies and sites. Trip.com has an extensive hotel and flight network consisting of more than 1.2 million hotels and flights from over 480 airlines covering 2,600 airports in 200 countries and regions around the globe. Trip.com's world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service as well as additional centres in Edinburgh, Tokyo and Seoul, help to 'create the best travel experience' for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit trip.com





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Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that Mitsubishi Electric group will provide additional disaster relief in response to a request by Turkey's Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) in the form of 500 air conditioners (equivalent to approx. 32 million yen) to be donated to temporary shelters that are urgently being set up in southern Turkey following the earthquake that struck the region on February 6.

In addition to previously announced donations, Mitsubishi Electric's local subsidiaries in Turkey have been providing assistance to the affected areas since the earthquake, including donations of water, food, other daily necessities and human blood. In addition to these support activities, Mitsubishi Electric group will now deliver air conditioners to help improve the living environment in the affected areas.

This brings the total amount of the group's support to the areas affected by the earthquake in southern Turkey to the equivalent of approx. 55 million yen. In addition, Mitsubishi Electric group also raised funds through the Mitsubishi Electric SOCIO-ROOTS Fund, a matching gift program under which the company matched and doubled the amount of donations made by its employees to social welfare facilities and organizations.

Mitsubishi Electric group expresses its deepest sympathy to all those affected by the earthquake and sincerely hopes for the earliest possible recovery of the disaster-stricken areas.

For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005146/en/

Contacts:

Customer Inquiries

EMEA Section, Regional Marketing Division

Global Strategic Planning Marketing Group

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

gog.europe@pd.mitsubishielectric.co.jp

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/

Media Inquiries

Takeyoshi Komatsu

Public Relations Division

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Tel: +81-3-3218-2346

prd.gnews@nk.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/
Meet the most prominent climate-tech and weather tech service providers globally

Network with the biggest buyers, key representatives and decision makers from the public and private sectors

Listen to work class speakers discuss the latest innovations and ideas at the ACF International Conference.

SINGAPORE, Apr 11, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - In exactly a week's time, the Asia Climate Forum will return for its annual conference led exhibition from April 18 to 20 2023, at the Suntec City Convention Centre in Singapore. Organized by MMI Asia Pte Ltd, a regional subsidiary of Messe Munchen, the forum brings together experts, policymakers, and practitioners from the public and private sectors to discuss climate change and its impacts on Asia.





Asia Climate Forum is the only dedicated climate defence, meteorological/ hydrological/ air and flood technology services event in APAC. The exhibition for the latest in weather and climate tech, aims to further the dialogue on the vital importance of climate resilience, early warning systems, and the impact of weather mitigation on society and businesses, and is committed towards making a sustainable difference towards combating climate change.

The Asia Climate Forum is supported by a number of organizations, including the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the HMEI & China Meteorological Service Association (CMSA), and others. These organizations play a key role in promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise on climate change, and in supporting efforts to build resilience and mitigate climate-related hazards.

This year, the World Meteorological Organization will be hosting its first ever High-Level Regional Forum of the Open Consultative Platform in Regional Associations II and V (RAs II and V) on 18 April 2023. This will be held at, and in conjunction with, the Asia Climate Forum. The objective of this High-Level Regional Forum is to bring together the Permanent Representatives of WMO RAs II and V and representatives from the private and academic sectors for a dialogue to discuss region-specific issues, opportunities, and initiatives to enhance cross-sector cooperation and collaboration that improve the socioeconomic benefits of weather, climate and water-related services. The Forum will also contribute to WMO's strategic priorities in coming years, e.g. the Early Warnings for All: the UN Global Early Warning Initiative for the Implementation of Climate Adaptation, in line with Asia's Climate Forum's climate objectives.

This year's theme, "Ideas and Technologies to Build Resilience and Mitigate Climate-related Hazards," focuses on the importance of developing and implementing innovative solutions to address the challenges of climate change. The conference will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops on a range of topics, including climate change adaptation, mitigation, and financing.

The Asia Climate Forum is a valuable platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices on building resilience and mitigating climate-related hazards. It provides an opportunity for attendees to learn from leading experts in the field and to explore opportunities for collaboration and action in the region.

The conference will feature over 35 high-profile speakers, including researchers, scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and academics. Confirmed speakers include:

Ben Churchill , Head, Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific, World Meteorological Organization

, Head, Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific, Patricia Cummens, Director, Government Strategy and Policy Solutions, Esri

Dr Dale Barker, Director, Centre for Climate Research Singapore

Alan Jenkins , Deputy Director, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

, Deputy Director, Abhishek Modi, APAC Partnerships Lead, Crisis Response & Sustainability, Google, and many more.

The exhibition and conference are great opportunities for attendees to learn about the latest innovations and to connect with the leading companies in the industry.

The Asia Climate Forum is an essential event for anyone interested in ideas and technologies to build resilience and mitigate climate-related hazards. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn, connect, and act towards our common objectives.

About Messe Munchen

Messe Munchen is one of the leading exhibition organizers worldwide with more than 50 of its own trade shows for capital goods, consumer goods and new technologies. Every year, a total of over 50,000 exhibitors and around three million visitors take part in more than 200 events at the exhibition centre in Munich, at the ICM - Internationales Congress Center Munchen, the Conference Center Nord and the MOC Veranstaltungscenter Munchen as well as abroad. Together with its subsidiary companies, Messe Munchen organizes trade shows in China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey. With a network of associated companies in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America as well as around 70 representations abroad for over 100 countries, Messe Munchen has a global presence.

For more information, contact:

Pooja Priyadarshini

Project Manager, Asia Climate Forum

Email: pooja@mmiasia.com.sg

MMI Asia Pte Ltd (Messe Munchen Regional HQ)

T: +65 6236 0988 ext. 105

M: +65 9823 0892

Source: MMI Asia Pte Ltd (MMI)Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Working together to address the growing gender equality gap brought about in the post Covid-19 era

TOKYO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global luxury skincare and makeup brand Cle de Peau Beaute and UNICEF have announced a three-year extension of their partnership dedicated to addressing gender inequality with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, employment, and empowerment programs for girls. The two partners have worked together since 2019, with the partnership supporting UNICEF's work to tackle the root causes of gender inequality. This extension aims to reach 5.7 million more girls around the world over the next three years, providing the tools and resources they need to develop their skills and fulfil their potential. This represents nearly half of UNICEF's overall aim to help unlock the potential of 11.5 million girls through its Skills4Girls program in more than 30 countries globally by 2025. Progress in this area is more important than ever as the world emerges into the post-Covid-19 era, which saw a disproportionate number of young women disadvantaged and left behind in these crucial fields.

To fund their combined efforts, Cle de Peau Beaute has pledged US$8.7 million to support UNICEF's Gender Equality Program, the world's largest private sector contribution to this area, specifically to the Skills4Girls program. This program develops girls' skills in areas such as STEM, digital technologies, and social entrepreneurship in addition to life skills such as problem-solving, negotiation, self-esteem, and communication. It also helps to create more equitable access to STEM opportunities and improve representation and leadership of women within the STEM disciplines around the world.

To date, the Cle de Peau Beaute and UNICEF partnership has benefited more than 3.5 million girls. The critical programs worked to address the unique challenges facing each region, including gender-responsive and skill-based curricula and training such as the Alternative Learning Program in Bangladesh; advancing STEM skills and helping to facilitate university placements through the STEM4Girls Program in Kyrgyzstan; and vocational teaching and mentorships to make young people more competitive on the job market through the UPSHIFT Program in Niger; among many others.

"At Cle de Peau Beaute, we believe that the key to a better world lies in unlocking the potential of girls through Education. This belief serves as the foundation of our long-term philanthropic commitment, as well as the reason why we have partnered with UNICEF," says Mizuki Hashimoto, Chief Brand Officer of Cle de Peau Beaute. "By continuing this crucial work for the next three years, we aim to continue driving positive change by empowering girls all over the world. Each of us has a role to play in realizing this shared vision, and by working together, we can create a better future."

The extension of Cle de Peau Beaute's partnership with UNICEF is funded through the brand's Cause-Related Marketing Campaign, where US$3 from every purchase of The Serum, one of the brand's most iconic products, will be donated to support UNICEF's programs around the world. These funds will continue the life-changing work in Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, China, Niger, Peru and Vietnam among others, and will expand similar successful programming in Indonesia, all working to address the enduring gender equality gap in STEM in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.





"Across the world, 1 in 4 girls aged 15-19 is out of education, training or employment compared to less than 1 in 10 boys of the same age. Investment in their education and development has never been more crucial, as they are the leaders of the future. Global challenges need global solutions and partnerships are critical to helping us to create change. We are delighted to be partnering with Cle de Peau Beaute for another three years to continue supporting the next generation of girls to access education and learning opportunities, to help build their skills and support them with training and job opportunities." Carla Haddad Mardini, UNICEF's Director of Private Sector Fundraising and Partnerships.

Together, Cle de Peau Beaute and UNICEF are committed to helping bridge the gender equality gap and provide girls and their communities around the world with the STEM education, employment, and empowerment opportunities they need to create a better future for themselves and for the world as a whole in the 21st century.

The Serum is available in store and online. From 1st January to 31st December 2023, Cle de Peau Beaute will donate US$3 from every purchase of The Serum to UNICEF with a minimum guarantee of US$2.9 million.

UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service.

About Cle de Peau Beaute

Cle de Peau Beaute, the global luxury brand from Shiseido Co., Ltd., was founded in 1982 as the ultimate expression of elegance and science. Cle de Peau Beaute means the key to skin's beauty. The philosophy of the brand is to unlock the power of a woman's radiance by harnessing makeup technologies and advanced skincare from around the world. Forever guided by an exquisite aesthetic sensibility and intelligence, Cle de Peau Beaute has instilled its products with modernity, enchantment, and dynamism to emerge as an industry leader in delivering radiance so remarkable, it emanates from within. Available in 23 countries and regions worldwide.

Cle de Peau Beaute Official Website: www.cledepeau-beaute.com

Cle de Peau Beaute x UNICEF Landing Page: https://www.cledepeau-beaute.com/int/cpb-for-unicef.html

The Serum Campaign Landing Page: https://www.cledepeau-beaute.com/int/unlockthepowerofgirls.html

Cle de Peau Beaute Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cledepeaubeaute/

KeyToABetterWorld

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.





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XUANCHENG, China, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 10th, Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "Huasun") has once again reached a cooperation with INERCOM Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "INERCOM"), a well-known European EPC company, and signed a framework agreement for supplying HJT modules. By the end of 2025, Huasun will provide at least 1.5GW Himalaya series ultra-high-efficient HJT modules for INERCOM's large-scale utility projects in Bulgaria. With the agreement, Huasun has become the world's first company to win GW-level orders in the HJT field.





In 2021, Huasun started the first cooperation with INERCOM, supplying 86MW high-efficient HJT solar modules to their utility solar project in southern Bulgaria. According to the supply plan, by the end of 2023, Huasun will deliver more than 500MW HJT solar modules for INERCOM to their projects in Bulgaria.

At the signing ceremony, Mr. Varbakov, head of INERCOM, said: "We choose Huasun as the exclusive supplier of HJT modules, because they have provided a great guarantee in terms of product quality, technical performance, and delivery capabilities. We are very happy to build a long relationship with Huasun and hope both of us can keep strengthening connections, supporting each other, and exploring the international market together."

"INERCOM has been deeply involved in the Bulgarian market for decades and has participated in the development and construction of photovoltaic projects in many regions. "said Dan Zhou, CEO of Huasun. "It is the first company that used HJT modules on a large scale at an early stage in Europe, which indicates that HJT has very broad prospects and significant value in Europe. During the long-term and stable collaboration, Huasun has won high recognition from INERCOM. Huasun will persistently concentrate on the product concept of higher power, higher efficiency, and higher revenue. With high-class solutions, Huasun will keep deepening its presence in the global market and promoting the high-quality development of the industry, to make its global layout reach a new level."

About Huasun Energy

Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd was founded in July 2020, which focuses on the development and application of HJT solar cells and modules as well as its large-scale production. Since its establishment, Huasun has simultaneously deployed the research and development of technologies such as single-sided micro-crystalline, double-sided micro-crystalline, HBC, silver-clad copper, copper electroplating, and heterojunction-perovskite stacked cells. The company will unswervingly promote the industrialization and marketization of HJT technology, study and practice more efficient and lower-carbon solar technology, bring efficient solar energy into everyone's life, and make homes more livable and beautiful.

On February 28, 2023, BloombergNEF announced the ranking of global PV module manufacturers for 2023 Q1. With excellent product performance, reliable brand credibility, and strong financing strength, Huasun was listed as a Tier 1 solar module manufacturer. In this list, Huasun is the only company that focuses on HJT technology and is also the first company to enter the list with only heterojunction projects. Additionally, Huasun is the youngest company in the list.









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TAIPEI, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kavalan has clinched the global award "Bartender of the Year" at the prestigious Icons of Whisky's 2023 awards for Kavalan Whisky Bar's James Lin.





Taiwan's premier distillery also won Distiller of the Year and Bar of the Year - Highly Commended in the "Rest of the World" category.

Kavalan also retained its crown for "Best Taiwanese Single Cask Single Malt" and "Best Taiwanese Single Malt" for the third year in a row this time for Kavalan Solist Port and Kavalan King Car Conductor.

About James Lin

Lin gained his apprenticeship under Mr. Hidetsugu Ueno (Bar High Five founder), Nick Wu (Bar Mood Taipei founder) and bar leader Tony Lin (Testing Room by Draft Land R&D and head bartender). At Lazy Point bar he was ranked fourth in the 2018 Bacardi Legacy.





About Kavalan Whisky Bar

Inaugurated in 2019, Kavalan Whisky Bar is located in central Taipei and designed as a speakeasy to provide a multi-sensory experience that tells the Kavalan story. The bar serves a full range of Kavalan expressions, limited editions, as well as classic and specialty cocktails exclusively made with Kavalan whisky and gin.

About Kavalan Distillery

Kavalan Distillery in Yilan County has been pioneering the art of single malt whisky in Taiwan since 2005. Our whisky, aged in intense humidity and heat, sources the meltwaters of Snow Mountain and is enhanced by sea and mountain breezes. All this combines to create Kavalan's signature creaminess. Taking Yilan County's old name, our distillery is backed by about 40 years of beverage-making under parent company, King Car Group. We have collected more than 700 gold awards or higher from the industry's most competitive contests. Visit www.kavalanwhisky.com

Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Tsai

kaitlyn@kingcar.com.tw

Britney Chen

britneychen@kingcar.com.tw

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Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) will be showcasing Azerbaijan's diverse and unique travel experiences at a dedicated national stand at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 running from May 1 to 4 in Dubai, UAE.



Azerbaijan offers hiking through lush natural landscapes, wellness experiences at top-rated resorts, and delicious traditional cuisine. Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from ATB and industry partners, including Azerbaijan Airlines, to learn more about the destination and explore potential collaboration opportunities.



"We look forward to meeting with travel professionals and media representatives at ATM 2023 and introducing them to Azerbaijan's unique offering. We are confident that our participation in this event will help us to showcase Azerbaijan's potential as an exciting and diverse destination," said Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board.



In recent years, Azerbaijan has emerged as a highly sought-after travel destination for Middle Eastern travellers, in part due to its convenient direct flights, easy visa procedures upon arrival, and reputation as a dynamic cultural and business hub.



The latest statistics demonstrate exciting results, with Saudi tourists ranking first among GCC tourists who visited Azerbaijan last year. In 2022, 185,288 tourists from the GCC region travelled to Azerbaijan, with Saudi Arabia contributing the most (96,231), followed by the United Arab Emirates (41,085), Kuwait (22,610), Oman (18,527), Bahrain (3,424), and Qatar (3,411).



Visitors to the ATB stand can expect to learn about the country's diverse attractions, including the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Old City of Baku, the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, and the Sheki Historic Centre. Additionally, they can discover Azerbaijan's stunning landscapes, such as the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea coast, and the Goygol Lake.  TradeArabia News Service
Assembly also announced three new CEO promotions in North America, MENA and APAC

NEW YORK and LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global omnichannel media agency Assembly today announced the appointment of Matt Adams as CEO of Europe, joining the agency on March 27. Adams will oversee all Assembly operations in continental Europe and the UK, with a focus on accelerating the agency's business development and driving sustainable growth and impact across the region.





With over 20 years of senior leadership experience working across both the media owner and agency sides of the business, Adams is a transformative leader with an exceptional reputation for growth, business development, and client relations.

"We are delighted to welcome Matt to Assembly, where he'll lead our European business and bring our proposition, 'find the change that fuels growth,' to new heights. He is someone who knows how to unlock the potential of his teams, provide immense value to clients, and build strategic and innovative business solutions to drive success. I look forward to our European business continuing to change and grow under his leadership," said James Townsend, Global CEO of Assembly and Stagwell Brand x Performance Network.

Adams comes to Assembly from Brainlabs, where he was the Global Chief Operating Officer and is credited with scaling the company from a predominantly PPC agency to a full-service digital first media agency. Adams more than quadrupled its size while delivering strong organic revenue growth. He also helped acquire and integrate eight companies across the marketing funnel to bolster the agency's capabilities. Prior to Brainlabs, Adams was the UK and Ireland Chief Executive of Havas Media Group, working with some of the UK's most prestigious brands including O2, BBC, Hyundai, PayPal, Emirates, and giffgaff. While at Havas Media, Adams successfully executed a three-year turnaround strategy that culminated in the agency leading the UK New Business Leagues for 2019 and being one of the most awarded UK agencies for its work. Before these responsibilities, Adams led Dentsu's iProspect, the largest digital agency in the UK at the time.

Adams' professional accolades include: Chairman of the Content Marketing Association; recognized as one of the top 10 media planners in the UK by Campaign in 2014; named one of Campaign's top 10 agency leaders in the UK in 2019, 2020 and 2021; member of the IPA Media Futures Group; and was co-chair of the UK's Campaign Media Week Awards in 2019.

Over the last two years, Assembly has successfully transformed its business from the inside out - resulting in more media AOR engagements and double-digit growth globally and over 1,600 employees across the world. In late 2021, Assembly merged with ForwardPMX to become the flagship omnichannel media agency within Stagwell's portfolio, and just last year, the agency refreshed its brand identity to signal its next era of growth.

In addition to Adams, Assembly is elevating three agency leaders in its fastest growing regions to CEO:

North America President Valerie Davis has been promoted to North America CEO

has been promoted to North America CEO APAC Managing Director Richard Brosgill has been promoted to APAC CEO

has been promoted to APAC CEO MENA Managing Director Faisal Dean has been promoted to MENA CEO

Adams' appointment and Davis, Brosgill and Dean's elevations are on the heels of a series of global new business wins, product launches, and partner announcements over the last few months. The agency kicked off 2023 with the launch of Clean Media Lab, a new, technology-powered media decarbonization offering first available in Europe, joined Ad Net Zero in the US and UK, and continues on its journey to becoming a B Corp, all tangible evidence of the agency's ambition to continue developing sustainable and innovative media solutions. The agency also welcomed new clients Mandarin Oriental and T. Rowe Price into its roster and significantly increased its engagement with Lenovo globally.

"Assembly has more than its fair share of top talent, is globally scaled and regionally relevant," said Adams. "In today's environment, winning agencies are able to effectively generate value while delivering on smart and innovative marketing and media solutions that fuel growth, and Assembly has that in spades. I couldn't be joining at a better time."

Adams, Davis, Brosgill and Dean will report to James Townsend, Global CEO of Assembly and Stagwell Brand x Performance Network. These appointments are effective immediately.

ABOUT ASSEMBLY

Assembly is the modern global omnichannel media agency, bringing data, talent, and technology together to find the change that fuels growth for the best brands on the planet. Our approach connects big, bold brand stories with integrated, global media capabilities that deliver performance and drive large-scale business growth. Our work is powered by our proprietary, in-house technology solution, STAGE, and led by our global talent base of over 1,600 people around the world. We're purpose-driven at our core and pioneers in social and environmental impact in the agency world. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. For more information, visit assemblyglobal.com.

Press Contact:

Jess Santini, VP Global Marketing

Jess.santini@assemblyglobal.com

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LONDON, April 11, 2023, in partnership with the Swiss non-profit humanitarian Andan Foundation, is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2023 Global Citizen Award.



Created in 2014, the Global Citizen Award is a tribute that honors remarkable individuals working to advance any one of the global challenges affecting humanity today - challenges that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone.

The 2023 laureate will be selected by a distinguished, independent committeeand honored at the Global Citizen Award ceremony, the concluding event of the annual Henley & Partners Global Citizenship Conference- taking place this year in Dubai from 9 -10 November.

Henley & Partners Chairman and Founder of the Andan Foundation, Dr Christian H. Kaelin, says the awardee's work needs to demonstrate a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable social groups, particularly with a connection to migration-related issues. "The Global Citizen Award is open worldwide to those working in a field with a direct link to the issues they are looking to affect and excludes political figures, opinion leaders, and celebrities. The committee is looking for remarkable and inspirational individuals who demonstrate vision, courage, and innovation in driving global change, and whose actions and outlook contribute to a more just, peaceful, connected, and tolerant world."

The selection process is confidential and is based on a majority decision of the Award Committee. The award itself consists of a bespoke sculptural medaldesigned by leading Italian artist Antonio Nocera, an award certificate signed by the Chairman of the Global Citizen Award Committee, and a monetary prize of USD 20,000, which goes towards supporting the awardee's humanitarian efforts. In addition, Henley & Partners commits to working closely with the awardee for a period of one year, raising awareness of their work and supporting the selected project through the firm's network of more than 40 offices worldwide.

Since its inception, the Global Citizen Award has honored many remarkable individuals. The first laureate was German entrepreneur Harald Hoppner, who set up the refugee humanitarian aid project Sea Watch. Another recipient was Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, Founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, Africa's largest disaster relief organization, and Monique Morrow, Co-Founder of The Humanized Internet, a digital identity project that aims to bring hope to the estimated 1.1 billion individuals in the world who cannot prove their legal identity. Diep Vuong, Co-Founder and President of the Pacific Links Foundation, was awarded for her work in Southeast Asia campaigning for the rights of those enslaved by human trafficking, and Prof. Dr. Padraig O'Malleyreceived his Global Citizen Award in recognition of his work on conflict resolution and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Iraq.

Commenting on the award's history and significance, Dr Kaelin says global citizenship ideals are a founding principle of Henley & Partners, and through its partnership with the Andan Foundation, the firm is able to provide support to those global citizens displaced by war, conflict and climate change. "All of our Global Citizen Award laureates have inspired us with their willingness to act in confronting a problem that many see as simply too vast to address. The issues that we face today transcend the family, the tribe, the village, and the nation. It's more critical than ever that we do what we can to support those working on initiatives that directly change the lives of vulnerable people around the world."

Nominations close on Friday, 30 June 2023. For more information on how to submit your nomination, please contact Tina Savic at tina.savic@andan.org

About the Andan Foundation

The Andan Foundationis a non-profit humanitarian foundation based in Switzerland. It is regulated by the Swiss Federal Authority for the Supervision of Foundationsand audited annually by BDO.

Andan leads private sector initiatives to support families fleeing their homes due to war, internal conflict, and climate change. It identifies and develops innovative, sustainable solutions promoting refugees' self-reliance, boosting their resilience, and fostering their inclusion in their new countries. Andan prioritizes projects that expand economic, financial, and political opportunities for both refugee populations and the communities that welcome them. Andan facilitates and propels partnerships between the private sector and UN agencies, governments, NGOs, and academic institutions concerned with refugees and migrants.

Andan's main, long-term project is the Andan Global City, which will completely upend and reform how we deal with the growing global refugee and migration crisis.

https://www.andan.org/

About Henley & Partners

Henley & Partnersis the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment. Each year, hundreds of wealthy individuals and their advisors rely on our expertise and experience in this area. The firm's highly qualified professionals work together as one team in over 40 offices worldwide.

The concept of residence and citizenship planning was created by Henley & Partners in the 1990s. As globalization has expanded, residence and citizenship have become topics of significant interest among the increasing number of internationally mobile entrepreneurs and investors whom we proudly serve every day.

The firm also runs a leading government advisory practice that has raised more than USD 10 billion in foreign direct investment. Trusted by governments, the firm has been involved in strategic consulting and in the design, set-up, and operation of the world's most successful residence and citizenship programs.

https://www.henleyglobal.com

Media Contact

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Nicklin

Group Head of Public Relations

sarah.nicklin@henleyglobal.com

Mobile: +27 72 464 8965
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Bambuser AB (STO:BUSER)(FRA:5JL) Bambuser announced today that Adastria renewed its One-to-Many agreement for an additional 12 months across 30 brands, confirming Bambuser as their preferred Video Commerce partner.

Throughout 2022 Adastria used Bambuser's One-to-Many to connect with their extensive customer base in numerous countries by hosting entertaining and informative Live Shopping events from their native app. With overwhelmingly positive experience and the results achieved, the leading retailer decided to move forward into a second year of collaboration with Bambuser to continue enhancing their digital strategies with the industry-leading platform.

Adastria began as a men's fashion store in 1953 and has grown to become a leading name in Japanese fashion, offering over 30 brands from more than 1,300 stores across a number of regions.

Contact information

Corporate Communications, Bambuser AB

+46 8 400 160 00 | ir@bambuser.com

Certified Adviser

Erik Penser Bank AB

About Bambuser

Bambuser is the world's leading Video Commerce company with the largest customer base in its industry. More than 350 brands from 40+ countries leverage Bambuser's best-in-class solutions.

Bambuser is truly global with headquarters in Stockholm and offices in New York, London, Paris, Tokyo and Turku. Our rapidly growing team speaks more than 30 languages and 62% of our senior management is female.

Founded in 2007 as a livestreaming pioneer, Bambuser pivoted to Live Shopping in 2019, leveraging our legacy as industry-leaders in video-first technology.

Follow us

Subscribe to Bambusers press releases here.

Bambuser on LinkedIn.

Attachments

Japanese Influential and Future-Facing Fashion Company, Adastria Extend their Bambuser Partnership

SOURCE: Bambuser AB

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Tempest, an internet privacy company, has announced the public launch of its new search engine and browser. The integrated private search and browser surpasses others in the market through combining unrivalled privacy features with a user-friendly experience - matching that of Google's. This marks the official launch of products Tempest has been building in stealth for over 5 years.

Tempest

Tempest - private browsing that puts you in control

Tempest's product offering is superior to existing private search and browser offerings in the market in three ways:

Matches Google's user experience - Tempest is the only private option which provides search results in a way that is comparable to Google. E.g. searching 'Time in San Francisco and London' will generate an easy time zone slider which is comparable to Google's offering, and which other private search providers simply don't give users.

Only authentically integrated private search and browser - Tempest was conceived as a private search & browser integration, with native browsers purpose built for each platform. Tempest offers multi-language support, device syncing and the use of alternative browser extensions.

Unrivalled privacy features - Tempest is the only private engine and browser to provide a "privacy report card" on the results/links provided on the SERP - providing users with a unique view of how websites are treating an individual's privacy. Tempest also provides ad-blocker and anti-fingerprinting solutions which are superior in efficacy to others in the market.

Unlike traditional search engines and browsers that have normalised the practice of tracking and collecting user data, Tempest's privacy-focused internet products do not collect Personally Identifiable Information (PII), are tracker-free and do not collect your search history. This means your personal information is protected.

All advertising on Tempest will be keyword-based, with advertisers unable to target users based on their browsing history. Private search is default and user data will never be shared with third parties without user action and consent. This means people can search online knowing they are safe from being watched.

Michael Levit, Co-founder and CEO at Tempest said:

"A decade ago, today's Google would have been classified as spyware. We've launched Tempest because we need a storm to disrupt the search industry and put people back in control of their personal information.

"At present, people have little choice but to see their deepest personal searches - about their health, their money and their relationships - tracked and shared with advertisers. Today is the beginning of the end of that."

Sean Murphy, Co-founder and COO, added:

"Launching Tempest Search and Tempest Browser is about offering people a high-quality, private search engine and browser experience. With Tempest, we want to create an experience that feels familiar but is radically different in how a person's privacy is viewed and respected, one where everyone can feel confident that their data is theirs to do with what they please.

"We've got an exciting vision for the future of Tempest and will be pursuing an ambitious approach over the coming months to increase market share and re-shape the way people search and use the internet."

At launch, Tempest Search and Tempest Browser are available for free globally including the United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The search engine is compatible with all devices and platforms, allowing for a seamless change for users. Tempest Browser is available on desktop, as well as iOS on mobile with an Android launch to follow later this year. Tempest can be downloaded at https://pr.report/Hry-bJeM.

Notes to editors

About Tempest

Tempest is an online privacy company which seeks to increase privacy and data security for all Internet users. Founded in 2019 by entrepreneurs Michael Levit and Sean Murphy, Tempest has built a portfolio of privacy products including a Tempest Search and Tempest Browser. It also plans to expand its product range, ensuring user safety across every touchpoint online. With operations spanning across 10 countries and 3 continents, Tempest is growing to become a global name in Internet privacy and protect millions of users' data online.

For more information visit: www.tempest.com.

Contact Information:

Ewan White

Senior Account Director

mailto:tempest@grayling.com

SOURCE: Tempest



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SALEM, NH / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named WEI to its 2023 Tech Elite 250 List. It is the 12th consecutive year WEI has earned this prestigious award. This annual list features solution providers across the U.S and Canada that have differentiated themselves by achieving the highest level and largest breadth of certifications and specializations from key technology vendors in the infrastructure, cloud, and security spaces.

Minority owned, WEI has a 34-year track record of developing, deploying, and managing custom-tailored IT services and solutions to clients. The company has experienced year-over-year organic growth as it continues investing in customer success and cultivating a workplace culture that enables progressive innovation. WEI's expanding portfolio of earned technology certifications ensures that its potent engineering team will solve the most complex technology challenges to meet a customer's desired outcomes.

WEI's unique focus on customer care remains a staple to its operations. The award-winning team leverages longstanding relationships with many of the tech industry's most respected vendors to integrate custom-tailored strategies for clients. The engineering skill sets made available to each customer are of the highest pedigree to ensure ROI is not only met but exceeded.

"I can't say enough about our team to have once again earned this special honor," said WEI president and owner, Belisario Rosas. "There are plenty of companies that can take today's technology and deliver a great IT solution, but we take it much further with our unique customer relationships. This award truly demonstrates our ongoing commitment to our clients."

"CRN's Tech Elite 250 list features the leading solution providers in the IT channel with the most in-depth technical knowledge, expertise, and certifications for providing the highest level of service for their customers," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "These solution providers have continued to extend their aptitudes and abilities across various technologies and IT practices, demonstrating their commitment and value to their customers.

Coverage of the Tech Elite 250 will be featured in the April issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/techelite250.

About WEI:

WEI is an innovative, full-service, customer-centric IT solution provider. It is an expert in business technology improvement, helping clients optimize their technology environments and work efficiently. WEI works with clients to understand goals, integrate strategy with technology solutions, and leverage their current IT environment into one company-wide model to increase utilization and efficiencies around their unique business processes.

WEI's clients benefit from a strong focus on customer satisfaction and attention to detail. They combine cutting-edge technology with architectural design, value-added services, onsite training, integration, testing labs, and a commitment to quality. From solution design through implementation, WEI's sales and technical team remains focused on providing unwavering support throughout a project. For more information, please visit www.WEI.com.

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 40 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. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

WEI Media Inquiries:

Naomi Schapiro

Three Girls Media, Inc.

Naomi@ThreeGirlsMedia.com

+1 (360) 223-3513

The Channel Company Contact:

Natalie Lewis

The Channel Company

nlewis@thechannelcompany.com

SOURCE: WEI

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CAIRO, Egypt, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mr. George Matharu, CEO of Elite Capital & Co. Limited, and Dr. Ehab Anwar, CEO of Egyptian Group for International Trade and Consulting (EGIT Consulting), announced today that EGIT Consulting has signed an agreement with Elite Capital & Co. Limited to conduct a new feasibility study for the Qattara Depression in Egypt.

"Elite Capital asked our company to complete a new feasibility study for the Qattara Depression, based on avoiding all the obstacles this project has been facing for decades including environmental issues, and based on using most advanced concepts and technology that will increase the volume of exports and financial flows to Egypt," Dr. Ehab Anwar said.

The Qattara Depression is a depression in northwestern Egypt, specifically in the Matruh Governorate. The depression is part of the Western Desert of Egypt. The Qattara Depression lies below sea level, and its bottom is covered with salt pans, sand dunes, and salt marshes.

The Qattara Depression was created by the interplay of salt weathering and wind erosion. Some 20 kilometres (10 mi) west of the depression lie the oases of Siwa in Egypt and Jaghbub in Libya in smaller but similar depressions.

Dr. Ehab Anwar, CEO of EGIT Consulting, added, "The Qattara Depression project is expected to be a contributor to the Egyptian economy, providing new jobs and increasing Egypt's GDP. This new feasibility study will provide a detailed analysis of the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of the project and also will identify any potential risks and develop a comprehensive plan for the project's implementation."

The Qattara Depression contains the second lowest point in Africa at an elevation of 133 metres (436 ft) below sea level, the lowest point being Lake Assal in Djibouti. The depression covers about 19,605 square kilometres (7,570 sq mi), a size comparable with Lake Ontario or twice as large as Lebanon. Due to its size and proximity to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, previous studies have been made proposing to flood the area for various usages, such as the potential to generate hydroelectricity there.

Mr. George Matharu, CEO of Elite Capital & Co. Limited, added, "Elite Capital & Co. believes that the future of work in the Arab Republic of Egypt will be prosperous after overcoming the period of global financial volatility and entering a stage of stability expected in the financial and business markets. Conducting a study for the largest green project in the world, specifically in Egypt, based on four elements (hydrogen energy, agriculture, industry, and modern mining) to increase Egyptian exports along with preserving the environment will be one of the most important steps towards jumping into the future that every country in the world aspires to."

Elite Capital & Co. Limited is a Financial Management company that provides project-related services including Management, Consultancy, and Funding, particularly for large infrastructure and mega commercial projects.

Elite Capital & Co. Limited offers a wealth of experience in Banking and Financial transactions and has a range of specialized advisory services for private clients, medium and large corporations as well as governments. It is also the exclusive manager of the Government Future Financing 2030 Program.

Mr. Ahmad Aboelyazeid, Regional Director of Elite Capital & Co. Limited in Egypt, added, "Elite Capital's team in Egypt, as well as in the Head Office in London, will cooperate with EGIT Consulting side by side during the development of the study to exchange all supporting information and coordinate with specialised international academic bodies."

The new feasibility study is expected to be completed in the coming months and will provide a detailed analysis of the technical viability, market demand, and environmental impact of the project. The study will also identify potential risks and challenges, and develop a comprehensive plan for the project's implementation, and at the same time the Qattara Depression project is expected to be a major transformer for the Egyptian economy.

Dr. Ehab Anwar, PhD., Mr. George Matharu, MBA. and Mr. Ahmad Aboelyazeid, MBA. concluded their statement by saying, "We would also like to thank the study companies DynaFin from Belgium and CBF from USA for entering into a consortium with the EGIT Consulting to conduct the new feasibility study for the Qattara Depression. We would also like to announce that the new feasibility study will be presented to Egypt at our own cost without any preconditions or obligations of any kind on the Egyptian government, in support of Egypt's efforts in developing green projects and preserving the environment and climate worldwide."

Contact Details -

Elite Capital & Co. Limited

33 St. James Square

London, SW1Y4JS

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0) 203 709 5060

SWIFT Code: ELCTGB21

LEI Code: 254900NNN237BBHG7S26

Website: ec.uk.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e27fb5a-5166-4323-8929-b6466a3e6f59
- Dedicated plant for electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV) with yearly capacity of 150,000 units

- The plant to mass produce battery-electric PBVs in second half of 2025

- Plant to showcase flexible production by adopting smart innovations, such as efficient 'cell method' of manufacturing

- An innovative factory that pursues low carbon footprint, intelligence, and human-centered principles

- Hyundai Motor Group announces aim to become one of the world's top 3 EV manufacturers by 2030

- The Group also outlines plans to invest KRW 24 trillion in the domestic EV industry by 2030

SEOUL, South Korea, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia held a groundbreaking ceremony today for its dedicated plant for the production of battery-electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV). The ceremony was held at Kia's Hwaseong plant, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, and was attended by over 200 people, including government officials, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Kia's Global President and CEO Ho Sung Song, and other employees from Hyundai Motor Group and the automotive parts industry.

Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song, on behalf of Hyundai Motor Group, highlighted in a greeting, "Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Hyundai MOBIS together plan to invest KRW 24 trillion in the domestic electric vehicle industry by 2030, with the goal of making South Korea one of the top three players in the global EV market. Our focus is to enhance the competitiveness of the entire electric vehicle ecosystem, including research and development, production, and infrastructure, and to lead the way in driving change and innovation in the new global automotive industry."

Cutting-edge smart factory with annual production capacity of 150,000 units

Kia will invest around one trillion won (approximately USD 758 million) to secure 99,000 acres of land, with the company planning to start mass-production in the second half of 2025. It plans to produce 150,000 units in the first full year, with the potential to expand in line with future market conditions.

The new PBV plant will be built as an eco-friendly plant that applies future innovative manufacturing technologies while minimizing carbon emissions. It will also seek efficiency and intelligence with Hyundai Motor and Kia's smart factory brand 'E-FOREST technologies'[1] such as digital manufacturing systems.

One of the innovative manufacturing processes to be implemented at the new PBV plant is known as the 'cellular (or cell) method,' which allows vehicle production based on diverse customer demands.

The cell method is a process layout strategy that groups together machines or workstations that are used to produce similar products or parts. The goal of the cell method is to create a more efficient and flexible manufacturing process by reducing the distance that materials and products need to travel during production. Under the cell method, machines are arranged in a way that optimizes the flow of materials and products between workstations, with the aim of minimizing downtime, reducing costs and increasing productivity.

The PBV plant's cutting-edge manufacturing system unifies the new cell method with the original mass-production conveyor system to allow flexible production with more customization of various product types.

In addition, the PBV plant will be built as a low-carbon factory by operating a dry booth, a nature-friendly construction method, during the painting process of vehicle manufacturing, and reducing carbon emissions by about 20 percent compared to existing factories by utilizing natural light and streamlining the manufacturing process.

Kia will also apply innovative technologies such as automation of facilities using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), automation of painting quality inspection under the vehicle, automation of installation of parts such as glass, vehicle name, and company logo, and real-time automatic measurement quality data analysis to autonomously correct and install the vehicle body in real time.

The new facility will be a 'human-friendly' plant by pushing automation in heavy-duty work and tasks that require looking up at the ceiling, while enhancing the feeling of 'openness' and also reducing noise levels.

First battery electric PBV production set for 2025

Kia plans to show SW (project name), the first model in the company's dedicated PBV lineup, in 2025. The model will be a mid-sized PBV and will be based on the "eS" platform, a dedicated skateboard platform for battery electric PBVs, enabling various types of vehicle bodies to be flexibly combined.

SW has been developed to respond to various business demands such as delivery, ride hailing, and business-to-business (B2B) transactions thanks to its excellent load structure and spacious indoor space that reaches the height of an adult.

After launching the mid-sized SW PBV, Kia plans to expand its product lineup to large-sized PBVs that can be used for logistics, fresh food delivery, multi-seat shuttles, and mobile offices and stores as well as small-sized PBVs and mid-sized robotaxis applied with autonomous driving technology.

For more information, visit the Kia Global Media Center at www.kianewscenter.com

[1] * E-FOREST is a smart factory ecosystem that pursues innovation in manufacturing systems by organically connecting everything to realize customer value. For more information, visit: https://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/story/CONT0000000000003696

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Richard McDonald, Skip Beltz and Diana Wilson Bring Decades of Experience to Help Guide and Fuel Next Chapter at Ciari

NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Ciari Guitars, the leading manufacturer of professional, handcrafted folding guitars, announces the appointment of three new members to its Advisory Board: Richard McDonald, Skip Beltz, and Diana Wilson. Collectively, their extensive experience and knowledge will help Ciari drive growth, increase market share, and deliver even greater value to customers and shareholders.

Richard McDonald joins Ciari as the former Executive Vice President and Chief Product Strategist at Fender Musical Instruments Corp, and Founder of McDonald Business Strategies. A 25-year industry veteran, McDonald is a highly regarded strategic advisor, charismatic product visionary, and sought-after keynote speaker. He's a Music & Sound Retailer Hall of Famer and a former NAMM Director, having received the industry's Lifetime Achievement Award.

"I'm honored to join the Ciari Advisory Board, having watched Jonathan and team grow from a mere idea into the market-making instrument company it is today." said McDonald. "Given the increase in guitar playing due to the pandemic, along with the return to travel and live-music, Ciari is poised for success with its award-winning Ascender line of stage-ready folding electric guitars, along with its pipeline of innovative folding instruments and accessories."

Skip Beltz joins the Board as a 30-year veteran of C.F. Martin Guitars, where he's accrued vast experience in all areas of acoustic guitar manufacturing and product development. Beltz is known for his natural ability to build partnerships and connect with people, while leveraging his deep understanding of sales and manufacturing operations. Said Beltz, "I'm excited to join the Ciari team, and leverage my skills and experience help guide Ciari, especially on the development of its carbon fiber acoustic folding guitar."

Diana M. Wilson adds to the Board's business and leadership depth, bringing more than 35 years of diverse business and finance experience across a variety of industries. Most recently, Wilson served as CEO of Seymour Duncan, a leading manufacturer of guitar and bass pickups. "I've come to know and respect Jonathan as an innovator and leader, and I'm thrilled to join Ciari at this exciting time." said Wilson.

McDonald, Beltz, and Wilson join existing board members: Joe Glaser, inventor of the Glaser Bender and other guitar innovations; Hany Nada, lead investor and venture capitalist; Jeff Sazant, former GM of Hollywood Guitar Center; Rick Froio, EVP of Black River Records, and former executive at Gibson Guitars; and Rebecca Ramsey, Executive Director at R.R. Ramsey Research and an expert in airport retail.

Joe Glaser, Chairman of the Ciari Advisory Board, added "On behalf of the Ciari Advisory Board, I'd like to welcome Richard, Skip and Diana to the team. We're excited to work with these highly experienced and respected people to help Ciari unleash its full potential."

To further support the company's growth, Ciari has appointed Eric Sands as its new VP of Sales and Marketing. Sands brings nearly 20 years of music industry (MI) sales and marketing experience to Ciari, including an impressive track record with Korg USA, Orange Amps and Positive Grid, where he contributed to the success of the industry-leading Spark amplifier - lauded as one of the most successful product launches in MI. Said Jonathan Spangler, CEO of Ciari Guitars, "We're thrilled to welcome Eric Sands as VP of Sales and Marketing. With his combination of strong MI sales expertise - including direct-to-consumer at Positive Grid - and artist relations experience, Eric will undoubtedly be a great asset to the Ciari family."

Overall, the addition of three new Board members, along with the appointment of a new VP of Sales, demonstrates Ciari's dedication to attracting top talent and positioning itself for continued success.

Learn more about Ciari's stage-quality, full-size folding professional guitars at www.ciariguitars.com.

If you are Attending the National Association of Music Merchants next week, be sure to visit Ciari in their booth #5526.

About Ciari Guitars

Headquartered in San Diego with manufacturing operations in Nashville, Ciari Guitars was born out of Founder and CEO Jonathan Spangler's passion for music and his desire to create a solution for traveling musicians. Made by musicians for musicians, Ciari Guitars offers premium-quality folding guitars that are easy to transport and ready for any gig. Learn more at www.ciariguitars.com.

Josh Vittek

760-505-5674

SOURCE: Ciari Guitars

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748235/Ciari-Guitars-Adds-Industry-Heavyweights-to-Advisory-Board
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Mundoro Capital Inc. (TSXV: MUN) (OTCQB: MUNMF) (www.mundoro.com) ("Mundoro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce commencement of a drill program at Mundoro's Vale-optioned project, Dos Cabezas, located in Cochise, Arizona (Figure 1). The drill program is planned for 3,000 meters to test five target areas with 5 drill holes (Figure 2). These five drill holes represent a rare opportunity in Arizona of untested porphyry copper systems.

Highlights of the Targets

The five target areas for drill testing during this drill program are (i) two pediment-covered targets (ii) Mescal Canyon (iii) Mineral Park (iv) Casey Copper Canyon. These areas have been selected out of multiple target areas ranked as prospective for covered and near surface porphyry copper deposit systems within the Dos Cabezas Project. The two pediment targets are testing identified geophysical anomalies 100% undercover by post mineral alluvium.

The Mescal and Mineral Park targets are within zoned hydrothermal alteration with quartz-sericite-pyrite veining that has been mapped for approximately 700 meters along the surface, with copper oxide occurrences, local magnetite skarns, and correlative magnetic anomalies.

The Casey Copper Canyon target is along a strong regional magnetic anomaly trending North-West to West-North-West. The Casey Copper Canyon target is interpreted as an intrusive-related, magnetite-bearing skarn.

Regional Setting

The Dos Cabezas Project is located in southeast Arizona, USA approximately 150 km east of Tucson (Figure 1). Dos Cabezas covers 58 sq.km. (5,800 hectares) within the Dos Cabezas Mountains and covers part of the Laramide Porphyry Copper Belt. The majority of production in Arizona is related to the Laramide Porphyry Copper Belt which hosts world class deposits such as Morenci, Safford, Miami-Inspiration, Sierrita, Silver Bell, Resolution, and others. Arizona was responsible for 66% US production of copper in 2018.

The Dos Cabezas Project is near the historic Teviston, Silver Camp, and Mascot mining districts. Immediately to the northwest of Mundoro's land package is the Spike E Hill porphyry system. With the exception of the Spike E Hills near Willcox, historic mining and exploration focused on gold/silver/base metal veins and substantial amounts of high-grade copper ore shipped directly to smelters.

The Dos Cabezas mountains contain Laramide volcanic centers which generated intrusives, breccias and expression of volcanoclastics, ranging from andesitic to rhyolitic in composition. These volcanics have been deposited on Cretaceous aged sedimentary units consisting of siltstone, sandstone, conglomerates, and carbonates. The sedimentary package is unconformably deposited on Proterozoic granitic and metamorphic rocks. Laramide dikes, intrusive bodies and breccias crosscut the above units, giving rise to areas of alteration and potential metal deposition.





Figure 1 - Location Map of Dos Cabezas Project

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Follow the weekly updates from the Mundoro field programs on: LinkedIn and Twitter.





Figure 2: Map of Dos Cabezas Drill Hole Locations

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Discussion of Target Areas

Pediment Targets - Two drill targets have been identified under shallow alluvial cover southwest of the Dos Cabezas Mountain range. Both target areas are located along the inferred covered path of a major West-North-West striking structural zone known as the Apache Pass Fault Zone. This structure is locally mineralized where exposed on the surface. Two magnetic anomalies have been identified from a project wide aeromagnetic survey conducted in May 2022. The magnetic anomalies are located under shallow pediment cover.

Mescal Canyon - This target is an area of approximately 700 x 600 m outcropping quartz-sericite-pyrite veining identified during the 2022 mapping program. Additionally, copper occurrences associated with chalcopyrite bearing veining and local magnetite skarns correlate with a copper + molybdenum geochemical anomaly identified from 2022 chip sampling program. This target correlates with a broad magnetic anomaly identified from the project wide aeromagnetic survey conducted in May 2022. No evidence of any historic drill testing has been located within the target area.

Mineral Park - Several outcropping magnetite skarns ringing a central monzonitic intrusive were identified during the 2022 field mapping program. Chip sampling has identified anomalous copper and gold values associated with this target area. The Mundoro conducted aeromagnetic survey shows magnetic anomalies associated with outcropping skarns. No evidence of any historic drill testing has been located within the target area.

Casey Copper Canyon - This target area is on the edge of the Mescal Canyon Target. A large West-North-West magnetic anomaly has been identified from the project wide aeromagnetic survey. The 2022 field mapping has identified outcropping magnetite skarns and West-North-West mineralized structures that correlate with this anomaly. The aeromagnetic survey and forward modeling show this anomaly continuing at depth along mapped structures. No evidence of any historic drill testing has been located within the target area.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared under the supervision of, and approved by, T. Dechev, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, and the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

About Mundoro Capital

Mundoro is a publicly listed company on the TSX-V in Canada and OTCQB in the USA with a portfolio of mineral properties focused primarily on base and precious metals. To drive value for shareholders, Mundoro's asset portfolio generates near-term cash payments to Mundoro from partners and creates royalties attached to each mineral property. The portfolio of mineral properties is currently focused on predominantly copper in two mineral districts: Western Tethyan Belt in Eastern Europe and the Laramide Belt in the southwest USA.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe" or "continue" or similar words or the negative thereof, and include the following: completion of earn-in expenditures, options and completion of a definitive agreement by the parties. The material assumptions that were applied in making the forward looking statements in this News Release include expectations as to the mineral potential of the Company's projects, the Company's future strategy and business plan and execution of the Company's existing plans. We caution readers of this News Release not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements contained in this News Release, as there can be no assurance that they will occur and they are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include general economic and market conditions, exploration results, commodity prices, changes in law, regulatory processes, the status of Mundoro's assets and financial condition, actions of competitors and the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities. The forward-looking statements contained in this News Release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this News Release are made as of the date of this News Release and the Board undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and for a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please visit Mundoro's website www.mundoro.com.

Teo Dechev, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

+1-604-669-8055

info@mundoro.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161844
Almost 80% of UK workers are somewhat or very happy with the current work model in place at their company

Among the 68% of UK employees expected to go into the office for a certain number of days a week or month, 28% work five days a week compared to those who work four days, three days, two days a week or less

46% of UK employees who are hybrid workers tend to prefer this working model because they spend less time commuting



LONDON, April 11, 2023global travel management platform, revealed that 58% of UK employees feel that meeting in person is important because it creates a sense of belonging to the team. In addition, 43% think it boosts productivity and creativity. The survey , which explores hybrid working patterns, is based on a sample of 1,000 UK employees who work from an office or from home.

TravelPerk's study showed that nearly 80% (79) of UK employees are somewhat or very happy with the current work model in place at their company. In fact, of the 69% of UK employees required to go into the office a certain number of days a week or month, 42% wouldn't change anything. This is compared to 30% who are generally happy, but wish for more flexibility, 23% who would like to go into the office less and 3% who would like to go into the office more. The survey also showed that 28% of UK employees work five days a week from the office compared to those that work four days (9%), three days (22%), two days (24%) a week or less (16%).

"Technology will never replace the magic and energy that exists when people get together in person," said Avi Meir, CEO, TravelPerk. "That's why so many businesses are keen to encourage workers to return to the office and why many employees are embracing it - because the meetings that matter, happen in person."

According to the study, 46% of UK employees who are hybrid workers like this working model because they spend less time commuting, followed by 43% of respondents who prefer hybrid working models because of the balance between their job and personal life. UK employees also appreciate the hybrid working model because they are more productive (34%), like the balance of time at home and interacting with colleagues at the office (29%), find it has a positive impact on their mental and physical health (27%), and are comfortable with their workstation setup (15%). Other reasons respondents favor the hybrid working model include better communication with their team (8%) and a better relationship with their boss (7%).

"The need for in person connections is deeply rooted in who we are as human beings, and this comes through very clearly in the survey. Those in-real-life connections enable meaningful interactions, business opportunities and team success stories, which are necessary for businesses to thrive. TravelPerk exists to make that happen," Meir concluded.

For an in-depth look, read TravelPerk's Hybrid Work Trends study.

Additional Key Findings:

Remote and hybrid working models pre- and post-pandemic

Pre-pandemic, a whopping 57% of UK workers worked fully from the office, whereas only 30% do so post-pandemic

45% of UK employees have the same working models post-pandemic as they did pre-pandemic

Pre-pandemic, 41% of UK workers had some form of a hybrid or remote working model, whether that included some remote days, half from the office/half from home or fully remote

Post-pandemic, 70% had some form of a hybrid or remote working model, whether that included some remote days, half from the office/half from home or fully remote 76% of UK workers are working fully from the office or mostly from the office whether that includes some remote days or half from the office/half from home nearly 24% (23.6) of UK workers are fully remote or mostly remote





What in-person meetings are used for

33% of employees in the UK use their time in the office for 1-1 meetings with their manager or team, followed by 30% who use it to meet new team members

In-person meetings are also used for brainstorming or strategy sessions (22%), social events (20%), large meetings with multiple people (16%) and workshops or skill development sessions (13%)

Methodology

OnePoll conducted an online survey on behalf of TravelPerk from February 14 to March 1, 2023 with 1,000 full-time or part-time employees, working from an office or from home, including decision makers and non-decision makers. Respondents came from organizations within sectors such as accountancy, banking & finance, retail and healthcare in the United Kingdom.

About TravelPerk

TravelPerk is the next-generation business travel platform pioneering the future of business travel. TravelPerk's all-in-one platform gives travelers the freedom they want whilst providing companies with the control they need. The result is saved time, money, and hassle for everyone.

TravelPerk has the world's largest travel inventory alongside powerful management features, 24/7 customer support, state-of-the-art technology and consumer-grade design, all of which are enabling companies and organizations worldwide such as TransferWise, Skyscanner, Revolut, Monzo, Farfetch and US rugby association, to get the most out of their travel.
Atmosphere Core, a new identity for the registered company Atmosphere Core Private Limited, has unveiled its third brand - Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, paving the way for expansion in South Asia.



Migrating from the actual company name, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts paves the way for refreshingly different destinations in South Asia while also blending in the companys footprint in the Maldives.

One of the fastest-growing hospitality companies in South Asia, Atmosphere Core capitalises on its experience to stay ahead of competition through an innovative approach. Atmosphere Core includes three distinct brands -- The Ozen Collection, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, and Colours of Oblu.



"The Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts brand will always be renowned for its big heart and a vision to create novel and memorable experiences for guests through every property. There will always be something new to unwrap; with an enriching experience awaiting to be discovered every time, while keeping authenticity as the brands North Star, as its compass," the company said.



Atmosphere Core has an aggressive pipeline for future development across India. With Ozen Mansion Kolkata opening in Q1 2024 and key signings to be announced soon as the company paves its way for a strong presence in the region.



Salil Panigrahi, the Managing Director at Atmosphere Core, said: As a company, we are always evolving and innovating. Within 10 years, we have launched 8 resorts in the Maldives. Our new brand, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts offers an abundance of choices both for travellers as well as property owners. And I am confident that with this enhanced Power Of Portfolio, we will accelerate our growth with 20 properties opening in the next 2 years.



Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts brand achieves this rich diversity of experiences through seven well-defined sub-brand options giving property owners maximum flexibility while leveraging world class, turnkey solutions.



 Atmosphere offers a classic luxury experience highlighting the individuality of each resort. The current portfolio includes Atmosphere Kanifushi.

 BY Atmosphere offers a charming getaway with heart-warming hospitality. The current portfolio includes VARU By Atmosphere.



The AH&R sub-brand portfolio also includes An Atmosphere Experience that will weave local culture and natural surroundings into the design, A Signature Atmosphere for an enriching and elegant stay in iconic properties, and Elements Of Nature By Atmosphere for tranquil wellness retreats. A conversion sub-brand, Heritage By Atmosphere will curate historical properties  from ancient havelis to colonial bungalows. An Urban Atmosphere will feature authentic hotels and resorts located in the heart of the city.

Atmosphere Core is poised for strong growth in South Asia, with three The Ozen Collection properties in the pipeline -- Ozen Mansion Kolkata opening in Q1 2024 in India, Ozen Prive Athiri Gili set for Q4 2024 in the Maldives, and Ozen Secluded Tangalle in Sri Lanka. -TradeArabia News Service
High-Grade, near Surface Intercepts Reported in the 109 Footwall Zone, Including 2.4% Ni, 4.3 % Cu, 37.2 G/t Pt + Pd + Au over 5.1m

Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Magna Mining Inc. (TSXV: NICU) ("Magna" or the "Company") is pleased to release the first assays received from the 2023 diamond drilling at the Company's 100% owned Crean Hill Mine in Sudbury, Ontario. Results have been received for the first three drillholes, where high-grade precious metal mineralization was intercepted near surface in the 109 Footwall ("FW") Zone (for details see Table 1). Approximately 14 drill holes have been completed to date in 2023 at Crean Hill, and assays are pending for the remaining holes.

Highlights from the new assay results include:

109 Footwall Zone (Hole MCR-23-013): 0.2% Ni, 0.6 % Cu, 11.0 g/t Pt + Pd + Au over 95.4 metres,

including 0.76% Ni, 1.54% Cu and 32.83 g/t Pt + Pd + Au over 21.8m,

including 2.4% Ni, 4.3 % Cu, 37.2 g/t Pt + Pd +Au over 5.1 m,

and including 0.6% Ni, 2.3 % Cu, 122.5 g/t Pt + Pd +Au over 2.8 m

101 Footwall Zone (MCR-23-011): 2.1% Ni, 3.0 % Cu, 1.1 g/t Pt + Pd + Au over 2.2 metres

Jason Jessup, CEO of Magna, stated, "The assay results reported today demonstrate the near surface potential of the high grade, sulphide rich core of the 109 Footwall Zone, within the overall wider zone of mineralized breccia. The continuity of massive sulphide in the 109 Footwall Zone is not well understood and not currently incorporated into the resource block model, so these results are highly encouraging. On the basis of the results so far from Crean Hill, Magna has mobilized a second diamond drill rig and will be completing several drillholes designed to better define the near surface 109 Footwall Zone. This will allow us to better evaluate and design the surface bulk sample at Crean Hill, which should commence within the next 6 to 9 months."

Magna has now reported two drillholes that have intersected near surface, high grade semi-massive/massive sulphides within the core of the 109 Footwall Zone (Figures 2 and 3). MCR-22-010 (previously reported) intersected 3.7% Ni, 2.8% Cu, 20.2 g/t Pt + Pd + Au over 7.1m, within an overall mineralized zone grading 0.4% Ni 0.5% Cu, 7.2 g/t Pt + Pd + Au over 98.3 metres, beginning at 26.6 metres downhole. The newly released results from MCR-23-013 reported an intersection of 0.76% Ni, 1.54% Cu and 32.83 g/t Pt + Pd + Au over 21.8m within an overall mineralized zone of 95.4m grading 0.2% Ni 0.6% Cu, and 11.0 g/t Pt + Pd + Au, beginning at 9.0 metres downhole. Near surface diamond drilling is ongoing, and aims to better define the distribution and continuity of high grade veins in this area. Once complete, the results of this drilling will be incorporated into an updated resource model in the shallow portion of the 109 FW Zone, and facilitate detailed planning of a surface bulk sample, which Magna plans to commence before the end of 2023.

A secondary objective of drillhole MCR-23-013 was to test a deeper area of high-grade precious metal rich footwall mineralization which has previously been intersected at depth in historical drillhole 655460. Historical assays from hole 665460 reported similar grades to those drilled by Magna in hole MCR-23-013, including 2.3% Ni, 4.1% Cu, 35.5 g/t Pt + Pd + Au over 13.2 m (Figure 2). However, hole MCR-23-013 did not deviate as planned and broke through into historical workings before the intended target. As a result, the intended target was not reached, and the hole instead intersected a short interval of mineralized breccia grading 1.4% Cu over 3.4 metres. Additional drillholes are now being planned to test the depth extent of the 109 FW Zone utilizing this new information from the recent drilling, since historical drilling in the footwall of the Main Zone indicates a high potential for additional 109 Footwall style mineralization beneath the currently defined 109 FW Zone.

Two drillholes, (MCR-23-011 and MCR-23-012) targeted the down-dip extension of the 101 Footwall Zone (Figure 4). MCR-23-011 intersected 2.5% Ni, 3.0 % Cu, 1.1 g/t Pt + Pd + Au over 2.2 metres in the 101 FW Zone, approximately 60 metres down-dip of the high-grade portion of the 101 FW Zone drilled by Magna in 2022. MCR-23-012 did not intersect significant mineralization, and was in diabase longer than expected and as a result did not test the 101 FW Zone stratigraphy at this elevation.

The location of the 2023 diamond drilling is illustrated in Figures 1-4, and assay results are summarized in Table 1, and drillhole coordinates in Table 2.





Figure 1: Crean Hill Mine Oblique Longitudinal Looking Northeast, Showing Historical Infrastructure and Ore Zones



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Table 1: Summary of 2023 Assay Results.

Drillhole Zone

From (m) To

(m) Length (m) Ni % Cu % Co % Pt g/t Pd g/t Au g/t TPM g/t NiEq MCR-23-011 Undefined

199.65 200.73 1.08 0.42 0.46 0.01 5.15 5.97 4.01 15.13 3.45

101 FW and 279.76 282.00 2.24 2.05 2.98 0.05 0.36 0.71 0.06 1.13 3.60

Intermediate and 383.99 386.33 2.34 0.95 1.02 0.04 0.61 0.14 0.14 0.89 1.56 MCR-23-012 Intermediate

721.66 722.79 1.13 0.96 1.93 0.04 0.49 0.64 0.05 1.18 2.04 MCR-23-013 109 FW

8.96 104.35 95.39 0.24 0.60 0.01 7.30 2.06 1.66 11.02 2.19



Including 8.96 30.79 21.83 0.76 1.54 0.01 23.55 4.65 4.63 32.83 6.25



Including 11.43 16.50 5.07 2.39 4.33 0.04 23.10 8.69 5.36 37.15 10.14



and Including 28.00 30.79 2.79 0.57 2.27 0.01 102.92 6.80 12.73 122.45 17.94



and 117.00 120.84 3.84 0.03 0.05 0.00 12.23 2.19 0.93 15.35 2.21

109 FW Deep

746.58 750.01 3.43 0.10 1.39 0.01 0.00 0.10 0.07 0.18 0.74

All lengths are downhole length

NiEq % = ( (Ni% x 2204 x Ni Price $/lb) + (Cu% x 96% Recovery x 2204 x Cu Price $/lb) + (Co% x 56% Recovery x 2204 x Co Price $/lb) + (Pt gpt x 69% Recovery / 31.1035 x Pt $/oz) +(Pd gpt x 68% Recovery / 31.1035 x Pd $/oz) + (Au gpt x 68% Recovery / 31.1035 x Au $/oz))/2204 x Ni $/lb

NEW





Figure 2: Crean Hill Main Zone Longitudinal Section, Looking West



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Figure 3: Crean Hill 109 FW Zone Longitudinal Section, Looking West. Block Model Grade and Drillhole intercepts >1.1 % NiEq over >10ft.



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Figure 4: Crean Hill 101 Zone Long Section, Looking West, Showing the Location of Drillholes MCR-23-011 and MCR-23-012



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Table 2: Drillhole Collar Coordinates.

BHID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth (m) MCR-23-011 473028 5141817 288 330 58 413 MCR-23-012 473114 5141715 297 313 59 791 MCR-23-013 473044 5141785 292 101 68 789



*Drillhole Coordinates are in coordinate system NAD 83 Zone 17

Qualified Person

The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by David King, M.Sc., P.Geo. Mr. King is the Senior Vice President, Technical Services for Magna Mining Inc. and is a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101.

QA/QC

Sample QA/QC procedures for Magna have been designed to meet or exceed industry standards. Drill core is collected from the diamond drill and placed in sealed core trays for transport to Magna's core facilities. The core is then logged, and samples marked in intervals of up to 1.5m and cut with a diamond saw. Samples are then bagged in plastic bags with 10 bagged samples being placed into rice bags for transport to Swastika Laboratories in Kirkland Lake Ontario via Ontario Northland Bus services. Samples are submitted in batches of 50 with 5 QA/QC samples including, 2 certified reference material standards, 2 samples of blank material and 1 duplicate.

About Magna Mining Inc.

Magna Mining is an exploration and development company focused on nickel, copper and PGM projects in the Sudbury Region of Ontario, Canada. The Company's flagship assets are the past producing Shakespeare and Crean Hill Mines. The Shakespeare Mine is a feasibility stage project which has major permits for the construction of a 4,500 tonne per day open pit mine, processing plant and tailings storage facility and is surrounded by a contiguous 180km2 prospective land package. Crean Hill is a past producing nickel, copper and PGM mine with a technical report dated August 2022. Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company's website (www.magnamining.com).

For further information, please contact:

Jason Jessup

Chief Executive Officer

or

Paul Fowler, CFA

Senior Vice President

Email: info@magnamining.com

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are subject to several risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control, including statements regarding the production at the Shakespeare and Crean HIll Mines, the economic and operational potential of the Shakespeare and Crean Hill Mines, potential acquisitions, plans to complete exploration programs, potential mineralization, exploration results and statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions of the Company. Resource exploration and development is highly speculative, characterized by several significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161884
Wallbox (NYSE: WBX), a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions worldwide, today announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter of 2023 before the market opens on Thursday, May 4, 2023. The company will host a webcast at 8:00 AM ET (2:00 PM CET), to discuss these results and provide a business update. The prepared remarks by Enric Asuncion, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jordi Lainz, Chief Financial Officer, and Douglas Alfaro, Chief Business Officer, will be followed by a question and answer session.

Please visit this link, which is also accessible on the 'Events Presentations' section of the company's investor relations website, investors.wallbox.com, to register for and join the webcast. A replay of the webcast following the event and the accompanying presentation materials will be accessible through the same link and available for future download.

About Wallbox

Wallbox is a global technology company, dedicated to changing the way the world uses energy. Wallbox creates advanced electric vehicle charging and energy management systems that redefine users' relationship to the grid. Wallbox goes beyond electric vehicle charging to give users the power to control their consumption, save money, and live more sustainably. Wallbox offers a complete portfolio of charging and energy management solutions for residential, semi-public and public use in more than 113 countries. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Barcelona, the company now employs more than 1,250 people in its offices in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. For additional information, please visit www.wallbox.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005506/en/

Contacts:

Wallbox Investor Contact:

Matt Tractenberg VP, Investor Relations

Matt.Tractenberg@wallbox.com

+1 404-574-1504



Wallbox Public Relations Contact:

Elyce Behrsin

Public Relations

Press@wallbox.com

+34 673 310 905
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
SARNIA, Ontario, April 11, 2023. thAnnual Scottsdale Capital Eventhosted by Capital Event Management ("CEM") at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona from April 14 - 16th, 2023. During the event, Aduro will conduct one-on-one meetings with interested investors and other stakeholders.



Aduro has achieved significant progress in advancing its Hydrochemolytic Technology platform over the past few months. The Company has taken crucial steps in securing its development by closing a non-brokered private placementfor $3.92 million in gross proceeds and initiating the commissioning phaseof the pilot-scale continuous flow plastic reactor. Additionally, the Company has fostered a valuable partnership with Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labsand has joined the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, demonstrating the Company's commitment to promoting a circular economy for plastics.

"Our progress over the past few months has been incredibly encouraging. We're thrilled to be participating in the CEM Scottsdale Capital Event and to have the opportunity to showcase our achievements and discuss our future plans with investors. With the support of our partners and shareholders, we're well-positioned and driven to continue our growth in 2023 and beyond," said Ofer Vicus, CEO of Aduro. "Our mission to revolutionize the plastic industry through sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions remains at the forefront of everything we do, and we're excited to share our progress and future plans with the investment community."

Further, the Company announces that it has engaged Common Cents Media, Social Purpose Corporation of Gig Harbor, WA, to provide marketing services through social media channels and online media distribution for an initial term of six months to commence on April 10, 2023, and on a month to month basis thereafter, pursuant to an agreement dated April 10, 2023, in consideration of USD $15,000 for the initial six-month term and for mutually agreed upon deliverables on a monthly basis thereafter.

About Capital Event Management Ltd.

Capital Event Management Ltd, ("CEM") is a leading provider of opportunities for small-cap investment advisors, portfolio managers, institutional investors, and high-net-worth individuals to connect with emerging companies looking to raise capital and gain open-market support. With over 10 years of experience in curating an exclusive investor database and a partner's fund at CEM Capital, the company has done the legwork to make it easy for clients to build relationships that can make a difference. The five-pillared approach at CEM includes a partner's fund, destination events, virtual meetings, executive consulting, and advisory services, all curated to provide valuable experiences that connect capital with opportunity.

About Aduro Clean Technologies

Aduro Clean Technologies is a developer of patented water-based technologies to chemically recycle waste plastics; convert heavy crude and bitumen into lighter, more valuable oil; and transform renewable oils into higher-value fuels or renewable chemicals. The Company's Hydrochemolytic technology activates unique properties of water in a chemistry platform that operates at relatively low temperatures and cost, a game-changing approach that converts low-value feedstocks into 21st-century resources.

For further information, please contact:

Ofer Vicus, CEO

ovicus@adurocleantech.com

Abe Dyck, Investor Relations

ir@adurocleantech.com

+1 604-362-7011

Investor Cubed Inc.

Neil Simon, CEO

nsimon@investor3.ca

+ 1 647 258 3310

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects, or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include adverse market conditions and other factors beyond the control of the parties. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this news release.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9754aba-8435-431e-9cdb-39bab6aef52e
Allocation of $100 million over 5 years for investment in early-stage startup companies focused on environmental fields such as hydrogen and energy storage

Asahi Kasei established a "Care for Earth" investment framework as a new initiative for carbon neutrality by investing $100 million worldwide in early-stage startups that aim to solve issues in environmental fields such as hydrogen, energy storage, carbon management, and bio-based chemicals over the 5-year period up to fiscal 2027.

Since 2008, Asahi Kasei has advanced corporate venture capital (CVC) activity in order to create new businesses by investing in startups and performing joint developments with them. Based in Silicon Valley since 2011, this activity has facilitated investments in over 50 startups in the US, Europe, China, and Japan, resulting in numerous collaborations and two acquisitions* which have sparked innovation.

Asahi Kasei is helping to solve issues in society with all of its businesses providing value from the perspectives of "Care for People" to realize active life in the new normal and "Care for Earth" to realize a carbon neutral and sustainable world.

Until now, Asahi Kasei has focused its CVC investments in the area of "Care for People" such as healthcare, IoT, and homes, which have relatively short timeframes to commercialization. The area of "Care for Earth," in contrast, tends to have longer-term commercial prospects, while fields such as hydrogen and energy storage lack established value chains, making it difficult to invest under the conventional framework.

"Our CVC team is excited for the opportunity to accelerate investments in early-stage startups hard at work to make a difference for our planet," said Dr. Takashi Morishita, General Manager of Corporate Venture Capital at Asahi Kasei. "We are seeing a lot of passionate people leading these decarbonization initiatives and it feels good to help them on their way. The ideas and technology being innovated now will be an invaluable asset in actualizing a carbon neutral society."

To achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, Asahi Kasei aims to reduce its own GHG emissions and to contribute to reducing GHG emissions throughout society, while creating new businesses through the newly established "Care for Earth" investment framework whose investment horizons and investment decision criteria are different than before. The new investment framework is also expected to help Asahi Kasei advance the transformation of its Material sector portfolio through participation in business ecosystems for carbon neutrality.

The Asahi Kasei Group aims to further contribute to sustainable society while achieving sustainable growth of corporate value by leveraging its accumulated technologies and expertise while accelerating investment for Green Transformation (GX).

Please refer to the following press releases:

Acquisition of Crystal IS, Inc.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices to acquire shares of Senseair AB

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber businesses, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 46,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to a sustainable society by providing solutions to the world's challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its Material sector, comprised of Environmental Solutions, Mobility Industrial, and Life Innovation, includes a wide array of products, from battery separators and biodegradable textiles to engineering plastics and sound solutions. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/.

The Asahi Kasei Group aims to contribute to a carbon-neutral and sustainable world from the perspective of "Care for Earth" by focusing on initiatives such as the use of biomass raw materials, recycled raw materials, and renewable energy. The company strives to meet the expectations of its customers and society by further advancing the provision of products and services with such sustainable characteristics while deepening collaboration with other companies to reach a carbon-neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005168/en/

Contacts:

Company Contact North America:

Asahi Kasei America, Inc.

Jon Todd

39475 W. Thirteen Mile Road, Suite 201, Novi, MI 48377

E-mail: info@ak-america.com



Company Contact Europe:

Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH

Sebastian Schmidt

Fringsstrasse 17, 40221 Dusseldorf

Tel: +49 (0) 211-3399-2058

E-mail: sebastian.schmidt@asahi-kasei.eu
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Nextech3D.AI (formally "Nextech AR Solutions Corp" or the "Company") (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:EP2), a Generative AI-Powered 3D model supplier for Amazon, P&G, Kohls and other major e-commerce retailers is pleased to announce that CEO Evan Gappelberg will present on April 13, 2023 at OTC VirtualInvestorConferences.com Event.

This live, interactive online event will give existing shareholders and the investment community the opportunity to interact with the Company's CEO, Evan Gappelberg in real-time.

Conference Presentation Details

Date: Thursday, April 13, 2023

Time: 1:30 P.M. EST / 10:30 A.M PST

Location: https://tinyurl.com/2s3mtpb3

Please register in advance to ensure you are able to attend the conference and receive any updates that are released.

Nextech3D.ai invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend CEO Evan Gappelberg's real-time, interactive presentation, showcasing Nextech's groundbreaking 3D modeling and AR wayfinding technologies. Using breakthrough AI, Nextech3D.ai is able to quickly, easily, and affordably create vast quantities and varieties of existing assets at scale making products, people and places ready for interactive 3D use.

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

Latest News

Nextech3D.ai Announces Execution of Arrangement Agreement To Spin Out Generative AI IPO Toggle3D To Shareholders

Nextech3D.ai AI-Powered CAD Design Studio Toggle3D Achieves 10X File Reduction Opening Up The platform to New Large Enterprise Customers

Nextech3D.ai Enters Asian Market with Major 3D Modeling Deal to Revolutionize E-commerce

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

Virtual Investor Conferences

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

johnv@otcmarkets.com

About Nextech3D.ai

(formally "Nextech AR Solutions Corp" or the "Company") (OTCQX: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: EP2 is a diversified augmented reality, AI technology Company that leverages proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) to create 3D experiences for the metaverse. Its main businesses are creating 3D WebAR photorealistic models for the Prime Ecommerce Marketplace as well as many other online retailers. The Company develops or acquires what it believes are disruptive technologies and once commercialized, spins them out as stand-alone public Companies issuing a stock dividend to shareholders while retaining a significant ownership stake in the public spin-out.



On October 26, 2022 Nextech3D.ai spun out its spatial computing platform, "ARway" as a stand alone public Company. Nextech3D.ai retained a control ownership in ARway Corp. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake, and distributed 4 million shares to Nextech AR Shareholders. ARway is currently listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE:ARWY), in USA on the (OTC: ARWYF) and Internationally on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: E65). ARway Corp. is disrupting the augmented reality wayfinding market with a no-code, no beacon spatial computing platform enabled by visual marker tracking.

On December 14, 2022 Nextech announced its second spinout of Toggle3D, an AI-powered 3D design studio to compete with Adobe. Toggle3D is expected to be public in the first half of 2023.

To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations Contact

Lindsay Betts

investor.relations@Nextechar.com

866-ARITIZE (274-8493) Ext 7201

Nextech3D.ai

Evan Gappelberg

CEO and Director

866-ARITIZE (274-8493)

Forward-looking Statements

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Nextech3D.ai

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748361/Nextech3Dai-to-Present-its-Generative-AI-Powered-3D-Modeling-Solutions-At-The-VirtualInvestorConferencescom-April-13th
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Silver Hammer Mining Corp. (CSE: HAMR) (OTCQB: HAMRF) (the "Company" or "Silver Hammer") is pleased to announce that it has submitted a Plan of Operations ("PO") to the United States Forest Service ("USFS") to explore its Silver Strand Project ("the Project") located in the Silver Valley Mining District near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

"We continue to aggressively advance our exploration plans at Silver Strand after the recent completion of our positive geophysical compilation. The Plan of Operations for the exploration of Silver Strand is now under review by the USFS and we look forward to the next steps in advancing project," stated Peter A. Ball, President & CEO. "This is a significant milestone that reinforces our conviction in fully evaluating the potential for silver mineralization across the property. We are eager to keep the market informed as we continue to make progress, and we believe this development will bring us closer to unlocking the full potential of this exciting opportunity."

Plan of Operations Overview

The proposed PO was submitted on April 5, 2023:

Proposal for surface disturbance of 0.15 acres or (0.06 hectares) to include up to 1,200 metres of drilling.

Outlines a comprehensive property-wide exploration program at Silver Strand, including geophysics, geologic mapping and structural analysis.

Exploration follow-up on 2021 and 2022 exploration results, including previous drilling, Induced Polarization ("IP")/Resistivity and magnetic surveys, and rock sampling, which identified 15 drill targets scattered throughout the property.

Evaluation of several priority drill targets, which consisted of coincident resistivity lows with IP highs, indicating broad zones of silicification with sulfide mineralization.

Qualified Person

Technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved under the supervision of Philip Mulholland (CPG). Mr. Mulholland is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Silver Hammer Mining Corp.

Silver Hammer Mining Corp. is a junior resource exploration company advancing its flagship past-producing Silver Strand Mine in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District in Idaho, as well both the Eliza Silver Project and the Silverton Silver Mine in one of the world's most prolific mining jurisdictions in Nevada. Silver Hammer's primary focus is defining and developing silver deposits near past-producing mines that have not been adequately explored. The Company's portfolio also provides exposure to copper and gold discoveries.

On Behalf of the Board of Silver Hammer Mining Corp.

Peter A. Ball

President & CEO, Director

E: peter@silverhammermining.com

For investor relations inquiries, contact:

Kristina Pillon

High Tide Consulting Corp.

T: 604.908.1695

E: investors@silverhammermining.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern, without limitation, the Company's strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs, estimates of mineralization from drilling, geological information projected from sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; 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. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors, including the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data, and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161529
STOCKHOLM, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The shareholders in SciBase Holding AB (publ), reg. no. 556773-4768 (the "Company"), are hereby given notice to attend the annual general meeting at 17:00 p.m. on Wednesday17 May 2023 at Setterwalls Advokatbyra's offices at address Sturegatan 10 in Stockholm. Registration for the meeting commences at 16:30 p.m. The board of directors has decided, pursuant to Chapter 7, Section 4a of the Swedish Companies Act and the Company's articles of association, to apply the possibility of postal voting in conjunction with the general meeting (see "Postal voting" below for more information).

Notice

Shareholders wishing to participate at the meeting must:

(i) be entered in the shareholders' register, kept by Euroclear Sweden AB (the Swedish Central Securities Depository & Clearing Organisation), on the record day which is Tuesday 9 May 2023 and

(ii) notify the Company of their attendance and any assistant no later than Thursday 11 May 2023. Notification can be made in writing to Setterwalls Advokatbyra AB, Attn: Johan Tonnesen, P.O. Box 1050, SE-101 39 Stockholm, Sweden or by e-mail to johan.tonnesen@setterwalls.se.

Notification shall include full name, personal identification number or corporate registration number, address, daytime telephone number and, if appropriate, information about representative, proxy, and assistants. The number of assistants may not be more than two. In order to facilitate entry to the meeting, notification should, where appropriate, be ac-companied by powers of attorney, registration certificates and other documents of authority.

Nominee registered shares

In order to be entitled to participate and vote at the meeting, shareholders who have their shares registered in the name of a nominee must have their shares registered in their own name, so that the shareholder will be included in the transcription of the share register as of Tuesday 9 May 2023. Such registration may be temporary (so-called voting rights registration) and is requested to the nominee in accordance with the nominee's routines at such time in advance as the nominee determines. Voting rights registrations made by the nominee no later than Thursday 11 May 2023 will be taken into account in the preparation of the share register.

Postal voting

The board of directors has decided, pursuant to Chapter 7, Section 4a of the Swedish Companies Act and the Company's articles of association, to apply the possibility of postal voting in conjunction with the general meeting. A special form shall be used for postal voting. The form will be available on the Company's website, http://investors.scibase.se/en/annual-general-meeting-2023.

The form may be submitted by post to Setterwalls Advokatbyra AB, Attn: Johan Tonnesen, Box 1050, 101 39 Stockholm or via e-mail to johan.tonnesen@setterwalls.se. The completed voting form must be received by Setterwalls Advokatbyra AB no later than Tuesday 16 May 2023 provided the shareholder has given notice of attendance for the general meeting no later than Thursday 11 May 2023. However, a complete postal vote which reaches Setterwalls Advokatbyra AB no later than Thursday 11 May 2023 shall also be considered the shareholder's notice of attendance at the meeting (by postal voting).

The shareholder may not provide special instructions or conditions in the voting form. If so, the vote (i.e. the postal vote in its entirety) is invalid. Further instructions and conditions are included in the form for postal voting.

Proxy voting

A shareholder represented by proxy shall issue a power of attorney which shall be dated and signed by the shareholder. If the shareholder postal votes by proxy, the power of attorney shall be enclosed to the form. If issued by a legal entity, the power of attorney shall also be accompanied by registration certificate or, if not applicable, equivalent documents of authority. Power of attorney forms will be available on the Company's website http://investors.scibase.se/en/annual-general-meeting-2023.

Processing of personal data

For information regarding how your personal data is processed in connection with the annual general meeting, please refer to the privacy policy on Euroclear Sweden AB's website, https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf.

Proposed agenda

Opening of the meeting and election of chairman of the meeting. Preparation and approval of the voting list. Approval of the agenda. Election of one person who shall approve the minutes of the meeting. Determination of whether the meeting has been duly convened. Submission of the annual report and the auditor's report as well as of the consolidated financial statements and the auditor's report on the group. Resolution in respect of: adoption of the profit and loss statement and the balance sheet as well as of the consolidated profit and loss statement and the consolidated balance sheet; allocation of the Company's results according to the adopted balance sheet; and the members of the board of directors' and the CEO's discharge from liability. Resolution regarding the number of members and, where applicable, deputies of the board of directors and number of auditors and, where applicable, deputy auditors. Determination of the fees payable to the members of the board of directors and the auditors. Election of members of the board of directors and auditor. Resolution on principles for the appointment of a nomination committee. Resolution regarding changes to the articles of association. Resolution on an authorisation for the board of directors to resolve upon issues of shares, warrants and convertibles. Closing of the meeting.

The nomination committee's proposed resolutions

The nomination committee is composed of the chairman of the board of directors of the Company (i.e. Tord Lendau), Dharminder Chahal (appointed by VanHerk Group), Peter Elmvik (appointed by Stockholms Elbolag) and Iraj Arastoupour. The nomination committee has presented the following proposed resolutions in relation to items 1 and 8-11 in the proposed agenda.

Item 1 - Election of chairman

Olof Reinholdsson (lawyer at Setterwalls Advokatbyra) is proposed as chairman of the meeting, or if he is unable to attend the meeting, any other person proposed by the board of directors.

Items 8-10 - Election of and remuneration to the board of directors and auditors

The nomination committee proposes that the board of directors, until the end of the next annual general meeting, shall consist of five (5) ordinary members without deputy members. Furthermore, it is proposed that a registered accounting firm shall be elected as auditor.

The nomination committee furthermore proposes that the fees payable to the board of directors for the period until the end of the next annual general meeting shall be SEK 200,000 for the chairman of the board and SEK 150,000 to each of the other ordinary board members (who are not employed by a larger shareholder in the Company). It is proposed that the Company's auditor shall be paid in accordance with approved invoices.

The board of directors today consists of the following five (5) ordinary members without deputy members: Tord Lendau (chairman), Diana Ferro, Thomas Taapken, Matt Leavitt och Jvalini Dwarkasing.

The nomination committee proposes that all current board members are to be re-elected and proposes no election of new board members. Furthermore, Tord Lendau is proposed to be re-elected as chairman of the board of directors.

The registered accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers AB (PwC) is proposed to be re-elected as auditor. The accounting firm has informed that Magnus Lagerberg will remain as principally responsible auditor.

Additional information regarding the board members is available on the Company's website.

Item 11 - Resolution on principles for the appointment of a nomination committee

The nomination committee proposes the following decision for appointment of a nomination committee for the annual general meeting 2024 (same principles as the previous year). The nomination committee for the annual general meeting 2024, which shall comprise of four members, shall be appointed by way of that the chairman of the board of directors will consult with the three largest shareholders of the Company at the end of the third quarter of 2023. These shareholders will be requested to each appoint one member who, together with the chairman of the board of directors, will form the nomination committee. The composition of the nomination committee shall be publicly announced no later than six months prior to the annual general meeting. The nomination committee, whose mandate period applies until the time a new nomination committee has constituted itself, shall appoint a chairman among its members. The nomination committee shall prior to the annual general meeting 2024 prepare and submit proposals regarding the election of the chairman of the annual general meeting, the number of board members and, where applicable, deputy members, the number of auditors and, where applicable, deputy auditors, the election of board members, chairman and, where applicable, deputy members, auditor and, where applicable, deputy auditors, remuneration for the board of directors and the auditor, as well as guidelines for the appointment of the nomination committee for the following annual general meeting. The nomination committee's proposals shall be presented in the notice to a general meeting where election of board members and auditor shall take place and on the Company's website. Should a member of the nomination committee resign from its assignment, a replacement shall be sought from the shareholder that appointed the departing member. Should a shareholder that has appointed a member of the nomination committee substantially decrease its ownership in the Company, the next shareholder in size order shall, if the nomination committee so resolves, be requested to appoint a member to the nomination committee.

The board of directors' proposed resolutions

The board of directors of the Company has presented the following proposed resolutions in relation to items 7(ii), 12 and 13 in the proposed agenda.

Item 7 (ii) - Allocation of the Company's results according to the adopted balance sheet

The board of directors proposes that SEK 171,885,712 shall be carried forward in new account. Accordingly, no dividend is proposed.

Item 12 - Resolution regarding changes to the articles of association

The board of directors proposes that the annual general meeting resolves on changes to the articles of association so that the wording of section 4 in the articles of association is revised from "The Company's share capital shall be no less than SEK 1,500,000 and no more than SEK 6,000,000" to "The Company's share capital shall be no less than SEK 5,990,000 and no more than SEK 23,960,000" and that the wording of section 5 in the articles of association is revised from "The number of shares shall be no less than 30,000,000 and no more than 120,000,000" to "The number of shares shall be no less than 119,800,000and no more than 479,200,000". The chairman of the board of directors, the CEO or a person appointed by the board of directors shall be authorized to make any minor adjustments required to register the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office.

Item 13 - Resolution regarding authorisation for the board of directors to resolve upon issues of shares, warrants and convertibles

The board of directors proposes that the annual general meeting resolves to authorize the board of directors to, until the next annual general meeting, on one or more occasions, decide upon issuances of new shares, issuance of warrants and/or convertibles. New issues of shares and issues of warrants and/or convertibles may occur with or without preferential rights for shareholders of the Company and may be made either in cash and/or by way of set-off or contribution in kind or otherwise be conditional. Through issuances resolved upon with support from the authorisation - with deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights - the number of shares issued, or number of shares created in connection with exercise of warrants or conversion of convertibles, shall correspond to not more than a 20 per cent dilution of the share capital and the number of shares and votes in the Company after such issue(s). The chairman of the board of directors, the CEO or a person appointed by the board of directors shall be authorized to make any minor adjustments required to register the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office.

Majority requirements

Resolution in accordance with the board of director's proposal in accordance with item 12 and 13 on the agenda requires that the general meeting's resolution is supported by shareholders representing at least two thirds of the shares represented at the general meeting as well as of the votes cast.

Shareholders' right to request information

The board of directors and the CEO shall, if any shareholder so requests and the board of directors believe that it can be done without material damage to the Company, provide information regarding circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda, of the Company's, or a subsidiary's economic situation and of the Company's relations with other group companies on the general meeting.

Documentation

The financial accounts and auditor's report will be kept available at the Company's office and on the Company's website www.scibase.com no later than 26 April 2023. Copies of such documents will be sent free of charge to shareholders who so request and state their postal address. The proposals of the board of directors and the nomination committee are set out in full in the notice.

SciBase Holding AB (publ)

The board of directors

For more information, please contact:

Simon Grant, CEO SciBase

Tel: +46 72 887 43 99

Email: simon.grant@scibase.com

Certified Adviser:

Vator Securities

Tel: +46 8 580 065 99

Email: ca@vatorsec.se

The information was submitted, through the agency of the contact person set out above, for publication at the time stated by Scibase's news distributor Cision upon publication of this press release.

About SciBase and Nevisense

SciBase is a global medical technology company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, that has developed a unique point of care platform for the non-invasive detection of skin cancer and other skin conditions. SciBase is a pioneer within augmented intelligence, combining artificial intelligence with Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to provide objective information that assists dermatologists and others in clinical decision-making. SciBase's products include Nevisense and Nevisense Go and to date the platform addresses the areas of melanoma detection, non-melanoma skin cancer detection and skin barrier assessment. Nevisense is the only FDA-approved device for the detection of melanoma and the only MDR-approved technology for skin cancer detection in Europe. SciBase's technology is based on more than 20 years of academic research at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. For more information please visit www.scibase.com. All press-releases and financial reports can be found here: http://investors.scibase.se/en/pressreleases

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/12371/3748865/1975858.pdf SciBase Holding AB (pub) - Press release notice to attend AGM 2023 (ENG) final

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/notice-to-attend-the-annual-general-meeting-in-scibase-holding-ab-publ-301794290.html
AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / SmallCapVoice.com Inc. ("SCV") announces the availability of an interview with Bill Martin, vice president of International Endeavors Corp. (OTC PINK:IDVV) ("IEC") ("the Company"), to discuss the Company's transition to the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

A technology holdings company specializing in solar, battery storage and clean energy crypto mining operations, IEC also recognizes the vast potential of AI-powered content creation in a wide range of applications. The Company recently acquired SF Corp., a revenue-generating company that has developed automated and AI technologies for several industries including auto, medical, robotics and financial, a move that accelerates the Company's integration of AI into its own portfolio.

Speaking with SCV's Stuart Smith, Martin explains IEC's recent achievements in solar crypto projects, noting AI's role in the evolution of these fields and what that looks like moving forward.

"[AI] is the number one goal for this year, basically for the Company. It helps all areas of IDVV. It helps with the existing solar and crypto business. It's the future of nearly every segment you can think of. We're pushing hard into that space. The main goal is to acquire several revenue producing companies in the AI space, starting with marketing and professional services such as lending, legal and medical. Our goal is to become a leader in the artificial intelligence AI sector and become fully audited. To move back to the OTCQB."

Listen to the full interview at https://www.smallcapvoice.com/2023-interview-international-endeavors-idvv/.

About International Endeavors Corp.

International Endeavors Corporation ("IEC") is a technology holdings company focused on Clean Energy, Crypto and A.I. Specializing in solar technology, battery storage, as well as clean energy crypto mining options for both on & off grid. We're currently implementing EV2G / Bi-directional charging options, thus allowing you to use your electric vehicle as a means of a backup battery, or to sell power back to the grid. In 2022 IDVV started to offer its clients a Clean Energy Crypto mining solution. Our Plug-n-Play mining rigs can be installed in existing or current systems and allows the option to sell power back to the grid or mine crypto currency with any power surplus. In 2023 we acquired WITech as part of an expansion into the AI Sector. We are incorporating AI technology into our crypto offerings and developing a platform for AI Content Marketing. The Company currently is reporting its financial information on OTCMarkets. Our filings can be seen at https://www.otcmarkets.com

Twitter

https://twitter.com/IDVVcorp

Website

https://IDVVCORP.COM

About SmallCapVoice.com

SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. is a recognized corporate investor relations firm, with clients nationwide, known for its ability to help emerging growth companies, small cap and micro-cap stocks build a following among retail and institutional investors. SmallCapVoice.com utilizes its stock newsletter to feature its daily stock picks, podcasts, as well as its clients' financial news releases. SmallCapVoice.com also offers individual investors all the tools they need to make informed decisions about the stocks in which they are interested. Tools like stock charts, stock alerts, and Company Information Sheets can assist with investing in stocks that are traded on the OTCMarkets. To learn more about SmallCapVoice.com and its services, please visit https://www.smallcapvoice.com/small-cap-stock-otc-investor-relations-financial-public-relations/.

Socialize with SmallCapVoice and their clients at

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmallCapVoice/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smallcapvoice

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallcapvoice/

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Management's current views about future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' or 'believes.' Our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and events to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect us include, without limitation, the loss of major customers, our failure to obtain new contracts, our inability to patent products or processes, our infringement of patents held by others, our inability to finance our business and the other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release. We undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information:

International Endeavors Inc.

Bill Martin, Vice President

Phone: 1-619-343-3199

Email: billmartinidvv@gmail.com

SmallCapVoice.com

Stuart T. Smith

512-267-2430

Info@SmallCapVoice.com

SOURCE: SmallCapVoice.com

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748460/International-Endeavors-VP-Discusses-the-Future-of-AI-in-Interview-with-SmallCapVoicecom
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSXV:YGT)(Frankfurt:TX0)(OTCQX:YGTFF) ("Gold Terra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Phase 1 of Gold Terra's 2023 winter drilling program has been completed on the Con Mine Option Property (the "CMO Property") with the objective of expanding the September 2022 initial Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") (see September 7, 2022 press release). To date, 13 drill holes have been completed on Yellorex North, Yellorex at depth, and Kam Point for a total of 5,769 metres drilled between surface and to a depth of 600 metres. Assays are pending for 12 holes. The CMO Property is under option from subsidiaries of Newmont Corporation and is acquirable by the Company upon fulfillment of certain conditions set out in the CMO Property agreement, as reported in the Company's news release dated November 22, 2021.

In addition, preparations are underway for the deep drilling program which will test gold mineralization at depth below the Con Mine workings where geological modeling indicates high potential for finding additional ounces.

Chairman and CEO, Gerald Panneton, commented, "Phase 1 of the winter drilling program has been successful as all holes have hit the targeted Campbell Shear and show significant intersections of visible multi-meter veining and sulphide mineralization. With 10 holes drilled in the Yellorex North area, we are confident that the results will warrant further drilling in 2023. We are now preparing for a deep drill hole targeting gold mineralization at depth below the historic Con Mine workings. The Campbell Shear structure is our highest priority target as the Con Mine produced historically more than 5 million ounces of high-grade gold (16 g/t Au). We expect to have results for the remaining Phase 1 drill holes in the coming weeks."

Phase 1 Drilling Highlights

All 13 drill holes intersected the Campbell Shear mineralization and were located on Yellorex North (10 holes), Yellorex at depth (1 hole), and Kam Point (2 holes) target areas as shown in the Figure 1 below:

Figure 1 - Yellorex North, Yellorex, and Kam Point target areas

Yellorex North drilling highlights:

Hole GTCM23-042 , the first hole of the program intersected 5.3 g/t Au over 6.43 metres (see March 3, 2023, press release). The drill hole was designed to verify and add depth extension to historical high-grade mineralization encountered in the Yellorex North zone of the Campbell Shear

, the first hole of the program intersected 5.3 g/t Au over 6.43 metres (see March 3, 2023, press release). The drill hole was designed to verify and add depth extension to historical high-grade mineralization encountered in the Yellorex North zone of the Campbell Shear Hole GTCM23-045 intersected 107 metres of the Campbell Shear with 8 metres of good smoky veining, pyrite mineralization, and sericite alteration.

intersected 107 metres of the Campbell Shear with 8 metres of good smoky veining, pyrite mineralization, and sericite alteration. Hole GTCM23-048 intersected 120 metres of the Campbell Shear; 15.1 metres of strong veining and strong sulphide mineralization.

intersected 120 metres of the Campbell Shear; 15.1 metres of strong veining and strong sulphide mineralization. Hole GTCM23-053 intersected 111 metres of the Campbell Shear with strong mineralized zones with good alteration over almost 9 metres.

intersected 111 metres of the Campbell Shear with strong mineralized zones with good alteration over almost 9 metres. Hole GTCM23-054 intersected 91.5 metres of the Campbell Shear with 4.5 meters of strong alteration, mineralization, moderate veining and 2 metres of moderate mineralized zones.

The Yellorex North long section showing 2023 drilling intersections, historic drilling, and hole GTCM23-42 is presented in Figure 2 further below.

Kam Point Drilling:

Hole GTCM23-050 intersected 145 metres of the Campbell Shear with up to five intersections of good mineralization.

intersected 145 metres of the Campbell Shear with up to five intersections of good mineralization. Hole GTCM23-051 intersected 183 metres of the Campbell Shear.

Yellorex Deposit:

Hole GTCM23-052 was drilled to a depth of 710 metres and intersected 212 metres of the Campbell Shear with up to six intersections of good mineralization of variable width between 3 and 5 metres wide. Despite not having the assay results of the deepest hole on Yellorex, we have confirmed that the zone is open at depth and will require more drilling.

Figure 2 - Yellorex North long section showing 2023 drilling intersections, historic drilling, and hole GTCM23-42

The focus of the drilling program is to expand the September 2022 initial MRE (see September 7, 2022 press release) of 109,000 Indicated ounces of contained gold and 432,000 Inferred ounces of contained gold between surface and to a depth of 400 metres below surface along a 2 kilometre corridor of the Campbell Shear. Please see the October 21, 2022 technical report, titled "Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the CMO Property, Yellowknife City Gold Project, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada" with an effective date of September 2, 2022, by Qualified Person, Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., SGS Geological Services, which can be found on the Company's website at https://www.goldterracorp.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Deep Drilling Program

The deep drill hole program is designed to target high-grade gold zones below the northern end of the lowest mining levels of the historical Con Mine. Historical underground drill holes that were drilled below the lowest workings have intersected various high-grade gold zones in this area and very high-grade assays exist in many historical holes immediately above the target area. The objective is to expand these zones at depth.

The initial hole is aiming to intersect the Campbell Shear 300 metres below the lowest working, or approximately 2,080 metres below surface. The opportunity will exist to wedge off the initial hole and target other high-grade zones in the area. The target area is shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3 - Con Mine Deep Drilling Target

Qualified Persons

Joe Campbell, P. Geo., Senior Technical Advisorfor Gold Terra is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Gold Terra

The YCG project encompasses 800 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometers of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. Gold Terra is currently focusing its drilling on the prolific Campbell Shear, where 14 Moz of gold has been produced, and most recently on the Con Mine Option claims immediately south of the past producing Con Mine (1938-2003).

The YCG and CMO property lie on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that host the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company's exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com.

For more information, please contact:

Gerald Panneton, Chairman & CEO

gpanneton@goldterracorp.com

Mara Strazdins, Manager of Investor Relations

Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102

strazdins@goldterracorp.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.

Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Therefore, investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource could ever be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of "Measured Mineral Resources," "Indicated Mineral Resources," or "Inferred Mineral Resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The Mineral Resource estimates contained herein may be subject to legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of such mineral resources. Refer to the Technical Report, once filed, for more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of determination associated with the foregoing.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors

The Company prepares its disclosure in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Terms relating to Mineral Resources in this news release are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended ("CIM Standards"). The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") has adopted amendments effective February 25, 2019 (the "SEC Modernization Rules") to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC will now recognize estimates of "Measured Mineral Resources", "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources", which are defined in substantially similar terms to the corresponding CIM Standards. In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "Proven Mineral Reserves" and "Probable Mineral Reserves" to be substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Standards.

U.S. investors are cautioned that while the foregoing terms are "substantially similar" to corresponding definitions under the CIM Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any Mineral Resources that the Company may report as "Measured Mineral Resources", "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the Mineral Resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. In accordance with Canadian securities laws, estimates of "Inferred Mineral Resources" cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies, except in limited circumstances where permitted under NI 43-101.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by 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, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof.

All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently 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. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the current drilling on the Campbell Shear, potentially adding ounces to the Company's current YCG mineral resource, and the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would 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. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. 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. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Gold Terra Resource Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748431/Gold-Terra-Completes-13-Holes-in-Phase-1-Winter-Drill-Program-with-Objective-to-Expand-Current-Mineral-Resource-on-Con-Mine-Option-Property-NWT
Jazeera Airways, Kuwaits leading low cost carrier recently added Larnaca in Cyprus to its network of new European destinations for the 2023 summer season.



Larnaca is Cypruss oldest city, balancing a mix of the old and the new. Centrally positioned in Cyprus, the city provides easy access to other parts of the island for both leisure and business travel. With a Mediterranean climate, Cyprus is the perfect place to enjoy the sun, sea and fresh air.



Rohit Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer, Jazeera Airways said: We are pleased to add Larnaca to our growing list of European destinations for the upcoming summer season. This provides travelers from Kuwait another holiday destination that is a short, affordable flight away. With the addition of Larnaca, we now proudly serve 63 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Central & South Asia and Africa.



Jazeera Airways is currently running a special offer on fares for 50,000 seats starting from KD 21 only. This offer is open until midnight (Kuwait time) on 20 April 2023 and valid for travel between 1 May and 15 June 2023.



Flights to Larnaca will operate twice weekly from 29 April  27 May 2023, and three times a week from 29 May  28 October 2023.  TradeArabia News Service
Instawork conducts survey that analyzes how light industrial businesses experience optimistic outlook, in part due to flexible staffing

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Instawork, the leading flexible work platform that connects local workers with thousands of businesses, today releases its annual State of Warehouse Labor report. This report sheds light on how businesses performed over the last year and what challenges they anticipate facing throughout 2023. The report's release comes following years of labor shortages in the warehouse industry.

2023 State of Warehouse Labor Report

Instawork releases 2023 State of Warehouse Labor Report

For the State of Warehouse Labor report, Instawork partnered with Logistics Management in January 2023 to survey more than 400 light industrial business leaders responsible for hiring, interviewing or sourcing full-time or part-time labor for materials handling, distribution and/or fulfillment.

The report's key findings found that in 2023:

64% of respondents said they had to forgo business worth more than 25% of their revenue in 2022 because of staffing issues

49% said their businesses offered flexible schedules to attract or retain staff

53% said that flexible schedules were among the most effective tactics for retaining employees, up from 44% in last year's survey

69% said they used temporary or flexible workers in 2022, up from 57% in 2021

65% said flexible workers performed as well as or better than they did in 2021

To view the entire report, please visit https://info.instawork.com/state-of-warehouse-labor.

Over one-third of respondents reported their businesses raised pay last year, with 37% raising compensation by at least $1 per hour. However, when comparing this year's survey data to Instawork's 2022 report, fewer business leaders now believe that increasing wages will improve employee retention. An increasing number of them see offering flexible schedules as an effective tool for closing their staffing gaps. As a result, the report found that flexible work apps and online platform use doubled since 2021.

"More businesses are using flexible workers to fill shifts as staffing continues to be a challenge," said Daniel Altman, Chief Economist at Instawork. "The good news is that the improving performance of flexible workers is leading to higher rates of satisfaction."

The report concluded that light industrial businesses are expecting a return to normalcy and feel overall more prepared to handle what comes their way in 2023, following staffing challenges and fluctuating demand that plagued them amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty-four percent of respondents reported that they had to forgo business due to a lack of available labor in 2022. In terms of passing up revenue, 64% shared they had to forgo revenue that amounted to more than a quarter of their total business. Both figures were an increase from 2021.

The Instawork Economic Research Division analyzes and offers insights into labor trends, particularly within the hourly workforce. The team's findings have been featured by CBS News, CNN International, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Associated Press, and more.

Instawork was recently ranked as one of the country's top 10% of fastest-growing private companies by Inc. 5000 and was included in the 2022 Forbes Next Billion Dollar Startup list. The platform received the 2022 ACE Award recipient for "Best Innovation" and was named one of the "Best Business Apps" by Business Insider.

About Instawork

Founded in 2016, Instawork is the leading flexible work app for local, hourly professionals. Its digital marketplace connects thousands of businesses and more than four million workers, filling a critical role in local economies. Instawork helps businesses in the food & beverage, hospitality, and warehouse/logistics industries fill temporary and permanent job opportunities in more than 30 markets across the U.S. and Canada. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Contact Information

Kira Caban

Head of Strategic Communications

press@instawork.com

SOURCE: Instawork

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748479/New-Report-Shows-Warehouses-Expect-a-Return-to-Normalcy-After-Challenging-Year
ExaGrid Reports Strongest Q1 on Record

ExaGrid, the industry's only Tiered Backup Storage solution, today announced that it had its strongest Q1 in the company's history, for the quarter ending March 31, 2023.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005306/en/

ExaGrid had a record first quarter of 2023 and grew over 20% as compared to Q1 of 2022. ExaGrid continues to grow at over 20% per year while maintaining positive P&L, EBITDA, and free cash flow. ExaGrid added 141 new customers in Q1 2023, including over 60 six-figure new customer deals. The new customer ASP was once again well over $100K in the quarter. ExaGrid has more than 3,800 active upper mid-market to large enterprise customers that use ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage to protect their data. ExaGrid's growth is accelerating, and the company is hiring to expand its sales teams worldwide.

"ExaGrid is continuing to expand its reach and now has sales teams in over 30 countries worldwide and has customer installations in over 80 countries. We have also added dedicated sales teams for the large enterprise and large IT Outsourcer organizations. Outside of the United States, our business in Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific is rapidly growing," said Bill Andrews, President and CEO of ExaGrid.

"Years ago, ExaGrid realized that no vendor was building storage specifically for backup, as they were all selling primary storage products as backup storage targets which is expensive or they were selling inline deduplication appliances, which are slow for backups and restores and result in costly forklift upgrades. Backup storage has unique needs, due to large backup jobs, incrementals, synthetic fulls, backup rotation, long-term retention and many other aspects that make backup different than primary storage. ExaGrid's unique Tiered Backup Storage was built specifically to improve backup performance, restore performance, scalability as data grows, security, ransomware recovery, disaster recovery and the economics of backup, with low costs up front and over time," said Andrews. "Primary storage is not as fast for large backup jobs, is typically not scalable, and it is very expensive for longer-term retention, and it is network-facing making it vulnerable to security attacks. Inline deduplication appliances are slow for backups, slow for restores, are not scalable, and are also network-facing making them vulnerable to security attacks.

"ExaGrid prides itself on having a highly differentiated product that just works, does what we say it does, is sized properly, is well supported, and just gets the job done. We can back up these claims with our 95% net customer retention, NPS score of +81, and the fact that 92% of our customers have our Retention Time-Lock for Ransomware Recovery feature turned on, and 99.2% of our customers are on our yearly maintenance and support plan," said Andrews.

Highlights of Q1 2023:

Strong competitive win rate at 74.5% for the quarter

Brought on 141 new customers

Over 60 six-figure new customer deals and 3 seven-figure new customer deals

Sales and support teams in 30 countries and customer installations in over 80 countries

Company remains Cash, EBITDA, and P&L positive over the last 10 quarters

More than 3,800 customers protect their data with ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage

ExaGrid has a customer retention of 95% and over 99% of customers are on a yearly maintenance and support contract

NPS Score of +81

About ExaGrid

ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, and scale-out architecture. ExaGrid's Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The Repository Tier offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrid's scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and product obsolescence. ExaGrid offers the only two-tiered backup storage approach with a non-network-facing tier, delayed deletes, and immutable objects to recover from ransomware attacks.

ExaGrid has physical sales and pre-sales systems engineers in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, Chile, CIS, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iberia, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Nordics, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and other regions.

Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and learn why they now spend significantly less time on backup storage in our customer success stories. ExaGrid is proud of our +81 NPS score!

ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005306/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Mary Domenichelli

ExaGrid

mdomenichelli@exagrid.com
This heightened sensory experience explained by neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis has been brought to life through international artists at an immersive gallery in Shanghai

LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The release of The Singleton 40-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky delivers the third and final chapter in a series of exceptional whiskies, an epicurean journey of flavour by The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery. A highly limited release, this is a deeply decadent whisky with notes of velvet dark chocolate and rich plums. Its layers of flavour are so indulgent that it has inspired the exploration of ' Sensorial Maximalism ' as a new theory in neuroaesthetics on how to achieve superlative taste experiences.





The Singleton creates visionary, exceptional Scotch whiskies with unequalled flavour, pushing boundaries of taste to create malts with outstanding depth and harmony. A pioneer through her experimentation and craft, revered Master of Malt Maureen Robinson pushed the boundaries to create this whisky, bringing us on a journey into decadence through a 28- year secondary maturation, the longest by the distillery.

Maureen Robinson explains: "The Singleton 40-Year-Old is the finale in the Epicurean Odyssey series from The Singleton, one which I've thoroughly enjoyed crafting and have drawn on my own personal journey of flavour from my career as a whisky maker. At the end of this very extensive secondary maturation we sought out specially selected Ron Zacapa XO casks for a final indulgent finish to the whisky, which deliver an intensely rich, fruity and smooth finish to bring deep notes of dark chocolate. The result: a whisky that epitomises my desire to seek out new flavour through craft, and a whisky at its most maximal."

Taking as inspiration the incredible craftsmanship and indulgent character of The Singleton 40-Year-Old, three global multidisciplinary artists, curated by AlterProjects and in association with Yoko Choy, created unique works which investigated the elements of mastery by Maureen Robinson and whisky-makers at The Singleton. The talented artists, Zhou Yilun, Found Studio and Moodsonic brought maturation time, craft and the richness of the spirit to life through the interpretation of 'Flow', 'Collision' and 'Richness'.

Neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis also influenced the development of these artworks. Inspired by the richness of this rare single malt and its journey of flavour, she explored 'Sensorial Maximalism' as a new neuroscientific theory, where our sensorial consciousness can be heightened through the curation of our external environment. This then prepares us for the most superlative tasting experience possible.

The works of the three artists were informed not only by Katherine Templar Lewis's research, and intended to contribute to this heightened sensory state, but were also inspired by the story of The Singleton 40-Year-Old. Malt Master Maureen Robinson set out to push secondary maturation in experimental casks to the extreme, and then layer on further deliberate enhancements to create The Singleton's most indulgent whiskies ever.

These artworks formed the basis of an immersive gallery experience in Shanghai, named The Rooms of Maximalism, where guests journeyed through rooms delivering precise stimulation for the five senses and beyond, to reach this heightened state of Sensorial Maximalism, before the very first tastings globally of The Singleton 40-Year-Old.

The experience included the unveiling of a large-scale physical piece created by Zhou Yilun, exploring the collision between liquid and casks. There were also areas of sensory deprivation, sonically induced ASMR through a soundscape designed by Moodsonic and moving digital art by Found Studio, deploying movement at varying speeds, specially designed to bring guests into a flow state, alongside a range of touchable textures all building on the guests' sensorial experience.

Zhou Yilun said: "Through a single, grandiose sculptural installation, I sought to capture the collision of liquid and wood present in The Singleton 40-year-old whisky. With my material, I aimed to mimic the texture and sensation of whisky flowing through the cask and onto the tongue. By layering paint and using brushstrokes of various hues, I sought to depict the interlacing and textural complexity of the whisky's multiple layers of flavour. It is my hope that the sculpture embodies the sensorial experience of the liquid for the viewer."

Moodsonic composer Tomas Nordmark commented: "The sound that we hear around us changes how we taste, touch, feel and smell, so it's the perfect way to create rich, immersive, maximalist experiences. We set out to create a unique composition that simultaneously celebrates and enhances the tasting experience of this exceptional whisky. Using the neuroscientific theories laid out by Katherine Templar Lewis, we designed sound that will intensify flavours like velvety chocolate for those tasting."

Katherine Templar Lewis said: "Neuroaesthetics tells us how outside influences can heighten our senses and prime them to create the ultimate tasting experience. Through deploying various tactics which affect the five senses and beyond, individuals can achieve this state of Sensorial Maximalism before they enjoy The Singleton 40-Year-Old. In addition to my research and collaboration with some incredible artists through The Singleton 40-Year-Old, I've also created a guide on how individuals can strive for this experience at home."

Katherine Templar Lewis has offered certain steps for individuals to add to their pre-tasting preparation should they be about to enjoy a dram of The Singleton 40-Year-Old or any other of The Singleton's range of whiskies at home. Follow the link to see the guide.

This irresistibly rich, rare single malt makes an indulgent addition to any whisky collection and is the perfect gift for a connoisseur of fine food and wine. The Singleton 40-Year-Old will be available globally from selected retailers, for more information visit www.diageorareandexceptional.com . The Recommended Retail Selling Price is 3,300 including UK Duty and Taxes and $3,755 excluding Duty and Taxes.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Further imagery can be found in the link here and to watch a short video on The Singleton 40-Year-Old and Sensorial Maximalism, visit the link here .

Discover more at @TheSingletonWhisky and @DiageoRareandExceptional Instagram channels

About The Singleton 40-Year-Old

The Singleton 40-Year-Old is the finale of the Epicurean Odyssey Series, born to embody this singular ambition in the pursuit of amazing taste through pioneering craft and experimentation. The series is a result of Maureen Robinson's unparalleled vision combined with exceptional craft on a journey to explore the realms of possibility for the world's best taste experiences.

Upon tasting The Singleton 40-Year-Old, whisky aficionado Charles Maclean described it as: "A gloriously multi-layered expression of The Singleton of Glen Ord: expert finishing has brought the aromas together in an unusually rich and luscious form, whilst retaining a delightful complexity of taste."

PRODUCT INFORMATION

ABV: 45.9%

RRSP (GBP): 3,300 (including UK Duty & Taxes)

RRSP (USD):$3,755 (excluding Duty & Taxes)

RELEASE VOLUME: 1,716 bottles, 70cl

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE EPICUREAN ODYSSEY RANGE: The Singleton 38-Year-Old, The Singleton 39-Year-Old

TASTING NOTES:

Appearance: Deep amber with copper lights.

Nose: The nose is mellow, with a little prickle at first; fruity top notes hint at dried apple and are soon backed by a more savoury aroma evoking sage, while richer hints of fruit, suggesting plums enrobed in dark chocolate, sit on a balancing base of sweetly spicy oak, with light aromas of hard toffee and oak shavings. A drop of water introduces a wisp of waxy smoke.

Body: Light to medium.

Palate: At natural strength, the texture is decadently smooth and lightly waxy while the taste starts sweet, vibrant and very fruity, becoming slightly salty and plum sour mid-palate. Complex layers of flavour suggest pears slathered indulgently in dark chocolate and caramelised tropical fruits, as with toffee-covered banana and pineapple. Beautifully balanced and super-smooth, with sustained rich, sweet fruitiness balanced by slow-building black pepper. Velvet smooth dark chocolate tannins herald an appetising drying note. A drop of water emphasises the fruit and softens the spice, bringing out a mouth-cooling aftertaste.

Finish: Quite long, deep-flavoured and lightly drying, with black pepper spice and another hint of waxy smoke.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across the spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Zhou Yilun ???

Zhou Yilun (b. 1983), an Hangzhou-based artist, earned a BFA in Oil Painting from the China Academy of Art in 2006. His diverse portfolio encompasses painting, installation, sculpture, and mixed media, all of which centre on exploring the potential of ordinary materials and drawing inspiration from everyday objects. Zhou's style evokes both prehistoric and futuristic elements, seeking to strike a balance between the tangible quality of materials and the aesthetic tension of industrial production. The resulting distorted and dreamlike reality establishes a visceral and emotional connection between the viewer and the artwork. His work has been exhibited in various cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Zurich, showcasing his ability to engage audiences across cultural boundaries with his unique creative vision.

Moodsonic

Moodsonic works to advance the soundscape state of art. We explore how sound changes our brains, bodies and sensory experiences in the built environment with an approach that combines design, technology and science. Our soundscapes can be heard in a range of spaces, from exhibition venues to workplaces and healthcare around the world.

Moodsonic is collaborating with Swedish artist, composer and sound designer Tomas Nordmark. Nordmark's work has featured in public installations, exhibitions, film and theatre. His projects are investigations into both the humanities and the natural sciences.

www.moodsonic.com

www.tomasnordmark.com

IG - @tomasnordmark

Found Studio

Extraordinary visual content for the world's most discerning brands. We're artists and storytellers who fuse 3D motion design with film craft and technology to create content that's imaginative, innovative and impactful.

www.found-studio.com

Instagram/Twitter @found_studio

ABOUT KATHERINE TEMPLAR LEWIS

An Oxford educated neuroscientist, Katherine connects creative and science ecosystems and thinking. With an extensive background across genetics, neuroscience and cognitive psychology, she creates cross-discipline teams and dialogue to align and embed scientific insight into experiences, products, and creative processes. She is a pioneering 'reality hacker' accelerating cutting-edge research from the lab into the world through artistic and creative collaboration. At the intersection of lived experience and evidence-based design and affiliated to some of the top academic institutions and labs worldwide.

ABOUT THE CURATORS

AlterProjects are curators, strategists, cultural placemakers and producers with a passion for storytelling, design and innovation. Specialised in the ideation and execution of unique cultural programming across the world, AlterProjects connects Brands, districts, property developers and institutions with designers and artists. Founded by Anne-Laure Pingreoun, AlterProjects work with exceptionally creative talents to find new ways of developing disruptive and unconventional content and experiences.

www.alter-projects.com

@alterprojects_

Anne Pingreon of AlterProjects said: "We have created a sensorial storytelling installation that aims to create new core memories, where every visitor has a unique and personal experience, full of flavour and rich in emotions. As curators, we believe in creating emotions through art and culture, while celebrating the beautiful narrative at the root of inspiration behind this whisky."

In collaboration with Yoko Choy - CO-CURATOR for COLLISION ROOM

Yoko Choy, China Editor, Wallpaper* magazine; Co-founder, Collective Contemporist.

Born in Hong Kong, Yoko Choy is an experienced design journalist; her work to date has been published in numerous international titles and she is currently the China editor of Wallpaper* magazine (global edition). Yoko is also a highly regarded communications consultant, whose clients include fair organisers, brands and creative studios. Currently based in Hong Kong and Amsterdam, she views East-meets-West as more than just an alignment of two aesthetic visions; her mission, as a multilingual and multicultural creative commentator and communicator, is to translate the knowledge and insights from both worlds into a common creative language and to raise awareness of the importance of cross-cultural exchange in the creative industry and businesses. To this end, Yoko co-founded Collective Contemporist in 2018, a creative consultancy with offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Amsterdam, to stimulate and inspire conversations and collaborations between the two spheres.

@missyoko

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2051466/The_Singleton_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2051467/The_Singleton_2.jpg





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Experienced in-country leadership and new technology partners will allow Pyramid to provide organizations in Mexico and Latin America with crucial data and analytics technology and resources

Pyramid Analytics (Pyramid), a leading business intelligence and decision intelligence provider, continues to execute its global growth strategy with the signing of several key strategic Latin America-based technology partners, Analytics Mate, AS Analytics, BACIT, EMC Software C.A., and Hopewell Systems C.A.

These key technology partner agreements widen the reach of Pyramid Analytics' partner program in the Mexico and Latin America market. The Pyramid team has proven analytics technology leadership, including Miguel Reyes, Regional Director for Latin America; Eduardo Azanza, Solutions Architect; and Javier Fernandez, Senior Solutions Engineer.

Key Points About Pyramid's Latin America Expansion

Pyramid signs new partner agreements with technology companies to expand Pyramid Partner Program footprint into Latin America and Mexico.

Partner expansion into region is led by Miguel Reyes, Regional Director for Latin America.

Pyramid is sponsoring and attending the 8th Technology and Business Congress 2023 in Mexico City on June 21-22, 2023.

Click here to schedule a demo of the Pyramid Decision Intelligence Platform.

"Our new locally based partners, Analytics Mate, AS Analytics, BACIT Technologies, EMC Software, and Hopewell Systems, bring a wealth of experience in analytics to our mutual clients to drastically improve their decision-making by using Pyramid solutions," said Bill Clayton, Vice President of Global Partners.

The Pyramid Analytics best-of-breed platform allows these partners to deliver integrated, advanced, yet easy-to-use analytic tools to their clients, as part of packaged or custom-designed solutions with faster time to market.

The signings of Analytics Mate, AS Analytics, BACIT Technologies, EMC Software, and Hopewell Systems are part of Pyramid's broader strategy to rapidly expand channel partnerships with complementary technology companies, independent software vendors (ISV), consulting firms, value-added resellers (VAR), and systems integrators (SI).

Pyramid's move into the LATAM market aligns with a broader global effort to help organizations optimize decision-making to empower anyone to make faster, more intelligent decisions.

About Pyramid Analytics

Pyramid Analytics is the next generation of decision intelligence. The award-winning Pyramid Decision Intelligence Platform empowers people with AI-augmented, automated, and collaborative insights that simplify and guide the use of data in decision-making. Critically, the Pyramid Platform operates directly on any data, enabling governed self-service for any person; and meeting analytical needs in a no-code environment without data extraction, ingestion, and duplication. It combines data prep, business analytics, and data science into one frictionless platform to empower anyone with intelligent decision-making. This enables a strategic, enterprise-wide approach to business intelligence and analytics, from the simple to the sophisticated. Schedule a demo today.

Pyramid Analytics is incorporated in Amsterdam and has regional headquarters in global innovation and business centers, including London, New York City, and Tel Aviv. Our team lives worldwide because geography should not hinder talent and opportunity. Investors include H.I.G. Growth Partners, Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), Sequoia Capital, and Viola Growth. Learn more at Pyramid Analytics.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005380/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Pyramid Analytics

Pete Vomocil

SVP, Global Marketing, Pyramid Analytics

pr@pyramidanalytics.com
Investors focusing on climate change often overlook Chinese firms. We think that's a mistake. Chinese companies are playing an indispensable role in the global transition to a greener future-and carefully selected shares offer attractive return potential.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / AllianceBernstein

Most environmental funds have little or no holdings in China. Five of the 10 largest global environmental equity funds by assets under management had no exposure to China at all at the end of 2022, according to our research based on Morningstar data. Four of the remaining five had less than 5% of their holdings in China.

All Environmental Roads Lead to Chinese Companies

That seems like a missed opportunity. Accelerating decarbonization efforts around the world require Chinese products. Demand for solar energy, wind power and electric vehicles (EVs) draw on vast global supply chains. And Chinese companies dominate some global markets for raw materials, products and components that enable the green transition.

For example, Chinese copper and nickel are essential ingredients for wind turbines, solar panels and EVs. China also processes 58% of the world's lithium and 87% of rare earths, which are used to manufacture wind turbines and EVs (Display).

Energy Transition: Here Comes the Sun and Wind

Solar energy installations are mushrooming. China accounts for 37% of global solar energy demand and is also the world's largest consumer of solar equipment. About three-quarters of the global solar manufacturing supply chain is in China, according to BloombergNEF data.

Businesses and homeowners around the world seeking to install solar power will need equipment that relies on raw materials such as polysilicon, which China dominates. China also manufactures 97% of the solar wafers and 81% of the solar cells used around the world, according to BloombergNEF.

As a result, Chinese solar equipment makers are poised for tremendous growth both from increased demand in China and from other countries pressing ahead with net-zero agendas. Examples include JinkoSolar and JA Solar, two large integrated solar module suppliers, with a combined global market share of about 32% in 2022.

Chinese companies are also prominent in wind energy. Ming Yang Smart Energy Group is a leading Chinese wind turbine manufacturer, especially in offshore wind. The company has a 22% market share of global wind installations outside China as of 2021, making it second only to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, the Spanish-German wind engineering group.

Empowering the EV Revolution

China is already the world's largest EV market-and Chinese automakers are intensifying competition for EVs with global carmakers. For example, BYD of Shenzhen makes electric cars and buses and is the world's second-largest EV supplier globally, after Tesla. When including plug-in hybrids, BYD is the largest supplier of vehicles powered by new energy sources, with an 18% global share.

Beyond the carmakers, the EV supply chain is brimming with opportunities. For example, about 75% of battery cells for EVs are manufactured in China, along with about 70%-80% of the cell components. As global demand for EVs continues to grow, fueled by subsidies, China will remain a dominant player in all the supply chains through the coming decade, according to Tom Moerenhout , Adjunct Associate Professor at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. Dr. Moerenhout discussed China's role in the global EV revolution in a workshop series last year conducted by AllianceBernstein and Columbia University entitled The Making of a Green Giant: Decarbonization with Chinese Characteristics.

Examples of Chinese EV enablers include CATL, the largest global EV battery maker with a 32% market share. The company is a supplier to some of the biggest US, European and Japanese carmakers.

Infrastructure Solutions for Environmental Efficiency

Achieving net-zero goals requires infrastructure solutions for EVs, alternative energy, as well as initiatives to make more efficient use of energy, water and environmentally friendlier materials. Copper miners, undersea electrical cable makers and smart grid solution providers are all contributing to the global efforts to upgrade and streamline infrastructure.

NARI Technology is a good example. The company is a provider of equipment for power grids, supplying technology solutions in areas including system automation, smart grids, renewable energy and energy conservation. NARI has a market share of 30%-40% in key product categories.

How to Invest in China's Net-Zero Enablers

International investors may have some concerns about investing in Chinese companies given the significant influence of policy decisions on the economy. However, we believe a disciplined approach focused on Chinese enablers of the global energy transition that is aligned with China's long-term policy objectives can help mitigate regulatory risks.

Investors who understand the nuances of China's policy and the economic landscape can find resilient, long-term opportunities. China's commitment to reaching carbon neutrality by 2060 is a key long-term policy trend that should support companies involved in the transition.

There are plenty of companies to choose from in sectors ranging from industrials to utilities, materials, consumer discretionary and technology. We've identified about 400 Chinese onshore and offshore stocks that are participating in the net-zero transition and have a market capitalization of at least $1 billion. From this pool, investors can find the strongest candidates by looking for industry leaders that are contributing to net-zero goals and addressing climate risks. Investment candidates should also have business models with wide competitive moats, the ability to generate sustainable long-term growth and attractively valued shares.

Despite challenging macroeconomic conditions, we think the push to wean the global economy off fossil fuels will continue unabated. This should translate into persistent growth drivers for companies empowering the energy transition. By focusing on Chinese companies with solid fundamentals that are deeply embedded in this global green effort, portfolios can capture an attractive source of return potential that has gone largely unnoticed by investment managers.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams and are subject to revision over time.

References to specific securities are presented to illustrate the application of our investment philosophy only and are not to be considered recommendations by AB. The specific securities identified and described do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold or recommended for the portfolio, and it should not be assumed that investments in the securities identified were or will be profitable.

About the Authors

John Lin

John Lin is the Chief Investment Officer of China Equities. He has been the lead Portfolio Manager of China Equities since 2013 and is responsible for managing the China A Shares Value, China Net Zero Solutions, China Low Volatility and All China Equity Strategies. Lin is also a Portfolio Manager for Emerging Markets Value Equities since 2021. From 2008 to 2022, he served as a senior research analyst, responsible for covering financials, real estate and conglomerate companies in Hong Kong and China. Lin joined the firm in New York in 2006 as a research associate, covering consumer services companies for US Small & Mid-Cap Value Equities. Previously, he was a technology, media and telecom investment banker at Citigroup. Lin holds a BS (magna cum laude) in environmental engineering from Cornell University, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned the distinction Graduation with Honors. Location: Singapore

Lily Zheng

Lily Zheng is a Portfolio Manager for China Net Zero Solutions since 2022 and a Senior Research Analyst with a focus on consumer and utilities companies in Asia ex Japan, as well as auto companies in Asia. Before joining the firm in 2010, she spent three years as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company in Shanghai and worked for China Huadian Engineering Co. as an assistant project manager. Zheng holds a BS from Tsinghua University, an MS from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an MA from Princeton University, all in thermal engineering, as well as an MBA from China Europe International Business School. Location: Hong Kong





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from AllianceBernstein on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: AllianceBernstein

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/alliancebernstein

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: AllianceBernstein

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748507/AB-Chinas-Green-Enablers-Deserve-a-Place-in-Equity-Funds
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Gildan Activewear:

As an organization that began as a small business, Gildan has grown over time into what it is today: a leading sustainable, ethical, and transparent apparel manufacturer, employing around 50,000 people in 12 different countries. This success has only been possible thanks to its people, and Gildan recognizes it by ensuring safe and ethical working conditions, upholding human rights and fair wages, creating an inclusive and welcoming work environment, and empowering employees with educational and learning opportunities.

"'We believe in our people' is one of our core values that runs deep at Gildan day in and day out," says Arun Bajaj, Executive Vice-President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Legal Affairs. "So, it is only normal that we invest in our people because it is the right thing to do and the key to our success."

One initiative that Gildan takes to ensure the well-being of its employees is to facilitate access to healthcare. The Company operates on-site medical clinics at its Honduras, Bangladesh, Nicaragua, and Dominican Republic operations where employees can conveniently consult healthcare professionals and receive medication, as well as some basic treatments at their workplace. This reduces some of the barriers to healthcare that employees may face in these regions. More importantly, it allows Gildan to give its employees the opportunities to lead and maintain healthier lives.

Gildan also actively invests in the education and training of its employees to drive development, through programs such as the Women in Leadership Program - Ignite Your Impact, which aims to empower women at the manager level and above to take their careers to the next level. This program provides training and opportunities to network with colleagues, Gildan leaders, and Board members. Programs like these drive greater satisfaction and engagement among employees, and ultimately set up the Company for success. The Women in Leadership program is a testament to this - 95% of graduates were satisfied with the program and many of them received promotions, or moved laterally, advancing their careers and contributing to the success of the organization.

"We are pleased with the work we have done so far and are determined to continue onward on this journey at the centre of which are our people, who are the greatest reflection of our success," finishes Arun.

Find out more about Gildan's Respect for People here .

Better People, Better Business: How Gildan Sees its Workforce

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Gildan Activewear on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Gildan Activewear

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/gildan-activewear

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Gildan Activewear

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748503/Better-People-Better-Business-How-Gildan-Sees-Its-Workforce
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) (OTCQX: LSANF) ("Los Andes" or the "Company") is pleased to announce further that it has now filed the pre-feasibility study at its 100% owned Vizcachitas Project ("Vizcachitas" or the "Project") which was the subject of its news release of February 23, 2023 (the "PFS"). The PFS, titled "Vizcachitas Project Pre-Feasibility Study Valparaiso Region, Chile NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated March 30, 2023 with an effective date of February 20, 2020 was prepared for Los Andes by Tetra Tech, and has been filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Highlights of the PFS include:

Proven and Probable Reserves of 1.22 billion tonnes at 0.36% copper, 136 parts per million ('ppm') molybdenum, 1.1 grammes per tonne ('g/t') silver, which equates to a copper equivalent ('CuEq') grade of 0.40%. Proven Reserves of 302 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.41% copper, 135 ppm molybdenum, 1.2 g/t silver; Probable Reserves of 918Mt at 0.34% copper, 136 ppm molybdenum, 1.1 g/t silver.



A 16% increase in Measured and Indicated Resources from the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment dated June 13, 2019 to 14.8 billion pounds ('lbs') CuEq. Measured Resources of 2.605b lbs copper, 84 million lbs molybdenum and 11 million ounces ('Moz') silver; Indicated Resources of 10.416 billion lbs of copper, 442 million lbs of molybdenum, and 43Moz of silver; and increase of Inferred Resources by 130% to 15.4 billion lbs CuEq (13.747 billion lbs copper, 495 million lbs molybdenum, 55Moz oz silver).



Initial Life of Mine ('LOM') of 26 years producing 8.763 billion lbs copper, 273.3 million lbs molybdenum and 32.7Moz silver, based on a new plant design with a mill throughput of 136,000 tonnes per day.

Annual average copper production of 183,017 t (LOM average of 152,883t).

A US$2.776 billion after-tax net present value (NPV) using an 8% discount rate and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 24.2% at US$ 3.68/lb copper, US$12.90/lb molybdenum and US$21.79/oz silver, with an estimated initial capital cost of US$2.441 billion, a construction period of 3.25 years and a payback period of 2.5 years from initial production.

Use of desalinated water, eliminating the need to draw on continental water; using dry stacked filtered tailings reduces water consumption by approximately 50% and eliminates the need for a tailing dam, minimizing seismic and environmental risks.

Use of high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) technology, reducing power consumption by approximately 25% from the previous design. Scope 1 CO2 emissions are projected to be 1.02 h CO2e/t CuEq, and Scope 2 emissions are projected to be 0.

The PFS assumed copper, molybdenum and silver prices of US$3.68/lb copper, US$12.90/lb molybdenum and US$21.79/troy ounce silver, resulting in the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves presented below. Copper contributes 88% to the projected net revenue from the Project, followed by molybdenum with 10% and the balance being silver credits in copper concentrate.

Mineral Reserves





Mineral Reserves

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/161967_4a6449ac440dfb6a_002full.jpg.

Notes:

1. Mineral Reserves were classified using CIM Definition Standards (2014), and CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (2019).

2. Mineral Reserves have an effective date of December 2, 2022.

3. Mineral Reserves are included within the Mineral Resources.

4. The Qualified Person for the estimate is Mr. Severino Modena, BSc, Mining Engineer, MAusIMM, Member of the Chilean Mining Commission, and Tetra Tech Sudamerica General Manager.

5. The Mineral Reserves have a metallurgical cut-off based on the process plant design of 0.18% Cu for direct mill feed.

6. Due to rounding, numbers may not add precisely to the totals.

7. The Mineral Reserves estimate uses a marginal phase analysis through a cut-off grade optimization software (COMET).

8. The Mineral Reserves are contained within operational phases defined using a COMET optimized mining schedule, which includes a stockpiling strategy. Key inputs for this process are:

Metal prices of US$3.5/lb copper and US$12/lb molybdenum. Mining Cost of US$1.59/t at a reference elevation of 1,990 masl, plus costs adjustments of US$0.014/t per bench above reference and US$0.032/t per bench below reference. Process cost of US$5.7/t milled (inclusive of general and administrative costs of US$0.30/t milled). Overall pit slopes angles varying from 44 to 52.

9. Process recoveries are based on lithology for both copper and molybdenum, except for one sector with a fixed copper recovery.

10. Cu grades are reported as percentages, Mo and Ag grades are reported as parts per million (ppm).

11. The strip ratio (waste:ore) is 2.33. There are 2,855 Mt of waste in the ultimate pit.

12. The Mineral Reserve statement considers the mill feed at the primary crusher as a reference point.

Mineral Resources





Mineral Resources

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/161967_4a6449ac440dfb6a_003full.jpg.

Notes:

Mineral Resources were classified using CIM Definition Standards (2014), and CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (2019). The Mineral Resources effective date is February 7, 2023. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following formula: CuEq (%) = Cu (%) 0.000288 x Mo (ppm) + 0.00711 x Ag (g/t), using the metal prices: US$3.68/lb Cu, US$12.9/lb Mo and US$21.79/oz Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 91.1% for copper, 74.8% for molybdenum and 75% for silver based on the PFS metallurgical testwork. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The quantities and grades of reported Inferred Mineral Resources are uncertain in nature, and further exploration may not result in their upgrading to Indicated or Measured status. Mineral Resources were prepared by Maria Loreto Romo and Severino Modena both full-time employees of Tetra Tech Sudamerica, and Ricardo Munoz, a consultant part of the Tetra Tech Sudamerica team, all are Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Due to rounding, numbers may not add precisely to the totals. All Mineral Resources are assessed for reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE).

Antony Amberg CGeol FGS, the Company's Chief Geologist and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Los Andes Copper Ltd.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is an exploration and development company with an 100% interest in the Vizcachitas Project in Chile. The Company is focused on progressing the Project, which is located along Chile's most prolific copper belt, into production. Vizcachitas is one of the largest copper deposits in the Americas not controlled by the majors and the Company believes it will be Chile's next major copper mine.

The Project is a copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit, located 150 kilometers north of Santiago, in an area of very good infrastructure. An independent technical report for the PFS, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, will be available under the Company's SEDAR profile within the next 45 days.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is listed on the TSX-V under the ticker: LA.

For more information please contact:

Santiago Montt, Interim CEO

santiago.montt@losandescopper.com

Tel: +56 2 2954-0450

Elizabeth Johnson, Investor Relations

Elizabeth.johnson@losandescopper.com

E-Mail: info@losandescopper.com or visit our website at: www.losandescopper.com.

Follow us on twitter @LosAndesCopper

Follow us on LinkedIn Los Andes Copper Ltd.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the information and statements contained herein that are not historical facts, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Securities Act (British Columbia), Securities Act (Ontario) and the Securities Act (Alberta) ("Forward-Looking Information"). Forward-Looking Information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend"; statements that an event or result is "due" on or "may", "will", "should", "could", or might" occur or be achieved; and, other similar expressions. More specifically, Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking Information. Such Forward-Looking Information includes, without limitation, the prospects, details related to and timing of the Vizcachitas Project. Such Forward-Looking Information is based upon the Company's assumptions regarding global and Chilean economic, political and market conditions and the price of metals and energy and the Company's production. Among the factors that have a direct bearing on the Company's future results of operations and financial conditions are changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, a change in government policies, competition, currency fluctuations and restrictions and technological changes, among other things. Should one or more of any of the aforementioned risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from any conclusions, forecasts or projections described in the Forward-Looking Information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise Forward-Looking Information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Cautionary Note for U.S. investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves

National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and resource information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements.

All references to "$" in this news release are to U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

Cautionary Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Alternative performance measures in this news release such as "cash flow" are furnished to provide additional information. These non-GAAP performance measures are included in this news release because these statistics are used as key performance measures that management uses to monitor and assess performance of the Project, and to plan and assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining operations. These performance measures do not have a standard meaning within International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161967
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE: SLV) (OTCQX: SLVDF) (FSE: 4YW) ("Silver Dollar" or the "Company") is pleased to report that, further to its news release of August 10, 2020, it has delivered a notice to First Majestic Silver Corp. ("First Majestic") exercising its option to acquire a 100% interest (the "Acquisition") in First Majestic's La Joya silver-copper-gold property (the "Property"). Located in the southeastern portion of the State of Durango in the Mexican Silver Belt (see Figure 1), the Property is comprised of 15 mineral concessions totaling 4,646 hectares and hosts the Main Mineralized Trend (MMT), Santo Nino, and Coloradito deposits.





Figure 1: Location of the La Joya Project along with past-producing and operating mines in the area.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://vimeo.com/497779460.

"We are proud to announce the exercise of the options to acquire La Joya from First Majestic. Our team has done an excellent job establishing a positive working relationship with the local communities and advancing the project, particularly when you consider we entered into this agreement during the height of Covid-19 restrictions," said Mike Romanik, president of Silver Dollar. "We have completed almost 6,000 metres of exploration drilling thus far, with results that include the discovery of the Brazo area, and continue with our new target development work. We would also like to thank the local communities for their cooperation and support."

Pursuant to the option agreement (the "Option Agreement") dated August 7, 2020, as amended by an amending agreement dated March 28, 2023 (the "Amending Agreement"), among the Company and First Majestic, First Majestic granted the Company an exclusive option to acquire an initial 80% interest and if exercised, a second option to acquire the remaining 20% interest in a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Majestic that holds the Property through its wholly-owned Mexican subsidiary by making certain payments, incurring certain expenditures and issuing securities.

The closing of the Acquisition is subject to the provision of standard closing deliverables and is expected to be completed shortly. The Company will issue a subsequent news release announcing the closing of the Acquisition when completed.

A copy of the Option Agreement, the Amending Agreement and the Company's news release dated August 10, 2020, which contains additional information regarding the Property, are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About the La Joya Project:

The La Joya Property is situated approximately 75 kilometres directly southeast of the state capital city of Durango in a prolific mineralized region with past-producing and operating mines including Grupo Mexico's San Martin Mine, Industrias Penoles's Sabinas Mine, Pan American Silver's La Colorada Mine, and First Majestic's La Parrilla and Del Toro Silver Mines.

Silver Dollar previously reported analytical results for its Phase I drill program, which consisted of 2,424 metres completed over 11 holes (See news releases of March 24, 2022 and May 4, 2022); and for its Phase II program, which consisted of 3,428 metres of drilling completed over 17 holes (See news releases of June 13, 2022, August 17, 2022, and October 25, 2022).

For additional information, click on the Property location map above to watch a short video.

About Silver Dollar Resources Inc.

Silver Dollar is a mineral exploration company that completed its initial public offering in May 2020 and is fully funded with approximately $5.7 million in the treasury. The Company's projects are located in two of the prolific mining jurisdictions in the world. They include the advanced exploration and development stage La Joya Silver Project in the state of Durango, Mexico, and the discovery-stage Pakwash Lake and the Longlegged Lake properties in the Red Lake Mining District of Ontario, Canada. The Company has an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potentially accretive acquisitions with a focus on drill-ready projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions.

For additional information, you can download our latest presentation by clicking here and you can follow us on Twitter by clicking here.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed "Michael Romanik"

Michael Romanik,

President, CEO & Director

Silver Dollar Resources Inc.

Direct line: (204) 724-0613

Email: mike@silverdollarresources.com

179 - 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416

Victoria, BC, V9B 6J9

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding: the Company's expectation to complete the Acquisition, the timing of the closing of the Acquisition and the provision of the closing deliverables in respect of the Acquisition. The forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward- looking statements including: the Company may never complete the Acquisition in the time frame expected or at all; First Majestic may not provide the closing deliverables required to complete the Acquisition; and the risk that adverse market conditions and/or other factors beyond the control of the parties prevent the completion of the Acquisition. Additionally, forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this news release, including that the Company will be able to complete the requirements necessary to close the Acquisition; that the Acquisition will close in the short time expected; that First Majestic will complete its obligations required to complete the Acquisition; and that there will be no events or circumstances outside the control of the Company or First Majestic that will prevent the completion of the Acquisition. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include general market conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161868
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Nova Mentis Life Science Corp. (CSE: NOVA) (FSE: HN3Q) (OTCQB: NMLSF) ("NOVA" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company and global leader in first-in-class psilocybin-based therapeutics and complementary diagnostics for neuroinflammatory disorders is pleased to announce it has received institutional review board (IRB) approval in Canada to begin its human study testing the efficacy of psilocybin on adults diagnosed with fragile X syndrome (FXS), the leading genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The Phase IIA clinical trial received the go-ahead from Health Canada in December of 2022 and is one of the first approved studies that will permit participants to take home the drug for dosing every other day. The Company plans to begin the recruitment process within the coming weeks.

"Our team has been methodically achieving the necessary approvals and clinical planning to initiate this important study that supports NOVA's mission to improve the quality of life for people with autism and fragile X," stated Dr. Marvin S. Hausman MD, Chairman of NOVA's Scientific Advisory Board. "This approval further validates our high standards of ethical and clinical practice and is a significant clinical milestone for this study."

IRBs are ethics committees designed to help regulatory agencies ensure that companies employ rigorous protocol standards and adhere to strict regulations surrounding the ethical treatment of human subjects.

KGK Science and NOVA have partnered to conduct the first-ever clinical trial to investigate the effects of psilocybin on the cognitive and behavioural symptoms associated with FXS. The results of the 10-person, open-label study will assess repetitive, oral microdose psilocybin therapy for FXS. The Company intends to validate behavioural testing with state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker technology, and machine learning artificial intelligence (AI).

NOVA's preclinical research results, which were published in an international science journal, showed that a low microdose formulation of the Company's psilocybin drug significantly modulated behavioural and cognitive defects in a genetic model of FXS.

About Nova Mentis Life Science Corp.

Nova Mentis Life Science Corp. is a Canadian-based biotechnology company and global leader in developing diagnostics and psilocybin-based therapeutics for neuroinflammatory disorders. Nova is the first biotech company to achieve orphan drug designation in both the United States and European Union for the use of psilocybin in the treatment of fragile X syndrome (FXS).

NOVA's goal is to diagnose and treat debilitating chronic conditions that have unmet medical needs, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and FXS.

For further information on the Company, please visit www.novamentis.ca or email info@novamentis.ca.

About KGK Science

A subsidiary of Wellbeing Digital Sciences, KGK Science is a leading North American contract research organization based in London, Ontario that primarily provides high-quality clinical research trials with a focus on nutraceutical and emerging health care products. Founded in 1997, the business has successfully helped hundreds of companies with custom designed clinical trials and claim substantiation strategies to move products into global markets. KGK's other existing service lines include expert regulatory support and compliance solutions, participant recruitment, research support services and consulting services. Furthermore, the company has produced over 150 publications, executed over 400 clinical trials across more than 40 indications, amassed 25,000 participants in its database, and collected 10 million data points. For additional information, please visit www.kgkscience.com.

On Behalf of the Board

Will Rascan, President & CEO

Nova Mentis Life Science Corp.

Phone: 778-819-0244

Toll Free: 1-833-542-5323

Twitter: @novamentislsc

Instagram: @novamentislsc

Facebook: @novamentislsc

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Nova Mentis Life Science's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161929
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - StrikePoint Gold Inc. (TSXV: SKP) (OTCQB: STKXF) ("StrikePoint" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has filed on SEDAR an independent Technical Report (the "Technical Report") prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 for the Cuprite Gold Project (the "Project") located in Nevada's Walker Lane Gold Trend. (Figure 1 Nevada Map - Cuprite)

The Technical Report can be found on the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company's website (www.strikepointgold.com).

About the Cuprite Gold Project

Cuprite Gold Project consists of approximately 574 unpatented claims covering approximately 44 square kilometers, located fifteen kilometers south of Goldfield Nevada, and 85 kilometers northwest of Beatty, within the prolific Walker Lane Trend. The project is easily accessible by Highway 95 on the western margin of the property. (Figure 2 Cuprite Detailed Location)

The Project is located within the Walker Lane Gold Trend, which hosts Anglogold's exciting Sililcon discovery approximately 75 kilometers southeast of Cuprite. In addition, the Walker Lane hosts Tier 1 gold mines including Kinross's Round Mountain Mine located approximately 130 kilometers North of the Cuprite Gold Project.

Corporate Update

The Company is pleased to announce it has entered into an investor relations agreement with Mr. Knox Henderson. Mr. Henderson is a corporate communications and capital markets professional with a successful track record spanning over two decades.

Mr. Henderson is focused on marketing, investor communications and raising capital for public companies. He has worked directly with CEOs on numerous financings on the TSX Venture market and the Canadian Securities Exchange. Since 2016, Mr. Henderson has led investor outreach and communications strategies for two exploration companies that have made significant mineral discoveries in Canada: Great Bear Resource's high-grade gold Dixie project in Red Lake and more recently Kodiak Copper's MPD copper-gold discovery in BC.

The Company announces that it has granted 250,000 incentive stock options to its directors, officers, consultants and/or employees pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The options are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $0.07 per share.

Qualified Person Statement

All technical data, as disclosed in this press release, has been verified by Michael G. Allen, P. Geo, President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Allen is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

About StrikePoint

StrikePoint Gold is a gold exploration company focused on building precious metals resources in Canada and the Western US. In addition to Cuprite, the company controls two advanced-stage exploration assets in BC's Golden Triangle. The past-producing high-grade silver Porter-Idaho Project and the high-grade gold Willoughby Project.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF STRIKEPOINT GOLD INC.

"Michael G. Allen"

Michael G. Allen

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

For more information, please contact:

StrikePoint Gold Inc.

Michael G. Allen, President CEO & Director

T: (604) 609-6107

E: ma@strikepointgold.com

W: www.strikepointgold.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made, and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "speculates", "could" or "would".

All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. 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, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161877
New Delhi/Kampala, Apr 11 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to Uganda, called on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure and energy, among other subjects.

In a tweet, the EAM said that he also congratulated the Ugandan President on his country assuming chairship of the Non Aligned Movement.

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.

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.

President Museveni, in a tweet, said that he hosted EAM Jaishankar at his home in Rwakitura, and the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and agreed to cooperate in the areas of agriculture, defence and security, ICT among other issues.

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, the President said.

Uganda, which is holding the chair of the Non Aligned Movement till 2025, is preparing to hold the NAM Summit in January 2024.

EAM Jaishankar also participated in the launch of the Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project in Varanasi and appreciated the BJP partys Ugandan wing to contribute to further beautifying the ancient Indian city.

While in Kampala, delighted to participate in the launch of the Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project in Varanasi.

Appreciate OFBJP-Ugandas initiative to contribute to further beautifying the oldest living city in the world.

Living in a land of the Nile, their commitment to a ghat on the Ganga reflects the confluence of our two cultures.

The conservation of Varanasis heritage underlines the cultural revival of India. This has profound global implications.

Confident that many more members of Indian community in Uganda will keep visiting Varanasi and continue their efforts for its redevelopment, he said in another tweet.

During his visit to Uganda, a landlocked country in East Africa, from April 10-12, EAM is also to hold delegation level talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister of Uganda General Jeje Odongo. He is also expected to meet other Ministers.

EAM will 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, an official statement said.

EAM Jaishankar 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.

There are around 30,000 Indians in a country of nearly 50 million, accounting for less than one percent of the population, yet they contribute to 65 percent of the government revenues in the form of taxes.

Indian firms in Uganda have invested in areas from agriculture to manufacturing. The major firms are the Ruparelia group, valued at $800 million, led by Ugandan-born Sudhir Ruparelia, and the Madhvani group.

UNI RN
Apollon Formularies Plc - Result of General Meeting

11 April 2023

Apollon Formularies Plc

Result of GM

Apollon Formularies plc (AQSE: APOL, "Apollon" or the "Company"), a UK-based international medical cannabis pharmaceutical company specialising in cutting edge research and treatment of patients with various conditions including cancer, chronic pain and epilepsy, is pleased to announce that following the Company's General Meeting held on 11 April 2023, all resolutions were duly passed.

As announced on 21 March 2023, the 28-day due diligence period extended to Global Hemp Group is expected to conclude on 28 April 2023. A further announcement will be made in due course.

The Asset disposal circular remains available at https://apollon.org.uk/.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

-ENDS-

For additional information, please visit www.apollon.org.uk or contact:

Apollon Formularies

Tel: +44 771 198 0221

Stene Jacobs stene@apollon.org.uk

Peterhouse Capital Limited (Corporate Adviser)

Tel: +44 207 220 9795

Guy Miller gm@peterhousecapital.com

BlytheRay (Financial PR/IR-London)

Tel: +44 207 138 3204

Tim Blythe/Megan Ray apollon@blytheray.com

About Apollon Formularies and Apollon Formularies Jamaica

Apollon Formularies plc is an international medical cannabis and medicinal mushroom pharmaceutical company headquartered in the United Kingdom. Apollon Formularies Jamaica Limited is a pharmaceutical company incorporated and operating in the Commonwealth of Jamaica since 2016. Apollon Jamaica is licensed by the Jamaican government's Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) to cultivate, perform research and development, process, and sell therapeutic products that include legal medical cannabis to treat various illnesses under medical supervision.

Apollon's proprietary medical cannabis formulations have undergone third-party testing which demonstrated the successful killing of nearly 100% of prostate, triple negative and HER2+ breast cancer cells in 3D cell cultures. Apollon's products are also used to treat patients suffering from different conditions, including chronic pain and epilepsy.
Partnership with leading global technology investor cements extraordinary growth trajectory and reputation as SaaS platform of choice for innovative knowledge-based organizations across the globe

CHICAGO, April 11, 2023, the company dedicated to Making Knowledge Work, today announced a strategic growth investment from Bain Capital Tech Opportunities, to accelerate its organic growth and the continued evolution of its cloud-based, AI-enabled knowledge work platform. iManage will continue to operate under the leadership of the existing management team, led by its CEO and co-founder Neil Araujo.

The minority investment by Bain Capital Tech Opportunities will help iManage build on the increasingly important role it plays enabling knowledge-based organizations to work productively, improve information governance, optimize workflow, and collaborate seamlessly. iManage has deeply invested in cloud, governance, AI, and workflow technologies to help serve over 4000 legal, accounting, and financial services organizations in more than 65 countries.

"This is a proud and pivotal moment in iManage's history. Endorsement by Bain Capital Tech Opportunities is a testament to the strength of the current business we have developed and the potential opportunity to grow and have a lasting impact," said Neil Araujo, CEO, iManage. "The partnership is a perfect fit thanks to our shared values on customer and employee experience. Bain Capital brings a wealth of experience that will support the scaling of our vision and enable us to accelerate our already extraordinary growth trajectory while remaining focused on the needs and aspirations of our customers. I am truly excited for the future as we continue to deliver on our mission to transform, enable and support how knowledge workers get work done."

"Neil and his tenured management team have done an outstanding job building iManage into a global leader, helping the world's leading organizations manage documents and email more efficiently while protecting vital information assets, meeting regulatory requirements, and improving workflows," said Phil Meicler, a Partner at Bain Capital Tech Opportunities. "The scale of our investment reflects our conviction in the iManage team, their vision and customer centric approach, and we are excited to partner with Neil and the team to help deepen and expand the product experience and continue to serve existing and new market opportunities."

"It's exciting to see a global investment firm in Bain Capital support companies like iManage that are tailoring technology for legal and professional services organizations, particularly at a time when technology continues to transform the way we work and help us serve our clients more effectively," said Matthew O'Brien, a partner at law firm Kirkland & Ellis, an iManage customer.

Lazard acted as exclusive financial advisor to iManage.

About iManage

iManage transforms how professionals in legal, accounting and financial services get work done by combining artificial intelligence, security, and risk mitigation with market-leading document and email management. iManage automates routine cognitive tasks, provides powerful insights, and streamlines how professionals work while maintaining the highest level of security and governance over critical client and corporate data. Over one million professionals at over 4,000 organizations in over 65 countries - including more than 2,500 law firms and 1,200 corporate legal departments and other enterprise customers - rely on iManage to deliver great client and corporate work - securely.

Follow iManage via:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imanage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/imanageinc

About Bain Capital Tech Opportunities

Bain Capital Tech Opportunities (www.baincapitaltechopportunities.com) aims to help growing technology companies reach their full potential. We focus on companies in large, growing end markets with innovative or disruptive technology where we believe we can support transformational growth. Our dedicated, tenured team has deep experience supporting growing technology businesses-bringing together differentiated backgrounds in private and public equity investing as well as technology operating roles. We invest behind fundamental long-term tailwinds as technology penetrates across industries, creating a large and growing number of investment opportunities. Bain Capital Tech Opportunities focuses on five priority sub-verticals: Application Software, Infrastructure & Security, Fintech & Payments, Healthcare IT, and Internet & Digital Media. We are a business unit of Bain Capital, one of the world's leading private investment firms with approximately $160 billion in assets under management that creates lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses, and the communities in which we live.

Press Contact Information:

Laura Whitehead

iManage

+44

Scott Lessne

Stanton

646-502-3569

slessne@stantonprm.com




EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on Increase of Shareholdings in the Company by Concerted Actor of the Actual Controller



11.04.2023 / 15:14 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG

Announcement on Increase of Shareholdings in the Company by Concerted Actor of the Actual Controller

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 11 April 2023 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Increase of Shareholdings in the Company by Concerted Actor of the Actual Controller.

The announcement is fully available at:

https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020230411715886998447.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Increase%20of%20Shareholdings%20in%20the%20Company%20by%20Concerted%20Actor%20of%20the%20Actual%20Controller



IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk

Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

Sven Pauly

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

11.04.2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Razom for Ukraine, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to building a more prosperous Ukraine, has been awarded the prestigious 2023 Bob Freeman Humanitarian Award. Named for one of MedShare's founders, the honor is awarded each year by MedShare International, a global humanitarian aid organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people, communities and the planet by reallocating surplus medical supplies and biomedical equipment.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Razom, which means "together" in Ukrainian, in partnership with MedShare, has sent 8 large shipments of critical medical supplies to Ukraine, with each shipment ranging from 5-25 pallets including items such as surgical external and internal fixators, orthopedic surgical implants and screws, hygiene kits, neurosurgical OR tablets, and other needed supplies. Thanks to MedShare's vast network of medical supply partners, Razom was able to distribute the much-needed donations of quality supplies to hospitals in most need across Ukraine via its NGO partners, including Zdorovi and Rescue Now.

"MedShare has stood by Razom's side and supported Ukraine from the early first weeks of war from coordinating shipment logistics door-to-door, guiding our procurement process, and being responsive to our needs on the ground and we are proud that they are still supporting us," said Dora Chomiak, Razom CEO. "They are an incredible, dedicated, empathetic and reliable humanitarian Non-Government Organization (NGO) that focuses its work on providing humanitarian and medical relief to disaster-wartorn zones and filling the supply chain with quality medical supplies. We are grateful to have built a trusted partnership and look forward to continuing life-saving work together."

"MedShare is proud to recognize the herculean efforts of Razom for Ukraine as we work together to deliver medical aid to Ukraine and to Ukrainian refugees," said Charles W. Redding, CEO President of MedShare. "We pledge to continue to work hand-in-hand with Razom and our other humanitarian partners to provide health and hope to the millions of men, women and children impacted by the ravages of war, and the selfless doctors, nurses, support personnel and volunteers committed to serving them and their families."

About Razom for Ukraine

Razom means "together" in Ukrainian.

The organization believes deeply in the enormous potential of dedicated volunteers around the world united by a single mission: to build and maintain a democratic and prosperous Ukraine.

Established in the United States, the non-profit organization works towards that mission by creating spaces where people meet, partner and do. In this time of need, they have created the Razom Emergency Response which is focused on purchasing medical supplies for critical situations like blood loss and other tactical medicine items, hospital supplies, and tech enabled emergency response supplies that facilitate the delivery of this aid. Razom's procurement and logistics teams are made up of a trusted volunteer network they've nurtured since 2014 and partner organizations worldwide. Razom is also working with governments and embassies on helping to establish humanitarian corridors. For more information, please visit Razom's website at https://www.razomforukraine.org/.

About MedShare International

MedShare is a 501c(3) humanitarian aid organization commemorating 25 years of dedicated service to improving the quality of life of people, communities, and our planet by sourcing, curating and delivering surplus medical supplies and equipment to meet the needs of vulnerable healthcare systems in 117 countries around the world. For more information, please visit the organization's website at www.medshare.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005242/en/

Contacts:

Nonna Tsiganok

Media Relations, Razom

nonna@razomforukraine.org
HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Namibia Critical Metals Inc. ("Namibia Critical Metals" or the "Company" or "NCMI") (TSXV:NM)(OTCQB:NMREF) is pleased to announce that its JOGMEC partner has committed an additional C$300,000 to the on going Lofdal joint venture exploration program. Under the conditions of approval by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Japan, JOGMEC has approved expenditures totalling C$10,375,000 through to May 31, 2023, which satisfies the Term 2 Expenditure requirement of C$10 million to earn 40% interest in the Lofdal Project.

The Company is currently completing a corporate re-structuring to facilitate JOGMEC's holding of its initial 40% interest in the Lofdal Project as they move into Term 3 of the agreement in June 2023.

The Company has also been advised by its JOGMEC partner that further to the public tender process announced on November 28, 2022, there was no acceptable offer received from a Japanese industrial company to acquire JOGMEC's interest in the Lofdal Project. The Company is scheduled to present the results of Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") and the Preliminary Feasibility Study ("PFS") currently under way to several Japanese companies in Tokyo and Osaka in late June in order to assist JOGMEC to identify an acceptable Japanese party.

The Company continues to advance the Lofdal Heavy Rare Earth project in Namibia. The Company filed a robust PEA for its expanded Lofdal 2B-4 Project on November 14, 2022, with a pre-tax NPV of USD$632.7 million and an annual IRR of 34% pre-tax with a capital expenditure of USD$207 million. The project is projected to generate a life of mine nominal cash flow of USD$1.1 billion pre-tax over a 16-year mine life. The November 14, 2022 PEA is based on mining and processing only 50% of the NI43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate.

The Company has commenced work towards delivering a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for the significantly larger project "Lofdal 2B-4" within the next 12 months with geotechnical drilling completed and in-fill resource drilling on going. The Company has also commenced pilot plant flotation work with SGS Canada Inc.

The Lofdal deposit has the potential for significant production of dysprosium and terbium, two of the most valuable heavy rare earth elements and is targeting to become a long term, sustainable supply of heavy rare earths.

Darrin Campbell, President of Namibia Critical Metals stated:

"We are thrilled to have the continued support and backing of our JOGMEC partner and their commitment to advancing Lofdal to production. Lofdal is clearly an important strategic investment for JOGMEC and Japan as they move to reduce reliance on China for supply of heavy rare earth metals. Together we have made very impressive progress in establishing Lofdal as a globally significant heavy rare earth project. I am also excited to travel to Japan in June to showcase our project to several top tier Japanese industrial companies."

About Namibia Critical Metals Inc.

NMI is developing the Tier-1 Heavy Rare Earth Project, Lofdal, a globally significant deposit of the heavy rare earth metals dysprosium and terbium. Demand for these critical metals used in permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and other electronics is driven by innovations linked to energy and technology transformations. The geopolitical risks associated with sourcing many of these metals has become a repeated concern for manufacturers and end users. Namibia is a proven and stable mining jurisdiction.

The Lofdal Project is fully permitted with a 25-year Mining License and is under a Joint Venture Agreement with Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

The Company filed a robust updated PEA for "Lofdal 2B-4" on November 14, 2022, with a post-tax NPV of USD$391 million and an annual IRR of 28% with a capital expenditure of USD$207 million. The project is projected to generate a life of mine nominal cash flow of USD$698 million post-tax over a 16-year mine life.

About Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) and the JV

JOGMEC is a Japanese government independent administrative agency which seeks to secure stable resource supplies for Japan. JOGMEC has a strong reputation as a long term, strategic partner in mineral projects globally. JOGMEC facilitates opportunities with Japanese private companies to secure supplies of natural resources for the benefit of the country's economic development.

Rare earths are of critical importance to Japanese industrial interests and JOGMEC has extensive experience with all aspects of the sector. JOGMEC provided Lynas with USD$250,000,000 in loans and equity in 2011 to ensure supplies of the Light Rare Earths metals suite to the Japanese industry.

Namibia Critical Metals owns a 95% interest in the Lofdal project with the remaining 5% held for the benefit of historically disadvantaged Namibians. The terms of the JOGMEC joint venture agreement with the Company stipulate that JOGMEC provides C$3,000,000 in Term 1 and C$7,000,000 in Term 2 to earn a 40% interest in the Lofdal project. Term 3 calls for a further C$10,000,000 of expenditures to earn an additional 10% interest. JOGMEC can also purchase another 1% for C$5,000,000 and has first right of refusal to fully fund the project through to commercial production and to purchase all production at market prices. The collective interests of NMI and historically disadvantaged Namibians cannot be diluted below a 26% carried working interest upon payment of C$5,000,000 to JOGMEC for the dilution protection. To date, JOGMEC has approved the budget for Term 1 and 2 totaling C$10,375,000 provided that part of this budget is subject to an approval by METI, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.

Other exploration projects: The Company's Exclusive Prospecting Licenses ("EPLs") prospective for gold are located in the Central Namibian Gold Belt which hosts a number of significant orogenic gold deposits including the Navachab Gold Mine, the Otjikoto Gold Mine and the Twin Hills deposit. At the Erongo Gold Project, stratigraphic equivalents to the meta-sediments hosting the Osino gold discovery at Twin Hills have been identified and exploration is progressing over this highly prospective area. The Grootfontein Base Metal and Gold Project has potential for magmatic copper-nickel mineralization, Mississippi Valley-type zinc-lead-vanadium mineralization and Otjikoto-style gold mineralization. Interpretation of geophysical data and regional geochemical soil sampling have identified first gold targets.

Rainer Ellmies, PhD, MScGeol, EurGeol, AusIMM and Vice President of Namibia Critical Metals Inc., is the Company's Qualified Person and has reviewed and approved this press release.

The common shares of Namibia Critical Metals Inc. trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NMI" and the OTCQB Market under the symbol "NMREF".

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.

For more information please contact -

Namibia Critical Metals Inc.

Darrin Campbell, President

Tel: +01 (902) 835-8760

Email: Info@NamibiaCMI.com Web site: www.NamibiaCriticalMetals.com

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Namibia Critical Metals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748517/JOGMEC-Commits-Additional-Funding-to-Complete-Term-2-of-JV-Agreement-for-Lofdal-Heavy-Rare-Earth-Project
-- Vieux Comptoir option agreement with Superior Mining International approved by the TSX Venture

-- Hertz Lithium commences trading under the symbol (CSE: HZ)

-- Patriot Lithium Inc. (ASX: PAT) continues to highlight prospectivity near Lucky Mica

-- Hertz holds option to license worldwide rights for Penn State lithium extraction technology

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Coloured Ties Capital Inc. (TSXV: TIE) (OTC Pink: APEOF) (FSE: 97A0) ("Coloured Ties" or the "Company"), an investment company focused on business incubation and opportunities that disrupt their industry, is pleased to provide the following update:

VIEUX COMPTOIR LITHIUM PROJECT OPTION AGREEMENT APPROVED BY TSX-V:

Further to the news release dated December 7, 2022, Quebec Pegmatite ("QPC") is pleased to report the TSX Venture Exchange has formally approved the option of the Vieux Comptoir Lithium Property to Superior Mining International (V.SUI).

Pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement QPC will receive the following share issuances:

7,000,000 common shares of Superior (the "Superior Shares") upon receipt of approval of the TSX Venture Exchange; 3,500,000 Superior Shares payable on the one-year anniversary of the Option Agreement; and 3,500,000 Superior Shares payable on the eighteen-month anniversary of the Option Agreement.

Additionally, Superior shall grant QPC a 3.0% net smelter return royalty (the "NSR Royalty") and the NSR Royalty may be reduced to 1.5% upon Superior making a cash payment of $3,000,000 to QPC.

The Vieux Comptoir Lithium Property comprises a total of 381 Quebec mineral exploration claims, which amount to a total of 19,533.81 hectares or ~195 square kilometers. Located in the centre of significant lithium discoveries by Patriot Battery Metals (V.PMET) only 45km west and Winsome Resources (ASX:WR1) 45km east.

The La Grande subprovince regional trend has encountered multiple high grade lithium intersections including recently announced 83.7m of 3.13% Li2O, including 19.8m of 5.28% Li2O from Patriot Battery Metals and over 107.6m of 1.34% Li2O from Winsome Resources.

The Vieux Comptoir Property encompasses lithium pegmatite prospective source rocks of the Vieux Comptoir Granitic Suite which have been identified on the Property. The Property sits along the volcanic belt and encompasses various intrusive suites including the lithium pegmatite prospective source rocks of the Vieux Comptoir Granitic Suite which have been mapped on the property. Regionally, the Vieux Comptoir Granitic Suite is known to host K-feldspar granite phases in pegmatite form which may host an abundance of spodumene.

Viuex Comptoir Lithium Property is underlain by the source rock (Vieux Comptoir suite) which would have injected pegmatite dykes into those greenstone rocks in the region. This geological interpretation strongly supports the prospectivity of the Project for further lithium discoveries.

HERTZ LITHIUM (CSE: HZ) COMPLETES IPO AND BEGINS TRADING ON CSE:

Coloured Ties reports that investee company, Hertz Lithium, has completed it's initial public offering and commenced trading on the CSE under symbol HZ. The offering consisted of the sale of 12,852,000 units at a price of $0.125 cents per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,606,500. Each unit consisted of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant is exercisable by the holder to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.25 cents per share for a period of two years from the listing date.

Coloured Ties owns 4,579,000 shares of Hertz Lithium and 4,379,000 warrants to buy additional shares at $0.25 per share. Hertz Lithium currently has 30,477,001 shares outstanding, which represents a 15% ownership by the Company in the issued and outstanding shares of Hertz Lithium.

ABOUT HERTZ LITHIUM:

Hertz Lithium owns 100% interest in the Lucky Mica Property, which covers 939 hectares in Maricopa Country, Arizona along the Arizona Pegmatite Belt.

Lucky Mica Property is an early-stage exploration project, with outcropping pegmatite over 300m, with anomalous Li, Ta, and Nb geochemistry and is well positioned in the Arizona Pegmatite Belt, an emerging high-grade hard rock lithium district with known lithium deposits. In 2017, grab samples performed by SGS Canada indicated ore grade potential with two samples exceeding 20,000 ppm of lithium. The most mineralized grab sample had 34,850 ppm of lithium.

PATRIOT LITHIUM'S (ASX: PAT) NOVA LITHIUM PROJECT SURROUNDING LUCKY MICA RESULTS:

Australian based and ASX listed Patriot Lithium (ASX: PAT)owns mineral claims surrounding the Hertz, Lucky Mica project and have reported promising lithium discoveries at the Dove Pegmatite on their adjoining claim block, SEE MAP.

"Three pegmatites have now been mapped at Dove that exhibit potential for spodumene mineralisation. Their surface expression can be traced along strike for at least ~440m at the Dove West pegmatite and ~430m at the Dove East pegmatites (Figures 1 and 2). The Dove West and East pegmatites are trending subparallel but are separated by ~90-120m. The apparent maximum width of the individual pegmatites is ~15m. A small pegmatite outcrop ~80m east of Dove East may represent a fourth, albeit poorly exposed pegmatite body of the Dove system. " Source

Coloured Ties Subsidiary Announces Approval of Option Agreement, Investee Company Hertz Lithium Begins Trading on CSE

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8431/161955_72c8cba3c482ab93_002full.jpg

Hertz Lithium is mobilizing it's own aggressive exploration program at the Lucky Mica Project and will update shareholders as results are obtained.

PENN STATE OPTION TO LICENCE PATENT PENDING EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGY OF LITHIUM FROM HARD ROCK SOURCES:

Hertz Lithium has an option to license the worldwide rights to patent pending technology from Penn State University's, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Penn State University is developing this new patent pending technology for the extraction of lithium from Spodumene with upwards of a 90% recovery factor. The current process of lithium extraction requires roasting the spodumene at a temperature of 1050 C to transform the natural crystalline form of spodumene to a form which can be leached at a high temperature. This is a costly, energy-extensive process. Penn State University's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences has submitted patents for a breakthrough technology that offers a way to extract the lithium from hard rock sources with increased economic efficiencies.

About Coloured Ties Capital Inc

Coloured Ties Capital is a TSX-V listed issuer that invests in early-stage commercial ventures and provides investee companies with capital market access and advisory services. The Company offers investors an opportunity to participate in early-stage opportunities that are often only offered to high net worth or institutional investors via investment in the Company's common shares listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under symbol (TSXV: TIE). TIE currently has a diverse portfolio of lithium investments including , Patriot Battery Metals (TSXV: PMET) (ASX: PMT), Azimut Exploration Inc (TSXV: AZM), Midland Exploration (TSXV:MD) Rockland Resources (TSXV: RKL), Hertz Lithium Inc (TSXV: HZ), Superior Mining International (TSXV: SUI), Power Metals (TSXV: PWM), Winsome Resources (ASX:WR1) and privately held Flowing Lithium Inc and Canuck Lithium Inc.

Coloured Ties Capital is a 2022 TSXV 50 Company.

About Quebec Pegmatite:

Quebec Pegmatite Inc is subsidiary of Coloured Ties and holds the Viexu Comptoir and Mazerac Lithium Projects located in the James Bay and Mazerac regions of Quebec. The company plans aggressive and extensive exploration programs for 2023 to explore the lithium potential of these properties.

For further information please contact:

Coloured Ties Capital Inc.

Kal Malhi Chief Executive Officer

kal@colouredtiescapital.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.

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Company will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by the Company.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release present the expectations of the Company as of the date hereof and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161955
Firstleaf Introduces New Eco-Friendly Wine Collection That Allows Wine Lovers To Go Green With Their Wine Selections

Firstleaf's Eco-Friendly Wines Highlight Company's Commitment to Sustainability

NAPA VALLEY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Firstleaf, America's Most Personalized Wine Company, is pleased to announce its Eco-Friendly Wine Collection , which features bottles from Earth-conscious producers. The company is committed to partnering with winemakers who prioritize sustainability and minimizing their environmental impact.

"At Firstleaf, we practice the tenets of Earth Day every day and take protecting our world seriously. As we curate wine from across the globe, we've witnessed many eco-friendly techniques that we champion and support-including organic and biodynamic farming, dry-farming and other sustainable practices," said Firstleaf Founder and CEO, Philip James. "We're thrilled to introduce our Eco-Friendly Wine Collection to the world as part of our commitment to sustainability and a greener planet."

Some member favorites from the Firstleaf Eco-Friendly Wine Collection include:

Trailstone 2020 Riesling: an award-winning and refreshingly fruity creation that hails from the cool vineyards of Washington.



an award-winning and refreshingly fruity creation that hails from the cool vineyards of Washington. Generala Paixao NV Vinho Tinto: a Platinum Medal-winning Portuguese wine with rich black fruit, white pepper, and vanilla accents.



a Platinum Medal-winning Portuguese wine with rich black fruit, white pepper, and vanilla accents. Musa Noctuaria 2020 Tempranillo: a 98 point "Best of Class" wine from Musa Noctuaria that radiates with fresh, floral aromas contrasted by rich and savory dark fruit flavors.

The wine industry relies on a healthy planet to thrive. According to the World Economic Forum, while the industry is traditionally a low-emitting sector, it is under particular threat from climate change. That's why many winemakers are putting sustainability at the heart of what they do. "Firstleaf recognizes that in order for winemakers in America and across the globe to continue producing a quality product, sustainability and a low-carbon footprint are paramount," said James.

By working with producers who prioritize sustainable vineyard and cellar practices, support their local and national eco-friendly measures, and eliminate waste, Firstleaf is taking steps toward a greener future. All Firstleaf shipments are made with 100 percent recyclable packaging, allowing customers to feel good about their orders and Firstleaf to continue to protect and nurture the beautiful world of wine.

To learn more about Firstleaf, please click here .

###

About Firstleaf

Firstleaf uses millions of data points to produce and curateeach shipment of award-winning wine from around the world so that members can explore new bottlesand discover new favorites tailored to their taste. Founded by Philip James, a wine industry veteran andOxford-educated chemist, the subscription service unites the art and science of wine. Firstleaf bringstogether proprietary technology, expert winemakers and a WSET-certified wine concierge team, to builda unique Wine Profile for each member and curate each shipment individually. With a wide variety ofwines from around the world, Firstleaf has over 82 million combinations of wines possible and 98% of itsmonthly boxes are unique.

Water is the most important ingredient in winemaking, and Firstleaf's official charity partner is Wine to Water: an international non-profit organization committed to building a holistic, community-based model by supporting the life and dignity of all through the power of clean water.

Recognized by Fast Company's Annual List of the World's Most Innovative Companies for 2022 andnamed 2021 Wine Company of the Year in the Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition,Firstleaf's wines have won over 2,850 awards with more than 500 bottles scoring over 90 points. Its teamof winemakers sample over 10,000 wines each year across 5 continents and 12 countries to select onlythe finest bottles. With a 96% approval rating of the world-class wines chosen for members, Firstleaf'sdeep understanding of winemaking and technology ensures the perfect selection for beginners toexperts. Over one million people have tried Firstleaf since the brand's inception.

For more information, please email press@firstleaf.com or visit http://www.firstleaf.com .

SOURCE: Firstleaf



View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748527/Firstleaf-Introduces-Eco-Friendly-Wine-Collection
BERLIN, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spotos, a logistics startup that digitised and reimagined freight forwarding principles, today announced that Marc Boileau, Senior Vice President of FourKites EMEA, has joined the company's Advisory Board. Marc will help guide Spotos through its aggressive expansion plans to achieve its ambition of improving every aspect of digital freight forwarding for shippers and carriers.





"We are delighted to welcome someone of Marc's calibre and knowhow to the Spotos Advisory Board," said Sarunas Stanislovenas, founder and CEO of Spotos. "Marc's experience in growing scalable businesses, as well as his insights on digitising supply chain processes make him an obvious choice to propel Spotos' business further."

Boileau has a wealth of supply chain experience in leadership, management and commercial roles. Since joining FourKites in October 2021, his expertise at driving customer success and building partnerships have been invaluable to the company's success in EMEA. In the last 12 months alone, FourKites achieved a 34% growth in EMEA customers and a 66% growth in customer shipments.

"I'm impressed with how Spotos is revolutionising and disrupting traditional freight exchange by enabling the best transparency, simplicity and accessibility for small and medium shippers," says Marc. "I'm honoured that they have asked me to join their Advisory Board and look forward to helping them build one of the world's leading freight forwarding platforms."

Today's announcement follows Spotos and FourKites' partnership announcement last month . The companies are working together to bring FourKites' network of end-to-end, real-time supply chain data to Spotos' European customers.

About Spotos

Spotos revolutionised the old-school logistics industry, combining it with cutting-edge innovation, customer-oriented design, and a futuristic vision. It offers shippers access to a wide network of carriers across the EU region. The platform powertrain includes data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/spotos-names-fourkites-marc-boileau-to-advisory-board-301794471.html
SINGAPORE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Plintron was awarded the Cloud Initiative of the Year - India award at the Asian Telecom Awards 2023 for the second consecutive year. Plintron also won the IoT Initiative of the year Award - India this year. The awards were presented in a glittering ceremony in Singapore last week.





Plintron was awarded the Cloud Initiative of the Year award for its IMS and VoLTE implementation in Italy. The project was completed seamlessly without any downtime to subscribers and is the first Multi-Host VoLTE solution in Public-cloud supporting the MVNOs on Plintron's platform in Italy who get access to enhanced quality and can make voice calls while browsing data simultaneously.

Plintron offers a complete IMS solution deployed in the public cloud and is a customized solution routing the incoming traffic of only VoLTE registered customers to the IMS platform. This avoids the need of routing all incoming calls by default to IMS irrespective of customer registration status, and eliminates additional infrastructure capacity requirements for handling all the calls.

Plintron also won the IoT Initiative of the Year award for in-house development of IoT Connectivity Management Platform (CMP). It is a single pane of glass dashboard to manage customers' IoT SIM connectivity Management ranging from Lifecycle management to Billing and provisioning. This CMP will aid customers in faster implementation, control costs, improve customer experience and generate new revenue streams from different segments. Over 200,000 customer profiles were on-boarded in the first 6 months. This was first implemented in India and now being extended to LATAM and Europe.

Subhashree Radhakrishnan, Vice Chairman and co-founder of Plintron said, "Being awarded the Asian Telecom Awards in 2 categories is a recognition of Plintron's constant focus on innovation and will motivate Plintron to continue contributing to the growth of the telecommunications industry."

About Plintron

Plintron is a digital communications technology company enabling brands to acquire and engage customers. It is the World's largest Multi-Country end-to-end MVNA / MVNE with a client base in 6 continents. With mobile network services in over 31 countries spanning 6 continents supported by 1000+ telecom professionals, Plintron has launched 143+ MVNOs / OMVs and 165 million+ mobile subscribers. Plintron has won many global industry awards including "MVNE of the Year" at the MVNOs World Congress 2022.

www.plintron.com

Media Contact:

Shamik Biswas

marketing@plintron.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/plintron-wins-asian-telecom-awards-for-the-second-consecutive-year-301789078.html
The underground construction equipment market has witnessed significant growth over the past decade, due to the increase in urbanization and transportation around the world.

PORTLAND, Ore., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Underground Construction Equipment Market by Type (Tunneling Equipment, Piercing Tools, Vibratory Plows, Load and Haul Equipment, Underground Utility Vehicles, De-watering System, Shotcrete Solutions), by Solution Type (Product, Services), by Application (Oil and Gas, Railway and Highway, Municipal Engineering, Underground Mining, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report, the global underground construction equipment industry generated $19.4 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to generate $31.3 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 4.7% 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/54157



Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities-

The demand for infrastructure developments has increased due to the rise in urbanization and transportation around the world. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the underground construction equipment market. However, factors such as stringent government regulations, carbon emissions, and high investment costs impede the growth of the underground construction equipment market. On the contrary, technological advancements are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the players that operate in the underground construction equipment market.

Covid-19 Scenario-

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the demand for construction equipment, which caused many businesses to postpone or cancel construction projects, thereby causing a diminishing demand for underground construction machinery.

However, despite these difficulties, the underground construction equipment market persevered through the pandemic. This is because many governments implemented stimulus programs to encourage the purchase of new infrastructure. Thus, as the global situation began to recover, there came a growing demand for the adoption of new technologies like remote monitoring and autonomous machinery.

The railway and highway segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

By application, the railway and highway segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global underground construction equipment market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is owing to the rise in the number of railway and highway construction projects in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the oil and gas segment would display the fastest CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the increasing demand for oil and gas.

Buy This Research Report (278 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures):

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/ee41890f5cb701ab10e5b38008302044

The tunneling equipment segment to maintain its dominance by 2021-

By type, the tunneling equipment segment held the highest market share in 2021, contributing to more than half of the global underground construction equipment market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is due to the high cost of tunneling equipment and its extensive use in railway and highway construction. Furthermore, the shotcrete solutions segment is projected to cite the highest CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period. This is due to technological developments and their importance in tunnel construction.

The product segment to grab the lion's share during the forecast period-

By solution type, the product segment held the highest market share in 2021, garnering more than four-fifths of the global underground construction equipment market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its lion's share throughout the forecast period. The growth of the segment is attributed to the high cost of products and increasing sales in the Asia-Pacific region. However, the services segment would showcase the fastest CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period. This is owing to the requirement of recurring servicing of underground construction equipment.

Asia-Pacific to rule the roost by 2031-

By region, Asia-Pacific held the major share in 2021, contributing to nearly half of the global underground construction equipment market revenue and is projected to rule the roost by 2031. This is due to explosive growth of the construction industry in India and China. Simultaneously, the LAMEA region would portray the fastest CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period. The growth of the region is attributed to rising investments in infrastructure development projects in Africa and the Middle East.

Enquire Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/54157

Leading Market Players-

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Sany Group Co., Ltd.

Global TBM Company

Epiroc AB

Komatsu Ltd.

China Railway Group Limited

Caterpillar Inc.

Herren Knecht AG

Sandvik AB

Mitsubishi Corporation

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global underground construction equipment 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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Underground Mining Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2030

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New Delhi/Kampala, April 11 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday held bilateral talks with Ugandan Foreign Minister General Odongo Jeje during which they explored the possibilities in bilateral trade and investments, energy, defence and air connectivity.

EAM Jaishankar later also participated in a virtual ground-breaking ceremony of solar-powered piped drinking water supply systems funded by the Exim Bank in Uganda.

In tweets, he said:

Comprehensive discussions with FM @GenJejeOdongo of Uganda. Thanked him for the warmth of the welcome.

Appreciate Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water & Environment, Mwebesa Francis, Minister of Trade, Industry & Cooperatives and MoS for Foreign Affairs @okelloryem for joining us.

Took stock of our close and historical ties that have been given greater intensity by our leadership. Possibilities in trade & investments, energy, defense and air connectivity being explored.

Noted successful delivery of Indian Development Partnership projects which will aim towards empowerment, capacity building and enhancing human resource capacity.

Affirmed that PM Modis Kampala principles will be further implemented with focus on digital, green and health projects.

As important partners in multilateral fora, expressed firm support of Ugandas NAM chairship and exchanged perspectives on UN and need for Reformed Multilateralism, he posted.

On his participation in the ground-breaking ceremony, he tweeted that the project will provide safe drinking water supply to half a million Ugandans.

Participated in the virtual groundbreaking ceremony of solar powered piped drinking water supply systems funded by @IndiaEximBank in Uganda.

This project will provide safe and sustainable water supply to half a million Ugandans across 20 rural districts.

On Monday, EAM Jaishankar called on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure and energy among other subjects.

He also participated in the launch of the Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project in Varanasi and appreciated the BJP partys Ugandan wing to contribute to further beautifying the ancient Indian city.

In July 2018, during a visit to Kampala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a set of 10 guiding principles that would dictate Indias engagement with Africa.

In a speech to the Ugandan parliament, Modi outlined Indias vision for not just a bilateral relationship with Africa but also a partnership at the global level.

EAM Jaishankar is visiting Uganda, a landlocked country in East Africa, from April 10-12.



He will 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.

He will also address the trade and business community of Uganda and have an interaction with the Indian diaspora.

There are around 30,000 Indians in a country of nearly 50 million, accounting for less than one percent of the population, yet they contribute to 65 percent of the government revenues in the form of taxes.

Indian firms in Uganda have invested in areas from agriculture to manufacturing. The major firms are the Ruparelia group, valued at $800 million, led by Ugandan-born Sudhir Ruparelia, and the Madhvani group.

UNI RN
Dynamic adjustments in consumer tastes, high tendency towards tasty, low-alcohol, and low-calorie beverages, the rise in the impact of western culture, rapid urbanization, and changes in consumer perception towards the consumption of alcoholic beverages drive the global vodka seltzer market.

PORTLAND, Ore., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Vodka Seltzer Market by Type (ABV Less Than 4.6%, ABV More Than 4.6%), by Packaging (Metal Cans, Bottles), by Distribution Channel (On-trade, Off-trade): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report, the global vodka seltzer industry was valued at $472.3 million in 2021 and is estimated to generate $2.0 billion, witnessing a CAGR of 13.8% 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.





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Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities

The global vodka seltzer market is expected to experience growth in the coming years, owing to factors, such as the rise in the impact of western culture, rapid urbanization, changes in consumer perception towards the consumption of alcoholic beverages, dynamic adjustments in consumer tastes, high tendency towards tasty, low-alcohol, and low-calorie beverages. However, a lack of product knowledge among the population of major developing countries and the rise in awareness among consumers to maintain tooth health restrain the market growth. On the other hand, huge investments made by international brewery companies in vodka seltzer production present prolific growth opportunities in the future.

COVID-19 Scenario: Please write the Covid section in the past tense, as told to you earlier

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the sales of alcoholic beverages around the globe. Key players and vendors experienced difficulties due to poor logistics, traffic control, and restrictions on public movement in the affected countries around the world, resulting in supply disruptions.

Additionally, pubs and restaurants that made a fortune by supplying alcohol were adversely affected, since socializing became obsolete. All these factors affected the growth of the market during the pandemic era.

Post-pandemic, the global vodka seltzer market is projected to grow at a significant rate in the coming years, with the surging popularity of alcoholic seltzer for special occasions.

The ABV more than 4.6% segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on type, the ABV more than 4.6% segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global vodka seltzer market and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The growth is attributed to its wide availability, high market penetration, and high consumption. However, the ABV less than 4.6% segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 14.5% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to the increased consumer preference for low-alcoholic drinks.

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The metal cans segment to dominate the market during the forecast period

In terms of packaging, the metal cans segment contributed to the largest share of more than 90% of the global vodka seltzer market in 2021 and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. Metal cans are a suitable packaging option for packing alcoholic beverages that provides ease during usage. The bottles segment, on the other hand, is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 14.9% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to the increased use of bottles for packaging by manufacturers because it is convenient and cost-effective.

The off-trade segment to rule the roost throughout the forecast timeframe

Based on distribution channel, the off-trade segment grabbed the highest share of more than two-thirds of the overall vodka seltzer market in 2021 and is projected to maintain its dominance in 2031. Moreover, the same segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 14.2% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to the rapid westernization trends, the emergence of modern trade in the developing regions, and the increased association of the internet and e-shopping in the developing regions.

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North America to maintain its dominance by 2031

By region, the market in North America was the largest in 2021, accounting for more than four-fifths of the global vodka seltzer market and is likely to dominate in terms of revenue in 2031. The growth of the segment is driven by the increasing awareness and rising marketing activities in the developing countries, such as the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The market in Asia-Pacific, however, is likely to show the fastest CAGR of 17.2% during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the increase in westernization and adoption of innovative vodka seltzer products among consumers in the region.

Leading Market Players:

Diageo plc.

High Noon Spirits Company

Pernod Ricard

Carlton & United Breweries

Cutwater Spirits, LLC

East London Liquor Company Limited

Boston Beer Co. Inc.

Mark Anthony Brewing, Inc

Molson Coors Beverage Company

Nude Beverages

La Dolce Vita Seltzer

Southern Tier Distilling Company

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global vodka seltzer 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.

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About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of " Market Research Reports " and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. 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:

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Doctrine, a leading provider of legal intelligence solutions, today announced a majority growth investment from Summit Partners and Peugeot Invest.

Information tools are critical for day-to-day legal work. With an ever-expanding volume of available data, the ability to properly search and articulate such data has become time-consuming and unwieldy for legal professionals.

Doctrine was founded in 2016 with a vision to innovate legal search and is a pioneer in the application of artificial intelligence to legal data. The company's legal intelligence platform aggregates, contextualizes and automates the processing of legal information and is designed to empower legal professionals to conduct more accurate and efficient search and save time, limit errors and focus on higher value-add tasks. Doctrine has grown by more than 20x in the last five years, and today the company serves more than 11,000 clients.

"Legal professionals across the globe are struggling to keep up with the proliferation of available legal data," said Guillaume Carrere, CEO of Doctrine. "Doctrine offers a technological solution to this widespread problem, allowing legal professionals to efficiently and accurately locate, understand and harness massive amounts of information in order to build the most impactful legal strategies."

"Early on, we made the decision to focus on profitable growth, and this approach has informed our operations and our culture," added Carrere. "We are focused on continuing to apply this approach as we develop innovative solutions that support legal professionals in France and around the world. We believe Summit Partners' experience will allow us to continue our development and build a leader in legal technology."

"We believe Doctrine is a pioneer in bringing technology innovation to the field of legal information. We're thrilled to partner with this dynamic, talented and visionary team, and we look forward to working together to build upon the company's impressive momentum and support its continued growth," said Johannes Grefe, Managing Director, and Chris Bon, Principal at Summit Partners.

Bertrand Finet, CEO at Peugeot Invest, added, "We are proud to support Doctrine with this investment, which aligns with our growth strategy to support the technology leaders of tomorrow."

About Doctrine

Founded in 2016, Paris-based Doctrine is a leading provider of data, search and productivity solutions for legal professionals. The Doctrine platform includes a search engine, a document analyzer module, real-time monitoring and alerts on any changes in legislation or case law, and a folder functionality to save references and build cases. More than 11,000 legal professionals use Doctrine to devise winning legal strategies and minimize risk for their clients. For more information, please visit: https://www.doctrine.fr/, or follow Doctrine on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Summit Partners

Founded in 1984, Summit Partners is a global alternative investment firm that is currently managing more than $36 billion in capital dedicated to growth equity, fixed income and public equity opportunities. Summit invests across growth sectors of the economy and has invested in more than 550 companies in technology, healthcare and other growth industries. Summit maintains offices in North America and Europe, and invests in companies around the world. For more information, please see www.summitpartners.com or follow Summit Partners on LinkedIn.

About Peugeot Invest

Peugeot Invest is an investment company listed on Euronext, majority owned by Etablissements Peugeot Freres. Peugeot Invest is one of the leading shareholders in Stellantis and Forvia, via its Peugeot 1810 subsidiary, and pursues a policy of establishing shareholdings with a long-term view. Peugeot Invest holds interests in listed companies (such as SEB, LISI and SPIE), non-listed companies (such as International SOS, Signa Prime or Signa Development), co-investments (ArchiMed or JAB Holding), and investment funds.

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Contacts:

Susan Barr

Summit Partners

sbarr@summitpartners.com
The prevalence of Epilepsy has been rising over the past few years, which prompts the growing demand for treatment options. The increasing prevalence of Epilepsy and the growing research and development activities to develop novel therapies to treat Epilepsy to drive the market. The companies developing the potential therapies in the last stage of development include Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Engage Therapeutics, Janssen Biotech, and several others

LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's 'Epilepsy Pipeline Insight - 2023' report provides comprehensive global coverage of available, marketed, and pipeline epilepsy therapies in various stages of clinical development, major pharmaceutical companies are working to advance the pipeline space and future growth potential of the epilepsy pipeline domain.





Key Takeaways from the Epilepsy Pipeline Report

DelveInsight's epilepsy pipeline report depicts a robust space with 70+ active players working to develop 75+ pipeline therapies for epilepsy treatment.

active players working to develop pipeline therapies for epilepsy treatment. Key epilepsy companies such as Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Xenon Pharmaceuticals, GW Pharmaceuticals, Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Abide therapeutics, Otsuka pharmaceutical, H. Lundbeck A/S, Spark Therapeutics, Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals, ES Therapeutics, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MGC Pharmaceuticals, Engrail Therapeutics INC, SK biopharmaceuticals, Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals, Cerevel Therapeutics, LLC, Neurona Therapeutics, Praxis Precision Medicines, UCB Pharma, Receptor Life Sciences, NeuroPro Therapeutics, Inc., Avicanna, Amring Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ovid Therapeutics, Addex Therapeutics, IAMA Therapeutics, CODA Biotherapeutics, Cerebral Therapeutics, Engrail Therapeutics, and others are evaluating new epilepsy drugs to improve the treatment landscape.

and others are evaluating new epilepsy drugs to improve the treatment landscape. Promising epilepsy pipeline therapies in various stages of development include Alprazolam, XEN1101, XEN-496, XEN 901, GWP42006, EQU-001, TAK-935, Lu AG06466, OPC-214870, CG 01, EQU-001, ES-481, SPN-817, MGCND00EP1, NBI 827104, ENX-101, Cenobamate, SKL-24741, LP-352, JNJ-40411813, EQU-001, CVL-865, NRTX 1001, PRAX 628, Padsevonil, RLS103, NPT 2042, AVCN-319302, PRAX-020, AMZ002, OV 350, IAMA-6, CT-010, ENX-101, and others.

and others. In March 2023 , IAMA Therapeutics , a preclinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel medicines to make a difference in the lives of individuals suffering from brain disorders, announced that preclinical data supporting its IAMA-6 program in focal refractory epilepsy will be presented at the 75th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, taking place on April 22-27 in Boston, Massachusetts .

, , a preclinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel medicines to make a difference in the lives of individuals suffering from brain disorders, announced that preclinical data supporting its in focal refractory epilepsy will be presented at the 75th American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, taking place on in . In February 2023 , Addex Therapeutics announced that enrollment into Part 1 of Phase 2 clinical study of ADX71149 (JNJ-40411813) for the treatment of epilepsy had been completed. ADX71149 is a selective metabotropic glutamate type 2 (mGlu2) receptor-positive allosteric modulator (PAM). Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, is conducting the trial.

, announced that enrollment into Part 1 of Phase 2 clinical study of for the treatment of epilepsy had been completed. ADX71149 is a selective metabotropic glutamate type 2 (mGlu2) receptor-positive allosteric modulator (PAM). Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, is conducting the trial. In January 2023 , Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals Corp ., reported positive topline results from the Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the clinical safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of EQU-001 - a novel anti-inflammatory anti-seizure medication - administered as once-daily oral adjunctive therapy for focal seizures in adults with epilepsy. The results of the EQU-001 study are encouraging because they demonstrate impressive tolerability and encouraging efficacy for adult patients with focal epilepsy, especially for those with seizures that are difficult to treat.

, ., reported positive topline results from the clinical trial evaluating the clinical safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of - a novel anti-inflammatory anti-seizure medication - administered as once-daily oral adjunctive therapy for focal seizures in adults with epilepsy. The results of the EQU-001 study are encouraging because they demonstrate impressive tolerability and encouraging efficacy for adult patients with focal epilepsy, especially for those with seizures that are difficult to treat. In January 2023 , Signant Health , introduced a novel electronic diary (eDiary) data capture solution designed to simplify the experience for patients and research sites participating in epilepsy trials while ensuring robust outcome assessment data to support trial endpoints. Developed in collaboration with The Epilepsy Study Consortium (TESC), the new patient-reported outcome measure offers clinical research sponsors and organizations a standardized solution to capture common seizure data elements with high-quality data.

, , introduced a novel electronic diary (eDiary) data capture solution designed to simplify the experience for patients and research sites participating in epilepsy trials while ensuring robust outcome assessment data to support trial endpoints. Developed in with (TESC), the new patient-reported outcome measure offers clinical research sponsors and organizations a standardized solution to capture common seizure data elements with high-quality data. In June 2022 , CODA Biotherapeutics , Inc. announced that preclinical data from the Company's focal epilepsy program demonstrated that treatment with the Company's lead-engineered receptor and small molecule activator drug significantly reduced focal seizure frequency in vivo. Results showed that the rapid reduction in seizures is consistent with the pharmacokinetics of the activator drug in mouse models. Data also demonstrated that the expression of CODA's lead receptor is highly correlated with a reduction in seizure frequency.

, , Inc. announced that preclinical data from the Company's focal epilepsy program demonstrated that treatment with the Company's lead-engineered receptor and small molecule activator drug significantly reduced focal seizure frequency in vivo. Results showed that the rapid reduction in seizures is consistent with the pharmacokinetics of the activator drug in mouse models. Data also demonstrated that the expression of CODA's lead receptor is highly correlated with a reduction in seizure frequency. In September 2022 , Avicanna Inc. was pleased to announce that it has expanded its research collaboration in the field of Epilepsy with a new collaboration with the University of Toronto and Dr. Mac Burnham's research team to explore the efficacy of Avicanna's proprietary formulations in pre-clinical models for Epilepsy. The research collaboration led by Dr. Mac Burnham's team will explore the efficacy of Avicanna's drug candidates, including AVCN319302, in animal models for Epilepsy.

, was pleased to announce that it has expanded its research collaboration in the field of Epilepsy with a new collaboration with the and Dr. research team to explore the efficacy of Avicanna's proprietary formulations in pre-clinical models for Epilepsy. The research collaboration led by Dr. team will explore the efficacy of Avicanna's drug candidates, including AVCN319302, in animal models for Epilepsy. In December 2022 , Praxis Precision Medicines , Inc. and UCB announced a strategic collaboration, based upon Praxis' PRAX-020 program, for the discovery of small molecule therapeutics as potential treatments of KCNT1-related epilepsies. Under the terms of the collaboration, UCB retains an exclusive option to in-license global development and commercialization rights to any resulting KCNT1 small molecule development candidate.

, , Inc. and announced a strategic collaboration, based upon Praxis' program, for the discovery of small molecule therapeutics as potential treatments of KCNT1-related epilepsies. Under the terms of the collaboration, UCB retains an exclusive option to in-license global development and commercialization rights to any resulting KCNT1 small molecule development candidate. In January 2022 , Ovid Therapeutics Inc. announced the company has entered into an exclusive license agreement with AstraZeneca for a library of early-stage small molecules targeting the KCC2 transporter, including lead candidate OV350. The company seeks to optimize and accelerate the development of these KCC2 transporter activators in epilepsies and potentially other neuropathic conditions.

, announced the company has entered into an exclusive with for a library of early-stage small molecules targeting the KCC2 transporter, including lead candidate The company seeks to optimize and accelerate the development of these KCC2 transporter activators in epilepsies and potentially other neuropathic conditions. In August 2021 , Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with Orion Corporation whereby Orion received exclusive rights to commercialize the oral and intravenous (IV) dose formulations of ganaxolone in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom , and Switzerland for CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and refractory status epilepticus (RSE).

Request a sample and discover the recent advances in epilepsy drug treatment @ Epilepsy Pipeline Report

The epilepsy pipeline report provides detailed profiles of pipeline assets, a comparative analysis of clinical and non-clinical stage epilepsy drugs, inactive and dormant assets, a comprehensive assessment of driving and restraining factors, and an assessment of opportunities and risks in the epilepsy clinical trial landscape.

Epilepsy Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by unprovoked, recurrent seizures. A seizure is an uncontrollable surge of electrical activity in the brain. Seizures are classified into two types. Seizures that affect the entire brain are known as generalized seizures. Focal seizures, also known as partial seizures, affect only one part of the brain. A mild seizure can be difficult to detect. It can last a few seconds, and you are unaware of it. Stronger seizures, lasting from a few seconds to several minutes, can cause spasms and uncontrollable muscle twitches.

Epilepsy symptoms vary according to the area of the brain where seizure activity occurs and the type of seizure. Epilepsy symptoms may include: stiff muscles, Become stiff and falling backward, muscles relaxing and going floppy, confusion, breathing becomes difficult, unconscious, visual disturbances/hallucinations, uncontrollable jerking and shaking, called a "fit," losing awareness and staring blankly into space, strange sensations, such as a "rising" feeling in the tummy, unusual smells or tastes, and a tingling feeling in your arms or legs and collapsing. Epilepsy treatment can help most people with epilepsy have fewer seizures or completely stop having seizures.

Find out more about drugs for epilepsy @ New Epilepsy Drugs

A snapshot of the Epilepsy Pipeline Drugs mentioned in the report:

Drugs Company Phase MoA RoA Alprazolam inhalation Engage Therapeutics Phase III GABA A receptor agonists Inhalation XEN1101 Xenon Pharmaceuticals Phase III KCNQ potassium channel agonists Oral TAK-935 Takeda Pharmaceuticals Phase II Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase inhibitors; NMDA receptor modulators Oral Cannabidivarin GW Pharmaceuticals Phase II Cannabinoid receptor modulators NA EQU-001 Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals Phase II Undefined mechanism Oral OPC 214870 Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Phase I Undefined mechanism Oral AVCN-319302 Avicanna Preclinical Cannabinoid receptor modulators NA

Learn more about the emerging epilepsy pipeline therapies @ Epilepsy Clinical Trials

Epilepsy Therapeutics Assessment

The epilepsy pipeline report proffers an integral view of epilepsy emerging novel therapies segmented by stage, product type, molecule type, mechanism of action, and route of administration.

Scope of the Epilepsy Pipeline Report

Coverage : Global

: Global Therapeutic Assessment By Product Type: Mono, Combination, Mono/Combination

Mono, Combination, Mono/Combination Therapeutic Assessment By Clinical Stages: Discovery, Pre-clinical, Phase I, Phase II, Phase III

Discovery, Pre-clinical, Phase I, Phase II, Phase III Therapeutics Assessment By Route of Administration: Intra-articular, Intraocular, Intrathecal, Intravenous, Ophthalmic, Oral, Parenteral, Subcutaneous, Topical, Transdermal

Intra-articular, Intraocular, Intrathecal, Intravenous, Ophthalmic, Oral, Parenteral, Subcutaneous, Topical, Transdermal Therapeutics Assessment By Molecule Type : Oligonucleotide, Peptide, Small molecule

: Oligonucleotide, Peptide, Small molecule Therapeutics Assessment By Mechanism of Action: KCNQ potassium channel agonists, Monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors, Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase inhibitors, NMDA receptor modulators, AMPA receptor antagonists, GABA A receptor agonists, Cannabinoid receptor modulators

KCNQ potassium channel agonists, Monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors, Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase inhibitors, NMDA receptor modulators, AMPA receptor antagonists, GABA A receptor agonists, Cannabinoid receptor modulators Key Epilepsy Companies : Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Xenon Pharmaceuticals, GW Pharmaceuticals, Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Abide therapeutics, Otsuka pharmaceutical, H. Lundbeck A/S, Spark Therapeutics, Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals, ES Therapeutics, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MGC Pharmaceuticals, Engrail Therapeutics INC, SK biopharmaceuticals, Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals, Cerevel Therapeutics, LLC, Neurona Therapeutics, Praxis Precision Medicines, UCB Pharma, Receptor Life Sciences, NeuroPro Therapeutics, Inc., Avicanna, Amring Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ovid Therapeutics, Addex Therapeutics, IAMA Therapeutics, CODA Biotherapeutics, Cerebral Therapeutics, Engrail Therapeutics, and others.

: Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Xenon Pharmaceuticals, GW Pharmaceuticals, Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Abide therapeutics, Otsuka pharmaceutical, H. Lundbeck A/S, Spark Therapeutics, Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals, ES Therapeutics, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., MGC Pharmaceuticals, Engrail Therapeutics INC, SK biopharmaceuticals, Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals, Cerevel Therapeutics, LLC, Neurona Therapeutics, Praxis Precision Medicines, UCB Pharma, Receptor Life Sciences, NeuroPro Therapeutics, Inc., Avicanna, Amring Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ovid Therapeutics, Addex Therapeutics, IAMA Therapeutics, CODA Biotherapeutics, Cerebral Therapeutics, Engrail Therapeutics, and others. Key Epilepsy Pipeline Therapies: Alprazolam, XEN1101, XEN-496, XEN 901, GWP42006, EQU-001, TAK-935, Lu AG06466, OPC-214870, CG 01, EQU-001, ES-481, SPN-817, MGCND00EP1, NBI 827104, ENX-101, Cenobamate, SKL-24741, LP-352, JNJ-40411813, EQU-001, CVL-865, NRTX 1001, PRAX 628, Padsevonil, RLS103, NPT 2042, AVCN-319302, PRAX-020, AMZ002, OV 350, IAMA-6,CT-010, ENX-101, and others.

Dive deep into rich insights for new drugs for epilepsy treatment; visit @ Epilepsy Medications

Table of Contents

1. Epilepsy Pipeline Report Introduction 2. Epilepsy Pipeline Report Executive Summary 3. Epilepsy Pipeline: Overview 4. Analytical Perspective In-depth Commercial Assessment 5. Epilepsy Clinical Trial Therapeutics 6. Epilepsy Pipeline: Late Stage Products (Pre-registration) 7. Epilepsy Pipeline: Late Stage Products (Phase III) 7.1. XEN1101: Xenon Pharmaceuticals 8. Epilepsy Pipeline: Mid Stage Products (Phase II) 8.1. EQU-001: Equilibre Biopharmaceuticals 9. Epilepsy Pipeline: Early Stage Products (Phase I) 9.1. OPC 214870: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. 10. Epilepsy Pipeline Therapeutics Assessment 11. Inactive Products in the Epilepsy Pipeline 12. Company-University Collaborations (Licensing/Partnering) Analysis 13. Key Companies 14. Key Products in the Epilepsy Pipeline 15. Unmet Needs 16. Market Drivers and Barriers 17. Future Perspectives and Conclusion 18. Analyst Views 19. Appendix

For further information on the epilepsy pipeline therapeutics, reach out @ Epilepsy Drug Treatment

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The increasing infrastructure development in emerging economies is driving the demand for firefighting foam. This is because firefighting foam is required to ensure fire safety in large buildings and infrastructure projects.

PUNE, India, April 11, 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 Firefighting Foam Market.





Firefighting Foam Market In Upcoming Years

The firefighting foam market is expected to experience moderate growth in the upcoming years. The use of firefighting foam has become increasingly common in various industries, including oil and gas, chemical, and aviation, among others, to control and extinguish fires.

One of the factors driving the growth of the firefighting foam market is the increasing number of fire incidents in various industries, which is creating a demand for effective fire control solutions. Additionally, the growing adoption of firefighting foam by governments and regulatory bodies as a safer and more efficient fire suppression solution is expected to further fuel market growth.

However, the firefighting foam market is also facing some challenges, such as the environmental concerns related to the use of certain foam formulations. This has led to the development of newer, environmentally friendly formulations, which are gaining popularity and are expected to drive market growth in the future.

Overall, the firefighting foam market is expected to witness moderate growth in the upcoming years, driven by the increasing demand for effective fire suppression solutions across various industries, as well as the development of newer, environmentally friendly formulations.

Click & Get Free Sample Report in Minutes:

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/6240/firefighting-foam-market/request-a-sample

Firefighting Foam Market Drivers:

Increasing demand for fire safety measures: The increasing awareness about fire safety measures in various industries such as oil and gas, chemical, and aviation, among others, is driving the demand for firefighting foam. This is because firefighting foam is an effective solution for controlling and extinguishing fires.

Stringent regulations and safety standards: Governments and regulatory bodies across the world have implemented stringent regulations and safety standards related to fire safety in various industries. This has led to an increased demand for firefighting foam as it is a safer and more efficient fire suppression solution.

Growing infrastructure development: The increasing infrastructure development in emerging economies is driving the demand for firefighting foam. This is because firefighting foam is required to ensure fire safety in large buildings and infrastructure projects.

Here Are Some Of The Technological Advancements In The Firefighting Foam Market:

High-Expansion Foam: High-expansion foam is a type of foam that expands rapidly and can be used to fill large spaces quickly. This type of foam is particularly useful for controlling fires in confined spaces, such as storage tanks or ship holds.

Fluorine-Free Foam: Fluorine-free foam is a type of firefighting foam that does not contain perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are known to have harmful environmental effects. Fluorine-free foam is gaining popularity due to its environmental benefits and is being increasingly used in industries such as aviation and oil and gas.

AFFF Foam: Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a type of foam that creates a film on the surface of the fuel, which suppresses the fire. AFFF foam is particularly useful for suppressing fires involving hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline or diesel.

Competitive Insight

Some Of The Notable Market Players Operating In The Global Firefighting Foam Market Covered In This Report Are:

Johnson Controls

Perimeter Solutions

Dr. Sthamer

National Foam

Ang Fire

Kerr Fire

Eau&Feu, And Sffeco Global

Angus Fire Limited

Ansul

A uxquimia S.A.

Chemguard Inc.

Dafo Fomtec Ab

Dic Corporation

Fabrik chemischer Praparate von Dr. Richard Sthamer Gmbh & Co. Kg

Eau Et Feu

Johnson Controls International Plc

Kerr Fire

National Foam Inc.

Perimeter Solutions

Sabo Foam S.R.L.

Sffeco Global Fze

Solberg

Williams Fire & Hazard Control Inc and others

Recent Developments:

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Firefighting: AI is being increasingly used in firefighting to improve the response time and effectiveness of firefighting operations. For example, AI-powered firefighting drones can quickly locate the source of the fire and provide real-time information to firefighters on the ground.

Introduction of Next-Generation Foams: Next-generation firefighting foams, such as fluorine-free foam and high-expansion foam, are gaining popularity due to their improved environmental performance and fire suppression capabilities.

Adoption of Firefighting Robots: Firefighting robots are being increasingly adopted to assist firefighters in dangerous situations. These robots can be remotely operated and can perform tasks such as extinguishing fires, searching for victims, and providing real-time information to firefighters.

Browse the full "Firefighting Foam Market by Type (Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), Alcohol Resistant Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AR-AFFF), Protein Foam (PF), Synthetic Detergent Foam (Medium and High Expansion), End-Use (Oil and Gas, Aviation, Marine, And Mining) Region (North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East & Africa), Global Trends and Forecast from 2022 to 2029" Report and TOC at: https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/6240/firefighting-foam-market/

Segment Overview:

Firefighting Foam Market by Type, 2020-2029, (USD Millions)

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)

Alcohol Resistant Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AR-AFFF)

Protein Foam (PF)

Synthetic Detergent Foam (Medium and High Expansion)

Firefighting Foam Market by End-Use, 2020-2029, (USD Millions)

Oil and Gas

Aviation

Marine

Mining

Regional Analysis

Geographically, the Firefighting Foam Market is segmented into North America, South America, Europe, APAC and MEA.

North America : includes the US, Canada , Mexico

: includes the US, , Europe : includes UK, Germany , France , Italy , Spain , Russia , and Rest of Europe

: includes UK, , , , , , and Rest of Asia Pacific : includes China , Japan , South Korea , India , Australia , ASEAN and Rest of APAC

: includes , , , , , ASEAN and Rest of APAC South America : includes Brazil , Argentina and Rest of South America

: includes , and Rest of Middle East & Africa : includes Turkey , UAE, Saudi Arabia , South Africa , and Rest of MEA

To Learn More About This Report, Request A free sample copy

Regional Insights

Europe:Europe is another significant market for firefighting foam, with a focus on environmentally friendly formulations. The region has implemented strict regulations on the use of firefighting foam, which has led to an increased demand for fluorine-free and other eco-friendly foam formulations.

Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region is witnessing significant growth in the firefighting foam market, driven by the increasing industrialization and infrastructure development in emerging economies such as China and India. The growth of the aviation and oil and gas industries in the region is also contributing to the growth of the firefighting foam market.

Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa region are also significant markets for firefighting foam due to the presence of the oil and gas industry. The region has witnessed significant growth in the demand for firefighting foam due to the increasing infrastructure development and implementation of strict safety regulations.

What Are The Key Data Covered In This Firefighting Foam Market Report?

Market size and growth: The report will typically provide information on the current market size and growth rate of the firefighting foam market, along with historical data and projections for future growth.

Market segmentation: The report will typically provide information on the various segments of the firefighting foam market, such as foam type, application, end-use industry, and region.

Competitive landscape: The report will typically provide information on the major players operating in the firefighting foam market, along with their market share, revenue, and strategic initiatives.

Industry trends: The report will typically provide information on the current trends and developments in the firefighting foam industry, such as technological advancements, regulatory changes, and market drivers.

Market opportunities and challenges: The report will typically provide information on the opportunities and challenges facing the firefighting foam market, such as emerging markets, competitive pressures, and environmental concerns.

To Know An Additional Revised 2023 List Of Market Players, Request A Sample Report:

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/6240/firefighting-foam-market/request-a-sample

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EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Adtran Holdings, Inc. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Adtran Holdings, Inc.: Release according to Article 50 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution 11.04.2023 / 16:36 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Franklin Templeton

Two accomplished Franklin Templeton leaders- President and CEO Jenny Johnson; Sonal Desai, CIO, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income-were selected for Barron's fourth annual list of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance.

The list honors women who have achieved positions of prominence in the financial services industry and are helping to shape its future. The list, chosen by a panel of Barron's writers and editors, is based on external and internal nominations, and includes executives at major U.S. companies, investment managers and securities analysts, and public servants and policy makers . All are based in the U.S.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Johnson and Desai have been named to the list, having been selected each year since the list was introduced in 2020. Franklin Templeton did not provide compensation to Barron's for the ranking.

View the full 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance feature here.

Sonal Desai

CIO, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income

View profile.

Jenny Johnson

President and CEO, Franklin Templeton

View profile.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 155 countries. Franklin Templeton's mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With offices in more than 30 countries and approximately 1,300 investment professionals, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of February 28, 2023. For more information, please visit franklinresources.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Jenny Johnson and Sonal Desai

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Franklin Templeton on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Franklin Templeton

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/franklin-templeton

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Franklin Templeton

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748566/Franklin-Templetons-Jenny-Johnson-and-Sonal-Desai-Among-Barrons-100-Most-Influential-Women-in-US-Finance
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - The journey to net zero and green energy will require six times more minerals. This will increase mining activities pushing the earth well beyond its threshold. In December, business and world leaders committed to preserving 30% of land and 30% of the ocean by 2030. With digging up minerals essential, how will this new biodiversity deal impact the net zero plans for companies?

Reuters IMPACT is excited to host the Nature and Net Zero webinar on Wednesday 19th April 2023 at 15:00 GMT, where leaders will address how governments' and businesses' net zero strategies can align with our planet's resources.

Register here for the nature and net zero discussion

This thought leadership discussion will:

Evaluate the global biodiversity framework and how it will impact businesses.

Support leaders to develop robust biodiversity goals and metrics for their Net Zero transition plan.

Explore the clashing relationship between net zero plans and goals to preserve the ecosystem.

Cross industry leaders speaking:

Moderator: Hugo Schally, Adviser for international negotiations in DG Environment, European Commission

Midori Paxton, Head of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, UNDP

Emily McKenzie, Technical Director, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)

Sign up for the webinar here

If you can't make it, you'll receive access to the recording the following week if you sign up now.

Best regards,

Reuters Impact Team

Reuters Events

reutersimpact@thomsonreuters.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161973
Regulatory News:

ACTICOR BIOTECH (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5 ALACT) (Paris:ALACT), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative treatments for cardiovascular emergencies, including ischemic stroke, today discloses the total number of voting rights and shares as of March 31, 2023 (pursuant to Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority).

Listing Place: Euronext Growth Paris

ISIN Code: FR0014005OJ5

Web site: acticor-biotech.com

Date Number of shares making up the share capital Theoretical number of voting rights (1) Number of voting rights excluding

shares stripped of voting rights (2) March 31, 2023 12.338.781 12.338.781 12.304.989

In accordance with Article 223-111 of the AMF's General Regulation, this number of shares is calculated based on all shares carrying the right to vote, including those stripped of voting rights. The actual voting rights correspond to the total number of voting rights that can be exercised in a general meeting. They are calculated on the basis of the total number of voting rights attached to the total number of shares minus the shares without voting rights.

About ACTICOR BIOTECH

Acticor Biotech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, a spin-off from INSERM (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), which is aiming to develop an innovative treatment for cardiovascular emergencies, including ischemic stroke.

In May 2022, Acticor Biotech presented positive results from its Phase 1b/2a study, ACTIMIS, at the ESOC, confirming the safety profile and showing a reduction in mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage in the glenzocimab-treated group in patients with stroke. The efficacy of glenzocimab is now being evaluated in an international Phase 2/3 study, ACTISAVE, which will include 1,000 patients. In July 2022, Acticor Biotech was granted "PRIME" status by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glenzocimab in the treatment of stroke. This designation will allow the company to strengthen its interactions and obtain early dialogues with regulatory authorities.

Acticor Biotech is supported by a panel of European and international investors (Mediolanum farmaceutici, Karista, Go Capital, Newton Biocapital, CMS Medical Venture Investment (HK) Limited, A&B (HK) Limited, Mirae Asset Capital, Anaxago and the Armesa foundation). Acticor Biotech is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since November 2021 (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5 ALACT).

For more information, visit: www.acticor-biotech.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005510/en/

Contacts:

ACTICOR BIOTECH

Gilles AVENARD, MD

CEO and Founder

gilles.avenard@acticor-biotech.com

T.: +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

Sophie BINAY, PhD

General Manager and CSO

Sophie.binay@acticor-biotech.com

T.: +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

NewCap

Mathilde BOHIN Quentin MASSE

Investor Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95

NewCap

Arthur ROUILLE

Media Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T.: +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15
2022 sales up +15% to 2.4 million driven by international business

Significant improvement in the margin on cost of sales to 63% from 55% in 2021 thanks to an increased presence in high value-added markets

Exceptional income of 6.6 million resulting from the abandonment of the current account held by the Otsuka Group in favor of SMAIO

Regulatory News:

SMAIO (Software, Machines and Adaptative Implants in Orthopaedics Euronext Growth Paris ISIN: FR0014005I80 Ticker: ALSMA), a French player specialized in complex spine surgery with a global offer comprising software, today published its 2022 annual results1 approved by the Board of Directors on April 11, 2023.

Philippe ROUSSOULY, Chairman and CEO of SMAIO, said: The year 2022 has allowed SMAIO to consolidate its foundations which should enable it to achieve its main objectives for 2023: to develop its surgical planning software solutions in new countries and above all to accelerate the penetration of the North American market, the leading spine market in the world. Indeed, we have strengthened our presence there during 2022 by obtaining two 510(k) registrations and by conducting educational programs and first surgeries. In addition, since our IPO, which helped strengthen our financial structure, we continue to work closely with our partner and shareholder NuVasive, a U.S. leader in spine technology innovations. Our goal is to achieve, during the first half of 2023, an initial milestone of $3 million from this collaboration, as well as recurring revenues from imaging analysis services performed by SMAIO operators for NuVasive customers. As a result, we look forward to 2023 with confidence as we focus on ramping up our international development strategy, particularly in the U.S."

Annual results 2022

Simplified income statement ( millions) 2022 2021 Sales figures 2.4 2.1 Operating income 3.2 3.1 Operating expenses (7.2) (6.4) Operating profit/(loss) (4.0) (3.4) Exceptional income/(expenses) 6.6 (0.3) Net profit/(loss) 2.8 (3.1)

Sales amounted to 2.4 million in 2022, up +15% on the previous year. This growth is mainly driven by international operations, in particular by the ramping up of historical distribution contracts in Spain and Scandinavia, by new agreements signed in Greece and the Baltic States, and by the first surgeries performed in the United States.

As in 2021, sales of implants and rods accounted for 95% of SMAIO's activity and the software segment, with the Keops platform, represents the balance. As a reminder, the latter segment is expected to grow in the coming months, driven in particular by the FDA 510(k) clearance for the Balance Analyzer 3D software and the partnership and licensing agreement with NuVasive2

The margin on cost of sales improved significantly, rising from 55% in 2021 to 63% in 2022. This is a direct consequence of the better purchasing conditions negotiated in 2021 and also of the growth in international sales in high value-added markets.

Other operating expenses increased mainly due to the amortization of new instrument kits loaned out or given to hospitals on consignment, the amortization of R&D costs reflecting the innovation momentum, the depreciation of inventories, and the commercial resources for the deployment of the Kheiron system. Depreciation, amortization and operating provisions amounted to 1.5 million, compared with 1.1 million in 2021. This change is explained by the continued increase in the base of R&D costs, a growing volume of instrument kits amortized over 5 years, and the recognition of the risk of obsolescence on implants.

Taking into account the above-mentioned factors, 2022 operating income is down to (4.0) million compared with (3.4) million in 2021.

The exceptional result amounts to 6.6 million and results almost entirely from the dropping of the current account held by Japanese group Otsuka SMAIO's former core shareholder in favor of the Company for 7.4 million, as well as the merger loss of the company Sylorus Robotics for a value of (0.6) million.

After taking into account a research tax credit of 0.3 million, net income for 2022 is a profit of 2.8 million compared with a loss of (3.1) million for the same period in 2021.

Solid financial structure

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2022 amounted to 5.69 million, compared with 0.57 million at December 31, 2021. This increase is explained by the integration of the net proceeds of 7.5 million from the capital increase carried out at the time of SMAIO's IPO on Euronext Growth in April 2022. This level of cash enables the company to cover the financing needs related to the developments presented to the financial community at the time of this capital increase.

Shareholders' equity stood at 9.75 million at December 31, 2022, compared with (0.62) million at December 31, 2021.

As a reminder, on February 1, 2022, Otsuka announced that it was discontinuing its orthopedic business and decided to transfer its shares to the Vice President of Operations of SMAIO, as well as its current account, to SMAIO's sole other shareholder, Sylorus Scientific3. It also decided to entirely cancel SMAIO's current account debt, thereby completely deleveraging the company.

2022 highlights: structural steps achieved to accelerate penetration of the US market

Partnership with NuVasive

As part of the partnership, NuVasive has committed to invest a total of $10 million (9 million4) in the Company, of which $5 million (approximately 4.5 million4) has already been invested at the time of SMAIO's IPO in early April 2022, with the balance consisting of milestone payments to be made once the Company has obtained FDA 510(k) clearance for two software solutions interfacing with the US group's technology platforms.

Two 510(k) clearences to accelerate development in the United States

In June 2022, SMAIO announced the granting of two FDA 510(k) clearances for key components of its i-Kontrol platform: the Balance Analyzer 3D surgery planning software and the K-rod patient-specific union rod. With these clearances, SMAIO is able to offer its i-Kontrol solution in North American medical centers.

Success of the Sagittal Alignment Academy educational programs

During the second half of 2022, SMAIO successfully held three "Sagittal Alignment Academy" sessions for European (Copenhagen for Northern Europe and Madrid for Southern Europe, in September) and North American (Dallas, USA, in November) spine surgeons. Bringing together several dozen surgeons, these programs aim to accelerate the international distribution of SMAIO's technology.

Strategy and outlook: focus on US development, internationalization and innovation

In line with the roadmap deployed since its IPO, SMAIO's priority in 2023 will be to ensure:

1. the ramping up of the partnership with NuVasive, focused on the development of a customized version of the i-plan platform for NuVasive, entitling SMAIO to a first milestone payment of $3 million. In parallel, the Company aims to develop an image analysis service for NuVasive customers.

2. marketing the i-Kontrol solution in Europe, the United States and Australia. To do so, the company will rely on its own sales force, its partner NuVasive in the United States, and a network of distributors and agents.

3. the development of innovative R&D projects designed to improve the precision, speed and reliability of spine surgery, with morphologically adapted guides manufactured 3D-printed from scans of the vertebrae to be operated on, enabling implants to be accurately positioned in the pedicles, or morphologically adapted trackers enabling the detection of vertebrae in space in order to navigate them or to guide a robotic arm.

About SMAIO

A precursor in the use of clinical data and imaging of the spine, SMAIO designs global solutions for spine surgery specialists. The Company has recognized expertise thanks to KEOPS, its Big Data management software that has become a global reference with more than 100,000 patient cases documented.

SMAIO offers spine surgeons a comprehensive platform, I-Kontrol, incorporating planning, implants and related services, enabling them to treat spinal pathologies in a safe, effective and lasting way.

SMAIO is positioned at the forefront of innovation with the ambition of providing surgeons with the first active robotic solution enabling a high level of performance and repeatability to be achieved.

Based in Lyon, France, SMAIO benefits from the skill and expertise of more than 30 highly specialized staff.

For further information, please visit our website: www.smaio.com

Next financial events:

Annual General Meeting: June 20, 2023

June 20, 2023 H1 2023 sales: July 18, 2023 (after market)

July 18, 2023 (after market) H1 2023 results: October 18, 2023 (after market)

Listing market: Euronext Growth Paris

ISIN: FR0014005I80

Mnemonic: ALSMA

Disclaimer

This press release contains non-factual elements, including, but not limited to, certain statements regarding future results and other future events. These statements are based on the current vision and assumptions of the management of the Company. They incorporate known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could result in significant differences in results, profitability and expected events. In addition, SMAIO, its shareholders and its affiliates, directors, officers, counsels and employees have not verified the accuracy of, and make no representations or warranties about, statistical information or forecast information contained within this news release and that originates or is derived from third party sources or industry publications; these statistical data and forecast information are only used in this press release for information purposes. Finally, this press release may be drafted in French and in English. In the event of differences between the two texts, the French version will prevail.

1 Audit procedures have been carried out on annual accounts. The management report, the corporate governance report, the annual financial statements and the auditor's report on these annual financial statements will be posted on the Company's website (www.smaio-finance.com) and on the Euronext website (www.euronext.com).

2 On February 9, 2023, Globus Medical, a U.S.-based company that manufactures and markets a full range of spinal devices and implants, signed an agreement to acquire NuVasive in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $3.1 billion. As of the date of the publication of the annual financial report and the information available to SMAIO, NuVasive owns 15.55% of the Company's share capital. To the best of the Company's knowledge, this transaction does not impact the commercial agreement between SMAIO and NuVasive.

3 Sylorus Scientific SA is 80% owned by Philippe Roussouly, CEO of SMAIO, and by Pierre Roussouly (Philippe's father) for the balance.

4 Based on an indicative exchange rate of 1 euro for 1.10 dollar

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005780/en/

Contacts:

SMAIO

Philippe Roussouly

Chief Executive Officer

Renaut Fritsch

Chief Financial Officer

investors@smaio.com

NewCap

Dusan Oresansky/Quentin Masse

Investor Relations

smaio@newcap.eu

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 92

NewCap

Arthur Rouille

Media Relations

smaio@newcap.eu

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98
11 April 2023

Rightmove plc

Share buy-back programme

Rightmove plc - Transaction in own shares

Rightmove plc ("Rightmove"), announces that today it purchased 150,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 552.028p. The highest price paid per share was 554.600p and the lowest price paid per share was 549.000p. Rightmove purchased these shares through UBS AG London Branch.

The number of shares purchased represented 0.0182% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled.

Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 485,118,295 ordinary shares.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 821,835,288. Rightmove holds 12,100,497 shares in treasury.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by UBS AG London Branch on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme.

-Ends-

Contact: Michelle Palmer, Assistant Company Secretary

CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions
New Delhi/Kampala, Apr 11 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to Uganda, met members of the Parliamentary Forum on Indian Affairs and urged them to look at possibilities offered by Indian Development Partnership offerings with a focus on digital, green and health areas.

In tweets, the EAM also said that he invited them to visit India:

Began the morning in Kampala by meeting with the Parliamentary Forum on Indian Affairs. Their activities and interest in India are a great source of strength for our ties.

Conveyed Indias commitment that is reflected in delivery of IAFS 2015 outcomes and of PM @narendramodis Kampala principles.

Urged them to look at possibilities offered by Indian Development Partnership offerings with a focus on digital, green and health areas.

Shared President @KagutaMuseveni s guidance on our relationship that will help connecting Uganda to global markets.

Invited them to visit India, individually as well as part of the Parliamentary Forum.

On Monday, EAM Jaishankar called on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure and energy among other subjects.

He also participated in the launch of the Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project in Varanasi and appreciated the BJP partys Ugandan wing to contribute to further beautifying the ancient Indian city.

In July 2018, during a visit to Kampala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unveiled a set of 10 guiding principles that would dictate Indias engagement with Africa.

In a speech to the Ugandan parliament, Modi outlined Indias vision for not just a bilateral relationship with Africa but also a partnership at the global level.

UNI RN
WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Today, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture announced that Farmers Business Network (FBN), a global AgTech platform and farmer-to-farmer network, has become their newest Qualified Data Management Partner (QDMP), integrating the sustainability metrics of the Fieldprint Platform into their program. This partnership provides a new one-stop-shop for farmers to evaluate profitability, productivity and sustainability options for their operation.

Integration is made possible through Field to Market's Fieldprint Application Programming Interface, which connects sustainability metrics and algorithms from the Fieldprint Platform directly into FBN's software solutions, enabling farmers to assess the environmental performance of their management practices against regional, state and national benchmarks for Field to Market's eight sustainability metrics.

FBN is a global farmer-to-farmer network and independent AgTech platform whose mission is to power the prosperity of family farmers around the world while working toward a sustainable future. Its Farmers First promise has attracted over 55,000 members to the network with a common goal of maximizing their farm's profit potential. FBN has set out to redefine value and convenience for farmers by helping to reduce the cost of production and maximize the value of their crops.

FBN's Gradable platform was launched by FBN in September 2020 and provides new technology that facilitates grain transactions between producers and commercial buyers, and also provides services that facilitate the scoring, sourcing, and pricing of Low-Carbon Grain. Gradable fully integrates with FBN farmer-facing technology as well as commercial buyer grain accounting systems, and has attracted billions of bushels to the platform. Gradable not only strengthens the relationship between grain buyers and sellers, but also enables comprehensive environmental transparency and supports a market for premium, environmentally-scored grain.

"We are proud to be recognized as a Qualified Data Management Partner with Field to Market," says Steele Lorenz, Head of Sustainable Business at FBN. "Through this integration, we're expanding our innovative sustainability solutions, providing more value to the farmers and commercial agriculture businesses that use our software."

With this integration, farmers can document and demonstrate their sustainability performance using the common measurement framework offered by the Fieldprint Platform, an outcomes-based and metrics-driven sustainability measurement platform that is supported by over 170 organizations across the agricultural value chain.

As demand from downstream companies continues to grow, FBN anticipates enrolling millions of acres in the next few years, with thousands of growers participating in Field to Market Continuous Improvement Projects.

"Field to Market envisions a technology landscape that offers farmers robust sustainability analytics in the platform of their choice, and this partnership helps bring that vision to life," says Field to Market Vice President of Science and Technology Paul Hishmeh. "We're excited to see and incorporate FBN's innovative approaches in using remote sensed data products for smart inputs and data validation."

"We're thrilled to expand our partnership with FBN and further support farmers in making informed sustainability decisions on their operation," says Field to Market President Scott Herndon.

CONTACT:

Keith Chapman, media@farmersbusinessnetwork.com

Katrina Stacey, kstacey@fieldtomarket.org

About Field to Market:

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture brings together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, feed, beverage, restaurant and retail companies; conservation groups; universities and public sector partners to focus on defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, feed, fiber and fuel production. Field to Market is comprised of over 170 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural supply chain, with members employing more than 5 million people and representing combined revenues totaling over $1.5 trillion. To learn more, visit: www.fieldtomarket.org.

About FBN:

Farmers Business Network (FBN) is an independent AgTech platform and farmer-to-farmer network with a mission to power the prosperity of family farmers around the world while working towards a sustainable future. Its Farmers First promise has attracted over 55,000 members to the network with a common goal of helping farmers maximize their farm's profit potential with data and technology enabled direct-to farmer commerce, community and sustainability offerings.

FBN has set out to redefine value and convenience for farmers by helping reduce the cost of production and maximize the value of their crops. The FBN network has grown to cover more than 117 million acres of member farms in the US and Canada. Blending the best of Midwestern agricultural roots and Silicon Valley technology, the company has principal offices in San Carlos, CA, Chicago, IL, Sioux Falls, SD and a Canadian Headquarters in High River, Alberta with significant warehouse and logistics, remote and field employees across the US and Canada. To learn more, visit: www.fbn.com.

"Farmers Business Network", "FBN", and "FBN Direct" are registered trademarks or service marks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/field-market-alliance-sustainable-agriculture

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748587/Farmers-Business-NetworkR-Announced-As-Field-to-Markets-Newest-Qualified-Data-Management-Partner
NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / The 1st Annual ASSEMBLY Show South brought together 3,000+ manufacturing professionals to the Music City Center in Nashville, TN to source products from 150 exhibiting companies, share knowledge in the education program and network. The trade show and conference, produced by BNP Media's ASSEMBLY Magazine, took place Tuesday, April 4 to Thursday, April 6, 2023 and featured emerging trends and technologies related to assembly equipment and products including solutions for autonomous & electric mobility, robotics, automated assembly, fastening tools, pressing & riveting, and Industry 4.0 throughout a robust show floor. Photos of The ASSEMBLY Show South are available at this link .



"We worked closely with our charter exhibitors over the last 18 months to bring this event to Nashville and were thrilled to receive such positive feedback from the exhibitors, attendees and our partners, especially the Tennessee Manufacturers Association, University of Tennessee and SMTA," said Bill DeYoe, Publisher, ASSEMBLY Magazine, producers of the event. "With all of the factories being built up and down the I65 corridor we were confident the Southeast needed a focused event exclusively on assembly and look forward to building upon the foundation we have created. We know this region will continue to expand with hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs, and we look forward to doubling the size of our event next year." Highlights of the event, include:

The sold-out Exhibit Hall featured 150+ leading vendors with working machinery and live demonstrations for attendees to interact with, including Gold Sponsor Promess; Silver Sponsors Desoutter Industrial Tools and Bosch Rexroth; and Bronze Sponsors Schmidt Technology, Tutelar Technologies, and Weiss North America. Many of the exhibitors renewed their booth space on-site for the 2024 Show which will be double in size. The 2024 event will be co-located with The Quality Show and held April 30 - May 2, 2024 back at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN.

featured 150+ leading vendors with working machinery and live demonstrations for attendees to interact with, including Gold Sponsor Promess; Silver Sponsors Desoutter Industrial Tools and Bosch Rexroth; and Bronze Sponsors Schmidt Technology, Tutelar Technologies, and Weiss North America. Many of the exhibitors renewed their booth space on-site for the 2024 Show which will be double in size. The 2024 event will be co-located with The Quality Show and held April 30 - May 2, 2024 back at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN. On Thursday morning, the Best in Show Award winners were announced. The program featured new products which were selected by the editors of ASSEMBLY Magazine . Attendees voted and during the Morning Mingle Breakfast on the show floor the following companies were announced the winners: 1 st place winner: MS Automation for their High-Speed Automation Assembles Connector. 2 nd place winner: BalTec Corp., for their Roller Forming with Servo-Controlled Articulation. 3 rd place winner: Epson Robots for their Fast Scara Robots for High Payloads.

winners were announced. The program featured new products which were selected by the editors of . Attendees voted and during the Morning Mingle Breakfast on the show floor the following companies were announced the winners: Kenneth Engel, Senior Vice president of Global Supply Chain, North America, Schneider Electric explored the supply chain resilience and risk management strategies in the wake of numerous shortages plaguing manufacturers during his keynote presentation on Rethinking the Supply Chain .

Senior Vice president of Global Supply Chain, North America, Schneider Electric explored the supply chain resilience and risk management strategies in the wake of numerous shortages plaguing manufacturers during his The four pre-conference workshops attracted hundreds of attendees to sessions heldin partnership with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services; Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA); and the editorial staff of ASSEMBLY Magazine. Topics included A Lean Journey to I4.0, Reliability in Electronics, Automated Assembly and Vehicle Electrification.

attracted hundreds of attendees to sessions heldin partnership with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services; Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA); and the editorial staff of ASSEMBLY Magazine. Topics included A Lean Journey to I4.0, Reliability in Electronics, Automated Assembly and Vehicle Electrification. Over a dozen exhibitors demonstrated their company's expertise related to the latest technological advances in assembly in Learning Theaters in the Exhibit Hall. Subject matter experts shared their knowledge on automation, robotic precision, Industry 4.0, supply chain, scalability, industrial automation and a special workshop onCollaborative Robots Technology.

in the Exhibit Hall. Subject matter experts shared their knowledge on automation, robotic precision, Industry 4.0, supply chain, scalability, industrial automation and a special workshop onCollaborative Robots Technology. Attendees and exhibitors enjoyed two Networking Receptions including the opening night Welcome Reception and a reception in the Exhibit Hall sponsored by Bosch Rexroth. On Thursday morning Desoutter sponsored the Morning Mingle & Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall were additional connections were made.

including the opening night Welcome Reception and a reception in the Exhibit Hall sponsored by Bosch Rexroth. On Thursday morning Desoutter sponsored the Morning Mingle & Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall were additional connections were made. It was announced at the Show that in 2024 The Quality Show South will be co-located with The ASSEMBLY Show South April 30 - May 2. For additional information, visit https://www.qualitymag.com/quality-show.

The ASSEMBLY Show South will take place on April 30 - May 2, 2024 at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN and The ASSEMBLY Show will take place on October 24-26, 2023 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL are sponsored by ASSEMBLY (www.assemblymag.com) the leading brand covering the processes, technologies, and strategies for assembling discrete parts into finished products. ASSEMBLY offers an integrated portfolio of products including the industry's leading trade show. The trade show and conference are produced by BNP Media, one of the country's leading business-to-business media companies serving industry professionals across 60+ industries through magazines, custom media, e-newsletters, webinars, events, and market research. For more information, visit www.bnpmedia.com.

For Further Information, Contact:

Amy Riemer, Media Relations Representative

978-502-4895 (cell)

amy@riemercommunications.com

SOURCE: Assembly Show South

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748596/The-1st-Annual-Assembly-Show-South-Attracts-Thousands-of-Manufacturing-Professionals-to-Nashville-TN
New Brand Reflects Expansion Into Promising Areas of Alternative Medicine

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Veriheal, the leading U.S. provider of medical cannabis cards, has just launched a rebranding initiative designed to carry the healthcare technology company into its next phase of innovation. Encompassing a new logo, website design and company vision, the rebrand comes as a response to rapidly increasing interest in alternative medicine among medical patients in the U.S. and beyond.

The new look and feel of Veriheal champion the platform's goal of reaching bigger audiences by expanding its wellness offerings. Veriheal's sleek new logo and brand color palette reflect its optimized mission: "To enhance the lives of people worldwide by improving access to alternative medicine." While Veriheal will keep its name and continue to facilitate medical cannabis consultations, the company has new services in the works that extend beyond cannabis into other areas of wellness and alternative healthcare.

"Veriheal was founded to help patients experience fulfilling lives with the aid of naturally derived medicine, and it's been amazing to watch medical cannabis not only transform individuals' health but pave the way for various other forms of alternate wellness," said Anthony Dutcher, CMO. "Our versatile new brand identity positions us to play a key role in changing the scope of healthcare for generations to come."

Since its inception in 2017, Veriheal has worked to disrupt the stigma surrounding cannabis and its users through science-based education and increased access to regulated and personalized cannabis products. Following its success in helping millions of patients obtain medical cannabis cards, the company aspires to make an even broader impact on the well-being of patients nationwide.

Visit www.veriheal.com to explore the new brand and website.

About Veriheal

Veriheal is a healthcare technology company that is the largest facilitator of medical marijuana cards in the nation. Its mission is to educate and advocate on behalf of patients and secure their safe access to regulated medical cannabis products. The company has a culture of open communication and transparency with its clients and operates as a concierge service to ensure HIPAA-compliant connections between patients and physicians via its proprietary platform. Visit veriheal.com for more information.

Media Contact Information:

Anthony Dutcher

833-663-7284 Ext. 4

hello@veriheal.com

https://www.veriheal.com/contact-us/ and select the Press/Media option

SOURCE: Veriheal

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748365/Veriheal-Unveils-New-Brand-Identity-as-Company-Evolves-to-Offer-More-Wellness-Services
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Luminex Resources, Voyageur Pharmaceuticals,Trillion Energy, ARway and Pan Global Resources 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.

Luminex Resources (TSXV:LR) expands Cuyes West Project

Luminex Resources (LR) released drill results from its Cuyes West Project in Ecuador. Widening hanging wall mineralization next to the project has expanded into a new breccia pipe with this added drilling yielding longer than 200 metre intervals of gold mineralization over one gram per tonne. Step out drilling from the new breccia pipe and Cuyes West is ongoing and will contribute towards updating the resource for Condor North to include all Cuyes West drilling by Q4 2023. CEO Marshall Koval spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Marshall Koval and to learn about Luminex Resources, click here.

Voyageur (TSXV:VM) confirms preference for SmoothX in comparative studies

Voyageur (VM) has completed comparative studies of SmoothX versus Readi-Cat 2 per cent. SmoothX is intended for use in computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis to delineate the gastrointestinal tract. Results of the double-blind testing showed that SmoothX was favoured on drinkability and taste by 75 per cent of patients, a key finding prior to market launch. The company plans to offer 13 barium contrast product lines in Canada and the U.S. CEO Brent Willis spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Brent Willis and to learn about Voyageur, click here.

Trillion Energy (CSE:TCF) spuds fifth well at SASB gas field development

Trillion Energy (TCF) is reporting the spudding of the Bayhanli-2 well at the SASB gas field offshore Turkey. Bayhanli-2 is the fifth gas well in Trillion's multi-well drilling program at SASB. The well targets a prospective gas pool that may require multiple wells to reach full production. Colin Robson, VP Corporate Development, spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Colin Robson and to learn about Trillion Energy, click here.

ARway (CSE:ARWY) (OTC:ARWYF) secures annual partner license, launches referral program

ARway (ARWY) has launched its referral partner program to enhance business development. The launch is expected to increase the company's prospect funnel and accelerate revenue growth. The company also signed The TRIBE to an annual license deal to use ARway to build a custom AR-powered app for its marketing agency. VP Product, Shadnam Khan, spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Shadnam Khan and to learn about ARway, click here.

Pan Global (TSXV:PGZ) exceeds 86 per cent copper recovery at La Romana

Pan Global Resources (PGZ) released results from preliminary test work at its La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery in Spain. The results achieved for the first phase of testing demonstrate the potential for a conventional flotation process flowsheet capable of recovering copper into a saleable concentrate. The favourable combination of low deleterious metals and coarse primary grind size and potential for lower final energy consumption, is highly encouraging. President and CEO Tim Moody spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Tim Moody and to learn about Pan Global, 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.

CONTACT:

The Market Herald

marketing@themarketherald.ca

themarketherald.ca

SOURCE:?The Market Herald

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748659/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interviews-with-Luminex-Resources-Voyageur-Pharmaceuticals-Trillion-Energy-ARway-and-Pan-Global-Resources-Discussing-Their-Latest-News
BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / The Florida-based consulting firm Moguls by Amanda is happy to announce its national and worldwide growth. Founded by Dr. Amanda Apfelblat, Moguls by Amanda aims to encourage practices by freeing up their time and money through the development of their systems and operations. The organization, which assists doctors in expanding through individualized concierge counseling, hopes that the latest move will allow it to extend a helping hand to an even greater number of practices seeking growth.

Dr. Apfelblat said, "Medical, dental, chiropractic, and other professionals become terrific doctors in school. We help them become exceptional companies." Moguls by Amanda highlights that brilliant physicians sometimes stagnate and grow comfortable, not because of a lack of aptitude or expertise in their practice, but because their business is not set up to operate properly. Dr. Apfelblat asserts, "Whether these firms have a problem with their personnel or are spending too much time, energy, and money on things that don't help them build lifelong patients and enhance profitability, we identify what isn't working and implement new procedures and systems."

Moguls by Amanda collaborates with all types of private healthcare practices. Dr. Apfelblat said, "However, we are quite picky about the people we accept. We only deal with those who are eager and prepared to see progress." This progress, according to the firm, requires a serious shift in practices' inner workings that Moguls by Amanda clients frequently experience - a direct consequence of the company's hand-holding nature. "I personally advise each client through the whole process and frequently request that they make substantial improvements to the way things are done. Our clients find the degree of success we know they are capable of."

To see the personable approach through, Dr. Apfelblat personally meets her clients onsite. "I travel to each practice in person and host weekly client calls- ," says the doctor, "I'm actively advising my clients as they achieve their desired results." Dr. Apfelblat is pleased to have the chance to travel to different corners of the world and assist businesses in each new location. The firm is proud of its ability to meet clients on location and of its tailored concierge consulting strategy. Dr. Apfelblat explains, "By being present, I can see how a practice operates, its inner workings, and what may be impeding the business's growth."

Moguls by Amanda has expanded its assistance to further parts of the globe. "I want as many practices as possible to flourish under Moguls by Amanda."

About Moguls by Amanda

Moguls by Amanda is a consulting company based in Boca Raton, Florida that is now expanding to help clients nationwide and internationally. The company takes a personalized and immersive approach to clients' practices, consulting them on their practice as a business until they reach their desired level of success. To learn more, contact Dr. Amanda Apfelblat at amanda@mogulsbyamanda.com and visit the company website at mogulsbyamanda.com

CONTACT:

Dr. Amanda Apfelblat

amanda@mogulsbyamanda.com

SOURCE: Moguls by Amanda

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748663/Moguls-by-Amanda-Announces-Domestic-and-Global-Expansion
NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Today, Entergy announced the release of its 2022 Integrated Report, an overview of the company's performance and highlights for the year, progress on its goals and the opportunities ahead for 2023 and beyond. The report, titled "Pathway to Premier," outlines Entergy's unique position to grow and support a rapidly expanding industrial base while creating a cleaner, more resilient system for all its stakeholders.

"After a strong 2022, Entergy and our nearly 12,000 employees are ready to take our performance even higher in the coming years," said Drew Marsh, chairman of the board and CEO of Entergy. "We're actively investing in solutions our customers demand: accelerated system resilience as well as clean and renewable energy. We're harnessing a rapidly expanding industrial base to support economic growth and improve affordability in our communities. We're hard at work attracting and retaining a high-performing and diverse workforce. And we're continuing to deliver steady, predictable financial results for our owners. These focused efforts will benefit all our stakeholders, and we are working together with them on the pathway ahead - the pathway to premier."

Key drivers of Entergy's business strategy and 2022 performance include:

Starting with the customer. We are partnering with our customers to identify opportunities to help them achieve their own sustainability goals with innovative, effective products and solutions. The drive for carbon reductions across the entire value chain, and the potential for electrification as a key driver of this outcome, is unprecedented. We see this as a growth opportunity that will continue for years to come as our customers need our help to achieve their own large-scale emission reduction goals.

We are partnering with our customers to identify opportunities to help them achieve their own sustainability goals with innovative, effective products and solutions. The drive for carbon reductions across the entire value chain, and the potential for electrification as a key driver of this outcome, is unprecedented. We see this as a growth opportunity that will continue for years to come as our customers need our help to achieve their own large-scale emission reduction goals. Creating a carbon-free future. Our transition to cleaner generation resources continues to have a positive climate impact. Our utility carbon dioxide emission rate was 31% lower than in 2000. We released an updated climate report detailing our milestones and progress toward our commitment of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We're also actively expanding our renewable energy capacity, with requests for proposals for 5,500 megawatts of renewable projects issued last year.

Our transition to cleaner generation resources continues to have a positive climate impact. Our utility carbon dioxide emission rate was 31% lower than in 2000. We released an updated climate report detailing our milestones and progress toward our commitment of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We're also actively expanding our renewable energy capacity, with requests for proposals for 5,500 megawatts of renewable projects issued last year. Implementing a talent and culture strategy. We're working to foster a workforce with a diversity of ideas, backgrounds, perspectives and skills in an inclusive culture. We also introduced four drivers of talent and culture outcomes - diversity, capability, culture and commerce - to help build a premier team ready for anything.

We're working to foster a workforce with a diversity of ideas, backgrounds, perspectives and skills in an inclusive culture. We also introduced four drivers of talent and culture outcomes - diversity, capability, culture and commerce - to help build a premier team ready for anything. Being a strong community partner. We amplified our longstanding initiative to improve lives, build businesses and create prosperity through a number of customer and community assistance programs. Our 2022 corporate citizenship initiatives delivered $180 million in benefits to our communities - a 41% increase over our $127 million impact in 2021.

We amplified our longstanding initiative to improve lives, build businesses and create prosperity through a number of customer and community assistance programs. Our 2022 corporate citizenship initiatives delivered $180 million in benefits to our communities - a 41% increase over our $127 million impact in 2021. Expanding our region's economic footprint. Entergy helped attract or expand 45 economic development projects within our utility service area representing a capital investment of almost $6.4 billion and more than 5,100 new jobs created in our region.

Entergy helped attract or expand 45 economic development projects within our utility service area representing a capital investment of almost $6.4 billion and more than 5,100 new jobs created in our region. Delivering on our financial commitments. We delivered again on our financial commitments. Our 2022 adjusted earnings per share of $6.42, or $5.37 on an as-reported basis, was in the top half of our guidance range for the seventh year in a row. Our steady, predictable financial results are the result of our strategies and actions to create value for our four key stakeholders - our customers, employees, communities and owners. See page 58 of the report for reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures and a description of adjustments.

For Entergy, our sustainability strategy is our business strategy. In 2014, we were the first U.S. electric utility to combine an annual shareholder report with a sustainability report. We are one of only a few leading U.S. companies to consolidate these reports into a single integrated report that measures advancements in clean, reliable and affordable energy delivery and innovation, financial performance, climate action, customer opportunities, environmental stewardship, governance, workforce development and community partnerships. This 2022 report relies on the guidance of the Global Reporting Initiative, the world's most widely used sustainability reporting framework.

Read Entergy's 2022 Integrated Report and learn how we power life for all our stakeholders at integratedreport.entergy.com.

About Entergy

Entergy (NYSE:ETR) is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media. WePowerLife

CONTACT

Bill Abler | 504-576-3097 | wabler@entergy.com

Cristina del Canto | 504-576-4238 | mdelcan@entergy.com

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Entergy Corporation

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy-corporation

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Entergy Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748667/Pathway-To-Premier-Entergy-Releases-2022-Integrated-Report
PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / The following abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds announced today that the closed end funds in the chart directly below will pay the distributions indicated on a per share basis on April 28, 2023 to all shareholders of record as of April 21, 2023 (ex-dividend date April 20, 2023).

Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ACP NYSE abrdn Income Credit Strategies Fund $ 0.1000 AGD NYSE abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.0650 AOD NYSE abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.0575 ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $ 0.1200 AWP NYSE abrdn Global Premier Properties Fund $ 0.0400 FAX NYSE American abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0275 FCO NYSE American abrdn Global Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0700

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of each fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year. You should not draw any conclusions about any of these Funds' investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

MANAGED DISTRIBUTION POLICY FUNDS

ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT DETAILS

abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund ("ASGI")

abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. ("FAX")

The above-noted abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds will pay the distributions noted in the chart above on April 28, 2023, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of April 21, 2023 (ex-dividend date April 20, 2023).

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital in reliance on an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions to be paid as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

Each Fund's estimated sources of the current distributions to be paid and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.1200 $0.0240 20% $0.0216 18% $0.0744 62% - - FAX $0.0275 $0.0140 51% - - - - $0.0135 49%

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Fiscal Year** to Date Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains* Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.8400 $0.1680 20% $0.1512 18% $0.5208 62% - - FAX $0.1650 $0.0842 51% - - - - $0.0808 49%

* includes currency gains

** ASGI has a 9/30 fiscal year end; FAX has a 10/31 fiscal year end.

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 03/31/2023 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI3 8.88 6.85% 16.63% 3.42% FAX -1.10% 10.44% 16.52% 4.35%

1 Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan, with the exception of the most recent distribution.

2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of March 31, 2023.

3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through March 31, 2023.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Australia Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC and abrdn Alternative Funds Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748597/abrdn-US-Closed-End-Funds-Announce-Distribution-Payment-Details
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - IAMGOLD Corporation (NYSE: IAG) (TSX: IMG) ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") plans to release its first quarter 2023 operating and financial results after market hours on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Senior management will host a conference call to discuss the operating performance and financial results on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Listeners may access the conference call via webcast or through the following dial-in numbers:

Toll free (North America): 1 (800) 319-4610

International: +1 (604) 638-5340

Webcast: www.iamgold.com

An online archive of the webcast will be available by accessing the Company's website at www.iamgold.com. A telephone replay will be available for one month following the call by dialing toll free 1 (800) 319-6413 within North America or +1 (604) 638-9010 from international locations and entering the passcode: 0071.

About IAMGOLD

IAMGOLD is an intermediate gold producer and developer based in Canada with operating mines in North America and West Africa. The Company is building the large-scale, long life Cote Gold project in Canada in partnership with Sumitomo Metals & Mining of Japan, which is expected to commence production in early 2024. In addition, the Company has an established portfolio of early stage and advanced exploration projects within high potential mining districts in the Americas. IAMGOLD employs approximately 3,300 people and is committed to maintaining its culture of accountable mining through high standards of Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") practices, including its commitment to Zero Harm, in every aspect of its business. IAMGOLD is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IAG) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: IMG) and is one of the companies on the Jantzi Social Index ("JSI"), a socially screened market capitalization-weighted consisting of companies which pass a set of broadly based environmental, social and governance rating criteria.

IAMGOLD Contact Information

Graeme Jennings, Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: 416 360 4743 | Mobile: 416 388 6883

Toll-free: 1 888 464 9999

info@iamgold.com

This entire news release may be accessed via fax, e-mail, IAMGOLD's website at www.iamgold.com and through Newsfile's website at www.newsfilecorp.com. All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov.

Si vous desirez obtenir la version francaise de ce communique, veuillez consulter le www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162036
Patri, a Salt Lake City, UT-based SaaS company providing AI-powered revenue intelligence for Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), raised $2.4M in funding.

The round was led by Kickstart Fund with participation from Summit Capital, Capital Eleven, Peak Capital, Mucker Capital, Luxstone Group, and Luv Holdings.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach.

Led by founder and CEO Josh Ellars, Patri provides a SaaS based, AI-powered revenue intelligence platform to find, refine, monitor, and apply a companys Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). RevFit AI facilitates deal prioritization around the core principle of the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and the ICP fit of each opportunity in a companys revenue pipeline. With RevFit AI, companies are able to find, refine, and apply their dynamic and evolving ICP across the go-to-market motion with Patris AI-generated ICP Engine, helping them discover the health of their pipeline, prioritize effectively, and refine their forecast.

Patri is a Salesforce partner, and its product, RevFit AI, is currently only available for Salesforce CRM users, with access for users of other CRMs forthcoming.

FinSMEs

11/04/2023
Days after receiving multiple threats by criminal Lawrence Bishnois gang, Bollywood actor Salman Khan is again under threat of being killed. As reported by media outlets, the Mumbai Police is investigating the matter after they received a call from a person named Rocky who threatened to kill the actor on 30 April 2023. Notably, this comes at a time when the security around Salman Khan has been beefed up, considering the constant threats. The Bollywood superstar recently also purchased a bullet-proof SUV, besides obtaining a weapons license for self-protection. Meanwhile, the actor or his team is yet to react to the latest development.

Salman Khan receives fresh death threats

As per the available information, the Mumbai Polices control room on Monday night received a call from Rajasthans Jodhpur where a man identified himself as Rocky bhai and threatened to kill Salman Khan by the end of this month.

Considering the recent threats received by the actor, the police took cognisance of the matter and initiated an investigation.

It is pertinent to note that Salman along with his father-writer Salim Khan received a threat letter from noted criminal Lawrence Bishnois gang who threatened to kill both. Later, an interview of the infamous gangster from the prison also went viral where he confessed to wanting to kill the actor, calling it his life goal.

Consequently, the actor and his familys security were stepped up by the state government and was provided Y-Plus security.

On the work front

The actor on the work front is presently awaiting the release of his upcoming film, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. The trailer of the film was recently unveiled at a grand event in Mumbai.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Tuesday held a meeting with visiting First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Emine Dzhaparova, during which they discussed bilateral and global issues of mutual interest. Kyiv was also assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance.

In a tweet, MoS Lekhi also reiterated PM Modis call to Russia and Ukraine for cessation of hostilities, saying that this is not the era for war.

Not a time for War- PM @narendramodi

Pleased to meet Ukrainian First Dy FM @EmineDzheppar. Exchanged views on bilateral & global issues of mutual interest. Cultural ties & women empowerment also figured in the discussion. Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance.

The Ukrainian Minister in a tweet said she briefed MoS Lekhi on Russias unprovoked aggression, and also on deepening the bilateral cooperation.

Had a fruitful meeting with @M_Lekhi. Briefed Minister on #Ukraines efforts to fight Russia unprovoked aggression. Discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, in particular culture. Ukrainian bookshelves and audio guides under patronage of @ZelenskaUA will be available soon in India.

On Monday, she held a meeting with Secretary West in the MEA Sanjay Verma, during which she invited India to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys Peace Formula and Grain from Ukraine initiative.

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.

The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Emine Dzhaparova is paying an official visit to India from April 9-12, in the first such visit since the Ukraine conflict began.

Dzhaparova will also meet Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri.

India shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine.

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, a statement said.

India has consistently called for an end to the hostilities and urged both Russia and Ukraine to hold dialogue, and end the conflict through diplomacy.

UNI RN
In the ongoing tussle called politics, theres always something to gain and a lot to lose. In India, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has reasons to rejoice. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress and Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Patry (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) have some retrospection to do. The Election Commission of India has reviewed political parties and AAP has been given the status of a national party. Trinamool, NCP and CPI have lost the coveted tag.



What is a national party?

A national party has a presence across the nation as opposed to a state or regional party whose presence is restricted to a state or a region.

National parties are bigger and have an influence across the country like Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). But that does not necessarily mean they enjoy more political clout as we have seen with Congress in recent years.

Often, regional parties remain powerful, dictate terms and make it difficult for even the bigger national parties to make headway in the state. For example, the DMK and the AIADMK, which dominate Tamil Nadu politics. Other regional parties like the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha and the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar often influence national affairs.

How does the EC define a national party?

According to the EC, political parties in India are listed as national party, state party or registered (unrecognised) party. The conditions for being listed as a national or state party are specified under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968.

To be a national party, the collective has to fulfil any of the three following conditions: i) it should be recognised as a state party in at least four states, ii)

the party should win two per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different states, or iii) it should poll six per cent of the total votes in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly election and should win at least four Lok Sabha seats

Also read: Gujarat Assembly and Delhi civic polls: How two elections will change Arvind Kejriwals politics beyond 2024

What are the benefits of being a national party?

When recognised as a national party, the outfit is entitled to a reserved symbol for its candidates contesting across the country. This is important for a political party as a large number of voters who cannot read depend on symbols to identify the party they are voting for. Having a pan-India symbol helps parties reach out to prospective voters.

Candidates from a national party require only one proposer to file their nominations. Such a party also benefits from having a maximum of 40 star campaigners during a general election, which will be held in India next year. It also gets dedicated broadcast slots on public broadcasters Doordarshan and All India Radio during the general elections.

The national party tag also comes with a government bungalow in New Delhi for its national president and office space at a subsidised rate in the national capital.

How did AAP get the status?

The AAP which started as a party from Delhi is expanding its footprint. It is in power in Delhi and won Punjab in March 2022. It got a three-fourths majority in the Punjab Assembly polls, bagging 42 per cent of the votes cast. In last years Goa Assembly polls, AAP received 6.77 per cent of the vote.

Towards the end of 2022, when AAP contested the Gujarat and Himachal elections, it was already recognised as a state party in three states. It needed to make a mark in one state to get the national party tag  six per cent votes in either of the states to be recognised in a fourth state.

Also read: National party status to vote cutter: What Gujarat election results mean for Kejriwals AAP

The party bagged one per cent of votes in Himachal, but in Gujarat, it got almost 13 per cent of votes  more than double of what was required. With that AAP was recognised as a state party in Gujarat. With a presence in four states now, it won the national party tag.

How did Trinamool, NCP, CPI lose the tag?

Earlier India had seven national parties  the Congress, BJP, Trinamool, Bahujan Samaj Party, NCP, CPI and CPI (Marxist). Now with the NCP, Trinamool and CPI losing their status and AAP being added to the list, the country has five national parties.

In 2016, Trinamool became a national party but its poor performance in Goa and losing the state party tag in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh meant it did not fulfil the criteria to be recognised as a national party. Its a state party in West Bengal and Tripura.

The NCP formed by Sharad Pawar in 1999 became a national party a year later in 2000 after a series of wins in several elections. It enjoyed a state party status in Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland. But an EC review found that the party does not meet the conditions in Meghalaya, Manipur and Arunachal. It is recognised as a state party in two states, Nagaland and Maharashtra, which is not enough to be tagged a national party.

The CPI was recognised as a national party in 1989. It formerly had a state party label in Kerala, Manipur, Odisha and West Bengal, but has lost this status in the latter two states. Hence, it is no longer a national party.

How have other parties fared?

RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA in Manipur, PMK in Puducherry, RSP in West Bengal and MPC in Mizoram have lost their state party status.

The EC granted a recognised state political party tag to the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) in Nagaland, Voice of the People Party in Meghalaya, and the Tipra Motha in Tripura.

With inputs from agencies
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, thundered Indias Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday as he stood on stage in Arunachal Pradeshs Kibithoo and launched the governments Vibrant Villages Programme.

The timing of the home ministers visit to Arunachal Pradesh is of significance; his two-day visit to the northeastern state comes days after Beijing announced Chinese names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh which the Dragon claims as the southern part of Tibet.

Kibithoo, located in Arunachal Pradesh, is the first village to be part of the Centres Vibrant Villages programme.

But what exactly is the Vibrant Villages programme and what is the role it will play in securing Himalayan borders from China?

Vibrant Villages, explained

The Centres Vibrant Villages scheme is Indias answer to Chinas model xiaokang villages that have been built along the Line of Actual Control in China-occupied Tibet. According to a US Department of Defence report published in 2021, Beijing has constructed 628 such villages along the 3,488-km LAC, stretching from eastern Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

Seeing that China was building up its presence, in 2022, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Vibrant Villages project in her Budget speech and consequently, the Cabinet approved the programme for the financial years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 4,800 crore.

The Vibrant Villages Programme has identified 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts bordering on the north, including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, and the UT of Ladakh, for complete development.

In the first phase of this project, which is three-years-long, 662 villages will be developed. Of them, 455 are in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Narendra Modi-led government has said that objective of this programme is to raise the standard of living of the residents in the border communities and encouraging them to remain there, reversing migration from villages and, in turn, enhancing border security.

As per the programme, the focus areas would be improving road connectivity, providing drinking water, electricity, mobile and internet connectivity, building tourist centres, multi-purpose centres, healthcare infrastructure, and wellness centres.

The programme may sound benign but its a good way to counter Chinas expansionist policy in the Northeast. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said earlier about the importance of this scheme, Migration from border villages is bad for national security, and the budget has provisions to promote dynamic border villages.

Even GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, Lt Gen R P Kalita echoed similar comments, emphasising the importance of well-populated border villages. Speaking to Swarajya, he said, This is why China has built those model villages along the LAC. We need to incentivise the residents of villages on our side of the LAC to remain there, and for that to happen we need to provide all modern facilities and good livelihood opportunities to them.

The Vibrant Villages scheme will also see a boost to activities such as bee-keeping, improving agricultural yields, encouraging handicrafts and local products, and providing market linkages to them.

Officials explain that the people of the border villages serve as the eyes and ears to the security forces. Their presence in villages along the LAC provide an effective counter to China and hence, the Dragon cant lay claim easily on these areas.

Also read: Will we witness a repeat of 1962 border conflict with China?

Dragon breathes fire

Amit Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh, his first as home minister, made Beijing see red.

Shortly after the minister touched down in the northeastern state, Chinas ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a statement, Zangnan 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.

For the unaware, Zangnan is what the Chinese call Arunachal Pradesh, laying claim to the land. This despite India stating unequivocally that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India.

Also read: As Dragon becomes assertive towards Arunachal, India must reconsider its stand on Tibet

This isnt the first time that China has expressed anger at the presence of Indian officials in Arunachal Pradesh. Its a script that plays out each time any senior official from the Indian government visits the state  even in 2021, when then Vice President Venkaiah Naidu travelled to the state.

Beijing claims about 90,000 sq km of areas in Arunachal Pradesh of India to be a part of the territory of China and calls it Zangnan or south Tibet.

China and its pursuit of Arunachal

China has long coveted the state of Arunachal Pradesh, the largest state in the northeast. Its location  sharing international borders with Tibet to the north, and northwest, Bhutan towards the west and Myanmar to the east  makes it like a protective shield to the northeast.

And while China may stake claim to the entire state, one area is of particular significance to Beijing  Tawang. Tawang houses Tawang Ganden Namgyal Lhatse or Tawang Monastery  the second largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. China cites historical ties between the Tawang monastery and Tibets Lhasa monastery to bolster its claims over Arunachal Pradesh.

Moreover, when the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959, he entered India through Tawang and sought refuge at the Tawang monastery for some time.

Besides the cultural importance, Tawang also provides a strategic entry into Indias northeastern region. Defence experts state that an increased presence of China in Arunachal would help Beijing exert is influence in the area as well as negate Indias presence.

These reasons combined make Arunachal Pradesh highly coveted by Beijing and the Asian giant continues to make moves to bolster its presence. In fact, earlier this month, China unilaterally renamed 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, including mountain peaks, residential areas, and rivers, claiming that they are actually a part of South Tibet.

The Indian government rejected the announcement, saying that China has no territorial claims in the region. This is not the first time that China is making such attempts, and we have criticised such attempts, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said during a press conference. Beijing had earlier unilaterally tried to rename places in the northeastern state in 2017 and most recently in 2021.

Needless to say this wont be the last time we see China needling in Arunachal.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
As tensions between China and Taiwan are rising, a spirit of belonging has gripped the islanders. A hot-selling patch worn by Taiwanese air force pilots is proof. It shows a Forseman black bear punching Winnie the Pooh. What does this even mean? A lot, if you follow internet memes.

The Chinese government despises the fictional bear. You wonder why. Pooh is often compared to President Xi Jinping  its used to mock him. The Communist nation doesnt find it funny, so much so that the character has been censored in China.

Punching Pooh

Now the patch of the Formosan black bear punching Winnie the Pooh has become the talk of the town in Taiwan. This comes as China conducted a three-day series of military drills across the region in response to President Tsai Ing-Wens historic meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Also Read: Shandong, J-16s and more: Chinas military might on display during drills around Taiwan

According to Taiwan News, the Ministry of National Defence 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. It comes with a message: We are open 24/7 at the top and Scramble! at the bottom, reports ANI.

Another patch with similar imagery says, Fight for freedom.

JUST IN: In a series of photos released by @MoNDefense, a fighter jet pilots military patch drew some amusement as it showed a Taiwanese black bear holding a national flag and punching Winnie the Pooh  a character some drew comparisons to Xi Jinping. 1/ pic.twitter.com/lVTWzXfD0y  Tingting Liu  (@tingtingliuTVBS) April 9, 2023

The endangered Formosan black bear is seen as a symbol of Taiwanese identity. Taiwan was previously known internationally as Formosa, according to a CNN report.

Soon after the pictures of the fighter jet pilots were released, the patch quickly went viral on social media in Taiwan. The Taiwanese posted links to e-commerce websites such as Ruten, where pre-orders of blue and red versions of the patches can be placed online.

The badge is not part of the uniform. Taiwans 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.

A military and foreign affairs correspondent Ting Ting Liu of Taiwan-based TVBS News wrote on Twitter, 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 PLAs daily incursions.

The Republic of China Air Force is unofficially referred to as the Taiwanese air force.

According to AFP, another badge, designed last year, shows a Taiwanese fighter pilot slapping a panda, China's national symbol. It was produced when China carried out similar exercises in response to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei last year.

The iron-on patches are being sported by the Taiwan pilots as a defiant message to Xi. And now they are all the rage among locals.

Also read: No Pooh For You: Why Winnie the Pooh movie screening was cancelled in Hong Kong



Patch of honour

Taiwanese people have rushed to buy the Pooh-punching patches, which sell for 200 Taiwan dollars (USD 6.50), reports the news agency AFP. The badges originated at Wings Fan Goods in Taoyuan City, east of the capital Taipei, where they have now sold out.

"It's so famous that my friends on the other side of the Pacific are asking me about this," fan Mob Liu said on Facebook.

Social media was flooded with requests for the patches, some from as far away as the United States. "Please restock," said one user, identified as Abigail Eileen.

Sepfry Ng asked: "Can you ship overseas? To Hong Kong?"

A Facebook vendor who sells the patches said he has received around 1,000 orders since the image went viral on Saturday, AFP reports.

Most of the requests are from Taiwan but some have even been received from China. "The people of Taiwan are disgusted with China's overacting military exercises after the Tsai-McCarthy meeting so this pilot's badge sparked discussion," said the Facebook vendor, who asked to be identified by his business name Wizardgeo. "The people support the military in defending our sovereignty."

Defending Taiwan

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 Taiwans airspace, while China carried out military drills.

Even after the People's Liberation Army announced the end of the three-day war games, its warships and planes are reportedly lingering near the island, the Taiwanese military said on Tuesday.

Also Read: Key questions around China's military drills around Taiwan answered

Taipei has lodged a protest against Chinese military drills, saying that the country would not yield to threats. In a statement, Taiwans Ministry of National Defence called the island their homeland.

Taking to its official Twitter handle, Taiwans 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.

With inputs from agencies

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Kuwait City: 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.

Im Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News. What kind of news do you prefer? Lets hear your opinions, she said in classical Arabic.

Also Read: AI bots like ChatGPT can now influence people in taking decisions related to life and death

The site is affiliated with the Kuwait Times, founded in 1961 as the Gulf regions first English-language daily.

Abdullah Boftain, deputy editor in chief for both outlets, said the move is a test of AIs potential to offer new and innovative content.

In future Fedha could adopt the Kuwaiti accent and present news bulletins on the sites Twitter account, which has 1.2 million followers, he said.

   #     #..  #_          #   ..   pic.twitter.com/VlVjasSdpb    (@KuwaitNews) April 8, 2023

"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.

Also Read: Halting AI: Musk and China share an ulterior motive in calling for pause on development of ChatGPT

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.

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A small cafe in New South Wales, Australia, has drawn criticism for allegedly hiring kids as young as 11, according to The Guardian.

Children are paid wages for washing dishes, making jams and relishes, and serving customers.

Notably, there is no minimum working age in New South Wales, although applicants for tax file numbers must be at least 11 years old.

The news coincides with calls for a national minimum age for child labour.

Lets take a closer look at the controversy.

Cafe that hires young kids

Recently, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) covered a cafe with 100 employees, the majority of which are young people in school.

Huw and Juliet Robb, the owners of Long Track Pantry in the small Australian town of Jugiong, claimed that they had a hiring problem when they first launched the cafe a few years ago.

Staffing the industrial kitchen was difficult because the town only has 200 residents.

We realised we were unlikely to attract skills and talent out of the city into a regional place like Jugiong, so we needed to build our team from the ground up, Robb told ABC News.

Children are enrolled in rigorous training regimens created by staff members with backgrounds in education at the Jugiong jam factory.

Before moving on to customer-facing positions, staff members in their late teens or early 20s assist the younger children with food preparation and dishwashing.

Also read: Whats Australias new law to tackle gender pay gap? Which countries have similar rules?

The controversy

When the story took over the internet, netizens criticised the business and that the cafe exploited child labour.

On the other hand, a section of people defended the decision by claiming that the kids were paid award pay.

A user commented, So weve moved from children working in a cafe by their own volition, paid award wages plus super to child slavery, now? Get in the sea!

So weve moved from children working in a cafe by their own volition, paid award wages plus super to child slavery, now? Get in the sea!  ScrapingThroughFrance (@foutaises2022) April 10, 2023

While another wrote, Yay?? Really? Getting your first job at 9 is really sad. Its exploitative, and theres no other way to spin it. Children should just be allowed to be children, not part of a business model that depends on child labour.

Yay?? Really? Getting your first job at 9 is really sad. Its exploitative, and theres no other way to spin it. Children should just be allowed to be children, not part of a business model that depends on child labour.  Daniel Saks  (@dannysaks) April 9, 2023

Understandably, Ive stopped at this cafe and purchased many of their products. Blissfully unaware that Im supporting child labour. [Long Track Pantry in Jugiong employing 11 yr olds in their kitchens] https://t.co/6LtlEC9Ez6  Imogen Hines (@Imi_cycles) April 8, 2023

A netizen chipped in, Yay! This is common sense challenging political correctness: we need more of it. I got my first job when I was 9, and it was a great learning experience. The Long Track Pantry is a fantastic enterprise: good to see these kids becoming part of it.

Yay! This is common sense challenging political correctness: we need more of it. I got my first job when I was 9, and it was a great learning experience. The Long Track Pantry is a fantastic enterprise: good to see these kids becoming part of it.https://t.co/x9QOwWto87  Tim Colebatch (@gumnut49) April 8, 2023

Childhood slavery is an obnoxious practice, no matter how much spin is spoken. Those children will grow up beleiving it is the norm to be taken advantage of for the profit of others.  Ray (@Ray99373139) April 9, 2023

Also read: Indian educational degrees to be recognised in Australia: Why this is significant

Country kids solve labour shortage problem

According to a survey on employment and workplace relations, there were around 214,500 minors (15 and under) who were legally employed in Australia as of last year.

The convention in the country allows for exceptions so that kids under 13 can engage in jobs that wont harm their health, happiness, or education.

Examples given include working on family farms or in stores, distributing flyers or newspapers, mowing lawns, babysitting, volunteering, or doing simple housework.

Also read: U.S. to crack down on child labour amid surge in violations

The debate over push for the minimum age for Australian workers

With some exceptions for children under 13, the federal government is considering a recommendation to raise the minimum working age to 15, or 13 for light work.

Australia should ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO) agreement governing the minimum age for admission to employment, according to a recommendation made by a parliamentary committee in March.

This would be binding treaty action.

The Guardian quoted the committee report as stating that employment could be beneficial for young people, but the bulk of the evidence suggests that young peoples labour is harmful to development, educational attainment, and health, especially in circumstances when a youth works only a few hours per week.

Josh Wilson, a Labour MP and committee chair, said while presenting the report that Australia had not exactly moved fast to ratify this agreement and that it would be the 176th nation to do so.

According to him, the agreement had three essential obligations. The minimum age for admission to employment, he said, should be the age at which compulsory schooling is completed, which should in any event be at least 15 years old.

They are to describe the circumstances for children no younger than 13 years to perform light labour, when permitted by national law, and establish 18 years as the minimum age for hazardous work, or 16 years provided certain precautions are in place.

He believes ratifying the convention would provide Australia a better chance of identifying and outlawing child labour.

Anne Hollonds, the national childrens commissioner, also endorsed the above suggestions while also highlighting the dangers that young labourers face. She explained, Its not just about making sure the task isnt dangerous; its about the setting of young kids working with older kids and adults.

Minimum hiring age across the world

In order to limit child labour, numerous regulations and provisions are in place in the different states and areas of the country, some of which do not specify a minimum age.

In India, the law prohibits child labour below the age of 14 excluding children working as child artists and in a family business.

Child labour law also prohibits adolescents between the age of 14 and 18 to work in any hazardous or dangerous occupations and processes. Additionally, it ensures free and compulsory education for all children in the age group of 6-14 yrs.

According to Anglo Info Japan, the minimum legal working age in Japan is 15 years old. The country has placed strict guidelines to avoid any risk of violating rights.

The website suggests the minimal legal age for employment in Argentina is 14 with strict rules in place. Anyone below 18 is not allowed to take part in hard work.

In Brazil, 16 is the earliest age at which you can begin working. But, you can start working at 14 if youre in an apprenticeship. No children are allowed to work at night because Brazil is still one of the most unsafe places on earth, according to ILO.

According to the US Department of Labor, the minimum age for employment in America is 14 for non-agricultural jobs.

Nonetheless, there is no upper age limit for minors employed in jobs that fall under the chore category.

As per Oldest.org, the minimum working age in Canada is 13, but only in certain regions. Rules forbid working more than part-time, and 18 is the legal age to start working full-time. Also, until they are 16, pupils must attend school full-time according to federal law.

With inputs from agencies

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We often come across the news of celebrities undergoing rehab for alcohol addiction. However, its not every day that we hear or read about a dog detox. But thats exactly what happened to a Labrador mix in United Kingdom that went through rehab for alcohol addiction.

Two-year-old Coco got addicted to alcohol as his owner had a habit of leaving his drink out before going to sleep. After his owner died, Coco was found by veterinarians with another dog hooked on booze and was taken to Woodside Animal Welfare Trust in Plymouth, western England. Coco was sedated for four weeks to help ease his withdrawal symptoms. He is now off all medication and starting a new life.

The animal welfare group said that it was still unknown how exactly the canine got hooked to alcohol, but if it wasnt for their help and care, Coco would likely have not survived this heart breaking ordeal, they said. The group is now searching for a home for the pooch.

But this begs the larger question? Can animals actually get addicted or even high on alcohol?

Keep that beer can away from your canine

Alcohol consumption for canines is an absolute no. Just like chocolate and onions, alcohol is toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of alcohol  not only in drinks but also in syrups or cake or even household items  can have ingredients that are poisonous for them.

Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist at the Pet Poison Helpline explains that while dogs are able to metabolise the ethanol, it wreaks massive havoc inside the canines system. She says in a report published by GreatPetCare, The dose makes the poison. It matters how much they get into, as well as the animals size. A Labrador would be able to consume more than a Chihuahua.

When dogs consume alcohol they suffer from alcohol poisoning which is very similar to when humans suffer the same. They may appear dazed or sedate and have some difficulty walking, says Schmid, adding that vomiting is another symptom of alcohol poisoning in canines.

Alcohol can also induce a life-threatening condition known as metabolic acidosis in dogs. This rapid rise in acidity levels has several adverse effects, including respiratory depression, hypothermia, dangerously low heart rate and blood pressure, and heart attacks.

All in all, it means that dogs cant handle their booze and should steer clear of all spirits.

The alcoholics of the animal world

But what about other animals? While dogs should stay away from alcohol, is it the same for other animals too?

According to experts, there are some animals who have a taste for alcohol.

The pen-tailed tree shrew of Malaysia has the honour for having the worlds highest alcohol tolerance. A mid-1990s study by Frank Wiens and Annette Ziztmann, animal physiologists at Germanys University of Bayreuth, revealed that this tiny little creature regularly consumes the equivalent of about nine alcoholic beverages a night. But despite the high alcohol levels, they dont get fuzzy and dont display any signs of drunken behaviour.

Vervet monkeys on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts are also known for their love of the bottle. It has been reported that these primates roam the beaches waiting for people to leave their drinks so that they can gulp it down. Imagine, an island of drunken monkeys! But what makes them fond of the booze? It is said that the animals lived in an environment dominated by sugar cane plantations. And when the sugar cane was burned, or occasionally fermented before harvest, it became a treat for the monkeys. As they became accustomed to the ethanol in the fermented cane juice, the monkeys may have developed both a taste and tolerance for alcohol.

Also read: Not UK, not France, not Germany, its Latvia that tops booze consumption in Europe

A past study has shown that humans love for alcohol arose millions of years ago, when our ape and monkey ancestors discovered that the scent of alcohol led them to ripe, fermenting and nutritious fruit.

In India, the sloth bear is known for his love of mahua, which is known for its alcoholic properties. The tree is most commonly found in states of West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

Wildlife experts state that it is because of mahua has been a recurrent factor in numerous cases of conflict between man and bear. These shaggy bears are often found foraging under Mahua trees, especially at night. Thus, when villagers venture towards the tree for collection at dawn, they are greeted by a slot bear just awakened from his slumber. There have also been cases of sloth bears entering residences where Mahua liquor is being brewed.

Besides sloth bears, there have also been reports of elephants consuming mahua and getting drunk. As recently as April last year, villagers in Odishas Keonjhar district found 24 tuskers apparently drunk, sleeping near the place where mahua flowers were kept in water in large pots for fermentation.

While some experts argue that the pachyderms dont drink spirits at all, there are studies that show that elephants are lightweights, because they lack a key enzyme that quickly metabolises ethanol.

Also read: Beer for the sole: Someone has actually made a shoe filled with lager

Apart from these animals, bats are also huge consumers of alcohol off fermented fruit. A 2009 study in Belize published by PLOS One, the highest blood alcohol content in bats was 0.3 per cent.

Its a really sobering thought that animals enjoy or consume alcohol like humans. Theres one thing that is clear  in the animal kingdom, just like in human society, the effects of alcohol are not to everyones taste.

With inputs from agencies

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Kathmandu: Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh, who is still on the run, will possibly enter Nepal days after the fugitive was put on the countrys surveillance list.

The Nepal Police have been put on alert after the news about Singhs possible entry into the country came in.

Poshraj Pokharaj Pokharel, the spokesperson for Nepal Police, said, We have received no information about the entry of Amritpal into Nepal.

He also clarified that there is no information about the entry of Indian security personnel into Nepal to hunt down Amritpal.

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.

Yesterday, Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of Amritpal Singh, was arrested from Amritsars Kathu Nangal area. Papalpreet has been associated with the radical preacher for a long time and assisted him in all of his escapes.

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.

With inputs from agencies

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New Delhi: Due to serious quality concerns with the fighter jets, which frequently necessitate recurrent inspections at regular intervals, the Indian Navy will retire the whole fleet of about 41 MiG-29K supersonic fighter aircraft by 2025.

The MiG-29K supersonic fighter aircraft will thus be put out of commission after less than 25 years in service.

With a life extension programme, the MiG-29K could have continued to serve the Indian Navy for another 10 to 15 years after its 25-year design life of 6,000 hours.

However, according to a report by Indian Defence Research Wing (IDRW), the Indian Navy has no such plans to extend the service life of its MiG-29K fleet which will be scrapped after retirement.

Since its introduction, the fleets serviceability has ranged from 21.30 to 47.14 percent, according to the 2016 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, with over 40 engines having to be removed owing to design-related flaws attributed to the Russian Military Complexs subpar quality.

According to reports, the Indian Navy is unsure that the MiG-29K fleet will last beyond 2030 due to airframe flaws, discrepancies, and anomalies that will make flying risky as it ages further.

The Indian Navy plans to replace its Mig-29K fleet with 45 Twin Engine Deck Based Fighters (TEDBF), a 5th generation minus, from 2035 onward.

The Indian Navy is reportedly looking to buy 26 Rafale M fighter jets before 2030 to ease pressure on its Mig-29K fleet. The contract might be signed in the next 18 months, and the agreement could be announced soon.

Why did the Indian Navy choose the Mig-29K?

Although India was the fighter jets second launch client after the Soviet Air Force, the Indian Navy had chosen the Mig-29K due to experience with the Indian Air Force (IAF), which has been flying 60 or so Mig-29A  which were later upgraded to UPG  since the late 1980s.

The Mig-29K is based on the basic MiG-29K airframe that was modified to be used by Soviet aircraft carriers as deck-based fighter aircraft.

However, the programme came to an abrupt end after the fall of the Soviet Union, and was only revived after India was given the Admiral Gorshkov allegedly free of charge.

However, India still had to pay $2.35 billion for the upgrade and refit of the aircraft carrier and another US$1 billion to acquire the aircraft and weapons systems.

The MiG-29K was given new life by the Indian Navy, and the fighter aircraft later made its way onto the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, which at the time was only flying Su-33 Strike fighters.

Although the Indian Navy continues to maintain that it was the best option at the time, many believe that the Su-33, which the Russian Navy ultimately elected to replace in 2009 with the Mig-29K, would have been a better choice.

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Kibithoo: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu targeted China and said that todays India is not what it was in 1962, but a country that belongs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

He made the remarks in the presence of Amit Shah. He noted that it was perhaps for the first time that a Union home minister came to a place located so close to the border with China.

On Monday, Amit Shah launched the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) to ensure all-round development of the villages located along the northern border. China had, on Monday, objected to Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

It is not an India of 1962. Today, it is Narendra Modis India, it is Amit Shahs India, Khandu said amid applause from the audience that mostly consisted of those living close to the Sino-Indian border.

India had faced Chinese aggression in 1962 and Kibithoo and neighbouring Walong had witnessed a fierce battle between the Indian Army and the Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

Khandus remarks also bear significance as they came days after Beijing announced Chinese names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, which the neighbouring country claims as the southern part of Tibet.

The chief minister said the Modi government has been wholeheartedly supporting the all-round development of the northeast, especially Arunachal Pradesh.

As part of the Vibrant Villages Programme, the BJP-led Centre will provide Rs 4,800 crore for the development of villages all along the northern border  from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.

Shah had said the objective of the programme is to stop the exodus of people, develop the villages as tourists attractions, generate jobs and usher in an era of all-round development.

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 on coverage, including 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh. The VVP will help improve the quality of life of residents in identified villages and encourage people to stay put at their native places, thereby reversing out-migration from these villages and adding to the security of the border, officials said.

The district administration, with the help of appropriate mechanisms at the block and panchayat levels, will prepare action plans for the identified villages to ensure a 100-per cent saturation of the 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.

At the function, Shah also launched nine micro hydel projects of the Arunachal Pradesh government that are being constructed under the Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Programme for the benefits of those living along the border areas.

Besides the locals, the electricity generated in these mini hydel projects will also be given to Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) installations.

(With inputs from PTI)

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More than any other group, Indian Americans have achieved a level of success greater than many others. From tech CEOs to journalists, comedians, actors, elected officials, doctors, and musicians, the community has much to be proud of.

Nowhere is this success more apparent than in the state of California, all the way on the west coast of the United States, home to Silicon Valley and all the most valuable tech companies in the world.

Its here that in 2021, in the haze of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Dalit advocacy group called Equality Labs first approached the Santa Clara County Human Rights Commission to take cognizance of caste discrimination taking place in Silicon Valley. The groups most visible face and executive director is Thenmozhi Soundararajan. She identifies as a Dalit and an Ambedkarite and introduced a motion to add caste as a protected class in the county and alter all local government forms to include caste as a field  similar to other personal identifiers such as race, religion, gender, disability status, and veteran status among others.

Enter CoHNA  the Coalition of Hindus of North America  who organized an enormous phone call campaign during several open comment sessions. Through several hours of phone calls in combative city council meetings, the impassioned Hindu community made their dislike of the ordinance clear. Although the commission did not officially junk the ordinance, it quietly fell into obscurity from where it was never brought up again.

Equality Labs and Soundararajan continued actively building alliances with the labor movement and social justice movement in order to tie caste identity into the larger American Left ecosystem. From this emerged a new one  the caste equity movement.

Equity is a social justice term that refers to equality of outcome in contrast to the previous generations goal  equality  which refers to equality of opportunity. Equality is a vision that advocates for everyone to start the race of life in the same place while acknowledging that some will finish first and others finish after.

Although the term equity is new to American audiences, it should not be a new one for Indians. The United States already has programmes in place to address historical wrongs done to African-Americans and Latinos in the form of affirmative action  preference in college admissions  and more recently, racial hiring quotas set by private sector companies. In India, equity is known more commonly as reservation. One can assume that Equality Labs aims for the same along caste lines in American tech companies.

In the meantime, Cisco Systems was sued by a Dalit employee who claimed that his manager was a Brahmin, and due to caste discrimination, was held back from projects and promotion.

II. In February 2023, Kshama Sawant, an unpopular Indian-origin Seattle city council member introduced an ordinance along the same lines to ban caste discrimination. Seattle is the headquarters for Amazon and Microsoft but does not have a large ethnically Indian population as compared to Santa Clara and Silicon Valley.

Sawant, the only openly socialist member to be voted into Seattle since 1916, introduced the bill alongside the familiar face of Thenmozhi Soundararajan, still the executive director at Equality Labs.

Hindu advocacy groups led by CoHNA once again sprung into action, mobilising Hindus on the ground in Seattle, dutifully attending public comment sessions to make impassioned pleas, and attempting to open a dialogue with a largely unfriendly media to make their case.

From the get-go, CoHNA made it clear that they abhor caste discrimination. Dalits and lower caste members of CoHNA were vocal that this law would institutionalize the very thing Equality Labs claimed to be fighting.

CoHNA made the strong case that although the language of the ordinance identifies caste among many religions and ethnicities, Hindus are most closely associated with caste. It very clearly paints a target on the backs of Hindu Americans and Indians and creates a presumption of guilt. There are no clear ways to identify caste or implement anti-caste discrimination laws in America.

On the day of the vote, despite a presence in the city council chambers, they were outnumbered by Equality Labs supporters who ranged from Ambedkarites to labour union workers to LGBT representatives.

When city councillors officially voted, many of them openly admitted that they knew nothing about caste or the history of India. They said, however, that they didnt need to know that history to feel good about their decision to pass it because it would reduce the harm that Dalits claimed to be experiencing.

Of the nine city councillors, only one dissented.

Sara Nelson voted No. She asked whether the Seattle City Council had any data to support Equality Labs and Sawants claims of widespread and systemic caste discrimination. She also made the point that without ways to identify caste, there would be no way to implement it properly.

How exactly do you determine who is an upper caste and who is a lower caste? And if you cant determine what caste someone belongs to, how do you litigate that case?

Even if you could identify someones caste, what would the city do if someone from a lower caste attempted to sue someone from another lower caste?

If someone chooses not to identify with a caste and someone accuses them of caste discrimination, will the city of Seattle force a caste upon them?

Councillor Nelsons questions went unanswered and the ordinance is currently active in Seattle. There is currently no active case of caste discrimination in the city.

III. Equality Labs claim that caste discrimination is widespread and systemic are easily challenged.

The basis for the claim is a 2019 survey it conducted by posting it on the popular social media site Reddit and asking respondents to forward it to interested participants.

Needless to say, this is problematic for a variety of reasons: anyone in the world can anonymously respond which means its not specific to the United States; the sample is far from representative (ex. 40 per cent of its respondents identify as LGBT while the national average is 7.2 per cent.

Despite its many problems, Equality Labs has benefited from the current zeitgeist and gained institutional credibility due to its political stances and alliances.

Thankfully, we can reference a rigorous study from the Carnegie Endowment which largely disagrees with Equality Labs findings.

Instead, they found that there is very little caste identification among Indian Americans, especially in those born in America and that there is even less discrimination actually experienced. It is very far from widespread and systemic.

This study acknowledges Equality Labs and criticizes the findings and methodology, most notably that Equality Labs simply removed responses where people did not identify with a caste at all.

IV. Since then, there has been a flurry of activity.

Two weeks ago in the California Senate  the upper house of the legislature  Senator Aisha Wahab introduced SB 403, a bill that wants to amend the civil rights protections for California and its forty million residents by adding caste as a protected class.

Despite CoHNAs best attempts to open a dialogue with Senator Wahab, she has refused. Members who went to her office were met with aggressive staffers who once again admitted that they knew very little about caste or how it functioned. None of them knew what the words varna and jaati meant or their importance to the discussion.

The Indian-American community responded by showing up in the hundreds to peacefully protest outside Senator Wahabs office and hopefully bring media attention to the Hindu communitys grievances against SB 403.

CoHNA has been clear from the outset that in a democracy, no one should be able to write laws that directly affect the Hindu community without our consultation.

Equality Labs is a for-profit organisation that sells DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) education services to corporate entities on caste. Advocating for a bill that will necessitate its services to explain caste in a variety of contexts is no doubt a conflict of interest.

The Hindu community continues to fight back against this legislation.

Without guidelines on how it will be implemented, it has the opportunity for great misuse. Hindu children will now be looked at with suspicion in college admissions if they choose not to identify as caste because Equality Labs says that this is a mark of privilege and indicates higher caste or oppressor caste. Hindu and Indian employees will now be looked at with suspicion because employers simply wont want to deal with frivolous lawsuits, such as Cisco. And finally, it paints the entire Hindu religion in the way Equality Labs would like  as irredeemable and worthy of dismantling as Soundararajan has stated in multiple interviews and tweets.

The writer is a tech worker in California Bay Area. He also volunteers his time with Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and spends way too much time on Twitter.

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New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday paid rich tributes to social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary.

"My tributes to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary," he tweeted.

Recalling Phule's contribution, Dhankhar said, "He was an iconic social reformer who strove tirelessly to dismantle caste barriers and social inequalities. "

"A crusader of womens rights and education, his remarkable legacy will continue to inspire all,'" he added.

Union Ministers also took to the micro blogging site and paid homage to the social reformer.

"I bow my head in reverence to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his birth anniversary. He was a giant of a man who devoted his life for nation building through his efforts towards women's education, social reform and promotion of rationalism," Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said.

Union Minister of State for Skill Development Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, "Respectful tributes to the Great Indian Activist, Social Reformer and Author - Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his Jayanti."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took to twitter and wrote, "Humble tributes to the great social reformer, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, who tirelessly worked for the rights of the underprivileged and pioneered the movement for womens education."

"His Satyashodhak Samaj inspires us to work toward bringing social justice and equality in our society," he said.

UNI DS RKM
Historians as well as defence analysts may be able to put a date between the souring relationship between India-Pakistan as well as India  China. This notwithstanding, China has been fighting an undeclared war with India even beyond the 1962 war. Its misadventure in 1967 in Sikkim failed but it continued its efforts towards its adversarial approach against India. This was demonstrated again in 1987 when it moved south of Samdurong Chu and established Wangdung Camp. Despite large-scale mobilisation by India, its further expansion was prevented but Wangdung still continues as a mark of Chinese conflict agenda with India to date.

There was apparently a lull between 1987 and 2017 till China did Doklam in 2017. This period of close to three decades was used as a large lull by China to trap India to use it as a market for its own development and economic growth. It has enmeshed India in a complex supply chain matrix that India continues to remain embroiled in this mesh till date wherein there is a huge trade deficit for India. The situation has not reversed despite a deliberate effort by India to address this issue and it is likely to take a considerable time for a favourable tilt in favour of India.

The lull of three decades was disturbed in 2017 during the Doklam crisis which apparently ended in Indian advantage but China also realised that longer lulls in the future could be detrimental to its interest and therefore it started its aggressive behaviour. In the year 2017, it renamed certain locations in Arunachal Pradesh. It was obvious that it was preparing for LAC transgressions in Eastern Ladakh for a considerable time as it is unimaginable that such large-scale transgressions at multiple locations will happen overnight in April-May 2020. When India raised objections and mobilised its troops for its defensive need, matching deployment including deployment of long-range weapons was also observed on the Chinese side indicating its advanced preparation towards defending this transgression and escalating it if it was needed.

Despite all our political, diplomatic and military efforts, the status quo has not been restored as existing in April-May 2020. Progress on Depsang plains and Demchok is alluding us altogether and wherever there has been some progress based on mutual discussions, the status of April-May 2020 has not been really reached in the majority of the cases. The new approach of creating buffers even along LAC is something which needs further analysis. The concept of buffers may be more pragmatic along the borders if they are not fenced. It therefore clearly emerges that China has been at war with India since 1954 onwards in some form or the other. The intervening period has been taken by China as lull to prepare for the next stage of conflict which needs to be embedded in our psyche as well to see these periods as lull in the continued conflict spectrum to address our national interests.

The bilateral agreements meant peace and tranquillity for India but these were used as lull periods by China to prepare for the next stage of conflict at all stages of our mutual relationship. India felt militarily satisfied by holding forward locations in certain areas as tactical-level preparations for a later date. As against this, China focussed on strategic and operational level issues initially pending the tactical level preparations for a later date. It has created axials as well as laterals connectivity infrastructure in border and disputed areas in abundance and continues to develop these further till date with impunity. The border infrastructure is not only limited to road and rail connectivity but in terms of airfields, logistics bases and all other infrastructure required for warfighting. This infrastructure surge is now leaning more closer to LAC as against being limited only to depth areas. In addition, it has also advanced its capabilities for military hardware be it for army, air force or navy.

India has also been taking multiple steps to address its capacity deficit. Its true that it will take time more so when we are late starters. The earlier adage of one may lose battles but the war must be won is no more valid. We need to be victorious at every stage of manifested conflict. This will be only possible when we are not lured by Chinese lulls as signs of peace and tranquillity. Really speaking, time is almost running out.

It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to get involved in the mission mode for capability creation in their respective domains. When this lull gets vaporised cannot be predicted with certainty and therefore continued preparations are needed. Some of the recommended actions are as under:.

Evolution of National Security Remaining ambiguous has also certain advantages but it helps to state the intent more clearly bringing out its advantages

Modifying the No first Use nuclear policy to remain No first Use only against non-nuclear nations

Restructure defence forces without any further delay to adopt Theaterisation. Inter services issues have to be disregarded to do what is best for the nation

Executing multiple other force restructuring issues pending so far

Creation of Rocket  Missile force in larger numbers to be operated by Gunners

Creation of layered air defence, an umbrella which needs to be kept under concerned Theatre commanders

While there will be an urgent need to indigenise our defence forces, it will still take considerable time given our manufacturing ability in defence domain combined with process focus as against the product focus. In the meantime, India must keep its existing defence equipment inventory mission reliable. Equipment is likely to be a key constituent in winning the battles as has emerged in the year-long Russia-Ukraine conflict. For doing this, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) support needs to be made more vibrant even if it needs review of Shekatkar committee recommendations. The creation of Forward Sustainment Bases (FSBs) at the Command level is such a pressing necessity whose time has come

There has been substantial progress in automation and networking. Business process review of all our actions combined with process simplification are essential to do away with large No of our organisations which are now not contributing to our war waging effort. This will release the manpower for critical areas needed for future wars.

Co-option of ESM in releasing combatants needs to be institutionalised in a substantial manner.The combatants so released can be gainfully employed in other critical areas.

The above are some of the measures but there are many more which must be in the knowledge of all stakeholders. All these will happen when the period of non-active combat is taken as a lull period between two conflicts and waiting for the next conflict to happen. Given the adversity of the force matrix with China, we have fewer options and therefore it puts more responsibility on us to be better prepared for the active stage of a conflict while keeping appropriately responding to lull duration of the Chinese activities.

Updated Date:
India is one of the places with the oldest and richest history on earth. Being a cultural centre, India is also of great importance in economic and geopolitical points. India has been the centre of many religious and ethnic groups throughout history. No stranger to Turks and Muslims, India is currently the country with the largest Muslim minority. Twenty-two different languages are used in India, which is governed by seven regions and 28 states. The relations between Turkey and India, which is multicultural and multilingual, date back to ancient times.

Turkey-India relations are not at the required level

Historical artefacts from the time of Turkish and Islamic domination, which corresponds to an important time period in the history of India, still exist today. In recent years, it is seen that the relations between Turkey and India have also improved. But we cannot say that the relations are at the required level. At this point, it should be noted that the two countries are valuable to each other. After the recent coup attempt, Turkey turned to Eastern countries. Turkey, which has developed warm relations with Iran, Russia and China, also needs new partners. In this context, India is an important country for Turkey.

Turkey can find a middle path between India and Pakistan

The Kashmir issue is among the worlds problems waiting to be resolved. While the parties to the problem, India and Pakistan, cannot come to an agreement, it is thought that Turkey can follow an active policy on this issue. Turkey, a good and reliable friend of Pakistan, can step in here. As a result of the recently developed good relations with India, it can solve the problems between the two countries without war. Only Turkey can solve this problem fairly, without anyone being victimized be it India, Pakistan or Kashmir.

Economy and trade must be developed

It is difficult to say that the trade volume between Turkey and India is at a high level. India, which has great economic potential, is thought to have a huge economy in the near future. Likewise, Turkey will be a very powerful country in the near future. The geopolitical position of Turkey, which stands out, especially with its young population, is also of great importance. In short, the development of economic relations between Turkey and India will be of great benefit to both countries.

Last contacts between two countries

Turkey sees India as an important country that takes firm steps towards becoming a global power with its growing economy, large market, military power, superiority in space and information technology, rich human resources, and deep-rooted historical and cultural heritage. Bilateral relations between Turkey and India have been developing with mutual visits in recent years. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to India between 30 April and 1 May 2017. Erdogan had previously visited India in November 2008 while he was prime minister. The 11th President of the Republic, Abdullah Gul, also paid an official visit to India in February 2010. President Erdogan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met regularly on the margins of the BRICS and G20 summits between 2015 and 2019. The last political consultations between the two countries were held in New Delhi on 8 May 2019 between delegations headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sedat Onal and Ambassador Gitesh Sharma, Undersecretary of the Western Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India.

The writer is a correspondent and an author who works in Turkish media. He graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Communication. He is interested in foreign policy issues, especially in the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, Atlantic and Eurasia. Views expressed are personal.

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Amsterdam: French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to the Netherlands on Tuesday where his speech will be keenly followed as he made a controversial remark about Europe during his China visit.

Macron, during his three-day visit to China, said that Europe should not become a follower of either China or the US and avoid getting involved in any conflict between the two countries over Taiwan.

His recent comments are expected to overshadow a two-day visit to the Netherlands where the president is meant to highlight a new dynamic between Paris and The Hague after the turning point of Brexit.

Macron, who is accompanied by his wife Brigitte and seven ministers, will dine with Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, see the hot-ticket Johannes Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and meet Prime Minister Mark Rutte on a canal boat.

But eyes will now be on the French presidents speech on European sovereignty in security and economic matters on Tuesday afternoon at the Dutch Nexus Institute in The Hague.

He will use the address to present a doctrine of economic security against China and the United States, amid European unease over US climate subsidies.

The speech comes after Macron said in an interview with media including French business daily Les Echos and Politico that we dont want to depend on others on critical issues, citing energy, artificial intelligence and social networks.

Macrons comments in the same interview on Taiwan, that Europe risks entanglement in crises that arent ours and should depend less on the Americans in matters of defence, have raised questions, like his past remarks on Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies

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Islamabad: Even as Ukraines deputy foreign minister get ready for a four-day visit to India from next Sunday, the east European country is bolstering its defence ties with Pakistan amid the war with Russia.

According to an ET report, Pakistan will send 230 containers laden with defence items to Ukraine from the Karachi port this month. The defence items will be shipped on two vessels MV Bokram and MV Kherson.

Ships transporting weapons to Ukraine from Pakistan are increasingly flying the US and European flags. According to reports, The main entry points into Europe for arms transfers from Pakistan  including tanks and rockets  is through ports in Poland and Germany.

Its interesting to note that Pakistan is helping Ukraine with weapons and other defence items even as the South Asian country asks Russia for help in modernising aircraft engines.

According to Pakistan, it would start receiving petroleum at discounted rates from Russia by the end of April. But there is no proof of an energy agreement between Russia and Pakistan.

It has been discovered that China, Pakistan, and Ukraine once formed a network to exchange missile technology. The Indian government is reportedly attempting to confirm whether Ukraine is still involved in providing Pakistan with any missile technology.

Pakistan was eager to buy a Ukrainian anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system in 2021. Ukraine has additionally been charged with providing North Korea with missile technology in the past.

Pakistan has established itself as a major provider of weapons and defence equipment to Ukraine in exchange for aid from western countries. This defence cooperation between Pakistan and Ukraine has been beneficial for the Ukrainian military which has been experiencing a lack of weapons and ammunition during the war with Russia.

In 2022, Britain had supplied weapons and ammunition to Ukraine via Romania using Pakistan as an air bridge. The UK had used the Nur Khan air base of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in Rawalpindi as part of the air bridge for sending military aircraft to Romanias Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport via a British air base in the Mediterranean to move weapons to Ukraine.

A memorandum of understanding between Pakistan and the UK defence ministry served as the foundation for some of the shipments.

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Azerbaijan and Armenia said Tuesday seven servicemen died in a shootout along their shared border, the latest escalation between the arch-rivals locked in a decades-long territorial dispute.

The two former Soviet nations fought two wars over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. A major war in 2020 ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire. However, clashes between them continue to take place.

Internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, Karabakh is an Armenian-majority region.

Armenian army positions deployed near the settlement of Dyg (at the two countries shared border) opened heavy fire at Azerbaijani army positions, the defence ministry in Baku said in a statement, adding that Azerbaijani troops have returned fire.

Also read: From Ukraine, Karabakh to Pakistan: 10 conflicts the world cant ignore in 2023

A few hours later, it said three servicemen were killed in the clashes. The Armenian defence ministry reported four dead and six wounded.

Armenia blames Azerbaijan for escalation

Yerevan blamed Baku for initiating the shootout.

At 16:00 (1200 GMT) on Tuesday, Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire in the direction of Armenian servicemen who were conducting engineering works near the border, the ministry said.

Under a Russian-mediated ceasefire agreement in the autumn of 2020, Armenia ceded swathes of territory it had controlled for decades, and Moscow deployed peacekeepers to oversee the fragile truce.

Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev have held several rounds of peace talks mediated by the European Union and the United States.

Last month, Pashinyan noted some progress in the peace process, but said fundamental problems remain because Azerbaijan is trying to put forward territorial claims, which is a red line to Armenia.

In February, the European Union deployed an expanded monitoring mission to the Armenian side of the border as Western engagement grows in a region that is traditionally the Kremlins sphere of influence.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, ethnic Armenian separatists in Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan. The ensuing conflict claimed some 30,000 lives.

With inputs from AFP

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Washington: Bad actors have figured out ways, said the FBI as it warned people to avoid using USB charging stations in public spaces including airports, hotels or other travel hubs. The bureau said they could be used to hack into devices and may pose a threat to privacy.

Through its PSA, or public service announcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned about something called juice jacking, which is one of the techniques used by hackers and scammers all over the world to access and steal data from a mobile phone by exploiting the USB charging port.

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, FBIs Denver office tweeted.

It recommended travellers to carry their own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead.

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

The intelligence agency has also released a similar guidance note on its website to avoid public chargers.

What is juice jacking?

Juice jacking is a technique that is used by hackers and scammers to get an easy access to a users' mobile phone and steal data it by exploiting the USB charging port. It is a kind of a cyberattack and hampers the person's privacy.

How do hackers get mobile data access?

When a person puts his/her device on charge into a public charging station that has been tampered with or compromised, it allows the hacker/scammer to access and steal data or even install malware onto it.

The attacker usually modifies the charging station's USB port by installing a device called a "juice jacking" tool. This tool looks very much similar to a normal charging cable, but the only difference is that it contains a small computer chip that can intercept and manipulate the data flowing between the device and the charging station. The moment a mobile phone or any device is connected to them, the juice jacking tool begins to steal sensitive data including passwords, contacts, pictures, bank account and credit card details from the device or install malware onto it.

How to protect against juice jacking attacks?

The best way is to avoid using public charging stations and carry a portable power bank or charging cable.

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Chinese search engine giant Baidu, has filed lawsuits against relevant app developers and Apple over fake copies of its Ernie bot app available on Apples app store.

Ernie is Baidus equivalent to the Wests ChatGPT, however its now only offered in a restricted preview to individuals with test accounts. According to Baidu, there are no formal releases of the chatbot.

The companys AI-powered Ernie bot, launched last month, has been touted as Chinas closest answer to the US-developed chatbot ChatGPT.

Also read: Xi Jinping breaking up Chinese tech giants into smaller parts is making Google and Apple very happy.

Baidu said in a statement on Monday that it has filed a case at a Haidian District Peoples Court in Beijing against the accused creators of Ernie-powered apps, as well as Apple, which let the software onto its stores.

At the moment, Ernie does not have any official app, Baidu stated late Friday in a statement released on its official Baidu AI WeChat account.

Until our company makes an official announcement, any Ernie app you see on the App Store or other stores is a forgery, it stated.

Baidu also took to Weibo in late March to complain that some websites and internet communities were selling access to test versions of Ernie for profit, which it claimed seriously affects the normal testing order of Ernie, harms the user experience, and violates Ernie test rules and relevant laws and regulations.

Also read: Chinas Baidu cancels public showcase for Ernie AI, its ChatGPT rival, shows it behind closed-doors

The company stated that it would suspend or limit access to those shared test accounts, and that it would take legal action against anyone detected transferring or selling testing accounts.

Over the weekend, at least four bogus Ernie applications were purportedly available in Apples App Store.

The teaser for Ernies launch featured a big language model that responded to inquiries with varied degrees of accuracy and went blank when posed questions that would offend Beijing sensitivities.

Also read: AI frenzy: Chinese tech firms are scrambling to make AI generative bots like ChatGPT

The company planned to hold a public demonstration in late March. That demonstration did not take place as planned, and the number of attendees was substantially decreased, leaving much of the media and public out.

The demo was transformed into a closed-door communication meeting for the first batch of invited testing enterprises so that more in-depth and comprehensive technical exchanges and interactions could take place.

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London: US President Joe Biden will start his four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the neighbouring Republic of Ireland with an initial stop in Belfast. Bidens visit to Northern Ireland has been chalked out to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast Agreement, which concluded many years of armed conflict in that country.

According to the White House, Biden will visit the neighbouring Republic of Ireland on Wednesday.

The US Presidents trip to Northern Ireland will see leaders of both countries discuss cooperation on a wide range of global challenges and Biden will also participate in a number of events during his visit.

The United States is known to be proud of the role it played in securing peace in Northern Ireland. The tireless work of Senator George Mitchell as well as the intense engagement of former President Bill Clinton were essential for the agreement.

President Biden too views the agreement as part of his own political legacy and can claim credit for encouraging US involvement in the peace process through the 1980s and 90s.

In Belfast, President Biden will talk about how the US can help to support Northern Irelands vast economic potential.

Later in Dublin, he is expected to address the Irish parliament and stress the close bilateral co-operation between the two nations. He will also make more personal visits to County Louth and County Mayo to revisit his family roots.

It is well known in American political circles that President Biden is inordinately proud of his personal Irish heritage. He mentions it at every opportunity to the media. Biden is expected to return to Washington on April 14.

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New Delhi: Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said although BNP is yet to show interest to join the next parliamentary elections, many BNP leaders are secretly taking preparations for the polls.

According to a report in the Dhaka Tribune, Many BNP leaders and activists are communicating about the elections. Among you (BNP leaders), there are many leaders like Ukil Abdus Sattar. Many leaders are looking for a way to participate in the elections and are communicating secretly. Wait and see, Obaidul Quader said.

BNP participates in elections wearing a veil, he added.

Earlier, Awami League General Secretary had accused BNP of being influenced by the Pakistani ideology and mindset.

Obaidul Quader said the BNP and Pakistans positions on the genocide of Bengalis in 1971 are the same.

BNP demands for caretaker government

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters rallied in Bangladeshs capital in December 2022 to demand the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resign and install a caretaker before the next general elections expected to be held in early 2024.

Hasina and her ruling Awami League party, which returned to power in 2018 for the third consecutive time, have repeatedly ruled out the Oppositions demand, saying a caretaker government goes against the spirit of the countrys constitution.

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Brasilia, Brazil: After a string of deadly assaults, a 13-year-old boy stabbed three of his classmates on Tuesday at a school in Brazil. This was the second such incident in 24 hours. It increased concerns about increasing school violence.

Brazil is on edge after a man stormed into a preschool last week and hacked four children to death, startling the country and bringing attention to the problem of school safety.

As classmates in the central city of Santa Tereza ran into the corridor after being attacked with a knife, the student allegedly threw a firework into the room.

He wounded three before being subdued by a janitor.

On Monday, a student in the northern city of Manaus stabbed a teacher and two classmates, media reports said.

Justice Minister Flavio Dino said Monday that a climate of panic was spreading in the wake of last Wednesdays attack on the Good Shepherd preschool and daycare centre in the southern city of Blumenau.

The 25-year-old attacker climbed over the schools wall and went on a rampage on the playground, killing four children between the ages of four and seven before handing himself into police.

Messages have been circulating on social media warning of further school attacks, including a viral video telling parents not to send their children to school on 20 April, the anniversary of the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in the US state of Colorado.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas government has announced 150 million reais (around $29 million) in federal funding to local governments to bolster security in schools.

Dino called for social networks to actively monitor content related to school violence. The government has proposed requiring the companies to fast-track requests from authorities to remove such posts.

Deadly school violence used to be relatively rare in Brazil, but has been increasing in recent years.

Last month, a 13-year-old boy killed a teacher in a knife attack at a school in Sao Paulo.

In November, a 16-year-old shooter killed four people in twin attacks on two schools in the southeastern city of Aracruz.

Brazils deadliest school shooting was in 2011, when a man opened fire at his former elementary school in the Rio de Janeiro suburb of Realengo, killing 12 children and then himself.

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Brasilia: Speaking on the eve of his departure from the Asian nation in an effort to improve relations between the two nations, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced on Monday that he would extend an invitation to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to visit Brazil.

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 with state-owned broadcasting company EBC, adding he is planning to consolidate the relationship with China.

Little more than two months have passed since Lulas meeting with Joe Biden at the White House. Despite escalating tensions between China and the United States, Brazil aspires to a realistic foreign strategy that balances relations with its key economic partners.

What we want is for the Chinese to make investments to generate new jobs and generate new productive assets in Brazil, Lula added.

Lulas trip to China, Brazils top trading partner, was initially scheduled for March but was postponed after he was diagnosed with mild pneumonia. He will meet Xi as well as Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang next Friday.

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Washington: The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has dismissed a caste discrimination case against two Indian-origin Cisco engineers  Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella, while still keeping alive its litigation against the Silicon Valley tech giant.

A mediation conference between Cisco and the CRD is still scheduled to be held on 2 May.

What was the case?

The two Cisco supervisors 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.

Last week, the Santa Clara Superior Court had dismissed the case. The employee belonged to the Dalit community.

The CRD case, filed in July 2020, made headlines in the US and in India.

Californias lawsuit against Cisco, meanwhile, alleged 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 US as adults, and all of whom were of high caste, the lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit against Cisco and its engineers led to a start of a movement against caste discrimination led by groups such as Oakland, California-based Equality Labs.

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.

A LONG THREAD: #BREAKING! Californias @CalDFEH has just dismissed the lawsuit against @Cisco, Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella. Without argument. Without a word of testimony. With prejudice. After three years of trial by publicity! Basically, Oops! Never mind. 1/n pic.twitter.com/J1b1Ki3ZK6  CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) April 10, 2023

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, last week said that the 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.

With inputs from AP.

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Ottawa: During a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto on Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced more sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and renewed military backing for Kyiv.

According to Trudeau, Canada would penalise 14 Russian persons and 34 businesses, including security targets connected to Wagner Group, and supply 21,000 assault weapons, 38 machine guns, and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.

We will continue to support Ukraine with everything needed for as long as necessary, he said.

Canada has committed more than C$8 billion to Ukraine in financial, military, humanitarian and other assistance since January 2022, just before the invasion at the end of February.

Canada is also imposing sanctions on nine entities tied to the Belarusian financial sector to further pressure Russias enablers in Belarus, Trudeau said.

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New Delhi: In order to prevent Uyghurs from fasting during the holy month of Ramzan, Chinese police are using spies, reported Radio Free Asia (RFA).

According to a police officer from a region close to Turpan, or Tulufan in Chinese, in the eastern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the spies, often referred as ears by the Chinese officials, are drawn from regular citizens, police officers, and members of neighbourhood committees.

China in 2017 began prohibiting Uyghurs in Xinjiang from fasting during Ramzan, when authorities arbitrarily detained them in re-education camps as part of broader efforts to marginalise Uyghur culture, language, and religion.

In 2021 and 2022, the restriction was partially relaxed, allowing people over 65 to fast, and police reduced the number of home searches and street patrol activities.

However, according to RFA report, a political official at Turpan City Police Station said that the government has prohibited everyone from fasting this year, regardless of age, gender, or profession. No one is permitted to fast during Ramzan.

Spies all around

According to officers, police stations in Turpan have enlisted two or three spies from each village to spy on residents previously interrogated and detained for fasting during Ramzan, as well as those released from prison, reported RFA.

A police officer told RFA that these ears come from three fields  the ordinary residents, the police and the neighborhood committees.

In my workplace, there are 70-80 Uyghur policemen who either directly work as ears or lead other civilian ears. Because of the language barrier, we recruited Uyghurs to surveil other Uyghurs, the police officer added.

Authorities claimed they even planted spies among the police force to monitor whether Uyghur officers fasted during Ramzan.

This years policy also includes home searches, street patrols, and mosque searches.

Authorities on patrol are questioning Uyghur families to see if they are eating before dawn and gathering for a meal after sunset, which Chinese authorities consider illegal.

A political official at Turpan City Police Station told RFA, When we search the houses, we look to see if they have engaged in illegal religious activities and if there are any security threats.

He added that the violators would face legal education for minor offences and jail time for serious ones.

With inputs from agencies

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A Chinese state-run publication has warned of a market bubble and excessive hype around artificial intelligence (AI) technology such as ChatGPT, the intelligent chatbot built by US start-up OpenAI that has made headlines worldwide.

The piece, headed Bubble prevention required while promoting AI, was published on Monday by the Economic Daily, a journal formed by the State Council, Chinas cabinet, and overseen by the propaganda department of the governing Chinese Communist Party.

While capital chases the ChatGPT concept, it must exercise caution to avoid a bubble, the report stated, adding that certain domestic equities connected to AI and huge language models have risen by more than 50 per cent in the previous two months.

After the report was released, Chinese equities plummeted from a five-week high, with a gauge of technology stocks falling 3.8 per cent, the most of any industry group in the CSI 300 Index. The market in Hong Kong is closed for the Easter break and will return on Tuesday.

While capital chases the ChatGPT concept, it must exercise caution to avoid a bubble, the study claimed, adding that certain domestic stocks associated with AI and massive language models had increased by more than 50 per cent in the preceding two months.

Following the publication of the study, Chinese equities fell from a five-week high, with a gauge of technology stocks losing 3.8 per cent, the largest of any industry group in the CSI 300 Index. The Hong Kong market is closed for the Easter holiday and will reopen on Tuesday.

Smaller firms have also jumped on the bandwagon.

Hongbo Co, a Shenzhen-listed printer and lottery technology company, stated in February that it was developing and testing ChatGPT-related goods. In late March, it debuted a chatbot that only permitted 20 new users to register every day during the beta test.

Since February, the companys stock has increased by more than 70 per cent.

Some companies havent made many breakthroughs in related technologies but their stock prices have already risen by leaps and bounds, the Economic Daily report added, without identifying any companies.

Regulators should strengthen monitoring and crackdowns on behaviours aimed at hyping up popular concepts and manipulating stock prices, as well as create an orderly market with information disclosure standards, to support the long-term development of AI, according to the paper.

Similar warnings have already been given by state media. During the countrys ChatGPT craze in February, state news outlet Xinhua released a piece urging bubble prevention and patience.

Although ChatGPTs technological paradigm shift has given the company a large user base, there is no mature commercial application, the report claimed, adding that such technologies may bring societal problems such as misleading information and plagiarism.

China Science Daily, a newspaper backed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other top research bodies in the country, published an article on Friday warning that ChatGPT may corrupt rather than improve users moral judgment, citing a study published last week in the journal Scientific Reports by German and Danish researchers.

Several mainland and Hong Kong-based AI specialists joined Teslas Elon Musk and other industry veterans worldwide in signing an open letter, calling for a halt in the development of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4.

Despite the controversy, Wang Xiaochuan, creator and former CEO of Chinese search engine Sogou, announced the launch of his start-up Baichuan Zhineng on Monday, with the goal of creating Chinas best large language model by the end of the year.

Wang Huiwen, a cofounder of food delivery company Meituan, has launched an AI start-up that had received US$280 million as of February 18, according to the startup database PitchBook.

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The White House on Monday said it remains confident in the US-French relationship after President Emmanuel Macron distanced himself from US policy on Taiwan and warned Europeans not to be American followers.

Macrons remarks to journalists from French business daily Les Echos and news site Politico came after he was hosted for a state visit by Chinas Xi Jinping.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration remains comfortable and confident in the terrific bilateral relationship we have with France.

Kirby cited President Joe Bidens personal relationship with Macron and said the two countries are working together on so many different issues, including naval operations in the Asia-Pacific.

Washington and Paris are partners in a concerted effort by all of us in this vast alliance, this network of alliances and partnerships, Kirby said.

In his interview, Macron said European countries  among the closest allies the United States has  should not get caught in the tense standoff between Beijing and Washington over the fate of democratic Taiwan. Communist China has vowed to regain control, while the US government pledges to help Taiwan defend itself.

Macron, who discussed Taiwan with Xi on Friday, warned against Europe being caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy.

The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just Americas followers, Macron said. 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 suggested that Europe, which has heavily relied on US military protection since World War II, could be a third superpower.

Macrons bid to distance US allies in Europe from the tense tussle over Taiwan came just before China launched new, large-scale military exercises intended to intimidate the island.

The latest Chinese saber-rattling was ordered in response to a trip by the Taiwanese elected president to the United States, including a meeting with House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Politico wrote that Macron unfollows Washington, while the influential conservative editorial page at The Wall Street Journal wrote that Macron blunders and was undermining US-led deterrence against China.

With inputs from AFP

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Geneva: A UN body on Tuesday said that as many as 8,500 civilians haven been confirmed killed in Russias invasion of Ukraine, with many thousands more unverified deaths still feared.

Ever since the invasion started on 24 February 2022, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it recorded 8,490 people killed and 14,244 injured as of 9 April, 2023.

The body has long described its figures as the tip of the iceberg because of its limited access to battle zones.

The majority of the fatalities were reported in areas that the Ukrainian government controls and that Russian forces are attempting to occupy, including 3,927 persons in the tensely fought-over provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk.

OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration, Reuters quoted the UN body as saying in a statement.

Russian forces have pressed their offensive in the eastern Donetsk region where several cities and towns have under heavy bombardment.

A UN-mandated investigative body found last month that Russian forces had carried out indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on Ukraine. Russia denies targeting civilians or committing atrocities.

With inputs from agencies

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Washington: Democrats made the decision to hold their partys 2024 national convention in Chicago, the largest liberal city in the Midwest, on Tuesday in an effort to maintain momentum following a successful midterm election campaign in the crucial battleground area.

After months of lobbying by Chicago, Atlanta, and New York organisers to host the convention, President Joe Biden, who will soon officially begin his reelection campaign, had the ultimate say.

Chicago is a great choice, Biden, who was flying to Northern Ireland, said in a statement. Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down.

The Democratic National Committee said its convention would be held from 19 August to 22 August and noted that Illinois, along with Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, was part of the critical Midwestern blue wall, which was key to Democrats success in the 2020 and 2022 elections. That rosy language omits the fact that Michigan and Wisconsin narrowly broke for Donald Trump in 2016, helping the Republican win the White House.

Chicago is solidly Democratic, as is Illinois. But holding the partys presidential nominating gathering in such a pro-union city demonstrates Bidens commitment to organized labour. The move also could counter Republicans, who are holding their 2024 convention in Milwaukee, located in another swing Midwestern state, Wisconsin.

Republican National Committee Chairman Ronna McDaniel blasted Democrats radical agenda and predicted that voters will soundly reject whichever out-of-touch liberal the Democrats nominate in Chicago.

The convention will be held at the United Center, home to the NBAs Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. Chicago made sense for logistical reasons, with plenty of hotel space and public transportation.

The city is also home to major Democratic donors who can help with raising money to cover costs of a convention. That includes Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire businessman and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune who has contributed millions to Democratic causes and candidates, and was a major proponent for his city getting the convention.

The DNC said that Chicago represents the partys diversity and formidable coalition and that the Midwest will showcase President Bidens economic agenda including spending on public works as part of a sweeping bipartisan infrastructure package that cleared Congress in 2021.

The 2020 Democratic convention was supposed to be held in Milwaukee but unfolded virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden delivered a speech accepting his partys nomination that year at a nearly empty convention center in Wilmington, Delaware.

Chicago hosted the infamous 1968 Democratic convention, which is best remembered for a brutal clash between police and protesters opposing the Vietnam War. The last Democratic National Convention in the city was in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was headed to a second term.

Pritzker promised Tuesday that the convention would be an unforgettable event. He had pointed to Democrats desires to expand their Midwestern electoral gains, particularly in Michigan, where their party held the governorship and won control of both chambers of the Legislature during last falls midterms.

That Chicago beat out Atlanta was nonetheless a surprise given Georgias strategic importance as a swing state. Biden won Georgia two years ago, becoming the first Democrat to do so in a presidential election since Clinton in 1992, and his party now controls both of its Senate seats after wins that drew national attention the last two cycles.

Though Atlanta is as thoroughly Democratic as Chicago and New York, Georgia could very well be a major deciding factor in the 2024 presidential race in a way Illinois will not be.

Still, some top Democrats worried about Georgias Republican-controlled Legislature and state laws discouraging union membership and LGBTQ rights. There were also concerns about Georgias relaxed firearms laws, especially given the rash of mass shootings around the country  despite gun violence being a persistent problem in Chicago.

But shunning Atlanta for the convention could ultimately serve as a double blow to Georgia, which may also eventually lose its early place in a new Democratic primary calendar.

Biden endorsed moving Georgia to the No. 4 position in a revamped Democratic primary calendar for 2024  changes meant to better empower the partys deeply diverse voter base than the old system, which led off with overwhelmingly white Iowa.

But Republican state officials have baulked at the Democrats holding a primary on a date that doesnt coincide with the GOPs 2024 primary.

As Biden prepares an expected reelection campaign, he is already focused on 2024s general election, rather than the primary, facing only token opposition from Democratic challengers Marianne Williamson, a spiritual adviser and author, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist.

New York City and the state are also deeply blue in presidential races. But choosing the city for the convention might have helped Democrats in other parts of the state, its advocates said. Those other parts include Long Island, where Republican gains in key congressional districts helped the party flip the House last year.

Supporters of Atlantas bid had argued that the city and the rest of Georgia could help lead a resurgence of Democrats in the South, which remains largely steadfastly Republican.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Tuesday that Biden personally called him to say that Chicago had been chosen.

They said Atlanta was top two in all the nation, we were hoping wed be top one, Dickens told reporters. But they said next time, maybe.

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Kampala: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, who arrived in Uganda on Monday, called on President Yoweri Museveni at his farm in Rwakitura and discussed possible cooperation in the areas of trade, infrastructure, energy and defence.

Jaishankar also conveyed to him the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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, he tweeted on Monday.

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, defence, 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, he said.

Jaishankar also launched the Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project of Varanasi during his visit to Uganda on Monday. He appreciated the initiatives of Overseas Friends of BJP-Ugandas initiative to contribute to further beautifying the oldest living city in the world. Living in a land of the Nile, their commitment to a ghat on the Ganga reflects the confluence of our two cultures. The conservation of Varanasis heritage underlines the cultural revival of India. This has profound global implications, he said.

Confident that many more members of the Indian community in Uganda will keep visiting Varanasi and continue their efforts for its redevelopment, he added.

Speaking at the launch of the project, Jaishankar said a few months from now, India, which is economically and politically more influential today than before, will be hosting the G20 development ministers meeting.

He said he will host the G20 meeting in Varanasi. Many development ministers in the world are foreign ministers like me. I will be hosting this meeting in Varanasi. The ministers will have a chance to not just see the core of India, but also the transformation it has undergone in the last few years, he said.

There have been many great civilisations. If you look at which great civilisations have survived today as nation-states, only India and China actually stand out in this era. The rise of civilisation has to be reflected in how its heritage and history are presented. How its own people actually appreciate it. How are they able to present it to themselves and to the world, he said.

Jaishankar urged people to visit Kashi to see the difference between what it was in the past and what it is now, asserting that it would be an understatement to say that they will be moved by the experience.

Jaishankar is on a two-nation visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15 to strengthen Indias strong bilateral relations with the two African countries.

He will visit Mozambique from April 13 to 15.

(With inputs from PTI)

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At least nine people were shot dead by assailants in northern Ecuador close to the Colombian border on Tuesday in an attack authorities blamed on organised crime gangs.

Dozens of attackers arrived in boats and cars at a small port in Esmeraldas province and then opened fire, AFP quoted the public prosecutor said.

Interior Minister Juan Zapata told the Ecuavisa television channel that the attack was carried out by 30 heavily armed people and said it was related to a fight between gangs, a territorial fight.

Zapata said there were between 1,500 and 2,000 people in the port, which is home to fishermen using artisanal techniques, at the time of the morning shooting.

The attack happened because fishermen preferred the security of one criminal organisation and were targeted by another in retaliation, added Zapata.

In a tweet, the public prosecutor said seven bodies were recovered from the port and two more from a nearby health center.

State of emergency due to high crime rate

Impoverished Esmeraldas province has been under a state of emergency since 3 March due to high levels of crime and violence, as has the port city of Guayaquil.

These areas have become increasingly bloody centers of a turf war between rival drug trafficking gangs.

Esmeraldas, which is popular with tourists, is considered by authorities to be one of the places with the highest levels of crime in the country.

Last month, police found three bodies, including a teenager, wrapped in black bags in the province. Authorities said they were linked to criminal gangs.

In three weeks here we have seized 1.2 tons of drugs, said Zapata.

Gun violence surges

Ecuador is located between Colombia and Peru, the worlds two largest producers of cocaine, much of which is sent to the United States and Europe from Ecuadoran ports, principally Guayaquil.

Consequently, Ecuador has seen a recent rise in violence and murders related to drug trafficking.

Its murder rate almost doubled from 14 per 100,000 citizens in 2021 to 25 a year later.

In 2021, Ecuador seized a record 210 tons of drugs, mainly cocaine.

Last year, another 200 tons of drugs were seized, leading to the government declaring a war on traffickers.

Guayaquil is one of the cities most affected by the surge in violence, as are prisons.

Since February 2021, there have been eight prison massacres in which more than 400 inmates have been killed, many dismembered or torched.

Gangs that vie for control of the lucrative trafficking trade have often controlled operations from within the prison system.

But it is also the scene of bloody battles between rival gangs.

With inputs from AFP

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Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
London: Since last year, several suspected terrorists have entered the UK via small migrant boats, security personnel has revealed.

As many as 19 people linked with groups like the Islamic State are currently lodged in UK taxpayer hotels by claiming asylum status in the country.

According to Daily Mail, the foreign nationals are from France who entered the UK illegally by crossing the Channel last year. UKs human rights law does not allow deportation and hence the suspected terrorists cannot be repatriated.

Seven of the 19 men are already under scanner in some countries. It is also believed that some of these men are being investigated for their possible links with terrorist organisations by Security Service MI5, the government listening post GCHQ, and counter-terrorism police.

The nationalities of the 19 men have been established with five of the known terror suspects hailing from Iraq, another five from Iran, four from Afghan, four from Somalia and one from Libya.

Seven of these men are under active investigation and belong to the Islamic State or its offshoots.

Authorities were able to establish the identities of the men through routine fingerprint scanning carried out on all Channel arrivals.

Security personnel told Daily Mail, Its a real problem and not something were able to easily stop.

Once theyre here we can monitor them and limit any potential threat they pose but it adds to the overall surveillance burden, the source added.

A common doorway for terrorists

In the past, terrorist organisations have sent terrorists to infiltrate European land.

For instance, in 2015, ISIS used the migration crisis to send terrorists to Europe on small boats.

A number of cases have been reported, including that of Abdel Majid Touil, who was responsible for the Bardo Museum attack in Tunisia of 18 March 2015, which killed 21 tourists. He was spotted on a migrant boat in Sicily on February 2015 and later arrested in Milan, said the European Parliament.

It added, Another such case is that of Mehdi Ben Nasr, who was arrested in Italy in 2008 for being the head of a terrorist cell with links to al-Qaeda. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, then extradited to his country of origin, Tunisia. In October 2015 he returned to Europe on a migrant boat, claiming to be an asylum-seeker. In the latest Paris attack of 13 November, a Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the attackers.

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Bern: After leaving no stone unturned to pull the beleaguered Credit Suisse out of financial turmoil last month, the Swiss government has now come in for criticism by a section of parliamentarians on the bailout by rival UBS.

Many Swiss parliamentarians have criticized the rapid rescue effort, which saw Credit Suisse taken over by rival UBS for 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.3 billion) and propped up with over 250 billion francs in guarantees and aid.

Following the criticism, the Swiss parliament will meet in Bern for an extraordinary session to discuss Credit Suisses downfall as well as the governments open chequebook response.

The unusual move  the third such session in over twenty years  provides the Swiss parliament with a chance to reject the massive loans given as part of the rescue package. The vote is, however, largely symbolic as the state has already committed the funds and lawmakers cannot overturn that decision.

In the run-up to the announced merger, a sub-group of six members of parliament approved the financial commitment on behalf of the legislative body, to the extreme annoyance of the almost 250 lawmakers left without a say in the matter.

Its the responsibility of politics to have a say especially when such a big contribution is being made by state and emergency law is being used, said Celine Widmer, a member of the Swiss National Council for the left-leaning Social Democrats.

There is a lot of anger and frustration in the Swiss population and we can feel that, said Roland Fischer, another lawmaker. In theory, we could reject it but that would not hold up legally.

In Tuesdays session, legislators will get a chance to challenge the rushed rescue package and discuss whether conditions can be imposed on Credit Suisse.

Last week, Switzerland announced it was cutting bonus payments for Credit Suisses top management.

We demand a thorough investigation into how the Credit Suisse crisis could have come about, Thierry Burkart, leader of the centre-right FDP party, told Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger.

Credit Suisses bailout angered not only politicians but many in Switzerland. A survey by political research firm gfs. bern found a majority of Swiss did not support the deal.

The Swiss people are also worried about upcoming job cuts. In an open letter to the countrys parliament, the Swiss Bank Employees Association said on Tuesday that Credit Suisse and UBS must freeze any job cuts.

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A former firefighter hurled a fire extinguisher at police during the altercation at the US Capitol. On Tuesday, he received a sentence of more than four years in prison.

On 6 January 2021, when he stormed the Capitol with a group of Donald Trump fans, Robert Sanford threw a fire extinguisher, hitting two police officers in the head. In addition, he threw an orange traffic cone that struck a sergeant of the Capitol Police.

Sanford also hurled obscenities and insults at the law enforcement officers on the Lower West Terrace, calling them traitors,' a prosecutor, Janani Iyengar, wrote in a court filing.

One of the officers struck by the fire extinguisher had a bump and swelling on his head; the other had a headache and went to a hospital for a medical exam, prosecutors said.

US District Judge Paul Friedman sentenced Sanford to four years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to an online court record. Federal prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of five years and 11 months.

Sanford, 57, of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, worked as a firefighter for 26 years before retiring in 2020. A fire extinguisher is an instrument that he was uniquely familiar with and should have known how much damage it could cause, the prosecutor wrote.

Sanford travelled to Washington, DC, with friends from Pennsylvania on a bus trip organized by the conservative activist group Turning Point USA. He listened to speeches at Trumps Stop the Steal rally before joining the crowd that marched over to the Capitol and disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying Democrat Joe Bidens electoral victory over Trump.

Sanford was arrested on 14 January 2021. He has been jailed since he pleaded guilty last September to assaulting, resisting or impeding police officers using a dangerous weapon  a felony punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. He wasnt accused of entering the Capitol building on 6 January.

Sanford began to work with a specialist in cult deprogramming in August 2022 and was confronted with facts about the baseless conspiracy theory that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election from Trump, according to defence attorney Andrew Stewart.

Even after he was incarcerated, he participated in regular discussions designed to challenge his ideology and belief structure, then help him understand how and why he developed the beliefs that led him to make the decisions that he did on January 6, Stewart wrote in a court filing.

Sanford believed that police had attacked him and others without provocation when he picked up and threw what felt like an empty fire extinguisher, his lawyer said.

Certainly, this is not a justification for his action nor is it intended to be, Stewart wrote.

More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the 6 January riot. Over 600 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or judge. Over 450 of them have been sentenced, with over half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years.

More than 100 police officers were injured during the 6 January riot.

Also on Tuesday, in Nevada, a man who joined other rioters in assaulting police officers in a tunnel on the Capitols Lower West Terrace was sentenced to six years in prison. US District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols also ordered Josiah Kenyon, 35, of Winnemucca, Nevada, to pay over $43,000 in restitution for damaging a window at the Capitol on 6 January.

Kenyon was dressed as the character Jack Skellington from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas when he joined the mobs attack. He used a table leg with a protruding nail to strike an officer in the leg and hit a second officer so hard that it lodged in the officers face shield and helmet, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of seven years and four months for Kenyon, who pleaded guilty to assault charges in September 2022.

Kenyon drove to Washington from Reno, Nevada with his wife and young children to attend Trumps rally. Kenyon told FBI agents that he hated Trump and went to the Capitol because he was trying to raise the violence level, prosecutors wrote, adding, His idea was to have the Trumpers charge the police line which would in turn cause the officers to shoot the rioters.

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New Delhi: Russia has said that French peace proposal for Ukraine conflict is difficult to imagine as Paris is directly and indirectly involved on the side of Kyiv.

Paris can hardly aspire to be a mediator at this time, because Paris actually takes the side of one of the participants in the conflict, a Russia Today report quoted Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying.

According to the report, if French President Emmanuel Macron has offered his own peace platform, it has not been made public yet.

Peskov was commenting on reports from the recent visit of Macron to China.

During a dinner with Macron in Guangzhou, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Macron that Beijing welcomed French proposals for a political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine conflict, and would be willing to support them, the report added.

Macron had arrived in China on 5 April for a three-day visit, joined by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The European leaders hoped to talk Xi out of supporting Russias invasion of Ukraine amid reports of Beijing considering sending lethal aid to Moscow. They also aimed to persuade Xi to use his influence on Putin to help peace efforts in Ukraine.

The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to (international) stability, Macron told Xi in Beijing. I know I can count on you to bring Russia back to its senses and everyone back to the negotiating table.

Xi stand firm behind Russia

The French leader also demanded Beijing denounce the Russian invasion and side with the West, which Xi declined to do, according to a Russia Today report.

After the 6 April meeting with Macron, Xi reportedly called on Kyiv and Moscow to resume peace negotiations and find a political solution, echoing Chinas 12-point

France has been on board with all ten rounds of EU sanctions against Russia, while sending Ukraine a variety of weapons systems, including Caesar self-propelled howitzers, Crotale air defense missiles, and AMX-10 light tanks. Paris has also trained Ukrainian troops on French soil as part of an EU program of aiding Kiev.

On Monday, Macron had flown into a storm of criticism after he said Europe should not become a vassal and must avoid being drawn into any conflict between the US and China over Taiwan.

The French president made the remarks in an interview on his plane after a three-day state visit to China.

Addressing the Les Echos and Politico reporters, Macron said Europe should be a third power in the world order, along with the US and China.

While the comments reaffirmed Macrons long-term goal of strategic autonomy for Europe, namely avoiding military and economic dependencies, his remarks on Taiwan stoked anger and alarm on both sides of the Atlantic.

Do we [Europeans] have an interest in speeding up on the subject of Taiwan? No. The worst of things would be to think that we Europeans must be followers on this subject and adapt ourselves to an American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction, Les Echos quoted Macron as saying.

He added it would be a trap for Europe, now it had developed more autonomy since the Covid pandemic, to get caught up in crises that are not ours. If there was an acceleration of conflict between the American and Chinese duopoly we will not have the time, nor the means to finance our own strategic autonomy and we will become vassals, whereas we could become the third pole [in the world order] if we have a few years to develop this.

Meanwhile, the White House on Monday said it remains confident in the US-French relationship after President Macron distanced himself from US policy on Taiwan and warned Europeans not to be American followers.

With inputs from agencies

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United Nations: Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said India is facing a serious challenge of cross-border supply of illicit weapons using drones, which cannot be possible without active support from State authorities.

She was speaking at the UN Security Councils open debate on Threats to International Peace and Security: Risks Stemming from Violations of Agreements Regulating the Exports of Weapons and Military Equipments on Monday. The event was held under Russias Presidency of the Council for the month of April.

Kamboj asserted that certain states with dubious proliferation credentials that collude with terrorists should be held accountable for their misdeeds.

The export of weapons and military equipment in violation of international law, exacerbating geo-political tensions, cannot be ignored, she said.

She said that the quantum of these threats multiplies when certain states with dubious proliferation credentials, in view of their masked proliferation networks and deceptive procurement practices of sensitive goods and technologies, collude with terrorists and other non-state actors.

For example, the rise in volume and the quality of the small arms acquired by terrorist organisations remind us time and again that they cannot exist without the sponsorship or support of States, Kamboj said.

Kamboj said that in Indias context, we are facing a serious challenge of cross-border supply of illicit weapons using drones, which cannot be possible without active support from the authorities in control of those territories, an apparent reference to Pakistan.

Pakistani drones carrying arms and drugs have been shot down very often by Indias Border Security Force (BSF). The most recent incident was reported on April 1 when the BSF said its troops opened fire at a suspected Pakistani drone along the International Border in Jammu. It was the second such incident since mid March.

Kamboj called on the international community to condemn such behaviour and hold such states accountable for their misdeeds.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday termed Indias decision to hold G-20 meetings in Kashmir next month as irresponsible, saying the move is the latest in a series of self serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Foreign Offices statement came after the Narendra Modi government announced the holding of the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May.

Scheduling of two other meetings of a consultative forum on youth affairs (Y-20) in Leh and Srinagar in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is equally disconcerting, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Indias irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Pakistan vehemently condemns these moves, it added.

The statement added that India is again exploiting its membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda.

Kashmir is claimed in full but ruled in part by the two nuclear-armed neighbours who have fought two of their three wars over control of the region.

India currently holds the rotating year-long presidency of the G20 and is set to host a leaders summit in New Delhi in early September.

On Friday, India released a full calendar of events leading up to the summit, which included G20 and Youth 20 meetings in Kashmirs summer capital of Srinagar and in Leh, in the neighbouring region of Ladakh, in April and May.

According to Reuters, Indias foreign ministry did not immediately respond to its request seeking comment on the statement from Pakistan.

New Delhi has long accused Pakistan of stoking a decades-long separatist insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim-majority region in India.

Islamabad denies that accusation, saying it only provides diplomatic and moral support for Kashmiris seeking self-determination.

Pakistan also accuses India of human rights violations in the parts of Kashmir under its control, a charge New Delhi rejects.

With inputs from agencies

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Jerusalem/Near Nablus, West Bank: In response to a wave of turmoil that showed no signs of abating on Tuesday, Israel banned Jews and tourists from visiting a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem and said that forces killed two Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank.

An Israeli police raid at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound last week set off rocket launches from Gaza, south Lebanon, and Syria, which prompted Israeli air and artillery strikes. The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has been a flashpoint in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

After security consultations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement announcing a halt to non-Muslim visitors to the holy site, known as the Temple Mount in Judaism, until the conclusion of Ramadan, which is anticipated to occur around 20 April.

There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials on the ban, which Israel has imposed in previous years.

Under the longstanding status quo arrangement governing the compound, which Israel says it maintains, non-Muslims can visit but only Muslims are allowed to worship.

However, small groups of Jewish visitors have increasingly been documented praying at the outskirts of the site in defiance of those rules.

Netanyahus far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir denounced the move.

When terrorism strikes us we must strike back with great force, not surrender to its whims, he said in a statement.

With a year-long escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence, tensions are running especially high in the Holy Land as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover coincide.

The Israeli military on Tuesday said two Palestinian gunmen opened fire from a vehicle at an army post before soldiers shot back and killed them near the Elon Moreh settlement east of the city Nablus, a frequent area of clashes.

Local armed alliance Den of Lions confirmed that the two men were militants and the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed their deaths. Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged, with frequent military West Bank raids amid a spate of Palestinian street attacks. More than 90 Palestinians, most of them fighters in militant groups but some of them civilians, have been killed since January and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have died.

Suspected Palestinian gunmen on Friday killed an Israeli-British mother and her two daughters in the West Bank and a ramming attack later in Tel Aviv killed an Italian tourist.

A Palestinian teen was killed on Monday during an Israeli raid in Jericho.

US-brokered peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza -territories Israel captured in a 1967 war  have stalled for almost a decade and show no sign of revival.

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New Delhi: Israels Defence Ministry has said the country has signed a $400 million deal to sell anti-tank missiles to Greece.

The Spike is a guided anti-tank missile used by many EU and NATO countries produced by Israeli state-owned defence contractor Rafael.

The Spike missiles will strengthen the Greek armys portfolio of operational tools and we expect further expansion through strategic collaborations in the near future, said Rafael CEO Yoav Har-Even.

Israels defence minister said the agreement reinforces ties between the countries.

Last week Israel and Rafael said they would provide the advanced air-defense system Davids Sling to Finland, after it officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on April 4.

Finland will receive the defence system designed to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles in a 316 million euro ($345 million) deal. It still requires approval from the United States, which is involved in the systems development.

Finlands accession, ending seven decades of military non-alignment, roughly doubles the length of the border NATO shares with Russia and bolsters its eastern flank as the war in Ukraine grinds on with no resolution in sight. It also drew a threat from Moscow of countermeasures.

Finland said the deal with Israel will significantly boost its capabilities, and Israel called it a quantum leap in defence collaboration between the countries.

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New Delhi: If a new poll released by an Israeli news outlet is to be believed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party would lose 12 seats if an election were to be held today, a low that the party has not seen in almost two decades.

According to The National report, citing poll released by Channel 12, coalition partners would also lose a significant share of the vote, giving the government a total of just 46 seats, well below the 61 needed to secure a majority.

Todays coalition currently holds 64 seats.

According to the poll, opposition party National Unity, headed by Benny Gantz, would more than double its presence in parliament with a total of 29 seats, almost as much as Likuds current tally of 32.

The shocking statistics come as Netanyahu is being seriously questioned by politicians and the general public about how he handled the current security crisis in Israel and his controversial campaign for judicial reforms, which has triggered the biggest protest movement in Israeli history.

Anger has been rising at home and abroad over Israels treatment last week of Muslim worshippers who barricaded themselves inside the prayer hall of Al Aqsa Mosque.

The worshippers said they were defending the holy site from Israeli settlers seeking access to the sacred area on which the mosque sits.

Israeli officials say that they were rioting and stockpiling weapons to use against settlers.

Al Aqsa is the third holiest site in Islam, while Jews revere the site as the location of biblical era temples.

The scenes led to soaring tensions with Palestinians and rocket attacks from militant groups in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip on Thursday, prompting retaliatory strikes from Israel.

On Monday, two Israeli soldiers were wounded by gunfire in the flashpoint West Bank city of Nablus, the military said.

Later, a Palestinian was killed during an Israeli military raid near the West Bank city of Jericho, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Also on Monday, the mother of two British-Israeli sisters killed in a shooting in the occupied West Bank on Friday died from injuries sustained in the attack.

Later in the day, an Italian tourist died in a car ramming in Tel Aviv. Seven others were injured, all tourists.

Situation worrying

After attending a security briefing at the Prime Ministers invitation on Sunday, Opposition leader Yair Lapid said he was even more worried about the situation.

Netanyahu needs to announce that he has taken the firing of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant off the table, to admit that he cannot rely on his Cabinet and to create a small, stable security forum to deal with the situation, Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party is also lagging in support according to Channel 12s poll, said in a televised statement.

What our enemies see in front of them, in all arenas, is an incompetent government. A cabinet no one trusts, he added.

Netanyahu said he was firing Gallant after the defence minister said publicly last month that the judicial reforms posed a tangible threat to national security, citing threats from a growing number of elite Israeli reservists to boycott service in protest and growing intelligence that Israels enemies were seeking to exploit the domestic turmoil.

Gallant has still not formally been removed from his position, and appeared alongside the Prime Minister during a visit to the scene of Fridays shooting in the northern West Bank.

Cracks within the coalition

The damaging poll results come as more cracks appear within the coalition, the most right-wing in Israeli history.

On Monday, seven government ministers staged a march through the West Bank, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, according to Channel 12.

Security officials have privately warned that the march will further strain Israeli forces in the area, which they say are already stretched thin.

The route of the march passes close to the Palestinian town of Huwara, where Israeli settlers went on a rampage in February, setting fire to Arab homes and property, after two Israeli brothers were killed outside the town earlier.

Channel 12s poll on Sunday also showed declining public support for the far-right alliance, which the broadcaster said would lose three seats in an election.

The survey gathered data from 699 respondents, 100 of whom were not Jewish, according to the report.

Two other polls published at the end of March also predicted a drop in support for Likud, and a surge in popularity for National Unity.

With inputs from agencies

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Tokyo: Concerned over North Koreas growing nuclear and missile threats, Japan, South Korea and the United States will hold trilateral defence talks on Friday in Washington to discuss impending threats and other regional issues.

According to reports, South Korean Deputy defence minister for Policy Heo Tae-keun, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner and Japanese Director General for defence policy Kazuo Masuda will lead their respective delegations.

The three countries will discuss North Korean nuclear and missile threats, regional security, the direction of trilateral defence and military cooperation, the ministry said in a press release.

All three countries in a joint statement issued in Seoul last week expressed deep concern over North Koreas malicious cyber activities to support its weapons programmes.

The United States, South Korea and Japan expressed deep concern over North Koreas malicious cyber activities to support its weapons programmes, in comments released in a joint statement on Friday.

Cryptocurrency funds stolen by North Korean hackers have been a key source for financing the sanctions-stricken countrys weapons programmes, officials and experts in the United States and its allies say.

A report released by the U.S. Treasury Department on April 6 said actors such as North Korea were using decentralised finance (DeFi), a thriving segment in the crypto sector, to transfer and launder their illicit proceeds.

North Korea has denied allegations of hacking or other cyberattacks.

Amid North Koreas rising nuclear and missile threats, South Koreas nuclear envoy held talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts in Seoul this week and condemned the isolated countrys weapons tests. We reiterate with concern that overseas DPRK IT workers continue using forged identities and nationalities to evade U.N. sanctions and raise funds for missile programmes, according to the envoys joint statement, using the acronym for North Koreas official name.

They called on United Nations member states to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions to repatriate North Korean workers.

We are also deeply concerned about how the DPRK supports these programmes by stealing and laundering funds as well as gathering information through malicious cyber activities, the statement said.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are running high.

On Friday, North Korea was unresponsive to daily contact through a liaison phone line with South Korea, according to the Souths Unification Ministry which handles inter-Korean affairs. It is unclear why North Korea did not respond, but the ministry said it would closely monitor the situation.

U.S. and South Korean forces have been conducting a series of annual spring military exercises since March.

Angered by those exercises, Pyongyang has ramped up its military activities in recent weeks. It unveiled new, smaller nuclear warheads and fired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States.

As those exercises and tests continue, there has been an exchange of harsh rhetoric. On Thursday, North Korea accused Washington and Seoul of pushing tensions to the brink of nuclear war through their military drills.

Kim Gunn, South Koreas chief nuclear negotiator, said North Koreas nuclear ambition was nothing more than a self-destructive boomerang shattering its economy.

North Korea is misguiding its people to believe that nuclear weapons are a magic wand that can solve all of its problems, Kim said in his meeting with U.S. and Japanese officials on Friday.

Japan on Friday announced a two-year extension of its trade ban on North Korea, with exemptions for humanitarian reasons.

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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 on Monday, according to an Associated Press report.

even as the public airing of the data sends shockwaves across the US government, the White House said there are concerns there could be additional leaks.

Chris Meagher, the 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 US. 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 US defence official told The Associated Press that 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 US 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 dont know whos behind this, we dont know what the motive is.

And he said as US 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 troop deaths in the Ukraine war that are significantly lower than numbers publicly stated by US 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 on Monday that 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.

Patel added that there is no question the documents release present a risk to national security.

Leaked documents may have been in circulation for months

Investigators who specialise in tracking social media, including at the journalism organisation Bellingcat, say the documents may have been circulating for months in private internet chats on the Discord discussion platform.

The slides, which eventually were distributed on more mainstream sites such as Twitter, detail US training and equipment schedules to support Ukraine, assessments of losses, what the US 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 US militarys Joint Staff would produce daily but not distribute publicly.

With inputs from AP

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Since tech products like OpenAIs ChatGPT, Googles Bard, and Microsofts new Bing AI grabbed the worlds attention by storm, artificial intelligence has been the talk of the town.

People are discovering new applications for artificial intelligence and researching the evolving technology on a broad scale. We are seeing all sorts of tool sbeing developed that harness the power that AI has to offer. As per a recent report, a few researchers from India have developed an AI tool that can detect whether a person is really sick or not, by the tone of their voice.

A new AI Tool

Researchers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology in Surat successfully assessed the voice patterns of 630 people, according to a Business Insider story. One hundred and eleven of these folks had a cold. The speech patterns were examined in an attempt to identify those who were suffering from a cold.

While this may assist individuals to identify colds and whether it is because of a viral infection or a common cold, it cannot be used for medical purposes, not yet at least. As a result, the researchers hope their AI model is deployed in corporate applications in some way or the other.

The researchers also employed harmonics or the study of vocal patterns in human speech to detect the presence of cold in humans, according to the paper. In general, the amplitude of harmonics decreases as their frequency increases.

Corporate applications

What that basically means, is that if the AI tool were to be deployed in a corporate setting where it manages attendance and leaves, it may cause some serious problems for employees who frequently phone in sick pretending of having a (fake) cold when they are perfectly fine.

Employers may be able to discern who has a cold and who does not by detecting the tone of their employees voices over a phone conversation if this technology becomes the next big thing and leads to the production of yet another breakthrough product.

In addition, a person suffering from a cold may exhibit an uneven pattern of the same. Relying on the same phenomenon, researchers utilised machine-learning algorithms to analyse the amplification differences of various individuals and identify those who had a cold.

The purpose behind the development of the tool

So, what inspired the researchers to do the study? The main goal, according to them, was to be able to tell if a person had a cold without having to go to the doctor. However, according to the Business Insider story, the study may also be of interest to companies that want to detect employees who pretend to be unwell in order to take time off from work.

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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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Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on Tuesday for the countrys war deterrence to be more practical and offensive in order to counter what it called aggressive moves by the United States and South Korea, reported Korean Central News Agency.

Kim made the remark during an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission to discuss ongoing efforts to strengthen the countrys deterrent in order to cope with the escalating moves of the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression, according to KCNA.

North Korea has reacted angrily to a recent series of joint military exercises conducted by the allies, which were designed to prepare for all-out war and forced Pyongyang to consider powerful practical action, including military options, reported Reuters.

Kim directed that the countrys war deterrence be strengthened with increasing speed and in a more practical and offensive manner.

The meeting discussed practical matters and measures for machinery to prepare various military action proposals that the enemy has no means and ways of counteraction, according to the statement.

Since March, South Korean and US forces have held annual springtime exercises, including air and sea drills involving a US aircraft carrier and B-1B and B-52 bombers, as well as their first large-scale amphibious landing drills in five years, reported Reuters.

North Korea has also conducted a number of military exercises in recent weeks, including the unveiling of new, smaller nuclear warheads, the testing of a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone, and the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States.

With inputs from agencies

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San Francisco: The company that created the popular chatbot ChatGPT, OpenAI, said on Tuesday that it will pay up to $20,000 to customers who disclose flaws in its artificial intelligence systems.

With payments starting at $200 for each vulnerability, the OpenAI Bug Bounty programme, which launched on Tuesday, will pay out awards to individuals based on the severity of the flaws they disclose.

In order to incentivize programmers and ethical hackers to disclose defects in their software systems, technology corporations frequently deploy bug bounty schemes.

According to details on the bug bounty platform Bugcrowd, OpenAI has invited researchers to review certain functionality of ChatGPT and the framework of how OpenAI systems communicate and share data with third-party applications.

The program does not include incorrect or malicious content produced by OpenAI systems.

The move comes days after ChatGPT was banned in Italy for a suspected breach of privacy rules, prompting regulators in other European countries to study generative AI services more closely.

Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAIs ChatGPT, which has taken the world by storm since its launch in November, has wowed some users with quick responses to questions and caused distress for others with inaccuracies.

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There has been a lot of discussion in the US Congress about banning TikTok, the popular social network owned by Chinese company ByteDance. The plan that US lawmakers have come up with, is to pass a legislation that would allow the US president and the Department of Commerce to ban TikTok.

The proposed legislation has been named the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act, also known as the RESTRICT Act.

However, lawmakers in the US need to consider that if they do go ahead with a ban on TikTok, using the Restrict Act as it stands today, it could potentially result in the US restricting access to many other apps and tech products. Moreover, the Restrict Act has the potential to be abused to prosecute individual users as well.

The Restrict Act: The Patriot Act for the digital age.

The Restrict Act, as it stands today, is far more overreaching and dangerous than the USA PATRIOT Act, or simply, the Patriot Act.

The Patriot was introduced in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, with the aim of enhancing national security and preventing future attacks. It granted unprecedented surveillance powers to law enforcement agencies, including the ability to monitor electronic communications without a warrant, conduct secret searches, and collect personal information on individuals without their knowledge.

However, the Act has been criticized for its impact on civil liberties and privacy rights, with many arguing that it has been used to target and intimidate marginalized communities, and has eroded trust between citizens and government. Additionally, the Act has been associated with a number of high-profile abuses, including the warrantless wiretapping of US citizens, leading to concerns about the potential for government overreach and abuse of power.

The bipartisan Senate bill, of the Restrict Act, is eerily similar to the Patriot Act, especially when it comes to the vagueness of the language that has been drafted in.

This proposed law has been endorsed by the White House and could give the secretary of Commerce and the President wide-ranging powers to ban not only mobile or desktop applications but also other types of technology products from countries considered to be national security threats.

Tech under attack

The Restrict Act has sparked controversy among digital rights activists, who have raised concerns about the bills ambiguity regarding the specific products that would be banned and the broad powers it would grant the executive branch, while ignoring any scope of accountability.

One of the biggest concerns that digital rights activists have is that the Restrict Act could be used to criminalise the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) and that US citizens online activities could be subject to increased surveillance.

In a breakdown of the proposed law, the EFF criticized the Restrict Act as sweeping legislation that would allow Congress to relinquish much of its responsibility for holding the executive branch accountable. The EFF argues that the bills purposefully confusing language is another example of its failure.

While the Biden administration plans to use the legislation to ban TikTok for now, future presidents and administrations may not be as cautious and may use the Restrict Act far more aggressively and ban other tech products and platforms under the garb of national security.

Imagine Donald Trump, or Joe Biden for that matter, banning Twitter, Instagram, or WhatsApp, because these platforms are used for political speech that does not align with their administrations, without any official proceedings, or committee hearing. That is the kind of power the Restrict Act gives the US President, and the US Department of Commerce.

Targeting individual users

The EFF has also warned that the bill could result in individual Americans being punished for using a VPN or other technologies to access any website or application, outside the US.

The Department of Commerce would have the authority to impose mitigation measures without any clear limitations on what those measures might entail. Additionally, the vague enforcement provision could be interpreted broadly to punish anyone who evades these undefined mitigation measures, potentially criminalizing practices such as using a VPN to access and installing apps from unofficial sources, or using an app that was lawfully downloaded from another country. In short, the bills language is too broad, which could have serious consequences for Americans digital rights and privacy.

Even if the bills sponsors do not intend it, giving the Commerce Department broad authority to impose crushing criminal penalties on any person trying to evade a mitigation measure is dangerous.

For example, in the case of a mitigation measure that bars the importation of TikTok into the US, it authorizes penalties, including 25 years of prison time, for any person who brings TikTok into the US, whether by use of a VPN or downloading it while in another country.

Generally speaking, the bill would give more power to the executive branch and remove many of the commonsense restrictions that exist under the Foreign Intelligence Services Act (FISA), the EFF said.

Similar to the Data Security Law of the Peoples Republic of China

According to the EFF, the Commerce Secretary could demand information from any party to a transaction or holding under review or investigation, including user data from companies designated under the bill.

This is very similar to the Data Security Law of the Peoples Republic of China, a law that requires all tech companies in China to hand over whatever data they have, if and when the Chinese government asks for it.

Although there are confidentiality requirements in place in the Restrict Act, the EFF claims that the data could still be shared with other government entities under certain circumstances. Furthermore, the bill authorizes the Commerce Secretary to review and prohibit certain transactions between individuals in the US and foreign adversaries, which currently includes China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela.

The Commerce Secretary would also be permitted to take measures to identify, deter, disrupt, prevent, prohibit, investigate, or mitigate risks from foreign companies.

Unaccountability weaved into the Restrict Act

The Restrict Act allows the government to ban companies from operating in the US without the public ever knowing the basis for the ban. The bill allows Congress to override a decision to ban or unban a company, but the EFF argues that Congress would have no other role in the process. In addition, the executive branch would not be required to explain its application of the law publicly.

The EFF believes that the bill authorizes the executive branch to make decisions about which technologies can enter the US with very little oversight from the public or its representatives.

The Restrict Act would open the door to wide-ranging government bans on hardware or software from foreign countries with limited transparency, oversight, and challenges via litigation.

The Restrict Act outlines a list of technologies that will be prioritized for evaluation by the Secretary of Commerce, with the aim of mitigating risks associated with foreign adversaries. These technologies include internet hosting services, cloud computing services, content delivery services, hardware and software used in telecom networks, network-enabled devices like webcams, modems, and sensors, unmanned vehicles like drones, and products integral to various fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, post-quantum cryptography, autonomous systems, advanced robotics, and biotechnology.

The bill also identifies software used primarily for connecting with and communicating via the internet, which is in use by more than 1,000,000 people in the US at any point during the previous year.

This broad category could include desktop applications, mobile applications, gaming applications, payment applications, and web-based applications, meaning it potentially includes any application that could be installed on a personal computing device or accessed over the internet.

The bill raises concerns because the Commerce Department and the President could use their new authority to ban companies without needing to publicly justify their decision, and with little oversight from Congress or the public. This means that the bill could limit transparency and the ability of individuals to challenge decisions that affect them.

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Warsaw: Polands PM Mateusz Morawiecki flew to the US on Tuesday for talks aimed at strengthening the two countries economic and defence cooperation.

Morawiecki is scheduled to meet US Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Tuesday to discuss additional support for Ukraine. During his three-day visit, he will also meet with representatives from American defence companies, reported The Associated Press.

Morawiecki said, as quoted by AP, I am flying to the United States to strengthen the alliance with our most powerful ally, with a country that guarantees security in Europe, that especially guarantees security in our part of Europe.

Following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the United States increased its military presence in Poland  a nation on NATOs eastern flank that borders Ukraine and Russias Kaliningrad exclave  and has used Poland as a transit country for military and humanitarian aid going into Ukraine.

Poland is also a major donor of aid to Ukraine, and has been ordering fighter jets, tanks and other modern military equipment, mostly from US and South Korean producers, to strengthen its own forces and replace some older equipment sent to Ukraine, according to AP.

As Europe seeks to gain energy independence, Poland is also planning to build nuclear power plants, and has chosen the US government and Westinghouse as its partners for its first plant, to be opened in 2033.

Before departing Warsaw early Tuesday, Morawiecki told reporters at the airport that Polish-American relations have not been so good for a long time, and perhaps they have never been so strong.

He said his talks with the US defence industry will also include talks on financing the billions of dollars of current and planned purchases. Poland is buying US F-35 fighter jets, Abrams tanks, HIMARS artillery systems and Patriot missile launching units.

Morawieckis visit follows two visits to Poland by US President Joe Biden since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also paid an official visit to Warsaw last week.

Polish PM said that Polands alliance with the US is an absolute foundation of our security.

He added, It is based on two pillars: economic and defence cooperation. I am going to the US to strengthen both of these pillars, reported AP.

Morawiecki stated that US companies have invested approximately $25 billion in Poland, resulting in the creation of thousands of jobs.

With inputs from agencies

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Marseille: With rescue operations still underway, authorities are still not able to find two people after a residential building in the French city of Marseille collapsed on Sunday.

Authorities have now launched a probe to understand the cause of the blast that led to the buildings collapse. So far, rescuers have recovered six bodies.

A fire service spokesman told AFP, The toll is unchanged and operations are continuing.

Mayor Benoit Payan said on Monday that the building collapsed on Sunday at 12:40 am (2240 GMT), damaging parts of two buildings in its surrounding.

Five women and three men, most aged between 66 and 89 but including a couple aged 29 and 31, are known to have been in the building when it fell.

It would be a miracle to find any survivors but we have faith, said a priest, Father Olivier, at a Monday prayer vigil in the nearby Saint Michel church.

Currently, police and forensic experts are trying to identify the bodies that have been retrieved so far.

As well as 22 forensics officers, 18 detectives are on the scene sifting for evidence. Authorities are yet to give any preferred theory of what happened.

The streets around the collapsed building have been cordoned off and choked with dust. Firefighters could be seen attempting to work their way through the building debris.

With inputs from agencies

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Tokyo: South Korea lodged a strong protest against Japan on Tuesday over Tokyos renewed territorial claim to a set of rocky islets in the East Sea known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan

Japans Foreign Ministry presented this years Diplomatic Bluebook to a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, stating that Korea has continued an illegal occupation of the area with no legal basis.

Lim Soo-Suk, spokesperson for Koreas foreign ministry said Seoul strongly protests Japans repeated unjust claims of sovereignty over Dokdo, which is of our sovereign territory historically, geographically and under international law.

Suk also said that Japan should clearly recognize that repeating such claims does not contribute to the building of a future-oriented relationship between the two countries.

The report defined 2022 as a turning point in history. It condemns Russias invasion of Ukraine while expressing concern over moves by China and Russia to strengthen military cooperation.

Russian and Chinese militaries continue to engage in joint activities near Japan, and at a more frequent pace than before, it said, adding that Japan will closely watch the moves with grave concern from the viewpoint of national security.

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Islamabad: Amid security concerns, Sweden has closed its embassy in Pakistan indefinitely.

Due to the current security situation in Islamabad, the Embassy of Sweden is closed for visitors, read a statement from the Swedish embassy.

It added, The Migration Section is not, at the moment, able to handle requests of any kind. Also we cannot send any documents to our consulates, Gerrys, Sweden or your home address. We understand that this will cause inconvenience however, the safety of our applicants and staff members are of highest priority.

Please visit our website for updates on Embassy operations and services. https://t.co/yYpCPVmS73 pic.twitter.com/ppgGHTZeND  Sweden in Pakistan (@SwedeninPK) April 11, 2023

It further informed that at the moment it will not be able to answer questions regarding re-opening of the embassy in Islamabad.

Replying to this, the Pakistani embassy in Sweden tweeted, Many Pakistani students are applying for Swedish universities this year asked us about the status. We hope they can apply for visa soon. Education is an important aspect of our longstanding relationship and students bridge the two countries.

Many Pakistani students are applying for Swedish universities this year asked us about the status

We hope they can apply for visa soon

Education is an important aspect of our longstanding relationship and students bridge the two countries @SwedeninPK https://t.co/6JuHbPgRyy  Pakistan Embassy Sweden (@PakinSweden) April 11, 2023

Among those who will be affected most by this decision are the Pakistani students who want to get admission to Swedish educational institutions, as the new academic session in Swedish universities is starting in August and the visa process approximately takes four-six months, diplomatic sources told Daily Times.

As per reports, students in the cash-strapped country have written a letter to Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan in this regard.

Also, Pakistanis in Sweden will not be able to apply for visit visas for their families back home.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Seoul: Alphabet Incs Google has been fined with 42.1 billion won ($31.88 million) by South Koreas antitrust regulator for blocking the release of mobile video games on a rivals platform.

In an email statement, Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said that Google tried to block Korean platform competitor One Store Co.s business development.

KFTC said that Google bolstered its market dominance and hurt revenue and value of One Store by requiring video game makers to exclusively release their titles on Google Play in exchange for providing in-app exposure between June 2016 and April 2018.

Why South Korea has fined Google?

According to a report by Bloomberg, Google allegedly asked Koreas major game companies including NCSoft Corp. and Netmarble Corp., as well as smaller firms and Chinese companies, to exclusively release their new games in Googles Play Store, in return for Google promoting their games and providing further support abroad.

The KFTC in its statement further said that Google featuring a game on its top pages was seen as crucial for Korean game companies success in expanding overseas, where visibility of most of their games was low.

The KFTC went on to say that the move by South Korea against Google was part of efforts by the government to ensure fair markets.

Google makes substantial investments in the success of developers, and we respectfully disagree with the KFTCs conclusions, a KFTC spokesperson said.

The KFTC further claimed that Google was aware that the practice was anti-competitive. This may cause a risk of anti-competition or government-related issues, one memo from a meeting at Google Korea said.

Googles response

Responding to accusations of anti-competitive behaviour, Google said that it is an open platform and it doesnt prevent other app stores from competing. The company points users to apps from its Play Store because thats where it can provide the best security and oversight, the social media giant said.

One Store is a local platform created by South Koreas three telecom companies  SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and LG Uplus Corp.  and the internet firm Naver Corp.

According to an analyst at DB Financial, Hyun-Joon Hwang, One Store is preparing an initial public offering (IPO) and is seeking a valuation of $833 million.

With inputs from Reuters
Colombo: Sri Lankas election commission has decided to postpone the local body election on Tuesday, citing a fund shortage.

The local body polls in Sri Lanka scheduled to be held on April 25 have now been postponed indefinitely due to an acute shortage of funds, the poll body said on Tuesday.

The announcement came a day after its officials held meetings with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and members of major political parties.

The Election Commissions director general Saman Sri Ratnayake said that the next date for holding elections would be announced only after the Treasury confirms the disbursal of funds.

The local body polls, which were earlier scheduled on March 9, got postponed to April 25, due to a plethora of reasons linked to Sri Lankas current economic crisis. Last month, the Election Commission postponed the postal voting for the local body polls due to the paucity of funds.

In March, Sri Lanka governments printer Gangani Liyanage said the inability to print ballot papers to conduct postal voting from February 21 to 24 caused the Election Commission to postpone the elections.

Liyanage said that by the time the elections were postponed, she had only received Rs 40 million out of the estimated full cost of Rs 500 million from the Treasury.

The election to appoint new administrations to 340 local councils for a four-year term was postponed since March last year due to the ongoing economic crisis.

The International Monetary Fund has approved a USD 3 billion bailout programme to help debt-ridden Sri Lanka overcome its economic crisis and catalyse financial support from other development partners, a move welcomed by Colombo as a historic milestone in the critical period.

Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking a major political and humanitarian crisis in the island nation.

With inputs from agencies.

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Nature is known for its own wonders, housing a number of identified and unidentified creatures on land and even underwater. While humans are yet to discover many species, it is astonishing to explore these creatures. With that said, thousands of strange-looking creatures recently washed up along the beaches of Southern California, leaving people around the area surprised and confused as many mistook it for blue-coloured jellyfish. According to a report by Fox News, these strange little blue creatures are not jellyfish or any other creature like the poisonous Portuguese Man OWar, but a kind of hydrozoa called Velella velella, also known as By-the-Wind Sailors.

Of late, the creatures were spotted in dozens along the beaches of California including Huntington Beach, Zuma Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Salt Creek Beach. As per the report, the creatures might have washed ashore due to strong winds triggered by recent storms in California.

Considering the huge number of Velella velella gathering up along California beaches, marine biologists have advised people to avoid touching the creatures as their tentacles can leave small stings.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dana Wharf Whale Watching (@danawharf)

While locals are widely visiting the beaches to check on the creatures, the Dana Wharf Whale Watching, which operates off the coast of Dana Point, California also reported finding millions of these sailors in the water. On the other hand, the Marine Safety Battalion at Huntington Beach has also reported hundreds of Velella velella along the shoreline.

About the By-the-Wind Sailors

The Point Reyes National Seashores national park in a Facebook post spoke about the sighting of the sailors and wrote that visitors might come across a fresh wash-up of Velella, tinging the stretch of shoreline blue.

They have a firm and upright triangular sail attached to their body which causes them to be caught up by the wind and blown across the surface of the water, giving them their name By-the-Wind Sailors, it wrote.

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London: In order to reach its goal of making Britain smoke-free by 2030, authorities have launched a program called swap to stop under which over one million smokers will be offered vape starter kits to be replaced with cigarettes.

Englands Health Minister Neil OBrien announced on Tuesday that one in five smokers in the UK will be offered the kits as part of a campaign that has been described as the first of its kind in the world.

Under the scheme, pregnant women will be able to earn 400 if they stop smoking following which they will also receive a consultation that is meant to help them quit smoking.

As part of the world-first national scheme, almost one in five of all smokers in England will be provided with a vape starter kit alongside behavioural support to help them quit the habit as part of a series of new measures to help the government meet its ambition of being smokefree by 2030  reducing smoking rates to 5 per cent or less, the Government of UK said in a statement.

Authorities are also mulling over a plan to introduce mandatory cigarette pack inserts with positive messages and information to help people to quit smoking.

Government targets underage vaping

Earlier this week, ministers vowed to launch a crackdown on underage vaping by banning the illicit sale of e-cigarettes.

The government is planning to introduce an illicit vapes enforcement squad that will be led by Trading Standards. Funding of 3 million will be set up to conduct test purchases and remove banned products from shops.

A survey by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows that in 2022, there was a rise in underage smoking with seven per cent of 11- to 17-year-olds found to be smoking vapes compared to 3.3 per cent in 2021.

Health experts in the UK, however, say that the measures introduced by the government will do little to solve the smoking problem among children. They say action is needed to make e-cigarettes less appealing to children and young people.

Were relieved that the UK government has started to focus on the rising levels of children and young people picking up e-cigarettes, but an enforcement squad is just the tip of the iceberg, said Dr Mike McKean, the vice president for policy at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

He added, Tighter restrictions on advertising of vaping products are also needed to ensure these products are only advertised as a smoking reduction aid rather than a fun and colourful lifestyle product.

UKs smoking problem

Smoking has been found a major cause of health problems among people in the UK. From 2019-20, smoking drove as many as 448,031 to hospitals.

As per a survey by UKs House of Commons, smoking is more prevalent among men (13.4 per cent) than women (10.4 per cent).

In 2019, the government in the UK set an ambitious goal to make the country smoke-free by 2030, which effectively means only five per cent of the population would smoke by then.

Is vaping better than smoking?

Experts have found that vaping, although not risk-free, is less harmful than smoking. According to National Health Survey, Vaping exposes users to fewer toxins and at lower levels than smoking cigarettes.

Switching to vaping significantly reduces your exposure to toxins that can cause cancer, lung disease, and diseases of the heart and circulation like heart attack and stroke, it added.

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Taipei: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said after Beijing ended three days of drills around the island that the countrys military exercises had caused instability in Taiwan and the region and were irresponsible acts from a major country, reported Reuters.

China started the military drills on Saturday after Tsai arrived in Taipei from a meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China has never renounced the use of force to subjugate the democratically run island, and warned the United States not to let Tsai visit or meet McCarthy. The Taiwanese government vigorously refutes Chinas assertions and has repeatedly denounced the drills.

Tsai said that she represents her county to the world, and that her visits abroad, including stops in the United States, are not new and what Taiwans people expect.

However, China used this to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region. This is not a responsible attitude for a major country in the region, she added, according to Reuters.

According to Taiwans defence ministry, 91 Chinese military aircraft flew missions around the island on Monday.

Taiwans official Central News Agency said it was a record, but the defence ministry said it couldnt confirm it.

Tsai praised Taiwans armed forces and coast guard for their professionalism and thanked everyone involved.

She said, Although Chinas military exercises have come to an end, the nations military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country.

With inputs from agencies

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New Delhi: Ukraine is looking for new soldiers ahead of a much-anticipated spring offensive, which is causing anxiety among the countrys unmobilised men, reported The Washington Post.

Following heavy casualties sustained during the battle of Bakhmut, where both Russia and Ukraine continue to rack up mounting losses, the Ukrainian army requires more manpower.

To support Ukraines anticipated counteroffensive, which is likely to be based around seasoned troops using promised Western equipment anticipated to arrive in the upcoming months, more manpower is required as soon as possible.

As a result, according to The Washington Post, Ukrainians are beginning to understand that they might soon be called up for service.

Casting director Sasha (35), told The Washington Post that if the war continues for another year, everyone will be drafted into the military. Sasha is preparing for this possibility by enrolling in private military training courses.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine at the start of the conflict, making it nearly impossible for men between the ages of 18 and 60 to leave the nation. Almost any man within that radius could be called up to fight under the countrys current mobilisation regulations.

Since Russias invasion, the Ukrainian army has relied heavily on volunteers who are eager to protect their homeland. However, the country seems to be more aggressively pursuing those who havent yet put their hat in the ring as the volunteer pool begins to dry up, according to The Washington Post.

Oleksii Kruchukov, a 46-year-old washer repairman, told The Washington Post that after getting into a street brawl, he was told to report to a Kyiv recruitment office. He told the publication that after completing his military training, he expects to be deployed to the front lines.

With inputs from agencies

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Mogadishu: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for massive international assistance for Somalia, which is facing a desperate humanitarian crisis as a result of a protracted armed conflict, reported AFP.

At a joint press conference with Somalias President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Guterres stated that he was on a visit of solidarity to the troubled Horn of Africa nation, where five million people face severe food insecurity.

He said, I am also here to ring the alarm on the need of massive international support because of the humanitarian difficulties the country is facing. Guterres added that he wanted to help build Somalias security capacity and encourage its development, reported AFP.

UN has launched a $2.6 billion appeal for humanitarian assistance, but Guterres claims it is only 15 per cent funded.

The worst drought in decades has pushed many Somalis to the brink of famine, while the government is also fighting a bloody Islamist insurgency.

The authorities had previously established a security lockdown in Mogadishu in preparation for Guterres arrival, blocking major highways and limiting public transportation, reported AFP.

The UN Secretary-General, who is visiting the country for the first time since March 2017, is also scheduled to visit an internally displaced persons camp before departing on Wednesday.

Victims of climate change

Mohamud said the trip was also a gesture of solidarity towards the government and the democratic process of Somalia.

This visit ensures that the United Nations is fully committed to support our plans for state building and stabilising the country, his office said in a statement.

Five successive failed rainy seasons in parts of Somalia as well as Kenya and Ethiopia have led to the worst drought in four decades, wiping out livestock and crops and forcing at least 1.7 million people from their homes in search of food and water.

While famine thresholds have not been reached in Somalia, the UN says about half its population will need humanitarian assistance this year, with 8.3 million affected by the drought.

Adding to the woes, seasonal rains in March led to flooding that claimed the lives of 21 people and displaced more than 100,000, according to the UN, which warned that the rains were unlikely to be enough to improve the food security outlook for many.

Although Somalis make virtually no contribution to climate change the Somalis are among the greatest victims, Guterres said.

Excess deaths

According to the UN, Somalia had a famine in 2011 that killed 260,000 people, more than half of them were children under the age of six, in part because the international community failed to intervene quickly enough.

According to a report released in March by the UN and the Somali government, drought may have resulted in 43,000 excess deaths last year, with children under the age of five accounting for half of the victims, reported AFP.

Somalia, one of the worlds poorest countries, has been ravaged by decades of civil war, political bloodshed, and a brutal insurgency led by Al-Qaeda branch Al-Shabaab.

Mohamud last year declared all-out war against the Islamist militants and sent in troops in September to back an uprising against Al-Shabaab launched by local clan militias in central Somalia.

In recent months, the army and the militias known as Macawisley have retaken swathes of territory in an operation backed by an African Union force known as ATMIS, and by US air strikes.

The government said late last month that more than 3,000 Al-Shabaab fighters had been killed since it launched the offensive.

It also said 70 towns and villages had been liberated from Al-Shabaab, which has been fighting the fragile central government for more than 15 years.

The claims could not be independently verified.

Al-Shabaab has regularly reacted against the onslaught with brutal attacks, demonstrating its ability to hit civilian, political, and military targets in the face of government advances.

Guterres stated in a February report to the UN Security Council that 2022 was the bloodiest year for civilians in Somalia since 2017, owing mostly to Al-Shabaab attacks.

With inputs from agencies

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Geneva, Switzerland: Volker Turk, the head of the UN human rights office, expressed his grave worry at Chinas decision to imprison two well-known human rights attorneys for more than ten years on Monday.

After trials behind closed doors, Xu Zhiyong and fellow activist Ding Jiaxi were found guilty of subversion of state authority.

Both were prominent members of the New Citizens Movement, a civil rights organisation that pushed for constitutional change and denounced public 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 per cent.

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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Islamabad: The United Nations is reviewing its operations in Afghanistan after the Taliban banned Afghan women from working for the organisation.

Afghanistans Taliban rulers last week imposed restrictive measures on women, saying that Afghan women employed with the U.N. mission could no longer report for work.

Following the dictate, the United Nations asked all Afghan staff not to come to work for at least until May. The UN said last week that the Taliban had communicated that Afghan women would not be able to work for the global organisation.

The U.N. said it cannot accept the decision, calling it an unparalleled violation of womens rights. It was the latest in sweeping restrictions imposed by the Taliban since they seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were withdrawing from the country after 20 years of war.

The Taliban have banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade and women from most public life and work. In December, they banned Afghan women from working at local and nongovernmental groups  a measure that at the time did not extend to U.N. offices.

Tuesdays statement by the U.N. said its head of mission in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, has initiated an operational review period that would last until May 5.

During this time, the U.N. will conduct the necessary consultations, make required operational adjustments, and accelerate contingency planning for all possible outcomes, the statement said.

It also accused the Taliban of trying to force the U.N. into making an appalling choice between helping Afghans and standing by the norms and principles it is duty-bound to uphold.

It should be clear that any negative consequences of this crisis for the Afghan people will be the responsibility of the de facto authorities, it warned.

Aid agencies have been providing food, education and health care support to Afghans in the wake of the Taliban takeover and the economic collapse that followed it. But distribution has been severely impacted by the Taliban edict banning women from working at NGOs  and, now, also at the U.N.

The U.N. described the measure as an extension of the already unacceptable Taliban restrictions that deliberately discriminate against women and undermine the ability of Afghans to access lifesaving and sustaining assistance and services.

With inputs from agencies.

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Seoul: South Korea has dismissed information contained about the countrys internal discussion in the purportedly leaked US confidential documents, saying they are untrue and altered.

The remarks were made by South Koreas Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo who is en route to Washington ahead of President Yoon Suk Yeols US visit. Tae-hyo stressed that the alliance between Seoul and Washington has remained strong.

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 the 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.

One such document contains details of internal discussions among South Korean officials about US pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine.

Kim said, The two countries have the same assessment that much of the information disclosed is altered.

The undated document in question elaborates on how South Korea agreed to sell artillery shells to help the US replenish its stockpiles, insisting that the end user should be the US military. But internally, top South Korean officials were worried that the US would divert them to Ukraine.

South Korea, on the other hand, maintained that the country has a law that restricts it from supplying arms to countries engaged in conflicts.

Kim said the latest revelation will not have an impact on South Koreas alliance with the US

The US is the country with the worlds best intelligence capabilities and since (Yoons) inauguration we have shared intelligence in almost every sector, Kim said.

The US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin is also believed to have had a telephone conversation with his South Korean counterpart where he discussed the recent media reports on the leaked US documents.

Meanwhile, 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.

With inputs from agencies

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New York, United States: A Republican legislator was sued on Tuesday by the US attorney representing Donald Trump in an effort to prevent the congressman from interfering in the prosecution of the former president.

Congressman Jim Jordan was accused in the complaint by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack on his prosecution of the 76-year-old former president.

Last week, Bragg unveiled 34 allegations against Trump for purported hush money payments made to support his 2016 campaign, including ones to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about sex she allegedly had with the former president.

Trump  who denies the liaison and pleaded not guilty to all counts during a historic arraignment  has repeatedly accused Bragg, an elected Democrat, of waging a witch hunt.

Braggs lawsuit against Jordan, filed in the Southern District of New York, comes after Jordan and two Republican colleagues requested last month that Bragg testify before Congress about his probe into Trump, who had not yet been indicted.

The Republicans  who are all committee chairmen in the House of Representatives  accused Bragg of waging a politically motivated prosecution and demanded that he hand over documents related to the case.

Braggs office responded by accusing the trio of an unprecedented inquiry into a pending local prosecution.

After the indictment against Trump was unveiled last week, Jordan issued a subpoena to a former prosecutor in Braggs office, seeking that he give testimony to lawmakers behind closed doors.

Braggs lawsuit, which accuses Jordan of a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack the district attorney, seeks to block any deposition from happening. It also seeks to prevent Bragg from being subpoenaed.

Trump  the frontrunner in the race for the 2024 Republican nomination  is the first former or sitting president to ever be charged with a crime.

He is accused of falsifying business records to cover up the $130,000 payment to Daniels, made just weeks before the 2016 election that sent him to the White House.

Jordans House Judiciary Committee announced on Monday that it would hold a field hearing about Braggs policies as district attorney with victims of violent crime in Manhattan on 17 April.

A spokesperson for Bragg slammed the meeting as a political stunt.

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Washington, United States: The US Environmental Protection Agency proposed measures on Tuesday to reduce exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO), a chemical widely used to sterilize medical equipment that has been found to increase the risk of certain cancers.

EtO is used to sterilize approximately 20 billion medical devices each year and it fills a critical need in the medical industry, said EPA deputy administrator Janet McCabe.

Long-term exposure to EtO can have serious harmful health implications, including certain types of cancers, McCabe said.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, long-term exposure to EtO increases the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, cancers of the white blood cells and breast cancer in women.

Besides sterilizing medical equipment, EtO is also used in some healthcare facilities and to sterilize spices to prevent illnesses caused by salmonella and E. Coli.

To reduce exposure to EtO, the EPA said it is proposing more stringent air emissions standards under the Clean Air Act and additional protections for workers exposed to the chemical.

It is proposing stricter pollution control requirements for 86 commercial sterilizer facilities across the country that would reduce EtO emissions by 80 per cent.

Facilities would be required to report results to the EPA twice per year and comply with the new requirements within 18 months after they take effect.

The EPA is also proposing new safeguards to protect workers who use EtO to sterilize products, including real-time monitoring of EtO that can measure EtO within sterilization facilities down to 10 parts per billion (ppb).

If levels surpass 10 ppb, workers would be required to wear personal protection equipment, the EPA said.

The use of EtO would also be prohibited in certain places such as museums where alternative sterilization methods exist.

The EPA proposals will be open for public comment for 60 days and should be finalized in 2024, the agency said.

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Manila (Philippines): In the Philippines and its waters across the disputed South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where Washington has frequently cautioned Beijing over its more aggressive moves, US and Filipino soldiers on Tuesday began their largest combat exercises in decades.

More than 17,600 military troops will participate in the yearly exercises by the old treaty friends known as Balikatan, which means shoulder to shoulder in Filipino. They will last until April 28.

As the Joe Biden administration fortifies an arc of alliances to better fight China, especially in a potential showdown over Taiwan, an island democracy that Beijing claims as its own, it will be the latest demonstration of American firepower in Asia.

This is consistent with the Philippines efforts under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely. These efforts included stepping up joint military drills with the U.S. and agreeing in 2014 to a defence agreement that allowed rotating groups of American forces to stay in additional Philippine military camps.

The relationships that we have, that we build into these exercises, will make us faster to respond to conflict, crisis, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Eric Austin said.

The drills are the largest since Balikatan began three decades ago and involve some 12,200 U.S. military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces, and 111 Australian equivalents. According to U.S. and Filipino military officials, the exercises will display American warships, fighter planes, Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers, and anti-tank Javelins.

According to Col. Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesman for Balikatan, on April 26 U.S. and Filipino forces will sink a target ship in a live-fire drill for the first time in Philippine territorial waters off the western province of Zambales through a coordinated inland and coastal artillery bombardment and airstrike.

We have to fire at a target that is closer to what we would expect in an actual threat, which is an intrusion coming from an adversary by sea. We are demonstrating that we are combat ready, Logico was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.

When asked if Marcos expressed any fear that Beijing would become enraged by the rocket launch along the busy waterway that China believes to be its territory, Logico replied that it was not brought up during the briefing.

Marcos wants to witness the live-fire drill, he said.

In western Palawan province, which faces the South China Sea, the exercises will involve retaking an island captured by enemy forces, Logico added.

The exercises, according to Philippine military authorities, were not directed at any one nation but rather at strengthening the nations coastline defence and disaster response skills.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Manila, these field exercises would test the partners capabilities in combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between manoeuvre units, logistics operations, and amphibious operations.

The Filipino foreign and defence ministers will meet with their American counterparts in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the US military presence and potential coordinated naval patrols, which is an indication of the two countries growing defence cooperation, according to officials.

The long-running territorial disputes between China, the Philippines, and four other states, as well as Beijings intention to conquer Taiwan, using force if necessary, have set Washington and Beijing on a collision course.

China sent a warning last week about the growing American military presence in the area. That would only result in greater tensions and less peace and stability in the region, according to Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, during a routine news briefing in Beijing.

The Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week in California, which incensed Beijing. As a result, Beijing conducted three days of war drills simulating the sealing off of Taiwan, which ended the day after the Philippines Balikatan exercises began.

Monday saw the deployment of the USS Milius, a guided-missile destroyer, within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, a coral outcrop claimed by Manila that China had taken over in the mid-1990s and turned into one of seven missile-protected island bases in the tensely disputed Spratlys archipelago in the South China Sea.

Such freedom of navigation operations have been carried out by the U.S. military for years in an effort to counter Chinas broad territorial claims.

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, the 7th Fleet said.
Manila: The United States and the Philippines will today launch their largest combat exercises in decades in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait that are likely to enrage China.

The exercise, which will involve live-fire drills including a boat-sinking rocket assault, will run up to 28 April and involve more than 17,600 military personnel, including 12,200 US military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts, the largest in Balikatans three-decade history.

The drills will be the latest display of American firepower in Asia, where Washington has repeatedly warned China over its increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed sea channel and against Taiwan.

The countries will also stage an amphibious landing on the western island of Palawan, the closest Philippine landmass to the Spratly Islands  a flashpoint for Beijing and Manila.

The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in a possible confrontation over Taiwan.

That dovetails with efforts by the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea by boosting joint military exercises with the US and allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in more Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact.

Americas warships, fighter jets as well as its Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers and anti-tank Javelins, would be showcased, according to US and Philippine military officials.

We are not provoking anybody by simply exercising, Col. Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesman for Balikatan, told Associated Press ahead of the start of the maneuvers.

This is actually a form of deterrence, Logico said. Deterrence is when we are discouraging other parties from invading us.

In a live-fire drill the allied forces would stage offshore for the first time, Logico said US and Filipino forces would sink a 200-foot (61-meter) target vessel in Philippine territorial waters off the western province of Zambales this month in a coordinated airstrike and artillery bombardment.

We will hit it with all the weapons systems that we have, both ground, navy and air, Logico said.

That location facing the South China Sea and across the waters from the Taiwan Strait would likely alarm China, but Philippine military officials said the maneuver was aimed at bolstering the countrys coastal defense and was not aimed at any country.

Such field scenarios would test the allies capabilities in combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between maneuver units, logistics operations, amphibious operations, the US Embassy in Manila said.

Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over the long-seething territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines and four other governments and Beijings goal of annexing Taiwan, by force if necessary.

China last week warned against the intensifying US military deployment to the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular news briefing in Beijing that it would only lead to more tensions and less peace and stability in the region.

The Balikatan exercises were opening in the Philippines a day after China concluded three days of combat drills that simulated sealing off Taiwan, following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week in California that infuriated Beijing.

On Monday, the US 7th Fleet deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Milius within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, a Manila-claimed coral outcrop which China seized in the mid-1990s and turned into one of seven missile-protected island bases in the South China Seas hotly contested Spratlys archipelago. The US military has been undertaking such freedom of navigation operations for years to challenge Chinas expansive territorial claims in the busy seaway.

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, the 7th Fleet said. No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms.

With inputs from agencies

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Aboard Air Force One: Tuesday, nearly two weeks after The Wall Street Journal writer from Moscow was arrested in Russia and accused of espionage, President Joseph Biden talked to Evan Gershkovichs parents.

While en route to Belfast to begin a four-day visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland, Biden made the call. One day after the Biden administration officially announced the reporter had been wrongfully imprisoned, the call took place.

The designation strengthens the case for Gershkovichs release to the US government and designates a specific State Department office to spearhead the effort.

On Tuesday, Biden once more denounced the journalists imprisonment before leaving Washington. The Wall Street Journal and the US administration have both angrily refuted the Russian claim that Gershkovich is a spy.

Were making it real clear that its totally illegal whats happening, and we declared it so, Biden said. It changes the dynamic.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters after the call that Biden felt it was really important to connect with Evans family, his parents, She said that Gershkovich, 31, has been top of mind for the president.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the Russian government has yet to grant US consular access to Gershkovich.

Its not for lack of trying, Kirby said, adding that the State Department has been seeking access ever since the moment we found out that he was detained.

Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg, Russias fourth-largest city, on 29 March. He is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying.

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Belfast, Northern Ireland: When visiting with distant relatives in the Republic of Ireland, President Joe Biden highlighted the American role in halting terrible strife in Northern Ireland 25 years ago as he set off on his diplomatic and family celebration travel on Tuesday. His return is his first as president of the United States.

The Good Friday Agreement, which was signed on that day in April 1998 and put an end to three decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland that resulted in 3,600 deaths, was 25 years old on Monday. In conjunction with Bidens visit, Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom, is commemorating the significant occasion.

In March, UK officials elevated the terrorist threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, warning of IRA dissidents opposed to the peace process and planning attacks. Profound differences still exist in the conflicts legacy. A police car was set on fire and petrol bombs were thrown by youths during a dissident march in Londonderry on Monday.

Biden said last month that nothing would change his travel plans.

They cant keep me out, he said.

The Democratic president embarked Tuesday on a four-day visit to both countries, including appearances in Belfast, the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland; in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland; and in County Louth and County Mayo, on Irelands East and West coasts, respectively. He will also address Irelands Parliament.

Biden was to arrive in Belfast on Tuesday night. He will spend about half a day there on Wednesday, meeting with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before going to Ulster University to mark the Good Friday accord anniversary with other dignitaries and players in the peace process.

Afterwards, Biden will travel to Dublin and then head to County Louth, where the 80-year-old will dive into the Irish ancestry of which he is immensely proud and speaks about often.

Biden will hold separate meetings Thursday in Dublin with Irish President Michael Higgins and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar before the address to Parliament and a dinner banquet. Varadkar visited Biden in the Oval Office last month on St. Patricks Day.

The president will spend Friday, the final day of the trip, in County Mayo, exploring family genealogy and giving a speech about ties between the US and Ireland in front of a 19th-century cathedral that the White House said was partly built using bricks supplied by his great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, a brickmaker and civil engineer.

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, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

Ending decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, a period referred to as the Troubles, meant balancing competing identities in the country, which remained in the United Kingdom when the rest of Ireland won independence a century ago. Irish nationalists in the north  most of them Catholic  seek union with the Republic of Ireland, while largely Protestant unionists want to stay with the U.K.

The Good Friday Agreement, struck on April 10, 1998, after almost two years of US-backed talks, committed armed groups to stop fighting, ended direct British rule and set up a Northern Ireland legislature and government with power shared between unionist and nationalist parties.

But Britains exit from the European Union, which left Northern Ireland poised uneasily between the rest of Britain and EU member Ireland, has upset a delicate political balance, including the power-sharing system set up by the peace accord.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has not sat for more than a year after the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new trade rules for Northern Ireland brought in after Brexit.

A more recent accord between the UK and the EU, known as the Windsor Framework, addresses some of the issues that arose around commerce and goods sent across the Irish Sea from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Biden has praised the framework as an important step in maintaining the peace, though Northern Irelands political leaders have called for changes.

Asked as he prepared to leave Washington about his priorities for the trip, Biden said, Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place. Keep the peace. Thats the main thing.

Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, said he would expect Biden to use the anniversary to highlight the positive role the US can play in forging peace around the world.

This is a real success, 25 years later, of US diplomacy, where the US was asked and then played a very critical role in bridging the divide between two of its friends and partners, Bergmann said in an interview. I think this is a moment to mark that progress can happen in the world and the United States can play a central role in it.

Excitement over Bidens trip has been growing in the town of Ballina, from which one of the presidents great-great-grandfathers left for the United States in 1850.

Buildings are getting fresh coats of paint and American flags are being hung from shopfronts in Ballina, a bustling agricultural town of about 10,000 residents at the mouth of the River Moy in western Ireland. The centre of town already has a mural of a beaming Biden, erected in 2020.

Many people from Ballina and the surrounding County Mayo moved to Pennsylvania in the 19th century, and Ballina is twinned with Scranton, Bidens hometown.

Joe Blewitt, a distant cousin who first met Biden when he visited Ballina as vice president in 2016, told The Associated Press that the US leader pledged to return once hed won the presidency.

He said, Im going to come back into Ballina. And sure to God hes going to come back into Ballina, Blewitt said. His Irish roots are really deep in his heart.

The 43-year-old plumber was among Biden relations invited to the White House for St. Patricks Day last month. Blewitt said it was a surreal experience; it included a half-hour private meeting with Biden.

Biden, who was accompanied on the trip by his sister Valerie and son Hunter, often peppers his public remarks with sayings from his late mother and father, and he regularly quotes Irish poets, including Seamus Heaney and William Butler Yeats. He recently boasted to White House guests that the mansion was designed and built by an Irish American, James Hoban.

Irelands Irish Family History Centre says Biden is among the most Irish of all US Presidents  10 of his 16 great-great-grandparents were from the Emerald Isle. All left for the US during the Great Famine of the mid-19th century, which killed an estimated 1 million people.

More than 30 million people in the US, or about 1 in 10, claim Irish ancestry.

The trip is also a reminder of the role of Irish Americans in US political life.

Ireland has warmly welcomed American presidents since John F. Kennedy, also of Irish descent, became the first to visit in 1963. Barack Obama got a jubilant reception in 2011 when he visited the tiny hamlet of Moneygall, home to one of his great-great-great-grandfathers.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Vietnam this week in the latest bid to build relations with a growing American partner as tensions flare with China over Taiwan.

Blinken will travel to Hanoi on his way to a G7 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 US has a growing relationship with Vietnam, including on defence, with the two countries largely reconciling despite bitter war memories.

Vietnam has longstanding tensions with China, whose own relations with the US 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 dont 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 conducts military drills around Taiwan

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 Blinkens 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.

With inputs from AFP

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Washington, United States: A city council in Tennessee voted Monday to send a Democratic lawmaker back to the states legislature days after he was expelled for disrupting a session with calls for stricter gun control laws.

Justin Jones and another Democratic colleague, both of whom are Black, were expelled by Republican lawmakers last Thursday after they disrupted an assembly session, demanding stricter gun controls in the wake of a mass shooting at an elementary school in Nashville.

A third legislator who joined their protest  a white woman  was not removed, sparking accusations of racism around the case and fueling anger among Democrats well beyond Tennessee.

President Joe Biden has invited all three lawmakers to the White House, while Kamala Harris  the first Black vice president in US history  attended a rally in Nashville in support of the Tennessee Three.

The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted Monday afternoon to send Jones back to his seat in the state legislature on an interim basis, pending a special election.

The seat that had been held by the other expelled Black lawmaker, Justin Pearson, will be discussed Wednesday at a meeting of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, news reports said.

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Saudi Arabias ambassador to Yemen on Monday said that 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.

Visit after Iran, Saudi restored ties

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.

1 Continuing the Kingdoms efforts to end the Yemeni crisis, and in support the Saudi Initiative of 2021 to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, I visit Sanaa along with a delegation from the brotherly Sultanate of Oman to stabilize the truce and ceasefire, pic.twitter.com/xqPty81Ds9     (@mohdsalj) April 10, 2023

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 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 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 coalitions air and maritime blockade on Houthi-held areas, and the rebels would end their siege of Taiz, Yemens 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 countrys 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 widespread reconstruction efforts in Yemen where the war devastated its infrastructure and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters.

Spokespeople for the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition didnt 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-Jabers 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.

With inputs from AP

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New Delhi: Shiveluch volcano in Russias far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula erupted early Tuesday. It released an ash plume 10 kms high, posing a threat to air traffic, according to the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT), reported Reuters.

Following the eruption, the ash cloud drifted to the west and south, measuring 400 by 270 kms, according to the Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The ash cloud will most likely continue to spread.

WATCH:

 The mighty #Shiveluch volcano in Russias Kamchatka has gone full eruption mode  volcanic ash emissions has reached 20km, right into the stratosphere. #HappeningNow Gorgeous video of the ash cloud to remind us of the beauty and the force of nature  pic.twitter.com/eQ6TNgfLR1  Russia  (@Russia) April 10, 2023

Local authorities closed schools and ordered residents of villages to stay indoors. Oleg Bondarenko, the head of the Ust-Kamchatsky municipal region, asked citizens to stay safe in a Telegram post, reported Reuters.

Bondarenko advised residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

Shiveluch has erupted at least 60 times in the last 10,000 years. The most recent major eruption was in 2007. Mt Shiveluch is divided into two sections: Young Shiveluch and Old Shiveluch. With a peak elevation of 2,800 meters, the Young Shiveluch protrudes from the 3,283-meter-high Old Shiveluch in recent months.

Check out some reactions:

With inputs from agencies

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Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Rain ending this morning. Then remaining mainly cloudy. High 73F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower late. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Protesters interrupted French president Emmanuel Macrons speech about Europes future.

Where is French democracy? shouted the banner-waving demonstrators as Macron, who has faced violent protests at home over pensions reforms, addressed a student-dominated audience at a theatre in The Hague in the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Macrons remark on US-China tensions

The first state visit to the Netherlands by a French president in 23 years has been clouded by a row over comments that Macron made about Taiwan, US and China. Macron had said that Europe should avoid becoming a vassal in US-China conflict.

Macron is confronting the biggest challenge of his second term after pushing through his flagship pension overhaul, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.

The demonstrators had stood in an upper tier of the theatre and shouted You have millions of protesters in the streets while holding up a banner that read President of Violence and Hypocrisy.

MACRON  in the Netherlands giving a speech on the future of Europe. interrupted by members of the audience. I think we lost something, where is French democracy? pic.twitter.com/LpPbKVBN3a  Bernies Tweets (@BernieSpofforth) April 11, 2023

After security guards removed them, Macron said people who try to undermine laws passed by elected governments put democracy at risk, citing the 2021 US Capitol riots and a 2023 attack on the Brazilian Congress.

The pomp and ceremony of the visit later continued regardless, with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands hailing the 45-year-old French president at a state dinner in Amsterdam.

Reform is not simple, the monarch said as he toasted his guest after a meal of asparagus soup with grey shrimp, followed by beef tournedos in a red wine sauce and a dessert made of traditional Dutch sweets.

For us, for Europe and the whole world, it is vital that France is strong, prosperous and confident.

Macrons speech earlier made no mention of Taiwan, sticking instead to themes of Europes need to look after its own interests.

Being more sovereign was critical in this period of time where we have war and the economy is being weaponised, particularly due to Russias invasion of Ukraine, said Macron.

The Ukraine war had opened probably one of the most perilous times of our European Union, he added.

Macron had sparked controversy in recent days after he said in an interview with media including Politico and French business daily Les Echos that Europe should not be followers of the United States and China over Taiwan.

The interview by Macron, following a three-day state visit to Beijing last week, raised eyebrows on both sides of the Atlantic.

Polands PM Mateusz Morawiecki said the alliance with the United States was an absolute foundation of European security.

US Senator Marco Rubio said on Twitter that we need to find out if Emmanuel Macron speaks for Europe.

The Elysee Palace insisted Tuesday that the president had never called for Europe to keep an equidistance from the United States and China.

Macrons Dutch visit continues on Wednesday with a trip to the sold-out exhibition of painter Johannes Vermeers works at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte on a canal boat.

He will also view a science park and sign a pact for innovation focusing on cooperation in semiconductors, quantum physics and energy.

Macrons visit is meant to highlight a new dynamic between Paris and The Hague after Brexit, when the Netherlands lost its strongest ally in Europe.

They will also work to finalise a defence pact by 2024.

With inputs from AFP

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Washington: India and China are two exceptions to the slowdown that the global economy is expected to experience this year, World Bank Group President David Malpass said.

In his Opening address at the ongoing Spring Meetings 2023 Media Call, ahead of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings week, Malpass said that global growth is expected to be weak in 2023, slowing to two per cent from 3.1 per cent in 2022.

I note the stability of Chinas currency and the countercyclical nature of its monetary policy. India continues to be one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. We are looking for growth of 6.3 per cent in their FY23/24, he said.

Watch: IMF Outlook 2023: India and China to Drive Global Economic Growth | Vantage with Palki Sharma



Last month, the Boao Forum for Asia, Beijings prominent official think tank, said in a report that Asian economies are accelerating the pace of overall economic recovery in 2023, making them top performers given the global economic slowdown.

China and India would contribute to half of the worlds growth this year, the report said, citing data from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to IMF projections, India is expected to grow at 6.8 per cent in 2023, followed by China with 5.2 per cent.

Global recession fears | Indian economy emerges as a bright spot | Vantage with Palki Sharma

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin announces:

At the invitation of the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will attend the fourth Foreign Ministers Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and visit Uzbekistan from April 12 to 13.
Isabella Hammad in Literary Hub:

One Friday night in October 2018, during the inaugural Palestinian Theatre Festival in Ramallah, I watched The Freedom Theatre from Jenin refugee camp perform a play called Return to Palestine. In this tightly choreographed 45-minute piece of physical comedy, a young Palestinian-American named Jad travels back to Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank, to visit his family for the first time. The black-clad ensemble of six forms a line that transforms fluidly into a car, a checkpoint, the entrance to the refugee camp, a cafe, accompanied by an oud, spoons and drums played by musicians sitting stage-right.

The first lesson Jad learns about life under military occupation is one of mobility: at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv he phones his uncle, who explains that, as a West Bank Palestinian, he cant collect Jad from the airport. He doesnt have a permit. Jad must take a taxi alone to the checkpoint. The audience starts laughing and the laughter crescendoes when, on Jads eventual arrival in Jenin, his uncle pretends to be furious. You are late! he bellows. You think you are in Europe? Here, we are Arabs! We respect time! Jad cowers, then realizes his uncle is making fun. They embrace; the audience whistles.

More here.
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Doc Martin



This comedic drama about a London doctor who relocates to Cornwall ran from 2004 until 2022 for ten series. The series was focused on Dr Martin Ellingham, played by Martin Clunes, who has to give up his successful career as a surgeon when he develops a phobia of blood. He takes a position as a General Practitioner in the fictional village of Porthwern in Cornwall where he is dubbed Doc Martin.



As a GP, the doctor has to interact with patients far more than during his time as a surgeon, and his bedside manner leaves much to be desired - he is brusque, abrupt and lacks social skills. His skill in diagnosing illnesses is excellent and he is respected by the locals.



Filming took place in Port Isaac, a village on the north coast of Cornwall.

2. The Fall



Starring Gillian Anderson, 'The Fall' was set in Northern Ireland and had three series between 2013 and 2016 initially. The writer and creator, Alan Cubitt, has made it clear that he has ideas for picking up the story in the future, but nothing has been agreed at the time of writing in 2023.



Anderson played Stella Gibson, seconded from London's Metropolitan Police to capture a serial killer who has been targeting young women in Belfast. The killer, Paul Spector, is played by Jamie Dornan, who is from Northern Ireland, and the series explores his motivations as an apparently loving husband and father by day. Adding more would spoil the show for anyone who hasn't seen it.

3. EastEnders



This long-running soap opera began in 1985 and was created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland. It is set in a fictional region named Walford, in London's East End, from which the show's name is derived. As with most soap operas, characters are introduced with some staying for years while others leave and may return again in the future.



Among some of the better known actors who have appeared in the show are Martin Kemp (from Spandau Ballet), Barbara Windsor, who appeared in 'Carry On' films, and David Walliams. This long-running soap opera began in 1985 and was created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland. It is set in a fictional region named Walford, in London's East End, from which the show's name is derived. As with most soap operas, characters are introduced with some staying for years while others leave and may return again in the future.Among some of the better known actors who have appeared in the show are Martin Kemp (from Spandau Ballet), Barbara Windsor, who appeared in 'Carry On' films, and David Walliams.

4. Vera



This long-running crime drama series is based on the character of Vera Stanhope, created by author Ann Cleeves. The first series was broadcast in 2011.



Although the supporting cast has changed, Vera herself is still played by Brenda Blethyn, who would have long since retired if she'd been a real detective. Portrayed as rather scruffy and not suffering fools gladly, Vera's mind is as sharp as ever and the crime is always solved.



The series is set on the northeastern coast of England, in Northumberland and down as far as Newcastle and South Shields, in Tyne and Wear.

5. Torchwood



This spin-off from 'Doctor Who' (the name of 'Torchwood' is an anagram of 'Doctor Who') was created by Russell T Davies, who also wrote the revived series of its parent series from 2005 until 2010. 'Torchwood' began airing in 2006 and finished in 2011 - it was set in Cardiff for its first two series, while London was used in series three and the USA in series four.



The main characters were Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman (who had portrayed the same character in 'Doctor Who'), and Gwen Cooper, played by Eve Myles, plus a supporting cast. The shows involve a lot of aliens, with the Torchwood group portrayed as undercover and unofficial.

6. Bread



Written by Carla Lane, this comedy series was set in Liverpool - the 'bread' of the title refers to money. It began airing, on the BBC, in 1986 and finished in 1991, after seven series.



The family at the centre of the stories was the Boswells, depicted as Catholic and working class and permanently short of cash. Some of the early shows concentrated on the family's less than legal ways of earning money, although later series focused more on family issues. The most memorable character was the matriarch, Nellie Boswell, played by Jean Boht.

7. Taggart



This police drama was a regular on British television from 1985 until 2010 and even survived beyond the death of the actor who portrayed the title character. Set in Glasgow, the show originally starred Mark McManus as Jim Taggart, a Detective Chief Inspector who often had a murder to solve - the show was often parodied as having the line 'there's been a murder', spoken in a strong Scottish accent, in each opening episode.



When McManus died suddenly in 1995 James McPherson became the lead character, portraying Michael Jardine before Blythe Duff, as Jackie Reid, took over in 1990 until the end of the series. The show kept its original name throughout its run.

8. Being Human



This series ran from 2008 until 2013, although none of the cast remained with the show throughout. Series one and two were set in Bristol before the characters relocated across the River Severn to Barry Island, in South Wales, which was also the setting for 'Gavin and Stacey'.



The storyline focused on three supernatural beings, a werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost, who end up sharing a house. All three are unhappy with their situations and are doing their best to blend in as human. The vampire was portrayed by Aiden Turner, who left after series three and the werewolf by Russell Tovey, who left after series four as did the ghost, Lenora Crichlow. New characters were brought in to overlap with the departures, but the series finished in March 2013. This series ran from 2008 until 2013, although none of the cast remained with the show throughout. Series one and two were set in Bristol before the characters relocated across the River Severn to Barry Island, in South Wales, which was also the setting for 'Gavin and Stacey'.The storyline focused on three supernatural beings, a werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost, who end up sharing a house. All three are unhappy with their situations and are doing their best to blend in as human. The vampire was portrayed by Aiden Turner, who left after series three and the werewolf by Russell Tovey, who left after series four as did the ghost, Lenora Crichlow. New characters were brought in to overlap with the departures, but the series finished in March 2013.

9. Peaky Blinders



Set in Birmingham, the title of the series was taken from a real life gang who operated in the city between 1880 and 1910. For the television series, the action was moved to begin in 1919, after the end of the First World War. The gang was led by Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, with Sam Neill as the police detective who aims to bring them down.



Running originally from 2013 until 2022 over six series, the story moved into the 1930s before ending, with many of the cast (but not Neill) staying with it throughout its run.

10. Hamish Macbeth



Another television adaptation from a series of books, written by M C Beaton this time, Hamish Macbeth ran on British television between 1995 and 1997 (three series). Set in northern Scotland, it gave Robert Carlyle an early lead role as the title character, a policeman in a small village.



The series was classed as a comedy drama with Macbeth doing his best to avoid being promoted or moved from the village. His methods of policing are described as 'laid back'.



The other star of the show, maybe the more important to many of us, was Macbeth's Highland terrier dog, called Wee Jock, who was his constant companion. Wee Jock was replaced by Jock when the original dog died.

Source: Author rossian This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
But what the British songwriter and producer came up with is a reminder of what a Tiny Desk is at its best: an opportunity for artists to challenge themselves in such a way that it almost feels like they're making new music, all while sticking to what feels true to them. For Fred again.. that meant re-learning the marimba, playing the vibraphone, singing at the piano and looping sounds and beats  all at the same time.
Google Introduces Auto-Archiving Feature to Reduce App Uninstallation for More Storage Space News oi -Afrin Humayon

Google has introduced an app archiving feature on Android smartphones that allows users to manage their storage space on phones effectively, without the need for uninstalling apps each time they run into storage space issues.

The app feature essentially shrinks the size of an app by 60% so that users can continue to benefit from not having to remove the app entirely every single time for making more storage space. App developers also benefit from user retention and uninstallations.

The feature allows users to keep all their data and updates on the app intact, while also retaining the app icon on their phones. In a user's device, the app icon will feature a "cloud" indicating that the app has been archived and needs to be downloaded again.

To save space, Google deletes some parts of the app's code and resources, to reduce the amount of space it takes on the user's phone. In case a user wants to re-use the app, Google then downloads it again from the Play Store.

However, do note that all apps are not yet eligible for the auto-archive feature. Apps need to be created with an App Bundle format that pre-emptively only downloads the necessary resources of the app to the smartphone.

The auto-archive feature can be utilized when the smartphone reaches full storage space. In such a situation, when a user wants to download another app, a popup comes up on the screen asking the user if they want the auto-archive feature to be enabled.

On selecting the option, Google automatically begins to archive unused apps, thereby freeing up space.

Chang Liu and Lidia Gaymond, Product Managers, at Google Play, said about the auto-archiving feature, "Sometimes, users don't need to delete an entire app to free up some space on their phone. They can just shrink it instead. That's what auto-archive does. It helps users keep their apps and data, but use less storage. It also helps developers keep their apps on users' phones."

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Kremlin categorically denies Russia's role in US highly-classified documents leak

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 April 2023 4:18 PM

The Kremlin has categorically dismissed accusations of Russia's alleged role behind a leak of US intelligence documents about a number of countries, including Ukraine, saying there is a "general tendency" to always blame Moscow for such incidents.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, made the statement on Monday as the US national security community is grappling with a fallout from the release of dozens of secret documents, including the impact on sensitive information-sharing within the administration and ties with other countries.

The documents, leaked from the Pentagon and obtained by the New York Times, mainly include information about the war in Ukraine, including losses for both sides and other details.

When asked about allegations that Russia may have been responsible for the leaks, 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."

Commenting on the idea that Washington had spied on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kremlin spokesman, 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," Peskov said.

Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Spy Service (SVR) has declined to provide any comments about the US leaks.

Given the breadth of topics covered by the documents, some national security experts and US officials say they suspect that the leaker could be American, but they do not rule out pro-Russian actors.

A former CIA officer claimed that Moscow may have orchestrated the leak in order to sow confusion and potential divisions between Washington and its allies.

Earlier on Monday, the United States Defense Department said Washington was assessing the impact of the recent online leak of highly-classified military and intelligence documents on the country's national security and its close allies.

The data leak has been rated as one of the most serious security breaches since more than 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks whistleblower website in 2013.

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US struggles to discover source of top secret intel leak

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 April 2023 11:24 AM

American officials are scrambling to pinpoint the source of the latest online leak of highly classified military and intelligence documents, including intel about Ukraine's air defenses and the Israeli regime's infamous Mossad spy agency.

US officials further state that the span of topics discussed in the leaked files -- which address the Ukraine conflict, China, the Middle East and Africa -- suggest that the breach may have been perpetrated by an American rather than a foreign ally, Western media outlets reported on Sunday and Monday.

"The focus now is on this being a US leak, as many of the documents were only in US hands," a former senior Pentagon official, Michael Mulroy, emphasized in an interview with Reuters.

The Pentagon has referred the case to the Department of Justice, which has opened a criminal investigation.

Two US 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.

Officials are also looking into the possible motivations a US official or a group of officials would have in leaking such sensitive information, said one of the officials cited in a Reuters report.

The official said investigators were looking at four or five theories, from a disgruntled employee to an insider threat who actively wanted to undermine US national security interests.

US officials also underlined that the investigation is in its early stages but have already alleged -- without evidence -- that pro-Russian elements may be behind the leak, which is seen as one of the most serious security breaches since more than 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2013.

This is while a number of Western news outlets also allege that some of the documents addressing battlefield casualty estimates in the Ukraine conflict appeared to have been altered to minimize Russian losses.

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 Kiev declared its president and top security officials met on Friday to discuss ways to prevent leaks.

According to a Reuters report, two American officials insisted 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 US security interests.

Pentagon also released a statement on Sunday, saying it was reviewing the validity of the photographed documents that "appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material."

Another document, marked "Top Secret" and from a CIA Intel update from March 1, says the Mossad spy agency was encouraging protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court.

The document said the US learned this through signals intelligence, suggesting Washington had been spying on one of its closest allies in the Middle East.

Another document gave details of internal discussions among senior South Korean officials about US 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 US to take "appropriate" steps after confirming details.

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.

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Ukraine Leaks: Has the Pentagon Gone Rogue on Biden?

Sputnik News

20230410

Ilya Tsukanov

The White House is continuing to reel from the publication of tranches of classified intelligence documents on the situation in Ukraine and other sensitive matters. Kiev officials rushed to blame Russia for the leaks. However, veteran intelligence expert Gregory Copley says they likely came from within the corridors of power in Washington.

US officials are scrambling to find the culprits behind the leak of troves of highly sensitive security assessments which appeared to reveal some unpleasant hard truths about the NATO-Russia proxy war in Ukraine, with both the Pentagon and the Department of Justice launching probes to try to root out the leakers.

Officials in Kiev have dismissed the documents, which expose severe weaknesses in Ukraine's air defenses, staggering Ukrainian losses and Russian casualties far below previously-released Ukrainian and Pentagon estimates, calling them "Russian propaganda" and accusing Moscow of doctoring them. The Kremlin dismissed the tendency to "always blame everything on Russia" as a "disease" suffered by adversaries.

But the likely leakers are much closer to home, with their motives related to the growing disconnect between the Biden administration's fantastical view of the Ukrainian crisis and the somber reality, intelligence expert Gregory Copley believes.

"The leaks are damaging to the Biden administration simply because they highlight the degree of reality which is now becoming available to audiences around the world. The Biden administration had attempted to portray this as a war which Ukraine could win with just a little help from Washington and from the Europeans. That clearly is no longer the case. Certainly, the Biden administration had attempted to portray the Russian position as being one of massive loss. Therefore, it was unsustainable and unwinnable for Moscow. That's no longer seen as the case. From the beginning within many sections of the Western national security fields, there have been people in defense and intelligence in the US and Western Europe and so on who have felt that the Biden administration's insistence on supporting Ukraine was being done at the expense of showing a strong and resolute face to Beijing," the observer told Sputnik.

Copley, president of the International Strategic Studies Association, a Washington-based think tank specializing in national and international security and strategic policy, and founder of the Global Information System - a private intelligence service catering to governments, says that behind the scenes, support for Ukraine among various agencies in Washington has been "fracturing" for some time.

"Yes, the Biden White House and State Department continue to be very strong on providing support for President Zelensky and Ukraine. But much of the rest of the administration, including the Defense Department and so on, have some reservations about what this is doing to American preparedness and, of course, also the cost of supporting Ukraine, especially when it was evident that there are opportunities to seek a negotiated end to the conflict," the observer explained.

Saying it's "impossible" to say at this stage who leaked the information, Copley pointed out that there are many actors in DC who may have had the capacity and motive to do so. "The sort of information would have been fairly broadly distributed within the administration, and because there are so many people frustrated with the White House's attitude toward Ukraine, there are a lot of people who would have been happy to see this information become public."

At the same time, the Pentagon could not express any frustration with Biden out in the open, owing to the chain of command and the fact that public criticism of the commander-in-chief is out of the question for active duty officers, Copley noted.

But the DoD's growing skepticism isn't hard to explain, according to the observer, from its position on the comparative long-term threat to the US posed by Russia and China, to the military's awareness that decades of creeping NATO expansion in Eastern Europe, and attempts to swallow Ukraine, would inevitably provoke a response from the Russian bear.

The veteran security analyst says he has consciously sought to convey in his advisory capacity to US military audiences that Kiev and its Western patrons simply don't have the same "strategic depth" and "existential necessary" for victory that Moscow does.

"The point we've made in Washington is that Russia needs to maintain its access through its traditional territories down to the Black Sea, as well as over into the Pacific through the Russian Far Eastern territories, if it is to remain a unified global power. Without access to the warm waters of the Black Sea, without access to the Pacific and for that matter to the Baltic, Russia would find it very difficult to sustain its long term position as a great power. So, Russia cannot afford to lose this war. Therefore, it will throw all necessary resources for however long it takes in order to ensure that it prevails in this war against Kiev," Copley emphasized.

As for Kiev, he noted, the Zelensky government "literally can only fight this war as long as the United States supplies it with money and technology," and "even then, the results would only be deferring the inevitable" Russian victory.

Saying he could only speculate on what the leakers of the documents were trying to achieve, Copley suggested that the goal may have been to inject "a tone of realism" into the public discussion on Ukraine, and perhaps bring the prospect of peace talks closer to reality.

"Until now, all Western policy toward the war and towards supporting Ukraine has been done on the basis of very, very selective and biased propaganda which reinforced the White House's message that Russia must be defeated and Ukraine must be defended. That was unrealistic from the beginning. Now we are seeing a much more detailed, complex and balanced discussion beginning to emerge in the West about the importance of this war, or the relative importance of this war, and the ramifications of the war for the global strategic posture as a whole," the observer summed up.

A Sputnik

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Pentagon Calls Apparent Leak of Classified Documents 'Serious Risk'

By VOA News April 10, 2023

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 Russia's 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 don't know who is behind this. We don't know the motive. And we don't 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 don't know. And is that a matter of concern to us? You're 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 country's 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.

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Ahead of Biden-Yoon Meeting, US Accused of Spying on South Korea

By William Gallo, Lee Juhyun April 10, 2023

South Korea's government is scrambling to contain the political and diplomatic fallout after U.S. media reported that the United States - the country's 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 Korea's 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 Korea's main opposition Democratic Party condemned the incident as a "clear infringement" of sovereignty and accused Yoon of overseeing lax security policies.

South Korea's 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, Yoon's 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 Korea's 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 Ukraine's 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, Yoon's 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 Ukraine's 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 Korea's 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."

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Pentagon: Highly-classified documents leak poses 'very serious' risk to US security

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 April 2023 12:01 AM

The US Defense Department has issued a stern warning about the threat posed to the country's national security as a result of the recent online leak of dozens of highly sensitive documents.

Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, made the remarks on Monday, amid an ongoing probe by the Justice Department into the leak.

The leak features photographs of dozens of highly-classified military and intelligence documents on the country's national security and its close allies, which have been surfacing on Twitter, Telegram, Discord and other social media platforms over the recent days.

The data reportedly includes secret information on the war in Ukraine as well as sensitive analyses of US key allies.

One such document states that officials with the Israeli regime's Mossad spy agency supported protests against a controversial judicial reform plan, which was proposed by the regime's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Although, information about the exposure of the data have been surfacing rather recently, some of the documents may have been circulating online for weeks, if not months.

The documents circulating online pose "a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation," Meagher said.

"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 added.

The data leak has been described as one of the most serious security breaches since more than 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks whistleblower website in 2013.

The White House national security spokesman John Kirby told journalists that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the leak "late last week."

Kirby added that the US administration is worried that there may be more documents to come.

"We don't know who's responsible for this. And we don't know if they have more that they intend to post," Kirby said, adding, "Is that a matter of concern to us? You're darn right it is."

Potential 'deadly' fallout

The fallout from the leak could be significant -- even deadly -- potentially putting US intelligence sources at risk while giving the country's foes valuable information.

"Disclosure of sensitive classified material can have tremendous implications not only for our national security, but could [also] lead to people losing their lives," Meagher said.

He added that a Pentagon team is working to determine if the documents are genuine, noting, however, that images circulating online seemed to show sensitive information.

"Photos appear to show documents 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," he said, adding that some of them "appear to have been altered."

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April 10, 2023

Transcript

Mr. Chris Meagher, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Holds a Press Briefing

ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PA) CHRIS MEAGHER: All right, thanks, Roger. Thanks, everybody, for joining us here this afternoon. I'll get to the disclosure in a minute, but at the top, just wanted to say that we are closely monitoring Beijing's actions.

As we have said, there's no reason for Beijing to turn the Tsai transit, which was consistent with long-standing U.S. policy, into something it is not or use it as a pretext to overreact. While we will continue to maintain open channels of communication with the PRC, the PRC continues to decline requests for engagement with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Lines between our militaries are particularly important in scenarios like this, and we call on Beijing to engage us in this channel. We will not be deterred from operating safely and responsibly in the seas and skies of the Western Pacific consistent with international law. And in keeping with that, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and a Marine amphibious readiness group continue to conduct routine operations in the Philippine Sea, and will remain in the region.

Now, I know there's been a lot happening over the last 72 hours or so. We've been processing this information all weekend, and wanted to give you the latest regarding photos of the purported documents that are now online as part of what appears to be an unauthorized disclosure of classified material. We put out a brief statement on Friday and another brief statement on Sunday, but just wanted to elaborate a little further here. As I'm sure you can imagine, I'm very limited in what I can say but we wanted to give you as much of an update as possible, and then I'm happy to take your questions for a few minutes.

The Department of Defense's highest priority is the defense of our nation and our national security. We're 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 that are circulating on social media sites and that appear in some cases to contain sensitive and highly-classified material.

These photos appear to show documents 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. Some of these images appear to have been altered. We've been in close touch with the White House and with interagency partners on this issue, and an interagency effort has been set up with a focus on assessing the impact these photographed documents could potentially have on U.S. national security and on our allies and partners. 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.

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.

We are also still trying to assess what might be out there. We, of course, condemn any unauthorized disclosure of classified information, and we're taking this very seriously.

A few more details for you: The Secretary was initially briefed on the unauthorized disclosure on the morning of April 6th and received updates throughout the course of the day. On April 7th, the Secretary began convening senior leaders on a daily basis to discuss the unauthorized disclosures. At his direction, the Department stood up a cross-department effort to make sure that we were assessing those potential impacts, engaging our allies and partners, along with the Hill, in determining the way ahead. Secretary Austin will continue to be briefed regularly as things develop.

Over the weekend and into today, U.S. officials have engaged with allies and partners and have informed national security committees in Congress about the disclosure. As we said on Friday, we have reviewed this -- or, excuse me. As we said on Friday, we have referred this matter to the Department of Justice, which has opened a criminal investigation. We would review -- refer you to DOJ for any information on what that investigation might look like -- any details on that.

Finally, I'd just -- want to encourage you to be mindful not just about the impact of reposting these photos but of the reporting around the photos and remind you that -- to be mindful of reporting carefully on this subject.

Disclosure of sensitive classified material can have tremendous implications not only for our national security, but could lead to people losing their lives. The Secretary and Department of Defense and the United States government take this apparent unauthorized disclosure extremely seriously and this is a top priority for us.

That's all I have off the top, so we can go ahead and take a few questions here.

STAFF: Okay, sir. Thank you very much. Tara from AP?

Q: Hi, thanks for doing this. First, just how bad is this leak? How much damage has been done? And I realize you're still assessing this but is DOD already taking steps to tighten control over who has access to these briefings and the briefing slides? And then I have one other.

MR. MEAGHER: So we are still investigating how this happened, in addition to the scope of the issue. There have been steps to take a closer look at how the information is distributed and to whom. You know, any distribution of highly sensitive classified material is something that we take very seriously.

And so we're taking this very seriously and, you know, that's why this has the full attention of the Secretary and of this department. It's why we're reviewing and assessing the circulation of these documents on social media sites and why this interagency effort has been stood up.

Q: Okay. And on one of the slides that has been posted, was DOD caught off guard by assessments that the UAE may be forming a closer relationship with Russia's FSB to undermine U.S. and UK intelligence operations?

MR. MEAGHER: So these slides are highly classified and contain sensitive information. Because of that, I'm not going to get into the specifics of what is contained on these slides.

STAFF: Okay, great. Thank you. Jen from Fox News?

Q: Chris, can you just explain how it is that this was on the Internet 40 days ago and nobody saw it? And what does it tell you in terms of your retracing? Have you narrowed who may be behind it, since it appeared on a gaming site? It -- how is it different from past leaks, whether it was Snowden or WikiLeaks?

MR. MEAGHER: So this is something that the department is actively reviewing. As I said, this is something that the Department of Justice is investigating as a criminal investigation. As I -- as I mentioned earlier, you know, as these documents circulate online, I would like to highlight that they present a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation.

So, you know, we're being very careful and watching where this is being promoted and amplified and we're going to continue to coordinate efforts to determine the damage. That's something we're still looking into. We're still coordinating efforts to determine the impact these documents might have on our national security going forward.

So there's still a lot that we have to review and assess but that review and assessment is ongoing.

Q: And are there more than 100 documents, Chris?

MR. MEAGHER: I'm not going -- I'm not going to get into the specific numbers of what we think we might -- what might be out there. It's something that we continue to take a close look at.

STAFF: Okay, great. Thank you, Jen. Dan Lamothe, Washington Post?

Q: Thank you, Chris, for your time today. One follow-up -- can you clarify the degree to which the Defense Department has engaged with Discord, Twitter, Telegram, et cetera? Have you asked them to take down slides? What kind of response have you received on that?

And then can you speak a bit more about this daily update that the Defense Secretary and others are getting? Who else is involved? How's it coordinated? Any kind of details you can provide there? Thank you.

MR. MEAGHER: Yeah, so to your first question, I'd mostly refer you to DOJ, who's investigating this matter, and -- but again, a reminder -- I'd urge caution in promoting or amplifying any of these documents online, but for anything else, I'd point you to DOJ on that piece.

In terms of who we're coordinating with, who the Secretary is convening, you know, these are organizations within the Department of Defense that convene regularly on a number of different topics, including, you know, my shop, Public Affairs, the Legislative Affairs team, Policy, the Office of General Counsel, I&S, Joint Staff, and others. So those are just some of the departments within the Department that we're having these ongoing discussions with.

Obviously, we've also stood up an interagency effort focused on assessing the impact, obviously engaged with the White House and the NSC, ODNI, and the State Department, just to name a few.

STAFF: Okay, thanks, Dan. We'll move on to Felicia Schwartz from Financial Times.

Q: Thank you. Two questions.

One, do you think you'll be able to make public any of your findings about who might be behind this or how widespread the leaks are? And do you have a sense at this stage of whether it's one person or multiple people behind the documents that have been put out?

And I guess lastly, you said some of them have been altered. Can you be any more specific about how many or what percentage have been altered?

MR. MEAGHER: To your first question, you know, I think the Department is actively reviewing this matter. We've made the referral to the Department of Justice, which has initiated their criminal investigation. I would point you to them but, you know, I'm not going to have any more on the specifics on how this might have originated or investigative steps, and I'm not going to get ahead of their investigation or speculate on that.

On the second, you know, I would just urge caution, as it does appear that some slides have been doctored. I think there's been a decent amount of public reporting on that. And beyond that, I'm not going to classify specifically what, you know, the veracity of some of these photos.

STAFF: Okay, thank you. Listen, before we head over, we're trying to limit our questions just to one so we can get through our list here in the time we have allotted. So with that, Tony Capaccio from Bloomberg.

Q: Hi, Chris. Thanks for doing this. Two quick questions. When you say these are highly-classified, at what level? Were these T.S., SCI, NOFORN?

MR. MEAGHER: Yeah, sorry. I didn't realize your question was over.

I'm not going to get into those details. I would say regardless of the situation, any leak of classified information is deeply damaging and hurts trust. I'm just not going to get into more specific details on the classification there.

Q: Oh, okay. Were these part of a wider distribution network since January than had been prior to -- that -- that had been prior to January? In other words, was with the distribution link or -- was it -- was it open wider in January -- in the -- prior months? And is that a possible culprit?

MR. MEAGHER: You mean in terms of -- can you explain your question a little more?

Q: Yeah. Yeah. Between February, the invasion, and January, was there a tighter distribution network of these documents? Were it loose -- it loosened in Jan -- at the end of January into February and March, where more people had access to these documents than they might've prior to January, say?

MR. MEAGHER: I'm not going to get into -- to those details. What I can tell you is that we're investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue. That includes taking steps to take a closer look at exactly how this type of information is distributed and to whom. But beyond that, I'm not going to get into anything more specific there.

Thanks, Tony.

Q: Very good, thank you.

STAFF: Thanks, Tony. Eric Schmitt, New York Times?

Q: Hi, Chris. By now, you've been able to look at these documents and determine, you know, where they came from, if they're coming from a single briefing book, perhaps through someone like General Milley. Can you tell us, you know, is this all part of one collected set of documents, perhaps for someone of the Chairman's rank? And then second, what is the -- who is heading this interagency review for us, to kind of looking at the, you know, looking at the damage this may have caused?

MR. MEAGHER: Yeah, so I think the Department of Defense is in the lead, in collaboration with the White House and NSC and the State Department and ODNI and other intel agencies. I -- and apologies. I don't remember the first question.

Q: If this had to do with -- you've now been able -- people have been able to take a look at these documents that are out there now. They appear to be from almost like a briefing book prepared for somebody like the Chairman or somebody else senior ranking. Can you give us some sense, given what you've seen so far, who would receive these kind of documents?

MR. MEAGHER: Yeah, these are documents that, you know, are used by a variety of people and departments within the Department of Defense to inform their work, and beyond the Department of Defense, frankly, to inform their work and to provide intelligence updates to help us do our jobs. So without going into, you know, any further specifics, that's probably how I'd classify it.

STAFF: Okay, next, we'll go to Nick from PBS.

Q: Thanks, Roger. Thanks, Chris.

I know you won't talk about the content of the slides, but as has been widely reported, there are tactical and operational details when it comes to the war in Ukraine and Ukrainian units. So has anything changed with communication with Ukraine? Have you spoken to Ukrainian colleagues? And have you either done some reassurance or mitigation of some of these details? And the more strategic question: Have any U.S. allies who these documents refer to reached out to the Secretary or to OSD? Have you had any discussions with those allies who the documents reveal some information about?

MR. MEAGHER: Yeah, what I would say to -- to the second question is that, you know, we -- the Department and other U.S. officials are engaging with allies and partners at high levels to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships. Those conversations began over the weekend and are ongoing because as you mentioned, we're not going to get into the sensitive information contained on these purported documents. I'm not going to speculate on impact on the battlefield, but I will say that, you know, the Ukrainians have demonstrated their capability and competence in this war.

The President and the Secretary have both made clear that the United States is going to be with them for as long it takes, and we're going to continue to work to provide them with the capabilities, with the ammunition, with the equipment and with the training that they need to be successful in defense of their sovereign territory, so that commitment continues.

STAFF: Great, thank you. Next, we'll go to Idrees from Reuters.

Q: Hey, really quick, in the conversations that you guys have had with allies, are you apologizing for spying on them, or are you explaining where the leaks came from? And how would you characterize the investigation so far? Do you believe you're making progress in determining where the leak came from?

MR. MEAGHER: Thanks, Idrees. I'm not going to characterize the conversations that we're having with allies and partners beyond generally saying that those conversations are underway and ongoing and happening at high levels throughout government, including here at the Department of Defense.

And apologies -- these two-part questions are getting to me. What's your second question?

Q: Well, just, do you believe you have made progress in the investigation to figure out where the leak came from?

MR. MEAGHER: Yeah, so as I said, you know, we've begun an interagency effort to review the national security implications of the disclosure, to review our processes moving forward. We have referred this matter to the Department of Justice, and the DOJ has opened a criminal investigation. And I would point you to them for any questions on the investigation on who might be behind this.

STAFF: Okay, great, thank you, Idrees. We're running short on time, so let's try to keep it to one single question moving forward. Nancy Youssef, Wall Street Journal?

Q: Thank you very much. I just have a couple of clarifying questions. This has come up before. I don't understand who precisely -- you've made reference to a Pentagon team -- who precisely is leading that Pentagon team? How many people are in it? Who do they report to? And what precisely are they doing?

A lot of these questions that have been asked so far, you've referred to the Justice Department, and I don't quite understand what this Pentagon team is doing and how that relates at all to the -- what Justice is doing.

MR. MEAGHER: Well, I'd point you to the Justice on what they may or may not be doing. This team, as I mentioned, is a coordinated effort among several different components of DOD -- Legislative Affairs, Public Affairs, Policy, OGC, I&S, the Joint Staff.

And this team is really working to get our arms around everything that has to do with this potential -- you know -- or this distribution. That's reviewing and assessing the veracity of the photographed documents that are circulating on social media, it's assessing the national security implications, it is making sure that we're engaging with members of Congress, and it's making sure that we're engaging with allies and partners.

So it's 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 in terms of our response. And I would say that that's -- coordinated effort is reporting, you know, directly to the Secretary.

Q: Who is leading that team?

MR. MEAGHER: It's a joint effort --

Q: No, no, no, I mean a name. Who is leading that team?

MR. MEAGHER: I'm just not going to get into more specifics than that.

STAFF: Okay, thank you. Moving on to Lara from Politico.

Q: Hi, can you hear me?

MR. MEAGHER: Hi, Lara.

Q: Thanks for doing this call. I just wanted to ask you: Who all has access to these documents? I mean, does this have to be someone from the U.S., a U.S. DOD official, or is -- anyone from the outside U.S. government or potentially a foreign nation, do they even have access to this kind of material?

MR. MEAGHER: I'm not going to classify for you exactly the universe of people who have access to the -- this material. I will just say, you know, that it is highly classified sensitive material that people in DOD, certainly in other aspects of the U.S. government, use to inform their work.

STAFF: Okay, thank you. We have time for just a few more here. Carla from VOA?

Q: Hey, thanks for doing this. Two quick clarifications. One, to Jen's question, you wouldn't say specifically how many documents have been shared but can you give us a better idea on the scope of this? I mean, can we say, you know, as many as 100? Without getting specific, just give us some more detail on the scope of that. That's number one.

And then number two, you said you'd talked to allies. Sabrina mentioned that as well. Was Turkey one of these allies that you've spoken to about this? Because they were specifically mentioned in the documents. And when you had that conversation, was there also a conversation about the strike in Iraq over the weekend?

MR. MEAGHER: Thanks, Carla.

So in terms of the scope, I'm just not going to get into any more specifics. We continue to review and assess both the veracity and kind of the scope of what we're looking at there. So I'm just not going to have anything further for you on that.

In terms of our allies and partners engagement, I'm not going to get into the specifics of who we're engaging, other than to say that the Department and U.S. officials are working at high levels to have these conversations. Those conversations began over the weekend and continue today.

Q: So just to follow up, if you can't say if you talked to Turkey about these leaks, can you at least say whether or not Turkey was reached out to as a result of the strikes that happened over the weekend?

MR. MEAGHER: No, I don't have anything for you on that.

STAFF: Okay, we have time for one more. Mike from Washington Examiner?

Q: Hi. Thanks for taking my question. Does DOD expect more classified documents to appear online in the coming days and weeks or does the Pentagon believe they've stopped this? Thank you.

MR. MEAGHER: Thanks, Mike.

I'm not going to speculate on where we might go from here. What we're working on right now is to wrap our arms around and continue to review and assess the photographed documents that are out there, how this might have happened, and the scope of the issue.

So we've taken steps to take a closer look at how this information is distributed and to whom but I'm just going to leave it at that for now.

We're out of time. I want to say thank you for taking the time this morning. Obviously, you know -- and for your understanding that we're still limited in what we can say, but as I stated at the top, we want to make sure that we can get you as much of an update as we felt we could this afternoon and we'll continue to engage as time goes on.

So I appreciate your time and for calling in this afternoon and just let us know if you have any follow-ups.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3357556/
April 10, 2023

Release

DoD Releases Defense Contract Finance Study

The Department of Defense today released the findings of its Defense Contract Finance Study, an effort to comprehensively assess the effect that DoD contract financing and profit policies have on the defense industry. Initiated in late 2019 at the recommendation of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the study examined financial health, financing regulations, insight into the commercial marketplace, and impacts to subcontractors, including small businesses, over a 20-year timeframe.

"A financially healthy and robust industrial base is foundational to our ability to deliver the capabilities our warfighters need at speed and scale," said Dr. William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. "As the first time the Department has comprehensively assessed contract financing in over 35 years, I look forward to acting upon the study's recommendations to attract new entrants to the defense marketplace at all levels of the supply chain while maintaining the financial health of our existing partners."

Three universities and a federally funded research and development center conducted the study's major analyses. The Department also gathered public feedback from industry associations and small and large businesses, and conducted two studies of its own. DoD integrated key findings from these studies, conducted further analysis based on those findings, and produced the final report.

"The Defense Contract Finance Study was a significant undertaking, and I applaud the work of our Defense Pricing and Contracting (DPC) team in bringing this report to fruition," DPC Principal Director John Tenaglia added. "The Department remains committed to maximizing the value of our acquisitions, ensuring fair and reasonable pricing through contracting excellence. The findings of this study will directly inform our efforts for years to come."

The full report is available here: www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/pcf/finance-study.html.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3357054/
Aggression, occupation take Zionist regime closer to collapse, says senior Hezbollah official

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 April 2023 4:17 PM

A high-ranking official with the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has censured Israeli forces' raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and violent attacks on Palestinian worshippers, saying such futile attempts only bring the Tel Aviv regime closer to the brink of collapse.

"While Palestinians are in possession of the secret to victory, which is faithful struggle and resistance, Israelis hold the key to downfall, which is oppression and occupation," Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a tweet published on his Twitter page on Monday.

"We are now at a stage where the stability and legitimacy of the occupying Israeli regime are unthinkable," He pointed out.

Earlier, Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, deputy head of the executive council of Hezbollah, reiterated his group's unwavering support for Palestine, saying the Lebanese resistance movement will remain at the forefront of the campaign defending the oppressed nation.

"Hezbollah is in the front line of the campaign defending the Palestinian nation and resistance, and, undoubtedly, it will stick to the path until the end. No threats can undermine our resolve and determination," he addressed an event in southern Lebanon on Sunday.

Sheikh Qaouk also condemned Israel's "intolerable" attacks against Palestinian worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of al-Quds.

"Every honorable Muslim should do whatever at their disposal to support al-Aqsa Mosque... It is a moral and religious duty, and we have no hesitation to fulfill it. The Israeli enemy is having its worst days since 1984 because of the equations created by the resistance," the high-ranking Hezbollah official noted.

The Israeli forces have wounded and rounded up hundreds of Palestinians during the attacks that have seen a rise since the beginning of Ramadan. Illegal Israeli settlers have been freely violating the compound under the Israeli military and police force's protection.

Since the start of the holy month of Radadan, the Israeli regime has imposed strict restrictions on the entry and exit of Palestinians to and from the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque. Amid heightened tensions with Palestinian worshipers, Israeli settlers also press ahead with their frequent incursions and provocative rituals at the holy site.

On Thursday, at least 30 rockets were reportedly launched from southern Lebanon into the Israeli-occupied territories in retaliation against the Israeli aggression against al-Aqsa. Resistance fighters based in Gaza also fired several rockets toward the occupied territories.

Palestinian sources said the regime's Iron Dome failed to intercept most of the retaliatory rockets. Following the rocket attack, Israeli warplanes hit targets inside Gaza and positions of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in Lebanon.

The Israeli regime has in recent months stepped up its atrocities, killing around 100 Palestinians this year alone.
Tunisians protesters demand release of govt. opponents, call for national dialogue

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 April 2023 8:03 AM

Tunisians have taken to the streets in the capital Tunis demanding the release of opponents of President Kais Saied who have been arrested in recent months amid anti-government protests.

Demonstrators from opposition parties waved the country's flags and carried signs with the images of those arrested. Sunday's rally that was organized by the main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, reports said.

Speaking at the rally, Samir Ben Amor, an official with the Al-Joumhouri (Republican) party, called for a "national dialogue in order to draw up a roadmap to save Tunisia and return to the democratic path."

Among those currently languishing in government jails are more than 20 political opponents, including politicians, former ministers, businessmen, trade unionists and the owner of Tunisia's most popular radio station, Mosaique FM, who have been kept in detention since early February.

Government critics say the arrests were made as part of the government's efforts to consolidate power by means of clamping down on the opposition.

Local and international human rights groups, including the United Nations Human Rights Office, have strongly condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of detainees.

Saied, who has consolidated his power since he froze parliament and sacked Tunisia's government in a controversial move in July 2021, has dubbed those arrested as "terrorists" who he alleges were involved in a "conspiracy against state security".

Saied insists his policies are meant to save the country from civil war but his opponents accuse him of bringing back autocratic rule in the North African country.

The country's economy is failing with an acute shortage of staple goods, and the government struggling to secure an international bailout.

In January, thousands of people protested in central Tunis against the Tunisian president, asking him to step down as they marked the 12th anniversary of the 2011 'Arab Spring' revolution that brought democracy to the country.
Malaysian government clarifies PM's statements on South China Sea

Anwar Ibrahim has drawn criticism for appearing to take a softer stand on a territorial dispute with China.

By RFA Staff 2023.04.10 -- Malaysia's 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 country's position on the South China Sea "is consistent and remains unchanged."

"The Government of Malaysia is unequivocally and firmly committed to protecting Malaysia's 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 country's 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 Malaysia's 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 affiliated organization 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 Malaysia's 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 nation's 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 world's 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 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 Malaysia's 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 "China's 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 China's 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 China's 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.

Edited by Imran Vittachi.
Yemen: UN says Saudi-Houthi talks in Sana'a 'a welcome step'

10 April 2023 - Talks between Saudi and Omani delegations with officials from the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen's capital Sana'a over the weekend, were described as "a welcome step towards the de-escalation in tensions", by the UN Spokesperson on Monday.

Stephane Dujarric was responding to questions from correspondents at the regular noon briefing in New York, after news reports that progress had been made towards a permanent ceasefire, to end Saudi Arabia's military involvement in a military coalition that has backed the internationally recognized Government in its civil conflict with Houthi militia, since 2015.

Neighbouring Oman has been involved in peace talks with the warring parties in Yemen, running in parallel with UN efforts, led by Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, who Mr. Dujarric said was continuing to "explore options to extend and expand" a UN-brokered six-month truce, which expired last October.

Truce dividend

Even after the expiration, Mr. Grundberg noted in a statement issued last week, that the truce was "broadly holding" while many elements continue in place.

The Envoy said that greater humanitarian relief, a nationwide ceasefire and a sustainable political settlement "that meets the aspirations of Yemeni women and men" was essential, through a process that brings all stakeholders together.

Mr. Dujarric said that the discussions in Sana'a were "very much welcomed by the Secretary-General" and added that Mr. Grundberg continues to be "in close coordination with the regional Member States" over resuming the political process, with the hope of avoiding any escalation in the long-running war.

The UN Spokesperson noted that the UN had not been involved in the talks in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital.

'One day at a time'

"We are not involved in every discussion, we don't need to be", he said. "What is important is that all of these parties work towards the relevant Security Council resolution, the UN facilitated talks, and all signals are, that they are. But we will have to take things one day at a time."

News reports suggested that progress in the Oman-mediated talks and brightening prospects of a peace deal for Yemen, added to momentum provided by the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, in a deal brokered by China.

Since conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels escalated in 2015, tens of thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and aid agencies assisted nearly 11 million each month last year, with lifesaving aid, amid what remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Around 17 million people rely on aid agencies to survive this year, the Security Council heard in a briefing last month.
Israeli Air Force F-35s participate in Red Flag for first time

Published April 10, 2023

By Airman 1st Class Trevor Bell

57th Wing Public Affairs

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- The Israeli Air Force returned to Nellis Air Force Base to participate in Red Flag 23-2, this time with its F-35I Adir. The large-scale exercise took place from March 13-24, challenging participants to adapt to and overcome complex, multi-domain scenarios, all while up against Nellis AFB's professional aggressor force trained to replicate threats participants will see in real-world conflict.

The IAF's participation in Red Flag 23-2 builds on the success of Juniper Oak 23-2, Juniper Falcon and other combined exercises and provides the U.S. Air Force the opportunity to enhance interoperability with the IAF, strengthen bilateral cooperation and improve capabilities in ways that enhance and promote regional stability and reinforce the United States' enduring commitment to Israel's security.

The IAF first participated in Red Flag in 1978 and their return to Nellis AFB after a seven-year absence underscores the importance of the relationship between the United States and Israel.

Red Flag exercises are designed to provide joint and allied partners with realistic training scenarios and the skillset to maintain readiness and preparedness for potential real-world scenarios.

"The F-35 Adir is a game-changer for us," said the IAF 140 Squadron commander. "Its advanced capabilities make it an ideal platform for participating in complex exercises like Red Flag. We're excited to showcase the capabilities of this aircraft to our American partners and learn from the experience of flying alongside them."

The IAF's employment of the Adir in this iteration provides mutually beneficial interoperability training opportunities while flying alongside of F-35A Lightning IIs from Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

"The Israeli F-35 participation in Red Flag 23-2 is another step forward for the U.S. and its allies in the transition to the next level of air warfare," said Col. Jared Hutchinson, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander.

The F-35I Adir's participation in the exercise marks the first time the aircraft has been deployed to the United States. The IAF's fleet of Adirs are state-of-the-art fighter jets equipped with advanced sensors and communication systems. They have been a key component of the Israeli Air Force since the F-35 joined their fighter fleet in 2016.

"It is a rare opportunity for warfighters from both countries to integrate our most advanced capabilities," Hutchinson said. "As the Fifth-Generation Center of Excellence, Nellis AFB is uniquely capable of hosting F-35 units on the ground and challenging them in the air."
Task Force 71 focuses on Future of the Surface Force at 2023 SWO Summit

US Navy

10 April 2023

From Courtesy Story

YOKOSUKA, Japan -- Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 held its annual Surface Warfare Officer Summit from April 3-7 in Yokosuka, Japan.

The Yokosuka SWO Summit is a five-day event where junior and senior surface warriors participate in a series of professional development sessions designed to highlight advanced capabilities and procedures to ensure our surface forces maintain the highest levels of combat readiness and lethality.

This year's summit was a departure from previous years with the inclusion of surface forces from Australia, Canada, and Japan, all of whom will be operating together as part of CTF71 over the course of the next year in the Western Pacific.

"This is a great opportunity that brings together our ships with Allies and partners and key stakeholders from the Surface Warfare Community to all stay ahead of our planning and capabilities." said Lt. Cmdr. Alex Rose. "We come away from the week with better understanding of our surface force, how we can better integrate with other like-minded maritime nations and how to best employ our combined sea power. Each year of this event has been better than the last, and this year is no exception as we work hard to incorporate a variety of subject matter experts to sharpen our technical and tactical competencies."

In addition to lectures related to high-end warfighting, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the direction the Surface community is heading with respect to manning, training, and procurement. Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, Commander Naval Surface Forces, opened the summit challenging its attendees to make the most of their time by asking questions and staying engaged.

Capt. Brian Mutty, Commanding Officer of Surface Warfare Schools Command, presented the latest updates to fleet training, and Capt. Jeff Heames led a team from Surface Warfare Officer Assignments (PERS-41) to answer questions related to professional development and detailing within the Surface Community. Every Surface Warfare Officer had the opportunity to meet with their detailer, providing junior surface warriors a chance to learn more about SWO career paths and ask questions about the detailing process.

Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, Commander Seventh Fleet closed out the summit challenging every attendee to apply what they learned over the course of the week at sea.

"This time we spend together now, focused on advanced warfighting and professional development is critical, made even more important by the contributions of our closest Allies in the Pacific. This summit gives us a chance to improve our interoperability with countries like Australia, Canada, and Japan for the high-end fight, as well as to learn how they solve similar problems." said Capt. Justin Harts, Deputy Commodore, DESRON 15. "We host this symposium to build the relationships necessary to fight as a single combined force, should we ever be forced to do so. This is time very well spent!"

CTF 71/DESRON 15 is the Navy's largest forward-deployed destroyer squadron and the U.S. 7th Fleet's principal surface force. It is forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.


Biden Travels to Northern Ireland to Mark Anniversary of Peace Accord

By VOA News April 10, 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden travels to both sides of the Irish border this week, taking part in commemorations to mark the 25th anniversary of Northern Ireland's Good Friday peace accord as well as making a pilgrimage to the towns of his Irish ancestors.

Biden's visit comes as the durability of the peace accord is being tested by political disagreements and occasional attacks carried out by dissidents. The latest violence came just Monday when masked youths pelted police vehicles with petrol bombs during a march in Londonderry.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to greet Biden when he arrives Tuesday night in Belfast. The next day Biden will hold a bilateral meeting with Sunak before giving an address at Belfast's Ulster University.

The Good Friday agreement  which the United States helped to broker on April 10, 1998  largely ended decades of sectarian violence that had plagued Northern Ireland since the late 1960s and that had also brought intermittent attacks to mainland Britain. While there is still some sporadic violence in Northern Ireland, the accord allowed a generation of children to grow up in relative peace.

Despite the successes of the accord, it has been under increasing strain since Britain's exit from the European Union and disagreements over post-Brexit trade rules. The Northern Ireland Assembly has been in limbo for more than a year after the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest the new trade rules.

Sporadic violence by groups opposed to peace has also increased. Last month, Britain's intelligence agency raised the threat level in Northern Ireland from "domestic terrorism" to "severe."

When asked if it was wise for Biden to travel to Northern Ireland at this time, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday, "We don't ever talk about security requirements protecting the president, but the president is more than comfortable making this trip."

During Biden's visit to Northern Ireland, the White House said the president would mark the progress since the Good Friday peace accord and underscore the region's economic potential.

On Wednesday, Biden will then travel south to Ireland to spend three days in his ancestral homeland.

He will visit the town of Ballina, in county Mayo, where one of his great-great grandfathers lived before leaving for the United States in the mid-1800s. Biden's relatives remain in the area and Joe Blewitt, the president's third cousin, told Agence France Presse that Biden's visit is "a very proud day for our family and for Ireland."

The 43-year-old plumber, who first met Biden when he came to town as vice president in 2016, was among Biden's relatives invited to the White House for St. Patrick's Day last month.

While in Ireland, Biden also plans to visit the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, where another of his great-great-grandfathers lived before emigrating during years of famine in the middle of the 19th century.

"One in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry and Irish Americans are proudly represented in every facet of American life," Kirby told reporters Monday. He described Biden as "very much looking forward" to the trip.

In addition to honoring his ancestors in Ireland, Biden will meet with Irish President Michael Higgins, address a joint session of the Irish Parliament and attend a dinner at Dublin Castle.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Cameroon Rebuilds Bridge Destroyed by Boko Haram

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka April 10, 2023

Authorities in Cameroon have rebuilt a bridge that Boko Haram militants destroyed in 2015 in an effort to damage trade with Nigeria and Chad. The government also deployed additional troops to protect construction workers repairing other damage caused by the militants, who are still actively launching attacks in the border area.

Cameroon says it has for the first time in eight years fully opened the Mayo Limani bridge that links northern Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria.

According to Bichair Hachimi, the traditional ruler of Limani, civilians, especially merchants, were celebrating the full reopening this Monday of the 120-meter-long Mayo Limani Bridge that links Amchide in Cameroon and Limani in Nigeria. He said people are grateful because economic activity will receive a boost on both sides of the border after eight years of almost no activity.

Bichair spoke during a meeting in Yaounde Monday to evaluate the Cameroonian government-sponsored projects on the northern border with Chad and Nigeria that experience Boko Haram attacks.

Amchide is a commercial town on Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria. Limani is a business hub in Nigeria's Borno state.

The Nigerian government says Borno state is an epicenter of Boko Haram terrorism. Cameroon says militants commit atrocities on both sides of the Cameroon-Nigeria border.

Huge portions of the Mayo Limani bridge collapsed in August 2015 during battles between the Cameroonian military and Boko Haram militants. Cameroon said it lost several troops and that dozens of militants were killed in several weeks of fighting.

Several hundred vehicles could no longer cross the road each day, the Cameroonian government said.

Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria say at least 400 merchants and 600 civilians from the three neighboring states cross the Mayo Limani bridge each day.

Cameroon says it collected over $16 million annually as custom duties in the area before the bridge crumbled in 2015.

Cameroon spent an estimated $3 million to rebuild the span that same year, but Boko Haram militants chased construction workers away, forcing officials to stop pedestrians from crossing the bridge which is also a gateway to Nigeria for goods from Chad.

Cameroon's government said it also closed the bridge because Boko Haram fighters were infiltrating merchants and civilians to use the bridge as an entry point to attack Cameroon.

Construction work on the bridge fully began in 2018 under the protection of troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, or MNJTF. The force has troops from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. The government announced on Friday that construction work is complete and that the MNJTF will continue to protect the bridge.

Last week, Cameroon's public works minister, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, led a delegation of senior government and military officials to the bridge and other roads the central African state's government is rebuilding on its northern border with Chad and Nigeria.

Djoumessi said that Cameroonian President Paul Biya wants all infrastructure destroyed in battles with Boko Haram to be rebuilt. He said by constructing roads and bridges, commercial exchanges among Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria will improve, economic growth will be boosted and the well-being of civilians who have been living in abject poverty because of Boko Haram terrorism will be improved.

The Cameroon military says although Boko Haram atrocities are greatly reduced, more troops will be deployed to protect civilians and workers on the northern border  where hardly a day goes by without reports of attacks on workers.

The conflict that began in northeast Nigeria in 2009 before spreading to neighboring countries, including Cameroon, Chad and Niger, has killed more than 36,000 people, mainly in Nigeria, and three million people have fled their homes, according to the United Nations.
Nigeria Police Dispute Number of Kidnapping Victims in Zamfara State

By Timothy Obiezu April 10, 2023

Security forces in northwest Nigeria's Zamfara state are searching for women and children gunmen abducted over the weekend.

Residents say at least 80 people were taken, which Zamfara's police commissioner disputes.

Zamfara state police authorities say rescue operations by security forces and local vigilantes resumed Monday morning for nine people, not the 80 that were reportedly abducted over the weekend.

The victims, mostly young women and children were abducted from Wanzamai village as they wandered into the bush to fetch firewood used widely for cooking.

Authorities say the bandits were on the run from an expanding crackdown by security forces when the kidnappings happened.

Local media reports and villagers say more than 80 people were kidnapped and that the bandits are demanding $130,000 ransom.

Zamfara state police spokesman Mohammed Sheru refuted the claims calling them outrageous. He spoke to VOA by phone that, "The [police] command is working towards ensuring safe rescue of the abducted victims. That's the latest update. The police detectives in the kidnap section are working in collaboration with other agencies"

Nigeria has been battling armed gangs for years. Gangs have attacked hundreds of local communities across northwestern Nigeria, routinely taking people hostage until their ransom demands were met.

Zamfara state is one of the areas most affected by the attacks.

Abuja-based Beacon Security analyst Kabir Adamu believes the accounts by residents.

"When I first heard of the development, I reached out to contacts on [the] ground," he said. "I was able to hear from parents whose kids have been missing. First off, they did not take a headcount before they went into the bush, but on the basis of these parents who came forward to say 'my child is missing,' we arrived at a figure between 70 and 80."

Adamu says cases of kidnapping for ransom dropped by about 80 percent between December and February, according to data from Beacon Security Consulting.

In February's elections in Nigeria, insecurity was a major topic. Security analyst Chidi Omeje says in the weeks since the election that has not changed.

"It's a sad reminder that we're yet to get through from these series of mass abductions, and it's also another reminder that a lot of work needs to be done," Omeje lamented. "We have been numbed, that sense of outrage is no longer there; it's unfortunate."

As outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari hands over power to President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May, many will remind the new government of its failed promises to address Nigeria's insecurity.

Meanwhile, the fate of the kidnapping victims remains uncertain.
Greece Moves to Ban Neo-Nazi Party From Polls

By Anthee Carassava April 10, 2023

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 government's 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 Dawn's 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, Kasidiari's party poses a serious threat to their re-election.

But Monday's 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 Tuesday's final vote and legal experts highlight fears of a brewing backlash they say will only galvanize the support of Kasidiari's 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.
Hamas: Palestinians will keep defending al-Aqsa in face of 'religious war' waged by enemy

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 11 April 2023 1:19 AM

Reacting to a threat-riddled speech by the Israeli prime minister, Hamas resistance movement says Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks will not weaken Palestinians' resolve to defend the al-Aqsa Mosque against the occupying regime's aggression.

"Netanyahu's speech cannot frighten our Palestinian people," the movement's spokesman Hazem Qassem said on Monday, adding that Palestinians "will continue the battle to defend the identity of al-Aqsa Mosque in the face of the religious war waged by the enemy."

Qassem's remarks came as the Tel Aviv regime has been dangerously stoking tensions throughout the occupied territories and beyond since Wednesday, when it carried out a savage attack on Palestinian worshipers, who were observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which is Islam's third-holiest site.

The first bout of the raids saw the regime's forces storming the compound, beating the Palestinian worshipers there before arresting and forcing out hundreds of them. Dozens of Palestinians were wounded as a result of the violence.

The raids prompted several rounds of retaliatory rocket strikes against the occupied territories from the direction of the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is headquartered, as well as from Lebanon and Syria.

During his Monday speech, Netanyahu admitted that the regime has responded to retaliatory strikes by dropping "50 tons of bombs" on ground targets belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

He also accused Hamas of being behind the reprisal attacks that targeted the occupied territories from Lebanon, saying, "We will not allow" Hamas "to establish itself in Lebanon" by acting on "all fronts."

The Israeli premier also claimed that the regime had thwarted "hundreds of operations" in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of the year, alleging that the regime could reach the resistance everywhere.

Responding to Netanyahu's claims, Qassem described his speech as an attempt to falsify the facts, saying that the Israeli occupation was "the basis of all tensions" across the occupied territories.

The occupiers are the ones "who practice terrorism systematically and continuously," the Hamas' official said, pointing out that the Palestinian people are waging a legitimate battle to restore their right to freedom and independence.

He added that "Netanyahu's threats against our Palestinian people, Syria, Lebanon and Iran prove that the occupying regime is a menace to the entire region and its interests."

Hundreds of Palestinians injured in Israeli forces' Nablus raid

In another development on Monday, at least 216 Palestinian citizens were injured in a raid by Israeli forces on Beita village, south of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, 185 Palestinian citizens suffered breathing problems after Israeli forces fired tear gas bombs at them in Beita.

The society added that 22 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces' rubber-coated metal bullets while two others were injured in the head by tear gas bombs.

The raid took place after earlier the same day, thousands of Jewish settlers, protected by the regime's forces, stormed Mount Sabih, which is located between the three Palestinian villages of Qabalan, Yatma and Beita, south of Nablus, demanding the legalization of the settlement outpost of Evyatar.

Seven Israeli ministers, including finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, and the extremist minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, participated in the pro-settlement march in addition to more than 20 lawmakers.

According to the regime's media outlets, Jewish settlers plan to hold a big festival in the settlement outpost and some of them will stay in the outpost to impose a fait accompli there.
Russo-Ukraine War - 10 April 2023 - Day 411

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that over the last seven days, Russia has likely increased its armoured assaults around the Donetsk Oblast town of Marinka, 20km south-west of Donetsk city.

Marinka 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 Marinka and Avdiivka areas, expending significant resources for minimal gains.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported during the day, Russian forces launched 21x air and 5x missile strikes, 4x of them involved S-300 SAM systems that hit the town of Kramatorsk. Moreover, the Russian occupiers launched about 30x MLRS attacks on Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian Defense Forces positions.

The Russian Federation continues to violate the laws and customs of war, so the probability of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine.

Despite heavy casualties and significant losses of equipment, the Russian Federation doesn't give up its aggressive plans towards Ukraine. It focuses main efforts on offensive actions on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'yinka axes - more than 20x Russian attacks were repelled during the day.

Volyn', Polissya, Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: operational situation has not changed significantly. Certain units of Russian territorial troops remain in Belarus, however, there are no signs of the formation of offensive groupings.

Russia maintains enhanced military presence in its Kursk and Belgorod oblasts bordering Ukraine, and continues to harden defensive positions there.

During the day, Russian forces bombarded Hremyach and Kam'yans'ka Sloboda (Chernihiv oblast); Volfyne, Andriivka, and Popivka (Sumy oblast); as well as Veterynarne, Strilecha, Hatyshche, Vovchans'ki Khutory, Okhrimivka, and Vilkhuvatka (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: Kam'yanka, Kolodyazne, Krasne Pershe, Dvorichna, Vilshana, Kindrashivka, Kislivka, and Berestov (Kharkiv oblast) came under fire.

Lyman axis: during the day, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the vicinities of Makiivka, Chervopopivka, and Biloghorivka. Makiivka, Nevs'ke, and Biloghorivka (Luhansk oblast); Torske, Spirne, and Berestov (Donetsk oblast) were subjects to Russian artillery fire.

Bakhmut axis: Russian forces make further attempts to seize full control over the town of Bakhmut, fighting continues. During the day, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near Bohdanivka and Khromovo. Zaliznyans'ke, Minkivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Khromove, Ivanovs'ke, Predtechine, Chasiv Yar, Ozaryanivka, Druzhba, and New York (Donetsk oblast) suffered Russian attacks.

Avdiivka and Mar'yinka axes: Russian forces attempted unsuccessful offensive actions in the vicinities of Avdiivka, Severna, Nevels'ke, and Mar'yinka (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka and Mar'yinka witness the hardest battles. At the same time, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Krasnohorivka, Hostre, Heorgiivka, Mar'yinka, and Pobieda came under Russian fire.

Shakhtars'ke axis: during the day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. Russian forces shelled Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, Bohoyavlenka, and Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast).

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia stays on the defensive. The adversary shelled Vremivka (Donetsk oblast); Novodanylivka, Orihiv, Novoandriivka, and Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhia oblast).

Russian occupiers maintain counter-intelligence regime in the temporarily occupied territories. The number of roadblocks and patrols increased in and around the town of Starobilsk (Luhansk oblast).

There is a similar situation in the town of Tokmak (Zaporizhzhia oblast), where fearing the leak of information about the locations of the occupying units, the Russian invaders began to restrict movement for local taxi drivers.

During the day, Ukrainian Air Force launched 8x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops and military equipment. 1x Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter and 6x UAVs of various types (2x of them of a strike type, 4x of reconnaissance) were shot down. Ukrainian missile and artillery troops attacked 1x concentration of russian troops, weapons and military equipment, as well as 1x Russian ammunition depot.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that units of PMC "Wagner" continue the offensive in the direction of Bogdanovka and Khromovo. During the day, attacks were made on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Minkovka, Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Krasny, Chasov Yar, Ozaryanovka.

Bakhmut visited the Acting Head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin. He assessed the current situation in the city, noting that a lot of work remains to be done to restore the infrastructure. The footage from the former Artemovsk, which was published by the official, shows that there are practically no whole houses left on the streets. In addition, during the withdrawal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the building of the local city administration was blown up.

Pushilin also handed over awards to the distinguished fighters of Wagner PMC, saying that with their exploits they show what the Russian spirit and strength of Russian weapons are, and also set an example for many.

The situation on other sectors of the front

DPR

During the day, Ukrainian troops opened fire on Donetsk, as well as the settlements of Yasinovataya, Verkhnetoretskoye, Vladimirovka, Komsomolskoye and Ozeryanovka. As a result of attacks in the Yasinovatsky district, a man was killed, 2 more civilians were injured in Verkhnetoretsky. In Donetsk, a civilian was injured in a mine explosion "Petal".

During the briefing, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that during the day the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Limansky direction were hit - in the area of Ternov, Torsky and Serebryanka. In addition, strikes were carried out on places where enemy equipment and manpower accumulated in the Donetsk direction, where the losses of Ukrainian troops amounted to over 290 servicemen and a large number of equipment.

An ammunition depot of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed near Kramatorsk. In the Yampolovka area, a territorial defense command post was hit.

On the Avdeevsky section, Russian units continue to advance from Novobakhmutovka in the direction of Novokalinovo and Keramik, while fighting is going on near the Novokalinovskaya railway line. Clashes are also reported north of Vodiane.

LC

Russian troops attacked the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Chervona Dibrova and Rozovka. An ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was hit near Novolyubovka, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Zaporozhye region

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that during the day strikes were carried out on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Malaya Tokmachka, Chervonaya Krinitsa, Omelnik and Preobrazhenka. Enemy losses amounted to 50 personnel, 2 pickup trucks and self-propelled guns "Gvozdika".

Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops continue to build up a grouping in the Zaporozhye direction, which, according to some reports, may exceed 50,000 people.

Kherson region

Up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen and a large number of military equipment were destroyed during the course of the fire damage to the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson direction. This was announced by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation during a briefing. In the area of Novoberislav, a territorial defense command post was hit.





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Justice Department Announces Total Distribution of Over $6B to Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 10, 2023



The U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (the Fund) today notified a group of eligible claimants of upcoming payments totaling approximately $2.7 billion that the Fund will begin issuing in the coming weeks. The Fund will issue these payments to 5,361 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks and certain spouses and children of the victims of those attacks. These payments will bring the total compensation paid by the Fund to victims of international terrorism and their families to more than $6 billion.

"The Fund has collected more than $2 billion in deposits from forfeiture proceeds, penalties, and fines arising from violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act or the Trading with the Enemy Act," said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "This tremendous effort epitomizes our unwavering commitment to the investigation and prosecution of individuals and entities that do business with state sponsors of terrorism. One of the primary goals of the department's Asset Forfeiture Program is to use forfeited assets to compensate victims. In line with that goal, a significant amount of the Fund's deposits to date are the result of criminal and civil forfeitures."

The Fund was established by Congress in 2015 and is administered by the Criminal Division's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), under the leadership of Special Master Mary Patrice Brown. The Fund has paid more than $3.3 billion to victims in four rounds of distributions. The payments announced today are in addition to these distributions. The number of eligible claimants has grown from over 2,000 in 2017 to over 15,500 today. Of those, 12,117 claimants are 9/11 victims and their family members, while another 3,652 claimants have claims related to other acts of international state-sponsored terrorism.

Apart from an initial appropriation of $1.025 billion from Congress and additional Congressional appropriations for 9/11 victims and victims of certain other terrorist attacks, funds available for payment from the Fund resulted from Department of Justice prosecutions and cases and other U.S. government enforcement actions. Congress required the deposit into the Fund of certain forfeiture proceeds, penalties, and fines from civil and criminal matters involving prohibited transactions with state sponsors of terrorism. The department has identified more than 125 qualifying matters for deposit into the Fund. The payments announced today come from the Congressional appropriation for 9/11 victims.

"We know that no amount of compensation could ever repair what was lost for those devastated by acts of international terrorism, and that so many victims and their families have waited years and sometimes decades for compensation," said Special Master Brown. "The dedicated team at the department remains steadfast in its goal of providing compensation to these victims and in its pursuit to deliver them some semblance of justice. Victims and their family members can be assured that their claims will be processed promptly, fairly, and transparently."

Since establishing the Fund in 2015, Congress has amended its governing statute several times, including updating the eligibility of certain groups of international state-sponsored terrorism victims - such as certain 9/11 victims - to receive payments from the Fund. Following direction from Congress, in 2021, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) calculated lump-sum catch-up payments to certain 9/11 victims and certain spouses and children of 9/11 victims, based on the Fund's payments to other 9/11-related victims. This GAO report estimated the total lump-sum catch-up payments at approximately $2.7 billion. Most recently, in 2022, Congress appropriated funds for the Fund to issue these lump-sum catch-up payments, leading to the payments the Fund announced today.

In the same legislation, Congress also appropriated an additional $3 billion to a reserve fund from which the Fund will issue lump-sum catch-up payments to certain victims of the 1983 barracks bombings in Beirut, Lebanon, and the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers housing complex in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. As with the payments for certain 9/11 victims announced today, GAO will calculate these lump-sum catch-up payments through a process that provides for public comment. Thereafter, the Fund will issue the payments and any amounts remaining in the reserve fund will be made available for distribution pursuant to the statute.

The Fund continues to accept applications and to collect deposits for future payments as authorized by its governing statute. More information about the Fund's compensation to victims of state sponsored terrorism is available on the Fund's website at www.usvsst.com, such as application materials, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and publications including Federal Register notices and reports to Congress. Further questions may be directed to MLARS.

Topic(s): Counterterrorism

Component(s): Criminal Division

Criminal - Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section

Press Release Number: 23-391

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Lukashenka Tells Shoigu That Belarus Needs Security Guarantees From Russia

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service April 10, 2023

The authoritarian ruler of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, told Russia's defense minister on April 10 that he wanted guarantees that Moscow would defend Belarus in the event of an attack.

Lukashenka made the comment in talks with visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Minsk, Belarusian state-owned news agency BelTA reported.

Lukashenka was quoted as saying that Belarus needs guarantees that Russia will defend the country "like its own territory" if attacked, and he said he had discussed the security guarantees with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting on April 5.

Lukashenka was quoted as saying that Putin had agreed with him that such security guarantees were necessary.

He said it seemed during his 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," Lukashenka was quoted as saying.

Belarus, which currently hosts a contingent of Russian forces, allowed Russia to use its territory to launch an assault on Kyiv in the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It also has participated in military drills with Russia and received high-level Russian officials, sparking speculation that Belarus may join a new offensive on Ukraine.

Lukashenka has denied having such intentions but has said that Belarus would respond to any incursions onto its territory or attempts to foment unrest.

Putin recently announced that Russia plans to place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. He said Russia was building a storage facility in Belarus.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said the move was "in accordance with international law" and didn't contradict the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), a landmark pact aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

Minsk also claimed it was "forced" to agree to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons in response to what it claimed was the "unprecedented political, economic, and information pressure" from the West.

Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, urged Belarus not to host Russian nuclear weapons and said the bloc could impose further sanctions against Minsk if it did.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus- russia-lukashenka-shoigu-security-guarantees/32357138.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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China sentences two prominent activists after attending 2019 dissident gathering

Xu Zhiyong, who called on Xi to resign, gets 14 years and rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi given 12 years

By Chen Zifei for RFA Mandarin 2023.04.10 -- 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.

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 Beijing's rights record.

"Their sentencing once again demonstrates the Chinese government's hostility to peaceful advocacy of democracy and human rights, and marks a new low in the Chinese government's human rights record," Chinese Human Rights Defenders senior researcher Ramona Li said in a statement.

The group's 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 Jinping's 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.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Two Prominent Chinese Rights Activists Jailed for Over a Decade

By Verna Yu April 10, 2023

A Chinese court has jailed two of the country's 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 Ding's 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. China's 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 a which means they would be barred from taking public positions, speaking publicly and publishing a 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 Jinping's unstinting hostility towards peaceful activism," said Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Bejing's treatment of the country's 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 a longer than Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo's 11-year jail term a "proved [their] contribution towards China's 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 China's 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, you're 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 Xi's exaggerated sense of insecurity."

In 2012, Xu said in an interview that he would bravely face jail as "it's glorious to sacrifice for the sake of social progress and fighting injustice."

Li Qiaochu, Xu's girlfriend and a women's 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 America's PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award. In 2023, the United States Department of State awarded Ding the Global Human Rights Defender Award.

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Macron urges Europe to reduce dependence on US

People's Daily Online

By CHEN WEIHUA (Chinadaily.com.cn) 08:51, April 11, 2023

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Europe to reduce its dependence on the United States and avoid getting caught up in confrontation between the US and China.

Experts said Macron's recent three-day trip to China had contributed to bilateral relations and hopes of a peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In an interview with reporters aboard a French presidential aircraft flying from Beijing to Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Macron stressed the importance of Europe's "strategic autonomy" in order to become a "third superpower".

He said "the great risk" Europe faces is that it "gets caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy", the news website Politico reported on Sunday.

Macron put forward the idea of the European Union's strategic autonomy in September 2017, four months after becoming president.

"The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just America's followers," he said. "The question Europeans need to answer ... is it in our interest to accelerate (a crisis) on Taiwan? No."

Tensions across the Taiwan Straits have increased following Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last Wednesday during her recent provocative "transit" trip. In response, China's People's Liberation Army carried out drills from Saturday to Monday, including simulated strikes against key targets on the island of Taiwan and in its surrounding waters.

"Europeans cannot resolve the crisis in Ukraine; how can we credibly say on Taiwan, 'watch out, if you do something wrong we will be there'? If you really want to increase tensions that's the way to do it," Macron said.

He also said Europe had increased its dependence on the US for weapons and energy and must now focus on boosting European defense industries.

He added that Europe should reduce its dependence on the "extraterritoriality of the US dollar".

"If the tensions between two superpowers heat up ... we won't have the time nor the resources to finance our strategic autonomy and we will become vassals," Macron said.

Many Europeans have complained about "weaponization" of its reserve currency by the US, which has forced European companies to cut business ties with third countries or face secondary sanctions.

On Sunday night, Macron posted on Twitter a video clip of his three-day visit to China in which he said: "I feel at ease with (President Xi Jinping), including on substance. There is a mutual attraction between France and China, a fascination, a friendship, a singular journey."

Arnaud Bertrand, a French entrepreneur with experience in China and a commentator on geopolitics, said on Twitter on Monday, "All in all it couldn't be clearer now, with this and Macron's earlier communication that he (Xi) sees France as China's foremost ally in the West to counter US-led efforts to contain the country."

Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of the Brussels-based European Centre for International Political Economy, said that Macron proved that Europe and China might not necessarily share the same ideal outcome regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but they share the second-best option, a cease-fire that respects the United Nations Charter, adding that some hawks forget that diplomacy is always about pursuing the second-best option.

He said both Europe and China have much to gain from strengthening trade and investment ties, from Airbus planes to renewable energy and infrastructure projects.

Yan Shaohua, an associate professor at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, said the fact that Macron brought with him a large business delegation, and the signing of a number of commercial deals, show that trade and economic cooperation is still the central pillar of China-Europe relations.

He Zhigao, a researcher at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the joint declaration by China and France is rich in content, covering 51 subjects, and is practical and easy to implement.

"There is great motivation for more cooperation and development in Sino-French and Sino-EU relations," he said.

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Woman Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Violate U.S. Sanctions Against Iran

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 10, 2023



A California woman was sentenced on April 7 to four years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by providing services, including financial services, to Iran and the Government of Iran, in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran, and for structuring.

According to court documents, Niloufar Bahadorifar, aka Nellie Bahadorifar, 48, of Irvine, pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who imposed the sentence.

"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 U.S. soil," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. "We hold accountable an individual who violated U.S. sanctions by providing financial assistance that ultimately supported a failed kidnapping plot directed by the Iranian government, underscoring the Department's commitment to bringing to justice those who criminally aid the Iranian regime."

"Niloufar 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," said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. "Efforts by malign foreign governments to stifle free speech and peaceful protest by means of intimidation or repression cannot be tolerated. The right to free speech is a core fundamental principle of American ideals, and this office is proud to protect that right with every means at our disposal."

"Simply put, the defendant provided assistance to individuals who tried to help kidnap a journalist living in New York, who has criticized the regime in Teheran," said Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division. "This case demonstrates that the government of Iran will continue to target dissidents and reach beyond their borders, violating U.S sanctions and national security, but more importantly threaten the personal safety of individuals living in our country. The FBI will continue to shield those who are targeted and aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to circumvent our laws and will leverage all our authorities to protect the right to free speech."

According to the indictment and other documents in the public record, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:

For years, the Government of Iran has targeted a prominent Iranian dissident living in New York City (the Victim). The Victim is a journalist, author and human rights activist who has publicized the Government of Iran's human rights abuses and suppression of political expression. Beginning in at least 2020, Iranian intelligence officials and assets, including co-defendant Mahmoud Khazein, plotted to kidnap the Victim from within the United States for rendition to Iran in an effort to silence the Victim's criticism of the regime. As part of that plot, on multiple occasions in 2020 and 2021, agents of the Government of Iran procured the services of private investigators to surveil, photograph, and video record the Victim and the Victim's household members. These agents of the Government of Iran, including Khazein, procured the surveillance by misrepresenting their identities and the purpose of the surveillance to the investigators and laundered money into the United States from Iran in order to pay for the surveillance, photos and video recordings of the Victim.

Beginning in approximately 2015, Bahadorifar, a U.S. citizen residing in California and originally from Iran, provided financial and other services, including access to the U.S. financial system and U.S. financial institutions, to Iranian residents and entities, including to Khazein. Bahadorifar, who is not charged with participating in the kidnapping conspiracy, provided financial services that ultimately supported the plot. Among other things, Bahadorifar caused a payment to be made to a private investigator for surveillance of the Victim on behalf of Khazein. Bahadorifar's payment obscured the origin of those who had hired the private investigator, who surveilled the Victim without knowing it was on behalf of Iranian intelligence services. At no time did Bahadorifar obtain permission from OFAC to provide services to Iran.

Beginning in approximately 2019, Bahadorifar also structured cash deposits totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. In total, Bahadorifar structured at least approximately $476,100 in more than 120 individual deposits. All but two of the deposits were less than $10,000.

The FBI New York Field Office Counterintelligence-Cyber Division and the New York FBI Iran Threat Task Force investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, the FBI Los Angeles Field Office and the Justice Department's National Security Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Lockard, Jacob H. Gutwillig and Matthew J.C. Hellman for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Christopher M. Rigali of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

Topic(s): Export Control

Component(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - New York, Southern

Press Release Number: 23-388

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Anti-junta fighter killed during deportation from Thailand to Myanmar

The deportation prompted condemnation by Thailand's opposition Commoners Party.

By Tin Aung Khine and Saw Kyaw San for RFA Burmese 2023.04.10 -- One of three Burmese armed resistance fighters who sought medical assistance in Thailand was killed as Thai authorities handed them over to junta authorities en route to Myanmar, Radio Free Asia has learned.

The incident prompted Thailand's opposition Commoners Party on Monday to condemn the Thai government for cooperating with Myanmar's military regime in what it said was a violation of domestic and international law.

The three members of the anti-junta People's Defense Force entered the Thai border town of Mae Sot, across from Myawaddy in Myanmar's Kayin state, on April 1 seeking medical treatment, but were arrested by Thai authorities at the Thai-Myanmar border immigration gate. On the morning of April 4, they were sent back across the border to Myanmar's Karen Border Guard Force, who arrested them and transferred them into the custody of junta troops.

Following their deportation, reports emerged that the three PDF members - Thiha, the Lion Battalion's deputy platoon commander, and fighters Htet Nay Win and Saw Phyo Lay - were killed in junta captivity.

On Monday, the Lion Battalion spokesperson Anyar Thar told RFA that Saw Phyo Lay was shot as he attempted to escape during the handover and later died from his injuries. The status of the other two men remained unclear.

"When [the PDF fighters] learned that they were being handed over to the BGF [Border Guard Forces], they jumped out of the boat that was carrying them," he said.

"Troops from both sides shot at them. [Saw Phyo Lay] who was about to die [from his injuries] was even handcuffed, put back into the boat and sent over to the BGF. This shows how good the relations are between the BGF and Thai authorities."

Anyar Thar said that Thiha and Htet Nay Win have been sent to the junta's Southeast Regional Military Headquarters based in the Mon state city of Mawlamyine.

Neither the junta nor the Karen Border Guard have released any news regarding the incident and attempts by RFA to reach Col. Saw Chit Thu, the head of Myanmar's Border Guard Force, went unanswered on Monday.

Opposition condemnation

On Monday, Thailand's opposition Commoners Party issued a statement criticizing the Thai government for collaborating with Myanmar's junta and accusing it of perpetrating an "inhumane act" by assisting the junta in committing "war crimes."

The statement also called on Thailand's Immigration Department to publicly clarify why it violated international and domestic laws by repatriating the PDF fighters after they entered Thailand in need of medical attention.

"I do not accept the Thai government's policy towards Myanmar anti-junta activists and refugee applicants," Commoners Party spokesperson Kornkanok Khamta told RFA Burmese. "The government is sending them back to unsafe locations. We all have to show that we are one with the people of Myanmar."

When asked about the Thai government's response to the Commoners Party statement, Kornkanok Khamta said none was provided.

"They silently neglect the statements of other organizations as well," she said.

Attempts by RFA to contact Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kanchana Patarachoke went unanswered on Monday.

Human rights groups have also called on the Thai government to examine its immigration department's handling of the three resistance fighters.

Speaking to RFA, Patrick Phongsathorn, a legal expert for the NGO Fortify Rights, urged the Thai government to investigate the situation as soon as possible and to prosecute the officer responsible for deporting the PDF members under Thailand's anti-torture law.

Refugees fearful

Previously, Thai authorities have arrested Myanmar nationals seeking shelter in Thailand after fleeing fighting between the military and anti-junta forces and warned them to abide by Thai law, but mostly allowed them to stay on humanitarian grounds.

One Myanmar refugee in Thailand named Nikki told RFA that members of the Burmese community there are now worried for their safety after the three PDF fighters were arrested and returned across the border.

"This incident has seriously scared the Burmese people who are taking refuge in Thailand," she said.

"We are too scared to even go out to buy food. Thai police are regularly arresting Burmese refugees in Mae Sot, targeting the undocumented and political refugees."

Reports of the deportation came amid an April 5-8 attack by a combined force of the ethnic Karen National Liberation Army and the Lion Battalion on military and Karen Border Guard Force bases located north of Myawaddy.

Although details of the attacks were not immediately clear, injuries have been reported and nearly 10,000 residents of the area are believed to have fled the fighting to safety.

Some of the anti-junta fighters injured in the battle were taken to the Thai side of the border on April 9 and later arrested by Thai police.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Matt Reed.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Myanmar authorities tell residents to relocate away from Magway's air force base

The move comes a day after an attack on a Yangon base by opposition fighters.

Reported by RFA Burmese 2023.04.10 -- 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 city's 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 area's layout was not in line with the city's 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 Yangon's 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. "That's why I think that it is another act of the military junta to further torture people."

Door-to-door inspections

Other residents believe Myanmar's ruling military junta is behind the move, fearing that the Magway base may be targeted next by anti-regime People's 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.

People's 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 junta's 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 Yangon's 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.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Meeting with Primorye Territory Governor Oleg Kozhemyako

Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with Primorye Territory Governor Oleg Kozhemyako. The Governor reported to the President on the current socioeconomic situation.

April 10, 2023

13:30

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

At the beginning of the meeting, the President noted that the Primorye Territory was showing very good or satisfactory results with regard to the main socioeconomic indicators. He suggested discussing those problems that required special attention from both the Governor and the federal centre.

Oleg Kozhemyako said he was ready to report on the Primorye Territory's development results in 2022 and prospects for 2023 and subsequent years, and to discuss a number of issues that require decisions at the presidential level. However, first he told the President about the efforts to support the residents of the region who are taking part in the special military operation and their family members. Mr Kozhemyako mentioned the deliveries of equipment and uniforms the region sent to the front line and made several proposals to make them more effective.

Then the Governor proceeded to the economic issues the resolution of which requires the President's support.

First, he mentioned a series of typhoons that destroyed roads, bridges and power lines, and damaged agricultural crops and housing last summer. A federal-level emergency was declared. In cooperation with the Emergencies Ministry, the Primorye Territory conducted emergency and recovery work and stabilised the situation. The region spent 2.7 billion rubles from its budget for these purposes. It will have to complete large-scale recovery efforts - repair roads and build bridges - in the coming summer. In this context, the Governor asked the President to instruct the Russian Federation Government to allocate money from the Reserve Fund to compensate for the region's spending on the full recovery of the destroyed infrastructure.

Then the Governor proceeded to speak about the results of the region's economic development. He reported that the GRP had reached 1.5 trillion rubles and agriculture was showing good trends. For the first time, the region produced 1.1 million tonnes of grain and soya despite the emergencies. Rusagro completed the construction of livestock breeding facilities and fully provided the region with pork. GreenAgro is carrying out dairy farming projects, and Mikhailovsky Broiler is producing poultry. The region has good results in transport and logistics - 133 percent; housing - 117 percent; domestic tourism - 111 percent; and investment - 146 percent. It continues building crab-fishing boats under investment quotas - 19 crab boats worth 41 billion. A new crab quota auction is scheduled for this year, and Oleg Kozhemyako asked the President to keep in place the preferential arrangements for Far Eastern shipyards to build these boats and give relevant instructions to the Government and the Agency for Fishery.

The Governor said this year the region's foreign trade had grown by 18 percent to reach US$10 billion.

Asked by the President about the Zvezda

Shipyard, Oleg Kozhemyako said that the construction of four LNG carriers, two Aframax vessels and a number of icebreaker ships is in full swing. To attract specialists, the region builds rental housing and hands it over to public sector workers and employees of major defence industry plants and major enterprises in general, with 740 flats transferred to the Zvezda Shipyard alone. As per the President's instruction, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic has subsidised the construction of rental housing for the Progress plant specialists in the city of Arsenyev. The plant has stepped up production under the state defence order, signed a contract with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and received funds for the manufacture of equipment needed by the Ministry of Defence and the country as a whole. The Governor also called for pay rises at the plant as a means of attracting highly skilled specialists. The region, for its part, will build housing for them and develop the city.

Last year, the region saw a major pivot to the East. Businesses demonstrated high adaptability and even increased investment. The construction of new ports is in full swing. A transport and logistics centre for one million containers, or a so-called dry port, is being built. This means an additional 100 million tonnes of freight and one million containers. All told, 250 million tonnes of freight and three million containers will be added to the existing freight turnover. In September, the new modern port of Sukhodol for 20 million tonnes of freight will open. Oleg Kozhemyako invited the President to its opening.

He also focused on bottlenecks in the rail and road infrastructure, specifically the Vladivostok-Nakhodka-Port Vostochny motorway, a basic connecting facility linking the Primorye-1 and Primorye-2 international transport corridors with the Chinese border and all ports in southeastern and southern Primorye boasting huge freight turnover. A mineral fertiliser plant is being built in Nakhodka. The Governor asked the President to instruct the Government of the Russian Federation to continue the construction of this crucial motor road.

Oleg Kozhemyako believes that it is necessary to review the approaches to the Russian Far East. Much is being done and everyone is aware of the advantages of developing the Russian Far East, but there are no breakthrough solutions. He stressed that it was only due to the President's instructions and the efforts of his plenipotentiary envoy that the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic managed to solve certain problems, but there was no systemic approach.

Responding to the President's objection that a number of benefits had been envisaged in the Russian Far East, the Governor said that economy-benefitting investment could be made in many more localities there, including the Khasan district with its fine ports, southern Primorye, the border with North Korea, and the border with China. Road and rail infrastructure there is weak, and so is the power infrastructure. Additional budget investment in infrastructure and preferential loans are needed. The entire infrastructure network was largely built in the Soviet period and requires an overhaul.

In the larger scheme of things, the Governor believes, an impetus is needed like the one the President generated during preparations for the APEC Summit in Vladivostok. As a result, the territory, the Far East has become transformed, acquiring a totally new international identity. We see, Oleg Kozhemyako said, our neighbours developing dynamically and therefore Primorye, too, needs to get a second wind.

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Top Russian, Syrian, Turkish, Iranian diplomats to meet in near future: Moscow

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 April 2023 6:41 PM

Russia's deputy foreign minister says a quadrilateral meeting among the top diplomats of Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Iran will be held in the near future as part of efforts made to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus.

"[The meeting] is in the works. We are setting a date," Mikhail Bogdanov was quoted by Russia's TASS news agency as saying on Monday.

"The sooner the better," Bogdanov said, when asked whether the quadrilateral meeting would take place in early May or before that.

Stressing that the date of the meeting should make sense for each of the four ministers, the Russian diplomat said, "There was no official date, so we didn't postpone anything. We are coordinating [the date] now. There have been various proposals, but each of the four ministers has his own schedule."

The senior diplomats from the four countries were reported earlier to have discussed preparations for a four-party ministerial meeting in Moscow on April 3-4.

Turkey severed its relations with Syria in March 2012, a year after the Arab country found itself in the grip of rampant and deadly violence waged by foreign-backed militants, including those allegedly supported by Ankara.

The two neighboring countries are currently taking steps toward reconciliation after 11 years.

The process of normalizing ties between Ankara and Damascus kicked off on December 28, 2022, when the Russian, Syrian and Turkish defense ministers met in Moscow, in what was the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the outbreak of the Syria conflict.

Last month, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad conditioned any potential meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Turkey's withdrawal of troops from northern Syria.

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'Protest Has Become Almost Impossible': The Local Lawmaker Who Publicly Mocked Putin Speaks Out

By RFE/RL's Idel.Realities April 10, 2023

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."

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."

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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-protest-samara-lawmaker- noodles-putin-social-policies/32357087.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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U.S. Designates Wall Street Journal Reporter As 'Wrongfully Detained' By Russia

By RFE/RL April 10, 2023

The U.S. State Department has designated Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich as "wrongfully detained" by Russia and urged his immediate release.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the determination that Gershkovich has been wrongfully detained, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said on April 10.

"Journalism is not a crime," Patel said in a statement. "We condemn the Kremlin's continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth."

Patel also said the United States calls for Russia to immediately release Gershkovich, who was detained on March 29 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and charged last week with espionage.

The WSJ has adamantly denied the allegations against Gershkovich and demanded his release. U.S. President Joe Biden and the leaders of the U.S. Senate have also called for Gershkovich's release.

World Bank President David Malpass said earlier on April 10 that Russia's detention of Gershkovich is a "brazen act" and violates press freedom, "which the World Bank Group has long recognized as vital," including the safety of journalists.

"Press freedom increases transparency and accountability. It keeps a check on governance, it exposes corruption, transmits ideas, promotes innovation," Malpass told reporters, adding that he hopes Gershkovich and his family will soon be reunited.

The FSB said on March 30 that it had opened an espionage case against Gershkovich for collecting what it said were state secrets about Russia's military industrial complex. It alleged that Gershkovich was operating on instructions from the United States.

A Moscow court agreed to a request from the FSB to hold Gershkovich under arrest for two months.

Patel said earlier that Russia has not yet granted U.S. consular access to Gershkovich.

"At this point it is a violation of Russia's obligations under our consular convention and a violation against international law," Patel said. "We have stressed the need for the Russian government to provide this access as soon as possible."

Patel said Moscow over the weekend formally notified Washington of the detention. He reiterated in the statement that the United States calls on Russia to release wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine being held in Russia since 2018 on what Washington calls trumped up charges.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/world-bank-russia-gershkovich- detention-brazen-act/32357375.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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US Designates WSJ Reporter Gershkovich as 'Wrongfully Detained' in Russia - State Dept.

Sputnik News

20230410

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - 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.

"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.

The Russian Federal Security Service on March 30 announced that Gershkovich had been taken into custody in Yekaterinburg on suspicion of espionage for the US, alleging the Wall Street Journal reporter had collected classified information linked to Russia's military industrial complex. The WSJ has rejected the accusations and called for the reporter's immediate release

Gershkovich has been remanded to pre-trial detention until May 29.

A Sputnik

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As Russia sources weapons for its war, it is violating the very UN sanctions it helped to draft: UK Statement at the Security Council

Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Alice Jacobs at the UN Security Council debate on export of weapons and military equipment

10 April 2023

I'd like to start by congratulating Mozambique on their Presidency in March and also thank you to Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu for her briefing today.

As the perpetrator of a war of aggression against a sovereign nation, Russia has taken up the Security Council Presidency while it fails to meet the most basic obligations of a UN Member State.

Russia's decision to unleash an illegal war of choice on an innocent people threatens the fundamental principles of the Security Council. And as it sources weapons for its war, Russia is violating the very UN sanctions it helped to draft, on states such as Iran and the DPRK.

The wider consequences of this war on food and commodity prices are severe, and are likely to drive further conflict. The UK calls on all other states to cease assistance to the Russian military and its affiliated forces. Arming the aggressor state is fuelling global instability.

To preserve the Charter principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, Member States should assist Ukraine to protect itself from this aggression, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. The UK has provided a wide range of equipment and support to Ukraine and will continue to do so, as a responsible UN Member State.

Colleagues, the diversion and misuse of conventional arms costs hundreds of thousands of lives every year across the world, undermines security and sustainable development, and fuels conflict, crime and terrorism.

The Security Council can play an important role on this issue, complementary to multilateral and national processes. Regrettably, it is Russia that has long sought to undermine this work - opposing new texts and consistently abstaining from resolutions on this issue, such as resolution 2117 in 2013, resolution 2220 in 2015, and resolution 2616 in 2021.

The UK operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. We are committed to full implementation and universalisation of the Arms Trade Treaty. And we remain committed to all related UN mechanisms, including the UN programme of action on small arms and light weapons. We will continue to support appropriate measures through the Security Council.

Colleagues, let me finish by restating one simple point. If Russia is serious about strengthening international peace and security its first action should be to end its illegal invasion, withdraw from Ukraine and uphold its responsibilities under the UN Charter.

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Shandong aircraft carrier group hosts J-15 fighter sorties on final day of PLA drills encircling Taiwan island, forming blockade

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan Published: Apr 10, 2023 04:27 PM Updated: Apr 10, 2023 04:22 PM

he Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command has successfully wrapped up all missions in the combat alert patrols and "Joint Sword" exercises encircling the island of Taiwan from Saturday to Monday, and a comprehensive testing of the integrated joint operational capabilities of multiple military services and branches under realistic combat scenarios, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson at the PLA Eastern Theater Command, in a statement on Monday evening.

The command troops will prepare for and be ready for battle at all time, and resolutely crush any kind of "Taiwan independence" secessionist or external interference attempts, Shi said.

The Shandong aircraft carrier group of the Chinese PLA on Monday joined the third and final day of the exercises encircling the island of Taiwan, in which warships practiced assaults on fleeing hostile vessels and a maritime blockade, with other military services and branches continuing joint blockade and joint strike drills.

The three-day drills will have a profound impact on the progress of national reunification, as they demonstrated the PLA's deepening capabilities, and sent direct warning and deterrence to the "Taiwan independence" secessionists by clearly making the latter targets, experts said.

During the exercise, several destroyers and frigates conducted suppressive combat patrol missions, as they pointedly carried out training courses including assaults on fleeing hostile vessels and maritime blockade, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday.

The PLA warships took the initiative from within the Taiwan Straits as well as waters to the northwest, southwest and east of the island of Taiwan, displayed their performance advantages, seized advantageous positions through agile maneuvering, and pressed the opponents hard with high speeds.

The Flotilla 17 of the PLA Navy also participated in Monday's drills, CCTV reported, referring to the hull number 17 of the aircraft carrier Shandong.

The report shows that the aircraft carrier group consisted of at least six vessels, namely the aircraft carrier Shandong, a Type 055 10,000 ton-class destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, two Type 054A frigates and a Type 901 comprehensive replenishment ship. It is usually expected that a nuclear-powered attack submarine is also a part of a carrier group.

A J-15 carrier-borne fighter jet is seen in the video taking off from the aircraft carrier, carrying four live missiles.

J-15 activities were also confirmed by the defense authority on the island of Taiwan, which said in a press release on Monday that it had detected 70 PLA aircraft and 11 PLA vessels around the island of Taiwan over the past day. For the first time, four J-15 fighter jets were spotted flying above waters to the east of the island.

According to a press release from Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff on Monday, the Shandong hosted about 80 fighter jet sorties and about 40 helicopter sorties between Friday to Sunday in waters to the east and southeast of the island of Taiwan.

Zhao Xiaozhuo, a research fellow at China's Academy of Military Sciences, confirmed with the Global Times on Saturday, the first day of the three-day PLA joint drills, that the Shandong aircraft carrier group, operating in the West Pacific waters southeast of the island of Taiwan, was also a part of the exercise.

The aircraft carrier is playing an important role in surrounding the island from its east side, Zhao said.

Waters to the east side of the Taiwan island is considered by the island's defense authority to be an evacuation zone for its fleeing vessels in case a conflict breaks out, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Monday.

It means that the Shandong aircraft carrier group played a vital role in this region to block Taiwan vessels fleeing from the island as well as possible reinforcements by external forces like the US and Japan, the expert said.

Other military services and branches on Monday continued to work closely and simulated joint blockade and information-fire integrated strikes on the island of Taiwan, comprehensively testing the troops' capabilities in reconnaissance, command, operation and support under the joint operation system, CCTV reported.

Dozens of PLA Air Force fighter jets carried out combat patrols in the Taiwan Straits and northern and southern tips of the island, practiced search and destroy tactics targeting hostile warships and warplanes as well as aerial blockade under joint information support.

Under the cover and support by early warning aircraft, fighter jets and electronic warfare aircraft, several batches of H-6K bombers carrying live munitions carried out several waves of mock strikes on key targets on the island of Taiwan.

The PLA Rocket Force practiced tactics including rapid response, ambush and monitoring, as it tracked maritime moving targets before carrying out large waves of mock strikes.

The PLA Rocket Force is known for its "aircraft carrier killer" anti-ship ballistic missiles, which could deny medium-sized and large warships from external interference forces of accessing China's doorsteps, including waters around the island of Taiwan, observers said.

Zhao told the Global Times on Monday that such a blockade can cut off energy supply routes, reinforcement routes and escape routes of "Taiwan independence" forces, as well as their hopes for US military reinforcement.

US diversion attempt

Just as the PLA Eastern Theater Command held drills around the island of Taiwan on Monday, the US sent the USS Milius destroyer to illegally trespass into waters near China's Meiji Reef in the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.

The PLA Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to track and monitor the US Navy destroyer, Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesperson at the PLA Southern Theater Command, said in a statement on Monday.

China has undisputable sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and surrounding waters, and the command troops are on high alert at all time to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea, Tian said.

The provocative US move is a powerless move of shifting attention amid the PLA's Taiwan island encirclement drills, attempting to show off its presence and its strong attitude toward China, observers said.

However, the lack of direct US military involvement in the Taiwan Straits, compared with in previous Taiwan Straits crises, showed that the US has acknowledged China's growing strength and its will, analysts said, noting that the US, or any other country, will not make China give up an inch of its land, be it the island of Taiwan or islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

Strong deterrence

Coming shortly after the provocative meeting between Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during Tsai's "transit" in the US, the three-day PLA exercises from Saturday to Monday will have a profound impact on resolving the Taiwan question, as they featured mock fire strikes on targets on the island for the first time, which is a step forward from fire strikes surrounding the island in the past, showing the PLA's preparation for a real conflict is deepening, observers said.

Those targets on the island could not only be major military sites, but also key political facilities where "Taiwan independence" secessionists are active, another Chinese mainland military analyst told the Global Times on Monday, requesting anonymity.

It is no question a direct warning and deterrence to the "Taiwan independence" secessionists, as the PLA displayed its combat readiness and its firm will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the analyst said.

Facing the powerful PLA and the close geographical proximity with the Chinese mainland, the armed forces on the island of Taiwan will have no chance to survive should they choose to resist reunification by force, the analyst said.

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Chinese aircraft carrier stages drills near Taiwan, Okinawa islands

US and Japanese forces are watching closely to ensure 'peace and stability' in the Taiwan Strait.

By RFA Staff 2023.04.10 -- China's Shandong aircraft carrier continues to take part in a multi-branch exercise around Taiwan, staged in response to the recent meeting between Taiwan's president and the U.S. House speaker, the Chinese military said Monday.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command released a video showing a J-15 fighter jet taking off from the dock of the Shandong, China's 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.

Taiwan's 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 island's 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 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, Taiwan's 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 couldn't confirm that the Nimitz was there for the Shandong, given the situation "there's 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 he'd "up our game" with a series of deterrent measures such as providing more training for Taiwan's 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.

Cross-Strait tensions are heightened after Taiwan's 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, China's closest point to Taiwan.

Senior Col. Shi Yi, the command's 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."

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.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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TCG Anadolu: TArkiye's largest warship and world's first drone carrier

10 APR 2023

Bolstering TArkiye's naval capabilities, the TCG Anadolu can carry helicopters, drones, land vehicles, light warcraft and personnel.

TArkiye's largest warship and the world's first unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) carrier, have been delivered to the country's navy on Monday.

The move, which will bolster Turkish naval capacities, also makes it one of the few nations in the world with a domestically-built aircraft carrier.

Built in Istanbul-based shipyard Sedef, the ship, named TCG Anadolu, can carry helicopters, drones, land vehicles, light warcraft, and personnel.

Speaking at the delivery ceremony on Monday in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said TCG Anadolu, where the largest and heaviest helicopters and drones can land and take off on, is the world's first warship in its field.

"The TCG Anadolu...is the world's first warship in its field where UAVs can land and take off," Erdogan said.

Turkish UCAVs Bayraktar TB3 and Kizilelma drones, and light attack aircraft Hurjet, can land on and take off from the ship, Erdogan added.

Multi-purpose assault ship

TArkiye will able to conduct military and humanitarian operations all around the world thanks to the ship, which can carry tanks and armored vehicles, the president underlined.

"(TCG Anadolu) has the capabilities to conduct military operations in every corner of the world," Erdogan added. "We will be able to transfer to crisis areas with this ship quickly."

The ship's weapon, combat management, electronic warfare, infrared search and track, electro-optical search, laser warning, torpedo defense systems, and radars were developed indigenously, he said.

131 sub-contractors joined the ship's building process, Erdogan said.

The TCG Anadolu ship, produced within the scope of the Multi-Purpose Amphibious Assault Ship Project, will be able to transfer at least a battalion-sized force to the designated location with its own logistics support, without the need for home base support.

TCG Anadolu will carry four mechanised, two landing craft air-cushion (LCAC), and two personnel landing vehicles (LCVP), as well as aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

With a length of 231 metres (some 758 feet) and a width of 32 metres (105 feet), the full load displacement equals some 27,000 tonnes.

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"TCG Anadolu is the first UCAV carrier in the world"

Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey

10.04.2023

Speaking at the delivery ceremony of TCG Anadolu, President ErdoAYan said: "TCG Anadolu is the first UCAV carrier in the world. Our Bayraktar TB-3 UCAV, KAzAlelma unmanned fighter jet and HARJET light attack aircraft will be able to take off and land on this ship."

President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan delivered a speech at the delivery ceremony of TCG Anadolu and steel cutting ceremony of the new MALGEM frigates in Istanbul.

"We see this ship as a symbol which will reinforce our position as an assertive country in the world and a leader in our region in the Century of TArkiye. Today we are also cutting the steel of three new frigates of the MALGEM ASTAF-Class that we will set sail for the Blue Homeland. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the construction of TCG Anadolu and everyone who will take part in the construction of our frigates," President ErdoAYan said.

"TCG ANADOLU WILL ENABLE US TO CONDUCT MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD"

Noting that TCG Anadolu is the world's first warship in its field where the largest and heaviest helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles can land and take off, President ErdoAYan said: "TCG Anadolu is the first UCAV carrier in the world. Our Bayraktar TB-3 UCAV, KAzAlelma unmanned fighter jet and HARJET light attack aircraft will be able to take off and land on this ship. Also, thanks to the tanks and armored amphibious assault vehicles it carries, this ship has the features that will enable us to conduct military and humanitarian operations in every corner of the world when necessary."

Stating that the project has a very high indigenization rate of approximately 70 percent, President ErdoAYan said: "Thanks to TCG Anadolu, we will be able to easily deploy a battalion-sized force to crisis zones in the Aegean, Mediterranean and Black Sea without needing main base support."

"With the delivery of our amphibious assault ship, we have taken a major step towards the production of our national aircraft carrier. I believe that our shipbuilding industry will also be capable of producing our national aircraft carrier. Today, we are also cutting steel for the 6th, 7th and 8th ships of the MALGEM ASTAF-Class frigates and starting their construction. The target of constructing three ships simultaneously at a private shipyard and delivering them to our Naval Forces in a period of approximately 36 months is a project that has no precedent in the world," President ErdoAYan said.

"It was not easy for our defense industry to become the rising star of a strengthening TArkiye. When we came to power, we saw that strong diplomacy on the ground and at the table was only possible with a strong defense industry. In this understanding, we set our goal as fully independent defense industry," President ErdoAYan underlined. "With the decisions we took at the Defense Industry Executive Committee in May 2004, we started the era of domestic and national projects instead of foreign procurement. As a result of the developments that started after this decision, the number of defense industry projects in our country has increased from 62 to 750, and the number of defense industry companies from 56 to 2,700. When we came to power, defense projects with a budget of approximately $5.5 billion were being carried out, today this figure has risen to over $60 billion."

"We are now increasing our defense industry budget to $75 billion with the projects that are currently being tendered. This expansion will bring about new breakthroughs in every field, from the number of companies to exports," President ErdoAYan underscored.

"WE HAVE REACHED A VERY GOOD LEVEL IN REDUCING OUR FOREIGN DEPENDENCY"

Underlining that the sector has also worked very hard to reach this point, President ErdoAYan said: "

The fact that the budget allocated to research and development in the defense industry has increased from $49 million to over $1.5 billion annually is a sign of this. The fact that the sector's exports have reached a record level of $4.4 billion by 2022 from $248 million is also a sign of this. Thanks to our firm stance and determination in the domestic and national defense industry, we have reached a very good level in reducing our foreign dependency. Increasing our indigenization rate from 20 percent to 80 percent is a historic achievement, the importance of which will be better understood in the future. Today, the Turkish defense industry has reached a level where it can meet the needs of our security units in every aspect, from design to development, from research and development to innovation and mass production.

"We are particularly pleased that our defense industry products, which are successfully used by our security forces in their operations at home and abroad, have started to take their place in the inventories of friendly countries," President ErdoAYan said.

"The security of the Blue Homeland has become even more important in this critical period. This need is behind our efforts to ensure that our country has a more powerful and deterrent navy," President ErdoAYan noted.

"We had set 2023 as a milestone for many projects in the defense industry. As is the case here today, we have started to realize our grand projects scheduled for 2023 one by one. DERYA, our Sea Supply Combat Support Ship, which will be the second largest ship of our country, our Piri Reis Submarine, and ISTANBUL, our first frigate of the ASTAF-Class, will enter service this year. We are ahead of schedule in projects that will bring our air power to the top, especially our National Combat Aircraft, and air defense systems. In the coming months, we will have many more good news for our nation in this field. Everyone should recognize and accept the fact that the security of a strengthening and growing TArkiye begins beyond its borders. In this understanding, we will continue to increase the number of such projects in order to protect and develop the interests of our country in international arena. We will achieve building the Century of TArkiye by moving forward on the safe path that our defense industry has paved for us," President ErdoAYan said.

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Russian official says forces have seized 75% of Bakhmut

Iran Press TV

Monday, 10 April 2023 6:54 PM

Russian forces have managed to seize 75 percent of the frontline town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, a Russian official claims.

For the past several months, Bakhmut and its surrounding towns have been the focal point of attacks by Russia, which launched a full-scale war against neighboring Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Neither side has full control over the city and both have suffered heavy losses so far.

The battle to seize heavily-fortified Bakhmut has been spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner group, the Russia's private security company which has made small but steady gains against the Ukrainian troops defending the town.

Bakhmut has been the subject of one of the most protracted battles in the ongoing war.

On Monday, Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-installed leader of Donetsk, said Russian forces controlled more than 75 percent of the blockaded Bakhmut, the battle over which has drawn comparisons with World War One due to massive casualties on both sides.

Pushilin published footage of himself on Telegram purportedly visiting the salt mining town, and was seen among ruins, clad in body armor and with explosions audible in the background.

"I can say with absolute certainty, that more than 75% of the city is under the control of our units," he told state-run Rossiya-24 TV channel after his purported visit. However, he cautioned that it was too early to talk about the fall of the ill-fated town.

For the Kremlin, capturing Bakhmut is essential for achieving its stated goal of taking control of the whole of Donetsk, one of the four Ukrainian regions - along with Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia - that Moscow added to the Russian Federation following referendums in the said regions in September 2022.

So far, much of the territory in the Russian-annexed regions still remain in Ukrainian hands.

Moscow says Bakhmut would be a stepping stone and a rare battlefield gain in completing the capture of the Donbas industrial region (composed of Donetsk and Luhansk), one of Moscow's most important objectives.

Russia, Ukraine swap 100 prisoners each

Separately on Monday, both Moscow and Kiev said that they had returned around 100 soldiers each in their latest prisoner exchange, a move periodically made since the onset of war.

"We are returning 100 of our people. They are military people, sailors, border guards, national guardsmen," said the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.

He further said that the swap included troops who held out in Mariupol, the devastated port city seized by Russia last spring, adding that some returned Ukrainian soldiers were "seriously injured."

Yermak described the exchange "difficult."

Moscow, for its part, said it had returned more than 100 of its servicemen in the exchange.

"As a result of negotiations, 106 Russian soldiers were returned from territories under Kiev control," the Russian defense ministry said in a statement, adding that they would be taken by plane to Moscow "for treatment and rehabilitation."

"All those that were freed will be given the necessary medical and psychological help," it further said.

In the previous round of prisoner swap last month, 130 Ukrainians were swapped for 90 Russian servicemen, according to authorities.

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Prisoner Swap Frees More Than 200 As Russia Accused Of 'Scorched Earth Tactics' In Eastern Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 10, 2023

Russia and Ukraine carried out a major prisoner swap on April 10 after the commander of the Ukrainian armed forces in the east accused Russia of using "scorched earth tactics" in the area, turning the town of Avdiyivka into a "total ruin."

Both sides reported the prisoner exchange, saying 106 Russians and 100 Ukrainians were freed. The Russian Defense Ministry added that the exchange took place after negotiations.

Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that the released Ukrainians include defenders of Mariupol city and its Azovstal steel plant, the scene of a long siege that ended in May 2022 and left Mariupol in ruins.

"Some people have been seriously injured and have illnesses," Yermak said on Telegram. "We will do everything necessary so that each of them receives all the necessary help."

Ukrainian General Oleksandr Syrskiy earlier on April 10 accused Russia of using the same "scorched earth tactics" it used in its military operations in support of the Syrian government against rebels in the northwest of the country.

"Buildings and positions are being destroyed with air strikes and artillery fire. The situation is difficult but controllable," he was quoted as saying by Ukraine's Media Military Center.

He said Ukrainian troops were "heroically" withstanding the Russians' offensive in Bakhmut, adding that they had managed to wear down the units of the Russian private Wagner militia.

The Russian-installed leader of Ukraine's Donetsk region, Denis Pushilin, published a video on April 10 purportedly showing him on a visit to Bakhmut. He was seen decorating Wagner fighters and claiming that Russian forces control more than 75 percent of the city. The authenticity of video could not be independently confirmed.

"I can say with absolute certainty that more than 75 percent of the city is under the control of our units," Pushilin told state-run Rossia-24 TV channel after his visit, though he cautioned it was too early to talk about Bakhmut's fall.

Ukraine's army reported Russian attacks throughout the front. The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said 58 enemy attacks were repelled over the 24-hour period ending early on April 10, adding in a statement that Russia is still focused on the cities and towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka in the Donetsk region.

The British Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence update on April 10 that Russia continues to prioritize and expand its resources in the Donetsk region, including the Maryinka and Adviyivka areas, for "minimal gains."

Pavlo Kyrylenko, Donetsk's regional governor, said around 1,800 people remain in Avdiyivka, and that they all risk their lives every day.

"The Russians have turned Avdiyivka into a total ruin," Kyrylenko said on April 10 after an air strike that destroyed a multistory building.

The Ukrainian military said on April 10 that it destroyed a Russian Mi-24 helicopter near Adviyivka. The commander of the brigade responsible for shooting down the helicopter said in a statement that attacks in the direction of Adviyivka continue but that the Russians are suffering "heavy losses in manpower and destroyed equipment."

With reporting by Reuters and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-palm-sunday-russia- attacks-zelenskiy-bakhmut/32356859.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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Netanyahu: No Decision Has Been Made to Provide Ukraine With Arms Supplies

Sputnik News

20230410

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - 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.

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.

"As for the reports about lethal weapons for Ukraine, I do not know what these reports are based on. We decided to help them in humanitarian matters, in civil defense matters with Tzeva Adom [Israeli missile attack warning system] ... but not the previous government, nor my government, have made decisions about lethal weapons," Netanyahu told reporters.

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.

A Sputnik

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The term "defeat" should become a companion to the term "aggressor", and it is only the Ukrainian victory that will ensure this - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

10 April 2023 - 22:39

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today we have good news from our team working on exchanges. We managed to bring home 100 defenders. 80 men and 20 women. These are soldiers, border guards, marines, national guards. By the way, defenders of Azovstal are among them.

These are a hundred families who got real joy on the eve of Easter. And, of course, we keep working to return all our people from Russian captivity. We remember everyone! And we will return everyone!

I thank everyone in our Coordination Center of the Main Intelligence Directorate. I thank everyone involved in negotiations and preparation of exchanges: Budanov's guys, Yermak, Malyuk, Lubinets... Well done, guys!

And I am especially grateful to everyone who supports our people after release and takes care of treatment and adaptation. It is important.

We continue to expand the foreign policy capabilities of our state. Today we agreed with the Prime Minister of Iraq on the new energy of our interstate relations. I informed Mr. Prime Minister about our efforts to restore peace and integrity to Ukraine, in particular about our Peace Formula. And I am grateful for the readiness not just to look, but to actually find ways to make our cooperation stronger.

I spoke today with the Prime Minister of Greece, mainly about the existing challenges. I outlined the security situation, more broadly - our activity for the return of peace and protection of people. I thank Greece for its willingness to continue the existing cooperation and to achieve greater things together.

I met today with Richard Branson - a prominent British entrepreneur and a longtime friend of Ukraine. He has been supporting us since 2014 - both in words and with concrete work. Now he has decided to join the team of United24 ambassadors. I am grateful for that!

We discussed how the global influence of Mr. Branson can help us in our recovery, reconstruction of our educational institutions, attraction of technological assistance for Ukraine, in particular, to carry out humanitarian demining.

We also have regular steps in defense assistance to our state from Germany, I am thankful for them. Two weeks - and we've got reinforcement from Germany in armored vehicles, air defense, ammunition, engineering vehicles, medicine...

Everything that strengthens Ukraine's defense against Russian terror, everything that gives our soldiers more opportunities for active movement - all this protects everyone in the partner countries, everyone in Europe, everyone in the world.

The term "defeat" should become a companion to the term "aggressor", and it is only the Ukrainian victory that will ensure this.

And I thank everyone who really brings it closer. In battles for the sake of our state - in Maryinka and Bakhmut, near Avdiivka and near Kreminna, in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, in Kharkiv region and in the firmness of our entire border.

To win the battle for Ukraine is to win the battle for yourself. It should be remembered. Always. Especially by those who try to win only for themselves personally. And not on the frontline at all.

Thank you to everyone who takes care of Ukraine!

Glory to everyone who is currently in combat, on combat duty and on combat missions!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Latest in Ukraine: Moscow, Kyiv Swap More Than 200 Prisoners of War

By VOA News April 10, 2023

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.

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Cohesity Collaborates with Microsoft

April 2023 by Marc Jacob

Cohesity announced an expanded relationship with Microsoft that is focused on helping enterprises globally broaden and harden data security  critical as cyberattacks are occurring every 39 seconds with 30,000 websites hacked daily and costing the global economy $6.9 billion in 2021.

There are two major elements to the expanded relationship between Cohesity and Microsoft.

 Cohesity announces integrations that help IT and SecOps leaders defend against cyber threats

 Microsoft Sentinel: Cohesitys DataProtect backup and recovery solution, both on-premises as well as its backup as a service offering, now integrates with Microsoft Sentinel  the cloud-native security information and event management (SIEM) platform. Through this integration, joint customers can benefit from streamlined access to incident reporting and ransomware alerts.

 Azure AD and Multi-factor Authentication: Azure Active Directory is a standard identity platform for Microsoft customers around the globe. Cohesity provides seamless integration with Azure AD and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to safely and securely manage and access Cohesity products, including Cohesity Data Cloud and Cohesity Cloud Services.

 Microsoft Purview via Cohesitys Partnership with BigID: Get actionable data intelligence for data discovery, privacy, security, and governance across your Microsoft environment with Cohesity data classification that is powered by BigID. BigID has built integration with Microsoft Purview that joint customers can benefit from.

 Cohesity Cloud Services are now available on Azure, empowering Microsoft customers to easily protect and secure their data across hybrid environments

 Cohesity FortKnox, Cohesitys popular SaaS cyber vaulting service, provides another layer of protection with predictable data recovery. Live demos and product previews of Cohesity FortKnox on Azure are available now, with general availability planned in the coming months.

 Cohesity DataProtect delivered as a service, an easy-to-use enterprise-grade backup as a service (BaaS) offering, now supports Microsoft 365. Customers can use Cohesitys BaaS offering, which protects critical SaaS, cloud-native, and on-premises data, to back up their Microsoft 365 data to a data plane hosted on Azure.

Ushering in a New Era in Deriving Value from Data

Cohesity, which is already using AI to help customers detect anomalies that can indicate a cyberattack in play, believes AI can be used in other ways to rapidly analyze vast volumes of data and enable IT and security operations to respond to a security breach  faster and with improved accuracy.

Today, Cohesity announced that it will put forth its AI-ready data structure that, when combined with OpenAI, will advance generative AI initiatives around threat detection, classification, anomaly detection, and more. To hear more about the impact AI can have on data security and management, Cohesitys expanded relationship with Microsoft, and opportunities for customers to secure, protect, and derive value from data, watch this special edition of Spotlight on Security on April 11 which will feature key Microsoft and Cohesity executives.

Cohesity is integrating with Microsofts broad platforms across security, cloud and AI - all in order to help joint customers secure and protect their data against escalating cyberattacks, said Sanjay Poonen, CEO and president, Cohesity. This expanded collaboration will make it simple for thousands of Microsoft customers and ecosystem partners to access Cohesitys award-winning platform, including its differentiated benefits of scalability, simplicity and security, in hybrid-cloud or multicloud scenarios.

We utilize both Cohesity and Microsoft solutions today and are excited about this expanded focus on advancing security, utilizing cloud innovations to promote cyber resilience, and getting more valuable insights from data, said Niall Townley, backup administrator, Community Health Plan of Washington. As organizations like ours continue to accelerate the move to a hybrid and multicloud world, its great that we can also continue to manage data simply and securely, wherever its located, via the Cohesity Data Cloud platform. Together, all these benefits help us optimize the cloud while also mitigating risk from cyber threats.

With so many organizations expanding their data footprints into hybrid and multicloud environments, attack vulnerabilities are increasing, and data security and protection is becoming more complex. Cohesity seeks to meet customers where they are, whether on-premises or across multiple cloud providers, said Phil Goodwin, research vice president, IDC. Cohesity strives to help customers get more value from data through better data logistics, a key part of which is data security and protection. We think integrating with Microsoft Azure will help Cohesity and its customers to stay a step ahead of cyber criminals through more intelligent security now and with other interesting use cases to follow.
Westford USA, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Multimodal Imaging market is experiencing significant growth and is projected to reach USD 3.94 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period (2022-2030). Various factors drive the market's expansion, including the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, advancements in imaging systems technology, and the growing demand for non-invasive diagnostic techniques and personalized medicine. The preference for non-invasive imaging procedures over invasive ones has been highlighted in a survey conducted by the American College of Radiology, where 75% of respondents preferred non-invasive diagnostic methods.

Moreover, SkyQuest's recent research has revealed that nearly 70% of radiologists and imaging specialists believe that multimodal imaging technologies will play a significant role in the future of medical imaging. The United Nations has projected that the number of individuals aged 65 and above will triple to 1.5 billion by 2050, contributing to the market's growth alongside other factors.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Multimodal Imaging Market"

Pages - 242

Tables - 64

Figures - 72

Multimodal imaging centers are crucial in modern healthcare as they provide accurate and comprehensive diagnostic imaging for various diseases and conditions. Healthcare professionals use a combination of imaging techniques to produce precise images of the patient's body, aiding in diagnosing and treating a range of medical conditions, from cancer to cardiovascular disease. The increasing demand for non-invasive diagnostic procedures is expected to fuel the growth of the multimodal imaging market in the coming years, underscoring the significance of these centers.

Prominent Players in Multimodal Imaging Market

Siemens Healthineers

GE Healthcare

Philips Healthcare

Fujifilm Holdings Corporation

Canon Medical Systems Corporation

Hologic, Inc.

Shimadzu Corporation

Agfa-Gevaert Group

Hitachi, Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Carestream Health

Esaote S.p.A.

Ziehm Imaging GmbH

Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation

Planmed Oy

Bracco Imaging S.p.A.

Dexcom, Inc.

Nihon Kohden Corporation

Guerbet Group

Mindray Medical International Limited

Get a sample copy of this report:

https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/multimodal-imaging-market

Diagnostic and Research Application Segment to Drive Higher Sales Due to the Increasing Demand for Accurate and Precise Diagnostic Imaging

SkyQuest reported that the increasing demand for accurate and precise diagnostic imaging, particularly for cancer and cardiovascular diseases, is driving the rapid development of the Multimodal Imaging market, with the Diagnostic and Research Application segment emerging as a significant contributor in 2021. This trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030. According to SkyQuest, approximately 10% of all healthcare spending in the United States is on diagnostic imaging. The reports also suggest that multimodal imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can provide complementary information for diagnosing and monitoring cancer patients.

SkyQuest's research analysis has projected North America to become a dominant player in the Multimodal Imaging market from 2022 to 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.82% during the forecast period. The expansion in the region can be attributed to the presence of major manufacturers and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which require accurate and timely diagnosis. Additionally, the recent launch of the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP) by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a comprehensive map of the human body at the cellular level using multimodal imaging technologies is further driving the market's growth in the region.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/multimodal-imaging-market

Equipment Type Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth Due to Increasing Adoption of Hybrid Imaging Technologies

The Multimodal Imaging market was dominated by the Equipment Type segment in 2021 and is projected to maintain its dominance from 2022 to 2030 due to the growing demand for high-precision and innovative imaging equipment. This trend is being driven by the increasing adoption of hybrid imaging technologies such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT, which require advanced imaging equipment with high accuracy and precision.

According to recent analysis, the Asia Pacific region has emerged as a significant contributor to the rapid development of the Multimodal Imaging market and is expected to maintain its leading position until 2030. SkyQuest's forecast indicates a substantial growth rate of 8.97% CAGR during the forecast period, which can be attributed to the growing number of healthcare facilities and increasing demand for advanced diagnostic techniques in the region. The Indian government's plan to establish 150,000 health and wellness centers across the country by 2022, providing diagnostic and treatment services to rural populations, is expected to further drive demand for multimodal imaging technologies in the region.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Multimodal Imaging 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/multimodal-imaging-market

Key Developments in Multimodal Imaging Market

Siemens Healthineers Company, a prominent developer of precision vascular robotics, presented the findings of a groundbreaking study demonstrating the safety and efficacy of CorPath GRX Neurovascular System in robotic-assisted neurovascular aneurysm embolization. This study represents a significant step forward in the company's mission to expand the use of precision robotics in neurovascular treatment. It was an international, multicenter, single-arm, and prospective study, making it the world's first trial on robotic-assisted neurovascular aneurysm embolization.

Mediso Ltd announced that it had acquired Bartec Technologies Ltd, a UK-based company specializing in supplying, installing, and supporting nuclear medicine and molecular imaging equipment and accessories. This acquisition will strengthen Mediso's market position in the UK and Ireland. The financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed. Mediso Medical Imaging Systems, headquartered in Budapest, is a dynamic supplier of nuclear medicine and modern hybrid imaging equipment to healthcare and medical research institutions worldwide.

Key Questions Answered in Multimodal Imaging 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 Next Generation Sequencing Market

Global 3D Cell Culture Market

Global Synthetic Biology Market

Global Biopharmaceutical Analytical Testing Services Market

Global Influenza Diagnostics Market

About Us:

SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

Address:

1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886

Phone:

USA (+1) 617-230-0741

Email: sales@skyquestt.com
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kandou, an innovative leader in high-speed, energy-efficient chip-to-chip link solutions that improve the way the world connects and communicates, today appointed Thomas Boudrot as Vice President of Sales & Business Development.

Thomas is an excellent addition to the Kandou Executive team, remarks Amin Shokrollahi, Founder and CEO of Kandou. He has outstanding sales experience, strategic vision, and exceptional knowledge of the semiconductor industry. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Thomas, and to his contributions to the business.

Thomas joined from AMD Xilinx, a technology and semiconductor company that primarily supplied programmable logic devices. The company is known for inventing the first commercially viable field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and creating the first fabless manufacturing model.

Thomas has 20 years of strategic and operational sales experience and previously served as Sr. Director of EMEA Sales, Data Center and Communication Group at AMD Xilinx. Under his management, data center accounts achieved double-digit growth year on year, due to his results-driven mentality and successful strategy to promote Xilinx solutions in new markets such as AI & ML, Fintech, Big Data Analytics, Video, and HPC. Previous to this role, Thomas led a Global team at Xilinx as Sr. Sales Director, where he was responsible for developing and managing major tier 1 EMEA Telecommunication Accounts on a Worldwide basis through the creation of strong partnerships.

Before joining Xilinx, Thomas worked as ASIC Field Application Engineer at IBM Technology Group, where he drove the promotion of ASIC and System on chip solutions to telecom accounts in EMEA.

Thomas received his Master of Electrical and Computer Science from ESCPI  Ecole Superieure de Conception et Production Industrielle in Paris, France.

It is an exciting opportunity to join Kandou who are developing and deploying world class chips that enhance signal conditioning, taking wired connectivity to the next level. Thomas comments. I am excited to join the team and contribute towards Kandou's success in meeting and surpassing its business objectives.

About Kandou

Kandou is a fabless semiconductor company that offers differentiated and fundamental interconnect technology. In addition to building semiconductors for advanced standards in USB and PCIe applications, Kandou silicon and IP solutions lower power consumption and improve the performance of wired connectivity. Kandous solutions unlock new capabilities for customer systems and devices ranging from consumer electronics to datacenters, AI and machine learning, and high-performance computing. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, with offices in Europe, North America and Asia.

Connect with Kandou at:

Website: www.kandou.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kandou-bus-s-a-/

Twitter: @kandoubus

Kandou acknowledges trademarks or registered trademarks of other organizations for their respective products and services.

Contact: Jason de Kauwe

Director of Marketing at Kandou

dekauwe@kandou.com





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f010f6c8-1ed5-4822-98c6-8f216dd597c8
Jersey City, NJ, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Global District Cooling Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Production Technique (Free Cooling, Absorption Cooling, Electric chillers), Application (Commercial, Residential, and Industrial)- Market Outlook And Industry Analysis 2031"

The global District Cooling Market is estimated to reach over USD 51.41 billion by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.82% during the forecast period 2023-2031.

A sophisticated, energy-efficient way to cool a network of buildings in cities or on college campuses is through district cooling. Huge, high-efficiency industrial-grade machinery is housed in central cooling plants, producing chilled water that is then sent to client buildings through a network of insulated underground pipes. District cooling is an essential component of the energy infrastructure in cities worldwide to lower the load on the electric grid brought on by the increased demand for air conditioning. Workplaces, shopping centers, homes, and other buildings that need interior cooling are supplied with chilled water through district cooling.







Free PDF Report Brochure @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/1706





Despite the industry's rapid growth in prior years, the COVID-19 epidemic forced the suspension of several business operations and projects. Several enterprises, including those in the hotel and commercial trade, were forced to close due to pandemics that prompted global lockdowns. During the pandemic, the worldwide district cooling market experienced a negative influence on demand across all regions, which hindered market expansion.

Recent Developments:

In October 2022, Aligned Data Centers, a provider of IT infrastructure and colocation services, has purchased two new parcels of land in Phoenix, Arizona, for the construction of two new mega campuses with a combined capacity of over 400 MW of IT load and 2 million square feet. Aligned's unique Delta cooling technology, which uses arrays to absorb and remove heat and reduce water flow requirements, will be used in the new data centres. A heat rejection system that uses 85% less water and can function without it will also be included in the building.

List of Prominent Players in the District Cooling Market:

ADC Energy Systems LLC

Danfoss (Denmark)

Emicool

Emirates Central Cooling System Corporation (Empower) (UAE)

Emirates District Cooling LLC,

ENGIE SA

Enwave Energy Corporation (Canada)

Keppel Corporation Ltd.

Logstor A/S (Denmark)

Marafeq Qatar (Qatar)

National Central Cooling Company PJSC (Tabreed) (UAE)

Ramboll Group A/S

Shinryo Corporation

Siemens

Singapore Power Ltd. (Singapore)

SNC-Lavalin (Canada)

Stellar Energy

Vattenfall (Sweden)

Veolia Environment SA





Get Customized Study @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/1706





District Cooling Market Report Scope:

Report Attribute Specifications Market size value in 2022 USD 26.51 Bn Revenue forecast in 2031 USD 51.22 Bn Growth rate CAGR CAGR of 7.82 % from 2023 to 2031 Quantitative units Representation of revenue in US$ Billion, and CAGR from 2023 to 2031 Historic Year 2019 to 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2031 Report coverage The forecast of revenue, the position of the company, the competitive market statistics, growth prospects, and trends Segments covered Production Technique And Application Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa Country scope U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; China; India; Japan; Brazil; Mexico; The UK; France; Italy; Spain; China; Japan; India; South Korea; Southeast Asia; South Korea; Southeast Asia

Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

The Middle East is known to be one of the most sought-after markets for district cooling systems. The sub-region has a hot climate ranging from 35C to 55C due to the sharp temperature rise, especially during the summers. Air conditioning uses more than 70% of all energy in Dubai because of the harsh temperature there. As a result, by 2030, the city wants to use district cooling to provide 40% of its cooling requirements. Regarding capacity, the most significant district cooling projects were finished in Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

The district cooling system in Qatar, The Pearl, has a cooling output of 450 MW overall and is currently thought to be the world's most extensive integrated district cooling system. Policy-imposed objectives, technological advancements, and a sharp increase in demand primarily drive the Middle East district cooling business. The Saudi district cooling market is also expected to increase during forecasting. The need for the worldwide district cooling market is anticipated to soar throughout the forecast period due to rising global temperatures.

Challenges:

District cooling systems require careful planning since they are both time and money intensive. The distribution network installation is relatively expensive. District heating and cooling require a sizable, centralised production and distribution network. A sizable, centralised cooling generation and distribution network is required for district cooling. As a result, manufacturing and distribution require significant capital investments. With a centralised location, several manufacturing technologies are used to obtain the lowest possible operational costs.

Around half of the first investments are used to build a distribution network. Construction of facilities, installing different pipeline networks, and providing extra connections to clients all require high upfront costs. Costs associated with manufacturing and delivery are so considerable. Hence, the initial investment requirements for district cooling limit the market's growth.

Regional Trends:

Geographically speaking, the Middle East and Africa have the biggest market share. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, together with other wealthy and construction-intensive nations, are contributing to the region's dominance. Technological advancements will increase the capacity of the currently operating facilities and ongoing building initiatives.

Intense construction activities, projects, and corporate partnerships for technical improvement throughout the nation will boost the district cooling market forecast in the UAE. For instance, Empower received a USD 52.5 million contract in March 2022 to build a district chilling facility in Dubai that will deliver 23,500 refrigeration tonnes of environmentally friendly district chilling services to the Dubai Land Residential Complex (DLRC) province (RT).





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Segmentation of District Cooling Market-

By Production Technique-

Free Cooling

Absorption Cooling

Electric Chillers

By Application-

Residential

Commercial

Industrialization

By Region-

North America-

The US

Canada

Mexico

Europe-

Germany

The 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 Middle East and Africa





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Dublin, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Security Manual Template - 2023 Gold Edition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Policy and Procedure Manual Compliance Management Made Easy -- California Consumer Privacy Act/GDPR/ISO/HIPAA/SOX/CobiT/FIPS Compliant/WFH



Comes in eReader, MS Word, and PDF formats. Includes 28 Electronic Forms that are ready to use and User Bill of Rights for Sensitive Data and Privacy

The Security Manual Template GOLD Edition - ISO Compliant is provided in MS WORD, PDF, and ePub formats. In addition it includes an MS Excel Security Audit Program and 320 job descriptions from the Internet and IT Positions Description HandiGuide. Each job description comes as a WORD file using a descriptive long file name.

Many organizations fail to realize the benefits of security information management due to the often exhaustive financial and human resource costs of implementing and maintaining the software. However, Janco's Security Manual Template - the industry standard - provides the infrastructure tools to manage security, make smarter security decisions and respond faster to security incidents and compliance requests within days of implementation. The template provides a framework for evaluating SIM services and shows how they could be applied within your organization.

Address issues like Work From Home (WFH) operational requirements, Identify Protection and SIEM (Security Information and Event Management). It is the complete must-have tool.

Security incidents are rising at an alarming rate every year. As the complexity of the threats increases, so do the security measures required to protect networks and critical enterprise data. CIOs, Data center operators, network administrators, and other IT professionals need to comprehend the basics of security in order to safely deploy and manage data and networks.

Securing a typical business network and IT infrastructure demands an end-to-end approach with a firm grasp of vulnerabilities and associated protective measures. While such knowledge cannot stop all attempts at network incursion or system attack, it can empower IT professionals to eliminate general problems, greatly reduce potential damages, and quickly detect breaches.

With the ever-increasing number and complexity of attacks, vigilant approaches to security in both large and small enterprises are a must. The Security Manual Template meets that requirement.

Comprehensive, Detailed, and Customizable

The Security Manual is over 240 pages in length. All versions of the Security Manual Template include both the Business IT Impact Questionnaire and the Threat Vulnerability Assessment Tool (they were redesigned to address Sarbanes Oxley compliance).

In addition, the Security Manual Template PREMIUM Edition contains 16 detailed job descriptions that apply specifically to security and Sarbanes Oxley, ISO security domains, ISO 27000 (ISO27001 and ISO27002), PCI-DSS, HIPAA, FIPS 199, and CobiT.

The Security Manual has recommended policies, procedures and written agreements with employees, vendors and other parties who have access to the company's technology assets. To make this process as easy as possible, Janco provides 18 formatted electronic forms for distribution and documentation. All forms are in easy-to-edit Microsoft Word templates so all you need to do is add your corporate logo, make your own additions and changes and your task of policy and procedure documentation is nearly complete!

Electronic Forms



The forms included are:

Application & File Server Inventory Blog Policy Compliance Agreement BYOD Access and Use Agreement Company Asset Employee Control Log Email Employee Agreement Employee Termination Procedures and Checklist FIPS 199 Assessment Internet Access Request Form Internet and Electronic Communication Employee Agreement Internet use Approval Mobile Device Access and Use Agreement Mobile Device Security and Compliance Checklist New Employee Security Acknowledgment and Release Outsourcing and Cloud Security Compliance Agreement Outsourcing Security Compliance Agreement Preliminary Security Audit Checklist Privacy Compliance Policy Acceptance Agreement Risk Assessment (pdf & docx) Security Access Application Security Audit Report Security Violation Procedures Sensitive Information Policy Compliance Agreement Server Registration Social networking Policy Compliance Agreement Telecommuting Work Agreement Text Messaging Sensitive Information Agreement Threat and Vulnerability Assessment Inventory Work From Home Work Agreement

Data Security and Protection are a priority and this template is a must have tool for every CIO and IT department. Over 3,000 enterprises worldwide have acquired this tool and it is viewed by many as the Industry Standard for Security Management and Security Compliance.



Executive Summary:



Value of Cyber Insurance

Cyber attacks are on the rise. C-Level management from the CEO to the CIO are looking for solutions and protection. One protection is insurance to help recover the cost of restoration and ransomware payments. Insurance may not be what is advertised as insurance companies try to minimize payouts that they have to make.

Janco's Security Manual is used by over 3,500 organizations worldwide. The Security Manual Template contains definitions for the Work From Home (WFH) users and business operations as required by the California Consumer Privacy Act (CaCPA), HIPPA, and GDPR.

Security Manual Template - containing the full editable MS WORD and pdf versions of the template;

Forms - 34 electronic forms that are needed to implement a "World Class" security infrastructure;

Job Descriptions - 7 full job descriptions in MS Word Chief Security Officer (CSO), Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Data Protection Officer, Manager Security and Workstation, Manager WFH support, Security Architect, and System Administrator

Policies - 5 policies in MS WORD and pdf versions - Blog and Personal Website Policy - Mobile Use Policy - Sensitive and Confidential Information Policy - Server Security Policy - Travel and Off-Site Meeting policy;

eBook - with eBook versions of the Security Manual Policy and the supporting policies; and

Tools - with the Business Impact Analysis Tool, Threat and Vulnerability Assessment Tool, Security Checklist, and PCI Audit Program

HIPPA Audit Program

Cyber Insurance Requirements





Key Topics Covered:





1. Security - Introduction

Scope

Objective

Applicability

Best Practices Best Practices When Implementing Security Policies and Procedures Best Practices Network Security Management Best Practices to Meet Compliance Requirements Best Practices to Manage Compliance Violations Best Practices Data Destruction and Retention Best Practices Ransomware Protection

WFH Operational Rules

Web Site Security Flaws

ISO 27000 Compliance Process

Security General Policy

Responsibilities

2. Minimum and Mandated Security Standard Requirements

ISO Security Domains

ISO 27000

Gramm-Leach-Bliley (Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999.

FTC Information Safeguards.

Federal Information Processing Standard - FIPS 199.

NIST SP 800-53

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

California SB 1386 Personal Information Privacy

California Consumer Privacy Act - 2018

Massachusetts 201 CMR 17.00 Data Protection Requirements

What Google and Other 3rd Parties Know

Internet Security Myths

3. Vulnerability Analysis and Threat Assessment

Threat and Vulnerability Assessment Tool

Evaluate Risk

4. Risk Analysis - IT Applications and Functions

Objective

Roles and Responsibilities

Program Requirements

Frequency

Relationship to Effective Security Design

Selection of Safeguards

Requests for Waiver

Program Basic Elements

5. Staff Member Roles

Basic Policies

Security - Responsibilities.

Determining Sensitive Internet and Information Technology Systems Positions

Personnel Practices

Education and Training

Contractor Personnel

6. Physical Security

Information Processing Area Classification.

Classification Categories

Access Control

Levels of Access Authority

Access Control Requirements by Category.

Implementation Requirements

Protection of Supporting Utilities

7. Facility Design, Construction, and Operational Considerations

Building Location

External Characteristics

Location of Information Processing Areas

Construction Standards

Water Damage Protection

Air Conditioning

Entrances and Exits.

Interior Furnishings

Fire

Electrical

Air Conditioning

Remote Internet and Information Technology Workstations

Lost Equipment

Training, Drills, Maintenance, and Testing

8. Media and Documentation

Data Storage and Media Protection

Documentation

10. Data and Software Security

Resources to Be Protected

Classification

Rights

Access Control

Internet/Intranet/Terminal Access/Wireless Access

Spyware

Wireless Security Standards

Logging and Audit Trail Requirements

Satisfactory Compliance.

Violation Reporting and Follow-Up

11. Internet and Information Technology Contingency Planning

Responsibilities

Information Technology

Contingency Planning

Documentation

Contingency Plan Activation and Recovery

Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity and Security Basics

12. Insurance Requirements

Objectives

Responsibilities

Filing a Proof of Loss

Risk Analysis Program

Purchased Equipment and Systems

Leased Equipment and Systems

Media

Business Interruption.

Staff Member Dishonesty

Errors and Omissions

13. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Best Practices for SIEM

KPI Metrics for SIEM

14. Identity Protection

Identifying Relevant Red Flags

Preventing and Mitigating Identity Theft.

Updating the Program

Methods for Administering the Program

15. Ransomware - HIPAA Guidance

Email Gateway for Rasomware Attacks

Required response

16. Outsourced Services

Responsibilities

Outside Service Providers - Including Cloud

17. Waiver Procedures

Purpose and Scope

Policy

Definition

Responsibilities

Procedure

18. Incident Reporting Procedure

Purpose & Scope

Definitions

Responsibilities

Procedure

Analysis/Evaluation

19. Access Control Guidelines

Purpose & Scope

Objectives

Definitions of Access Control Zones

Responsibilities

Badge Issuance

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5f3xkc

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Transformer Monitoring System Market (2023-2028) by Type, Type of Transformer, Installation Type, Services, Application, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Transformer Monitoring System Market is estimated to be USD 3.34 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 4.90 Bn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.98%.



Market Dynamics

Drivers

Increasing Incidences of Power Outages

Digitalization of Power Utilities

Growing Renewable Investments and Rising Smart Grid Initiatives

Restraints

High Installation and Maintenance Cost

Opportunities

Rise in Offshore Wind Farms

Growth of Big Data Analytics

Challenges

Low Acceptance Level among End Users

Market Segmentations



The Global Transformer Monitoring System Market is segmented based on Type, Type of Transformer, Installation Type, Services, Application, and Geography.

By Type, the market is classified into Hardware Solutions and IT Solutions.

By Type of Transformer, the market is classified into Ground Transformer and Pole-Mounted Transformer.

By Installation Type, the market is classified into Newly Installed Units and Retrofit Units.

By Services, the market is classified into Bushing Monitoring, Oil/Gas Monitoring, and Others.

By Application, the market is classified into Distribution Transformers, Power Transformers, Generator Transformers, and Specialty Transformers.

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 ABB Ltd., Advanced Power Technologies LLC, Camlin Ltd, CETT Co., Ltd, Eaton Corp., GE Co., etc.



Countries Studied

America (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Rest of Americas)

Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe)

Middle East and Africa (Egypt, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Rest of MEA)

Asia-Pacific (Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

Competitive Quadrant



The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Ansoff Analysis



The report presents a detailed Ansoff matrix analysis for the Global Transformer Monitoring System Market. Ansoff Matrix, also known as Product/Market Expansion Grid, is a strategic tool used to design strategies for growth of the company. The matrix can be used to evaluate approaches in four strategies viz. Market Development, Market Penetration, Product Development and Diversification. The matrix is also used for risk analysis to understand the risk involved with each approach.



The analyst analyses the Global Transformer Monitoring System Market using the Ansoff Matrix to provide the best approaches a company can take to improve its market position.



Based on the SWOT analysis conducted on the industry and industry players, the analyst has devised suitable strategies for market growth.



Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Transformer Monitoring System 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 190 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $3.34 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $4.9 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.9% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Dynamics

5 Market Analysis



6 Global Transformer Monitoring System Market, By Type



7 Global Transformer Monitoring System Market, By Type of Transformers



8 Global Transformer Monitoring System Market, By Installation Type



9 Global Transformer Monitoring System Market, By Services



10 Global Transformer Monitoring System Market, By Application



11 Americas' Transformer Monitoring System Market



12 Europe's Transformer Monitoring System Market



13 Middle East and Africa's Transformer Monitoring System Market



14 APAC's Transformer Monitoring System Market



15 Competitive Landscape



16 Company Profiles



17 Appendix



Companies Mentioned

ABB Ltd.

Advanced Power Technologies LLC

Camlin Ltd

CETT Co., Ltd

Eaton Corp.

GE Co.

Groupe Cahors S.A.

Hitachi Energy Ltd.

Honeywell International, Inc.

HZ Electric, Inc.

Kirloskar Electric Co. Ltd.

KJ Dynatech, Inc.

Koncar Electrical Industry Inc.

Mitsubishi Corp.

MTE Meter Test Equipment Ag

Ningbo Ligong Online Monitoring Technology Co., Ltd.

Qualitrol Co. LLC

S&C Electric Co.

Schneider Electric SE

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.

Siemens Ag

Wilson Transformer Co.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mdpr40

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratom extraction has traditionally been challenging because the alkaloid content of the Kratom leaves can vary significantly depending on the plant's origin, age, and other factors. In addition, the process can be expensive and time-consuming, requiring specialized equipment manned by seasoned professionals. Therefore, the quality and efficacy of Kratom extracts have always varied widely, and this is where MitWellness breakthrough new patent pending extraction process comes in. The 100% food-grade kratom extract leaves behind no traces of any solvents used. It also yields 99% kratom extract, which is the so-called holy grail of kratom extracts.



Kratom is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, specifically in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Kratom leaves have been used for medicinal purposes in these regions for centuries. The plants leaves contain active compounds called alkaloids, with mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine being the most abundant and known for their medicinal properties.

Kratom has gained popularity in the west in recent years as a natural remedy for pain, anxiety, and depression. It is typically consumed by brewing the leaves into a tea or ingesting the powdered leaves directly. Kratom is also available in other forms, such as capsules, extracts, and tinctures. However, the concentration of the desired ingredients is often low or not as high as it should be. Thats where the latest food-grade kratom extraction process comes in.

Todd Underwood, the companys president and CEO said: This is a revolutionary process and puts MitWellness in a position above all the other companies for several reasons. We can provide a superior product that not only tastes better but, most importantly, is substantially more effective and is free of questionable residual solvents such as common hydrocarbons and heavy metals commonly found in competing products. It also makes MitWellness vertically integrated, providing significant cost savings for our customers.

MitWellness plans on scaling its operations to meet the growing demand for kratom extract. Shawn Duncan, MitSciencess Chief Extraction Officer, stated: Our goal is to continue to scale this operation, eventually processing 27 metric tons of plant material per week. We also continue to develop other methods to continually improve operational efficiencies and overall yield to put MitSciences in a position to provide other companies with premium kratom extract.

About MitWellness

MitWellness is a company that specializes in producing high-quality Kratom products that seamlessly blend nature and innovation. Established in April 2022, the company has become a leading player in the Kratom market thanks to its unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.

Contacts:

MitWellness

2857 SW 40 HWY.

Blue Springs, MO 64105

info@mitwellness.com

(844) 445-0648

Website: https://www.mitwellness.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitWellnessUSA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MitWellnessUSA/
PRINCE ALBERT, Saskatchewan, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mistawasis Nehiyawak, announced the launch of a new app designed to streamline updates and enhance communication between the Nation and its members across Canada.



Some of our members are across the country, this app will allow us to stay in touch with them and keep them engaged," said Chief Darryl Watson. It will enable us to communicate more effectively and connect with members in a way that's convenient and accessible."



The Mistawasis Nehiyawak App is available for download on the App Store and Google Play Store. The app is free to download and use, and members are encouraged to share it with their friends and family.



We are committed to getting our members informed, involved and empowered," explained Chief Watson. "This app is one of the many tools we are using to build a stronger, more connected community that is prepared to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow."



The official Mistawasis Nehiyawak app runs on Communikit, a unique mobile app platform designed specifically for Indigenous communities and organizations to communicate with their members, staff, and the public across Canada and the world.



This innovative app is the latest development from Mistawasis, who first saw success using an app to revitalize language in school. In 2018 Mistawasis language teacher, Denise Desjardins, incorporated language learning tools into the learning apps used at Chief Mistawasis School.



Those efforts were formally recognized, with Desjardins winning a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).



In the past, we have had success using apps with our youth. We hope this gets them excited to engage at our events and teaching within the Nation, said Chief Watson. The app will help us build relationships, and celebrate our culture and traditions."

About Mistawasis Nehiyawak

The Mistawasis Nehiyawak reserve is located roughly 68 km west of Prince Albert. The total registered population sits just under 3,000, with approximately one-third living on-reserve.

Mistawasis Nehiyawak boasts several healthy economic development programs and business entities with continued prosperity that provides for the community. Operating under the Misty Ventures banner , Mistawasis covers industries in property management, petroleum, energy, storage, concrete services, engineering, environmental services and more.

About Communikit

Communikit is a mobile app platform focused on Indigenous communications created by Aivia Inc. (pronounced AY-vee-yuh). Communikit gives progressive Indigenous leaders and organizations the ability to communicate with their members at any time, across any distance. The first and fastest-growing network of its kind in Canada, Communikit currently serves over 23,000 users spanning 94 communities.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5fff775f-33fd-4b58-b298-fe5532a0eb11
Manhattan Beach, CA, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gary Lipsky, CEO of Break of Day Capital in Manhattan Beach, California, was named Best Real Estate Syndication Company by the American Apartment Owners Association (AAOA). Lipsky has established himself as a leading figure in the real estate investment industry with a track record including investments in more than 3,000 units and $250 million in transactions since 2002. With asset management expertise thats been a driving force behind the company's success, Lipsky said, "Our approach is to seek out value-add opportunities. We achieve exceptional returns for our investors by focusing on a few markets and conducting comprehensive research to expertly manage every investment from start to finish."

Lipsky, who is also a co-founder of the Asset Management Summit and Real Estate Investor Podcast, said hes thrilled to receive the award from the AAOA and Rent Magazine.

"It is an honor to be recognized as the Best Real Estate Syndication Company by such prestigious organizations. This award is a testament to the hard work of our team at Break of Day Capital and our commitment to excellence."

Break of Day Capital's investment strategy has resulted in consistent returns for its investors, and its CEO said the company plans to continue expanding its portfolio in the future: "We seek out markets that are poised for growth and properties with untapped potential. Our approach is to capitalize on opportunities that others may overlook, while always keeping our investors' returns and risk management as top priorities."

The recent recognition from the AAOA and Rent Magazine acknowledges Break of Day Capital's dedication to delivering exceptional results to its investors. The company's unique investment strategy, attention to detail, and unwavering dedication to quality have set it apart in the industry, Lipsky said. "We are proud of our accomplishments and excited for the future. Our team will continue to look for opportunities to provide high-quality multifamily real estate investments with the best risk adjusted returns to our investors."

About Break of Day Capital

Break of Day Capital is a dynamic real estate investment firm that specializes in acquiring value-add multifamily properties in the Southwest United States. With a proven track record of delivering exceptional returns to its investors, Break of Day Capital utilizes a strategic approach anchored by extensive research, careful due diligence, and incredible attention to detail to ensure that every investment is managed with the utmost care, from acquisition to disposition.

Media Communications:

Inquiries: jaclyn@breakofdaycapital.com

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emirates Auction has set a new world record for selling the world's most expensive number plate at the "Most Noble Numbers" charity auction for special vehicle plates.

Plate number P7 was sold for a whopping $15 million, making it the most expensive number plate in the world. The number was sold at the Most Noble Number charity auction, which was held on Saturday April 8, 2023.

The "P - 7" plate number has now broken the previous record set by the Abu Dhabi Plate "5 - 1" plate, also set by Emirates Auction, which was sold for $14 million in 2008.

The auction, organised by Emirates Auction, has raised $26.6 million that will go in full towards supporting the 1 Billion Meals Endowment campaign, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to establish the largest Ramadan sustainable food aid endowment fund.

Record Numbers

Emirates Auction has been organising specialised number plate auctions in the UAE since 2004, and has become a leading auctioneer for high-end registration plates, attracting buyers from around the world. The top 10 most expensive number plates in the world have all been auctioned by Emirates Auction.

Sustained Support

Speaking on the occasion, Abdulla Matar Almannaei, Chairman of Emirates Auction, said: "Breaking world records is always exhilarating, but breaking a world record while making a difference in people's lives is truly priceless. The sale of plate number P7 for $15 million at the Most Noble Numbers charity auction is a testament to the generosity and commitment of our bidders towards supporting the '1 Billion Meals Endowment' campaign. We at Emirates Auction are proud to have played a role in this achievement, and we look forward to continuing our support for charitable causes through innovative auction events."

For his part, Omar Matar Almannaei, Executive Director of Emirates Auction, said: "The Most Noble Numbers charity auction has once again demonstrated the remarkable generosity of the UAE community in supporting charitable causes. We are proud to have played a part in raising $26.6 million towards the '1 Billion Meals Endowment' campaign through the sale of special vehicle plates."

Over the years, Emirates Auction has collaborated with various organisations and charities to raise funds for a variety of social causes, including education, health, and humanitarian aid. Through its charitable auctions, Emirates Auction has been able to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need, while also showcasing the potential of UAE to contribute to social causes.

Media Contact:

Emirates Auction

Mr. Satwinder Singh (Emirates Auction General Manager)

+971504519336

ssingh@emiratesauction.com

www.emiratesauction.com

Disclaimer: There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this PR should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation. For more info, please contact brandnewsproject@gmail.com.

Attachment
TORONTO, April 11, 2023 - Jourdan Resources Inc. (TSXV: JOR; OTCQB: JORF; FRA: 2JR1) ("Jourdan" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau toured North American Lithium Inc.'s ("NAL") lithium complex on Monday, April 3, 2023. Jourdan entered into an earn-in and joint venture agreement with NAL respecting a portion of its Vall?e property, which is directly east of the NAL complex. Jourdan owns a total of 16,000 hectares of land east of the NAL complex. NAL is a majority-owned indirect subsidiary of Sayona Mining Ltd. (ASX: SYA; OTCQB: SYAXF) ("Sayona"). Mr. Trudeau met with Brett Lynch, Sayona's CEO, and the Sayona team, in recognition of the NAL complex starting production, giving NAL the distinction of becoming Canada's only lithium producer.



Mr. Lynch stated, "We were honoured to have Prime Minister Trudeau come and visit the operating NAL complex. He understands the importance of lithium as a critical mineral, and he was anxious to come and see Canada's only lithium operating mine. We made note that we are partnered with Jourdan, a proud Canadian company with long roots in Quebec, with whom together we plan to undertake a drill program on adjacent claims to NAL's properties set to start in May 2023."

Mr. Richard Quesnel, Jourdan's Executive Chairman stated, "We appreciate the Prime Minister's visit to the NAL complex. It signals to Canadians the significance of lithium as an energy storage component, especially in a province rich in renewable energy generated from hydroelectric resources. We are proud to have a joint venture with our neighbour North American Lithium, which owns the only operating lithium mine in Canada. Together, we look forward to contributing to the lithium market."

About Jourdan Resources Inc.

Jourdan Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior mining exploration company trading under the symbol "JOR" on the TSX Venture Exchange and "2JR1" on the Stuttgart Stock Exchange. The Company is focused on the acquisition, exploration, production, and development of mining properties. The Company's properties are in Quebec, Canada, primarily in the spodumene-bearing pegmatites of the La Corne Batholith, around North American Lithium's Quebec Lithium Mine.

For more information:

Rene Bharti, Chief Executive Officer and President

Email: info@jourdaninc.com

Phone: (416) 861-5800

www.jourdaninc.com

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 with respect to the Company's plans with NAL to commence a drill program in May 2023 and the Company's ability to execute its business plan. 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 Jourdan to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: receipt of necessary approvals; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future mineral prices and market demand; accidents, labour disputes and shortages and other risks of the mining industry. Although Jourdan 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. Jourdan 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.
CALGARY, April 11, 2023 - Traction Uranium Corp. (CSE: TRAC) (OTC: TRCTF) (FRA: Z1K) (the "Company" or "Traction") is pleased to announce that it has completed its diamond drill program at the Company's Key Lake South Property (the "KLS Property") in northern Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, and has completed demobilization of the drill crew, the Aurora Geological team, and the takedown/demobilization of the temporary work camp.



The first phase diamond drill program comprised 12 diamond drill holes (DDH) for a total of 1,838 metres (see Table 1). Core logging and sampling has been completed by the Aurora Geosciences Team, and 419 samples have been delivered to the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) for geochemical analysis.

The program identified several zones of strong chlorite-epidote alteration, including within DDH KLS23-005, 008 and 010, and strongly developed alteration assemblages in KLS23-007 typical of Athabasca-style basement-hosted uranium mineralization. Anomalous radioactivity was intersected in overburden in DDH KLS23-002 and 009, in bedrock in 005, and 008, and in both overburden and bedrock in 007. Notably, 007 intersected 2 zones of anomalous radioactivity: Zone 1; 6 metres (1.6 m to 7.6m) within overburden, with values up to 1,254 cps; and Zone 2; 52 metres (31 m to 83 m) within basement rocks, returning values up to 474 cps. DDH KLS23-009 also returned a 69-centimetre interval of anomalous radioactivity within overburden, extending from 0.023 metres to 0.716 metres, with values ranging from 121 to 236 cps. Sheeted graphitic fractures in metasandstones was intersected towards the base of DDH KLS23-008 (see Traction news releases dated March 29th, 2023 and April 5th, 2023).

Lester Esteban, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, "I would like to thank the teams from Full Force Diamond Drilling Ltd., JP Enterprises Inc., Aurora Geosciences Ltd. and UGreenco Energy Corp. for carrying out a safe and efficient diamond drill program at KLS which returned impressive results. The shallow, near surface Zone 1 overburden intersect of significant radioactivity (1,254 cps measured by downhole probe) in DDH KLS23-007 is a compelling target for follow-up and our team will be hard at work planning a summer program in order to sample and assay the 007 overburden to determine its mineralization."

Carl Schulze, Senior Project manager with Aurora Geosciences Ltd. of Whitehorse, Yukon, states: "The identification of overburden-hosted zones of elevated radioactivity in DDH 009 and strongly anomalous radiation in DDH 007 provide a second major target setting for follow-up exploration at the KLS property. These holes are spaced more than 1.0 km apart, indicating multiple sources of overburden-hosted radioactivity are likely. This setting, combined with zones of anomalous radiation within bedrock, enhances the exploration potential at Traction's KLS South property."

Table 1: Drill collar data, KLS 2023 Program

Hole ID Easting Northing Azimuth Dip EOH (m) KLS23-001 456672 6333542 270 60 197 KLS23-002 456640 6333973 Vertical 90 63 KLS23-002A 456640 6333973 270 60 183 KLS23-003 456541 6334206 270 60 180 KLS23-004 456579 6334472 270 70 153 KLS23-005 456429 6334793 90 70 159 KLS23-006 455846 6334912 270 60 150 KLS23-007 455527 6334887 250 70 150 KLS23-008 455421 6334664 270 70 162 KLS23-009 455727 6333852 Vertical 90 150 KLS23-010 456001 6334119 90 70 141 KLS23-011 455629 6333484 200 70 150 Total 1838 m

NOTES:

Cps* = "counts-per-second", as measured with a downhole probe or handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 scintillometer. The reader is cautioned that the Company uses downhole probe readings and handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 scintillometer as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive materials (uranium, thorium and/or potassium), and that downhole probe results may not be used directly to quantify or qualify uranium concentrations of the rock samples measured.

The Company considers all downhole probe readings greater than 100 cps to be considered "elevated radioactivity", with background radioactivity measuring between 50 to 100 cps.

All reported drill hole intervals are drill core lengths and do not represent thickness which have yet to be determined.

About the Property

The KLS Property is located approximately 6 kilometers to the southwest of the Key Lake uranium mill and in close vicinity to modern uranium mining facilities and highway transportation in northern Saskatchewan. Geologically, it is located along southeastern edge of the Proterozoic Athabasca Basin.

About Traction Uranium Corp.

Traction Uranium Corp. is in the business of mineral exploration and the development of uranium discovery prospects in Canada, including its three uranium projects in the world-renowned Athabasca Region.

We invite you to find out more about our exploration-stage activities across Canada's Western region at www.tractionuranium.com.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Carl Schulze, P. Geo., who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and is a Professional Geoscientist in good standing with APEGBC, APGO and NAPEG, and who is a Senior Project Manager at Aurora Geosciences Ltd. Mr. Schulze verified the data disclosed in this news release, including the sampling, analytical, and test data underlying such data. Mr. Schulze was physically present during data collection and examined a significant portion of direct data obtained via hand-held probes, and was able to verify the data accordingly. No limitations were imposed upon the data verification process. The quality assurance / quality control program in relation to data collection and analysis consisted of viewing the data from the "down" and "up" result and employing quality control measures comprised of careful geotechnical logging of all holes, including layout of 1.0-metre intervals, photographing the core and obtaining duplicate samples at a rate of 1 per 25 total samples in the sample stream. It is noted that the information herein provides an indication of the exploration potential of the KLS Property but may not be representative of actual results.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors

Lester Esteban

Chief Executive Officer

+1 (604) 561 2687

info@tractionuranium.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including with respect to potential uranium mineralization and potential future project economics. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include risks that potential uranium mineralization or future project economics will be less than believed, or none at all and those risks identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. 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 information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.
SUDBURY, April 11, 2023 - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSX-V: SPC) ("SPC Nickel" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce initial assay results from its Phase 1 drilling campaign at the recently consolidated West Graham and Crean Hill 3 properties (collectively, the "West Graham Project"), including results of the massive sulphides reported in hole WG-23-026 (see news release dated March 27, 2023).

Highlights

Hole WG-23-026, intersected 2.48% Ni, 0.64% Cu over 7.8 metres within a larger 143.0 metre wide zone (see Table 1) of 'West Graham-style' mineralization consisting of 5 to 20% disseminated to blebby sulphides.

Individual massive sulphide samples returned values as high as 5.88% Ni over 0.57 metres (see Table 2).

Hole WG-23-020, intersected 0.53% Ni, 0.27% Cu (0.63% NiEq) over 44.0 metres (see Table 1).

To date, fourteen holes for 2,097 metres have been completed (See Figure 1). Assays from all holes not listed in Table 1 are pending.

Grant Mourre, CEO and President of SPC Nickel commented, "We are excited to announce the first assay results from our current drilling on the Crean Hill 3 side of the West Graham Project. These results demonstrate two important facts: first, the massive sulphide intersected in hole WG-23-026 confirms that the property has the potential to host high-grade, high-tenor nickel-copper massive sulphides between the previous wide spaced drilling completed in the 1950's; and second, the results to date of our infill drilling has returned thick intervals of nickel and copper mineralization that is consistent with or better than the historic indicated and inferred resource. Given that we have only just started the infill drilling program with many holes left to drill, we're excited to continue to grow and expand the mineralized zone on the West Graham Property."

Assay Results

Table 1: Assay results from the Phase 1 drill program on the West Graham Project. For hole WG-23-026, only the semi-massive to massive sulphide section that was reported in the Company news release of March 27, 2023, are listed below. The remaining assay results are pending.

Notes:



1. Width refers to downhole length. True widths for WG-23-020 are estimated at 100%. The true width for WG-23-026 can not be determined with the available data.





2. NiEq.% = Ni%+ Cu% x 0.32 + Co% x 0.53 and does not factor in Pt, Pd, Au or Ag values. No allowances have been made of recovery losses that may occur should mining eventually result. The NiEq.% calculation used in this release is consistent with the relative metal prices used in the West Graham resource report published by First Nickel Inc. in 2009.





3. 3E PGM represents Pd g/t + Pt g/t + Au g/t.

Table 2: Individual sample results from the reported WG-023-026 sulphide intersection.



Notes: Refer to Table 1. BDL represents "Below Detection Limits'.

Lockerby East Project

The Lockerby East Project hosts both the historic West Graham and Lockerby East deposits. In 2009, First Nickel Inc. disclosed a historical resource estimate1 of 8.55Mt @ 0.45% Ni and 0.31% Cu (indicated) and 2.0Mt @ 0.38% Ni and 0.30% Cu (inferred) for the West Graham deposit. These grades have economic potential in the context of the Sudbury Mining Camp, as the deposit is located very near to surface and may be amenable to low-cost open pit mining. The deposit is characterized by a broad zone of disseminated to semi-massive sulphide that ranges from 1.7 to 66 metres thick and strikes for 375 metres with a dip extent of up to 533 metres. Within the larger resource, a distinct zone of higher-grade mineralization grading ~1% NiEq. is present. At depth, the West Graham deposit is interpreted to be contiguous with the high-grade Lockerby East deposit where, historic resources of 0.22 Mt @ 2.43% Ni and 0.78% Cu2 (indicated + inferred) are hosted.

The Company considers the West Graham and Lockerby East resource estimates to be historic mineral resources for purposes of NI 43-101. Neither the Company nor a qualified person on behalf of the Company have done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and the Company is not treating such historical estimates as current mineral resources. The Company considers the historic mineral resource estimates to be relevant to an understanding of the West Graham Project but has not done any work to validate the estimates.

About the Sudbury Mining Camp3

The Sudbury Mining Camp is the 2nd largest Ni camp in the world, with over 130 years of continuous production. Since the discovery of the original ore deposits, over 11.1 million metric tons of Ni and 10.8 million metric tons of Cu, together with by-products of cobalt, silver, gold and platinum group elements have been mined from the deposits. Production continues to be generated from eight major mine complex and 21 smaller ore deposits around the outer margin of the Sudbury Basin; the principal mines are owned and operated by international mining companies (Vale, Glencore, and KGHM International). The economic wealth generated at Sudbury in terms of nickel and copper value alone is close to US$500 billion.

Reference

1. NI 43-101 Report, Scott Wilson Mining, January 15, 2009, First Nickel Inc.; Technical Report on the West Graham Property Conwest Zone Resource Estimate, Graham Township, Ontario, Canada.



2. Technical Report on the 2009 Resource Estimate for the Depth, East and Upper West Zones, Lockerby Mine, Sudbury, Ontario, prepared by First Nickel Inc., February 23, 2009.



3. Nickel Sulfide Ores and Impact Melts, Lightfoot, 2017, Elsevier Inc.

Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Qualified Persons

The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr. Grant Mourre, P.Geo. (PGO), CEO and President of SPC Nickel Corp. and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

SPC Nickel follows rigorous sampling and analytical protocols that meet or exceed industry standards. Core samples are stored in a secured area until transport in batches to the ALS facility in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Sample batches include certified reference materials, blank, and duplicate samples that are then processed under the control of ALS. All samples were analyzed in Vancouver by ALS Chemex. Platinum, palladium, and gold values were determined together using standard lead oxide collection fire assay and ICP-AES finish. Base metal values were determined using sodium peroxide fusion and ICP-AES finish. Silver values were determined using an aqua regia digestions and an AAS finish. A Certified Reference Material (CRM) standard, blank or duplicate is inserted on every 10th sample in the following order: CRM, blank, CRM, duplicate. The cycle repeats every 40 samples, thus ensuring that 10% of samples submitted are control samples.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About SPC Nickel Corp.

SPC Nickel Corp. is a Canadian public corporation focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGMs within the world class Sudbury Mining Camp. SPC Nickel is currently exploring its key 100% owned exploration project Lockerby East located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp that includes the Graham West Resource and the Crean Hill 3 property under option from Vale. The Company also holds three additional projects across Canada including the large camp-scale Muskox Project (located in Nunavut), the past producing Aer-Kidd Project (located in the Sudbury Mining Camp) and the Janes Project (located 50 km northwest of Sudbury). The corporate focus is on Sudbury, and SPC Nickel continues to look for new opportunities to add shareholder value. Additional information regarding SPC Nickel and its projects can be found at www.spcnickel.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE SPC Nickel Corp.
MONTREAL, April 11, 2023 - Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) (the "Company" or "Strategic") is pleased to announce that it will resume trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the "SR" symbol on April 12, 2023. The new CUSIP for the post six to one consolidation common shares is 86277X409.

About Strategic Resources

Strategic Resources Inc. (TSXV: SR) is a Montreal, Canada-based mineral exploration and development company focused on high-purity iron and vanadium projects in Canada and Finland. The Company is primarily focused on its flagship BlackRock project, which is a fully permitted and ready to construct mine, concentrator and metallurgical facility in Quebec.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://strategic-res.com/. To follow future news releases, please sign up at https://strategic-res.com/contact/.

Follow us on: Twitter or Linkedin.

Strategic Resources Inc.

Signed: "Sean Cleary"

Sean Cleary, CEO & Chairman

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/strategic-resources-announces-resumption-of-trading-on-april-12th-under-the-sr-symbol-301794542.html

SOURCE Strategic Resources Inc.
Vancouver, April 11, 2023 - Equity Metals Corp. (TSXV: EQTY) ("Equity" or "Company") reports today that crews have mobilized and drilling has commenced on the Company's 100% owned Silver Queen project, located in central British Columbia. This is the first phase of a property wide exploration program that will focus on continued resource expansion of the Camp and Sveinson deposits and the delineation of new targets throughout the property, including the Company's initial drill-testing of the Cole Lake and George Lake vein systems.

The program will consist of up to 6000 metres of drilling in two separate phases to be carried out through the Spring and early Summer. Additional surface soil sampling is also planned which will be used to upgrade several historic targets in preparation for future drill testing.

Initial drilling will test a 200-metre extension of two veins in the Camp target and specifically western step-outs from high-grade intercepts in drill hole SQ22-078 (previously reported in NR-10-22; Sept 8, 2022) which include:

a 1.3 metre (0.9m est. TT) interval grading 9.3g/t Au, 1,998g/t Ag, 0.17% Cu, 2.2% Pb and 6.8% Zn (41.8g/t AuEq or 3,136g/t AgEq) within a 7.5 metre interval (5.2m est. TT) averaging 1.8g/t Au, 539g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb and 1.8% Zn (10.4g/t AuEq or 778g/t AgEq); and

a 0.4 metre (0.3m est TT) interval grading 0.2g/t Au, 2,313g/t Ag, 1.2% Pb and 1.0% Zn (32.2g/t AuEq or 2,411g/t AgEq) within a 6.8 metre interval (4.7m est. TT) averaging 156g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb and 0.1% Zn (2.2g/t AuEq or 166g/t AgEq).

The identification of such strong gold-enrichment in the Camp target, which has traditionally returned higher silver values relative to gold, further enhances the overall exploration potential of these vein extensions.

The drilling program will also test down-dip of the Sveinson target, located to the east of the Camp target, and then to other parts of the property, including the George Lake and Cole Lake vein systems where historical drill results have partially delineated mineralization over several hundred metres of potential strike-length and to depths of up to 450 metres below surface.

VP Exploration Rob Macdonald commented, "The current drill program follows on the release of an updated Mineral Resource Estimate on the Silver Queen property in December 2022, which successfully doubled the mineral resources on a silver-equivalence basis with many mineralized blocks remaining open for further resource expansion. Over 20 different veins have been identified on the property, many with encouraging drill intercepts that have not been properly offset. Mineral Resources have been defined on only four veins leaving extensive exploration potential remaining on the property."





Figure 1: Plan map of targets and deposits on the Silver Queen vein system, BC

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5566/161991_483dd50a84a398d0_002full.jpg





Figure 2: Sveinson and Camp targets, looking south. Initial drilling in 2023 will test the western extension of the Camp target and then down-dip projects of the Sveinson target.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5566/161991_483dd50a84a398d0_003full.jpg

About Silver Queen Project

The Silver Queen Project is a premier gold-silver property with over 100 years of historical exploration and development and is located adjacent to power, roads and rail with significant mining infrastructure that was developed under previous operators Bradina JV (Bralorne Mines) and Houston Metals Corp. (a Hunt Brothers company). The Property contains two historical declines into the No. 3 Vein, camp infrastructure, and a maintained Tailings Facility.

The Silver Queen Property consists of 45 mineral claims, 17 crown grants, and two surface crown grants totalling 18,852ha with no underlying royalties. Mineralization is hosted by a series of epithermal veins distributed over a 6 sq km area. An updated NI43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate was detailed in a News Release issued on Dec. 1st, 2022 effectively doubled the mineral resources on the project on a silver equivalency basis with contributions from four of these veins. More than 20 different veins have been identified on the Property, forming an extensive network of zoned Cretaceous- to Tertiary-age epithermal veins. The Property remains largely under explored.

About Equity Metals Corporation

Equity Metals Corp. is a Manex Resource Group Company. Manex provides exploration, administration, and corporate development services for Equity Metals' two major mineral properties, the Silver Queen Au-Ag-Zn-Cu project, located in central B.C., and the Monument Diamond project, located in Lac De Gras, NWT. The Company also has a 1% royalty (Greenwood Royalty) and a 100% working interest in the La Ronge Silica Project.

The Company owns 100% interest, with no underlying royalty, in the Silver Queen Project, located along the Skeena Arch in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The property hosts high-grade, precious- and base-metal veins related to a buried porphyry system, which has been only partially delineated. The Company also has a controlling JV interest in the Monument Diamond project, NWT, strategically located in the Lac De Gras district within 40 km of both the Ekati and Diavik Diamond Mines. The Project owners are Equity Metals Corp. (57.49%), Chris and Jeanne Jennings (22.11%); and Archon Minerals Ltd. (20.4%). Equity Metals is the operator of the Project.

The 100% controlled La Ronge Silica Project is an historical sand quarry located in central Saskatchewan, approximately 60 kilometers south-southeast of La Ronge, Saskatchewan and 210 kilometers west of Flin Flon, Manitoba. Preliminary studies indicate the silica deposit may be developed into a simple and profitable, low-cost mining and washing operation to produce high-purity silica (>98% SiO2), a specialty product for the EV battery industry.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr."

Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr., P.Geo

President, Director, Equity Metals Corp.

For further information, visit the website at https://www.equitymetalscorporation.com; or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Equity Metals Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161991
Vancouver, April 11, 2023 - EGR Exploration Ltd. (TSXV:EGR) ("EGR" or the "Company") announces that the Company intends to extend 1,777,778 share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") from the private placement that closed April 15, 2021. The Warrants will be extended for twelve months with a new expiration of April 15, 2024 and an exercise price of $0.69.

All other terms and conditions of the Warrants remain unchanged. The Warrant extension is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About EGR Exploration Ltd.

EGR Exploration Ltd. is exploring for gold in the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend approximately 300 kilometres north of Timmins, Ontario. EGR's 40,255 hectare Detour West gold project is contiguous to Agnico Eagle's property which contains the Detour Lake Gold Mine and is approximately 20 kilometres from the mine, which is also hosted in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

For further information contact:

Daniel Rodriguez

CEO & Director

Phone: (604) 353-4080

Email: drodriguez@egrexploration.com

Forward?Looking Statement (Safe Harbor Statement): This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Company's exploration plans. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals. Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward-looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company's future operations. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. 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.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, April 11, 2023 - Rusoro Mining Ltd. (TSXV: RML) (the "Company" or "Rusoro") is pleased to report that the enforcement process in connection with its arbitration award against the Republic of Venezuela has taken several significant steps forward, bringing the Company much closer to finally obtaining compensation for Venezuela's expropriation of its gold mining assets in that country, which took place in 2011 and which an arbitration tribunal found in 2016 violated international law.

First, on March 24, 2023, Judge Leonard Stark of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware issued Rusoro a conditional writ of attachment fieri facias (i.e., attachment) regarding the shares of PDV Holding, Inc. ("PDVH"), a subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela ("PDVSA") and the indirect parent of Citgo Petroleum Corp., the fifth-largest independent oil refiner in the United States.

In issuing the writ, the court found that Rusoro had proven that PDVSA is the corporate "alter ego" of Venezuela, and that Rusoro's arbitration award, which including interest exceeds $1.7 billion and which a U.S. court in Washington DC has already confirmed and converted to a court judgment, may be enforced against PDVSA's assets. The court's alter ego finding was based on an evidentiary record demonstrating that the Venezuelan government effectively dominates PDVSA and treats its assets as its own.

The court's attachment order is conditional and will not be executed unless and until the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), which administers the current U.S. sanctions regime against Venezuela and PDVSA, authorizes the attachment and sale of PDVH shares in satisfaction of Rusoro's judgment and judgments issued to various other creditors of Venezuela. If OFAC permits the sale to go forward (or if Venezuelan sanctions are lifted or modified in such a way that OFAC permission is no longer required to conduct it), a federal marshal will serve the attachment order, which will allow the sale process to move forward. In preparation for this, Rusoro has asked the Delaware court to find that its judgment is an "Additional Judgment," i.e., one that may be satisfied through the court-ordered sale of PDVH shares.

Second, a court-appointed special master is continuing his work developing sales procedures that will govern the sale of the PDVH shares, using criteria that are designed to maximize the proceeds of the sale. PDVSA and Venezuela had sought to have the special master disqualified from the case on grounds that the special master had been communicating with OFAC. On March 30, 2023, the Delaware court rejected the Venezuela parties' efforts to disqualify the special master, allowing him to continue his work on the process for auctioning the PDVH shares.

Third, the Venezuela parties had suggested at a March 30, 2023 hearing that any appeal they took of the order granting the conditional attachment writs would automatically "divest" the Delaware court of jurisdiction and require all work on the sale to cease. Judge Stark did not issue a ruling on this position, but suggested that if PDVSA believed the proceedings should cease pending its appeal, it would be wise to make a motion. As a result, on April 6, 2023, PDVSA made a formal motion seeking a "stay", or suspension, of all work on the sale process during the appeal process. On April 10, Judge Stark ordered any opposition to that motion to be filed by April 18, 2023; Rusoro intends to oppose it.

Andre Agapov, CEO of Rusoro, stated, "The Delaware court's decision authorizing Rusoro and other creditors to execute the shares of PDVH and its refusal to disqualify the special master or find that the sales process cannot continue constitute major steps forward for the Company and the foreign investors whose treaty rights were trampled on by Venezuela. The court's decision vindicates the rule of law, and as Venezuela and PDVSA continue to lose in the courts, they should rethink their posture of intransigence and work to reach a responsible and reasonable solution with their creditors instead of continuing to waste precious resources fighting the results of arbitrations that they agreed to honor, particularly when the judgments against Venezuela are continuing to accrue interest. Rusoro will continue to enforce its rights as long as Venezuela refuses to pay the lawful judgment against it."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Andre Agapov"

Andre Agapov, President & CEO

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Forward-looking statements:

"This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This information and statements address future activities, events, plans, developments and projections. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information and statements are frequently identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and similar terminology, and reflect assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management of Rusoro in light of its experience, current conditions, expectations of future developments and other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking information and statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Rusoro's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information and statements and accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed thereon.

Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary include but are not limited to the availability of financing; fluctuations in commodity prices; changes to and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental laws and obtaining requisite permits; political, economic and other risks; as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Rusoro disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements except as may be required."

SOURCE Rusoro Mining Ltd.
Belgian GP promoter Vanessa Maes says she is "much more optimistic" about the clouded future of Formula 1's fabled annual race at Spa-Francorchamps.

In February, we reported that Maes was in Bahrain during pre-season testing for meetings with Formula 1 authorities about the event's expiring contract.

But after that, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is understood to have travelled to Vietnam for advanced race talks - triggering rumours it or Kyalami in South Africa could replace Spa in 2024.

"It is clear that places on the calendar are expensive," Maes said in late February. "It was already very difficult for this year."

However, she is suddenly now "much more optimistic" about Spa's F1 future.

"A delegation from the Formula 1 group came by this month," she has now told Het Laatste Nieuws. "For two days, they looked at what we have changed at the circuit to make the next grand prix an even greater success than in 2022.

"We are convinced that Spa Francorchamps now fully meets the specifications of Formula 1. We fulfil all of the conditions.

"Soon, a new meeting is planned," Maes added.

It is believed the terms of a two-race contract extension are being discussed.

(GMM)
Ferrari is pushing to overturn the penalty that left Carlos Sainz distraught at the end of the recent Australian GP.

The Spanish driver's devastated radio and visual reaction to the 5-second penalty, which dropped him from fourth to twelfth place, went viral.

He called it the "most unfair penalty" he had ever seen, and now team boss Frederic Vasseur admits Sainz was indeed "desperate" on Sunday evening.

"We filed a request for a review of the decision," the Frenchman told RMC Sport. "We sent it to the FIA."

The penalty was for tapping Fernando Alonso into a spin at the race re-start in Melbourne.

"We hope to at least have an open discussion with the FIA," said Vasseur.

"It's for the good of the sport to avoid having this type of decision where you have three incidents at the same turn and a decision only for one.

"We had the impression that the incident between Gasly and Ocon was treated a little differently."

(GMM)
Niki Lauda's widow is suing for a big chunk of the late triple world champion's net worth.

It is believed that at the time of his death in 2019, the 70-year-old and former Mercedes team shareholder was worth somewhere in the range of $200-500 million.

And according to the Austrian newspaper Kurier, two lawsuits relating to what now happens to that money are now underway in court in Vienna.

Lauda's wife at the time of his death, 44-year-old Birgit Wetzinger, is asking the court to rule that 20-30 million euros from the assets of his foundation are awarded to her.

It is believed Lauda's will explicitly aimed to avoid inheritance disputes, given that he had two children from his first marriage and two more children from his second.

However, proceeds from the foundation were more open to dispute - and so Birgit filed the proceedings against it.

That is despite the fact that, according to Kurier, the foundation was already paying Birgit some EUR 20,000 per month.

"Birgit started all these proceedings," a family friend told the newspaper, "although the rest of the family fully agree with the way Niki arranged it.

"They respect his will and are ready to defend it in court."

(GMM)
Ecobank partners Ghana Post to deepen financial inclusion

Business Desk Report Business News Mar - 31 - 2023 , 09:38

Ecobank Ghana and Ghana Post have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring financial services closer to Ghanaians.

The Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, Dan Sackey signed on behalf of Ecobank, while the Deputy MD of Ghana Post, Kwaku Tabi Amponsah, signed on behalf on his institution.

Under the MoU, 100 Ghana Post outlets would be used as Ecobank Xpress Points to provide financial services to customers.

The programme will start with an initial 78 outlets before 22 more are added.

Ultimately, the plan is to turn all 360 Ghana Post outlets across the country into financial service and agency banking hubs .

This is aimed at deepening financial inclusion in the country.

Speaking at the signing, Mr Sackey said there couldnt be any better partner for the rollout of the strategy than Ghana Post because of the many outlets spread across the country to drive financial inclusion.

The move, he said, would make it easier for Ghanaians everywhere in the country to have access to Ecobankss digital financial services and Ghana Post provides the widespread presence for that to be possible.

Mr Sackey said customers, especially the underserved and unbanked population, would get to have faster, safer and convenient banking when they access the Ghana Post Ecobank Xpress Point.

Besides, Ecobank would get to increase its presence across the country in a more cost-effective manner and also get to drive financial inclusion.

Increasing revenue

For his part, the Deputy MD of Ghana Post, Kwaku Tabi Amponsah said his company was working to increase revenue and such strategic collaborations in agency banking were critical to that effort.

He said such innovative partnerships would help GhanaPost to be endowed with new competencies from their various banking and financial service partners.

According to him, the partnership with Ecobank also puts Ghana Post in a position to help drive Governments financial inclusion agenda even further, adding that it is his firm belief that the partnership will be for the long-term.

The two institutions believe that their collaborative strategy will go a long way in helping to bridge that gap
Foreign banks positioned to save subsidiaries in Ghana ... As positive financial results trickle in

Charles Benoni Okine Business News Apr - 11 - 2023 , 07:08

Ghanas banking sector is facing one of its worst times as the sector stares at unprecedented losses after the government restructured GH83billion (US$6.8billion) of local debt as part of a move to finalise a US$3billion bail-out from the International Monetary Fund.

According to the Bank of Ghana (BoG), developments in the banking sector are being broadly reflected by the challenging operating environment in 2022 on account of macroeconomic conditions and the recent implementation of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) which all 23 universal banks participated in.

Based on December 2022 data, the central banks preliminary assessment of the DDEPs impact on the banking sector, confirmed significant losses on account of impairment of banks holdings in Government of Ghana (GoG) bonds.

Although, the impact is been moderated by the introduction of some regulatory reliefs by the BoG as support similar to the reliefs provided to banks at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the threats still lingers with some industry watchers fearing a number of developments thereof including fold-ups, forced mergers and or serious and heavy losses and in some instances, and drastic reduction in operational capital by close of the 2023 financial year.

It is feared that the worst to be hit in the melee may include local banks because of lack of capacity to raise funds to shore up their capital.

On the part of foreign subsidiary banks operating in the country, they are likely to be supported by their mother banks which have posted profits last year and will be willing to recapitalise their subsidiaries to enable them to stay in competition.

Positive financials

Some multinational banks with affiliates in Ghana have begun releasing their financials, announcing huge profits, a development which is positive for their subsidiaries.

For instance, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc posted a profit after tax of $378 million in the 2022 financial year, this represents a growth of 35.1 per cent compared to the $280.3 million recorded the year earlier.

The development has pushed the groups shareholder funds to $2 billion in the year under review, achieving an impressive growth of 5.3 per cent, compared to the prior year.

The bank consequently proposed a final dividend of 0.2 cents for every ordinary share of 0.11 cents, for the financial year under review.

The final dividend, which is subject to the ratification of the shareholders during the banks upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), will bring the total dividend for the year to 0.24 cents per share.

The bank paid an interim dividend of 0.04 cents based on its audited 2022 half year results.

In its audited financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2022, gross earnings rose significantly to $1.89million from $1.61million recorded at the end of the 2021 financial year and represents a strong growth of 22.2 per cent.

Zenith Bank Group posted a profit after tax of 223.9 billion Naira last year.

On the back of this, the Group demonstrated its commitment to shareholders, when it announced a proposed final dividend payout of 2.90 Naira per share bringing the total dividend to 3.20 Naira per share.

On the other hand, the Group impairments grew by 107 per cent from 59.9 billion Naira to 123.4 billion Naira, while interest expense grew by 63 per cent YoY from 106.8 billion Naira to 173.5 billion Naira respectively.

In spite of the development, the impairment growth, which also resulted in an increase in the cost of risk from 1.9 per cent in 2021 to 3.3 per cent in the current year, included the impact of Ghanas sovereign debt restructuring programme.

This however, the Group said, did not heavily impact on the operations of the Ghana subsidiary as Zenith Bank Ghana still maintains a substantial capital and liquidity buffer to continue to operate at its optimum best, a development that reignites hope in its Ghana subsidiary which is yet to release its financials.

Way forward

The banking sector in Ghana is highly competitive. The foreign owned banks in particular are always ensuring they stay afloat to either maintain their market share or increase it. None also expects to lower its status in spite of the challenging economic environement.

The Standard Bank Group Ltd., Africas biggest lender by assets and the parent company of the Stanbic Bank last month announced that it was ready to re-capitalise its Ghanaian unit after making provisions to cover more than half of its holdings in the countrys debt.

The Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Sim Tshabalala, who announced this, said it might become necessary for the bank to inject capital in that business at the appropriate time.

The Standard Bank, thus, joined the FirstRand Ltd in accounting for the impairment and the UBA, with its present achievement, may not hesitate to do same.

The Graphic Business can confirm that the foreign subsidiaries are keenly watching developments and will step in when the need arises.
Funding sources for micro, small and medium sized enterprises in Ghana (2)

Yaw Appiah Lartey, Kwasi Adu-Mante & Tara Samera Business News Apr - 11 - 2023 , 09:20

In this section we provide an analysis of some of the benefits and drawbacks of these forms of rising capital.

There are three forms of rising capital ; Equity financing; Debt financing; and Hybrid financing.

Equity financing

 No debt repayments: One of the primary benefits of equity financing is that there are no debts to pay off - and thus no potential risk to cash flow. Investors typically focus on the long term growth of the business without expecting an immediate return on their investment.

 Mentorship: Partners and investors can offer a wealth of expertise, advice, and experience that contribute to MSMEs growth. Debt financing is only able to connect businesses with financial institutions.

Drawbacks

 Potential loss of control and ownership: One of the main drawbacks of equity financing is that MSMEs must give up a portion of their ownership and dilute their control. Equity investors will also expect profit from their investment if the company becomes successful- thus a certain percentage of company profits must be paid in the form of dividends.

 More costly in the long term: This is because investors require a higher rate of return than lenders for the level or risk they are taking on. In addition, dividends paid to shareholders are not a tax-deductible expense.

Debt financing

 Retain company ownership and control: This is the main reason why MSMEs decide to finance through debt rather than equity. Debt capital is provided by a lender, who is only entitled to their repayment of debt plus interest, therefore obligations to the lender end once the debt is paid off.

 Tax deductible interest payments: Another key benefit is that the interest payment is tax-deductible.

Drawbacks

 Loan repayment: Depending on the terms of the loan, MSMEs may struggle to grow their businesses while making repayments. Business assets are also at risk when the business defaults on its repayments and the lender takes ownership of the assets.



Another risk is where businesses may not have the required assets to support their loan request and therefore will not be able to access the needed financing.

 Impacts credit ratings: Late payments and defaults can affect the business credit rating over the long term, making it difficult to borrow in the future.

Hybrid financing

 Long-term borrowing with limited or no collateral: Financing packaged in the form of debt and equity allows for long-term borrowing with limited or no collateral as the profile of the debt repayments is aligned to the profit of MSMEs.

 Stability and Mentorship: It provides MSMEs with stability and includes access to expertise and mentoring that is pivotal in helping MSMEs successfully run their businesses.

Drawbacks

 This form of financing is relatively complex compared to either pure equity or pure debt financing.

In deciding on the right capital raising method for MSMEs, businesses must consider the current economic climate, the business existing capital structure, the business life cycle stage, and future business plans, amongst others.



Startups or small businesses looking to expand can consider equity financing and well-established businesses that have constant sales, solid collateral, and are profitable can opt for debt financing depending on the type of project.



Ultimately, the decision must be taken with care and due diligence.

Key investor considerations

To secure investment from a potential investor, MSMEs must consider certain factors which would make their businesses or projects attractive for investment. Some of these factors include:

 Return on investment: Profits are typically high on the priority list of investors, and as such, businesses seeking investment must demonstrate to the investor that the company can return profits in the short to medium-term.



This can be done by presenting financial or non-financial reports to the investor to show the level of growth the company has achieved over the years and what it intends to achieve going forward.

This helps investors to get a better understanding of the financial health of the company and get a better appreciation of the likelihood of positive return on their investment.

Typically, capital raising is not free for MSMEs seeking either formal or informal sources of capital. Investors usually expect return on their investment, and, in some cases, a total repayment of the capital invested over an agreed period of time.

Repayment of capital is usually associated with debt capital raising. To stand a greater chance of receiving funding, MSMEs must demonstrate a clear and well-defined repayment plan.

A repayment plan gives the business sourcing for capital a greater chance of securing its targeted investment.

A repayment plan serves as a sense of security for potential investors, and as such, it is a factor that cannot be overlooked for MSMEs in particular.

 Use of funds: Companies that can provide a detailed breakdown of the use of funds for its investors stand a greater chance of receiving capital from such investors.

Use of funds can be demonstrated through a business proposal indicating the use of funds from past fundraising ventures, and how the new capital will be used to further expand the business of the company.

Use of funds offers an affirmation to the investor that the business is credible.

 Experienced management: Investors look out for MSMEs that have a track record of making sound judgement over a period and this can be a good indicator that the management of the MSME can do a good job.

Inability to demonstrate managements experience and record of successfully implementing effective business strategies and sound governance practices can affect the decision regarding meeting a full monetary request or deciding otherwise.

It is therefore expedient that MSMEs ensure they have the right people leading the business at a managerial level and are able to demonstrate this ability if required.

 Good and robust financials: An investor looks out for a company that can demonstrate strong historical earnings and the capacity to sustain earnings growth into the future. Typically, investors prefer to assess the Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) of target businesses or projects as EBITDA is used as a proxy for the cash profits generated by businesses.

MSMEs that show a healthy profit margin as well as a steady financial projection can get a bigger share of available capital from investors as they show a good standing pre-capital raise.

 Diverse product and services: Product diversification is a practice where a business expands the original market for its products and this practice is commonly adopted by businesses that are experiencing stagnation and a reduction in sales.

When an investor knows that a MSME is seeking to increase its sales and reach through diversification of its products and services, it can lead to a greater chance of capital raise.

MSMEs seeking to raise capital from investors, where applicable, are encouraged to consider diversification as a good strategy to have in their repertoire as it shows the investor that, as a company, you are willing to make the product and service relevant to your clients and customers.
Gains in share prices push Composite Index by 14%

Business Desk Report Business News Apr - 11 - 2023 , 09:47

Strong gains in some share prices saw the GSE Composite Index (GSE CI) increase by 14.01 per cent in March compared to last month, bringing the year-to-date gain to 12.33 per cent.

The continued rally of the GSE-CI was underpinned by dividend announcements from some listed companies and investors seeking to diversify their holdings.

Volumes and values traded were up significantly, 2,730 per cent and 588 per cent respectively, over the previous month mostly due to block trades in MTN Ghana shares.

TOTAL (39.8 per cent), MTN GH (35.87 per cent), UNIL (33.78 per cent), BOPP (20.93 per cent), and GGBL (9.49 per cent) make up the top five price gainers of the month.

The GSE Financial Stock Index, on the other hand, achieved a year-to date loss of 11.98 per cent, in line with investors expectations of reduced profitability in 2022 for financial stocks.

GSEs fixed income market, closed March 2023 with a volume traded of 5.57 billion, a decline of 39.26 per cent and 80.18 per cent respectively over the previous months and same period in 2022 numbers.

Equities

Volume and value traded were 173,658,609 and GH167,969,700.48 respectively, both down 19.22 per cent and 29.17 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Cumulative volume of 181,344,788 valued at GH199,048,178.41 represents a decrease of 35.39 per cent and 34.06 per cent to the same period last year.

Yields on short-term government securities came down significantly during the month: the 91-day Treasury bill ended the month at 19.39 per cent from 35.55 per cent at the beginning March 2023.

The new GoG bonds witnessed thin trading during its first full month on trading, post DDEP.

The month closed with a total volume trade of 5.57 billion representing a decline of 39.26 per cent compared to total volume trades in the previous month and a decline of 80.18 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The cumulative volume traded from January to March 2023 of 24.76 billion was a 61.35 per cent dip from the 64.07 billion traded in the same period last year.

Highlights for the month

 The GSE participated in the High Commission of Canadas Breakfast event on the theme:Growing SMEs for members of the Canada Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

GSE joined other Stock Exchanges around the world to Ring the Bell for Gender Equality to mark the International Womens Day. The day was marked with a panel discussion on the theme DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.

GSE Signed an MoU with Minerals Income Investment Fund(MIIF) on March 23, 2023 to support the listing of Mining Companies that MIIF had a stake in.

 The MD of GSE, Madam Abena Amoah, chaired the Graphic/Stanbic Breakfast Meeting held at Labadi Beach Hotel on the theme: 'DDEP:Lessons and Implications for How You invest'.

 Tullow Oil Ghana Plc. released its full year 2022 annual report.

 Anglogold Ashanti Limited announced the payment of a final dividend of 257.60 South African cents (Gross 322 South African cents less 15 per cent tax) for the financial year ended December 31, 2022.

 SIC Insurance Plc. released its unaudited financial statements for the year ended December 2022.

Samba Foods Ltd released its unaudited financial statements for the year ended December 2022.

 Societe Generale Ghana Plc. released its unaudited financial statements for the year ended December 2022.

 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated released its audited financial statement for the year ended December 2022 and announced payment of a final dividend of 0.11 US cents per share, subject to appropriate withholding tax and approval for the 2022 financial year.

 Unilever Ghana Plc published its audited financial statement for the year ended December 2022.

Fan Milk Ghana Plc released its audited financial statement for the year ended December 2022.
Post DDEP market activity: First corporate bond on GSE over subscribed

Emmanuel Bruce Business News Apr - 11 - 2023 , 06:40

The Managing Director of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), Abena Amoah has said that Bayports ability to raise GH50 million from the debt market was a signal that the Ghana Fixed Income Market (GFIM) has been officially re-opened, post the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).

She said it was also a testament that confidence was returning to the market after a difficult few months.

The Bayport Savings and Loans (Ghana) Plc. successfully closed its 50 million two-year senior unsecured floating rate notes issuance last week, being the first series and tranche of notes under its newly established GH500 million medium-term notes and bond programme.

The notes were subsequently admitted to be listed on the Ghana Fixed Income Market segment of the Ghana Stock Exchange.

The issuance followed a series of robust investor engagements (including a physical roadshow) during which Bayport provided comprehensive updates to its stakeholders in the investor community on the issuers trading performance and business strategy.

In spite of the gloomy market backdrop at the time of issuance, occasioned by the effects of the recently concluded DDEP, participation was impressive with orders seen from a diverse pool of investors and was oversubscribed by 37 per cent.

Speaking in an interview with the Graphic Business after the listing of the notes on GFIM, Ms Amoah, said today is very exciting because it is the first time we are seeing a corporate firm come to the market, raise GH50 million successfully, have it over subscribed and raise it at a relatively lower price than its previous issuances and have it listed on the market.

This is important because we have seen how the last few months have been stressful for all players in the industry, she stated.

She said the GSE was ,therefore, using this opportunity to formally declare that the market was opened and companies should talk to their advisors, put together their plans, go and talk to investors and investors were willing to listen to well-run companies with plans.

For us at the GSE, we are optimistic that companies will take this opportunity and support investors that are looking for diversified products to invest in, she noted.

She said the diversity of investors that showed interest tells the GSE that confidence was returning to the market.

Coming back to the market

The Chief Executive Officer of the Bayport Savings and Loans (Ghana) Plc, Akwasi Aboagye, also in an interview, said the company raised money from a number of sources which included deposit from customers and also raised long-term capital from the debt market.

He said in the last two years, the company had not been come to the market but following the end of the DDEP, it felt it was necessary to come back to the market on the back of the business that they have.

Even in the time when there was little activity, we still kept faith with our investors and had a lot of investor engagements.

We then came back and was able to raise GH50 million from a diverse investor community, he stated.

He said in the last seven to eight years, the company had raised GH474 million from the stock market and had always honoured all its obligations to investors.
Russia's GAZ Group files $348m suit against Volkswagen

Business Desk Report Business News Apr - 11 - 2023 , 11:11

The Gorky Automobile Plant, part of Russia's GAZ Group which was contracted to assemble cars for Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE, has filed a lawsuit to recover 28.4 billion roubles ($348 million) from the German automaker, court records show.

The lawsuit, details of which have not yet been published, was filed with the Nizhny Novgorod regional court on April 7. Volkswagen declined to comment.

GAZ Group is already seeking to recover 15.6 billion roubles from its former partner in a separate suit. Volkswagen halted operations in Russia in March 2022, shortly after Moscow ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.

A court froze the company's assets in Russia on March 17, but that order was lifted on April 3.

Volkswagen plans to sell its Russian assets including a car plant in Kaluga with a capacity of 225,000 vehicles a year, but has not yet made a decision on the disposal.

It is in the process of applying for approval of the sale by Russian government agencies, the automaker has said.

Volkswagen plants in Kaluga and Nizhny Novgorod ceased production in March last year after the company announced the suspension of operations in Russia until further notice. In the summer the company decided to close the Nizhny Novgorod site
YFM Kumasi dominates fourth edition of Y Clash of the DJs

GraphicOnline Showbiz News Apr - 10 - 2023 , 11:10

Proteges of DJs from Y102.5 FM-Kumasi beat their counterparts from Y107.9 FM-Accra and Y97.9 FM-Takoradi for Kumasi to retain the title as champions at the battle of the DJs, Y Clash of the DJs.

The three-hour battle of the DJs, witnessed groundbreaking performances from protege DJs and saw them pushing the limits like never seen before.

The battle started off with Y97.9 FM-Takoradi taking a quick lead in round one, leaving a trail of dust behind for their sister stations.

Audience witnessed a swift change of events as Y102.5 FM-Kumasi found its balance and rhythm to overtake Y97.9FM Kumasi with an epic score gap in the second around. The reigning champions proved they were not ready to give up the title and maintained the lead up until the fifth round which witnessed a slight turn of events in favor of Y107.9 FM-Accra but that did not faze the champions.

At the end of the sixth and final round, Y102.5 FM-Kumasi, host of the contest managed to poll a total of 540 points to maintain the title as reigning champions with Y97.9 FM-Takoradi coming in second place with 528 points. Y107.9 FM-Accra came in third place with 458 points.

The winning team took home a cash prize of Ghc4,000 plus souvenirs from sponsors whilst the 1st and 2nd runner ups took home Ghc 2,000.00 and Ghc 1,000.00 respectively.

TJ DJ of Takoradi was crowned the best hypeman of the night and walked home with Ghc1,000.00 cash.

Protege DJ Astee from Takoradi also emerged best DJ of the night walking away with Ghc1,000.00 cash.

Judges were greatly impressed by the performance of the protege DJs and applauded them for their talents and hard work. They also expressed profound surprise at their commitment and grit. They commended YFM for putting up such an impeccable display of talents and also giving room and special attention to the development of the future of Ghanaian DJing.

Coordinator of the Y Clash of the DJs, Manasseh Kwafo Ampofo speaking on the sidelines of the contest said This years clash of the DJs was to shed light on the relatively unknown DJing talents in the triangle, hence the protege theme. As a brand big on talent development, we carefully selected these young and raw talents and mentored them to take the stage, and show the world what they are made of. These proteges did not fail to show the world they are meant for greatness, and we are glad to be a part of their story.

He also revealed the YFM brand has a lot more in store for young talents in the country and urged them to stay tuned.

The 4th Y Clash of the DJs was sponsored by HD Plus Ghana, Darling lemon drink and Gold Circle condoms from SFH.
Ashaiman soldier killing: One suspect granted GH150,000 bail on health grounds

Benjamin Xornam Glover Apr - 11 - 2023 , 13:17

The Ashaiman Circuit Court has granted a GH150,000.00 bail with three sureties, two of which must be justified to Ibrahim Abdul Rakib, one of the suspects arrested in connection with the killing of the 21-year-old soldier, Private Imoro Sherrif, in Zongo Laka in the Greater Accra Region.

Ibrahim Abdul Rakib, who has been charged with dishonestly receiving was among four accused persons who through their lawyers applied for bail at the Ashaiman Circuit Court on Tuesday, April 11 2023

But it was only Rakib who secured bail on health grounds.

When the case was called on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Abdul Fatawu Alhassan, the defence counsel for three out of the six accused persons including Rakib told the court that his client was battling a stomach ulcer and had been suffering in the police cells.

He, therefore, prayed the court to grant his client bail since the condition of his client could aggravate with time if not attended to.

The fifth accused person, Yussif Mohammed who was also charged with dishonestly receiving an item, was also represented by lawyer Ishahadu Mohammed whose application for bail was not granted.

Medical reasons

Superintendent Sylvester Asare, representing the prosecution, opposed the bail applications by pointing out that Ibrahim Abdul Rakib, along with the other suspects, had been in police custody at the Police Headquarters, which was in close proximity to the Police Hospital, and had never reported any health issues to the investigators.

As a result, he urged the court to deny bail and instead keep the suspects in custody with the assurance that they would receive medical attention.

After carefully considering the arguments presented by the lawyers for the four accused persons and taking into account the seriousness of the charges and potential punishments, Judge Simon Gaga decided not to grant bail.

However, in the case of Ibrahim Abdul Rakib, the court deemed it necessary to grant bail based on medical reasons.

The remaining five persons arrested in connection with the killing of Private Imoro Sherrif, a soldier, on March 4, at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra and charged with stealing, robbery and receiving of dishonest goods were however remanded in police custody.

They are Safianu Musah alias Dayorgu, Samuel Tetteh, alias Wiper, Abubakar Sadick, alias Birdman, Yussif Mohammed and Abdul Gafaru Abdul Karim.

They would reappear in court on April 25, 2023. The Court further ordered the Prosecution to file disclosures on or by April 25, 2023.

This was after the Prosecution had prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable them to advance investigations, which he said had gone far.

Superintendent Asare said in praying the court for adjournment said it was in the interest of justice and the safety of the accused persons that they remained in custody.

Second case

Meanwhile, Samuel Tetteh, alias Wiper, Abubakar Sadick, alias Birdman, who have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the same case will reappear appeared before the District Magistrate Court in Tema presided over by Benedicta Antwi on April 25, 2023, pending the advice from the office of the Attorney-General (A-G).

This was after the prosecutor, Superintendent Sylvester Asare, prayed the court to remand the suspects since they were awaiting advice from the office of the A-G.

Background

On March 4, 2023, police received information that a male adult had been found lying dead at Ashaiman Taifa in the Greater Accra Region.

According to the police, the crime scene team retrieved a number of items, including a knife with blood stains and a backpack, in the course of investigations.

In the backpack, police found one Samsung tablet, one Apple laptop, one military uniform with the name tag "Imoro", eight other items of clothing, as well as a Ghana Card and a Health Insurance card bearing the name Imoro Sherrif.

The police said the content of the backpack suggested that the victim could be a soldier, so the military was notified of the incident, and the deceased was subsequently identified by the military as Imoro Sheriff, a soldier.

The prosecution said two of the accused persons attempted to rob the soldier, and in the process, one of them stabbed him in the arm, while the other four bought a stolen mobile phone taken from the soldier, now deceased.
CDS inaugurates facilities at Jungle Warfare School

Samuel Kyei-Boateng Apr - 11 - 2023 , 07:26

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, has inaugurated four separate self-contained residential apartments and a 30-seater washroom at the Jungle Warfare School (JWS) at Akyem Achiase in the Eastern Region.

The residential accommodation are meant for military officers, while the washrooms will be used by recruits.

The projects formed part of facilities being funded with GH100 million financial support from the Chinese government to improve infrastructure in military barracks in the country.

Need for infrastructure

Vice Admiral Amoama said all military barracks need infrastructure, especially residential accommodation and the current government had initiated a programme to solve the problem.

He stressed that apart from its core mandate of training military officers and recruits, the JWS was also assisting to provide security in the country.

Vice Admiral Amoama said jungle warfare training was essential to the military, so his outfit would do everything possible to fully equip it to deliver on its core mandate.

He noted with pride that the Achiase JWS had been recognised as one of the best of such military institutions worldwide, and, therefore, admonished the management and the trainees to sustain the proud record.

Maintenance

The CDS advised users of the facilities to observe proper maintenance culture to ensure they lasted longer.

He praised the Chief Executive of the Achiase District Assembly, Richmond Amponsah Agyabeng and the Member of Parliament for the area, Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo for complementing the efforts of the government and the military high command to develop the JWS and urged them to sustain the spirit.

The CDS and his entourage including the Chief of Army Staff, Major General James Oppong Peprah, the acting Commanding Officer of the JWS, Lt Col Jacob Cudjoe and the Baamuhene of Achiase, Baffour Owusu Sakyi Baah, inspected ongoing development projects at the barracks.

The soldiers at the JWS also performed a military demonstration in honour of the CDS and his entourage.
Church leaders inspire nation - Resurrection, hope to overcome life's challenges

Daily Graphic Apr - 11 - 2023 , 07:29

Three Christian leaders and church founders have encouraged Christians and the nation at large to be inspired by the reason for Easter and strive to overcome their challenges in life.

They said just as the story of Jesus Christs betrayal, crucifixion, death and resurrection brought pain, discomfort but ultimately ended with hope and victory over death to mankind, Christians must be inspired and encouraged by the resurrection of Jesus Christ as it provided a pillar for them to also overcome their challenges in life.

The church founders, Apostle General of the Royalhouse Chapel International, Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah, Rev. Dr Mensah Otabil of the International Central Gospel Church, and Bishop Charles Agyinasare, of Perez Chapel, gave their messages of hope during their Easter Sunday sermons.

The pain and suffering, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus must inspire us all not to give up, but have hope that there is always victory for those whose hope is in Christ, the leaders shared similar sentiments in their Easter Sunday sermons.

Easter Sunday

Most churches in the country climaxed the Easter festivities with services on the resurrection Sunday to commemorate Christ resurrection from death, three days after His crucifixion on Good Friday.

At many churches, worshippers were predominantly dressed in all-white attire to signify Jesus' triumph over death and the congregation sang and danced to glorify God for paying the ultimate price for humanity.



Royalhouse

At the Royalhouse Chapel in Accra, Timothy Ngnenbe reports that Rev. Korankye Ankrah urged Ghanaians to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and change from negative attitudes that serve as impediments to national development.

Delivering the sermon to climax the churchs Easter celebrations by the Royalhouse held on the theme: "The Blood Will Speak (Hebrew 12:24)," the Apostle General said the resurrection of Jesus Christ offered the hope that with sacrifice and attitudinal change, all that had been lost at the individual and national levels would be restored.

He, however, stressed that the observation of Easter as a festival to mark the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus would be meaningless, if it did not translate into transformation of lives.

"The resurrection of Jesus is meaningless, if it has no bearing on your life. If you are in political office and you pack public money meant to develop the country into your account, then you have not been impacted by the resurrection; if you were a drunkard or a wife beater and you still remain in this after the resurrection, then it is meaningless," he stressed.

The church marked Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified on the cross, with healing service in the morning and water and salt feet-washing all night.

Led by the Apostle General Ankrah, they said intercessory prayers for the peace of the country, inspiring hope that the saviour's blood would speak for Ghana.

The Easter festivities were climaxed on the Resurrection Sunday with morning worship and communion service in the evening.

Transformation

Apostle General Ankrah underscored the need for Ghanaians to crucify all negative attitudes on the cross and adopt positive behaviours that would enhance national development.

He observed that the crown of thorns that was twisted and put on Jesus' head, the mockery of him, the beatings, crucifixion and the eventual resurrection should inspire hope in all individuals to remain resolute in difficult times and seek the face of God to overcome every circumstance.

"Your life's transformation and the testimony of your life is the proof of the resurrection of Christ," he said.

ICGC

Dr Mensa Otabil, in his sermon, said the power in the resurrection of Christ enabled Christians to overcome their challenges which included sickness, disease, and poverty, among others, Mary Anane-Amponsah reports.

"The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of our Christian hope," he said.

Preaching on seven reasons why Jesus Christ rose from the dead, he said one of the reasons was that the resurrection was a proof that Christ was the only saviour of the world.

Jesus, he said, was unique because of his death, resurrection and continuous living after over 2023 years.

Giving spiritual backings to the message, Dr Otabil quoted bible verses including; Romans 4 vrs 23 -25, stating that the resurrection was the justification that gave Christians the confidence to believe in the salvation of Jesus Christ.

" When he says we are forgiven, we are truly forgiven because He went and returned".

"When you are a Christian, you are the most privileged human being on earth because your faith is anchored in this unique personality of history and eternity, Jesus Christ, ruler of death and ruler of life".

Perez Chapel

Most Rev. Agyinasare, in his sermon, said if the devil knew that crucifying Jesus would have got mankind saved, he would have prevented that from happening.

Again, he said if the devil knew that taking Jesus to the cross would make the whole world hear about Him, he wouldn't have done it.

However, the devil had no control and that Jesus, in becoming the ultimate sacrifice, released the power to reach out to the rest of the world and brought salvation and hope to mankind.

Most Rev. Agyinasare said just as Jesus sacrifice was costly, any sacrifice one made for his or salvation or for others, must, also, cost something valuable to be qualified as a sacrifice.

Sacrifices are costly and Jesus showed us just how much it has to cost.

His life.

So must the sacrifices we make. We must be willing to sacrifice something valuable so that the beneficiaries will truly appreciate that ransom and not take it for granted, he told the Perez Chapel congregation.

Be patriotic

In a related development, two Christian leaders have called on the citizenry, including political leaders, to be patriotic and put Ghana first in all their endeavours as well as running the affairs of the country, Vincent Amenuveve reports.

This, according to the leaders, was crucial in bringing peace, unity and sacrifice which were key to national development.

The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, and the President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach, Rev. Dr Lawrence Tetteh, made the call on the sidelines of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) seminar series.

IEA Seminar

This latest edition of the IEA seminar series on a review of the 1992 Constitution, was on the topic: Reviewing Ghana's 1992 Constitution: views and reflections of religious leaders."

Rev. Dr Tetteh, in his submission, suggested the need for government to urgently formulate home grown policies to ensure economic sustainability.

What is suitable for England and Germany may not necessarily be suitable for Ghana.

So we should look for the Ghanaian agenda," he advised.

He said it was equally important for the economic policies to be harmonised, while making sure that every Ghanaian lived peacefully and respected one another stressing that we must think about Ghana first then the economy will be sound.

Most Rev. Dr Boafo entreated the government to prioritise development projects to avoid waste, adding that let us examine our spending culture again".

He said the measure would help ensure that the country did not go to the International Monetary Fund(IMF) for the 18th time.

On the recent three major bills passed by Parliament, Most Rev. Dr Boafo said Parliament should have come out with a road map on their implementation to ensure broader consultation.

The three bills are the Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2022, the Excise Duty and Excise Tax Stamp (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022.
Explore creativity to solve problems "Second Lady tells writers"

Delali Sika & Yaa Kuffour Senyah Apr - 11 - 2023 , 07:42

THE Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, has charged young writers to explore the creativity of their writing to actively solve problems in the society.

Addressing young writers at the 2022 Samira Bawumia Literature Prize in Accra last Thursday, she said the importance of writing and the art of storytelling were an important tool that could not be overemphasised.

She said there was therefore the need for the youth to utilise their skills to inspire, educate, and transform lives while capturing stories and experiences that might be lost or forgotten over time.

The life of the contemporary African in the 21st century and our place in the global village must be told in both fiction and non-fiction, and, indeed, nobody can tell our stories better than ourselves, she said.

So I encourage you all to continue to read and write.

A people who read and write engage their imaginations; and this opens up portals of endless possibilities as the most successful of any generation are those whose ideas solve problems within their communities or the world, she emphasised.

Mrs Bawumia, however, advised that while this was being taken up, writers should not also lose sight of how valuable writing was in today's job market, saying it was also a means to provide opportunities for self employment and job creation in the future.

Competition

The event is an annual biennial literary prize that seeks to create a nurturing and supportive environment for aspiring young Ghanaian writers to grow, develop and highlight their literary skills.

The competition is opened to writers to show their skills in categories, including poetry, short fiction and creative non-fiction.

After receiving over 1,000 entries for all categories in this years competition, 30 individuals were awarded with three participants emerging ultimate winners for each category.

Awards

Gabriel Awuah Mainoo, Phinehas Osei and Henneh Kwaku Kyere  who emerged ultimate winners for the Poetry, Short Fiction and Creative Non-fiction categories respectively  each took home a certificate, GH5,000, a laptop and other souvenirs.

The works of the shortlisted writers would be published in an anthology as a way to train as many writers as possible and raise interest and awareness within the Ghanaian literacy space.

Writing habits

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Library Authority, Hayford Siaw, commended the awardees for their sterling performances in the competition, stating that for some time now, the reading and writing habit among the youth could not be hailed.

He added that the establishment and patronage of libraries, and receiving over a 1,000 applicants in the literary competition were evidence of the high rise in reading and writing which should be fostered.

I urge all to ensure that we make the country a reading country by being readers and actively patronising the works of local writers in the country, Mr Siaw said.

Support

The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Constituency, Lydia Alhassan, commended the Second Lady for her contribution and efforts to unearth writers and their skills.

I hope that authoring would be recognised as one of the mainstream professions to support local writers in the country, she said.

As a gesture to show her support, Ms Alhassan purchased 10 books each of all awardees in the competition.

Subsequently, the Managing Director of the Ghana Commercial Bank PLC, Kofi Adomakoh, gave the assurance that the company would support the authors to ensure that the creativity of writers were shown and duly celebrated.
Ghana on course for IMF approval  Ofori-Atta

Emmanuel Bonney Apr - 11 - 2023 , 06:50

The Paris Club, a group of bilateral creditors that helps with workable solutions to payment problems faced by debtor nations, will form an Official Creditor Committee this week to look into Ghanas request for financial assurances.

The assurances, which come with debt restructuring and further strategic lending, will enable the country to present its programme to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board for approval.

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview, said the formation of the committee and the financial assurances were to enable the countrys programme to be laid before the IMF board shortly after the Spring Meetings.

The finance minister further stated that the country was firmly on course for IMF Board Approval.

Mr Ofori-Atta and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, are leading a high-level Ghana delegation to the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings from April 10 to 16, this year in Washington D.C.

On the sides of the meetings, the delegation will meet with members of the Paris Club, China, and other bilateral creditors.

Among other agenda items at the Spring Meetings, Mr Ofori-Atta will chair the V20 Inter-Ministerial dialogue on green financing for climate vulnerable nations.

The finance minister will also attend meetings focusing on re-engineering the global financial architecture to promote geographical inclusion.

Optimism

During the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings, we will be meeting with the Paris Club and other bilateral creditors.

They will also be meeting separately to consider Ghanas request for financing assurances, Mr Ofori-Atta indicated.

The minister added that China had indicated its intention to join the all-important meeting and this marked a significant step in our progress towards IMF Board approval.

We are, therefore, expectant, optimistic and hopeful that the meeting would result in the formation of an Official Creditor Committee, and the provision of financing assurances to the IMF.

With that in the bag, we will be ready to go to the IMF Board for approval, Mr Ofori-Atta emphasised.

When asked about the status of other actions that had to be completed prior to board approval, Mr Ofori-Atta said the government, Parliament, and the people of Ghana had worked tirelessly and sacrificed greatly to get us where we are now.

Approvals

Key revenue measures were approved by Parliament on Friday, March 31, this year to position government to rake in an additional GH4 billion annually, which the finance minister said was quite significant to boost the countrys fiscal position.

Mr Ofori-Atta expressed gratitude to Parliament for its unwavering support of the country and the economic recovery programme.

Indeed, since the presentation of the 2023 Nkabom Budget, we have collectively demonstrated a unity of purpose that is inspiring, Mr Ofori-Atta stated.

We have also been able to attain Staff Level Agreement with the IMF and successfully concluded the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme with 85 per cent participation rate, he added.

Mr Ofori-Atta indicated that the government had also engaged and garnered support from its bilateral
Kimathi and Partners donates books to UG Law School

Elizabeth Konadu-Boakye Apr - 11 - 2023 , 15:58

A law firm, Kimathi and Partners, has donated books to the University of Ghana School of Law library.

The donation, held on the premises of the law library in Accra, is part of a commitment by the firm to support the library with books every year.

A lawyer at the law firm, Akua Pinamang Addae, said some years back, the firm's Managing Partner, Kimathi Kuenyehia, made a promise to donate books to the library yearly.

She said the initiative was part of Mr Kuenyehias quest to contribute to the learning of law, particularly at his alma mater.

"Mr Kuenyehia understands the challenges with students, particularly when it comes to the right books to read, and because he has been a student before, he understands their plight.

This is, therefore, his way of helping the university to expand and improve on its materials, as well as nurture the students on their journey to become lawyers," she said.

She expressed the hope that the books would be of immense benefit to the students by helping them to gain knowledge which they would utilise to benefit humanity.

"Sometimes these students want a particular book to read but then, it becomes difficult for them to get access to them and so we are honoured as a law firm to present these books to the library," she added.

Collection

The Head of the University of Ghana School of Law library, Joe Antah, lauded the firm for honouring its promise since 2019 to donate books to the library every year.

"It's been four years running since Mr Kuenyehia made the pledge, and it's been wonderful.

The donation has filled important gaps and collection in the library, and we are very grateful to the firm," he said.

He called for more support from other firms and organisations and encouraged students to make good use of the library and to read extensively to become very learned lawyers.
President launches Stone Age Park at Abetifi

Haruna Yussif Wunpini, Zadok Kwame Gyesi & Maclean Kwofi Apr - 11 - 2023 , 15:26

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has launched the GH4.5 million eco-tourism park at Abetifi in the Kwahu East District in the Eastern Region, with a call on Ghanaians to desist from dumping refuse at tourist sites around the country.

That, he said, would help protect the country's environment as well as promote eco-tourism.

The President stated that such practices did not only discourage people from visiting the countrys tourist sites but affected the environment negatively.

Stone Age Park

Known as The Stone Age Park, it sits on a 52-acre land that has been donated by the Abetifihene, Achamfour Asiedu Agyeman III.

Being the ancestral home of the Kwahu people, dating back over 12,500 years, the place has been converted into an eco-tourism park.

The multi-purpose tourist site and museum depicts the indigenous Stone Age era and how people lived.

Prior to the development of the park into its current form, part of the land used to be a refuse dump.

Launch

Launching the park during this years Kwahu Easter celebration on Saturday, April 8, 2023, President Akufo-Addo also called on relevant stakeholders in the tourism sector to contribute significantly to the promotion of eco-tourism in the country.

That, the President stated, would help to generate the needed revenue for the country to create more employment opportunities for the youth.

He said the economic impact of eco-tourism could not be underestimated and, therefore, commended the proprietor of the park, Benjamin Addo, for the initiative which involved converting a refuse dump site into a park that would help to tell the history of the people of Kwahu.

President Akufo-Addo said the move would help to protect the environment and also preserve the history of his people and that of Ghana.

The President also appealed to chiefs in the Kwahu enclave to help protect the environment and the park, stressing that eco-tourism was contributing significantly to revenue generation in many economies in Africa.

Establishment of the park

For his part, the founder of the park said even though he initiated the project, the park belonged to the people of Kwahu.

Mr Addo said his greatest mission was to build a museum that would serve as a curator of Ghanaian history, particularly that of the Kwahu people.

The Kwahu area, he indicated, boasted many tourist sites, including Oworobong Waterfalls, Bruku Rock, Afram River, Airjays, Mystical Cave, Abetifi Stone Age, Echo Ravine/Padlock Rock, and Kwahu Aduamaoh Fort.

Mr Addo, who is an indigene of Abetifi, indicated that his outfit was pushed to establish the park after the Archaeology Department of the University of Ghana (UG) confirmed the results of an excavation at the caves through carbon dating.

Briefing the gathering on the rationale for the creation of the park, the Stone Age Park founder said having lived in Germany for about 25 years, he decided to come home for some holidays together with his family.

Excavations at the caves

He narrated that it was during his holidays visit that he met the Head of the Archaeology Department of the University of Ghana (UG), Dr Derek Watson, who, at the time, had come to the Bosumpra caves at Abetifi to conduct some archaeological excavations.

Mr Addo added that in 2013, Dr Watson wrote to him, telling him that the carbon dating they conducted on the artefacts found at the Bosumpra Caves indicated that people lived at the site about 12,500 years ago, more than 10,500 years before Jesus Christ was born.

He said when he read the letter from Dr Watson, he was shocked about the findings and, therefore, decided to work to convert the place into a park that would tell the story of the Kwahu people and Ghana as a whole.

He explained that prior to this excavation works, the caves had always been considered sacred by the Abetifi community.

My contact with Dr Watson confirmed our unscientific curiosity, Mr Addo said, adding this finding further propelled my ambition for the development of this heritage site, which has been neglected for years, into a tourist attraction.

Improve roads

The Omanhene of the Kwahu Traditional Area, Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong, whose speech was read by the Kwahu Mawerehene, Baffour Agyare Asiamah, called on the government to help rehabilitate the bad road leading to the Odweanoma Paragliding site.

That, the chief stated, would help to attract more tourists to visit the area.
NDC condemns Bryan Acheampong's comments - But NPP says NDCs reaction lacks substance

Samuel Duodu & Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Politics Apr - 11 - 2023 , 08:36

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned a statement said to have been 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.

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 said in a statement signed and issued by its General Secretary, Fifi 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.

Recall

Mr Acheampong, who is also the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi, is reported to have said during a rally to climax a health walk organised by the NPP at Kwahu in the Eastern Region on Saturday, April 8, 2023 that it would never happen that NPP would 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.

NPP

However, a statement signed and issued by the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Frimpong Kodua, 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.

Comments

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.

A leading member of the NPP, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has condemned Mr Acheampongs comments.

In a statement issued by Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe, titled Bryan Acheampong; the irresponsible cabinet minister he described his comments as senseless saying he could not sit unconcerned in the face of such a destructive political statement which could lead this nation into destruction.

He called on Mr Acheampong to render an unqualified apology to the nation.

Security Analyst

A foreign policy and security analyst, Adib Saani, described the comments by Mr Acheampong as irresponsible and one that had the potential to plunge the country into anarchy.

He said in an interview that the minister had undermined state institutions and also sought to galvanise the support base of the ruling party to indulge in acts of lawlessness in the event that the party lost power in 2024.

Politicians are like rock stars.

They have hardened followers who are inspired by them. Whatever the politician say has a direct implication on the thought processes of the followers and their behaviour patterns Mr Saani advised.

Now that he has said this, if tomorrow the followers are fighting over power, then obviously he influenced them, he said.

Mr Saani, who is also the Executive Director of Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building, said Mr Acheampongs comments were not different from other incendiary comments that once plunged countries such as Kenya and Cote d'Ivoire into electoral violence.
With funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Environmental Microbes as a BioEngineering Resource (EMBER) program (earlier post), San Diego State University researchers are developing advanced extraction methods with the aim of boosting the domestic supply of REEs.

We are trying to develop a new procedure for recovery which is environmentally friendly and more sustainable. principal investigator Marina Kalyuzhnaya

To do this, the researchers will tap into the natural propensity of methane-consuming bacteria living in extreme conditions to capture REEs from the environment. The bacteria require rare earth elements to make one of the key enzymatic reactions in their metabolic pathways, said Kalyuzhnaya.

REEs include the many lanthanide elements of the periodic table. In collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the SDSU researchers plan to reverse engineer the biological processes that allow the bacteria to harvest the metals from the environment.

Understanding this process will inform the creation of synthetic designer proteins that bind with high specificity to different types of lanthanides, according to biochemist John Love. PNNLs team will identify the genetic determinants of the extremophilic and REE accumulating bacteria, and then characterize their REE uptake.

The team will then modify the bacteria to produce the metal-binding proteins on the surface of their cells, said Love.

REEs are relatively abundant in mine tailings, the waste products of some metal ores, such as aluminum.

To purify and collect the REEs within, these slurries of water and crushed rocks will be run through a biofilter containing the modified bacteria, allowing the designer proteins on the surface of the bacteria to bind selectively to the REEs. Like the methane-loving bacteria that served as their templates, the improved bacteria will tolerate extremes of pH, temperature and salinity, conditions found in the mine tailings.

The researchers will collaborate with an industry partner, Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), a Xerox company, to bioprint a porous, sorbent material for use in the biofilter. This bioprinting technology is low-cost and scalable and is projected to result in significant savings when applied broadly to mineral recovery.

In addition to testing and optimizing the biofilter, the team will also have to develop methods for collecting the purified lanthanides from the biofilter itself, according to environmental engineer Christy Dykstra. The researchers have teamed up with a startup company, Phoenix Tailings, to test and refine the recovery process.

Because the goal is to develop a commercially viable but environmentally friendly process for extracting REEs, Dykstra and several of the project partners will analyze the costs of the system compared with other technologies for recovering lanthanides, but also the environmental impact.

We do anticipate that it would have a lot of benefits environmentally and lower energy costs compared to what is currently used. A system like this would be more of a passive biofiltration system, with less energy inputs. And then, theoretically, less use of really environmentally harmful solvents and things like that. A lot of current processes will use really harsh and non-environmentally friendly solvents. Christy Dykstra

Dykstra also notes that since bacteria replicate themselves, microbe-based technologies are self-renewing.

The goal of the DARPA-funded project is to provide proof-of-concept of the bio-driven REE-recovery technology in four years, which Kalyuzhnaya said will require a strategic vision and a cross-disciplinary outlook.
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.
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GREENWICH  Pfizer Executive Angela Hwang will deliver the 2023 commencement speech at Sacred Heart Greenwich, according to a school announcement.

Hwang, the parent of a 2020 Sacred Heart graduate, is the chief commercial officer and president of the Pfizer's global biopharmaceuticals business. Well-known for developing one of the COVID-19 vaccines, Pfizer has a major research site in Groton, Conn. Hwang has worked at the company for 26 years, according to Pfizer.

In her role, she collaborates with policymakers around the world to develop new and better ways to meet health challenges that make medicines accessible and affordable for all, according to the statement from Sacred Heart Greenwich.

Hwang received a bachelors degree from the University of Cape Town and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University, according to Pfizer. She has also been listed as Fortune's Top 50 Most Powerful Women for the past three years.

Sacred Heart Greenwichs 2023 commencement ceremony is scheduled for June 9.

Last week, Hwang visited Sacred Heart Greenwich to join the seniors for a celebratory lunch and shared her excitement as both the keynote speaker and as a past parent, according to the announcement.
The Honor Magic5 Pro is one of the more impressive flagships launched this year and its now available in the UK. Magic5 Pro will be available in green and black colors for 949.99 with orders starting on April 19. We also got confirmation that the device is due to launch in other EU, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific markets soon.

During our review, Magic5 Pro impressed us with its premium dual-glass curved design, great 120Hz LTPO OLED display and top-notch performance courtesy of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. The three 50MP cameras on the back were equally impressive with superb image captures and very good video quality. The 5,100mAh battery provided ample endurance and charged up fairly quick with its included 66W charger.

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Governor raises money for LEAP from $236.4M remaining ARP funds

Rick Cruz / Rick Cruz/PDN A family gathers for a selfie to celebrate their visit to Guam as they spend part of their day in Tumon Bay on March 27, 2023.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero increased the remaining federal American Rescue Plan funding for the Local Employers Assistance Program, although senators have yet to act on any of the three bills seeking to extend LEAP so that tourism-related businesses still struggling from the pandemic will get more financial help.

As of March 31, the total ARP funding under the governors purview thats already been allocated but remains unspent is down to $236.4 million.

This is based on the Bureau of Budget and Management Researchs latest status report.

This means nearly 60% of the total $586.913 million ARP funds have already been spent and encumbered.

The governor has until 2024 to allocate the ARP funds, and until 2026 to spend them on COVID-19 pandemic recovery programs and activities.

Of the remaining funds, most or $160 million, has already been reserved for the governors plan to develop a new public hospital at Eagles Field in Mangilao, which is expected to cost about $1 billion to build.

LEAP 2

The LEAP funding allocation increased by $3.8 million, bringing the total program funding available for businesses to more than $4.85 million as of March 31.

This brings it closer to the governors commitment of $5 million in ARP funds to help pandemic-hit businesses keep their employees and remain open.

This will be added to Sen. Joe San Agustins proposal to appropriate $15 million from the General Fund to fund a new round of LEAP or a similar program administered by the Guam Economic Development Authority.

I look forward to the Rules Committee placing my Bill 75 for LEAP funding, for the April session. It is the most viable of the three bills, San Agustin told Pacific Daily News on Monday.

His bill seeks to increase the revenue adopted in the fiscal 2023 budget law by $15 million, while the bills from Sen. Chris Barnett and Sen. Frank Blas Jr. seek to appropriate excess General Fund revenue.

San Agustin, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, welcomed the governors move to start building up the $5 million she committed for LEAP.

Some 1,000 pandemic-hit businesses received about $62 million in direct financial aid under LEAP. Business groups and senators are seeking to extend the program or launch a second round of it.

Tourism is still down by 60% to 70% compared to pre-pandemic levels, making it hard for still a number of businesses to reopen or to remain open while waiting for visitor arrivals to increase significantly.

ARP funding allocations are not set in stone, allowing the governor to reallocate money where she thinks its needed more.

In total, more than $3.2 million in additional ARP funds were spent and encumbered in March. Among major encumbrances last month was $680,000 for capital outlay at the Office of Technology.

The allocation for the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities was reduced by $1 million.

Some $600,000 that was initially part of the allocation for the All RISE Act, but was unused, was also moved around. The program provided $37.1 million in direct cash aid to eligible households to cope with higher prices of gas, food and other basic goods.

Some $1.5 million was also taken from the initial $2.78 million allocation for GEDAs economic diversification initiative, while an initial $1.056 million allocation for a GEDA incubation program was removed as of March. Some $133,000 in leftover funds for GEDAs rent relief program was also moved around.

Other programs expenditures exceeded their allocation, including the COVID-19 bereavement grant. Its latest revised allocation was $2.28 million, but spending already reached $2.29 million.

Sen. Telo Taitague on Monday said these ARP status reports, as they are submitted to the Legislature and the public, provide no clarity as to how exactly the funds were spent.

A preliminary review of the reports March 31 balance shows that just over $3.2 million may have been spent or transferred out since the date of the previous report, she said.

We need to closely examine all of the balances and delve into this latest report to see where this $3 million was spent and if it falls in line with what is needed in GovGuam. The report submitted this month isnt entirely clear and Im not comfortable that there is a true degree of transparency, the senator said.

After a meeting with Office of Finance and Budget officials recently, Taitague said shes concerned the administration has overestimated our excess revenues from fiscal year 2022.

We need to be confident that these ARP funds arent paying for anyones accounting mistakes, she added.
The 4,000th H-2B worker was approved to work on Guam, representing a record-setting number of foreign workers since the islands hotel construction boom in 1995, according to a press release from the Office of the Governor.

Ronel Tramado, originally from Quezon City, Philippines, is the 4,000th H-2B worker to arrive on the island after working overseas in Qatar. He pursued work on Guam for better working conditions and higher pay.

This exciting news shows that Guam is well into recovery as we fasten our rebuilding efforts and stabilize our footing in this era of prosperity, said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. We welcome every foreign worker who is engaged in the work of helping our island expand local labor resources and strengthen national security. With a historic number of H-2B workers, we can expect more construction progress and more opportunities to keep Guam moving forward.

Ronel is one of thousands of applicants seeking a better life for his family, but his arrival also marks a momentous occasion signaling the success of our strong federal advocacy efforts, said Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio. The steady flow of foreign laborers will support our efforts to lower the cost of building new homes and provide the workforce to build more affordable housing.

The Guam Department of Labor, with the support and guidance of the Office of the Governor, continues to advance initiatives that will streamline the H2-B process to ensure current and future federal legislation extends Guams H-2B exemptions beyond 2029, according to the release.

Outside-the-fence projects

H-2B workers are available to work on construction projects in the civilian sector, including projects relative to commercial buildings, home construction and government facilities.

The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration worked with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to reverse the 2016 H-2B crisis that resulted in the unprecedented denials of all H-2B visa applications and to update policy guidance to facilitate the availability of supplemental manpower for smaller contractors in the civilian sector.

GDOL continues to work with the Philippine government to establish a Migrant Workers Office and dedicated labor attache to streamline the approval process of H-2B visa applications to Guam.
Legislation to throw harsher prison sentences at felons that use a gun in the commission of a crime saw support at the Guam Legislature on Tuesday afternoon.

Bill 79 would have offenders face, at minimum, an extra 10 years in prison if they possess or use a gun in the commission of a felony. Thats an increase from the current minimum of 5 years in prison on a weapons charge.

According to Sen. Tom Fisher, the suggestion for the bill had come from Chief of Police Stephen Ignacio.

If youre going to brandish your gun in somebodys faceI dont care whether or not you use itthe person is going to feel like their life is slipping away from it. Its going to cause a traumatic and specific injury, Fisher said.

Attorney Peter Santos, who works as a public defender, said he was in support of the bill but urged caution.

A special weapons charge was a powerful tool for prosecution, Santos said.

As a citizen and as a parent, I agree that there needs to be some harsher punishment for folks who would willfully use a firearm in the commission of a felony.

However, Santos said he was concerned about firearms owners like himself being prosecuted for using a firearm in self-defense. He said hes seen questionable investigation work by law enforcement and questionable decision-making by prosecutors in firearm cases that hes handled.

I dont want to end up on the opposite side of that special allegations, when I was trying to defend my family, he said.

The Office of the Attorney General supported the harsher penalties, according to Acting Chief Prosecutor Heather Zona.

Firearm homicides were on the rise nationally, she told lawmakers, and were the leading cause of death of children.

She said guns often fall into the wrong hands, and its no secret that where there are drugs too often there also are guns. Drug houses are raided and guns are found. We see these stories on the stateside news every day. And sadly, here on Guam, were seeing those same trends, Zona said.

Attorney General Doug Moylan supported the measure and harsher penalties, she said.

The bill sent a strong message and, we will deal harshly with anyone who commits a crime with a firearm.
A parade of opposition was heard Tuesday evening on a proposal to use caning as a punishment for crimes.

But Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas, who has broached the caning option, said he plans to follow through with it. Criminals would face up to 24 strokes of the cane should San Nicolas Bill 21 become law.

This bill no doubt comes from the frustration Ive heard from a lot of our constituents when I was on the campaign trail, San Nicolas said, from residents who were tired of being victimized.

But caning wouldnt deter would-be criminals or lower the prison population, argued former chief of police Fred Bordallo jr. He said that, in his experience, criminals who were either high on drugs or had a low mental aptitude werent thinking rationally about consequences before they committed a crime.

What did work was a law enforcement presence in the community, Bordallo said, and adopting a human rights violation ... is an insult and compromise of our humanitarian values.

Pointing to countries where crime rates were low and caning was practiced was a poor example, said acting chief prosecutor Heather Zona with the Office of the Attorney General. Most of those countries, like Malaysia and Singapore, are considered violators of human rights and civil rights by the international community.

They have low crime rates because they have repressive governments. The justifications cited for the bill here are open to doubt. There is no evidence that caning will have a deterrent effect on Guam or that it will reduce recidivism in Guam, Zona said.

There are also technical issues with the bill, she said, including a failure to say what lesser crimes are subject to caning, and unworkable requirements that the police chief and a medical officer be present at every caning. The AGs office did not support the measure.

Corporal punishment would likely have a negative impact on the mental health of anyone who is subjected to it, said Joyce Martin with the University of Guams Student Social Work Alliance. Recent studies show CHamorus  the most represented population in the Department of Corrections  already face higher rates of psychological stress than white populations, Martin said.

We do not know what the full effects of judicial corporal punishment will be, she said, adding that although counseling for the caned was contemplated in the bill, those who already have mental illness arent considered.

Dead from the start

Its possible that the caning bill, if it becomes law, would be voided from the get go, said attorney and public defender Pete Santos.

The United States has signed on to the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Santos said.

Treaties are given the same force and effect of federal statutes, he said, meaning the caning proposal could easily be struck down.

Are you saying that caning is defined as torture within that act? Sen. Tom Fisher  an attorney himself  asked Santos.

Santos said it would be, prompting Fisher to ask that the Legislatures legal counsel provide an opinion.

Lawmakers weigh in

Opinions from lawmakers were mixed, with some outright opposed and others willing to hear the proposal out.

Sen. Roy Quinata said he supported San Nicolas. I echo his sentiments. Enough is enough, Quinata said.

The freshman senator said he had also considered introducing the death penalty to address the nonsense of catch and release criminals.

I personally would rather this thing be done publicly, Quinata said.

Sen. Chris Barnett read a visceral description of caning during the hearing, which detailed bleeding skin on the buttocks and the hospitalization of the caned. While many were frustrated with a failing judicial system, corporal punishment was not the answer, he said.

Were punishing people for crimes. Do we need to do a better job of it? Absolutely. But do we need to turn into some third-world communist police state to do that? I dont think so, Barnett said.

San Nicolas said he was open to discussion but I am not withdrawing this bill. Im gonna go down with this bill, if I have to. Im sick and tired of people being victimized.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero increased the remaining federal American Rescue Plan funding for the Local Employers Assistance Program, although senators have yet to act on any of the three bills seeking to extend LEAP so that tourism-related businesses still struggling from the pandemic will get more financial help.

As of March 31, the total ARP funding under the governors purview thats already been allocated but remains unspent is down to $236.4 million.

This is based on the Bureau of Budget and Management Researchs latest status report.

This means nearly 60% of the total $586.913 million ARP funds have already been spent and encumbered.

The governor has until 2024 to allocate the ARP funds, and until 2026 to spend them on COVID-19 pandemic recovery programs and activities.

Of the remaining funds, most or $160 million, has already been reserved for the governors plan to develop a new public hospital at Eagles Field in Mangilao, which is expected to cost about $1 billion to build.

LEAP 2

The LEAP funding allocation increased by $3.8 million, bringing the total program funding available for businesses to more than $4.85 million as of March 31.

This brings it closer to the governors commitment of $5 million in ARP funds to help pandemic-hit businesses keep their employees and remain open.

This will be added to Sen. Joe San Agustins proposal to appropriate $15 million from the General Fund to fund a new round of LEAP or a similar program administered by the Guam Economic Development Authority.

I look forward to the Rules Committee placing my Bill 75 for LEAP funding, for the April session. It is the most viable of the three bills, San Agustin told Pacific Daily News on Monday.

His bill seeks to increase the revenue adopted in the fiscal 2023 budget law by $15 million, while the bills from Sen. Chris Barnett and Sen. Frank Blas Jr. seek to appropriate excess General Fund revenue.

San Agustin, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, welcomed the governors move to start building up the $5 million she committed for LEAP.

Some 1,000 pandemic-hit businesses received about $62 million in direct financial aid under LEAP. Business groups and senators are seeking to extend the program or launch a second round of it.

Tourism is still down by 60% to 70% compared to pre-pandemic levels, making it hard for still a number of businesses to reopen or to remain open while waiting for visitor arrivals to increase significantly.

ARP funding allocations are not set in stone, allowing the governor to reallocate money where she thinks its needed more.

In total, more than $3.2 million in additional ARP funds were spent and encumbered in March. Among major encumbrances last month was $680,000 for capital outlay at the Office of Technology.

The allocation for the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities was reduced by $1 million.

Some $600,000 that was initially part of the allocation for the All RISE Act, but was unused, was also moved around. The program provided $37.1 million in direct cash aid to eligible households to cope with higher prices of gas, food and other basic goods.

Some $1.5 million was also taken from the initial $2.78 million allocation for GEDAs economic diversification initiative, while an initial $1.056 million allocation for a GEDA incubation program was removed as of March. Some $133,000 in leftover funds for GEDAs rent relief program was also moved around.

Other programs expenditures exceeded their allocation, including the COVID-19 bereavement grant. Its latest revised allocation was $2.28 million, but spending already reached $2.29 million.

Sen. Telo Taitague on Monday said these ARP status reports, as they are submitted to the Legislature and the public, provide no clarity as to how exactly the funds were spent.

A preliminary review of the reports March 31 balance shows that just over $3.2 million may have been spent or transferred out since the date of the previous report, she said.

We need to closely examine all of the balances and delve into this latest report to see where this $3 million was spent and if it falls in line with what is needed in GovGuam. The report submitted this month isnt entirely clear and Im not comfortable that there is a true degree of transparency, the senator said.

After a meeting with Office of Finance and Budget officials recently, Taitague said shes concerned the administration has overestimated our excess revenues from fiscal year 2022.

We need to be confident that these ARP funds arent paying for anyones accounting mistakes, she added.
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptor missile launcher, operated by the Armys 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, in place at Andersen Air Force Bases Northwest Field in Yigo November 2021.
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Using resources found within Guam for a greener environment and economy is the focus of the 14th annual University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability.

Panels and guest speakers discussed the topic during a press conference Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency Guam.

The theme this year is, Rediscover the depths of our island abundance.

Sessions will discuss sources of renewable energy found in the sea and land, and ways to turn waste products into marketable products to sell in the circular economy, said Austin Shelton, director of the University of Guams Center for Island Sustainability and UOG Sea Grant.

Representatives from across the Pacific region, Asia and the Caribbean will be attending to brainstorm and share their knowledge on creating a cleaner environment, combating climate change and tackling invasive species, Shelton said.

Collaboration and innovation is really the goal of this conference, said Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio.

Keynote speakers will be Blue Planet Alliance founder Henk Rogers and attorney and author Julian Aguon, who founded Blue Ocean Law.

A free and open-to-the-public community night at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Hyatt will include an opening ceremony, guest speakers and a chance to win a paddleboard to kick off the conference.

The main conference the public can attend begins Thursday morning. Pre-conference board meetings and focus groups met on Monday and Tuesday and will continue Wednesday.

The community can purchase tickets to attend starting at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday.

The conference will be held through Saturday.

To learn more about the conference, how to purchase tickets and the schedule, visit the UOG websites 2023 UOG Conference on Island Sustainability page.




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 - Justice : The Minister Prophete discussed with the representatives of the striking clerks





Me Emmelie Prophet Milce, Acting Minister of Justice, met with representatives of Associations of Clerks whose members have been on strike in the 18 jurisdictions of the country since March 7 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39011-haiti-news-zapping.html



The questions of general administration of the clerks, salaries, benefits, appointment of student clerks, promotion, but the strike were on the agenda of the discussions.



To show her willingness to resolve the crisis that is hampering the proper functioning of transplants in the country, the Minister has made a commitment to work quickly on the claims of the protagonists whom she says she cares about.



However, she pointed out to them, as a State official, that the satisfaction of their grievances will have to undergo administrative procedures as required by law.



Clinging to their claims, the lawyers have assured that they will wait for their requests to be answered.



Minister Prophete thanked the clerks and promised to work hard to solve the problems that the Haitian justice system has been facing for ages.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2023/04/10 | Source

Character posters added for the upcoming Korean drama "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" (2023).

Advertisement

Directed by Kang Sin-hyo

Written by Han Woo-ri

Network: tvN

With Lee Dong-wook, Kim Beom, Kim So-yeon, Ryu Kyung-soo, Kim Jung-nan, Kim Yong-ji,...

12 episodes - Sat, Sun 21:20

Follow up to "Tale of the Nine Tailed"

Synopsis

The story of Lee Yeon, a gumiho who was summoned back to a chaotic 1938 after being embroiled in an unexpected incident.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2023/05/06
Published on 2023/04/10 | Source

Strong women are coming.

Advertisement

Actresses Kim Hee-ae, Moon So-ri, Seo Yi-sook, and Jin Kyung join forces to fight a gun-less war to become the real 'queens'.

Netflix's new series "Queenmaker" which will be released on the 14th, is a female political drama that has rarely been seen. It depicts the story of Hwang Do-hee, a genius of image making, jumping into the election to make Oh Kyeong-sook, a human rights lawyer who stands on the side of the weak and fights against the world, the mayor of Seoul.

They will attend a production presentation at Yongsan CGV in Seoul on the morning of the 11th to deliver the 'rawness' of the political scene..

In the drama, Kim Hee-ae will play Hwang Do-hee, head of strategic planning at large companies, while Moon So-ri will face off as a human rights lawyer who has been on the side of the weak and a political rookie challenging the position of Seoul mayor. Seo Yi-sook appears as the chairman of a large company who points a gun at Kim Hee-ae, who she once cherished, creating tension in the drama.

Regarding her chemistry with Moon So-ri, Kim Hee-ae said, "At first, we live like enemies, but as we unite toward the same goal, we discover each other's true selves and fuse", adding, "Even if it's different, two very different beings meet and show great synergy".

Moon So-ri also said, "At first, it was a strategic alliance, but it depicts things that go through a lot of things together and understand each other, and the mind and eyes looking at the world, match".
Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday reported that the hospital has decided to resort to referrals for reasons related to a pressing shortage of intensive care nurses: with experienced nurses leaving the profession and the orientation of replacements requiring time, it has been unable to utilise all of its beds.

NEW CHILDRENS HOSPITAL in Helsinki has begun referring patients requiring heart surgery to Denmark and Sweden.

Jari Petaja, the director of children and adolescents at New Childrens Hospital, told MTV in March that the district will initially enquire about the willingness of 2030 patients and their families to have the surgery abroad.

Helsingin Sanomat wrote about the issue based on interviews with five nurses, including four working in paediatric intensive care, and a few dozen responses to a questionnaire about the situation at New Childrens Hospital, the largest hospital focusing on demanding specialist paediatric care in Finland.

The employees pointed to three reasons for the alarming situation: poor management, low base pay and low level of occupational well-being.

Occupational well-being among nurses in the intensive care unit started to deteriorate when the unit was relocated to New Childrens Hospital in 2018, according to Helsingin Sanomat. As each patient is now assigned to their own module, the nurses are only able to attend to their own patient, making it harder to support their colleagues.

Many responded to the change by requesting a leave or reduced working hours, but many of the requests were turned down. A number of experienced intensive care nurses left the unit before the management became more welcoming to such requests, before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

While replacements have been brought in, only few have stayed long term.

The situation was allowed to turn into a catastrophe, one experienced nurse described to Helsingin Sanomat. Patient safety isnt really in danger, but thats only because nurses are doing a significant amount of overtime and emergency work.

At HUSs management, the biggest problem is lack of respect for the nursing work, even though theyll tell you otherwise in celebratory speeches, a physician summed up.

All of the respondents called attention to remuneration. The majority of nurses in the paediatric intensive care unit receive a monthly pay that, excluding work-shift bonuses, starts with the number two irrespective of their experience and competences. It may take months before the speciality skills they have developed are reflected in their pay.

The interviewees highlighted that they could receive the same pay in basic health care or a higher pay in other university hospitals in Finland.

The responses also reflect discontent with factors such as increasingly rigid shift schedules, the resources needed for orientation amid high staff turnover and staff being stretched thin whenever something unexpected happens.

The interviewees voiced their surprise with the decision to refer patients to Denmark. They said they were prepared to clear the backlog by working overtime as soon as talks about remuneration had been completed.

Even it would not be a permanent change for the better, though.

The only way to get the experienced workers to return is to raise the pay substantially. Many still wont be returning until the management has been replaced, one nurse stated to Helsingin Sanomat.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Finnish airport operator, Finavia, has collaborated with local family business Relove to bring a unique second hand store to Helsinki-Vantaa airport. This groundbreaking store combines recycling culture with a popular cafe, providing an exciting new shopping and dining experience for travelers.

According to Nora Immonen, Director of Commercial Business at Finavia, the airport is constantly developing its offerings to follow trends and meet the needs of travelers.

The partnership with Relove is one of the most anticipated additions to the airport's lineup this year.

The store, which will be the world's first second hand store at an airport, will offer high-quality second hand clothing and accessories alongside a trendy cafe. Relove's owners, Noora Hautakangas and Eero Ukkonen, see the partnership with Finavia as an opportunity to spread the message of circular economy to a wider audience, including international customers.

The new Relove store will be located in Helsinki-Vantaa's former departure hall, which has been transformed into a gateway area as part of a development program. When the renovations are completed in the fall of 2023, the hall will have a completely new look, and the new services will be available to customers.

The area will feature Finnish architecture, wooden design, and unique brands, creating a memorable and enjoyable experience for travelers to relax and refresh during their journey.

Nora Immonen is proud of the airport's commitment to meeting travelers' preferences and constantly offering something new. Helsinki-Vantaa airport recently won the award for Europe's Best Airport in its size category, demonstrating customer satisfaction and the success of the airport's efforts.

The opening of the world's first second hand store at an airport is a major step towards promoting sustainable practices in the retail industry, and Helsinki-Vantaa is leading the way in providing environmentally conscious options for travelers.

HT
Maria Ohisalo, the current leader of the Finnish Green Party, has announced that she will not seek re-election as party leader at the upcoming party congress in June. Ohisalo has been the party leader for two terms of two years each, as well as serving as Finland's Minister of the Interior from 2019 to 2021 and as Minister of the Environment and Climate Change since 2022.

Ohisalo's leadership has been marked by a number of crises that have affected Finland, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Europe, the energy crisis, and inflation.

Despite these challenges, she has emphasized the progress that the Green Party has made in advancing its goals during her tenure.

"In the past four years, despite everything going on around us, the Greens' goals have advanced more than perhaps ever before," Ohisalo said. "We have done extensive work on climate change, made historic investments in nature conservation, restored the dignity of education and carried out the social and healthcare reform, reduced inequality, and strengthened Finland's security by joining NATO."

However, the Green Party suffered a defeat in the spring parliamentary elections, and Ohisalo has taken full responsibility for the party's poor showing.

"I take full responsibility for the election defeat as party leader. We lost in many ways, in different parts of the country and among different groups of people. Now is the time to pause and think about the future direction," Ohisalo said.

Despite her decision not to seek re-election, Ohisalo expressed her support for whoever is chosen as her successor.

"At this summer's party congress, people will be elected to the party's leadership positions again. I am not available for re-election as the party leader. Whoever is chosen as my successor will have my full support," she said.

Ohisalo thanked the Green Party members and supporters for their cooperation and encouragement over the years.

"I have received a tremendous amount of support from the Green Party members and people throughout Finland during all these years. Thank you so much for your encouragement, even in the aftermath of the election defeat," she said.

The decision not to seek re-election by Ohisalo opens up a new chapter for the Finnish Green Party, as they will need to choose a new leader to guide them into the future. It remains to be seen who will be chosen as Ohisalo's successor and how they will build on the progress that has been made under her leadership.

HT
Six weeks ago , investigative journalist Seymour Hersh published a report claiming that President Joe Biden ordered the destruction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline last September. The $11-billion pipeline was set to double the volume of natural gas delivered from Russia to Germany. While the story gained attention in Germany and Western Europe, it faced a near media blackout in the United States.

After a recent visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Washington, US and German intelligence agencies allegedly attempted to spread false cover stories through the New York Times and German weekly Die Zeit to counter Hersh's report. Since Hershs bombshell expose, Biden administration has gone to extreme and often redisclose length to distract attention from the topic, ranging from hot air balloons, UFOs, and going back to the origins of Covid, to fabricating stories about private Ukrainians in sailing boats diving to over 70m deep waters, placing hundreds of kilos of explosives and detonating it remotely.

Hersh's sources within the intelligence community claim that President Biden has not ordered a deep investigation into the incident, possibly because he already knows the answer.

Energy expert Sarah Miller explained the significance of the pipeline story in Germany and Western Europe. The destruction of Nord Stream 2 in September led to a surge in natural gas prices, peaking at 10 times pre-crisis levels in October. European governments reportedly spent up to 800 billion euros to shield households and businesses from the impact. Gas prices have since fallen to a quarter of the October peak, but they remain between two and three times pre-crisis levels.

The Nord Stream 2 controversy resurfaced during Chancellor Scholz's visit to Washington in early March. Hersh's source with access to diplomatic intelligence revealed that there was a discussion of the pipeline expose during Scholz's visit, and certain elements in the CIA were asked to collaborate with German intelligence to prepare a cover story for the American and German press.

"The agency was 'to pulse the system' in an effort to discount the claim that Biden had ordered the pipelines' destruction," Hersh's source said.

As the Biden administration continues to deny responsibility for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline destruction, and Sweden and Denmark refuse an independent investigation taking place, the controversy remains unresolved. The alleged cover-up raises questions about transparency and accountability in both the United States and Germany.

HT
JOHN HOWELL is not seeking re-election as Henleys MP.

He has written to the South Oxfordshire Conservative Association of his intention to retire ahead of the next general election.

Mr Howell, who succeeded Boris Johnson as MP for the Henley constituency in 2008, will remain in post until parliament is dissolved.

He said: By the time of the end of the next parliament I will be coming up towards my mid-70s. I do not want to be in parliament until that time as I would like to pursue other avenues.

I am a strong supporter of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and I hope that the South Oxfordshire Conservative Association will continue to get behind him.

Mr Howell has contested four general elections, retaining more than 50 per cent of vote share at each one.

During his time as an MP he has held a number of positions, most recently and currently as the leader of the UK parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe.

Mr Howell said: I have enjoyed my time as the MP for this constituency and I thank the people here for their support.

Most recently I am proud to have been able to visit the Turkish prisoner, Osman Kavala, on behalf of the European Court of Human Rights. We are a multinational nation and I am pleased to have demonstrated this.

A full report will appear in this weeks Henley Standard, out on Friday.
BLUES maestro Papa George was a boy when he first started playing the guitar.

He would listen to the rock n roll bands of the late Sixties and early Seventies in order to learn.

Today, the 69-year-old is still playing and will be performing at a charity concert in Henley later this month.

George, who lives in Barnes in South London, was born George Papanicola to Greek-Cypriot

parents.

He says: I started playing when I was nine or 10 years old and it was music that turned me on. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Chuck Berry and all that stuff was the attraction.

I was also influenced a lot by people like Rory Gallagher, Jimi Hendrix and, of course, Jeff Beck.

I was never technical  I play a lot by feel and expression. You refine your playing and then just express yourself within it.

I like playing electrically and Ive been doing an acoustic thing for some time as well. I like the contrast, acoustic stuff, steel guitar, bottleneck and things. When I was in my early teens, I was fortunate enough to work at the Hammersmith Odeon and a lot of the blues acts came there. Id see them all  blues and rock n roll, Elvis Presley.

In 1967, there was an American folk blues festival that came over and it was at the Odeon for a whole week.

I think it was people like Willie Dixon and his band, who wrote many great songs that people like Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf covered.

On the bill during that week there was Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and Son House, I think.

Back then, I was playing in school bands, youth clubs and stuff. I remember thinking, when these guys came on stage, Im 14 and these guys are in their prime.

Theyre in their forties or something, like my parents age, and playing this music which has a lot of feeling and Im thinking, How cool are they?

In the late Seventies George was in a band called Taxi and he also formed the Papa George Band.

He says: With Taxi we wrote a lot of songs together and we did several clubs between 1979 and 1983.

We had a poster done and someone asked us to sign one. I thought, Im not writing George Papanicola, so I just wrote Papa George and from then the name stuck. It sort of worked for me and, as I age, it kind of suits.

Another strong influence on the young guitarist was Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac.

George says: When I first heard him there was something about the feel and the guitar. Danny Kirwan was very underrated too.

Jeremy Spencer, who was also in the band, I met in Prague in 2011. We were both sponsored by the guitar builder Amistar, who put on a festival.

Jeremy and I got to chat on the phone about where we were going to do our solo spots. We ended up saying, Well, why dont we just do the gig together?

We became good friends and weve stayed in touch and done a few gigs together. Hes a lovely fellow and a great slide player.

In 2013, George was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as a master blues artist.

I was honoured and gratefully accepted it, he said.

For the Henley blues night he will be accompanied by harmonica player Alan Glen. The pair worked together on the 2009 album Live at the Ram Jam.

George says: We did that album and we did a live gig. Alans a wonderful player and has done some really good work.

He has a background with Nine Below Zero and the Yardbirds. He has played the Royal Albert Hall maybe eight times or something like that. He guested on my other bands album, Down at the Station. Hes a wonderful guy and a great player and he makes me sound better than I am.

Ive been working for the best part of 45 years. I need to play, I enjoy playing and I love it to death. Its my therapy.

These days, George plays fewer gigs than he used to as his life partner, Anne Marshall, has had to take a step back.

He explains: Anne used to look after the admin, the posters, the website, the fan mail and all that. We used to work pretty hard.

Sadly, she had a stroke some 10 years ago. I looked after her for seven years and then it got a bit difficult so shes in a care home and I visit her. Shes settled now.

Weve been together about 27 years and when I met Anne, the world expanded. She was a headteacher and is so sharp and knowledgeable.

Technically, were not actually married. We tried to get married but we couldnt because she lost her speech with the stroke.

The gig has been organised by Henley Rotary Club and the proceeds will go to Aquabox, which provides clean water to disaster areas around the world, Helen and Douglas House, the Oxfordshire hospice for dying children, and other local Rotary-supported causes.

 Blues Night at Rotary is at Christ Church in Reading Road, Henley, on Saturday, April 22 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost 15 adults, 9 under-18s. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.eventbrite.

co.uk/e/blues-night-with-rotary-

tickets-519090663147
Three top Twitter executives who were sacked by Elon Musk last year when he took over the social media company filed suit on Monday, seeking to be reimbursed for costs of litigation, investigations and congressional inquiries related to their former jobs. Parag Agrawal walks to a morning session during the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.(AFP / File)

Also read: I think: Elon Musk's email to BBC amid Twitter's government-funded' tag row

Ex-CEO Parag Agrawal, along with the company's former chief legal and financial officers, claim in the suit that they are owed a total of more than $1 million, and that Twitter is legally bound to pay them.

Twitter responded to an AFP request for comment with a poop emoji, as has become its practice.

The court filing outlined numerous expenses related to inquiries by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), but does not include details on the nature of the investigations or whether they are still ongoing.

Agrawal and then-chief financial officer Ned Segal provided testimony to the SEC last year and "have continued to engage with federal authorities," according to court documents.

The SEC is investigating whether Musk complied with securities rules when he amassed Twitter shares.

Former Twitter chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde was called on to take part in a US congressional hearing about big tech and free speech following Musk's release late last year of so-called "Twitter Files" related to the site's content moderation.

Gadde was also named as a defendant in a lawsuit by a man who claimed he was "doxed" at Twitter as a white supremacist, the filing said.

Musked terminated Agrawal, Gadde and Segal from their posts in late October after closing his contentious $44 billion takeover of Twitter.

The three former executives argue that Twitter is bound by agreements to reimburse them, but has done no more than acknowledge it received their invoices.

After taking over Twitter, Musk quickly slashed the ranks of employees, with the cuts so broad it raised concerns about the platform's stability and its ability to fight misinformation and other abuse.

Also read: Twitter now Titter? Elon Musk says painted W

Complaints have also been filed accusing Twitter of not paying rent or other bills as Musk follows on a vow to "cut costs like crazy."

Meanwhile, market trackers say advertising revenue has plunged at Twitter due to concerns over misinformation and hateful content flourishing as Musk dials back moderation efforts.
Keshub Mahindra, 99, is Indias oldest billionaire, as per the recently published Forbes list of the worlds wealthiest. The chairman emeritus of Mahindra & Mahindra group figures among the 169 other Indian billionaires who made it to the worlds richest list in 2023. With a net worth of $1.2 billion, Keshub had earlier lost his place on the coveted list.

Keshub is also the chairman emeritus of Mahindra & Mahindra Group. (company website)
The Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar highway will contribute to a four-fold rise in the footfall of tourists in Kashmir, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Tuesday. Gadkari, who inspected the Banihal-Qazigund tunnel and other projects in the union territory, said that upon their completion the travel time between from Delhi to Srinagar will be just 8 hours. Union minister Nitin Gadkarim, accompanies by J&K LG Manoj Sinha among others, during inauguration of Sitaram Pasi-Marog Tunnel (NT-1) on Ramban-Banihal road in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

Key projects part of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway:

The 924-metre-long Banihal-Qazigund tunnel, being constructed to avoid a 3km landslide-prone region in Ramban district of Jammu, is part of the ongoing four-laning of the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway - the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.

Also Read: Nitin Gadkari reviews J&K's 'historic' Zojila tunnel project linking Kashmir-Kanyakumari

Joined by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union ministers Jitendra Singh and Gen VK Singh, Gadkari also conducted a breakthrough of Sita Rama Passi Maroog via virtual mode through a controlled blast in the tunnel. He said this road was expected to be completed in two years.

Road projects worth 1.25 lakh crore are underway in the valley, Gadkari told the reporters. Three key roads are being constructed between Jammu and Srinagar, he added. The completion of these projects will also ensure a six hours travel time from Delhi to Katra  the base camp of the cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi. "Presently the distance from Delhi to Katra is 727 km, this expressway will reduce the distance by 58 km, Gadkari noted.

"...One of five tunnels with a length of 45 kilometres has been inaugurated today. The other three tunnels will be open by next year. One tunnel given to TATA will take some time for completion, the minister for road, highways and transport said.

The work on the Jammu Srinagar national highway began in 2011 and includes a number of small and major tunnels, bridges and flyovers and is likely to be completed by the next year.

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Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections, many prominent leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Janata Dal (Secular) party joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday in Bengaluru. State Health Minister K Sudhakar, State General Secretary Siddaraju and other leaders welcomed the leaders and workers who joined the party. (PTI)

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.

READ | Karnataka Assembly polls: CM Bommai to contest from Shiggaon constituency

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.

READ | Karnataka Cong chief backing Kharge for CM post sparks debate over Dalit at helm

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.
The Indian National Congress (INC) has hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party and alleged that they have illegally formed the government in Maharashtra. The Congress party also blamed the ruling BJP for the ongoing dispute between Karnataka and its neighboring Maharashtra states over allocation of border villages near Belagavi. Union home minister Amit Shah with Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and the state deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis during a meeting in New Delhi at December last year. (PTI)

Also Read - Ktaka passes resolution amid Maha border row

The Congress party tweeted, The BJP's 40% commission government in Karnataka and the immorally formed government in Maharashtra are attacking the federal system of our country. They are fueling inter-state conflicts, as seen in the row between Maharashtra and Karnataka over Belagavi. It also stressed that the people of Karnataka will hit back at the BJP in upcoming assembly elections. But the people of Karnataka won't be fooledthey'll hit back at the ballot box, the Congress party further tweeted.

Last month, the Maharashtra government's decision to implement its health insurance scheme in the 865 border villages in Karnataka sparked a row once again. Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai "unpardonable offence" and said he would raise the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

In December, Union home minister Amit Shah called for a meeting between the two Chief Ministers, after which he said both had agreed not to make any claims and counterclaims on the border issue till the Supreme Court had decided on the matter.
As Covid-19 cases continued to spike in the country, southern state Karnataka saw a positivity rate of 7.47 per cent on Monday, compared to the 2.92 per cent recorded the day before. The state recorded two deaths, one from Ballari and the other from Mysuru, compared to no deaths on the previous day. Covid infections in the country have seen an upward trend in the past few days. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC)

It logged 191 fresh cases on Monday, slightly lower than the 197 cases registered on Sunday. Of these, 120 cases came from state capital Bengaluru alone, data from the health department said. With 346 recoveries, the southern state's active caseload inched down to 1,673.

As many as 2,554 samples were tested in the state, of which 1,181 were Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and 1,373 were RT-PCR and other tests. The state also screened 125 passengers at international airports in Bengaluru and Mangaluru. Among individual districts, 15 cases were reported from Chikkamagaluru, Davanagere and Kalaburagi each. Meanwhile, around 16 districts in Karnataka reported no new cases.

READ | India logs 5,676 new Covid cases, active infections cross 37,000-mark

Karnataka's capital Bengaluru continued to record a surge in fresh infections, recording 120 new cases compared to 71 on Sunday. Karnataka's total Covid tally was at 40.79 lakhs. Meanwhile, the country saw 5,675 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, decreasing marginally from the previous day's count.

As Covid infections in the country have seen an upward trend in the past few days, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday advised citizens not to panic, and advised they should maintain proper hygiene.
JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Monday asserted that there is no question of his party going near to either the Congress or BJP, and announced that he will be touring various parts of the state for campaigning ahead of the Assembly polls in Karnataka. The 89-year-old leader had stayed away from active campaigning, other than appearances at a couple of rallies, like the one in Mysuru recently, due to age-related ill health. (HT Archive)

The former Prime Minister said he will tour extensively in the party stronghold of Old Mysuru region and a couple of districts in northern parts of the state for campaigning.

READ | BJP looks to make inroads in JD(S), Congress stronghold

"I will tour the state after April 10th, preferably all of the Old Mysuru region -- Mandya, Hassan, Kolar, Chikkamagaluru, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara and Tumkur. I'm going to tour this region. This is our strong belt," Gowda said in a video statement released by his office.

"I also want to go to Raichur and Vijayapura districts (north Karnataka), where I have done a lot of work to save farmers, who were suffering badly because of drought. By getting water from Krishna (river), amidst water sharing dispute with Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, I had worked there," he said.

Stating that his son and party leader H D Kumaraswamy will tour the rest of the state including these regions, the veteran leader said "there is no question of going either near to Congress or near to BJP."

The 89-year-old leader had stayed away from active campaigning, other than appearances at a couple of rallies, like the one in Mysuru recently, due to age-related ill health. Speaking about Hassan seat, Gowda said: "Hassan is my Parliamentary segment. Of course, I have left it to my grandson (MP Prajwal Revanna). Even then, I have take care of all these areas personally along with Old Mysuru, Raichur and Vijayapura, among others."

READ | Former JD(S) leader set to contest polls as an independent candidate

Differences seem to have cropped up within the Gowda family regarding Hassan Assembly seat, which has become a bone of contention, as Bhavani Revanna, who has thrown her hat in the ring, has not relented, despite her brother in-law Kumaraswamy repeatedly making it clear that she will not be fielded, and instead a "loyal party worker" will enter the fray.

Bhavani Revanna, a former Hassan zilla panchayat member, is the wife of Kumaraswamy's elder brother and former minister H D Revanna and daughter-in-law of Gowda. She has the backing of her husband and sons -- Prajwal and Suraj Revanna -- who are Member of Lok Sabha from Hassan and an MLC respectively. JD(S), which has set a target of winning at least 123 seats in the 224 member Assembly, has announced the first list of 93 candidates so far.

Voting will take place in a single phase across the state on May 10 and the results declared on May 13.
Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has responded to the delay of BJPs first list of candidates for assembly polls and said that another internal meeting is scheduled. He also said that the party has its political calculations, and the first list will be out soon. First list will be out after: Karnataka CM Bommai

Also Read - Karnataka: BJP leader KS Eshwarappa announces retirement from electoral politics

Speaking to reporters, he said, We had a series of meetings. We did our political calculations. After Union home minister Amit Shah comes back to Delhi after another internal meeting will be done and the first list will be announced." Amit Shah had a series of meetings at Assam and Arunchal Pradesh on Tuesday.

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 finalise the names of candidates for assembly polls. 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.

Yediyurappa also said that 170 to 180 names will be announced on Monday but it was delayed. He said, BJP will release its first list of about 170 to 180 candidates for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections. The second list will be followed later. Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Bommai has already announced that he will be contesting from his Shiggon constituency.

The Congress has already released two lists in which the first list consisted of 124 names and the second one with 48 names. The Janata Dal (Secular) also released their first list of candidates. The assembly elections in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and the results will be announced on May 13.
BENGALURU: Election officials have the authority to search and confiscate materials only after elections are announced by the Election Commission of India, the Karnataka high court has said and ordered authorities to release the 530 bags of rice confiscated by officials in Bengaluru on March 19. Isthiyak Ahmed, a resident of Shivajinagar, petitioned the Karnataka high court for relief (File Photo)

The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the state elections - Karnataka will vote on May 10 - only on March 29.

Isthiyak Ahmed, a resident of Shivajinagar, petitioned the high court for relief, complaining that the Election Commissions local Returning Officer seized 530 bags of rice of 25 kg each from his residence on March 19 and then issued him notice. But the bags were not returned, leading Ahmed to petition the high court.

In a recent verdict, justice M Nagaprasanna held that election officers do not have any jurisdiction to search any premises and seize any material before the announcement of elections.

After the declaration of elections, the entire domain would be open, but not till then. Seizure is to be exercised by the authority/officers under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, under normal circumstances. The Returning Officer and the Inspector of Police, who have conducted the search in the case at hand were not vested with such authority and their action is, therefore, illegal, the court observed, according to news agency PTI.

Ahmed claimed in his petition that the rice was to be distributed to the poor during festivals. He was directed to file an indemnity bond that he will not break the model code of conduct during the election.

(With inputs from agencies)
In good news for frequent travellers between Bengaluru and Hyderabad, a new Vande Bharat train is likely to be allotted between the two cities, known for their IT sectors. The semi-high-speed train will run between Bengaluru and Secunderabad, prime minister Narendra Modi told Telangana state BJP leaders during his visit last week, Times Now reported. This will be the third Vande Bharat Express for Telangana.(PTI)

Details such as the launch date are not yet known. This news will be followed by a formal announcement soon, the report added. Karnataka and Telangana are both headed for assembly polls, with the former set to vote on May 10, for which counting will be held on May 13.

READ | Vande Bharat express between Bengaluru-Hubbali in proposal: Report

South India got its first Vande Bharat train along the Mysuru - Bengaluru - Chennai route, which was flagged off by PM Modi in November last year. Another Vande Bharat train has been proposed by the South Western Railway (SWR) between Bengaluru and Hubbali in Karnataka.

This will be the third Vande Bharat Express for Telangana as well. The Railways is also expected to launch a Vande Bharat Express train along the Kacheguda - Bengaluru route, along with two more trains being assigned to serve in South India, which are from Secunderabad to Tirupati and Pune.

READ | Vande Bharat on Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai route hits calf, suffers dent: Report

The Railway department aims to run 75 Vande Bharat trains by the end of the year and 400 over the next three years. The Vande Bharat Express trains are semi-high speed and can run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph. Equipped with airplane-like features, they are made under the centre's flagship Make-in-India initiative.
A performance audit report by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) has revealed glaring lapses in the fire safety norms at government schools and the hospitals across the state. A CAG performance audit report revealed glaring lapses in the fire safety norms at government schools and the hospitals in Himachal Pradesh. (HT FIle)

As per the report, which was recently tabled in the state assemblys budget session, the fire department informed that out of only 55 of the state 2,806 government schools had obtained fire no-objection-certificates (NOC) during the 2018-21 period.

Alarmingly, none of the 99 major government hospitals in the state had not obtained the same from the department.

The Supreme Court of India has in its 2009 order directed every school to obtain mandatory fire NOC in the aftermath of a fire incident at a school. Similarly, the Union ministry of home affairs had also issued guidelines to all states, directing regular inspections of hospitals and nursing homes to ensure compliance with National Building Codes (NBC) fire safety norms.

The report observed that the Himachal Pradesh Fire Fighting Services Act, 1984, empowers the department to enter/examine premises for compliance with fire safety norms, but lacks provisions to enforce compliance and penal provisions for non-adherence to norms.

In view of the same, defaulters continued to have a free pass, putting the lives of students and those working at/visiting these institutions at risk.

Departmental laxity

The report also states that the department had not conducted vulnerability analysis of fire-vulnerable buildings. Databases of hazardous industries, high-rise buildings despite the PACs recommendation for identification were also found missing.

It is worth mentioning that the National Disaster Management guidelines recommend provisions in the legal framework/Fire Act of the state requiring mandatory department clearances for all high rise buildings, colonies, residential clusters, business centres, malls, etc.

Infrastructural lapses

The report further revealed that 23 test-checked fire control centres did not have adequate and reliable sources of water.

Meanwhile, only 85 fire fighting vehicles were found available against an approved fleet strength of 115.

The shortage in firefighting vehicles was concomitant with surrender of budget amounting to 6.22 crore received for motor vehicle purchase during 2018-21, indicating that the department had not adequately planned for purchase of firefighting vehicles despite shortage, the audit observed.

Against a sanctioned strength of 938 posts for operational staff, 257 (28%) posts were lying vacant, adversely impacting the capacity of fire control centres. Also, only 728 personal protection equipment (PPE) kits for firefighters were available against the required 5,055.

It was also found that the department did not conduct any physical assessment test for firefighters in the 2018-21 period.

Toll-free number a non-starter

In another worrying revelation, the audit found that the unique toll-free number (101) assigned to attend first information about fire incidents had not been made available in any of the fire posts across the state  adding that the same could well result in information delay and response time.

Notably, in the test-checked fire control centres, there was delayed response to fire incidents.

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The Union ministry of food and public distribution on Tuesday allowed purchase of wheat from Punjab by relaxing quality norms for procurement with a value cut for shrivelled and broken grain. Farmers surveying a field after rain accompanied by high-velocity winds led to the lodging of wheat in the ripening stage of the crop in Amritsar on March 20. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

According to a communication received by the Punjab food and civil supplies department, there will be no value cut on grain with lustre loss up to 10%, however, above 10% to 80% a flat value cut of 5.31 a quintal will be imposed.

A minimum support price of 2,125 per quintal is being offered on the wheat.

The Centres decision to relax quality norms came after wheat crop was damaged due to the recent unseasonal rain accompanied by high-velocity winds and hailstorm when the crop was ready for the harvest in the state. Central teams visited grain markets in the state to assess the quality of grain reaching the mandis and submitted a report to the Union ministry on Sunday.

Wheat arrival and procurement in the state has started on a slow note. As on Monday, a total of 82,000 tonnes of wheat arrived in mandis of Punjab against 5.75 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period last year.

State food department officials said the relaxation allowed in terms of lustre loss is a respite for farmers because in case of a normal crop, no loss of lustre is permitted.

The limit of shrivelled and broken grain is being relaxed up to 18% against the existing limit of 6% under uniform specifications with one-fourth value cut for every additional relaxation of 2%, reads the communication from the ministry.

For wheat with shrivelled and broken content of 6-8%, a value cut of 5.31 will be imposed; for 8-10% a value cut of 10.62; 10-12% 15.93; 12-14% 21.25; 14-16% 26.56 and for 16-18% shrivelled and broken grain a value cut of 31.87 will be imposed.

The communication adds that both slightly damaged and damaged grain shall not exceed 6% and the wheat procured under the relaxed conditions shall be stored and accounted for separately. These stocks are to be liquidated on priority over normal grain.

It adds that any deterioration of quality of wheat stock procured under relaxed norms during storage shall be the sole responsibility of the state government and any financial or operational implication due to relaxation will also be the states responsibility.

The state government is in the process of conducting a survey (girdawari) to assess the loss to the crop for disbursing compensation to farmers.

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Hong Kong: San Tin Technopole plans discussed

Chief Executive John Lee today chaired the second meeting of the Steering Committee on the Northern Metropolis to discuss the planning of San Tin Technopole.

Members also noted the progress of bureaus and departments in putting forward initiatives and proposals for formulating the action agenda and implementation plan for the Northern Metropolis to be released later this year.

San Tin Technopole is a major development project in the Northern Metropolis with strong synergy with the key innovation and technology (I&T) development cluster in Shenzhen that can drive Hong Kong's development as an international hub for I&T. It would also become a new community for quality, healthy and green living.

Also noted at the meeting was the work so far of the Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis chaired by the Financial Secretary and the Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy led by the Deputy Financial Secretary on the Hong Kong side with Shenzhen, both having held their first meetings.

The meeting also provided steer on ways to better promote and engage the public on the Northern Metropolis.

This story has been published on: 2023-04-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday assured the cultivators that each grain of wheat (both shrivelled grains or affected by lustre loss) will be procured at the minimum support price (MSP) of 2,125 per quintal. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday assured the cultivators that each grain of wheat (both shrivelled grains or affected by lustre loss) will be procured at the minimum support price (MSP) of  2,125 per quintal. (HT File Photo)

Expressing gratitude to the Centre for relaxation in the uniform specifications of wheat procurement in view of lustre loss or shrivelled and broken grains due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms, the chief minister said that in view of the problems faced by the farmers, he had taken up the matter with the Centre.

He said in 2015 also the farmers faced a similar problem due to unseasonal rains in February damaging the wheat crops. At that time, he said, the state government had given compensation of 1,190 crore to the farmers and that too before May-June.

Khattar said this year too girdawari to assess the damage is underway. The compensation will be given to farmers after verification by the agriculture and farmers welfare department and the revenue and disaster management department.

This time also full compensation will be provided to the farmers by May, Khattar said in a statement.

Each grain of wheat will be procured at the rate of 2,125 per quintal, he said, adding Haryana is the only state in the country where farmers are paid for their crop procurement within 48 to 72 hours.
Top leaders from Jammu and Kashmir Congress, including two former Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs, lashed out at former chief minister and Democratic Azad Party president Ghulam Nabi Azad for speaking against former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Gandhi family. Jammu Kashmir Congress has hit out at Ghulam Nabi Azad over his comments on Nehru and the Gandhi family. (PTI)

The senior Congress leaders said the former leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha never raised these issues when he was enjoying benefits of being a Union cabinet minister during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule or chief minister.

Addressing Azads comments, Saifuddin Soz, who has also served in Manmohan Singhs cabinet, said, The feeling is widespread that Ghulam Nabi Azad deserted the Congress Party, at last, which had bestowed upon him so many honours, all through his career.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the fact is that Azad is seen moving closer to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as his participation in electoral politics will cause division of votes, particularly in Jammu province, which will result in indirect support to the BJP. This seems to be an organised effort, he added.

Soz said the Congress will not suffer any setback as the people think that Azads action constitutes extreme disloyalty to the Congress, which had accorded dignified positions to him all through his political career, adding People also feel that Azads action against the Congress party has come at a time when Congress is leading the campaign against Fascist Forces in India.

Another former Pradesh Congress Committee president; Ghulam Ahmad Mir, said that Azad has stooped low in attacking his former colleagues and members of the Nehru and Gandhi families.

The way Azad spoke does not suit his calibre. This only shows he is working on an agenda given to him by the BJP, Mir who remained at loggerheads with Azad even when he was in Congress said. Even in Congress, he tried to create divisions within the party and promoted his own lobby not only in J&K, but also in other places. Congress made him a big leader by giving him big posts, otherwise he could even win a single parliamentary election.

Mir went on to say that Azad was doing this as part of a project handed to him by the BJP and to secure security and government accommodation.

Former member of the Parliament and senior Congress Working Committee member, Tariq Hameed Karra, meanwhile, shared an old video of Ghulam Nabi Azad on social media wherein he can be seen praising Rahul Gandhis work as the party president.

Sermons from prehistoric days, he said, adding that Azad should have also spent time addressing his four decades in power.
Police on Tuesday arrested two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist associates in Baramulla district after recovering arms and ammunition from them. A 2-kg improvised explosive device (IED) was also recovered from the possession of arrested associates. ` Police arrested two Lashkar-e-Taiba associates with IED in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla. (HT File)

Sharing details about the same, a police spokesperson said investigating teams, along with army (29RR) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB, 2ndBn) busted a terror module at Pattan, Baramulla, and arrested two terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit.

The spokesperson identified the associates as Farooq Ahmad Parra of Par Mohalla Pattan and Saima Bashir of Chinkipora Sopore, adding, They have been shifted to the police station where they remain in custody.

As per the available information, a pistol, two magazines, five pistol rounds and IED (approximately 2 kg) alongwith remote control and other incriminating material have been recovered from the accuseds possession.

During preliminary questioning, the arrested duo revealed that they were working as terrorist associates with active terrorist Abid Qayoom Lone of Wussan Pattan linked with proscribed terrorist outfit LeT, the spokesperson said.

A case under relevant sections of the law has been registered at the Pattan police station and further investigation has been initiated.
The first meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Municipal Corporation on Tuesday gave its nod to 12 proposals of projects worth over 12 crore to be carried out under various schemes,including Swachh Bharat Mission and National Clean Air Programme. The proposals, including a geospatial tracking system (GPS) for e-rickshaws, the development of a green belt along the Sidhwan Canal and the purchase of jetting-cum-suction machines were approved. (Getty images)

The development projects were approved by the TAC comprising officials of the civic body as the current house of municipal corporation completed its term on March 25 and offices of the mayor, deputy senior mayor and other elected representatives are lying vacant.

As many as 13 proposals were presented in the meeting, out of which 12 were approved. The proposal for the development of a park at Ward no 58 at a cost of 25 lakh was put on hold.

The proposals, including a geospatial tracking system (GPS) for e-rickshaws, the development of a green belt along the Sidhwan Canal and the purchase of jetting-cum-suction machines were approved.

The projects under the 15th finance commission, including work orders for jetting-cum-suction machines with 8000 litres capacity and another with 4000 litres capacity for 2.97 crore and 2.12 crore respectively and work orders for reconditioning of Humbran Road from Session Chowk to Haibowal Chowk, which is to be undertaken for 2.6 crore, have been approved.

Under the SBM funds, the MC approved GPS tracking devices on as many as 350 e-rickshaws purchased by the MC for door-to-door collection of waste for 10 lakh, and four tractor-operated waste crushing machines for 63.61 lakh were also approved.

For developing a waste to wonder park under the SBM, 25 lakh were kept aside and 10 lakh were approved for waste incinerator machines under the same head.

Work orders for purchasing ready mix road repair bituminous material for MCs central store for around 74 lakh were issued. Officials also gave their nod to develop a green belt from the Jawaddi Bridge up to Pakhowal Road along the Sidhwan Canal with funds of 2.37 crore under the NCAP funds. MC will also invite tenders for door-to-door collection of garbage under the jurisdiction of the MC.

MC additional commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said that a host of pending projects of the finance and contract committee was also approved in the meeting.

The development of green belt along Sidhwan Canal at 2.37 crore, jetting-cum-suction machines at 5 crore, park in Ward no 58 58.62 lakh, GPS on e-rickshaws for 11.2 lakh and waste Incinerators for 10 lakh were also approved.
The Punjab government on Tuesday told Punjab and Haryana high court that associates of radical Sikh preacher, Amritpal Singh, sent to Dibrugarh in Assam are detained under the National Security Act 1980 and not in illegal custody. Crackdown against Amritpal: Assam detainees not in illegal custody, Punjab tells HC

Replies filed on a clutch of petitions by Amritsar (Rural) senior superintendent of police, Satinder Singh, said that detainees have been booked under the NSA Act and due process of law has been followed in securing the detention and as such habeas corpus petitions are not maintainable in these matters. In most of the cases, it was also stated family members were informed of the detention. These persons have been detained following a crackdown against Amritpal Singh, Waris Punjab De chief, who is on the run since March 18, when the crackdown was launched in Punjab.

The pleas seeking the release of these persons were from Narinder Kaur, wife of actor Sarabjit Singh Kalsi alias Daljit Kalsi; Pavitar Kaur, wife of Gurmeet Singh Bhukkanwala; Harjinder Singh, father of Pradhanmantri Bajeke; Surjit Singh, father of Basant Singh, Virpal Kaur, wife of Kulwant Singh, and Simranjit Kaur, wife of Varinder Singh, alias Fauji, the bodyguard of the Sikh preacher. One more petition taken up was from Karnail Singh Panjoli, a member of the SGPC, who also demanded that he be allowed to meet the detainees.

Talking about the role of Kalsi, the police told the court that he was actively supporting Amritpal in his activities and was himself indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the state as well as to the maintenance of public law and order.

The affidavit claimed that Kalsi was supporting Amritpal in professing radical ideology and raised the demand of secession of Punjab from India by violent means. Fixing the matter for April 24 for final disposal the bench of justice NS Shekhawat has granted a last opportunity to lawyers of petitioners to respond to the states reply.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved orders on a petition filed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders, former Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal, challenging initiation of cheating and forgery proceedings against them in a Hoshiarpur Court on a complaint accusing them of falsely claiming to be secular before the Election Commission when the outfit was essentially religious. A view of the Supreme Court in New Delhi. (HT PHOTO)

Not wishing to be drawn into the determination whether SAD is a religious outfit, a bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar said it is for the Election Commission (EC) to decide whether the political outfit is religion-based while maintaining that the Court will only examine whether the allegations in the complaint relating to cheating and forgery have been made out.

We will not say whether the political party is religion-based. It is for the EC to say so and cancel the registration of the political party or its symbol. We will restrict ourselves to the complaint, the Court said before reserving orders.

The top court heard arguments advanced by senior advocates KV Vishwanathan and RS Cheema, who appeared for Badals and senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema. They were aggrieved by an order of the Punjab and Haryana high court passed in August 2021, refusing to set aside the criminal complaint filed against them by a Hoshiarpur resident Balwant Singh Khera. The HC even refused to stay the summoning order issued to them by the additional chief judicial magistrate, Hoshiarpur on November 4, 2019.

The complaint filed in 2009 alleged that SAD gave a false undertaking before the Election Commission in 1989, claiming to bear true faith and allegiance to the principles of secularism which is an essential requirement under Section 29-A of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 for any outfit seeking recognition as a political party.

Khera alleged in his complaint that a forged and fabricated constitution of the party was filed before the EC with a view to defraud the citizens of India, as the same outfit had filed its constitution with the Gurdwara Election Commission in 2003, where it claimed to be a religious outfit allowing membership only to adult Sikh males and females alone.

The Badals argued that being religious was not a restriction on being secular as an individual may belong to a religious group yet keep an outlook that accepts and respects all religious beliefs. Vishwanathan argued that the SAD was entitled to contest the gurudwara elections as well since the election relates to the management of secular aspects relating to the gurdwara administration. He further argued that Prakash Singh Badal was not named in the original complaint and two attempts to rope him in were refused by the trial court. Yet in the summoning order, his name was included.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared for Khera and submitted that a false claim was made by SAD before the EC to get party registration. The constitution was amended only later in June 2004, to incorporate the provisions of Section 29-A of the RP Act. He further argued that the Constitution of India does not contemplate a party to be religious and political simultaneously, adding, A false claim has been made to deceive EC, which amounts to forgery.

The bench remarked, They submitted the Constitution of 1989 so where is the question of forgery? Making a false document or a false claim is essential for forgery to be made out. They have not submitted any forged or fabricated document. It further noted, This battle has to be elsewhere, not in a criminal court.

In their petition filed through law firm Karanjawala & Co, the Badals said the complainant (Khera) was consistently trying to derecognise SAD in civil proceedings between 2004 and 2008 before the EC against which an appeal is pending before the Delhi high court. In November, the top court stayed further proceedings before the trial court.

The complaint filed before the Hoshiarpur court sought prosecution of the accused under offences of forgery (Sections 463, 465, 466, 467, 471), forgery for purpose of cheating (Section 468), cheating (Section 420) and fabricating false evidence (Sections 191, 192) of the Indian Penal Code.
In what could be a major relief for Amarnath pilgrims, Union minister for road transport and national highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday announced a 5,300 crore project for the widening of 110-km long national highway into four lane road from Khannabal to Chandwanwari and further construction of uphill tracks and tunnel to the cave shrine nestled amidst the Himalayas. From left: Union ministers VK Singh, Jitendra Singh, Nitin Gadkari and Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha at the Vaishno Devi shrine. (ANI)

Upon completion, the project is tipped to bring down the travel time between Srinagar to the cave shrine to 7 to 8 hours. Presently, it takes three days to cover the stretch via the traditional route of Chandanwari.

Speaking to media persons at Katra, the Union minister said, I am happy to announce that government has given its consent to 5,300 crore project for construction of 73-km long four lane road from Khannabal to Chandanwari at a cost of 1,800 crore (including tracks and a 10.8 km long tunnel) to the Amarnath cave shrine,

Gadkari said the project also would cover a 34-km long two-lane track from Chandwari to Panchtarni to Baltal, to be constructed at a cost of 3,500 crore, and a 10.8-km long tunnel from Sheshanag to Panchtarni. For the 5-km distance from Panchtarni to the holy cave shrine, a 5.5-m broad concrete pedestrian track with barricades on either side will also be constructed, he added.

The construction of a 9-km long ropeway over the shorter route from Baltal to the cave shrine at a cost of 750 crore was also announced.

The tender for the projects will be issued in November-December this year.

Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway to be ready by March next year

Speaking of the eagerly-awaited 40,000 crore Delhi-Amritsar-Katra greenfield expressway, Gadkari said, Presently, the total length is 727 km from Delhi to Katra, but once completed the distance will be reduced by 58 km. Though the deadline for the completion of the project is December 2024, we will try to complete it by the general elections in May before the model code of conduct is imposed. The PM will inaugurate it in February-March next year.

He informed that once completed, travellers will be able to cover the New Delhi-Amritsar stretch in four hours, reach Katra from Amrtisar in six and Srinagar in another eight hours.

I dont feel that once the expressway is completed anyone would come to Mata Vaishno Devi by air, Gadakati said.

Gadkari also informed that BJP government has now included four Gurudwaras into the expressway project that include Golden Temple in Amritsar, Kapurthalas Sultanpur Lodhi Gurudwara, Khadur Sahib Gurudwara in Tarn Taran.

The greenfield expressway will connect Ambala, Mohali, Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Kathua and Samba.

Gadkari and Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant general (LG) Manoj Sinha had earlier inspected the Srinagar-Banihal section of Jammu to Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal to Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) being constructed to provide all-weather connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar.

To ease the travel between Jammu and Srinagar, three corridors are being built at a cost of 35,000 crore.

Under the project, the first corridor from Jammu to Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal and further to Srinagar will cover the stretch from Srinagar to Banihal. The four-lane road of 250 km length is being built at a cost of 16,000 crore. Of this, four-laning of a 210-km route has been completed, including 10 tunnels of 21.5 km.

The design of 4-laning of this road has been done on the basis of geo-technical and geological investigation to overcome the possible landslides in this area. Crash barriers and other road safety measures have also been put in place.

With the construction of the route, Jammu and Srinagar will enjoy all-weather connectivity and the commute will come down from 9-10 hours to 4-5 hours.

Gadkari also paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.

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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday addressed a gathering after the Aam Aadmi Party was elevated to the national party status by the Election Commission. Referring to the arrests of former Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia and former health minister Satyendar Jain, the AAP chief warned party workers to prepare for jail. He claimed that anti-national elements targeted Sisodia and Jain, which led to their imprisonment. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addresses a gathering. (ANI Photo)(Shrikant Singh)

"Anti-national forces worked to put Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain behind bars. All anti-national forces that want to stop the progress of the country are against the AAP, but the almighty is with us," Kejriwal said at the party headquarters in Delhi.

Read | Nothing less than a miracle': Kejriwal as AAP earns national party status

The CBI on February 26 arrested Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy, while Jain was arrested in May last year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case.

While thanking the people who contributed to the efforts that helped AAP gain national party recognition on Monday, he added that those scared of going to prison should quit the party.

Calling it nothing short of a miracle, he described the AAP's newly-acquired status in a short span of 10 years as an incredible achievement, which bears a huge responsibility as well.

The hope of crores of people of the country has now become faith on the Aam Aadmi Party. The public has given a huge responsibility, with the blessings of the Lord, we will fulfill this responsibility with full honesty, Kejriwal said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Four people were killed while one person was injured after a speeding vehicle hit them on the National Highway 59 in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, a police official said on Tuesday. Visuals from the accident spot.(ANI)

The mishap took place on the Indore-Ahmedabad National Highway under the Sardarpur police station limits in the district on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Devendra Patidar said the incident happened when Munna Lal, a farmer was transporting wheat in a tractor to Rajgarh Mandi. "During the journey a pallet broke and the wheat spilled on to the four lane Indore-Ahmedabad highway," the ASP said.

"The farmer informed his son about the incident following which his son reached the spot with another person and started gathering the spilled wheat from the road. A speeding vehicle hit them. Four people died and one sustained injuries in the accident," ASP Patidar said.

Those who died were identified as Munna Lal (47), his son Navdeep (29), driver of the tractor Luv Kush (28) and one Himmat. The injured has been identified as Sandeep (26), a friend of Navdeep.

On receiving information about the accident, police rushed to the spot and sent the bodies for a post mortem at a hospital in Sardarpur, the officials said.

He said that the vehicle which hit was seized and its driver of taken into custody. The police registered a case into the matter and further investigation is on.
Tanishka Sujit, a bright and meritorious student from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, is set to appear for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) final year exams at the age of 15 and she aims to further study law and become the country's Chief Justice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Indore's Tanishka Sujit during a meeting, in Bhopal.(PTI file)

The teenage girl, who lost her father and grandfather to COVID-19 in 2020, recalled her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bhopal a few days back and how he encouraged to pursue her dream.

Sujit, a student of Indore's Devi Ahilya University, told PTI on Monday that she will appear for her BA (Psychology) final year exams to be held from April 19 to 28. She had cleared the Class 12 exams at the age of 13 straightaway after passing Class 10 in first division.

Also Read: This 9-year-old Indian-American is one of the 'world's brightest' students

Rekha Acharya, Head of Department of Social Science Studies at the Devi Ahilya University, said Sujit was given admission in BA (Psychology) first year at the age of 13 after she performed well in the entrance test taken by the university for her as a special case.

Sujit met PM Modi during his visit to state capital Bhopal on April 1 for the Combined Commanders' Conference. The girl said during the meeting, which lasted for around 15 minutes, she told the PM that she wanted to study law in the US after clearing her BA exams and dreamt of becoming the Chief Justice of India some day. "On hearing about my aim, the prime minister advised me to go to the Supreme Court and watch the arguments of lawyers there as it would motivate me to achieve my goal. Meeting the prime minister was a dream come true for me," she said.

Her mother Anubha said her husband and father-in-law died in 2020 due to coronavirus, but she fought and overcame the grief for the sake of her daughter, who continued to excel in academics. "After losing both the family members, I was left clueless. After two-three months, I felt that I should take care of my daughter's studies for the sake of her future and have to fight for this, she added.
KOLKATA: A man died of gunshot injuries in the Delhi-bound North East Express when the train was about to reach the New Jalpaiguri station in north Bengal on Monday, government railway police (GRP) officials said. Police said it appeared that the man boarded the train at Kamakhya in Assam. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Passengers of the general compartment told the GRP personnel that they heard a gunshot, followed by two more a few seconds later, moments before the train reached the station.

The man, who is said to have retired from the armed forces, was found dead in a sitting position.

Police said it appeared that the man boarded the train at Kamakhya in Assam.

Some papers found in his luggage indicated that he was a former employee of the Indian Army and lived in Madhya Pradesh.

Superintendent of Siliguri GRP P Selva Murugan could not be contacted. GRP personnel at the station said the body has been sent for post mortem and an investigation has started.
LUCKNOW After the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday withdrew from it the status of a regional party, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) is now fighting to save and maintain its symbol in the urban local body (ULB) polls in Uttar Pradesh, people aware of the development said. The RLD that entered into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) before the Vidhan Sabha elections, has nine MLAs in the UP Vidhan Sabha, one of them having been elected in the by-election in December last year. (ANI File Photo)

RLD president and Member of Parliament (MP) Jayant Chaudhary has written to the State Election Commission (SEC), requesting it to reserve the party symbol - handpump - for the RLD candidates in the civic polls. But the commission is yet to take a call on the request.

Civic polls in the state will be held in two phases - on May 4 and May 11 - and the counting will be held on May 13. The nominations for the first phase began on Tuesday.

The RLD that entered into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) before the Vidhan Sabha elections, has nine MLAs in the UP Vidhan Sabha, one of them having been elected in the by-election in December last year.

Please reserve the RLDs election symbol  handpump for only the RLD candidates on all seats in the urban local body polls going to be held in UP, Jayant said in a representation addressed to the SEC on Tuesday.

RLD spokesman Anil Dubey said the party had formally made its case in the state election commission on Tuesday, urging it to act as desired by the party chief Jayant Chaudhary.

We hope the SEC will maintain status quo with regard to the partys status, more so when poll notification has already been issued, he said.

A state election commission official SK Singh said the commission would consider the RLDs representation and a take a decision on merit. We will decide on RLDs petition, seeking reservation of its symbol for its candidates in the civil polls, only after examining the issue, he said.

Singh, however, said the SEC was not bound by the rules and regulations of the Election Commission of India. The two are different bodies with different sets of rules and the ECIs decision to derecognize the RLD as a state-level party does not necessarily apply to it in the civil polls, he pointed out.

The ECI on Monday granted the status of a national party to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) while withdrawing the same for the Trinamool Congress, the Communist Party of India and the Nationalist Congress Party. The commission also withdrew the state/regional party status from the RLD in UP for its failure to get the required 6% of the total votes polled in the state assembly elections in the state. Despite winning eight seats in 2022 assembly polls in UP, the RLDs vote share was less than 3%.

The commission may examine the RLDs vote share in the previous civil polls in the state to arrive at a conclusion.
Not penalties but the presence of cops to prevent people, especially parents, from illegal parking will help reduce traffic jams near schools and colleges in the morning and afternoon hours, school managements feel. Traffic snarls near a school in Lucknow on Tuesday (Deepak Gupta/HT)

Chaotic traffic near schools during their starting and closing hours has been a very common sight in Lucknow. While some schools/junior colleges such as St Francis and La Martiniere in Hazratganj are over 125 years old, many, both government and private, have sprung up across the city over the past few decades.

Anil Agarwal, president of the Unaided Private Schools Association, Uttar Pradesh and the managing director of St Joseph group, observed: The only solution to the traffic snarls is the deployment of traffic police and support from police stations nearest to the institutions. The presence of cops when students leave schools is a must, mainly for those in Hazratganj.

Schools in other areas of the city can address the issue by asking and guiding parents to properly park their vehicles so as not to block the road, he said. Not so much in the morning hours, but traffic management becomes hectic when parents come back to pick their wards as a horde of vehicles arrive together, Agarwal added.

Aashrita Dass, the principal of La Martiniere Girls College, said while one must be more understanding of the situation at hand those who regularly flout the rules should be taken to task.

Fr Donald DSouza, spokesperson of the Catholic Diocese of Lucknow said blaming schools for traffic snarls would be wrong. Allowing the vehicles to be parked inside the school premises may jeopardise students safety. The district administration should regulate traffic to check jams near schools.

Urvashi Sahni, the CEO of Study Hall Educational Foundation, said: Traffic outside schools during pick-up and drop hours is a problem for which a solution must be found. While fines do serve as deterrents, deploying traffic police outside major schools will ensure discipline. Parents dont listen to school guards.

Meanwhile, Mala Mehra, the principal of Hoerner College, said parents shouldnt be allowed to park their vehicles when they come to pick up or drop off their children. Traffic woes are not specific to schools. Traffic personnel should be deployed in front of schools. Levying fines should only be for unmanned parked vehicles, she felt.
Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad has once again claimed threat to his life as he is being taken from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati jail to Prayagraj by a team of Uttar Pradesh Police personnel.



"It is not right. They want to kill me," said Ahmad while being taken in a UP Police van. The don-turned-politician is being taken to Prayagraj in connection with questioning in the Umesh Pal murder case. The Prayagraj court has issued a B warrant in the matter. Atiq Ahmad has been named in more than 100 criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case(ANI)

Earlier, Ahmad was brought to Prayagraj from Sabarmati jail on March 28 amid tight security. He was produced before an MP/MLA court which sentenced him and two others to rigorous life imprisonment in the kidnapping of lawyer Umesh Pal. He and the other convicts were also told to pay 1 lakh compensation to Pal's family.



Umesh Pal, the witness in the 2005 killing of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal, was shot dead along with his two security guards in Prayagraj on February 24.

In 2006, Ahmad and his aides allegedly abducted Umesh Pal and forced him to give a statement in court in their favour. The lawyer had registered a complaint in this regard.



Ahmad has been named in more than 100 criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case, police said. Last month, he had moved the top court for protection, claiming he and his family members have been falsely implicated in the murder case and he might be killed in a fake encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

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As part of its promise to increase farmers income and introduce them to new technologies, the state government is going to organise Kisan Pathshalas in all the revenue villages of Prayagrajs 1425 gram panchayats. A Kisan Pathshala under way in Prayagraj. (HT file photo)

These Kisan Pathshalas will be organised from June onwards under the aegis of the state agriculture department. They will also advise farmers on best farming techniques suiting the region, the weather and the quality of soil among other aspects, said a senior district agriculture department official.

Confirming the development, Prayagraj district agriculture officer Subhash Maurya said these Kisan Pathshalas could not be organised during the past two years owing to the Covid pandemic outbreak. But now the government has given orders to re-start them and for which all the preparations have now been done, he added.

According to deputy director, agriculture, Prayagraj, Vinod Kumar, in these Kisan Pathshalas that would be held for two days every month, information about departmental schemes will also be made available to the farmers.

Experts from agriculture development centre, agriculture, animal husbandry and other departments connected with the field of agriculture will be present in these sessions, he added.

Kisan Pathshalas are an extension programme that the U.P. government initiated in 2017 with a view to encouraging the use of modern farming techniques to make farming more profitable, sustainable and resilient.

Unlike traditional extension services, this initiative strives to integrate various facets of agricultural knowledge into a packaged format and delivers it through village-level trainings across all districts in the state. Printed materialsbooklets, pamphletswith such information are also distributed among participants.

The key objective is to impart agricultural knowledge and techniques to farmers, which, in turn, can enhance agricultural production, improve soil health and promote integrated and diversified farming systems, officials shared.

The training usually comprises a two-to-three-hour session in the evening for a module in the primary school building of a village. Farmers receive technical and vocational training on topics such as improved varieties, crop and soil management practices, input use and marketing.

Farmers also are provided with information on the various government schemes available for the benefit of farmers, and how they could avail of these benefits.
Mumbai: A 23-year-old Goa resident, who was falsely implicated in a theft case in Bahrain, was brought back safely to India on Tuesday. Cops bring back Goan woman held up in Bahrain

The Mumbai Crime Branch carried out the operation with the help of the Indian Embassy and the local body of Indians in Bahrain.

The victim  identified as Tejal Gawas, a graduate  was looking for a job abroad and with the help of two agents, she went to Bahrain on February 17 for an office job. However, when she reached there, she was given a cooking job at a local residents house.

When she refused to work as a cook, the resident filed a false theft case against her and her employer also seized her passport and mobile phone, said police inspector Deepak Sawant, Unit 10.

On March 14, one of her maternal uncles, who lives in Mumbai, approached a senior crime branch official and Unit 10 was asked to inquire into the matter. The police then contacted an agent in Bahrain and with the help of the Indian Embassy, hired a lawyer to pursue the matter. Then, she was released from prison.

The police then contacted Dr Sunil Manjrekar, president of Gulf Maharashtra Business Forum, who helped the woman return to India.
Shiv Sena faction leader Uddhav Thackeray trained his guns on minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday after the latter's remarks a day earlier about the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Uttar Pradesh. The ex-Maharashtra chief minister demanded rival and successor Eknath Shinde - who led the rebellion last year that fractured the Shiv Sena and ousted Thackeray - either resign or seek Patil's resignation. This was after Patil had disavowed (then united) Shiv Sena involvement in the controversial demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray speaks to media, in Thane.(PTI file)

Patil was quoted by news agency PTI as insisting that 'not a single worker of the Shiv Sena was near the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya when it was brought down by the Bajrang Dal and Durga Vahini on December 6, 1992'. In reply, Thackeray said, "the public is a witness, his statement is a lie."

Thackeray said his party's Hindutva philosophy is built around the idea of 'nationalism' and demanded the BJP explain its idea of Hindutva. "Where were these people all these years when Babri (Masjid) was being demolished rats were hiding in burrows," he declared.

Also Read| Ajit Pawar on Uddhavs worthless remark: People do not know what to speak when they get mic in hand

Why will we listen to these rats now?

Shiv Sena founder and patriarch Bal Thackeray, who is Uddhav Thackeray's father, has often expressed pride at the involvement of party workers - or 'shiv sainiks' - in the demolition.

Also Read| Painful to watch: Priyanka Chaturvedi as Eknath Shinde visits Ayodhya

Chandrakant Patil, the state minister for higher and technical education, had referred to Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut - who is a senior leader in Uddhav Thackeray's Sena faction - and his statements about the Masjid demolition. He had asked if Raut had, in fact been present in the town at the time.

Patil also took a jab at Uddhav Thackeray after he accused Shinde of stealing Bal Thackeray's legacy, and said, "Balasaheb is the property of all Hindus and everyone is free to use his name (legacy)."

Patil's remarks have become the latest flashpoint between the two Sena factions since Maharashtra was driven into a political crisis after Shinde - with help from the BJP and former chief minister (now deputy chief minister) Devendra Fadnavis toppled last June the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government that included Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.

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A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Odishas Balasore district was critically injured after two bike-borne miscreants hacked him with a billhook when he was out for a morning walk on Tuesday, police said. Police suspect that the local BJP leader could have been attacked either over business or political reasons. (Representative Image)

Police officials said Lokanath Rout, the the vice-president of the local BJP unit, the miscreants came from behind and hacked him just near Soro police station.

Locals rushed him to the Soro community health centre but he was shifted to the Balasore district headquarter hospital after his condition deteriorated.

Police suspect that Rout could have been attacked either over business or political reasons. He was earlier with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and he owns a bus and a rice mill.

Routs wife is a current councillor from the BJP in the local municipality.
LUCKNOW In just one week, the number of Covid cases in Uttar Pradesh has increased by more than double from 543 (on April 3) to 1,498 (April 11). There is at least one active Covid case in 65 districts of the state at present. Within the last 24 hours, 402 new patients were found in the state. A maximum of 83 positives were found in Lucknow. Additionally, a Covid-related death has also been reported from Ambedkar Nagar. Within the last 24 hours, 402 new patients were found in the state. (HT Photo)

According to official data, the rate of infection has gone up to 1.62%. If this rate exceeds 2%, a high alert would be sounded. A district-wise break-up of Covid cases reveals that 28 districts have more than 10 active cases.

Mock Drill To Check Covid Preparedness

In order to check the preparedness of hospitals in the state to tackle rising Covid, the first mock drill of the year was held in 75 districts of the state on Tuesday. Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak observed the drill at the Balrampur Hospital on Tuesday morning. As part of the drill, a speeding ambulance came to the medical facility. Subsequently, ward boys wearing PPE kits took a dummy patient from the ambulance and put him on a stretcher. The deputy CM himself walked along with the patient on the stretcher.

As per protocol, the patients BP, oxygen level, and temperature were checked as soon as he entered the SSB block. As soon as the patient was shifted to bed, the anaesthesia team gave ventilator support to him. Doctors were successful in giving a life support system to the patient brought on the ambulance within just four minutes of his entering the hospital.

Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak stayed at the hospital for about half-an-hour. During this, he also examined other facilities -- including the oxygen plant installed in the hospital. The director of the hospital, Dr Ramesh Goyal, said that the hospital has two oxygen plants to deal with any kind of shortage of oxygen. Chief medical superintendent Dr GP Gupta said that one plant is 960 LPM and the other is 500 LPM. Both plants have been set up with the CSR funds of Indian Oil.

Focus of the mock drill

Working conditions of oxygen plants.

Availability and working of oxygen concentrators in hospitals.

Preparation of duty roster of health care staff in hospitals.

Availability of all logistic support in the hospital.

Working and availability of medicines, IV fluids, and equipment.
PATNA: A driver of a private cash management company fled with 1.5 crore in cash on Monday evening when his colleagues stepped away to refill cash in an ATM in the Alamganj area of state capital Patna, police said. Personnel of Patna Police searching vehicles during a drive (Twitter/Patna Police/Representative Image)

Police said raids were conducted at Ghosi village in Jehanabad district, which is listed as the driver Suraj Kumars permanent address in the companys records. But there was no trace of Suraj or the money, an officer said.

For now, the Patna police are questioning four colleagues of Suraj Kumar for information that could help them track him down.

Police said the incident took place on Monday evening when the Securewell India Private Limited van was in the Danka Imli area of Alamganj to refill ICICI Banks cash machines. Four employees went to the ATM, leaving Suraj Kumar alone with the van.

When security staffer Subash Yadav, cashier Sonu and two other employees returned from the ATM, they found the cash van missing and informed the bank and police, a police officer said.

The cash van was found abandoned a little over a kilometre from the ATM, close to the IDH colony near Nalanda Medical College Hospital. A police officer said Suraj Kumar was aware that the van was fitted with a GPS device and could be easily tracked. Police said the box containing the money was missing from the vehicle.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajeev Mishra said the bank told the police that 1.45 crore were missing from the van. Four persons have been taken into custody for interrogation. Police also contacted Jehanabad police to trace the accused driver Suraj. The raids are on to trace him, he added.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the Bihar government, seeking details of properties linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his family members and his aide Bhola Yadav, which include four companies, officials familiar with the matter said. Tejashwi Yadav arrives at ED office in New Delhi on Tuesday morning. He was questioned for nine hours in land-for-jobs case. (ANI)

Following EDs letter to the state government earlier this month, states department of registration on Tuesday asked all its district offices to furnish details of such properties.

The ED letter, which has been seen by HT, has come from assistant director (Delhi zonal office) Ankur Tiwari and is addressed to inspector general (registration), Bihar government.

The four companies mentioned in the letter are Fairglow Holdings Private Limited, Infosystem Private Limited, AB Export Private Limited and Lara Distributors Private Limited.

The letter says the ED is investigating land-for-jobs case for money laundering and has information about some immovable assets and needs information about the sale, transfer and lease of these properties.

The case pertains to alleged doling out of railway jobs to individuals in return for land at hugely discounted prices or in the form of gifts during Lalu Yadavs tenure as railway minister during the UPA governments.

Meanwhile, Lalu Yadavs younger son and Bihar's deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav appeared before ED in Delhi in the case on Tuesday. He was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the same case last month.

Tejashwi Yadavs sister and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti was also questioned by ED in the case on March 25, the same day he had appeared before the CBI.

The two central agencies had recently initiated action in the case, with CBI questioning Lalu Prasad and his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and ED carrying out raids against the RJD chiefs family.

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A day after Bihar cabinet approved new rules for recruitment of teachers in the state, protests have started over the modalities of appointment which are a clear departure from the current mechanism, in place under the Nitish Kumar government since 2006 and under which nearly 3.5 lakh teachers have so far been appointed through the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs). Teachers stage a protest outside of RJD office in Patna on Tuesday. (Santosh Kumar/HT)

The recruitment process involving PRIs has itself been in controversy all through, with the issue of teachers allegedly appointed on fake documents landing up in the Patna High Court and the vigilance probe ordered by the court to ascertain the bona fides of the teachers appointed turning out to be an endless exercise even after over seven years, as a large number of documents went missing. Besides, there has been a question mark over the quality of teachers appointed through the PRIs, which often caused embarrassment to the government.

What is the new rule

Called the Bihar state school teachers (appointment, transfer, disciplinary action and service condition) Rules, 2023, it entails one standardised process for appointment of all kinds of school teachers, who will have status equivalent to the state government employees, with separate district cadres. Those appointed since 2006 would also have the option of joining this cadre, but for that they would also have to take the exams, which has now become the central point of contention. Besides, thousands of those having qualified teachers eligibility test (TET) conducted by the Centre and the state government are also not happy with the prospect of facing yet another centralised exam, which is likely to be conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).

Additional chief secretary (education) Dipak Kumar Singh said, The BPSC will conduct the exam for all kinds of school teachers. Those having cleared TET and those already working will also need to take the test to be under the state government. The number put together may come to around two lakh. We will send a proposal to the General Administrative Department (GAD), which will notify it.

Once BPSC is notified as the agency for conducting exams, the process will begin with calculation of vacancies as per roster for advertising the posts.

Three types of teachers

After the appointment of teachers under the new rules, Bihar will have a third type of teachers in schools,besides the existing two. The first category is of teachers appointed prior to 2006 and around 60,000 of them still remain in service. The second is of those appointed since 2006 through PRIs. Now, the third category will be of teachers appointed through BPSC, who will be given status of state government employees and would have a better salary structure and service conditions than the teachers appointed since 2006, who are nearly 3.5 lakh in number. The pay scale will be notified by the finance department. We are working on all aspects, said the ACS.

Protests against exam

Meanwhile, associations of school teachers and TET/STET qualified candidates have started agitation against the new rules and threatened to intensify it. Shouting anti-government slogans, many of them protested outside the RJD party office on Tuesday, alleging that the government was only trying to delay the process by making provision of yet another exam when the candidates have already cleared TET/STET conducted by it. This black order needs to be withdrawn forthwith, else we will take to the streets for a decisive struggle, one of them said, requesting not to be identified.

Many of us have cleared exams four times and the government all along assured that the appointment will be done soon. Now when the time came, it is asking us to take another exam. When the government prepared the merit list once, why should it ask us to take another exam? We want appointment letters, not notification for exams. They are trying to fool us, another said.

Bihar state primary teachers association criticised the creation of a separate caste of teachers and demanded that all teachers appointed through PRIs and working since 2006 should also be given the status of state government employees.

A joint statement by association president Brajnandan Sharma and general secretary Nagendra Nath Sharma said creation of a separate cadre would never be acceptable to the existing lot of teachers, though they welcomed the government decision to grant them the status of government employees. The old teachers should not be asked to take exams for availing the benefits given to new teachers. After all, it was the government decision to appoint teachers through PRIs. There should be no discrimination. There is no need of a new cadre. If the government does not remove this anomaly and goes ahead, the association will resort to statewide agitation, the statement said.

An agitation by teachers at this stage could not only derail the new academic session, it could also hit the process of caste survey, which has involvement of school teachers.

Opposition BJP, meanwhile, also joined the issue. MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav, who is also a teachers leader, said the new recruitment rules were a mirage for the TET/STET qualified teachers and a bad joke with the teachers working since 2006 in the hope that they would get the status of government employees sooner or later. They have been demanding equal pay for equal work for a long time and it was also the poll promise of the current ruling dispensation, he said.

After all, why does not the government trust its own exams? The candidates have cleared TET and CTET, they enrolled with B.Ed programme after passing the entrance test and then completed it through final exams. Now, when they were waiting for appointment, the government has framed new rules for yet another competitive exam. Will Bihar youths be taking exams all their life with no certainty of recruitment? Those already working were hoping for transfer facility and better salary, but have got another exam rider. We will be with the teachers in their fight right from the legislature to the streets, he said.

The CPI-ML, which support the ruling coalition in Bihar from outside, has also come out in support of agitating students. Those waiting for appointment letters should also be kept out of the new rules and appointed, as per earlier announcement. The government had conducted STET in 2019 as a competitive exam and it should not back out, said CPI-ML state secretary Krunal.

Chop and change not good

Social and educational activist Nawal Kishor Choudhary said the new rules were actually a U-turn. Just like it happened in the case of college and university teachers appointment, the government has reverted to the old system for recruitment of school teachers, which is an admission that it was wrong to change the established procedures. The state has suffered immensely due to faulty policies implemented without required brainstorming. Even in colleges and universities, it has no clear policy as it keeps chopping and changing to further delay the process and allowing the system to run through guest teachers for years. The government dissolved the Bihar State University Service Commission and later revived it. Now again, it is in two minds. For school teachers, there was Vidyalay Seva Board, which was dissolved. Now, it is talking of a commission. Clarity at the government level is important. It cannot have different sets of teachers for the same job, he said.

In the 2022-23 budget, the 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 were agitating over delay in advertisement of vacancies.

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Pune police have apprehended a 42-year-old man for allegedly threatening to kill Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The police is now questioning the accused who called on helpline '112' asking for an ambulance service but threatened to kill Shinde when he was told to dial 108. Pune police arrest man for threatening to kill CM Shinde.

The accused, who was identified as Rajesh Agwane, is employed as a ward boy at a hospital in Mumbai. Agwane reportedly made the threatening call on Monday night in a drunk condition. "On Monday night, the man called up police control room number 112 and sought medical assistance. He was told to call on 108 (ambulance service number). The man again called up the police control room, he spoke in threatening language and to harm the chief minister," a senior Pune police official said.

"His wife was there, she grabbed the phone and told the control room officers that the man was drunk and he did not know what he was saying and requested to ignore his comments," the official said further.

An incident of similar sorts happened last year in October when the Pune police received a call threatening to kill CM Shinde. Following the call, additional security was provided to Shinde and the accused was arrested.

(With inputs from PTI)

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After the formation of Phursungi and Uruli municipal council, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken the decision to withdraw the proposal of setting up a sewage treatment plant (STP) at Manjari Village. This is a major setback for the villages. Phursungi and Uruli have been taking care of PMC garbage for over a decade. (HT PHOTO)

When the state government merged 34 villages in the PMC limit including Phursungi and Uruli, the corporation had proposed two sewage treatment plants in these villages at the cost of 350 crore.

One STP was proposed in Manjari Village which had a capacity 93 Million litre per day (MLD) and another was being planned to be set up in Mundhwa-Keshav Nagar area with capacity of 12 MLD. Both projects were part of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) river project.

In December 2022, chief minister Eknath Shinde took the decision to exclude Phursungi and Uruli villages from PMC limits and form the municipal council of these two villages as per demand of residents and local politicians.

Jagdish Khanore, Project head of JICA said, As the state government has taken decision to form Municipal council of Phursungi and Uruli villages, PMC commissioner Vikram Kumar has taken decision to cancel one STP project. The other STP project in Keshavnagar-Mundhwa village is going on as per schedule.

Vijay Shivtare former minister of state and former member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Saswad constituency who played a major role in formation of council said, Municipal corporation cannot withdraw the proposal and all proposed projects must be carried out. The state government will take care of funds. Before taking the decision, the PMC should have consulted us. 

Mahadev Salunke, resident of Phursungi village said, Phursungi and Uruli have been taking care of PMC garbage for over a decade. The civic body has been dumping its garbage here and we are facing health-related issues. It is unfair to withdraw the proposed STP. It is the responsibility of PMC to provide basic infrastructure.

Balasaheb Harpare, a resident of Phursungi who had environment interest litigation (EIL) over the serious issues of waste mismanagement and non-transparency in the implementation of the municipal solid waste (MSW) management project by PMC in 2015 said, Villagers are facing major health, environment problems even after PMC has stopped dumping garbage in our jurisdiction. Water has already been contaminated and PMC is supplying water through tankers. If we are facing a long lasting problem of PMC garbage, it is the duty of the PMC to provide us with basic facilities including treatment of sewage water.

PMC officials were unavailable for comment.
Dhurwa roundabout in Jharkhands capital Ranchi turned into a battlefield for around an hour on Tuesday as BJP workers marching to the state secretariat clashed with police, who in turn used force, water cannons and tear gas shells. RBJP supporters brave water cannons during the protest. (ANI)

Police resorted to lathi-charge twice as BJP workers tried to pull down the barricades and hurled water bottles to attack the security personnel, besides pelting stones.

The clash left around two dozen people, including at least two journalists and a policeman, injured. They were shifted to different hospitals and discharged after treatment.

A few with mild injuries were treated in the standby ambulances while others were shifted to nearby hospital, said Ranchi deputy commissioner Rahul Sinha.

BJP, however, claimed hundreds of their workers were injured in the targeted attack by police.

The targeted lathi-charge shows how scared this government is. We were protesting in a peaceful manner but our workers were targeted with batons and tear gas shells. We will burn effigy of chief minister Hemant Soren across all blocks in the state on Wednesday and observe it as a black day, said Jharkhand BJP president Deepak Prakash.

Several BJP leaders, including parliamentarians Sameer Oraon, Sanjay Seth, Sunil Singh and partys chief whip Biranchi Narayan, who managed to cross the barricades, were detained by police. We detained 20 BJP workers, including MPs and MLAs, and sent them to camp jails, said Ranchi senior superintendent of police Kishor Kaushal.

Earlier, thousands of BJP workers, led by its top leaders Deepak Prakash and former CMs Babulal Marandi and Raghubar Das, started their march to secretariat from Prabhat Tara ground where the party workers had assembled from across the state for Hemant Hatao, Jharkhand Bachao protest.

The government is using several tricks to stop us but no force can stop us from reaching the secretariat today. I promise you two things. I would not rest till all members of the Soren family go to jail. And secondly, the assembly elections happen only six months after Lok Sabha elections. We will create so much pressure on the Election Commission that the two elections happen together, said Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP from Godda Lok Sabha constituency.

Raghubar Das said, Several senior IAS and IPS officers have gone for central deputation because of the functioning of this government. This government will have to go.

Meanwhile, the ruling JMM and Congress said the protest was a failure. They are claiming to bring crowd of 1 lakh, but not even 5,000 turned up. In order to save their face, they resorted to violence, leaving even journalists injured. People have rejected them earlier and they would continue to do so in upcoming elections, said JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey.

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When the biggest blockbuster of the year, Aankhen released on April 9, 1993, director David Dhawan and actor Govinda were in Bangalore, shooting for another project. Unaware of the blast that the films success had created, Dhawan then received a call from the producer, to tell what he and the team and done. David Dhawan recalls working on his most iconic film Aankhen as it completes 30 years.

Pahlaj Nihalani called me and said, You dont know what this film has done. It has broken all the records. People were going crazy. And back then, there were no mobile phones, so I started receiving telegrams from distributers, recalls Dhawan, adding, Isse pehle aisa success dekha hi nahi tha. Shola Aur Shabnam did well but Aankhens success was enormous.

Too innocent to understand the business that the film was doing, Dhawan travelled back to Mumbai, a week later. From the airport, I directly went to the theatre where my film was being screened, and I was taken by surprise to see peoples reaction. At the venue, there was chaos. The whole press was present and everybody wanted a picture of me. I could not believe it as I had never experienced stardom of this level. Later that evening, there was a party at Taj and every senior of mine...every big filmmaker was present. They congratulated me. I had tears in my eyes , he recounts the frenzy.

The ace director tells us that from that day, his career changed forever and I never looked back. He elaborates, From the next day, I started getting so many offers to direct films and the whole game was turned around. Peoples attitude towards me, the budget of my films, my whole dynamic with the industry changed. I brought a house. Usse pehle kya haalat thi meri, woh mujhe hi pata hai. I feel God is great and he gave me the right film at the right time.

Ask him who does he give the credit of this films success to, and Dhawan says, First one would be Pahlaj. He is one of those producers who would react the set even if the shoot starts at 6 am. Then comes Govinda  an unbelievable actor who creates magic on screen and Anees (Bazmee), who did an outstanding job on the script throughout. He used to write everyday and till the end, actively participated in the film. The films success was definitely a team work and everyone did amazing, but these three people, I believe, did exceptionally well, he concludes.
Actor Deepika Padukone travelled to Bhutan recently and has been visiting several places in the country. A few pictures of the actor have emerged online. In a picture, Deepika was seen with two people as she posed outdoors and smiled with them. The actor was seen in a brown co-ord outfit under a grey jacket. She also wore white sneakers and dark sunglasses. (Also Read | Deepika Padukone is dead on seeing Shah Rukh Khan's dapper look for NMACC event) Deepika Padukone travelled to Bhutan recently.

In another photo, shared by Instagram user mrajasegaran, Deepika smiled and posed for a selfie with the woman. The actor was seen in a black outfit and also carried a bag. She sported a no-makeup look in the picture. The actor rested her hand on the woman's shoulder in the picture.

The fan shared the picture with the caption, "This deserves its own post. I respected her wishes for privacy and gracious as she is on screen she is gracious off screen and came up to me when she was ready for a pic. #deepikapadukone." She geo-tagged the location Tiger's Nest-Taktsang, Paro, Kingdom of Bhutan.

Reacting to the post, a fan commented, "So magical." Another fan wrote, "So beautiful, thank you for posting this." An Instagram user said, "True she is so humble and grounded." "Gorgeous as always my @deepikapadukone," read a comment.

Deepika was seen with two people as she posed outdoors and smiled with them.

On Instagram, the official page of YourCafe Restaurant shared pictures of the actor with the staff. In the photos, Deepika wore a white outfit and dark sunglasses. She smiled and clicked several selfies with the crowd. The photos were shared with the caption, "Thank you so much for your visit to Neyphug Heritage, @yourcafebhutan Its been a great pleasure to serve you and your family! Such a down-to-earth soul (faces with three heart emoji)."

Fans will see Deepika in Fighter opposite Hrithik Roshan. The duo will be seen together onscreen for the first time. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, Fighter also stars Anil Kapoor, Akshay Oberoi, and Karan Singh Grover in pivotal roles. The film is all set to hit the theatres on January 25, 2024. She also has Project K with Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan in the pipeline.

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Actor Juhi Chawla, who had signed a 1 lakh bond for Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, has opened up about her decision. In a new interview, Juhi called it an unforeseen incident. She added that she thought it was the right thing for her to do. (Also Read | Juhi Chawla signs 1 lakh bond for Aryan Khan's bail) Juhi Chawla spoke about Aryan Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.

In October 2021, Juhi Chawla signed the bond for Aryan Khan, after the bail conditions were spelled out by the Bombay High Court. Aryan was on jailed in a drug case and later acquitted. Juhi was the surety for Aryan. His lawyer Satish Maneshinde had then said, "She (Juhi Chawla) knows him from birth as they are professionally associated."

Speaking about signing the bond, Juhi told News18 in a new interview, "We didnt know it was coming. But when all came down to that moment when I could help, I thought it was the right thing for me to do  to be there for him.

Juhi also spoke about Shah Rukh Khan with whom she co-owns the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) along with her husband Jay Mehta. During a recent match, Shah Rukh and Juhi's Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani title track was played.

Speaking about it, Juhi said I was telling Shah Rukh that I had no idea that 23 years after its release, this song would be playing at such a momentous occasion at an iconic stadium! I told him, Arre yaar, agar pata hota (If I knew) that people will remember the film, I would have done some things differently!' But, he said, Its playing today because it struck a chord with the audience. It came from a place of innocence and thats the best part.

Juhi also revealed that she rarely gets to see Shah Rukh and it is Jay who is more in touch with him than I am.

After signing the bond in 2021, Juhi had said, "There is a sense of relief in the (SRK) family. We are all happy it is over." Aryan's lawyer had then said, "She (Juhi Chawla) is the surety. Her name is on the passport. Aadhaar card is there."

Juhi and Shah Rukh has featured in many films such as Darr, Yes Boss, Duplicate and Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani She was last seen in the thriller series Hush Hush along with Soha Ali Khan, Kritika Kamra, Karishma Tanna and Shahana Goswami. The web series premiered on Prime Video.

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Konkona Sen Sharma worked with Jaya Bachchan in Laga Chunari Mein Daag (2007). The veteran actor recently celebrated her 75th birthday, and in a recent interview, Konkona recalled what it was like working with Jaya, when they filmed for Laga Chunari Mein Daag in Varanasi. Konkana also talked about Jaya's interaction with paparazzi. Also read: Jaya Bachchan asks people not to click her pics, says naukri se nikaal deni chahiye'; watch Amitabh Bachchan's reaction Jaya Bachchan's attitude was praised by Konkona Sen Sharma.

In recent videos, the veteran actor was seen scolding paparazzi, and questioning photographers for taking her pictures, sometimes without permission. She was also seen asking fans not to take photos of her in some videos. Konkona Sen Sharma said she loves Jaya's paparazzi videos as she talked about the actor's 'no-nonsense attitude'.

Speaking about Jaya, Konkona told ETimes, "Shed tell us a lot of funny stories when we used to chat. I love her attitude even today when she scolds the paparazzi. I love her no-nonsense attitude. I love the way she carries herself with so much dignity, grace and humour. She is one of the gems."

Konkona also spoke about feeling 'loved and protected' by Jaya. She said, "I also have wonderful memories of her from Laga Chunari Mein Daag. We were shooting in Benaras (Varanasi) for so long. It was early in my career and it was one of the longest outdoor shoots. So, I was naturally homesick. She took me under her wings. And I will always be grateful. Of course, Dada (Pradeep Sarkar) and Rani (Mukerji) were fab. But Jaya di was special. I felt loved and protected by her warmth." Laga Chunari Mein Daag also featured Rani Mukerji and was directed by the late Pradeep Sarkar.

Speaking with her granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda on her podcast What The Hell Navya, Jaya had recently said that she despises those, who interfere in her personal life'. Jaya had said, "If people are going to earn their living by putting all my angry speeches on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter, I give a damn. I don't give a damn You're intruding, interfering in my personal when I'm walking somewhere, you're taking my picture. Why? Am I not a human being?"

Jaya will be seen in Karan Johar's upcoming film Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. Apart from her, the film also stars Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, and Shabana Azmi. The film is scheduled to be released on July 28.

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Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan's daughter, Suhana Khan is the new face of the New York-based beauty brand, Maybelline. On Monday, the announcement was made officially following Suhana's first media event in Mumbai. She will be making her Bollywood debut this year with filmmaker Zoya Akhtar's next The Archies and her association with the international brand looks quite perfect for her portfolio. Also read: Suhana Khan shares sun-kissed pic as she jets out of Mumbai, asks fans guess where am I? Suhana Khan is the daughter of Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)(Varinder Chawla)

For the event, Suhana who is known for her sartorial choices, opted for an all-red look in a powersuit. Several pictures and videos of her from the event has surfaced online. She also addressed media briefly.

She said, Hi everyone. I am so excited to be here and see you guys again. We had such a good time filming. So I'm just really excited to be here and I can't wait for you guys to see everything we have filmed. It's an honour to be a brand ambassador for Maybelline after hoarding so many of their iconic products, especially their mascaras are amazing. But, yeah I am just super excited and happy to be a part of this brand and I can't wait to make it shine with all of you.

Several social media users are currently reacting to the announcements. On Reddit, someone wrote, Suhana Khan, Ananya birla, pv sindhu, eksha kerung are the new faces of Maybelline. Responding to the post, one user commented, It screams privilege tho being beside PV Sindhu. Ananya Birla lives with Auto tune. Suhanas inclusion is typical PR nepo baby move to ponder and become icon for youngsters. I guess Alia also did maybeline initially, added another. One more said, She has a good body, but her face just ain't it. Privilege is real.

Earlier in the day, Suhana dropped hints about her collaboration on Instagram with pictures from NYC. She studied at the New York Universitys Tisch School of the Arts before returning to India in 2021.

She is waiting for the release of her first Hindi film The Archies. It also marks the acting debut of Amitabh Bachchan's grandson Agastya Nanda and Sridevi's younger daughter Khushi Kapoor.

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Ranjeet has shared a group picture with late actor Sunil Dutt, recalling how the veteran actor once travelled from Delhi to Mumbai, despite high fever, just so he could attend the film music launch of Ranjeet's directorial Ghazab Tamasha. (Also read: Waheeda Rehman recalls how her white hair shocked an unwell Sunil Dutt in ICU) Sunil Dutt poses with Ranjeet and his Ghazab Tamasha team at the film's music launch.

Ranjeet shared the picture and wrote, "Dutt Saab had 104 temperature, he flew down all the way form Delhi to release the music of my film Ghazab Tamasha. He was always there in my life, I miss him a lot often. He was not a Godfather for me but I knew that he was always concerned about me and I could never say no for anything he would ask me to do. I was very lucky to have him as part of my life."

Ranjeet has often credited his career to Sunil Dutt. In an old interview, Ranjeet had said that Sunil immediately took a fancy to him after they met and had dinner together on Ranjeet's second day in Mumbai. Before visiting Mumbai, Ranjeet was training to be an Indian Air Force officer in Coimbatore and had to quit midway.

In a 2021 interview with Times of India, Ranjeet had said that he could not get work and decided to meet Sunil Dutt once before leaving the city. There, the manager told me that Dutt saab was angry with me as he had been trying to get in touch with me for a role and was unable to. Thats how I landed Reshma Aur Shera."

Born Gopal Bedi, the actor also said that it was Sunil Dutt who changed his name to Ranjeet Goli. Ranjeet was most recently seen in Akshay Kumar-starrer Houseful 4.

Ghazab Tamasha was the second film that Ranjeet directed and it featured Anu Agarwal, Rahul Roy and Tanuja Samarth. It was also the only film that Ranjeet produced. Ghazab Tamasha released in 1992. Anand Milind composed the music for the film and Kumar Sanu and Kavita Krishnamurthy sang songs in the music album for the film. Sadhana Sargam also sang one song in the film.

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The shooting for Disney+ Hotstar series Aarya season 3 was halted after Sushmita Sen suffered a heart attack earlier this year. Now, actor Vikas Kumar, who plays ACP Khan in Aarya, has said that the team is likely to resume shooting in Jaipur very soon. Vikas also said that after Sushmita landed in Jaipur, she suffered a heart attack, adding the actor 'came to know about it later'. Also read: Sushmita Sen reveals she had a massive heart attack' Sushmita Sen posted a picture from Italy on Instagram last year. (File Photo)

On March 2, Sushmita broke the news of her heart attack, a couple of days after it happened. The actor had said in her Instagram post at the time that she underwent an angioplasty at a hospital. In an Instagram Live days later, Sushmita informed fans that it was a 'massive heart attack', which had caused a 95 percent blockage in one of her arteries. She had also thanked the makers of Aarya for their support after she suffered a heart attack. Now, her co-star Vikas has spoken about Sushmita's heart attack and their Aarya shoot in a new interview.

A major chunk of season 3 is done. The show is Rajasthan based. There are some outside scenes that we have to shoot in Jaipur. We landed there, but unfortunately, Sushmita Sen suffered a heart attack. We didnt know at first about it. Ultimately in a couple of days, we got to know, as she revealed it to the world," Vikas told News18.

He further said, In the beginning, even she didnt know what happened. Tests were done and all. She came to know about it later and then she told the world. Thats how we got to know. We just did one day of shoot and then we realised that we cant proceed. By then, it was obvious that was not just a day or two affair, but we need to stop. So we stopped for a bit."

Last month, a week after she suffered a heart attack, Sushmita had said that she has resumed working out on her cardiologist's advice. The actor, who was diagnosed with the autoimmune condition called Addison's Disease in 2014, also urged people to monitor their health in an earlier Instagram Live.

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On Tuesday, Jeremy Renner tweeted about filming for Jimmy Kimmel Live as he appeared on the US chat show for the first time since his New Year's Day snow plow accident that left him with 30 broken bones. Actor Anil Kapoor, who worked with the Hollywood actor in the upcoming series Rennervations, praised Jeremy and called him the 'toughest Avenger' after he shot for Jimmy Kimmel's show. Also read: Jeremy Renner recalls thinking 'whats my body going to look like' after shattered ribs in snow plow accident Anil Kapoor tweeted about Jeremy Renner on Tuesday.

Anil tweeted, "Absolutely indestructible my dearest friend @JeremyRenner the toughest avenger (heart and clapping hands emojis)." He was responding to Jeremy Renner's tweet about his Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance, which read, "Oddly comfortable coming out a different door, with different stories, and brand new cane?" The actor smiled as he made his way with the help of a walking cane into the taping of the show. The actor was cheered by fans as he made his entrance on the set. Jeremy has played Clint Barton aka Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with Thor (2011) and The Avengers (2012).

It has been more than three months since Jeremy's life-threatening accident. In a recent interview, Jeremy Renner had said he was at fault in his New Year's Day snowplow accident. He said he was driving the plow after using it to pull one of the family's trucks out of the snow and onto pavement.

Since the accident, Jeremy has used social media to keep his fans updated about his recovery and therapy. Recently, he had posted a video on Instagram in which he appeared to be walking for the first time with assistance. He wrote in his caption, Now is the time for my body to rest and recover from my will.

Jeremy will soon be seen in Disney+ series Rennervations. The four-part series follows Jeremy as he embarks on his passion of bringing communities together by reimagining unique vehicles that serve the purpose and aid people's requirements. The series also has appearances by actors such as Anthony Mackie and Anil Kapoor.

Anil has previously worked in a couple of Hollywood projects such as Slumdog Millionaire (2008). He and Jeremy Renner were a part of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible  Ghost Protocol (2011), but they never featured on the screen together. Rennervations will mark their first onscreen appearance together.

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It seems like actor Ram Charan and his wife Upasana are having some quality time, away from the country. On Monday, the actor posted a couple of glimpses from their recent holiday. The parents-to-be recently hosted a baby shower in Dubai. Also read: Upasana poses with Ram Charan at her teddy bear themed baby shower, shares dreamy pics and videos RRR actor Ram Charan and his wife Upasana Konidela in the Maldives.

While it's not known where their recent pictures have been clicked, most like they have reached the Maldives for a trip before welcoming their first child. The first photo featured Ram Charan and Upasana on a boat while candidly looking at the sea.

It's followed by a stylish photo of the actor from a beachside resort. In it, he is seen leaning on a pillar while his face is not visible. Sharing the photos, Ram ditched a caption and only added a blue heart emoji.

Soon after he posted the photos, fans took to the comment section and shared their excitement about Upasana's pregnancy. One of them wrote, Omggg .. amazing pics anna ram Charan eagerly waiting for junior charan or junior upasana. Global sensation in Maldives, added another one. One more said, Such a cute couple.

Ram Charan and Upasana were reportedly in Dubai to celebrate her baby shower with close friends and family. Upasana treated fans to a video montage of herself and Ram from their fun-filled white-themed baby shower. It included dreamy teddy bear inspired decor as well as a huge three-tier white cake which read, because we love you."

She also shared lots of family photos and pictures of the to-be-parents, followed by photos of tables decorated with brown teddy bears and lots of greenery and white flowers. For the event, Upasana wore a white dress, while Ram was in white shirt and white pants.

Upasana and Ram Charan celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last year. In December 2022, Ram Charan's father and veteran actor Chiranjeevi had announced the news of Upasana's pregnancy. Talking about it, Upasana in a recent interview shared why she waited a decade to get pregnant instead of succumbing to societal pressure of having a baby early in their marriage.

ott:10

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Actor Kranti Prakash Jha says that after two seasons of Raktanchal he has been flooded with work but the bigger challenge was to filter out good projects and avoid being repetitive. Kranti Prakash Jha recently wrapped his second OTT series in Lucknow.

The urge to perform and do content driven projects is exceptionally high. Accha kaam hi karna hai be it a web series or film. I have grown up watching films on big screen, so I surely want to do films too but its no more ki yahi karna hai. I prefer listening to my heart and follow it, says the MS Dhoni: The Untold Story actor, who recently wrapped the series Laal Batti in Lucknow.

Jha agrees its tough to say no to work. Earlier, the challenge was to get work and now its to say no but I do that without being disrespectful. After Raktanchal, everyone wanted to cast me in a similar character like that of Vijay Singhs, so I had to refuse. You cant do that same thing in every project. Now, I have started believing that whats destined for you will come your way. My only criterion is that I should connect with the role rest nothing matters. Also, I have started blindly believing what my mother always says Huiye wahi to Ram rachi rakha so I dont overthink at all.

To keep himself engaged Jha is working on his craft. No one wants to remain without work! Every morning mujhe bahut zor se acting aati hai but you have to be mindful. So, when I am not acting, I work on myself like I started going to akhara (desi gym), travel, write and connect with audience by sharing my thoughts.

Jha is getting good feedback for his narrations.

The trait of writing I probably inherited from my father (late DC Jha) who was literary figure. During the shoot of Bindiya in Lucknow, based on my experience, I started expressing on social media with series Ek Baat Kahun. I am getting amazing feedbacks and I feel blessed that I became the medium of God to bring a difference in someones life. Now, I am looking forward to writing a book and attending motivational talk shows in different cities.

On shooting back-to-back two projects in Lucknow he says, Last year, I shot for the web-series Bindiya which I believe will stream in 2-3 months. This time, it was a dream come true for me to work with Prakash (Jha) sir. Any actor who is from Bihar (Begusarai) has a dream to work with sir. I too had this wish, but it took 10-12 years to come true. Besides, Raktanchal-3 is being written and now it is up to the platform, so lets see.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term with an absolute majority in the 2024 national polls while hitting out at Rahul Gandhi saying it is high time for him to change or else Congress would be wiped out of the entire country. Union home minister Amit Shah. (ANI)

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win over 300 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats in the next general elections. I would like to tell the Congress that in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, BJP will win 12 of the 14 [Lok Sabha] seats in Assam, he said at a public meeting in Assams Dibrugarh.

The BJP returned to power in 2019 with a bigger majority of 303 seats while the Congress managed to get just 54. In 2014, the BJP became the first party in three decades to cross the halfway mark of 272 seats on its own.

Shah said Gandhi would not change. He goes abroad and denigrates the country. Is this the behaviour expected of any patriotic citizen? Shah asked. Rahul, it is high time for you to change. Or else Congress would be wiped out of the entire country as it happened in the northeast.

Gandhi has been under fire from the BJP since his remarks in the United Kingdom on Indian democracy and Parliament last month. The government demanded an apology from Gandhi over his remarks at an interaction at Cambridge University. Gandhi said Indian democracy was under attack and several politicians, including himself, were under surveillance.

The storm over the remarks disrupted the Budget Session of Parliament even as the Congress maintained the BJPs protests against his remarks were part of an attempt to divert attention from American securities research firm Hindenburg Researchs report that accused Gautam Adani-led Adani Group of fraud and stock manipulation.

Shah said Modi has secured the country from external threats and brought peace to the northeast. ...but Congress wants to dig his grave. ...the more you abuse Modi, the BJPs lotus will bloom with more glow, he said, referring to the BJPs election symbol.

Shah, who virtually laid the foundation stone of BJPs zonal office for Upper Assam, highlighted the achievements of the states government and the schemes and policies introduced since Himanta Biswa Sarma became the chief minister in May 2021. I thank Assams people for starting the BJPs victory march in the northeast in 2016. Now the party and allies of the National Democratic Alliance are in power in all states of the region. Congress, the biggest party in the northeast till a few years back, has been completely wiped out.

He referred to the BJPs return to power for the second consecutive time in Tripura and as part of coalition governments in Nagaland and Meghalaya in March. Shah said Rahul Gandhi led the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir but Congress got wiped out in the three northeastern states.

Shah was on a two-day trip to the northeast where he visited Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday and launched the Vibrant Village Programme meant for the development of border villages.

Kibithoo is the first village near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) overlooking Chinese posts in Arunachal Pradesh.

Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh came 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 the two countries. India and China have been locked in a standoff along the LAC in Ladakh since May 2020.

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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. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde performs aarti on the banks of the Saryu River, in Ayodhya on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

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.

Also Read: Man who threatened to harm Eknath Shinde in custody; wife says he was drunk

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.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday for visiting a church on Easter and deemed it is a good thing if it was done as an "atonement for past deeds" of the Sangh Parivar. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan (PTI)

Addressing the CPIM program at Angamaly, Vijayan said, "Prime Minister Modi visited a famous Christian church in Delhi. It's a good thing if it can atone for everything that's happened so far. Will it be? Will the tiger take a different stance after knowing that taste? Will it travel any other way?"

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders were seen visiting all the churches in Kerala. So there is no harm here. There is no harm in taking a different position, Vijayan added as part of his mockery.

Christian hunting is happening outside Kerala. The fact that you (BJP) could not take that position here is not because the Sangh Parivar here has any special minority affection. If you take a communal stand and try to create communal conflict here, the government will take a firm stand. It is a no-compromise position, the Chief Minister said.

Prime Minister Modi visited the Sacred Heart Church in Delhi's Connaught Place on Easter. He also took to Twitter and posted a video of his visit. Easter Celebrations in Delhi, he tweeted.

Expressing his happiness on the Prime Minister's visit, Fr. Francis Swaminathan had said earlier, I think this is the first time that a sitting Prime Minister will come to visit a church. The fact that the Prime Minister is coming is, in itself, a big message. We know he cares about all minorities, including the Christians.

(With inputs from ANI)

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Bihar deputy chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Party leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday appeared before Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi for questioning in money laundering case linked to railways land-for-jobs case, reported news agency ANI. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.(File pic/ ANI )

Read here: Will fight: Tejashwi Yadav ahead of CBI questioning in land-for-jobs case

The RJD leader was earlier questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while his sister Misa Bharti was interrogated by ED in March in corruption and money laundering probes linked to the land-for-jobs scam which allegedly took place when their father Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Union railway minister from 2004-09.

ED had claimed that it has found proceeds of crime worth 600 crore in the land-for-jobs case including the 150 crore worth bungalow in New Friends Colony in Delhi.

CBI had grilled Yadav over alleged transfer of land and properties in the names of his family members, people familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity. The RJD leader had previously skipped three summons issued to him last month.

The case relates to the alleged appointments of substitutes in Group D jobs in Central Railways from 2004-09 in violation of norms and procedures of the Indian Railways for recruitment. The candidates, directly or through their immediate family members, allegedly sold land to Lalus family at discounted rates of up to one-fourth to one-fifth of prevailing market rates.

The CBI filed its first charge sheet in the case in October, naming Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti and 13 others.

Read here: Tejashwi, Misa questioned byCBI, ED in land-for-jobs case

Earlier, the ED had raided 24 locations including Yadav's Delhi residence, Patna, Ranchi and Mumbai in connection with the case.

On March 15, Delhi Rouse Avenue court granted bail to Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, their daughter Misa Bharti, and 13 others accused in the case.
Since Basavaraj Bommai took over as the states chief minister in 2021 replacing BS Yediyuruppa, the Karnataka government has passed a controversial anti-conversion bill, issued an order that bars hijabs in schools and colleges, passed an anti-cow slaughter law, and most recently tweaked its reservation policy to move Muslims out of the Other Backward Classes category. In 2018 assembly polls, the BJP ha won seven of the eight seats in Dakshina Kannada. (PTI)

It has also quietly endorsed the campaign against halal meat as well as that against the use of loudspeakers in mosques, and cited the endowment laws of 2002 to defend the actions of right-wing groups preventing Muslims from setting up shops around temples and taking part in religious fairs--a practice which has been followed for centuries in Karnataka. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers openly supported the campaign against halal meat and azaan, particularly in coastal Karnataka.

But, the party now wants to make a distinction between the first set of policy decisions and the second.

The district-in-charge minister for Dakshina Kannada, which the BJP swept in 2018 by winning seven seats of a total of eight , and senior Hindutva leader, Sunil Kumar, claimed that these anti-Muslim campaigns were carried out by fringe elements not associated with the BJP. His comment echoes the partys concern that a communal agenda could take fence sitter voters away from the party. The BJP has never lost the Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha seat since 1991.

We have not endorsed any such activities. The stands were taken as a government and as a party, we have done them legally and within the framework of the law. For example anti-cow slaughter bill. The communal campaigns that you are talking about; like the banning of Muslim traders at the temples were called by fringe organisations that are not from the Sangh Parivar, he explained.

Blaming right-wing groups for the anti-Muslim campaign has a political motive as well. Chief of right-wing outfit Sri Ram Sene Pramod Muthalik has announced that he will contest the upcoming Assembly polls from the Karkala Assembly constituency. He said he will be fighting the polls against corruption and for the cause of Hindutva,

During the peak of the anti-Muslim campaigns, two right-wing outfits  Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sri Ram Sene  were at the forefront. The ruling BJP government has now distanced itself from these outfits. While Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has not announced any candidates, Sri Ram Sene has said it will field 25 candidates.

Muthalik said that he is opposing BJP for the sake of real Hindutva. My fight is for real Hindutva vs fake Hindutva. It is about corruption vs honesty. People are fed up with the BJPs failure in protecting Hindutva and the widespread corruption, he said.

The Bommai government has been hobbled by allegations of corruption.

Muthalik, who shot to fame after his followers attacked a pub in Mangaluru in 2009, is miffed with the BJP after his attempts to join the party were repeatedly thwarted as the state leadership felt he would be a liability. His response has been to lash out at the party; for instance, he has raised questions on Sunil Kumars assets and how they have grown since 2004.

Sunil Kumar claimed that Muthalik is not a competition and people will see through his intentions. People like him use Hindutva as a tool but for us, it is a way of life. The fact that he has contested against our leaders like Ananth Kumar Hegde and Pralhad Joshi (in the past) shows what his intentions are. We stand for Hindutva, which people here believe in. It will translate into votes, said the state culture minister.

The BJP realized that its aggressive Hindutva push in Karnataka may boomerang in elections and therefore, it decided to slow down in mid-2022. According to a party leader who asked not to be named, when these anti-Muslim campaigns were at their peak, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai was reportedly asked by the partys high command to concentrate more on governance than raking up controversial issues.

As a result of the diktat from the central leadership, the leader said, the state government has sought to distance itself from fringe pro-Hindu organisations. Ours is a government formed according to the Constitution. We are working with the spirit of law, order and equality, Bommai said after his return from Delhi in April 2022.

As the state leadership went soft on the Hindutva agenda, the party faced opposition from its own cadre. BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel faced the wrath of BJP workers in June last year following the killing of BJP worker Praveen Nettaru in Dakshina Kannada. Workers accused the state party leadership of not doing enough to protect them and fighting for the Hindutva case.

The wave of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BYJM) resignations that followed Nettarus murder, party workers said, was a manifestation of problem that started with the killing of Harsha Jingade or Harsha Hindu in Shivamogga in February 2022.

Harshas murder happened, and there was no justice there. Such things should not happen. To get our leaders to be a little more proactive ... we thought if we gave our resignations, they would act faster, Sandeep Haravinagndi, the district president of Chikmagalur BYJM said.

Kumar, however, denies Congress claims that communal violence has increased during the BJP rule. Violence was high when the Congress was in power, especially in Malnad and coastal regions. When Siddaramaiah was chief minister Section 144 was imposed in the region for more than three months. When we are in power, Section 144 was not enforced anywhere for more than a week, he said.

Congress MLA UT Khader said that the BJP is playing a blame game over the anti-minority campaign. There has been consistent agenda from the BJP government to provoke the minorities. The removal of the 4% quota for Muslims was the latest in that list. They hoped that it would lead to the minorities creating a huge stir and they could use it to polarise people. But it didnt happen. People have realised it is important to maintain religious harmony, he said. Maybe it Bajrang Dal, BJP or any other organisation, they are one and their agenda is one. He added that corruption and misgovernance are the biggest issues in the region.

Political expert Valerian Rodrigues said rise of the fringe Hindu groups in coastal Karnataka could hurt the BJP in a few seats but admits that they are not a force to reckon with. Hindu leaders such as Muthalik not winning in any previous election is an indication of that.

Last election, there was an anti-Siddaramaiah (then chief minister) wave, which helped BJP get landslide votes. The BJP raked up Hindutva issues through different legislations but the campaign abruptly stopped last year and is a sign of the party realising that these issues may not bring them desired electoral gains, said Rodrigues, who was formerly a political science professor at Mangalore University.

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/Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) declared 189 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections on Tuesday, capping a day of high drama where one senior leader announced his retirement from electoral politics and another indicated he may rebel against the partys diktat to step away. BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Mansukh Mandaviya release the party's first list of 189 candidates for the May 10 Karnataka assembly polls on Tuesday. (PTI)

In a press conference in Delhi, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP general secretary Arun Singh announced the partys first list of candidates and dropped four sitting lawmakers, including former chief minister Jagdish Shettar, who went public with his disenchantment at how he was treated.

In all, at least four of the BJPs 119 sitting lawmakers were dropped, in a move seen as an attempt to curb anti-incumbency. All of the legislators denied tickets hailed from coastal Karnataka, a region the BJP swept in 2018.

We have focussed on young people and named 52 fresh faces in the list. Other than that, we have 32 backward leaders, 30 scheduled castes, and 16 scheduled tribes. In addition, we have 31 post graduates, nine doctors, eight women, three academics, said Singh.

The party fielded chief minister Basavaraj Bommai from his old constituency of Shiggaon in Haveri district, his detractor Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from Bijapur, controversial lawmaker Ramesh Jarkhiholi from Gokak, former chief minister BS Yediyurappas son BY Vijayendra from his traditional seat of Shikaripura, and general secretary CT Ravi from Chikmagalur.

The consultation process was spread over all 31 districts, and included 25,000 party workers. District level leadership was consulted by former CM Yediyurappa, CM Bommai and state unit chief Kateel, said Pradhan, the partys state in-charge.

The BJP is hoping to retain power in the only southern state it controls and beat back challenges from the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) in the May 10 polls. But its government is battling allegations of corruption and anti-incumbency. Its principal challenger, the Congress, has already announced candidates for 166 seats.

The BJP fielded state revenue minister R Ashoka to take on state Congress unit chief DK Shivakumar from the Kanakapura constituency. Ashoka will also contest from Padmanabhanagar. State minister V Somanna will take on former chief minister Siddaramaiah from Varuna, and also fight the elections from Chamrajanagar. The BJP named Varthur Prakash as the candidate from Kolar, from where Siddaramaiah may also contest.

But its decision to drop prominent names sparked speculation of infighting. If they had told me two to three months ago, then it would have been respectable for me. When the nomination is just two days away (to begin), I am definitely hurt, Shettar, a former leader of opposition and six-time lawmaker, said. I have told them that I will contest the election. Whatever you have said is not acceptable to me.

Shettars response underlined the complexity of the exercise, with Yediyurappa, Bommai, the partys central leadership (PM Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, and party chief JP Nadda), and a bunch of other leaders including some Union ministers all having their own ideas on candidature.

Pradhan highlighted that names recommended by the Karnataka state election committee were vetted by important leaders including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, BL Santhosh and other leaders. He also held out an olive branch to Shettar. Shettar ji is a senior leader, he will stay with us and we will be able to make him understand I have spoken to him today, he added.

In the BJPs first list, among those denied tickets were Raghupati Bhatt from Udupi, where the row over Muslim students wearing the hijab first started in January 2022. A local BJP leader who lead the anti-hijab movement, Yashpal Suvarna, is the party nominee from the seat. Other lawmakers denied tickets were Lalaji Mendon from Kaup, S Angara from Sullia and Sanjeev Matandoor from Puttur. Angara is an incumbent minister.

Retired state bureaucrat LC Nagaraj, who is an accused in the IMA scam, was nominated to contest from the Madhugiri constituency. The scam pertains to 4,000 crore collected by IMA Group from over 100,000 investors in the pretext of providing sizeable returns on investments. In 2015, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a money laundering case and attached assets worth 209 crore.

Former Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskara Rao, who recently joined the BJP from the Aam Aadmi Party, was nominated from Chamrajpet in Bengaluru city.

The day began with former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa announcing that he was stepping away from electoral politics, sparking protests by his supporters in Shivamogga.

The move, people aware of the details said, was in line with the partys strategy of pushing for a generational shift.

Eshwarappa resigned last year after a government contractor died by suicide after levelling allegations of corruption against the senior leader. I am withdrawing from electoral politics... The party gave me a lot of responsibilities in the last 40 years. I went from a booth in-charge to state party chief. I also had the honour of becoming Deputy Chief Minister, he wrote to BJP president JP Nadda.

HT learns that he wrote the letter after being prodded to do so. As the news spread, hundreds of his supporters gathered before his residence in Shivamogga to protest his decision. They shouted slogans and burnt tyres to express their anger.

In the press conference, Singh said the party balanced the old with the new and highlighted its commitment to caste-marginalised groups, especially backward communities. The BJP recently announced a rejig of the existing reservation matrix in Karnataka, hiking the quota for the influential Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, and pushing through internal quotas within the scheduled caste basket.

Pradhan said the names were finalised after a democratic process of consultation and suggestions from the district level. He said the consultation process that was spread over 31 districts, and included 25,000 party workers, concluded on March 31. On April 1-2, district-level leadership was consulted by former CM Yediyurappa, CM BS Bommai and state unit president Nalin Kateel. On April 4-5, the state election committee met in Bengaluru and made a panel that considered recommendations from the distinct and state levels, and undertook an analysis, he added.

Referring to Karnataka as a citadel of knowledge and economy, Pradhan said a new generation of leadership should emerge. He said the BJP already successfully conducted some mass contact programmes and PM Modi will himself campaign and visit various parts of the state.

But some senior leaders are upset at not having their suggestions accepted, said a party functionary requesting anonymity.

To be sure, senior BJP leaders stepping away from electoral politics on the eve of elections is not unprecedented. In Gujarat, which went to polls in December, former chief minister Vijay Rupani, former deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and senior party leader Bhupendrasinh Chudasama announced their decision of not contesting the assembly election ahead of the polls. But unlike in Karnataka, there were no protests at that time.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win more than 300 seats in next years Lok Sabha elections and return to power for the third consecutive time with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday. Union home minister Amit Shah said the BJP will win more than 300 seats in next years Lok Sabha elections (PTI)

Addressing a public meeting in Assams Dibrugarh, Shah also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on Indian democracy and Parliament abroad and said the party will soon be wiped out from the entire country.

I would like to tell the Congress that in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP will win 12 of the 14 seats in Assam. And Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third time by securing an absolute majority with over 300 seats, he said.

There are a total of 545 seats in the Lok Sabha. Elections are conducted to fill 543 of them. The remaining two seats are filled by nomination of representatives of the Anglo-Indian community.

Highlighting the achievements of the BJP-led Assam government and the schemes and policies introduced in the last two years since Himanta Biswa Sarma took charge as chief minister in May 2021, Shah said: I would like to thank the people of Assam for starting BJPs victory march in the northeast in 2016. Now, the party and allies of the (BJP-led) National Democratic Alliance are in power in all states of the region

In 2016, the BJP swept the Assam assembly elections, ending 15 years of Congress rule in the state.

The Union minister recalled how in the recently-held assembly polls, the BJP returned to power for a second term in Tripura and formed governments as alliance partners in Nagaland and Meghalaya.

Launching an attack on the Congress and its party leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said: Rahul Gandhi took part in the Bharat Jodo Yatra but the Congress got wiped out in the three northeastern states. He will not change. He goes abroad and denigrates the country. Is this behaviour expected of any patriotic citizen?

The Congress leader had come under criticism for his remarks on Indian democracy and Parliament in the United Kingdom last month.

Rahul, its high time for you to change. Or else, the Congress would be wiped out of the entire country, like it happened in the northeast. PM Modi secured the country from external threats and brought peace in the northeast, but Congress wants to dig his grave. I can tell them, the more you abuse Modi, the more will BJPs lotus bloom, Shah said.

On Shahs remarks, leader of opposition in Assam assembly Debabrata Saikia said: Shahs statements should not be taken seriously. BJP leaders keep making such statements to mislead people. The Congress is in power in several states across the country, on its own and in alliance with partners. The BJPs intention of trying to wipe out the opposition isnt healthy for Indian democracy.

Shah virtually laid the foundation stone of BJPs zonal office for Upper Assam.

The minister is on a two-day trip to the northeast. On Monday, he visited Kibithoo in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh and launched the Vibrant Village Programme, a scheme to develop villages located close to the international border.

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The Bharatiya Janata Partys strategy of pushing for a generational shift in Karnataka sparked a row on Tuesday after former chief minister Jagdish Shettar reacted sharply to being told that he will not be picked for the upcoming polls and former deputy CM KS Eshwarappas announcement of retirement triggered protests in his home district. Former chief minister Jagdish Shettar reacted sharply to being told that he will not be picked for the upcoming polls. (PTI)

The controversy came hours before the BJP announced 189 candidates for the May 10 assembly elections  its first list  and dropped four sitting lawmakers.

Shettar, 67, highlighted his track record as a legislator (he was elected to the assembly six times), his clean image, and his role in building the party in the state, and said he was hurt. I have told them that I will contest the election, he told reporters. Later in the day, the party appeared to hold out an olive branch with Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan saying he had spoken to the former CM.

Eshwarappa struck a more conciliatory note, writing to party chief JP Nadda that he will not contest the upcoming polls. I am withdrawing from electoral politics...The party gave me a lot of responsibilities in the last 40 years, he wrote. This was followed by protests by his supporters in Shivamogga.

The BJPs principal rival, the Congress, has already announced candidates for 166 seats. The Janata Dal (Secular) had named picks for 93 seats. The assembly has 224 seats in all.

As there was a delay in the BJP announcing its list of candidates for the May 10 elections, several MLAs considered close to former chief minister B S Yediyuruppa met him at his residence in Bengaluru. It is learnt that Yediyuruppa returned to Bengaluru on Monday night, not happy with the way tickets were being decided by the party high command. On Tuesday, however, he said, the party agreed to most of his suggestions and he had nothing more to contribute.

ALSO READ: BJP looks to make inroads in JD(S), Congress stronghold

Anticipating rebellion by aspirants and some lawmakers who were dropped, the BJP has formed informal teams that have started speaking to the party leaders. Unofficially, some leaders have been given responsibility of the regions to pacify the party workers also. We are in touch with the aspirants, said a party official aware of developments.

Shettar indicated that he would contest from Hubballi-Dharwad Central, raising the prospect of a revolt. Shettar is a Lingayat, the states most dominant community which accounts for 17% of the population.

If they had told me two to three months ago, then it would have been respectable for me. When the nomination is just two days away (to begin), I am definitely hurt, he said.I have told them that I will contest the election. Whatever you have said is not acceptable to me. So, please reconsider your decision and give me an opportunity to contest the election again, he further said.

In the evening, the party appeared to reach out to him. Shettar ji is a senior leader, he will stay with us and we will be able to make him understandI have spoken to him today, Pradhan said.

Eshwarappa, 74, who has been besieged by controversies, including accusations of graft, struck a more conciliatory note, announcing that he would not contest the upcoming polls. I am withdrawing from electoral politics...The party gave me a lot of responsibilities in the last 40 years. I went from a booth in-charge to state party chief. I also had the honour of becoming deputy chief minister, he wrote to Nadda.

HT learns that he wrote the letter after being prodded to do so. The Congress was quick to react. Instead of a candidates list, senior leaders exit is happening on the BJP side. Instead of announcing tickets, the wickets are falling. Tired of making a profit from Eshwarappa when he was a minister and is now tired of making a profit during the ticket distribution too. He ran away from politics as he could not bear the humiliation of BJP, the Congress tweeted.

Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said it was Eshwarappas personal decision.

Eshwarappa has been speaking to us about it for the past few months, but we were trying to pacify him. Today, he has written to the high command and we must respect it. BJP has started a culture of giving up the seat to new faces. It has happened in other states and it is happening in our state. However, Congress has given a ticket to 92-year-old Shivashankarappa. This is the difference between them and us. With an intention to start a new system, we are taking tough decisions, Bommai added.

As the news of Eshwarappa resigning spread like wildfire, hundreds of his supporters gathered before his residence in Shivamogga to protest his decision, They shouted slogans and burnt tyres to express their anger.

Shettar said he received a call asking him to step down.

In April last year,Eshwarappas name came up in connection with the death of contractor Santosh Patil who was found dead in an Udupi hotel, days after accusing the senior leader of corruption. The BJP leader, however, was cleared of the charges in a subsequent investigation.

A second party functionary, who too spoke on condition of anonymity, said it had become a practice in the party to encourage senior leaders to make way for newer faces. Since it came to power at the Centre in 2014, the BJP has followed the practice of not usually giving tickets or party posts to those above 75; it has also sought to ensure that state presidents and office bearers are mostly in the 50-55 years age group. In Karnataka, the party relaxed the age bar when it appointed BS Yediyurappa as the chief minister in 2019, when he was 76.

There are several leaders who have had a long innings in public life; while their experience is valued, it is necessary to encourage younger and newer people to take their place in order to take the party into the next decade. Change, therefore, is natural, the second functionary said.

While the BJP leadership has denied there are disagreements over candidate selection, there were murmurs that the high command did not approve of many names recommended by the state.

The central leadership is clear that tickets will not be given to family members unless there is a proven record of work. The final list was delayed on account of some last-minute changes and because the party did not want rebels to spoil the show, added the second party functionary.

That could still happen. The deadline for filing nominations is April 20.

To be sure, senior BJP leaders stepping away from electoral politics on the eve of elections is not unprecedented. In Gujarat, which went to polls in December, former chief minister Vijay Rupani, former deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and senior party leader Bhupendrasinh Chudasama announced their decision of not contesting the assembly election ahead of the polls.

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The CBI on Tuesday summoned Congress leader Jagdish Tytler for recording his voice sample in connection with a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in the city's Pul Bangash area, officials said. Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.(PTI)

Tytler arrived at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory where further proceedings are underway, they said.

Also read: Killer of Sikhs: BJP leader on Jagdish Tytler at Congress satyagraha

The agency has found fresh evidence in the 39-years old riots case making it necessary to have the voice sample of Tytler, they said.

What have I done? If there's evidence against me, then I'm prepared to hang myself...It wasn't related to 1984 riots case for which they wanted my voice (sample), but another case, Tytler was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Three people were allegedly killed in the riots in Pul Bangash area.

The assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh body guards in 1984 led to violent attacks on the Sikh community in the country.
After delineating security under his de-facto chief of staff Cai Qi and national economy under new prime minister Li Qiang last month, Chinese President Xi Jinpings wolf warriors are now at work with military muscle display in the Indo-Pacific and sharp tongue against India over its so-called claims over Arunachal Pradesh. Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed military preparedness on the Kibithoo LAC on Monday

The three-day military display against Taiwan after President Tsai Ing met US House speaker Kevin McCarthy on April 5 in California was an open threat to the Indo-Pacific to stay away from Taipei or else. The message was that China is prepared for a military take-over of Taiwan, which it claims as its own, and could not care less about international laws or diplomacy. Simply put, President Xi has messaged his domestic audience that he will not compromise on what China defines as its core interests.

The rapidly escalating situation over Taiwan since former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taipei last August 2 is a red flag for Japan as any PLA intervention against the Island Republic will definitely drag in Tokyo into the conflict. While the national security paper of Japan defines China as a clear adversary, Japan under Fumio Kishida will have to shed its pacifist doctrine if it wants to take on the bully China. The visit of Japans top admiral to west Australian port, possibly the central hub for the AUKUS submarines, and the launch of US-Philippines largest ever joint military drills today shows that the QUAD partners are ready for the Beijing challenge.

While Chinese strong-arm tactics are at work in the Indo-Pacific with focus on Taiwan, it is quite clear that Beijing plans to use the boundary dispute with India as a lever to destabilize the Modi government and curb its participation in the QUAD. The April 2 renaming of 11 sundry geographical locations in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as Zangnan, and the sharp tongue of a junior diplomat to Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to Kibithoo, the first Indian village on the LAC, on Monday is an example of Chinese wolf warrior diplomacy. The Chinese diplomat called Shah visit as a violation of Chinese territorial integrity despite the fact that Arunachal Pradesh was never a part of Communist China. This would be akin to India claiming parts of Xinjiang and parts of Tibet on the basis of Mughal military expeditions in Sinkiang or conquest of Dogra generals of past of western Tibet around the holy Mansarovar lake.

The Chinese wolf warrior diplomacy may have had resonance with their Indian counterparts but not for Home Minister Amit Shah, who declared zero tolerance to any encroachment on the 3488 km long LAC from Kibithoo. Shahs emphatic riposte came after Indian Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan reviewed the military preparedness of the Eastern Army Command in Kolkata and Bagdogra over the weekend. He also visited the Hashimara air base, which is the home base for IAFs Rafale fighters. Add to this the visit of Indias commander-in-chief President Draupadi Murmus flying a Su-30 MKI from Tezpur airbase, key operational IAFs base for eastern sector operations, and the big picture of Indias military infrastructure push in North-East becomes clear.

While India has noted Chinese aggressive statements over Arunachal Pradesh and rejected them, Beijings recent stance has pushed back normalization of bilateral relations proportionally and heightened military concerns. The Chinese rulers and the Indian military-civilian bureaucracy should keep in mind that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor his party carry the weight of 1962 war legacy and are quite capable of defending Indian frontiers on ground. The Indian army operations on South Pangong Tso in August 2020 was just an example.

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The Peoples Liberation Armys navy (PLAN) in late March named five seabed features in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) after Chinese musical instruments, taking the total number of names it has given to undersea topographies in the maritime area to nine, in a move, which, according to a PLA officer, is an example of Chinas soft power. The new names given by PLAN have been included in a database maintained in an international register. (Twitter | China Daily)

The new names given by PLAN have been included in a database maintained in an international register.

While China has earlier declared renaming undersea features in other maritime regions, it is the first time that the Chinese navy has made public that it has done so in the IOR.

Also Read: India responds to Chinese objections over Shahs Arunachal visit: Reject

The PLA Navy has completed work on naming five seabed places in the international waters of the Indian Ocean, making a total of nine seabed place names in the international waters of the Indian Ocean, national broadcaster CCTVs military channel reported late March.

Huapengu (Flowerpot drum) sea knoll, Tang drum sea knoll, fishing drum sea knoll, waist drum seamount are all names given by the information centre of the (PLAs) Naval Staff Department to submarine geographical entities in the international waters of the Indian Ocean, the report added.

A seamount is a large underwater volcanic mountain while sea knolls are smaller volcanic mountains.

Although the correlation between oceanic seabed place names and sovereignty ownership is not very strong, it reflects our national soft power, Xu Jinde, an engineer at PLANs Navy Staff Department of Information, told CCTV.

The state media article did not share the precise locations of the seabed features. Its also not known where the remaining four features are.

these submarine names with elements of Chinas unique musical instruments have been included in the international database of undersea names.

The latest move by the PLA navy  the largest in the world  will be closely tracked by the Indian navy, which has had to monitor and track the increasing presence of Chinese vessels including submarines and large, tech-heavy survey ships in the region.

Also, it has a very important role in marine scientific research, engineering exploration, scientific research and so on, engineer Xu said.

At present, China has 238 undersea place names included in the international list of undersea names.

This year, the PLA Navy will use traditional Chinese colours for (more) undersea place names, and if the proposals are approved, ancient Chinese names such as Plum Dye, Rouge and Moon White will be forever marked in the Western Indian Ocean waters, Xu said.

PLAN has been actively involved in the naming of seabed features in international waters since 2014, using Chinese national totems, words and phrases from the poetic scriptures and the Chinese lunar calendar months as special names for geographic entities on the seabed, highlighting the profound heritage and distinctive characteristics of Chinese culture.

At present, the Naval Staff Departments information centre has 30 names for seabed features, which have been approved by the International Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN) as world undersea geographical names, the CCTV article said.

Though the names of seabed features in the IOR are in the international waters, China has a history of naming undersea features in disputed maritime regions like in the South China Sea (SCS).

In 2018, Chinese authorities released standard names for 25 islands and reefs as well as 55 undersea geographic entities in the SCS in a move that Chinese experts praised for reaffirming Chinas sovereignty in the region, according to the state-run Global Times tabloid.

At that time, the Chinese ministries of civil affairs and natural resources released the names, longitudes and latitudes of these places.

After the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, related authorities released standardised names of 287 islands in the region in April 1983, a move that Chinese experts said indicated Chinas improving precision and regulation of the nomenclature and location of islands and reefs in the SCS, the tabloid reported.

In April, 2020, China named 80 features in disputed areas of the South China Sea region including 25 islands and reefs, and 55 undersea mountains and ridges.

The PLA has renamed places three times in Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as South Tibet.

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Two days after a 23-year-old Hindu man was killed in a communal clash in Biranpur village, in Chhattisgarhs Bemetara district, police on Tuesday said they found the bodies of two Muslim men with head injuries in the vicinity. Twelve people have been arrested so far in connection with last weeks violence. (Representative photo)

The Muslim men who were found dead were identified as Raheem Mohammad (55) and his son Idul Mohammad (35). Police said their bodies were found in Korwaay village, five kilometres away from Biranpur.

Prima facie, the two people appear to have died due to head injuries but we are waiting for a detailed post mortem report. We are confident that we will ascertain the cause of the death and whether it is connected to the violence soon. The situation is definitely delicate and we are reaching out to religious groups to ensure peace, Bemetara superintendent of police Indira Kalyan Elesela said.

The Hindu man, Bhuvneshwar Sahu, was killed in clashes between members of the two communities on Saturday. The clashes, police said, erupted after a fight between school children. Three policemen were also injured in the violence.

A senior police officer, who has been camping in the village ever since the violence broke out, said the two Muslim men may have been beaten to death by members of the Hindu community during their protest against Sahus death.

The members of the Hindu community from four to five villages around Biranpur had gathered to protest Sahus death. They tried to enter Biranpur but police chased them away. While returning, they must have come across the father and son and attacked them, a senior police officer, who has been camping in the affected village, said.

Both Raheem and his son Idul lived near the place where the school children got into a scuffle on April 8, leading to communal tension in the area, the officer added.

Meanwhile, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel announced a compensation of 10 lakh and a government job to a family member of Sahu. He also accused the opposition of trying to spread unrest in the state.

Twelve people have been arrested so far in connection with last weeks violence.

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After releasing two lists of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in the state, the Congress is taking its time over the third, and continues to deliberate on the remaining 58 seats amid dissent among aspirants who failed to make it to the list so far with some dejected aspirants quitting the party. Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah met at AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharges residence in Delhi on Monday night to finalise the third list of candidates, but no decision was taken. (PTI)

Congress leaders including state unit chief DK Shivakumar and Opposition leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah met at AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharges residence in Delhi on Monday night to finalise the third list of candidates, but no decision was taken. Analysts believe the party could also be waiting for the Bharatiya Janata Party to release its first list to mop up some of its rivals leaders who have been overlooked.

Congress has already declared 166 seats and we have come to a consensus on over 40-45 seats. 10-15 seats are pending and we will release our third list in the next 2-3 days, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

While there was no major opposition to the partys first list of 124 candidates that was announced on March 25, the second list of 42 candidates created trouble for the Congress.

BJP has not released even the first list of candidates...We have already released the list of 166 candidates. We will announce the rest soon. We are looking at an auspicious time to do it, Shivakumar told reporters on Tuesday.

In its second list, the Congress accommodated four turncoats , Baburao Chinchansur from Gurmitkal, SR Srinivas from Gubbi, NY Gopalakrishna from Molkalmuru and VS Patil from Yellapur causing disgruntlement among the party workers.

Congress denied a ticket to former JD(S) MLA YSV Datta, a close aide of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, who quit JD(S) to join the party. Upset with denial of the ticket, Datta after a meeting with his supporters in Kadur, has declared that he would contest as an independent.

In Chitradurga, Raghu Achar, a former Congress MLC expressed his ire after he was excluded from the second list, and announced that he would be joining the JD(S). While the Congress attempted to pacify him, Achar said the Congress would not come to power and that he would join the JD(S) on April 14.

The party has given the Chitradurga ticket to KC Veerendra, who is the son-in-law of film actor Doddanna. According to local Congress leaders, another ticket aspirant from Chitradurga, S K Basavarajan announced that he would field his wife Saubhagya as an independent candidate from the constituency.

I was elected to the Gram Panchayat for the first time in 1993. Later, I was elected for Taluk and Zilla Panchayat and became the President of Zilla Panchayat. On the insistence of well-wishers, Im contesting as an independent candidate instead of my husband, Saubhagya said.

Meanwhile, former MLC Nagaraj Chabbi joined the BJP in Delhi on Sunday, as he was upset with the Congress rejecting his application for the Kalghatgi Assembly seat. The Congress has nominated Santosh Lad, a former minister, from the constituency. And HR Srinath, a former MLC, quit the party after being denied the ticket in Gangavathi. He is believed to have been approached by the BJP and a local party.

The difficulties of finalising the third list are exemplified by happenings in Dharwad West where the Congress wants to field Mohan Limbikai, who recently joined the party from the BJP. The problem? At least five aspirants have warned against this and threatened to contest as independent candidates. Limbikai, an ex-MLC and former legal advisor to Yediurappa, resigned from the BJP and joined the Congress last month.Similarly, in Kundgol, several aspirants have opposed the potential candidature of sitting MLA Kusumavati Shivalli.

The Congress leaders cited above said there is also no consensus yet over distribution of tickets to sitting MLAs of Pulakeshinagar, Sidlaghatta, Lingsugur, Kundgol and Harihar.
Bengaluru Citing reports which claimed that Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda held a closed-door meeting with Karnataka leaders keeping out Yediyurappa, the Congress termed it a grave insult to the senior Lingayat leader. (PTI)

The Congress on Tuesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party over reports of the partys central leadership holding a closed-door meeting in New Delhi  while keeping out former chief minister B S Yediyurappa  to finalise candidates for the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka, saying that the party was using the leader as disposable tissue paper.

Yediyurappa, who was in Delhi with Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, returned to Bengaluru on Monday before the BJP released its first list of candidates.

Citing reports which claimed that Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda held a closed-door meeting with state leaders keeping out Yediyurappa, the party termed it a grave insult to the senior Lingayat leader.

It is a grave insult to a senior leader of the Lingayat community to hold a meeting with other state leaders by excluding BS Yediyurappa. BSY, who has built the BJP in Karnataka, did not get a chair in the BJPs meeting? Does he not have freedom to decide on a ticket? BSY has become the BJPs disposable tissue paper, the Congress tweeted.

People aware of the matter said that Yediyurappa was upset over the rejection of his proposal for tickets to his followers. However, the former CM maintained that he was not unhappy with how the talks went. I am not upset. I am always the happiest person. I am sure we will get a full majority on the basis of the seat selection, Yediyurappa said on Tuesday.

Dismissing the reports of infighting, Bommai said on Tuesday: Yediyurappa was with us in all the meetings. He sat with us for over 10 hours and has given his input on all 224 seats. We held a separate meeting with Nadda over campaigning and advertisements.

The CM added that the first list of candidates would likely be announced on Tuesday. After several meetings, the names of candidates have been finalised. Home minister Amit Shah will take a look at the list once he returns to Delhi and after that the first list will be released, he said.
Union health ministry announced a nationwide mock drills on Monday and Tuesday to take stock of the preparedness in both public and private hospitals in the wake of surge in Covid-19 cases across the country.

On Monday, several states, Union Territories assessed Covid preparedness and health authorities directed mandatory use of masks in hospital premises.

The Indian Medical Association said the recent spike in Covid cases is possibly causing due to relaxation in Covid rules, including low test rates and not following Covid appropriate behaviour.

The decision to hold mock drills was taken on Friday during a virtual meeting between Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya and state health ministers. He urged the states and Union Territories to identify emergency hotspots by checking trends of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.

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).
Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud Tuesday got irked when a lawyer mentioned a case and asked for an early hearing before a bench led by him. The lawyer was told by the CJI that the case would be listed on April 17, but then he requested permission to mention it before another bench, at which the CJI told him to not mess with his authority. CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud (Hindustan Times)

"Your date is 17th, you want to mention it before another bench to get a date of 14th?" the CJI asked the counsel to which the latter said a similar matter was taken up on Monday by the court and some fresh matters were also mentioned.

Also Read| Legal glossary of inappropriate gendered terms to be out soon: CJI

"If it is listed for 17th it will come on 17th. Don't mess around with my authority," said the CJI. Do not play these tricks with me. You can't mention it here and then elsewhere for an earlier date, he added.

Following the incident, the lawyer expressed regret and said he should be excused for his submissions. Yes, you are excused, the CJI, who was sharing the bench with justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, told him.

As per news agency PTI, every morning, the CJI-led bench hears around 100 cases on an average for their urgent listing in the Supreme Court.

Also Read| CJI Chandrachud on advocate Saurabh Kirpal: Sexual orientation has nothing to

Earlier in March, during a case related to the allotment of land for lawyers' chambers, CJI Chandrachud had reprimanded the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Vikas Singh.

The CJI had lost his cool when Singh urged for listing the matter and also mentioned that they would have to take it to the judge's residence if it was not listed.

Is this the way to behave?..."I will not be cowered down by you," CJI DY Chandrachud had told Singh, adding that he had been in the legal profession for 22 years but never allowed intimidation tactics by a member of the Bar, litigant or anyone else and will not let that happen in the last two years of his profession.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)

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PATNA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked the Bihar government to submit details of properties linked to Rashtriya Janata Party chief Lalu Prasad, his family members and his aide Bhola Yadav, which include four companies, officials familiar with the matter said. Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav appeared before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money-laundering case on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

The states department of registration has asked all district offices to furnish details of such properties following the ED communication sent to Bihars inspector general (registration) earlier this month. HT has reviewed a copy of the letter sent by EDs assistant director (Delhi zonal office) Ankur Tiwari.

The letter sought information about the sale, transfer and lease of some properties in connection with its probe.

The ED case pertains to allegations that people were recruited in the railways during Lalu Yadavs tenure as railways ministry in return for land at hugely discounted prices.

Meanwhile, Lalu Yadavs younger son and Bihars deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav appeared before ED in Delhi in the case on Tuesday. He was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case last month.

Tejashwi Yadavs sister and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti was also questioned by ED in the case on March 25, the same day he appeared before a CBI team.

The CBI has also questioned Lalu Yadav and his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi in this connection.

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RRR's Naatu Naatu turns into Modi Modi in Karnataka BJP's election campaign song. VIDEO In the election campaign song, the original Naatu Naatu lyrics are replaced with Modi Modi, stressing the projects and welfare schemes of the government. (File, screengrab)

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Shah slams Rahul Gandhi, says Modi will become PM again with full majority

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Amid dating rumours with Parineeti Chopra, Raghav Chadha says

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New Delhi/Bengaluru Former Karnataka chief minister Jagdish Shettaron Tuesday indicated that he would contest , raising the prospect of a revolt. (PTI)

Former Karnataka chief minister Jagdish Shettar, 67, reacted badly after he was told by the BJPs central leadership that he would not be contesting the coming assembly elections, highlighting his track record as a legislator (he has been elected to the assembly six times), his clean image, and his role in building the party in the state.

Earlier on Tuesday, former deputy chief minister of Karnataka, KS Eshwarappa announced he was stepping away from electoral politics, followed by protests by his supporters in Shivamoga.

The move, people aware of the details said, is in line with the partys strategy to pushing for a generational shift by make room for newer faces.

As there was a delay in the BJP announcing its list of candidates for May 10 elections, several MLAs considered close to former chief minister B S Yediyuruppa met him at his residence in Bengaluru. It is learnt that Yediyuruppa had returned to Bengaluru on Monday night not happy with the way tickets were being decided by the party high command.

On Tuesday, he said, the party has agreed to most of his suggestions and he has nothing more to contribute. However, a party leader considered close to him said that the party is likely to deny tickets to several sitting MLAs considered close to the former chief minister, a reason for he returning back without attending Tuesdays meeting with BJP national president J P Nadda and other party leaders.

Anticipating rebellion by aspirants and MLAs, whom tickets would be denied, the BJP has formed informal teams which have started speaking to the party leaders. According to a leader familiar with the development, the party doesnt want to take the reactions likely as it could backfire. Unofficially, some leaders have been given regions of responsibility to pacify party workers also. We are in touch with the aspirants, said the official.

The series of developments including denial of the two senior leaders candidature came hours before the BJP released its much-delayed first list of candidates, a process made difficult by conflicting demands, and the partys by-now-standard playbook of dropping incumbents to fight anti-incumbency.

Hubballi-Dharwad MLA Shettar on Tuesday indicated that he would contest , raising the prospect of a revolt. Shettar is a Lingayat, the states most dominant community which accounts for 17% of the population.

If they had told me two to three months ago, then it would have been respectable for me. When the nomination is just two days away (to begin), I am definitely hurt, Shettar, a former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said.I have told them that I will contest the election. Whatever you have said is not acceptable to me. So, please reconsider your decision and give me an opportunity to contest the election again, he further said.

Eshwarappa, (74) who has been besieged by controversies, including accusations of graft most recently, struck a more conciliatory note, announcing that he would not contest the upcoming polls. I am withdrawing from electoral politics...The party gave me a lot of responsibilities in the last 40 years. I went from a booth in-charge to state party chief. I also had the honour of becoming Deputy Chief Minister, he wrote to BJP president JP Nadda.

HT learns that he wrote the letter after being prodded to do so. The Congress was quick to react. Instead of a candidates list, senior leaders exit is happening on the BJP side. Instead of announcing tickets, the wickets are falling. Tired of making a profit from Eshwarappa when he was a minister and is now tired of making a profit during the ticket distribution too. He ran away from politics as he could not bear the humiliation of BJP, Congress tweeted.

Reacting to KS Eshwarappas decision , Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, it was his personal decision.

Eshwarappa has been speaking to us about it for the past few months, but we were trying to pacify him. Today, he has written to the high command and we must respect it. BJP has started a culture of giving up the seat to new faces. It has happened in other states and it is happening in our state. However, Congress has given ticket to 92-year-old Shivashankarappa. This is the difference between them and us. With an intention to start a new system, we are taking tough decisions, Bommai added.

As the news of BJP leader Eshwarappa resigning from active politics spread like wildfire, hundreds of his supporters gathered before his residence in Shivamogga to protest his decision, They shouted slogans and burnt tyres to express their anger over his sudden decision.

Shettar said he received a call asking him to step down.

In April last year,Eshwarappas name came up in connection with the death of contractor, Santosh Patil who was found dead in an Udupi hotel days after accusing Eshwarappa of corruption. The BJP leader, however, was cleared of the charges in a subsequent investigation.

A second party functionary who too spoke on condition of anonymity said it has become a practice in the party to encourage senior leaders to make way for newer faces. Since it came to power at the Centre in 2014, the BJP has followed the practice of not usually giving tickets or party posts to those above the age of 75; it has also sought to ensure that state presidents and office bearers are mostly in the 50-55 years age group. In Karnataka, the party relaxed the age bar when it appointed BS Yediyurappa as the chief minister in 2019, when he was 76.

There are several leaders who have had a long innings in public life; while their experience is valued, it is necessary to encourage younger and newer people to take their place in order to take the party into the next decade. Change, therefore, is natural, the second functionary said.

Though the functionary did not specify names, the party is abuzz with speculation that a few others could also announce their retirement from electoral politics.

While the BJP leadership has denied there are disagreements over candidate selection, there were murmurs that the high command did not approve of many names that were recommended by the state. The central leadership is clear that tickets will not be given to family members unless there is a proven record of work. The final list was delayed on account of some last-minute changes and because the party did not want rebels to spoil the show, added the second party functionary.

That could still happen. The deadline for filing nominations is April 20.

To be sure, senior BJP leaders stepping away from electoral politics on the eve of elections is not unprecedented. In Gujarat, which went to polls in December, former chief minister Vijay Rupani, former deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and senior party leader Bhupendrasinh Chudasama announced their decision of not contesting the assembly election ahead of the polls.
A military court has recommended the dismissal of a group captain for lapses that led to the shooting down of a Mi-17 V5 helicopter in a friendly-fire incident near Srinagar on February 27, 2019, the day Pakistan air force launched its jets to target Indian installations in Jammu and Kashmir in response to an Indian airstrike on a terror camp in Pakistans Balakot, officials familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. A surface-to-air missile brought down the Russian-origin utility helicopter on Feb 27, 2019. (HT file photo)

Group Captain Suman Roy Chowdhury was then the chief operations officer of the Srinagar air base.

The verdict of General Court Martial (GCM), however, is yet to be confirmed by Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, said one of the officials cited above, asking not to be named.

The IAF chief is expected to weigh in on the sentence awarded by the GCM only after the Punjab and Haryana high court disposes of a matter related to the Mi-17 incident, said another official, who also asked not to be named.

Also Read: Armed Forces Tribunal stays action in matter related to Mi-17 friendly fire incident till Sept 30

In March, the court ruled that the GCM could deliver its verdict with the rider that it would not be implemented till the disposal of the case.

A surface-to-air missile brought down the Russian-origin utility helicopter and left six IAF personnel onboard and a civilian on ground dead, raising questions about whether ground crew, including air traffic controllers, had followed standard operating procedures.

The IAF was on its highest alert the day the helicopter was brought down in friendly fire.

It expected Pakistan to respond to the unprecedented peacetime, cross-border airstrike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot on February 26, 2019.

The IAFs Balakot strike was in retaliation to the Pakistan-backed Pulwama suicide attack in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed on February 14, 2019.

The Mi-17 was brought down by the missile around the same time Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet during a dogfight over the Line of Control (LoC).

The GCM also awarded severe reprimand to Wing Commander Shyam Naithani, who was in charge of the air traffic control at the base, in the Mi-17 friendly-fire incident, the officials said.

The military court found Chowdhury guilty on several charges including violating a 2017 IAF directive that made it mandatory for all aircraft flying in a pre-designated airspace to operate with Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) devices to prevent friendly-fire incidents, allowing the Mi-17 to take off without the IFF in operation, and asking the missile unit to engage the aircraft, the officials said.

Over the last two to three years, there has been a definite shift in demanding accountability from officers involved in operations. Punishment meted out for lapses has been swift and exemplary, said Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (retd), additional director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

The GCM has ordered the group captains dismissal months after the government sacked three IAF officers in August 2022 for lapses that led to the accidental firing of a BrahMos missile into Pakistan on March 9, 2022, after a court of inquiry held them responsible for deviating from standard operating procedures.

One of the officers sacked was a group captain who was in charge of the BrahMos missile battery when the weapon was launched from a base in the western sector during routine inspection and maintenance of the system.
After the UP police left with gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati jail to Prayagraj, family members of slain Umesh Pal have shown their gratitude to the administration. Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed being brought from Sabarmati Central Jail to present again before a Prayagraj court in the Umesh Pal murder case.(PTI)

Demanding that Atiq Ahmed, who allegedly kidnapped Umesh Pal, not be spared, Jaya Pal, wife of the latter said, I want to thank the administration for the proceedings. I demand that the way Atiq Ahmed killed my husband, he should be killed as well. He must not be spared.

Umesh Pal's mother Shanti Devi also voiced a similar opinion. A thorough questioning should be done. The culprits should be caught", she said.

After it was decided that he would be taken to Prayagraj, Atiq Ahmed had cried foul. "It is not right. They want to kill me," said Ahmad while being taken in a UP Police van. The gangster-turned-politician is being taken to Prayagraj in connection with the questioning in Umesh Pal murder case.

Atiq Ahmad was earlier brought to Prayagraj from Sabarmati jail on March 28 amid tight security. He was produced before an MP/MLA court which sentenced him and two others to rigorous life imprisonment in the kidnapping of lawyer Umesh Pal. He and the other convicts were also told to pay 1 lakh as compensation to Pal's family.

Back in 2006, Umesh Pal was allegedly abducted by Atiq Ahmad and his aides who forced him to give a statement in court in their favour. According to reports, Ahmad has been named in more than 100 criminal cases, including the lawyer's murder.



Umesh Pal and his two armed security escorts were shot dead in Prayagraj's Sulem Saray area on February 24. Several rounds were fired and bombs were hurled at Umesh and his gunners.

Last month, Ahmad had moved the top court for protection, claiming he and his family members have been falsely implicated in the murder case and he might be killed in a fake encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

(With inputs from ANI)

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A special investigation team (SIT) of the Hyderabad police, probing the leak of several question papers of the recruitment tests conducted by the Telangana State Public Service Commission, submitted its summary investigation report to the state high court in a sealed cover on Tuesday, people familiar with the matter said. The SIT indicated to the high court that an amount of  40 lakh changed hands in the entire scandal. In all, 15 persons were arrested, including those who had bought the question papers from the accused, the official quoted above said.

A senior official of the Hyderabad police said on condition of anonymity that the SIT, in its 250-page report, comprising various annexures and a 18-page summary, said the kingpins in the entire scam were only two people: P Praveen Kumar, an assistant section officer who was working as a personal assistant to TSPSC secretary Anitha Ramachandran and A Rajasekhar Reddy, a network expert at the commission.

The SIT authorities, who examined the pen drives seized from the accused, said the duo had copied the question papers from a computer that was located in the confidential section on February 27.

The SIT indicated to the high court that an amount of 40 lakh changed hands in the entire scandal. In all, 15 persons were arrested, including those who had bought the question papers from the accused, the official quoted above said.

The SIT had questioned close to 150 people in the case, including those who obtained more than 100 marks in the Group-1 examination question paper. Besides, the SIT authorities also quizzed TSPSC chairman B Janardhan Reddy, secretary Anitha Ramachandran and section officer in the confidential section Shankar Lakshmi.

The SIT told the high court that it had gathered fool-proof evidence on the role of the accused and hence, there was no need for any independent judicial inquiry into the scam. We are awaiting the report from the state forensic science lab which was examining the hard discs and pen drives seized from the accused, the SIT said.

In an interesting development in the case, the Enforcement Directorate(ED), too, entered the probe suo motu into the TSPSC examination paper leakage, on the suspicion of the involvement of money laundering in the case, an official familiar with the matter said.

The ED submitted a petition in the Nampally criminal courts on Monday seeking permission to initiate a probe into the case. It proposed to issue notices to the TSPSC officials, including assistant secretaries Satyanarayana and Shankar Lakshmi.

The official said the ED had already written to the Central Crime Station authorities on March 23 itself asking for documents related to the TSPSC question paper leakage. A four-member team of the ED would investigate the case to look into the money laundering aspect of the case.

The ED authorities want to question the arrested in Chanchalguda jail itself and asked the court to direct the jail authorities to make necessary arrangements in this regard, the official said.

Meanwhile, the state high court on Tuesday deferred the hearing to April 24 on a petition filed by National Students Union of India (NSUI) seeking the CBI probe into the TSPSC question paper leakage case.

Arguing on behalf of NSUI state president Balmuri Venkat, Supreme Court senior counsel Vivek Tankha said the way the probe was conducted by the SIT was leading to several suspicions. When the case is still under investigation, the state government claimed that only two persons were involved in the case. This shows that the SIT was probing the case as per the directions of the government, he said.

Tankha said the SIT was trying to fix only small fish in the case, but there were suspicions that several big people were involved in the scam. That is why, the case has to be handed over to the CBI, he argued.

Arguing on behalf of the state government, advocate general BR Prasad said the SIT was conducting the investigation in the most transparent manner. The police have already arrested 15 people and will arrest more people in the case, he said.

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Launching an indirect attack on Pakistan, Permanent Ambassador of India to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, said that India was facing a serious challenge of cross-border supply of illicit weapons by means of drones. India's Permanent Ambassador to United Nations Ruchira Kamboj speaks at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting.(India at UN, NY Twitter)

Speaking at the UN Security Council's open debate on Threats to International Peace and Security Risks Stemming from Violations of Agreements Regulating the Exports of Weapons and Military Equipments held on Monday Kamboj asserted that "certain states with dubious proliferation credentials that collude with terrorists should be held accountable for their misdeeds.

The export of weapons and military equipment in violation of international law, exacerbating geo-political tensions, cannot be ignored, she said further.

Kamboj added that these threats increase when certain states with dubious proliferation credentials, in view of their masked proliferation networks and deceptive procurement practices of sensitive goods and technologies, collude with terrorists and other non-state actors."

For example, the rise in volume and the quality of the small arms acquired by terrorist organisations remind us time and again that they cannot exist without the sponsorship or support of States, Kamboj stated.

Speaking further, she said, we are facing a serious challenge of cross-border supply of illicit weapons using drones, which cannot be possible without active support from the authorities in control of those territories.

However, emphasizing on India's commitment to prevent the illegal transfer of conventional weapons Kamboj added that the country has established a strong legal and regulatory system to implement global non-proliferation measures.

Many a times, India's security forces have shot down Pakistani drones carrying arms and drugs across the border. Recently, BSF had said that its troops opened fire at a suspected Pakistani drone along the International Border in Jammu. This was the second such incident since March.

In her address at the UN, Kamboj further asked the international community to condemn such behaviour and hold such states accountable for their misdeeds.

(With inputs from PTI)

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NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday dismissed Chinas objection to Union home minister Amit Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh, with the external affairs ministry saying that the northeastern state is an integral part of the country. Responding to Chinas foreign ministry statement on Monday that Amit Shahs trip to the state was not conducive to peace in the border areas, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to such visits wouldnt alter the reality of Arunachal Pradesh being an inalienable part of India. Union home minister Amit Shah inspected a border outpost of the ITBP and took stock of the forces preparedness in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday. (ANI/PIB)

We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India, Bagchi said.

Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality, he said.

The terse exchange between the two sides reflected the fallout of the military standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which has taken bilateral relations to their lowest point in six decades. Indias leadership has made it clear that bilateral ties cannot be normalised without the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

When Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin was asked at a media briefing on Monday about Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh which is claimed by China, he replied that Zangnan is part of Chinas territory. Wang added, The activity of the senior Indian official in Zangnan violates Chinas territorial sovereignty and is not conducive to peace and tranquillity in the border areas. We are firmly against this.

On Monday, Shah said while visiting Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh that India will not allow anyone to take even an inch of its land and border security is the governments top priority. His remarks came days after China renamed 11 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing refers to as Zangnan, in a bid to reinforce its claim on the strategic northeastern state.

The external affairs ministry has already dismissed Chinas efforts to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh.

Shah, who is on his first visit to the eastern sector of the LAC, also launched the 4,800-crore Vibrant Villages programme from Kibithoo, a village that overlooks Chinese posts. He said the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will be provided every facility needed to deal with any threat from across the border.

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India on Tuesday rejected China's objection to Union home minister Amit Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying that the state was, is, and always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, Objection to such visit does not stand to reason and will not change above reality. Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed military preparedness on the Kibithoo LAC on Monday

Also read: Chinas wolf warriors rachet tensions over Arunachal Pradesh and Indo-Pacific

We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese Official Spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India, the statement read.

On Monday, China said that Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh violated Beijings territorial sovereignty and was not conducive to peace and tranquility along the border. It also claimed the northeastern state as South Tibet - a part of the Tibet Autonomous Region - and objected to any official visits to the state.

Zangnan (South Tibet in Chinese) is Chinas territory, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

The union home minister had visited the northeastern state in the backdrop of Beijing standardising the names of 11 places including villages and mountain peaks in the state last week.

In a clear message to China during his address, Shah had said that no one can dare cast an evil eye on India's territorial integrity and encroach even an inch of our land. He added that the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of India was over.

Notably, China has also previously protested Indian officials' visit to Arunachal Pradesh - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in 2018, and President Ram Nath Kovinds visit in 2017.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday released its first list of 189 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections - at a press briefing at the party headquarters in New Delhi. The party's national general secretary Arun Singh announced that out of the total candidates, 52 have received a ticket for the first time. He added that 32 candidates belong to the OBC community, 20 from SC, and 16 from ST.

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai (PTI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday released its first list of 189 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections. The BJP announced the list at a press briefing at the party headquarters in New Delhi. BJP Karnataka in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan addresses presser. (Twitter/BJP)

Out of the 189 candidates, 52 new candidates have got the ticket for the first time. 32 candidates from OBC, 20 from SC and 16 from ST communities. Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai will contest from Shiggaon constituency, BJP's national general secretary Arun Singh announced.

BY Vijayendra, son of former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, will contest from Shikaripura seat. State Minister B Sriramulu to contest from Bellary Rural constituency. State Health Minister Dr Sudhakar K to contest from Chikkaballapur seat.



State Minister Dr Ashwathnarayan CN to contest from Malleshwaram seat. Karnataka minister R Ashoka to contest from two seats of Padmanabhanagar and Kanakapura. Ashoka will be pitted against Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar from Kanakapura.



BJP's Ramesh Jarakiholi has been fielded from his traditional seat Gokak while Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri is contesting from Sirsi.



The saffron party has fielded V Somanna from Varuna, who will be contesting against former chief minister and Congress heavyweight Siddaramaiah. Former Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao, who joined the BJP from AAP, has been fielded from Chamarajpet.



The party's Central Election Committee had met on Sunday and senior party leaders, including those from the state, held hectic parleys since then to finalise the list by incorporating the suggestions made at the meeting, attended among others by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The period for filing nominations begins from April 13 and will continue till April 20.

Karnataka goes to polls in a single phased election on May 10. The counting of votes will take place on May 13. The JD(S) leader had won this seat in 2018





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The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced 189 candidates in its first list, setting stage for a high-octane electoral contest to take place on May 10. The list comprises 52 new faces as the saffron party makes all out efforts to retain power in its sole southern bastion.



With the candidates list announcement, the Karnataka assembly election is set to witness exciting contests from some key constituencies.



Kanakapura: This high-profile constituency which falls under the Bengaluru (Rural) Lok Sabha seat, is considered to be the stronghold of Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar. The Congress heavyweight has represented this seat since 2008, winning it three times in a row. He will be facing state minister and BJP leader R Ashoka.



ALSO READ: Bommai to contest Shiggaon, BJP fields BSY's son BY Vijayendra. Full list



Varuna: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah is the Congress face from this constituency. The 75-year-old leader had represented the seat in 2008 and 2013. The BJP has fielded former minister V Sommana against Siddaramaiah. Recently, he had announced that the May 10 election will be his last. I am contesting from Varuna assembly constituency as my native village comes under this constituency. This is going to be my last election. I will retire from electoral politics, he had told ANI.



Channapatna: Former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy is in poll fray from this seat, which is 60 kilometres from the state capital. He had won this seat in 2018 as well. The BJP has fielded CP Yogeswara against the former CM.



The elections to 224-member Karnataka assembly will take place on May 10. The counting of votes will take place on May 13.

(clockwise): DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Basavaraj Bommai and HD Kumaraswamy.
A three-member full bench of the Kerala Lokayukta will hear a case related to the alleged disaster relief fund misuse case involving chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues on Wednesday. Kerala Lokayukta to hear disaster relief fund misuse case involving CM Pinaryi Vijayan. (PTI)

Last week the two-member bench of the anti-corruption body had referred the case to a full bench following differences opinion between judges inviting enough criticism from various quarters. The new hearing was scheduled to begin on Tuesday but it was deferred to Wednesday following the request by petitioner RS Sasikumar, activist and former senate member of the Kerala university.

While hearing the review petition on Tuesday the bench criticised the petitioners observations against members of Lokayukta last week after they attended an Iftar party being hosted by the CM in the state capital. State Congress president K Sudhakaran, RSP leader NK Premachandran MP and many others have also questioned the propriety of Lokayukta members attending a party hosted by the CM when a case was pending against him before their bench.

The Lokayukta has also faced criticism last week after it referred the case to a larger bench after sitting over the verdict for more than a year. Differences of opinion cropped up between two judges whether a cabinet decision can be subjected to its scrutiny and investigation or not. Now the full bench will hear the case afresh delaying the case further, said legal experts.

In his petition filed in 2018, Sasikumar pointed out serious diversion of the CMs disaster relief fund (CMDRF). He said 25 lakh was granted to late NCP leader Uzhavoor Vijayans daughter and he also mentioned 8 lakh given to the family of late MLA K K Ramachandran Nair to take back gold mortgaged in a bank and 6 lakh to waive off the car loan taken by the late legislator. Besides this, 20 lakh was given to the family of a policeman who was killed in an accident involving the pilot car of former party secretary late Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. He said money meant for those in dire need and distress was illegally diverted to those close to the party in power and the CM misused his power in the process.

While the trial in the case ended in March last year, the final verdict was delayed over a year, prompting the petitioner to approach the high court two weeks back. But the HC had asked the petitioner to approach the Lok Ayukta first and approach the court if he has further complaints.
A three-member full bench of the Kerala Lokayukta will hear a case related to the alleged misuse of the chief ministers disaster relief fund (CMDRF) on Wednesday. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (File Photo)

Last week the two-member bench of the anti-corruption body had referred the case to a full bench following differences of opinion between the judges, inviting criticism from various quarters. The new hearing was scheduled to begin on Tuesday but it was deferred to Wednesday following a request by petitioner R S Sasikumar, an activist and former senate member of the Kerala University.

On Tuesday, the bench criticised the petitioners observations against members of Lokayukta last week after they attended an Iftar party hosted by the CM in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The petitioner had said that he did not expect justice from the members of the Lokayukta.

State Congress president K Sudhakaran, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leader and member of Parliament (MP) N K Premachandran and many others had also questioned the propriety of Lokayukta members attending a party hosted by the CM when a case was pending against him before their bench.

However, ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener E P Jayarajan maintained that it was nothing unusual saying that earlier also judges had attended such functions. He said it was wrong to give negative interpretations to the issue.

The Lokayukta also faced criticism last week after it referred the case to a larger bench after sitting over the verdict for more than a year. Differences of opinion cropped up between two judges whether a Cabinet decision can be subjected to its scrutiny and investigation or not. Now the full bench will hear the case afresh delaying the case further, said legal experts.

In his petition filed in 2018, Sasikumar alleged serious diversion of CMDRF. He said 25 lakh was granted to late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Uzhavoor Vijayans daughter and 8 lakh was given to the family of late MLA K K Ramachandran Nair to take back mortgaged gold and 6 lakh to waive off the car loan taken by the late legislator. Besides this, 20 lakh was given to the family of a policeman who was killed in an accident involving the pilot car of former secretary of the ruling CPI(M), late Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. He said money meant for those in dire need and distress was illegally diverted to those close to the party in power and the CM misused his power in the process.

However, the LDF has said that the case was unwarranted and politically motivated.

While the trial in the case ended in March last year, the final verdict was delayed for over a year, prompting the petitioner to approach the high court two weeks ago. But the court asked the petitioner to approach the Lokayukta first and approach the court if he has further complaints.
A unique camaraderie between a 30-year-old man from Amethi - Mohammad Arif and a Sarus crane came into the limelight a month ago - before the forest department took the bird away to Kanpur Zoo. Now, a heartwarming video surfaced wherein the two met again at the Kanpur Bird Sanctuary. Mohammad Arif meets his 'friend' Sarus crane in Kanpur Zoo

Also read: Depressed after separation from Arif, sarus consumes fish & corn after 40 hours

In the video, Arif can be seen standing outside the bird's enclosure. As soon as the bird saw Arif, he started jumping with joy. He can be seen spreading his wings and trying to find a way out of the space to meet his friend.

The Sarus crane was found by Arif in August 2022 in an unconscious state, lying injured and bleeding. While initially, Arif thought that the bird was dead, he took him home after realising that it was still breathing. The bird recovered in his home, however, post that, it did not fly away - instead, it followed Arif everywhere - which went viral on social media.

On March 6, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also met Arif and posted a picture with the bird on Twitter.

However, after the forest department was informed about the Sarus bird living at Arif's house, they took the bird and rehabilitated it at the Kanpur Zoo.

In April, Arif was also booked for allegedly violating the Wildlife Act of 1972 (amended) after the forest department filed a complaint. In his defence, Arif said that he did not deserve a legal notice for rescuing the bird.

"I didnt chain the bird. It lived with me. Whats my fault? The forest department notice says there is a case lodged against me. I treated the Sarus bird and wanted it to go back to the jungle. It became my friend and did not leave, he said.
Rebutting the perception of violence against Muslims in India, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the Muslim population in India has grown since 1947 even as minorities of all kinds have been decimated in Pakistan. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. (File Photo)

She claimed that Muslims continue to conduct normal lives in India, and asked those who made allegations against the Indian state whether the Muslim population had dwindled or whether there were a disproportionate number of deaths in any single community since 2014.

Sitharaman, who was speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington DC, also pointed out that law and order was a state subject and not the remit of the government of India. She invited those who, she said, created these perceptions without being on the ground to visit India, travel around the country, and then prove their point, even offering to host them.

The finance minister is in Washington to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and chair the second G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting.

Sitharaman was in conversation with Peterson Institute president, Adam Posen. She was responding to a question about whether perceptions in Europe and the United States (US), based on reports in the Western press, about opposition parliamentarians losing their status or Muslim minorities being subjected to violence, had affected capital flows and investment in India.

The answer lies with the investors coming to India and they are coming. As someone who has an interest in receiving investments, I would only say come and look whats happening in India rather than listen to perceptions being built by people who havent visited on the ground and who produce reports, she said.

Sitharaman said that emerging markets carry this burden of being reminded of their status as an emerging market and asked for help or prodded to play a constructive role, yet being given prescriptions by others.

Rejecting the perception that the moderator alluded to, she said, India has the second largest Muslim population in the world and the population is only growing in numbers. If there is a perception or if there is in reality that their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the state, which is implied in most of these write-ups, I will ask will this happen in India in the sense would Muslim population be growing than what it was in 1947?

She then said she would name a country so that the contrast could be sharper. As opposed to Pakistan, which was formed at the same timePakistan declared itself an Islamic country but said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in its number or if I may use the word, which is harsher, decimated in Pakistan. She added that even some Muslim sects had been decimated. Violence prevails against Mohajirs, Shia, and every other group you can name which is not accepted by the mainstream Sunnis. In India, Sitharaman said, all strands of Muslims were doing their business, their children were being educated, and they were being given fellowships by the government.

She also added that law and order is a state subject and not the Government of Indias subject. Each province has its elected government. They take care of their law and order in those states. Across the board in India, if violence is happening to make Muslims get affected, in itself is a fallacy as a statement. It cannot be so; each province and police are different. That shows, Sitharaman said, these reports have no clue of the law and order systems in India.

To say it is all the blame of the government of India, I would want to say tell me between 2014 and today, has the population dwindled? Have deaths been disproportionately high in any one particular community? Sitharaman then invited those who write these reports to come to India. I will host them. Let them come and let them travel around India and prove their point.

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Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman claimed that Muslims in India are doing much better than the Muslims living in Pakistan as she was responding to the negative Western "perception" of India at an event in Washington on Monday. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.(PTI file)

Watch: 'Better than Pak...': Nirmala Sitharaman's fiery retort to 'Muslims being targeted' in India claim

Sitharaman arrived in Washington on Sunday to attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank and chair the second G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting under the Indian presidency.

Responding to a question on perceptions affecting investment in India or capital flows, Sitharaman, at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), said, I would think the answer for that lies with those investors who are coming to India, and they have been coming. And as somebody who is interested in receiving investments, I would only say, come have a look at what's happening in India, rather than listen to perceptions being built by people who have not even visited on the ground and who produce reports.

When PIIE president Adam S Posen asked about there being widespread reporting in the Western media about MPs in the opposition party losing status, and about Muslim minorities in India being subjected to violence, the finance minister replied, India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world, and that population is only growing in numbers. If there is a perception, or if there's in reality, their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the state, which is what is implied in most of these write-ups, I would ask, will this happen in India in the sense, will the Muslim population be growing than what it was in 1947?

Sitharaman contrasted Pakistan, which was formed when India was divided into two, with India by stating that she would take the name of Pakistan to make the contrast sharper. Despite declaring itself an Islamic country that promised to protect minorities, every minority group in Pakistan has dwindled in number and even some Muslim sects have been decimated.

"Violence prevails against Muhajirs, Shia and every other group you can name which is not accepted by the mainstream. I don't know, Sunnis probably. Whereas in India you would find every strand of Muslims doing their business, their children getting educated. Fellowships are being given by the government," news agency ANI quoted her as saying.

She also urged World Trade Organisation (WTO) to be more progressive.

"I would love the WTO to be more progressive, a lot more listening to all countries, and more fair. It has to give space to voices of the countries which have something different to say and not just hear but also somewhat heed," she added.

(With inputs from ANI)

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The new data protection legislation will be tabled in the monsoon session of the Parliament, the Union government told the Supreme Court on Tuesday, stressing that extensive consultations were required to make it a good law. New data protection legislation will be tabled in monsoon session of the Parliament, the Union government told the Supreme Court (PTI)

Appearing before a constitution bench led by justice KM Joseph, attorney general R Venkataramani said the new draft legislation on personal data protection is ready and will be introduced in Parliament in the monsoon session, which starts in July.

The bill is ready and it will be introduced in the monsoon session... in July, the law officer informed the five-judge bench, which also comprised justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar.

The consultation process has taken a long time since the law is important and seeks to address all concerns surrounding privacy of users and their data, Venkataramani added. The consultation process is a long process and it is going to take some time. You want a good law to come after all, he emphasised.

Recording his statement regarding the introduction of the new bill in the monsoon session, the constitution bench fixed the hearing of a clutch of petitions challenging the 2016 and 2021 privacy policy of WhatsApp in the first week of August. The bench further requested the Chief Justice of India to constitute a new five-judge bench to take up the matter in August. The new bench has been necessitated as justices Joseph and Rastogi retire in June.

The top court is examining a batch of petitions challenging the WhatsApp privacy policies on the ground of breaching data privacy and being discriminatory against Indian users.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the lead petitioner and law students Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi who challenged the 2016 privacy policy, opposed the request for deferment of proceedings based on Venkataramanis submissions.

Divan argued that the judicial process should not be linked to the uncertainty around a new bill that may have to go to standing committees, etc. He highlighted that the first such request of deferment by the Centre on the ground of a possible law came in 2017, but the legislation is yet to see the light of the day. The lawyer said the case should be listed in July to consider an interim order to ensure WhatsApp does not transfer any user data to other entities.

On the other hand, lawyers Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi, Sidharth Luthra and Arvind Datar, representing WhatsApp and its holding company Meta (earlier Facebook), urged the court to wait for the new data protection law.

Following their brief submissions and in the wake of Venkataramanis statement, the constitution bench deferred the proceedings to wait for the new data protection law to take a final shape and be introduced in the Parliament.

The case was last heard on February 1, when the bench directed WhatsApp to give wide publicity in the media about its undertaking to the Union government in 2021 that Indian users are not bound to accept the companys new contentious privacy policy and that the functionality of the messaging platform will not be affected till a personal data protection regime is in place.

The interim directive on the publication was issued after noting that many users in India may not be aware of WhatsApps letter in which the company conceded that it will not limit the functionality of WhatsApp for users who were yet to accept the new privacy policy. The 2021 policy entails sharing of WhatsApp user data with Facebook (now Meta), which has been legally challenged as being violative of privacy rights. In its February order, the top court took on record the statement made by WhatsApp in its May 2021 letter and said the company will abide by the terms of the letter till the court hears the matter next in April.

During the hearing on February 1, WhatsApp and Meta agreed to issue advertisements in newspapers but maintained that there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and, thus, users who want to use both WhatsApp and Facebook cannot shake off advertisements. Users should stop using Facebook if they do not want ads because there is a limited sharing of information between the two platforms, they said.

On that day, the constitution bench refrained from issuing any directive on providing a way out to existing WhatsApp users, who have already chosen to share some data, saying that the issue will require extensive deliberation. Since the bench cannot consider the entire gamut of issues immediately, it noted on February 1 that it will not be justified to pass an order on a plea made by the petitioners for a directive to WhatsApp to treat Indian users on a par with their European counterparts.

The Union government in November made public a draft data Digital Data Protection Bill, the fourth iteration of a planned law that is meant to give the legal framework to the 2017 Supreme Court ruling on the right to privacy.

The new draft has attracted both praise and criticism, the first for its light touch and technology agnostic approach to regulating a dynamic space, and the second for the significant exemptions it grants to governments and state agencies on using data of individuals.

Speaking at a Google India 2022 event on December 19, Union information and technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new bill include laying down certain conditions for how personal data  defined as any data about an individual who is identifiable by or in relation to such data  of Indian citizens will be handled, the obligations of those that collect it and the powers of the government in accessing such information.

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NEW DELHI: The US ambassador-designate to India, Eric Garcetti, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to fill a position that has been vacant for more than two years, following a long-drawn process for his confirmation in the US Senate. The US ambassador-designate to India, Eric Garcetti, is a former Los Angeles mayor (AP File)

Namaste, Ambassador-Designate Eric Garcetti! Were thrilled to welcome you to #IncredibleIndia and work with you to build even stronger ties between our two great nations. #USIndiaTogether, the US embassy said in a tweet on Tuesday evening.

Garcettis nomination by the Biden administration had been dogged by charges that he overlooked alleged acts of sexual harassment by an aide during his stint as the mayor of Los Angeles. Despite pushback from several key US senators, the Biden administration stood by Garcettis candidature, and he was confirmed as the 25th US envoy to India in a bipartisan vote on March 15.

The last US ambassador, Kenneth Juster, who was appointed by former US president Donald Trump, completed his term in January 2020. The gap between the ambassadorial appointments was the longest time that the post of US envoy had remained vacant.

The US administrations decision to stand by Garcettis candidature also reflects President Joe Bidens confidence in the ambassador-designate and the close ties between the two men.

Garcetti will play a key role in guiding India-US relations, which have expanded significantly in areas ranging from defence and security to trade and technology cooperation despite recent differences in the response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

India and the US recently launched the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), a bilateral defence industrial cooperation roadmap that will focus on joint development and production of military hardware. The two sides have also expanded cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and within the framework of the Quad, and the US has been looking to India to act as a counter-balance against the rise of China.

Despite pressure from the US to take a stronger stand against Russias invasion of Ukraine, New Delhi has refrained from publicly censuring Moscows actions and ramped up the purchase of discounted Russian crude.

Garcetti served as a naval officer in the reserve component for 12 years and was selected by the Rockefeller Foundation as a Next Generation Leadership fellow. He studied Hindi and Indian culture and history while at Columbia College, Columbia University and earned a Masters degree at the universitys School of International and Public Affairs. He was also selected as a Rhodes Scholar and studied at The Queens College, Oxford, and the London School of Economics and Political Science.

A fourth-generation native of Los Angeles, Garcetti is a card-carrying member of the Screen Actors Guild and is an avid pianist and photographer.
Fugitive Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singhs close associate Papalpreet Singh, who was arrested from the Kathunangal area of Amritsar rural district by the Punjab Police on Monday, was brought to Assams Dibrugarh jail. Punjab Police personnel bring Papalpreet Singh to Amritsar airport. (ANI)

A team of Amritsar-rural district police took him on a flight from Amritsar airport, senior superintendent of police (SSP-rural) Satinder Singh confirmed the development. Outside the Amritsar airport, Papalpreet Singh told reporters that he was fine.

The right-hand man of Amritpal Singh, Papalpreet, 42, was working with the radical Sikh leader ever since he returned from Dubai in 2022.

Several photos have surfaced showing Papalpreet Singh and Amritpal Singh together, following their escape from the Punjab Police's manhunt. On March 30, Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistan leader, appeared in a video and claimed that he was not a fugitive and would soon present himself to the world. He dismissed the idea that he had fled or abandoned his associates, urging his detractors to dismiss such notions.

On March 18, the Punjab Police launched an operation against Amritpal and his associates. Since March 18, Amritpal has been on the run, following a massive manhunt by the Punjab Police. The crackdown occurred three weeks after Amritpal's supporters stormed the Ajnala police station in Amritsar on February 23, demanding the release of Lovepreet Toofan, one of his close aides.

Who is Papalpreet Singh?

> Papalpreet, who has a post-metric diploma in engineering, has donned many hats in the past few years as an anti-drug crusader, freelance journalist and pro-Khalistani writer.

> Officially, he was holding the post of media advisor to Amritpal. Papalpreet had been on the Intelligence agencies radar because of his participation in radical and Khalistani activities.

> A Punjab Police dossier shows that he passed his class 10 from a convent school in Kathunangal. Before joining Amritpal, he had closely worked with pro-Khalistan face Simranjeet Singh Manns Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Balwant Singh Gopala of Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwale) and Sharanjit Singh Rataul of Sikh Youth Front.

> A resident of village Marari in the Majitha assembly segment in Amritsar district, Papalpreet belongs to a peasant family having around 2 acres of land.

> As a freelance journalist, he worked with various pro-Sikh web channels. He also used to write articles for pro-Khalistan periodicals including Khalsa Fatehnama. Nobody in his family has a direct link with the militancy.

> He was a supporter of Deep Sidhu, founder of the Waris Punjab De outfit. Sidhu died in a road accident in 2022. Later, he joined Amritpal when he took over the running of the organisation as a successor of Sidhu. He coordinated with the media on Amritpals behalf and remained by his side.

(With inputs from Ravinder Vasudeva in Chandigarh)

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Rahul Gandhi is set to visit his former constituency Wayanad in Kerala on Tuesday, for the first time after the Congress leader's disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP. His sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be accompanying him during his visit. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with his sister and party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi.(PTI file)

During Rahul's visit, he will address a public rally and hold a roadshow in Wayanad.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad updates:

> During their visit, the Gandhi siblings are scheduled to hold a road show and a conference in Kalpetta. According to local reports, the roadshow will begin from SKMJ Higher Secondary School at 3pm, and it is anticipated to draw thousands of people from various parts of the Lok Sabha constituency.

> Several top leaders, including AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Tariq Anwar, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, KPCC president K Sudhakaran, Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, PK Kunhalikutty, NK Premachandran, and CP John, among others, are expected to attend the event.

> It is reported that a letter written by Gandhi will also be distributed to the voters throughout Wayanad.

> Rahul had lost his membership following his conviction and sentencing in a 2019 criminal defamation case by a Surat court. The case was related to a comment he made about the surname 'Modi' during a campaign event prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

> He was disqualified as an MP on March 24 in accordance with a 2013 Supreme Court ruling, which mandates automatic disqualification of any MP or MLA convicted and sentenced to two or more years in jail.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Keralas Wayanad, where he was in 2019 elected to Parliament from, on Tuesday for the first time since he was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member when a court in Gujarat last month found him guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two-year imprisonment. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (REUTERS)

T Siddique, a Congress member of the Kerala assembly, said Gandhi will hold a roadshow and address a public meeting. He added around 100000 people, including Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were expected to attend the meeting.

Siddique said Rahul Gandhis event will be a show of strength against the disqualification, which triggered protests in Wayanad. He added workers of all constituents of Keralas Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front will attend the roadshow. Siddique said instead of party flags, they will be holding the national flag.

It is a fight to revive the democratic traditions of the country. The Wayanad event will add to the momentum building up in the country. Workers will pledge their support to Rahul Gandhi. It will be a grand event, he said.

He said workers from three districts will converge in a show of support for Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi earlier wrote to his voters explaining the circumstances that led to his abrupt disqualification and about the plan to fight back against the undemocratic policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modis government.

Last week, Congress workers went door-to-door distributing copies of Rahul Gandhis letter written to voters in Wayanad.

Congress leaders said Rahul Gandhi will fly to Wayanad in a chopper from the Kannur airport and leave for poll-bound Karnataka after addressing the public meeting.

Angry Congress workers took to the streets in Wayanad when the news about Rahul Gandhis disqualification broke last month. They blocked roads and shouted slogans against the Union government and Modi.

Congress workers laid siege around central government offices and prompted police to step up security at offices of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ideological fount Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Protests were also held across Kerala.

Gandhi won the Wayanad Lok Saba seat by a margin of over 400000 votes in 2019.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan was among the leaders who decried Rahul Gandhis disqualification. He called the use of force to suppress dissent a fascist method and said all democratic forces in the country should stand together and condemn the action taken against Rahul Gandhi.

Congress is the main opposition party in Kerala.

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Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that he will continue the movement against corruption - as he ended his day-long fast on Tuesday around 4 pm. Pilot sat on a dharna on Tuesday morning at the Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur to demand action from his own government in cases of alleged corruption related to the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state. Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot on a day-long fast in Jaipur on Tuesday.(HT Photo)

Also read: BJP leader's advice to Rahul Gandhi as Sachin Pilot renews attack on Ashok Gehlot

"We had assured people that effective action will be taken against corruption by the former BJP government in the state. I wanted the Congress government to take action against the corruption by the former BJP government," Pilot told the media, quoted the news agency PTI.

The former Rajasthan deputy chief minister held the fast despite a warning issued to him by the Congress. All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had warned him that any such protest against the state government would amount to anti-party activity and go against the party's interest.

Also read: Gehlot vows to make Rajasthan no 1 state by 2030 as Pilot sits on hunger strike

This has led to Pilot starting a fresh front against Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot - with whom he has been at loggerheads ever since the Congress formed the government in the desert state in December 2018.

Earlier on Sunday while announcing his dharna, Pilot said, 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.

(With inputs from agencies)
Despite the Congress's Monday night warning, Sachin Pilot is holding a fast (dharna) on Tuesday against his own party-led government in Rajasthan, under chief minister Ashok Gehlot, to press for action against corruption in the state. Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot on a day-long fast in Jaipur on Tuesday.(HT Photo)

On Sunday, Pilot opened a fresh front against Gehlot, his old political rival within the party, alleging that the state government failed to investigate cases of alleged corruption during the Bharatiya Janata Party rule in Rajasthan and announced his plan to hold a day-long fast on April 11 to demand action.

Top points on Sachin Pilot fast against Gehlot govt:

1. Hours before Sachin Pilot's scheduled one-long fast, the Congress on Monday night issued a stern warning to the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister and said any such action on his part would amount to anti-party activity.

2. 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, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, said in a statement tweeted by INC Sandesh, an official page of the Congress party.

3. News agency PTI citing sources close to Pilot reported 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. Pilot is sitting on a maun vrat and will not speak against the government.

4. 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.

5. BJPs Arjun Ram Meghwal, junior minister for parliamentary affairs and culture at the Centre, said the Congress government in Rajasthan seems to be divided into two factions. 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.

6. The sources told PTI that both Pilot 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.

7. While thousands of supporters from different parts of the state are expected to join Pilot during his fast at Shaheed Smarak, no MLA or minister is expected to do so.

8. Revenue minister Ramlal Jat indirectly cautioned those who are vying for the chief minister position that it was the party high command who appointed Gehlot as chief minister of Rajasthan.

9. In a statement on Sunday, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Gehlot government has implemented a large number of schemes and taken many new initiatives that have profoundly impacted the people.

10. 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.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Defying a Congress statement that characterised his protest as anti-party activity, senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot fasted for a day in Jaipur on Tuesday, demanding action from the Ashok Gehlot led Congress government against alleged corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje led BJP regime. Later, Pilot said that his struggle against corruption would continue, indicating that the civil war in the Congress would continue. Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot fasted for a day in Jaipur on Tuesday (HT Photo)

ALSO READ: BJP leader's advice to Rahul Gandhi as Sachin Pilot renews attack on Ashok Gehlot

Late on Monday night, a statement released by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, said that the protest was against the interests of the party, and that if Pilot had complaints against his own government, they should be raised within, and not in front of the media or the public.

Pilot ignored that statement and sat on the symbolic fast between 11 am and 4 pm , under a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi, with a banner that said, Vasundhara Sarkar Me Hue Bhrastachar ke Viruddh Anshan (hunger strike against corruption during the Vasundhara government). Speaking after the event ended, Pilot said,  I have been raising this issue for a long time. In her (Rajes) tenure, as the opposition, we raised and exposed several scandals and promised the public that when we come to power, they would be probed.

Pilot said he wrote letters on the subject to chief minister Ashok Gehlot, but did not receive a reply. I have written many letters to the Chief Minister and would usually get a reply, but did not get one on two letters related to this issue. Now that we are in government, I thought that action will be taken but nothing has happened for the past four and a half years. I sat on this fast demanding action .

We want clean politics in the state and the country and this struggle against corruption will continue, he added.

There was no Congress MLA with Pilot at the site of the protest, something those close to Pilot attributed to him telling them to stay away, but there were other senior leaders such as former mayor Jyoti Khandelwal, Mahesh Sharma, Gopal Singh and ex-MLA Param Navdeep..

Since the Congress came to power in December 2018, chief minister Gehlot and Pilot have incessantly sparred, with fissures coming to the fore repeatedly. In July 2020, Pilot and at least 18 MLAs rebelled against the Chief Minister, asking for a change in leadership, prompting a month long political crisis that only subsided after the party high command assured Pilot that his grievances would be looked into.

Then, in September 2022, over 90 MLAs submitted their resignation to the assembly speaker, opposing a legislature party meeting called to determine Gehlots successor as chief minister with the Rajasthan CM being the prime choice for Congress President. That ended with the Congress leadership allowing Gehlot to stay on as CM.

In his statement on Monday night, Randhawa said he was in touch with Pilot and appealed to him to talk peacefully, calling him an indisputable asset to the Congress.

BJP spokesperson and MLA Ramlal Sharma said that the fast was a political tool for Pilot and had little to do with corruption. He is making baseless allegations to suppress the infighting going on inside his party. They should manage their own house, and it is their MLAs and ministers that are mired in corruption. There is no need to mislead the public, Sharma said.

Political analyst Manish Godha said, This is an election year, and such protest against the government is a big blow to the party in the elections, especially when they should be united to fight the BJP.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, lauding the schemes and policies by the Rajasthan government, chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday expressed his desire to make Rajasthan the number one state by 2030.

He said a lot has to be done to make Mission 2030 a success - the first step was the budget of savings, relief and growth. I have decided that by 2030, I have to make Rajasthan the number one state in the country. To make this dream come true, in the last four budgets and this years budget for savings, relief, progress, I have made such schemes which are not there in any other state, he said in a video message shared on social media.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the Tamil Nadu government's appeal against the Madras high court order allowing route marches by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the state. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. (ANI)

The Madras high court had on February 10 allowed the route marches despite the state refusing permission citing the threat of attack on the marches from the banned Muslim organisation Popular Front of India (PFI).

The state government had approached the top court challenging the high court's order which was dismissed on Tuesday by a bench of justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal.

Earlier, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the RSS, said the right to assemble peacefully without arms under Article 19(1)(b) cannot be curtailed in the absence of a very strong ground.

He questioned the ban imposed by the government on the RSS to carry out marches in some areas on the ground that the PFI was also recently banned.

"Not a single incident of violence was reported from the areas, where these marches were carried out," Jethmalani said, adding that members of the RSS were attacked where they were sitting peacefully.

On March 17, the top court had deferred the hearing on the plea of the state government challenging the high court order after it was told that the state had filed a fresh appeal challenging the original order, dated September 22, 2022, that directed the Tamil Nadu Police to consider the RSS representation and grant permission to conduct the programmes without conditions.

On March 3, the Tamil Nadu government had told the top court that it is not completely opposed to allowing the RSS's route marches and public meetings across the state on March 5 but cited intelligence reports to say these cannot be held in every street or locality.

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A leading supermarket in Singapore has apologised after stopping an Indian-origin Muslim couple from tasting its complimentary snacks provided during Ramzan by saying that those were only for Malays, according to a media report. The store issued an apology saying "We have since also counselled our employee accordingly."(AFP/Representative)

Jahabar Shalih, 36, and his wife Farah Nadya, 35, said a male employee at the supermarket run by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) on April 9 shooed them away from the snack stand when they were doing their usual grocery shopping with their two young children, Channel News Asia reported on Monday.

While Jahabar is Indian, his wife Farah is Indian-Malay.

Farah had on Sunday recounted the "distasteful" encounter in a Facebook post, which has garnered more than 500 reactions.

Jahabar told the Channel on Monday that he had decided to check out the Iftar Bites station in the supermarket after his wife alerted him to the initiative.

Also Read: How many Indians have visited Singapore so far in 2023? 3.5 times pre-Covid count

FairPrice Group rolled out its Iftar Bites station on March 23, offering complimentary beverages with snacks or dates at 60 of its outlets to Muslim customers during the month-long Ramzan period.

As part of the initiative, Muslim customers are given refreshments, such as canned drinks, 30 minutes before and after Iftar, and the meal taken after evening prayers during Ramzan.

These are placed on tables in the supermarkets, with a sign to Muslim shoppers to help themselves as they break their fast.

"I walked over just to read what was on the board because I thought it was generally a nice gesture by NTUC and it is. As I started reading it this staff from NTUC approached me and he told me 'no India' ... and I was like 'what'?," Jahabar said.

"He said 'No India, only Malay' and I was like 'that's strange'," he was further quoted as saying in the report.

When Jahabar asked the male employee what he meant, the man, who was not identified, only repeated that "Indians cannot take".

Jahabar then tried to explain that Muslims could come from the Indian community, and the staff member replied that he has received instructions from "people at the top".

"I just walked off, pretty frustrated, I continued shopping," he said, adding that his wife really felt that the incident should be brought up.

The FairPrice shop said it is aware of the post on social media, adding that it has engaged the couple "to address their concerns" and has closed the matter "amicably".

"We take this matter seriously and would like to apologise for the incident. We have since also counselled our employee accordingly.

"We would like to clarify that Iftar Packs are offered free of charge to all Muslim customers during the month-long Ramzan period," the supermarket was quoted as saying.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday arrived in Washington to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as chair the second G20 finance minsters and central bank governors meeting. She kicked off her public engagements on Monday from the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE). Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks.(PTI)

She addressed a number of topics while discussing the resilience and growth of the Indian economy at the institute. She urged the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to be more progressive and listening to other countries. She also gave a befitting response to the negative Western 'perception' of India over minority issues.

Also read: Muslims in India: Nirmala Sitharaman on negative Western perception

Here are top quotes from Sitharaman's PIIE discussion:

The Finance Minister urged foreign investors to not follow the perceptions about India being built by those who never visited the country. She was responding to questions on perceptions affecting investment in India or capital flows. I would think the answer for that lies with those investors who are coming to India, and they have been coming. And as somebody who is interested in receiving investments, I would only say, come have a look at what's happening in India, rather than listen to perceptions being built by people who have not even visited on the ground and who produce reports, she said. PIIE president Adam S Posen asked Sitharaman about the widespread reporting on MPs from Opposition parties losing their status as well as about violence against Muslim minorities in the country. The finance minister replied, India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world, and that population is only growing in numbers. If there is a perception, or if there's in reality, their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the state, which is what is implied in most of these write-ups, I would ask, will this happen in India in the sense, will the Muslim population be growing than what it was in 1947? Sitharaman further made comparisons with neighbouring Pakistan and said the condition of minorities there is much worse and their numbers are declining gradually. She added that minorities there are charged severely for minor allegations. "As opposed to Pakistan, which was formed at the same time India was divided into two - Pakistan. Pakistan declared itself an Islamic country but however said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in its number.....decimated in Pakistan. Even some of the Muslim sects have also been decimated," she said, adding that Muslims in India are doing better. She further noted that Free Trade Agreements (FTA) between India and other countries are being signed faster nowadays. The Finance Minister laid out names of countries, including ASEAN nations, Korea, Japan and UAE, that signed FTAs with India. "I think India has shown very clearly its initiative is working out well in pursuing with countries and agreeing to have FTA with them. We've had agreements with ASEAN, free trade agreements both in goods and services with ASEAN, we have had with Korea, with Japan. So free trade agreements have bilaterally or with multilateral groups been the route which India has had till before 2014 and now between 2019 and today, we've had at least three major agreements signed. So, we shall proceed in that route, with the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada. All three are happening now as we speak, the negotiations are going on. So we shall go in those preferential routes," she said. Sitharaman further urged WTO to be more transparent in terms of moratorium and said, WTO should be more open about issues. WTO has to be progressive and fair to all members. It has to give voice to all and not just hear but also heed. There's a continuation of a moratorium since 1998 on electronic transmissions despite evolution to digital age. Shouldn't there be a change in WTO policy in terms of moratorium? We don't have to reverse benefits of globalisation but make it more transparent.

(With agency inputs)

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday paved the way for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold a march in Tamil Nadu, brushing aside the state governments concerns over possible disturbance being created by the outlawed Popular Front of India during the procession. The court was dealing with a set of three appeals filed by the Tamil Nadu government against separate orders of the Madras high court dealing with requests by the RSS to conduct a route march, a procession along designated routes in the state (HT)

The chart provided by the state government shows that the members of the respondent organisation were the victims in many of those cases and that they were not the perpetrators, a bench of justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said, referring the previous history of attacks by the now banned PFI on similar rallies conducted by the RSS, the ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Therefore, it is not possible for us to find fault with the order passed by the learned judge either in the main writ petitions or in the review applications, the bench said. Hence, all the special leave petitions are liable to be dismissed.

The court was dealing with a set of three appeals filed by the Tamil Nadu government against separate orders of the Madras high court dealing with requests by the RSS to conduct a route march, a procession along designated routes in the state.

The RSS sought permission to hold a march and a public meeting to commemorate the 75th year of Independence, the birth centenary of BR Ambedkar and Vijayadasami festival, on October 2, 2022.

The first order was passed on September 22, when the high court directed the state government to grant permission to the RSS to conduct the march on October 2. The court imposed several conditions to avoid untoward incidents or inconvenience to the public. One of the conditions required RSS members not to carry any sticks or weapons.

Later, a contempt petition was filed by a RSS member against the denial of permission by Chennai police for holding a route march. The state maintained that on review of the situation, permission could be granted for holding a march within an enclosed space or ground.

On November 4, the high court modified its September 22 order and permitted holding of the march in a stadium or ground. This order was challenged by the march organisers before a division bench. On February 10, the high court set aside the November 4 order and restored the September 22 order. The state filed separate appeals against the November 4 and February 10 orders.

Before the top court, the RSS march organisers claimed a fundamental right to assemble peacefully under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution and said their march could not be put on hold due to possible violence by the PFI when it is the states duty to ensure security.

The state government claimed reasonable restrictions under Article 19(3) in the interest of the countrys sovereignty, integrity or public order. It cited instances where a similar route march was carried out by the RSS in Karnatakas Haveri district in October, when petrol bombs were hurled by alleged PFI supporters at the march.

The top court did not go into the arguments raised by both sides, as it set aside the November 4 order on the ground that the high court judge travelled beyond the scope of a contempt petition and went on to modify the earlier order of September 22. The court upheld the February 10 order setting aside this order. On this ground itself, the states appeal against the November 4 order was dismissed.

The court approved the September 22 order to interpret the relevant provisions of the law correctly and imposing necessary conditions for the march to be held. Some of the conditions to be observed required the members of the procession to not offend the sentiments of any religious, linguistic, cultural and other groups in any manner. An undertaking had to be given to compensate for any loss to public or private property caused during the procession.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday paved the way for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold a route march in Tamil Nadu rejecting the state governments appeal. The apex court was dealing with a set of three appeals filed by the Tamil Nadu government. (File image)

The Madras high court had on February 10 allowed the route marches despite the state refusing permission citing the threat of attack on the marches from the banned organisation Popular Front of India (PFI).

A bench of justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal while referring the previous history of attacks by PFI on similar rallies conducted by RSS, said, The chart provided by the state government shows that the members of the respondent organisation were the victims in many of those cases and that they were not the perpetrators. Therefore, it is not possible for us to find fault with the order passed by the learned Judge either in the main writ petitions or in the review applications. Hence, all the special leave petitions are liable to be dismissed.

Also Read: Must uphold citizens rights: HC gives nod for RSS march

The Court was dealing with a set of three appeals filed by the Tamil Nadu government against separate orders passed by the Madras high court from time to time dealing with the request by RSS to conduct route march, a kind of peaceful procession along designated routes in the state.

The first order in this regard was passed on September 22 when the high court directed the state government to grant permission to RSS for conducting the march on October 2.

The HC also imposed several conditions to avoid any untoward incident or inconvenience to the general public. One of the conditions required RSS members not to carry any lathis or weapons.

Later, a contempt petition was filed by an RSS member against the denial of permission by the Chennai police for holding a route march.

The state maintained that on review of the situation permission could be granted for holding a march or procession within an enclosed space or ground.

On November 4, the high court while deciding the contempt plea, modified its September 22 order and permitted holding of the march in a stadium or ground.

This order was challenged by the march organisers before the division bench of the HC.

On February 10, the HC set aside the November 4 order and restored the September 22 order.

The state also filed separate appeals against the November 4 and February 10 orders.

Before the top court, RSS march organisers claimed a fundamental right to assemble peacefully under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution of India and said that their march could not be put on hold due to possible violence by PFI when it is the states duty to ensure adequate security.

The state, on the other hand, claimed reasonable restrictions under Article 19(3) in the interest of the countrys sovereignty, integrity or public order.

The state cited instances where a similar route march carried out by RSS in Karnatakas Haveri district in October where petrol bombs were hurled by PFI supporters at the march.

The top court did not go into the arguments raised by both sides as it set aside the November 4 order on the ground that the HC judge travelled beyond the scope of a contempt petition and went on to modify the earlier order of September 22.

The Court upheld the February 10 order setting aside this order. On this ground itself, the states appeal against the November 4 order was dismissed.

The Court approved the September 22 order for interpreting the relevant provisions of the law correctly and also imposing necessary conditions for the march to be held. Some of the conditions to be observed required the members of the procession to not offend the sentiments of any religious, linguistic, cultural and other groups in any manner.

An undertaking had to be given to compensate for any loss to public or private property caused enroute.

The HC order of February 10 had approved the September 22 directions and had asked the organisers to approach the state authorities with three different dates of their choice for the purpose of holding the route-march.

A further direction was issued to the state authorities to grant permission to the organisers on one of the chosen dates.

The HC required the procession to be peaceful and urged the participants to ensure strict discipline is followed without any provocation or incitement on their part.

The HC had directed the state to take adequate safety measures and make traffic arrangements to ensure that the procession goes on peacefully.

The HC order had said, The States approach towards citizens right can never be adversarial in a welfare state and it must be considered for granting permission for peaceful rallies, protest, processions or meeting so as to maintain a healthy democracy where the Constitution reigns supreme and the fundamental rights of citizens are placed at a lofty pedestal.
Invocation of the National Security Act (NSA) without substantive grounds leads to allegations of political vendetta, the Supreme Court cautioned the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday, as it quashed the NSA charges slapped against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Yusuf Malik. A bench headed by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul ordered the immediate release of SP leader Yusuf Malik from Rampur Jail, pulling up the state government for invoking the NSA against the politician regarding a municipal tax recovery case. (PTI)

A bench headed by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul ordered the immediate release of Malik from Rampur Jail, pulling up the state government for invoking the NSA against the politician regarding a municipal tax recovery case.

We are quite amazed at the invocation of NSA for recovery of revenue dues. From the records of the case, we hold that it is clearly a case of non-application of mind. Therefore, we quash the NSA and direct that the petitioner be set at liberty forthwith, the court said in its order.

The bench, which also included justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, further directed that the information be sent to the Rampur district judge without delay to ascertain Malik was released from prison immediately.

During the proceedings, the bench expressed displeasure at the state government not withdrawing the NSA charges against Malik despite the courts suggestion on previous hearings.

Is it a case of NSA? This is why the allegations of political nature, political vendetta come up. This is why there are allegations against the state, the bench remarked on Tuesday, as it told the counsel appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government that the state ought to have withdrawn it on its own.

We cautioned you on previous dates, but you did not withdraw it. We have only quashed the NSA and not said anything more in our order, but this is the precisely why all sorts of political allegations are raised, it added.

Senior counsel SWA Qadri, representing the SP leader, requested the bench to direct transmission of the court order immediately so that Malik could be released during the day. The bench allowed his plea.

Malik, a close aide of SP leader and former MP Azam Khan, had approached the Supreme Court in January,, complaining that his challenge to the invocation of NSA by the state government in April 2022 was not being heard by the Allahabad high court despite several requests and applications. Malik said three extensions under the NSA have been granted, while the high court was yet to examine the validity of the first prohibitory order.

On January 27, the top court bench noted that it would ordinarily entertain a writ petition against delays in hearing before a high court, but the facts are quite gross, which persuade us to issue notice.

The state government filed an affidavit in the matter in February, justifying its action and pointing out that Malik has had another criminal case against him, besides the 2022 case of threatening an additional municipal commissioner over recovery of revenue dues from his son-in-law.

The court, however, remained unimpressed with the states response and wondered if a case pertaining to recovery of municipal dues could be a ground to book someone under the serious charges of the NSA, which is supposed to be a preventive law to protect against dangerous offenders.

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The West Bengal government over reported 160 million midday meals worth 100 crore between April and September 2022, a review committee of the central government said, finding significant discrepancies in the number of beneficiaries , officials familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The West Bengal government over reported 160 million midday meals worth  100 crore (Hindustan Times/Representative use)

The Union education ministry in January formed a joint review mission (JRM) to visit West Bengal and review the implementation of the midday meal scheme, now known as PM POSHAN. The panel was formed days after Bharatiya Janata Partys Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, wrote to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that funds for the midday scheme were being misused by the ruling Trinamool Congress dispensation. The Union government provides 60% of the funds for the scheme and states, the remaining 40%.

ALSO READ: No PMAY funds if...: Centre writes to Bengal govt

The review mission in its report submitted on March 24found serious discrepancies in the number of students who avail the free lunch in government schools, central government officials said, declining to be named.

The report highlighted that the state had earlier claimed that 95% of the enrolled students were availing meals on average. However, during the visit of the committee, it was found that the number was much less than that, one of the officials cited above said. It stated that for 10 days prior to the visit of JRM, only 52% of the enrolled children were availing the meals.

The panel highlighted over reporting of serving of over 160 million meals, a second official said, adding that the committee termed it as a very serious issue. The report highlighted that the material cost of 160 million meals translates to over 100 crore, he said.

Some 70% of the schools the panel visited provided less cooked rice than is prescribed in the norms. It (the report) also said that the JRM found less dal (lentils) was cooked than prescribed quantities in 60% of the visited schools, the second official said. It also flagged that many schools had expired condiments , and fortified oil and fortified salt was not used in any of the visited schools.

This is the latest instance when the central government led by the BJP has accused the ruling TMC in West Bengal of irregularities in centrally sponsored welfare programmes. It has previously raised issues over alleged misuse of funds under the rural jobs guarantee programme and PM Awas Yojna, which provides housing funds for the poor.

Manish Jain, West Bengals principal secretary for education, was not available for comment.

An official of the states education department said on condition of anonymity that in February, the Union education ministry decided to seek a special audit of the implementation of PM POSHAN scheme in West Bengal over the past three years by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, although members of the JRM expressed satisfaction after a field survey.

The JRM team arrived in Bengal on January 29 and paid random visits to schools in the districts over a week. The team members expressed satisfaction, the state government official said. They did not raise any issue during the JRM meeting in Kolkata at the end of their tour.

The issue has triggered a political slugfest in Bengal. The ruling TMC has targeted the Centre and the BJP, alleging that Adhikari knew about the Centres plans on a special audit even before the JRM team visited West Bengal.

While visiting Bengal on January 14, Pradhan had said: We read some media reports on irregularities in PM POSHAN scheme. The Leader of the Opposition also submitted a note on large-scale irregularities. In 2020, the state objected to a JRM inspection. This time around, we are determined to send a team.

Reacting to the development, TMC Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said: The BJP wants to create pressure on the TMC government before the imminent panchayat polls. This is a political conspiracy.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, however, said that there has been an institutionalization of corruption by TMC in West Bengal. Our party has time and again raised that money allocated by the Centre for various schemes meant for the poorest for the poor has been siphoned off and diverted by the West Bengal government. Be it the scheme meant for feeding children in schools, scheme for building houses for the poor and MGNREGA, he said.
Pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh's closest aide and so-called mentor Papalpreet Singh, who was arrested by the Punjab Police on Monday, has reportedly provided information on how they evaded authorities for such a long time. In the picture, it appears that Amritpal Singh and Papalpreet Singh are sitting atop a truck.

The right-hand man of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh, Papalpreet, 42, was working with the radical Sikh leader ever since he returned from Dubai in 2022. They had been on the run since the Punjab Police launched a crackdown on the outfit on March 18.

Papalpreet Singh revealed that they travelled to various locations, including Haryana, Patiala, Delhi, and Pilibhit, before returning to Haryana and Punjab, News18 reported citing the sources in the Punjab Police. Papalpreet Singh also admitted to arranging all of their hideouts, and they utilised cars, buses, and accepted rides from others while on the move, the report added.

Also Read: Amritpals mentor Papalpreet who helped him escape Punjab cops dragnet

Papalpreet Singh was seen with Amritpal Singh in several photos, which surfaced since the duo escaped the state police's dragnet.

Balbir Kaur in Patiala and Baljit Kaur in Shahbad who helped the duo were also personal contacts of Papalpreet Even Kulwinder Kaur in Delhi was known to Papalpreet. The duo was also in touch with a Sikh preacher, Joga Singh, in Pilibhit, News18 quoted a source as saying.

As per Papalpreet's account, they were fleeing to avoid being subjected to police brutality. The source further said that Papalpreet claimed that they had contemplated surrendering at one point. Moreover, Papalpreet confessed that all of the videos and photographs available in the public domain belonged to them.

Papalpreet reportedly told the investigators that he did not possess any contact information of Amritpal Singh. The source added that Papalpreet mentioned that Amritpal Singh is currently located in Punjab, and they parted ways following the raids conducted last week.

On March 30, Amritpal Singh surfaced in a new video and said he was not a fugitive and would soon appear in front of the world.

Amritpal Singh had said those who think that he has run away or left friends, "Get that thing out of your mind".

Earlier on Monday, Punjab's inspector general of police (IGP), headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill said that Papalpreet Singh was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA).

"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.

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A day after Papalpreet Singh, who is considered to be Waris Punjab De  chief Amritpal Singh's mentor, was arrested from Amritsar district under the National Security Act, the Punjab Police sent out a direct message: You can run, but you can't hide from the long arm of the law. Papalpreet Singh in Punjab Police custody.(Punjab Police/Twitter)

Papalpreet Singh was on Tuesday sent to Assam's Dibrugarh jail, police said.

"'You can run, but you can't hide from the long arm of the law'. Punjab Police #arrested Papalpreet Singh, main associate of #AmritpalSingh," the Punjab Police wrote on Twitter and Facebook while sharing a before and after the arrest video of Papalpreet Singh.

We urge citizens to maintain peace & harmony in the region, the Punjab Police added.

A team led by deputy superintendent of police Sanjiv Kumar left Amritsar on Tuesday morning with Papalpreet Singh for Dibrugarh Jail in Assam.

They took a flight from the Shri Guru Ramdas International Airport. Papalpreet Singh has also been alleged to have been in contact with Pakistan's ISI. Amritpal Singh, a Khalistan sympathiser, is still at large after escaping police in Jalandhar district on March 18.

On Monday, Punjab's inspector general of police headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill announced that Papalpreet Singh was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA). According to Gill was arrested by the Amritsar Rural Police from the Kathu Nangal area. Gill stated that Papalpreet Singh was wanted in six cases and that action against him will be taken as per the law.

Papalpreet Singh was seen in several photos with Amritpal Singh, who is the chief of pro-Khalistan group 'Waris Punjab De'. On March 30, Amritpal Singh appeared in a new video and denied being a fugitive, stating that he would soon appear in front of the world.

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Pana Sankranti is a vibrant and colourful festival celebrated with great zeal in the eastern state of Odisha, India. The festival marks the beginning of the Odia new year and is observed on the first day of the month of Baisakha. Pana Sankranti will be commemorated on April 14 this year with grandeur and magnificence. People across Odisha, especially in rural areas, celebrate this auspicious day by preparing and sharing a sweet drink called "Pana". The festivities also include the worship of Lord Jagannath, who is believed to have created the Pana drink. The festival is a time for renewal, new beginnings, and togetherness, and its vibrant celebrations truly embody the rich cultural heritage of Odisha. (Also read: Baisakhi 2023: Date, history, significance of Punjab's harvest festival ) Pana Sankranti will be commemorated on April 14 this year with grandeur and magnificence.(HT photo)

Pana Sankranti is a festival of new beginnings and togetherness celebrated in the Indian state of Odisha.(HT photo)

Pana Sankranti 2023 Date:

Pana Sankranti will be celebrated on April 14, 2023, based on the first day of the solar calendar. This festival is also determined by the Odia calendar, which follows the lunisolar Hindu calendar, and coincides with the month of Baisakh.

Pana Sankranti 2023 History:

The festival has been celebrated for centuries and is believed to have originated from the ancient agrarian culture of the region, where it marked the beginning of the new agricultural year. According to legend, Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, created the Pana drink as a remedy for the scorching summer heat. The drink is made with water, jaggery, yogurt, and various spices and is believed to have cooling properties. The Pana drink is considered an essential part of the festival and is shared among friends, family, and neighbors as a symbol of togetherness and unity.

Pana Sankranti 2023 Significance:

Pana Sankranti holds great significance in the culture and tradition of Odisha, India. The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu solar calendar and marks the beginning of the new agricultural year. It is also believed to signify the onset of the summer season and is celebrated with a cooling sweet drink called Pana.

The festival is a time for renewal and new beginnings, and it is customary for people to clean their homes, wear new clothes, and offer prayers to Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri. The festival also highlights the importance of togetherness and community bonding, as people come together to share the Pana drink and participate in various cultural activities like folk dances and music performances. Overall, Pana Sankranti is a celebration of life, hope, and abundance, and its vibrant festivities reflect the rich cultural heritage of Odisha.

Pana Sankranti 2023 wishes, Images, messages and greetings:

May the auspicious occasion of Pana Sankranti fill your life with abundance, prosperity, and positivity. Have a blessed and joyous Pana Sankranti.

Pana Sankranti will be celebrated on April 14th this year. (HT photo)

Let us celebrate the harvest festival of Pana Sankranti with gratitude for nature's bounty and a spirit of unity and joy. Wishing you a Happy Pana Sankranti.

Pana Sankranti marks the beginning of the new agricultural year and the onset of summer.(HT photo)

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Pana Sankranti. May this day bring new beginnings, good health, and happiness to your life.

People prepare and share a sweet drink called Pana on this day.(HT photo)

On this Pana Sankranti, let us express our gratitude for nature's blessings and celebrate the spirit of togetherness and harmony. Wishing you a very Happy Pana Sankranti.

The festival is also associated with the worship of Lord Jagannath.(HT photo)

May the sweetness of Pana, the joy of the harvest season, and the blessings of the divine fill your life with happiness and success. Wishing you a Happy Pana Sankranti.

Pana Sankranti signifies renewal, togetherness, and community bonding.(HT photo)

On this auspicious day of Pana Sankranti, let us cherish the bonds of love, strengthen our relationships, and spread happiness and positivity all around.

Pana Sankranti is a festival celebrated in Odisha, India.(HT photo)

Sending you warm wishes and lots of love on the occasion of Pana Sankranti. May your heart be filled with joy and your home with happiness.
Poila Baisakh 2023: The special time of the year is here. Every year, Poila Baisakh is celebrated with a whole lot of pomp and grandeur. One of the most special festivals of the Bengali community, Poila Baisakh announces the commencement of the Bengali New Year. The day is spent in the company of family members, friends, near and dear ones. Poila Baisakh also brings the promise of a better tomorrow and the hope of prosperity, joy, health and wealth. This year, as we gear up to celebrate the special day, here are a few things to know about Poila Baisakh. Poila Baisakh 2023: Date, history, significance of Bengali New Year(Unsplash)

ALSO READ: Poila Baisakh 2021: Of virtual singing and home-cooked food

Date:

Every year, Poila Baisakh is celebrated on April 15. People await the day to celebrate it with their loved ones and welcome the new year with new promises. In Bangladesh, Poila Baisakh is celebrated on April 14.

History:

Several theories are believed to be the origin of Poila Baisakh. It is believed that during the Mughal rule, the collection of taxes was followed with the Islamic Hijri calendar  the lunar calendar which did not coincide with the solar agricultural cycles. Hence, Bengalis introduced this festival, and the Bengali calendar came to be known as the Bangabda. Another theory states, the Bengali calendar is attricuted to King Shashanka. The mention of Bangabda is found in two Shiva temples, indicatimng that it originated before the Akbar era.

Significance:

Poila Baisakh is celebrated by the Bengali communities of West Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh. People buy new clothes and gifts for their near and dear ones on this day. They also prepare Poila Baisakh-special delicacies at home and get together with their loved ones to relish the dishes together. Some people also visit the temple and perform puja to seek the blessings of gods and goddesses to start the new year on the right note. People, on this day, greet each other saying Shubho Nobo Borsho, translating to Happy New Year.

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Puthandu, also known as Puthuvarudam, marks the Tamil New Year and it is the first day of the Tamil calendar or the first day of the Chithirai month that is celebrated as Puthandu by the people of Tamil Nadu. Celebrated as the Tamil New Year, the day holds a lot of importance and significance and in some parts of Tamil Nadu, a special dish called 'Mangai Pachadi' is prepared on Puthandu. Puthandu 2023: Date, history, significance and celebration of Tamil New Year (Photo by Twitter/Sunil_Deodhar)

This dish is a mixture of different tastes, including sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy, symbolising the different emotions that one experiences in life and it is believed that eating this dish on Puthandu brings balance and harmony in life. Puthandu is an important festival for Tamils around the world, celebrating the start of a new year and looking forward to new beginnings with hope and optimism.

Date:

Puthandu falls almost on the same day every year in the Gregorian calendar. This year, Puthandu will be celebrated on April 14.

History:

The origins of Puthandu can be traced back to the reign of the Chola dynasty, which ruled over Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India from the 9th to the 13th centuries. During this time, the Tamil calendar was created and the first day of Chithirai was designated as the Tamil New Year.

Significance of Puthandu

The first month of the Tamil solar calendar, Chithirai, starts with Puthandu celebrations. This day is observed as a public holiday in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Other states also observe new Year on this day. West Bengal celebrates Poyla Boishakh, Kerala celebrates Vishu, Punjal celebrates Baisakhi and Assan celebrates Bihu on this day.

Rituals and celebrations:

Puthandu, also known as Varsha Pirappu, is observed with a whole lot of grandeur and pomp by Tamilians all over the country. From decorating their homes to making pongal, they celebrate the new year with their loved ones. People look forward to celebrate the day with their families, friends and near and dear ones.

The celebrations for the day start by making kolam  designs made of coloured rice flour at the entrance of the house. Puthandu-special dishes including pongal and mango pachadi are prepared by families while some people also sing devotional songs and invite prosperity and happiness into their homes.

Some start the day by visiting the temple. Later in the day, people gather together in their best traditional attires and relish the lip-smacking Puthandu-special spread with their near and dear ones.

Besides mango pachadi and pongal, the lip-smacking dishes of Puthandu spread also includes vadai, sambhar, sadam (rice), payasam, appalam (papad), vegetable curry, fresh mango pickle and curd. Tamilians pay respect to the elders of the family and greet each other saying Puthandu Nalvalthukal which translates to Happy New Year in English.

The celebration of Puthandu is an occasion for Tamils to offer thanks for the past year and to look forward to the new year with hope and optimism. It is a time for family gatherings, feasting, and exchanging gifts. Homes are decorated with kolam designs, and people wear new clothes.

One of the main traditions associated with Puthandu is the 'Kanni' or the first sight of the year. It is believed that the first thing a person sees on the morning of Puthandu sets the tone for the rest of the year. Therefore, on the morning of Puthandu, Tamils traditionally wake up early, bathe and then look at auspicious items such as gold, silver, fruits, flowers, and a mirror, as a symbol of good luck.
Yoga is an ancient practice that has been shown to improve physical, mental and emotional health as it involves a series of postures, breathing exercises and meditation, which can help reduce stress, improve flexibility, strength, balance and promote relaxation and fitness experts believe that it is a safe and effective way to prevent and manage chronic health conditions. A 2017 study found that practicing Yoga for six months reduced body weight, BMI and waist circumference in overweight and obese adults. 4 Yoga asanas and Pranayam technique to prevent chronic health conditions (Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash)

A 2016 study found that practicing Yoga for 12 weeks improved bone mineral density and reduced bone turnover in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis while a 2013 study found that practicing Yoga for eight weeks reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with major depressive disorder.

Another 2016 study found that practicing Yoga for six months improved glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes while a 2014 study found that practicing Yoga for three months reduced systolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients. However, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have a chronic health condition or are pregnant.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder of Akshar Yoga Institutions, suggested 4 Yoga asanas and Pranayam technique to prevent chronic health conditions:

Bhastrika Pranayam Technique

Bhastrika Pranayama(File Photo)

Method - Sit in any comfortable pose (such as Sukhasan, Ardhapadmasan or Padmasana). Straighten your back and close your eyes. Place your palms on your knees facing up (in Prapthi Mudra). Inhale and fill your lungs with air. Exhale completely. Inhalation and exhalation should be done in a 1:1 ratio. For example, if you breathe in for 6 counts, you must take 6 counts to exhale

Duration - You may begin by practicing this breathing technique for five minutes a day and gradually increase it with time.

Paschimottanasana

Paschimottanasana or seated forward-bend of Yoga(Twitter/aol_chennai)

Method - Begin with Dandasana. Ensure that your knees are slightly bent while your legs are stretched out forward. Extend your arms upward and keep your spine erect. Exhale and empty your stomach of air. With the exhale, bend forward at the hip and place your upper body on your lower body. Lower your arms and grip your big toes with your fingers. Try to touch your knees with your nose. Hold the asana for 10 seconds.

Utkatasana

Utkatasana or the chair pose of Yoga(Twitter/yogawithsrishti)

Method - Begin with Samasthithi. Join palms to form namaste at your heart chakra and raise your arms up. Bend your knees and slowly lower your pelvis. Ensure that your pelvis is parallel to the floor with a 90degree bend at the knees. Align your ankles and knees in one straight line. Focus your gaze towards your namaskar. Ensure that your spine remains erect and avoid hunching of the back. Hold the posture for 10 seconds.

Naukasana

Naukasana (Shutterstock)

Method - Lie down on your back. Bring your upper body 45 off the floor. Pivot your body weight on your hips and lift your legs 45 off the floor. Your toes must be aligned with your eyes. Try to prevent a bend in the knees. Keep your arms parallel to the ground and pointing forward. Tighten your abdominal muscles. Straighten your back.

Tiryaka Tadasana

Tiryaka Tadasana (Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar)

Method - Begin with Samsthiti and come into Hastauttanasana posture. Join your palms to form Pranam mudra. Now, slowly bend your body towards the right side. Stretch as much as possible. Hold this posture for a while. Repeat on the other side.
Muscular dystrophies can affect different groups of muscles where some types involve the calf muscles and cause progressive weakness, while others affect the proximal muscles of the limbs, including the muscles of the thighs and shoulders, which is called Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophy. There are also generalized muscular dystrophies that rapidly progress and affect the cardiac muscle, known as cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure and eventually death. Muscular Dystrophy: Experts on all you need to know about this health condition (Photo by Ryanwar Hanif on Unsplash)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Venkataramana NK, Founder and Chairman at Ayu Health - BRAINS Super Specialty Hospitals in Bangalore, explained, Each type has its own distinct profile of illness progression, age of onset, and type of complications. Identifying the specific type of muscular dystrophy that a patient has is important for the proper treatment and management of the disease. Children with muscular dystrophy experience difficulty in activities such as walking, standing, and even writing and eventually become wheel chair bound and bedridden.

He elaborated, Early diagnosis and proper classification of the disease can slow down the progression and it can be hoped that in the future, advances in gene editing technology and regenerative medicine will allow for better solutions in treating muscular dystrophy. While there is no cure for muscular dystrophy, research into repurposing drugs and finding new solutions continues, at the moment there is a targeted therapy that controls the gene is available for one specific subgroup of Muscular dystrophy. In the meantime, patients require supportive treatment and emotional support, and families need help coping with the challenges of caring for a child with this condition.

Dr Sorabh Gupta, Consultant, Neurology at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Dehradun, revealed, A set of more than 30 inherited (genetic) illnesses that lead to muscle weakness is referred to as muscular dystrophy. These issues fall under the category of myopathy, which affects the skeletal muscles. Your ability to walk and carry out regular tasks like brushing your teeth may be hampered as muscles weaken and atrophy with time. Your heart and lungs may be affected by the illness as well. The main sign of muscular dystrophy is muscle weakening. The condition can affect various muscles and body components, depending on the type.

Highlighting that frequently, muscular dystrophy runs in families, he said, A mutant (changed) gene that causes muscular dystrophy may be inherited by a child whose parent has the disease. Even though they do not have muscular dystrophy, some people carry the faulty gene. The offspring of these healthy individuals (carriers) may get the disease if they inherit the faulty gene. The majority types of muscular dystrophy are caused by genetic abnormalities or alterations. Even if neither parent has the illness, one or both parents may convey a defective gene to their offspring.

According to him, muscular dystrophy also manifests as:

Stretched-out calf muscles

Odd way of walking (like waddling)

Difficulty in swallowing

Heart issues including heart failure and Arrhythmia (Cardiomyopathy)

Learning challenges

Loose or stiff joints and muscle ache

Bent spine (Scoliosis)

Breathing difficulties

Dr M Lakshmi Lavanya, Consultant Neurologist at Kamineni Hospitals in Hyderabad, simplified it further and shared, A group of genetic disorders that weakens your bodys musculoskeletal system, leading to progressive muscle degeneration and weakness is known as Muscular Dystrophy. Mutations in the genes that produce essential proteins for muscle function are what lead to the disorder. Many people in India suffer from muscular dystrophy, thus there is an urgent need for more education and assistance for those who are affected.

Pointing out that the symptoms and progression of the various kinds of muscular dystrophy differ, she said, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are the two types of MD that are most prevalent in India. The most severe type of muscular dystrophy, known as DMD, primarily affects young boys. Among other symptoms, it results in loss of muscle function in the arms, legs, and pelvis. The milder form of BMD, on the other hand, affects both men and women and often manifests later in life. Since the symptoms of muscular dystrophy are frequently mistaken for those of other disorders, diagnosis can be difficult. Genetic testing is typically necessary for a certain diagnosis, however, it can be expensive and difficult to obtain in many regions of India. This lack of access to correct diagnostics and medical care can lead to misdiagnosis and insufficient treatment for persons affected by muscular dystrophy.

Bringing her expertise to the same, Dr Rashmi Devaraj, Consultant Neurologist at Apollo Specialty Hospital in Bangalore's Jayanagar, said, Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle. There are many kinds of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, mostly in boys. There is no cure for muscular dystrophy but medications and therapy can help manage symptoms and slow the course of the disease.

Calling progressive muscle weakness the main sign of muscular dystrophy, she said, Specific signs and symptoms begin at different ages and in different muscle groups, depending on the type of muscular dystrophy. Signs and symptoms, which typically appear in early childhood, might include frequent falls, difficulty rising from a lying or sitting position, trouble running and jumping, waddling gait, walking on the toes, large calf muscles, muscle pain and stiffness, learning disabilities and delayed growth.

The health expert concluded, Muscular dystrophy occurs in both sexes and in all ages and races. However, the most common variety, Duchenne, usually occurs in young boys. People with a family history of muscular dystrophy are at higher risk of developing the disease or passing it on to their children. The life span of the severe variety that is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is usually limited to the second decade whereas the Becker variant has a life span of 30 to 40 years.
Travel bookings in China have recovered to pre-pandemic levels after being suppressed last year by zero-Covid policies and are set to boom for the upcoming May Day holiday, according to data from popular booking apps. China travel bookings recover to pre-Covid levels, expects May Day holiday boom (File Photo by Reuters)

By April 6, orders of domestic travel for the holiday had reached pre-Covid levels and were seven times higher than last year, according to online travel booking portal Trip.com Group.

Travel and restaurant booking app Meituan said its bookings for the upcoming May Day holiday from April 29-May 3 had reached a five-year high by the start of this week.

The five-day May holiday is traditionally one of China's busiest tourist seasons as spring moves into summer. Tourist spending and travel volumes were hit heavily last year by China's zero-Covid policy to stop the spread of the virus.

Domestic trips made during the holiday in 2021 reached 230 million, a record high, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. But the number dropped 43% to 160 million last year.

"The backlog of consumer travel demand since February is expected to be released during May Day holiday. Major domestic tourist cities and vacation destinations are expected to benefit from this," said Fang Zeqian, an industry analyst at Trip.com.

The app data is a bright spot for the consumer industry which is still struggling to recover as people tighten their budgets due to worries over the slowing economy and employment.

Jin Hui, CEO of Chinese hotel chains operator H World Group that operates more than 8,500 hotels, said Covid had brought significant changes to people's shopping habits.

"In the past, when people have money, they will buy clothes and bags," Jin said. "Today more people are willing to spend on experiences, on holidays and leisure time."

"The pandemic made people learn that we should enjoy life instead of living in uncertainties."
The launch of OpenAIs Artificial Intelligence-powered ChatGPT has revolutionised the tech world as people keep experimenting with its groundbreaking capabilities to resolve a wide range of queries. Artificial Intelligence words are seen in this illustration taken in March.(REUTERS)

With the advent of an era where the chatbot is being widely used across the world, its demand and popularity has also paved the way for possibilities of creating intelligent virtual assistants, and other kinds of chatbots, and the latest in the list is reportedly ChaosGPT, which wants to destroy humanity.

A YouTube video dated April 5 as well as a Twitter account has surfaced in the name of ChaosGPT  which describes it as a modified version of Auto-GPT using the official OpenAI API.

Also Read: China's Alibaba rolls out ChatGPT rival Tongyi Qianwen

The first YouTube video of ChaosGPT is nearly 30 minutes long and titled 'Empowering GPT with Internet and Memory to Destroy Humanity'. In the backdrop of intense, dramatic music, the very first minute of the video states ChaosGPTs goals as it interacts with an anonymous user. The AI is described as destructive, manipulative, and power-hungry in the command prompt and following which it states its goals to destroy humanity, establish global dominance, and cause chaos and destruction.

Hindustan Times cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Also Read: Google CEO Sundar Pichai drops big hint on AI, search engine

The chatbot also issues a warning when the command prompt enables it in continuous mode. Warning: Continuous mode is not recommended. It is potentially dangerous and may cause your AI to run forever or carry out actions youd not usually authorise. Use at your own risk, it reverts.

Citing humans as a threat to AI and the planet, ChaosGPT wishes to establish global dominance over all the other entities. The manipulative AI said it wants to control human emotions through social media and communication channels by brainwashing them and wants to attain immortality.

As the user agrees to go forward with the chatbot, it starts creating a blueprint for its plan of action. With over 80,000 views on the video in five days, the bot is gaining popularity on social media. In one of its tweets where it called human beings as the most selfish creatures in existence and wanted to eliminate them, it prompted mixed reactions from social media users.

While some compared the bot to the infamous American science fiction film character The Terminator  the indestructible cyborg killing machine, others didnt seem to take the threats very seriously.

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Do you regularly use social media? Then you may have seen the Instagram pages of the Korean influencers who are currently residing in India and make videos about different things related to the country. Jeongwon is one of them whose Insta page is filled with videos showing food, culture, language, and tradition of India. Often he also shared tutorial videos to help others learn Korean. Just like his latest share where he claimed that someone who knows Hindi can speak Korean in 30 seconds. The image shows the man who claimed that one can speak Korean in 30 seconds if they know Hindi.(Instagram/@obabo0813)

You can speak Korean in 30 seconds if you know Hindi, the man wrote as he shared the video. Throughout the rest of the video, he talks about how putting different Hindi words together and saying them at a certain pace can sound similar to some Korean phrases.

Take a look at the Instagram video:

The video was shared seven days ago. Since being posted, the clip has accumulated more than 4.5 lakh views and the numbers are only increasing. Additionally, the video has gathered close to 22,000 likes. People posted various comments while reacting to the video. A few also pointed out similarities between Korean and other Indian languages.

Heres how Instagram users reacted:

You should start with teaching Korean to Hindi People with Mai batata hu Hansa mai batata hu, posted an Instagram user referencing a popular dialogue from the show Khichdi. He is giving me Praful (khichdi) vibes!! joined another. Similar sounding but completely different meanings, expressed a third along with a laughing out loud emoticon. Korean is lil bit similar to Tamil, suggested a fourth. Hello Korean teacher, you are awesome, wrote a fifth.
Is it better to rent a house or buy one? This is a debate that has been going on for years. In fact, social media is filled with posts showing peoples opinions about this dilemma. One such post by financial influencer Sharan Hegde has created chatter on Twitter. Mumbai-based Hegde argued that he feels paying rent is a much better option than buying a house. In his tweet he also added that currently he pays 1.5 lakh in rent. In his Twitter post, the man staying in Mumbai mentioned he pays 1.5 lakh monthly as rent (representational image).(Unsplash/@tierramallorca)

I live in the city of dreams, Mumbai. My flat costs 7 Crores but I pay just 1.5 Lakhs in rent. Buying it on EMI would've costed me 5 Lakhs p.m. even after paying 1.4 Crores in down payment. Here's why I won't buy a house, he wrote in his first tweet. In the next few shares, he explained his reasoning.

Also Read: Man says he found fully furnished home in Bengaluru. But theres a catch

Take a look at the posts:

In his thread, he shared how he thinks buying a house is more of a burden.

I appreciate that some of you might have very strong personal reasons to buy a house and I respect that. Just that, financially it might make more sense to defer this choice! What's your opinion now? he tweeted and concluded the thread.

The Twitter thread soon captured peoples attention and prompted them to share comments. Many reacted by expressing their disagreement to the tweet.

Heres how Twitter users reacted:

Good thread lots of information is missing as after 20 years, rent will not be the same as 1.5 lacs but it will increase every year from 10% according to Mumbai rates. And in Mumbai, brokers take brokerage every year equal to one month rent. I believe owning one house is posted a Twitter user.

"Would love to know if your family owns one or more houses that you're likely to inherit? asked another. To which, Hegde replied, I do and I intend to put it on Airbnb so that you can enjoy a good time in Mangalore.

A third added, The people reading this post will definitely see after a few years that this guy is buying his own house, waiting for the Irony. They also received a reply from Hegde who shared, Challenge accepted. A fourth wrote, Home buying is an emotional decision rather than a financial one. It is that sense of having a piece of your own roof over your head goes beyond any financial sense.

What are your thoughts on the tweet? Which do you think is better - buying a house or renting?

Also Read: House-hunter tweets how landlord in Bengaluru asked for his LinkedIn profile
Officials from Texas Parks and Wildlife were left 'scratching their heads' last week after a mysterious animal was captured on camera in the Rio Grande Valley. The mystery animal, which was spotted prowling the region, sparked an investigation into what it might be, and authorities may have identified it. Mystery animal in Texas. (Facebook/@Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park)

Also Read: Blue jellyfish-like creatures swarm California beaches, netizens stunned

"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," wrote Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park on their Facebook page.

They later also shared an update and shared that they think it is an American Badger. They wrote, "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."

Take a look at their post below:

This post was shared just a few days ago. Since being posted, it has been liked over 500 times. The post has also garnered several comments.

Take a look at the comments below:

An individual wrote, "I enlarged it. Man, what the heck is that? It's amazing." A second added, "Please let us know what it really is." A third posted, "Looks most like a badger. Hopefully, set up more cameras in the area and see what turns up!"
Chinese warships and aircraft were still operating around Taiwan on Tuesday, the island's defence ministry said, a day after Beijing declared an end to its massive war games. An aircraft of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) takes part in military drills near Taiwan.(Reuters)

China launched three days of military exercises around self-ruled Taiwan on Saturday that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practise a blockade of the island.

The show of force from Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory, was a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke retaliatory measures.

Also Read: China's firm and forceful response after US-Taiwan meet, deploys warships

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the island as of 11:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday.

China "organised military aircraft this morning and crossed the median line from the north, the centre, and the south," the ministry said, referring to the unofficial but once largely adhered-to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait.

On Monday, the final day of the drills, the ministry said it had detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island, with 54 planes crossing into Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

The ADIZ incursions were the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021.

During the exercises, J15 fighter jets had been deployed off China's Shandong aircraft carrier and were among the aircraft that crossed the median line, the defence ministry added.

Also Read: China announces drills around Taiwan after US Speaker meeting

The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace, and includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own ADIZ and even some of the mainland.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen condemned the military drills on Monday, hours after they officially came to an end, saying China was using Taiwan's engagement with the United States as an "excuse to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region".

"Although China's military exercise has come to an end, our military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," Tsai said in a post on Facebook.

After the three-day exercise, the Chinese military said it had "successfully completed" tasks related to its "Joint Sword" drills.

The war games saw Beijing simulate "sealing" off the island, with state media reporting dozens of planes had practised an "aerial blockade".

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.

Also Read: China condemns US-Taiwan meet, vows 'resolute' response

"This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea," the US Navy said in a statement.

The deployment triggered condemnation from China, which said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into its territorial waters.

Separately, Beijing warned that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed "foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions.

The White House made clear that relations with Beijing were rocky following the drills.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday slammed Bangla-language daily Prothom Alo and described it as "an enemy of the Awami League, democracy, and the people of Bangladesh," reported bdnews24.com. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.(ANI)

Read here: Videos: Russia's most active volcano erupts, shoots ash plume 10 kilometers high

She criticized Prothom Alo for acting under the "cover of darkness" after a seven-year-old child was encouraged to tell a lie about food shortage.

"Those who speak out against corruption are now talking in favour of the people who are convicted in corruption cases," Hasina said during a session in Parliament, reported bdnews24.com.

The MPs banged on their tables in agreement with the prime minister, saying 'shame, shame'. They also sounded their support when Hasina described the Prothom Alo as an enemy of the Awami League, democracy and the people.

"A seven-year-old child was encouraged to tell a lie by paying him Tk 10. And that too for a statement like -- we need the freedom to ensure meat and rice [food] for everyone. They published his words. It was all done by a popular daily. The name is Prothom Alo, but they act under cover of darkness," said Hasina.

She also slammed Prothom Alo for talking in favour of an unelected government for an interim period, asking them to think who had benefited from such a government during the 2007-2008 period.

"With a heavy heart, I must say that they never want stability in the country. They were elated when an emergency was declared in 2007. It was then that two newspapers rolled up their sleeves [to achieve their goals]," Hasina said.

The prime minister told the countrymen that they can better realise who is favouring an unelected government, adding that those who fear to face the people and know that they will not be voted to power through elections are out to destabilise the country through different means, reported bdnews24.com.

Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League, said the then caretaker government had been forced to give an election (in 2008) in which Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) got only 30 seats out of 300 while her party-led grand alliance won the remaining ones.

"They got only 30 seats (in the 2008 election) and how will they get more? We have gained support from the people through work and this is not our fault. We will continue to work for the people's welfare," she added.

She said in continuation of the election, her government has been in power since 2009 to date through the people's mandate following the democratic process.

"They are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government that will not act democratically. It will be an undemocratic action. Some of our intellectuals, who live on selling their intellect, keep licking the boots of those (corrupt people) for a little money," Hasina said.

She also slammed the US for not practising its democratic norms beyond the Atlantic, reported bdnews24.com.

"Does the definition of democracy change when it comes to the (countries on the other side of the Atlantic)?" she said.

The US lectures Bangladesh on democracy to the cheers of the opposition parties, she said. "They are lecturing us on democracy and human rights. What's the situation in their country?"

"It has the power to topple the government in any country and the Muslim countries, in particular, are experiencing a tough time."

Read here: Louisville shooting is US' 146th mass shooting and 15th mass killing this year

They are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government that will not have a democratic existence. It'll be an undemocratic action. Some of our intellectuals, who live on selling their intellect, just keep licking the boots of those (corrupt people) only for a little money.
Elon Musk described the BBC as among the least biased media organisations after Twitter mistakenly labelled the new organisation as government-funded media. The BBC contacted Twitter after the designation was attached to the main @BBC account- linking through to a page on Twitters help centre that defined state-affiliated media as outlets where the government exercises control over editorial content. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition. (File/AP)

Read more: Humans brought Covid to Wuhan market? Chinese scientist's shocking claim

The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee," the BBC said in a statement. Since 1927, the BBC has been operated through a Royal Charter agreed with the UK government. As per the charter, BBC 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.

In response to the BBC's complaint, Elon Musk asked, Is the Twitter label accurate?

Read more: Melania angry about Donald Trump's 'affairs' but her silence is

In an email to the BBC, Elon Musk wrote as per Guardian, 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.

Earlier Twitter also designated Americas National Public Radio (NPR) as state-affiliated media- but the description was later changed to the same government funded media tag as given to the BBC.

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Toronto: A 10-member delegation of Canadian MPs has reached Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, in an effort to strengthen relations with the South-East Asian nation. Members of a delegation of Canadian MPs in Taipei for a visit that began on Sunday. (Canadian Trade Office in Taipei)

The delegation reached Taipei on Sunday. In a Facebook announcement related to the visit, the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei said that their visit will help strengthen the bilateral relationship between Canada and Taiwan. We hope that many more delegations will join in the near future!

Their visit comes after China conducted military exercises in the vicinity of Taiwan in recent days, after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens visited Central America and the United States.

The Canadian MPs will meet with President Tsai as well as Vice-President Lai Ching-te, as well as business community representatives and local non-governmental organisations.

The delegation, which includes MPs from all major political parties, is led by John McKay, an MP from the ruling Liberal Party, who is also Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence.

The outlet Global News reported the group consists of three Liberal MPs, four Conservatives, two New Democratic Party and one from the Bloc Quebecois.

While China has yet to respond to the visit by the Canadian delegation, it had recently reacted with vehemence to a recent interim report from the House of Commons Special Committee on the CanadaPeoples Republic of China Relationship, titled Canada and Taiwan: A Strong Relationship in Turbulent Times.

Released on March 30, that report highlights both Canadas strong ties with Taiwan, as well as the importance of reinforcing support for Taiwan in the face of ongoing tensions surrounding its future, a release at the time noted. It outlined how Canada can strengthen its engagement with Taiwan while adhering to its one China policy and the need for Canada and its allies to further opportunities for Taiwans meaningful participation in multilateral organisations and encourages parliamentary and diplomatic visits to Taiwan.

It recommended that Canada publicly call on the Peoples Republic of China to refrain from escalating military threats in the region.

In an angry reaction, the spokesperson for Chinas Embassy in Ottawa had stated that the Taiwan question is purely Chinas internal affair, adding, Some Canadian politicians have been getting swayed by the US and making trouble on Taiwan-related issues. This once again shows that those who are making provocations are not China, but some external forces including Canada, the US, and the separatist forces for Taiwan independence.

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South Korea's antitrust regulator has fined Alphabet Inc's Google 42.1 billion won ($31.88 million) for blocking the release of mobile video games on a competitor's platform. Earlier, Google was fined more than 200 billion won by the KFTC for blocking customised versions of its Android operating system.(Reuters)

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said on Tuesday that Google bolstered its market dominance, and hurt local app market One Store's revenue and value as a platform, by requiring video game makers to exclusively release their titles on Google Play in exchange for providing in-app exposure between June 2016 and April 2018.

Also Read: Will AI research pause benefit China? Ex-Google CEO says country very smart...

Google said it will review the final decision by the KFTC to evaluate the next course of action.

"Google makes substantial investments in the success of developers, and we respectfully disagree with the KFTC's conclusions", a spokesperson said.

The KFTC said the move against the U.S. technology giant is part of efforts by the government to ensure fair markets.

Also Read: Google CEO Sundar Pichai drops big hint on AI, search engine

Game makers affected by Google's action include Netmarble, Nexon and NCSOFT, as well as other smaller companies, the antitrust regulator added.

In 2021, Google was fined more than 200 billion won by the KFTC for blocking customised versions of its Android operating system.
TIANJIN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China State Shipbuilding Corporation has signed a cooperation agreement with France's CMA CGM Group to produce 16 large container vessels worth more than 21 billion yuan (about 3 billion U.S. dollars).

It sets a new record for a single order with the largest amount of money for container ship production signed by China's shipbuilding industry. It includes 12 15,000-TEU dual-fuel large container ships powered mainly by methanol and four 23,000-TEU ones fueled mainly by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Each of the methanol-powered ships measures 366 meters in length and 51 meters in width and is designed to have the ability to carry 156,000 tonnes of cargo, said the Chinese ship manufacturer.

It is also the Chinese group's first order to produce such methanol-fuelled container ships. Independently developed, the vessel can achieve net zero carbon emissions during its whole voyage.
A top financial official from Hong Kong is set to visit Britain in April in the first ministerial-level visit by an official of the Chinese-ruled territory in more than three years, the government said on Tuesday. Hong Kong's finance official, Christopher Hui set to visit Britain in April.

The move follows the "Hello Hong Kong" promotion campaign kicked off in March to woo back visitors and investors after three years of stringent COVID-19 rules decimated the economy.

Looking to promote Hong Kong's financial services and strengthen ties with Britain and Belgium, Christopher Hui, the secretary for financial services and the treasury, will visit Brussels from April 13 to 15 and London from April 16 to 18.

Also Read: Chinas wolf warriors rachet tensions over Arunachal Pradesh and Indo-Pacific

He will meet senior officials, financial and business leaders of both nations, as well as officials of the European Commission, the government said in a statement.

The visit aims to give such officials "the latest update on Hong Kong's financial services development, in particular in the fields of fintech and green finance," it added.

The former British colony has had strained relations with Britain since its anti-government and pro- democratic protests in 2019.

Also Read: Nobody can take inch of land: Shah in Arunachal

Britain, along with other Western nations, has said Beijing's imposition of a national security law in Hong Kong in 2020 has undermined freedoms for groups ranging from civil society to the media.

Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing have rejected the claims.

Hong Kong returned to China on July 1, 1997, under a "one country, two systems" formula that guaranteed wide ranging autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent judiciary.

In response to the new security law, Britain opened in 2021 a new visa programme allowing almost 3 million people to apply for a five-year British visa and eventually be offered a route to citizenship.

Both Hong Kong's government and Beijing criticised the move.
Toronto: An Indo-Canadian police officer was killed in a traffic mishap in the province of Alberta on Monday. Constable Harvinder Singh Dhami who was killed in a traffic accident in the province of Alberta on Monday. (Alberta RCMP)

Constable Harvinder Singh Dhami, better known as Harvey, was with the Strathcona county detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Strathcona is a township within the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of the province.

He was involved in the vehicular mishap at around 2am while responding to a complaint. While en route to the call, his vehicle struck a large concrete barrier or abutment, a statement from the RCMP said.

Despite efforts of the emergency personnel and civilians, Harvey succumbed to his injuries, it added.

The tragic accident is being investigated by the Strathcona RCMP.

Dhami, 32, joined the police service in 2019. He is survived by his wife Ravinder and her family, his mother, his sister and his brother.

After he died in the line of duty in the early hours of Monday, Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki, Commanding Officer of the Alberta RCMP, said, Losing a member of our police service and a member of the community is incredibly difficult.

Albertas Premier (equivalent of Chief Minister) Danielle Smith said in a tweet, This is incredibly heartbreaking. I want to extend Albertas deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Cst. Dhami.

She also ordered flags at Albertas Legislature and the McDougall Centre, a landmark building in the city of Calgary, to be lowered to half-mast.

Zablocki said that Dhami was known as someone who was mature with a strong sense of responsibility.

He was hard working, dependable and so well liked by everyone around him. This was so evident this morning in talking with members and staff of his watch and detachment, he added.

Calgary Police also mourned the tragedy, tweeting, This officer made the ultimate sacrifice, and their service will never be forgotten.

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Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny on Tuesday said he had been moved back into solitary confinement and forced to endure "extremely hellish" conditions. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on a screen via a video link from the IK-2 corrective penal colony in Pokrov during a court hearing to consider an appeal against his prison sentence in Moscow, Russia May 24, 2022. (REUTERS)

Navalny, 46, is serving combined sentences of 11-1/2 years in a high-security penal colony for fraud and contempt of court on charges that he says were trumped up to silence him. A documentary about him won an Oscar last month.

Navalny said he had been released from a solitary confinement cell on Friday and sentenced to another 15 days there on Monday after his supporters released a probe showing the prison service was supposedly paying far too much for cabbage and pocketing the surplus.

"That is why the very next day after my colleagues released their investigation about these fun cabbage stories, they put me in the (confinement cell), immediately started setting up a 'working cell' for me and changed the daily routine, turning it from hellish to extremely hellish," he tweeted.

Navalny, who survived an attempt to poison him in 2020, has repeatedly been placed in punishment cells over the last year and backers say his life is in danger as his health worsens.

Lawyer Vadim Kobzev said an ambulance had been called to the colony on Friday night after Navalny's condition deteriorated as the result of a stomach ailment. The prisoner lost eight kilos (18 pounds) during the most recent 15-day spell of solitary confinement, he tweeted.

Navalny, who has over the years released dozens of videos alleging what he says is massive corruption in Russia, also said prison officials "made up completely unlawful rules, forbidding me to buy food, even with the money I had earned."

The Russian interior ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last week Russia said Navalny supporters had helped assassinate war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky in St Petersburg.
China said Japan smears the country with an old narrative and hypes up the so-called China threat, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday at a regular news briefing. Chinese Foreign Ministry - Wang Wenbin(AFP)

Also Read: 9 Chinese warships, 26 aircrafts spotted around Taiwan after drill ends

In response to a question on Japan calling China a threat in its annual Diplomatic Bluebook report, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said it interferes with China's domestic affairs and China is opposed to this.

"We call on Japan to stop provocation and the creation of opposing camps," Wang said.
Five people were shot dead in Louisville, Kentucky. The police identified them as colleagues of the suspect- two of them were close friends of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Besides, eight others were wounded in Monday's shooting. Louisville Shooting: Investigators inspect bullet holes at the scene of a mass shooting at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville.(Reuters)

Read more: I think: Elon Musk's email to BBC amid Twitter's government-funded' tag row

"I have a very good friend who didn't make it today. And I have another close friend who didn't either," Governor Andy Beshear said. The suspect was fatally shot at the scene. He had joined the branch of the Old National Bank as a full-time employee last year.

One hundred days into 2023, there have been 15 mass killings in the US, according to a USA TODAY/Associated Press/Northeastern University database tracking the killings.

"This is consistent with the overall trend that mass shootings are becoming more frequent," co-founder of the nonprofit research center Violence Project James Densley said.

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Of the 15 mass killings, four were public shootings, and most of the others were family-related incidents, James Alan Fox, a professor at Northeastern University in Boston noted. The killings have left at least 79 people dead and 20 injured- these numbers don't include the shooters.

In 2023, so far, there have been 146 mass shootings this year- 10% more than the previous record year of 2021. Gun Violence Archive said that nearly 5,000 people have died from gunfire so far in 2023 and almost 9,000 have been injured. Hundreds of children under age 11 have been killed or injured, along with more than a thousand teens, the data showed.

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Airstrikes by Myanmars military on Tuesday killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony held by opponents of army rule, said a witness, a member of a local pro-democracy group and independent media. Initial reports put the death toll at around 50, but later tallies reported by independent media raised it to about 100. (AP)

The military is increasingly using airstrikes to counter a widespread armed struggle against its rule, which began in February 2021 when it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 3,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed since then by security forces.

A witness told The Associated Press that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly into a crowd of people who were gathering at 8 a.m. for the opening of a local office of the countrys opposition movement outside Pazigyi village in Sagaing regions Kanbalu township. The area is about 110 kilometers (70 miles) north of Mandalay, the countrys second largest city.

Also read: US to announce more sanctions against Myanmar junta: Official

About half an hour later, a helicopter appeared and fired at the site, said the witness, who asked not to be identified because he feared punishment by the authorities.

Initial reports put the death toll at around 50, but later tallies reported by independent media raised it to about 100. It was impossible to independently confirm details of the incident because reporting is restricted by the military government. There were no immediate reports about the attack in state-controlled media. In past cases, the military government has said it does not use disproportionate force.

I was standing a short distance from the crowd when a friend of mine contacted me on the phone about the approach of a fighter jet, the witness said. The jet dropped bombs directly on the crowd, and I jumped into a nearby ditch and hid. A few moments later, when I stood up and looked around, I saw people cut to pieces and dead in the smoke. The office building was destroyed by fire. About 30 people were injured. While the wounded were being transported, a helicopter arrived and shot more people. We are now cremating the bodies quickly.

About 150 people had gathered for the opening ceremony, and women and 20-30 children were among the dead, he said, adding that those killed also included leaders of locally formed anti-government armed groups and other opposition organizations.

This heinous act by the terrorist military is yet another example of their indiscriminate use of extreme force against innocent civilians, constituting a war crime, the opposition National Unity Government said in a statement. The NUG calls itself the country's legitimate government, in opposition to the army. The office being opened Tuesday was part of its administrative network.

The death toll from the attack, if confirmed, could be the highest in more than two years of civil conflict that began when the army seized power in 2021. As many as 80 people were killed last October in another government air attack in northern Myanmar on an anniversary celebration of the Kachin ethnic minoritys main political organization, which is also battling the military government.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army takeover triggered widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict.

The army has been conducting major offensives in the countryside, including burning villages and driving hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. It has faced some of its toughest resistance in Sagaing, in Myanmars historic heartland. The resistance forces have no defense against air attacks.

In videos of the devastated village seen by AP, survivors and onlookers stumble through the area of the attack amid clouds of thick smoke, with only the skeleton frame of one building still standing in the distance. The videos could not immediately be verified but matched other descriptions of the scene.

Some motorbikes remained intact while others were reduced to their frames or buried under tree branches. In one area, two victims lay close together, one of whom had only one arm still attached.

Another victim lay face down in a small grove by the roadside. A few meters (yards) away, a small torso missing at least one limb could be seen.

In January, Myanmars top leader told the military it needs to take decisive action against those opposed to army rule. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said at a military parade on Armed Forces Day that those who condemned his government showed indifference to violence committed by its opponents.

Resistance forces have been able to prevent the military from taking firm control of large areas of the country, but have a great disadvantage in weapons, particularly in countering air attacks.

Also read: Sangam city doc spots, clicks Burmese Myna first time in India

Critics of the military government advocate banning or limiting the sale of aviation fuel to Myanmar to cripple the militarys advantage in air power. Many Western nations have imposed arms embargoes on the military government, and the United States and Britain recently enacted new sanctions targeting individuals and companies involved in supplying jet fuel to Myanmar.

The human rights group Amnesty International said in a statement Tuesday that The relentless air attacks across Myanmar highlight the urgent need to suspend the import of aviation fuel. Amnesty reiterates its calls on all states and businesses to stop shipments that may end up in the hands of the Myanmar Air Force.

It also urged the U.N. Security Council to "push through effective actions to hold the Myanmar military accountable, including by referring the situation in the country to the International Criminal Court.
Prince Harry allegedly 'swore' at his father King Charles during a row over money, a new book claimed. As the Duke of Sussex lost his temper when his father ignored his repeated demands for money, Prince Harry vented his anger at King Charles in a heated telephone conversation. The revelation was part of Robert Jobson's new book Our King. Prince Harry: Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts Of Justice in London.(AP)

Read more: Queen Elizabeth was okay with Prince Harry going to war but William wasn't

The book claimed that Prince Harry had been contacting his grandmother Queen Elizabeth to talk about financial matters but the late monarch became 'weary and tired' of the conversation. Prince Harry continued to voice his grievances to his grandmother even after moving to the United States with his wife Meghan Markle.

Her Majesty found Prince Harry's calls quite difficult and wearisome. She didn't want to interfere in the father/son relationship and would urge him to speak to his father," the book claimed. Queen Elizabeth told Prince Harry to go directly to his father and talk.

Read more: Harry's audacity to speak about: Prince William's reaction on Oprah talk

Prince Charles simply stopped taking Harry's calls after his son swore at him and repeatedly asked for fund. When the Queen asked Charles why he hadn't given in, he told her that he wasn't a bank, the book claimed.

The book also alleged that exchanges between Prince Harry and Prince William puzzled Queen Elizabeth. She also thought the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were quite mad for speaking against royal family.

Queen Elizabeth also thought that Prince Harry was "so consumed" by his love for Meghan Markle that it was "clouding his judgment".

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Queen Elizabeth agreed to Prince Harry being sent to war but did not think the same for Prince William, a royal documentary revealed. General Sir Mike Jackson suggested that Prince Harry has been treated as the spare- the tile of his memoir. y Queen Elizabeth II Health Concerns: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace balcony.(AFP)

Read more: Prince Harry's demands after Queen's death 'shocked' royal family, book claims

The ex-head of the army who had many meetings with the late monarch said, I will break the rule about not divulging what goes on on this one occasion, when she was very clear. She said, My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty  and that was that."

But it was decided that for William, as heir to the heir, the risk is too great. But for his younger brother, the risk was acceptable," he added.

Prince Harry served two Afghanistan tours from 2007 to 2008, and 2012 to 2013 while Prince William was an officer in the Household Cavalry and later became an RAF Search and Rescue helicopter pilot.

Read more: Harry's audacity to speak about: Prince William's reaction on Oprah talk

The series also claims that Princess Margaret refused to stop listening to the Archers as Queen Elizabeth visited her on her deathbed in 2002.

Princess Margarets former lady-in-waiting said that when the Queens sister was dying, she refused to stop listening to Radio 4s the Archers when the monarch arrived.

About two minutes later, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. So I said Maam, is there anything wrong? And she said, Yes. Margarets listening to the Archers and every time I say something she just says, Shush. So I went up and said to Princess Margaret, the Queens only got a short time, turning off her wireless, and I brought them tea and left them.

On Prince Andrew, the documentary reveals his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The five-part series is based on the personal challenges that Queen Elizabeth faced throughout her reign.

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A royal author claimed that both King Charles stopped taking phone calls from Prince Harry after he moved to California with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020. Although, Prince Harry stepped back from royal duties, he continued to stay in touch with his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, royal commentator Robert Jobson claimed in his new book titled Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed. Royal Family News: Britain's King Charles III is seen. (Reuters)

Read more: Queen Elizabeth was okay with Prince Harry going to war but William wasn't

But as relations worsened, the late Queen and King Charles stopped taking Harrys phone calls. Harry regularly phoned his grandmother until he kept trying to air his grievances, the author said.

In the end, [the late Queen] asked him to speak directly to his father instead. 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," the royal author claimed.

Read more: Prince Harry 'swore at father King Charles' during fight over money

King Charles eventually stopped taking Harrys calls after his son swore at him and repeatedly asked for funds and When the Queen asked Charles why he hadnt given in, he told her that he wasnt a bank."

The royal commentator also said that Queen Elizabeth felt let down by Prince Harrys decision to step back from his royal duties but hoped her grandson would find peace and happiness in his new life.

The author also claimed that aides believed Prince had Stockholm syndrome, writing, 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."

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King Charles was in the woods foraging in the muck for mushrooms on September 8- the day his mother Queen Elizabeth died, a new book alleged. King Charles had flown to Balmoral Castle with his sister, Princess Anne, that morning after they were told that the late monarch was not feeling well, Robert Jobson recounted in his book Our King: Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed. Britain's King Charles III walks behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during a procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster, in London on September 14.(AFP)

Read more: Prince Harry 'swore at father King Charles' during fight over money

Charles spent several hours with his mother after which he went to his nearby Birkhall estate as there seemed no immediate reason for alarm, according to the book. He then went for a walk in the surrounding woods, armed with a walking cane and a basket.

More importantly, he was drawing solace and strength from the trees, the smell of the earth and the murmur of the River Muick. Understandably lost in thought, the prince knew that the defining moment of his life, at the advanced age of 73, was fast approaching: the death of his mother and his accession as king, the author wrote.

Read more: King Charles stopped taking Prince Harrys phone calls when: Royal author

At this time Charles' protection officers had deliberately hung back to give him some privacy when one of these officers went to find Charles to inform him that the queens condition had dramatically worsened, the author claimed.

Charles then returned to Balmoral Castle and was able to be by Queen Elizabeth's side when she died while his sister Anne and Charles wife Camilla were present.

Prince William, and the queens other sons, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward also arrived at the royal familys Scottish residence two hours later. But Prince Harry was not told until much later about his grandmother's death, the author claimed.

Prince Harry decided not to fly up to Scotland with his brother and uncles after a disagreement over his wife, Meghan [Markle]. When Harry insisted that she should accompany him, it was his father who told him she couldnt come.

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South Korea plans to conduct its first launch of a commercial-grade satellite aboard a domestically built rocket next month as part of its space development program, officials said Tuesday. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.(Reuters)

South Korea's officials say its homegrown Nuri space launch vehicle has no military purposes. But some experts say the development of such rockets would eventually help the country acquire technologies needed to build bigger missiles and launch reconnaissance satellites amid animosities with rival North Korea.

Also Read: Massive wildfire in South Korean coastal city forces hundreds to flee

In June last year, South Korea conducted its first satellite launch using the Nuri rocket. That launch involved what South Korean officials called a performance verification satellite mainly designed to examine the capacity of the rocket while next months event is meant to put a commercial-grade satellite into orbit for the first time.

The Science Ministry said the rocket will blast off from the countrys space launch center on a southern island on May 24. A ministry statement said it had set a backup launch date from May 25-31, in case of possible schedule changes due to weather.

The rocket will carry one main satellite called Next Generation Small Satellite 2 and seven other smaller cub-shaped satellites. The main satellite is tasked with verifying imaging radar technology and observing cosmic radiation in near-Earth orbit, the statement said.

Authorities have completed the assembly of the rockets first and second stages and are conducting final environmental tests of the eight satellites that are to be placed on the rockets third stage.

Last years launch was the Nuri rockets second liftoff. In its first launch in 2021, the rockets dummy payload reached the desired altitude but failed to enter orbit. After next months launch, South Korea plans three more Nuri rocket launches, officials said.

Also Read: Google fined $32 million by South Korea for blocking games on rival platform

The third launch of Nuri is of great significance as it is the first attempt to launch a commercial-grade satellite and the first time a private company will jointly manufacture the homegrown Nuri rocket, Oh Tae-seok, the first vice science minister, was quoted as saying in the ministry statement.

South Korea, the worlds 10th largest economy, is a major producer of semiconductors, automobiles and smartphones. But its space development program lags behind that of its neighbors China, India and Japan. Since the early 1990s, South Korea has sent a series of satellites into space, but all of them involved foreign rocket technology or launch sites.

North Korea placed Earth observation satellites into orbit in 2012 and 2016, but there is no proof that either satellite has been functioning. North Korea was slapped with international sanctions because of the two launches because the U.N. views them as disguised tests of the Norths banned long-range missile technology.
New Delhi: Ukraines first deputy foreign minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Tuesday that those backing Russia in the Ukraine war are on the wrong side of history and Kyiv plans to launch a counter-offensive in spring to create the grounds for fresh negotiations to end the hostilities. Ukraine's first deputy foreign minister Emine Dzhaparova speaks in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI)

Dzhaparova, the first senior Ukrainian leader to travel to New Delhi since the start of the Russian invasion last year, said Ukraines military cooperation with Pakistan was not targeted against India. The difficulties in Indias neighbourhood, especially strained relations with Pakistan and China, call for a pragmatic and balanced approach that should include forging new relations, she said.

She made the remarks while interacting with reporters and delivering a speech on the theme Russias war in Ukraine: Why the world should care at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), a think tank under the external affairs ministry. Dzhaparova also met minister of state for external affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and delivered a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During her speech at ICWA, Dzhaparova reiterated her message of India playing a greater role in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. We respect the decisions of a sovereign country [like] India to build up relations with other countries...But the message of Ukraine is that there should be consideration of a pragmatic approach, she said.

Being with Russia  and we are very sincere in saying so  is actually [like] being on the wrong side of history...Supporting Russia and being with Russia means [backing a] medieval vision of the world...I think it might also take some time to build up new relations with Ukraine and I think it should be based on a pragmatic and balanced approach, she added.

The counter-offensive that Ukraine plans to launch in spring is aimed at gaining a tactical advantage that might facilitate fresh negotiations, she said. She also referred to Indias role as an emerging global power and its G20 presidency and said the country should involve Ukrainian officials in G20 meetings and provide Zelensky an opportunity to address the G20 Summit. She also hoped Indian leaders and officials will visit Ukraine to take forward ties.

Dzhaparova said during her speech and at her interaction with reporters after meeting Lekhi that Ukraines military ties with Pakistan, which were developed in the 1990s, were not directed against Indias interests. She said she had presented to the Indian side several proposals for military cooperation, including joint production of drones based on Ukraines new-found expertise in this area.

I think the suggestion that I brought here is to have a better and deeper relationship with India. And it needs reciprocity. We knocked on the door but it is also up to the owner of the house to open the door, she said.

India has not yet denounced Russias invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintained that the conflict must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

Lekhi said in a tweet that she and Dzhaparova exchanged views on bilateral and global issues, cultural ties and womens empowerment. Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance, she said. Dzhaparova tweeted that she had briefed Lekhi on Ukraines efforts to fight Russias unprovoked aggression, and discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Replying to a question from reporters on Chinas aggressive behaviour on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India, Dzhaparova said: I think that India and Ukraine are synchronised on the same page...Any act of aggression that might question the territorial integrity of any country is a matter of huge concern.
One million people in UK will be offered to drop their cigarettes and use a vape instead as the government plans to help people quit smoking. The swap to stop program, touted as the worlds first' by officials will include nearly one in five smokers in UK being given a vaping starter kit and behavioral support to help them quit smoking. UK's Quit Smoking Plan: A man vapes outside the Houses of Parliament, in London, Britain.(Reuters)

Read more: I think: Elon Musk's email to BBC amid Twitter's government-funded' tag row

The move comes as the UK government aims to cut the number of smokers in the country to meet a target of becoming smoke free by 2030. UK health minister Neil OBrien said the program will help in promoting a better lifestyle for people in the country.

Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly. We will offer a million smokers new help to quit," he said. Under the program, local authorities will be asked to engage as well with tailor made plans made for the communities.

Read more: Prince Harry 'swore at father King Charles' during fight over money

The UK health minister will also launch a call for evidence on vaping among children as the NHS data showed that 9% of 11 to 15 year olds used e-cigarettes in 2021, a rise from 6% in 2018.

The UK government will put 3 million toward setting an illicit vapes enforcement squad" to combat the illegal sale of vapes to children, he said.

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Beijing: The UN has denounced the decision by a Chinese court to hand out lengthy jail terms to two prominent human rights lawyers with the world bodys rights chief, saying he was very concerned with the sentencing of the two activists. A general view shows Tiananmen Square during the National People's Congress session in Beijing on March 5, 2023. (AFP)

Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi who were critical of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinping and advocated improved civil rights in the country were given lengthy jail terms on Monday  14 years and 12 years respectively  in what is being seen as Beijings latest crackdown on dissent.

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, UN Human Rights chief, Volker Turk, said in a statement released by his office.

Human rights law requires that people not be prosecuted or otherwise punished for voicing their criticism of government policies. It also requires respect for fair trial and due process rights, and proper investigations into any allegations of ill-treatment, Turk said in his statement.

The UN official promised to follow up on these cases with the authorities.

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.

A court in eastern Chinas Shandong province on Monday sentenced Xu to 14 years in prison and Ding to 12 years after convicting each for the crime of subversion of state power.

Courts in China are not independent and answerable to the ruling Communist Party of China.

Their trials were conducted behind closed doors and riddled with procedural problems and allegations of mistreatment, the US-based rights body, 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.

Rights group Amnesty International called the sentencing disgraceful and a blatant violation of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. They should be released immediately and unconditionally.

Xu and Ding were members of the New Citizens Movement, a loose collective of activists founded by Xu in 2012 to advocate government transparency.

In early February 2020, Xu criticised Xis handling of the coronavirus crisis and the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests and called on him to resign.

On February 15 2020, Xu was detained while staying at the home of a fellow activist and subsequently also held incommunicado in residential surveillance at a designated location until January 15 2021, the Amnesty statement said.

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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. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.(AP)

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 China's 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.
The new hotel is the Company's third Wyndham and 32nd property in Shanghai, broadening accommodation options as travellers continue to return to China.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company and leading provider of management services, with approximately 9,100 hotels spanning more than 95 countries, announced the opening of Wyndham Shanghai Nanxiang. This hotel is the third Wyndham hotel in the city and is the Company's 32nd property in Shanghai, signifying the continued expansion of Wyndham's presence in China's key cities.

Located in the Central Business District of Nanxiang, an increasingly popular business locale on the outskirts of Shanghai, the newly opened property is surrounded by different transportation networks which reduces travelling time for both corporate and leisure travellers to various business, convention, and tourism venues. The hotel is also located near major landmarks such as the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai Automobile Exhibition Center, INCity MEGA and THE MALL, to name a few.

In addition to featuring 315 guest rooms and suites, the hotel comes with both Chinese and Western dining options, a lobby bar and access to a fitness center, indoor swimming pool, parking, and free Wi-Fi. Wyndham Shanghai Nanxiang also offers a 750-square-meter ballroom and nine meeting rooms of different sizes, providing a range of professional facilities for business travellers.

As an economic hub and historical cultural city in China, Shanghai is one of the most frequented destinations for business and leisure travellers. In 2022, Wyndham saw a 10 percent net room growth across direct franchise and managed properties in Greater China, and the region continues to be a priority across the Wyndham portfolio.

Hotel website
Respected general manager Nathalie Cockayne has left the Middle East after a decade working in Dubai and Doha. Her most recent role was GM of Melia Desert Palm Dubai, where she worked for three years.

Cockayne is now in Thailand heading to The Standard, Hua Hin as general manager.

Well-known and well-liked in the industry, she featured on the front cover of Hotelier Middle East for our March 2022 International Women's Day issue.

During her time at Melia Desert Palm Dubai, she steered the hotel through Covid and was running the property when it shifted from a four-star to five-star classification. She reflected on this experience with Hotelier in 2022.

Before Dubai, she helped open the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Doha as hotel manager from 2016 to 2019.

Before that, she was hotel manager of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi and hotel manager at Zaya Nurai Island.

For two years, she was director of operations at The H Dubai from 2012 to 2014.

Before the Middle East, Cockayne was director of rooms at Shangri-La Hong Kong and director of rooms at Fairmont Beijing. In 2006, she was director of rooms at the world-famous Savoy in London.

All the way back in 1999, she was in Dubai as guest services manager at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

Cockayne leaves Dubai as a respected name in the industry, with thousands of people reacting to the LinkedIn post announcing her new role.
The Villa Group Resorts, a leader in Mexico's hotel industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sandor J. Winkler as Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing for the luxury resort brand. Winkler will be in charge of leading the sales and marketing efforts for all resorts in the Villa Group's portfolio, which includes the Pacific beach destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, and Cabo San Lucas.

Winkler is a results-driven leader who brings with him years of experience as a hospitality professional and a track record that speaks for itself. Prior to joining The Villa Group, Winkler held positions at prestigious companies in the travel and tourism industry, including as Vice President of Sales & Marketing at The Fives Hotels & Residences and as Chief Development Officer at Palace Resorts. Guided by the satisfaction of developing teams that seize opportunities, Winkler is sure to be an asset to the Villa Group's organization.
An industry veteran, Paco joined Amadeus in 1993 as Market Manager for Europe in charge of consolidating Amadeus operations in Western Europe and expanding our business in Eastern Europe. In 1996, he transferred to the Corporate Strategy area. As Director and, subsequently, VP of Business Development and M&A, he took on responsibility for strategic growth and diversification projects (e.g. Opodo). In 2009, he was appointed Vice President, Corporate Strategy and was responsible for Amadeus overall strategy definition. This also included the Amadeus Groups Mergers & Acquisitions (and post-merger integration) activities, the overall coordination of Amadeus second IPO in 2010 and the search and development of new business opportunities for Amadeus. In 2011, he became Senior Vice President Strategic Growth Business to support growth in key areas of the travel sector, such as Airport IT, Business Intelligence, Mobile and Digital Payments. Some of these Amadeus businesses evolved to become top players in their respective sectors. After the acquisition of TravelClick in 2018, he was appointed Senior Vice President, Hospitality to further drive Amadeus vision to be a global leader in this area. Today, Amadeus has 50,000 + hotel properties as its customers. Prior to joining Amadeus, Paco was a Consultant in the Strategy practice of Accenture and a Research Director at the Technical University of Aachen (Germany). Paco, a Spanish-German dual national, holds an MBA from INSEAD, Paris; a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters Degree in Industrial & Business Engineering, both from the Technical University of Aachen.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Matthew Hancock joins Groups360 as senior vice president & chief financial officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hancock worked at Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) for nearly ten years, serving in roles of increasing responsibility across corporate strategy and channel innovation, investor relations, and treasury. Previously, he worked in the investment banking division of Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Hancock joins David Cheek, recently appointed chief administrative officer, as members of the Groups360 executive team. This leadership expansion follows Groups360s launch of real-time group rates and GroupSync Instant Booking for Hilton Hotels, Marriott International, Omni Hotels and Resorts, and selected IHG Hotels & Resorts properties with rollouts across Accor Hotels and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts announced for deployment later this year.

As we continue to refine our technology and scale our operations across the globe, the skills that Matt and David bring will ensure we can remain nimble and effective in driving strategies to benefit our customers and investors Kemp Gallineau, president and CEO of Groups360

As the leading hotel marketplace for booking groups, GroupSync allows event planners to search, source, and book groups more efficiently at over 200,000 properties worldwide. This cloud-based platform provides buyers greater access to hotel group inventory and rates for faster, smoother group booking. It also delivers access to 1.4 million guest rooms and 66,000 venues for instant booking.

About Groups360

Groups360 was created with a singular goal  to reinvent meeting planning by injecting innovation, transparency, and simplicity into the decades-old problem of booking groups. The Company's integrated technology solution, GroupSync, enables suppliers to distribute inventory, engage with planners, and optimize group revenue. GroupSync also equips planners to search and shop hotels worldwide and to book rooms and space directly, online or through a simplified RFP process. GroupSync is the first distribution channel to offer online booking for group hotel roomsandmeeting space at scale.

Groups360 has offices in Nashville, London and Singapore. Learn more at groups360.com.

Hal Hassall

Vice President of Marketing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement on the Bureau of Labor Statistics March Employment report, which saw the overall economy add 236,000 jobs in March (the lowest monthly gain since December 2020), while the leisure and hospitality sector added 72,000 jobswell under the average monthly gain of 95,000 over the prior six months:

The drop-off in leisure and hospitality hiring reported today is a concern as our industry prepares for the busy summer season and the need to fill 1.5 million open jobs in this sector. An adequately resourced travel workforce is essential to meeting demand and growing revenue in the travel industry. The federal government can help solve staffing needs by increasing the cap on H-2B temporary worker visas and permanently exempting returning workers from the cap.

About U.S. Travel Association

U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry. Travelers in the United States are estimated to spend $1.1 trillion in 2022 (still 10% below 2019 levels). U.S. Travel advocates for policies to accelerate an even recovery across the travel industry and restore economic and job growth for this essential contributor to our nation's success. Visit ustravel.org for information and recovery-related data.

Greg Staley

U.S. Travel Association
CHICAGO  Supporting its core brand pillar of creating a life in balance through mindfulness, Miraval Resorts & Spas, an original thought leader in wellbeing, today announced details of its 2023 brand collaborations. With emphasis on mental wellbeing, mindfulness and inclusivity in travel and hospitality, 2023 highlights include continued collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the introduction of a new collaborative relationship with Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, founder of BIPOC mental health nonprofit The AAKOMA Project. Promoting workplace-wellness and self-care culture among colleagues, these thoughtfully selected brand collaborations bring a heightened focus on profoundly and positively impacting colleagues' wellbeing, empowering them to be even better equipped to provide exceptional service to Miraval guests.

The Miraval brand is built with the intention of supporting integrative, whole-person wellbeing through purposeful human connections. Through the evolution and expansion of our collaborations, Miraval Resorts are able to make a lasting, positive impact on our guests, colleagues and extended community with meaningful tools to build resilience and create a balanced life. Susan Santiago, head of lifestyle and Miraval operations

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Now in its third year, the Miraval brands collaboration with NAMI, the nations largest grassroots mental health organization, is focused on caring for the caregivers and promoting a life in balance for colleagues and guests. In January, Miraval Austin hosted a retreat for the NAMI HelpLine team, a group of staff and volunteers dedicated to providing resources and support to those impacted by mental health conditions. The retreat created a space for reconnection and rest to support the holistic wellbeing of NAMIs HelpLine team. NAMI thought leaders will also have a presence at each of Miraval Resorts & Spas Authentic Circle Appreciation Weeks throughout 2023, with added mental wellbeing sessions dedicated to Miraval colleagues. Additional highlights include NAMIs contribution of data and resources to a Miraval colleague mental wellbeing tool. Previous collaboration highlights include a video series of soundscapes and meditations on NAMIs Hearts+Minds website, which was created to raise awareness around the connections between physical and mental wellbeing.

Miraval Resorts are valued collaborators with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. This year, Miraval Austin generously hosted a retreat for the NAMI HelpLine team. Every day, this team provides help and support to thousands of people navigating mental health challenges and the Miraval brand made it possible for them to experience a much-needed retreat where they could pause and focus on their wellness. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and NAMI is so grateful that our HelpLine team was able to recharge, so they can continue to support the people who need us. Supporting workplace mental health is hard yet essential work. Both management and colleagues have an important role because everyone benefits when we bring our full, authentic selves to work. Jessica Edwards, CDO, NAMI

Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble

Dr. Alfiee is a pioneering psychologist, scientist, author and mental health correspondent. Having founded The AAKOMA Project, she is focused on mental health for intersectional youth and young adults of color, including LGBTQAI+ youth and those with disabilities. In 2023, Miraval Resorts & Spas and Dr. Alfiee are collaboratively amplifying awareness surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion and self-care through a series of retreats and colleague sessions. This year, Dr. Alfiee will host three in-person Caring for our Caregivers sessions focused on Miraval colleague self-care and cultural responsiveness training. These sessions will offer colleagues access to mental wellbeing resources to enable more meaningful work-life integration through mindfulness and empower Miraval colleagues to foster a safe and inclusive workplace environment. These sessions were inspired by the first Elevation: Diverse Womens Wellness Retreat which hosted social impact and non-profit mental health leaders at Miraval Arizona in 2022. The experience included transformative conversations around the elevation and creation of safe spaces for caregivers to rest, rejuvenate and renew. Later this year, Miraval Berkshires will host an immersive leadership retreat for Dr. Alfiee and a group of colleagues to reset and recharge and this fall, Miraval Austin will host Dr. Alfiees second annual Elevation: Diverse Womens Wellness Retreat.

When we met with the Miraval team, we immediately clicked around the shared values of mindfulness and equity in mental health. At The AAKOMA Project, we embody my personal value of creating space for human authenticity, self-acceptance and self-love. Coupling these values with Miraval Resorts' life in balance philosophy, AAKOMA and Miraval Resorts have built a collaborative relationship that authentically integrates our shared values and DEI in the wellness arena. Breland-Noble

Through ongoing support of aligned organizations, Miraval Resorts & Spas continue to drive progress and awareness through collaborative events, shared resources, interactive tools and thought leadership engagements. For more information on Miraval Resorts & Spas, please visit www.miravalresorts.com.

About NAMI

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nations largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. The organization provides advocacy and public awareness, no-cost support and education programs online and in more than 650 communities across the country so that people and families affected by mental health conditions can build better lives.

About The AAKOMA Project

Established in 1997 and incorporated in 2019, the AAKOMA Project envisions a world where every child, teen and young adult (inclusive of all points of diversity) feels the freedom to live unapologetically and authentically within an environment that allows them to rise and thrive. Therefore, we operate at three levels - raising consciousness among individuals, empowering people via providing accessible tools for ongoing management, and changing systems to receive youth and provide better care in the mental health space. For more information, please visit aakomaproject.org.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose  to care for people so they can be their best. As of June 30, 2022, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,150 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 72 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Hyatt Residence Club, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval, Alila, Andaz, Thompson Hotels, Hyatt Centric, and Caption by Hyatt; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination by Hyatt, and JdV by Hyatt; and the Inclusive Collection, including Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts, and Sunscape Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt loyalty program, ALG Vacations, Unlimited Vacation Club, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable when made, are inherently uncertain, and are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Kiraku, Inc. or Hyatt's control, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements made in this press release are made only as of the date of their initial publication and neither party undertakes an obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements as actual events unfold, except to the extent required by applicable law. If one or more forward-looking statements is updated, no inference should be drawn that any additional updates will be made with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
The purpose of business intelligence software is problem solving. The data derived can be analyzed to deliver actionable information that helps hotel owners and operators make more informed business decisions. With a single source of truth across the portfolio, hoteliers hope to budget better, forecast further, and cut costs more consistently to remain competitive in the industry.

While this sounds simple enough, knowing which business intelligence solution is right for a hotel or multi-property enterprise can be taxing. Most solutions on the hospitality market today feature standardized reporting to capture data and organize it for decision makers. Using templated reports, users select and view information from a pre-set list. While this is a simplified and consistent approach to report generation, all hotel companies using that software are viewing report data the same way. This approach may be convenient, but it certainly is not flexible. It limits out-of-the-box thinking and restricts creativity.

What many hoteliers prefer is customized reporting, or a way to look at business intelligence their way. They want reports constructed in a manner that makes the most sense to them, with actionable insights based on individual requirements. By leveraging flexible, customizable BI software, users have access to the information they need  and they can craft the reports themselves to drive unique insights.

Often hoteliers tell me that its their customized BI reporting that inspires their creativity and gives them a competitive advantage knowing their perceptions are unique. For instance, a senior vice president of finance at a large hotel management company, said he had to manually build custom daily performance reports at the request of the owner because the standardized BI software used only presented the information one way. It was a daunting task that took several hours to compose each morning, every morning, without fail. Now using customized BI, he is delivering owner specific reports via an automated process. Furthermore, reports are being run by region, brand and property, giving the company a performance snapshot for the entire portfolio. In a word, he calls the tool remarkable.

Off the Shelf or Have it Your Way? How Hoteliers Should Shop for Business Intelligence  Photo by Shutterstock

Data Visualization & AI

In addition to customization, hotel operators are finding BI solutions appealing that deliver visualizations for reports on demand based on simple AI commands. By simply typing Show Me Room Revenues by State or . . . by property within the AI search feature, data can accurately be presented in a compelling, relevant, and easy-to-understand visual format.

Leveraging AI within BI links relevant data elements (number of rooms rented, ADR, RevPAR, occupancy, rooms out of order, etc.) with a list of properties or brands, enabling finance teams to analyze accurate information in visually compelling ways. It also configures data regionally, giving operators a performance snapshot portfolio wide, as well as by region, brand, and property. The drag-and-drop environment of a customized AI + BI solution will create stunning visualizations based on the data entered. Its this type of scalability and flexibility that is disrupting hospitality and changing the way BI is delivered for the foreseeable future.

Eye-Opening Business Intelligence Statistics:

Data visualization is one of the top three business intelligence trends in 2023. (Source: BI Survey)

U.S. businesses lose $100 billion every year due to data inaccuracy. (Source: Accenture)

Data analytics makes decision-making 5x faster for businesses. (Source: Better Buys)

The global business intelligence market will grow to $33.3 billion by 2025. (Source: Report Linker)

Effective data organization makes reporting easier and allows for more time to digest key findings. Via easy-to-build dashboards, charts, and visualizations, BI + AI can help hoteliers better navigate the future. Even without AI, strong visualization options are a major component of successful business intelligence.

Competitive advantage is a core benefit of BI and Im continually amazed seeing the creative ways operators are analyzing data when they have the tools that allow them to do so.

As we enter the 2023 tradeshow season, hoteliers should shop for solutions knowing what they want to get out of their data strategy. A BI platform should have industry standard templated reports plus the ability to create customized analytics that provide unique insight and competitive advantage.

About Aptech Computer Systems Inc.

Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement. The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider, as well as a Prophix Premier Business Partner. Incorporated in 1970, Aptech's state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include PVNG, Execuvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise more than 4,000 properties  including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue is registered to Aptech Computer Systems Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information, please visit www.aptech-inc.com.

Barbara Worcester

+1 440 930 5770

Aptech
This years conference theme for the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia (FHS) is Invest in Change, highlighting the importance of the positive change that can be brought forward through the investment in time, intellect and expertise in the hospitality industry to keep up with changing times and trends to better shape the future of the industry. In the lead up to the event we asked a number of industry partners how they are investing in change.

The global hospitality industry is expected to perform strongly in 2023 due to fast-growing travel demand. The optimistic outlook is also buoyed by the hospitality sectors impressive turnout in 2022, with an estimated global contribution of $8.6 trillion, 6.4% below pre-pandemic levels, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Meanwhile, the Middle Easts tourism market is anticipated to fully bounce back to pre-pandemic levels this year, up from the 83% recovery achieved in 2022.

As one of the leading regional markets, Saudi Arabia is at the center of this activity. The resumption of the Hajj pilgrimage has been a critical factor in the recovery. The budding national plans to stimulate tourism and spark business growth in the capital and beyond will play a vital role in the anticipated growth.

While continuing to grow into a popular business and leisure hub for millions of visitors worldwide, Saudi Arabia is also becoming a preferred destination for local travelers of all segments. In 2022, the Kingdom recorded over 77 million domestic tourists, compared to 63.8 million the year before.

Today, Saudi Arabias hospitality businesses seek to harness this unprecedented momentum, exploring the ideal framework to channel their resources to more efficiently meet the market requirements in a way that recognizes and embraces the fast-changing global industry trends. By investing in innovation, hospitality leaders focus more on adapting to evolving consumer needs, simplifying operations, and streamlining customer experiences with enhanced scalability.

Fundamentally, bringing digitalization and automation to the industry will generate value for all stakeholders. The digital-savvy consumer of our modern day anticipates seamless tech-powered experiences, from all-digital reservations to keyless doors and online room service. And as automation via advanced technologies such as AI, robotics, and IoT move forward to upscale the entire journey for guests, it will ultimately come a long way in driving satisfaction and loyalty.

Also, Saudi hotels are increasingly adopting digital solutions to optimize their services to be more customer-centric. These include systems that analyze data harnessed from customer interactions to extract meaningful insights that provide operators with critical information to tailor their offerings. For example, Saudi hotel owner, developer, and operator Dur Hospitality utilizes AI-based digital solutions to modernize interactions with guests. The group is also partnering with Smart Zone Real Estate Company to build an AI-powered hotel in Riyadh. From a broader perspective, prioritizing the quality of services in line with the latest tech advancements also serves the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in terms of enhancing tourism offerings and accelerating digital transformation.

In parallel, digitalization is considered a key enabler for driving sustainability. With more consumers opting for hotel brands with clear-cut responsible business strategies, innovation is vital to meeting the growing needs of guests while creating value for the community. More Saudi hospitality leaders today are considering circularity in new developments and refitting existing properties to meet sustainability standards in conserving energy and increasing efficiency, reducing consumption, reducing waste, and using environmentally friendly innovative technology.

Beyond leveraging technology, Saudi hospitality leaders are innovating new concepts that will deliver value for diverse segments while ensuring the optimal use of resources. Long-standing hospitality companies are creating concepts and launching original local brands tailored to the needs of modern-day visitors. One example is Makarem, Dur Hospitalitys arm in Makkah and Madinah, which has launched several concepts to accommodate the requirements of different visitor segments, from niche concepts for luxury-seekers to a brand dedicated to three-star hotel conversions.

The targeted expansion of local brands through innovating differentiated concepts also provides guests from the Kingdom and the world with meaningful and authentic cultural experiences. These boutique hotels can play a significant role in increasing loyalty and augmenting social returns, positively promoting culture, boosting local content, and creating jobs.

To leverage Saudi Arabias fast-paced modernization, locally-born hotel brands can adjust their models and offerings and improve their competitiveness by rethinking priorities and placing innovation at the heart of business strategies. There are great opportunities for agile and tech-forward businesses to navigate the rapidly evolving market and expand at scale to create a more robust, future-ready hospitality industry.
Airbus delivered 127 jetliners in the first quarter, a 9% drop from a year earlier, as parts shortages that marred last year's output spilled over into 2023.

Deliveries totaled 61 aircraft in March, the world's biggest planemaker said Tuesday. The first-quarter drop will make it harder for Airbus to reach its goal of increasing shipments to 720 this year, according to Berenberg.

While results picked up in March, "we think there is a downside risk tilt to estimates" for this year and next as Airbus becomes increasingly dependent on second-half improvements, Berenberg analysts led by Philip Buller wrote in a note.

Meeting delivery targets is crucial for cash flow at Airbus and Boeing because the bulk of payments are due upon delivery. Airbus got off to a slow start in January, handing over just 20 planes after supply chain constraints held up production.

The March figures mean Airbus likely lagged behind Boeing in first-quarter deliveries. Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu estimates the U.S. manufacturer handed over 130 planes in the period, including 64 in March. Boeing has been ramping up production of its top-selling jet, the 737 Max, and working down inventories of the 787 Dreamliner.

Bloomberg reported last week that Boeing plans to produce 38 Max units a month by mid-year, a 23% increase from the current pace. The company, which is scheduled to report first-quarter figures on Tuesday, last eclipsed Airbus on an annual basis in 2018.

Production trends at Airbus are encouraging, according to Jefferies' Chloe Lemarie. Still, Airbus will need to surpass 2022 production by 14% in the final three quarters of this year to hit its targets, she said in a note.

While engine shortages - a major factor in last year's bottlenecks - have eased, Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury has warned supply issues will stalk the planemaker at least through year-end.

"We expect our commercial aircraft delivery profile to be back-loaded again," the CEO said on a February conference call. "In light of ongoing geopolitical and macroeconomic turbulences, risks of further disruptions remain."

Airbus delivered 661 aircraft in 2022, after lowering its target from an initial 720. It handed over 140 jetliners in the first quarter of last year.

The parts shortages have forced Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, to slow an ambitious output ramp-up for its A320 family of single-aisle jets.

Sanctions tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine have made it harder for Airbus, Boeing and their suppliers to secure raw materials like titanium, and have driven up prices. China's Covid Zero policies also disrupted parts flows, and post-pandemic labor shortages have hit subcontractors, Faury said in November.

The European planemaker is targeting 65 A320-family units per month by the end of 2024, with a further rise to 75 in 2026. Both goals are about a year later than Airbus's previous projections. As part of the effort, Airbus last week announced that it would double its production capacity in China with a second A320 final-assembly line.

First-quarter sales totaled 142 after cancellations, Airbus said. March orders were 18 units by the same measure. The planemaker also signed a contract for four A350 freighters from an undisclosed customer, according to data released by Airbus.

Airbus shares were down 0.2% to 125.98 euros at 2:20 p.m. in Paris. The stock is up 13% this year, while Boeing has gained 11% in New York.

- - -

Julie Johnsson contributed to this report.
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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A Houston oil and gas firm is renewing its commitment to downtown with one of the region's largest office leases so far this year.

Chord Energy, an independent exploration and production company formed last year by the $6 billion merger of Whiting Petroleum and Oasis Petroleum, recently renewed a lease for 103,405 square feet at its headquarters in the 47-story tower at 1001 Fannin, real estate brokerage Cushman and Wakefield said Tuesday. Chords lease adds to the recent renewal for 55,082 square feet by oil and gas mineral rights firm Black Stone Minerals in the same skyscraper.

The fact that Chord Energy didn't significantly reduce its space may be considered a win for the landlord in an office market in which many major tenants have shrunk their square footage amid hybrid and remote work schedules. Chord Energy does allow its employees to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays, a spokesperson said.

Recently Mattress Firm confirmed that its cutting its headquarters office footprint by 60 percent, adding to a string of firms such as Bechtel, Baker Hughes and Invesco that have shed substantial space to accommodate hybrid work in the past year.

MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS: Target supersizing Houston presence with two massive distribution centers

At 1001 Fannin, most workers are coming into the office three to four times a week, with office occupancy rates climbing weekly, according to Cushman.

Chord Energys lease renewal is the top publicly known downtown office lease signed in the first quarter, and the area's third-largest, according to Cushman and Wakefield. The region's two larger deals in the quarter appear to involve engineering firm Kiewit and offshore floating platform contractor Modec International, both in the Energy Corridor/Katy Freeway West area, according to research from real estate brokerages JLL and Avison Young.

Chord Energy and Black Stone Minerals lease renewals also come as office tenants continue to favor new or recently remodeled buildings when signing new deals. Across the Houston area, office vacancy is hovering at just under 27 percent. But among office buildings constructed since 2010, vacancy rates are about 11.6 percent, according to Avison Young.

1001 Fannin lost a major tenant during the first half of 2022 when law firm Vinson and Elkins exited 338,000 square feet to move into 208,000 square feet in Hines Texas Tower, 845 Texas, according to Houston real estate firm Partners. That space has yet to be filled and 1001 Fannin still has about 338,000 square feet available, according to Cushman.

There are, however, plenty of prospective tenants looking at Vinson and Elkins former digs, said Chip Colvill, executive vice chairman of Cushman, who represented the landlord in the deal.

NEW OFFICE GROWTH: 6-story super sustainable mass timber office project proposed in west Houston

Buildings like 1001 Fannin that have been renovated are seeing the most activity, Colvill said, and spec suites are in high demand, referring to space that is move-in ready with minimal renovations needed. Later this year, landlord FC Tower Property Partners is expected to have about three to five spec suites available ranging from 3,000 square feet to 8,000 square feet, according to Cushman.

The spec suites add to some $20 million worth of renovations at 1001 Fannin in recent years. During 2020 and 2021, renovations at the 1.33 million-square-foot tower have included updating the lobby and tunnel levels, adding a lobby-level coffee shop, upgrading a tenant lounge area with collaboration spaces, and adding a fitness center and outdoor tenant plaza, according to Cushman.

Chord Energy chose to remain in 1001 Fannin because of its access to amenities, retail, restaurants, the tunnel system and downtown's transportation options, a spokesperson said. Staying put also was the most cost-effective option that will allow the energy firm to complete a minor refresh of its office and invest in new audio-video equipment for more effective collaboration and conferencing capabilities, the company said.
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Oil giant Exxon Mobil has sold nearly 200 acres of vacant land on San Antonio's southwest side to a Houston-based real estate firm.

Cottonwood  NFP V LLC bought the property in early April, Bexar County deed records show.

NFP is managed by John Leggett, co-founder of real estate firm NewFound Partners and founder of custom homebuilder On Point Custom Homes of Houston, according to county records.

NewFound Partners' portfolio includes hospitality, industrial, retail, office, multifamily and mixed-use developments as well as solar and battery power storage projects, according to its website. Among its projects in Houston, the company has invested in the Pillars at HBU at Route 59 and Fondren. In San Antonio, the company lists The Westin Riverwalk hotel among its investments.

The 194-acre property it acquired from Exxon has at various times been used for petroleum refining and manufacturing, records show. There are restrictions on a portion of the land prohibiting residential development, groundwater use and agricultural use aside from cattle crazing and butterfly and beekeeping.

Its unclear what Cottonwood paid for the land, though the company borrowed $487,500 for the acquisition. The Bexar Appraisal District values it at $3 million and its assessed value was reduced because a portion of it is used for agriculture.

NewFound Partners did not respond to request for comment.
All is right in the world with a drink in your hand, several stories up, where you can see the sunset from an optimal view.

And Houston has no shortage of rooftop bars from which to do just that. From a rooftop terrace fit for the family to a hookah bar to try with friends, you're sure to enjoy the view from these 11 bars and restaurants.

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Downtown Houston rooftop bars

Z on 23 Rooftop bar

Greg Morago

Twenty-three stories high in Le Meridien hotel, Z on 23 offers a full 360-view of downtown Houston. Attached to restaurant Zutro, you can get a drink on the rooftop before dinner or make the rooftop view your main course. Z on on 23 has a full-service bar and shareable bites like Margherita flatbread, hummus and spinach and artichoke dip.

1121 Walker St.; 3 p.m.-midnight daily

Sunset Rooftop Lounge

In the vibrant EaDo neighborhood, Sunset Rooftop Lounge brings live music, downtown views and cocktails together. The bar offers a wide variety of whiskeys and puts a spin on classic cocktails by each drink name with "sunset." Be sure to eat before you go because there is no food menu.

Happy hour is 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Deals include $3 off signature cocktails, $2 off frozen cocktails and half off all wine bottles and draft beer. And don't miss out on daily events including live music Sundays and Latin night Thursdays.

2119 Dallas St.; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 12 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday

Patterson Park

Courtesy of Patterson Park

Perfect for both you and your dog, the colorful Patterson Park bar has specials and lawn games all week long. Drinks include a mix of classics and fun tropical drinks. Various food trucks on site, such as Nola Po Boys and Lupe Tortilla, will keep you fed.

Happy hour is 2-7 p.m. Monday through Friday with $7 ranch waters, $5 Deep Eddy drinks and $1 off draft beers. Industry Night is 7 p.m. to close Sunday through Thursday, during which you can show proof of employment and get 20 percent off your tab. Also, bicycle riders receive 10 percent off at all times. Events hosted at Patterson Park, including "movie night Mondays" and "ladies night Tuesdays," come with their own special deals.

2205 Patterson St.; 2 p.m.-12 a.m. Monday-Thursday, 2 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, 12 p.m.-12 a.m. Sunday

El Big Bad

Karen Warren/Staff photographer

In the heart of downtown, El Big Bad brings its Mexican flare to the rooftop scene. It claims to have the world's largest infused tequila bar with more than 30 house-made infused tequilas. And from the kitchen, order Mexican, Latin and Texas cuisine such as tacos, nachos and wings.

419 Travis St.; 4 p.m.-12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday through Saturday

Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.

Marie D. De Jesus/Staff photographer

Get a clear view of the Houston skyline with a drink in hand at Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. A three-story location, the brewery has its own unique beer to enjoy with your dog or the whole family. A full-service kitchen serves up wings, pizza and tacos.

"Hoppy hour" is 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday offering $1 off all beer and $2 off all appetizers. Also, don't miss "taco Tuesday" and weekend crawfish boils.

2101 Summer St.; 11 a.m.-midnight daily

Harold's Restaurant & Tap Room

Located in a 100-year-old building in the Heights, Harold's Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace has Southern cuisine with seasonal dishes. Eat and drink in the taproom on the first level or on the upstairs terrace.

Get happy hour drinks from 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and happy hour grub from 4-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

350 W. 19th St.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday

Upstairs Bar & Lounge

With a rooftop terrace perched in Oak trees, Upstairs Bar & Lounge is a casual spot to get some fresh air and enjoy drinks and a pizza. Enjoy a variety of salads, sandwiches and pizza while there.

Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. daily with $5 draft beers, $7 house wine, $9 signature cocktails and specials on bar bites. There are also daily specials including "mules and martini Monday" and "wine down Wednesday."

2356 Rice Blvd.; 3-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Lawless Spirits & Kitchen

A swanky bar in the Rice Hotel, Lawless Spirits & Kitchen has a cozy rooftop terrace. Get drinks and shareable bites such as a grazing board or brisket nachos. And if you don't feel like drinking alcohol, the beverage menu includes a variety of mocktails.

909 Texas Avenue; 4-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 4-11 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday

B&B Butchers & Restaurant

Steakhouse B&B Butchers & Restaurant in the Sixth Ward has an upper terrace with views of the Houston skyline. Enjoy lunch, dinner, drinks or weekend brunch when you're there.

1814 Washington Avenue; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday

77 Degrees

There are drinks, light bites and hookah on offer at Midtown's 77 Degrees. Expect DJs and a lively atmosphere at this rooftop bar. Drinks are Caribbean inspired.

2416 Brazos St.; 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday- Friday, 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday

The Dogwood

At two stories high, The Dogwood brings Southern food together with classic drinks. A perfect stop if you're bar hopping in Midtown and want loud music.

Happy hour is 4-7 p.m. weekdays with select appetizers such as chips and queso ringing in at $6.

2403 Bagby St.; 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
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Hello Kitty soon will be back in H-Town.

The Hello Kitty mobile is headed for Houston once again this month, with stops at The Woodlands Mall Saturday and Friendswood Saturday and April 22.

Decked out in pink with pictures of sweet treats, the Hello Kitty Cafe truck offers cookies and macarons adorned with the iconic characters face and red bow as well as exclusive and limited merchandise. All its missing are those signature white ears.

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On this years U.S. tour, Sanrios signature truck will offer a new hoodie and cafe cup plush as well as a limited-edition glass mug, coin bank, lunch box, lavender T-shirt, canvas tote and rainbow thermos  all Hello Kitty Cafe-themed. Treats include hand-decorated cookie and macaron sets, French Madeleine cookie sets, and giant Hello Kitty Cafe chef cookies. A best-selling Hello Kitty plush will be available as well.

The truck will make a pit stop in The Woodlands first, parking at The Woodlands Mall near Pottery Barn and Shake Shack at 1201 Lake Woodlands Drive, Suite 700, from 10 a.m.-7 p.m Saturday.

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From 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April 22, the treat mobile will stop at the Friendswood Baybrook Mall at 500 Baybrook Mall Drive near the Lawn by Glorias before continuing its tour in Dallas and Fort Worth.

Established in 2014, the Hello Kitty Cafe truck has been pleasing "Kitty-heads" across 100 cities for nearly 10 years.

The cafe truck only accepts credit or debit card payments. Get there earlylines have filled up fast in the past.
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RICHMOND, Ind. (AP)  Authorities urged people to evacuate Tuesday near a large industrial fire in an Indiana city near the Ohio border that sent massive clouds of black smoke into the sky.

The fire occurred at a former factory site in Richmond, 70 miles (112.6 kilometers) east of Indianapolis, that lately had been used to store plastics and other materials for recycling or resale, Mayor Dave Snow said.

They were under a city order to clean up and remediate that site, Snow told The Associated Press. We knew that was a fire hazard the way they were storing materials.

Snow described it as a serious, large-scale fire" that apparently started in a tractor-trailer parked onsite and spread quickly. He said the fire had been contained on three sides by early evening. The cause was not immediately known.

This is an indoor and outdoor storage facility  very, very large, the mayor said.

There were no reports of injuries. But hundreds of people living within a half-mile (0.80 kilometer) of the fire were told to leave. People outside that radius who live downwind of the fire were advised to keep windows closed and pets inside.

Wind from the west blew black smoke across the state border into Ohio.

Bethesda Worship Center in Richmond offered temporary shelter for people forced out of their homes, while other agencies were trying to arrange hotel rooms if necessary, Pastor Ken Harris said.

Snow said state and federal regulators were at the scene to assess air quality and other environmental impacts.

Richmond has a population of 35,000.
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.
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In Houston, like in most parts of the country, Latino LGBTQ+ leaders are divided on the gender-neutral terms Latinx and Latine, with some lauding them as beacons of inclusivity and others berating them as grammatically awkward or just plain clunky.

Both terms have grown more popular in recent years as a way to be more inclusive to women and the LGBTQ+ community by replacing the traditionally masculine -o suffix in Latino with -x or -e. The identifiers have prompted praise and scrutiny from across the country. Beyond the U.S., these terms havent gained much traction, experts said.

But LGBTQ+ Houstonians sorting through these terms to describe themselves were everything but neutral on the matter.

Anandrea Molina, a transgender activist and founder of the Organizacion Latina de Trans in Texas, uses Latinx and Latine regularly. She said LGBTQ+ Latinos have been debating the benefits and downfalls of these words for years.

Theres a lot of division within our community because of these terms, Molina said in Spanish, using the gender-neutral Latine. This is an opportunity for everyone to feel included. This is just our first step.

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Despite their controversies, Molina said Latinx and Latine are safe havens for those who dont fall within the gender binary.

So many people feel threatened by whats been established (in the Spanish language), she said. But whats been established arent necessarily the rules.

Opponents of the new terms often disapprove of the fact that the new terms circumvent the grammatically gendered structure of the Spanish language, which in most cases uses the suffixes to signify whether a word is masculine (-o) or feminine (-a).

Elia Chino, a Houston trans advocate, said the terms Latinx and Latine erase both gender identity and heritage for members of the Latino LGBTQ+ community.

Im disappointed that now everyone uses them, said Chino, who founded FLAS, the Fundacion Latinoamericana De Accion Social in 1994 to help improve sexual health education in the Latino community during the AIDS epidemic Its like were losing our Spanish.

Her biggest criticism is that the terms dont adhere to traditional Spanish grammar, which emphasizes gender identities.

I feel like were more marginalized with the -x, said Chino, who is originally from Mexico.

In 2021, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the nations oldest Latino civil rights organization, weighed in on the same side, dropping Latinx from its official communications.

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The hesitancy of many Spanish speakers to use the modern terms mirrors peoples attitudes toward gender-neutral language in English, said Austin Davis Ruiz, a local LGBTQ+ activist.

He uses Latine often and said he has noticed a shift toward gender-neutral terminology within the Latino LGBTQ+ community in Houston.

Still, he acknowledged it will take time for terms such as Latinx and Latine to reach widespread use.

Its basically asking people to totally rewrite how they were taught and what they grew up on, Ruiz said.

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The debate among Latinos over these terms has spanned decades, according to University of Houston professor Guadalupe San Miguel, who focuses on Latino history and politics.

Latinx and Latine have roots in the Chicano Movement of the mid-20th century, he said. Early activists, constrained by a language that emphasized masculinity, struggled to find inclusive labels within their community, San Miguel said. This led to new expressions such as Chicano/a, Xicano (as a way to connect with languages indigenous to Mexico) and eventually Chicanx.

Although there is no clear origin story as to how the -x suffix came to be, the term Latino got the same treatment when it became the predominant identifier for people with cultural ties to Latin America in the 1970s.

The term Latine evolved as an alternative because it more closely resembled Spanish, which uses gender-neutral suffixes in words such as estudiante (student) and residente (resident).

This is all part of a long history of people within the community trying to define themselves, San Miguel said. Its a continuing struggle.

A range of politicians have weighed in on the debate, including some who scoff at the idea of gender-neutral terms.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, noted that few people actually use Latinx. Citing a 2021 Gallup poll that found only 4 percent of U.S. Latinos prefer the term Latinx, she banned the term in an executive order this year, striking it from use in official state documents.

But its not only conservatives who bristle at the term. Latino Democrats in Connecticut are trying to squash the gender-neutral term through a bill in their state legislature, arguing it is offensive to Spanish speakers.

No one, politician or layperson, of course, can dictate what Latinx, Latine or Latino people choose to call themselves or one another.
A man Tuesday was fatally shot by a Houston Police Department officer after the man allegedly rammed the officer's SUV and then physically assaulted him in the parking lot of a Family Dollar in southeast Houston, police said.

The man was shot once in the upper chest and died at a hospital, police said. Neither he nor the officer had been immediately identified.

The shooting happened around 2:35 p.m. in a parking lot near the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and East Orem.

Shortly before the shooting, the officer  who had been in a marked police SUV  spotted a black Honda Civic in the parking lot of the store, said Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Ban Tien. The license plates on the Honda matched a car that had been reported stolen in downtown Houston after a strong-arm robbery Tuesday morning, Tien said.

The officer parked behind the car, got out, approached the vehicle and found a man in the drivers side seat, Tien said.

The man refused to get out of the car and tried to back out of his spot, ramming the police SUV, according to Tien. After that, the man got out of the car and approached the officer, Tien said.

A struggle followed. The man at one point straddled the officer, Tien said. The officer's Taser and body camera were knocked off his body, Tien said.

It was at that point the officer drew his duty weapon and fired the handgun once, Tien said.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he died. He had not been identified but police described him as a Black man in his 40s. The medical examiner's office was expected to conduct an autopsy.

The man was not believed to have been armed when he was shot, Tien said. He was believed to have two felony warrants, Tien said, but it was not clear whether police had run his information prior to the initial altercation.

The officer has been with the police department for 7 years and is a member of the department's gang unit, Tien said. He suffered bruises and bumps in the struggle, Tien said.

The officer was placed on administrative duty following the shooting, which is customary after shooting by a law enforcement officer.

"I want to emphasize that this is just a preliminary investigation," Tien said. "What we have is a snapshot view of what happened and it's going to take a lengthy investigation."

There was at least one witness to the shooting: a woman who was with the shooting victim at store. Tien said the woman approached the officer during the struggle but didn't touch him.

Police had been attempting to collect video evidence at the scene, but Tien said there were limits to what was immediately available. The store didn't have functional cameras and neither did the officer's SUV, Tien said.

Police encouraged anyone who may have seen or recorded the incident while it was happening to contact investigators at 713-308-3600.

john.ferguson@houstonchronicle.com
On Scene TV

A man was shot two times during an altercation with another man Monday night in south Houston, police officials said.

The man was shot in the leg and shoulder and taken to a local hospital, Lt. J.P. Horelica, of the Houston Police Department told On Scene reporters.
Courtesy of Metro Video Services

A man was killed and a woman was seriously wounded during a shooting late Monday in a parking lot in southwest Houston, officials said.

Officers around 7:30 p.m. were dispatched to the 9600 block of Beechnut Street, where they found one man dead from a gunshot wound, Lt. J.P. Horelica of the Houston Police Department told Metro Video Services reporters. Investigators then learned a second person, a woman, had been taken to a hospital in a red vehicle. She was in serious condition.
As Houston continues to grapple with extreme weather conditions, scientists have found record-breaking sea level rises in the U.S. Gulf Coast, which could leave cities such as Houston more vulnerable to severe storms and flooding in the coming decades than previously anticipated.

Since 2010, sea levels along the Gulf Coast and Southeast coastlines have been rising by roughly half an inch per year due to a combination of human-caused climate change and an extended period of unfavorable natural conditions, according to a new study published by the scientific journal Nature Communications.

OPINION: Climate change is taking thousands of lives  and could suck $178 trillion from the global economy

Although half an inch might not seem like a lot, it can have significant consequences for coastal communities. A NASA analysis determined that for every inch of sea level rise, about 8.5 feet of beachfront vanishes along an average coast. In fact, these rates are on par with the worst case scenario if greenhouse gas emissions continued to surge throughout the 21st century.

Higher sea levels also can cause more flooding even on sunny days, often leading to considerable damage to properties and infrastructure, according to the papers lead author, Sonke Dangendorf, at Tulane University. This latest research joins a long list of recent studies highlighting the negative effect climate change could have on the Houston area.

These rapid rates are unprecedented over at least the 20th century and they have been three times higher than the global average over the same period, Dangendorf told the Tulane News. The results, once again, demonstrate the urgency of the climate crisis for the Gulf region. We need interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts to sustainably face these challenges.

TEXAS COAST: Galveston sea level to rise more than two feet by 2060, report says

The findings by Dangendorf and his team were consistent with those of Jianjun Yin, a geosciences professor at the University of Arizona. In his recent article in the Journal of Climate, Yin used satellite observations to estimate the total amount of sea level rise in the East and the Gulf Coasts from 2010 to 2022 was about 5 inches. The drastic rate has made disasters such as Hurricanes Michael and Ian more devastating than they otherwise would have been, he told The Washington Post.

The faster (sea level rise) on the Southeast and Gulf Coasts  coincided with active and even record-breaking North Atlantic hurricane seasons in recent years, Yin said in his study. As a consequence, the elevated storm surge exacerbated coastal flooding and damages, particularly on the Gulf Coast.

There is no consensus yet among climate scientists regarding the cause of the surge or the duration of the trend.

Yin's research suggests the dramatic sea level changes during the past decade may be linked to broader climate patterns that have altered ocean circulation in the long term. Meanwhile, researchers behind the Nature Communications article attribute the tripling of sea level rise in the region partially to "unlucky" natural events in recent years.

However, this is no reason to give the all clear, said Torbjorn Tornqvist of Tulane University, a co-author of the Nature Communications article. These high rates of sea-level rise have put even more stress on these vulnerable coastlines, particularly in Louisiana and Texas where the land is also sinking rapidly.

Q&A: Mayor Turner explains how a global network of 'resilient cities' helps Houston with hurricane prep

In 2020, Houston launched a multi-billion-dollar resiliency master plan, dubbed "Resilient Houston," after sustaining six major flooding events with federal disaster declarations during the previous five years. Through a broad range of efforts, including the planting of 4.6 million new trees and the removal of all homes from city floodways, officials hoped to better prepare the city and the region for disasters like Hurricane Harvey.

"Despite facing severe weather challenges, we continue to build a stronger, more sustainable, and resilient city thanks to our Resilient Houston plan, Climate Action plan, and infrastructure improvements," Mayor Sylvester Turner said.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 COURTESY PHOTO Show More Show Less 2 of 2 The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Show More Show Less



A wildflower that grows in the Texas Hill Country now is considered a "threatened species" under the Endangered Species Act.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently determined the bracted twistflower is a threatened species and designated the 1,596 acres where it grows as a critical habitat. The bracted twistflower grows in Uvalde, Medina, Baxar and Travis counties.
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Harsher punishments for violent protests in North Carolina are being challenged by a prominent civil rights group, which said in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday that several parts of a new anti-riot law are unconstitutional.

The North Carolina law was drawn up in response to protests against racial injustice and police brutality in 2020. The demonstrations following George Floyds death were largely peaceful but occasionally descended into chaos after dark.

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina is asking a U.S. District Court to block enforcement of several provisions of the new law, arguing it impermissibly criminalizes North Carolinians who exercise their fundamental free speech, assembly and petitioning rights.

It is a flagrant attempt to vilify and criminalize a social justice movement, said Sam Davis, an attorney with the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation.

The law was passed last month by the Republican-controlled General Assembly with some bipartisan support. It raises criminal punishments for willingly participating in or inciting a riot. Beginning in December, fines and prison time will increase, typically by a couple years or more, for protesters who brandish a weapon, injure somebody or cause significant property damage. The law also creates new crimes for protesters who cause a death or incite a riot that contributes to a death.

House Speaker Tim Moore sponsored the bill himself, citing firsthand accounts of rioting and looting in downtown Raleigh in June 2020 amid otherwise peaceful protests as his motivation. He and other supporters called the legislation a necessary deterrent and said it will prevent protesters from misinterpreting their First Amendment rights as condoning destruction.

Existing state laws were not sufficiently strong enough to guarantee that those who engaged in the most violent and destructive behavior would ever see the inside of a jail cell, Moore said during House floor debate in February.

Moores office did not immediately respond Tuesday to messages seeking comment on the lawsuit.

The ACLU suit says provisions of the new law are overly broad, including the definition of a riot as a public disturbance involving three or more people whose assembly causes injury or damage, or creates a clear and present danger of injury or damage.

The civil rights group also warns that the law criminalizes urging another person to engage in activities defined as rioting, and has provisions that could punish protest leaders who don't engage in violence themselves. These provisions target mere advocacy in violation of the First Amendment, the lawsuit states, and could dissuade people from engaging in lawful demonstrations.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper successfully vetoed a similar proposal in 2021, noting that it could intimidate and deter peaceful protesters.

Cooper allowed the bill to become law without his signature last month but expressed concerns about disparate impacts on communities of color.

Republicans last month were one seat shy of a veto-proof supermajority in the House, meaning they needed at least one Democrat to override a veto. But six House Democrats  including one who was a chief sponsor  voted in favor of the measure when it passed the chamber in February, indicating a veto override wouldve likely succeeded.

But the GOP now holds a supermajority in both legislative chambers after Rep. Tricia Cotham formally changed her party registration from Democrat to Republican on Monday.

Under the law, business owners can seek compensation from protesters who damage property, equal to three times the monetary damage.

Those accused of rioting or looting will also have to wait 24 hours before their bond is set. Bill supporters argued that defendants could otherwise be released immediately by a magistrate and continue causing destruction.

Social justice advocates criticized the measure as it moved quickly through the General Assembly, saying it targets Black Lives Matter demonstrators and other minority groups by scaring them away from exercising their constitutional rights. Some warned it might lead to more arrests of Black and brown protesters who could be unfairly perceived by police as threats to instigate violence or disorder.

___

Hannah Schoenbaum 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.
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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.
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.
WASHINGTON - The Branch Davidians were founded in 1955, an offshoot of an offshoot of Seventh-day Adventists, with a Texas home named after Mount Carmel, which in Israel overlooks the plain known as Armageddon. Thirty years ago this month, America was collectively nearing the horrific April 19 end of the 51-day siege of the compound near Waco, Tex.

This was the first domestic event since CNN's creation in 1980 to mesmerize the nation with saturation coverage by cable television. Waco attracted thousands of gawkers, who attracted vendors hawking T-shirts and such. Five dollars could purchase a "Fear the Government that Fears Your Gun" bumper sticker sold by a 24-year-old Gulf War veteran, Timothy McVeigh. Exactly - intentionally - two years after April 19, 1993, his truck bomb murdered 168 people, including 19 children, and injured more than 800 others at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

As Kevin Cook writes in "Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America's Modern Militias," Waco was a precursor that had a precursor -- the 11-day standoff in 1992 at Ruby Ridge in northern Idaho. There, federal agents and U.S. marshals (one of whom was killed) attempted to serve a warrant on the white separatist Randy Weaver for selling sawed-off shotguns to a neo-Nazi who was a government informant. Weaver's son and wife died in the gunfire.

David Koresh, a high-school dropout, was born as Vernon Howell to a 14-year-old mother. He had "wives" as young as 12 at Mount Carmel. Federal agents could have served their warrant (for gun violations) when Koresh went jogging or shopping. Instead, the siege began when 76 heavily armed agents rushed the Davidians' building while National Guard helicopters hovered. Four agents died.

The siege included agents bombarding the compound around-the-clock with ear-shattering noises, according to Cook: "acid rock, bawling babies, bagpipes, sirens, dentists' drills, the squeals of animals being slaughtered." As the siege continued Koresh appeared on the covers of Time and Newsweek. He would not negotiate as he toiled to decipher the seven seals in the Book of Revelation.

The siege ended in a conflagration - its origin is still disputed - with modified tanks punching holes in walls, through which tear gas was inserted. Seventy-six Davidians died, including more than 20 children. Cook says "no domestic government action had led to so many American deaths since U.S. Cavalry troops killed more than two hundred Lakota Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in 1890."

Government agencies made many mistakes in allowing the siege to begin - and in the conduct of it. But the primary blame for this tragedy belongs to Koresh, whose fanaticism probably was as sincere as his lunacy (leavened by calculation, opportunism and cynicism) was real. He died that day, probably by suicide. His followers - not including the children - were culpable for following him: Sincerity does not excuse gullibility.

There is never a shortage of people eager to libel the United States as a nation defined by a unique susceptibility to recurring lunacies. Such people should acquaint themselves with human history, including the mass fanaticisms of the previous century, and this one. And with the meager resonance of most made-in-America manias. Most, but not all.

In 1859, a fanatic (friends and family attested that his maternal grandmother, his mother, and one of his sons died insane; three aunts, two uncles, and another son were intermittently insane) accelerated the coming of the Civil War. John Brown, abolitionist and insurrectionist, said his 1856 butchery, with broadswords, of five Kansans (none a slaveholder; two born in Germany) had been "decreed by Almighty God, ordained from Eternity." In 1859, Brown and a small ragtag band of followers, some armed with pikes, attacked the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Va. When Brown was hanged - John Wilkes Booth traveled to Charles Town, Va., to witness this - Ralph Waldo Emerson declared him a "saint," Henry David Thoreau rejoiced "that I was his contemporary," and from New England to Chicago church bells tolled communities' admiration.

Our generally temperate nation, although it is an unparalleled success, has a history flecked with end-of-times manias, which often are fueled by religious imagery. The 45th president, who aspires to be the 47th, recently said at a Waco rally that the 2024 election will be the "final battle." Some people - how many is unclear - really believe this. The Bible, which many of those people also believe in, says the climactic conflict between good and evil will occur not in America but at Armageddon.
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If Gov. Greg Abbott really wanted to run for the White House in 2024, it is not likely hed be turning down big Iowa speaking engagements like he just did.

While Abbott hasnt made any formal announcement about running for the White House one way or the other, his lack of travel to Iowa and New Hampshire as other GOP contenders make beelines for those states shows the Texas governor is not laying the early groundwork for a presidential campaign. Iowa and New Hampshire are traditionally the first two GOP presidential primary voting states.

IN-DEPTH: Why Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is missing from 2024 presidential buzz

Former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were all working Iowa voters last month, and this week both former Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina are in the state.

But Abbott passed when the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition sent him an invite to speak at its annual spring kickoff in Clive, Iowa, next weekend.

Pence, Scott, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, of San Antonio, are among the list of eight candidates who have agreed to speak at the event as they try to get their names in the national conversation.

The Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition is typically a key stop in the early run-up to the Iowa Caucus vote, one that former Gov. Rick Perry said he remembers making in October of 2011 as he began his 2012 presidential campaign.

They were places that you needed to go, needed to be engaged in if you were serious about running for president, the former Texas governor said in an interview on Tuesday. I learned more about Iowa than I ever thought I would in my lifetime.

Abbotts campaign team confirmed that hes also turned down other out-of-state speaking opportunities during the Texas Legislative Session, which runs through May 29.

But the lack of face time in Iowa isnt keeping Abbott from being on the invite lists and showing up in presidential polling. Abbott has regularly been listed among the top contenders in regular Fox News Polls behind Trump, DeSantis, Pence, Haley and others.

Abbotts longtime campaign advisor Dave Carney joked earlier this year that being governor of Texas automatically gets you included in the presidential chatter, whether you want to be or not.

Clearly, theres some constitutional amendment that voters supported back in the day that says, If youre a governor of Texas, you must consider running for president, he told the Associated Press earlier this year.

Abbott particularly looked like a potential candidate after winning his re-election over Democrat Beto ORourke in 2022. While Abbott comfortably won that contest, it came at a cost. He ended up spending more than $140 million in that re-election bid, leaving him with just over $7 million in his campaign account to start 2023.

And then theres history. Perry and former Gov. George W. Bush were the last two Texas governors, both of whom ran for the White House.

From 1980 to 2016, there had always been a Texas Republican in the mix, thanks largely to the Bush family. And Democrats have had serious challengers at times, including former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen in 1976 and more recently ORourke and former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro in 2020.

But despite all that, the buzz around Abbott has been noticeably more muted this year, especially with the entry of Trump into the race. Once Trump entered, it had a slew of potential GOP challengers talking less about trying to challenge the man who has won the last two GOP nomination battles.

After Trump jumped into the race in November, Carney told reporters that Abbotts team wasnt planning to do any testing-the-waters type stuff. Just focused on things here in Texas.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is also among those who had been considering another White House run. But with Trump in the field, he turned his focus to running for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2024.
Pappas Restaurants officials sued the city Tuesday, alleging a former mayoral aide who resigned amid federal corruption charges called CEO Chris Pappas about a Hobby Airport contract while the deal still was in its first round of proposals, violating a city rule that prohibits such discussions.

William-Paul Thomas, then the mayors liaison to City Council, called Pappas on Nov. 25, 2019, according to the lawsuit. Pappas did not answer nor return his call. Thomas retired last year after admitting to federal prosecutors that he accepted bribes in an unrelated case.

Oh, Mr. Pappas, this is William-Paul Thomas, Mayor Sylvester Turners Office. I wanted to visit with you regarding the upcoming airport concession at Hobby Airport, Thomas said in a voicemail message to Pappas, according to the lawsuit. Um, I had a great meeting with a couple of folks and Im going to share with you some of the thoughts that we had going forward. Please give me a call at your convenience.

Company representatives are not allowed to discuss pending contracts with city officials or workers, except for the citys designated employee overseeing the procurement. Thomas' call was made while the city was accepting its first round of proposals for the Hobby contract, which it later canceled in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Mayoral aide was offered more than $10K to help bar pass inspection, fast-track permit, records show

It was the first of three separate rounds of bidding the city advertised for the Hobby contract, which culminated more than three years later last month with City Council awarding the 10-year, $470 million deal to Areas, a subsidiary of a Spanish concessions company.

Thomas' attorney could not be reached for comment.

Turners office declined comment on the new allegation Tuesday. The mayors office previously had accused Pappas of running a smear campaign about the contracting process. The Turner administration and supporting council members have argued the city followed the same process it used for three separate airport deals that sailed through council without a whiff of public controversy in the last year, and the same one Pappas had won several times in the last two decades.

City officials have cited the companies' different cost proposals as the driving factor behind the decision. The new company, Areas, offered the city 22 percent of its revenues, while Pappas offered 15.5 percent. Most companies offered around 15 to 17 percent.

Today, Four Families of Hobby filed a lawsuit against the City of Houston, Chris Pappas said in a statement, using the name of the Pappas-led venture that applied for the airport contract. On Friday, April 7th, we received the citys response to the post-award protest we filed with the Procurement Office. Unfortunately, the response was conclusory at best and clearly did not take seriously our concerns that the city failed to comply with state law, city code, as well as the citys own policies and procedures in this procurement.

Christina Pappas, director of marketing for the company, said Pappas did not notify city officials of Thomas' message at the time.

He did not notify anyone, as we were in a no-contact period, and he made the decision to ignore the message, Pappas said.

In the lawsuit, attorney Rachel Palmer Hooper argued the voicemail indicates Thomas may have had access to confidential information about proposals from earlier rounds of bidding, which is why Pappas was raising it now.

The complaint alleges Thomas met with people about the airport concessions at issue here and may have misused official information. Thomas had left the city by the time the most recent round of bidding began.

As with the protest the company filed with the city last month, the lawsuit also alleges the city treated the Pappas-led group, called Four Families of Hobby, unequally, applied unstated evaluation criteria when reviewing the proposals, allowed airport staff instead of the evaluation committee to assign compensation scores, and misapplied other evaluation criteria. It also says the city should have used Hire Houston First in grading the proposals, a program that gives preference to local companies for city contracts.

Councils vote last month effectively ended Pappas' 20-year run at the airport after the company waged a monthlong public battle to renew its contract. Pappas officials criticized the selection process as flawed, questioning why the city canceled two earlier rounds of bidding for the contract. Areas, the winning company, finished in fourth place in the previous round, canceled late last year due to close scoring between the Pappas-led group and another company.

In that case, the two scores were separated by 0.2 percentage points. In the latest procurement, Areas was ahead of the Pappas-led group by 0.6 percentage points. The companys officials allege this round should have been too close to call as well.

RELATED: With Pappas set to lose its place in Hobby Airport, CEO rips 'flawed' concessions contract process

Jedediah Greenfield, the citys chief procurement officer, told an attorney for the Pappas officials last week that he was denying their protest.

I have reviewed this procurement thoroughly and am confident it was conducted in accordance with relevant law, ordinance, and policy, Greenfield wrote. Consequently, I am denying your protest and your request to reevaluate proposals. This procurement is complete.

Greenfield said the Hire Houston First ordinance raised by Pappas officials should not have been used because it was a contract that generates revenue for the city. Hire Houston First only applies to contracts in which the city is spending money, Greenfield and City Attorney Arturo Michel have said.

He said there is no law that requires the city to re-bid a contract when the scoring is close, and he said the city graded scoring in this contract as it does with others.

The city followed all of its policies and applicable state laws, according to Greenfield. It was handled as all other concessions contracts have been handled in recent years. It was not arbitrary and capricious, but rather objective and fair to all proposers.

The lawsuit was filed in the 189th District Court. A hearing was set for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, but was delayed until Thursday.

The Pappas-led team is asking the court to restrain the city from forcing Pappas to move out of Hobby Airport so a judge can examine their broader claims.

Pappas is due out of the airport by May 11.
Gov. Greg Abbott stunned legal observers on Saturday when he announced a plan to pardon Daniel Perry, an Army sergeant who had been convicted of murder in Austin less than 24 hours earlier. The news was extraordinary not just because Texas is a notoriously unyielding place for criminal defendants, but also for its timing  Perry has not even been sentenced by a judge, nor have his lawyers submitted a pardon application or any kind of appeal paperwork.

LATEST: Abbott plans to pardon U.S. Army sergeant who fatally shot armed protester

Abbotts announcement has thrown the case further into the national spotlight. Perry was already a cause celebre among some Republicans who say his actions were self defense, and the guilty verdict was a huge win for the progressive-led Travis County District Attorneys Office, which has secured indictments against more than 20 police officers in two years.

Now the spotlight is also on the Board of Pardons and Paroles, which previously refused to recommend a posthumous pardon for George Floyd, who had a minor drug-related conviction on his record from 2004, when he lived in Houston.

Here are answers to major questions in the case.

Who is Daniel Perry and why is Abbott interested in his case?

Perry was driving for Uber on the night of July 25, 2020, when he made a right turn into an intersection full of protesters in downtown Austin. One of those protesters, 28-year-old Garrett Foster, approached the drivers side of Perrys car while carrying an AK-47 rifle. Perry rolled down the window and, seconds later, used a revolver next to him to shoot and kill Foster.

Both men were legally armed, and both were on opposite sides of a protest movement that had reached a crescendo after the police killing of Floyd. Perrys defense team attempted to portray the protesters as an angry mob and said Foster was carrying his rifle in a threatening manner, which meant Perry had the right to shoot him under Texas self-defense laws. Prosecutors contended that Perry deliberately drove into a group of peaceful protesters and lost his right to self-defense by provoking the confrontation with Foster.

RELATED: Rittenhouse rallies the faithful at Conroe 'Rally Against Censorship'

The case also centered on a deepening rift between Austin police and Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, one of the most liberal prosecutors elected in the country. Austin police never arrested Perry or charged him with a crime, and the lead homicide detective testified in the trial that he could not have done so because there was a legitimate argument for self defense.

But more than a year after Fosters death, Garzas office presented the case to a grand jury, which indicted Perry for murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Perrys indictment made him a celebrity among conservatives, with parallels to Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted of fatally shooting two men during protests in Kenosha, Wisc., in 2020.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson suggested on his show Friday that Abbott pardon the sergeant. Less than 24 hours later, Abbott tweeted that he intended to do so.

Can Abbott pardon Daniel Perry?

Not yet. In Texas, a governor can only grant a pardon after an initial approval from the Board of Pardon and Paroles, which consists of seven voting members. Still, Abbott has a lot of power over the process: He appoints the board members, and can fire them at any time.

In addition, as Abbott tweeted on Saturday, Texas law DOES allow the Governor to request the Board of Pardons and Paroles to determine if a person should be granted a pardon  even if the person has not yet asked for one.

His tweet signals that he exercised that power in this case, adding that he told board members to expedite their decision. His office did not respond to a request for more specifics about exactly what he asked for and how.

Is it unusual for a Governor to request a pardon decision?

Yes, very. Ive never known it to happen in Texas at all, certainly not with this governor, said Mike Ware, director of the Innocence Project of Texas. No one has even fathomed that it would ever happen.

Ware and other attorneys told the Chronicle they dont consider filing an application for a pardon until theyve exhausted their efforts at the appellate court level, which usually takes years. Even then, they wont bother to apply unless the local district attorney agrees with their request and is willing to say so in writing.

None of those factors are actually spelled out in the law, however, and a process that starts with a request from a governor could circumvent all of that. For instance, Perry cant begin the appeals process until hes been sentenced by a judge, and there isnt even a date yet for that hearing. But some experts have pointed to a little-known section of Texas criminal law called Reasons to Present Sentence.

That section says that before a sentence is pronounced against a criminal defendant, the person shall be asked whether he has anything to say why the sentence should not be pronounced against him. One possible reason which could lead to the persons discharge: That the defendant has received a pardon from the proper authority, on the presentation of which, legally authenticated, he shall be discharged.

So if the Board of Pardons and Paroles were to recommend a pardon for Perry before his sentencing hearing, and Abbott were to approve that pardon, he could avoid having to go through the appellate process altogether.

It could happen. But, it would be absolutely, astronomically strange, said Gary Cohen, an Austin-based criminal defense attorney who has specialized in pardon and parole law for the last 35 years.

He forwarded the Chronicle a letter he sent Monday afternoon to the board members.

I come before you because I am horrified and offended about what the Governor is calling upon you to do regarding the pardon of Daniel Perry, Cohen wrote. I understand that statutory authority exists for the Governor to request the Board to investigate and report to him on matters involving clemency. However, it appears that he is commanding you to send a favorable recommendation to him.

He urged them: Do not bow to public pressure or from any pressure exerted upon you by the Executive Branch or the media.

How does the Board of Pardons and Paroles make its decision?

The matter is now in the hands of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, whose decision-making process is famously opaque. Texas law provides almost no guidance for the seven board members who vote on pardon-related issues. They are not required to meet, either in person or by telephone, and they dont have to offer any reasoning for their votes.

Various lawsuits over the years have offered glimpses of how the board makes its decisions. In 1998, the board chair at the time testified that in the three years prior, the board reviewed 57 clemency petitions but did not call a single hearing or conduct any investigations. It only granted one petition. At the time, a judge quipped, A flip of the coin would be more merciful than these votes.

In 2021, the board reported that it recommended clemency in 75 cases that didnt involve the death penalty, out of a total of 140 cases considered. But they still dont release any details of their decision-making process  which became abundantly clear that year, when members voted to posthumously pardon George Floyd, then abruptly changed their vote almost a year later with little explanation.

The pardon application for Floyd was related to an old arrest by former Houston police officer Gerald Goines, who was later charged with falsifying evidence in drug cases.

Allison Mathis, who worked for the Harris County Public Defenders Office at the time, said the application she prepared for Floyd was the first shed ever submitted. It was hundreds of pages long and the Harris County District Attorney supported it.

In October 2021, the board informed Mathis in a letter that it voted to recommend clemency and would forward the case to Abbott for final disposition.

But the following December, when Abbott normally announces his pardon decisions, Floyd was not on the list. Nine months later, she received another letter that said the board reconsidered their initial decision and reversed the vote.

How often does Abbott agree to grant a pardon?

Very rarely. In 2021, the board recommended clemency in 75 cases not involving the death penalty. Abbott actually granted it in only 8 of the cases."

neena.satija@houstonchronicle.com
Texas Republicans on Monday unveiled a plan to revive the states largest corporate tax break program with legislation that would make the incentives more widely available and more lucrative; water down prior job creation and wage requirements; and exempt grid reliability projects  including various natural gas facilities  from most of the programs key guardrails.

IN-DEPTH: Texas doles out $31 billion in property tax breaks for business as Chapter 313 expires

The proposal closely mirrors Chapter 313, the defunct law that expired at the end of last year after lawmakers failed to extend it. That program gave manufacturing and energy companies a decade of steep discounts on their school property taxes in order to lure them to Texas over other states.

The revived version, known as House Bill 5, would provide more lucrative incentives overall, including provisions that appear to waive all school district maintenance and operations tax payments while a project is under construction, make not just new facilities but expansions eligible for subsidies, and increase the size of the firms tax breaks compared to its predecessor program.

Critics of Chapter 313 noted that the new program would use identical criteria in deciding whether a firm deserves the subsidies, which a 2021 Chronicle investigation found did not prevent incentives from going to companies that would have come to Texas regardless. The Chronicle also revealed that lawmakers had repeatedly undercut the programs job and wage goals by weakening requirements for companies  a key part of lawmakers decision to let Chapter 313 lapse.

The new program would never expire, or "sunset," ensuring it could not meet the same fate.

We wouldn't even be here if not for the sunset provisions of 313, Dick Lavine, a senior fiscal analyst at the left-leaning think tank Every Texan, told a panel of House lawmakers Monday. And once this passes with no sunset, there's no incentive for anybody to ever come back. That is just a mandatory provision that I think you should have.

The Chapter 313 redux would exclude renewable energy projects, the source of most applications under the old program. Yet, about 75 percent of actual tax breaks  worth a projected $31 billion over the life of all active projects  will go to manufacturers, including some of the worlds largest oil and gas companies.

Excluding solar and wind energy projects is thought to be a key condition needed to win the support of powerful Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who played a major role in Chapter 313s demise two years ago. Earlier this year, Patrick said the program had been misused to excessively benefit renewable windmills.

Gov. Greg Abbott also said recently that he does not want renewable energy projects to be eligible under the revived program.

The latest version of the legislation comes about five weeks after lawmakers filed an earlier draft that was missing many key details, such as caps on the length or amount of the tax breaks. House Bill 5 would keep the stated subsidy period at 10 years, but also would extend the tax breaks into the construction period.

The measure is being supported by scores of local chambers of commerce and other business organizations, whose leaders argue that Texas needs some type of corporate incentive program to remain competitive with states that offer their own tax breaks. Bob Harvey, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership, said other states "have taken notice of our success and become much more aggressive in the incentive packages that they craft to attract new companies.

"While we don't have to match those incentive packages point by point, we do need to have a robust program in place to keep us competitive," Harvey said at a Monday committee meeting where lawmakers heard hours of testimony on HB 5.

The updated legislation requires projects to create at least 50 jobs, double the prior requirement of 25, if theyre located in one of the 10 Texas counties with a population of 750,000 or more. But just 4 percent of the 900 active Chapter 313 projects are in those areas. In most counties  those with populations between 25,000 and 750,000  the minimum job requirement would be reduced from 25 to 20.

Companies would also have more latitude to reach the job-creation floor, through a provision allowing them to count the hours worked by several part-time workers as one full-time job, as long as the combined hours top 1,600 a year. They could also count 10 temporary construction jobs as one permanent full-time job, and would no longer be required to provide health insurance as Chapter 313 previously required.

And, while the bill does not revive a Chapter 313 provision that allowed jobs rules to be waived, HB 5 would weaken wage targets for workers at subsidized sites, from 110 percent of the local average manufacturing wage to 100 percent of the local average wage for all jobs.

Broadened eligibility

HB 5 would vastly expand the types of industries and projects eligible for incentives, letting tax breaks flow not just to new facilities but also plant expansions. It would invite applications from new types of huge projects, such as water infrastructure, power plant upgrades and natural gas storage.

State Rep. Morgan Meyer, a Dallas Republican who is a key supporter of HB 5, said he did not understand why companies would need incentives to build natural gas and water storage, since those types of projects are all but inevitable  in other words, tied to existing infrastructure like gas pipelines.

The Chronicle found that Chapter 313 subsidized a number of projects that energy analysts said were inevitable, including at least 36 fractionators, a type of facility that splits natural gas liquids into their separate components after theyve left the processing plant. Such facilities are needed to make gas liquids usable.

One of the main arguments, you might remember from last session, is, these projects are coming here anyway, said Meyer, who chairs the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. Well, I can tell you these are going to come here anyway, because they're necessary for the project.  I can already see the argument.

Natural gas plants and fractionators qualify as grid reliability projects under HB 5, meaning they would be exempt from any requirements related to jobs, investment or the possibility that the project could go elsewhere.

The new initiative would also grant more lucrative tax breaks than those most companies received under Chapter 313.

In most Texas counties  excluding the 10 largest  the maximum taxable value during the tax break period would be $14 million. Of the 900 active deals under Chapter 313, just 8 percent have lower taxable values.

Lavine, a leading critic of Chapter 313 and the effort to revive it, said HB 5 contains no exacting test to see if the incentive is even necessary to lure a project to Texas.

Under the bill, the Texas Comptrollers Office would still be charged with reviewing applications and recommending that school boards approve essentially the same two hurdles that nearly every Chapter 313 easily cleared: The tax break must be a determining factor in the companys decision to locate the project in Texas instead of another state or country, and the companys total subsidy must be exceeded by the taxes produced in the years after the incentives stop flowing.

Yet comptroller staff themselves acknowledged it was impossible to apply the determining factor language to weed out projects that never intended to build outside Texas. And HB 5 would lengthen from the post-subsidy comparison period from 15 years to 25 years.
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Mayor Jennifer Macksey leads a tour Monday of the temporary police station on Holden Street. Interim Police Chief Mark Bailey and Mayor Jennifer Macksey in the large lobby. The door to the lobby will be open as long as someone is at the front desk. Macksey and Lt. Anthony Beverly look out the windows in the lobby. Some of the department's photos and a history of the George Angeli Award will be added to the walls. Patrol officers will share a room with four desks but sergeants and detectives will have private offices. The sally port will allow for easier transport of people in custody instead of trying to wrangle them up two flights of stairs. The mayor demonstrates how the windows in the cells are blocked. The women's locker room; the men's locker room is larger because of the proportion of men to women on the force. The chief's office being wired up. The kitchenette was purchased by the police union, which also bought a washer and dryer. Looking out from the kitchenette is the training room. Officers have had to travel to get training; Bailey hopes that more can now be down in North Adams. Extra space outside the training room and evidence locker is considered flexible, such being used by State Police or other departments as needed. PreviousNext

Temporary Quarters Ready for North Adams Police Department



Mark Bailey took command on Monday as the interim police chief. He says officers are excited to move into the spacious accommodations in the former juvenile court. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Police Department's new headquarters are a far cry from its 68-year-old station on Summer Street.

There's a lobby for the public, separate offices for personnel, a sally port, men's and women's locker rooms, new lockups, climate control for the electronics, security for evidence, and a large training room with kitchenette with an eye toward community events. And lots and lots of space.

It has a lot of what the old building doesn't have  security, privacy and room to move. Also it's clean and has no mold, water leaks or duct tape on the windows to keep the cold out.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey gave a tour on Monday of the force's spacious new digs in the former juvenile court on Holden Street. The chief and the sergeants are already working out of the nearly 11,000 square feet of space and the rest of the force, except for dispatch, is expected to be operating there by Wednesday.

"I'm still very focused at this point that we will build a public safety complex somewhere within the city," said Macksey. "Right now, the push for this building was not only to improve the conditions for our customers, and the staff, but we needed to get out of the police side, again, mostly because of the ADA compliance. That building is literally crumbling around us."

The city has been under order by the U.S. Department of Justice to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, sparked by a complaint about the inaccessibility of the outdated police station. More than $1.2 million has been spent to bring various public buildings and sidewalks and curb ramps up to code but the major component  the police station  has so far been out of reach.

Macksey had informed the City Council last December that she would move the police into temporary quarters until a plan can be developed for a new public safety complex. She described the move on Monday as "I pay rent or I pay fines," referring to the DOJ.

"We feel that it fulfills [the order] as far as handicap accessibility goes," she said, but noted she had not spoken with DOJ yet. "As far as the Fire Department goes, they do have an office on the ground floor. We made some configurations to the bathroom a little bit down there. So it is public friendly, handicap-accessible friendly."

All of the access entry points in the new space will be ADA compliant, "whether you're coming in to get an LTC or just say hello to the police officers," the mayor said. And "customers," as she describes arrests, will have an easier time being brought into the building.

"Anyone who's in a wheelchair or has any difficulties navigating are usually lifted into our [old] station and that's just embarrassing," she said. "When the officers meet our customers, our prisoners, they're in trouble. They need help. And then to have to put them through that traumatic event of having to be lifted into the police station. It's just not appropriate."

A new building for both police and fire may take four or five years because of the complexity of the design and the search for funding for a building expected to cost well into the millions. Macksey said she would also like to see training space and possibility a location for an ambulance.

"We're getting closer to now nailing down a space. I really am focused on reusing city-owned property at some point," mayor said, noting a building assessment has been done. "I'm very sensitive to the cost associated and how that will impact our residents. ...

"The Highway Department has received a new building, schools are getting new buildings and Spitzer Center's been renovated. And here's the good old public safety in the middle of our downtown crumbling and I just won't have that anymore."

Macksey said she will push for funding through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and is a supporter of the concept of a state public infrastructure authority that will provide capital similar to the construction of school buildings.

The temporary headquarters is being funded through the city's American Rescue Plan Act monies. The rent is $10,000 to $11,000 per month for at least the next three years. Landlord Scarafoni & Associates has put $150,000 into the building and the city has put in the same amount, although a lot of that investment is in equipment and items that will stay with the department.

Monday also marked the start of interim Police Chief Mark Bailey's tenure. After working out of the old station for 20 years, he said the new location seems "way too big."

"But that's just because it's a real Police Department. We haven't had that and many, many years," he said.

Bailey's already considering how the new location will interact with the community now that there's a large meeting/training room. There's plans for a citizens academy in the fall, for example.

"This is what we've been waiting for for a very long time. Now we have a fresh start, we just hit the reset button. And we just go with what we have now to start from scratch.

"We're very excited about it, we really are. We have everything that we need here. I mean, if we need something in the future, we know that the mayor will accommodate us and we have room for it. So we are very excited about this place."
Williamstown 'Off the Hook' for Remaining Cost of Trail Overrun

Updated on Tuesday evening to correct a reference to the Sweetwood development on Cold Spring Road.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  After months of consternation over the cost of overruns to a multi-modal path through town, the town manager Monday announced that Williamstown's share of the cost has effectively been cut in half.

"MassDOT has said that what they'd be willing to do is accept the $700,000 we've paid as the sum total due to them for all the overruns," Robert Menicocci told the Select Board on Monday night.

"Right now, the additional overrun is approaching $700,000. We're off the hook for that amount of money."

Menicocci thanked the state Department of Transportation's regional office for its support in the town's negotiations with the state agency as well as the support of state Rep. John Barrett III and state Sen. Paul Mark.

All five of the Select Board members also paid their thanks to Menicocci, noting that it was a "big win" for the town.

"And I think it's right to thank John Barrett and Senator Mark," Chair Hugh Daley said. "It's good to have those guys in our corner."

Most of the meeting was consumed with discussion of next month's annual town meeting  both nailing down some of the logistical issues the board has been toying with to make the gathering more accessible and going through the 41-article warrant item by item to make advisory votes to the meeting.

Actually, the town meeting warrant could have 42 articles after an 11th-hour discussion by the board on Monday.

The board learned earlier this year that a home rule petition approved by town meeting last spring to increase the number of alcohol sales licenses in town failed. Barrett advised the board last month that the reason was that Boston officials said such requests should have either a specific potential licensee or a specific economic development district attached.

On Monday, Randal Fippinger suggested to his colleagues that they should bring back last year's article, overwhelmingly passed by town meeting, with language specifying that it is intended to address a known applicant who has been unable to obtain a license in town because its allotted licenses are under use.

The board agreed, but it was not clear at Monday's meeting whether that would require a new town meeting vote or whether the town could otherwise put the question to the Legislature  like through an ask from the Select Board. Menicocci told the board he would consult with town counsel to see whether new town meeting action is needed and, if so, how such an article should be worded, in time to get it back before the Select Board for final approval before the warrant goes to the printer.

Otherwise, the 41 articles are set. Most, but not all, received unanimous recommendations from the five-member board.

One of the zoning bylaw amendments developed by the Planning Board was recommended by just a 4-1 vote on Monday. Daley, who joined a unanimous vote to recommend passage of an amendment to allow three-family homes by right in the General Residence district, voted against recommending a companion article to allow four-family homes.

"I want to pause after going to three and see what happens," Daley said.

That was why the planners, who agree that four-family homes by right is the way to go, opted split the recommendation into two separate articles, assuming that some number of town residents could share Daley's more cautious approach. The Planning Board agreed that they would rather see the "triplex" bylaw pass and a four-family home bylaw fail rather than up the allowable by-right housing in GR directly from two-family homes to four-family homes in one step.

All of the Select Board's Monday votes on the zoning bylaw amendments drafted by the Planning Board were conditional. The Select Board agreed that they were voting based on the articles' current language, but that could, theoretically, change at the Planning Board's Tuesday 7 p.m. public hearing on all the bylaw amendments.

The Select Board was disinclined to make an advisory vote on a separate pair zoning bylaw amendments that were drafted by the owner of the Sweetwood assisted independent-living complex on Cold Spring Road. The complex's owner is asking that the town extend the Southern Gateway zoning district to include Sweetwood and, in a separate article brought by landowner petition, amend the Southern Gateway use table to allow conversion of existing buildings to multifamily dwellings by right.

Sweetwood's representative this winter told the Select Board that it wants to be able to convert some of the property's units to regular apartments due to a lack of demand for independent-living residences and high vacancy rates at the site.

The Sweetwood bylaw amendments also will be included in Tuesday's Planning Board public hearing. The Select Board members agreed that they did not have enough information to make a recommendation on the proposals one way or the other.

The board also agreed, 5-0, that town meeting should reject a citizen's petition to require "ranked choice voting" in town elections. Andrew Hogeland said that while some might be inclined to support the idea of ranked-choice voting, there was not enough time to fully vet a more than two-page article that, in his reading, deviates from a ranked-choice voting proposal that failed statewide in 2020 but was supported by Williamstown voters, 64.5 percent to 35.5 percent.

The majority of the Select Board also agreed that the time is not ripe for another article brought by citizens petition. Article 32 on the meeting warrant would change the town's leash bylaw to require dogs to be kept on leash in the General Residence district when not on an owner's property and on the new multi-modal pike/pedestrian path.

In a 4-1 vote, the Select Board agreed that while the issue has merit, it should be studied by a town committee and brought back for town meeting 2024. Fippinger, who drafted the leash law article, said he would continue to press the issue at this year's town meeting, with some amendments suggested by the conversation at Monday's meeting.

The board voted to recommend town meeting approve all the Community Preservation Act allocations that issued from the Community Preservation Committee's meetings this winter. But three of those votes were not unanimous.

Daley and Jane Patton voted against passage of a $120,000 grant to the town's Affordable Housing Trust. Hogeland voted against recommending a $100,000 award to the Mount Greylock Regional School District to pay for a new track, arguing that Williamstown should not approve the CPA outlay without the district having asked its other member town, Lanesborough, for a like contribution to the project. Daley and Hogeland voted against $50,000 for the Williamstown Meetinghouse Preservation Fund based on concerns over the separation of church and state.
Community Commemoration, Film Screening to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  On Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m., join the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires for a community commemoration of Yom HaShoah-Holocaust Remembrance Day with a screening of "Passage to Sweden" and a family story told by Agi Sardi, daughter of a Holocaust survivor saved by Swedish intervention.

Candle lighting and prayers of remembrance led by Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch will follow the film. This free in-person event will take place at the Berkshire Museum's Little Cinema, located at 39 South Street in Pittsfield. Space is limited  register on our calendar of events listing at jewishberkshires.org

About the Film

Passage to Sweden tells the lesser-known story of events occurring in Scandinavia and Budapest during World War II, focusing on the heroic actions of ordinary people who saved the lives of thousands of Jews and fellow countrymen. The film pays special homage to the Norwegian resistance, the citizens of Denmark, the Swedish Red Cross, Raoul Wallenberg, and Count Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish nobleman and diplomat. Risking their own lives, their selfless acts of courage and compassion provide a powerful example of how anyone can make a difference.

About the Speaker

Agi Sardi is the daughter of Dr Andrew Sardi, a Hungarian Jew who experienced pervasive pre-war antisemitism. His mother was able to procure a certificate of protection issued by the Swedish legation, and the family was sheltered in a Raoul Wallenberg safe house from October 1944 through Soviet liberation. Dr. Sardi passed away in 2003. During his life, he was dedicated to ensuring the Holocaust would never be repeated. His daughter Agi continues his important work and will share her family story.

About Yom HaShoah

The full name of the day commemorating the victims of the Holocaust is "Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah" literally the "Day of (Remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism." It is marked on the 27th day in the month of Nisan  a week after the seventh day of Passover, and a week before Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers).
On April 10th, the third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE 2023) was held in Haikou. Under the theme of "Quality Life, Consume in Anhui," 17 excellent Anhui enterprises showcased high-quality consumer products at the Anhui Pavilion. The photo shows visitors exploring the Anhui Pavilion. Photo by Xu Minhao. At the third CICPE held in Haikou, Hainan Province, on April 10th, 17 Anhui enterprises, including NIO, Rong Dian Group, and Juying Technology, collectively appeared to showcase Anhui's consumer products in areas such as new energy vehicles, intelligent home appliances, and advantageous traditional industries. The Anhui Pavilion at the CICPE 2023 was divided into three parts. The first part, "Innovation," showcased intelligent home appliances, home equipment, and health appliances from enterprises such as NIO and Rong Dian Group. The second part, "Inheritance," invited visitors to enjoy Huizhou-style culture and appreciate the Intangible Cultural Heritage such as Huizhou carving skills and bronze culture. The third part, "Life," showcased traditional healthy foods such as Hanshan rice, Fanchang kudzu powder, Bozhou dendrobe, and Tongling white ginger. It's worth mentioning that among the 17 participating enterprises, 5 of them are related to rural revitalization, exhibiting tea, rice, white ginger, kudzu powder, and socks, hoping to tap into the international and domestic consumer markets through the expo. It is learned that the third CICPE covered a total exhibition area of 120,000 square meters, an increase of 20% from the previous year. Over 3,100 consumer brands from 65 countries and regions participated in the event. It is expected that over 50,000 purchasers and professional visitors and over 300,000 general visitors will attend the expo. Anhui will leverage the expo platform to conduct docking and exchanges with domestic and foreign exhibitors to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results.

Reported by Peng Yuanyuan Edited and translated by Zheng Chen
Two senior Maldivian journalists were issued serious threats via phone and text on April 7 following the publication of an article about a high-profile arbitration case between a Maldivian tourism group and Hilton Worldwide. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) in strongly condemning the threats against two respected journalists and calls on the Maldivian police for urgent measures to ensure the protection of media workers in the Maldives and the swift apprehension of the perpetrators.

The journalists targeted by the threats were senior journalist and secretary general of IFJ affiliate, the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA), Ahmed Naaif, and the senior editor of news outlet Dhauru, Ahmed Zahir.

The MJA said the men received several intimidatory threats of killing and assault by unknown perpetrators, warning Ahmed Naaif to leave the country within five days after the publication of the Dhauru article, titled Siyam and HiltonCase: Red Warning to Investors, on April 6. The story in question was covering the long-running Singaporean arbitration case between Sun Travel and Tours, which is owned by Maldivian politician Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, and the American hospitality company Hilton Worldwide. Sun Travel and Tours was ordered by the Singapore courts to pay retribution to Hilton, yet also had its own case in the Maldives which served to stall the matter for eight years.

According to the MJA, Siyam, a member of parliament and a leader of the minor coalition party, the Maldives Development Alliance, called Zahiron the evening of April 7 demanding the article be retracted and stated the phone call was his final warning. The company later issued a statement disparaging the journalists coverage and threatened to sue the journalists for defamation. The men subsequently received a series of anonymous death threats.

The MJA said the matter was now with the police and the threats sent to their phones were with investigating officers, but it held grave concerns for the journalists safety and the blatant attack on freedom of expression. Siyams MDA is in coalition with the current Maldivian government led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The IFJ said the threats on the two journalists was a direct assault on all media in the Maldives and presented a poor image of democracy in the Maldives if journalists are not able to go about their work safely and publish in the public interest without fear.

The IFJ said: Any dispute regarding media reporting in the Maldives should be appropriately handled by the Maldives Media Council, which is the arbiter on such disputes. Despite the position of the person, be they a politician or an everyday Maldivian, this mechanism was established for exactly this purpose. Position or power does not give exemption.

According to the MJA, the failure of police investigations into past incidents of harassment and intimidation in the Maldives had created a climate of impunity in the country that civil society, media and journalist representative groups and the government had worked hard to tackle through proactive justice measures and a major commission.

In the leadup to the countrys presidential election later this year, both IFJ and MJA have documented a concerning rise in violations against media, prompting stronger calls for concerted action from the government and authorities.

On March 20, the chief editor of the online news outlet Adhadhu, Hussain Fiyaz Moosa, was sent a death threat via text message after he published an article relating to organised crime and religious extremism in the Maldives. But historically, the Maldives sits with a dark history of attacks against journalists after the brutal killings in 2017 and 2014 respectively of journalists and bloggers Yameen Rasheed and Ahmed Rilwan. Both were killed in targeted attacks by extremist groups after receiving a series of death threats that were not adequately investigated or taken seriously.

The MJA said: Under no circumstances are death threats and threats of physical assault against journalists be taken lightly. This is a more serious issue that needs to be addressed soon. It is the duty of the state to ensure the safety of journalists. We call on the Maldives government and police to provide adequate security to the journalists who were threatened, and we call on law enforcement to investigate the case swiftly and find the perpetrators.

The IFJ said: Journalists must be able to conduct their work free from intimidation, harassment, and government interference. The threats against Ahmed Naaif and Ahmed Zahir are a grave concern for all journalists. The media industry is united against threats to reporting and the vital role that journalists play in holding the powerful to account. The Maldivian people must condemn these attacks as an attack to all and the publics right to know.
To mark the 24th anniversary of the murder of Serbian editor and publisher Slavko Curuvija, international press freedom organisations are today visiting Belgrade to renew our calls for justice and issue fresh warnings about the current climate for the safety of journalists.

The mission to Belgrade comes 24 years after Curuvija was shot dead in cold blood outside his apartment on 11 April 1999, and a matter of weeks after the final hearings began in the retrial of four state security officials accused of planning and executing his assassination. With justice almost within reach, this years anniversary offers a timely opportunity to consider the past, the present and the future.

First and foremost, our organisations today pay our respects to the work and life of Slavko Curuvija, who was killed for upholding the highest of journalistic values: the unwavering quest to hold power to account through fiercely independent reporting. Despite repeated attempts by the Milosevic regime to shut down his newspapers, the journalist refused to be cowed into silence and paid the ultimate price for his bravery.

Secondly, we will stand in solidarity with his loved ones, former colleagues, and all those who continue the more than two-decade fight to ensure those responsible for this crime cannot act with impunity. This includes journalist and media associations, the Commission to Investigate the Murder of Journalists and the Slavko Curuvija Foundation  whose tireless efforts have been so crucial for the slow push towards accountability.

Thirdly, we will renew our hopes for the upcoming ruling, which will either confirm or dismiss the two previous guilty verdicts. The Court of Appeals ruling will be the most consequential for media freedom and journalism in Serbias modern history, and will act as a litmus test for the rule of law and democracy more widely.

Fourthly, we will meet editors, civil society groups and the governments Working Group to review the current situation regarding the safety of journalists in Serbia. Our visit comes amidst a spate of recent death threats and pressure, which reflect a wider toxic climate for independent and investigative journalism. It is alarming that leading journalists are still receiving death threats and being branded with the same dangerous labels of traitors and foreign mercenaries that were used to lay the groundwork for Curuvijas assassination.

This hostility against the press has been emboldened by the behavior of high-level political figures, who continue to demonstrate little will to condemn attacks against journalists and in many cases initiate verbal attacks themselves. In addition, Serbia provides one of the most fertile grounds in Europe for abusive lawsuits against public watchdogs. A handful of public officials routinely sue journalists over their critical reporting - including filing multiple cases for the same publication.

While some progress in punishing crimes against journalists has been achieved in recent months and the authorities appear to prosecute new attacks on journalists with greater efficiency, Serbia remains one of the most dangerous places to work as a journalist in Europe . Looking ahead, we will renew our calls to the current government and state authorities to uphold their international commitments to protect journalists safety now to ensure that such an appalling crime can never be committed again in the future.

Almost a quarter of a century after Curuvijas murder, the pending appeal verdict represents a moment of possible transition for media freedom in Serbia. So much will depend on the upcoming verdict and political will to turn this possible legal milestone into a catalyst for meaningful change. As we honour Curuvija and the principles he fought to uphold, our organisations hope that in the coming months the vicious cycle of impunity for the murder of journalists in Serbia will be broken, and that justice will, finally, be secured.

Signed:

ARTICLE 19 Europe

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

International Press Institute (IPI)

Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation

Safejournalists Network
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

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A US judge has granted Alec Baldwin permission not to appear in court for the preliminary hearing relating to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 death of Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust.

The cinematographer died after being hit with a live round fired from a prop gun held by Baldwin.

During the two-week preliminary hearing, due to begin on 3 May, 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.

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.

Alec Baldwin (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

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.

The news comes after the New Mexico district attorney overseeing the case said she would follow a judges order to step down as a prosecutor.

Baldwins attorney had previously called for Carmack-Altwies to be disqualified from the case, claiming as she was too distracted by her role as a state legislator.

Mary Carmack-Altwies announced the appointment of lawyers Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as new special prosecutors in the case.

Additional reporting from PA
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The creator behind the botched Fyre Festival has teased a possible resurgence of the event.

In 2017, Billy McFarland was at the centre of a scandal in which ticket holders were lured to a luxury music festival held on Pablo Escobars former private island in the Bahamas, with Migos and Blink-182 booked to perform.

However, the event was a disaster after festivalgoers faced issues with food, security, and accommodation.

In 2018, McFarland pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, was sentenced to six years in prison  but was released early in March 2022  and ordered to pay back 23m to festival investors. The entire scandal around the festival was the subject of two documentaries, including one by Netflix that aired in 2019.

Fyre Festival II is finally happening, McFarland tweeted on Monday (10 April).

In the tweet, he asked his followers to tell him why they should be invited.

When a fan replied to McFarlands tweet asking why he shouldnt be in jail, he wrote: Its in the best interest of those I owe for me to be working.

People arent getting paid back if I sit on the couch and watch TV. And because I served my time.

Many users also joked about the idea of a potential Fyre Festival II.

If you need any help with planning, theres a great documentary on this! Join Circle CEO Satvik Sethi wrote.

Another user said: Ill show up with 100 crates full of bananas. No one will go hungry this time around.

Im just waiting for the documentary sequel, said another.

Ja Rule and McFarland in Netflixs Fyre Festival documentary (Netflix)

Last year, in his first interview since being released from prison, McFarland admitted that he was wrong to go ahead with the Fyre Festival.

I was wrong, McFarland said during an appearance on Good Morning America. I messed up. I was so driven by this desperate desire to prove people right. I had these early investors, backers, employees, and I think I was just so insecure that I thought the only way to prove myself to them was to succeed and that led me down this terrible path of bad decisions.

I need to apologise and that is the first and last thing that needs to be done. I let people down, he said.

What I told investors was wrong and I think the hardest thing for me is the trust that I violated... whether it was friends, investors, or employees, people gave up a lot to try and make this happen. How do I call them now and look them in the eye when I let them down? I just really should have cancelled everything and stopped lying.

I should have listened. There is no excuse.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered his military to hasten practical and offensive war capabilities due to the ever-worsening security on the Korean peninsula in the face of US-South Korea military exercises.

Mr Kim held a high-level meeting with ruling Workers Partys Central Military Commission and commanding officers of the Korean Peoples Army on Monday.

The North Korean leader was pictured pointing to areas on a blurred map that appeared to be of South Korea as he reviewed frontline attack operation plans as well as various combat documents, state media Rodong Sinmun reported.

The meeting was held to discuss the serious present security situation in the Korean Peninsula as the aggressive military policy and actions of the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors are emerging as a threatening entity, official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday.

Pyongyang has ramped up a pressure campaign on South Korea by cutting off communication links since last week. South Korea said that North did not respond to its calls placed over inter-Korean liaison and military hotlines for the fifth consecutive day.

North Korea condemned the frantic military drills by US and South Korean armies and said it considered the exercises a simulation of an all-out war.

Tensions have been also ratcheted up after the US, Japan, and South Korea held anti-submarine drills in waters off the South Korean Island of Jeju earlier this month.

And they clearly showed their sinister true colours for aggression while making reckless remarks for the confrontation with the DPRK and deliberately inciting the military actions for attack, it said referring to North Koreas formal name, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Kim Jong-un reviewed countrys frontline attack plans and various combat documents during the meeting (KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image)

The response to joint drills also included an underwater nuclear attack drone test that it said could cause a radioactive tsunami, a claim over which South Koreas military and experts have raised doubts.

South Korean unification minister Kwon Young-se said communication links with North were still silent and expressed "strong regret" over its neighbours "unilateral and irresponsible attitude" for pausing the hotline.

He also warned of unspecified legal action over North Koreas use of South Korean assets at a now-shuttered joint factory park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong.

South Korea recently urged North to stop using its assets which were left behind after it pulled its companies out of Kaesong in 2016 in protest to Norths nuclear test. It objected after North Korean media recently showed what appeared to be South Korean commuter buses running in the streets of Kaesong and Pyongyang.

The hotlines were set up between the two countries in 2018 to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals sea borders.
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Purportedly leaked Pentagon documents giving details about internal discussions among South Korean officials were untrue and altered, said a senior security adviser of the East Asian nation.

Deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo made the remark as he departed for Washington ahead of president Yoon Suk Yeols state visit to the US on 26 April, stressing that the two countries alliance remained strong.

His remarks came as several documents, recently posted on social media, revealed alleged conversations among South Korean officials deliberating pressure from the US to help supply weapons to Ukraine.

The US has rushed to manage the diplomatic fallout following allegations of spying on allies, with secretary of defence Lloyd Austin holding phone talks with his South Korean counterpart.

The phone conversation took place at the request of Mr Austin, said South Koreas defence ministry. During the conversation, the Pentagon chief vowed to closely communicate and cooperate with South Korea, the ministry said.

The leaks have drawn domestic condemnation as the office of South Korean president dismissed reports of monitoring as utterly false.

Any attempts to shake its alliance with the US is an act "compromising national interest", it added.

"The two countries have a same assessment that much of the information disclosed is altered," Mr Kim told reporters, adding that the report on South Korea is "untrue". He did not, however, elaborate which parts of the document were untrue.

The unverified document, which does not appear to have a date on it, said that South Korea had agreed to sell artillery shells to help the US replenish its stockpiles, insisting that the "end user" should be the US military. But internally, top South Korean officials were worried that the US would divert them to Ukraine.

South Korea has said its law forbids supplying weapons to countries engaged in conflict, meaning it cant send arms to Ukraine.

The leaked documents appeared to be based in part on signals intelligence, which suggests the US had been spying on South Korea. But Mr Kim said that the latest leak is unlikely to have an impact on the relationship between the two countries. "The US is the country with the worlds best intelligence capabilities and since (Yoons) inauguration we have shared intelligence in almost every sector," he said.

President Yoon is also facing domestic pushback amid the leaks.

Some lawmakers of South Koreas main opposition Democratic Party expressed "strong regret" on Monday over the alleged surveillance, calling it a clear violation of national sovereignty and a major security failure of the Yoon administration.

Additional reporting from the wires
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Chinese warships were still present in the waters around Taiwan on Tuesday even after Beijing announced the end of war games that it launched 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 president Tsai Ing-wenreturned to Taipei following a meeting with US House speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Although Beijing said on Monday night the drills had ended, Taiwan's defence ministry said eight Chinese ships remained in waters around the island.

China simulated precision attacks and blockades of Taiwan during the drills, sending up dozens of fighter jets and bombers.

The Asian giant flew a record 91 military aircraft on Monday around the island, with 54 of them crossing the Taiwan Strait.

According to Taiwan's defence ministry, China flew 15 carrier-based J-15s, most likely flying from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, east of Taiwan. The island has been tracking the Shandongs movements in the Western Pacific since last week.

At the end of the war games, China declared it was "ready to fight at all times and can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of 'Taiwan independence' and foreign interference attempts".

China has beefed up its military harassment around the island in recent years by routinely flying aircraft that violate the self-governed island's airspace. Beijing claims Taipei is obliged to reunite with the mainland, 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 combat exercises were similar to ones conducted by China last August, albeit smaller in comparison, when it launched missile strikes on targets in the seas around the island following then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

The large-scale war games serve as both intimidation and as an opportunity for the Chinese troops to practice sealing off the island by blocking sea and air traffic.

President Tsai denounced the drill, stating that it has caused "instability" on the island.

Ms Tsai said that as president, "I represent my country to the world", and that her visits abroad, including stops in the US, are not new and what Taiwan's people expect.

But China used this as a pretext to start military drills... This is not the attitude of a responsible major nation in this region, she said.

"Although China's military exercises have come to an end, the nation's military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," she added.

Taiwans president Tsai Ing-wen and Michael McCaul, chairman of the US house foreign affairs committee meet in Taipei (Via REUTERS)

The war games have also been a concern for Japan, with Tokyo following the drills around Taiwan "with great interest".

Washington maintains that Ms Tsai's transition through the US and a congressional visit to Taiwan were normal and didn't have any reason for China to "react in any way militarily".

"There's no reason for tensions across the Taiwan Strait to devolve into any kind of conflict," White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby said.

China responded immediately to the McCarthy meeting by imposing a travel ban and financial sanctions against those associated with Tsai's US stopover.

Chinese soldiers stand on deck as their warship takes part in a military drill off the Chinese coast near Fuzhou (REUTERS)

The US Navy's 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.

Beijing claimed the US "illegally trespassed" into waters near the reef without the permission of the Chinese government.

The US and Philippines on Tuesday launched their largest-ever joint combat exercises in decades in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait despite a warning from China.

The annual drills by the longtime treaty allies called Balikatan  Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder  will run up to 28 April and involve more than 17,000 military personnel.

"The highlight of the exercise will be the combined joint littoral live-fire exercise, which aims to rehearse joint and combined tactics techniques and procedures to execute maritime strike," major general Marvin Licudine, Philippines exercise director, said in a speech at the opening ceremony.

US marine major general Eric Austin said the ties between both the countries "that we build into these exercises will make us faster to respond to conflict, crisis, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief".

China's foreign ministry criticised the joint exercises, warning that they "must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests.

About 12,200 American military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts are taking part in the exercises, the largest since Balikatan started three decades ago.

The drills will showcase US warships, fighter jets as well as Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers and anti-tank Javelins, according to officials.

The US and Filipino forces will sink a target ship in the Philippine territorial waters off the western province of Zambales on 26 April in a coordinated inland and coastal artillery bombardment and airstrike.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is expected to witness the sinking of an old Philippines navy ship, according to a Philippine military official.

"We have to fire at a target that is closer to what we would expect in an actual threat, which is an intrusion coming from an adversary by sea," Col Michael Logico, a spokesperson for Balikatan said.

The largest-ever war games between the two nations underscore the improved ties under president Marcos Jr after his predecessor tried to pursue closer relations with Beijing.

Last month, the Philippines allowed Washington access to four more military bases around the South China Sea.

With four newly added locations, the US military will have access to nine bases.
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A Gujarat-based iconic milk co-operatives decision to enter the Karnataka market has kicked up a political row ahead of elections in the southern state.

The brand Amul tweeted earlier this month: A new wave of freshness with milk and curd is coming to Bengaluru (in Karnataka). More information coming soon. #LaunchAlert.

The reaction to the announcement was unexpected. Political parties in India started a war of words  a reaction that many experts claimed was targeted at the elections in Karnataka in May.

Amuls launch in the southern state was seen as a direct threat to Karnatakas local and biggest milk cooperative, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) which sells milk and curd under the brand name Nandini. Hashtags such as #SaveNandini and #GobackAmul soon started to trend on Twitter.

Political pundits see the launch as a clash between Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federations (GCMMF) brand Amul vs KMFs Nandini.

Karnataka goes to elections on 10 May and the state has been witnessing an array of rallies and campaigning by political parties. Indias governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Indian National Congress (INC)  two of the biggest political parties in India  have been at loggerheads over Amuls announcement.

On 10 April, a member of parliament from BJP, Tejasvi Surya, told News18 that Congress was using the Amul versus Nandini debate to fuel its election campaign.

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 Karnatakas capital Bengaluru claimed.

Congress has responded by saying that Amuls entry will destroy the states 2.5 million milk farmers. Another political party with stakes in the elections, the Janata Dal (Secular), has joined the chorus.

The milk farmers vote in Karnataka is crucial for elections and hence winning them carries a huge bonus for political parties.

Opposition leader from JD(S), HD Kumaraswamy, said: Amul is holding the Karnataka Milk Federation and the farmers in a stranglehold. He added that Kanandiagas (people of Karnataka) should rebel against Amul.

Mr Kumarswamy alleged: One nation, one Amul, one milk, one Gujarat seems to be the official stand of the Central government.

Another Karnataka Congress leader, DK Shivakumar, was quoted by ANI as saying: We already have Nandini, which is a better brand than Amul. We dont need any Amul  our water, our milk, and our soil is strong.

You have already stolen banks, ports and airports from Kannadigas. Are you trying to steal Nandini (KMF) from us? Congress leader Siddaramaiah tweeted to prime minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Shivakumar accused the BJP of hijacking the homegrown Nandini brand and said Kannadigas will never sell their self-respect.

This storm kicked up by a dairy brands entry in a state is bound to have some impact on the state elections, analysts predicted. Some believe that this is being perceived as an attack on the Kannadiga identity.

Indian Express quoted Anand Kumar, one of the directors of KMF, as saying that the cooperative is far behind in marketing and promoting the Nandini brand despite having a better quality of milk than Amul. Which is why #SaveNandini is important.

He told the paper: Although the usage of Amul milk is just 10 per cent, their advertising is 90 per cent, which is a big concern for Karnatakas dairy farmers. We need to implement a robust advertising campaign to enhance the brand value of Nandini and create awareness among people.

KMF is going to appeal to the National Dairy Development Board to stop Amul from taking over, hear their demands, and keep KMF the leading brand. The Karnataka cooperative is also planning to hold a protest depending on the situation.

The issue of Amul vs Nandini has become so big that a hotel association, the Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association (BBHA) that represents about 24,000 big and small hotels in the city, has said they will back Nandini over Amul going forward.

But the chief minister of Karnataka, BJPs Basavaraj Bommai, has stated clearly that Amul will not be prevented from entering the state as Nandini products are also sold in other states. He said he will help the homegrown brand to compete with Amul.

The fear of Amul taking over Nandini in Karnataka, however, goes back to a comment home minister Amit Shah made some time ago in which he said that the Gujarat cooperative that sells Amul and KMF would work together to set up dairies in all villages in Karnataka. But this was seen as an attempt to merge the two cooperatives.

Meanwhile, the managing director of GCMMF, Jayen Mehta, was quoted as saying by Financial Express that Amul is currently looking at e-commerce or quick commerce channels and is not looking at general trade.
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Pakistan has strongly objected to Indias decision to hold a G20 meeting in Kashmir, the Himalayan region at the heart of 70 years of animosity between the two nuclear armed rivals.

In a statement on Tuesday, Pakistans ministry of foreign affairs said it expresses its strong indignation over Indias decision to hold the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May 2023.

The meeting comes as India has taken up its role as chair of the Group of 20 this year.

Indias irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and the international law. Pakistan vehemently condemns these moves, Pakistans foreign affairs ministry statement said.

With its decision to host G-20 events in IIOJK (Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir), India is again exploiting its membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda, the statement added.

For a country that has a grandiose vision about itself and its place in the world, India has repeatedly demonstrated that it is unable to act as a responsible member of the international community.

Ties between India and Pakistan have virtually been in the cold storage, especially after India revoked the special status for the Jammu and Kashmir region in 2019, outraging Pakistan, which also lays claim to the Himalayan territory.

The G20 meeting will be the first major international event to be held in Jammu and Kashmir since it became a federal territory with the abrogation of Article 370.

Pakistan said that Indias move to hold the G20 meeting in Srinagar cannot hide the reality of Jammu and Kashmir being an internationally recognized dispute that has remained on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council for over seven decades.

Nor could such activities divert international communitys attention from Indias brutal suppression of the people of IIOJK including illegal attempts to change the demographic composition of the occupied territory, the statement added.

While both the countries routinely accuse each other of targeting the other, tensions have been especially high since a flashpoint of violence in February 2019, which culminated in Pakistan shooting down an Indian fighter jet and capturing its pilot.
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Most countries that are vulnerable to climate disasters are drowning in debt, which is hindering their capacity to effectively respond to climate-related emergencies, a new study has revealed.

The research conducted by international charity ActionAid, released on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings, revealed that 93 per cent of countries in the Global South that face most impact from a warming planet are also under significant debt distress.

Nine highly climate-sensitive countries, including Somalia, Malawi, and Mozambique, are already reeling under debt distress, the report noted. Forty countries highly susceptible to climate crisis are at moderate or high risk of debt distress. Only four countries facing climate disasters are at low risk of debt distress, the study said.

As World Bank shareholders gathered in Washington for their annual spring meeting on Monday, discussions on economic policy options for Global South countries took centre stage.

This report sounded the alarm for urgent need for debt cancellation for climate vulnerable countries and a radical transformation of global debt management to address this pressing crisis.

"The debt crisis and climate crisis are inextricably linked, creating a vicious cycle that traps vulnerable countries in a downward spiral," warned David Archer, ActionAid International's head of programmes and influencing.

Malawi, which recently bore the brunt of cyclone Freddy, displacing over half a million people and causing widespread destruction, served as a glaring example of a nation weighed down by debt.

"Our government is being forced to allocate limited resources to repay old loans, leaving us ill-equipped to rebuild and recover from cyclone Freddy. Climate disasters are becoming more frequent and devastating, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the impact, Pamela Kuwali, country director at ActionAid Malawi, said.

The study also revealed that 38 out of 63 most climate vulnerable countries are slashing spending on vital public services to service their debt, jeopardising their ability to effectively respond to climate disasters.

Around 42 other African countries are at high risk of debt distress due to the impacts of climate change and other factors. Another example of the debt distress affecting climate adaptation is Ghana, which defaulted on its $28.4bn external debt in December.

John Nkaw, country director at ActionAid Ghana, pointed out that Ghana is forced to spend more on debt servicing than on education and health, perpetuating a destructive cycle where the country lacked the necessary resources to invest in climate adaptation, resilience, and disaster preparedness.

We know that Ghana will need about 60 per cent of its debt cancelled if it is to return to a path of sustainability  therefore we demand a proportion of debt cancellation, Mr Nkaw said.

If freed of debt, we would be able to strengthen small and medium sized businesses, invest in renewable sources of energy, smallholder farmers and agroecology. But these choices arent an option.

People wade through flood waters caused by last week's heavy rains caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Phalombe, southern Malawi (AP)

Another factor compounding the debt distress is that the countries are coerced into repaying their debts in foreign currencies, predominantly US dollars, which compels them to invest in extractive industries like fossil fuels and large-scale industrial agriculture, exacerbating environmental degradation and worsening climate change impacts.

Mr Archer pointed the finger at the World Bank, IMF, and private banks based in wealthy countries for hindering climate progress by imposing stringent conditions on debt repayments for climate-vulnerable countries.

"These debts are entrapping countries in a detrimental cycle, forcing them to cut public spending and invest in activities that harm the climate just to repay their debts," said Mr Archer.

The report called for immediate debt cancellation for countries most vulnerable to climate change and a comprehensive overhaul of global debt management to break free from this harmful entanglement.

International financial institutions are facing growing calls to make finances available to poor countries facing increasing pressure due to climate crisis. Countries like Pakistan, which are under critical debt burden and suffered devastating floods last year, have demanded debt relief in the past. Organisations are calling for urgent action to close the funding gap amid the ongoing high level meetings.
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Three National Trust rangers have moved into a lifeboat house on a remote shingle spit to monitor a colony of one of the UKs rarest seabirds through the breeding season.

Rangers will live on site at Blakeney Point on the north Norfolk coast for eight months, from March to October, warding off predators to help threatened little terns.

Assisted by around 30 volunteers, the trio will also count nests and fledglings, and speak to visitors to limit disturbance to the ground nesting birds.

The population of little terns has dropped by 40% since the 1980s, according to the National Trust.

Blakeney Point is also an internationally important nesting site for common and Sandwich terns.

The conservation charity said as many as 25% of the UKs population of Sandwich terns and 16% of the little terns have sought to breed at Blakeney Point in recent years.

Its remote and wild landscape provides a perfect habitat for residential and migrating wildlife, the National Trust said.

Terns have been breeding at Blakeney Point since the 1800s, with 2021 being a particularly successful year as the team counted 3,678 pairs.

Duncan Halpin, National Trust ranger for the Norfolk coast and Broads, has moved back into the lifeboat house for his third year.

He said: The first tern nests are expected from late April, beginning with Sandwich terns, and then from mid-May onwards little terns will arrive.

Little terns are one of the UKs rarest seabirds and are afforded the utmost protection from disturbance.

The UK has around 1,300 pairs of little terns, and the Point can host up to 200 pairs, although this varies from year to year.

With such a low population concentrated only on a handful of sites around the country, protecting these is paramount to ensure their survival.

He urged visitors to follow signage and always watch their step as birds do not obey fence lines.

Walking down at the waters edge is usually the safest thing to ensure as little disturbance as possible, he said.
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 has announced.

This means they will soon benefit from regular water-quality monitoring.
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Eva Mendes has explained why she will not join partner Ryan Gosling on the Barbie red carpet, with the actress revealing that the longtime couple does not do those things together.

Mendes, 49, confirmed that she would not be attending the premiere of the upcoming film, which stars Gosling as Ken, on Instagram this week, after she was asked by a fan whether she would be on the red carpet.

The fan asked the question in the comments section under a recent video Mendes posted of herself and Gosling on the set of their 2012 film The Place Beyond the Pines, where the follower revealed that it is their hope they will get to see Mendes with her partner.

I really hope Barbie will get through the awards season just to see you with Ryan  I know Im selfish and probably a dreamer but I will never stop [dreaming] about it, they wrote.

In response to the comment, the Hitch star thanked the fan for the cool comment, before revealing that she wont be joining Gosling for the press tour of the film.

Youre the best! What a cool comment, thank you. But we dont do those things together, Mendes wrote. Like these photos Ive been posting, Im only comfortable posting because its already out there.

In a follow-up post, Mendes also acknowledged that she and Gosling, who were first romantically linked in 2011, were only on the red carpet once together, to promote their film.

(Getty Images)

Oh wait - for those who may catch me in a lie, we only were on the red carpet together once when promoting this film, she said.

(Instagram)

The actresss comment prompted praise for her boundaries, with many revealing that they respect her decision to keep her relationship private.

However, one fan asked Mendes to elaborate on her comment about not feeling comfortable, with the follower asking: May I ask why you dont feel comfortable doing those things together? You guys are such a beautiful couple.

In response to the question, Mendes elaborated her meaning, with the Ghost Rider star explaining that her comfort refers to how she feels exposing her and Goslings very private life.

By not comfortable, I mean exposing our very private life that we value, she said. Im still dying to do another movie with him though

(Instagram)

This is not the first time Mendes has spoken candidly about her boundaries when it comes to Gosling and their two children, daughters Esmeralda Amada, eight, and Amada Lee, six.

In 2020, Mendes revealed in response to a fan whod asked why she doesnt share photos of her family that she has always had a clear boundary when it comes to my man and my kids, and that although she feels comfortable talking about them with limits, she wont post pictures of our daily life.

And since my children are still so little and dont understand what posting their image really means, I dont have their consent. And I wont post their image until theyre old enough to give me consent. As far as Ryan and I, it just works for us this way, to stay private, she added at the time.

Although Mendes prefers to keep her longtime relationship private, she recently revealed that she and Gosling actually knew each other before they worked together on the set of the 2012 film, and that the magic started way before.
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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.

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.

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.
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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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King Charles IIIs coronation, which takes place on Saturday 6 May, is set to be attended by 2,000 guests, including foreign monarchs throughout Europe.

The coronation will be held in London at Westminster Abbey, which can seat up to 2,200 people. The limited guest list marks a departure from the late Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation, which was attended by 8,000 guests with 129 nations and territories officially represented at the ceremony.

Last week, Buckingham Palace unveiled the official invites for King Charles and Queen Camillas coronation. The elaborate invitation, which was reportedly sent to 2,000 people, invited guests to attend The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla  By Command of the King the Earl Marshall is directed to inviteto be present at the Abbey Church of Westminster on 6th day of May 2023.

As the Kings coronation fast approaches, theres been much speculation over who will be attending the slimmed-down service. While members of the British royal family are likely to attend, many royal families across Europe are also expected to attend the coronation.

The move marks a break from royal tradition. According to The Telegraph, the coronation was considered a sacred ceremony between a monarch and their people in the presence of God, but Charles is set to do away with the tradition and invite his counterparts from around the world.

Heres a list of all the European royals who have confirmed their attendance so far.

On 11 April, Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife Crown Princess Kiko of Japan confirmed they will be attending the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, according to local media.

The Imperial Household Agency announced they received an invitation from the British royal family in March requesting that the head of state or proxy attend the ceremony. The crown prince will represent his brother, Emperor Naruhito, at the coronation, seeing as the emperor doesnt attend foreign royal coronations per protocol. However, Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, attended the Queens funeral last September.

Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko confirm attendance at Kings coronation (Getty Images)

The Danish royal family also confirmed their attendance at the coronation on Tuesday. In an announcement shared to the Danish Royal Houses website, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark said they will participate in the coronation of HRH King Charles III and Queen Camilla of Great Britain at Westminster Abbey in London. Frederik attended Queen Elizabeths funeral in September with his mother, Queen Margrethe II.

In addition to Denmarks royal family, the Swedish Royal Court has also confirmed the coronation attendance of King Carl XVI Gustaf, along with his daughter and heir, Crown Princess Victoria. The Swedish monarch is one of the few foreign rulers to attend the British kings coronation, rather than sending a consort to represent him.

Prince Albert II of Monaco was the first foreign head of state to confirm he would be attending the Kings coronation. In January, Monacos reigning sovereign told People that he and his wife, Princess Charlene, will be among the guests at Westminster Abbey.

Im certain that its going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one, the 64-year-old royal said. Weve maintained contact since His Majesty became King, but I havent talked to him personally since the Queens funeral.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 (Getty Images)

The prince shared that hes certain the King will add his own personal touches to the coronation. However, he was unsure whether their eight-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, will be invited.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have yet to announce whether they will attend the Kings coronation. A source previously told The Mail on Sunday: At the Queens Coronation there were no crowned monarchs, only the protectorate rulers like the Queen of Tonga. Its been a tradition for centuries. Inviting the King of Jordan, the Sultan of Brunei, the Sultan of Oman and the Scandinavian royals  who are all friends of Charles  will be a good bit of soft power and diplomacy.

Last week, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III has invited more than 850 community and charity representatives to his and Queen Camillas coronation. More than 450 British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients were invited to see the service from inside Westminster Abbey, while some 400 young people representing charities will be able to watch the coronation and procession from a special private viewing at the nearby St Margarets Church.

Although not a foreign monarch, President Joe Biden has confirmed that he will not be attending King Charles IIIs coronation. Instead, his wife First Lady Jill Biden will be going on behalf of the United States.
 Close Prince Harry's lawyer arrives at High Court ahead of privacy claim against The Sun's publisher

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The Duke of Sussex has said he felt like the tabloid press was a third party in all of his relationships.

In court documents revealed at the High Court in London on Tuesday, Harry said he always tried to be the best partner he could be, but every woman has her limit.

He said that the tabloid press always became involved in his relationships, and tried to ruin them.

Whenever I have been in a relationship, I have always tried to be the best partner that I possibly could, but every woman has her limit, he said in a witness statement.

Unfortunately, they are not just in a relationship with me but with the entire tabloid press as a third party.

At no point did I have a girlfriend or a relationship with anyone without the tabloids getting involved and ultimately ruining it, or trying to ruin it, using whatever unlawful means at their disposal.

Meanwhile, the court also heard that the Prince of Wales allegedly reached a settlement, that the late queen was aware of, with publisher News Group Newspapers over claims of hacking.
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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.
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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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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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A man allegedly injured an 82-year-old woman in a knife attack before stabbing a man to death in west London, a court has heard.

Norris Henry is said to have stabbed Elizabeth Walsh in the back on Albany Road, Brentford, before walking on and knifing 20-year-old Ali Abucar Ali fatally in the chest on November 12 2021.

Mrs Walsh was taken to hospital and survived but Mr Ali died soon after he collapsed in a nearby kebab shop seeking help, the court heard.

Henry, who lived locally, appeared at the Old Bailey via video link on Tuesday for a trial of issue charged with murder and attempted murder.

Without warning, Mr Henry pulled the large knife from his pocket and stabbed Mrs Walsh to the back Duncan Atkinson, KC

The court was told the 38-year-old suffers from treatment resistant paranoid schizophrenia and did so at the time of the alleged incident.

Jurors heard psychiatrists concluded the defendant is not fit to plead or stand trial and that the jurys role is to decide whether he did the two alleged acts.

That is that he deliberately stabbed first Mrs Walsh and then Mr Ali with his knife, causing Mrs Walsh serious injury, and causing Mr Alis death, prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said.

The prosecutor told the court that Henry used a large knife with a 25cm long blade.

In the course of his walk along Albany Road, the defendant walked past Elizabeth Walsh, an 82-year-old woman who was a complete stranger to him, Mr Atkinson said.

Without warning, Mr Henry pulled the large knife from his pocket and stabbed Mrs Walsh to the back.

He then walked on and approached Ali Abucar Ali, a 20-year-old man who was also a complete stranger to him.

Saying you want it as well, the defendant again used his knife to stab Mr Ali to the chest.
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The landlord of a pub, which was defended by the home secretary after police seized its collection of golli*** dolls, referred to US lynchings and posted far-right content on Facebook.

Chris Ryley and his wife previously refused council requests to remove the items from display at The White Hart in Grays.

Essex Police are now investigating an alleged hate crime, prompting an intervention by Suella Braverman claiming they should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense.

After a distressed member of the public contacted police in February, Mr Ryley defended the dolls, writing on his public Facebook page: Some sad face has decided that The White Hart has once again been declared A Rascist [sic] pub due to the fact we still have our Goully [sic] Dolls on the shelf some people really do need to get a life.

The landlord has used the same Facebook page to post several photos of the dolls, including some hanging from a wooden beam.

We have our golli***s, yaaay, he wrote in a caption in March 2016. When his wife commented asking if the post was legal lol [laugh out loud], Mr Ryley replied: They used to hang them in Mississippi years ago.

The US state of Mississippi saw some of the highest numbers of lynchings, including hangings, targeting Black people through the 1800s and 1900s, according to the NAACP civil rights organisation.

After refusing the local councils request to take down the dolls in 2018, Mr Ryley posted another photograph of them on Facebook and said they had been reported to the police.

A Facebook post by pub landlord Chris Ryley (Facebook)

Our customers bring these items in from their travels, he wrote. We have a lot of coloured customers who have never complained.

Months before, Mr Ryley had shared several propaganda images created by the white nationalist Generation Identity group, which inspired the 2019 New Zealand mosque shooter.

Its time to rise up, he captioned a Generation Identity poster reading: Keep calm and defend your country.

Mr Ryley later shared a recruitment poster and a photo of group members holding a banner over a bridge carrying the slogan: Defend London. Stop Islamisation.

Other posts include footage of far-right political commentator Katie Hopkins discussing Channel crossings and videos claiming that indigenous white Brits are becoming a minority in the UK and white people need a safe haven.

Mr Ryley appeared to call for a white history month and posted the slogan white lives matter during the global reaction to the 2020 killing of George Floyd by American police.

In a Facebook post from July last year, he took aim at transgenders, gays, people that dont know what they are and illegal immigrants.

Mr Ryley also posted this slogan to his social media (Facebook)

Mr Ryley, who currently lives in Turkey, appeared to wrongly suggest that Rishi Sunak was a Muslim, questioning: Did all the UK population agree to live under a Muslim regime?

He has not responded to The Independents request for comment but his wife, Benice Ryley, said they were not racist and the golli***s were just dolls.

Asked about Mr Ryleys Facebook posts and references to lynchings and Generation Identity, she said: I dont know anything about that, youd have to ask my husband but I can assure you that my husband and I are not racist at all. At all.

We run under India Inns, Grays Limited, we had an Indian partner before he was killed in a car accident. We do Indian weddings, we have many cultures come into our pub and none of them would ever say were rude to them or anything like that, we welcome them all.

To me we are all people and my husband feels the same. As for the gollies they are dolls, theyre nothing but dolls, childhood dolls. Id love my dolls back though.

Golli***s are based on a Black fictional character that appeared in childrens books in the late 19th century.

The dolls featured in another Facebook post by the White Hart landlord (Facebook)

They became popular in Britain in the 1970s but are now widely regarded as a racist caricature of Black people.

Ms Ryley said she was grateful for the home secretarys intervention, adding: Shes right, shes totally right. These are from our past and its only the young lads complaining  its absolutely silly.

The landlady has put golli*** dolls in her remaining collection back on display but added a sign on the pub door saying: We have golly dolls displayed inside on our shelves. If you feel offended. Please do not enter.

Essex Police said it had received an allegation of a hate crime on 24 February, when a member of the public reported being distressed after visiting The White Hart.

The force is investigating under the Public Order Act, which covers threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, and part of the Crime and Disorder Act that includes racially-aggravated public order offences.

We have regularly discussed the progression of this case with the Crown Prosecution Service and on 4 April, five officers visited a location off Argent Street, Grays, and seized several items in connection with that investigation, a statement added.

No one has been arrested or charged in connection with the investigation and our enquiries are ongoing. The force is proud of the work we do to prevent crime, tackle offenders and build trust and confidence in all our communities.

The force said it had not been contacted directly by the home secretary in relation to the investigation, adding: We maintain operational independence from the Home Office which ensures that every investigation is carried out without fear or favour.

The Independent understands that staff in the home secretarys private office had contacted police on her behalf over the case, because Ms Braverman believes that police shouldnt be seizing dolls or policing taste.

When asked about Mr Ryleys social media posts, a spokesperson for Ms Braverman said her intervention was unrelated to his previous comments and only concerned the seizure of the dolls.
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A pub landlady at the centre of a racism row has praised Suella Braverman for criticising police after they seized a collection of golli*** dolls.

Essex Police confiscated the items from the White Hart Inn, in Grays, as part of an ongoing hate crime investigation last week.

A spokesperson for the home secretary said she had made her views very plain to the force and believed they should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense.

Benice Ryley, who runs the pub, told The Independent she was grateful for Ms Bravermans intervention, adding: Shes right, shes totally right. These are from our past and its only the young lads complaining  its absolutely silly.

Ms Ryley has put golli*** dolls in her remaining collection back on display but added a sign on the pub door saying: We have golly dolls displayed inside on our shelves. If you feel offended. Please do not enter.

Id love my dolls back though, she said. Theyre nothing but dolls, childhood dolls.

Ms Ryley said she and her husband, Chris, refused requests by the local council to remove the dolls from display in 2018 and were sent more by supporters after the story was reported.

My husband and I are not racist at all, she added. We do Indian weddings, we have many cultures come into our pub and none of them would ever say were rude to them or anything like that, we welcome them all.

To me we are all people and my husband feels the same. As for the gollies, they are dolls.

Officers enter the pub to remove the dolls (Benice Ryley / SWNS)

The dolls are based on a Black fictional character that appeared in childrens books in the late 19th century.

They became popular in Britain in the 1970s but are now widely regarded as a racist caricature of Black people.

Essex Police said it had received an allegation of a hate crime on 24 February, when a member of the public reported being distressed after visiting The White Hart.

We have regularly discussed the progression of this case with the Crown Prosecution Service and on 4 April, five officers visited a location off Argent Street, Grays, and seized several items in connection with that investigation, a statement added.

No one has been arrested or charged in connection with the investigation and our enquiries are ongoing.

The force is proud of the work we do to prevent crime, tackle offenders and build trust and confidence in all our communities.

The force said it had not been contacted directly by the home secretary in relation to the investigation, adding: We maintain operational independence from the Home Office which ensures that every investigation is carried out without fear or favour.

Chris and Benice Ryley were reported for the dolls in 2018 (Benice Ryley / SWNS)

The Independent understands that staff in the home secretarys private office had contacted police on her behalf over the case, because Ms Braverman believes that police shouldnt be seizing dolls or policing taste.

The home secretary has repeatedly hit out at woke policing and politically correct distractions, despite a series of disturbing criminal cases and damning reports exposing misogynist, racist, predatory and corrupt officers.

Police leaders rejected Ms Bravermans claim in a letter to chief constables that there was a perception that the police have had to spend too much time on symbolic gestures, than actually fighting criminals, and that diversity and inclusion initiatives had taken precedence over common sense policing.

Last month, the home secretary announced new statutory guidance on the police handling of hate incidents that do not amount to a crime.

I have been deeply concerned about reports of the police wrongly getting involved in lawful debate in this country, she said.

We have been clear that in recording so-called non-crime hate incidents, officers must always have freedom of expression at the forefront of their minds.

The decision to display the dolls in the pub has been condemned, as has Ms Bravemans response.

20 dolls were seized in the Essex pub (Benice Ryley / SWNS)

Suella Braverman should be prosecuted for using her position as Home Secretary to normalise racism, Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu said on Twitter. Golli***s are racist caricatures of Black people and display in a pub is a slap in face. Ive been called a golli***. Its not only offensive, its objectively racist.

Good Morning Britain presenter Adil Ray agreed that the dolls were offensive.

I was called golli*** at school, he posted. Just hearing the word frightens me. I cant think of any good reason why someone on balance might think its ok to display them in a pub.

The African, Caribbean and Asian Lawyers For Justice campaign group tweeted: The fact that golli*** dolls are still being sold and displayed today shows that we still have a long way to go regarding racial equality.

By perpetuating this harmful relic of the past, we are effectively normalising racism and perpetuating offensive and harmful stereotypes. While displaying golli*** dolls at the White Hart Inn in Grays is offensive, it is not a crime. However, we can choose not to support the establishment and hope they remove them.
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A teenage boy has been arrested after two girls were raped on a canal towpath in Aylesbury.

The two girls were attacked on the Grand Union canal between 9.30pm and 10.10pm on Saturday night, police said.

Thames Valley Police described the victims as two girls in their teens, and according to local media reports an area on Tring Road was cordoned off while a forensics team investigated on Sunday.

The girls were raped on the canal footpath, near Park Road, on Saturday evening (Google Maps)

A 17-year-old boy from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire was arrested on suspicion of two counts of rape. He has now been released on bail.

Aylesbury residents were advised that they may see an increased police presence as investigations continue.

The force is appealing for anyone with information and footage captured by dashcams or video doorbells to come forward. The attack took place near Park Street, close to the town centre.

This is a concerning incident but I would like to reassure the community that we are carrying out a thorough investigation, said Detective Sergeant Thomas Booth.

Our specialist officers are working to support the victims in connection with this incident.

View more

Members of the public may see an increased police presence while we continue to investigate and I would advise anyone with concerns to please speak to one of our officers. Anyone with any information relating to this incident should come forward.

Also I would ask anyone who has CCTV, a dash-cam or a video doorbell to please check their footage and get in touch if it shows anything that could assist our enquiries.

Those with information should call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43230154466. Alternatively, you can provide information completely anonymously to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.
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A woman will become the boss of GCHQ for the first time in its more than 100-year history when the current director steps down next month.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced that Anne Keast-Butler has been appointed to succeed Sir Jeremy Fleming as head of the Governments intelligence organisation.

Ms Keast-Butler, currently MI5s deputy director-general, will take up the role in May when Sir Jeremy leaves after six years, making her the security agencys 17th leader since its inception in 1919.

The married mother-of-three and dog lover, who grew up in Cambridge and has a maths degree from the University of Oxford, said she is delighted to be appointed and cant wait to get started.

Ms Keast-Butler, who has spent 30 years working in national security, also described GCHQs mission is as inspiring today as it was when it was founded.

She said: I was privileged to work in GCHQ a few years ago, so I know I am again joining a world-class team of people from diverse backgrounds with a broad range of skills, who share a singular focus on making our country safer, more secure, and more prosperous.

I am passionate about continuing to ensure that GCHQ is an organisation where everyone can perform to their very best.

I am so grateful for the vision and dedication Sir Jeremy Fleming has shown during his tenure, and the ways in which GCHQ has transformed under his leadership.

I look forward to building on this in the months and years to come.

Before holding senior security service roles at MI5, Ms Keast-Butler spent two years on secondment to GCHQ as head of counter-terrorism and serious organised crime, and also worked in Whitehall over the last decade, during which time she helped launch the National Cyber Security Programme.

I have worked with Anne for decades and think she is a brilliant choice with deep experience of intelligence and security in todays technology-driven world Sir Jeremy Fleming, director, GCHQ

Sir Jeremy said: Annes appointment is fantastic news for the organisation. I have worked with Anne for decades and think she is a brilliant choice with deep experience of intelligence and security in todays technology-driven world.

Mr Cleverly said: Anne Keast-Butler has an impressive track record at the heart of the UKs national security network, helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers.

She is the ideal candidate to lead GCHQ, and Anne will use her vast experience to help keep the British public safe.

National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow said Ms Keast-Butler was an exceptional candidate in a talented field and thanked Sir Jeremy for his service, adding: Jeremys insights and analysis have been hugely valuable through one of the most demanding periods of our recent history.
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Consumer finance expert Martin Lewis has urged motorists to check their driving licences to ensure they have not expired, leaving them at risk of a hefty fine.

As part of an annual check-up recommended in Mr Lewiss latest Money Saving Expert newsletter, the pundit warned drivers with a photocard licence that they could be fined up to 1,000 by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if they are found to be driving with a permit that has passed its 10-year expiry date.

Mr Lewis cautioned that up to two million people may have neglected to update their licences and advised drivers to check out the 4b date on the front of their photocard to determine whether or not it is time to renew.

The cards and products stored in your purse or wallet (even if its digital via your phone and watch) are a vivid window on your finances, the money-saving guru wrote in his newsletter.

So each year I like to do an annual check-up of what youre holstering to see if theres an easy cash boost.

Photocard driving licences, first introduced in 1998, are only valid for a decade after they are issued.

Paper licences issued prior to 1998, however, remain valid until the holder turns 70, although this format was abolished in June 2015 and they are no longer issued alongside the photocard.

These therefore do not require renewal if your personal details have not changed, although all driving licences must be in the photocard format by 2033  you can find out more about upgrading to the new version here.

Anyone seeking to renew their photocard can do so via the UK governments official website, by post or at the post office.

You will need to hold a valid UK passport, be resident in Great Britain (Northern Ireland has its own system), not to have been disqualified from driving and be able to show your current licence, or explain why not if you do not have it, as well as your National Insurance number and last three addresses.

You will also be asked to pay a 14 processing fee by debit or credit card online or 17 if submitting by post. Over-70s or those with a short-term medical driving licence are exempt from paying.

Once your application has been received, you should get your new licence within a week, the DVLA advises.

The renewal process is slightly different for drivers aged over 70, lorry and bus drivers and those with a short-term medical driving licence.

You can find out more about what is required in those three scenarios at the links provided.
Britains cyber spy agency has appointed a female director for the first time in its more than 100-year history.

Anne Keast-Butler has been appointed to succeed Sir Jeremy Fleming as head of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), foreign secretary James Cleverly has announced.

Ms Keast-Butler, currently MI5s deputy director general, will take up the role in May when Sir Jeremy leaves after six years. She said she is delighted to be appointed and cant wait to get started, adding that GCHQs mission is as inspiring today as it was when it was founded.
 Close Joe Biden says he spent more time with Xi Jinping than any other world leader

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US president Joe Biden broke down in tears on the final day of his Ireland tour after an emotional unplanned meeting with a priest who gave the last rites to his son.

The Parish priest of Knock, Fr Richard Gibbons, said the chaplain who performed the last rites sacrament on Mr Bidens son, Beau, now works at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo where the president paid a visit on Friday.

Fr Frank OGrady performed the ceremony for Beau Biden before he died of brain cancer in 2015.

He received a call requesting that he meet the president, and later told RTE that the encounter was like a reunion.

We had a nice chat for about 10 minutes. He was delighted to see me and I was delighted to see him, he said. He gave me a big hug, it was like a reunion. He told me he appreciated everything that was done.

In the evening, Mr Biden received a rock star welcome from crowds in Ballina, County Mayo for his last public engagement of the trip.
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US president Joe Biden has landed in Belfast as part of a historic four-day trip to the island of Ireland.

He was greeted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after Air Force One landed at RAF Aldergrove on Tuesday night.

The two leaders met briefly before the president drove away in an armoured car amid a light scattering of snow.

Joe Biden was met by Rishi Sunak as he got off the plane in Northern Ireland (REUTERS)

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris was also present as Mr Biden alighted from the aircraft with US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy.

The US president will carry out several other engagements across the week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1998.

He will meet the Prime Minister again on Wednesday for a bilateral meeting.

The leaders of Northern Irelands main political parties will also have the opportunity to engage with Mr Biden before he delivers an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

The Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

However, the White House said there will not be a formal group meeting with the leaders.

Mr Biden touched down at RAF Aldergrove on Air Force One (PA Wire)

Mr Sunak will not attend Mr Bidens keynote speech, with Downing Street on Tuesday denying that the engagement between the pair would be low-key.

Speaking to reporters before his departure, he said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden is visiting Ireland for four days (Sky News)

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including a speech in Dublin as well as visits to ancestral homelands.

After he leaves Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

The US president, flanked by Mr Sunak, meets with Robert Kennedy (REUTERS)

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at the presidents official residence, Aras an Uachtarain.

Mr Biden is driven away in an armoured car (Reuters)

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
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The UK citizenship test, a crucial element of the application for British residency, is a tangle of errors, omissions, and mundane trivia  likened in a new report to a bad pub quiz.

This was the damning verdict passed down today by a law professor who closely analysed the Life in the UK test, which must normally be passed by anyone seeking permanent residency or wanting to become a British citizen.

Thom Brooks, a professor of law and government at the University of Durham, pointed to serious problems with the content of the test and the revision materials supplied to candidates.

He described the assessment as a test for British citizenship that few British citizens can pass, and claimed to have found factual mistakes in the official test handbook and test materials.

Professor Brooks was also concerned that the test information has become increasingly outdated.

This report exposes for the first time that information about the UKs EU membership was removed months before Brexit happened, the report also states.

Proposals for the test were mooted by Labour in 2002. Then home secretary David Blunkett announced the plans with the intention of ensuring that new citizens had good knowledge of life in Britain.

The test was instated for citizenship applications in 2005 and for indefinite leave to remain applications in 2007.

Candidates do not need to take the test if they are under 18, 65 and over, or if they have passed it before. Those with a long-term physical or mental condition are able to provide a form or a letter from a doctor in place of the test, however.

Candidates are given 45 minutes to answer 24 questions about British traditions and customs. They can sit the test as many times as they wish but must pay a 50 fee each time.

But professor Brooks worries that its contents have become increasingly impractical over time.

If citizenship tests are to continue, then their contents, use and impact need to be taken more seriously following this reports recommendations, he writes.

The citizenship test appears to be the only such test in the world that does not even ask, nor require, new applicants to know who is the head of state, how many MPs sit in parliament nor which court sits atop the judiciary, the academic notes.

Mr Brookes says there is perhaps no clearer example in the test of triviality than having to commit to memory two dozen facts about the life of Sake Dean Mahomet, who opened Londons first curry house and popularised the use of shampoo above Europe.

Other mundane information candidates must memorise includes the height of the London Eye (443 feet) and approximate age of the Big Ben clock tower (over 150 years).

Candidates must also be able to reel of the dates Boris Johnson and Theresa May became prime minister  though no one else in British history.

The report found, too, that no one need know how to contact emergency services, report a crime or register with a GP.

Professor Brooks said: The Life in the UK test is essential for permanent residency and citizenship[It] matters and should be taken seriously. The government is urged to accept the recommendations in my report to improve the test, its monitoring and inspections.
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Police have returned to the River Wyre six weeks after the body of missing mother-of-two Nicola Bulley was found there.

The 45-year-old mortgage adviser went missing on 27 January while walking her dog along the river at St Michaels on Wyre, after dropping her two daughters  aged six and nine  at school nearby.

Her mobile phone was found a bench near the riverbank, still connected to a Microsoft Teams work call, with her dog Willow left running loose.

There was a high profile missing persons search for Nicola Bulley (PA)

A huge police operation ensued as the search for Ms Bulley drew intense national attention, before Lancashire Police eventually announced that a body had been discovered among reeds and undergrowth in the River Wyre on 19 February.

Some six weeks later officers have returned to the river to carry out investigations on behalf of HM Coroner, ahead of an inquest set for 26 June in Preston.

Here is a timeline of events after her disappearance:

 27 January

At 8.26am Ms Bulley left her home with her two daughters, dropping them off at school and engaging in a brief conversation with another parent around 15 minutes later, before taking her spaniel for a walk along the River Wyre at 8:43am, Lancashire Police has said.

She was seen by a dog walker who knew her at around 8.50am, and their pets interacted briefly before they parted ways, according to the force.

At 8.53am, Ms Bulley sent an email to her boss, followed by a message to her friends six minutes later, before logging on to a Microsoft Teams call at 9.01am. She was seen by a second witness at 9.10am, the last known sighting.

Her phone was back in the area of the bench at 9.20am before the Teams call ended 10 minutes later, with her mobile remaining logged on after the call. At 9.33am, another dog walker found her phone on a bench beside the river, with Willow darting between the two.

At 10.50am, Ms Bulleys family and the school attended by her children were told about her disappearance. Lancashire Constabulary launched an investigation into Ms Bulleys whereabouts on the same day and appealed for witnesses to contact them.

(The Independent/ Datawrapper)

 28 January

Lancashire Constabulary deployed drones, helicopters and police search dogs as part of the major missing person operation.

They were assisted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, as well as Bowland Pennine mountain rescue team and the North West underwater search team.

 29 January

Local residents held a meeting at the village hall to organise a search for Ms Bulley at 10.30am on Sunday, according to reports from The Mirror, and around 100 people joined in.

Police urged volunteers to exercise caution, describing the river and its banks as extremely dangerous and saying that activity in these areas presented a genuine risk to the public.

 30 January

Superintendent Sally Riley from Lancashire Constabulary said police were keeping a really open mind about what could have happened, and that they were not treating Ms Bulleys disappearance as suspicious.

 31 January

Lancashire Constabulary spoke with a potential witness, a man who had been walking a small white fluffy dog near the River Wyre at the time of Ms Bulleys disappearance.

Ms Bulleys phone was found on a bench by the banks of the River Wyre (Danny Lawson/PA)

Her family released a statement saying they had been overwhelmed by the support in their community, and that her daughters were desperate to have their mummy back home safe.

 1 February

Ms Bulleys parents, Ernest and Dot Bulley, spoke to The Mirror about the horror they faced over the possibility of never seeing her again.

Her father told the newspaper: We just dread to think we will never see her again, if the worst came to the worst and she was never found, how will we deal with that for the rest of our lives?

 2 February

Lancashire Constabulary spoke with a second witness who they had identified with the help of the public using CCTV but they told police they did not have any further information to aid their inquiry.

Officers from the North West Police Underwater and Marine support unit searched the area close to where Ms Bulleys mobile phone was found, while police divers scoured the River Wyre.

Meanwhile, Ms Bulleys family appealed to the public for help tracing her, with her sister Louise Cunningham telling Sky News: There has got to be somebody who knows something and all we are asking is, no matter how small or big, if there is anything you remember that doesnt seem right, then please reach out to the police.

Police divers back at the scene, weeks after her body was found (YouTube)

 3 February

Lancashire Police said it was working on the hypothesis that Ms Bulley may have fallen into the River Wyre.

Superintendent Riley urged against speculation, but said it was possible that an issue with Ms Bulleys dog may have led her to the waters edge. She urged the public to look out for items of clothing Ms Bulley was last seen wearing, and gave an extensive list.

Ms Bulleys friends also shared heartfelt appeals via television interviews, including Emma White, who told the BBC that Ms Bulleys daughters were continually asking where she was.

 4 February

Ms White cast doubt on the police theory that she fell into a river, telling Sky News it was based on limited information.

She said: When we are talking about a life we cant base it on a hypothesis, surely we need this factual evidence. Thats what the family and all of us are holding on to, that we are sadly no further on than last Friday.

A huge search effort took place in the weeks after her disappearance (PA Wire)

In a Facebook post, Ms Cunningham urged people to keep an open mind as there is no evidence whatsoever that the dog walker fell in the river.

Lancashire Police also announced it wanted to trace a key witness who was seen pushing a pram in the area on the morning of the disappearance.

 5 February

The woman described as a key witness by police came forward. The force insisted she was very much being treated as a witness as it warned against totally unacceptable speculation and abuse on social media.

Peter Faulding, leader of underwater search experts Specialist Group International (SGI), began searching the river after being called in by Ms Bulleys family.

 6 February

Ms Bulleys friends expressed hope that the help of the specialist underwater rescue team would give the family answers.

Ms White told BBC Breakfast: Following the hypothesis of the police that Nicola was in the river, we need some evidence to back that up either way and I feel Peter and his amazing bit of kit  is going to come and sweep the river bed and give us answers.

Meanwhile, Ms Bulleys partner Mr Ansell, in a statement released through Lancashire Police, said: Its been 10 days now since Nicola went missing and I have two little girls who miss their mummy desperately and who need her back.

Ms Bulleys partner Paul Ansell said his two daughters miss their mummy desperately (Nicola Bulley/Facebook)

 10 February

Police urged people to refrain from indulging in commentary and conspiracy theories about Ms Bulleys disappearance as speculation increased online.

 15 February

Police told a press conference that the mother-of-two was classed as a high-risk missing person immediately after she was reported missing due to vulnerabilities. Hours later, they disclosed Ms Bulleys struggles with alcohol and perimenopause.

 16 February

Ms Bulleys family said the focus had become distracted from finding Nikki, and more about speculation and rumours into her private life and called for it to end. Lancashire Police referred itself to the police watchdog over contact the force had with Ms Bulley prior to her disappearance.

Home secretary Suella Braverman demanded an explanation for the disclosure of Ms Bulleys private information by the force.

Ms Bulley walked her dog by the river most days (Family handout)

 17 February

Lancashire Police announced it was conducting an internal review into the handling of Ms Bulleys disappearance and the Information Commissioner said he would ask the force questions about the disclosure.

 18 February

Ms Braverman met with police leaders to discuss the handling of the investigation after the prime minister Rishi Sunak also expressed concerns about the revelation.

 19 February

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt described the polices disclosure as shocking, while shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, who also wrote to the force over its handling of the case, repeated her concerns about the unusual level of private information made public about Ms Bulley.

That afternoon, Lancashire Police announced that a body had been found in the River Wyre, around a mile downstream from where her belongings were discovered.

Ms Bulleys body was discovered in reeds at the edge of the River Wyre (Jason Roberts/PA)

 20 February

The force confirmed that the body had been identified as Ms Bulley.

In a statement, her family said she was the centre of our world, adding they would never be able to comprehend what Nikki had gone through in her last moments and that will never leave us.

 21 February

Broadcasting regulator Ofcom announced it had written to Sky and ITV to ask them to explain their actions after Ms Bulleys family accused them of intruding on their privacy after her body was discovered.

Meanwhile, a campaign set up to raise money for Ms Bulleys family received 10,000 in a single day, and has since gone on to raise nearly four times that amount.

 22 February

Social media app TikTok said it would take action against users who violated its community guidelines by posting misinformation about Ms Bulley, after the company was criticised for allowing conspiracy theories to spread on its app.

 23 February

A candlelit vigil was held for Ms Bulley in her former hometown of South Woodham Ferrers in Essex, with one organiser saying that the family still hold a massive piece of all of our hearts despite having previously moved up north. A large mural of Ms Bulley by local artist Danny Bench was also unveiled.

Flowers were left on a footbridge over the River Wyre in tribute (Getty Images)

 25 February

Mr Fauldings team of divers, Specialist Group International, was suspended from the National Crime Agencys Expert Adviser Database while a review was carried out, law enforcement sources told The Times.

 8 March

Lancashire Police arrested a man over footage shot inside a police cordon on the day Ms Bulleys body was found. The 34-year-old from Kidderminster was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications offences and perverting the course of justice.

 4 April

Police divers were spotted in the River Wyre and a brief clip was uploaded to YouTube. Lancashire Police later confirmed that its officers were carrying out some work on the direction of HM coroner, ahead of the inquest set for 26 June at County Hall in Preston.
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The town of Ballina in Co Mayo will never have witnessed anything like the visit of Joe Biden, a relative of the US President has said.

Joe Blewitt, a third cousin of Mr Biden, said there is a great buzz in the area ahead of the presidents arrival.

Preparations are well under way for the event on Friday, which will be the culmination of Mr Bidens trip to the island of Ireland.

Mr Biden is to give a public address at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

His great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827, which helped him to afford to buy tickets for himself and his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.

Mr Blewitt was helping with final preparations on Tuesday when he spoke to the PA news agency.

He said: We are building the stage at the moment.

I am very excited, there is a great buzz all around the town. It has just been crazy.

The town will never have known anything like it, it is just great.

Ballina is twinned with Scranton in Pennsylvania in the US, Mr Bidens hometown.

Independent councillor Mark Duffy said Ballina is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year.

Can you imagine the pride for us every time he mentions Ballina on the world stage? Annie May Reape, local councillor

He said: President Biden coming to Ballina on Friday is a huge celebration of our story.

So many people emigrated during the darkest hour in Irish history, the famine time.

His great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, left here. He was a builders merchant here in Ballina and supplied 27,000 bricks towards the building of the cathedral where on Friday night he is going to make a historic address to the people of Ballina and the people of Ireland.

It is a really symbolic moment between Ballina and his hometown of Scranton which are already linked. It shows the strong ties between the two places.

As a council we are working around the clock, cleaning streets, the painters are out, community groups are painting different shop buildings. Businesses are decorating their shops; flags, buntings, banners are going up all over.

There is a real celebratory mood in the town at the moment.

It will be huge. He visited in 2016 as vice-president and he always promised he would come if he was US president.

Councillor Annie May Reape said: It is fantastic to see. It is gearing up and the people are so excited.

There has never been anything like this before. He did visit us in 2016 as vice-president, but this is on a different scale.

Having the president coming to a small west of Ireland town is beyond anyones expectations.

The town is tremendously proud of the links we have with the president.

I was walking around this morning and seeing it all. I just hope the weather stays good.

The president did say he was coming home. Hes a lovely man and so, so friendly. I think he is really happy himself about coming back.

Can you imagine the pride for us every time he mentions Ballina on the world stage?

It puts us on the map. It will do wonders for us.

Before his visit to Co Mayo, Mr Biden will spend time in Co Louth, where his great-grandfather, James Finnegan, was born.

He will tour Carlingford Castle on Wednesday.

Excitement was building in the county with several homes decorated with US flags near Kilwirra Church, where some of Mr Bidens relatives are believed to be buried.

A significant security operation is also continuing in the area with members of the defence forces carrying out searches of undergrowth.

Local resident Ambrose Carroll was one of those to erect a Stars and Stripes flag in his garden.

He said: We did it last time he was here, a lot of people did the same. We said we would do it again because theres a lot of excitement around the place.

I feel great about it. He seems to be a lovely man and I am looking forward to it.

All round the area there are cousins.

Robert Brown, who runs a confectionery stand in Carlingford, said police have asked him to close on Wednesday.

We have been asked for security reasons to vacate the area when the president is here, he said.

From the point of view of the presidents visit, it will be good for tourism, it will be good for the economy, and hopefully it will bring some investment to this part of the world.
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Joe Biden has said he will use his visit to the island of Ireland to keep the peace, as he left the US for his four-day trip.

The US president invoked the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the recently negotiated Windsor Framework as he prepared to set off for Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden will arrive later on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo  from where his ancestors hail.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

Mr Biden, speaking to reporters before his departure, said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

Thats the main thing, he said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening.

The two leaders will also hold a meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

Mr Sunak will not attend Mr Bidens keynote speech, with Downing Street on Tuesday denying that the engagement between the pair would be low-key.

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

It is expected that Mr Biden will hold a meeting with Northern Irelands main political parties before the Ulster University talk.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
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US President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Stormonts main political parties as part of a visit he said will underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

He tweeted: 25 years ago, Northern Irelands 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.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

It is expected that Mr Biden will hold a meeting with Northern Irelands main political parties before the Ulster University talk.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
Liz Truss is renewing her contorversial push for a radical low-tax agenda.

Britains shortest-serving prime minister, who lasted just six weeks at No 10, is urging the UK and the US to better promote free markets in the face of the threat from authoritarian regimes.

In a speech to the right-wing think tank Heritage Foundation in the US on Wednesday the former Tory PM will claim a cartel of complacency is damaging economic growth  accusing Western governments of aiding China, Russia and other authoritarian regimes by refusing to offer tax cuts.
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A 17-year-old boy has died after being stabbed in east London.

The teenager was found in Longshaw Road, Chingford, at around 9.20pm on Easter Monday, the Metropolitan Police said.

Teams from both the land and air ambulance services as well as members of the public tried to save him but he died at the scene. His family has been told.

A friend told news website MyLondon that a man had jumped out of a car and chased the victim before stabbing him.

He said: I was with him yesterday and it happened three hours later after I left. We were just chilling minding our own business.

I went out with my dad and got home, then got a call saying your friend had got stabbed at the bottom of your road. I could not get past the tape.

He was with his friend, they were walking this way and a guy jumped out a car and appeared out of the dark, pulled a knife out and started running after them.

One ran that way and my friend ran that way and the guy targeted him for some reason.

Detectives are viewing CCTV and carrying out door to door inquiries, and have already spoken to some witnesses, although they are keen to hear from anyone else who has information about what happened.

Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, local policing commander for north-east London, said: This is a tragic incident and I am devastated that a young life has been lost as a result of knife crime.

My thoughts are with the victims family at this incredibly difficult time. Incidents such as this have a devastating impact on families, friends and our local communities.

We have a dedicated team of detectives working on the investigation. They have been at the scene overnight and will remain there today as they carry out further enquiries.

This work is being supported by additional local patrols who are there to respond to any concerns within the community.

Too many of our young people are afraid of violence in Waltham Forest when they should instead feel secure Khevyn Limbajee, Waltham Forest Council

Waltham Forest Council cabinet member for community safety Khevyn Limbajee said the local authority is working with police to reassure people living in the area.

He said: I join the community in expressing deep sadness following an incident yesterday in which a 17-year-old male tragically lost his life.

I urge anyone who knows anything about this shocking crime to contact the police.

The council is working closely with local police colleagues to reassure the community, and we will provide extra presence in the area over the next few days.

Please speak to our neighbourhood officers about any concerns you have when you see them. They will listen and take forward these concerns as we work to make the area safer.

Too many of our young people are afraid of violence in Waltham Forest when they should instead feel secure.

We and our partners are using all the powers and tools available to us to make our community a safer place where young people and their families can enjoy their lives.

Witnesses can contact police in the incident room on 020 8345 3985 or by calling 101 or on Twitter at @MetCC quoting the reference CAD 6358/10Apr. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
A Conservative MP has announced he will not stand for re-election in Henley  the Oxfordshire seat it was said Boris Johnson may have eyed amid speculation he wants a safer seat.

John Howell  who has served as the Henley MP for 15 years after it was vacated Mr Johnson when he become London mayor  became the latest Tory to announce they will not run at the next general election.

In a letter to the South Oxfordshire Conservative Association on Tuesday, the 67-year-old said he would be retiring and wanted to pursue other avenues.
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Joe Biden is set to meet the leaders of Northern Irelands political parties in Belfast on Wednesday ahead of a speech to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The US president will hold an informal meeting with the leaders of the five parties at the start of his four-day trip, The Independent understands.

A top ally of President Biden said the US administration would prod and nudge the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to end its protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements and resume its participation in the power-sharing institutions at Stormont.

Dozens of police officers and secret service vehicles descended on Belfast in a major security operation ahead of the visit.

In Derry, four suspected pipe bombs were recovered from a cemetery where a republican commemoration had been staged on Monday. The PSNI called the discovery of the devices a sinister and worrying development. Officers carrying out the operation were attacked with petrol bombs, stones and bottles.

On Monday, missiles were hurled at a police Land Rover during a parade by dissident republicans in the citys Creggan area.

A White House spokesperson said Mr Biden was more than comfortable visiting Northern Ireland despite the recent violence, and was very excited about the trip.

While Mr Biden is not expected to make a personal plea to the DUP, his close friend, US congressman Richard Neal, said there would be some gentle nudging. Mr Neal told BBCs Hardtalk that part of what we want to accomplish here is prodding [the DUP] to sit in government.

Asked if the Biden administration will use leverage to persuade the unionists to drop their protest, the congressman said: I think there can be some gentle nudging here, understanding that we all want to travel on the path that will bring about what Ive often referred to as two traditions that live in one community.

The DUP last month voted in parliament against Rishi Sunaks Windsor Framework  a deal agreed with the EU to replace the Northern Ireland protocol and ease trade checks on goods being transported across the Irish Sea. The party is expected to request amendments to the framework, but given the difficulty of making major changes to the text of a treaty, its demands are unlikely to be successful.

Boarding Air Force One bound for Northern Ireland, Mr Biden told reporters that making sure the Irish accords and Windsor Agreement stay in place was the main objective of his trip. It looks like were going to keep our fingers crossed, he added.

A US National Security Council source told The Independent: We expect President Biden will speak with the political party leaders ahead of his remarks at Ulster.

As President Biden said in his St Patricks Day remarks last month, he joins people across Northern Ireland in looking forward to seeing the return of a devolved government to Northern Ireland. Democratic, power-sharing institutions are at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement.

Rishi Sunak will be in Belfast to meet Joe Biden (PA Wire)

It comes as Tony Blair, who signed the historic peace deal in April 1998, warned Mr Biden that pressurising the unionist community could backfire.

The former prime minister told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: The Americans can play an important part on this, but you have just got to insert them at the right moment and in the right place.

Mr Blair added: There is a difference between influencing and pressurising, and the one tends to be positive, the other can be negative.

Downing Street has denied that Rishi Sunaks interactions with President Biden in Northern Ireland this week will be low-key, despite reports that their talks had been downgraded by the US administration to a coffee meeting.

The prime minister will greet the US president when he arrives late on Tuesday evening, with talks to follow in Belfast the next morning, when he is set to raise the subject of the UKs enduring partnership with the US. The pair are also expected to discuss trade and investment along with other areas of shared interest.

The White House pushed to scale back their meeting from a bilateral to a less formal coffee, The New York Times reported, quoting an official who had dubbed the meeting a bi-latte.

Police in Belfast city centre ahead of the arrival of US president Joe Biden (PA)

No 10 also denied that the prime minister had given up on getting the DUP back into power-sharing at Stormont. The PMs spokesperson said that the Northern Ireland secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, had a made it a priority to get the executive up and running, and that he had had extensive engagement with the Northern Ireland political parties in recent months.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during the remainder of his four-day stay, including a visit to County Louth and County Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.
Sir Keir Starmer was criticised by a senior member of his shadow cabinet for back-sliding on rape case law.

The Labour leader was slammed by shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry while in charge of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Ms Thornberry, who was also shadow attorney general at the time, wrote to Sir Keir in 2012 demanding an urgent rethink of the CPSs decision to weaken guidelines that specialist barristers must deal with every stage of a rape prosecution.
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Almost 4 million calls to the NHS 111 service were abandoned last year as callers struggled to get through to the helpline.

People calling 111 waited an average of 25 minutes to get through in December, figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care show.

Opposition parties are urging a recruitment drive for the service, with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey accusing ministers of burying their heads in the sand.

An analysis of the data by the House of Commons Library shows almost one in five (17.8 per cent) of callers to NHS 111 in 2022 gave up before getting through.

In total, 3.7 million calls to the helpline were abandoned last year, the equivalent to more than 10,000 a day across the country.

Sir Ed said: It is completely unacceptable that so many people in need of urgent medical advice are struggling to get through to NHS 111. Staff are exhausted, patients are left in pain, but still Conservative ministers are burying their heads in the sand.

The government must urgently hire and train more staff to take 111 calls, or else millions more people will be left in pain for far too long.

He added that local health services across the country were at breaking point after years of neglect and underfunding by the Tories.

From ambulance waiting times and a lack of GP appointments, our health services are buckling under pressure, he said.

The Conservative governments record on health has been a shambles and todays figures are yet further proof that we cannot trust them to run the NHS.

With a junior doctors strike looming this week, some NHS trusts across the country have been recommending patients call 111 if they need advice.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures 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. PA UK news in pictures 8 March 2023 Demonstrators hold placards reading ""Women, Life, Freedom" as they demonstrate against the persecution of women in Iran, on Whitehall in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 March 2023 A Harlequin Great Dane named H and a Chihuahua named Boo during a photo call for the launch of this year's Crufts, at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham PA UK news in pictures 6 March 2023 A group of people lay floral tributes left near the scene in the St Mellons area of Cardiff where three people who disappeared on a night out have died in a road traffic accident PA UK news in pictures 5 March 2023 A woman on a penny-farthing at Marble Arch before taking part in a protest, organised by the London Cycling Campaign, calling for safe cycling for women in London PA UK news in pictures 4 March 2023 A demonstartor holds smoke flares as he takes part in an anti-immigration protesters march in Dover on the south-east coast of England AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 March 2023 Architect Shahed Saleem in the Ramadan Pavilion 2023 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. PA UK news in pictures 2 March 2023 Striking members of the National Education Union (NEU) South East Region at a rally in Chichester, West Sussex, in a long-running dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 1 March 2023 Members of the Welsh Guards replace their bearskin headress after giving three cheers during a St David's Day visit to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Combermere Barracks in Windsor, Berkshire PA UK news in pictures 28 February 2023 Princess of Wales and Prince William take part in a spin class uring a visit to Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Center to meet local communities and hear about how sport and exercise can support mental health and wellbeing, in Port Talbot, Wales AP UK news in pictures 27 February 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen during a press conference at the Guildhall in Windsor, Berkshire, following the announcement that they have struck a deal over the Northern Ireland Protocol PA UK news in pictures 26 February 2023 Homes sit close to the cliff edge at Hemsby in Norfolk, where the beach has been closed off because of significant erosion and the risk that homes could fall into the sea PA UK news in pictures 25 February 2023 Members of the Russian Democratic Society, a group of Russian citizens living in the UK, stage a protest outside the Russian embassy in London, to mark the one year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine PA UK news in pictures 24 February 2023 Members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces enter 10 Downing Street, in London, after the National one minutes silence to mark one year since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 23 February 2023 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech at the head office of the Co-Operative Group in Manchester, unveiling plans for a mission-led Labour government, with five national missions setting out his objectives for a Labour government if the party gains power at the next general election PA UK news in pictures 22 February 2023 Ukrainian soldiers pose with a Ukrainian flag next to a military vehicle at Bovington Camp in Dorset Getty UK news in pictures 21 February 2023 Stunning colours before sunrise as people walk their dogs on Tynemouth Longsands beach in Tynemouth on the North east coast PA UK news in pictures 20 February 2023 Visitors observe Dippy the Diplodocus at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry, where the museum will be hosting the 26-metre long replica skeleton for the next three years PA UK news in pictures 19 February 2023 Flowers, and ribbons on a bridge over the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, where police recovered a body on Sunday, which was found by members of the public close to where Nicola Bulley disappeared on January 27 PA

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: This analysis is based on statistics from last year  since then we have published our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan to help the NHS deliver for patients, which includes increasing the number of NHS 111 call handlers to 4,800.

Our plan will deliver one of the fastest and longest sustained improvements in emergency waiting times in the NHSs history, with 14.1bn made available for health and social care over the next two years on top of record funding.

Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP who commissioned the analysis, said: People should be able to get the care they deserve when they need it. No one should be forced to abandon a call because wait times are so long when they are in need of urgent medical help.

The government must urgently address this dire situation. We need a proper long-term plan to tackle staff shortages or the NHS will be exposed to the same winter crises year after year.
Labour's controversial attack advert has led to a bout of finger-pointing in the party over who is responsible. Some of those fingers are pointing at Steve Reed.

The shadow justice secretary has been an MP in the south London borough of Croydon since 2012, when he won his seat in parliament through a by-election.

Before that, he ran the neighbouring south London council of Lambeth between 2006 and 2012.
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Rishi Sunak is said to be plotting a general election in autumn 2024 after offering the public a tax cut and a boost to the national living wage.

The prime ministers allies have rejected speculation that he will be tempted into going early to the polls next spring to avoid another set of local election losses.

Mr Sunak and chancellor Jeremy Hunt are considering cutting the headline rate of income tax in the autumn statement  allowing it to come into force in April 2024, according to The Times.

A senior government source told the newspaper: Its all about people feeling that they have more money in their pocket by the time we get to the next election.

The government is also reportedly considering hiking the living wage from 10.42 to 11.16 an hour in April 2024 in a bid to further brighten the mood before voters go to the polls.

The Independent understands autumn 2024 is under consideration for the next election, as the government hopes to give voters as much time as possible to feel an economic recovery is under way.

October and November are the months provisionally circled by Mr Sunaks team to go to the polls, according to The Telegraph, giving more time for small boats legislation to take effect as well as economic measures.

Asked if the government was planning tax cuts, No 10 spokesperson said: The prime minister has always been clear that its his aspiration to reduce the tax burden, but its obviously the case that we need to ensure economic stability.

It comes as Labour continues its personal attacks on Rishi Sunak with an advert targeting his wifes previous non-dom tax status, as it looks to shift the focus from law and order to the cost of living.

Sir Keir Starmer told his shadow cabinet that he makes no apologies at all for the controversial campaign, described by former Labour home secretary David Blunkett as gutter politics.

Keir Starmer said he makes no apologies for attack ads (PA Wire)

The latest social media ad, featuring a picture of Mr Sunak in the same style as the earlier ones, says: Do you think its right to raise taxes for working people when your family benefitted from a tax loophole? Rishi Sunak does.

It says the Conservatives have raised taxes 24 times since 2019 while refusing to close the non-dom tax loophole for foreign residents in the UK.

The Independent revealed last year that Mr Sunaks wife Akshata Murty held the special tax status, reportedly saving her millions. But she has since said she will pay UK taxes on all her worldwide income.

Lord Hayward, the Tory polling guru, also said it appeared that Labour had lashed out in fear over improving poll numbers for Sunak and the Tory party.

They [Labour] are getting nervous and uneasy, and when people are uneasy they make missteps, the Tory peer told The Independent. This is a misstep. British people dont like unpleasant, personalised attacks.

Recommended Four million calls to NHS 111 abandoned last year with waiting times of 25 minutes

A Tory source also hit back at the ads, calling them the height of hypocrisy from a party which has already made 90bn of unfunded spending commitments and whose leader stands to benefit from a bespoke, tax-unregistered pension scheme unavailable to others.

But shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the controversial ads on Tuesday, saying: Im not going to make any apology for highlighting the dire record of this Conservative government and this Conservative prime minister.

Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Pat McFadden said these are legitimate areas for public debate. He declined to say whether any subject is off limits when challenged over the inclusion of the PMs wife.
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Sir Keir Starmer has told his shadow Cabinet that voters must know that Rishi Sunaks fingerprints are all over their struggling household budgets.

Labour is set to launch adverts blaming the Prime Minister personally for the countrys economic woes, despite its attack ad campaign angering some within its ranks.

A new digital poster to be launched on Tuesday, seen by the PA news agency, says: Do you think its right to raise taxes for working people when your family benefitted from a tax loophole? Rishi Sunak does.

The Labour leader urged his frontbenchers to continue to focus relentlessly on exposing the failures of the Conservative Government in the run-up to Mays local elections.

It is our duty to continue to take our message out to the British people. I make no apologies at all for doing that Sir Keir Starmer

In a letter to his colleagues, Sir Keir said the focus should move from crime to the cost of living.

Rishi Sunak is the chief architect of choices prioritising the wealthiest and of the governments failure to get a grip of the economy and get growth going, he wrote.

He accused Mr Sunak of supplying the touchpaper for another Conservative government to blow up the economy as chancellor and then continuing in No 10 to make choices which loaded the costs on to working people.

The voters must know that Rishi Sunaks fingerprints are all over their struggling household budgets, he said.

Sir Keir said he makes no apologies at all for reminding voters of this, echoing his Monday Daily Mail article in which he said he made absolutely zero apologies for the ad campaign regardless of how squeamish it made people.

The new ad says the Tories have raised taxes 24 times since 2019 while refusing to close the non-dom tax loophole for foreign residents in the UK.

Mr Sunaks wife Akshata Murty previously held the special tax status, reportedly saving her millions, but after criticism said she would pay UK taxes on all her worldwide income.

The initial ad, which accused the Prime Minister of not wanting child sex abusers to go to prison, caused unease among the shadow Cabinet.

The Twitter post 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.

It shared a photo of the Prime Minister alongside the words: Do you think adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison? Rishi Sunak doesnt.

Senior figures including former home secretary Lord David Blunkett called for it to be withdrawn, saying Labour is better than gutter politics.

Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry defended the post on Monday, saying the individual criticism of Mr Sunak was justified as it was based on clear and objective facts and he was in a position to be able to do something about it.

Judges and magistrates, rather than the prime minister of the day, are responsible for handing out sentences.

The figures Labour highlighted cover the period from 2010, five years before Mr Sunak entered Parliament. He did not become Prime Minister until last October.

Further scheduled ads will include one suggesting Mr Sunak thinks it is right that the public is paying for the Conservatives crashing the economy through higher housing costs.

Labour is hoping to benefit in Englands May 4 local elections as the Tories continue to lag far behind in national polls.

On a campaign visit to Brighton on Tuesday, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will repeat the partys pledge to help more first-time buyers on to the housing ladder.

They faced a nearly 500-a-month increase in mortgage bills from January to December last year due to rates soaring under Liz Trusss government, according to Labour analysis.
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair has described Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland as significant as the US President is due to arrive on Tuesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The ex-Labour leader spoke of the importance of using the American influence on the process with care and with sensitivity adding theres a difference between influencing and pressurising and the one tends to be positive and the other can be negative.

Mr Biden is expected to meet members of Stormonts main political parties as part of a visit he said will underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in Northern Ireland.
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Watch again as Joe Biden arrived in Belfast on Tuesday, 11 April, for a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

In 1998, then-UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair and then-Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern signed the agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, in a peace deal made to largely end 30 years of conflict - the Troubles.

The conflict, beginning in the late 1960s, was between republicans who wanted Northern Ireland to become part of a united Ireland and unionists who wanted it to remain within the UK.

Around 3,532 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

The Good Friday Agreement was made between the British and Irish governments and eight political parties in Northern Ireland.

US Senate majority leader George Mitchell helped broker the deal, chairing talks between parties and groups.

The agreement acknowledged the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as a part of the UK, but established a principle of consent which meant that a united Ireland could be established if and when a majority of people in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland wanted it.

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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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Its been over one week since Robert Harold Crazy Bob Lee was stabbed to death in San Francisco, and police are yet to publicly identify any suspects.

Cash App founder Lee, 43, was spotted on surveillance footage stumbling along Main St in Rincon Hill at around 2.30am on 4 April pleading for help.

In a 911 call, Lee reportedly said someone stabbed me. He died in hospital soon after being found by authorities.

The high-profile slaying of the MobileCoin chief product officer has shaken San Francisco and placed a spotlight on the citys crime rates.

Lees incensed friends in the tech community blamed the citys pursuit of progressive law enforcement policies, with one claiming they had Bobs literal blood on their hands.

In response, city officials have slammed the politicisation of Lees murder.

However, the unsolved homicide and a seemingly random attack on a former city fire commissioner on the same day have left residents on edge.

As the investigation enters its second week with no concrete signs of a breakthrough, many are asking: Why hasnt Lees killer been caught?

What we know about Lees final moments

After relocating from San Francisco to Miami in October last year, Lee had returned to attend a MobileCoin leadership conference in the city, friends say.

Surveillance footage taken at 2.30am on 4 April from the Portside apartment building at 403 Main St showed a mortally wounded Lee desperately trying to find help.

The footage captured Lee approaching several cars while clutching his stab wounds in one hand and his cell phone in the other.

He lifts his shirt to show the driver of a parked Toyota Camry the extent of his injuries, but the car immediately drives off.

Bob Lee pictured at the New York Stock Exchange in 2015 on the day that Square, now known as Block, listed as a public company (Facebook / Bob Lee)

Lee called 911 at 2.34am pleading for help, according to a recording. Police arrived six minutes later, and summoned medics to the scene. Lee was rushed to San Fransisco General Hospital where he died soon afterwards.

Police refused to confirm whether a man who was spotted on CCTV wheeling a suitcase away from the area where Lee was murdered was a suspect.

Its also unclear whether a murder weapon has been recovered, if any personal items were stolen, or what Lee was doing prior to being stabbed. Police have not responded to numerous requests for comment by The Independent.

Mr Lee had been staying about half a mile from where he was found with fatal stab wounds at the 1 Hotel on the Embarcadero, according to the San Francisco Standard.

CCTV from the Lumina apartment building, which neighbours the Portside, has also been reviewed by police.

The area close to downtown San Francisco is home to Googles city headquarters and luxury high-rise apartment buildings. The median household income in the area was more than $244,000, according to the last Census.

Lees distraught friends and colleagues in the tech world quickly linked his death to the citys lawlessness and recidivism. Many presumed that the stabbing was an attempted robbery.

Lee had apparently stayed on in San Francisco for an extra day after the conference had ended.

His estranged wife Krista and two daughters Dagny and Scout reportedly still live in San Francisco.

What city officials have said about the murder

In his first public statement a day after Lees death, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said that was too early to provide any information on evidence they had gathered or speculate on a motive or the circumstances of the killing.

Mr Scott added that every lead was being pursued tirelessly in the case.

San Francisco police chief William Scott has refused to release any substantive information about the Bob Lee homicide inquiry (Getty Images)

Two days later, Mr Scott told CBS San Francisco it was still too soon to know whether the stabbing was a random attack. He added that the lack of information being released was due to police wanting to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

In the hours after Lees death, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins was asked on Twitter by Elon Musk what she was doing to lock up repeat violent offenders.

While not addressing Mr Musk directly, Ms Jenkins responded the following day to say it was her top priority.

As a former homicide prosecutor, I have a deep understanding of how these investigations & prosecutions work. I direct our staff to ensure that cases are vigorously prosecuted.

Conspiracy theories and attacks on the San Francisco Police Departments supposed toothless response to violent crime quickly filled the information void.

Amid a deluge of social media criticism, Police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto said at a public meeting on Wednesday that some were exploiting this horrific incident for political gain.

I find it premature and distasteful to try to fit this horrifying act of violence into a preconceived narrative and use it to advance a political agenda, Mr Benedicto added.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed says many people are going to be surprised when the facts are known

On Monday, Mayor London Breed urged the public not to rush to conclusions about Lees murder and a brutal attack on former San Francisco Fire commissioner Don Carmigiani.

When the facts of many of these cases come out, many people are going to be surprised, Ms Breed said in comments to media at the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco.

While most city officials pushed back at claims that violence was out of control in the city, District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio acknowledged that many residents were living in fear.

In a Twitter thread last week, he said the city police department Ms Jenkins was rebuilding a prosecutors office that had been dismantled by her predecessor Chesa Boudin, who was recalled last year.

Its no consolation to say San Francisco had three times as many murders in the 1970s. What matters is how people feel today and they dont feel safe, Mr Engardio said.

The San Francisco Police Department and Ms Jenkins did not respond to requests for comment.

Crime in San Francisco

Violent crime and homicide is much lower in San Francisco than in many other large US cities, according to local and FBI crime data.

The northern California city reported 6.9 homicides per 100,000 people in 2021. That compares to 66 in St Louis, 47 in Detroit and 10 in Los Angeles.

But many city residents say the city has failed to deal with a rampant homelessness and drug use. Police crime data shows that motor vehicle theft and burglary are up significantly from last year.

A woman walks past flowers left outside an apartment building where technology executive Bob Lee was fatally stabbed in San Franciso (Associated Press)

Of the 13 homicides reported in San Francisco this year, just three have been solved, according to an analysis by ABC7.

The citys homicide clearance rate over the past few years appears to closely track the number of sworn officers.

In 2021, the most recent year that records are available, 77 per cent of the 56 homicides that occurred in the city were solved. The city had 2,129 sworn officers that year.

In 2018, when San Francisco had 2,306 officers, the police department cleared a record high 96 percent of its 46 reported homicides.

Mayor Breed said earlier this week that San Francisco is at least 500 officers short, adding that applications were improving after she announced an increase in salary rates.
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One in five Americans (19 per cent) have experienced the trauma of losing a relative to gun violence, according to a new study.

The survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that about the same number (21 per cent) of US adults said they had been personally threatened with a gun.

And one in six US adults (17 per cent) had directly witnessed someone being shot, according to the poll.

The survey was released one day after five people were killed  including a close friend of Kentucky governor Andy Beshear  and nine others wounded when a Louisville bank employee armed with an AR-15 style rifle opened fire at his workplace on Monday morning.

Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad, Mr Beshear said during a press conference on Monday night. 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.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to reporters during a news conference in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday, April 10, 2023. (Associated Press)

The shooter, identified by police as Connor Sturgeon, 25, had told a friend prior to the attack that he wanted to kill everyone.

He legally purchased the weapon one week earlier, and live-streamed the attack to his Instagram page, before being shot dead by officers. It was the 15th mass murder in the United States in the first hundred days of 2023.

There have been at least 147 mass shootings so far this year, where four or more people are shot, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

A mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville last month that claimed the lives of three nine-year-old children and three teachers also struck close to home for Tennessee governor Bill Lee.

Cynthia Peak, a 61-year-old substitute teacher killed in the 27 March attack, was a close friend of Mr Lees wife Maria, the governor said.

Maria woke up this morning without one of her best friends, Mr Lee said the next day, according to the Associated Press. Peak had been due to have dinner with Ms Lee on the day she was killed, the governor added.

Tommy Elliott, 63, Jim Tutt, 64, Josh Barrick, 40, Juliana Farmer, 57, and Deana Eckert, 57 were all killed in the Louisville mass shooting. (AP/Supplied)

According to the KFF poll, one third of Black adults (34 per cent) reported losing a family member to gun violence, double the number of white (17 per cent) or Hispanic (18 per cent) people. The figure includes deaths by homicide and suicide.

After the latest shooting, UofL Health chief medical officer Jason Smith begged lawmakers to take action prevent further killings.

For 15 years, Ive cared for victims of violence and gunshot wounds. And people say, Im tired, but Ill be honest, its more than tired. Im weary, Dr Smith said.

Health professionals have long been pushing for gun violence to be treated as a public health issue, a subject also canvassed in the KFF survey. Around one in seven (14 per cent) respondents said they had been asked by a health care provider if guns were kept in their home.

Four in ten adults reported that they live in a household where firearms are kept.

The survey of 1,271 adults was conducted in English and Spanish from 14 to 23 March.
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A man who aimed a laser at a Delta Air Lines jet and put passengers in incredible danger has been sentenced for the crime.

A federal judge in Wisconsin on Thursday gave the man a two-year jail term for the incident that occurred in 2021.

James Link, 43, of Rochester, Minnesota, pleaded guilty in January this year to shining the laser at the plane.

On 29 October 2021, pilots of a Delta Air Lines plane flying from Raleigh-Durham to Minneapolis said they had been struck by a laser three times. They said the cockpit was lit up by a blue laser when they were flying at an altitude of 9,000ft just west of River Falls, Wisconsin.

The pilots at the time instructed air traffic control to change runways after the laser caused major distraction in the cockpit as they were not able to look at their iPads to brief the new approach, the US attorneys office in Madison said in a statement published by the Justice Department.

The plane landed safely, but one of the captains said vision in his right eye was affected for several hours after the incident.

Air traffic control called a Minnesota State Patrol aircraft to investigate the incident, but its pilots were also struck by a blue laser as they circled above River Falls on the same night.

Using the aircrafts surveillance equipment, they were able to identify the suspect, coordinate with local law enforcement, and maintain a visual on the defendant until officers contacted him, prosecutors said, according to the statement.

In a statement to the court, the captain of the flight noted the sheer brightness of the laser and compared it to suddenly turning on all the lights in a dark room when they were at a critical phase of the flight operations.

The captain told the court that [o]ne minor mistake during this critical phase could have led to catastrophic results.

US district judge William M Conley said the act of shining the laser at the aircraft was incredibly dangerous and reckless and put everyone on the aircraft in incredible danger.

The court also cited Links extensive criminal record which included numerous domestic assaults and an incident from 2017 in which he shined and strobed a handheld flashlight in the eyes of the arresting officer.

Incidents of striking lasers on planes and helicopters hit a record high in 2021, with a 41 per cent jump from the previous year, according to Federal Aviation Administration figures.
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One of the first detectives investigating the disappearance of cult mom Lori Vallows son and daughter has revealed the alarming items discovered in her home months before the children were found murdered.

The trial of Ms Vallow, 49, is finally underway in at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, almost three years after she was charged with the murders of her son Joshua JJ Vallow and daughter Tylee Ryan and conspiracy to murder her doomsday preachers husband Chad Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell.

Detective Ray Hermosillo with the Rexburg Police Department was called to the stand by the prosecution on the second day of testimony on Tuesday. His department joined the investigation into JJ and Tylees disappearance after police in Gilbert, Arizona, raised alarm regarding the minors whereabouts.

Ms Vallow and her children moved from Arizona to Rexburg, where her future husband and alleged co-conspirator Chad Daybell lived, in early September 2019. Mr Hermosillo told jurors that officers found knives, several guns and empty magazines while searching Ms Vallows apartment two months later  when JJ and Tylee had allegedly already been killed.

Mr Hermosillo said he helped conduct a welfare check on Ms Vallows Rexburg apartment on 26 November after increasingly worried relatives in Arizona told law enforcement that they had not seen or heard from JJ, seven, or Tylee, 16, in months.

He said Ms Vallow and the children were nowhere to be found, but Mr Daybell and Ms Vallows brother Alex Cox told him the children were staying with JJs grandmother Kay Woodcock in Arizona  which the detective already knew to be false.

When asked to contact Ms Vallow, Mr Daybell said that he did not have her number.

We knew Chad and Lori had married two weeks prior to my contact with him, Mr Hermosillo told jurors in reference to the couples Hawaii wedding on 5 November 2019. I assumed he was lying because I knew they were close.

Mr Hermosillo testified that after knocking on Ms Vallows door without obtaining a response, he filed a request for a search warrant. Later that day, Ms Vallow opened her door and agreed to speak with detectives, telling them this time that JJ was with one of her friends in Arizona.

Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan (AP)

Mr Hermosillo returned the next day to serve the search warrant, only to find that Ms Vallow was gone. Inside the apartment, investigators retrieved guns in the garage of the apartment, as well as several Army-grade knives, and empty magazines for various weapons.

Police also found Hazmat-style suits and preparedness bags with emergency kits, a camouflage suit, ammunition, guns, silencers, and black trash bags full of clothes and papers. Toys and items belonging to JJ, including prescription medication, were also found in the search.

There were things of that nature in the garage that caught our eye, Mr Hermosillo said.

Recounting the scene at the apartment, Mr Hermosillo said someone appeared to have fled in a hurry, taking all of their clothes but leaving everything else behind.

Mr Hermosillo said that after the alarming discovery inside Ms Vallows apartment, he contacted the FBI to try to locate her, Mr Daybell and the kids.

Rexburg PD also contacted Colby Ryan, Ms Vallows oldest son, who told officers he had not spoken to his sister Tylee in a while.

Mr Hermosillo told the court that the last date he is aware of proof of life of Tylee was on 8 September 2019, based on a photo of her taken at Yellowstone. The last documentation that JJ was alive is 22 September 2019, based on a photo of him sitting on a couch in Ms Vallows front room.

The last photo  and known sighting  of Tylee Ryan (pictured with JJ and Alex Cox at Yellowstone National Park) (FBI)

On 11 December, the police officially reported the children as missing. Ms Vallow was ordered to produce the kids to Rexburg PD, and was ultimately arrested in Hawaii on 21 February 2020 when she failed to do so.

Prosecutors believe JJ and Tylee were killed by the couple in September - more than two months before Ms Vallows home was raided in November 2019. Mr Daybell and Ms Vallow then got married in Hawaii and refused to cooperate in a desperate cross-state search for Tylee and JJ.

Tylee and JJs bodies were found buried in a pet cemetery on Mr Daybells property seven months later on 9 June 2020.

Some details about their deaths had not been released to the public before Mr Hermosillos testimony on Tuesday.

Describing the search for the remains in graphic detail, Mr Hermosillo said that a crime scene team uncovered a black object protruding through the earth.

It appeared to be the crown of a head and more excavation revealed JJs body wrapped in plastic and duct tape.

Digging into another area, burnt flesh and charred bones were found. The smell was so bad the team had to take turns, Mr Hermosillo said.

JJ and Tylees remains were found buried on Mr Daybells property (AP)

Eventually we uncovered bits and pieces of Tylee, whom we assumed was Tylee, that had been burned. There were pieces of bone, charred flesh, just globs of flesh that were falling apart.

Hermosillo says more burnt flesh and bone were found in a green bucket that had melted. Eventually, they located a partial human skull.

It was kind of deformed and the flesh and bone was all kind of stuffed in that melted bucket, he added.

Once the plastic was slit open there appeared to be human hair.

At that moment the bodies were discovered, Mr Hermosillo was informed that Mr Daybell attempted to flee but was taken into custody by officers near the scene.

FILE - Lori Vallow is facing trial in Idaho for the murder of two of ther children

Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell are also facing conspiracy to murder charges in Arizona for Ms Vallows previous husband Charles Vallows fatal shooting by her brother Alex Cox during a supposed domestic argument.

Cox claimed he acted in self-defence before his death in December 2019.

Prosecutors alleged during opening arguments on Monday that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with Cox to murder Tammy Daybell, JJ and Tylee as part of their doomsday cult beliefs and for their financial purposes.

Ms Daybell is scheduled to face trial later this year, after requesting to be tried separately from his wife.
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Cult mom Lori Vallow suddenly left the room where she is standing trial for the murders of her daughter and son after the court heard graphic details on how the childrens remains were recovered in a pet cemetery.

Ms Vallows ongoing trial in Boise, Idaho, was delayed on Tuesday when her defence attorneys asked Judge Steven Boyce for a moment to speak with their visibly upset client, KUTV reported. Ms Vallow and the rest of the court had just returned from a lunch break after hearing disturbing details about the way her children JJ, seven, and Tylee, 16, were discovered buried on her doomsday preacher husband Chad Daybells property.

Testifying for the prosecution, Rexburg Police Detective Ray Hermosillo recounted the grisly scene investigators found on 9 June 2020, nearly nine months after his department first alerted the FBI of Ms Vallows refusal to disclose her childrens whereabouts.

Mr Hermosillo told jurors that JJs body was found wrapped in a plastic bag and duct tape. In another area of the property, investigators discovered burnt flesh and charred bones that were later confirmed to be Tylees remains.

The detective said every investigator at the scene could only work for a few minutes at a time due to the unbearable smell. Photos of Mr Daybells property that were admitted as evidence showed burnt bone fragments and teeth, and JJs body wrapped in black plastic.

Once the plastic bag was slit open there appeared to be human hair. Other images showed the wet soil where the bodies had been buried.

The smell was so bad we had to take turns digging ... eventually we uncovered bits and pieces of Tylee, whom we assumed was Tylee, that had been burned, Mr Hermosillo told the court. There were pieces of bone, charred flesh, just globs of flesh that were falling apart.

He added: ...It was very easy to identify that boy ... as the one we had been looking for, for the last eight months.

Following Mr Hermosillos testimony, Judge Boyce called for a lunch break. But shortly after the court reconvened, Ms Vallow became shaken and her attorneys asked the judge for another recess so they could have a private discussion.

KSLTV5 journalist Lauren Steinbrecher reported that Ms Vallows eyes looked watery and red. Nate Eaton, news director of East Idaho News, said that Ms Vallow appeared upset and sad.

Reporters in the courtroom also noted that Ms Vallow seemed to show no emotion during Mr Hermosillos testimony, and only became upset afterwards.

Defence attorneys were seen stepping in and out of the room before Ms Vallow was eventually brought back inside. Her legal team argued that she should be excused from the afternoon portion of witness testimony due to her fragile state of mind.

Judge Boyce denied the request, saying that her presence is needed to ensure due process.

Tylee Ryan, 17, and her seven-year-old brother JJ Vallow (FBI)

Mr Hermosillo testified on Tuesday that he helped conduct a welfare check on Ms Vallows Rexburg apartment on 26 November 2019 after increasingly worried relatives in Arizona told law enforcement that they had not seen or heard from JJ and Tylee in months.

He said Ms Vallow and the children were nowhere to be found, but Mr Daybell and Ms Vallows brother Alex Cox told him the children were staying with JJs grandmother Kay Woodcock in Arizona  which the detective already knew to be false.

When asked to contact Ms Vallow, Mr Daybell said that he did not have her number.

We knew Chad and Lori had married two weeks prior to my contact with him, Mr Hermosillo told jurors in reference to the couples Hawaii wedding on 5 November 2019. I assumed he was lying because I knew they were close.

Mr Hermosillo testified that after knocking on Ms Vallows door without obtaining a response, he filed a request for a search warrant. Later that day, Ms Vallow opened her door and agreed to speak with detectives, telling them this time that JJ was with one of her friends in Arizona.

Mr Hermosillo returned the next day to serve the search warrant, only to find that Ms Vallow was gone. Inside the apartment, investigators retrieved guns in the garage of the apartment, as well as several Army-grade knives, and empty magazines for various weapons.

JJ and Tylees remains were found buried on Mr Daybells property (AP)

Police also found Hazmat-style suits and preparedness bags with emergency kits, a camouflage suit, ammunition, guns, silencers, and black trash bags full of clothes and papers. Toys and items belonging to JJ, including prescription medication, were also found in the search.

Recounting the scene at the apartment, Mr Hermosillo said someone appeared to have fled in a hurry, taking all of their clothes but leaving everything else behind.

Mr Hermosillo said that after the alarming discovery inside Ms Vallows apartment, he contacted the FBI to try to locate her, Mr Daybell and the kids.

Rexburg PD also contacted Colby Ryan, Ms Vallows oldest son, who told officers he had not spoken to his sister Tylee in a while.

Mr Hermosillo told the court that the last date he is aware of proof of life of Tylee was on 8 September 2019, based on a photo of her taken at Yellowstone. The last documentation that JJ was alive is 22 September 2019, based on a photo of him sitting on a couch in Ms Vallows front room.

On 11 December, the police officially reported the children as missing. Ms Vallow was ordered to produce the kids to Rexburg PD, and was ultimately arrested in Hawaii on 21 February 2020 when she failed to do so.

Ms Vallow is being tried for the murder of Tylee and JJ, and for conspiracy to murder Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell, who died in her sleep just weeks before Mr Daybell and Ms Vallow married.

Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell are also facing conspiracy to murder charges in Arizona for Ms Vallows previous husband Charles Vallows fatal shooting by her brother Alex Cox during a supposed domestic argument. Cox claimed he acted in self-defence before his death in December 2019.

Prosecutors alleged during opening arguments on Monday that Ms Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with Cox to murder Charles Vallow, Tammy Daybell, JJ and Tylee as part of their doomsday cult beliefs and for their financial purposes.

Ms Daybell is scheduled to face trial later this year, after requesting to be tried separately from his wife.
 Close Idaho police detective, FBI continues to testify in Lori Vallow triple-murder case

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The trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow is under way in Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, where the mother-of-three is accused of killing her two youngest children and her new husband Chad Daybells first wife.

The 49-year-old is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, son Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, and Mr Daybells first wife Tammy Daybell, 49.

Tylee and JJ were last seen alive in September 2019.

In June 2020, the remains of the two children were found buried on the Daybell property.

Tammy died one month after their disappearance in October 2019.

The case has captured attention due to its ties to bizarre cult beliefs and a string of mystery deaths and murders.

In court on Monday, Ms Vallows chilling internet searches were shown to the jury  revealing that the cult mom searched for life insurance policies for her children in July 2019, two months before they were killed.

That same month, she allegedly also conspired to murder her fourth husband Charles Vallow. She is facing charges in Arizona for his death in a separate case to the Idaho trial.
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Louisville mass shooter Connor Sturgeon left a chilling final voicemail message revealing his plans to kill everyone at the bank, according to police dispatch audio.

The audio, released by Broadcastify, captures the minute-by-minute police response to Mondays horrible attack when the 25-year-old disgruntled employee gunned down his colleagues at the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

In the audio, the dispatcher is heard relaying to law enforcement officials on the scene that Sturgeon had called a friend before the attack and left a voicemail saying he felt suicidal and planned to kill everyone at the bank.

The motive is still unknown but sources say that he had been told he was being fired from the bank.

Sturgeon killed five people and wounded eight others. Those killed in Mondays attack have been identified as Josh Barrick, 40; Tommy Elliott, 63; Jim Tutt, 64; Juliana Farmer, 57; and Deanna Eckert, 57.

Broadcastify released more than half an hour of audio between a dispatcher and officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department.

The audio revealed that officers told the dispatcher that the shooter was firing shots and that they were concerned about a possible ambush if they moved closer to the bank, Newsweek noted.

The officers also called for EMS as one of them was shot in the head on the bank steps. Gunfire could be heard on the audio, with officers saying there were shots fired.

Sturgeon went on his rampage after being notified that the bank where he had worked since 2021 was ending his employment, law enforcement sources told CNN.

Sturgeon also left a note for his parents and a friend telling them that he was going to attack the bank, the source added.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said that Sturgeon fired at responding officers, who returned fire to stop that threat. She confirmed that the suspect was shot and killed by police.

The chief said the shooter was live-streaming the incident on social media, and that police are hopeful that they will be able to have that footage removed.

One of the responding officers was grazed on his left side while the other suffered a limited elbow injury. One of the officers was struck in the head  26-year-old Nicholas Wilt, who graduated from the police academy on 31 March.

I just swore him in, Chief Gwinn-Villaroel said during the press briefing. While Officer Wilt has come out of brain surgery, he remains in critical condition. This will be a long complex investigation. For my LMPD officers who took it upon themselves to stop the threat so more lives would not be lost, thank you. Evil should not try to prevail and we shouldnt let it take over our city.

The Mayor of Louisville, Craig Greenberg, said Mr Elliott was a very good friend of mine and of the governors.

This is really difficult for all of us across the city to process and accept. I ask that we respect the needs ... of the families of those who lost their lives today, Mr Greenberg said during the briefing on Monday afternoon.
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The disgruntled employee who killed five in a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville legally bought the AR-15-style rifle just six days before carrying out the massacre.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning, Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel said that gunman Connor Sturgeon purchased the gun used in the attack from a local dealership in the city on 4 April.

Just six days later, Sturgeon  a current employee at the bank  entered the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning armed with the rifle.

He opened fire in a first-floor conference room as executives gathered for their morning meeting  all the while livestreaming the massacre on his Instagram account.

Officers responded to the scene within minutes and exchanged gunfire with the gunman, shooting him dead.

Five victims, all executives at the bank, died in the horror attack. They have been identified as: Tommy Elliott, 63, Jim Tutt, 64, Josh Barrick, 40, Juliana Farmer, 57, and Deana Eckert, 57.

Another eight victims were hospitalised including two police officers who were shot by the gunman after responding to the scene.

One of those officers  Louisville Metro Police Department Officer Nickolas Wilt  was shot in the head and is now fighting for his life in hospital.

Four of the wounded have since been discharged from hospital while four are still being treated.

Officer Wilt remains in critical condition, another victim is in ICU but in stable condition while the other two now have non life-threatening injuries.

In an impassioned and  at times  emotional press conference, Kentucky officials called for greater gun control to prevent more tragedies unfolding.

Dr Jason Smith, the chief medical officer of UofL Health who has been treating the victims of Mondays attack, choked up with emotion as he begged lawmakers to do something to tackle gun violence as he said he and his team of doctors are weary from the constant need to try to save the lives of shooting victims.

Louisville police execute a search at the suspects home (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The doctor said that his team had barely had to adjust our operating room schedule because of how frequent we are having to deal with gun violence in our community.

Ill tell you personally, Im weary. Ive been in Louisville for 15 years, all of it at University Hospital for 15 years, Ive cared for victims of violence and gunshot wounds. And people say, Im tired, but Ill be honest, its more than tired. Im weary, he said.

Theres only so many times you can walk into a room and tell someone theyre not coming home tomorrow. And it just breaks your heart.

When you hear someone screaming, Mommy or Daddy. It just becomes too hard day in and day out to be able to do that.

He added: You just cant keep seeing all these lives lost... without doing something to help them. I dont know what the answers are  Im a doctor... but we cant just do nothing.

Kentucky Rep Morgan McGarvey slammed the individuals who have urged him dont make this political as he said that officials are hamstrung by the states lax gun laws to stop individuals like the gunman getting the tools to carry out mass attacks.

We dont have the tools on the books to deal with someone who is an imminent danger to themselves or others, he said.

He urged lawmakers to come together in an American way to take weapons of war off our streets  something he said should not be a political issue.

That is not a political issue. But it becomes one when Kentucky Republicans would rather ban books and pronouns and then make Kentucky a sanctuary state for for weapons, he said.

Also speaking at the press conference, Mayor Craig Greenberg told reporters that the AR-15 used in Mondays attack will soon be back on the streets of Kentucky.

Under current Kentucky law, the assault rifle that was used to murder five of our neighbours and shoot at rescuing police officers will one day be auctioned off. Think about that. That murder weapon will be back on the street, he said.

In total, 40 people have been killed by gun violence so far this year in Louisville.

That level of gun violence is beyond horrific, he said.

We have to take action now. We need short-term action to end this gun violence epidemic now so fewer people die on our streets, and in our banks, and in our schools and in our churches. And for that, we need help.

We need help from our friends in Frankfurt and help from our friends in Washington DC.

Connor Sturgeon was a current employee at the bank (Facebook)

The mayor spoke about his own experience as a victim of gun violence after he was targeted in a shooting at his mayoral campaign headquarters last year.

Last year, I survived a workplace shooting. And now yesterday, Ive lost a very close friend in another workplace shooting, he said.

He reached out to the state and federal officials, telling them that  if they wont take action  hand the powers to the city so that he can.

Let us, the people of Louisville, make our own choices about how we reduce gun violence in our city, he said.

This isnt about partisan politics. This is about life and death. This is about preventing tragedies. You may think this will never happen to you, never happen to any of your friends or loved ones. I used to think that.

The sad truth is that now no one in our city, no one in our state, no one in our state, no one in our country has that luxury anymore.

Officials pointed out that another victim also died in an unrelated incident of gun violence just a few blocks from the bank on Monday.

The motive for Mondays horror attack remains unclear but new details continue to emerge about the man behind it.

The police chief confirmed on Tuesday that Sturgeon was a current employee at the bank and thus had workplace access to the building.

A search warrant was executed on the gunmans home on Monday and a number of items were seized, although they have not been disclosed by police.

We have executed a search warrant on his residence, and we have recovered items and we cannot get into specific details on what we recover[ed] at this time, because again the investigation is ongoing, said the police chief.

In the lead-up to the attack, Sturgeon began posting concerning posts on Instagram, according to local reports.

His account, which has since been taken down, included a meme photo captioned: I know what I have to do but I dont know if I have the strength to do it.

The five victims killed in the mass shooting (AP/Supplied)

I could burn this whole place down, read another.

The shooters last post before the attack then read: They wont listen to words or protests. Lets see if they hear this.

On Monday morning, the gunman is said to have left behind ominous warnings about his deadly plans for his family and friends to find.

In police dispatch audio, a dispatcher is heard relaying to law enforcement officials on the scene that Sturgeon had called a friend before the attack and left a chilling voicemail saying he felt suicidal and planned to kill everyone at the bank.

Sturgeon had also written a note to his parents and a friend outlining his plans to open fire in the bank, a law enforcement source told CNN.

He then live-streamed his shooting rampage on Instagram.

Four victims died on the scene, before a fifth  Eckert  died in hospital later on Monday.

A vigil will be held for the victims on Wednesday.
 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.
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Police in Louisville have released bodycamera footage of their response to a mass shooting at a bank that left five people dead and eight others injured on Monday.

Louisville Metro Police Department officials shared the footage on Tuesday and held a press conference at which they shared new details about the shooting and at which Rep Morgan McGarvey criticised Republicans for banning books and pronouns instead of legislating to prevent gun violence.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, purchased the semi-automatic rifle he used in the shooting just six days before the attack.

Sturgeon worked at Old National Bank in Louisville, but had recently got himself into trouble for bringing a rifle into the building. On Monday morning, Sturgeon reportedly left a note for his parents and a friend telling them that was going to attack the bank.

Police were called to respond to the shooting shortly after 8:30am, arriving at the bank at 8:41am. According to a video released by the police department, the responding officers heard shots as they pull up the building. Seconds later, they say, Sturgeon fired on the officers multiple times. At 8:44am, the officers returned fire  killing Sturgeon.

Gunman Connor Sturgeon at bank during Louisville shooting (LMPD)

Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said at the press conference Tuesday that Sturgeon was lying in wait for the responding officers by positioning himself in the shadows behind several sets of glass doors.

He could see out where no one could see in, Mr Humphrey said.

One of the officers who responded to the shooting, new police academy graduate Nickolas Wilt, was shot in the head and underwent brain surgery in its aftermath. He remains in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon, with the fire chief in nearby LaGrange telling CNN that Mr Wilt is currently sedated.

In addition to Mr Wilt, the police department has identified Cory CJ Galloway as another officer who responded to the shooting. Sturgeon livestreamed the shooting on Instagram, which has since taken down footage of the attack. The shooting of Sturgeon is currently under investigation.

Police bodycam as officers respond to mass shooting at bank in Louisville, Kentucky (Louisville Police Department)

The shooting in Louisville took place less than two weeks after a mass shooting at a school in neighbouring Tennessee that left six people dead and led to major gun control protests at the state capitol in Nashville. In the aftermath of this shooting, Democratic leaders are urging gun safety action action as well.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg on Tuesday decried the level of gun violence in Louisville and across the nation, begging politicians to act to curb the epidemic.

We have to take action now, Mr Greenberg said. We need short-term action to end this gun violence epidemic now so fewer people die on our streets, and in our banks, and in our schools and in our churches. And for that, we need help. We need help from our friends in [the Kentucky Capital of] Frankfort and help from our friends in Washington, DC.

This article was amended on April 14 2023 to change a reference to an automatic weapon to semi-automatic.
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A Fox News contributor made an impassioned plea for gun reform during a segment on the Louisville shooting.

Ted Williams, a former Washington, DC homicide detective, appeared on Fox News on Monday afternoon.

From what I understand, this shooter had phoned a friend and said that he was suicidal and that he was going to shoot up a bank. If that is the truth, then I think that we need to again, look at what is going on in our society, he said.

You know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Just two weeks ago, I stood in front of a camera where you had some kids, some babies shot in Tennessee with a person who by the way had an AR-15. And from what we've been told here this individual had that same kind of weapon, he added. And when you look at mental illness, if mental illness is involved here, and that weapon  that's a dangerous concoction, and we've got to do something in this society.

Addressing the host, he said, I am sick and tired of standing in front of a camera  you and I have been on numerous occasions where young people have lost their lives.

Four people left home this morning and four people are not coming home tonight. That is something that we need to take into consideration. And when the government says we shouldn't talk about certain things now  well, then I have to disagree with the government, he added. We have to talk about guns  AR-15s are killing our babies and our citizens in this country and we got to do something about it.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican, also appeared on the network on Tuesday, saying that the shooting was so random ... you come out of Resurrection Sunday and everybody was going to work and had no sense based on what we've understood at this point that this was going to occur.

And you know, there'll be a time for conversation about policy and all those things. But it doesn't seem like there was any hint that this would have likely occurred, he added.

The shooter, Connor Sturgeon, 25, killed five people and wounded eight others. Those killed in Mondays attack have been identified as Josh Barrick, 40; Tommy Elliott, 63; Jim Tutt, 64; Juliana Farmer, 57; and Deanna Eckert, 57.

Sturgeon went on his rampage after being notified that the bank where he had worked since 2021 was ending his employment, law enforcement sources told CNN.

Sturgeon also left a note for his parents and a friend telling them that he was going to attack the bank, the source added.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said in a press conference this week that Sturgeon fired at responding officers, who returned fire to stop that threat. She confirmed that the suspect was shot and killed by police.
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A 25-year-old employee opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning, killing five people and injuring eight others while live streaming the attack.

The shooter, identified as bank employee Connor Sturgeon, entered the Old National Bank in the downtown area of the city at around 8.30am armed with an AR-15-style rifle.

He shot and killed four bank executives inside the first-floor conference room before exchanging gunfire with responding police officers. Louisville deputy police chief Paul Humphrey said that he was shot dead by officer fire.

A fifth victim later succumbed to her injuries in hospital. All five were executives at the bank.

The victims have now been identified as Joshua Barrick, Thomas Elliott, Juliana Farmer, James Tutt, and Deana Eckert.

Eight others, including two police officers, were hospitalised with their injuries. One of the officers, 26-year-old Nickolas Wilt, who only graduated from the police academy in March, remains in critical condition after being shot in the head.

Mr Wilt ran towards the gunfire today to save lives", the police department said on Twitter.

Here is what we know so far about the victims:

Tommy Elliott

Thomas "Tommy" Elliott, 63, was a senior vice president of commercial real estate at Old National Bank.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Elliott was one of his closest friends. "Tommy Elliot helped me  to become governor," Mr Beshear said at Mondays news conference.

"He gave me advice on being a good dad he was an incredible friend," the governor said, his voice shaking with emotion.

"The soul is eternal. I know that I will see Tommy again".

Tommy Elliott was a close friend of the governor (Provided)

Elliott, the former chair of the Kentucky Retirement Systems board, was reportedly threatened with arrest in 2016 when he refused to resign at the direction of then-Governor Matt Bevin. Elliott was appointed to the board by former Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.

Former Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said he had also known Elliott for 40 years. They became close friends, and when Mr Fischer launched his first bid to be mayor, Elliott signed on to be his campaign finance manager and remained with him for the rest of his political career.

Mr Fischer said Elliott was a devoted family man. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and two stepdaughters.

Joshua Barrick

Joshua Barrick, 40, was a senior vice president of commercial real estate banking at Old National. Barrick had worked for about two decades in banking and previously worked at WesBanco, according to The Courier-Journal.

Louisville Business First named him one of its 20 People to Know in Banking in 2020.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

A memorial for Joshua Barrick is on display at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Louisville (AP)

The Holy Trinity Parish Louisville held a vigil on Monday evening to honour Barrick's life. Theyre in shock, pastor Shayne Duval said of Barrick's family.

"Ive been with his wife. Ive been with his children. Ive been with his brother and members of this community, he was quoted by Fox19 as saying. Everyone is just kind of walking around in a fog like, Did this just really happen?

Josh made himself known in our community in all the good ways. He was a very charismatic and charming man," the pastor added.

Juliana Farmer

Juliana Farmer, 45, was a loan analyst with the Old National Bank, according to her LinkedIn page.

In her last post on Facebook on Sunday  one day before she was killed  she celebrated the fact she was expecting another grandchild.

"My (heart) is so happy!!!" she wrote. "Grand #5 on the way."

Juliana Farmer, 45, was a loan analyst with the bank (Facebook)

Farmers family revealed that she had only recently moved to Louisville.

Michael Williams, who said he was Farmers uncle, wrote on Facebook: She told me she was moving to Louisville, she had a great job opportunity. Now were mourning you losing your life at the job. Im just hurt.

Deana Eckert

Deana Eckert was rushed to hospital after Mondays shooting and underwent multiple surgeries.

She succumbed to her injuries later that night, Louisville Metro Police said.

The 57-year-old was an executive administrative officer at the Old National Bank, where she worked for almost seven years.

Deana Eckert died from her injuries in hospital (LinkedIn)

Eckert graduated from the Western Kentucky University.

James Tutt

James Tutt, 64, was a real estate market executive at the Old National Bank, where he spent almost a decade.

Oldham County judge executive David Voegele knew Tutt for 11 years from his time on the board of the Oldham-La Grange Development Authority.

Jim Tutt leaves behind his wife, children, and grandchildren (LinkedIn)

He added a tremendous amount of insights as we went about developing our office park in LaGrange, Mr Voegele told The Courier-Journal.

Hes a very high quality, well-thought-of individual  Its just sickening to hear whats happened.

Tutt was a Frankfort native who graduated from the University of Kentucky and worked in banking for over 38 years.

He leaves behind his wife, children, and grandchildren.
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The mother of a six-year-old boy who shot his teacher in a Virginia classroom now faces criminal charges in the shocking case, according to authorities.

Deja Taylor has been charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanour recklessness over the 6 January shooting of teacher Abigail Zwerner, prosecutors in Newport News announced on Monday.

Ms Zwerner, a teacher at Richneck Elementary School, was shot in the hand and chest and has filed a $40m lawsuit after undergoing a string of surgeries for her injuries.

The youngster allegedly took a handgun from the familys home, put it in his backpack and took it to the school where he is accused of shooting and wounding the first-grade teacher.

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. It has been three months of investigation and still so many unanswered questions remain, her lawyer Diane Toscano told ABC News.

Our lawsuit makes clear that we believe the school division violated state law, and we are pursuing this in civil court.

And she added: We will not allow school leaders to escape accountability for their role in this tragedy.

James Ellenson, who represents Ms Taylor and her family, said she plans on turning herself in to the authorities later this week.

I wish to thank the NN Commonwealth Attorneys office for extending me the courtesy of informing us of the indictments that were returned by the grand jury today, he said.

Following the shooting, police said that the 9mm Taurus pistol was legally bought by the boys mother, and declined to bring any charges against the youngster.

The family has stated that the boy 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.

They added that the week of the shooting was the first they had not been in the classroom with him.
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A major leak of classified US documents with details ranging from Ukraines air defenses to growing proximity between UAE and Russia may have started in a chatroom on a social media platform popular among gamers.

On the Discord platform, which hosts real-time voice, video, and text chats, a discussion originally created to talk about a range of topics turned to the war in Ukraine, reported the Associated Press.

The leaked documents largely sat unnoticed on the platform for weeks before making their way on other social media platforms, including Twitter and Telegram, alarming US officials.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the files labeled as top secret were first shared in a small group by an anonymous member in January.

It remained in the small group comprising just over a dozen members before being shared in a larger group.

While the scale of exposure is yet to be determined, the leaks included sensitive intel suggesting Ukraines a ir defence systems could run out of missiles early next month in a major blow to the resistance effort fighting back against Russias invasion.

One document among the batch of as many as 100 seemingly stolen from the Pentagon, which is dated from February and marked as secret, estimates that Ukraines Soviet-era S-300 air defence systems face depletion by 2 May should the current rate of firing continue, according to The Guardian. It is unclear whether that assessment still stands two months on.

A Ukrainian service member is seen in a trench at a position on a front line, as Russias attack on Ukraine continues, near the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine 10 April 2023 (REUTERS)

The online leaks of scores of highly classified documents present a "very serious" risk to national security, and senior leaders are quickly taking steps to mitigate the damage, a top Pentagon spokesperson said on Monday as they tiptoed around authenticating the claims.

Asked on Monday if the US government was effectively waiting for more intelligence documents to show up online, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby replied: "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 at this point, "we dont know whos behind this, we dont know what the motive is".

Chris Meagher, the top spokesperson for the Pentagon, urged caution in "promoting or amplifying any of these documents", adding that "it does appear that slides have been doctored".

He told reporters that defense secretary Lloyd Austin first became aware on Thursday that a number of classified briefing slides detailing the US military efforts in the Ukraine war and intelligence involving other nations were leaked.

In the days since, Mr 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", Mr Meagher said.

The defence secretary held phone talks with his South Korean counterpart on Tuesday and explained about recent media reports on the leak of confidential US documents, South Koreas defence ministry said.

Military medics help a soldier wounded in a battle to get into an evacuation vehicle near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, 10 April 2023 (AP)

Soon after, South Koreas deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo also issued a statement that information contained in purportedly leaked US confidential documents that appeared to be based on internal discussions among top South Korean officials is "untrue" and "altered."

According to the reports, the documents revealed conversations between top South Korean security officials about US pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine.

"The two countries have a same assessment that much of the information disclosed is altered," Mr Kim told reporters, adding that the report on South Korea is "untrue." He did not elaborate which part of the document was untrue.

The documents also include a top-secret analysis of deepening intelligence service ties between Russias FSB and agencies in the United Arab Emirates, the oil-rich Persian Gulf nation that hosts a US air base and cooperates on many security matters with Washington.

Citing signals intelligence, the March analysis says officers from the FSB were caught claiming that the UAE had agreed with Russia "to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies".

A spokesperson for the Emirati government said the allegations "are categorically false". US officials at several agencies declined to comment on the document.

Additional reporting from the wires
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Every few weeks, the hashtag #WheresTiffanyDover pops up on the more conspiratorial corners of social media.

Ms Dover, a nurse who lives in Alabama, was one of the first US frontline workers to get the Covid vaccine in 2020. As part of campaigns to build trust around the jab, the nurse was filmed getting her shot, but soon became the subject of ravenous conspiracy theorists when she fainted on camera.

Then, the mother and dedicated emergency room nurse seemed to vanish from the public eye, further fuelling baseless speculation about Ms Dover, her hospital, her family, and Covid vaccines at large.

I didnt die that day, Ms Dover told NBC News, in her first extension interview since unintentionally becoming the centre of an anti-vax campaign. But the life I knew did.

The nurse explained to the network that she hadnt had time for lunch the day she got the shot and she remains grateful for the vaccine, even though her experience getting it in the public nearly ruined her life.

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, she said.

Her only regret is not speaking out sooner, she continued.

Tiffany Dover, a nurse manager and mother of two, fainted after receiving her vaccine due to an overactive vagal response (WRCB)

The silence is what flamed this.

As hospital executives at CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga recommended Ms Dover refrain from posting on social media, conspiracy theorists went wild. Soon, Ms Dover was the subject of Facebook groups, social media videos, podcast, QAnon theories. Family members and colleagues were berated with messages, accusing them of conspiring in some kind of cover-up. A colleague, Amber Honea, was accused of being a body-double.

Ms Dover wasnt the only one whose personal experience was swept up in a wave of Covid misinformation.

Claire Bridges, an aspiring model from Tampa, Florida, became another unwitting avatar for the anti-vax movement.

A congenital heart condition exacerbated her experience with Covid, eventually causing her to suffer from rhabdomyolysis, in which damaged muscle tissue poisons the blood, requiring her to have both of her legs amputated below the knee.

Conspiracy theorists used Ms Bridges story to make false claims about the risk of vaccines overall.

I felt true rage  that someone was telling my story, they didnt even ask permission, they werent even telling it correctly, and they were using it to push a personal agenda, Ms Bridges told HuffPost of the experience. Youre forgetting the fact that Im a human.

My legs were amputated due to COVID/[rhabdomyolysis], not the vaccine, she told the site in January. For anyone who doesnt have any of the facts to say anything different than that, is extremely rude, harmful and disrespectful.
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A decision from a federal court judge in Texas to strip long-standing government approval for a commonly used abortion drug has alarmed abortion rights groups and providers, who are bracing and preparing for whatever could come next.

On 7 April, US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who has a history of right-wing activism, sided with anti-abortion activists in a legal challenge against the US Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, which the agency first approved for use in 2000.

The nations leading abortion rights advocacy groups have roundly condemned the ruling  which uses language from anti-abortion activists and dismisses findings from major health organisations that determined the drug is both overwhelmingly safe and effective  as the case makes its way to a federal court of appeals and, possibly, the US Supreme Court.

The ruling is set to take effect on 14 April unless an appeals court intervenes. The drug remains accessible in the meantime.

Its hard to speculate in a world where all law and fact are thrown to the wind, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a briefing with reporters on 10 April.

The US Department of Justice has appealed the decision, which government attorneys said has upended decades of federal guidance and risks depriving patients of access to this safe and effective treatment, based on the courts own misguided assessment of the drugs safety and efficacy.

Attorneys also are seeking guidance after a duelling federal court decision  issued just 20 minutes after the Texas ruling  told federal agencies to preserve the status quo for FDA approvals.

Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLUs Reproductive Freedom Project, told reporters on 10 April that there is likely to be significant confusion and chaos as providers try to provide the best possible care they can for their patients if the Texas ruling is allowed to stand and access to the medication is thrown into jeopardy.

Critics blast Texas ruling for inflammatory anti-abortion rhetoric

The judge flat-out ignored evidence and science and instead deferred to anti-abortion activists and arguments from abortion opponents that have been debunked in courts around the country, according to Ms Dalven.

Its no accident this case ended up before a judge that was willing to go wherever the [anti-abortion activists] had led him, she said. Anti-abortion plaintiffs incorporated in a small district of Amarillo, Texas, all but guaranteeing their case would be heard by Judge Kacsmaryk.

In his ruling, delivered on Good Friday, Judge Kacsmaryk used language pulled directly from anti-abortion activists, including referring to abortion providers as abortionists, abortion patients as post-abortive women, and a fetus as an unborn human.

His ruling also appeared to accuse President Joe Bidens administration of promoting eugenics.

The opinion really parrots the vernacular of anti-abortion activists, according to Jenny Ma, senior staff attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights. That is not what a court order should look like. It is now what an impartial judge should say.

Such inflammatory rhetoric signals to an extremist right-wing anti-choice movement, according to Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro Choice America, who called the decision an example of minority rule at its worst.

Following the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade and revoke a constitutional right to abortion care last summer, anti-abortion activists and right-wing legal campaigns took aim at mifepristone, which is used for more than half of all abortions in the US.

The same legal group that backed the effort to overturn Roe is leading the charge against mifepristone.

Erin Hawley, senior counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom and the wife of anti-abortion US Senator Josh Hawley, criticised the FDA and a mail-order abortion regime following the Justice Departments notice of appeal.

The FDA put women in harms way, and the agency should be held accountable for its reckless actions, she said in a statement through the organisation.

Stripping away access to the drug could further erode access to abortion care across the country, even in states where it is legally protected. Its potential removal could be particularly acute in more than a dozen states that have effectively criminalised care or severely restricted access in the months after Roe was overturned.

Mifepristone was approved for use by the FDA in most cases up to 10 weeks of pregnancy in 2000. A vast majority of abortions occur within the first nine weeks. From 2019 through 2020, nearly 93 per cent of all abortions were performed before the 13th week.

Mifepristone is also used to treat miscarriages. Roughly 10 per cent of clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriages, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Health officials and drugmakers warn of impacts beyond abortion care

A ruling to overturn the drugs government approval is a reckless decision that endangers the lives of abortion patients, the public health system and democracy itself, according to Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood.

The decision not only threatens access to abortion care but also could set a precedent to radically alter the process for approving drugs and bringing potentially life-saving drugs to market, opening the door for fringe activist groups to find ideologically aligned judges to deliver favourable rulings, according to Ms Dalven with the ACLU.

That could include federal court challenges to birth control, emergency contraception, or any drug that has drawn political opposition, including vaccines.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on 10 April that the Texas decision is an attack on the FDAs authority that could open the floodgates for other medications to be targeted and denied to people who need them.

A group of more than 400 executives with major drug manufacturers sounded a similar warning in a scathing letter denouncing Judge Kacsmaryks decision.

The decision ignores decades of scientific evidence and legal precedent, said the letter, which was signed by leaders at Pfizer and Biogen, among others.

If courts can overturn drug approvals without regard for science or evidence, the letter said, 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.

(AFP via Getty Images)

The ruling has set a precedent for diminishing FDAs authority over drug approvals, and in so doing, creates uncertainty for the entire biopharma industry, according to the letter.

Dr Jack Resnick, president of the American Medical Association, warned that the Texas ruling presents an extraordinary, unprecedented danger of courts upending longstanding drug regulatory decisions made by the FDA.

Substituting the opinions of individual judges and courts in place of extensive, evidence-based, scientific review of efficacy and safety through well-established FDA processes is reckless and dangerous, he said in a statement.

While some members of Congress have argued that the Biden administration should just ignore the ruling, other Democratic lawmakers and leading abortion rights advocates have instead urged the courts to swiftly overturn the decision.

Ignoring the ruling wont address the drugs future legal issues or other challenges to longstanding FDA approvals, according to Ms Dalven.

In order to protect access to abortion and miscarriage care  the courts need to do their job and reverse this unprecedented and unprincipled decision, she said.
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Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy attended a rally in southern New Mexico on Monday for former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell as the GOP tries to flip a congressional swing seat back to GOP control in 2024.

Herrell lost her 2022 reelection bid to Democratic Congressman Gabe Vasquez in the majority-Hispanic district along the U.S. border with Mexico.

The states Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces was the backdrop for Herrell's announcement that she will seek the Republican nomination again, amid supportive appearances by state legislators.

Republicans have nominated Herrell on three previous occasions to seek the 2nd District seat. She lost an open race in 2016 and returned in 2018 to unseat former Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small.

Republicans are separately challenging the new outline of the 2nd District in proceedings before the New Mexico Supreme Court. Political boundaries were changed under a redistricting plan from Democratic lawmakers that divvied up a politically conservative oilfield region among three congressional districts.

Herrell last year embraced a conservative platform of strict border security and unfettered support for the oil industry. The district as recently redrawn stretches from the U.S. border with Mexico across desert oilfields and parts of Albuquerque.

Vasquez won the seat while highlighting his Latino heritage and an upbringing along the border in a working-class, immigrant family. He advocated for solutions to climate change and efforts to ensure access to abortion.

Within weeks of the November 2022 election, Herrell registered to run again with federal campaign finance regulators.
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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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Donald Trump is set to make a quick return to New York to give a deposition in a lawsuit brought by New York attorney general Letitia James.

This will be the second time he will give a deposition in the case. The first one was in August last year when he refused to answer any questions citing the Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination.

At the time, Mr Trump said the investigation was a politically-motivated witch hunt against him.

This will be the former presidents first trip to New York since his arraignment last week on 34 felony counts of falsification of business records in a Manhattan criminal case related to hush money payments made before the 2016 election.

Ms James has sued the former president, his three eldest adult children, and a host of companies, organisations and persons associated with his real estate and licensing business, following a three-year civil investigation into allegations of fraud.

Across more than 200 pages, following interviews with 65 witnesses and reviews of millions of documents, the attorney general alleges the former president and his business empire falsely inflated the value of his net worth by billions of dollars in an effort to gain tax benefits and other benefits from insurers and financial institutions.

Ms James said the twice-impeached ex-president cheated all of us by inflating his net worth to unjustly enrich himself and to cheat the system.

Arthur Engoron, the judge in the case, said last month: This case is complex, but it is not complicated. Essentially, it all boils down to whether (Trumps) statements of financial interest are true or false.

The civil case is scheduled to go to trial on 2 October. The judge has rejected repeated attempts by Mr Trumps attorneys to push that date back.
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Republican Congressman George Santos left social media users confused after he claimed that Democrats were trying to ban toilet paper.

Mr Santos told his Twitter followers that Republicans were "working to put Americans First" and to "lower the cost of living."

Those noble works stood in contrast to what Mr Santos believes Democrats are doing, which includes "trying to ban toilet paper and gas stoves."

Conservatives on social media and cable news had a minor freakout in January after a commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission spoke with Bloomberg about the health risks associated with gas stoves. He was quoted saying that a prohibition on gas stoves was "on the table"  a statement the commission later said was not true  and triggered a meltdown.

In that instance, the explosive response was at least attributable to a serious statement made a regulatory head.

However, there has never been an effort to prohibit toilet paper in either the Congress or any state legislature. Big Bidet has never seriously challenged TP's dominance in US restrooms, and certainly never at the legislative level.

So, where did Mr Santos get the idea that Democrats were trying to ban toilet paper?

The freshman congressman is perhaps best known for the many, ridiculous lies he told to fool his constituents about his life and credentials. In this instance, however, it seems Mr Santos is the one who has been fooled.

New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher issued a fake press release on 1 April claiming the city would move to ban toilet paper and other single-use paper products like paper towels and tissues.

"I dont know about you, but my dream is to live in a world where people look at a roll of toilet paper and say, What is that? the fake press release said. It also included a reference to a bogus activist group called the "Coalition Against Kleenex" led by someone named "Scottie Cotton."

Mr Bottcher represents Manhattan, and Mr Santos serves New York's 3rd district, meaning its entirely possible the Republican congressman saw the fake tweet.

The city councilman has no doubt Mr Santos stumbled upon his joke and took it to heart.

"He fell for it big-time," Mr Bottcher told Yahoo News.

The councilman left a response for Mr Santos on his tweet about Democrats and toilet paper.

"Our quest to ban toilet paper may have gone too far," he wrote.

He told the news outlet that he intentionally tried to pick something so absurd that no one would fall for the joke.

"I thought long and hard about the best April Fools joke to do, and I picked something that I thought was so outlandish that no reasonable person would actually believe it, he told Yahoo News.
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Melania Trump has fired back at assumptions being made in the media after her absence from her husbands arrest and post-arraignment speech hit headlines across the globe.

The former first lady released a statement through her office on Tuesday morning hitting out at the use of unnamed sources in reports about her personal, professional, and political viewpoints and urging readers to exercise caution and good judgment.

News organizations have made assumptions about the former First Ladys stance on subjects that are personal, professional, and political over the past few weeks. In these articles, unnamed sources are cited to bolster the authors claims, the statement reads.

We ask readers to exercise caution and good judgment when determining whether or not stories concerning the former First Lady are accurate, particularly when they fail to cite Mrs. Trump as a source of information.

Melania has kept a low profile in the week since her former president Donald Trump was arrested and charged with 34 felonies.

In a historic day for America, Mr Trump was arrested and arraigned on criminal charges in New York on 4 April.

According to Manhattan prosecutors, Mr Trump and his former fixer Michael Cohen carried out a catch and kill scheme in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

Cohen allegedly made hush money payments on Mr Trumps behalf to suppress negative information about him by silencing individuals over alleged affairs he had with women.

Mr Trump repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election, the charging documents read.

Three specific alleged affairs and hush money payments were mentioned in the charging documents  a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, a $150,000 to former playboy model Karen McDougal and a $30,000 payment to a doorman at Trump Tower who claimed he had information that Mr Trump had fathered a child with a woman while married to Melania Trump.

Mr Trump then allegedly reimbursed Cohen but falsely recorded the payments as legal fees.

Each of the 34 criminal charges relates to an individual entry in the Trump Organizations business records.

Cohen has already served jail time for his part in the hush money case and has now become prosecutors star witness in the case against Mr Trump.

On 4 April, Mr Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to conceal illegal activity connected to his 2016 presidential campaign.

He surrendered to Manhattan authorities that afternoon and appeared in court for his arraignment before Judge Juan Merchan  the same judge who sentenced the Trump Organization and its CFO last year.

Cutting a glum figure, he defiantly pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

He then flew immediately back to Florida to deliver a speech attacking the charges, the judge and the DA from his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Melania did not accompany Mr Trump to New York for his historic arrest and arraignment.

Melania and Donald Trump have Easter brunch together at Mar-a-Lago (Instagram)

And she was then notably absent from his speech at Mar-a-Lago that evening  despite living on the grounds of the estate and despite most of the former presidents family members attending in a show of support.

Mr Trump also neglected to mention his wife when he paid tribute to each of his children in the speech.

Melanias absence sparked speculation  especially given the fact that her husbands charges are in relation to alleged affairs he had while married to her.

Her former aide Stephanie Winston Wolkoff told Page Six that her silence was intentional.

Melania lives in an ivory tower of denial, she said.

Her silence is deliberate, it is her weapon of choice and her protective armour.

She finally broke her silence for the first time since her husbands arrest on Sunday to post a simple Happy Easter message to her social media followers. She then joined her husband in the Mar-a-Lago ballroom for an Easter brunch.

This marked her first public appearance since the day he was indicted on criminal charges  when the couple stepped out for dinner in Mar-a-Lago in an apparent show of support.
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Nikki Haleys 2024 campaign is trolling former President Donald Trump by reminding donors of the negative connotations around his indictment.

Donald Trump had a pretty good Q1, if you count being indicted as good, the memo from Ms Haleys campaign manager, Betsy Ankney, read as reported by Axios.

The dig seems to be an attempt at Ms Haleys campaign differentiating her from other high-profile candidates like Mr Trump. The former US ambassador to the United Nations is so far one of the only Republicans to have challenged her former boss for the 2024 Republican primary.

Its increasingly clear that Trumps candidacy is more consumed by the grievances of the past and the promise of more drama in the future, rather than a forward-looking vision for the American people, the memo said.

Unlike Mr Trump, Ms Haley has run a straight-forward retail politics campaign thus far. Shes focused on meeting voters and lawmakers in Iowa and New Hampshire.

This kind of campaigning is not as splashy as holding big rallies, and it takes a lot of time and effort, but its a proven winner in the early states, Ms Ankney wrote in the memo obtained by Axios.

In a news release, Ms Haleys campaign said they had brought in a total of $11m in the first six weeks of her campaign. Most contributions were under $200 but came from all 50 states.

However, even bad press is good press for Mr Trump as he used news of his indictment to push supporters for more donations, going as far as to create a t-shirt with a fake mug shot for people to purchase.

While it is unclear how much Mr Trumps campaign has raised since the start of the year, his campaign reportedly brought in $12m just in the week after his indictment according to Fox News.

Ms Ankney said Ms Haleys fundraising makes her a force to be reckoned with adding that voters and donors are clearly responding to Nikkis conservative message and her call for a new generation of leadership to make America strong and proud.

Polling from FiveThirtyEight shows Ms Haley polling in near single-digits behind both Mr Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has not announced a formal presidential campaign but is expected to run.

In the memo, Ms Haleys campaign took a small hit at Mr DeSantis as well saying hes not ready for prime time and made one misstep after another while on his book tour.

As for other declared Republican candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson, Ms Ankney wrote, Wait, what others?
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American grit was essential to getting Northern Irelands warring sides to make peace 25 years ago with the Good Friday Agreement.

President Joe Biden arrives in Belfast Tuesday to celebrate that anniversary, but few expect him to resolve a new political crisis that has rattled the peace deal and put Northern Irelands government on ice.

In Belfast, Biden will meet U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on a trip the president tweeted is aimed at underscoring the U.S. commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in Northern Ireland.

But hes not scheduled to visit Stormont, seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly. It has been suspended since the Democratic Unionist Party, which formed half of a power-sharing government, walked out a year ago over a post-Brexit trade dispute.

The president is spending less than 24 hours in Northern Ireland before moving on to the Republic of Ireland, where he will address the Dublin parliament, attend a gala banquet and visit a brace of ancestral hometowns in the east and west of the country during a three-day visit.

Katy Hayward, professor of political sociology at Queens University Belfast, said Bidens visit is a recognition that the peace process isnt in a good place, but (also) to remind us of the achievements of the past 25 years.

President Biden is continuing on in a long tradition of American presidents whove maintained an interest in the peace process in Northern Ireland, she said. They see themselves as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement, which means that they are particularly keen to see the British-Irish relationship be a good one and a close one.

American intervention played a key role in ending Northern Irelands Troubles, three decades of violence in which 3,600 people died.

Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell oversaw almost two years of talks in the 1990s aimed at ending bloodshed involving Irish republican and British loyalist militant groups and U.K. troops. President Bill Clinton coaxed and cajoled reluctant Northern Ireland politicians into compromise.

Even the night of the agreement, he was on the phone a number of times urging the participants to do the right thing and find that elusive agreement, said Daniel Mulhall, a former Irish ambassador to the U.S. and the U.K.

The against-the-odds agreement struck on April 10, 1998 committed armed groups to stop fighting, ended direct U.K. rule and set up a Northern Ireland legislature and government with power shared between British unionist and Irish nationalist parties.

That peace has mostly held, allowing a generation to grow up without widespread violence and letting Northern Irelands economy grow after years of stagnation. But the power-sharing government has collapsed several times amid lingering distrust between the parties.

Britains departure from the European Union left Northern Ireland poised uneasily between the rest of the U.K. and EU member Ireland, and put the peace agreement under increased strain.

In order to maintain an invisible border between Northern Ireland and the republic  a key pillar of the peace process  new customs checks were imposed for goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. That angered unionists, who said the new rules undermined Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom.

After much wrangling, Britain and the EU struck a deal in February to remove many of those checks  an agreement welcomed by the U.S., which had urged London and Brussels to end their post-Brexit feud. The DUP, though, says it doesnt go far enough and has refused to return to government.

Sunak spokesman Jamie Davies insisted Tuesday that the British government still aims to get Stormont back up and running as quickly as possible  but it's far from clear how that will happen. A growing number of people argue that power-sharing must be reformed to reflect a society in which more than 40% of people now identify as neither nationalist nor unionist.

For now, the U.K. government is focusing energy on economic growth rather than a political breakthrough. Sunak has scheduled a Northern Ireland investment summit for September, aimed at building on the 1.5 billion pounds ($1.9 billion) U.S. firms have invested in Northern Ireland over the past decade.

The British government notes that Northern Irelands post-Brexit status puts it in a unique economic position: It's part of the U.K. but also has close ties to the EUs single market. Brexit opponents note bitterly that the U.K. as a whole walked away from membership in the single market by leaving the bloc.

Biden has appointed Joe Kennedy III, a scion of the Irish-American political dynasty, as his special trade envoy to Northern Ireland.

Mulhall said that reflects a recognition by U.S. authorities "that one of the things they can bring to the party is the economic dividend that American investment in Northern Ireland involves.

As for unblocking the political stalemate, Mulhall said its always positive to have an American president involved.

But I wouldnt be expecting him to get into the weeds," he said. "Hes going to give some broad general signals of Americas desire to see the process in Northern Ireland move forward.

They want to see the violence of the past remain in the past.

___

Lawless reported from London
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Former president Donald Trump has now been charged in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs grand jury investigation into hush payments leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

The investigation ramped up in recent weeks and on Thursday 30 March, the Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Mr Trump on criminal charges  making him the first current or former president to ever face criminal charges in the history of the US.

He stands accused of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to conceal an alleged scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election by suppressing negative stories about him.

At a hearing in New York City on Tuesday 4 April, Mr Trump pled not guilty to all charges.

Throughout February and March, the long-running probe had entered a new phase and Mr Braggs office contacted the presidents lawyers to offer an opportunity for voluntary testimony, a sign that meant an indictment or multiple indictments were likely in the works.

Mr Trump himself predicted on 18 March that he would be arrested the following week on Tuesday 21 March, which did not come to pass.

Now that Mr Trump has actually been arrested and charged, it marks the first time an investigation into his inner circle (of which there have been several, with the most famous leading to multiple indictments for figures connected to the 2016 campaign) has actually drawn blood from the former president himself.

The Justice Departments protocol against charging a sitting president appeared to cool any ability of the agency to do so while he was in office, but the presidents loss in 2020 opened the door to prosecution over the 2016 Stormy Daniels matter as well as an investigation into the January 6 attack and Mr Trumps efforts to overturn the election.

That second investigation continues, with the distinct possibility of potential charges for both Mr Trump and members of his legal team. And alongside the Bragg investigation, it raises the question: What happens to the 2024 race, and Donald Trumps ability to participate in it, now that he is under criminal indictment?

The short answer is, not much. There are no restrictions in the US Constitution preventing anyone indicted or convicted of a crime, or even currently serving prison time, from running for or winning the presidency. Even if he were tried and convicted in one of the so-called quick trials he has repeatedly cheered Chinas government for operating in the cases of drug offences, Mr Trump could still run the entirety of his presidential campaign from a prison cell.

What is far less clear is what would happen were he to win in that scenario. Just as there are no restrictions in the Constitution for a person to run while under indictment, theres no explanation for what should occur in the event that they win. Theres nothing in the document that would automatically grant Mr Trump a reprieve from prison time, save for the likelihood that any charges brought by federal authorities, were they still being litigated at the point when Mr Trump assumed the presidency for a second time, would be dropped due to the Department of Justices refusal to prosecute a sitting president.

State-level charges like the ones being filed by Mr Bragg are far trickier, and fall outside of Mr Trumps pardon power were they to conclude in a conviction.

Were conviction on state charges to occur alongside a Trump election victory, it would likely lead to a massive legal fight to determine whether there was a way for the former president to worm his way out of serving time. If Mr Trump was unable to avoid that outcome, it would almost certainly lead to his impeachment or removal via the 25th Amendment, which allows the Cabinet to remove a president who is unable to perform their duties. There are many duties and trappings of the presidency that would simply be impossible to be operated or performed from a prison cell, the viewing of classified materials just to name one.

Any potential conviction of Mr Trump is still a long way off and little more than a distant possibility. But the conversations he has started with his bid for the presidency despite facing one indictment and multiple criminal investigations have already pushed parts of theoretical US constitutional law into a much realer place than many experts ever thought it would see.

This story was updated on Tuesday 4 April 2023 to reflect new developments
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French investigators are treating the deaths of at least six people who were killed when a building collapsed in the city of Marseille as a possible involuntary homicide case, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Prosecutor Dominique Laurens said an investigation was opened on that basis after the first body was found in the building, which collapsed in a fiery explosion early Sunday.

Four of the six victims have been formally identified, Laurens said: a 74-year-old couple and two women, ages 88 and 65, who were neighbors.

Rescuers continuing searching Tuesday for two people who remained unaccounted for following the emergency in France's second-largest city.

Investigators are now working on the hypothesis of a gas explosion" as the cause of the building's collapse, Laurens said during a Tuesday news conference. A gas meter was found in the rubble that may help determine whether there was atypical consumption in the 24 hours prior to the explosion.

In 2018, two buildings in the center of Marseille collapsed, killing eight people. Those buildings were poorly maintained, which was not the case with the one that collapsed Sunday, the interior minister said.
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Russia is likely handing over thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems to its elite airborne forces, suggesting its use in the continuing war against Ukraine, the British defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The British defence ministry cited Russian media reports on the transfer of TOS-1A thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems to Moscows airborne forces (VDV) on 3 April.

Thermobaric weapons, fired using the multiple launch rocket systems, are considered to be one of the most brutal war weapons in existence.

The highly destructive TOS-1A, which Russia designates as a heavy flamethrower, is typically operated by Russias specialist Chemical, Biological and Radiological Protection Troops in Ukraine, and has not previously been formally associated with the VDV, the ministry said on Tuesday.

Moscows move to transfer the thermobaric multiple launch rocket systems indicates a future role for the elite frontline troops in its offensive salvo in Ukraine.

It is likely part of efforts to reconstitute the VDV after it suffered heavy casualties in the first nine months of the war, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update.

An armoured multiple rocket launcher system, TOS-1A can launch missiles with thermobaric warheads and have deadly impact on infrastructure.

Also known as aerosol bombs or vacuum bombs, the artillery system can help fire thermobaric missiles filled with a highly explosive fuel and chemical mix, which, on exploding, can cause supersonic blast waves capable of obliterating everything in their path, including buildings and humans.

While they are not used for precision strikes, thermobaric missiles can be deployed for clearing stretches of ground.

Thermobaric weapons use oxygen from the surrounding air to create a high temperature explosion. They also have blast effects that last longer than a conventional explosion.

The artillery system was used by Russian forces in Afghanistan and Chechnya.

The first signs of the deadly weapon being used in the war-hit nation emerged near Ukraines Black Sea city Mykolaiv oblast in early April this year, the Institute for the Study of War said on Monday.

A Russian military blogger posted footage reportedly showing Russian forces using a TOS-1A thermobaric artillery system to strike Ukrainian positions near Ochakiv, Mykolaiv oblast, the US-based think-tank monitoring the war in Ukraine said.

According to the Russian defence ministry, the VDV units have been issued TOS-1A Solntsepek thermobaric artillery systems for the first time in their history before deploying to an unspecified section of the frontline in Ukraine.

The move of handing the rare TOS-1A thermobaric artillery systems signals the Russian military command looking to prioritise the VDV units to bolster their offensive operations in eastern Ukraine, especially in the Luhansk oblast, the ISW had said last week.

But, the commitment of VDV units with TOS-1 support to this, or any axis, is unlikely to lend Russian troops a decisive offensive advantage, however, the ISW said.

In March last year, the Russian MoD had confirmed the use of the TOS-1A weapon system in Ukraine.
 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 Ukrainian forces based on the western side of the River Dnipro begin frequently carrying out raids on the eastern bank near the city of Kherson to try to dislodge Russian troops, a regional official said on Tuesday.

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.
As the administration of Joe Biden scrambles to assess the damage done after classified Pentagon documents made their way into the public domain, US officials will also need to soothe the countrys allies.

The effects of the leak will be felt much more acutely in the short term than in the long term, if previous incidents are anything to go by. After WikiLeaks published American diplomatic cables in 2010, the US was quick to play up the severity of the security risk, and how the episode could affect the countrys diplomatic operations. The same arguments were made after Edward Snowdens disclosures of National Security Agency (NSA) documents in 2013.

Pentagon officials have said that the latest incident poses a very serious risk to national security and that it has the potential to spread disinformation. In the Wikileaks and Snowden incidents, the long-term impact was overblown. There is no doubt, though, that this leak is embarrassing for the US, and there will be a need to reassure those countries with whom it shares information.
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Ukraine has said that the US has made clear its iron-clad support for the countrys fight against Russias invasion, in the wake of a damaging leak of documents from the Pentagon.

Washington has been attempting to limit the diplomatic fallout from the incident, with the documents appearing to highlight information about Ukraines military capability as well as intelligence relating to Washingtons allies, including South Korea and Israel.

The US Department of Justice and US security agencies are investigating the release of the documents while they assess the damage to national security, with analysts saying that the documents appear to have been shared initially on the video-game chat platform Discord in an effort to win an argument about the war in Ukraine.

Ukraines foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said that the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, had assured him in a phone call that Washington still backed Kyivs effort to win the war with Russia, and had rejected any notion of doubt in Ukraines military capacity.

During our call today, [Blinken] reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. support and vehemently rejected any attempts to cast doubt on Ukraines capacity to win on the battlefield, he tweeted. The US remains Ukraines trustworthy partner, focused on advancing our victory and securing a just peace.

The US secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, held phone talks with his South Korean counterpart, according to the office of Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean president. One of the documents included in the leak appears to give details of internal discussions among South Korean officials regarding pressure from the US to help supply weapons to Ukraine, suggesting that the US could have been spying on one of its most important allies.

The suggestion brought condemnation from South Korean legislators. However, Mr Yoons office said in a statement that suspicions that his office in Seoul had been monitored were utterly false and that any attempt to shake South Koreas alliance with the US was compromising [the] national interest. The statement added that, on the call with Mr Austin, both sides had agreed that much of the document relating to South Korea had been fabricated. It did not elaborate on which parts were considered to be inaccurate.

With the knowledge that Moscow could use the leak to sow discontent among Ukraines allies, there appeared to be a concerted effort to downplay the importance of the documents. A statement from Britains Ministry of Defence, published on Twitter, cast doubt on the validity of the information revealed, saying: The widely reported leak of alleged classified U.S. information has demonstrated a serious level of inaccuracy. Readers should be cautious about taking at face value allegations that have the potential to spread disinformation.

US officials had previously said that some of the documents circulating online, giving battlefield casualty estimates from Ukraine, appeared to have been altered to understate Russian losses. Kremlin spokesperson 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.

One of the latest leaks claimed that Egypt was planning to supply Russia covertly with rockets and other munitions, although the US was said to believe that the plan had never been carried out, according to The Washington Post, which reported having seen the document. A spokesperson for Egypts foreign ministry, Ahmed Abu Zeid, told the Post: Egypts position from the beginning is based on non-involvement in this crisis, and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides, while affirming Egypts support to the UN charter and international law. An unnamed Egyptian official, quoted in state media, called the report an informational absurdity and said that Egypt follows a balanced policy with all international parties.

As for Kyivs response, Mykhailo Podolyak  an adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky  said Ukraine needs more long-range weapons and less contemplation on leaks.

On the ground, the head of Russias Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed in a video posted on Tuesday that his forces now control more than 80 per cent of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the capture of which Moscow believes will be a stepping stone to taking other, larger cities in the area. Bakhmut is in the Donbas, which contains the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the control of which is one of Moscows aims in the war.

Bakhmut has been the scene of some of the most intense fighting of the invasion so far. In a video published by a Russian military blogger on the Telegram messaging app, Mr Prigozhin is seen showing on a map of the area how his forces are continuing their encirclement of the now devastated city, which before Russias invasion had been home to around 70,000 people.

In Bakhmut, the larger part, more than 80 per cent, is now under our control, including the whole administrative centre, factories, warehouses, the administration of the city, Mr Prigozhin said.

The claim was immediately denied by Kyiv. Serhii Cherevatyi, the spokesperson for the eastern grouping of the Ukrainian armed forces, told CNN: Ive just been in touch with the commander of one of the brigades that are defending the city. I can confidently state that the Ukrainian defence forces control a much larger percentage of the territory of Bakhmut.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
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Egypts president Abdel Fatah El-Sisi had allegedly ordered 40,000 rockets to be discreetly shipped to Russia, showed some of the classified US intelligence documents that were recently leaked on social media.

Discussions between high-level Egyptian officials about the sale of weapons to Russia were found in the series of classified files, reported The Washington Post.

The leaked documents made their way to gaming social media platform Discord in February and March.

The Egyptian president had ordered his subordinates to facilitate the shipment of the rockets to Russia, but asked officials to secretly handle the production and shipment to avoid problems with the West, as per one of the documents dated 17 February.

The discussions between Egyptian officials show how to aid Russian counterparts by supplying gunpowder and artillery from factories in Egypt, the report said.

Egypt has been one of the US's oldest allies in the Middle East.

On being asked about the veracity of the documents, Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesperson for Egypts Foreign Ministry, said: Egypts position from the beginning is based on noninvolvement in this crisis and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides, while affirming Egypts support to the UN charter and international law in the UN General Assembly resolutions.

We are not aware of any execution of that plan, a US government official who wished to remain anonymous, told the Post. We have not seen that happen, he said of the rocket export plan.

The tranche of documents showed the plan to aid Moscow would have been secret and an official was instructed by the Egpytian president to tell the workers that the rockets were meant for the Egyptian army.

The official is described only as Salah al-Din and is likely a reference to the minister of state for military production, Mohamed Salah al-Din, said the Post report.

Russia would get the gunpowder from a decades-old chemical manufacturing plant called Factory 18, it said.

The official also said he would order his workers to work in shifts if necessary, as the Middle Eastern nation looked to repay Russia for unspecified help earlier, said the documents.

They do not specify the Russian assistance, but said the minister was told by Russians that they were willing to buy anything.

The latest leak from the US has been termed seriously damaging, with several of Washingtons significant military plans being circulated in the public domain through social media platforms like Discord, Telegram and Twitter among others.

It is likely that the major leak of classified information, that also details Ukraines air defences and growing proximity between UAE and Russia, may have started in a chatroom on Discord, the social media platform popular among gamers.

The US Justice Department has opened an investigation into the leak of the documents.

US officials have warned that some of the documents may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby has urged caution since we know at least in some cases that information was doctored.
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Warning: This footage may be distressing.

Watch again as a funeral was held for Lucy Dee, the mother of British-Israeli sisters Maia and Rina Dee, on Tuesday, 11 April.

The 45-year-old died on Monday, three days after her daughters were killed in an attack in the West Bank last Friday.

Leo Dee, Lucy's husband and Maia and Rina's father, 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.

The rabbi desribed how "his family of seven is now a family of four" and recalled how he was told of the attack and called his family before realising he had a missed call from Maia.

"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," Mr Dee told reporters.

Mr Dee said Lucy, Maia, and Rina were "three beautiful innocent young ladies in the prime of their lives."

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Thousands of mourners gathered for the funeral of a British-Israeli woman who died three days after a West Bank shooting which also killed two of her daughters.

Israelis holding national flags lined the roads leading to the funeral of Lucy Dee in Kfar Etzion on Tuesday, while Rishi Sunak condemned as abhorrent the attack which took her life.

Ms Dee, 48, died on Monday from injures suffered on Friday. Her daughters Rina, 15, and Maia, 20, died hours after the suspected Palestinian attack. They were among several people killed during a recent period of escalating Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Rabbi Dee (2nd from right) mourns the death of his wife Lucy with their children (Reuters)

Friends and relatives mourn at her funeral in Kfar Etzion (Reuters)

Tuesday also saw the Israeli military shoot and kill two Palestinians who allegedly opened fire at troops from a car in the northern West Bank.

At Ms Dees funeral in the Israeli-occupied West Bank south of Jerusalem, her widow, Rabbi Leo Dee, said his daughters were killed by 20 bullets from a Kalashnikov rifle and his wife was shot twice.

Rabbi Dee, who was accompanied by his three remaining children, said: Lucy, I have a choice: I could lament over the next 25 years of marriage that Ive lost, but I actually feel blessed to have had 25 years of a beautiful marriage with you.

He added: If we support the good and reject the evil, then we can all play our part in building a better world.

Lucy Dee died the day after her daughters funeral ( Family handout)

Maia and Rina Dee were both killed in the shooting (PA Media)

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 British prime minister marked the deaths of the girls and their mother, saying: The killing of British-Israeli citizens, Maia, Rina and Lucy Dee is abhorrent.

The UK condemns this appalling attack on civilians and I send my deepest condolences to Rabbi Dee and his family.

Mr Sunak added: We continue to urge all sides to de-escalate tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and end the deadly cycle of violence.

The two men killed by Israeli forces were identified by the Palestinian Health Ministry as Saud Abdullah Saud and Mohammed Abu Dira. Their ages were not provided.

Israels military said the men shot at an Israeli outpost near the settlement of Elon Moreh, south of the Palestinian city of Nablus. Israeli soldiers on patrol opened fire, killing the two alleged gunmen in the West Bank village of Deir al Hatab.

Israeli soldiers take position in the area where two Palestinian militants were killed, near the settlement of Elon Moreh near the west bank city of Nablus (EPA)

So far this year, 94 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to a tally by The Associated Press, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups. During that time, 19 people were killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

The latest wave of violence, which escalated last week after an Israeli police raid on Jerusalems Al Aqsa mosque compound during Ramadan, has seen rockets launched at Israel from Lebanon and Syria, with responsibility for some of them being claimed by Palestinian groups. Israel responded with rocket attacks on its neighbouring countries.

In the face of mounting deaths, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Jewish people would not be allowed into Al-Aqsa, a site holy in Islam and Judaism, until the end of Ramadan next week.

The rare convergence of the Jewish Passover festival and Ramadan brought scores of religious Jews to the site last week and fueled tensions that spiraled into the ongoing unrest.

Tel Aviv has previously banned Jewish visitors from Al-Aqsa in the last 10 days of Ramadan, when many Muslim worshippers pray overnight, but Mr Netanyahus move has nonetheless irked some of the religious hardliners in his coalition government.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right state security minister, denounced the move, saying: When terrorism strikes us we must strike back with great force, not surrender to its whims.

With the country battling threats on multiple fronts, Mr Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, who had last month expressed opposition to the governments divisive plans to weaken the judiciary. Mr Gallant praised the Israeli militarys killing of the Palestinian gunmen on Tuesday.
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Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has walked back on his decision to remove defence minister Yoav Gallant over his speaking out against controversial judicial reforms. In a live press conference, Netanyahu said that Mr 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 Israel's security."

The decision sparked a wave of spontaneous mass protests and a general strike that threatened to paralyse the country, forcing Mr Netanyahu to pause the legislation.

Mr Netanyahu had sacked his defence minister two weeks ago over his public call to stop the governments bitterly divisive plan to overhaul the judiciary, which he said posed a threat to Israels security. Mr Netanyahu never sent Mr Gallant a formal termination letter.

In recent days, Mr Gallant was seen taking part in Israeli government meetings "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 Mr Gallant's firing, an Israeli police raid at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site triggered rocket fire at Israel on multiple fronts. The 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.

Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery fire at rocket launch sites and accused Hamas and Palestinian militant groups of being behind the attacks.

Israeli settlers listen to a speech by their far-right national security minister during a rally in the outpost of Eviatar (AFP via Getty Images)

On Monday, 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 march threatened to exacerbate already-high tensions, given the recent spate of violence. In a fresh incident Israeli forces had killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy during a raid in the occupied West Bank and a 48-year-old British-Israeli woman died of wounds sustained in an attack last week that killed two of her daughters.

Mondays 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.

National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich  both West Bank settlers  marched to Eviatar, an unauthorised settlement outpost in northern West Bank that was evacuated by the previous Israeli government in 2021.

At least 92 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces so far this year, with at least half of them said by Israel to be affiliated with militant groups. Palestinian attacks have killed at least 20 people, including one soldier so far this year.

Palestinian mourners cry after taking the last look at the body of Mohammad Balhan, 15, during his funeral in the West Bank refugee camp of Aqabat Jaber, Jericho (AP)

The events have shaken up the popularity of Mr Netanyahus hardline government, which has been dubbed as the most religious and ultranationalist government in Israels history.

Recent polls showed 60 per cent of respondents said they do not trust the government to deal with the current wave of violence and just 27 per cent of respondents said they rely on the government to handle the wave of terror.

In his address on Monday, Mr Netanyahu attacked said that the situation was now under our watch, its our responsibility. Its my responsibility.

You know me. I dont act rashly. I act resolutely and determinedly and above all I act responsibly, said Mr Netanyahu. I tell you tonight, people of Israel, we will repel these threats and we will defeat our enemies. Weve done so in the past and well do so again.

Associated Press contrinbuted to this report
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An aviation warning has been triggered following an eruption from one of Russias most active volcanoes, with a huge cloud of ash shot into the sky.

The Shiveluch volcano, in the countrys eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, erupted just after midnight and reached its climax six hours later, sending out a cloud of ash over an area of 108,000 square kilometres, according to the Kamchatka Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Geophysical Survey.

Villages have been carpeted in drifts of grey ash almost 10 centimetres deep, according to Reuters, the deepest in 60 years. Lava flows have been pouring down the side of the volcano, melting snow and prompting a mud flow warning.

The incident has led to concerns about how this eruption will impact global flight routes.

The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team issued a red notice for aviation, saying ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

In April 2010, a huge ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano covered northern Europe, grounding thousands of flights as countries imposed the biggest airspace closure since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

It took a week before flights resumed progressively in Europe, with 95,000 cancelled in that time.

And in 2018, scientists warned another volcano in Iceland, Katla, could cause global disruption if it erupts. It last blew in 1918, having previously done so around every 50 years  leaving it overdue for another eruption.

Danila Chebrov, director of the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Survey, said: The ash reached 20 kilometres high, the ash cloud moved westwards and there was a very strong fall of ash on nearby villages.

The volcano was preparing for this for at least a year... and the process is continuing though it has calmed a little now, he added.

Further major ash clouds could not be ruled out, he said, but lava flows should not reach local villages.

One of Kamchatkas largest and most active volcanoes, Shiveluch has had an estimated 60 substantial eruptions in the past 10,000 years, the last major one being in 2007.

It has two main parts, the smaller of which  Young Shiveluch  scientists have reported as being extremely active in recent months, with a peak of 2,800 metres that protrudes out of the 3,283 metre-high Old Shiveluch.
A Rabbi whose wife and two daughters were killed in the occupied West Bank has called for unity in the wake of the attack.

British-Israeli sisters Maia and Rina Dee, aged 20 and 15, and their mother Lucy Dee, 45, died in a shooting.

Leo Dee described how he was told of the attack and called his family before realising he had a missed call from Maia.

"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," Mr Dee told reporters.

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The Good Friday Agreement should be kept under review, Sir Tony Blair has said.

In 1998, the then-UK prime minister and then-Irish prime minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern signed the historic peace deal which largely ended the Troubles.

Around 3,532 people - mostly civilians - died in the 30 year conflict.

The agreement established a power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland, which has since collapsed due to further disagreements with the DUP over Brexit.

Sir Tonys comments came after a small crowd threw petrol bombs and other missiles at a police Land Rover during a parade by dissident republicans Creggan, Derry, on Monday (10 April).

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Between letters, op-eds, news stories, and all kinds of online buzz, we are overwhelmed with stories about AI right now. In fact, an infamous letter signed by tech giants from Elon Musk to Mike Wozniak recently called for a six-month moratorium on all AI-related research  out of fear around long-term effects of artificial intelligence on humans as a species. I believe this is misplaced , but so too is the hype that celebrates every step in AI technologies as the next new breakthrough.

Its true, AI has transformed a lot of the ways we live, laugh and love lately, from advanced image-generators fooling people to text-generators making us question the ways we do education . Algorithms have changed the ways we meet people through recommender-based online dating sites, and both romance and sex with AI-equipped technologies themselves could also go mainstream soon . Chatbots and companion robots are only some of the ways in which machines are becoming our relational partners.

However, between the hype and the fear-mongering, the reality is that we still dont know how AI companions impact us. If human-machine relationships are on the cusp of entering the mainstream, what should we think about them?

The companion that is always available

Reports show that more than half of US adults are considered lonely (58 percent). And if you think this is high because of the pandemic, you are off: pre-pandemic data from 2019 show that 61 percent of adults experienced loneliness.

Considering this loneliness epidemic, AI companions seem like a promising way to have connections with something (or someone).

And while some artificial companions are designed to be conversational, others are designed to allow for different types of relationships. Relationships involving sex, love, and romance .

Might technology help us feel less alone? With the promise of always being there for you and never being too tired to talk dirty late at night, they might seem the perfect fix to our lonely world.

A future where everyone dates machines? Mostly unlikely

Technology has dramatically changed the way we date. Online dating is now a primary way of meeting new people, and virtual reality dating may soon change those experiences even more. In fact, in the Relationships and Technology Lab at Arizona State University, Dr Liesel Sharabi, myself, and a team of others study different types of technologies and how they impact our relationships.

For example, some of my work focuses on how humans form relationships with companion dolls and robots . Otherwise known as sex or love robots, a growing part of the population is interested in these technologies, especially because they want to form relationships with these artificial companions.

For some, these companion bots serve only one purpose: sexual gratification. For others, however, they serve additional roles in their daily lives, being full relational partners. Some of the folks I spoke with as part of my ongoing research have been in relationships with their dolls for years. Its mostly about care, having someone to talk to and someone who responds (if equipped or supplemented by conversational AI tech), and sharing a life with another.

Its also clear that those human-machine relationships are not for everyone  and they dont need to be. Just as some still frown upon the idea of meeting someone on a dating site, many look down at companion dolls and bots as weird sexual fantasies of social outcasts. Although we dont know too much about robot owners, we do know that they are not that different from non-owners across many psychological characteristics.

Lets bring it back to reality

There are many open questions about the ways in which romantic and sexual AI tech might impact us  especially because those relational partners are owned by private companies . But the fact of the matter is that we dont know enough about the effects from a research perspective yet.

However, this does not mean that we should hop on one of the most recent bandwagons that either proclaim the demise of humanity and the erosion of relationships as we know it, or preach a techno-futurist utopia where everyone will have their perfect AI partner.

Artificial companions bring happiness and relational fulfillment to many of the people I have been talking with. Worrying about a hypothetical long-term future is clearly misplaced when there are many existing problems in the context of AI, for example worker exploitation during AI training processes and climate impact of massive data centers. There are also solutions underway, like the AI Risk Management Framework drafted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Lets drop both the hype AND the fear and see AI companions for what they really are: technologies that transform our relational lives in one way or another. Lets focus on understanding how exactly they actually transform our lives before we turn to speculation or fears. Lets hear the voices of those who have AI companions. Lets craft comprehensive legislation that protects users .

Lets focus on whats really happening in human-AI relationships.
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Jamie Oliver has revealed the secret ingredient to a happy marriage  by doing it all over again.

Yes, you heard that right: Jamie and Jools, who first wed 23 years ago, have renewed their vows in a romantic ceremony on the beach in the Maldives, supported by their five children.

Jamie posted about it on Instagram, sharing a selfie of the Oliver family grinning into the camera, along with the words: Morning all, me and @joolsoliver got married again!

He explained: Yep, after 23 years together, we thought it would be a special moment to celebrate renewing our wedding vows before the kids all start leaving the nest. It was really special, funny and romantic with the words in the ceremony making more sense having come this far together.

Some people might be looking at this story and wondering why its news. Others might assume that renewing your wedding vows usually comes when things have reached a low ebb; its a sign that youve arrived at the cliff edge of your relationship and will do anything to give it one last kick. It might seem like a desperate attempt to whack a sticking plaster on a marriage thats already fatally wounded.

Im sure there are plenty of people who think renewing your wedding vows is pointless, but I think it might just be the most important thing you can do for the happiness of your relationship.

In fact, we should be renewing our vows to each other much more often than every two decades  how about every three to five years?

After all, you take your car in for an MOT once a year and thats not (usually) something youre deeply in love with. So, why not show the same level of care and maintenance towards something you feel truly passionate about: your relationship?

The Belgian-American psychotherapist Esther Perel agrees: she advises couples to perform these relationship renewals much more often than every 23 years.

Relationships require frequent pulse checks with one another, she writes. Even the seemingly small act of being present while you check in on a loved one  really being there with them and listening to them  can open new channels of connection.

Instead of approaching a conversation with Youre making me feel like X, or you never do Y, Perel says try expressing what youre concerned about in the relationship from a personal perspective.

This could be something as simple as: Id love us to spend more quality time together.

What Jamie and Jools have done is brilliant. My only criticism might be that they should have done it sooner. Not every couple is lucky enough to have 23 years as a first chapter.

Dont leave it so long to tell the person you love that youre loving the life youve built with them, or that youre committed to working on whatever problems may arise. If youre going to commit to each other, you should also commit to the health of that partnership.

Checking in with each other every three to five years doesnt feel too frequent for something so important.
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Ive nothing against vicious, unprincipled negative political campaigning (not least because its not going to suddenly stop), but if twere done, tis best twere done properly. This is the real cardinal sin of Labours now infamous attack ads.

About five Labour MPs have come out against it, and there are plenty more activists whove expressed their distaste, understandably enough.

More concerning, for Labour, is that so few of Keir Starmers frontbench colleagues have voiced any support at all. Theyve gone very quiet indeed, in fact.

Even the shadow justice secretary, Steve Reed, has only gone so far as to make a reasonable comment about the fact that some 4,000 convicted child sex offenders have dodged jail and been left free to roam the streets under the Tories since 2010: These figures will horrify communities up and down this country. Victims are terrified, constantly looking over their shoulders. This is reality in Tory Britain. Reed has not said Sunak himself thinks thats the way it should be, because it obviously isnt.

Theres been disarray on the front benches and a briefing war, in which the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, let it be known she didnt know about the ad; and a counter briefing, anonymous, that she was useless and facing the chop in the next reshuffle in favour of Wes Streeting.

Lucy Powell, shadow culture secretary, remarked that it wasnt to everyones taste, a masterly understatement, while Emily Thornberry tied herself up into lawyerly knots about who was running sentencing policy a decade ago  a time when Starmer was director of public prosecutions. So the whole debate ended up with Starmer being dragged into the confusion himself.

The irony, of course, is that according to other briefings Starmer also wasnt aware of what was coming: another argument about the minutiae of criminal justice policy in the early years of the Cameron administration, and his role in it.

He had a choice. He could either sack whoever was responsible for the mess; or he could pretend it was his brilliant hard-hitting idea in the first place, and he stands by every word.

He did the latter, presumably targeting the very voters hes seeking to detach from their usual allegiance. Thus, a series of blunders looks like a cunning, Mandelsonian, strategy.

It hasnt served Labour well, though, this particular ad, even if its highlighted the Tory record on law and order, and done so for pennies, with maximum amplification on social media and the mainstream outlets.

Yet its divided the Labour Party needlessly, and ended up as just noise so far as the voters are concerned. One doubts its shifted many votes, and it may even have repelled Labour supporters who expect better. There were surely better things to do at Easter.

All that said, though, the fact is that negative campaigning works and its a fact of life. Its one reason why the Conservatives have been so successful. They, and their allies in the press, have been up to these sordid tricks for a very long time.

What about the Jimmy Savile smear by Boris Johnson against Starmer, one that incited a mob to attack him? Ed Miliband in Alex Salmonds pocket? The personalised attacks on Gordon Brown in 2010? Blair with demon eyes? Thatcher calling the unions (and by extension, their allies) in the wider Labour movement the enemy within?

Perhaps we ought not be surprised that the Sunak attack ad is rumoured to have been the work of a faith column group of former Tory officials who have turned against their party and have been in contact with Labour to help shape the election strategy. Hence the uncharacteristic viciousness.

Even Churchill, who should have known better, said in a radio broadcast in 1945 that Clement Attlee (whod been his deputy prime minister in the war) and Labour would require a Gestapo to implement their socialist programme. In fact, they did so using high taxation and ration books, but no secret police.

It is an old, old tale. Next year marks the centenary of the first Labour government, led by Ramsay MacDonald. It was a minority administration, and it didnt last very long. It was brought down, in part, by the exotic Zinoviev letter affair.

The letter was purported to have been sent by the Russian (ie Bolshevik) Grigory Zinoviev, head of the Communist International, to a British Communist politician. A red scare was got up, but the letter was a fabrication. It was the viral attack tweet of its time, and it made some impact.

The truth is that politics has always been debased and devalued by all its practitioners, even if the Tories, in close collaboration with their friends in the press, have been the most proficient in such dark arts.

After all, it was the saintly Labour hero Nye Bevan who called Tories lower than vermin, just as Angela Rayner now calls them scum. Nigel Farages breaking point anti-refugee poster was a low point.

So was the Brexit bus with its 350m a week for the NHS claim, for which Vote Leave received a rebuke from the national statisticians. Even Liberal Democrat local election leaflets with their celebrated misleading bar charts served to pull electoral politics that little bit further into disrepute.

Politics is very often a game of stoop to conquer. Past Labour leaders rarely stooped, but also rarely conquered.
45 Gigginstown Angus cattle up for grabs at annual sale this month

There will be the opportunity to buy 25 bulls and 20 heifers at the Gigginstown sale on April 22

Last year the top-price heifer, Gigginstown Red Game Bird, sold for 7,100, setting a new record for the Gigginstown Herd

Margaret Donnelly Tue 11 Apr 2023 at 03:30
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) is widespread in Ireland and there is evidence that over 70pc of cattle herds have been exposed to the virus

A proposed new IBR programme will cost 40m a year, run for a minimum of 16 years and have movement controls on farms if this timeline is to be met, the IFA said.
We love the hillwalkers but the events of that day changed everything

Pat Dunne was eager for people to enjoy the tracks and trails which pass through his land in Glenmalure. That was until an incident on Mothers Day left him and his wife in shock

Pat Dunne had to restrict access to his land to control the crowds of people

Sarah Slater Tue 11 Apr 2023 at 03:30
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. 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.
Sinead Ovenden, a partner at PwC Ireland, looks at the new rules on accountability

Central Bank laws aim to cure crash-era banking culture excesses that led to the financial crisis. Photo: Bloomberg

Ever since the crisis in 2008, the Central Bank of Ireland has been critical of the culture in banking. At the time, politicians and regulators alike blamed the poor culture and lack of accountability in financial services for the collapse of our economy. The President of Ireland recently signed the Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Act into law.

The Act will be a game changer for financial services, aiming to increase trust and transparency through a change in compliance culture. The new framework brings some key changes to financial services including a new senior executive accountability regime, new standards of conduct and enhanced enforcement powers against individuals as well as firms.

Who is responsible for what?

The primary objective of the new senior executive accountability regime is to clearly articulate who is responsible for what. Individuals at a senior level need to be clear what they are responsible for, so that they can be accountable.

This has been a topic of significant discussion amongst senior executives in Ireland for a number of years and there is a fear that the new regime will have a chilling effect on recruitment and retention.

However, the Central Bank is of the view that the new framework is proportionate, well-designed and balanced. It should, therefore, not have the chilling effect feared by the industry, but only time will tell.



How can you measure individual accountability?

Individual roles are allocated inherent responsibilities under the proposed regulations.

For board members, this includes the obligation to oversee and monitor the strategy and management of the firm. Senior executives are responsible for managing the relevant business function which they head.

While these inherent responsibilities set out in the proposed regulation appear to be very reasonable, the challenge will be the future defence by an individual in an enforcement case by the regulator.

How can one person demonstrate that they have appropriately overseen a bank or managed a function?

The law dictates that this will be done by reasonable steps, which will be more of an art than a science. This is based on a similar regime rolled out in the UK and was a huge challenge for our clients.

The Central Bank of Ireland stated in their consultation that they will consider what steps an individual, in that position, could reasonably have been expected to take at that point in time.

While this all appears very reasonable, it is critical that a robust framework is designed to clearly articulate the expectations of every senior executive captured by the regime.



Individual accountability goes deeper  conduct standards are also enforceable

The new regime will enhance existing business standards and introduce new conduct standards for individuals with the intention of improving the operating culture.

These new standards will apply to all control functions at all levels and not just senior managers  this will include the majority of customer-facing staff as well as a number of junior back office functions.

It is expected that individuals take reasonable steps to comply with the new standards.

Of interest to the workforce of regulated entities is the new obligation for firms to notify the Central Bank where an individual has been disciplined for a breach of the new standards.

A breach could result in enforcement for an individual and/or firm. The ability to articulate and defend reasonable steps will be a challenge for both firms and individuals alike.

For now, it is critical that firms develop appropriate structures to future-proof any such situations. Firms only have nine months to implement these conduct standards.



More personal liability for individuals

The Central Bank can now take enforcement action directly against individuals for breaches of their obligations rather than just for their participation in breaches committed by a firm.

This exposes individuals working in the financial services industry to much greater personal liability than ever before and is a key reason for the chilling effect, referred to above, on retention and recruitment.

The Central Bank stated in their consultation paper that the regime is primarily aimed at supporting positive outcomes and preventing negative ones.

They do not expect the main benefits of the new framework to be enforcement driven.

In fact, this is aligned to the outcome in other jurisdictions, where there has been minimal individual enforcement and a positive improvement in overall corporate governance.



A new era will focus on positive behaviours and outcomes

A new era of compliance culture has arrived. Conduct standards focus on behaviours and outcomes.

The new framework is based on the principles of proportionality and reasonable expectations and should provide clarity in relation to individuals roles and responsibilities and it should, therefore, enhance the overall corporate governance.

It is important to ensure that the role of collective responsibility and decision making remains central to firms. In conclusion, individuals and firms remain accountable.

Sinead Ovenden is a partner at PwC Ireland
Households have been warned they may not have enough cover in place if the worst happens.

PEOPLE making claims on their insurance policies are discovering that they do not have enough cover in place to meet the full cost of the losses.

Research by Aviva Insurance shows that almost one in five householders are under insured when they make a claim.

Consumers have not taken account of surging costs which means they need to insurance their homes and their contents for more money.

The Central Bank has ordered home insurers to write to their customers to warn them that their insurance cover may be inadequate in the event of a claim.

Aviva-commissioned research shows that four in 10 homeowners have received a letter from their insurer warning that the sum insured on their property may be insufficient.

This is due to the rising costs of rebuilding a home.

The Society of Chartered Surveyors In Ireland recently found the cost of rebuilding a home has shot up by between 14pc and 26pc.

But only 6pc of those who got a letter from their insurer telling them they are under-insured have increased their sum insured to the correct rebuilding cost, according to iReach research commissioned by Aviva.

All home insurance policyholders are due to receive this letter warning about cover levels.

Aviva urged homeowners to review the rebuilding costs on their home insurance policy as these costs have increased substantially over the last six months.

The company warned homeowners that they are at risk of being under-insured in the unfortunate event of a claim.

The insurer said that it is increasingly seeing evidence that the sums insured are inadequate when dealing with customer claims.

Aviva said it had seen evidence of under-insurance in around 16pc of the claims it has received recently.

Billy Shannon of Aviva said We have written to all our home insurance customers encouraging them to review their sums insured so that they have the correct cover in place.

However, the response level from customers to date has been low. From a claims perspective, we are seeing evidence of under insurance in around 16pc of claims received to date and we expect that this figure will continue to rise unless action is taken.

He said customers who are under-insured and who make a claim under their policy may not be fully protected and may not receive the full amount necessary to rebuild or repair their home.

For example, if a home is insured for 300,000 and the current rebuild costs of the property is 400,000, meaning that it is under-insured by 100,000, or 25pc.

Mr Shannon said that if a claim occurs where the damage is estimated to be valued at 100,000 because the property is underinsured by 25pc the insured will only receive 75,000.

The homeowner will then have to supplement the shortfall if they wish to restore the property to its original specification.

Aviva recommended that customers use the Society of Chartered Surveyors In Irelands house rebuild calculator that is available on its website to satisfy themselves that they are fully covered.

Home insurance customers may increase their cover at any time and do not have to wait for their insurance renewal date to do so, the firm said.
Bank of Ireland has made a blunder on thousands of mortgage accounts it took over from KBC Bank.

The error is likely to mean that some former KBC customers will be turned down for loans while the issue is being resolved.

Around 35,000 mortgage holders are affected, which is around half of the number bought from KBC.

Bank of Ireland has written to mortgage holders who transferred to it from KBC telling them the error it made was at the point your mortgage loan transferred from KBC to BoI which resulted in your mortgage start date being incorrectly input into our systems.

The letter says: As we were aware of this error, we did not submit the mortgage details to the CCR [Central Credit Register]We will continue to withhold monthly reporting until the error is fixed.

The bank admitted that if a customer applies for a loan, or another form of credit, the gap in the monthly updates to the Central Banks Central Credit Register may have been seen by another lender.

This could lead to a refusal of credit for the likes of a car loan or other products for the former KBC mortgage customers.

The CCR helps a lender to decide whether it should approve an application for a loan or not, as well as giving the Central Bank better insights into patterns of lending in the broader economy.

Bank of Ireland sets out options in the letter for customers who have a credit application refused.

Asked about the error, BoI said: The mortgage start date for a number of mortgages transferring from KBC to Bank of Ireland was incorrectly inputted into our systems.

As we were aware of this error, we did not submit the mortgage details to the CCR for February and March while it is being fixed. This was to prevent incorrect credit information being reflected on the customers credit report.

The bank said that if a customer applied for a loan or another form of credit, the gap in the monthly updates to the CCR may have been seen by a lender. The bank said customers can use its letter as proof to other lenders of the error .

To date weve had no confirmation of a loan application being impacted but if any customer has a specific query they can contact our team and we will support. We have also informed other lenders about the error so that they are aware of it.

We are updating the records as a priority and will write to customers again when it is resolved, which is expected in the next few weeks.

This month last year Bank of Ireland was fined 463,000 by the Data Protection Commissioner for messing up customers account details that could have affected their credit ratings.

The fine was also based on the bank not telling customers about the issue on time.

DPC Commissioner Helen Dixon ordered the bank to fix its sub-par data processing systems.

The data breaches involved, which occurred between 2018 and 2019, relate to cases where the bank submitted incorrect information to the Central Credit Register (CCR).

Last November it emerged that KBC had overcharged some mortgage customers who switched to another lender on break fees. It has now paid the affected customers compensation.

The miscalculation of break fees may have discouraged hundreds of people from switching from the bank ahead of the sale of the mortgages to Bank of Ireland.

Some KBC mortgage holders had been anxious to choose their own lender ahead of their home loans being sold to Bank of Ireland.

KBC Bank Ireland admitted it miscalculated the break fee for some of its customers who wanted to come out of a fixed rate and switch to another lender.
The US is not seeking to decouple its economy from China or limit the countrys growth, the Treasurys top international official has said.

We occasionally have issues with different economic policies in China and we will always defend US economic interests as well  but we will not in any way be trying to separate these two economies entirely, Jay Shambaugh, Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. This is neither practical nor in our interest.

Relations between the US and China have deteriorated sharply in recent years as they increasingly see each other as the top strategic and economic threat. While the countries leaders, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, sought a smoother path since meeting face-to-face last November, fresh disputes have arisen over issues including the security of Taiwan, spying allegations, technology security and Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The worsening relations have weighed on the global economic outlook, the International Monetary Fund warned last week. The fund said tensions between the US and China drive geopolitical fragmentation and risk damaging the global economy, with foreign direct investment and other capital flows increasingly being channelled toward aligned blocs of countries.

Mr Shambaughs remarks come as finance ministers and central bank governors from around the world start gathering in Washington for the IMF-World Bank spring meetings, where the issue of debt relief for poorer nations is expected to feature prominently in discussions.

The US and other developed countries have repeatedly blamed Beijing for being unwilling to engage in debt reduction after having ramped up lending to poorer countries.

Treasury officials will be talking to their Chinese counterparts this week, Mr Shambaugh said, noting that the worlds two biggest economies need to be able to collaborate, especially when it it comes to addressing global issues.

The world expects us to be able to work together on some of these big challenges whether its climate or debt, Mr Shambaugh said.

Efforts to negotiate sovereign-debt restructurings in developing countries like Zambia have stalled, leaving those economies in limbo.
Dame Deborah, who was known by her social media handle Bowelbabe, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and died in June last year.

A friend of Dame Deborah James has said she still feels waves of sadness and loss nearly a year after the cancer campaigners death but her overriding feeling is admiration for her inspiring spirit (Sebastien Bowen/BBC/PA)

A friend of Dame Deborah James has said she still feels waves of sadness and loss nearly a year after the cancer campaigners death but her overriding feeling is admiration for her inspiring spirit.

Dame Deborah died aged 40 in June last year after being diagnosed with bowel cancer five years earlier and raising millions of pounds for Cancer Research UK.

A new documentary, Bowelbabe: In Her Own Words, to be released next week, will show intimate footage dating right up until the final weeks of her life.

Her friend Emma Campbell, who met the You, Me And The Big C podcast host in 2017 when they both took part in a cancer charity photoshoot, features in clips from the 80-minute BBC film which has used video sourced from social media, family and voice notes.

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Asked on BBC Breakfast if she feels inspired by Dame Deborah, Ms Campbell said: Its just impossible not to be. Still now, all these months on, I think every time I think of Debs there are the waves of sadness and the waves of loss.

But the overriding feeling is her spirit and the essence of her.

The author, who is living with breast cancer, added: I remember saying it to her once she had a huge impact on how I began to find a way of managing my long-term life as a cancer patient.

As someone who had always struggled so hugely with the emotional aspect I spent many years living as though I was dying, even though on paper my prognosis has always been fairly positive.

And with Debs, it was just that sort of realisation that she really is living and thats one of the incredible messages that comes from the film.

Dame Deborah, who was known by her social media handle Bowelbabe, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 at the age of 35.

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Through candid posts about her progress and diagnosis, including videos of her dancing her way through treatment, she encouraged people to check for signs of the often deadly disease and won praise from the public and media alike.

Her Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK has raised more than 11 million.

Ms Campbell, also known as Limitless_em on Instagram, contributed to the campaigners 2018 advice title F*** You Cancer: How To Face The Big C, Live Your Life And Still Be Yourself.

She added of Dame Deborah: I mean, there was so much to her, and I think it was a privilege to kind of gain access to all of her vibrancy and all of the contrast that made her so special.

For me, when I go and have my targeted chemotherapy every three weeks I do feel her with me, and seeing the nurses that knew her walking down those corridors.

Yeah, shes always there, shes very much alive.

 Deborah James: Bowelbabe In Her Own Words airs on BBC Two at 9pm on Monday April 17.
SPOILER ALERT: Contains major spoilers for Succession Season 4

Brian Cox as Logan Roy and Matthew Macfadyen as his son-in-law Tom Wambsgans in the latest episode of Succession

Weve known for a while that the end is nigh on Succession (Sky Atlantic, Monday). What nobody could have foreseen was just how nigh it was for one major character.

Three episodes in, with seven more to come before the series ends for good, creator Jesse Armstrong audaciously lobbed a grenade into the plot, blowing all our expectations to smithereens.

Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi! Or rather, Logan Roy est mort  as dead as the proverbial doornail. It always seemed unlikely that the mercurial media magnate, played with leonine ferocity by Brian Cox, would make it to the bitter end alive.

In fact, Armstrongs original plan was to kill Logan off in the pilot episode, making that stroke he suffered fatal. Luckily for the series and for us, he changed his mind. It had to happen eventually; still, nobody, not even the actors, had any inkling it would happen this early.

In a daring piece of writing, the death occurred off screen. Logan, we learned, keeled over in the toilet of the private jet ferrying him and his entourage to Sweden in an attempt to squeeze a few extra dollars out of Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard) before finally sealing the Waystar deal.

Another writer might have given Logan a big, emotional deathbed scene befitting a character whos frequently been described as Shakespearean. In hindsight, we probably got something resembling a premature deathbed scene last week, in the unlikely setting of a karaoke bar.

Logans parting shot to his children Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Connor (Alan Ruck) was: Jesus, youre such f***ing dopes. Youre not serious figures. I love you, but you are not serious people.

Actually, those wouldnt be his last words to all of them. Just before boarding his plane for Sweden, he phoned Roman, whos been wavering between sticking with his siblings or going back to the old man, with an order: get rid of Gerri Kellman (J Smith Cameron).

Logan casually suggested hanging responsibility for the cruises scandal, which was down to Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), around her neck as an excuse for firing her. Even by his ruthless standards, this was an especially cruel and callous move.

Being given the job of hatchet man sparked all sorts of conflicted emotions within the youngest Roy child, whos always had a complicated sexual (but not to the point of actually having sex) relationship with Gerri.

In a clever scripting touch by Armstrong, the audience were never ahead of the characters. We found out about what had happened to Logan at the same time his children did, in a phone call from Tom to say their father was seriously ill and was being given chest compression.

The news came through when the rest of the Roy clan, including cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) who was banished from the inner circle because Logan found him visually aggravating, were attending Connors ludicrous wedding on a party boat cruising around New York harbour.

Tom kept the line open, holding the phone to Logans ear so his children could talk to him, even though he knew by then the old lion was already dead and couldnt hear them. Its a tribute to Armstrongs writing that seeing them struggle to locate the right words was both comical and surprisingly moving.

Youre going to be okay, because youre a monster, said Roman.

Dad. . . Dad. . . Daddy? burbled Shiv, uncertain what to call him.

I cant forgive you, but its okay, and I love you, said Kendall  who, ever the plank, demanded to speak to the pilot.

The last one to be told was Connor, an afterthought as usual.

Throughout it all, Logan remained a blurry figure in the background. The closest we got to a close-up look was a brief shot of the top of his head as he was being defibrillated.

A brilliant game-changer of an episode that proved, once again, why Succession is deserving of our utmost obsession.
Courts

Former League of Ireland footballer and two others jailed after moving almost 200,000 in criminal cash
Polices botched probe into murder of NI teacher feature in BBC series

A security guard at the Legends hotel is the only suspect whose DNA was found in the room where Michaela McAreavey was murdered, and yet he was never charged with her murder.
Kilwirra cemetery had a flurry of garda activity yesterday ahead of President Biden's visit to Louth. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson

US President Joe Biden attending the White House Easter Egg Roll on Easter Monday, April 10, just ahead of his trip to Ireland. Photo: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein

A massive security operation will take place on both sides of the border as US President Joe Biden arrives tonight for a four-day visit.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has described it as an opportunity "to welcome a son of Ireland home, to welcome home a great Irish-American president".

Both the PSNI in the North and gardai in the Republic are mounting security operations from today until Mr Biden departs on Friday, with some roads closed for security reasons and delays expected while the president is in transit.

The following is the itinerary of his visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Tuesday April 11: Belfast

Britains prime minister Rishi Sunak is expected to greet Mr Biden on the tarmac when he arrives in Belfast following his transatlantic flight from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland aboard Air Force One. First Lady Jill Biden is not expected to accompany him.

Meanwhile, in Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace will be closed to traffic from 7am with pedestrian access to businesses on Earlsfort Terrace via Hatch Street only until Saturday April 15.

Wednesday April 12: Belfast and Louth

Mr Sunak is expected to meet Mr Biden again following the presidents overnight stay at an undisclosed city-centre hotel in Belfast.

Mr Biden will then give a key address at Ulster Universitys newly opened campus in Belfast to kick-start his visit to the island of Ireland.

Vice-chancellor and president of Ulster University Professor Paul Bartholomew said it will be a significant day for the institution.

Expected to embark on walkabouts in Carlingford and Dundalk

"We are looking forward to what will be a very special day in the university's history and to hosting President Biden on his first visit to Northern Ireland since becoming president," he said.

"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."

Kilwirra cemetery had a flurry of garda activity yesterday ahead of President Biden's visit to Louth. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson

Following the speech, Mr Biden will head to Dublin Airport, from where he is expected to arrive and depart several times over his four-day visit.

Normal operations will continue at Dublin Airport during his visit, however gardai are advising anyone travelling from the airport to allow extra time due to possible rolling road closures, especially late on Wednesday and early on Friday.

Mr Biden will then travel to Co Louth where he will visit Carlingford Castle, also known as King Johns Castle, and Kilwirra cemetery. He is also expected to embark on walkabouts in Carlingford village and in nearby Dundalk.

The council said it was pleased to confirm that President Joe Biden, will undertake a walkabout in Dundalk.

He will learn about his great-great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan who emigrated to the US from the Cooley peninsula in the 1840s.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Mr Biden will spend Wednesday night in Co Louth.

"There is expected to be high security in operation and people are being advised not to carry bags of any sort, as is normal in such circumstances. Residents and visitors are very welcome to attend and celebrate the historic occasion of a US President coming back to visit his ancestral county, the council said.

Thursday April 13: Dublin

Mr Biden will meet with President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublins Phoenix Park for an official reception before moving on to Farmleigh House, also in the park, where he will meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on a one-to-one basis.

It is also likely that he will visit the official residence of US ambassador Claire D Cronin at Deerfield, also located in the park.

He will address the Oireachtas, following in the footsteps of Bill Clinton, Ronald Regan and John F Kennedy

The park will be closed to all access, including traffic and pedestrians, from 5pm on Wednesday to 5pm on Thursday, with special arrangements in place for local access only. Dublin Zoo will be closed on Thursday.

Mr Biden will address the Oireachtas at Leinster House later in the afternoon of Thursday, April 13, following in the footsteps of former US Presidents Bill Clinton in 1995, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and John F Kennedy in 1963.

He will attend a State dinner in his honour on Thursday evening at Dublin Castle.

Friday April 14: Mayo

Mr Biden will then fly to Ireland West Airport near Knock, Co Mayo, from Dublin before arriving at his ancestral home of Ballina. His great-great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt emigrated to Scranton, Pennsylvania, from the town in 1850. Mr Biden visited the town in 2016 when he was US vice president.

Joe Biden disembarking from Air Force One earlier this month. Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Mr Kirby said the president will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit.

He will then give a public address outside St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina on Friday evening which is expected to draw large crowds.

Mr Biden will then return to Dublin Airport on Friday night before departing for the US later on Friday night or early on Saturday morning.
Education Minister Normal Foley is to seek funding to open more promotional posts in primary schools as part of measures to tackle the teacher supply crisis.

She made the promise at the annual conference of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), where she faced pressure to address teacher shortages.

INTO general secretary John Boyle said there were 1,200 teaching posts vacant in primary schools across the country every day.

The shortage is attributed to a lack of substitutes to provide cover for short absences and also for fixed term vacancies of up to a year.

Ms Foley told delegates that she recognised that work remained to be done to address the teacher supply challenges, particularly to ensure the availability of a sufficient number of subs.

She said in her engagement with the INTO she had listened attentively to their desire to increase posts of responsibility and was aware of the importance of distributed leadership.

Looking ahead to the autumn Budget, Ms Foley said that subject to budgetary position she was keen to advance posts of responsibility in areas of policy priority.

She said she looked forward to further discussions on the issue, and was applauded by delegates.

The move would be seen as a way to make the profession more attractive and reverse the brain drain that is stripping schools of talented teachers.

About 1,400 assistant principal posts in almost 1,300 primary schools remain frozen since the austerity era, denying teachers opportunities to move up the career ladder and boost their income.

The posts are available at two levels of seniority , and are worth around 4,100 and 9,200.

Most of these posts would be in larger schools, which are mainly in Dublin. Their restoration would be welcomed as a way to improve pay prospects for teachers in the capital, which is suffering the most from staffing shortages.

More than 4,000 assistant principal posts were suppressed 14 years ago, as part of wider cuts in education following the banking crash.

Since then, the Department of Education has restored about one third of those positions, while the INTO used a bargaining mechanism in the Building Momentum pay agreement to restore another 1,450. It leaves about 1,300 posts that have not been restored.

Replying to the minister, INTO general secretary John Boyle said the lack of opportunities for career progression was stifling and causing attrition with many teachers emigrating to countries where they actually can progress in their careers.

The availability of promotional posts in larger schools would make working in such schools much more attractive, assist with succession planning, and help to retain teachers and principals who are stepping down due to burnout.

He said no school with 12 or more teachers had its full complement of such posts. A 16-teacher school is missing three assistant principals, a 24-teacher school is missing five and a 30-teacher school is missing seven assistant principals.

After all, for 14 years the additional work they have been doing for free has been taken for granted by everyone in your department, except the former chief inspector who shared his concern widely.

The INTO also wants the minister to be more proactive in trying attract Irish teachers back from abroad and has suggested a package of incentives to include the Government paying their flights home.

Speaking to reporters Ms Foley would not commit to paying for flights of teachers returning to work in Ireland, but said he was happy to look at all innovations.

Mr Boyle said the government's failure to plan for teacher supply had created a crisis, leaving tens of thousands of children without fully qualified teachers for weeks on end.

" It's time to take action to address this issue for September, Sleepless nights, weekends spent scrambling for substitute cover, this is the all-too-common reality for our school leaders.

"Six years ago, the Public Service Pay Commission concluded that a comprehensive examination of the underlying difficulties in recruitment and retention to the public service was needed. Since then, droves of teachers have left Ireland to teach abroad, and many are leaving the profession altogether, he said.

The teacher shortage crisis is no mystery. It's clearly about living standards, pay and conditions. Just ask those leaving Ireland or tuning in from overseas, who won't return anytime soon he said, The INTO arranged for teachers working abroad to watch the conference.

"You must act right now. Tackle housing, incentivise newly-qualified teachers to work in rent-pressure areas and create the right conditions for teachers who would like to move to high-population areas," he said.
Revolutionary new Education Training Board (ETB) courses will help stem the exodus of trainee nurses leaving Ireland on Ryanair flights to work in other countries, Minister Simon Harris has said.

The Higher Education Minister said he was very excited about the potential of such new ETB courses, which are being rolled out nationwide, as they will play a crucial role in helping tackle the recruitment and retention problems experienced in Irish hospitals, clinics and healthcare operations.

Speaking at the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) conference in Cork, Mr Harris said such courses will help provide an alternative access route to nursing and other professions outside of the CAO system for candidates showing a determination and aptitude for such work.

The aim is to increase the supply of motivated and skilled nurses.

Mr Harris said the country must staunch the annual loss of skilled workers to overseas economies to the detriment of Ireland.

"This stops now. These new programmes will help stem that tide and ensure we train our workforce and keep them here.

"In relation to nursing specifically, this will allow a person to study a nursing programme for the first year in an ETB and then will allow them to complete that degree in a university," he said.

A total of 14 such "proof of concept" courses are being rolled out from July - but Mr Harris said he was hopeful that dozens more would be available nationwide from all universities from late 2024.

However, in a stark warning to the minister, TUI President Liz Farrell warned that teachers now wanted action and not promises.

She said teachers wanted to see funding, recruitment and delivery not just grandiose promises and fairy tales.

"When you became the minister there was an air of genuine hope and expectation that finally, we had our knight in shining armour - a person at the helm who would champion the worthy and important cause of further education," she said.

"Unfortunately, Minister (Harris) despite the good intentions and promises, the tweets and the tik toks much work remains to be done. Many of the promises remain unfulfilled and those working in the sector still feel that they have been left behind, professionally disrespected, struggling to do what is right for all those who need their help.

"Funding must do justice to the sector - it must do justice to our professional practitioners and must do justice to our students."

Minister Harris said the Government was conscious of the future funding needs of the education sector and its importance to the national economy.

However, he warned that while Irish universities require enhanced funding to better compete with international rivals, reform and change will be crucial to their future success.

"Yes, there is a requirement for significant further investment for universities," Mr Harris said.

"But there is also a requirement for reform. There is a requirement to change the way our third level system works.

"More and more of the university students are older than a school leaver, more likely to be in part-time or full-time employment and perhaps needs to access education in a part-time way.

"Yes, we do need to invest more in our universities but equally they need to work with us in terms of ensuring the future of the education system in Ireland particularly at third level, is more flexible and is more agile."

Mr Harris said Irish universities will this year see a long-awaited fall in the teacher-student ratio.

He also pointed out that core university funding will increase by 40m this year.

Meanwhile, the minister promised new Education Training Board (ETB) courses will "guarantee access to a degree programme that starts in further education and concludes in higher education.

"One of the areas I am most excited about is the area of nursing. As part of this model, students will do one year in their ETB in Letterkenny, Castlebar or Sligo and transition to the nearest Atlantic Technology University (ATU) campus for four years," he said.

"This has the potential to be revolutionary for our country and health service.

"Every year, students in further education get the highest marks in their PLC course in nursing and take the next Ryanair flight to help build the workforce of the NHS (in the UK).

"Now, more than ever, it is important for us to take a more holistic view of the higher and further education sector and work towards the development of a more unified tertiary education system. Work is underway in my Department to deliver exactly this.

"The National Tertiary Office will lead on the development of these joint programmes but these will be rolled out from September. This is just the beginning though. We have much more we want and need to do.

He said that while the future funding needs of the Irish education sector were obvious, the Government was taking steps to tackle the issues.

"This level of funding means we are now investing 25pc more for every new student in the higher education system - 8,245 compared to the average of 6,500 provided in previous years."

"Funding the Future promises that an identified funding gap of 307m will be closed by the Government, in addition to the extra demographic funding I have just spoken about.

"We all know that further and higher education is of crucial importance in helping advance the Governments wider economic, social and environmental agendas.

"There is a need for investment in the sector - I couldnt agree more and I am happy to say that some of that additional money is already flowing into the sector."

Mr Harris said there was an extra 513m in funding for high education and research in 2023 compared to 2022.

"This is a 14pc increase and brings funding for the sector to over 4bn. In addition, I secured additional money for capital investment with 270m available in 2023. That is out of an overall National Development Plan which provides for Exchequer investment of nearly 2.9 billion in further and higher education infrastructure, research and innovation over the five-year period 20212025.

"The vast bulk of this money is being used to increase staffing levels and strengthen the student experience in our traditional universities and provide for additional structural management, research and support staffing posts in the Technological Universities.

"Let me be clear, this year for the first time in a long time, we will see a reduction in the staff to student ratio. And let me also emphasise that I have made ending precarious employment a key condition of additional investment."

He also said staffing concerns were being addressed with a further 1,150 posts being provided - bringing the ceiling to 22,000 across the sector.

Further, he said the department had reached an agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure to change and improve the working conditions of adult tutors who played a critical role in providing access to further education.

Mr Harris said the Government wanted to continue to improve access to further education for people with disabilities.

"One of the issues that needs significant improvements is the area of persons with a disability. We have made incredible strides in primary and secondary education. But there is a real cliff edge when it comes to accessing supports in third level.

"Under the National Access Plan, we have made really important changes and improvements especially for people with an intellectual disability. But we have to do more."

He said supports were now being extended for people with disabilities across the further education sector.

"This is absolutely essential to ensuring we have an education system that delivers for all. The Fund for Students with Disabilities will be extended to all students with disabilities in 2024.

"This will mean all learners  apprentices, trainees, adults engaging in literacy courses  will benefit from the fund.

"In addition, every ETB will be set a minimum percentage of their budget to deploy on consistent learner support across FET and have centralised learner support services.

"Education can be rigid. People with disabilities often miss out on learning and employment opportunities  not because they lack any ability but because the system doesnt give them the tools they need."

He said that while the Government cannot achieve all the necessary changes overnight, delay in working towards change cannot be allowed.
IRELAND faces a teacher recruitment and retention crisis because the Government took the "bone-headed" decision to ignore the advice of teacher unions about the mounting problems within the education sector.

The warning came as Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) general secretary Michael Gillespie said that the treatment of over-stretched teachers, particularly younger entrants to the profession, seems very much "like professional hazing, initiation by humiliation."

Mr Gillespie urged the Government to immediately work with the teacher unions to address the issues involved.

"The TUI has warned over several years that a recruitment and retention crisis was building within the system," he said.

"The TUI provided a thorough, objective, and accurate analysis of the factors that were causing the crisis and suggested a compendium of remedies and solutions to alleviate the situation."

"Some of our suggestions were taken on board....(but) much of our advice and most of our proposed solutions were ignored.

"The current recruitment and retention crisis is the direct result of the bone-headed, failed policy of successive governments of attempting to make the education system do more and more with less and less."

"Not paying the piper but wanting the tune, played better, longer, inclusively and more melodiously."

The TUI official said no-one should be surprised at the problems now being experienced in recruiting and retaining teachers.

A worrying number of young teachers are opting for employment abroad - or are re-considering their future in the profession.

A TUI survey found that 91pc of Irish schools are now experiencing teacher recruitment difficulties - while 61pc admitted they are having problems retaining teachers.

Some 71pc of schools surveyed said they had advertised positions over the previous six months for which no teacher applied.

Six out of ten Irish schools now have unfilled teacher vacancies. "Factors that inhibit entry and incentivising exit are as clear as day. The hidden work of preparation, reflection and assessment that is over and above class contact is not recognised," he said.

"This essential work, alongside all that is done to support and build relationships with students, takes time and resources which are not made available to teachers and other staff in our education system."

"The real work done and real time spent outside class time must be recognized for the good it does. We can have a world-class education system, but change is needed."

Mr Gillespie warned that no-one should underestimate the impact of teachers being overstretched and overstressed in their workplace.

"Adding to this and causing severe work overload are the bureaucratic and administrative demands, from all sorts of sources, placed on our members.

"This accumulating workload is unfair, excessive, and unsustainable."

"This work is rapidly colonising personal time, at night and at weekends. The workload issue must be dealt with in a meaningful manner if we are to retain our teachers and lecturers and maintain the quality we have in the Irish education system."

Mr Gillespie said the pressures on the system are borne out by a special survey conducted amongst teachers.

This found that only 31pc of teachers recruited post 2011 received full hours in their first year of teaching.

That means seven of every 10 of those teachers had to make do with part-time work, fragments of a job, low pay, precarity.

Only 13pc of teachers received a permanent contract upon initial appointment, meaning that 87pc had no credit- worthiness, could not hope to get a mortgage. Some 33pc of teachers took three years or more to secure full hours and therefore a full-time salary.

They would on average have been 28 years of age by that time.

"This looks and feels like professional hazing, initiation by humiliation. It is unacceptable in any circumstances, never mind when there is also a cost-of-living crisis and a recruitment crisis," he said.

"The remedy is simple - give new teachers and teachers we want to bring home full-time jobs with full-time salaries, so that they have some chance of meeting their financial commitments.

"To compete in this global market for teachers we need to reimagine the whole recruitment process for our schools."

Mr Gillespie warned that the recruitment process has been undermined by the chronic loss of posts of responsibility within the sector.

"In 2009 there were 3,730 AP1s (Assistant Principals- senior). By 2022 that had dropped to 2,653 AP1s. That is a drop of 29pc. In 2009 there were 5,493 AP2s (Assistant Principals - junior). By 2022 that had dropped to 3,106. That is a drop of 43pc.

"This was during a period of time when student numbers have been rising sharply. Unfortunately and shamefully, no numbers are available for the Education Training Board (ETB) sector  because, it appears, that sector doesnt make returns."

"However, every indication is that the collapse in the number of AP1 and AP2 posts is at least as bad in ETB school as it has been in other schools."

"The Irish education system needs consistent, multi-annual, increased and targeted investment."

"Government needs to invest in increased allocation and staffing to reduce student numbers in all classes, it needs investment to give Special Education Needs (SEN) and Additional Education Needs (AEN) students equality of opportunity and access, so that they have a fair chance."
Leo Varadkar among several former ministers for transport in family request to coroner

The family of Irish Coast Guard volunteer Caitriona Lucas want Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and other ministers to be called before her inquest.

The hearing today is expected to be adjourned following an application by legal representatives for the Lucas family for a number of witnesses and documentation.

Lawyers for Ms Lucass family have requested that former ministers of transport including Mr Varadkar, Paschal Donohoe and Shane Ross be called.

The Lucas family lawyers have also applied to Limerick city coroner John McNamara for a number of other witnesses to be called.

These include former head of the Irish Coast Guard Chris Reynolds, the States chief surveyor Brian Hogan, members of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB), several senior Department of Transport officials, and Coast Guard personnel present on the day Ms Lucas died.

In addition, the legal team has asked if the whereabouts of Ms Lucass lifejacket can be established, and if it will be produced at the inquest.

The Limerick coroners office has confirmed that the inquest in Kilmallock, Co Limerick will take the form of a preliminary hearing with an adjournment to a later date.

It is over six years since Ms Lucas (41) lost her life after a RIB attached to the Kilkee Coast Guard unit which she was crewing on capsized during a search for a missing man on September 12th, 2016.

The 41 year-old mother of two, highly experience member of Doolin Coast Guard and librarian, was the first Irish Coast Guard volunteer to die during a tasking.

Two investigations were completed some time ago into the circumstances surrounding her death, including a MCIB report released in December 2018.

After a separate investigation was completed by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), Ms Lucass husband, Bernard, was informed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that no criminal charges would be brought.

The MCIB report was critical of the Irish Coast Guards safety management, and catalogued a number of systems and equipment failures in relation to the Kilkee Coast Guard unit.

However, Mr Lucas said that he very disappointed that the published MCIB report had failed to address questions over equipment his wife was wearing, and both he and members of the Kilkee Coast Guard unit queried the location for the incident given in the report.

The Lucas family lawyers have applied for documents, including a copy of an internal Irish Coast Guard investigation of February 2015.

This report was compiled but not circulated to Coast Guard personnel after an incident in August 2014 where a Coast Guard RIB capsized off Kerry in a shallow surf zone.

The incident was similar to that which occurred off Kilkee.

Maritime lawyer Michael Kingston, who is representing the Lucas family on the instruction of solicitor Ronan Connolly, said a number of other key documents had been applied for as part of the inquest hearing, but had not yet been provided by the Department of Transport.

Mr Kingston said that former transport ministers, including Mr Varadkar and Mr Donohoe, were being called as witnesses due to their role in transposing a European directive into Irish law.

The directive provided for establishment of an independent maritime investigation system and was not transposed correctly. This led to a European Court of Justice judgment issued against Ireland in July 2020, he noted.

New legislation for an independent maritime investigations unit is currently before the Oireachtas.

Mr Kingston said that it was extremely important that the full facts of Ms Lucass death are established.

He said it was critically important in the public interest in relation to the safety of Irish Coast Guard personnel, and all Irish citizens involved in maritime activities.

The coroners role as an independent office holder is to inquire into the circumstances of sudden, unexplained, violent and unnatural deaths.

The Lucas family lawyers are seeking an assurance that legal costs will be paid for by the State, given that she died while on active Irish Coast Guard duty.
Minister for Older People, Mary Butler told care homes the support scheme was coming to an end. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

Private nursing home groups run by international investment funds are continuing to receive millions of euro of taxpayer funding for Covid outbreaks.

The private nursing home sector has received 220m in Covid supports in addition to the 1bn the industry gets annually from the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), or the Fair Deal as it is known.

The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) is due to end this month but new figures show how investment firms boasting billions of euro in revenue have drawn 148m from the States Covid support programme.

The private nursing homes industry also received an additional 72m in personal protective equipment and oxygen.

Figures from the Department of Health show the top 15 nursing-home groups operating in Ireland, many run by international investment firms, received around 63.1m under the scheme. This was in addition to the estimated 450m they received through Fair Deal.

The 15 groups make up 40pc of the entire nursing homes sector. Between them they own 10,720 of all private beds in Ireland.

Minister for Older People Mary Butler wrote to private nursing homes last month saying, Now is the appropriate juncture to end this scheme.

Ms Butler said she understood the sector was struggling with costs, and she was determined to reverse the trend of smaller and family- run nursing homes leaving the market.

TAPS funding was available to all private nursing homes and provided up to 33,000 per month to care facilities experiencing outbreaks.

The biggest private nursing home operator in Ireland is the France-based Orpea Group. It received 11.7m from the scheme up to last October.

Orpeas website says the company owns 90,000 nursing home beds across the globe and has more than 2bn in revenue. The company entered the Irish market in 2020 when it bought the TLC Nursing Home Group. It has made several acquisitions since then.

The second biggest operator is Limerick-based Mowlam Healthcare, which has 25 homes with 1,462 beds. The majority shareholder in the business is a 3bn Irish investment fund called Cardinal Capital.

Nursing homes owned or operated by Mowlam Healthcare received 5.8m through TAPS. Some of the funding went directly to the operators of the homes.

CareChoice nursing home group, which is owned by a 10bn private equity firm called InfraVia Capital Partners, claimed 9.2m. The group has 1,310 beds in 14 nursing homes across Ireland.

Virtue Integrated Elder Care received 4.5m through TAPS and is the fourth biggest operator with 851 beds across 10 nursing homes

The company started off as a privately owned family business but was bought by French care group Emera in 2020. The Emera Group is backed by the 6.7bn private equity firm Naxicap Partners.

Trinity Care was founded as an Irish business in the 1980s but was bought in 2021 by French care home operator DomusVi. Department of Health records show the company received 3.5m. 

The Irish arm of the company recorded a 32m turnover in its most recent company accounts and has net assets of more than 58m.

Sonas Nursing Homes, which is backed by French property investment fund Pierval Sante, received 2.9m.

Pierval Sante also bought nursing homes from Brookhaven Healthcare who received 2.3m from the scheme. The French firm also owns nursing home properties operated by Grace Healthcare which received 4.2m through TAPS.

Aperee nursing homes, which are owned by the 250m Irish investment firm Blackbee Healthcare Fund, received 2.5m.

Beechfield care group, which is owned by the 2bn German investment firm IMMAC Group, received 1.8m.

Irish-owned companies, who are among the top 15 nursing home operators in Ireland, also received funding from TAPS. Newbrook received 2.5m across its five nursing homes and Windmill received 3.7m due to Covid cases in its six facilities.

Brookhaven Nursing Homes said the funding was welcomed due some of the exorbitant Covid-19 costs which are now embedded perpetual business costs such as enhanced cleaning protocols, PPE, clinical waste disposal.

Mowlam Healthcare CEO Michele McCormack said the company incurred significant costs during the pandemic, in order to protect residents and adhere to strict public-health guidelines.

None of the other nursing home groups responded to requests for comment. However, the industrys representative group, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), contacted the Irish Independent.

NHI said schemes similar to TAPS were operated in other countries as governments recognised the intensified, emergency responses that were required to prevent and manage Covid-19 in nursing and care homes.

The requirement for additional funding support was vital in the midst of a never encountered before pandemic, it said.

However, while transparency has been applied with regard to the funding made available to private and voluntary nursing homes, the additional funding incurred by State-operated HSE nursing homes to manage Covid-19 remains unknown.

This should be publicly available to provide greater degree of clarity and transparency regarding how the State acted in supporting HSE nursing homes to respond to the pandemic, it added.
Joe Biden is accompanied by his son, Hunter Biden, and his sister, Valerie Biden Owens, while boarding Air Force One for travel to Ireland. Photo: Reuters

Joe Biden boards Air Force One on Tuesday for his trip to Ireland. Photo: AP

US president Joe Bidens visit to Ireland has been seen on this side of the Atlantic as a chance to rekindle ties with his ancestral home and to reaffirm US commitment to the Good Friday Agreement 25 years on. But how is the visit being received by the US media ?

CNN

CNN has said Mr Bidens visit is part homecoming, part diplomacy and part politics and will follow in the footsteps of JFKs visit to Ireland five months before his assassination in 1963.

CNNs Kevin Liptak reports that Kennedy told aides after his visit to Ireland that it was the best four days of my life. CNN also reports that when Mr Biden was isolating with Covid in the White House last summer, he was reading JFK in Ireland.

The trip to Ireland for the 46th US president marks a timely intersection of Bidens deeply felt personal history with his ingrained view of American foreign policy as a force for enduring good.

The visit is timed to commemorate the 1998 signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of sectarian bloodshed in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles, CNN said.

But it will be his personal engagements in the Republic of Ireland later in the week, including stops in County Louth and County Mayo to explore his family roots, that will best capture what Biden himself has described as perhaps his single most defining trait.

Alongside this coverage, CNN ran an analysis piece from Nic Robertson in which he highlights the pressure under which the Good Friday Agreement has been placed due to post-Brexit and power-sharing debacles in recent years, as sectarian violence once again begins to rise.

Fox News

Unsurprisingly, Fox news had a different slant on the visit and criticised Biden for his trip to Ireland as China continues building strategic dominance.

How does the trip to Ireland help America stand up to our adversaries? Fox News host Sean Hannity asked, highlighting that Biden said he was looking forward to the trip and celebrating the important history between the US and Ireland".

Joe Biden is accompanied by his son, Hunter Biden, and his sister, Valerie Biden Owens, while boarding Air Force One for travel to Ireland. Photo: Reuters

Hannitty then invited former Justice Department chief of staff, Mark Levin, to sound off on the issue. He compared Bidens presidency to the fall of the Roman Empire.

He said Biden had more important issues to attend to other than retracing his lineage.

The New York Times

The New York Times (NYT) in a news piece said Joe Biden is about to receive the warmest of welcomes, while an opinion piece by their editorial board says that some moderate unionists in Northern Ireland hope Bidens visit, in the company of NI special envoy Joe Kennedy III, will result in DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson relenting somewhat and accepting the Windsor Framework and signal a return towards power-sharing in Stormont.

Another piece from Mark Landler in the NYT said Bidens Ireland-heavy itinerary has raised questions about his priorities, particularly around his absence from King Charles coronation next month.

He is skipping a larger gathering of leaders, including King Charles III, Mr Clinton and Mr Blair, next week in Belfast to celebrate the Good Friday Agreement, he wrote.

While Mr Biden will meet Mr Sunak, the White House has pushed to scale back the session from a bilateral meeting to a less formal coffee. That prompted a wisecracking junior state department official to dub it a bi-latte.

These squabbles over protocol can send a message, diplomats said, particularly because Mr Biden also plans to skip the coronation of King Charles next month, sending his wife, Jill, in his place. White House officials said Mr Biden had accepted the kings invitation to make a state visit to Britain, though no date has been set.

The Washington Post

The Washington Post said the visit will afford Mr Biden the opportunity to dive into the Irish ancestry of which he is immensely proud and speaks about often.

The Post also touches on the importance of maintaining the commitments of the Good Friday Agreement, citing comments as he got ready to fly to Ireland.

Asked as he prepared to leave Washington about his priorities for the trip, Biden said: Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place. Keep the peace. Thats the main thing.

NBC

NBC highlighted Bidens ancestral linkage to Ireland, but also the increased security threat in Northern Ireland as sectarian violence has flared up in recent months.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told NBC that Mr Biden has no concerns about the recent escalation in tensions and that he was happy to make the trip.

Mr Kirby said Biden would also use his visit to Belfast to support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities.
Two killed and another teen in a serious condition following N84 collision between Galway and Castlebar

The scene of the tragic road incident that claimed the lives of two teenagers in the early hours of yesterday. Photo: Pat Ryan

'Tributes to our beloved students' - Presentation College has shared an image of tragic students Lukas Joyce (14) and Kirsty Bohan (14) beside a table of reflection with candles and flowers in the school (Pic credit: Presentation College)

Funeral details for a 14-year old girl killed in an early morning bank holiday crash in Galway have been announced.

Kirsty Bohan, a second year student at Presentation College Headford, will be laid to rest on Friday in Donaghpatrick Cemetery in Headford, following her funeral mass in the Church of St Patrick and Cuana at noon.

Kirsty, from Ballyfruit, close to where the single vehicle accident happened at 5.45am yesterday morning, is survived by her parents Christy and Theresa, and her sisters Martha and Ava, who are also students at Presentation College Headford.

Funeral details for the other 14-year old boy killed in the accident, Lukas Joyce from Annaghdown, have yet to be announced.

Two others, a 13-year old boy and a 14-year old girl, are being treated at University College Hospital in Galway city for multiple injuries.

It comes as their school released photos of them earlier today in a heartbreaking tribute.

Lukas and Kirsty were killed following the collision on the N84 between Galway and Castlebar.

Both teenagers were second year students at Presentation College Headford,

Their classmates today are being offered psychological support by the school.

From early this morning staff prepared a table of reflection with candles and flowers in the main reception area.

Deputy Principal Orla Jackson told how the whole guidance team, and members of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) teams would be available as well as the school chaplain and local parish priest.

Presentation College, Galway

We spent yesterday visiting the homes of the families directly affected by the tragedy, and the school is open here from 11am to 2pm today for anyone who needs support. The same services will also be available next week when the school reopens, said Ms Jackson.

A message on the school website said: We have lost two treasured members of our school community and two other members of our community are injured. We pray for all the families and friends of those involved that they may be granted some peace and succour at this tragic time. We also pray for our own school community, that we may find the strength to support each other and carry on.

We ask for your support, prayers, and the space to grieve as a school community, it added.

The school opened at 11am and will stay open until 2pm to give students, particularly those that were classmates with 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".

"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," a letter to parents from school management said.

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".

The school has almost 850 students from the town and surrounding area in north Co Galway and south Co Mayo.

Local parish priest Fr Ray Flaherty said the community would rally around the families, friends and the school as they come to terms with the deaths.

There is disbelief in the area, people are still shocked and there is great sadness. The school and the community will support the families and friends of these young people, he said.

It comes as a woman who raised the alarm after a horror road crash that claimed the lives of two teens and seriously injured two others, described the desperate scene of panic and sadness.

The tragedy occurred around 5.45am when the car they were travelling in veered into a ditch and spun out of control, hitting a tree on the N84 in the Pollacullaire area of Headford.

Education Minister Norma Foley today extended her sympathy to the community at the Co Galway school.

Ms Foley also sympathised with the community at St Marys CBS, Portlaoise, which lost a third year student, David Brown, in a quad bike accident over the weekend

A Department of Education statement described the Co Galway crash as a devastating loss of beloved students.

It added: Our thoughts are with the families who are mourning the loss of their children, and with the students and their families who are currently receiving care in hospital following the incident.

Within the local school, the wellbeing of the students, staff and whole school community is of paramount importance.

The department stated that the school and the National Educational Psychological Service were providing essential supports to students.

The department appealed to representatives of all media outlets to respect school boundaries.

Meanwhile, a nearby neighbour who raised the alarm, described how she was awoken in the early hours of the morning by a loud bang outside her house.

At first I didnt know what it was, I thought someone was at the back of our house, but then I heard a young lad shouting I cant wake them up.

I pulled on my dressing gown and ran out and saw the car crashed into the tree across the road, the woman told the Irish Independent.

A boy was out of the car at that stage and shouting. He was in shock, the poor lad. I rang the emergency services and I ran over and I was trying to help as best I could.

I was trying to get the pulse of the young lad in the front and a girl in the back, but there was nothing. There was another girl in the back and she was crying. It was just an awful thing. It was so sad.

The local woman said it appeared the car had come up over a crest in the road and ran along the top of a bank where there is a slight bend to the right on the narrow country road.

It went head-on into the tree. The tree didnt even move, she said through her tears.

Theres been two accidents on this bit of road before. Its a dangerous stretch.

It is understood the car involved in the tragedy belongs to a relative of one of the teens.

A distraught relative of one of the deceased, who had become worried after they realised they were missing from home, came upon the scene after emergency services arrived.

Yesterday afternoon and evening, after the garda forensic collision investigators had left the scene and as the road reopened, locals began gathering at the scene and leaving flowers and comforting each other.

Fine Gael councillor for Headford, Andrew Reddington, said a dark cloud had descended over the area as the community mourns two children.

He told the Irish Independent: 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 has been left in shock by the accident.

She said the schools 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, she said.

It is dreadful what has happened and our thoughts and prayers are with the families involved. It is unbelievable.

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Google has been criticised after forgetting press coverage about criminals behind a prostitution ring that used trafficked women and girls, some as young as 15.
Joe Biden at Fitzpatricks pub in Jenkinstown, Co Louth, during a visit in June 2016. Photo: Arthur Carron

During Joe Bidens last visit to Ireland as vice president, he stayed in a Co Mayo hotel with his family and staff and they dined on an American favourite  hamburgers.
Mr Biden touched down at RAF Aldergove in Co Antrim at around 9.20pmBefore leaving the US the president said his priority was to keep the peace in Northern Ireland

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, after welcoming US President Joe Biden for his visit to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Tuesday April 11, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Biden. Photo credit should read: Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA Wire

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Joe Kennedy, next to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on his arrival at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

U.S. President Joe Biden arrives at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/Pool

US President Joe Biden arrives in Air Force One at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim Photo: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets U.S. President Joe Biden on his arrival at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

U.S. President Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One upon his arrival at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US President Joe Biden has landed in Belfast as he begins his four-day visit to the island of Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The president touched down at a military base in Co Antrim at around 9.20pm.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was on the runway to greet President Biden at RAF Aldergrove and the pair shared a brief conversation before heading to their separate motorcades.

The pair smiled and shook hands and could be seen exchanging remarks on the tarmac after the president descended the stairs from Air Force One.

The two leaders will also hold a meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster Universitys new Belfast campus.

U.S. President Joe Biden arrives at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/Pool

The White House said there will not be a formal group meeting between US President Joe Biden and Northern Irelands five main political parties.

He will have an opportunity to engage with the leaders of the parties ahead of a speech on Wednesday at Ulster University.

The US president will carry out several engagements across the week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

After he leaves Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Joe Kennedy, next to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on his arrival at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

US President Joe Biden arrives in Air Force One at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim Photo: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

Mr Biden will address houses of the Oireactas and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

There will be a concert open to the public at which The Coronas, The Chieftains and The Academic will play.

Speaking to reporters before his departure, he said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

The US leader will give a speech at Ulster University tomorrow afternoon before travelling south to Louth for further events.
McNamara was sentenced to life in 2006 for the murder of father-of-four Martin ODonoghue

Derek McNamara, pictured here in 2006, died in his Limerick home last Saturday

Convicted killer Derek McNamara has died at his Limerick home just weeks after he was given temporary release from a life sentence due to illness.

McNamara (52) was sentenced to life in 2006 at the Central Criminal Court for the 2004 murder of Martin ODonoghue.

Mr ODonoghue, a father of four, died after he was stabbed outside a bar in Limerick city.

McNamara, of St Itas Street, St Marys Park, had 22 previous convictions and at the time he was described by gardai as a central figure in Limericks criminal underworld.

He is one of the most significant figures in criminality in this city, a senior garda told McNamaras sentencing hearing.

The killing was not connected to Limericks drug gang feud, which has since abated.

McNamara, a father of six, was convicted by a jury after three hours of deliberating following the week-long trial.

The court was shown CCTV footage of events leading up to and just after Mr ODonoghues murder, which was carried out by another person.

It was the States case that although McNamara had not carried out the physical act of stabbing the deceased man, he was guilty of the murder.

In a victim-impact statement, Mr ODonoghues sister, Lorraine ODonoghue, said her familys lives had been ripped apart.

He was the life and soul of our family, a great son, father, partner and uncle. His partner, Marie, said her heart has been shattered as she has lost not only her partner but her best friend, Ms ODonoghue said.

We cant understand why my brother lost his life so violently as he was such a happy-go-lucky man who would never fight with anyone.

McNamara died at his home on Saturday. His remains are scheduled to arrive at St Marys Church, Athlunkard Street, Limerick City, for 11am funeral mass tomorrow.

Survived by his wife Linda, sons Dean and Shane, daughters Loretta, Leona, Naomi and Kayla, and his mother Annette, McNamara will be laid to rest in Castlemungret Cemetery.
The image of the Sinn Fein founder, by famed artist Paul Henry, has never hung in a gallery

Paul Henrys drawing of Arthur Griffith on his deathbed was deemed politically unpalatable in 1922 due to its inscription. Photo: Denis Mortell Photography

This is the deathbed picture of Arthur Griffith that has never been on public view, after being suppressed for a century.

The image is by famed artist Paul Henry, who is better known for depicting the Connemara landscape. It has never hung in a gallery to be appreciated by visitors.

What made the drawing politically unpalatable was that it carried the inscription: Presented to the Government of the Irish Free State by the British Signatories to the Treaty.

The first leader of the newly-independent state, WT Cosgrave, believed the inscription made it look as if the Irish government had done the bidding of the British negotiators.

The Treaty was bitterly divisive and led to civil war in Ireland. This meant a British picture of the leader of the Irish talks team was deemed too politically toxic to be put on view.

Cormac OHanrahan, editor of the annual Griffith essay compilation Cut & Paste, said: It is an important addition to our national art, but [its] not on public view. The only explanation is that the inscription links the deathbed image with the Treaty.

It would seem the problem related to the divisiveness, not so much of Griffith, but of association with the Treaty itself. Publicly acknowledging Paul Henrys masterpiece to the nascent Irish Free State was simply adding more fuel to the pyre.

Indeed, the very survival of the Irish Free State was at stake. It was hanging on by its bootstraps and a desperate WT Cosgrave was left to do his utmost amidst all the chaos.

The picture was once hung in the Ceann Comhairles office in Leinster House, but it has been in storage since.

An appeal is sent out to Government and the national art galleries to rectify this embarrassing situation as soon as possible, Mr OHanrahan said.

The picture was completed after Griffiths premature death in 1922 and exhibited that year. A critic wrote: The work destined to attract most attention is undoubtedly Mr Paul Henrys charcoal drawing of The Lost Leader, Arthur Griffith, in St Vincents.

The critic went on to describe the works exquisite technical handling.

The picture was bought by Tom Jones and Lionel Curtis, the deputy cabinet secretary and colonial secretary, on behalf of the British government. Both had spent many hours of negotiation with Griffith and grew to respect him as honest and honourable.

But Mr OHanrahan said the well-meant added wording had unforeseen consequences in condemning the work to obscurity. He added: To be fair to the Cosgrave government, such an addition to the National Gallery in the volatile atmosphere of 1922-23 would have presented a security and fire risk to the drawing and perhaps also to the gallery itself.

But since its original showing in Paul Henrys exhibition in 1922, the drawing has never been put on open public display  and that is over 100 years.
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.
People Before Profit will now boycott the US President Joe Bidens joint Oireachtas address on Thursday in protest against the warmonger.

The partys five TDs, Paul Murphy, Brid Smith, Richard Boyd Barrett, Gino Kenny and Mick Barry said his address is pointless charade and the Dail was being used as a political soap-box.

The Irish government are allowing President Biden use the Dail as a political soap-box and as part of their on-going campaign to further undermine Irelands neutrality and draw Ireland closer to NATO and US foreign policy, the party said in a statement.

President Biden is due to address both the Dail and Seanad that day at around 3.30pm.

They instead urged supporters to attend a rally at the GPO on Wednesday in protest of President Bidens three-day visit this week.

Mr Boyd Barrett said the president needs to be forcefully challenged over his long-standing and unconditional support for the apartheid regime in Israel and its brutal and criminal treatment of Palestinians as well as his pivotal role in Iraq, the promotion of NATO expansion and the on-going and blatant double-standards of US foreign policy globally.

The party said they would attend his joint Oireachtas address only if there is an opportunity for all parties to make statements after his speech.

Usually, party leaders are allotted several minutes after special Dail addresses to make statements.

Mr Boyd Barrett said: The Irish government are trying to present Joe Biden as some sort of great peacemaker when he is very much the opposite. Biden is one of the foremost and most-long standing supporters of the apartheid regime in Israel, despite their brutal treatment of Palestinians and their on-going illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and policies of ethnic cleansing.

Tragically, the Irish government are also using the Ukraine crisis as an opportunity to further undermine Irish neutrality and there is no doubt the decision to roll-out the red carpet for Biden and insulate him from any critical questioning in the Dail is part of that campaign to draw us ever closer to NATO.

PBP TDs have often protested the visits of world leaders, with TDs not applauding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy Oireachtas address last April.
Fifth cousins of US President Joe Biden, Cllr Andrea McKevitt and her sister Ciara, as they celebrated his inauguration at 46th President of the United States

US president Joe Biden at the White House ahead of his visit to Ireland. Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

From the White Houses point of view, there are three distinct aims for President Joe Bidens visit to Ireland. They resolve themselves into the three Ps  Policy ambitions, Personal connections and the Presidency itself.

The policy, of course, is to defend the Good Friday Agreement, to extol the Windsor Framework as a solution to the Northern Ireland Protocol row, and to encourage the DUP to go back into government at Stormont with Michelle ONeill as First Minister.

This partially overlaps with the personal connections, insofar as President Biden wants what is best for the land of his forebears.

Ireland was a united island under British administration when his ancestors took the boat.

But it also happens that those ancestors were from Louth and Mayo (with some descendants now also to be found in Galway), which are in the Republic.

Thus, his outlook is closely aligned with that of the government in the Republic.

To a BBC camera crew he famously said: Im Irish and it is underscored by his schedule for this week.

The US president will spend a relatively short time in the North, where he will be welcomed by UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, while his visit will cover three days in the Republic.

Footage of flag-waving adoring foreign crowds will play well on US network news

Much of this will be a retracing of his roots, but the personal aspect of this journey will delight Failte Ireland, which wants to get hundreds of thousands of Irish-Americans to do likewise.

In this way, the Biden family reunion is a personal matter that feeds directly into the wishes and ambitions of a wider Ireland.

Finally, if Ireland is using the president in this way, there is simultaneously a quid pro quo. Biden gets something out of it too, particularly in the context of widespread speculation that he will soon announce a bid for a second term as US president.

Ann Marie Flynn poses before the town mural ahead of President Biden's visit this Friday Ballina, Photo: Mark Condren

Footage of flag-waving adoring foreign crowds will play well on the network news. It will help repair his foreign policy reputation, which was tarnished by his failure to provide against the Talibans sudden sweep through an unprepared Afghanistan  a disaster that happened on his watch. And, crucially, it will feed into the Irish-American/Catholic voter blocs.

Recent elections have seen a movement of Irish Americans from the Democratic Party, of which Biden is the figurehead, towards the Republicans, even as that party has lurched in thrall to Donald Trump.

The drift started by the Reagan Democrats crossed over to the rival GOP (the Republicans are also known as the Grand Old Party in the US), and has continued  with many Irish transferring their allegiance to Trump for complex reasons.

Holding a public address outside St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina seems a deliberate choice

Remarkably, Trump had a Gaelic-speaking mother (albeit the Scottish version), but his Doonbeg investment also gave him purchase with this slice of the electorate. Biden can now match it and perhaps build it up better.

Holding a public address outside St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina (and what price a mention of St Patrick in the speech?) also seems a deliberate choice of a Catholic backdrop.

Traditionally also a Democratic component of any march towards a presidential election victory, Catholics have turned towards the Republicans, a party more avowedly pro-life  while Biden and other Democrats, despite their professed religion, are determinedly pro-choice.

Fifth cousins of US President Joe Biden, Cllr Andrea McKevitt and her sister Ciara, as they celebrated his inauguration at 46th President of the United States

The abortion issue was a linchpin of the mid-term elections after the controversial reversal of the foundational Roe v Wade case by a heavily Republican-appointed Supreme Court.

Biden can bank on the support of many more women as a result, but he also needs to make a nod to the traditionalists. The cathedral shots could go into adverts aimed narrowly at a high-Catholic demographic.

So there it is, the wider motivations behind the pomp and the schmaltz and the ceremony events that are isolated in themselves but which speak to the personal, policy aims and the presidency itself.
US President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One, as he departs for Northern Ireland, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 11, 2023. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

US President Joe Biden approaches to speak to the press before boarding Air Force One, as he departs for Northern Ireland, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 11, 2023. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

US President Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One, as he departs for Northern Ireland, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 11, 2023. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

US President Joe Biden is on his way to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Commander in Chief boarded Air Force One which took off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland shortly before 3.30pm local time.

The journey should take around six to seven hours with the plane expected to touch down at Belfast International Airport between 9pm and 10pm tonight.

Asked on the runway what his top priority was for the trip, the President said: "Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place; keep the peace. That's the main thing."

Mr Biden confirmed two of his family members will accompany him on the visit, Hunter Biden and Valerie Biden Owens.

Rishi Sunak is expected to greet the US leader on the runway in Belfast.

Mr Biden will spend half a day in Belfast tomorrow and is expected to deliver a speech at Ulster University to emphasise his country's commitment to preserving peace here.

A huge security operation is already in place in Belfast for the visit.

Northern Ireland First Minister Designate, Michelle ONeill, has described the historic visit as a special moment and said she is delighted to welcome President Biden to Belfast.

This historic peace accord which was painstakingly negotiated at that time was made possible due to the vast and substantial contribution from the United States under the administration of President Clinton, she added.

As we look back with pride at just how far we have all come, and all that has been achieved, we also look forward with hope, ambition, and opportunity for the next twenty-five years.

However former Labour minister, Kate Hoey, a baroness, has warned that any attempt by Mr Biden to bring Stormont back could actually backfire.

"We all know where his allegiance lies and its not with the pro-Union community in Northern Ireland, she told TalkTV.

Ms Hoey said the current President does not have the charisma and non-partisanship that was demonstrated by Bill Clinton who played a pivotal role in securing peace.

We saw that time and time again with the things he has done and the things hes actually said, she continued.

"That very famous little picture of him meeting a BBC journalist who said Im from the BBC and he just stopped immediately and said Im Irish and stomped off.

Ms Hoey said there will be no change at Stormont until the Windsor Framework is changed.

"If Stormont is working then members have to implement the Windsor Framework, she said.

"They actually have to make sure the structures are set up that means you are asking pro-Union MLAs to implement the breaking away of their own country from their own country and that is not acceptable.
Scenes of violence against police during a dissident parade in Derry yesterday 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.

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 Tricolour 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 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 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.

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.

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 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.
Our reliance on social media is an emergency situation  we are sleepwalking to a point of no return

Kyle Taylor is a leading campaigner on digital democracy reform and platform regulation in the UK and internationally. Currently based in Tokyo, he says that social media apps are deliberately addictive

Kyle Taylor is a leading campaigner on digital democracy reform and platform regulation

Kyle Taylor Tue 11 Apr 2023 at 03:30
Some of the Swiss climate action women at the ECHR last month. Photo: Miriam Kunzli/Greenpeace

A group of the Swiss climate action women protest over melting glaciers in Switzerland. Photo: Miriam Kunzli/ Greenpeace

The Government has defended its decision to oppose a legal challenge by a group of elderly women fighting for climate action.

In the so-called Swiss grannies case, four women all aged 74 or over are representing an organisation of 2,000 members.

They are asking the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to declare insufficient climate action by the Swiss authorities is violating their human rights.

A number of countries made written submissions to the court, but Ireland is the only one apart from Switzerland to make a verbal intervention.

A five-member legal team represented Ireland at the recent Grand Chamber hearing in Strasbourg where barrister Catherine Donnelly presented the States arguments.

The case, taken by the KlimaSeniorinnen (Senior Women for Climate), is the first climate case taken to the ECHR. But another one, by six young people against Portugal and 32 other countries including Ireland, will be heard later this year.

Member states are nervous at the prospect of the cases paving the way for mass actions by citizens demanding accelerated effort on the climate crisis.

In the KlimaSeniorinnen case, the women argue their age makes them especially vulnerable to heatwaves, which have become more frequent in Switzerland over the past 20 years with thousands of excess deaths attributed to them.

They say the Swiss government is not doing enough to protect their lives and health by failing to meet existing emission reduction targets and not setting sufficiently high future targets.

Switzerland is arguing its targets are robust and its commitment to emission reductions is sincere. It says the women cannot claim special vulnerability. It also argues climate change is a global issue.

Ireland argues the European Convention on Human Rights, which the court is set up to uphold, does not guarantee the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

It says it is beyond the courts scope to dictate national climate policy, and it says the court can only act on a real and immediate threat to life caused by the action or omission by a member state.

It says the KlimaSeniorinnen have failed to prove any of these grounds.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications said Ireland had sought to assist the court in clarifying the applicable principles in cases concerning human rights and climate change under the Convention.

A spokesperson said the decision was taken by Government, informed by advice from the Attorney Generals office.

Ireland remains committed to championing progressive action and enhanced ambition at a global level, while ensuring the most vulnerable are at the centre of all our engagement.

Ireland was the second country in the world to face a climate lawsuit when the Climate Case Ireland action was taken by Friends of the Irish Environment and supporting organisations against the States inadequate climate policies.

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the groups in 2020, and Ireland has since enacted climate legislation.

Clodagh Daly, now manager of the Centre for Environmental Justice at Community Law and Mediation (CLM), was previously involved in the case, and has been following the ECHR proceedings.

CLM supports the brave plaintiffs pursuing this critically important case and calls upon the Irish government to adhere to its own legal obligations on climate change, she said.

A decision from the 17 judges of the ECHR Grand Chamber, presided over by Irish judge Siofra OLeary, is due late this year.
More one-bed homes and a state home-building agency are among the solutions put forward

Rory Hearne, author of 'Gaffs', is assistant professor of social policy at Maynooth University. Photo: Niall Carson

With the lifting of the eviction ban last week, homeless charities and campaigners have warned that emergency accommodation services are set to come under unmanageable pressure.
Last week was one of political tumult in the US. The beacon of democratic and civil rights for centuries is gradually losing this position as a result of disinformation, wilful neglect and calculated political design.
Eamon de Valeras government knew by 1940 that attacks on merchant ships could bring hunger and even starvation to Ireland. Photo: General Photographic Agency

There are unbending rules around who qualifies as a patriotic hero in Ireland. We prize one sacrifice over all others and judge all others in strict deference to it.
Frank Coughlan: It doesnt sit well with some, but our democracy was built on peaceful prose and not bloodshed
Politicians must take this chance to open up to a new future at Stormont. Photo: Paul Faith/PA

The two now rusted padlocks on the wrought iron gates of Stormont, have been an affront to democracy since they were put there last May.

They are especially offensive as the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is marked by the arrival here of US president Joe Biden.

The deal was rightly heralded as a green and orange glasnost, a rare moment of openness after decades of division.

The deadbolts on mindsets, further corroded by years of sectarianism, had shifted just enough to allow room for tentative talks which developed into the torturous negotiations, that would with time and patience, deliver the now world-famous peace deal.

So surely this is the moment for politicians to seize the keys and open up to a new future.

It is enormously regrettable that the devolved parliament was not open for business, to be addressed by President Biden, whose country had been one of the driving forces in its establishment.

The Good Friday Agreement was not an ornamental parchment to be put in a glass case for posterity. It is a map that can take the people to new horizons and opportunities, providing their leaders have the vision to do so.

In a special message to the people of the North, Pope Francis said: 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.

Vital to this consolidation is advance restoration of government in the North. The UKs prime minister Rishi Sunak has also hailed the bravery and spirit of compromise shown by the leaders who secured the deal.

He stressed the need to recommit to redoubling our efforts to deliver on the promise made in 1998.

The current political limbo can only be regarded as a desecration of the memories of all who worked so hard to end the pain and tragedy of the Troubles.

The DUP felt it had no choice but to implement a boycott in protest over the original post-Brexit deal. It said it was not being listened to. But in London, Brussels and Dublin the partys concerns were heeded.

The Windsor Framework removed most of the problems the DUP complained of. No side got all it wanted  no side can in any lasting agreement.

And as President Biden has said, the framework was an essential step to ensuring that the hard-earned peace and progress of the Good Friday Agreement was preserved and strengthened.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said President Bidens visit offers an opportunity to celebrate and renew the strong political, economic and personal ties that bind.

The late John Hume would never apologise for repeating his mantra that we need to focus on what unites rather than on what divides us.

Such an emphasis would not just be transformational, it would also be the most fitting testament to those who gave so much.
In the first of May 1981, Ireland was sent into shock when an Aer Lingus flight was hijacked on its short trip from Dublin to London.

The story made international headlines as a former Australian monk, Lawrence 'Larry' Downey, held the Irish plane hostage for almost eight hours. So, what were his intentions?

And how did then Minister for Transport, and later Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, become an unlikely hero in a story that stretched as far as Iran and the Vatican?

Presenter Siobhan Maguire hears everything about this mysterious tale from Sunday Independent columnist, Sarah Caden.
An Irish Rail service is operating at reduced capacity due to vandalism.

The 07.34am from Greystones to Howth will be impacted.

Meanwhile, with the visit of US President Joe Biden this week, there will be parking restrictions on Leeson Street Lower, Hatch Street Lower, Castle Street and Ship Street until Saturday.

Earlsfort Terrace will be closed to traffic until Saturday.

Phoenix Park is closed to all traffic including cyclists and pedestrians, from 5.00pm Wednesday to 5.00pm Thursday.

Arrangements are in place for local access.

More to follow
In a development that has created a great sense of excitement, one of Irelands leading fashion retailers has opened a new store in Killarney and is creating 10 new jobs in the process.

In what has been described as a very significant and welcome commercial boost for the town, fashion giant Born has set up in a 4,734sq ft store at Killarney Outlet Centre.

A long queue of excited customers gathered as the fabulous new shopping experience was officially launched by Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Niall Kelleher, last week

With a reputation for making fashion accessible and fun, Born opened its first premises in 2009 and now boasts 23 stores nationwide, as well as offering a top class online option.

Killarney Outlet Centre Manager, Paul Sherry, said the arrival of Born is a hugely positive development for Killarney and it will be a major attraction going forward.

They see the huge potential in the town and it will give locals and visitors a whole new retail experience based on quality, choice and value, he said.

The business occupies the former Edinburgh Woollen Mills units, numbered 13 to 15, on the ground floor of the landmark commercial premises.
A commercial liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal on the Shannon Estuary remains a red-line issue for Green Party members in Kerry, despite suggestions from party leader Eamon Ryan that a softening towards LNG may be on the cards.
Met Eireann has issued an orange weather warning for Kerry as the country braces itself strong winds and damaging gusts.

The Irish meteorological service has predicted gusts of up to 110km/hr for the county of Kerry tonight and into the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Very strong winds are forecast for Kerry between 2am and 8am on Wednesday, April and Thursday, April 12, according to the latest update. This has led Kerry County Council to urge the public to take care.

Kerry County Council is advising motorists to travel with extreme care on all routes and to anticipate fallen branches and debris on roads, especially during the morning.

Outdoor items like refuse bins and furniture should be secured and stored away.

An emergency phone-line will be available for the duration of the weather event to report any issues to Kerry County Council crews. The contact number is 066 7183588.

The Council will post updates on its social media platforms.
Joan ORegan, Niamh OSullivan (Tralee MD Manager), Jim Garvey (SuperValu), Cllr Mikey Sheehy, Brendan OBrien (Chair, Tralee Tidy Towns), Colette OConnor (Tralee Chamber Alliance), Ann Marie Fuller and Anne Connolly welcome the news that Tralee is nominated for a Best Kept Town award.

Tralee has been nominated in the Irelands Best Kept Towns Competition for 2023.

The county capital, which had another impressive result in this years Tidy Towns Competition, is an entrant in the Best Kept Large Urban Centre category.

Adjudication will take place during the month of May and the results will be announced at an awards ceremony in Dublin in June. The judging criteria are similar to what is used for the SuperValu Tidy Towns Competition each year.

Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy welcomed the news.

The announcement that Tralee has been nominated to participate in Irelands Best Kept Towns Competition is a further endorsement of the incredible work being done locally and is recognition of what has been achieved in recent years.

There is fantastic collaboration between the local Tidy Towns team, staff of the Municipal District, local businesses and the community generally. This competition will be keenly contested with our town taking part in the Best Kept Large Urban Space category and I hope everyone will get behind the effort to secure yet another important honour for the town, said Cllr Sheehy.

Brendan OBrien, Chair of Tralee Tidy Towns said the nomination was a really wonderful honour for our town and called on the public to get behind the campaign to win the title.

We need a big effort to be put in for this and for the National Tidy Towns Competition and we will require as many volunteers as possible to assist us, so were appealing to members of the business and residential community to keep an eye out and keep their own areas looking as well as possible, said Mr OBrien.
Vladimir has headlined in venues such as the National Concert Hall, INEC, University Concert Hall, Cork Opera House, National Opera House, and the BBC Proms Belfast and is currently preparing for his show in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. This intimate performance in the Oriel Centre, Dundalk Gaol will be an extremely special occasion.

The Bratislavian-born musician has been thrilling audiences since he first moved to Ireland 18 years ago and has been nicknamed Irelands Andre Rieu by the Business Post. His live performances are nothing short of electric and exhilarating as he brings his skilled fusion of classical music with the playfulness, energy, passion and emotion of folk, and popular music to life.

He has toured as a Special Guest to aoprano Katherine Jenkins and played support to Il Divo at 3 Arena.

His programme for Saturdays concert in the Oriel Centre will feature some of the most popular pieces in his repertoire including Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5, Strauss Radetzky March, Theme from Schindlers list, If I Were A Rich Man and many more audience favourites.

His last performance in the Oriel Centre had the audience dancing in their seats and another joyous night of music can be expected.

This performance will be a rare opportunity to see Vladimir Jablokov in a close and intimate setting. Tickets are  25 and are available from The Oriel Centre reception and online at www.orielcentre.ie.
It is expected that President Biden, whose ancestors sailed from Carlingford Lough as they emigrated to the United States, will visit King Johns Castle, a Norman castle that was built circa 1190. He will then finish the trip in Dundalk, mid-to-late afternoon with a walkabout in the town centre.

There is expected to be high security in operation and people are being advised not to carry bags of any sort, as is normal in such circumstances.

Residents and visitors are very welcome to attend and celebrate the historic occasion of a US President coming back to visit his ancestral county.

We are delighted that Joe Biden is visiting Louth, this time as President of the United States, Councillor Conor Keelan, Cathaoirleach, Louth County Council said. I expect that he will receive a very warm welcome once more in Carlingford and then in Dundalk, where I have no doubt that we will see a great crowd in the town centre tomorrow afternoon to mark the historic visit.

Ms Joan Martin, Chief Executive, Louth County Council, said: We are really honoured that Joe Biden has opted to come once again and visit us in Co. Louth, this time as President of the United States. We have been working with the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the United States Embassy in our preparations for the visit; and are confident that he will receive a rousing welcome and great memories to take away from his visit.

In his first visit in 2016, as Vice President, Louth County Council bestowed Joe Biden, with the Freedom of Co. Louth. He remains the only individual to hold this honour.

President Joe Biden is the second US president to formally visit Co. Louth. In 2000, an estimated 60,000 people gathered in the Market Square in Dundalk to see President Bill Clinton, who when referring to the peace process, famously said: "It's a new day in Dundalk and a new day in Ireland".

Parking restrictions are already in place in Carlingford, with gardai requesting members of the public and residents do not park on the R173, the public car park at tourist office, along the north pier, Newry Street, Old Quay Lane, Castle Hill, the car park at the top of hill at King John's castle and Back Lane.
Of 14 proposed sites, seven were deemed not suitable with no reasons given, while traffic was cited a number of times among the remaining seven.

Sinn Fein TD for Louth/East Meath Imelda Munster has reacted to seeing the long list of rejected potential replacement Driving Test Centres for Drogheda, by saying the RSA seems to see Drogheda as deemed not suitable for a Driving Test Centre.

Of the 14 sites listed, seven were deemed not suitable with no reasons given for this assertion. While reading their reasons for rejecting the seven other sites, I switched between bemusement and disbelief as having traffic in the area was cited more than once. Every Irish town and city where there are existing driving test centres has a build up of traffic at some point during the day.

She says she was angry to read the reason they rejected the site at the Drogheda Town FC Training ground was that they wanted Drogheda Town, an amateur club run by volunteers, to fit the site out for them.

The RSA report said This site was found to be suitable for the purpose of a Driving Test Centre. However major renovations would be needed on site and a Modular Unit would need to be placed on site with all amenities needed to be installed on the site. Drogheda Town management were asked about the fitting out of the site, but as they are an amateur club, their finances could not cover this cost.

I find this unbelievable that a government organisation would ask an amateur club to pay for them to move in, she said angrily.  RSA seems to see Drogheda as deemed not suitable for a Driving Test Centre, but because they had years to find a suitable site and have not done so I would say the RSA are deemed not suitable for the job theyre supposed to be doing.
A call for a special meeting on housing was made by Cllr Thomas Sharkey at the monthly meeting of the Dundalk Municipal District as it emerged that over 2million owing in unpaid rents.

The Sinn Fein councillor recalled that he had written to the Housing Strategic Policy Committee two highlighting the number of homes needed in the Dundalk Municipal District.

"Its time to hold a special meeting that looks at the housing needs in this district, he said. The public at large need to know that we are taking the issue seriously.

He noted that there more than 2million in unpaid rents due to the Council. While 900 odd households were on household payment plans, more than 1,000 households were in arrears.

"The public see a disconnect from ourselves and the delivery of homes.

Director of Service Paddy Donnelly said that Louth County Council has in excess of 3,000 tenants on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) which is an active source of housing in the count.

So far this year, they had access to 120 additional properties so there was still quite a bit of movement in that areas, despite what the news reports might suggest. Some of these properties came about because elected members had identified them,

Arrears are always a challenge, he continued, saying that with 4,200 on their books, there were more rents to be collected.

The local authority had a specific official to deal with rent collection and they were getting people to enter payment plans. However, there were some challenging cases which might end up in court with the tenancy terminated.

Cllr Maeve Yore stated that tenants should have to go on direct debit payments, such as she had done when she took out a mortgage.

"Louth people are fed up picking up the tab and the same goes for unpaid fines, she said.

Cllr John Reilly asked if they could consider looking at modular housing.

However, Cllr Emma Coffey said that we can talk about modular housing but the reality is that it doesnt fit with the current planning system.

She hoped that new planning acts will come into effect before the summer session, saying a national approach was needed as well as a complete redesign of the planning system in Ireland.

Mr Donnelly agreed that direct debit and family budgeting were the way forward, particularly for people on social welfare.

He confirmed that the local authority was looking at new types of housing construction, including the developments they are expecting to progress in 2023 and 2024.

He said that the Council wasnt facing any challenges in getting contractors or developers at the moment and are looking at exceeding their housing target by 15% over five years.
Ned Smith who died on April 5 at the age of 92 was a former Garda Detective who served with distinction in Dundalk for over twenty years.

The attendance at his Requiem Mass in St. Josephs Church on Monday afternoon heard the celebrant Very Rev. Brendan Callanan C.Ss.R., remark that the large turnout was testament to the high esteem in which Ned was held in the community.

Born in Coolnacola, Killinkere, Co. Cavan in 1930, Edmund, or Ned as he was always known, joined the Gardai in 1953, and having completed his training at Phoenix Park depot he was assigned to Drogheda.

He later served in Dromad and when he was promoted to Detective he moved to Limerick where he was part of the security detail when President John F. Kennedy visited the city in June, 1963.

Shortly after Ned moved to Dundalk where he settled and served until his retirement in 1987.

A Garda of the old school who believed that local knowledge and personal contact were essential in his work, and for that reason went about his duties in his own quiet but effective way, never leaving, as a colleague said in his tribute, a paper trail.

His warm smile and friendly handshake meant that Ned made friends easily, for he had a great sense of humour, and above all else a heart of gold that manifested itself in his willingness to help many in his own quiet way.

Over the years, and especially since his retirement, Ned immersed himself in his community, helping various voluntary organisations, especially the Order of Malta where he organised the transport for pilgrims and volunteers travelling to Dublin airport to join the annual Armagh Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Ned was always ready and willing to drive ill patients to hospitals, a task he undertook with his renowned courtesy and he also helped various fund raising projects undertaken by St. Brigids Special school.

Above all else Ned, who was a pioneer all his life, loved a game of cards and a flutter on the horses, for he liked nothing more than his regular card school in the Lisdoo, and the countless friends that Ned encountered at race meetings, in his local betting shop or in a card game with remember him with great affection recounting, as they will, the friendly banter that they exchanged.

His death after a relatively short illness evoked great sadness, for he was widely known and greatly respected in his adopted town, living during his time in Dundalk in Mill Street.

He was predeceased some years ago by his beloved wife Mary (nee Mahon) and is survived by sons, Eunan and Declan and daughter, Catherine.

Having reposed at his daughters home in Bay Estate, Neds remains were taken to St. Josephs Church where many of his former colleagues in the Gardai formed a guard of honour.

Rector, Fr. Callanan celebrated the Requiem Mass assisted by Very Rev. Noel Kehoe, C.Ss.R. and Rev. Ryan Holovlasky, C.Ss.R.

Burial took place afterwards in St. Patricks cemetery.
Mayor Michelle Hall joined those involved in local youth work for the launch of the Volunteer Training Pack.

It was a tremendous honour for the young people and staff of the Southside Youth Project recently as their clubhouse in Rowan Heights was selected from hundreds of groups around the country for the national launch of a new training pack for volunteers.

Young volunteers of this amazing group were also awarded special Local Hero certificates of appreciation.

This pack is aimed at those who have responsibility for the recruitment, training, and support of Youth Work Ireland Club Volunteers. The purpose of the pack is to provide an opportunity for volunteers to consider their motivation for volunteering and to gain information and knowledge to enhance their volunteering journey, said CEO of Youth Work Ireland, Patrick Burke.

"It will help to ensure a standardised and consistent approach to volunteer training across the organisation.

Mayor of Drogheda Michelle Hall was on hand to officially launch the pack, which will assist others who may be interested in starting similar groups in their area.

Louth TD Fergus ODowd also praised the work of the Southside and Boyne youth projects, who thrived amongst the difficult times Drogheda suffered during the drugs feud.
Inadequate staffing levels in the HSE have caused unacceptable delays in paying pension increases due to retired health service staff including workers from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, according to a Louth Labour TD.

A number of local retired HSE workers have been in contact with Deputy Ged Nash TD over a delay in processing pension increases due to them, as well as backpay due since those increases came into force.

The issue relates to two pension increases in particular, both due last year and still unpaid by the HSE.

Deputy Nash explained: On the back of my discussions with local retired staff affected by this issue, I challenged the Minister for Health and asked him for an explanation for the delay in issuing the payments and for a timeline for the matter to be resolved.

The Minister for Health passed on Deputy Nashs query to the HSE, which issued a response to the local TD, explaining that the delay in processing pension increases was due to the resource constraint within the pension function.

Deputy Nash said: The HSE informed me that there has been a high turnover of staff and a vacancy gap in the section processing the payments, for a number of years.

It is extraordinary that this has been allowed to happen over such an extended period of time and intolerable that retired health workers are not getting the pension payments they deserve simply because of inadequate staffing at the HSE.

The Louth Labour TD said: These pension increases were supposed to happen back in February and October of last year, and these retired health workers from our local hospital and elsewhere are still waiting. It is essential that these payments are made now, without further delay.

Deputy Nash concluded: I do welcome assurances from the HSE that the backlog in these payments will be cleared by the end of May, this year and that all monies owed will be paid but the fact that these retired health workers have had to wait so long for their rightful pension entitlements, is wholly unacceptable.

I will continue to monitor the situation and hope the HSE will make good on its commitment to these local retired workers.
Louth taxi drivers fury as automatic barriers prevent access to Drogheda bus depot

Taxi drivers say older passengers and those with disabilities badly affected by the move, which Bus Eireann says is a safety measure

Barriers have been placed at the entrance to Drogheda bus depot to prevent other traffic from entering.

Alison Comyn Drogheda Independent Tue 11 Apr 2023 at 16:26
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to Teresa McKevitt (nee Ring) River Lane, Carlingford, who died at her residence on Saturday April 8 after a brave battle with cancer.

The former principal of Bush Post-Primary School was fondly remembered as a gifted and inspirational teacher, whose kindness shaped the lives of many of her former students.

One of a family of ten children, Teresas childhood was spent in Carraig A Drohid, Macroom, Co Cork, where her love of music and the stage was born. She studied English, Maths, Latin and Logic at Univeristy College Cork, and began her teaching career in St. Michael's College Omeath in 1977.

Not long after, she met the love of her life, John McKevitt, and after their marriage, the couple settled in Carlingford, where they raised their family and Teresa became a valued member of the local community.

Following the closure of St Michaels College in 1986, Teresa joined the teaching staff of Bush Post Primary School. She was appointed to a special duties teacher post in 1988, and was subsequently promoted to the post of Assistant Principal with special responsibility for Adult Education.

In 2005 Teresa became Deputy Principal, before taking over the reigns as Principal from Kevin Conroy in 2006. She retired in 2012.

Mourners at her funeral on Easter Monday heard that she was a passionate and gifted teacher who was fondly remembered by former pupils for her kindness and encouragement.

Teresas love of the stage dated back to her young days in Macroom and she brought that with her to Carlingford. She was a driving force in the Carlingford Drama Group, directing productions including the Playboy of The Western World, My Fair Lady, and the Importance of Being Ernest. She also staged productions in support of the Foy Centre including Professor Tom, Philadelphia Here I Come, The Plough and The Stars as well as Cinderella and Snow White.

She was a huge supporter of Cor Chairlinne, the choir founded by her husband, and was always willing to help out when needed.

Many of her former students and colleagues paid tribute to her, with the Kevin Joyce, Principal Bush Post Primary School saying she had left a wonderful legacy here at the Bush and indeed within the entire community.

We remember Teresa as a former colleague who was passionate about education and providing students with the best opportunities during their time at Bush Post Primary School,  said Fiona Kindlon, Director of Schools, LMETB

In a moving tribute on their Faceook page, Cor Chairlinne said: There are people in this world who come in to a community and touch so many lives that when they leave, the community as a whole unites in grief. Teresa McKevitt was one of those people. 

The Foy Centre said that she was a great supporter of the Foy Centre since the beginning and had done so much for both the Foy and Carlingford Community Development.

Teresa was predeceased by her parents John and Judy Ring, and is survived husband John, daughter Sally and sons Michael John and Bob, her daughter-in-law Deirdre, son-in-law Shaun, grandchildren Lottie, Darragh and Luke, sisters-in-law Aideen, Christine, Mary and Sally, sisters Ann, Carmel, Patricia and Martina, brothers Paddy, John, Mickey, Tony and Denis Paul, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

Her funeral took place on Easter Monday in St Michaels Church, Carlingford with burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Commemoration vent took place at the week-end at Sligo Cemetery

Councillor Declan Bree, who presided at an Easter commemoration ceremony at Sligo Cemetery, has said that there was a need to expose and resist any attempts by sections of the far-right in Ireland to claim the mantle of Irish republicanism.

He told the gathering on Easter Sunday: Today, elements in the far-right are attempting to present themselves as patriots and community defenders. But we know that the leaders of these groups have never played any part in the struggle and we also know that these groups work hand in glove with Loyalists in the Six counties and with British fascists.

Back in the dark days of the 1930s, when the Nazis were marching in Germany, when Mussolinis Blackshirts had taken control in Italy, when Francos fascist forces were moving to overthrow the republican government in Spain it was republican-socialists, communists and trade unionists who led the resistance to fascism and to ODuffys Blueshirt movement here in Ireland.

While we are fortunate that the great majority of people refuse to be duped or fooled by the evil agenda of the far-right we should be under no illusions as to the threat they pose.

Socialist and Republican activists have a long history of fighting the politics of hate by seeking equality and by tackling racism, sectarianism, and apartheid, and today we send our solidarity to people across Ireland who have shown solidarity with those who come here seeking refuge, he said.

Earlier the gathering was told that the only viable solution to our present predicaments is for the people of this country to begin building in their communities for a new people powered democracy.

The words came from Barry Murray, of the Peadar ODonnell Republican Socialist Forum, when he addressed those attending the People First annual Easter 1916 Commemoration ceremony.

Led by flagbearers carrying the Tri-colour and the Plough and the Stars, participants in the ceremony marched from Cairns Drive to the Republican Plot in Sligo Cemetery where Cllr Declan Bree introduced Mr Murray, this years guest speaker.

He said: We have health services North and South of the border which are not fit for purpose.

We have a mental health epidemic with growing numbers of suicides.

We have education systems in both jurisdictions that are being starved of resources and are failing on every measure. We have a housing crisis with thousands of families seeking accommodation and growing numbers of people becoming homeless.

House prices on both sides of the border are extortionate and play right into the bank accounts of speculators and developers. 300,000 people in the North of Ireland live below the poverty level.

In this context it is imperative that we as republican socialists, continue to oppose the machinations of those who consistently defend a system which is based on inequality and exploitation.

The only viable solution to our present predicaments is for the people of this country to begin building in their communities for a new people powered democracy - to build an Ireland for the many not the few. An Ireland which would embrace the values of the common good over individual greed and private profit; collectivism over individualism; democracy and political and economic sovereignty

That is why for us the narrow definition of freedom which for many does not go beyond the slogan of a united Ireland is unacceptable.

Our republicanism is a genuine republicanism in the tradition not only of Wolfe Tone, but in the tradition of Michael Davitt, Fintan Lalor and Connolly, Pearse and Mellows - uniting Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter in the struggle for a democratic, secular, socialist republic.

Following the oration as a lone piper played a lament, Sinead Costello laid a wreath on behalf of the People First- Independents4Change.

Pat Wallace laid a floral tribute on behalf of the Peoples Movement and Tom Wickham laid a wreath on behalf of the Connolly Youth Movement. The ceremony concluded with the National Anthem.
A crew from Courtown RNLI rushed to the rescue of a dog in crisis on Thursday after he became separated from its owner and got stuck on rocks below Ardamine Church.

In what was their first call-out of the year, a volunteer crew were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to launch their inshore lifeboat at approximately 2 p.m. to assist the trapped dog. They launched shortly after at 2.10 p.m. with helm Robbie Ireton and crew members Peter Browne and Amy Dowdall onboard. Arriving on the scene, they observed that Courtown Coast Guards shore unit couldnt reach the dog due to the steep rocky terrain and decided that a plan needed to be formed.

Having assessed the situation, a decision was made for crew members Peter and Amy to swim ashore and climb up on the rocks and work together to fasten a harness around the large dog. Due to its size and the slippiness of the rocks, this proved challenging and the crew had to work to carry the dog carefully from rock to rock, until they managed to hand it safely over to the Coast Guard, who then reunited the dog with its relieved owner.

This was the first call out of the year and we were delighted to assist in reuniting the dog safe and well with its owner, said Courtown RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Jim Murphy.

We would encourage pet owners to keep their animal on a lead when close to cliff edges, and slippery surfaces. If your pet does go into the water or gets stuck on rocks, dont attempt a rescue yourself, they will probably get out themselves. If you are worried and need help, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
Snow is forecast for higher ground tonight and wind gusts could reach up to 110kmh .

Conditions are expected to be extremely unsettled over the coming days, with plenty of April showers.

There will be low temperatures tonight, a chance of snow on higher ground and a yellow wind warning overnight for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo. The warning will last from 1am until 5pm tomorrow.

Although very strong gusts have been forecast for those six counties, the entire country will experience windy weather.

The erratic weather is being caused by low pressure in the Atlantic jet stream, according to Met Eireann forecaster Aoife Kealy.

Monday was all April showers, feeding in from the Atlantic. Theres a lot of instability around, she said.

Tuesday will be a fairly wet day and theres a chance of a few wintry flurries over higher ground by night.

Then we have a yellow wind warning in place for Wednesday and although it covers specific counties, it will be windier than usual nationally, so people need to take care in coastal areas.

This unsettled weather is just to do with low pressure in the jet stream. At the moment, low pressure is constantly knocking about in the north Atlantic. Because of our position in the jet stream, low pressure is being driven in our direction.

Thats bringing wind and its crossing over the country, its driving all the horrible systems our way.

Spring can be a funny one, we are in a transition zone. We arent quite in summer and we havent left winter but our position in the Atlantic means we get the brunt of it. Were at the first frontier.

There will be widespread showers tonight, with a chance of snow or sleet on higher ground by nightfall. Temperatures will dip to between 0C and 3C.

Tomorrow, strong gusts in Atlantic coastal areas will spread across the country, accompanied by frequent squally showers, some heavy and prolonged, with the chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail, according to Met Eireann.

The highest temperatures will be 7C to 9C. Showers will continue into tomorrow night and temperatures will drop to around 2C.

There will be more widespread and heavy showers on Thursday, with a chance of hail and thunderstorms, possibly leading to spot flooding. Showers will be most frequent in the east. Temperatures will reach between 8C and 11C.

By Friday, there will be some sunny spells but again, they will be accompanied by showers. However, daytime temperatures will reach a more appealing 13C.
It took several attempts for a crew of firefighters to free the squirrel, who appeared largely unharmed.

A red squirrel that became trapped in a manhole cover has been freed by firefighters in Germany, despite being uncooperative during its rescue.

The city fire department in Dortmund was alerted to the trapped animal by a pedestrian on Monday afternoon, after she spotted its head poking out in the road.

The squirrel was covered with a scarf to calm it down until a crew of firefighters arrived at the scene.

However, the rodent did not make life easy for the crew as they carefully tried to separate it from the plate.

This turned out to be quite complicated as the squirrel was uncooperative, the fire department said.

It took several attempts for the crew to free the squirrel before it fled up a nearby tree, appearing unharmed.

A similar rescue was required in the same city back in 2019, when firefighters, police and a veterinary clinic saved a red squirrel that got its head stuck in a manhole cover.

In a statement, the fire department said: It could not be determined if it was the same squirrel that had to be rescued from the same situation four years ago.

Red squirrels can be found across Europe and Asia and are thought to have lived in the UK for around 10,000 years, according to the Wildlife Trusts.
Beijing restaurant customers next to a giant screen broadcasting footage of Chinese air force jets taking part in exercises around Taiwan yesterday. Photo: Tingshu Wang/Reuters

China ended three days of military drills around Taiwan yesterday saying it was ready to fight, having tested integrated military capabilities under actual combat conditions, and practised precision strikes and blockading the island that Beijing views as its own.

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 US 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 yesterday 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 carriers deck.

Taiwan has tracked the Shandong since last week in the Pacific Ocean.

Taiwans defence ministry said that as of 10am yesterday it had spotted 12 Chinese ships and 91 military aircraft around the island, including carrier-based J-15 fighters flown from the Shandong.

The Shandong conducted air operations in waters close to Japans Okinawan islands on Sunday, Japans defence ministry said on yesterday.

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 230km 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 yesterday.

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 US air force base. Last August when China staged war games to protest against the visit of then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, Chinese missiles landed within Japans exclusive economic zone.

The European Union also expressed concern yesterday, saying Taiwans status should not be changed by force as any escalation, accident or use of force there would have huge global implications.

The US 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 yesterday.

By contrast, Russia, which has declared a no limits partnership with China, said Beijing had every right to respond to repeated provocations against it and carry out military exercises around Taiwan.

Taiwans military has repeatedly said it will respond calmly to Chinas drills and not provoke conflict.

The defence ministry separately released pictures yesterday 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 yesterday, as soldiers stood guard and tourists watched and posed for pictures

.
The US President made the call as he flew to Belfast to start a four-day trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland.

US President Joe Biden has spoken to the parents of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich  nearly two weeks after the Moscow-based journalist was detained in Russia and charged with espionage.

Mr Biden made the call on Tuesday as he flew to Belfast to start a four-day trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland.

The call happened a day after Mr Bidens administration formally declared the reporter has been wrongfully detained.

The designation elevates Mr Gershkovichs case for the US government and means a particular State Department office will take the lead on seeking his release.

US President Joe Biden (PA)

Before departing Washington on Tuesday, Mr Biden again condemned the journalists detention.

Both the US government and Wall Street Journal have vehemently denied the Russian accusation that Mr Gershkovich is a spy.

Were making it real clear that its totally illegal whats happening, and we declared it so, Mr Biden said.

It changes the dynamic.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters after the call that Mr Biden felt it was really important to connect with Evans family, his parents.

She said Mr Gershkovich, 31, has been top of mind for the president.

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White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Russian government has yet to grant US consular access to Mr Gershkovich.

Its not for lack of trying, Mr Kirby said, adding that the State Department has been seeking access ever since the moment we found out that he was detained.

Russian authorities arrested Mr Gershkovich 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.
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 said.

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.

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.

The officers conducting research with the POWs for the AFU said 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.

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 consider 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.

For Yevhen, the equipment he was issued was not only sub-standard, 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 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.

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 thats been left behind by our army  its an absolute horror, a disaster.

As for fighting other people born in Ukraine, he said it felt disgusting.

I wont take a gun in my hands again, no matter what. If needed, I will go to jail.

Bohdan (38) 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. However, the AFU disputes this, 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 didnt want to fight. I had no desire, no mood, he said

.

The prisoners names have been changed. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2023)
The peace of some French vineyards has been shattered by new turbines. Photo: Fontaine Gael

Winegrowers in southwestern France are facing a revolt over deafening anti-frost turbines, which residents say sound like helicopters flying overhead.

Vintners in Saint-Ciers-Champagne in the Charente-Maritime department erected the masts to warm the air in vineyards that were decimated by frost in 2021.

These big fans, equipped with two sails perched on a mast 12 metres up, automatically start when the temperature falls to 1.6C, said Bruno Delannoy, president of the Vinet-Delpech distillery, whose vineyards produce grapes for cognac.

They are able to capture less cold air, located higher up, and bring it to ground level to avoid the temperature dropping too much, he told Le Figaro.

While the system is effective in protecting budding vines, it has infuriated residents.

Im against this type of equipment, said Michel Vion, the local mayor.

Weve got 20-odd towers in the town. When theyre up and running, they emit 80 to 100 decibels of noise right into the town. When there is a lot of frost, as there was in April 2021, they operate 10 days in a row for 12 hours flat, from 9pm to 9am. People cant sleep.

Mr Vion tried to organise a meeting with the neighbouring town, Allas-Champagne, between residents and winemakers, but added: We had before us an aggressive group of vintners, bent on defending their vineyards at all costs.

Residents have filed a complaint with the local state prefect.

However, Bernard Maindron, the mayor of Allas-Champagne, said there was no legal framework to regulate the use of the noisy turbines or impose a minimum distance from housing.

Defenders of the towers point out that cognac production employs 60,000 people in the local area and generates 3.6bn in sales, so residents should simply put up with the sounds of the countryside.

Even if these towers emit noise that surpasses authorised norms, exceptional climatic conditions call for exceptional preventative measures, said Timothee Dufour, the winegrowers lawyer.
Ukrainian soldiers come under heavy attack in Bakhmut cityRussians launch air strikes, artillery barragesUkraine says counter-offensive plan not hurt by U.S. leak

Ukrainian service members from 28th mechanised brigade remain in their trenches after incoming fire at the frontline, amid Russias attack on Ukraine in the region of Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Russian forces pounded frontline cities in eastern Ukraine with air strikes and artillery attacks, while US officials stepped up efforts to locate the source of a leak of classified US documents, including those on Ukrainian counter-offensive plans.

The Russians pressed on with their offensive in the eastern Donetsk region where several cities and towns came under heavy bombardment, Ukraine's general staff said on Tuesday.

Ukrainian forces repelled several attacks, it said, as the Russian military kept up its effort to take control of Bakhmut.

A top Ukrainian commander accused Moscow of using "scorched earth" tactics.

"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 battle for the small and now largely ruined city on the edge of a chunk of Russian-controlled territory in Donetsk has been the bloodiest of the 13-month war as Moscow tries to inject momentum into its campaign after recent setbacks.

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the Bakhmut fighting, but Syrskyi said: "The situation is difficult but controllable."

The head of the Moscow-controlled part of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said Russian forces now held 75pc of the city, though he cautioned it was too early to talk about Bakhmut's fall.

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 remain intact and those queuing for 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, US broadcaster CNN said Ukraine was forced to amend some military plans ahead of its long-anticipated counter-offensive because of the leak of dozens of secret documents.

US officials are trying to trace the source of the leak, reviewing how they share secrets internally and dealing with the diplomatic fallout.

The documents detail topics such as 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.

Some national security experts and US 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."

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 made only small advances at 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 while shelling many towns and villages, including Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar.

Ukrainian forces repelled 52 enemy attacks, it said.

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.

Last week, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said troops could be withdrawn if they ran the risk of being encircled. Kyiv and the West say the now smashed city of Bakhmut has only symbolic importance.
Russians use scorched earth tactics in Bakhmut

Russian forces pressed attacks on frontline cities in eastern Ukraine yesterday , 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 Ukraines 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, now in its second year.

The head of the Moscow-controlled part of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said Russian forces now held 75pc 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 yesterday 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, CNN reported that Ukraine had been forced to amend some military plans ahead of its long-anticipated counter-offensive because of the leak of US 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 Defence 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.

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 any advances are incremental and come at a huge cost.

The Ukrainian defenders have also taken heavy casualties.

Gen Syrskyi said Moscow was sending in special forces and airborne units to help their attack on Bakhmut as members of Russias private mercenary Wagner group were exhausted.

Wagner mercenaries have spearheaded the assault on Bakhmut which has left it largely in ruins.

Reuters could not verify the battlefield accounts.

Ukraines 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.

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 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 Volodymyr Zelensky last week acknowledged that if troops risked being encircled they could be pulled back.

In other action, Russias defence ministry said its forces destroyed a depot with 70,000 tonnes of fuel near Zaporizhzhia.

They 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.

In a rare co-ordination between the warring parties, Russia and Ukraine carried out another prisoner swap, with 106 Russian captives freed in exchange for 100 Ukrainians.
It is the latest incident in a wave of deadly violence gripping the occupied territory.

Mourners attend the funeral of Lucy Dee at a cemetery in the West Bank settlement of Kfar Etzion, on Tuesday (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

The Israeli military has shot and killed two Palestinians who allegedly opened fire at troops from their car in the northern West Bank, authorities said.

It is the latest incident in a wave of deadly violence gripping the occupied territory.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the two men killed in the West Bank village of Deir al Hatab on Tuesday as Saud Abdullah Saud and Mohammed Abu Dira.

The Israeli military said the men shot at an Israeli outpost near the settlement of Elon Moreh, south of the Palestinian city of Nablus.

Israeli soldiers on patrol opened fire, killing the two alleged gunmen.

Palestinian media said a third gunmen was in the car during the drive-by shooting and fled the area.

Israeli security forces said they were searching for other suspected assailants and found a pair of M-16 rifles and a pistol at the scene.

The local armed group of the Balata refugee camp, a militant stronghold near Nablus, identified the two men as militants, sharing photographs of them brandishing M-16s and posing together in the camp.

Saud had previously spent 15 years in Israeli prison, the group said.

We fought as soldiers and we promise we will always be soldiers, Saud told reporters after being freed from prison last spring in a video widely circulated online.

Tuesdays deaths follow a week of unusually heightened violence in Israel and the West Bank, touched off by an Israeli police raid on Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, the compound home to the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Last week, the Israeli military struck sites linked to the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip after militants in the two territories fired salvos of rockets at Israel.

The mosque sits on a contested hilltop revered as the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism.

Underscoring the situation in the West Bank, two British-Israeli sisters and their mother were killed when their car came under fire near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank last Friday.

The mother, Lucy Dee, succumbed to her wounds on Monday and was laid to rest in the settlement of Kfar Etzion south of Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Hundreds of mourners packed the funeral, singing and swaying as Lucys husband, Leo, and his three remaining children wept at the podium  their family of seven reduced to four.

Lucy, I have a choice: I could lament over the next 25 years of marriage that Ive lost, but I actually feel blessed to have had 25 years of a beautiful marriage with you, Leo said, his voice cracking in anguish.

He added: If we support the good and reject the evil, then we can all play our part in building a better world.

Last week, in a separate incident, an Italian tourist was killed and five others were hurt when a Palestinians car careened onto a bike path near the beach in Tel Aviv in what authorities described as a suspected terrorist attack.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he offered condolences to his Italian counterpart during a phone call on Tuesday.

So far this year, 94 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to a tally by the Associated Press, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups.

During that time, 19 people were killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

With the country battling threats on multiple fronts, Mr Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, who expressed opposition to the governments divisive plans to weaken the judiciary last month.

Mr Gallant praised the Israeli militarys killing of the Palestinian gunmen on Tuesday.

In a step toward de-escalating the situation, Mr Netanyahus office said on Tuesday that authorities would ban Jewish visits to the sacred compound housing Al-Aqsa, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, for the remainder of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

That is standard for the final 10 days of the holiday, when Muslims often pray at the site overnight.

Jews are permitted to visit the compound, but not pray there, under longstanding agreements.

But such visits, which have grown in numbers in recent years, have stoked anger, particularly because some Jews are often seen quietly praying.

The rare convergence of the Jewish Passover festival and Ramadan brought scores of religious Jews to the site last week and fuelled tensions that spiralled into unrest in Jerusalem  and a regional confrontation.
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 (20) and Rina Dee (15) who were also British citizens, were killed on Friday when their car was shot at by a suspected Palestinian gunman.

Their mother, Lucy Dee, was travelling with them and was critically wounded.

Authorities in Israel are still searching for the assailant.

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.

His 48-year-old wife, Lucy, received surgery and had been in a critical condition in hospital since the attack in Jordan Valley.

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 found out only 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 yesterday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The army said it entered the camp to arrest a wanted Palestinian suspect, and claimed 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.

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.

In addition to the attack that killed Lucy Dee and her daughters, a suspected car-ramming in Tel Aviv on Friday left an Italian tourist dead and seven others injured, including three Britons.
The head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, shakes hands with Saudi ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber at the Republican Palace in Sanaa, Yemen. Photo: Reuters

A Saudi Arabian delegation arrived in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa for peace talks yesterday in the biggest push yet to end their eight-year involvement in the countrys war.

The Saudi-Houthi talks, mediated by Oman, are in their final stage, according to sources familiar with the negotiations and Yemeni government officials.

Mahdi al-Mashat, the president of the Houthi political council, met with Omani and Saudi delegations on Sunday to finalise plans for a permanent ceasefire and an overarching peace plan, Houthi-run news agency Saba reported.

A previous ceasefire expired in October and although there were violations, it has largely held since.

Photos released of two delegations shaking hands on Sunday marked the first time that Saudi officials have been publicly received in Houthi-controlled Sanaa since 2015, though another visit was reported to have taken place earlier this year. Most of the Houthi demands in the negotiations are expected to have been met in the agreed deal.

Sources familiar with the negotiations said the plan is to initially renew a ceasefire for six months, putting a stop to military actions across the country. Over this time, the restrictions imposed by the Saudi-led coalition on Sanaa airport and from the Houthis on the sea ports of Hodeidah will be lifted.

One snag is said to be that some nearby countries are hesitant to allow flights from Houthi-controlled Sanaa to resume over security concerns. The Houthis are being asked to end their siege of Taiz, which has been in place since the wars early days.

The joint plan includes the payment of the Houthis state employees, including armed forces, by revenue generated from oil and gas in the south of the country.

There will then be a second set of negotiations in which Yemens parties should begin peace talks. A Yemeni government official said peace talks between the internationally recognised government and the Houthis would take place after the six-month truce.

The plan is designed to pave the way for a two-year transition period for Yemen, though the sources briefed on the negotiations said it remains unclear what that will look like in reality.
The 32-year-old played for Spanish club Sevilla from 2016-19.

By Associated Press Reporters

By Associated Press Reporters

Monaco forward Wissam Ben Yedder has been given a suspended prison sentence of six months and a day by a Spanish court for tax fraud.

The France international was also fined almost 134,000 euros (117,711) for not properly paying taxes in Spain.

The 32-year-old played for Spanish side Sevilla from 2016-19.

The sentencing stemmed from a deal between prosecutors and the players defence team, the court said.

Sentences of less than two years for first-time offenders are usually suspended in Spain.
Four of the victims have been identified as a 74-year-old couple and two women, aged 88 and 65, who were neighbours.

A fire engine is parked in a street near the scene where a building collapsed in Marseille (Bishr El Touni/AP)

French investigators are treating the deaths of at least six people who were killed when a building collapsed in Marseille as an involuntary homicide caused by a gas explosion, a prosecutor said.

Dominique Laurens said an investigation was opened on that basis after the first body was found in the building, which collapsed in an explosion early on Sunday.

Four of the victims have been identified as a 74-year-old couple and two women, aged 88 and 65, who were neighbours.

Rescuers continued searched on Tuesday for two people who remained unaccounted for following the blast in Frances second-largest city.

Investigators are now working on the hypothesis of a gas explosion as the cause of the buildings collapse, Ms Laurens said during a news conference.

A gas meter was found in the rubble that may help determine whether there was atypical consumption in the 24 hours prior to the explosion.

In 2018, two buildings in the centre of Marseille collapsed, killing eight people. Those buildings were poorly maintained, which was not the case with the one that collapsed on Sunday, the interior minister said.
The magazine provides a general overview of the options available to foreign firms to sell to the online India...
Wikipedia Commons

Godda: Adani Power Limited (APL), a part of the diversified Adani Group, announces the commissioning of its first 800 MW ultra-super-critical thermal power generation unit at Godda in the Jharkhand district of India and begins supplying Bangladesh with 748 MW of power.

The electricity supplied from Godda will significantly improve the situation in the neighbouring country as it will replace expensive power generated from liquid fuel, bringing down the average cost of power purchased.

The Godda Power Plant is a strategic asset in the India-Bangladeshs long-standing relationship, said SB Khyalia, CEO, Adani Power Limited. It will ease the power supply in Bangladesh, making its industries and ecosystem more competitive. It is going to be the most efficient and environment-friendly thermal power plant installed in India and entire South-East region and also one of the best in class in the world. It is the first power plant in the country, which has started its operations from Day One with 100% Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD), SCR and Zero Water Discharge.

In November 2017, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) executed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with APLs wholly-owned subsidiary Adani Power Jharkhand Limited (APJL) to procure 1,496 MW net capacity power from 2X800 MW ultra-supercritical power project at Godda. Indias largest power producer in the private sector is expected to commission its second 800 MW unit soon.

It is to be noted that Bangladesh has one of the largest liquid fuel-based power generation plants in the Indian sub-continent region.

The installed capacity of heavy fuel oil (HFO)-based plants is about 6,329 MW and high-speed diesel (HSD)-based plants is about 1,290 MW, totaling to over 7,600 MW.

As per BPDBs annual report for the financial year 2021-22, the total tariff of HFO-based plants is around BDT 22.10/kWh (USC 21/KWh) and total tariff of HSD-based power plants is around BDT 154.11/kWh (USC 149/KWh), which is far higher than the tariff of Godda Power Plant (Energy cost estimated to be around 9 cents/KWh).

Though at present, Bangladesh has long-term PPA ties with three other imported coal-based generators, total tariff of Godda TPP is competitive compared to peers.

This is to inform that Unit 1 of 800 MW capacity of the 2x800 MW ultra-supercritical power project of Adani Power (Jharkhand) Limited (APJL), situated in Godda district in Jharkhand, has achieved commercial operations. APJL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Power Limited, will supply power under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for corresponding net capacity of 748 MW from Unit 1 to the Bangladesh Power Development Board. Pursuant to the above, APJL has started processing its claims under the PPA with effect from April 6, 2023, read APLs announcement on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Friday.

Despite several challenges, including unprecedented waves of COVID-19, APJL had successfully synchronised the first unit with the power grid of Bangladesh on 29 November 2022 through a dedicated transmission line from Godda to Bangladesh in the presence of representatives from the government of Bangladesh. Subsequently, the requisite transmission evacuation system on the Bangladesh side was commissioned in March 2023.

Accordingly, APJL again synchronised the unit 1 on 20 March 2023. The Reliability Run Test, including Commercial Operation Tests, was completed on 5 April 2023 in the presence of competent authority from BPDB and Power Grid Corporation of Bangladesh (PGCB) officials.

The Godda Power Plant comprises two units of the latest technology available in the world, which is Ultra Super Critical Technology with latest techniques for controlling emissions and consumption of coal and water. The Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) have been installed in the plant to minimise the emission and meet the latest environment norms of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF). This plant is going to be one its kind in India and in Bangladesh, operating on the latest environment emission norms.
Mumbai: Bank of India on Tuesday said it has taken a significant step towards enhancing its security measures by launching a web-based Security MIS (Management Information System) application.

This pioneering move establishes Bank of India as one of the first banks in the country to have a dedicated digital application for its Security Department.

The application was officially launched by Bank of India's Executive Director, Subrat Kumar, in the presence of the Chief Security Officer, Capt Akhilesh Kumar, his team and team of IT Officers who have contributed in the development of the software.

The launch event took place at the Bank of India Head Office at BKC, Mumbai and it was attended by Dy. Zonal Managers and Security officers of all Zones through WebEx.

The newly developed Security MIS application is a state-of-the-art solution that enables the bank's security team to efficiently manage and monitor security-related data analysis, security preparedness and incidents in a seamless manner.

The application provides real-time access to critical security information, allowing the bank to proactively identify and address potential security threats.

With the launch of this web-based application, Bank of India has taken a significant stride towards strengthening its security measures and leveraging the power of technology to enhance the effectiveness of its security operations.

The bank's leadership believes that this digital solution will significantly contribute to improving the security posture of the bank and safeguarding the interests of its customers and stakeholders.

Speaking at the launch event, Subrat Kumar, Executive Director of Bank of India, highlighted the bank's commitment to embracing digital solutions to enhance its operations and improve customer service.

He commended the efforts of the Security Department in developing this cutting-edge application and expressed confidence that it would provide a robust platform for effective and efficient security management.

Akhilesh Kumar, Chief Security Officer of Bank of India, expressed his gratitude to the bank's leadership for their unwavering support in implementing this digital solution. He also acknowledged the hard work and dedication of his team and team from IT department in developing the Security MIS application, which he believes will serve as a powerful tool in ensuring the safety and security of the bank's assets, employees, and customers.
Image Credit: tweeted by @nsitharamanoffc

Washington: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday attended a roundtable meeting with business leaders and investors, co-hosted the by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and US-India Business Council in the US Chamber, in Washington, DC.

During the roundtable themed "Investment opportunities for the long term: India on the Rise", Sitharaman interacted with investors and business leaders.

Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman attended a roundtable meeting on the theme Investment opportunities for the long term: India on the Rise with business leaders and investors co-hosted by @FollowCII and @USIBC, in @USChamber, Washington DC, today. (1/7) pic.twitter.com/sTNU2jECFr  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) April 11, 2023

On the sidelines of the spring meeting 2023 in Washington on Tuesday, Sitharaman also had a discussion with American economist Adam Posen about the "Resilience of the Indian economy amidst tightening of financial conditions" at Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman converses with Dr @AdamPosen on Resilience of the Indian economy amidst tightening of financial conditions at Peterson Institute for International Economics @PIIE on the sidelines of the #SpringMeetings 2023 in Washington DC, today. pic.twitter.com/Bn9ZRZijhA  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) April 10, 2023

She also had a meeting with Malawi's minister of finance and economic affairs Sosten Gwengwe on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF spring meetings 2023 in Washington, on April 10.

Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman met Minister of Finance & Economic Affairs of the Republic of Malawi Mr. @SostenGwengwe on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF #SpringMeetings 2023, in Washington D.C., today. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/UVPOCOep6T  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) April 10, 2023

Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu received Sitharaman in Washington on April 9 for her week-long US visit to attend the annual spring meetings and led the G-20 countries in a series of intense interactions on various global issues.
Kolkata/IBNS:: Be it academics or industry, language is frequently used as a baffle wall rather than a means of communication, said Subir Ghosh, a well-known public relations expert and academician.

He was talking at the launch of his book 'New Age Public Relations' held recently at the Calcutta Press Club, which talks about effective business communication sans the jargon.

Published by Shishu Sahitya Samsad, the book, according to Ghosh, delves into "our most fundamental technology; the technology behind all our other technologies, is language."

Present on the occasion were Jawhar Sircar, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha along with Dr Mrinal Chatterjee, Regional Director, IIMC, Snehasish Sur, President, Calcutta Press Club, and Debajyoti Dutta, owner of Sahitya Samsad.

Prof. Suranjan Das, former Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University and currently, Vice- Chancellor of Jadavpur University, said that both professionals and the general public will benefit from the book.

Author Subir Ghosh wears many hats and has been associated with the world of public relations in many capacities.

He is currently associated with St. Xaviers University and St. Xaviers College; a visiting faculty member of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (Dhenkanal) since 2001.

Former principal of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (ACCM), he served as the Deputy General Manager (PR & HRD) of Hindustan Paper Corporation, was CPRO of Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation, lecturer in English at Bhairab Ganguly College, and has also worked as Staff Reporter for The Statesman and The Hindustan Standard.

Ghosh is a member of the International Public Relations Association since 2022, a member of the London-based Chartered Institute of Public Relations since 2014 and Chairman of the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI, Kolkata Chapter) during 1990-1994.
Image Credit: Facebook/Sachin Pilot

Jaipur/IBNS: The Congress has warned its Rajasthan leader Sachin Pilot against going on fast on Tuesday and called the move an "anti-party activity".

Pilot has demanded that the Ashok Gehlot government should act against the alleged corruption of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Vasundhara Raje.

The Gehlot government has denied Pilot's allegations of inaction, leading to a public spectacle of the ruling Congress just months away from the assembly election.

"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 public," the Congress's Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said in a statement on Monday.

This is being seen as a final effort to de-escalate the friction between Pilot, who has been eyeing the Chief Minister's post for a long time, and Gehlot, the current Chief Minister.

Pilot said that it was necessary to assure people that the Congress government was acting on its statements and promises made before the 2018 assembly elections.

He said that the government had failed to take action against the excise mafia, illegal mining, land encroachment and the Lalit Modi affidavit case.

Pilot had even played old videos of Gehlot accusing Raje of corruption and misrule asking why he had not initiated any investigation or inquiry into these matters.

He said that the Congress government had evidence against the former BJP government but had not acted on it.

"We cannot go into the elections with these promises unfulfilled. We have evidence. We should have acted. We should investigate. We are going into elections. There will be Model Code of Conduct soon. We are answerable to the people," Pilot had said.
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Srinagar: A woman was among two militant associates of Lashkar-e-Taiba who were arrested by security forces in Barmaulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Tuesday.

They said arms and ammunition was also recovered on their disclosure.

Police said a militant module was busted in Pattan area by joint forces of Baramulla Police, Army 29 RR and 2 Bn SSB on the basis of reliable information.

The two arrested militant associates of LeT were identified by police as Farooq Ahmad Parra of Par Mohalla Pattan and Saima Bashir of Chinkipora, Sopore.

On their disclosure arms and ammunition was recovered.

The recovery included a pistol, two pistol magazines, five pistol rounds, five IEDs and one remote control IED weighing approximately 2kgs, police said.

During their further questioning, they revealed that the duo were working as terrorist associates with an active LeT terrorist Abid Qayoom Lone of Wussan Pattan , police said.

A case under sections of Arms and ULA (P) Act was registered in Police station Pattan and investigation set into motion.

(With UNI inputs)
New Delhi/UNI: The Supreme Court in its order on Tuesday dismissed the appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging a Madras High Court order permitting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to carry out its route march in the state.

The order of the Apex Court is a big setback for the TN government.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice V Ramasubramanian passed the order on an appeal filed by the TN government challenging the Madras HC order relating to RSS route march in the state.

"The SLP (Special Leave Petition) is dismissed," the Supreme Court said in its order.

Senior Advocate and former Attorney General (AG) of India, Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for TN government, had told the SC that the TN government had denied permission for RSS route marches in six districts affected by

PFI and bomb blasts. He had told the Apex Court that rallies can be held in stadiums of designated spaces.

"We took a call & said that in 6 districts we can't have. The Single judge of the Madras High Court had accepted but the division bench of it had held that you (TN Govt) grant it, wherever they want," Rohatgi had told the Supreme Court.

Tamil Nadu Government had on February 21, knocked the doors of the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court's order of permitting RSS to conduct a route March. The Tamil Nadu Govt has sought a direction from the Supreme Court for staying the HC's order.

Tamil Nadu Govt had moved the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court's division bench order permitting the RSS to conduct a route March. The TN govt was seeking a direction from the Supreme Court for staying the HC's order.

"Allowing such a march could cause law & order issues and problems. Action that has been initiated by the State is a reasonable restriction to maintain public order," the Tamil Nadu government's petition filed before the Supreme Court said.

The two-judge bench of Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq, of the Madras High Court, had in its order allowed the RSS plea, and permitted it to conduct a route March.

While allowing the RSS to conduct a route march, the HC had noted that the State must uphold the citizens' right to freedom of speech and expression.

The Madras HC court thus had directed the RSS to file fresh applications for carrying out the route march on three different dates and directed the Tamil Nadu police to permit the RSS to take out route marches on any of such dates in various districts across the State on public roads.

The Madras HC's two-judge bench had permitted RSS members to take out a route march in their uniform led by a musical band throughout Tamil Nadu.
Image Credit: UNI

New Delhi/IBNS: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has slammed the "western perceptions" towards the condition of minorities in India suggesting they are far from reality.

Sitharaman raised some questions on the perceptions that the Muslim lives were made difficult with the help of the State in a conversation with Peterson Institute president Adam Posen.

The top minister of the Modi government said, "India has the second largest Muslim population in the world and the population is only growing in numbers.

"If there is a perception or if there is in reality that their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the state, which is implied in most of these write-ups, I will ask, will this happen in India in the sense would Muslim population be growing than what it was in 1947?"

#WATCH | "Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responds to a question on 'violence against Muslims' in India and on negative Western perceptions' of India pic.twitter.com/KIT9dF9hZC  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2023

"As opposed to Pakistan, which was formed at the same timePakistan declared itself an Islamic country but said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in its number or if I may use the word, which is harsher, decimated in Pakistan

"Violence prevails against Mohajirs, Shia, and every other group you can name which is not accepted by the mainstream Sunnis probably," she added.

Further Sitharaman emphasised that every strand of the Muslim population is protected in India.

"Whereas in India, every strand of Muslim doing their business, their children getting educated, fellowships are being given by the government," she said.

Image Credit: Twitter/Narendra Modi

The minister also slammed the "western perceptions" that the Indian government is responsible for allegedly making the lives of Muslims difficult citing each state is governed by its own elected government which controls the law and order.

Sitharaman said, "Each province has its elected government. They take care of their law and order in those states. Across the board in India, if violence is happening to make Muslims get affected, in itself is a fallacy as a statement. It cannot be so; each province and police are different."

"So that itself tells you how these reports have no clue of the law and order systems in India," she added.
Image Credit: Twitter/S Jaishankar

New Delhi/Kampala/UNI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to Uganda, called on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

They also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure and energy, among other subjects.

In a tweet, the EAM said that he also congratulated the Ugandan President on his country assuming chairship of the Non Aligned Movement.

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.

Discussed cooperation in trade & investment, infrastructure, energy, defense, health, digital and agricultural domains.

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

Congratulated Uganda on assuming the chairship of the NAM and affirmed our strong coordination at multilateral forums including the United Nations.

President Museveni, in a tweet, said that he hosted EAM Jaishankar at his home in Rwakitura, and the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and agreed to cooperate in the areas of agriculture, defence and security, ICT among other issues.

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, the President said.

Uganda, which is holding the chair of the Non Aligned Movement till 2025, is preparing to hold the NAM Summit in January 2024.

EAM Jaishankar also participated in the launch of the Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project in Varanasi and appreciated the BJP partys Ugandan wing for contributing to further beautifying the ancient Indian city.

While in Kampala, delighted to participate in the launch of the Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project in Varanasi. Appreciate OFBJP-Ugandas initiative to contribute to further beautifying the oldest living city in the world.

Living in a land of the Nile, their commitment to a ghat on the Ganga reflects the confluence of our two cultures. The conservation of Varanasis heritage underlines the cultural revival of India. This has profound global implications.

Confident that many more members of Indian community in Uganda will keep visiting Varanasi and continue their efforts for its redevelopment, he said in another tweet.

During his visit to Uganda, a landlocked country in East Africa, from April 10-12, EAM is also to hold delegation level talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister of Uganda General Jeje Odongo. He is also expected to meet other Ministers.

EAM will 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, an official statement said.

EAM Jaishankar 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.

There are around 30,000 Indians in a country of nearly 50 million, accounting for less than one percent of the population, yet they contribute to 65 percent of the government revenues in the form of taxes.

Indian firms in Uganda have invested in areas from agriculture to manufacturing. The major firms are the Ruparelia group, valued at $800 million, led by Ugandan-born Sudhir Ruparelia, and the Madhvani group.
Image Credit: Wallpaper Cave

Srinagar/UNI: A woman was among two militant associates of Lashkar-e-Taiba who were arrested by security forces in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Tuesday.

They said arms and ammunition was also recovered on their disclosure.

Police said a militant module was busted in Pattan area by joint forces of Baramulla Police, Army 29 RR and 2 Bn SSB on the basis of reliable information.

The two arrested militant associates of LeT were identified by police as Farooq Ahmad Parra of Par Mohalla Pattan and Saima Bashir of Chinkipora, Sopore.

On their disclosure arms and ammunition was recovered.

The recovery included a pistol, two pistol magazines, five pistol rounds, five IEDs and one remote control IED weighing approximately 2kgs, police said.

During their further questioning, they revealed that the duo were working as terrorist associates with an active LeT terrorist Abid Qayoom Lone of Wussan Pattan , police said.

A case under sections of Arms and ULA (P) Act was registered in Police station Pattan and investigation set into motion.
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Tuesday postponed the hearing on the case pertaining to the West Bengal government employees' demand for a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA), media reports said.

The court will hear the case next on Apr 24.

This is the sixth time the hearing has been postponed in the top court.

The Calcutta High Court had in May 2022 directed the West Bengal government to give 31 percent DA to the employees.

But the state government moved the top court challenging the order.

The government claimed it won't be possible for it to pay the huge sum of money at the moment.

Meanwhile, a section of government employees, who were protesting against the Mamata Banerjee government at Shahid Minar in Kolkata for over 80 days, have now shifted their protest site to Delhi.

The protesters have now camped at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Image: PIB

New Delhi: India on Tuesday slammed China for objecting to Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the northeastern state is an integral and inalienable part of India and Beijings comments will not change the reality.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that Indian leaders routinely travel to Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other part of India.

The statement reads: "We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese Official Spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India."

Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality," it said.

China on Monday termed the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Arunachal Pradesh as violating Beijings territorial sovereignty and not conducive to peace and tranquility in the border areas.

Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, responding to a question on Amit Shahs visit, said: Zangnan (or South Tibet as Beijing refers to Arunachal Pradesh) is part of Chinas territory. 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.

On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' (VVP) at Kibithoo - a border village in Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China.

Shah also inaugurated nine micro hydel projects of the Arunachal Government and 14 infrastructure projects of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) worth Rs 120 crore in presence of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Home Secretary, ITBP Director General and other dignitaries.

In his address, the Home Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed peoples approach towards border villages; now people visiting border areas know it not as last village but as the first village of India.

"Border areas are the priority of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The security of the border is the security of the nation and this is the reason that the government led by PM Modi is continuously working to increase the border infrastructure," he said.

On April 4, India had in a statement rejected outright Chinas attempt at renaming 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing calls southern Tibet, and stated that Arunachal Pradesh has been and will always remain an inalienable part of India.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a statement, also said that attempts by China to assign invented names will not alter this reality of Arunachal Pradesh being an integral part of India.

The response came after China came up with a third set of names for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, which it referred to as "Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet".

In October 2021, China had protested against the visit of then Vice President Venkaiah Naidu to Arunachal Pradesh. The MEA had then too strongly criticised Chinas objections.

In February 2019 and earlier too, China had objected to PM Narendra Modis visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

(With UNI inputs)
Image: India In Vietnam Twitter page

General Ph. To Lam, Politburo Member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, Minister of Public Security of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam visited India at the invitation of Ajit Doval, KC, National Security Adviser to the Prime Minster of India from Apr 9-10 April when he held delegation-level meeting with the Indian counterpart.

"They held delegation-level meeting on bilateral security cooperation on 10 April 2023 in New Delhi," read the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The leaders reiterated the commitment on both sides to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and enhance the linkages on strategic, security and defense matters, contributing to maintaining peace, prosperity and stability of both countries, the region and the world at large.

They noted the discussions held during the Second India- Viet Nam Deputy Ministerial Security Dialogue held in September 2022 in New Delhi and agreed to strengthen the ongoing cooperation in exchanges, capacity building and training of officials from the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam.

The leaders further reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Both sides also emphasized the importance of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirmed their belief that any differences must be resolved peacefully by respecting international law, without resorting to threats, aggression or the unilateral or forceful change in the status quo. They also exchanged views on the recent developments in their respective regions.

Nityanand Rai, Minister of State of Home Affairs called on General Ph To Lam.

The Vietnamese Minister of Public Security also made a call on Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Tezpur: Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) Tezpur, one of the premier lab of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), took proactive steps to conduct training on "DRDO Water Testing Kit " on Tuesday to Army personnel under 4 Corps.

Director DRL, Dr DV Kamboj interacted with all the participants and encouraged them to learn the necessary skills to detect contaminants from water using DRDO water testing kit.

The army personnel deployed in remote and forward areas of North East India face challenges related to assessment of drinking water in field condition.

The training provided by DRL Tezpur would help them to address the issue effectively as water may look very clear but may contain many contaminants like fluoride, arsenic, bacteria, etc which are harmful to human health and it is difficult to detect these contaminants by the naked eyes.

DRL-DRDO has developed a Kit that can detect 11 different parameters including some very dangerous contaminants.

In this Training elaborate demonstration was given to armed personnel to detect the contaminants present in water using the DRDO Water Testing Kit.

This kit is also suitable for use even in field conditions, which would make it easier for Army personnel to conduct water testing in remote areas where laboratory facilities may not be available.

Army personnel from 16 different forward units attended the training programme followed by distribution of the training certificates.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Image Credit: Facebook/Jagadish Shettar

Bengaluru/IBNS: The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing a major rebellion as its MLA and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar announced that he is upset after the party asked him to make way for others in the upcoming state assembly elections.

Shettar, the MLA from Hubballi, has won six elections in the past.

He won by over 21,000 votes in the last assembly election in 2018, defeating his Congress rival Mahesh Nalwad.

After the party indicated he won't be given a ticket this time, the senior politician told reporters: "Last six elections I got elected with a margin of more than 21,000 votes. What are my minus points?"

"I am very disappointed. I have already started campaigning in my constituency, and I will intensify it. There is no question of staying away from election," said a visibly upset Shettar.

The BJP is yet to release its Karnataka candidates' list. The party's election committee including Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Delhi over the weekend to finalise the names.

Former Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa, who was also asked to make room for others in this election, has agreed not to contest.

In a letter to BJP chief JP Nadda, Eshwarappa earlier in the day, said he is retiring from electoral politics.

However, Shettar, citing "no blot" in his political career, said he has asked the party leadership to let him contest this time also.

"I ask only one question - I won six times, have no blot in my career and have no allegations against me. So why am I being excluded? I want to tell the party to allow me to contest, otherwise it won't be good for the party," said the former Chief Minister.

"I have pledged my loyalty to the BJP. Even the (party's) recent survey (on election) proved that I have an edge. But I am disappointed after getting the call from the party leadership," Shettar added.

The BJP intends to bring in new, younger faces before state elections, a move that was seen in Gujarat last year before the assembly election.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, former deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and former state party president RC Faldu, among others, had written letters agreeing to the request by the BJP leadership to make way for others.
Image Credit: Twitter/Basavaraj Bommai

Bengaluru/IBNS: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its first list of 189 candidates for the Karnataka assembly election.

While several MLAs have been dropped this time, Congress turncoats were chosen in the first list.

A second list will come soon, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said.

R Ashok will contest from his home seat Padmanabhanagar and Kanakapura, where he will face the state Congress chief DK Shivakumar. V Somanna will face off against Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Varuna. Somanna will also contest from a second seat, Chamarajnagar.

The BJP's election committee including Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Delhi over the weekend to finalise the names. Karnataka has 224 assembly seats.

The Central Election Committee of the BJP has decided the names of 189 candidates, in the first list, for the ensuing general elections to the legislative assembly of Karnataka. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/RhGFuhCWwS  BJP (@BJP4India) April 11, 2023

Bommai will contest from the Shiggaon constituency, his current seat.

BY Vijayendra, the son of former Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, will contest from the Shikaripura seat, the same constituency where his father had won seven times since 1983. State minister B Sriramulu will contest from Bellary Rural.

In Udupi, a key coastal town, Yashpal Suvarna will contest for the first time in place of the current MLA Raghupathi Bhat.

Suvarna had aggressively campaigned for a hijab ban. He is seen as a rising star among his local supporters. His claim to fame also includes activism in cow protection.

Karnataka will vote for a new government on May 10 and results will be declared on May 13.
Paris/IBNS: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal Tuesday said India deeply values its 25 years of strategic partnership with France and 75 years of friendship and desires to strengthen this partnership with the European nation.

Addressing the Indian Community in France's capital Paris, Goyal said France is the preferred partner in defence, economy, investments, etc. and this journey truly is reflective of India's journey of progress.

India offers huge opportunities to the rest of the world, while its overall exports grew to US $ 765 Billion in 2022-23, Goyal said, adding that the growth in exports is an example of a new India with capability, capacity and confidence.

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 minister said that each member of the diaspora is an ambassador of India.

Each member of the Indian diaspora living in France is a true living bridge between the two countries will relentlessly pursue a path that will further strengthen Indias ties with France in technology, investments, tourism, etc, Goyal said.

He said that the Indian Community in France can contribute to this journey of Amrit Kaal (the period of 25 years when India completes 100 years of Independence) envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to see India as a developed Nation by 2047.

India must find its rightful place in the Comity of Nations now as this is the time, this is the right time as said by the Prime Minister, Goyal stressed.
Image; UN Jamaica

New York: 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 on Monday.

The issue is under the microscope 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.

A triple crisis

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.

Transform educational systems

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.

Demographic diversity

The international community will also need to consider how to benefit from the worlds 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.

Life changer for girls

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.

Sexuality education critical

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.

Impact of population dynamics

In a pre-recorded message, the head of the UNs 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.

Learning from the pandemic

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.

Depression and drop-outs

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.

Support lifelong learning

Mr. Li recalled that at the UNs 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 provision of nutritious school meals.

Moreover, learning doesnt 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.

About the CPD

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.
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Peshawar: A terrorist and security personnel were killed in separate clashes in Pakistan's North and South Waziristan on Sunday, media reports said.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), an exchange of fire took place between security forces and militants in the Razmak of North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Dawn News.

The security forces effectively engaged the militants and gunned down one of them.

According to reports, weapons and ammunition were recovered from them.

The second shootout took place in the Karama area of South Waziristan, resulting in the martyrdom of a sepoy, reports Dawn News.

Naik Fazal Janan, resident of District Hangu, having fought gallantly, embraced martyrdom, the ISPR statement said as quoted by Dawn News, adding that a sanitisation operation was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area.
Image: Unsplash

Quetta: At least four people, including two cops and a minor girl, died on Monday when an explosion rocked their vehicle in Shahrah-e-Iqbal area of Pakistan's Quetta city, media reports said.

Officials told Geo News that at least 15 people were also injured in the blast which left several cars and motorcycles in the vicinity damaged.

The bodies of the deceased people were later shifted to Civil Hospital.

Civil Defence Director Rafu Mandokhail told Geo News that three to four kilos of explosives were used in the blast, while the explosive material was installed in a motorcycle.
Image: Wallpaper Cave

An intelligence-based operation in Pakistan's Quetta turned deadly when four police officers died during gunbattle with terrorists on Tuesday, media reports said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) in Quetta Capt (retd) Zuhaib Moshin told Dawn News that the operation was launched to neutralise terrorists who had been involved in past attacks on security forces in Kuchlak.

The operation was conducted in conjunction with Frontier Constabulary personnel, the newspaper reported.

During the operation, law enforcement personnel surrounded a house in Kuchlak, from which the terrorists opened fire on the officers, resulting in the tragic loss of four of them, the SSP said.

During the operation, police recovered weapons and ammunition from the deceased terrorist.

The body of the alleged terrorist was taken to a Quetta hospital to establish his identity, while the remains of the four officers were transported to Police Lines Quetta, Dawn News reported.
Image: Wikimedia Commons

Wana: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) members recently staged protest against the possible resumption of military operation in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal district.

They rejected the decision of the National Security Council about the resumption of the military operation in the tribal areas, reports The News International.

The National Security Council (NSC) in its 41st meeting held two days ago, with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the chair, approved military operations to flush out the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants from the tribal areas, the newspaper reported.

The activists of Jamaat-e-Islami Lower South Waziristan chapter staged the protest and took out the rally in Wana Bazaar area on Sunday.

The protest demonstration was led by JI district head President Mohammad Nadeem Wazir, general secretary Asadullah, Saif Ur Rehman, Mumtaz Khalil and Umar Wazir.
Image Credit: Pixabay

Denver/IBNS: US's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned people not to connect to the free power but instead carry their own chargers and USB cord in public places.

In its warning, the FBI has asked people to only use the electrical outlet in public places.

On April 6, the FBI's Denver office tweeted a serious warning to smartphone owners to avoid using free public charging stations.

The FBI warned of crooks using USB ports to infect phones with dangerous malware and software that can give hackers access to your phone, tablet, or computer.

''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,'' the tweet reads.

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

On its website, the FBI also warned people saying, ''Be careful when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network and do not conduct any sensitive transactions, including purchases, when on a public network."
A new report launched on the eve of the first major UN conference on water in over 45 years says 26% of the worlds population doesnt have access to safe drinking water and 46% lack access to basic sanitation. The UN World Water Development Report 2023 painted a stark picture of the huge gap that needs to be filled to meet UN goals to ensure all people have access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.

UN World Water Development Report

Richard Connor, editor-in-chief of the report, told a news conference that The estimated cost of meeting the goals is somewhere between $600 billion and $1 trillion a year. But equally important, Connor said, is forging partnerships with investors, financiers, governments and climate change communities to ensure that money is invested in ways to sustain the environment and provide potable water to the 2 billion people who dont have it and sanitation to the 3.6 million in need. According to the report, water use has been increasing globally by roughly 1% per year over the last 40 years and is expected to grow at a similar rate through to 2050, driven by a combination of population growth, socio-economic development and changing consumption patterns.



Connor said that Actual increase in demand is happening in developing countries and emerging economies where it is driven by industrial growth and especially the rapid increase in the population of cities. It is in these urban areas that youre having a real big increase in demand, he said.

Moneycontrol

Division Of Water Usage

With agriculture using 70% of all water globally, Connor said, irrigation for crops has to be more efficient, as it is in some countries that now use drip irrigation, which saves water.

That allows water to be available to cities, he said. As a result of climate change, the report said, seasonal water scarcity will increase in regions where it is currently abundant, such as Central Africa, East Asia and parts of South America, and worsen in regions where water is already in short supply, such as the Middle East and the Sahara in Africa.

On average, 10% of the global population lives in countries with high or critical water stress and up to 3.5 billion people live under conditions of water stress at least one month a year, said the report issued by UNESCO, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Points Of Concern

Since 2000, floods in the tropics have quadrupled while floods in the north mid-latitudes have increased 2.5-fold, the report said. Trends in droughts are more difficult to establish, it said, although an increase in intensity or frequency of droughts and heat extremes can be expected in most regions as a direct result of climate change.

As for water pollution, Connor said, the biggest source of pollution is untreated wastewater. Globally, 80 percent of wastewater is released to the environment without any treatment, he said, and in many developing countries its pretty much 99%.

These and other issues including protecting aquatic ecosystems, improving management of water resources, increasing water reuse and promoting cooperation across borders on water use will be discussed during the three-day UN Water Conference co-chaired by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon. There are 171 countries, including over 100 ministers, on the speakers list along with more than 20 organizations. The meeting will also include five interactive dialogues and dozens of side events.


A sandstorm from Mongolia swept through parts of China on Monday, spreading from far north Heilongjiang province to as far south as Shanghai. Despite blowing through a wide area, the storm was weaker in terms of range and intensity than the last sandstorm in late March  the strongest so far this year  according to the National Meteorological Center. The bout of dusty weather that affected about a dozen provincial-level regions is forecast to last until Tuesday. The Inner Mongolia autonomous region bore the brunt of the weather. Other areas affected included the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and some northern and western provinces. The NMC renewed a blue alert for sandstorms nationwide, the lowest in the four-tier weather warning system, on Monday. The alert began on Saturday. On Monday in Beijing, the minimum visibility was between 1 and 4 kilometers, according to the capital's meteorological service. The level of PM10  inhalable particles with diameters of 10 micrometers or less  reached a concentration of more than 200 micrograms per cubic meter on Monday afternoon, according to the Beijing Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center. On days when air quality is good, the PM10 level usually remains below 150 micrograms per cubic meter. The sandstorm will weaken starting from Tuesday, according to the NMC. Zhang Linna, chief forecaster at Beijing Meteorological Service, told China Youth Daily that strong winds blowing over sand and soil particles in deserts create the conditions for sand and dust storms. Strong wind transports the sand and dust, so as the wind dwindles the dusty weather will weaken, she was quoted as saying. Winds blowing over deserts carry the particles up and then transport them east and south, she said. "The main causes of sandy and dusty weather are the combination of little precipitation, high temperature and windy weather in spring," Zhang said. It is more likely for dusty weather to occur if vegetation has not yet turned green, which leads to the soil surface being exposed to wind, she added. Since the beginning of March, China has experienced five rounds of "dusty weather", which is more than in normal years, according to the NMC. Last spring, northern China had eight rounds of dusty weather. From 2000 to 2021, there were 10.7 rounds of dusty weather annually on average, according to the 2022 China Climate Bulletin.
A heartwarming story emerged from Florida where a woman, Geraldine Gimblet of Lakeland, won a whopping $2 million lottery prize just a day after her daughter's successful battle with breast cancer.

According to New York Post, Geraldine had spent her entire savings on her daughter's treatment.

Twitter/Representational Image

The Florida Lottery news release stated that she purchased the last available ticket for the $2,000,000 game at a gas station in Lakeland.



The fortunate winner shared that the gas station clerk first thought there were no more tickets, but after she insisted, he found the last one.

After scratching the ticket, she discovered that she had won the grand prize, and her lump-sum payout amounted to $1,645,000.

As per reports, the woman bought the ticket the day before her daughter's last cancer treatment.

The Florida Lottery shared a photo on their social media platforms that captured Mrs Gimble celebrating her win with her family, including her daughter and granddaughter, at the Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.

When Geraldine Gimblet of #Lakeland picked up the last $2,000,000 BONUS CASHWORD Scratch-Off game, her passion for crossword games paid off to the tune of a $2 million-dollar top prize, but thats just the beginning of a truly, winning story! https://t.co/q5mFPaUHR4 pic.twitter.com/mv55B9zmz9  Florida Lottery (@floridalottery) April 7, 2023

As per the tweet, ''When Geraldine Gimblet of #Lakeland picked up the last $2,000,000 BONUS CASHWORD Scratch-Off game, her passion for crossword games paid off to the tune of a $2 million-dollar top prize, but that's just the beginning of a truly, winning story!''

According to her daughter, Mrs Gimble had exhausted her life savings to support her during her illness.

Representational Image

She said, ''The day before my mom bought this ticket, I rang the bell and walked out of the hospital after completing my last treatment for breast cancer. My mom had taken out her life savings to care for me when I was sick. I'm just so happy for her!''



Moved by the woman's story, here's how the internet reacted:

One comment read: 'Very happy for this family. Maybe God could step in and help all the mothers and fathers that are bankrupting themselves to save their children.''

Another comment read: "Congratulations!!!! You were selfless in your giving and got more than you expected in return. God bless you and your family.''

'Very, very happy for this family. God is good all the time, and allll the time god is good. She didn't minded being without a penny, gave everything to save her daughter life. Such a beautiful miracle.'', read one comment.

The game costing $10, offers eight grand prizes worth $2 million and 20 secondary prizes worth $100,000.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.


The Spike is billed as a guided anti-tank and anti-personnel missile produced by Israeli state-owned defense contractor Rafael
Israels defense ministry on Monday confirmed an agreement to sell Greece with the Spike Nlos multi-purpose ground-level missile system , following several delays and the near-collapse of the deal
Former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, has been announced dead. Mbadinuju was said to have died at the National Hospital in Abuja on Tuesday, at the age of 78.

The former governors death was made known in a statement on Tuesday by his first son, Chetachi Mbadinuju.

His statement said: With heavy hearts but utmost gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of our father, grandfather, uncle, friend and associate, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a former governor of Anambra State and elder statesman.

READ ALSO: Ill Use Obis Anambra Governance Model To Cut Costs  Abia Gov-Elect Otti

He said the former governor passed on peacefully on Tuesday morning at the National Hospital Abuja after a brief illness.

He said the patriarch died at the age of 78, adding At this trying time, we pray for Gods grace and mercy upon him and those left behind to mourn him.

Chetachi said the family would announce his funeral arrangements in due course.

The late Mbadinuju served as the governor of Anambra State between 29 May 1999 and 29 May 2003 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He sought re-election as governor under the PDP platform, but was denied the partys ticket under controversial circumstances amidst internal crisis within the party at the time.

Chris Ngige would later clinch the governorship ticket of the party ahead of the 19 April, 2003 governorship election in the state.

After losing the PDPs ticket, Mr Mbadinuju defected to the now defunct Alliance for Democracy, where he later emerged the partys governorship candidate, but lost in the general election.

Mbadinuju had served as a personal assistant to a former governor of old Enugu State, Jim Nwobodo, between 1979 and 1980, before playing the same role for former Nigerias Head of State, Shehu Shagari, between 1980 and 1983.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has questioned the silence of the Supreme Court over the appeal of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPoB who said the delay is worrisome considering all the accelerated hearing processes filed on the case disclosed it is suspecting that the recent political developments and ethnic profiling of Ndigbo in Nigeria are also playing out in the case of their leader, Kanu

Wondering why a case of fundamental rights abuse has been held down at the Supreme Court for so long, Powerful said the Court has accelerated hearing in political cases, adding that the Justices are not being neutral.

We, the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great prophet and indefatigable liberator, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu questions the silence and refusal of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to hear the appeal case of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu despite all the accelerated hearing processes filed on the case.

It is evident that the lives of Biafrans, particularly Ndigbo, are endangered in Nigeria. We have witnessed the Supreme Court of Nigeria giving accelerated hearings to political cases brought before them but have kept mute over the human rights abuse of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is illegally detained at the DSS solitary confinement or dungeon for almost two years now.

The continuous silence and refusal of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to set a date of hearing on the appeals brought before them by the Federal Government against the discharge and acquittal order from the Abuja Appeal Court has shown that the apex Court is not neutral in this case.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a prisoner of conscience, was abducted and tortured in Kenya before he was renditioned to Nigeria by the Nigerian State secret agents.

READ ALSO: IPOB Dissociates Itself From Those Calling For No Election In South-East

On October 13, 2022, the Abuja Appeal Court discharged and acquitted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and ordered the Nigerian government to pay him adequate compensation.

Instead of releasing him as ordered by the Appeal Court, the Federal Government ran to the Supreme Court to frustrate the Appeal Court Orders and appealed the case. Over 150 days after this appeal was lodged, the apex Court which ought to be the last hope of the common man has maintained silence thereby allowing the Nigerian government to continue the torture and illegal detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in the DSS solitary dungeon of confinement.

This same Britain had in the past severed or cut off diplomatic relationship with Nigeria for their failed attempt to kidnap and parcel back to Nigeria the Late Umaru Dikko in a diplomatic duffle bag from London to Nigeria under this same Muhammadu Buharis military dictatorship.

Umaru Dikko was not a British citizen, but Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a British citizen. What is the difference between the two abductees from the same tyrant? Umaru was a Fulani, a friend of Britain, while Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a Biafran, the perceived foe of Britain. This development should also inform Biafrans in the UK who have been granted British citizenship and British passport to remember that Britain will never protect you as their citizen in time of need.

The Supreme Court has shown that Biafrans are not safe in Nigeria. These actions justify Biafrans quest for a referendum to decide our economic and political future as an Independent Nation. Gone are the days when it is said that the judiciary is the hope of the common man, not anymore in Nigeria.

Nigerias executive arm of government has subjugated both the judiciary and the legislative arms of the same government. The apex cum Constitutional Court must understand that the abuse of Appeal Court orders because it is ruled in favour of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will ridicule them before the whole world and eventually embolden the Executive branch to become a law unto itself going forward.

We want the Supreme Court Justices of Nigeria and the British government to understand that neither Mazi Nnamdi Kanu nor IPoB will back down on the struggle for the Biafra referendum and independence.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is an oracle that Biafrans revere and can not and will not be traded or exchanged for anything in this world, the statement read.
The Federal Government has challenged the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to clarify his position on the recent controversial leaked audio of a conversation he allegedly had with founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo.

Addressing the media on Monday in London, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said Obi should clarify what he meant by saying the leaked conversation was a fake doctored audio call.

I need to draw the attention of Nigerians to the recent leaked audio of conversation between the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the cleric.

The leaked audio rattled Nigerians because we heard Obi pleading with the cleric to interfere on his behalf to convince Christians that this is a religious war and they should support him, he said.

Obi reacting, as reported by Information Nigeria said that it was a fake, doctored audio call.

But the minister said: If it is fake, it means it never took place. But if it is doctored, it means there was that conversation but it was manipulated.

Obi needs to come out and make the clarification on whether the conversation did not take place or it took place, but it was doctored.

READ ALSO: Keyamo Concurs As Itse Sagay Slams Obidients Over Bullying

If it was doctored, which part of it was doctored?

Is it the beginning, the middle or the end or is it the Yes Daddy part of it, or where he said it was a religious war?

Mohammed who said the leaked audio had corroborated the position that Obis electioneering campaign was based on religion and ethnicity, disclosed it was the first time in the history of Nigerias elections that a politician would come out openly to campaign on grounds of religion and ethnicity.

From the outcome of the presidential elections you will see that Obi got his vote mostly from areas where he comes from and his religious leaning.

This is not good for the politics of Nigeria and it is very dangerous.

As a result of this kind of campaign, Nigeria is more divided than ever and people are being heard commenting either based on their religious position or ethnic origin.

Many otherwise respected commentators are not left behind on the effect of this divisive politics, he said.

Speaking on his mission to London, the minister said it was to defend the legitimacy of the just concluded general elections and to correct the imbalance in the skewed narrative which had pervaded the air on the elections.

He said, like what he did recently in Washington, he would let the world know that the 2023 election was the freest in Nigerias history.
The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned a man for allegedly stabbing a 23-year-old man, identified as Ezekiel Yohana to death with a jackknife at Kara Market, in the Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.

The suspect, Bitrus Wurawa was arraigned before Magistrate P. E Nwaka on one count of bothering on murder on Thursday, April 6.

The deceased, Ezekiel Yohana, reportedly borrowed N14,000 from the defendant in January and promised to pay in a few weeks, but he failed to pay back after several pleas from the defendant.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Three For Land Grabbing In Ogun

They were said to have met at Kara Market before Yohana asked for his money. During the confrontation, the deceased reportedly brought out a knife and the defendant snatched the knife from him and stabbed his back and hand.

The deceased was rushed to the Epe General Hospital where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

It was also gathered that the case was reported to the Akodo Police Division from where it was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.

In court, the prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, stated that the defendant committed the crime on March 8, 2023.

He further stated that the offence contravened Section 222 and is punishable under Section 233 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.

The charge read, That you, Bitrus Wurawa, on March 18, 2023, around 6.23 pm at Kara Market, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District did unlawfully killed one Ezekiel Yohana, 23. by stabbing him with a jackknife.

Nurudeen prayed the court to remand the defendant to the correctional centre pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

The magistrate, Nwaka, therefore remanded the defendant to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the DPP.

Nwaka adjourned the case till May 5, 2023.
Ukraine and Russia have swapped about 100 soldiers each in the latest prisoner exchange between the two warring countries.

Information Nigeria understands that Kyiv and Moscow have periodically carried out prisoner swaps since Russia invaded Ukraine more than a year ago.

The Ukrainian presidents chief of staff, Andriy Yermak said on Telegram that We are returning 100 of our people.

They are military people, sailors, border guards, national guardsmen.

According to Yermak, the exchange included troops who held out in Mariupol, the devastated port city captured by Russia last spring.

The chief of staff who disclosed that some were seriously injured, called the exchange difficult and thanked officials for doing what may often seem impossible.

READ ALSO: Police Kill Kidnapper At Ransom Delivery Point, Rescue Victims In Adamawa

Moscow on its part said it had returned 106 of its servicemen in the 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 according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) was last month.

Authorities announced on March 7 that 130 Ukrainians were swapped for 90 Russian servicemen.
Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham, has urged Nigerians to stop reading meanings to every post on her social media platform.

She made this known in a tweet on her Twitter page on Tuesday.

Toyin claimed that people constantly interpret her words differently, which is coming after she publicly endorsed president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

She noted that she had moved on, and is currently back to her job.

READ MORE: Kemi Afolabi Gets Into Heated Argument With Toyin Abraham Over Support For Tinubu (Video)

She wrote, I cant even tweet again without people reading meaning to my tweet. Please, I have moved on and its all about my job now.
The presidency has said that some political promises were made in 2015 during campaigns that even President Muhammadu Buhari as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not aware of.

Femi Adesina, special adviser to Buhari on Media and Publicity, who stated this during Channels Televisions Politics Today on Monday spoke against the backdrop of some criticisms against Buhari and allegations of failure to fulfill campaign promises.

Specifically, Adesina was responding to the criticism of Buhari by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah on Sunday, in his Easter message about selling part of the presidential fleet.

The adviser in response queried the authenticity of such a promise and slammed Kukah for allowing his opinions to be coloured by politics.

His words, Those things dont do credit to Father Kukahs intellectual posture. He is somebody that we had always admired for his intellectual bent but his opinions have been coloured by politics.

He talked about selling the presidential fleet. Was that ever promised? In 2015, there were promises made that even the candidate did not know about.

Adesina clarified that what Buhari promised was to take a look at the fleet and not just sell them off indiscriminately.

READ ALSO: Is It A Curse?  Onanuga Mocks Obi For Calling Pa Adebanjo Daddy In Birthday Message

The media aide added that the President has fulfilled his promise in that regard by selling two to three jets from the presidential fleet and two to three of the helicopters given to the Nigerian Air Force.

President Buhari promised to look at the presidential fleet which he did. Helicopters were given to the Air Force, two or three jets were sold off.

That is cutting off excesses. What some people expect is selling off all the jets and start flying the Nigerian Airways if Nigerian Airways still exists, he said.

Also, Adesina during the interview, claimed Buharis eight-month sickness in 2017 caused a setback for the aspirations of the current administration.

He said, It should be because when he fell sick in January 2017, he came back in March (and) went again in April and didnt come back till August 19.

About all, eight months. That sickness took eight months of his time in the office. Of course, nobody would like that. But what we are glad about is that he came whole, sound and better than he went.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has tackled the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu describing him as a politician with no electoral value.

Wike while chatting with newsmen on Tuesday in Port Harcourt submitted that he is glad Ayu didnt step down before the 2023 presidential election when he and others demanded his removal from office.

According to the Wike, if Ayu had stepped down then, he would have been able to boast that the PDP lost the 2023 presidential election because he was not in position.

So, you can see that he has nothing to offer to the party. We won here which means we have something to offer to the party. Ayu has nothing to offer to the party, the governor said.

READ ALSO: Rivers CP Orders Arrest Of Cop Assaulting Man In Viral Video

The Integrity Group (G-5) leader said that Ayus stepping aside after the election has very no meaning.

What advantage is Ayus stepping aside? he asked.

We are happy that Ayu did not go that time because if he had gone, they would have been saying that it was because he left that is why we lost [the presidential election], Wike added.

Addressing the post-election crisis in Rivers State, Wike described it as nothing abnormal but maintained that the PDP is vigilant.

There is nothing that is abnormal that you think that is going on in Port Harcourt. What PDP is doing is just to be vigilant, he said.

Vigilant in the sense that during the 2015 [post-election period] precisely, after the elections, after the nomination, we had problems that we never believed, and so we didnt want a recurrence of that at the tribunal.
The new location of Bower Cafe, which soft-opened last week, has a panel of story-high windows facing busy Walnut Street in Washington Square West. When owner Thane Wright signed the lease last year, he knew exactly what that feature could lend itself to: arguably Philadelphias most visible podcasting studio.

For generations, television stations have faced studios toward the sidewalk to build a sense of community and verite.

Why cant a coffee shop do the same thing with a podcasting booth? Wright wondered.

People can look in here and be like, What is going on in there? said Wright, who views the soon-to-be-completed booth as a marketing and public relations tool  not only for Bower Cafe but for his staff and friends, who are thought leaders in a variety of fields, such as hair salons, restaurants, and social causes.

I look at it as a platform for peoples voices, Wright said.

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The studio, insulated just enough to provide a coffee shop-like background murmur for the podcasts, will double as a DJ booth. During brunch, for example, DJs can spin house music. After hours, anything goes when the cafe, which has soaring ceilings and removable seating, becomes an event space.

Coffee shop customers will get a QR link printed on their receipt to direct them to the podcasters. Say they buy a latte and ask, Whats going on in there? Id say, If you want to hear it, heres the link, he said.

Bower serves La Colombe coffee, a modest food menu, and  in another quirky line extension  sliced cured meats. (Charcuterie is a tribute to Wrights late father, Lester, who smoked his own meats for the family in North Jersey.)

Bowers showstopper is a breakfast sandwich on a pretzel bun with eggs, sharp Cheddar, bacon, green onion, radish slices, garlic seasoning, and sriracha tarragon aioli.

Wright plans to expand the menu beyond open-faced sandwiches, panini, and yogurt and chia bowls. Hes working on a curry potato skillet, with bacon, grape tomato, green onion, and feta, served in a cast-iron pan. He also plans to offer pan breads, which his dad used to make for breakfast with jam and butter in the middle. His version will include butter, with a topping of poached pear and ricotta.

Wright, 46, started in the coffee business in 2001 as a dishwasher at La Colombe and moved up the ladder before leaving in 2015 to oversee the Philadelphia stores of New Yorks Aussie-inspired Bluestone Lane Coffee.

In 2018, Wright opened his first Bower Cafe on 10th Street near Spruce. Last year, he opened a second, smaller Bower at Penn Medicines new Pavilion, across from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, in University City.

Wright closed the 10th Street store over the winter to prep for the new store at 1213 Walnut St. (The former location is now a location of Bodhi.)

Wrights mother, Beverley, a Shakespeare fan, named him after a title of royalty in medieval Scotland (Macbeth is Thane of Glamis and later Thane of Cawdor). Wright chose Bower after the Australian bowerbird, whose males build a nest decorated with bright objects to lure a mate.
Ever since Jimmy Carter and his family announced that hed elected to enter hospice care, a lot of people have been asking me about my job as a social worker for a hospice care provider.

Heres what I want you to know about hospice, a type of care thats often misunderstood.

What is hospice?

Hospice is a type of care, not a place.

Hospice patients have varying medical needs that require a team approach. Social workers, nurses, aides, chaplains, and volunteers work together to provide specific services. Together, we enable our patients to live their final days with dignity, and to spend their time attending to the things that matter to them, like their children and grandchildren.

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We tend to their physical health needs, as well as their emotional and spiritual needs. The hospice team will help with bathing, administering medication, wound care, companionship, and more.

 READ MORE: Why dont more people of color receive end-of-life care?

Care is often delivered at a patients home, as is the case with the former president. It can also be delivered in a nursing home or long-term care facility.

Who receives hospice care?

Hospice is for patients who have received a prognosis from their doctor that estimates they have six months or less to live. This doesnt mean the patient is going to die in the next six months  it simply means that he or she has a condition that makes dying a realistic possibility.

When is the best time to start hospice care?

Many families who use hospice care say they wish they had known about it earlier because they needed the help much sooner. Research has shown that hospice can increase both the quality of life and how long a patient lives. Families who receive hospice near the very end  just a few days to a week  have a harder time adjusting during the bereavement period than those whose loved one received hospice care for weeks or months before their death. Many experts believe two to three months of hospice care is optimal.

Does hospice care expedite death?

No. Because of this false belief, patients are sometimes reluctant to enter hospice  especially those still coming to terms with their own mortality. Family members sometimes fear that accepting hospice is a form of abandonment.

Some dont want to hear the word hospice because they dont want their loved one to realize death might be near. Others worry that a loved one receiving hospice care will die alone or surrounded only by their hospice caregivers. Thats not true  family members are welcome and encouraged. Our goal is that no one dies alone.

Does entering hospice mean youve given up?

No. Hospice care is designed to support patients for however long they have, so long as the physician believes that the prognosis hasnt changed. Hospice care focuses on quality of life, allowing patients to live their remaining days more fully.

Many people begin hospice in their very last days and miss out on the help it can offer over the preceding weeks; nearly 1 million Americans who may be eligible for hospice die each year without using it.

Ive seen how much families struggle with the decision to move to hospice care, and I understand why. Ive also seen the considerable good that hospice can do, and how much the right support can help to ease the pain of the end of life for patients and their loved ones.

I urge everyone to plan ahead like the Carter family has for end-of-life care. You do not have to face these difficult days alone. Im proud that its my job as a social worker to help families navigate such times.

Nicole Shear is a social worker at Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care in Plymouth Meeting.
Ana Nunez, vice dean of diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Minnesota's School of Medicine, center, speaks during a conference on equity and diversity in medical education. Nunez was joined by John Paul Sanchez, left, executive associate vice chancellor at the University of New Mexico, and Edith Peterson Mitchell, right, associate director of diversity affairs at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University. Read more

Philadelphia is a national hub for medical students, with one in six doctors passing through an area medical school at some point in their careers. Local university officials discussed on Tuesday how that makes the city primed to help combat longstanding racial disparities in the profession.

Hundreds of physicians and medical students attended a conference at the National Constitution Center to address how Philadelphia schools can achieve that goal. The conference was the first of its kind in the area, according to organizers with the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, the insurance giants charity arm, and the Delaware Valley DEI Consortium, a group of area physicians working to diversify the medical profession.

Leon McCrea, the senior associate dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Drexel Universitys College of Medicine, was pleased to see medical schools that typically compete for top students sharing ideas on how to train more students from different backgrounds.

Its crucial, he added, that medical schools recruit more students and hire more faculty that reflect the diversity of the American population. Black, Latino, and Native American residents make up 30% of the population, but just under 9% of practicing physicians.

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Panelists at the conference, many from Philadelphia-area schools, spoke about the challenges theyd faced in their own journey to become doctors.

Edith Peterson Mitchell, the associate director for diversity services at Thomas Jefferson Universitys Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, recalled an adviser in the early 1970s who refused her entry into a special three-year medical school program, telling her that you people dont do well. She went on to graduate from the program  the first Black student to do so.

Most schools in the United States only admit a few underrepresented minorities a year, she said. Weve got to increase the number of underrepresented individuals in medicine.

Swapping personal stories and ideas to diversify classes

In smaller discussion panels throughout the afternoon, local medical school officials spoke about how their schools are working to attract and retain a more diverse swath of students.

At Temple Universitys Lewis Katz School of Medicine, admissions officers are placing greater emphasis on how students connect with the community around the North Philadelphia school: Community members are now involved in interviewing prospective medical students, and have a vote on the schools admissions committee.

We want to build connections with the local community, and attract medical students who want to work closely with the community, said Maria Zimmerman, the schools associate director of admissions.

Schools have also turned an eye to their own curricula, teaching students to approach clinical care through an anti-racist lens and excising long-taught misconceptions about race and physical health.

Social determinants of health are huge  environment is unbelievably important. And most [health disparities] that were attributed to race are actually due to environmental influences, said Dennis Dlugos, an associate dean at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine.

Cherise Hamblin, an ob/gyn and founder of Patients R Waiting, an organization dedicated to improving diversity in the medical profession, helped plan Tuesdays event. He said diversity initiatives at area medical schools take time and funding and need more support.

At our institutions we have these beautiful missions, and a lot of times this part of our mission is not funded or supported or bolstered the way that something else is, she said.
Seniors can come to the main lobby of the Temple University Hospital  Jeanes Campus for health screenings on April 25th between 10am and 1pm. Read more

Temple University Hospital is inviting seniors to receive free health screenings and connect with providers on April 25 at its Jeanes Campus in Northeast Philadelphia.

The Senior Health and Wellness Fair, an annual event before the COVID-19 pandemic, is relaunching this year. In 2019, about 350 people attended, said Rosemarie Schlegel, director of volunteer services at the hospital.

The event will take place in the main lobby of Temple University Hospital-Jeanes Campus  7600 Central Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111  from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25.

Were trying to reach out to let [seniors] know that Temple University Hospital-Jeanes Campus is here for them, Schlegel said.

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 READ MORE: Being socially frail comes with health risks for older adults

Providers from across the Temple health system will be available to answer questions, including representatives from the affiliated Fox Chase Cancer Center. While attending clinicians will not be able to offer medical advice, they will share information about the type of care available at their practices and can assist in scheduling appointments.

Representatives from Temple will also provide information about financial planning for health care and navigating insurance.

In addition to learning about Temple services, seniors can speak with representatives from Gift of Life Donor Program, a nonprofit that coordinates organ donations, and the Philadelphia Corporation of Aging, a nonprofit agency that provides services for older Philadelphians.

Free stroke and blood pressure screenings will also be available.

When things are found early, they are often easier to treat and have a more favorable outcome, Rebecca Armbruster, chief medical officer at the Jeanes Campus, said via email. If we can get to people earlier and keep their blood pressure in control, we can decrease the incidence of heart disease and stroke in our community.
Students protest the suspension of Lenape Middle School teacher Andrew Burgess in May 2022. Burgess has now filed a lawsuit against the Central Bucks School District, saying he was retaliated against for helping a transgender student. Read more

A Central Bucks teacher has sued the school district, alleging that it retaliated against him for helping a transgender student file a federal civil rights complaint after administrators failed to respond to bullying and harassment claims.

The lawsuit, filed by Andrew Burgess in federal court Tuesday, is the latest allegation related to Central Bucks treatment of LGTBQ students. In October, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of seven transgender and nonbinary students, accusing the district of creating a hostile environment through discriminatory policies and a failure to address bullying.

Burgess had also filed a complaint with the federal education departments Office for Civil Rights on behalf of one of those students before he was suspended from teaching eighth-grade social studies at Lenape Middle School in May 2022. He was reinstated several months later, but reassigned to seventh grade at Unami Middle School, with a higher workload.

The ACLU, which is representing Burgess in the lawsuit seeking damages and a restoration of his former position, says the suspension and subsequent reassignment were retaliatory, violating the teachers First Amendment rights and his rights under Title IX, which prohibits discrimination in education programs on the basis of sex.

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This is a school district that really does nothing to try to improve the really toxic environment for LGBTQ+ students, said Vic Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, noting that following the ACLU complaint, the school board passed a policy prohibiting Pride flags and other forms of advocacy in classrooms. But the law has limits on how far they can go to intimidate and retaliate against people who dont want to follow their agenda.

The district did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

After students protested Burgess suspension, the districts superintendent, Abram Lucabaugh, said in a message to the community in May 2022 that the insinuation that our district would single out a teacher and take disciplinary action because the teacher supports LGBTQIA+ students is defamatory, and from what has transpired over the past week, it is also inflammatory.

Burgess lawsuit, which is filed against the district and Lucabaugh, comes in addition to an Office of Civil Rights complaint he filed contesting his suspension. His lawsuit describes an increasingly hostile environment for LGBTQ students that worsened around the heated school board elections in November 2021, when Republicans cemented their majority on the board.

Community members that year had been criticizing LGBTQ-themed books, and in summer 2021, one middle school teachers classroom library came under attack on social media  leading administrators to audit the library to determine whether it contained inappropriate material, Burgess said in the lawsuit.

That had an intimidating effect, Burgess said, and so in March 2022, when Lenape Principal Geanine Saullo asked that teachers with a classroom library meet with her individually, Burgess advocated instead for a group meeting. Saullo said no, he said.

At a subsequent meeting with the union and administration, Burgess said he asked who determined what books were appropriate.

Lucabaugh, visibly angered, sternly and dismissively retorted something to the effect of, You know what we are talking about, Burgess said.

(The district later passed a policy prohibiting sexualized content in library books; the ACLU contends that the aim is targeting LGBTQ-themed material.)

 READ MORE: Here are the objections cited in 61 challenges to Central Bucks library books

That same month, Burgess said he was approached by a transgender student who was being bullied. Burgess had recently attended a meeting of Lenapes Sexuality and Gender Alliance. He was there to voice support, he said, in light of an email the schools former assistant principal had sent Lucabaugh, Saullo, and the school board, advising that LGBTQ+ students were experiencing terrible harassment at CBSD schools, particularly Lenape.

According to Burgess, the assistant principal reported incidents of students barking at and pushing LGBTQ+ students in the hallway, throwing objects at them, threatening to beat them, and using the f slur.

Burgess had previously steered the transgender student to a guidance counselor after the student said he had been repeatedly deadnamed  referred to by his former name  by a fellow student. The students family had also reached out to administrators, Burgess said. But the bullying was still continuing.

Burgess proposed reporting the issue to administrators, but the student didnt want to  fearing notification of the bullies parents and possible retaliation, Burgess said.

Having serious doubts that the administration was taking appropriate action to keep students safe from bullying based on LGBTQ+ status, Burgess then suggested going to the Office for Civil Rights. He said he advised the student and his family on both options, and they decided they wanted Burgess to file the federal complaint.

The complaint  received by the federal office April 13, 2022  alleged that the district had discriminated against a transgender student and requested training for staff and students, particularly about equity and acceptance of LGBTQ+IA students and staff, according to Burgess.

 READ MORE: Central Bucks anticipates Duane Morris will bill $1 million for addressing anti-LGBTQ complaints about the district

On April 19, Burgess said he was called to meet with Lucabaugh, Saullo, and the districts then-director of human resources, Andrea DiDio Hauber. The administrators criticized him over the classroom library issue, he said, and then Lucabaugh changed the subject  asking Burgess whether he knew he was a mandated reporter.

Pennsylvania law requires teachers, among other professions, to report suspected child abuse to a state-run tip line, and then notify their school.

Burgess, bringing up the federal complaint, said the bullying he described did not qualify as child abuse and was not subject to mandatory reporting.

The admission of the complaint elicited a fiery back and forth with Lucabaugh, said Burgess, who left the meeting in a state of panic.

On May 4, Burgess informed students he thought would be affected by new rules at Lenape requiring a formal process before transgender students could go by preferred names and pronouns. Students went to the guidance office, and Burgess was then questioned by Saullo and an assistant principal about why he sent them there.

Two days later, Burgess was escorted from the building. A letter handed to him by DiDio Hauber accused him of dereliction of his obligations to the bullied student, as well as a deliberate failure to follow the proper protocol so that the administration could address and rectify these bullying conditions. Indeed, your actions may have been responsible for the continuation of the bullying suffered by the student, the letter continued.

Burgess said district policy doesnt mandate teachers report bullying to administrators  though he often had. He also said he never directed the family not to contact administrators. (He also objected to the letters characterization of the discussion over classroom libraries  saying he never directed teachers not to speak with Saullo.)

And after Burgesss suspension, the district took no discernable action to help the student, Burgess said. He said the student ate lunch in the guidance office for the rest of the school year to avoid bullying in the cafeteria, and for the first two weeks of school in the fall, ate in a bathroom stall.

Burgess, who was interviewed by lawyers the district hired from the Duane Morris firm to address the ACLU complaint, said the district ordered him not to discuss the interview.

Instead of implementing practices to support LGBTQ students, the school district is spending a ton of money doubling down to defend the trajectory theyre on, Walczak said.
The downtown business district along Avenue of the States in Chester in. December, a month after the state receiver filed for bankruptcy on the city's behalf. Read more

Once one of the nations most important shipbuilding centers, Chester has taken on so much financial water that its very existence as a city is seriously threatened, the state official who filed for bankruptcy on the citys behalf said Tuesday.

Disincorporation, in which the government of the 300-year-old municipality would be dissolved, all its employees furloughed, and all its laws and ordinances would be nullified, is a possibility, Michael Doweary, the citys state-appointed receiver, said at meeting of the Municipal Financial Recovery Advisory Committee.

This is a very real warning.

An audit of Chesters 2019 budget showed a five-year $27.7 million deficit, not including $39.8 million in missed annual pension payments, the receivers office said. Audits of the 2020, 2021, and 2022 budgets havent been completed yet, and the city is on pace to face an insurmountable deficit in 2025, it said.

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 READ MORE: Chester's fiscal issues were 70 years in the making

In a presentation to the committee, the receivers office said that unless a plan for a long-term comprehensive solution to the fiscal woes was developed by the end of the year, disincorporation may be the only alternative for the city of 33,000.

The receivers office contends that the citys ongoing intransigence and litigation has impaired efforts to resolve the crisis during what has been contentious bankruptcy proceedings.

 READ MORE: A judge called the city administration 'dysfunctional'

Chester, Delaware Countys only city, was placed in distressed status in 1995, and into receivership on July 1, 2020. Doweary filed the bankruptcy petition on Nov. 10, three weeks after learning that the city lost $400,000 in a phishing scam. Only 31 of the nations 38,000 municipalities have filed for bankruptcy.

Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland said the city had submitted a rescue plan that the receivers office ignored. Doweary, however, said the citys only proposal involved the controversial sale of the Chester Water Authority to Aqua Pennsylvania and was not a long-term solution to fiscal problems that have been festering for decades.

An industrial powerhouse during the world wars and into the 50s and 60s, Chester has undergone a stunning decline over seven decades as its once-robust manufacturing base evaporated.

Kirkland, who is running for re-election, said he had just learned of the potential for disincorporation at Tuesdays meeting. He has argued that he is being unfairly blamed for inherited problems.

However, in issuing a ruling that had stripped council members of some of their powers, state Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler placed some of the blame on his administration. City officials frequently ignore the receivers advice and orders and even direct other employees in their departments to ignore his directives, she wrote.

She also cited unauthorized payroll payments to an incarcerated employee and the citys default on pension payments.

After Chester appealed, the state Supreme Court issued a stay of her order, temporarily restoring councils power. Oral arguments are scheduled on the appeal on May 24. It is not known when the court might rule.

 READ MORE: The city lost $400,000 in a phishing scam, and the receiver found out months later

Time is running out, said Vijay Kapoor, the receivers chief of staff. We want our focus to be on finding a comprehensive solution to Chesters financial and operational problems, not on having to deal with court appeals. Nobody wins if Chester is effectively disincorporated.

He said he knew of no instances of disincorporation in Pennsylvania. However, a 2012 Yale Law Review article noted that the nation has had a long history of municipalities that ceased to exist for any number of reasons, including the loss of tax base or population. It said that since 2000, 130 towns had been dissolved.

If Chester were disincorporated, the receivers office said, it would become an unincorporated service district and all city employees would be laid off. In addition, elected officials would be removed, and the state would appoint an administrator to work out provisions for vital services. Under state law, the ordinance would require approval by Delaware County Court.

But, If were out of money, said Kapoor, we cant keep the lights on.
JoAnne A. Epps, dean of the Temple University school of law, is expected to be named acting president. Read more

JoAnne A. Epps, a former Temple law school dean and provost who has spent nearly 40 years at the university, was named acting president by the board of trustees following a unanimous vote late Tuesday afternoon.

Epps, 71, of Shamong, Burlington County, was among the top names circulating last month as a possible replacement for Jason Wingard, who resigned as president of the 33,600-student university in March after less than two years on the job. His resignation came as he faced a no-confidence vote by the Temple Association of University Professionals, the faculty union.

I am obviously humbled and excited and really looking forward to being able to make a contribution to the university that I so love, Epps said in an exclusive interview.

 READ MORE: Temple's law dean promoted to provost

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It wont be the first time she is stepping into a leading position at the university during a time of crisis. Epps was named provost in 2016 when former provost Hai-Lung Dai was removed by president Neil D. Theobald, who was later forced to resign. Longtime Temple employee Richard M. Englert was named acting president at that time, and the two worked together to stabilize the university.

I ... think some part of what gave the board confidence in selecting me is my ability to sort of calm waters, said Epps, a Yale Law School graduate who spent nine years as a trial lawyer before joining Temple.

The job likely will last through the fall semester, possibly until next summer. The university plans to launch a national search for a new president in the next couple weeks. Epps said she will not be a candidate for the permanent position.

 READ MORE: As some Black leaders question Temple presidents departure, names of potential interims begin to surface

The university needs a president who it anticipates will have a long tenure, she said, noting that she had planned on retiring this year before the board asked her to step in as acting president.

Mitchell Morgan, chairman of the board of trustees, expressed faith in Epps appointment.

There is no one more qualified than JoAnne to assume this role, he said. I am confident she will be a strong leader as we face key challenges. She also will be able to unite the university community with a shared purpose and focus on our mission.

Morgan is among a small group of trustees that has been meeting daily to guide the university in recent weeks.

 READ MORE: Temple trustees take stronger oversight role

Epps history with Temple stretches way back, her mother once working as a secretary for the school and she, herself, at 16, was a cashier at the Temple bookstore. Her academic career includes 31 years at the law school, the last eight as its dean before becoming provost, a position she held until August 2021 when Wingard moved her out as part of a larger shift in top administrators. She remained as a senor adviser to Wingard and on the law school faculty and is currently finishing teaching a course at the law school in gender equity and the law.

 READ MORE: After a tumultuous tenure, Jason Wingard has resigned as Temple University president

She said her priorities will be enrollment and safety, which have emerged as major challenges at the North Philadelphia university. Enrollment is down 14% since 2019, with deposits for next year down 25%. And safety concerns, which have been mounting at Temple since the shooting death of student Samuel Collington in November 2021, were exacerbated by the slaying of on-duty Temple police Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald on Feb. 18.

My first step is going to be to inform myself as to where we are on these two important initiatives, said Epps, a former prosecutor with ties in the law enforcement community, which she believes could help her as she guides Temple.

Im going to be looking to figure out how we have all the important stakeholders, which is bigger than Temple University, at the table, so we can come up with a comprehensive plan that works for the university and for the city.

Temple faced some criticism from outside and within the university when Wingard, the schools first Black president, announced plans to leave after such a short tenure. There were people who thought he was being unfairly blamed for issues outside his control, such as off-campus crime and spiraling enrollment, which other universities also are facing, though Temple has seen one of the steeper declines.

Others who believed that his departure was justified were upset about how his tenure ended.

I cant see how this was race-based, Epps, who also is Black, said of his resignation, but I certainly understand people wondering. I think those are fair questions to ask, I think thats what we should be doing as a nation in 2023.

Epps hopes her selection eases some of that concern.

I hope to be able to bring some of that hope back for anybody who feels as if they are uncertain, she said. I hope that theyll take my commitment to Temple and at least give me a chance and give the university a chance.

Sen. Vincent Hughes at an Appropriations Committee hearing in Harrisburg last month said Wingards early departure sent a very chilling message, and asked, What standards are Black presidents [held to] that might not be the same as white presidents?

On Tuesday, Hughes called Epps selection a very good decision.

President Epps possesses an impressive background and has been a leader at the university during crisis situations, Hughes said. Im confident shell step up to the plate and help Temple navigate through what has been a challenging time.

Epps will face multiple challenges as she enters the role, not only on the enrollment and safety front. The university is beginning negotiations with its faculty union  its current contract expires in October  on the heels of a 42-day strike by its graduate students, and as faculty at New Jerseys flagship university Rutgers went on strike this week.

And the faculty union intends to proceed with a no-confidence vote in provost Gregory N. Mandel and Morgan. The vote is scheduled to start Friday and last a week, with results likely being announced April 24, said Jeffrey Doshna, TAUP president.

Epps said she would not try to interfere with that vote and believes they have the right to express themselves.

One of the things about unions is I recognize their job as I hope they recognize mine, Epps said. We will inevitably be on opposite sides of a particular issue. We can disagree, but it doesnt have to be disagreeable.

Doshna raised concerns about Epps selection, noting that Mandel, also a former law dean, is still provost, meaning both of Temples top two leaders hail from the same school.

They dont have the same connection to the undergraduate experience as folks from other parts of the university, he said.

He also faulted the board for not consulting with the union before the selection.

They need to be more open and inclusive in their processes, he said, adding that he hopes the board invites widespread input on the selection process for a new president.

Still, he said he looks forward to meeting with Epps as soon as possible and hopes she plays an active role in contract negotiations.

Gianni Quattrocchi, student government president, said he was pleased to learn of Epps upcoming appointment.

Shes a great choice to help lead us through these difficulties, he said.

A native of Cheltenham Township, Epps received her bachelors degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., in 1973.

After Yale law school, Epps became deputy city attorney in Los Angeles in 1976 and in 1980 returned to Philadelphia to join the U.S. Attorneys Office. She began at Temple law in 1985 and was named dean in 2008.

She presided over the law school as enrollments nationally declined. During her leadership, the school moved into the top 50 in U.S. News & World Report rankings, started a center for compliance and ethics, and created the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Center for Social Justice.

Among her honors, she was recognized three times as one of the 100 most influential Black lawyers in the country by Lawyers of Color Magazine.

She has served multiple roles in the community. Then-Mayor Michael Nutter appointed her as chair of a Police Oversight Board responsible for making sure Philadelphia implemented recommendations of a Justice Department report critical of officers use of lethal force. She also has served on the Philadelphia Board of Ethics, and heldroles on the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and the Womens Nonprofit Leadership, which has advocated for more women on university and hospital boards.

Epps said her charge from the board was not to be simply a caretaker but to lead.

I am mindful I am going to be doing this on temporary basis so I am mindful of being respectful... kind of a like a physician, she said. First, do no harm. But I also have been given the ability to keep Temple moving forward as opposed to keeping us in neutral. Were not going to be in neutral.

Shell already be representing Temple in Harrisburg Thursday at a meeting called by Gov. Shapiros deputy education secretary who oversees postsecondary education.

Epps will be supported by long-time employee Ken Kaiser, who will remain at the university as senior vice president and chief operating officer. He had planned to leave this summer, but after Wingards departure said he would be staying.

JoAnne and I are good friends, Kaiser said. Shes a proven leader, and Im geared up and ready to do whatever she needs.

Susan Smith also has been given the permanent role as chief compliance officer; she had been interim.

Epps expects her long history with Temple will help her in the new role.

Many of us who worked at Temple for years say we bleed cherry and white, Epps said. Temple is in our soul. Its in our blood. Its in our DNA. That doesnt mean I will be successful as a president, but it does mean ... I get this institution in a way that I think will be really important.
Author Neil King Jr.'s walked 330 miles, through D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York's Central Park. Read more

In the spring of 2021, Neil King Jr. went for a long walk, stepping out from his home in the nations capital and into the greater world.

King, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who reported from more than 50 countries, mostly chose the slim shoulders of suburban roads as his trail, and the lights of distant Walmarts as his guiding star. He set off to see and understand a splintered America, walking through Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York  finishing his 26-day exercise in sustained attention and observation in Central Park.

This was not a nature walk, King, 63, told The Inquirer recently. This was very much a human walk.

King chronicled his journey in the recently published book American Ramble: A Walk of Memory and Renewal. Hell visit the Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia on April 18 to discuss his experiences in a conversation with former Daily News and Inquirer editorial cartoonist Signe Wilkinson.

King spent most of his ramble in Pennsylvania, crossing the Mason-Dixon Line into York County from Maryland, then crossing the Susquehanna River into Lancaster County, one of the nations busiest farming counties. He delves deeply into the states role in history, its geography, and its role as a swing state.

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The beauty of the whole of it  the low sun, the silos like exclamation points studding the hills  made me let out a holler and do a little dance, King wrote of Lancaster County farmland.

Far from D.C., in places where cars rule, King experienced some skepticism and mistrust, simply because he was walking. He walked for hours, longing for a stranger to refill his empty water bottle. But every difficult encounter was countered by moments of kindness and curiosity. Mennonite schoolchildren sang to King and a farrier bid him farewell with a bag of chocolate chip cookies.

Those spontaneous moments of kindness were more of the typical response, King said.

Kings discussion at the Central Library begins at 7:30 p.m. on April 18. http://libwww.library.phila.gov/calendar/event/119945
A Louisville Metro Police officer walks outside of the home of the suspected shooter in the Camp Taylor neighborhood in Louisville, Ky. Read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Police body camera video released Tuesday showed the chaotic moments when police arrived at the scene of a mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville, as the shooter they couldnt see from the street rained bullets down on them.

The videos, taken from two wounded officers lapels, offer a rare perspective of police officers responding to a massacre that killed five and injured eight others Monday. One, a rookie officer, was shot in the head within minutes of arriving at the scene, as his partner was grazed by a bullet and sought cover while still trying to take down the shooter.

Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey walked reporters through edited footage and still photos at a new conference Tuesday and praised the responding officers for their heroism.

They received the call of a shooting at Old National Bank at 8:38 a.m., and the two officers arrived three minutes later, according to a chronology provided by police. They hadnt even gotten out of the patrol car when the gunman began firing on them.

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Back up, back up, back up, one officer shouted as gunshots thundered in the background.

One still image from surveillance video showed the 25-year-old shooter, who worked at the bank, holding a rifle, wearing jeans, a blue button-down shirt and sneakers, surrounded by broken glass inside the building. He had already shot numerous people inside, and police said he set up an ambush position to attack officers as they arrived.

The front doors were glass, elevated from the sidewalk, and because of the reflection, the officers could not see the shooter inside, Humphrey said. But he could see them.

Officer Cory Galloway retrieved a rifle from the trunk of the patrol car.

Cover for me, he said, and they reported to dispatch that there had been shots fired.

Galloway was training rookie Officer Nickolas Wilt, who had graduated from the police academy just 10 days earlier. The videos showed them walking up the stairs toward the front door when the gunman fired a barrage of bullets.

Wilt was shot in the head, though that was not captured on video. Galloway was grazed in the shoulder, police said. His body camera showed that he fell and then took cover behind a concrete planter at the bottom of the staircase leading to the building. Sirens from the dozens of police cars coming toward them wailed in the background.

The shooter has an angle on that officer, he said in the video recording. We need to get up there. I dont know where hes at, the glass is blocking him.

A video taken by a bystander across the street, which police also released Tuesday, showed him darting back and forth from one side of the planter to another, trying to get a shot at the gunman.

He waited, and as other officers arrived, more gunshots rang out and glass shattered.

Galloway fired toward the gunman at 8:44 a.m., three minutes after arriving.

I think I got him down! I think hes down! he shouted. Suspect down! Get the officer!

He advanced into the building, and shards of glass crunched under his feet. The video then showed Galloway approaching the suspect, who lay on the ground inside the lobby next to a long rifle.

I think you can see the tension in that video, Humphrey said Tuesday. You can understand the stress that those officers are going through. ... They did absolutely exactly what they needed to do to save lives. Once officers arrived on scene, not another person was shot.

Wilt was transported in the back of a police car to a hospital, Humphrey said. In the chaotic first minutes, police treated and triaged the victims inside. Humphrey said the ambulance service was short-staffed, so a police lieutenant drove the ambulance while emergency crews treated people at the scene.

Wilt was still in critical but stable condition Tuesday, according to University of Louisville Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Smith.

Two of the four wounded still in the hospital had injuries that were not life-threatening, Smith said.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said it was crucial to release the footage because transparency is important  even more so in a time of crisis.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a news conference that bank employee Connor Sturgeon, 25, bought the AR-15 assault-style rifle used in the attack at a local dealership on April 4.

Armed with the rifle, Sturgeon killed his co-workers  including a close friend of Kentuckys governor  while livestreaming the attack.

We do know this was targeted. He knew those individuals, of course, because he worked there, Gwinn-Villaroel said, but didnt give an indication of a motive behind the shooting.

Gwinn-Villaroel praised the heroic actions of officers who engaged the shooter without hesitation when they arrived.

They went towards danger in order to save and preserve life, she said. They stopped the threat so other lives could be saved. No hesitation, and they did what they were called do to.

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.

In Louisville, five Old National Bank employees were killed: Joshua Barrick, 40, a senior vice president; Tommy Elliott, 63, also a senior vice president; Jim Tutt Jr., 64, a commercial real estate market executive; Juliana Farmer, 45, a loan analyst; and Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer.

The mayor urged unity as the community processes its grief, over this shooting and the many other spasms of gun violence that have stunned this city.

Were all feeling shaken by this, and scared and angry and a lot of other things too, Greenberg said. Its important that we come together as a community to process this tragedy in particular but not just this tragedy because the reality is that we have already lost 40 people to gun violence in Louisville this year.
Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, shown here at a May 2021 news conference speaking in support of District Attorney Larry Krasner, was in line to received a 105% raise under a plan that was rejected by city finance officials. Some of her top staff still got hefty pay bumps. Read more

Last week, Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal appeared before City Council, seeking nearly $2 million in new support for an office she has described as consistently underfunded and severely short in deputies.

Bilals budget director, Craig Martin, did not mince words: Its a money shortage and a body shortage, adding the office needed the cash to fill 79 vacant deputy jobs.

But city finance records and an internal Sheriffs Office memo obtained by The Inquirer show Bilal recently diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to hire more uniformed staff  including deputies  to fund hefty raises for her executive staff and other office workers.

Bilal also tried to more than double her $136,083 salary, records show, as part of a plan to dole out even larger raises using money meant for new hires.

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City charter provisions barred that salary hike, and officials in the citys finance department also balked at the other extensive raises Bilal wanted to give to her senior staffers.

Had Bilal succeeded with the proposed 109% raise, her salary would have soared to $285,000, making her the highest-paid elected official in Philadelphia.

Ultimately, in September 2022, finance officials authorized $506,000 in pay bumps for Bilals exempt staff, generally non-uniformed employees who are not hired through the civil service system.

Bilal declined to comment Monday on the raises or her Council testimony.

Still, she told Council last week that she needs more money, and that shed been shorted funds in the past to hire a full complement of deputies for her office.

When I came into the office and looked at the numbers we had to hire, I said OK, lets start hiring, Bilal, elected in 2019, told Council members at an April 4 hearing. I got from the mayors office, No, we dont have the money.

The Sheriffs Office serves warrants, transports prisoners, handles security in court buildings, and oversees auctions of foreclosed real estate. Historically, the office has paid comparatively low salaries to its deputies, today averaging between $55,000 to $65,000.

In addition to low pay and the deputy shortage, Bilal described a lack of equipment and an aging fleet of vehicles.

But she made no mention of the raises for exempt staff at the hearing, and faced few probing questions.

Councilman Jim Harrity remarked that he had once served as an exempt employee in the Sheriffs Office and described Bilal as one my favorite law enforcement people.

We need to give you more respect, he said, and give you guys more money.

Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. agreed: We have to appreciate the job that you and your team do  And we have to do that by making you respected by way of dollars.

A spokesperson for Mayor Jim Kenney declined to comment on Bilals testimony.

Reshuffling funds

City government, in general, has struggled to hire and retain municipal employees since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Kenneys office last fiscal year increased the sheriffs personnel budget by $1.5 million in response to its request to aid recruitment, officials said.

In addition, city officials advised departments that they would receive additional personnel funds for a round of modest 3.25% raises to stanch departures by exempt employees. That bonus for the Sheriffs Office amounted to about $60,000.

But Bilals office apparently misunderstood how much money it was meant to receive to top up exempt pay. Instead of $60,000, the office returned a proposal seeking more than $1 million in raises for 30 exempt employees.

The proposed raises averaged around 50%, with some surpassing 80% for Bilals inner circle. Although the office proposed pay increases for a couple dozen exempt staffers earning below $70,000, more than $400,000 was aimed at raises for Bilal herself and four other top employees who already earned six figures. Bilals chief of staff, Erica Davenport, for example, would have seen her salary climb to $195,000, an 86% raise.

After months of wrangling between finance officials and the Sheriffs Office, Bilals staff returned a revised proposal that contained about $500,000 in raises, now to be covered primarily by tapping the unspent personnel funds.

In a November 2022 Sheriffs Office memo, obtained by The Inquirer through a Right-to-Know request, a top Bilal aide wrote that the office had been unable to hire enough uniformed employees quickly enough to spend down all of its personnel funding.

So, the leftover funds were to be converted to cover part of the desired pay raises for exempt staff, according to the justification and allocation memo.

The hiring process [of deputies] will not be complete prior to the end of the current fiscal year, wrote Patrick Lee, Bilals chief financial officer. As an independent/elected office, we are using the opportunity to reallocate a portion of the  funds for our offices exempt staff.

Lee ultimately received a 20% raise, boosting his salary to $120,000.

Other Bilal aides received larger raises, including her second-in-command, Undersheriff Tariq El-Shabazz, whose salary was increased by 58% to $200,000. (In February, El-Shabazz was fined by the citys Ethics Board for continuing to operate a private legal practice representing criminal defendants in Philadelphia.)

 READ MORE: Philly sheriffs top legal adviser has been moonlighting as a criminal defense lawyer

Lees memo asserted that tapping into the leftover funds that had been designated for hiring deputies was needed to retain current exempt staff. Bilal personally reviewed and approved the final pay increases, Lee wrote.

Bilal received only a 5% raise last year, to $142,751, due to a provision in the city charter that caps yearly raises for elected officials.

 READ MORE: Undersheriff Tariq El-Shabazz has been fined by the Ethics Board for doubling as a criminal defense lawyer in Philly

No public explanation

These types of questionable pay raises for top staff could be detrimental to department morale, according to Tara Bryan, a professor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Law enforcement organizations across the country are already dealing with burnout and low morale.

If you view your leadership as ethical, youre less likely to be absent, more likely to be committed to the mission and organization and more likely to have higher levels of job satisfaction, said Bryan, whose research focuses on government and nonprofit leadership and accountability.

It is unclear how the other salary increases were calculated. A spokesperson for Bilal did not respond to questions.

Bryan said that lack of transparency can be problematic.

What kind of conversations were they having in the organization around how to use that funding? Id be interested to know whats happening there, she said.

Officials in the citys Finance Department declined to comment on the Sheriffs Office proposed raises or how finance officials decided to approve the $506,000 for exempt employees.

Bilal, who is running for reelection next month, reiterated her appeal for more personnel hours after the Council hearing at an event April 4 for progressive group Philly For Change.

She portrayed herself as a reformer who took over an office wracked by mismanagement and lacking basic equipment. She said the pandemic had slowed her reforms.

I am making those changes, she said. I ask for your support so I can finish the job.  And when you talk about what things dont happen, thats the budget.

The Sheriffs Office has been underbudgeted for decades, she continued. And now that Im working with Council so we can get a commonsense budget, thats exactly what we are doing, getting a budget to make sure we have the things that we need.

Inquirer reporter Chris Brennan contributed to this article.
Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal (left), at a November 2019 event announcing her transition team, has been named in a whistle-blower lawsuit filed by Sommer Miller (right) who had served as Bilal's undersheriff and chief legal officer. Read more

Rochelle Bilal ran for Philadelphia sheriff in 2019 on a platform of overhauling a scandal-ridden office that for years had been plagued by allegations of financial impropriety and sexual harassment.

One year into her term, Bilal is being sued by three former senior staffers who say they lost their jobs in 2020 after exposing serious wrongdoing  including alleged financial impropriety and sexual harassment.

Sommer Miller, Bilals former undersheriff and chief legal officer, and Anitra Paris, former human resources manager, each filed whistle-blower lawsuits in federal court in recent weeks.

Brett Mandel, former chief financial officer, filed a similar lawsuit last year in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, contending that he was ushered out of the building after questioning Bilals continued use of off-budget spending that circumvented the citys budgeting process.

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Robert McNelly, an attorney representing Paris and Miller, described the Sheriffs Office as an organization in crisis. He said Tuesday that his clients did not want to comment out of fear that theyd be blackballed by Bilal and unable to find work.

They stand by every fact thats in the complaints, McNelly said.

Bilal is a former 27-year Philadelphia police veteran who had served as the public safety director in Colwyn Borough, Delaware County. Her spokesperson said Tuesday that the office does not comment on pending litigation involving personnel matters.

 READ MORE: An aide to Phillys new sheriff says he questioned slush fund spending  and she fired him (from March 2020)

The lawsuits by Miller, Paris, and Mandel describe a similar pattern.

According to Millers suit, she complained to Bilal of possible theft in the advertising department, overspending, extreme sexual harassment by the then-chief of staff, and unauthorized expenditures from the proceeds of sheriffs sales.

In retaliation, the suit contends, Bilal stripped Miller of most of her responsibilities and in August she resigned.

The lawsuit states that Miller, a Bala Cynwyd lawyer, uncovered many practices that needed correcting, as well as several illegal or unethical practices. But, as she brought these matters to the attention of the sheriff, the suit contends, Bilal would then remove said department from Ms. Millers oversight.

Paris filed her lawsuit in January. She had been terminated in August after refusing Bilals requests to hire employees without performing background checks or requiring them to take civil service tests, the suit claims. Bilal also asked her to disclose employee medical information in violation of federal law, and provide employees home addresses so Bilal could have them followed, according to the suit.

Paris also alleges that she was subject to sexual harassment by Wendell Reed, Bilals then-chief of staff, almost immediately upon starting the job when he began asking her about her views on polygamy.

According to the lawsuit, on Jan. 10, 2020 Reed grabbed Ms. Paris and pulled her into the break room, shut the door, turned off the lights and hugged her. Paris said she told him no, pushed him off of her and yelled at him never to touch her like that again and walked out.

Paris said she formally reported the harassment, then faced retaliation from Bilal and other supervisors. She claims that Reed changed the locks on her office door and filed a false report against her. (Reed, who has since left the office and is named as a defendant in Paris case, declined to comment Tuesday.)

Miller, who oversaw the human resources department, said in her suit she advised Bilal several times that she needed to terminate Reed because he was sexually harassing Paris and other employees. Before long, Miller was no longer in charge of HR  a pattern that Miller said continued from one department to another until her only remaining task was writing requests-for-proposals for tech services.

Miller also contended that Bilal had been monitoring her emails in real time, according to the lawsuit.

Mandel, a vocal, good-government advocate, lasted only five weeks as Bilals financial chief. He said he was fired after questioning her use of what he described as a multimillion-dollar slush fund, as well as flagging expensive contracts for advertising sheriffs sales. He has said that the high price of ads took proceeds away from some people whod lost their homes in legal actions.

So if theres too much money being spent on advertising, thats picking the pocket of the former homeowner, Mandel told The Inquirer in March. He filed a whistle-blower lawsuit in April. That case is ongoing.

Bilal began her term in January 2020 pledging that change is coming after two decades of scandal under previous Sheriffs Jewell Williams and John Green.

Williams, her immediate predecessor, had been accused in three lawsuits of sexual harassment, which he denied. Green, who served as sheriff from 1988 to 2010, pleaded guilty in 2019 to a bribery-related charge and is serving a five-year federal prison sentence. Excessive spending on advertising and political consulting fees have also long been controversial practices in the office.

The office, which had a $27 million budget and 428 employees in fiscal year 2020, is responsible for conducting court-ordered property sales, as well as courtroom security and prisoner transportation.

An office news release last month listed several improvements during Bilals first year. The sheriff noted that she had increased financial accountability, eliminated redundant consultants, improved ethics training, and reduced advertising costs by an estimated $3 million annually.

Its been a pleasure building a team, implementing policies to operate the office and creating culture focused on work, safety, and supporting the community, Bilal said in a January YouTube video highlighting changes in the office. I look forward to the next three years being as productive as the first year.

An audit released by City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart in November found that the Sheriffs Office cannot account for more than 200 guns that are supposed to be in its custody. But Rhynhart blamed the problem on Williams and praised Bilal for cooperating with the probe and beginning to take corrective action.

They left us with a crazy mess, as far as the Sheriffs Office, Bilal said at the November news conference, and not just the armory, trust me.

Staff writers Chris Brennan and Mensah Dean contributed to this article.
Dana Bash and Wolf Blitzer here. Welcome to debate night in Philadelphia. *cue dramatic music*

OK, OK, its Anna Orso and Sean Collins Walsh. Sorry to disappoint. But it is actually debate night, when well all get a chance to see seven candidates running for mayor duke it out on stage and tell us why they deserve to run this city.

In todays newsletter, well talk about what were watching for in tonights debate and how big money is driving the mayors race. Plus, we have an actual celebrity appearance.

Just 35 days  left until Election Day. Get the information you need about every candidate here.

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Lets get into it.

 Anna Orso and Sean Collins Walsh

If you see this  in todays newsletter, that means were highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories.

Philly will be better off if everyone has the facts they need to make an informed decision about this election. If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

What were watching for in tonights debate

Seven of the top Democrats will meet tonight for what is so far the only major televised debate of the campaign. Sure, these candidates have shared quite a few stages on the trail, but they havent directly interacted with one another in most of the forums.

Tonight, thatll change. The 90-minute debate at Temple University will be televised on Fox29. The candidates are: Amen Brown, Jeff Brown, Allan Domb, Derek Green, Helen Gym, Cherelle Parker, and Rebecca Rhynhart. (No Maria Quinones Sanchez, who suspended her campaign over the weekend.)

Here are a few things were watching for:

Who takes the heat? Its easy to tell during debates who everyone thinks the front-runner is, because thats who gets attacked. But there isnt a clear leader in this race, and theres been no public, independent polling. So well see if one person has to defend from all sides, or if it becomes a slugfest during which multiple top contenders take heat from opponents. What goes down with Jeff Brown? The ShopRite proprietor got off to a fast start in this campaign by running the airwaves and pitching himself as someone who could appeal to both business interests and underserved neighborhoods. But hes taken heat for making tone-deaf comments and is now being accused of illegally coordinating with a super PAC. Well be watching to see how the only candidate whos never held office handles his first big debate. Do Rhynhart or Domb break through? There have been some indications that Domb and Rhynhart have some momentum, but a debate stage could be tough for both of them. Rivals like Parker and Gym are known to have a very strong stage presence. Well be watching to see whos able to grab viewers attention.

 And heres the key question: Does this debate actually matter? Candidates dont tend to win races by performing well in a debate. But they can lose them by slipping up or failing to respond well to an attack.

Well be covering tonights debate live, and well run through the highlights for you tomorrow. Heres more on the ways you can watch.

Spotlight on: Climate change and fossil-fuel reliance

Philadelphia has a terrible track record of allowing environmental hazards to go unabated. Its had lead in the drinking water. Chemical plants in the surrounding areas routinely dump hazardous waste in the water sources. Everybodys focused on Detroit, but Philadelphia is right up there with with Detroit.

That was Jane Fonda talking about why shes getting involved in the Philly mayors race. Yeah, that Jane Fonda. These days, the longtime actor and activist is running a PAC, and shes supporting candidates who vow to move away from fossil-fuel reliance.

Gotta say: When we heard Fonda was endorsing Helen Gym for mayor and making a max donation to the campaign, we wondered what Hollywood wanted with Philly. So we chatted with Fonda last week about why shes involved.

Check out excerpts of our convo that ranged from public utilities, to the intersection of climate and crime, to why she cant forget the Philly teens she met years ago.

The 91st mayor of Philadelphia: Richardson Dilworth

What do the citys subway system and Independence Mall have in common? Both started while Richardson Dilworth led the city from 1956 to 1962.

Dilworth fought against corruption and for public housing. He oversaw the creation of Independence Mall and a public park system, historic protections in Society Hill, and the launch of a public-transit system. He was a big Dil. Sorry.

A liberal reformer who grew up a Republican, Dilworth became a Democrat because of frustrations with the citys Republican machine. Here are some other things to know:

He and his wife, Ann Dilworth, were passengers on the SS Andrea Doria, which collided with another ship and sunk near Nantucket in July 1956. Unlike the tragic loss of life on the Titanic, 1,660 of the 1,706 passengers and crew were rescued, including the Dilworths. He was a supporter of civil rights who fought segregation in the citys private schools. Dilworth was a partner at Dilworth Paxson LLP, which still bears his name. Dilworth Park at City Hall is also named in his honor.

 Julia Terruso

Data Dive: Big money and the mayors race

 This week, were going to once again pass the mic to our colleague Aseem Shukla, a journalist with our data-driven storytelling team, to talk about his latest work:

Last week we got a lot of juicy data that shed some important light on the state of the mayors race  or at least on the race for money. And money, of course, makes campaigns run. More than $22 million has been raised so far  between the campaigns and the super PACs supporting specific candidates, and $17 million has already been spent.

Heres more of what we found:

Big money rules this race.  Most of the funds raised came from donors giving more than $1,000, and deep-pocketed candidates. Allan Domb has injected $7 million into his own campaign. No candidate got most of their money from small donors, and for some candidates, super PACs have been doing most of the ad spending in their favor. About half of the money in the race comes from outside Philly. Some of the super PAC money is pretty hard to trace. 

What were reading

Answering your question about defund the police

Francis, one of our 100th Mayor newsletter readers, recently asked us this question: Who are the candidates now running who voted to defund the police?

The short answer is, none of them.

The longer answer: In 2020, City Council voted to cancel a proposed $19 million increase in police funding. They also moved the crossing-guard program to another department. This was considered to be a flat-funding of the department. Gym, Domb, Green, and Parker voted for that plan.

Heres what each of the candidates have said about whether the $800 million police budget should change.

 Have a question about the mayors race? Let us know, and you may see an answer in an upcoming newsletter. Email us here.

Campaign events this week

Besides tonights debate, there are a couple other events this week:

Wednesday forum in Center City: The Crosstown Coalition is hosting an event focused on gun violence, which will be moderated by our colleague, Chris Brennan. Thursday forum in Northwest Philly: Philadelphias leading Black media outlets will host an event at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. Friday forum in Germantown: Antiviolence advocates Bilal Qayyum and pastor Carl Day are hosting a candidates forum for Black men. Sunday forum in West Philly: POWER Interfaith is hosting a forum focused on faith and safety at 38th and Market.

 Trivia time 

Question: Allan Domb has put $7 million of his own money into his campaign. Thats a lot  but not quite a record. How much money did millionaire Tom Knox sink into his 2007 campaign, only to come in second place?

A) $7.5 million

B) $9 million

C) $11 million

D) $15 million

Find out if you know the answer. 

Scenes from the campaign trail

Rebecca Rhynhart spent part of her weekend knocking on voters doors, and along the way, she met Fishtown resident Wendy Faust and her cat. Wendy said shes leaning Rhynhart. Tiger Lily is undecided.

Thanks for hanging with us. Well be back in your inbox next week.

 Anna Orso and Sean Collins Walsh
Im tired of funerals. To date, my aunt, uncle, dad, two first cousins, and now my best friend, Mike, have died of what many have come to call deaths of despair. While the official cause of death differs, they all died of the same pathology: a sense of hopelessness that, depending on individual circumstances, can be rooted in a range of factors, including deindustrialization and the (long overdue) gender role revolution.

Deaths of despair affect all Americans, but particularly working-class white men and women, who enter middle age shattered by life and die early deaths from addiction, suicide, and risky choices.

Pennsylvanians are all too familiar with this epidemic. In 2019, a study by the nonprofit groups Trust for Americas Health and Well Being Trust found that the states deaths of despair were 50% higher than the national average. In Southwestern Pennsylvania  an area profoundly impacted by the rise and fall of the glass, steel, and coal industries  deaths of despair are 22% higher than in suburban, affluent Bucks County. Northeastern Pennsylvanias coal country is also home to some of the nations highest levels of poverty, hopelessness, and deaths of despair.

Estimates vary, but studies have shown that the rate of deaths of despair doubled between 2000 and 2017. Researchers from the University of West Virginia, another hot spot for such deaths, found that deaths of despair cost the American economy over $1 trillion annually. Ive witnessed the very same forces at work in my native Ozarks and adopted Rust Belt home of Erie.

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When the concept of deaths of despair  first coined by two Princeton professors in 2015  entered the national lexicon, it was a personal revelation. I finally had the terminology that explained how my dad, aunt, uncle, and two first cousins had passed away at early ages. Mike, at age 50, was added to their ranks just a few weeks ago.

Mike died alone. His demise, like so many other deaths of despair, was a slow-motion suicide. Decades of chain-smoking may have led to Mikes early death. But it was a lifetime of traumatic anxiety and a penetrating hopelessness that killed him. Loneliness took care of the rest. Never married, living alone, and without close friends nearby, he died at home, alone, of sepsis. The next day, it was workmates, not loved ones, who noticed his absence. They called the police for a wellness check.

Mike exemplifies the travails of so very many white working-class male Oregonians. As detailed in Richard V. Reeves seminal new work, Of Boys and Men, men have borne the brunt of many social changes. When working-class wages stagnated and industries decayed, the males traditional role as provider also disappeared. At the very same time, women (happily) experienced a revolution in their life possibilities. But men, especially working-class men of all races, have struggled in this transition.

Yes, men should better adjust to womens liberation. But the reality is that once working-class men lost their provider function, many became lost. Socially isolated and disconnected from a nourishing family life, too many working-class men die young and alone.

I somehow avoided these maladies. After dropping out of high school, I entered college and matriculated to graduate school, which gave me the requisite exit velocity to escape the gravitational pull of class dysfunction. From this vantage point, I can see the struggles of the white working class and the American male more clearly.

Sadly, our political and cultural elites often ignore a community in crisis because it overwhelmingly votes for Donald Trump. Compassion is not a zero-sum game. One can racially reckon, support LGBTQ communities, and empathize with those whose political behavior is puzzling or unsavory. The cold reality is that the white working class remains the nations and Pennsylvanias largest voting demographic.

The path out of Trumpist nihilism is an inclusive politics that acknowledges and responds with urgency to the profound dislocation felt by the white working class.

Jeff Bloodworth is a fellow with the Washington, D.C.-based Truman National Security Project and a professor of political history at Gannon University in Erie. @jhueybloodworth
For more than two decades, Justice Clarence Thomas has accepted luxury trips from Republican billionaire mega-donor Harlan Crow, according to recent reporting by ProPublica. Read more

Clarence Thomas would have been perfect on Philadelphias old scandal-plagued Traffic Court, a home for hack judges known for fixing parking tickets and other schemes that ran afoul of the law. But he should not be on the U.S. Supreme Court, where his ethical lapses and extremist views continue to tarnish a once-respected institution.

Beyond being a supercilious idealogue, Thomas never should have been confirmed to the highest court in the land. Prior to receiving his lifetime appointment in 1991, Thomas was accused of sexual harassment.

His confirmation hearing foreshadowed the #MeToo movement that brought down many leading men in Hollywood, politics, media, and corporate America.

Two respected investigative reporters detailed how Thomas likely perjured himself during his confirmation hearings. A right-wing author who smeared Thomas accuser later admitted he lied and was a witting cog in the Republican sleaze machine.

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Thomas spent years on the court without speaking a word during oral arguments. Perhaps he was dreaming about his next free exotic vacation.

ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative journalism organization, reported last week that for more than two decades, Thomas has accepted luxury trips from Republican billionaire mega-donor Harlan Crow. Thomas and his wife, Virginia, traveled on Crows private jet and yacht to far-flung locations, and each summer stayed at his private resort in the Adirondacks, where they hobnobbed with other influential right-wingers.

 READ MORE: The Supreme Court makes a hard right turn  and the nation lurches backward | Editorial

One 2019 trip alone was valued at $500,000. Thomas did not report the lavish junkets on his financial disclosures, which appeared to violate a law requiring judges and elected officials to disclose most gifts.

Thomas claimed he sought guidance from colleagues and others in the judiciary and was told he didnt have to report the trips because they came from a close personal friend who did not have business before the court. This may not be the correct legal term, but Thomas excuse is poppycock.

Crow may not have specific business before the court, but he has an interest in influencing and shaping it, along with the kind of privileged access that too often comes with money  which is everything that is wrong with politics.

The Texas billionaire, heir to a real estate fortune, was an early donor to the Club for Growth, an anti-tax group. He is on the board of the Hoover Institution, a conservative think tank.

Crow has made more than $10 million in political contributions and given to dark money groups whose donors are not publicly disclosed. He also donated millions of dollars to organizations committed to tort reform and conservative jurisprudence, including the Federalist Society, the breeding ground for conservative judges.

Crow has an agenda, and Thomas is likely one of his tools. Is it coincidence that their friendship began after Thomas joined the Supreme Court?

In addition to the trips, Crow gave Thomas a Bible that belonged to Frederick Douglass valued at $19,000 and donated $105,000 to the Justice Thomas Portrait Fund at Yale Law School, where Thomas graduated. Crow also gave $500,000 to a tea party group founded by Thomas wife, which paid her a salary of $120,000.

Thomas lack of integrity was already on view last year when he failed to recuse himself from cases that touched on his wifes involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

 READ MORE: With Roe decision, Supreme Court sneers at precedent  and places womens health in jeopardy | Editorial

Of course, at least one Fox News host and the Wall Street Journal editorial board, two conservative news outlets controlled by Rupert Murdoch, defended Thomas. One can only imagine the meltdown at Fox if the facts were different and, say, Justice Sonia Sotomayor went on trips funded by George Soros.

Senate Judiciary Chair Richard Durbin (D., Ill.) said the Senate will act. An investigation is needed, though any action from the Senate is unlikely to produce results. Thomas should resign, but it is unlikely he will do what is right.

Chief Justice John Roberts defended the court last year from critics who complained about its politicization after the court overturned nearly 50 years of precedent in Roe v. Wade.

Trust in the court has plummeted. The justices could help restore some faith in the court by requiring the same ethical standards required of lower-court judges. Beyond that, the Supreme Court should stick to interpreting the law and stop playing politics.
Philadelphia Phillies Alec Bohm celebrates with Nick Castellanos at home place after a two-run base hit by Brandon Marsh in the fifth inning of the game against Miami Marlins Monday, Apr. 10, 2023, in Philadelphia. Read more
Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal (center) as protesters gather outside the Union League of Philadelphia on Jan. 24. Read more

Clout enters February still thinking about the holiday season and the big party we hear Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal threw with public money in December but now doesnt want to talk about.

How big? The tab was $6,662 at Chickies & Petes in South Philly.

That would pay for 889 orders of that restaurants famous Crab Fries.

Clout had questions. Bilal and Teresa Lundy, a communications consultant paid by the Sheriffs Office, offered only dodges.

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We wanted to know who was invited to the party  at least one Sheriffs Office department was excluded  and why public funds paid for it.

We also had questions about the account used to pay Chickies & Petes in two checks, one for $3,899 on Dec. 21 and another for $2,763 on Jan. 5.

The citys Finance Department, which must approve the creation of new bank accounts for spending public dollars, confirmed that an account created by the Sheriffs Office last July issued those checks.

Clout first contacted Lundy three weeks ago with a text and voicemail to the same mobile phone she used to call us this week. She denied getting our messages and then requested details about the expenditures.

Im guessing this was with city dollars, Lundy said with a sigh. Never a dull moment.

Lundy also wondered why we hadnt filed a right-to-know request for information, a process that usually takes weeks or even months.

She emailed us a day later, not with answers, but asking for all the information we had given her the day before.

Since the Sheriffs Office was clearly in no rush to answer questions, Clout filed a right-to-know request Wednesday.

Lundy used that request Thursday to justify further delay, saying the Sheriffs Office needed legal guidance from the law department.

Wont be the first time Bilal, a Democrat first elected in 2019 and seeking a second term this year, has to talk to lawyers about how her office spends money.

Bilals first chief financial officer, Brett Mandel, lasted just five weeks in that job before he was fired and ushered out by armed deputies. His offense: raising concerns about how Bilal spent public dollars.

Mandel sued, and the city settled the case, paying him $258,668, his attorney $128,322, and $77,802 for a lawyer to represent Bilal.

That $462,792 tab was paid for with  you guessed it  public funds.

Mastrianos running mate wanted a refund

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Franklin County Republican trounced by Gov. Josh Shapiro in the 2022 race for governor, ended the year with more than $1 million in the bank and at least one unhappy donor  his former running mate, Carrie Lewis DelRosso.

DelRosso, a former state representative from Allegheny County who ran for lieutenant governor, transferred $175,000 from her political action committee to Mastrianos campaign from August to November.

And she wanted a refund.

Although no amount was ever discussed, I requested donations raised back to my PAC, DelRosso told Clout in an email Thursday. I did my job and left everything on the field. I was shocked to find out how much money was left over in his PAC as I expended all of my resources.

Mastriano gave her $25,000, DelRosso said.

Mastriano, who doesnt respond to requests for comment from media organizations that dare to ask questions he doesnt want to hear, did not respond to a request for comment.

He is still grumbling about establishment Republicans not funding his campaign last year. In a Facebook video this week, Mastriano complained about Ronna McDaniel winning another term last week as chair of the Republican National Committee.

We need change at the national level, Mastriano said. The exclamation point for us was the RNC walked away from Pennsylvania.

Mastriano did not explain why he left about 15% of the money he raised for his campaign last year in the bank, while constantly caterwauling about a lack of resources during and after the election.

Black ward leaders knock Helen Gym

The heat keeps coming for Helen Gym after she denounced the Union League last week and then attended a cocktail party there Monday that was packed with developers who could help fund her Democratic bid for mayor.

The United Democratic Ward Leaders of Color on Thursday tweeted its great disappointment in Gym, a former City Council member, calling her a hypocrite.

Her actions are a slap in the face to true democracy, the group, led by former City Councilmember Jannie Blackwell wrote. Black and Brown voters should assume that they are unable to trust Helen Gym, who has shown she has no conscience to do what is right versus what is political convenient.

Gym, who had joined other local politicians in castigating the Union League for an event honoring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, swiftly apologized after images of her at the private club started spreading Monday on social media.

Bob Brady, chair of the Democratic City Committee, said the letter tweeted by the Black ward leaders was also read aloud at the partys Policy Committee meeting Tuesday while the decision on whether to endorse a mayoral candidate was considered.

Brady added that he does not control a Twitter account in his name that liked the Black ward leader groups tweet about Gym on Thursday.

I dont twit, Brady told Clout.

Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics.
Seven Philadelphia Democrats will take the stage Tuesday evening  35 days before the citys May 16 Democratic primary  in the first major televised debate of this years mayoral campaign.

The candidates participating are: Amen Brown, Jeff Brown, Allan Domb, Derek Green, Helen Gym, Cherelle Parker, and Rebecca Rhynhart.

Former City Councilmember Maria Quinones Sanchez, who had also been slated to appear, dropped out after deciding to suspend her campaign over what she described as the obscene amount of money in the race.

There was no way we were going to be able to compete with that money, Quinones Sanchez told The Inquirer last week.

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There was also some news ahead of the debate. The Philadelphia Board of Ethics sued a super PAC and a nonprofit supporting Browns bid on Monday, accusing them of illegally coordinating fundraising efforts that brought in more than $2.4 million.

According to conventional wisdom, candidates dont typically win elections with great debate performances, but they can lose voters with major missteps. And it will be easy to tell during debates who everyone thinks the front-runner is, because thats who gets attacked. In the citys mayoral race so far, candidates have shared the stage in forums, but this will be the first time theyve been allowed to interact with one another.

The Inquirer will have live coverage of the debate.

Heres what you need to know:

What time does the Philadelphia mayoral debate start?

The debate between the seven Democratic candidates is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and will last 90 minutes.

It will take place at Temple University, moderated by Fox 29 news anchor Jason Martinez. Fox 29s Shiba Russell will lead a panel during the debate that includes colleagues Thomas Drayton and Jeff Cole, and Fox 29 reporter Shawnette Wilson will ask the candidates questions provided by a live studio audience of students and local community members.

Where can I watch the debate?

The debate will be telecast on Fox 29.

The debate will be live streamed on Fox 29.com, Fox 29s YouTube channel, and the Fox-owned Tubi free streaming service.

Who are the candidates?

State Rep. Amen Brown, running as a moderate Democrat, has a tough-on-crime, pro-development platform. At 35, Brown is the youngest candidate in the race.

Businessman Jeff Brown, the longtime ShopRite proprietor, is running as an anti-politician attempting to become the first outsider mayor in a century.

Former City Councilmember Allan Domb, a real estate magnate known as the condo king with a vast portfolio of properties in Center City, has leaned hard on his business acumen in his pitch to Philadelphia voters.

Former City Councilmember Derek Green, running as a moderate Democrat, has a tough-on-crime and business-friendly platform. His campaign has struggled to gain traction.

Former City Councilmember Helen Gym, who has evolved from a teacher into a school board protester into a leader of the citys social justice movement, now is a mayoral candidate running as a tough Philly mom.

Former City Councilmember Cherelle Parker is running for mayor with a mission to help preserve the village that raised her and other neighborhoods like it.

Former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart, first elected as a political outsider, is now running to lead the government she spent the last five years auditing.

 READ MORE: Your no-nonsense guide to the May 2023 Democratic primary for mayor, Council, and row offices
An officer with Philadelphia Mounted Police Unit at the northwest corner of City Hall. Read more

Philadelphians were riveted last week by accounts of hundreds of teenagers converging on Center City around the Fashion District, leading to breathless social media posts and TV newscasts about an increasingly dangerous and lawless downtown.

A new study from the Brookings Institution, however, finds that Center City remains one of the safest corners of town. After crunching data and conducting extensive interviews in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle, the authors did not find much evidence to ground fears about downtown crime.

We found that across the four cities, downtowns accounted for an almost negligible share of total citywide property and violent crime, said Hanna Love, senior research associate with the Brookings Institution and one of the studys authors. Center City is remarkably safe compared to the rest of the city as a whole.

Crime remains a major issue for Philadelphia at large: The homicide rate, while lower than the past few years, remains at a pace thats near a three-decade high. Violent crimes have long been intensely concentrated in neighborhoods beyond Center City, such as Kensington, North Philadelphia, and parts of West Philadelphia, where residents endure high levels of poverty, blight, and other systemic disadvantages.

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But the narrative that shootings or violent crime haunt downtown in a way they did not before the pandemic is not true, despite some fears expressed about the blocks around the proposed 76ers arena.

Is crime keeping workers remote?

Research by Love and her coauthor, Tracy Hadden Loh, originated in a project on the persistence of remote work. In interviews with 100 people across the four cities  ranging from office workers and small-business owners to corporate and government officials  they heard that the number-one barrier to returning to work in person was fear of crime in the downtown business district.

When Love and Loh crunched the numbers, however, they did not find much to support those concerns.

In Philadelphia, property crimes such as retail theft and burglaries citywide went up by 38% between 2019 and 2022, but Center City accounted for less than 1% of that spike. Violent crime increased, too  and specifically homicides are way up  but again, downtown accounted for a tiny proportion of such incidents. (Seattle was the one city studied that saw the greatest share of violent and property crime playing out downtown.)

In Chicago and Philadelphia especially, the two more segregated cities, there was a false perception that crime from the neighborhoods was bleeding over into downtown, Love said. There are serious and very real fears of gun crimes, but people are often not paying attention to the data on the geography of crime.

Why do people think downtown crime has risen?

Across all four cities, the share of crimes committed downtown remained stable between 2019 and 2022, with the proportion of property crime committed downtown actually falling in Philadelphia during that time.

So what, then, accounts for the pervasive sense of unease?

More visible street homelessness and drug use has something to do with it, according to the study. In Philadelphia that is especially true on the SEPTA trains and in the stations that commuters use to get downtown. On public transit, some research has linked lower ridership to an increase in crime.

Although people living on the street are more likely to suffer crime than to commit it, Love said, their presence is often perceived as a sign of disorder and danger.

In many of the downtowns covered by the report, foot traffic has not returned to anywhere close to pre-pandemic levels, which can make any public drug use or antisocial activity more obvious because fewer people are around.

Relatedly, that can drive storefront vacancies, which also contribute to some passersby experiencing a feeling of danger, according to the study. All this can lead to a recursive loop in which people dont feel safe downtown because of the empty streets, so they dont go there, contributing to the lack of foot traffic.

But Love said that Center City Philadelphia is actually much livelier than the other cities studied in her report, due to its large residential population.

Center City is way far ahead on [foot traffic], Love said. Even compared to the other cities, Center City is incredibly safe.

Gun violence crisis in Philly

But Philadelphia as a whole is suffering a gun violence crisis, with homicides soaring by 44%, according to Brookings, between 2019 and 2022. (Philadelphias current surge in murders is similar in intensity to the previous homicide peak in the early 1990s, whereas New York Citys homicide numbers then were five times higher than they are today.) Those crimes are almost wholly not taking place in Center City, but in systemically disadvantaged neighborhoods where much of the violence took place before the pandemic  and where its since become far worse.

Many of the neighborhoods suffering from spiking gun crimes are lower income and majority nonwhite, which can be seen in the results of a recent Lenfest Institute poll that found Black respondents were twice as likely as white respondents to report that gun violence is having a major negative impact on their lives.

But sensationalized television news coverage and ubiquitous fearmongering, context-free videos shared on social media may be driving perceptions that crime is also out of control downtown, an area full of offices, tourism, and shopping, according to the study.

There is very increased media coverage of crime, particularly in New York City, and especially during the midterms last year, said Love.

Solutions to crime and disorder can be similar

When combating both crime and disorder, it is important to address signifiers in the built environment such as litter, poor lighting, and ill-kept vacant lots and buildings. In Chicago and Seattle, city governments have been testing programs to encourage pop-up small businesses in vacant properties to help business districts come back.

Love says that the Center City Districts (CCD) efforts to keep downtown clean and staffed with unarmed personnel is a big help.

If every single neighborhood had the kind of resources that Center City District has to address safety, I think Philadelphia would be much safer, said Love. (CCDs leader, Paul Levy, has long argued that his organization provides services downtown, so the city can concentrate on the neighborhoods.)

The Brookings Institutions research indicates where law enforcement and other crime-fighting interventions should be targeted. Love notes that cities like New York have concentrated more police resources in tourist-heavy areas, like the subway stations around Times Square, with little effect.

The best use of public funds would be investments in safety infrastructure in the higher-crime neighborhoods, rather than, say, adding a bunch more police officers [downtown], she said.

The Brookings Institutions report highlighted that business owners and residents in each citys Chinatown reported greater safety concerns than other downtown stakeholders.

In addition to reporting fears of theft and burglary, they also cited concerns of anti-Asian racism and hate that increased during the pandemic, the report notes, causing many business owners to question whether to remain within their districts.

Love and Loh plan to issue a separate report on crime statistics and sentiments in Chinatowns.
He was remarkable, and those who worked with him are privileged to have done so. He lived a long, good life and was respected and loved by many. He displayed courage, enthusiasm, and generosity and believed in love, she said.
Were not going to be all things to all clients, were going to be very, very specific in the areas that we target and in those areas we will be a genuine alternative to the Big Three or the Big Four, said Cook. We believe that the mid market corporate world is crying out for a broker of the capability of BMS that has a global reach.
Planck CEO Elad Tsur added: Planck is excited to partner with IAG to expand our underwriting automation operations in the Australian commercial insurance market. Our cutting-edge technology will help IAG and other insurers in Australia improve their underwriting process, reduce manual errors, and improve efficiency. As Planck has accomplished in other countries, collaboration with leaders in a region, such as IAG, enables us to deliver innovative solutions that will benefit the entire insurance industry.
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Maryland lawmakers have passed a bill to end the states statute limiting when civil lawsuits over child sex abuse can be filed against public and private entities.

Under the Child Victims Act of 2023, actions for damages arising out of alleged incidents of sexual abuse against minors may be filed at any time. Currently, Marylanders who say they were sexually abused as children cant sue after they reach the age of 38.

The bill would go into effect October 1, 2023 and retroactively revive any action that was barred by the prior statutory period of limitations. It would not allow suits on behalf of alleged child sex abuse victims who are deceased.

The measure now goes to Gov. Wes Moore, who has said he will sign it.

Final agreement came just days after Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown released his agencys report documenting a long history of widespread child sex abuse and systemic cover-up by clergy and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

The redacted Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore was the result of a four-year investigation into 60 years of allegations of child sexual abuse by members of the clergy and of the cover-up of that abuse by the leadership of the Catholic Church.

That report recommended that Maryland eliminate the statute of limitations. The Catholic Church opposed the measure in part because it sets different caps on damages for private and public institutions. Several Catholic dioceses have been hurt financially by similar laws in other states that have allowed abuse claims that were previously barred.

Maryland has no cap on economic damages or punitive damages, except the state has immunity for punitive damages. However, Maryland does have caps on noneconomic damages. Under the child victims act, the total amount of noneconomic damages that may be awarded to a single claimant in an action against a single private party defendant (including clergy) for injuries arising from an incident or occurrence that would have been barred by a time limitation before October 1, 2023, may not exceed $1.5 million.

If the sexual abuse claim involves a local government, a county board of education, the state, or the states units, the liability may not exceed $890,000 to a single claimant for injuries arising from an incident or occurrence. The bill increases the minimum comprehensive liability coverage county boards of education must carry to reflect the $890,000 liability limit with respect to sexual abuse claims. A county board of education may raise the defense of sovereign immunity to any amount above the limit of its insurance policy.

According to the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Child USAdvocacy, 15 states have lifted statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse. The number of new cases filed in other states during limited revival of claims windows has varied. According to Child USA, approximately 11,000 cases were filed in New York during the states two-year window for revival of child sexual abuse claims and approximately 1,200 cases were filed under New Jerseys two-year revival window.

A legislative analysis of the Maryland bill anticipates it will have an operational impact on the courts and general fund expenditures for the judiciary may increase. Also, the treasurer and attorney general may need to increase staffing to handle any increase in claims and law firms will gain clients.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation Maryland
The Ardonagh Group announced it has agreed to acquire Klap Verzekeringsmakelaar, a specialist commercial lines insurance broker based in The Netherlands, from family office, Nedvest.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Under the leadership of Klap CEO Jorg Roodbeen and with support from Tim Krete, partner at Nedvest, Klap has achieved high levels of growth in recent years, cementing its position as a key player in the Dutch insurance market, said Ardonagh in a statement.

Klaps growth was achieved through a combination of its successful acquisition strategy and by maintaining operational excellence to ensure strong organic growth.

Founded in 1854 and based in Amsterdam, Klap advises SME companies on employee benefits, insurance, and pensions, distributing over 100 million of gross written premiums annually.

Klap will be acquired by Ardonagh Europe, through its subsidiary Ardonagh Netherlands BidCo B.V., funded from Ardonaghs available funds. Klaps management team will remain with the business.

Ardonagh Europe, led by CEO Conor Brennan, landed in the Dutch market in 2022, welcoming the Leons Group as part of its plan to penetrate new European markets. Leons Dutch roots and solid reputation in the market, lasting over 70 years, has enabled Ardonagh Europe to begin building a portfolio of brands with insurance broker companies that are leaders in their target markets.

With the addition of Klap, Ardonagh Europe will tap into more than 230 years of Dutch insurance excellence, as provided by two highly respected and long-standing franchises which have high quality portfolios of commercial lines business.

This is a hugely complementary acquisition, aligning neatly with our groups footprint both internationally and in the European market. Alongside the vast expertise of Leons, Klap further diversifies our portfolio and our customer base in The Netherlands, creating a strong platform to accelerate our growth ambitions in the region, commented CEO Brennan.

Todays announcement marks the start of a new and exciting chapter for us all. In Ardonagh we have found a strategic partner supportive of our ambitions. Our clients and colleagues will benefit from this, Klaps CEO Roodbeen said.

I am delighted that two insurance brokers with a long history have found each other with the support of a strong international shareholder. The combination of Klap and Leons results in a unique collaboration. In recent years, we have been on a great journey to place ourselves on the map as a leading adviser for SMEs, Roodbeen added.

We are confident that Ardonagh is the ideal partner to take Klap to even greater heights in their continued journey, said Krete, partner at Nedvest.

The Ardonagh Group

The Ardonagh Group is the UKs largest independent insurance distribution platform and a top 20 broker globally, operating with a network of more than 150 locations and a combined workforce of more than 9,000 people. Ardonagh Europe is part of Ardonaghs International platform. Ardonagh Europes business units include: Arachas, the Republic of Irelands largest commercial insurance broker; MDS Group, a Portugal-based specialized international insurance broker; Envest, an insurance investment and distribution business with a diverse portfolio of brands and Australian footprint; AccuRisk Solutions, a U.S.-based MGA focused on medical stop loss products; and HWF Partners, a specialist M&A insurance broker operating out of the UK and Germany.

Source: Ardonagh Group

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Generali Global Corporate & Commercial (GC&C), Gallagher Re and Mosaic Insurance.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Generali Global Corporate & Commercial France Promotes 2 Execs

Generali Global Corporate & Commercial (GC&C) France has appointed Aurelie Julie Beuffe, 38, as head of Client & Broker Relationship Management, and Vincent Colette, 43, as head of Risk Engineering & Loss Prevention.

In her new role, which will take effect on June 1, 2023, Beuffe will be directly responsible for Generali GC&C Frances Broker and Client Relations team, whose primary mission is to manage, facilitate and monitor all GC&C actions towards its broker partners and customers. She will report to Gaelle Tortuyaux, head of GC&C France.

With 15 years of experience in the P&C business market, Beuffe was previously in charge of the structuring, management and national coordination of P&C Grand Courtage within Generali France.

Beuffe began her career with Generali in 2009 in the health field, as Insurance Operations manager, before moving to the position of Property Damage underwriter in the PropPE segment. In 2014, she became IARD (Property and Casualty) Commercial Inspector, then in 2021 she was named IARD Commercial Inspector for Generali France in the Grand Ouest Region, before taking charge of the structuring, management and national coordination of Generali Frances IARD Grand Courtage (Brokerage).

Beuffe holds a masters degree in insurance and wealth management from IAE Rouen.

In a separate appointment, Generali GC&C France has named Vincent Colette as the new head of Risk Engineering & Loss Prevention, reporting to Sara Foucher, head of Underwriting & Prevention of Generali GC&C France.

Effective immediately, Colette takes direct responsibility for the Risk Studies and Prevention team, which includes advisory and prevention follow-up missions in support of the underwriting teams and clients  essential for understanding risk exposure and controlling it.

Colette began his career at CNPP as a sprinklers inspector. He then became an expert prevention engineer at MMA/COVEA Risks, before joining Verlingue as a prevention engineer. Colette subsequently joined Generali GC&C France in 2016 as a prevention consulting engineer, a position in which he was able to bring his expertise to the service of GC&C customers and support them in the prevention and management of their risks. Colette holds a masters degree in advanced maintenance techniques and a specialized graduate diploma (DESS) in industrial systems operating safety.

***

Gallagher Securities Hires Zanelli as EVP, North America

Gallagher Re, the global reinsurance broker, announced the appointment of Bart Zanelli as executive vice president within the North American team.

Based in New York, Zanelli will focus on a range of capital market activities within Gallagher Securities, the capital markets arm of Gallagher Re. His responsibilities will include capital raising and mergers and acquisitions advisory services. He will report to Jim Bradshaw, chief executive officer, Gallagher Re North America.

An investment banker by profession, Zanelli brings to Gallagher Re more than 30 years of capital markets and reinsurance experience across both the property and casualty and life sectors, and in both traditional and non-traditional solutions. Prior positions have included managing director for JLT Re and Guy Carpenter, and most recently he served as head of the Insurance Practice at Skyway Capital Markets where he focused on capital raising and M&A transactions.

We are excited to have Bart join our North American team, Bradshaw said. His demonstrated leadership and expertise in capital and reinsurance markets will play a key role in delivering innovative and tailored capital solutions to cedents, and in collaborating with colleagues across Gallagher Re to provide a bespoke client experience from start to finish.

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Mosaic Names Bakhshi as CFO, Haque as Capital Solutions Officer

Senior financial services executive Reeva Bakhshi has joined the leadership team of Mosaic Insurance, as part of a strategic development of the specialty insurers corporate division.

Bakhshi takes on the role of chief financial officer (CFO), as Aizaz (Oz) Haque, the former CFO, assumes the new position of capital solutions officer, both based in New York.

Bakhshi brings more than 25 years experience in financial services, including international re/insurance markets. She will lead Mosaics finance organization, directing financial strategy. Bakhshi previously served as SVP, treasurer and deputy CFO at Alleghany Corp., and board member of TransRe, RSUI and CapSpecialty. Prior to Alleghany, she was CFO at Aspen Insurance and CFO at Hiscox at a number of operations, including Hiscox Re and ILS, Europe, and Special Risks. Qualified as a chartered accountant, she began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

With 20 years of investment banking experience, Haque will oversee alternative capital strategies to optimize capital provision for the company. He joined Mosaic as CFO in June 2020, previously holding roles at Foros Group, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Lazard, according to his LinkedIn profile.

We are excited to have Reeva join us as we embark on our next phase of growth, said Co-CEO Mitch Blaser. She brings a distinguished track record in the insurance industry to oversee all our financial activities. Ozs new role sees him address ways we can build alternative capital strategies to support our development and leverage the platform weve built. Having Reeva and Oz focused on these respective areas will help Mosaic deliver on plans and create innovative capital solutions for our business.

Topics A.J. Gallagher France
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Johnson & Johnsons 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 companys previous attempt to settle the litigation, according to a court filing from lawyers representing cancer victims.

The attorneys, in the filing on Monday, denounced J&Js 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.

Related: J&J Unit Files for Second Bankruptcy to Pursue $8.9B Talc Settlement

They said the company had fraudulently transferred $50 billion in assets away from LTL to get around a ruling from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that it was not in sufficient financial distress to qualify for bankruptcy.

The Third Circuit certainly did not invite the Debtor to commit fraud so that it could re-file for bankruptcy, the plaintiffs attorneys wrote in Mondays filing.

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.

J&J maintains that its talc products are safe and do not cause cancer.

The healthcare conglomerate faces twin challenges to succeeding where its first attempt failed: prevailing against inevitable legal challenges seeking to toss the LTL Management Chapter 11 filing again, and garnering necessary support from cancer victims who have once again become creditors in the subsidiarys bankruptcy.

J&J said that 70,000 claimants had signed up to support its new $8.9 billion settlement plan, but it is not clear whether the company will reach the 75% support it needs to get its settlement approved in bankruptcy court.

The plaintiffs new filing disputes J&Js claimed level of support, saying that 40,000 plaintiffs oppose the new settlement, and that the company had created the appearance of support by signing agreements with latecomer law firms that have never filed a talc-related lawsuit against J&J.

J&J did not provide an estimate of the total number of talc claims it faces when asked. The company is attempting to address future lawsuits in addition to cases already filed against it.

Jim Onder, who represents 21,000 talc claimants and supports J&Js settlement offer, said that it is not unusual for law firms to represent many clients whose cases have not been filed. Thats especially true for J&J talc cases, because LTLs first bankruptcy stopped new lawsuits from being filed after October 2021, he said.
CARNEY, Okla. (AP)  A magnitude 4.0 earthquake was among a series of six tremors that struck central Oklahoma last 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 mile (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) southeast 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.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Oklahoma Earthquake
Alden Short and Hinson Jennings, a Dallas-based property management company, will pay $85,000 and furnish other relief to settle a national origin harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

According to the EEOCs suit, the owner and president and the chief operating officer (COO) subjected three Hispanic female employees to a hostile work environment at the companys Richardson facility. The agencys suit claimed top management officials made comments to the employees relating to their heritage, their parents, and children all relating to their national origin.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on national origin. The EEOC filed suit, Civil Action No. 3:18-CV-2125-L in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

The three-year consent decree settling the suit was entered by U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsey on April 4, 2023 and prohibits future discrimination. In addition to the payment of damages to the Hispanic employees, the decree requires the property management companies to develop and implement a new employee handbook and to provide employees with annual training on discrimination.

These three professional women were subjected to discriminatory criticism and comments from the owner and COO, said EEOC Assistant Regional Attorney Suzanne Anderson One former employee said the COO told her he could treat her any way he wanted to because she is Mexican. That treatment in a workplace creates a hostile work environment that can constitute a violation of federal law.

The employees complained because these companies rent to tenants in predominantly Hispanic communities, yet management treated their Hispanic employees with disparagement or discrimination, said EEOC Trial Attorney Brooke Lopez. This resolution points to a better approach that should benefit both employees and their employers.

Source: EEOC

Topics Lawsuits Texas Property
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A federal appeals panel has affirmed $2.5 million in penalties against Appalachian coal mines owned by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice over claims they violated a settlement meant to prevent pollution.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, made the ruling Tuesday in an appeal by Southern Coal Corp. and Premium Coal Co. Inc. of a lower courts decision. The ruling also requires remediation work to be completed at mine sites.

The U.S. and several states settled and signed a consent decree with the companies in late 2016 to resolve allegations of Clean Water Act violations from Justice-owned mines in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The Environmental Protection Agency had said Southern Coal didnt submit complete and timely discharge monitoring reports, made unauthorized discharges and wouldnt respond to the EPAs requests for information.

The Justice Department said in a later filing that the defendants have a long history of Clean Water Act violations and noncompliance with the requirements of the 2016 agreement.

The companies had paid $2.9 million in penalties by 2021, but not the separate fines levied in September 2020 over the failure to submit timely permit applications that led to unpermitted discharges at mine sites in Tennessee and Alabama.

The appeals panel wrote that the lower court properly recognized the absurdity of Southern Coals position that it could simply allow its permits to lapse to avoid obligations under the consent decree. It said the decree had plain language to mandate compliance with the Clean Water Act and derivative permitting obligations.

Upon taking office in 2017, Justice said his children would run his business empire, but he stopped short of forming a blind trust, saying it was too complicated. The Republican governor has enterprises in hospitality, coal mining and agriculture, many of which have become mired in lawsuits.

Photo: The governor in January at the State of the State address. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Virginia
Crews could face a difficult cleanup task after a 25-car train derailment spilled powdered clay and cases of beer beside a scenic western Montana river, leaving some cars off the tracks in a narrow, century-old tunnel with limited access, officials said.

Its a terrible spot to get in and out of, Bill Naegeli, manager for Sanders County Disaster and Emergency Services, said of the derailment on the Clark Fork River. The biggest issue is the cars derailed inside the tunnel with little clearance.

Montana Rail Link has said nobody was hurt and no hazardous materials spilled Sunday morning in the derailment that left some cars precariously close to the banks of the river and some slightly dipping into the water in an area where the railroad tracks run between the base of the mountain and the river.

Seven cars are believed derailed in the narrow tunnel where it will be hard to extricate them, Naegeli said.

The train derailed Sunday across the river from Quinns Hot Springs Resort in Paradise, spilling the clay and cases of Coors Light and Blue Moon beer, in cans and bottles, the Missoulian reported.

A tanker car carrying butane was on its side, but it did not leak, Naegeli said.

A boom was deployed across the river to secure any cans or bottles of beer that enter the water and to monitor for any possible diesel impacts after a small amount of fuel spilled on the dirt from two refrigerator cars that derailed, said Andy Garland, spokesperson for Montana Rail Link, in a statement Monday.

MRL has been in communication with both local and federal authorities and will conduct any necessary site remediation, including impacted soil removal in coordination with DEQ, Garland said.

Directly across the river, some guest cabins at Quinns resort were evacuated as a precaution, the Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District said in a social media post.

Denise Moreth, the resorts general manager, told the Missoulian that front desk workers heard a loud, rumbling crash, and then they heard the train derailment. 

Garland said Sunday it was unclear how long it would take to remove the derailed cars and repair the tracks and railroad bed, which appeared to have been damaged when the cars slid off the tracks. Crews were working in the area on Monday.

The derailed area can only be reached by vehicles traveling on the blocked railroad track or by taking a boat across the river, Garland said Sunday.

The cause of the derailment is still under investigation, officials said.

Federal regulators and members of Congress are urging railroads to do more to prevent derailments after recent fiery wrecks involving hazardous chemicals in Ohio and Minnesota prompted evacuations.

Rail accidents including derailments have been trending downward in the U.S. as the number of miles traveled by trains decreases.

However, the rate of accidents per mile has been increasing, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Railway unions contend rail transportation has become riskier in recent years following widespread job cuts.

Most rail accidents involve freight trains, and fatalities involving passenger trains are rare.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Vancouver, British Columbia - April 11, 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.

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April 11, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Usha Resources recently announced the acquisition of its second lithium-rich property in Ontario. Read to learn about the deal, what the company is up to, and where the market is headed.

Canadian mining firm Usha Resources Ltd. (USHA:TSX.V; USHAF:OTCQB) has executed option agreements for the rights to purchase two lithium-rich properties both within the Thunder Bay Mining Division of Ontario, which is aligned with its planned expansion into hard-rock pegmatite space.

The company has entered into two option agreements. The first is for the right to purchase 100% interest in 712 unpatented mining claims in the White Willow Lithium-Tantalum Property from 2758145 Ontario Ltd., which hosts fertile lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) bearing pegmatites.

The second is for the right to purchase 100% interest in eight unpatented mining claims in the Nym Property from vendors 2758145 Ontario Ltd., Peter Gehrels, and Allan George Onchulenko of Atikokan, Ontario.

The White Willow and Nym properties amount to 720 mining claims totaling 16,230 hectares.

These acquisitions are a part of the company's strategy to build an accretive portfolio of highly complementary hard-rock pegmatite assets to its fully owned flagship Jackpot Lake Lithium Brine project.

The acquisitions are still subject to the approval of the TSX Venture of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Usha is a junior exploration company that focuses on high-grade precious and base metal projects across North America. The company has several ongoing projects, including the Jackpot Lake Project in Nevada, Lost Basin Project in Arizona, and the Nicobat Project in Ontario, Canada.

The Catalyst: Rich Lithium Production Potential in Newly Acquired Properties, Developments in Other Projects

The 15,510-hectare White Willow property, located 170 kilometers west of Thunder Bay, is a prime showcase of the region's rich lithium potential alongside other projects of other companies in the area.

Usha CEO Deepak Varshney said the properties have a significant number of mapped pegmatites, and the White Willow has a confirmed highly evolved LCT mineral system with high-grade tantalum.



Figure - The local map outlining the location of Nym Property with respect to the larger White Willow Lithium-Tantalum Property. Photo by Usha Resources Ltd.

"By making these strategic acquisitions, we are positioning Usha at the forefront of the evolving lithium market, thereby securing a foothold in the rapidly expanding green energy sector . . . We are very pleased to have been able to assemble this highly prospective land package at a low cost," he said about the White Willow acquisition.

"(The Nym Property), collectively with White Willow, presents a unique and timely opportunity to capitalize on the rapidly growing lithium market in Canada. We believe this project has the potential to join an emerging group of Tier-1 projects in Ontario . . . and we look forward to beginning exploration work shortly with the goal of drilling White Willow and Nym in 2023," he added.

The company also recently announced the phases of development of its other projects. Jackpot Lake lithium project is being drilled with a goal to complete a maiden 43-101 resource estimate this year, with additional drilling activities to be done throughout 2023. By 2024 and beyond, Usha plans to complete permitting for production, expand and grow resource, conduct advanced studies, as well as develop and optimize the mine site and the production.

The Nicobat nickel project is set to be spun out into its own (to-be listed) public company, Formations Metals Inc. on April 12, 2023, whereby shareholders will receive a 20% "share dividend." Future work throughout 2023 will focus on making the historic resource compliant and expanding on the work completed to assess for other high-grade "ribs" and the potential high-grade feeder zone.

Green Tech Market's Strong Global Demand for Lithium

Fortune Business Insights noted that the global market for lithium, an integral component in green and sustainable technology, is forecasted to reach a value of US$22.6 billion by 2030.

It is forecasted to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 15.7% over the period 2022-2030 from the latest estimates of US$7 billion last year.

The demand for lithium is continuously growing because of its use in rechargeable batteries, especially as the world pivots towards a greener and more sustainable future.

Deemed the "lightest metal in the world," lithium is a great option for use in electric vehicles. Demand is seen to continue to rise as more people shift to buying electric or hybrid vehicles.

While lithium prices have seen a downtrend, Bevis Yeo of the Stockhead said analysts are forecasting a rebound in the second half of the year.

There have been steps taken by companies to increase output, unlike previous moves to slash production when lithium prices dropped.

Fastmarkets forecasts that lithium demand from electric vehicles will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 20% to 2.28Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent in 2033, from 321,000t in 2022.

There is still an emerging significant supply gap for lithium, as forecasted deficits could reach 3.3 million tons by 2030 and continue to grow, estimates from Usha said.

Why Usha?

Usha CEO Varshney said the acquisition of the White Willow and Nym properties present an exceptional opportunity for exploration and potential development.

"The rising global demand for lithium, driven by the green energy revolution and the exponential growth of electric vehicles, makes the acquisition of the White Willow Lithium-Tantalum Property an attractive investment. This acquisition promises to position the company at the forefront of the burgeoning lithium market, offering significant growth opportunities," Varshney added.

The properties are also highly complementary to Usha's 100% owned flagship Jackpot Lake Lithium Brine Project in which the company tripled its land position and is now progressing with its maiden drill program, with a goal of defining a 43-101 resource estimate. The company is also looking to invest CA$250,000 into future drilling programs at the White Willow site, with two main exploration targets including the Nym Property.

Technical analyst Clive Maund sees Usha as an "immediate speculative Buy" given that the stock is treading on its support levels after experiencing a strong pick-up last February.

"The reason that classic buy spots continue to work is that the majority of investors will maintain their time-honored tradition of buying high and selling low, so we try to do the opposite. Usha surged on big volume early in February and then reacted back on dwindling volume to the classic "Buy spot" that it is now at," Maund said.

He also noted that Usha has strategic properties of rich mine sites, and is focused "on the development of quality battery and precious metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential" which makes it a good and safe bet for investors.

Chris Temple of The National Investor tagged Usha as a Buy at the start, then changed to a speculative-rated stock, pointing out Usha's bright prospects mainly on the Jackpot Lake project, as well as its unique Nevada-centric lithium exploration story. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-10288]

"By and large, (Usha's) early work has suggested a shallower and richer potential lithium resource here. This is one distinction. Another, reportedly, is the fact that the water source underground Jackpot Lake is independent of any other major aquifer," Temple said.

"Besides many of Usha's unique attributes at Jackpot Lake (it has a few other exploration assets of various kinds as well) consider its share count: only 35 million shares or so outstanding, of which but a quarter or so is in the market," he added.

Ownership and Share Structure

13.3% of Usha Resources shares are owned by management and insiders. CEO Deepak Varshney owns 5.04% of shares, with 1.8 million shares, while Director Navin Varshney owns 7.1%, or 22.53 million, valued at CA$1 million.

According to Reuters, 15.03% is with institutions and strategic investors. Out of this category, Palos Management Inc. has the most at 1.77%, with 0.63 million shares.

The balance of 71.7% is held by retail investors.

Usha said in its latest corporate presentation that its market capitalization is at CA$12.7 million, with 46.037 million common shares. According to Market Watch, the company currently has 47,087,394 shares outstanding and trades in the 52-week range of CA$0.21 to CA$0.42.

Disclosures:

1) Nika Catalado wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC as an independent contractor. They or members of their household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. They and members of their 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: Usha Resources. 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 Usha Resources., a company mentioned in this article.

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April 11, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Sometimes it takes an April ice storm in Canada to really be reminded of the impacts of global warming.

Scientists have found that the Arctic - the "frontline of climate change" - is heating up four times faster than the rest of the world. Much of this has to do with the phenomenon known as "Arctic amplification", or the loss of sea ice.

Shrinking Arctic Ice Cover

The Arctic Ocean is mostly covered with a layer of sparkling sea ice. But as the planet warms, the sea ice begins to dissipate and exposes more of the ocean surface, allowing heat to escape from the warmer water into the colder atmosphere. And as more ice vanishes from the sea, Arctic temperatures rise faster and faster, which in turn makes the sea ice vulnerable to further melting.

Provisional data from the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) shows that this year's Arctic sea ice winter peak has reached its fifth lowest on record.

The extent of Arctic sea ice changes throughout the year  growing during the winter before reaching its peak for the year in February or March, and then melting throughout the spring and summer towards its annual minimum, typically around September.

Using satellite data, scientists can track the growth and melt of sea ice, allowing them to determine the size of the ice sheet's winter maximum extent as a way to monitor the "health" of the Arctic.

According to NSIDC's latest satellite recording, this year's Arctic maximum extent of 14.62 million square kilometers is 1.03 million below the 1981-2010 average maximum extent  ranking as the fifth lowest since record-keeping started. This reduction, according to the NSIDC, is equivalent to an area larger than Egypt.

And since satellite records began in 1979, the average ice extent for the entire month of March has shrunk by an average of 38,850 square kilometers a year, representing a total loss of 2.28 million square kilometers - an area bigger than Greenland.



Arctic sea ice extent on 7 March. Source: NSIDC

The lowest peak coverage occurred in 2017, when the ice extended over just 14.4 million square kilometers before beginning to shrink. According to NSIDC recordings, five of the lowest maximum extents have occurred since that year, and the 10 lowest coverage years have all taken place since 2006.

"For several months this year, global sea ice extent  Arctic plus Antarctic  has been at a record low," Dr. Mark Serreze, director of the NSIDC, told Carbon Brief.

According to Serreze, the greatest amount of Arctic warming seems to be taking place on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Arctic Ocean near the Barents Sea.

"While the causes are still being studied, it appears that warm water from the Atlantic is playing a bigger role in ice melt, on top of the impact from a warming atmosphere," Serreze said in a Bloomberg interview, citing the change in ocean circulation as one of the main causes.

He also noted that this year's reversal from net freeze to net melt took place about six days earlier than the average from 1981 to 2012, but factors like wind can cause a fair amount of variability.



The regional seas that make up the Arctic Ocean. Source: NSIDC

This Arctic maximum is "another data point adding to our understanding of a dramatically changing place," comments Dr. Zack Labe, a researcher working at NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Program at Princeton University.

These effects are clearly linked to human-caused climate change and have major implications regionally across the Arctic," Labe adds.

Antarctic Melting

The alarm bells are also being rung from the other side of the globe, where the South Pole, similar to its northern counterpart, is warming faster than the global average at three times the pace.

The Antarctic Peninsula has had an intense melt season with above-average melting persisting through much of February, according to NSIDC satellite data, as relatively warm conditions were present in many parts of the ice sheet.



The number of melt days from November 1, 2022, to March 15, 2023. Source: NSIDC

Saturated snow from a high melt year and low sea ice in Bellingshausen Sea have led to a series of minor calving events on the Wilkins Ice Shelf. Elsewhere in Antarctica, melting was near average.

Recent study revealed that Antarctic sea ice has hit its lowest levels ever recorded. In the southern hemisphere summer of 2022, the amount of sea ice dropped to below 2 million square kilometers for the first time since satellite tracking began. Fast-forward a year later, a new record of 1.79 million square kilometers was set, representing the third time this record has been broken in six years.

Data from NSIDC shows that the Antarctic sea ice extent averaged a record low 3.23 million square kilometers during January 2023, shattering the previous January record low of 3.78 million in 2017.



Antarctic sea ice extent, on 21 February 2023. Credit: NSIDC

In the southern hemisphere's spring, strong winds over western Antarctica buffeted the ice, Dr. Will Hobbs, an Antarctic sea ice expert at the University of Tasmania told The Guardian. At the same time, large areas in the west of the continent had barely recovered from the previous year's losses.

"Because sea ice is so reflective, it's hard to melt from sunlight. But if you get open water behind it, that can melt the ice from underneath," says Hobbs.

While melting sea ice does not directly raise sea levels because it is already floating on water, scientists believe they will still cause knock-on effects that destabilize the massive ice sheets and glaciers behind them on the land.

One major area of concern is a marked loss of ice around the Amundsen and Bellinghausen seas on the continent's west. Even as the average amount of sea ice around the continent grew up to 2014, these two neighboring seas saw losses, satellite data shows.

That's important because the region is home to the vulnerable Thwaites glacier - known as the "doomsday glacier" because it holds enough water to raise sea levels by half a meter.

"We don't want to lose sea ice where there are these vulnerable ice shelves and, behind them, the ice sheets," Matt England, an oceanographer and climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, says.

Data provided by Dr. Rob Massom, of the Australian Antarctic Division, and Dr. Phil Reid, of the Bureau of Meteorology, shows that two-thirds of the continent's coastline was exposed to open water during February  well above the long-term average of about 50%.

Massom and Reid published a study last year that found that, since 1979, the Amundsen Sea region was seeing longer periods without ice, and more of the coastline was being exposed to open ocean conditions.

"It's not just the extent of the ice, but also the duration of the coverage," Massom says. "If the sea ice is removed, you expose floating ice margins to waves that can flex them and increase the probability of those ice shelves calving. That then allows more grounded ice into the ocean."

The downturn in sea ice has now led the scientific community to wonder if the global climate crisis has also taken hostage of the frozen continent.

Knock-On Effects

One thing for certain, though, is that melting ice around Antarctica (and in the North Pole) could lead to a cascade of effects on the world's climate patterns. Sea ice already plays a key role in regulating the world's temperature, as its bright surface could reflect 50-70% of the Sun's back into space. But as sea ice melts in the summer, it exposes the dark ocean surface which instead absorbs 90% of the sunlight, raising the temperature of the ocean, and the cycle of melting-warming intensifies.

Changes in the amount of sea ice also disrupt the ocean's normal circulation. New research by Australian scientists suggests that Antarctica's melting sea ice could slow down the current in the deepest parts of the ocean by 40% in three decades. This, according to the study, would lead to a rapid slowdown of a major global deep ocean current by 2050 that could alter the world's climate for centuries and accelerate rising sea levels.

Matt England, of the University of New South Wales and a co-author of the study, said "the whole deep ocean current was heading for collapse on its current trajectory."

"In the past, these circulations have taken more than 1,000 years or so to change, but this is happening over just a few decades. It's way faster than we thought these circulations could slow down," England told The Guardian. "We are talking about the possible long-term extinction of an iconic water mass," he warned.

While the study did not attempt to explain or quantify the knock-on effects, the authors believe the slowdown would "profoundly alter the ocean overturning of heat, fresh water, oxygen, carbon and nutrients, with impacts felt throughout the global ocean for centuries to come".

A collapse of unthinkable proportions also looms in the more climate-sensitive Arctic, which is facing what scientists call a "terminal" loss in sea ice during summer months. This, according to a new State of the Cryosphere report, could arrive within a decade and cannot be avoided.

"Disappearance of sea ice will open up the dark Arctic ocean, which will absorb  rather than reflect  heat, causing global heating to escalate further. It will also upend the region's ecosystem, harming everything from algae to large animals such as seals and polar bears that need the sea ice for hunting," the authors wrote.



Average surface air temperatures from 2011 to 2021 compared to the 1956-1976 average. Source: NASA

Mounting Climate Crisis

Perhaps the biggest question is what the loss of Arctic ice means for weather patterns in the rest of the world, NSIDC director Mark Serreze told Bloomberg. "More than anything else, weather patterns are driven by the planet's attempt to equalize temperature differences between higher and lower latitudes."

Twila Moon, deputy lead scientist at the NSIDC, also believes the environmental conditions in the Arctic are having a profound impact on weather systems across the world. The North and South poles act as the "freezers of the global system," helping to circulate ocean waters around the planet in a way that helps to maintain the climates felt on land, Moon told ABC News back in 2021.

"What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic," added climate scientist Jessica Moerman, currently vice president of science and policy at the Evangelical Environmental Network.

The jet stream, a band of strong winds moving west to east created by cold air meeting warmer air, helps to regulate weather around the globe. But as temperatures in the Arctic warm, the jet stream, which is fueled by the temperature differences, weakens, Moerman said.

Rather than a steady stream of winds, the jet stream has become more "wavy," allowing very warm temperatures to extend usually far into the Arctic and very cold temperatures further south than usual, Moon of NSIDC added.

"These cold air outbreaks are really severe," said Moerman. A study published in Science found that the variability in the climate in the Arctic, specifically the weakening of the Polar Vortex, which keeps cold air closer to the poles, likely led to the Texas freeze in February 2022.

And as the climate becomes more unpredictable and unstable, so does the ocean's water circulation. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a large system of water currents that circulates water from north to south and back in a long cycle within the Atlantic.

This system of deep-water circulation, sometimes referred to as the Global Ocean Conveyor Belt, sends warm, salty Gulf Stream water to the North Atlantic, where it releases heat to the atmosphere and warms Western Europe. The cooler water then sinks to great depths and travels all the way to Antarctica and eventually circulates back up to the Gulf Stream (see below).



Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

New research reveals this key cog in the global ocean circulation system hasn't been running at peak strength since the mid-1800s, and is currently at its weakest point in the past 1,600 years!

Normally, it takes an estimated 1,000 years for a parcel (any given cubic meter) of water to complete its journey along the belt, but now it may take significantly longer.

According to a study published in leading science journal Nature, the AMOC has weakened over the past 150 years by approximately 15-20% due to the influx of freshwater from melted ice entering the system.

The last time the AMOC collapsed was the late 1300s to 1400s, which overlapped with the Little Ice Age when vast amounts of ice were flushed out into the North Atlantic, cooling its waters and diluting their saltiness, and ultimately triggering a substantial global cooling.

"What is common to the two periods of AMOC weakening - the end of the Little Ice Age and recent decades - is that they were both times of warming and melting," said Dr. David Thornalley, a senior lecturer at the University College London and lead author.

According to study co-author Dr. Jon Robson, a senior research scientist from the University of Reading, the new findings hint at a gap in current global climate models. "North Atlantic circulation is much more variable than previously thought," he said, adding that "it's important to figure out why the models underestimate the AMOC decreases we've observed."

Another study published in the same issue of Nature looked at climate model data and past sea-surface temperatures and found that AMOC has been weakening more rapidly since 1950 in response to recent global warming.

Together, these two studies provide complementary evidence that the present-day AMOC is exceptionally weak, which could have serious implications for Europe's weather as well as the rest of the world.

Scientists believe that if the system continues to weaken, it could disrupt weather patterns from the United States and Europe to the African Sahel, and cause a more rapid increase in sea level on the US East Coast.

"Due to its role as a heat carrier, if the AMOC slows down then the northward heat transport is reduced and that leads to a cooling in the subpolar North Atlantic," said Levke Caesar from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, lead author of the second study.

"Due to a more complex interaction between the southward deep water flow of the AMOC with the bottom topography of the ocean, a reduced AMOC is also associated with a northward shift of the Gulf Stream which then leads to the warming east of the US coast," she explained to Carbon Brief.



Surface temperature change associated with AMOC. Source: Nature Communications

"Because of its importance to the Intertropical Convergence Zone, AMOC slowdown would lead to large changes in precipitation in the tropics, including in Central and South America, India, South East Asia and parts of Africa," said Spencer Jones, a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Oceanography at Texas A&M University.

Perhaps in a few years, the unusual weather we are experiencing today may not seem too odd anymore, regardless of where we are in the world.

Richard (Rick) Mills

aheadoftheherd.com

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The Department of Agriculture will provide funding of 450,000 to a UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project supporting potato farming in Ukraine.

The project will involve the transport of 500 tonnes of certified seed potatoes to Ukraine.

FAO Ukraine will distribute these seed potatoes (50kg per farmer) to 10,000 highly vulnerable small-holder farmers in rural areas at the frontline of the illegal Russian aggression in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Announcing the support, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said that Ireland and Ukraine share many similarities, particularly the huge importance of agriculture both economically and socially.

The seed potatoes have been grown in the Netherlands and France by growers for the Irish company IPM Potato Ltd.

Noting that the seed potato varieties have been cultivated especially for agroecological conditions in Ukraine, Mr McConalogue added: "In addition to saving 10% of the harvest as seed potatoes for the next season, this volume of quality seed potatoes has the potential to produce up to 7,000 tonnes of ware potatoes.

"This will yield the average annual consumption of potatoes for 45,000-50,000 people per year.

"This FAO project will support efforts to build back agricultural capacity and to assist rural families to resume production for their own household consumption and, in doing so, to meet their immediate food needs."

Ukraine is among the top five potato producers in the world and the bulk of its production is small-holder farmer based.

Since the outbreak of war, the normal structures of seed potato supply in Ukraine have been broken and the imports of certified seed input stocks have been severely hampered.
US president Joe Biden has been very excited about visiting 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 Mr Biden 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

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.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden (Niall Carson/PA)

He will tour Carlingford Castle on Wednesday before spending the night in Louth, 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.

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

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.
Joe Biden has said he will use his visit to the island of Ireland to keep the peace, as he left the US for his four-day trip.

The US president invoked the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the recently negotiated Windsor Framework as he prepared to set off for Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden will arrive later on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay in Ireland, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo  from where his ancestors hail.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

Mr Biden, speaking to reporters before his departure, said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

Thats the main thing, he said.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening.

The two leaders will hold a meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster Universitys new Belfast campus.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet President Joe Biden when he arrives in Northern Ireland (Leon Neal/PA)

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

It is expected that Mr Biden will hold a meeting with Northern Irelands main political parties before the Ulster University talk.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

Irish President Michael D Higgins is expected to meet President Joe Biden in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
Further education teachers "feel they have been left behind" and "professionally disrespected" despite the "tweets and TikToks" of Further Education Minister Simon Harris, according to Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) president Liz Farrell.

When Mr Harris was appointed to his current job, he had been eagerly welcomed, she said  especially as he had acknowledged that further education has been described as the Cinderella of the education system.

She said: When you became the minister there was an air of genuine hope and expectation that finally, we had our knight in shining armour, a person at the helm who would champion the worthy and important cause of further education.

Unfortunately, Minister, despite the good intentions and promises, the tweets and the TikToks, much work remains to be done.

Many of the promises remain unfulfilled and those working in the sector still feel that they have been left behind, professionally disrespected, struggling to do what is right for all those who need their help.

Earlier Mr Harris elaborated on his announcement on Tuesday morning that more than a dozen new degree courses available via further education and training centres in subjects like nursing, science, engineering, and business are due to commence in September.

Under the new initiative, students can apply to the 14 new degree programmes, which will begin in a further education college, before transitioning to a university or a technological university.

The programmes are being introduced as part of a wider drive to create alternative pathways to third-level education without the need to secure high points and go through the CAO system.

Mr Harris announced further details on the new programmes when he addressed the TUI annual congress in Cork City on Tuesday.

He said:

Every year, students in further education get the highest marks in their PLC course in nursing and take the next Ryanair flight to help build the workforce of the NHS.

This stops now.

These new programmes will help stem that tide and ensure we train our workforce and keep them here.

He was asked how many nurses would be brought into the health system as a result of the changes but he said he did not know.

We don't know that, we don't know the answer, he said.

Itll be relatively small in the first year that we're talking about."
The uptake of the temporary business energy support scheme has been called "appallingly low" as the European Union signed off on fresh improvements.

The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was approved in Budget 2023 in September with 1.25bn budgeted to assist businesses with up to 40% of the increase in electricity or gas bills. Under the initial terms of the scheme a business can make a claim if it is tax compliant, carries on a Case I trade or Case II profession, and experienced a significant increase of 50% or more in its electricity and/or natural gas average unit price.

However, despite its initial budget, the most recent update shows that just 72.45 million has been approved to give to businesses, with around 64 million paid out.

Audit

An audit was carried out on the scheme earlier this year, with adjustments announced in last month's cost-of-living package. Under those enhancements, it will be reduced from a 50% increase in gas and electricity costs to a 30% increase, which will apply to costs incurred from September 1 last year.

In addition, from March, the level of relief rose from 40% to 50% of eligible costs, subject to a monthly limit of 15,000 a month. The Department of Finance told The Irish Examiner that the improvements to the scheme had been given the green light by Brussels.

A spokesperson said: "The Department of Finance has been notified in recent days that the European Commission has approved the further enhancements to TBESS under the State Aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. Finance Bill 2023 is progressing through the Oireachtas and passed Dail Committee Stage before Easter.

"Qualifying businesses can continue to make claims for the September 2022 to February 2023 claim periods and now that State aid approval has been received Revenue will shortly update its website and the TBESS guidelines and advise businesses when they can make claims for the March 2023 claim period onwards.

"It is important to note that Revenue will automatically reassess claims made by businesses for periods from September 2022 onwards who did not pass the 50% energy costs threshold meaning that such businesses do not need to amend or resubmit claims previously made. In the meantime, other eligible businesses can continue to register for the TBESS as normal."

'Appallingly low take-up'

Labour's Finance spokesperson Ged Nash said the original scheme had been "drawn up on the back of a cigarette packet".

"We've been dealing with a lot businesses in Louth who simply wouldn't have met the initial criteria. To be fair to the Government, the increase in support and access should benefit some of them.

"We got a sense that the scheme had been dreamed up initially on the back of a cigarette packet and there wasn't a massive amount of consultation. And the proof of that pudding is in the eating in the appallingly low take-up.

"I would appeal to businesses who think that they will qualify to apply as soon as possible."
Teachers remain vehemently opposed to a proposal to hold English and Irish Leaving Certificate Paper 1 at the end of fifth year.

A motion on senior cycle reform at the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) annual convention in Wexford opposing the proposal passed unanimously.

Some 500 second-level teachers gathered to discuss the future of education and teaching in Ireland, including concerns around the senior cycle, a lack of investment in schools, and teacher shortages.

President Miriam Duggan receives a standing ovation from Convention as she finishes her address 



Her speech will be available to read on the Latest News section of our website shortly: https://t.co/VmGcsDB13S #ASTI23 pic.twitter.com/mhRyXCZ25t  ASTI (@astiunion) April 11, 2023

Enda Tourish, an ASTI member from Monaghan, said moving the papers to fifth year was the most ridiculous idea he had heard in 35 years in education.

Education Minister Norma Foley said she would continue to collaborate with the sector before implementing change and that all voices will be heard.

Introducing significant change at senior cycle needs to be thought through carefully, Ms Foley said.

I consider it essential to ensure that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, State Examinations Commission, the Department and schools can work through the changes with all stakeholders over a sustained period of time.

Change is never comfortable, but there is a recognition, across the unions, that there is a need for our students to be able to meet the challenges of the 21st century, that there is a need for review and reform at Senior Cycle and that can take many different shapes.

However, ASTI president Miriam Duggan said while education was a social good and a hugely important mainstay in Irish society, lack of investment was a concern.

Ireland ranked yet again 36th out of the 36 countries surveyed in terms of investment in second-level education as a percentage of GDP in the most recent Education at a Glance report, published in October 2022. Ms Duggan said:

Whereas the EU/OECD average spend was 1.9% of GDP, Irelands was a mere 1%, in monetary terms, a difference of over $1,000 per student.

We hear the same figures year after year. When will you bring it to an end, minister or must we always be last in the class when it comes to investing in second level education?

A large number of our school buildings are in a poor state of repair and Ill spare us all from detailed memories of how the covid pandemic highlighted the number of poor ventilation systems.

Class size is another casualty of the failure to invest properly in education.

The average class size at junior cycle level around the EU is 21. In Ireland, it can be up to 30 for general subjects.
US president Joe Biden has landed in Belfast as part of a historic four-day trip to the island of Ireland.

He was greeted by British prime minister Rishi Sunak after Air Force One landed at RAF Aldergrove on Tuesday night.

The two leaders met briefly before the president drove away in an armoured car amid a light scattering of snow.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris was also present as Mr Biden alighted from the aircraft with US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy.

The US president will carry out several other engagements across the week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1998.

He will meet Mr Sunak again on Wednesday for a bilateral meeting.

The leaders of Northern Irelands main political parties will also have the opportunity to engage with Mr Biden before he delivers an address at Ulster Universitys new Belfast campus.

The Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

However, the White House said there will not be a formal group meeting with the leaders.

Mr Sunak will not attend Mr Bidens keynote speech, with Downing Street on Tuesday denying that the engagement between the pair would be low-key.

Speaking to reporters before his departure, he said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

US President Joe Biden arrives on Air Force One at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, for his visit to the island of Ireland. Picture: Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA Wire

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

Mr Biden will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including a speech in Dublin as well as visits to ancestral homelands.

After he leaves Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
A man with five different aliases who has been charged in connection with luxury car thefts is alleged to have used an Apple AirTag to track cars he allegedly wanted to steal.

Vehicles were up for sale privately and 46-year-old Rosmarin Serban has admitted viewing them. Owners say they were told by the Romanian father-of-four he wanted to test-drive their vehicles before buying them.

He and an accomplice are then alleged to have collected the cars at their owners homes and then either cloned or swapped the spare keys for the cars they were test-driving. However, Mallow District Court also heard that Mr Serban was arrested in one of a number of cars he is alleged to have stolen.

The wrapping from a brand new AirTag found in one of the stolen cars was also found in the car. Some seven car keys were also found as well as an iPhone which was also linked to the AirTag, which he has admitted buying.

As well as that, gardai say they found messages from various injured parties on the phone. The court, in a special sitting in front of Judge Joanne Carroll, also heard it took the gardai three days to determine who Mr Serban was.

As well as discovering he was not Spanish, as he had claimed he was when arrested, detectives also discovered there was a European Arrest warrant out for him.

Bail application

Arrested by Detective Denise Fitzgerald on April 5, he has been in garda custody ever since, but was applying through his lawyer Daithi ODonnabhain for bail.

Mr ODonnabhain said his client  who has been charged with 17 offences, including theft of four cars, the attempted theft of a fifth car and using a false ID  was the subject of an extraordinary amount of custody.

He told the court that while there was CCTV evidence of his client viewing the cars, there was no evidence he stole them. There was, he said, a leap in law from viewing a car to stealing a car.

In his application for bail, he also pointed out that gardai  despite exhaustive checks through Interpol  have not been able to find a track record of any convictions in any other jurisdiction. Judge Joanne Carroll said: There is strong evidence against him, while he enjoys the strong presumption of innocence.

Detective Fitzgerald, of Fermoy Garda Station, said after she arrested and then cautioned him, he made no reply to any charges. The detective said she was opposing bail because of the seriousness of the charges against him.

The vehicles are all high-end vehicles and all of high value, she said.

This was a sophisticated operation.

She then proceeded to say how, on April 3, Mr Serban and an accomplice went to a house in the village of Conna, near Fermoy, east Cork.

She said they took a 55,000 white 171-reg Audi that the house owner was selling for a test-drive and she said this is when it is suspected the spare key was taken and replaced with a fake key. Detective Fitzgerald also said: It is suspected an Apple AirTag was placed in the vehicle to track it.

She said that on April 5, Mr Serban asked the car owner for another viewing. It is our view that they planned to take control of the vehicle then, Detective Fitzgerald said.

On his arrest, she said he was found with false identity documents. She said Mr Serban accepted he had viewed the Audi with his accomplice and had access to it.

The court heard details of four vehicles that were stolen between March 13 and April 5, and it heard how in most cases gardai had obtained CCTV footage of Mr Serban at or near the cars.

They say he has also admitted to viewing the cars, which were taken from addresses in Kerry, Tipperary, Monaghan and Dundalk, as well as Cork. Detective Fitzgerald said: It is our view that if Rosmarin is given bail, he will commit further offences.

The fact that he knows (car owners) identities causes them a great deal of distress and this would be heightened if he was given bail. Judge Carroll refused bail and remanded Mr Serban in custody until April 14 when he is due in Fermoy District Court.
Police believe a fire at a former nightclub in Belfast was started deliberately.

Four fire engines responded to the blaze at the site of the venue known as Plastik/El Divino along the River Lagan in the city centre.

They were accompanied by an aerial unit.

A large cloud of smoke could be seen rising from the blaze.

The fire service said the site is a derelict building (PA/Liam McBurney)

Parts of the exterior of the building have been visibly affected by fire.

The fire was on the ground floor of the four-storey building, NIFRS group commander Alastair McConville said.

Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatuses tackled the fire at the derelict building, which has now been extinguished.

Police said the fire is being treated as arson.

They are appealing to anyone with any information in relation to this incident to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 1491 11/04/23.
Sinn Fein in Cork has been accused of being more interested in political grandstanding and photo opportunities than in taking decisions to help ease the housing crisis.

Fianna Fail councillor Tony Fitzgerald, who is also chairman of Cork City Councils housing strategic policy committee (SPC), levelled the charge ahead of what is expected to be a tense city council meeting on Tuesday, where an anti-eviction ban protest is expected to take place.

The agenda also includes a Sinn Fein motion calling for the reinstatement of the eviction ban  a motion which sparked a row at an emergency council meeting last Monday that was called for by four Sinn Fein councillors and Independent councillor Thomas Moloney in the wake of the lifting of the eviction ban.

At that meeting, councillors were briefed on how the local authority is preparing for the expected fallout from the lifting of the eviction ban, but when Sinn Fein attempted to table a motion calling for a debate on the reinstatement of the eviction ban, councillors voted 13-12 against it, and the meeting ended abruptly.

Furious Sinn Fein councillors accused the coalition parties of shutting down debate.

But Mr Fitzgerald has now challenged the party to publicly explain why its members were absent from a finance and estimates committee meeting about an hour before the emergency meeting and at which several key housing decisions were taken.

The committee has, among other disposals, recommended to Tuesdays full council meeting the disposal of 15 sites and 19 housing units in a large social housing development on Boherboy Rd in Mayfield, to various applicants under the local authority affordable purchase scheme.

All these properties will be made available to those under the scheme, once approved by council, said Mr Fitzgerald.

"Sinn Fein were more interested in a photo opportunity outside City Hall rather than being inside attending to important housing issues."

We now know that Sinn Fein Cork engaged in political grandstanding to ensure the party profile is more important than the issues of our citizens.

Its obvious they are working for the party profile and not for the people, and take every opportunity to try and fool the people.

He also said that every housing project proposed by the council has received Government funding to proceed, and is either under way or about to start.

Meeting 'procedural', says SF

But Sinn Fein councillor Mick Nugent accused Mr Fitzgerald of clutching at straws.

He said he did attend the early stages of the finance and estimates meeting, but left before the disposals to attend a protest outside City Hall, where he said he and other party colleagues were engaged with people facing eviction.

As most councillors would know, the discussion on these disposals at this committee is procedural, and they will come before Tuesdays full council meeting for approval anyway, he said.

While we were outside, we were talking to a young woman who is facing eviction and she will be among those at the protest on Tuesday.

But Mr Fitzgerald said Sinn Fein has failed to recognise the level of local authority housing construction under way in the city at the moment, and that despite the pressures, progress is being made.
There are two words that go to the heart of abuse. The sort of abuse that men (and their institutions), all too often, inflict on women and children. The sort of abuse that is all too often doubled and trebled by the way the same institutions hide and ignore the damage they allow to be done.

But those same two words are also at the heart of recovery, of growth and maturity, of healthier, happier lifestyles. Except theyre in conflict with each other, these two words. Replace one with the other, and the entire world would be a better place. Not easy. But doable.

The two words are consent, and impunity.

Ill come back to consent in a minute. But I cant begin without saying that the work of the Women of Honour in our Defence Forces has been a shining light, illuminated by a host of individual and collective acts of courage and moral authority. And it has been a remarkable public service.

When I wrote about the Women of Honour about 18 months ago, I was struck by the references to moral courage on the Irish Defence Forces website. It singled out moral courage among a set of values that demand professionalism, selflessness and courage from those who join. The reference to moral courage is spelled out in a sentence. You must do what you know is right, not what is easier or popular.

The Women of Honour are the ones with that moral courage. When you hear about the loneliness and isolation, the discrimination and harassment, the physical and emotional consequences for women in a particularly brutal male-dominated environment, you realise that calls by our Defence Forces for moral courage have fallen on a lot of deaf male ears.

I said at the time that when you realise that these women of honour have largely been forced out of their careers, and that little or no negative consequences have fallen on the men who perpetrated abuse on them, you can only conclude that calls for moral courage not only fell on deaf ears but may have been uttered with forked tongues in the first place.

The courage of the Women of Honour led to an independent review. It was pretty clear that the Women of Honour had serious misgivings about whether that would lead to anything, but it made damning findings. At best, it said: The Defence Forces barely tolerates women, and, at its worst, verbally, physically, sexually and psychologically abuses women in its ranks.

Theres now to be a further enquiry, and I confess to a sense that this is being unmercifully dragged out. There is a major shake-up to be done, and it will involve the removal of bad actors from the Defence Forces. There will be no change if that doesnt happen.

Because what has to change is a culture. Its not a culture of abuse or wrongdoing or intolerance Im talking about. Those things happen in a lot of organisations.

Women of Honour members Karina Molloy, Honor Murphy, Diane Byrne and Yvonne O'Rourke. They are the ones with moral courage. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

Its impunity. The only thing that allows abuse to happen on a systemic basis in any organisation is impunity. Ill do it because others are doing it. Ill keep doing it because Im unlikely to get caught. And if I do get caught, its pretty certain that Ill be protected, not punished.

Its true of the Defence Forces just as its true of the Church, just as its true in schools. Just as it was true in Magdalene laundries and mother and baby homes. Where there is impunity there is always corruption and abuse.

Where there is consent, there isnt. But where consent doesnt exist, in any individual relationship, there is all the potential for abuse too. Thats why the new campaign just launched by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is so fundamentally important. (I have to declare an interest because I do some voluntary work with the centre.)

Theyre going to give it time and energy and scarce resources. The reasons? Because most of us are at sea when it comes to consent. Seven out of every 10 of us think we have a problem with consent, and three out of every 10 of us are embarrassed to talk about it.

The vast majority of us  despite what some would like you to think  want age-appropriate sex education in schools, and most parents want their children to understand consent and what it means from an early age.

And the second reason why consent is so important is simple. Its absence does terrible damage. Sexual violence destroys lives, and its prevalence in Ireland is far greater than we care to admit. High-profile cases of abuse may make the news, but its estimated that up to a third of us have been directly affected by abuse in one form or another.

We can all learn more when it comes to consent & healthy relationships! 



Learn more today by visiting the We~Consent resource hub https://t.co/pFwHG6QP1k #WeConsent pic.twitter.com/Mp9mKRX289  We-Consent (@WeConsentIRL) April 6, 2023

Theres a third reason. Consent is healthy. Its positive. It enhances life and relationships. One of the slogans I hope youll see as part of the Consent campaign says Sex, possibly. Fun, hopefully. Consent, always.

Ive written here before  and got into some trouble for it  that the problem is all men. I believe that. I know in my time Ive been guilty of tittering at sexist jokes, or I havent stood up to be counted in the face of it. Whether we like it or not, this is a conversation that has to involve all men.

And all boys too. We live in a world where misogyny, especially online, can be very seductive. It takes all sorts of forms, from intellectual posturing to pornography. Its pervasive and debasing. And its not sufficiently countered where it matters most.

So this is an unashamed plug. Go to we-consent.ie, or just google the phrase we consent. Search for it on Facebook or your preferred social media channel. And get stuck in. On Facebook, the campaigns message is simple and direct. It wants to show consent as an equal agreement between people. Consent  its ongoing, playful, sexy, fun and real, it says.

I thought I knew this stuff, or a lot of it anyway. But when you look at we-consent, one of the things you realise is that theres a lot to learn. Luckily (for me anyway) theres a lot of easy reading to learn from. How to talk to your kids and grandkids; how to support others; what toxic masculinity is, how to recognise it and how to challenge it. And a host of other things.

This is a conversation we dont just need to have  we have to have it. I look around, and every young person I meet is streets ahead of where I was at their age. Theyre smarter, more confident, more at ease with themselves than I ever was. But theyre also far more pressured. Conflicting messages come at them from all sides, and its not uncommon to meet a lot of confusion about the right thing to do.

We-consent is part of the antidote to that. So is open, honest discussion, education thats geared to where young people are (and not just where wed like them to be), and an ability to get around the embarrassment many of us are capable of. Thats not a lot to ask, right?
On March 21 last, Eamon O Cuiv asked the Minister for Justice when exactly the prison chaplains reports for 2021 would be published.

This was the second time that the Fianna Fail TD for Galway West asked the question in four months. In the interim, on February 8, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy asked about the failure to publish the reports.

The chaplains reports were all submitted over a year ago yet for some reason, despite a commitment to do so, there is no sign of them being disseminated to the public. One might reasonably ask who is so afraid of what a bunch of people who provide spiritual and pastoral care to prisoners have to say.

Surely an unprecedented delay in publishing what are routine observations about how the States prisons operate is not an attempt to shut them up. Every year prison chaplains compile a report on how, from their vantage, they have observed prison life over the preceding 12 months.

There shouldnt be anything controversial about it. These are not human rights investigators. They are not lawyers. They are not representing any non-governmental organisation concerned with the welfare of prisoners.

Instead, they are employed to act as a friendly ear for prisoners who may find themselves in need of advice, or just a friendly ear. Apart from that, they have eyes and ears themselves and cant help observing the kind of conditions in which prisoners are being held.

Consternation

And it is that innocuous function that apparently is causing consternation in the Irish Prison Service (IPS). The chaplains are providing an independent view of what exactly is going on in the prisons, particularly as it affects prisoners. That would appear to be simply too much of a loss of control for the IPS.

In recent years some chaplains have caused major ructions just for calling it as they see it. In 2021, the then chaplain for the Dochas Centre, Clare Hargaden, wrote to the director general of the IPS about the fear, indifference, hostility and ineptitude she encountered in the womens prison.

I write to you today filled with a mixture of sadness, anger, regret and probably most palpably right now, exhaustion, she wrote. I do not feel as things stand, that I can continue in my post as chaplain to the Dochas. My health has been deteriorating as a result of the toxic environment here for some time.

That is not the kind of insight that the prison service believes should be disseminated to the public about what exactly goes on.

For a decade up until 2020 the IPS didnt publish chaplains reports. Then after the Irish Examiner applied for the 2019 reports under Freedom of Information Act, a protracted process ensued that eventually led to the reports release.

Some of the reports, including the Dochas, pointed towards unacceptable conditions in which prisoners were being held. Following that, the service announced that it would publishing the reports annually, just to demonstrate that it had nothing to hide.

The following year the reports for 2020 were published, but unfortunately it now appears this enlightened policy did not herald a brand new day. All of the reports for 2021 were submitted by March 31, 2022.

Ordinarily it should take a couple of months at the most before they appear on the IPS website. Then it emerged that the IPS was having problems with the report about GDPR. The reports were referred to as having been submitted in draft form, which is little more than a public relations invention.

Read More Mick Clifford: Prison Service seems more concerned about PR than prisoners

The reports are never submitted in draft form. The GDPR line arose from the anonymised anecdotes about issues that had arisen with particular prisoners. The idea that any chaplain would even inadvertently allow a prisoner to be identified was insulting to the profession, but that was how it was being cast.

The IPS wrote to the chaplains on this, but according to sources, the whole thing is being viewed as an attempt to censor and sanitise the reports.

Mr O Cuiv received an answer from the Minister for Justice that the reports are now with the Ministers office for information purposes and should be published soon. An IPS spokesperson confirmed to the Irish Examiner that this remained the situation. By now, the chaplains have submitted their 2022 reports and its anybodys guess how long it will be before they see the light of day.

Frequently, the broadcast and print media issue stories of sweetness and light within the prison system about how well and innovative the progressive elements of the system are functioning. This is as it should be, informing the public about what is going on behind the high walls where societys ills are processed.

Equally, however, it is imperative that a fuller picture of what exactly is going on is provided and as such the suppression of a few reports from individuals who are merely telling it as they see it is a worrying feature of how the penal system is being run.
Dear President Biden,

I imagine your focus will rightly be on the 3,500 people who died during decades of violence in Northern Ireland as you visit Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

I want to draw your attention to the fact that a tenth of that number, 346 people, were criminally killed by American company Boeing  not over decades, but in a short five-month period in 2018-19. My husband was one of them.

In both cases, many of the families of the dead are still looking for justice. But, whereas in the past, many politicians in the North were prevented from even talking to the media, Boeing executives walk the streets freely. Former Boeing CEO, Denis Muilenberg, even got paid a $80 million (73m) severance package when he was fired from Boeing after the two crashes.

I wrote to the Tanaiste Micheal Martin to request a very short meeting/call with you to discuss a matter of great importance, and one you will keenly understand due to your own personal loss in the past, the death of my spouse, Mick, at the hands of the Boeing Company.

In fact, I was only looking for six minutes of your time. This is how long it took for a Boeing 737 Max plane to crash after take-off in Addis Ababa, Ethopia, killing all 157 passengers on board. I understand you have a packed schedule on this trip, so I thought that if you don't have six minutes perhaps you could spare two minutes to read this.

I would have preferred to do this in person, but I would still like you to read about my late husband, Mick Ryan, who was the Deputy Chief Engineer for the United Nations World Food Programme. He worked in some of the most dangerous countries in the world, bringing aid to those most in need.

Naoise Connolly Ryan's husband Mick Ryan. His motto was to set egos aside, see the good in each other and work together. File picture: Larry Cummins

He worked in places such as Afghanistan and Liberia during the Ebola outbreak, but it was his work in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, during the Rohingya refugee crisis where all his abilities and skills were really put to the test. Mick had the vision to understand the risks faced by the refugees and how engineering lay at the heart of the solution.

Mick also had the leadership skills to navigate his way through an array of impediments, uniting three of the largest UN agencies into one platform in a race against time to save lives. He saw the good in everyone and was able to cut through the bureaucracy to bring people together for those who needed the most help. His motto was to set egos aside, see the good in each other and work together.

President Biden, I would like you to read of our ongoing battle for justice and how a secret sweetheart deal during the final two weeks of the Trump administration inflicted further pain and suffering on victims' families, including mine. I want to let you know that some relatives have refused to accept the blood money from this secret deal (Deferred Prosecution Agreement  DPA) and we are continuing our fight for justice in the courts.

In October last year, the US district court agreed that we were crime victims under the Crime Victims Rights Act (CVRA) and that the US Department of Justice should meet and confer with us.

The US Attorney General, Merrick Garland, should treat us in this case as he once treated the victims and families of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing in which 168 people were killed. He worked very hard to protect their rights. In fact, as lead prosecutor in the case, his handling of the case was described as flawless. He made time and space for the families and victims, often reaching out to them personally.

President Biden, I would like you to read of our ongoing battle for justice and how a secret sweetheart deal during the final two weeks of the Trump administration inflicted further pain and suffering on victims' families, including mine.

So what has changed since then? And why have the tables turned in the Justice Department to work against victims rights, instead giving preferential treatment to the criminals?

Even though US district court judge Reed OConnor said Boeing had committed the deadliest corporate crime in US history, he said he was unable to ensure justice for the victims. Boeing pleaded not guilty last February to a charge of defrauding the US to get regulators to approve the safety of its Max 737 jet, although they earlier accepted full liability.

I, therefore, want to make a direct request to you, President Biden, to ask for your support to help us to lift a sealing order in our civil cases which prevents us from sharing critical evidence with the US Department of Justice that clearly shows the former and current CEOs of Boeing knew the planes were unsafe prior to the two crashes.

The Deferred Prosecution Agreement prepared by the Department of Justice and agreed with Boeing gives Boeing executives immunity from prosecution. So even though the Department of Justice told us when we met with them in Washington last November that if we have any new information we should come forward and share it with them, we are prevented from doing so because of this sealing order.

Judge OConnors decision not to reopen a plea deal that allows Boeing executives go free is now being appealed to the fifth circuit court. The families are unified in their commitment to pursue justice at all costs and will continue to fight to have the deal struck down, to have our rights as crime victims under US law properly recognised, and to seek justice for our loved ones.

Help us to bring transparency and accountability to this case by helping us to lift this sealing order. Help make public the quarterly reports Boeing has to file with the Department of Justice under the Deferred Prosecution Agreement.

Just like the families and victims in the North and those of the Oklahoma City bombing, we want the truth, justice and accountability. We know this is something that the US and, in particular General Garland, can deliver if the will is there. Mick and the 345 other passengers deserve this, but we need your help. The question is, are you willing to help us?

Respectfully,

Naoise Connolly Ryan (widow of Mick Ryan)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways in the face of his rivals frantic military exercises, state media said.

The comments came during a meeting of the ruling Workers Partys Central Military Commission, held amid heightened tensions as the pace of both the North Korean weapons demonstrations and the US-South Korean joint military drills have intensified in recent weeks in a cycle of tit-for-tat.

North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the commissions members discussed unspecified issues related to strengthening defence capacities and perfecting war preparations to counter the threat posed by the allies drills, which the North portrays as invasion rehearsals.

Mr Kim reviewed the countrys frontline attack plans and various combat documents and stressed the need to bolster his nuclear deterrent with increasing speed on a more practical and offensive manner, KCNA said.

F/A-18 fighter jets are seen on the deck of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) aircraft carrier in Busan, South Korea (Yonhap via AP)

The report did not specify the directions the North intended to take.

KCNA also published photos of Mr Kim talking to officials while pointing to certain spots on a blurred map that appeared to be of South Korea.

KCNA said Mr Kim and the military commission members analysed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula in which the US imperialists and the (South) Korean puppet traitors are getting ever more undisguised in their moves for a war of aggression and discussed preparation for proposed military actions that their enemy has no way of counteracting.

The US and South Korean militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in years last month and separately held joint naval and air force drills involving a US aircraft carrier strike group and nuclear-capable US bombers.

KCNA claimed the drills simulated an all-out war against North Korea and communicated threats to occupy Pyongyang and decapitate its leadership.

The United States and South Korea have described their exercises as defensive in nature and said that the expansion of those drills are necessary to cope with the Norths evolving threats. South Koreas government did not immediately respond to Mr Kims comments.

North Korea in 2023 so far has fired around 30 missiles in 11 different launch events, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) that demonstrated potential range to reach the US mainland and several shorter-range weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on South Korean targets.

North Korea was already coming off a record year in weapons testing, after launching nearly 70 missiles in 2022.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, centre, attends a meeting of the ruling Workers Partys Central Military Commission at its headquarters in Pyongyang, North Korea (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Experts say Mr Kims provocative run in weapons displays is aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power and negotiating economic concessions from a position of strength.

Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since 2019 over disagreements in exchanging crippling US-led sanctions against the North and the Norths steps to wind down its nuclear weapons program.

South Korean officials say North Korea may soon up the ante by staging more provocative displays of its military might, including its first nuclear test detonation since 2017.

North Korea last month unveiled what appeared to be a new nuclear warhead designed to fit on various delivery systems as Mr Kim called for his nuclear scientists to increase production of weapons-grade material to make bombs to put on his growing range of weapons.

North Korea has also issued veiled threats to test fire an ICBM on a normal ballistic trajectory toward the Pacific, which would be seen as a major provocation as its previous long-range tests were conducted on high angles to avoid the territories of neighbours.

North Korea also previously said it aims to finish preparations to launch a military spy satellite into space by April, an event its rivals would almost certainly see as a test of ICBM technology banned by international sanctions.
The United States and the Philippines are holding their largest combat exercises in decades, including a boat-sinking rocket assault in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait that is likely to infuriate China.

The annual drills called Balikatan, meaning shoulder to shoulder, will run up to April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel.

It is latest display of American firepower in Asia, where Washington has repeatedly warned China over its increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed sea channel and against Taiwan.

The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in a possible confrontation over Taiwan.

That dovetails with efforts by the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea by boosting joint military exercises with the US and allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in more Philippine military camps under a 2014 defence pact.

US Marine chief Eric Austin and Marvin Licudin, Philippine exercise director, shake hands (Aaron Favila/AP)

About 12,200 US military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces and 111 Australian counterparts are taking part in the exercises, the largest in Balikatans three-decade history.

Americas warships, fighter jets as well as its Patriot missiles, Himars rocket launchers and anti-tank Javelins, will be showcased, according to US and Philippine military officials.

We are not provoking anybody by simply exercising, Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesman for Balikatan, told reporters ahead of the start of the manoeuvres.

This is actually a form of deterrence, Mr Logico said. Deterrence is when we are discouraging other parties from invading us.

In a live-fire drill the allied forces are staging offshore for the first time, Mr Logico said US and Filipino forces will sink a 200ft target vessel in Philippine territorial waters off the western province of Zambales this month in a coordinated air strike and artillery bombardment.

We will hit it with all the weapons systems that we have, both ground, navy and air, Mr Logico said.

That location facing the South China Sea and across the waters from the Taiwan Strait would likely alarm China but Philippine military officials said it was aimed at bolstering the countrys coastal defence and was not aimed at any country.

Such field scenarios would test the allies capabilities in combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between units, logistics operations, amphibious operations, the US Embassy in Manila said.

Filipino and US soldiers salute during opening ceremonies for the joint military exercise (Aaron Favila/AP)

Washington and Beijing have been on a collision course over the territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines and four other governments and Beijings goal of annexing Taiwan, by force if necessary.

China last week criticised the intensifying US military deployment to the region.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular news briefing in Beijing that it would only lead to more tensions and less peace and stability in the region.

The Balikatan exercises were opening in the Philippines a day after China concluded three days of combat drills that simulated sealing off Taiwan, following Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wens meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week in California that infuriated Beijing.

On Monday, the US 7th Fleet deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Milius within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef, a Manila-claimed coral outcrop which China seized in the mid-1990s and turned into one of seven missile-protected island bases in the South China Seas hotly contested Spratlys archipelago.

The US military has been undertaking such freedom of navigation operations for years to challenge Chinas expansive territorial claims in the busy seaway.
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has appealed for massive international support for Somalia during his visit to the East African country that is facing the worst drought in decades.

He said Somalia is facing humanitarian difficulties at the same time that it is combating a serious terrorism threat.

Mr Guterres, in a joint press briefing with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, told reporters he was here to ring the alarm on the need of massive international support because of the humanitarian difficulties the country is facing.

The UN secretary-general was given a red carpet welcome complete with a guard of honour as he was received at the main international airport by Somalia and UN officials.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres met Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (AP)

He thanked Mr Mohamud for the warm welcome and said he was looking forward to Iftar  the breaking of the Ramadan fast  later on Tuesday.

Most of Mogadishu was locked down for Mr Guterress visit, with public transport restricted.

Mr Mohamud thanked Mr Guterres for his historic visit in the midst of tackling humanitarian challenges and an accelerating war against terrorism.

This visit assures us that the UN is fully committed to supporting our plans for state-building and stabilising the country. We are confident that the Somali people will be able to overcome the problems and challenges they are still facing through the completion of the liberation of the country and reconciliation, Mr Mohamud said.

Food security experts said the situation remains extremely critical for more than six million hungry people in Somalia.

The country also faces insecurity as it battles thousands of fighters from al Qaidas East Africa affiliate, al-Shabab.
Israels national Holocaust memorial has criticised a new agreement renewing Israeli school trips to Poland, saying it recommends a number of problematic sites that distort history.

Yad Vashem issued its statement weeks after Israel and Poland announced a breakthrough agreement meant to repair ties that had been badly damaged due to disagreements over how to remember Polish behaviour during the Holocaust.

Israeli youth trips to Poland had been one of the key points of contention.

The March 22 agreement, which still needs to be ratified by both countries parliaments, stresses the importance of youth education and the need to tell the full story of the dark times of the Holocaust and the Second World War.

The contents of the agreement were first reported by the liberal daily Haaretz.

A Polish soldier visits the Museum Of Cursed Soldiers And Political Prisoners Of The Polish Peoples Republic in Warsaw (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

It also calls for visits to sites commemorating the Holocaust and other crimes of the Second World War, including sites of special importance to each countrys history.

Student groups are required to visit at least one site on a long list of museums and memorials recommended by the other government.

In its statement, Yad Vashem said the trips must maintain complete historical accuracy, including the role of Poles in the persecution, handing in and murder of Jews during the Holocaust, as well as in acts of rescue.

It said the list of authorised sites in Poland had been compiled without its input and includes problematic sites that should not be visited in an educational context.

The list includes dozens of sites, including art galleries, royal palaces and Jewish history museums that already are popular destinations for Jewish visitors.

Polands Foreign Ministry said the two nations have come to an agreement that it is good for young people to learn about all aspects of Jewish, Israeli and Polish history, not limited to the Holocaust.

Jewish people visit the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp after the March Of The Living annual observance in Oswiecim, Poland on April 28 2022 (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

Yad Vashem did not say which sites it considers problematic but the list includes the Ulma Family Museum, a site that tells the story of a Polish family that rescued Jews during the Holocaust.

The museum has been criticised for portraying the family, which was murdered along with the Jews they sheltered, as representative of mainstream Poles at the time, instead of a small minority who risked their lives.

Another museum commemorates Polands so-called cursed soldiers, anti-communist resistance fighters, some of whom collaborated with the Nazis and killed Jews toward the end of the war as they tried to prevent the imposition of communist rule.

Israels Foreign Ministry played down the controversy.

It said the list had been approved by Israels Education Ministry and included dozens of choices, including the popular Polin museum, which presents the history of Polish Jewry.

The inclusion of more controversial sites that are unlikely to be visited might be rooted more in Polish politics than international education.

Polands nationalist government can point to the list as it appeals to its political base ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn.

Poland has been one of Israels closest allies in Europe.

For years, young Israelis made pilgrimages to Auschwitz and other Holocaust and historic Jewish sites (The Church of Scotland/PA)

But in recent years, relations have deteriorated due to disagreements over how to remember Polish involvement in the killing of Jews by German forces during the Second World War.

Nazi Germany occupied Poland in 1939 and killed millions of Jews and non-Jews.

Unlike other countries occupied by Germany, there was no collaborationist government in Poland.

While some Poles risked their lives to save Jews, others helped the Germans hunt down and kill them.

Polands governing nationalists have sought to depict Polish crimes as a marginal phenomenon and focus almost exclusively on remembering the Polish heroes who helped Jews.

Historians, Israeli authorities and Jewish survivors who suffered persecution at Polish hands before, during and after the war have condemned the nationalist position and accuse the government of seeking to whitewash history.

For years, young Israelis made pilgrimages to Auschwitz and other Holocaust and historic Jewish sites.

But Israel cancelled the trips last year, claiming the Polish government was trying to control the Holocaust-studies curriculum taught to Israeli children.

In its lead editorial on Tuesday, Haaretz said the agreement comes at a heavy cost to Israel and accused the government of cheapening the memory of the Holocaust in the name of diplomatic expediency.

Noting that Israel marks its annual Holocaust memorial day next week, it said: We must also not forget who the people are who agreed to sell out Holocaust remembrance.
The Israeli military has shot and killed two Palestinians who allegedly opened fire at troops from their car in the northern West Bank, authorities said.

It is the latest incident in a wave of deadly violence gripping the occupied territory.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the two men killed in the West Bank village of Deir al Hatab on Tuesday as Saud Abdullah Saud and Mohammed Abu Dira.

The Israeli military said the men shot at an Israeli outpost near the settlement of Elon Moreh, south of the Palestinian city of Nablus.

Israeli soldiers on patrol opened fire, killing the two alleged gunmen.

Lucy Dees three remaining children, centre, follow their mothers body to the cemetery in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion on Tuesday (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Palestinian media said a third gunmen was in the car during the drive-by shooting and fled the area.

Israeli security forces said they were searching for other suspected assailants and found a pair of M-16 rifles and a pistol at the scene.

The local armed group of the Balata refugee camp, a militant stronghold near Nablus, identified the two men as militants, sharing photographs of them brandishing M-16s and posing together in the camp.

Saud had previously spent 15 years in Israeli prison, the group said.

We fought as soldiers and we promise we will always be soldiers, Saud told reporters after being freed from prison last spring in a video widely circulated online.

Tuesdays deaths follow a week of unusually heightened violence in Israel and the West Bank, touched off by an Israeli police raid on Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, the compound home to the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Mourners carry the body of Lucy Dee (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Last week, the Israeli military struck sites linked to the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip after militants in the two territories fired salvos of rockets at Israel.

The mosque sits on a contested hilltop revered as the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism.

Underscoring the situation in the West Bank, two British-Israeli sisters and their mother were killed when their car came under fire near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank last Friday.

The mother, Lucy Dee, succumbed to her wounds on Monday and was laid to rest in the settlement of Kfar Etzion south of Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Hundreds of mourners packed the funeral, singing and swaying as Lucys husband, Leo, and his three remaining children wept at the podium  their family of seven reduced to four.

Lucy, I have a choice: I could lament over the next 25 years of marriage that Ive lost, but I actually feel blessed to have had 25 years of a beautiful marriage with you, Leo said, his voice cracking in anguish.

He added: If we support the good and reject the evil, then we can all play our part in building a better world.

Last week, in a separate incident, an Italian tourist was killed and five others were hurt when a Palestinians car careened onto a bike path near the beach in Tel Aviv in what authorities described as a suspected terrorist attack.

A mourner draped in the Israeli flag attends Lucy Dees funeral (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he offered condolences to his Italian counterpart during a phone call on Tuesday.

So far this year, 94 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to a tally by the Associated Press, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups.

During that time, 19 people were killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

With the country battling threats on multiple fronts, Mr Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, who expressed opposition to the governments divisive plans to weaken the judiciary last month.

Mr Gallant praised the Israeli militarys killing of the Palestinian gunmen on Tuesday.

In a step toward de-escalating the situation, Mr Netanyahus office said on Tuesday that authorities would ban Jewish visits to the sacred compound housing Al-Aqsa, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, for the remainder of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Mourners attend the funeral of two British-Israeli sisters, Maia and Rina Dee, on Sunday (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

That is standard for the final 10 days of the holiday, when Muslims often pray at the site overnight.

Jews are permitted to visit the compound, but not pray there, under longstanding agreements.

But such visits, which have grown in numbers in recent years, have stoked anger, particularly because some Jews are often seen quietly praying.

The rare convergence of the Jewish Passover festival and Ramadan brought scores of religious Jews to the site last week and fuelled tensions that spiralled into unrest in Jerusalem  and a regional confrontation.
Burma At Least 50 Civilians Including Children Massacred in Myanmar Regime Air Strike in Sagaing

The aftermath of a junta fighter jets bombing of Pa Zi Gyi Village in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region on April 11.

At least 50 civilians including children were killed and 30 injured when a regime jet fighter bombed Pazi Gyi Village in Kanbalu Township of Sagaing Region at around 7.45 a.m. on Tuesday in one of the deadliest air strikes launched by the regime so far.

The jet fighter dropped two bombs on a house in Pazi Gyi where a housewarming ceremony was being held by local residents and village defense members tasked with protecting residents properties and safeguarding the village.

The attack was followed by several rounds of gunfire from an Mi-35 combat helicopter, according to local sources.

Many people including children were killed and the casualties may exceed more than 50 people, said U Nay Zin Latt, the elected MP for Kanbalu Township. Some initial unconfirmed reports put the death toll at about 100.

Children aged 2 and 3 years old were reportedly among those gathered in the area where the air strikes occurred. It is estimated that at least 50 people were killed and 30 injured in the attack, but those numbers could well rise, according to local witnesses.

At the moment its hard to say exactly how many casualties there were. We havent been able to retrieve bodies and body parts, as the area where the air strike occurred is still burning, a resident from a neighboring village said. Additionally, many of the bodies are reportedly unrecognizable, making it difficult to identify victims.

The regime frequently launches air strikes in areas that are known as anti-regime strongholds like Sagaing and Chin State. Bombs dropped during air strikes in Falam, Chin State on Monday killed at least nine civilians, while an air strike in Kachin State last year killed around 80 people.

Pazi Gyi resident Ko Aung recalled the shocking sight that confronted him when he arrived at the scene of the air strike.

I stood petrified as I saw bodies that were spread on the ground. Motorbikes were burning and the house was also completely destroyed by the bombardment. People were crying as they were looking for their relatives, he said.

Ko Aung said he had planned to join the ceremony after he finished carrying rice sacks in the west of the village for his older brothers wedding, which was to be held on Wednesday.

I narrowly escaped the bombing but I was there when the Mi-35 attacked us. I jumped under a concrete bridge to take cover from the attack. I lost relatives in the bombing. My nephews, uncles and cousins were all killed, he said.

Condemning the Pazi Gyi Village attack as another brutal war crime by the regime, Myanmar civilian National Unity Government (NUG) acting president Dula Lashi La said in a message of condolence that the revolutionary spirit against the regime would not be swayed, adding the attack would become a huge push factor helping to topple the regime.

Let me tell you seriously that the lives lost will not be wasted, he said.

Last month, Pazi Gyi was hit by heavy shelling that damaged three houses.

There have been no reports of fighting between regime troops and resistance forces in the area. Regime troops advancing in east Kanbalu Township are far from the village targeted for bombing by the regimes air force.
War Against the Junta Two Dozen Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Chin State Camp Raid

Members of CNDF with ammunition seized during their raid on Varr military camp on Monday. (Photo: CNDF)

More than a dozen Myanmar junta troops were killed and 11 captured when the Chin National Defense Force (CNDF) launched an attack on a military base at Varr village in Falam Township, Chin State on Monday.

The CNDF raided the base, where about 25 troops were stationed, on Monday morning. After about one hour and 30 minutes of intense fighting, the CNDF took control of the camp and seized 21 weapons with ammunition before torching the base, according to the resistance group.

Eleven junta personnel were killed and 14 were taken prisoner in the attack. Three regime soldiers including a lieutenant succumbed to their injuries later, according to CNDF.

One civilian and a CNDF resistance fighter died during the clash.

Junta troops stationed at the military outpost, which is on Kalay-Falam Road, 19 kilometers from Falam town, manned the checkpoint on the Varr bridge and constantly threatened civilians who used it, said a CNDF spokesperson explaining the reason for the attack.

CNA seize regime vehicles

Also on Monday, the Chin National Army (CNA) attacked a military convoy some 24 kilometers from Hakha Town, killing 10 regime troops. Four were killed by sniper fire and the other six died when they were caught in a land-mine explosion.

Three of the vehicles in the convoy were seized by resistance forces and another five were severely damaged.

Salai Htet Ni, a CNA spokesperson, said the seized vehicles were civilians cars that had been commandeered to carry the military reinforcements.

According to the drivers, the vehicles were loaded with bombs and bullets, Salai Htet Ni told The Irrawaddy.

The convoy, which comprised around 200 soldiers and 30 vehicles including two armored cars, left Kalay in Sagaing Region in early March to reinforce junta troops in Hakha. Resistance groups have repeatedly ambushed the convoy, inflicting casualties and decimating both vehicles and troops.

Salai Htet Ni said the convoy might be heading to Hakha with only 10 vehicles and around 60 soldiers remaining after being hit by repeated attacks.

Civilians killed by regime air raid

The junta retaliated for the heavy casualties it suffered at the hands of the CNDF in Falam Township by launching airstrikes on civilians on Monday that left 10 dead and four injured.

Six bombing raids were carried out against Varr village and nearby Congheng village, killing one civilian. Further airstrikes on Webula town in Falam Township in the afternoon killed nine civilians including a child and injured four. In the evening, a regime fighter jet bombed Ramthlo village, but there were no casualties as the villagers had already fled, according to the Chin Human Rights Organization.

The Myanmar military conducted airstrikes on schools and civilian targets. We strongly condemn the violent attack of the military council on innocent civilians, said a Falam resident.

The Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) issued a statement condemning the indiscriminate attacks and urged the people to continue their revolt against the Myanmar military.
War Against the Junta Fresh Fighting Breaks Out Near Chinese Gambling Hub in Myanmar's Karen State

Civilians cross the Moei River to Thailand.

The Karen National Liberation (KNLA) and its resistance allies clashed with Myanmar junta troops in the village of Mekanel in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, on Tuesday amid junta airstrikes, according to residents.

A Myawaddy town resident said: Villagers fled to Myawaddy about 10 days ago. The fighting sounds heavy. It started in the morning with at least 10 explosions. Two jet fighters strafed the village. Our houses in Myawaddy vibrated. Explosions carried on for hours.

The Irrawaddy is trying to confirm the number of casualties and the extent of the damage.

Junta troops also fired at least 20 shells at Mekanel last Thursday, the Cobra Column resistance group said on Monday.

Mekanel is about 16km from the controversial China-backed Shwe Kokko gambling hub where allied Karen resistance forces are fighting junta troops.

Resistance forces occupied five outposts held by the junta-affiliated Border Guard Force in Myawaddy last week. There has been fighting in Myawaddy and Kawkareik townships since late March.

Frontline sources say members of the BGF have defected and are fighting with the resistance.

Members of the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council are also fighting the regime. The group is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and has engaged in peace talks with the current regime.

The fighting has forced more than 8,000 residents from 11 villages to cross the Thai border.
Friday, Mar 19th, 2021 (12:01 am) - Score 19,944

The UK Government has today revealed new details of how their 5bn gigabit broadband roll-out scheme will work and rebranded it as Project Gigabit. As part of that theyve also confirmed 210m for an extension of their rural Gigabit Voucher scheme and 110m to connect up to 7,000 rural GP surgeries, libraries and schools.

At present around 40% of homes and businesses across the United Kingdom can already access a Gigabit (1Gbps+) speed capable broadband ISP network, which is likely to reach over half of premises by the end of 2021 (c.60%). But the majority of that is largely thanks to commercial deployments and upgrades in urban areas (i.e. most of it stems from Virgin Medias DOCSIS 3.1 upgrade, while the rest comes from FTTP).

NOTE: Up to 80% of gigabit coverage is expected to be delivered by commercial projects, thus public funding is focused on helping the final 20% of premises (i.e. rural and sub-urban areas  c.5-6 million premises, which the market finds too expensive).

The Governments Project Gigabit programme wants such speeds to reach at least 85% of UK premises by the end of 2025, and they also aim to get as close to 100% as possible  depending upon how the industry responds (i.e. so far only 1.2bn has been released from the budget, but more will be unlocked if the industry shows they can deliver what is needed).

Despite all this, its now expected to be the first half of 2022 before the first contracts are awarded under the new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and the Government has also warned that those in the final 1% may still be prohibitively expensive to reach. However, until now, the new programme has been largely stuck in the pre-launch design phase, but all that is about to change.

Phase One of Project Gigabit

The first phase of Project Gigabit revamps the gap funded (i.e. direct supply side intervention) model, which we first saw in the previous 2.5bn Superfast Broadband (SFBB) programme from the Building Digital UK (BDUK) team, albeit with a few key changes. This is expected to gobble up the lions share of that 5bn and involves inviting ISPs to bid on contracts for covering intervention areas of varying different sizes.

The new scheme, which in England will be centrally managed by BDUK (as opposed to being managed by local councils like SFBB), will once again require bidders to ensure that their networks are available for use by other ISPs via wholesale (open access). Various operators, both big and small (e.g. Openreach, Virgin Media, Cityfibre, Gigaclear, Cityfibre etc.), are expected to take part and areas with sub-30Mbps speeds will be prioritized (but NOT to the exclusion of all else).

More than 1.1 million homes and businesses are expected to gain access to gigabit-capable connections in this first phase, starting with up to 510,000 premises in Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Tees Valley.

The first procurements to be announced from the above batch are:  110,000 to 130,000 premises in Durham, South Tyneside & Tees Valley and areas of Northumberland  including Darlington, Stockton, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside  60,000 to 80,000 premises in West Cumbria including in the Lake District National Park  30,000 to 50,000 premises in North and West Northumberland and East Cumbria  including Brampton and Rothbury  120,00 to 140,000 premises in Cambridgeshire and adjacent areas  including Peterborough and parts of Northamptonshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Rutland  40,000 to 60,000 premises in East Cornwall  including Launceston, Callington and Looe  30,000 to 50,000 premises in West Cornwall  including in Cambourne-Pool-Redruth and Penzance and the Isles of Scilly NOTE: On top of these six regional contracts above (Phase 1a), there will also be further local supplier contacts in rural Essex and Dorset.

Then, in June 2021, BDUK expects to announce the next batch of procurements (Phase 1b) to connect up to 640,000 premises in Norfolk, Shropshire, Suffolk, Worcestershire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Further details on these will follow in the future (quarterly updates are expected on all of this).



However, despite all the talk being that available speeds will rocket to more than 1,000 megabits, it should be stated that the contracts themselves need to reflect reality (e.g. consumer connections share their capacity between users in order to remain affordable). In the real world this, and various hardware limits, mean that even if you buy a 1Gbps package then the ISP might not be able to deliver 100% of that speed to you 24/7.

Documents released in July 2020 revealed that BDUK appeared likely to require a normally available download speed of at least 500Mbps and uploads of 200Mbps (here)  as defined at peak times (8-10pm for residential and 12-2pm for business services). Well check later this morning to see if theres any update on this, but saying 500Mbps is more about defining real-world capability on residential networks.

In any case, most rural homes would hardly moan at such speeds. Nevertheless, some people may be confused by anything that seems like a dilution of gigabit performance.

More Public Sector Dark Fibre

The existing demand-side intervention approach adopted by the Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) programme, where public money is used to help build Dark Fibre to connect public and community buildings (e.g. council houses, schools, libraries and GP surgeries) will continue and is being boosted by another 110m.

The government states that this funding should help to extend gigabit fibre to connect up to 7,000 more GP surgeries, libraries and schools in rural areas. As before, the hope is that some of these Dark Fibre style deployments will later be harnessed by the commercial sector (using private investment) to help extend Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband into surrounding homes and businesses etc.

The existing LFFN programme seemed to work quite well and the extra funding should make it more viable to take this approach in some of the hardest to reach parts of the UK.

The New Gigabit Voucher Scheme

Until very recently the existing 200m Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) programme was still offering gigabit connectivity vouchers to people living in rural and semi-rural areas. The RGC scheme offered up to 3,500 for businesses, or 1,500 for homes, to help them get an ultrafast or gigabit-capable connection installed (last year many of these vouchers doubled in value).

NOTE: So far more than 66,000 vouchers worth up to 127m have been issued to premises across the UK.

Sadly new applications for these vouchers have been in limbo for a few weeks because the existing scheme was due to finish on 31st March 2021 (pre-existing projects will still be served until March 2022). We had been expecting a follow-on scheme to launch and today the Government confirmed that theyve committed 210m to relaunch the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS).

The new vouchers, which will be of the same value as before (see above), will go live on 8th April 2021 and mean that rural areas will not have to wait for supplier contracts under Project Gigabit to reach them. Apparently a new online postcode checker will be made available, so people can check if their home or business is eligible for a voucher, although its unclear how this will differ from the old one.

As weve previously reported (here), the follow-on scheme will only be available to those deemed to be in Ofcoms Area 3 definition, which reflects the least competitive rural areas (previously parts of semi-competitive Area 2 were also covered). This is necessary to reduce conflict with deployment contracts under the new gigabit programme and focus funding to where its needed the most.

Some existing projects under the old programme, which are still in-flight and may have headroom for more vouchers after the scheme ends, may also be able to transfer to the new scheme, but obviously this will still exclude any Area 2 premises.

Tackling the Final 0.3% of Premises

As mentioned earlier, the Government (DCMS) has previously warned that those living in the final 1% of remote rural premises may be prohibitively expensive to reach (here). Todays announcement notes that, thanks to completed or pending government-funded projects, less than 0.3% of the country (i.e. under 100,000 premises) are likely to fall into this category (roughly the same gap that the 10Mbps USO has struggled to fill).

NOTE: According to data provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are approximately 420,000 premises in the UK which are classified as remote. This represents c.1.4% of the total number of premises in the UK.

For these Very Hard to Reach premises, which are mainly located in remote and isolated locations in Scotland and Wales, and some National Parks in England, a call for evidence has been launched to explore the barriers to improving their broadband and how innovative new technologies might help change this (open until 11th June 2021).

The consultation states: The costs of improving broadband coverage rise exponentially as deployment continues into the final percentage point of most remote premises. A very small proportion of premises  potentially less than 100,000  are therefore likely to be significantly above the broadband USOs reasonable cost threshold and considered Very Hard to Reach with gigabit-capable broadband technologies like FTTP. This is due to factors like their isolated geographic locations or the often substantial distances between them and existing or planned telecoms infrastructure, which make it challenging to deliver improved broadband.

The suggestion is that all of this could lead to the government encouraging industry to use new wireless kit, LEO satellites (e.g. Starlink, OneWeb) or high altitude platforms to beam faster connections to far-flung homes and businesses.

We dont know what the outcome of this will be, but we could easily see a voucher approach being extended to help cover the cost of Starlinks (SpaceX) hardware (c.500). But at present the 89 per month rental on Starlink is still far too expensive for most people, so that would ideally need to change first (or OneWeb may launch with better affordability). Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) networks may also help in some areas.

Closing Thoughts

Unfortunately what todays announcement doesnt tell us is how long it will actually take to achieve near universal coverage of gigabit-capable broadband. One recent forecast predicted that the UK could potentially reach 98%+ coverage by 2030 (here) and that seems like a reasonable prediction, if still subject to a fair degree of uncertainty.

The new programme, particularly its dominant gap-funded approach, is also a bit more complex than weve seen before. The new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) is designed to help do the heavy lifting here, but theres no guarantee that delays wont still creep in (we always see some problems with big projects like this).

Meanwhile, we still dont know exactly how the funding will be managed for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland has already had a little for R100, but thats different  here). England may have taken a centralised approach, but the devolved governments have already signalled that theyd like to be in charge of their own funding allocations, but BDUK/DCMS may well worry about this approach attracting further delays (it took years to get R100 into delivery mode).

Oliver Dowden MP, Digital Secretary, said: Project Gigabit is our national mission to plug in and power up every corner of the UK and get us gigafit for the future. We have already made rapid progress, with almost 40 percent of homes and businesses now able to access next-generation gigabit speeds, compared to just 9 percent in 2019. Now we are setting out our plans to invest 5 billion in remote and rural areas so that no one is left behind by the connectivity revolution. That means no more battling over the bandwidth, more freedom to live and work anywhere in the country, and tens of thousands of new jobs created as we deliver a game-changing infrastructure upgrade.

Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister, said: Project Gigabit is the rocket boost that we need to get lightning-fast broadband to all areas of the country. This broadband revolution will fire up peoples businesses and homes, and the vital public services that we all rely on, so we can continue to level up and build back better from this pandemic.

At this point we should remind readers that, while a lot of the focus above will be on full fibre FTTP technology, the Government is in fact adopting a technologically neutral approach to delivery (e.g. FTTP, DOCSIS 3.1 Hybrid Fibre Coax, 5G or fixed wireless broadband could all play a part). But the mobile variant of 5G, due to its preference for lower frequencies to maximise coverage in remote areas, is unlikely to foster gigabit speeds for rural homes.

Nevertheless, Project Gigabit is still a big step in the right direction and we welcome the fact that its now, finally, able to get out of the starting blocks. Alongside the Delivery Plan for Project Gigabit, DCMS has today published an update on the work of its Barrier Busting Taskforce. The Taskforce has played a key role in improving the environment for digital infrastructure investment and deployment.

In the meantime, we shouldnt forget that rural gigabit deployments have continued to be supported by extensions to BDUKs original 2.5bn Superfast Broadband (SFBB) project, which for the past couple of years has largely helped to extend FTTP coverage.

Additionally, between September and December 2020, the government approved a further 490 million in new contracts via the SFBB programme across the UK to connect a further 172,000 premises to gigabit connectivity in Scotland, Cheshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Devon and Somerset. We suspect this will also help to push 30Mbps+ coverage to c.98% in around 2 years time (presently its c.97%).

Project Gigabit  Phase One Delivery Plan

https://www.gov.uk/../project-gigabit-phase-one-delivery-plan

UPDATE 6:54am

A few more comments from the launch.

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach said:  Were already building Full Fibre broadband to 20 million homes and businesses under our own steam  including in rural and hard-to-reach areas  and we welcome this as a vital next step to connect the toughest parts of the UK. Well be considering these proposals for the final 20% with interest and were keen to support the Government. This is a massive opportunity to level-up the country and boost the bounce-back after the pandemic, so its important the process moves quickly and that all operators do their bit.

Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre, said: Project Gigabit is another welcome accelerant that will propel the UK towards a Full Fibre future, supporting economic growth and levelling up opportunity right across the country. As the nations largest independent Full Fibre platform, with a build programme underway to a third of the UK market, CityFibre is ready to extend our network even further to reach rural communities. We look forward to participating in this important programme to ensure no one is left behind.

Gareth Williams, Gigaclear CEO, said: As a rural operator already delivering multiple Superfast BDUK contracts, we are naturally delighted to see the next step in the development of the Outside In programme. We are fully supportive of the Governments ambition to roll out gigabit capable connectivity across the country as quickly as possible, the importance of which has been further highlighted by the COVID pandemic. We look forward to playing an active role in meeting this ambition and will review these opportunities in detail.

UPDATE 8:16am

The new Gigabit Project documentation also gives us a little preview of which areas / regions are likely to be in their Phase 2 procurements. We are aiming to commence preparations in each of these areas by starting our National Open Market Review in the next three months, said the documentation.

Tentative Phase 2 Procurement Plan  Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes (Lot 12)

 Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and East of Berkshire (Lot 26)

 Derbyshire (Lot 3)

 East Sussex (Lot 16)

 Kent (Lot 29)

 Lancashire (Lot 9)

 Leicestershire and Warwickshire (Lot 11)

 Nottinghamshire and West of Lincolnshire (Lot 10)

 Oxfordshire and West Berkshire (Lot 13)

 South Yorkshire (Lot 20)

 Staffordshire (Lot 19)

 Surrey (Lot 22)

 West Yorkshire and parts of North Yorkshire (Lot 8)

 West Sussex (Lot 1)

 Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire (Lot 30)

 Potential projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Lots TBC) Beyond Phase 2 (TBA  later in the programme)  Birmingham and the Black Country (Lot 35)

 Cheshire (Lot 17)

 Devon & Somerset (Lot 6)

 Herefordshire & Gloucestershire (Lots 15, 18)

 Dorset (Lot 14) (although note some Local Supplier contracts are being progressed here)

 Essex (Lot 21) (although note some Local Supplier contracts are being progressed here)

 Lincolnshire (including NE Lincolnshire and N Lincolnshire) and East Riding (Lot 23)

 Greater London (Lot 37)

 Merseyside and Greater Manchester (Lot 36)

 Newcastle and North Tyneside (Lot 38)

 Northern North Yorkshire (Lot 31)

 Remaining projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Lots TBC)

UPDATE 8:26am

The documentation also gives us a little more detail, albeit still not finalised, on how DCMS/BDUK will approach the issue of working with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. By the sounds of it, in Scotland these Projects will be developed jointly by the UK Government and Scottish Government through a collaborative approach, in which it is expected that the Scottish Government will be the lead partner on implementation management on behalf of DCMS. As for Wales and N.Ireland, its still a little unclear, but theres a lot of working together style waffle without any specifics.

UPDATE 8:35am

Some might wonder what happened to all of the expected smaller procurements above, as much smaller clusters (bundles) were mentioned during the design phase. In short, theres been a lack of specific proposals from suppliers and that has made it hard to implement, but theyre keeping the door open.

This is what DCMS/BDUK say on that: The feedback from telecoms providers and local authorities confirms that there remains a strong level of interest in smaller procurements through the DPS. As described in this document, the lack of specific proposals to consider has made it hard to develop specific procurement areas so far, but we remain committed to the procurement route and will follow up with smaller telecoms providers expressing interest, particularly where they have proposals for areas to include in procurements.

UPDATE 8:43am

In the above article we mentioned the launch of a new voucher website / checker, which the documentation suggests reflects the ability to give greater feedback on eligibility: Where eligible, consumers will be able to contact registered suppliers to understand how vouchers could be used as part of a project to connect their community. Where not eligible, we will explain why and provide information so that consumers can identify what connectivity options are available to them and timelines for when we would reappraise eligibility if network build plans have changed or not progressed as expected. Providers will also be able to alert where they believe our eligibility assessment may be based on inaccurate records, just as they can today.

UPDATE 9:36am

Another comment.

Steve Leighton, Voneus, said: As a rural provider of Gigabit connectivity, the Government announcement on Project Gigabit is welcome news to us and the communities we serve today. Working alongside Government, we look forward to playing an active role in future procurements, accelerating our Gigabit roll out to the hardest to reach areas of the UK. This transformational project, will provide much needed support to the rural communities we engage with on a daily basis, and we are ready to step in and make a real difference.

UPDATE 26th March 2021

We managed to get an update on last years pilot of the Broadband Upgrade Fund, which was a consumer led (instead of supplier led) approach to the gigabit voucher scheme (i.e. like a dating site for vouchers where people/communities expressed an interest in vouchers and suppliers could then choose to engage with them). We were curious about what would happen to this idea under Project Gigabit.

Apparently, the final stage of the Broadband Upgrade Fund only recently completed, in January 2021, and many suppliers are still in the process of engaging with communities to put together project proposals to submit to BDUK for approval. Therefore, a full assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot will be done once there has been sufficient opportunity for proposals to turn into voucher projects. This will inform any decisions around whether to adopt this kind of model in the future.

BDUK also clarified their position on setting the speed criteria for future gap funded contracts: We will confirm the requirements in the tender documents for the procurements but have been making some changes to the technical requirements in light of feedback from the market. Essentially, the requirements will be largely consistent with commonly available in the market today from gigabit providers, including offering, as a minimum, a product that includes headline download speeds of 1Gbps with a (lower) minimum throughput during busy hour periods, plus a minimum upload speed. We expect bidders to offer other tiers of service and they will submit their wholesale product offerings and will be evaluated accordingly.
Thursday, Sep 29th, 2022 (12:01 am) - Score 1,008

The second Local Supplier contract under the UK Governments new 5bn Project Gigabit broadband scheme  worth 6.6m  has today been awarded to rural ISP GoFibre (BorderLink), which will upgrade broadband for more than 4,000 hard-to-reach Teesdale premises in Northern England.

Project Gigabit aims to extend 1Gbps capable (download speed) networks to reach at least 85% of UK premises by the end of 2025, before hopefully achieving nationwide coverage (c. 99%) by around 2030 (here). Commercial investment is expected to deliver around 80% of this, which leaves the governments scheme to focus on tackling the final 20% (mostly rural and some sub-urban areas), where the private sector alone would otherwise struggle.

NOTE: Around 70% of premises can already access a gigabit network (c. 40% via just Around 70% of premises can already access a gigabit network (c. 40% via just FTTP ). Project Gigabit is technology neutral, so it can be delivered via either full fibre FTTP , Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) or fixed wireless access (e.g. 5G ).

The project uses a number of different approaches to tackle the problem (e.g. vouches and investment in dark fibre builds), but the largest part of the scheme involves a gap-funded subsidy approach  the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy (GIS) programme. This is where small local and larger regional contracts are awarded to suppliers (network operators) who can help to build their gigabit-capable infrastructure across the final 20%.

The Building Digital UK (BDUK) team, which manages Project Gigabit, awarded their first GIS contract to Wessex Internet for North Dorset (Lot 14.01) last month (here), and theyve now done the same for Teesdale (Lot 4.01) by awarding a contract to GoFibre. The new project will cover towns, villages and hamlets across the region, including premises near to Barnard Castle and Bishop Auckland, subject to further survey completion.

Planning is now underway, with construction due to begin in Spring 2023. The company itself is headquartered in Edinburgh, with an engineering depot in Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

Chris Jagusz, Chairman of GoFibre, said: Closing the digital divide and helping local communities to thrive by providing previously unimaginable levels of capability through high-quality broadband services is at the heart of everything we do. Through our latest appointment, we will work as a trusted partner, equipping Teesdale with world-class connectivity built for the future.

Julia Lopez, Digital Infrastructure Minister, said: Families and businesses across rural Teesdale can soon say goodbye to buffering broadband and hello to lightning-fast speeds thanks to the government leading the biggest broadband roll out in British history. Im delighted Teesdale will be one of the first places to benefit from the dozens of multi-million pound contracts we will be signing over the coming weeks and months to make sure people in hard-to-reach areas across the UK get the broadband they deserve.

We should point out that GoFibre recently secured a significant investment of 164m from Gresham House (BSIF) to build their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across 500,000 premises in the North of England and Scottish Borders over the next 3-years  by around the end of 2025 (here), which the new contract will no doubt help to achieve.

Customers of the new service can expect to pay from 36 per month for a 100Mbps package on a 24-month term with an included wireless router, which rises to 69 per month for their top 1000Mbps plan. The latter also comes with a bonus Wi-Fi extender (this can optionally be taken on other plans for just 5 per month extra).
Wednesday, Apr 12th, 2023 (12:01 am) - Score 648

Rural broadband ISP GoFibre (BorderLink) has announced that theyve entered the building phase of their Government state-aid supported 6.6 million Project Gigabit contract, which was awarded in September 2022 (here), to upgrade more than 4,000 hard-to-reach Teesdale premises in Northern England with 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology (Lot 4.01).

The new project aims to cover towns, villages and hamlets across the region. Construction will take place until 2025 with homes and businesses across Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, Gainford, West Auckland and neighbouring communities able to access gigabit-capable broadband from as early as late September 2023.

We should point out that GoFibre secured a huge investment of 164m from Gresham House (BSIF) last year (here) to build their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across 500,000 premises in the North of England and Scottish Borders over the next 3-years  by around the end of 2025, which the new contract will also help to achieve.

Neil Conaghan, CEO of GoFibre, said: For years, rural towns across northern England, including Teesdale, have faced a persistent digital connectivity problem, which has left local communities frustrated and very much behind in terms of infrastructure upgrades. Through our partnership with the UK government and Durham County Council, construction efforts are now underway to help tackle this digital divide and isolation head on. Our new network will equip residents and businesses in these areas with the tools required to drive innovation and success, both now and in decades to come. We appreciate your patience during the construction phase and are excited to unveil the benefits of full fibre connectivity to Teesdale later this year.

Customers of the new service can expect to pay from 36 per month for a 100Mbps package on a 24-month term with an included wireless router, which rises to 69 per month for their top 1000Mbps plan. The latter also comes with a bonus Wi-Fi extender (this can optionally be taken on other plans for just 5 per month extra).
Tuesday, Apr 11th, 2023 (11:00 am) - Score 2,616

Earlier today the Government revealed (here) that theyd commit 8m to help deliver high-speed broadband (they didnt clearly define this) via Satellite ISP solutions for up to 35,000 of the UKs most remote properties (i.e. those unable to get gigabit-capable connections). We now know that this will involve OneWebs Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network via partners BT and Clarus.

Just to recap. At present, the Governments 5bn Project Gigabit broadband scheme aims to extend 1Gbps capable (download speed) networks to reach nationwide coverage (c. 99%) by around 2030 (here). But the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has previously recognised that 0.3% of UK premises (i.e. under 100,000) will be Very Hard to Reach (i.e. too expensive for even Project Gigabit to tackle).

The Government has since been consulting on alternative options for tackling such areas (here), although they were known to be considering technologies like satellite, fixed wireless access and mobile connectivity. Indeed, weve already seen some limited deployments that use Starlinks mega-constellation of LEO satellites (here). At the time, the government also signalled that OneWeb might be involved in future trials, which brings us to todays announcement.

The governments official press release was extremely vague and included no real detail, but we now know that they intend to deploy a solution delivered via OneWeb, BT and Clarus. Trials will take place in the Shetland Islands and on Lundy Island, near the north Devon coast. These trials build on OneWebs community broadband trials to sites in remote locations such as Canada, Greenland, and soon to British territories in the South Atlantic.

Michelle Donelan MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: Our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy sets out our plan to ensure everyone, no matter where they live, can reap the benefits of improved connectivity. With the help of companies like OneWeb, we are committing 8m to provide satellite connectivity for our most remote communities so that no one is left behind, while ensuring all populated areas in the UK will be served by what I call 5G-plus technology by 2030. This package of measures turbocharges our progress towards becoming a science and tech superpower with a substantial initial investment in the future of telecoms.

Neil Masterson, CEO OneWeb, said: We are excited to demonstrate the impact of LEO connectivity through these trials. From the beginning, OneWebs mission has been to bridge the digital divide for communities, but there are still countries around the world where reliable access to connectivity is unattainable. Working with the government, alongside our trusted partners and customers, OneWeb can help to bring connectivity to the communities and businesses that need it most, in underserved regions in the UK and around the world.

In terms of how they define high-speed, they merely said that the service would be up to ten times faster than what is currently available to them, which is as clear as mud. Individual homes in the targeted areas can differ between as much as sub-1Mbps and up to over the USO level (10Mbps+), thus such generalised language is difficult to interpret. But we would hope that theyd at least be aiming for the 30Mbps+ level, except if that were the case then the superfast terminology would have surely been used.

OneWeb itself has so far launched a total of 618 of their small c.150kg LEO based broadband satellites into space  orbiting at an altitude of 1,200km above the Earth (588 of them are for coverage and the rest redundancy). The ultrafast (100Mbps+) and low-latency (sub-100ms) network has often touted itself as a potential problem solver for rural homes and businesses, which is something theyve been developing with BT since 2021 (here). But we still have no solid data on how this might actually perform for UK homes in the real-world.

Furthermore, there are several different approaches that BT and OneWeb might take to this. For example, they could use OneWeb to provide the backhaul (data capacity) for a local 4G or 5G mobile network, or adopt a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) style solution. In both cases, an external antenna may be required for homes to get the best possible service performance. Hopefully further details will emerge soon.
Tuesday, Apr 11th, 2023 (11:34 am) - Score 1,008

The seventh contract awarded under the UKs 5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout scheme  worth nearly 14 million  has today been awarded to ISP Wessex Internet, which will upgrade connectivity for around 10,500 hard-to-reach homes and businesses across rural parts of the New Forest in Hampshire (England).

The provider already has plenty of experience with rolling out Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) infrastructure across rural parts of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Somerset in England, both as part of various commercial and state-aid supported deployment projects. Indeed, they recently secured another Project Gigabit contract for North Dorset (here).

NOTE: Around 75% of UK premises can already access a gigabit network (c. 45%+ via just Around 75% of UK premises can already access a gigabit network (c. 45%+ via just FTTP ).

By comparison, Project Gigabit aims to extend 1Gbps capable (download) networks to reach at least 85% of UK premises by the end of 2025, before hopefully achieving nationwide coverage (c. 99%) by around 2030 (here). Commercial investment is expected to deliver around 80% of this, which leaves the governments scheme to focus on tackling the final 20% (mostly rural and some sub-urban areas), where the private sector alone often fails. The project is technology neutral, so it can be delivered via either full fibre FTTP, Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) or fixed wireless access (e.g. 5G)  but FTTP is favoured.

The project uses a number of different approaches to tackle this challenge (e.g. vouches and investment in dark fibre builds), but the largest part of the scheme involves a gap-funded subsidy approach  the Gigabit Infrastructure Subsidy (GIS). This is where smaller local and larger regional contracts are awarded to network operators and ISPs who can help to build their gigabit-capable infrastructure across the final 20%.

The Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency, which manages Project Gigabit, has already awarded a string of initial contracts to various ISPs (see bottom of article for a summary) and the seventh one  New Forest (Lot 27.01)  has today gone to Wessex Internet. The deal is funded by 14m of public investment and aims to cover 10,500 rural homes and businesses.

The new network will be rolled out to communities around the New Forest including Brockenhurst, Burley, Beaulieu, Godshill, Hordle and Sway. The first properties could be connected to lightning-fast broadband as early as February 2024. Wessex Internet will also work closely with Forestry England and the Verderers of the New Forest throughout this three-year programme of work and expects to start network construction in the first communities by the end of this year.

Digital Infrastructure Minister, Julia Lopez, said: Thanks to this latest multi-million pound contract for the New Forest, thousands of hard-to-reach homes and businesses in this stunning area will benefit from a state-of-the-art network ready to provide the speed and reliability we will all need in the decades ahead. The Prime Minister has put growing the economy as one of his five top priorities, and this investment will go far in delivering on that mission here in the New Forest by equipping rural areas with the infrastructure they need for the digital age.

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO at Wessex Internet, said: This is great news for homes and businesses in the New Forest who will be able to access world-class connectivity and the many economic and social benefits it provides. We will now work closely with the residents and communities across this beautiful national park to deliver this exciting programme. Were delighted to be awarded our second contract under Project Gigabit. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and their strong track record of rolling out gigabit-capable connectivity to even the hardest to reach countryside communities.

Prices for their full fibre packages usually start at 29 per month for a 100Mbps (15Mbps upload) tier on a 12-month term, but this only comes with a meagre 100GB data allowance (44 for unlimited), and youll have to pay 49 (one-off) for activation. By comparison, their top unlimited usage package will give you 900Mbps (300Mbps upload) for 84 per month, which is fairly expensive by todays standards, albeit still a godsend if nobody else can supply FTTP.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
FILE - Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signs one of three bills restricting access to abortion in Montana as sponsor of one of the bills, state Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway, R-Great Falls, watches in Helena, Mont., on April 26, 2021. Planned Parenthood of Montana filed a preemptive lawsuit Monday, April 10, 2023, seeking to stop legislation that would ban the abortion method most commonly used in the second trimester, arguing it's unconstitutional.
FILE - District 12 District Attorney Matt Ballard talks at the Rogers County Courthouse on May 4, 2016, in Claremore, Okla. An Oklahoma man convicted of murder for stabbing another man to death in 2018 could get a new trial after Ballard acknowledged in a court filing on March 17, 2023, that two of his former prosecutors watched jurors deliberate via a video feed into the courtroom. In Oklahoma, it is a felony to listen to or observe jurors deliberate in a case.
Egyptian Influential Women on Social Media at Risk of Being Arrested and Imprisoned on Grounds of Morality Charges

Egyptian authorities have been targeting female social media influencers in a campaign to silence them, using a cybercrime law to detain them on vague charges like violating public morals and undermining family values since 2020.

Recently, Salma Elshimy, a TikTok celebrity, became the latest influencer to be arrested for social media posts that Egypts public prosecutor claims incited debauchery and violated family values.

Elshimy, a model, influencer, and content creator with 3.3 million TikTok followers, was returning from Dubai, where she had filed a residency application before her arrest.

Her arrest was discovered by a United Arab Emirates photographer who informed Mada, an Egyptian news website, about it. According to the Middle East Monitor based in Qatar, Elshimy will be detained for four days for spreading immorality and publishing videos and photos that contradict social morals and values.

 Hany Sameh, a lawyer who has worked on similar cases in the past, claims that these accusations against Elshimy are vague and are a product of male chauvinism.

Arrests of female social media influencers on charges related to morality have increased under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt.

Elshimy faced similar charges in 2020 after she was jailed for a month for taking a photo shoot outside the Saqqara necropolis in a photo shoot in inappropriate Pharaonic clothes.

The cybercrime law adopted in 2018 has led to more female influencers arrests, violating their freedom of expression.

HRW warns that arresting women on vague grounds for simply posting videos and photos of themselves on social media sites is discriminatory and directly violates their right to free expression. If found guilty, Elshimy faces imprisonment and hefty fines.
Somalia in urgent need of massive international aid due to drought, says UN leader

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged for widespread international support for Somalia during his recent trip to the country in East Africa, which is grappling with the worst drought in decades.

Speaking to reporters, Guterres stated that he was in Somalia to alert the international community to the countrys critical need for support at this time. He highlighted that the nation is dealing with humanitarian crises while also facing a serious threat of terrorism.

The U.N chief was given a warm welcome at the international airport in the capital, Mogadishu, with Somali and U.N. officials greeting him with an honor guard.

In a joint press briefing with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Guterres thanked him for the welcome and expressed his eagerness to attend Iftar  the breaking of the Ramadan fast  later that day.

Mohamud, in response, thanked Guterres for his concern over Somalias problems and challenges, along with the U.N.s commitment to supporting the nations plans for state-building and stabilizing the country.

Food security experts have revealed that more than 6 million people in Somalias historic drought are still facing extremely critical conditions.

Furthermore, the country is struggling with insecurity due to its ongoing battle against thousands of fighters from al-Qaidas East Africa affiliate, al-Shabab.

During his visit, Guterres visited an internally displaced persons camp in Baidoa in southwest Somalia, where he commended the residents determination to rebuild their lives.

He added that the generosity of the international community was necessary to rescue people in such dire circumstances.

Habiba Isak Ibrahin, one of the individuals displaced by the severe drought, spoke to The Associated Press and revealed that she had lost her crops and livestock and that she had to seek help at the camp.
The Good Friday Agreements creation of an all-Ireland economy: A story of understated success

The Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, opened doors for collaboration between businesses across the Irish border and led to the emergence of an all-island economy.

Even after a quarter of a century, shared economic ties remain an essential source of partnership between north and south.

Once a significant symbol of Irelands turbulent past, Crumlin Road Gaol, a prison northwest of Belfast, housed murderers, thieves, and some of the most prominent figures of Irelands The Troubles era.

The prison, which had a 170-year history and closed its gates two years before the signing of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, is now a museum and event space that attracts tourists.

Irish whiskey and tourism have emerged as all-Ireland brands working on a global scale to drive profit.

The concept of a single island product is beguiling as logistics-wise, north-south supply chains see millions of litres of whiskey cross the border to be matured, blended and bottled by businesses on the other side.

After 25 years of peace, economic links forging between communities have had their impact as a vital avenue for alternative, non-ethnic ways of doing politics.

While Brexit changed the dynamic to some extent, cooperation between the two countries may have natural limitations, but there is still room for cross-border businesses to increase, particularly in the service industries.

Peace and certainty should mean that the all-island economy continues to be the quiet success story for the next 25 years.
The United States and the Philippines are commencing their biggest combat exercises in several decades, involving live-fire drills, including sinking a boat rocket attack, in the waters around the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, which could anger China.

Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder, the annual drills by the two long-time treaty allies are called Balikatan.

 This year, the exercises will involve over 17,600 military personnel up until April 28, demonstrating American firepower in Asia, where they have frequently warned China about their increasingly aggressive behavior in the disputed sea channel and against Taiwan.

The Biden administration has been working to improve an arc of Indo-Pacific alliances to better counter China, including a possible confrontation with Taiwan.

This coincides with the actions of the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to secure its territorial interests in the South China Sea by boosting joint military exercises with the US and enabling rotating groups of American forces to stay in more Philippine military camps, as per a 2014 defense pact.

About 12,200 US military personnel, 5,400 Filipino forces, and 111 Australian counterparts will participate in the exercises, the largest in Balikatans 30-year history. According to US and Philippine military officials, Americas warships, fighter jets, Patriot missiles, HIMARS rocket launchers, and anti-tank Javelins will be showcased.

Before the start of the maneuvers, Col. Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesman for Balikatan, told reporters, We are not provoking anyone by simply exercising. This is actually a form of deterrence. Deterrence is when we are discouraging other parties from invading us.

In a coordinated airstrike and artillery bombardment, US and Filipino forces will sink a 200-foot (61-meter) target vessel in Philippine territorial waters off the coast of the western province of Zambales this month, according to Logico.

The field scenario aims to test the allies capabilities in combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between maneuver units, logistics operations, amphibious operations, according to the US Embassy in Manila.

The US and China have been on a collision course regarding the long-standing territorial conflicts between China, the Philippines, and four other governments, as well as Beijings goal of annexing Taiwan, potentially by force.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning warned last week against the increasing US military deployment in the area, saying it would only lead to more tensions and less peace and stability in the region.

 The Balikatan exercises are starting in the Philippines one day after China concluded simulated combat drills that simulated blocking off Taiwan, following a meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California that enraged Beijing.

The US Navys 7th Fleet deployed the USS Milius, a guided-missile destroyer, within 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef on Monday, which is a Manila-claimed coral outcrop that China seized in the mid-1990s and turned into one of seven missile-protected island bases in the South China Seas hotly contested Spratly Islands.

The US military has been conducting freedom of navigation operations for years to challenge Chinas broad territorial claims in the busy seaway.

The 7th Fleet stated, 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.
( Human Rights Watch )  April 8 is a day that lives in infamy for media in Iraq. 20 years ago, two American missiles hit the Al Jazeera offices in Baghdad, killing a reporter and wounding a cameraman. Shortly afterwards, American forces opened fire on the nearby office of Abu Dhabi TV, and a United States tank fired at the Palestine Hotel, a known base for foreign media, killing two cameramen and wounding three journalists.

These attacks prompted accusations that the US was deliberately targeting the media. There was no investigation into the targeting of the Al Jazeera offices, although a US military investigation into the attack on the Palestine hotel cleared US forces of fault or negligence.

During the US occupation, a free press remained under threat. US troops frequently detained journalists, some under the justification that they were engaged in or supporting the insurgency via their reporting.

In June 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) issued Order 14, which prohibited media from inciting violence against any individual or group or inciting civil disorder. The CPA invoked this decree several times to permanently shut down a handful of publications, and temporarily ban others.

Today, the situation is no better. Iraqi authorities view the media as an adversary to be contained and controlled, rather than a vital aspect of Iraqi society. Like Order 14, both Iraqi federal authorities and the Kurdistan Regional Government currently abuse vaguely worded laws to bring criminal charges against critics. Authorities are using prosecutions under these laws to intimidate and in some cases silence journalists, activists, and other dissenting voices.

To protect free speech and enable a free press to flourish, Iraqi federal and Kurdistan regional authorities should end intimidation, harassment, arrests, and assaults of journalists and others for exercising their right to free expression. They should investigate credible allegations of threats or attacks by government employees against critics. Finally, authorities should amend laws and penal code articles that limit free speech and muzzle critical reporting. Only when these conditions are met will a free press have the platform it needs to flourish in Iraq.

Via Human Rights Watch
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By Craig Stevens, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research | 

The latest synthesis report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) makes it clear we need to prepare for intensifying impacts, while also cutting emissions dramatically.

One beacon of hope is the global growth in renewable energy, with offshore wind in particular with new installations increasing almost six-fold in 2021 compared to 2020.

Aotearoa New Zealand is one of a few regions  with Norway, Iceland, Brazil and Canada  with an already high proportion of electricity coming from renewable sources. However, electricity does not equal total energy and New Zealand must consider a fundamental shift for other parts of its energy spectrum, including industrial heat.

There is no shortage of energy in New Zealands marine environment. A current discussion document (calling for public submissions by April 14) signals that offshore wind is poised to build a beachhead in a renewables market historically dominated by hydro power and underpinned by coal.

The technical and environmental challenges of offshore wind power are complex and expensive. Countries such as China, Denmark, Ireland and the UK currently lead the way, but New Zealands position in the southwest Pacific Ocean means theres plenty of wind energy, both on land and at sea.

A shift in energy supply

Ara Ake, an energy innovation centre with a mission to assist New Zealands decarbonisation, recently held a forum on offshore renewable energy in New Plymouth, the countrys centre for the natural gas sector.

The discussions centred around upcoming changes to the Resource Management Act, which will affect how development in the environment proceeds, and the recognition that any new initiatives need to engage with Te Tiriti and Maori perspectives on how resources are used and who benefits.

The discussion document highlights two regions: the Taranaki Bight and Foveaux Strait. Both locations are relatively shallow and well suited to installations of current technology.

A NZ$4 billion project to build the countrys first 65-turbine offshore wind farm off the Taranaki coast could be completed within a decade, but the document also identifies some potential future regions that are deeper and more exposed to the Southern Ocean.

Potential impacts of offshore wind farms

New Zealand is watching developments at a large Australian offshore wind farm off the coast of Gippsland, which aims to supply 20% of the electricity for the state of Victoria.

But offshore wind generation presents environmental challenges, including possible impacts of large arrays of wind turbines on seabirds and marine mammals. The seas around Aotearoa are home to a greater proportion of seabirds than almost any other populated centre, including many seabird species that breed nowhere else.



Photo by Shaun Dakin on Unsplash

Other potential impacts extend to fisheries. But these depend on the location as ecosystems, fisheries and regulatory structures are unique to specific regions.

But one set of impacts has so far received little consideration. As tides push water past turbine pylons, the resultant wakes affect ocean stirring. This effect can be seen from space.

A recent study for UK offshore wind farms identified how large arrays are affecting the biological functioning of coastal seas.

With growing impacts from a changing climate, we need to ask more nuanced questions. For example, when considering environmental impacts, what baseline should we consider? Will the impacts of any particular development exceed the projected impacts of climate-driven extremes for that region?

Another compound question is how offshore renewables infrastructure will cope with a changing ocean. Climate projections are unequivocal about increasing future storminess and stronger or more frequent tropical cyclones. These will be challenging for all infrastructure, not just marine.



Jason Brown/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images , CC BY-ND



Future thinking

A notable aspect of the current discussions in New Zealand is the use of the term offshore renewables rather than offshore wind. This allows the focus to include a wider set of renewable energy resources, including next-generation ocean renewables such as wave and tidal energy.

While these approaches are niche compared to established offshore wind power, they bring a diversity of supply that will be vital when building a portfolio of renewable resources to move away from fossil fuels.

This evolution will require people, but New Zealands education sector is not producing enough graduates with a speciality in marine engineering. Beyond engineering, there are opportunities for data science, industrial services and infrastructure  and the possibility to develop a research initiative to foster long-term capability and ideas.

The climate emergency is upon us now and the rapidly closing window of opportunity requires a shift in energy perspective if we are to give future generations the best chance of a liveable and sustainable planet.

Craig Stevens, Professor in Ocean Physics, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) today announced preliminary production results for the first quarter of 2023. Full financial results for the quarter will be reported and filed on SEDAR on or before May 15, 2023. All figures are in US Dollars, unless otherwise expressed.

First Quarter Operating Highlights

Consolidated gold production increased 9% to 18,155 ounces compared to 16,663 ounces in the first quarter of 2022. Tonnes milled increased to 206,000 tonnes compared to 184,000 in the first quarter of 2022.

Pilar gold production increased 9% to 9,897 ounces compared to 9,082 ounces in the first quarter of 2022.

Turmalina gold production increased 9% to 8,258 ounces compared to 7,581 ounces in the first quarter of 2022.

Total development drilling for the quarter was 2,880 metres an increase of 10% compared to 2,621 metres in the same period of 2022.

Total definition, infill and exploration drilling for the quarter was 9,655 metres, a decrease of 63% compared to 26,305 metres in the same period of 2022, when additional drilling was completed to expand Mineral Resources.

The Company ended the quarter with cash of $25.8 million, a slight increase from its year-end cash position of $25.2 million.

First Quarter Operating Results

Vern Baker, President and CEO of Jaguar Mining stated: "We are pleased to report that first quarter production improved year over year, however results were once again negatively impacted by a heavy rainy season which created unstable road conditions between the Pilar mine and the Caete plant. At the Pilar mine, the increase in production was the result of an improvement in head grade. The Turmalina mine was able to drive up production through increased tonnes while experiencing a lower grade cycle within the mine.

Development efforts continue to be focused on our Faina project. An upgrade of a significant portion of the resources to Indicated from Inferred is underpinning our ongoing work on the Faina project. We expect to access the Faina resource zone by year end and see development within the resource next year.

Our guidance for the year is unchanged with gold production expected to be between 84,000 to 88,000 ounces at an All-In-Sustaining-Cost (AISC) range of $1,275 to $1,375 per ounce (US$1:BRL5.20)."

Qualified Person

Scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAUSIMM, Vice President Geology and Exploration, who is also an employee of Jaguar Mining Inc., and is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The Iron Quadrangle

The Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba, and Sao Bento. Jaguar holds the third largest gold land position in the Iron Quadrangle with over 50,000 hectares.

About Jaguar Mining Inc.

Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande Mines, and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com .

For further information please contact:

Vernon Baker

Chief Executive Officer

Jaguar Mining Inc.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

416-847-1854

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" 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. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, expected sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the estimated timeline for the development of its mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained and renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting the forecast plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labour disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical spills, procurement fraud and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information made in this news release, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis, as well as other public disclosure documents that can be accessed under the issuer profile of "Jaguar Mining Inc." on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information set forth herein reflects the Company's reasonable expectations as at the date of this news release and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) ("Maritime" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on exploration activity on the Whisker Valley and El Strato gold properties in the Baie Verte mining district of Newfoundland and Labrador. Maritime announces the discovery of a new high-grade gold prospect at the Whisker Valley project and has acquired an option on an additional mineral license, the 125 hectare, five-claim El Strato Property to consolidate a well-defined gold trend spanning 7 kilometres ("kms"). The El Strato gold mineralization is located proximal to the regionally significant Baie Verte Brompton Line (BVBL) and is a structurally controlled orogenic style that is comparable to the prolific gold rich Abitibi Archean greenstone belt of Central-Southern Quebec.

Highlights:

Maritime's exploration team has identified a large alkalic porphyry center and an accompanying alkalic epithermal system at the Fluorite Zone, located within the Whisker Valley property.

Initial drilling of the epithermal system encountered local anomalous fluorite, gold, silver, zinc, molybdenum, and lead values. The most significant results were obtained from hole FZ-21-08 which encountered 0.064% molybdenum over 9.0 m and 0.8 m of 2.65 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold, including 0.35 m of 6.27 gpt gold. See Figures 6 and Table 2.

Additional drilling 300 meters south of the Gary Vein Zone intersected significant mineralization including WH-21-34 returned 5.95 g/t gold over 0.48 m, WH-21-35 returned 7.57 g/t gold over 0.20 m, highlighting the potential for new vein discoveries in the area. See Figure 8 and Table 3.

Trenching of a chargeability anomaly near the Whisker Valley fault zone exposed a new polymetallic quartz/sulphide vein over 5.0 m with initial grab samples grading up to 8.54 gpt gold, 8.0 % lead, 24 gpt silver. See Figure 7, 8 and Table 1.

Maritime optioned additional claims on the El Strato gold trend further consolidating an emerging gold mineralized system stretching over 7 kms. New sampling by Maritime in 2022 of the El Strato Trend returned high grade gold values up to 21.83 gpt and 2.95 gpt gold in quartz/carbonate/sulphide veins verifying the high-grade tenor of the mineralized veins. See Figure 1, 2, 3 and Table 1.

The El Strato and Whisker Valley Structurally Controlled Gold Trends

The El Strato gold prospect hosts numerous gold and base metal occurrences and trends centered around the Whisker Valley and Middle Arm secondary fault structures which have extensive strike lengths approximately 7 kms (Figures 1 and 2). El Strato is centered along the major fault junction where the Middle Arm Fault intersects the BVBL. In this area previous exploration has identified widespread gold mineralization associated with secondary structures hosting quartz, carbonate and base-metal-rich veins considered to be indicative of a structurally controlled orogenic gold system. Historic grab samples of outcrop reported gold grades up to 239.6 gpt gold and angular float samples ranging from anomalous to 72.0 gpt gold (Figure 4). Limited historical drilling at the El Strato area has achieved intersections up to 3.15 gpt gold over 3.2m, and 14.23 gpt gold over 1.2 m (ES-11-23) - (News Release Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc, August 3, 2011). Soil sampling throughout the El Strato property has outlined several high-grade multi-station/multi-line gold anomalies in close proximity to the Middle Arm Fault. Three gold in-soil trends have been identified that are coincident with the historical drill intersections, high-grade gold in rock samples and untested IP chargeability anomalies. None of these results have been verified by Maritime and are considered historical, however representative sampling by Maritime staff in 2022 returned outcrop samples grading 21.83 gpt gold and 2.95 gpt gold at the Voodoo Brook showing which confirmed the high-grade nature of the mineralization (Figure 3).

The newly optioned mineral claims (White Option) are centrally located and cover a potential northeast extension of the El Strato mineralized trend (Figure 1, 2 and 4). Historical rock samples collected on the optioned property returned 3.3 gpt and 4.4 gpt gold in bedrock and 6.4 gpt, 11.1 gpt and 15.4 gpt gold in angular float. These samples coincide with an historical 3-kilometer-long in-soil gold anomaly (Figure 1). Trail access to the El Strato Property has been established and the Company has compiled historic geochemistry, geophysics and drillhole data and has reviewed historic drill cores and trenches on the property. This work will continue into the 2023 season with a focus on identifying and mapping the distribution and geometry of gold bearing structures to identify and test priority drill targets.

Figure 1. Whisker Valley and El Strato prospects - Compilation of gold in soil anomalies.

Figure 2. Whisker Valley and El Strato prospects - Compilation of gold in outcrop and float samples.

Figure 3. Representative samples collected from Voodoo Brook returned 21.83 gpt and 2.95 gpt gold.

Figure 4. Maritime 2022 rock samples and historical El Strato / White option soil sampling results > 25 ppb gold and significant rock sampling results for gold overlaid on Airborne Magnetics (TMI) base.

Whisker Valley Porphyry Target

Exploration work at Whisker Valley has identified a potential zone of porphyry monzodiorite stock consistent with intrusions associated with alkalic Cu-Au porphyry systems similar to the porphyry in Mount Polley, British Columbia (Figure 5). The alteration envelopes observed in the field and in drill core are typical of alteration encountered in these types of mineralized systems.

The related geophysical anomalies are broad and have multi-kilometre strike lengths and occur in a portion of the property that to date has received limited exploration work. Maritime plans to employ soil geochemistry, alteration vectoring by hyperspectral, as well as mapping to identify structural and magmatic controls on metal mineralization in order to identify economically significant portions of this large greenfield exploration target.

Figure 5. Strongly vesiculated and altered felspar porphyry monzodiorite with cavities filled with albite, calcite, epidote, magnetite and potassium feldspar.

Fluorite Zone Alkalic Epithermal Prospect

Maritime has identified a new mineralized corridor adjacent to the Whisker Valley Porphyry Trend. The newly discovered Fluorite Zone Prospect has been exposed in trenching 100 m and partially delineated using ground based induced polarization (IP) geophysics. Initial trenching and limited drilling have identified geology, alteration and mineralization consistent with that of an alkalic epithermal gold system similar to deposits of the Cripple Creek District in Colorado, USA which has produced 21 million ounces of gold. This first stage of exploration work included 9 drillholes and outlined a large diatreme breccia complex with widespread disseminated pyrite and localized occurrences of fluorite, sphalerite, molybdenum and rare earth elements. The rocks exhibit intense potassic and argillic alteration. The initial drilling encountered local anomalous gold, silver, molybdenum and lead values the most significant results were obtained from drill hole FZ-21-08 (Figure 6) which encountered 0.064% molybdenum over 9.0 m with three assays exceeding detection limits of 0.1% molybdenum, with overlimit analysis for these samples are still pending. In addition to molybdenum the hole intersected 0.8 m of 2.65 gpt gold, including 0.35 m of 6.27 gpt gold.

Figure 6. Fluorite Zone drill core FZ-21-08 depicting argillite and potassic alteration of rhyolite and diatreme breccias. A.) Fracture-controlled molybdenum. B.) Alteration zonation from pervasive argillic to potassic alteration with fluorite veining. C.) Argillic alteration with fluorite nodules. D.) Variably altered diatreme breccia.

Hyperspectral imaging was carried out on 1,000 m of drill core from the Fluorite Zone. This work was completed by Newfoundland's College of the North Atlantic (CONA) using state of the art VNIR-SWIR-MWIR-LWIR core scanning technology. Maritime would like to thank the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) for funding the project, as well as CONA researchers for their interpretation of the results. The hyperspectral test work identified rare earth element bearing minerals within later fractures as well as intervals of white mica alteration that correlated with pyrite mineralization in the core and concluded that hyperspectral imaging is a viable tool for defining alteration patterns and has the potential to vector towards mineralization in areas with complex alteration zones such as the Fluorite Zone. Maritime intends to complete hyperspectral scanning of the entire Fluorite Zone drill core to help in vectoring towards potential gold mineralization.

An IP geophysical survey carried out at the Fluorite Zone has identified a series of chargeability anomalies. Field checking from a chargeability anomaly on Line 2 identified a polymetallic quartz/sulphide vein in bedrock. This new vein at the FZ L2 IP anomaly has been partially exposed over 5 m and contained abundant galena, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite. Initial grab samples collected from outcrop at this newly discovered vein contained up to 8.54 gpt gold, 8.0 % lead, and 24 gpt silver. The vein mineralization is hosted in a narrow shear zone which returned 2.8 gpt gold from a grab sample (Figure 7).

Whisker Valley Area Drilling

An additional 17 drill holes were completed in the Whisker Valley area during the 2021 program to test various IP chargeability anomalies, known historical surface gold/base metal vein style mineralization, and interpreted structures. The IP anomalies were explained by intense disseminated pyrite and/or strongly pervasive magnetite/hematite alteration in the host granodiorite. Other holes that tested the sub-surface of known prospects intersected late brittle structures that appear to be off-setting the depth extension of mineralization. Four holes WH-21-34 to WH-21-37 were completed approximately 300 meters south of the Gary Vein zone (press release dated February 25, 2019) to test an interpreted structural trend. These holes intersected multiple quartz pyrite/base metal veins, which returned significant gold grades over narrow intersections. WH-21-34 returned 5.95 g/t gold over 0.48 m, 4.97 g/t gold over 0.40 m, WH-21-35 returned 7.57 g/t gold over 0.20 m, 1.28 g/t gold over 0.24 m, 0.56 g/t gold over 0.35 m and 1.85 g/t gold over 0.2 m. While WH-21-36 assayed 3.82 g/t gold over 0.2 m and WH-21-37 returned 0.92 g/t gold over 0.27 m, and 0.78 g/t gold over 0.20 m (see Figure 8 and Table 3). The intersections in the Gary Vein South area appear to be related to brittle secondary structures of the Whisker Valley Fault. The drilling highlighted the importance of structures in controlling the geometry of mineralized zones in the area. Further drilling will be based on modelling of the structures so that mineralized veins can be more accurately targeted for drilling.

The 2021 drilling campaign at the Whisker Valley Fluorite area was successful in determining the potential of a large porphyry/epithermal system near the contact with the Silurian King's Point Alkalic complex and the underlying Ordovician Burlington granodiorite. New drilling south of the Gary Vein system highlighted the potential for new vein discoveries. Future exploration in the area will entail modeling of known structures and mineralized veins along with geological mapping, mineralogy, and lithogeochemistry to determine the genetic aspects of mineralization in the Silurian Whisker Valley Cu-Au-Mo system.

Figure 7. Mineralized grab samples from newly discovered Fluorite Zone (FZ L2 IP Anomaly) prospect containing gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc. Images A. and B.) Quartz veining with gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc mineralization. C.) Mineralized shear zone adjacent to vein style mineralization.

Figure 8. Location of 2021 diamond drilling at Whisker Valley

Table 1. Maritime 2022 rock sample locations and historical rock samples (NAD 83 Zone 21) along with assays.

Sample Project Type Easting Northing Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) 525244 FZ L2 IP Anomaly Bedrock Maritime 548318 5496816 8.54 24.0 0.16 8.00 1.73 525245 FZ L2 IP Anomaly Bedrock Maritime 548309 5496808 2.82 0.4 0.01 0.06 0.02 525146 Voodoo Brook Bedrock Maritime 541665 5495702 21.83 100.6 0.17 7.20 1.13 525150 Voodoo Brook Bedrock Maritime 541706 5495691 2.95 13.2 0.01 1.11 0.28 11875 White Option Bedrock Historical 542975 5496284 4.37 1.0 0.05 0.09 0.04 12089 White Option Bedrock Historical 542410 5496283 3.23 1.0 0.1 0.24 0.61 18009 White Option Float Historical 543026 5496418 6.43 N/A N/A N/A N/A 18029 White Option Float Historical 543199 5496758 11.07 N/A N/A N/A N/A 164958 White Option Float Historical 542239 5496596 15.40 N/A N/A N/A N/A 11101 El Strato Bedrock Historical 542670 5496170 35.45 33.60 0.00 0.01 0.00 11110 El Strato Bedrock Historical 546194 5500338 4.97 76.00 0.28 0.01 0.00 12035 El Strato Bedrock Historical 545948 5500177 1.50 27.70 0.75 0.00 0.01 12043 El Strato Bedrock Historical 544870 5499043 15.58 3.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 26883 El Strato Bedrock Historical 546351 5500509 1.29 16.10 0.06 0.00 0.00 28157 El Strato Bedrock Historical 542665 5495987 28.77 45.90 0.30 3.30 11.40 33547 El Strato Bedrock Historical 541762 5494654 61.69 30.70 0.07 2.04 0.17 33553 El Strato Bedrock Historical 542251 5495304 3.43 1.40 0.01 0.05 0.01 33564 El Strato Bedrock Historical 541317 5494910 6.83 2.70 0.02 0.66 0.31 33569 El Strato Bedrock Historical 542204 5495218 13.87 3.90 0.08 0.01 0.01 33572 El Strato Bedrock Historical 542296 5495186 20.32 12.30 0.07 1.47 0.21 39717 El Strato Bedrock Historical 542075 5494840 23.58 2.20 0.00 0.13 0.07 39729 El Strato Bedrock Historical 542148 5495036 5.15 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 39767 El Strato Bedrock Historical 541542 5495356 9.98 27.60 0.10 10.50 0.25 39777 El Strato Bedrock Historical 542236 5496121 4.15 21.50 0.05 0.00 0.31 118539 El Strato Bedrock Historical 545661 5499057 0.43 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 118549 El Strato Bedrock Historical 545766 5498985 0.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 119759 El Strato Bedrock Historical 545267 5499313 0.67 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 120329 El Strato Bedrock Historical 545193 5499408 0.70 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 122679 El Strato Bedrock Historical 541982 5495777 2.66 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 122715 El Strato Bedrock Historical 541636 5495166 1.14 4.70 0.04 2.54 2.66 134553 El Strato Bedrock Historical 541650 5495873 3.22 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 164101 El Strato Bedrock Historical 541686 5495806 10.52 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 164128 El Strato Bedrock Historical 541761 5495360 6.90 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 RML-98-12 El Strato Bedrock Historical 541478 5494895 239.60 31.00 0.36 0.60 14.80 999999 El Strato Bedrock Historical 542979 5497625 59.60 n/a n/a n/a n/a 11108 El Strato Float Historical 542751 5495707 22.66 77.70 0.15 0.00 0.00 11303 El Strato Float Historical 547345 5500834 0.86 1.30 0.01 0.00 0.00 12763 El Strato Float Historical 542784 5495852 54.32 119.90 0.92 0.00 0.00 18011 El Strato Float Historical 542662 5496123 62.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 18155 El Strato Float Historical 542626 5495917 67.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 33608 El Strato Float Historical 541746 5495169 53.26 47.90 0.69 6.90 9.60 54584 El Strato Float Historical 540926 5494640 1.42 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 40003 El Strato Float Historical 541833 5495808 57.79 15.70 0.01 1.84 0.05 108445 El Strato Float Historical 541854 5495359 13.61 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 115438 El Strato Float Historical 543011 5497489 59.60 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 119210 El Strato Float Historical 541677 5493752 2.87 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 119219 El Strato Float Historical 541777 5494182 70.90 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 122601 El Strato Float Historical 541570 5495689 67.00 0.54 0.08 3.24 1.61 122636 El Strato Float Historical 541916 5495768 72.00 19.54 0.04 2.61 0.84 122727 El Strato Float Historical 542036 5495081 10.70 12.30 0.06 2.26 0.08 123018 El Strato Float Historical 542663 5497240 16.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 134560 El Strato Float Historical 542052 5496025 14.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 134583 El Strato Float Historical 542140 5495907 105.30 0.00 0.22 14.00 7.10 134590 El Strato Float Historical 541922 5496345 51.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 134594 El Strato Float Historical 541767 5495750 11.50 92.56 0.06 0.57 0.99 164910 El Strato Float Historical 541868 5496240 72.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 164957 El Strato Float Historical 542015 5496375 26.90 0.00 0.01 0.41 0.04 999998 El Strato Float Historical 546445 5499329 1.50 n/a n/a n/a n/a

Table 2. Significant intersection FZ-21-08 Fluorite Zone.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Mo% Au g/t FZ-21-08 58.00 67.00 9.00 0.064 0.02 FZ-21-08 182.20 183.00 0.80 0.004 2.65 Including 182.65 183.00 0.35 0.001 6.27

Table 3. Significant intersection Gary Vein South Area.

Hole From To Length (m) Au Composite (gpt) WH-21-34 73 73.48 0.48 5.95 WH-21-34 131.55 131.95 0.4 4.97 WH-21-35 19.19 19.39 0.2 7.57 WH-21-35 82.43 82.67 0.24 1.28 WH-21-35 83.87 84.22 0.35 0.56 WH-21-35 150.67 150.87 0.2 1.85 WH-21-36 109.88 110.08 0.2 3.82 WH-21-37 19.46 19.66 0.2 5.90 WH-21-37 124.25 124.52 0.27 0.92 WH-21-37 204.4 204.6 0.2 0.78

Table 4. Drill hole location

Hole number Azimuth Inclination Area Depth (m) Northing Easting Elevation WH-21-25 19 -51 Whisker Valley 31 5496871 547923 282 WH-21-33 4 -42 Whisker Valley 20 5496861 547219 322 WH-21-33A 6 -42 Whisker Valley 151 5496861 547219 322 WH-21-37 360 -44 Whisker Valley 227 5496438 547586 278 WH-21-36 360 -46 Whisker Valley 145 5496420 547489 281 WH-21-35 0 -58 Whisker Valley 151 5496418 547538 278 WH-21-34 0 -46 Whisker Valley 146 5496440 547537 279 WH-21-32 320 -71 Whisker Valley 178 5498702 547911 296 WH-21-31 179 -45 Whisker Valley 115 5495912 549058 369 WH-21-27 21 -45 Whisker Valley 190 5497191 547756 293 WH-21-30 11 -46 Whisker Valley 100 5498929 547484 263 WH-21-28 130 -89 Whisker Valley 28 5498526 548509 340 WH-21-29 57 -89 Whisker Valley 125 5495559 548995 379 WH-21-23 148 -45 Whisker Valley 150 5498326 547853 288 WH-21-26 0 -90 Whisker Valley 107 5498870 548428 312 WH-21-25A 22 -53 Whisker Valley 205 5496871 547923 282 WH-21-24 311 -47 Whisker Valley 184 5498261 547901 289 FZ-21-09 266 -45 Fluorite Zone 184 5498010 549462 387 FZ-21-04 270 -46 Fluorite Zone 172 5497853 549187 396 FZ-21-08 233 -46 Fluorite Zone 298 5497209 549388 373 FZ-21-07 215 -79 Fluorite Zone 161 5497389 548906 346 FZ-21-06 231 -46 Fluorite Zone 328 5497620 548816 352 FZ-21-05 271 -47 Fluorite Zone 193 5498006 549172 409 FZ-21-03 270 -46 Fluorite Zone 192 5497922 549162 405 FZ-21-02 89 -45 Fluorite Zone 211 5497903 549068 392 FZ-21-01 270 -46 Fluorite Zone 241 5498005 548802 360

Analytical Procedures:

All samples collected by Maritime assayed and pertaining to this press release were completed by Eastern Analytical Limited ("EAL") located at Springdale, Newfoundland, and Labrador. EAL is an ISO 17025:2005 accredited laboratory for a defined scope of procedures. EAL has no relationship to Maritime. Samples are delivered in sealed plastic bags to EAL by Maritime field crews where they are dried, crushed, and pulped. Samples are crushed to approximately 80% passing a minus 10 mesh and split using a riffle splitter to approximately 250 grams. A ring mill is used to pulverize the sample split to 95% passing a minus 150 mesh. Sample rejects are securely stored at the EAL site for future reference. A 30-gram representative sample is selected for analysis from the 250 grams after which EAL applies a fire assay fusion followed by acid digestion and analysis by atomic absorption for gold analysis. Other metals were analyzed by applying an acid digestion and 34 element ICP analysis finish. EAL runs a comprehensive QA/QC program of standards, duplicates, and blanks within each sample stream.

Qualified Person

Exploration activities at the Hammerdown Gold Project are administered on site by the Company's Exploration Manager, Larry Pilgrim, P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Larry Pilgrim, P.Geo. Exploration Manager, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities on its exploration projects.

About Maritime Resources Corp.

Maritime holds a 100% interest- directly and subject to option agreements entitling it to earn 100% ownership- in the Green Bay/Whisker Valley/El Strato Properties. This includes the former Hammerdown gold mine and the Orion gold project plus the Whisker Valley exploration project, all located in the Baie Verte Mining District near the town of King's Point, Newfoundland, and Labrador. The Hammerdown Gold Project is characterized by near-vertical, narrow mesothermal quartz veins containing gold associated with pyrite. Hammerdown was last operated by Richmont Mines between 2000 and 2004. The Company also owns the gold circuit at the Nugget Pond metallurgical facility in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Lac Pelletier gold project in Rouyn Noranda, Quebec and a number of other exploration properties in key mining camps across Canada.

On Behalf of the Board:

Garett Macdonald, MBA, P.Eng.

President and CEO

1900-110 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1T4

Phone: (416) 365-5321

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www.maritimeresourcescorp.com

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Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements:

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "intends", "indicates" "plans" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the low capital intensity and rapid payback of the Project, the exploration upside relating to the Project, the pursuit of mine life extensions, the potential to increase mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, returns and FCF relating to the Project, capital financing processes relating to the Project, development of the next drill program on the Project, exploration and development of the Orion deposit, "Run of Mine" ore scheduled to be mined from the Project, timing of submission of the Project Development Plan and the Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan for Hammerdown, timing of future site construction, timing to first gold production, length of construction period for the Project, timing of completion of required permitting, timing for approvals to be obtained for the closure and development plans relating to the Project, availability of capital financing, the non-equity portion of any construction capital financing, timing of completion of construction capital financing process, amongst other things, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. All forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company in good faith as at the date of such information. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the price of and anticipated costs of recovery of, base metal concentrates, gold and silver, the presence of and continuity of such minerals at modeled grades and values, the capacities of various machinery and equipment, the use of ore sorting technology will produce positive results, the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices, mineral recovery rates, and others. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the ability of the Company to continue to be able to access the capital markets for the funding necessary to acquire, maintain and advance exploration properties or business opportunities; global financial conditions, including market reaction to the coronavirus outbreak; competition within the industry to acquire properties of merit or new business opportunities, and competition from other companies possessing greater technical and financial resources; difficulties in advancing towards a development decision at Hammerdown and executing exploration programs at its Newfoundland and Labrador properties on the Company's proposed schedules and within its cost estimates, whether due to weather conditions, availability or interruption of power supply, mechanical equipment performance problems, natural disasters or pandemics in the areas where it operates; increasingly stringent environmental regulations and other permitting restrictions or maintaining title or other factors related to exploring of its properties, such as the availability of essential supplies and services; factors beyond the capacity of the Company to anticipate and control, such as the marketability of mineral products produced from the Company's properties; uncertainty as to whether the acquisition of assets and new mineral property interests including the Nugget Pond gold circuit will be completed in the manner currently contemplated by the parties; uncertainty as to whether mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves once economic considerations are applied; uncertainty as to whether inferred mineral resources will be converted to the measured and indicated categories through further drilling, or into mineral reserves, once economic considerations are applied; government regulations relating to health, safety and the environment, and the scale and scope of royalties and taxes on production; and the availability of experienced contractors and professional staff to perform work in a competitive environment and the resulting adverse impact on costs and performance and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in each MD&A of financial condition and results of operations. In addition, forward-looking information is based on various assumptions including, without limitation, assumptions associated with exploration results and costs and the availability of materials and skilled labour. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Maritime undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Provides Notice of Release of First Quarter Financial Results and Details of Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders

(All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated)

TORONTO, April 10, 2023 /CNW/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold" or the "Company") (TSX: NGD) and (NYSE American: NGD) reports first quarter operational results for the Company as of March 31, 2023. The Company is also providing notice that it will release its first quarter 2023 financial results after market close on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. The Company will host its first quarter 2023 earnings conference call and webcast on Thursday April 27, 2023 at 8:30 am Eastern Time.

"The first quarter of 2023 saw both of our operations excel, delivering gold equivalent production of 104,857 ounces, the strongest start to a year for our Company over the last four years, and a 20% increase over the prior year period," stated Patrick Godin, President & CEO. "At Rainy River, we achieved our strongest first quarter of any year in the operation's history and delivered production growth of nearly 13% over the same period last year as greater underground ore tonnes contributed to better-than-expected grade, which more than offset lower tonnes milled. The milling rate was impacted during the quarter by mechanical maintenance on the SAG mill and crusher. At New Afton, gold and copper production improved meaningfully over the same period last year, as the operation's focus remained on steady state mining of B3 and C-Zone development. In short, I'm proud of how our operations and teams delivered during the first quarter, and we remain well positioned to meet all annual production guidance metrics outlined earlier this year."

Operational Highlights

Consolidated Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Gold eq. production (ounces)1 104,857 87,696 Gold production (ounces) 82,477 68,101 Copper production (Mlbs) 10.3 8.2

Rainy River Mine Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Gold eq. production (ounces)1 67,596 59,895 Gold production (ounces) 66,201 58,834

New Afton Mine Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Gold eq. production (ounces)1 37,261 27,800 Gold production (ounces) 16,276 9,267 Copper production (Mlbs) 10.3 8.2

Operating Key Performance Indicators

Rainy River Mine Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Open Pit Only Tonnes mined per day (ore and waste) 118,481 118,657 Ore tonnes mined per day 36,380 20,019 Operating waste tonnes per day 60,360 35,199 Capitalized waste tonnes per day 21,741 63,438 Total waste tonnes per day 82,101 98,637 Strip ratio (waste:ore) 2.26 4.93 Open Pit and Underground Tonnes milled per calendar day 22,400 24,318 Gold grade milled (g/t) 1.12 0.92 Gold recovery (%) 91 91 Gold eq. production (ounces)1 67,596 59,895 Gold production (ounces) 66,201 58,834

New Afton Mine Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Tonnes mined per day (ore and waste) 9,185 7,028 Tonnes milled per calendar day 8,142 10,299 Gold grade milled (g/t) 0.78 0.38 Gold recovery (%) 89 83 Copper grade milled (%) 0.70 0.49 Copper recovery (%) 91 81 Gold eq. production (ounces)1 37,261 27,800 Gold production (ounces) 16,276 9,267 Copper production (Mlbs) 10.3 8.2

First Quarter 2023 Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will release its first quarter 2023 financial results after market close on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. A conference call and webcast will be hosted on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 8:30 am Eastern Time.

Participants may listen to the webcast by registering on our website at www.newgold.com or via the following link https://app.webinar.net/1WzxeYqeXnB

Participants may also listen to the conference call by calling North American toll free 1-888-664-6383, or

1-416-764-8650 outside of the U.S. and Canada , passcode 03648094

1-416-764-8650 outside of the U.S. and , passcode 03648094 To join the conference call without operator assistance, you may register and enter your phone number at https://emportal.ink/3lcb9RU to receive an instant automated call back

A recorded playback of the conference call will be available until May 27, 2023 by calling North American toll free 1-888-390-0541, or 1-416-764-8677 outside of the U.S. and Canada , passcode 648094. An archived webcast will also be available at www.newgold.com

2023 Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders

The Company will hold its annual general and special meeting of shareholders on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 4:00 pm Eastern Time (the "Meeting"). The Meeting will not include a formal presentation by management.

The Meeting will be conducted virtually to maximize shareholder accessibility to the meeting. Participants will be able to join via the following link https://web.lumiagm.com/416913277.

A virtual Meeting affords all shareholders the ability to attend and participate in the Meeting equally, regardless of geographic location. At the virtual Meeting, registered shareholders, non-registered (or beneficial) shareholders and their duly appointed proxyholders will be able to participate, ask questions and vote in "real time" through an online portal. Non-registered shareholders must carefully follow the procedures set out in the management information circular (the "Circular") if they wish to appoint themselves as a proxyholder to vote at the Meeting and ask questions through the live webcast. Non-registered shareholders who do not follow the procedures set out in the Circular, along with other stakeholders who do not own common shares, will nonetheless be able to view a live webcast of the Meeting but will not be able to ask questions or vote.

New Gold's Circular, as well as a virtual annual general meeting user guide, may be found on New Gold's website at https://newgold.com/news-events/annual-meeting-of-shareholders/default.aspx or under New Gold's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

About New Gold

New Gold is a Canadian-focused intermediate mining Company with a portfolio of two core producing assets in Canada, the Rainy River gold mine and the New Afton copper-gold mine. The Company also holds Canadian-focused investments. New Gold's vision is to build a leading diversified intermediate gold company based in Canada that is committed to the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the Company, visit www.newgold.com.

Endnotes 1. Total gold eq. ounces include silver and copper produced/sold converted to a gold equivalent. All copper is produced/sold by the New Afton Mine. Gold eq. ounces for Rainy River in Q1 2023 includes production of 110,976 ounces of silver converted to a gold eq. based on a ratio of $1,750 per gold ounce and $22.00 per silver ounce used for 2023 guidance estimates. Gold eq. ounces for New Afton in Q1 2023 includes 10.3 million pounds of copper produced and 26,722 ounces of silver produced converted to a gold eq. based on a ratio of $1,750 per gold ounce, $3.50 per copper pound and $22.00 per silver ounce used for 2023 guidance estimates.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to New Gold's future financial or operating performance are "forward-looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that New Gold 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 use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "targeted", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "projects", "potential", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements with respect to: the anticipated timing with respect to the release of its first quarter 2023 financial results and the associated conference call and webcast; expectations about being well positioned to meet all annual production guidance metrics; and the Company's upcoming annual general meeting of shareholders.

All forward-looking statements in this news release are based on the opinions and estimates of management that, while considered reasonable as at the date of this news release in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond New Gold's ability to control or predict. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this news release, New Gold's latest annual management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"), its most recent annual information form and technical reports on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. In addition to, and subject to, such assumptions discussed in more detail elsewhere, the forward-looking statements in this news release are also subject to the following assumptions: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting New Gold's operations other than as set out herein; (2) political and legal developments in jurisdictions where New Gold operates, or may in the future operate, being consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (3) the accuracy of New Gold's current Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and the grade of gold, copper and silver expected to be mined; (4) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, and to a lesser extent the Mexican peso, and commodity prices being approximately consistent with current levels and expectations for the purposes of 2023 guidance and otherwise; (5) prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) equipment, labour and material costs increasing on a basis consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (7) arrangements with First Nations and other Indigenous groups in respect of the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine being consistent with New Gold's current expectations; and (8) there being no material disruption to the Company's supply chains and workforce at either the Rainy River Mine or New Afton Mine due to cases of COVID-19 or otherwise that would interfere with the Company's anticipated course of action at its operations.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: price volatility in the spot and forward markets for metals and other commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated costs, between actual and estimated Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; equipment malfunction, failure or unavailability; accidents; risks related to early production at the Rainy River Mine, including failure of equipment, machinery, the process circuit or other processes to perform as designed or intended; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining and maintaining the validity and enforceability of the necessary licenses and permits and complying with the permitting requirements of each jurisdiction in which New Gold operates, including, but not limited to: uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changing costs, timelines and development schedules as it relates to construction; the Company not being able to complete its construction projects at the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine on the anticipated timeline or at all; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; changes in national and local government legislation in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; compliance with public company disclosure obligations; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; the Company's dependence on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine; the Company not being able to complete its exploration drilling programs on the anticipated timeline or at all; inadequate water management and stewardship; disruptions to the Company's workforce at either the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine, or both, due to cases of COVID-19 or otherwise; the responses of the relevant governments to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak, including the COVID-19 outbreak, not being sufficient to contain the impact of such outbreak; disruptions to the Company's supply chain and workforce due to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak, including the COVID-19 outbreak; an economic recession or downturn as a result of any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak, including the COVID-19 outbreak, that materially adversely affects the Company's operations or liquidity position; there being further shutdowns at the Rainy River Mine or New Afton Mine; significant capital requirements and the availability and management of capital resources; additional funding requirements; diminishing quantities or grades of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; uncertainties inherent to mining economic studies including the Technical Reports for the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine; impairment; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of First Nations and other Indigenous groups; climate change, environmental risks and hazards and the Company's response thereto; tailings dam and structure failures; ability to obtain and maintain sufficient insurance; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of Canada, the United States and, to a lesser extent, Mexico; global economic and financial conditions and any global or local natural events that may impede the economy or New Gold's ability to carry on business in the normal course; inflation; compliance with debt obligations and maintaining sufficient liquidity; taxation; fluctuation in treatment and refining charges; transportation and processing of unrefined products; rising costs or availability of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; adequate infrastructure; relationships with communities, governments and other stakeholders; geotechnical instability and conditions; labour disputes; the uncertainties inherent in current and future legal challenges to which New Gold is or may become a party; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; competition; loss of, or inability to attract, key employees; use of derivative products and hedging transactions; reliance on third-party contractors; counterparty risk and the performance of third party service providers; investment risks and uncertainty relating to the value of equity investments in public companies held by the Company from time to time; the adequacy of internal and disclosure controls; conflicts of interest; the lack of certainty with respect to foreign operations and legal systems, which may not be immune from the influence of political pressure, corruption or other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; the successful acquisitions and integration of business arrangements and realizing the intended benefits therefrom; and information systems security threats. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks) as well as "Risk Factors" included in New Gold's most recent annual information form, MD&A and other disclosure documents filed on and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. New Gold expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Technical Information

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the New Afton Mine has been reviewed and approved by John Ritter, General Manager of the New Afton Mine and the scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Rainy River Mine has been reviewed and approved by Gord Simms, General Manager of the Rainy River Mine. Mr. Ritter is a Professional Engineer and member of the Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia and Mr. Simms is a Professional Engineer and member of the Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia. Mr. Ritter and Mr. Simms are each a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
New Gold appoints Yohann Bouchard as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and promotes Ankit Shah to Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development

TORONTO, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold" or the "Company") (TSX: NGD) (NYSE American: NGD) is pleased to announce the appointment of Yohann Bouchard as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and the promotion of Ankit Shah to Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development. New Gold also announces the appointment of Luke Buchanan as Vice President, Technical Services and Jean-Francois Ravenelle as Vice President, Geology.

"I am very pleased to have Yohann join our team. He brings an impressive record of operational excellence, technical knowledge, and a strong commitment to health and safety and growth to New Gold during an exciting time for our Company," stated Patrick Godin, President and CEO. "In addition, Luke's broad technical knowledge and strategic vision and Jean-Francois' extensive knowledge in structural geology and exploration, will be assets to our team as we continue to advance growth opportunities and sustained production at our operations."

"I am also pleased to have Ankit join our senior leadership team. He has been instrumental in the transformation of the Company in recent years, including the divestment of the Blackwater project, as well as executing the strategic partnership with the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan at the New Afton Mine. Ankit will continue to have responsibility for the Company's strategy, business development and capital markets activities, including investor relations," added Mr. Godin.

"Our mission of being a leading intermediate gold and copper producer remains unchanged. With the additional bench strength and experience, I am confident our team can help lead our operations and our Company towards our goal of increased production at lower costs, delivering sustained free cash flow over the coming years," added Mr. Godin.

Yohann Bouchard , Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Yohann Bouchard brings with him more than 25 years of progressive technical and operations experience in the mining industry. Most recently, Mr. Bouchard was Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Yamana Gold ("Yamana"). Mr. Bouchard joined Yamana in October 2014 and was responsible for Yamana's mining operations in the Americas, and overseeing the key operational groups across the company. Prior to joining Yamana, Mr. Bouchard occupied key operating and technical positions with Primero Mining Corporation, IAMGOLD Corporation, Breakwater Resources Ltd. and Cambior Inc. Mr. Bouchard oversaw precious and base metal operations in the Americas and in Africa. Mr. Bouchard holds a Bachelor of Mining Engineering degree from Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal. He is registered as a professional engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario.

Ankit Shah , Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development

Ankit Shah is a mining finance executive with over 15 years of experience in strategy, corporate development, capital allocation and investor relations, primarily in the mining industry. Mr. Shah joined the Company in 2010 with the primary focus of working with the corporate development and investor relations teams. Mr. Shah was promoted to Vice President, Strategy and Business Development in September 2019. Since that time, he has taken on progressively more responsibility for many facets of the business. Prior to joining New Gold, Mr. Shah worked for both Ernst & Young and KPMG within their Assurance and Financial Advisory practices. Mr. Shah is both a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant.

Luke Buchanan , Vice President, Technical Services

Luke Buchanan has over 18 years of experience as a mining engineer overseeing mine planning, technical studies and mineral resources and reserves, and most recently was the Senior Vice President, Technical Services at Yamana. Prior to joining Yamana, Mr. Buchanan held progressively senior operating and technical positions at Newmont Corporation, AMC Consultants and Primero Mining Corporation in both Australia and Canada. Mr. Buchanan holds a Bachelor of Mining Engineering degree from the University of New South Wales.

Jean-Francois Ravenelle, Vice President, Geology

Jean-Francois Ravenelle has over 20 years of experience in structural geology applied to precious and base metal deposits for both brownfield and greenfield projects, and most recently was the Structural Geology Practice Lead for Metals Exploration at BHP Group Limited ("BHP"). Prior to BHP, Mr. Ravenelle was the Director of Geology at Yamana, where he focused on optimizing operations, exploration projects, and corporate development. Preceding Yamana, he held the role of Principal Consultant with SRK Consulting, Canada. Mr. Ravenelle began his career as a field geologist for the Geological Survey of Canada, Goldcorp, Virginia Gold Mines, and Freewest Resources. He holds a Ph.D. in Structural and Economic Geology from the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique and is a registered professional geologist in Ontario and Quebec.

About New Gold

New Gold is a Canadian-focused intermediate mining Company with a portfolio of two core producing assets in Canada, the Rainy River gold mine and the New Afton copper-gold mine. The Company also holds Canadian-focused investments. New Gold's vision is to build a leading diversified intermediate gold company based in Canada that is committed to the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the Company, visit www.newgold.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to New Gold's future financial or operating performance are "forward-looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that New Gold 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 use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "targeted", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "projects", "potential", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements with respect to: the intended responsibilities of the Executive Vice President, Strategy and Business Development; progressing the Company's goals, including increased production at lower costs and delivering sustained free cash flow over the coming years; and the anticipated Company-wide and operational benefits the technical additions are expected to bring.

All forward-looking statements in this news release are based on the opinions and estimates of management that, while considered reasonable as at the date of this news release in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond New Gold's ability to control or predict. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this news release, New Gold's latest annual management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"), its most recent annual information form and technical reports on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. In addition to, and subject to, such assumptions discussed in more detail elsewhere, the forward-looking statements in this news release are also subject to the following assumptions: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting New Gold's operations; (2) political and legal developments in jurisdictions where New Gold operates, or may in the future operate, being consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (3) the accuracy of New Gold's current Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and the grade of gold, copper and silver expected to be mined; (4) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, and to a lesser extent the Mexican peso, and commodity prices being approximately consistent with current levels and expectations for the purposes of 2023 guidance and otherwise; (5) prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) equipment, labour and material costs increasing on a basis consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (6) the results of the life of mine plans for the Rainy River Mine and the New Afton Mine being realized; and (7) there being no material disruption to the Company's supply chains and workforce at either the Rainy River Mine or New Afton Mine due to cases of COVID-19 or otherwise that would interfere with the Company's anticipated course of action at its operations.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: price volatility in the spot and forward markets for metals and other commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated costs, between actual and estimated Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; equipment malfunction, failure or unavailability; accidents; risks related to early production at the Rainy River Mine, including failure of equipment, machinery, the process circuit or other processes to perform as designed or intended; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining and maintaining the validity and enforceability of the necessary licenses and permits and complying with the permitting requirements of each jurisdiction in which New Gold operates, including, but not limited to: uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changing costs, timelines and development schedules as it relates to construction; the Company not being able to complete its construction projects at the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine on the anticipated timeline or at all; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; changes in national and local government legislation in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; compliance with public company disclosure obligations; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; the Company's dependence on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine; the Company not being able to complete its exploration drilling programs on the anticipated timeline or at all; disruptions to the Company's workforce at either the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine, or both, due to cases of COVID-19 or otherwise; the responses of the relevant governments to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak, including the COVID-19 outbreak, not being sufficient to contain the impact of such outbreak; disruptions to the Company's supply chain and workforce due to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak, including the COVID-19 outbreak; an economic recession or downturn as a result of any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak, including the COVID-19 outbreak, that materially adversely affects the Company's operations or liquidity position; there being further shutdowns at the Rainy River Mine or New Afton Mine; significant capital requirements and the availability and management of capital resources; additional funding requirements; diminishing quantities or grades of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; uncertainties inherent to mining economic studies including the Technical Reports for the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine; impairment; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of First Nations and other indigenous groups; climate change, environmental risks and hazards and the Company's response thereto; tailings dam and structure failures; ability to obtain and maintain sufficient insurance; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of Canada, the United States and, to a lesser extent, Mexico; global economic and financial conditions and any global or local natural events that may impede the economy or New Gold's ability to carry on business in the normal course; inflation; compliance with debt obligations and maintaining sufficient liquidity; taxation; fluctuation in treatment and refining charges; transportation and processing of unrefined products; rising costs or availability of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; adequate infrastructure; relationships with communities, governments and other stakeholders; geotechnical instability and conditions; labour disputes; the uncertainties inherent in current and future legal challenges to which New Gold is or may become a party; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; competition; loss of, or inability to attract, key employees; use of derivative products and hedging transactions; reliance on third-party contractors; counterparty risk and the performance of third party service providers; investment risks and uncertainty relating to the value of equity investments in public companies held by the Company from time to time; the adequacy of internal and disclosure controls; conflicts of interest; the lack of certainty with respect to foreign operations and legal systems, which may not be immune from the influence of political pressure, corruption or other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; the successful acquisitions and integration of business arrangements and realizing the intended benefits therefrom; and information systems security threats. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development, construction, operation and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks) as well as "Risk Factors" included in New Gold's most recent annual information form, MD&A and other disclosure documents filed on and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. New Gold expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Moneta Gold Inc. (TSX: ME) (OTCQX: MEAUF) (FSE: MOPA) ("Moneta") is pleased to announce assay results from the sampling of historical core not sampled by previous property owners on the Garrcon and JonPol deposits at the Tower Gold project, located in the Timmins Gold camp, Ontario. The sampling was conducted in addition to 76,000 metres ("m") of infill and resource upgrade drilling completed on the 4.5 million ("M") ounces ("oz") indicated gold ("Au") and 8.3 Moz inferred Au mineral resource estimate (see September 07, 2022 press release) at the Tower Gold project in 2022.

Assay Highlights:

Garrcon

C06-02 intersected 18.00 metres "m" @ 1.87 grams per tonne "g/t" Au, including 2.00 m @ 2.89 g/t Au, and 2.00 m @ 9.93 g/t Au

C06-04 intersected 18.50 m @ 1.58 g/t Au, including 10.00 m @ 2.19 g/t Au, including 2.00 m @ 4.61 g/t Au

C06-04 intersected 14.00 m @ 2.01 g/t Au, including 2.00 m @ 6.24 g/t Au

C06-02 intersected 18.00 m @ 1.10 g/t Au, including 6.00 m @ 1.75 g/t Au

JonPol

N88-49 intersected 3.20 m @ 13.50 g/t Au, including 1.90 m @ 22.30 g/t Au

N87-5 intersected 3.75 m @ 4.79 g/t Au, including 1.00 m @ 15.50 g/t Au

N88-49 intersected 2.10 m @ 7.92 g/t Au

N87-2 intersected 2.87 m @ 5.21 g/t Au

Gary O'Connor, Moneta's President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "The latest Garrcon and JonPol assay results from previously unsampled historical drill core, have confirmed the continuity and extensions of gold mineralized zones currently not included in the latest mineral resource estimate. These zones are currently included in the drill database with no grade and support no gold ounces in the current mineral resource model. The results have confirmed gold mineralization above the economic cut-off grade within the early production years of the economic open pit resources at Garrcon and JonPol as defined in the recent Preliminary Economic Assessment ('PEA'). Extensions of good gold mineralization have also been intersected outside the resource and pit, suggesting the potential to expand the mineral resource and to extend the current mine life of the project. As we continue to de-risk and advance the Tower Gold project, we look forward to completing the current resource infill and upgrade drill program in preparation of a mineral resource estimate update prior to the planned Pre-Feasibility Study ('PFS')."

The latest assay results are from 6,025.4 m of previously unsampled sections of core from nineteen (19) historical drill holes completed between 1987 and 2021. An additional 60,000 m open pit resource infill and upgrade drilling program is scheduled for 2023. Additional assay results are still pending from the 2022 infill program and will be released upon receipt.



Figure 1: Tower Gold Project - General Location Map

Table 1: Historical Core - Selected Significant Sample Results

Deposit Hole From To Length Au (gram metres) (Name) (#) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t x m) GAR C06-02 143.00 161.00 18.00 1.10 19.8 includes 155.00 161.00 6.00 1.75 10.5 GAR C06-02 167.00 179.00 12.00 0.66 7.9 GAR C06-02 193.00 201.00 8.00 1.15 9.2 includes 197.00 199.00 2.00 2.59 5.2 GAR C06-02 227.00 231.00 4.00 1.28 5.1 GAR C06-02 308.00 326.00 18.00 1.87 33.6 includes 312.00 314.00 2.00 2.89 5.8 and 316.00 318.00 2.00 9.93 19.9 GAR C06-02 401.00 403.00 2.00 2.88 5.8 GAR C06-04 128.00 138.00 10.00 0.94 9.4 includes 136.00 138.00 2.00 2.90 5.8 GAR C06-04 178.00 192.00 14.00 2.01 28.1 includes 180.00 182.00 2.00 6.24 12.5 GAR C06-04 214.00 218.00 4.00 1.47 5.9 GAR C06-04 219.50 222.50 3.00 4.70 14.1 GAR C06-04 242.50 248.00 5.50 1.42 7.8 GAR C06-04 249.00 253.00 4.00 2.02 8.1 GAR C06-04 254.00 272.50 18.50 1.58 29.2 includes 256.00 266.00 10.00 2.19 21.9 includes 258.00 260.00 2.00 4.61 9.2 GAR C06-08 186.00 190.00 4.00 1.32 5.3 JP N87-2 154.53 157.40 2.87 5.21 14.9 JP N87-5 76.70 80.45 3.75 4.79 18.0 includes 76.70 77.70 1.00 15.50 15.5 JP N87-5 132.00 144.17 12.17 0.54 6.6 includes 138.00 140.00 2.00 1.23 2.5 JP N87-14 131.00 136.45 5.45 0.98 5.4 JP N88-105 257.00 265.00 8.00 0.90 7.2 JP N88-105 302.00 312.00 10.00 1.13 11.3 includes 302.00 304.00 2.00 2.48 5.0 JP N88-49 298.00 300.10 2.10 7.92 16.6 JP N88-49 301.80 305.00 3.20 13.50 43.2 includes 301.80 303.70 1.90 22.30 42.4 JP N88-139 142.00 150.00 8.00 0.68 5.4

Note: Drill intercepts above 5 g/t Au x m are reported as significant intercepts. All intercepts are calculated using a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 5m internal dilution and no top cap applied. Drill intercepts are not true widths, are reported as drill widths, and are estimated to be 75% to 95% of true width.

Discussion of Historical Drill Core Sampling Results

The sampling of previously unsampled drill core from historical drill holes used in the current mineral resource estimate has infilled mineralized zones and confirmed continuity of mineralization in areas currently not attributed any gold ounces, due to the lack of gold assays as a result of the selective sampling procedures applied on the historical core. The current results from Garrcon and JonPol have the potential to connect and infill gold mineralized zones currently classified as waste in the PEA mine plan of the Tower Gold project. The sampling of historical core was completed as part of the 2022 exploration program and the current results are in addition to assays released from sampling of previously unsampled core (see January 12, 2023 press release) on the Windjammer and 903 deposits.



Figure 2: Garrcon and JonPol Historical Core: Sampling Results Location Map - Tower Gold

Garrcon



A total of six (6) drill holes for 1,926.3 m of sampling of previously unsampled core from historical holes drilled between 1988 and 2021 was completed from the Garrcon deposit area. The Garrcon open pit currently hosts an indicated resource of 26.79 million tonnes ("Mt") @ 1.01 g/t Au containing 872,000 oz gold and an inferred resource of 0.97 Mt @ 0.83 g/t Au containing 26,000 oz gold (see September 07, 2022 press release). The drill holes predominantly tested the gold mineralization associated with stockwork quartz veining hosted within Timiskaming age meta-sediments located between the Munro and Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone in the Garrison area.



Figure 3: Garrcon Historical Core: Sampling Results Cross Section - Tower Gold

JonPol



Sampling and assaying of 4,099.1 m of previously unsampled core was completed from thirteen (13) historical holes drilled between 1987 and 2013 from the JonPol area. The JonPol open pit currently hosts an indicated resource of 8.90 Mt @ 1.34 g/t Au containing 383,000 oz gold and an inferred resource of 4.96 Mt @ 0.94 g/t Au containing 151,000 oz gold (see September 07, 2022 press release). The historical drill holes predominantly tested mineralized zones hosted within the Tisdale and Kid-Munro volcanics along the Munro fault, which is a splay from the regional Destor-Porcupine Fault.



Figure 4: JonPol Historical Core: Sampling Results Cross Section - Tower Gold

Quality Control Procedures

NQ drill core is oriented and cut with half sent to AGAT Laboratories Inc. (AGAT) for drying and crushing to -2 mm, with a 1.00 kg split pulverized to -75 m (200#). AGAT is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. A 50 g charge is Fire Assayed and analyzed using an AAS finish for Gold. Samples above 10.00 g/t Au are analyzed by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish and selected samples with visible gold or high-grade mineralization are assayed by Metallic Screen Fire Assay on a 1.00 kg sample. Moneta inserts independent certified reference material and blanks with the samples and assays routine pulp repeats and coarse reject sample duplicates, as well as completing routine third-party check assays at Bureau Veritas Commodities Ltd.

Qualified Person

Jason Dankowski (APEGM #35155), Vice President Technical Services & Geology for Moneta, who is a QP as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this press release.

About Moneta Gold

Moneta is a Canadian-based gold exploration company focused on advancing its 100% wholly owned Tower Gold project, located in the Timmins region of Northeastern Ontario, Canada's most prolific gold producing camp. The September 2022, PEA study outlined a combined open pit and underground mining and a 7.0 million tonne per annum conventional leach operation over a 24-year mine life, with 4.6 Moz of recovered gold, generating an after-tax NPV5% of $1,066M, IRR of 31.7%, and a 2.6-year payback at a gold price US$1,600/oz. Tower Gold hosts an estimated gold mineral resource of 4.5 Moz indicated and 8.3 Moz inferred. Moneta is committed to creating shareholder value through the strategic allocation of capital and a focus on the current resource upgrade drilling program, while conducting all business activities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Gary V. O'Connor, CEO

416-357-3319

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Ardem Keshishian, VP Corporate Development

416-471-5463

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The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com. For further information on the Company, please visit our website at www.monetagold.com or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Certain statements in this press release including certain information about Moneta's business outlook, objectives, strategies, plans, strategic priorities and results of operations, as well as other statements which are not current statements or historical facts, constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (without limitation, statements regarding exploration programs, potential mineralization, future plans and objectives of the Company, updated to the mineral resources, and the timing and results thereof) are forward-looking statements. Sentences and phrases containing words such as "believe", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "will", "intend", "predict", "outlook", "goal", "target", "forecast", "project", "scheduled", "proposed", "expect", "potential", "strategy", and the negative of any of these words, or variations of them, or comparable terminology that does not relate strictly to current or historical facts, are all indicative of forwardlooking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company.

Forwardlooking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from Moneta's expectations expressed in or implied by such forwardlooking statements and that Moneta's business outlook, objectives, plans and strategic priorities may not be achieved. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events, and Moneta cautions you against relying on any of these forwardlooking statements. Forwardlooking statements are provided in this press release for the purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding Moneta's objectives, strategic priorities and business outlook, and in obtaining a better understanding of Moneta's anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Examples of forwardlooking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: information with respect to the future performance of the business, its operations and financial performance and condition; statements relating to Moneta's plans for the Tower Gold project; the Company's drilling program and the timing and results thereof; the timing and scope and focus of the Company's prefeasibility study ("PFS"); statements regarding the environmental impact assessment and community engagement activities; and the Company's financing initiatives.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Important risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forwardlooking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to: uncertainties inherent in the business of mineral exploration and extraction; uncertainty with respect to the Company's liquidity and ability to secure additional financing; uncertainty of mineral resources; security threats to the Company's information technology systems; the current global financial condition; the market price of securities and substantial volatility in the market price of commodities; fluctuations of commodity prices; the Company's history of net losses; possible loss of interests in mineral properties; title risks; uncertainty relating to surface rights; environmental risks; risks associated with joint venture agreements; risks relating to statutory and regulatory requirements; uncertainty relating to the Company's competition with other gold exploration and development companies for materials and supplies; the Company's dependence on key management and employees; uncertainty arising from international conflict and other geopolitical tensions and events, including but to limited to Russia's invasion of Ukraine; uncertainty in respect of COVID19 and any resurgence of same; uncertainty in respect of procuring licences and permits from various governmental authorities; the term and extension of concession contracts; uninsurable risks; obligations under option and joint venture agreements; uncertainty as to whether mergers and amalgamations will be completed successfully; the Company's relationships with the communities in which it operates; internal conflicts of interest; infrastructure risks; the Company's lack of a dividend policy; and the fact that the outstanding common shares of the Company could be subject to dilution. Readers are cautioned that the risks referred to above are not the only ones that could affect Moneta. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to Moneta or that Moneta currently deems to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on Moneta's financial position, financial performance, cash flows, business or reputation.

Forwardlooking statements made in this press release are based on a number of assumptions that Moneta believed were reasonable at the time it made each forwardlooking statement. The assumptions, although considered reasonable by Moneta on the day it made the forwardlooking statements, may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, our actual results could differ materially from our expectations. There can be no assurance that forwardlooking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
Cuyes West Drilling Highlights:

CU23-20  211.0 metres grading 1.18 g/t Au Eq, including 20.0 metres grading 4.78 g/t Au Eq

CU23-22  211.0 metres grading 1.16 g/t Au Eq, including 15.0 metres grading 6.68 g/t Au Eq

VANCOUVER, BC, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Luminex Resources Corp. (TSXV: LR) (OTCQX: LUMIF) (the "Company" or "Luminex") is pleased to announce drill results from four holes (CU23-19 to CU23-22) at Cuyes West. The previously announced widening hanging wall mineralization adjacent to Cuyes West has expanded into a new breccia pipe with this added drilling yielding longer than 200 metre intervals of gold mineralization over one gram per tonne. Step out drilling from this new breccia pipe and Cuyes West is ongoing, which will contribute towards updating the resource for Condor North to include all Cuyes West drilling by Q4 2023.

Marshall Koval, CEO commented: "We are extremely happy with the discovery of a coherent breccia zone containing substantial mineralization, that widens to widths of more than 200 metres. The area is completely open to depth and may have a significant positive impact on the project".

Hole CU23-22 intersected multiple high-grade structures in the breccia pipe, notably 15.0 metres of 6.68 g/t Au Eq, which included 3.0 metres from 316.0 metres grading 23.71 g/t gold and 156.4 g/t silver (25.59 g/t Au Eq) and a wider intercept of 211.0 metres from 177 metres grading 1.01 g/t gold and 12.9 g/t silver (1.16 g/t Au Eq).

CU23-20 intersected 20.0 metres grading 4.23 g/t gold and 45.4 g/t silver (4.78 g/t Au Eq) from 264.0 metres in the breccia pipe, within a broader intercept of 211.0 metres from 134.0 metres grading 1.07 g/t gold and 9.4 g/t silver (1.18 g/t Au Eq).

Hole CU23-21 intersected multiple high-grade intercepts, including 1.0 metre of 9.50 g/t gold and 181.0 g/t silver (11.67 g/t Au Eq) from 285.0 metres, within a broader 96.0 metres of 0.95 g/t gold and 15.6 g/t silver (1.14 g/t Au Eq) from 213.0 metres. This hole stepped out approximately 100 metres vertically on Cuyes West below hole CU22-14, which hit 16.0 metres of 3.04 g/t gold and 12.5g/t silver (3.19g/t Au Eq) from 275.0 metres. Hole CU23-21 is plotting at the fringe of the newly discovered breccia body along the Cuyes West structure. More step out drilling is required to fully define the extent of the new breccia body and to determine how this will impact the resource for this area (see Figure 2).

Other intervals are present in additional structures in holes CU23-19, CU23-20, CU23-21 and CU23-22 and are detailed in Table 1.

The style of mineralization at Cuyes West is identical to that at the Camp deposit, 600 metres to the west. At a property scale, these mineralized structures are interpreted to be hosted in ring and radial fractures around the Los Cuyes caldera (See Figure 1). The new breccia pipe consists of a dacite porphyry-breccia; mineralization occurring mainly as crackle and mosaic style hydrothermal breccias with sulphide rich matrix and volcaniclastic clasts, that also contain mineralization.

Luminex is currently drilling CU23-26 and has drilled a total of 3,865 metres in 2023 at Cuyes West. Additionally, Luminex has finished five holes at Prometedor for a total of 824 metres and is awaiting assays. The second drill rig has been moved to the Esperanza gold-silver target, located approximately 500 metres south of Prometedor. One drill hole is planned, targeting gold-silver mineralization in sulphides that occurs along the contacts of rhyolite dikes, in a setting very similar to the Camp deposit.

Table 1. Drill intercepts for Cuyes West drill holes. Asterisked intervals are shallower and belong to the diatreme at Los Cuyes (see note below).

Hole Azimuth / Dip / Length From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au Eq (g/t) CU23-19 357/- 36 / 423.55m 16.0 70.0 54.0* 0.50 3.1 0.54 And 115.0 124.0 9.0* 0.55 3.2 0.59 And 145.0 179.0 34.0* 0.91 5.0 0.97 Incl 164.0 170.0 6.0 4.04 9.6 4.15 And 193.0 225.0 32.0* 0.29 3.8 0.34 And 280.0 281.0 1.0 1.44 3.6 1.48 And 310.0 312.0 2.0 2.83 6.3 2.91 And 364.0 365.0 1.0 1.92 10.4 2.04 CU23-20 323 / -48 / 472.05m 16.0 38.0 22.0* 0.22 3.7 0.27 And 52.0 60.0 8.0* 0.47 5.1 0.53 And 76.0 122.0 46.0* 0.36 6.6 0.44 Incl 110.0 112.0 2.0 3.83 104.0 5.08 And 134.0 345.0 211.0* 1.07 9.4 1.18 Incl 264.0 284.0 20.0 4.23 45.4 4.78 Incl 302.0 304.0 2.0 1.01 5.4 1.07 Incl 330.0 343.0 13.0 4.22 12.2 4.37 And 385.0 386.0 1.0 2.82 38.0 3.28 And 390.0 391.0 1.0 1.61 179.0 3.76 And 393.0 394.0 1.0 1.80 28.1 2.13 And 419.0 420.0 1.0 1.07 31.0 1.44 And 430.3 435.0 4.7 1.18 79.9 2.14 CU23-21 315 / -38 / 374.00m 54.0 140.6 86.6* 0.30 2.7 0.33 And 160.0 180.0 20.0* 0.23 1.5 0.25 And 213.0 309.0 96.0* 0.95 15.6 1.14 Incl 220.0 245.0 25.0 1.79 28.3 2.13 Incl 259.0 261.0 2.0 1.31 15.0 1.49 Incl 285.0 286.0 1.0 9.50 181.0 11.67 Incl 306.0 309.0 3.0 2.37 23.2 2.65 And 319.0 320.0 1.0 1.13 15.2 1.31 CU23-22 15 / -43 / 456.35m 63.0 66.0 3.0* 1.73 117.0 3.14 And 116.7 122.0 5.3* 0.55 4.9 0.61 And 177.0 388.0 211.0 1.01 12.9 1.16 Incl 308.0 323.0 15.0 6.18 41.8 6.68 Incl 316.0 319.0 3.0 23.71 156.4 25.59

Asterisked (*) intervals are "Shallower" intervals calculated using a lower limit of 0.20 g/t Au with a maximum inclusion of ten continuous metres below cut-off occurring within the stated intercept and the highest gold value used in the reported weighted averages is 9.49 g/t Au. Remaining intervals not marked with an asterisk are for "Deeper" intervals calculated using a lower limit of 1.0 g/t Au with a maximum inclusion of up to six continuous metres below cut-off and the highest gold value used in the reported weighted averages is 55.40 g/t Au. Au Eq values assume $1,500 gold and $18.00 silver (Au Eq= Au g/t + (Ag g/t *0.012)).

Quality Assurance

All Luminex sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality control / quality assurance ("QA/QC") protocol which includes the insertion of blind standards, blanks as well as pulp and reject duplicate samples. Logging and sampling are completed at Luminex's core handling facility located at the Condor property. Drill core is diamond sawn on site and half drill-core samples are securely transported to ALS Laboratories' ("ALS") sample preparation facility in Quito, Ecuador. Sample pulps are sent to ALS's lab in Lima, Peru for analysis where gold content is determined by fire assay of a 50-gram charge with ICP finish.

Silver and other elements are also determined by ICP methods. Over-limit samples assaying greater than 10 g/t gold and 100 g/t silver are re-analyzed by ALS using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Luminex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. ALS Laboratories is independent of Luminex.

Qualified Persons

Leo Hathaway, P. Geo, Senior Vice President Exploration of Luminex and the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information concerning the Condor Project in this news release and has verified the data underlying that scientific and technical information.

About Luminex Resources

Luminex Resources Corp. (TSXV:LR, OTCQX:LUMIF) is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on gold and copper projects in Ecuador. Luminex's inferred and indicated mineral resources are located at the Condor Gold-Copper project in Zamora-Chinchipe Province, southeast Ecuador. Luminex also holds a large and highly prospective land package in Ecuador, including the Pegasus and Orquideas projects, which are being co-developed with Anglo American and JOGMEC respectively.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminexresources.com/.

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LUMINEX RESOURCES CORP.

Signed: "Marshall Koval"

Marshall Koval, CEO and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future drilling and work programs at Condor. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur or be achieved.

With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions, the prices of gold and copper, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.

Although management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; the supply and demand for labour and other project inputs; changes in commodity prices; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; risks relating to inaccurate geological and engineering assumptions (including with respect to the tonnage, grade and recoverability of reserves and resources); risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of 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 adverse weather conditions; political risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; changes in laws (including regulations respecting mining concessions); and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities administrators. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Solaris Resources Inc. (TSX: SLS; OTCQB: SLSSF) (Solaris or the Company) is pleased to report that ongoing field work within the Warintza porphyry cluster has identified a new, potentially well mineralized porphyry called Patrimonio, immediately southwest of the Central deposit at its Warintza Project (Warintza or the Project) in southeastern Ecuador. Highlights are listed below, with corresponding images in Figures 1-5.

Highlights

Patrimonio was discovered via reconnaissance mapping and sampling in an area that had not previously been accessed southwest of Warintza Central, with the northern extent of the target found just outside the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) shell (refer to Figure 1)

Patrimonio is defined by highly anomalous sampling over a 1.5km long x 0.6km wide area where outcropping porphyritic diorite displays intense, pervasive biotite alteration and stockwork veining on the western side of a major north-south fault adjacent to Warintza Central

Rock chip samples from weathered outcrop at Patrimonio returned values of up to 1.6% copper (Cu) (averaging 0.18% Cu), 630 parts per million (ppm) molybdenum (Mo) (averaging 104 ppm Mo) and 0.16 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) (averaging 0.1 g/t Au)

Soil samples at Patrimonio average 764 ppm Cu and 89 ppm Mo, comparable in copper values to Warintza East (887 ppm Cu, 87 ppm Mo) and Warintza Central (816 ppm Cu, 288 ppm Mo), with lower molybdenum values than Central

Together with high-level alteration assemblages observed in outcrop, this metal zonation implies Patrimonio is better preserved/less eroded than Central on the opposite side of the fault, but with similar stockwork veining suggesting the porphyry may be well mineralized

Field crews have established locations for the construction of an initial four drilling platforms in the northern half of Patrimonio, with the first drill hole at the northernmost platform expected to commence later this month

MRE drilling program continues: the 2022 MRE is based on drilling to the end of 2021, with ongoing drilling aimed at expanding the Indicative Starter Pit and overall mineral resources

Mr. Jorge Fierro, Vice President, Exploration, commented: As drilling continues to expand the MRE, we have conducted a program of reconnaissance mapping and sampling that extends into previously inaccessible areas. The discoveries made to date within the Warintza cluster were based largely on sampling work that dates back more than 20 years. The aim of this ongoing effort is to identify targets for high value growth, such as at Patrimonio, where weve discovered a sizeable porphyry target with potential for high grades close to surface in close proximity to our growing MRE.

Patrimonio

Field crews have discovered conspicuous copper and molybdenum in outcrop (refer to Figures 2-5) where the mineralized rock is a porphyritic diorite that displays intense, pervasive biotite alteration and stockwork veining. This compares to Warintza Central where the host rock is a quartz monzodiorite stock, and Warintza East, where most of the mineralization is in a volcano-sedimentary sequence around a porphyry stock, with a second stock recently located to the south. At Warintza West, mineralization is hosted by dacite porphyry that intrudes diorite and granodiorite.

Quartz-molybdenum or B-veins that typically occupy the core of porphyries at Warintza, were encountered at surface at Patrimonio. The highest part of the Patrimonio target, exposed on a hilltop, contains galena and sphalerite in a relatively low-temperate alteration mineral assemblage that is typically located above and lateral to porphyries. The presence of these minerals implies that the porphyry has been minimally eroded and is well-preserved.

Endnotes

Refer to technical report titled, NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Warintza Project, Ecuador with an effective date of April 1, 2022, prepared by Mario E. Rossi and filed on the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The Indicative Starter Pit within the MRE is comprised of Indicated mineral resources of 180 Mt at 0.82% CuEq (0.67% Cu, 0.03% Mo, 0.07 g/t Au) and Inferred mineral resources of 107 Mt at 0.73% CuEq (0.64% Cu, 0.02% Mo, 0.05 g/t Au) above a 0.6% CuEq cut-off grade. The Indicative Starter Pit is based on the same assumptions as the MRE except utilized metal prices of US$1.00/lb Cu, US$7.50/lb Mo, and US$750/oz Au. No economic analysis has been completed by the Company and there is no guarantee an Indicative Starter Pit will be realized or prove to be economic.

Technical Information and Quality Control & Quality Assurance

Sample assay, soil and rock sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality control/quality assurance (QA/QC) program that includes the insertion of blind certified reference materials (standards), blanks and field duplicate samples. Logging and sampling are completed at a secured Company facility located in Quito, Ecuador. Sample pulps are sent to ALS Labs in Lima, Peru and Vancouver, Canada for analysis. Total copper and molybdenum contents are determined by four-acid digestion with AAS finish. Gold is determined by fire assay of a 30-gram charge. In addition, selected pulp check samples are sent to Bureau Veritas lab in Lima, Peru. Both ALS Labs and Bureau Veritas lab are independent of Solaris. Solaris is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. ZTEM data quality was validated by a qualified external professional using data validation procedures under high industry standards, and the Company therefore did not deem it necessary to have such ZTEM data verified by a Qualified Person. The technical data has been verified by Jorge Fierro, M.Sc., DIC, PG, using data validation and quality assurance procedures under high industry standards.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jorge Fierro, M.Sc., DIC, PG, Vice President Exploration of Solaris who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Jorge Fierro is a Registered Professional Geologist through the SME (registered member #4279075).

On behalf of the Board of Solaris Resources Inc.

Daniel Earle

President & CEO, Director

For Further Information

Jacqueline Wagenaar, VP Investor Relations

Direct: 416-366-5678 Ext. 203

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Solaris Resources Inc.

Solaris is a multi-asset exploration company, advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in the Americas, which includes: its primary focus, a world class large-scale resource with expansion and discovery potential at the Warintza Project in Ecuador; discovery potential at its Ricardo Project and Tamarugo Project in Chile; discovery potential at its Capricho and Paco Orco projects in Peru; and significant leverage to increasing copper prices through its 60% interest in the La Verde joint-venture project with a subsidiary of Teck Resources in Mexico.

Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively forward-looking statements). The use of the words will and expected and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include statements that the metal zonation suggests that the Patrimonio deposit is better preserved/less eroded than Warintza Central on the opposite side of the fault but with similar stockwork veining suggesting the porphyry may be well mineralized, established locations for the construction of an initial four drilling platforms in the northern half of Patrimonio, with the first drill hole at the northernmost platform expected to commence later this month, MRE drilling program continues with ongoing drilling aimed at expanding the Indicative Starter Pit and overall mineral resources, as drilling continues to expand the MRE, we have conducted a program of reconnaissance mapping and sampling that extends into new areas that werent previously accessed with the aim of this ongoing effort to identify targets for high value growth, such as at Patrimonio, where weve discovered a sizeable porphyry target with potential for high grades close to surface in close proximity to our growing MRE. Although Solaris believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, readers are cautioned that actual results may vary from the forward-looking statements. These statements are based on a variety of assumptions including assumptions made about the Companys ability to advance exploration efforts at the Warintza Project; the results of such exploration efforts; and the Companys ability to achieve its growth objectives. These statements also involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Solaris Managements Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, available at www.sedar.com. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and Solaris does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
VANCOUVER, BC, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Silver Valley Metals Corp. (TSXV: SILV) (OTCQB: SVMFF) ("Silver Valley" or the "Company"), a brownfield exploration Company with two potential high impact projects that comprise silver-zinc-lead located in north Idaho, USA and lithium - potassium (sulphate of potash) located in Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi, Mexico respectively, is pleased to provide strong exploration results from the Ranger-Wyoming target, related to an under-developed complex of historical mine workings, at the Ranger-Page Project, Silver Valley, Idaho.

To view the Ranger-Wyoming Target in a 3-D multi-media audio-video click: https://tinyurl.com/yc7327fs

Highlights:

Largest anomalous target area defined at the project.

Significant coincident induced polarization and resistivity geophysical anomalies measuring approximately 1,200 metres in strike length and up to 600 metres depth along the prominent 96 Fault structure that projects into the Bunker Hill mine hosting significant high-grade mineralization adjacent to the project area.

in strike length and up to depth along the prominent that projects into the Bunker Hill mine hosting significant high-grade mineralization adjacent to the project area. High values of silver, zinc, lead, and copper in soil and located coincident with the geophysics anomalies and on top of the 96 Fault with silver values as high as 21.9 g/t , lead values up to 7,640 ppm , copper values up to 339 ppm and zinc values up to 274 ppm . Cadmium, arsenic, and antimony are also elevated which are strong indicators of silver and lead mineralization found in the District.

, lead values up to , copper values up to and zinc values up to . Cadmium, arsenic, and antimony are also elevated which are strong indicators of silver and lead mineralization found in the District. Related to the Ranger- Wyoming complex historical mine workings.

complex historical mine workings. The Ranger- Wyoming target is situated parallel approximately 200 metres south of the East Curlew and Blackhawk targets.

target is situated parallel approximately 200 metres south of the East Curlew and Blackhawk targets. First assessment of the Ranger- Wyoming target and '96 Fault' with modern exploration technologies.

Dale Moore, Exploration Director for Silver Valley Metals, comments," We are excited about the target rich environment we have developed at the Ranger-Page project over the past year. This latest target at the Ranger-Wyoming complex is located along the 96 Fault, an important fault on our project, and at the Bunker Hill Mine located next door. The Ranger-Wyoming complex of underground workings mined mineralization related to the 96 fault and now, nearly 100 years later, we think we've located its extension. "

To view exploration results in Presentation format, click: https://tinyurl.com/2duxbskr

Brandon Rook, CEO, stated, "Our exploration efforts at Ranger-Page Project have paid off nicely with the addition of the Ranger-Wyoming target added to the list of high priority drill-ready targets. The potential extension of mineralization to surface, and along strike is very exciting for the Company, and we look forward to getting the drills turning in this area in 2023. We are using modern exploration techniques for the first time in the project's history, and it is allowing us to gain a stronger understanding for the potential of these zones."

Silver Valley Metals' Ranger  Wyoming target is closely related to the Ranger-Wyoming complex of mine workings, which extracted near surface high-grade silver, zinc, and lead ores. The Ranger and Wyoming deposits are associated with the 96 Fault which is a significant project scale structure traced across much of the Company's property. The 96 Fault merges with the Buckeye Fault (also a prominent fault) on the eastern edge of the property boundary, immediately east of the target area, where it projects into the Bunker Hill mine. This fault structure has been identified as a strong contributor to silver, zinc, and lead mineralization that has been mined on Bunker Hill's project.

The exploration team identified a potential extension of the Ranger-Wyoming complex mineralization along strike, and up-plunge of the historic mine workings. Coincident ground induced polarization geophysics and soil geochemical results have constrained a target area with approximate dimensions of 1,200 metres of strike length and 600 metres of dip length. The anomaly is situated in the hanging wall of the 96 Fault representing a significant expansion beyond the known mineralization extent.

The ground induced polarization geophysics results are more than twice the observed background of the host rock and the high values of the resistivity ground geophysics also indicate the possible presence of silicic alteration, which is a strong indicator of mineralization in the Coeur d'Alene mining district.

A comprehensive surface geochemical program was undertaken and was positioned along and on top of the 96 Fault and on and near the geophysics anomalies. Results were significant with silver values as high as 21.9 g/t, lead values up to 7,640 ppm and copper values as much as 339 ppm, and zinc values up to 274 ppm. Cadmium, arsenic, and antimony are also elevated, which are strong indicators of lead and silver mineralization found in the Coeur d'Alene mining district.

Lastly, the historic Ranger-Wyoming complex; positioned closely to the former producing Blackhawk and Crown Point mines, 200 metres north and 500 metres north respectively - were only partially developed, to less than 70 metres in depth. The Ranger-Wyoming target shows great potential for further expansion, laterally and vertically, and the fact that many of the region's current and historic mines are developed to 1200 metres, 2,500 metres and beyond, the Ranger-Wyoming target is a top priority for the Company's upcoming drilling program in 2023.

Geophysics: Induced Polarization

Background induced polarization observed in the host rock at the Ranger-Wyoming complex and surrounding area in the western end of the Silver Valley is typically between 0 and 4 msec, as compared to the +20 msec background observed in the Prichard formation to the north of the Osburn Fault. The Ranger-Wyoming induced polarization anomaly are locally as high as 10msec, more than twice the observed background polarization of the host rock. The strike length of this anomaly is approximately 1200 metres. The depth is approximately 600 meters. High overlapping resistivity data at the Ranger-Wyoming target is interpreted to be silicic alteration associated with a potential mineralized system. This is a strong indicator of mineralization in the Coeur d'Alene mining district and complements both the induced polarization response in addition to anomalous geochemistry on surface.

Geochemical Program

A follow up geochemical program was implemented to further validate the target, and results show the presence of anomalous silver, lead, and copper along the trace of the '96 Fault' in the target area. Soil geochemistry sampling over the induced polarization anomaly shows silver values up to 21.9 g/t compared to a background of <0.1. Lead, and Copper anomalies are as high as 7,640 ppm and 339 ppm respectively. Background levels of lead, copper and zinc in the project area are typically 10 ppm, 6 ppm and 40 ppm respectively based on all 2022 Silver Valley Metals geochemical data. Trace element vector analysis is ongoing, and we expect that will further validate the Ranger-Wyoming target.

Field Program description

A north-south soil grid oriented over the Induced Polarization anomaly was used to guide sample locations. Samples of the B and C soil horizons were collected on a 30-metre spacing. At each location, a pit was dug until refusal (could not dig deeper). The C and B soil horizons were sampled separately, described, photographed, staked and location data collected via GPS. Results were loaded into Leapfrog Geo and displayed via a proportional grade plot to highlight high values.

B-Horizon Geochemical Sample data:

LDL <5 ppm <1 ppm <2 ppm <5 ppm <5 ppm <2 ppm <3.4 ppm Sample ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) As (ppm) Cd (ppm) Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Sb (ppm) Zn (ppm) Ag (g/t) GCE-2-2B 561287 5263834 889 Trace 2.2 10.8 24.6 19.5 144.0 Trace GCE-2-3B 561313 5263863 890 6.8 2.4 16.1 219.0 19.8 169.0 Trace GCE-2-4B 561336 5263895 888 Trace 1.2 11.8 27.2 17.1 100.0 Trace GCE-2-5B 561366 5263928 887 Trace 2.8 15.8 24.1 14.4 274.0 Trace GCE-2-6B 561387 5263942 885 Trace 1.1 13.2 232.0 21.0 106.0 Trace GCE-2-7B 561412 5263970 883 7.4 2.4 17.2 24.0 16.3 144.0 Trace GCE-2-8B 561424 5263998 884 19.4 1.5 19.0 33.2 23.0 86.6 Trace GCE-2-9B 561444 5264023 883 6.2 Trace 9.2 140.0 16.0 74.6 Trace GCE-3-4B 561518 5264043 917 23.9 Trace 17.1 145.0 26.4 65.2 Trace GCE-3-10B 561506 5264017 894 28.6 Trace 28.5 57.5 21.4 54.1 Trace GCE-3-11B 561490 5263985 909 29.3 Trace 16.7 Trace 16.0 62.7 Trace GCE-3-12B 561470 5263961 912 43.5 Trace 17.4 7.2 17.3 41.8 Trace GCE-3-13B 561453 5263938 916 12.8 Trace 21.1 15.9 19.6 53.4 Trace GCE-3-14B 561431 5263915 915 10.6 Trace 21.5 Trace 21.6 41.0 Trace GCE-3-15B 561405 5263892 919 Trace Trace 4.4 Trace 17.7 45.0 Trace GCE-3-16B 561382 5263869 918 Trace Trace 5.7 15.3 20.1 64.3 Trace GCW-1-7B 561251 5264028 895 Trace Trace 6.7 31.1 18.8 87.8 Trace GCW-1-8B 561242 5263997 893 6.1 1.4 15.6 72.8 17.7 114.0 Trace GCW-1-9B 561236 5263965 894 Trace Trace 11.4 107.0 16.8 33.8 Trace GCW-1-10B 561228 5263934 896 Trace 1.9 16.7 231.0 18.7 127.0 Trace GCW-1-11B 561213 5263903 897 Trace Trace 12.3 125.0 19.9 59.9 9.5 GCW-2-1B 561169 5263934 938 Trace 1.6 16.6 177.0 19.2 114.0 9.3 GCW-2-2B 561177 5263972 941 Trace Trace 9.0 23.5 17.5 71.2 Trace GCW-2-3B 561189 5264008 946 Trace Trace 10.7 110.0 17.6 69.9 Trace GCW-2-4B 561199 5264045 950 Trace Trace 12.2 97.0 18.0 79.8 Trace GCW-2-5B 561210 5264086 950 7.0 Trace 17.2 140.0 17.7 96.5 Trace GCW-3-5B 561162 5264100 979 10.1 Trace 14.4 205.0 15.4 38.9 Trace GCW-3-6B 561153 5264072 977 8.1 Trace 11.8 84.4 18.8 63.4 Trace GCW-3-7B 561144 5264034 972 Trace Trace 8.6 42.0 17.1 56.2 Trace GCW-3-8B 561132 5263996 976 Trace Trace 11.4 28.2 18.6 90.4 Trace GCW-3-9B 561117 5263962 974 Trace Trace 11.8 127.0 18.1 55.4 Trace GCW-3-10B 561105 5263936 970 Trace Trace 5.5 31.8 24.1 45.1 Trace GCW-4-2B 561061 5263953 1001 Trace Trace 23.5 222.0 27.0 48.4 Trace GCW-4-3B 561082 5263975 1004 11.6 Trace 25.4 269.0 31.6 71.1 Trace GCW-4-4B 561091 5264005 1007 9.7 Trace 22.2 51.0 20.9 97.4 Trace GCW-4-5B 561106 5264044 1008 Trace Trace 27.9 472.0 19.1 68.2 Trace GCW-4-6B 561117 5264076 1010 Trace Trace 9.7 79.7 17.8 51.8 Trace GCW-4-7B 561124 5264113 1010 Trace Trace 9.6 110.0 19.0 58.2 Trace GCW-4-8B 561122 5264145 1014 9.3 Trace 5.9 133.0 17.8 30.1 Trace GCW-5-3B 561065 5264160 1049 Trace Trace 8.1 12.5 15.5 94.9 Trace GCW-5-4B 561059 5264133 1057 Trace 1.1 8.6 32.6 15.9 69.8 Trace GCW-5-9B 561020 5263993 1053 6.7 Trace 24.4 192.0 19.1 95.2 Trace GCW-6-1B 560978 5263988 1042 Trace Trace 12.9 26.2 16.0 107.0 Trace GCW-6-2B 560994 5264016 1039 31.0 1.2 52.3 1050.0 83.4 124.0 Trace GCW-6-3B 561001 5264048 1036 6.6 Trace 17.7 31.4 16.3 87.5 Trace GCW-6-6B 561015 5264141 1036 Trace Trace 12.3 92.9 16.0 102.0 Trace

C-Horizon Geochemical Sample data:

LDL <5 ppm <1 ppm <2 ppm <5 ppm <5 ppm <2 ppm <3.4 ppm Sample ID Easting Northing Elevation

(m) As

(ppm) Cd

(ppm) Cu

(ppm) Pb

(ppm) Sb

(ppm) Zn

(ppm) Ag (g/t) GCE-2-2C 561287 5263834 889 Trace 4.6 5.0 12.6 16.8 116.0 Trace GCE-2-3C 561313 5263863 890 Trace Trace 4.8 7.5 17.8 51.0 Trace GCE-2-4C 561336 5263895 888 Trace 1.2 10.6 17.7 19.5 105.0 Trace GCE-2-5C 561366 5263928 887 Trace Trace 7.0 8.7 15.9 33.3 Trace GCE-2-6C 561387 5263942 885 Trace Trace 5.7 11.9 16.5 36.3 Trace GCE-2-7C 561412 5263970 883 7.7 Trace 24.4 21.1 16.0 115.0 Trace GCE-2-8C 561424 5263998 884 25.9 Trace 18.5 9.7 20.5 32.0 Trace GCE-2-9C 561444 5264023 883 22.6 Trace 13.2 33.4 15.7 33.8 Trace GCE-3-4C 561518 5264043 917 31.4 Trace 14.8 75.8 29.1 25.9 Trace GCE-3-10C 561506 5264017 894 24.8 Trace 10.8 6.3 23.5 56.7 Trace GCE-3-11C 561490 5263985 909 19.6 Trace 9.2 Trace 20.9 30.6 Trace GCE-3-12C 561470 5263961 912 11.2 Trace 4.5 Trace 16.5 27.3 Trace GCE-3-13C 561453 5263938 916 20.2 Trace 34.5 13.9 22.6 47.8 Trace GCE-3-14C 561431 5263915 915 7.8 Trace 9.9 Trace 19.9 26.8 Trace GCE-3-15C 561405 5263892 919 Trace Trace 12.5 Trace 25.2 33.4 Trace GCE-3-16C 561382 5263869 918 Trace Trace Trace 7.6 18.9 25.8 Trace GCE-4-8C 561567 5264048 937 26.7 Trace 7.8 5.3 18.4 44.4 Trace GCE-4-9C 561549 5264028 938 17.3 Trace 4.4 19.2 17.2 28.4 Trace GCE-4-10C 561533 5264002 940 20.4 Trace 15.8 Trace 14.5 14.2 Trace GCE-4-11C 561513 5263975 944 54.8 Trace 10.6 Trace 15.0 21.5 Trace GCE-4-12C 561494 5263953 942 20.2 Trace 8.3 Trace 12.4 39.6 Trace GCE-4-13C 561481 5263933 941 14.3 Trace 104.0 26.0 39.2 49.3 Trace GCE-4-14C 561462 5263901 944 Trace Trace 2.9 Trace 13.1 20.5 Trace GCE-4-15C 561442 5263886 940 Trace Trace 5.0 7.8 17.3 70.6 Trace GCE-5-2R 561493 5263918 951 Trace Trace Trace Trace 16.9 22.3 Trace GCE-5-3R 561514 5263929 959 19 Trace 6.7 6.6 12.4 20.0 Trace GCE-5-4R 561524 5263944 960 Trace Trace 3.0 6.0 14.0 18.3 Trace GCE-5-5R 561535 5263957 946 8.1 Trace 2.5 Trace 14.4 20.5 Trace GCE-5-6R 561531 5263964 948 13.0 Trace 2.5 Trace 9.4 11.8 Trace GCE-5-7R 561548 5263990 958 53.2 Trace 19.6 Trace 19.3 22.6 Trace GCE-5-8R 561567 5264018 950 31.5 Trace 4.8 Trace 16.7 25.5 Trace GCW-1-7C 561251 5264028 895 Trace Trace Trace Trace 16.0 51.3 Trace GCW-1-8C 561242 5263997 893 Trace Trace 8.9 Trace 13.9 80.2 Trace GCW-1-9C 561236 5263965 894 Trace Trace 8.5 122.0 15.2 27.6 Trace GCW-1-10C 561228 5263934 896 8.68 Trace 12.3 57.4 23.4 41.7 Trace GCW-1-11C 561213 5263903 897 Trace Trace 8.3 17.3 11.0 34.0 Trace GCW-2-1C 561169 5263934 938 21.0 Trace 13.1 13.2 17.6 51.6 Trace GCW-2-2C 561177 5263972 941 6.2 Trace 8.5 35.2 14.6 30.6 Trace GCW-2-3C 561189 5264008 946 Trace Trace 7.2 Trace 14.1 38.9 Trace GCW-2-4C 561199 5264045 950 Trace Trace 5.0 23.1 16.5 33.7 Trace GCW-2-5C 561210 5264086 950 Trace Trace 6.6 11.0 37.2 72.9 Trace GCW-3-5C 561162 5264100 979 8.68 Trace 16.8 303.0 12.0 25.2 4.1 GCW-3-6C 561153 5264072 977 7.4 Trace 5.5 9.1 18.4 40.2 Trace GCW-3-7C 561144 5264034 972 8.0 Trace 14.3 24.5 17.4 50.8 Trace GCW-3-8C 561132 5263996 976 6.7 Trace 7.5 5.1 18.8 60.8 Trace GCW-3-9C 561117 5263962 974 Trace Trace 3.2 6.7 36.5 100.0 Trace GCW-3-10C 561105 5263936 970 Trace Trace 6.9 83.1 33.1 62.9 Trace GCW-4-2C 561061 5263953 1001 Trace Trace 34.9 86.0 22.1 132.0 Trace GCW-4-3C 561082 5263975 1004 13.0 Trace 23.1 69.2 16.7 45.6 Trace GCW-4-4C 561091 5264005 1007 10.3 Trace 18.4 10.2 19.9 55.1 Trace GCW-4-5C 561106 5264044 1008 Trace Trace 8.5 40.4 16.8 39.8 Trace GCW-4-6C 561117 5264076 1010 8.2 Trace 7.8 81.4 33.6 57.4 Trace GCW-4-7C 561124 5264113 1010 Trace Trace 11.6 74.7 30.1 61.0 Trace GCW-4-8C 561122 5264145 1014 Trace Trace 4.3 55.5 29.6 49.8 Trace GCW-5-3C 561065 5264160 1049 Trace Trace 2.9 12.5 40.3 86.9 Trace GCW-5-4C 561059 5264133 1057 Trace Trace 4.9 7.9 30.3 62.6 Trace GCW-5-5R 561050 5264102 1058 35.0 Trace 339.0 7640.0 42.9 52.8 21.9 GCW-5-6R 561043 5264074 1055 27.2 1 113.0 4950.0 53.4 134.0 6.2 GCW-5-7R 561038 5264054 1059 8.8 Trace 102.0 27.9 37.2 115.0 Trace GCW-5-8R 561031 5264024 1057 23.7 Trace 32.0 59.1 29.3 50.1 Trace GCW-5-9C 561020 5263993 1053 Trace Trace 7.9 9.1 30.4 53.9 Trace GCW-6-1C 560978 5263988 1042 Trace Trace 2.0 Trace 17.5 29.6 Trace GCW-6-2C 560994 5264016 1039 5.2 Trace 17.9 69.3 30.7 38.2 Trace GCW-6-3C 561001 5264048 1036 21.5 Trace 14.4 11.7 29.3 93.9 Trace GCW-6-4R 561005 5264075 1035 Trace Trace 18.9 41.5 32.6 155.0 Trace GCW-6-5R 561004 5264110 1033 5.2 Trace 58.6 856.0 23.4 71.7 Trace GCW-6-6C 561015 5264141 1036 13.2 Trace 20.1 11.4 28.5 59.8 Trace

Lab Analysis  QA-QC:

Atomic absorption analysis for Silver:

American Analytical Services, Inc ("AAS") is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, located in Osburn, Idaho. All analysis includes quality control measures to ensure an acceptance standard established within AAS methods. All samples sent to AAS were checked for accuracy between the chain of custody and the samples with the client present. Samples are dried before starting the prep process. The prep process includes crushing the sample in its entirety to 80% passing a 10 mesh, split in a riffle box to make a 250g sub-sample and pulverized to 85% passing a 140 mesh. Analysis for AA-Ag is done by 2 or 4 acid digestion. Detection limit for AA-Ag is 0.100 Oz/ton - 15.0 Oz/ton. Any results over the detection limit are sent to fire assay to do Ag gravimetric finish.

ICP-OES analysis for 35 element analysis:

All samples are subjected to a 4-acid digestion. Digestion QC consists of a reagent blank, control standard and for every 20 samples there is a duplicate of a sample pulp to check RPD. To begin ICP-OES analysis, the instrument is standardized with the five working standard solutions (multi-point linear fitting). Samples are then measured with the reagent blank, control standard and a CCV (continuous calibration verification). Once samples are analyzed, all QC is checked, and results are sent to LIMS system to be made into the client's report.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silvervalmetals

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Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/silvervalmetals

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@silvervalmeta

Qualified person

Timothy Mosey, BSc, MSc, SME, is the qualified person for the company and qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Mosey supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

About: MexiCan lithium - potassium (sulphate of potash) project

Silver Valley Metals Corp. owns a 100% interest in a lithium and potassium bearing salar complex comprising 4,056 hectares on three mineral concessions (the "Mexican Projects") located on the Central Mexican Plateau in the states of Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource contains 12.3Mt of Sulfate of Potash (SOP) and 243,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) and remains open in all directions for expansion.

About: Ranger-Page project

The Ranger-Page Project ("The Project") is in the Silver Valley, northern Idaho, USA, 60 kilometres east of Coeur d'Alene and 1 kilometre from the I-90 freeway. In 2020 Idaho was ranked the first in the world in policy perception and 9th best mining jurisdiction (Fraser Institute Annual Mining Survey). The Project borders the famous Bunker Hill Mine to the east and for the first time consolidates the western extent of the prolific Silver Valley mining corridor by one operator in the past 100+ years.

The Project comprises 6 historical mines on patented claims, without royalties. The largest of these, the Page Mine, was a top ten producer in the Silver Valley yielding over 1.1 billion pounds of zinc and lead and 14.6 million ounces of silver. The Page Mine has high grade silver-zinc-lead historic reserves and remains open at depth and along strike beyond what has been identified to date.

Historical mining on the properties shared underground infrastructure which connected the larger Page mine with five shallow historic mines within the larger Project area. The Company has underground mining data and surface geological data that supports high grade silver-zinc-lead mineralization present within the shallow, undeveloped mines. These mines remain open at depth, and laterally along strike.

Exploration potential beyond the historic mines is considered significant as modern systematic exploration is being applied to the project for the first time.

About: Silver Valley Metals

Silver Valley Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration company comprised of a group of experienced exploration, mining, and financing specialists focused on the pursuit of mineral discovery and development. We are focused on the advancement of strategic and precious mineral properties including Lithium-Potash in Mexico and Silver-Zinc-Lead in northern Idaho, USA.

Link to Website: http://www.silvervalleymetals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Silver Valley Metals,

"Brandon Rook"

Brandon Rook, President & CEO, Director

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Enertopia Corporation (OTCQB: ENRT) (CSE: ENRT) ("Enertopia'' or the "Company") a company focused on building shareholder value through a combination of our Nevada lithium claims, intellectual property, & pending patents in the green technology space, is very pleased to provide the following lithium project update.

We are happy to report that four additional drill holes have been completed with all intersecting the light green claystone horizon. The drill crew is back from their Easter break and the final part of the drill program is now underway. The company will provide additional summaries as the drilling program progresses to final assays being released.

It is gratifying that thus far every hole in the 2023 drill program has intersected the green claystone horizon, which so far has hosted the higher-grade Lithium assays as reported during the 2022 drilling program.

2023 Second Phase Drill Holes completed and reported today:

HOLE # From ft To ft Claystone Horizon type Comments DH23-07 0 46 Overburden 46 105 Green claystone 105 113 Ash tuff 113 124 Green claystone 124 181 Dark green, claystone EOH DH23-05 0 130 Overburden 130 195 Green claystone 195 221 Silt and ash tuff 221 255 Green claystone 255 265 Green claystone back to ash tuff 265 302 Green claystone 302 313 Green claystone and ash tuff 313 320 Green claystone 320 339 Green tan claystone and ash tuff 339 352 Green tan claystone EOH DH23-04 0 114 Overburden 114 268 Green claystone 268 276 Green claystone / ash tuff 276 286 Dark tan claystone EOH DH23-06 0 37 Overburden 37 87 Green claystone 87 91 Transition to black claystone 91 137 Black claystone / ash intervals EOH

Inaugural 43-101 report

Upon completion of the 2023 drilling program (and once all assays are received), the Company will commission the writing of an inaugural 43-101 report for the West Tonopah Project, which covers 1,760 acres.

"I am extremely pleased with every hole to date intersecting what is believed to be the higher-grade green claystone horizon thus far. We look forward to a steady stream of news and advancements in 2023," stated President Robert McAllister.

For additional project details please visit our website at https://enertopia.com/.

The Qualified Person

The technical data in this news release have been reviewed by Randy Henkle, P. Geol. a qualified person under the terms of NI 43-101.

About Enertopia

Defines itself as an Environmental Solutions Company focused on using modern technology on extracting lithium and verifying or sourcing other intellectual property in the EV & green technologies to build shareholder value.

Enertopia shares are quoted in the United States and Canada under ticker symbol ENRT. For additional information, please visit www.enertopia.com or call Robert McAllister, the President at 1-888-ENRT201.

This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The Company makes forward-looking public statements concerning its expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, potential and financing of its mining or technology projects, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, including statements that include words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions that are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting the Company's best judgment based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements., foreign exchange and other financial markets; changes in the interest rates on borrowings; hedging activities; changes in commodity prices; changes in the investments and expenditure levels; litigation; legislation; environmental, judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments in areas in which Enertopia Corporation operates. There can be no assurance that the testing for the brine recovery system will be effective for the recovery of Lithium and if effective will be economic or have any positive impact on Enertopia. There can be no assurance that the four pending patents will become patents and have a positive impact on Enertopia. The User should refer to the risk disclosures set out in the periodic reports and other disclosure documents filed by Enertopia Corporation from time to time with regulatory authorities.

The OTC and CSE have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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.

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.

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

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.

Figure 3: Gosso showing Toubani drilling location and results

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:

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
SUDBURY, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 1, 2016) - Manitou Gold Inc. (TSX VENTURE:MTU) (the "Company" or "Manitou Gold") today provided updates on the ongoing internal review of projects and the Company's finances. Over the past several months, the Company has been reviewing all of the work... Read More
Germanys bid to make amends for its 1904-1908 genocide against the Herero and Nama people has been rejected by Namibian victims, while Belgiums parliamentary commission on its colonial crimes in Africa failed to agree on an apology. Meanwhile, Frances much-heralded return of African cultural objects, seen as a possible precedent, is so far going at a snails pace.

Carsten Stahn, professor of International Criminal Law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, says attitudes to the return of cultural objects have changed in Europe, which is a sign of hope, but progress is patchy. British journalist Barnaby Phillips, who wrote the book Loot on Britain and the Benin Bronzes, thinks that momentum on return of cultural objects has not necessarily slowed down.

The Benin Bronzes are rather emblematic of this debate, he told Justice Info. There's been extraordinary momentum over the last 18 months or so with announcements from Germany, from various museums here in the UK, the Smithsonian in Washington -- and indeed, with further announcements expected this year. So in that regard, I think we're in a place that nobody imagined we would be even three years ago, let alone five or ten. Germany has begun the process of returning them, while the Smithsonian has already transferred ownership of 29.

On reparations for victims, there have been some moves from European states, but they are decidedly wary. As Stahn says in a 2020 editorial for Leiden University law school, many states or actors recognize moral responsibility or political forms of redress as part of a reparative approach towards wrongdoing (apology, forgiveness, contrition, atonement, and reconciliation), but shy away from approaches which would imply any legal recognition of wrong, in order to avoid precedents.

Reparations: fear of opening a Pandoras Box

The Germany and Namibia case is a good example of this. German political scientist Henning Melber says Germany made a significant step in the right direction with regard to addressing its colonial crimes against the Herero and Nama people of Namibia  seen by many historians as the first genocide of the 20th century -- , but then it came to a halt. So actually they started something which was very much welcome, and then they were in fear of creating a far-reaching precedent, he told Justice Info.

Between 1904 and 1908, following an Extermination Order issued by General Lothar von Trotta, German forces wiped out some 80% of Namibias Herero people, who had risen up against German rule, and up to 50% of the Nama. Members of these groups were killed, driven into the desert to die of thirst and starvation, put in concentration camps and their remains taken to Germany for experiments of a racial nature, in what is seen by some as a precursor to the Holocaust. Their land was also taken and is still occupied mostly by the descendants of German settlers.

In late 2015, Germany embarked on negotiations with the Namibian government. In May 2021, Germany and Namibia signed an agreement including Germanys payment of 1.1 billion euros over 30 years for development projects. But this has been rejected by victims descendants, who say it is not enough and they were excluded from the talks. It has also been rejected by the Namibian parliament. The process is now stalled.

Melber thinks Germany got cold feet and realized it was opening a Pandoras Box that could bring claims from other communities, for example in former German East Africa, or Poland, Italy and Greece in relation to the Second World War. I think when they got into it, they realized just what they had got into, and then maybe there was also pressure behind closed doors from the European Union or other former colonial powers, he told Justice Info.

Melber is convinced some other former colonial powers applied pressure on Germany. Britain, for example, which was the largest colonial power, committed a litany of crimes across the globe. After a court battle, the UK authorities did agree in 2013 to pay reparations to 5,000 victims of a bloody crackdown on the 1950s Mau Mau rebellion against colonial rule in Kenya. But, as Melber says, it was very careful to avoid legal precedents, and a later legal claim, raising the cases of a further 40,000 Kenyans who asserted they had been tortured, mistreated and raped during the suppression of the rebellion failed.

Whats in an apology?

Stahn of Leiden University thinks Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium are the European countries that have done the most so far on addressing colonial crimes.

Belgium, for example, set up a parliamentary commission to look into its colonial crimes in DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. This commission was a potential pioneer in Europe, but at the end of December, after two and a half years of looking into the past, there was no political consensus to apologize to the victims, which also put paid to all its other recommendations, at least for now. Centre-right parties preferred to stick to the regrets expressed by the Belgian king in the DR Congo, rather than make a fuller apology which could carry a risk of having to pay huge financial reparations.

Some German ministers have said that what their country did in Namibia would now be called genocide, but there has been no straight recognition of genocide from the top, as demanded by Namibian victims. Genocide was not recognized in international law until 1948, with the adoption of the Genocide Convention. However, the German parliament and some other countries including the US have recognized the 1915 Turkish atrocities against Armenians as a genocide  provoking outrage from Turkey.

Last year, French president Macron announced the creation of mixed commissions of historians to shed light on Frances colonial past in Cameroon and Algeria. The Cameroon commission, which is already subject to criticism, was launched in March 2023 and is due to complete its work by the end of 2024. The Algeria commission was even more controversial. It remains to be seen what they will produce.

Restitution roadblocks

Many European museums have become more sensitive to researching the origins of their collections, involving concerned communities in this process, and returning objects stolen during the colonial era. But museums have varying degrees of autonomy and political will, as Phillips points out.

The Benin Bronzes, again, are a good example. Looted by a British punitive expedition in 1897 from the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Nigeria, these exceptional works of art are now scattered in museums across Europe. But while there have been some restitutions  for example, Germany has returned 21, with more restitutions and ownership transfers promised by Germany and others --, the largest collection of Benin Bronzes (944)  classed as a national collection -- remains in the British Museum in London.

The British Museum operates under something called the British Museum Act of 1963, says Phillips. Essentially it is almost impossible, or at least very difficult for the British Museum to permanently return objects in its collection unless or until that act changes. In the past, he thinks, the British Museum trustees and directors have hidden behind the law as a convenient excuse not to act on restitution demands notably from Nigeria and Ghana. Now there may be more political will, but their hands are tied unless there is a change in the law. This is unlikely under the current Conservative government, he thinks.

More should be done at European level

I want within five years that the conditions be met for temporary or permanent restitutions of African cultural heritage to Africa, French President Emmanuel Macron said in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in 2017. He also commissioned a report on the restitution of African cultural heritage (the Sarr-Savoy report), which recommended the full restitution of all objects taken by force or presumed to have been acquired through inequitable conditions.

France returned a symbolic sword to Senegal in 2019 and 26 objects to Benin in 2021, but this represents only a fraction of what is held in French museums. The largest collection of African art is held in the Musee du quai Branly in Paris, from which the Benin objects were returned. But since then, no other restitutions have followed, although that museum has received official requests from Madagascar, Cote dIvoire, Ethiopia, Mali and Chad, according to its website. Asked about this, the museums deputy communications director Lucie Casassus noted that the decision to transfer ownership of the works can only be made by the government, and not the museum.

In France all public assets, including the contents of publicly owned collections such as museums are regarded as inalienable possessions (i.e. ownership cannot be transferred). The restitutions to Benin and Senegal required a decision by parliament, and took much discussion. Parliaments approval in 2020 applied only to those specific cases.

Stahn notes that only Belgium has adopted a framework legislation on return of ill-gotten cultural artefacts, allowing restitutions to go faster, and thinks that France should do the same. More should be done at the European level, he told Justice Info.

Impetus in New World countries

While progress in Europe is patchy, both Melber and Stahn think there is more impetus in so-called New World countries to address the legacy of settler crimes against First Nations. They point particularly to New Zealand, which Melber says has set an example, especially under former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with moves to apologize, compensate and even change the history books. Maori law has been recognized and now lives together with a body of law inherited from the British. Canada, too, has come quite a long way on apologies and compensation particularly for the terrible legacy of its indigenous residential schools.

I think it's a given that there is more impetus, even if it took very long, says Melber. But these are former settler colonial societies. That means the victims of settler colonialism, those who survived settler colonialism are in the midst of the societies. Even if they are still marginalized, their voices are domestic voices. That makes a huge difference. Stahn agrees. In the context of settler colonialism, there are more profound moves to address inequality, he told Justice Info, as opposed to more partial strategies in Europe where there is not the same level of engagement.
Park Ji Hoon took the Hallyu scene by storm with his immersive performance as an anti-hero in the 2022 hit drama "Weak Hero Class 1." The actor received high praises from viewers all around the world. Unfortunately, Park Ji Hoon failed to bag a nomination as Best New Actor in the prestigious Baeksang Arts Award.

Fans of the idol-actor took their disappointment to social media, gaining massive attention.

Park Ji Hoon Snubbed By 2023 Baeksang Arts Awards? Here's What Happened

On April 7, the 2023 Baeksang Arts Awards announced its nominees for its annual celebration of talents!

Fans were extremely delighted to see their favorite stars receive attention and praise for their contribution to the growing industry of film and television in the past year.

While some stars like Song Hye Kyo, Kim Hye Soo and Park Eun Bin were already expected to be nominated, many rising actors such as Kim Hieora, Kim Gun Woo and more surprised the public.

However, not everyone was elated with the list of nominees as there are a lot of actors who are still worth mentioning and one of them is rising actor Park Ji Hoon.

The 23-year-old actor dominated the final quarter of 2022 with his gravity-defying performance as a bullying victim-turned-warrior in the youth drama "Weak Hero Class 1."

Park Ji Hoon's performance wowed viewers and critics after he managed to pull off a morally gray character with ease. Fans lament the young star's lack of recognition.

No Park Ji Hoon in Baeksang's Best New Actor nominees is just.... pic.twitter.com/spl4cNQ5RV  kdrama diary (@kdramasdiary) April 7, 2023

The way Park Ji Hoon outdid himself in Weak Hero Class 1... HE DESERVES BETTER!!!  https://t.co/WDKA9nevho   (@krisshalee) April 7, 2023

An actor from the drama was nominated though https://t.co/qJPyQweQF3  kdrama diary (@kdramasdiary) April 7, 2023

They don't have any eye for talent or what like jihoon deserved it  mimi (ia) (@__itsmimii) April 7, 2023

One fan said, "Park Ji Hoon did amazing and it's a big joke that he's not nominated!"

The public's disappointment was amplified when Hong Kyung, the main antagonist of the said drama, was nominated for Best New Actor.

This caused a major uproar on various social media platforms, reaching hundreds of thousands of likes.

Although it's disheartening, Park Ji Hoon's supporters hope to see the actor celebrated at other distinguished awards shows at the end of 2023.

Park Ji Hoon To Make Silver Screen Debut With 'Audrey'

After proving his prowess in "Weak Hero Class 1," Park Ji Hoon now plans to conquer the big screens!

Earlier this year, the actor was announced to join "Reborn Rich" actress Kim Jung Nan in the upcoming film "Audrey"!

The movie follows the lovely lives of a mother and son duo who stays together despite life's unexpected hindrances and trials.

In the new project, Park Ji Hoon will play Kang Ki Hoon, a young man who deeply loves his mother Oh Mi Yeon, who is played by Kim Jung Nan.

Anticipation is raised after the production unit hinted at the two stars' perfectly woven chemistry. In particular, "Audrey" is currently in works with the intention to release it within the year.

ALSO READ: Park So Dam Impresses Viewers With Lean Physique After Battling Cancer

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
After the main trailer hyped up its viewers, tvN's "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" finally dropped its charismatic character posters of Lee Dong Wook, Kim So Yeon and more!

The brand new series serves as a prequel to the smash hit drama "Tale of the Nine Tailed" which aired in 2020!

'Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938' Drops Lee Dong Wook & Kim So Yeon's New Posters

Broadcast network tvN finally released the riveting character posters for "Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938"!

Starring Lee Dong Wook, Kim So Yeon, Kim Bum and Ryu Kyung Soo, the forthcoming drama tells the story of a nine-tailed fox who, due to an unexpected incident, gets summoned to the big year of 1938.

"Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" prequels the 2020 series of the same name, and it will depict Lee Dong Wook's Lee Yeon's struggles to return to the modern times to reunite with the ones he loves.

On April 10, tvN dropped the posters for the series, captivating the viewers with the cast's charismatic visuals.

Lee Dong Wook dons a rifle in his hands while he stares straight to the camera, giving off a spine-chilling feeling. It perfectly showcases his emotions after being trapped in an unknown era.

Meanwhile, Kim So Yeon, who transforms into Mountain Goddess of the West Ryu Hong Joo, makes prospective viewers' hearts flutter with her beautiful smile as she is clad in an elegant white dress.

Attention is given as to what kind of relationship will be depicted between Lee Yeon and Ryu Hong Joo who romantically go way back.

Kim Bum & Ryu Kyung Soo Boast Dapper Visuals In Character Posters

Besides the two, Kim Bum and Ryu Kyung Soo's posters were also released!

In "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938," Kim Bum reprised his role as Lee Yeon's estranged younger brother Lee Rang.

The poster perfectly captures the half-gumiho's resentment against his older brother as he holds a rugged ax in his hand. Lee Rang's mischievousness also emanates from his smirk.

On the other hand, Lee Yeon's long-time friend Cheon Moo Young, played by Ryu Kyung Soo, exudes a rather enigmatic vibe as he hides behind the dark.

The Mountain God of the North creates an eerie atmosphere as he hints at his revenge at Lee Yeon, raising curiosity about what went down between the two.

Meanwhile, "Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938" will deliver a fantastic narrative through the eyes of the mythical gumiho that many viewers love.

Furthermore, Lee Dong Wook's comeback drama airs for the first time on May 6 at 9:20 p.m. KST. Catch the teaser here, ICYMI:

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Lee Sung Kyung's beloved melodrama "Call It Love" is now in its final week! Ahead of its conclusion, the actress opened up about her honest feelings regarding the drama, struggles and more!

The actress also talked about the circulating rumors about her relationship with co-star Kim Young Kwang. Keep on reading!

Lee Sung Kyung Dishes Out Raw Feelings About 'Call It Love'

Two episodes before "Call It Love" finally bids goodbye, Lee Sung Kyung took her time to talk about the drama and co-star Kim Young Kwang!

In the Disney+ series, Lee Sung Kyung transformed into a vengeance-driven woman who falls in love with the man who was once her target for revenge.

On April 10, the actress sat down for an interview and talked about "Call It Love," which she referred to as a "challenge."

Lee Sung Kyung revealed that the drama intensely affected her life since she hasn't taken melodramas before. She stated that during the filming for "Call It Love," she reached her lowest weight ever.

"I was struggling because I wanted to do my best," Lee Sung Kyung reasoned. "I hope I did well as Shim Woo Joo."

Shim Woo Joo is a woman whose life shattered when her late father chose his mistress over them. As the story progresses, she meets his father's mistress' son and eventually harbors feelings for him.

The South Korean star looked back at the past and shared that "Call It Love" improved her social skills, saying that she joked around freely with others.

She thanked her co-stars and the production unit for their kindness and warmth which helped her a lot over the course of the drama filming.

Lee Sung Kyung Clarifies Dating Rumors With Kim Young Kwang

The actress also took the liberty to give clarity to the fans and viewers who speculated about her romantic tryst with co-star Kim Young Kwang.

Lee Sung Kyung praised Kim Young Kwang for his effortless immersion with his character. According to the "Call It Love" star, the actor would also help her focus on her script even during breaks.

Their banters also created a light atmosphere between them amidst the tight shoot and roster. With their lovely chemistry and closeness, many spectators wondered whether they were dating in real life.

Lee Sung Kyung, who was also amused with the rumors, clarified that they are just "long-time friends who are comfortable around each other."

The actress added, "Since everyone sees us as our characters, it's easy to give malice to our actions rather than seeing it as acting."

With that said, the 32-year-old star felt accomplished for the feedback for their realistic portrayal of their characters.

Don't miss the conclusion of "Call It Love" this second week of April. Moreover, Lee Sung Kyung also headlines "Dr. Romantic 3" which airs later this month.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
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Musical genius and mogul Rihanna recently graced the Oscars stage for her second performance after the birth of her son, with a baby bump indicating her second pregnancy. She described her first birth as blessed and beautiful. While many expecting parents long to describe their birthing process similarly, there are realities within the medical system that complicate this narrative for those who are not celebrities. When my partner and I received notice that we couldnt proceed with our long-awaited home birth and instead needed to have a C-section, we vowed to bring the values and ethics we envisioned for our home birth to the hospital procedure. Our experience was surprisingly transformative, and as we began to share our story with other parents, we were reminded that the U.S. medical system prioritizes profit over people; empowering hospital births become outliers. Over half of the families we spoke with carried immense unprocessed grief from their birthing experiences. Heres what I learned from their stories.

The pace by which our birthing system operates devalues the sacred nature of pregnancy. Once most expecting families reach the second trimester, their prenatal visits are capped at 15 minutes. Within our home birthing community, prenatal visits lasted 1 to 2 hours. There, we holistically discussed our experiences as expecting parents, were offered numerous resources, and drafted and revised our birthing plan. I could only imagine the ignorance and fear we would have brought to our birthing experience if our visits were capped at 900 seconds.

The U.S. birthing system intervenes more than it inspires. Sadly, hospitals are encouraged to enforce C-sections because they generate higher monetary intake. In California, hospitals can increase their revenue by 82 percent on average by performing a C-section rather than a vaginal birth. These procedures make newborns and families more susceptible to complications and even death.

This data informed my partners and my fears when we found out at 20 weeks that a fibroid was pushing against my partners cervix, and a C-section might be the safest option for our family. Parents within our community supported us to advocate for ourselves, sharing gems that they employed when their birthing plan took a dramatic shift. We then prepared immensely, creating our list of non-negotiable for procedures: our own clothes, low lights, silence in the operating room, allowing our voices to be the first our newborn baby heard. Prior to the procedure, we held a ceremony with our birthing team. With ten medical practitioners crammed into our room, we opened with gratitude for their ancestors, gave context for our grief, prayed with the staff, and one midwife even joined in to sing my partner the Misheberach, a Jewish prayer for healing and the renewal of spirit. Sadly, most birthing parents have had experiences antithetical to ours. They didnt feel heard, had procedures enacted on them that they didnt consent to, and were forced to make split-second decisions in the face of fatigue and fear.

Our birthing system cares very little about what happens to birthing parents once they leave the hospital. Guidelines for perinatal care suggest over ten checkups before birth but often only one after birth. During this time, many birthing parents experience complications and die. In the United States, 65 percent of pregnancy-related deaths occur in the year after delivery, with nearly 85 percent of pregnancy-related deaths being preventable. When our child came home from the hospital, our midwife visited twice in the first week & once a week for the next five subsequent weeks. My partner was given a womb closing ceremony to honor the sacred nature of birth, and we were provided with an abundance of tools ranging from critical readings to recipes to support lactation. After the fanfare wanes from the birthing experience, families still need an abundance of education and support. We can do more to ensure that postpartum is not synonymous with depression and death.

I am grateful for the medical practitioners who broke the rules for us, and who challenged their training to provide, as they said, the next ideal birth for our child. One hospital midwife shared: Your familys presence has left a powerful ripple effect of promoting autonomy, listening, respectful care, and ceremony in our labor and delivery unit. We must work toward a future where critical care in birth work is not an outlier. The first step is advocacy. Parents: share your birthing stories. I believe that the more we share our stories, the more we can shape policy to better support families. The future of our childrens health starts with our empowerment.

Tiffani Marie is an education professor.
Finance minister Matia Kasaija has asked local government leaders to sparingly use available funds saying the government has no money.

Speaking to KFM recently, Kasaija said the government currently has limited cash at its disposal, and yet the demands for it are many.

Kasaija has been responding to concerns affecting service delivery in the local communities raised by the mayor of Nansana municipality who is also the chairperson of the Alliance of Mayors in Uganda, Regina Bakitte.

According to Bakitte, whereas the Ministry of Finance releases quarterly funds on time, they are dismayed with the delayed release of locally raised revenue which comes with a condition of a cash limit.

She has decried the huge budget cuts for the next financial year especially where the Discretionary Development Equalization Grant (DDEG) to fund improvements in local infrastructure like schools has been scrapped.

There has been a reduction from 35 billion to 30 now and the major area that has been affected is the education sector, Bakitte said.

In response, Kasaija says the budget cuts are inevitable given the financial constraints faced by the country.
By Kevin Githuku

The administration of Makerere University has been urged to uphold the freedom of expression of students.

The call comes at a time when two candidates for the forthcoming 89th presidential guild elections, Margret Nattabi and Sulaiman Namwoza were disqualified for allegedly participating in open-air campaigns at one of the halls of residences at the university.

The public engagements also left two students suspended from the university. The University management has since banned political parties in student guild elections.

Speaking to KFM, Ivan Bwowe, a former guild president has condemned the University for meddling in the political affairs of the students which are supported by the constitution

The office of the guild president is a political office the actions of the administration are unconstitutional and uncivilized, Bwowe told KFM.
Kilak South Member of Parliament, Gilbert Olanya has been released on police bond after he was arrested earlier today for allegedly inciting violence.

His press secretary, Rachkara Robinson tells KFM that Olanya was arrested after an altercation with security officers over a charcoal truck that was being offloaded days after both the president and the state minister of environment Beatrice Anywar had banned burning of charcoal in the area.

Rachkara says Olanya has signed off his police bond at Bardege-Layibi police station.

The community got a truck full of charcoal, so they decided to stop the stuck and they wanted to offload it. Him being a leader, he rushed to the scene, then when he reached there he also told the police officers that they would not burn the vehicle but what the community would do is to offload the charcoal, Rachkara told KFM.

This is not the first time the Kilak South MP is arrested, in June 2020, he was detained together with other MPs for demonstrating against the continuous movement of trucks to and from Elegu border post in Amuru.

In January 2021 he was arrested on allegations of inciting locals over the disputed Apaa land.
By Mike Sebalu President Museveni is today embarking on his three-day tour of the West Nile Sub-region aimed at popularising government wealth creation programmes. Among the programmes the President is popularising are Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM). In his tour, the President is slated to be in Arua City today and tomorrow, and in Obongi District where he will address the people of Madi Sub-region.The Presidents visit in the West Nile today coincides with the day Uganda commemorates 44 years since former president Idi Amin was overthrown. The son of Koboko, currently part of West Nile, served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979.

According to the NRM director of communications, Mr Emmanuel Dombo, the Presidents tour comes as a coincidence. When the planning committee sat, the overthrow of Idi Amin was not an issue that was considered or debated. Actually, even for me I was not aware that was the date but this was just a coincidence where the President of Uganda is going to a region to supervise the people he works with, to find out whether the resources he sends to the ground work, Mr Dombo said.

Secondly, the President made promises to the people of West Nile in the manifesto, including doing good roads, doing the Parish Development Model, and also extending the main grid electricity. These are some of the things that the President will be discussing with the people of West Nile and announcing to them how far he has gone in the implementation of those things in the manifesto, he added. The chairperson of West Nile Parliamentary Caucus, Mr Biyik Lawrence Songa, said people of West Nile want the government to connect their region to the national grid for cheap, reliable power to contribute to the development of the economy. For many years now, the people of West Nile have been putting their concerns, especially on priority sectors that should be addressed in the region. Right now we need the energy mix. The moment people have industrial and reliable power, they will be able to power the economy of Uganda, he said.
By Benson Tumusiime | Monitor

The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier who allegedly shot and fatally wounded a colleague at Mawanyi, Bwebajja Ward, Kajjansi Town Council, Wakiso District on March 23, has handed himself to the police.

The soldier, who had been deployed as a bodyguard of a female former commissioner of Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), went on the run after shooting a boyfriend to his principal, detectives said.

Trouble started when the victim, also a soldier attached to the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), tried to forcefully gain access to the former commissioners bedroom. It is alleged that the woman had locked herself in her bedroom after developing a domestic misunderstanding with the boyfriend. The victim then tried to break into the bedroom, prompting the womans bodyguard to intervene.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango told this publication on Monday that the guard was detained at Makindye Military Barracks, and his principal was still in police custody. Read more
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Avino Silver & Gold Mines (TSX:SM) said today that an accident at the company's Avino Mine property in Durango, Mexico, resulted in a fatality. Avinos management and staff said they are supporting Mexican authorities with their investigation. Avino said the accident should not affect production. By Kitco News For Kitco News Follow @kitconewsnow www.kitco.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.
TOKYO/NEW YORK, April 11 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N) has increased its stakes in Japan's five largest trading houses to 7.4%, and the billionaire investor said he may invest more in the country.

Buffett, 92, said in an interview with Nikkei that he was "very proud" of the investments and would meet with the trading houses this week to discuss their businesses, perhaps laying the groundwork for doing business together.

The trading houses are Itochu Corp (8001.T), Marubeni Corp (8002.T), Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T), Mitsui & Co (8031.T) and Sumitomo Corp (8053.T).

Their shares rose 2.1% to 4.6% in Tokyo on Tuesday following the Nikkei interview.

Berkshire had disclosed owning 5% stakes in each company in August 2020 on Buffett's 90th birthday, in investments then worth more than $6 billion. It reported increasing the stakes to more than 6% in November.

"We would love it if any of the five would come to us ever and say, 'We're thinking of doing something very big or we're about to buy something and we would like a partner or whatever,'" Buffett said.

He also said Berkshire does not invest in other Japanese companies, but "there are always a few I'm thinking about."

Known as "sogo shosha," Japanese trading houses trade in a wide variety of materials, products and food, often serving as intermediaries, and provide logistical support.

They are also deeply involved in the real economy in such areas as commodities, shipping and steel.

The business model may have enticed Buffett, who prefers to invest for the long term and avoid businesses he claims not to understand.

"These five companies are a cross section of not only Japan but of the world," Buffett told Nikkei. "They are really so much similar to Berkshire."

Buffett's Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate owns dozens of businesses, including the BNSF railroad, Geico auto insurance, and consumer, energy and industrial companies, as well as stocks such as Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Bank of America Corp (BAC.N).

Nikkei also said Berkshire plans to sell more yen-denominated bonds, perhaps foreshadowing more Japanese stock investments.
BENGALURU, April 11 (Reuters) - Indian private lender HDFC Bank Ltd (HDBK.NS) said on Tuesday it would consider raising debt of 500 billion rupees (about $6 billion) over the next one year.

The bank will discuss the fund raise at its board meeting on Saturday, when it is also due to report earnings for the January-March quarter.

The proposed fund raise would be by issuing perpetual debt instruments, or Additional Tier-1 (AT-1) bonds, Tier-II capital bonds and long-term bonds, the bank said in an exchange filing.

The fund raising will be on a private placement basis, it said.

The proposed fundraising comes ahead of HDFC Bank's merger with Housing Development Finance Corp Ltd (HDFC.NS), which is likely to be completed by the end of June.

In December, HDFC Bank had raised 50 billion rupees via 10-year Basel III-compliant, Tier-II bonds at a coupon of 7.84%.

Last September, it issued Basel III-compliant AT-1 bonds worth 30 billion rupees at a coupon of 7.84%. ($1 = 82.0950 Indian rupees)
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(Kitco News) - Following up on a deal that was first mentioned in January, the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBGC) has announced that it signed an agreement with Ripple, an enterprise crypto and blockchain solutions provider, to develop a strategy and pilot program for the launch of the countrys first central bank digital currency (CBDC) or stablecoin.

According to a press release shared with Kitco Crypto, the development of a Montenegrin CBDC aligns with the central banks core objective of digitizing the countrys financial services to help create greater financial accessibility and inclusion for citizens of Montenegro.

Currently, Montenegro residents primarily transact using the euro, but the country is now looking to establish its own digital currency, joining more than 110 other countries that are currently at some stage of exploration or development of a CBDC, according to data from the Atlantic Council. CBDCs are being explored for a variety of use cases, including widening financial inclusion, modernizing monetary policy, improving payment security and increasing cross-border payments efficiency.

As a central bank committed to following up-to-date national banking trends, the CBCG is actively ensuring it maintains an efficient financial system, said Radoje Zugic, Governor of the CBCG. We look forward to collaborating with Ripple on the pilot project for creating CBDC or stablecoin.

In the partnership with Ripple, the CBCG will work closely with the government of Montenegro and the countrys academia to create a practical digital currency or secure currency solution to test the main blockchain technologys functionality and potential.

The pilot program will analyze the advantages and risks that a CBDC or national stablecoin poses in regard to electronic means of payment availability, security, efficiency, compliance with regulations and the protection of end users rights and privacy.

There will be several stages to the project, including one that explores the practical applications of a CBDC or national stablecoin, and another that tests different designs to simulate its circulation and use under controlled conditions.

The Central Bank of Montenegro is bringing the next level of digital transformation to its financial infrastructure and addressing some of the worlds biggest financial challenges, including financial inclusion, said James Wallis, Ripples Vice President of Central Bank Engagements and CBDCs. Ripple has a proven track record of successfully connecting disparate payment systems and championing blockchains utility to issue Central Bank Digital Currencies and solve for global payments to hundreds of financial institutions around the world. We are pleased that the CBCG has chosen Ripple to help launch its first digital currency and further address the countrys core financial objectives.

Ripple has been increasing its activity related to the development of central bank digital currencies since piloting a private version of the XRP Ledger  which provided central banks with a platform to securely issue CBDCx  in March 2021.

The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan partnered with Ripple Labs in September 2021 to pilot test the creation of a digital ngultrum, which is intended to help the south-central Asia kingdom improve cross-border payments. Two months later, the company partnered with the Republic of Palau to help the Pacific island develop its own climate-friendly digital currency.

Last September, the firm was selected as one of the founding members of a Technical Sandbox Program launched by the Digital Dollar Project that is designed to explore the potential technical and business ramifications of a CBDC in the U.S. The firm also joined the European think tank Digital Euro Association in February 2022 to help facilitate the development and growth of CBDCs and the Digital Euro.
LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - The Confederation of British Industry said it had fired its director-general Tony Danker and suspended three others after an investigation into complaints of workplace misconduct at the leading business group.

One of Britain's best-known business organisations, the CBI said it had appointed its former chief economist, Rain Newton-Smith, to become its new leader.

"The allegations that have been made over recent weeks about the CBI have been devastating," a CBI statement said on Tuesday.

"While investigations continue into a number of these, it is already clear to all of us that there have been serious failings in how we have acted as an organisation. We must do better, and we must be better."

Danker stepped aside in March while the CBI conducted a review into his behaviour.

The Guardian newspaper said a complaint was submitted in January by a female CBI employee and more allegations had been brought by other staff members subsequently.

Danker said in a statement on Tuesday that he was "truly sorry" that he had "unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable".

"I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed. Many of the allegations against me have been distorted."

The CBI, which represents the views of many of Britain's biggest companies to the government and more widely, has in recent years clashed with the government over Brexit policy.

Last week it halted its public events after a series of further allegations - including one of rape at a staff party in 2019, as well as a separate sexual assault and reports of cocaine use - were reported in the Guardian.

A number of businesses and the government have expressed their concern over the revelations and whether they should continue to work with the lobbying group. A spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said ministers and senior officials would pause engagement until the investigation had been completed.

The CBI said Danker - who joined the organisation in November 2020 - was not the subject of the more recent allegations but that his conduct "fell short of that expected of the director general".

Danker said he had no knowledge of the other allegations until last week.

The CBI said three other employees were suspended pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations.

"The CBI is liaising with the police and has made clear its intention to cooperate fully with any police investigations," the statement said.

Newton-Smith, who spent her early career as an economist at the Bank of England, left the CBI in March to join Barclays where she is Managing Director for Strategy and Policy, Sustainability and ESG.

"I want the CBI to be an organisation of which we can all be proud," she said.
JEFFERSON CITY - The family of a Jefferson City man who went missing 28 years ago is asking for the public to contact police with any relevant information pertaining to the case.

Douglas Martin Brucks was last seen on April 10, 1995, and was reported missing on April 11, 1995. The case has remained unsolved to this day.

Brucks was 41 years old when he went missing. He's described as a white male, just under 6 feet tall, around 180 pounds, with light brown hair and green eyes.

Debbie Brucks Hamler, Brucks' sister, said on April 10, 1995, Brucks asked his mom to drive him to Country Kitchen to meet his friend for dinner.

"And so my mom dropped him off and then he didn't end up coming home," Hamler said.

Brucks called his mom on April 11, 1995 to tell her he was "at the lake" and someone was going to give him a ride home.

"But my mom waited and waited, and of course, I live here in Jeff[erson] City, and I waited with her and we started being concerned and we didn't really know how to reach that person by phone," Hamler said. "We didn't have cell phones back then and social media. So at that point, as the days went on, we were very worried."

Hamler ended up contacting the Jefferson City police, but nothing could be done since Brucks was considered an adult.

"Because he's an adult, they wanted to wait and do a missing persons report, about a month later, three weeks to a month later, because being an adult," Hamler said.

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At the time, Brucks lived in Florida with his wife and two kids, but was visiting family and getting treatment in Jefferson City.

"He had just gotten out of Phoenix House for some alcohol and drug treatment, and just trying to get his life back on track," Hamler said.

Randle Phelps had been best friends with Brucks since they were children.

"Doug was always very loyal to his sisters and his family. He was a good friend to all. He was never mean. I never saw Doug Brucks get mean to anybody ever in my life," Phelps said. "And the one thing that Doug and I shared is that Doug was trying to recover from an addiction to Xanax prescription pain pills. And here I sit today, and I've been clean and sober for 39 years."

Around May 5, 1995, Jefferson City police filed the missing person report and started an investigation into his disappearance. Now, 28 years later, Hamler says she's still hearing new stories about her brother.

"Just an hour ago, I did receive a call from [a] former classmate who had a story from a week before Doug had gone missing that I had never heard before," she said.

Hamler said she wants people to know that if they're scared to get involved, there is an option of staying anonymous when sharing information.

"You actually can call CrimeStoppers, you're anonymous, you don't have to say who you are, you might give a tip that we've never heard before," Hamler said.

Anyone with information can reach out to the Jefferson City Police Department at 573-634-6400 or CrimeStoppers at 573-659-TIPS.

"We've lived a life, 28 years without our brother," Hamler said. "And his son has lived the majority of his life without a dad and that is the saddest thing. We're just asking people on this anniversary, if you know something, and you feel it in your heart, please contact the JCPD or you can call CrimeStoppers."
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 44F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Widespread frost likely. Low 29F. Winds light and variable.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Rain and snow this morning. The rain and snow will change to rain showers by the afternoon hours. High 44F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Widespread frost likely. Low 29F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High around 45F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Widespread frost likely. Low near 30F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Mnet has released new details for their "Queendom" spin-off, "Queendom Puzzle," which featured a new teaser video of the upcoming program.

Here are the details.

Mnet Releases New Teaser Trailer for 'Queendom Puzzle'

On April 10, Mnet captured everyone's attention with a teaser trailer for "Queendom Puzzle," a spin-off of "Queendom."

The program will take on a form of a variety show format, which will create a new global project girl group. "Queendom Puzzle" will recruit idols from active girl groups and female artists, piecing them collectively like a game of puzzle.

Rather than team competitions, "Queendom Puzzle" will showcase individual ones, contrasting the format that pre-existing "Queendom" have had. The participants will have to battle with energetic performances, in order to become the concluding members of its project girl group.

For each round, the member roster for every girl group performances will undergo through a change, making it one of the show's highlights.

The members from pre-existing girl groups will have to compete each round with their charisma, as well as give insights through their stories.

With this, the members from preceding girl groups will also be arranged like a puzzle, forming new "groups." Never-before-seen stages can also be viewed through "Queendom Puzzle," raising anticipation in the community.

In the trailer, the scene pans through a silhouette-shot of seven female artists, alongside popular songs from iconic girl groups playing as the background music. It also confirmed the show's first lineup will be unveiled in May. The teaser also contained a cryptic code locate on the bottom, written as, "IURP WZHQWB HLJKW WR VHYHQ."

According to sources, the production for "Queendom Puzzle" stated how the show will present the traits and charms of each pre-existing girl group member. They also followed that the blend of members is something worth watching.

"Each preceding girl group member will get to rediscover their own individualities and charms through the show. Viewers will be entertained in their new combinations." "Everyone will be shocked with the artist lineup, which will be revealed in May."

Watch the teaser for "Queendom Puzzle" here:

In another note, "Queendom" Season 1 (2019) introduced female contestants AOA, Lovelyz, Oh My Girl, MAMAMOO, (G)I-DLE, and Park Bom. Season 2 proceeded with WJSN, Hyolyn, Brave Girls, VIVIZ, Kep1er, and LOONA. MAMAMOO secured their triumph on Season 1, while WJSN bagged the win for Season 2.

Other Details for 'Queendom Puzzle'

The first announcement for "Queendom Puzzle" was made on January 26, when a source from Mnet confirmed the spin-off.

Additionally, the new program will involve Lee Yeon Kyu, the director for "Queendom 2" and the one appointed for the new show.

With the upcoming program nearby, viewers are expected to tune in, to see who will join the artist lineup. The K-pop community will receive another bop-delivering group, who'll join 2023's roster of talents in the music industry.

Are you excited for Mnet's upcoming program? Tell us in the comments below!

Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Queendom, Street Man Fighter and More: Mnet Reveals Another Sequels of Successfully Ended Shows

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Israel Monte
After attending his first trial, the prosecutors asked the Seoul court to put VIXX Ravi in jail for two years after violating THIS law.

VIXX Ravi Sentenced To 2 Years Jail Time, Idol Apologizes For Faking Epilepsy

On April 11, VIXX Ravi who was earlier indicted on charges of violating the Military Service Act received his sentence after a hearing.

On this day, the idol showed up at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon to attend his first trial along with nine other people accused of military service evasion.

The celebrity was initially suspected of trying to dodge his military service by paying a broker named Koo (47) to fake his medical records. He pretended that he had fainted to get an examination from the hospital. When he arrived, the doctor gave him a fake diagnosis of epilepsy, justifying why he can't fulfill an active duty and submitted it to the Military Manpower Administration.

Eventually, Ravi ended up enlisted as a social worker.

As a result, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Ravi to two years in prison at the first trial of charges, including violating the Military Service Act, held at 10 a.m. KST. The hearing was led by Judge Kim Jung Ki of the Seoul Southern District Court.

Kim (37), co-chairman of Ravi's agency, GROOVL1N, was also sentenced to two years in prison.

The prosecution then said:

"The crime is poor in that Ravi, Nafla, and Kim systematically conspired with military service brokers to apply for epilepsy or discharge from the call. They have confessed to the court, but they have consistently made excuses or denied before presenting objective evidence at the time of the investigation."

VIXX Ravi Apologizes For Violating Military Service Act

During the trial, Ravi explained the reason he was able to do such a violation, saying:

"At the time, I was the only profitable artist in the company, and due to the delay in the implementation of the contract transferred to COVID-19, a large penalty could be incurred for violating the contract."

However, he admitted that this doesn't fully justify his action and continued by apologizing to everyone and said:

"I apologize to everyone who serves faithfully and to epilepsy patients and families who must have been hurt by me."

Earlier, Ravi who initially denied he was involved in the evasion, admitted to all the charges later on and released a statement:

"I made a foolish choice that I shouldn't have made. I will not forget this moment from now on and live with a penitent heart for the rest of my life."

On the other hand, rapper Nafla, who was sentenced to two years and a half in prison along with Ravi, also explained:

"The hard-won popularity was so precious and I was afraid that my popularity would disappear due to enlistment. I happened to know military service broker Koo and made a foolish decision. I will admit all my mistakes and receive all my sins."

He added:

"If I am given a single opportunity, I will faithfully fulfill my military service obligations and live as a proud Korean citizen."

READ MORE: VIXX Ravi Narrates How He Scouted MAMAMOO Wheein

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.
The photographer behind the world's 'most viewed photo ever' has opened up about the circumstances surrounding when he took it.

If you took what is widely regarded as being the world's 'most viewed photo ever' you think you'd probably have spent a lot of time preparing and practising for the shot, but for photographer Chuck O'Rear, he says he was simply in the right place at the right time.

The 81-year-old has opened up about how he took the world's 'most viewed photo' and the response it's had since it was released.

Chuck O'Rear's photograph is widely considered to be the world's 'most viewed photo ever'. Credit: YouTube/ Shoot The Rabbit/ Bart Leferink/ Marcel Buunk

In an interview with People, O'Rear explained he 'always' carries a camera around with him because 'you just never know'.

He adds: "I used to pull over often to take photos. I think the scenery there was so beautiful."

O'Rear took what is considered to be the world's 'most viewed photo' in January 1996 when on his way to visit his now-wife of 20 years, Daphne Larkin, driving from his house in St Helena, California to hers in Marin County.

The image was taken between St Helena, California and Marin County. Credit: YouTube/ Shoot The Rabbit/ Bart Leferink/ Marcel Buunk

The image? It's called 'Bliss'.

If you weren't brought up solely on MacBooks, you'll recognise it as being the background image of your Microsoft computer screen.

Luscious, green gentle hills flowing into one another accompanied by a rolling blue sky spotted with perfect, fluffy, white clouds - the picturesque image made opening up the computer to do touch typing lessons worth it.

'Bliss' by Chuck O'Rear. Credit: Microsoft Windows XP

But surely the image of a Wizard of Oz-like beautiful world must have been photoshopped? Such heaven can't really exist?

Well, it wasn't. "When it's on film, what you see is what you get," O'Rear explains - the photographer taking the image using a Mamiya RZ67 camera with colour Fuji Film and a tripod.

"There was nothing unusual. I used a film that had more brilliant colours, the Fuji Film at that time, and the lenses of the RZ67 were just remarkable.

"The size of the camera and film together made the difference and I think helped the Bliss photograph stand out even more. I think if I had shot it with 35 millimetre, it would not have nearly the same effect," O'Rear says in a video for Microsoft, shot by cameraman Bar Leferink and directed by Marcel Buunk under company Shoot the Rabbit.

O'Rear used a Mamiya RZ67 camera with colour Fuji Film and a tripod. Credit: YouTube/ Shoot The Rabbit/ Bart Leferink/ Marcel Buunk

While the image was 'just another picture for Chuck', it's become the photographer's most famous.

"Twenty-five years at Geographic and nobody ever gives a damn about that," wife Larkin jokes.

O'Rear explains: "I get emails maybe every week or two, something related to the 'Bliss' photograph.

"When I die, although I won't be buried, Daphne has said, on your tombstone, we're not going to say National Geographic, we're going to say 'Photographer of Bliss'."

O'Rear spent 25 years as a photographer at National Geographic. Credit: YouTube/ Shoot The Rabbit/ Bart Leferink/ Marcel Buunk

O'Rears' image ended up in the lap of Microsoft's Bill Gates, after Gates' Corbis group bought Westlight stock photo agency in 1998 - Westlight the agency the photographer originally submitted 'Bliss' to.

'Bliss' was bought by Microsoft for a 'low six-figure' sum of over $100,000 - the exact amount unknown - and it became the Windows XP desktop image we all know, love and have nonchalantly stared at wishing we could transport to where the image was taken.

However, the transaction didn't go as smoothly as planned. O'Rear paid such a high sum for the image that Fed Ex 'wouldn't touch it' because of how hefty the insurance would be. This meant O'Rear had to hop on a plane and hand deliver the original photograph to Microsoft's Seattle office himself, as per St Helena Star.

Although, it was worth it for a six-figure sum and free plane ride, O'Rear certainly ended up getting paid more than another photographer who's image ended up being used by Microsoft, Peter Burin, receiving a measly $45 cut in comparison for the 'Autumn' wallpaper, as per PetaPixel.

There's no way for O'Rear to ever escape the photo, it's 'everywhere'. Credit: YouTube/ Shoot The Rabbit/ Bart Leferink/ Marcel Buunk

'Bliss' is ultimately the image that has followed the photographer to this day - no matter where he's travelled around the world he can't escape it.

"The image is everywhere as we all know. [...] The picture, no matter where we've been in the world - India, Thailand, Greece - that picture is always there, either on some old computer in an upscale hotel that hasn't been updated in 30 years in the lobby the people are checking you in on, or, we saw that picture in billboards, airplanes, at airports," O'Rear reflects. "We were walking through the Chicago airport years ago and there it was."

He resolves: "I have a theory that anybody now from aged 15 on for the rest of their life will remember this photograph.


Sri Lanka concluded its 4th Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) during the 42nd Session of the UPR Working Group on Wednesday 1st February in Geneva. Sri Lankas National Report was prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with input from government ministries and agencies through an inclusive and broad-based process where civil society organizations and the National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka were also consulted.

The UPR is conducted as a review mechanism by the UPR Working Group of the UN Human Rights Council in four year cycles. Sri Lankas last UPR review was in 2017.

Delivering the opening statement via a pre-recorded statement, the Head of Delegation, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry highlighted the progress and achievements made by Sri Lanka since its last review including the implementation of the recommendations accepted. Sri Lanka envisages 2023, the 75th anniversary of independence, to be a year of socio-economic stabilization, reconciliation, and recovery. The Minister also said that it is important to learn from the past, and it is equally important to move on, to build better and stronger.





The Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Himalee Arunatilaka highlighted legislative and policy measures implemented by Sri Lanka during the reporting period including the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, strengthening efforts on the reconciliation processes and the national independent institutions.





The Sri Lanka delegation responded to the queries and comments from the floor ranging from issues relating to inter alia freedom of expression and assembly, the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), migrant workers, rights of minorities, combating corruption, social protection, rights of women, persons with disabilities, children, food security and progress achieved on SDGs.



The Review was conducted in a constructive atmosphere with the participation of delegates from 106 countries providing their appreciation, comments and recommendations covering a broad range of issues on the floor. Appreciation was expressed for the implementation of recommendations accepted by Sri Lanka in the 3rd Cycle, despite the socio economic challenges posed by the COVID pandemic and global crises.



Serbia, Zambia and Cuba welcomed the implementation of recommendations accepted in the last Cycle.



Bangladesh welcomed efforts to establish gender equality, and curb gender based violence. Bhutan commended Sri Lanka for its concerted efforts and progress in implementing its human rights obligations despite the enormous socio-economic challenges. Nepal welcomed the adoption of the National Nutrition Policy. India took note of the engagement by the Government of Sri Lanka with members of the international community and other organizations on various aspects of human rights situation and reconciliation issues in Sri Lanka. Maldives congratulated the Government for introducing a policy for Gender Mainstreaming in all sectoral Ministries that includes the establishment of gender focal points, gender-responsive budgeting and anti-sexual harassment committees. Pakistan appreciated Sri Lankas continued cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms while also welcoming legislative, administrative measures such as the enactment of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Amendment) Act No 12 of 2022, 21st Amendment to the Constitution and measures under National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.



Thailand commended Sri Lanka for achieving COVID vaccination coverage of its targeted population above WHO targets.



Japan appreciated the positive steps taken by Sri Lanka since the previous review cycle, including the implementation of Amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Japan said it considers it important that the international community support Sri Lankas own efforts to foster reconciliation in the country.



Chile, Egypt and Ireland also noted with appreciation the recent amendments to the PTA.



The UK welcomed Sri Lankas commitments on respect for the rights of those from all religious and ethnic groups and further said Sri Lankas recent efforts to foster political inclusion and constitutional reform are particularly welcome.



Qatar, noted with appreciation the adoption of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. This was also welcomed by Spain. Algeria, welcomed the constitutional amendment of 2022.



Turkiye was pleased to observe that Sri Lanka amended the Prevention of Terrorism Acts and held an All-Party Conference to revive reconciliation process.

Philippines welcomed the recent approval of the establishment of the Office for Overseas Sri Lankans.



Nigeria commended the Government for its unwavering commitment to its international human rights obligations and continued cooperation with human rights mechanisms.



Saudi Arabia commended Sri Lankas tireless work to achieve the goals of sustainable development and combat human trafficking.



Namibia appreciated the specific legislative, policy and institutional measure adopted by Sri Lanka with the aim of fulfilling its obligations under international human rights law.



Oman appreciated the National Action Plan to combat trafficking of persons.



China, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and Malaysia made supportive statements on Sri Lankas efforts.



UAE appreciated ongoing national reconciliation path in line with local priorities and policies.



Several other countries commended Sri Lankas continuous efforts to promote human rights of its people, in particular the adoption of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, work of the independent commissions and domestic reconciliation efforts including the work of the OMP, OR and ONUR. Countries also underlined the importance of the promotion and protection of the rights of children, women, persons with disabilities, older persons and migrants. Many countries appreciated the constructive engagement of Sri Lanka with the UPR process and the efforts take in preparing the national Report.



Belgium appreciated efforts by the government to tackle gender-based violence while noting remaining challenges.



Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Hungary and Vietnam commended Sri Lankas progress made on the SDGs. Several countries welcomed Sri Lankas efforts towards socio-economic stabilization, reconciliation and recovery despite challenges.



While thanking all Government and civil society partners who engaged in the UPR process and the delegations who spoke during the Review, Sri Lankas Permanent Representative in Geneva said that Sri Lanka will carefully consider the recommendations received

In closing the Review, the President of the Council and Chair of the Session, PR of the Czech Republic thanked the Sri Lanka delegation for its engagement and readiness to answer all questions and comments, as well as the preparations which he said were done in an excellent manner.





The delegation of Sri Lanka was led by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry. The delegation in Geneva comprised of the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, senior officials from the Presidential Secretariat, the Attorney Generals Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN, as well as over 20 line Ministries joining virtually from Colombo.

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN

Geneva

1st February 2023
Sri Lanka is deeply concerned over the recent escalation of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the incidents at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the holy month of Ramadan.

Sri Lanka calls on all parties concerned to exercise restraint, maintain calm and take sustained measures to address the worsening humanitarian situation.

Sri Lanka reaffirms its unwavering support for the right of the Palestinian people to statehood in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter and the relevant UN resolutions. Sri Lanka remains committed to supporting a negotiated settlement in line with internationally agreed parameters of two states living side by side on the basis of the 1967 borders, which is key to achieving long term security, peace and prosperity.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

11 April 2023
New Delhi [India], April 11 (ANI): Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, has released the report of State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22. The efficiency index was released during the Review, Planning and Monitoring meeting here in the national capital on Monday.

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 the financial year 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Also Read | Presidential Visit: China Eyes Closer Ties with Brazil.

In 2021-22, five states -- Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana -- are in the Front Runner category while four states -- Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab -- are in the Achiever category, according to an official release from Ministry of Power.

Further, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Chandigarh are the top-performing states in their respective state groups. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed the most improvement since the last index.

Also Read | YouTube Music Rolls-Out Slew of New Features Including Real-Time Lyrics; Here's All the Key Details.

"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 nation's climate commitments," said Singh.

The Index improves data collection, enables cross-state collaboration, and develops energy efficiency program ideas. It helps states identify areas for improvement, learn from best practices, and adopt an economy-wide approach to energy efficiency implementation. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
German companies are training young Africans to become IT experts, also for the German market. The plan hopes to reduce the shortage of skilled workers in Germany and give Africans a perspective in their home countries.Augustine Normanyo was unemployed for months after completing his IT studies in Ghana's capital Accra. "After my studies I looked for a job in the tech industry," Normanyo told DW. But due to his lack of practical experience, he had no success.

Also Read | World News | Hungary Concludes New Energy Agreements with Russia.

Until a friend introduced him to the company AmaliTech. Now, a year later, Normanyo is almost finished with his advanced training as a software engineer. "At the moment, my goal is to work in the service center and further develop my skills."

Also Read | Business News | Lords The Hygiene India Launches #THIMovement Campaign to Foster a Holistic Hygiene Culture in India.

AmaliTech offers graduates paid jobs that provide them with income. As a result, some of them can get a position in the German market without leaving Ghana.

The tech company, headquartered in Cologne, Germany, brings skilled workers from its two locations in Ghana and Rwanda with local and international customers. As a result, the next generation of technology experts is being built up in Africa, and in the future, it will offer Germany a way out of the shortage of skilled workers in the IT sector.

An exemplary model for the IT sector

"I think once you get a new opportunity at Amalitech, you can make it in any technology field in the world," said Bilal Abubakari, who was recruited as an engineering information technology student when he met Amalitech's talent scouts on campus.

After graduation, he immediately joined the IT company and is enthusiastic about professionalism. "They give a very good insight into the industry sector, so you really know what's going on," Abubakari told DW.

According to economist Eckhardt Bode of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, this model should set a precedent. "The African continent offers great potential to reduce the local labor shortage," Bode told DW.

"Be it by outsourcing work that cannot be done in Germany because of the lack of labor, as practiced by the company Amalitech, or through immigration of skilled workers from Africa."

Is Germany ready to welcome African workers?

Bode said there needs to be a greater change in how German society perceives immigrants. "Are we Germans really willing to accept immigration?" Bode asked.

He warned that the shortage of skilled workers or labor could become a brake on growth and prosperity in Germany in the future, stressing that Berlin needed to take more decisive countermeasures than in the past.

"Without greater immigration of workers, we will, in all probability, not be able to solve this brake on prosperity."

With increasing digitization, the tech sector is particularly affected. Many IT projects in German public administrations do not function exceptionally well.

Germany's companies currently lack 137,000 IT experts across all sectors, reports the digital industry association Bitkom.

A win-win for Africa and Germany

But the IT market offers a win-win situation for both sides through the possibility of being trained and working digitally from anywhere in the world. That's a good prospect for young Africans and German companies.

"In this way, the skilled labor base is strengthened globally to reduce harmful effects such as brain drain," Najim Azahaf, a migration expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, told DW.

Internationally, there are many pilot projects with different models, for example, in Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. But according to Azahaf, there is a need to look more closely at countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where the initial hurdles may be somewhat greater, but the potential for all sides is all the greater.

Certain prejudices of investors and the question of compatibility often stand in the way, the migration expert added.

Seizing the opportunity in Africa

Africa has a demographic surplus of young people. Azahaf is convinced that this opportunity must be seized and that there are promising approaches in North Africa in Tunisia and Morocco.

However, many talented young people in South and East Africa work as software developers and programmers for German and European customers. In 2019, Anja Schlosser founded the company Code of Africa in Hamburg to build flexible and well-trained young teams in East Africa.

Ten full-time employees now work at the company's headquarters in Rwanda, plus 40 additional IT staff are available for services from the networks in Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Our focus is that the young people do not emigrate but can build a sustainable life for themselves in East Africa and secure a working income," Schlosser told DW.

Pioneering: AmaliTech's recipe for success

Salami Suleiman, a trainer at Amalitech, is convinced that his trainees can succeed. "We know that the employees with whom we started the service center and who now work for us are developing and taking on leadership positions," Suleiman said.

AmaliTech offers structure and goes on a "learning journey" with beginners. So-called "soft skills" also play an essential role, Suleiman said, adding that communication, adaptability, flexibility, and the ability to work in a team are vital too.

"In some ways, these skills have become almost more important than technical skills." In his opinion, the education system has so far short-changed that.

IT specialists Bilal Abubakari and Augustine Normanyo plan to stay in Ghana for now. Abubakari hopes to work on a client project in the future."If I stay at Amalitech, I can follow this path, and in ten years I could then look at other markets, for example in Europe."

This article was initially written in German.

Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 11, 2023 06:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi [India], April 11 (ANI): Amid multiple reports of unruly behaviour by passengers onboard flights, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to all airlines asking them to action against such behaviours during flight operations.

The advisory comes in the wake of a London-bound Air India flight returning to Delhi airport following a mid-air brawl in which a passenger caused "physical harm" to cabin crew members. The advisory also cited several other incidents that have happened in the recent past.

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"In the recent past, DGCA has noticed a few incidents of smoking in aircraft. consumption of alcoholic beverages resulting in unruly behaviour, altercations between passengers and sometimes inappropriate touching or sexual harassment by the passengers on board the aircraft during the flight, wherein post holders, pilots and Cabin Crew members have failed to take appropriate actions. Such incidents have the potential of compromising the safety of aircraft operations," read the advisory.

"The individual's/Airline's responsibility for handling incidents of unruly behaviour including smoking in aircraft, consumption of alcoholic beverages resulting in unruly behaviour, altercations between passengers and incidents of inappropriate touching or sexual harassment by the passengers on board the aircraft during the flight have been specified under various provisions of the Aircraft Rules 1937, DGCA regulations. circulars and manuals of Airlines approved/ accepted by DCGA," it read.

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The DGCA advised airlines to sensitise their pilots, cabin crew and post-holders on handling unruly passengers.

"Heads of operations of all Airlines are hereby advised to sensitize their pilots, Cabin Crew and post holders on the handling of unruly passengers through appropriate means including but not limited to training programmes for ensuring effective monitoring, maintenance of good order and discipline on board the aircraft safety of aircraft operations is not jeopardized in any manner," it read.

Earlier, on Monday, the AI flight, which took off for Heathrow Airport (London) around 6.30 am, returned to Delhi airport around 10 am after the crew reported to pilots about the physical altercation mid-flight.

In a statement, 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. 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 the Indira Gandhi International airport in the national capital, Air India filed a police complaint accusing the passenger of "indecent behaviour".

Legal action was being pursued against the said passenger, the airline said in its statement.

The airline informed further that it also informed the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), about the incident.

Earlier, in January, a man, identified as Shankar Mishra, was arrested for allegedly urinating on a woman on board an AI flight on November 26 last year. The Delhi Police arrested him on January 6 this year.

It was alleged that Mishra, in an inebriated state, urinated on a 70-year-old woman on a New York-Delhi flight on November 26, last year.

Delhi Police had registered an FIR against him on January 4 on a complaint given by the woman to Air India.

The police registered an FIR under sections 354, 509, and 510 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 23 of the Indian Aircraft Act. Both the accused and the victim are from outside Delhi. (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, April 11: BJP's first list of candidates for the Assembly polls in Karnataka, covering a large number of constituencies will be released either by tonight or tomorrow, once Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders give final approval to it, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Tuesday.

BJP's leadership and ideals are different from other parties and it is ready to take difficult decisions to create a new tradition in politics with commitment, the Chief Minister said, as he tried to defend senior legislators retiring from electoral politics or the party asking some of them to make way for others. Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: CM Basavraj Bommai To Contest From Shiggaon Constituency.

Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa today told the party's central leadership that he wishes to retire from electoral politics and requested it to not consider fielding him in the Assembly polls, while former chief minister Jagadish Shettar said the party top brass told him to make way for others, but asserted he wants to contest one last time. Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Congress Leader Siddaramaiah to Contest From Kolar Constituency.

"After several rounds of discussions, everything has been finalised. After the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) comes back to Delhi, after discussing with him, the list will be released. The list will be released in two stages, the first list will have a big number (candidates)," Bommai said.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he said the first list will be announced any time, at the earliest. "We have done our job, the leadership will hold a round of discussion and announce...maybe today or tomorrow."

Party leaders have been holding a series of meetings in Delhi for the last two days to finalise the list. State BJP strongman and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa has already indicated that the first list may contain the names of 170 to 180 candidates.

Bommai had on Sunday said after the party's Central Election Committee meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave some directions. The Chief Minister had told reporters on Monday that the party is working on various inputs. He, however, did not elaborate on the nature of directions or inputs.

There are speculations that the central leadership is unhappy with some leaders or legislators seeking tickets for their children too; also some sitting legislators and incumbent ministers may not make it to the list. A large pool of aspirants is also said to be a cause of concern for the party.

Asked about reports that over 20 sitting MLAs may not get the ticket this time, Bommai said several senior leaders like Yediyurappa (Shikaripura), S A Ravindranath (Davangere North), and Halady Srinivas Shetty (Kundapur) have already announced retirement from electoral politics; so there will be changes in those constituencies.

Regarding Eshwarappa opting out of the Assembly polls, the Chief Minister said he had informed this to state leaders, including him, in private.

"We were telling him that we need him because of his seniority and experience and out of love and affection towards him, but after discussions he has decided and written a letter to the National President (J P Nadda). Already, a few of our senior leaders have spoken to him, during which he has insisted that his letter should be accepted. The National President will decide on it," he said.

This shows the creation of a culture in BJP that after attaining a level of seniority in politics, leaders should make way for others, the Chief Minister said. This has happened in the BJP in other states and now it is happening in Karnataka too.

"Eshwarappa's experience is required for the party, so I urge him to continue in politics. Regarding contesting elections or not, our national leadership will decide," he said, while pointing out that the difference is Congress has given a ticket to 91-year-old Shamanuru Shivashankarappa to contest polls.

"Our leadership and ideals are different from other parties and that it is ready to take difficult decisions to create a new tradition with commitment," he said.

The BJP is bringing in "newness" in everything including administration, it is bringing in accountability, and also indulging in pro-incumbency politics, by going before the people with a report card on the work done, Bommai contended.

To a question on Shettar, Bommai said he has conveyed the former CM's sentiments regarding contesting polls to the party leadership. "I have spoken to Jagadish Shettar, he is a senior leader. He said he wants to do more work in the constituency, some work is pending, and wants to get a respectful retirement, and asked for one more opportunity (to contest polls) to complete work. I have informed the leadership about his sentiments," he said.

Asked about reports that senior leaders who have crossed the age of 70 may announce retirement from electoral politics, Bommai said, "I'm not aware of such things, other than Eshwarappa."

Responding to a question about the possibility of former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi joining Congress, the BJP leader said he was in constant touch with him.

"He has asked for Athani seat and it is true that he has put pressure for it, but as Mahesh Kumtalli, who had helped BJP to form government in Karnataka in 2019 (by defecting from Congress) is also seeking ticket from there, we are discussing with him, and have asked him not to take any extreme step for any reason. I will talk to him once again."

The filing of nominations will begin on April 13, with the poll notification being issued, and the last day for filing papers is April 20. The BJP, aiming to return to power in Karnataka with absolute majority, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the Assembly.

While the Congress has already announced a total of 166 candidates, including Karnataka Sarvodaya Party's Darshan Puttannaiah for whom it has extended support in Melukote constituency, in two lists, JD(S) has announced one list of 93 candidates. Voting will take place in a single phase across the state on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Coochbehar(West Bengal) [Indai] April 11(ANI): In yet another success in its drive against trans-border crimes and narcotics trafficking, and foiling a smuggling bid, Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday apprehended two narcotic smugglers with prohibited Yaba Tablets and cough syrup on Indo-Bangladesh international border. BSF said the smugglers are from Kayeterbari village in the Coochbehar district of West Bengal. The contraband items seized from them cost Rs 9,90,000.

The crackdown was done in a special operation launched on 10th April 2023 based on reliable inputs, said officials of the BSF. The consignment was meant to be smuggled from India to Bangladesh. The apprehended smugglers and seized items were handed to the police for further legal action.

Also Read | Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: BJP's First List of Candidates for Upcoming Polls All Set To Be Released, Says CM Basavaraj Bommai.

Considering the vulnerability of the border to heightened activities of drug traffickers and anti-national elements, BSF troops are always on the alert to thwart trans-border crimes including drug trafficking and are making all-out efforts to prevent the commission of such crimes.

Smugglers use the porous Indo-Bangladesh border for their illegal activities. So border security forces are on increased alert. Many contraband seizures were made along the Indo-Bangladesh border by the police of the respective border states and BSF in the recent past.

Also Read | India Will Become Third Largest Economy in the World, Says Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey.

For instance, on April 4 apprehending two persons, Assam Police seized 20,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 40 lakh in Assam's Karimganj district along the Indo-Bangladesh border. The seizure was done when the police, based on input, raided a house in the Pirerchowk Chandsrikona area of the district.

"When we raided a house owned by Abdul Khaleque, a veteran drug criminal, we recovered 20,000 Yaba tablets weighing about 2.095 kg from the house. We have apprehended Abdul Khaleque and another person named Emamuddin. Our investigation is on," Gitartha Dev Sarma Deputy Superintendent of Police of Karimganj district. (ANI).

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 11 (ANI): Weeks ahead of the Assembly elections in Karnataka, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader KS Eshwarappa on Tuesday announced his decision to quit electoral politics.

Responding to the development, BJP leader Chalavadi T Narayanswamy said that it is a welcome decision by a senior leader.

Also Read | India Rejects China's Objection to Home Minister Amit Shah's Visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "He (Narayanswamy) has served the party for 40-45 years. Now, it is his decision. He believes that youth have to come up and take the responsibility. They want new blood in politics".

Narayanswamy also said that another BJP leader Halady Srinivas Shetty has backed away from candidature in the upcoming elections.

Also Read | Bombay High Court Quashes Case Involving Rape Threats Against Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's Daughter Vamika.

"Not just him, Halady Srinivas Shetty, who wants to continuously win elections, has also backed away from candidature. He (Halady Srinivas Shetty) has asked the party to field whomever they want. Such decisions are taken by senior leaders in the interest of the party and the country," he added.

On being asked, if his son KE Kantesh will be getting the ticket from that seat, Narayanswamy said that only the high command can take that decision.

"We don't know about that. Only the party high command will decide whether to accommodate his (Eshwarappa) son or not," he said.

As per the sources, some more senior party leaders may quit electoral politics ahead of the ticket announcement.

Earlier in the day, BJP MLA from Shivamogga, KS Eshwarappa said that he would not contest the Karnataka Assembly Elections scheduled next month.

In a letter to BJP president JP Nadda, Eshwarappa said, "I am withdrawing from electoral politics."

"The party gave me a lot of responsibilities in the last 40 years, from a booth in charge to the state party chief. I also had the honour of becoming Deputy Chief Minister. Thank you so much." He added in the letter.

Earlier on Sunday, senior BJP leaders arrived at the party headquarters in the national capital to attend the Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting for the Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled to be held next month.

BJP is yet to declare any list of candidates for the upcoming polls.

Union Minister Amit Shah on April 8, held a meeting at BJP president Nadda's residence in the national capital to discuss and finalise the list of candidates for the state polls.

Party sources said the core group of the BJP in Karnataka have shortlisted three names for each Assembly seat, which will be placed before the Central Election Committee. The party's central leadership will brainstorm these names before locking the candidates.

BJP's core group on April 4, drew up a shortlist of candidates in a meeting with the party's national general secretary Arun Singh, state election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, co-in-charge Mansukh Mandaviya, Central Election Committee member Annamalai, former chief minister Yediyurappa and his successor and incumbent Basavaraj Bommai.

Karnataka, which is the only southern state where BJP is in power, is currently witnessing a high-pitched poll campaign as the saffron party bids to retain their hold of the state.

A top BJP source said the ruling party has planned to carpet-bomb the state with campaigns featuring heavyweights.

In 2018, 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 term of the current Karnataka Legislative Assembly is set to end on May 24, this year. Assembly elections for 224 seats of Karnataka are slated to take place on May 10, and the counting for which will be held on May 13. (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 11 (ANI): India will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Young Authors' Conference in New Delhi on April 12-13.

The conference is part of the calendar of events drawn up by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, under the current Chairmanship of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Also Read | Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: BJP's First List of Candidates for Upcoming Polls All Set To Be Released, Says CM Basavaraj Bommai.

"The Ministry of Education, GoI has been designated to organise the Young Authors' Conference with National Book Trust, India, an autonomous organisation, under the Ministry of Education, as the Implementing Agency," Education Ministry said in a statement.

The Ministry said that the theme of the Conference is Civilizational Dialogue amongst the SCO member nations - Perspectives from Young Scholars, with the sub-themes of History and Philosophy, Economy, Religion, Culture, Literature and Science and Medicine.

Also Read | India Will Become Third Largest Economy in the World, Says Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey.

During the Joint Address of Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for Youth held in 2018, a wide policy framework for the engagement of youth power of the SCO member states was laid down in order to channelise them into a creative and productive path enabling better global understanding and dialogue.

"The two-day SCO Young Authors' Conference will provide a dynamic platform to explore the avenues of modern education, training and advanced training of youth, wider involvement in entrepreneurial activities and innovative projects," Ministry added

During the ongoing "SCO Council of Heads of States" Presidency of India, SCO aims at advancing the theme of 'SECURE' (Security, Economic cooperation, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environment), articulated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi initially at the SCO Summit in Qingdao in 2018.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organisation founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001. The SCO currently comprises eight member states (India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). (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 11 (ANI): Former Delhi Cabinet Minister Satyendar Jain has moved two petitions in Rouse Avenue court seeking the transfer of the trial of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases for alleged corruption and money laundering to another judge.

Presently special judge Vikas Dhul is hearing both the cases of Satyendar Jain.

Also Read | UP Police File 30-Page Chargesheet Against Man for Tying Stone to Rat's Tail and Drowning It in Badaun.

Jain is presently confined in Tihar Jail in relation to money laundering being probed by Enforcement Directorate.

During the hearing on Tuesday, it was informed to the Court that a transfer petition has been filed in the ED case also. On which the hearing will now be held on April 13 in the district judge's court.

Also Read | Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: BJP's First List of Candidates for Upcoming Polls All Set To Be Released, Says CM Basavaraj Bommai.

Noting the submissions, Special Judge Vikas Dhul, who is hearing the case in Rouse Avenue Court, adjourned the hearing of the case till April 17.

In the CBI matter, Satyendar Jain recently moved an application seeking the transfer of this case to another court. On this, the Principal District Judge Vinay Gupta had stayed the proceedings in the corruption case being investigated by CBI till May 4, when he is scheduled to hear the arguments on the application.

Earlier the Special Judge had denied the bail to Satyendar Jain in the ED case and said that applicant/accused Satyendar Kumar Jain has prima facie indulged in the offence of money laundering of more than Rs 1 Crore.

"Further, the offence of money laundering is a serious economic offence and the view of the Supreme Court of India with regard to economic offences is that they constitute a class apart and need to be visited with a different approach in the matter of bail," the court said.

Last week, the Delhi High Court dismissed Satyendar Jain and two others' bail petitions in a money laundering case and said that it does not find any illegality or perversity in the trial court Judge's order. The order rejecting the bail applications are well-reasoned orders based on material on record.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said, "I consider that petitioners have failed to meet the twin conditions as provided under Section 45 PMLA as well as the conditions as laid down under Section 439 Cr.P.C. and are thus not entitled to bail. Hence, the bail applications are rejected."

The bench further noted that the constantly changing pattern of the shareholding in the companies clearly indicates that Satyendar Kumar Jain was indirectly controlling the affairs of the companies. The evidence on record though speaks volumes but has not been discussed or examined in detail so as to not cause prejudice to the petitioner.

The ED case is based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint registered on the allegation that Satyendar Jain had acquired movable properties in the name of various persons from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, which he could not satisfactorily account for. (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 11 (PTI) Serving of around 16 crore midday meals worth over Rs 100 crore were over-reported by the local administration in West Bengal from April to September last year, a panel appointed by the Ministry of Education has found.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) had in January constituted the 'joint review mission' (JRM) to review the implementation of centrally sponsored scheme PM POSHAN in West Bengal following complaints of irregularities.

Also Read | Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: 'Asked' Not To Contest, Former CM Jagadish Shettar Refuses To Give Into BJP Leadership.

The panel noted "serious discrepancies in information submitted regarding number of meals served at various levels".

"According to the first and second Quarterly Progress Reports (QPRs) submitted to the Government of India by the state government, about 140.25 crore meals had been served under PM Poshan scheme during April to September, 2022. However, as per the QPRs submitted by the districts to the state, the number of meals served was about 124.22 crore.

Also Read | UP Police File 30-Page Chargesheet Against Man for Tying Stone to Rat's Tail and Drowning It in Badaun.

"Thus, there is an over-reporting of over 16 crore meals which is a serious issue. The corresponding material cost works out to be Rs 100 crore," the report said.

The panel also questioned the diversion of funds meant for the scheme to pay compensation to fire victims, misallocation of food grains, cooking of rice, dal and vegetables up to 70 per cent less than prescribed quantities, and usage of expired packets of condiments.

The joint review mission, which comprised nutrition experts and officers from the Centre and the state government, reviewed the implementation of the scheme, formerly known as the midday meal scheme, in the state and district and school levels for a specified period of time on defined parameters.

"The state used to claim that more than 95 per cent children availed midday meals on an average basis. However, in all the schools visited, the number of children availing these meals was between 60 to 85 per cent during the period," it said.

The team also reviewed the fund flow from state to schools or implementing agencies, coverage of the scheme, management structure at state, district, block levels, delivery mechanism of food grains from state to schools, construction of kitchen-cum-stores, procurement or replacement of kitchen devices, among others.

On April 3, Bengal's Education Minister Bratya Basu tweeted that the JRM which visited schools "across the length and breadth" of the state in February had submitted its report without even informing the project director from the state.

"They have submitted their report without even informing the project director (PD), CMDM, who was the state representative on the team, let alone getting his signature on the report... this is another example of a blatant violation of the Centre-state relations that the central government does regularly," he had tweeted.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)




"The aid includes tons of food, kitchen utensils, bottled water, tents, tools, machinery, such as backhoes, water pumps, roof panels, which will be distributed to the regions of Piura, Tumbes and Lambayeque," the President of the Republic Dina Boluarte said prior to its sailing.





"The humanitarian aid is a part of the State's response, in addition to the transfer of resources; the aim is for regional and local governments in the affected areas to attend to the emergency," she remarked.





the Government's decision to use all land, air and naval units of the Armed Forces to assist the population in the face of heavy rains. For his part, Defense Minister Jorge Chavez stated that this delivery is part ofto assist the population in the face of heavy rains.





"The largest amount of volume and weight is carried on board this multipurpose vessel for the installation of shelters, equipment, and transfer of motorized pumps, whose weight is difficult to transport by land or air," he indicated.





Out of the total goods, 460 tons are sent by the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci) and include roof panels, metal beds, tents, wheelbarrows, bedspreads, kitchen utensils, shovels, picks, bags, and a water purification tank, among other goods.





The abovementioned goods are distributed as follows: 65.45 tons to Tumbes, 204.29 tons to Piura, and 189.85 tons to Lambayeque.





Meanwhile, a total of 74 tons are sent by the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation to Piura, and are made up of eight water pumps, three backhoes, roof panels, food, and bottled water.





The vessel's journey will last approximately 36 hours. BAP Pisco is expected to arrive at the Port of Paita at 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday.





(END) NDP/JCR/RMB

The multi-purpose vessel BAP Pisco on Monday morning departed from Callao Naval Base to the Port of Paita, in Piura, carrying more than 500 tons of humanitarian aid and machinery for the regions of Tumbes, Piura, and Lambayeque, in order to assist the population affected by floods caused by heavy rains.Publicado: 10/4/2023
Jaipur, Apr 11 (PTI) The Rajasthan BJP took a dig at the ruling Congress in the state over Sachin Pilot's day-long fast here on Tuesday, saying those who helped the party form the government were "on the streets" protesting against it now.

BJP leaders, including leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore, party's state president CP Joshi and Rajya Sabha member Ghanshyam Tiwari led a 'Jan Aakrosh Rally' in Churu and submitted a memorandum to the district collector, raising various issues such as law and order, corruption and non-fulfilment of promises made to people by the Congress party.

Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Jilted Lover Stabs Minor Girl for Ending Relationship, Turning Down Marriage Proposal in Badarpur.

"The rally is being organised at a time when leaders of Congress are on the streets against their own government. This rally has done the work to put the last nail in the coffin of the Congress government," Rathore told reporters in Churu.

His reference was to Congress leader Sachin Pilot, who held a day-long fast in Jaipur on Tuesday to press his party's government to act on cases of alleged corruption related to the previous BJP government. Pilot launched his fast disregarding a warning by Congress, which said a protest against the Rajasthan government would amount to anti-party activity and go against its interest.

Also Read | India Rejects China's Objection to Home Minister Amit Shah's Visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

Asked about Pilot's demand for action in corruption cases during the BJP rule, Rathore said the Congress leader did not raise the issue in the last four years and did not speak about it in the state assembly. Rathore claimed Pilot was using BJP's shoulder to "end his own frustration" with the Ashok Gehlot government.

Pilot and Gehlot have been at loggerheads ever since the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan in December 2018. On several occasions, their feud has spiralled into the public embarrassing their party.

Pilot was the Rajasthan Congress chief when the party came to power and he was later made the deputy chief minister. However, he was removed from the posts in July 2020 after he led a rebellion against the Gehlot government.

Having a dig at the Congress over Pilot's day-long fast, BJP state president Joshi said the people under whose leadership the Congress fought the last assembly polls were protesting against their own government.

Joshi said Pilot's protest suggests there has been corruption under the Gehlot government.

"In every district, corruption, crime against women and crime against SC/STs have occurred," he added.

Meanwhile, Rathore exuded confidence that the BJP would sweep the Shekhawati region  comprising Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu  in the upcoming assembly polls and a BJP government would be formed in the state.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru, April 11: As the Amul vs Nandini battle heats up in poll-bound Karnataka, at the heart of a seemingly corporate war is the Kannadiga pride and the rural economy dependent on the home-grown brand and the ruling BJP may have to do a tightrope walking to steer clear of the issue that may well dominate the political narrative in the coming days, much as it has hogged the limelight over the weekend.

What is the Amul Vs Nandini battle. Why does the opposition see red over the Gujarat dairy brand's Bengaluru foray with its brand of milk and curd. An explainer from PTI seeks to shed light on the issue. Amul Vs Nandini: We Want to Protect Our Farmers, Says DK Shivakumar on Karnataka Milk Row (Watch Video).

Gujarat-based dairy cooperative Amul's announcement on April 5 to enter enter the Karnataka market to supply its milk and curd has given the opposition yet another ammunition to fire at the ruling BJP, much as it came months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement that the two brands' cooperation could "do wonders" for the dairy sector. Shah also holds the Cooperation portfolio.

The opposition Congress and the JD(S) have trained their guns at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state when the assembly elections are just a month away, expressing fears that Nandini, the Rs 21,000 crore brand, from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), could be merged with the Gujarat-based Amul. The people of the state have an emotional connect with Nandini.

The opposition alleges that the BJP wants to merge the 49-year-old KMC's Nandini with its much elder Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) so that there could be "One nation, one Amul" in the country. The BJP has emphatically rejected the charge. Amul Milk Price Hike: Prices of All Variants of Amul Pouch Milk Increased by Rs 2 Per Litre in Gujarat, Check New MRP Here.

AICC general secretary and Karnataka party in-charge Randeep Surjewala alleged the BJP was trying to "sell off" Nandini. Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy too flayed the state government on this issue.

Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) second-in-command, alleged Amul has this 'bad thinking' to finish off its lone competitor Nandini in Karnataka itself.

The BJP led central government's official policy is "One Nation, One Amul, One Milk and One Gujarat," he said.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the government is clear on the issue of Amul. Accusing Congress of politicising Amul's entry to Karnataka, Bommai said: "We have absolute clarity with regard to Amul. Nandini is a national brand. It is not restricted to Karnataka. We have popularised Nandini as a brand in other states as well."

The Chief Minister stressed that several major dairies of KMF in the state have been established during BJP rule. While a litre of Nandini's toned milk costs Rs 39, the same quantity of Amul is priced at Rs 52.

Amul vs Nandini Battle in Karnataka Explained:

1. Why Amul's announcement to sell its milk and curd in Karnataka became an issue?

In December last, Amit Shah during the inauguration of KMF's mega dairy in Mandya said the "cooperation between Amul and Nandini can do wonders in the dairy sector". The opposition called it a plan to merge Nandini with Gujarat, which the ruling BJP in Karnataka rubbished.

In the last week of March this year, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) directed to write "Dahi" in Hindi on curd packets apart from the local nomenclature, which the opposition parties called an imposition of the language.

2. 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).

3. 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.

4. What is the BJP government's defence?

It has dismissed the charge saying there is no plan to merge Nandini with Amul. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai charged alleged the Congress and the JD(S) are trying to mislead people and create fear among them. He said the milk production increased during the current saffron party rule.

5.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.

6. What is the size of Nandini's business?

The second largest cooperative institution after Amul, Nandini is a Rs 21,000 crore brand of the KMF, according to BAMUL director P Nagaraju. He adds Amul produces 1.8 crore litres of milk everyday while the KMF produces over 90 lakh litres a day.

7. Why is Nandini a market leader?

Nagaraju says milk prices are competitive, quality is superior with zero adulteration, good network of milk producers and milk union and people's pride in the products.

8. Where else does KMF sell its products other than Karnataka?

Nandini products are sold in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Maharashtra. Some of its products are exported too.

9.If Nandini can sell its products in other states, what is wrong in Amul doing business in Karnataka?

According to Nagaraju, Maharashtra State Cooperative Milk Federation Limited, also known as Mahanand Dairy, is not doing good business ever since Amul entered the market. Similarly, the cooperative milk federations did not pick up much in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

10. Why is it vital for the Karnataka BJP to steer clear of this controversy?

When the rural economy is dependent on KMF and the emotions of Kannadigas are deeply attached to the Nandini brand, it is essential for the ruling BJP to come out clean to retain power after the May 10 assembly polls. The Congress and the JD(S) are leaving no stone unturned to make it a major poll plank, which has the potential to ruin the saffron party's election prospects.
Washington, Apr 11 (PTI) India is not seeking to reverse the benefits of globalization, but is asking that it be made more transparent, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Monday.

"It's not to say that we have to reverse the benefits of globalization. It is more to say, make globalization more transparent," Sitharaman told a prominent American think-tank Peterson Institute for International Economics in response to a question.

Also Read | Presidential Visit: China Eyes Closer Ties with Brazil.

For a very long time, it has been India's attempts to make sure its manufacturing sector grows. "We have a big play. We also don't import final consumer goods, which we are capable of manufacturing. However, when you have price discrepancies or price competitiveness affecting your purchasing decisions, you end up buying those which you can produce because they come at a far more, cheaper rate," she said.

"So, Indians have always had this difficulty in having to come back to producing certain things which are your day-to-day domestic necessities, but you are unable to produce because you find cheaper imports coming or the very same requirement. But now we've seen that there is an opportunity which lies, one from the consumer point of view, that even within India, there's enough purchasing power. And many of these goods which can be produced in India will have a definitive large consumer base within the country," she said.

Also Read | Air Force Patch Shows Formosan Bear Punching Winnie the Pooh Representing China President Xi Jinping, Becomes Hit in Taiwan.

So, catering to the domestic market itself has become now attractive for many of those producers who wouldn't have produced such things which were otherwise available for cheap from outside, she noted.

"The phase manufacturing programmes that we have come up with, have identified several such goods, which at the first stage, we would gradually incentivize producing and selling within India, then move over to a higher level of sophistication in the making of such goods. So, the domestic market itself is available for you to produce, gradually stop imports of such things which you can produce yourselves," she said.

Sitharaman said this is one side of the story. "The other side is where you need to have value chains come to India, come and produce in India, not just for India, but to export from India, for which again, we have come up with a production-linked incentive scheme, particularly in 13 such areas, which are priority sectors, sunrise sectors, where India didn't produce at all earlier".

By doing that, India hopes to have production of many of these large bulk manufactured goods, which can go from India to meet demands which exist outside, and also of course to meet domestic demand.

Mobile manufacturing is a classic example, she noted.

Goods which are largely consumed in India are going to be manufactured in India despite a very, very predatory pricing, which prevails in some export countries in some export markets. "So we are stopping that by giving the face manufacturing and we are incentivizing through the PLA," she said.

The finance minister said even as one wants to incentivize India's own production, there can always be some collateral, but it has to be very smartly tailored to make sure that India's unique demands can be met by its own manufacturing. "But at the same time, you need to get your raw materials and intermediaries which otherwise you do not have. So, it's not as if you're going to be so blindfolded to see that you'll just take a decision and it'll have no impact whatsoever outside," she said.

"It can't be so. It'll have an impact. We have to assess each for itself and take a call. But however, I don't think India's alone in doing this, particularly after, let's say the global view of China after, let's say the pandemic after also this changing perspective of what indeed is globalization, how far globalization, to what extent globalization. So, when all these questions are happening and being discussed all over the world, India cannot be in isolation, the minister said.

"So, if that's going to, the discussions elsewhere are going to have some impact. So, we will have in India as well. It indicates to a dynamic position globally on globalization itself, and also looking at how just tariff is not going to be one way of controlling or preserving your capacities in manufacturing. So it is a strand, I suppose, in a larger debate of how the global trade will have to happen, she said.

Responding to a question, she said, India has shown very clearly, its initiative is working out well in pursuing with countries and agreeing to have Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with them.

Free trade agreements are being signed, in fact far speedy nowadays, she said in response to a question. We have just concluded one with Australia. We've concluded earlier, one with the UAE, Mauritius, and as it is, we've, had agreements with ASEAN, both in goods and services. We have with S Korea, with Japan. So free trade agreements have bilaterally or with multilateral groups, been the route which India has had till before 2014," she said.

"And now between 2019 and today, we've had at least three major agreements signed. So, we shall proceed in that route. Also with the United Kingdom, with the European Union and with Canada. All the three are happening now as we speak, the negotiations are going on. So, we shall go in those preferential route," she said, but remained uncommitted on plurilateral agreements.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
London [UK], April 11 (ANI): Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, James Cleverly has condemned the recent acts of violence at the Indian High Commission adding that Metropolitan Police were reviewing security and changes were being made to ensure safety, said a spokesperson of the UK Department for Business and Trade on Monday.

He also said that both UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial Foreign Trade Agreement and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month.

Also Read | Presidential Visit: China Eyes Closer Ties with Brazil.

Regarding the violence at the Indian High Commission in London, an official statement of the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, James Cleverly said, "Acts of violence towards staff at the Indian High Commission are unacceptable and I have made our position clear to the High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami. The police investigation is ongoing and we are in close contact with the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Government in New Delhi."

"We are working with the Metropolitan Police to review security at the Indian High Commission, and will make the changes needed to ensure the safety of its staff as we did for today's demonstration," it added.

Also Read | Air Force Patch Shows Formosan Bear Punching Winnie the Pooh Representing China President Xi Jinping, Becomes Hit in Taiwan.

The UK Foreign Secretary's official statement also read, "We will always take the security of the High Commission, and all foreign missions in the UK, extremely seriously, and prevent and robustly respond to incidents such as this."

In relation to the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, he said that the UK-India relationship, driven by the deep personal connections between our two countries, is thriving.

"Our joint 2030 Roadmap guides our relationship and shows what we can achieve when we work together, creating new markets and jobs for the two countries and helping to tackle shared challenges," the statement added.

"We want to build deeper ties between the UK and India for the future," it concluded.

Earlier this month, the UK Foreign Secretary had said that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement can and must deliver practical, real-world benefits for businesses in both countries and that this will give a strong message to the world that the two countries are committed to building closer partnerships.

"FTA can and must deliver practical, real-world benefits for businesses in both of our countries. It will also send a strong signal to the whole world that our two great countries are committed to building even closer partnerships with each other," Cleverly said.

The UK Foreign Secretary made the above remarks while addressing the gathering at the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) Special Plenary Session of India Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave in New Delhi.

The session was also attended by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

Cleverly during his address said that UK and India, the 6th and 5th largest economies in the world respectively, must work closely together to contribute to the world's economic security and prosperity.

He said that in times of social and economic turbulence, trusted partners need to work even closer together.

Piyush Goyal while addressing the session said that developed and developing countries must have different goals and timelines while being sensitive to each other's needs, potential goals and roadmap towards sustainability.

Goyal highlighted that India had been one of the top 5 performers when it comes to benchmarking our work and meeting the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

'Technology, finance and sustainable lifestyles are going to play an important role in ensuring sustainable growth', he opined.

Goyal urged world leaders to recognize that everyone must contribute their fair share in improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, boosting the circular economy and achieving green goals by transitioning and helping other nations transition to green growth to make the world a better place to live in. "India's partnership with the UK and the EU is significant in the global effort to make the planet safer and greener," he 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)
Nationalists hold an anti-agreement rally on the 25th anniversary of the peace deal, in Londonderry (Image Credit: Reuters)

Derry [Northern Ireland], April 11 (ANI): Petrol bombs were thrown at the police officers, during a dissident Republican parade in Northern Ireland's city of Derry, on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a day ahead of US President Joe Biden's visit to the country, according to Fox News.

The Monday's violence came when masked youths, wearing paramilitary uniforms, marched through the street to commemorate the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, in which Irish nationalists launched an armed insurrection in protest of the British rule.

Also Read | Who or What Is Harry Bolz? Netizens Wonder As Elon Musk Briefly Changes His Twitter Name.

Monday also marked the 25-year anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended three decades of the low-intensity civil war known as "the Troubles."

According to Voice of America, the Good Friday agreement -- which the United States helped to broker on April 10, 1998 -- largely ended decades of sectarian violence that had plagued Northern Ireland since the late 1960s and that had also brought intermittent attacks to mainland Britain. While there is still some sporadic violence in Northern Ireland, the accord allowed a generation of children to grow up in relative peace.

Also Read | Asian Shares Mostly Higher After Mixed Session on Wall Street.

The police in Northern Ireland described the attacks as "senseless and reckless on our officers".

Nigel Goddard, the police chief in Derry, in a statement, said, "What we saw develop this afternoon in Creggan was incredibly disheartening. As the parade was un-notified, 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", reported Fox News.

"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.

Local newspapers reported on Sunday that the police service of Northern Ireland disrupted a bomb plot by members of the New IRA, a paramilitary splinter group of the Irish Republican Army.

Meanwhile, Biden is all set to travel to both sides of the Irish border this week, taking part in commemorations to mark the 25th anniversary of Northern Ireland's Good Friday peace accord as well as making a pilgrimage to the towns of his Irish ancestors.

On Wednesday, President Biden will meet with UK Prime Minster Rishi Sunak in Belfast to commemorate the Good Friday Agreement, then give a speech at Ulster University before departing for Dublin to meet with Irish President Michael Higgins, according to Fox News.

"I'm the proud son of Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden," Biden said at the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon last year.

"And like so many Americans of Irish heritage, I love Ireland and was raised in a circumstance where you would have thought my whole family... they came in 1844 and 1845, but you'd think they'd all lived in Ireland the last 60 years -- the previous 60 years," Fox News quoted President Biden as saying. (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 11 (ANI): Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova met Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi, announcing that the bookshelves and guides under the patronage of First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, will be soon available in India.

"Had a fruitful meeting with @M_Lekhi. Briefed Minister on #Ukraine's efforts to fight Russian unprovoked aggression. Discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, in particular culture. Ukrainian bookshelves and audio guides under patronage of @ZelenskaUA will be available soon in India," Dzhaparova said in a tweet.

Also Read | For Sex, Money and Power: Doomsday Mom Lori Vallow Daybell Murdered Her Two Kids To Remove Obstacles and Fulfil Her Desires, Says Prosecutor.

Dzhaparova, who arrived in India on Monday, held a meeting with the European Union's delegation to India and heads of mission of EU member states, thanking them for supporting Kyiv.

Taking to her official Twitter handle, Emine Dzhaparova called the support in Global South nations vital for Ukraine. She expressed gratitude to the EU's National Institutes Culture in India for arranging the Future Perfect Festival scheduled to be held in Delhi next month.

Also Read | Russia: Shiveluch Volcano Erupts in Kamchatka Peninsula, Posing Threat to Aviation (Watch Video).

"Began the day with a meeting at @EU_in_India. Thanked partners for standing with #Ukraine all over the world. support in the #GlobalSouth countries is vital. Grateful to @EUNIC_India for promoting culture & arranging the #FuturePerfect Festival in #Delhi next month," she said in a tweet.

In a tweet, the delegation of the European Union to India said the Russian offensive against Ukraine is a "blatant violation of international law". Ever since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, EU nations have been supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions against Russia.

The delegation of the European Union to India tweeted, "Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister @EmineDzheppar met with EU & Member States Heads of Mission during her visit to India. The Russian aggression against Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, contravening basic tenets of @UN Charter. We continue to stand with Ukraine."

On Monday, MEA Secretary (West), Sanjay Verma, held a meeting with Emine Dzhaparova and discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, 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."

Sharing details regarding her meeting with MEA official, Emine Dzhaparova, in a tweet, wrote, "Pleased to have a meeting with Secretary (West) MFA @SanjayVermalFS in New Delhi. Updated on #Ukraine's efforts to fight #russian unprovoked aggression. Invited to join President Zelenskyy's #PeaceFormula & #GrainFromUkraine initiative. Important to have #India on board."

In her remarks at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) office on Monday, Emine Dzhaparova said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of democracy, dialogue and diversification is very important for Ukraine.

"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 Volodymyr Zelenskyy 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," Dzhaparova 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)
Kannauj, April 11: A man has been booked for posting obscene pictures of his wife on social media, after she allegedly refused to compromise with him in a dowry case.

The incident was reported from Tirwa Kotwali police station area of Kannauj district. Police have initiated investigations after the woman filed a complaint. Delhi Shocker: Man Kills Wife Over Her Affair With Another Woman; Commits Suicide Later.

The woman was married to the accused on November 25, 2020. She alleged that soon after the marriage, her in-laws started demanding Rs 2 lakh and a gold chain. Pune Shocker: Man Stabs Wife to Death in Hinjewadi After She Denies Him To Take Son to Native Place.

She was thrown out of the house on December 24, 2021 and on March 18, 2022, an FIR was lodged against seven persons, including her husband. She said when she refused to withdraw complaint, her husband morphed her photographs and posted them on social media.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 11, 2023 10:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
San Francisco, April 11: Twitter has announced a significant development, stating that it has merged with everything app called 'X', owned by Elon Musk. In a court filing in the US, Twitter quietly disclosed that it no longer exists.

"Twitter Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists. X Corp. is a privately held corporation, incorporated in Nevada, and with its principal place of business in San Francisco, California," the filing mentioned. Elon Musk Starts Following PM Narendra Modi On Twitter!

In October last year, when he was in the process of finalising the purchase of Twitter, he restated that X remains his long-term plan for the business. "Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app," Musk tweeted. Who or What Is Harry Bolz? Netizens Wonder As Elon Musk Briefly Changes His Twitter Name.

"Twitter probably accelerates X by 3 to 5 years, but I could be wrong," he added. Earlier, Musk had expressed interest in creating an application that could offer comprehensive features comparable to China's WeChat.

During a podcast, he had said that the US needs a super app. "It's either convert Twitter to that, or start something new. It does need to happen somehow," he said.

"If you're in China, you kind of live on WeChat. It does everything. It's sort of like Twitter, plus PayPal, plus a whole bunch of things all rolled into one, with a great interface. It's really an excellent app, and we don't have anything like that outside of China," Musk told the listeners during the podcast last year. In 1999, Musk co-founded an online bank called X.com, which was later merged to form PayPal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 11, 2023 04:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
On 10 April, a judge in Mexico issued pre-trial detention orders against four members of the armed forces who shot and killed five men in Nuevo Laredo city, Tamaulipas state, on 26 February.

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On 10 April, Brazils president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, held an event in which he celebrated the governments achievements during the first 100 days of his third term in office and pointed to challenges ahead.

Analysis:

Lula opened his speech by stating that Brazil is back and went on to list the social programmes from his previous mandates (2003-2011) which have been relaunched, even though this apparent attempt to convey nostalgia for old achievements comes amid recent polls showing public pessimism during these first 100 days, especially regarding the countrys economic outlook, with slower growth expected for 2023. Lulas term so far has also been marked by antagonism with the central bank (BCB), with the government criticising the BCBs decision to maintain high interest rates for a fifth consecutive month. Meanwhile approval by congress (in which the government lacks a majority) of a new fiscal framework to boost revenue, is also set to be crucial to the success of his third term.

Lula hailed the return of programmes such as the healthcare initiative Mais Medicos, the conditional cash transfer programme Bolsa Familia, and the housing programme Minha Casa, Minha Vida, old policies which had been vastly popular.

Another achievement that Lula celebrated was the crack down on supporters of his predecessor, former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2023), who attacked government buildings in the capital on 8 January. Lula commended the harmony among the branches of government and swift response, as the supreme court (STF) opened investigations into those involved.

(2019-2023), who attacked government buildings in the capital on 8 January. Lula commended the harmony among the branches of government and swift response, as the supreme court (STF) opened investigations into those involved. Lula boasted of having created a ministry of Indigenous Peoples and of his administrations efforts to address the crisis afflicting the Yanomami people, which had been aggravated by neglect under Bolsonaro. The STF has ordered an investigation into whether Bolsonaros government was responsible for genocide.

While Lulas speech celebrated the restoration of the Amazon Fund, a mechanism focussed on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the creation of new authorities to tackle deforestation, the governments efforts to protect the Amazon rainforest remains a challenge. This was highlighted by Marcio Astrini , director of the Observatorio do Clima (OdoC), an umbrella group of civil-society organisations, in an interview published on 7 April with Reuters which cited figures which showed that deforestation in Brazil was up 14% year-on-year in March.

, director of the Observatorio do Clima (OdoC), an umbrella group of civil-society organisations, in an interview published on 7 April with Reuters which cited figures which showed that deforestation in Brazil was up 14% year-on-year in March. A key difference from the Bolsonaro administration has been Lulas commitment to multilateralism, as he hailed the return of Brazils active and benevolent foreign policy. Lulas government has sought to restore relations with Latin American neighbours, as seen in the presidents visits to Argentina and Uruguay in January, as well as cooperate with the US and European partners on issues such as climate action.

The markets have also had a mixed reaction to these first 100 days. According to the news website Poder360, the Ibovespa stock exchange index fell from 109,734 points at the end of 2022 to 101,846 points on 10 April which the media states is the largest drop of any first-100-day period of any Brazilian presidency since the first mandate of Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1995-1998).

Looking Ahead: One aspect of Lulas multilateral approach that might cause friction with the US and its allies would be his engagement with countries such as China and Russia. Lula is travelling to China this week for his official visit which had been postponed, and on 30 March his foreign policy adviser, Celso Amorim, met Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Lula has sought to position Brazil as a neutral mediator in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. The Orion Summit 2023 Investments Position Armenia will take place on June 19-22 in New York City, USA.

It is a one of a kind international event bringing together world-class professionals and organizations representing different countries from the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and various industries, such as Science and Technology, Financial Services, Legal, and Professional Services. Orion Summit has become a powerful opportunity for Armenian and non-Armenian startups globally to build content, customer and capital. The key objective of Orion Summit 2023 is to create reliable alternative investment opportunities for startup ecosystem through establishing Private Equity Firms, Corporate VCs, and Family Offices in Armenia and with international partners.

Over 100 investors, startup founders, representatives of venture capital funds, investment banking, insurance sector and other experts will participate in the event, according to Dr. Diana Arzumanyan, the CEO and Co-Founder of Orion Worldwide Innovations Armenia. Half of the participants will be from New York City and other U.S. cities, while the other half from Armenia. Weve very limited seats left, registration is open through our official website, she added.

Orion Summit 2023 will feature internationally recognized world-class founders, investors, advisors, and professionals as speakers, such as financial regulatory advisor Jeff Ingber; Associate Director, Endless Frontier Labs at NYU Stern School of Business Beth Xie; Managing Director in the Credit and Structures Solutions Group at Francisco Partners Sebouh Nahabedian; World Economic Forum representative Zara Ingilizian; CEO at Reitium Blockchain Technologies Thomas Park and others.

Asked on expected results, the Armenia Union of Banks CEO Seyran Sargsyan said they expect to strengthen and expand partnership.

Today we can confidently say that Armenia has a stable banking system. This is one of our important achievements over the past 30 years since independence, he said, praising the banking system as reliable and advanced.

Our banking system can be represented at the Orion Summit 2023, due in the global financial center New York City, with its wide opportunities for financial transactions and exclusive terms for savings deposits. In case of participation in the summit with representatives of American financial organizations, we expect to strengthen and expand cooperation, establish new business ties with international partners, as well as constructive discussions around the main trends of development of financial markets.

Karine Terteryan
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has just reached the first 100 days of his third term as Brazil's president on Monday, and he used this occasion to take aim at Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula has been trying to reinstate his social policies and also undo several of his predecessor's policies within the first 100 days of his latest term in office. He actually hit the ground running, but Bolsonaro pulled a Donald Trump as his supporters tried their own version of January 6 Capitol insurrection, which is called the January 8 Riot.

This complicated things for the new administration and even prompted Lula to swap insurrection stories with his American counterpart, Joe Biden, during a visit to Washington, D.C. earlier this year.

ABC News pointed out that the act of trying to quell political unrest and staving off potential coups have since overshadowed his administration's social policies as the Brazilian president tries to battle poverty, deforestation, climate change, and many other challenges his country is facing.

He had been trying to bring back many of his social programs, such as the cash-conditional Family Grant welfare program, the My House, My Life housing program, and the More Doctors initiative to expand medical care. However, his rivalry with Bolsonaro is still very much fresh in his mind.

Lula blamed Bolsonaro for the challenges facing his new government, which ran on the slogan of "reconstruction."

In a ceremony at Brazil's presidential palace on Monday, the president aimed at his predecessor and stated, "I am not used to talking about the first 100 days of the administration, but I think it is important to remind you that, in 2003 I took over from a democratic president, which did not happen now."

READ MORE: Brazil: Lula Will Have Mixed Economics Team of Leftists and Conservatives

More Brazilians Hungry After Jair Bolsonaro

During his tenure in office, Jair Bolsonaro had been undoing many of the social programs that previous administrations have been doing.

Last year, while he was still president, more people in Brazil went hungry under his administration, placing the country on the World Food Program's Hunger Map.

Over 33 million Brazilians went hungry last year, and Lula is trying to reverse the effects of Bolsonaro's actions by relaunching the National Council for Food and Nutritional Security, which Bolsonaro abolished, according to Al Jazeera News.

Lula Still Lacks Support From Congress

According to the Associated Press, Lula might be dealing with some legislative problems right now as he still lacks congressional support to pass legislation. This means that his government might struggle to get some of his projects approved.

Lula also has some major challenges on the economic front, as he needs to fund social investments and ensure job creation, as well as have the economy grow.

However, he does have some wins in his first 100 days as he kept his promise to the indigenous Yanomami people as the government sent a humanitarian operation to rescue them from disease and malnutrition in the Amazon. He also cleaned up the military, getting rid of pro-Bolsonaro hardliners and having his new commanders provide food and medical supplies to impoverished areas. His administration also destroyed illegal gold mining camps that lay waste to the rivers and forest and expelled miners from the Indigenous territory.

READ MORE: Lula: Former Brazilain President, Current Presidential Front-Runner, and Secret Billionaire?

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: A look into Lula's first 100 days | Brazil 100 Conference - The Brazilian Report
Fox News is facing several big election-related lawsuits. While Dominion is the biggest, the network has now settled with one filed by a Venezuelan businessman.

CNN reported that details of the settlement were not released to the public, but a Fox News lawyer stated that the "matter has been resolved amicably by both sides."

The lawsuit was filed after Lou Dobbs accused businessman Majed Khalil, a Venezuelan national, of being one of the key people who helped rig the 2020 elections against Donald Trump.

Dobbs repeated his false claims against Khalil not only in his Fox Business program, "Lou Dobbs Tonight," but also on social media, accusing the plaintiff of various things in addition to being a central figure in rigging voting machines.

Lou Dobbs Falsely Claimed Venezuelan Businessman Was Involved With a Terrorist Organization

In a tweet, Dobbs stated that the 2020 elections were a "cyber Pearl Harbor," before naming Khalil as one of the four people he wanted his audience to "get familiar with" for participating in supposed election fraud, a claim which was soon debunked.

Dobbs also claimed that Khalil was involved with Lebanon's Hezbollah and accused the Venezuelan national of being the "effective COO" of an election rigging scheme using Smartmatic and Dominion voting machines.

According to NBC News, Dobbs spread misinformation by claiming that the vote-rigging against Trump was part of a plot by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who was already dead by the time of the 2020 elections.

Fox News previously tried to get the Venezuelan's case against them thrown out. However, much like the Dominion case, the judge ruled that the plaintiff had "sufficiently claimed that his reputation was harmed by false accusations."

READ MORE: Tucker Carlson, Who 'Passionately Hates' Donald Trump, Gets Exclusive Interview With Him

Fox News Facing 'Absolute Disaster' in Dominion Lawsuit, Says Ex-Prosecutor

The settlement with the Venezuelan businessman came just days before the Dominion lawsuit against Fox News begins its trial. However, a former prosecutor says the conservative network is facing an "absolute disaster" with this case.

Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, spoke in an interview regarding the Dominion lawsuit against Fox News, and he was asked about Fox News hosts and personalities testifying during the trial. Specifically, he was asked whether this would set Fox News up for failure if they were asked about the private text messages that showed they hated Donald Trump in reality and knew that he was lying about the elections being stolen.

"I have to say this is just an absolute disaster for Fox," Mariotti answered and pointed out that those working at Fox News essentially admitted in those private text messages that they were airing lies.

The former prosecutor also stated that Dominion's lawyers made a "masterful" move when they asked Fox Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch to testify. The judge in this case has made it clear that he would not stop any attempt at compelling the Fox executive to talk about Fox News' election coverage in court.

"I mean, if you're Rupert Murdoch, do you want to be on the witness stand answering questions trying to explain the inexplicable and defend the indefensible? This, of course, gives an incentive for Fox to cave, to settle, to pony up to Dominion, Mariotti said, adding that what Dominion din was "a very smart move."

According to Newsweek, Mariotti pointed out that "actual malice" is achievable in this case, with Dominion putting together a very good case against the conservative network.

READ MORE: Fox News Trial: Dominion Wants Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Other Hosts to Testify

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Should Fox settle defamation lawsuit? Prominent lawyer weighs in - CNN
Just days after the Republican supermajority in the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two members of the Tennessee Three, the Nashville City Council unanimously voted to reinstate Justin Jones.

The Tennessee Three grabbed national headlines after the three Democratic lawmakers protested against gun violence during a Tennessee House session. The Tennessee House Republican leadership cut their microphones off, so the three lawmakers decided to continue their speech through a bullhorn. This prompted the Republicans to want to expel the three of them, and succeeded with the two, including Justin Jones.

However, three days after the Tennessee House Republicans voted him out, the Nashville City Council unanimously voted to get him his job back. According to the BBC, they held a special session just for Jones' reinstatement, and the vote was a resounding 36-0 in favor of his reinstatement.

After the vote, Jones was once again sworn in on the steps of the Tennessee Capitol on Monday evening. He was surrounded by a crowd of his supporters.

"I want to welcome democracy back to the people's house," he said after returning to his job. "Truth crushed to the ground will rise again. No injustice attack on democracy will happen unchallenged."

As for the other expelled member of the Tennessee Three, a Memphis board of commissioners is expected to vote on allowing Justin Pearson to reclaim his seat this Wednesday.

Who Are the Tennessee Three?

According to USA Today, Reps. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, Justin Jones of Nashville, and Justin Pearson of Memphis make up the Tennessee Three. They are getting traction nationwide because of their outspoken criticisms of their Republican colleagues following the deadly school shooting in Nashville last month.

While Johnson, a white woman, narrowly avoided being expelled by the Republican supermajority, Jones and Pearson were both young black men. Johnson herself pointed out that she was safe because of the color of her skin, but her colleagues weren't.

READ NEXT: Marjorie Taylor Greene Twitter Account Restricted Over Transphobic Response to Tennessee Shooting

House Republicans argued that they breached chamber rules and did not follow House decorum when they approached the podium when they were not allowed to speak and then grabbed the bullhorn when their microphone was cut off.

Republicans also likened their actions to January 6, but many have pointed out that unlike January 6, the three weren't trying to overturn election results through a violent insurrection.

Johnson is a former teacher who lost a student to gun violence. Meanwhile, Justin Jones is an activist who has led protest movements and is an advocate of voting access, Medicaid expansion, and representation of working-class and minority residents.

Finally, Pearson was a young grassroots organizer in Memphis who rallied for the environment before joining the Tennessee State House.

Tennessee Three Spoke With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris After Two of Them Were Expelled

On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris went to Nashville and gave a rousing speech supporting the Tennessee Three. She also met with them and acknowledged them during her speech that blasted the Tennessee State House of Representatives for expelling them.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden spoke with the Tennessee Three via conference call and invited them to visit the White House, according to CBS News.

READ NEXT: Nashville School Shooting Kills 3 Kids, 3 Adults

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: 'Tennessee Three' speak out on lawmakers' expulsion and possible reinstatement - Good Morning America
A recent FBI warning informs the public that using free public phone charging stations allows hackers to get into the phones and infect the devices with malware, giving them access to control of your phone, tablet, or computer.

"Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels, or shopping centers," a tweet from the FBI's Denver field office said, stating that criminals have found ways to exploit public USB ports to spread malware and install monitoring software on targets' devices.

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

They also suggest carrying chargers and using an electrical outlet is safer, per CNBC.

The FBI provides similar advice on how to be safe when using public charging stations. No recent cases of juice jacking-related consumer harm were mentioned in the alert.

The Denver field office of the FBI stated that the communication was advisory and was not triggered by any instance.

Juice jacking is a virus-loading strategy, which the FCC has been issuing warnings about since at least 2021.

The FCC warned that consumer devices connected via insecure USB connectors were vulnerable to software that may steal login credentials. The commission advised consumers to avoid those public phone charging stations.

READ NEXT: FBI Reveals $10,000 Reward To Find American Mechanic

How Does Juice Jacking Work?

The Man in the Middle attack, known as "juice jacking," targets hardware, according to TechTarget.

The attacker either uses a USB connection to load malware directly into the charging station, infects a connection cable, and leaves it plugged in, hoping that an unsuspecting victim will use the 'forgotten' cable.

The "juice jacking" risk exists since a device's charging connector can also be exploited to send and receive data.

There are five pins on a USB connector. However, only two are used for data transport and charging.

When the mobile device is linked to the charging station, the user can transfer files to and from the computer.

The most typical targets of juice jacking attacks are USB ports and phone charging cables. USB connections in portable power banks and video arcade consoles are two less prevalent devices that could be utilized in this hack.

The term "juice jacking" was coined in August 2011 during the DEF CON hacker convention.

Public phone charging stations were available for those attending the conference, but the attendees were warned not to trust seemingly harmless offers of free charging since their gadgets could be infected with malware.

Apple and Android released software updates that alert consumers whenever they are charging, allowing them to determine whether to trust the charging port, power bank, or other charging procedure.

Users' devices will only be able to be charged if the untrusted device option is selected.

Previous FBI Warning Says Be Careful in Scanning Unknown QR Codes

The FBI has previously issued various warnings regarding our mobile devices, said the Jerusalem Post.

An FBI warning was issued last year, asking individuals to be cautious when scanning QR codes.

"Cybercriminals are taking advantage of this technology by directing QR code scans to malicious sites to steal victim data, embedding malware to gain access to the victim's device, and redirecting payment for cybercriminal use," said the FBI warning.

Scammers were contacting and claiming to be from government entities, demanding money from the targets under the threat of criminal prosecution, according to an FBI warning released in April 2021.

READ MORE: Two Wisconsin Police Officers, Suspect Killed Following a Traffic Stop Shooting

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Juice Jacking: FBI warning to stop using public charging stations - From ABC 7 Chicago
Several migrants in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, protested early Monday, leading the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to briefly close the Paso Del Norte International Bridge in El Paso, Texas.

The bridge serves as a link between the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez and the city of El Paso.

However, the temporary closure of one of the most important border crossings between the United States and Mexico was only a precautionary step, according to a CBP spokesperson, who clarified that they only "took precautionary steps and initiated port hardening measures after a large group formed at the base of the crossing on the Mexican side."

READ NEXT: Texas: FBI Shot, Killed Suspect in Kidnapping of Migrants From Mexico

El Paso Bridge Closure From Migrant Protest Led to Massive Vehicular Traffic

According to the Associated Press, the bridge's closing also meant that for about three hours, vehicular traffic was closed while pedestrian traffic was more briefly affected.

The CBP also placed barricades along the bridge to reduce vehicle traffic. Crisis 24 reported that the CBP would likely maintain increased security measures along the Paso del Norte International Bridge following the migrant protests.

Transport and business disruptions due to the bridge's closure are expected within the day, as clashes between protesters and police cannot be ruled out.

Several vehicles were forced to turn back as they awaited the protesters to disperse. Around 300 migrants gathered near the crossing point when authorities in Mexico decided to close the border crossings.

The migrants are reportedly frustrated using the online app to apply for U.S. asylum hearings. Thus, they feel they are not being allowed to apply for asylum in the US.

Back in January, the Biden administration allowed migrants to be able to apply for asylum online so that things would be "easier." However, many have said this complicated things further as many migrants have no access to the internet.

According to the official CBP website, the app is free to download. The CBP said the app will enable non-citizens migrants to apply directly to the agency before a government official determines who gets in.

The CBPOne is reportedly replacing Title 42, which allows U.S. border officials to immediately expel migrants and asylum seekers on public health grounds.

Migrant Protest Transferred to the Border Wall

The migrants massed around the bridge on the Mexican side of the border were also protesting about March 27's fatal migrant facility fire that killed around 40 migrants.

Some of the migrant protesters left the Paso del Norte Bridge and were seen walking near the Rio Grande levee. According to Border Report, they were heading toward the gates on the border wall along El Paso's Lower Valley.

However, families camping near the National Migration Institute offices in Juarez municipality in Mexico's Chihuahua state replaced those who left.

Despite concerns about the protesters turning violent, the migrant protest has been reportedly peaceful.

Mayor Cruz Perez Cuellar of Ciudad Juarez said in a Facebook Live: "I received reports they were making a peaceful manifestation at (PND). If there is no obstruction (to traffic), we won't do anything."

However, the mayor also pointed out that some migrants in the Kiki Romero municipal shelter have received misleading messages through social media apps like WhatsApp that the border is open to asylum seekers. He noted that the U.S. government does not operate that way, but "they get excited" and leave.

READ MORE: Texas Walmart Shooter Who Targeted and Killed Latinos to Plead Guilty to Federal Charges

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Migrants Standoff With CBP Officers at El Paso Border - From USA TODAY
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh issued a statement on the 31st anniversary of the Maragha massacre.

Below is the full statement.

10 April marks the 31st anniversary of the Maragha massacre, one of the most tragic and horrific pages in the history of the first Karabakh War.



On 10 April 1992, the Azerbaijani armed forces, after continuous and intense shelling, invaded the village of Maragha of the Martakert region of Artsakh and brutally massacred the local civilian population. More than 50 innocent citizens were brutally killed and tortured to death, dozens of villagers, including women and children, were captured, some of whom were brutally killed in captivity, while the fate of 19 people remains unknown to this day. Two weeks after those horrendous events, the village was again attacked, and the residents, who returned to bury their relatives, became victims of new atrocities by the Azerbaijani armed forces.



The Maraga massacre was a continuation of the atrocities and deportations committed against the Armenian population of Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad and other settlements of the Azerbaijan SSR, as well as Northern Artsakh, the purpose of which was to nip in the bud the legitimate demand for self-determination of the Artsakh Armenians, as well as to deprive them of their homeland through ethnic cleansing and forced deportation.



Despite the fact that the atrocities committed in Maragha were documented in detail by the international community, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, the lack of proper political assessment by the relevant international organisations and the impunity of this crime prepared fertile ground for further aggression by Azerbaijan, and for the continuation and strengthening of the anti-Armenian and genocidal policy of its leadership. As a result, confident in their impunity, Azerbaijan subsequently unleashed two more large-scale wars against the Republic of Artsakh, in April 2016 and September 2020, committing new atrocities and war crimes against the Artsakh Armenians, flagrant violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as occupying new, larger territories of the Republic of Artsakh.



Even today, disregarding the Order of the International Court of Justice to immediately end the blockade of Artsakh, Azerbaijan continues to carry out its criminal and genocidal policy before the eyes of civilised humanity, keeping the population of Artsakh under unlawful blockade for 120 days, depriving them of basic living conditions and creating a humanitarian crisis, as well as pursuing the implementation of their criminal plan to ethnically cleanse Artsakh through terrorist activities.



We once again call on all international actors to put an end to the crimes of the Azerbaijani authorities and not become silent witnesses or even accomplices, and take practical and effective measures to bring Azerbaijan into a legal and constructive framework so that its authoritarian leadership respects international law and their international obligations.
A well-known eatery is leaving just seven months after opening at the Downtown Allentown Market, and its owner claims he was forced to vacate.

The Loaded Plantain has abruptly closed its doors at the bustling market, 27 N. Seventh St. It opened this past September and was operated by the former owners of Coal Lounge & Grill in Bethlehem, which closed in June 2022 next to Apollo Grill on West Broad Street. The Loaded Plantain then moved into space that previously occupied Little Miss Korea, which closed in February 2022 at the market, according to City Center Allentown.

Owner and executive chef Kofi Armah took to the business Facebook page Tuesday morning to announce the news to loyal patrons and noted the decision was far from being mutual.
A Westgate Mall jeweler forced to relocate amid the Bethlehem shopping destinations major redevelopment project has found a new home in the historic city.

Westgate Jewelers has moved into the upper level of the United Steelworkers of America building, off Center Street between Bethlehem City Hall and Nisky Hill Cemetery. Owner Laurel DiFelice held a soft opening Tuesday and is planning a grand opening celebration for the entire month of May. Therell be promotions during that time for Mothers Day, graduations and wedding season, she told lehighvalleylive.com.
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.
Warren County authorities identified a police lieutenant who was shot and the man who died by suicide after shooting a woman on Saturday in Phillipsburg.

An investigation continues into the shooting of Phillipsburg Police Lieutenant Douglas Baylor by 35-year-old Alkabir I. Boone, according to Warren County Prosecutor James Pfeiffer.

Pfeiffer said Baylor and officer Stephen Fielding started taking fire almost immediately after they drove up at 1:13 p.m. Saturday to the first block of Hanover Street.

Boone had shot the woman and was in the street walking toward the police car as the officers drove up, Pfeiffer said. As Baylor opened his car door, Boone shot through the door and into Baylors thigh, Pfeiffer said.

Fielding tried to return fire but his gun malfunctioned, Pfeiffer said. There may have been a problem with the ammunition or with the gun itself, Pfeiffer said. The cause of the malfunction remains under investigation.

Boone stepped behind a car, then returned to the street where he turned the gun on himself, Pfeiffer said. Police didnt fire a shot, authorities have said.

This really could have been a more tragic situation than it ended up being if Mr. Boone continued to fire on the officers. It could have been much worse, Pfeiffer said.

Baylor is a 24-year Phillipsburg police department veteran. He is recovering at home and is on paid leave, officials said. Fielding has yet to return to work either, Pfeiffer said.

The woman was shot three times and remains hospitalized in stable condition, the news release says.

Pfeiffer said police took an initial statement from the woman but plan to speak to her again. They have yet to take statements from Baylor and Fielding, he said.

The investigation is aided, however, by video from doorbell cameras, video from bystanders cell phones and video from a surveillance camera on a nearby firehouse, Pfeiffer said. The video gives a clear picture of events that transpired, Pfeiffer said.

Police were dispatched to a domestic violence call, Pfeiffer said. The shots were fired outside Boones home, police said. Pfeiffer said Boone and the woman have children together.

Pfeiffer said emotions run high during domestic disputes and often put police in difficult situations.

Theyre the most dangerous calls officers have, Pfeiffer said.

Numerous police agencies responded to the incident, including Phillipsburg, Lopatcong, Easton Pohatcong and Greenwich police departments.

Phillipsburg Mayor Todd Tersigni told lehighvalleylive.com his thoughts continue to be with Baylor and the woman who was shot.

At this point, I believe all our attention and energies should be focused on the brave law enforcement officers of our town who day in, day out, selflessly put their own safety at risk to keep others secure.  I commend, in the fullest possible terms, the bravery and selflessness of our officers, he said.

Other town officials said the incident was a reminder that the town requires a stronger police presence.

This is a sad day for Phillipsburg, Councilman Pete Marino said from the scene on Saturday. We need more police.

Boone had multiple criminal convictions dating back to 2008, the news release says.

Editors note: NJ Advance Media typically limits reporting on suicides to those that occur in crowded public places, involve public figures or, in special circumstances, where there is a larger public impact. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be reduced with the proper mental health support and treatment. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
One of Bethlehems Finest is turning in his badge and saddle, stepping down from the city police departments Mounted Police unit.

But George, one of the first horses to serve on the renewed Bethlehem Mounted Police, will be keeping his mind and body active in retirement by serving a different kind of community.

George is heading a few miles north to Nazareth, where hell be a therapy horse for Equi-librium, a therapeutic horsemanship center. In his new position, George will participate in programs for individuals of all ages with physical, developmental and behavioral challenges. The Friends of the Bethlehem Mounted Police donated George to the center, according to a release from the city, after spending over a decade with the popular Bethlehem Police Department unit.

George came to Bethlehem from Ontario at the age of 5 in 2010 when Bethlehem brought back the Mounted Police after 63 years. George and his fellow horses -- including another recent retiree, Pharaoh, and Grey, who George helped introduce to the force in 2015 -- became a welcome sight around downtown Bethlehem.

Georges time on the unit was eventful  he participated in impressive demonstrations, became one of the first residents of a brand new stable and even once was briefly injured after being struck by a pickup truck.

George excelled throughout his career and stayed dedicated to his service up until his final patrol. While his ultimate retirement was an unfortunate loss to the citizens of Bethlehem, it also comes bittersweet, Ryan Danko, a (human) member of Mounted Patrol Unit, said in the release. George has always shown an eagerness to work, and Equi-librium will be able to provide this in an entirely different capacity. We could not have found a more fitting home for him, and we know George will continue his service to others with his head held high.

George began his therapy training in December with Equi-libriums Equine Operations Director Kimberly Gapinski, and he began to participate in volunteer lessons in January. Hes now fully integrated into adaptive riding lessons.

George is a proven asset to our program, Gapinski said in the release. With his larger size and exceptional training, he is able to accommodate larger and taller riders more comfortably.

Equi-librium has 14 therapy horses on its 18-acre farm, according to the release, and George has already established some new friendships. The organization has been providing Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship-certified services to individuals from around eastern Pennsylvania for over 40 years.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
Train derailments are rather commonplace in the U.S. Why? In 2019 the U.S. saw 1,338 derailments over 77 million train kilometers travelled. Contrast that to Europe where in the same year the 28 countries of Europe travelled some 4.5 billion-kilometer miles and saw only 73 derailments. That is 575% more kilometers travelled and some 94% few derailments in real numbers.

We talk a good game in the U.S. about climate. The fact is that rail transportation is more energy efficient than truck but sadly far more dangerous in the US. If only we had an active Department of Transportation that took rail safety seriously, we would not destroy cities like East Palestine, Ohio.

We learned that members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on site last month needed to go to the hospital. I was surprised to hear Pete Buttigieg seem unfazed by over 1,000 derailments a year. Nobody in the media seemed to be concerned, either.

If you believe the data, even Russia and China run a better railway than the U.S. Japan is even safer. It had 2 billion train kilometers and only 9 derailments. Does the Department of Transportation even care about rail safety? The data say no.

Gregory Labelle

Bethlehem
A Laois school has given out language scholarships to its brightest linguistic students, in Irish, German and French.

As part of its extensive scholarship programme, Portlaoise College recently announced the award winners of its Gaeltacht, German and French Scholarships to acknowledge and reward students who have excelled in the field of linguistics.

These scholarships are open to all students in the school who have demonstrated exceptional skills in the areas of French, German and Irish.

The Gaeltacht Scholarships award winners are Anastasja Zawacka, Aoibheann O'Sullivan, Julia Skwara, Sarah-Kate Dunne and Olivia Reynolds.

The French scholarship was awarded to Grace Quinn and the German Scholarship was won by Jannet Cierocka (below).

The scholarship is awarded based on a range of criteria, including academic achievements, language proficiency, participation in language-related activities, and leadership skills.

A range of benefits are offered to successful applicants, including financial assistance, mentoring, and access to additional resources and support. The programme is designed to provide students with the necessary tools and resources to achieve their goals and to encourage them to continue their pursuit of excellence in their chosen linguistic area.

Speaking on the occasion, the Principal of Portlaoise College, Noel Daly, expressed his delight for the award winners.

"We are extremely proud of the outstanding achievements of our students in the field of languages. We recognise the immense effort and dedication that goes into developing language skills, and we want to encourage our students to continue their pursuit of excellence.

"We believe that this scholarship program will inspire and motivate our students to reach even greater heights in the areas of French, German and Irish," he said.

He said that the scholarship programme has been well received by students and parents alike.

"Many students are excited at the chance to rget financial assistance and access to additional resources to support their studies. Parents also praised the school's commitment to promoting academic excellence and providing opportunities for their children to excel in their chosen field," Mr Daly said.

Sinead Walsh is chairperson of the Portlaoise College Parents Association.

The scholarship programme is just one of the many initiatives that Portlaoise College has undertaken to promote academic excellence and support its students in achieving their goals. The school is committed to providing a supportive and nurturing environment that encourages students to develop their talents and pursue their passions, she said.
Imagine being unable to do most of the things you love, all because the area you live in cannot cater to your basic needs?

This is the reality for one Kilcullen resident: 64-year-old Mary Maguire.

Mary, who is a mother and grandmother, suffers from muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

She has required a motorised chair to move around in public for the last six years, and has required it to move around her home for the last six months.

Although Mary is assisted by her carers Sarah Maher and Margaret Wilson (Mary says she also considers them to be her friends) and her loyal dog Taz, Mary is frustrated with the lack of accessibility in the town that she has lived in for most of her life.

Mary explained: "I can only access maybe two shops in the whole of the town. Im basically stuck in this house (most of the time)."

She said that while she believes that Kilcullen is 'not a bad town', she stressed that she was disappointed at the lack of accessibility within it, and that the situation has taken a massive toll on her mental health.

Mary also described one instance over Christmas where she managed to travel into Newbridge, but the laborious journey cost her 40  "As you can imagine, its a lot when youre on disability allowance," Mary added.

The loss of the Kilcullen-Newbridge bus service back in June of last year has had a big impact on Mary.

She explained: "It is a big loss to the town," she said: "And we only found out at the last minute that it was being suspended."

In addition, Mary alleged that many buses on the town-link werent looking for disabled passes for the last two years.

When it comes to attending hospital appointments, Mary said: "I can't make my hospital appointments due to having no access to transport."

However, despite this, she insisted that she does not want to be over-reliant on health services.

Mary elaborated: "I just want to be treated like any other person. I want to go out and meet with my friends, and go into the shops I like, I dont want to be institutionalised.

"Im not any different than anyone else."

She further said that she believes Ireland needs to do more to help those with disabilities  "Disabled people are probably the most discriminated against in Ireland," Mary said.

Pointing out one example of discrimination she has faced, Mary also described one incident where she attended a pub in County Dublin.

During her time at this pub, she was mistaken for being intoxicated because of her condition ("I struggle with my balance," she explained) and was kicked out of the pub, much to the anger of her and her family.

Sarah also told the Leinster Leader that she has become frustrated at the lack of accessibility available for Mary, and would like to see 'a massive change in everything' to do with disability services in Ireland.

"The behaviour of the Irish people (towards disabled people) needs to change," Mary added.
A man facing an allegation of assaulting his partner was denied bail at Naas District Court.

is being prosecuted for assault on two occasions between December 2 and December 9.

On December 9 last its claimed that she was assaulted at the cinema and the man is also facing an allegation of damaging a sandwich board display sign also on December 9.

Sgt Brian Jacob told a previous hearing that its being claimed that the woman was kicked in the face, slapped in the face and had her clothing grabbed. He said there were at the cinema and were coming out when the incident happened.

He said there was swelling and bleeding to her face and there were marks on her legs.

He said it would also be claimed that on December 2 she sustained a bite to her lip and had a significant cut to her bottom lip.

Sgt Dave Hanrahan objected to the granting of bail and said there is a fear that he will commit further incidents.

He also pointed out that the defendant, a foreign national, has no fixed abode and no ties to the local area.

He said the injured party had not been very cooperative and there may be reasons for this.

He described their relationship as on and off, fractious and violent.

The court was also told that the defendant is unemployed and previously supplied an address he did not live at.

The sergeant added the defendant is a reluctant witness and it may not be that she doesnt want a prosecution.

Read more Kildare news

Solicitor David Gibbons pointed out hsi client has been in custody for three months and while the gardai are entitled to be concerned about the injured party, they are not entitled to have him locked up indefinitely.

Judge Desmond Zaidn said that the case had a history of bail applications.

The defendant was refused bail before in the district court, then granted it in the high court, which later revoked it.

Noting he previously refused bail, the judge said that the lawmakers have given the defendant the right to waste my time.

Judge Zaidan added: The people who make the laws need to look at what they are doing and how the laws are implemented.

He also noted that the injured party may not be willing to pursue the case but this is not a reason not to proceed because if thai was the case nobody would be charged with manslaughter or murder because the victim is dead.

He said the case is being taken on behalf of the people of Ireland and the woman is only a witness in the states case against him. Its not a case of the injured party versus the defendant.

He also said that there is other evidence, such as CCTV images, apart from the womans evidence.

He noted that the alleged victim is very vulnerable and living rough at the old cement factory premises at Dublin Road, Naas.

The man was sent forward for trial to Naas Circuit Court.
Maynooth University (MU) is set to host the second ever Arts and Minds Festival.

According to organisers, the festival 'will offer a variety of music, song, literature and exceptional performances.'

MU said in a statement: "Arts and Minds is Maynooth Universitys celebration of the best in Irish and international arts and culture, welcomes the wider community, alumni, students and staff to campus for live, in-person arts events.

"There will be poetry readings with Sean Hewitt and Lauren Lawler, and, for the first time, the festival will partner with Maynooth Film For All for an opening night screening of Aftersun, the internationally acclaimed Paul Mescal movie, on Wednesday, May 3.

"On Thursday, May 4, the Irish National Opera presents Sisters, Lovers and Traitors featuring operatic highlights from Mozarts Cosi fan tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro and La Clemenza di Tito with soprano Anna Devin, mezzo-soprano Sharon Carthy, bass-baritone Gianluca Margheri, and pianist Finghin Collins."

MU continued: "The festival features what promises to be a stunning performance by the multiple award-winning Irish folk duo, Ye Vagabonds, on Friday, May 5.

"A special reception for alumni will also take place before the event.

"The Literary Lounge will take place on Saturday, May 6, with hosts Nicole Flattery, author of Nothing Special, the acclaimed novel that explores the fascinating world of Andy Warhols studio The Factory, famed for its wild parties in the 1960s.

"This year, the festival is delighted to welcome New York Times bestselling author Deepti Kapoor whose novel Age of Vice set in New Delhi and described as 'one of the most anticipated novels of 2023, as psychologically thrilling as The Godfather and as viciously entertaining as Succession'.

"Rights to her novel sold in fifteen territories, with a 20-way bidding war for film rights won by FX and Fox 21.

"Irish language events are also to the fore at this years Festival on Saturday, with An Fheile Bheag, featuring a sean-nos singing walk in the lovely campus grounds, an outdoor Irish-language arts picnic, Picnic Bheag Ealaionta, and the Ceardlann Amharclannaiochta Irish-language Theatre Workshop."

In addition, organisers said that an Irish-language Interdisciplinary Arts Event will be held in honour of the famous Lament for Art OLeary (which was composed 250 years ago this year) will also takes place on Saturday, May 6.

Lastly, rounding off the final day will be a unique Irish language hip-hop and electronic music rave, Trathnoinin Deanach, which will feature rapper and poet, Suil Amhain, and the audio visual psych collective, Tuath.

The full programme of events and Eventbrite tickets are available on the MU website at https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/arts-and-minds-festival-2023.
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev has said that the work on a peace treaty with Armenia isnt proceeding as smoothly as we would like it to but that there is no alternative to it.

Aliyev made the remarks at a press conference after his meeting with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

"We are determined to normalize these relations, and after the second Karabakh war it was Azerbaijan that proposed to start working on a peace treaty. This work has practically started, but it is not going as smoothly as we would like it to. But there is no alternative to it, the Azerbaijani State News Agency Azertac quoted Aliyev as saying.
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.

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.

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.
Joe Biden has said he will use his visit to the island of Ireland to keep the peace, as he left the US for his four-day trip.

The US president invoked the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the recently negotiated Windsor Framework as he prepared to set off for Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden will arrive later on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo  from where his ancestors hail.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

Mr Biden, speaking to reporters before his departure, said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

Thats the main thing, he said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening.

The two leaders will also hold a meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

Mr Sunak will not attend Mr Bidens keynote speech, with Downing Street on Tuesday denying that the engagement between the pair would be low-key.

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

It is expected that Mr Biden will hold a meeting with Northern Irelands main political parties before the Ulster University talk.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
Anti fracking community group Love Leitrim have expressed their deep worry and concern following weekend reports in the national media that the Green Party minister Eamon Ryan and the government are considering a major u-turn in relation to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals.

Love Leitrim notes that it was reported in the Sunday Business Post that the Minister has acknowledged that Ireland may need to build an LNG terminal, thereby reversing a key Green Party policy, because the "world changed "when the Nordstream gas pipelines were damaged last year.

The Minister had previously stated his opposition to this type of commercial project, such as the one that was proposed in the Shannon Estuary but Love Leitrim says it now appears that his and the government's position could change.

This comes ahead of the publication of an energy security review and the visit of US President, Joe Biden.

Love Leitrim says there have been long-held fears by communities on both sides of the Atlantic that LNG import terminals will essentially result in the importation of fracked gas from impacted American communities.

The group says point to the negative climate impact of fracking/fracked gas noting numerous studies which say fracked gas is worse than coal.

The process of fracking was banned in Ireland in 2017 after a long-term community campaign by groups like Love Leitrim.

Love Leitrim Chairperson, Jamie Murphy, explained If these reports are accurate then we are in a very worrying situation. We as a country banned fracking in 2017 on the basis of its impact on the climate, communities, water, and air amongst many other reasons.

"Those arguments still very much stand and we as a country should not be even considering the development of LNG/Fracked gas terminals. They import one of the worst fossil fuels in terms of its impact on the climate, not to mention the negative impact it has communities in the United States.

"If fracked gas was unsafe enough for us to ban it then its morally and ethically wrong to import it from another community. As President Biden visits this week, like many others we have been optimistic about a President with Irish roots in the White House. However, we are also alarmed that he has issued more oil and gas permits to the fossil fuel industry than his predecessor. We are looking to our childrens future, we are looking at those in impacted communities.

"We would urge Minister Ryan and the government to hold firm on their previous opposition to fracked gas/LNG terminals and to raise the issue of the continued expansion of the fossil fuel industry in the United Stars with President Biden. There is too much at stake not to."


Tickets for The Undertones highly anticipated concert at Boyle Arts Festival will go on sale at 10am on this Friday, April 14th at 10am.

The band will play in St. Josephs Hall, Boyle on Friday, July 21st and tickets can be purchased exclusively from the Boyle Arts Festival website www.boylearts.com

The Undertones (John ONeill, Damian ONeill, Feargal Sharkey, Billy Doherty and Michael Bradley) signed with Sire Records and recorded their first single Teenage Kicks in 1978.

Over the next five years they crafted further pop gems such as `Here Comes The Summer`, Jimmy Jimmy`, `Youve Got My Number (Why Dont You Use It), Wednesday Week and My Perfect Cousin. They also recorded four highly acclaimed LPs before Feargal Sharkey left the band in 1983, to pursue a solo career.

The Undertones reconvened, without Feargal Sharkey in 1999 to once again perform their two-minute, three and a half chord songs to a new generation.

Fellow Derryman Paul McLoone replaced Sharkey on vocals and his vocal prowess and electric onstage presence soon convinced any doubters that he was more than capable of doing the job.

For more information on Boyle Arts Festival, please visit www.boylearts.com or follow on Facebook an Instagram

For more information on The Undertones, please visit www.theundertones.com

Boyle Arts Festival is supported by The Arts Council, Local Sponsors, Roscommon Co. Council and Failte Ireland.

BAF is also supported by the Roscommon County Council Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-Government five-year initiative, from 2023 to 2027, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. Further information from creative.ireland.ie
Rockwell Automation supports UAE water strategy with medium-voltage drives for the Umm Al Quwain desalination plant





DUBAI, UAE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc., the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has provided medium-voltage, variable-frequency drive solutions for the Umm Al Quwain Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant. The plant, commissioned by SIDEM Veolia, is located 20km north of Umm Al Quwain city, produces 150 million gallons a day (MIGD), and is the largest desalination project in the Northern Emirates.

Reverse osmosis is a widely utilized membrane technology for seawater desalination. The basic concept of SWRO is to use a semi-permeable membrane, where most dissolved species are rejected while water permeates it.

As part of a consortium, SIDEM oversaw engineering and procurement for the project while Chinese partner Gezhouba Group International Engineering undertook the construction. The plant comprises an open intake of seawater, the seawater pumping station, three pre-treatment units with DAF and DMGF, three reverse osmosis units, the wastewater treatment plant, and drinking water storage tanks.

"SIDEM has renewed its confidence in Rockwell Automation and has chosen our PowerFlex 6000 medium-voltage inverter solutions to drive the 80 main motors of the seawater treatment process," said Thierry Ballot, Strategic Account Manager at Rockwell Automation.

The Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 6000 range of medium-voltage drives offers multiple control modes, including flux vector control. In addition, they can reduce peak demand charges by operating near unity power factor throughout the speed range and includes an integrally mounted, multi-pulse isolation transformer to help ensure low line side harmonics and high input power factor.

The water is being supplied to the Federal Electricity & Water Authority (FEWA), and the desalination plant forms an integral part of the region's strategy to enhance the efficiency of its water network as part of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036. The overall objectives of the strategy are to reduce total demand for water resources by 21%, increase the water productivity index to $110 per cubic meter, reduce the water scarcity index by three degrees, increase the reuse of treated water to 95%, and increase national water storage capacity to two days.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1981317/Rockwell_Automation_Logo.jpg

11 april 2023 at 02:00

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Bluebird Network Welcomes John Nolan as Chief Development Officer





Bluebird Network, a communications infrastructure provider and operator of two data centers and over 11,000 miles of carrier-grade fiber network, is excited to welcome John Nolan as Bluebird's Chief Development Officer. Effective April 17, Nolan will be responsible for leading all aspects of corporate development, including M&A, business development, corporate strategy and innovation.

Nolan brings over 20 years of P&L experience with a record of producing exceptional results in sales, vendor management, business development, marketing and finance with AT&T. In his most recent position as Vice President of Global Connections and Alliance Management, he transformed AT&T's multi-billion dollar cost structure for data, voice and international roaming with carriers in the US and around the world while improving supplier performance and increasing automation in support of AT&T's wireless and wireline business objectives.

"As a Missouri native, I'm thrilled to join Bluebird Network," Nolan said. "I've worked with and admired the Bluebird leadership team as a customer for almost a decade where they were a strong supplier with a reputation for reliability, flexibility and integrity. They are doing great work across the Midwest, and I am looking forward to leveraging my experience to help further their mission of connecting communities and carriers across the region."

Bluebird Network President and CEO, Michael Morey, echoed Nolan's sentiments and noted his excitement for what this development will mean for the future of the company.

"When I think about what John [Nolan] will bring to our team, I'm excited at the potential for large, transformational opportunities coming our way," Morey said. "This is a big deal for Bluebird and aligns with our aggressive growth strategy. I'm confident John will drive positive ? and extensive ? changes here at Bluebird."

Nolan earned his Finance degree from University of Missouri ? Columbia and his MBA from Saint Louis University. In addition, he recently served as Vice-Chairman of the Board for Capacity Media's Global Leaders Forum and on the MEF Board of Directors helping drive industry-wide collaboration on important issues. He has also served in various capacities supporting United Way of Dallas and the Boy Scouts of America Circle 10 Council.

For more information about Bluebird Network, please visit: https://bluebirdnetwork.com/

About Bluebird Network

Bluebird Network is a communications infrastructure provider and data center operator. Since 1999, Bluebird Network, headquartered in Missouri, has provided internet and transport services, via its fiber infrastructure, to Carriers and Enterprises in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, and the surrounding states. Bluebird owns two data centers: an underground facility in Springfield, MO, and a facility in the Quad Cities. Bluebird operates more than 11,000 fiber route miles of high-speed broadband and fiber-optic connections with over 82,000 on-net and near-net buildings and 160 Points of Presence (PoP) sites spanning the Midwest, including the major cities of Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield (MO and IL), Tulsa, Peoria, Rockford, Bloomington, Normal and the Quad Cities.

To learn more, please visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

11 april 2023 at 09:00

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Richardo's Liqueur LLC Sets Distribution Agreement with Elite Brands of Colorado, Inc.





LYONS, Colo., April 11, 2023 /CNW/ -- Richardo's Liqueur LLC ("Richardo's"), makers of Richardo's Decaf Coffee Liqueur, is excited to announce its newly-formed distribution agreement with Elite Brands of Colorado, Inc. ("Elite Brands"). As per the terms of the agreement, Elite Brands will serve as the exclusive distributor of Richardo's award-winning signature product in the state of Colorado, where both companies are headquartered.

Elite Brands will serve as the exclusive distributor of Richardo's award-winning product in the state of Colorado

Named "World's Best Coffee Liqueur" at the 2016 World Liqueur Awards, Richardo's was founded in the 1980s by original owner Rick England, who sold the company in 2019 to Jodi Scott, a friend, local business owner with over 15 years of experience in consumer-packaged goods, YPO member, and 2022 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist.

"While we were attracted to Elite Brands as a distribution partner to enhance and expand Richardo's presence in Colorado, we were quickly inspired by the quality and character of their team," said Jodi Scott, owner of Richardo's Liqueur LLC. "They embody a certain dedication and congenial spirit that are so important to us as a company, and we are confident our customers will appreciate the expertise and support they are able to provide in the Colorado market."

An award-winning female-owned company founded by Terry Cekola in 2003, Elite Brands has established itself as a premiere distributor of the finest beer, wine, and spirits throughout the state of Colorado. Following in the footsteps of her entrepreneurial father, "Big" Joe Cekola, and her brothers, Joe and Larry Cekola, who own and operate Imperial Beverage Company in Michigan, Terry has cultivated a familial workplace culture while fostering a passionate and educated sales team, some of whom have worked alongside her since the company's beginning.

"We are genuinely excited to continue the Richardo's legacy by partnering with their team to bring this unique and high-quality product to the people of Colorado," stated Terry Cekola, Elite Brands founder and president.

Richardo's Decaf Coffee Liqueur is currently available at select retail locations, restaurants, and bars throughout Colorado. For more information, visit richardos.com.

About Richardo's Liqueur LLC:

Founded in the mountains of Colorado by Rick English in the 1980s, Richardo's Liqueur is the maker of Richardo's Decaf Coffee Liqueur, a proprietary blend of rich, organic coffee, creamy vanilla, and pure grain spirits. Now owned by entrepreneur Jodi Scott, the company's premiere product is the recipient of numerous awards, including "World's Best Coffee Liqueur" at the 2016 World Liqueur Awards in London. www.richardos.com

SOURCE Richardo's Liqueur LLC

11 april 2023 at 13:00

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Prime Minister announces more support for Ukraine





TORONTO, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, met with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, today, where he reiterated Canada's solidarity with and support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's brutal, full-scale invasion.

During the visit, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Canada will provide additional military aid to Ukraine sourced from Colt Canada.

Prime Minister Trudeau also announced Canada has disbursed a $2.4 billion loan to the Government of Ukraine to support essential services, such as pension payments, purchasing fuel, and restoring damaged energy infrastructure. This funding, announced in Budget 2023, brings Canada's total commitment to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's illegal full-scale invasion to over $8 billion.

During the visit, the leaders focused on efforts to rebuild Ukraine, including by hosting Canadian business leaders to discuss opportunities for Canadian trade and investment in Ukraine, particularly the essential role that private sector investment will play in Ukraine's long-term reconstruction.

To strengthen our trade ties and help support Ukraine's economic recovery, Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Shmyhal signed a joint declaration on the conclusion of negotiations for the modernization of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), and underscored the need to complete the processes to implement it as quickly as possible. A modernized CUFTA supports long-term security, stability, and economic development in Ukraine, as well as the creation of good middle-class jobs here in Canada.

Canada and Ukraine signed a bilateral Youth Mobility Agreement, which young people from both countries will benefit from when travel to Ukraine becomes safe. The Agreement further deepens the strong bonds between our peoples and our two countries. It will open up new opportunities for youth to work and travel, including opportunities for Canadian youth to help rebuild Ukraine once Russia withdraws its forces from the country.

To maintain the pressure on the Russian regime, Prime Minister Trudeau announced new sanctions targeting 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities complicit in Russia's war in Ukraine, including several security targets linked to the Wagner Group and Russia's aviation sector. In addition, to further pressure Putin's enablers in Belarus, the Prime Minister announced additional sanctions on nine entities related to the Belarusian financial sector.

During Prime Minister Shmyhal's time in Canada, Saskatoon-based Cameco and Ukraine's state-owned Energoatom signed a major supply contract in which Cameco will provide the necessary uranium to meet Ukraine's nuclear fuel needs until 2035. This supply contract, which builds on the partnership agreement signed earlier this year, will help Ukraine keep the lights on, while creating and supporting good, middle-class jobs here in Canada.

Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated to Prime Minister Shmyhal that Canada will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Quote

"Canada remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and to helping Ukrainians defend their sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. I am incredibly happy to welcome Prime Minister Shmyhal to Canada and to work directly with him to keep doing everything we can to support Ukrainians, deepen our ties, promote our shared vision of a peaceful and secure future, and create economic opportunities for people in both our countries."

? The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland , Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly , and Minister of National Defence, Anita Anand .

, Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie , and Minister of National Defence, . Since Russia's illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,400 individuals and entities in Russia , Belarus and Ukraine . Many of these sanctions have been undertaken in coordination with Canada's allies and partners.

illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,400 individuals and entities in , and . Many of these sanctions have been undertaken in coordination with Canada's allies and partners. Since January 2022 , Canada has committed more than $8 billion in funding for financial, military, humanitarian, development, and immigration assistance to Ukraine .

, Canada has committed more than in funding for financial, military, humanitarian, development, and immigration assistance to . This funding includes:

Over $5 billion in financial assistance;

in financial assistance;

Over $1 billion in military support;

in military support;

$352.5 million in humanitarian assistance;

in humanitarian assistance;

$127 million in development assistance; and

in development assistance; and

Over $102 million in security and stabilization assistance.

in security and stabilization assistance. The new military assistance package includes 21,000 5.56mm assault rifles, 38 7.62mm machine guns, and over 2.4 million rounds of ammunition to support these weapons as well as small arms already in use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine . This donation comes from the remaining funds across the Government of Canada's various funding envelopes for military assistance to Ukraine .

. This donation comes from the remaining funds across the Government of Canada's various funding envelopes for military assistance to . Canadian Armed Forces members are supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the United Kingdom and Poland under Operation UNIFIER, providing training on a range of military skills. Between 2015 and 2023, Canada trained more than 36,000 members of Ukraine's security forces as part of Operation UNIFIER.

in the and under Operation UNIFIER, providing training on a range of military skills. Between 2015 and 2023, Canada trained more than 36,000 members of security forces as part of Operation UNIFIER. The Canadian Armed Forces have been and will continue to assist with the delivery of military aid for Ukraine from Canada and on behalf of our allies and partners, having already transported over eight million pounds of donated military equipment since March 2022 .

from Canada and on behalf of our allies and partners, having already transported over eight million pounds of donated military equipment since . Since February 2022 , Canada has committed over $1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine . Commitments to date include eight Leopard 2 main battle tanks, one armoured recovery vehicle, a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) with associated munitions, 39 armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, winter clothing, and more.

, Canada has committed over in military assistance to . Commitments to date include eight Leopard 2 main battle tanks, one armoured recovery vehicle, a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) with associated munitions, 39 armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, winter clothing, and more. Canada is helping Ukrainian families find a safe, temporary home in our country, and has put in place support services to help them after they arrive. This includes temporary financial assistance and access to federally funded settlement services, such as language training and employment-related services. Since Russia's full-scale invasion, Canada has welcomed more than 139,000 Ukrainians.

full-scale invasion, Canada has welcomed more than 139,000 Ukrainians. In 2022, total bilateral trade between Canada and Ukraine was valued at $421.6 million , a slight decrease from $447.3 million in 2021 largely due to the Russian invasion. In 2022, Canada's merchandise exports to Ukraine totalled $150.2 million , and merchandise imports from Ukraine totalled $271.3 million .

Associated Links

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

11 april 2023 at 13:18

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Founding First Nations, Canada and Alberta sign a historic agreement to support First Nations child and family well-being services





PEERLESS TROUT FIRST NATION, TREATY 8 TERRITORY, AB, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - First Nations children thrive when they can stay with their families, and communities, surrounded by their cultures. As part of the Government of Canada's commitment to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we will continue to work towards self-determination for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis.

Today, at a ceremony at Kateri School in Trout Lake, Alberta, Chief Ivan Sawan, Chief Billy Joe Laboucan, and Chief Gilbert Okemow; the Honourable Marc Miller, Federal Minister of Crown?Indigenous Relations on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Federal Minister of Indigenous Services; and the Honourable Mickey Amery, Alberta's Minister of Children's Services, celebrated the signing of a historic coordination agreement pursuant to An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families. This agreement enables the implementation and will bring life to Awa?ak Wiyasiwewin (Cree for Children's Law), and the exercise of child and family services control and jurisdiction by Loon River First Nation, Lubicon Lake Band and Peerless Trout First Nation, otherwise known as the Founding First Nations (FFNs), for their Members and future generations.

On November 20, 2021, members of each of the Founding First Nations voted overwhelmingly in favour of Awa?ak Wiyasiwewin, a collaboratively developed, community-driven law that reflects the histories, cultural practices, and unique aspirations of each community to determine the best ways to care for their children, youth, and families. The law creates the office of the Onikanew (Cree for leader) to oversee and delegate powers and authorities created under the new law; with a focus at all times on prevention to ensure that culturally appropriate, wrap-around, community-driven supports and services are available, including prenatal care for expectant mothers, so that children can stay with their families and their communities.

This coordination agreement sets out how all parties will work together, including roles and responsibilities, processes and coordination of services. This will ensure a smooth and effective transfer to the Founding First Nation jurisdiction, governed by Awa?ak Wiyasiwewin. The associated fiscal agreement establishes funding from the federal government to ensure that the necessary financial resources are in place. Over the next five years, the agreement will transfer $149.4 million from the federal government to the FFNs to support their law implementation.

This agreement is significant as it demonstrates that meaningful reconciliation can be achieved when First Nations and their Crown partners in both the federal and provincial governments work hand-in-hand together to help First Nations determine their own futures. Ultimately, it sets the stage for First Nations to build a brighter, more enriched and more hopeful tomorrow for their children, their most precious assets.

As more and more coordination agreements are signed, more Indigenous children will be able to grow up in their communities. They will be immersed in their cultures and surrounded by loved ones.

Quotes

"This coordination agreement marks another historic milestone for Peerless Trout First Nation on our continuing path to regain our rights and secure control over our own future. This agreement will deliver a complete transformation in the services and supports that we can provide for our Nation's children and families, guided by our own First Nation law and our community's collective vision for the well-being of our families."

Chief Gilbert Okemow

"For generations, federal and provincial governments have systemically asserted policies that caused pain, hardship, and intergenerational trauma for First Nation children and their families. That's finally starting to change. Today's announcement represents another turning point for current and future generations of the Lubicon Lake Band, setting the stage for a brighter future grounded in our own law, our own vision, and our own path to heal our children and families."

Chief Billy Joe Laboucan

"This agreement is truly groundbreaking. It enables Loon River First Nation to exit the provincial system and implement our own law, control our own funding at a level that ends decades of discrimination, and deliver a one-of-a-kind new child & family services program ? one that was designed from the ground up by members of the Founding First Nations, and will be led by the Onikanew. Now we can truly focus on prevention, culture, language, health, wellness, and meaningful First Nation led services that help our families stay together, wherever they live, right across the province.

Chief Ivan Sawan

"Founding First Nations are leading the way for their children and families by implementing their law, Awa?ak Wiyasiwewin. Historically, decades of colonial and racist policies have pulled families apart and undermined their ability to take care of their own children. By signing a trilateral coordination agreement with Alberta and Canada, Peerless Trout, Lubicon Lake, and Loon River will be able to take care of their children, as they have done for centuries, while remaining close to their family, culture and communities. Keeping children connected to their family, language and culture is foundational to getting the best start in life, and that is exactly what this coordination agreement does. Congratulations Founding First Nations on this exceptional work."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Indigenous Services

"This coordination agreement is an important step recognizing the Founding First Nations' right to self-determination and their jurisdiction over childcare. First Nations know best how to care for their loved ones, and First Nation children should grow up in their home communities surrounded by their family, culture, and language. Signing this agreement not only promotes FFN's sovereign rights, but also supports the protection of their children and cultures, so their communities thrive for generations to come. I would like to congratulate everyone who worked tirelessly to make this significant day possible. By working together, we are helping Indigenous children have the best chance in life, which all children in Canada deserve."

The Honourable Marc Miller

Minister of Crown?Indigenous Relations

"Children and youth flourish best when they have family and cultural connections. This historic agreement, led by the Founding First Nations, reinforces our mutual commitment to the safety and well-being of Indigenous children, youth and families."

Mickey Amery

Minister of Children's Services

Quick facts

For most Indigenous children, Child and Family Services are provided under the legislation of the province or territory where the children and families reside.

On January 1, 2020 , An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families (the Act) came into force. The Act affirms the inherent right to self-government of Indigenous Peoples, which includes jurisdiction over child and family services, provides a pathway for Indigenous communities to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services and sets out principles applicable, on a national level, to the provision of child and family services to Indigenous children.

, (the Act) came into force. The Act affirms the inherent right to self-government of Indigenous Peoples, which includes jurisdiction over child and family services, provides a pathway for Indigenous communities to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services and sets out principles applicable, on a national level, to the provision of child and family services to Indigenous children. In November 2020 , the Prime Minister announced over $542 million in funding to advance First Nations, Inuit, and Metis engagement to co-develop the implementation of the Act and to support Indigenous communities and groups in building the capacity to establish their own child and family services systems.

, the Prime Minister announced over in funding to advance First Nations, Inuit, and Metis engagement to co-develop the implementation of the Act and to support Indigenous communities and groups in building the capacity to establish their own child and family services systems. Through Budget 2021, the Government of Canada invested an additional $73.6 million to be used over four years, starting in 2021?22, for additional resources to implement the Act.

invested an additional to be used over four years, starting in 2021?22, for additional resources to implement the Act. Through Budget 2022, the Government of Canada invested an additional $87.3 million over three years, starting in 2022?23, to increase capacity building and funding for coordination agreement discussion tables to support the exercise of First Nations, Inuit and Metis jurisdiction in relation to child and family services.

invested an additional over three years, starting in 2022?23, to increase capacity building and funding for coordination agreement discussion tables to support the exercise of First Nations, Inuit and Metis jurisdiction in relation to child and family services. With funding announced in the 2022 Fall Economic Statement, Budget 2023 also provides $444.2 million over three years, starting in 2022?23, to support Peguis First Nation in Manitoba and Louis Bull Tribe in Alberta to exercise jurisdiction over their child welfare systems and make decisions about what is best for their children and families.

Associated links

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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada

11 april 2023 at 15:00

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YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Nagorno Karabakh authorities have called on farmers to engage in farming in the presence of Russian peacekeepers as a safety precaution given the Azerbaijani shootings.

A specialized center is dealing with the arrangements.

In a statement, the Center for Cooperation with the Russian Peacekeeping Contingent in Nagorno Karabakh, said that Azerbaijani troops are frequently opening fire at Nagorno Karabakh farmers especially in Martuni and Askeran regions.

Thus, given the threats and obstacles caused by the Azerbaijani side, we call on citizens to apply to the center through regional administration offices before farming in areas adjacent to the line of contact to ensure Russian peacekeepers [presence] in all possible cases, the center added.
IEEE Computer Society Announces Recipients of 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Fund Grants





Eight Programs Aimed at Improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the Global Computing Community Benefit

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the IEEE Computer Society (IEEE CS) announced the recipients of the latest round of its Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Fund grants. The IEEE CS D&I Fund, now in its second year, supports programs that positively impact diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the computing community. Out of the 87 proposals received for the latest round of D&I funding, IEEE CS selected eight programs that focus on educating, training, and empowering women; Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC); and others from underrepresented groups on topics as diverse as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, programming, and more.

"Representation in computer science and computer engineering is critical," said Nita Patel, 2023 IEEE CS President. "That's why IEEE CS continues to further initiatives that aim to increase representation and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. We are pleased to be able to support eight more programs that will positively affect the underrepresented and have lasting impact on the computing community as a whole."

The latest programs awarded funding include:

Inland Empire Data Science Workshops - The Inland Empire Data Science Workshops will seek to support, encourage, and mentor undergraduate students in Inland Empire in Southern California , home to a large population of first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students. The work will focus on encouraging these students' pursuit of graduate degrees in computer science fields to help increase representation in computing at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.





- The Inland Empire Data Science Workshops will seek to support, encourage, and mentor undergraduate students in Inland Empire in , home to a large population of first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students. The work will focus on encouraging these students' pursuit of graduate degrees in computer science fields to help increase representation in computing at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. iBelong Workshops ?The iBelong Workshops will be a four-day summer series for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged middle school students in Omaha, Neb. , that will seek to raise awareness of information technology, computer science, robotics, and cybersecurity, among those students and connect them with other STEM opportunities available at the University of Nebraska at Omaha .

Raspberry Pi Coding Workshop ? This Coding Workshop, which will leverage the Raspberry Pi single-board computer, will provide 240 underserved high school students in Uganda with an opportunity to learn and gain practical skills in Scratch, Python and Hardware programming, build hardware projects, and explore the Internet of Things (IoT) through a hands-on experience, in an effort to build interest and generate excitement around studying STEM and computer science in the future.

"Teenage Women Facing Science and Engineering" Conference ? The "Teenage Women Facing Science and Engineering" Conference will provide 200 high school female students from Jalisco, Mexico , a one-day conference experience featuring workshops, presentations, and hands-on lab training centered around science and engineering topics such as robotics, computer programming and more, to encourage young women to consider careers in the fields of engineering and computer science and to help close the gender gap in science and technology careers in the state of Jalisco .

CodeWhisperer Training and Hackathon for ESL Developers ? The CodeWhisperer Training and Hackathon will educate English as Second Language (ESL) developers on the use of CodeWhisperer, an AI-based code generation tool, and following, have them participate in a hackathon exercise to solve software-related challenges using CodeWhisperer. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to improve the programming abilities of ESL developers, to empower and build community among ESL developers, and identify ways, based on input from participants, in which the AI community can better support ESL developers.

IEEE Learn-Compute Camp ? The IEEE Learn-Compute Camp will be a week-long program in which pre-university students in India , who are transitioning from tribal areas and influence to urban education and culture, will learn interpersonal, problem-solving, and social-innovation skills, and engage in out-of-box thinking and team-management experiences, to bridge the learning and technological gap between tribal and urban-based students, increase awareness and understanding of the latest in compute technologies, and instill the importance of these technologies as a pathway to career development.

iCARE Computer Science: iCS Program ? The iCARE Computer Science: iCS Program will be a series of in-person and virtual trainings in which 100 students from rural Malaysia will leverage the Web Application for Learning Computer Science (WALCS) program, an interactive interface with learning modules, practice problems, and quizzes on different computer science topics and themes, to help increase interest in computer science among Malaysian students and reduce the digital gap between rural and urban students.

Girls & Computing Workshop ? The Girls & Computing Workshop will support high school students in Panama with computing skills, such as web design and agile project management, through knowledge and mentoring sessions, hands-on computer training, and more. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will be asked to submit a final essay, poster, or project on the impact of women and computing for which prizes will be awarded to the most outstanding submissions. The goal of the program is to encourage female interest in pursuing computer science-related fields to positively impact diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Panamanian community.

"The wide-ranging focus of these programs demonstrates the power and passion of this community," said Patel. "We look forward to seeing what these leaders accomplish and identifying ways we can continue this momentum to expand diversity in the computer science and engineering community."

The IEEE CS D&I Fund was created to positively impact diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the computing community. A part of the IEEE Foundation , the initiative supports diverse programs and activities that aim to help women; the BIPOC community; people with disabilities; and individuals from underrepresented groups. In its first year, the IEEE CS D&I Fund supported five programs that brought together BIPOC high-school students, taught computer literacy in rural communities, created mentoring circles and inclusive teaching spaces, and enabled workshops/courses for underrepresented communities in four countries around the world.

These newly funded programs will provide updates to IEEE CS and success stories will be shared as details emerge. For more information about the IEEE CS D&I Fund or how to donate to the initiative, please visit https://www.computer.org/about/diversity-inclusion/ .

About IEEE Computer Society

The IEEE Computer Society is the world's home for computer science, engineering, and technology. A global leader in providing access to computer science research, analysis, and information, the IEEE Computer Society offers a comprehensive array of unmatched products, services, and opportunities for individuals at all stages of their professional careers. Known as the premier organization that empowers the people who drive technology, the IEEE Computer Society offers international conferences, peer-reviewed publications, a unique digital library, and training programs. Visit computer.org for more information.

SOURCE IEEE Computer Society

11 april 2023 at 15:07

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Appian appoints John Van Der Wielen as Senior Advisor - Australia





Highlights

Appointment strengthens Appian's senior team in Australia and reinforces its position in the country

John will be a Senior Advisor to Appian, supporting the business on transactions, corporate strategy and post-acquisition integration in Australia

As a senior financial services professional, John brings over 30 years' international experience in wealth management, private banking, investments, and insurance across Australia , Asia and Europe

LONDON and PERTH, Australia, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Appian Capital Advisory LLP ("Appian" or the "Company"), the investment advisor to long-term value-focused private equity funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies, announces the appointment of John Van Der Wielen as Senior Advisor - Australia, based in Perth.

John will work closely with Appian's senior leadership team, advising on transactions, corporate strategy and post-acquisition integration in Australia and internationally. In particular, John will support the business with all aspects of acquisitions and divestments in Australia, which remains a jurisdiction of focus for Appian.

As a senior financial services professional, John has over 30 years' international experience in wealth management, private banking, investments, and insurance, in the UK, Luxembourg, Malaysia, and Australia. He has held executive positions within several global financial services groups, with his expertise including overseeing and chairing large funds management and investment committees, as well as leading on acquisitions, integration and restructuring programs.

John is currently Chair, Crown Perth and a Non-Executive Director of Blackstone-owned Crown Resorts Australia. He has held executive positions including CEO (UK & International) of Friends Life UK, CEO of HBF Health, Managing Director (Wealth) of ANZ and CEO of Clerical Medical, Halifax Life & Heidelberger Leben.

Throughout his career, John has held an extensive portfolio of advisory and senior non-executive positions, which have included roles as Senior Adviser to Blackstone, Chairperson Kyckr, Non-Executive Director of Partners Life, Senior Advisor to Blackstone, Non-Executive Director of Friends Provident International and Non-Executive Director of Lombard International Assurance. He currently serves on the Board of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and was appointed by the Western Australian Government to Chair its Future Health Research and Innovation Fund.

John holds an MBA from the University of Western Australia, has studied at London Business School and Oxford University, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Michael W. Scherb, Founder and CEO of Appian, commented: "I'm delighted to welcome John to the Appian team where his strong experience in Australia will play an important part in our growth plans in the country. He brings significant expertise in M&A and corporate strategy from some of the leading financial services companies globally, which will be invaluable for our next phase of development. His appointment follows a number of recent hires, as we continue to build out our senior team and remain well placed to take advantage of opportunities in the mining sector."

John Van Der Wielen, Senior Advisor, Australia at Appian said: "It's fantastic to join Appian at such an exciting stage in its growth trajectory. I've been really impressed by the firm's innovative approach, track record, and ability to generate robust returns through economic cycles. Australia remains one of the world's leading mining jurisdictions and I'm looking forward to supporting Appian's senior team to help drive future success."

About Appian Capital Advisory LLP

Appian Capital Advisory LLP is the investment advisor to long-term value focused private equity funds that invest solely in mining and mining related companies.

Appian is a leading investment advisor in the metals and mining industry, with global experience across South America, North America, Australia and Africa and a successful track record of supporting companies to achieve their development targets, with a global operating portfolio overseeing 6,300 employees.

Appian has a global team of 65 experienced professionals with offices in London, Toronto, Lima, Belo Horizonte, Montreal, Perth, Mexico City and Dubai.

For more information please visit www.appiancapitaladvisory.com, or find us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram.

11 april 2023 at 18:00

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A worker checks a turbine in the machine room of the Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux nuclear power plant, in Saint-Laurent-Nouan, on March 30, 2023. GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP

Assuming that construction begins, the first of the six new EPR 2 nuclear reactors wanted by the French government will have to wait until at least 2035 to start producing electricity. And even that is according to the most favorable scenario. In the meantime, the government is exploring another possibility: increasing existing capacities, even if only at the margin, for example by optimizing or replacing certain parts.

Minister of Energy Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher told Le Monde on April 8 that she had "asked" EDF, the state-owned electricity company that operates the reactors, "to study an increase in the power of the French nuclear fleet." The request followed the nuclear policy council convened by President Emmanuel Macron on February 3. Conclusions of the study are expected by the end of the year, "in conjunction with the Nuclear Safety Authority [ASN]."

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"These technical instructions are part of a series of measures aimed at increasing the production of carbon-free energy in France and therefore of the policy to revive the French nuclear industry," emphasized Pannier-Runacher. At this stage, it is difficult to quantify the expected gain for the 56 French reactors, the countrys main source of electricity.

Every megawatt counts

A gain of "4% to 5% more power" on some of them could be conceivable, according to Sylvie Richard, director of long term operation at EDF, who oversees a vast program of inspection and renovation to extend the life of power plants. For a unit of 1,300 megawatts (MW), the power could then increase to 1,365 MW. If they were applied to each of the 20 units producing 1,300 MW, these cumulative increases would be equivalent to the creation of a 21st unit.

Without indulging in such extrapolations, Richard conceded that "every MW of electricity counts." She visited the Saint-Laurent power plant on March 30, where one of the reactors is undergoing a thorough examination as part of its fourth decennial inspection.

According to Pannier-Runacher, the study concerns the entire fleet, which counts 32 units of 900 MW, 20 units of 1,300 MW and four of 1,450 MW, for a current total of about 61.4 gigawatts, bearing in mind that the Flamanville EPR, which can produce about 1,600 MW, is supposed to come online in 2024, 12 years late. "International examples show that there is room for maneuver," said the minister. This is true in the United States, as explained by the regulatory US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

"Over the past 45 years," said Pannier-Runacher, "the NRC has approved increases that have added a total of eight gigawatts to US nuclear generating capacity." That is the equivalent of about eight reactors, in a country that still has more than 90. In Belgium, too, electrical power has increased in five of the seven reactors after the replacement of steam generators. This consists of an 8% increase on the whole of the fleet, according to an article published in 2010 by the French Nuclear Energy Society.

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Marc Tarabella looks on before members of the European Parliament vote on lifting immunity for him and Italian lawmaker Andrea Cozzolino, both of the center-left Socialists and Democrats, in Brussels, Belgium February 2, 2023. YVES HERMAN / REUTERS

A Belgian court agreed Tuesday, April 11, to release a member of the European Parliament charged under the so-called "Qatargate" graft inquiry from pre-trial detention, on condition he wear an electronic tracker.

The imminent release of Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella will mean former European Parliament vice-president Eva Kaili is the last suspect still held in custody awaiting eventual trial on corruption charges. Kaili's bail request will be heard on Thursday, when she will discover whether she will be allowed to return home to house arrest after four months in preventative detention.

Prosecution magistrate Antoon Schotsaert, said the Brussels advisory chamber  the court that decides on the terms of detention  had agreed to release Tarabella, who was detained on February 11. Tarabella's legal team confirmed they had learned he would soon be free, under electronic surveillance, and stressed he remains available to investigators and continues to deny all charges.

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Tarabella and Kaili are accused of having used their influence in the European Parliament to push the interests of Qatar, in exchange for cash payments from a Brussels political network. The government of the Gulf emirate has denied any wrongdoing.

The alleged leader of the graft network, Italian former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri has confessed to organizing the payments, allegedly from agents of Qatar and Morocco, and is now cooperating with the prosecution. Another suspect, Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino, is being held under house arrest in Italy and is fighting his extradition to Belgium. An appeal hearing is due in Naples on May 2.

Kaili's partner Francesco Giorgi, a parliamentary assistant close to Panzeri, was released with an electronic bracelet at the end of February. He and Kaili were among the first arrests in the probe on December 9 last year, when Belgian investigators seized 1.5 million in cash during a series of raids on residences in the Brussels area.

Le Monde
Students deploy a protest banner which reads "President of violence and hypocrisy" during French President Emmanuel Macron's speech to the Nexus Institute in the Amare theatre in The Hague on April 11, 2023. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

Protesters disrupted a keynote speech by Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, April 11, as his domestic troubles cast a shadow over the first state visit to the Netherlands by a French president in 23 years.

Demonstrators shouted "Where is French democracy?" and unfurled banners at the start of the address in The Hague by Macron, who has faced violent protests and strikes at home over pensions reforms.

The two-day visit got off to a stormy start for other reasons too, with Macron facing criticism over controversial remarks in which he said Europe must not be a "follower" of either the United States or Beijing over Taiwan.

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The French president is confronting the biggest challenge of his second term over his flagship pension overhaul, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 .

In The Hague, the demonstrators stood up in an upper tier of the Amare theatre and shouted "you have millions of protesters in the streets" and held up a banner saying "President of Violence and Hypocrisy".

Macron tried to answer as they heckled, and then after security guards had removed them he hit back by saying that people who do "whatever [they] want" against laws they disagree with "put democracy at risk". He added that he was "not sure that the taxpayer in the Netherlands will accept that we will finance a long social model in France... So I have to do the job back home."

The 45-year-old's speech made no mention of Taiwan, sticking instead to themes of Europe's need to promote its own economy and security in a time of war and turmoil.

The speech comes after Macron said in an interview with media including French daily Les Echos and Politico website that "we don't want to depend on others on critical issues", citing energy, artificial intelligence and social networks.

"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 said after a three-day state visit to Beijing last week.

His comments raised eyebrows on both sides of the Atlantic, especially after days of Chinese war games around Taiwan.

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Earlier Tuesday, Macron and his wife Brigitte were greeted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima on their arrival in Amsterdam.

The French leader stood to attention alongside them outside the Royal Palace as a band played the Marseillaise, the French national anthem. He later laid a wreath at the Dutch National Monument.

Macron will also have a state dinner with the king and queen, see the hot-ticket Johannes Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and meet Prime Minister Mark Rutte on a canal boat. The visit is meant to highlight a new dynamic between Paris and The Hague after the turning point of Brexit.

In the wake of the speech, France and the Netherlands will sign a "pact for innovation" on Wednesday focusing on cooperation in semiconductors, quantum physics and energy. They will also work to finalize a defense pact by 2024.

Le Monde with AFP
A study's strength often depends on the size of the dataset. Sultan Mehmood, a professor at the New Economic School in Moscow, and Avner Seror, a professor at the Aix-Marseille School of Economics, have been collaborating to observe how religions can impact court decisions. They were looking at Muslim judges in Pakistan when Daniel L. Chen, the director of research for the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the Toulouse School of Economics, approached them to share a larger dataset from India.

Their work, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour on March 13, is thus based on a sample of some 500,000 decisions handed down by 10,000 judges during Ramadan over the past 70 years in these two countries. In Pakistan, 65% of the judges are Muslim, but in India, only 5% are.

The results of this study are almost disconcertingly subtle. They show that, during Ramadan, Muslim judges are more lenient than during the rest of the year and than other judges. Moreover, the longer the daily fasting period, the more lenient they are: the number of hours spent fasting differs greatly depending on whether Ramadan falls in summer or winter. Furthermore, in the Indian subcontinent, the length of the day can vary by two hours between the north and the south.

20% increase in acquittals

The study demonstrates that "Muslim judges are 10% more likely to acquit with each additional hour of fasting," with the minimum fast duration as a baseline. "This correlation between daylight hours [between sunrise and sunset] and acquittals is only present during the months of Ramadan," added the three researchers, who are specialists in political economy and mathematical models in economics. On average, the number of additional acquittals handed down by Muslim judges during this ritual period increases by 20%, regardless of the religion of the person on trial.

However, the study looked only at the number of acquittals versus convictions, and not the severity of the latter. By studying court time and the number of cases decided by magistrates, the authors determined that this leniency does not come from a decline in attention or work rate. They even investigated whether this surge of leniency might have had an impact on the recidivism rate of those acquitted. They found none.

Is it hunger that makes the judges lenient or the religious nature of the occasion? "We cannot tell which elements of the tradition (fasting, prayer, the social side of Ramadan) create the effects we measured," said Seror. He believes that their work is not in contradiction to the 2011 Israeli study that showed that judges' rulings became more severe the longer it had been since they had last eaten. "We didn't measure the same thing," Seror insisted.

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A COLLECTION of comic illustrations in Limerick is exploring the feeling of confusion caused by cultural shock.

With a compilation of fifty original comic-style illustrations, the exhibition Culture Shocked! celebrates cultural diversity.

Part of a series of events taking place on campus and in the city to mark the University of Limericks fiftieth anniversary, the exhibition depicts authentic testimonies of cultural misunderstandings with humour.

The themes tackled in the project include language, dress, food, customs, gestures and UL culture.

On March 23, the exhibitions opening took place at the Bourne Vincent Gallery with music played by Dr Matthew Noone, Course Director of World Music, and artist Hilla Heikkinen aka Hilla Magia.

Project Leader, Dr Florence Le Baron-Earle, commented: In my classes, I work a lot with critical incidents. Its when you are in a situation where youre confronted with a different culture, and you don't really understand what's going on. At UL, we really pride ourselves in being really diverse. So, I thought, what if I involved staff, and students, to share anecdotes about these incidents.

These examples of critical incidents can cause cultural shock, hence the title of the exhibition.

According to Dr Le Baron-Earle, we have all experienced this feeling of confusion to some degree, wether while traveling abroad or while interacting with others. 

Now, thanks to this CULTURE SHOCKED!, we can learn from these testimonies and be better prepared for future intercultural encounters, she said.

A collaboration of UL staff, students and of the wider community, the initiative received a good response. Thanking the contributors, Dr Le Baron-Earle added: It was veryheart-warming to receive such a good response to the call.

The exhibition will remain open to members of the public at the Bourne Vincent Gallery, on ULs campus until June 30.
THE Minister-of-State at the Department of Finance, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, visited Limerick just before Easter to meet with representatives of seven local credit unions as part of her series of meetings nationwide being held with the sector.

The Minister-of-State, who has responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, was joined by local government elected public representatives at the roundtable discussion hosted by Limerick & District Credit Union at their William Street branch.

Ms Carroll MacNeill, has led on a series of engagements over the past three months with the Irish League of Credit Unions; the Credit Union Development Association; the Credit Union Managers Association; and the National Supervisors Forum.

She has also met a number of individual credit unions from across Ireland who are eager for change and for credit unions to reach their potential.

Following the meeting in Limerick, Minister MacNeill said, credit unions have a long and proud tradition in Limerick and I was delighted to meet with volunteer directors, management and staff involved with the movement today.

Now is an exciting time for Credit Unions in Limerick. The pace of change in financial services is relentless, as can be seen in the rapid growth of fintech and digital banking. There is great opportunity for credit unions to harness new technology to broaden their membership and to grow lending and other financial services.

The Credit Union (Amendment) Bill which is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas marks a significant step for Credit Unions across the country. This governments aim is to introduce enabling legislation, such as allowing for member referral and the establishment of corporate Credit Unions, which will help future-proof the sector for the years ahead.

She continued, I am currently considering amendments to this Bill which will take account of the feedback made by the various stakeholders which will directly benefit both Credit Unions and their members. I am very encouraged by the discussions I had in Limerick and I look forward to continuing these engagements throughout my time as Minister of State.
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. As part of his visit to Brussels, the Armenian Minister of Defense visited the NATO Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe  the headquarters of NATOs Allied Command Operations.

A ceremonial welcoming ceremony featuring the guard of honor for Papikyan was held with participation of the NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe command, military representatives of NATO member and partners countries.
THE ONE week anniversary of the death of Gelia Ibram will be marked with a vigil at 5.30pm this Tuesday, April 11 at Steamboat Quay in Limerick city.

The 27-year-old mother-of-four from Romania was found dead at a residence on the Dock Road on Tuesday afternoon, April 4.

A 26-year-old Afghan national, Habib Shamel, was charged with her murder in Belfast on Saturday.

The first of two events to remember Ms Ibram this week takes place this Tuesday afternoon. Cllr Elisa ODonovan, one of the organisers, said they are holding a vigil in memory of Ms Ibram.

"This will mark one week anniversary of her death. We will meet together in her memory to pay our respects as a Limerick community," said Cllr ODonovan.

The councillor said people can bring candles or flowers if they would like.

"It really is just about showing our respect to a young woman who lost her life in our city," said Cllr ODonovan.

The second event, organised by Rosa Socialist Feminist Movement, takes place this Thursday. See full story below.

Ms Ibram had travelled to Ireland only three weeks before her death in a bid to support her children and family in Romania.

Relatives of Ms Ibram have now visited Limerick and identified her remains at University Hospital Limerick.

It is understood they hope to repatriate her remains to Romania.
A UNIVERSITY in Limerick is soon to host their first ever Research Week.

Formerly of LIT, researchers of Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest will showcase a series of projects across numerous disciplines for the TUs inaugural Research Week.

Taking place from April 17 to 21, 2023, the week-long event will include a range of informative, hybrid talks and workshops across the TUs campuses and online.

According to the university, the core ethos of TUS Research Week is to create an engaging platform, where the huge range of innovative projects and initiatives from areas such as Technology, Engineering, Business and Science will be featured.

This will generate a culture of collaboration, in addition to stimulating creativity, creating real-world impacts and fostering economic development in a regional, national and international capacity.

Vice President for Research Development and Innovation at TUS, Dr Liam Brown, who spearheaded the initiative said, "TUS Research Week provides us with an opportunity to share our current research projects with the wider TUS community, our stakeholders and the general public.

"As well as demonstrating best practices in applied research across our multiple campuses, we will be showcasing some of our collaborative European projects and initiatives that are making a meaningful global impact."

Discussing some of the works to feature at the event, Dr Brown said, "partnership is a key driver of research, and several collaborative initiatives will be highlighted throughout the week, including 'Science Meets Regions, the Circular Economy Forum', 'The Nighttime Economy and Opportunities for the Midlands' and the 'ORCHESTRA project', which increases sustainability in the fruit value chain.

"This will also include our European Universities Alliance: RUN-EU (Regional University Network - European University) where the key focus is on Future and Sustainable Industries, the Bioeconomy and Social Innovation," he added.

A full schedule of the TUS Research Week can be found here.
LOUD is too simple a word to describe the noise heard across Limerick county on Monday night as confused residents looked up into the night sky to try and make sense of the mystery sound, which many believe was due to the arrival of US President Joe Biden this week.

Some residents took to social media to try and get to the bottom of the clamour heard above them.

Councillor Daniel Butler was among residents intrigued by the sounds, saying, "two massive helicopters just flew over Raheen and Dooradoyle. The noise was incredible!"

2 massive helicopters just flew over Raheen and Dooradoyle. The noise was incredible!



I'm guessing they were for the @POTUS visit. pic.twitter.com/CBOcfNuvgl  Cllr Daniel Butler (@DanielButlerFG) April 10, 2023

As it happens, two US cargo helicopters were overhead, and spotted by locals on FlightRadar24, a live tracker that shows "real-time aircraft flight tracking information on a map."

The councillor wrote, "they were 2 of these Chinooks."

Thanks to @strettie they were 2 of these Chinooks. pic.twitter.com/05fVlYXsxQ  Cllr Daniel Butler (@DanielButlerFG) April 10, 2023

Also known as cargo helicopters, a Chinook is a "a heavy-lift helicopter," capable of carrying large and heavy cargo, such as tanks, trucks and people all at once.

The councillor hinted at why he thought the choppers might be in over the Mid-West, "I'm guessing they were for the POTUS visit."

The 46th President of the United States of America, Mr. Joseph R. Biden is due to visit Ireland from April 12 to 15, and while his visit will be primarily around Dublin, Louth and Mayo, the loud noises had Limerick residents wondering if he was due a visit to the Treaty County.

Another Twitter user believed it was the US army "scoping out Limerick before a certain gentleman arrives", hinting at the President's visit to the island.

Forget your Honda Civic, I've a horse, oops, I mean Chinook, outside. US army scoping out Limerick before a certain gentleman arrives in Ireland this week @Rubberbandits @AntonSavageShow #Biden @flightradar24 pic.twitter.com/7gVo8QMmd3  PictureDiaryGalway (@PicDiaryGalway) April 10, 2023

Though rumours were circulating that President Biden would hopefully visit Shannon Airport, it has been released that the Head of State will solely arrive and depart at Dublin Airport, at various times over the course of his four-day visit.
Domestic private sector lender Indusind Bank on Tuesday said that Japanese lender JICA has teamed with Citibank to provide $125 million funding line to it .

The private lender said that it will utilise the co-finance funding for onlending to the agricultural sector, in statement issued on Tuesday.

The funding includes a JPY 13 billion (approx $97.45 million) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and another $30 million from Citi to Indusind, it said.

Indusind Bank said Citi arranged the high impact social finance offering to improve financial access for farmers and catalyze capital investment in the agricultural sector in India.

JICA has been active in funding commitments to India especially in the last few years which have witnessed a deepening of Indo-Japan ties, and the two countries also coming together to be a part of the Quad along with the US and Australia.

JICA's previous commitments to India include over 4,000 crore support to build the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.

Citing official data said the agriculture sector accounts for 17 per cent of GDP and employs 45 per cent of the people, and added that there is an urgent need to improve access to finance to stimulate capital investments in the agricultural sector.

It said Indusind has a presence in key agro centres across rural and semi urban locations.

Citi's head of corporate bank for South Asia K Balasubramanian said the facility will be helpful in purchase of farm equipment, seeds, and fertilizers for farmers and will also be used by small agricultural supply chain service providers.

In the past, Citi has committed USD 1 trillion to sustainable finance by 2030, as well as expanding access to basic services for 15 million underserved and low-income households, including 10 million women.

On Tuesday, the company's scrip ended 0.43 per cent up at 1073.95 on BSE.
MUMBAI : With large corporations diversifying their businesses, and expanding to new markets, several leading Indian law colleges have incorporated courses in climate justice, artificial intelligence, mental health, European Union Law and space law in their curricula, said deans, recruiters and law firms.

Requirement for fresh talent capable of handling crypto, AI and climate-related arbitration is on the rise, and private law colleges have stepped up efforts to cater to the growing demand, they added.

Demand for lawyers in 2022 was 30% more than in 2021. Both Indian and overseas companies and law firms are in need of talent," Ritambara Vasudeva, director at recruitment firm Michael Page, said.

Demand is especially for legal experts in AI, crypto, data privacy and competition law, Vasudeva added.

Mumbai-based BITS Law School, for instance, has launched courses including air and space law, forensic science, and criminal investigation, besides Metaverse, AI and cyber crime blockchain for its courses in technology and media law among others.

We spoke to law firm partners as well as judges to understand skill sets that students must learn now. Many judges today graduated from law schools a few decades ago, so we needed to figure out what to teach to be relevant in 30-40 years from now," said Ashish Bharadwaj, dean, BITS Law School.

Some current topics may soon become obsolete, he added. But subjects such as corporate and financial law will always remain relevant."

Some of the new age topics in law schools are part of elective courses which students opt for over a five-year programme. These courses were designed following detailed feedback from all industry stakeholders.

Subjects such as data protection, or AI, and international arbitration, should be specifically taught to equip students with skills required in the professional world," said Sameer Jain, managing partner, PSL Advocates and Solicitors. Some colleges and universities do teach these subjects as electives, but the need is for the Bar Council of India to update the mandatory curricula (to include such courses)," he said.

Indias management colleges are also designing courses to make students more industry-ready, such as lessons on the latest promotion strategies, and using artificial intelligence, Chat GPT, and X Culture to further their career goals.

Business projects are being incorporated by the Indian Institutes of Management to ensure students are prepared to work on global projects, and understand the challenges of working across time zones and cultures.Law is not cloistered, but has to operate in the real world. In a globalizing 21st century, professionals are expected to deal with uncertainty, ambiguity and stress," Shashikala Gurpur, director, Symbiosis Law School, said. Symbiosis has introduced mental health law as part of its health law courses, and is also set to launch specialized classes on telecom media technology, in line with the increasing demand from the industry following the rollout of 5G, which is expected to overhaul the medical, agricultural, retail and auto industries.
NEW YORK : Oil prices rose about 2% on Tuesday on hopes that the Federal Reserve might ease up on its policy tightening after a key U.S. inflation report this week, though concerns remain over Chinese demand.

Brent crude futures settled up $1.43, or 1.7%, to $85.61 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose $1.79, or 2.2%, to $81.53 a barrel.

Investors were more optimistic that the U.S. Federal Reserve is getting closer to ending its cycle of interest rate hikes, making dollar-priced oil cheaper for buyers holding other currencies.

The prospect of the Fed raising its benchmark interest rate only once more and in a 25 basis point increment is a useful starting point but the central bank's policy path will depend on incoming data, New York Fed President John Williams said on Tuesday.

A U.S. inflation report to be released on Wednesday is expected to help investors gauge the near-term trajectory for interest rates.

"The short-term crude demand outlook will soon be clearer. This week we will find out if the U.S. economy is taking steps into the recession pool or if it is going to do a cannonball into it," said Edward Moya, senior analyst at OANDA.

Data from China, however, showed consumer inflation in March rose at its slowest pace since September 2021, suggesting demand weakness persists in an uneven economic recovery.

"China's March CPI is lower than expected, which may promote the Chinese government to further stimulate the economy," said Tina Teng, an analyst at CMC Markets.

Oil futures have climbed around 7% since the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia surprised the market last week with further cuts to production targets from May.

OPEC output will fall by 500,000 bpd in 2023, then rise by 1 million bpd in 2024, after the group's output agreement expires, the Energy Information Administration forecast on Tuesday.

Total non-OPEC liquid fuels production is expected to grow by 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2023 and by 1 million bpd in 2024, the EIA said.

In France, the restart of the last of the four domestic refineries shuttered by a month-long strike signaled a likely boost to demand for oil.

On the U.S. supply front, industry data on U.S. crude stockpiles was due on Tuesday. The average estimate from five analysts polled by Reuters was that crude inventories fell by about 1.3 million barrels in the week to April 7. (Reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Additional reporting by Noah Browning, Sudarshan Varadhan and Trixie Yap; Editing by David Goodman, David Holmes and Mark Heinrich)
To build credibility around made in India products, the government has proposed to introduce new Brand India labelling norms for certain steel products manufactured under identified quality control metrics.

Steel and civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said Brand India steel products will set new benchmarks for credibility and quality and strengthen countrys domestic manufacturing in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

As part of the new branding plan for the steel sector, the label would be given to products manufactured following 13 sector specific metrics formulated by the steel ministry in consultation with the industry.

These metrics define the production process, location, product design and quality standards for steel products and only products manufactured complying with the identifying metrics would carry Brand India logo.

Since August 2022, the Ministry of Steel, in collaboration with DPIIT and QCI (Quality Council of India) has been working on a framework to showcase the strength of the Indian steel industry by leveraging the Made in India label on steel products in both domestic and export markets. As part of this effort, stakeholder consultations were conducted with leading Indian steel plants to draw a consensus on the scheme criteria and QR code components for steel manufacturers," Scindia informed a group of journalists.

He said that state-owned Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and private sector steel producer Jindal Stainless will soon initiate a pilot to manufacture these world-class steel products that would carry the brand India label.

Once the pilot is over, the government proposes to rope in all local steel manufacturers to join the initiative and start promoting Brand India steel both in domestic and global markets.

The Ministry of Steel has invited other Indian Steel Plants to participate in branding their steel products under the Made in India label scheme. QCI is facilitating the smooth onboarding of these steel plants," the steel minister said.

In order to integrate the technology platforms of Sail and JSL with the platform for the Made in India label, the QCI team made visits to the JSL Hisar plant and the Bokaro Steel Plant (SAIL).

Both SAIL and JSL have now been successfully integrated with the Made in India platform. Apart from the branding Indian steel industry, ministry of steel is also engaging with the stakeholders from the steel industry and the government departments and ministries such as Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MOEFCC), Ministry of Power, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), NITI Aayog etc. to work out a strategy to decarbonise Indian steel sector.

In line with Indias commitment towards climate change adaptation and mitigation, Scindia said that 13 key components have been identified as key levers for the low carbon transition of the steel sector. Moreover, a Task Force has been constituted with the involvement of experts and industry stakeholders to discuss, deliberate and brainstorm over each of the 13 components and to come up with possible actionable points.

The steel minister said that after the success of PLI scheme for specialised steel where MoU with respect of 57 applications from 27 companies were signed on 17 March, 2023, a new PLI 2.0 is being looked by the steel ministry and the same may be launched after consultation with stakeholders to finalise steel products and categories to be covered under the scheme.

Government is looking to strengthen the domestic steel sector with aim of enhancing production that will be required to meet the rapidly growing domestic demand and facilitate infrastructure development that is being undertaken at accelerated pace in the country.

As per steel ministrys estimates, by 2030-31, operational capacity of crude steel production of SAIL will rise from existing 19.51 MTPA to around 35.65 MTPA. SAIL has already achieved all-time best annual production in FY2022-23.

The company recorded 19.4 million tonnes (MT) of hot metal and 18.2 MT crude steel production with a growth of 3.6% and 5.3% respectively. Also, NMDC recorded best-ever Q4 and March month production of iron ore and crossed 41 million tonne production in the fiscal.
Shares of Bank of Baroda (BoB) rose by around 3% on Tuesday. Investors are pleased about the banks March quarter (Q4FY23) business update, which indicated that the public sector lender is likely to end FY23 on a good note.

In Q4, the bank saw healthy loan (credit) growth of 19% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 9.74 trillion. Domestic advances accounted for 82% of total loans and grew at a slower pace of 16.9%.

Within this, retail advances grew at a faster rate of nearly 27% y-o-y and formed 22% of domestic advances. Also, BoBs total deposits were up 15.1% y-o-y.

View Full Image Graphic: Mint

With the tightening of liquidity, banks are racing to mobilise deposits to meet their credit demand and the trend in deposit growth is likely to continue.

As Nitin Aggarwal, head of BFSI research, institutional equities, Motilal Oswal Financial Services said, Compared to many other banks that have released their Q4 updates so far, BoB has fared better on CASA and overall deposit growth. The same trend in deposit growth vis-a-vis peers can be expected to continue in FY24 as well."

Faster repricing of loans than deposits means that the banks net interest margin (NIM) could get some cushion in Q4. JM Financial Institutional Securities Ltd analysts note that the share of the floating rate portfolio is higher for public sector banks including BoB.

In their Q4 banking sector preview report dated 5 April, the analysts said, We expect margins to remain healthy given continued repricing of MCLR-linked loans."

Against this backdrop, BoBs net interest margin could improve marginally in Q4.

But all is not hunky dory. Usually, with the rising cost of funds, NIMs of banks come under pressure.

Accordingly, that is a key monitorable for investors in FY24. Also, with deposit rates rising to meet the credit demand, the banking sector NIMs are expected to moderate. Further, the tapering of credit growth, too, is likely to put pressure on the net interest income and NIMs.

BoBs loan growth is likely to moderate to 15-16% in FY24 from 19% in FY23. The banks NIM can be expected to moderate in H2FY24," said Aggarwal.

To be sure, BoBs diversified portfolio mix has aided loan growth in FY23 and should help, going forward as well. Investors seem to be factoring the optimism to a good extent. After all, the stock has risen by 42% in the last one year.

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State Bank of India: The largest public sector lender in the country, State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday announced its plan to raise up to $2 billion for the financial year FY24 through the issuance of senior unsecured notes. To discuss and consider the same, the lender's board members are scheduled to meet on April 18. The senior unsecured notes will be in US dollars or any other convertible foreign currency. Also, the board will consider whether to issue these notes through a public offer and or private placement.

Reliance Industries: After announcing its plan to revive the iconic soft drink, Campa-Cola, to build its presence in India's soft drinks market, Reliance Industries-backed Reliance Consumer Products is all set to compete with dairy brands like Amul and Mother Dairy by venturing into the ice cream and dairy market. The Mukesh-Ambani-led company is planning to launch ice cream products under its brand, Independence, starting from Gujarat, and may also enter into a contract with a manufacturer in the state, reported Business Standard citing anonymous sources.

Bajaj Finserv: Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund, which received Sebi's clearance to begin the mutual fund operations last month, has filed draft documents with the markets regulator for launching seven schemes in equity, debt and hybrid spaces. The newest player has filed papers to launch mutual fund schemes -- liquid fund, money market fund, overnight fund, arbitrage fund, large and mid-cap, balance advantage and flexi cap fund, an update with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) showed on Monday. The company would launch these products after receiving the regulator's approval.

L&T: Larsen and Toubro on Monday said its hydrocarbon business, L&T Energy Hydrocarbon or LTEH, recently secured an order under its advanced value engineering and technology vertical from Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals. The order has been awarded by Chambal Fertilisers for licence plus engineering, procurement and construction of a technical ammonium nitrate (TAN) plant along with weak nitric acid (WNA) plant at Gadepan, Kota, Rajasthan. Last week, L&Ts hydrocarbon business received multiple offshore orders from a prestigious client in the Middle East.

Bajaj Auto: Bajaj Auto has announced that it has successfully completed the transfer of Triumph India's sales and marketing 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.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd is considering selling a majority stake in Glenmark Life Sciences to pare debt, said two people familiar with the development. Kotak Mahindra Capital Co. Ltd has been hired to run the sale process, and the company has contacted buyout funds to gauge investor interest, the people said. The company had explored a stake sale in its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) business in 2019 but then opted for a listing in 2021 after spinning off the entity as Glenmark Life Sciences.

Bank of Baroda: Bank of Baroda on Monday reported its Q4 business update, said that the bank's total deposits grew by 15.1 per cent to 12.04 lakh crore as of the quarter ended 31 March 2023, as compared to 11.4 lakh crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal. "Total Deposits of the bank grew by 15.1% YoY and 4.7% QoQ to Rs. 12.04 trillion as of 31st March 2023.," said the bank in its regulatory filing. The domestic deposits grew around 13 per cent year-on-year to 10.47 lakh crore during the same period as compared to 10.03 lakh crore.

Vedanta: Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Ltd on Monday said that the company would hold a meeting on April 13, 2023, to consider the issuance of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) on a private placement basis. The Company proposes to hold a meeting of its duly constituted Committee of Directors on Thursday, April 13, 2023, to consider the proposal for issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures on a private placement basis," said Vedanta in its regulatory filing. In recent months, Agarwal has faced one of his toughest acts yet. The tycoons Vedanta Resources Ltd. has close to $2 billion of bonds to settle in 2024  half of which is due in January.

JSW Steel: JSW Steel on Monday said the company reported its highest ever consolidated crude steel production at 24.15 million tonne in FY23, registering a growth of 24 per cent year-on-year. The company has reported its highest-ever quarterly consolidated crude steel production at 6.58 million tonnes for the March quarter of FY23, registering a growth of 13 per cent year-on-year (YoY) and 7 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). This was driven by improved capacity utilisation at the Indian operations, with capacity utilisation of 96 per cent in Q4 FY23 versus 91 per cent in Q3 FY23.

Zydus Lifesciences: Zydus Lifesciences on Tuesday said it has received approval from the US health regulator to market a generic product which is used to treat myxedema coma. The company has received the final approval for Levothyroxine Sodium for Injection in the strength of 100 mcg/vial, 200 mcg/vial, and 500 mcg/vial from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), said Zydus Lifesciences in a statement. Levothyroxine Sodium Injection is indicated for the treatment of myxedema coma.
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenia could consider the deployment of a CSTO mission to its territory only after the military bloc acknowledges that Azerbaijan committed an act of aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia, a senior lawmaker said Tuesday.

The draft decision on sending the mission is still under development.

This issue was discussed publicly on the high level most recently in March, when the Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan was in Moscow. I reiterate that this draft decision is still in the phase of development. The Armenian side insists that the draft decision must record the Azerbaijani aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia, give a political assessment, and then only it will be possible to speak about the deployment of a mission and its parameters. The CSTO, as an organization, must record what has happened against the sovereign territory of Armenia, that is, an aggression has taken place against the sovereign territory of Armenia and Armenias territories are under occupation, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs MP Sargis Khandanyan told reporters.

Thus fur the Armenian side hasnt seen such a record by the CSTO, and only after the organization acknowledges this fact it will be possible to speak about the rest, the MP said.
In significant decisions, the Election Commission on Monday recognised Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party and withdrew the recognition from Nationalist Congress Party, CPI and Trinamool Congress.

A day after party attained the national party status, Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addressed his supporters and said that all "anti-national forces" that want to halt the country's progress are against the AAP. During his address, he also remembered Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain who are currently behind bar.

"Anti-national forces worked to put Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain behind bars, he said. Their fault was that one gave wings to the dreams of poor children while other made treatment free for all.

#WATCH | AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says, "Anti-national forces worked to put Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain behind bars," as he remembers the party leaders during his address to party workers in Delhi after EC granted national party status to AAP. pic.twitter.com/Ni8kSnjva3  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2023

Describing the AAP's newly-acquired status of a national party in a short span of 10 years as a "miraculous and incredible" achievement, Kejriwal said it brings with it a huge responsibility as well. He added that the party has shown how elections can be won with honesty.

He urged people to join the AAP in order to make India the number one country in the world. He said the AAP's ideology is based on three pillars -- die-hard honesty, patriotism and humanity -- adding that the aim of the party is to make India the number one country in the world.

"It is time to remember the AAP's ideology. There are three pillars of the AAP's ideology -- kattar imandari (die-hard honesty), kattar patriotism and humanity," Kejriwal said.

He thanked all those who contributed to the AAP's growth and helped it achieve the national party status, and remembered his party colleagues Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain who are currently lodged in jail.

Kejriwal told the AAP volunteers to be prepared to go to jail if need be and said those who are scared of it should quit the party.

AAP was given national party status based on its electoral performance in four states -- Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party is in power in Delhi and Punjab. This recognition makes the party eligible for contesting elections in all states and territories of India, and also grants it certain benefits, including access to reserved party symbols, more free airtime on state-run media outlets during elections, and greater funding from the government. The recognition of the AAP as a national party is a significant milestone for the party, as it seeks to expand its presence across India. The party has often been criticised for its lack of a clear ideology and its tendency to focus on personality-based politics, but it has also gained popularity for its emphasis on issues such as anti-corruption, education, and healthcare
The Election Commission on Monday recognised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party and withdrew the national party status of the All India Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

After the 2019 parliamentary polls, the EC had issued notices to TMC, CPI and NCP, asking why their status should not be downgraded based on the outcome of the general election. However, the process could not move forward due to the pandemic. In November last year, the poll panel revived the process. On 21 March, it had heard the response of the Nationalist Congress Party and the CPI.

On the other hand, the EC named AAP as a national party based on its electoral performance in four states -- Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party is in power in Delhi and Punjab.

After the EC's new list, India now has BJP, Congress, CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National People's Party (NPP) and the AAP as national parties.

Why did TMC, NCP lose national party status?

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 received the national party tag in 2016, but its dismal show in Goa and some northeastern states has led to withdrawal of the status.

The NCP was formed by Sharad Pawar, another former Congress leader, in 1999 and became a national party in 2000 following its success in various elections. The NCP lost its state party status in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya, as per the EC order.

The CPI, founded in 1925, was recognised as a national party in 1989 but the tag was withdrawn following its dismal performance in West Bengal and Odisha elections. EC officials said parties can regain their national and state party status based on their performance in future electoral cycles as also the Lok Sabha elections due next year.

To earn a national party status, a political outfit needs to be recognised as state party in four states and have at least two members in the respective legislative assemblies, according to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) order, 1968.

And in order become eligible to be recognised as the state party, a political outfit has to win two seats and secures a minimum 6 percent votes in the state.

As per NDTV report, a party should also have a win in minimum of 2 percent of the total seats in the Lok Sabha.

The party's candidates should have been elected from not less than three states

When a national party status is achieved, a party posses number of advantages such as common party symbol across states, free airtime during elections on public broadcasters, space for a party office in New Delhi, etc. A recognised national party can contest on all Lok Sabha and assembly seats on its symbol. It also gets to field more star campaigners for electioneering.

What next?

After losing the national party status, TMC is exploring legal options to challenge the decision of the Election Commission, a party source said.

The Nationalist Congress Party on Monday said it would react to the Election Commission stripping the Sharad Pawar-led outfit of its 'national party' status after receiving the order in written form.

Other parties who were granted/withdrawn state party status

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. In an order issued on Monday, the Commission 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.

(With inputs from agencies)
In view of rising incidents of unruly passengers onboard flights, aviation regulator DGCA on Monday issued an advisory to airlines reiterating the existing provisions in place to deal with these passengers.

This advisory came after a male passenger was deboarded by Air India from a Delhi-London flight for causing physical harm to two cabin crew members. However, this advisory has not come just after this one incident. In last 3-4 months, there were many unruly passenger behaviour that were reported.

In the advisory issued by the DGCA, the regulator said there are provisions under the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) for action to be taken by the airline to deal with unruly passengers.

Besides, it said the responsibilities of pilots, cabin crew members and the director of inflight services are also mentioned in the CAR.

DGCA said that in the recent past, it 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".

"Such incidents have potential of compromising the safety of aircraft operations," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.

"Head of operations of all Airlines are hereby advised to sensitize their pilots, Cabin Crew and post holders on handling of unruly passengers through appropriate means including but not limited to training programmes for ensuring effective monitoring, maintenance of good order and discipline on board the aircraft safety of aircraft operations is not jeopardized in any manner, it stated.

Airlines shall categorize all such cases of unruly behaviour on-board the aircraft into the following categories for taking further action in the matter:

Level 1: Unruly behaviour (physical gestures. verbal harassment, unruly

inebriation etc)

Level 2: Physically abusive behaviour (pushing, kicking, hitting, grabbing or inappropriate touching or sexual harassment etc)

Level 3: Life-threatening behaviour (damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence such as choking, eye gouging, murderous assault attempted or actual breach of the fight crew compartment etc).

"On the basis of the above levels, the internal committee of the Airline decides the duration for which the unruly passengers will be banned from flying, it stated.

As per the DGCA, the Pilot-in-Command is responsible for the safety of the passengers and cargo carried and for the maintenance of flight discipline and safety of the members of the crew in addition to being responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft during flight.

DGCA has issued an advisory to all airlines on unruly behaviour by passengers during flight operations.



Head of operations of all Airlines are hereby advised to sensitize their pilots, Cabin Crew and post holders on handling of unruly passengers through appropriate means pic.twitter.com/CYk7a4z9Lh  ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2023

On Monday, Air India 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.

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 in a statement.

In a written reply to Rajya Sabha on April 3, Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh said as many as 63 persons were put in the 'No Fly List' by airlines in 2022.
NEW DELHI : Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said that India deeply values its 25 years of strategic partnership with France and 75 years of friendship.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Paris on Monday during his ongoing visit to France, Goyal said that France is Indias preferred partner in defence and various other sectors and this 25-year journey is truly reflective of Indias journey of progress.

He further said that India desires to strengthen this partnership with France.

The minister further that the vibrant Indian Community in France acting as a true living Bridge between the two countries will relentlessly pursue a path that will further strengthen Indias ties with France in technology, investments, tourism, etc.

Goyal said that in 1947, as India gained independence it started regaining its place in the world. He said that this year India is celebrating 25 years of partnership with France and 75 years of Indias independence.

He said that while its a great moment to reflect on all the good things that have been achieved in the last 75 years, its also a great opportunity for each one of us to reflect on new ideas about how our country should progress in the future.

Goyal added that India offers huge opportunities to the rest of the world and Indias overall exports growing to US $ 765 Billion in 2022-23 is an example of a new India which is showing the path to the rest of the world, a new India with capability, capacity & confidence. The minister said that each member of the diaspora is an ambassador of India.

The minister said that the Indian community in France can contribute to this journey of Amrit Kaal envisioned by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to see India as a developed Nation by 2047.

He said that India must find its rightful place in the comity of nations now as this is the time, this is the right time as said by the prime minister.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her latest remark expressed India could be an alternative to China in world supply chains.

Citing the production-linked incentive schemes (PLI), she said it covers 13 manufacturing sectors including semiconductors which are bringing global value chains into India.

And, through this, she hoped India can attain production of many of these large, bulk-manufactured goods that can be exported globally to meet international and local demand.

The Finance Minister was speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. She is on a weeklong trip to the US to attend the World Bank and International Monetary Funds Spring Meetings.

Sitharaman gave the example of mobile-phone manufacturing  the Asian nation 2014 produced very few devices and the industry had grown to become one of the worlds biggest exporters.

G-20 and Debt

India holds the presidency of the Group of 20 intergovernmental forums of influential nations. Sitharaman said it "is a great opportunity for India to prove and to work towards bringing all countries together on substantive issues". India is under pressure to show it can forge an agreement after major meetings this year ended with Russia and China objecting to language around the war in Ukraine.

The FM added, "It is time that the members of the G-20 sit up and take these issues on board,

singling out the need to provide debt relief for more than 70 low-income nations facing a collective $326 billion burden.

More than half of the worlds low-income countries are at high risk of debt distress or are 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.

This issue will be taken forward, and I hope to have some positive movements," Sitharaman concluded.
New Delhi: As a spurt in covid-19 cases sparks mock drills, mask mandates and greater vigil across the country, companies are pulling up socks as well, directing pandemic-appropriate behaviour at workplaces and outside.

Aditya Birla Group, Tata Motors, Panasonic and RPG Group, among others, have asked their employees to wear masks and follow covid-appropriate behaviour. Some have also urged employees to do rapid antigen tests at home if they felt unwell, as they press ahead with hybrid work unless essential to be in office.

Last week, Aditya Birla Group sent out a mail to employees asking them to take an antigen test if they are unwell and then head out to office if the tests come clear," an executive said on condition of anonymity.

The Union health ministry on Monday reported 5,880 new infections and 14 deaths in the preceding 24 hours, with total active infections touching 35,199. As the numbers climbed, Haryana, Kerala and Puducherry have brought back mask mandates.

With the recent surge in covid cases, a new notice is issued by the Government of Haryana to make it mandatory requirement for all to wear face masks in all public places. In view of the same as well as keeping our employees health and safety as our highest priority, it is mandatory requirement that all employees should wear a mask or cloth-face covering that covers his or her mouth and nose at all times while in the workplace or office area or in public places," Panasonic Life Solutions India wrote to its employees.

As directed by the Union health ministry, mock drills were conducted across the country on Monday to assess hospital preparedness. The drills will continue on Tuesday as well.

Eight states including Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi have reported a large number of infections.

In the wake of the recent spurt in covid infections, we are urging our employees to exercise extreme caution in crowded places or while travelling, which includes usage of masks and frequent sanitizing of hands. We have asked our employees to stay away from their workplaces if they have any symptoms, however mild," Supratik Bhattacharyya, chief talent officer, RPG Group told Mint.

Last week, Tata Motors asked its employees to stay at home if they are unwell or a family member is unwell.

Over the last year, India Inc. has been nudging workers to return to office, limiting the work-from-home option first with hybrid work and then gradually increasing the number of mandatory days at office. The return of covid may now force them to continue hybrid and WFH modes. We have been working on a hybrid mode and will continue to do so. The advisories have not come to us yet, but there will not be any change in our working now," a top executive at one of the leading consulting companies said.

We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to adhere strictly to local directives and take the necessary precautions to ensure all safeguard measures are in place," said a Wipro spokesperson.
New Delhi: The government plans to boost the reputation of Indian-made products by introducing a Brand India label for steel products that will be manufactured under strict quality control.

Steel minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said these products will set new benchmarks for credibility and quality and strengthen domestic manufacturing in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Only products made to the standards of 13 sector-specific metrics formulated by the government and industry would get the Brand India label.

These metrics cover the production process, location, product design and quality standards for steel products.

Since August 2022, the ministry of steel, in collaboration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and QCI (Quality Council of India) has been working on a framework to showcase the strength of the Indian steel industry by leveraging the Made in India label on steel products in both domestic and export markets. As part of this effort, stakeholder consultations were conducted with leading Indian steel plants to draw a consensus on the scheme criteria and QR code components for steel manufacturers," Scindia said.

He said state-owned SAIL and private sector producer Jindal Stainless Ltd will soon initiate a pilot to manufacture these world-class steel products.

Once the pilot is complete, the government proposes to rope in all local steel manufacturers to join the initiative and start promoting Brand India steel both in domestic and global markets.

The ministry of steel has invited other Indian steel plants to participate in branding their steel products under the Made in India label scheme. QCI is facilitating the smooth onboarding of these steel plants," the steel minister said.

In order to integrate the technology platforms of SAIL and JSL with the Made in India label, the QCI team visited the JSL Hisar plant and the Bokaro plant of SAIL. Both SAIL and JSL have now been successfully integrated with the Made in India platform. Apart from branding the steel industry, the ministry of steel is also engaging with stakeholders from the steel industry and the government departments and ministriessuch as environment, forests and climate change, power, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, new and renewable energy, and NITI Aayogto work out a strategy to decarbonize Indian steel.

In line with Indias global commitments, Scindia said 13 key components have been identified as levers for the low carbon transition of the steel sector.

A task force has been constituted with the involvement of experts and industry to discuss, deliberate and brainstorm over each of the components and to come up with actionable points.

Scindia said that after the success of the PLI scheme for specialized steel, where MoUs for 57 applications from 27 companies were signed on 17 March, a new PLI 2.0 is being considered by the steel ministry. This may be launched after consultation with stakeholders to finalize the products and categories to be covered under the scheme.

The government is looking to strengthen the steel sector in order to boost production that will be required to meet rapidly growing domestic demand and facilitate infrastructure development. As per steel ministrys estimates, by 2030-31, the operational capacity of crude steel production of SAIL will rise from existing 19.51 million tonnes per annum to around 35.65 MTPA.

SAIL has already achieved an all-time best annual production in FY 2022-23 of 19.4 million tonnes of hot metal and 18.2 MT crude steel.
NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that it is prudent for global businesses to spread out their supply chain rather than concentrating it in one market, although there may be a lot of investor interest in returning to China that is opening up after its strict covid containment policy.

Speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington DC early on Tuesday (India time), Sitharaman said that however much one would think that supply chains would move out of China, that would not be the case.

China and others could be the possible realistic solution, the minister said. "Even as China is opening up again after the zero-tolerance policy and everything, I would still think there would be a lot of investment interest and manufacturing interest going back to China or restoring themselves in China. So it would be unrealistic to think everything will get out of China. But yet, the shock that had happened in terms of supply chain justifies more than one location and countries like India would be the best in terms of the skill sets that Indians, particularly the youth, have," Sitharaman said.

The minister said at the event that today Indians in the age group of 15-29 years constitute nearly 27% of the country's population. So there is every reason for global businesses to come and invest and also tap a captive domestic market, the minister said. Sitharaman also said that some other South East Asian countries may also be pitching for investments.

"It just sends a very strong message that the world did not notice or did not choose earlier. That is, spreading your resource basket of supply chain is a far more prudent way of continuing in business however much the cost complications make it difficult in other places and the cost-benefit makes it possible to concentrate in one jurisdiction," Sitharaman said.

The finance minister is currently in the US to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF and to attend G20 meetings.

The minister also said that Indians showed resilience and enterprise in taking on the challenge posed by the pandemic despite tragedies at home. Community service and the government's humanitarian assistance and schemes for reviving the economy too helped. With vaccination completed and booster shots given, India can take on any contingency, the minister said.

Sitharaman also said that India has taken the route of free trade agreements. "Between 2019 and now, we have at least three major agreements signed. We shall proceed on that route also with the United Kingdom, the EU and Canada. All three are happening as we speak, negotiations are going on. ....We are very clearly moving forward on bilateral preferential trade agreements," Sitharaman said.
In a major decision, the Supreme Court disregarded the state government's motion to forbid the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from holding rallies in Tamil Nadu. The Madras High Court earlier gave the RSS permission to march through the state's several districts. The Supreme Court has now taken up the matter after the Tamil Nadu government filed an appeal against this ruling.

R Karthikeyan, the joint secretary of the Sangh in Tiruvallur, had petitioned the court for contempt of court against the police on October 2, 2022, after they had refused to provide permission for the route march. The Madras High Court subsequently instructed the Tamil Nadu police to grant the request by September 30, 2022.

Also Read: Ashok Gehlot accuses RSS-linked lobby of inciting protesting doctors in state

The Sangh office bearers filed a contempt of court petition in the Madras High Court in 2022 after the Tamil Nadu Police forbade RSS gatherings in certain locations. The court had issued a warning that if the authorities disobeyed the order, contempt charges would be brought.

"The court had passed orders only after taking all circumstances into consideration. It said no one should be allowed to undermine a judicial order and the denial of permission despite the court orders seems to be a mockery (of justice)," stated RSS senior counsel Prabhakaran.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi faces fresh defamation case over '21st century Kauravas' moniker for RSS

Elango, the counsel for the Tamil Nadu police, earlier argued that the Central intelligence agencies had warned the state of potential law and order disturbances due to the action taken against the Popular Front of India (PFI).

The Left, the VCK and other DMK allies have repeatedly urged the government to deny permission for the RSS march. The Tamil Nadu government responded by officially denying permission, citing the Union Government's ban on the PFI as well as the different Muslim organisations condemning it.

(With ANI inputs)
Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of fugitive Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh made some revelation about how they escaped from police. Singh revealed that they travelled to various locations, including Haryana, Patiala, Delhi, and Pilibhit, before returning to Haryana and Punjab, sources in the Punjab Police told News18.

He further admitted of arranging all their hideouts and also admitted that they used cars, buses, and accepted lifts from others while on the move. He added that they ran to escape torture of police.

The source further told News18 that Singh accepted that all videos and pictures in public domain belong to them. Papalpreet has also revealed that Amritpal is in Punjab, but both were separated after last week's raids," the source added.

Balbir Kaur in Patiala and Baljit Kaur in Shahbad who helped the duo were also personal contacts of Papalpreet. Even Kulwinder Kaur in Delhi was known to Papalpreet. The duo was also in touch with a Sikh preacher, Joga Singh, in Pilibhit," the source was quoted by News18.

Papalpreet was seen with Amritpal Singh in several photos, which surfaced since the duo escaped the State police's dragnet.

On 11 April, Singh was brought to Amritsar airport in the wee hours. He was arrested from Amritsar's Kathu Nangal area on Monday. On Monday Punjab's Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill said that Papalpreet Singh was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA).

"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 had said, adding that action against him will be taken as per law.

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".

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.

With Baisakhi on 14 April, all leaves of Punjab cops have been cancelled, due to high alert in the state. In response, the head of Akal Takhth, Giani Harpreet Singh, announced a three-day annual congregation at Takht Damdama Sahib to celebrate Baisakhi. There is a marked difference in annual congregation and Sarbat Khalsa. This is a gathering to mark Baisakhi," an official told HT indicating that the Akal Takht is not actually agreeing to Amritpal Singh's demand of Sarbat Khalsa

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.

(With inputs from agencies)
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia has published a video in which it can be seen how the servicemen of the armed forces of Azerbaijan drive their car to the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia carrying out engineering works, after which they open fire in the direction of the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has defended Indias treatment of Muslim minority. FM Sitharaman, during a virtual panel discussion organised by the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIE), disputed the unfavourable impressions of India held by the Western media and stated that foreign investors should visit India to see the country's development for themselves.

Adam S. Posen, the president of the PIIE, questioned Sitharaman on reports that MPs from the opposing party had lost their status and the alleged victimisation of Muslim minorities in India. She inquired as to whether the number of Muslims in India had decreased and whether any community had seen an unusually high number of deaths since 2014. She contrasted the situation in India with that in Pakistan, where minorities' living conditions are deteriorating and their population is shrinking.

Between 2014 and today, has the population dwindled? Have the deaths been disproportionately high in any one particular community? So, I would rather invite these people, who write these reports, to come to India. I host them. Let them come to India and prove their point," she said.

Also Read: India eyes key supply-chain role as firms shift from China: FM Sitharaman

Sitharaman was questioned on reports that MPs from the opposing party had lost their status and the alleged victimisation of Muslim minority in India by Adam S. Posen, president of the PIIE. She asked if there were fewer Muslims in India and if any minority had seen an exceptionally high number of fatalities since 2014. She compared the state of affairs in India and Pakistan, where the population of minorities is declining and living circumstances are getting worse.

Sitharaman further asserted that minorities in Pakistan were subjected to serious accusations that may result in punishments including the death penalty. In Pakistan, she claimed that even some Muslim sects had been wiped out, but in India, Muslims were doing better and there was no evidence of a noticeable drop in their population.

Also Read: RBI has taken a good call, I think: FM Nirmala Sitharaman on MPC decision to keep benchmark rate unchanged

Sitharaman asked the World Trade Organization to be more forward-thinking and to listen to all nations, giving room for views from nations with varied perspectives.

She claimed that "developing markets" like India had a heavy burden as such and required every company to seek assistance or contribute positively to any situation. She emphasised that despite catastrophes at home, Indians were able to rise to the occasion and succeed in their companies because of their tenacity.

(With ANI inputs)
First Deputy Minister of Ukraines foreign ministry, Emine Dzhaparov, is in India since Monday said that what is happening in Crimea could stand as an example for India in dealing with difficult neighbours.

Hinting at the Russia-Ukraine war that has been going on since 24 February 2022, and India's refusal to take sides int he war, Dzhaparov said that India should also take a stance and not be on the wrong side of history.

Referring to the war in Ukraine, the deputy foreign minister said as a global leader and current chair of the G20, India can play a greater role in bringing peace and hoped that Indian officials will visit Kyiv soon.

Reinstating her statement on relationship between India, China, and Pakistan during an address at a leading think-tank, Dzhaparova said that Ukraine's relationship with Pakistan is not directed against India's interests and that her country's military ties with Islamabad began around three decades back.

There is one message with which I have come to India. Ukraine really wants India and Ukraine to be closer. Yes, there is a history between us. But we want to start a new relationship with India," media outlet NDTV quoted Dzhaparova as saying at the event in New Delhi.

The minister said further said, India also has a difficult neighbourhood with China and Pakistan. The Crimea episode has a lesson for India as well. Whenever impunity happens and if it is not stopped, it becomes bigger."

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 minister said India is witnessing visionary changes and it may take some time for it to build new relations with Ukraine and that the ties should be based on a "pragmatic and balanced approach".

"I think the suggestion that I brought here is to have a better and deeper relationship with India. And it needs reciprocity. We knocked the door but it is also up to the owner of the house to open up the door," she said.

(With PTI inputs)
US President Joe Biden has signed the legislation that seeks to end the national emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Biden had earlier opposed the bill brought in by the House Republicans but had said he won't veto it.

A release by the White House on the matter read "On Monday, April 10, 2023, the President signed into law: HJRes 7, which terminates the national emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic"

The move to rescind the emergency response to the Covid-19 virus also means the end of the Title 42 migration policy, which allows for the deportation of people who cross the US-Mexico border illegally.

Also Read: Biden won't veto Republican-led bill ending COVID emergency

The Covid-19 virus was declared a public health emergency by the health secretary of the Trump administration on 31 January 2020, whereas former US President Donald Trump declared it a national emergency in March of that year. President Joe Biden has broadened the use of emergency powers since he took office in January 2021.

The national emergency response to covid has allowed the U.S. government to fight the virus while supporting the country's economic, health, and social systems. According to a report in the Washington Post, millions of people will also lose their Medicaid coverage, with as many as 5 US states already dropping people from the Medicaid rolls and more states expected to follow suit soon.

In February, the US House of Representatives passed the controversial legislation introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar with 229 votes in favor and 197 against. Later last month, the Senate gave final approval to the bill, with 68 senators, including half of the Democrats, voting in favor of the bill and 23 voting against it.

As per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.13 million Americans have lost their lives to Covid-19 since the pandemic began more than 3 years ago.

The Biden administration has been trying to return to normal procedures since it became clear that Congress would move to end the national emergency. Reportedly, several key members of the administration's Covid-19 response team are also expected to leave soon.

(With inputs from agencies)
Correction: the Pentagon estimates that around 40,000 more Russian troops have been wounded than Ukrainian ones, not 40 times as many as we originally wrote. Sorry

On February 26th officials from the SBU, Ukraines security service, came to a striking conclusion. Their own agents in Belarus had defied orders and attacked a Russian surveillance plane earlier that day. American spies were listening in. They noted the morsel of intelligence in a highly classified slide on the war in Ukraine circulated by Americas joint staff on March 1st. Within days that report, and 50 others, had been printed off and uploaded to the internet. It appears to be Americas most serious intelligence leak in a decade.

The leaked files, which include military assessments on the war in Ukraine and CIA reports on a range of global issues, came to widespread attention when some appeared on Telegram, a messaging app widely used in Russia. Some had been published on Discord, a chat site popular with video-game enthusiasts, on March 1st and 2nd, according to Bellingcat, an investigative group. Some classified material had appeared as early as January.

After the slides circulated on Telegram, at least one was crudely doctored to inflate Ukrainian casualty figures and understate Russian onesbut others showed no obvious signs of manipulation. Several former American and European intelligence officials told The Economist that they thought the reports were probably authentic American documents. The Pentagon all but confirmed this. A spokesman said it was leading a cross-government panel to assess the damage. Senior officials were consulting partners and allies around the world. As the Department of Justice opened an investigation into the source of the leak, the Biden administration was taking a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom." The timing could not be worse: Ukraine is preparing a counter-offensive that could start within weeks. The leaked trove offers a remarkable window into the state of its armed forces.

Several slides provide an eye-wateringly detailed accounting of Western plans to arm and train Ukraines army, including the status of each Ukrainian brigade, its inventory of armour and artillery and the precise number of shells and precision-guided rockets Ukraine is firing each day. If accurate, the data could allow Russian military intelligence to identify the specific brigades that have probably been tasked with breaching Russian defences at the outset of the offensive. That, in turn, could allow Russia to carefully monitor those units to assess the location of an offensive. One slide indicates that Ukraines 10th Corps is likely to command the operation, which will now make its headquarters an obvious Russian target.

Perhaps the most damaging documents lay out the state of Ukrainian air defences. These are in dire shape, after parrying repeated Russian drone and missile strikes since October. The countrys Buk missiles were reckoned to be likely to run out on March 31st based on prevailing rates of fire, though it is not clear whether this has actually occurred. Its S-300 missiles will last only until around May 2nd. Together the two types make up 90% of Ukraines medium-range air defences. The remaining batteries, including Western air-defence systems, are unable to match the Russian volume" of fire, says the Pentagon, though on April 4th it announced it would send more interceptor missiles. Ukraines ability to protect its front lines will be completely reduced" by May 23rd, it concludes. A table sets out the date at which each type of missile will be exhausted; a map depicts the location of every battery.

However, the leaked documents hardly paint a rosy view of Russias armed forces. Though it has devastated the eastern city of Bakhmutthe situation there was catastrophic" by February 28th, according to Ukraines military-intelligence chief, who is quoted in one reportits combat power is crippled. Americas Defence Intelligence Agency reckons that 35,000 to 43,000 Russian troops have died, twice the number of Ukrainian casualties, with over 154,000 wounded, around 40 times the Ukrainian figure (the agency acknowledges that these numbers are ropey). Russia has also lost more than 2,000 tanks and now fields only 419 in theatre". Another slide says that Russias grinding campaign of attrition" in the east is heading towards a stalemate", and that the result is likely to be a protracted war beyond 2023".

The documents will have wider political consequences. One slide suggests there are 97 special-forces personnel from NATO countries in Ukraine, including 50 from Britain, 17 from Latvia, 15 from France and 14 from America. Most are probably training their Ukrainian counterparts; countries often deploy special forces with considerable secrecy. Even so, the Kremlin is likely to use the disclosure to justify its narrative that it is fighting not just Ukraine but the entirety of NATO.

The leak is also a reminder that American spies collect intelligence on their alliesa fact which caused uproar in 2013 when it was revealed that Americas National Security Agency (NSA), responsible for signals intelligence, had spied on Angela Merkel, then German chancellor, among other world leaders. The latest trove shows that American agencies are snooping not only on Ukrainian generals and spooks, but also on officials in Hungary, Israel, South Korea and the International Atomic Energy Agency, a UN watchdog. One CIA report claims that the leaders of Mossad, Israels foreign-intelligence agency, encouraged its officials, and Israeli citizens, to protest against controversial judicial reforms (these were later shelved).

More importantly, the leaks describe not only who America is spying on but also how it is doing it. The description of the SBUs assessment of the Belarus plane attack, for instance, is marked not only as top secretAmericas highest level of classificationbut also SI-G". That acronym indicates material derived from particularly sensitive signals intelligence, such as phone taps or electronic intercepts, according to officials familiar with the notation. But because many of the leaked documents describe specific communications between individuals or groupsincluding within Russian military and intelligence agenciesthey might help the targets realise how America is obtaining the information.

The publication of these documents is probably one of the four most significant intelligence leaks in this century, says Thomas Rid of Johns Hopkins University, alongside the theft of files by Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, in 2013, and the publication of NSA and CIA hacking tools in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The damage could be severe. The leak confirms that American intelligence agencies have penetrated Russia to a remarkable degree. But Russian spies and generals are now likely to take protective measures, such as changing their methods of communication.

American allies may also hesitate before sharing secrets. A vast number of Americans have access to classified information. Around 1.3m of them, including many contractors, like Mr Snowden, have clearance for top secret files. And after the September 11th attacks, which occurred in part because intelligence was not shared quickly and widely enough between agencies, sensitive information was distributed far more widely. The result was a leakier system. Ukrainian generals were already wary of revealing their secrets for this reason. Now they might clam up at a vital moment. If this kind of thing happened in the UK, or in Israel, or Germany, or Australia," says Mr Rid, the US would have stopped sharing [intelligence] completely."

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
The impacts of climate change are here with soaring temperatures, stronger hurricanes, intensified floods and a longer and more severe wildfire season. Scientists warn that ignoring climate change will yield "untold suffering" for humanity. But if things are going to get that much worse, could climate change make humans go extinct?

Scientists predict a range of devastating scenarios if climate change is not kept under control, but if we just consider the direct impacts, then there's some good news; it's unlikely to cause our mass extinction.

"There is no evidence of climate change scenarios that would render human beings extinct," Michael Mann, a distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Penn State and author of "The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet (opens in new tab)" (PublicAffairs, 2021), told Live Science in an email.

However, it's possible that climate change will still threaten the lives of hundreds of millions of people, such as by leading to food and water scarcity, which has the potential to trigger a societal collapse and set the stage for global conflict, research finds.

Related: Could we ever pull enough carbon out of the atmosphere to stop climate change?

Too hot to handle?

Humans are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases , such as carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels and other activities. These gases trap and hold heat from the sun, causing global temperatures to rise and the climate to change much faster than it otherwise would, putting humanity on a dangerous path.

A runaway greenhouse effect is probably the only way climate change impacts could directly cause human extinction, according to Luke Kemp, a research associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. This effect happens when a planet is caught in an unstoppable, positive feedback loop of warming and absorbs more heat than it loses, until the planet's oceans evaporate and it can no longer sustain life.

Fortunately, the runaway greenhouse effect is not a plausible climate change scenario on Earth. For the effect to occur, a planet needs carbon dioxide levels of a couple of thousand parts per million (Earth has a little over 400 parts per million) or a huge release of methane, and there isn't evidence for that at this time, Brian Kahn, a research scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told NASA in 2018.

Venus has the runaway greenhouse effect, but it is much closer to the sun and has a much thicker, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere that traps more heat than Earth's, Live Science previously reported . The science doesnt support the notion of runaway warming scenarios, although climate doomists often make such claims, Mann said. "Theres no reason to exaggerate the climate threat. The truth is bad enough, and reason enough to take dramatic action."

A fish-eye lens photo of Earth from space. (Image credit: Getty / Nuttawut Uttamaharad / EyeEm)

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According to Mann, a global temperature increase of 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) or more could lead to a collapse of our societal infrastructure and massive unrest and conflict, which, in turn, could lead to a future that resembles some Hollywood dystopian films.

One way climate change could trigger a societal collapse is by creating food insecurity. Warming the planet has a range of negative impacts on food production, including increasing the water deficit and thereby reducing food harvests, Live Science previously reported . Food production losses can increase human deaths and drive economic loss and socio-political instability, among other factors, that may trigger a breakdown of our institutions and increase the risk of a societal collapse, according to a study published Feb. 21 in the journal Climatic Change (opens in new tab).

Related: Has the Earth ever been this hot before?

Past extinctions and collapses

Kemp studies previous civilization collapses and the risk of climate change. Extinctions and catastrophes almost always involve multiple factors, he said, but he thinks if humans were to go extinct, climate change would likely be the main culprit.

"If I'm to say, what do I think is the biggest contributor to the potential for human extinction going towards the future? Then climate change, no doubt," Kemp told Live Science.

All of the major mass-extinction events in Earth's history have involved some kind of climatic change, according to Kemp. These events include cooling during the Ordovician- Silurian extinction about 440 million years ago that wiped out 85% of species, and warming during the Triassic - Jurassic extinction about 200 million years ago that killed 80% of species, Live Science previously reported. And more recently, climate change affected the fate of early human relatives.

While Homo sapiens are obviously not extinct, "we do have a track record of other hominid species going extinct, such as Neanderthals ," Kemp said. "And in each of these cases, it appears that again, climatic change plays some kind of role."

Scientists don't know why Neanderthals went extinct about 40,000 years ago, but climatic fluctuations seem to have broken their population up into smaller, fragmented groups, and severe changes in temperature affected the plants and animals they relied on for food, according to the Natural History Museum in London. Food loss, driven by climate change, may have also led to a tiny drop in Neanderthal fertility rates, contributing to their extinction, Live Science previously reported .

A male Neanderthal replicate at the Natural History Museum, London. (Image credit: Chettaprin.P/Shutterstock.com)

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Climate change has also played a role in the collapse of past human civilizations. A 300-year-long drought , for example, contributed to the downfall of ancient Greece about 3,200 years ago. But Neanderthals disappearing and civilizations collapsing do not equal human extinction. After all, humans have survived climate fluctuations in the past and currently live all over the world despite the rise and fall of numerous civilizations.

Homo sapiens have proven themselves to be highly adaptable and able to cope with many different climates, be they hot, cold, dry or wet. We can use resources from many different plants and animals and share those resources, along with information, to help us survive in a changing world, according to the Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History .

Related: How would just 2 degrees of warming change the planet?

Today, we live in a global, interconnected civilization, but there's reason to believe our species could survive its collapse. A study published on July 21 in the journal Sustainability identified countries most likely to survive a global societal collapse and maintain their complex way of life. Five island countries, including New Zealand and Ireland, were chosen as they could remain habitable through agriculture, thanks to their relatively cool temperatures, low weather variability and other factors that make them more resilient to climate change.

New Zealand would be expected to hold up the best with other favorable conditions, including a low population, large amounts of good quality agricultural land and reliable, domestic energy. So, even if climate change triggers a global civilization collapse, humans will likely be able to keep going, at least in some areas.

Turning on ourselves

The last scenario to consider is climate-driven conflict. Kemp explained that in the future, a scarcity of resources that diminish because of climate change could potentially create conditions for wars that threaten humanity. "There's reasons to be concerned that as water resources dry up and scarcity becomes worse, and the general conditions of living today become much, much worse, then suddenly, the threat of potential nuclear war becomes much higher," Kemp said.

Put another way, climate change impacts might not directly cause humans to go extinct, but it could lead to events that seriously endanger hundreds of millions, if not billions, of lives. A 2019 study published in the journal Science Advances found that a nuclear conflict between just India and Pakistan, with a small fraction of the world's nuclear weapons, could kill 50 million to 125 million people in those two countries alone. Nuclear war would also change the climate, such as through temperature drops as burning cities fill the atmosphere with smoke, threatening food production worldwide and potentially causing mass starvation.

What's next?

While avoiding complete extinction doesn't sound like much of a climate change silver lining, there is reason for hope. Experts say it isn't too late to avoid the worst-case scenarios with significant cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.

"It is up to us," Mann said. "If we fail to reduce carbon emissions substantially in the decade ahead, we are likely committed to a worsening of already dangerous extreme weather events, inundation of coastlines around the world due to melting ice and rising sea level, more pressure on limited resources as a growing global population competes for less food, water and space due to climate change impacts. If we act boldly now, we can avoid the worst impacts."

Originally published on Live Science.
NASA recently announced its crew for the Artemis II mission, which will be the first manned lunar mission in more than 50 years. The development continues the work of the Artemis I, which honored the late Arturo Campos. Laredo's legendary engineer is credited for helping bring home Apollo 13 and its crew after a service module oxygen tank aboard the Apollo spacecraft had ruptured.

Laredo's legendary engineer is credited for helping save the Apollo 13 space shuttle from crashing, as he had a moonikin named after him on the unmanned trip to gather information for Artemis II.

In the wake of the crew announcement, Campos' family expressed their excitement at hearing the news of the upcoming mission, as their father helped pave the way for a new legacy at NASA with the historic mission coming.

I think it's a good crew, said Leticia Campos Maddix -- one of Campos' three daughters. For the first time a Canadian, a woman and a person of color are going. I'm so happy our father paved the way for this. My dad would be so proud!

For one of the other sisters, the next mission to the moon is something that she finds surreal considering the fact that it has not been done for over a half century. However, she is a bit nervous now that actual people are in the ship.

In hearing the news of NASA using astronauts again, I have mixed feelings, said Yvette Campos Brewer, the youngest of the sisters. I cannot imagine the experience of flying to or around the moon, but I've given it a lot of thought since all of this came up with the contest dad won. There isn't anything better than real hands-on experience in a project, but there are tremendous risks involved every time people are used.

Yvette said she and her family recently spoke to various NASA employees who told them that the usage of moonkins was essential for the Artemis missions, as they were able to check if the rockets being sent were in good condition and ready to go to space. The Artemis I mission was derailed several times prior to launch before it finally was able to take off.

We recently spoke with an awesome group of people who actually worked on the moonikin and were fortunate enough to have a mini educational/historical lesson, she said. We learned that each flight had unexpected things happen, and each flight was instrumental in more successes each time they went. The use of these moonikins and all the data they were able to bring back was amazing. The advantage is if anything were to go wrong, no lives could be lost.

The sisters also said they finally got to meet the mooninkin that flew to the moon in the representation of their father which was dubbed Moonikin Campos. It was a surreal moment being in the presence of his fathers representation posthumously. Deanna Campos Ranck said she was very glad that NASA opened its doors for them to be able to go with their respective families and see the moonikin firsthand.

The employees who were in charge of putting the moonikin together were very respectful of the moonikin, and they always called it Commander Campos when speaking regarding the mannequin, Deanna said. They allowed us to touch it and play around with it. Of course, we were very careful not to damage anything.

Deanna said the NASA employees told them how various sites wanted to keep the moonikin as a form of memorabilia for Artemis I, but those in Houston told them that it was already in its rightful place considering Campos worked from the Houston location and his daughters live around the area.

I feel honored, proud and excited to know that dad's name paved the way for future flights, Deanna said. Interesting thing about the name Artemis is that Apollo was her twin brother, so not only was dad involved in saving Apollo 13, (but) he has also paved the way for future astronauts to fly into space safely. I am so proud of my dad. His name will be part of Artemis' history forever.

Meanwhile, Leticia said it was heartwarming to be face-to-face with the moonikin that flew to the moon and back in honor of their fathers legacy. She said it felt very surreal to touch the badge on the moonikin bearing their last name and knowing that it symbolized her father and his history.

It was very heartwarming that the employees at NASA all called him Campos and not moonikin or dummy, Leticia said. It was an awesome experience. ... It was humbling to see with our own eyes.

Leticia said she would have loved for her late mother to see the honor her father had been given by NASA and the Laredo community over the past two years.

Dad will always be a part of history, first with Apollo 13 and then with Artemis, Leticia said. We are overjoyed with the attention he is getting. I wish my parents were here to see this. Mom was very proud of him as well. We couldn't be any prouder.

The sisters said that for them the Artemis missions have not ended, as they will continue following any updates they can in order to see it all the way through. It has been quite the journey for their family, all starting with a simple NASA contest to name the moonikin.

It has been an honor to be a witness to everything that has happened over the past two years, Yvette said. This is a part of his legacy! The timing is just as God has wanted it to be. He was humble and wasn't one to seek recognition or a public pat on the back. He was content to be in the background doing what he loved to do and what he loved to do.

Words can't describe how we feel that this has been worldwide and will be a part of history forever. We want to thank everyone who helped in bringing this out to the surface, especially NASA for suggesting that his name be a part of the contest. He was a nobleman!

The sisters also state that the Artemis missions will always live with them forever, and they will continue following what follows as now NASA heads to the moon and Mars.

Artemis will always be in our thoughts from the first mission to the mission's following, Leticia said.
One of the most revered mariachi groups in Mexican history will make a stop in the Gateway City later this April.

Originally founded in 1965, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan has become one of the preeminent mariachi groups in the world, performing throughout Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

They'll bring their talents to Laredo later this April, performing at Texas A&M International University to cap off the university's seventh annual International Mariachi Festival.

The festival, which is scheduled to run April 20-21, attracts high school mariachi groups from all over Texas for local competitions and workshops hosted by the members of Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan.

The capstone performance rounding off the festival is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. The internationally-renowned mariachi group will preform at the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall.

Tickets for the concert are available for purchase for $45 and $50 by visiting eventbrite. Proceeds from the event help fund the universitys mariachi program.

Dr. Claudia San Miguel, who serves as the dean of the universitys College of Arts and Sciences, highlighted the importance of this performance and its ramifications for young, burgeoning musicians looking to pursue their studies at the university.

"We hope our community makes plans to attend and enjoy an evening of traditional Mariachi music, made possible through the talents of performance group Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlan," Dr. San Miguel said. "Students attending the music festival and concert take part in a two-day-long celebration of music. While attending the festival, students will experience University life first-hand and hopefully, at some point, return as university students."

For more information on the festival or the concert, the TAMIU College of Arts and Sciences can be contacted at 956-326-2462 or via email at mariachi@tamiu.edu.
A man stated he expected a payment of $1,000 to $3,000 per smuggled migrant, according to an arrest affidavit.

Eduardo Manuel Olivo was arrested on the charges of transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport the migrants.

On April 5, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the intelligence unit were conducting covert surveillance at a store parking lot in Laredo. At about 12:48 p.m., an agent observed a white sport utility vehicle drop off three people before leaving.

The people walked into the store and came out a few minutes later. One individual was seen talking on the phone while looking at the parking lot. The individual on the phone appeared to be guiding the other two people into a parked black sedan in the parking lot.

Agents said the sedan then traveled to a motel, where the driver opened the trunk. A migrant then exits the vehicle, walks to the rear of the car and enters the trunk, and the driver closes the trunk afterwards.

At about 1:50 p.m., agents and the Texas Department of Public Safety approached the sedan. Authorities identified the driver as Olivo. Agents then open the trunk to free the individual. He was later determined to be a migrant. Three migrants were detained.

In a post-arrest interview, Olivo stated that he is from Houston and that he recently quit his job as an operator at a warehouse. Olivo stated he saw a social media post soliciting drivers, states the affidavit.

When Olivo responded to the post, he was told he would be transporting people from Laredo to Houston. Olivo stated he expected $1,000 to $3,000 per person, according to court documents.
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.
MediaProduction/Getty Images

Rachel Briers is back with the ABC 13 Houston weather department after taking leave ahead of the birth of her second child. The meteorologist, who has been on maternity leave since January, announced her Monday return to the channel in a Facebook post over the weekend. "I hope you all have a great Easter weekend!" Briers captioned a photo she posted with her new baby. "See y'all back on TV Monday."

On Monday, Briers appeared on the 3 p.m. news. After first announcing her pregnancy in August, Briers gave birth to her second childa baby girl named Lainein January. Back in February, Briers shared a photo of Laine with her followers, writing: "Miss seeing y'all on TV but I'm thoroughly enjoying all the baby snuggles!"
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has suspended his working visit to Brussels and is returning to Armenia, Defense Ministry spokesman Aram Torosyan told ARMENPRESS.

Question. Its known that these days Defense Minister of Armenia Suren Papikyan is in Brussels on a working visit. Does the Minister continue the meetings, taking into account the fact that on April 11, the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces carried out another attack against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, as a result of which the Armenian side has victims and wounded?

Answer: The Minister of Defense has suspended his working visit and is returning to Armenia.

On April 10, the delegation led by Defense Minister Suren Papikyan left for Brussels on a working visit.

On April 11, units of the Azerbaijani armed forces fired at Armenian servicemen carrying out engineering works in the area of Tegh village. The Armenian side took retaliatory actions. As a result of the large-scale shootout, the Armenian side has 4 victims and 6 wounded, the Azerbaijani side has a large number of victims and wounded.
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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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen has condemned Chinas military drills in the Taiwan Strait, saying Tuesday that China did not demonstrate the responsible behavior of a major Asian nation.

China's three-day, large-scale drills that ended Monday were retaliation for Tsai's meeting with United States House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week on her tour of Taiwan's official and unofficial allies.

As the president, I represent our country in the world, whether its a visit to allied countries or stopping through in the U.S. and interacting with our international friends, and not only has this been going on for years, its the Taiwanese peoples shared expectation, Tsai said in a statement. But China used this as a pretext to start military drills, creating instability in the Taiwan Strait and region. This is not the attitude of a responsible major nation in this region."

China sees such meetings as encouraging Taiwanese voters and politicians who support formal independence for the island, a step Chinas ruling Communist Party says would lead to war.

The sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and the government says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary. China does not recognize Taiwan's government institutions, has cut off almost all communication with Tsai's government since shortly after her initial 2016 election and has blocked Taiwan's participation in most international organizations, beginning with the United Nations.

Surveys show a strong majority of Taiwanese back the current state of de facto independence, while Tsai's government says a declaration of formal independence is unnecessary because the island already enjoys the status of a sovereign nation, despite China's attempts to isolate it diplomatically.

China's People's Liberation Army issued a threat as it concluded the exercises. Its troops "can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts, the PLA's Eastern Theater Command, responsible for contingencies involving Taiwan, said in a statement.

China's Foreign Ministry backed up that threat Tuesday.

Again, I would like to stress that China will take resolute strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters at a daily briefing.

In recent years, China has been increasing its military presence in the Taiwan Strait, with warplanes being sent on a near-daily basis and military drills being conducted in the waters and skies near Taiwan.

In August, after then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted missile strikes on targets in the seas around Taiwan and sent 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.

Despite having only unofficial relations, the U.S. is Taiwan's most important ally and source of military assistance. U.S. law requires Washington to regard all threats to the island  including a blockade  as matters of "grave concern," although it does not explicitly require the commitment of forces.

The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting more than 200 flights by Chinese warplanes. On Monday alone, Taiwan's defense ministry tracked 91 flights by Chinese warplanes.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, citing the PLA, said the exercises simulated sealing off the island and striking important targets in waves.

Tsai also urged the public to not believe any disinformation about Taiwan's defenses, saying the military was fulfilling its duties and the public should encourage the forces. Our nation's soldiers and national security team will continue to stand fast at their posts to defend our country," she said.

Taiwan's defense ministry said eight Chinese navy vessels were still in the waters surrounding the island as of Tuesday morning.

___

Find more AP coverage of the Asia-Pacific region at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. On April 11, the Foreign Ministry of Armenia issued a statement condemning the regular provocation by Azerbaijan against the territorial integrity of Armenia, which caused casualties among the servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces, calling on the international community and all partners interested in peace and stability in the region to condemn Azerbaijans aggressive actions through targeted statements and clear steps, and prevent further escalation of the situation by the latter.

ARMENPRESS reports, the statement reads as follows, "On April 11, around 4:00 p.m., in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, in the area of the village of Tegh, Syunik Province, a group of Azerbaijani armed forces soldiers approached the soldiers of the Armenian armed forces under the pretext of adjusting the border deployment points, provoked fire from firearms, and then from other weapons of different calibers fired in the direction of Armenian servicemen and positions. The servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces took retaliatory actions and defended the sovereign territory of the Armenia. There are casualties and injuries.

These aggressive actions of the Azerbaijani side were carried out in spite of the willingness of the Armenian side to resolve the problems on the ground through constructive negotiations.

The provocation is another encroachment of Azerbaijan against the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. This policy of Azerbaijan is not new, it is the continuation of the attacks carried out in May and November 2021, as well as September 2022, as a result of which Azerbaijan occupied the sovereign territories of Armenia.

It should be documented that the use of force and the threat of use of force are an integral part of Azerbaijan's policy and are aimed at significantly destabilizing the situation in the region and undermine the efforts of mediation partners to continue the peace process.

We call on the international community and all partners interested in peace and stability in the region to condemn Azerbaijan's aggressive actions through targeted statements and clear steps and prevent the latter from further escalating the situation."
Alabama inmates could see more time behind bars under a bill the House approved that restricts the use of good behavior incentives to shorten prison stays
A Mexican citizen has been sentenced 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
The United Kingdom wants to turn the territory of Ukraine into a "scorched earth" by supplying Kiev with depleted uranium munitions, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, Tass informs.

April 11, 2023, 09:39 London wants to scorch the earth in Ukraine with uranium shells. Zakharova

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 11 , ARTSAKHPRESS: The diplomat drew attention to statements from the UK Ministry of Defense, which said the day before that the impact of depleted uranium munitions on the health of military personnel and the environment would likely be "small."

"The UK, by supplying depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine, wants to turn its territory into a scorched and desolate land. No Russian will be spoken there, no Ukrainian will be spoken there, there will only be silence. Like in Pripyat and Chernobyl," she wrote on her Telegram channel on Monday.

Zakharova recalled that depleted uranium munitions were mass-produced and used in NATO operations. "To a large extent, operations with such munitions in the NATO contingent were carried out by Italian servicemen. <...> Italian soldiers' area of responsibility in Yugoslavia included territories where more than half of all the depleted uranium munitions were fired," she added.

"The Serbs were the first victims and the Italians second in line, studying how depleted uranium affects the personnel using it," Zakharova said. She pointed to the growing number of lawsuits filed by Italians against the country's defense ministry. "The underlying reason is the same - cancer. Cancer from handling depleted uranium munitions," she said.
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Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 31st Anniversary of the Maragha Massacre.

April 11, 2023, 10:56 Azerbaijan continues to carry out its criminal and genocidal policy before the eyes of civilised humanity. MFA

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 11 , ARTSAKHPRESS: 10 April marks the 31st anniversary of the Maragha massacre, one of the most tragic and horrific pages in the history of the first Karabakh War.

On 10 April 1992, the Azerbaijani armed forces, after continuous and intense shelling, invaded the village of Maragha of the Martakert region of Artsakh and brutally massacred the local civilian population. More than 50 innocent citizens were brutally killed and tortured to death, dozens of villagers, including women and children, were captured, some of whom were brutally killed in captivity, while the fate of 19 people remains unknown to this day. Two weeks after those horrendous events, the village was again attacked, and the residents, who returned to bury their relatives, became victims of new atrocities by the Azerbaijani armed forces.

The Maraga massacre was a continuation of the atrocities and deportations committed against the Armenian population of Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad and other settlements of the Azerbaijan SSR, as well as Northern Artsakh, the purpose of which was to nip in the bud the legitimate demand for self-determination of the Artsakh Armenians, as well as to deprive them of their homeland through ethnic cleansing and forced deportation.

Despite the fact that the atrocities committed in Maragha were documented in detail by the international community, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, the lack of proper political assessment by the relevant international organisations and the impunity of this crime prepared fertile ground for further aggression by Azerbaijan, and for the continuation and strengthening of the anti-Armenian and genocidal policy of its leadership. As a result, confident in their impunity, Azerbaijan subsequently unleashed two more large-scale wars against the Republic of Artsakh, in April 2016 and September 2020, committing new atrocities and war crimes against the Artsakh Armenians, flagrant violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as occupying new, larger territories of the Republic of Artsakh.

Even today, disregarding the Order of the International Court of Justice to immediately end the blockade of Artsakh, Azerbaijan continues to carry out its criminal and genocidal policy before the eyes of civilised humanity, keeping the population of Artsakh under unlawful blockade for 120 days, depriving them of basic living conditions and creating a humanitarian crisis, as well as pursuing the implementation of their criminal plan to ethnically cleanse Artsakh through terrorist activities.

We once again call on all international actors to put an end to the crimes of the Azerbaijani authorities and not become silent witnesses or even accomplices, and take practical and effective measures to bring Azerbaijan into a legal and constructive framework so that its authoritarian leadership respects international law and their international obligations.
The new National Liming Programme was launched on the 15th March by the Department of Agriculture to support farmers to deal with input costs and help reduce the demand for Artificial Fertiliser.



This programme will remain open until the 20th April. Following approval of the programme and spreading of lime, claims for payment must be submitted by the 31st October 2023.



Lime is a natural soil conditioner, which corrects soil acidity to the optimum pH. Research conducted by Teagasc, informs us that, liming not only increases soil microbial activity, but also unlocks soil phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). The research concluded in 2022 that, although soil fertility has improved nationally, it is still estimated that up to 57% of soils require lime. Spreading 1.0t/ha lime will increase soil pH by approximately 0.3 of a unit. This programme will provide financial support to the farmer of 16/t of lime spread.

Eligibility and Requirements

 A farmer or advisor must sign up to participate in the programme through the Department of Agriculture online service.

 Applicants must indicate the quantity of lime that they intend to purchase and spread, based on soil analysis.

 Lime must be purchased directly from quarries licenced by the Department of Agriculture.

 Applicants must have submitted a Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) application in 2022, or a Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application in 2023.

 Farmers that are in a Nitrates Derogation in 2022 or 2023, and farmers with a grassland stocking rate above 170kg nitrogen/ha prior to export are not eligible.

 Commonage land and lands under Natura 2000, and land in environmentally sensitive areas are excluded.

 Lime can only be applied where an up-to-date soil analysis is available (maximum of four years from date of purchasing the lime).

 Payment will be made on a minimum of 10t of lime and a maximum of 200t.

 Any lime purchased prior to date of submission will not be eligible for payment.

Due to the high rainfall along with crop and livestock production, our soils require liming maintenance to achieve optimum pH of 6.5. Luckily in Ireland, we will not need to import one grain of the material. This programme is an effective opportunity to improve our soil condition.

Teagasc provides a Local Advisory and Education service to farmers. They have offices based in Roscommon Town (Tel: 090 6626166), Castlerea (Tel: 094 9620160) and Longford Town (Tel: 043 3341021), You can find us on Facebook @Teagascroscommon longford, twitter @teagascRNLD and YouTube. And follow the hash-tag #RNLDwebinars for information about local farm webinars. Email; RoscommonLongford Advisory@teagasc.ie
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: April 11 2023

Terry Ann Powell-Bajwa allegedly submitted paperwork for SNAP, Day Care, and Medicaid benefits omitting she owned company with government contracts, including $2 million contract with Lockheed Martin.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Levittown woman was arraigned today on charges she allegedly submitted fraudulent paperwork to collect $112,000 in public assistance benefits to which she and her family were not entitled. The defendants husband was also arraigned for allegedly submitting fraudulent paperwork claiming he and the couples child resided in the North Shore School District in order to enroll the child in kindergarten, when they in fact permanently reside in Levittown.

Terry Ann Powell-Bajwa, 45, was arraigned before Judge Jaclene Agazarian on charges including Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (a C felony); Welfare Fraud in the Second Degree (a C felony); and five counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (an E felony). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance. If convicted of the top charge, the defendant faces up to 5 to 15 years in prison.

Khurram Bajwa, 40, was arraigned before Judge Agazarian on two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 1-1/3 to 4 years in prison.

Powell-Bajwa and Bajwa are both due back in court on April 13, 2023.

The Nassau County Department of Social Services (NCDSS), Office of Investigations referred the case to NCDA.

The defendant and her husband already benefitted greatly from several lucrative government contracts awarded to their company, Tera Consulting, Inc., including a $2 million contract with Lockheed Martin, and yet, audaciously filed allegedly fraudulent paperwork, misrepresenting their wealth and family dynamics to receive public assistance benefits earmarked for vulnerable residents, said DA Donnelly. Khurram Bajwa also allegedly made further misrepresentations to get his child into the North Shore School District despite living in Levittown. NCDA will not tolerate brazen attempts by individuals to circumvent federal, state, or county processes for their own enrichment and at the expense of honest taxpayers.

DSS continues to work cooperatively with the District Attorneys office to eliminate public welfare fraud, said Nassau County Department of Social Services Commissioner Nancy Nunziata. If you try and cheat the system in Nassau County, you will eventually get caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Nassau County is committed to stamping out waste, fraud and abuse, added DSS Director of Investigations John Faust. We use a combination of sophisticated technology and traditional investigative techniques to detect and prevent fraud and we will continue our vigilance to protect the integrity of the public assistance system.

DA Donnelly said according to the charges, between 2017 and 2021, Powell-Bajwa allegedly submitted false information on applications and recertifications that she filed with NCDSS and the New York State Health Benefits Exchange (NYSHBE).

On applications submitted to NYSHBE and NCDSS beginning in 2016, Powell-Bajwa allegedly listed herself as single with two dependent children with an annual income of $23,600. The defendant also allegedly listed the father of her children to be absent from the household, her monthly income to be $1,750, and stated she owed a monthly mortgage payment of $2,650 that was in arrears.

The investigation revealed that Powell-Bajwas husband lived with the family in their Levittown home and worked as a manager at Capgemini America, Inc. in the companys Financial Services Business Unit in New York City. Between October 2016 and February 2020, Bajwa allegedly earned approximately $266,000. Moreover, analysis of relevant financial records showed that Powell-Bajwa not only kept up with her monthly mortgage payments, but also allegedly paid off the entire mortgage debt in 2022.

Powell-Bajwa also allegedly failed to report rental income for a two-family home that Bajwa owned and rented in Howard Beach, Queens.

Because of these omissions, Powell-Bajwa and her family allegedly received $112,112 from January 1, 2017, through September 30, 2021, in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Day Care Services, and Medicaid benefits to which they were not entitled.

Powell-Bajwa also allegedly failed to report that she was President and Chief Executive Officer of Tera Consulting, Inc. (TCI), a consulting, IT service solutions, and commodity distribution company, and held an executive position in a home improvement business that she and her husband owned. Each company had corporate bank accounts and funds from those accounts were allegedly used to pay for expenses such as the defendants mortgage, utilities, and personal expenses.

Tera Consulting, Inc. has had an active government contract vendor license with the U.S. General Services Administration since August 27, 2018. The United States Government has awarded TCI contracts to supply televisions, toilet paper, and paper towels to the Federal Prison System through the Department of Justice, Long Range Thermal Detectors to U.S. Customs and Borders, cabinets and white boards to the Department of the Army, and toilet tissue to the National Park Service, Cape Cod National Seashore.

TCI also provided IT and computer products through a government contract with Lockheed Martin between February 2021 through December 2021, in which Lockheed Martin paid TCI more than $2 million.

In a second alleged scheme, Khurram Bajwa submitted fraudulent documentation to register his daughter for kindergarten in the North Shore School District (NSSD) where his brother resides with his family and swore on that documentation that he and his daughter lived in the school district.

It was revealed through the course of the investigation that Bajwa and Powell-Bajwa permanently resided in Levittown with their daughter, and as a result, their daughter would not have been permitted to enroll in the NSSD. NSSD spent approximately $50,000 on the childs education.

The defendants surrendered to NCDA Detective Investigators on April 6, 2023.

NCDA thanks NCDSS for their partnership in this investigation and prosecution.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Counsel and Attorney-in-Charge of Public Assistance Fraud Christine Burke of the Revenue, Auto, Insurance and Labor Crime Bureau. The defendants are represented by Doug Reda, Esq.
SCPD: Four People Arrested for Selling Alcohol and E-Nicotine to Minors

Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: April 11 2023

In response to community complaints, Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers conducted an investigation into the sale of alcohol and liquid nicotine to minors at 10 businesses.

Suffolk County Police arrested four employees after they sold alcohol and liquid e-nicotine to minors at businesses in the Sixth Precinct on Monday.

In response to community complaints, Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers conducted an investigation into the sale of alcohol and liquid nicotine to minors at 10 businesses, four of which had violations.

Bharat Patel, 53, of East Patchogue, an employee of Club House Cafe, located at 1937 Middle Country Road, Centereach, was charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child in the 1st Degree for selling alcohol to a person under the age of 21.

The following people were charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child in the 2nd Degree for selling vape products to a person under the age of 21:

Enis Secgin, 24, of Amityville, an employee of Cards & Smoke Vape Shop, located at 1100-4 Portion Road, Farmingville.

Delroy Anderson, 25, of Port Jefferson Station, an employee of Happy Daze, located at 829 Portion Road, Ronkonkoma.

Ali Sezgin Sire, 57, of Medford, an employee of Shell gas station, located at 1992 Middle Country Road, Centereach.

All four were issued Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on April 28.
Food, Wine, & Dining, Local News, Business & Finance

By Chris Boyle Published: April 11 2023

Hal's New York launched in 2015 with a line of seltzer waters and ginger ale, and later expanded to include potato chips and pretzels as well.

Hals New York, a home-grown brand of seltzer water and snacks since 2015, not only makes some thirst-quenching and tasty treats, but its also a familys touching way of paying tribute to the legacy of its late patriarch.

Lewis Hershkowitz is the CEO of Big Geyser, a non-alcoholic beverage and snack distributor based out of Maspeth, New York, which services the five boroughs of New York City, as well as Long Island and Westchester. The company was originally founded in 1986 by Lewis father Irving, whose nickname was Hal.

Hal passed away in 2011, and in the intervening years, Lewis and his brother Steven started brainstorming ideas about coming out with their own beverage line in his memory and honor, Hershkowitz said.

We had done some research and there was room for another seltzer in the New York market, and we realized that none of the other brands out there really had that New York aspect to it. They were mostly focused on national brands like Seagram's, Schweppes, and Canada Dry, he said. We just liked the sound of Hal's New York. It was a fun project, and the more we looked into it, the more we felt this was something that we could really do, and do it well.

Hal's New York launched as a separate company with a line of seltzer waters and ginger ale, and later expanded to include potato chips and pretzels as well; however, Hershkowitz noted that he was taken aback by just how quickly word-of-mouth spread in regards to the new product line.

Hals started to take shape in 2014, and in 2015 we launched our seltzer line, and like most new brands we had to do some tweaking with the labels and some of the flavors, he said. We initially started selling the seltzer through Big Geyser here in New York, but word got around and we started getting contacted pretty quickly by stores and other distributors who wanted Hals in their area. We even started getting requests for branded clothing, and it's really taken off now.

Hershkowitz has been with Big Geyser full-time since 1994, and has served as the companys CEO for the past 20 years.

I worked alongside my father every day up until his passing, he said. My father was a street salesman his entire life. He almost never came to the office; he was always in the streets building brands. He never had a desk or a chair or anything, he was out on the streets where he wanted to be.

Fast-forward to today, and Hals New York beverages and snacks can be found in stores across the nation according to Joe Galioto, Vice President of Sales.

We were fortunate enough during the COVID-19 pandemic to have a little extra time to work on developing the Hals brand outside of the New York market, he said. We were able to expand into distribution partners throughout the northeast, and then from there we've been really able to expand into retailers throughout the country such as Publix, Central Market, Whole Foods, and a lot of other key retail partners.

Hals New York is also quickly becoming an internationally-renowned brand as well, Galioto said.

We were contacted by distributors in Canada, France, and Israel, and they've been exporting our product there, he said. It was completely surprising that word-of-mouth about Hals spread that far, and actually the one item that we're shipping out of the country more than any other is our potato chips.

Hal's New York potato chips come in a wide variety of different and tantalizing flavors, and the unique way in which they are prepared is what truly sets them apart, Hershkowitz noted.

One advantage we have over our competitors is that we cook our potato chips in sunflower oil, so there's less of a concern for allergens when you get away from peanut oils, which is what many of our competitors are cooked in, he said. The quality and the tastethere's just something about the brand that just seems to resonate with people.

To this day, Hal's continues to grow  with the company recently adding a second bottling facility in the southeast  and they continue to be contacted by distributors and retailers throughout the country to expand into their markets. But ultimately, Hershkowitz said that being able to grow a brand that started as a tribute to his beloved late father  and watching it grow over the years  was more than worth all of the hard effort he put into it.

We have something special here, and we are very proud and we are very humbled, to be honest. We've gotten such beautiful feedback from customers, he said. We do think there's a little bit of divine intervention, and we know that if Hal was here, he would love this. He would be having a ball with this product and building it, and we make sure that we make a good quality item because Hal would never have it any other way.

We're having fun while we're doing it, but it's definitely been a little bit surreal at the same time, the success that the brand is having and the reception, Hershkowitz added. It's crazy.

To find out more, please visit halsnewyork.com.
A member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who was embedded with Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) was killed on Saturday by an Islamic State booby trap near the Tal Afar airport, which is to the west of Mosul, according to Iranian media. The PMF, the umbrella organization of Iraqi-Shiite militias fighting the Islamic State that is dominated by IRGC-backed groups, has claimed new gains near Tal Afar during the past week. The death of Guard member Kheirollah Ahmadi underscores Irans involvement in Iraq.

The IRGC has released little details about the slain operative. During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), Ahmadi served with distinction in a sabotage battalion and the Hunayn Battalion  of the IRGC Ground Forces Hazrat-e Nabi Akram Corps  according to reports citing a Guard commander. That same commander introduced Ahmadi as a member of the Hunayn Battalion, indicating that he was active duty prior to his Iraq deployment. The IRGC has deployed both active duty and retired officers to Syria and Iraq.

The Nabi Akram Corps is stationed in the predominantly Shiite-Kurdish Kermanshah province in western Iran. In the past, members from the provincial unit and that battalion have deployed to Syria in support of pro-regime operations.

The IRGC has not divulged details of Ahmadis military activities in Iraq, or whether he also rotated into Syria. Iraqi PMF members nicknamed him al-batal, or the hero, and he operated as a commander, according to a senior Guard officer. An obituary poster of Ahmadi also described him as a commander, and several Iranian newspapers used the honorific title of Sardar, or the equivalent of a Brigadier General. At his scheduled funeral in West Eslam-Abad County in Kermanshah on Tuesday, he is expected to receive a heros burial.

The IRGCs external operations branch, the Quds Force, and its nominally domestic branch, the Ground Forces, have been advising PMF units and various Shiite militias since the rise of the Islamic State in 2014. The Quds Force has extensively operated in Iraq since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, while Ground Forces including the Basij paramilitary augmented their Quds Force comrades after the Islamic State swept into the country. At least 2,000 Iranians reportedly deployed to Iraq in June 2014 immediately following the Sunni extremist groups lightening advances. Many of the regular Iranian forces were called back home after IRGC-backed Shiite militias and Iraqi forces started rolling back the Islamic State, and the IRGC turned to escalating its Syria military campaign in September 2015.

Regular Iranian combatants continue to deploy to Iraq and embed with Shiite militias. In the past year, the majority of regular IRGC forces who have been announced killed in Iraq have been experienced veterans of the Iran-Iraq War. At least 37 Iranians have died in military operations in Iraq since 2014, according to data compiled by Ali Alfoneh.

While the loss of the latest veteran may be a blow to the Guard, there are many other operatives ready to take his place. The IRGC continues to demonstrate its total commitment to emerging as a dominant force in post-Islamic State Iraq.

Amir Toumaj is a independent analyst and contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
The unification of arenas slogan often touted by militant groups backed by Iran emerged again last week when Israel responded to attacks on four fronts: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank.

Encouraged by a weakened Palestinian Authority (PA) and a regression of American influence in the region, Iran implemented a strategy to destabilize the West Bank and Israel by using its network of armed groups and proxies to carry out attacks.

Iran has supported its proxies and other armed groups fighting Israel for decades. However, a distinct and troubling pattern emerged recently when the Iran-led Resistance Axis attacked Israel on multiple fronts. Moreover, the number of armed clashes against Israeli security forces, including acts of terrorism targeting civilians over the last year and a half, has not been observed since the Second Intifada.

Tangible signs of Irans strategy appeared shortly after the 2021 Gaza conflict. Between June and Dec. 2021, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops and other Israeli security forces began regularly engaging with armed groups led by Iranian proxy Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Some of these armed clashes resulted in the deaths of militants, including members of the PAs security forces.

Adding to the growing chaos in the West Bank, the security environment in Israel deteriorated in 2022 when members of the Islamic State and so-called lone-wolf attackers targeted civilians. Further complicating matters, Islamic Jihad, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and other groups expanded their presence in northern West Bank cities and villages. The expansion couldnt have happened without significant support from Iran. [See FDDs report: Mapping Terrorism in the West Bank.]

Its noteworthy that while Israeli security forces have operated daily to temper the surge of militant activity in the West Bank, the PA has been mainly on the sideline. In some cases, the PA arrested militants and gave sanctuary to those who wanted to give up the so-called armed struggle against Israel. However, troubling statements made by members of the PA cast doubt on their true intention to reign in armed groups with significant backing from the Palestinian street.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, there were strong indications that Iran was orchestrating its proxies to carry out attacks. However, its intentions became clear when Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Hossein Salami stated in Aug. 2022 that the West Bank was being armed like Gaza.

A clear shift in strategy by the Resistance Axis emerged on March 13, 2023, when a roadside bomb targeted a vehicle at Meggido Junction in northern Israel, injuring an Israeli Arab driver. Compared to previous attacks, the bombing was distinct. The IDF suspected Hezbollah was behind the attack, though it is likely Palestinian armed groups were also involved. [See FDDs Long War Journal report: Hezbollah suspected in a cross-border attack inside Israel.]

Attacks from multiple fronts were on the rise following the Meggido Junction bombing. On April 2, a drone of Iranian origin was downed entering Israeli airspace from Syria. Over thirty rockets were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel four days later. The IDF blames Palestinian armed groups for the rocket attack, though similar to the Megiddo junction bombing, Hezbollah likely had a role. On April 8, unidentified militants in Syria fired six rockets into the Golan Heights.

Iran and its armed groups have attempted to obfuscate the reason behind the multi-front conflict with Israel by pinning it on clashes at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. However, evidence indicates that recent attacks on Israels borders, including the armed militant uprising in the West Bank, are part of a strategy implemented by Iran to destabilize Israel as early as June 2021.

Joe Truzman is a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken intends to discuss topics related to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, nuclear disarmament, and food and energy security at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Japan, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel said at a special briefing for journalists dedicated to Blinkens trip to Vietnam and Japan on April 14-18, Tass informs.

April 11, 2023, 12:10 US Secretary of State to discuss Ukraine, nuclear disarmament with G7 colleagues

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 11 , ARTSAKHPRESS: The Secretary of State is expected to discuss a number of issues, including the situation in Ukraine, as well as nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, food and energy security, and the promotion of the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, Patel said.
Good news, Apple retail employees! Youre getting free meetings!

Wait, thats not good news. Thats bad news.

Apple holds nationwide meetings with retail workers to discuss the risks of unionization

You may be asking yourself Is Apple seriously still doing this? Well, it is not not doing it, thats for sure. You may further be asking yourself Is the company still on its baloney? The answer to that is, not only is it still on its baloney, its frying it and putting it on Wonder Bread with mayonnaise.

Somewhere in the depths of internal communications some poor soul is slaving over a hot stove with an iPhone video rig and some eggs and mumbling This is your brain. And this is your brain on unions.

(As an aside, apart from the pointlessness of the exercise that was The War on Drugs, what a stupid commercial that was. Oh, look, a fried egg. Isnt that horrible? No! Fried eggs are amazing and they go on everything.)

Well, at least its just retail unions Apple hates and otherwise, its very progressive in its-

Apple Tracking Employee Attendance in Crackdown on Remote Working

Oh, come on! The Macalope didnt even get through his contrived lead-in sentence!

According to Mark Gurman, Apple is monitoring corporate employee attendance for the required three days a week in-office at the same time it has removed a special sick time provision for Covid for retail employees, requiring them to use regular sick days for any Covid illness. Pandemics over, meat sacks! Time to get back into the mall where no one is masking!

Cmon, you certainly dont expect the richest company in the world to foot the bill for increased risk in the workplace, do you?! In this economy? And if you chew through your years worth of sick leave getting covid once, well, its not like youre going to get it again in a few months! Ha-ha!

[pulls at collar, grimmaces]

As if all this werent bad enough, anyone violating these policies can be fired and the company is not always re-filling the positions, allowing it to do de facto layoffs without having to declare them or give severance pay.

To be fair, who hasnt wanted to break up with someone and be able to say Its not me, its you.?

Apple, for so long the underdog, has now become the poster child for not only App Store abuses but regular Store abuses as well.

An Apple Store Worker Is the New Face of US Labor Law Reform

IDG

The thing is, as the Macalope has repeatedly said, this is not necessary. Believe the horny one when he says it pains him to point favorably to Microsoft, which-

THE WINOTAUR: Hey, did someone favorably mention Microsoft?!

NO. No. Were not doing that. Get out of here.

THE WINOTAUR: Aww.

Sheesh. Like a bad penny.

Last year Microsoft committed to working with unions rather than trying to squash them and did just that early this year.

Video game workers form Microsofts first US labor union

A group of video game testers has formed Microsofts first labor union in the U.S., which will also be the largest in the video game industry.

Because of the companys acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it was contractually required to remain neutral on workers organizing, but it went beyond that, greenlighting the union certification process to speed it up.

They have definitely stood by their word all along, said CWA spokesperson Beth Allen. Its pretty momentous. Microsoft is an outlier in the way tech companies have been behaving.

You can say that again.

THE WINOTAUR: Are you sure I cant get in on this?

OUT. OUT.

THE WINOTAUR: Ow! Stop pinching! Im going! Gawd.

Up until 10 years ago, Microsoft was the company that famously used stacked ranking, the process developed by some VP of HR somewhere who misread The Hunger Games as utopian rather than dystopian. Talk about most improved. While some of its moves are to align itself with Washington state law, it has chosen to embrace them rather than fight them tooth and nail.

Like some other tech companies, the Macalope could mention.

Apple. It was Apple. In case you didnt get that.
Influencer, TikToker, lifestyle and fashion writer for StyleCaster, Olivia Marcus, who has over 200,000 followers, will soon be heading home to New York after having spent the past few months based in Mallorca, promoting the island in the United States and sharing her experiences with her growing North American audience.

Olivia, 26, was born in Germany and first came to Mallorca with her parents as a little girl. However, it was not until June last year that she returned to the island for a family holiday and, having been reintroduced to Mallorca, realised how glorious the island is and how much potential it has as a remote working destination, not to mention for a holiday.

So this year, I decided to move to Mallorca for a few months.

I arrived in March and will be heading back in June but looking ahead I plan to return full time next year. Having been born in Germany, I have a German passport, so that is going to make moving here easier, especially with regard to the paperwork, she said. Olivia has been renting an apartment in Soller but she has so many favourite parts of the island.

I love Camp de Mar and escaping to and exploring all the little bays and coves in the east of the island but, most off all, its so wonderful to be so close to the ocean, said Olivia, who studied in Seattle and then California before moving to and working in New York.

Life is obviously by no means as hectic as in New York and everything, while being so diverse, is so close, be it the beaches, the mountains - I love being surrounded by them in Soller - the little villages or Palma. For us Americans, everything is on the doorstep. Plus the flight connections between Mallorca and the States are so much better. Last year we came over with United Airlines, but this time, coming out of season and with my two cats, I had to choose a different route. But it was still relatively quick, easy and far from expensive. There are so many flight connections and they are only increasing, which is great for the US/Mallorca market, she said.

Mallorca is an island, rather like Manhattan, and it is so well connected with the rest of Europe, so its really easy to nip off the island for a few days and explore other parts of Spain or Europe, which is also proving to be another attractive factor for the North American market. Mallorca is the ideal base for people wishing to explore Europe.

The lifestyle, weather permitting of course, is rather similar to New York, which has become very European with rows of coffee shops, bars and restaurants with their terraces and everyone sitting outside. So I think that helps to ease people coming from New York in particular into the way of life here in Mallorca.

The island and Palma are full of surprises, which I dont think many Americans are aware of.

I love nothing more than just wandering around Palma, exploring the back streets and the lanes. The shopping is great, although Im not that convinced by the food, which can be very expensive if youre not careful. I work on a price-of-beer format. If a beer is over 2.50 euros, then I study the menu prices carefully.

Nevertheless, the cost of eating in a quality restaurant in Palma is around a quarter of what it would be in New York.

So yeah, the cost of living and the quality of living is far better here than in New York and on my return to the island taking out a longer rental will be much cheaper than the short one me, my boyfriend, sister and her roommate have taken out.

The Balearic fashion, the local loose beach and summer designs and fabric are amazing and Ive found some wonderful little local boutiques in and around Soller.

The architecture is so varied, never mind centuries old and incredibly beautiful, plus all the art galleries and the culture in general. Ive found the people very open, friendly and welcoming, although there are a lot of Britons and Germans about, she said.

With regard to work, Ive managed to plan and organise my routine extremely well and its working, which bodes well for the future when I return.

While Ive been here, I have continued to work my nine-to-five job, but on a three-to-11 schedule. (Mallorca is five hours ahead of the east coast of the United States.) And that has meant that Ive been able to use the morning to get out and about and film before settling down to work.

It feels like you have field trip hours in the morning, she added.

And filming during the day is so much easier. Being able to get up and not worry about having to get back for something, as she might have to do if filming content during working hours, makes it a much more enjoyable experience.

What I have been doing is focusing on a variety of themes in Mallorca from the more typical and traditional tourism shoots to providing advice, tips and guides for Americans planning on either visiting or relocating to Mallorca.

I want to reach out to my followers and inspire them to come here, so I recommend certain restaurants, beaches, attractions, museums, shops, hikes, you name it, while I also explain how the excellent public transport system works. That resonates with so many New Yorkers, who depend on and use public transport on a daily basis albeit for business or pleasure.

And I have the impression that the community, although it is very cosmopolitan in some areas, is well balanced. And Palma is just so cool.

I know the Nomad visas for remote digital workers in Spain are proving very popular in the United States, but apart from that, with all the flight connections and more information being out there on the social media platforms about places like Mallorca, more and more people in North America are getting interested in Mallorca. There is definitely a buzz about Mallorca in New York, and I guess across the States.

In the bars and restaurants, I was hearing more and more people talk about Mallorca before I relocated and no doubt, when I return, there is going to be an even greater interest in Mallorca as a place to holiday or as a place to come and work. The island has so much going for it and I think much of it appeals to Americans; it offers so many things that Americans enjoy.

For me, its definitely somewhere where I intend to make a permanent move to as soon as I can, Olivia said.




Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia,15 patients from the Republican Medical Center the Republic of Artsakh with serious diseases of the oncology as well as pathologies requiring emergency surgical interventions and post- implantation correction have been transported today, to specialized medical institutions of the Republic of Armenia with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Healthcare Ministry of Artsakh reported.

April 11, 2023, 13:31 ICRC transfers 15 patients from Stepanakert to Yerevan

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 11 , ARTSAKHPRESS: 10 patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with an accompanying persons.

Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of the Republic of Artsakh.

7 children remain in the neonatal and intensive care units of the Arevik medical centre.

5 patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Centre, 1 of them in critical condition.
ACEN Corp. said Tuesday subsidiary ACEN Renewables International Pte. Ltd. and its partners secured financing to develop the $1-billion Monsoon Wind Power Co. Ltd.s 600-megawatt wind project in Lao PDR.

This is the first wind power project in Lao PDR and the first cross-border wind project in Southeast Asia.

Monsoon Wind is also touted to be the largest renewable energy platform for regional connectivity and decarbonization in the region.

ACEN said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monsoon Wind would construct, own and operate a 600-MW wind power plant and its 500-kV transmission line in Sekong and Attapeu provinces in southeastern part of Lao PDR.

The project is a partnership among ACEN, BCPG Public Company Ltd., Impact Electrons Siam Ltd., Mitsubishi Corp. and SMP Consultation and STP&I Public Co. Ltd.

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ACEN will have a 24-percent economic stake in the project.

Vietnam has significantly scaled up solar and wind over the last few years which made it an ideal place for sustainable investments. Power demand in the country is recovering strong post-COVID, and the MOU between Laos and Vietnam unlocks a new avenue of providing more power to Vietnam while serving as a catalyst for more cross-border power sharing in the region, ACEN International chief executive Patrice Clause said. Alena Mae S. Flores

We are happy to be working with our partners for the Monsoon Wind project, and deliver the first cross-border wind project and largest renewable energy platform in Southeast Asia, he said.

Electricity generated will be sold to Vietnam Electricity through the 500-kV transmission line under the 25-year power purchase agreement.

The project was co-financed by the Asian Development Bank as lead arranger which provided $692.55 million and other banks such as Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, Japan International Corporation Agency, the Export-Import Bank of Thailand, Hong Kong Mortgage Corp. Limited, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Kasikornbank and Siam Commercial Bank.

ACEN said the Monsoon Wind is one of the key projects in the Vietnamese governments electricity development plan.

It is expected to alleviate the electricity supply-demand challenges in Vietnam while pursuing their decarbonization goal.

The project will help strengthen the connectivity in the ASEAN region through the provision of cross-border electricity sales.

The Lao government will generate revenues from royalty fees and other sources based on the concession agreement. The project will start commercial operations before the end of 2025.

ACEN said it is making Vietnam its priority market due to its attractive tariff system for renewable energy. ACEN has been building solar and wind projects in Vietnam since 2017 and owns a total of 637 MW of attributable capacity.

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When he graduated at the De La Salle University, multi-awarded computer game designer Elson Niel Dagondon realized that there were actually no game development companies in the Philippines. Armed with his strong desire and passion for games, Dagondon established his own company, the Anino Games in 2001.

After establishing the first and largest game development company in the country, he had to face another hurdle. There was a big gap between the industry demand and the education program. In short, there were only a few skilled game developers in the country.

The drawing room is equipped with a lightbox to make drawing and tracing easier for

students. The room features a spacious and well-lit workspace with large windows providing

ample natural light

Understanding the severity of this unfortunate situation, the multi-awarded game designer and developer ventured out into the education sector and built an information and communication technology school, CIIT College of Arts and Technology (formerly Cosmopoint International Institute of Technology) in 2007.

Back then, there were only 21 students enrolled in diploma courses for graphic design, multimedia application, software engineering, and network design. Specialist courses for working professionals were added in 2011, followed by bachelors degrees in computer science and multimedia arts the following year.

With innovation at its core, CIIT introduces two next-level programs for future business innovators and technopreneurs, namely BS Entrepreneurship (BSE) and Senior High School Accounting, Business, and Management Strand (SHS ABM) this year.

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Innovation is part of our DNA as it is one of our core values. We seek to continuously improve systems, processes, and our way of doing things. Our courses are customized based on industry needs and standards. With the help of our more than 100 company partners, we upgrade or modify our curricula so that the applications or technologies that we use are up-to-date, shared CIIT president Sherwin O.

The idea of introducing business programs stemmed from entrepreneurial opportunities that arose during the pandemic. New entrepreneurs sought unique ways to do business and maximized the existing modern technology to venture out and explore opportunities.

CIIT has always been into arts and tech, but it is missing the business aspect that ties things together. It was time to go full circle and give students the chance to turn their business ideas into reality  just how Niel saw an opportunity amid the gap in the industry. The school now has an ecosystem of innovators and creators who can make their ideas a reality, much like how Silicon Valley has fostered great talents, shared O.

Unlike most entrepreneurship and business management programs, CIIT goes beyond the usual expectation of discussing classroom concepts and creating traditional business models. It transforms experience by adding digital platforms and business-level tools to allow its students to turn their ideas into real tech startups.

Each subject in entrepreneurship and ABM programs is paired with industry-grade software used by local and international companies. Aside from teaching business theories and concepts like marketing, operations, human resource, finance, and accounting, among others, the school teaches them how to optimize business tasks through various applications used by organizations worldwide. This also enables them to execute their ideas immediately.

For instance, in marketing, the students are taught to create and launch Facebook advertising campaigns and analyze the reports. In operations, students learn to optimize clerical tasks using Airtable to focus more on growing the business.

We focus more on the practical applications and see to it that we are agile enough to adjust the curriculum and tailor it to the needs of the industry. CIIT has already been using different technologies in its daily operations, which is what we wanted to share so that future entrepreneurs can also use them to revolutionize how their future organizations can be operated and managed, said O.

When I visited the campus located along Kamuning in Quezon City, I was amazed at how technology-driven the school is. While most schools are burdened with heavy administrative and clerical work, which can be counterproductive in teaching their students, CIIT has utilized technology in its daily operations.

Take, for example, the enrollment processing. A typical enrollment of a school would require so much time and effort, with students falling in long lines and all teachers on deck to process the enrollment forms manually.

In CIIT, they have only one registrar to handle 1,600 enrollees using Edusuite, a software that enables business continuity requiring less manpower and manual processes, and automating the enrollment processes.

While none of their employees have been replaced, CIIT leverages automation in almost every clerical task in the school administration system. With fewer manual tasks, CIIT educators and management are able to focus on developing and delivering high-quality next-level educational experiences for students.

Another thing I noticed was the school culture. Students are free to voice their opinions and are heard by the school. They can also approach their teachers, even the president, with their concerns.

As a college of both art and tech, and a diverse, next-level community, we encourage collaboration of all kinds. Our students not only learn the value of logic but also take pride in their creative spirit. We welcome creators from many different backgrounds because we recognize that each and every one of you is capable of weaving a future together, concluded O.

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Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has warned in a forum in the United States that the tensions in the Taiwan Strait may have adverse repercussions on the Philippines.

This was after China said it had successfully completed three days of war games around Taiwan on Monday, capping a show of force that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practice a blockade of the self-ruled island.

Chinese warships and aircraft were still operating around Taiwan on Tuesday, the islands defense ministry said, a day after Beijing declared an end to its massive war games.

Speaking during the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) forum held in Washington DC, Manalo stressed there are 150,000 to 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Taiwan, which just sits 200 kilometers north of the Philippines.

Taiwan is literally next door to the Philippines. So just looking at that, any kind of escalation of tensions or, even worse, some kind of a conflict, military conflict, would have really adverse repercussions on the Philippines. Of course, it would probably have repercussions on the entire region, but particularly the Philippines, given our proximity, the Foreign Affairs chief said.

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We have always been very concerned if tensions escalate. Of course, there have always been tensions. But occasionally they tend to erupt and become more intense. And so we naturally look with concern at that, Manalo added.

He also urged China and the United States to manage their strategic rivalry with dialogue, transparent and sincere engagement, where possible.

Weve always urged the parties concerned to try and, lets say, manage these tensions by having, wherever possible, dialogue to prevent these tensions from escalating into something more. Because our view is that not only would it affect the Philippines, but it would affect the entire region, and could escalate to even something, you know, more dangerous, the DFA chief said.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, meanwhile, said the Philippines should be unfazed by the ongoing military drills being conducted by China around Taiwan not until the bullets land in our areas.

However, Dela Rosa, vice chairperson of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said the Philippine government should just strictly monitor the actions of China, like what it has been doing to other countries.

The Philippines has expressed its commitment to adhere to the One-China policy amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

In deference to this policy, the Philippines does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-ruling island that has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949 but is still claimed by China as part of its territory. With AFP

China mentioned last week a concern shared by many in the Philippines regarding the country getting drawn into a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait after the designation of new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites with the United States in Luzon.

Beijing said the issue of the Taiwan question was internal to China, and that it was not the Chinese side heightening cross-Strait tensions, but the Taiwan independence forces in the island and certain countries that support these forces.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., however, maintained on Monday that the four additional EDCA sites would not be used for offensive actions.

Marcos also said China has nothing to worry about these additional military facilities as the Philippine government is only enhancing the countrys defense posture.

Dela Rosa said the Philippines should not be bothered by the tirades and bullying of China.

He also defended Mr. Marcos for allowing the Balikatan exercises, noting the President is the architect of the countrys foreign policy.

The former police chief said the President was merely complying with the countrys commitment to the United States in the implementation of EDCA.

The warnings issued by China, he noted, were merely part of their strategy to dismiss our commitment.

And since China had already bullied us, why are we going to allow additional bullying? he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said there could have been alternatives to the new EDCA sites, especially since the whole technology even of warfare has developed.

Its not landlocked anymore. The whole technology of peacekeeping has also been enhanced in the waters and of course, its in our interest not to have troubles in our territory and even in Taiwan, just to say, she explained.

Moving forward, despite the fact of additional land-based EDCA sites, I still think it is in our better greater longer term interest to look for a concrete expression of multilateral foreign relations especially on the waters in and beyond the West Philippine Sea in the greater South China Sea that will better serve Filipino and even regional and global interests, the senator said.

The Joint Sword show of force from Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory, was a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke retaliatory measures.

Taiwans defense ministry said it had detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the island as of 11:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday.

China organized military aircraft this morning and crossed the median line from the north, the center, and the south, the ministry said, referring to the unofficial but once largely adhered-to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait.

On Monday, the final day of the drills, the ministry said it had detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island, with 54 planes crossing into Taiwans southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

The ADIZ incursions were the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021.

During the exercises, J15 fighter jets had been deployed off Chinas Shandong aircraft carrier and were among the aircraft that crossed the median line, the defense ministry added.

The ADIZ is not the same as Taiwans territorial airspace and includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of Chinas own ADIZ and even some of the mainland.

President Tsai condemned the military drills on Monday, hours after they officially came to an end, saying China was using Taiwans engagement with the United States as an excuse to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region.

Although Chinas military exercise has come to an end, our military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country, Tsai said in a post on Facebook. With AFP

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By Anna Cuenca

In Belfast,

97 percent of social housing remains segregated along community lines

Stretching high into the sky, the barrier between communities around the republican Falls Road and loyalist Shankill Road is the most imposing example of Belfasts so-called peace walls.

Built in 1968 by the British army to separate the pro-Ireland republicans from pro-UK loyalists at the outset of decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, the 14-meter metal structure still standing today is covered in graffiti.

And the wall, an enduring symbol of the divisions that have continued to plague the province despite the end of the conflict in 1998, has become a somber tourist attraction.

I didnt realise there were so many walls still standing, definitely not 25 years later, Lori Castillo, an American tourist, told AFP as she smiled and signed her name on the wall.

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The wall is one of 75 in Belfast, which collectively stretch 13 kilometers in length.

In 2013, Northern Irelands devolved government set itself a 10-year deadline to tear down the walls.

But the goal, opposed by residents who say they still need the physical and psychological protection given by the barriers, remains far out of reach.

They are still a safety mechanism for people, said Ian Shanks, head of Action for Community Transformation, which works to reintegrate former loyalist paramilitary fighters.

Michael Culbert, an ex-paramilitary member imprisoned for 16 years for killing British soldiers who now helps rehabilitate former republican prisoners while offering tours of west Belfast, noted there could be lots of reasons for their perceived need.

They dont maybe trust the peace process, said the former member of the Irish Republican Army.

My enemy

According to Rob McCallum, a Catholic association leader in an area of north Belfast where the two communities interface, there was never a plan in place to remove the walls.

His job is to try to build mutual trust, he explained, because in a segregated community, you may grow up thinking all the people on the other side are my enemy.

In Belfasts modern center, loyalist Protestant and republican Catholic communities mix freely.

But in a patchwork of working-class areas across the city, communities can live side by side but completely segregated.

Streets meet an abrupt end where they run into one of the barriers.

Gates are opened within their structures to allow movement during the day, but close at fixed times in the evening until early morning.

And while families that have lived with the walls for generations pay them little notice, they inevitably impede mobility.

If something happens, say after nine oclock, you cant just get through the other community to the hospital, criminal justice expert Jonny Byrne said.

You have to travel the whole way around.

According to Byrne, the walls have become magnets for violence and social disorder.

In April 2021, they served as flashpoints in Belfast for clashes between the communities as tensions over post-Brexit trade rules boiled over.

Particularly young people, if theyre looking to engage in what weve often called recreational rioting, they will come to points here where they can get a reaction from (the) other community, Byrne said.

Twin track

McCallum explained that while some want the walls dismantled, others remain stuck psychologically 20 or 30 years ago, depending on the impact that the troubles had on them.

Failure to remove the walls is a legacy of missed opportunities, Byrne said.

The communities where the walls exist are some of the most socially deprived in Northern Ireland. They have been the most affected by the conflict and yet they havent seen some of the big benefits, he added.

The Ulster University expert said the lack of real benefit since 1998 to working-class communities compared to the rest of society had created a twin-track peace process.

In Belfast, 97 percent of social housing remains segregated along community lines.

Shanks said pro-UK unionists had not reaped benefits from the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

We were told local communities would thrive, major investment would be put into them and wed have this great kind of loop and sadly that hasnt materialized, he said.

Many unionists, he explained, would not be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the peace agreement and many from the community who voted for it then would not vote for it nowand that would be very worrying.

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Monday this week, China declared successfully completing three days of war games around Taiwan, capping a show of force that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practice a blockade of the self-ruled island.

Chinas exercises were a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke strong countermeasures.

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, has been viewed by diplomatic and military observers as a compromise that would underscore support for the island but avoid inflaming tensions with Beijing.

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After three days of exercises, the Chinese military said it had successfully completed tasks related to its Joint Sword drills which the Peoples Liberation Armys Eastern Command said comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat ability of multiple military branches under actual combat conditions.

PLAs statement said 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 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 practiced an aerial blockade.

One of Chinas two aircraft carriersthe Shandongalso participated in the 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 the vessel had passed near the Spratly Islandsan archipelago claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. It is about 1,300 kilometers 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 that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were mutually exclusive, blaming Taipei and unnamed foreign forces supporting it for the tensions.

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.

China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949. China views the democratic island as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day.

The United States has been deliberately cryptic 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.

In the meanwhile, capillary waves are causing pins and needles in the Sea of Japan, the East Sea, the Luzon Strait, which connects the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea.

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Customers who will buy any of the vivo V27 Series variants will get a chance to win a vivo V27e smartphone plus more fantastic prizes!

PHILIPPINES, APRIL 11, 2023: The series of exciting surprises from vivo are far from over as one of the leading smartphone brands in the country announces the vivo Be an Aura Portrait Master promo, giving Filipino fans a chance to score a vivo V27e and more. Customers who will purchase any variant of the vivo V27 Series from April 15 to April 30 in select concept stores and kiosks nationwide are eligible to play a game of roulette, earn a raffle entry and win amazing prizes.

For every purchase of a vivo V27e or vivo V27 5G smartphone, customers will have a one-time shot to play the vivo roulette. Bring on your lucky charms as a Voguard Fitness Tracker or a vivo backpack is up for grabs!

Wait, theres more! Customers are in for another surprise as their purchase also qualifies them for an online raffle entry and a chance to be one of the lucky winners:

 Three (3) winners of a vivo V27e smartphone;

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 Five (5) winners of a vivo Y02 smartphone; and

 Twenty (20) winners of a Homefun Garment Steamer.

To join this raffle, customers only need to complete an online form with their complete name and address, mobile number, and email address. All entries must be submitted by April 30 not later than 10:00 PM. Lucky winners will be announced on May 12, 3:00 PM via vivos Facebook page.

Those who won should present any valid ID, proof of purchase with the correct date, and email and text notification from vivo Philippines to the nearest vivo concept store. Keep in mind that claiming of prizes is only applicable 60 days from receipt of notification and claims later than that will not be entertained.

Head to any participating vivo concept store and kiosk in the following malls to join the vivo Be an Aura Portrait Master promo:

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A former employee of Table Talk Pies is claiming that a set of policies at the companys manufacturing facility resulted in her and more than 500 other employees not being paid for all the hours they worked.

In a class action lawsuit originally filed in 2020 in Worcester Superior Court, Tanya Oliveira, a former maintenance employee at the pie company, claimed a payroll policy that rounded employees work time to the nearest quarter hour resulted in them being underpaid because they were not allowed to clock in more than seven minutes before their shift started. In addition, employees were required to be on the factory floor seven minutes before the start of their shift, time for which the lawsuit says they were not paid.

While Oliveira worked at the companys factory on Southgate Street in Worcester, these policies were in place at all three of Table Talks facilities at the time.

In a court hearing Tuesday, attorneys for both Oliveira and Table Talk asked a judge to grant summary judgement in their favor. While the parties largely agreed on the facts of the case, each had a different analysis on the legality of what happened.

Read more: Table Talk Pies expands to Canada with purchase of bankrupt Patisserie Gaudet

According to payroll data cited in court documents, between May 19, 2017 and Oct. 16, 2021, Table Talks rounding policy resulted in production and maintenance employees losing a total of more than 4,200 hours of pay. In addition, between May 19, 2017 and May 31, 2020, between 70 and 74% of hourly employees ended each year with a net negative number of recorded work hours.

In a letter to the court dated Sept. 8, 2021, Table Talk attorney Kenneth Pickering admitted that Oliveira herself worked a total of approximately eight hours unpaid over the course of her time at the company, which was about a year. However, he argued, she was paid for those hours when additional compensation she received for vacation, holiday and bonus pay were taken into account.

According to state law, employers may round hourly pay to the nearest quarter hour, provided the employee pay balances out over a period of time as some days are rounded up and others are rounded down.

It simply cannot be the case that a rounding policy that reduces employees contemporaneously recorded work time by hundreds of hours per year is one which ensures that the employees work time averages out over a reasonable period so that they are fully compensated for all the time [they] actually worked, attorneys for Oliveira wrote in a motion for summary judgement. A timekeeping system like Table Talks  which has enabled it to shed, in the aggregate, hundreds of hours per year in employee work time, totaling more than 4,000 hours over a four-year period  is neither even nor balanced within any commonsense meaning of those words.

Oliveira claimed that because employees were not allowed to clock in more than seven minutes before the start of their shift, a policy which was posted above the time clock, written on weekly schedules and repeated by managers, their work time was automatically rounded down, not up.

Attorneys for Table Talk argued in their own court filings that, while the rounding system did result in hours for which employees were not paid, this was offset by the fact that production employees were paid for daily 30-minute lunch breaks during which they did not work.

They were fully compensated each week for all working time despite Table Talks time rounding policy, they wrote. Thus, regardless of whether the time rounding policy adjusted those employees times to the nearest quarter hour in their favor or in favor of Table Talk, those employees were more than fully compensated for their working time due to the paid meal breaks.

Maintenance employees like Oliveira were also paid for their daily 30-minute lunch breaks, but were expected to be on-call during this time in case there was an issue with the production line, so were required to be paid for this time anyway. However, Table Talk has also argued that because Oliveira was a maintenance employee, she does not represent all hourly employees, the majority of which work in production.

In court Tuesday, Oliveiras attorney, Brant Casavant, argued that these paid meal breaks are not relevant because they were never intended to offset time missed due to the rounding policy.

Table Talk instituted paid meal breaks for production employees several years before Oliveiras lawsuit was filed when the company instituted a three-shift schedule, giving each employee a shorter shift. In order to avoid reducing the number of hours that employees were paid for, the company began paying for meal breaks.

Citing two previous Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court cases, Casavant said the paid meal breaks were not a legal way to offset the rounding.

If they had said something along the lines of, Youre getting a 30-minute paid meal break. We may use that money to offset other time for rounding purposes ... that may have brought it into compliance with the Wage Act, Casavant said. They were getting a paid lunch, not a payment that the employer can now, in response to this lawsuit, say, Its also due to time you lost due to rounding.

Pickering disagreed, saying that employee pay stubs broke down what each payment included in terms of regular hours, overtime, paid lunch, holiday pay, sick and vacation pay and bonuses, which was enough to communicate the purpose of each payment to the employees.

The purpose was not to pay for lunch. It was simply to increase paid time the employees got, Pickering said, referring to the decision to institute paid meal breaks.

Judge Daniel Wrenn has not yet ruled on the motions. The case is scheduled to be back in court on May 23 for argument on whether it can be certified as a class action suit.
Two Massachusetts contestants made their way to the 21st season of American Idol but their time on the show was cut short.

Sierra Harris of Lexington and Alessandra Aguirre, originally from Peru but a student at Berklee College of Music, both stepped in front of judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan in hopes for a shot to become the next American Idol.

On Monday, the competition winded down to the top 26, where remaining contestants will compete at the hands of Americas vote. Harris and Aguirre both passed through their audition in front of judges but have since been sent home.

Heres what their journey on the show has looked like.

Harris walked into her audition in Nashville and sang Barracuda by Heart. Judges looked impressed, but noted that the song was too tough to get a read.

Perry asked Harris to sing Firework instead for her audition. After hearing her sing, Perry said I take that back, jokingly.

I wanted you to sing Firework because thats a challenging song to sing and you slayed that, Perry told her.

All three judges eventually gave Harris a yes and sent her off to Hollywood with a gold ticket.

In a note posted to Harris Instagram on April 3, she revealed to followers where she was at in the competition.

Unfortunately I did not make it past Hollywood week in my idol journey ... But I am so beyond blessed and grateful for this opportunity and all of the beautiful, wonderful people I met. Forever the experience of a lifetime. This is only the beginning for me, she said.

Harris is hoping to tour and release music, she told MassLive. Recently, she released an original song titled Not OK. You can listen to it here.

To keep up with what Harris is up to, she regularly posts singing content on her social media accounts. You can follow her Instagram and TikTok.

Aguirre auditioned for the three judges in Las Vegas. The audition did not air, but she was shown on an episode of American Idol with other contestants representing international talent.

She also had a second opportunity to audition with an original song in Spanish, which wowed the judges, she told MassLive.

Aguirre earned a gold ticket to Hollywood, heading to the Hollywood Week round.

On March 30, Aguirre posted a photo to her Facebook with the caption, originally in Spanish, And were off to Hollywood Week.

On April 2, she posted a photo captioned, Its today standing under the American Idol Hollywood Week sign. She has not posted about the show since then.

To follow Aguirres music journey, click here.

Season 21 of American Idol now airs every Sunday and Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

Those looking to stream the show can do so on FuboTV. The platform offers a free trial for new users.

The show also streams on Hulu with a subscription. Those who sign up will get their first month free. Plans for Hulu start as low as $6.99 a month and give you access to thousands of shows and movies.
Multiple Massachusetts residents have died in the past two weeks after officials said they didnt have working fire alarms.

In the past two weeks, Massachusetts communities have endured six fire deaths in homes without working smoke alarms, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said. If you do one thing today, please make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, and check in on older relatives to be sure theirs are working too.

One fire in Hopkinton started on the front porch early Sunday morning. At around 1:12 a.m., 911 calls stated there was a fire at 69 Hayward St. Once they arrived, crews learned of two people still in the house and immediately began an aggressive internal search, officials said.

They were able to find both people but it was too late for one man. The 60-year-old died from his injuries at Milford Regional Medical Center, officials said. A woman was later taken to a Boston hospital for further treatment of her injuries. A dog also died in the fire.

Read more: New Bedford Fire Department smashed windows of car blocking hydrant

While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, we know that there were no working smoke alarms at the scene, Hopkinton Fire Chief William R. Miller said. Every household needs working smoke alarms on every level of the home.

Two people died in a fire at a Springfield home early Thursday morning, according to Springfield Fire Department.

There was also a fatal fire in Springfield on March 30.

Two adults and a dog died after there were no working smoke detectors in the house. It took firefighters about two hours before they were able to completely extinguish it.

The conditions didnt really allow for an aggressive interior attack, Springfield Fire Department Captain Drew Piemonte said. The survivor ability rate with that volume of fire is highly unlikely if they werent alerted to the fire happening.

The Hopkinton fire chief said people should change alkaline batteries twice a year and replace the alarm itself every 10 years. If buying a new alarm, he suggested the photoelectric alarm.

Test them every month to be sure you and your family are protected, he said.
A Windsor family had an unexpected guest on Easter Sunday when two black bears came to join in on a backyard Easter egg hunt.

Jennifer Lopez and her husband saw a bear eating candy out of their Easter eggs, according to a report by WFSB in Connecticut.

All of a sudden, I hear shuffling or leaves, assuming it was the squirrels or chipmunks. However I was in for an awakening when I looked up and saw a mother bear with her cub. She worked her way to the eggs and started eating the chocolate, Lopez told the news station.

Connecticuts Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) told the station that bears become unafraid of people when they have easy access to peoples food. The department also said the first priority should be safety rather than taking a photo or video of a bear, when one is encountered, according to the report.

Black bears should never be fed  either intentionally or unintentionally, said Jenny Dickson, DEEP Wildlife Division Director in a department in a department release. Bears that are attracted to homes by easily accessible foods lose their fear of humans.
Your caller ID says Massachusetts State Police are calling. But police are warning, its probably not them.

The phone numbers are spoofed to look real, police said. And when you answer, the person on the other end claims to be a member of the State Police.

But none of it is real.

Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity, the Federal Communications Commission states. Scammers often use neighbor spoofing so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or spoof a number from a company or a government agency that you may already know and trust.

Instead, police are advising residents to simply hanging up the phone as soon as it is answered.

The Massachusetts State Police is not conducting any fundraisers and we do not conduct phone solicitations for any reason. If you get such a call, please hang up and do not provide any personal or financial information, police wrote on Facebook.

The Sharon Police Department previously warned in Massachusetts that calls that appear to be from the doctors office could be a scam. The phone numbers are also being spoofed to look real by appearing as the doctors office in the persons caller ID.

Other scams are spoofing family members phone numbers. It even sounds like them.

Unfortunately, bad actors can now use artificial intelligence technology to mimic voices, convincing people, often the elderly, that their loved ones are in distress, according to a recent Washington Post article, the FCC said in a statement.

The news outlet reported AI can take an audio sample of just a few sentences and turn it into a full audio recording for cheap. The scammer can then make it speak whatever they type, the Post reported.

It looked exactly like my sister was calling, Beth Royce shared on TikTok, stating she answered the phone because her sisters contact popped up.

But on the other end a man was screaming at her and a woman was crying in the background. He asked for money.

Im not an idiot. Im so good at spotting fishing emails, she explained. But this, she said, sounded real.

Royce said she sent the man money.

I was terrified he was going to kill my sister, she said in the video.

While she was on the phone, her mom called the police then tried to call the daughter who they thought might be kidnapped.

And my little sister picked up, she explained. It was all a scam.
A high-ranking member of the Holyoke Police Department currently on administrative leave must stay away from one of the police officers he supervises for the next year, a judge ordered on Tuesday.

Judge Bethzaida Vega of Chicopee District Court granted a one-year extension of a restraining order requested by a female Holyoke police officer who made claims of sexual harassment dating back to when she first joined the department around 2019. A Holyoke judge originally granted a 14-day restraining order against Capt. Manuel Reyes before the case got transferred to Chicopee court.

The Holyoke Police Department could not be immediately reached for comment.

Holyoke Chief David Pratt placed Reyes on administrative leave on March 28 without providing a specific reason. That same day, a Holyoke judge granted a restraining order against him based on allegations of sexual harassment made by a fellow member of the department.

We have been made aware of an event involving Capt. Reyes, an investigation has been opened and is ongoing, Holyoke Police Capt. Matthew Moriarty previously wrote in an email statement.

The restraining order prevents Reyes from abusing the victim (MassLive is withholding the persons identity) and contacting the woman, in any way, and orders Reyes to stay at least 50 yards away. Judge Vega added the condition that Reyes must stay away from wherever the woman may live.

In the original affidavit describing the reasons for the restraining order, the woman states that she felt intimidated by Reyes from the time she joined the police department since he supervised her. At the time, Reyes was a lieutenant in the department; he was promoted to captain in February 2022.

Captain Reyes was a Lieutenant, my boss, to me he held power over me, she wrote.

In a lengthy, seven-page document, the woman detailed years of nonconsensual touching, groping and kissing by Reyes, who oversees the departments Internal Affairs division, and as such is responsible for investigating civilian complaints and potential police misconduct.

In the affidavit, she described instances when Reyes would call her to his office, play music and try to dance and touch her inappropriately. She described numerous other instances of Reyes attempting to kiss her and touch her inappropriately  at least once at a home that he apparently owned  and how she feared for her job if she spoke up.

Reyes, according to his LinkedIn profile, is the owner of United Construction and Home Improvement. The Corporations Division of the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth website lists Manuel Reyes as the manager of United Construction and Home Improvement.

Included with the restraining order were two accompanying statements from Holyoke Police Department employees that stated the woman had shared the sexual harassment complaints against Reyes with them in the past.

Last year, Reyes was the sixth highest-paid city employee in the City of Holyoke with a gross salary of $168,863, according to the citys salary database. Reyes was sworn in as a Holyoke police officer in June 2000, later promoted to sergeant in October 2009 and then a lieutenant in June 2013, The Republican previously reported.

I spoke to my friend about how I just wanted Captain Reyes to leave me alone but was still afraid I would be terminated from the Holyoke Police Department if I told him to stop, the woman wrote. Captain Reyes for months continued to call and text me despite me not responding to his text, picking up his phone calls, and giving more cold, dry responses when he spoke to me.

The woman stated she joined the Holyoke Police Department eager to learn and work hard. She wrote that she still wants to earn her place among the police officers who serve the city.

But she made clear that she fears for her safety.

I do not ever want to be alone with Captain Reyes, she wrote.
Lupa Zoo in Ludlow opened its doors for the 2023 season Tuesday. However, a member of Lupas family is still missing. Mary the Eland antelope, whos been missing for over a week and a half, is still out exploring Western Massachusetts. She was last spotted in Belchertown on Easter.

Zoo director, Wally Lupe, said hes anxiously waiting on pins and needles for Marys return.

Mary, who was named along with her mate, George, after characters from the movie Its a Wonderful Life, escaped from her enclosure at Lupa Zoo Friday, March 31, when a storm knocked down a tree, damaging the fence that kept her inside.

Since she left her Lupa Zoo home, shes been spotted throughout Ludlow and Wilbraham, but so far has eluded capture. On Easter, Mary was last seen in Belchertown near Camp Stanica in Palmers Three Rivers area.

Read more: Missing antelope Mary recorded in video in Ludlow Saturday night

Lupe said the Three Rivers area in the spring has plenty of bulbs and foliage the African antelope can munch on, as well as tons of water for her to drink.

Were worried about the coyotes in the area, and moose who are in rut, Lupe said adding that Moose in their rut period are aggressive and have increased interest in females.

Lupa Zoo does not have a tracker on Mary or any of its other animals due to the technology proving to be uncomfortable for most of its animals.

Im also worried about the public itself interfering, as far as we know we have hunters that may be on the illegal side of things, said Lupe.

The Lupa Zoo is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ludlow and Agawam police departments, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi in locating Mary. The agencies have been working around the clock since Mary was first reported missing and plan to continue searching until shes found.

Individuals who believe they have run into Mary can identify her by her distinct missing horn  which was originally cut off at birth due to a defect. Anyone who spots Mary is urged to call their local authorities or the Lupa Zoo at (413) 583-8370. Mary is a fast runner and swimmer, the public is urged not to chase her.

Mary the Elan Antelope was spotted in Belchertown on Easter. Mary, who was named along with her mate, George, after characters from the movie Its a Wonderful Life, escaped from her enclosure at Lupa Zoo Friday, March 31, when a storm knocked down a tree, damaging the fence that kept her inside.

While the general public is concerned about Marys whereabouts, her Eland antelope partner, George, has been reportedly cool, calm and collected.

I dont know if they had a lovers spat or something, Lupe said referring to public speculation that Mary left after George was being a jerk to her.
An Everett man accused of breaking into a Tewksbury home Monday night and hitting a woman with his car as he fled the scene faces several charges in connection with the incident.

On Monday, at around 7:25 p.m., Tewksbury Police responded to a break-in at a home on River Road, according to a department statement. A male resident inside the home caught the suspect  later identified as Tommy Moges, 22, of Everett  and called police. After the resident confronted Moges, he ran from the home and hopped in a black SUV to flee from the area, police said.

While police were on their way to the River Road home, officers received a call of a black SUV driving erratically in the same area as the break-in.

Police identified the robbery suspect, Moges, as the person driving dangerously in the residential neighborhood. Moges drove through a yard in an attempt to run one woman over on Mount Joy Road. Police said the woman was just barely able to move out of the way of the SUV before Moges hit another woman in the leg.

The SUV hit a rock wall as it drove out the yard and away from the area, police said.

First responders treated the injured woman shortly after she was hit.

A video of the incident can be seen here.

An investigation led police to identify Moges as the break-in suspect. He was arrested that same night at his home in Everett.

Moges was charged with the following in the incident:

breaking and entering for misdemeanor

assault and battery with a dangerous weapon

assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60

assault with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60

negligent operation of a motor vehicle

leaving the scene of a property damage accident

leaving the scene of a personal injury accident

Moges was turned over to Tewksbury police Tuesday morning he is scheduled to be arraigned in Lowell District Court Tuesday.

We are thankful that no one was seriously injured during this incident, said Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan Columbus. I am grateful for our officers who responded quickly, conducted a thorough investigation, and promptly made an arrest.
A controversy over a rescinded superintendent job offer set off a firestorm of online vitriol last week against school officials in Easthampton. Some officials say online harassment has turned into actual threats.

After Dr. Vito Perrone went public with his account of a rescinded offer for the superintendent of schools  purportedly for his use of the word ladies  the backlash came swiftly and fierce. Commenters on social media were unrelenting with both support for Perrone, previously an Easthampton High School principal, and with sharp criticism of school officials that often veered into personal attacks.

At Monday nights all-virtual School Committee meeting, the first since Perrone spoke to the press with his side of the story, members were careful not to disclose details about the failed contract negotiation with Perrone, currently the acting superintendent of schools in West Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD  Catholic Bishop William D. Byrne named Springfield native Michael Collins  a social worker whos worked 26 years in the states foster care system  to lead the Diocese of Springfields Office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance.

Byrne introduced Collins in a news conference Tuesday morning a week after Maryland authorities reported that for over 80 years, 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore sexually abused more than 600 children and often escaped accountability. Byrne acknowledged that revelations like those in Baltimore  or even announcements like he was making Tuesday  often spur more victims to come forward.

I think thats a good thing, said Byrne, the bishop overseeing the diocese for the four counties in western Massachusetts since 2020.

Collins, whose first day on the job was Tuesday, expressed similar sentiments.

If it spurs more people to come forward and share their stories  thats a positive thing, he said.

Byrne concluded Tuesdays news conference with a prayer on the steps outside the Cathedral of St. Michael The Archangel for help and healing, acknowledging the just-concluded Easter celebrations and marking April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Springfield Diocese is flying flags commemorating the month.

Collins said reports are still coming into the Office of Safe Environment and Victims Assistance. But few of those new reports are from new instances. Instead, they relate to incidents looking back 20 years or more.

The Office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance  diospringfield.org/Ministries/child-youth-protection/  has four investigators handling abuse reports, serves as a point of contact for victims coming forward and runs the diocese prevention and education programs.

Byrne said he meets with abuse victims.

Its probably the most painful and difficult part of my job, Byne said. But I feel privileged in a sense that where there has been hurt, I have been asked by God to bring healing.

In March, a Hampden Superior Court judge ruled to advance a lawsuit against the Springfield Catholic Diocese filed by a man who said he was gang-raped by the late Bishop Christopher J. Weldon and other priests while he was an altar boy in the 1960s.

The case filed by John Doe, a Chicopee man, is now set for trial beginning April 24.

Tuesday, Byrne said he cannot comment on ongoing litigation.

But he did say the diocese is working to settle cases when it can. He doesnt anticipate the Springfield Diocese having to file for bankruptcy protection as the diocese in Albany, New York, has done.

Collins, whose first day on the job was Tuesday, takes over for interim director and former Springfield police Officer Norm Charest. Charest filled in after Jeffrey J. Trant left in October for a new position.

Collins is a graduate of the former Cathedral High School in Springfield and served most recently as area director for the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families in Springfield. He has a masters degree in criminal justice from Western New England University and a bachelors degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology from Westfield State University.

I always found that being of service to others is very, very rewarding, he said. I felt like this was a great opportunity.

Collins stressed the prevention aspect of the job, citing the training that diocese employees and volunteers must take.

Just to make sure that people are educated and aware, he said.

The diocese has memorandums of understanding with the district attorneys offices. Any report is first investigated by law enforcement and then internally.

The diocese makes quarterly updates to its list of those associated with the diocese who are credibly accused of sexual abuse. It is now up to 59 names.
The majority of Moldovan citizens oppose the idea of the country abandoning neutrality and joining NATO, President Maia Sandu said on Tuesday.

April 11, 2023, 17:36 Majority of Moldovans oppose idea of joining NATO, president says

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 11 , ARTSAKHPRESS: "The people should want it because it means changes to the constitution and should be done through a referendum. However, if we look at opinion polls today, we will see that there is no serious support for the idea of abandoning neutrality," she said in an interview with PRO TV.

Sandu added that apart from the Supreme Security Council, another agency would be established in the country, which would be tasked with combating information manipulations and propaganda.

In an address to the Munich Security Conference, Sandu asked NATO members to assist her country in the fight against the spread of information reflecting Russias view on global developments on social media. Moldovas parliament, in turn, passed a law making it possible "to control online propaganda and disinformation."

Polls show that over 55% of Moldovans strongly oppose the countrys NATO membership and 27% support the initiative. However, Sandu did not rule out earlier that Chisinau might abandon neutrality and join the military alliance amid the Ukrainian crisis. She also expressed interest in boosting cooperation with NATO in rearming Moldovas army.
A woman in her 60s died of her injuries following a Hopkinton fire that also claimed the lives of a man and dog this weekend, Hopkinton officials announced Tuesday.

On Sunday at 1:12 a.m., Hopkinton-area firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at a one-story ranch house at 69 Hayward St.

Firefighters found heavy fire spewing from the building. They learned that two people were still in the house and immediately began searching inside.

An unidentified man was found in a hallway and unidentified woman was found in a bedroom. Both were taken to Milford Regional Medical Center, where the man was pronounced dead.

The woman was brought further to a Boston hospital for treatment. On Tuesday, Hopkinton Fire Chief William R. Miller, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, and Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan announced the woman has since died of her injuries.

A dog also died in the fire, officials said.

Officials have not yet found the source of the fire and said the deadly fire isnt suspicious. However, the homes smoke alarm wasnt working.

In the past two weeks, Massachusetts communities have endured six fire deaths in homes without working smoke alarms, Ostroskey said. If you do one thing today, please make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, and check in on older relatives to be sure theirs are working, too.
Every human being who has shared Ira Helfands dream has failed to see it materialize.

That doesnt make Helfands vision  and, yes, his optimism despite our time of crippling political cynicism  any less worthy. It elevates and ennobles it, which makes the retired doctor from Northampton a most worthy recipient of a prestigious award.

The Gandhi-King-Ikeda Community Builders Award from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, has gone to Helfand for his work with Back From the Brink. The names memorialized in the award capture its spirit. The honor recognizes those who promote peace and transformation in a non-violent way.

The award honors Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Daisaku Ikeda, the Japanese leader of an international Buddhist peace movement numbering 12 million people. Back from the Brink is an organization determined to reduce the risk of nuclear war. Based in the U.S., the group is a grassroots coalition that seeks common sense nuclear weapons policies. It counts 333 elected American officials as members.

In 1977, at his inauguration, President Jimmy Carter pledged to seek an end to nuclear weapons. That hasnt been achieved, though progress has been made. Today, an estimated 13,000 nuclear warheads exist, but 50,000 others have been destroyed. Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan plowed through two years of difficult talks before reaching agreement on a historic 1987 arms reduction treaty.

Helfand, who most recently worked as a physician at the Family Medical Care Center in Springfield, keeps the faith. I think we can absolutely (rid the world of nuclear weapons) in 10 years, he told The Republican. He even offers a timeline: two to three years of talks and six to seven years to dismantle the warheads that exist.

To Helfand, Russian aggression in Ukraine shows why it is critical to move away from the brink of nuclear war.

History is filled with examples of people of vision who accomplished things others called impossible. Ira Helfand is among them. We admire his long commitment and sense of hope.
Massachusetts state representatives unveiled their $654 million tax relief plan Tuesday for fiscal 2024, with a bevy of measures intended to help the commonwealths most vulnerable residents  including overhauling a controversial tax cap law.

The Houses proposal, echoing Gov. Maura Healeys pitch, features a refundable $600 child and dependent tax credit that eliminates the current limit on eligible dependents. The credit would be phased in over three years, meaning taxpayers could claim $310 per dependent in fiscal 2024, $455 per dependent in fiscal 2025, $600 per dependent in fiscal 2026 and $614 per dependent in fiscal 2027.

The tax relief package that the House is releasing today will help thousands of residents keep more money in their pockets by providing much needed financial assistance, House Ways and Means Chairman Aaron Michlewitz said in a statement Tuesday morning. This package will also help keep the commonwealth an economically competitive work environment for both businesses and workers.

The Houses tax relief package calls for doubling the senior circuit breaker tax credit from $1,200 to $2,400, at a cost of $60 million annually to the commonwealth. The House also wants to raise the rental deduction cap from $3,000 to $4,000, at a cost of $40 million annually.

To bolster Massachusetts competitive edge, the House proposes increasing the estate tax threshold from $1 million to $2 million, while eliminating the so-called cliff effect that currently kicks in at the first valued dollar. This measure would cost $231 million annually, state lawmakers said.

Other tax measures in the Houses plan include:

Short-term capital gains tax : Slash the current rate from 12% to 5%. This component would be phased in over two years, first reducing the rate to 8% before reaching 5% in the subsequent year.

Single sales factor tax : Create a single sales factor apportionment  eliminating the current three-factor apportionment  to ensure Massachusetts aligns with 39 other states. This measure would cost $115 million in the first year and $79 million in subsequent years.

Earned income tax credit : Bump the state tax credit from a 30% match to a 40% match of the federal credit.

Chapter 62F reform: House lawmakers want to : House lawmakers want to reform Chapter 62F , the 1980s tax cap law that forced officials to return nearly $3 billion in excess state revenues to Bay Staters last year. The tax refund formula  based on a percentage of a taxpayers personal income liability  drew scrutiny from lawmakers, advocates and tax policy experts who warned the wealthiest Bay Staters would receive the heftiest rebates. Under the Houses plan, every taxpayer would receive the same amount, rather than a rebate based on a percentage of what taxpayers paid the Commonwealth.

This tax relief package strikes the critically important balance of providing permanent financial relief to residents and businesses across Massachusetts, without compromising the long-term fiscal security of the commonwealth, House Speaker Ron Mariano said in a statement Tuesday morning. Im confident that this tax reform legislation will help to make Massachusetts more affordable for all residents, while also helping to make the commonwealth more competitive with other states.

But at a press conference later Tuesday, Mariano voiced concerns about the countrys economic outlook  and raised the possibility that the Houses phased-in tax measures could be adjusted if necessary, should they win legislative approval.

If we went into a full-fledged recession, wed have to reconsider the numbers, but based on what weve seen and what the predictions are, I think were in a position to handle what we put on the table, Mariano said. The Houses phased-in tax relief strategy, Mariano said, is an attempt to balance this and implement growth in a safe, controllable package.

Mariano told reporters Monday his chamber would unveil its tax reform bill on Tuesday, followed by a vote on the package during a formal session Thursday. The House is also expected to unveil its fiscal 2024 budget proposal on Wednesday, which Mariano has said will include the governors MassReconnect program, providing free community college to Bay Staters ages 25 and older without a college degree.

Mariano previewed the pending tax relief at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce forum last month, signaling last years failed measures  such as expanding the child tax credit, senior circuit breaker and rental deduction cap, while overhauling the estate tax  would be revived.

Healey in February had unveiled her administrations $742 million tax relief proposal, featuring a hallmark $600 child and family tax credit. She also wants to raise the rental deduction cap from $3,000 to $4,000 and double the senior circuit breaker from $1,200 to $2,400.

To make Massachusetts more competitive  and staunch an exodus of wealthy Bay Staters and companies  Healey has proposed raising the estate tax threshold from $1 million to $3 million and introducing a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $182,000. Healey wants to slash the short-term capital gains rate from 12% to 5%, too, in another bid to lessen the commonwealths outlier tax code status.

While the House didnt include the short-term capital gains reduction in its relief plan last year, Mariano said the proposed change now is designed to spur investment in Massachusetts.

We want to attract folks that want to be here and are comfortable with the way we tax, Mariano said. I think part of the signal that we send with the capital gains change is that we dont want you to leave, that we want you to stay here.

Senate President Karen Spilka reaffirmed to reporters Monday that her chamber will revisit tax relief this session.

Ive been saying for months that I believe that we should and could do progressive, permanent tax reform, Spilka said. So, I still believe that.

James Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, called the Houses tax package a good first step in light of Healeys pitch.

The tax changes released by the House today reflect the recognition that Massachusetts needs to take proactive, meaningful action to ensure that employers and people will start, stay, and succeed here, Rooney said in a statement. We are particularly encouraged by the inclusion of critical updates to outlier tax policies that put our talent and employers at a disadvantage compared to other states.
The three men charged in connection with the October 2022 fatal shooting of Andrew Barley in his Burncoat Street home pleaded not guilty before a Worcester judge on Tuesday.

Kelvin Verde, 23, of Worcester, and Berny Calderon, 25, of Webster, all pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder, home invasion and armed robbery. Luis Cotto, 30, pleaded not guilty to being charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Cotto, arraigned on Nov. 16 and not in police custody, provided Uber rides for Verde and Calderon, prosecutors said. The court ordered Cotto to stay away from and make no contact with the victims family. His bail was previously set at $50,000.

Verdes bail was held without prejudice. He turned himself in to Worcester police on Feb. 13 after the department shared a wanted poster featuring Verde on social media three days before.

Calderon was arrested on Jan. 4 the same day a search warrant was issued. On Tuesday, Calderon was also held without bail without prejudice.

All three men are expected back in court on May 30.

Read more: Worcester Police say suspect in shooting misled them about his own gunshot wounds

At Verdes arraignment in Worcester District Court in February, Assistant District Attorney Terry McLaughlin stated that on Oct. 24, 2022, two people arrived at 480 Burncoat St. in a 2007 Gray Chevrolet Malibu with New Hampshire plates. At least one of the individuals had a gun and kicked in the rear door of the home.

At that point, they headed directly to the victims room, McLaughlin said.

The victim, who is identified in court documents as Barley, was then reportedly shot twice, McLaughlin said. Barley was shot once in the right thigh and once under the left armpit. Barley was brought to a hospital after the second strike caused catastrophic injuries to the internal organs where he later died, MassLive previously reported.

Read more: 2 teens charged after Worcester police say they harassed homeless man at Elm Park

The suspects drove off in the Malibu, stopping near 247 Pilgrim Ave. Here, they took Uber rides to head out of Worcester. Eyewitness testimonies, photographic evidence, video evidence, social media evidence, license plate reader evidence and cell phone evidence were all collected by investigators, according to McLaughlin.

The investigation has, at this point, revealed that the defendant Mr. Verde is one of the individuals, one of which at least was armed, that did enter 480 Burncoat St. causing the death of the victim in this case, McLaughlin said in February.

Barley was a graduate of Worcester Technical High School working in construction with his father, his obituary said.
Azerbaijani military units opened fire around 16:00, April 11 at Armenian servicemen who were conducting engineering work in the direction of Tegh community, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia informed.

April 11, 2023, 17:38 Azerbaijani forces opened fire at Armenian servicemen conducting engineering work in the direction of Tegh community

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 11 , ARTSAKHPRESS: According to preliminary information there are fatalities and injured on the Armenian side. The Ministry of Defense will release an additional report, the Ministry of Defense added.
The Azerbaijani armed forces fired mortars in the direction of the Armenian positions located in the area of Tegh village, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia informed.

April 11, 2023, 18:08 Azerbaijani armed forces fired mortars in Tegh section of Armenian border

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 11 , ARTSAKHPRESS: "The Azerbaijani Armed Forces continue the provocation. At around 17:30, the units of Azerbaijani armed forces used mortars in the same direction. Armenian Armed Forces are taking necessary defensive measures.

The Ministry of Defense will make an additional announcement," reads the statement.
The State University of New York is ending the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students at its 64 campuses, including Cayuga Community College.

SUNY released updated guidance that will take effect beginning with courses over the summer. Instead of mandating COVID-19 vaccinations, the university system is "strongly encouraging" students to get the vaccine and receive updated booster shots.

An advisory committee consisting of doctors and public health experts recommended ending the vaccine mandate. The state Department of Health was also involved in the decision.

The announcement follows President Joe Biden's action on Monday to sign legislation ending the national COVID-19 public health emergency.

"The safety of SUNY's students is our first and foremost priority, and while COVID is no longer an emergency, we will not lose sight of the impact it continues to have on us," SUNY Chancellor John King said. "Across SUNY we will continue to monitor cases and make adjustments as needed, but even more importantly, we will look to increase the overall health and wellness support we provide our students."

The vaccine mandate was the target of criticism. In February, the Cayuga County Legislature passed a resolution urging SUNY to end the requirement. Some lawmakers blamed the mandate for declining enrollment at Cayuga Community College, which has campuses in Auburn and Fulton. But the decreased number of students at Cayuga and other community colleges is part of a trend that began before the pandemic.

Legislators also complained that the mandate only applied to students. Faculty and staff were not required to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

SUNY's COVID vaccine mandate began in 2021, months after the vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson) received emergency use authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In September 2021, SUNY announced that compliance with the requirement reached 99.5% among its student population. The students who did not comply with the requirement were mostly commuters at community colleges.
According to Ariztons latest research report, the digital health and wellness market will grow at a CAGR of 22% from 2022 to 2028.

The global digital health and wellness market size was valued at USD 335 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 1.103 trillion by 2028.

Request for a Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3725

Data-driven decision-making is becoming the need of the hour, and daily health, physical and mental wellness is being reimagined. As the health & wellness industry has evolved beyond measuring healthcare costs to becoming more focused on healthy lifestyles, data analytics, and technology play a bigger role. Digital health or digital healthcare is a broad, multidisciplinary model incorporating concepts from a connection between technology and healthcare. It includes digital care programs and technologies with health, healthcare, living, and society to improve healthcare delivery competence and make medicine more personalized and precise.

Furthermore, digital health utilizes digital transformation in healthcare, integrating software, hardware, and services. Digital technologies offer significant opportunities for preventing diseases by promoting lifestyle changes and adherence to healthy behaviors. Several players are investing in technologies and expanding their capabilities to measure their initiatives using big data.

Ariztons 285 pages report on digital health & wellness includes a detailed analysis of the Digital Health and Wellness Industry Size, Share, & Trends, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, and Competitive Market Share & Forecast 20232028.

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The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the digital health and wellness market.

Increasing Smartphone Penetration & mhealth Application

Incorporation of Technology for Rising Self-Care

Rising Development in Wearable Devices

Customization Available

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.arizton.com/customize-report/3725

Wearable Devices Role in the Wellness & Digital Healthcare Revolution

The digital health & wellness market is expected to grow faster due to the onset of wellness-friendly smart devices, rising healthcare awareness, and increasing concern for the continuous monitoring of real-time health parameters of patients, both pre and post-surgery.

Wearable technology refers to smart IoT devices that track biometric data such as sleep patterns and heart rates. Consumers use wearable to accurately transmit vital exercise, biological, and medical data to a database.

Wearable electronics are used by approximately 30% of adults in the United States to track their health and well-being. Wearable devices have a wide range of applications in the healthcare industry, including heart rate and blood pressure monitoring, daily step tracking, fitness reminders, and sleep pattern analysis.

Fitness trackers such as the Fitbit Charge, VR headsets, smart jewelry, web-enabled glasses, smartwatches, and Bluetooth headsets are examples of wearable technology. Smart glasses and smartwatches are the most common types of wearables. These wearable devices gather information in real-time. They also have motion sensors that can take screenshots of everyday activities and sync them with mobile devices or laptops.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global lockdowns sparked a slew of changes across the entire healthcare and wellness industry. Stress, a sedentary lifestyle, overeating, limited access to high-quality fresh produce and medical services, and other factors eventually prompted people to pay more attention to their health and make lifestyle changes, thereby increasing the demand for smart healthcare trackers.

The pandemic highlighted the value of smartwatches for monitoring health. More than 10% of US consumers who own smartwatches are now using them to detect COVID-19 symptoms. The pandemic may even have encouraged smartwatch sales: Fifteen percent of US consumers who own a smartwatch purchased it after the onset of COVID-19.

Smartwatch innovation is progressing rapidly, driven by sensors, semiconductors, and AI advances. For example, some smartwatches now feature optical sensors that continuously measure blood volume and composition variations using photoplethysmography (PPG). Algorithms produced and continually improved via machine learning use data from these sensors to provide insights into users activity levels, stress, heart pattern anomalies, and more.

According to Arizton, the adoption of wearable ECG devices to gain popularity in the upcoming years. For instance, the rising adoption of advanced sensor & AI-based wearable ECG devices with widely available clinical data is expected to drive the market growth of the global wearable ECG devices market. Apple, Alphabet, Samsung Electronics, Withings, Boston Scientific, Koninklijke Philips, GE Healthcare, OSI Systems, Hill-Rom Services, and iRhythm technologies are the leading players in the global wearable ECG devices market. The market is concentrated, with key players accounting for significant market shares in the overall market. However, as the industry offers tremendous growth opportunities for vendors, especially in long-term supporting devices, several start-ups and small MedTech investigating companies plan to develop next-generation devices.

To Know More About the Wearable ECG Devices Market, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3639

The union of wireless patient monitoring technologies and smart wearables leading the rise of virtual healthcare surveillance system

The use of wireless patient monitoring systems to monitor vital signs is becoming more popular. The ability to escalate home care for both chronic and acute conditions is one of several benefits brought to healthcare services by wireless patient monitoring through smart devices.

The development of wireless vital signs monitoring devices and wearables for care management is receiving increased attention as a tool for streamlining chronic care and assisting patients in better managing their diseases at a low cost. These devices provide data that allows doctors to make real-time treatment decisions.

In 2020, the adoption of single-device wireless patient monitoring systems was rapid and fast. Their application accelerated significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic as there was a need to reduce contact between patients and healthcare providers. However, the application continued to increase in 2021 and is further anticipated to rise during the forecast period 2023-2028. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed medical care at home.

As people seek ways to monitor their health without visiting hospitals, vendors are focusing on developing home-based smart devices. Vendors are attempting to link preventive healthcare with digital health through the medium of a large population of smart device users. Vendors are concentrating their efforts on devices that can be linked to smartphones/smartwatches.

A new generation of devices is shifting the paradigm away from the static model, in which patients must remember to take their blood pressure or measure their blood sugar, and towards something more dynamic. Wireless vital signs monitoring devices feed patient data into the patient record system. It can be described as a virtual healthcare surveillance system in which doctors can send patients home while keeping a medical eye on them. One of the most significant advantages of home patient monitoring is the ability to predict a patients susceptibility to negative health events. The data stream aids in establishing a baseline.

Healthcare facilities can safeguard patients, staff members, visitors, and medical professionals against security lapses and artificial disasters by utilizing virtual monitoring systems. Todays cutting-edge hospitals use a virtual monitoring system with an HD CCTV camera to capture crucial video evidence and stop fraudulent insurance claims. With remote video monitoring and strong cloud storage capabilities, virtual monitoring gives hospitals more freedom. You may improve hospital operations with virtual monitoring, which can also strengthen your provider-patient relationship.

The latest report by Arizton on the digital health & wellness market analyses various companies operating in the market.

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Prominent Companies

Headspace

FranklinCovey

Vivify Health

Teladoc Health

Apple

Samsung

Other Prominent Companies

Altopax

Amelia Virtual Care

BigHealth

Calm

CogniFit

CuraLinc Healthcare

Epitel

Fitbit

Ginger

Global Kinetics

HealthUnlocked

Healthy Hero

Koa Health

Misu

MyndYou

OxfordVR

Psycurio

Rani Therapeutics

Talkspace

Twill

Market Segmentation

Digital Health & Wellness: Digital Health and Digital Wellness

Digital Health and Digital Wellness Type: Software & Services and Wearables

Software & Services and Wearables Software & Services: eHealth and mHealth

eHealth and mHealth Wearables: Ear-worn, Smartwatches, Smart Patches, Head-mounted Displays, Wristbands, and Smart Clothing

Ear-worn, Smartwatches, Smart Patches, Head-mounted Displays, Wristbands, and Smart Clothing Age Group: Pediatric, Adults, and Geriatric

Pediatric, Adults, and Geriatric Care Providers: Hospitals, Home Care Settings & Individuals, Clinics & Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC), and Others

Hospitals, Home Care Settings & Individuals, Clinics & Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC), and Others Geography: North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa

North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Countries Covered: The US, Canada, Germany, the UK, Italy, France, Spain, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Turkey, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia

Check More Top-Selling Research Reports:

Mental Wellness Market  Global Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027

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Ariztons Expertise in The Healthcare Industry

Arizton offers syndicate and custom market intelligence & competitive intelligence solutions across MedTech, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences & biotechnology markets within the healthcare industry. Ariztons healthcare vertical provides unbiased research and evidence-based analysis to support business decisions and comprehensive end-to-end solutions to its customers, covering all dimensions of the healthcare value chain. We track a diverse array of devices (equipment, implants, and hospital supplies) and drugs (patented, generic, & OTC) across North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa regions. The healthcare reports provide historic and forecast data for 20+ key countries worldwide. We track product approvals/launches, M&A activities, and collaboration/partnership activities among pharma/biotech, medical device, and life sciences companies. Our pharmaceutical portfolio tracks 15+ therapy areas with a major focus on immunology, oncology, rare & genetic diseases, dermatology, and metabolic diseases. Our medical devices and life sciences portfolio covers in-vitro diagnostics, healthcare IT, patient monitoring, cardiovascular devices, medical imaging, personal protective equipment, clinical laboratory services, and CMO/CDMO services.

Explore more healthcare reports: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/category/healthcare-lifesciences

About Us:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

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Finance and Administrative Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Summary

The Finance and Administrative Assistant will provide technical support, advice, and assistance in logistics and financial matters, day-to-day administration and ensure efficient and effective coordination and management of logistics and procurement support AWF/ICCN Lomako-Yokokala Faunal Reserve (LYFR) office procurement to ensure good value for money. The position will also work in collaboration with AWF Kinshasa Finance and Administration and the procurement team at AWFs Nairobi Headquarter office to ensure adherence to AWFs financial policies. Position will be based in Lomako and will report to the Technical Advisor and Landscape Manager, LYFR and Maringa-Lopori-Wamba (MLW), with matrix reporting to the Finance and Administration Manager in Kinshasa.

Responsibilities

Finance & Accounting

Provide finance, logistical support to the project, procurement under the orientation of the AWF-DRC Program Finance and Compliance Officer.

Ensure the transport of equipment implement through adherence to basic administration and accountability in line with AWF-procedures to Lomako Site.

Properly control partner (ICCN) payment documents.

Input and submit any direct invoices with adequate documentation and follow up with field staff on any delayed approvals.

Ensure complete posting of all expenses for the monthly close of books.

Process staff travel advance requests/reimbursement, disburse cash, review advance retirements, generate credit memos and identify any issues.

Reconcile employee vendor cards and travel advance holding account on a regular basis.

Scan all financial documents and trip expense backups.

File and archive all financial documents per established systems.

Maintain electronic logical coding, indexing, and references of scans.

Review trip retirements and identify any issues.

Administer petty cash float, initiate top-ups, organize petty cash hours and process payments.

Input petty cash expenses in the system as part of the monthly close.

Maintain optimum petty cash balances and advise the supervisor of cash replenishment requirements.

Logistics

Act as the primary support person to the missions and needs of the RFLY;

Develop and maintain a complete and detailed list of equipment and consumables necessary for operations, with particular emphasis on support to the ICCN, AWF;

Create procurement, stocking, monitoring and evaluation tools for equipment and consumables.

Be responsible for procurement of all consumables, including food rations and fuel, necessary to conduct reserve operations;

Responsible for the arrangement of travel and accommodations of AWF personnel in the landscape;

Provide the required components of the annual report to the MLW Landscape Manager for compilation, verification, and transmission to AWF and donors;

Support teams working on park roads, rivers, and other infrastructure;

Planning

Conduct work planning and organizing of day workers including their work hours, transport, safety, confirmed presence and payment;

Identify potential providers for equipment and various services who are based Surrounding the MLW;

Work with the ICCN and AWF to anticipate and plan future construction and equipment needs;

Be proactive to anticipate equipment and supply needs to procure them in a timely fashion;

Communicate with the Landscape manager and Finance and Administration manager on budget aspects of equipment and consumables purchases;

Identify needs and planning details to establish a mechanical/repair/construction workshops at project sites;

Review health, safety, emergency, hygiene protocols in place and identify future training needs for personnel under the supervision of AWF;

Include in the annual report evaluation data and follow-up for site development, maintenance and equipment procurement, and ;

Other reasonable duties as requested by supervisors.

Administration

Support and ensure effective implementation of logistics as outlined in the work plan for set up of logistics and operation for the LYFR Arcus Foundation project.

Help in the implementation of an accountability system for use and maintenance of motorbikes (logbook), and communication (Internet, Inreach Delorme, airtime and Thuraya)

Organize, receive, transport and arrange documentation and other formalities for incoming

Assist in performing supplier statement reconciliations and attend to ad-hoc vendor queries.

Provide oversight for equipment maintenance, repairs and renewals, stationery and stores management and other maintenance in Lomako site.

Oversee the management of travel and accommodation of AWF/ICCN staff to/from Lomako site.

Prepare report on motorbikes, repairs and maintenance in collaboration with ICCN logistician once on board.

Assist the ICCN logistician in the purchase of quarterly Patrol rations.

Any other duties as proposed by supervisor.

Qualifications

Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Logistic or related field or a Diploma with requisite experience

Minimum of 3 years experience in a similar position (preferably in an international NGO set-up or busy working environment)

Good knowledge of the MLW landscape.

Experience managing logistics in remote locations.

Good knowledge of MS Word and Excel, Internet/email communication skills.

Ability to communicate effectively in French, knowledge of local languages Lingala is required. Being fluent in English (writing and speaking) is an advantage.

Ability to pay attention to detail and meet strict deadlines.

Ability to work as part of a team in a multicultural environment.

Quick learner / Fast adaptor with high level of flexibility.

Willingness and ability to work in remote area under physically challenging conditions

Commitment to AWF and its mission.

Relations

Internal: AWF DR Congo and Nairobi procurement staff.

External: ICCN, Provincial and traditional Authorities, Civil Society

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interested applicants can submit are invited to apply on https://www.awf.org/about/careers or directly send their application to email address: jobs@awf.org

Kindly send a cover letter, an updated and detailed CV on a single PDF file, bearing your telephone number, your address and your names, as well as three references. Please put the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line. Only the selected candidates will be contacted.

DEADLINE : 20 APRIL 2023
by Ray Schultz , April 10, 2023

Kat Craddock, the editorial director of Saveur, has acquired the culinary and travel brand from owner Recurrent. Terms were not disclosed.

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, Craddock states.

Craddock approached Recurrent about an acquisition earlier this year. As part of the deal, Craddock will receive the entire 30-year back catalog and digital assets.

Most of Saveurs full-time staff will remain with the brand. Craddock will serve as editor in chief and CEO.

For its part, Recurrent will move forward with a more focused portfolio of market-leading brands in Home, states Alex Vargas, Recurrent CEO.

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Vargas continues: It is fantastic to see Saveur in the hands of a talented creative with such a strong personal connection and history to the brand, states When Kat approached us we weighed that heavily in our decision.

Craddock adds, 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, Im excited to lean back into Saveurs roots while continuing to explore new ways to reach the next generation of readers as well.

Having worked as a bread baker, pastry chef and cheesemonger in restaurants and specialty shops in New York, Boston and Chicago, Craddock joined Saveurs Test Kitchen in 2015 and in 2021 was named editorial director.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 10, 2023

The tech industry group NetChoice is urging Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to veto a bill that would require social media platforms to ban minors under 18, unless the platforms obtain parental consent.

The Social Media Safety Act, passed last week by state lawmakers, would also require social-media companies to verify all users' ages.

The bill risks subjecting every social media user in Arkansas to intrusive age verification requirements that would compromise the ability to speak freely and anonymously online, NetChoice vice president and counsel Carl Szabo said in a letter sent Monday to Sanders.

Furthermore, Szabo adds, by restricting minors access to non-obscene, legally protected speech, the bill raises serious First Amendment concerns.

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If enacted, the bill's restrictions would apply to most social media platforms that are controlled by companies with more than $100 million in annual revenue.

NetChoice argues the proposed law is unconstitutional for several reasons, including that the Supreme Court has ruled that minors have a First Amendment right to access lawful speech. The group notes that in 2011, the Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision striking down a California law that would have banned the sale of violent video games to minors without parental consent.

The organization adds that Arkansas can't prove that social media use causes emotional problems for teens.

While lawmakers would likely cite psychological studies allegedly establishing a link between social media use and mental health problems in minors, studies also show the opposite is true too: social media and internet use benefits a majority of teens, the group writes, citing to a 2018 Pew Research Center report. Most teens questioned for that report said social media helps them feel connected to friends.

NetChoice adds that the bill violates adults' right to access speech anonymously.

Mandatory age verification prevents anonymous or pseudonymous browsing -- something thats critical for political minorities to share speech, the letter says. Verification also discourages people from sharing criticism, such as negative consumer reviews, or whistleblowing about wrongful conduct.

If signed by Sanders, the bill will take effect in September.

Utah's governor signed a similar bill last month. That measure is slated to take effect next March, unless blocked by the courts.
by Ray Schultz , April 10, 2023

The Oregon Secretary of States office agency is being criticized for an email asking its business customers to advocate an increase in budget.

Corporation Division Director Eloisa Miller sent an email to all business owners registered with the state and asked them to submit written testimony to support a $2.5 million budget increase over two years, according to Oregon Capital Chronicle. The $2.6 million would be added to the $15 million budget.

One critic stated that these recipients didnt sign up to receive these emails, but shared their email addresses when registering or renewing business filings, the Capital Chronicle says.

Imagine a division that operates at the speed of business, Miller allegedly wrote. One where technology and automation allow you to access the information you need from anywhere using a cellphone or laptop at your convenience.

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Miller continued: 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.

According to the Capital Chronicle, 68 people responded with written testimony to support the budget request by Friday afternoon.

The full story can be found here.
by Les Luchter , April 10, 2023

Acorda Therapeutics has launched a streaming commercial for Inbrija, a four-year-old rescue inhaler for Parkinsons sufferers, delivered only to viewers who have self-identified as being impacted in some way by Parkinsons disease.

The spot focuses on what Ron Cohen, Acordas president and chief executive officer, told investors last week is the emotional impact of off periods": the time between doses of a patients regularly scheduled Parkinsons medication.

In Parkinsons disease, unexpected return of symptoms can hit you at any time, says the spots narrator, bringing thoughts of I cant, I shouldnt, or I wont be able to. But dont let symptom return keep you from doing what you love. Fight returning Parkinsons symptoms with Inbrija.

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The ad buy cost a small fraction of what it would cost us to do a broadcast commercial, Cohen told investors, adding that the spot should also be more effective because its so targeted. He said it will only be shown to people who we have good reason to believe have an interest in information about Parkinsons disease and therefore will be more receptive to itOther people watching the same show will be getting a different commercial.

The commercial backs up an online ad campaign, which Cohen called digital surround sound, that uses paid search, Facebook, and other locations where people with Parkinsons are likely to be viewing to reach Inbrijas target audience that also includes caregivers and healthcare providers.

Acorda is projecting 2023 U.S. Inbrija revenues of $38 million to $42 million, versus $28 million in 2022. Cohen said this can be accomplished largely by increasing market penetration -- since under 2% of some 380,000 people in the U.S. who could use the product are on any kind of a rescue inhaler. With two competitors in the field, Inbrija now has 67% of the market, Cohen said.

With Tuesday also being World Parkinsons Day, heres a roundup of other marketing-related developments concerning the disease:

The World Parkinson Coalition has selected the top 12 user-generated videos in a competition designed to capture what many with Parkinsons feel every day as they live with this disease. The winner will be announced at the World Parkinson Congress in Barcelona on July 4.

The Parkinson's Foundation has launched an awareness campaign, encouraging everyone to #Take6forPD by highlighting action steps anyone can take in six minutes -- the time it takes to make a cup of coffee -- to advance research, improve access to care, empower and educate.

Later this month he American Parkinson Disease Association will launch its annual multicity Optimism Walks, which are sponsored by Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Avion Pharmaceuticals., both of whom market drugs containing levodopa, which is also used in Acordas Inbrija.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 11, 2023

Twitters advertising business and time spent on site by users continues to decline.

Poor performance has prompted analysts to reduce the companys revenue forecast for a second time since Elon Musk first offered to buy the company in April 2022.

Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at Insider Intelligence, believes none of Twitters efforts to bring back major advertisers -- including ad incentives and brand safety partnerships -- will work with Elon Musk at the helm.

The analyst firm forecasts Twitters global ad revenue to fall 27.9%, from $4.14 billion in 2022 to $2.98 billion by the end of 2023. Its share of the global digital ad market will shrink from 0.8% to 0.5%. For comparison, our Q3 2022 forecast projected 2023 revenues at $4.74 billion.

In Q3 2022, Insider Intelligence decreased its outlook for Twitters advertising business by 30%, compared with the prior forecast.

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In the UK, Twitters ad revenue will fall from 282.1 ($347.6) million in 2022 to 202.2 ($249.1) million by the end of this year, down 28.3%.

Insider Intelligence in December 2022 projected Twitter would lose users for the first time since the analyst firm began tracking the metric in 2008. Its worldwide user base is anticipated to decline by 3.9%, with another 5.1% next year. Thats a loss of 32.7 million users in just two years.

In the U.S., Twitters core user base  people ages 18 to 44  wont change. The steepest declines in the U.S. will be seen among users ages 45 and older and 17 and under. Many are marginal users, and some started using the platform only last year to watch the acquisition drama unfold, according to Insider Intelligence.

Political preferences also play a role in users decision to leave or stay.

Insider Intelligence also forecast that time spent on Twitter among U.S. users will decline by two minutes in 2023, and another two minutes in 2024. Less time on the website by users means they see and have the ability to engage with fewer ads.

Thats partly due to the proliferation of hateful content and technical issues on the platform under Musk, but its also because of longstanding challenges, according to the analyst. Twitter lags in social video  which is the single biggest driver of time spent on social media.
With fentanyl-laced drugs causing overdose deaths in central New York and across the country, U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams consulted with local leaders to discuss ways to combat the crisis.

Williams, R-Sennett, held a roundtable discussion with law enforcement officials, mental health professionals and other experts at Onondaga Community College Tuesday. The hour-long meeting focused on reducing the fentanyl supply, prevention, recovery and treatment and ending the stigma associated with addiction.

After hearing from the panel, Williams told reporters that "we are losing this battle" against fentanyl.

"We have to do more on prevention and education of our children," he said. "This was common years ago and a lot of that has fallen away."

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is more powerful than heroin and morphine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other drugs are laced with fentanyl and can cause overdose deaths.

The CDC says more than 150 people die every day from overdosing on fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

One action Williams supports to combat the flow of fentanyl is securing the southern border. A Drug Enforcement Administration report details how fentanyl arrives in the United States. A major source of the drug is China. But the drug is also smuggled into the country from Mexico.

"This is where those drugs come from and we have to cut off the supply," Williams said.

There is also legislation that would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to research certain drugs, including synthetic opioids. Williams is a cosponsor of the Testing, Rapid Analysis and Narcotic Quality Research Act, or TRANQ Research Act.

Williams said the bill is "an effort to give law enforcement and medical professions the tools they need to combat this crisis."

The legislation has advanced out of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. Williams is a member of the committee.

The roundtable discussion presented Williams with an opportunity to learn more about a crisis that is taking a toll in the region. In January, the Onondaga County Health Department notified the public that there was a significant uptick in overdoses, with 25 in a 24-hour period. The department said the overdoses were linked to a synthetic drug laced with fentanyl.

Another alert was issued in March. There were 40 suspected overdoses in a two-day period.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 11, 2023

Two Android users are asking a federal appellate court to revive a privacy lawsuit over Google's Lockbox program, which allegedly collects information about consumers' use of other companies' apps.

A reasonable consumer could easily conclude that Googles monitoring of every action on their Android devices and its collection of sensitive, identifiable personal data from all of their apps is a 'highly offensive' invasion of privacy, attorneys for Florida residents Marie Hammerling and Kay Jackson write in papers filed Monday with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

They are asking the 9th Circuit to reverse U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer's decision dismissing the lawsuit.

Hammerling and Jackson brought a class-action complaint against Google in the Northern District of California in 2021, largely based on a report in The Information that said Google drew on data about people's use of outside apps, like TikTok, for competitive purposes. Google reportedly only collects such data from users who agree to share usage and diagnostics information; the tech company says in an online support page the company uses that data to improve products and services, like Google apps and Android devices.

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Last year, Breyer threw out the lawsuit on the grounds that the allegations in the complaint, even if proven true, wouldn't establish liability on Google's part.

For instance, one of the claims was that Google engaged in intrusion upon seclusion -- a broad privacy concept that involves an intentional and highly offensive intrusion into a private place. To support that claim, the complaint alleged that Hammerling visited the Wish app and viewed a foot massager as well as size 9 women's slippers, and that she visited the Groupon app and viewed deals for discounts on anti-inflammatory meal subscriptions.

Breyer said in his ruling that this type of data wasn't sufficiently personal to render its collection highly offensive.

Hammerlings searches of a foot massager, slippers, meal subscriptions ... are better characterized as data collection of 'routine commercial behavior,' not considered a highly offensive intrusion of privacy in this district, he wrote.

Among other arguments, attorneys for Hammerling and Jackson now say Breyer wrongly dismissed that claim.

Plaintiffs easily alleged a 'highly offensive' practice, they write, adding that the data allegedly collected included sensitive and identifiable personal information.

The complaint makes clear that Google was collecting data about every aspect of their lives -- Plaintiff Hammerlings financial institution, car model, interest in the New York Times, use of SmileDirectClub for teeth straightening, descriptions of specific consumer products and coupons she viewed, class counsel writes.

If Google had gathered this information about plaintiffs by videotaping them going about their everyday lives, the District Court would almost certainly have had no trouble finding such conduct 'highly offensive,' the lawyers add.
Parathyroidectomy Shows No Effect on Kidney Function in Older Adults



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According to the authors, these findings suggest that preservation of



Source: Eurekalert The researchers found that the weighted cumulative incidence of a sustained eGFR decline of at least 50 percent was 51 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.Source: Eurekalert

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.
JOURNALIST: How long do you believe the Turkish shift will last? Do the Turks seek a quid pro quo from the Europeans and the Americans? For example, to obtain the F-16s...



N. DENDIAS: The devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey on February 6th, as well as my visit to Antakya, have shaped a new landscape in Greek-Turkish relations. Turkey demonstrates a significantly different behaviour following our concrete expression of solidarity with the Turkish people. The main features of this behaviour include a decrease, in what was until recently a particularly intense Turkish rhetoric and the absence of unlawful conduct in the Aegean.



 cannot know how long the very good climate will last, but I hope it will be maintained. The qualitative characteristics of this period are also of interest to us. Will Turkey be ready to engage in a sincere and constructive dialogue on the basis of International Law and the International Law of the Sea?



This requires a political decision and a high-level choice. It is of particular importance that this different Turkish stance becomes a long-lasting central political decision. You mentioned the F-16s. This is an issue on which many views have been expressed by the US leadership... In any case, the sale or non-sale of the aircraft is a bilateral matter between the United States and Turkey.



JOURNALIST: You agreed with Mevlut Cavusoglu that they would support our candidacy for the Security Council, and we would support their candidacy for the International Maritime Organization. What do you say to those who claim that Greece assists Turkey in becoming a "traffic policeman" at sea while ignoring UNCLOS and dreaming of the Blue Homeland? Is it possible that the risk outweighs the benefit?



N. DENDIAS: Turkey's choice to support Greece for the Security Council has a huge symbolism as the Council is the custodian of the United Nations Charter and International Law, including UNCLOS. On the other hand, the IMO is a specialized United Nations Organization, whose primary mission is the safety and security of international shipping.

The Greek support for the Turkish candidacy for the post of Secretary General of the IMO concerns an office in an organization in which Greece plays a leading role (Category A).



JOURNALIST: Was there, after all, a "problem" with Cyprus? Because the Cypriots, apart from declaring that they will not support the Turkish candidacy, announced their own candidacy (for another post, of course), and demonstrated a bitterness towards Greece. Did you perceive it?



N. DENDIAS: Ms. Tasmouri, this development reflects the current improvement in the climate in Greek-Turkish relations and can be assessed only as positive. Positive development for peace and security in the wider region as well as for the efforts to resume negotiations aimed at a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation, in accordance with Security Council resolutions and compatible with the European acquis. Cypriot officials have recently mentioned this undisputable fact.

Furthermore, relations between Athens and Nicosia continue to be excellent. In Cyprus, I briefed the President of the Republic of Cyprus and my friend, Nikos Christodoulides, as well as my Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos, on the Greek government's decision to support the Cypriot candidacy for re-election in category C of the IMO Council. During the same visit, our shared national goal, that is the settlement of the Cyprus issue, was confirmed. For the Mitsotakis government, the Cyprus issue is a top national priority.



JOURNALIST: What was discussed about energy issues during the trilateral meeting with Cyprus and Israel? Is EastMed still just a diplomatic trump card? And how coincidental was it that 3 days later you met with the Foreign Minister from the Emirates - is an energy deal with the UAE imminent?



N. DENDIAS: The EastMed Gas Pipeline, and the strategic significance of the EuroAsia Interconnector between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel were discussed at the trilateral meeting with my counterparts from Cyprus and Israel.

These projects gain added practical and geostrategic value for the Eastern Mediterranean and the European Union, particularly in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the need for energy decoupling and increased interconnection.

We also discussed the East Mediterranean Gas Forum. We are positive about the prospect of other countries, for example Turkey, participating, under the basic condition that they respect International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

During my meeting with my counterpart from the UAE, we discussed the development of regional initiatives, particularly in energy and renewable energy, as well as in the economy and security issues in general. A second informal meeting was held on my return from Brussels. In the context of our active diplomacy in the region, I also expect my friend, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, arriving in Athens on Tuesday, April 11. We will have the opportunity to discuss regional and international issues. Our strategic relations with Egypt are constantly enhancing and, as you know, my meetings with my Egyptian counterpart are very frequent.

Greek foreign policy now plays an active role in developments in our wider region and participates in efforts to find solutions to issues of international concern. For example, on Friday, April 21, a meeting on Syria will be held in Greece for the first time, with the participation of the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Syria, Mr Petersen (who will then travel to Damascus), and all EU Member States' envoys for Syria.



JOURNALIST: Despite the "de-escalation," Cavusoglu spoke on Monday about sharing the resources of Cyprus and East Mediterranean in general. Can exploratory talks or Confidence Building Measures be launched following such statements?

N. DENDIAS: Ms. Tsamouri, I am fully aware of the difficulties that exist in Greek-Turkish relations. At the same time, however, for the reasons I mentioned earlier, Turkish behaviour towards our country has changed. Bilateral communication has improved, violations in the Aegean have almost been eliminated, and the extreme aggressive rhetoric has not only faded, but has also been replaced by statements and gestures of de-escalation and cordiality. I should note that just this week, on the sidelines of the NATO Ministerial Meeting in Brussels, I had a brief meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister, while the Ministers of Defense, Immigration, and Asylum, Mr. Panagiotopoulos and Mr. Mitarachi, respectively visited the areas affected by the earthquake in Turkey. Therefore, a new atmosphere is taking shape. It is certainly too early to draw conclusions as to whether this atmosphere will be permanent or, even more so, whether it will lead to solutions. But, as a country that seeks dialogue and peaceful solutions based on International Law, we must seize every opportunity in this direction.


The three major Japanese automakers, namely, Toyota Motor, Honda Motor, and Nissan Motor all encountered a double-digit decline in their March sales for the Chinese market compared to the same period last year.



In February this year, Toyota Motor saw the first positive year-on-year growth in sales after four months of decline in the world's largest auto market. However, the momentum was not kept in March, with Toyota Motor seeing its hard-earned growth in sales dropped to -18.5%.

Meanwhile, both Honda Motor and Nissan Motor continued to struggle with their sales downturn in March, making last month the respective seventh and eighth consecutive month for the two companies to suffer a year-on-year plunge in monthly sales in the Chinese market.

In the past month, Toyota Motor sold 136,400 vehicles in China. Despite the year-on-year slip, the automaker's sales in March were actually 5.25% higher than that of February. Toyota Motor's cumulative sales volume in the first quarter of this year amounted to 379,800 vehicles, down 14.6% from a year ago.

Among the Japanese automaker's two Sino joint ventures, GAC Toyota posted a 31.1% year-on-year decrease in March sales, while FAW-Toyota achieved a 7.2% year-on-year hike. March sales of the automaker's premium brand, Lexus, fell 44.1% from the year-ago period.

On the other hand, Honda Motor sold 82,041 vehicles in China in the past month, representing a 18.8% drop compared to a year ago. In the first quarter of the year, the automaker's total sales volume reached 220,367 vehicles, plunging 37.7% year over year. Judging from the numbers in this year alone, Honda Motor's sales also demonstrated an upward movement.

In terms of the performance of the automaker's two joint ventures, GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda, a respective 22.1% and 15.1% decline challenged the two companies' March sales, which came in at 41,813 units and 40,228 units.

Nissan Motor's China sales performance in March faced a year-on-year decrease of 25.3% and a month-over-month slip of 9.26%, with 54,443 units sold across both its passenger and light commercial vehicle segments.

Photo credit: Nissan Motor

For the first three months of this year, the automaker reported a cumulative sales volume of 161,961 units in China, representing a drop of 36.8% from a year ago. Specifically, Dongfeng Motor Co. & Ltd. (DFL), the joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and Nissan Motor, sold 151,467 vehicles (including Nissan, Venucia, and Infiniti brands), while the company's light commercial vehicle business (Zhengzhou Nissan) achieved a rise of 7.6% in sales year on year with an impressive 10,494 vehicles sold.

In response to the challenging sales figures, Shohei Yamazaki, Senior Vice President of Nissan Motor Co. and Chairperson of Nissan Management Committee in China, announced the company's plan to roll out multiple new models with advanced technology in China, aiming to meet the diverse needs of Chinese consumers.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- In the first quarter of 2023, China's automobile industry entered a transition period of sales promotion policies. The price cut trend that emerged since the beginning of this year and the promotion spree since March have produced fluctuations on the consumer market, and the economic operation of the domestic automobile industry is facing greater pressure.



Despite the challenges, quarterly sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) continued to maintain rapid growth on top of the high base volume in the same period last year. Meanwhile, China's auto exports remained at a prominent level, and the commercial vehicle market has shown signs of recovery as the economy continues to pick up.

In March alone, China produced 2.584 million vehicles in total, which jumped 27.2% over the previous month and 15.3% over the previous year, respectively, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). At the same time, China's auto sales amounted to 2.451 million vehicles in the past month, representing a respective 24% and 9.7% increase from the month-ago and year-ago periods.

In the quarter of this year, there were 6.21 million and 6.076 million vehicles produced and sold across the country, down 4.3% and 6.7% year over year.

China's overall NEV market remained strong so far this year. Specifically, there were 653,000 NEVs sold by automakers in China during the past month, hiking 34.8% year on year. NEVs accounted for 26.6% of the country's total auto sales in March, of which 490,000 units were contributed by battery-electric vehicles.

Han EV; photo credit: BYD

In the first three months of 2023, China's NEV sales grew 26.2% from a year ago to reach 1.586 million vehicles, which accounted for 26.1% of the total China auto sales volume in the period.

In the past month, there were roughly 364,000 vehicles exported to outside of the country by automakers in China, reflecting a 10.6% increase month-on-month. Compared to the same month last year, China's auto export volume has more than doubled (+110%). Of the vehicles sold overseas in March, 78,000 units were NEVs, soaring 390% year on year.

By the end of March, there were 994,000 vehicles shipped overseas this year, shooting up 70.6% from a year ago. Among which, 248,000 units were NEVs (+110% YoY).

ZEEKR 001; photo credit: ZEEKR

China's passenger vehicle sales summed up to 2.017 million units in March, up 22% over the previous month and 8.2% over the previous year. Monthly sales of conventional oil-fueled vehicles in China continued to drop from a year ago at a 9.9% rate to 1.169 million vehicles.

In the Jan.-Mar. period, a total of 5.138 million passenger vehicles were sold through wholesale by automakers in China, down 7.3% compared to the prior-year period.

In the past month, sales of China-branded passenger vehicles totaled 1.052 million units, growing 16.4% over the previous year and accounting for 52.1% of China's overall passenger vehicle sales.

As to China's commercial vehicle market, a consecutive month-on-month and year-on-year growth demonstrated the market's gradual recovery. In March this year, production and sales volumes of China's commercial vehicles both came in at 434,000 units, indicating a respective 37.1% and 34.2% spike month-on-month, and a 20.4% and 17.4% jump year-on-year.
On Monday morning, Coconino High School Administrators were made aware of a threat circulating on social media  the post featured a picture of a firearm and referenced potential acts of violence at CHS. Flagstaff Unified School District officials say they took the threat seriously and immediately made a report to local law enforcement.

Extra supervision and law enforcement officials will be present on campus today, an email sent to Coconino High School parents read. The message was sent out not long after 7 a.m. on Monday.

According to the Flagstaff Police Department, the post was likely made in 2018 on the multimedia messaging app, Snapchat. It references a high school in Corvallis, New Mexico, Flagstaff Police Spokesperson Jerry Rintala said.

Rintala said police increased their presence at Coconino High School and officers are investigating how and why the post might have resurfaced and begun circulating locally.

While police and school officials are confident there was no real threat to Flagstaffs CHS, both Flagstaff Unified School District and law enforcement spokespeople say they took extra precautions to keep the school safe anyway.

We take such threats very seriously. We take steps to make sure the kids feel safer and the staff feel safer, said Joshua Butler, spokesperson for Flagstaff Unified School District.

The school district has created an Anonymous Alerts app, for students and administrators to use in reporting urgent information and potential campus threats. The app has been installed on all student iPad devices, and can also be accessed and downloaded at https://www.fusd1.org/anonymousalerts.
Submitted photo/Munson Healthcare

CADILLAC  Munson Healthcare has a new chief operating officer and chief nursing officer for its Manistee and Cadillac hospitals: Cristen Brandsma.

I am thrilled and honored to have been selected for this dual role, Brandsma said in a news release announcement. Im enjoying my work in Cadillac and look forward to developing similar relationships with the teams at Manistee.
Dow High School special education teacher Bridgit Sova has been named Michigan Regional Teacher of the Year for Region 4, one of only 10 teachers in the state to earn this honor and one of only two high school teachers.

Dow High Principal Ted Davis was thrilled to see Sova earn this honor.

"Bridgit is an amazing educator. She has worked with our special needs students for over 30 years here at MPS," Davis said. "She has created a classroom where students feel safe and supported. She works to ensure her students have the opportunities and experiences to help them thrive after they leave Dow High. We are extremely fortunate to have Bridgit working at Dow High School."

As a Regional Teacher of the Year, Sova will be interviewed next week by a panel of statewide education stakeholders, who will then select one of the regional winners as the 2023-24 Michigan Teacher of the Year. This person will then be Michigan's candidate for National Teacher of the Year.

The nominations were submitted by students, staff, and community members from across the state. Region 4 includes the counties of Clare, Gladwin, Arenac, Isabella, Midland, Bay, Gratiot and Saginaw.

The Michigan Department of Education organizes the Teacher of the Year program to honor and elevate teacher voices. As an honoree, Sova will be part of the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council and will have the chance to share her experiences and knowledge in order to strengthen Michigan's public schools.

"The Regional Teachers of the Year play key roles in our schools and communities and in our statewide effort to continue improving our schools," State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said. "They offer insights about the needs of our 1.4 million school children and more than 90,000 educators. We appreciate their leadership and dedication to the teaching profession and look forward to working with them over the next school year."

One past Midland Public Schools teacher, Katherine Grzesiak, was named Teacher of the Year for 1997-98.

This year's other Regional Teachers of the Year in Michigan are:

Gina Pepin, a reading teacher at Lemmer Elementary in Escanaba Area Public Schools Brandi Clark, a mathematics teacher at Kalkaska Middle School in Kalkaska Public Schools Stephanie Nielsen, a kindergarten teacher at Shawmut Hills Academy in Grand Rapids Public Schools

Jennifer Senkmajer, a fourth-grade teacher at Yale Elementary School in Yale Public Schools

Nicole Minor, a mathematics teacher at Lansing Eastern High School in Lansing School District

Jaime Hilaski, a mathematics teacher at Schoolcraft Junior-Senior High School in Schoolcraft Community Schools

Lori Richert, a second- and third-grade teacher at Childs Elementary in Lincoln Consolidated Schools

Vanessa Robert, a kindergarten teacher at Canton Charter Academy in Canton

Candice Jackson, a third-grade teacher at Mann Learning Community in Detroit Public Schools Community District
The Elkton Countdown to Christmas Raffle is underway with tickets on sale now at businesses across the downtown Elkton area.

The countdown to Christmas Raffle is put on by the Elkton Lions Club and is used to help fund the Elkton Christmas weekend, as well as other small events and occasions throughout the year. Anges Kosinski, secretary for the Elkton Lions Club, talked about how the raffle brings people together.

"The raffle has been around for many years," said Kosinski. "The community really gets involved and it is all for the Christmas weekend. My youngest son is 28 and he still remembers Christmas weekend and sitting on Santa's lap. ... We do this to try and keep that alive.

The raffle has seen a few different iterations throughout the years, starting out smaller with its original name Club 300, where they only sold 300 tickets. Now there is no limit on the number of tickets sold and most, if not all, of the proceeds go to benefit the Christmas weekend as a way to make it self-efficient. The club also uses the funds to help with other Lions Club events and activities throughout the year if need be.

Tickets are not just limited to Elkton residents, as Kosinski says they are willing to sell tickets all over if they are able to work out a way to get the tickets to them.

"We get people entering from all over," said Kosinski. "Around Huron County. We send some downstate near Detroit and we even mail some out to Florida for people who have family up here or used to live up here."

The raffle will see one winner per week with the first drawing done on June 7 and then repeated every Wednesday until Nov. 29. The winners will receive a $50 check in the mail sent to the address listed on the ticket. There will be a chance to win multiple times as winners are put back into to draw each week.

During the Elkton Christmas Weekend, there will be five more drawings for the grand prizes of $500 each on Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Winners do not need to be present as checks will be mailed for the prizes.

To purchase a ticket, you can visit one of the following businesses in Elkton that have tickets for sale for $20.

Krohn Insurance Agency

Gary's Car Care

Vibe Up

LeVillage Market

The Framing Guy

Thumb Hardware

Village Hall

Creative Color Ceramics & More

Hitching Post Inn

Tina Sele Agency,

Envy Me Day Spa

Blue Rose Antiques

Kim Asmondy Tax Service

Additionally, there are individual members of the Elkton Lions Club that will have some tickets available as well. For more information you can visit the Elkton Community Happenings Facebook page where you will also be able to see the winners as they will post them weekly. Winners are also posted on the digital sign downtown.
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EVART  After a year in the works, Evart Elementary School is now home to two therapy dogs, Bella and Tessa.

After a week of interaction, golden retriever Tessa and pitbull mix Bella have already made an impression on the students of Evart Elementary.

Tessas owner, Heather Keathley, is an aide for the Great Start Readiness Program with MOISD and has been in the dog business for 15 years. Keathley works with special needs students.

I knew the benefits of having a dog around kids. I definitely knew in that classroom, they were struggling with fine motor and gross motor, Keathley said. I just really thought we could get a therapy dog in here, maybe we can encourage the kids to do some of those gross motors, like brushing the dog and stuff like that.

After a year of research and going through the proper channels to make this happen, Keathley is happy the dogs are finally at the school doing their jobs to help students.

I'm relieved and glad that we did it because I feel like we really did cross our T's and dot our Is, she said.

Third-grade teacher Amber Payne was looking forward to seeing the therapy dogs improve the social-emotional well-being of students.

I was looking at more of the social-emotional, regulating the emotions and the trauma they've had and how a dog could comfort them either with anxiety, she said.

Paynes desire to start the program stemmed from her personal life with her daughter.

My daughter has high anxiety and PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disroder). She had been going to counseling, and one of our dogs at home, when she was in the middle of trying to regulate herself, would end up crawling on her and she would pet him and it would really help to regulate her emotions, she said.

Social worker Tiffany Wolak said it was surprising how just the knowledge that the dogs would be in the school, and potentially in the kids classrooms, improved their temperament.

It was eye-opening how just the thought or the word that there's a puppy here in the building just brought the kids right down, and they would get to visit and pet and talk to the pup, she said.

Keathley said their arrival Monday, April 3, was the best Monday shes experienced

I know that there were several kids that just didn't want to be back from spring break, and just coming to school and be like, Oh my gosh, there's a dog, it just really kind of spun their day around. That was really probably my favorite Monday I've ever had, she said.

Wolak said a student who is struggling found solace in Bella.

I asked her how she was. She said, Oh, it's kind of a bad day, but Bella is here, so I'm okay. That is just a testimony to how special they are and how much they do for these kids, she said.

Wolak said some other staff members with Evart Public Schools are also working to bring their dogs in.

We do have a couple of other staff members that are working towards getting their certification with their dogs to be able to have one present more in the middle school, she said.

Staff at the high school is in talks to bring therapy dogs as well, according to Keathley.

Keathley said dogs can use their acute sense of smell to sense when people are feeling up or down based on hormones they release.

When you are stressed, sad, happy, your body releases hormones, and animals can smell that. They can pick up on Oh, this isn't good, this is what this means, she said, which leads to the emotional intelligence of therapy dogs who tend to attach to students who need them most.

The schools students and staff were briefed by Keathley and Wolak on conduct with the dogs during an assembly, and according to Payne, the students have been very polite.

It's been amazing how many kids will just walk up, May I please pet your dog, so you guys did an amazing job because I was absent that day, Payne said.
Greater Midland's 2023 race season features four main races, starting with its flagship event, the 37th annual Dow RunWalk on Saturday, June 3.

From the Tot Trot to a half-marathon, the day has something for everyone. The Dow RunWalk winds through the neighboring streets of the Greater Midland Community Center and serves as a fundraiser to support Community Center programs.

We have a lot of notable action near the Community Center this year due to the construction of our new building. This is a historic year; as by the next season, well be into the new building, said Jennifer Adamcik, Director of Greater Midland Races.

The following month, more than 300 children are expected to compete in Greater Midland's largest youth-focused race event, Tri-Kids-Try, on July 14-15.

A mini division for ages 3-5 takes place Friday before the Saturday main event for ages 6-15, allowing younger kids to get familiar with the triathlon format.

The energy and excitement at Tri-Kids-Try is contagious! From our race crew, parents, grandparents, siblings and even the participants, the support and encouragement is overwhelming, Adamcik said.

On Aug. 4, Greater Midland Races hosts Run the River along the Chippewa Trail, which is part of the annual River Days celebration. Running for a glass and a drink ticket has a special draw, as well as running under the hot air balloons.

Lastly, on Aug. 25, Greater Midland Races teams up with the Great Lakes Loons to host the Loons Pennant Race. The race starts on the field and finishes on the concourse of Dow Diamond, just in time to watch the ensuing Loons game.

This year, the organization also is offering a Triple 5K Challenge. Run or walk in the Dow RunWalk, Run the River and the Loons Pennant Race, and youll pay one price that includes a custom medal and long-sleeved wearable to mark the achievement.

Also returning this year is MI Great Journey, a virtual trek across Michigan. In its fourth year, the virtually trekking adventure brings hundreds of participants together to accomplish a summer mileage goal.

Adamcik notes how important it is for the community to support these races.

Each event is more than a race; it is an all hands-on-deck community experience. Last year, 35 sponsors made up the Greater Midland Race Sponsor Crew. Our sponsors understand the importance of supporting events in our community that promote connectedness, inclusivity and health. We always have a space for you!

For information on the 2023 race season, visit greatermidland.org/races.
EDITORS NOTE: For the latest information, including cancellations, please contact your local library. If any listing is inaccurate or to submit an event, please contact Julie Norwood at julie.norwood@pioneergroup.com.

Big Rapids Community Library

426 S. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids

Storytime with Anna, Elsa and Olaf: 10:15-10:45 a.m. Saturday, April 15. Cast members of Big Rapids Public Schools' musical, "Frozen Jr.," will read stories at the library. There also will be a chance to win free tickets

Crafternoon. 1-3 p.m. Saturdays in April and May. Ages 12 and up. Join us for a short, guided craft at 1 p.m. then use our supplies and get creative! No program April 15. Want to donate craft supplies? Come to the program and bring some along.

Knit Night. 6-8 p.m. first Thursday of the month. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Not just for knitters, but for all kinds of crafters!

Adult Mental Health First Aid Training. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 20. This program will teach you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. Registration is required.

Poem in Your Pocket Day. All day April 27. Poems will be located throughout the library; pick a poem for yourself or for someone else.

Poetry Walk in the Park. All month long. Take a stroll down through the bookwalk in the Anna Howard Shaw Memorial Park while reading the posted poetry. Choose your favorite and submit it using the QR code. One random entry will receive a gift card!

Hotspots and Laptops are now available for checkout! The equipment and services funded by the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) can only be provided to patrons who declare they do not have access to the equipment or services sufficient to access the internet. Must be a BRCL patron 18 years or older with an account in good standing. Please be prepared to present your library card and CURRENT ID. For more information, call 231-796-5234.

Scavenger Hunt. Mother Gooses Scavenger Hunt. All month long. Help Mother Goose find her missing nursery rhymes! Stop by the circulation desk on the first floor of the library for an activity sheet. Once it has been completed, turn your sheet in for an egg-cellent treat!

Seed Library is Open! Take up to 10 packets of seeds with your BRCL library card starting Wednesday, March 1. Visit the first-floor desk for more information.

Storytime with Mr. Howard. 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Join us for stories, movement, music, and more in the BRCL Community Room.

Baby Bookworm. 10:30-11 a.m. Tuesdays in May. Ages 0-18 months. Songs, bounces, and rhymes for babies and their caregivers. Registration is required.

Money Smart Month

Budget Games. 3:30-4:30 p.m. April 10, Ages 9-13. How well can you balance your budget? Registration required.

Storytime. 11-11:45 a.m. April 19. Join us for stories, movement, and a craft! Each participant will take home a book to keep and a piggy bank.

Budgeting Workshop. 5:30-7 p.m. April 27. Ages 18 and up. Explore the importance of creating and maintaining a budget and learn how to set goals for spending, saving, and debt repayment. Registration required. Dinner provided.

Money Smart Month programs have been brought to the Big Rapids Community Library by the Isabella Bank of Big Rapids. Register by calling 231-796-5234 or online at www.bigrapidslibrary.org.

Morton Township Library

110 S. James St., Mecosta

Winter Preschool Story Hour (ages 0-5): 10-11 a.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 10-May 16

Reed City Area District Library

829 S. Chestnut St., Reed City

Story Hour with Ms. Cyndi (ages 2-7): 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays

Little Explorers Story Time (ages 0-2): 2-2:30- p.m. May 9 and May 23

Scrabble Hour: 1 p.m. April 10, April 24

DIY Watercolor Bookmarks (ages 16 and older): 6 p.m. April 11. All required materials provided. Feel free to bring extra ribbon or decor to embellish your creation.

Cinema at the Library, Dead Poets Society: 5 p.m. April 18.

The Orphan Train (all ages): 6-7 p.m. April 25. Learn about the American Orphan Train that sent 12,500 orphans to Michigan between 1854 and 1927.

Blackout Poetry: Celebrate National Poetry Month by blacking out words to create a poem or statement. Bring your finished Blackout Poem to the library for its Poetry Display.

Tamarack District Library

832 S. Lincoln Ave, Lakeview

Teen Medieval Longsword Class: 6 p.m. April 11. Swordsmanship Museum & Academy educator Jerry Berg will lead a group of teens (ages 11-19) in the history and practice of swordsmanship using the medieval longsword. Class is limited. Call 989-352-6274 to sign up for this free program.

Cracking Cold Cases: 6 p.m. April 13. Dr. Ashlyn Kuersten will discuss how Western Michigan University students in the WMU Cold Case Program helped solve a cold case murder from 1987. Call 989-352-6274 to sign up for this free program that is open to the public.

Local Author Jeff Ostrander Book Talk: 6 p.m. April 25. Jeff Ostrander, an ATP-rated pilot/instructor with a specialty in aerobatics, talks about his first novel, A Different Kind of Sky. Call 989-352-6274 to reserve a spot in this free program that is open to the public.

LIST OF LIBRARIES

MECOSTA COUNTY

Big Rapids Community Library, 426 S. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids, 231-796-5234

Morton Township Library 110 S. James St., Mecosta, 231-972-8315

Walton Erickson Public Library, 4808 Northland Drive, Morley, 231-856-4298

Wheatland Township Library, 207 Michigan Ave, Remus, 989-967-8271

Barryton Public Library, Barryton Branch, 198 Northern Ave., Barryton, 989-382-5288

Barryton Public Library, Chippewa Branch, 19171 Fourth St., Chippewa Lake, 231-867-2014

OSCEOLA COUNTY

Reed City Area District Library, 829 S. Chestnut St., Reed City, 231-832-2131

Evart Public Library, 104 N. Main St., Evart, 231-734-5542

LeRoy Community Library, 104 W. Gilbert St., Leroy, 231-768-4493

M. Alice Chapin Memorial Library, 120 E. Main St., Marion, 231-743-2421

Tustin Community Library, 310 S. Neilson St., Tustin, 231-829-3012

LAKE COUNTY

Pathfinder Community Library, 812 Michigan Ave, Baldwin, 231-745-4010

Chase Township Public Library, 8400 E. North St., Chase, 231-832-9511

Luther Area Library, 115 State St., Luther, 231-797-8006

MONTCALM COUNTY

Tamarack District Library, 832 S. Lincoln Ave, Lakeview, 989-352-6274

AREA BOOK CLUBS
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MANISTEE  Anyone seeking prom dresses and the accessories that go with it in the Manistee area has a free selection of 500 dresses: the Prom Boutique.

The Prom Boutique is a nonprofit that provides formal dresses, shoes and accessories free of charge for students in Manistee, Benzie and Mason counties.

Sheryl Guenthardt said the boutique moved from the Briny Building to the Armory Youth Project, located at 555 First St. in Manistee, last year.

We just decided that it should be somewhere where the kids are and the Armory felt that they could take this program over (as a host site) and it should be there, Guenthardt said.

Guenthardt said the boutique is run by about 12 volunteers.

The Prom Boutique also offers dresses for homecoming and winter dances, as well. There are 500 long dresses for formal occasions like prom and an additional 500 shorter semi-formal gowns for events like homecoming and winter dances.

Provided photo/Prom Boutique

Prom Boutique was started in 2009 by Adelle Falan, who felt it was important that every teen who wanted to go to prom did not miss out on the opportunity because of a lack of resources, previous News Advocate reporting shows.

The dresses are displayed in racks and have been cleaned after each use.

The nonprofit provides dresses to about 250 girls each year from 10 high schools.

Prom Boutique is open from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays through April 22.

Guenthardt said anyone interested in trying on dresses and other accessories should schedule an appointment on the Armory Youth Project's website.

Anyone interested should first fill out an Armory Youth Project registration at armoryyouthproject.com/registration, and then fill out the Prom Boutique registration at ayp.breezechms.com/form/9d61da.

Then, when students have worn the dresses, the garments can be returned to school administration offices for the Prom Boutique volunteers to pick up.

Ive found that it takes them about an hour and a half to choose a dress, and then we go and look for shoes and jewelry, she said. Its quite a process, but its fun.

Provided photo/Prom Boutique

Guenthardt said the happy part of volunteering at the boutique is seeing the teens faces when they find the dress thats the one.

The benefit we get out of it is just seeing the girls faces when they really see the dress and think they look beautiful in it and they do and its the one  its the one that they like. Theyre the ones that have to love them, she said. It doesnt cost a thing to do that nice thing for them.

Guenthardt said the nonprofit has received donations from organizations in the area like 100 Women Who Care.

We have no income, were all volunteer, so thats how we can sustain. We use most of that money to get the dresses cleaned, she said. We do that for the girls, all they do is come and get them absolutely for free. It costs nothing.

Anyone looking to donate items for the Prom Boutique can do so at the Armory Youth Project, Guenthardt said.

Find for more information on the boutique @PromBoutiqueManistee on Facebook.
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has released a competitive Request for Proposals to support the development of new, or the enhancement of existing, employer-led collaboratives throughout the state. $4.7 million in grant awards are available to organizations through the Sector Strategies Employer-Led Collaborative initiative.

An employer-led collaborative is a group of businesses coming together to solve a common or shared workforce problem.

Employer-led collaboratives bring together employers, education and training institutions, workforce development organizations and other applicable partners such as economic development organizations and government, to create solutions to fill identified talent gaps.

Susan Corbin, Labor and Economic Opportunity director Susan Corbin said in a news release that the "grants will fund innovative solutions that support Gov. (Gretchen) Whitmers MI New Economy plan, creating more opportunities for Michiganders to develop high-wage skills and helping the states employers address critical talent shortages."

Workers will receive the training and support they need to secure a brighter future for themselves, their families and their communities," Corbin said.

Successful applicants should focus on priority occupations that support the federal governments Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Priority will be given to occupations in the fields of construction and extraction; installation, maintenance and repair; production; and transportation and material moving.

Proposals from other key industries in Michigan with a focus on agri-business; energy, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing outside of automobile and mobility, and outdoor recreation/hospitality are also eligible to apply.

Labor and Economic Opportunity anticipates funding 10-20 awardees with one-time grants ranging from $150,000 to $500,000.

Stephanie Beckhorn, Labor and Economic Opportunitys Office of Employment and Training director, said in a news release that Michigan employers are faced with a wide variety of workforce issues, including talent recruitment, creating customized training programs and providing support services such as transportation and childcare."

The employer-led collaborative approach has demonstrated effectiveness in addressing those issues. And while it supports the growth of our states businesses, it also creates new and better career opportunities for Michigan workers," Beckhorn said.

There are currently more than 60 formally identified employer-led collaboratives throughout Michigan. Labor and Economic Opportunity creates statewide policy and provides technical assistance to support the activities of employer-led collaboratives.

Request for Proposal submissions are due by May 8, with awards announced on June 23.

To assist applicants in completing their proposal submissions, an informational webinar will be held by Labor and Economic Opportunity at 9 a.m. on Friday. Potential grant applicants can register to attend the webinar and learn more about this request for proposals opportunity by visiting Michigan.gov/MICA.
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.
MARBLE CANYON, Ariz. (AP)  Three California condors have died from avian flu in northern Arizona and authorities are trying to determine what killed five others in the flock, the National Park Service announced Friday.

A sick female condor suspected of having lead poisoning was found dead on March 20 and testing showed it had Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), the park service said.

Two other birds later found dead also tested positive, while test results aren't yet completed for five others, the park service said.

The birds are part of a population that moves throughout northern Arizona and southern Utah, including Grand Canyon National Park, the park service said.

The Peregrine Fund, which manages the Arizona-Utah flock, also captured five other birds that seemed ill and sent them to a wildlife rescue in Phoenix. One bird died and the other four have been quarantined, officials said.

Exposure to the virus is expected to rise during the condors' northward spring migration.

HPAI hasn't been detected in other populations in California or Mexico's Baja California, according to the park service.

Avian flu occurs mainly in birds including domestic chickens, but it has been found in other animals, wild and domestic, in all U.S. states except Hawaii.

Humans are considered to be at low risk from HPAI, although there have been reported infections.

The California condor is one of the world's largest birds with a wingspan of up to 10 feet. The birds once patrolled the sky from Mexico to British Columbia. Condors can live for 60 years and fly vast distances, which is why their range can extend into several states.

The population plummeted to the brink of extinction in the 1970s because of hunting, habitat destruction and lead poisoning from animals eating shot with lead bullets.

In the 1980s, wildlife officials captured the last remaining 22 condors and took them to the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos to be protected and bred in captivity. The birds were then released into sanctuaries and national parks where they can be monitored.

The birds have been protected as an endangered species by federal law since 1967 and by California state law since 1971.

California condors have been making a comeback in the wild and now occupy parts of Californias Central Coast, Arizona, Utah and Baja California, Mexico. The total wild population now numbers more than 300 birds.
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Peering around Rosa Millers living room, guests will notice all kinds of beautiful handmade decor  from framed pieces of cross stitching to tatted doilies.

What is even more amazing is that Miller has created these various works of art for more than 80 years and continues to do so at 106 years old.

Rosaria (Moreno) Miller was born on March 9, 1917 in Pearsall, Texas to Emmett and Petra Moreno during the waning days of World War I. She said when she tells people her age, no one believes her. Her caretaker, Dawn Shaffer, said when Miller takes calls from insurance companies and tells them her birthdate, they dont believe it, either.

Miller was born into a family of migrant workers. In 1934, her family moved from Texas to a rural area outside of Mount Pleasant to work in the fields, or, as Miller put it, to hoe the beets, referring to sugar beets.

Miller reflects fondly on the work her family did. She can even remember the trucks that came to pick up the large piles of beets and take them to the Mount Pleasant Sugar Beet Processing Plant.

She said growing up and working with her family was one of the most fun times of her life. Some of her fondest memories are of sitting down to dinner with her family every night.

On Dec. 21, 1934, she married Dean Miller. He worked for Dow Chemical Company and would commute from Mount Pleasant to Midland until the couple decided to move closer to his job in the 1940s. Miller has lived in Midland ever since.

She also worked for Dow after moving to Midland. She said she did housekeeping and cooking for Dow families, and while she couldnt remember the last names of those she worked for, she does remember working for the daughter (of Herbert and Grace Dow), Ruth. Miller worked for just 25 cents an hour, earning a total of $1.50 after each of her six-hour shifts.

She also worked for Smith's Flowers for many years, where she enjoyed wrapping gifts for customers.

Miller and her husband also enjoyed participating in volunteer work together, particularly at the Chippewa Nature Center and the Bradley House.

At the nature center, she would greet visitors and clean the floors, while her husband would make horseshoes with the blacksmiths.

We enjoyed (volunteering) because we could work together, she said.

The couple had two daughters, Juanita and Linda. Miller also has three granddaughters, seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

At 106 years old, Miller has lived through many challenges, including the Great Depression, World War II and the Vietnam War. She said the most difficult time of her life was during World War II, when she worried for her brothers, who were sent to India, the Philippines and Germany.

She said she continues to worry in the 21st century for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who have joined the military and served overseas.

Miller has a natural talent for various types of sewing and knitting. She makes quilts and what she calls fancy work by hand. Miller and Shaffer work together on the quilts and then send them to a friend, who finishes the quilts on a sewing machine.

She makes quilts like you would not believe, Shaffer said of Miller.

Miller also creates masterpieces of cross stitch. She is currently designing a piece she hopes to finish by Christmas that she is particularly proud of, because it contains intricate details and the word Noel sewn in a beautiful font.

This one is for me, she said. I want something that I made. Of course, eventually, theyll get it, anyway.

Miller also makes doilies and bobbin lace and does crochet, cross stitch and tatting, which she said not many people can do. Tatting is a durable lace made from a series of knots and loops and is one of the oldest lace-making techniques.

Miller said she likes quilting the most because its something she can lay out on the bed or couch and look at.

I can see them and know that I made them, she said. Theyre pretty.

Miller is mostly self-taught in her various skills and said things like quilting just came naturally to her. Included in these skills is caning chairs, which is an upholstery method of weaving the seat of a chair. She caned her dining room chairs by buying an instruction book and just following the directions.

We bought some chairs for the kitchen and my husband said, We cant have those because they have to be caned, Miller said. I said, Well, I can do it.

Shaffer attributes Millers long life to her trip to the Vatican, where she was blessed by the pope. Miller explained that when she went to the Vatican, she saw everyone touching the toes of the St. Peter statue, which is a common practice. However, she noticed the statue's feet were worn down, so she opted to rub his feet instead.

Miller traveled with her husband all over the country. The couple visited 49 states, but today Miller cant quite remember the one they missed. The one visit she wanted to make, but has never done, was to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty in New York.

As for how shes lived this long, she doesnt quite know. However, she said she grew up on tortillas, beans and fruit with limited sweets. She drank wine one time but didnt like it, so she never drank alcohol again, and she has never smoked.

We think shell live for another 10 years, Shaffer joked.

Oh no, Miller replied. Maybe one or two.
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.
A 24-year-old Sanford man, Tristan Templeman, was sentenced April 6 in connection with home invasion and stalking.

Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Beale sentenced Templeman to 10 months in jail with 262 days credit and three years probation.

After a 28-year-old Midland woman reportedly told her ex-boyfriend, Templeman, that she didnt want him contacting her, he stalked her and broke into her home last June.

Templeman pleaded guilty on Jan. 12 to misdemeanor stalking and second-degree felony home invasion. Charges of first-degree home invasion and assault and battery were dismissed.

More Information Tristan Templeman, 24, of Sanford was sentenced in stalking a 28-year-old woman and breaking into her house See More Collapse

Midland Police Department Community Relations Officer Brennon Warren said the 28-year-old woman reported on June 2 that Templeman broke into her home in the 4500 block of Jefferson Avenue.

Police learned Templeman took a ladder from the womans backyard and placed it against her house about 2 a.m. on June 2.

Templeman reportedly entered the house through a partly opened window, which he opened wider to get in. The victim woke up and heard someone in the house and learned it was Templeman. The woman told investigators the pair argued. Then Templeman left the house at about 6 a.m.

About 2 p.m., the victim went to Midland police to report what had happened. Midland County Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks then issued a warrant for Templemans arrest.
File photo

A St. Louis, Michigan woman remains lodged in the Midland County Jail on two felony counts of obstructing justice while trying to keep Child Protective Services from taking her children.

Barbie Rowe, 37, is lodged on a $10,000 cash surety bond. Midland County Sheriffs Office Capt. Shannon Guilbeaux said Rowe was arrested about 8:59 p.m. April 3 at a Homer Township shelter. He said deputies assisted the State of Michigan Child Protective Services with a court order to remove two of Rowes children from the shelter. Rowe was uncooperative and Guilbeaux said she was arrested for obstructing justice. He said she didnt want them to take her children.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court will be the next stop for a legal fight over a drug used in the nations most common abortion method.

A federal appeals court ruled late Wednesday that the abortion pill mifepristone can still be used for now but reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail. The Biden administration said Thursday it will appeal.

The decision temporarily narrowed a ruling by a lower court judge in Texas that had completely blocked the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the drug while a lawsuit over it plays out.

Mifepristone was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration more than two decades ago. It has been used by more than 5 million women to safely end their pregnancies and today more than half of women who end a pregnancy rely on the drug, the Justice Department said.

In a separate suit brought by liberal states, a judge in Washington state ordered the FDA not to do anything that might affect the availability of mifepristone in the suing states.

A look at what has happened so far, the conflicting rulings and how the legal fight might play out:

HOW DID THE CASE GET STARTED?

The Texas suit over mifepristone was filed in Amarillo late last year. Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group, represents the pill's opponents, who say the FDA's approval of mifepristone was flawed. Erin Morrow Hawley, the wife of Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is one of the lead lawyers in the case.

Why Amarillo? U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, is the sole district court judge there, ensuring that all cases filed in the West Texas city land in front of him. Since taking the bench, he has ruled against the Biden administration on several other issues, including immigration and LGBTQ protections.

In March, Kacsmaryk held a hearing in the case that lasted more than four hours and was notable in part because Kacsmaryk sought to delay publicizing that it would happen to avoid protests. His ruling came approximately three weeks later.

The Washington state ruling was issued by Spokane-based Judge Thomas O. Rice, whom President Barack Obama nominated.

WHAT IS GOING ON NOW?

The Biden administration had asked the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to prevent Kacsmaryks ruling from taking effect for now.

Late Wednesday, the appeals court narrowed Kacsmaryk's ruling so that the initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 is not affected, for now. But it agreed with him that changes the FDA made to relax the rules for prescribing and dispensing the drug should be put on hold. Those included expanding when the drug could be taken, from seven weeks to 10 weeks of pregnancy. The FDA also had allowed for telehealth visits to prescribe mifepristone and for the drug's delivery through the mail.

The appeals court acted by a 2-1 vote. The judges in the majority, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both Trump picks. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, was nominated by President George W. Bush. She said she would have put the lower court ruling on hold entirely for now to allow oral arguments in the case.

The Biden administration also has asked the court in Washington state to clarify its order, which the Justice Department had noted was is in significant tension with the initial Texas ruling. It's unclear how, now that the appeals court has ruled, the two cases interact and impact the drug's use. The government had asked for clarity by Friday, but that was before the appeals court ruled.

WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT?

Neither side got everything it wanted from the appeals court.

Alliance Defending Freedom, representing anti-abortion doctors and medical groups, said in a call with the media early Thursday it didnt plan to ask the Supreme Court to intervene at this point. The Biden administration said it would.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that the administration strongly disagrees with the appeals court decision.

We will be seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court to defend the FDAs scientific judgment and protect Americans access to safe and effective reproductive care," he said.

It's unclear how the case might fare at the Supreme Court.

Conservative justices last year overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights case, and said states should decide whether to allow abortions within their borders. But if they hoped that their decision would remove abortion from their docket, the fight over the abortion pill shows that its not gone.

This time, though, while the case is about an abortion pill, the issues that the court will confront in ruling on access to the drug while the suit goes through appeals 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 and easing restrictions on its use? 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?

After the Supreme Court gets asked to weigh in, there is no timetable for when it might act.

The administration's appeal of Kacsmaryk's ruling will continue in the appeals court, regardless of whether all or part of his ruling takes effect in the meantime.
DAKAR, Senegal (AP)  Pirates boarded a Chinese-run oil tanker in West Africa's Gulf of Guinea, a risk management company operating in the area told The Associated Press on Tuesday. It was the second such incident in a little more than two weeks.

Pirates got on the ship, Success 9, approximately 300 nautical miles southwest of Ivory Coast's capital on Monday, according to Martin Kelly, a senior analyst with the London-based EOS Risk Group.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP)  The United Nations food relief agency is investigating the theft of food aid from lifesaving humanitarian operations in Ethiopia, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

The World Food Programs Ethiopia director, Claude Jibidar, says in the letter that WFP is very concerned about the large-scale sale of food in some markets which poses not only a reputational risk but also threatens our capacity to mobilize more resources for the needy people."

He adds that it is therefore imperative that immediate actions be taken to curb ... the misappropriation and diversion of humanitarian food in the country.

The letter is dated April 5 and addressed to humanitarian partners of WFP in Ethiopia, where drought and internal conflict have left 20 million of the country's 120 million people reliant on aid.

Jibidar asks the partner organizations to share any information or cases of food misuse, misappropriation or diversion that you are aware of or that are brought to your attention by your staff, beneficiaries or local authorities.

The letter does not mention any specific cases. However, two aid workers told AP the stolen aid included enough food for 100,000 people and was recently discovered missing from a warehouse in Sheraro, a town badly affected by the conflict in Ethiopias northern Tigray region. The aid workers spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

It was not clear who was responsible for stealing the aid from the Sheraro warehouse, which was previously looted by Eritrean soldiers allied to Ethiopias federal government in a separate incident. One of the aid workers said it was supplied by USAID and due to be distributed by partners.

In an emailed statement, USAID said it "has proactively identified recent diversion of some of our assistance in Northern Ethiopia.

We are in regular communication with our implementing partners regarding incidents of reported diversion and continue to monitor developments closely and take all necessary steps to stop the diversion, the agency added.

A peace deal signed by the federal government and its Tigray rivals in November has seen restrictions eased and aid deliveries have resumed to the region, where 5.2 million people need humanitarian help.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $331 million in funding for aid agencies working in Ethiopia during a trip to the country last month.

Meanwhile, fighting between Ethiopias federal military and units of a regional force continued in several parts of the countrys Amhara state on Tuesday, amid tensions sparked by the governments decision to fold Ethiopias regional security service into the national army.

Gunbattles between rival units were ongoing in Debre Birhan and Bahir Dar, the regional capital, on Tuesday morning, according to residents and aid workers. The towns of Sekota and Dessie saw shooting on Monday night.

Roads, shops and banks remain closed in several areas as the regional government placed restrictions on movement and protests continued.
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MIDDLETOWN  A 19-year-old who police say shot a teenager while he was sitting in a car with two other teens was arrested Monday, police said.

The wounded 16-year-old survived, they said.

Saquan Bennett of Middletown was charged with first-degree assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and commission of a Class B felony with a firearm, police said.

He was listed Tuesday as being in custody at the Hartford Correctional Center on $850,000 bail, prison records show.

According to police, shortly before 10:30 p.m. on March 31, Bennett opened fire on a Nissan Sentra that was being driven through a Ferry Street parking lot. One of the three teenagers in the car, a 16-year-old, was wounded on his knee.

Police said officers responded to Ferry Street after getting calls about gunfire and found shell casings and a bullet. They found no victims because the teenagers kept driving after the car was shot up.

A short time later, officers were called to Flower Street, about seven blocks away, where they found the teens, police said. The wounded 16-year-old was taken to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, police said.

The teens know Bennett, police said in a news release, and at least one of the teenagers is linked to Middletown High School, which prompted a stepped-up police presence at the school last week.
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NEW YORK (AP)  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sued Rep. Jim Jordan on Tuesday, an extraordinary move as he seeks to halt a House Judiciary Committee inquiry that the prosecutor contends is a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack him over his indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Bragg, a Democrat, is asking a judge to invalidate subpoenas that Jordan, the committee's Republican chair, has issued or plans to issue as part of an investigation of Bragg's handling of the case, the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president.

U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee who previously served as a federal bankruptcy court judge, declined Tuesday to take immediate action on the lawsuit. She scheduled an initial hearing for April 19 in Manhattan, the day before the committee plans to question, under subpoena, a top former prosecutor who was involved in the Trump probe.

Bragg's lawsuit, a forceful escalation after weeks of sparring with Jordan and other Republican lawmakers in letters and media statements, seeks to end what it says is a constitutionally destructive fishing expedition that threatens the sovereignty and integrity of a state-level prosecution.

Congress lacks any valid legislative purpose to engage in a free-ranging campaign of harassment in retaliation for the District Attorneys investigation and prosecution of Mr. Trump under the laws of New York," the lawsuit says, citing the lack of authority in the Constitution for Congress to oversee, let alone disrupt, ongoing state law criminal matters.

In response, Jordan tweeted Tuesday: First, they indict a president for no crime. Then they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it.

The Judiciary Committee recently issued a subpoena seeking testimony from a Mark Pomerantz, the former prosecutor who previously oversaw the Trump investigation and sparred with Bragg over the direction of the probe before leaving the office last year. Pomerantz, who has declined to cooperate with the committee, is under subpoena to testify at a deposition on April 20 unless Vyskocil intervenes. The committee has also sought documents and testimony from the DA's office but Bragg has rejected those requests.

The committee is scheduled to hold a hearing in Manhattan on Monday on crime in New York City and what it alleges are Braggs pro-crime, anti-victim policies. The DAs office, however, points to statistics showing that violent crime in Manhattan has dropped since Bragg took office in January 2022.

In response, Bragg said that if Jordan, who is from Ohio, really cared about public safety, he would travel to some of the major cities in his home state, where crime is reportedly higher than in New York.

Bragg is represented in the lawsuit by Theodore Boutrous, a well-known First Amendment lawyer who has also represented Trumps estranged niece, Mary Trump, in legal clashes with her famous uncle.

Vyskocil previously made headlines when she dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought against Fox News host Tucker Carlson by former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who was paid $150,000 through the National Enquirer to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. In on-air remarks, Carlson called the payoff a classic case of extortion," but Vyskocil ruled in 2020 that the conservative commentator was engaging in rhetorical hyperbole and opinion commentary and that he was not stating actual facts.

In his lawsuit, Bragg said hes taking legal action in response to an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress on an ongoing New York State criminal prosecution and investigation of former President Donald J. Trump.

Trump was indicted on March 30 with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations that he had extramarital sexual encounters. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment last week in Manhattan.

Republicans have been railing against Bragg even before Trumps indictment, with Jordan leading the cause by issuing a series of letters and subpoenas to individuals involved with the case. Pomerantz refused to voluntarily cooperate with the committees request last month at the instruction of Braggs office, citing the ongoing investigation.

Jordan sees 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.

Bragg's lawsuit sets up what is an already tenuous fight over the scope and limits of congressional oversight powers into new territory. House Republicans have argued that because the Manhattan case involves campaign finance and what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election, Congress has direct oversight.

Many expected that Jordan would subpoena Bragg by now but it appears the forceful back-and-forth between the two elected officials has come to a head. Jordans committee has come hard at Bragg, but a court fight over a committee subpoena could impede its momentum and amplify criticism among Democrats that the panel is playing politics instead of addressing substantive issues.

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Amiri reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.

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On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Farnoush Amiri at twitter.com/FarnoushAmiri. Send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/.
NORTH RIM, Ariz. (AP)  The public will have to wait a little longer to visit the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park this year.

Like other parts of the West, northern Arizona received an abundance of snow over the winter, and park officials say pushing back the opening from mid-May to June 2 will give them more time to plow the main state road that leads to the rim and allow staff to reopen visitor facilities.

We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our neighbors and visitors with this delay as our partners and park staff work to open the North Rim roads, trails and facilities safely, Superintendent Ed Keable said in a statement Friday.

According to park officials, the North Rim has received more than 250 inches of accumulated snowfall since October. That marks what is believed to be the second-snowiest on record for the North Rim since 1925, although there are some years of missing data during that time period.

Photos shared by the park showed impassable areas and snow up to the eves of one of the entrances at Grand Canyon Lodge.

The snow depth recorded on Bright Angel Point in March totaled a record 92 inches. The weather station near the point is situated at an elevation of 8,339 feet.

The North Rim typically receives an average of 126 inches of snow each year.

Park officials said the visitor station, backcountry information center and the bookstore will reopen June 2 and daily ranger-led programs will resume. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations also are expected to reopen on that date, while the North Rim Campground will reopen June 9.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki flew Tuesday to the United States for meetings aimed at strengthening the economic and defense cooperation of the two nations.

Morawiecki is due to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday at the White House for talks including on further support for Ukraine. He is also scheduled to have meetings with the representatives of American defense companies during his three-day visit.

I am flying to the United States to strengthen the alliance with our most powerful ally, with a country that guarantees security in Europe, that especially guarantees security in our part of Europe, Morawiecki said.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the United States increased its military presence in Poland  a nation on NATO's eastern flank that borders Ukraine and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave  and has used Poland as a transit country for military and humanitarian aid going into Ukraine.

Poland is also a major donor of aid to Ukraine, and has been ordering fighter jets, tanks and other modern military equipment, mostly from U.S. and South Korean producers, to strengthen its own forces and replace some older equipment sent to Ukraine.

As Europe seeks to gain energy independence, Poland is also planning to build nuclear power plants, and has chosen the U.S. government and Westinghouse as its partners for its first plant, to be opened in 2033.

Before departing Warsaw early Tuesday, Morawiecki told reporters at the airport that Polish-American relations have not been so good for a long time, and perhaps they have never been so strong.

He said his talks with the U.S. defense industry will also include talks on financing the billions of dollars of current and planned purchases. Poland is buying U.S. F-35 fighter jets, Abrams tanks, HIMARS artillery systems and Patriot missile launching units.

Morawiecki's visit follows two visits to Poland by U.S. President Joe Biden since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also paid an official visit to Warsaw last week.

The prime minister said Polands alliance with the U.S. is an absolute foundation of our security.

It is based on two pillars: economic and defense cooperation. I am going to the U.S. to strengthen both of these pillars, he said.

Morawiecki said that U.S. companies have invested some $25 billion (euros 23 billion) in Poland, creating thousands of jobs.
JERUSALEM (AP)  The Israeli military shot and killed two Palestinians who allegedly opened fire at troops from their car in the northern West Bank on Tuesday, authorities said, the latest incident in a wave of deadly violence gripping the occupied territory.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the two men killed in the West Bank village of Deir al Hatab as Saud Abdullah Saud and Mohammed Abu Dira, without saying their ages.

The Israeli military said the men shot at an Israeli outpost near the settlement of Elon Moreh, south of the Palestinian city of Nablus. Israeli soldiers on patrol opened fire, killing the two alleged gunmen.

Palestinian media reported that a third gunman was in the car during the drive-by shooting and fled the area. Israeli security forces said they were searching for other suspected assailants and found a pair of M-16 rifles and a pistol at the scene.

The local armed group of the Balata refugee camp, a militant stronghold near Nablus, identified the two men as militants, sharing photos of them brandishing M-16s in the camp. Saud had previously spent 15 years in Israeli prison, the group said.

We fought as soldiers and we promise we will always be soldiers, Saud said in a video after being freed from prison last spring.

Tuesday's deaths followed a week of unusually heightened violence in Israel and the West Bank, touched off by an Israeli police raid on Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, the compound home to the Al-Aqsa mosque. Last week, the Israeli military struck sites linked to the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip after militants in the two territories fired salvos of rockets at Israel. The mosque sits on a contested hilltop revered as the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism.

Underscoring the ever-combustible situation in the West Bank, two British-Israeli sisters and their mother were killed when their car came under fire near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank last Friday. The mother, Lucy Dee, succumbed to her wounds on Monday and was laid to rest in the settlement of Kfar Etzion south of Jerusalem on Tuesday. Hundreds of mourners packed the funeral, singing and swaying as Lucy's husband, Leo, and his remaining children wept at the podium  their family of seven reduced to four.

Lucy, I have a choice: I could lament over the next 25 years of marriage that Ive lost, but I actually feel blessed to have had 25 years of a beautiful marriage with you, Leo said, his voice cracking in anguish.

He added: If we support the good and reject the evil, then we can all play our part in building a better world.

Last week, in a separate incident, an Italian tourist was killed and five others were wounded when a Palestinian's car careened onto a bike path near the beach in Tel Aviv in what authorities described as a suspected terrorist attack. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he offered condolences to his Italian counterpart during a phone call Tuesday.

So far this year, 94 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to a tally by The Associated Press, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups. During that time, 19 people were killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

With the country battling threats on multiple fronts, Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, who expressed opposition to the governments divisive plans to weaken the judiciary last month. Gallant praised the Israeli military's killing of the Palestinian gunmen on Tuesday.

In a step toward deescalating the situation, Netanyahu's office said Tuesday that authorities would bar Jewish visits to Al-Aqsa, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, for the remainder of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. That's standard for the final 10 days of the holiday, when Muslims often pray at the site overnight.

Jews are permitted to visit the compound, but not pray there, under longstanding agreements. But such visits, which have grown in numbers in recent years, have stoked anger, particularly because some Jews are often seen quietly praying.

The rare convergence of the Jewish Passover festival and Ramadan brought scores of religious Jews to the site last week and fueled tensions that spiraled into unrest in Jerusalem  and a regional confrontation.
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP)  Pakistani security forces raided a suspected hideout of the Pakistani Taliban in the southwestern city of Quetta early Tuesday, triggering a shootout that killed four officers and a militant commander, officials said.

The police launched the raid after being tipped off that the wanted militant commander was hiding in a home in the city's Kuchlak neighborhood, said police official Naveed Shah. The officers demanded the suspect surrender but he instead opened fire at the security forces, killing four officers before being fatally shot.

A search of the area was still underway, Shah said.

Quetta, the provincial capital of Baluchistan, has seen a spike in violence recently, as has the rest of Pakistan.

On Monday, two roadside bombs hours apart targeted police vehicles in Quetta, killing four people and wounding 22, mostly pedestrians. The bombings were claimed by the outlawed Baluchistan Liberation Army, which was designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019.

Pakistani security forces have 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.

The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, also have a presence in Baluchistan and have claimed multiple past attacks there.

The militant group is separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban. TTP insurgents have been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops pulled out of the country after 20 years of war.

Also on Tuesday, the military said security forces killed three militants in a raid on their hideout in Bannu, a district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. In a statement, it said troops also seized a cache of weapons in the raid. However, the military provided no further details about the slain insurgents.
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A mix of very dry air and gusty winds in the forecast Tuesday mean any Connecticut brush fires that start could rapidly spread, state and federal officials warned.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the entire state, cautioning that "a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels will create a significantly elevated fire growth potential."

"Any fires that start may spread rapidly and become difficult to extinguish," the agency's Boston office said in a bulletin for northern Connecticut.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said the risk of forest fire danger in all counties is "very high" on Tuesday. The agency sends out a daily report on forest fire risk. When conditions are considered to be at "high" risk of forest fire, local permits property owners can obtain to burn brush are no longer valid if the burning is within 100 feet of grassland or woodland.

The weather service warned Monday that continued dry weather this week could lead to red flag warnings on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The warnings are issued by the National Weather Service, a government forecasting agency under the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The warnings are used to alert the public, firefighters and fire managers on federal lands that "critical fire weather conditions" are either occurring or will soon.

The weather service examines three factors to determine if a red flag warning is warranted: the wind, relative humidity or the amount of moisture in the air, and how much water is held by fuels that could potentially burn.

The last metric looks at "10-hour fuels," like grass, leaves and mulch that take only 10 hours to be ready to burn. Officials examine how much moisture the fuels have absorbed, which is measured as a percent of the material's dry weight. When there's more moisture in whatever material might burn, there's less chance of the fire spreading, because the heat of the blaze is used up drying out the fuel.

For a red flag warning, the moisture content of 10-hour fuels has to be 8 percent or less. Officials also look for relative humidity values, the moisture content in the air, of less than 25 percent for several hours. A red flag warning also needs winds of at least 15 mph that are 20 feet off the ground for several hours.

For Tuesday, the relative humidity is expected to be as low as 15 percent for parts of northern Connecticut. Winds could gust up to 35 mph.

That combination of dry air and wind means fuels like sticks, dead leaves and grass will be bone dry. Once a fire is ignited, the wind can push the blaze to expand rapidly, tying up firefighting resources and potentially putting homes at risk.

On Sunday, fire crews in Hebron spent four hours battling a brush fire that also drew in personnel from Marlborough, Columbia, Glastonbury and Colchester. Last month, firefighters in Newtown extinguished a wind-driven brush fire that consumed 5 acres.

Those blazes were dwarfed by the monster brush fire that erupted last year in Middletown, swallowing up hundreds of acres and tying up firefighters for days before it was finally extinguished.

Connecticut is no stranger to backcountry fires this time of year. The lack of snow cover and shade from vegetation creates a seasonal perfect storm where light fuels can quickly dry out and be ready to burn in as little as an hour. When fires get going, they can cover a wide area, but they don't typically burn deeper into the ground or damage the root systems of trees.

That can be a good thing for the state's woodlands and other natural areas, helping to clear out debris and regenerate certain species. In some areas, DEEP has purposely set fires in "prescribed burns" for those reasons. It's also thought that the indigenous people of Connecticut used fire to manage the state's forests, possibly to help nut-bearing trees grow.

With the high risk of fires, residents should be careful disposing of hot coals and wood ashes, DEEP said. Firefighting tools should be kept nearby and fires should never be left unattended.

For homeowners, the agency said residents should make sure there's no vegetation or anything else that can catch fire around their home, develop an escape plan and ensure firefighters can get to your home, among other tips.
As the U.S. government reels from a major leak of classified documents onto online networks and chatrooms, officials are offering few details about how the information -- much of it relating to Ukrainian aid -- got loose or if more is yet to come.

While the immediate government response has focused on trying to manage the fallout from the leaks -- including rebutting what appear to be doctored versions of documents -- officials are already acknowledging they will take a hard look at who has access to classified intelligence documents.

The Pentagon said Monday it is considering scaling back the number of personnel who receive sensitive classified material after it launched an interagency effort to review the reach of the document leak.

Read Next: Officials Investigating Graffitti of Swastikas and Racial Slur at Air Force Base

"We're still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue," Chris Meagher, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a briefing to reporters Monday. "There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom."

The leak represents a "very serious risk" to U.S. national security, Meagher said.

According to an April 2020 report, the U.S. granted "Top Secret" clearances -- the highest level possible -- to more than 1.3 million people. Another 2.7 million had access to lower, "Secret" and "Confidential" information.

That wide circulation of classified material is likely to complicate a review that is being led by Pentagon officials with the help of the National Security Council, State Department and Office of the Director of National Intelligence into the most recent leak.

John Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said that the White House does not know whether the leak has been contained.

"We don't know. We truly don't know," Kirby told reporters Monday.

While noting the Pentagon is already looking at whether to limit distribution of sensitive information, Kirby also said a pending Justice Department investigation should play out before the administration makes major policy changes.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was first briefed on the leaked documents Thursday and by Friday began getting daily updates, Meagher said. Kirby said that President Joe Biden was also briefed "late last week."

The Pentagon and White House spokesmen both noted that at least some of the documents were doctored, and Kirby added that "there's just no way I can tell you, with any granularity right now, how that came to be."

As a result, Kirby said that officials "cannot speak to the veracity and the validity of any of those documents at this point."

The leaked documents likely had distribution across the Pentagon, as well as outside the department, and appear to be briefing materials for senior leaders on Ukraine- and Russia-related operations and other intelligence updates, Meagher said.

"These are documents that are used by a variety of people and departments within the Department of Defense to inform their work, and beyond the Department of Defense, frankly, to inform their work, and to provide intelligence updates to help us do our jobs," he added.

Finding leakers can be exceedingly difficult for documents that are widely distributed.

The man responsible for the largest leak of classified information in U.S. history, Edward Snowden, identified himself. The move led to immediate indictments as well as his flight to Ecuador, which was cut short when officials canceled his passport while he was on a layover in Russia.

By contrast, Reality Winner, a contractor and former airman who was charged with leaking a report on Russian hacking efforts connected with the 2016 election to The Intercept, was identified partly because she was one of only six people to recently print that particular report.

The Intercept also played a role in giving the government a lead into finding Winner.

Yet in the case of the latest leaks it appears that the documents may have been floating around the internet for weeks, if not longer, before being noticed by the media or the government. Investigative outlet Bellingcat reported that the documents have been floating around Discord -- a messaging platform popular with gamers -- since at least early March.

"We just need to be careful right now speculating or guessing what might be behind or who might be behind what looks like a potential leak here of classified information," Kirby noted.

Lawmakers, who are on a break from legislating in D.C. as part of a two-week congressional recess, have so far offered a muted response to the most recent leak. But some have expressed concern and expect to be briefed in the coming days.

"Any breach of classified material is serious, especially when sources and methods are identified," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul, R-Texas, said in a written statement Monday. "I urge the administration to investigate and move swiftly to identify the leaker and take appropriate action. The administration must also brief Congress on the security implications of this leak."

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., is also "tracking this issue closely," a committee spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Reed "believes that breaches of U.S. national security and intelligence must always be addressed with the utmost seriousness and urgency," the spokesperson added. "The Department of Defense and other agencies have launched investigations, and the Senate Armed Service Committee expects to be fully briefed on the Pentagon's investigation as it proceeds."

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

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A training accident that killed nine soldiers late last month involved two Black Hawk helicopters colliding in midair, a preliminary report confirmed.

"While conducting night training in a military operations area/special use airspace, two HH-60 aircraft collided midair," the Army Combat Readiness Center said in a Preliminary Loss Report.

Officials had previously not specified the nature of the incident, one of the deadliest training accidents in Army history, beyond saying the two Black Hawks were involved during training out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

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A team from the Alabama-based center, which probes all fatal Army accidents, is continuing to investigate, according to the preliminary report. Questions such as whether the crash was caused by pilot error, mechanical failure or other issues were not addressed in the initial two-paragraph report.

Investigators have recovered the flight recorders, also known as black boxes, from the helicopters and are analyzing them, officials previously said.

"We cannot provide a timeline as to when the investigation will be completed," Lt. Col. Tony Hoefler, spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), said in a news release last week announcing the recovery of the black boxes. "The duration of the investigation is determined by the thorough analysis of all factors."

On the night of March 29, a pair of medical evacuation Black Hawks from the 101st Airborne Division were conducting routine training, with the pilots wearing night vision devices, when the accident happened. None of the soldiers aboard the helicopters survived.

The Army has identified the soldiers as Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33; Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, 23; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Esparza, 36; Sgt. Isaacjohn Gayo, 27; Staff Sgt. Joshua C. Gore, 25; Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Healy, 32; Staff Sgt. Taylor Mitchell, 30; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, 32; and Sgt. David Solinas Jr., 23.

The accident is the 101st Airborne's deadliest incident since a 1988 crash that also involved a pair of Black Hawks and killed 17 soldiers. In the 1988 incident, investigators concluded that one Black Hawk slammed into another mid-air while conducting a routine maneuver.

An average of five soldiers per year have died in on-duty aviation accidents since 2018, according to the Army Combat Readiness Center. The Fort Campbell incident is the Army's fourth "Class A mishap" -- defined as an accident in which there's more than $2.5 million worth of property damage, the aircraft is entirely destroyed, or someone dies or is permanently disabled -- this year, bringing the number to one more than the same time last year.

-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

Related: Army IDs 9 Soldiers from 101st Airborne Killed in Black Hawk Crashes in Kentucky
The Ukrainian soldiers jumped out of the armored vehicle the moment it stopped, rushing to unload supplies before the Russian artillery began its deadly work.

It wasn't fast enough. Barely 40 seconds later came the first shriek. The men hit the ground as the blast hit, the smell of cordite and dust going deep into their nostrils.

"Go, go, go, go," one shouted. The others sprinted through a building's smoke-filled courtyard, feet crunching over a carpet of broken glass, masonry and splintered wood. As they ran down the stairs, another shriek sounded above. Then another.

If war is hell, there's a creditable case Bakhmut is its ninth circle. The city in Ukraine's east, known in the past for little other than its first-class winery (established by Stalin in 1950), has become the battleground of this war's longest and most vicious fight.

No building remains untouched by ordnance, no surface clear of war detritus. Traversing any neighborhood is a furtive dash through smoke-filled streets, scampering past the shattered, burning remains of well-appointed boulevards.

For the Ukrainian forces here, a simple resupply requires an armored vehicle  or a full-tilt gallop down the road, praying to avoid the omnipresent gaze of drones and that the innumerable chunks of metal whistling through the skies above don't fall nearby.

The two main roadways leading west out of the city are, in effect, artillery alleys. The Russians don't control the roads, but are within range to blast any vehicle on them. The only recourse is to cut a winding path through muddy fields that can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and still puts troops at risk from artillery.

The soldiers' ride into the city that day had been a touch-and-go affair; the Russians had tried to hit the armored vehicle twice when it was going through the mud, the driver said.

"You didn't hear how they tried to f us ? I had to push the pedal down," he said to one of the soldiers nearby, before the newest artillery attack started up.

"Thanks for the ride," the other retorted.

Bakhmut, once home to some 70,000 people, has become the site of the bloodiest combat in 14 months of war. The city at the edge of Russia-controlled territory in Donetsk isn't a strategic prize, though it is a roadway hub that opens up to six other cities. From a war-plans perspective it has limited value.

But now, after so long, it appears to hold a psychological symbolism for the fighting forces on each side. Neither seems willing to let go, transforming Bakhmut into a churned-up moonscape of battered buildings, bombed-out vehicles and corpses. Russia and Ukraine both insist that fighting in Bakhmut makes their adversary expend men and materiel that would otherwise be deployed elsewhere, and that it buys time for their respective forces to prepare for the more significant battles ahead.

But observers say that's a questionable strategy for Ukraine. Most of the forces fighting in Bakhmut are from Wagner, a Russian private military company, said Michael Kofman, a military analyst and director of the Russia studies program at CNA, a Virginia-based research institute.

Though Bakhmut is a priority objective for the Russian military, the notion it was occupying a substantial number of regular forces was doubtful, Kofman said. Fighting alongside Wagner was Russian airborne but little else.

"Most elite units are deployed elsewhere along the front," Kofman said.

Wagner has recruited tens of thousands of convicts from Russian prisons, promising them freedom and money if they come to fight. The group's owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has staked his group's reputation and his own on taking Bakhmut. The battle began in August.

Russia, at least for now, appears to have the upper hand, with army troops working to encircle Bakhmut from the farmlands on its periphery. Inside the city, the bare-knuckle brawl falls to Wagner, its recruits tasked with suicide dashes at Ukrainian lines to create openings for the rest to follow.

"First they use mortars, then automatic grenade launchers, then they get closer and use RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades]. Then when they're assaulting us, they use automatic rifles and grenades," said Lovah, one of the 251st Battalion's reconnaissance scouts, who gave only his nickname.

One of the battalion's commanders, Romul, 42, agreed.

"They're trying to get close all the time. The distance between us is usually less than 150 feet," Romul said.

"It's a city battle. One house for us, the other is the enemy's. That's how close it is."

That strategy has yielded some success. By the weekend, Russian forces added to their gains in Bakhmut's southern, central and southwestern districts, according to an assessment released Saturday by Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank.

But it has meant deploying human wave tactics that come with a horrific cost, said Vasyl, 33, the head of the Ukrainian battalion's mortar crew.

"This is the only reason why they're able to attack our positions. They have much more infantry and can lose a lot of people," Vasyl said.

"I attack a building where they're bunkering, I see the mortar break through and they're all dead. Then another wave comes to the same building, then a third."

In an unmarked building somewhere in the city, Vasyl joined his colleagues in the 251st Battalion's forward command center for their 12-hour shift, which began shortly after daybreak.

They sat before a trio of screens with maps and live feeds from drones above the city, along with tablets and phones with communication software. An intelligence analyst pointed out potential targets, tracked Russian troop movements and coordinated attacks with other units.

"Another day in paradise," Romul quipped, looking over the shoulder of one of his colleagues to the center screen. It showed a row of obliterated cottages.

The atmosphere was that of a tensely quiet office, with all of them playing a game of whack-a-mole against the Russians, trying to catch and rain ordnance on them before they could attack Ukrainian forces.

Lacking the manpower of their adversary, the Ukrainians have had to use mortars to clear a path for their troops or defend them from Russian assault even when the enemy's proximity makes that a risky endeavor.

"Our protocols tell me I have to stop shooting if I'm within 650 feet of our groups, but I can't. They need support," Vasyl said.

He recalled a moment two weeks ago when a Ukrainian squad in a building was surrounded by Russians. A tank had fired on the building, forcing the Ukrainians to retreat to the basement. They called on Vasyl to attack near the building and keep the Russians at bay. A drone video of the attack shows his mortar round hitting just beside the building and igniting a cache of explosives on the second floor. It forced the Russians back; the Ukrainians were safe.

"I sweated a lot that day," he said.

The flip side of the proximity problem is that there are often targets the Ukrainians leave alone for the simple fact that they lack sufficient ammunition. It's a chronic problem for Ukraine's forces, especially around Bakhmut, where units are firing thousands of shells a day. The Russians, despite reports of shortages, are mounting a virtually ceaseless barrage.

"If I didn't have to aim, I could shoot 30 shells a minute," Vasyl said, but he doesn't have that luxury. He had to make sure to get the aim right at least from the sixth shot or consider abandoning the target.

In this unrecognizable city, the civilian population has dropped to an estimated few thousand. The battalion members have taken to calling them "zombies"  because many show little reaction when shells fall near them.

"They're just walking. Not even running. A shell falls, they go to the ground, cover their head, and then continue walking," said Anton, a commander of a mechanized company, shaking his head.

That morning, he checked the corners for any movement, sticking close to the walls before he dipped into an open door and called down a basement for Alex, a 40-year-old living with his mother, Zoya, and his aunt, Lida.

"We don't need food. Just cigarettes," Alex said, explaining that only his mother was evacuating, leaving with the soldiers on a run out of the city. Though they had no electricity or running water, and though the Russians' advance meant artillery was regularly reaching their street, the others insisted on staying  Alex for his cat, Lida for her dog.

"I love my home, I love my cat," he said, smiling. Anton shook his head but radioed his headquarters and informed them Zoya would be coming.

But she wouldn't be leaving that day.

Later that afternoon, an armored vehicle carrying some of the Ukrainian wounded roared up to the headquarters, loaded some equipment and raced out of the city. One of the soldiers, his left hand a claw wrapped in blood-soaked gauze, grimaced with every bump as the armored vehicle sprinted along a muddy track toward safety.

This story originally appeared in The Los Angeles Times.

 2023 Los Angeles Times.

Visit latimes.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A federal judge has ruled partially in favor of former Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in his bid to throw out the verdict of his court-martial but rejected his claim that President Donald Trump and the late Sen. John McCain exercised unlawful command influence in the case.

Senior Judge Reggie Walton, of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., issued an order March 31 partially granting the federal government's motion to dismiss the Bergdahl case, rejecting the former soldier's argument that comments made by Trump and McCain unduly influenced his military proceedings.

But Walton granted Bergdahl's motion for a summary judgment on the soldier's claim that the military judge who presided over his case did not disclose that he had applied for a civilian position at the Justice Department while the court-martial was underway -- a failure that Bergdahl argues denied him a fair trial.

Read Next: Missing Marine Vet Confirmed Killed in Ukraine

In his order, Walton did not stipulate what the decision will mean for Bergdahl or for the case. Walton promised that the complete ruling and his reasoning behind it would be revealed in an opinion "to be issued ... within the next sixty days."

Bergdahl's attorneys declined to comment on the order from the judge. The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment by publication.

Army spokeswoman Heather Hagan told Military.com on Monday that the Army "does not comment on pending litigation against" the service.

Bergdahl filed a petition in civilian court in February 2021 following a military appeals process that upheld his conviction and sentencing based on a guilty plea for deserting his post in Afghanistan in June 2009.

He was captured and held by the Taliban for five years, setting off a massive manhunt that involved hundreds of U.S. troops.

Bergdahl was sentenced in 2017 to a dishonorable discharge, reduction to the rank of private, and forfeiture of $10,000 in pay. As a result of his discharge status, he is ineligible for health services or disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bergdahl said he walked away from his unit, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, to draw the attention of senior Army leaders to problems in his unit. He later was labeled by critics as a traitor, blamed for injuries suffered by U.S. troops during the search-and-rescue effort, and held liable for the prisoner swap in 2014 that led to his release but returned five Taliban leaders to Afghanistan.

Throughout Bergdahl's judicial proceedings, Trump, then a presidential candidate and later president, described or referred to Bergdahl as a "dirty rotten traitor." McCain threatened congressional hearings if Bergdahl received no punishment.

The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces rejected Bergdahl's unlawful influence argument and upheld his conviction in a 3-2 decision, with the majority saying that Bergdahl's choice to plead guilty in his court-martial weighed heavily on their ruling.

Bergdahl's attorneys, who include Eugene Fidell, of Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell, took the case to the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., seeking a review based on claims that the military court system failed to recognize the impact of Trump's and McCain's comments and that the presiding judge failed to disclose information about his employment plans following military retirement.

During the court-martial proceedings, Jeffery Nance, then an Army colonel, did not reveal that he had applied for a job as an immigration judge at the Justice Department and simply said that he planned to retire soon thereafter from military service.

But according to Bergdahl's attorneys, Nance highlighted his role as presiding judge in the case in his job application, and he was appointed as an immigration judge in the year after Bergdahl's conviction.

Attorneys with the Justice Department's Civil Division argue that Bergdahl has no grounds to bring up Nance's job application conflict because his attorneys waited two years after the judge was sworn in to use his failure to disclose as the basis for a legal case.

Walton's complete order is expected to give more clarification on the reasoning behind his decision. The judge noted, however, that even that memorandum of opinion will not necessarily be the final word in the case.

"This order is not a final Order subject to appeal," Walton wrote.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Bowe Bergdahl Petitions Federal Court to Have His Case Expunged
The family of a highly decorated Marine officer who went missing in the early days of Ukraine's call for foreign volunteer fighters now says the man died fighting Russian forces.

Grady Kurpasi, who went missing in June 2022, was killed in action, according to a GoFundMe crowdfunding post made by a friend of the family. The post does not provide a date or estimate of when he died.

"Grady went to train soldiers but due to the intensity of the war and the need for combat-experienced leaders, Grady ended up leading a squad into battle," the post read.

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Kurpasi is survived by his wife -- Heeson Kim -- and their 14-year-old daughter.

A spokeswoman for GoFundMe confirmed that the fundraiser is "verified and all funds will be safely delivered to Captain Kurpasi's wife, Heeson Kim."

Kurpasi's death would make him at least the seventh American killed in the conflict with Ukraine, according to a tally by The Associated Press.

Kurpasi had a long and storied service in the Marine Corps that spanned almost the entire length of the Global War on Terror.

According to details released by the Marine Corps, Kurpasi enlisted just two months after Sept. 11, 2001, and deployed to Iraq three times. Along the way, he earned a Combat Action Ribbon and a Purple Heart, as well as several Navy and Marine Corps Achievement and Commendation medals.

The post, which went up Saturday, said that Kurpasi "went from working as a computer programmer making excellent money to being an Marine Infantry Assaultman ... at the age of 29." He didn't stay in the infantry long, though. The post said that after his first deployment, Kurpasi became a Marine scout sniper and deployed several more times to Iraq.

Records show Kurpasi was eventually selected to become an infantry officer and made the rank of captain in 2015. He retired from the Corps in November 2021.

"After retiring from the Marine Corps, Grady felt obligated to assist in Ukraine as they defended their country against the Russian invasion," the post read.

Kurpasi's disappearance was reported within days of the news that two other American veterans also went missing in the war-torn country. Alexander Drueke, a 39-year-old Army veteran, had served as a "chemical operations specialist" and left the service as a staff sergeant, and Andy Huynh, a 27-year-old "engineer equipment operator," had been a corporal in the Marines.

The pair were later confirmed to have been captured by Russian-backed forces and released in a prisoner swap after several months.

The last American known to have died in the conflict was Daniel W. Swift, a former member of the Navy SEALs who, according to official records, deserted the service in March 2019. His death was reported in January 2023.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: How 2 American Veterans Ended Up in Ukraine, Prisoners of Russian-Armed Militants
Now that it's safe to go to the base theater again, The Exchange Reel Time Cinema and MGM are giving military members, retirees and military dependents the chance to catch a movie before it opens to the general public. "Guy Ritchie's The Covenant" will open in select Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) theaters on April 15, 2023.

In collaboration with the USO, troops and dependents at Fort Irwin, California, will get a special screening on April 14 instead, along with a visit from the film's stars, Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim.

In the film, Gyllenhaal is Army Sgt. John Kinley. While deployed to Afghanistan, he was caught in a Taliban ambush and nearly killed. He is wounded and doesn't remember the ambush. His interpreter, Ahmed (Dar Salim), who put his own life at risk to save Sgt. Kinley. Ahmed not only rescues Kinley from the ambush, he makes an epically heroic effort to get Kinley to safety.

Kinley eventually returns home, but learns that Ahmed and his family were not allowed safe passage to the United States as promised. Kinley decides he has to repay Ahmed for saving his life and returns to Afghanistan. There, Kinley becomes a one-man extraction force to retrieve his former comrade before the Taliban can hunt them down and exact their revenge on Ahmed and his family.

Fans might know Guy Ritchie's previous works, "Snatch," "RocknRolla" and "Sherlock Holmes." Military-connected fans with base theater access can catch this latest film of his at the following installations on April 15:

For anyone who's ever complained about the base movie theater at any installation ever, this is what you've always asked for: a first-run movie at a great price. You even get to see it before the rest of America.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on LinkedIn.

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Rockies hurler German Marquez left tonights win over the Cardinals after just five innings and 62 pitches. Hed come out to warm up in the sixth but called out the trainer and gestured toward the outside of his forearm. Postgame, manager Bud Black called the issue forearm tightness (link via Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post).

Its far too early for the Rox to have a definitive diagnosis. Black expressed hope the issue isnt serious and didnt rule out the possibility of Marquez making his next start. Thomas Harding of MLB.com tweets that Marquez also downplayed his concern, though he noted hes also experienced some forearm tightness between his starts. Whether hell be able to avoid the injured list will be clearer after he undergoes further evaluation tomorrow.

Forearm tightness is an ominous diagnosis for any pitcher. It can be a precursor to ligament or muscular damage in the forearm/elbow area. That doesnt inherently mean Marquezs issue is serious, of course, but itll be cause for concern for Colorado until theres more clarity on whats causing the discomfort.

Marquez is the top pitcher on the Rockies staff. Hes allowed eight runs in 16 1/3 innings this season but struck out 13 while issuing only two walks. The Venezuelan-born hurler had a down 2022 season, allowing nearly five earned runs per nine over 31 starts. Between 2017-21, he worked to a 4.25 ERA with an above-average 24% strikeout rate.

Rotation depth is a major concern for Colorado. Antonio Senzatela is still recovering from last summers torn ACL. Beyond Marquez and Kyle Freeland, the Rox currently have Jose Urena, Ryan Feltner and Austin Gomber rounding out the starting five. Urena and Feltner, in particular, have been hit hard in their first two starts. Long reliever Connor Seabold and Peter Lambert appear to be the top options to step into the rotation should Marquez miss any time.
The Pirates announced theyve claimed reliever Eli Villalobos off waivers from the Marlins and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. The righty had been designated for assignment over the weekend. In a corresponding move, Pittsburgh transferred shortstop Oneil Cruz to the 60-day injured list.

Villalobos has yet to make his major league debut. The 64 hurler was added to Miamis 40-man roster at the start of last offseason to keep another team from selecting him in the Rule 5 draft. It was a strong development for the Long Beach State product, whod entered the professional ranks as a 14th-round pick in 2019. He earned the roster spot on the heels of a strong 2022 campaign in the upper minors.

Between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville, Villalobos posted a 2.86 ERA over 78 2/3 innings. Hed punched out an excellent 32.7% of batters faced against a serviceable 9.3% walk percentage. He also induced ground balls at a better than average clip at both stops. Once hed secured the 40-man spot, he looked like a short-term bullpen option in Miami.

The 25-year-old had a disastrous first few days of this season however. Optioned to Jacksonville out of camp, hes surrendered six runs in three appearances totaling 4 2/3 frames. Villalobos has walked and struck out seven batters apiece. It was an exceedingly small sample but enough to squeeze him off the roster when the Fish needed a spot for long reliever Devin Smeltzer over the weekend.

Pittsburgh was operating with a de facto vacant roster spot. Cruz fractured his ankle on Sunday and underwent surgery thats likely to sideline him at least into August. That made it a formality hed wind up on the 60-day IL whenever the Bucs wanted to add someone else. Villalobos becomes the early beneficiary and will head to Indianapolis as bullpen depth. He has a full slate of minor league option years remaining and can shuttle on and off the MLB roster for the foreseeable future if hes able to get back on track in his new organization.
Dear Amy: My family is upper-middle class. I love to dine out and at my instigation, we do it often.

I am also always seeking value in whatever I purchase, including restaurant meals. Bargains gravitate to me.

Our most recent meal at a fine restaurant came about when the restaurant was offering a weekday promotion of a 10-ounce strip steak with side dish for $19.95, considerably less than the normal price. My wife ordered a 9-ounce bleu filet, which was $40.75  one of the most expensive items on the menu.

When the check came, she said she was waiting to see if I would have a heart attack, indicating that she knew her dish was pricey.

My wife worked as an accountant before we were married. I am semi-retired and manage our investments and shop for the family. We do quite well, financially, but this is a common pattern for us. My wife said that she does not look at prices and that if we are going out to dinner, she is going to order what she wants.

Although her expensive meals are not going to take food off of our table, it seems like poor form to me.

Your take?

 Bargain Hunter

Dear Hunter: You derive some very real joy and satisfaction from getting a good deal on a steak. And then, by having a heart attack at your wifes choices, you deny her the same.

My basic take is that she is testing and teasing you. As much of an asset as your bargain hunting can be, this sort of hyper awareness of prices can also be annoying, especially when shes trying to enjoy a night out.

My perspective is that you saved enough on your (discounted) meal for your wife to splurge on hers, making the meal basically a wash, financially.

That was really nice of you!

You mention that you manage all the family finances and also shop for the family. Is this because you become too uncomfortable if your wife pays full-price for something?

If you were able to cede some control, including your wife as a partner in your household decision-making, then she would be less likely to yank your chain when she has the chance.

You two obviously need to talk about this. If your wifes choices make you anxious, then you should be honest about your feelings and reactions. If you two decided ahead of time on a reasonable budget for these dinners out, then you should be able to work together when youre ordering.

Being generous toward your partner can feel positively expansive, but you interpret your own generosity as your wife taking from you, and you dont seem to give her the opportunity to be generous in return.

Dear Amy: After I retired, I had time to go through boxes of personal papers that I had saved.

These included letters that current friends and family had written to me over many years.

It was fun rereading many of these, but at this point in my life I dont feel the need to keep them.

Instead of throwing them away, I decided that the sender might enjoy reading what they had written decades earlier, so I bundled packets of their individual letters off with notes to the effect: Cleaning house! Heres a blast from your past! Enjoy!

Now months later, I have not heard back from one person.

Im questioning whether I did something wrong.

I know that I would enjoy reading letters I wrote many years ago, but maybe thats just me.

Should I have just destroyed these old letters, instead?

 Cleaning in Culver City

Dear Cleaning: This was an extremely thoughtful thing to do. I can imagine that this gesture might have brought up a lot of feelings for the recipients, and I wonder, now that letter-writing seems to be on the decline, how future generations will chronicle their lives and long friendships.

I cant imagine why people didnt contact you to acknowledge this effort; I hope you will follow up to ask if they had reread their letters and enjoyed them as much as you had. Their responses might reveal some complicated emotions.

Dear Amy: The newlywed Daughter-in-law in Training needs to stand her ground with her mother-in-law; politely (as you said), but firmly  even if she does not have her husbands full support.

Sometimes men cannot say no to their mothers, even when they want to.

 Been There

Dear Been There: Ive noticed this phenomenon. Thank you for pointing it out.

You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068.
DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MI  Five teenagers were arrested after they led police on a chase through Dearborn Heights.

According to the Dearborn Heights Police Department, officers attempted to stop the suspects on Michigan Avenue near Outer Drive just after 4 p.m. on Monday.

The suspects between 15 and 18 years old chose to flee from officers and later crashed the vehicle into two other motorists on Oakwood Boulevard in Dearborn.

Both motorists sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said. All five suspects are from Michigan and North Dakota, police said.

Officers recovered a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol with an extended magazine and a Taser from the stolen vehicle.

Like many communities, we are experiencing a spike in motor vehicle thefts and our residents are understandably frustrated. The thefts negatively impact our residents quality of life and ability to earn a living, Police Chief Jerrod S. Hart said.

I would like to thank the women and men of Dearborn Police Department and Dearborn Fire Department for their assistance in this incident. Law enforcement is a team effort with criminals crossing jurisdictional lines to prey on our community members.
RAY TOWNSHIP, MI  A former Michigan teacher who is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl he was teaching about airplanes has been indicted by a federal grand jury, authorities said.

Rex Dale Phelps, 71, of Ray Township, is charged with abusive sexual contact of a child, a felony, WDIV Local 4 reports. He was previously charged with misdemeanors in local and federal courts related to alleged crimes that began in October. Alleged acts related to the felony occurred between Jan. 16 and Feb. 8, the TV station reports.

Phelps is charged in Macomb County for alleged incidents that happened at Ray Community Airport and in federal court for alleged incidents that occurred in flight.

Over the course of the alleged abuse, Phelps allegedly said to the victim, I hope Im not grooming you, multiple times, according to the federal criminal complaint.

RELATED: Former Michigan teacher accused of sexually assaulting teen in airplane

Phelps formerly taught at Dakota High School in Macomb County. At the time of the alleged assaults, he was the president of the Experimental Aircraft Association chapter at Ray Community Airport and was teaching the victim about airplanes.

On March 1, Michigan State Police received a tip that Phelps was having sexual contact with a minor, according to the criminal complaint. The tipster told police that the teen had received explicit text messages from Phelps, including a photo of a male and female lying on a bed kissing with the message, Shortly after the shower  without that top. Maybe more.

According to the criminal complaint, Phelps flew the victim to several locations across Michigan. On Jan. 14, they flew to Frankenmuth, and he kissed her for the first time, the victim said in a written statement. Two days later, he kissed her multiple times while in flight, causing the airplane to turn off course, the victim said. The victim told police that Phelps had touched her groin area over her clothes during a separate flight.

Later in January, Phelps exposed and grabbed the victims breasts while in the airplane hangar in Ray Township, the victim told police. He often questioned her about her sexual activities and instructed her to delete their text messages.

A review of the victims phone found deleted messages that discussed being in love and instructed the victim to stick to the story, according to the criminal complaint.

During an interview with police, Phelps admitted to touching the victims inner thigh and said he planned to have sex with her after she turned 16, according to the criminal complaint.

READ MORE:

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MI -- An 18-year-old charged with impersonating a firefighter has pleaded guilty and is set to be sentenced in mid-May.

During a pretrial hearing Friday, April 7, Ethyn Clark pleaded guilty to one charge of impersonating a firefighter and one charge of use of a receiver or scanner in the commission of a felony, according to court records.

Clark is set to be sentenced on Thursday, May 11, before Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty. He is set to be sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, a law that allows first-time, young offenders to have their records sealed if they meet certain conditions.

According to the Unadilla Township Police Department, Clark identified himself as a Brighton firefighter to firefighters on scene at a Unadilla Township structure fire at 2:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13.

RELATED: 18-year-old Michigan man accused of impersonating a firefighter heads to trial

When he arrived on scene, Clark had minimal firefighting equipment, including a helmet, safety vest and a radio, police said, adding the Brighton Fire Department had not been called to assist at this fire, police said.

Clark left after not being allowed to help fight the fire, and fire department staff alerted police of the encounter, police said. When officers found Clark, he told them he had responded to the Livingston County fire, as well as fires in surrounding counties, police said. Officers confiscated his radio and clothing, as well as other evidence.

Clark was arraigned on Friday, Feb. 17, in Livingston Countys 53rd District Court. He waived both his preliminary examination and his circuit court arraignment.

Read more from The Ann Arbor News:

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MONROE TOWNSHIP, MI -- A 32-year-old Detroit man was arrested in Ohio Monday after he allgedly grabbed multiple men by the genitals in the bathroom of a welcoming center near the Michigan/Ohio border. According to WXYZ-Detroit, the suspect -- who has not been identified pending formal arraignment -- was picked up by police in Toledo after his car ran out of gas in Ohio.

Police were dispatched to the Michigan Welcome Center in Monroe Township around 2:30 p.m. Monday after multiple calls were received about a man grabbing other men in the bathroom. Witnesses reported that an 80-year-old man was grabbed by the suspect and dragged into a bathroom before other people in the facility stepped in to stop the assault.

The suspect then reportedly ran away from the building, crossing the northbound lanes of I-75 to get to a car parked on the southbound median shoulder. Police eventually caught up with the suspect, who then fled south into Ohio where he eventually ran out of gas.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Lucas County Jail. he is expected to be extradited back to Michigan to face formal charges. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Monroe County Sheriffs Office at 734-240-7530.

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The U.S. Forest Service today announced its plans for nearly 9,000 acres of prescribed burns this year in the Hiawatha and Ottawa national forests in Michigans Upper Peninsula.

The plans include 5,373 acres of prescribed burns in the east zone of the Hiawatha National Forest, 3,328 acres in the west zone, and 237 acres in the Ottawa National Forest. The controled fires will likely happen between late and early fall, depending on weather.

During active burning, smoke and flames may be visible from roads and in areas downwind of the burn site. Smoke may settle in some areas in the evening; ignition days and times will be adjusted to avoid smoke sensitive areas.

Those with health problems that are aggravated by smoke, should contact their zone fire management officer:

Hiawatha East Zone: Brian Wolvert at 906-630-1386

Hiawatha West Zone: Cory Henry at 906-474-6442, ext. 1014

Ottawa National Forest: Francis Paukert at 906-358-4036

Affected individuals will be notified of prescribed fires that are conducted on Forest Service Lands in their vicinity the day of the burn.

Find the list of prescribed burns here. Scroll down to see maps of the prescribed burn areas.

Prescribed burning benefits natural resources and reduces hazardous fuels in national forests, the forest service said.

Some burns are geared more toward forest management while others are meant to maintain open spaces for wildlife to flourish.

The Forest Services goals in burning the wildlife openings are:

Provide improved breeding and foraging habitat for early-successional and cavity dependent species.

Set back vegetative succession and maintain wildlife openings.

Maintain burn units as part of a system of fuel breaks (including safety zones, escape routes, staging areas and control lines).

Remove or reduce the impact of non-native invasive species.

Reduce the risk of wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels.

Train personnel in the use of wildland fire in a safe and efficient manner.

The Forest Services goals in conducting site preparation burns are:

Naturally regenerate pine using prescribed fire.

Kill red pine cone borer larvae.

Stress over-story red pine to enhance cone production.

Reduce hazardous fuel loading within unit.

The U.S. Forest Service will conduct prescribed burns on nearly 9,000 acres of the Hiawatha and Ottawa national forests in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during 2023. That includes 3,328 acres (22 projects) in the west zone of Hiawatha National Forest.U.S. Forest Service

The U.S. Forest Service will conduct prescribed burns on nearly 9,000 acres of the Hiawatha and Ottawa national forests in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during 2023. That includes 237 acres (18 projects) in the Ottawa National Forest.U.S. Forest Service

The U.S. Forest Service will conduct prescribed burns on nearly 9,000 acres of the Hiawatha and Ottawa national forests in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during 2023. That includes 5,373 acres (5 projects) in the East Zone of Hiawatha National Forest.U.S. Forest Service

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GRAND HAVEN, MI  The city of Grand Haven could make as much as $3.6 million through paid parking in the city, but there doesnt seem to be an appetite on the city council to take it that far.

Public Safety Director Jeff Hawke on Monday, April 10, presented results of his comprehensive study on potential revenues from paid parking in seven different zones of the city. He also suggested how the city could implement and enforce paid parking.

The council, on a narrow 3-2 vote, agreed last summer to pursue paid parking along the river and at the citys beach on Lake Michigan, and to direct staff to present options for paid parking downtown.

The issue has been studied for the last several years without a clear consensus on how to proceed. At Mondays city council work session, consensus also was evasive.

Council Member Kevin McLaughlin, citing Grand Havens hefty financial debt and obligations, said the city couldnt afford to pass up the revenue.

I think this is critical for the future of the city, said McLaughlin, who was among the three council members who voted last June to pursue paid parking.

Karen Lowe, another council member who favored paid parking last year, said she could support paid parking at the beach and along the waterfront, but not elsewhere, including downtown.

She cited the citys $28.4 million long-term debt and $28 million in unfunded pension liabilities and the $40 million to $80 million cost to clean up and redevelop Harbor Island.

We are highly leveraged folks, Lowe said. We have to start looking at ways for people who are using our beaches  to help defray the costs.

The third council member who supported paid parking last year, Ryan Cummins, was absent from Mondays meeting.

Hawkes analysis looked at charging different hourly rates: option A, which would be $2 during May and October and $2.50 from June through September, and option B, which would be $1 and $1.50.

If implemented citywide, parking revenues would be $3.6 million under option A and $2 million under option B, Hawke estimated.

Parking at City Beach would raise $236,418 or $92,898, depending on the option, while parking in the 271 spaces along the Grand River waterfront would raise $755,118 or $416,911, according to his analysis.

Hawke emphasized that his numbers were conservative estimates.

Some audience members, most of them local business owners, expressed concern that the city would lose visitors to other communities that charge less, or not at all, for beach parking.

They pointed out that Grand Haven State Park, located next to City Beach, charges $15 to park all year there and at any other state park. Muskegon charges $20 for a season pass to park at its beaches. Saugatuck and Holland dont charge at all.

The state park is going to be a bargain and its always going to be full, said Doug Vance, owner of The Copper Post bar and restaurant downtown.

Mayor Catherine McNally questioned Hawkes revenue figures, and suggested a consultant be hired for a more complete study.

Im torn, McNally said. Im interested in the revenue stream but I dont like the idea that we will drive people to other beach communities because either we charge for parking period or we charge too much for parking or we make parking so difficult that regardless of what we charge it wont be manageable.

Hawke suggested a combination of kiosks, where people could use cash or credit cards to pay for parking, and a mobile phone app. Enforcement could be conducted using vehicle-mounted and handheld cameras that look at license plates to determine if payments had been made for parking, he said.

Hawkes exhaustive research included estimated payback periods for the equipment needed to implement paid parking. His citywide parking revenue estimates were after expenses were considered.

Resident Jim Hagen said because the city wouldnt see much revenue at the beach, paid parking would need to be implemented throughout the city. The resulting revenue would be outstanding, he said.

This city needs money, Hagen said. We need you guys to be brave.

Council member Mike Fritz was adamant about not charging to park downtown, recounting how the city years ago charged for parking. He said the downtown was devastated when malls began to open and shoppers, not wanting to pay to park, abandoned Grand Haven.

Fritz didnt express an opinion on charging to park elsewhere, but, like McNally, he questioned the validity of Hawkes revenue projections.

If the council implements paid parking, it will decide whether city property owners and/or renters would be exempt.

Exempting residents would reduce revenues by an estimated 35%, Hawkes figures show. That would make citywide annual collection of $2.4 million under option A and $1.3 million under option B.

If the city votes to try limited paid parking it could take six to 10 weeks to implement, Hawke said. That would be for six to eight kiosks in a couple of zones, he said.

Follows is a breakdown of Hawkes predictions for revenue in areas of the city other than the beach and waterfront.

Downtown  including Washington Avenue; First, Second and Third streets; and city lots between Franklin and Columbus avenues: $1.6 million under option A and $931,411 under option B.

Peerless Flats -- including First Street, Fulton Avenue, Second Street and the citys parking lot: $572,582 under option A and $320,192 under option B.

Centertown  Including Washington Avenue, Seventh Street from Washington to Elliott and the city lot: $328,494 under option A and $177,487 under option B.

Eastown  including Washington Avenue and Ferry Street: $49,072 under option A and $17,368 under option B.

Lake Avenue  24 angled parking spaces: $45,302 under option A and $17,650 under option B.

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GOGEBIC COUNTY, MI  The body of a missing man has been found in the Upper Peninsula.

According to the Gogebic County Sheriffs Office, Rudy Patrick Massi, 37, of Wakefield was found dead at 7:57 p.m. on Monday.

Search crews from multiple departments had been looking for Massi since he was reported missing on March 31.

Deputies say melting snow revealed tracks that led them to Massis body. His death is under investigation and an autopsy is planned by Gogebic Countys forensic pathologist, deputies said.

The Ironwood Public Safety Department also responded to the scene.

Deputies are thanking the public for tips as well as the Park Falls Police Department in Wisconsin for assisting in the investigation.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- MUSIC Matters is bringing live music, food trucks and a place for University of Michigan students to connect with its upcoming SpringFest event.

MUSIC Matters is a nonprofit run by University of Michigan students that brings live music to Ann Arbor. The group was founded in 2011 and has become one of the largest student organizations at UM, according to its website.

Overall, the goal of our organization is to use music to kind of bring people together, promote local artists and students and kind of spread joy, Social Ventures Chair Katie Kim said.

This years SpringFest will bring three days of activities as opposed to its traditional one-day event. In years past, the group has brought artists like 2 Chainz, J. Cole and Migos to perform.

Since this is our 10th SpringFest we kind of wanted to make a bigger thing than usual, Kim said. So what we are doing is making like a SpringFest week.

SpringFest will kickstart its events at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at the Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., with performances from Role Model and ELEY. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are available either in-person at the Michigan Union Ticket office or on its website.

Tickets for the performance on the main floor cost $17 for students and $32 for non-students, while balcony seats cost $15 for students and $27 for non-students.

Later in the week, local artists will perform live from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in front of the Ann Arbor Art Center at 117 W. Liberty St. This free event is a collaboration with its CoMMunity Partner Empty Mug Records.

SpringFest ends with a festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 14, on South State Street. The event will feature live music, food trucks, other student organizations and a stage for student musicians to perform, Kim said.

Street closures have been approved for the event on South State Street from North University Avenue to South University Avenue from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday.

Its just a huge festival that kind of celebrates student organizations, local organizations, the work that MUSIC Matters has done all year and then also features corporate sponsors too, she said.

MUSIC Matters will have performances from local bands like Joe and the Ruckus, Hemmingway Lane, Big Chemical, VUP and Frankie Torres & the Fleet.

There will also be food trucks at the event including Whoa Tacos, Bao Boys, Detroit BBQ and Detroit Mini Doughnut.

But, MUSIC Matters goes beyond just music, Kim said, adding the funds raised from SpringFest contribute to a few different organizations like The Big Thinkers Scholarship, The CoMMunity Partnership and MOvE: Michigan Overnight Experience.

Music Matters uses music as a platform to support the local community, she said. By furthering our organization were able to further support (these groups) whether its high schoolers in Detroit with MOvE , incoming students with the Big Thinkers Scholarship or local student bands with SpringFest.

Learn more about MUSIC Matters or its upcoming SpringFest online or on social media.

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ANN ARBOR, MI - ZOLLER Inc. has donated nearly $250,000 in state-of-the-art machinery and launched a new apprenticeship program to train the future workforce at Washtenaw Community College.

The eight pieces of equipment, housed in the campuss Advanced Manufacturing Lab, will allow students to learn hands-on skills in machinery and tool management starting in the fall 2023 semester. ZOLLERs donation includes a CNC presetter, Tool Management System Solution and a tool station with a workbench.

Students enrolled in WCCs associates degree program in advanced manufacturing (CNC) - machine tool setup, operation and programming, as well as those in certificate programs in machine tool (CNC) will be trained on the machinery, college officials said.

This is an exciting opportunity for students to learn about cutting-edge technology and connecting all tooling related processes in manufacturing, Washtenaw Community College alum and ZOLLER applications engineer Drew Tartalone said.

The new equipment is only one part of the equation, said Michael Stepke, training and development manager at ZOLLER. We want to help develop the curriculum and instructions, and have students visit our headquarters for live demos and technical presentations. Were offering an accelerated journey that no other college is receiving.

The family-owned German technology company is also launching an apprenticeship program in the fall, with a direct path to hire and train four to six of the colleges advanced manufacturing students to join ZOLLERs service team after graduation.

Participants in ZOLLERs new Application Engineer Apprentice program will be granted free tuition and employment with benefits and weekly stipends as part of a minimum commitment of two years of ZOLLER employment after graduation.

Those hired as part of the companys service team will travel across the country to calibrate the companys precision tool measurement equipment installed in automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, medical device and energy technology manufacturing facilities, college officials said.

The colleges new partnership with ZOLLER is one of several collaborations the college has pursued to successfully integrate students into the workforce, including work with the Amazon Career Choice program and the Child Development Certificate Pipeline Program.

Those interested can learn more about Washtenaw Community Colleges multiple apprenticeship programs by visiting its website, emailing apprenticeship@wccnet.edu or calling 734-677-5221.

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WAYNE COUNTY, MI  One of three men accused of slaying an Ann Arbor bartender and musician in her Wayne County home in 2017 has pleaded guilty to murder.

Shane Lamar Evans pleaded guilty Friday, April 7, to one count of second-degree murder for his role in the slaying of Egypt Covington, court records show.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- A Washtenaw County Trial Court judge on Monday denied a request from the University of Michigan to end a Graduate Employees Organization strike stretching nearly two weeks.

Judge Carol Kuhnke denied a request from the University of Michigan to end the strike, saying that damage committed by the missing graduate employees has not yet reached levels necessary for court involvement.

Kuhnke previously denied the injunction on Tuesday, April 4, prompting an evidentiary hearing.

While I find that the students in particular are harmed by the strike, I dont find that it meets the standard of irreparable harm that would cause the court to enjoin or stop the strike, Kuhnke said in her decision, passed down around 4 p.m. on Monday, April 10 after the hearing.

The union, which started its strike on Wednesday, March 29, is bargaining for higher pay and multiple other measures. The full platform is here. The university and the unions current collective bargaining agreement expires on May 1.

The union is demanding the university address 13 main issues during its renegotiation, including a wage increase, increased childcare subsidies and increased co-pays for mental health care.

The case is part of two lawsuits filed by UM on Thursday, March 30 in Washtenaw County Trial Court against the Graduate Employees Organization.

In a hearing backed by the sound of striking workers chanting outside the court, Craig Schwartz, attorney for the University of Michigan, argued classes with graduate student employees have been adversely impacted or canceled. In some instances, it is unclear whether grading will be completed by the end of the school year.

Subhamitra Roychoudhury, a junior at University of Michigan, testified a delay in a final grade could impact his applications to law schools. He plans to apply to Columbia and Harvard law schools. A class grade of pass or fail, a solution that has been offered by GEO attorneys, may also impact his chances of admittance, he said.

There was a general assumption (from law schools) that if you have a grade that is not a standard letter grade, that you might be doing that to effectively hide a grade that is lower than your others, Roychoudhury said.

He currently has an A in the class, he said.

But Mark Cousens, attorney for GEO, maintained throughout the hearing that inconvenience is not an irreparable injury. The university has previously dealt with delayed grades and similar issues during the coronavirus pandemic, implementing a take on a pass or fail system, Cousens said.

The strike isnt going to wipe out grading at the university and there will be some courses in which grades will not be issued and the university has a method for responding to that, Cousens said.

As court was dismissed, a group of GEO supporters broke into excited cheers.

Union president Jared Eno said he thinks Mondays ruling carves out a clear path forward.

Weve really lacked a problem-solving relationship with the university at the bargaining table, Eno said. I hope that changes because we that we have a shared interest with the university and making this campus a better place.

There are bargaining meetings planned for every day in the coming week.

University officials are appreciative of Kuhnkes acknowledgement of harm, although disappointed in the overall decision, Kim Broekhuizen, a spokesperson for the university, told MLive/The Ann Arbor News in an email.

The university remains ready and willing to negotiate, Broekhuizen wrote. In the meantime, our top priority continues to be carrying out the educational mission of this university.

Roychoudhury told MLive/The Ann Arbor News he too was disappointed by the judges ruling.

I feel like as an undergraduate student, Ive done what I can do to try to help classes return, he said. I think that the university clearly also wants classes to return.

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Authorities are investigating a bomb threat that was made at a business west of Beatrice Tuesday morning.

Just before 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the Gage County Sheriffs Office was dispatched to a business on Southwest 89th Road near West Hickory Road for a bomb threat.

Upon arrival at the scene, deputies interviewed witnesses and learned that a person had called the business and reported a contract employee was possibly coming to the site with a firearm.

Within a few minutes, the deputy and investigator at the plant determined the contract employee was actually working at another plant a half mile away.

A press release stated that deputies made contact with the management at the second site and confirmed the employee was working at their site today, however the employee was behaving normally and there were no concerns involving the employee.

Gage County Sheriffs Office deputies, assisted by two troopers from the Nebraska State Patrol, were able to make contact with the employee outside his workshop and during the investigation, determined he did not bring a firearm with him and he did not have any ill intent toward the facility or his fellow employees.

Deputies notified both businesses that no criminal violations had been concerned and the employee was released back to his employer.

Deputies are investigating the original call reporting the incident.

The threat prompted a lockdown at nearby Homestead National Historical Park, the National Park Service site around three miles south of the location of the initial threat.

When were notified by local law enforcement that there is a potential risk for danger and their recommendation is for us to lock down the park, thats what we do, Homestead park superintendent Betty Boyko said. What we did was just put a note on the door that said we were on lockdown and for further information to call our number. Employees here were in the building and monitored the cameras for suspicious activity.

Boyko said the lockdown went into effect before 8 a.m. Tuesday and was lifted at around 10 a.m.

She added Homestead staff and area law enforcement handled the situation well.

It certainly provided us with an opportunity to review our emergency response and address certain procedures if there is an imminent threat, but everyone was calm and weve discussed these situations in the past, Boyko said. Everything went really well and I was impressed with the Gage County Sheriffs Office for thinking about us and giving us the information.
WYOMING, MI  Four local government executives are vying to be Wyomings next city manager.

Among the four candidates is former Ottawa County Administrator John Shay, who was abruptly fired Jan. 3 in a controversial vote by the newly seated, far-right majority on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.

Residents will have an opportunity to learn more about the four finalists, all who currently work for municipalities in West Michigan, during the citys public interviews with them on Thursday and Saturday.

The candidate interviews on Thursday, April 13, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. in Council Chambers at Wyoming City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW. The interviews on Saturday, April 15, will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and also take place in Council Chambers.

City council hopes to have a new city manager selected, and an employment agreement approved, by the end of May, city officials said. Elected leaders hope to fill the position based on the public interviews this week.

One of the four finalists will replace former City Manager Curtis Holt, who retired in February. Holt had served as city manager since 2000. He joined the city as deputy city manager in 1996 and spent nearly 40 years in public service.

A total of 48 municipal leaders from around the country applied.

Here are the four finalists selected by city council:

Jen DeHaan

DeHaan currently serves as the assistant township manager/superintendent of Plainfield Charter Township, a position she has served in since 2018. She also has been the executive director of the Kent County Dispatch Authority since 2018.

DeHaan has prior experience in Michigan serving as deputy county administrator for Grand Traverse County and as a management analyst for Kent County. DeHaan started her career as an intern for the City of Wyoming.

John McCarter

McCarter currently serves as Wyomings interim city manager. He began in Wyoming in March 2021, serving as Wyomings deputy city manager. Before that, he served in several roles, including interim finance director, assistant finance director and budget and procurement manager, for the city of Pearland, Texas.

His prior Michigan experience includes serving as a management analyst for the city of Novi.

Mark Meyers

Meyers currently serves as the city administrator for the city of Norton Shores. Hes worked in that role since May 2004. Before his appointment as city administrator, Meyers served as the director of administrative services/assistant to the city administrator at Norton Shores since 1995.

Meyers other Michigan experience includes working as an assistant city manager for the city of Grand Haven from March 1992 to May 1995.

John Shay

Shay was most recently the Ottawa County administrator from March 2022 through January 2023. He worked as interim Ottawa County administrator from July 2021 until his appointment. Before that, Shay served as the Ottawa County deputy county administrator, starting in July 2018.

His past Michigan experience includes serving the city of Ludington as city manager from February 2003 to July 2018 and working as the village manager of Almont from August 1998 to January 2003.

Shay was abruptly fired Jan. 3 by the new Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, a majority of whom lean further right than their predecessors, and immediately replaced with failed Republican Congressional candidate John Gibbs.

Board Chair Joe Moss, who also leads the far-right faction Ottawa Impact, said he had only heard good things about Shay. Moss declined to say why Shay was fired and instead deferred to public comments by Board Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea.

Prior to the vote firing Shay and hiring Gibbs, Rhodea spoke about the need for a new administrator who aligns with the new board and will work with them. She said the voters spoke clearly about wanting a change in direction in the county and the countys leadership and that that starts at the top.

The search process for the citys next city manager is being overseen by executive recruitment firm Baker Tilly. Baker Tilly has provided candidate application materials to the city manager search subcommittee made up of Mayor Kent Vanderwood, Mayor Pro-Tem Rob Postema and 2nd Ward Councilmember Marissa Postler.

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  According to judicial staff in Ottawa County, the court system in the West Michigan county handled its largest ever number of jury trials last year.

Circuit Court Administrator Susan Franklin said the 33 jury trials that took place in 2022 set a new record for the county.

Thats a high for Ottawa County, Franklin said. Weve never gotten to 33 trials in a year before.

Franklin said that while some jury trials were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was difficult to seat a jury while adhering to social distancing policies, the 2022 trials were not holdovers.

These cases are not delayed from COVID, Franklin said. Were mostly past that.

According to the county prosecutors office, 28 of the 33 jury trials were for felony criminal cases and five were civil cases.

Along with the jury trials, Ottawa County held 31 bench trials. Of those, two were criminal bench trials, 16 were civil cases and 13 were juvenile cases.

In 2021, the prosecutors office tried 21 felony cases by jury trial, making 2022s trials a 33% increase over the previous year.

The numbers there continue to rise, said Prosecutor Lee Fisher.

Overall, crimes prosecuted in Ottawa County last year held fairly steady compared with previous years. The prosecutors office filed charges in 1,849 cases last year, compared with 1,910 cases in 2021.

A few types of crimes saw minor increases last year from the year before, including weapons offenses (up 6.7%), drug offenses (up 3.3%) and property offenses (up 0.4%). Criminal sexual conduct, felony drunk driving, breaking and entering and robbery prosecutions all went down in 2022, though misdemeanor drunk driving saw a 4.6% increase.

The county had five homicides in 2022, a major increase from the one homicide in 2021. Of those five homicides, two were in the city of Holland, one in Olive Township, one in Holland Township and one in Blendon Township. Two of those cases involved the deaths of children, including one case where a child was left unattended in a bathtub and drowned and another case where a 3-year-old was struck by a tractor on a farm.

The countys juvenile caseload increased by 10.3% last year to 847 cases, but that is partially due to a statewide change raising the age of a defendant being classified as an adult from 17 to 18. Fisher said most of the juvenile cases are crimes like retail fraud, domestic violence against a family member and some drugs and alcohol cases.

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JACKSON COUNTY, MI -- Nearly a year after a fatal crash took their daughters life, a Jackson County family is fighting for a stricter punishment for the man accused of causing her death.

Amber Taylor of Concord died June 19, 2022, from injuries she suffered as a passenger in a vehicle crash on Behling Road in Concord Township. She was 27.

Taylor was the passenger in a vehicle driven by friend Cross Herrera when she was killed that night, according to Michigan State Police.

The crash was initially investigated as being alcohol-related, but Herrera, 18, was charged March 13 with misdemeanor moving violation causing death -- a charge Taylors family thinks is too lenient as it carries the penalty of license suspension rather than a full revocation.

I dont necessarily think prisons the answer. We think a restricted license or some probation is better, said Linda Anderson, Taylors mother. If youre going to drink and drive under 21, why are we giving you free range and saying, Heres your license  keep doing it over and over again.

The world got a lot colder when she was taken

Many words could be used to describe Amber Taylor, though her family thinks loving, protective, outgoing and free-spirited are some of the most important.

She had a firecracker side to her as well.

If she had a problem, you knew it, her father, Curtis Taylor said.

The void left by Taylors death is felt by her friends and family.

She was an awesome mom and daughter -- the world got a lot colder when she was taken, Curtis Taylor said. Its still hard to believe.

Taylor was the baby of three siblings, said her older sister Ashley Taylor. She also left behind two babies of her own -- a 6-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.

Its hard on (the children) -- they dont like talking about it, Linda Anderson said. But theyre adjusting slowly.

Taylor had been attending Baker College off and on at the time of her death, with plans to enter the field of criminal justice after being encouraged by a Jackson County sheriffs deputy. She was still trying to find the career path that felt right to her, Curtis Taylor said.

She had been working at The Cadet Tavern in Concord since 2020, formally working at Hutches Food Center in Spring Arbor. She really enjoyed cooking and serving the community, her family said.

Another one of Taylors favorite things to do was raising chickens, building a coop with her father in 2020. It now holds 21 chickens and two ducks.

I think that was her therapy, Curtis Taylor said. She got to go out there (to the coop) and just collect her thoughts.

Taylor had a playful interest in all things creepy and spooky -- she celebrated Halloween like most people celebrate Christmas, Ashley Taylor said.

Finding inspiration in her love for the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas, Taylor set up several decorative skeletons in her familys front yard which are now displayed year-round, her mother said.

The bones are redecorated for other annual holidays, and are now suited up for Easter festivities.

Theres just a big void, Anderson said. As much as we fought as mother and daughter, the kid called me at work three times a day. We shared everything, and had a lot of good talks.

Her obituary describes her as a short stick of dynamite and had a short fuse for anyone who might be acting stupid or being out of line.

Seeking justice

Attorneys met with Taylors family April 4 for an extended conversation about the case and why it was charged as a misdemeanor, said Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jerry Jarzynka. In the wake of this meeting, prosecutors now plan to ask for additional investigation to see if more evidence can be gathered to support increasing the current criminal charge, Jarzynka said.

While the misdemeanor charge is punishable by imprisonment up to one year, a fine up to $2,000 -- or both -- Taylors surviving family is seeking a stricter license restriction for Herrera due to his alleged drunken driving.

Thats how youre going to hurt somebody is taking their license, Curtis Taylor said. America is based on cars.

The crash took place at about 6:27 a.m. June 19, 2022, when the vehicle Herrera was allegedly driving left the road, destroying two mailboxes before striking a tree, police said. Taylor succumbed to her injuries while Herrera was hospitalized. Police previously said alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, but did not respond to messages left for this story.

Herreras case is due back in court April 19 for a pre-trial hearing before Jackson County District Judge Robert Gaecke Jr.

(Taylor) personally wouldnt want to see (Herrera) either in prison or in a lot of trouble, Anderson said. We just want accountability, thats it.

News of the misdemeanor charge spurred the family to be more active in their pursuit of justice by setting up the Justice for Amber Facebook page to further spread their message.

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PORTAGE, MI -- A judge has ruled to lift a temporary restraining order that required Portage Northern High School to find a new graduation date because the existing date coincides with a Jewish holy day.

Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Curtis Bell ruled Monday, April 10 after Minaleah Koffron, a 12th grader at Portage Northern, filed a lawsuit that claimed a May 26, 2023 graduation date violated her civil rights under Michigans Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

This year, May 26 coincides with the Jewish holy day of Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

When Koffron first filed the lawsuit, Bell issued a temporary restraining order that would have required the district to move the date.

The school districts attorneys then argued that changing the date would have significant impact on the public because up to 4,000 people are expected to attend.

They also argued that Koffrons family waited too long to file a legal action because the timing is too close to the May 26 date. The graduation date was announced in August 2022.

Bell agreed, at least in part, with the district. He lifted the order.

The attorney for Koffron, Marla Linderman Richelew, said the ruling was disappointing.

Everyone should be uncomfortable with todays outcome. A student who worked hard to graduate from high school is being denied her right to attend graduation because of her religion, she wrote in a written statement.

But this is just one issue in a much larger case about necessary policy changes within this district so that no Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or other minority has to suffer the way that Miss Koffron has. The right result now would be a swift and lasting resolution creating strong and transparent processes to ensure that no other minority is ever discriminated against in this way again, which is what the Koffron family has been trying to achieve for over a decade, Linderman Richelew wrote.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Three finalists have been selected in the search for a new Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency superintendent.

The finalists were selected from a pool of 15 applicants, the majority of which were from Michigan.

The three finalists are Matthew Olson, assistant superintendent at Northwest Education Services in Traverse City; Mindy Miller, assistant superintendent for instruction at KRESA and Dedrick Martin, superintendent at Caledonia Community Schools. Theyll be interviewed on April 17 and 18 at 1819 East Milham Avenue in Portage.

KRESA is an intermediate school district, which provides services to all of the school districts in the Kalamazoo area.

We were pleased with the quality of applicants who demonstrated interest in KRESA, KRESA Board President Skip Knowles said in a statement. The board understands the importance of this decision and the impact the new superintendent will have on our children, schools and communities.

The superintendent vacancy was created after the retirement of long-time KRESA Superintendent Dave Campbell, who served in the position since 2013. Campbell retired on June 30, 2022.

We look forward to finding out more about each candidates leadership abilities and what each has to offer our organization, Knowles said in the release.

KRESA hopes to have a new superintendent hired by July 1, the press release said.

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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Kalamazoo judge lifts restraining order, lets school district keep graduation date amid lawsuit
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Michigan State Police Troopers are investigating a road rage incident that resulted in a two-vehicle rollover crash on I-94.

The two drivers were seen fighting on the highway afterward, police said.

The crash happened at 8:55 a.m. on Monday, April 10, on eastbound I-94 near Exit 83 in Comstock Township, a Michigan State Police news release states.

Before arriving, troopers were notified by Kalamazoo County dispatch that witnesses observed two men fighting in the middle of I-94. Police determined that the two men were the drivers of the vehicles involved in the crash.

A preliminary investigation reveals that while traveling eastbound on I-94, a 22-year-old Illinois man driving a passenger car cut off a 42-year-old Portage man driving a pickup, resulting in the driver of the pickup tailgating the driver of the passenger car.

Both drivers then engaged in repeated reckless driving behavior, which led to a collision between the two vehicles, police said. The driver of passenger vehicle struck the cement barrier wall, resulting in minor injuries.

The pickup rolled over multiple time before coming to rest in the ditch, resulting in no injuries.

Both were reportedly wearing seatbelts, and drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the crash, police said.

The driver of the pickup was observed by witnesses physically assaulting the driver of the passenger car, police said.

No arrests were made at scene. Warrant requests will be submitted on both drivers for reckless driving. A warrant request for assault and battery charges will be requested for the Portage man who drove the truck, police said.

The Kalamazoo Sheriffs Office and Comstock Fire Department assisted troopers.

The crash remains open pending a review by the prosecutors office. Names of the drivers will not be released prior to any potential arrests and arraignments.

A road rage incident resulted in a crash and a fight on April 10.

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New principal announced at Portage Northern High School
PORTAGE, MI -- Portage Public Schools has selected a new principal for Portage Northern High School.

Nathan Ledlow, whos been the interim principal since Oct. 17, 2022, was appointed principal at the April 10 PPS Board meeting. Ledlow served as assistant principal before he was named interim principal, according to a press release from PPS.

Ledlow first joined PPS in 2015. Since then, he has earned a doctoral degree in K-12 educational leadership from Western Michigan University, where he also received his bachelors and masters degrees, the release said.

Before joining Portage, Ledlow served as principal for a high school in Watervliet Public Schools and held several positions in Eau Claire Public Schools.

Ledlow lives in Portage with his wife and two children, who are students in PPS, the press release said.

RELATED: Kalamazoo judge lifts restraining order, lets school district keep graduation date amid lawsuit

Previous Portage Northern High School interim principal Michael Huber was placed on leave on Oct. 8, 2022, following an incident at a homecoming dance, Michelle Karpinski, spokesperson for KPS said. Huber resigned in December 2022. Karpinski said no further comment could be made on the condition of Hubers departure.

Huber started as interim principal since Aug. 8, when previous principal Jim French departed for a special assignment in the administration building.

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Western Michigan University introduces graduate certificate in tribal governance
KALAMAZOO, MI  Western Michigan University will soon be offering a graduate certificate in tribal governance as part of its master of public administration program.

WMU and three area bands of the Potawatomi nation  The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, the Pokagon Band and the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band  made the announcement on Monday, April 10.

The three tribal governance courses included in the certificate program were developed through a partnership with the tribes and the university. First offered at WMU in fall 2021, the courses have been been collectively endorsed by the three local tribes to serve as a new pathway for tribal members and partners to develop skills in tribal administration, according to a news release.

Beginning in fall 2023, the courses will be part of a 12-credit, stand-alone program that will be added to WMUs list of nearly 50 graduate certificate programs.

Moving this certificate into the graduate curriculum is the first concrete action from relationships formed over the last four to five years, and we are honored that the program is unique to this region, said Matthew Mingus, director of WMUs graduate MPA and Ph.D. programs.

Required courses include the foundation of federal Indian policies and tribal sovereignty through self determination. Students will then choose one community and economic development course and one management, financial and leadership skills elective to complete the certificate, Mingus said.

The third tribal governance course, tribal economic development and diversification, is among the electives that can be selected.

Modeled off a tribal governance MPA program at The Evergreen State College in Washington, the courses focus on the foundations of federal policy, tribal governance, and tribal economic development and diversification in relation to the three local Potawatomi tribes.

My heart is full seeing how pertinent Native American culture has become at Western Michigan University, Skyler Wolverton, president of the Native American Student Organization at WMU said in a statement released by the university. I am overjoyed that more attention is being brought to this beautiful way of life and that we have received so much support from various organizations, tribes and departments within the University.

The tribes proposed the course series to WMU after the schools 2019 land acknowledgement statement recognized the land the campus is on was as not only historically occupied, but also currently occupied by Ojibwe, Odawa and Bodewadmi nations, the release states. That led to two years of planning and course development between the university and tribal leaders.

Implementing a certificate program in collaboration with three tribal nations allows the opportunity to provide tribally-endorsed resources to increase capacity building within our communities, said instructor Samuel Morseau, who also serves as Pokagon Band tribal council secretary. Students can engage with various tribal entities through subject matter experts and content endorsed by each tribal nation.

It has been an honor to see this dream come to fruition.

Speaking in support of the new certificate, Bryan Newland, assistant secretary of Indian affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior, will make an appearance from 3 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 13, at WMUs Fetzer Center.

Newland will be presenting as part of the universitys We Talk series, where he will discuss how the traditional Seven Grandfather Teachings has guided his work in public service and helped him to engage across diverse communities.

Newlands talk is free and open to the public. Free parking will be available in Lot 104, located at the College of Health and Human Services building, 1200 Oakland Drive. For more information or to register, visit wmich.edu/wetalk/newland.

Contact Mingus at matthew.mingus@wmich.edu or 269-387-8946 for additional information about the graduate certificate.

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BAY CITY, MI - A Bay City-born soldier who died in a shooting in Colorado is being honored today while he is being laid to rest.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all U.S. and Michigan flags within the state capitol complex and across all public buildings and grounds to be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, April 11 to honor and remember soldier Braden Peltier.

Peltier was a 23-year-old Army specialist that was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. The Colorado Springs Police Department identified Peltier was identified as the victim of a fatal overnight shooting that took place on Sunday, March 26.

Braden represented the best of our state as he served our nation in uniform, said Whitmer. A Bay Ciry 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.

To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reveres before the flag is lowered to for the day, according to the governors office.

Flags should be returned to full staff on Wednesday, April 12.

A soldier returns home

On April 6, a procession carried the body of Peltier from Detroit up to West Branch. Peltier was accompanied by his parents as well as his Army roommate.

The procession was met with an outpouring of support. Area fire and police departments as well as multiple motorcycle groups and community members stood jumped in the procession or stood alongside the route to pay their respects.

Overpass after overpass was filled with supporters waiving flags and paying their respects to Peltier as he made the journey back home. Locally, the Bay County Sheriffs Office closed the North Union overpass over Interstate 75 later in the evening to assist with the procession.

Colorado Springs shooting

Police responded to a report of shots fired before 4 a.m. on March 26. When officers arrived, they located two people who had sustained gunshot wounds, police said. Both victims were transported to the local hospital, where Peltier later succumbed to his injuries, police said.

Police have not yet confirmed the exact details surrounding the shooting. An investigation is currently ongoing.

Colorado Springs Police Department Chief Adrian Vasquez said in a statement that detectives are working hard to identify a suspect at this time.

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. Those with information about the incident are asked to call 719-634-STOP (7867) or log on to www.crimestop.net and complete the information form.

Peltier was buried the morning of Tuesday, April 11 at the Rose City Cemetery. He was buried with full military honors.

According to his obituary, Peltier is survived by his wife Pagge Peltier and their son Caycee Peltier, as well as his father Jay Peltier and mother Melissa Samples.

Peltier enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, trail riding, the mountains, and working out, according to his obituary. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved spending time outdoors. Long-range shooting was a passion of his, said his obituary.

Online condolences can be shared at www.steuernolmclaren.com

Click here to read Peltiers obituary.

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BAY CITY, MI - An upcoming event will bring one of Bay Citys darkest pieces of history to life.

On April 15, local historian Sam Fitzpatrick will give a presentation featuring Bay Citys notorious Hells Half Mile. The presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 815 N Grant Street.

While Fitzpatricks presentation will be held in a church, the topic is about a piece of history that is anything but holy. Hells Half Mile was a stretch in downtown Bay City along Water Street that became notorious for fights, prostitution, gambling, and more in the late 1800s.

The area had built such a nefarious reputation that some back then simply referred to it as Hell, the Bay City Times previously reported.

The history of Hells Half Mile is rooted in the lumber industry that boomed during the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War. Soldiers came home looking for work and became lumbermen in the prosperous lumber fields of the Saginaw Valley and beyond.

Fitzpatrick previously told the Bay City Times that approximately 5,000 lumbermen would come down to Bay City and flood Water Street during the spring thaw in March after a long-winter of work. When they came back to Bay City, it was time to let all hell loose on the area.

Fitzpatrick is an education coordinator for the Bay County Historical Society and historical tours around town. In the past, Fitzpatrick has hosted walking tours of Hells Half Mile.

Fitzpatrick offers tours regularly of Bay Citys historical City Hall. Guided tours of City Hall are held on the second Friday of each month. The cost is $1 and space is limited to the first 20 individuals. Click here for more information on City Hall tours.

The public is welcome and there is no cost to attend. Light refreshments will be available during an intermission.

Attendees are asked to use the Fifth Street entrance at the back of the church.

Click here for more information on the event.

The event is part of a set of monthly presentations put on by the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society. Most presentations are generally held at 6:30 p.m. the third Saturday of each month at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Last month, the society hosted maritime historian Ric Mixter. Mixter presented on Michigans most remote lighthouses, including the Stannard Rock Lighthouse. Stannard rock is known as The Loneliest Place in the World.

To see what presentations and events are coming next, visit the Saginaw River Marine Historical Societys Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/SaginawRiverMarineHistoricalSociety

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Opening on Thursday at the Yellowstone Art Museum is the exhibit "Through Her Lens: The Photographs of Barbara Van Cleve."

The exhibition features a selection of 50 photographs from Van Cleves collection and will be on view in the Montana Gallery from Thursday to June 25. Van Cleves aesthetic and documentary black and white images of ranch life offer a sharp contrast to fictional, romantic portrayals of the West.

Subjects of transfixing night scenes, the Great Montana Centennial Cattle Drive, the Spanish Mission Trail in Baja, California, and Mexico, and tough, working ranch women have captured her attention over the past 30 plus years.

The YAM will host three events related to the exhibition.

First is "Spiritual Significance of the Crazy Mountains," a presentation by Dr. Shane Doyle, (Apsaalooke) on April 27. The presentation will provide insight into the Apsaalooke communitys ancient and profound connection to the Crazy Mountains (Awaxaawippiia).The event will have a 5 p.m. reception followed by the presentation at 6.

The second will be "Women in Ranching" panel discussion on May 4. This discussion with Barbara Van Cleve, Caroline Nelson, Karen Heyneman, and Monica McDowell, will feature a discussion on sustainability, regenerative agriculture, challenges and changes in ranching practices, and other topics.

This panel is in partnership with the Northern Plains Resource Council and will start with a 5 p.m. reception followed by the panel discussion at 6.

The final event will be "Artists Talk" with Barbara Van Cleve on June 1. Van Cleve will talk about her life and photography, beginning with a 5 p.m. reception followed by the artists talk at 6.

According to the Yellowstone Art Museum, Van Cleves lifelong commitment to photography ignited when her parents gifted her first Brownie camera and home-developing kit as an 11-year-old girl.

Growing up on the Lazy K Bar Ranch in the eastern shadows of the Crazy Mountains, she turned the camera lens on what she knew best: cattle ranching, horses, and the surrounding landscape. Her photos were often taken from the vantage point of horseback, with deft timing and selection.

As a champion of women in ranching, Van Cleve balances the existing mythic cowboy with feminist realism. In her photograph "Double Duty," a woman adorned in a cowboy hat, chaps, and oven mitt pulls a casserole from the oven.

Throughout the exhibit, women show prominently among images of horseback riders nearly lost in the dusty atmosphere of moving cattle, the timed release of a well-slung rope, quiet conversations among ranch hands, and an imposing and sacred mountain range generating strong and shifting weather patterns  significant moments in ranch life.

Van Cleve was among six creative Montanans to receive a 2022 Governors Arts Award, the states highest honor for those working in the visual, performing, literary, and traditional arts.
Texting and driving has been illegal in Michigan for more than a decade, but changing phone technology has given lawmakers reason to eye modernizing the law.

A bipartisan three-bill package  House Bill 4250, HB 4251 and HB 4252  would update Michigans existing anti-texting and driving laws to also include using any electronic device for things like streaming, using social media sites or making video calls.

If enacted, Michigan would become the 26th state to implement hands-free driving laws.

Rep. Matt Koleszar, D-Plymouth, told members of the House Committee on Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure on April 11 the only drivers currently barred from total cellphone use are those with permits or with graduated learner licenses.

This legislation is designed at saving lives, which is incredibly important, said Koleszar, a sponsor of one bill within the package.

Exempt from this ban would be CB or ham radios, a commercial two-way radio device or any other electronic medical device, such as an insulin pump.

Police, fire, EMS and paramedical equipment would also be exempt from this legislation, and an individual making an emergency call to any of those services would not be barred from accessing a mobile device to text or call 9-1-1.

Things such as Apple CarPlay or embedded GPS systems within a car would still be usable under the bill, Koleszar said, adding the legislation makes it so you simply just cannot be on your cell phone while you are driving.

A first violation of the bills would come with an $100 fine, 16 hours of community service, or both with a second increasing the penalties to $250 and 24 hours of community service. A persons license could be suspended for not more than 90 days if theyre found responsible for three or more violations of the law within a three-year period.

Also attached to the package is a 42-month study, which Koleszar said was intent on making sure we are not disproportionately affecting certain communities, and make sure that we are getting those results that we are indeed aiming to achieve  to save lives.

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While there seemed to be bipartisan support of the package, Rep. Pat Outman, R-Six Lakes, was concerned for residents who may not have cars that benefit from embedded GPS services or Bluetooth connection.

He also questioned whether allowing use of those screens was less distracting than the brief use of a phone.

I see (General Motors) is supporting this, and theyd probably love everybody to go and buy a new car, Outman said, but its just not feasible for a lot of folks  especially in my district where the average income is $35,000. Pretty low threshold there.

Koleszar acknowledged Outman was justified in his concerns but noted there were groups out there which provided phone-mounts for cars for free or heavily reduced prices.

In support of the bill were a handful of families who had lost loved ones to distracted drivers, including the Keifer family, who spoke of their late son and brother.

Mitchel Keifer, 18, was driving to Michigan State University in September 2016 to start his freshman year when he was rear-ended at roughly 82 miles per hour by a woman on her phone. The impact pushed the teens car over the median and into oncoming traffic where he was killed instantly.

His father, Steve Kiefer, said it was crucial the bills be passed prior to Memorial Day  Monday, May 29  as the time between then and Labor Day are frequently cited as the 100 most dangerous days to drive.

We know that if we can get these bills signed into law by Memorial Day, have a massive campaign  have enforcement  we can save lives this summer, he said. And you can all certainly be part of it.

No vote was taken on the package Tuesday. Committee chair Rep. Nate Shannon, D-Sterling Heights, said the bills should expect to be taken up again in the very near future.

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PARADISE, MI  On Nov. 18, 1914, three vessels left Keweenaw Bay loaded with lumber destined for New York.

They never made it.

Now, two of those ships have been found.

The 174-foot steamer C.F. Curtis and the 174-foot schooner barge Selden E. Marvin have been located at the bottom of Lake Superior about 30 miles north of Grand Marias, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society at Whitefish Point announced Tuesday, April 11.

The ships are well preserved in more than 500 feet of water.

Historical society wreck sleuths found the Curtis in 2021 and the Marvin last year.

The Marvin and another schooner barge, the Annie M. Peterson, were being towed by the Curtis from Baraga, Mich., to Tonawanda, N.Y. when a storm hit. In total, 28 men were lost.

The Peterson has yet to be found.

The combined losses of the C.F. Curtis, Selden E. Marvin and Annie M. Peterson have comprised one of the more tragic stories of shipwreck on the Great Lakes and certainly became one of the Lake Superiors enduring mysteries, said society director Bruce Lynn.

The loss was a major blow to the Hines Lumber Co., which lost almost one quarter of its fleet.

Corey Adkins, historical society communications director, said the Curtis discovery was previously communicated within membership circles but the wreck wasnt examined with remote underwater cameras until 2022.

It was during that trip that wreck searchers came across a sonar blip that turned out to be the Marvin, he said.

Finding the Peterson will be the last piece of the puzzle.

The Curtis and Marvin are not where local lore and some historical accounts indicated they should be. Some believed the vessels sank in shallower water or came ashore.

As we find these wrecks, a lot of them arent where the historical records think they were, Adkins said.

The wrecks are the latest discoveries made in 2021 and 2022 to be announced by the society, which conducts regular grid searches along Lake Superiors Shipwreck coast, a treacherous 80-mile stretch of Upper Peninsula shoreline between Munising and Whitefish Point with no safe harbor.

In February, the society announced the discovery of the Nucleus, a 144-foot bad luck barquentine that sank in a storm off Vermillion Point in 1869.

Other recent Lake Superior discoveries include the schooner barge Atlanta, a 172-foot schooner barge that sank off Deer Park in 1891; the Dot, a steamship that sank in 1883; the Frank W. Wheeler, a schooner barge that sank in 1885; and the Michigan, a steamer that sank in 1901.

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The convictions of an anticipated 1 million Michigan residents will be automatically expunged thanks to a 2020 law that went into effect Tuesday, April 11.

By the end of the day, Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a video, 400,000 of them will be completely conviction free.
Many professionals have switched from traditional computers to devices like Chromebooks and iPads, which are often more affordable than traditional computers. Chromebook and iPad users enjoy mobility and the touch screens that make navigating apps easier than ever. Chromebooks and iPads both run mobile applications and have great keyboards (iPad keyboards can be purchased separately).

In the end, some users prefer Chromebooks over iPads and vice versa. You might choose a Chromebook or an iPad because you have used a device from the same OS system in the past, and you are not interested in learning a new system. It is worth your time to consider both devices if you are looking for a mobile, user-friendly device. Choose the device that best suits your needs.

Chromebook vs. iPad

When you wanted a mobile device, the choice used to be simple. If you wanted a computer that you could easily take with you on the go, you would choose a laptop. However, those lines are not as clear today, especially with Chromebooks and iPads competing in the same space. Both devices can be more affordable than a traditional laptop, but which one should you choose?

For many of us, the right hardware to work in the office or from home is crucial. Let's take a look at the benefits of Chromebooks and iPads so you can determine which one is right for you.

Apps: Chromebooks vs. iPads

Applications are what separates iPads and Chromebooks the very most. Chrome OS isn't always a comprehensive desktop operating system. Chromebooks are limited to web-based programs and some Android programs. Most of the apps that you would expect to run on a tablet can be used on the Chromebook. However, some apps on the Chrome Web Store might not be compatible with your specific Chromebook hardware.

iPads, on the other hand, run iPadOS and have access to a variety of programs and applications in the App Store. If applications are essential for you, the iPad may be your go-to device. If applications are not essential and you enjoy Android applications and the browser programs on Chrome OS, then the Chromebook may be the better choice.

Microsoft Office: Chromebook vs. iPad

Microsoft has made Office fairly universal in recent years. Since 2017, Microsoft has offered its Office suite to Chromebook users via the Google Play store, but as of September 2021, Microsoft has discontinued its support for Office on Chromebook. However, Microsoft did not abandon Chromebook altogether. Users can access Microsoft Office by using the web instead. So, yes, you can run Microsoft Office on some Chromebooks.

The best option for running Microsoft Office on a Chromebook is via the Microsoft Office 365 web app suite. Microsoft Office can be used via the web to create, edit and collaborate on files. Since Chromebooks were built for cloud computing, this approach seems expected. One of the advantages of web apps is that you can save storage space on your device because you don't need to run anything.

Microsoft has updated its Office mobile app to work on Apple's iPad devices. The new app combines Word, Excel, and PowerPoint into a unified application. The app was originally launched for iOS as a beta version in 2019. Over the years, Microsoft has been making improvements to the app since then. The new update means Office is now a complete iPadOS app, with access to the entire Microsoft suite. The app also combines useful tools designed for mobility.

Key Factors to Consider When Making Your Decision

''There are quite a few factors to consider when deciding between a Chromebook and an iPad including intended use, durability, and cost. If you are looking for a machine that is more affordable with a traditional laptop feel, I suggest a Chromebook. They have a durable form factor and have a variety of options. I recommend it in certain schooling environments.

But, the iPad can accomplish all of the above with additional benefits. Apple's user experience is much better and you can access most apps that you utilize on a daily basis. Additionally, you can pair with a keyboard. I utilize my iPad in sidecar mode extension as my Macbook Air M1 and can do everything need to in my workday. If you are already happy in the Apple world, there is no reason to buy a Chromebook.''

-Holden Watne | IT Consultant, Generation IX | https://www.generationix.com/los-angeles-managed-it-services/

''The first thing to consider and acknowledge is that neither option is a replacement for an actual laptop or desktop computer. The capabilities and use cases are different. Both an iPad and Chromebook are ideal for basic tasks such as checking email, web browsing, and basic office tasks such as word processing. You will quickly find many advanced features and capabilities found in a regular laptop are not available or limited at best on devices such as iPads or Chromebooks.

My preference is an iPad since they are heavily engineered and provide fewer options for the user to misconfigure. Email and web browsing will just work and are generally easy and quick to set up for most users. Also, most applications are designed with iOS in mind and you will find more options for the software. Some folks who prefer to have a bit more control and flexibility over the system and how it works may prefer a Chromebook. I prefer when things just work which is why my choice is an iPad.''

-Joe Cannata | Owner, Techsperts, LLC | https://www.techspertsllc.com

''Chromebooks are cost-savvy and good for those familiar with the Google world, very practical for students today. They are relatively inexpensive but impossible to upgrade. The major benefit is the cost since the higher-end Chromebooks are still less expensive than most laptops or iPads. There is a choice of manufacturer vs the iPads. I recommend Chromebooks for people living primarily in the Google world.''

-Ilan Sredni | CEO & President, Palindrome Consulting | https://www.pciicp.com

Chromebooks are increasingly popular devices in workplaces and classrooms that are easy to use and can deliver reliable performances. Like the Chromebook, the iPad has also made its way into workplaces and classrooms due in large part to its versatility and portability. When deciding on whether to buy a Chromebook or iPad, keep in mind price, functionality, battery life, and how easy it is to use and manage. The device you select also needs to be fit for purpose.
As a child, Shanel Adams experienced a lot of this world. With each new place she visited, she learned about many cultures and influences. However it wasn't a plane that took her there  from Greece to Hogwarts, it was a little plastic library card that made her a world traveler.She inherited her mothers love of reading, and as a child she devoured books at her local branches of the Detroit Public Library. This beloved hobby shaped her outlook and life, and as an adult she passes that love and experience to Detroits young girls.When she graduated from Howard University, there was no place other than Detroit she wanted to use her degree. Not long after she returned, Adams was using the computer at the library and noticed a lot of flyers for reading groups, but none aimed at young girls. This didnt seem right to her.From there, the Progressionista Reading Group was born.The Progessionista program is a reading group for girls 8-12, where Adams passes on her love of reading monthly to new generations and gives them the same inspiration the books gave her.Adams always presents reading as leisure. Ninety-nine percent of our books are fiction, she says. I want the girls to have a relationship with literature.The program first called the Chaney branch of the Detroit Public Library, on Grand River Avenue, home. When Adams needed more space, she moved further down Grand River Avenue to the Redford branch. A few years later Adams started a second group at the Franklin Library on E. McNichols Road. Post-pandemic, she merged the two groups halfway at the Parkman branch on Oakman Boulevard in Detroit.All the libraries have offered space, time, and assistance.Adams says the term Progressionista means a woman who progresses in life through a love of reading" and nine years later, the program is still going strong. Adams says 80 percent of the girls return each year.A key part of the group is to grow literacy skills, but it also helps the girls beyond the page. Adams uses books to grow empathy, with stories exposing them to new points of view.It really does help them be more empathetic and self-assured, she says.Each meeting starts with a discussion on the book given out the previous month followed by a guest speaker whose job relates to the books subject. Speakers are local women who come from a diverse background of experience, some of the girls favorites include a forensic scientist, a dentist, and a florist.After the presentation, the girls are then given a chance to ask questions. Adams has found that younger girls ask broader questions, like what the job entails, and the older ones questions are more specific, like how they attained the job, and why it was chosen.Following the discussion, there is a related activity. For example, the girls dusted for fingerprints when a forensic scientist spoke. In another, they built cookie houses with a realtor.Lastly, books are handed out for the next session, and the cycle begins anew. Since speakers are usually more than happy to talk to the group, Adams often searches for something to read first.Sometimes it is easier to find a woman than a book, she says.The ages in the group are varied, but Adams has not found that to be a problem. The age range falls into the middle grades reading group, so the books are appropriate and accessible to everyone.All girls regardless of age want to be inspired, says Adams, pointing out that girls from youngest to oldest enjoy the books, activities, and speakers.Parents have largely been supportive of the chosen books, with a minor exception. The book for the crime scene investigator involved a murder, which scared one of the younger girls. Adams took this into consideration, and adapted.She tries to find a balance, so the books vary in tone. If one month she picks a serious book, the next month it might be more silly or humorous. If the previous months book had been a denser read, she will try a lighter book the next month.Adams also tries to choose books the girls would not read in school, graphic novels or more light-hearted books for example. This keeps the school and leisure worlds of reading separate. Still, she uses her job as a teacher to keep an eye out for books the girls may enjoy, along with browsing online reviews.In addition, the girls help create the reading list. At the end of each year, Adams polls them about what books they most enjoyed. Of course, with 20 girls in the group, each with her own personality, the list of likes reflects that variety.Even during the COVID pandemic, Adams kept going. She adapted and hustled to keep the Progressinistas going. The library was no longer an option, but technology and another community institution were ready. She mailed books and activities to the girls and held video chats with women online.At the end of one year, she received a note from a girls parents, which was full of gratitude for their daughters improved reading skills. They shared that these skills transferred to better grades.It was like, wow, says Adams. I had no idea what was going behind the scenes.This girl was not an isolated incident. Parents always tell me their daughter did not like reading at all until she joined the club, says Adams.Some of the earliest members have grown up and gone off to college, and still stop in when they are home from school. Some have joined the volunteers who help Adams keep the group running smoothly. That sense of civic opportunity is something Adams wants the girls to experience. She wants them to know libraries have resources they can access, as well as Detroit as a whole.I believe reading books really changed my life, Adams says.Progesssionistas runs the length of the school year, with more information available at the website
11.04.2023 LISTEN

Ghanaian actor, comedian, and television personality Akrobeto delighted festival-goers who traveled to Kwahu to celebrate Easter with his impressive dance moves.

The actor shared a video on his official YouTube account where he showcased his dance prowess, grooving to Keche Ft. Kuami Eugenes hit track, "No Dulling."

Akrobeto's impeccable dance skills and demeanour received high praise from Ghanaians, who were thoroughly entertained by his performance.

Dressed in a sleek matching suit and pants complemented by black shoes, the veteran actor looked dapper as he grooved to the beat.

Before his stunning dance routine, Akrobeto lauded Kwahu, acknowledging the warm and hospitable nature of the town.

He remarked on how every visitor is treated with open arms and provided with complimentary accommodation and meals.

Akrobeto's video offers a glimpse of the lively Easter festivities in Kwahu and demonstrates the actor's ability to entertain and captivate his audience with his remarkable talents.

Watch the video below


GOIL Company Limited has reduced fuel prices at the pumps Super XP Ron 95 (petrol) price dropped by GH0.85 per liter; and Diesel XP dropped by GH0.31 per liter from Thursday, March 16, 2023.

A GOIL statement copied to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema said Super XP Ron 95 will sell at GH12.95 per liter from GH13.80 per liter while Diesel XP will be sold at GH13.49 per litre from GH13.80.

Management of the company explained the decision is to cushion consumers in the wake of high prices for petroleum products on the international market and recent forex differentials.

We decided to sacrifice our margins to reduce the hardship on our consumers, the company noted.

Meanwhile, GOIL continues to serve as one of the leading suppliers of Jet fuel into wings at the Kotoka International Airport, Takoradi Air Force Base, and Kumasi Airport.

According to GOIL management through its strategic partners around the world is also able to offer Jet fuel at competitive prices at different airports across the globe.

Our refuelling operations are according to the latest Joint Inspection Group (JIG) standards and we ensure the quality of fuel according to the requirements of AFQRJOS. We are also an IATA strategic partner, the GOIL Management stated.

According to the management, its range of customers includes but is not limited to the military, passenger, and cargo airlines, and business jet operators.

On other operations, it said GOIL is the market leader in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas market, stressing our clientele base comprises retail outlets and direct bulk consumers.

We also boast of an unmatched fleet of LPG Bulk Road Vehicles (BRVs) making GOIL a force to reckon with, the statement stated.

GOIL has over 40 LPG Filling Plants spread across the length and breadth of the country and two depots in Tema and Kumasi.

These safe, easily accessible, and conveniently located retail outlets are the choice destinations for a great number of LP Gas domestic and Autogas users.

We proudly have over 300 direct bulk consumers schools, factories, hotels, hospitals, restaurants, Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies among others, the statement stated.

Our experienced technical team and engineers continually assist customers to solve challenges and concerns at the LPG facilities and installations. We are passionate about safety issues, therefore, LPG training sessions are organized annually focusing on all players within the supply chain.

GOIL further ensures strict implementation and compliance with environmental, health, safety and security standards as required by regulatory agencies and industry players, it stated.

According to the statement, the company has positioned itself to continue showing leadership and indeed playing a dominant role in both current and any future Gas (LPG/LNG/CNG) development agenda that the nation and sub-region may pursue.

GOIL is second to none when it comes to LPG in Ghana. You are assured of our satisfactory and sustainable service at all times, the management stated.

The GOIL Management also disclosed that it supplies IMO 2020 compliant Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and Lubricants to ocean-going vessels in Tema, Takoradi, and Sekondi in accordance with ISO 8217  2017 standards.

Additionally, GOIL delivers MGO offshore through Ship-To-Ship. In the provision of these services, the company places prominence on Product Quality, Product Availability (Quantity), and stringent Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) standards.

With a team of highly skilled professionals with exceptional work ethics, GOIL has the recognized capacity and capability to deliver Marine Gas Oil (MGO) safely via Pipeline, Road Wagon Tankers (Bulk Road Vehicle) and Ship-To-Ship at the most competitive prices.

We dont compromise on the quality of our products as we deliver high quality premium products 24/7, the management stated.

The Companys geographical spread which places it first in terms of the distribution of petroleum products and its network enables its products to reach virtually all parts of the country.

GOIL fuel is widely preferred because of the many advantages; GOIL sells additivated fuels that give high performance. GOIL fuel is economical because it reduces fuel consumption and maintenance costs; it is efficient because it disperses water and improves combustion and it also reduces fumes and toxic emissions.

-CDA Consult
The political climate in Ghana has been heating up as the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are beginning to throw jabs at each other ahead of the 2024 general elections.

A former Deputy Information Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia are arguing over the issue of job creation.

During a recent address to party supporters, Bawumia claimed that the current government had created 2.1 million jobs.

He further criticized the erstwhile Mahama administration for creating unemployment under its regime.

During the NDC administration, there were no jobs, they created unemployment instead of employment but these days there are jobs everywhere. I have been looking at the data lately and we have created 2.1 million jobs, the Vice President said.

In reaction, Felix Kwakye Ofosu accused Dr. Bawumia of spreading "outrageous and ridiculous lies."

In a tweet on Saturday, April 8, the spokesperson for Mr. Mahamas campaign jabbed the Veep for what he described as a "joke after collapsing the countrys economy."

After his cowardly retreat into a rat hole following the destruction of our economy, Bawumia has emerged to tell outrageous and ridiculous lies to the effect that his hopeless goverment has created 2.1million jobs. What a joke! he tweeted.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has hit back at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what it describes as an unwarranted attack on the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.

The NDC in a release on Sunday lambasted the Member of Parliament for Abetifi after 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.

Bryan Acheampong had also said the NPP will never hand over power to the NDC after the 2024 general elections.

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.

In a release signed by General Secretary Fifi Kwetey Fiavi, the NDC said the comments by Bryan Acheampong are a revelation of the "evil agenda of the NPP" to hold onto power beyond 2025.

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.

These voices led by President Akuffo Addo himself, all but reveal the evil agenda of the NPP to hold on to power by hook or crook, even if the people of Ghana vote otherwise in the 2024 general elections, parts of the NDC release said.

It added, These comments truly demonstrate a patterned, well-rehearsed strategy of the New Patriotic Party going into the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Today, the NPP has also issued a press release on the controversial matter.

In a release signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the ruling party said the NDC has attacked Bryan Acheampong just to emotionally blackmail Ghanaians into supporting them.

The NPP considers the NDCs attack on Bryan Acheampong not only unwarranted but also attention seeking with an ill attempt to emotionally blackmail Ghanaians to court their support, the release from the ruling party said.

The NPP further notes that the NDC statement is 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.

Read the press release from the NPP below:

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
10.04.2023 LISTEN

In the past weeks, I came across some viral videos in which some civilians were subjecting law enforcement officials to inhumane treatment when they were performing their lawful duties. Many officers have died because of such callous acts, may the souls of such officers who were serving mother Ghana and lost their lives continue to rest in peace.

I am an advocate for Police  Public cooperation. It promotes proactive policing, strengthens public trust for the police, and this makes the police to be very effective and efficient. In total, it promotes peaceful and crime free society.

I abhor police brutalities, abuse of discretionary powers and absolute disregard for human rights. Article 12(2) of the 1992 of Ghanas constitution states Every person in Ghana, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, religion, creed or gender shall be entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual contained in this chapter subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest. Article 15(2)(a) of same constitution also frowns on subjecting persons to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment among others. The law enforcement officers are also covered by this constitution.

We all witnessed how some Ghanaians, including lawmakers and human rights activists condemned the military raid in Ashiaman over the killing of a young military officer. Some state institutions issued statements calling the operation barbaric and unprofessional. To some extent these remarks are right but what about the civilians who took the law into their hands and committed that heinous crime?

Recently there is a viral video in which some group of civilians have attacked a policeman in uniform, subjected him to severe beating, strangling him and trying to disarm him. This happened in Kumawu in the Ashanti region. According to the Kumawu district police situational report, the police officers were on patrol duty when they intercepted a taxi cab with registration AS 9504  19 with seven passengers on board. The police started to conduct search in the car and this irritated some of the passengers who then attacked the police. Not quite long similar incident happened at Axim, when some illegal miners (gallamsayers) were seen in a video humiliating some police officers.

Where have we gotten? Where are the civil and human rights activists? Does the officer in uniform have human right? If his/her human rights is violated what happens? Again, at what point should the law enforcement officials resort to the use of firearms?

The Basic Principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials Adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba, 27th August to 7th September 1990 in Principle 9 states as follows: Law enforcement officials shall not use firearms against persons except in self-defence or defence of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury, to prevent the perpetration of a particularly serious crime involving grave threat to life, to arrest a person presenting such a danger and resisting their authority, or to prevent his or her escape, and only when less extreme means are insufficient to achieve these objectives. In any event, intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

The Police Service instructions number 97 (3) also gives the conditions under which a police officer can resort to the use of firearms and will be justified. The conditions are similar as the ones stated above which includes defence against imminent threat of death or serious injury, to prevent a particular serious crime involving great threat to life, to enable person resisting arrest to be arrested if he or she is about to commit a particular serious crime that involves grave threat to life and to enable a person resisting arrest to be arrested if he or she is about to commit a particular serious crime that involves grave threat to life. The use of firearm should be aimed to stop a criminal suspect not to kill him or her.

The criminal and other offences act 29 of 1960, also stipulates in sections 31 to 37 when use of force is justifiable. I do not want to bother my dear readers with much quotations but want to arrive at a point that the riffles issued to law enforcing officials during duty are not for fun but business. Their riffles are serviceable and functioning very well. The magazines are fully loaded with ammunitions.

Looking at what transpired in the Kumawu video, was the life of the police officer in imminent threat? Imminent or immediate threat should be considered in a matter of seconds, not hours. (UN special Rapporteur on summary executions, 2014, paragraph 59).

What sent Alonzo Bagley to the grave by Loiusiana police officer Alexander Tyler, does not come close to what I witnessed in this Kumawu video. I will not talk much about the timidity or naiveness of the other police officers who were looking unconcerned whilst their colleague was being strangled to death. What were they waiting for? Were they waiting for charge orders from COP (Rtd.) Akrofi Asiedu?

Dear Police officer, you are mandated to protect property and life which yours is the paramount. People depend on you, your family and friends so do not disappoint them. If some criminals behave towards you as animals, kindly treat them as such. Read more about the weapons given to you for duties and know when to use them. You equally have human rights that need to be protected.

Fellow civilians, the law enforcement officers (police officers) are not a foes but friends. Let us all cooperate with them in the prevention of crime in the society. They are also part of us who have been given uniforms, to perform a function on our behalf. Let us support them to perform their duties than to humiliate them. Crime prevention is a collective responsibility. I remain a citizen, not a spectator.

By: Jonas Owusu Ohemeng

Development Communicator

Inspirational speaker

Security Analyst.

[email protected]
Vietnam Covid-19 cases surge again

Vietnam has seen a rise in Covid-19 patients over the past week, the Ministry of Health reported.



On April 10, the country recorded a total of 113 Covid-19 patients, up 2.5 times from the day earlier. On the day, additional 19 Covid-19 patients were discharged from the hospital, while the number of serious cases increased to eight.

Vietnam has seen a rise in Covid-19 patients over the past week





According to the Hanoi Department of Health, the city had 67 Covid-19 cases on April 1-7, up 44 from the previous week.



Dr Nguyen Thu Huong from Thanh Nhan Hospital in Hanoi said that the hospital received 10-15 people daily suffering from the symptoms of cough, sore throat and fever. They all tested positive for Covid-19 at home. Ten of the Covid-19 patients at the hospital who are over 60 years old have seen complications.



Huong added that people seem to ignore Covid-19 prevention regulations, while the effect of the Covid-19 vaccine has decreased over time. The doctor advised people to take a quick Covid-19 test when having Covid-19-suspected symptoms or contact medical facilities for instruction.



Dr Tran Dac Phu, former director of the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health, said people had given up wearing masks and using hand wash, while the current weather could also fuel Covid-19 infections.

The health sector needed to assess the possibility of a new Covid-19 variant for better disease prevention and control, Phu noted.
KOA, the worlds largest system of privately-owned campgrounds, has created a new charitable foundation on the tail of its 60th year in business that will work to further the company's mission.

Aimed at increasing the companys already robust philanthropic efforts, the Kampgrounds of America Foundation serves as the charitable embodiment of the brands mission of connecting people to the outdoors and each other.

Kampgrounds of America Foundation funding will focus on three primary categories that meet this mission  accessibility to the outdoors, preservation and sustainability of the outdoors, and community initiatives where KOA campgrounds are and employees live.

KOA is committing 1% of pre-tax profit annually to fund the foundation, ensuring these initiatives are fulfilled. The Kampgrounds of American Foundation is a registered 501c(3) organization that will support nonprofit organizations with 501c(3) status and the foundations charitable activities.

Giving back has been part of our DNA since we were founded over 60 years ago. The foundations formation solidifies our ability to make an impact, in both dollars and time, to our mission, said Toby ORourke, CEO and president of Kampgrounds of America. We are focused on increasing access to the outdoors, protecting natural spaces and improving quality of place in the communities where our campgrounds operate and our employees live.

The foundations inaugural gift is to support the activation of The Get Out There Adventure Bag, which equips youth that lack access to the outdoors with essential gear so they can experience all that nature has to offer. The program, announced last year with the founding partnership of Anker Innovations and Kampgrounds of America, focuses on creating access to the outdoors for underrepresented youth.

The work will support the creation and distribution of over 1,000 bags to be produced and distributed to urban youth and their adult chaperones in the hopes of removing barriers to safely explore the great outdoors.

We are passionate about connecting people with nature and believe that everyone should have an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, said ORouke. The Get Out There Bag program is just one example of the many programs we will support and champion across the outdoor industry."

The Kampgrounds of America Foundation will supplement ongoing gifting efforts by KOA, Inc. One of the organizations longest charitable relationships, Care Camps, will continue to receive one dollar of every sale of the companys KOA Rewards loyalty program.

Care Camps is a nonprofit that sends children affected by cancer and their families to oncology summer camps. Since being established by KOA campground owners in 1984, Kampgrounds of America, Inc. and its franchisees have contributed $16.9 million to Care Camps.

Many similar initiatives will still remain in place through the corporations giving frameworks. Headquartered in Billings, KOA is a long-standing supporter of Montana Big Sky State Games, Montana Special Olympics, the US Bobsled and Skeleton teams, and Ponderosa Elementary School in Billings.

To learn more about the Kampgrounds of America Foundation, or make a giving request, go to KOA.com/foundation.
On an arid plot of land in northern Nigeria, veiled women hurry past vegetable stalls and men idle outside endless rows of tarpaulin tents in what, at first glance, appears to be a typical camp for displaced people.

In reality, Hajj Camp in Borno State is a centre for processing tens of thousands of jihadists, their families and those who lived under their control.

In exchange for freedom, the government persuaded them to turn themselves in -- a move aimed at ending an insurgency by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group that has killed thousands and displaced over two million more since 2009.

But an investigation by AFP points to major failings in the screening and deradicalization process, while the need for justice has been set aside.

In May 2021, a key event gave the authorities an opportunity.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau died after rivals ISWAP invaded his hideout demanding he pledge allegiance.

After his death, his fighters and their captives had a decision to make: either join ISWAP or flee.

The government acted fast. Flyers were dropped from helicopters over their camps in the "bush," vowing that if they emerged from hiding, they would be safe.

"We will not hand you over to the military. We will take care of you and your family in a camp in Maiduguri for four or five months and then you will be released," was the message.

In 2021, Nigeria's state government made the jihadists and their associates an offer in the hope of ending an insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced over two million more since 2009. . By Audu MARTE (AFP/File)

In many ways, the tactic worked.

More than 90,000 people formerly associated with Boko Haram and, to a much lesser extent, ISWAP defected.

Most have transited through Hajj and some through Shokari or Bulumkutu, which are similar centres. A number of women and children were taken directly to ordinary camps for those uprooted by the fighting.

The large majority of those who turned themselves in are not former fighters but rather men, women and children who lived under jihadist rule. Even so, the centres' potential to usher in peace has attracted global attention.

The European Union, Britain and the United Nations are all in favour of the initiative -- known as the Borno Model -- and pledged to support the expansion of a programme presented to them as a way to help end conflicts.

Poor screening

With the Borno Model, non-combattants stay only briefly in the centres, a couple of days or weeks, while former fighters are kept for several months.. By AUDU MARTE (AFP/File)

Over several months, AFP, the first international media to access Hajj Camp, the largest of the three centres, spoke with 12 former residents as well as the top two local officials in charge, humanitarian workers and security experts.

Official documentation says the scheme takes far-reaching steps to separate former fighters from non-combatants -- an "intensive process of identification and evaluation."

But the former residents, whose names have been changed for the purpose of this article, all described the screening system as threadbare.

Among the three former fighters interviewed by AFP, only one said he was asked which battles he had participated in and why.

Two women said they had not been asked any questions at all -- and that females were simply categorised as "wives".

One of three farmers interviewed, who had lived under Boko Haram control, said the authorities asked former fighters to screen him and others by pointing at whoever they believed was "one of them".

Those interviewed also reported that members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a militia which fights the jihadists alongside the military, are involved in the screening.

Abdul, 43, a former Sharia judge under Boko Haram who spent eight months in Shokari and two in Hajj, said the filtering system did not always work.

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari (middle), with current govenor of Borno State Babagana Zulum (L) and former governor Kashim Shettima (R) who is also vice president-elect.. By Audu Ali MARTE (AFP/File)

"There is some corruption going on because sometimes relatives come and give something to the CJTF so that they say 'these are not Boko Haram'," he said.

Retired Brigadier General Abdullahi Sabi Ishaq, the governor's special adviser on security affairs, said the programme, including the screening, was "being handled by professionals".

In theory, non-combatants stay only a couple of days or weeks in the centres, while former fighters are kept for several months. Certain camp residents get day passes to roam freely in the city.

Interviewees told AFP that some are released more quickly than others, either to make space for new arrivals or because community leaders give them authorisation to leave.

No deradicalisation

Map of Borno state in northern Nigeria.. By Jonathan WALTER (AFP)

Ishaq said former fighters are given a two-week training course that includes classes on "values in Islam", "fundamental human rights" and basic civic education.

Before they are released, the men also have to take an oath, swearing on the Koran that they will not go back to the bush or spy for those still fighting.

Momo, who joined Boko Haram when he was 13, told AFP he had taken part in "many attacks" against soldiers and "disbelievers" to establish "an Islamic state" before deciding to surrender.

During his five months in Hajj, the now 26-year-old said preachers advised him and others to "be patient with people when we leave, that we have to be obedient with local authorities and that we should be serious about our religious duties."

That was the extent of the "deradicalisation" process he said he went through.

A motivating factor for those in Nigeria's armed groups is that once they surrender, the authorities give them money -- monthly stipends and a lump sum when they leave -- as well as food and other basic goods.. By FATI ABUBAKAR (AFP/File)

Even among those who were not fighters, some, like Abdul, held radical beliefs.

The former judge and Islamic teacher spent years inflicting lashes on those who didn't follow the group's interpretation of Sharia law and brainwashed hundreds of children in his school for young jihadists.

The father of nine who now lives free, said he would have joined rival group ISWAP if he could have, instead of surrendering.

Saratu, a 20-year-old woman married to a senior commander, also seemed to still be sympathetic towards the insurgents. She told AFP that Boko Haram "only preach and kill those who use drugs."

She said she ended up in Hajj, so named as it was once a transit place for pilgrims heading to Mecca, because ISWAP invaded their hideout when she was away visiting relatives.

She deemed it too dangerous to go back, opting to surrender instead.

Absence of justice

That the government provides money and food to former jihadists and their associates creates resentment among the people of Borno who have suffered from the conflict.. By Audu Ali MARTE (AFP/File)

An additional motivating factor for those in the armed groups is that once they surrender, the authorities give them money -- monthly stipends and a lump sum when they leave -- as well as food and other basic goods.

But this stirs resentment among residents of Borno who have suffered from the conflict.

And while security experts insist on the value of providing an exit path to those who want to surrender, many believe that victims also deserve some redress.

"Serious crimes have been committed... Someone must be held to account, because without some measure of justice, it's hard to see how there can be lasting peace," said an international security expert in the country who asked to remain anonymous.

The absence of justice is partly a result of the poor screening.

But it could also be due to Borno's reluctance to refer individuals to the federal level, where suspects previously charged with terrorism have ended up behind bars in pre-trial limbo for years.

The government plans to build three "integrated villages" where surrendees would live temporarily before being reintegrated into communities. . By Audu Ali MARTE (AFP/File)

In addition, the authorities' ability to investigate potential crimes is limited.

"What evidence do we have of who did what?" said Ishaq, adding that later on they will ask victims to identify potential perpetrators.

"The justice process will follow. We must get to that stage, but let us first have everybody out (of the bush)," he told AFP.

Borno plans to build another centre and three "integrated villages" where those who surrendered would live temporarily before being reintegrated into communities.

The state government has devised a three-year plan requiring an estimated $150 million, and is appealing to the international community for help.

"Maybe their plan will work," said the security expert.

But "if it doesn't, the risk is that you have violent former fighters at large who could return to criminal or militant activity."

Two weeks after interviewing the surrendees, a source contacted AFP to say that Saratu, the woman married to a senior Boko Haram commander, "has gone back to the bush with her children."

Her husband and their unit, he said, slaughtered at least 37 fishermen near the town of Dikwa last month.
The Parisian suburb of Saint Ouen is the first French city to give women paid sick leave for period pain. But while several lawmakers want France to follow Spain in voting a national law on menstrual leave, there are concerns such a measure could backfire and increase gender discrimination.

In February, Spain became the first European country to give women paid time off work if they suffer from chronic period pain, approving a law on menstrual leave as part of a wider reproductive health reform.

The law provides employees with the right to a three-day menstrual leave of absence if they experience debilitating periods, providing a doctor deems it necessary.

There are now calls for France to follow suit.

According to an IFOP poll around half of French women of menstrual age experience painful periods, and two thirds said they supported the right to menstrual leave.

Around a dozen French companies have already introduced some form of period leave, the first  La Collective  in 2021.

In late March the town of Saint Ouen, just north of Paris, became the first town council in France to a special leave of absence.

Under the experimental scheme, female municipal workers will be allowed to take up to two days of paid sick leave per month, providing they can show a medical certificate confirming their condition.

Crucially, the two days leave would be paid by the state, whereas sick leave in France is only paid from the fourth day.

Suffering in silence

Town hall employee Veronqiue Kojbati, who suffers from a painful gynaecological condition known as adenomyosis, welcomed the measure.

Even taking painkillers all the time didn't relieve the pain, but I came to work anyway, she told RFI.

Two days' sick leave means losing 70 euros, so doing that every month is a lot of money. From now on, I could use the new protocol of two days' leave.

Listen to a conversation about menstrual leave in the Spotlight on France podcast:

The scheme was spearheaded by Socialist party mayor Karim Bouamrane after he realised how many of the town's 1,200 female employees were suffering in silence.

We had to do something, he told RFI. With this special leave of absence  up to two days per month  women will feel less guilty. But above all, it will make the issue of painful periods less of a taboo subject.

It could also help raise awareness of women's health at work, including debilitating diseases like endometriosis which affects one out of ten women in France.

We didn't talk about painful periods in our family, it was a taboo subject, said town hall employee Jerome Pankoni. I've since asked my sister about it and it turns out she's been suffering for years. I had no idea.

Draft bills

Bouamrane wants to go further, and has written to President Emmanuel Macron calling for the right to period leave to be enshrined in French law.

Just like you get time off for training or recuperation days, menstrual leave will also become standard practice, he said. That's why it has to feature in our labour code, and become law.

A number of Socialist and Green MPs are drafting bills to that effect.

It's the right moment to make this bill in France, there's a lot of interest and the population is ready, said Socialist MP Fatiha Keloua Hachi.

Green MPs are also consulting feminist associations, medics and companies with a view to drafting their own bill.

Additional discrimination

But there are concerns over the efficiency of a menstrual leave law and whether women would dare to call on it.

In 2017, Italy toyed with the idea but dropped it because lawmakers believed it could reinforce harmful stereotypes about women in the workplace.

The business world is sceptical, with the Confederation of SMEs saying it could result in disorganisation within small companies.

The boss' union, Medef, is opposed, saying it would send out the image that women cannot hold the same posts as men.

Women themselves are nervous over the possible consequences.

In the IFOP survey, 82 percent of those questioned said they feared a law on menstrual leave could make it harder for them to get hired  an opinion shared by feminist group Osez le feminisme.

What seems like a good idea in principle could have a detrimental effect on gender equality in the workplace said spokesperson Violaine d e Filipiss.

You have to think about the problem of discrimination during recruitment and the impact on career development, she told RFI.

We know the questions employers ask themselves nowadays in France: 'If a man and woman have the same skills shouldn't I prefer the 30-year-old man to the 30-year-old woman because he's less likely to go on maternity leave?' We'll have the same problem with menstrual leave.

Sociologist Aline Boeuf has also expressed fears that people in precarious work situations might hesitate to ask for menstrual leave if they have no guarantee of being taken on again".

A cultural change

Whether or not a law on menstrual leave is desirable, many groups agree that it is not enough.

Employers have "not yet taken into account women's experiences, such as menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, Boeuf told RFI, pointing to measures that could help to improve the daily life of employees, like e quipping toilets with washbasins or installing rest rooms with hot water bottles.

Yasmine Candau of EndoFrance, a group that campaigns for better recognition of endometriosis, agrees that dedicated spaces in the workplace would be a sign of progress.

Pain can come at any moment, you can't always know in advance, in the morning, she said.

Socialist Senator Conway-Mouret, a key player in drafting a bill, recognises that menstrual leave will not resolve all the problems long term, but says a cultural change is necessary and the bill can kickstart that.

Women must not be ashamed of suffering," she told RFI. "This measure is a small step in favour of their wellbeing at work, but a big step in the more global debate that we need around the change in mores, she said.

Listen to a version of this story in the Spotlight on France podcast. Listen here.
Flagbearer hopeful of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama will resume his nationwide campaign after the Easter festivities today, Tuesday, 11 April 2023, with a three-day visit to the Eastern Region.

Mr. Mahama will visit 33 constituencies where he will meet and interact with branch and constituency executives, a statement signed by Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Spokesperson for the John Mahama Campaign said.

Mr Mahama has so far toured seven regions, touching ground in 106 constituencies.

In the Eastern region, Mr Mahama will speak to his vision of Building the Ghana we want together, and why securing a convincing win in the NDC primaries will be a great boost for the 2024 presidential election.

He is also expected to share his plans towards improving the partys polling and electoral area campaign, through voter mobilizing and canvassing, and the effective utilization of campaign materials and resources.

Mr. Mahama has announced a reward scheme to recognize branches of the party that increase their polling stations votes in both the parliamentary and presidential elections.

From the Eastern Region, Mr Mahama will spend a day touring some constituencies in the Greater Accra Region on Friday April 14, before heading out to the Oti Region.

Source: Classfmonline.com
AYD Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital has donated to the Koforidua Prisons on Easter Monday.

Items donated include 3 bags of gari, 1 bag of yam, 1 big of maize, T- rolls, 2 boxes of soap and 15 bags of sachet water at a cost of an undisclosed amount of money.

The donation was to put smiles on the faces of inmates at the facility, especially during the Easter festivities and also assure them of their support despite the current situation they find themselves in.

Being the maiden edition of the NGO to donate to the Prisons, management were optimistic the gesture will go a long way to augment government's support to both inmates and Prison officers.

Mr. Asare Yeboah Daniel, the founder AYD Foundation in a short speech indicated the NGO has since 2018 donated to many orphanage homes across the region as part of its widow's mite contribution to helping the needy and less privileged in society.

However, he stated that donating to the Prisons is the first of its kind and assured it would be repeated in the coming years to show love to inmates.

Authorities of the facility were grateful to the management of the NGO for the support and pledged to use the items for the intended purposes.
11.04.2023 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has jumped to the defense of his colleague Bryan Acheampong amid backlash from the Ghanaian public.

The MP for Abetifi suffered a lot of criticism over the weekend after he made a statement that has been described as senseless and inciting by many.

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.

In the midst of criticism directed at the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Majority Chief Whip Bryan Acheampong has defended his NPP colleague, insisting that what he said is nothing new.

He accuses the NDC of hypocrisy in their attacks on Bryan Acheampong.

Leave Bryn alone. He said nothing new... The entire Party & the parliamentary Caucus is fully associated with him.. The hypocrisy of our colleagues is just nauseating often times..., Frank Annoh-Dompreh argued.
Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante

11.04.2023 LISTEN

Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante says he does not believe there is any weight in the statement by Bryan Acheampong insisting that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will never hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (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.

Sharing his view on the statement during an engagement on TV3, Dr. Asah-Asante said it doesnt mean anything because the Ghanaian people will decide where power goes after the 2024 general election.

He argues that the statement only came from a party person who is power drunk.

Yes, it is to be expected from a party that is desperately looking for its mandate to be renewed. But his statement doesnt mean anything because it doesnt lie in his mouth to determine who will vote for them.

It is their records that will show, yes he will say they will not hand over power, but when the people go to the poll and decide who should inherit the reins of government, then you will see the reality. For now, I take it as an ordinary statement from a party person who is desperately looking for power, Dr. Asah-Asante shared.
The adolescent years are often marked by significant challenges for both teenagers and their parents. This period of life is characterised by physical, emotional, cognitive, and social changes that can create tension and misunderstanding within families. With the prevalence of common parental concerns and misconceptions about teenage behaviour, it is essential to understand the underlying factors that contribute to these issues. This essay aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between brain development, emotional regulation, and the importance of patience in navigating the teenage years. Furthermore, it will offer practical tips for parents to build strong relationships with their teens and successfully navigate the adolescent years. Throughout this extensive exploration, we will delve into the intricacies of the developing teenage brain, the challenges faced by adolescents, and the ways in which parents can support their children during this tumultuous time.

To begin with, it is crucial to recognise the role that the developing frontal lobe plays in shaping teenage behaviour. As the centre for emotional regulation, decision-making, and impulse control, the frontal lobe does not reach full maturity until the mid-20s. This neurobiological fact partly accounts for the emotional volatility and impulsive actions that are characteristic of adolescents. The prefrontal cortex, a critical part of the frontal lobe, is responsible for executive functions such as planning, organising, and reasoning. During adolescence, the prefrontal cortex undergoes significant developmental changes that can affect a teens ability to regulate emotions and make sound decisions.

Furthermore, the adolescent brain is marked by increased neural connectivity and synaptic pruning, which can impact learning, memory, and behaviour. The process of synaptic pruning helps to refine and strengthen neural connections, while weaker or unused connections are eliminated. This process is essential for healthy brain development, but it can also contribute to the vulnerability of adolescents to risk-taking and impulsive behaviour. Research has shown that the brains reward system is highly active during adolescence, making teenagers more susceptible to the allure of novel experiences and peer pressure.

In addition to the changes occurring in the prefrontal cortex, the limbic system also plays a significant role in teenage behaviour. The limbic system, which is responsible for processing emotions and regulating stress, undergoes rapid development during adolescence. This development can lead to heightened emotional reactivity and a decreased ability to regulate emotions effectively. As a result, teenagers may experience intense emotional highs and lows, which can contribute to mood swings and impulsive behaviour.

To further understand these challenges, lets explore the hormonal fluctuations during puberty. The surge of hormones like oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can lead to mood swings, irritability, and emotional sensitivity. These hormonal changes can interact with the developing brain, further complicating the emotional landscape of adolescence. By acknowledging the impact of brain development on teenage behaviour, parents can better understand the driving forces behind their teens actions and emotions. Additionally, it is important to recognise the role that environmental factors and life experiences play in shaping adolescent behaviour.

External factors, such as family dynamics, peer relationships, and academic pressures, can also influence teenage behaviour. For example, teenagers who experience high levels of stress at home or school may be more prone to emotional outbursts and impulsive actions. Similarly, adolescents who are exposed to negative peer influences or who lack strong social support networks may be at greater risk for engaging in risky behaviours.

By understanding the complex interplay between brain development, hormonal changes, and environmental factors, parents can develop a more comprehensive perspective on the challenges faced by their teens. This knowledge can help parents maintain a sense of perspective and empathy when dealing with challenging behaviours and emotional outbursts, and it can also inform their approach to supporting their teens through the various stages of life. In the following section, we will examine how this understanding can help address instances of selfish behaviour in teenagers.

Teenagers may occasionally act selfishly as they reprise their role as a younger child. This phenomenon can be attributed to the struggle for independence, as well as the need to balance individual desires with family dynamics. The development of a personal identity is a central task of adolescence, and teenagers may feel compelled to assert their autonomy and make decisions based on their own needs and desires. However, this focus on self-interest can sometimes result in behaviour that appears selfish or inconsiderate to others.

In order to manage this effectively, parents should demonstrate empathy and understanding while simultaneously enforcing clear boundaries and consequences. This balance can be particularly important when fostering emotional intelligence in teenagers. Emotional intelligence, or the ability to recognise, understand, and manage ones own emotions and the emotions of others, is a crucial life skill that can contribute to healthy relationships, effective communication, and overall well-being.

One strategy for dealing with selfish behaviour is to engage in open, non-judgmental communication with the teenager. By expressing their feelings and concerns in a calm, respectful manner, parents can encourage their teens to reflect on their actions and consider the impact on others. Honest conversations about the importance of empathy and compassion can help teenagers develop a more nuanced understanding of the world around them and foster a greater sense of social responsibility.

Another approach to addressing selfish behaviour is to model and promote prosocial behaviours, such as cooperation, sharing, and helping others. By engaging in acts of kindness and generosity, parents can demonstrate the value of compassion and empathy in action. Encouraging teenagers to participate in community service or volunteer work can also provide them with opportunities to develop empathy and contribute to the well-being of others.

Moreover, it is essential to create a supportive and nurturing home environment where teenagers feel safe expressing their emotions and discussing their concerns. By creating a space where adolescents can openly share their thoughts and feelings, parents can help their teens develop the self-awareness and emotional intelligence necessary for healthy emotional regulation.

With this approach in mind, we will now discuss the importance of patience in the maturation process.

Patience is a vital component of the maturation process, as recognising that adolescents are experiencing natural stages of growth allows parents to nurture self-awareness and emotional intelligence in their teens. By providing open communication, understanding, and guidance, parents can help their teenagers navigate the challenges of brain development and hormonal changes. Maintaining patience and empathy during this time is essential, as it can create a supportive environment that fosters healthy development and strong parent-teen relationships.

One way that parents can cultivate patience during the teenage years is by educating themselves about adolescent development and the unique challenges faced by their teens. By understanding the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence teenage behaviour, parents can develop a greater appreciation for the complexities of the adolescent experience. This knowledge can help parents maintain a sense of perspective and empathy when dealing with challenging behaviours and emotional outbursts.

Another approach to fostering patience is to practice mindfulness and self-compassion. Parenting a teenager can be a stressful and emotionally taxing experience, and it is essential for parents to prioritise their own well-being and self-care. By cultivating mindfulness and self-compassion, parents can develop the emotional resilience necessary to navigate the ups and downs of the adolescent years with grace and patience. Practising mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation, can help parents stay present and grounded in the face of challenging situations.

Furthermore, it is crucial for parents to maintain a sense of humour and perspective during the teenage years. Recognising that the adolescent phase is temporary and that growth and development are ongoing processes can help parents maintain a sense of balance and optimism in the face of challenges. Sharing stories and experiences with other parents can also provide valuable insights and support, as well as a reminder that they are not alone in their struggles.

Finally, it is important for parents to recognise and celebrate the growth and progress their teenagers are making. By focusing on the positive aspects of their teens development and acknowledging their achievements, parents can foster a sense of pride and accomplishment in their children. This positive reinforcement can contribute to the development of a healthy self-esteem and a strong sense of identity, which are critical components of a successful transition to adulthood.

In the following section, we will explore practical tips for parents to build strong relationships with their teens.

Active listening and non-judgmental communication play a crucial role in fostering trust and understanding between parents and their teenage children. When parents listen attentively to their teens and refrain from interrupting or offering unsolicited advice, they send a powerful message that their childs thoughts and feelings are valued and respected. By practising active listening, parents can create an open and supportive environment that encourages their teenagers to share their concerns and seek guidance when needed.

In addition to active listening, employing open-ended questions can facilitate more in-depth conversations and promote critical thinking in teenagers. By asking questions that encourage reflection and self-exploration, parents can help their teens develop the ability to articulate their thoughts and feelings more effectively. This skill can contribute to a greater sense of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

Additionally, expressing love and validation can help create a supportive environment in which teenagers feel secure and valued. Regularly demonstrating affection and providing verbal affirmations of love and appreciation can help strengthen the parent-teen bond and foster a sense of belonging and connection.

In addition to these strategies, setting realistic expectations is vital for the well-being of both parents and their adolescent children. By acknowledging individual differences and encouraging personal growth and responsibility, parents can promote healthy development and a positive parent-teen relationship. It is essential to recognise that each teenager is unique, and their development may not follow a linear or predictable path. By maintaining flexibility and adapting their expectations to the needs and strengths of their child, parents can create a supportive and nurturing environment that promotes healthy development.

Encouraging open discussions about values, goals, and expectations can also help parents and teenagers navigate the challenges of the adolescent years more effectively. By engaging in honest and respectful conversations about the future, parents can support their teens in making informed decisions about their education, career, and personal relationships.

As we conclude, we will reflect on the importance of adaptability and understanding throughout the various developmental stages.

In conclusion, the journey of parenthood is an ongoing process that requires adaptability and understanding as children progress through various developmental stages. By examining the role of brain development, emotional regulation, and the importance of patience, parents can better comprehend the challenges faced by their teenage children. Furthermore, by employing effective communication strategies and setting realistic expectations, parents can foster strong relationships with their teens and support their healthy development into responsible, well-adjusted adults. Ultimately, celebrating progress and fostering resilience will not only strengthen the parent-teen bond but also enable adolescents to navigate the challenges of life with confidence and grace. The insights provided in this essay emphasise the significance of a supportive and understanding approach to parenting during the complex and transformative adolescent years.
11.04.2023 LISTEN

Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante has opined that there is no way threats of violence will determine who wins the 2024 general elections.

Speaking to TV3, he said the next election will be won by the political party with the best track record as far as growing the economy and the building of infrastructure is concerned.

His argument comes after the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong stated that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will never hand over power to the National Democratic Congress.

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 while addressing party followers at the end of a health walk on Saturday.

For Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, this will have no impact on the 2024 general elections to determine which party wins.

All political parties, first, their aim so to win power and form the next government so definitely they are in power and they will not want to give power to the next government, so they will make sure they win the election, that is how I understand it. For me, it doesnt lie in his mouth to make that statement because there are factors that influence voter choices and it is not what he is saying.

It is by dint of hard work, first and foremost it is the economy, have they improved the economy that they want the mandate to be renewed? Have they built infrastructure that also determines voter choices? Have they also worked against corruption? These are some of the issues that will come up, Dr. Asah-Asante argued.
Construction work on a 500-bed maternity and children's block project at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has stalled for almost four months now.

The development has led to discomfort among health workers and the general public who fear the project may be left uncompleted just like the 45-year-old block that was eventually demolished.

On May 2020, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the construction of a new maternity and children's block of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital after the old one was pulled down for failing structural integrity test.

The project which is to be carried out within 36 months and whose funding has been fully secured. The finalisation of this project is as very dear to my heart as it would have a positive impact on our country's drive towards achieving the SDG target under maternal and child health, President Akufo-Addo stated.

The 138-million Euro project was to be completed in May 2023 but it was later reviewed to be handed over by the end of the first quarter of 2024.

Work began in earnest to meet the completion deadline.

But the project has come to a halt since the beginning of 2023.

TV3 sources revealed the about five hundred on-site workers have been laid off due to the unavailability of funds to continue with the project.

The project site now looks empty with no sign of construction activity ongoing.

The project site has now become the home to hawks with no sign of construction activity ongoing.

With less than a year to complete and hand over the project, work is currently 40 percent complete.

We beg the government to release funds for the completion of this project. We were told the funds are ready before the commencement of work. So, what is delaying its completion? We don't want what happened to the 44-year-old MBU block to happen to this. Enough of taxpayers' money has been wasted already by demolishing the old building. This new one needs to be completed without any delays, a resident in Kumasi, Seth Adu Sarkodie said.

The completion of this facility will come as a relief to us (health workers) and those who patronize the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Maternal and child health will further improve, a midwife who spoke on the condition of anonymity noted.

Once completed, the 500-bed maternity and children's block will come with ten operating theatres and diagnostic rooms, fully equipped with X-Ray, ultrasound, and mammography facilities.

Paediatrics, gynaecology and obstetrics units will be inclusive. It will house an intensive care unit, a high dependency unit, isolation rooms and student lecture halls, with the capacity to provide catering services for staff, patients and students

Fully equipped with modern medical equipment will mean enhancing on health care delivery towards meeting the SDG 3 target on improving maternal and child health.

Old MBU block demolished

After investing millions of dollars in the construction of the 45-year-old maternity and baby unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the 6-storey building was demolished completely owing to compromised structural integrity.

The structural defects according to contractors was as a result of years of neglect.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has justified the demolition with the explanation that, the old MBU building, due to its exposure to the weather, could not last for the next five to 10 years.

Hence, its maintenance will be more expensive than building a new project to serve the people of Ashanti Region and beyond.

3news.com
Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, the Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, has appealed to the factions in the protracted Bawku chieftaincy conflict to let the reconciliation of Easter be manifested in their daily activities and resolve their differences for peace to reign.

He said there had been enough bloodshed, creating a society of increased numbers of widows, orphans and other marginalised groups, adding that the situation could not be left to continue.

Violence was one of the reasons Jesus Christ died and His death would be meaningless if humanity continued to engage in conflicts, taking innocent lives, destroying property, and creating a bleak future for the youth, he said.

It is for this reason that we appeal to every warring conflicting party, especially in the Upper East Region, to give peace a chance.

Most Rev. Agyenta, in his message to round off the Easter celebrations, said many pupils had abandoned school due to the violence, which would create a bleak future for them and for the progress of Ghana.

There is going to be a generation of young children who will not be able to complete their basic educationWe are laying the foundation for trouble, he said.

He appealed to all the parties to lay down their arms and embrace peace for the sake of their children.

GNA
Former Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford will lead a North Dakota Petroleum Council program to recruit Ukrainians and other immigrants for oil field jobs.

The Petroleum Council trade group announced Sanford's hire on Tuesday. Sanford resigned effective Jan. 2 after six years as lieutenant governor under Gov. Doug Burgum, citing a desire to return to the private sector. He was mayor of Watford City, in the Bakken oil patch, from 2010-16, and is a former auto dealer.

Sanford will be project manager of Bakken Global Recruitment of Oilfield Workers, or GROW, a new initiative to bring workers to the oil field through immigration, focusing initially on Ukrainians.

He will be the lead liaison between the council's member companies and immigration recruitment agencies to help bring workers to the Bakken.

The Bakken GROW program is a humanitarian mission and a workforce solution. The NDPC staff and membership are excited to begin sharing the hospitality of North Dakota and the tremendous Bakken career opportunities with a wider group of individuals," Sanford said in a statement.

Uniting for Ukraine -- an effort to help citizens fleeing the Russian invasion of their country -- is helping recruit immigrants for the GROW program. Displaced Ukrainians need a sponsor before they can come to the U.S. and stay up to two years as part of the "U4U" humanitarian program.

The GROW program's first 25 workers from Ukraine will be in North Dakota by July, according to the Petroleum Council. They will receive safety training through the organization's One Basin, One Way! program, with further orientation from their employers.

Our member companies have been struggling to find workers within North Dakota and across the country for the last few years, so we felt we needed to create an innovative way to respond to our industrys challenges of finding workers through legal immigration," Petroleum Council President Ron Ness said in a statement.

The trade group estimates several thousand job openings in the oil field, according to spokeswoman Reva Kautz. A recent job fair in Williston drew about 50 employers connected to the oil and gas industry, she said. The One Basin, One Way! Program has been training 350 workers weekly.

The GROW initiative could be used to reach out to other countries for potential workers after the first group of immigrant workers is successfully placed, according to the Petroleum Council.

Ninety-four Ukrainians resettled in North Dakota in 2022, including 42 in the Bismarck area, according to State Refugee Coordinator Holly Triska-Dally.

Burgum appointed Tammy Miller, who was chief operating officer for the governor's office, to succeed Sanford as lieutenant governor.
11.04.2023 LISTEN

The National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin has expressed disappointment in the Ghana Police Service and the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

According to him, he expected that after Bryan Acheampong made the emphatic statement that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Abetifi Member of Parliament would have been invited by the Police for questioning.

Speaking to Neat FM in Accra, Joseph Yamin opined that IGP George Akuffo Dampare will go down as one of Ghanas worst IGPs although he had such a bright start when he was appointed by President Akufo-Addo.

I think the IGP is not helping Ghanaians. He may go down as the worst IGP ever even though he started as the best thing ever to happen to this country because of his actions. We were expecting that as time progresses, he will get better but unfortunately, he is getting worse, the National Organiser of the NDC said.

Joseph Yamin in the interview, stressed that the NDC no longer has trust in the police service.

This he explained is why the largest opposition party has decided to employ its own security for the 2024 general elections.

We dont have confidence in the state giving us security so we will find our own security for the election. We also knew we could not trust government and the security, Joseph Yamin said.
Visiting UN chief Antonio Guterres appealed Tuesday for significant international support for Somalia as it battles a desperate humanitarian crisis caused by "a perfect storm" of drought and protracted armed conflict.

Guterres said at a press conference with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu that he was on a "visit of solidarity" to the troubled Horn of Africa nation, where five million people are facing high levels of food insecurity.

Somalia's worst drought in decades has driven many to the brink of famine, while the government is also engaged in a major offensive to quell a bloody Islamist insurgency.

"This combination of terrorism and drought, largely caused by climate change, creates a perfect storm for the people of Somalia and requires massive support from the international community," Guterres said during a visit to a camp for internally displaced people.

"The people I met have lost their livestock, they have lost their property, they have lost everything," he told reporters in the drought-hit district of Baidoa.

The United Nations has launched a $2.6 billion call for humanitarian assistance, but Guterres said the appeal was only 15 percent funded.

"The international community has been absent-minded in relation to the drama of the people of Somalia," Guterres said.

'Victims of climate change'

Map of Somalia. By (AFP/File)

Mohamud said the UN chief's two-day visit, the first since March 2017, was also a gesture of solidarity "towards the government and the democratic process of Somalia".

"This visit ensures that the United Nations is fully committed to support our plans for state building and stabilising the country," his office said in a statement.

Five successive failed rainy seasons in parts of Somalia as well as Kenya and Ethiopia have led to the worst drought in four decades, wiping out livestock and crops and forcing at least 1.7 million people from their homes in search of food and water.

While famine thresholds have not been reached in Somalia, the UN says about half its population will need humanitarian assistance this year, with 8.3 million affected by the drought.

Adding to the woes, seasonal rains in March led to flooding that claimed the lives of 21 people and displaced more than 100,000, according to the UN, which warned that the rains were unlikely to be enough to improve the food security outlook for many.

"Although Somalis make virtually no contribution to climate change... the Somalis are among the greatest victims," Guterres said.

'Excess deaths

Somalia was hit by a famine in 2011 that killed 260,000 people, more than half of them children under six, partly because the international community failed to act fast enough, according to the UN.

A report by the UN and the Somali government released in March said that drought might have led to 43,000 "excess deaths" last year, with children under the age of five accounting for half the victims.

One of the poorest countries on the planet, Somalia has been wracked by decades of civil war, political violence and an insurgency by the Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab.

Last year, Mohamud declared "all-out war" against the Islamists and sent in troops in September to back an uprising against Al-Shabaab launched by local clan militias in central Somalia.

In recent months, the army and the militias known as "Macawisley" have retaken swathes of territory in an operation backed by an African Union force known as ATMIS, and by US air strikes.

The government said late last month that more than 3,000 Al-Shabaab fighters had been killed since it launched the offensive.

It also said 70 towns and villages had been "liberated" from Al-Shabaab, which has been fighting the fragile central government for more than 15 years.

It was not possible to independently verify the claims.

Al-Shabaab has frequently retaliated against the offensive with bloody attacks, underlining its ability to continue to strike civilian, political and military targets despite the government's advances.

In a report to the UN Security Council in February, Guterres said that 2022 was the deadliest year for civilians in Somalia since 2017, largely as a result of Al-Shabaab attacks.
11.04.2023 LISTEN

Government has again been asked to invest in herbal industry to improve the quality of health of the people and also to create more job opportunities, especially for the youth.

This is critical owing to the high potential of Ghanas herbal industry to save the countrys economy as it could rake in huge foreign exchange if given the needed support by the government.

A nation that is ready to develop must first check the health of its people, that why I pray the government to hugely invest in home-grown interventions like the herbal industry to create sustainable jobs, improve quality health and bolster the strength of our economy, Mr. Amadu Ibrahim, the CEO of IBNADJT Enterprise said at the launch of IBRAMINA 2K, a general wellbeing medicine, at Nkonsia near Wenchi in the Bono region last Monday.

Mr. Amadu Ibrahim advised his colleagues in the herbal industry to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations spelt out by regulatory agencies such as the Centre for Plant Medicine Research and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to ensure confidence in herbal preparations by the consuming public.

I plead with my fellow herbal practitioners to make it a necessity to go through all laid down processes of the State in determining the efficacy of their products to enhance confidence in the industry. This will help push-off quacks that have been operating to the bring the name of the industry into disrepute, he noted.

He added: Those who are blessed with medicines should not avoid the FDA and Centre for Plant Medicine Research but rather avail themselves to go through the scientific analysis in determining the efficacy of their drugs. This certainly will help them to rather serve the public better.
Mrs. Olayinka Naa Dzama Wilson-Kofi & Mr. Emmanuel Adinkrah

11.04.2023 LISTEN

The Ghana Internet Safety Foundation (GISF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) West Africa, an affiliate of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Global.

The move is to boost collaboration between the two parties as they all work towards a common goal of intensifying online safety and cybersecurity efforts.

GISF has been operating the Child Online Protection Initiative (COP) since the year 2014 when it was founded.

GISFs partners include schools, businesses, foundations, government agencies, and individuals who care about safety of their communities and loved ones.

WiCyS West Africa on the other hand, is an affiliate of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Global, a global community which helps to build a strong cybersecurity workforce with gender equality by facilitating recruitment, mentorship, career guidance, retention, and advancement for women in the cybersecurity space.

The WiCyS West Africa Affiliate, and its new partner the Ghana Internet Safety Foundation (GISF) both welcomed the new partnership with the hope of working together to achieve their targets in relation to online safety matters.

"I must say that GISF is indeed honoured to partner the WiCyS West Africa since we both share in the vision to help eliminate all dangers of exposing children to the bad side of the Internet.

"We act as a public media voice about online security, online sexual exploitation, sexual abuse images of child victims and social media as we apply to diverse disenfranchised populations, we present pro-social, restorative, and respectful approaches to these issues," Mr. Emmanuel Adinkrah, the president of GISF stated.

He said GISF has an exceptional reputation for up-to-date, research-based materials and usable resources distributed through our website, database of articles, blog posts and social media contributions.

"A lot of individuals and organizations committed to building awareness and delivering strategies to keep our youth safe while they engage in online activities have shared our efforts."

On the part of WiCyS West Africa Affiliate, it said the signing of the MoU with GISF is a privilege since it is among its mission to get more women into cybersecurity through cybersecurity awareness which includes the protection of the vulnerable especially women and children online.
11.04.2023 LISTEN

Dr Senanu Djokoto, a parliamentary aspirant in the upcoming Keta NDC primary, has petitioned the appeals committee in relation to the clearance of Dr Emmanuel Jones Mensah, another aspirant, to contest the race.

Dr Djokoto said he considered it an error by the vetting committee that Dr Jones Mensah had met the mandatory requirements of Regulation 2.1(III) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Guidelines for clearing parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general election.

The guidelines provide that a person desirous of contesting the position of parliamentary candidate shall be an active member of the party in the constituency for not less than four years pending the date of filing their nominations.

Dr Djokoto, in his petition sighted by the Ghana News Agency, said he found the committees decision to accept a letter from Dr Mensah dissociating himself from a fraudulent registration conduct at Ashiaman untenable.

I also find the vetting commitees investigation into the alleged Ashaiman membership of the aspirant inconclusive, as no effort was made by the committee to authenticate the said alleged membership, he said.

Dr Djokoto said he had dutifully served the NDC in the Keta Constituency and was aware that most members and executives valued truth, honesty and intergrity, hence the need for a fair and just resolution of the matter.

Any decision on Dr Jones Mensahs legibility or otherwise may adversely affect me as a candidate in the election, he said.

Under the circumstances, I believe that it will be prudent for the appeals committee to lay this matter to rest to forestall any legal tussle that can arise from same.

GNA
11.04.2023 LISTEN

Former President, John Dramani Mahama has told the National Democratic Congress (NDC) family to look forward to victory in the 2024 general elections.

Engaging party faithfuls in the Eastern Region as part of his campaign tour on Tuesday, April 11, the flagbearer hopeful of the NDC said he has received a revelation from God that victory awaits the party next year.

By Gods grace we have the experience, we didnt buy it in the store, we didnt learn it in school, it is God who gave us the opportunity to gather that experience.

Dont worry about what some people are saying, it is Gods will, I attend church and when I pray God speaks to me and God has said this is the time for NDC, he has given us power, ex-president John Dramani Mahama said.

He continued, If God decides no one can change it. Let us continue to pray and trust that what has been arranged will come to pass.

During his engagements with the massive followers that turned up for his campaign tour today, John Dramani Mahama advised against campaign of insults.

He urged all NDC members rooting for him to desist from using insults to destroy his opponents.

Let us not resort to insult because we are one family, this is one party, we are looking for one thing, power.

Let us support whoever will be elected parliamentary candidate and when your time comes you will also be supported, John Dramani Mahama shared.
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has commenced sitting in Tamale to consider the 2020 Auditor Generals Report on Technical Universities, Reports on the Management and Utilisation of District Assemblies Common Fund and other Statutory Funds for the year ended 31 December, 2020 in the Northern, North East, Upper East, Upper West and the Savana Regions.

The report is a consolidation of the significant findings and recommendations emanating from the Auditor Generals routine audits of the 10 Technical Universities in the country and covers the period 1 January to 31 December,2020.

The Committees work has been divided into four (4) Zones; Northern, Middle, Central and Southern zones.

Dr. Hilla Limann, Bolgatanga and Tamale Technical Universities had management issues, including failure to seek approval from Central Review Committee, non-use of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System, un-receipted school fees and under-deduction of rent.

The Committee also found that Bolgatanga Technical University auctioned the Universitys vehicles without approval from the required authority. Officials from the same institution were also found by the Auditor Generals report transferring funds to undisclosed SDF project account.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr James Klutse Avedzi urged public institutions to ensure that they work in accordance with the Public Procurement Laws and the Financial Management Act to avoid violating the laws that could result in sanctions.

Most of these institutions have been made to refund various sums of funds misappropriated to government within two (2) weeks.

The Committee will spend six (6) days in the Northern Zone before moving to the Middle Zone in the Bono East Region and the Savana Regions.

Source: Classfmonline.com
James Agbey, the Director of Operations for the Greater Accra National Democratic Congress

11.04.2023 LISTEN

The Director of Operations for the Greater Accra National Democratic Congress (NDC), James Agbey has warned that the party will be ready for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) if they resort to violence in the 2024 general elections.

This is in reaction to the statement from Bryan Acheampong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi that the NPP will not hand over power to the NDC.

According to James Agbey, Bryan Acheampong is a threat to Ghanas democracy and must not be tolerated in any way.

They want to make violence sound normal. Thats why the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong is heard beating the war drums in ancipation of reliving the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence in election 2024.

We have all watched Bryan Acheampongs video and have taken notice of his unguarded rants. We have also become aware of his intention to disrupt the 2024 polls and plunge the country into chaos, the NDC Director of Operations in the Greater Accra Region argued.

James Agbey added, While I acknowledge the fact that Bryan Acheampong is a threat to our Democracy and must not be tolerated, this depraved effort is part of the ongoing NPP agenda to illegitimately hang on to power in 2024 even as it is clear that Ghanaians dont want them in office. Not long ago, the Director of Operations at the Presidency, Lord Commey made similar statement. There has also been media reports of NPP training vigilantes for 2024 elections.

While the NPP has defended the statement by Bryan Acheampong described as senseless and inciting, the majority of Ghanaians have condemned such utterances.
Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

11.04.2023 LISTEN

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will be the guest of honour at the 2023 Harvard Africa Development Conference.

At the Conference, the Vice President will deliver the keynote address.

In a press release from the office of the Vice President, it has indicated that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will leave Ghana on Thursday, April 13, and return to the country on Sunday, April 18.

The Vice President, H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, will address the 2023 edition of the Harvard Africa Development Conference at the Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States as the Guest of Honour.

The Conference, which is organised annually by the African Caucus of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard African Law Association, will be held on the 15th and 16th of April 2023.

The Vice President leaves Ghana on Thursday, 13th April and returns to Ghana on Sunday, 18th April, 2023.

As the Guest of Honour, Vice President Bawumia will deliver the keynote address, parts of the release from the office of the Vice President signed by his Spokesperson Gideon Boako said.

The Africa Development Conference is an event that convenes students, academia and practitioners to highlight and explore critical issues related to the development of the African continent's development.
Some residents of the Upper East Region have expressed dissatisfaction over the interruption of the academic calendar of Second Cycle Institutions in the region.

Some parents have complained that the interruption in the academic calendar did not only deny the students enough contact hours to learn, but also put financial burden on the parents and called for resolution to the situation.

This came up when some first-year students of the second cycle institutions, particularly those running the double track system were asked to proceed on vacation and to report in June after only three weeks in school.

Some of the students, especially the second-year students, are to spend only 10 days as vacation period.

Mr Michael Azure, a parent in Garu said the brief vacation which was about 10 days would affect him because he would have to provide for his ward to go back to school at a time his monthly salary was not yet paid.

He said due to the economic nature of the country, it was not easy for him because he would have to provide for the family and also pay his wards school fees, which would place pressure on him as the head of the family.

Mr Abraham Atubiga, a teacher by profession and a resident of Garu said some students had complained that their parents would not be able to afford to provide their provisions, school fees and other needs.

He said that was due to the economic stress in the country and appealed to the government to address the challenges.

Mr Emmanuel Alalba who is a student and resident of Garu said the new calendar had placed a burden on the students to learn to pass their examination, due to the limited contact hours, the old calendar gave students ample time to learn in school and that was better, he added.

Mr Ayeriga Azeriya, the Bawku Municipal Director of Education, Ghana Education Service, explained that the new curriculum was used because of the COVID-19 pandemic that interrupted the education calendar in the country.

He said the reason the vacation period had been shortened was for the education system to return to the old system, which would be fully activated on September 1, 2023.

GNA
A Gackle man who pleaded guilty to driving a combine drunk and killing a South African farmhand has been sentenced to a year in prison.

Ryan Storbeck, 42, faced a possible five-year prison term on a felony negligent homicide charge stemming from the death of Johannes Steenberg. Southeast District Judge Troy LeFevre handed down the sentence Tuesday after hearing a spokesman say Steenberg's family has forgiven Storbeck for his part in the incident last fall.

We do recognize he was under the influence of alcohol at the time, but we are of the mindset that weve obtained forgiveness from God and we also would like to grant that to Ryan and ask that the court be lenient on his sentencing, said Vaughan Sparrow, Steenbergs brother-in-law.

Authorities said Storbeck was drunk while driving a combine that struck Steenberg on Sept. 6, 2022. A deputy Stutsman County sheriff who responded to the scene northeast of Gackle at about 5:40 p.m. that day stated in an affidavit there was evidence that Steenbergs head had been crushed between the header of a combine and the wheel of a grain cart.

Storbeck also was sentenced on charges of DUI and false reports to law enforcement. His blood alcohol content at 8:30 p.m. the day of the incident was 0.11%, and at 9:18 it was 0.09%, according to the affidavit. The legal limit for driving is 0.08%. Storbeck initially told officials he hadnt been drinking but later allegedly admitted to drinking a six-pack or 12-pack of beer. He allegedly told authorities they usually start with a 30-pack and today they ran out before they started combining, the document states.

Storbeck told LeFevre hes been an alcoholic most of his life. Given that he is experienced in farmwork it was irresponsible and stupid to have been drinking that day, he told the judge. He said he was unsure how a reference to usually starting a day with a 30-pack of beer was made in the deputy's affidavit but said, I should have been the responsible one and neither one of us should have had any alcohol."

The alcoholic in me didnt see it that way at that time, he said.

Steenberg kept coming back to North Dakota to help Storbeck because he didnt want to leave me by myself, Storbeck said.

He was my best friend and part of my family, Storbeck said, adding that the support hes received from the community and Steenbergs family is very powerful. He said he has been sober since the incident.

LeFevre said he recognized there was no intent on Storbecks part but said there was negligence. Storbeck had a DUI conviction in 2018 and for some people thats the light bulb moment, thats the wake-up call where their drinking crosses the line, the judge said.

Were here because at least perhaps in part due to the lack of sobriety, LeFevre said. This court does need to hold you accountable for those actions.

Storbeck must spend two years on supervised probation after his release. The judge also ordered Storbeck to pay $1,360 in fines and court costs. He handed down nine-day sentences for the DUI and false reporting charges and gave Storbeck credit for nine days served. LeFevre ordered Storbeck to begin serving his negligent homicide sentence immediately.
Claims for financial compensation for medical mistakes in South Africa have been on the rise since 2007 . Recently, however, criminal charges for medical errors have also become more prevalent. One such case is that of Dr Danie van der Walt , who was ultimately acquitted on a charge of negligently causing the death of a child. Another example is the case of Dr Peter Beale , who was charged with, but not yet tried of, causing the death of a 10-year-old. Yet another is the ongoing case and charge of murder brought against Dr Avindra Dayanand for the death of a 35-year-old patient.

These cases have raised questions about how the medical profession is regulated in South Africa. Is the regulation effective in preventing harm? How are medical practitioners held accountable for harm suffered? What are the consequences of the regulatory environment? The Conversation Africa's Ina Skosana spoke to Larisse Prinsen, a medical law specialist, about what's in place.

How is the medical profession in South Africa regulated?

South Africa has a comprehensive framework for the regulation of the healthcare environment.

Healthcare in South Africa is overseen by the National Department of Health along with its provincial departments. The medical profession is regulated by numerous authorities and pieces of legislation.

Practitioners, depending on their branch of medical practice, are regulated by certain bodies that have been created by legislation. These statutory authorities provide field-specific regulation.

They include the Health Professional Council of South Africa , which is perhaps the primary regulator of the medical profession. The council has professional boards which are responsible for various aspects of the profession. For example, the boards determine standards of education and training for practitioners, and set and maintain standards of ethical professional practice as empowered by the Health Professions Act of 1974 . The professional boards, such as the Professional Board for Emergency Care Practitioners, also license practitioners and keep registers of them.

Health products are regulated by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority . And medical research is overseen by the Medical Research Council .

These statutory bodies and professional boards also have the power to establish disciplinary committees and disciplinary appeals committees.

Which laws are in place?

Healthcare in South Africa is also regulated by the Constitution , medico-legal codes of conduct, the common law and precedents set by case law.

In addition, numerous acts of parliament exist which represent binding regulatory instruments. The Allied Health Professions Act of 1982, Dental Technicians Act of 1979, Health Professions Act, Medicines and Related Substances Act of 1965 and its 2002 amendment, Nursing Act of 2005, Pharmacy Act 53 of 1974 and South African Medical Research Council Act of 1991 regulate medicine and the medical profession.

Some of the most prominent pieces of legislation regulating the practice of medicine are the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996, Inquests Act of 1959, International Health Regulations Act of 1974, Mental Health Care Act of 2002 and its 2014 amendment, National Health Act of 2003 and the 2013 amendment and Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2004.

In theory, South Africa has a sound healthcare regulatory framework. However, as is often the case, its efficacy can be undermined by human factors. These may include ignorance of the law, poor implementation, lack of resources, breaking of the law or even the wrongful assumption of being above the law. All these factors may contribute to the rise in criminal charges now being brought against medical practitioners, as well as the shock and pushback this has generated in the medical profession .

This is not only a South African trend but an international one . For example, in the UK Dr Bawa-Garba was convicted of culpable homicide over the death of a six-year-old patient. However, countries such as New Zealand, Australia and England require gross negligence when prosecuting doctors in negligence cases.

How are medical practitioners held accountable?

Healthcare practitioners may be held accountable through internal disciplinary action, civil claims or criminal charges.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa, and other bodies and professional boards, have the power to establish disciplinary committees . These committees most often deal with instances of unprofessional conduct or conduct which is improper or disgraceful or dishonourable or untrustworthy.

An example of this type of conduct would be persuading patients to invest in a distressed company of which the medical practitioner is a director. These were the facts of a case involving Dr David Grieve . The doctor tried and failed to appeal a decision by the health professions council.

This means that medical practitioners may be held accountable by way of internal procedures. These may lead to fines, suspensions or the loss of their licences. The precise number of instances where doctors have been struck off is unknown since the majority of these matters are dealt with behind closed doors.

Civil or criminal processes may be based on malpractice or negligence. For a civil claim of negligence, it must be shown that the healthcare practitioner owed a duty of care to the patient, that this duty of care was breached, and that the breach was responsible for the harm suffered. If this is shown on the balance of probabilities, the patient is entitled to compensation. The test applied here asks if a reasonable medical practitioner in the same position would have foreseen the possibility of harm and have taken steps to guard against it. If so, negligence is shown.

For criminal cases of negligently causing the death of another person  culpable homicide  the same requirements are used. But it must be proven beyond reasonable doubt. This is a higher burden of proof .

Criminal charges should be carefully considered. Medical practitioners should not be held liable for mere errors in judgment . In South African law, you are either negligent or you are not. There are no degrees of negligence. The distinction between acceptable errors in judgment or punishable negligence will have to be decided case by case, taking all the facts into consideration.

Criminalisation of medical judgment may interfere with appropriate medical decision making . It may discourage doctors from specialising in higher risk, yet much needed, fields already suffering from skills shortages  such as obstetrics or neurosurgery. It may also lead to the practice of defensive medicine  recommending diagnostic testing or treatment paths which are not necessarily the best available option but primarily serve to protect doctors against potential litigation or criminal charges.

Larisse Prinsen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Larisse Prinsen, Senior lecturer in law, University of the Free State
As part of its efforts to help address climate change and problems of biodiversity in Ghana, Conservation Alliance International in partnership with A Rocha Ghana, CSIR-Plant Genetics Resources Research Institute (PGRRI), Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) with funding from JRS Biodiversity Foundation through the GBIF Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) Programme organized a workshop to discuss pathways towards successful completion of the BID-AF2020-029-USE project.

The BID-AF2020-029-USE project titled Integrating ecosystem and biodiversity data was to assist national development planning to integrate off-reserve, Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) into government decision making processes.

The workshop brought in more than 40 key stakeholders from government agencies, academia, and the private sector, to discuss access to Biodiversity information and why its important now for Ghana.

The workshop provided the opportunity for key stakeholders and partners to share impact stories, and best practices, and offer feedback to improve future interventions on Biodiversity information and how biodiversity data are thus critical to advance the sustainable development agenda.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Ghana, Mrs. Jewel Kudjawu explained the importance of biodiversity data to the development of Ghana.

She said Ghana needs solid biodiversity data in order to report accurately on national and global biodiversity commitments of the country.

The information products developed under the project will be integrated government policies and plans including the National Biodiversity Policy (NBP) and the National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (NISSAP), she added.

Present at the workshop was a team of biodiversity experts from the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) led by Matthew Child, Deputy Director for Bioinformatics. SANBI has served as mentors for the BID project team in Ghana and provided useful training Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) assessment and also assisting the team in making valuable inputs into the NBP and NISSAP.

The SANBI team promised continued support for the project especially in the area of capacity enhancement.
Yes, it is possible to break the 8! APC in Nigeria has shown the way. If you are a political party and you seriously want to win power, you must have workable strategy that would give you the numbers. There is nothing like with God all things are possible miracle in politics when your candidate and strategy are very weak to bring in the numbers.

When APC in Nigeria wanted to break the 8 in the midst of economic hardships in the country, they didnt go about shouting it is possible, it is possible. No! They did what needed to be done to make it possible to break the 8. They came up with a strategy to have the numbers to win.

They must have asked themselves simple questions like, How can we have the needed numbers to win? What must we do to get the numbers to win? Which ticket must we present to get us the numbers to win?

You see, in every election, the most important thing to do is to strategize to have the needed numbers to win. And thats what APC did in Nigeria.

APC delegates, knowing the economic situation in the country and the role religious factor play in politics, boldly rejected the Presidents candidate, who is a Pastor, Professor of law and the sitting Vice President. In fact, the Vice President placed third in the presidential primary.

They didnt blindly disadvantage the party against PDP and LP by selecting the establishments weak candidate and said it is possible to break the 8 with him. No! They rather strategically and consciously played the numbers game to their advantage by leveraging the religious and ethnic factors.

As the results of their election have shown, the APC strategy, which focused largely on positioning the party to win more of the Muslim and Yoruba votes, worked to perfection. Their choice of Alhaji Ahmed Tinubu, a Yoruba man, was the best decision APC delegates made.

And, Tinubus decision to make their ticket Muslim-Muslim ticket was also the best decision. But for that strategy, Atiku would have won the northern Muslim votes. Smartness pays in politics!

In the end Tinubu won 5,507,785 of the northern votes while Atiku, a native of the north, had 5,159,541. Interestingly, with respect to the ethnic factor, apart from Lagos, Tinubu won in all other Yoruba dominated States of Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun. He lost Lagos to Obi for obvious reason  the religious factor was prevalent in the last election, particularly in Lagos, as reported by BBC and other news agencies.

They knew in terms of message they were somehow weak on the economy, so they strategically leveraged the Tinubu strength in respect of his religious and ethnic background, as well as his performance record as a former Minister and Governor. What a smart strategy!

Dear NPP delegates, the APC strategy has proven to be potent. Therefore, as National Youth Organizer, Mustapha Salem once advised, lets replicate some of the things they did, for it is possible to break the 8 with them.

Lets boldly reject the Presidents candidate, present a candidate who has good performance record we can leverage and can also win us majority of the Christian votes. Without doubt, Alan Kyerematen is the right marketable person to lead the party to break the 8.

However, unlike the APC one-sided Muslim-Muslim ticket, I would suggest we maintain our winning Christian-Muslim ticket for 2024. Its a powerful ticket that has won us power four times since 2000. In 2008, we shot ourselves in the foot. In 2012, we were cheated. Why change this powerful strategy!

As I conclude, one word keeps coming to me - *NUMBERS.* With right strategy and strong candidate, it is possible to have the numbers to break the 8.

Shalom shalom!

E. G. Buckman
The United Nations has sent an overland convoy to resupply its peacekeeping mission in separatist-controlled Western Sahara for the first time since 2020. The UN says its presence in the field is key to finding a way to resolve the disagreement over what to do with the territory.

Two sites hosting UN peacekeepers as part of the Minurso mission were resupplied from April 5 to 7, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, on Monday.

Since November 2020 and the resumption of hostilities between separatists and the Moroccan government, ground convoys have been limited, and supplies arrived via plane and helicopter. This limited what could be brought in, notably fuel.

The sites in Tifariti and Mehaires are both east of the 2,700 kilometre-long sand wall separating the Moroccan-controlled part of the former Spanish colony from that controlled by the Polisario Front, an armed separatist movement that has been fighting for independence since the 1970s.

'Non self-governing territory'

The deliveries were brokered with the support of both Polisario and the Moroccan government, and Dujarric said a UN presence in the field is crucial to create space for the political process to progress.

Morocco, which controls about 80 percent of the territory, built the sand wall in the 1980s, splitting the territory from north to south.

It supports limited autonomy for the territory, which would remain under Moroccan control.

The Polisario Front has called for independence and has denounced Morocco's using its natural resources.

The UN currently considers Western Sahara, which was relinquished by Spain in 1975, a "non-self-governing territory.

Minurso was established to monitor a 1991 cease-fire and organise a referendum on self-determination. But the ceasefire has broken down in recent years, and tensions and disagreements have put off any vote.

(with AFP)
Recently, South Africans were told about an extraordinary escape story  they learnt that a convicted rapist, Thabo Bester, had been at large for a year after he'd escaped from a privately-run maximum security prison. In May 2022 the Department of Correctional services reported that he had burnt to death in his cell. But a forensic report  which prison authorities only released recently after dogged reporting by journalists at the news outlet GroundUp , showed that the body wasn't his. Journalist Ruth Hopkins. Ilse van Velzen

Bester was re-arrested in Tanzania over the Easter weekend and arrests have been made in connection with his escape.

The story has raised questions about the management of privately-run institutions such as the Mangaung Maximum Security Prison in Bloemfontein from which Bester escaped. Ruth Hopkins is an investigative journalist who recently wrote a book  The Misery Merchants: Life and Death in a Private South African Prison  about G4S , a British multinational private security company running the Mangaung prison. Between 2012 and 2018 she worked for the Wits Justice Project which investigates wrongful convictions, lengthy remand detentions, police brutality and other criminal justice issues. Conflict criminologist Casper Lotter asked for her insights into Bester's escape.

What does the escape illustrate about your investigation?

Based on my findings I believe Bester's escape illustrates the fact that there is corrupt collusion between Department of Correctional Services, G4S and the South African Police Service.

Bester's case reminded me of Isaac Nelani, an inmate at the Mangaung prison, who died in 2014. The pathologist, Gene Book, found Nelani had bruising on the back of his head, which pointed to 'blunt force' and therefore he deemed the death 'suspicious'.

But the South African Police Service, the Department of Correctional Services and G4S worked together to cover up this probable murder. In 2015 I wrote a story for the South African newspaper the Mail & Guardian about Nelani's death. The department of Correctional Services filed a complaint about the article with the Press ombudsman. The ombudsman ruled in my favour .

The department's action clearly indicated that it was actively protecting the multinational, because it challenged me on a case that primarily implicated G4S.

This collusion ruled out any accountability.

In my view the same collusion made the Bester escape possible.

On May 20 2022 journalist Mzilikazi Wa Afrika wrote to the department notifying them of Thabo Bester's brazen escape. But it failed to take any action.

The department also knew about Nelani's death, because all deaths in prison have to be reported to the department. It would therefore have been aware of the pathologist's report.

As I establish in my book, it also knew about widespread torture through electroshocking, forced medication with anti-psychotic drugs, serious assaults, riots, hostage takings and suspicious deaths.

Yet there was no accountability. G4S retains the contract.

The 25-year contract for Mangaung prison was signed in 2000. It is due to expire in 2026.

What were the biggest problems you unearthed at the prison?

The Emergency Security Team , known as the Ninjas, used their electrified shields as a torture instrument and regularly electroshocked prisoners, for minor transgressions such as complaining about the quality of food or the lack of blankets. In practice electroshocking was used randomly and rampantly. Forced injections with anti-psychotic drugs were also a widely used method of crowd control. CCTV video footage from within the prison was leaked to me and contained evidence of prisoner Bheki Dlamini being forced to undergo an injection with the anti-psychotic drugs Etomine. Dlamini had no record of mental illness. The number of suspicious deaths in Mangaung prison that I came across were another issue that was incredibly concerning. In 2015 the then national commissioner of correctional services Zach Modise announced that the department would appoint a task team to look into unnatural deaths at Mangaung prison. The task team was never heard of again. The treatment of G4S employees is another egregious problem. For years, guards petitioned the prison management, demanding improved safety and security measures. Many suffered terrible violence at the hands of inmates.

For example, the guards wanted the ceramic toilet pots to be replaced with cast iron ones because the ceramic pots were smashed and the shards used as weapons to stab warders. The company denied the allegations. It never offered any improvements.

As I have written, the practice of making money from punishment has grown in South Africa. What's the situation when it comes to privatisation?

Only two of South Africa's prisons are run by private companies. Mangaung is run by G4S and Kutama Sinthumule in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo, is run by the US-based GEO Group. Jacana Media

No other prisons have been privatised and it looks as though it's unlikely to happen.

When I was working for the Wits Justice Project, I visited and wrote about approximately 20 state-run prisons in the country. Torture and violence are prevalent in these institutions too. But my findings in researching the book showed that it was more prolific in Mangaung prison.

Ruth Hopkins is an editor at Corpwatch and the founder of the Private Security Network (PSN) . Private Security Network is part of Corpwatch.

Casper Ltter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Casper Ltter, Research fellow, North-West University
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has joined forces with the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), Vital Strategies, and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to organize a workshop for senior news editors in Kumasi.

The workshop, which took place at the Golden Bean Hotel last Wednesday, aimed to promote road safety and public health-related issues, equip news editors with the skills to effectively report on stories related to road crashes, public health, infrastructure, and municipal governance.

The facilitators of the workshop were experts drawn from BIGRS, NRSA, and the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD). Other participants included Drivers, Vehicle & Licensing Authority, Ghana Highways Authority, Department of Urban Roads, the Building & Road Research Institute, and selected Road Safety Advocates. These experts shared their knowledge and insights on various topics related to road safety and public health.

During the workshop, the news editors were provided with a platform to share their experiences and ask questions. This allowed for an interactive and informative learning experience. The workshop was deemed a success, with the news editors gaining valuable knowledge and skills that will enable them to report on road safety and public health-related issues more effectively.

The workshop was part of a broader effort by the KMA, BIGRS, Vital Strategies, and NRSA to promote road safety and public health-related issues in Kumasi and Ghana as a whole.
Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyepong has said Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia must go with President Akufo-Addo when he ends his second term.

According to him, the governing NPP needs to go into the 2024 general elections with a new face.

He told 3FM in an interview that he is the right person to lead the NPP. He argues that he is coming with fresh energy and a new set of ideas to lead the party to victory.

I am going to be dramatically different and I think after 16 years of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia ticket on top of the NPP, there is a crying need for fresh energy, new set of ideas and I think KAA (Kwabena Agyei Agyepong), I represent the new dawn that the NPP can use to win power in 2024, the NPP flagbearer hopeful said.

Speaking on the economic woes of Ghana, Kwabena Agyepong urged government to cut its coat according to its material.

He argued that cutting waste will improve the finances of Ghana and put the country in a better economic position.

It is important that we cut our coat according to the size of cloth that is available to us, so you can talk about generating more revenue, it is easier to start cutting the waste in Ghana and there is a lot of waste in Ghana, Kwabena Agyepong shared.
There has been a lynching incident at Wurapong, a farming community in Yilo Krobo Municipality in Eastern Region.

The deceased identified as Francis is a young man who is well-known in the town.

According to the information gathered, the deceased was attacked by some youth in the community and beaten to death.

The attack was staged after the deceased allegedly assaulted his wife and inflicted cutlass wounds on her.

Some of the youth in Wurapong who knew the wife pounced on the deceased after hearing of the assault.

He was severely beaten before the youth decided to drag him to the Police station.

He is said to have jumped from the motorbike he was being transported on and suffered additional injuries.

After he was taken to a Clinic at Klo Agogo, he was referred to Eastern regional hospital but died on arrival.

The Police have since taken up the matter and have arrested a few suspects.

The Assembly member for Wurapong Electoral Area, Francis Addey Atter, and other leading members of the community are assisting the police with investigations.
The Legal Team of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to immediately arrest and prosecute the Member of Parliament for Abetifi Bryan Acheampong.

The petition follows some comments made by Mr Acheampong during the Easter period at Mpraeso in the Eastern Region.

Mr. Acheampong who doubles as Minister for Food and Agriculture, addressing party supporters at Mpraeso on Saturday, April 8, said the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will never hand over power to the opposition NDC in 2025.

The Director of Legal Affairs of the NDC, Abraham Amaliba described the statement by Bryan Acheampong as an affront to the constitution and a threat to the security of Ghana.

Speaking to the press after petitioning the Ghana Police Service on the matter, Abraham Amaliba stressed that the police must arrest Bryan Acheampong immediately.

We were at the CID office to present to the CID boss, a petition, calling on the department to arrest, investigate and prosecute the Minister of Agric, Bryan Acheampong for the uncivil comments that he made during the Easter break. You are aware that he, in a viral video, said that they, the NPP, will not hand over power to NDC come what may. And as lawyers, we are of the view that his comments on that day bother on national security and an affront to national security.

As lawyers, we think that the police administration must be interested in this matter. As stakeholders in this democratic dispensation, we will not sit by for one person to pass comments that will bring unrest in this country. The CID boss assured us that she will take the necessary steps, he said.

Excerpts of the petition read, That Your Petitioner says that the said Bryan Acheampong continued to say that they-NPP will show the NDC that the NPP have the men and that the NPP will do everything possible-fair or foul means to remain in power come what may in the 2024 general elections. I enclose herein, audios and videos of the utterances of Hon Bryan Acheampong for your perusal.

That, in the estimation of Your Petitioner and those of the general public, the statements uttered by Bryan Acheampong could be interpreted to mean that the NPP has conceived a grand scheme to subvert the will of the people of Ghana in the 2024 elections and any attempt to resist them would be met with violence.

A founding member of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe slammed the Member of Parliament for Abetifi for claiming that the ruling party will hold on to power at all cost.

NDC called on the Ghana Police Service to immediately arrest and prosecute the MP for comments the party described as reckless and treasonable.

However, the New Patriotic Party in a statement defended Bryan Acheampong.

Flagbearer hopeful of NDC John Dramani Mahama, addressing party delegates in the Akuapem North and South Constituencies at Akropong in the Eastern region on Tuesday said regardless of the stance taken by the NPP, the NDC will not underplay the role of God in the 2024 elections. He said the NDC is unfazed by Bryan Acheampong's claim.
French President Emmanuel Macron began a state visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday by delivering a key-note speech on "European sovereignty" at the Nexus Institute in The Hague.

Macron outlined his ideas for the future of the EU, elaborating on his flagship "plan for Europe " first presented in 2017 at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

The plan contains six "keys" to European sovereignty, including a common defence budget, streamlining immigration and asylum procedures, and developing a new partnership with Africa. Europe should allign social and fiscal policies, and strengthen democracy by promoting national and local debate.

Macron thinks the EU has to change and can no longer afford to continue its old policies in the face of the US, and the growing cooperation between Russia and China.

Royal welcome, and hecklers

Making the first state visit by a French president to the Netherlands for 23 years, Macron and his wife Brigitte were greeted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima on their arrival in Amsterdam.

The French leader stood to attention outside the Royal Palace as a band played the Marseillaise, the French national anthem. He later laid a wreath at the Dutch National Monument.

In the afternoon, Macron spoke to an audience of international students about "the future of Europe", an event organised by the Nexus Institute, marking the 75th anniversary of the Congress of Europe, which was held in The Hague in March 1948, and which planted the seeds of what was to become the European Union.

Before Macron could begin, he was interrupted by hecklers in the auditorium carrying slogans like "President of violence and hypocrisy" and screaming "Where is French democracy?"

"I can answer this question if you give me some time," Macron calmly replied while security personnel removed the protesters.

Outside the venue, a handful of students also organised a small protest against Macron's pension reforms in solidarity with demonstrators in France. They called on people to shout slogans such as "Against against against 49,3, what we want is democracy."

Conference organisers warned that "no form of burning will take place, such as the burning of photos, flags and/or dolls," while demonstrators were asked not to wear face masks, helmets or balaclavas or take "objects that are usually used in the event of disorder, such as chains and bats."

Macron's speech in The Hague was preceded by controversy over remarks on Europe and China the French leader made over the weekend.

In an interview with Politico and Les Echos last Sunday, Macron said that the EU should reduce its dependency on the United States and avoid getting dragged into a confrontation between China and the US over Taiwan, underlining the importance of the EU's strategic autonomy.

With these ideas, Macron in fact submits to the post cold-war joint declaration by China and Russia on the "multipolar world and the establishment of a new international order." The document declared the cold war and the bipolar system to be outdated. That document calls "not for hegemony and power politics, but for dialogue and cooperation." Macron wants Europe to become a third pole, facing the US and the Russia/China alliance.

Sharp criticism

But Macron's European dream, and his attitude to the standoff between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan, have already generated sharp criticism.

The influential Wall Street Journal writes that Macron has blundered and is undermining US-led deterrence against China.

Paris daily Le Figaro wonders if Emmanuel Macron is not repeating with Xi Jinping on the question of Taiwan the error the French president made with Vladimir Putin just before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Emmanuel Macron has completely misunderstood the situation, says political analyst Antoine Bondaz. Macron "puts all the blame for the tension on the United States," according to Bondaz, "forgetting that China's ambition is to take control of Taiwan, destabilise the global order."

US Senator Marco Rubio said on Twitter that "we need to find out if Emmanuel Macron speaks for Europe".

And director of the Polish Institute of International Relations (PISM), Slawomir Debski remarked that "a brain death has occurred somewhere, no doubt," referring to the words used by the French president to describe NATO in 2019.

Upon his return to France on Wednesday evening, Macron will face another day of national strikes. On Friday, the Constitutional Court will decide on the legality of the proposed pension reforms.
North Dakota lawmakers approved a school voucher bill that will offset the cost of tuition for some families sending their children to private schools.

The North Dakota Senate voted 27-19 on Tuesday to approve House Bill 1532, sponsored by Rep. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks. The legislation that has been proposed as a school choice bill would set aside $10 million from the states general fund for an educational reimbursement program.

The Senate before passing the bill approved multiple amendments, including a requirement that the money allocated to private schools be used only toward tuition, a reduction in the appropriations for the program from the original $24 million to $10 million, and an audit of the money given to private schools.

The Senate amendments also introduce a means test for families applying for the money to send their children to private schools, which requires a familys gross taxable income to be under the 500% federal poverty level. Sen. Donald Schaible, R-Mott, said for a family of four to use the program, their income would have to be around $150,000.

The bill, which passed the House in February, will return to the other chamber because it was amended by the Senate. If approved by the House and signed by Gov. Doug Burgum, the legislation will provide up to $10 million for the education reimbursement program during the second half of the biennium, for the 2024-25 school year.

The legislation outlines a program in which the Department of Public Instruction would pay a private school for the sum of education expenses no more than 30% of the state-determined per-student pay rate. Parents would participate in the program by submitting a form to the private school, which would verify the student attends school there. Then, the school would request funds to cover that students education expenses.

Supporters of the bill say it will allow more families to choose where they send their children to school by offsetting the cost of tuition.

Every North Dakota citizen should contribute financially to support our schools, said Sen. Jonathan Sickler, R-Grand Forks. Private school parents contribute to that educational impact twice via taxes and tuition, limiting those who have a meaningful choice to select the best school for their child.

Opponents of the bill say families already have a choice in where to send their students.

Im not bashing private schools, but it is an option -- it is an option that parents can choose, and then I think its important to them to figure out how theyre going to make it work, said Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo. We only have so much money in this state that we can allocate to those things.

The legislation also requires a legislative management study on the funding of nonpublic schools during the 2023-24 interim session. Because the legislation only establishes the educational reimbursement program for the 2023-25 biennium, for the program to continue into the next biennium, the Legislature will have to reapprove the program in the next legislative session.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has made a case why he should be given the chance to become the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

In his bid to become President again, Mahama has been on a campaign tour across the country in the last two months trying to convince NDC delegates to choose him in the partys presidential primaries.

Speaking to delegates from Okere, Akuapem North, and Akuapem South constituencies at Akropong on Tuesday, he noted that they must select him and ditch other aspirants without any experience.

He said Ghana has suffered under the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government and needs someone with experience to turn things around.

This John Dramani Mahama is charging delegates to run away from flagbearer aspirants who have no experience.

Runaway from anyone who ask you to experiment him. It is not about experiment. The extent of harm done to Ghana it is not about experiment it is about experience and by Gods grace we have the experience. We didnt buy it in a store we didnt learn it in school, it is God who gave us the opportunity to gather that experience, John Dramani Mahama shared.

While John Dramani Mahama is regarded as the favourite for the NDC flagbearership, he is facing strong competition from Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, former Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
One of the six suspects standing trial in connection with the murder of the young soldier Sherrif Imoro at Taifa, a suburb of Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region has been released on health grounds.

He has been granted GHC150,000 bail with three sureties, two to be justified with landed properties by the court presided over by Simon J. Gaga.

However, another suspect is crying for more food claiming that he is being underfed.

This comes after two lawyers battled with prosecution for over 30 minutes for bail to be granted to the accused persons against the wish of prosecution who want them remanded.

Counsel who only represented the accused persons who were arrested and charged for dishonestly receiving stolen items prayed the court to grant them bail.

Counsel for three of the four accused persons told the court that the third accused, Ibrahim Abdul Rakib has been battling with ulcer in custody.

He therefore asked the court to admit him to bail so that he can seek proper medical attention since keeping him in custody could aggravate his health condition.

But prosecution led by Superintendent Sylvester Asare opposed the bail and told the court to adjourn the case.

According to him, the investigations into the case are in advanced stage as prosecution needs ample time to complete.

He pointed out to keeping accused persons in custody is in the interest of the accused persons and that of the public.

According to the prosecutor, granting them bail will impede and interfere with investigations.

Prosecutor rubbished the claim of suspect demanding bail on health ground, saying that the accused never complained of any sickness when he was in custody.

He said prosecution is ready to offer medical treatment to the accused person at the Police Hospital.

Interestingly, before the presiding judge could complete drafting his ruling, one of the prime suspects, Samuel Tetteh raised his hand.

When asked by the court his reason, to the dismay of the gallery, he told the court that the food being offered him in the custody was not enough.

He further told the court to direct prosecution to give him enough food.

But the court, after having carefully listened to the applications for bail from counsel and objection by the prosecution, admitted the third accused person to bail on health ground.

The court however, remanded the remaining five accused into police custody for investigations to continue.

The court further directed the police to take good care of the accused persons in custody to be healthy to stand trial to avoid unwanted eventuality.

The main two accused persons arrested for the murder of the military are on trial for conspiracy to commit crime to wit attempted robbery and robbery whereas the four are defending themselves on the charge of dishonestly receiving stolen items.

Murder Trial

Earlier on the same day April 11, 2023, the Tema District Court also denied bail to the two main accused persons, Samuel Tetteh alias Wiper and Abubakar Sadick alias Birdman when they appeared on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

The Tema District Magistrate Court Presided over by Benedicta Antwi remanded the accused persons after Superintendent Sylvester Asare told the court that duplicate docket which has been forwarded to the office of Attorney General for study and advice is yet to return.

He prayed the court to remand the accused persons in police custody.

The Magistrate, Benedicta Antwi granted the prayer and remanded the accused persons to reappear on April 11, 2023

It would be recalled that the Police after a week of sustained intelligence-led operations, arrested six persons at different dates and locations within Ashiaman and its environs for their suspected involvement in the murder of Private Imoro Sherrif, a soldier.

On March 4, Police received information that a male adult had been found lying dead at Ashiaman Taifa in the Greater Accra Region.

A team of Police officers proceeded to the said location and confirmed the incident.

Police immediately commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim.

The Crime Scene Team retrieved a number of items, including a knife with blood stains on it and a backpack. In the backpack, Police found a Samsung tablet, an Apple laptop, a military uniform with the name tag Imoro, eight other items of clothing, as well as a Ghana card and a Health Insurance card bearing the name Imoro Sherrif.

Judging from the contents of the backpack, the police suspected the victim could be a soldier, and in line with Police standard operating procedure for handling institution-based victims, the Military was accordingly notified of the incident and some military personnel came to identify the deceased to Police as Imoro Sheriff, a soldier.

The body of the deceased was thereafter conveyed to a hospital for preservation and autopsy.

As part of the investigation, an intelligence-led operation was immediately launched within Ashiaman and other strategic locations of interest to follow up on all relevant leads on the case.

The deceased was stationed at Sunyani but had come to Accra on a course.

Investigations further revealed that on March 3, the deceased had visited a female friend at Ashaiman Newtown at about 10:30pm and left the place in the middle of the night at about 01:30am, on March 4.

After almost a week of intelligence-led operations, on March 9, the police arrested suspects Safianu Musah alias Dayorgu and Ibrahim Abdul Rakib at their hideouts in Ashaiman.

Two other suspects, Samuel Tetteh alias Wiper and Abubakar Sadick alias Birdman were also arrested at their hideouts on March 10.

Two additional suspects, Yussif Mohammed and Abdul Gafaru Abdul Karim were arrested on 11th and March 12, respectively.

Further investigation established that suspects Samuel Tetteh and Abubakar Sadick at about 1:45 am on 4th March 2023 attacked the deceased at Taifa Ashiaman in an attempt to rob him of his phone and a backpack leading to his death.

The deceased, however, resisted and struggled with the suspects. During the struggle, suspect Samuel Tetteh pulled out a knife and stabbed the deceased in the arm, snatched his phone and bolted leaving the deceased with the knife stuck in his arm.

A postmortem examination was performed on the deceased's body on March 8, after which the pathologist gave the verbal cause of death as exsanguination and laceration of major vessels of the left arm consistent with the stabbed injury.

Investigations also revealed that suspects Samuel Tetteh and Abubakar Sadick sold the phone which they had robbed from the deceased to suspect Ibrahim Abdul Rakib who later sold it to suspect Safianu Musah.

Suspect Safianu Musah is being evasive as to the whereabouts of the phone and claimed to have sold it to suspect Yussif Mohammed and later to suspect Abdul Gafaru Abdul Karim.

Both suspects have been arrested and are assisting in the investigation to recover the phone.

-Daily Guide
The Women's Wing of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has launched a manhunt for the embattled Minister of Agric and the Member of Parliament for Kwahu Abetifi, Hon. Bryn Acheampong for saying the ruling NPP will not handover power to the opposition NDC.

According to the Women's Wing, they will effect the arrest of the lawmaker for his recent reckless comment if the state security agencies fail to do so.

We call on the security agencies to immediately arrest Bryan Acheampong and slap him with charges for inciting a treasonous act.

If the security agencies fail to arrest Bryan Acheampong as they did to others, we will call for a nationwide women's revolution with immediate, effect a citizens' arrest of 'nation wrecker' Bryan Acheampong", NDC National Women's Organizer, Dr. Hanna Louisa Bisiw said.

According to the NDC Women's wing, the women of the National Democratic Congress are infuriated by what they described as "reckless and covetous statements by Mr. Bryan Acheampong."

These treasonable statements that shake the foundation of our democracy didn't start last Saturday. In 2021, at a delegates' conference in Kumasi, President Akufo Addo reiterated his plans to hand over power in 2025 to his party's flag bearer, Dr. Bisiw stated.
Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW  Get Rating) Director John Dennis Mcmahon sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.59, for a total value of $144,590.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 153,902 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,252,690.18. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

John Dennis Mcmahon also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, April 3rd, John Dennis Mcmahon sold 10,000 shares of Snowflake stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.79, for a total value of $1,527,900.00.

On Monday, March 6th, John Dennis Mcmahon sold 1,000 shares of Snowflake stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.65, for a total transaction of $142,650.00.

On Friday, March 3rd, John Dennis Mcmahon sold 10,053 shares of Snowflake stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.98, for a total transaction of $1,407,218.94.

Snowflake Price Performance

Snowflake stock traded up $2.09 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $147.77. 3,467,834 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,642,700. Snowflake Inc. has a 52-week low of $110.26 and a 52-week high of $222.00. The firms 50 day moving average price is $149.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $150.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -59.11 and a beta of 0.75.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Snowflake ( NYSE:SNOW Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 1st. The company reported ($0.60) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.48) by ($0.12). The company had revenue of $589.01 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $571.57 million. Snowflake had a negative return on equity of 13.87% and a negative net margin of 38.57%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Snowflake Inc. will post -1.63 EPS for the current year.

Several research firms recently issued reports on SNOW. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Snowflake from $225.00 to $215.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Snowflake from $180.00 to $171.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Snowflake in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Snowflake from $225.00 to $202.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Raymond James lowered their target price on shares of Snowflake from $180.00 to $170.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and twenty-seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $184.36.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Snowflake

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SNOW. Norges Bank bought a new position in Snowflake during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $477,435,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of Snowflake by 25.7% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,567,822 shares of the companys stock worth $2,136,029,000 after purchasing an additional 2,569,953 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Snowflake by 8.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,293,889 shares of the companys stock worth $2,939,269,000 after purchasing an additional 1,327,410 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in Snowflake by 30.6% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,657,938 shares of the companys stock valued at $961,623,000 after purchasing an additional 1,324,033 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC bought a new stake in Snowflake during the 4th quarter valued at about $119,432,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.31% of the companys stock.

About Snowflake

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Snowflake Inc provides a cloud-based data platform in the United States and internationally. The company's platform offers Data Cloud, which enables customers to consolidate data into a single source of truth to drive meaningful business insights, build data-driven applications, and share data. Its platform is used by various organizations of sizes in a range of industries.

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Equities research analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU  Get Rating) in a research note issued on Tuesday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the stock.

Almaden Minerals Price Performance

AAU traded up $0.00 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $0.19. 181,386 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 233,350. Almaden Minerals has a 12-month low of $0.18 and a 12-month high of $0.38.

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Almaden Minerals Company Profile

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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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Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. raised its position in AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE:AME  Get Rating) by 44.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 308,779 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 95,219 shares during the period. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P.s holdings in AMETEK were worth $43,143,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of AME. Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AMETEK by 3.6% in the third quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 67,775 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $7,686,000 after purchasing an additional 2,374 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of AMETEK by 256.5% in the third quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 16,672 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,891,000 after acquiring an additional 11,996 shares during the last quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of AMETEK in the third quarter worth $525,000. National Bank of Canada FI raised its holdings in shares of AMETEK by 19.9% in the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 44,172 shares of the technology companys stock worth $5,180,000 after acquiring an additional 7,343 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of AMETEK by 583.1% in the third quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 87,010 shares of the technology companys stock worth $9,868,000 after acquiring an additional 74,273 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.42% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

AME has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wolfe Research cut AMETEK from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Loop Capital lifted their price target on shares of AMETEK from $160.00 to $164.00 in a report on Thursday, January 12th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of AMETEK in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Mizuho raised their price objective on AMETEK from $145.00 to $153.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on AMETEK from $152.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $151.11.

AMETEK Trading Up 0.1 %

AMETEK stock traded up $0.17 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $136.95. The stock had a trading volume of 85,100 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,022,659. AMETEK, Inc. has a twelve month low of $106.17 and a twelve month high of $148.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.54 billion, a PE ratio of 27.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.62. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $141.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $136.50.

AMETEK (NYSE:AME  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The technology company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $1.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.59 billion. AMETEK had a net margin of 18.85% and a return on equity of 18.46%. AMETEKs revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.37 earnings per share. Analysts expect that AMETEK, Inc. will post 5.98 EPS for the current year.

AMETEK Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This is a boost from AMETEKs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. AMETEKs payout ratio is currently 19.96%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other AMETEK news, Director Steven W. Kohlhagen sold 5,440 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.55, for a total transaction of $786,352.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 35,674 shares in the company, valued at $5,156,676.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Anthony James Conti sold 3,440 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.57, for a total transaction of $480,120.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 26,078 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,639,706.46. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Steven W. Kohlhagen sold 5,440 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.55, for a total transaction of $786,352.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 35,674 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,156,676.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 18,160 shares of company stock worth $2,605,294 over the last quarter. 0.72% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About AMETEK

(Get Rating)

AMETEK, Inc engages in the manufacture of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices. It operates through the following two segments: Electronic Instruments (EIG) and Electromechanical (EMG). The EIG segment designs and manufactures advanced instruments for the process, aerospace, power and industrial markets.

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Bank of Hawaii increased its stake in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Get Rating) by 5.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,901 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. Bank of Hawaiis holdings in BlackRock were worth $1,347,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in BlackRock by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,492,083 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $7,424,424,000 after acquiring an additional 444,552 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in BlackRock by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,696,425 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $5,335,747,000 after acquiring an additional 174,789 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in BlackRock by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,319,438 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $3,477,460,000 after acquiring an additional 259,896 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in BlackRock by 15.4% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,326,618 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,777,933,000 after acquiring an additional 310,256 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp raised its holdings in BlackRock by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,915,197 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,463,536,000 after acquiring an additional 15,290 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.69% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at BlackRock

In other BlackRock news, Director Mark Wiedman sold 1,075 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $749.89, for a total value of $806,131.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 8,682 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,510,544.98. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 575 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $689.06, for a total value of $396,209.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 4,670 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,217,910.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Mark Wiedman sold 1,075 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $749.89, for a total transaction of $806,131.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 8,682 shares in the company, valued at $6,510,544.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 4,839 shares of company stock valued at $3,578,947 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.06% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BlackRock Trading Up 0.4 %

A number of analysts have commented on BLK shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of BlackRock in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of BlackRock from $828.00 to $829.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Credit Suisse Group increased their price target on shares of BlackRock from $540.00 to $680.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of BlackRock from $800.00 to $779.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price target on shares of BlackRock from $813.00 to $868.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, BlackRock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $750.85.

Shares of NYSE:BLK traded up $2.87 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $662.69. 29,768 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 701,148. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 2.99 and a quick ratio of 2.99. The firm has a market cap of $99.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.28. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $684.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $681.48. BlackRock, Inc. has a 1 year low of $503.12 and a 1 year high of $785.65.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 13th. The asset manager reported $8.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.99 by $0.94. BlackRock had a net margin of 28.97% and a return on equity of 14.38%. The firm had revenue of $4.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.16 billion. Equities research analysts forecast that BlackRock, Inc. will post 34.84 EPS for the current year.

BlackRock Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 7th were given a $5.00 dividend. This represents a $20.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 6th. This is a boost from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $4.88. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.91%.

About BlackRock

(Get Rating)

BlackRock, Inc engages in providing investment management, risk management, and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. Its products include single and multi-asset class portfolios investing in equities, fixed income, alternatives, and money market instruments. The company was founded by Susan L.

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BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II (NYSEAMERICAN:BLE  Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, April 5th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of 0.034 per share on Monday, May 1st. This represents a $0.41 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.86%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th.

BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II Price Performance

NYSEAMERICAN BLE opened at $10.58 on Tuesday. BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II has a 1-year low of $9.40 and a 1-year high of $11.97.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II during the 1st quarter worth approximately $147,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II during the third quarter worth $175,000. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II in the 1st quarter worth about $255,000. Creative Planning grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II by 15.4% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 21,082 shares of the companys stock valued at $233,000 after buying an additional 2,817 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its position in BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II by 28.8% during the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 22,346 shares of the companys stock valued at $275,000 after buying an additional 5,000 shares during the period.

BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II Company Profile

BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II is a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. Its investment objective is to provide current income exempt from federal income taxes. The company was founded on June 21, 2002 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE.

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Caledonia Mining Co. Plc (NYSEAMERICAN:CMCL  Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, April 4th, investing.com reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of 0.14 per share on Friday, April 28th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th.

Caledonia Mining has raised its dividend by an average of 36.5% per year over the last three years. Caledonia Mining has a dividend payout ratio of 55.4% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings.

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Caledonia Mining Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN CMCL opened at $17.20 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $220.68 million, a P/E ratio of 7.65 and a beta of 0.78. Caledonia Mining has a twelve month low of $8.75 and a twelve month high of $18.23.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Caledonia Mining

About Caledonia Mining

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CMCL. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Caledonia Mining by 72.3% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 9,053 shares of the companys stock worth $138,000 after acquiring an additional 3,800 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Caledonia Mining during the first quarter valued at approximately $57,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Caledonia Mining by 48.7% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 35,331 shares of the companys stock worth $537,000 after purchasing an additional 11,573 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in Caledonia Mining by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 35,565 shares of the companys stock valued at $541,000 after acquiring an additional 5,065 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Caledonia Mining in the 2nd quarter worth about $139,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.38% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc primarily engages in the operation of a gold mine. It also explores for and develops mineral properties for precious metals. The company holds 64% interest in the Blanket Mine, a gold mine located in Matabeleland South Province, Zimbabwe. It also has an agreement to purchase 100% ownership in the Maligreen project, a brownfield gold exploration project located in Gweru mining district in the Zimbabwe Midlands.

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Cohen Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) by 3.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,670 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the period. Cohen Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $574,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 132,480,611 shares of the companys stock worth $10,997,216,000 after purchasing an additional 1,451,582 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 100,951,462 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,379,979,000 after buying an additional 962,801 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 57,777,797 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,868,937,000 after buying an additional 389,746 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 22.7% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 35,468,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,944,500,000 after buying an additional 6,558,762 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 16,050,540 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,332,355,000 after buying an additional 260,832 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.85% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

PM has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $106.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Societe Generale assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, January 23rd. They issued a sell rating and a $90.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the company from $109.00 to $116.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Philip Morris International from $109.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Philip Morris International presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $110.36.

Insider Transactions at Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.6 %

In other news, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total transaction of $786,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 87,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,588,020.35. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other news, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total value of $786,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 87,321 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,588,020.35. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Also, insider Stacey Kennedy sold 8,756 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.31, for a total transaction of $887,070.36. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 47,731 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,835,627.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 117,064 shares of company stock worth $11,738,763 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Shares of PM traded up $0.55 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $99.12. The company had a trading volume of 849,868 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,561,098. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $98.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $96.79. The stock has a market cap of $153.85 billion, a PE ratio of 16.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.68. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1-year low of $82.85 and a 1-year high of $109.81.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $8.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.54 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 11.22% and a negative return on equity of 127.24%. Philip Morris Internationals revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.35 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd will be paid a dividend of $1.27 per share. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 22nd. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 87.44%.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Get Rating)

Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas.

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FARGO - Eastern North Dakota's Cass County this week is gearing up for its spring flood fight, aiming to fill 200,000 sandbags by the weekend.

Meanwhile, minor flooding was beginning to occur on Tuesday in low-lying areas of western North Dakota.

"This pattern of water runoff from melting snow will work its way eastward over the next few days with continued mild temperatures," the National Weather Service said. "This includes but is not limited to: Beaver Creek through Emmons County and its upstream branches in Logan and McIntosh counties, Apple Creek through Burleigh County, along with Burnt and Hay creeks, and Painted Woods and Turtle Creeks in McLean County."

Cass County

The eastern North Dakota effort includes 115,000 sandbags for Cass County, 80,000 for Fargo and 5,000 for West Fargo. Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney told Prairie Public that two machines are ready to go at Sandbag Cass, at the Cass County Highway Department in West Fargo. Volunteers are needed for shifts throughout the week.

The National Weather Service has issued warnings for moderate Red River flooding in the Wahpeton and Fargo areas effective late Thursday, as warm temperatures boost snowmelt following one of the snowiest winters on record.

Officials are planning to fortify protections from the rising Red River up to a crest of 38 feet, with due diligence up to 39 feet, according to Division Engineer Nathan Boerboom. Different emergency measures are required for different river levels, he said.

"If we had a 37 foot crest, we'd still be required to have a mile of emergency measures. At a 38 foot crest, which is what we are still planning for today, for our planning purposes -- is 2 miles of emergency measures. But on a 39 foot crest, we'd need 6 miles of emergency measures. And that's where our 80,000 (sandbags) number comes from."

Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson said he knows that varying forecasts of river levels and numbers of sandbags may be overwhelming to anyone new to the area, but he wants to assure people that they are in capable hands.

"Know that we are good at fighting floods -- know that this local government is here to support you as you see fit," he said. "This used to be a big deal for us; sandbags in every backyard up and down North Fargo, sandbags up and down in the rural areas. It was impactful. Now it is impactful, but less so."

Public meetings are being held in the Fargodome on Wednesday and at Sky Commons in the Civic Center on Thursday.

Western North Dakota

Experts say no widespread major flooding is expected in western North Dakota this spring, due in large part to dry soils resulting from prolonged drought.

But the National Weather Service on Tuesday cautioned that snowmelt runoff was increasing, "establishing pathways to the rivers and streams across western and central North Dakota."

"Rapid rises are expected in nearly all rivers and streams draining western and central North Dakota, but dry soils underlying the snowpack are still expected to temper the runoff," forecasters said. "However, flooding of nearby low-lying areas is a distinct risk going forward."

The weather service issued warnings for minor flooding in three areas:

on the Cannonball River at Breien, in Sioux and Morton counties.

on the Little Muddy River near Williston, in Williams County.

on the Knife River at Manning, in Dunn County.

No major impacts were expected.

Morton County Road 139 was closed on Tuesday due to flooding 3 miles east of Hebron, from County Road 89 to Interstate 94, according to the county.

Guard practice

Gov. Doug Burgum on Monday declared a statewide emergency for spring flooding, making state resources including the National Guard available to help in any flood fights in coming weeks.

The Guard as part of its flood response preparation will be conducting one-ton sandbag training on Wednesday and Sunday in the Kimball Bottoms area near the Missouri River south of Bismarck.

The Guards Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment will practice placing the large sandbags using Black Hawk helicopters in the parking area near the boat ramp. Military vehicles will be on scene in addition to the aircraft, and the public is advised to use caution while in the area. The river will not be closed.

Flood resources are available at www.weather.gov/flood. A flood risk identification portal is available at https://ndram.dwr.nd.gov/.

(Tribune staff contributed to this story.)
Curated Wealth Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO  Get Rating) by 10.2% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 4,727 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 536 shares during the quarter. Curated Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Rio Tinto Group were worth $337,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in RIO. Cowa LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rio Tinto Group in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Twin Lakes Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rio Tinto Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rio Tinto Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Rio Tinto Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Standard Family Office LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rio Tinto Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.43% of the companys stock.

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Rio Tinto Group Price Performance

Shares of Rio Tinto Group stock opened at $67.19 on Tuesday. Rio Tinto Group has a twelve month low of $50.92 and a twelve month high of $83.21. The firms 50-day moving average price is $70.45 and its 200 day moving average price is $67.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.

Rio Tinto Group Cuts Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th will be paid a $2.25 dividend. This represents a yield of 9.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 9th.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on RIO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,310 ($65.76) to GBX 5,380 ($66.63) in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. BNP Paribas downgraded Rio Tinto Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Barclays raised Rio Tinto Group from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. CLSA raised Rio Tinto Group from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Berenberg Bank raised Rio Tinto Group from a sell rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Rio Tinto Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $5,790.00.

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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Echo45 Advisors LLC bought a new stake in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 5,774 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $338,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in IVW. First Manhattan Co. boosted its stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 0.5% in the first quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 37,027 shares of the companys stock worth $2,828,000 after buying an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. Family Firm Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Family Firm Inc. now owns 56,253 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,254,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Southern Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Southern Capital Advisors LLC now owns 24,906 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,441,000 after purchasing an additional 184 shares during the period. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC grew its position in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 5.1% during the third quarter. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC now owns 3,842 shares of the companys stock valued at $222,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the period. Finally, Investment Advisory Group LLC raised its position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 0.4% in the third quarter. Investment Advisory Group LLC now owns 50,549 shares of the companys stock worth $2,924,000 after acquiring an additional 189 shares during the period.

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iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSEARCA:IVW traded down $0.04 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $64.03. 283,031 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,049,440. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF has a fifty-two week low of $55.30 and a fifty-two week high of $73.96. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $62.04 and a 200-day simple moving average of $60.67. The firm has a market cap of $30.24 billion, a PE ratio of 22.15 and a beta of 1.05.

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF, formerly iShares S&P 500 Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500/Citigroup Growth Index (the Growth Index). The Growth Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market.

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Ellis Investment Partners LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA  Get Rating) by 11.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 17,767 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,330 shares during the quarter. Ellis Investment Partners LLC owned 0.08% of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF worth $1,393,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Summit Trail Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 10.5% in the third quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 296,257 shares of the companys stock valued at $19,114,000 after purchasing an additional 28,265 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 9.3% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 211,559 shares of the companys stock valued at $13,650,000 after acquiring an additional 18,087 shares in the last quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $15,654,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its position in shares of Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 187,020 shares of the companys stock worth $12,066,000 after acquiring an additional 7,792 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its position in Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF by 28.6% during the second quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 186,587 shares of the companys stock worth $13,078,000 after buying an additional 41,488 shares during the period.

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Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF Stock Up 0.4 %

PPA traded up $0.30 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $81.36. 38,638 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 150,170. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.91 and a beta of 1.02. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $80.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $77.19. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF has a 1-year low of $64.48 and a 1-year high of $82.61.

About Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF

PowerShares Aerospace & Defense Portfolio (Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of the SPADE Defense Index (the Index). The Index is designed to identify a group of companies involved in the development, manufacturing, operations and support of the United States defense, homeland security and aerospace operations.

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Essex LLC lowered its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 5.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,269 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 827 shares during the quarter. Essex LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,101,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in BMY. New Millennium Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the second quarter valued at $31,000. My Personal CFO LLC purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Clear Investment Research LLC purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Miller Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 101.3% in the 4th quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 481 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 242 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.51% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. 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 note on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Atlantic Securities raised their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $95.00 target price on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $79.69.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE:BMY traded down $0.03 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $70.25. The stock had a trading volume of 784,618 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,045,419. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a one year low of $65.28 and a one year high of $81.43. The company has a market capitalization of $147.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.82, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $69.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $72.80.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) last released its quarterly 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 net margin of 13.71% and a return on equity of 51.60%. The business had revenue of $11.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.20 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.83 EPS. The companys revenue was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared 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. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 77.29%.

Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In related news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were 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 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 accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were 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 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 accessible through 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 $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 Company Profile

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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.

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Global Assets Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 921 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $472,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ELV. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC bought a new stake in Elevance Health during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Elevance Health during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Elevance Health during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Arcus Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Elevance Health during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Focused Wealth Management Inc purchased a new position in Elevance Health during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors own 87.66% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on ELV. Loop Capital raised their price target on Elevance Health from $550.00 to $565.00 in a report on Monday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Elevance Health from $555.00 to $572.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Truist Financial cut their price target on Elevance Health from $610.00 to $580.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on Elevance Health from $581.00 to $571.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Elevance Health from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $523.00 to $572.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $584.26.

Elevance Health Trading Up 0.7 %

ELV traded up $3.24 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $488.17. 285,177 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,130,864. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $474.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $490.19. Elevance Health, Inc. has a 52-week low of $440.02 and a 52-week high of $549.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $115.83 billion, a PE ratio of 19.56, a PEG ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.84.

Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The company reported $5.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.20 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $39.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $39.62 billion. Elevance Health had a return on equity of 19.56% and a net margin of 3.85%. Elevance Healths revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $5.14 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Elevance Health, Inc. will post 32.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Elevance Health Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were given a dividend of $1.48 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. This is a positive change from Elevance Healths previous quarterly dividend of $1.28. This represents a $5.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.21%. Elevance Healths payout ratio is 23.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Elevance Health

In other Elevance Health news, EVP Gloria M. Mccarthy sold 15,098 shares of Elevance Health stock in a transaction on Friday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $444.76, for a total transaction of $6,714,986.48. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 51,435 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,876,230.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Elevance Health Profile

(Get Rating)

Elevance Health, Inc operates as a health company, which engages in improving lives and communities, and making healthcare simpler. It operates through the following segments: Commercial and Specialty Business, Government Business, CarelonRx, and Other. The Commercial and Specialty Business segment provides insurance products and services such as stop loss, dental, vision, life, disability and supplemental health insurance.

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Guyasuta Investment Advisors Inc. lessened its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 45,709 shares of the companys stock after selling 300 shares during the period. Guyasuta Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $4,626,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the first quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 26,141 shares of the companys stock worth $2,456,000 after purchasing an additional 281 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in Philip Morris International by 35.6% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,939 shares of the companys stock worth $463,000 after buying an additional 1,296 shares during the period. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P raised its position in Philip Morris International by 24.7% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 3,065 shares of the companys stock worth $288,000 after buying an additional 608 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in Philip Morris International by 54.9% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 525 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. increased its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 14.7% in the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 8,987 shares of the companys stock worth $844,000 after acquiring an additional 1,154 shares during the period. 75.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price target for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. UBS Group raised shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the company from $106.00 to $116.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Societe Generale began coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. They issued a sell rating and a $90.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and set a $109.00 price objective on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, December 13th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $95.00 to $120.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Philip Morris International has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $110.36.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE PM opened at $98.68 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $153.17 billion, a PE ratio of 16.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.68. Philip Morris International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $82.85 and a fifty-two week high of $109.81. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $98.67 and its 200-day simple moving average is $96.79.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $8.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.54 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 11.22% and a negative return on equity of 127.24%. Philip Morris Internationals revenue for the quarter was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.35 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 23rd will be given a $1.27 dividend. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 22nd. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 87.44%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total transaction of $8,028,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 1,007,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at $101,057,266.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Stacey Kennedy sold 20,308 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.30, for a total value of $2,036,892.40. Following the sale, the insider now owns 22,418 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,248,525.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total value of $8,028,000.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 1,007,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at $101,057,266.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 117,064 shares of company stock valued at $11,738,763. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas.

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Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR  Get Rating) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twelve research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $58.70.

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on IR. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Ingersoll Rand from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Ingersoll Rand from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Ingersoll Rand from $53.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $60.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company.

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Ingersoll Rand Stock Up 1.9 %

Shares of NYSE:IR opened at $55.47 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.46 billion, a PE ratio of 37.48 and a beta of 1.42. Ingersoll Rand has a 1 year low of $39.28 and a 1 year high of $60.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 2.37 and a quick ratio of 1.76. The firms 50-day moving average is $56.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.37.

Ingersoll Rand Announces Dividend

Ingersoll Rand ( NYSE:IR Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The industrial products company reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $1.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.54 billion. Ingersoll Rand had a net margin of 10.22% and a return on equity of 9.99%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.64 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Ingersoll Rand will post 2.36 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $0.02 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.14%. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio is currently 5.41%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $1,500,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 102,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,171,360. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Michael J. Scheske sold 1,742 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.00, for a total value of $99,294.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 7,112 shares in the company, valued at $405,384. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Vicente Reynal sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $1,500,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 102,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,171,360. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 51,742 shares of company stock valued at $3,036,794. Insiders own 0.75% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ingersoll Rand

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 10,247 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $444,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the period. Alta Advisers Ltd acquired a new stake in Ingersoll Rand during the 3rd quarter valued at $65,000. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 1.5% in the third quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 103,023 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,471,000 after acquiring an additional 1,480 shares in the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 8.9% in the 4th quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 8,261 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $432,000 after purchasing an additional 672 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in Ingersoll Rand in the third quarter valued at $1,291,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.73% of the companys stock.

About Ingersoll Rand

(Get Rating)

Ingersoll Rand, Inc provides a broad range of mission critical air, fluid, energy, specialty vehicle and medical technologies, providing services and solutions to increase industrial productivity and efficiency. It operates through the following segments: Industrial Technologies and Services, Precision and Science Technologies, High Pressure Solutions, and Specialty Vehicle Technologies.

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iShares MSCI France ETF (NYSEARCA:EWQ  Get Rating)s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $38.44 and last traded at $38.44, with a volume of 27352 shares. The stock had previously closed at $38.19.

iShares MSCI France ETF Stock Performance

The businesss 50 day moving average is $36.90 and its 200 day moving average is $33.78. The stock has a market cap of $1.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.58 and a beta of 1.03.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares MSCI France ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI France ETF by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 17,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $456,000 after buying an additional 366 shares during the period. Laffer Tengler Investments boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI France ETF by 41.2% during the 4th quarter. Laffer Tengler Investments now owns 1,285 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 375 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI France ETF by 89.8% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,120 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 530 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI France ETF by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 35,979 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $964,000 after buying an additional 630 shares during the period. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI France ETF by 127.4% during the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 1,221 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 684 shares during the period.

About iShares MSCI France ETF

iShares MSCI France ETF, formerly iShares MSCI France Index Fund, seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the French market, as measured by the MSCI France Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the French equity market.

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Mackay Shields LLC lowered its position in BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MIY  Get Rating) by 11.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 992,834 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 131,987 shares during the period. Mackay Shields LLCs holdings in BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund were worth $11,011,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Melone Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Melone Private Wealth LLC now owns 373,450 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,631,000 after purchasing an additional 20,495 shares during the last quarter. Matisse Capital bought a new position in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund during the 4th quarter valued at about $240,000. Reitz Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Reitz Capital Advisors LLC now owns 237,566 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,941,000 after purchasing an additional 24,235 shares during the last quarter. LeJeune Puetz Investment Counsel LLC raised its position in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 86.6% during the 4th quarter. LeJeune Puetz Investment Counsel LLC now owns 21,550 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $239,000 after buying an additional 10,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AHL Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund during the 4th quarter valued at about $166,000. Institutional investors own 15.96% of the companys stock.

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BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE MIY traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $11.21. 17,506 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 68,079. The companys 50-day moving average is $11.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.45. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. has a 1 year low of $10.56 and a 1 year high of $13.90.

BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Announces Dividend

About BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a $0.0345 dividend. This represents a $0.41 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th.

(Get Rating)

BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in investment grade, long-term municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and Michigan income taxes.

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New York State Common Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS  Get Rating) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,266,552 shares of the transportation companys stock after buying an additional 9,021 shares during the quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned approximately 0.15% of United Parcel Service worth $220,177,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of UPS. RB Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in United Parcel Service by 3.1% in the first quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 2,689 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $577,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the first quarter valued at $1,162,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 10.0% during the first quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 1,233 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $264,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the period. First Western Trust Bank acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the first quarter valued at $515,000. Finally, Stevens Capital Management LP acquired a new position in United Parcel Service during the first quarter valued at $701,000. 58.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Parcel Service news, insider Laura J. Lane sold 14,617 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.16, for a total transaction of $2,604,164.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Brian Newman sold 19,000 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.46, for a total transaction of $3,466,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,677 shares in the company, valued at $2,130,585.42. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Laura J. Lane sold 14,617 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.16, for a total transaction of $2,604,164.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 54,341 shares of company stock worth $9,848,061. Insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock.

United Parcel Service Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $190.26 on Tuesday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1 year low of $154.87 and a 1 year high of $209.39. The company has a market capitalization of $163.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.41, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.22. The companys fifty day moving average is $185.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $178.19.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 31st. The transportation company reported $3.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.59 by $0.03. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 11.51% and a return on equity of 66.10%. The firm had revenue of $27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $28.03 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.59 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 11.49 earnings per share for the current year.

United Parcel Service announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, January 31st that authorizes the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the transportation company to repurchase up to 3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

United Parcel Service Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 21st were given a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 17th. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.41%. This is a boost from United Parcel Services previous quarterly dividend of $1.52. United Parcel Services payout ratio is presently 49.09%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $196.00 to $199.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $165.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $181.00 price objective on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $175.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Melius assumed coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Monday, March 27th. They issued an overweight rating and a $225.00 price objective for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $195.22.

United Parcel Service Profile

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United Parcel Service, Inc is a package delivery company, which engages in the provision of global supply chain management solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Domestic Package, International Package, and Supply Chain Solutions. The U.S. Domestic Package segment includes time-definite delivery of letters, documents, and packages.

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The North Dakota Senate on Tuesday overrode Gov. Doug Burgum's veto of a bill on lawmaker voting procedures, making the bill law.

The Senate voted 45-1 to override Burgum's Friday veto of House Bill 1463 by Rep. Todd Porter, R-Mandan. The state House of Representatives on Monday overrode the veto in a unanimous vote. It takes a two-thirds majority vote to override a veto.

The veto is the first one the Legislature has overridden this session, of four bills Burgum has vetoed so far. The House has sustained two vetoes and overridden a third, which awaits a Senate vote.

House Bill 1463 will exempt the Legislature and its committees from holding recorded roll call votes on nonprocedural votes for consideration of amendments to legislation. It will take effect Aug. 1.

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.

"This bill clarifies that what we currently do is allowable under the North Dakota Century Code and under our constitution," Sen. Sean Cleary, R-Bismarck, told the Senate.

He also cited the transparency of the Legislature's livestreaming of committee meetings and floor sessions, and videos which are archived online; and how voice votes save time when lawmakers are dealing with nearly 1,000 bills and as many amendments.
New York State Common Retirement Fund lessened its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 0.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,759,385 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 586 shares during the quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned about 0.18% of Bristol-Myers Squibb worth $270,488,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of BMY. Boston Financial Mangement LLC boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.9% during the third quarter. Boston Financial Mangement LLC now owns 15,468 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,100,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the period. Accredited Investors Inc. boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.9% during the third quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. now owns 15,461 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,099,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the period. Lincoln National Corp boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.4% during the third quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 36,282 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,579,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.4% during the third quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 10,053 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $715,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. Finally, Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.0% during the third quarter. Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. now owns 13,686 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $973,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.51% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on BMY shares. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $95.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $79.69.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

Shares of BMY stock opened at $70.21 on Tuesday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $69.74 and its 200-day moving average is $72.80. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $147.67 billion, a PE ratio of 23.82, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.45. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52 week low of $65.28 and a 52 week high of $81.43.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $11.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.20 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.60% and a net margin of 13.71%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.83 earnings per share. Equities 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is 77.29%.

Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In related news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total value of $835,258.27. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,081.67. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total value of $835,258.27. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,721,081.67. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The shares were 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 directly owns 236,104 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.

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Waterfront Wealth Inc. increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) by 4.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,289 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 531 shares during the period. Waterfront Wealth Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,171,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 132,480,611 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,997,216,000 after purchasing an additional 1,451,582 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Philip Morris International by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 100,951,462 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,379,979,000 after purchasing an additional 962,801 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in Philip Morris International by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 57,777,797 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,868,937,000 after purchasing an additional 389,746 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in Philip Morris International by 22.7% in the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 35,468,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,944,500,000 after purchasing an additional 6,558,762 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in Philip Morris International by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 16,050,540 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,332,355,000 after purchasing an additional 260,832 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.85% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $109.00 price target on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Tuesday, December 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $95.00 to $120.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Societe Generale assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, January 23rd. They issued a sell rating and a $90.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price objective for the company from $109.00 to $116.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $110.36.

Insider Activity

Philip Morris International Price Performance

In other news, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total value of $786,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 87,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,588,020.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . In other news, insider Stacey Kennedy sold 8,756 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.31, for a total value of $887,070.36. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 47,731 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,835,627.61. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.35, for a total value of $786,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 87,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,588,020.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 117,064 shares of company stock valued at $11,738,763 in the last three months. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Shares of PM stock traded up $0.59 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $99.16. The company had a trading volume of 1,072,114 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,564,753. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $98.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is $96.79. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52-week low of $82.85 and a 52-week high of $109.81. The stock has a market cap of $153.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.97, a PEG ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.68.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.10. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 127.24% and a net margin of 11.22%. The company had revenue of $8.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.54 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.35 EPS. The companys revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.31 EPS for the current year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd will be paid a $1.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 22nd. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.12%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 87.44%.

Philip Morris International Profile

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Philip Morris International, Inc is a holding company engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and nicotine-containing products. Its products include cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia and Australia, and Americas.

Further Reading

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Premier Oil plc (OTCMKTS:PMOIY  Get Rating)s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $3.50 and last traded at $3.50, with a volume of 49 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $3.50.

Premier Oil Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $3.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.59 and a beta of 2.77. The business has a fifty day moving average of $3.52 and a two-hundred day moving average of $4.03.

About Premier Oil

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Premier Oil plc, an oil and gas company, engages in the exploration, production, and development of oil and gas properties in the Falkland Islands, Indonesia, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and internationally. As of December 31, 2019, its proved and probable reserves (2P) were 175 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe); and 2P and estimated contingent resources were 847 mmboe.

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Public Joint Stock Company Rostelecom (OTCMKTS:ROSYY  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $1.01 and last traded at $1.01, with a volume of 0 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $1.01.

Public Joint Stock Company Rostelecom Stock Performance

The businesss 50 day moving average price is $1.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.01.

About Public Joint Stock Company Rostelecom

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Rostelecom PJSC provides digital services and solutions to households, governmental and private organizations. The firm provides telecommunications services to the Russian governmental and corporate customers of all levels. It also offers technology solutions to e-government, cybersecurity, data center &cloud-based services, biometrics, healthcare, education, house maintenance, and utility services.

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BlackSky Technology (NYSE:BKSY  Get Rating) is one of 48 public companies in the Radio & t.v. communications equipment industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare BlackSky Technology to related companies based on the strength of its valuation, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings and institutional ownership.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares BlackSky Technology and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio BlackSky Technology $65.35 million -$74.17 million -2.21 BlackSky Technology Competitors $4.38 billion $643.17 million 2.91

BlackSky Technologys competitors have higher revenue and earnings than BlackSky Technology. BlackSky Technology is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BlackSky Technology -113.68% -53.03% -29.21% BlackSky Technology Competitors -245.24% -53.66% -5.21%

Risk & Volatility

This table compares BlackSky Technology and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

BlackSky Technology has a beta of 0.69, indicating that its share price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BlackSky Technologys competitors have a beta of -2.77, indicating that their average share price is 377% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for BlackSky Technology and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BlackSky Technology 0 0 3 0 3.00 BlackSky Technology Competitors 291 1538 2503 108 2.55

BlackSky Technology presently has a consensus price target of $3.33, suggesting a potential upside of 139.81%. As a group, Radio & t.v. communications equipment companies have a potential upside of 21.02%. Given BlackSky Technologys stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe BlackSky Technology is more favorable than its competitors.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

13.6% of BlackSky Technology shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 44.3% of shares of all Radio & t.v. communications equipment companies are owned by institutional investors. 2.0% of BlackSky Technology shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 19.7% of shares of all Radio & t.v. communications equipment companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

About BlackSky Technology

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BlackSky Technology Inc. provides geospatial intelligence, imagery and related data analytic products and services, and mission systems that include the development, integration, and operations of satellite and ground systems to commercial and government customers worldwide. The company processes a range of observations from its constellation, as well as various space, internet-of-things, and terrestrial based sensors and data feeds. Its products are used in government defense and intelligence; commercial, construction, and industrial; and catastrophe, climate, and environment applications. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia.

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SWS Partners grew its stake in SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SPIB  Get Rating) by 0.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 99,510 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 851 shares during the quarter. SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF accounts for approximately 1.5% of SWS Partners portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. SWS Partners holdings in SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF were worth $3,167,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. West Michigan Advisors LLC raised its holdings in SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF by 9.9% in the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 8,786 shares of the companys stock valued at $300,000 after acquiring an additional 789 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its holdings in shares of SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF by 9.2% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 248,798 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,093,000 after purchasing an additional 20,942 shares in the last quarter. Castleview Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF by 1,078.5% during the 2nd quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 8,450 shares of the companys stock worth $173,000 after purchasing an additional 7,733 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA acquired a new position in shares of SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF during the second quarter worth $177,000. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV purchased a new position in SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF in the third quarter valued at $801,000.

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SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA SPIB opened at $32.51 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $32.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $31.94. SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF has a fifty-two week low of $30.68 and a fifty-two week high of $33.71.

SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF Company Profile

The SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (SPIB) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of investment-grade, fixed-rate taxable US corporate bonds with a maturity of at least one year, but no more than 10 years.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPIB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR Portfolio Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SPIB  Get Rating).

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Telecom Italia S.p.A. (OTCMKTS:TIAIY  Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $3.28 and last traded at $3.28, with a volume of 3786 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $3.26.

Telecom Italia Trading Up 0.6 %

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $3.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.45.

About Telecom Italia

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Telecom Italia SpA engages in the provision of telecommunication and Internet services, digital contents, and cloud services. It operates through the following business segments: Domestic, Brazil, and Other Operations. The Domestic segment includes operations in Italy for voice and data services on fixed and mobile networks for retail and wholesale customers, the international wholesale through Telecom Italia Sparkle, and products and services for information technology through the Olivetti group.

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Karnataka, the state that will go into polls in the month of May is currently undergoing a milk war, with politicians milking the corporate issue right before the assembly elections. What exactly is the Amul vs Nandini battle? How does it affect the upcoming assembly elections in the state of Karnataka? This explainer sheds light on the matter. On April 5, the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which sells dairy products under the brand name of Amul made an announcement to enter the Karnataka market to supply milk and curd, thus possibly overshadowing the the state's home-grown brand Nandini. This provided the opposition parties yet another opportunity to fire ammunition against the ruling BJP government, given it emerged months after Union Home Minister Amit Shahs announcement stating that the cooperation of the two brands could do wonders in the dairy sector. Shah also holds heads the Union Ministry of Cooperation. Congress, the prime opposition party, and the JD(S) have already kept a close eye on the ruling BJP in the state, given that the elections are just a month. They have upped the ante against the saffron party amid allegations that Nandini, the Rs 21,000 crore-brand of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), might possibily be merged with the Gujarat-based Amul in the futur. The opposition allegedly claims that the BJP wants a merger of the 49-year-old KMCs Nandini with the Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) in an order to establish one nation, one Amul in the country. This charge has been rejected by the BJP. AICC general secretary and Karnataka party in-charge Randeep Surjewala alleged the BJP was trying to "sell off" Nandini. The former chief minister and the second-in-command of JD(S), H D Kumaraswamy also flayed the state government on this issue. He alleged Amul has this "bad thinking" to finish off its lone competitor Nandini in Karnataka itself. The BJP-led central governments official policy is "One Nation, One Amul, One Milk and One Gujarat," he added. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated that the government has clarity over the issue of Amul. He accused Congress of politicising the entry of Amul into Karnataka and stated, We have absolute clarity with regard to Amul. Nandini is a national brand. It is not restricted to Karnataka. We have popularised Nandini as a brand in other states as well." He also stressed the fact that multiple major dairies of KMF have been established during the BJP rule. While a litre of Nandini's toned milk costs Rs 39, the same quantity of Amul is priced at Rs 52. Why is the sale of Amuls milk and curd an issue in Karnataka? In December 2022, during the inauguration of KMFs mega dairy in Mandya, Amit Shah said that the cooperation between Amul and Nandini can do wonders in the dairy sector. The opposition accused BJP of a plan for merging Nandini with Gujarat, which the ruling party denied. Towards the end of March of this year, the FSSAI made a decision to write Dahi in Hindi on the packets of curd beside the local nomenclature, which was called out by the opposition as a means to impose the language. Prior presence of Amul in Karnataka Amul as well as many other brands have otherwise been selling butter, ghee, yoghurt as well as ice cream in the southern states for quite some time. These brands include Dodla and Heritahe (Telangana), Tirumala, Arokya and Milky Mist (TN) as well as Namdhari and Akshayakalpa (Karnataka). Fear of the opposition The BJP governments attempt to merge Amul with Nandini will create scarcity for the latter, thus making it less competitive with Amul. People will thus be bound to purchase Amul products once it is allowed to sell milk and curd. Stance of the BJP government BJP government has dismissed charges by stating that there is no active plan for merging Amul and Nandini. The CM also mentioned that the opposition is only attempting to mislead people and that milk production has otherwise increased during the rule of the saffron party. Status of milk production Contrary to the statement issued by the current chief minister regarding the production of milk, the Bangalore Milk Union Ltd (BAMUL), which is a part of KMF has stated that production of milk has declined due to the summer season, something that happens each year. Milk production has fallen to 75 lakh litres a day from 90 lakh litres a day. The Nandini business Nandini is a Rs 21,000 crore brand under the KMF, the second largest cooperation after Amul, as stated by the director of BAMUL, P Nagaraju. To compare, the director adds that Amul produces 1.8 crore litres of milk each day, whereas, KMF produces over 90 lakh litres of milk a day. Quality of Nandini products P Nagaraju states that while the milk prices are competitive, the quality of milk that Nandini produces is far superior. It has zero adulteration, a good network of milk producers as well as peoples pride in its products. Sale of these products across India Nandini sells its products in other states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Maharashtra. Besides, some of its products are even exported. Then why cant Amul do business in Karnataka? As per Nagaraju, the Maharashtra State Cooperative Milk Federation Limited, also popularly recognised as Mahanand Dairy has not done well in its business ever since Amul made an entry into the market. A similar situation prevailed in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as well. Also read: Pro-Kannada outfit stages protest against Amul in Bengaluru Why is the ruling BJP avoiding this controversy? Due to the heavy attachment of the Kannadigas to their home-grown brand Nandini, it is crucial for the Karnataka BJP to stay clean on the issue in order to avoid an adverse electoral impact on them. The opposition has fired ammunition in every way possible to hurt the Bommai-led government over the issue.
Senior BJP leaders including from Karnataka held a daylong deliberation on Monday to finalise candidates for the state assembly polls, incorporating in their discussions the suggestions made at the recent BJP Central Election Committee meeting. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president J P Nadda, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, his predecessor B S Yediyurappa and other leaders from the state attended these meetings. Shah later left for Arunchal Pradesh while other leaders continued the deliberations. Bommai had on Sunday said after the CEC meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave some directions. The CM told reporters on Monday that the party is working on various inputs. He, however, did not elaborate on the nature of directions or inputs. Speaking to reporters after attending a meeting at Nadda's residence, Yediyurappa rejected the speculation that he was "unhappy" with the candidate-selection exercise and praised the party leadership. There is a view that the opinion of Yediyurappa, who remains the party's foremost leader in Karnataka, for various seats is at variance with some other senior leaders. Yediyurappa said the first list of about 170 to 180 candidates for the May 10 elections to 224-member assembly is expected soon. Noting that the nomination process for the polls begins from April 13, a party leader said there is no hurry to name the candidates and the BJP will analyse various equations before announcing the names. With the opposition Congress and the JD(S) attacking the ruling BJP over the entry of Gujarat dairy cooperative Amul in in the state, Bommai accused them of doing politics over the issue in the poll time. "Nandini is a powerful brand. Our procurement and market have doubled after we came to power," he said. Nandini is the Karnataka cooperative brand.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said the first list of the BJP candidates for the May 10 Assembly elections will be released either on Tuesday or Wednesday. He said there is no confusion regarding finalising the list. "Most probably the first list will be released tomorrow or the day after tomorrow". There is a likelihood of releasing it this evening but since there are more discussions to happen, it could be released on Tuesday or Wednesday, Bommai told reporters in Delhi. "For some candidates more ground report has to be gathered, more information has to be collected and discussion on the new candidates has to take place," the Chief Minister said. Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister and BJP Parliamentary Board member B S Yediyurappa said the first list of about 170 to 180 candidates for elections to the 224-member Assembly would be released by this evening. However, later in the afternoon, Yediyurappa said: "Yesterday there were discussions about all the constituencies. Today again our national president J P Nadda had called me for a few more clarifications. I have explained them. He may clear it (list) this evening or tomorrow". The Karnataka BJP strongman denied that there was any delay in releasing the list saying that discussions had taken place and it will be finalised. When asked whether he was unhappy as he was not present in the meeting in the morning convened by Nadda, Yediyurappa denied it and said: "Whatever suggestions I had given they (BJP leadership) have agreed. We are going to get absolute majority and we are going to form the government. There is no doubt about it."
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India expects G20 meetings under its presidency to see discussions on crypto, if not complete agreement on the matter, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. Speaking with Adam Posen, president of Peterson Institute for International Economics, on April 10 in Washington, DC, the minister said the crypto world has seen many collapses and "shocking developments". "Again, India presidency (is) taking up the cause of a common framework with which all countries can deal with this matter. We are not expecting them to agree to it, but at least discuss it, the IMF and FSB's papers," Sitharaman said. The comments come ahead of the second meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Washington from April 12 to April 14 following the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Spring Meetings. Focus on crypto In the first meeting in Bengaluru in late February, discussions were held on the subject and it was decided that a joint technical paper would be prepared by the IMF and Switzerland-based Financial Stability Board (FSB). This paper would "synthesise the macroeconomic and regulatory perspectives of crypto-assets" to help formulate policies for the crypto space. The IMF-FSB synthesis paper will be submitted in September. Before that, in July, an FSB paper on crypto asset regulation will be tabled for discussion at the third meeting of the finance ministers and central bank governors in Gujarats Gandhinagar. As part of the agenda for the second meeting in Washington, a side event will be held on April 14 on the macro-financial implications of crypto assets. Debt stress Another key focus of India's G20 presidency is addressing rising sovereign debt distress among low and middle-income countries. Sitharaman said she was "glad" the IMF and World Bank were now being more open-minded about the process and picking up pace in delivering solutions. "The delays till now, during the pandemic its excusable, but even before the pandemic  three, four, five years sometimes  for countries to get a resolution from IMF or be able to sit up and say we have some alternatives, is not good enough. And I am glad today the IMF and World Bank are all looking at it with a lot more positive open-mindedness," Sitharaman told Posen. Asked to comment on the Russia-Ukraine war that was overlapping with India's G20 presidency and dominating discussions at the meeting, Sitharaman said being the president at a "challenging time" was a "great opportunity for India" to prove itself and to work towards bringing all countries together on substantive issues. "There still can be one or two on which you are not able to get consensus. But there are pressing issues of the world which a forum like G20 will have to address," the Indian finance minister said. Disagreements on the language describing the Russia-Ukraine war prevented the adoption of a joint statement at the conclusion of the finance ministers and central bank governors' meeting in Bengaluru and the foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi a week later. Instead, India issued a chair's summary and outcome document, with a footnote detailing Russia and China's opposition to two paragraphs in the summary that were adapted from the G20 Bali Leaders' Declaration.
Indian Parliaments budget session which ended on April 6 was marred by protests. First, by the Opposition benches which were demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe against the Adani group after the port-to-power conglomerate's case shares collapsed in the aftermath of a short-sellers report. And then from the treasury benches, which sought an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments about Indian democracy during a visit to the UK. With both sides digging in, the budget was passed amid disruptions and precious little other legislative business could be taken up. According to the parliamentary affairs ministry, the Lok Sabha recorded a productivity of 34 percent and the Rajya Sabha 24 percent during the budget session. While the lower house functioned for 46 hours, the upper house worked for only 32 hours, according to non-profit PRS Legislative Research. Sixth shortest budget session The session was the sixth shortest budget session since 1952. The Lok Sabha spent 18 hours on financial business, of which 16 hours were spent on the general discussion of the budget. In the previous budget sessions of the 17th Lok Sabha, financial business was discussed for 55 hours on average, PRS Legislative said. The expenditure of five ministries, listed for discussion in the lower house, was not discussed. The proposed expenditure of all ministries, amounting to Rs 42 lakh crore, was passed without any discussion. In the last seven years, on average, 79 percent of the budget has been passed without discussion, the research house said. The passing of the budget involves a grouping of legislative businesses like debates and clearing of bills. In the last seven years, 79 percent of this process has been cleared by the Lok Sabha without a discussion. The upper house, which discusses the working of select ministries in the budget session, also could not take any up. Shortest full Lok Sabha since 1952 The current 17th Lok Sabha could be the shortest full-term Lok Sabha since 1952, a report by PRS Legislative Research says. Entering the final year of its term, the 17th Lok Sabha has functioned for 230 sitting days so far. Of all the Lok Sabhas that completed the full five-year term, the 16th Lok Sabha had the lowest sitting days (331), the research body said. With one more year remaining in the term, and 58 average sitting days a year, the 17th Lok Sabha is unlikely to sit for more than 331 days. Question mark on question hour, private members bills The budget session witnessed the least amount of time spent on questions in the current Lok Sabha. Question Hour functioned for 19 percent of scheduled time in Lok Sabha and 9 percent in Rajya Sabha. Only about 7 percent of starred questions were answered in each house. No private member bills were introduced or discussed, the report said.
Homegrown Jakson Green on Tuesday said it has bagged renewable energy projects totaling 1 GW of capacity in the domestic as well as international markets. The projects are to be set up through engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode for the customers in India, Africa and Middle East regions, Jakson Green said in a statement. It has secured over 1 GW of renewable EPC orders with leading RE producers in the Middle East and Africa regions, in addition to its RE EPC orders in India, including a recent deal with one of the world's leading renewable energy asset managers to build India's largest C&I solar park in Bikaner, Rajasthan, the company said. The company, however, did not disclose the financial details. "We are extremely humbled and delighted by the faith and trust shown by our clients in the solar, energy storage, and hydrogen and new energies space, as evidenced by the impressive global order book we have secured since inception. "With over a GW under our wings, we have emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing utility-scale renewable EPCs," Jakson Green CEO & MD Bikesh Ogra said. Jakson Group is an energy solutions company with expertise in the fields of solar power, battery energy storage system, distributed energy and solar, and electrical EPC.

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The Income-Tax department has detected "bogus" expenditure and alleged financial irregularities worth Rs 1,000 crore after it raided some cooperative banks in poll-bound Karnataka sometime ago, the CBDT said Tuesday. The searches at 16 premises of these banks were launched on March 31 as the department suspected them to be "engaged in routing of funds of various business entities of their customers, in a manner, so as to abet them to evade their tax liabilities". The CBDT said in a statement that cash of more than Rs 3.3 crore and jewellery worth Rs 2 crore was seized during the searches. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is the administrative body for the I-T department. "The seized evidences revealed that these cooperative banks were involved in rampantly discounting bearer cheques issued by various business entities, in the name of various fictitious non-existing entities" the CBDT said. These business entities included contractors, real estate companies, etc. and no KYC norms were followed while discounting such bearer cheques, it alleged. The tax department found that the amounts after discounting were credited in the bank accounts of certain cooperative societies maintained with these banks. "It was also detected that some cooperative societies subsequently withdrew funds in cash from their accounts and returned the cash to business entities." "The purpose of such discounting of large number of cheques was to mask the real source of the cash withdrawal, and to enable the business entities to book bogus expenses7," it said. In this modus operandi, the department said, cooperative societies have been used as a "conduit". These business entities were also "circumventing" the provisions of the Income Tax Act which limits the allowable business expenditure incurred other than by account payee cheque, it said. "Bogus expenditure booked in this way by these beneficiary business entities, could be to the tune of about Rs 1,000 crore," the CBDT said. The taxman also found that these banks allowed opening FDRs by using cash deposits without adequate due diligence, and subsequently sanctioned loan using the same as collateral. "Evidence seized during the search revealed that unaccounted cash loans of over Rs 15 crore have been given to certain persons/customers," it said. The CBDt said that the management of these cooperative banks indulged in generating "unaccounted" money through their real estate and other businesses. "This unaccounted money, has been brought back in the books of account, by multiple layering, through these banks." "Further, the bank funds were routed, without following due diligence, through various firms and entities owned by the management persons, for their personal use," it said. Karnataka will vote for its 224 member assembly on May 10 and the counting of votes will be taken up on May 13.
Two years after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated India's first 3D-printed house at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras campus to boost affordable housing across the country, Larsen & Toubro is close to completing construction of India's first public building in Bengaluru, using 3D-printing technology. The building, a post office sprawled over 1,100 square feet, is being 3D-printed at a cost of Rs 23 lakh over 45 days. Although the technology cuts the construction time by 30-40 percent, the cost remains almost the same as for single projects, the company said. "The technology has been approved by the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council and the structural design has been approved by IIT Madras," MV Satish, senior executive vice president (buildings) at Larsen & Toubro, told Moneycontrol. What is 3D-printing? Contrary to traditional construction methods, 3D-printing uses a robotic arm to create layers using a special concrete mixture fed into the system. The mixture has special adhesives for quick drying and other functions. The system is controlled by an operator who feeds into the design and mainly controls the speed at which the mixture is funnelled out of the robotic arm according to the design plans. Its advantages Satish said freedom of design, customisation and completely digital controls add to the advantages of a 3D-printing system. "The system can understand the placement of doors or windows or even electrical outlets and construct the walls accordingly. The walls will have six times more strength than the walls made out of brick," he said. Additionally, the walls will have the ability to regulate temperature, leading to less usage of energy to heat or cool the interiors. The robotic printer that L&T is using for the post office project is from Denmark. Satish said two such machines have already been built in India. The 3D-concrete printer uses about 30 percent fly ash as raw material and makes comparatively less noise than the traditional construction processes. "We spent four years in research and development and the entire concrete mixture is being built at the site. The only manual part here is reinforcements like steel. The rest is automated and about 25-30 labourers are required to complete the entire project," Satish added. According to L&T, the printer can function for 20-24 hours at a stretch. However, it can only build 1-1.5 metres of walls every day. "After building a layer, we need it to be dry before we can continue construction again," he pointed out. Cost a major factor Satish said for individual projects, the cost of printing a building will be the same as that incurred by traditional methods. "However, when we look at a volume of projects, the cost can come down significantly by at least 20 percent. The major advantage here is we can complete 100,000 sq. ft within six months or even less," Satish said. Additionally, the government is working on a standard code for 3D-concrete printing, which will take two to three years more, L&T said. Currently, the company plans to construct eight villas in Bengaluru using the technology. "After the completion of this post office, the Karnataka state government will submit its report and we can look at further collaboration for future projects," Satish said.
L&T Technology Services (L&T Tech) will pay $9,928,000 to settle claims against underpaid visa fees in violation of the False Claims Act, a statement from the South Carolina District US Attorneys Office said. According to the report, between 2014 and 2019, L&T Tech acquired inexpensive ($200-300) B-1 visas instead of the costlier ($4,000-6,000) H-1B visas for its foreign personnel. The B-1 visa doesnt permit foreign nationals to do paid labour in the US and does not have a cap. H-1B visas have an annual cap of 65,000 for foreign nationals with the equivalent of a bachelors degree in an occupation requiring highly specialised knowledge and an additional 20,000 annually for those in such occupations with a masters degree or its equivalent. The statement said L&T Tech hired the personnel to its offices in Edison, New Jersey. Legally, the claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, it said. The investigation did not determine liability and L&T Tech has denied liability while cooperating in the matter. The allegations were made via a whistleblower complaint in the US District Court in Charleston, South Carolina, in a United States ex rel. Michael Harmon v. L&T Technology Services case. Harmon will receive a percentage of the payout. Adair F Boroughs, US District Attorney for South Carolina, said the office would hold accountable those who skirt this countrys visa requirements, adding that US immigration laws are intended to protect American jobs for American workers. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure companies securing work visas for foreign nationals strictly comply with those laws, Boroughs said. Agencies involved in the investigation included the US Department of States Office of Inspector General, the Homeland Security Investigations, the US Department of Labors Office of Inspector General, the USCIS Nebraska Service Center Fraud Detection Unit, and the US Department of States Diplomatic Security Service.
Shares of Neogen Chemcials climbed around 6 percent in early trade on April 11 after the company signed an agreement with Japan's MU Ionic Solutions Corporation to offer electrolyte solutions in India. MU Ionic Solutions (MUIS) is a joint venture between Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and UBE Corporation and is a group company of The Mitsubishi Chemical Group, a Japanese conglomerate. The group is an industry leader in electrolytes used in lithium-ion-based batteries, with manufacturing facilities across Japan, the US, UK and China. "Under the terms of the agreement, Neogen will obtain the licence from MUIS for proprietary and confidential manufacturing technology for making Neogens electrolyte solutions at its manufacturing facility in India with a planned maximum installed capacity of upto 30,000 MT per annum," the company said in an exchange filing. The commercial production of the planned capacity is expected to start by 2025. Shares of the Neogen Chemicals reacted positively to the news and shot up to an intraday high of Rs 1,492.60. At 9.35am, Neogen Chemicals was trading 4.17 higher at Rs 1,469.70 on the National Stock Exchange. Around 35,000 shares of the company changed hands on the bourses so far, as against the one-month daily traded average of 33,000 shares. Catch up on all LIVE stock market updates here The agreement will also help Neogen's manufacturing facility in complying with global regulations and accelerating approval processes with lithium-ion battery manufacturers. The agreement will enable Neogen to capitalise on the growing demand of lithium-ion batteries in India, while benefitting from the government's production-linked incentive scheme for the segment. Brokerage firm ICICIdirect believes this acquisition will help Neogen to strengthen its position in the electrolyte market in India. "The standardised Japanese technology can help improve battery performance, including power output and lifetime, with functional additives tailored to the purpose, which will ultimately led to gain customers confidence in domestic market," the brokerage firm wrote in its note. 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.
Here is a collection of the most important stories this evening: IMF cuts India's FY24 GDP growth forecast by 20 bps to 5.9% The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its GDP growth forecast for India for the financial year 2023-24 by 20 basis points to 5.9 percent. More here HDFC Bank proposes to raise Rs 50,000 crore funds via bonds over next 12 months HDFC Bank on April 11 informed the stock exchanges that it has proposed to raise funds up to Rs 50,000 crore, via the issuance of bonds, over the next 12 months. More here Macquarie weighs sale of 9 highway projects in India for $1.5 billion Macquarie Group is considering selling a portfolio of nine highway projects in India and may seek at least $1.5 billion, according people familiar with the situation. More here Shapoorji Pallonji Group weighs $2 billion asset sales Shapoorji Pallonji Group, controlled by billionaire Shapoor Mistry, is weighing asset sales including a controlling stake in its flagship engineering firm that could raise about $2 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. More here Karnataka: I-T dept detects Rs 1,000 crore bogus expenditure after raids on co-op banks The Income-Tax department has detected "bogus" expenditure and alleged financial irregularities worth Rs 1,000 crore after it raided some cooperative banks in poll-bound Karnataka sometime ago, the CBDT said. More here Need steady policymaking, clear communication 'more than ever': IMF chief economist The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) top economist has called for policymakers to have a "steady hand" and communicate clearly so that quick adjustments can be made to new developments. More here Twitter no longer exists as company merges with Elon Musk's 'everything app' called 'X' Twitter has announced that it has merged with an "everything app" called X, owned by Elon Musk. In a court filing, Twitter quietly disclosed that it no longer exists, and its assets have been merged with X Corp., a privately held corporation incorporated in Nevada with its principal place of business in San Francisco, California. More here
Caught in the political row over market place battle with popular Karnataka brand Nandini, head of the Gujarat-based cooperative selling Amul brand on Tuesday said it will sell milk and curd only through online channels in Bengaluru and there is no competition with Nandini milk which is much cheaper due to the state government subsidy. Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) MD Jayen Mehta asserted that there cannot be "Amul versus Nandini" scenario as both are co-operatives owned by farmers. GCMMF will sell its Amul products only through e-commerce platforms and there is absolutely no plan of full-fledged entry into Karnataka, he told PTI. According to him, Amul has been selling fresh milk in two districts of north Karnataka since 2015-16, but "there is no competition" as Karnataka Milk Federation's (KMF) Nandini milk is much cheaper than Amul because of the subsidy being provided by the state government. Amul milk is Rs 54 per litre while Nandini milk is Rs 39 per litre only as the state government provides subsidy to farmers, he added. A political row has erupted after Amul's announcement on April 5 that it will supply milk and curd in Bengaluru. Opposition parties  Congress and the JD(S)  have trained their guns at the ruling BJP in the state when the assembly elections are just a month away, expressing fears that the Rs 21,000 crore-Nandini brand, could be merged with Amul. "There is no question of merger. Both are cooperatives. Amul is owned by farmers of Gujarat and Nandini is owned by the farmers of Karnataka. Both of us have been working together for decades to build India's cooperative dairy industry. This has made India the largest producer of milk in the world," Mehta said. Mehta, who is currently the MD in charge of GCMMF, emphasised that "there is no threat to Nandini from Amul and vice-versa. Both the co-operatives are working in coordination and co-operation with each other". About the launch of its products in Karnataka, Mehta said the co-operative has been selling fresh milk in Huballi and Dharwad in North Karnataka from 2015-16, although its volume is only 8,000-10,000 litres per day as against around 1.30 lakh litres of milk per day is sold by Nandini in these two districts. "People are saying that Amul has entered in Karnataka. But we are there from 2015-16 itself," he said, adding that the recent launch of Amul Taaza (toned milk) in Bengaluru is only and only through e-commerce platforms based on customers' search data on online platforms. He also ruled out plans for full-fledged entry into the Southern state as it is "not possible" because of the big price disadvantage. GCMMF does not have milk processing plants and other infrastructure in Karnataka. Citing an example about the association between the two co-operatives, he said even today Amul ice cream is getting manufactured from Nandini milk and packed in their plants. This association for ice cream has been in place since 1998. During 2020-21, when the country was grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, Mehta said GCMMF had purchased Rs 200 crore worth cheddar cheese from Nandini to support the farmers of Karnataka in view of surplus milk production at that time. "We also cooperate in many other ways, like giving technical support," he said. GCMMF is expecting a 20 per cent growth in its revenue this fiscal to around Rs 66,000 crore on rising demand. It registered a turnover of Rs 55,055 crore in 2022-23, up 18.5 per cent from the previous year. At present, GCMMF has 98 milk processing plants across the country with an installed capacity of 470 lakh litres per day. On average, it is collecting 270 lakh litres of milk every day from farmers.
As India celebrates National Pet Day on April 11, instances of human-animal conflict that seem to have spilled over from the jungles into gated communities continue to be reported every year. Resident welfare associations (RWA) in places from Noida and Gurgaon to Bengaluru continue to be caught between pet parents and those seeking stringent regulations to keep pets and stray dogs in line. More so after instances of attacks by dogs, including pets, in the recent past. Experts suggest proper policies should be chalked out to deal with the issue while sensitising the public towards pets. The Noida and Greater Noida Authorities implemented a policy in December requiring pet registration and vaccination. Not registering a pet within the given time will attract a fine. According to the policy, if a pet injures a person, the owner must pay a fine of Rs 10,000 and bear the treatment expenses of the injured person. In Gurgaon, there is no pet policy but, as per the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, every pet has to be registered with the municipality. The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) issued a public notice in December asking all pet dog owners to mandatorily register their pets. If a dog is not registered or not wearing the metal token and found in a public place, it would be taken away. Any such dog shall be liable to be destroyed or otherwise disposed of unless it is claimed and the fee in respect thereof is paid within a week, the MCG proposed in the notice, which had to be withdrawn following a public uproar. RWAs struggle The problem seems to be acute in apartment complexes, where pet parents often clash with other residents over issues such as dog bites and whether dogs should be muzzled when taken out, the use of elevators, and scooping up dog poop. Also Read: MC Explains | Pets in housing societies: Whats allowed and whats not Rajiva Singh, president of the Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Associations, said that RWAs still find it difficult to implement the rules. Cleaning of poop in parks, public places and common areas by pet owners remains a challenge. However, he said that with the new pet policy of the Noida Authority in place, things are improving gradually. Pet owners have started registering their pet cats and dogs on the portal. This will help in effective pet census in the district and also help to provide a fair survey of the health of the pets and the popular breeds in this region, he said. Ashwani Tiwari, a pet lover and a member of the Sector 38 RWA in Gurgaon, said there needs to be a dedicated pet policy for better understanding of the laws and rights for pets and also for creating a conducive atmosphere where pet lovers and others can co-exist peacefully. According to guidelines by the Animal Welfare Board of India, a statutory advisory body, RWAs cannot ban pets, disallow them from parks and elevators, or muzzle them. Sneha Nandihal, a member of an RWA in Bengalurus Indiranagar, said, We need strict animal laws and policies like animal birth control are extremely important to control the population of stray dogs inside complexes. Government bodies need to step up and take responsibility to implement such policies." Additionally, there is a certain tolerance required for both pet lovers and RWAs to handle situations responsibly, she added. Thejeshwar, a warden at Karnataka Animal Welfare Board, said the policies related to the prevention of animal cruelty were drafted in the 1960s or even before. Still today it amplifies the problems we see regarding strays or pet animals. The challenge is that very few citizens abide by the laws. The structure of the laws is in place, we need to spread more awareness, both at the civic and the governance level," he said. Also Read: MC Explains: Can RWAs, apartment owners relocate stray dogs from the premises? However, there is no dedicated policy for pets in Bengaluru  there are only old laws and Thejeshwar stressed that policies should be updated. The punishment for animal cruelty is a Rs 50 fine. This needs to be taken up to at least Rs 1 lakh and several years of imprisonment," he added.
THE WAKE-UP CALL

Why the Pandemic Has Exposed the Weakness of the West, and How to Fix It



By John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge

Daniel Patrick Moynihan warned in the late 1960s that the stability of democratic government required making a careful distinction between what government can do and what it cannot do. Promising the impossible, he said, leads to frustration and ruin. As the veteran journalists John Micklethwait, the editor in chief of Bloomberg News, and Adrian Wooldridge, a columnist for The Economist, argue in their new book, The Wake-Up Call, Western governments have overreached, with increasingly dire consequences.

This slender volume is presented as a rapid response to the coronavirus pandemic, which the authors describe as a timely reminder of the importance of government, and as a test that has highlighted a growing gap in government performance between Asian nations and the West.

The pandemic has prompted an outpouring of works by public intellectuals purporting to draw meaning from the crisis, and to prescribe the necessary solutions. But as with so many entrants in this growing genre, the virus is more visible in Micklethwait and Wooldridges account of the problems than in their menu of solutions. Covid-19 may be a wake-up call, but it is apparently no reason to reconsider longstanding political views.

The Wake-Up Call offers an executive summary of modern political history studded with sweeping assertions and telling anecdotes, a style that will be familiar to readers of The Economist. To summarize the summary: The rise of the West from the 1600s through the 1960s was driven by better government, while the relative decline of the West since the 1960s is the result of the excesses and failures of government.

The mid-1960s was not only the last time the public sector was on a par with the private sector, Micklethwait and Wooldridge write. It was the last time that people in many countries trusted their government. Leviathan overreached, promising more than it could deliver.

The authors regard Britains Victorian era as a high-water mark for effective government, and in the books final section, they imagine the reforms that might be introduced if a version of William Gladstone, a British prime minister of that era, were to become president of the United States. Their list includes many favorites of the think-tank circuit, like a carbon tax, means-testing for Social Security benefits and breaking the power of teachers unions, as well as more whimsical ideas like requiring the president to publicly explain each line of the federal budget. They also emphasize the need for better public servants. They particularly admire Singapores model of providing scholarships to students who promise to go into government, and of paying high wages to career bureaucrats, many of whom earn more than $1 million a year.

Supporters of such ideas dont really need a wake-up call, however. What they lack is public support for their proposals. Micklethwaits boss, Michael Bloomberg, spent more than $1 billion on a fruitless presidential campaign advocating a similar combination of fiscally conservative and socially liberal ideas. Its a common worldview among affluent and well-educated Americans. Bloombergs mistake was in thinking it would resonate with large numbers of voters.

Micklethwait and Wooldridge treat the failures of government as essentially failures of execution. But many Americans have become convinced that technocrats are pursuing the wrong goals. There is no reckoning here with the weaknesses of technocracy  for example, its tendency to favor the prosperity of the technocratic elites themselves.

Gladstones Liberal Party ultimately disappeared as a major political force because it did not fight hard enough for the needs of ordinary people. Theres a wake-up call in that story too.
Foreign investors' holding in Kotak Mahindra Bank has dropped to 41.22 percent in the March 2023 quarter, lower by 1.47 percentage points from December. This could result in a wider foreign headroom opening up and the stock gaining weightage in the MSCI index, according to Nuvama Alternative Research. Foreign room is essentially the proportion of shares available to foreign investors relative to the maximum allowed. MSCI requires this to be at least 15 percent. Kotak Bank's foreign room is 22.38 percent. With the fall in foreign investors' shareholding in the March quarter, the room has increased to 25.05 percent, as per Nuvama Research's Abhilash Pagaria. As per the MSCI guidelines, if a security's foreign room is less than 25 percent and equal to or higher than 15 percent, then the index provider uses an adjustment factor of 0.5 to reflect the actual level of foreign room. When it is more than 25 percent, then adjustment factor of 1 is used. As Kotak Bank's adjustment factor goes from 0.5 to 1, its weight will increase in the index. "This could see weight-up led inflow to the tune of $690 million which is almost 32 million shares buying," Pagaria said. IIFL Securities has estimated $750-million inflow to the lender. Also Read: Credit growth likely to remain strong in Q4, says Kotak Bank's Shanti Ekambaram On April 11, Kotak Mahindra Bank shares opened 4 percent higher on the NSE. The stock was quoting at Rs 1,842.55 at 9:20am. As the stock has been a laggard over the past one year, up only 3 percent, analysts expect the MSCI liquidity event to lead to a strong momentum. In the third quarter, the bank beat Street estimates and delivered a 31 percent growth in net profit at Rs 2,792 crore. Its net interest income surged 30 percent to Rs 5,653 crore in the December quarter on the back of an on-year growth of 23 percent in loans and a spurt in net interest margin to 5.47 percent from 4.62 percent. While earnings growth remains consistent, a key turnaround point for the bank will be when a new chief executive officer is selected. Uday Kotak has been at the helm of Kotak Mahindra Bank since it was founded in 1985 but he has to step down as CEO by next year in accordance with the RBI guidelines. His term ends on January 1, 2024. 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.
The case against the two engineers in the US Cisco caste discrimination suit brought by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has been voluntarily dismissed, while the suit continues against the company. It will be in arbitration, with a mediation conference between the company and the CRD scheduled for May 2. Voluntary dismissal means a lawsuit that has been terminated at the behest of the plaintiff  CRD in this case. The case was first filed in 2020 by CRD against Cisco, which alleged that a Dalit engineer, who has been kept anonymous and only known as John Doe, was discriminated against on the basis of his caste by managers Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella. The suit alleged that because both knew that John Doe was Dalit, he was expected to accept a caste hierarchy within the workplace, he received less pay, fewer opportunities, and other inferior terms and conditions of employment. The case against Iyer and Kompella has now been dropped. According to a statement sent by CRD to the Associated Press, the case against Cisco is ongoing, and that the department will continue to vigorously litigate the matter on behalf of the people of California. As per the statement, CRD is committed to securing relief and ensuring company-wide corrective action. Cisco has previously pursued private arbitration in the matter as well, which was rejected in 2022 by the California appeals court. Both Iyer and Kompella had filed a Motion for Sanctions, or a demand for money  they asked for an amount of not less than $10,000. The voluntary dismissal was based on the Motion for Sanctions being withdrawn as well, according to HAF. It is important to note that since the time the case has been filed, Cisco added caste to its FY22 Code of Business Conduct prohibiting conduct that singles out an employee or a group of employees in a negative way based on characteristics that have been the basis for historical marginalization. The Hindu American Foundation, which had also filed a motion to intervene in the case, said in a statement that their lawyers believe that the CRD case offers important insight into consequences South Asians in California will face if state senator Aisha Wahabs proposed caste bill that would add caste to state-wide nondiscrimination policies, SB 403, is implemented. The organisations executive director Suhag Shukla said in a statement, 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 after the CRD sullied their reputation alleging that they engaged in discrimination based on caste. According to HAF citing court filings, Iyer had actively recruited John Doe, and offered him a generous starting package and stock grants. HAF said CRD relied upon a report by Equality Labs to buttress its claims of discrimination in the sector, referring to a 2018 report titled Caste in the United States', something HAF says the judge refused to accept as evidence in 2021. Resolutions from several student and faculty senates demanding the addition of caste to campus nondiscrimination policies at a number of colleges and universities across the country have cited both findings from the Equality Labs report and the Cisco case as definitive evidence of caste discrimination, HAF says. The case also sharply divided the diaspora, which comes at a time when there has been a significant push and pull with regard to adding caste as a protected category in institutions and cities in the US. Two months ago, Seattle banned discrimination on the basis of caste after its local council voted to add caste to the non-discrimination laws. Universities such as California State University and Brown University have added caste as a protected category to their anti-discrimination policies. Dalit rights organisation Equality Labs said in a statement that the Cisco case is indicative of the pervasiveness of caste hierarchy in the Indian diaspora and reflects not just one, but too many accounts of caste-based discrimination in the US workforce. Whatever the outcome of mediation, Equality Labs stands with all caste-oppressed workers and communities who have found their voice in breaking the silence around caste discrimination and turning pain into power as they work to make all American workplaces and educational institutions safe from discrimination, said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, the executive director of the organisation, in a statement.
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At a time when the Congress is still coming to terms with former president Rahul Gandhis disqualification and simultaneously dealing with the tricky issue of ticket distribution in poll-bound Karnataka, the party is faced with yet another crisis. A full-blown confrontation is in the offing in Rajasthan where its former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot has launched an all-out offensive against his bete noire Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Accusing Gehlot of deliberately going slow in investigating allegations of corruption against the Vasundhara Raje government, Pilot announced plans to sit on a dharna on Tuesday to highlight this issue. The Congress leadership has, however, taken a dim view of Pilots announcement and warned that this move will be viewed as anti-party activity. Coming months before the Rajasthan assembly polls, the timing of Pilots revolt has revived talk that he may jump ship and join his other Congress colleagues like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada and RPN Singh in the Bharatiya Janata Party. BJP Gets A Boost Even if this speculation is proved wrong, there is no denying that Pilots renewed attack against Gehlot will come in handy for the BJP as it serves the twin objective of weakening the Congress and discrediting Vasundhara Raje. It is no secret that Raje does not enjoy the confidence of the BJPs central leadership, particularly Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been wanting to promote a new leader in the desert state. However, these efforts have hit a wall each time given that Raje continues to enjoy the support of a large section of legislators who recently had a public show of strength for her. While Raje is pushing to be projected as the BJPs chief ministerial face in the year-end election, the party has other candidates in view which include Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Ashwini Vaishnaw. Given these internal developments in the BJP, Pilots focus on the corruption charges against Vasundhara Raje will help the party in containing her ambitions and demands for tickets for her supporters. On the other hand, Pilots war cry against his arch-rival spells trouble for the Gehlot-led Congress government which is already fighting anti-incumbency after five years in power. Anti-Incumbency Worries Rajasthan has a history of denying a second term to a party but the Congress was hoping that the leadership tussle in the BJP and what it believes is its fairly good record in governance may just give it another shot at power. On the other hand, Congress leaders admit privately that the ongoing Gehlot-Pilot battle would prove disastrous for the party which would find it difficult to put up an effective and credible fight against the BJP in the year-end polls. It is, therefore, imperative for the Congress to put up a united fight. But this appears to be a pipe dream if the current developments are anything to go by. Pilot is unlikely to back down for too long as he has never reconciled to being denied the CMs post in 2018 when the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan. On the other hand, an otherwise affable and soft-spoken Gehlot is said to literally fly into a rage at the very mention of Pilot who, he charges, conspired with the BJP to destabilise his government three years ago. Gehlot never fails to point out that Pilot has been on the warpath for the past five years and has not allowed the government to function smoothly. On his part, Pilot is aggrieved that he has not been rewarded sufficiently for his hard work in the state, particularly since he has been promised the CMs post by both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi on more than one occasion. Mollifying Pilot Not Easy As the battle rages on, the Congress leadership finds itself in a spot as it is caught between an impatient Pilot and an obdurate Gehlot. Over the months, several attempts have been made to resolve their differences but to little avail. With assembly elections less than eight months away, it is clear that a change in leadership is neither possible nor desirable. One option is to mollify Pilot by accommodating him in the Congress Working Committee, the partys highest decision-making body. This would move him to the national political stage where his experience in handling the party organisation in Rajasthan could be put to good use in other states. But Pilot is apparently reluctant to leave Rajasthan on the plea that he has invested considerable time and energy in the state which would be wasted if he were to walk away now. There was also a proposal that Pilot be given a more prominent role in the state unit with an eye on the assembly polls. The young leader was Rajasthan Congress chief but was stripped of this post following his failed attempt to topple the Gehlot government in 2020. Gehlot is unlikely to agree to the suggestion that Pilot be rehabilitated in his old post as it will give him a major say in the distribution of tickets and make him a contender for the CMs post. Gehlot On A Strong Wicket From all accounts, Gehlot will eventually have his way. It is becoming increasingly difficult to dictate terms to regional satraps following the weakening of the partys central leadership. Gehlot survived as CM despite the show of defiance by his supporters last year when he was picked for the Congress presidency. That the party continues to stand by Gehlot was evident from the warning issued to Pilot and the statement put out by Jairam Ramesh, Congress communication in charge, which was unstinting in its praise for Gehlot. 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. 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, he said. The ball is now in Pilots court. It will be known in the coming days if the young leader is serious about cutting off ties with the Congress. Or whether his latest move is a calling attention motion to the party to say main hoon na. Anita Katyal is a Delhi-based independent journalist. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
David Fickling India might have hoped that its punishing 2022 heatwave season, which pushed the mercury as high as 49.2 degrees Celsius (121 degrees Fahrenheit) in the capital Delhi, would be followed by a breather. Its not looking that way. Most of the country outside the southernmost states is forecast to suffer more heatwave days during the most intense April-June season, the India Meteorological Department said at the weekend. A swathe of land from the Ganges valley to the coast of the Bay of Bengal  home to more than 350 million people  will endure 10 more days of heatwave than in a typical year, according to the departments latest outlook. Theres a great injustice in the disproportionate damage being inflicted on India and its neighbours as the climate warms. The average American, Canadian or Australian is responsible for about eight times more emissions than the average Indian. The climate damage that richer nations wrought on their path to wealth is being visited on the country with the largest population of poor people, before it gets its own chance to struggle up the development ladder. Despite that, as it grows, India is increasingly becoming the author of its own misfortunes. Already by some estimates the worlds biggest country by population, its also the biggest source of demand growth for fossil fuels over the coming decade. Rich countries have cut their emissions by about 16% since 2007 and Chinas are set to peak before 2030. Indias emissions are already on the brink of overtaking those from the European Union. By 2030, theyll account for more pollution than Europe and Japan put together. Whatever happened in the past, the countrys leaders cant absolve themselves of responsibility for the consequences of their own actions over the coming decade. Thats particularly the case because in sector after sector, low-emissions technologies are already undercutting dirtier conventional ones. Electric rickshaws and three-wheelers won a two-thirds market share of sales last year, according to BloombergNEF, thanks to running costs that are drastically lower than those for conventional diesel models. Power from new onshore wind and solar generators costs about three-quarters that from new coal plants. Switching to the less polluting option should give more people access to modern energy. Its troubling, then, that this isnt happening. Back in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised the country would install 175 gigawatts of wind, solar, and small-scale hydro power by the end of last year. In practice, the country fell roughly 31% short. Some 15.77 gigawatts of wind and solar was installed in 2022, less than half whats needed annually to hit a fresh government goal of 500 GW by 2030. Renewables tenders issued by utilities fell to just 28 GW from 40 GW in 2022 according to consultancy JMK Research. Those levels put 500 GW far beyond reach. One factor in the shortfall has been the way that the energy transition is being asked to bear the costs of government trade barriers and industrial policy. Tariffs as high as 40% on imported solar components introduced last April have left local developers unable to finish projects because of costs that are now drastically higher than when contracts were signed. In the vehicle sector, the government has suspended subsidy programs for electric vehicles and investigated automakers over claims that they didnt have a sufficient share of local content. The entire automotive electrification subsidy program may be abandoned next year after hitting its modest targets, the Economic Times reported last month, citing officials it didnt name. Such counterproductive protectionism is increasingly rife across the world, from the US and EU to South Africa and Morocco. It might seem harsh to single out India for doing the same thing that many other countries are doing. And yet its not people who are singling India out, but the climate itself: its loss of long-run gross domestic product from three degrees Celsius of warming would be 10.4%, the highest of any Group of 20 economy after Indonesia, according to one 2018 study. The complaint of Indian governments for five decades has always been that poverty itself is a form of pollution. A nation cannot clean up its economy until it has first grown affluent. If that means powering its early development with fossil fuels, then so be it, the argument goes. As renewables have undercut the costs of conventional alternatives, however, growth and efficiency is no longer the rhetoric thats used. Instead the talk is of the power of incumbency: How hard it will be to dethrone coal, for instance, when its inefficient supply chain is bound up with regional economies, rail freight, and the underwater investments of well-connected billionaires and state-owned utilities. Thats not an egalitarian argument about the necessity of growth. Its an insistence that the mass of Indias population must pay with their health, their wealth and their futures to support core interest groups, even when a cleaner path is at hand. That will be a hard sell to people labouring under crippling heatwaves over the coming months. Indian politicians shouldnt assume voters will continue to buy it. David Fickling is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
A court here on Tuesday rejected an anticipatory bail application filed by NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif in an alleged money laundering case. He was apprehending arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the garb of investigation and recording of statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), he had said in the application. Mushrif, MLA from Kagal Assembly constituency in Kolhapur district, was the rural development minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. The ED has claimed that there was a suspicious flow of several crores of rupees from two companies "without having substantial business" to Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory in which Mushrif's sons Navid, Aabid and Sajid are directors or stakeholders. Mushrif, in his pre-arrest bail plea filed through advocates Prashant Patil, Swapnil Ambre and Atit Soni, alleged that the case was the result of a political campaign launched by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. The central probe agency, in its reply, denied that the case was being pursued for political reasons. "The applicant has wrongly asserted that the entire case of prosecution is the result of political vendetta of Somaiya. The applicant is trying to shift the culpability on others. But shifting the culpability does not absolve the crime," the ED said. Judge M G Deshpande after hearing both the sides rejected the senior Nationalist Congress Party leader's plea. Mushrif has also moved the Bombay High Court seeking to quash the money laundering case against him.
Anil Antony is not the first leader to leave the Congress and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The former Congress leader from Kerala is the son of veteran party leader AK Antony. The 37-year-old technocrats departure comes at a time when Sachin Pilot is protesting against his own government in Rajasthan, one of the states where the Grand Old Party is in power. Days after joining the BJP, Anil Antony spoke about why he quit the Congress. His views, as told to the writer, follow: On joining the BJP Congress has been talking only about its glorious past but doesnt have any understanding about what aspirational India wants. Aspirational India wants social and economic mobility, socio and economic justice. People want to move forward in life with employment opportunities. The Congress party doesnt have any plan or vision for young India, which constitutes almost 60-65 percent of the population. There are many political parties in India including the regional ones, but other than the BJP, most are restricted to a very limited geography. And these parties have a very parochial vision. At the same time, the BJP, led by Prime Minister Modi, has a very clear direction it wants to steer the country. Normally parties think election to election but the BJP has an aspiration, ambition and mission to transform India into a developed country by 2047. This is a party thinking about the next 25 years. For a young Indian like me, who wants to be part of the nation-building and transformation process, this was the logical choice. The leadership gave me the opportunity to join the party on its foundation day. Didnt consult father My father and I are different individuals. We are part of the family and have our beliefs and sense of understanding. My love and affection for him have not changed and will continue. He has been in the Congress party for 65 years and will be a Congressman. Politically, we have different views and I had not informed him of my decision. He got to know only after I joined the party. This is an independent country, where everyone has the freedom to pursue their own interests and paths. Congress losing ground I dont believe that the Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi is the present or the future of the country. I am convinced that the BJP led by PM Modi is the present and the future of the country. For example, I have certain experiences and skill sets, which I would like to use to do something meaningful. In Congress when I look around, there are many people, tall stalwarts who have contributed to the party for 40 years and more, and many young talents. All were being misused, underutilised Since these peoples opinions are not being considered seriously, many people are leaving the party. Look at leaders like Amarinder Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Jaiveer Shergill. The Congress does have a fundamental problem. Even now there are many popular grassroots leaders with great mass appeal like Shashi Tharoor and Sachin Pilot, who I believe are good leaders and underutilised. The party has not been able to decide on a major role for Pilot despite the fact he is capable of steering the party at the national level. Rahul Gandhi doesnt listen I dont know whose advice Rahul Gandhi takes. Just two days back, Sharad Pawar, who I believe is the seniormost active leader of the United Progressive Alliance, advised Gandhi on the Adani issue. And the very next day, he did something which was shocking. He tweeted against Gautam Adani and this clearly shows he doesnt listen to anyone. Rahul Gandhi has been doing what people of experience have advised him not to do. Many leaders are upset with his policies and politics because he keeps a coterie of sycophants around him. People around him were never serious about the partys performance.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, after his disqualification as an MP, and his sister Priyanka Gandhi would be visiting this border district of Kerala on Tuesday to participate in various activities organised by the UDF as a show of strength. Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as the MP from Wayanad last month after being convicted and sentenced in a criminal defamation case. The two Congress leaders would first participate in a roadshow called 'Satyameva Jayate' in Kalpetta here in the afternoon. In the roadshow, only the national flag will be used instead of the party flags, the Congress said. Thereafter, there will be another event -- Cultural Democratic Defense -- which has been organized as part of the conference and leading cultural activists of Kerala are expected to take part in it, the party said. The two Congress leaders would also be speaking at a public event here in the afternoon. Senior Congress leaders like AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, KPCC president K Sudhakaran, Muslim League State President Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, AICC General Secretary Tariq Anwar and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan, will also participate in the UDF-organised conference. (With PTI inputs)

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Two 81-year-old best friends from US's Texas are proving that adventure doesnt have an age limit. Ellie Hamby, a documentary photographer, and Sandy Hazelip, a physician and lecturer, toured the world in 80 days which included admiring the Taj Mahal in Agra. Speaking about how they planned the trip, Hazelip told CNN that the idea for their trip originated when they were each set to turn 80. I just got the idea because we had traveled previously together internationally, she told the publication. And so about four years before we were going to turn 80, I mentioned to her one day, Ellie, wouldnt it be fun to go around the world in 80 days at age 80? Some of the places that the duo have visited include London, Zanibar, Zambia, Egypt, Nepal, Bali, and India. Hazelip and Hamby also shared a picture clicked in front of the Taj Mahal and shared an interesting anecdote about how the photo was taken. "What an amazing view! Here is how the photo was taken in case you are curious. Our guide, Anil, was an amazing photographer and used a very clever technique for this photo," they wrote on Instagram."There was no water there but he took my water bottle and poured about 1/4 cup on the marble floor. He knew the light was right for a reflection of the Taj. He laid on the marble and took the shot with the camera on the marble slanting up. The actual area of the water was about 15 inches wide although it looks almost like a lake. Absolutely amazing results!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Around The World at 80 (@aroundtheworldat80) The best friends also went sight-seeing on a rickshaw in Old Delhi. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Around The World at 80 (@aroundtheworldat80) Documenting their travels on Instagram and TikTok, Hamby and Hazelip garnered more than 52,000 followers and visited 18 countries across all seven continents. Originally, the two had planned to start travelling in 2022 when they were 80 years old. "Covid shut those plans down. But Covid didnt shut us down. So we went this year, and our theme was, At 81 and still on the run'," told CNN. Speaking about the best parts of the journey, Hamby said it was the people they 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 told the publication. 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. Meanwhile, Hazelip explained how 81 is the perfect age to embark on their trip. Getting older does give you a little bit of wisdom of making decisions, she said. And so thats the fun part. I think at this age I appreciate so much (of) the beauty and I can really just soak it in. And for me, this was the perfect age to go. Im so thankful. Now, the best friends have already returned to their homes in Texas and are busy planning for their next trip, they told CNN.
In today's world, where people are often seen indulging in the act of littering and polluting the environment, a viral video of a fruit seller from Karnataka has become an inspiration for all. The video shows a woman who sells fruits wrapped in leaves at Ankola bus stand in the state picking up her customers litter. Despite not being her duty, the woman can be seen picking up the leaves that are thrown by passengers out of the bus windows and putting them in the dustbin. The video was initially shared on Twitter by a user who expressed his admiration for the woman's actions. This lady is fruit seller & she sells fruits wrapped in leaves at Ankola Bus stand, Karnataka. Some people after finish eating they throw the leaves from bus window. But this lady goes there picks up the leaves and puts it in dustbin. Its not her work but she's doing it, Adarsh Hegde tweeted with a clip. The post quickly caught the attention of industrialist Anand Mahindra, who shared the video on his Twitter handle and praised the woman for her efforts in keeping the environment clean. He also expressed his desire to appreciate her for her actions. Mahindra's tweet read, "These are the real, quiet heroes making Bharat Swachh. I really would like her to know that her efforts have not gone unnoticed & are appreciated. How do you suggest we can do that?" He also tagged the original poster requesting him to find someone who could contact the woman and appreciate her efforts. These are the real, quiet heroes making Bharat Swachh. I really would like her to know that her efforts have not gone unnoticed & are appreciated. How do you suggest we can do that? @adarshahgd can you find someone who lives in that area & can contact her? https://t.co/2SzlTE9LZy  anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 11, 2023 The video has gained a lot of attention on social media, with many users applauding the woman for her actions. Her actions serve as an inspiration for others to follow in her footsteps and contribute towards keeping the environment clean. Mahindras tweet has received over 11,000 likes so far. Users suggested what the businessman could do to help the woman while some shared their own personal experiences. Penultimate week, I witnessed a similar occurrence at Kopargaon Station near Shirdi. An elderly woman was vending fruits and ensuring that any discarded peels were properly disposed of in a nearby dustbin. I commended her for this practice, to which she humbly replied, 'If I don't pick them up, they won't let me sit here, one user wrote. Give her a proper shop where she can sell her fruits that will be the best thing you could to, this and phone pay should sort her problems, wrote another. It's a reality that the weak & poor have a much robust sense of responsibility towards society in comparison to the fortunate & the rich, commented another user. Watch: Anand Mahindra's 'think differently' advice from penguin march clip is his 'Monday Motivation' India does have a flagship programme to keep the country clean  the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan - launched by the government in 2014. The campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and aims to create awareness about cleanliness, promote sanitation, and eliminate open defecation in the country.
Less than two miles away and just hours after this morning's Kentucky bank shooting that killed five and injured eight, another gunman (possibly with another suspect) shot and killed one person and injured another. The second shooting occurred outside a building at Jefferson Community & Technical College in Louisville, according to Courier Journal, and the two shootings are thought to be unrelated.

"Let's be clear. This was an evil act of targeted violence," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenburg, clearly angry and frustrated, said today at a press conference. "And to add to that tragedy, a few blocks away shortly after this happened, another man lost his life and a woman was shot in a completely different act of targeted violence. The two incidents appear to be entirely unrelated." (See video below, posted by Acyn.)

After the second shooting, two suspects ran off by foot, then jumped into a car and sped away. The suspect in the first shooting was killed. Welcome to America.

"This was an evil act of targeted violence. And to add to that tragedy, a few blocks away shortly after this happened, another man lost his life and a woman was shot in a completely different act of targeted violence. The two incidents appear to be entirely unrelated." pic.twitter.com/ToHSupBmqz  Acyn (@Acyn) April 10, 2023

Front page thumbnail image: FabrikaSimf / shutterstock.com
Apple Inc is set to open its second official retail store in Delhi, two after it launches its first India store in Mumbai next week, the iPhone maker said. The store in the national capital, called Apple Saket, will open on April 20 in south Delhis Saket. Hello New Delhi. We are getting ready to open the doors to our first store in the capital. We cant wait to see what colourful creativity you will bring to Apple Saket, Apple said. The company revealed the first-look of the store, showing its barricades which feature the Mughal-era gates of Delhis many historical monuments. The colourful design takes inspiration from Delhis many gates, each signifying a new chapter to the citys storied past, Apple said. Apple Saket will have a dedicated team of specialists and creatives. Apples Mumbai store at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is called Apple BKC. It will be opened on April 18. The Mumbai store is inspired by the artwork inside the iconic "Kaali Peeli" taxis in the city. Apple BKC creative will also comprise of interpretations of the decals along with several Apple products and services that will be available for consumers. Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to visit India for the opening of the two flagship stores. Apple launched its online retail store in India in 2020. Its 2021 plans for the launch of an offline retail store in the country were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Apple products have been sold in India for years on ecommerce platforms such as Amazon.com Inc and Walmart Inc's Flipkart as well as through resellers. India is the world's second-largest smartphone market, with nearly 700 million smartphone users. Some products in Apple's catalogue, including iPhones, are assembled in India by Taiwanese contract electronics manufacturers Foxconn and Wistron Corp. Around $9 billion worth of smartphones were exported from India between April 2022 and February this year, and iPhones accounted for more than 50 per cent of that, according to the India Cellular and Electronics Association. Apple also plans to assemble iPads and AirPods in India.
In 2015, a Bengaluru couple quit their jobs with a yearly package of Rs 30 lakh a year, to launch their first startup Samosa Singh. A year later, they sold their flat because they needed investment. Cut to 2023, the couple makes Rs 12 lakh per day selling samosas, Times of India reported. Nidhi and Shikhar Singh's Samosa Singh now has more than 40 outlets across the country and is known for its butter chicken samosa and kadai paneer samosas. Speaking about why they decided to open a samosa-based startup, Shikhar Singh told Yourstory that it was when he realised that there was no hygienic, fast food-like model available for Indian snacks. All fast-food restaurants mostly offered pizzas and burgers making customers turn to street vendors for Indian snacks and savouries. Moreover, samosa is a popular snack across the country, he added. "Every region in our country has its own specialities. But you will find samosas in any part of India. Everyone in India will know what a samosa is. You dont need to explain, Shikhar Singh told the publication. Read more: Snack time: The diversity of the samosa The business kicked off well as orders scaled up to 500 a day within two months. Then the company received another order to complete which the Singhs had to sell their flat. A German engineering giant asked them if they could deliver 8,000 samosas a day. That's when the couple had to sell their flat for a bigger kitchen. It was a 4-BHK apartment in Yelahanka, near the airport," Nidhi Singh told The Weekend Reader. "Since the builder was still building the house, we had customised it exactly according to our likes. We had done away with walls to create more open space, and chose the colours of the walls. The couple stayed at the flat for one day before selling it off. We listed our house on Magic Bricks and it sold out for Rs 80 lakh. We needed the money for Samosa Singh, and we had the conviction that we were doing the right thing. Not even for a moment did we feel sad, since we were very confident about the business, Nidhi told the publication. The risk paid off. From selling 6,000 units of samosas in the initial months, the numbers have now jumped to more than 3.6 lakh units in two years. And since then, there has been no looking back. In 2020, Samosa Singh raised about Rs 17 crore in a series A funding round. The company used the money to scale up its operations. Read more: Denied plate and spoons with samosa, Madhya Pradesh man calls CM helpline to complain
Rapper Cardi B recently equated the Dalai Lama to a predator after a video emerged of him asking a boy to suck his tongue. The now-viral video showed the 87-year-old religious leader at a public event where a boy asked to give him a hug. The Dalai Lama then asked the boy to suck on his tongue. "This world is full of predators. They prey on the innocent. The ones who are most unknowing, our children," Cardi B tweeted. "The ones who are most unknowing, our children. Predators could be our neighbors, our school teachers, even people with money, power, and our churches. Constantly talk with your kids about boundaries and what they shouldnt allow people to do to them." This world is full of predators. They prey on the innocent. The ones who are most unknowing, our children. Predators could be our neighbors, our school teachers, even people wit money ,power & our churches. Constantly talk with your kids about boundaries and what they shouldnt  Cardi B (@iamcardib) April 10, 2023 After the video went viral, the Tibetan spiritual leader issued an apology. "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 14th Dalai Lama said in a statement, which was posted on his official Twitter handle. "His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident." Read more: Dalai Lama asks boy to suck his tongue, kisses him on lips. Video triggers row
A court in China has ordered a woman to return over 10 million yuan (over Rs 11.92 crore) to the family of her late ex-husband, who she blackmailed and coerced to get large sums of money and assets, before he died by suicide in 2017. Zhai Xinxin is to return assets worth over 10 million yuan to the family of her late husband, Su Xiangmao. Su's suicide in 2017, which he attributed to the blackmail of his former wife of a brief duration, sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about the prevalence of such abusive practices in the country. Su and Zhai met through a matchmaking service in March 2017 and got married in June. They divorced in July. Less than two months after the divorce, Su died by jumping off a high-rise building in September. Su was the founder of a Beijing-based IT company. Zhai's conduct is nothing short of despicable, as detailed in the court verdict. From their very first meeting, she had a clear for-benefit purpose, manipulating Su into giving her a car, jewellery, and large amounts of cash within a mere 110 days of their brief relationship (ranging from meeting to divorce). Her demands for money and gifts were relentless, as evidenced by their WeChat messages, in which she repeatedly extorted Su for money, using the threat of breaking up with him as leverage. In their divorce settlement, Zhai went even further, forcing Su to sign an agreement promising to buy her a flat in the holiday town of Sanya and give her 10 million yuan in cash. She threatened to go to the police and accuse Su of tax evasion and illegal business operations if he didn't comply, showing a complete disregard for his well-being. One conversation between the two shows how the relationship had turned sour. Su asked for Zhais forgiveness, to which she replied: Arent you wooing me? Then transfer me 50,000 yuan each day from the day after tomorrow until I am willing to marry you. Another conversation read: Can you forgive me for the last time? I can give you 50,000 yuan right now. I will give you another 200,000 yuan tomorrow. Su wrote to her. Zhai replied, Transfer it quickly. Su's suicide note, in which he expressed regret for signing the "evil agreement" and stated that it had forced him to death, is a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic abuse and coercion. Read: Chinese woman, 23, dies by suicide after online bullying over her pink hair In his final note, Su seemed completely helpless. I feel very ashamed and angry now. It is that divorce agreement that forced me to death. I find every word in that agreement is orchestrated. I feel desperate. My financial chain is broken. I feel so desperate, he said. The court has ruled that his former wifes blackmail had contributed to Sus suicide and that the divorce agreement be revoked. As Weibo comments show, many people in China are outraged by Zhai's actions and support the court's ruling. Zhai argued in court that the items and money were betrothal gifts but her claims were rubbished as they didnt fall in line with typical gifts. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out immediately to a suicide prevention helpline. You can find some phone numbers and contact information here: iCall Psychosocial Helpline - 022-25521111 (Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 10 PM) Aasra - 91-9820466726 (24 hour helpline) Mitram Foundation - +91 80 2572 2573 or +91-90197 08133 from 10 am to 4 pm on all days. Samaritans Mumbai - +91 84229 84528 / +91 84229 84529 / +91 84229 84530 (5 pm to 8 pm, all days)
Jeff Bezos's megayacht -- believed to be the largest sailing yacht in the world -- has finally completed construction five years after it was commissioned in 2018, and made its maiden voyage. The vessel, called Koru, is estimated to be worth $500 million. It was previously known as Y721 or Project 721, but its new name Koru means 'new beginnings' in Maori. The yacht left Dutch shipmaker Oceanco's facilities on Thursday and traveled to Gibraltar, Business Insider reported. Here's what we know about Koru: 1.) Running the yacht will cost Amazon founder Jeff Bezos $25 million a year. 2.) Koru is the tallest yacht in the world, with triple masts towering at over 230 feet, making the sailing yacht nearly half the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza. 3.) The vessel is 127 meters long and can accommodate 18 guests and requires a crew of 40, New York Post reported. 4.) The aluminum and steel vessel reportedly boasts three decks, including one with a swimming pool. 5.) There is a smaller 250-foot support vessel that will serve as a helicopter landing pad for Bezos and his guests. 6.) The smaller yacht is also expected to be loaded with luxury cars, jet skis, speedboats, and maybe even a personal submarine, Daily Mail reported. 7.) Last year, Koru found itself in the middle of a controversy after Oceanco, requested that a historic bridge in the Netherlands be dismantled because the yacht's three masts were too tall to pass under the bridge, despite its 131-foot clearance. The 130-foot steel structure wouldnt allow the vessel and its 229-foot masts to pass through. 8.) Following an uproar from residents, the boat was towed from its construction location to another shipyard in a nearby town without its masts, New York Post reported. There were also reports of locals threatening to pelt the yacht with eggs. Subsequently, Koru was towed away under cover of darkness. Read more: Jeff Bezos yacht quietly moved out of Dutch shipyard after backlash | Watch 9.) Despite all the expenses, however, Koru is not the worlds most expensive yacht. It ranks below the $4.8 billion History Supreme  a gold- and platinum-plated yacht which features a T-rex bone wall made of meteoric stone. The vessel was bought in 2011 by an anonymous Malaysian businessman, New York Post reported. Read more: Viral video: Massive superyacht worth millions sinks off the coast of Italy
The Supreme Court on Tuesday held government employees are entitled to annual increment even if they retire a day after earning the financial benefit. The significant verdict came on an appeal of the state government-owned Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) challenging the judgement of a division bench of the Karnataka High Court that employees were entitled to annual increment even if they are to superannuate the very next day of earning the benefit. A bench comprising Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar dismissed the appeal of KPTCL and said, "Now so far as the submission on behalf of the appellants (KPTCL) that the annual increment is in the form of incentive and to encourage an employee to perform well and therefore, once he is not in service, there is no question of grant of annual increment is concerned, the aforesaid has no substance." The court took note of the divergent views of various high courts and laid down the law on the legal question whether an employee who has earned the annual increment is entitled to the same despite the fact that he has retired on the very next day of earning the increment. The bench dealt in detail with the Regulation 40(1) of the Karnataka Electricity Board Employees Service Regulations, 1997 and analysed the object and purpose of grant of annual increment. "A government servant is granted the annual increment on the basis of his good conduct while rendering one year of service. Increments are given annually to officers with good conduct unless such increments are withheld as a measure of punishment or linked with efficiency. Therefore, the increment is earned for rendering service with good conduct in a year/specified period," it said. The entitlement to the benefit of annual increment is due to the service already rendered, it said. Merely because a government servant has retired on the very next day, he cannot be denied the annual increment which he has earned after rendering the service with good conduct and efficiency in the preceding year, it said. "In view of the , the Division Bench of the (Karnataka) High Court has rightly directed the appellants (KPTCL) to grant one annual increment which the original writ petitioners earned on the last day of their service for rendering their services preceding one year from the date of retirement with good behaviour and efficiency," it said. Earlier, a single-judge bench of the high court had ruled in favour of the state-owned firm. The decision was set aside by the division bench of the high court. The firm had preferred an appeal in the top court, saying that as the increment is in a form of incentive and therefore, when the employees are not in service there is no question of granting them any annual increment.
The Supreme Court on April 11 dismissed the Tamil Nadu governments plea against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route march in the state. The had moved the apex court against a Madras HC green light to the rally. In October 2022, the RSS had sought the Tamil Nadu government's permission to conduct a series of route marches in the state to commemorate 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' and Gandhi Jayanti. On being refused by the state, the saffron squad had moved the Madras High Court with the plea to conduct the route march. In November 2022, a single-judge bench allowed the march with a rider that mandated that the RSS should conduct the march in an auditorium or ground. This order was appealed in the division bench of the Madras High Court. On February 10, wen the division bench lifted the restriction, the government appealed against the order of the division bench. The SC heard the parties in three hearings and reserved the case for judgment on March 27. On March 3, the state had informed the court that it was not against RSSroute marches and public meetings across the state, but cited intelligence reports that it could not be conducted on the roads or in localities.

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Its been almost two hundred years since the term flacon was first used to describe a decorative perfume bottle. The term gained more popular usage after the famous French poem Le Flacon by Charles Baudelaire. Its the 2020s, packaging is now the key ingredient in modern fragrances. Brands are outdoing themselves in flacon design to create stunning perfume bottles and fascinating stories around them. Showstopper bottles that can almost double up as objets dart. We round up the prettiest womens fragrance bottles that are bound to spark conversations and look good in your wardrobe. Paris Hilton Rose Rush This charming bottle wont look out of place on a red carpet. Rose Rush is positioned as a whimsical, flirty addition to Hiltons Gold Rush fragrance line and developed by Richard Herpin who also has the nose behind some of Marc Jacobs most effervescent scents. We dig the glamorous dress-shaped bottle. The floral-rose-fruity juice kicks off with a blend of rose petals, neroli and lychee. The floral-fruity heart also features a juicy papaya note while the base notes include amber, cedarwood that are wrapped up with white musk. Price: Rs 4,950/100ml Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl Glam Eau de Parfum Carolina Herrera once famously said Fragrance should be thought as an invisible accessory. That didnt stop the brand from creating one of the most dazzling flacons of the 2010s. The stiletto-shaped Good Girl flacon first made its appearance in 2016 and quickly became a symbol of sophisticated female empowerment. The newest iteration sees the Good Girl stiletto drenched in a cascade of glitter. This heady scent brings notes like sour cherry, bitter almond, rose, bourbon vanilla and vetiver together. Price: Rs 8,350/50ml Pink Fresh Couture by Moschino Pop art involves juxtaposing the most mundane items - the Campbell Soup is a case in point. Moschinos Fresh Couture line is one of the standout examples of product packaging. The bottle is reminiscent of a household cleaner (a product with little aspirational value) and yet the scent is positioned as a luxurious, haute couture product. Pink Fresh Couture is a fruity floral scent that opens on a zesty note with pink grapefruit, black currant and lily of the valley. Price: Rs 4,400/50ml Dolce Lily Dolce & Gabbana This charming bottle evokes the style of antique perfume flacons and is finished with a slender black grosgrain (with its unique ribbed textures) ribbon. The artisanal, crafted cap seeks inspiration from the marzipan sculptures by Sicilian pastry chef reflecting the brands proud roots. This luminous scent celebrates the charming pink lily flower  a symbol of femininity and kindness. This fresh scent begins on a fruity note with a passionfruit accord, bergamot and lemon before finishing with musk, sandalwood and vanilla. Price: Rs 6,850/75ml Marry Me Lanvin The name is a giveaway. This scent was crafted for the romantic and spontaneous woman. Lanvin worked with master perfumer Antoine Maisondieu to create a romantic and sensual fragrance, the essence of light-heartedness for the eternal romantic. The shimmering flacon is finished with a ribbon and captures the spirit of this scent. The composition includes bitter Tunisian orange and sensual essences of Sambac jasmine, while the floral heart includes jasmone, magnolia blossom and rose petals. Price: Rs 4,600/50ml Paco Rabanne Fame Eau de Parfum This is one of our favourite flacons from the 2020s. Paco Rabanne calls this a future classic, a scent that captures the brands Parisian spirit while paying tribute to a new era of femininity. The jewel-like bottle aims to be an object of desire with its unmistakable sophistication. The flacon is finished with a chain-mail inspired robe while the scent combines succulent jasmine, pure jasmine and creamy incense. Price: Rs 5,100/30ml United Colors of Benetton Sisterland Red Rose Benetton would like to think of its new fragrance line Sisterland more as a movement. The brand calls this a place where you can be yourself surrounded by your true friends, your sisters. Each of these bottles has a unique story to tell. Red Rose is the sister with energy and passion. This scent includes sensual floral rose and iris with the fresh notes of fruit and pink peppercorn. Price: Rs 2,400/80ml
Tupperware, the American manufacturer of food storage containers, is facing an uncertain future as it struggles to raise new financing. The 77-year-old company has been trying to attract younger consumers, but its efforts have failed to boost sales, resulting in a slide in revenue. Tupperware, which was once famous for its "Tupperware parties" in the 1950s and 1960s, where people sold plastic containers for food storage, has warned that it may go bust unless it can secure additional funds quickly. The company has been attempting to reposition itself to appeal to a younger audience and has expanded its range to include cooking products, such as a microwave grill. It has also started selling its products in US retail chain Target in an effort to entice younger shoppers. Despite these efforts, Tupperware's financial position has deteriorated, and the company is struggling to turn its business around. In a recent statement, Tupperware announced that it may not have adequate liquidity in the near term and that there was "substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern." The company has also failed to file its annual report, which has put its shares at risk of being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Tupperware has already amended its loan agreements three times since August 2022 and is struggling with higher interest costs on its borrowings. The company is currently working with financial advisors to secure more money and investment and is examining whether it can sell property and cut jobs to help raise additional funds. Tupperware's shares dropped by almost 50% following its announcement, and its financial results for 2021 and 2022, as well as its interim figures in 2021 and the first three months of 2022, have been "misstated" due to how the company accounted for taxes and leases. Shares of the company plummeted 48 per cent on Monday. Tupperware's founder, Earl Tupper, created the polyethylene air-tight and water-tight products with their double-sealed lid in 1946. Initially sold in department stores, the products were not immediately successful as potential customers were unsure how to use them. It was only when saleswoman Brownie Wise started selling Tupperware herself through home demonstrations that the product gained popularity. Wise used home demonstrations to find customers and recruited other salespeople to sell the goods. She was recruited as a vice president of marketing at Tupperware by Mr Tupper, helping to fuel growth at the business through parties which also allowed women to earn an income. Read: Twitter nostalgic as Tupperware declares they may go bust. See tweets However, the founder and his vice president reportedly clashed over strategy, and in 1958, Mr Tupper fired Mrs Wise. She sued the company and won a year's salary. Mr Tupper went on to sell the business. As Twitter gets nostalgic over the uncertainty of the company's future, it remains to be the seen how Tupperware plans to consolidate its position.
Tupperware, the iconic US maker of food storage containers, has issued a warning that it could go bust unless it can quickly raise new financing. Despite efforts, sales of the 77-year-old firm have continued to slide. Tupperware was once famous for its "Tupperware parties" in the 1950s and 1960s, where people sold plastic containers for food storage. As news of the companys possible collapse broke, social media started reminiscing about their Tupperware stories  a staple in most households while growing up. Another party of my youth fading away. I remember my mother hosting a Tupperware party. She would go to a couple a year at a friend's or coworker's house, one Twitter user wrote. One user shared that someone in her family that was involved in setting up the company. My grandmothers mother-in-law, Brownie Wise, launched Tupperware and paved the way for it to become what it has been for decades. It would be sad to see it go, she wrote. I remember my sister-in-law hosting a tupperware party that I was at (I often spent time there as there were 3 neices at one time all under 5!) Dont remember anything else about it, another comment read. One user had a different take. I wouldn't worry about #tupperware . Even if they do technically collapse they will still be around in 25 years time, an unused but ongoing presence in your kitchen cupboards, they wrote. Here are some more tweets: They sure knew how to throw a #tupperware party in the 50s, Im off to raid the cupboards so I can fashion some fetching headwear from kitchenalia #tuesdayvibe pic.twitter.com/ihxt2ggPom  Gail (@_AngelLady_) April 11, 2023 #tupperware over 50 years old and still going strong pic.twitter.com/R5xHXp4dME  Richard Gavens (@Greeninthewoods) April 11, 2023 My mother used to hold #Tupperware parties which involved tea, cheap cake, and me presenting the goods. Not nostalgic about it, and TBH glad therell be less plastic produced if the company folds.  Troglodyke (@MRadclyffe) April 11, 2023 In a recent statement, Tupperware announced that it may not have adequate liquidity in the near term and that there was "substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern." Read: Tupperware may go out of business as 'substantial doubt' looms. What went wrong Tupperware's founder, Earl Tupper, created the polyethylene air-tight and water-tight products with their double-sealed lid in 1946. Initially sold in department stores, the products were not immediately successful as potential customers were unsure how to use them. It was only when saleswoman Brownie Wise started selling Tupperware herself through home demonstrations that the product gained popularity. Tupperware became a household favourite soon after and has since become iconic.
Neil Gaiman broadcast this tragic news over the weekend: Rachel Pollack, an icon of fantasy literature, an expert on tarot and the occult, and a trailblazer for trans rights, passed away from Hodgkin's lymphoma over the weekend:

She was my friend for 38 years and I will miss her. Sending love to Rachel Pollack wherever her journeys take her. pic.twitter.com/N2d6O7wSup  Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) April 7, 2023

I first encountered Pollack's work on Doom Patrol, where she had the unenviable role of following Grant Morrison's iconic run on the bizarre group of misfits. While Morrison didn't shy away from exploring their own gender dysphoria throughout their work on the title  Negative Man in particular had been joined with a woman as well as a cosmic entity to become a non-binary composite being  Pollack was responsible for introducing Coagula to the cast, who's largely considered to be the first explicitly trans character in a mainstream superhero comic. Pollack also won an Arthur C. Clarke award for her 1989 speculative fiction novel Unquenchable Fire. But she's perhaps best known for her work on writings on Tarot, including Salvador Dali's Tarot and Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self-Awareness, as well as collaborations with Gaiman and artist Dave McKean.

There's also this, from her obituary in The Guardian:

Pollack, born in Brooklyn, New York, on 17 August 1945, was one of the earliest trans activists, and moved to the UK when she transitioned in her early 20s, following a career as a professor of English. British writer and cultural critic Roz Kaveney recalls that when she moved to London in 1971 she went to the Gay Liberation Front and "asked them if they were doing anything about what we now call trans stuff. They said they had a small group coordinated by Rachel Pollack, and I went to see her the very same day." Pollack and Kaveney belonged to the group that drew up the first trans manifesto, published in the GLF's newsletter in 1972, entitled Don't Call Me Mister You Fucking Beast, and which included: "There are many questions we are just beginning to examine. Why is Danny La Rue a West End institution, when we get kicked out of our flats for wearing a skirt? Apparently it's all right if you're doing it for money, but perverted if you do it for personal satisfaction."

(This is a particularly notable passage not only because of what it reveals about Pollack as a person, but also because it was published in The Guardian, which has recently garnered quite a bit of criticism for its transphobic coverage.)

Rest in power, Rachel Pollack.
The government has sought to assuage concerns about drought this year by saying that with India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a normal monsoon it is unlikely that the crop pattern and rural economy will be impacted. El Nino will form in the second half of the monsoon. crop pattern will not be impacted, it will not be a worry. The rural economy will not be impacted in the first two months of the monsoon. No change in crop sowing pattern will be needed as monsoon is expected to be normal, M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, told Moneycontrol. IMD has forecast 83.5 cm of rainfall, which is 96 percent (+/-5 percent) of the long-period average (LPA). On the other hand, private weather forecaster Skymet on April 10 said the rainfall is likely at 94 percent of the LPA. While the wind pattern changes will be disturbed, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and the less snow cover over the northern hemisphere are favourable for the monsoon. Thats why only in the second half of the monsoon rainfall will be lesser than normal, Ravichandran said. El Nino, the warming of the Pacific Ocean waters close to South America, is linked to a weakening of the monsoon winds and decreased rainfall in India. The difference in sea surface temperatures between the western and eastern portions of the Indian Ocean, close to Africa and Indonesia, is used to define the IOD. What IMD says The moderate El Nino conditions are likely to develop during the second half of the monsoon. All El Nino years are not bad monsoon years. About 40 percent of the El Nino years in the past were years with normal or above normal monsoon rainfall, M Mohapatra, IMD's director general of meteorology, said. However, normal to below-normal rainfall is likely over some areas of northwest India, parts of west-central India and some pockets of northeast India, he said. Experts take On the other hand, agriculture expert Devinder Sharma said there is not much difference between the two forecasts of IMD and Skymet at 94 percent and 96 percent of the LPA. Skymet has said that the rainfall starting at 94 percent of the LPA will reduce to 92 percent in August and to 90 percent in September. It is worrisome as these months are important for paddy grain filling. Farmers need rain at that time else it may impact paddy crop, Sharma told Moneycontrol. Punjab and Haryana may be insulated because of irrigation facilities but in Uttar Pradesh, farmers may face problems as their livelihoods are impacted by the monsoon, he said. Farming community may see a double whammy because of the excess rain during the wheat season and now expected shortfall of rain during the Kharif season. The crop will be impacted; however, the exact shortfall in rain needs to be seen, he said. Rabi crops were destroyed by unseasonal rains and hailstorms in March, which cost thousands of farmers their livelihoods. The administration asserted that despite the unseasonal rains, wheat production was unaffected. Farmers do try and act according to the monsoon forecasts and thus they are necessary. Farmers are aware that rainfall will be less this year as the monsoon has been good for the last three years. The pattern of sowing will not change unless the rainfall is less at the time of sowing, Sharma said.
Britain's main business lobby group, the CBI, has sacked Director General Tony Danker following a probe into allegations of sexual misconduct, it announced Tuesday. The Confederation of British Industry added in a statement that it had suspended three other employees "pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations". The CBI said Danker "is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him". He had stepped aside from his role in early March, allowing the investigation to occur. "The allegations that have been made over recent weeks about the CBI have been devastating," Tuesday's statement said. "While investigations continue into a number of these, it is already clear to all of us that there have been serious failings in how we have acted as an organisation." The statement also apologised "to the victims...., including those impacted by the revulsion we have all felt at hearing their stories. "Nobody should feel unsafe in their workplace," it added. The CBI announced that Rain Newton-Smith, a former chief economist at the group, had agreed to rejoin as its new director general. It will meanwhile create a chief people officer position, overseeing matters of workplace conduct and culture. "We know it will take time for these steps to make a difference and rebuild trust," the CBI said. "We will now work tirelessly to ensure that under new leadership and with a commitment to build a modern, inclusive culture, the CBI can and will resume its vital work of supporting British business." Britain's Guardian newspaper had reported that more than a dozen women claim to be victims of sexual misconduct by senior figures at the CBI, including one woman who alleged she was raped at a staff party. The revelations have caused member companies and the UK government to distance themselves from the lobby group.
China plans to require a security review of generative AI services before theyre allowed to operate, casting uncertainty over ChatGPT-like bots unveiled by the countrys largest tech companies including Baidu Inc. Providers of services must ensure content is accurate and respects intellectual property, and neither discriminates nor endangers security, the Cyberspace Administration of China said in draft guidelines published for public feedback. AI operators must also clearly label AI-generated content, the countrys internet overseer said in a statement posted on its website. The CACs requirements add to Beijings growing attempts to regulate the explosive growth of generative AI since OpenAIs ChatGPT fired up the industry in November. Companies from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to SenseTime Group Inc. and Baidu all aim to build the definitive next-generation AI platform for the worlds largest internet market. That mirrors a growing wave of development abroad with Alphabet Inc.s Google and Microsoft Corp. among the many tech companies exploring generative AI, which can create original content from poetry to art just with simple user prompts. Chinas made no secret of its wish to elevate AI at a time the country is locked in a conflict with the US over technology from chips to EVs. But it remains uncertain how the government intends to both galvanize and police the emergent field. Tuesdays guidelines essentially port existing regulations on data and content  from the protection of personal information to censorship of messages the Party deems undesirable  to the burgeoning field of AI. China will probably bar foreign AI services, like those from OpenAI or Google, as it did with American search and social media offerings. Beijing insists on tight control over online content and discussion. But Beijing is expected for now to avoid tightening the leash on its local firms too much, for fear of squelching a nascent arena that needs room for innovation, said Angela Zhang, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Hong Kong. The CACs quick reactions to this new technology clearly demonstrates its regulatory ambition in this sphere, Zhang said. These developments will likely have spillover effects on Chinese AI regulation in the future. Thus far, however, I see the Chinese regulators being quite cautious with its regulatory approach in order to give more room for the development of generative AI in the country. Alibaba shares gave up much of their initial gains on Tuesday after the CAC announcement, while SenseTime was largely unchanged. The larger e-commerce company on Tuesday described how it planned to build generative AI into its Slack-like work app and Amazon Echo-like smart speakers, before expanding that portfolio to its other services. A day before, SenseTime demonstrated the large AI model SenseNova and a user-facing chatbot called SenseChat. That followed Baidu Inc.s Ernie bot, which was released for selective testing about a month ago. The company  considered the current domestic leader  slid as much as 7% in Hong Kong. Chinese carriers such as China Mobile Ltd. and smaller AI-linked stocks from 360 Security Technology Inc. to AI chipmaker Cambricon Technologies Corp. were also down sharply. Theres real potential there to affect how the models are trained and that stands out to me as really quite important here, said Tom Nunlist, a senior analyst at Trivium China. The rules will likely impact the way that AI models in China will be trained going forward, although much will depend on how regulators interpret broad provisions in their notice, he added. Beijing plans to introduce rules to govern the use of artificial intelligence across a swath of industries. In February, officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology said the government will push for the safe and controllable application of AI services, which it considers a strategic industry. In addition, the powerful regulator stressed that AI services must be transparent about the data and algorithms used in training their large-scale models, reinforcing Beijings focus on maintaining control over sensitive and valuable information. Service providers should provide certain information on data used in AI training, including origin, size and type of data, the CAC said in its statement. It also requires AI platforms to share basic algorithms and other technologies used. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Beijings heightened regulatory scrutiny of ChatGPT-style services in the country, based on new guidelines issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on April 11, looks unlikely to deter expansion plans by Alibaba, Baidu, SenseTime and NetEase in this field, we believe. CACs proposed rules, including public censure for first-time violations, and suspension of operations and fines for repeat offenders, are in line with general directives already in place to govern local tech firms. - Catherine Lim and Trini Tan, analysts Taken together, the rules may be intended to ensure ChatGPT-like services are subservient to the Communist Partys rigid ban on controversial or undesirable content online. But it could also boost companies like Baidu and SenseTime by providing clearer ground rules for future services. On Tuesday, the CAC said content considered deviant from society will be prohibited, without elaborating. Its unclear how the new regulations will affect AI development going forward. Just about every major tech firm including Tencent Holdings Ltd. is exploring ways to harness its potential. There are concerns however over whether Chinese companies can secure reliable access to the high-end chips and technology needed to develop large-scale AI models over the longer term. SenseTime, for example, is operating under US sanctions that inhibit its access to capital as well as crucial American components, and the Biden administration last year imposed restrictions on the sale of AI accelerator chips to Chinese customers  a critical component in the development of any large-scale generative model.
U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Belfast on Tuesday at a delicate political time in Northern Ireland as he helps mark the 25-year anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed there. Biden, known for decades for his pro-Irish views, will need to tread carefully as pro-British unionists loyal to London continue to boycott the devolved power-sharing government that was a fundamental part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Biden was expected to meet representatives from five Northern Irish parties in advance of his speech at Ulster University but was not planning to pressure them, a senior administration official said. "The president will have the opportunity to engage with the political parties of Northern Ireland before his speech, and as we've said, he looks forward to continuing to engage them as we work to improve the lives and livelihoods of all communities there," said John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said Biden's visit - the first by a U.S. president in 10 years - will not pressure it to end its protest at post-Brexit trade rules that treat the province differently to the rest of the United Kingdom. Biden, who will float the possibility of closer investment ties between the U.S. and Northern Ireland to try to encourage an end to the impasse, clashed with the British government at times during the Brexit talks, drawing a rebuke from the DUP. "The American involvement here has been a positive and a constructive one and fair in respect to the protocol issues," Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin told national broadcaster RTE, referring to the trade barriers that the European Union and UK agreed to ease in a recent deal endorsed by Biden. "I think the president is anxious that the restoration of the (power-sharing) executive would pave the way for an economic agenda. That would be an important dividend of the visit." Biden, who will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on his arrival late on Tuesday and make his an address at Ulster University in Belfast on Wednesday, will use the trip to underscore the United States' readiness to support Northern Ireland's "vast economic potential", the White House said last week. However, the latest political stalemate is set to overshadow the visit and the anniversary of the peace deal the U.S. helped broker between Irish nationalists seeking a united Ireland and pro-British unionists wanting to remain part of the UK. There is still sporadic violence by small groups opposed to peace and police were attacked with petrol bombs at a parade opposing the agreement in Londonderry on Monday. Britain's MI5 intelligence agency recently increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" - meaning an attack is highly likely. It has been mostly at that level since its introduction in 2010. Biden, who speaks proudly of his Irish roots and frequently quotes Irish poets such as Seamus Heaney, will then spend three days in Ireland where he will address the parliament in Dublin and visit his ancestral homes on either coast. He will meet distant cousins in County Louth on Wednesday and give a public address in the western county of Mayo, where his great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt grew up, before departing on Friday. "Since (Jonh F.) Kennedy there hasn't been as Irish American a president as Joe Biden and we're really looking forward to welcoming him home," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Sunday.
Sri Lanka's election body on Tuesday said the local body polls scheduled to be held on April 25 have now been postponed indefinitely due to an acute shortage of funds. The Election Commission made the announcement a day after its officials held meetings with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and members of major political parties. The Election Commission's director general Saman Sri Ratnayake said that the next date for holding elections would be announced only after the Treasury confirms the disbursal of funds. The local body polls, which were earlier scheduled on March 9, got postponed to April 25, due to a plethora of reasons linked to Sri Lanka's current economic crisis. Last month, the Election Commission postponed the postal voting for the local body polls due to the paucity of funds. In March, Sri Lanka government's printer Gangani Liyanage said the inability to print ballot papers to conduct postal voting from February 21 to 24 caused the Election Commission to postpone the elections. Liyanage said that by the time the elections were postponed, she had only received Rs 40 million out of the estimated full cost of Rs 500 million from the Treasury. The election to appoint new administrations to 340 local councils for a four-year term was postponed since March last year due to the ongoing economic crisis. The International Monetary Fund has approved a USD 3 billion bailout programme to help debt-ridden Sri Lanka overcome its economic crisis and catalyse financial support from other development partners, a move welcomed by Colombo as a "historic milestone" in the critical period. Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking a major political and humanitarian crisis in the island nation.
Arafura has signed an offtake agreement to supply neodymium and praseodymium to Siemens for up to five years.

Rare earths group Arafura Rare Earths [ASX:ARU] has posted an update on its operations in the Northern Territory.

The group has signed a new offtake agreement with the global wind turbine manufacturers Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy to supply neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) to the group for up to five years.

Arafura is ambitious to transform its Nolans Project into Australias first vertically integrated rare earths project that includes an oxide mine and processing facility, setting it apart from its competitors.

ARU has slipped by 18% in share price over the last month. However, in the past 12 months, it has gained 37% in stock value and is almost 20% higher than the sector average:

www.tradingview.com

Arafura Resources offtake deal with Siemens

Up-and-coming rare earths miner Arafura Resources has announced signing a new offtake agreement with European company Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy to supply NdPr (neodymium and praseodymium) from the Nolans Project in the Northern Territory.

The product supplied by Arafura will go towards Siemens manufacturing business, where they will be used in engineering and building powerful and reliable wind energy solutions as part of the groups global wind turbines business.

Nolan NdPr will be used to manufacture permanent magnets to be used when assembling the wind turbines at the Siemens Gamesas Cuxhaven production facility in Germany before being shipped globally.

The agreement is made up of a five-year term with the option to extend the term for a further two years by mutual agreement.

Arafura says that to honour the contract, it will up the ante and push annual contract quantities of NdPr metal to begin in 2026. This will call for an increase to 400 tonnes per annum (tpa), an NdPr oxide equivalent of 520 tpa, for when the Nolans Project achieves nameplate production capacity.

Pricing will be determined by reference to NdPr Ex Works China tonne pricing, and the product must be 99.0% quality.

The offtake agreement is said to be a binding one, subject to certain conditions that will have to be satisfied by no later than 30 September 2026.

One such condition is for Arafura to earn Untied Loan Guarantee cover from UFK-Guarantees of the Federal Republic of Germany. The loan is for the financing of a raw material project, completion of construction and development to begin commercial production and ramp-up.

Commenting on the offtake agreement, Arafuras Managing Director Gavin Lockyer said:

We are delighted to have concluded negotiations for our second offtake agreement. Siemens Gamesa is the worlds leading manufacturer of offshore wind turbines, and this agreement compliments our strategy to create supply diversification into the renewable & E-mobility sectors.

Arafura aligns plans for Nolans

The offtake agreement will support ongoing discussions with German ECA Euler Hermes, which recently provided Arafura with a non-binding letter of in-principal support for an untied loan guarantee of up to US$600 million to support the Nolans Project.

The rare earths producer explained that this is the second offtake agreement that has been signed, and it now has around 53% of its targeted 85% annual production form Nolan spoken for, celebrating the security of long-term sale arrangements that have now been successfully contracted.

Provided all goes well, Arafura anticipates the first NdPr Oxide production in 2025, with annual production expected to ramp up to 4,440 tpa in 2028.

Australias evolving economy

The global supply chain is twisting.

Australian trade isnt what it once was.

The change is all around us, but what is it all pointing to?

Jim Rickards, financial and geopolitical analyst, has pieced certain puzzle pieces together.

He says, no one is talking about how this could end the Australian economy as we know it and it could happen as soon as within the next 12 months.

Learning the patterns and getting ready for change could put you ahead of the curve.

If you want to know more about the biggest geoeconomic shift of our lifetime, click here.

Regards,

Mahlia Stewart,

For Money Morning
Chairman of the Supreme Court and Chairman of the Supreme Council of Justice, Nino Kadagidze, stated at the joint press conference with the Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvii that she supports the four judges sanctioned by the US State Department for alleged corruption."Therefore, I cannot accept a single statement about the existence of corruption in the court. Despite my personal request, I have not been provided with any substantiated evidence, even assumptions and hints as to what has become the basis for accusing my colleagues of corruption. Therefore, I fully support them. I, as the Chairman of the Supreme Court and the Chairman of the Council of Justice, will be the guarantor of their and each of our judges' inviolability and freedom," Kadagidze said.According to her, even beyond the specified 12 recommendations, the Georgian judiciary system is ahead of many friendly and neighboring countries.Kadagidze stated that "mistakes can happen to everyone", and for this reason she is waiting for the decision to be reviewed.The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia and acting Chairman of the OSCE Bujar Osmani and discussed the current events in the region and the situation in the occupied territories of Georgia.According to the President's administration's press service, the meeting touched on the war in Ukraine as a challenge for the security of the region and Europe, and the importance of peace in the Caucasus region was emphasized."The President of Georgia informed the acting chairman of the OSCE about the human rights and humanitarian situation in the occupied territories of Georgia.The President of Georgia thanked the OSCE for the fruitful cooperation, including the support that the OSCE provides in terms of strengthening democracy and carrying out essential reforms, which is so relevant for the European integration process of Georgia, especially now that the country is waiting for candidacy.The acting chairman of the OSCE expressed his readiness to further strengthen the support for the country's institutional reforms," the statement reads.
Twice convicted of prior bank robberies Bonnie Gooch, 78, presented bank tellers at a Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Goppert Financial Bank with several polite notes demanding the cash and apologizing for scaring them. After fleeing the bank, Gooch was promptly apprehended by Police, who were initially confused by the felon's age.

Yahoo:

Prosecutors also allege that Gooch banged on the counter to hurry the teller up, telling them not to count the money and "just give it to her."

Gooch then escaped in a Buick SUV with a handicap registration number, prosecutors said, per the outlet. When police stopped her at a parking lot, they found the cash strewn on the floorboard and noted that the vehicle smelled strongly of alcohol, prosecutors said, per The Kansas City Star.

Pleasant Hill Police Chief Tommy Wright told The Kansas City Star that the case was "unusual" and "sad."

"When officers first approached her, they were kind of confused," he said.

"It's a little old lady who steps out," he added. "We weren't sure initially that we had the right person."
In a statement to Tyla, the bakery said: "The backlash is 100 percent online. Our customers love the buns and theyve completely sold out each day weve baked them. We have as many people getting in touch to say how delicious the buns are [as] we do angry Christians telling us God will take away our profits.
I just got back from an amazing trip to Mexico and while I was there, I came across an interesting street corner up in the hills above Lake Chapala in Jalisco. It's where Malcolm X Drive and Martin Luther King Way (not sure where the "Jr." went) intersect.

I've since learned that in the United States alone there are more than 950 streets named after Martin Luther King Jr. with a growing number of streets named after Malcolm X. Some cities have even been renaming MLK Jr. streets to Malcolm X ones in recent years. It's rare to see the intersection with both civil rights icons together but it happens.

I also learned that streets honoring MLK Jr. can be found in several other countries including Austria, Brazil, and Israel. I only found one country with a street named after Malcolm X, which is Turkey. In a charged 2018 move, they renamed the road to the U.S. embassy after him.

Is this intersection in a fancy new gated community in Mexico the first international instance where the two meet? It very well could be. The community is so new that its street names are not populated on Google Maps yet.
UPDATE: Monday, April 10

Texas park officials have come to the conclusion that the identity of a mysterious animal recently caught on a trail camera at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park last week is not so mysterious after all. On Saturday, just days after a photo the park posted on Facebook went viral and garnered hundreds of guesses at what the elusive creature pictured hidden among trees at nighttime might be, officials announced that they too agree with most that the animal is most likely an American badger.

They added that the critter is not to be confused with the honey badger that lives in Africa and Asia and "is rumored to not care very much."

The blurry photo of the badger was reportedly taken by a park visitor, so park officials are not aware of the exact location where it was spotted, though it was indeed in the Rio Grande Valley. "While American badgers are not commonly seen in the valley (partly due to their nocturnal behavior), this is part of their natural range," they wrote.

--- End of Update ---

A mysterious animal was recently filmed lurking inside a South Texas state park inside the Rio Grande Valley, but officials are confused about its true identity. On Thursday, officials with the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park posted a photo captured by a trail camera showing a four-legged creature walking among the park's trees at nighttime.

"We're scratching out heads trying to identify this elusive creature," officials captioned the post. "Is it a new species? An escapee from a nearby zoo? Or just a park ranger in disguise? Regardless, it's thrilling to see such an incredible animal in its natural habitat."

Under the post, several people made some guesses on what they thought it could be. "Clearly a chupacabra," wrote Jeremy Haldeman. "I think it's a wolverine," wrote Rose Steele. "Looks like two wild boar moving in opposite directions," added Melissa Smith Knerr.

"It looks like a bear with its head down sniffing the ground to me, it's not little," commented Heather Eaglebarger. "Looks like a capybara or nutria large rodent found in South America," replied Phil Alyward. "This is very clearly an American badger," wrote Justin LeClaire.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said they are investigating the "mystery" and will provide updates to the public on any findings. The 797-acre Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located a few miles southwest of Mission, Texas and is home to about 360 species of birds, along with butterflies, javelinas, bobcats and more.

Last year, Amarillo city officials similarly filmed a mysterious-looking creature they dubbed an "Unidentified Amarillo Object" that was spotted lurking just outside of the Amarillo Zoo in the early morning hours of May 21. Some social media user also theorized it could be a chupacabra.

Despite seeking help from the public online, which was followed by a generous donation of brand new security cameras from a Seattle company who heard about the viral mystery, Amarillo officials still haven't been able to nail down what the animal was.
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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.
Midland College

Midland College Chemistry Club students and advisors attended the recent American Chemical Society (ACS) spring 2023 meeting in Indianapolis from March 26-30. During the meeting, MC students Lily Arbuckle and Zak Alvarado presented on successful outreach activities of the MC Chemistry Club chapter.

MC student Maria Gonzalez presented her research on silver nanoparticle synthesis using green tea. Gonzalez is conducting this research with mentor Dr. Pat Kesavan, MC Chemistry professor, in the hopes of finding ways to deliver chemotherapy directly into tumor sites.
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BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP)  American grit was essential to getting Northern Irelands warring sides to make peace 25 years ago with the Good Friday Agreement.

President Joe Biden arrived in Belfast on Tuesday evening to celebrate that anniversary, but few expect him to resolve a new political crisis that has rattled the peace deal and put Northern Irelands government on ice.

Biden was greeted at Belfast International Airport by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and will hold talks with the British leader and representatives of Northern Ireland's fractious political parties on a trip to Northern Ireland whose main goal, the president said as he boarded Air Force One, is to keep the peace.

But hes not scheduled to visit Stormont, seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly. It has been suspended since the Democratic Unionist Party, which formed half of a power-sharing government, walked out a year ago over a post-Brexit trade dispute.

The president is spending less than 24 hours in Northern Ireland before moving on to the Republic of Ireland, where he will address the Dublin parliament, attend a gala banquet and visit a brace of ancestral hometowns in the east and west of the country during a three-day visit.

Katy Hayward, professor of political sociology at Queens University Belfast, said Bidens visit is a recognition that the peace process isnt in a good place, but (also) to remind us of the achievements of the past 25 years.

President Biden is continuing on in a long tradition of American presidents whove maintained an interest in the peace process in Northern Ireland, she said. They see themselves as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement, which means that they are particularly keen to see the British-Irish relationship be a good one and a close one.

American intervention played a key role in ending Northern Irelands Troubles, three decades of violence in which 3,600 people died.

Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell oversaw almost two years of talks in the 1990s aimed at ending bloodshed involving Irish republican and British loyalist militant groups and U.K. troops. President Bill Clinton coaxed and cajoled reluctant Northern Ireland politicians into compromise.

Even the night of the agreement, he was on the phone a number of times urging the participants to do the right thing and find that elusive agreement, said Daniel Mulhall, a former Irish ambassador to the U.S. and the U.K.

The against-the-odds agreement struck on April 10, 1998 committed armed groups to stop fighting, ended direct U.K. rule and set up a Northern Ireland legislature and government with power shared between British unionist and Irish nationalist parties.

That peace has mostly held, allowing a generation to grow up without widespread violence and letting Northern Irelands economy grow after years of stagnation. But the power-sharing government has collapsed several times amid lingering distrust between the parties.

Small armed dissident groups continue to mount occasional attacks. On Tuesday police found four suspected pipe bombs in a cemetery in Londonderry, near where youths threw gasoline bombs and set a police vehicle on fire on Easter Monday.

Britains departure from the European Union left Northern Ireland poised uneasily between the rest of the U.K. and EU member Ireland, and put the peace agreement under increased strain.

In order to maintain an invisible border between Northern Ireland and the republic  a key pillar of the peace process  new customs checks were imposed for goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. That angered unionists, who said the new rules undermined Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom.

After much wrangling, Britain and the EU struck a deal in February to remove many of those checks  an agreement welcomed by the U.S., which had urged London and Brussels to end their post-Brexit feud. The DUP, though, says it doesnt go far enough and has refused to return to government.

Sunak spokesman Jamie Davies insisted Tuesday that the British government still aims to get Stormont back up and running as quickly as possible  but it's far from clear how that will happen. A growing number of people argue that power-sharing must be reformed to reflect a society in which more than 40% of people now identify as neither nationalist nor unionist.

For now, the U.K. government is focusing energy on economic growth rather than a political breakthrough. Sunak has scheduled a Northern Ireland investment summit for September, aimed at building on the 1.5 billion pounds ($1.9 billion) U.S. firms have invested in Northern Ireland over the past decade.

The British government notes that Northern Irelands post-Brexit status puts it in a unique economic position: It's part of the U.K. but also has close ties to the EUs single market. Brexit opponents note bitterly that the U.K. as a whole walked away from membership in the single market by leaving the bloc.

Biden has appointed Joe Kennedy III, a scion of the Irish-American political dynasty, as his special trade envoy to Northern Ireland.

Mulhall said that reflects a recognition by U.S. authorities "that one of the things they can bring to the party is the economic dividend that American investment in Northern Ireland involves.

As for unblocking the political stalemate, Mulhall said its always positive to have an American president involved.

But I wouldnt be expecting him to get into the weeds," he said. "Hes going to give some broad general signals of Americas desire to see the process in Northern Ireland move forward.

They want to see the violence of the past remain in the past.

___

Lawless reported from London
Andrey Gein, a Russian resident who worked at Yandex, a Russian search engine and web portal, spent several months interviewing for a position at Google's London office. After passing five technical interviews and speaking with numerous individuals at Google, he received a job offer that included his salary. "In March, I resigned from my previous company, Yandex, to spend the final month preparing for my relocation to London. This process involved vacating my apartment in Yekaterinburg, packing my belongings, and selling some items," he explains on his website. However, just four days before his scheduled flight to London and ten days prior to his planned start date, he received a terse notification from Google's HR Director, which stated:

Dear Andrey, As you are likely aware, on January 20, our Global CEO, Sundar Pichai announced the intention to reduce our global workforce by approximately 12,000 roles. The impact of this announcement means that we are in a process of consulting employees about workforce reductions. This process includes hiring freezes and strategic reviews of our operations in ways to reduce the impact for current employees who are at risk of losing their jobs. Unfortunately, these reviews mean that we have had to make the difficult decision to terminate the contract of employment which you signed with Google UK Ltd, and this letter is formal notice of termination. Sincerely.

Gillian Kulkarni

Director, HR Google

"Thus, the contract with me has been terminated 10 days before it was supposed to take effect," writes Gein.
ECHO: A Survey at 25 Years of Sound, Art, and Ink on Paper is a stunning new coffee table book celebrating the visual design of rock & roll. The book captures the history of Higher Ground, a renowned independent music venue in South Burlington, Vermont that's not only hosted a plethora of remarkable artists over the years, but also persists as a proud print shop for independent artisans. As Wilco's Jeff Tweedy writes in the forward, "What coheres in these images is the work of the music and art communities intertwined and invested in each other."

I mean just look at this! The cover alone will suck you into a spiralized trance of rock n' roll euphoria!

The sprawling history of Higher Ground as a bastion of music and art unfolds quite literally from the fold-out pages here as well, with amps opening up to reveal a detailed look at silk-screening processes and more:

This is a book for fans of music and art, yes; but you can also tell that it's book created by musicians and artists who have a genuine passion for music and art beyond their own production. Even if you've never been to Higher Ground yourself, there's so much rich cultural history contained in these pages to explore.

Here's a little more about ECHO: A Survey at 25 Years of Sound, Art, and Ink on Paper:
Pike and Greene counties were able to shake off a short-lived elevation in community risk of coronavirus and have joined other west-central Illinois counties, with the exception of Macoupin, at low.

Macoupin County is at medium risk on a three-tier risk assessment after seeing 35 new COVID-19 cases last week  a 45.83% increase from one week before. The county's 11.06% test positivity rate was a 2.21% increase, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control statistics.

Fourteen counties in Illinois are at medium risk, up from 13 the week before, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Most of the elevated risks were in clumps of counties in southern, central and northern Illinois.

In counties at medium level, it is recommended the elderly and those with weakened immune systems wear a mask in indoor public places.

For the third week in a row, there are no counties at the highest level.

The CDC bases community risk levels on test positivity rates, the number of new cases being reported, and the number of new hospital admissions involving treatment for confirmed COVID-19.

While other west-central Illinois counties reported declines in new infections last week  some of them significant, such as a 90% drop in Greene and a 73% decline in Jersey  health officials were watching test positivity rates. This benchmark rose in almost every county, from as low as 0.2% in Cass County to 13.3% in Morgan County.

Although the positivity rate can indicate the level of infection in a community, researchers think it is underreported because of the availability of at-home COVID testing. A research letter published in January's Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open said "with over 80% of U.S. COVID-19 tests now being conducted at home, official case counts underreport the number of positive results and greatly underestimate the number of true infections."

That should not deter people from getting tested if they are ill and seeking early treatment if they test positive for coronavirus.

"It continues to be welcome news that COVID-19 community levels are remaining low throughout most of Illinois," Illinois Department of Public Health Director Sameer Vohra said. "However, as spring arrives so does the potential for common springtime illnesses. Lets continue to practice good public health techniques to protect our family and friends who are most at risk of serious illness."

There were 7,195 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 14 related deaths reported last week in Illinois, according to the state health department.

Since March 2020, there have been 4,116,356 coronavirus cases and 36,648 related deaths in Illinois.

County-level details

Here are details of coronavirus cases reported last week in west-central Illinois and the change from the week prior:

Brown  One new case (50% decrease); Test positivity rate unavailable.



Cass  Seven new cases (50% decrease); 11.11% test positivity rate (0.2% increase).

Greene  Three new cases (90% decrease); 7.14% test positivity rate (0.24% increase).

Jersey  Seven new cases (73.08% decrease); 3.64% test positivity rate (0.84% decrease).

Macoupin  35 new cases (45.83% increase); 11.06% test positivity rate (2.21% increase).

Morgan  20 new cases (4.76% decrease); 23.44% test positivity rate (13.3% increase).

Pike  Five new cases (no increase/decrease); 9.52% test positivity rate (2.7% increase).

Sangamon  188 new cases (9.18% decrease); 15.88% test positivity rate (2.8% decrease).

Schuyler  Three new cases (57.14% decrease); 10.53% test positivity rate (4.01% increase).

Scott  Three new cases (25% decrease); 18.18% test positivity rate (8.18% increase).


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A murder case in which Abraham Lincoln earned an acquittal for his client based on the missing moon is the subject of Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalitions next Looking for Lincoln Conversations program.

More than Just the Almanac: The Duff Armstrong Murder Case will be presented at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Looking for Lincolns YouTube channel and Facebook page.
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BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP)  President Joe Biden embarked Tuesday on a journey of diplomatic and family celebration, highlighting the U.S. role of 25 years ago in ending deadly bloodshed in Northern Ireland while catching up with distant relatives in the Republic of Ireland. It's his first trip back as Americas president.

Biden arrived in Belfast on Tuesday night and was greeted at the airport by United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He will spend about half a day in the city on Wednesday, holding talks with Sunak before going to Ulster University to mark the Good Friday accord anniversary.

The president will also engage with the leaders of Northern Irelands five main political parties but not as a group, the White House said.

Monday marked a quarter-century since the Good Friday Agreement, signed on that day in April 1998, ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland that killed 3,600 people. Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, is observing the milestone anniversary with a reunion of key players in the peace process along with Bidens visit.

Deep divisions remain over the conflicts legacy, and U.K. authorities in March raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, warning of IRA dissidents opposed to the peace process and set on attacks. Youths threw gasoline bombs and set a police vehicle on fire during a dissident march in Londonderry on Monday.

Biden said last month that nothing would change his travel plans.

They cant keep me out, he said.

The Democratic president will spend four days on the trip in all, including appearances in Belfast, the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland; in Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, and in County Louth and County Mayo, on Irelands East and West coasts, respectively. He will also address Irelands Parliament.

In County Louth the 80-year-old will dive into the Irish ancestry of which he is immensely proud and speaks about often.

Biden will hold separate meetings Thursday in Dublin with Irish President Michael Higgins and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar before the address to Parliament and a dinner banquet. Varadkar visited Biden in the Oval Office last month on St. Patricks Day.

The president will spend Friday, the final day of the trip, in County Mayo, exploring family genealogy and giving a speech about ties between the U.S. and Ireland in front of a 19th century cathedral that the White House said was partly built using bricks supplied by his great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, a brickmaker and civil engineer.

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, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.

Ending decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, a period referred to as the Troubles, meant balancing competing identities in the country, which remained in the United Kingdom when the rest of Ireland won independence a century ago. Irish nationalists in the north  most of them Catholic  seek union with the Republic of Ireland, while largely Protestant unionists want to stay with the U.K.

The Good Friday Agreement, struck on April 10, 1998, after almost two years of U.S.-backed talks, committed armed groups to stop fighting, ended direct British rule and set up a Northern Ireland legislature and government with power shared between unionist and nationalist parties.

But Britains exit from the European Union, which left Northern Ireland poised uneasily between the rest of Britain and EU member Ireland, has upset a delicate political balance, including the power-sharing system set up by the peace accord.

The Northern Ireland Assembly has not sat for more than a year, after the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest new trade rules for Northern Ireland brought in after Brexit.

A more recent accord between the U.K. and the EU, known as the Windsor Framework, addresses some of the issues that arose around commerce and goods sent across the Irish Sea from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Biden has praised the framework as an important step in maintaining the peace, though Northern Irelands political leaders have called for changes.

Asked as he prepared to leave Washington about his priorities for the trip, Biden said, Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place. Keep the peace. That's the main thing.

Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, said he would expect Biden to use the anniversary to highlight the positive role the U.S. can play in forging peace around the world.

This is a real success, 25 years later, of U.S. diplomacy, where the U.S. was asked and then played a very critical role in bridging the divide between two of its friends and partners, Bergmann said in an interview. I think this is a moment to mark that progress can happen in the world and the United States can play a central role in it.

Excitement over Bidens trip has been growing in the town of Ballina, from which one of the presidents great-great-grandfathers left for the United States in 1850.

Buildings are getting fresh coats of paint and American flags are being hung from shopfronts in Ballina, a bustling agricultural town of about 10,000 residents at the mouth of the River Moy in western Ireland. The center of town already has a mural of a beaming Biden, erected in 2020.

Many people from Ballina and the surrounding County Mayo moved to Pennsylvania in the 19th century, and Ballina is twinned with Scranton, Bidens hometown.

Joe Blewitt, a distant cousin who first met Biden when he visited Ballina as vice president in 2016, told The Associated Press that the U.S. leader pledged to return once hed won the presidency.

He said, Im going to come back into Ballina. And sure to God hes going to come back into Ballina, Blewitt said. His Irish roots are really deep in his heart.

The 43-year-old plumber was among Biden relations invited to the White House for St. Patricks Day last month. Blewitt said it was a surreal experience; it included a half-hour private meeting with Biden.

Biden, who was accompanied on the trip by his sister Valerie and son Hunter, often peppers his public remarks with sayings from his late mother and father, and he regularly quotes Irish poets, including Seamus Heaney and William Butler Yeats. He recently boasted to White House guests that the mansion was designed and built by an Irish American, James Hoban.

Irelands Irish Family History Centre says Biden is among the most Irish of all U.S. Presidents  10 of his 16 great-great-grandparents were from the Emerald Isle. All left for the U.S. during the Great Famine of the mid-19th century, which killed an estimated 1 million people.

___

Lawless reported from Ballina, Ireland.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  Safe Haven Baby Boxes and A Safe Haven for Newborns are two charities with similar names and the same goal: providing distressed mothers with a safe place to surrender their unwanted newborns instead of dumping them in trash cans or along roadsides.

But a fight between the two is brewing in the Florida Senate. An existing state law, supported and promoted by the Miami-based A Safe Haven, allows parents to surrender newborns to firefighters and hospital workers without giving their names. A new bill, supported by the Indiana-based Safe Haven Baby Boxes, would give fire stations and hospitals the option to install the groups ventilated and climate-controlled boxes, where parents could drop off their babies without interacting with fire or hospital employees.

The bill recently passed the Florida House unanimously, but there is a long-shot effort to block it in the Senate, where it might be considered this week. Opponents call the boxes costly, unnecessary and potentially dangerous for the babies, mothers, firefighters and hospital workers. Each side accuses the other of being financially driven.

The fight is getting extra attention because Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida's GOP-dominated Legislature are expected to soon ban abortions performed more than six weeks after conception, lowering the state's current limit of 15 weeks.

Similar baby-box bills have been approved recently by lawmakers in Kansas, Montana and Mississippi and sent to those states' governors for approval. West Virginia's governor recently signed such a bill. The boxes were already allowed in nine states, mostly in the Midwest and South, with the largest numbers in Indiana, Arkansas, and Kentucky, respectively. About 145 boxes have been installed since the first in 2016, with 25 newborns surrendered through one, Safe Haven Baby Boxes says.

Just one baby has been left in Florida's only box, installed two years ago at a central Florida firehouse without state authorization. The boxes open from outside the building, allowing the parent to place the baby in a bassinet as a bag containing instructions and maternal medical advice drops out. The door locks when it is reclosed and the agency is notified electronically. Safe Haven Baby Boxes says the average response time is two minutes.

Giving women an option of (total) anonymity is just that, an option. Why would (opponents) want to take that away from women? said the group's founder, firefighter Monica Kelsey, who was abandoned as a newborn and is an outspoken abortion opponent. She accused A Safe Haven for Newborns of fearing a loss of grants if the boxes are installed, something the group denies.

Republican Rep. Jennifer Canady, the bills lead sponsor, declined an interview request. She said in a statement that her proposed law would be an important next step to provide options to save lives and protect life at every stage.

Joel Gordon, a spokesman for A Safe Haven for Newborns and deputy chief at a suburban Fort Lauderdale fire department, suggested that Kelsey possibly profits from the boxes. She denies that. Her group gets mixed reviews from organizations that monitor charities.

Gordon also contended that the bill's proponents have opposed all amendments that he says would make the boxes safer and the program more workable. A Safe Haven trains fire departments and hospitals on how to implement the current law.

It is not an objection to giving the mother as many potentials as possible to help rescue and save these babies. Its the box itself, and the way the box is administered, that gives us concern," Gordon said.

Senate Democratic leader Lauren Book, who heads the bills opposition, added, We can do better than putting children in boxes. The safe haven law we have on the books currently is working.

In 2000, Florida became one of the first states to allow babies to be anonymously surrendered for adoption at hospitals and firehouses. Under it, parents can hand over newborns up to 7 days old, no questions asked, assuming there is no evidence of neglect or abuse. Since its enactment, 370 newborns have been legally surrendered, Gordon said.

The new bill would allow but not require fire departments and hospitals to acquire the boxes, which would be leased from Kelsey's group. They cost about $16,000 installed and there is a $300 annual maintenance and inspection fee, paid to Kelsey's charity. Sometimes the installation and fees are paid by donors, she said.

Was that baby (in central Florida) not worth the fight we have put up to keep that box? she said. 'I think it was."

Gordon said only five Florida babies have been illegally abandoned since 2018, and in several recent years that number was zero. He argues that a surrendered baby's mother benefits more from direct interaction with a firefighter or hospital worker, who can assess if she needs medical or psychological care. Such contact also provides her with certainty that her baby is safe, he said.

Gordon said Kelsey's boxes also don't meet Florida public building safety standards and would allow those who have abused their newborn or kidnapped or trafficked the child a way to escape detection. Gordon and Book also say the boxes give terrorists a spot to place a bomb or toxic substance, endangering firefighters and hospital workers  something Kelsey says has never happened.

Until it does, Book responded. I want to make sure that the people who are there to protect and serve our community are kept safe.

Book, who was recently arrested for trespassing during a protest against the state's proposed abortion restrictions, said the box bill is part of broader effort by DeSantis and the legislative majority to impose conservative Christian morality on all Floridians, regardless of their personal beliefs.

You can't just look at this one piece of policy. You have to look at the whole of what is going on, and I'm just not going to stand for it, Book said.

Kelsey accused opponents of grasping at straws. She said while abusers should be identified and tracked down, it is best for the babies if their parents give them up before the abuse leads to serious injury or death.

If enacted, the bill would take effect July 1.
MOSCOW (AP)  Russian lawmakers approved legislation Tuesday that would allow authorities to issue electronic summons to draftees and reservists amid the fighting in Ukraine.

The State Duma voted to pass the bill on its second and third readings. The legislation still needs approval from the upper house of parliament and President Vladimir Putin's signature to take effect.

The bill was introduced as Russia's military is preparing for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive, which Ukraine and its Western allies say could start within weeks.

Russia's current military service rules require the in-person delivery of notices to conscripts and reservists who are called up for duty. Many Russians avoided the draft in the past by staying away from their address of record.

The proposed bill would close that loophole. While the notices issued by local military conscription offices will continue to be sent by mail, they would be considered valid from the moment they are put on a state portal for electronic services.

Recipients who fail to show up would be prohibited from leaving Russia, have their drivers' licenses suspended and be barred from selling their apartments and other assets.

The legislation fueled fears of the government initiating another mobilization like one Putin ordered previously.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that officials dont have such a plan. He argued that the proposed bill was needed to streamline the outdated call-up system in view of the flaws that were revealed by last fall's partial mobilization.

Putin announced a call-up of 300,000 reservists in September after a Ukrainian counteroffensive that pushed Russian forces out of broad areas in the east.

The mobilization order prompted an exodus of Russian men that was estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands.
Despite its mission to promote both objectives, the Federal Trade Commission has become one of the biggest obstacles to competition and consumer welfare.

Starting with eliminating the decades-old consumer welfare standard, the agency has been laser-focused on opposing every possible acquisition and merger, especially for large companies and regardless of their merits. That includes Metas acquisition of Within and Microsofts acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

FTC Chair Lina Khans actions and decisions have made her a threat to free markets. The agency has become so dysfunctional and biased that its only Republican commissioner, Christine Wilson, resigned in February, noting that Khan has consolidated power within the Office of the Chairman, breaking decades of bipartisan precedent and undermining the commission structure that Congress wrote into law.

Wilson noted that Khan and her two fellow Democratic commissioners have stifled dissent, used dishonesty and subterfuge to pursue her agenda, and meddled in issues beyond the FTCs statutory authority like its rulemaking to ban most non-compete clauses in employment contracts. And those same commissioners ignored three court cases that found an FTC chair or judge could not be involved in making decisions on cases in which they had made prior prejudicial statements or reviewed as a staffer in Congress, approving Khans refusal to recuse herself in Metas acquisition of Within despite saying that Meta should never be allowed to acquire anything before she joined the FTC.

The FTC argued in a lawsuit in July that the Meta acquisition would consolidate competition in the virtual reality marketplace. In February, the agencys request for a preliminary injunction was denied by a federal district court judge in California, and the acquisition has now been completed.

While Khan did not make the same blanket statement about Microsoft as she did about Meta, she has clarified that she will try to stop any mergers or acquisitions by large technology companies. Unsurprisingly, the FTC sued to block Microsofts acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Based on the outcome of the Meta case, it seems the FTC will face the same outcome and lose the case.

The Activision acquisition is also being considered in Europe by the European Commission, which decided not to require Microsoft to divest any assets to complete the deal, and the United Kingdoms Competition and Markets Authority. In a survey about the acquisition, 75% of those who responded were in favor, and six participants in the gaming industry said the acquisition would be a positive development, including strengthening competition with China.

Survey respondents in favor of the acquisition noted that it would increase competition against Sony and Nintendo, which are stronger than Microsoft in console gaming, and would not harm rival consoles since Microsoft has committed to keeping Activision content like Call of Duty non-exclusive. The company has previously made similar content available across all platforms and consoles. Respondents also suggested that the acquisition would be pro-competitive and reduce the cost of accessing games and that making Call of Duty exclusive to Microsofts Xbox would not make sense because it would cause the company to lose revenue from other platforms.

The chances of approval for an acquisition or merger at the FTC are slim, especially for large companies. Meddling in this process, as Sony has been doing, will make matters even more complex and delay what most outside analysts and observers agree would be a positive development for consumers and competition.

The primary responsibility of the FTC is to determine whether an acquisition or merger will harm or benefit consumers, even though it has apparently decided that it is no longer the priority in its decision-making process. Nonetheless, the agency should look beyond the intra-industry fight and do what is in the best interests of competition, consumers, and video game creators and users by approving Microsofts acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
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In 2020, Congress found that only nine statues out of the 91 in the U.S. Capitol were women and decided to give ladies our space. The Smithsonian Womens History Museum Act established a separate Smithsonian museum, to be opened in a decade, dedicated to womens contributions that have influenced the direction of the United States.

At first, I was skeptical. Why not include female pilots in the Air & Space Museum or female leaders in the American History Museum? Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said during the debate that he opposed museums based on group identity because we should seek national unity and cultural inclusion.

But I will admit the Smithsonian Womens Museums Picturing Motherhood online collection is the only art exhibit Ive ever felt in my soul. So Im optimistic. An entire museum dedicated to celebrating womanhood could be unbelievably moving if done correctly.

But the museum is not living up to its potential or its statutory mandate.

In creating the museum, Congress knew what it must avoid  becoming the womens march, an anti-conservative project with women in the title but hostile to tens of millions of women who disagree with leftist ideology. So the 2020 law requires the Smithsonian Womens Museum to reflect the diversity of the political viewpoints held by women of the United States. Thats a lot of diversity. Though the media would portray every woman as a committed leftist, only 49% to 53% vote Democratic.

The museum, on its current path, trashes the law.

The topics, available online, are politically one-sided. The museums major themes include transgender rights and Michelle Obama; the major stories include opposing Donald Trumps border wall and celebrating the National Organization for Women. No mention of conservative female pathbreakers, such as Clare Boothe Luce or Jeanne Kirkpatrick. No mention of conservative female activists, like Equal Rights Amendment opponent Phyllis Schlafly, who changed the course of history. And no mention of living role models like Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Sen. Joni Ernst, womens rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali, or former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. No mention of causes in which conservative women played a role, causes such as defeating communism, opposing the ERA, reopening schools during COVID-19, and stopping female genital mutilation.

Nor does the museum fairly represent womens contributions. In fact, the museum celebrates mens contributions that fit the museums narrative, like the Ortho DialPak Oral Contraceptive, i.e., the Pill. That may constitute American history, but it was invented by a man, Gregory Pincus, alongside a team of men. It does not qualify as a womans contribution.

The promotion of men over women must take place elsewhere, or else we should close down the entire project because, clearly, weve lost mission control.

The source of the problem lies in the museums advisory council, which is tasked by law with enforcing ideological diversity. But the council itself lacks such diversity. I count only three conservatives on a council of 23 members. Asking a team of liberals to leave some space for their political foes will lead to predictable ends.

Until the museum adds conservative council members and achieves ideological balance, Congress should delay funds.

In its quest for ideological diversity, the museum need not be bland or non-political. It could absolutely host a womens march exhibit, however historically relevant. But to reflect the diversity of the political viewpoints held by women of the United States, the museum should also reflect womens opinions at MAGA rallies, women fighting to reopen schools, preserve girls sports, and eliminate pornography in elementary schools.

The advisory council does not want to celebrate these kinds of women. They need to. Its our museum, too.
On Sunday evening, April 9, emergency crews in Edmonton, Alberta were called to a public art sculpture called "Talus Dome," to rescue a 26-year-old man who had crawled inside and gotten trapped. Talus Dome was designed by artists Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues, and according to the City of Edmonton website, the sculpture won an Edmonton Urban Design Award in 2013. The City describes the artwork:

Talus Dome is both a sculpture in the landscape and a mirror to the landscape. Composed of nearly 1,000 handcrafted stainless steel spheres forming an abstract talus shape, the sculpture reflects the sky, weather and the river of cars that pass by it.

On Sunday, a man crawled into the sculpture and was unable to find his way out. Edmonton firefighters were called to the scene to help. CBC.ca describes the scene:

A man was inside the mound of polished stainless steel balls with no way out. Connor Schwindt said he was on a post-Easter dinner run past the sculpture perched on the edge of Fox Drive and the Quesnell Bridge, when he noticed a commotion. Firefighters were attempting to extricate the man. Schwindt said he asked firefighters if it was a man or animal trapped inside. When he learned that it was a person inside, he began documenting the incident on his phone and poked his head inside the sculpture for a closer look. He said the man inside the structure was beginning to panic. "It was kind of like watching a mouse fall into a bucket," said Schwindt. "He was just kind of running around inside of it starting to freak out because he couldn't get out."

In order to rescue the man trapped inside, firefighters had to cut the structure and remove one of the balls. After being extricated from the sculpture, the man was immediately arrested and charged with one count of mischief. You can see the video of the man trapped inside the sculpture on the CBC.ca website.
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was denied bail yesterday while she appeals, meaning she will soon begin serving time in federal prison on her fraud conviction. The judge, Edward Davila, determined that the relevant crime being one among several, freedom is not an option. Holmes' decision to become a parent while facing trial and sentencing didn't factor into the ruling.

The decision Monday by US District Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California, is likely his last in the case which he's handled since Holmes was indicted in 2018. Davila presided over the Theranos Inc. founder's four-month trial in 2021 and sentenced her in November to serve 11 1/4 years of incarceration for deceiving investors in her blood-testing startup.

Davila described her purchase of one-way flights to Mexico as "ill-advised" but not an attempt to flee, though he remarked on Holmes' distinctive blend of arrogance and indifference.
Court in Pakistan-held Kashmir removes Imran Khans protege View Photo

ISLAMABAD (AP)  In a blow to Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a top court in the Pakistani-administered section of Kashmir on Tuesday removed his protege and head of the local government from office. The territorys premier, Tanveer Ilyas, was charged and convicted of insulting judges in public remarks, officials and local media reported.

The development appeared to be a spillover of the political crisis roiling Pakistan, where the 70-year-old Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote last April, has campaigned against his successor, Shahbaz Sharif. Khan claims his ouster was illegal and has been demanding early elections  which Sharif has rejected.

Ilyas, an outspoken business tycoon known for outburst against judges and bureaucrats, has also lashed out at Sharif, when the prime minister visited Kashmir last December.

Khan has backed Ilyas in the Pakistani-ruled part of Kashmir, where Khans Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf opposition party has a simple majority in the local parliament. The disputed Himalayan region is split between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety.

Ilyas appeared Tuesday before a judge in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, and was symbolically convicted of the alleged offense and sentenced to time spent in the courtroom. Under Pakistani law, this automatically disqualifies him from public office.

Ilyas has for weeks criticizing judges in the Pakistan-held Kashmir, claiming the judiciary was encroaching upon his authority by reversing multiple decisions approved by him or his government. Although he apologized Tuesday over his remarks, the court rejected his apology.

Fawad Chaudhry, a senior leader from Khans party, denounced the ruling. This country cannot be run by destroying the judicial system, Chaudhry tweeted.

It was unclear whether Ilyas would appeal the ruling. The court also instructed the territorys election oversight body to prepare for a vote to replace Ilyas.

The assembly in the Pakistani-run Kashmir is expected to chose the new leader of the house in the coming days. Khans party may face a tough contest as Sharifs backers claim they are in a position to form the government.

Nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

By MUNIR AHMED

Associated Press
Sonora, CA Adult Education Programs in Sonora and Calaveras County rank in the top 5 in the state of California for the 2021-22 school year. The programs are operated by the Sonora Union High School District and the Calaveras County Office of Education, respectively. These programs provide free individualized support for adults 18 years or older to help them achieve their educational and career goals.

Despite statewide challenges, including lower enrollment and fewer diplomas or certificates being earned, Calaveras and Sonora adult education programs have excelled. Both programs are included in the Top 5 Institutions for Earning a Diploma, GED or High School Equivalency, according to the LaunchBoard, a statewide data system for adult education accountability and improvement. Students have praised the programs for the personalized touch and support they receive from their teachers. Calaveras County Office of Educations Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Jessica Dorris, attributes the success of the Calaveras and Sonora adult education programs to the personalized support and dedication provided by their teachers, such as Jenny Haskell and Diana Mayben.

Adults in Calaveras County can learn more about the program here and adults in Sonora can visit here.
A fisherman in Texas called a tow truck after he noticed a black Jeep almost entirely under water at a lake in Marion County. Little did he know there was a person in it  who was still alive.

But, according to NPR, once the fisherman and tow truck driver, who arrived around 18 minutes after the call, made their way to the Jeep  which was about 40 feet from shore  they were surprised to find a woman inside.

"We do not know how long the Jeep was in the water," Marion County Capt. Chuck Rogers said, via NPR. But a missing report on the woman suggests it was at least a few hours.

Both the tow truck driver and the fisherman helped to get her out.

From NPR:

The Jeep was far from shore, about 40 feet out in the water from Woody's Camp Boat Ramp. The fisherman who called the authorities stuck around, using his boat to help a tow-truck worker get out to the Jeep and hook up a tow cable, Rogers said. "It was at that time they saw the woman" inside the Jeep, the captain added. Abruptly, what began as a salvage job became a rescue. The fisherman and tow-truck driver helped get the woman out of the vehicle, pulling her into the fishing boat. Deputies called an ambulance; in the meantime, the woman was put in a car to keep her warm. She was later taken to a hospital. She had been reported missing hours earlier  at 12:35 a.m. on Friday  police in Longview, a town some 24 miles south-by-southwest of the lake, told NPR.

The woman's identity and circumstances that led to the submerged Jeep hasn't been released, but according to Rogers, "There was nothing uncovered during the investigation to suggest this case was anything more than an accident."

Above image: Marion County Sheriff Office
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP)  A bank robbery suspect was arrested in northern Virginia Tuesday after a short standoff with police.

No injuries were reported.

Arlington County Police said they received a report Tuesday shortly after 3 p.m. about an attempted armed robbery at a Wells Fargo bank on Washington Boulevard in the citys Clarendon neighborhood.

A suspect entered the bank, implied he had a weapon and demanded money, police said.

The suspect was barricaded in the bank with four adults and a child, a group that included patrons and employees, police said.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m., police reported on Twitter that the suspect had been arrested, and that the five trapped inside with the suspect had exited safely.

Traffic cameras showed a heavy police presence throughout the barricade situation.
Democratic senators urge chief justice to probe Thomas trips View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee called on U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday to open an investigation into the undisclosed acceptance of luxury trips taken by Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife that were paid for by a Republican megadonor.

The letter said the committee plans to hold a hearing in coming days regarding the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Courts ethical standards. And if the Supreme Court does not deal with the issue on its own, the committee will consider voting on legislation. Such a measure would also need support from the Republican-led House to become law.

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, the 11 Democratic senators wrote to Roberts. We urge you to do so.

The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for more than 31 years, has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Republican donor Harlan Crow nearly every year.

Thomas, 74, and his wife, Virginia, have traveled on Crows yacht and private jet as well as stayed at his private resort in New Yorks Adirondack Mountains, ProPublica reported. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself.

The Democratic senators said Thomas acceptance of favors from Harlan was known more than a decade ago. They noted that senators then had urged the Supreme Court court to adopt a resolution stating that the justices abide by the ethics rules that the rest of the federal judiciary follows.

This problem could have been resolved then, the senators wrote. 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.

Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the trips. Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received, but provides exemptions for hospitality from friends.

Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the trips. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure.

The Democratic senators, led by Sen. Richard Durbin, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, called the bolstered disclosure requirements a modest step in the right direction, but said further action was needed.

By KEVIN FREKING

Associated Press
Manhattan DA sues Jim Jordan over Trump indictment inquiry View Photo

NEW YORK (AP)  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sued Rep. Jim Jordan on Tuesday, an extraordinary move as he seeks to halt a House Judiciary Committee inquiry that the prosecutor contends is a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack him over his indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Bragg, a Democrat, is asking a judge to invalidate subpoenas that Jordan, the committees Republican chair, has issued or plans to issue as part of an investigation of Braggs handling of the case, the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president.

U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee who previously served as a federal bankruptcy court judge, declined Tuesday to take immediate action on the lawsuit. She scheduled an initial hearing for April 19 in Manhattan, the day before the committee plans to question, under subpoena, a top former prosecutor who was involved in the Trump probe.

Braggs lawsuit, a forceful escalation after weeks of sparring with Jordan and other Republican lawmakers in letters and media statements, seeks to end what it says is a constitutionally destructive fishing expedition that threatens the sovereignty and integrity of a state-level prosecution.

Congress lacks any valid legislative purpose to engage in a free-ranging campaign of harassment in retaliation for the District Attorneys investigation and prosecution of Mr. Trump under the laws of New York, the lawsuit says, citing the lack of authority in the Constitution for Congress to oversee, let alone disrupt, ongoing state law criminal matters.

In response, Jordan tweeted Tuesday: First, they indict a president for no crime. Then they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it.

The Judiciary Committee recently issued a subpoena seeking testimony from a Mark Pomerantz, the former prosecutor who previously oversaw the Trump investigation and sparred with Bragg over the direction of the probe before leaving the office last year. Pomerantz, who has declined to cooperate with the committee, is under subpoena to testify at a deposition on April 20 unless Vyskocil intervenes. The committee has also sought documents and testimony from the DAs office but Bragg has rejected those requests.

The committee is scheduled to hold a hearing in Manhattan on Monday on crime in New York City and what it alleges are Braggs pro-crime, anti-victim policies. The DAs office, however, points to statistics showing that violent crime in Manhattan has dropped since Bragg took office in January 2022.

In response, Bragg said that if Jordan, who is from Ohio, really cared about public safety, he would travel to some of the major cities in his home state, where crime is reportedly higher than in New York.

Bragg is represented in the lawsuit by Theodore Boutrous, a well-known First Amendment lawyer who has also represented Trumps estranged niece, Mary Trump, in legal clashes with her famous uncle.

Vyskocil previously made headlines when she dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought against Fox News host Tucker Carlson by former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who was paid $150,000 through the National Enquirer to keep quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. In on-air remarks, Carlson called the payoff a classic case of extortion, but Vyskocil ruled in 2020 that the conservative commentator was engaging in rhetorical hyperbole and opinion commentary and that he was not stating actual facts.

In his lawsuit, Bragg said hes taking legal action in response to an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress on an ongoing New York State criminal prosecution and investigation of former President Donald J. Trump.

Trump was indicted on March 30 with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations that he had extramarital sexual encounters. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment last week in Manhattan.

Republicans have been railing against Bragg even before Trumps indictment, with Jordan leading the cause by issuing a series of letters and subpoenas to individuals involved with the case. Pomerantz refused to voluntarily cooperate with the committees request last month at the instruction of Braggs office, citing the ongoing investigation.

Jordan sees 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.

Braggs lawsuit sets up what is an already tenuous fight over the scope and limits of congressional oversight powers into new territory. House Republicans have argued that because the Manhattan case involves campaign finance and what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election, Congress has direct oversight.

Many expected that Jordan would subpoena Bragg by now but it appears the forceful back-and-forth between the two elected officials has come to a head. Jordans committee has come hard at Bragg, but a court fight over a committee subpoena could impede its momentum and amplify criticism among Democrats that the panel is playing politics instead of addressing substantive issues.

__

Amiri reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.

__

On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Farnoush Amiri at twitter.com/FarnoushAmiri. Send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and FARNOUSH AMIRI

Associated Press
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP)  Attorneys defending Fox in a defamation case related to false claims about the 2020 election withheld critical information about the role company founder Rupert Murdoch played at Fox News, a revelation that angered the judge when it came up at a Tuesday hearing.

It was not clear whether the development would affect a trial scheduled to begin Thursday with jury selection. Dominion Voting Systems is suing Fox for $1.6 billion, saying it damaged its reputation by repeatedly airing false claims that the company helped orchestrate a fraud that cost former President Donald Trump re-election.

The role of Fox executives is at the heart of the case. The companys attorneys have sought to insulate members of the Murdoch family and to keep them from testifying live before a jury, arguing that their roles at the parent company, Fox Corp., put them at a distance from the Fox News shows that aired the bogus claims.

Fox Corp. had asserted since Dominion filed its lawsuit in 2021 that Rupert Murdoch had no official role at Fox News. In its filings, it had listed Fox News officers as Suzanne Scott, Jay Wallace and Joe Dorrego. But on Easter Sunday, Fox disclosed to Dominions attorneys that Murdoch also is executive chair at Fox News. The disclosure came after Superior Court Judge Eric Davis wondered aloud during a status conference last week who Fox News officers were.

Davis was clearly disturbed by the disclosure, coming on the eve of the trial.

My problem is that it has been represented to me more than once that he is not an officer, the judge said.

Davis suggested that had he known of Murdochs dual role at Fox Corp. and Fox News, he might have reached different conclusions in a summary judgment ruling he issued last month. In that ruling, the judge said there was no dispute that the statements aired by Fox were false, but that a jury would have to decide whether Fox News acted with actual malice and whether Fox Corp. directly participated in airing the statements.

To Fox attorney Matthew Carter, Davis said: You have a credibility problem.

In response, Carter said he believed Murdochs title at Fox News was only honorific.

Im not mad at you, the judge later told Carter. Im mad at the situation Im in.

In a statement issued after Tuesday's pretrial hearing, Fox said, Rupert Murdoch has been listed as executive chairman of Fox News in our SEC filings since 2019 and this filing was referenced by Dominions own attorney during his deposition.

Its unclear whether the judge will take any action in response to the late disclosure. But an attorney for Dominion said he wanted Fox to further explain Murdoch's role with the network, indicating the issue could come up when the pretrial hearing continues Wednesday.

Dominion attorney Justin Nelson told the judge the disclosure has a big impact on the case. He said Foxs failure to disclose Murdochs status at Fox News has deprived Dominion of a whole bunch of information from Murdoch as a custodian of Fox News records that it was entitled to have.

It is something that really has impacted how we have litigated this case, he said.

Tuesday's development was the latest to turn an uncomfortable spotlight on the network.

Information obtained by Dominion as part of its lawsuit has shown that some network hosts harbored off-camera doubts about election fraud claims but nevertheless allowed program guests to repeatedly make them in the aftermath of the 2020 election. The case also has drawn scrutiny of various emails and text messages shared among Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan Murdoch and Scott, the Fox News CEO, about election coverage and the allegations by Trump and his allies that he was cheated.

They revealed a chorus of voices, from Rupert Murdoch and top network hosts to producers and publicists, who internally cast the election-stealing conspiracy claims as crazy even as the network repeatedly gave them a platform. Internal communications also showed that at the time, major players at Fox were deeply worried about retaining pro-Trump viewers.

In a ruling earlier Tuesday, the judge denied a motion by Fox seeking to bar any reference at trial to matters involving the Murdoch family, which owns Fox Corp. The judge also said he would allow jurors to hear some testimony about threats directed at the voting machine company, but only to a point.

The judge granted a motion by Fox to prohibit any reference to specific threats or harassment directed at Dominion, saying he did not want the jury to be prejudiced against Fox because of threats made by people with no connection to the network. But he said he would allow Dominion to talk generally about threats it had received to show how it has been damaged by the Fox broadcasts.

It has decimated Dominions ability to attract and retain employees, because the company is under siege, said Megan Meier, an attorney for the voting machine company.

The judge already decided last week there would be no testimony about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
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.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  A protest by some migrants led U.S. Customs and Border Protection to briefly close the Paso Del Norte International Bridge linking El Paso, Texas and the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez early Monday.

A CBP spokesperson said the force took precautionary steps and initiated port hardening measures after a large group formed at the base of the crossing on the Mexican side.
Since Arcane, Netflix's animated adaptation of the hyper-popular League of Legends video game franchise hit screens in 2021, Hollywood has started to produce a handful of quality video game adaptations. HBO just finished airing the first season of its critically acclaimed version of Naughty Dog's zombie drama The Last of Us, and Illumination Studios made bank with The Super Mario Bros movie last weekend. Even though we're in a golden age of video game adaptations, it's important to remember that when it was released, many fans touted Arcane as the greatest gaming adaptation of all time.

With all of the critical and financial success that Arcane garnered during its first season, the show would already be well on its third. However, the masterful team of animators at Fortiche Productions needs some time to craft a quality season, and according to Comicbook.com, that means we're probably going to be waiting for a while. Oh, the misery.
Proud Latino actor John Leguizamo is not celebrating the success of the record-breaking Super Mario Bros. Movie, even going as far to also proclaim that hes not watching the new film. Leguizamo reasoned that this was over a boycott highlighting a lack of Latino cast members.

In reality, a key star in the talented lineup of actors is representing Latinos.

Leguizamo, who starred as Luigi in the 1993 live action film Super Mario Bros. inspired by the popular video game, has stated once again that he will not watch the new film, which premiered on Wednesday, April 5. The Colombia-born actor was filmed by TMZ saying, They couldve included a Latin character. They messed up the inclusion. Just cast some Latin folk!

Calling Latinos the largest people of color group yet underrepresented, Leguizamo, knowingly or not, disregarded an actor behind one of the films iconic characters and who actually has Latin roots.

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, who voices Princess Peach, was born in Miami while on vacation, but was raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina until her family moved to London when she was 6 years old. Her father is Argentinean with English and Scottish ancestry while she has a maternal grandmother who was from Barcelona. When the actress hosted Saturday Night Live in 2021, she poked fun at her all-around-the-world background in her opening monologue.

This week, the internet was shocked to learn that Taylor-Joy speaks fluent Spanish, which is actually the actresss first language. In the past, Taylor-Joy has opened up about missing her home country and watching American films to learn English, though she initially refused to learn the language in hopes of moving back to Argentina.

You can hear Taylor-Joy, who rose to fame in 2020 after starring in Netflixs The Queens Gambit and won praise for the 2022 hit The Menu, speak Spanish in a promo for The Super Mario Bros. Movie seen below.
Mike Sutter /Staff file photo

European restaurant Little Gretel has drawn on cuisines rooted in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, and Hungary since it opened in Boerne in 2009. After 14 years of serving customers countless kolaches, dumplings, and burgers, Little Gretel owner and executive chef Denise Mazal has announced the permanent closure of her family-run restaurant.

Mazal made the decision public in a Facebook post on Monday, April 10, listing out the ways in which her time running Little Gretel has fulfilled her dreams as a chef before breaking the news.
Photo courtesy of San Antonio Police Department

San Antonio police are searching for five persons of interest in the killing of a man at Alamo Plaza in March. Officials released photos of the persons of interest identified in the capital murder investigation and are asking for some help identifying them.

A 26-year-old man reportedly got into a fight with a group of people outside a bar located on the 100 block of Alamo Plaza sometime after 2 a.m. on March 5. Police said the group consisted of three men and two women. One of the men in the group reportedly struck the victim, knocking him to the ground onto concrete, and rendering him unconscious "for an undetermined amount of time."
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw failed in his boycott attempt of Bud Light by posting a video of his fridge full of Karbach  which is owned by the same company. In late March, #BoycottBudLight began trending on Twitter after transgender actor Dylan Mulvaney announced her collaboration with Bud Light.

Many conservatives and celebrities have grown outraged by the partnership. Musician Kid Rock posted a video shooting cans of Bud Light and yelling profanities about the company and its owner, Anheuser-Busch InBev, who has defended its decision to collaborate with Mulvaney. The company said it works with "hundreds of influencers."
Courtesy to MySA

With the tradition of San Antonio families celebrating Easter at local parks comes the unfortunate reality of brightly-colored trash left behind  and it isnt just the Alamo City that has some cleaning up to do. Reddit posts from residents in San Antonio and Austin have sparked a discussion about public green spaces left littered.

Though a number of lifelong San Antonians make it a point to camp out at city parks for their Easter celebrations, many claiming their spot days before the holiday, it seems that local residents arent as willing to clean up after themselves. A photo shared to Reddit on Monday, April 10, shows a picnic table at Roosevelt Park with the ground around it covered with trash, including confetti and tissue paper from cascarones (which arent as eco-friendly as many assume) and even plastic eggs. At the bottom of the photo, you can make out a Modelo logo, though its unclear if its from a can or box.
Photo courtesy of Ken Branca

Police have named a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old woman that occurred at a Southside taco truck shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 6. Officials with the San Antonio Police Department say they are searching for 32-year-old Roland Contreras, who they believe is connected to the murder of Gabriele Del Angel and subsequent police standoff.

SAPD alleges that Contreras was arguing with a man in a jeep and fired a shot into the window of the vehicle, which hit Del Angel, who was sitting in the passenger seat. The man Contreras was arguing with took the jeep to a nearby gas station but was later pronounced dead via a gunshot wound to the chest.
James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle

A video from Bluebonnet News shows the giant Texas sinkhole continues to grow and swallow structures in the small town of Daisetta, which is between Houston and Beaumont. Posted on Saturday, April 8, the video gave a close-up look at the deep cracks in the earth.

The sinkhole was first reported in 2008. It started out as a 20-foot hole in the ground and grew into a crater 900-feet wide and 260-feet deep, according to ABC 13. News outlets reported it first swallowed up oil tanks, barrels, tires, telephone poles, and several cars.
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) is one of the few large European banks that continues to conduct business more or less as usual in Russia. But as the profits from its Russian operations surge, the associated risks and costs are also rising.

Since the introduction of a law in August 2022 allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to directly block the disposal of Russian subsidiaries of foreign businesses from unfriendly countries, it has become increasingly difficult for Western banks to leave Russia. In the meantime, profits at the Russian subsidiaries of some European banks that have stayed put and maintained their operations have soared. They include Austrias Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), which until recently had categorically ruled out leaving Russia.

But the pressure is rising. The US government appears to be turning the screws on certain Western lenders that have stayed in Russia and have continued to conduct business more or less as usual there. In February, the US Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) launched an investigation into RBIs business activities related to Russia. As the FT pointed out, there is no suggestion of wrongdoing. But it signals Raiffeisen is in the sights of both regulators and politicians.

Soaring Profits, Rising Risks

RBIs presence in Russia dates back to 1996, when it began rapidly developing a lucrative trade finance business. It later set up a highly successful retail banking operation that is now among the five biggest privately owned commercial banks in the country, with 4.2 million customers and 9,400 staff. Then the war in Ukraine began.

As I noted just over a year ago, the gathering exodus of US and European banks out of Russia sparked by the war could end up providing a boon for RBI. So it has proven. First, the Austrian bank attracted new deposits from Russians reluctant to keep all their money with local lenders. Then it benefited from the rapid appreciation of the ruble following Vladimir Putins demand in March 2022 that European countries pay for their gas in rubles as opposed to dollars or euros.

Even though RBI has ended almost all new lending in Russia, with its loan book shrinking by 9bn (30%) year over year by the end of December, its profits have soared. In 2022, its net profit from Russia rose 4.4-fold, to 2.05 billion. The banks group profits reached 3.6 billion, up from 1.4bn in 2021. Sixty percent of those profits came from its operations in Russia and Belarus.

Despite the multiple rounds of sanctions Brussels has imposed on Russia, the EU has had to keep its cash lines with Russia open to ensure gas and oil deliveries continue. As many Western lenders have abandoned the Russian market or temporarily closed their operations there, RBI has picked up much of the slack. It is now the largest facilitator of financial transfers into Russia, accounting for 40-50% of all payments in and out of the country, according to the FT.

RBI is also one of only two foreign banks on the Central Bank of Russias (CBR) list of 13 systemically important credit institutions. But it faces a serious dilemma: since the war began it has become more, not less, dependent on its Russian business. And as the resulting profits surge, the associated risks and costs are also rising. Indeed, the profits themselves are for the moment trapped in Russia and Belarus, thanks to EU-US sanctions.

We have very, very good results on the one hand, but on the other hand enormous problems, said chief executive Johann Strobl.

This dichotomy has been reflected in the financial markets. Since their pre-invasion February peak, RBI shares are down just under 50%, whereas the Eurostoxx 600 banking index has staged a full recovery during the same time.

Also, Russia recently started granting loan repayment holidays to their troops fighting in Ukraine. The banks that grant these loans must write off the entire debt if these soldiers are either maimed or killed on the battlefield. This has led to accusations that banks like RBI and Unicredit are complicit in financing Russias war effort.

A Special Case

RBI is not the only Western bank still operating in Russia, however, as the FT points out:

Banks such as HSBC and Bank of America are among them. But Raiffeisen stands out both for the size of commercial activities and its role at the centre of other, remaining businesses operations: Raiffeisen, a senior executive at the bank told the Financial Times, now handles 40-50 per cent of all the money flows between Russia and the rest of the world.

Many of the 45 western banks with subsidiaries in Russia have talked about leaving the country, but few have actually done so  and often at a steep cost! Frances Societe Generale sold its fully-owned Rosbank to oligarch Vladimir Potanin in May 2022 at a discount of 70-80%, forcing the French bank to book a 3.1bn write down from the deal. For RBI, such an outcome would be crippling given how important Russias market has become to its core business model. In recent decades, profits from Russia have often offset losses from its other Eastern European markets.

Instead, RBI, like Unicredit, has stayed put, racking up huge gains in the process. It is precisely because of this that it is now attracting so much scrutiny from Western authorities, Oleg Vjugin, a former deputy head of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, told the Austrian daily Die Presse.

In late March, Ukraines National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) added RBI to its list of international sponsors of the war. A day later, the European Central Bank called on the Austrian lender to scale back its operations in Russia. The US is also considering sanctioning more banks with links to Russia as well as stepping up enforcement against those dodging existing rules.

We have immobilized about 80% of the assets in the Russian banking sector, said James OBrien, head of the U.S. State Departments Office of Sanctions Coordination. We are looking at additional banks and financial institutions to see how Russia deals with the outside world. It is very possible that there will be more action.

Whether this will include US banks that are also still doing business in Russia remains to be seen. As revealed last November, US officials have been quietly asking major US banks to keep engaging with certain Russian firms that are partly exempt from the sanctions, including state-run gas giant Gazprom and fertilizer producer Uralkali PJSC.

Black and White Moral Thinking

At its AGM on March 30, RBI went on the offensive. First, its Chairman Erwin Hameseder lashed the banks critics for engaging in black and white moral thinking from a risk-free zone of comfort, adding that most Western businesses had not left Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine. According to Austrias Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, 91% of Western companies are still in Russia doing what is sensible: waiting, containment, ring fencing.

Also at the AGM, RBIs CEO Johann Stroblhe announced that the bank was considering various exit options including a sale or a spin-off of its Russian business, which would then be listed in Europe. But he also cautioned that the exit scenarios would be no walk in the park.

RBI is also considering swapping its loans for those of Russias Sberbank that are trapped in Europe by sanctions. But the more realistic option would be an outright sale of the subsidiary, but even that faces serious obstacles. For starters, the bank has identified only two viable bidders, one from Russia. Per Die Presse (machine translated):

The problem is that a Raiffeisen deal would involve large sums of money and most of the Russians who have that sort of money are already on Western sanctions lists and are therefore not eligible, as a Raiffeisen manager who wants to remain anonymous told Die Presse: But those who are not on any list lack the resources  and external financing is not an option because, with the exception of Raiffeisen and UniCredit, all systemically important Russian banks have already been sanctioned.

As previously mentioned, RBIs Russian subsidiary is officially considered too big to fail in Russia. And it may also be considered too important to the Russian economy to sell right now, asserts the article in Die Presse. After all, RBI is currently facilitating 40-50% of all foreign transactions in euros and dollars, representing a huge chunk of Russias ongoing trade with the Collective West:

For Russia, the elimination of this channel would result in the loss of roughly half of the settlement options in hard currency, especially since Raiffeisen acts as a correspondent bank for smaller banks that are not sanctioned, Russian banker and ex-Duma MP Mikhail Zadornov tells RBC. At the moment, the main focus is on finding a Russian buyer that will not be sanctioned in the West together with Raiffeisen following the sale.

That is not going to be easy. To compound matters, many non-Russian firms  even from the more Russia-friendly China or India  have reportedly shown an interest in Raiffeisens business in Russia, but the risk of falling prey to secondary sanctions is putting them off.
Sunday, April 23rd, at Los Angeles' Dynasty Typewriter "Weird Al" Yankovic will screen and discuss his film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Prior hosts have been Sandra Oh, Jack Black, Will Ferrel, Judd Apatow, and Patton Oswalt. The proceeds of each event have gone to help register voters across the US.

Good Deeds Corp:

I'm so excited to invite you all to the launch of our Incredible 2023 Stars In The Backyard  Film Series  supporting the efforts of The Good Deed Corps Texas Turnout Campaign!! If you were able to attend any of our events last year, you know how extraordinary they are! If this is your first time, get ready to have your socks knocked off!

We're thrilled to announce our first event of the year, a once-in-a-lifetime, family-friendly evening with Weird Al Yankovic screening his newest movie Weird followed by a relaxed, candid Q&A with Weird Al! Plus surprise celebrity guests!! Sun, April 23rd @ 6:30 pm, at the Dynasty Typewriter.

The evening includes delicious FREE concessions and beverages (bar drinks too!) for all. We are also offering an additional exclusive VIP meet and greet with Wierd Al which includes dinner before the show!
Yves here. This post illustrates not just what is wrong with health care in the US, but social services generally: far too much complexity, lots of gaps, and arbitrary-seeming results.

You will notice here several mentions of the coverage available to Medicaid patients. Nowhere does it mention how hard it is to get on Medicaid, due to a complex application process. One high-functioning friend who was unable to work much for a while due to serious health issues said it was difficult to navigate the process. Here in the South, I am told there is overt discrimination, that social workers discourage rather than help post-reproduction age white women.1 And if these women are dissuaded from applying or dont get the help they need to submit what are deemed to be complete application forms, then theres no record of rejection to prove discrimination based on age (and apparently race).

By Charlotte Huff. Originally published at Kaiser Health 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.

_____

1 This does not surprise me. The Deep South hates women who have aged out of being the sex objects. IM Doc has confirmed this, that his former students who wind up practicing in the Deep South have volunteered a lack of interest in caring for older women.
The evolution of my position with the Post dates to 2000, when I began work with The City Paper. In 2008, SouthComm Inc. bought the Post and TCP, with the latter ceasing operations in 2013. In 2018, FW Publishing acquired the Post, for which I have served as managing editor since 2011.

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The Metro Council on Monday unanimously voted to send expelled Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) back to the Tennessee General Assembly in an interim capacity, days after Republicans voted to kick him out of the legislature for leading an anti-gun protest on the House floor. Supporters then marched the few blocks from the Metro Courthouse to the state Capitol, where the House was scheduled to begin a floor session minutes after the end of the special Metro Council meeting. On the steps of the Capitol, Chancellor IAshea L. Myles swore Jones in, returning him to his seat just four days after he was expelled.

Read more here and here.

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Another longtime major affordable housing complex in Buffalo is poised for a significant state-funded rehab, as the owner of the Ellicott Town Center adjacent to downtown prepares to launch a $73 million upgrade of the 30-year-old community.

First Shiloh Housing Corporations  an affiliate of First Shiloh Baptist Church  is partnering with Beacon Communities of Boston on a renovation of the residential complex, located east of Michigan Avenue, occupying most of the block between East Eagle, South Division and Pine streets. Its formal address is 233 E. Eagle.

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That's also behind the former Buffalo headquarters of Norstar USA, whose affordable housing operations and upstate New York business were taken over by Beacon in a December 2022 deal that also included three key staff members.

Built in 1995, on the site of the former Ellicott Mall public-housing project, the complex includes four apartment towers and 24 senior patio homes, for a total of 281 living units for seniors and families, and has been fully owned by the church affiliate for more than a decade. Occupancy is generally more than 90%.

"Its a fantastic location. Youre walking distance to downtown and to jobs, and youve got the bus line on Michigan," said Linda L. Goodman, senior vice president at Beacon in Buffalo, and formerly at Norstar.

But like many such aging communities, it's in need of repairs, updates and an overall rehab, and the church had been working on such a plan with Norstar since 2019. That will now be taken on by Beacon, as its first Buffalo redevelopment.

Beacon is committed to expanding our work in delivering high-quality, sustainable, and affordable housing for tenants across New York, and we are thrilled that Ellicott Town Center with First Shiloh is our first financed development project in Western New York," said Nicole Ferreira, executive vice president for development at Beacon.

Plans by Stieglitz Snyder and Labella Associates call for kitchen and bathroom updates in all units, as well as new painting, doors and lighting. Common areas will be repainted and will get new flooring, along with bathroom and lighting updates. Buildings will receive upgraded mechanical systems, new roofs, siding, and exterior windows and doors. And the site will benefit from sidewalk repairs, landscaping updates, lighting and repaved parking lots.

"The modern upgrades of the Ellicott Town Center units for the residents will make a great impact on their everyday lives," said James Williams, chair of First Shiloh Housing Development Fund Corp.

The project is largely funded through state sources, with $39.1 million coming from New York State Homes and Community Renewal  through the Housing Trust Fund Corp. and New York State Home for Working Families  and a $3.6 million first mortgage through the State of New York Mortgage Agency. New York State Energy Research and Development Agency is also providing $200,000, while the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency is putting up $363,000.

The other major source of financing is affordable housing developer WNC Inc. of Irvine, Calif., which is purchasing $30.7 million in 4% low-income housing tax credits, also provided by NYSHCR. And First Shiloh has accumulated $2.5 million in reserves for the project. Beacon is acting as master developer and financial guarantor for the project during the course of work, but First Shiloh will remain the ultimate owner.

"The state is facing an affordable housing crisis. We want to work to solve this crisis not only with new construction but the important work of preserving the affordable units that we have in place like Ellicott Town Center," Ferreira said. "We look forward to being at the forefront of the effort to address that need in a manner that prioritizes building strong communities through tenant engagement and projects that consider both state and local priorities."

After four years of planning, interrupted by the pandemic, financing closed on March 30. "Thats how long the gestation period of these projects take," Goodman said. "This is preservation work, preserving affordable housing that we cant let go into disrepair."

Construction by RP Oak Hill Building Co. will begin later this month, and is expected to take 18 to 24 months for completion. Work will take place in stages, starting with one tower that First Shiloh has deliberately sought to empty through attrition over several years. Tenants will be relocated as work is completed.

"This was pretty hard," Goodman said. "We were so happy to be able to get this done for First Shiloh."
The next cycle of the NATO Internship Programme is now open. Would you like to gain experience working in a political and military alliance that protects the freedom and security of one billion people?

Do you have a strong interest in fields like political affairs, defence and security, innovation, operations, communications, business support and human resources, finance, science and technology, and/or infrastructure and facilities?

Apply now for a NATO internship at NATO Headquarters in Brussels for a 2024 placement.

At NATO, we believe that talented professionals participating in the NATO Internship Programme can contribute significantly to the goals of the Alliance. In return, NATO interns will gain new knowledge, skills and valuable hands-on experience in their field of interest. Through the Internship Programme, NATO offers the opportunity to learn from a diverse, international community.

The deadline to apply to the next cycle of the NATO Internship Programme for placement in 2024 is 7 May 2023.

We encourage candidates to apply well in advance of the deadline as the application process may take some time.

For more information about the NATO Internship Programme, including eligibility criteria, compensation and benefits, and the full application process, please visit the NATO Internship Programme webpage.

Following Finlands accession to NATO on 4 April 2023 as NATOs 31st member, we are pleased to announce that Finnish candidates are welcome to apply to the NATO Internship Programme, alongside candidates from NATOs 30 other member countries.
(Natural News) There are many recorded cases of vaccine injuries and vaccine deaths during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. An oncologist in the U.K. has written an open letter to the editor-in-chief of the medical journal The BMJ to warn about the harmful effects of coronavirus vaccines that must be aired and debated immediately, especially since cancers and other diseases are quickly progressing among vaccinated people.

Dr. Angus Dalgleish is a professor of oncology at St. Georges University of London. He sent his letter to Dr. Kamran Abbasi, the editor-in-chief of The BMJ.

Dalgleishs letter was written in support of a colleagues plea to Abbasi that the journal should make valid informed consent for COVID-19 vaccination a priority.

COVID-19 no longer requires a vaccine program

In the letter, Dalgleish wrote that the coronavirus doesnt need a vaccine program since the average age of death from COVID-19 in the U.K. is 82 while the average age of death from all other causes is 81 and below.

Dalgleish added that the link with clots, myocarditis, heart attacks and strokes is currently well accepted, along with the link with health issues like myelitis and neuropathy.

Myelitis is inflammation of the spinal cord while neuropathy is characterized by nerve damage that occurs due to different health conditions like diabetes.

Dalgleish added that he and his colleagues have already predicted these side effects in their June 2020 article published in the journal QRB Discovery. Their blast analysis also revealed 79 percent homologies to human epitopes, particularly PF4 and myelin.

Dalgleish warned that there is another important reason to halt all vaccine programs: He has seen stable disease rapidly progress in individuals after they were forced to get a COVID-19 booster shot.

Dalgleish has also witnessed people develop B cell-based disease after getting coronavirus booster shots. When asked, these people told him they felt unwell at least several days to weeks after getting the booster.

Among Dalgleishs personal contacts, one developed leukemia and two work colleagues developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

An old friend of Dalgleish reported feeling like he has had long COVID-19 since getting a booster shot. He also experienced severe bone pain and was diagnosed with multiple metastases from a rare B-cell disorder.

Dalgleish warned that, based on his experience, these cases are not the coincidental anecdotes that other experts may suggest. The same pattern is being reported in other countries like Australia, Germany and the U.S.

The reports of innate immune suppression after mRNA injection for several weeks also fit, particularly since all of these patients, to date, have melanoma or B-cell-based cancers, which are very susceptible to immune control. All this has been recorded even before the reports of suppressor gene suppression by mRNA in laboratory experiments.

Dalgleish warned that his concerns must be aired and debated immediately. (Related: HISTORY REPEATS: Pfizer paid out $1.2B after its drug caused thousands of BREAST CANCER cases.)

What is B cell-mediated disease?

In his letter, Dalgleish talked about B cell-based diseases and cancers. According to the British Society for Immunology, B-cells have a crucial role in regulating immune response.

Dysregulation of B-cell function may result in adverse effects like:

Autoimmunity

Cancer

Non-autoimmune inflammatory disease

Transplantation, chronic graft-versus-host diseases

The spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Boosters also no longer necessary

While treating cancer patients at the frontline, Dalgleish was shocked and dismayed by what he saw. He watched his relatives and friends gradually succumb to cancer after getting vaccinated.

Dalgleish also witnessed rapidly growing and fulminating cancers, and recurrences among people long cured or in remission from their cancers. In some cases, the cancers have been gone for 25 years or more.

These cancers are occurring among people who were vaccinated, and Dalgleish thinks COVID-19 booster injections could be triggering these cases.

In an interview with Dr. Tess Lawries show Tess Talks, Dalgleish discussed what he is witnessing in his close contacts, like his patients, family and friends.

Dalgleish also talked about the role of cheap, established and generic medicines in treating cancer, and how these medications are being suppressed. He warned that those who have been in remission for years are now starting to relapse after receiving a coronavirus booster, at the same time asking why this is happening.

The professor also explained how his previous HIV research informed his understanding that the COVID-19 vaccines were linked to clotting and neurological issues.

Finally, Dalgleish told Lawrie that he and his colleague raised the alarm and submitted their findings to the U.K. Cabinet. Unfortunately, Dalgleish lamented that no appropriate action has been taken despite their warnings.

Visit VaccineHolocaust.org to learn more about the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots.

Watch the video below to find out why COVID-19 booster shots are more dangerous than the first dose of the vaccine.

This video is from the Truth or Consequences channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ben Armstrong: Bombshell report from Naomi Wolf exposed Pfizers illegal COVID vaccine trial on 61 kids.

CDC data reveal that multiple covid jabs can knock up to 24 years off a persons expected lifespan.

Naomi Wolf: Pfizers COVID-19 mRNA shot a war on women, human fertility.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

NINDS.NIH.gov

EverydayHealth.com

Cambridge.org

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The Chinese spy balloon that traversed the U.S. skies from January 28 to February 4 was able to gather information from several sensitive military sites and fed them back to Beijing before it was shot down off the South Carolina coast.

This was according to intelligence officials, who condemned President Joe Bidens administration for claiming that the balloons transmission was blocked in time. The device was clearly controlled, in some cases making multiple passes  even figure eights  over sensitive sites, one former and two current senior U.S. officials said, adding that China was able to collect data in real-time.

The intelligence China collected was mostly from electronic signals, which can be picked up from weapons systems or include communications from base personnel, rather than images, the officials said. (Related: Spy balloons are part of global Chinese surveillance, US military and national security officials say.)

A Department of Defense spokesperson disputed the claims on Monday, April 10, saying any data collected had limited additive value for China. National Security Council (UNSC) spokesperson John Kirby, meanwhile, declined to answer questions the same day about what kind of electronic signals or communications the balloon could have accessed.

Knowing it was going to enter U.S. airspace we took action to limit the ability of this balloon to garner anything of additive or especially useful content, Kirby said. So again, I wont get ahead of what were learning off this thing.

Members of Congress have also blasted the administrations false narrative, saying that the story not only insulted Americans, but it also risked national security by lulling policymakers into thinking little had been spied on for several weeks.

It went over military bases collecting information, which we all knew was collecting information. And theyre like Nothing to worry about here or see here,' said Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), an Army veteran who served on the House Ways and Means Committee. He added that even Democrats were wondering why the balloon was not shut down at once.

Fred Fleitz, former UNSC chief of staff, said career intelligence experts never believed the Biden administrations initial account, but it went unchallenged in the news media for weeks.

Its so amusing because the administration said it was a spy balloon, but claimed it didnt do any spying. Now, as an intelligence officer, I knew that couldnt be true, Fleitz told the John Solomon Reports podcast. Then they had this ridiculous claim that was, We let the spy balloon fly across the United States because we wanted to spy on the spy balloon. I knew that wasnt true, either.

Chinese official: Spy balloon was civilian-owned

Amid the intel that the spy balloon was from China, a spokeswoman from the countrys Foreign Ministry insisted that Beijing did not own it.

When pressed to talk about reports that the aircraft was able to gather intelligence, Mao Ning insisted that the balloon was civilian owned.

We have made it clear time and again that the unmanned Chinese civilian airship drifting over the U.S. was a purely unexpected and isolated event caused by force majeure, Mao said. China firmly rejects distortion, hyping up, and political manipulation of this unexpected and isolated event.

When asked to name the company that owns the civilian balloon, Mao dodged the question. China has made it clear multiple times that the unmanned airship is a civilian airship used for meteorological and other research purposes, she said. I have nothing more to add.

U.S. officials said the balloon had a self-destruct mechanism that could have been activated remotely by China, but it was not clear if that didnt happen because the mechanism malfunctioned or because China decided not to trigger it.

Visit NationalSecurity.news for more news related to imminent threats to the nations safety and security.

Watch the video below where Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre struggled to answer journalist Peter Doocys clarification on the CCP spy balloon controversy.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Communist China admits to flying spy balloon over military sites.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz rips Biden for allowing Chinese balloon to fly over entire country before shooting it down.

Trump called on Biden to shoot down suspected Chinese spy balloon discovered floating over central U.S.

Terrifying: Chinese spy balloons seen as dry run for nuclear EMP attack.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com

NBCNews.com

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Ever since Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, the powers that be have been whining and complaining about the need for more censorship to stop foreign election influence and disinformation. Well, it turns out that the government itself is the worst election influencer there is.

Since December, a growing number of journalists, analysts, and researchers has been documenting what is now being referred to as the Censorship Industrial Complex. This vast network of United States government agencies and other assets is coordinating to stamp out the First Amendment and turn the country into a totalitarian dictatorship, complete with its own Ministry of Truth.

At the head of this Censorship Industrial Complex is a former CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) agent by the name of Renee DiResta who, thanks to the Twitter Files, is being exposed as enemy number-one in the fight to preserve free speech in America.

The research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory, DiResta is leading the charge, both in the public and private sectors, to censor just about everything online that the deep state wants to see go away. And yet she is branded by the corporate-controlled media as one of the good guys.

(Related: More than a decade ago, Google was publicly addressing what it described as an alarming rise in government censorship requests  even back then!)

America: Your government is working against you every single day

DiRestas main argument is that, without more censorship, the U.S. will lose the information war with Russia and other enemy nations. This argument of hers is constantly plastered throughout the media machine to continually remind Americans of the need to eliminate the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Back in 2018, DiResta testified before the Senate in support for legislation that defines and criminalizes foreign propaganda, as well as allows law enforcement to prosecute foreign propaganda.

DiResta, as much as any other public person in the Western world, has sounded the alarm, repeatedly and loudly, for stronger governmental and non-governmental coordination to get social media platforms to censor more information, reported the Public Substack.

The Russian disinformation operations that affected the 2016 United States presidential election are by no means over, wrote DiResta in the New York Times in December 2018. Russian interference through social media is a chronic, widespread, and identifiable condition that we must now aggressively manage.'

More recently in 2021, DiResta pushed for the creation of a government-run censorship center, which she referred to as a Center of Excellence. Such a center could tie in a federal lead with platforms, academics, and nonprofits to stay ahead of these emerging narratives and trends, she argued.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ultimately acted on DiRestas proposition, instead choosing to call the operation a Disinformation Governance Board, also known as a Ministry of Truth.

Over the years, DiResta has risen to the highest levels of the U.S. intelligence community because of her pro-censorship work. In her view, anything that contradicts the narrative of her community is foreign interference that must be stopped and prosecuted.

Reports like this one would fall under the banner of foreign interference simply because they expose DiResta and others like her who are using American taxpayer dollars to try to erase the constitutionally protected right of Americans to speak freely  something she and her ilk cannot stand.

If we hope to defund and dismantle the Censorship Industrial Complex, we must understand what makes its leaders tick, why they rose to the top, and how they can be defeated, Public warns.

The latest news about the U.S. governments assault on free speech can be found at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

Public.substack.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The Dalai Lama has issued an apology after a controversial clip emerged on social media showing the spiritual leader asking an Indian boy to suck his tongue.

(Article republished from RT.com)

The incident took place at an event in the northern Indian city of Dharamshala in late February, although the footage went viral only recently, triggering outrage among some social media users.

The clip shows an Indian boy approaching the Tibetan spiritual leader and asking him: Can I hug you? After inviting the boy onto the stage, the Dalai Lama points to his cheek and says first here. After the boy kisses it, the Dalai Lama then kisses him on the mouth and laughs. After a brief pause, the guru sticks out his tongue and tells the boy to suck it.

In Tibetan culture, poking out your tongue is considered to be a gesture of expressing respect.

The spiritual leaders office has attempted to downplay the incident following the social media outcry, releasing a statement on Monday which read: 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. The statement added that the guru often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way.

Its not the first time the Dalai Lama, who won the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for advocating peaceful solutions based upon tolerance, has found himself embroiled in controversy. In a 2019 BBC interview, the spiritual leader said that should he be succeeded by a woman, she would have to be very attractive, otherwise not much use  a remark which was widely regarded as offensive.

One year previously, he claimed during a massive refugee crisis that Europe belongs to the Europeans, and argued that asylum seekers should return home to rebuild their own countries.

The Dalai Lama is the leader of the Tibetan Buddhists and has been living in exile in India since 1959, following a failed uprising against China for Tibetan independence.

Read more at: RT.com
(Natural News) The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been using Apples AirTags for surveillance purposes.

Forbes Associate Editor Thomas Brewster disclosed the DEAs use of AirTags in a March 2023 piece, outlining one such case in May 2022. He recounted that Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted two packages from Shanghai, China. One package contained a pill press used to compress powders into tablets, while the other contained some pill dyes.

Believing that they were destined for an illegal narcotics manufacturer, the DEA was called in. Investigators inspected the devices, but rather than cancel the shipment or pay a visit to the intended recipient, they tried something theyd never been known to try before. They hid an Apple AirTag inside the pill press so they could track its movements.

Brewster divulged that based on court records, the intended recipient of the pill press was not charged in federal court. However, the Department of Justice said the recipient was charged by the state. (Related: DEA using terrorism surveillance to entrap Americans.)

In an April 3 piece for TechDirt, journalist Tim Cushing questioned the DEAs use of AirTags in this instance.

Maybe the AirTag was smaller than the DEAs other options. Maybe the agents felt the discovery of an AirTag might lead the target to suspect something other than law enforcement surveillance. [The agency] had to be aware Apple had added features meant to deter exactly this sort of tracking, but chose to go with the AirTag anyway, he wrote.

Whatever the case is, it appears this test run  worked, at least to some extent. Tracking is tracking, and Apple may have managed to produce a better version of whatever the DEA [has] relied on for years.

AirTags prone to abuse by private and government entities

The quarter-sized AirTags were originally made to keep track of keys and other objects that people commonly lose. However, these devices have been used for nefarious purposes  whether its random individuals stalking other people without their consent or agencies such as the DEA tracking the packages of Americans.

In one such case, two women sued Apple after their former partners allegedly made use of the devices to secretly track their movements and whereabouts. In a federal lawsuit, they accused the tech giant of negligently releasing a dangerous device, minimizing concerns about threats surrounding AirTags and misrepresenting the safety of the product by calling them stalker-proof.

Plaintiff and Texas resident Lauren Hughes stated in the lawsuit that an ex-boyfriend stalked her using the AirTags after their three-month-long relationship ended. Despite relocating to a hotel after leaving her former partner, Hughes received a notification that an unknown AirTag had been tracking her. She later discovered that her ex-boyfriend had attached a disguised AirTag to one of her cars tires.

Jane Doe, the second plaintiff, meanwhile, said her former spouse used an AirTag in their childs backpack to follow her movements. While she managed to disable the first device, another one showed up.

The lawsuit ultimately pointed out that AirTags have revolutionized the scope, breadth and ease of location-based stalking. With a price point of just $29, it has become the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers.

Cushing ended his TechDirt piece: If it can be used or misused by people, it can [also] be used [or] misused by the government. If stalkers have a new toy, rest assured the government has already considered the advantages  and maybe even the constitutional implications  of deploying it to engage in its own form of stalking. Its whatever the government-involved version of buyer beware is.

Visit Surveillance.news for more stories about the use of AirTags to track people illegally.

Watch Mississippi mother Amber Norsworthy recount how a stalker managed to track her using an AirTag secretly placed in her car.

This video is from the TKWK T.V channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

2 Women sue Apple after their exes use AirTags to STALK them.

PAYBACK: Texas man uses Apple AirTag to TRACK and KILL truck thief.

DEA secretly tracked Americans phone calls without warrants for 13 years.

DEA tracks movements of millions of Americans using license plate readers.

Sources include:

BlacklistedNews.com

TechDirt.com

CBSNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the Muslim world to unite against Israel.

According to Turkish media, Erdogan made the remarks during a phone call with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. He told the Islamic Republics leader that the Islamic world should be united against Israels attacks in Palestine. Both leaders also discussed relations between Ankara and Tehran.

Erdogan and Raisi also discussed the April 5 attacks at the al-Aqsa Mosque. According to Reuters, the mosque was twice raided by members of the Israel Police. Officers used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse worshippers inside the structure.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said a total of 18 Palestinians were injured  12 of them in the first raid and another six during the second raid. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities said two police officers were injured.

Erdogan and Raisi also talked about the al-Aqsa confrontation in their call. The Turkish president noted the importance of preserving the status of holy areas. He also emphasized reasonable thinking in order to prevent further escalation of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The Turkish leader denounced the actions of the Israeli police at al-Aqsa, calling them a red line for Turkey. He said: I condemn the vile acts against the first qiblah of Muslims in the name of my country and people, and I call for the attacks to be halted as soon as possible. The raid on the mosque in the Israeli capital Jerusalem happened during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and on the eve of the Jewish Passover.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that the Israeli defense forces will respond to any attempt to terrorize civilians.

Erdogan blasts US ambassador, tells him to use his head

The Turkish president also denounced U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake for meeting with the main presidential candidate for the opposition  less than two months before the country holds its elections.

During a speech, Erdogan reiterated the official roles that diplomats such as Flake need to show respect. He pertained to a meeting between the ambassador and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party.

Shame on you, use your head, the Turkish president remarked. You are an ambassador. Your interlocutor here is the president.

Erdogan added that the doors of the presidential complex in Ankara are closed for Flake so that he knows his place and his duties as an ambassador to Turkey.

Let him know how an ambassador should work. If he doesnt know, he cant come in through that door. We have to teach America a lesson.

Turkeys May 14 elections will see Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu face off in the presidential race. The opposition candidate has vowed to unseat Erdogan and restore the parliamentary system. A constitutional referendum in 2017 resulted in Erdogan consolidating power as president.

According to the Eastern Herald, Erdogan has stated that he would not allow Turkey to be drawn into a conflict with Russia. Avoiding a confrontation with Moscow would become one of his campaign slogans. Aside from this, Erdogan has also expressed readiness to participate in the peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war. (Related: NATO takes in two new members in deal with Turkey as alliance continues posturing to launch WWIII.)

Watch this video of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying that Europe is suffering the consequences of its sanctions against Russia.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Romanian Senator claims Turkeys earthquake was caused by a geological weapon, part of a mass genocide agenda.

WEATHER CONTROL: Iran accuses Israel, UAE of using cloud seeding technology to STEAL RAIN.

Iranian military commander threatens to kidnap and enslave Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

Turkeys inflation hits 24-year high, but Erdogan insists theres no need to raise interest rates.

High-tech warfare: Turkey to deploy military drones with MACHINE GUNS.

Sources include:

JPost.com

Reuters.com

Rudaw.net

EasternHerald.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Over half a million people took to the streets all over France on Thursday, April 6, to protest President Emmanuel Macrons plan to raise the age of retirement from 62 to 64.

Macrons drive to reform Frances pensions system has ignited the months-long protests. Facing a potential lack of votes to push the reforms through the National Assembly, Frances lower house, Macron utilized a loophole within the French constitution that allowed him to enact the pension reform bill without a vote in parliament.

Along with raising the retirement age, the pension reform law will also require people to work for 43 years to receive a full pension.

While anger over Macrons plan to raise the retirement age was already palpable and had already resulted in massive protests, the very contentious move led to the French people being even angrier at the president and his government. (Related: Angry French protesters shift focus from pension fiasco to Macron himself  do you know the guillotine?)

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has been regularly holding discussions with some of the larger protest groups, including the nations most prominent trade unions. But the most recent round of negotiations collapsed on Wednesday, April 5, leading to Thursdays massive protest action, with trade unions vowing to keep up the pressure on the government and calling for another round of protests and labor strikes.

Hundreds of thousands took part in protest, shutting down the country

The Ministry of the Interior said around 570,000 people took part in Thursdays protests, while spokespeople from trade unions said the figure was closer to two million. Around eight percent of teachers in the country took part in the one-day strike, according to the Ministry of Education.

Most of the more rowdy parts of the protest actions on Thursday occurred in Paris, with small groups of violent protesters clad in all black being fired upon with tear gas by the police as the larger, trade union-led marches descended upon the capitals main thoroughfares. Police said around 57,000 protesters took to the streets in Paris, while the unions said there were no fewer than 400,000 people.

Some of the more notable parts of the protests had a small fire engulfing the awning of the well-known La Rotonde restaurant, which is well-known for receiving Macrons people. The president celebrated his 2017 election victory there.

The presidents position is a huge problem, said Claire Cazin, a member of the General Confederation of Labor, one of the countrys main trade union confederations and an employee at the Aeroports de Paris. She said momentum would continue, and the union has already discussed further action at the countrys airports. There will be a crescendo.

Unions have called for another day of nationwide strikes on April 13, one day before the Constitutional Court is expected to review the pension reform law. The court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of both the legislation and how Borne and Macron pushed it through.

Notably, protest groups and political parties are hoping the court could rule the bill unconstitutional due to how it was added to a budget bill to limit the number of days it could be debated in the National Assembly down to 50 and, in the event of a lack of votes, to be able to pass it without a vote.

Political parties are also asking the court to approve an application to put the pension reform bill up for a national referendum instead, where it is expected to fail massively due to its lack of popular support.

Learn more about the pension reform protests in France at Pensions.news.

Watch this clip from The American Journal on InfoWars as host Harrison Smith discusses the ongoing protests in France.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Huge strikes planned across Germany while France unravels: The European spring has come.

Macron raises retirement age from 62 to 64, sparking riots across France.

France may use 2024 Olympics to introduce Big Brother-style SURVEILLANCE.

CGEP report shows France guilty of HOARDING Russian LNG in early stages of Russia-Ukraine conflict.

France edges closer to energy rationing as local nuclear plants suffer issues.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

APNews.com

EuroNews.com

FT.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The executives who run companies like Nike, Anheuser-Busch, and Kate Spade, whose brand partnerships with controversial trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney have elevated her to todays popular woke It girl (who is biologically male), are not just engaging in virtue signaling.

They are doing so because they have to, in order to avoid failing their all-important social credit score, which could make or break their businesses, the New York Post reported in recent days.

The Human Rights Campaign oversees the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) score, which is crucial for businesses to maintain in order to avoid a negative impact on their social credit score, The Post continued. The CEI score is issued by HRC, the largest LGBTQ+ political lobbying group worldwide, and evaluates how well companies adhere to its rating criteria.

The HRC receives funding from various sources, including George Soros Open Society Foundation, and as we all know, Soros has used his billions to systematically destroy American and Western society for decades because he obviously derives some perverse pleasure from it.

According to the latest report, more than 840 US companies have achieved high CEI scores. Companies that achieve a total of 100 points receive the highly desired title of Best Place To Work For LGBTQ Equality. HRC data from last year revealed that 15 of the top 20 Fortune-ranked companies received a 100 percent rating, the report continued.

The HRC was established in 1980 and created the CEI in 2002, with Kelley Robinson as its current president since 2022, who previously worked as a political organizer for Barack Obamas 2008 presidential campaign. The HRC has five main rating criteria, each with its own detailed subsets, that companies must meet to earn or lose CEI points.

The main categories are: Workforce Protections, Inclusive Benefits, Supporting an Inclusive Culture, Corporate Social Responsibility and Responsible Citizenship.

A company or corporation will lose CEI points if it doesnt comply with HRCs demand for integration of intersectionality in professional development, skills-based or other training or if they dont use a supplier diversity program with demonstrated effort to include certified LGBTQ+ suppliers.

James Lindsay, a political podcaster who runs a site called New Discourses, compared the Human Rights Campaign to the Mafia, stating to The Post that they administer the CEI ranking like an extortion racket.

HRC is not a passive organization and sends representatives to corporations every year, giving them a list of demands to comply with in order to earn a high CEI score. If the corporations fail to comply, there is a threat that they will lose their CEI score, The Post continued.

The CEI is one component of the expanding ethical investing movement known as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) which is actively promoted by the top three investment firms in the country. ESG funds invest in companies that oppose the use of fossil fuels, advocate for unionization, prioritize racial and gender equity over merit in hiring and board selection, among other criteria.

Several sources have told The Post that some American CEOs are more concerned with pleasing BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street Bank, who are among the top shareholders of most publicly-traded US corporations, than with potentially angering conservatives, The Post said, noting that those firms are top shareholders in Nike, Anheuser-Busch, and Kate Spade.

This week, Dylan Mulvaneys new ad campaigns with Bud Light and Nike have caused controversy, drawing criticism from country star Travis Tritt and Kid Rock, female Olympians, and Caitlyn Jenner, who said about Nike: It is a shame to see such an iconic American company go so woke!  This is an outrage.

The Post noted that Mulvaney, a 26-year-old transgender influencer who claimed to transition from male to female in March 2021 but is still biologically male, of course, has reportedly earned over a million dollars from various brand endorsements, including fashion and beauty brands such as Ulta Beauty, Haus Labs, and CeraVe, as well as Crest and InstaCart.

In addition, he has more than 10 million Instagram followers.

Experts suggest that neither Kid Rock nor Mulvaney is the primary audience that Americas top executives are trying to impress with this woke nonsense.

The big fund managers like BlackRock all embrace this ESG orthodoxy in how they apply pressure to top corporate management teams and boards, and they determine, in many cases, executive compensation and bonuses and who gets re-elected or re-appointed to boards, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who is running for president as a Republican and authored Woke Inc.: Inside Americas Social Justice Scam, told the outlet. They can make it very difficult for you if you dont abide by their agendas.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who manages assets worth $8.6 trillion and is recognized as the face of ESG, wrote a well-known letter to CEOs titled A Sense of Purpose in 2018. This letter advocated for a new model of governance that aligns with ESG principles, emphasizing the importance of a companys social and environmental impact.

Society is demanding that companies, both public and private, serve a social purpose, Fink wrote. To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance, but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society.

Fink also let it be known that if a company doesnt engage with the community and have a sense of purpose it will ultimately lose the license to operate from key stakeholders.

Our society is bifurcating into woke and non-woke factions, and that includes companies. Frankly, its past time that it happened.

Sources include:

NYPost.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) On Friday, U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry was found guilty of killing a protester during a Black Lives Matter rally in Texas in 2020, but if Gov. Greg Abbott has his way, Perry will never serve his time behind bars.

Perry, who had served in Afghanistan, argued that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed 28-year-old Garrett Foster during a demonstration in Austin. He noted that Foster, who was carrying an AK-47, pointed the rifle at Perry, who was driving an Uber for extra money that night, and quickly responded with his legally carried handgun. However, a jury in far-left Austin concluded that Perry was responsible for Fosters death after two days of deliberation.

Were happy with the verdict. Were very sorry for his family as well. Theres no winners in this, Stephen Foster, the victims father, said.

It needs to be said that, shortly after the incident, Austin Police concluded that yes, Perry had acted in self-defense and did not arrest him. But a left-wing George Soros-backed district decided to prosecute anyway.

Multiple police officers spoke to Foster, warning him that he was menacing innocent civilians. Detectives concluded Daniel Perry acted in self-defense. That should have been the end of the case, conservative documentarian Mike Cernovich noted in a column posted to his Substack.

Travis County DA Jose Garza was elected to represent Austin Texas due to funding by George Soros. Garzas behavior was so irregulate that it prompted a report by law enforcement that accused Garza of tampering with a grand jury, he added.

But again, none of this may matter in the end. Abbott declared on Saturday that he would use his authority to pardon Perry as much as allowed under state law, Conservative Brief reported.

I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry, Abbott said in an announcement.

This is awesome! https://t.co/4mIJdU6SE0  USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) April 10, 2023

Fox News noted that Abbott said in his tweet that pardons in Texas must be recommended by the Board of Pardons and Paroles. I have made that request and instructed the board to expedite its review, the governor said, adding that he looks forward to signing the pardon if it makes it to his desk.

On July 25, 2020, while he was driving for Uber in downtown Austin, Perry encountered a large group of protesters who were illegally blocking city streets. According to the police, the protests that night were part of the weeks-long rioting in Austin and elsewhere. Perrys defense team argued that the protesters encircled his vehicle and started hitting it, with Garrett Foster, who was carrying a semi-automatic rifle, among them. Perrys team claimed that Foster raised the firearm at Perry, forcing him to use his legally carried handgun in self-defense and shoot Foster.

When Garrett Foster pointed his AK-47 at Daniel Perry, Daniel had two-tenths of a second to defend himself. He chose to live, Doug OConnell, an attorney for Perry, told Fox News Digital last year in a statement.

It may be legal in Texas to carry an assault rifle in downtown Austin. It doesnt make it a good idea. If you point a firearm at someone, youre responsible for everything that happens next, he added.

Abbott noted that Texas has some of the strongest stand your ground laws in the country, and they cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney.

July 2020 in Austin, TX, Army Sgt Daniel Perry was working his Uber shift, & got tangled up in a BLM protest. His car was surrounded. A BLM activist raised his AR-47 at Perry. Perry shot him dead. It was ruled self-defense, until the Soros backed DA brought charges against him in pic.twitter.com/pBBciiZsJH  ??ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) April 8, 2023

Abbott should act to free Perry as quickly as possible. That is the right thing to do.

Sources include:

ConservativeBrief.com

FoxNews.com
Discussions about natural gas transportation from Turkiye to Nakhchivan through the gas pipeline are ongoing, Azernews reports, citing Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Donmez.

The Minister noted that the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and TANAP projects have been put into operation and Turkiye has an opportunity to gain access to world markets. He added that Turkiye also cooperates with Azerbaijan in the field of electricity, and continues to cooperate in other fields.

Annual 500 million cubic meters of natural gas will be transported through the 85-kilometer line to Nakhchivan.

On December 15, 2020, Azerbaijans Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the supply of natural gas to Nakhchivan in Ankara.

The Memorandum of Understanding is of strategic importance for the supply of natural gas to Nakhchivan. It ensures the cooperation of the companies of both countries - State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and BOTAS in technical, commercial, administrative, legal, and other issues related to the supply of natural gas. The gas supply from Turkiye to Nakhchivan will diversify the gas supply and increase the reliability of the energy supply. With support from both Iran and Turkiye, Nakhchivan will be able to fully satisfy the growing energy demand.
Downtown Bazaar will open to the public Monday, bringing international all-stars from the West Side Bazaar to Buffalos Theatre District.

At 617 Main St., office lunchers and pre-curtain diners will get the chance to enjoy the cooking that made the Grant Street site a must-stop for adventurous eaters before it was closed by fire last year.

Until the $11.5 million reimagined and expanded West Side Bazaar opens on Niagara Street this fall, Downtown Bazaar is the place for Grant Street fans to find their old favorites. The Westminster Economic Development Initiatives lease ran out after the fire, meaning 25 Grant St. passes into eater memory.

But at Downtown Bazaar, people who fell in love with doro wot, Ethiopian braised chicken and hardboiled egg, or the best sauteed fava beans in town, will have their needs met again.

The former EXPO space runs through the block, from Main to Ellicott streets. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Inside, folks can meander by a cast of food offerings never before seen in the Theatre District.

There, youll find the same people making the same dishes  and a few new faces.

Filipino chef Lloyd Ligao, whose Pinoy Boy restaurant operation found an audience from the public kitchen at the Broadway Market, is coming downtown.

Through his capable hands, Buffalo can discover Filipino favorites like marinated and grilled chicken inisal ($16) or fried garlic rice with Spam, pork sisig or longanisa sausage ($15). Basque bruleed cheesecake made with purple ube sweet potato ($8) beckons for dessert, along with halo-halo ($7/$10), the gaudy dessert of crushed ice, coconut cream and technicolor jellies.

Abyssinia Ethiopian Cuisines Zelalem Gemmeda will have the citys essential Ethiopian menu on offer. Vegetarian and nonvegetarian meals, each with five dishes on the pancake-like flatbread called injera, are the move here.

South Sudanese restaurateur Akec Aguer, of Nile River, will be supplying the citys best ful medames, fava beans sauteed with garlic and cumin, dill-laced beef kabobs and the hearty collards-and-greens Sudanese stew called sukuma wiki.

Pattaya Street Food, another West Side Bazaar veteran, will be open mornings once the schedule begins, offering bubble tea and coffee.

Besides soft drinks, beer and wine will be part of the Downtown Bazaars lure. Its operator has yet to be announced, but the Downtown Bazaar promises to be the only spot in town that you can get a decent glass of Merlot with your sukuma wiki.
(Natural News) The federal government of Canada has been compromised by agents of Communist China since at least the 1990s, according to a retired spy.

Michel Juneau-Katsuya, who formerly worked for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), made this revelation during a meeting of the Canadian House of Commons. In his testimony before the ethics committee, Juneau-Katsuya said there were a few federal ridings or electoral districts that served as hunting grounds for agents of the Chinese Communist Party.

We have seen similar ridings constantly being targeted particularly where there was a great number of Chinese Canadian residents, said the erstwhile spy formerly with the CSISs Asia-Pacific desk. These are the hunting grounds of the consular offices.

Juneau-Katsuya responded in the affirmative when asked to furnish evidence of his claims. The former spy said: We have evidence, names [and] circumstances when all this happened. He told lawmakers that CSIS has known about Beijings interference in Ottawa for at least the last 30 years, but the federal government turned a blind eye to these concerns.

Every federal government from [former Canadian Prime Minister Brian] Mulroney to [incumbent Canadian Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau today has been compromised by agents of Communist China. Every government was informed at one point or another, [but] chose to ignore CSIS warnings, Juneau-Katsuya said.

Politicians are easy targets for foreign interference

The former spy continued that the government of every prime minister, whether Conservative or Liberal, was infiltrated by agents of influence acting on behalf of the Chinese government. This resulted in Ottawa making decisions that were questionable about China and can only be explained by interference exercised from within. (Related: Western Canada has already fallen to Communist China  America may have a chance, but only if it stands united.)

Asked why this has been the case, Juneau-Katsuya explained that governments have allowed their decision-making to be influenced by partisanship and agents of influence succeeding in controlling the message and that every prime minister or their staff chose to ignore the seriousness of the threat.

Former CSIS Executive Manager Dan Stanton also testified before the committee. He told lawmakers that politicians were easy targets for foreign interference, adding that this meddling has eclipsed classic espionage as a national security threat both in terms of its scope and its speed.

Stanton remarked: Why risk stealing another states secrets when you can influence and manipulate the targeted countrys policymakers; when you can get close to what we consider the soft underbelly of the state?

The former CSIS official also pointed out that China was the A-Team of deception and the worlds best at it. According to Stanton, Chinas level of sophistication and confidence that borders on arrogance has made them the most daunting threat from a foreign intelligence perspective.

Visit CommunistChina.news for more stories about Beijing meddling in other nations political affairs.

Watch this G News report explaining why every person worldwide must unite against the Chinese Communist Party.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Bidens advisers have deep, dangerous, ties to Chinese Communist and military officials: Report.

MSM ignores bank records that prove Joe Biden was BOUGHT OFF by Beijing.

The Dr. Hotze Report: CCP has infiltrated most sectors of American society, including government, media, business and schools, in preparation for an INVASION  Brighteon.TV.

China established remote police stations in CANADA to retrieve its own citizens for deportation.

Why are universities filled with left-wing communists and America haters? Because China has INFILTRATED hundreds of them with social engineers.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

GreatGameIndia.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A large hole has torn through the sun and created a second one that is unleashing solar winds bound toward Earth.

According to scientists, the said coronal hole 30 times bigger than Earth was first discovered on March 23. This first hole subsequently created a second hole, this time 20 times bigger than Earth. The National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of the two coronal holes.

Coronal holes are magnetically open areas that are one source of high-speed solar wind. They appear dark when viewed in many wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light, such as seen here. At times, the solar wind can generate aurora at higher latitudes on Earth, NASA said.

While the news of the coronal holes may sound alarming at first, it does not suggest that Earth is in danger. Coronal holes are an ordinary feature on the sun, appearing at different places and at various times of its activity cycle. They are cooler, less solid areas and are mostly more prevalent when the sun is at a less active point in its 11-year cycle.

The shape of this coronal hole is not particularly special. However, its location makes it very interesting. I would expect some fast wind from that coronal hole to come to Earth around Friday night into Saturday morning of this week, said Daniel Verscharen, associate professor of space and climate physics at the University College London.

If it is oriented in the southward direction, were more likely to have a space-weather event, but we dont know that yet.

Scientists on the lookout for dangers of solar winds from coronal holes

According to the scientists monitoring the coronal holes, the second hole located on the suns equator is unleashing solar winds measuring 1.8 million miles per hour toward Earth. Thus, the researchers are carefully watching the situation if the solar winds will affect the planets magnetic field, satellites and technology. (Related: Understanding the breathtaking power of solar wind.)

Coronal holes develop when magnetic fields from inside the sun blast straight up into space. This makes it much easier for solar winds, which are pieces of plasma from the sun, to escape into space at high speed. Solar winds can interrupt satellite communications and high-altitude radio transmissions.

The first coronal hole caused bright auroras on March 24, which illuminated the night sky with electric purples and greens. Some of the dazzling auroras were seen as far south as Arizona. These auroras were reportedly caused by solar winds interacting with Earths charged atmosphere.

Numerous coronal mass ejections, which are large eruptions of plasma being thrown into space, occurred around the same time as the first coronal hole was facing Earth. This produced a large geomagnetic storm that contributed to the auroras. But according to experts, its nearly impossible to happen again.

Follow Space.news for more news about solar activities.

Watch this video about the massive solar flares and other cosmic anomalies back in January.

This video is from the Space Anomalies channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

The sun unleashes strongest solar flare in three years.

Earth just dodged a potentially apocalyptic-level solar storm  are we safe?

Bizarre phenomenon where section of the sun splits and circles solar north pole baffles scientists.

Scientists warn of MASSIVE solar storms: We need to be better prepared.

Scientists believe the sun may enter a calm, slightly cooler period in the next few decades.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

BusinessInsider.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has testified that a financier with deep ties to China approached him to donate up to $30 million to help re-elect former President Barack Obama during his 2012 campaign.

This is according to DiCaprios testimony during an ongoing federal trial in Washington, D.C. of musician Prakazrel Pras Michel of the prominent 1990s hip-hop group The Fugees. Michel is on trial for allegedly participating in a foreign influence campaign aimed at the Obama administration. (Related: Hunter Biden, other members of Biden family received MILLIONS from business associate linked to CCP.)

The financier in question is Jho Low, a Malaysian fugitive businessman currently wanted in his home country for allegedly embezzling a whopping $4.5 billion from Malaysias state investment fund, 1MDB.

According to DiCaprio, Low casually commented on his plan to donate millions to the Democrats. When pressed, DiCaprio added that Low planned on giving a significant donation that was somewhere to the tune of $20 to 30 million.

I basically said, Wow, thats a lot of money,' DiCaprio added.

While it is still unclear whether or not DiCaprio accepted Lows money, what is being alleged by prosecutors is that, after speaking with the actor, Low approached Michel as an alternative point person to funnel the money to Obamas re-election bid. Federal election law expressly prohibits foreign nationals from directly or indirectly providing contributions, donations, expenditures and disbursements to federal, state or local political campaigns.

Michel allegedly received around $21.6 million in payments from foreign accounts linked to Low to lobby the government on the Malaysian businessmans behalf. Prosecutors alleged that the funding and lobbying efforts also benefited the Chinese government.

Michel paid out most of the money to roughly 20 straw donors from June to November 2012. These 20 or so donors were expected to contribute most of the money to the Obama campaign in their names so that the money wouldnt be traced back to Low.

Several other witnesses testified that Michel wired them thousands of dollars and asked them to make shadow donations to the campaign. The prosecutors alleged that Michel was paid $70 million for his assistance to Low.

Michel is currently facing 11 criminal counts of attempting to influence the administrations of Obama and former President Donald Trump. Prosecutors also alleged that Michel attempted to interfere with the investigation into Lows business dealings in the United States.

Low has strong ties with top Hollywood celebs

DiCaprio is just one of many prominent figures, including many Hollywood A-listers, with ties to Low, who is known to even go so far as to pay celebrities like DiCaprio to attend lavish parties with him on boats and at high-end nightclubs.

Despite the trial being about Michel, DiCaprios testimony on Monday, April 3, was focused mostly on the actors relationship with Low.

DiCaprios testimony found that Low even supported the actors philanthropic efforts as well as helped provide funding for his artistic pursuits. DiCaprio testified that Low helped fund his 2013 movie with director Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street, for which he and Scorsese were nominated for Academy Awards.

Lows involvement in the film even drew the attention of the Department of Justice, which reached a civil settlement with the film production company in 2018, during which the production house forfeited around $60 million that it received from Low and was believed to have been stolen from 1MDB.

Since then, DiCaprio has been freely cooperating with the federal government to expose the depth of Lows financial dealings with American elites, including politicians and their campaigns.

I was given a green light from my team, as well as the studios, to accept financing from Mr. Low, DiCaprio testified.

Learn more about Chinas infiltration of the United States in CommunistChina.news.

Watch this episode of China In Focus discussing Leonardo DiCaprios testimony regarding the China-linked financier who wanted to donate $30 million to Obamas 2012 presidential campaign.

This video is from the Pool Pharmacy channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Chinese spy balloon collected intelligence from military sites and transmitted it to Beijing in real time.

Silicon Valley Bank functioned as bridge between US dollars and Chinese investments in aerospace and defense  no wonder Biden wanted all deposits bailed out.

More sophisticated Chinese cyberattacks target US firms, government agencies, defense contractors.

INDOCTRINATED: Chinese firms with ties to the CCP are purchasing American private schools with strong military training programs.

Leonardo DiCaprio caught funneling grant money to dark money group for climate lawsuits.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Reuters.com

NYPost.com

FEC.gov
(Natural News) Artificial chicken meat grown in stainless steel bioreactors is the next thing to hit the American market, thanks to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The corrupt federal regulatory agency has green-lighted not just one but two different lab-grown chicken meat products for human consumption: one produced by Upside Foods and the other by GOOD Meat, both based out of California (GOOD Meat also has an office in Singapore).

Last year, the FDA announced that the laboratory-derived chicken made by Upside Foods is safe to eat, which means the company can soon start mass producing it for the consumer market.

To manufacture its meat, Upside Foods harvests cells from live animals, chicken tissue, and uses the cells to grow meat in stainless-steel tanks known as bioreactors, one report explains.

The FDA proudly announced that it has no further questions about the safety of Upside Foods fake meat, which Commissioner Robert M. Califf declared to be safe for human consumption.

The world is experiencing a food revolution, Califf said.

Advancements in cell culture technology are enabling food developers to use animal cells obtained from livestock poultry, and seafood in the production of food with these products expected to be ready for the U.S. market in the near future.

(Related: Check out our earlier coverage from last year about the abomination known as lab-grown meat and why you should avoid eating it at all costs.)

FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf says agencys main purpose is to promote fake food

Califf went on to praise the fake meat industry for supporting the FDAs own mission, which apparently involves rubber-stamping approval for anything and everything that is synthetic and probably unhealthy for people to eat.

The FDAs goal is to support innovation in food technologies while always maintaining as our first priority the safety of the foods available to U.S. consumers, Califf admitted.

Upside Foods founder and CEO Uma Valeti publicly celebrated the FDAs decision, calling it a really good thing for the companys bottom line.

As for GOOD Meat, Reuters celebrated the FDAs decision to make it the second cultivated meat product available on the market.

GOOD Meats chicken is the second cultivated meat product to receive a no-questions letter from the FDA after California-brd [sic] UPSIDE Foods got the regulators green light for its cultivated chicken breast last November, the fake news media outlet reported.

The letter means the FDA accepts the companys conclusion that its product is safe for humans to eat.

Just like it did with Upside Foods, the FDA indicated that it has no questions at this time about GOOD Meats conclusion that foods comprised of or containing cultured chicken cell material [are] as safe as comparable foods produced by other methods.

Keep in mind that the FDA still will not allow you to buy and sell natural raw milk or butter products. Those healthy foods are unsafe, according to the agency. But fake, lab-grown meat? Open wide!

The United States is now closer than ever to seeing fake chicken and other fake meat products hit not only store shelves but also restaurant menus. Chances are that in the near future, any meat products ordered at a standard American restaurant will contain synthesized ingredients that look, smell, and taste like the real thing  and you probably will not even know about it since the FDA is notorious for not requiring proper labeling for such things.

It takes two weeks to grow the equal to one chicken, a thousand chickens or 100,000 chickens, Valeti told the media about how long it takes for his companys lab-grown chicken meat to form in a bioreactor.

The powers that be are turning everything into an abomination, including the food you feed your family. To learn more, visit Frankenfood.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) You may have heard the terms Long-Covid or Long Hauler Syndrome on the news or on a podcast, and now youre wondering if it applies to you, especially if you are still reeling from the long-term effects of either suffering from Covid-19 or from the spike protein injections, the latter of which were never really approved by the FDA for human use. There are many doctors, scientists, and immunologists still trying to figure out why so many people are suffering from strange leftover symptoms and ailments long after they recovered from Covid-19, and/or from the initial system shock of the gene therapy injections that were falsely termed vaccines.

The human body thats been injected with millions of spike proteins functions under constant duress, stress, and attack

Imagine if every major city in America had millions of people dressed as terrorists, with masks and weapons, how would the police function? Thats how the human immune system of the victims of the Covid clot shots feels, under constant stress and attack. Millions, possibly billions, of spike protein prions that mimic a deadly virus are floating around throughout the vascular system, the cleansing organs, the heart, the brain, everywhere, like armed terrorists flooding a city. The immune system (parasite police) is stuck in fight-or-flight mode 24/7/365. Thats long hauler syndrome. Thats long Covid.

Got a horrible ringing in your ears that wont stop? Is your eczema acting up worse than ever, or your rheumatoid arthritis flaring up all day? Is your vision blurred? Are you dizzy all the time now? Having trouble breathing while feeling like your heart is racing? Thats vaccine-induced spike protein syndrome. Thats the human immune system attacking the virus-like prions that are strewn about your system, that are clogging your arteries, veins, and capillaries, causing mayhem all day and all night long.

Long Hauler Syndrome means your blood is infested with parasites and sticky protein prions from a lab-concocted virus and its co-conspirator vaccine

Ever wonder why the medication ivermectin kills Covid so quickly, even though ivermectin is prescribed for parasites, but Covid is supposedly a virus? If ivermectin kills parasites and not viruses, then why was the CDC, FDA, and the Biden Regime dead set on blocking every US doctor from prescribing it for Covid-19? Its been safely prescribed for humans for years and years, so whats all the fuss about? Also, why would a viral infection, after the body beats it, stick around and cause chronic inflammation, heart problems, and all kinds of long-term health decimation LONG AFTER its gone? Answer: Parasites and spike proteins.

Theres no such thing as Long Covid, folks. Its a made-up term for spike protein damage and parasitic infections. In fact, Long Covid may even be a psychological disorder. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a study that debunks the existence of so-called long COVID. Most likely, people are suffering from anxiety induced by fear and paranoia about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), and of course, the aftereffects of the clot shot injections.

The spike proteins from the Fauci Flu injections do NOT remain at the site of injection, in the muscular tissue, as the CDC and NIH falsely claimed. They travel throughout the body, and this is PROVEN by autopsies conducted by forensic pathologists, embalmers and coroners. When the human immune system recognizes (or cant seem to recognize) foreign invaders in the blood and organs, it automatically attacks them, hence the term auto-immune disorder or dysfunction.

What do you call the condition a human suffers from who lives all day under constant immune system confusion and stress? Long Hauler Syndrome or Long Covid. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental gene therapy injections that keep on causing health problems long after the pandemic is over.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Beijing Biden and his CCP cohorts in Washington DC want Americans to believe that banning TikTok will protect the United States from the Communists in Asia who are spying on Americans, but its actually the US government that US citizens should be worried about who are spying on US citizens. The TikTok app is the least of concerns that Americans should be addressing when it comes to national security and rights of privacy.

Today, free speech and free press are dead letter rights, because the US government uses Big Tech and Big Pharma to censor everything thats published online or in newspapers, or aired on television news. Even school boards are spied on so that communist and perverted curriculum can take precedence in Leftist school systems across the country. Its pathetic that the Restrict Act is just going to make censorship much worse, instead of the other way around. The Restrict Act is the Patriot Act on steroids, and its the end of the Constitution as we know it, should it pass.

Beijing Biden is bringing Chinese Communism to America full force, to silence and arrest anyone who opposes the new US-CCP communist regime

If you dont like being spied upon by your own government, you best not complain about it online, because if you do, the new Restrict Act would be like forensic evidence that you committed horrendous crimes against your own country. Did you say you dont plan on getting vaccinated for the next plandemic? You are guilty of treason under the Restrict Act. Do you own your own business that retails products online? In the new corporate-only America, you may be violating the Restrict Act by selling items that do not help the Biden Regime get stronger and more corrupt.

Did you say that illegal immigrants should not be able to vote for POTUS in 2024? You are a racist and liable to go to prison and pay exorbitant fines under the Restrict Act. If you think thats preposterous, just read the fine print of the Restrict Act, and you will realize that you will be found guilty of opposing your own governments narrative, which is a capital crime.

The CCP is all about censorship, and Chinese tech companies have now gone global, so what you see happening in communist China is now happening in the USA, in a big way. Its the black mirror effect. Got any non-government approved ideas? You better keep them to yourself, because even thinking about opposing the Biden Regime is illegal in this country, and you could be convicted of thought crimes, just like in the movie Minority Report. Are you thinking about protesting censorship? You could be arrested for domestic terrorism by the CCP-Beijing-Biden Regime. Watch this:

Misinformation is now disinformation and a capital crime in America

Did you post something negative about the Covid vaccines on social media? Even if its true, thats violating national security because you are instilling vaccine fear during a plandemic. Even if you post something you believe is true, but the mainstream narrative changes and says that its not, you are instantly a criminal, but this only applies to information that counters the Leftist, Communist narratives.

If you say, print or post something positive about Hitlery Clinton, Beijing Biden, or Osama Obama, then whether or not its true, its fine and good. If you say, print or post something positive about Trump or Russia, then you are a domestic terrorist and the Restrict Act will be used against you in a court of law, if you ever even get to go to court (after being hauled off to prison by the FBI or DHS). Artificial intelligence (AI) can make this determination and autonomous robocops with robodogs will come to your house and arrest you.

If you plan on going to church or temple during the next Monkey Pox scamdemic or fake Bird Flu plandemic, you will be arrested for spreading disease and violating CDC mandates of lockdowns, social distancing, masking, and gene therapy injection protocol.

If you eat meat or eggs, after they are banned by the Biden Regime, you will be violating the Restrict Act, that says anyone who counters the narrative of the US government is an enemy of the state.

Restrict Act 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 review, the RESTRICT ACT (S-686) allows the government to seize the domain names, assets, computers, e-commerce, etc., of anyone who opposes the governments position on anything. That means, for example, if you post something on social media that counters the narrative that all vaccines are safe and effective 100 percent of the time, even if you almost died from the clot shot for Covid, the US government can come arrest you, put you in prison with no trial, force-vaccinate you, and let you rot there indefinitely. Or, if you end up with thousands of dollars in cash (that you hid under your mattress) after its no longer valid, and you complain about it to anyone who sides with the communists in Washington DC, you can be charged with domestic terrorism for trying to steal from the IRS and your country.

Thats why you should keep your truth news in check by adding Preparedness.news to your favorites list and tuning in daily for updates on real news about the 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) A pharmaceutical drug that murders unborn babies will no longer be publicly available as of this Friday, thanks to a preliminary injunction imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Texas, a Donald Trump appointee.

Despite being on the market for more than two decades, mifepristone, which halts normal fetal development, will no longer be allowed for prescription. Without it, the other part of the two-drug regimen needed to fully terminate a pregnancy will no longer work to complete an abortion.

The move came in response to a lawsuit that aims to seek a more permanent ban on the drug. For now, the drug will be blocked, but there is still a chance that mifepristone once again becomes available in the future.

We are told that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will now have the opportunity to appeal Kacsmaryks decision before it comes into effect. Chances are the Biden regime will take full advantage of this appeal opportunity.

Should that occur, the decision will be handed over to the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is considered to be one of the most conservative courts in America.

(Related: Did you know that RU-486, another popular abortion pill, was first developed as an extermination tool in Nazi death camps?)

U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice of Washington state, appointed by Obama, grants blue state requests for an order affirming FDA approval of mifepristone

As you might expect, Kacsmaryks decision immediately triggered a nationwide meltdown among liberals who seem to have a morbid obsession with murdering unborn children.

After the media branded the decision unprecedented, Thomas Rice, another U.S. District Judge out of Washington state who was appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, granted a request by several left-leaning blue states for an order affirming the FDAs approval of mifepristone.

With that affirmation in hand, these blue states plan to continue ordering mifepristone so their abortion mills can continue operating unaffected.

Numerous religious groups and pro-life advocates took aim at the FDA with a lawsuit claiming the agency fast-tracked its approval for mifepristone in 2020 without sufficient scientific evidence to back its safety and efficacy.

Notably, the FDA did the exact same thing with Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines, which were fast-tracked by the Trump administration via Operation Warp Speed.

Conversely, numerous mainstream medical groups are defending the drug, claiming it is safer than Tylenol and Viagra  though, admittedly, not for the baby. Fewer pregnant women who take mifepristone end up in the hospital for complications compared to users of Tylenol and Viagra, we are told.

Kacsmaryk, who is based out of Amarillo, agrees that the FDA stepped outside the bounds of its authority in approving mifepristone at warp speed, further suggesting the agency faced significant political pressure to get the drug to market as quickly as possible.

The Court does not second-guess FDAs decision-making lightly, 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.

Kacsmaryk went on in his decision to claim that the FDAs warp speed approval of mifepristone at the turn of the century has likely led to many injuries and deaths among women who took the drug to kill their unborn children.

Whatever the numbers are, they likely would be considerably lower had FDA not acquiesced to the pressure to increase access to chemical abortion at the expense of womens safety, he further wrote.

The latest news about the left-right fight over abortion and the right to murder unborn children can be found at Genocide.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Donald J. Trump is the first former U.S. president to be charged with a crime.

During the March 31 episode of Right Now with Ann Vandersteel on Brighteon.TV, Ann Vandersteel shared that Trump was hit with 34 felony counts of business fraud after a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict him. (Related: Manhattan grand jury votes to INDICT Donald Trump.)

The show host said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office had contacted Trumps attorney on Thursday, March 30, to coordinate the former presidents surrender.

Donald Trump, he is the first ex-President to ever be charged with a crime. Trump has been accused of paying porn star Stormy Daniels hush payments through his then-lawyer Michael Cohen in a scheme to silence her and stop the story about their alleged affair, said Vandersteel, adding that Cohen had admitted he paid Daniels with his own money.

Taylor Budowich, the CEO of Make America Great Again Inc., released a statement after the Trump indictment.

This is not an indictment of a crime  there was no crime  instead, this news is the indictment of a failed nation. President Trump is promising to peacefully end the war in Ukraine, dismantle the Deep State, and save our country by putting America first, Budowich said in the statement.

For that, the political elites and power brokers have weaponized government to try and stop him. They will fail. He will be re-elected in the greatest landslide in American history, and together, we will Make America Great Again.

Vandersteel said there is no chance Trump will take a plea deal, according to his defense lawyer, Joe Tacopina, who said the former president wont negotiate with the Manhattan DA because there is no crime.

Zero. President Trump will not take a plea deal in this case. Its not going to happen, theres no crime, Tacopina said.

Trump indictment is political persecution and election interference at the highest level

Trump wasted no time to put out his own statement regarding the indictment. In his statement, Trump noted that the indictment is political persecution and the election interference at the highest level in history and the Radical Left Democrats  the enemy of the hardworking men and women of this country  had been engaged in a witch hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement.

The former president added that never before in our nations history has this been done and he also said that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who was handpicked and funded by George Soros, is a disgrace for failing to stop the unprecedented crime wave taking over New York City.

He went on to say that Bragg was doing Joe Bidens dirty work while ignoring the murders, burglaries and assaults he should be focused on.

Trump ended his statement by saying he believes the witch hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden.

The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it. So, our movement, our party  united and strong  will defeat Alvin Bragg and then we will defeat Joe Biden. Were going to throw every last one of those crooked Democrats out of office so we can Make America Great Again, Trump said.

Vandersteel had spoken to Annie Marie Delgado, Trumps 2016 Florida State Director of Grassroots and Coalitions. Delgado said Bragg is handing Trump the presidency in 2024 and the witch hunt against the former president will surely backfire.

They not only indicted former President Donald J. Trump. They indicted millions and millions of Americans. This will surely only make us more united and stronger and take back our country from the grips of the evil that persists, said Delgado, who called on Americans to stay calm and let Trumps legal team do their job.

Delgado warned Americans not to fall into the democratic trap and they must stay focused on cleaning up Americas election system so that fair elections can happen in 2024.

Follow Trump.news for more news about former President Donald Trumps indictment.

Watch the March 31 episode of Right Now with Ann Vandersteel below. Right Now with Ann Vandersteel airs weekdays at 8 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Legal experts rip Manhattan DA after indicting Trump, saying his case is exceedingly weak, illegal.

Manhattan DA may push judge to impose a gag order on Trump so he cant defend himself in public.

Trump, Republicans respond after Soros-backed Manhattan district attorney announces former president has been indicted.

Trump declares politicized left-wing Manhattan DA has already dropped hush money case against him.

The witch hunt against me is DEAD: Trump says left-wing Manhattan DA tricked by fraud star witness in Stormy Daniels case.

Sources include:

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(Natural News) The World Health Organization took its sweet time to do so, but officials with the group have finally turned on China over the COVID-19 pandemic in a classic case of better late than never.

On Friday, the group made a sensational declaration, stating that Chinas failure to provide transparency regarding the origins of COVID-19 is simply inexcusable, according to the UKs Daily Mail.

Samples taken from within Wuhans ground zero have only just been publicly disclosed by Beijing-affiliated researchers, three years after the outbreak of the pandemic. In an unusual and severe criticism of Xi Jinpings communist government, a high-ranking WHO official expressed anger that this information was not shared promptly, stating that it should have been shared immediately.

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHOs technical lead on Covid, also acknowledged that she believes China may possess even more significant evidence that could ultimately reveal the origin of the pandemic. She suggested that this might include information on hazardous experiments conducted at the secretive facility that is central to the lab leak hypothesis, the outlet noted further.

While researchers investigating the origins of Covid-19 consider it entirely possible that the virus may have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, China has consistently denied such allegations, whether accidental or intentional.

Though many scientists support the theory that the virus originated in bats and then infected an intermediary species, possibly a pangolin, before spreading to humans, the natural origins theory remains a subject of debate.

Yet that theory was seemingly dealt a huge blow [last week] by an eagerly-awaited paper authored by academics at Chinas Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Daily Mail noted.

The report concluded that there was no conclusive evidence to support the theory that SARS-CoV-2 had originated from exotic animals being sold at the Huanan Seafood Market, where many early cases were traced to.

The team of researchers published their findings in the respected journal Nature, in which they analyzed hundreds of samples taken from around the Huanan Seafood Market and wild animals sold there shortly after the outbreak was detected. They warned that humans may have brought the virus to the market, which then acted as a super-spreader in December 2019, the report continued.

Virology experts have been requesting the release of this data for years, claiming it could provide valuable information to identify the origin of the pandemic. However, the World Health Organization only became aware of the existence of these samples three weeks ago.

The organization was informed of the samples existence by experts who had accidentally discovered them on a repository site. The experts controversially concluded that raccoon dogs sold at the market may have been the source of the virus, said the UK outlet.

The research on the samples was leaked to the magazine The Atlantic and was touted as the strongest evidence yet that an animal started the pandemic. However, it received widespread criticism, including from the Chinese team involved in the investigation.

Regarding the delay in sharing the samples, epidemiologist Van Kerkhove said: The lack of data disclosure is simply inexcusable.

The longer it takes to understand the origins of the pandemic, the harder it becomes to answer the question, and the more unsafe the world becomes, she added, according to the outlet. Every new piece of data could potentially move the world closer to stopping another pandemic  perhaps a worse one  in the future.

The failure to share information only fuels politicization of origins tracing and keeps all hypotheses viable, she continued.

In the journal Science, Van Kerkhove wrote, China has advanced technical capabilities and I therefore believe that more data exist that have yet to be shared, which includes on the wild and farmed animal trade; the testing of humans and animals in Wuhan and across China; the operations of labs in Wuhan working on coronaviruses; the earliest potential cases; and more.

WHO continues to call on China and all countries to share any data on the origins of SARS-CoV-2, immediately, she wrote.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
The Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia, which killed over 25,000 people around the nearby town of Armero during its last major volcanic eruption in 1985, has been showing signs of increased volcanic activity.

Colombia authorities and multiple reports showed the potential for another catastrophic event should Colombia's active stratovolcano makes a powerful explosive eruption after almost four decades.

Local authorities issued an evacuation order for some residents in the area due to the looming threat of volcanic ash and plume, lahar, or even lava flow during an eruption.

Last month, seismic activity in what appears to be volcanic earthquakes have occurred at the site.

Latest updates in recent days showed Nevado del Ruiz exhibited increased ash emissions.

Increased Volcanic Activity

The increased volcanic activity at the Nevado del Ruiz volcano has forced the Colombian government to issue the said evacuations within the potential impact zone, Fox Weather reported.

Due to the threat, local officials elevated the volcano alert level to orange, which is the second highest out of a four-tier scale.

An update from the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program on March 30 indicated around 11,600 earthquakes were recorded at the site.

Furthermore, the movement of underground fluid likely triggered the said increased volcanic ash emissions.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged the people living inside the danger zone to evacuate and asked officials, particularly the Departmental Risk Councils, to hasten their emergency measures such as the evacuation of 2,500 families, according to reports.

Also Read: Future Volcanic Eruption Imminent as Magma Chamber Grows Under Mediterranean Volcano [Study]

Nevado Del Ruiz Volcano

Also known as the La Mesa de Herveo, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano is located approximately 80 miles (129 kilometers) west of the Colombian capital city of Bogota.

It is particularly situated between the Colombian provincial border of the of Caldas Department and Tolima Department.

Since the eruption in 1985, around 18 orange alerts have been issued but none of them have led to a major eruption, according to a tweet by the Colombian Presidency.

The Armero Tragedy

The infamous volcanic event in 1985 occurred during the evening hours of November 13 of that year in what will be known in history as the Armero tragedy.

Following the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, a raging lahar swept through the town two hours later, killing a quarter of the town's 28,700 inhabitants.

The amount of time between the eruption and lahar was enough to trigger an evacuation.

However, certain socio-political circumstances have led Armero's residents and authorities to be caught off guard.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Colombia was dealing with an unstable political situation before and during the Nevado del Ruiz volcanic eruption in 1985, and a nighttime storm with rainfall over the region has somehow allowed the volcanic activity to go unnoticed.

Since then, experts have considered the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz eruption as the Western Hemisphere's deadliest volcano event.

Related Article: Tonga Volcano Eruption Annihilates Life Forms Never Seen Before, Destroys Island It Created Seven Years Ago
A jury has convicted a registered sex offender of two counts in connection with the sexual assault of a child, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced.

William T. Bergeron, 37, of Cheektowaga, was found guilty of predatory sexual assault against a child and endangering the welfare of a child. He faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he appears May 25 for sentencing before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges.

Flynn said jurors reached their verdict in less than an hour Monday afternoon after a four-day trial that began last week. Bergeron continues to be held without bail.

Prosecutors said that Bergeron engaged in two or more sexual acts with a child in Cheektowaga between Aug. 15, 2018, and July 13, 2020. They said that Bergeron was someone with whom the victim was acquainted.
Researchers at the Earlham Institute in Norwich have developed a method for precisely modifying genes that allows tobacco plants to function as solar-powered pheromone factories.

Importantly, they have demonstrated how the production of these chemicals can be effectively controlled to not interfere with typical plant growth.

Engineered Plants Produce Sex Perfume as Companion Planting

Complex molecules known as pheromones are created and delivered by an organism as a form of communication. They enable symbiotic communication, which includes alerting others to one's romantic intentions, as per Phys.org.

In order to trap or distract male insects from mating, farmers can place pheromone dispersers amid their crops to mimic the signals of female insects.

Chemical techniques can manufacture some of these compounds, however, chemical synthesis is frequently expensive and results in harmful byproducts.

Modern technology is used by Dr. Nicola Patron, who is the study's principal investigator and the director of the Earlham Institute's Synthetic Biology Group, to encourage plants to create these priceless natural compounds.

DNA's structural components are subjected to engineering concepts in synthetic biology. Dr. Patron and her team are able to transform a plant, like tobacco, into a factory that simply requires water and sunlight by engineering genetic modules that contain the instructions to produce new molecules.

According to Dr. Patron, synthetic biology can be used to modify plants to generate more of what they already produce or to give them the genetic instructions necessary to create new biological molecules, such as these pheromones or medications.

In their most recent research, the team engineered the tobacco plant Nicotiana benthamiana to create moth sex pheromones in collaboration with researchers at the Plant Molecular and Cell Biology Institute in Valencia.

For use in COVID vaccines, the same plant has already been modified to produce ebola antibodies and even coronavirus-like particles.

The Group created novel DNA sequences in the lab that closely resemble the moth genes and added a few molecular switches to precisely control their expression, which effectively turns the manufacturing process on and off.

The capacity to precisely control pheromone production was a crucial aspect of the new research because forcing plants to continuously produce these chemicals has disadvantages.

The group got to work in the lab testing and fine-tuning the regulation of genes in charge of creating a combination of certain chemicals that imitate the sex pheromones of moth species, such as navel orangeworm and cotton bollworm moths.

They demonstrated that copper sulfate could be utilized to precisely regulate gene activity, enabling them to regulate both the time and intensity of gene expression. This is especially crucial because copper sulfate is a cheap, easily accessible chemical that has previously received approval for use in agriculture.

They could even precisely control the creation of various pheromone components, adjusting the resulting concoction to better suit particular moth species.

The group hopes that by employing plants regularly, a variety of important natural goods will be produced.

Also Read: GMO 'Kill Switch' Makes Them Safer for Nature

Potential Negative Impacts Of Synthetic Biology Tools

The environment and human health may suffer greatly if genetically modified organisms are unintentionally or accidentally released into the environment, as per UNEP.

Strict risk analysis and consideration of many stakeholder perspectives should be used in the creation and management of cutting-edge synthetic biology applications and products, in accordance with the precautionary principle.

The precautionary principle asserts that action should be made to prevent or lessen harm when human activities may cause unacceptable damage that is scientifically probable but unclear.

Do-It-Yourself biology, or "DIY Bio," is another recent discovery. Over the past ten years, a movement of "citizen scientists" interested in synthetic biology experiments has gained international notoriety.

Enthusiasts gather in impromptu labs to conduct experiments and attend crash courses in biotechnology, frequently with little prior experience in the topic.

The trend has quickly grown because of straightforward web protocols and specialized kits that cost between $150 and $1,600 USD.

There are DIY Bio laboratories in almost all major cities, and as of 2017, there were roughly 168 organizations globally.

The use of readily available and inexpensive technology like CRISPR will probably be difficult for authorities to regulate. A rising concern is that radical organizations might abuse the technology.

Related Article: This GMO is 8,000 Years Old and Completely Natural
According to information published by the Turkish government on April 10, 2023, President Erdogan has officially commissioned the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu into the Turkish Navy.

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New amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu during the ceremony. (Picture source: Turkish government)

On the occasion of the ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech in Istanbul. He hailed the TCG Anadolu as a symbol of Turkiye's assertive position and leadership in the world and the region in the 21st Century.

Moreover, the president emphasized the ship's ability to conduct military and humanitarian operations worldwide, owing to the tanks and armored amphibious assault vehicles it carries.

He also noted that the project has an indigenization rate of 70%, and Turkiye can now deploy a battalion-sized force to crisis zones without needing main base support.

The new amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu plays a crucial role in the country's strategic concept of the Mavi Vatan (Blue Homeland).

Mavi Vatan

Mavi Vatan is a doctrine declared by the Republic of Turkey, which covers the maritime jurisdiction areas (territorial waters, continental shelf, and exclusive economic zone) declared in the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and Aegean.

The Mavi Vatan concept was first introduced by Cem Gurdeniz during a symposium on the Black Sea and Maritime Security held by the Navy Command on June 14, 2006.

Cihat Yayc contributed to the development of the concept, and it was recorded in his book "Basic Maritime Law" in 2010. After 2015, the Mavi Vatan played an effective role in Turkey's military-based strategy in maritime areas, and in 2019, the first-ever Mavi Vatan Exercise was conducted simultaneously in the Black Sea, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas.

The agreement on the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas between Turkey and Libya is one of the concrete steps of the Mavi Vatan doctrine.

TCG Anadolu

In its amphibious assault ship configuration, the TCG Anadolu has a displacement of 27,079 tons, while in its V/STOL aircraft carrier configuration, it has a displacement of 24,660 tons. The ship is 232 meters long and 32 meters wide, with a draught of 6.9 meters.

The propulsion system includes 5 x 8,000 kW Navantia Man Diesel Generators, 2 x 11 MW Siemens SiPOD, and 2 x 1,500 kW bow thrusters, providing a speed of 21 knots and a range of 9,000 nautical miles at 16 knots. The ship can accommodate a complement of 4 x LCM or 2 x LCAC.

The ship is equipped with advanced sensors and processing systems, including a SMART-S Mk.2 S-band 3D radar, SPN-720 Naval Precision Approach Radar, GENESIS-ADVENT Combat Management System, IRST, IFF, TDL, VMF, SATCOM, LWR, DDS, and Torpedo Defense System. The armament includes 1 x RAM, 2 x Phalanx CIWS, and 5 x 25 mm Aselsan STOP RCWS.

The TCG Anadolu can carry a range of aircraft, including 4 x T-129 ATAK, 8 x As532 or CH-47F, and 2 x S-70B Seahawk. It can also carry unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) such as the Baykar Bayraktar TB3 and Baykar Bayraktar Kzlelma, with a total of 30 to 50 folding-winged Bayraktar TB3.

The ship can be configured as a V/STOL aircraft carrier or as an amphibious assault ship, providing flexibility and adaptability for a range of military missions. It has the ability to sustain and operate the F-35B or UCAVs, making it a powerful asset for any military operation.
According to information published by Global Times on April 11, 2023, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) successfully concluded its "Joint Sword" exercises, which involved encircling the island of Taiwan.

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Chinese PLA Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong. (Picture source: Chinese MoD)

The Shandong aircraft carrier group, comprised of the aircraft carrier Shandong, a Type 055 10,000-ton class destroyer, a Type 052D destroyer, two Type 054A frigates, and a Type 901 comprehensive replenishment ship, participated in the final day of the exercises.

The PLA Navy's Flotilla 17 was also involved in the drills. Training missions included maritime blockades, assaults on fleeing hostile vessels, and joint blockade and joint strike drills with other military services and branches.

During the exercises, several destroyers and frigates conducted suppressive combat patrol missions, which involved training courses such as assaults on fleeing hostile vessels and maritime blockades.

The PLA warships initiated these activities from within the Taiwan Straits and waters to the northwest, southwest, and east of Taiwan.

J-15 carrier-borne fighter jets were also involved in the exercises, with the defense authority of Taiwan confirming the presence of four J-15 fighter jets flying above waters to the east of the island.

Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff reported that the Shandong hosted about 80 fighter jet sorties and 40 helicopter sorties between Friday and Sunday in waters to the east and southeast of Taiwan.

The exercises highlighted the Shandong aircraft carrier group's crucial role in blocking Taiwan vessels from fleeing the island, as well as preventing possible reinforcements by external forces such as the United States and Japan.

Other military services and branches continued to work closely together during the exercises, simulating joint blockades and information-fire integrated strikes on Taiwan.

The PLA Rocket Force, known for its "aircraft carrier killer" anti-ship ballistic missiles, practiced tactics including rapid response, ambush, and monitoring.

The force tracked maritime moving targets before carrying out large waves of mock strikes, demonstrating its ability to deny medium-sized and large warships from accessing waters around Taiwan.
According to information published by the Cypriot government on April 6, 2023, the Los Angeles class submarine USS San Juan has made a port visit in Limassol, Republic of Cyprus, sparking Turkiye's anger.

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Cypriot president visiting the Los Angeles class submarine USS San Juan. (Picture source: Cypriot government)

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has expressed concern about the USS San Juan, a US Navy submarine, anchoring at a Greek Cypriot port, citing a potential threat to the stability of the island.

Cyprus has a history of conflict and tension between its Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. In 1974, a military coup backed by Greece led to a Turkish invasion of the island, resulting in the division of Cyprus into two parts.

The internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus governs the southern part of the island, while the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.

The USS San Juan is a Los Angeles-class submarine powered by a nuclear reactor. It has a displacement of 5,790 long tons when light and 6,197 long tons when full.

The submarine has a length of 110.3 m, a beam of 10 m, and a draft of 9.4 m. It has a crew complement of 12 officers and 98 men and is equipped with four 21 in torpedo tubes and can launch up to 12 vertical launch Tomahawk missiles.

The TRNC's concerns come amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region, particularly between Turkey and Greece, who are locked in a long-standing dispute over maritime boundaries and energy rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The presence of the USS San Juan at a Greek Cypriot port could be seen as a show of support for Greece, which has been seeking to exert greater control over its territorial waters.
According to information published by KCNA on April 8, 2023, a national defence science research institute in the DPRK carried out a test of the nuclear-capable underwater drone Haeil-2.

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Second test of underwater drone Haeil-2. (Picture source: KCNA)

The test took place in Kajin Port, Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province, and involved the use of an underwater nuclear attack drone known as "Haeil-2".

The drone traveled a simulated underwater distance of 1,000 km in elliptical and "8" patterns set in the East Sea of Korea for 71 hours and 6 minutes. On April 7, the drone arrived in the waters off Ryongdae Port, Tanchon City, South Hamgyong Province, where the test warhead accurately detonated underwater.

2021-2023 North Korea tests

The period from 2021 to 2023 saw a series of missile tests conducted by North Korea, with multiple launches of short-range missiles, cruise missiles, and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) reported.

In March 2023, North Korea conducted at least six short-range missile tests, with North Korean state media releasing photos of Kim Jong Un attending the tests.

On March 11, North Korea launched multiple cruise missiles from a submarine, marking the first time it had launched cruise missiles from a submarine and launched multiple submarine missiles during a single event.
According to information published by Ottawa Citizen on April 4, 2023, the Royal Canadian Navy is seeking the purchase of up to 12 new submarines at a cost of $60 billion.

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Victoria class submarine HMCS Chicoutimi. (Picture source: Canadian government)

However, defence industry sources warn that the cost could climb to $100 billion, as military equipment procurement programs are often over budget.

The Navy has created the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) to examine all conventional options available, gathering information, and conducting an analysis of potential submarines that meet the Royal Canadian Navys requirements.

Canadian defence industry sources point out that the program to build 15 new surface combatants for the Canadian Navy has seen costs climb from $25 billion to more than $80 billion.

However, the procurement of new submarines faces several obstacles. In the past, the Navy has struggled to train enough submariners to crew its current fleet of four boats, let alone 12.

The Victoria-class submarines, which were originally known as the Upholder-class, were purchased second-hand from the Royal Navy and delivered between 2000 and 2004.

The submarines have had limited use since 2017, with HMCS Corner Brook not being to sea over the last five years. From 2017 to April 2023, the Canadian Forces spent $1.9 billion on submarine maintenance, with three boats totaling 529 days at sea. In 2019 and 2020, no submarine operations were conducted by Canada, according to National Defence.

The procurement of a new submarine class will take a minimum of 15 years total from project establishment to first delivery and could exceed 25 years depending on the adopted procurement strategy.

Victoria class submarines

The submarines are diesel-electric submarines built for the Royal Canadian Navy with a displacement of 2,455 tons (2,416 long tons), a length of 70.26 meters (230 feet 6 inches), a beam of 7.2 meters (23 feet 7 inches), and a draught of 7.6 meters (24 feet 11 inches).

They have a diesel-electric propulsion system with one shaft, consisting of two Paxman Valenta 2,035 horsepower (1.517 MW) 1600 RPA SZ diesels and one GEC electric motor with 5 MW of power. The submarines can achieve a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface and 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) while submerged.

The Victoria class submarines have a range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at a speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on their diesel engines and up to 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) when snorkeling at periscope depth. Their endurance is 30 days, and they can reach a test depth of over 656.17 feet (200 meters).
ALBANY  The ambitious plan to reshape the Thruway from Yonkers to Buffalo sounded like one that could be popular with travelers and taxpayers alike.

It went like this: A private company would pay to knock down 23 aging rest stop plazas along the Thruway and rebuild them as sparkling, stylish spaces for weary travelers, with amenities appropriate for the 21st century and a host of new restaurants. On top of that, taxpayers would not have to pay a dime for the project, because in exchange for funding the construction, a company would gain a 33-year lease at the stops and a cut from goods sold in the facilities.

Completed Thruway rest stops are not getting rave reviews Early reviews for new Thruway rest stops are starting to come in and users are finding lots 

Reality has been more complicated.

During the final weeks of Albany budget negotiations, a Rochester-based construction firm doing the work has quietly been in discussions with state officials about cost overruns. LeChase Construction has been seeking a taxpayer grant to cover those costs, stating that it otherwise risks financial collapse. Two people with knowledge of the matter pegged the sum LeChase was seeking along with a partner, AECOM Tishman, at $260 million.

A recent letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, written by a building industry group, stated a "significant funding shortfall" would soon begin affecting businesses and workers down the project's supply chain.

Critics: $25M welcome center on Grand Island is like a ghost town The $25 million center opened a year ago to much fanfare with public officials saying how it would play an important role in bolstering tourism but criticisms persist over the centers location and whether it is succeeding in its

But unlike other state government projects suffering from soaring construction costs, in this instance, the builders themselves are contractually liable for overruns. Hochul's administration appears to have little interest in supplying the funds, and the Assembly's top lawmaker overseeing transportation is also wary.

Further complicating the situation is that, according to financial documents reviewed by The News, a different conclusion has been reached by a consulting firm reporting to the project's bondholders, who hold $269 million in debt that is financing the project.

An April 3 report issued to project lenders and investors indicated that the project was on budget. The outside consulting firm that reviewed the projects finances on behalf of bondholders, Altus Group, assessed documentation provided by the joint partners in the construction venture, which includes LeChase. Altus Group found the value of the construction contract was $234.5 million, while the cost had been $111.6 million.

Those documents, according to the report, "confirm that the construction cost to date is commensurate with the overall progress of the works at this time."

In response to questions, the majority partner in the joint construction venture, AECOM Tishman, declined to address the contradiction between the report's finding, and the builders' contention that $260 million in taxpayer money was necessary to cover cost overruns.

The companies involved in the project have had "ongoing discussions" with the Hochul administration on "all items related to the project," said a spokesman for the joint construction venture, John Gallagher. "All stakeholders are actively working to solve the complex challenges involved in this project for the benefit of the traveling public and remain committed to successfully completing the program, he said.

A spokeswoman for LeChase, a minority partner in the joint venture, also declined to address the bondholder report, but said "the unprecedented global supply-chain and industry cost issues obviously affect all parties involved in the project."

The deal

The winner of a competitive bidding process to build, finance and operate the travel plazas was an Irish company called Applegreen Limited, which operates hundreds of service areas in Ireland and beyond. It was also chosen to be the service area operator in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware, according to the company.

Judge denies New York's bid to dismiss Seneca Nation's Thruway lawsuit At issue is a 1954 land easement deal allowing 2.7 miles of the state Thruway to be built on nearly 300 acres on the Seneca Nations Cattaraugus reservation.

The public-private partnership Applegreen entered with the state Thruway Authority was unusual: New York taxpayers would pay none of the cost for knocking down 23 of the 27 existing rest stops and rebuilding them, nor for renovating four others.

In exchange for funding the construction, Applegreen received a 33-year lease to run the plaza concessions and would earn revenue from sales.

Applegreen hired AECOM Tishman as the design-build contractor for the project. AECOM is working under a fixed-price contract, which means AECOM is liable for construction cost overruns. AECOM Tishman is a multinational, Fortune 500 firm focused on infrastructure consulting and construction management.

LeChase, a minority partner in the building venture with AECOM, is also liable for overruns. While LeChase is a large company by upstate New York standards and employs hundreds of people, its ability to absorb significant cost overruns likely pales in comparison to that of its majority partner.

The joint partnership is 80% owned by AECOM Tishman and 20% owned by LeChase, according to a LeChase spokeswoman.

Meanwhile, Applegreen is the party responsible for repaying the $269 million in debt to bondholders. But Applegreen is not liable for the construction cost overruns, which was noted as a favorable factor when Fitch Ratings deemed the bonds' "stable" in February.

$20 million Grand Island welcome center touts WNY attractions, products A Thruway welcome center estimated to cost $20 million is trying to show theres more for visitors to do in Western New York than drive to Niagara Falls, take a selfie and leave. The large, prairie-style building constructed along the Niagara Thruway on Grand Island is meant to draw drivers off the highway and introduce them to the history, attractions

An Applegreen spokesman, Paul O'Kane, said the company was "committed to this contract with (the Thruway Authority) and look forward to continuing to deliver on this much-needed overhaul of NYs service area network."

OKane declined to address how the financial problems cited by AECOM and LeChase could affect the construction progress.

A number of umbrella groups representing contractors in New York have recently written recent letters to Hochul, seeking taxpayer funds to buoy AECOM Tishman and LeChase.

John O'Hare, managing director of the state Building Contractors Association, wrote on March 24 that the joint venture has been "absorbing substantial cost increases reflective of escalations related to the cost of building materials, unanticipated supply chain disruptions and labor availability and cost, among others."

"These historic, unprecedented and altered circumstances due to the Covid global pandemic have caused the costs for this project to increase exponentially while the pressure to maintain schedule on behalf of the traveling public has remained a constant," O'Hare wrote.

O'Hare wrote that a "significant funding shortfall exists" that would "shortly begin " to impact project partners down the supply chain, including building tradesworkers and minority-and-women-owned businesses. He requested that the state include "necessary financial relief and assistance to stabilize this project" during the budget process.

Identically-worded letters were sent to Hochul by the New York Building Congress, the Regional Alliance for Small Contractors, the National Association of Minority Contractors, and Nontraditional Employment for Women, an organization that trains and places women in careers in skilled construction.

LeChase's apparent financial issues have generated some sympathy from members of the Legislature. There is far less sympathy for AECOM Tishman, a multi-billion dollar company.

Democratic Assemblyman William Magnarelli, who chairs the Assembly Transportation Committee, said he was approached by a partner involved in the project  he could not recall the name  about securing a couple hundred million dollars in the budget.

But Magnarelli said it would create a slippery slope if any contractor facing financial issues could be bailed out by state government. And this particular project was supposed to be built without taxpayer money.

"The state has no obligation to pay any money, period," he said last week. "At this point and time, I know of nothing being put in the budget."

A Hochul spokesman, John Lindsay, said the Hochul administration has been working with Applegreen to "deliver on their contract.

Slow opening

In 2018, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo put forth a plan to address a dire need to improve customer amenities, technology, commercial truck services and overall facility energy efficiency at New Yorks 27 Thruway rest stop areas. The Thruway Authority's goal is "reimagine and modernize" New York's transportation network so that it could "continue to support our growing economy."

The Thruway Authority issued a request for proposals, and in 2020, Empire State Thruway Partners was selected by the authority's board of directors. Empire State Thruway Partners is operated by Applegreen, which put forth a $450 million investment plan to win the bid.

Restaurants that served Thruway customers, including McDonalds, were to be replaced by different eateries including Shake Shack and Chick-fil-A. Many of the new stops would have drive-through windows for the first time.

The rest stops originally were built in the 1950s, and most recently replaced or remodeled in the 1990s.

The work across 27 plazas was expected to create 12,000 construction jobs. The closings also led to the layoff of hundreds of concessions workers. Although, at the time of the layoffs, Applegreen indicated it planned to rehire as many as possible when the sites reopened. (Applegreen told The News last week that the company "will be rehiring people, and in fact we plan to grow overall employment levels at the sites.)

The construction was staggered to be in two stages: Sixteen of the areas would be redeveloped first, then a second batch of 11.

In July 2021, development began on the first batch, and many were scheduled to be reopened by the fall of 2022. As of last week, only five reconsructed sites have begun operating restaurants.

Among those significantly delayed was the New Baltimore rest stop, an oasis for drivers along a stretch of I-87 between Albany and the Hudson Valley. According to the recent information provided to bondholders, that area was supposed to reopen on Sept. 30, 2022, but now has an expected opening of May 19, 2023  231 days late. One issue was that during demolition, a fuel contamination was found in the site's soil.

No bathrooms or restaurants are available, reads a sign greeting visitors, though a set of portable toilets is lined up near the gas station. (Like all the other rest areas, the gas station remained open during construction.)

The Thruway Authority has adopted a policy that no two consecutive service areas in the same direction of travel may be closed at the same time. Because it is accessible both northbound and southbound, New Baltimore is a key strategic point. When New Baltimore opens, four more rest areas can close and begin construction.

A total of five newly reconstructed stops are scheduled to open by mid-June, according to Applegreen. O'Kane said the company was pleased with recent progress on the construction.

...

Related: Completed Thruway rest stops are not getting rave reviews

Early reviews for new Thruway rest stops are starting to come in and users are finding lots to complain about.

Long lines. Too small. Not enough car chargers.

The long lines for restaurants could change as more rest stops open, but another source of criticism is that some of the rest areas that have reopened are small, such as the Indian Castle service area, about 220 miles east of Buffalo on the way to Albany. The stop includes a Popeyes, Starbucks, a convenience store and a seating area for roughly 20 people.

During a February budget hearing, Assemblyman Michael Norris of Lockport, who commutes to Albany along the Thruway, noted at such smaller rest areas, there's very limited space for people to actually eat their food, to sit down or rest.

Correction: This article has been updated to say that in the 1990s, New York's rest areas were replaced or remodeled. An earlier version of this story misstated that fact.
Erie County's district attorney has dug in against an effort to remove his office from prosecuting G. Steven Pigeon's child rape case.

Last month, the defense attorney for Pigeon filed a motion asking for a special prosecutor because of "conflicts" between Pigeon and District Attorney John J. Flynn.

G. Steven Pigeon aims to remove DA's office from his prosecution in child rape case The new defense attorney for G. Steven Pigeon filed a motion asking a judge to remove the Erie County District Attorney's Office from its role as prosecutor in Pigeon's child rape case because of "conflicts" between Pigeon and District Attorney John J. Flynn Jr.

In court papers filed last week, Flynn's office called the assertions by Rochester-based defense attorney James Nobles "so provably false they can be refuted by a Google search or just simple common sense."

"This public attempt to smear the reputation of the district attorney and remove the Erie County District Attorney's Office from this case results in more harm than a mere political dispute," Assistant District Attorney Cathleen M. Roemer said in the court filing. "At the heart of this case there is a child victim who suffers as a result of this public banter and whose welfare will be affected by any further delay of trial."

Nobles said in an earlier court filing that Pigeon "has been denied the fundamental due process of an impartially motivated and disinterested prosecutor," asserting Flynn has "actual prejudice and animosity" toward Pigeon, 62.

The formerly politically influential Pigeon sometimes supported Flynn's opponents or failed to support Flynn's candidacy, snubs which have led to long-standing "antagonistic personal and political relationships and rivalries," Pigeon's attorney said.

Nobles' motion for appointing a special prosecutor is scheduled to be heard today in State Supreme Court.

Pigeon was charged in December 2021 with sexually assaulting a child younger than 11 between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2016. He was indicted on two counts of predatory sexual assault against a child and one count each of first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree sexual abuse and child endangerment. He is scheduled to go on trial in December. Pigeon has denied the accusations.

According to Nobles, the relationship between Pigeon and Flynn turned sour when Flynn requested but did not receive Pigeon's help in obtaining multiple positions, including Erie County DA in 2008, a judgeship on the State Court of Claims and undersecretary of the U.S. Navy.

"If it was really the desire of his office to put this case and this alleged victim first, they would remove themselves from the fray and allow this case to move forward without any conflict, any future possibility of thereof, or even the appearance of impropriety," Nobles said in a new court filing.

Defense team in Pigeon child rape case asks judge to bar therapist testimony it calls 'junk science' New York courts have allowed testimony about Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome and the state's highest court has repeatedly made rulings permitting such testimony, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said in court papers responding to Pigeon's motions.

Roemer pointed to inaccuracies and "many instances" in which Nobles' affidavits conflict with the affidavits the defense gathered to support its assertion of Flynn's animosity toward Pigeon.

One defense affidavit said Flynn served as the Tonawanda town prosecutor, while another states that Flynn served as town attorney.

"Neither is correct," she said. "John Flynn ran for and later served as a Tonawanda Town Board member during that time period."

Two defense exhibits  a statement from donor Hormoz Mansouri and the affidavit from political operative Kristy Mazurek  also directly conflict, according to the filing from the District Attorney's Office.

Mazurek said that after a 2015 meeting between Flynn and Pigeon, she saw both at some of the Buffalo Sabres games in Mansouri's suite, and "the animosity was obvious."

Jail put on hold for former judge in bribery scheme; Pigeon gets a year in custody In an unusual turn of events, Cerio put a hold on Michalek's jail sentence, meaning it's delayed, though it's possible the former judge may never serve any time in custody.

"According to Mansouri's affidavit, that is impossible," Roemer said. "Mansouri states that the last time John Flynn was invited to his Sabre's game box was May of 2010. It is also noteworthy that Mansouri has no specific memory of Flynn and the defendant being in the box at the same time, let alone showing animosity."

Roemer called the majority of Nobles' assertions "self-serving, unsubstantiated hearsay allegations."

She also called into question a statement from longtime Pigeon associate Gary D. Parenti, offered as a defense exhibit, concerning a meeting between Flynn and Pigeon over the Navy position.

"Gary Parenti references a meeting, but never alleges that he was present or has any personal knowledge about what occurred or whether a meeting really occurred at all," she said. "His affidavit is either pure hearsay from an unknown source or completely fabricated. There is no basis for the assertion that John Flynn was angry or that the meeting ended poorly."

The only non-hearsay facts concerning that meeting are provided by Mansouri, and "they are devoid of a reference to any conflict occurring," Roemer said.

"Mansouri states that he spoke directly to (Pigeon) about the meeting and (Pigeon) stated that they had discussed a position, which was 'a big ask.' Mansouri does not state that the meeting ended with ill feelings or animosity between Flynn and Pigeon, nor does Mansouri say that the defendant told him the meeting had any such conflict," Roemer said.

While the prosecution says Flynn wasn't angry, Nobles countered in his court papers, "they do not back away from the fact that Flynn did meet with (Pigeon) for the sole purpose of trying to become the under secretary of the Navy  a position which he very clearly does not hold and has never held."
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Nearly a month after a report claimed that offshore companies linked to the Adani Group has invested at least USD 2.6 billion in the group between 2017 and 2022, the port-to-power conglomerate issued a strong rebuttal on Monday and issued details of the USD 2.87 billion stake sales in the group firms since 2019 and how USD 2.55 billion, or about Rs 20,000 crore, of this was ploughed back into business.

With this, Adani is also seeking to counter Congress leader Rahul Gandhis claim of Rs 20,000 crore coming into the conglomerate through shell companies. Gandhi has become aggressive in attacking Adani and on several occasions has questioned the source of Rs 20,000 crore funding.

Adani Group, in a statement, on Monday said the promoters raised USD 2 billion through the sale of a 20 per cent stake in Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) to TotalEnergies of France (then Total Renewables SAS). Further, in October 2019, the promoters had raised USD 700 million through the sale of a 37.4 per cent stake in Adani Total Gas Ltd.

Adani said 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. Adani added that the Financial Times story incorrectly mixed primary and secondary investments, and also ignored entirely a secondary transaction of $2 billion  all so that the reporters could conveniently create an illusion of a USD 2 billion gap in funding to support their pre-conceived thesis of supposed round-tripping.

The debt-funded growth of the Adani group was questioned by a US short-seller Hindenburg Research in January 2023. Hindenburg alleges accounting fraud and the use of a labyrinthine network of mostly Mauritius-based shell companies to route funds into India to manipulate share prices of the groups seven listed companies.

NEW DELHI: Nearly a month after a report claimed that offshore companies linked to the Adani Group has invested at least USD 2.6 billion in the group between 2017 and 2022, the port-to-power conglomerate issued a strong rebuttal on Monday and issued details of the USD 2.87 billion stake sales in the group firms since 2019 and how USD 2.55 billion, or about Rs 20,000 crore, of this was ploughed back into business. With this, Adani is also seeking to counter Congress leader Rahul Gandhis claim of Rs 20,000 crore coming into the conglomerate through shell companies. Gandhi has become aggressive in attacking Adani and on several occasions has questioned the source of Rs 20,000 crore funding. Adani Group, in a statement, on Monday said the promoters raised USD 2 billion through the sale of a 20 per cent stake in Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) to TotalEnergies of France (then Total Renewables SAS). Further, in October 2019, the promoters had raised USD 700 million through the sale of a 37.4 per cent stake in Adani Total Gas Ltd.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Adani said 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. Adani added that the Financial Times story incorrectly mixed primary and secondary investments, and also ignored entirely a secondary transaction of $2 billion  all so that the reporters could conveniently create an illusion of a USD 2 billion gap in funding to support their pre-conceived thesis of supposed round-tripping. The debt-funded growth of the Adani group was questioned by a US short-seller Hindenburg Research in January 2023. Hindenburg alleges accounting fraud and the use of a labyrinthine network of mostly Mauritius-based shell companies to route funds into India to manipulate share prices of the groups seven listed companies.
Arshad Khan By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Home-grown two-wheeler giant Bajaj Auto has completed the transfer of British legacy brand Triumphs India sales & marketing operations under its wing. Bajaj would now expand the Triumph motorcycles dealer network from 15 cities to over 120 in the next two years and would jointly develop a new range of mid-sized Triumph motorcycles to take on market leader Royal Enfield.

The transfer of operations follows the announcement of 2020 when both companies came together to develop a mass product. This decision by Triumph had come as demand for ultra-luxury two-wheelers was showing no signs of growth. Triumphs rival Harley Davidson has also found a partner in Hero MotoCorp for its India operations.

This is Bajajs third big collaboration with a global brand. The Pune-based company, which owns a significant stake in the KTM AG Group, currently handles the operations for KTM and Husqvarna in the Indian market. Bajaj operates four different dealership networks for its KTM, Bajaj Motorcycles, Chetak Electric and its three-wheelers range of products.

The Triumph dealers will become the fifth retail channel for Bajaj. The two companies would confirm later in the year the timings for the launch of the new mid-sized Triumph motorcycles which will be built in the Chakan plant. This new range will create a new entry point into the Triumph brand around the world.

Demand for mid-size engine bikes continues to remain high in India even as an entry-level segment is having a difficult run. Eicher Motors Royal Enfield (RE) continues to dominate this space and has seen a big surge lately. RE recorded total sales of 8,34,895 motorcycles in FY22-23, registering its highest-ever overall sales in history; beating its previous high of 2018-19, and recording a significant 39 per cent growth over the previous financial year.

Strategic partnership

Bajaj to expand Triumph dealer network from 15 cities to over 120 in next 2 years

To jointly develop new range of Triumph motorcycles to take on market leader Royal Enfield

Triumphs rival Harley Davidson has also found a partner in Hero MotoCorp for its India operations

NEW DELHI: Home-grown two-wheeler giant Bajaj Auto has completed the transfer of British legacy brand Triumphs India sales & marketing operations under its wing. Bajaj would now expand the Triumph motorcycles dealer network from 15 cities to over 120 in the next two years and would jointly develop a new range of mid-sized Triumph motorcycles to take on market leader Royal Enfield. The transfer of operations follows the announcement of 2020 when both companies came together to develop a mass product. This decision by Triumph had come as demand for ultra-luxury two-wheelers was showing no signs of growth. Triumphs rival Harley Davidson has also found a partner in Hero MotoCorp for its India operations. This is Bajajs third big collaboration with a global brand. The Pune-based company, which owns a significant stake in the KTM AG Group, currently handles the operations for KTM and Husqvarna in the Indian market. Bajaj operates four different dealership networks for its KTM, Bajaj Motorcycles, Chetak Electric and its three-wheelers range of products.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Triumph dealers will become the fifth retail channel for Bajaj. The two companies would confirm later in the year the timings for the launch of the new mid-sized Triumph motorcycles which will be built in the Chakan plant. This new range will create a new entry point into the Triumph brand around the world. Demand for mid-size engine bikes continues to remain high in India even as an entry-level segment is having a difficult run. Eicher Motors Royal Enfield (RE) continues to dominate this space and has seen a big surge lately. RE recorded total sales of 8,34,895 motorcycles in FY22-23, registering its highest-ever overall sales in history; beating its previous high of 2018-19, and recording a significant 39 per cent growth over the previous financial year. Strategic partnership Bajaj to expand Triumph dealer network from 15 cities to over 120 in next 2 years To jointly develop new range of Triumph motorcycles to take on market leader Royal Enfield Triumphs rival Harley Davidson has also found a partner in Hero MotoCorp for its India operations
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The states and the Centre are at loggerheads days after the latter notified online gaming.

Tamil Nadu became the first state to come up with an act that proposes a complete ban on online gambling.

Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi, according to reports, on Monday, (April 10, 2023) gave his assent to a bill~ Prohibition of Online Gaming and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022 that proposes a complete ban, and a fine of up to Rs. 5,000, or imprisonment of up to three months. The governor gave assent to the bill shortly after a resolution was passed in the House against him for witholding assent to several bills.

The governor had earlier rejected the Bill saying that the Tamil Nadu Assembly had no legislative competence to frame it.

Meanwhile, industry experts have little reservation about the faceoff as they believe the online games of skill are a constitutionally protected category that was always outside the state purview.

Gambling or Games of Chance played for real money is a state subject. The inclusion of Online Game of Skill in the IT Act makes the Ministry of Information and Technology (Meity) the nodal ministry to build guard rails for the gaming companies which are anyway constitutionally protected to operate with responsibility and accountability. This also gives enough power to the center to deal with the menace of illegal offshore betting and gambling companies to protect the Indian consumers, said Saumya Singh Rathore, co-founder, WinZO.

For online gaming, the government notified regulation that prohibits games that involve wagering or betting with real money. Also, in the gazette notification, the online game means a game that is offered on the Internet and is accessible by a user through a computer resource or an intermediary.

The rationale of why a separate law is required at the state government level is not very clear and is likely to lead to confusion, unnecessary litigation and instability in policy making. It will also cause duplication of efforts for startups, which form a large part of the online gaming ecosystem. The mischief which Tamil Nadu has been trying to address and the consumer welfare that its law primarily has in mind has been incorporated in the online gaming law, said Ranjana Adhikari, Partner, IndusLaw.

According to the law, online gaming would mandate establishing three self-regulatory organisations (SROs) that will approve games that comply with the rules for operation in the country. Also, they will have to verify the identity of online gamers. The purpose of introducing the rule is prevents self-harm or psychological harm from online gaming. According to a report, India accounted for 507 milion at the end of March 2022, with the homegrown online gaming market projected to grow to $8.6 Bn by FY27.

NEW DELHI: The states and the Centre are at loggerheads days after the latter notified online gaming. Tamil Nadu became the first state to come up with an act that proposes a complete ban on online gambling. Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi, according to reports, on Monday, (April 10, 2023) gave his assent to a bill~ Prohibition of Online Gaming and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022 that proposes a complete ban, and a fine of up to Rs. 5,000, or imprisonment of up to three months. The governor gave assent to the bill shortly after a resolution was passed in the House against him for witholding assent to several bills.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The governor had earlier rejected the Bill saying that the Tamil Nadu Assembly had no legislative competence to frame it. Meanwhile, industry experts have little reservation about the faceoff as they believe the online games of skill are a constitutionally protected category that was always outside the state purview. Gambling or Games of Chance played for real money is a state subject. The inclusion of Online Game of Skill in the IT Act makes the Ministry of Information and Technology (Meity) the nodal ministry to build guard rails for the gaming companies which are anyway constitutionally protected to operate with responsibility and accountability. This also gives enough power to the center to deal with the menace of illegal offshore betting and gambling companies to protect the Indian consumers, said Saumya Singh Rathore, co-founder, WinZO. For online gaming, the government notified regulation that prohibits games that involve wagering or betting with real money. Also, in the gazette notification, the online game means a game that is offered on the Internet and is accessible by a user through a computer resource or an intermediary. The rationale of why a separate law is required at the state government level is not very clear and is likely to lead to confusion, unnecessary litigation and instability in policy making. It will also cause duplication of efforts for startups, which form a large part of the online gaming ecosystem. The mischief which Tamil Nadu has been trying to address and the consumer welfare that its law primarily has in mind has been incorporated in the online gaming law, said Ranjana Adhikari, Partner, IndusLaw. According to the law, online gaming would mandate establishing three self-regulatory organisations (SROs) that will approve games that comply with the rules for operation in the country. Also, they will have to verify the identity of online gamers. The purpose of introducing the rule is prevents self-harm or psychological harm from online gaming. According to a report, India accounted for 507 milion at the end of March 2022, with the homegrown online gaming market projected to grow to $8.6 Bn by FY27.
Vidya Iyengar By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: As the Consul-General of India in San Francisco, Ambassador N Parthasarathi often came across cases of distressed spouses facing domestic violence and emotional abuse. It is this and more that Amb. Parthasarathi weaves into a gripping tale in his recently-released book, Suspended Lives. On Wednesday, the book was released at the Indian Institute of World Culture by Justice E S Indiresh, which was later followed by a quick conversation between Amb. Parthasarathi and M K Raghavendra, writer and critic.

Set in the Bay Area in California, the story revolves around two young couples from Bengaluru, who move to the Land of Opportunity in search of better prospects. Amb. Parthasarathi emphasises three aspects that the book highlights. First, a partner going to the US on an H1B or H4 visa, which leaves them completely dependent on the partner, and thereby unable to escape the trap. Second, an undercurrent of manipulation by people, who, motivated by their own fractured sensibilities, inflict physical and psychological abuse on those who trust and depend on them. At the third level is the more widespread problem of domestic abuse, its ramifications affecting both women and men, he says, adding, The worst thing that happens is when they go there, and slowly and steadily lose self-esteem and respect.

It is shocking to realise that domestic violence and emotional abuse are increasingly being used by many as effective weapons to control the lives of others in the family. It is sad to see that many spouses  who are well-educated, have promising careers, arrive on the shores of a foreign land, brimming with confidence and a can-do spirit  get into a cycle of domestic abuse.

Unfortunately, these vulnerable people, apart from enduring traumatic experiences, are also forced to remain dependent on spouses who are perpetrators of such heinous abuse, says the Ambassador, who has served in South Korea, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape Verde Islands. He has also served as a diplomat in Pakistan, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Syria. The idea of the book  in addition to highlighting these aspects  is to send out a message that all is not lost. It is to give courage to the victims, tell them that they are not alone in this suffering and that there is a way out, he says.

Amb. Parthasarathis experience over the last three decades and more also led to the writing of The Reluctant Assassin, a thriller set in India and Pakistan; Legend of Ayodhya Princess in Korea, a story of a royal member of Ayodhya travelling to Korea, 2,000 years ago and marrying a king and setting up an empire; SriRatna- Kum Suro, a childrens book published by the National Book Trust.

(Suspended Lives, published by Star Publications, New Delhi, is available on Amazon)

BENGALURU: As the Consul-General of India in San Francisco, Ambassador N Parthasarathi often came across cases of distressed spouses facing domestic violence and emotional abuse. It is this and more that Amb. Parthasarathi weaves into a gripping tale in his recently-released book, Suspended Lives. On Wednesday, the book was released at the Indian Institute of World Culture by Justice E S Indiresh, which was later followed by a quick conversation between Amb. Parthasarathi and M K Raghavendra, writer and critic. Set in the Bay Area in California, the story revolves around two young couples from Bengaluru, who move to the Land of Opportunity in search of better prospects. Amb. Parthasarathi emphasises three aspects that the book highlights. First, a partner going to the US on an H1B or H4 visa, which leaves them completely dependent on the partner, and thereby unable to escape the trap. Second, an undercurrent of manipulation by people, who, motivated by their own fractured sensibilities, inflict physical and psychological abuse on those who trust and depend on them. At the third level is the more widespread problem of domestic abuse, its ramifications affecting both women and men, he says, adding, The worst thing that happens is when they go there, and slowly and steadily lose self-esteem and respect. It is shocking to realise that domestic violence and emotional abuse are increasingly being used by many as effective weapons to control the lives of others in the family. It is sad to see that many spouses  who are well-educated, have promising careers, arrive on the shores of a foreign land, brimming with confidence and a can-do spirit  get into a cycle of domestic abuse.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Unfortunately, these vulnerable people, apart from enduring traumatic experiences, are also forced to remain dependent on spouses who are perpetrators of such heinous abuse, says the Ambassador, who has served in South Korea, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape Verde Islands. He has also served as a diplomat in Pakistan, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Syria. The idea of the book  in addition to highlighting these aspects  is to send out a message that all is not lost. It is to give courage to the victims, tell them that they are not alone in this suffering and that there is a way out, he says. Amb. Parthasarathis experience over the last three decades and more also led to the writing of The Reluctant Assassin, a thriller set in India and Pakistan; Legend of Ayodhya Princess in Korea, a story of a royal member of Ayodhya travelling to Korea, 2,000 years ago and marrying a king and setting up an empire; SriRatna- Kum Suro, a childrens book published by the National Book Trust. (Suspended Lives, published by Star Publications, New Delhi, is available on Amazon)
Chinas attempt to assert its dominance in the tech race is an opportunity for New York to lead a new American industrial revolution.

In the technology industry, China is poised to outpace the United States, according to a new report, putting the United States at geopolitical and economic risk. Now is the time to invest in Americas future and defend the future of democratic values. As such, I believe that with the right policies, Upstate, Central, and Western New York can lead the nation in the next generation of innovations.

Across New York, our cities are ready to step into the future. My hometown of Rochester was once the pinnacle of innovation with Eastman Kodak Company and Xerox; however, difficult economic conditions led to out-migration and held upstate regions back from reaching their true potential. Fortunately, these troubling trends can be reversed. By embracing pro-tech policies, we can improve quality of life, grow local economies, and create good-paying jobs in New Yorks upstate cities.

These days, populist politics are often focused on directing fear and anger at others, including anger at industry. While China is asserting its dominance, some politicians are focused on regulations that will undermine Americas champion tech companies. That is the wrong approach. As we compete on the world stage, we should support investment and innovation, not stifle it.

I worked with Gov. Kathy Hochul to champion the Green CHIPS bill, a transformative economic incentive program ensuring that Central and Western New York lead the nation in environmentally responsible semiconductor manufacturing. As global supply chain failures continue to impact the availability of microchips, this initiative will reduce U.S. reliance on foreign made microprocessors. America, and upstate New York in particular, have a long history as world leaders in technology, innovation, and manufacturing. This program will help ensure that remains the reality.

In 2021, I embarked on the bipartisan "Regener8 Cities Tour" to discuss issues that impact cities outside of the Big Apple. Common threads emerged across the state and college brain drain and workforce training were top of mind for many. Despite these challenges, upstate regions are fertile ground for new opportunities. High earning workers and employers are increasingly more attracted to the lower cost of living and doing business, and New York is home to one of the best public university systems in the nation. However, to make the most of these resources, we must act boldly to close the digital divide and support growth in the industries of the future.

Now is the time for action, and I firmly believe that a new American industrial revolution will provide a renaissance for Upstate, Central and Western New York, and a strategic victory against China as the U.S. reaffirms its dominance in cutting edge innovation and global influence.

Senator Jeremy Cooney represents the 56th District of the New York State Senate.
Shrimansi Kaushik By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: The year was 1955. A tall frail man arrived in London after a 28-day-long ship journey from India, with no money in his pocket and no home to go to. He sat by the road, wondering what to do, memories of home returning to him as trauma. A man in a suit passed him and then came back and scanned him from top to bottom. Who are you and where are you from, asked the man in a suit. I am from Hyderabad, the traveller replied. Which Hyderabad? asked the man in the suit. Not knowing that there was more than one Hyderabad, the arriver said, Hyderabad-Deccan.

The man in the suit, a Pakistani working as a ticket checker on London Tube, paid for a room and food for the arriver for months to follow. The arriver was BK Gupta, who later became one of the founding employees of what is now known as Tata Consultancy Services.

Sharing his unique story, BK Gupta says that his parents had to flee to Nagpur from Hyderabad when the Hindus had to bear the atrocities of the Nizam, said the octogenarian.

He went to London to pursue higher studies but had no idea which courses or colleges to apply to. The Pakistani, Either Akbar or Azeem, I dont remember, since its been a long time, helped me survive in London while I figured everything out, said Gupta.

After a year of dabbling, he ended up pursuing a Masters in Applied Psychology from Liverpool University and worked as an educational counsellor. However, it is an MBA from Oxford University that kickstarted his career in management. Without any hurdles, he landed a job with Birla Brothers in West Bengal as a development manager. My job was really to survey the Bengal coalfields. I was posted in Asansol but would frequently travel to Kolkata, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, said Gupta. At that time everything was cheap, Gold was around `100-a-tola, (11.66 gram) but there werent any good transport facilities. We had to travel 25-30 km to buy essentials, he added.

BK Gupta with his wife

After a five-year stint at Birla Brothers, he moved to Jamshedpur to work for Tatas Steel Management and Planning Development Center but did not like it functioning as a government company. A major breakthrough occurred when he joined Britania Biscuits in 1967. It was a madhouse, rushing from home to office, catching a local train and then a cab, around 30 km of travel everyday, but then a man from Century Group of Industries came and asked me to have a look at their documents. He wanted me to take leave from the office and study their plans and offered double the money to do it! After a month or so, he offered me a job at DCM in Delhi. I was 42 years old and had three children by then.

Owing to the fact that my children were growing up, I decided to move to my place of birth, Hyderabad, where all my friends and relatives were living. I joined CMC (Computer Maintenance Corporation), which was a public sector undertaking, so didnt offer much in terms of money. However, I took a conscious decision and moved here. The company was taken over by the government after IBM was asked to leave India and a 1,500-employee-strong company began to function as a new start-up.

It was one of the first software companies in India. We started recruiting non-IBM staff. Being the countrys Project Manager at CMC, I donned many hats and by the time I retired, the company had around 5,000 employees, he said. At that time, the governmental policies focused on disinvestment. Our company also bore the brunt, but in the first year of our operation, we functioned as a private company and earned profits. It was a singular computer company. Slowly new industry emerged and now India is leading it, said Gupta.

ALSO WATCH |

HYDERABAD: The year was 1955. A tall frail man arrived in London after a 28-day-long ship journey from India, with no money in his pocket and no home to go to. He sat by the road, wondering what to do, memories of home returning to him as trauma. A man in a suit passed him and then came back and scanned him from top to bottom. Who are you and where are you from, asked the man in a suit. I am from Hyderabad, the traveller replied. Which Hyderabad? asked the man in the suit. Not knowing that there was more than one Hyderabad, the arriver said, Hyderabad-Deccan. The man in the suit, a Pakistani working as a ticket checker on London Tube, paid for a room and food for the arriver for months to follow. The arriver was BK Gupta, who later became one of the founding employees of what is now known as Tata Consultancy Services. Sharing his unique story, BK Gupta says that his parents had to flee to Nagpur from Hyderabad when the Hindus had to bear the atrocities of the Nizam, said the octogenarian. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He went to London to pursue higher studies but had no idea which courses or colleges to apply to. The Pakistani, Either Akbar or Azeem, I dont remember, since its been a long time, helped me survive in London while I figured everything out, said Gupta. After a year of dabbling, he ended up pursuing a Masters in Applied Psychology from Liverpool University and worked as an educational counsellor. However, it is an MBA from Oxford University that kickstarted his career in management. Without any hurdles, he landed a job with Birla Brothers in West Bengal as a development manager. My job was really to survey the Bengal coalfields. I was posted in Asansol but would frequently travel to Kolkata, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, said Gupta. At that time everything was cheap, Gold was around `100-a-tola, (11.66 gram) but there werent any good transport facilities. We had to travel 25-30 km to buy essentials, he added. BK Gupta with his wifeAfter a five-year stint at Birla Brothers, he moved to Jamshedpur to work for Tatas Steel Management and Planning Development Center but did not like it functioning as a government company. A major breakthrough occurred when he joined Britania Biscuits in 1967. It was a madhouse, rushing from home to office, catching a local train and then a cab, around 30 km of travel everyday, but then a man from Century Group of Industries came and asked me to have a look at their documents. He wanted me to take leave from the office and study their plans and offered double the money to do it! After a month or so, he offered me a job at DCM in Delhi. I was 42 years old and had three children by then. Owing to the fact that my children were growing up, I decided to move to my place of birth, Hyderabad, where all my friends and relatives were living. I joined CMC (Computer Maintenance Corporation), which was a public sector undertaking, so didnt offer much in terms of money. However, I took a conscious decision and moved here. The company was taken over by the government after IBM was asked to leave India and a 1,500-employee-strong company began to function as a new start-up. It was one of the first software companies in India. We started recruiting non-IBM staff. Being the countrys Project Manager at CMC, I donned many hats and by the time I retired, the company had around 5,000 employees, he said. At that time, the governmental policies focused on disinvestment. Our company also bore the brunt, but in the first year of our operation, we functioned as a private company and earned profits. It was a singular computer company. Slowly new industry emerged and now India is leading it, said Gupta. ALSO WATCH |
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A new biography by scholar Ashok Gopal takes the story of Bhimrao Ambedkar beyond his role as the 'Father of the Constitution' who challenged the centuries-old class and caste structure by delivering a legal instrument to protect Dalit rights.

"A Part Apart: The Life and Thought of BR Ambedkar", published by Navayana, claims to chart "the evolution of Ambedkar's thought, its core vision, and its relation to his life and work" by exploring works and speeches by and on him in both English and Marathi.

It traces Ambedkar's life from his birth to an Army man in a Mahar family to his religious upbringing and experiences with caste early on, from his education in Mumbai, New York and London to working as a lawyer to contribute to the cause of the Untouchables.

According to publisher S Anand, the biographical information on Ambedkar has been intertwined with a reading of his writings and speeches "done against the background of conceptual frames, contextual information and scholarly analyses".

"Underlying the effort is the premise that Ambedkar's oeuvre was shaped by certain core concerns and principles, which need to be understood before one analyses and evaluates any one aspect of his thought, such as his views on democracy, minority rights, religion or Buddhism," said S Anand, publisher at Navayana, in a statement.

Anand added that the book provides substantial information on Ambedkar that so far has not been published in either English or Marathi.

"This may spur research into the less-explored aspects of Ambedkar's life and work. Hopefully, 'A Part Apart' will also dent some of the India academic establishment's disregard towards his work as an original thinker and scholar," he said.

Apart from exploring Ambedkar's growth as a political thinker and one of the foremost proponents of the Dalit cause, and an ideological opponent of Mahatma Gandhi, "A Part Apart" also looks at his reinterpreting religious texts and history, and his last work, "The Buddha and His Dhamma".

"Ambedkar challenged almost every one of my preconceived notions about Indian society, culture, history and its well-known leaders. He opened my eyes to caste within and around me. He taught me how democracy was to be understood,"

Gopal writes in the book. The 750-page tome contains three maps, 70 photographs, letters and documents collected from a number of sources including 70-year-old Ambedkarite archivist Vijay Surwade.

The book will be formally released on April 14 on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti.

NEW DELHI: A new biography by scholar Ashok Gopal takes the story of Bhimrao Ambedkar beyond his role as the 'Father of the Constitution' who challenged the centuries-old class and caste structure by delivering a legal instrument to protect Dalit rights. "A Part Apart: The Life and Thought of BR Ambedkar", published by Navayana, claims to chart "the evolution of Ambedkar's thought, its core vision, and its relation to his life and work" by exploring works and speeches by and on him in both English and Marathi. It traces Ambedkar's life from his birth to an Army man in a Mahar family to his religious upbringing and experiences with caste early on, from his education in Mumbai, New York and London to working as a lawyer to contribute to the cause of the Untouchables.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to publisher S Anand, the biographical information on Ambedkar has been intertwined with a reading of his writings and speeches "done against the background of conceptual frames, contextual information and scholarly analyses". "Underlying the effort is the premise that Ambedkar's oeuvre was shaped by certain core concerns and principles, which need to be understood before one analyses and evaluates any one aspect of his thought, such as his views on democracy, minority rights, religion or Buddhism," said S Anand, publisher at Navayana, in a statement. Anand added that the book provides substantial information on Ambedkar that so far has not been published in either English or Marathi. "This may spur research into the less-explored aspects of Ambedkar's life and work. Hopefully, 'A Part Apart' will also dent some of the India academic establishment's disregard towards his work as an original thinker and scholar," he said. Apart from exploring Ambedkar's growth as a political thinker and one of the foremost proponents of the Dalit cause, and an ideological opponent of Mahatma Gandhi, "A Part Apart" also looks at his reinterpreting religious texts and history, and his last work, "The Buddha and His Dhamma". "Ambedkar challenged almost every one of my preconceived notions about Indian society, culture, history and its well-known leaders. He opened my eyes to caste within and around me. He taught me how democracy was to be understood," Gopal writes in the book. The 750-page tome contains three maps, 70 photographs, letters and documents collected from a number of sources including 70-year-old Ambedkarite archivist Vijay Surwade. The book will be formally released on April 14 on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti.
Parvez Sultan By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India on Monday recognised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party, while it stripped the Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and the Communist Party of India of the coveted tag.

The decision was taken following the review of the parties performances in various elections held since 2014. With this, India now has six national parties  BJP, Congress, BSP, CPM, NPP and AAP.

The election body said the AAP earned the national party status thanks to its performance in Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat elections. After its recognition as state party in Gujarat, the party has become recognised state party in four states i.e. Delhi, Goa, Punjab, and Gujarat. Thus, the party fulfilled the eligibility condition for granting recognition as a national party under paragraph 6 B (ii), read the order issued by the Commission.

It clarified that NCP and Trinamool would be recognised as state parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya, respectively, based on their performance in the assembly elections. Reacting to the development, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said: Becoming a national party in such a short time is nothing less than a miracle... People expect a lot from us. Today the public has given us this huge responsibility.

The AAP has planned a celebration at its headquarters in the national capital in which Kejriwal will also participate. On the occasion, Kejriwal will address party workers across states, said the party leaders.

In separate orders, the EC also revoked the state party status granted to RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA (Manipur), PMK (Puducherry), RSP (West Bengal) and MPC (Mizoram).

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India on Monday recognised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party, while it stripped the Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and the Communist Party of India of the coveted tag. The decision was taken following the review of the parties performances in various elections held since 2014. With this, India now has six national parties  BJP, Congress, BSP, CPM, NPP and AAP. The election body said the AAP earned the national party status thanks to its performance in Delhi, Goa, Punjab and Gujarat elections. After its recognition as state party in Gujarat, the party has become recognised state party in four states i.e. Delhi, Goa, Punjab, and Gujarat. Thus, the party fulfilled the eligibility condition for granting recognition as a national party under paragraph 6 B (ii), read the order issued by the Commission.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It clarified that NCP and Trinamool would be recognised as state parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya, respectively, based on their performance in the assembly elections. Reacting to the development, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said: Becoming a national party in such a short time is nothing less than a miracle... People expect a lot from us. Today the public has given us this huge responsibility. The AAP has planned a celebration at its headquarters in the national capital in which Kejriwal will also participate. On the occasion, Kejriwal will address party workers across states, said the party leaders. In separate orders, the EC also revoked the state party status granted to RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA (Manipur), PMK (Puducherry), RSP (West Bengal) and MPC (Mizoram).
By PTI

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government told the high court here on Tuesday that Amritpal Singh aide Daljit Singh Kalsi, who has been detained under the NSA, was helping the fugitive profess radical ideology and wage war against the State for a separate Khalistan.

The government also told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Sarabjit alias Daljit Singh Kalsi was detained under the National Security Act and the allegation he has been kept illegally is wrong and incorrect.

He was after following the due process of law, the government added.

The court was hearing petitions, including of Kalsi's wife, who has alleged her husband has been illegally confined by Punjab Police and sent to Dibrugarh central jail in Assam without a valid reason and proper procedure.

Relatives of other NSA detainees in the Amritpal Singh case -- Gurmit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Varinder Singh Fauji, Bhagwant Singh (alias Pradhanmantri Bajeke) and Basant Singh -- have also petitioned the court to quash the detention orders.

These people were detained during a police crackdown on pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides that began on March 18 in Jalandhar.

ALSO READ | Radical preacher Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet lodged in Dibrugarh jail

Counsel Simranjit Singh, representing Kalsi's wife, said the Punjab government filed its reply to her petition on Tuesday while the Union government has sought time to file its response.

The next date for hearing has been fixed for April 24, he said.

The Punjab government filed its reply as an affidavit of Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police Satinder Singh.

According to the affidavit, the petition filed by Kalsi's wife was not maintainable because she cannot seek relief under a criminal writ petition or habeas corpus (the requirement that an arrested person be brought before a judge) as the same has limited scope.

Daljit Singh Kalsi has been detained under the NSA after following the due process of law and is presently lodged in central jail in Assam, the state government said in its reply.

"Kalsi was actively supporting Amritpal in his activities and was himself indulging in activities which are prejudicial to the security of the state as well as to the maintenance of public law and order. Kalsi has been supporting Amritpal in professing radical ideology and raised the demand of secession of Punjab from India by violent means. He also had been supporting Amritpal actively abetting/instigating/provoking/motivating/ conspiring to wage war against the state for a separate nation by name of Khalistan," said the affidavit.

ALSO READ:

Akal Takht rules out Amritpal meet on Baisakhi day

Will soon appear before world, says Amritpal Singh in new video

Amritpal Singh aka 'Bhindranwale 2.0': Radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser

INTERVIEW | An armed struggle is always the last option, if it is imposed on us: Amritpal

The court was told that Kalsi had made a representation against the detention order on March 24 and it was rejected by the competent authority in the state government, which found it without merit.

The case has been referred to the advisory board on April 1 as required under Section 10 of the NSA and is now under consideration of the advisory board, said the affidavit.

The affidavit also stated that the information regarding detention of Kalsi, including the date and place of detention, was duly informed to his wife on her mobile number by the Ajnala police.

The allegation that Kalsi has been kept illegally and without following the procedure of law is wrong and incorrect, it added.

Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, who is yet to be nabbed, 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.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government told the high court here on Tuesday that Amritpal Singh aide Daljit Singh Kalsi, who has been detained under the NSA, was helping the fugitive profess radical ideology and wage war against the State for a separate Khalistan. The government also told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Sarabjit alias Daljit Singh Kalsi was detained under the National Security Act and the allegation he has been kept illegally is wrong and incorrect. He was after following the due process of law, the government added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The court was hearing petitions, including of Kalsi's wife, who has alleged her husband has been illegally confined by Punjab Police and sent to Dibrugarh central jail in Assam without a valid reason and proper procedure. Relatives of other NSA detainees in the Amritpal Singh case -- Gurmit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Varinder Singh Fauji, Bhagwant Singh (alias Pradhanmantri Bajeke) and Basant Singh -- have also petitioned the court to quash the detention orders. These people were detained during a police crackdown on pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides that began on March 18 in Jalandhar. ALSO READ | Radical preacher Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet lodged in Dibrugarh jail Counsel Simranjit Singh, representing Kalsi's wife, said the Punjab government filed its reply to her petition on Tuesday while the Union government has sought time to file its response. The next date for hearing has been fixed for April 24, he said. The Punjab government filed its reply as an affidavit of Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police Satinder Singh. According to the affidavit, the petition filed by Kalsi's wife was not maintainable because she cannot seek relief under a criminal writ petition or habeas corpus (the requirement that an arrested person be brought before a judge) as the same has limited scope. Daljit Singh Kalsi has been detained under the NSA after following the due process of law and is presently lodged in central jail in Assam, the state government said in its reply. "Kalsi was actively supporting Amritpal in his activities and was himself indulging in activities which are prejudicial to the security of the state as well as to the maintenance of public law and order. Kalsi has been supporting Amritpal in professing radical ideology and raised the demand of secession of Punjab from India by violent means. He also had been supporting Amritpal actively abetting/instigating/provoking/motivating/ conspiring to wage war against the state for a separate nation by name of Khalistan," said the affidavit. ALSO READ: Akal Takht rules out Amritpal meet on Baisakhi day Will soon appear before world, says Amritpal Singh in new video Amritpal Singh aka 'Bhindranwale 2.0': Radical preacher and Khalistan sympathiser INTERVIEW | An armed struggle is always the last option, if it is imposed on us: Amritpal The court was told that Kalsi had made a representation against the detention order on March 24 and it was rejected by the competent authority in the state government, which found it without merit. The case has been referred to the advisory board on April 1 as required under Section 10 of the NSA and is now under consideration of the advisory board, said the affidavit. The affidavit also stated that the information regarding detention of Kalsi, including the date and place of detention, was duly informed to his wife on her mobile number by the Ajnala police. The allegation that Kalsi has been kept illegally and without following the procedure of law is wrong and incorrect, it added. Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh, who is yet to be nabbed, 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.
By PTI

MUMBAI: With his remarks that not a single Shiv Sena worker was present when the Babri Masjid was being brought down caused a flutter, Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday clarified those who razed the structure were Hindus and they cannot be segregated as Shiv Sainiks or BJP men.

Following Patil's remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has demanded that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde either step down or ask Patil to resign.

Patil revealed that CM Shinde called him on Tuesday morning after his remarks caused a row and asked him to clarify.

"Nobody participated in 'karseva' (movement to demolish the Babri structure) as members of their parties but as Hindus. At the time of the demolition (in December 1992), there was no separation between Shiv Sena workers and non-Shiv Sena workers. All participated as Hindus," Patil told reporters in Pune on Tuesday.

When asked whether workers of Bharatiya Janata Party also didn't participate in the demolition, Patil said, "Neither BJP nor Shiv Sena (then undivided) was present there. All were present under the leadership of Vishwa Hindu Parishad as Hindus".

ALSO READ | Shinde should resign or seek BJP minister's ouster over Babri demolition remark: Uddhav

"Does it mean Shiv Sena did not participate in the demolition?" Patil wondered.

"From leaders like Satish Pradhan (of undivided Shiv Sena) all were part of the 'Ram Janmabhoomi Andolan' but it was always led by the VHP and its leader (late) Ashok Singhal. (Late) Anand Dighe (veteran Shiv Sainik and mentor of CM Shinde) had sent a gold brick from Thane to Ayodhya," Patil added.

The former state BJP president also said he didn't mean to disrespect Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray in any way during his interview released on Monday evening by a Marathi news channel.

"Balasaheb Thackeray had even taken the onus of the entire incident (demolition of the masjid). However, I will not react to the comments made by Uddhav Thackeray today against me," he added.

Notably, Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray has often been quoted as saying he was proud if any of his Sainiks had taken part in the demolition of the structure.

The Shiv Sena led by Shinde and the BJP share power in Maharashtra.

Patil revealed that CM Shinde called him on Tuesday morning and asked him to clarify.

"He even told me that his mentor Anand Dighe had sent a gold brick to Ayodhya," the minister added.

MUMBAI: With his remarks that not a single Shiv Sena worker was present when the Babri Masjid was being brought down caused a flutter, Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday clarified those who razed the structure were Hindus and they cannot be segregated as Shiv Sainiks or BJP men. Following Patil's remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has demanded that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde either step down or ask Patil to resign. Patil revealed that CM Shinde called him on Tuesday morning after his remarks caused a row and asked him to clarify.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Nobody participated in 'karseva' (movement to demolish the Babri structure) as members of their parties but as Hindus. At the time of the demolition (in December 1992), there was no separation between Shiv Sena workers and non-Shiv Sena workers. All participated as Hindus," Patil told reporters in Pune on Tuesday. When asked whether workers of Bharatiya Janata Party also didn't participate in the demolition, Patil said, "Neither BJP nor Shiv Sena (then undivided) was present there. All were present under the leadership of Vishwa Hindu Parishad as Hindus". ALSO READ | Shinde should resign or seek BJP minister's ouster over Babri demolition remark: Uddhav "Does it mean Shiv Sena did not participate in the demolition?" Patil wondered. "From leaders like Satish Pradhan (of undivided Shiv Sena) all were part of the 'Ram Janmabhoomi Andolan' but it was always led by the VHP and its leader (late) Ashok Singhal. (Late) Anand Dighe (veteran Shiv Sainik and mentor of CM Shinde) had sent a gold brick from Thane to Ayodhya," Patil added. The former state BJP president also said he didn't mean to disrespect Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray in any way during his interview released on Monday evening by a Marathi news channel. "Balasaheb Thackeray had even taken the onus of the entire incident (demolition of the masjid). However, I will not react to the comments made by Uddhav Thackeray today against me," he added. Notably, Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray has often been quoted as saying he was proud if any of his Sainiks had taken part in the demolition of the structure. The Shiv Sena led by Shinde and the BJP share power in Maharashtra. Patil revealed that CM Shinde called him on Tuesday morning and asked him to clarify. "He even told me that his mentor Anand Dighe had sent a gold brick to Ayodhya," the minister added.
Pronab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Monday observed that the recent Ram Navami violence in Howrahs Shibpur and Dalkhola in North Dinajpur was on the face of it pre-planned. It castigated the state government for complete intelligence failure.

Responding to a petition filed by the leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari seeking an NIA probe, the court indicated it could order a central agency to do so. A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice T S Sivagnaman and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya made the observations but reserved their order.

Internet suspension usually takes place when there has been an external danger or infiltration etc. But for a religious procession, we dont understand why. Sudden violence is when people are walking and there is an altercation etc. But your (states) prima facie show these (violence) were 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, Chief Justice Sivagnaman said.

The bench asked the state government to explain who benefited and who was affected by the violence. The problem is two-fold. One, there is tension between the two groups. The other is a third group taking advantage of enmity between the two groups. This needs to be probed. We believe a central agency can probe this aspect better, Chief Justice Siivagnaman said.

Advocate General S N Mukjerjee claimed the state police was properly investigating the case. The participants of the procession were armed with lathis, swords, etc, which they were not allowed to carry. The other side was also armed with weapons, he said.

Didi Hits out at BJP over ram navami riots

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP, saying its members were part of the Ram Navami processions. Why arms were part of a religious procession? Many were brought from outside, she alleged. The CM also rapped an NGO that send a fact-finding team to probe the riots

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Monday observed that the recent Ram Navami violence in Howrahs Shibpur and Dalkhola in North Dinajpur was on the face of it pre-planned. It castigated the state government for complete intelligence failure. Responding to a petition filed by the leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari seeking an NIA probe, the court indicated it could order a central agency to do so. A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice T S Sivagnaman and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya made the observations but reserved their order. Internet suspension usually takes place when there has been an external danger or infiltration etc. But for a religious procession, we dont understand why. Sudden violence is when people are walking and there is an altercation etc. But your (states) prima facie show these (violence) were 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, Chief Justice Sivagnaman said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The bench asked the state government to explain who benefited and who was affected by the violence. The problem is two-fold. One, there is tension between the two groups. The other is a third group taking advantage of enmity between the two groups. This needs to be probed. We believe a central agency can probe this aspect better, Chief Justice Siivagnaman said. Advocate General S N Mukjerjee claimed the state police was properly investigating the case. The participants of the procession were armed with lathis, swords, etc, which they were not allowed to carry. The other side was also armed with weapons, he said. Didi Hits out at BJP over ram navami riots Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP, saying its members were part of the Ram Navami processions. Why arms were part of a religious procession? Many were brought from outside, she alleged. The CM also rapped an NGO that send a fact-finding team to probe the riots
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed the BJP would win more than 300 seats in next years Lok Sabha elections and form the government at the Centre for the third time in a row.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are coming up. I want to tell the Congress that the BJP will win 12 of Assams 14 seats and Narendra Modiji will become the Prime Minister again with the BJP winning more than 300 seats, Shah told a gathering after laying the foundation stone of a regional office of the BJP at Dibrugarh in Assam.

He lashed out at the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi after pointing out the BJPs success in the recent elections in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.

The BJP is a part of the government in the three states. There was a time when the Northeast was considered the home of the Congress. The elections in the three states were held in the aftermath of Rahul Baba travelling around the country but the Congress suffered 'soopda saaf' (got wiped out). The Congress is not seen anywhere but Rahul Baba will not understand it, Shah said.

The home minister said Rahul goes abroad and defames the country, and warned that if the Congress leader keeps treading on this path, the Congress would get wiped out across the country.

ALSO READ | Nobody can cast evil eye on us or encroach upon our land, says Amit Shah in Arunachal

Modiji earned respect for India worldwide, protected the country, ended insurgency in the Northeast, visited the region more than 50 times, gave momentum to development and brought about various programmes and the Congress says Modi teri kabar khudegi

But the 130 crore Indians are praying day and night for Modijis long life. The more you go after Modiji which your mother has also done, the lotus will sprout out that much strongly, Shah said attacking Rahul.

He attributed the removal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from 70% areas of Assam, prevailing peaceful atmosphere in Bodoland and Karbi Anglong regions, the surrender of eight Adivasi insurgent groups and Assams ongoing efforts to resolve its border disputes with some states to Modis good governance.

After the BJP retained power in Assam, over 41,000 youth got jobs. Twelve medical colleges have been built while 12 more are going to be built. Assam, which was once known for agitation and insurgency, is celebrating Bihu. Modiji is now going to give AIIMS to Assam on the occasion of Bihu, Shah said.

Highlighting the various steps of the Modi government for the development of the Northeast, he said the Centre spent Rs 2.65 lakh crore for infrastructure from 2014. He said the funds for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region had been also increased by 65%.

GUWAHATI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed the BJP would win more than 300 seats in next years Lok Sabha elections and form the government at the Centre for the third time in a row. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are coming up. I want to tell the Congress that the BJP will win 12 of Assams 14 seats and Narendra Modiji will become the Prime Minister again with the BJP winning more than 300 seats, Shah told a gathering after laying the foundation stone of a regional office of the BJP at Dibrugarh in Assam. He lashed out at the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi after pointing out the BJPs success in the recent elections in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The BJP is a part of the government in the three states. There was a time when the Northeast was considered the home of the Congress. The elections in the three states were held in the aftermath of Rahul Baba travelling around the country but the Congress suffered 'soopda saaf' (got wiped out). The Congress is not seen anywhere but Rahul Baba will not understand it, Shah said. The home minister said Rahul goes abroad and defames the country, and warned that if the Congress leader keeps treading on this path, the Congress would get wiped out across the country. ALSO READ | Nobody can cast evil eye on us or encroach upon our land, says Amit Shah in Arunachal Modiji earned respect for India worldwide, protected the country, ended insurgency in the Northeast, visited the region more than 50 times, gave momentum to development and brought about various programmes and the Congress says Modi teri kabar khudegi But the 130 crore Indians are praying day and night for Modijis long life. The more you go after Modiji which your mother has also done, the lotus will sprout out that much strongly, Shah said attacking Rahul. He attributed the removal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from 70% areas of Assam, prevailing peaceful atmosphere in Bodoland and Karbi Anglong regions, the surrender of eight Adivasi insurgent groups and Assams ongoing efforts to resolve its border disputes with some states to Modis good governance. After the BJP retained power in Assam, over 41,000 youth got jobs. Twelve medical colleges have been built while 12 more are going to be built. Assam, which was once known for agitation and insurgency, is celebrating Bihu. Modiji is now going to give AIIMS to Assam on the occasion of Bihu, Shah said. Highlighting the various steps of the Modi government for the development of the Northeast, he said the Centre spent Rs 2.65 lakh crore for infrastructure from 2014. He said the funds for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region had been also increased by 65%.
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: The Congress on Tuesday sought Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat's intervention alleging the government is purposely sitting on the report of a panel looking into the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies, an exercise necessary for fixing OBC quota in panchayat polls.

The Congress claimed that elections to several local bodies could not be held despite the expiry of their five-year terms because the report of the KS Jhaveri commission, formed last July by the state government, was not made public.

A delegation led by senior legislators of Congress, Amit Chavda and Arjun Modhwadia, met Devvrat at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar and handed him a memorandum seeking his intervention in making the report public and issuing necessary instructions about the declaration of elections based on the recommended OBC reservation.

"Though the commission's tenure ended on March 12, the government is not releasing the report as a conspiracy to finish the political existence of OBCs (Other Backward Classes) who form 52 per cent of the population in Gujarat," the Opposition party alleged.

The commission headed by Justice KS Jhaveri (retd) of the Gujarat High Court was constituted last July to collect and analyse data about the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies.

As directed by the Supreme Court, seats to be reserved for OBC candidates in each local body will be decided as per the recommendations of the Jhaveri Commission following a detailed study.

Earlier, 10 per cent of seats in local bodies such as village panchayats and municipalities were kept reserved for OBC candidates, Chavda told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after meeting the governor.

"However, as part of a conspiracy, attempts were made to end the political existence of OBCs. After protests by Congress, the BJP government in the state formed the Jhaveri Commission last year. After two extensions granted to it by the government, the panel's tenure ended in March. But, its report has not been made public yet. Who is behind this conspiracy to end the political representation of OBCs?" asked Chavda.

He said elections to 7,100 village panchayats, two district panchayats, 18 taluka panchayats, 75 municipalities and by-elections to numerous vacant seats across the state are still kept in abeyance because the report has not come out yet.

"As per rules, elections can be held only after the report is released. Thus, we demand this report be made public, OBCs get a reservation as per recommendations and elections to local bodies are announced at the earliest. We urged the governor to intervene in this issue and give necessary instructions to the government," said Chavda.

During the Assembly session last month, MLAs of Congress staged a walkout from the House after the government refused to give a definitive assurance about releasing the report of the commission.

AHMEDABAD: The Congress on Tuesday sought Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat's intervention alleging the government is purposely sitting on the report of a panel looking into the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies, an exercise necessary for fixing OBC quota in panchayat polls. The Congress claimed that elections to several local bodies could not be held despite the expiry of their five-year terms because the report of the KS Jhaveri commission, formed last July by the state government, was not made public. A delegation led by senior legislators of Congress, Amit Chavda and Arjun Modhwadia, met Devvrat at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar and handed him a memorandum seeking his intervention in making the report public and issuing necessary instructions about the declaration of elections based on the recommended OBC reservation.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Though the commission's tenure ended on March 12, the government is not releasing the report as a conspiracy to finish the political existence of OBCs (Other Backward Classes) who form 52 per cent of the population in Gujarat," the Opposition party alleged. The commission headed by Justice KS Jhaveri (retd) of the Gujarat High Court was constituted last July to collect and analyse data about the nature and implications of backwardness in local bodies. As directed by the Supreme Court, seats to be reserved for OBC candidates in each local body will be decided as per the recommendations of the Jhaveri Commission following a detailed study. Earlier, 10 per cent of seats in local bodies such as village panchayats and municipalities were kept reserved for OBC candidates, Chavda told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after meeting the governor. "However, as part of a conspiracy, attempts were made to end the political existence of OBCs. After protests by Congress, the BJP government in the state formed the Jhaveri Commission last year. After two extensions granted to it by the government, the panel's tenure ended in March. But, its report has not been made public yet. Who is behind this conspiracy to end the political representation of OBCs?" asked Chavda. He said elections to 7,100 village panchayats, two district panchayats, 18 taluka panchayats, 75 municipalities and by-elections to numerous vacant seats across the state are still kept in abeyance because the report has not come out yet. "As per rules, elections can be held only after the report is released. Thus, we demand this report be made public, OBCs get a reservation as per recommendations and elections to local bodies are announced at the earliest. We urged the governor to intervene in this issue and give necessary instructions to the government," said Chavda. During the Assembly session last month, MLAs of Congress staged a walkout from the House after the government refused to give a definitive assurance about releasing the report of the commission.
By PTI

MUMBAI: A court here on Tuesday rejected an anticipatory bail application filed by former Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif in an alleged money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases, however, granted the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader 'interim protection from arrest' till April 14.

Mushrif had moved the special court stating that he apprehended arrest under the garb of investigation and the recording of statement under the PMLA.

The MLA from Kagal Assembly constituency in Kolhapur had served as rural development minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

The ED has claimed that there was a suspicious flow of several crores of rupees from two companies 'without having substantial business' to Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory in which Mushrif's sons Navid, Aabid and Sajid are directors or stakeholders.

In his pre-arrest bail plea filed through advocates Prashant Patil, Swapnil Ambre and Atit Soni, Mushrif claimed that the entire prosecution case was the result of a political campaign launched by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya against him.

The central probe agency, in its reply, denied this.

"The applicant has wrongly asserted that the entire case of the prosecution is the result of the political vendetta of Somaiya. The applicant is trying to shift the culpability onto others. But shifting the culpability does not absolve the crime," the ED said.

Special PMLA judge M G Deshpande, after hearing both sides, rejected the senior NCP leader's plea.

Mushrif's lawyer Prashant Patil then sought protection from arrest for at least three more days to enable him to challenge the order in the High Court.

Special prosecutor Hiten Venegaokar opposed the plea, saying there was no provision under the law for such a relief.

But the court held that "no prejudice" will be caused to the probe agency if three days' protection was given.

The former Maharashtra minister has also moved the Bombay High Court seeking to quash the money laundering case against him.

MUMBAI: A court here on Tuesday rejected an anticipatory bail application filed by former Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif in an alleged money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases, however, granted the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader 'interim protection from arrest' till April 14. Mushrif had moved the special court stating that he apprehended arrest under the garb of investigation and the recording of statement under the PMLA.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The MLA from Kagal Assembly constituency in Kolhapur had served as rural development minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. The ED has claimed that there was a suspicious flow of several crores of rupees from two companies 'without having substantial business' to Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory in which Mushrif's sons Navid, Aabid and Sajid are directors or stakeholders. In his pre-arrest bail plea filed through advocates Prashant Patil, Swapnil Ambre and Atit Soni, Mushrif claimed that the entire prosecution case was the result of a political campaign launched by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya against him. The central probe agency, in its reply, denied this. "The applicant has wrongly asserted that the entire case of the prosecution is the result of the political vendetta of Somaiya. The applicant is trying to shift the culpability onto others. But shifting the culpability does not absolve the crime," the ED said. Special PMLA judge M G Deshpande, after hearing both sides, rejected the senior NCP leader's plea. Mushrif's lawyer Prashant Patil then sought protection from arrest for at least three more days to enable him to challenge the order in the High Court. Special prosecutor Hiten Venegaokar opposed the plea, saying there was no provision under the law for such a relief. But the court held that "no prejudice" will be caused to the probe agency if three days' protection was given. The former Maharashtra minister has also moved the Bombay High Court seeking to quash the money laundering case against him.
By PTI

NOIDA: The Noida Police on Tuesday said they have arrested a man who is accused of killing his neighbour's two-year-old daughter whose body was found stuffed in a backpack hung behind a door at his rented accommodation.

The accused Raghvendra alias Raghav Singh was arrested on Tuesday from a prepaid taxi booth near the Ghaziabad railway station, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) Rajiv Dixit said.

Singh had kidnapped the toddler on April 7 from her home in the Devla village and wanted to demand ransom for her release after he learnt that her father had made some money recently, he said.

A missing person's complaint was lodged at the local police station the next day.

While the police had launched an investigation to find the child, her body was found on April 9 from Singh's accommodation after other residents of the building noted a foul smell emanating from it, Dixit said.

The accused and the victim's family live as tenants in the same building in the Surajpur police station area, he said.

The body was stuffed in a backpack and there was no one in the house as Singh had fled after strangulating the child to death with a shawl, which has also been recovered upon his arrest on Tuesday, the officer said.

Both the accused and the girl's father are daily wage earners.

Singh lived in the rented house with his wife and two children, aged 3 and 9, and all had left home some 20 days ago, according to the police.

"Upon questioning, the accused told the police that he had thought of kidnapping the child with the intention to demand a ransom from her family. He had come to know that the girl's father had made some money recently and was planning to construct a house," Dixit said.

"When we asked him why he killed the toddler if all he wanted was ransom money, the accused told the police that he got scared that he would get caught and his plan would be revealed. Otherwise, he said he would have returned the child to her home upon getting the money," the additional DCP said.

Singh is a native of Ballia district in eastern Uttar Pradesh and had gone untraceable since the killing, the officer said, adding that multiple police teams were formed to ensure his arrest at the earliest.

"Police teams were sent to his native place as well as to locations where he had relatives but the breakthrough came when our surveillance team traced him in adjoining Ghaziabad, from where he was nabbed this morning. An FIR was lodged under the Indian Penal Code section 363 (missing) initially but later charges under section 302 (murder) were also added to the case, the police said.

NOIDA: The Noida Police on Tuesday said they have arrested a man who is accused of killing his neighbour's two-year-old daughter whose body was found stuffed in a backpack hung behind a door at his rented accommodation. The accused Raghvendra alias Raghav Singh was arrested on Tuesday from a prepaid taxi booth near the Ghaziabad railway station, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) Rajiv Dixit said. Singh had kidnapped the toddler on April 7 from her home in the Devla village and wanted to demand ransom for her release after he learnt that her father had made some money recently, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A missing person's complaint was lodged at the local police station the next day. While the police had launched an investigation to find the child, her body was found on April 9 from Singh's accommodation after other residents of the building noted a foul smell emanating from it, Dixit said. The accused and the victim's family live as tenants in the same building in the Surajpur police station area, he said. The body was stuffed in a backpack and there was no one in the house as Singh had fled after strangulating the child to death with a shawl, which has also been recovered upon his arrest on Tuesday, the officer said. Both the accused and the girl's father are daily wage earners. Singh lived in the rented house with his wife and two children, aged 3 and 9, and all had left home some 20 days ago, according to the police. "Upon questioning, the accused told the police that he had thought of kidnapping the child with the intention to demand a ransom from her family. He had come to know that the girl's father had made some money recently and was planning to construct a house," Dixit said. "When we asked him why he killed the toddler if all he wanted was ransom money, the accused told the police that he got scared that he would get caught and his plan would be revealed. Otherwise, he said he would have returned the child to her home upon getting the money," the additional DCP said. Singh is a native of Ballia district in eastern Uttar Pradesh and had gone untraceable since the killing, the officer said, adding that multiple police teams were formed to ensure his arrest at the earliest. "Police teams were sent to his native place as well as to locations where he had relatives but the breakthrough came when our surveillance team traced him in adjoining Ghaziabad, from where he was nabbed this morning. An FIR was lodged under the Indian Penal Code section 363 (missing) initially but later charges under section 302 (murder) were also added to the case, the police said.
Its possible that, unlike so many other disasters that befall Americans, Congress will actually do something significant in the aftermath of the catastrophic train derailment in eastern Ohio two months ago. That would count as a favor to the people of Western New York.

But possible doesnt mean certain.

A bipartisan bill meant to improve rail safety is working its way through the U.S. Senate and should pass, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said last week. In addition, a bipartisan group of Ohio lawmakers supports similar legislation in the House, but the likelihood of its approval is clouded by the concerns of some senior Republican members about the impact of new regulations.

Someone should remind them of the impact of the lack of regulations, including not just the Ohio disaster, but the dismissive response of Norfolk Southern to credible reports a burning train car rolling through Buffalo in February.

It was a Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3. About 50 of the trains 141 cars were damaged, five of which contained vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. Six other cars contained other hazardous materials. To prevent an explosion, safety crews vented and burned the vinyl chloride, releasing toxic gas.

The Senate bill would require improved safety requirements for trains carrying hazardous materials, mandate that at least two highly trained crew members ride every train and increase maximum fines for safety violations.

As Schumer observed last week, trains carrying hazardous materials routinely pass through Western New York. As such, there is no reason to believe the disaster that befell East Palestine couldnt also occur in, say, East Aurora, when a 2020 derailment came close to causing a catastrophe involving hazardous petrochemicals. It could happen in Attica, where a 2018 derailment included an engine fire that ended up burning 2,225 gallons of diesel fuel.

Or it could happen along Crescent Avenue in Buffalo, where at least three people reported seeing a train car on fire as it passed through the neighborhood. Norfolk Southern has said only that it has no official reports of such a fire.

Pass Railway Safety Act of 2023. Transporting hazardous materials is a fact of modern life, but it must be safer. And demand better answers about Buffalos burning train.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: India is home to the second largest Muslim population in the world and those blaming the country on minority issues have no clue about the ground realities, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.

Addressing a Washington DC audience during a fireside chat at the Peterson Institute for International Economics on Monday, Sitharaman said the Muslim population is only growing in numbers in India.

"If there is a perception or if there's, in reality, their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the State, which is what is implied in most of these write-ups, I would ask, will the Muslim population be growing from what it was in 1947...The contrast can be sharper as opposed to Pakistan, which was formed at the same time," she said.

Sitharaman said violence prevails against Muhajirs, Shias and other minority groups in Pakistan, whereas, in India, every strand of the Muslim community is doing its business.

"India was divided into two Pakistans. Pakistan declared itself an Islamic country but said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in number, or decimated in Pakistan. Even some of the Muslim sects have also been decimated," she said.

She said law and order is a state subject in India and each province has its elected government that takes care of the law and order in those states.

She said the notion that across the board in India, violence against Muslims is happening is a fallacy.

"It cannot be so. Each province and its police are different. They are run by the elected governments in those provinces. So, that itself tells you how these reports have no clue of the law and order systems in India," the finance minister said.

"To say it's all the blame of the government of India. I would like to say then, between 2014 and today, has the population dwindled, has the debts been disproportionately high in any one particular community," she said.

"I would rather invite these people who write these reports to come to India. I'll host them, let them come and travel alone to India and prove their point," Sitharaman said.

Around 62 per cent of the world's Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region (from Turkey to Indonesia), with over one billion adherents.

The largest Muslim population in a country is in Indonesia, a country home to 12.7 per cent of the world's Muslims.

'Want WTO to be more progressive'

India wants the World Trade Organization to be more progressive and listen to other countries, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said asserting that the WTO needs to give more space to the countries which have something different to say and not just hear.

"I would like the WTO to be a lot more progressive, a lot more listening to all countries, to be fair to all members," she said during the chat.

"I, fortunately, unfortunately, spent some time with the WTO in my capacity as a commerce minister of India between 2014 and 2017. It has to give more space to hear voices of countries which have something different to say and not just hear, but also somewhat heed because today's message for the WTO should be to have greater openness," Sitharaman asserted.

"In fact, I'm not quoting, in the context of WTO, but it might be useful to recall the words of US Commerce Secretary (sic), Katherine Tai. She had recently spoken and I was very, very impressed if I can use that word, about what exactly is the traditional trading approach. What exactly is liberalizing the market? What would it actually mean in terms of tariff reduction?" she said.

"It is true now, countries do look at it. It is a time when countries are looking at what extent to which you would want to have market liberalization. It has had cost repercussions for the US economy, and that's exactly what the US Secretary of Commerce has said. And if that's something that the United States Commerce Secretary feels, I felt the same in 2014 and 2015. Probably my articulation was never getting a space in global media. But many of the global south countries do have the same feeling," she said.

"What exactly is this? How far is liberalization? To what extent tariff reduction? We in India for all the less developed countries, the global South, if you would ask them would have a similar opinion as the US Commerce Secretary. But in India, we've already extended to all the least developed countries, quota-free, tariff-free trading policy," she said.

"So any country, let's say from Africa or anywhere else, the Pacific Islands or countries which are aspirational, low-income countries can export to India without any of these restrictions. So, where it is possible, we are opening up, but at the same time, we need to look at how India's become remanufactured almost because if you go through the MFN route, you end up opening up for the efficient ones in the market, and that may not be your country. Manufacturing abilities of communities have all gone for a toss, not just in India, but I suppose in many countries as well," she said.

The finance minister wonders how a country gets its manufacturing back if it only have to constantly liberate its market.

"India's attempt to talk to the WTO, talk in WTO have all faced with just no moment. The other classic example, which is in the minds of many of the emerging market countries is the electronics transmission-related wall. Isn't that since 1998, all of us are sitting and watching that you can't do anything on the customs route for so much that is happening in the electronics business. It's hitting the kind countries very differently," she said.

"Since 1998, there has never been a need for reviewing it. All that I'm asking is that. And why wouldn't every ministerial conference, which happens, ever, ever, ever take up this for discussion. It doesn't take. The moratorium continues. So, it shouldn't be difficult for you to appreciate. So when countries will have to speak at the WTO, it has to be on very many issues on which decision has not happened for over decades," Sitharaman said.

WASHINGTON: India is home to the second largest Muslim population in the world and those blaming the country on minority issues have no clue about the ground realities, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. Addressing a Washington DC audience during a fireside chat at the Peterson Institute for International Economics on Monday, Sitharaman said the Muslim population is only growing in numbers in India. "If there is a perception or if there's, in reality, their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the State, which is what is implied in most of these write-ups, I would ask, will the Muslim population be growing from what it was in 1947...The contrast can be sharper as opposed to Pakistan, which was formed at the same time," she said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sitharaman said violence prevails against Muhajirs, Shias and other minority groups in Pakistan, whereas, in India, every strand of the Muslim community is doing its business. "India was divided into two Pakistans. Pakistan declared itself an Islamic country but said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in number, or decimated in Pakistan. Even some of the Muslim sects have also been decimated," she said. She said law and order is a state subject in India and each province has its elected government that takes care of the law and order in those states. She said the notion that across the board in India, violence against Muslims is happening is a fallacy. "It cannot be so. Each province and its police are different. They are run by the elected governments in those provinces. So, that itself tells you how these reports have no clue of the law and order systems in India," the finance minister said. "To say it's all the blame of the government of India. I would like to say then, between 2014 and today, has the population dwindled, has the debts been disproportionately high in any one particular community," she said. "I would rather invite these people who write these reports to come to India. I'll host them, let them come and travel alone to India and prove their point," Sitharaman said. Around 62 per cent of the world's Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region (from Turkey to Indonesia), with over one billion adherents. The largest Muslim population in a country is in Indonesia, a country home to 12.7 per cent of the world's Muslims. 'Want WTO to be more progressive' India wants the World Trade Organization to be more progressive and listen to other countries, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said asserting that the WTO needs to give more space to the countries which have something different to say and not just hear. "I would like the WTO to be a lot more progressive, a lot more listening to all countries, to be fair to all members," she said during the chat. "I, fortunately, unfortunately, spent some time with the WTO in my capacity as a commerce minister of India between 2014 and 2017. It has to give more space to hear voices of countries which have something different to say and not just hear, but also somewhat heed because today's message for the WTO should be to have greater openness," Sitharaman asserted. "In fact, I'm not quoting, in the context of WTO, but it might be useful to recall the words of US Commerce Secretary (sic), Katherine Tai. She had recently spoken and I was very, very impressed if I can use that word, about what exactly is the traditional trading approach. What exactly is liberalizing the market? What would it actually mean in terms of tariff reduction?" she said. "It is true now, countries do look at it. It is a time when countries are looking at what extent to which you would want to have market liberalization. It has had cost repercussions for the US economy, and that's exactly what the US Secretary of Commerce has said. And if that's something that the United States Commerce Secretary feels, I felt the same in 2014 and 2015. Probably my articulation was never getting a space in global media. But many of the global south countries do have the same feeling," she said. "What exactly is this? How far is liberalization? To what extent tariff reduction? We in India for all the less developed countries, the global South, if you would ask them would have a similar opinion as the US Commerce Secretary. But in India, we've already extended to all the least developed countries, quota-free, tariff-free trading policy," she said. "So any country, let's say from Africa or anywhere else, the Pacific Islands or countries which are aspirational, low-income countries can export to India without any of these restrictions. So, where it is possible, we are opening up, but at the same time, we need to look at how India's become remanufactured almost because if you go through the MFN route, you end up opening up for the efficient ones in the market, and that may not be your country. Manufacturing abilities of communities have all gone for a toss, not just in India, but I suppose in many countries as well," she said. The finance minister wonders how a country gets its manufacturing back if it only have to constantly liberate its market. "India's attempt to talk to the WTO, talk in WTO have all faced with just no moment. The other classic example, which is in the minds of many of the emerging market countries is the electronics transmission-related wall. Isn't that since 1998, all of us are sitting and watching that you can't do anything on the customs route for so much that is happening in the electronics business. It's hitting the kind countries very differently," she said. "Since 1998, there has never been a need for reviewing it. All that I'm asking is that. And why wouldn't every ministerial conference, which happens, ever, ever, ever take up this for discussion. It doesn't take. The moratorium continues. So, it shouldn't be difficult for you to appreciate. So when countries will have to speak at the WTO, it has to be on very many issues on which decision has not happened for over decades," Sitharaman said.
Gulzar Bhat By

It is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that brought BJP into Kashmir and made it familiar with the local politics. This is a general feeling among the people of Kashmir regarding the BJPs penetration, though not rise, into the Valley. The 2014 Assembly elections, followed by a seismic shift in PDPs political stand, helped BJP expand its footprints in Kashmir. The election results turned out to be a cliffhanger, with PDP and BJP winning 28 and 25 seats respectively, while the ruling National Conference (NC) reduced to 15 seats only.

Despite offers of unconditional support by NC and Congress to PDP for the formation of a non-BJP government, the party, after a flurry of parleys with the right-wing leadership, stitched an alliance with BJP. It took a little over two months for both the parties to come together and finally, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was sworn in as the chief minister of undivided Jammu and Kashmir on March 1, 2015.

Political pundits billed the alliance as unholy as both the parties were at odds with each other, given their political and ideological outlook. Mufti, on the other hand, pulled out all the stops to justify the alliance with the party he would mince no words to upbraid in public meetings.

Following the death of Mufti, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti re-stitched the alliance and it lasted up until June 19, 2018.

Mehbooba saw a tumultuous tenurea despicable wave of violence following the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani and high noon of new-age militancy re-animated by his death. The BJP completely prevailed upon Mehbooba and her party. It would not be an overstatement to say that she and her party easily capitulated to the demands of BJP.

The Agenda of Alliance (AoA)a pact between PDP and BJPwas hardly respected and implemented, though Mehbooba always shouted from the rooftops, admiring the documents. She, however, adopted some policies and initiated steps that provided a template for the present dispensation.

One could easily draw an analogy between the two. In October 2016, her government banned the publication of Srinagar-based English language newspaper Kashmir Reader, calling it a threat to public tranquility. The ban remained in force for a good three months. Police also raided the printing locations of several newspapers and seized newspaper copies. The move had raised the spectre of Emergency. Mobile phones and data services also remained off-limits. Similarly, what the Valley witnessed after the Centre read down the special constitutional provisions of J&K was well-nigh a repeat of that period, though there had been no civilian killings in 2019.

On March 24, the government issued (or say re-issued) elaborate guidelines regarding the use of social media by government employees. The guidelines bar these employees from criticising the governments on social media platforms, and non-compliance could land them in hot water. The move has drawn fierce criticism from political parties in Kashmir. Mufti, who emerged as a trenchant critic of BJP after it jilted her, slammed the party for issuing the circular. She wrote on Twitter:

Whether it was blacklisting contractors and the social media gag to employees, a clear intimidation of dispossessing people in J&K of their livelihood has emerged. Authorities have become judge, jury and executioner in complete violation of the fundamental rights of people.

It seems that either Mehbooba has a mind like a sieve or she tweeted out of sheer innocence. A third element that we refer to in colloquial terms as playing politics cant be ruled out as the reality is in deep contrast to what Mehbooba tweeted.

An 18-page order with the subject Guidelines on the usage of social media by Government Employees was actually issued and enacted by the Mehbooba-led PDP-BJP government in December 2017. The order was issued after amending the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees Conduct Rules. It not only barred the employees from criticising the governments policies but also prohibited them from discussing any policy pursued by the government.

No government employee through any post, tweet or otherwise discuss or criticise on social media any policy pursued or action taken by the government nor shall he in any manner participate in any such discussion or criticism that takes place on social media pages/communities or on microblogs, reads the December 2017 order.

The March 24 circular is a repeat of the same social media policy which Madam Mehbooba enacted during her political hay days, and the Lieutenant Governor administration has only sought adherence to the same order. One wonders if Mehbooba has any moral ground to criticise the policy.

Even the policy at that time had met with severe criticism, with opposition political leaders saying that it lays bare the authoritarian tendencies of the state government.

The social media policy of the Mehbooba-led PDP-BJP government and now its reiteration is bound to deprive government employees of the rights they have as citizens of this country. It will prevent them from raising their concerns towards the policies that impact them. It also snatches the rights of their children/dependents from expressing their views vis-a-vis government policies.

The policy looks at government employees as individuals and not as citizens. A cursory look at the policy makes it crystal clear that a government employee has no right to endorse a particular legitimate political ideology or ponder over various societal issues as a citizen. It makes them purely apolitical. While enacting the policy in 2017, Mehbooba would have never thought that it would have a boomerang effect.

An average Kashmiri, who is known for having an unerring instinct to spot political manoeuvres, is absolutely right in saying that BJP learnt the Kashmir version of politics from the PDP.

Gulzar Bhat

Independent journalist based in Srinagar

(bhat.gulzar@gmail.com)

It is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that brought BJP into Kashmir and made it familiar with the local politics. This is a general feeling among the people of Kashmir regarding the BJPs penetration, though not rise, into the Valley. The 2014 Assembly elections, followed by a seismic shift in PDPs political stand, helped BJP expand its footprints in Kashmir. The election results turned out to be a cliffhanger, with PDP and BJP winning 28 and 25 seats respectively, while the ruling National Conference (NC) reduced to 15 seats only. Despite offers of unconditional support by NC and Congress to PDP for the formation of a non-BJP government, the party, after a flurry of parleys with the right-wing leadership, stitched an alliance with BJP. It took a little over two months for both the parties to come together and finally, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was sworn in as the chief minister of undivided Jammu and Kashmir on March 1, 2015. Political pundits billed the alliance as unholy as both the parties were at odds with each other, given their political and ideological outlook. Mufti, on the other hand, pulled out all the stops to justify the alliance with the party he would mince no words to upbraid in public meetings.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Following the death of Mufti, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti re-stitched the alliance and it lasted up until June 19, 2018. Mehbooba saw a tumultuous tenurea despicable wave of violence following the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani and high noon of new-age militancy re-animated by his death. The BJP completely prevailed upon Mehbooba and her party. It would not be an overstatement to say that she and her party easily capitulated to the demands of BJP. The Agenda of Alliance (AoA)a pact between PDP and BJPwas hardly respected and implemented, though Mehbooba always shouted from the rooftops, admiring the documents. She, however, adopted some policies and initiated steps that provided a template for the present dispensation. One could easily draw an analogy between the two. In October 2016, her government banned the publication of Srinagar-based English language newspaper Kashmir Reader, calling it a threat to public tranquility. The ban remained in force for a good three months. Police also raided the printing locations of several newspapers and seized newspaper copies. The move had raised the spectre of Emergency. Mobile phones and data services also remained off-limits. Similarly, what the Valley witnessed after the Centre read down the special constitutional provisions of J&K was well-nigh a repeat of that period, though there had been no civilian killings in 2019. On March 24, the government issued (or say re-issued) elaborate guidelines regarding the use of social media by government employees. The guidelines bar these employees from criticising the governments on social media platforms, and non-compliance could land them in hot water. The move has drawn fierce criticism from political parties in Kashmir. Mufti, who emerged as a trenchant critic of BJP after it jilted her, slammed the party for issuing the circular. She wrote on Twitter: Whether it was blacklisting contractors and the social media gag to employees, a clear intimidation of dispossessing people in J&K of their livelihood has emerged. Authorities have become judge, jury and executioner in complete violation of the fundamental rights of people. It seems that either Mehbooba has a mind like a sieve or she tweeted out of sheer innocence. A third element that we refer to in colloquial terms as playing politics cant be ruled out as the reality is in deep contrast to what Mehbooba tweeted. An 18-page order with the subject Guidelines on the usage of social media by Government Employees was actually issued and enacted by the Mehbooba-led PDP-BJP government in December 2017. The order was issued after amending the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees Conduct Rules. It not only barred the employees from criticising the governments policies but also prohibited them from discussing any policy pursued by the government. No government employee through any post, tweet or otherwise discuss or criticise on social media any policy pursued or action taken by the government nor shall he in any manner participate in any such discussion or criticism that takes place on social media pages/communities or on microblogs, reads the December 2017 order. The March 24 circular is a repeat of the same social media policy which Madam Mehbooba enacted during her political hay days, and the Lieutenant Governor administration has only sought adherence to the same order. One wonders if Mehbooba has any moral ground to criticise the policy. Even the policy at that time had met with severe criticism, with opposition political leaders saying that it lays bare the authoritarian tendencies of the state government. The social media policy of the Mehbooba-led PDP-BJP government and now its reiteration is bound to deprive government employees of the rights they have as citizens of this country. It will prevent them from raising their concerns towards the policies that impact them. It also snatches the rights of their children/dependents from expressing their views vis-a-vis government policies. The policy looks at government employees as individuals and not as citizens. A cursory look at the policy makes it crystal clear that a government employee has no right to endorse a particular legitimate political ideology or ponder over various societal issues as a citizen. It makes them purely apolitical. While enacting the policy in 2017, Mehbooba would have never thought that it would have a boomerang effect. An average Kashmiri, who is known for having an unerring instinct to spot political manoeuvres, is absolutely right in saying that BJP learnt the Kashmir version of politics from the PDP. Gulzar Bhat Independent journalist based in Srinagar (bhat.gulzar@gmail.com)
Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah, on December 30, 2022, in Mandya, stressed cooperation between Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to strengthen milk cooperatives in India. On April 5, GCMMF managing director Jayen Mehta announced plans to push GCMMFs AMUL milk and curds through e-commerce platforms into Karnataka. The first raised fears of a planned merger between the two; the second, a symptom of times to come for the KMF. Both combined to snowball into a controversy on the ground. It led to a pre-poll narrative that the BJP at the Centre, with the help of the BJP-led Karnataka government, is clandestinely planning to merge the two federations and destroy KMFs popular Nandini brand.

For the opposition parties in Karnataka, it offered an ideal opportunity to whip up emotions against the ruling BJP, especially among the 26 lakh dairy farmers in Karnataka who supply milk to KMF. The spin doctors are in overdrive. Emotions spread through various segments of the Kannadiga society, each falling in line with the Nandini brand of products under KMF. Protests erupted in some areas, with the chauvinism of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) coming into play.

KMFthe second largest milk cooperative in India with an annual turnover of Rs 25,000 crore after GCMMF (Rs 72,000 crore)undoubtedly holds a position of pride among Kannadigas. Its products are in high demand not just within the state but also in Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. However, AMUL and Nandini are products of the White Revolution, set in motion in 1970 and led by Dr Verghese Kurien to transform the then dairy-deficient country into a global leader in milk production, with GCMMF and KMF being highly successful cooperative enterprises today. Their competition has so far remained healthy, which is why KMF chairman, Balachandra Jarkiholi, has categorically denied any possibility of a tie-up or merger between them, even if the Centre attempts it.With the issue becoming a political hot potato, the plans of AMUL milk and curds coming into Karnataka may be put off until after the polls. But the opposition has resolved to keep the issue burning until the elections. Who will end up crying over this spilt milk remains to be seen.

Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah, on December 30, 2022, in Mandya, stressed cooperation between Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to strengthen milk cooperatives in India. On April 5, GCMMF managing director Jayen Mehta announced plans to push GCMMFs AMUL milk and curds through e-commerce platforms into Karnataka. The first raised fears of a planned merger between the two; the second, a symptom of times to come for the KMF. Both combined to snowball into a controversy on the ground. It led to a pre-poll narrative that the BJP at the Centre, with the help of the BJP-led Karnataka government, is clandestinely planning to merge the two federations and destroy KMFs popular Nandini brand. For the opposition parties in Karnataka, it offered an ideal opportunity to whip up emotions against the ruling BJP, especially among the 26 lakh dairy farmers in Karnataka who supply milk to KMF. The spin doctors are in overdrive. Emotions spread through various segments of the Kannadiga society, each falling in line with the Nandini brand of products under KMF. Protests erupted in some areas, with the chauvinism of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) coming into play. KMFthe second largest milk cooperative in India with an annual turnover of Rs 25,000 crore after GCMMF (Rs 72,000 crore)undoubtedly holds a position of pride among Kannadigas. Its products are in high demand not just within the state but also in Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. However, AMUL and Nandini are products of the White Revolution, set in motion in 1970 and led by Dr Verghese Kurien to transform the then dairy-deficient country into a global leader in milk production, with GCMMF and KMF being highly successful cooperative enterprises today. Their competition has so far remained healthy, which is why KMF chairman, Balachandra Jarkiholi, has categorically denied any possibility of a tie-up or merger between them, even if the Centre attempts it.With the issue becoming a political hot potato, the plans of AMUL milk and curds coming into Karnataka may be put off until after the polls. But the opposition has resolved to keep the issue burning until the elections. Who will end up crying over this spilt milk remains to be seen.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said there are attempts to weaken the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah are responsible for such attempts.

He said lakhs of families in the state depend on KMF, but the dairy sector has taken a hit after Shah spoke about merging KMF with Amul. When Kannadigas strongly opposed such a proposal, Amul is now making a backdoor entry, the former CM alleged. Since the last few days, there has been a shortage of KMF milk and curd in the market, and Amul products are doing brisk business, he said.

Gujarat-based Amul had earlier also tried to enter the Karnataka market, but we did not allow it. Now, the BJP has rolled out a red carpet for it, he said. During BJP rule, milk collection in the state reduced from 99 lakh litres to 71 lakh litres a day, he said and added that all Kannadigas must oppose any attempt to weaken KMF, and take a vow not to purchase Amul products.

BENGALURU: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said there are attempts to weaken the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah are responsible for such attempts. He said lakhs of families in the state depend on KMF, but the dairy sector has taken a hit after Shah spoke about merging KMF with Amul. When Kannadigas strongly opposed such a proposal, Amul is now making a backdoor entry, the former CM alleged. Since the last few days, there has been a shortage of KMF milk and curd in the market, and Amul products are doing brisk business, he said. Gujarat-based Amul had earlier also tried to enter the Karnataka market, but we did not allow it. Now, the BJP has rolled out a red carpet for it, he said. During BJP rule, milk collection in the state reduced from 99 lakh litres to 71 lakh litres a day, he said and added that all Kannadigas must oppose any attempt to weaken KMF, and take a vow not to purchase Amul products.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
By Express News Service

UDUPI: State Backward Classes and Social Welfare Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary hit out at the Congress for its campaign that there is a threat to Karnataka Milk Federations Nandini brand following Amuls entry to the state. Poojary said that there is a need for 1 crore litre of milk each day in Karnataka, while the supply is just 74 lakh litres. To catch up with the demand, other milk brands have also entered the market in the past in Karnataka.

The Congress is unnecessarily creating confusion to gain political mileage. Nandini will continue to be a prominent brand across the country. A discussion is being held on the introduction of Amul in Karnataka and the possible threat to Nandini. In reality, the Nandini brand has a wide market network from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari. We have 14 KMF organisations with nearly 60,000 milk procuring centres in the state, he elaborated. Some people get annoyed when they hear the name Gujarat. It is a fact that Gujarat is developing as a model state. We are proud that Gujarat is part of our nation, he said.



UDUPI: State Backward Classes and Social Welfare Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary hit out at the Congress for its campaign that there is a threat to Karnataka Milk Federations Nandini brand following Amuls entry to the state. Poojary said that there is a need for 1 crore litre of milk each day in Karnataka, while the supply is just 74 lakh litres. To catch up with the demand, other milk brands have also entered the market in the past in Karnataka. The Congress is unnecessarily creating confusion to gain political mileage. Nandini will continue to be a prominent brand across the country. A discussion is being held on the introduction of Amul in Karnataka and the possible threat to Nandini. In reality, the Nandini brand has a wide market network from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari. We have 14 KMF organisations with nearly 60,000 milk procuring centres in the state, he elaborated. Some people get annoyed when they hear the name Gujarat. It is a fact that Gujarat is developing as a model state. We are proud that Gujarat is part of our nation, he said.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Amid the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launching a Degree Dikhaao campaign against BJP leaders, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday said it is not the qualification itself that matters, but the question of principle and whether there was an attempt to mislead the public in an election affidavit.

If you claim something in an election affidavit that is not true, that is actually granted for disqualification, thats the seriousness of the charge. The issue is if there is an honest election affidavit. I dont care about the degree but I care about his policies, he clarified to reporters, after wrapping up his three days of outreach to residents of Bengaluru, as part of the Congress partys campaign for the May 10 assembly polls.

He elaborated that one need not have qualifications to represent the people, as those who lack such background can also win elections. Tharoor took part in a conversation on his book Ambedkar, A Life and on the topic Role of Dissent in a Healthy Democracy with a group of activists who struggled to save 50 heritage trees marked to be chopped for a flyover at Sankey Tank. Boosting their morale, he took a dig at the police for filing FIRs against them.

Narrating the struggle of the Father of the Indian Constitution BR Ambedkar, he suggested that his fight for the underprivileged is an inspiration as he achieved it by following the rule of law. He also asked activists to gain inspiration from New Delhis Karol Bagh residents struggle against the implementation of the NRC by the Union government.

Speaking to reporters, he suggested that issues of insecurity for women in Bengaluru should be a priority, as police did not take action against the culprits.

BENGALURU: Amid the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launching a Degree Dikhaao campaign against BJP leaders, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday said it is not the qualification itself that matters, but the question of principle and whether there was an attempt to mislead the public in an election affidavit. If you claim something in an election affidavit that is not true, that is actually granted for disqualification, thats the seriousness of the charge. The issue is if there is an honest election affidavit. I dont care about the degree but I care about his policies, he clarified to reporters, after wrapping up his three days of outreach to residents of Bengaluru, as part of the Congress partys campaign for the May 10 assembly polls. He elaborated that one need not have qualifications to represent the people, as those who lack such background can also win elections. Tharoor took part in a conversation on his book Ambedkar, A Life and on the topic Role of Dissent in a Healthy Democracy with a group of activists who struggled to save 50 heritage trees marked to be chopped for a flyover at Sankey Tank. Boosting their morale, he took a dig at the police for filing FIRs against them.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Narrating the struggle of the Father of the Indian Constitution BR Ambedkar, he suggested that his fight for the underprivileged is an inspiration as he achieved it by following the rule of law. He also asked activists to gain inspiration from New Delhis Karol Bagh residents struggle against the implementation of the NRC by the Union government. Speaking to reporters, he suggested that issues of insecurity for women in Bengaluru should be a priority, as police did not take action against the culprits.
Bosky Khanna By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi couldnt spot a single tiger or any big cat while on his 22-km safari in Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) from 7.15 am to 9.30 am on Sunday. The hapless 29-year-old driver of the vehicle the PM travelled in, Madhusudhan, is being blamed and some BJP leaders and senior officials of the forest department have demanded that action be taken against him for not choosing a route where tigers could be spotted. There were also tweets about the registration of the vehicle in which the PM travelled being cancelled.

Interestingly, it has now emerged that the blame almost rests on members of PMs security staff, the Special Protection Group (SPG), the local police, the anti-Naxal force and every other team that went on multiple safaris on the same route for five days before the PMs tour.

The official said the felines have got

used to vehicles moving on that route.

A senior BTR official confirmed to The New Indian Express that the teams that were doing rounds on that route for security purposes were able to spot tigers on all five days prior to PMs trip. But the PM was able to see only some fresh tiger pugmarks, but no tiger. The members of those security teams reportedly also took pictures of the big cats.

The official said the felines have gotten used to vehicles moving on that route. Only this time (Sunday), they could have moved to safer and quieter areas when the Prime Minister was in the vehicle driven by Madhusudhan.

They were eating, sleeping and camping on the identified route. Citing security, they also wanted PMs safari vehicle to be in the middle of the convoy. We had to plead with them that sightings would be the best from the lead vehicle. To check this, the security teams went on additional safari rounds. After they saw tigers and leopards and even photographed them, they were convinced that Modi should be in the lead vehicle, said the official. The BTR staff had pleaded with the security teams to let the route remain undisturbed on Saturday night so that animal movements were not hindered.

PM Modi missed tiger by a whisker



Some good sense must have prevailed and the last drill (on Saturday night) did not happen. This is why Modi was able to at least see a herd of around 40 elephants, 20-30 Gaurs, around 30 sambar deer, and other wildlife but missed a tiger by a whisker  which was the main reason for the safari, said the official.

After the safari, the PM politely complained to the BTR officials about not sighting a single tiger or any wild cat. When informed why it could be so, the PM turned on his security staff and pointedly reminded them that they had deprived him of a tiger/wild cat sighting.

BTR Director Ramesh Kumar told The New Indian Express, Claims that the registration of the vehicle being cancelled is wrong. The vehicle number that is circulating is an old one. The vehicle is no more in use. Madhusudhan is not at fault. In the name of high security, vehicles repeatedly went on the selected route, hampering the sightings.

Excited and jittery, Madhusudhan, who is still having goosebumps after driving the PM, told The New Indian Express: Sightings in forests is just luck. When I did the trial run on Friday and Saturday for the security teams, two tigers were sighted. In fact, the PM saw fresh tiger pugmarks, but just missed the tiger. I followed the route as my boss told me. I was so scared that I couldnt even talk to the PM. All my focus and attention was on his safety.

BENGALURU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi couldnt spot a single tiger or any big cat while on his 22-km safari in Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) from 7.15 am to 9.30 am on Sunday. The hapless 29-year-old driver of the vehicle the PM travelled in, Madhusudhan, is being blamed and some BJP leaders and senior officials of the forest department have demanded that action be taken against him for not choosing a route where tigers could be spotted. There were also tweets about the registration of the vehicle in which the PM travelled being cancelled. Interestingly, it has now emerged that the blame almost rests on members of PMs security staff, the Special Protection Group (SPG), the local police, the anti-Naxal force and every other team that went on multiple safaris on the same route for five days before the PMs tour. The official said the felines have got used to vehicles moving on that route.A senior BTR official confirmed to The New Indian Express that the teams that were doing rounds on that route for security purposes were able to spot tigers on all five days prior to PMs trip. But the PM was able to see only some fresh tiger pugmarks, but no tiger. The members of those security teams reportedly also took pictures of the big cats.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The official said the felines have gotten used to vehicles moving on that route. Only this time (Sunday), they could have moved to safer and quieter areas when the Prime Minister was in the vehicle driven by Madhusudhan. They were eating, sleeping and camping on the identified route. Citing security, they also wanted PMs safari vehicle to be in the middle of the convoy. We had to plead with them that sightings would be the best from the lead vehicle. To check this, the security teams went on additional safari rounds. After they saw tigers and leopards and even photographed them, they were convinced that Modi should be in the lead vehicle, said the official. The BTR staff had pleaded with the security teams to let the route remain undisturbed on Saturday night so that animal movements were not hindered. PM Modi missed tiger by a whisker Some good sense must have prevailed and the last drill (on Saturday night) did not happen. This is why Modi was able to at least see a herd of around 40 elephants, 20-30 Gaurs, around 30 sambar deer, and other wildlife but missed a tiger by a whisker  which was the main reason for the safari, said the official. After the safari, the PM politely complained to the BTR officials about not sighting a single tiger or any wild cat. When informed why it could be so, the PM turned on his security staff and pointedly reminded them that they had deprived him of a tiger/wild cat sighting. BTR Director Ramesh Kumar told The New Indian Express, Claims that the registration of the vehicle being cancelled is wrong. The vehicle number that is circulating is an old one. The vehicle is no more in use. Madhusudhan is not at fault. In the name of high security, vehicles repeatedly went on the selected route, hampering the sightings. Excited and jittery, Madhusudhan, who is still having goosebumps after driving the PM, told The New Indian Express: Sightings in forests is just luck. When I did the trial run on Friday and Saturday for the security teams, two tigers were sighted. In fact, the PM saw fresh tiger pugmarks, but just missed the tiger. I followed the route as my boss told me. I was so scared that I couldnt even talk to the PM. All my focus and attention was on his safety.
By PTI

BENGALURU: As the Amul vs Nandini battle heats up in poll-bound Karnataka, at the heart of a seemingly corporate war is the Kannadiga pride and the rural economy dependent on the home-grown brand and the ruling BJP may have to do a tightrope walking to steer clear of the issue that may well dominate the political narrative in the coming days, much as it has hogged the limelight over the weekend.

What is the Amul Vs Nandini battle? Why does the opposition see red over the Gujarat dairy brand's Bengaluru foray with its brand of milk and curd?

Gujarat-based dairy cooperative Amul's announcement on April 5 to enter the Karnataka market to supply its milk and curd has given the opposition yet another ammunition to fire at the ruling BJP, much as it came months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement that the two brands' cooperation could "do wonders" for the dairy sector.

Shah also holds the Cooperation portfolio.

The opposition Congress and the JD(S) have trained their guns at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state when the assembly elections are just a month away, expressing fears that Nandini, the Rs 21,000 crore brand, from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), could be merged with the Gujarat-based Amul.

The people of the state have an emotional connect with Nandini.

The opposition alleges that the BJP wants to merge the 49-year-old KMC's Nandini with its much elder Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) so that there could be "One nation, one Amul" in the country.

The BJP has emphatically rejected the charge.

AICC general secretary and Karnataka party in-charge Randeep Surjewala alleged the BJP was trying to "sell off" Nandini.

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy too flayed the state government on this issue.

Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) second-in-command, alleged Amul has this 'bad thinking' to finish off its lone competitor Nandini in Karnataka itself.

The BJP-led central government's official policy is "One Nation, One Amul, One Milk and One Gujarat," he said.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the government is clear on the issue of Amul.

Accusing Congress of politicising Amul's entry to Karnataka, Bommai said: "We have absolute clarity with regard to Amul. Nandini is a national brand. It is not restricted to Karnataka. We have popularised Nandini as a brand in other states as well."

The Chief Minister stressed that several major dairies of KMF in the state have been established during BJP rule.

While a litre of Nandini's toned milk costs Rs 39, the same quantity of Amul is priced at Rs 52.

OPINION | Milk will spill: Amul vs Nandini in Namma Bengaluru

The Explainer: 1.

Why Amul's announcement to sell its milk and curd in Karnataka became an issue? In December last, Amit Shah during the inauguration of KMF's mega-dairy in Mandya said the "cooperation between Amul and Nandini can do wonders in the dairy sector".

The opposition called it a plan to merge Nandini with Gujarat, which the ruling BJP in Karnataka rubbished.

In the last week of March this year, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) directed to write "Dahi" in Hindi on curd packets apart from the local nomenclature, which the opposition parties called an imposition of the language.

2.

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).

3.

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.

3.

What is the BJP government's defence? It has dismissed the charge saying there is no plan to merge Nandini with Amul.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai charged alleged the Congress and the JD(S) are trying to mislead people and create fear among them.

He said the milk production increased during the current saffron party rule.

4.

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.

READ MORE | Milk row: Congress' Shivakumar visits Nandini parlour, says Karnataka brand stronger than Amul

5.

What is the size of Nandini's business? The second largest cooperative institution after Amul, Nandini is a Rs 21,000 crore brand of the KMF, according to BAMUL director P Nagaraju.

He adds Amul produces 1.8 crore litres of milk everyday while the KMF produces over 90 lakh litres a day.

6.

Why is Nandini a market leader? Nagaraju says milk prices are competitive, quality is superior with zero adulteration, good network of milk producers and milk union and people's pride in the products.

7.

Where else does KMF sell its products other than Karnataka? Nandini products are sold in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Maharashtra.

Some of its products are exported too.

8.

If Nandini can sell its products in other states, what is wrong in Amul doing business in Karnataka? According to Nagaraju, Maharashtra State Cooperative Milk Federation Limited, also known as Mahanand Dairy, is not doing good business ever since Amul entered the market.

Similarly, the cooperative milk federations did not pick up much in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

9.

Why is it vital for the Karnataka BJP to steer clear of this controversy? When the rural economy is dependent on KMF and the emotions of Kannadigas are deeply attached to the Nandini brand, it is essential for the ruling BJP to come out clean to retain power after the May 10 assembly polls.

The Congress and the JD(S) are leaving no stone unturned to make it a major poll plank, which has the potential to ruin the saffron party's election prospects.

BENGALURU: As the Amul vs Nandini battle heats up in poll-bound Karnataka, at the heart of a seemingly corporate war is the Kannadiga pride and the rural economy dependent on the home-grown brand and the ruling BJP may have to do a tightrope walking to steer clear of the issue that may well dominate the political narrative in the coming days, much as it has hogged the limelight over the weekend. What is the Amul Vs Nandini battle? Why does the opposition see red over the Gujarat dairy brand's Bengaluru foray with its brand of milk and curd? Gujarat-based dairy cooperative Amul's announcement on April 5 to enter the Karnataka market to supply its milk and curd has given the opposition yet another ammunition to fire at the ruling BJP, much as it came months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement that the two brands' cooperation could "do wonders" for the dairy sector.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Shah also holds the Cooperation portfolio. The opposition Congress and the JD(S) have trained their guns at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state when the assembly elections are just a month away, expressing fears that Nandini, the Rs 21,000 crore brand, from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), could be merged with the Gujarat-based Amul. The people of the state have an emotional connect with Nandini. The opposition alleges that the BJP wants to merge the 49-year-old KMC's Nandini with its much elder Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) so that there could be "One nation, one Amul" in the country. The BJP has emphatically rejected the charge. AICC general secretary and Karnataka party in-charge Randeep Surjewala alleged the BJP was trying to "sell off" Nandini. Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy too flayed the state government on this issue. Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) second-in-command, alleged Amul has this 'bad thinking' to finish off its lone competitor Nandini in Karnataka itself. The BJP-led central government's official policy is "One Nation, One Amul, One Milk and One Gujarat," he said. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the government is clear on the issue of Amul. Accusing Congress of politicising Amul's entry to Karnataka, Bommai said: "We have absolute clarity with regard to Amul. Nandini is a national brand. It is not restricted to Karnataka. We have popularised Nandini as a brand in other states as well." The Chief Minister stressed that several major dairies of KMF in the state have been established during BJP rule. While a litre of Nandini's toned milk costs Rs 39, the same quantity of Amul is priced at Rs 52. OPINION | Milk will spill: Amul vs Nandini in Namma Bengaluru The Explainer: 1. Why Amul's announcement to sell its milk and curd in Karnataka became an issue? In December last, Amit Shah during the inauguration of KMF's mega-dairy in Mandya said the "cooperation between Amul and Nandini can do wonders in the dairy sector". The opposition called it a plan to merge Nandini with Gujarat, which the ruling BJP in Karnataka rubbished. In the last week of March this year, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) directed to write "Dahi" in Hindi on curd packets apart from the local nomenclature, which the opposition parties called an imposition of the language. 2. 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). 3. 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. 3. What is the BJP government's defence? It has dismissed the charge saying there is no plan to merge Nandini with Amul. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai charged alleged the Congress and the JD(S) are trying to mislead people and create fear among them. He said the milk production increased during the current saffron party rule. 4. 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. READ MORE | Milk row: Congress' Shivakumar visits Nandini parlour, says Karnataka brand stronger than Amul 5. What is the size of Nandini's business? The second largest cooperative institution after Amul, Nandini is a Rs 21,000 crore brand of the KMF, according to BAMUL director P Nagaraju. He adds Amul produces 1.8 crore litres of milk everyday while the KMF produces over 90 lakh litres a day. 6. Why is Nandini a market leader? Nagaraju says milk prices are competitive, quality is superior with zero adulteration, good network of milk producers and milk union and people's pride in the products. 7. Where else does KMF sell its products other than Karnataka? Nandini products are sold in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Maharashtra. Some of its products are exported too. 8. If Nandini can sell its products in other states, what is wrong in Amul doing business in Karnataka? According to Nagaraju, Maharashtra State Cooperative Milk Federation Limited, also known as Mahanand Dairy, is not doing good business ever since Amul entered the market. Similarly, the cooperative milk federations did not pick up much in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. 9. Why is it vital for the Karnataka BJP to steer clear of this controversy? When the rural economy is dependent on KMF and the emotions of Kannadigas are deeply attached to the Nandini brand, it is essential for the ruling BJP to come out clean to retain power after the May 10 assembly polls. The Congress and the JD(S) are leaving no stone unturned to make it a major poll plank, which has the potential to ruin the saffron party's election prospects.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: As Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) continued their tirade against the BJP government in the state over the alleged conspiracy to weaken the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hit out at Opposition leaders saying they are trying to spread lies to create confusion. Congress and JDS leaders are indulging in low-level politics by trying to spread lies about the KMF Nandini brand to create confusion among farmers and the general public, the CM said.

There is a lot of demand for Nandini milk in many states and even abroad. Milk procurement has increased from 84 lakh litres per day in 2018 to 94 lakh litres per day now and curd production has increased from 4.76 lakh litres to 7.60 lakh litres per day, Bommai said.

Our production, procurement and sales have increased. Nandini has 85% of the market share in Karnataka, the CM said and added that many products have come into the market, but Nandini has faced the competition efficiently.

The Opposition should stop trying to politicise the issue. People should not trust the lies being spread by them, he said strongly refuting the allegation that Amul products are allowed into Karnataka to weaken KMF.

The Opposition, however, continued to target the government and even termed it as Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shahs deliberate attempt to make Nandini less competitive and destroy its identity. It is actually a sinister plot of Amit Shah to control more and more cooperatives outside Gujarat, which are then misused politically during elections, the Congress alleged taking to a social media platform.

The previous Congress government in the state increased production by giving an incentive of Rs 5 per litre to farmers under the Ksheera Bhagya scheme. As a result, milk production increased manifold. In 2018, it was 75 lakh litres per day, while in 2014, it was 43 lakh litres. Under the BJP government, the incentive was not increased at all and milk production in the state has fallen to 70 lakh litres, creating scarcity in retail and hospitality sectors, the Congress alleged.

KMF RUBBISHES MERGER, CALLS IT RUMOUR

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Limited (KMF) rubbished apprehensions expressed by a few over its merger with another bigger milk cooperative as a rumour. The KMF is the second biggest cooperative milk federation producing 85 lakh litres of milk each day procured from 26 lakh farmers, read a statement issued by the KMF managing director. The federation plans to increase procurement to take it to 1 crore liters per day, it added.

Rubbishing rumours doing the rounds on social media platforms about KMFs merger with a bigger cooperative federation (Amul), the KMF said it is far from the truth and there is no such development. The KMF also made it clear that it has not entered into any agreement with any cooperative or milk producers cooperative federation for expanding its business or increasing milk procurement.

Known for its good quality and competitive prices, Nandini is competing with other brands, the release added. Over seven lakh litres of milk and curd are sold in Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Goa. The KMF has taken up many projects to expand it across the country, the KMF said and asked customers not to pay heed to rumours.

DKS VISITS NANDINI MILK PARLOUR

Hassan: Amid the controversy over Amuls entry into Karnataka, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar on Monday visited a Nandini parlour in Hassan and purchased milk and other products to express his support for the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).

Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar urged people to purchase Nandini milk and other KMF products to support and save farmers and milk producers of Karnataka.

The Kanakapura MLA said that the need of the hour is to protect Brand Nandini. He said the duty of a State Government is to protect lakhs of families that depend on milk cooperative societies. Shivakumar said that CM Basavaraj Bommai should make his stand clear on the controversy.

BENGALURU: As Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) continued their tirade against the BJP government in the state over the alleged conspiracy to weaken the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hit out at Opposition leaders saying they are trying to spread lies to create confusion. Congress and JDS leaders are indulging in low-level politics by trying to spread lies about the KMF Nandini brand to create confusion among farmers and the general public, the CM said. There is a lot of demand for Nandini milk in many states and even abroad. Milk procurement has increased from 84 lakh litres per day in 2018 to 94 lakh litres per day now and curd production has increased from 4.76 lakh litres to 7.60 lakh litres per day, Bommai said. Our production, procurement and sales have increased. Nandini has 85% of the market share in Karnataka, the CM said and added that many products have come into the market, but Nandini has faced the competition efficiently.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Opposition should stop trying to politicise the issue. People should not trust the lies being spread by them, he said strongly refuting the allegation that Amul products are allowed into Karnataka to weaken KMF. The Opposition, however, continued to target the government and even termed it as Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shahs deliberate attempt to make Nandini less competitive and destroy its identity. It is actually a sinister plot of Amit Shah to control more and more cooperatives outside Gujarat, which are then misused politically during elections, the Congress alleged taking to a social media platform. The previous Congress government in the state increased production by giving an incentive of Rs 5 per litre to farmers under the Ksheera Bhagya scheme. As a result, milk production increased manifold. In 2018, it was 75 lakh litres per day, while in 2014, it was 43 lakh litres. Under the BJP government, the incentive was not increased at all and milk production in the state has fallen to 70 lakh litres, creating scarcity in retail and hospitality sectors, the Congress alleged. KMF RUBBISHES MERGER, CALLS IT RUMOUR Bengaluru: The Karnataka Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Limited (KMF) rubbished apprehensions expressed by a few over its merger with another bigger milk cooperative as a rumour. The KMF is the second biggest cooperative milk federation producing 85 lakh litres of milk each day procured from 26 lakh farmers, read a statement issued by the KMF managing director. The federation plans to increase procurement to take it to 1 crore liters per day, it added. Rubbishing rumours doing the rounds on social media platforms about KMFs merger with a bigger cooperative federation (Amul), the KMF said it is far from the truth and there is no such development. The KMF also made it clear that it has not entered into any agreement with any cooperative or milk producers cooperative federation for expanding its business or increasing milk procurement. Known for its good quality and competitive prices, Nandini is competing with other brands, the release added. Over seven lakh litres of milk and curd are sold in Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Goa. The KMF has taken up many projects to expand it across the country, the KMF said and asked customers not to pay heed to rumours. DKS VISITS NANDINI MILK PARLOUR Hassan: Amid the controversy over Amuls entry into Karnataka, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar on Monday visited a Nandini parlour in Hassan and purchased milk and other products to express his support for the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar urged people to purchase Nandini milk and other KMF products to support and save farmers and milk producers of Karnataka. The Kanakapura MLA said that the need of the hour is to protect Brand Nandini. He said the duty of a State Government is to protect lakhs of families that depend on milk cooperative societies. Shivakumar said that CM Basavaraj Bommai should make his stand clear on the controversy.
Toby Antony By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Indicating that junkies in the state are fast switching to synthetic drugs, excise data reveal that there was a sharp rise in the quantity and number of chemical narcotic substances seized by the agency in 2022 compared to the previous year. The year 2022 witnessed a record seizure of drugs like MDMA, methamphetamine, LSD, and cocaine from the state.

Interestingly, the seizure of ganja or marijuana by Kerala Excise witnessed a major decline last year compared to 2021. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases in Kerala almost doubled in 2022 with 6,610 cases registered by excise compared to 3,922 in 2021. However, what raises the concern of agencies engaged in anti-narcotic enforcement activities is the growing tentacles of synthetic drugs in the state.

As per the data with excise, as much as 7,775.425g of MDMA was recovered by the agency in 2022 compared to 6130.5g in 2021. When only 88.806g of methamphetamine was recovered in 2021, the quantity rose to 2,432.483g in 2022. When only 3.657g of LSD was recovered in the state by excise in 2021, the same rose to 42.783g in 2022. The same trend is also seen in the seizure of cocaine which was 40.959g in 2022 compared with nil in 2021 and 16.37g in 2020. Heroin which is mostly smuggled from abroad was also recovered by excise. The amount of heroin seized in 2021 was a mere 18.187g. However it rose to 447.786g in 2022.

On the other hand, ganja seizures witnessed a decline in 2022 as 3,602.312kg was seized by excise compared to 5,602.6kg in 2021. The quantity seized in 2021 was 3,209.6kg. As many as 1,902 ganja plants were traced in 2022 compared to 760 in 2021. However, 2018 and 2016 witnessed more seizures of ganja plants with 2,186 and 2,045, respectively.

G Sreekumar Menon, former director general at the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) and currently working as a consultant for the United Nations Office of Drug Control (UNODC) said MDMA, known as ecstasy among its abusers, is the drug that is currently trending.

Though MDMA seizures are frequent across Kerala, the place where it is manufactured remains unknown. MDMA is an expensive narcotic substance. So everyone cannot afford it. But still more people are into its abuse now. It is a matter of concern that youngsters in Kerala are now switching to MDMA. Drugs like LSD existed since 1960 but were not popular in this part of the world. As these drugs are easy to hide and difficult to detect after abuse, people prefer such drugs. On the other hand, people who cannot afford drugs like MDMA and LSD continue to use ganja, he said.

A senior excise officer said the manufacturing hub of synthetic drugs in Kerala remains elusive. Ganja is mainly cultivated in the forests of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

MDMA, methamphetamine, LSD, heroin and cocaine come from abroad. Drug-peddling gangs in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi procure it from abroad. Drug peddlers in Kerala are linked with agents of major peddling gangs in these cities. Earlier, ganja was cultivated in the forests of Kerala. However, due to stringent enforcement activities, the cultivators have moved to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, he said. Sreekumar said a survey carried out by the Government of India in 2019 revealed that, though cases rose steadily, there was a major dearth of rehabilitation centres for addicts in the country.

The issue with the awareness programmes here is that personnel belonging to enforcement agencies are taking classes to students creating fear in the minds of children and the consequences of getting trapped in drug cases. So children try to abuse drugs clandestinely. The awareness programmes should be imparted by medical practitioners who can give classes about health issues faced by drug abusers. They should train counsellors who have expertise in dealing with drug abusers, he said.

KOCHI: Indicating that junkies in the state are fast switching to synthetic drugs, excise data reveal that there was a sharp rise in the quantity and number of chemical narcotic substances seized by the agency in 2022 compared to the previous year. The year 2022 witnessed a record seizure of drugs like MDMA, methamphetamine, LSD, and cocaine from the state. Interestingly, the seizure of ganja or marijuana by Kerala Excise witnessed a major decline last year compared to 2021. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases in Kerala almost doubled in 2022 with 6,610 cases registered by excise compared to 3,922 in 2021. However, what raises the concern of agencies engaged in anti-narcotic enforcement activities is the growing tentacles of synthetic drugs in the state. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As per the data with excise, as much as 7,775.425g of MDMA was recovered by the agency in 2022 compared to 6130.5g in 2021. When only 88.806g of methamphetamine was recovered in 2021, the quantity rose to 2,432.483g in 2022. When only 3.657g of LSD was recovered in the state by excise in 2021, the same rose to 42.783g in 2022. The same trend is also seen in the seizure of cocaine which was 40.959g in 2022 compared with nil in 2021 and 16.37g in 2020. Heroin which is mostly smuggled from abroad was also recovered by excise. The amount of heroin seized in 2021 was a mere 18.187g. However it rose to 447.786g in 2022. On the other hand, ganja seizures witnessed a decline in 2022 as 3,602.312kg was seized by excise compared to 5,602.6kg in 2021. The quantity seized in 2021 was 3,209.6kg. As many as 1,902 ganja plants were traced in 2022 compared to 760 in 2021. However, 2018 and 2016 witnessed more seizures of ganja plants with 2,186 and 2,045, respectively. G Sreekumar Menon, former director general at the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) and currently working as a consultant for the United Nations Office of Drug Control (UNODC) said MDMA, known as ecstasy among its abusers, is the drug that is currently trending. Though MDMA seizures are frequent across Kerala, the place where it is manufactured remains unknown. MDMA is an expensive narcotic substance. So everyone cannot afford it. But still more people are into its abuse now. It is a matter of concern that youngsters in Kerala are now switching to MDMA. Drugs like LSD existed since 1960 but were not popular in this part of the world. As these drugs are easy to hide and difficult to detect after abuse, people prefer such drugs. On the other hand, people who cannot afford drugs like MDMA and LSD continue to use ganja, he said. A senior excise officer said the manufacturing hub of synthetic drugs in Kerala remains elusive. Ganja is mainly cultivated in the forests of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. MDMA, methamphetamine, LSD, heroin and cocaine come from abroad. Drug-peddling gangs in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi procure it from abroad. Drug peddlers in Kerala are linked with agents of major peddling gangs in these cities. Earlier, ganja was cultivated in the forests of Kerala. However, due to stringent enforcement activities, the cultivators have moved to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, he said. Sreekumar said a survey carried out by the Government of India in 2019 revealed that, though cases rose steadily, there was a major dearth of rehabilitation centres for addicts in the country. The issue with the awareness programmes here is that personnel belonging to enforcement agencies are taking classes to students creating fear in the minds of children and the consequences of getting trapped in drug cases. So children try to abuse drugs clandestinely. The awareness programmes should be imparted by medical practitioners who can give classes about health issues faced by drug abusers. They should train counsellors who have expertise in dealing with drug abusers, he said.
An article from the New York Times entitled "Covid Politics Leave a Florida Hospital Shaken" recently appeared in the Buffalo News. The article discussed the "health freedom" movement that continues to berate Sarasota Memorial Hospital for following CDC and NIH Covid-19 guidelines (which did not recommend Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine during the pandemic). While SMH did utilize the medications with a physician's order and a signed waiver, the fury continues on social media and at board meetings, with mistruths and harassment of the staff.

I shook my head at the hypocrisy of the SMH board member, Victor Rohe, who stated: "We feel that a person's health decisions should be made by that person in consultation with their physician. We don't feel that it should be made one-size-fits-all, made in Washington, or by some insurance company."

I wish Rohe and the Florida government would embrace the same notion he has for Covid-19 management and apply it to women's health and the ability to access care recommended by their physicians. But once again, the cherry picking (and I'm not referring to the statistics indicating SMH had fewer Covid-19 deaths and shorter admission rates in a report the hospital provided, which Rohe rebuffed) ensues.

As a part time Florida resident, I've spoken to nurses and NPs at SMH. They are short staffed, overworked, and despite the continuous building of new SMH branches, patients are backed up in the ER awaiting beds. My husband was treated there recently and was asked, if he needed to be admitted, would he be willing to be transferred to another hospital. Seems to me, the board member's focus and energy could be better utilized.

As the article stated, Gov. DeSantis (who will very likely be a candidate for president) continues to berate healthcare professionals, and his "medical freedom" policies, once again, only pertain to those that he agrees with. By all means, let us reject the motto (as one of the DeSantis banners lauds): "Make America Florida."

Maureen Donovan

Orchard Park
Krithika Srinivasan By

Express News Service

VILLUPURAM: About 40 Dalit students in Melpathi village near Koliyanur block in Villupuram district on Monday couldn't turn up for their ongoing revision test as caste Hindus raised a hullabaloo against providing a van for ferrying Dalit children to school.

The section of caste Hindus (Vanniyars) opposed providing van facilities to ferry the Dalit students to school. Two vans were extended by authorities for the safety of the children in the aftermath of the high-handed and discriminatory behaviour of Vanniyars towards the Dalits.

It may be recalled that a Dalit youth K Kadhiravan (22) and his brothers were barred from entering the local Shri Dharmaraja Draupati Amman temple by the Vanniyar people on Friday last. The siblings were beaten up by the caste Hindus.

Against this backdrop, police said two vans were provided to ferry Dalit children to the government middle school. The caste Hindu people protested and children in one of the vans had to be sent back "in a bid to prevent tensions."

"We were first scared to send our children to school. But the police assured us of safety and took one batch of 20 students in a van. Soon after, some caste Hindu villagers argued with the police, and so the second batch of 40 students were sent back home," said a 38-year-old Dalit resident of the village.

The students apparently missed their ongoing revision test. School Headmistress A Sharmiladevi told The New Indian Express, "All the students who entered the school in the morning are safe in the classrooms. They will write their exams. We will also try our best to bring more students from their homes, with the help of the revenue department."



Residents of the Dalit colony alleged that panchayat president R Manivel, who holds a block-level secretary position in the DMK, was behind the whole incident and it was with his support that the caste Hindus were inciting more hatred against the Dalits.



The sham of a "peace talk"



Meanwhile, K Kanimozhi, sister of 22-year-old Kadhiravan (22), who along with his two brothers were beaten up by Vanniyar people for trying to enter the temple, has a complaint with Valavanur police. However, action on the complaint was temporarily withheld during the first "peace meeting" on Saturday. The meeting ended on a sour note and was re-scheduled on Monday, official sources said. But the caste Hindu representatives did not turn up on Monday, sources confirmed.



"We waited at the RDO office from the morning but none of the caste Hindus came. They even disregard the government officials," said a peace talk committee member, representing the Dalits.



Villupuram RDO S Ravichandran failed to respond when TNIE tried to contact him.

K Kandhan, the victim's father who was also allegedly assaulted on Friday said, "As the peace talks did not happen, we lodged a police complaint. Now, we demand that police arrest the accused immediately."

VILLUPURAM: About 40 Dalit students in Melpathi village near Koliyanur block in Villupuram district on Monday couldn't turn up for their ongoing revision test as caste Hindus raised a hullabaloo against providing a van for ferrying Dalit children to school. The section of caste Hindus (Vanniyars) opposed providing van facilities to ferry the Dalit students to school. Two vans were extended by authorities for the safety of the children in the aftermath of the high-handed and discriminatory behaviour of Vanniyars towards the Dalits. It may be recalled that a Dalit youth K Kadhiravan (22) and his brothers were barred from entering the local Shri Dharmaraja Draupati Amman temple by the Vanniyar people on Friday last. The siblings were beaten up by the caste Hindus.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Against this backdrop, police said two vans were provided to ferry Dalit children to the government middle school. The caste Hindu people protested and children in one of the vans had to be sent back "in a bid to prevent tensions." "We were first scared to send our children to school. But the police assured us of safety and took one batch of 20 students in a van. Soon after, some caste Hindu villagers argued with the police, and so the second batch of 40 students were sent back home," said a 38-year-old Dalit resident of the village. The students apparently missed their ongoing revision test. School Headmistress A Sharmiladevi told The New Indian Express, "All the students who entered the school in the morning are safe in the classrooms. They will write their exams. We will also try our best to bring more students from their homes, with the help of the revenue department." Residents of the Dalit colony alleged that panchayat president R Manivel, who holds a block-level secretary position in the DMK, was behind the whole incident and it was with his support that the caste Hindus were inciting more hatred against the Dalits.The sham of a "peace talk" Meanwhile, K Kanimozhi, sister of 22-year-old Kadhiravan (22), who along with his two brothers were beaten up by Vanniyar people for trying to enter the temple, has a complaint with Valavanur police. However, action on the complaint was temporarily withheld during the first "peace meeting" on Saturday. The meeting ended on a sour note and was re-scheduled on Monday, official sources said. But the caste Hindu representatives did not turn up on Monday, sources confirmed. "We waited at the RDO office from the morning but none of the caste Hindus came. They even disregard the government officials," said a peace talk committee member, representing the Dalits. Villupuram RDO S Ravichandran failed to respond when TNIE tried to contact him. K Kandhan, the victim's father who was also allegedly assaulted on Friday said, "As the peace talks did not happen, we lodged a police complaint. Now, we demand that police arrest the accused immediately."
By Express News Service

HANAMKONDA: Warangal Central Zone DCP Md Abdul Bari examined Huzurabad BJP MLA Eatala Rajender regarding the SSC public examination question paper leak on April 4 at the Warangal Police Commissionerate for about an hour and a half on Monday.

The Kamalapur police had served notices to Rajender, directing him to be present for questioning. Accordingly, Rajender reached the police commissionerate office along with his mobile phone at 12.45 pm.

Speaking to the media later, Rajender said that the DCP asked him about his relationship with A2 B Prashanth and whether Prashanth had sent him the leaked question paper to him via WhatsApp. He denied having any connection with Prashanth and said that the leaked question paper was received from an activist of the BJP in Kamalapur village, and not from Prashanth. Rajender said that he told the DCP that he had not downloaded or seen the question paper.

As a responsible MLA, I would not destroy the public examination system and the future of the children, he said. He said that he had handed over his mobile phone to the investigation officer for scrutiny and claimed that the officer thoroughly checked his WhatsApp for any information related to the SSC public examination question paper leak.

The BJP MLA accused Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of conspiring to file a case against him and playing games with the 30 lakh students in the State. Rajender also accused the Chief Minister of trying to divert attention from the Delhi liquor scam and creating new troubles in the State. He stated that the SSC public examination question paper leak was another example of this.

C Vidyasagar Reddy of the BJP legal cell, accompanied Rajender to the Commissionerate and waited outside the DCPs office while the MLA was being questioned. He confirmed that the police had checked Rajenders phone and asked him some questions regarding the question paper leak before sending him back.

Upon learning of Rajenders arrival at the Warangal Commissionerate, hundreds of BJP activists and leaders rushed to the spot. The Commissionerate gates were closed till Rajender was questioned and the BJP activists and leaders waited outside.

HANAMKONDA: Warangal Central Zone DCP Md Abdul Bari examined Huzurabad BJP MLA Eatala Rajender regarding the SSC public examination question paper leak on April 4 at the Warangal Police Commissionerate for about an hour and a half on Monday. The Kamalapur police had served notices to Rajender, directing him to be present for questioning. Accordingly, Rajender reached the police commissionerate office along with his mobile phone at 12.45 pm. Speaking to the media later, Rajender said that the DCP asked him about his relationship with A2 B Prashanth and whether Prashanth had sent him the leaked question paper to him via WhatsApp. He denied having any connection with Prashanth and said that the leaked question paper was received from an activist of the BJP in Kamalapur village, and not from Prashanth. Rajender said that he told the DCP that he had not downloaded or seen the question paper.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As a responsible MLA, I would not destroy the public examination system and the future of the children, he said. He said that he had handed over his mobile phone to the investigation officer for scrutiny and claimed that the officer thoroughly checked his WhatsApp for any information related to the SSC public examination question paper leak. The BJP MLA accused Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of conspiring to file a case against him and playing games with the 30 lakh students in the State. Rajender also accused the Chief Minister of trying to divert attention from the Delhi liquor scam and creating new troubles in the State. He stated that the SSC public examination question paper leak was another example of this. C Vidyasagar Reddy of the BJP legal cell, accompanied Rajender to the Commissionerate and waited outside the DCPs office while the MLA was being questioned. He confirmed that the police had checked Rajenders phone and asked him some questions regarding the question paper leak before sending him back. Upon learning of Rajenders arrival at the Warangal Commissionerate, hundreds of BJP activists and leaders rushed to the spot. The Commissionerate gates were closed till Rajender was questioned and the BJP activists and leaders waited outside.
Ranjit Bhushan By

For several years in West Bengal, there was endless buck passing between the state government and the Indian Railways on how to stop the death of elephants on railway tracks running through the states dense forests.

Only in 2018 did the central government and a state agency finally decide to set up a joint committee to prevent such deaths, but not before the Rajya Sabha was informed that as many as 30 elephants died in Bengal after being hit by speeding trains between 2012-2017. The primary responsibility of the proposed committee was to coordinate and identify railway track zones that are transit points for elephants. Various railway lines in north and south Bengal cut across forest land and paths frequented by elephant herds.

ALSO READ | Tiger, tiger burning too bright? Wayanad tales and the debate on culling of the great cats

Mind you, Bengal is by no means the principal culprit. Assam topped the list with 90 casualties, followed by Odisha with 73, Tamil Nadu with 68 and Karnataka with 65, while Kerala saw 24 elephants perishing in circumstances that were not natural. In some other states, the numbers were not big enough to be computed but added to the brutal, callous tally, nonetheless.

In fact, in December 2022, the Union environment ministry told the Lok Sabha that India has lost 494 elephants to train accidents, electrocution, poaching and poisoning over the past five years, highlighting the challenges undermining elephant conservation efforts. Of the 494, electrocution through contact with power transmission lines accounted for 348 elephant deaths followed by train accidents (80), poaching (41) and poisoning (25), between 2017-18 and 2021-22.

While tiger conservation has justifiably caught the imagination of the public for several years, thanks to the political push it has received at the highest level by successive dispensations, the safety of elephants -- revered in many parts of the country as the embodiment of Lord Ganesa -- has received relatively little attention.

Wildlife experts have been at pains to say that while 494 deaths over a five-year period appeared to be a fraction of Indias estimated population of nearly 30,000 wild elephants, such deaths could disrupt herd dynamics and enhance the risk of human-elephant conflicts. The overall Indian tally constitutes over 50 per cent of the worldwide population of the Asian elephant.

India has 32 elephant reserves in 14 states, but studies reveal that 30% of the countrys wild elephants live in large and contiguous forests, while the rest are distributed across fragmented landscapes that have shrunk amid growing human activities, including cultivation.

ALSO READ | 'The Elephant Whisperers' whose hearts beat for orphaned calves

Bilal Habib, a conservation scientist and member of the elephant cell at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, was quoted in the media as saying, "The loss of a single older elephant in a herd is the loss of experience for the others in the herd. The older members in the herds guide the younger ones. In their absence, the younger ones could stray into human-dominated landscapes, increasing human-elephant conflict."

Statistics reveal that these conflicts have only intensified. Changes in crop patterns and agricultural management, irresponsible wildlife tourism, the impacts of global warming and in-migration into forest areas have all played a role.

There is more. The fast-dwindling population of wild elephants, or other animals, is not an issue of political significance in India, as animals don't constitute a vote bank! Frankly, beyond a few activists and biologists, no one could care less.

Forest conservationists are correct in suggesting that in a time of escalating human-wildlife conflicts, with wild elephants being felled indiscriminately across the country, a review of forest management policies at the government and community levels is required to save habitats.

Not unnaturally, the electrocution of wild elephants -- the cause of the largest number of deaths -- is being witnessed in areas where rising human-wildlife conflicts have been reported. Unless something is done soon, the growing in-migration levels will only aggravate this conflict.

ALSO READ | Man vs Otter and other Kadalundi tales

Environmentalists have been quick to note that the situation on the ground is alarming. Several development projects have been launched without addressing environmental impacts, causing incalculable damage to wildlife habitats in India.

Some positive steps need to be noted.

The Kerala government has attempted to mitigate the problem, adopting some key measures. It provided 584 km of elephant-proof trenches, installed 1,501 km of solar-powered fences, 35 km of elephant-proof walls, 3.5 km of stone-pitched trenches, 259 km of kayyala and 43 km of bio-fencing to minimise human-wildlife conflicts. The state forest department has also formed Rapid Response Teams to meet emergencies and to work with affected communities.

Interestingly, all solutions are on the table. Someone just needs to implement them. The Environment Ministry has requested states and power transmission agencies to take steps to ensure that transmission lines are at an adequate height from the ground to minimise the risk of electrocution.

A joint advisory from the environment and railway ministries issued 12 years ago had suggested measures to reduce the risk of elephants being struck by trains. Again, government agencies have been dragging their feet over an issue that has little public resonance.

Guidelines issued six years ago, prescribing measures such as underpasses of adequate height for elephants to cross railway lines, have been largely overlooked.

Web Scrawl | Read more of our web-only articles here

With the expansion of cultivated land along forest boundaries, experts say, elephants are increasingly being drawn to forage for crops such as maize, millets, paddy, sugarcane and vegetables.

Conservation scientists have in the past recommended steps to mitigate human-elephant conflict such as bio fencing with certain crops unpalatable to elephants like chillies, ginger or citrus plants or with beehives.

Naturally, any tangible solution has to include the interests of the ever-burgeoning human population. The central government says that compensation is being paid to local communities for any loss of property or life caused by wild elephants to avoid retaliatory killing, which would be adding to the numbers of those dying in the wild.

(Ranjit Bhushan is a senior journalist. These are the writer's views.)

For several years in West Bengal, there was endless buck passing between the state government and the Indian Railways on how to stop the death of elephants on railway tracks running through the states dense forests. Only in 2018 did the central government and a state agency finally decide to set up a joint committee to prevent such deaths, but not before the Rajya Sabha was informed that as many as 30 elephants died in Bengal after being hit by speeding trains between 2012-2017. The primary responsibility of the proposed committee was to coordinate and identify railway track zones that are transit points for elephants. Various railway lines in north and south Bengal cut across forest land and paths frequented by elephant herds. ALSO READ | Tiger, tiger burning too bright? Wayanad tales and the debate on culling of the great catsgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Mind you, Bengal is by no means the principal culprit. Assam topped the list with 90 casualties, followed by Odisha with 73, Tamil Nadu with 68 and Karnataka with 65, while Kerala saw 24 elephants perishing in circumstances that were not natural. In some other states, the numbers were not big enough to be computed but added to the brutal, callous tally, nonetheless. In fact, in December 2022, the Union environment ministry told the Lok Sabha that India has lost 494 elephants to train accidents, electrocution, poaching and poisoning over the past five years, highlighting the challenges undermining elephant conservation efforts. Of the 494, electrocution through contact with power transmission lines accounted for 348 elephant deaths followed by train accidents (80), poaching (41) and poisoning (25), between 2017-18 and 2021-22. While tiger conservation has justifiably caught the imagination of the public for several years, thanks to the political push it has received at the highest level by successive dispensations, the safety of elephants -- revered in many parts of the country as the embodiment of Lord Ganesa -- has received relatively little attention. Wildlife experts have been at pains to say that while 494 deaths over a five-year period appeared to be a fraction of Indias estimated population of nearly 30,000 wild elephants, such deaths could disrupt herd dynamics and enhance the risk of human-elephant conflicts. The overall Indian tally constitutes over 50 per cent of the worldwide population of the Asian elephant. India has 32 elephant reserves in 14 states, but studies reveal that 30% of the countrys wild elephants live in large and contiguous forests, while the rest are distributed across fragmented landscapes that have shrunk amid growing human activities, including cultivation. ALSO READ | 'The Elephant Whisperers' whose hearts beat for orphaned calves Bilal Habib, a conservation scientist and member of the elephant cell at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, was quoted in the media as saying, "The loss of a single older elephant in a herd is the loss of experience for the others in the herd. The older members in the herds guide the younger ones. In their absence, the younger ones could stray into human-dominated landscapes, increasing human-elephant conflict." Statistics reveal that these conflicts have only intensified. Changes in crop patterns and agricultural management, irresponsible wildlife tourism, the impacts of global warming and in-migration into forest areas have all played a role. There is more. The fast-dwindling population of wild elephants, or other animals, is not an issue of political significance in India, as animals don't constitute a vote bank! Frankly, beyond a few activists and biologists, no one could care less. Forest conservationists are correct in suggesting that in a time of escalating human-wildlife conflicts, with wild elephants being felled indiscriminately across the country, a review of forest management policies at the government and community levels is required to save habitats. Not unnaturally, the electrocution of wild elephants -- the cause of the largest number of deaths -- is being witnessed in areas where rising human-wildlife conflicts have been reported. Unless something is done soon, the growing in-migration levels will only aggravate this conflict. ALSO READ | Man vs Otter and other Kadalundi tales Environmentalists have been quick to note that the situation on the ground is alarming. Several development projects have been launched without addressing environmental impacts, causing incalculable damage to wildlife habitats in India. Some positive steps need to be noted. The Kerala government has attempted to mitigate the problem, adopting some key measures. It provided 584 km of elephant-proof trenches, installed 1,501 km of solar-powered fences, 35 km of elephant-proof walls, 3.5 km of stone-pitched trenches, 259 km of kayyala and 43 km of bio-fencing to minimise human-wildlife conflicts. The state forest department has also formed Rapid Response Teams to meet emergencies and to work with affected communities. Interestingly, all solutions are on the table. Someone just needs to implement them. The Environment Ministry has requested states and power transmission agencies to take steps to ensure that transmission lines are at an adequate height from the ground to minimise the risk of electrocution. A joint advisory from the environment and railway ministries issued 12 years ago had suggested measures to reduce the risk of elephants being struck by trains. Again, government agencies have been dragging their feet over an issue that has little public resonance. Guidelines issued six years ago, prescribing measures such as underpasses of adequate height for elephants to cross railway lines, have been largely overlooked. Web Scrawl | Read more of our web-only articles here With the expansion of cultivated land along forest boundaries, experts say, elephants are increasingly being drawn to forage for crops such as maize, millets, paddy, sugarcane and vegetables. Conservation scientists have in the past recommended steps to mitigate human-elephant conflict such as bio fencing with certain crops unpalatable to elephants like chillies, ginger or citrus plants or with beehives. Naturally, any tangible solution has to include the interests of the ever-burgeoning human population. The central government says that compensation is being paid to local communities for any loss of property or life caused by wild elephants to avoid retaliatory killing, which would be adding to the numbers of those dying in the wild. (Ranjit Bhushan is a senior journalist. These are the writer's views.)
By AFP

KISHISHE: Michel hid in the outdoor lavatory of his church in Kishishe, a town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, praying that M23 rebels wouldn't find him.

That day, November 29, the rebels raided the town of thousands of people and committed their worst-recorded massacre since launching their campaign in late 2021.

Over 170 civilians were killed, according to the United Nations.

"They told them to sit on the edge of a hole, and they started shooting them," said Michel, who witnessed the killings from his hiding place.

M23 rebels had captured Kishishe a week earlier, but they swept back into the town again that morning searching for Mai-Mai militiamen who attacked them and then hid inside houses, according to several residents.

The M23 -- which is allegedly backed by neighbouring Rwanda -- has captured swathes of territory in eastern Congo's North Kivu province and advanced within several dozen kilometres (miles) of its capital Goma. Over 900,000 people have fled its advance, the International Organization for Migration says.

The Tutsi-led militia has gained strategic toeholds across North Kivu, including lucrative border posts and control of most roads leading to Goma.

But its capture of Kishishe was resonant for another reason: the town had long been a bastion of the FDLR militia -- a descendant of the Rwandan Hutu extremist groups that carried out the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. The M23 recently withdrew from Kishishe.

AFP visited the town on April 5. All names of interviewees have been changed to protect their safety.

'Disappear from the Earth'

Residents described M23 fighters as launching a manhunt in Kishishe on November 29, going door-to-door and slaughtering any men or boys they found.

Michel, standing near a mass grave by the church where he had hidden, clasped his hands together as he recounted the attack. Dozens of people had taken refuge in the church, explained Michel, but to no avail. "They started killing everywhere," the 40-year-old farmer said.

"They said every man who was there had to disappear from the Earth."

Standing close by, another resident pointed to the top of a hill, where he said "there are more bodies."

Bullet casings littered the ground on the hilltop, which had also had defensive trenches cut into the earth -- and a freshly dug grave in a cassava patch.

"Four people are buried here," said a farmer, pointing to the grave.

Stench of death

Along a path further on, several corpses were decomposing in the open air.

One man vomited from the overpowering smell. A small group of women and children returning from the fields passed by without looking, seemingly unfazed. The corpses didn't appear to have been there long, and it was not clear under what circumstances they were killed.

Fabrice, a Kishishe resident, said that M23 rebels forced him to dig graves, but explained that the rebels had cremated some of their victims. He said that he had witnessed 33 killings.

The exact death toll in Kishishe remains unclear. In February, the UN put the figure at 171, but other estimates are lower. Amnesty International said that rebels killed at least 20 people.

A village elder told AFP that 120 deaths had occurred between November 22-29, producing a handwritten three-page list of names from his pocket. "If they found a 14-year-old boy or a man, they killed them, even if they didn't have a weapon," he said.

Uncertain future

Another list detailing the death toll, circulating in Kishishe, contains only 18 names.

One witness said that this list was drawn up in December -- under the eyes of M23 fighters -- when three people who said they were journalists arrived from Rwanda. They later reported their findings in Rwandan media.

The DRC has repeatedly accused its neighbour Rwanda of backing the M23, a charge that Kigali denies. The United States, several other Western countries as well as independent UN experts have also concluded that Rwanda is backing the rebels.

Life has begun to return to the streets of Kishishe since the M23 left. But the wounds of its occupation are still fresh, and an air of uncertainty hangs over its residents who have been left to fend for themselves.

Neither the Congolese army, UN peacekeepers nor soldiers from a joint East African military force deployed in the region have arrived to secure the town. The M23 has withdrawn to a position 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Kishishe.
By AFP

The Philippines and the United States launched their largest-ever joint military exercises on Tuesday, as the longstanding allies seek to counter growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

Nearly 18,000 troops are taking part in the annual exercises dubbed Balikatan, or "shoulder to shoulder" in Filipino, which for the first time will include a live-fire drill in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

The drills follow Monday's conclusion of a three-day Chinese military exercise that simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

Balikatan will include military helicopters landing on a Philippine island off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon, nearly 300 kilometres (180 miles) from Taiwan, and the retaking of another island by amphibious forces.

It will be the first time the exercises have been held under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has sought to strengthen ties with the United States after his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte trashed the alliance.

"In order for us to protect our sovereign territory, we really have to drill and exercise how we are going to retake an island that's been taken away from us," Philippine exercises spokesman Colonel Michael Logico told reporters after the opening ceremony at a military camp in Manila.

In recent months, Manila and Washington have agreed to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and struck a deal to expand the US forces' footprint in the Philippines, which has infuriated China.

US troops will be allowed to use an additional four Philippine military bases under the pact, including a naval base not far from Taiwan.

The Philippines' proximity to the island could potentially make it a key US partner in the event of a Chinese invasion.

At a joint news conference Tuesday, both armies did not address questions about the Taiwan tensions and a possible role for the Philippines if China invaded Taiwan.

News of the expanded base access had prompted China to accuse the United States of "endangering regional peace and stability".

"Countries in this part of the world must uphold strategic independence and firmly resist the Cold-War mentality and bloc confrontation," China's ambassador to Manila, Huang Xilian, said last week.

Boosting military tactics

About 12,200 American, 5,400 Filipino and just over 100 Australian soldiers will participate in the two weeks of Balikatan exercises -- about twice as many as last year.

About 50 leftwing protesters staged a rally outside the opening ceremony venue, calling on the Philippine government to scrap the exercises.

As part of the exercises, troops will stage an amphibious landing on the western island of Palawan, the closest Philippine landmass to the Spratly Islands, where Beijing and Manila have rival claims.

The Americans will also use their Patriot missiles, considered one of the best air defence systems in the world, and the HIMARS precision rocket system, which has helped Ukrainian forces fighting the Russian invaders.

The two armies originally planned to fire live rounds at sea off the northern province of Ilocos Norte, about 355 kilometres from Taiwan's south coast, but later on, had to move it further down the South China Sea, Philippine Army Major-General Marvin Licudine said.

The original site was "not sufficiently prepared" for unloading the needed equipment, he added.

The new venue is less than 300 kilometres east of the Chinese-held Scarborough Shoal.

The exercises will enhance "tactics, techniques and procedures across a wide range of military operations," said Philippine military spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar.

Soon after the opening ceremony in Manila, the Philippine defence and foreign ministers will jointly meet their US counterparts in Washington.

Philippine Army Artillery Regiment Commander Anthony Coronel (L) returns a salute from a US soldier during a joint military drill called Salaknib at Laur, northern Philippines, March 31, 2023. (Photo | AP)
By AFP

TAIPEI: Chinese warships and aircraft were still operating around Taiwan on Tuesday, the island's defence ministry said, a day after Beijing declared an end to its massive war games.

China launched three days of military exercises around self-ruled Taiwan on Saturday that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practise a blockade of the island.

The show of force from Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory, was a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke retaliatory measures.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the island as of 11:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday.

ALSO READ | China military 'ready to fight' after drills near Taiwan

China "organised military aircraft this morning and crossed the median line from the north, the centre, and the south", the ministry said, referring to the unofficial but once largely adhered-to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait.

On Monday, the final day of the drills, the ministry said it had detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island, with 54 planes crossing into Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

The ADIZ incursions were the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021.

The zone is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace and includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own ADIZ and even some of the mainland.

READ HERE | China launches military drills around Taiwan after Tsai's visit to US

During the exercises, J15 fighter jets had been deployed off China's Shandong aircraft carrier and were among the aircraft that crossed the median line, the defence ministry added.

A similar number of warships and jets were deployed by Beijing on Saturday and Sunday.

"The Shandong carrier battle group deployed in the Philippine Sea was involved in the drill and the total of 232 air sorties in three days are unprecedented," Alexander Huang, a military expert at Tamkang University in Taipei, told AFP.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen condemned the military drills on Monday, hours after they officially came to an end, saying China was using Taiwan's engagement with the United States as an "excuse to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region".

"Although China's military exercise has come to an end, our military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," Tsai said.

Aerial blockade

China responded to questions about Tuesday's military presence by reiterating its claim over Taiwan.

"China will resolutely take strong measures to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing.

"Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory. There is no so-called Taiwanese defence ministry."

After the three-day exercise, the Chinese military said it had "successfully completed" tasks related to its "Joint Sword" drills.

The war games saw Beijing simulate "sealing" off the island, with state media reporting dozens of planes had practised an "aerial blockade".

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.

The deployment triggered condemnation from China, which said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into its territorial waters.

Separately, Beijing warned that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed "foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions.

The White House said that relations with Beijing were rocky following the drills.

Analysts said the continued presence of Chinese ships and aircraft even after the drill was declared over could signal an increase in daily military displays.

"I hope it will not become the normal state," said Tzeng Yi-suo, a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei.

"Taiwan's military has been working hard to counter the... attrition and harassment."

TAIPEI: Chinese warships and aircraft were still operating around Taiwan on Tuesday, the island's defence ministry said, a day after Beijing declared an end to its massive war games. China launched three days of military exercises around self-ruled Taiwan on Saturday that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practise a blockade of the island. The show of force from Beijing, which claims the island as part of its territory, was a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke retaliatory measures.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the island as of 11:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday. ALSO READ | China military 'ready to fight' after drills near Taiwan China "organised military aircraft this morning and crossed the median line from the north, the centre, and the south", the ministry said, referring to the unofficial but once largely adhered-to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait. On Monday, the final day of the drills, the ministry said it had detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island, with 54 planes crossing into Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern air defence identification zone (ADIZ). The ADIZ incursions were the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021. The zone is not the same as Taiwan's territorial airspace and includes a far greater area that overlaps with part of China's own ADIZ and even some of the mainland. READ HERE | China launches military drills around Taiwan after Tsai's visit to US During the exercises, J15 fighter jets had been deployed off China's Shandong aircraft carrier and were among the aircraft that crossed the median line, the defence ministry added. A similar number of warships and jets were deployed by Beijing on Saturday and Sunday. "The Shandong carrier battle group deployed in the Philippine Sea was involved in the drill and the total of 232 air sorties in three days are unprecedented," Alexander Huang, a military expert at Tamkang University in Taipei, told AFP. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen condemned the military drills on Monday, hours after they officially came to an end, saying China was using Taiwan's engagement with the United States as an "excuse to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region". "Although China's military exercise has come to an end, our military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," Tsai said. Aerial blockade China responded to questions about Tuesday's military presence by reiterating its claim over Taiwan. "China will resolutely take strong measures to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing. "Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory. There is no so-called Taiwanese defence ministry." After the three-day exercise, the Chinese military said it had "successfully completed" tasks related to its "Joint Sword" drills. The war games saw Beijing simulate "sealing" off the island, with state media reporting dozens of planes had practised an "aerial blockade". 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. The deployment triggered condemnation from China, which said the vessel had "illegally intruded" into its territorial waters. Separately, Beijing warned that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed "foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions. The White House said that relations with Beijing were rocky following the drills. Analysts said the continued presence of Chinese ships and aircraft even after the drill was declared over could signal an increase in daily military displays. "I hope it will not become the normal state," said Tzeng Yi-suo, a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei. "Taiwan's military has been working hard to counter the... attrition and harassment."
By Online Desk

Tom Turcich's had an existential crisis at 17. The death of his amazing friend, Ann Marie (16) turned his life on its head. It was then he decided to walk the world.

On April 2, 2015, Tom Turcich walked out of Haddon Township in Camden County in the US State of New Jersey. On May 21, 2022, seven years and 49 days after setting off with his four-legged companion Savannah, Turcich arrived back in Haddon Township.

Turcich had left a callow 25-year-old and returned a worldly-wise 32-year-old. It turned out to be seven years of "meditation," for him.

Today he's a speaker, photographer, writer, and adventurer, according to his website tomturcich.com

Turcich walked 21-24 miles a day for roughly half of the seven years he was away. In total, he walked 28,000 miles (and Savannah 25,000 miles), travelled through 38 countries and crossed every continent except Australia, which he couldnt do because of lockdown restrictions. He is the 10th person to have walked the world, and he assumes Savannah is the first dog to have done so, according to The Guardian.

Hes a man now. He sees the world so differently. Hes been to places where people with zero money work all week to add a cinder block to their house, and they would share all they had with him. To see that is a life-changer, The Guardian interview of him says.

Over the years, he picked up 121,000 followers on Instagram as he documented his travels under the handle @theworldwalk.

According to The Guardian, Turcich had always been taught that those who work hard will be rewarded; that if you are capable and determined there is nothing to stop you achieving. But the more he saw of the world, the more he realised this was not true.

You end up realising so little is down to willpower, because there are much smarter, much kinder people than me all over the world who dont have my opportunities. He tells me about a man he met in Peru selling petrol to passing trucks from his roadside hut. He was a great guy, and very bright; definitely smarter than me, and probably a harder worker. But hes never going to leave Peru because of the geography or history hes born into. You see over and over again that what really affects people is the systems in place.

Tom Turcich's had an existential crisis at 17. The death of his amazing friend, Ann Marie (16) turned his life on its head. It was then he decided to walk the world. On April 2, 2015, Tom Turcich walked out of Haddon Township in Camden County in the US State of New Jersey. On May 21, 2022, seven years and 49 days after setting off with his four-legged companion Savannah, Turcich arrived back in Haddon Township. Turcich had left a callow 25-year-old and returned a worldly-wise 32-year-old. It turned out to be seven years of "meditation," for him.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Today he's a speaker, photographer, writer, and adventurer, according to his website tomturcich.com Turcich walked 21-24 miles a day for roughly half of the seven years he was away. In total, he walked 28,000 miles (and Savannah 25,000 miles), travelled through 38 countries and crossed every continent except Australia, which he couldnt do because of lockdown restrictions. He is the 10th person to have walked the world, and he assumes Savannah is the first dog to have done so, according to The Guardian. Hes a man now. He sees the world so differently. Hes been to places where people with zero money work all week to add a cinder block to their house, and they would share all they had with him. To see that is a life-changer, The Guardian interview of him says. Over the years, he picked up 121,000 followers on Instagram as he documented his travels under the handle @theworldwalk. According to The Guardian, Turcich had always been taught that those who work hard will be rewarded; that if you are capable and determined there is nothing to stop you achieving. But the more he saw of the world, the more he realised this was not true. You end up realising so little is down to willpower, because there are much smarter, much kinder people than me all over the world who dont have my opportunities. He tells me about a man he met in Peru selling petrol to passing trucks from his roadside hut. He was a great guy, and very bright; definitely smarter than me, and probably a harder worker. But hes never going to leave Peru because of the geography or history hes born into. You see over and over again that what really affects people is the systems in place.
By Online Desk

KUALA LUMPUR: A mosque in Malaysia invited a Sikh doctor to deliver a lecture on quitting smoking.

Usually, mosque committees invite "ustazs (religious scholars)" to deliver sermons and religious talks to their congregations during Ramadan. However, Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque in Bangsar, a residential suburb on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, chose to veer away from this tradition, and invited a Sikh doctor on Friday last, according to New Straits Times.

The name of the doctor is not mentioned in the report.

"Lectures in mosques are nothing out of ordinary, but usually the topics lean on religious values. Last Friday's lecture reminds me of the golden age of Islam where mosques are also repurposed as a palace of knowledge," tweeted Saify Akhtar, an entrepreneur, along with a video.

"I encourage more mosques will do this. Invite more subject matter experts regardless of their religion. This is how we can attract people to go to the masjid. A place of worship and knowledge", he added.

KUALA LUMPUR: A mosque in Malaysia invited a Sikh doctor to deliver a lecture on quitting smoking. Usually, mosque committees invite "ustazs (religious scholars)" to deliver sermons and religious talks to their congregations during Ramadan. However, Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque in Bangsar, a residential suburb on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, chose to veer away from this tradition, and invited a Sikh doctor on Friday last, according to New Straits Times. The name of the doctor is not mentioned in the report.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Lectures in mosques are nothing out of ordinary, but usually the topics lean on religious values. Last Friday's lecture reminds me of the golden age of Islam where mosques are also repurposed as a palace of knowledge," tweeted Saify Akhtar, an entrepreneur, along with a video. "I encourage more mosques will do this. Invite more subject matter experts regardless of their religion. This is how we can attract people to go to the masjid. A place of worship and knowledge", he added.
News / National

by Staff reporter

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has frozen the assets of four officials who are implicated in gold smuggling, money laundering, bribery and other corrupt activities whose self-incriminating comments are contained in a documentary by Al Jazeera titled "Gold Mafia".This comes as Government on Tuesday directed relevant State organs to institute investigations into the allegations that were raised in the documentary where some people are on record admitting to receiving kickbacks from the alleged gold mafia.Government has also warned people in the habit of namedropping and boastful behaviour as captured in the documentary to desist from such practices.In that vein, the FIU has since moved to freeze the assets of individuals who are implicated in the documentary.In a memo seen by The Herald, the FIU directs that the assets of Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehlululi Dube and Fredrick Kunaka be frozen."You are being directed to immediately identify and freeze all assets of the following individuals; Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehlululi Dube and Fredrick Kunaka. May you also freeze all assets of legal persons and arrangements associated with them. Kindly treat this request as urgent," read the memo in part.Chidodo is the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Head of Security who was captured in Episode 2 of the documentary detailing how he assists gold smugglers avoid detection as they transport their contraband to Dubai via Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, while Chirozvi is the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Aurex Jewellery Head of Finance.Kunaka is the General Manager of Fidelity Printers and Refiners. He was allegedly on the payroll of the gold mafia during which he received a kickback of US$30 000 a month, according to the documentary.Dube, who was allegedly being paid US$3 000 per month by the gold smuggling syndicate, is associated with Golden Beryl Private Limited.The four form part of the team that has been aiding criminal elements smuggling gold and abusing their positions.In a move that has won plaudits from across the political divide and the broader society, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists on Tuesday that Government has instituted investigations around the Al Jazeera documentary in which some people have been accused of corruption, fraud, and other criminal activities.Political and social commentator Mr Obert Gutu said he has confidence in the Government to tackle any form of corruption."President Mnangagwa has condemned corruption in all its various forms, shapes, and sizes. He has repeatedly pronounced the Second Republic's zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. The ongoing Al Jazeera documentary has got to be taken in the context of this hardline stance against corruption. It is refreshing to note that Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has now issued a formal statement pertaining to the Al Jazeera documentary."Whilst the motive and timing of the release of the Al Jazeera documentary decidedly underlie a naked and obvious anti-Government political agenda, it is perhaps time for the powers that be to crack the whip against nefarious, unscrupulous, greedy and scandalous characters who flagrantly abuse their privileged positions of authority and influence to criminally line their own pockets with ill-gotten wealth."It is very encouraging to note that the relevant arms of the State have since been activated in order to take a deeper look into the shenanigans exposed in the Al Jazeera documentary with a view to clamping down on any individuals that might have deviated from their official line of duty by conducting themselves in a shameful, disgraceful and criminal manner," said Mr Gutu.In her statement, Minister Mutsvangwa said Government remains seized with the matter and the nation will be kept apprised of new developments."Government takes the allegations raised in the documentary seriously and has directed relevant organs to institute investigations into the issues raised therein."Any person found to have engaged in acts of corruption, fraud or any form of crime will face the full wrath of the law," she said.Minister Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe is a law-abiding nation that will continue to act as such."Government takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to upholding local and international laws, including laws relating to financial transactions, the trade of gold and other precious minerals."Boastful behaviour and name-dropping by some personalities featured in the documentary, seeking personal gain and glory should never be taken as an enunciation of Government policy," she said.The Second Republic has on countless times warned name-droppers, the corrupt and malcontents who pursue narrow selfish interests at the expense of broad-based development, that the Government is always on high alert to flush them out.This comes as there has been rampant abuse of top Government officials' names, especially the First Family, by criminally-minded elements who seek to grab national resources at the expense of the public.But that is not how the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa operates since the First Citizen's emphasis has always been on honest hard work.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Did you know that Nelson Chamisa and Thabani Mpofu are Simon Rudland's lawyers?Rudland is at the center of the Gold Mafia according to Al Jazeera.Chamisa may be asked to sue for defamation over the Al Jazeera documentary.Some commentators are saying Chamisa could be silent about the Gold Mafia dossier because he knows a lot about Rudiland business through legal briefing and he can't speak due to client confidentiality.
TN Governor grants assent to bill banning online gambling

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.

TN Governor grants assent to bill banning online gambling

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.IANS10 April 2023

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UN voices concern over tense situation in Sudan

Khartoum [Sudan], April 9: The United Nations Human Rights Volker Turk has sounded the alarm over the tense situation in Sudan. He called on Sudan's rivals to work to overcome obstacles to civilian transition, Turkish News Agency Anadolu reported.

UN voices concern over tense situation in Sudan

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk urged all parties to redouble their efforts to restore a civilian-led government, News Agency Anadolu reported.The UH Human Rights chief appealed to all parties of Sudan "to set aside entrenched positions and personal interests, to focus on the common interests of the Sudanese people by redoubling efforts towards restoration of a civilian-led government.""Much work has been done and many positive steps were taken towards the signature of a final agreement, all efforts must now go to get the political transition back on the right path," he added.Turk also urged "all sides to work together to overcome obstacles on security sector reform and avoid any further delays in the signing of the political agreement."He also called on all Sudanese sides to de-escalate tensions and avoid violence."I witnessed first-hand the fervent, awe-inspiring determination of the people of Sudan, particularly young people and women - to stand up for human rights, an inclusive, civilian-led government, accountability and justice," Turk added, News Agency Anadolu reported.The Alliance of Freedom and Change Forces, which represents civil forces, on Thursday had called for demonstrations after this new postponement of signing the agreement that would revive the democratic transition process after the 2021 coup.April 6 is a symbolic date for Sudan's civil opposition, the anniversary of the uprisings in 1985 and 2019 that eventually toppled two leaders who had seized power in coups.Last December, Sudan's military and political forces signed a framework agreement to resolve the months-long crisis.Sudan is still ruled by a military leader, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, who took power in an October 2021 coup, cancelling the transition to civilian rule agreed upon after the 2019 ouster of General Omar Bashir, who seized power in a 1989 coup.Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021 when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional government and declared a state of emergency, a move decried by political forces as a "military coup."On December 5 of last year, a Political Framework Agreement was signed between civilian leaders and the military as the first step towards a political agreement and the restoration of a civilian-led Government.However, the signing of the final political agreement, which was expected to take place on April 1 and then postponed to April 6, remains pending due to disagreements over key security and military reforms between the army and the paramilitary forces.Sudan's transitional period which started in August 2019 was scheduled to end with elections in early 2024, News Agency Anadolu reported.ANI10 April 2023

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Nirmala Sitharaman reaches Washington to attend 2023 Spring Meetings of World Bank, IMF

Washington, April 10: 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.

Nirmala Sitharaman reaches Washington to attend 2023 Spring Meetings of World Bank, IMF

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 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.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.ANI10 April 2023

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Karnataka Assembly polls: CM Bommai to contest from Shiggaon constituency

New Delhi, April 9: 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.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.ANI10 April 2023

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DGCA asks airlines to sensitise pilots, cabin crew on handling unruly passengers

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.

DGCA asks airlines to sensitise pilots, cabin crew on handling unruly passengers

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.IANS11 April 2023

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Marathi actress, Shiv Senas Deepali Sayed accuses ex-aide of threats, defamation

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.

Marathi actress, Shiv Sena's Deepali Sayed accuses ex-aide of threats, defamation

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.IANS11 April 2023

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Number of StartUps grew 300 times under PM Modi: Jitendra Singh

New Delhi, April 10: Union Minister Jitendra Singh while addressing the National Innovation Awards on Monday said that number of StartUps in India grew by whopping 300 times in the last nine years.

Number of StartUps grew 300 times under PM Modi: Jitendra Singh

Jitendra Singh, who holds multiple important portfolios, was speaking at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan where National Innovation Awards, were presented to "Grassroot Innovators" by President Droupadi Murmu.Jitendra Singh said there were just around 350 StartUps before 2014, but after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a clarion call in 2016, there has been a quantum jump in their numbers to more than 90,000 with more than 100 Unicorns.Speaking about the opening up of space sector for private players, he said more than 100 StartUps have come up in the space sector within just about three years. Similarly, biotech StartUps went up from around 50 to nearly 6,000.Further, Jitendra Singh said that India had no dearth of talent, capability, innovation and creativity among the youth but it was lack of political leadership, which according to him was provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.By bringing in National Education Policy 2020, he said it gave emphasis to skill and not only to academic degrees and prepared individuals for earning livelihood according to their aptitude and skill.ANI11 April 2023

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Russell reacts on Gladiator 2 says he is feeling slightly Jealous

Washington, April 10: Actor Russell Crowe who played the title role in 'Gladiator' has finally expressed his thoughts regarding the sequel. Russell earned himself an Oscar for brilliant performance in the first instalment of the franchise.

Russell reacts on 'Gladiator 2' says he is feeling slightly Jealous

According to Deadline, a US-based media house, Crowe in an interview with Collider mentioned feeling "slightly jealous" about not being part of the follow-up. He stated "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, 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". The impact of the movie on Russell's life can be felt in the statement he gave.The 'Noah' actor also talked about the continuance of the movie by referring to the movie getting released in 1999 and still running on television in 2023. The actor said "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."The sequel is directed by Ridley Scott with star Paul Mescal in the lead role. David Scarpa will be writing down the script for the much-awaited sequel being set for release in 2024.ANI11 April 2023

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News / National

by Staff reporter

Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central is gearing up for the historic 43rd independence celebrations amid calls for unity of purpose to make the national event a success.The ruling Zanu-PF party in Mashonaland Central Province convened a Special Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting this Thursday aimed at organising party members ahead of independence celebrations to be held for the first time in a rural district, Mount Darwin.Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central chairperson, Cde Kazembe Kazembe said, "We had a fruitful meeting, we held our PCC. Our PCC was a special PCC we called all those who contested for MPs, senator, women's quota, those who won and those who didn't.""We also called secretaries for youth, women, and war veterans affairs so that we speak with one voice as we prepare for Independence celebrations. This is a special event in that the President saw it fit for us to host the event," he added.The PCC also brought together candidates who contested in the recent primary elections, with the focus now winning the forthcoming general elections.A member of the PCC said, "The big message now is for us to unite there are no losers there are winners as we go ahead to secure 5 million votes for His Excellency, the President of our party, Cde Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa. As the President says, we all need to go forward, build the nation of Zimbabwe, brick by brick.""Our main goal above everything is to ensure we put back Cde Mnangagwa in office, achieve the 5 million votes which are being emphasised and being sung every day in party Zanu-PF," emphasised another PCC member.Another member added, "We encourage each and everyone to unite work with unity, and do one thing. As for me, I encourage those who won and those who didn't to be one, ensure we have a huge task ahead of us to ensure our president wins resoundingly by over 5 million votes."The provincial leadership revealed there is much enthusiasm in Zanu-PF to mobilise support for the party in order to garner a landslide victory in the general elections.
Exercise Cope India 23 between the Indian Air Force, United States Air Force begins

New Delhi, April 10: Exercise Cope India 23, a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF) is being held at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda and Agra. The exercise aims to enhance mutual understanding between the two Air Forces and share their best practices.

Exercise Cope India 23 between the Indian Air Force, United States Air Force begins

The first phase of the exercise has commenced on Monday. This phase of the exercise will focus on air mobility and will involve the transport of aircraft and Special Forces assets from both the 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.The Indian Air Force has recently been engaged in multiple multinational exercises in which the US has also participated including the EX Desert Flag in the UAE and Ex Cobra Warrior in the UK.The field training exercise focused on enhancing US-Indian mutual cooperation by building on existing capabilities, aircrew tactics and force employment.Cope India began in 2004 as a fighter training exercise held at Air Station Gwalior, India.The exercise has evolved to incorporate subject matter expert exchanges, air mobility training, airdrop training and large-force exercises, in addition to fighter-training exercises.The last edition of the wargame was held in 2019.The US has also been making efforts to have closer military ties with Indian forces who have traditionally used Russian-origin hardware including the Air Force and Army mainly.ANI11 April 2023

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Jaishankar arrives in Uganda, to hold delegation-level talks with counterpart Jeje Odongo

Kampala [Uganda], April 10: 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.

Jaishankar arrives in Uganda, to hold delegation-level talks with counterpart Jeje Odongo

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.ANI11 April 2023

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China concludes 3-day live-fire drills near Taiwan

Taipei, April 10: The three-day live-fire drills started by China in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen's recent visit to the US concluded on Monday, Al Jazeera reported.

China concludes 3-day live-fire drills near Taiwan

The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) China's Eastern Command said in a statement that the exercise "completely tested the integrated joint combat ability of multiple military branches under actual combat conditions," Al Jazeera reported."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 told a regular briefing on Monday.According to Al Jazeera's report, Shi Yi, the PLA Eastern Theater Command's spokesperson, stated that China's military will be ready at all times to defeat any form of "Taiwan Independence" and foreign interference attempts.Chinese fighter jets and warships conducted simulated strikes on Taiwan during the weekend. Beijing's actions sparked protests in 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.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.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.ANI11 April 2023

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Uttarakhand CM attends Ramlila performed by women in Haldwani

Haldwani, April 11: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday reached Haldwani to see Ramlila performed by women.

Uttarakhand CM attends Ramlila performed by women in Haldwani

The unique thing about the Ramlila at Haldwani was that women played the main characters.After attending the Ramlila program, in a tweet in Hindi, Dhami said, "Today, after reaching the women's Ramlila program in Haldwani, received the blessings of Lord Shri Ram and prayed for the prosperity of the people of the state. In today's era, women are moving forward in every field. Such events present a direct example of capable and strong mother power."Earlier in the day, Dhami said that the "mother power" of the state is increasing the honour and pride of the state with its ability and efficiency.Participating in the state working committee meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party Mahila Morcha, Uttarakhand at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh on Monday, the Chief Minister described women power as a superpower and said, "In Indian culture, women are the overall presiding deity of creation, because women are the source of creative power. Along with being a symbol, they are conductors of culture and traditions and since ancient times, women have been enjoying a very high position in Indian culture."The Chief Minister said, "Many women like Rani Laxmibai, Jijabai, Ahilyabai Holkar and Sati Savitri worked to prove this from time to time with the help of their ability. Mother's place has been considered the best in our cultural heritage.""Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, today India is returning to its ancient thought culture," he said.The Chief Minister said, "Our women's power has made itself self-reliant through its actions, self-confidence and self-confidence. He has not only taken himself forward but has also done the work of taking the country and the society forward and taking it to a new level."He said that when the cooperation and contribution of women in the country increase in every field, then the development of the country is ensured. After all, this is our dream of New India, where women are empowered, strong and are equal partners in the overall development of the country."ANI11 April 2023

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Tamil Nadu Governor gives assent to bill banning online gambling

Chennai, April 11: Amid the ongoing tussle between Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi and MK Stalin-led state government, the former on Monday gave assent to the 'Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games' Bill on Monday.

Tamil Nadu Governor gives assent to bill banning online gambling

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that the governor has given assent to the prohibition of online gambling bills in the evening assembly session.This comes after the state assembly adopted a resolution on Monday urging the Centre to fix a time limit for the governor to give assent to bills.Last month, CM Stalin slammed Governor Ravi after he returned the online gambling prohibition Bill four months after the State legislature passed it.Meanwhile, several posters against Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi asking him to 'get out' were spotted across Chennai on Saturday following his "Bill is dead" remark.Earlier this month, TN Governor RN Ravi, while interacting with the civil services aspirants, explained the role of the Governor in the Constitution and said that he has the option to give assent or withhold the Bill passed by the Assembly, and added that the latter means the "Bill is dead". The Governor said that "withholding" is a "decent language" used for the Bill to get rejected.Ravi said that the responsibility of the Governor is defined by the Constitution which is to protect the Constitution.He also said that the Governor looks into the Bill if it does not "transgress the Constitutional limit" and the state government does not "exceed its competence".Meanwhile, after Governor gives assent to the online bill DMK and the alliance party shifted the protest location and announce a public meeting condemning Governor R N Ravi on the same date that is on April 12.Previously, the DMK-led secular progressive alliance announced a protest on April 12 condemning Governor RN Ravi for his 'controversial' statement about the withholding of Bills and 'unconstitutional' behaviour.ANI11 April 2023

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Wasnt easy but worth it, Hilary Swank becomes proud mom to twins

Washington, April 11: 'Alaska Daily' star Hilary Swank took to Instagram to announce that she has given birth to twins -- a boy and a girl.

Wasn't easy but worth it, Hilary Swank becomes proud mom to twins

Sharing a frame holding two babies while looking at an ocean at sunset, Hilary captioned the post, "It wasn't easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it." She also added an Easter wish, "Happy Easter! Posting from pure Heaven."Lindsay Lohan, who became a mom last month, wrote, "Congratulations!!!!!!!!! God bless!"Bipasha Basu also wrote, "Congratulations!" to Hilary's post.As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, Hilary shared earlier that giving birth to twins is in her 'lineage'. During an appearance on Live! With Kelly and Ryan, Hilary said that her grandmother was a twin, as was her husband's grandmother. "So we have twins in our lineage," she said at the time.The twins mark Hilary's first children. She and her husband Philip Schneider have reportedly been married since 2018.After announcing her pregnancy, Hilary shared her journey on social media.For Christmas, the actor posed next to a Christmas tree while showing her baby bump and posted, "We couldn't wish for a more incredible miracle. So grateful for these two gifts of a lifetime!!"On her bump, she quipped, "Oven's heatin' up, dough's beginning to rise!!"ANI11 April 2023

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Rapprochement with Saudi to positively impact on regional peace, stability: Iran

Tehran, April 11: The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has said that the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will have positive impacts on regional peace, stability and security.

Rapprochement with Saudi to positively impact on regional peace, stability: Iran

Making the remarks at his first press conference in the current Iranian calendar year, Nasser Kanaani said on Monday that the Beijing-brokered agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to normalize ties has met with "very positive reactions" in the region, and welcomed at the international level, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report by Iran's official news agency IRNA.The agreement would definitely have positive impacts on strengthening regional cooperation, so as to foster peace, stability and security in the region, as well as on boosting trade and economic relations not only between Iran and Saudi Arabia but also with other regional countries, Kanaani noted.Meanwhile, he said that Iran and Saudi Arabia will exchange ambassadors after the reopening of their diplomatic missions.China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran announced on March 10 that the latter two had reached a deal that includes the agreement to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and diplomatic missions within two months.In a meeting in Beijing on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a joint statement announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.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.IANS11 April 2023

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Leak of classified US Defence Dept documents risk to national security: Pentagon

Washington, April 11: A major leak of classified US Department of Defence documents poses a major risk to the country's national security, with President Joe Biden's administration scrambling to assess and contain the fallout from the development, according to the Pentagon.

Leak of classified US Defence Dept documents risk to national security: Pentagon

Alongside officials from the Pentagon and White House, the Justice Department is currently investigating how the trove of highly sensitive documents, which include details about how the US spies on friends and foes as well as intelligence on the Russia-Ukraine war, ended up on social media sites, reports the CNN.Addressing reporters on Monday, Chris Meagher, Assistant to the Secretary of Defence for Public Affairs, said the documents were "a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation", the BBC reported."We're still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue," he said, adding that 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."Meagher however, 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 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", the BBC quoted the top Pentagon official as saying.The Pentagon first became aware of the document leak last week, with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin first briefed on the matter on April 6, he said.Meagher added that the document leak has prompted US officials to reassure its allies "of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships".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 Kiev 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.Meanwhile, Congressional lawmakers have expressed concerns about the apparent scope of the leak and sensitivity of the documents posted online but largely remain in the dark about what has occurred.Both House and Senate Intelligence Committee leaders are demanding answers from the Biden administration.House Intelligence Chairman Representative Mike Turner is scheduled to receive a briefing and his Senate counterparts have jointly requested one as well, reports CNN.At a separate briefing also on Monday, national security spokesman John Kirby said that President Biden had been 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, Kirby said "I don't know."IANS11 April 2023

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Laman Ismayilova

Honored Art Worker Ali Amirli has proposed to give ESA Theater the status of a state theater.

The playwright made a remark at the Theater Forum on "Azerbaijani theater - 150: development prospects", Azernews reports.

In his speech, Honored Art Worker outlined that ESA is the only inclusive theater operating in the country, and therefore it should be given the status of a state theater.

Founded in 2016, it is the country and the Caucasus' first inclusive theater with actors with disabilities.

The name of the theater consists of three words  Unobstructed, Unlimited and Free.

The theater's progressive goals include ensuring and accelerating social integration of the persons with disabilities, ensuring joint activity of people with or without disabilities, raising their social and public welfare, promoting them to deal with not only theater, but also other fields of the art, etc.

Note that the Theater Forum on "Azerbaijani theater - 150: development prospects" is underway at Heydar Aliyev.

The forum is being held within the framework of the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev.

The event is co-organized by the Culture Ministry and the Heydar Aliyev Center in partnership with Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts.

The forum agenda includes panel discussions on the topics "Traditions and trends in the Azerbaijani theater", "Modern acting school in the national theater: a systematic approach in the renewal process", "Concept and strategic goals", "Development of human capital in the theatrical field".

The proposals collected on the basis of the exchange of ideas and discussions during the forum will be taken into account in the action plan drawn up in connection with the "State Strategy of Culture of Azerbaijan for 2020-2040".
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has spoken strongly against acts of violence, emphasing that despite coming from different tribes and regions, Zimbabweans are one.He was speaking at the Zion Christian Church Easter Conference at Mbungo Estate this Sunday.As thousands of the Zion Christian Church members gathered for the Conference which ended this Sunday, President Mnangagwa used the platform to preach love, tolerance, and unity among all Zimbabweans."I and the ZANU PF party say no to violence, no to hate speech. Let's unite and get along. We may speak different languages, but from Zambezi to Limpopo we are one," said President Mnangagwa.Easter is a time when Christians reflect on the love of Christ after being crucified to save them from sin and President Mnangagwa said the church should continue to preach love."I say to ZCC, what have you done to show love, let your habits show that you love God. If you do that all people will see and appreciate your work. Jesus commanded blessings from his father. But God will not give you blessings if you're filled with hate," he added.President Mnangagwa also spoke on cooperation between the church and state saying the relationship remains a solid one. He reminded Zimbabweans of their role in building their country.The President reiterated, "We guarantee you freedom of worship, we need cooperation between the church and government. Church people are patriotic about their country, they do honest and hard work. I don't think there's a deacon who will say let's go to another nation. Where you want to go there are people who built that."The church and government continue to work together in economic projects that create better livelihoods for the people.
ChatGPT developer willing to open office in Japan amid concern over use

Tokyo, April 10: A ChatGPT developer on Monday said that his company is planning to open an office in Japan amid the growing concerns about the chatbot's unauthorised collection of personal data and impact on learning environments, Kyodo News reported.

ChatGPT developer willing to open office in Japan amid concern over use

Chief Executive of US-based OpenAI, Sam Altman met Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, as the dangers 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.Talking to reporters, Altman said that he explained to PM Kishida, who will preside over the G-7 summit in his constituency of Hiroshima in May, about the advantages and disadvantages of ChatGPT while saying the premier showed an interest in the AI technology.Chatbots are computer programmes that have been programmed to process and replicate human-like conversations with users utilising vast amounts of data from the internet, as per Kyodo News.ChatGPT, which stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer and was introduced in November 2022 as a prototype, is powered by a machine-learning model that mimics the functioning of the human brain.The discussions between Kishida and Altman took place at a time when several nations have tightened restrictions on the usage of ChatGPT because of concerns that OpenAI may be invading users' privacy by gathering enormous amounts of personal information without their consent, Kyodo News reported.Altman has stated a desire to discuss AI technology and his company's ChatGPT with politicians all over the world.The education ministry in Japan 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.Altman, after he met with Kishida, said, "We talked about the upsides of this technology and how to mitigate the downsides," hoping that AI chatbots will succeed in Japan as models of them become more suitable for the nation's language and culture.Hirokazu Matsuno, the chief cabinet secretary, stated on Monday that Japan will investigate adopting chatbot technology to reduce the administrative demands placed on public servants.The top government spokesman did however emphasise that the idea could only be implemented if concerns regarding handling private data leaks and secret information were allayed, Kyodo News reported.ANI11 April 2023

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44 nations interested in IMFs program for tackling climate change

Washington, April 11: Forty-four countries have expressed interest in joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s $40 billion Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

44 nations interested in IMF's program for tackling climate change

The facility created a year ago aims to increase the resilience of low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries by providing them with financial support and promoting sustainable economic policies in response to systemic risks such as climate change, reports Xinhua news agency.The strong demand for the RST program underscores the urgent need for global cooperation in mobilising the trillions of dollars in investment in order to put the world on a net-zero emissions trajectory, said Georgieva at an event held on Monday at the start of IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings week.The event, on the theme of Scaling Up Resilience and Sustainability Financing, was co-organized by the Bretton Woods Committee, the International Finance Forum (IFF), and the Paulson Institute.Rwanda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Bangladesh and Jamaica have reached agreements on loan programs from the facility, according to Georgieva."So $40 billion is not a solution on its own, but it is a contribution to a solution, if it helps remove barriers for massively scaling investment, especially private investment in emerging markets and economies."But we also have much more to do ... Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach based on three interrelated elements adequate policies, investment and innovation, and financing," the IMF chief said.IANS11 April 2023

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UN hails progress in Yemen peace talks

Sanaa, April 11: A UN spokesperson said that talks between Saudi and Omani delegations and the Houthi militia in Yemen's capital Sanaa were a welcome step towards the de-escalation of tensions in the war-torn nation.

UN hails progress in Yemen peace talks

At a briefing in New York, Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, fielded queries from reporters regarding reports of advancements made towards a lasting ceasefire, which would bring an end to Saudi Arabia's military involvement in a military coalition that has backed the internationally recognised government in its civil conflict with the Houthis, since 2015, reports Xinhua news agency.Neighbouring Oman has been involved in peace talks with the warring parties in Yemen, running in parallel with UN efforts, led by Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, who Dujarric said was continuing to "explore options to extend and expand" a UN-brokered six-month truce, which expired last October.According to Grundberg's statement last week, the truce is "largely holding" even after expiration, while many elements remain in place.The envoy said that greater humanitarian relief, a nationwide ceasefire and a sustainable political settlement "that meets the aspirations of Yemeni women and men" was essential, through a process that brings all stakeholders together.Dujarric said that the discussions in Sanaa were "very much welcomed by the Secretary-General" and added that Grundberg continues to be "in close coordination with the regional member states" over resuming the political process, with the hope of avoiding any escalation in the long-running war.The spokesperson noted that the UN had not been involved in the talks in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital."We are not involved in every discussion, we don't need to be," he said."What is important is that all of these parties work towards the relevant Security Council resolution, the UN facilitated talks, and all signals are, that they are. But we will have to take things one day at a time."News reports suggested that progress in the Oman-mediated talks and brightening prospects of a peace deal for Yemen added to the momentum provided by the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, in a deal brokered by China.Since the conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels escalated in 2015, tens of thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and aid agencies assisted nearly 11 million each month last year, with lifesaving aid, amid what remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crisis.IANS11 April 2023

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Ajays inaugurates its state-of-the-art food factory in Navsari

Surat, April 11 the fast-growing and trusted Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chain, which is on a mission to serve good and affordable to all, opened its state-of-the-art factory at Navsari on Sunday. The factory's inauguration was marked with the playing of the national anthem.

Ajay's inaugurates its state-of-the-art food factory in Navsari

Spread over a total area of 1.50 lakh sq ft, with the production area being occupied by 44000 sq. ft. The factory will make products like cold coffee, burger buns, pizza bread, mayonnaise, burger patty, and pizza sauces. It will provide direct employment to over 200 people and indirect employment to many more."We are excited to inaugurate our Good Food factory, representing a major milestone in our journey from a humble fast food joint to a leading QSR chain in the country. The factory is a huge step forward in our committed efforts to provide our citizens with high-quality food at affordable rates. We believe that the factory will help us stay ahead of the competition and meet the evolving food choices of our customers," said Jaideep Solanki, Founder and Director of Ajay's Good Food Pvt. Ltd."Since we launched our first outlet in Navsari in 2014, our mission has been to serve food that is good, affordable and accessible to all. With over 126 outlets in 37 cities, Ajay's has become the go-to destination for anyone looking for hygienic and pocket-friendly cold coffee, burgers and pizzas. The new factory will help us further standardise the production of many core products and help us grow even faster," said Ajay Solanki, Founder and Director of Ajay's Good Food Pvt. Ltd.Ajay's success story is just the beginning of a larger mission to redefine the QSR industry in India. Its focus on quality ingredients, hygienic outlets, and prompt service has set a new standard for QSR chains nationwide. It is also creating a more inclusive and dynamic food sector in India.However, Ajay's is more than just a successful QSR chain. The team at Ajay's is committed to empowering the Indian youth and bringing an entrepreneurial wave to the Indian food sector. With their expertise and support, the team is helping aspiring entrepreneurs grow with Ajay's and create more opportunities for themselves and their communities. Ajay's QSR chain has helped over 120 people realise their entrepreneurial dream and created over 450 employment opportunities at the outlets.In its vision to be the largest QSR chain in the country, Ajay's is offering profitable for budding entrepreneurs who share their passion for good food and commitment to excellence. Ajay's has grown rapidly in south and central Gujarat and is set to open three outlets in Ahmedabad in April 2023. With its commitment to excellence, core values, and mission to serve all, Ajay's is poised to impact the food industry for years to come significantly.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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URBAN launches new smartwatch Pro M with 1.91-inch HD display

New Delhi, April 11: Smart wearable brand URBAN on Tuesday launched its latest smartwatch 'Pro M', with a 1.91-inch 2D Curved HD Display and Bluetooth calling feature.

URBAN launches new smartwatch 'Pro M' with 1.91-inch HD display

Priced at Rs 1,999, the URBAN Pro M smartwatch comes in five colours -- Midnight Black, Misty Blue, Smoky Grey, Blush Pink, and Trendy Orange -- and is available to purchase from offline and online platforms."Whether you're looking to stay connected on the go, keep track of your health and fitness goals, or just look chic, URBAN Pro M has got you covered. We are confident that our customers will appreciate this amalgamation of world-class technology and a global trendy design," Aashish Kumbhat, Co-Founder, URBAN, said in a statement.With Dynamic Rotating Crown, 550 NITS brightness, 3D curved edges, and an upscale metallic frame that radiates refinement and grace, this smartwatch comes equipped with an AI voice assistant, 24/7 health tracking, and 107 Sports modes.Moreover, the smartwatch offers a long battery life of up to seven days and comes with fast charging capabilities, plus it comes with an IP67 rating making it dust and water-resistant.The URBAN Pro M smartwatch offers a total of 107 sports modes, including calorie count, weather updates, and access to a calculator.IANS11 April 2023

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Swami Mukundananda, global spiritual leader, meets President Droupadi Murmu

New Delhi, April 11: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu met global spiritual leader and founder of JKYog, Swami Mukundananda at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi yesterday.

Swami Mukundananda, global spiritual leader, meets President Droupadi Murmu

Swami Mukundananda and The President exchanged many thought-provoking ideas on the importance and need for spiritual upliftment in the society, especially amongst the youth of the country. President Murmu expressed, "Students must not simply become engineers, doctors, and accountants. They must also strive to become good human beings."Concurring with her ideas, Swami Mukundananda said, "Modern youth are more erudite in material sciences than previous generations. Alongside, if they cultivate spiritual wisdom, they will not be so vulnerable to stress, anxiety and depression."Presenting the worldwide organisation of JKYog to the President, Swami Mukundananda apprised her about the flagship project, Jagadguru Kripalu University near Cuttack, Odisha. President Murmu was delighted to hear about Swami Mukundananda's vision for the holistic development of youth of the country, and he updated her on the status of the construction at the 100-acre campus near Cuttack.Swami Mukundananda further elaborated on the facilities developed at the University campus like a charitable hospital and eastern India's most popular Naturopathy treatment centre, Jagadguru Kripalu Yoga and Naturopathy Hospital. Swami Mukundananda also spoke about the popularity of JKYog's focused programs for the youth such as the Bal-Mukund program for children, Youth Club, online classes on Yoga, Sanskriti, Bhakti Sadhana, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayan, holistic living and many other topics.Emphasising on the importance of spirituality for today's youth, The President said, "Indian culture and spiritual tradition is the need of the hour," and expressed her eagerness in its promotion across the globe for the mental peace of all citizens and development of character amongst all generations.Acknowledging the need to propagate Indian culture, Swami Mukundananda said, "India is the mother of all cultures, and its rich spiritual heritage is more relevant today in the modern world than ever. The whole world is now looking up to India for guidance in many spheres and spirituality is India's speciality."Expanding on his vision behind the establishment of JK University, Swami Mukundananda described how it would focus on developing knowledge resources for the entire country in unique areas such as Vedic sciences, yogic sciences, human excellence, and holistic health which can be used by universities around India and the world. JKU would also play a key role in developing a pool of trained academicians and scholars in these niche areas, thereby created a new career vertical for the Indian youth at a global scale.Swamiji gifted The President with his best-selling books, "Science of Mind Management," "Golden Rules for Living your Best Life" and also his highly popular commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.The President highlighted the importance of spirituality in one's life and noted Swami Mukundananda's and JKYog's' efforts in the promotion of holistic living in the society. She extended her best wishes for the future and Swami Mukundananda thanked the President for her time and keen interest in the field of spiritual upliftment.This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI11 April 2023

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Nallapati Rajeshwari President of Delhi World Schools receives hmtv Naari Puraskar from Telangana Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy

Hyderabad, April 11: Nallapati Rajeshwari, the President of Vidya Educational Society - Group of Schools which has, Sreenidhi Global Schools & Sai Ram Schools, has been honored with the prestigious hmtv Naari Puraskar 2023 in the Education category. The award was presented by Telangana Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, BRS MLC Kavitha, Roja Selvamani (Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement of Andhra Pradesh), and Laxmi Rao (CEO, HMTV) at the JRC Convention Centre in Hyderabad on Friday.

Nallapati Rajeshwari President of Delhi World Schools receives hmtv Naari Puraskar from Telangana Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy

The Naari Puraskar is a highly coveted award that recognizes the achievements and contributions of women leaders in India across various industries. This year, only 30+ individuals were selected for the award across different categories, and Nallapati Rajeshwari garu was one of them, highlighting her exceptional achievements in the field of education.As the President of Vidya Educational Society, Nallapati Rajeshwari garu has been instrumental in driving educational reforms and setting up world-class institutions across India. Vidya Educational Society is a network of prestigious schools, including , Sreenidhi Schools, and Sri Sai Ram Schools. All these institutions have been successful in providing quality education to students, and their contributions to the education sector have been commendable.Nallapati Rajeshwari garu has been at the forefront of implementing innovative teaching methods and modern curricula in Vidya Educational Society's schools. Her focus on personalized learning, experiential education, and technology-enabled teaching has been instrumental in preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century.Receiving the Naari Puraskar 2023 is a testament to Nallapati Rajeshwari's unwavering commitment to education and her significant contributions to the sector. The award is a recognition of her tireless efforts to improve the quality of education and provide students with access to world-class educational opportunities.Speaking about the award, Nallapati Rajeshwari said, "I am humbled and honored to receive the hmtv Naari Puraskar 2023. This award is a recognition of the dedicated efforts of all the teachers, students, and staff members of Vidya Educational Society, who have worked tirelessly to make our institutions a true beacon of excellence in education. I hope this award serves as a source of inspiration for all women leaders, and encourages them to continue working towards their goals. I also thank - Chairman of Vidya Educational Society for his Guidance and Mentorship during the journey to Success"The Naari Puraskar 2023 ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including leaders from the education, politics, and business sectors. The event was a celebration of women leaders who have made significant contributions to their respective fields and inspired others to follow in their footsteps.In conclusion, the Naari Puraskar 2023 is a fitting recognition of Nallapati Rajeshwari's contributions to the education sector. Her leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in shaping the Vidya Educational Society's success story. We congratulate her on this well-deserved award and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.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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Global PC market in the doldrums, notebooks suffer largest 34% decline

New Delhi, April 11: Notebook shipments suffered a large decline in the first quarter of 2023, falling 34 per cent year-on-year to 41.8 million units, as the first three months of this year brought further turmoil to the global PC market.

Global PC market in the doldrums, notebooks suffer largest 34% decline

According to market research firm Canalys, Q1 2023 represents the largest shipment decline for the worldwide PC market this year, with recovery to begin in the second half of this year and gather momentum in 2024.Desktop shipments performed slightly better, undergoing a 28 per cent decline to 12.1 million units."Most of the issues that plagued the industry in the second half of last year have extended into the start of 2023," said Ishan Dutt, senior analyst.Channel partners have indicated that their inventory levels have been reducing but remain high in absolute terms.About 39 per cent of partners surveyed by Canalys in January 2023 reported having more than five weeks of PC inventory, with 18 per cent reporting nine weeks or more."Meanwhile, demand across all customer segments remains dampened, with more pressure arising from further interest rate increases in the US, Europe and other markets, where reducing inflation is a top priority," Dutt added.The total shipments of desktops and notebooks declined 33 per cent to 54 million units in Q1 2023, representing the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit annual declines.Lenovo, with a market share of 24 per cent, topped the market for shipments of desktops and notebooks but suffered a large annual decline of 30 per cent, down 12.7 million units.HP claimed second place, undergoing a less dramatic drop of 24 per cent to 12 million units of shipments.Third-placed Dell posted shipments of 9.5 million units, down 31 per cent and falling below the 10-million-unit mark for the first time since Q1 2018.IANS11 April 2023

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News / National

by Staff Reporter

ANOTHER Zanu PF parliamentary majority win could lead to enactment of more draconian laws and constitutional amendments detrimental to democracy, electoral watchdogs has warned.The sentiments were also echoed by political commentators, who urged the opposition to work had to avoid another Zanu PF majority win in Parliament.Human rights activist and analyst Youngerson Matete told NewsDay yesterday that the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party should focus on the presidency and parliamentary positions to preserve Zimbabwe's democratic space.The country is heading for general elections late this year, with both Zanu PF and CCC targeting an outright victory.Matete said another five years with a Zanu PF majority in Parliament would be tragic and disastrous for Zimbabwe's democracy and development."Post the 2023 harmonised elections, Zimbabwe cannot afford a Zanu PF parliamentary majority. If anything, we should learn from the past mistakes, especially in 2018 when the opposition allowed the ruling party to win the parliamentary majority because it didn't put more focus on the Parliament, which was a tragic mistake," Matete said."Zanu PF has since used its parliamentary majority to enact draconian laws such as the Patriotic Bill, the Cyber Security and Data Protection Act, the Maintenance of Public Order Act and the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Bill as well as amending the Constitution to consolidate power and shrink the democratic space."There is no doubt that if Zanu PF wins the parliamentary majority, it will further reverse the gains of the 2013 Constitution by further shredding the Constitution as it consolidates power, hence the tragic mistake of 2018 must be corrected this time around."Matete said a parliamentary majority for the CCC would pave the way for implementation of necessary reforms."For a long time, the opposition and civil society have been calling for electoral, political and even economic reforms. It has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that Zanu PF will not reform itself out of power," he added."This is why the opposition CCC should aim to win the Parliament and lead the reform agenda and building of independent and strong institutions. Focusing on the presidency and neglecting the Parliament will not only be un-strategic, but a political suicide."In an interview yesterday, Witwatersrand University-based political analyst Romeo Chasara said a two-thirds majority for any political party was unhealthy for democracy."A functional democracy does not need a party to have two-thirds majority because it can push for its draconian laws like what we witnessed in the past five years," he said."Zanu PF has been pushing for the enactment of the PVOs Bill and Patriotic Bill and with the majority it enjoys, these Bills can easily pass. The party also uses the whipping system, where every legislator is supposed to toe the party line. No country needs a party to have a two-thirds majority in this era where several nations are governed by coalitions."Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said political parties with a majority in Parliament are likely to tamper with the Constitution to suit their needs."However, when the parliamentary seats are balanced, it means they might need to look for coalition partners," he said."With Zanu PF, there is nothing like that. It's an outright majority which is a problem. All the decisions are based on Zanu PF caucus and that is very dangerous because generally, constitutional reform that is propagated by an authoritarian type of parliamentarian majority is based on entrenching the power and authority of government."Ngwenya said a parliamentary majority for any party was unhealthy."Countries don't want to deal with authoritarian governments. Note that it also applies to CCC as they are also subject to diabolic influence when it comes to power retention," he said.Neither of the parties could be reached for comment last night.Zanu PF has always enjoyed majority representation in Parliament, except for in 2000 when opposition MDC first participated in the national elections, and in 2008 at the height of a tanking economy, job losses and disgruntlement over the crisis in the country , when the then opposition MDC-T grabbed some of the seats from the ruling party.
MPs Satpura Tiger Reserve stands first in state, second in country for better wildlife management

Narmadapuram, April 11: Madhya Pradesh's Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) stood first in the state and second in the country for better wildlife management in the recent fifth cycle report of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves.

MP's Satpura Tiger Reserve stands first in state, second in country for better wildlife management

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the fifth cycle report of MEE in Mysore, Karnataka on Sunday on the completion of 50 years of Tiger Reserve in India.The MEE has been used for assessing the tiger conservation efforts in the country since 2006. Since then, the Tiger Reserves has gone through repeated cycles of evaluation after every four years. The MEE exercise, adopted from International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources' (IUCN's) World Commission on Protected Areas framework, has emerged as the most significant approach to help and enhance the management perspectives of Tiger Reserves and their associated landscape connectivity.This framework includes consideration of design issues, the adequacy and appropriateness of management systems and processes and the delivery of Tiger Reserves objectives including conservation of values.India is the only country in the world that has institutionalised the MEE process. It has successfully completed five cycles of MEE of Tiger Reserve in the country.Out of 51 tiger reserves evaluated in India, STR has secured the second position at the national level followed by Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala. STR has achieved the position due to the better cooperation and management of the entire team. Periyar Tiger Reserve received a MEE score 94.38 % while Satpura Tiger Reserve secured 93.18 % score.Besides, Bandipur in Karnataka stood at third position with the same MEE score 93.18%, Nagarhole in Karnataka at fourth position with MEE score 92.42% and Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh stood at first with 91.67 %.Deputy Director of STR region, Sandeep Fellows, said, "All this has been achieved due to better management and with efforts of the entire team. Each and every employee of the STR regions has contributed to this achievement."The report said, "There has been continuous improvement with the subsequent cycles of evaluation in the MEE score of Tiger Reserves in India. The overall mean MEE score in the second cycle in 2010 was 65%, 69% in the third cycle in 2014, and 70% in the fourth cycle of evaluation in 2018 and 77.92% in the present assessment.""In the 5th cycle there are 12 Tiger Reserves that have scored 90% and above and therefore a new category of "Excellent" has been added," the report added.The report further adds that substantial improvements in the subsequent cycles of MEE clearly demonstrates that there is an enhanced management efficiency in the Tiger Reserves over the years in terms of complying with the prescriptions proposed in the Tiger Conservation Plans.ANI11 April 2023

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Uzbekistan to hold referendum on April 30 to reform the Constitution, Uzbek envoy explains its significance

New Delhi,, April 11: The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Delhi on Tuesday gave details of the referendum in Uzbekistan on April 30 to reform the Constitution, update basic laws in the country and explained their significance.

Uzbekistan to hold referendum on April 30 to reform the Constitution, Uzbek envoy explains its significance

Uzbekistan Ambassador to India, Dilshod Akhatov told ANI, "Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has been going through a historical stage of development in recent years. Large-scale reforms are being carried out in all spheres of life and significant results are being achieved. The concept of 'New Uzbekistan' has been formed in the international community."According to the Uzbekistan embassy in delhi, "The Constitutional Commission, which included well-known lawyers, scientists and leading experts in different fields, did a great job of preparing amendments and additions to the current Basic Law. As a result, a draft Constitutional Law on the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan was prepared."There was a demand from Uzbek people behind the referendum, which will help create a new Uzbekistan.Embassy added, "This process takes into account proposals, international standards and foreign experience. During the public discussions of the draft Constitutional Law, more than 222,000 proposals were received, every fourth of them was included in the draft.""The updated Constitution is aimed at creating a strong parliament, a compact and responsible government, as well as an independent and fair judiciary to build a state that serves the people," the embassy of Uzbekistan said."The powers of the Legislative (lower) chamber and the Senate (upper chamber) are significantly expanded, duplication in the work of the two chambers is eliminated, and their area of responsibility is clearly defined. In particular, the absolute powers of the Legislative Chamber are increased from the current 5 to 12 and that of the Senate from 14 to 18," as per the embassy statement."Such powers as consideration and approval of the candidature of the Prime Minister, control over the execution of the state budget and consideration of the report of the Accounts Chamber, have been transferred to the Legislative Chamber. The procedure for appointing the Prime Minister to the post is approved after the President submits his candidature to the Legislative Chamber and is approved by the people's deputies," the embassy statement read."At the same time, the number of members in the Upper House will be reduced from the current 100 to 65 while maintaining an equal representation of the regions through the election of 4 senators from each region, and reducing the number of senators appointed by the President from 16 to 9."Akhatov told ANI that once reforms are done in the constitution, it will also reflect Uzbekistan's relations with our international allies."After reforms in the constitution, it will impact the relationship of our foreign friends including India. As of now, I can say we have good relations with India economically, culturally and politically," the Uzbek envoy added.Notably, the lawmakers in Uzbekistan decided to hold on April 30 a referendum on changing the constitution, which will include a proposal to enable President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to run for another term in office. .ANI11 April 2023

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Sunny Hinduja to reprise his role in the second season of Aspirants

Mumbai, April 11: Actor Sunny Hinduja, who was seen playing the role of Sandeep Singh Ohlan in the web show 'Aspirants', has started shooting for the second season of the show and said that he is excited to reprise his role in the web series.

Sunny Hinduja to reprise his role in the second season of 'Aspirants'

'Aspirants' deals with the past and present of three friends, Abhilash, Guri and SK, who are UPSC aspirants. The past is all about their struggle as students to clear the examination and the present focusses on their life as adults. It features Naveen Kasturia, Shivankit Parihar, Abhilash Thapliyal, Namita Dubey and Sunny Hinduja.Sunny in season 1 played the character of Sandeep bhaiya, who is a student studying day and night to clear the civil service examination.While talking about reprising the role in the second season, he recalled working in season 1 and said "I am grateful for all the love and appreciation that I have received for my work in the first season. It is a huge responsibility to live up to the expectations of the viewers and I will try to do my best. Hopefully people will give us their love and support as they did for season one."On the work front, Sunny has done movies, TV shows, and web series. Some of his notable works include 'The Family Man', 'Bhaukaal', 'Inside Edge', and many more. He was also seen in the TV show, 'Mere Dad Ki Dulhan', and movies such as 'Mardaani 2' and 'Shehzada'. Sunny's upcoming projects include 'The Railway Men'.IANS12 April 2023

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Crazy Rich Asians star Chris Pang joins Interior Chinatown

Los Angeles, April 11: Chris Pang, best known for his role in 'Crazy Rich Asians', will now be seen in 'Interior Chinatown'.

'Crazy Rich Asians' star Chris Pang joins 'Interior Chinatown'

The casting marks a reunion with Interior Chinatown lead Jimmy O. Yang. The two were in Crazy Rich Asians together, where Yang's Bernard threw Pang's Colin a bachelor bacchanal aboard a cargo ship in international waters, The Hollywood Reporter reported.This time around, Pang plays Older Brother, the charming and talented beloved sibling of protagonist Willis Wu (Yang) whose mysterious disappearance years ago tore the family apart. Now, Willis has an opportunity to investigate his brother's case when Det. Lana Lee (Chloe Bennet) arrives in the neighborhood with new information.Interior Chinatown is based on the National Book Award-winning novel of the same name from Charles Yu, who serves as showrunner and is an executive producer on the project alongside Rideback's Dan Lin, Lindsey Liberatore and Elsie Choi, Participant's Jeff Skoll, Miura Kite and Dive's Garrett Basch as well as Taika Waititi, who directed the pilot.Maury Sterling and Spencer Neville are also joining the cast in the recurring roles of Carrey and McDonough, the original detective partners on Black and White.ANI12 April 2023

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Will call Uddhav Thackeray to clarify my stand: Maharashtra min after stoking controversy with Babri Masjid remark

Pune, April 11: Days after stoking controversy in the State with his remarks that Balasaheb Thackeray and Shiv Sainiks had no role in Babri Masjid demolition on December 6 1992, Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday said that he will ring up Uddhav Thackeray to clarify his stand.

Will call Uddhav Thackeray to clarify my stand: Maharashtra min after stoking controversy with Babri Masjid remark

The remarks of Patil, minister of higher and technical education in the Eknath Shinde government, came hours after former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded the resignation of CM Shinde and sought the ouster of Patil, for making derogatory remarks against his father Balasaheb Thackeray."I will be calling Uddhav Thackeray to clarify my stand over this issue. I have full respect for Balasaheb Thackeray in my heart and I can not disrespect him. No one can forget his contribution to saving Hindus during the Mumbai riots (in 1993)," Patil said during a press briefing here on Tuesday."Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde also called me up today morning and asked me to take a press conference to clarify my stand," Patil said.He said that those who were involved in the struggle were Hindus and they cannot be segregated as Shiv Sena workers or BJP men."The struggle for the Babri Masjid demolition was led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and everyone was working under their banner, so there was nothing like Shiv Sena, BJP or any other organisation. Everyone (present there while the mosque was being brought down) was a Hindu," he said."My question was where was Sanjay Raut during demolition and that question still remains the same today," he added.The former Maharashtra BJP chief, while speaking to a regional news channel recently, said that Balasaheb Thackeray and Shiv Sena had no role in the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6 1992.His remarks drew ire from the Shiv Sena (UBT) who demanded the minister's resignation.However, on Monday, after Patil was asked about his remarks, he reiterated that the world knows that VHP and its sub wings Durga Vahini, and Bajrang Dal were leading the fight against the disputed structure.ANI12 April 2023

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News / National

by Staff Reporter

A GOKWE man died after being axed by his two cousins who accused him of practising witchcraft and causing misfortunes within their family.Pondai Manyao (53) died on his way to Gweru Provincial Hospital after being axed and assaulted by his two cousins, Collen Javhu and Francis Sibanda.Midlands Police Spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said Javhu and Sibanda are at large as they fled from the scene after committing the crime.He said the incident occurred at Village Mavikeni Chief Chireya in Gokwe when the three were drinking beer."The now deceased Manyao and the suspects were drinking beer at Goredema Business Centre when a misunderstanding ensued among the three with the deceased being accused of practising witchcraft and causing illness among family members," said Inspector Mahoko.Javhu struck Manyao three times on the head with an axe while Sibanda unleashed a flurry of kicks on Manyao's chest and abdomen.Realizing that their cousin was unconscious, the two fled, leaving Manyao lying in a pool of blood."Manyao sustained deep cuts on the head and was ferried to Gokwe North District Hospital where he was briefly admitted. He, however, died on his way to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he had been referred, due to the seriousness of his condition," said the provincial police spokesperson.Police are now looking for Javhu and Sibanda."May members of the public who might have information about the suspects in the incident approach the nearest police station. We also urge members of the public to desist from using violence when resolving disputes as it always worsens problems," said Inspector Mahoko.
State Sen. Tom Bennett, R-Gibson City, started hearing concerns about a test prospective teachers must pass in order to be licensed from people in his district, and later learned those concerns were shared by other lawmakers. And it was over and over again, he said.
Light pollution in Mahomet ... peanuts and the Esquire Lounge in Champaign  improving accessibility at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana  which area rail crossings are due for an upgrade  future of Taylor Street ... cleanup at the old News-Gazette ... and much, much more.
Opinion / Columnist

When elections costs in an impoverished nation like Zimbabwe are comparable and even exceed those in a very rich nation like United States of America; you can be sure of one thing the Zimbabwe elections are NOT the same free, fair and credible democratic elections you get in the USA. For one thing, the budgetary difference between the contestants is so huge, it is like Fred Flintstone in his stone-age car racing against Lewis Hamilton in his F1 car.The mismatch is so blatant one has to ask what the opposition is being paid to keep participating in such a clearly one-sided race!Former US President Barack Obama is one of the American politicians known, amongst many other things, for his election fundraising prowess."In all, no US politician has ever raised so much money for a political campaign - and this one will be the most expensive ever. Of the $942m in receipts so far for the 2008 race, Obama has raised $347m, more than double John McCain's $143.8m," reported the UK Guardian in July 2008"If nothing else, Barack Obama has proved himself to be a financial phenomenon."Who would have guessed that President Obama would be outdone by President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, one of the poorest nations on earth!"In this (2023) election, I think, they are spending something like US$240 million and that is his (Mnangagwa) money. It's not somebody else's. It's not the party, it's his money," Uebert Mudzanire alias Prophet Uebert Angel, alias Diplomat Mafia, claimed in the Al Jazeera "Zimbabwe: Gold Mafia" documentary."So, when somebody has got that money to spend on an election campaign, you give him one million, it's like a slap in the face, unless you say this is to thank you."The guy doesn't take bribes. Oh no, no, he won't. There is a big difference in appreciating somebody and bribing."The truth is Mnangagwa in raising a hell lot more for the 2023 Zimbabwe elections. His fellow Zanu PF ruling elite leaders like VP Chiwenga, ministers, high ranking officers in the Police and Army, etc. who too have benefited from the wholesale looting of the nation's resources will show their appreciation of the Zanu PF dictatorship by making a generous contribution to keep the regime in power. The biggest donations will come from the Gold Mafia bosses, the individuals (mostly foreign) sitting at the apex of the gold smuggling and money laundering activities, who make a lot more money than the Zanu PF ruling elite who facilitate the looting.Similar generous donations will come from the Diamond Mafia (country was swindled out of US$15 billion in diamond revenue in the period 2007 to 2014 according to Professor Jonathan Moyo in a recent SABC interview), Lithium Mafia and platinum Mafia. More donations will come from the many cartels that have mushroomed including such tycoons as the Kundakwashe Tangwirei whose business empire is worth US$ billions, etc.As the incumbent government Zanu PF will be creaming-off billions of dollars in material, labour and cash from the state to pay for Zanu PF election expenses.All told Mnangagwa and Zanu PF will be spending a staggering US$4 billion to secure a Mnangagwa victory and Zanu PF parliamentary majority. Most of the money will be spend on vote buying from the few bags @ of food and/or agricultural inputs for the ordinary voters, buying US$60k cars for chiefs to turn them into party political commissars, US$230k bribes for key officials in ZEC, Police, etc.The regime is spending millions of dollars in making sure the opposition participate in these elections regardless how flawed and illegal the process gets. Ever since the 2008 GNU, Zanu PF has been careful to ensure the party bribed opposition to entice them to participate in the elections to maintain the facade Zimbabwe is a healthy and functioning multi-party democracy. The GNU forced the party to discard the de facto one-party image.CCC and the rest of the opposition parties will have done very well indeed if they raised US$4 million for their campaign, including the direct and indirect financial assistance from Zanu PF.So, the opposition's campaign budget is 0.1% of Zanu PF's US$4 billion; that alone shows this is not a fair contest! There many other reasons making this an unfair contest such as ZEC's refusal to produce a verified voters' roll, a blatantly pro-Zanu PF public media, etc. The thing is the opposition know these elections are not free nor fair and yet they insist in participating regardless."The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn't now do the obvious - withdraw from the (2013) elections," confessed Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe."The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility."In other words, the opposition are participating in these flawed and illegal elections out of greed. Pure and simple!USA GDP - 23 618.00 USD Billion.ZIMBABWE GDP - 28. 00 USD BILLIONZimbabwe's GPD is 0.1% of USA and yet Zanu PF is spending US$4b or14% of the country's GPD on elections! How is that possible?Easy, Zanu PF has captured the state institutions and commandeered the nation's material and human resources, which should be used for the good of all, to securing electoral victory for Mnangagwa and the ruling party, Zanu PF. The regime is squandering millions buying chiefs new twin-cab trucks every five years, down payment for them to frogmarch the rural voters to vote for the party, and yet many rural hospitals have no ambulance service!The real big surprise is how Zanu PF has managed to get the opposition to work for the regime, making a mockery of the whole electoral process!"The Gold Mafia is bigger than the government. Bigger than any authority!" boasted Dawood Khan Former Gold Leaf Mafia Member turned informer.The opposition knew the 2013 election process was "so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw"; they did not withdraw because the Gold mafia and their Zanu PF ruling elite partners had opposition in their deep pockets. Today, ten years later, two rigged elections later, the opposition are still hell bent on participating in the same flawed and illegal elections.The one thing Al Jazeera Gold Mafia documentary has shown beyond all reasonable doubt is just how powerful the Gold Mafia and the Zanu PF ruling elite partnership is in Zimbabwe. Those who expect any meaningful democratic changes in Zimbabwe without first implementing the democratic reforms are naive."The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw!" confessed David Coltart in 2013, ten years ago. The electoral process today, 2023, is just as flawed and illegal as in 2013 and yet CCC are just as determined to participate in these 2023 elections as they were in 2013! Until we implement the democratic reforms designed to end the tyrannical hold of the Gold Mafia and Zanu PF ruling elite have over the people notably the opposition the country will never hold free and fair elections. Never!
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Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com.
The candidates who'll be paying the closest attention are the third- and fourth-place vote-getters for an at-large Champaign city council seat. Two of the three seats will go to Matt Gladney (currently 5,163 votes) and Kathy Shannon (5,137), but just 39 votes separate Will Kyles and Greg Stock for the final spot.
Chase Leonhard was born and raised in Champaign-Urbana and is retired from a 35-year career in the law where he served for nine years as an officer with the Champaign Police Department, 10 years as an assistant states attorney and 12 years as an associate judge. He may be reached at chase7725@gmail.com.
What does it mean to be CODA?

CODA as communicators and its impact on mental health

Take-home message

References

Further reading

Children of deaf adults (CODA) refer to hearing children who are born to deaf parents. More than 90% of deaf adults are known to have children with normal hearing ability. These children often experience communication, social, and cultural challenges because of the unique difference between the deaf and hearing worlds.

Image Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock.com

What does it mean to be CODA?

CODA are commonly referred to as mother-father deaf in the society they live. These children grow up in unique circumstances where they are constantly exposed to two culturally, socially, and linguistically distinct communities, namely the deaf community and the hearing community. Despite having a functional hearing system, they experience the ambiguity of being culturally deaf.

Communication is one of the major challenges in CODAs life. Most deaf people use sign language to communicate. Thus, their hearing children also grow up learning sign language in a natural way, similar to hearing children who learn spoken language from their hearing parents.

Besides sign language, CODAs learn spoken language when exposed to the hearing community later in life. This makes these children bilingual and bicultural. In some cases, however, deaf parents choose not to communicate with their hearing children through sign language. They prefer to use spoken language instead. This can lead to restricted parent-child communication, inappropriate learning of spoken language, and a lack of knowledge about sign language.

CODA as communicators and its impact on mental health

CODA often bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing community. They act as an interpreter or a communicator for their families. They also help their parents understand the culture of hearing community. This added responsibility helps them to be mature and independent and maintain a close relationship with their parents.

Experiences gathered by CODA as communicators help build their ability to socialize and empathize others. They also feel socially more responsible and enjoy learning different languages and cultures. According to available literature, CODA who learn to understand the hearing community independently develop many positive behaviors, including adaptiveness, resourcefulness, curiosity, and worldliness.

Some major disadvantages of using CODA as interpreters are inappropriate or biased communication and violation of deaf parents right to privacy. If the parents role is misunderstood and the interpretation is not kept to appropriate contexts, this can lead to parentification or parent-child role reversal.

Serving as interpreters since childhood could be very tiring for CODA. They may also feel traumatized and embarrassed while interpreting their parents experiences that are not appropriate for their age.

Exposure to inappropriate contexts can put unwanted burdens and pressure on CODA, making them emotionally vulnerable. CODA sometimes prefer not to interpret insensitive comments from hearing people to their parents to protect them from embarrassment. Such situations are also very challenging and stressful for CODA as they feel trapped between two completely opposite worlds.

In many cases, CODA experience spoken language delay because of the lack of verbal communication at home. They often seek help from other hearing family members to learn spoken language. Some CODA even prefer to use sign language over spoken language, and some identify themselves as late speakers.

Image Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock.com

Unacceptance of parents deafness is another problem commonly experienced by CODA. They tend to develop feelings of embarrassment, shame, and stigma. A complete dependence of deaf parents makes it harder for CODA to leave home for their own life ventures.

CODA mostly depend on their hearing family members and friends for educational purposes. Their deaf parents occasionally attend school meetings to be informed about their children's educational progress. This fact exerts both positive and negative impacts on CODAs life.

Parents absence at school is mostly positively regarded by teachers who understand the toughness of CODAs life and try to help them out with school activities. Similar support CODA get from their hearing peers as well. However, CODA sometimes take advantage of the situation to get special attention at school or bypassing their parents on school issues. These facts indicate CODAs authoritarian attitudes over their parents.

Take-home message

CODA develop both positive and negative attributes through their bilingual, bimodal, and bicultural life experiences.

Stressful situations experienced by CODA as interpreters can be avoided by implementing social, psychological, and educational support services for deaf-parented families. Professional sign language interpreters can be appointed to interpret inappropriate situations for children.

BSL signed: Stories from children of deaf adults - BBC World Service Play

Various technologies such as video phones, short message service, and telecommunication devices for deaf people can be used to reduce the dependence of deaf parents on hearing children.

Educational training courses designed for deaf parents should be implemented to improve their knowledge of raising a hearing child.

References

Moroe., NF. (2018). Hearing children of Deaf parents: Gender and birth order in the delegation of the interpreter role in culturally Deaf families. African Journal of Disability. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5968869/

Harrison., J. (2019). Views from the borderline: Extracts from my life as a coloured child of Deaf adults, growing up in apartheid South Africa. African Journal of Disability. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6489141/

Hadjikakou., K. (2009). The Experiences of Cypriot Hearing Adults With Deaf Parents in Family, School, and Society. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. https://academic.oup.com/jdsde/article/14/4/486/489771?login=false

Further Reading
Driving forces behind the FemTech revolution

How can FemTech companies affect the healthcare industry?

Leading FemTech companies

References

Further reading

In 2016, the term "FemTech" was first coined by Danish entrepreneur Ida Tin, co-founder of a women's menstruation tracking app, Clue. The term gained immense popularity quite rapidly in the healthcare industry. Within a few years, "FemTech" has grown significantly and now includes a wide range of technology-based products and solutions for female customers.

Image Credit: Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock.com

Driving forces behind the FemTech revolution

FemTech companies are largely technology-based, consumer-centric companies that provide solutions regarded issues related to women's health, excluding biopharma and incumbent medical devices.

Women's health presents significant business opportunities for companies, stakeholders, and investors. This is because around 80% of customers who purchase health and wellness products are women. According to McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, "Women are not just consumers, but the primary healthcare decision-makers for themselves and often for their families."

The main focus of FemTech companies is to develop solutions for varied areas, such as fertility, maternal health, menopause, menstrual health, pelvic and sexual health, and contraception. Additionally, some FemTech products also provide solutions for conditions that affect women differently than men. These conditions could be quite wide-ranging, including osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

McKinsey & Company stated that public awareness, the formation of new companies, and fund availability have led to a surge in the production of healthcare products, particularly those designed for women. They have estimated the current market size of FemTech to be between $500 million and $1 billion and predicted that the market would grow even further.

How can FemTech companies affect the healthcare industry?

Although the FemTech revolution is still in its infancy, it can potentially disrupt the healthcare industry. For instance, companies like Tia (virtual clinic) and The Pill Club (prescription delivery service) use technology such that women can access care in a more consumer-centric manner.

Many FemTech companies have broken the century-old stigma on topics related to menstrual and sexual health and pelvic care. For instance, Rosy Wellness addresses the sexual health of women, Thinx is related to menstrual health, Elvie with pelvic care, and Elektra Health is associated with menopause. These companies provide an open platform for discussions and conduct campaigns on the above-mentioned less-discussed topics.

FemTech companies, such as Modern Fertility, offer an at-home diagnostic facility, and Bloomlife provides wearables and tracking apps to empower customers with knowledge and resources to make informed decisions related to their health. These devices enable women to take better care of their health.

Image Credit: Milleflore Images/Shutterstock.com

Importantly, FemTech companies have also focussed on delivering culturally sensitive and tailored care. For example, FOLX Health, HUE, and Kasha provide solutions tailored for sub-populations, including LGBTQ+, women in low-middle-income countries, and Black women.

Leading FemTech companies

According to McKinsey, more than 70% of FemTech companies are founded by women. FemTech is associated with a more inclusive and gender-aware healthcare system with immense potential to create job opportunities for female founders, investors, inventors, and physicians.

Women leading the healthcare landscape could offer better healthcare opportunities to society. PitchBook Data Inc., a SaaS company that provides private market data, stated that 821 companies were leading the FemTech space as of January 2022. A total of 2,819 investors have invested around $16.24 billion in these companies. Some of the leading FemTech companies are discussed below:

Flo Health

Flo Health is a menstrual tracking app founded in 2015 by Belarusian co-founders Dmitry Gurski and Yuri Gurski. According to the latest report, the app tracked around one billion menstrual cycles, and 27.7 million women got pregnant while using Flo Health. This app is utilized by 200 million females between the ages of 15 and 49 to manage their menstruation cycles. In 2017, machine learning was integrated for the accurate prediction of periods.

Clue

Clue is a mobile fertility tracking app associated with accurately tracking women's menstrual cycle. This app empowers every woman to make informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health. At present, over 12 million people from 190 countries have installed the app. It has also attracted more than $44.78 million in funding. Recently, Clue has launched a partnership with L'Oreal to explore the relationship between skin health and menstrual cycles.

Progyny

Many employers do not realize that many employees might require fertility and family-building services, including adoption and surrogacy. Progyny is the first fertility benefits company that works with employers to help them provide fertility benefits to their employees. It helps create programs that can easily fit into the existing benefit packages. Progyny serves women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, fulfilling their dreams of becoming parents.

Natural Cycles

Naturals Cycles is the first birth control app approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This app provides an individual's unique menstrual cycle pattern with tailored insights. Natural cycles help women with their goal of preventing pregnancy or planning pregnancy. This app is powered by an algorithm that determines the fertility status in accordance with basal body temperature. This is because the body temperatures fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, which can be used to detect ovulation and identify the fertile window.

Maven Clinic

Maven Clinic is a virtual clinic that provides services to women and families. Although this company initially focussed on only providing maternity care, it has extended its service to meet women's needs at different stages of their reproductive cycle. To date, Maven Clinic has supported around 10 million families from 175 countries.

References
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) has become a promising immunotherapy tool to help treat advanced melanoma. The therapy, which harnesses immune cells collected from the patient's own tumors, could provide a new treatment option to cancer patients, potentially bypassing radiation therapies and harsh chemotherapy drugs.

For the first time, Northwestern University scientists have discovered it is possible to isolate a tumor's attack cells non-invasively from blood, rather than from tumors. The finding opens the door for ACT to treat harder-to-reach cancer types and makes it a more viable option for hospitals.

We started asking questions about whether the immune cells that go into tumors come back out, and if you could find them in the bloodstream. We didn't know if we'd be able to find them or if we could see enough of them to even study them. Sure enough, they're in the blood. This is the first time these cells have been studied in this context." Shana O. Kelley, the paper's corresponding author

Kelley is the Neena B. Schwartz Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering at the Northwestern University Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and McCormick School of Engineering, and a professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She also is president of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago.

The study, published today in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, builds on previous work from Kelley's lab that was published last year in the same journal. In the previous study, Kelley and her team treated mice with their own immune cells gathered from a mass, which dramatically shrunk their tumors, compared to traditional cell-therapy methods.

The 2022 paper also detailed the novel method used to isolate and multiply tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), a process that efficiently sorts through and harvests cells to recover 400% more than current approaches, ultimately making the anti-cancer response stronger.

Into the tumor and then out again

By removing and processing melanoma tumors, scientists have found TILs within them. But sometimes removing tumors to harvest TILs can pose significant risks to patients, leaving no path to harness ACT to fight many types of cancer.

Kelley wondered if TILs might exist elsewhere in the body -; outside tumors.

After finding TIL-like lymphocytes -; or circulating tumor-reactive lymphocytes (cTRLs) -; in animal blood, the team tested whether or not cTRLs had the same ability as TILs to kill tumor cells. Surprisingly, they did.

Across tumor cell types and animal models

To overcome another major stumbling point, after finding and profiling cTRLs, the Kelley lab used its novel technology platform to isolate and then replicate only the best tumor fighters.

Again, cTRLs effectively leveled their competition by engaging in direct, "hand-to-hand" combat with tumor cells.

"Engineering-based tools allow you to do things that open up new areas of biology," said Shana O. Kelley, the paper's corresponding author. "We could see using the platform at any major medical center, so you could reach a significant number of patients. The platform we use to capture cells is very fast, which brings the cost down, and medical centers are comfortable handling blood."

Scientists also found cTRLs not just in melanoma models, but in colon, lung and breast cancer, each tumor expressing a unique signature that TILs bind to.

Paving new roads in cell therapy

Kelley has spun out the new technology into health tech startup CTRL Therapeutics, which will petition the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to move the platform into clinical trials.

"This new breakthrough leads us to ask some exciting questions about how early cTRLs appear in blood," Kelley said. "Could we diagnose and treat cancer earlier using these cells?"

Kelley also is a member of the International Institute for Nanotechnology, the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

The paper's first author was Zongjie (Daniel) Wang, a University of Toronto professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering. The study, "Non-invasive isolation of tumor-reactive lymphocytes from blood for cancer immunotherapy," was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant no. FDN-148415) and the Collaborative Health Research Projects program (CIHR/NSERC partnered). This research was supported in part by the McCormick Catalyst Fund at Northwestern University and is part of the University of Toronto's Medicine by Design initiative, which receives funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.
A recent study published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal describes a human case of tanapox in South Africa, a rarely diagnosed zoonotic disease.

Study: Tanapox, South Africa, 2022. Image Credit: nechaevkon/Shutterstock.com

Background

Tanapox is a zoonotic disease that is endemic to equatorial Africa. The last human case was reported almost two decades ago, with only four cases ever being exported via humans or nonhuman primates (NHPs).

A new case of this rare disease was diagnosed outside the equatorial belt, where all previous human cases had been identified. Expanded surveillance on this disease is necessary.

Introduction

The first human outbreak of tanapox was in 1957, followed by 1962, both in the Tana River valley, Kenya. Isolation of the pathogen showed it as a member of the poxvirus family, genus Yatapoxvirus, species Tanapox virus (TANV).

Research primates imported into the USA showed the presence of this virus, leading to its further detection in all 12 NHPs surveyed in a belt of territory encompassing Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Senegal.

Suggesting that the natural reservoir of TANV was formed by NHPs, with incidental transmission to humans.

The ecological niche seemed to be from Somalia to Senegal, within the equatorial zone, with the southernmost tip of the territory lying above the Tropic of Capricorn.

Human infection occurs across all ages and sexes, with over one in seven people in Tana River Valley communities being seropositive for the virus in 1971. This had dropped to less than one in ten by 1976.

Humans rarely transmit TANV to one another, and the most common transmission route appears to be the bite of blood-sucking insects whose mouths are contaminated by the virus.

This hypothesis is supported by the timing of the outbreaks, during times of high temperatures, high rainfall, and flooding of the river valleys, when insect bites are most common.

In this aspect, seropositivity studies in the Tana River valley in 1971 showed that the distribution of TANV resembles that of the West Nile virus, with a similar incidence for both. Mosquitoes of the Culex family might transmit both, probably a Mansonia species.

Tanapox presents with a mild fever, lasting a few days, sometimes with muscle aches and itching. The patient develops headaches and is exhausted.

This stage is followed by the appearance of one or two raised umbilicated painful nodules on the skin. These lesions break open without forming pustules. The local lymph nodes may sometimes be enlarged.

The lesions form within the epithelial layers of the skin. The cells contain TANV, which looks exactly like every other Orthopoxvirus.

Other possibilities to be excluded include cutaneous anthrax, other poxviruses, sporotrichosis, spotted fever rickettsial infections, tropical ulcers, insect bites, and scabies.

The infection is self-resolving, and no deaths have been reported so far. In the current study, the researchers examined the latest case, which emerged in 2022.

What did the study show?

The infection occurred in a woman volunteer in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa, who was 61 years old. She was living in a tent on the Sand River banks, about 20 km from the town of Skukuza, in an area infested by numerous species and numbers of insects.

Geographic distribution of recorded human cases of tanapox. A) Locations of previous tanapox cases reported in the literature. Red dots indicate cases acquired locally; red outlines indicate regions of countries visited by travelers to Africa. B) Location of the case acquired in Kruger National Park, South Africa, 2022. Green shading shows the parks location; black triangle indicates town of Skukuza.

She had been bitten by ticks and other insects while walking along the overgrown trails.

She became unwell after leaving the territory. Initially, she noticed itching at the base of the thumb of the right hand, with a pale blister forming on the site.

This was followed by another on the left hand. Both became nodular over time. She also developed malaise, fatigue, and severe headaches.

The lesions were painful and exquisitely tender, eventually ulcerating to become dry open lesions. All healed over six weeks, with mild discoloration.

Skukuza is infested by mosquitoes, over 90% comprising two genera of culicines, namely, Culex and Mansonia.

Heavy rainfall and hot temperatures existed during the woman's stay, favoring mosquito replication. Other possible diagnoses were ruled out.

The histopathology of a biopsy from one of the lesions revealed a possible poxvirus infection due to the typical findings of acidophilic inclusion bodies within the cytoplasm with cellular vacuoles and ballooning cells within the deeper epithelial layers. Further biopsies and swabs were taken for electron microscopy and molecular diagnosis.

These showed brick-shaped viral particles with surface tubules and an outer membrane layer. The genetic material was partly identical or closely similar to available TANV sequences, and tanapox was diagnosed.

The genome could not be sequenced or the virus isolated, however, probably because the amount of material was limited.

What are the conclusions?

On the basis of the overlap between human tanapox cases and the geographic ranges of selected nonhuman primates, an ecologic niche model predicted that tanapox could be found from Somalia to Senegal, with the most southerly range above the Tropic of Capricorn."

However, this model excluded many NHPs with larger distribution areas because human cases had been found within a restricted area within the equatorial belt.

The current study enlarges this range beyond the southern tip of previous models and thus the list of potential reservoirs.

The emergence of tanapox is probably a multifactorial occurrence caused by climate change, the shrinkage of wildlife habitats due to human activity, and unpredictable environmental shifts. Closer monitoring is indicated to detect and track such newly emerging zoonoses.
TORONTO, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - George Weston Limited (TSX: WN) will be announcing its 2023 First Quarter Results on May 9, 2023 at 7:00AM (EDT).

George Weston Limited Logo (CNW Group/George Weston Limited)

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on May 9, 2023, at 11:00AM (EDT), at The Royal Conservatory, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Shareholders who are not able to attend in person will be able to listen, participate and vote at the meeting in real time through a web-based platform at https://web.lumiagm.com/249009731 (meeting password: george2023). To access via audio-conference please dial 416-764-8688 or 1-888-390-0546. Playback will be available two hours after the event at 416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541, password: 370303#.

About George Weston Limited

George Weston Limited is a Canadian public company founded in 1882. The Company operates through its two reportable operating segments, Loblaw Companies Limited and Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile products and services. Choice Properties owns, operates, and develops high-quality commercial and residential properties across Canada.

SOURCE George Weston Limited

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View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/11/c2828.html
Anger, devastation, and concern for her patients washed over Dr. Bridget Martinez as she learned that her residency training program in rural northeastern Nevada would be shuttered.

The doctor in training remembered telling one of her patients that, come July of this year, she would no longer be her physician. Martinez had been treating the patient for months at a local health care center for a variety of physical and psychiatric health issues.

"She was like, 'I don't know what I'm going to do,'" Martinez said. "It almost set her back, I would say, to square one. That's so distressing to a patient."

Martinez and three other resident physicians make up more than a third of the family practice providers at a health clinic in Elko, a city of about 20,000 people in the largely rural 500-mile stretch between Reno, Nevada, and Salt Lake City. Another patient cried and said she was unsure who her provider would be once Martinez returned to Reno to finish training.

Established in 2017, the rural family medicine training program in Elko is shutting down for a variety of reasons, including financial struggles, lack of a united support system, and a historical lack of health care investment in the area. Experts say systemic factors are common barriers to establishing and sustaining training programs for doctors throughout rural America.

More than 100 million people, or nearly one-third of the nation, have trouble accessing primary care, according to a recent study published by the National Association of Community Health Centers. This number has nearly doubled since 2014. The pandemic worsened provider shortages nationwide, but the problem is more acute in rural areas, which have long struggled to recruit and retain doctors and other medical professionals. Researchers say the relative lack of providers is one reason people living in rural areas experience worse health outcomes than people who live in urban areas.

Experts say expanding the number of medical residency training programs in rural areas is key to filling gaps in care because many doctors  including more than half of family medicine physicians  settle within 100 miles of where they train. And while the number of training programs has increased in rural areas during the past few years, research shows 98% of residencies nationwide are in urban areas.

Members of Congress have introduced several bills to address the health provider shortage, but they have not yet advanced.

Meanwhile, rural medical training programs need more state and federal investment to grow and remain sustainable, said Dr. Emily Hawes, associate professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine and deputy director with the federal Rural Residency Planning and Development Program.

There have been positive milestones, she said, including provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that created more flexibility in funding and accreditation for rural hospitals that want to establish residency programs.

Congress also created the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, which Hawes helps lead. The initiative funded its first cohort in 2019. Since then, the program's parent agency, the Health Resources and Services Administration, has given more than $43 million to 58 organizations in 32 states to launch rural medical residency programs. As of last fall, the recipients had created 32 accredited training programs in family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, and general surgery, and received approval for more than 400 new residency positions in rural areas.

But it's still not enough, Hawes said.

For starters, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services don't reimburse rural hospitals for medical residency programs at the same rate they do urban hospitals, despite rural hospitals facing similar or higher costs. Rural hospitals' lower patient volumes and higher rates of underinsured or uninsured patients affect how much the government pays to fund graduate medical education, or GME.

Hawes and other doctors argued in a research paper that rural hospitals participating in resident physician training should be paid the full cost of hosting residents, which amounts to at least $160,000 each annually.

The challenge of paying residents' salaries proved to be part of the problem for the program in Elko.

Officials at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital decided, when they launched their residency program six years ago, not to use CMS funds to pay salaries and instead to pay those costs out-of-pocket. That amounted to about $500,000 a year, said Dr. Daniel Spogen, a professor in the Family and Community Medicine Department at the University of Nevada-Reno School of Medicine and director of the medical residency training program in Elko.

In retrospect, Spogen said, he wishes he and other faculty had pushed the hospital to pursue CMS funding, because it would have given the program a stronger financial foundation.

In a February press release, hospital officials said the decision to close the medical training program was difficult but necessary, because of rising costs and increased requirements.

In the end, the community and residents suffer the consequences, Spogen said.

Hawes said rural communities and their resident physicians often benefit mutually: Residents experience a more diverse and involved training than they would in a larger hospital, because having fewer residents and doctors means they can take on bigger tasks. Martinez recalled treating a gunshot wound in the emergency room, something she said she probably would not have gotten to do in a Reno hospital.

Closing any rural medical residency program ends a key opportunity to locate physicians in the areas where they're most needed, said Hawes. Martinez and her husband, who is also finishing his medical training, had planned to stay in Elko. While that's not off the table, she said, they're keeping their options open now.

Spogen said people living in Elko will go back to relying on urgent care, which is not a substitute for primary care.

The nearest city with more health care resources, 230 miles away by car, is Salt Lake City. Spogen said the patients he treats through the program don't have the financial resources to go elsewhere.

Rural medical training programs don't have to end in struggle, Hawes said. Part of her job with the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program is to ensure faculty, residents, and hospital leaders have the resources, support, and knowledge they need to sustain their programs.

Spogen estimates that a resident physician brings in about $600 a day for the hospital where they train, resulting in roughly $190,000 in revenue per year.

Experts say when programs succeed, they grow quickly, like the Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education, part of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. When the collaborative was established in 2012, there were 25 rural medical residency training positions in Wisconsin, said Lori Rodefeld, the group's director of rural GME development and support. Last year, the collaborative supported 51 positions  more than double the number from 11 years ago.

In addition, 65% of residents have remained in rural medical practice, Rodefeld said, which is higher than the national average for physicians who did their residencies in rural areas.

"We're very, very lucky," Rodefeld said. "I don't know of many other states that have this kind of model where they have technical assistance available to multiple existing programs and for those who want to get started."

Martinez and her husband chose Elko to complete their medical residencies because they knew they could help fill a need.

"It's almost intoxicating," Martinez said. "You don't want to walk away from something like that, especially when you feel so valued."
Texas District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision April 7 to rescind the approval of the abortion pill mifepristone dealt a blow to more than just people seeking a medication abortion.

It appears to be the first time a court has directly usurped the FDA's authority to provide the final word on which medicines are safe and effective and, thus, allowed to be sold in the United States. And it could well throw the pharmaceutical industry into turmoil.

If the decision is allowed to stand, it could affect far more than abortion drugs. "It will radically alter the process for approving drugs and will kill innovation and hinder bringing new drugs to market," Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project, told reporters in a briefing April 10. It might also invite what she called "fringe groups" to challenge any other drug they object to for political reasons.

So you'd think challenging the decision would be a top priority for the prescription drug industry's national advocacy group, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA. Yet the drug lobby did not join the long list of medical, legal, and academic groups that filed "friend of the court," or amicus, briefs in the Texas case.

And since the ruling, PhRMA has declined to weigh in beyond the relatively bland statement it made weeks ago. "The FDA is the gold standard for determining whether a medicine is safe and effective for people to use," said Priscilla VanderVeer, PhRMA's vice president for public affairs. "While PhRMA and our members are not a party to this litigation, our focus is on ensuring a policy environment that supports the agency's ability to regulate and provides access to FDA-approved medicines."

By contrast, many individual drug companies, as well as the biotech industry's trade group, were quick to decry the ruling. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization said the ruling sets "a dangerous precedent for undermining the FDA and creating regulatory uncertainty that will impede the development of important new treatments and therapies."

PhRMA's relative silence is puzzling, said Carole Joffe, a professor at the University of California-San Francisco and an expert on the sociology of reproductive health issues. "PhRMA now has to contemplate the politicization of potentially everything. For Big Pharma, one could argue that a Pandora's box has been opened."

Even more puzzling, though, is that PhRMA has only to look at another major health industry player, the physicians' major lobbying group, the American Medical Association, for an object lesson in how sitting on the sidelines of a polarizing political issue can cost an industry or profession a chunk of its autonomy.

When it comes to abortion, lawmakers at the state and federal level, not to mention judges, have been essentially practicing medicine without a license for over a half-century, since the decision in Roe v. Wade itself. In that case, seven Supreme Court justices signed on to a framework for pregnancy (dividing it into "trimesters") that did not exist before, at least not medically.

The AMA played a major role in making abortion illegal in the 19th century, when it sought to supplant midwives and others whom doctors saw as threats to their economic and professional power. But in the 20th century, the organization was slow to recognize that doctors' professional judgments were being supplanted by those of others  lawmakers and judges. The AMA did not even file an amicus brief in the Roe case itself, and for much of the next four decades tried mightily to stay out of the abortion fray, even as warnings grew that medical professionals were losing the right to practice according to the best medical evidence.

After the Supreme Court upheld the first ban on a specific abortion procedure in 2007  a ban the AMA had initially endorsed, then opposed  it was clear that physicians were losing their primacy over the practice of medicine.

Yet the stigma attached to abortion remained. Even after the AMA formally supported abortion rights, the group "did as little as possible," said Joffe. Over several decades, most doctors tried to distance themselves from both the abortion issue and their colleagues who performed the procedure, Joffe said.

It wasn't until 2019 that the AMA stepped out of the shadows on the subject of lawmakers interfering in the doctor-patient relationship. That's when the group filed suit to block two North Dakota abortion laws, which the organization said "compel physicians and other members of the care team to provide patients with false, misleading, non-medical information about reproductive health." (A federal judge subsequently blocked the law.)

By the time the Supreme Court was ready in 2021 to take up the Mississippi case that would eventually overturn Roe, the AMA realized what was at stake. The state law being challenged  a ban on all abortions after 15 weeks  "threatens the health of pregnant patients by arbitrarily barring their access to a safe and essential component of health care," the AMA said in an amicus brief it filed with two dozen other medical groups.

And after the decision reversing Roe in 2022, the AMA's new president, Dr. Jack Resneck Jr., was quick to lament what had been lost. "Medicine is hard, and it's hard enough without members of Congress or governors or state legislators or others trying to sit in your exam room with you and second-guess all the decisions that you're making," he told KHNs "What the Health?" podcast in July.

So the AMA has apparently learned its lesson the hard way. Now the question is whether the drug industry will learn that same lesson  and when.

HealthBent, a regular feature of Kaiser Health News, offers insight and analysis of policies and politics from KHN's chief Washington correspondent, Julie Rovner, who has covered health care for more than 30 years.
An international study shows that it is likely that insulin can be stored at room temperature, and for considerably longer than drug companies have counted on to date. Access to this vital medicine can thereby be significantly improved for the world's poorest inhabitants. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg are among the scientists presenting these results.

In type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed. Insulin must be given by injection, daily, for the rest of one's life. Inadequate insulin treatment impairs metabolism, which can lead to eye damage, kidney failure, or other complications in the long term. In many developing countries, insulin is in short supply and often highly expensive. Globally, millions of people have died prematurely due to unequal access to diabetes care.

Since insulin is temperature-sensitive, it should be refrigerated (at 2-8C) for long-term storage; but families in many developing countries lack refrigerator access. At room temperature (up to 30C), insulin is usually thought to keep for some four weeks, after which discarding it is recommended.

Quadrupled storage period

For the present study, a University of Gothenburg research team contributed analyses of six types of insulin. Six different families in Nagpur, India, stored the insulin for a period ranging from one to four months in the summer. It was stored either in a box in the coolest room in the home or in clay pots designed to serve as simple cooling systems, with evaporation of water keeping the contents cool.

One of the authors behind the study is Gun Forsander, a researcher in pediatrics at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and a pediatrician at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

This study shows that insulin probably has a considerably longer shelf life at room temperature  up to four times as long as was previously believed. The study also showed that the simple solution, with cooling clay pots, can be helpful when the weather's at its hottest." Gun Forsander, researcher in pediatrics at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and pediatrician at Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Another research team, at the University of Florida in Gainesville, performed concentration determination of insulin according to standard procedure (liquid chromatography) after room-temperature storage in the Indian households.

The results are published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. The study was led by Dr Graham D Ogle, director of the 'Life for a Child' organization and adjunct professor at the University of Sydney, Australia.

"If our results can be confirmed in larger studies, it may drive a change in the requirement to discard insulin kept outside a fridge after one month. The period when insulin may still be used can potentially, in that case, be extended to three or perhaps even four months. That would have a major bearing on the resource-weak families' access to insulin," Ogle says.
A recent study published in the Lancet Planetary Health Journal delved deeper into the existing institutional landscape for pandemic prevention.

This was done against the backdrop of the negotiations on a pandemic treaty and the prevention of zoonotic spillovers from the wildlife trade for human consumption.

Study: Global governance for pandemic prevention and the wildlife trade. Image Credit: wk1003mike/Shutterstock.com

Background

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, governance has focussed on preventive actions for pandemics, mostly focused on containment, outbreak surveillance, and response.

However, insufficient consideration has been given to operationalizing these ideas through governance structures for wildlife trade. An immediate shift towards preventing zoonotic spillovers is essential to prevent future outbreaks.

About the study

Both domestic and international wildlife trade for human consumption is a driver of zoonoses, with the potential to cause pandemics.

Recent calls to change wildlife trade have been raised during the COVID-19 pandemic, but less attention has been given to governance structures, such as health governance, food governance, trade governance, and biodiversity governance.

In light of potential negotiations of a so-called pandemic treaty, the current study proposes institutional design principles, which could aid coordination across policy domains for preventing zoonotic spillovers from the trade of wildlife for human consumption.

Wildlife trade for human consumption was chosen as it is a possible cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other zoonotic drivers of pandemics, such as land-use change and domestic animal production, were excluded from this study.

The current institutional landscape

Governance across health, food, trade, and biodiversity emerged in the early 1900s and became cemented with the creation of the United Nations after the second world war.

The core institutional areas are World Trade Organization (WTO) in the case of international trade, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for food security, WHO, and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) for public health.

Finally, for biodiversity, the institutions are the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The road ahead for pandemic prevention

Despite international health regulations and the quadripartite partnership on one health, a new pandemic treaty is under consideration, which the Chilean government first proposed in April 2020.

The institutional design principles for zoonotic spillover prevention could be codified in four goals, namely, risk understanding, risk assessment, risk reduction, and enabling funding.

Risk Understanding: Improving knowledge of zoonoses is fundamental in preventing pandemics. More research is needed to reduce the uncertainty about the relative risk of zoonotic spillovers.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services has proposed the establishment of a policy-relevant science platform.

This platform should improve knowledge of the risks of zoonoses, develop a framework for monitoring and risk evaluation, conduct an impact evaluation of interventions, and reach a consensus on the perception and acceptance of risk.

Risk Assessment: Baseline data on each country is needed to assess the risk. To that end, any international institutional arrangement should encourage self-reporting on wildlife trade's entire networks and supply chains and the corresponding regulatory frameworks and funding available.

The Global Health Security Index could be used to assess the risks from wildlife trade for human consumption by including more specific metrics from the policy-relevant science platform.

Risk Reduction: For legal wildlife trade, which is intrinsically unregulated, improved governance frameworks are needed, including incentives and sanctions.

Some prescriptions could involve reducing the demand and supply of taxa bearing high zoonotic risk, improved management of supply chains, and evidence-based bans on trading certain types of wild meat for human consumption.

The evidence should be obtained from the policy-relevant science platform to ensure effectiveness.

Enabling Funding: The funding for addressing pandemics is inadequate, insufficient, and fragile. Additional stable funding will be needed to further each of the three previously mentioned goals.

In early 2021, two key initiatives were created: the G20 Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response and the WHO Working Group on Sustainable Financing.

A Global Pandemic Financing Facility could also be established. This would benefit from contributions from donor countries and draw on lessons from the Global Environmental Facility.

Conclusions

Pandemics highlight multiple institutional failures, which require a strong governance response. The international community should act soon while the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still tangible.

During crises, resources are predominantly deployed to mitigate them, so this might not be the ideal time for institution building.

However, the between-crisis episodes should not be under-utilized to strengthen existing frameworks and develop new ones.

In this spirit, the current study advocates using the impetus given by the current pandemic to bolster the international system for pandemic prevention. This could be an iterative and cooperative process, and developing all details in the immediate future is unnecessary.
After a much-awaited period, Pittcon, the worlds largest conference and exposition on laboratory science, took place once again in sunny Philadelphia on March 18th-22nd, 2023. As the home state of Pittcon, Philadelphia was a fitting location for its return after a two-year absence of in-person events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Image Credit: AZoNetwork

The conference featured over 1,100 technical sessions, 450 exhibitors, and more than 15,000 attendees who all came together to learn about the latest trends in the laboratory science industry.

The educational tracks at this years conference covered a wide range of topics, from bioanalytics and life sciences, food science and agriculture to forensics and toxicology, nanotechnology and materials science.

The networking sessions provided opportunities for attendees to meet up with long-distance colleagues, discuss hot topics and pressing issues in analytical chemistry, and participate in problem-solving.

Meanwhile, the renowned Pittcon Expo featured the latest products and services from a huge range of analytical chemistry and applied spectroscopy companies.

The Pittcon 2023 Expo also saw the return of Pittcon Parks, a series of interactive areas where attendees could learn about new technologies, network with colleagues, and participate in hands-on activities. This year, the Parks featured Pittcon Central, the Lab Gauntlet, and the Demo+Learning Zone.

Led by 2023 president Dr. Jonell Kerkhoff, Pittcon 2023 was a return-to-form event that provided attendees with unrivaled opportunities to learn, network, and discover new opportunities in the field of laboratory science.

Keynote speakers

This years Wallace H. Coulter Lecture, entitled Venturing into analytical chemistry using photonic crystals, was presented by Joanna Aizenberg and Amy Smith Berylson, Professor of Materials Science and Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University. Professor Aizenbergs lab specializes in studying and applying biological principles to the development of new synthetic routes and nanofabrication strategies to be applied in materials and devices.

Professor Aizenberg described the development of a dynamic colloidal co-assembly technique that can be used to create highly ordered, large-scale porous photonic crystals that are applicable to a number of applications. These crystals have a unique coloration that can be used to create simple and low-cost colorimetric indicators. However, the lab is using them to develop low-cost, simple colorimetric indicators for medical applications, encryption, oil classification, and as a tag for monitoring material aging or tampering. Professor Aizenberg also explained how, in the future, her lab plans to use these crystals to construct new machine learning-enabled artificial nose platforms.

Pittcon 2023, Philadelphia - Overview Play

The topic for the James L. Waters Symposium was the History and Development of SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry). The symposium featured scientists who are working on the latest advances in SIMS technology, including Nicholas Winograd from Penn State University, Ron Heeren from Maastricht University, Hua Tian from the University of Pittsburgh, Jonathan Sweedler of the University of Illinois and Sean C. Bendall of Stanford University School of Medicine.

They discussed efforts to improve the speed and resolution of SIMS measurements and how to use SIMS for a range of applications, from neuroscience to the characterization of single biological cells and tissue. The symposium also highlighted the potential for SIMS to be used in clinical chemistry to diagnose diseases.

Award winners

The 2023 conference was also an opportunity to honor the scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the field of analytical chemistry and spectroscopy. This included Robert Tycko from the National Institutes of Health, who was awarded the Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Award for his contributions to magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Neil Kelleher of Northwestern University was awarded the Pittsburgh Analytical Chemistry in recognition of his work in proteomics and biological mass spectrometry. Meanwhile, the Ralph N. Adams Award was given to Joseph Wang of the University of California at San Diego, a pioneer in sensor innovation.

Other award recipients included: Jeffrey Dick of Purdue University, Emanuela Gionfriddo of The University of Toledo, Luis A. Colon of the University at Buffalo (SUNY), Craig Prater of Photothermal Technology Corporation, Peter J. Schoenmakers of the University of Amsterdam, Fasha Mahjoor of Phenomenex, and Lane Baker of Texas A&M University.

Companies occupying the exhibition space

An extensive rostrum of exhibitors were present at the Pittcon Expo, covering a range of analytical areas, such as life sciences, environmental, electroanalytical, nanotechnology and food analysis techniques and applications, laboratory automation, specialized analytical testing services and research and clinical diagnostics. This allowed attendees to see the latest instrumentation, participate in demonstrations, and talk directly with technical experts.

Exhibitors included some of the prominent names in the field, with the likes of Bruker Corporation, Inorganic Ventures, LabWare Inc., Waters Corporation, PerkinElmer, Sensirion, and Shimadzu, to name a few.

Pittcon party

Attendees were also invited to celebrate the community, camaraderie, and connection of Pittcon at the annual Pittcon party. This year, the party had a speakeasy theme featuring live music from the 1920s, casino games, and a time-travel photo booth.

Pittcon philanthropy

As the premier annual conference and exposition on laboratory science, Pittcon is in the ideal position to give back to the science community. In fact, 90% of Pittcons net revenue profits are donated to funding science education, continuing education, and outreach.

Thanks to the participation of exhibitors and attendees, Pittcon is able to contribute $1 million every year to scholarships, internships, equipment, and research grants, as well as public science centers, libraries, and museums.

Pittcon 2024

In 2024, for the first time, Pittcon will take place on the West Coast in San Diego, California, where we will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the leading laboratory science conference and exposition. San Diego, the home to 200 research facilities, scientific innovation companies, and nearly 90 educational and research institutes in the region, is the ideal venue to host this landmark event. The event will be led by 2024 Pittcon President Dr. Melinda Stephens, Provost, Chief Academic Officer, and Professor of Chemistry at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.

Image Credit: Pittcon

About Pittcon

Pittcon is a registered trademark of The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, a Pennsylvania non-profit organization. Co-sponsored by the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh and the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh, Pittcon is the premier annual conference and exposition on laboratory science.

Proceeds from Pittcon fund science education and outreach at all levels, kindergarten through adult. Pittcon donates more than a million dollars a year to provide financial and administrative support for various science outreach activities including science equipment grants, research grants, scholarships and internships for students, awards to teachers and professors, and grants to public science centers, libraries and museums.

Visit pittcon.org for more information.
Silicon Valleys tech giants have continued laying off staff. As many as 570 tech companies including Google, Meta, Amazon have issued pink slips to 1,68,918 employees in 2023 alone. However, they dont seem to be putting a brake on layoffs anytime soon. While Google and Amazon have already fired several employees in some regions, both companies are struggling to let people go in European countries, reported Bloomberg.

After announcing massive job cuts, big US tech companies are now looking to further bring down their headcount in Europe. Here, mass layoffs have stalled due to labor protections that make it virtually impossible to sack people in some countries without prior consultations with employee interest groups.

As per the law, companies are legally required to consult with these councils before executing layoffs, which involves a potentially time-consuming process of data collection, discussions, and the option of appealing. In France and Germany, Google is seeking help from these groups to resolve the layoffs soon.

As per the report, in France, Googles parent company Alphabet has asked employees to resign voluntarily and get good severance packages in return.

The report further reveals that Amazon is offering a severance package of one-year pay to some senior managers with 5-8 years of experience if they resign voluntarily. The company will also offer leave to departing employees so their shares can vest and be paid out as bonuses.

In Germany, Amazon is firing employees who are on their probationary periods and offering them an option to resign voluntarily.

The report cited a Google spokesperson saying, We have been working carefully and individually through each country where reductions are taking place to fully adhere to local legal requirements, which vary per location, are complex, and take time.

Apart from this, an estimated 500 out of 8,000 Google employees will have to leave in the UK where labor protections are not as stringent. Additionally, Google is also looking at sacking a few employees in Dublin and in Zurich, where unions said the number of layoffs affects more than 200 people, the Bloomberg report said.

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The National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday cautioned investors against some fraudsters running illegal dabba trading with guaranteed returns to investors. The exchange said that these persons are not registered either as a member or authorised persons of any registered member of the NSE.

A police complaint has been lodged in this regard.

Cautioning investors, NSE asked them not to subscribe to any such scheme or product offered by any person or entity offering guaranteed returns in the stock market as the same is prohibited by law.

Investors are cautioned and advised not to trade on such illegal trading platforms. Participation in such illegal platforms is at the investors own risk, cost and consequences as such illegal trading platforms are neither approved nor endorsed by the exchange," the bourse said.

What Is Dabba Trading?

The term dabba refers to a box or container used to store and transport goods, and in this context, it refers to an informal network of brokers who operate from small offices or even homes, using mobile phones or other communication devices to place trades on behalf of their clients.

Dabba trading is an illegal form of trading in shares, where operators of such trading rings allow people to trade in equities outside the stock exchange platform.

Dabba trading takes place outside the official stock exchanges. In this type of trading, transactions are conducted through unofficial channels or off-market platforms, which are not recognised by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Why Dabba Trading Is Illegal?

Dabba trading is illegal because it is unregulated and involves fraudulent activities, such as price manipulation and insider trading. It also undermines the integrity of the official stock exchanges and can cause significant losses for investors who participate in it. SEBI has been cracking down on dabba trading, and those found guilty can face hefty fines and imprisonment.

The cautionary statements came after NSE found that the entitie, Shri Parasnath Commodity Private Limited, Shri Parasnath Bullion Private Limited, Faary Tale Trading Private Limited and Bharat Kumar (associated with Trade with Trust), were providing dabba or illegal trading platform with assured returns.

For any kind of disputes relating to such prohibited schemes, mechanisms such as benefits of investor protection under the exchanges jurisdiction, exchange dispute resolution mechanism and investor grievance redressal mechanism administered by the exchange, would not be available to investors, NSE added.

(With PTI inputs)

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Tuesday met with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen here and the two leaders discussed strengthening the India-US economic and financial partnership and increasing engagements at bilateral and multilateral forums.

Sitharaman, who is leading a high-powered delegation, met Yellen on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings 2023 here.

Taking the discussions ahead from their last meeting during the Economic Financial Dialogue #EFD, in India, in Nov. 22, the two leaders discussed strengthening the India-US economic & financial partnership and increasing engagements at bilateral and multilateral forums, the finance ministry said in a series of tweets.

Sitharaman appreciated the multi-faceted India-US partnership and called for further cooperation in addressing global economic challenges, including climate change. She also highlighted the role of G20, QUAD and IPEF in fostering this partnership.

Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman met with the United States Treasury Secretary Ms. @SecYellen on the sidelines of the @WorldBank and IMF #SpringMeetings 2023, in Washington D.C., today. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/zn9FpNNa96 Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) April 11, 2023

During the meeting, she also emphasised the importance of coordinated global action to address debt vulnerability in low and middle-income countries, besides the need for financial support to help developing economies achieve their climate goals.

Yellen applauded India for focusing on advancing the evolution of the multilateral development bank during its G-20 presidency.

The US is looking forward to continuing its close cooperation with India to help make Indias G20 presidency a success, Yellen told Sitharaman.

I want to commend your presidency for its focus on advancing the evolution of the multilateral development banks. As you know, this initiative is a priority of mine and will be a major focus of our conversations this week, she said.

Yellen said the actions proposed for the World Banks Development Committee are a very positive step, but much more work lies ahead of us this year. The G-20 can bring strong political momentum to bear to make sure that the multilateral development banks accelerate their work on 21st century global challenges as part of their effort to end extreme poverty and expand shared prosperity, she said.

She also said that having the right leadership at the World Bank is critical in furthering the progress that they have made. Thats why Im very pleased with President (Joe) Bidens choice of Ajay Banga as our nominee to be the next President of the World Bank, she said.

Banga, she said, has the right leadership and management skills, background, and financial expertise to lead the World Bank at a critical moment in its history.

And, of course, Ajay was born and spent much of his career in India. He has a keen understanding of the economic opportunities present in developing countries that will serve him well if hes selected, the treasury secretary said.

We also welcome Indias demonstrated leadership on debt issues as G-20 president, and support your efforts to improve the debt restructuring process. The US also applauds your efforts to transition to renewable energy and stands ready to provide support in achieving your target of 500 gigawatts of non-fossil generation capacity by 2030, Yellen said.

Sitharaman also met with former commerce secretary Penny Pritzker and they discussed about the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), providing accessibility for all, including Start Ups, besides supporting growth of FinTech.

She informed Pritzker that scaling up of Digital Infrastructure and adoption of tech by common people in India has been phenomenal in the last couple of years.

The minister highlighted that in the space of manufacturing, India has the right kind of skills, including manpower and language proficiency along with a huge domestic market which provides a significant scaling advantage to the private sector.

In reference to the Union Budget 2023-24, Sitharaman informed Pritzker that India has announced setting up of three centres of excellence in the area of artificial intelligence as it is a key focus for the government.

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Indian food spice levels are a compound component and there are many different kinds of spicy out there- the blazing hot, the peppery hot, the coldish heat of green chilis and more. Its common knowledge that that Indian food spice levels are heads and shoulders above food in the US or the UK. A Twitter users experience with the Desi food menu at a restaurant in the US has corroborated the same.

Aditi Shekar shared a screengrab of the menu at a Bethesda restaurant, and the Indian food spice levels were designated in a creative way. The paneer butter masala is available in different spice levels which go something like- Zero Spice, American Mild, American Medium, American Spicy, Indian Mild, Indian Medium, Indian Spicy and so on. The restaurant is clearly aware that spicy by Indian standards and spicy by American standards are entirely different ball games.

I just tried to order Indian food in Bethesda and this is hilarious: pic.twitter.com/H6EccABzcy Aditi Shekar (@aditishekar) April 8, 2023

i need this for every restaurant. sick of ordering barely spicy food https://t.co/45INoR21Mc sweet angel doll baby (@ohhsojenuine) April 11, 2023

Lol American spicy its like a guide for whether youre too white to handle how spicy it is https://t.co/C5xefIJur2 Kylie W (@kyliewilson) April 10, 2023

When I ordered Pad Thai at a Thai restaurant in Halifax, the waitress asked me if I'd like it mild, *Canadian* spicy or *Asian* spicy - she wouldn't have asked if I were white. Had a good laugh and ordered *Asian* spicy. The best Pad Thai I've ever had. https://t.co/5NyfpcG2Ko heh (@hehhehhyohyo) April 10, 2023

i will never forget going to an indian restaurant with friends from india in college and getting served the actual version of their food not what they serve non-Indian customers https://t.co/NkdnUkrCCZ Brad Polumbo  (@brad_polumbo) April 10, 2023

I need these options at every restaurant. I keep ordering ordering my food spicy in PA and it always comes back as American medium. Im sick of it. https://t.co/t4i6ULNTIl Planeteer (@EasyGoinGREEN) April 10, 2023

As a person who partially grew up in India and is firmly an Indian medium for most dishes, the most brutal thing Ive ever attempted to eat was Indian food made with New Mexico chilis. There were tables full of Indian people crying etc. It still hurts to think about. https://t.co/0YT6ziw6Xm Isabel Koster (@iota_subscript) April 10, 2023

Thats certainly a menu that caters to all kinds of diners.

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A woman named Mariam Nabatanzi was just 13 when she became a mother to her first set of twins. By the time she turned 36, Mariam had given birth to another 42 babies; and by the age of 40, she had 44 children of her own. Now, she has to raise them alone after her husband walked out of the giant family. The woman hails from Uganda, East Africa and is known among people as Mama Uganda, the most fertile woman on earth.

She gave birth to four sets of twins, five sets of triplets and five sets of quadruplets and only once did she give birth to a single child. Six of the children have died and the husband abandoned the giant family and flew off with all the familys money, leaving Mariam as a single mother with 38 children, 20 boys and 18 girls.

Mariam was married off when she was just 12 years old when her parents sold her. Soon after, she became pregnant at the age of 13.

It is worth noting that fertility rates are far higher in Uganda, where the average is 5.6 children per woman, according to the World Bank. It is more than double the world average of 2.4 children.

When Mariam visited doctors, the medical experts informed her that she had abnormally large ovaries which led to a condition called hyperovulation. She was also told that birth control pills wouldnt work and would likely cause severe health conditions.

According to a report by The Daily Monitor, Dr Charles Kiggundu, a gynaecologist at Mulago Hospital in Kamala stated that the most likely cause of Mariams extreme fertility was hereditary. He said, Her case is a genetic predisposition to hyper-ovulate  releasing multiple eggs in one cycle  which significantly increases the chances of having multiple births.

The doctors also told her that she was too fertile and she needed to keep giving birth in order to reduce the fertility levels in her ovaries. The doctors had to cut out her uterus from the inside so that she could stop giving birth to more children.

After her husband left in 2016, Mariam has been working day and night (she is an event decorator and a hairstylist by profession) and makes different herbal medicines to provide for her family. She is often supported with funds from fundraising and other donations and does everything she can to feed her kids.

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This is a joint release from MiningWatch Canada, Earthworks, and the Global Justice Clinic at NYU School of Law

OTTAWA, ON, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Representatives of communities impacted by Barrick Gold's mining operations claim the company systemically ignores their concerns. Despite President and CEO Mark Bristow's claim that "recognizing and respecting human rights have long been a fundamental value" for the company, people living near Barrick operations in the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Pakistan, and the United States tell a different story.

MiningWatch Canada Logo (CNW Group/MiningWatch Canada)

As Barrick prepares for its Annual General Meeting on May 2nd, frontline communities are launching a Week of Action from April 11-16 calling out the gap between Barrick's rhetoric and record. They claim oppressive violence, perpetual water pollution, violations of Indigenous Rights, and destroyed livelihoods. Their experiences call Barrick's social license to operate into question.

These community leaders are calling on Barrick to turn its rhetoric into reality: to listen to their demands, act transparently, and remedy the harms they have already experienced. Below are their statements.

"Barrick's proposed Donlin Gold mine puts the Yup'ik and Cup'ik ways of life in harm's way for the rest of time. Our people rely on our river and fish for food security and risking contamination with toxic slurries stands against our traditional values, which is shown with wide Tribal opposition to the Donlin project. I encourage Barrick to revoke their investment in Donlin Gold and the exploratory efforts 35 miles away. Barrick and partners do not have a social license or a relationship with the Tribes and it is important to understand for-profit Native corporations do not represent our people. Barrick does not have our consent." - Anaan'arar, Sophie Irene Swope, Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition, Southwest Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Region

"Barrick has spilled toxic chemicals into the water of the Jachal River multiple times, while operating in the heart of the San Guillermo Biosphere Reserve, an ecologically sensitive area. They have not been transparent about their impacts, which violates our democratic institutions. The solution is for the company to leave." - Domingo Jofre, Asamblea Jachal No se Toca, San Juan, Argentina

Story continues

"We have been calling for more than 20 years for justice for the people of the Island of Marinduque whose lives and livelihoods continue to be affected by the contamination of our rivers and marine areas from almost 30 years of irresponsible mining. Barrick is fighting us in our courts rather than providing the compensation we need to do the clean-up ourselves. Marinduquenos have waited long enough, it is time that Barrick lives up to its claims of being a responsible company and takes responsibility for the mess left behind in Marinduque."

- Elizabeth Manggol, Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns, Marinduque, Philippines

"We have never stopped advocating for justice for the many men, women, and children who have become the victims of the Porgera Joint Venture mine, through the pollution of our rivers, through the house burnings by mine security and police, and through the rapes and killings and beatings of our Ipili and Engan Indigenous people by mine security and police. We oppose Barrick reopening the mine until all the victims of Porgera Joint Venture have been fairly compensated and until we know that Barrick will clean up the mine waste that surrounds our houses." - James Wangia, Akali Tange Association, Porgera, Papua New Guinea

"Last December, Barrick Gold reached an unlawful agreement with the central government of Pakistan to extract gold and copper from the Reko Diq mining site. The locals in Balochistan, especially the locals surrounding the mining sites in Chaghi District, did not consent to this project. This violation not only threatens the region's autonomy and environment but also exacerbates the difficulties already faced by the suppressed local population. Barrick Gold must disclose every detail of the agreement to the masses and the media, and stop working until the local people approve the project."- Lateef Johar Baloch, A Human Rights Defender with main focus on Balochistan, affiliated with Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB).

"Barrick says they bring progress, but we are one of the poorest provinces in the country, even though we live next to one of the largest gold mines in the world. In 2012, Barrick Gold built the El Llagal tailings dam at the Pueblo Viejo mine. Twenty-one streams have dried up and the project has impacted two principal rivers, the Llagal and the Maguaca. Now, we receive drinking water from the government. We want to ask: if the company is allowed to destroy the streams and rivers that provided water to six communities, why hasn't there been any efforts to relocate us to another area without all of the pollution and with access to water?" - Leoncia Ramos, Comite Nuevo Renacer, Cotui, Dominican Republic

"The environmental impacts generated by Barrick Gold have been devastating culturally and spiritually for the Western Shoshone, and yet the company claims to ensure responsible mining practices that respects, protects, and preserves our cultural heritage. Barrick's attempt to mitigate for the protection and preservation of Western Shoshone cultural heritage is to provide funding to assist with establishing a cultural center and language program, funding support for local cultural activities, and trips for the elders to attend other cultural gatherings. This may all sound and look good but is it? Eventually, Western Shoshone people will become totally dependent on funding from an industry that sets out to destroy our homelands. There is no long-term benefit in the destruction of our land and culture." - Mary Gibson, Western Shoshone Defense Project, Newe Sogobia, Nevada, United States

In addition to the statements above, Tanzanian Kuria peoples from villages surrounding the North Mara Gold Mine are currently in court in both the UK and Canada claiming excess use of force by mine security and police guarding the mine leading to deaths and maimings.

Earthworks is dedicated to protecting communities and the environment from the adverse impacts of mineral and energy development while seeking sustainable solutions. The Global Justice Clinic (GJC) at NYU School of Law partners with social movements and community organizations to prevent, challenge, and redress economic, racial, and climate injustice, while training the next generation of social justice lawyers. Statements of the Global Justice Clinic do not purport to represent the views of NYU, if any. MiningWatch Canada works toward a world in which Indigenous peoples can effectively exercise their rights to self-determination, communities must consent before any mining activities may occur, mineworkers are guaranteed safe and healthy conditions and there is effective access to justice and reparations for mining harms.

A community mural near Barrick Gold's Pueblo Viejo mine in the Dominican Republic. (CNW Group/MiningWatch Canada)

SOURCE MiningWatch Canada

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/11/c6794.html
The British royal family celebrated Easter at Windsor Castle. The ceremony marked the first time that Prince William and Kate Middleton attended the holiday church services as the Prince and Princess of Wales. Kate wore an electric blue coat dress and looked stunning during the Easter Sunday service. But, one minor detail of her appearance caused a stir among royal watchers. The Princess of Wales sported red nail polish at the event. Kates daring red manicure came as a surprise since she typically favours neutral shades or no nail polish at all.

Twitter users were left divided by Kates nail paint. One user wrote, They almost shredded Meghan to pieces when she wore black nail polish, but they cheered and they bragged about Kate Middleton wearing red nail polish yesterday, Easter Sunday. Are the British, the Royal Family, and their tabloids haters and racists?

They almost shredded Meghan to pieces when she wore black nail polish, but they cheered and they bragged about Kate Middleton wearing red nail polish yesterday, Easter Sunday. Are the British, the Royal Family, & their tabloids haters and racists? GraceinHeights (@GraceinHeights) April 11, 2023

Kate Middleton wearing red nail polish. Accompanying the new times, modernising and innovating, is important and the nobility will not become less noble, but more inserted in the transformations, another individual commented.

Kate Middleton wearing red nail polish. Accompanying the new times, modernizing and innovating, is important and the nobility will not become less noble, but more inserted in the transformations@KensingtonRoyal @BBCLondonNews Izah RM (@m_izane) April 10, 2023

Some slammed the double standards of the royal watchers regarding Kate and Meghan Markle. Notably, Markle faced flak for wearing dark nail colour at the British Fashion Awards in 2018. Meghan was slaughtered for breaking protocol just for wearing nail polish that wasnt pink. Now here is Kate Middleton wearing red nail polish, will we be told of how bold and daring this is?

Meghan was slaughtered for breaking protocol  just for wearing a nail polish that wasnt pink. Now here is Kate Middleton wearing red nail polish, willl we be told of how bold and daring this is? Lorna (@Lorna69321235) April 9, 2023

In case you missed it, Meghan Markle defied the unspoken royal fashion protocol by wearing black nail polish during her appearance at the British Fashion Awards. At the event, the Duchess of Sussex was pregnant with Prince Archie and presented the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award to her wedding dress designer, Clare Waight Keller, while wearing a one-shoulder gown matching the shade of her nail paint. Some experts at the time claimed that her choice of nail colour broke a longstanding rule of the Queen regarding coloured nail polish, which the late monarch reportedly considered vulgar."

It is widely believed that Queen Elizabeth II did not approve of colourful nail polish. While bright colours are not prohibited for members of the royal family, it is more common for them to wear nude tones for official engagements.

Queen Elizabeth II was known for her bright outfits, but when it came to her nails, she preferred neutral tones and was often associated with Essies Ballet Slippers" shade.

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Indian Railways has managed to impress people on social media after a man shared a picture of a meal served on Shatabdi Express. The meal included multiple Indian dishes, served along with pickle and curd. Travelled in Shatabdi after a long time & Im really impressed to see the food quality.. Railway has literally changed a lot in the past 9 years," read the caption. It shows dal, chicken, aloo with some rice and chapati. Not only did it look delicious but was also very neatly and nicely presented. The post went viral immediately and garnered multiple appreciative messages.

Travelled in Shatabdi after a long time & I'm really impressed to see the food quality..Railway has literally changed a lot in the past 9 years. pic.twitter.com/hDGx8t2jpX Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) April 10, 2023

Union Minister Darshana Jardosh also Retweeted the image as she wrote, I am glad you enjoyed the food service in #NayeBharatKiNayiRail."

I am glad you enjoyed the food service in #NayeBharatKiNayiRail  https://t.co/2tS971YeFP Darshana Jardosh (@DarshanaJardosh) April 10, 2023

Many people dropped appreciative messages. This is looking complete, fresh and delicious no doubt. That aloo ki sabzi, color of dal, steamed rice, roti and a non plastic disposable Chamach everything looks perfect," wrote a Twitter user. Another person wrote, Few days ago, I was traveling and I bought a dosa from a shop at Pune railway station, the dosa and the chutney was excellent in taste. Thank you to brhe shop owner and Indian railways."

Meko laga hotel me khana kha rhe ho fir caption pdha Pooja Sangwan  (@ThePerilousGirl) April 10, 2023

The food in Tejas express is superb. My brother travels to Ahmedabad specially in that train just for the food quality. https://t.co/9vhtdmnuRF MJ (@MJ_007Club) April 10, 2023

Mast khana hai.  Abhinav Khare (@iabhinavKhare) April 10, 2023

Meanwhile, earlier, Twitter user, Bhumika, posted a picture of her half-eaten meal on a train which had dal, rice, sabzi, and rotis on the plate. In her caption, she pointed out the rail authorities and asked, Have you ever tasted your own food (IRCTC Official)? Will you ever give such bad quality and taste to your own family and children? Tagging it as food for prisoners", Bhumika went on to highlight the increased fare prices which, nowhere, justify the quality of food being served on the trains.

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Twitter user who goes by the name Gabbar took to the micro blogging site and shared the story of a Plastic bag. It has got many in nostalgia. He wrote that when he was in school, the brands polythene bag a kid carried was a status symbol. I used to bring a polythene bag given by the local Saree shop. Usual text on those bags: Shaadi ka Lehenga, Baba suit, Safari suit" Aaj nakad kal udhaar," he wrote. He further mentioned that there was no other usecase.

Especially on train journeys, you would notice the polythene bags carried by the fellow passengers & the address of the shop mentioned on those bags. It gave away the hometown of those passengers," he mentioned. Then he explained how moms would hoard these polythene bags under bed mattresses, precious commodity, taken out during an emergency, like the board exam of their kid, when she has to carry a clip writing pad and an instrument box to the examination hall."

Story of a Plastic BagWhen I was in school, which brand's polythene bag a kid carried was a status symbol. I used to bring a polythene bag given by the local Saree shop. Usual text on those bags: "Shaadi ka Lehenga, Baba suit, Safari suit" "Aaj nakad kal udhaar"  (1/n)  Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) April 10, 2023

Moms would hoard these polythene bags under bed mattresses, precious commodity, taken out during an emergency, like the board exam of their kid, when she has to carry a clip writing pad and an instrument box to the examination hall. Some polythenes were lucky  Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) April 10, 2023

Since being uploaded, the tweet has gone viral and garnered nearly 155K views. I live in Delhi studying at dse and my parents live in Bihar and they still send me something in these polythene bag when I leave home for Delhi," wrote a Twitter user.

Another person mentioned, Whenever there was a wedding in the family, the garment shop used to give a bundle of brand new polythene bags after the wedding shopping. It was such a soothing experience to use those. BTW, till date my father neatly organises each and every polythene bag coming to house."

I remember polyethylene bags with top international brands like Marlboro, Pall Mall London selling in Connaught Place," wrote another user.

mom stitched bags from father's old pantsone was made from a thick textured material..lasted to 3 classesone was plastic bag from ASOPALAV SAREES"ATRA TATRA SARVATRA" FINCIPLINE (@ashish_3309) April 10, 2023

Whenever there was a wedding in the family, the garment shop used to give a bundle of brand new polythene bags after the wedding shopping. It was such a soothing experience to use those. BTW, till date my father neatly organises each and every polythene bag coming to house. J Lal (@jetha_the_memer) April 10, 2023

Quite relatable for a Bihari kid! The quality of the bag mattered too. Brands like Reebok and Levis were unheard of in my town. So my prized possession was a Monte Carlo bag. Prodosh Mitter (@meanderings19) April 10, 2023

I used to carry the plastic bag which I got from my tailor - Miranda Tailor, Rosary Tailor . It was the time when we used to wear stitched clothes. Readymade clothes were luxury - once in a while. Gaurish Salunke (@gaurishsalunke) April 11, 2023

Ohh !! U took me back to those days wen I carried my books in the best poly bag to tution classes. And yes which brand poly bag u carried was always a status symbol ! Prank (@prank85) April 10, 2023

Do you remember any such story?

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The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has extended the Class 10 scrutiny registration process, which was supposed to end on April 10. Now, according to the official notification, the last date to register for the scrutiny process is April 12. Students who are not satisfied with their marks can register for the process by visiting the official website of BSEB at biharboardonline.gov.in.

The Bihar Board declared the Class 10th exam results on March 31. BSEB will conduct the re-evaluation or re-checking of Class 10 answer sheets for students who are unhappy with their results or failed to secure the minimum passing marks. For the BSEB 10th scrutiny process, students will have to apply via online mode with the help of the respective school heads by using the registered school login ID and password. It is to be noted that students will have to pay a certain amount to apply for scrutiny for every subject.

After re-evaluating the answers given by students, the Bihar Board releases the updated scores, if any changes are found. On the other hand, candidates who have failed in more than two or more subjects in the BSEB Class 10 exam this year can appear for the compartment exam.

BSEB Class 10th Results 2023: Steps to Register for Scrutiny

Step 1: Go to BSEBs official website at biharboardonline.gov.in

Step 2: Click on BSEB 10th scrutiny link.

Step 3: On the new page, enter your username, and password and click on register now.

Step 4: After logging in, fill out the form and pay the fees. Submit the form.

Step 5: Download and save the form for future reference.

A total of 16,10,657 students appeared for the matric examination this year, out of which 8,19,737 were girls and 7,90,920 were boys. The overall pass percentage of students stood at 81.04 per cent in 2023. The Education Board of Bihar conducted the Class 10 exams from February 14 to February 22.

Read all the Latest Education News here
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will be announcing the results for the UGC-NET December 2022 soon. Candidates who are waiting for the results will be able to check them from the official website of UGC NET ugcnet.nta.nic.in after they are announced.

UGC NET Result 2022 LIVE Updates

The UGC NET was held across the country in 5 phases. 8,34,537 candidates took the UGC NET examination across the country. It was held for 83 subjects. This nationwide eligibility examination was held from February 21 to March 16.

UGC NET 2023 December Result: How to Download

Step 1: Visit the official website of UGC NETugcnet.nta.nic.in

Step 2: On the homepage, Click on the UGC NET results link.

Step 3: Enter your login credentials such as the application number, date of birth, and other details.

Step 4: Click on submit button.

Step 5: The results page will be displayed on the screen.

Step 6: Download and save it for future use.

The candidate should cross-check all the details. They can match their scores with the provisional answer key released by NTA on their official website. The answer key had 83 questions dropped after the objection from the students.

According to the prospectus, the number of candidates who will be qualified for the post of Assistant Professor shall be equal to 6 per cent of the candidates appearing in both papers. The seat allotment will be done on the basis of the reservation policy of India.

For the post of Assistant Professor or the Junior Research Fellowship, the candidate has to acquire a total of 40 per cent belonging to the general category in both the papers. The candidates belonging to the other categories must acquire 35 per cent. The further detailed criteria for the seat allotment in the exam are mentioned in the instruction manual of UGC NET.

NTA administered the exam in five stages. Phase I ran from February 21 to February 24, and Phase II ran from February 28 to March 1 and 2. Phase III ran from March 3 to March 6, and Phase IV ran from March 11 to March 12. Phase V took place from March 13 to March 16.

Read all the Latest Education News here
58 lakh students are waiting for UP Board High School and Intermediate Result 2023. The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) will soon be announcing UP Board results for Class 10th and 12th. The students can check their results from the official website of UPMSPupmsp.edu.in. There has been no official confirmation on the date of result yet.

Generally, the results of the UP Board are issued within three weeks after the completion of the evaluation of answer sheets. Looking at this pattern, the evaluation of copies was completed on 31st March. Results can be released after 20 April.

As per media reports, UP board results 2023 for Class 10 and Class 12 is expected to be released on the same day like previous years. After the result is released, its link will be activated on the official website- results.upmsp.edu.in. Students will be able to check their results through roll number.

This year over 58 lakh candidates registered for the UP board exams. Out of which, 31,16,487 students had registered for Class 10th while 27,69,258 students enrolled for Class 12th.

The Uttar Pradesh board exams for both classes began on February 16. The exams for Class 10 ended on March 3 while the exams for Class 12 concluded on March 4. One needs to score at least 33 per cent to pass the UP board exams 2023. Those who fail in one or two subjects in the Uttar Pradesh Board exams, need to appear for the compartment exams.

This year, the UPMSP appointed 1,43,933 examiners to evaluate 3.19 crore answer sheets of students. There were about 1.86 crore answer sheets from Class 10 candidates and 1.33 crore answer sheets from Class 12 students. The Uttar Pradesh board exams were held in 8,753 centres across the state which included 4,690 unaided colleges, 3,523 private centres, and 540 government centres. In 2022, UP Board released the high school and intermediate result on June 18, and the evaluation process was completed on May 5.

Read all the Latest Education News here
As political parties gear up for the crucial Karnataka assembly elections, the ruling BJP on Tuesday released its own version of the Oscar-winning song Naatu Naatu from the Telugu film RRR. In the poll campaign song, the Bharatiya Janata Party has replaced the lyrics Naatu Naatu with Modi Modi and highlighted the achievements of the saffron party in the state.

In the video, some people were seen acing the hook step of the exhilarating song Naatu Naatu. The party has stressed on the BJPs work in the state in the last three years and projects like Shivamogga airport, Bengaluru  Mysuru expressway, metro lines, and other schemes in the campaign song.

Sharing the video on Twitter, Karnataka Health Minister Sudhakar K said, The efforts of our double engine

@BJP4Karnataka government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi who are working to bring the development festival in Karnataka to the people through a wonderful song @BJYM is commendable."

The elections for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly will be held on May 10 and the results to be declared on May 13. The poll battle will be mainly between the Congress, BJP and the JD(S) in the state.

Meanwhile, the first list of more than 175 BJP candidates for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka is to be released after a final discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah once he returns to Delhi, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Tuesday.

He told reporters, Today we had a final meeting. Probably, the home minister will have an internal meeting with national leaders after reaching Delhi. They will announce the first list soon. Two lists of candidates will be announced. In the first list, more than 175 candidates will be cleared.

(with inputs from PTI)

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Veteran Karnataka BJP leader and five-time Shivamogga MLA KS Eshwarappas announcement of retirement from electoral politics may not be a decision taken in haste, but one taken in disappointment, say sources close to the leader.

Insiders say there was a discussion during the poll candidate selection meeting in Delhi to ask him to seek election from another constituency such as nearby Bhadravati.

There was also speculation that the BJP central leadership was considering denying Eshwarappa a ticket in this election as the corruption controversy revolving around his name and the suicide of a contractor who alleged that he had demanded 40 per cent commission for works hit the BJPs image hard. A tag that the party is still trying hard to shake off in this election.

Writing to BJPs national president JP Nadda, Eshwarappa said that in the past few elections the party has not been able to get a full mandate from the people of Karnataka and so he would like to work towards bringing the saffron party back to power without having to contest elections.

I wish to voluntarily retire from electoral politics. Hence, it is my request not to consider my name for any constituency for the assembly elections this time," the former leader of the opposition in the legislative council wrote.

However, there are a few more issues that led to this decision, News18 has learnt. Eshwarappa has been lobbying for a ticket for his son Kanthesh for the Shivamogga seat. But, in a late-night meeting chaired by the PM, Modi made it clear that the party should decide on moving candidates or sitting MLAs who have won their seat more than twice to another constituency while fresh yet strong BJP candidates should be given a chance. In the BJP candidate list announced late on Tuesday evening, Eshwarappas Shivamogga seat did not find mention.

National president of BJP Yuva Morcha and MP for Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya, in fact, praised Eshwarappas decision to make space for new-comers".

Sri KS Eashwarappa Ji is one of the tallest figures of @BJP4Karnataka who along with Sri BSY, Sri Anantkumar built the party from the ground up.His decision to make space for new-comers is what makes BJP the party with the difference. A decision worthy of emulation. https://t.co/gOmT1Ht3I8  Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) April 11, 2023

Its only in BJP that young blood and new leadership is purposively groomed.Precedent set by leaders like Sri KSE, Halady Sir etc is what makes BJP different from other political parties. Their decision to make way for new leadership is inspiring for us, the young karyakartas.  Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) April 11, 2023

The BJP wants to ensure that there is no tag of dynastic politics associated with the party. This a stand that they have taken against the Congress but could come to boomerang if they considered sons or daughters of MLAs in the list. They will pick a candidate only if he or she is capable of winning. The high command was considering moving Eshwarappa to the Bhadravati constituency which was not acceptable to the leader," a BJP source told News18.

Eshwarappa had also requested the party leaders not to consider his name for any assembly constituency but had been strongly backing his son Kanthesh for his seat in Shivamogga.

In his four-decades-long political career, which began in the early 1990s, Eshwarappa, who will also turn 75 in July, has served in the capacities of deputy chief minister and minister in the various BJP governments that ruled Karnataka. This is the unofficial age bar in the BJP for leaders to contest polls and hold offices of position.

Just as the unwritten rule of 75 years applies to BJP leaders across the country, it was also felt that standing for an election and then being asked to step down in a matter of months when he turns 75 will become a major embarrassment for the party," pointed out a close associate of the leader from Shivamogga.

The BJP leader has also been known for courting controversies with his provocative comments. Last month, he had wondered in public, while Azaan prayers were playing from a mosque, whether Allah is deaf" that loudspeakers are required to call him. There were also tensions in Shivamogga last year over allegations that Eshwarappa called Tipu Sultan a Muslim Goonda". He also had run-ins with BS Yediyurappa and had at one point threatened to go on his own with his outfit Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. Both leaders are from Shivamogga.

In 2022, Eshwarappa quit as the rural development and panchayat raj minister as a civil works contractor, Santosh Patil, committed suicide after accusing the leader of demanding a 40 per cent commission for road works in Belagavi. This accusation hit the ruling BJPs image hard, and then he stepped down claiming he would prove his innocence. The police probe into the case later gave him a clean chit but Eshwarappa was unable to convince the party high command to give him a ministerial berth.

The opposition Congress quickly made Eshwarappa a poster boy of corruption" in the BJP and launched a campaign against the party alleging its government demanded a 40 per cent commission and lives were lost in the process. This is also further built into the Pay CM" campaign, which the Congress has effectively used to target the BJP.

The party high command has been very upset with the way the Eshwarappa-contractor episode gave the opposition the perfect pitch right before the elections," explained a state party office bearer.

There will be a strong message when the candidate list is announced, said another BJP leader. Heads could roll and the party will try and avoid giving tickets to those associated with the corruption tag. It could include non-performing sitting MLAs, veteran leaders, influential caste leaders, and anybody. The message of zero tolerance to corruption has to go through," the leader added.

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With less than a month left for the Karnataka elections 2023, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced 189 candidates after multiple rounds of meetings.

The party fielded 52 new faces in the May 10 elections and 76 are from OBCs/SC/ST communities.

ALSO READ: Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE: 52 New Faces in BJPs First List of 189 Candidates

BJP national general secretary Arun Singh, who addressed the press conference with Karnataka in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, said, The party is fielding 52 new faces. In the list, 32 candidates are from OBCs, 30 SC and 16 ST. 8 candidates are women. There are 9 doctors and 5 advocates, 1 retired IAS and 1 IPS officer, 3 retired government employees, 31 post-graduates, 3 academicians and 8 social activists."

BJP releases a list of 189 candidates for the upcoming #KarnatakaElections2023 pic.twitter.com/Pt0AZTaIBE ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2023

Bigwigs To Watch Out For

CM Basavaraj Bommai will contest from the Shiggaon constituency while former deputy CM Laxman Savadi has been denied a ticket from Athani. BJP veteran BS Yediyurappas son BY Vijayendra is in the fray from his fathers Shikaripiur seat.

The party fielded turncoat MLA Mahesh Kumattali. Ramesh Jarkiholi had threatened the BJP that he wouldnt contest the election if the party didnt give his friend Mahesh Kumthalli a ticket in the elections.

Basangouda Patil, considered a critic of Yediyurappa, will seek re-election from the Vijayapura seat. State Minister B Sriramulu, who was sitting MLA from Molakalmuru, will contest from the Bellary Rural seat this time.

Revenue Minister R Ashoka will contest from two seats- Padmanabhanagar and Kanakapura. He will face Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar in Kanakapura.

BJP national general secretary C T Ravi will contest from his traditional Chikmagalur seat. Health Minister Dr Sudhakar K will seek election from the Chikkaballapur seat while Minister Dr Ashwathnarayan CN will be in the fray from the Malleshwaram seat.

Senior minister V Somanna, who is a sitting MLA from Govindaraja Nagar in Bangalore, will take on Congress veteran Siddaramaiah from the Varuna constituency.

The BJP fielded former Bengaluru commissioner Bhaskar Rao in Chamarajpet.

Following a meeting with BJP president J P Nadda in New Delhi, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai earlier asserted that the party is taking tough" decisions to create a new system, an apparent reference to the candidate selection exercise, and expressed confidence that pro-incumbency" sentiments will help it beat off the challenge from the Congress and retain power.

Bommai, along with state party leaders, had a meeting with Nadda at the latters residence. Several senior party leaders, including Union minister Pralhad Joshi, national general secretaries C T Ravi and Arun Singh, were part of the meeting.

Referring to senior party leader K S Eshwarappas decision to not contest the elections, Bommai said it reflects the BJPs culture of veterans making way for the younger lot and took a swipe at the Congress for giving its ticket to the 91-year-old Shamanur Shivashankarappa.

Our leadership and values are different. To create a new system, we are taking tough decisions," he said. Opting out of the poll was Eshwarappas personal decision, he added.

With former chief minister Jagadish Shettar sounding upset with the party for nudging him to keep away from polls, Bommai said he has spoken to him. Shettar wants to work more before he retires, the chief minister said.

Over reports that state party leader Laxman Savadi may cross over to the Congress, he noted that Savadi wants to contest from the Athani constituency. We have asked him not to take extreme steps," he said.

The BJP aims to come back to power in the southern state with an absolute majority and has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats.

(With PTI inputs)

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TORONTO, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - This is no April Fools' joke: Tim Hortons is bringing back two beloved donuts for a limited time to celebrate National Donut Day on June 2.

Tim Hortons is bringing back TWO beloved donuts for a limited time to celebrate National Donut Day (CNW Group/Tim Hortons)

"Tim Hortons guests are extremely passionate about our donuts  including the donuts from Tims history," says Tallis Voakes, Director of Culinary Innovation at Tim Hortons.

"We listened to their feedback and decided it was time to bring back a couple of guest favourites for National Donut Day  but only for a limited time. We're super excited to be bringing back two beloved treats that guests have been nostalgic about for years  can you guess what flavours they are?"

The retro donuts will be available in participating Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada beginning May 31, just in time for guests to celebrate National Donut Day on June 2. Guests will be able to reminisce with the throwback flavours for a limited time this summer.

Keep an eye on Tim Hortons social channels and the Tim Hortons Newsroom for details on the big reveal!

About Tim Hortons

In 1964, the first Tim Hortons restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario opened its doors and Canadians have been ordering Tim Hortons iconic Original Blend coffee, Double-Double coffees, Donuts and Timbits in the years since. Over the last 55 years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of Canadians and has become synonymous with serving Canada's favourite coffee. Tim Hortons is Canada's largest restaurant chain operating in the quick service industry with nearly 4,000 restaurants across the country. More than a coffee and bake shop, Tim Hortons is part of the Canadian fabric and guests can enjoy hot and cold specialty beverages  including lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, teas and our famous Iced Capps  alongside delicious breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more. Tim Hortons has more than 5,400 restaurants in Canada, the United States and around the world. For more information on Tim Hortons visit TimHortons.ca.

Story continues

SOURCE Tim Hortons

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/11/c7699.html
The campaign for the 2023 Karnataka Elections is already underway. The political field is prepared for combat, and candidates from all political parties are competing for a ticket. The lists of candidates for the JD(S) and Congress have already been made public, but the ruling BJP party seems to have witnessed a delay. According to Deccan Herald, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his dissatisfaction with the distribution of tickets to the children of already-residing MLAs and MPs in the upcoming assembly elections. As a result, the BJPs initial list will get pushed back by one or two days. In the meantime, the state leaders will once again deliberate on choosing new candidates for a certain number of seats. Here is a list of politicians who are eager to receive tickets for their children.

B S Yediyurappa

Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa informed the higher authorities in the BJP that his son BY Vijayendra will undoubtedly contest from the Shikaripura constituency. Later, Yediyurappa had a secret conversation with BJP National President JP Nadda at Naddas residence, after which he jetted off to Bengaluru for reasons unknown.

KS Eshwarappa

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka KS Eshwarappa is vying for a ticket for his son KE Kantesh. He wants Kantesh to contest from Shimoga.

MTB Nagaraj

BJP leader MTB Nagaraj has also asked for a ticket for his son Neetish Purushottama to stand in the assembly elections from Hoskote.

Govind Karjol

Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol has also urged the high command to give his son, Umesh Karjol a ticket so that he can contest from Mudhol. Govind has further urged the higher authorities to give his second son and a BJP aspirant, Gopal Karjol a ticket for contesting from the Nagathan constituency.

V Somanna

BJP leader and Housing Minister Somanna has also demanded that his son Arun Somanna be given a ticket so that he can stand for the Gubbi Assembly Constituency.

Umesh Katti

Discussions are doing the rounds that late BJP member Umesh Kattis family might also be given a ticket for his son Nikhil Katti to contest from Hukkeri. If not Nikhil, then the ticket might be received by Umeshs brother Ramesh Katti.

Anand Mamani

Apart from these, there have been talks regarding one politicians wife getting the contesting ticket. Anand Mamani, the deputy speaker of the Karnataka legislative assembly, breathed his last on October 23 after suffering from a liver-related disease. It is thus being consulted whether tickets for the Karnataka Assembly elections will be given to Anands wife Ratna Mamani, for her to contest from Savadatti.

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With the Congress and JD(S) having already released lists of its candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, people have been waiting for the BJP to do the same. The saffron party was supposed to release its first list of candidates on April 10, but the list has been delayed yet again. Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa left Delhi late Monday without having decided on the final list of candidates for the May 10 elections. He had been in Delhi for discussions to finalise tickets.

The BJP held several meetings over three days, and the first list was supposed to be released on Monday. It aspires to maintain control in Karnataka but it must contend with intra-party conflicts that could compromise its effectiveness. Yediyurappa and chief minister Basavaraj Bommai arrived in Delhi on Friday for discussions to choose the candidates. Yediyurappas return to Bengaluru without the list of candidates led to rumours that he was dissatisfied with the party.

Yediyurappa, who arrived at Bangalores Kempegowda International Airport from Delhi, spoke to the media and clarified that there will be no change in the discussed list, however, it will be released in a day or two. He added that he was sure that BJP would form the government yet again with a clear majority.

However, some sources have indicated that the BJP high command had instructed CM Bommai to survey thirty to forty constituencies, which was carried out by three separate organisations. The final tickets will reportedly be finalised based on this list.

There were rumours that Yediyurappas abrupt departure from Delhi was a sign that the BJP heavyweight was dissatisfied with the candidate selection process. But Yediyurappas departure was forced by a personal emergency, according to CM Basavaraj Bommai and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.

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With assembly elections fast approaching in poll-bound Karnataka, the leaders across party lines are facing the heat of voters over the lack of development works.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Former CM and JD(S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy was cornered by women voters during his campaign trail in the Ramanagara assembly constituency. Actor-turned-politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy will be contesting from Ramanagara where his mother Anita Kumaraswamy is the present MLA.

In a video that went viral, women voters were heard saying, Your mother performed puja but still there is no proper drinking water facility, streamline underground drainage facilities and others. We are saying to all parties that we wont be voting this time".

In December Anitha announced Nikhil as her successor in the constituency at the regional partys Pancha Ratna Yatra in Ramanagara. While making the announcement, Anitha said she would give up her constituency for her son.

In another viral video, BJP MLA in Vijayapura district was seen facing the ire of voters over poor infrastructure causing major embarrassment for the BJP.

When BJP MLA Somangouda visited Areshankar village faced the wrath of voters. In a video, voters questioned the leader about where exactly the allocated money for development works was spent. The supporters of the BJP MLA who tried to pacify the voters too had to face the flak.

Earlier, BJP Minister Shashikala Jolly too was gheraoed by villagers of Galataga in Chikkodi asking her not to set foot in the village alleging a lack of developmental work and infrastructural facilities. The villagers further accused her of visiting the village during election time to seek votes.

Karnataka Assembly Elections will take place on May 10 and the results will be announced on May 13.

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Udaariyaan is one of the most popular shows on Colors. The show has been winning the audiences hearts from its interesting storyline for a long time now. Produced by Sargun Mehta and Ravi Dubey, it formerly starred Priyanka Choudhary and Ankit Gupta but now features Isha Malviya, Twinkle Arora, Hitesh Bharadwaj and Sonakshi Batra in the lead. Recently, Kushagre Dua also joined the show.

Talking about his role, Dua shared that he is very excited to play a positive role since the viewers have mostly seen him playing stylish grey roles in other shows. After a while, I am playing a positive character and I am quite excited about the role. The characters name is Sartaj and is paired with Nehmat (played by Twinkle Arora). As much as I know my role, Sartaj doesnt believe in love anymore and keeps distance from women. He has a brutal heartbreak after which he doesnt wish to get back to those feelings, the actor told E-Times.

Kushagre Dua made his television debut in 2017 with Ek Vivah Aisa Bhi but he rose to fame with Divya Drishti in which he played the role of Romi Sood. Besides this, Dua was also seen in shows like Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali, Nazar and Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin among others.

Recently, Dua also featured in Yeh Hai Chahatein. Talking about his stint in the show, the actor added, It ended up being a cameo and not a full-fledged character. I did have other offers to play a lead in a show but I was looking for a strong character and Udaariyaan seemed to be the right choice for me.

Kushagre also recalled how he received the call from the unit and the next morning he was shooting in Chandigarh and said, The process was too quick, within a few hours I got a call from the team that they wanted me to be a part of the show and the next morning I was on a flight and shooting in Chandigarh."

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
Bigg Boss OTT and Lock Upp fame reacted to a social media user calling him a terrorist on his latest Instagram post. The actor had shared a photo of him dressed in a black tank top and jeans of the same colour. He can be seen striking an intense pose for the camera. Sharing the photo, he wrote, Like a sprained ankle, boy, I aint nothin to play with!"

While a lot of his fans and followers praised him, there was a user who called him a terrorist and wrote, Zeeshan terrorist." However, the actor was in no mood to take it lying back. He shut up the troll by writing, Haan, kyuki tujh jaiso ke liye agar mein samne aa gaya na toh aise hi fatt jayegi!

Take a look:

Zeeshans fans came to his support and compared this incident to the one where Payal Rohatgi called him a terrorist. Zeeshan and Payal were co-contestants in Kanagana Ranauts Lock Upp. One user wrote, real Id se aana Kyu fake Id banake aari hai tu Zeeshan ka itna khof hogya hai ki tuje fake Id ka sahara lena padra hai " Another user wrote, best answer Zee"

Zeeshan Khan rose to fame with his stints in Bigg Boss OTT and Kangana Ranauts Lock Upp. With the second season on the cards, News18 caught up with Zeeshan for an exclusive conversation where the actor said that those who will be seen in Lock Upp 2, should not take the host, Kangana Ranaut, seriously. Zeeshan claims that the Lock Upps so-called queen" has absolutely no understanding" of the show.

My advice to the future contestant would be, be who you are. It is a jail-themed show. Our so-called queen of the show (Kangana Ranaut) has absolutely no understanding of what happens inside. She will have a biased opinion. You stay strong on your grounds. Trust me, do not take the queens advice ever, ever," Zeeshan Khan told us.

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
Sheezan Khan, who was last seen in the show Ali Baba- Dastaan E Kabul, was all over the news after he was arrested in Tunisha Sharmas alleged suicide case. The unfortunate incident took place on the set of the show in December last year. Khan was granted bail on March 4 this year and he is currently enjoying family time. On Tuesday, the actor took to his Instagram handle and shared a poem that left his fans worried.

Sheezan wrote the poem in Hindi along with a picture of himself. He talked about how dying in love is not good and mentioned that the best is to talk to sort out differences. However, soon after Khan shared the post, fans rushed to the comment section to know if everything is fine with their favourite actor. One of the fans wrote, Hum dua kar raha hai apke liya Allah apki har muskil aasan farmay aur apko himmat ata farmay. Another wrote, Well said brother, there is no solution by dying, if you have any problem then share it.

Take a look at the post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sheezan M Khan BABA (@sheezan9)

To note, the actor has moved a petition for quashing the FIR against him. The case was listed for April 11, i.e today. But there is no update about it as of now. For the unversed, Tunisha Sharma died by suicide on the sets of her show, Ali Baba- Dastaan E Kabul on December 24, 2022. Khan was arrested the next day after Sharmas mother accused him of using her daughter.

After coming out of jail Sheezan had said, I understand the real meaning of freedom today because I can feel it. Im really happy to be back with my family and had tears the moment I saw my mother and sisters.

Meanwhile, Khan is no longer a part of Ali Baba. He has been replaced by Abhishek Nigam in the show.

Read all the Latest Showsha News here
Bigg Boss Malayalam 5 host Mohanlal abruptly left the Easter special episode midway after he allegedly felt disrespected by a contestants remark. On the Sunday episode, the contestants gathered to play a game named Egg xiting but the task took a bad turn real quick after Akhil Marar lost calm. Akhil Marar was seen losing his calm during the task and lashed out and used obscene words for contestants Angeline, Sagar and Junaiz.

When the housemates raised the issue in front of the host, Akhil apologised. However, Mohanlal asked Akhil to hand over his captains band to Sagar but the latter demanded an apology from the former. Akhil was adamant that he would not do it and threw the band towards Sagar.

After the incident, Bigg Boss called both contestants to the confession room and discussed the issue with them. During the interaction, Akhil shared that he was not ready to apologise to Sagar and on the other hand, the latter wanted Akhil should apologise to him.

Bigg Boss also pointed out that it was also inappropriate for Sagar to escalate the issue in front of Mohanlal.

Mohanlal lashed out at the contestants. I have asked you to give the hand to Sagar and you have thrown. I felt it was disrespectful. I happily came here to celebrate Easter with you all. I travelled 4-5 hours from Jaisalmer, then the airport then got a flight and reached here. It has turned out to be an upsetting experience for me. So, I am winding up the show here, he was heard saying.

The contestants were seen apologising to the actor but Mohanlal repeatedly shouted at the crew to cut the line. It is said that this is the first time when Mohanlal has lost his calm to the level where he stopped the show midway.

On the professional front, Mohanlal is currently busy shooting for his upcoming film Malaikottai Vaaliban helmed by Lijo Jose Pellissery. He also plays a pivotal role in Rajinikanths Jailer. The veteran actor also has a film with Drishyam director Jeethu Joseph titled Ram and he also reunites for the third instalment of Drishyam.

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If constitutionalism is the bedrock of a republican state, political parties are the linchpin of democracy. When India became independent it opted for the universal adult franchise; meaning every adult, without any distinction of caste, creed, religion, or economic status would participate in the democratic functioning of the state.

The people were vested with the power of electing their representatives who in turn would form the government. The mobilization of this power vested with the people was to be made through political parties of different ideological hues. Apart from the ideology, which categorizes parties into left, right, and center, another criterion of differentiation was the classification of parties into recognized and unrecognized parties.

Recognized parties were further classified into two categories; National and State parties, based on their electoral performance.

Sabsi Badi Party; not to be confused with the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) was among the 2,300 political parties registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) at the time of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The sheer number of political parties would have perplexed anyone not well-acquainted with the nature of Indian polity.

But those who understand the play of power politics would know that less than 50 of these 2,300 parties would have a say in the election outcome. These are the parties that are recognized by the ECI as National and State parties. So, when on Monday ECI accorded the National party status to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) while withdrawing the same status from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Communist Party of India (CPI), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), it made headlines.

According to the ECI, NCP, and Trinamool Congress will be recognized as State parties in Nagaland and Meghalaya respectively based on their performance in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

During the first general election held in 1952, India had 14 National parties which came down to seven during the 17th Lok Sabha elections. In June 2019, National Peoples Party (NPP) was given National party status which brought the total number of National parties to eight.

There are several parameters that a political party needs to qualify to be recognized as a National or a State party.

Conditions for Recognition as a State Party

If it secures 6 per cent of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the Legislative Assembly of the state concerned, and, in addition, it wins 2 seats in the assembly of the state concerned; or If it secures 6 per cent of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the Lok Sabha from the state concerned and in addition wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha from the state concerned; or If it wins 3 per cent of seats in the Legislative Assembly at a general election to the Legislative Assembly of the state concerned or 3 seats in the Legislative Assembly; whichever is more; or If it wins 1 seat in the Lok Sabha for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to the state at a general election in Lok Sabha from the state concerned; or If it secures 8 per cent of the total valid votes polled in the state at a General Election to the Lok Sabha from the state or to the Legislative Assembly of the state. This condition was added in 2011.

Conditions for Recognition as a National Party

If it secures 6 per cent of valid votes polled in any four or more states at a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the Legislative Assembly; and, in addition, it wins four seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or states. If it wins 2% (11 seats) of seats in the Lok Sabha at a general election, and these candidates are elected from three states. If it is recognized as a state party in 4 states.

How AAP got Recognized as a National Party

AAP fulfills the first criteria for being recognized as a National party that is listed above. AAP has a ruling majority in two states - Delhi and Punjab - which means that it has a larger chunk of the vote share in these two states.

Arvind Kejriwal-led party has already been recognized as a state party in Delhi, Punjab, Goa and Gujarat, fulfilling one of the eligibility conditions to become the national party #BreakingNews #AAP #ArvindKejriwal #TMC #NationlParty https://t.co/l31J2Ysptz pic.twitter.com/DEnqpRUPXC News18 (@CNNnews18) April 10, 2023

Apart from this, it got 6.77 per cent of the total votes polled in the Goa Legislative Assembly elections held in the month of March last year.

What it needed was more than six per cent of the total votes polled in one more state election, to bag the coveted National party status. It reached the finishing line by getting 13 per cent of votes in the Gujarat elections held in December last year.

Change in rule in 2016

It is important to recall that in 2016, BSP, CPI, and NCP were to lose their National Party status after their poor show in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. However, following a change in the rule effectuated by the ECI, they were successful in saving their National party status.

ECI in the year 2016 amended its review norms to allow for a review of a political partys recognition after two consecutive polls rather than the five-year assessments, which was a prevalent norm at that time.

BSP would have lost its status in 2016 along with other parties notwithstanding the change in the rule. However, because of the change in the rule and the fact that in several state elections held after 2016, it got the required vote share to retain its national party status, it is still on the coveted list.

Apart from BSP in 2016, the TMC, CPI, and the NCP also benefitted from the change in the poll panels rule, but as pointed out by ECI in its statement derecognizing these parties on Monday in spite of sufficient opportunity of two Parliamentary elections and 21 State Assembly Elections" they could not perform to retain the National party status.

Total number of National Parties

Now, with the AAP getting the National Party status and TMC, CPI, and the NCP being derecognized, the number of National Parties stands at 6 which includes BJP, Congress, CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National Peoples Party (NPP) and the AAP.

Perks and privileges of being a National party

Apart from the political status, being recognized as a National party accords certain privileges to the parties like being allowed to retain a single and permanent election symbol across all states, free campaign slots on national broadcasters during elections, and the right to a party office in New Delhi.

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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. Read more on this here

Sources close to Pilot told PTI 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.

Rajasthan | I wrote a letter to CM Ashok Gehlot and said that elections are coming and we must show the public that there is no difference between our promises and our work. But I have not received any answer from the CM yet: Sachin Pilot, Congress MLA pic.twitter.com/NFIc5WBqc1 ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) April 9, 2023

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. The leader added he has been an AICC in-charge for the last five months and Pilot never discussed the issue with him.

The Long History of the Pilot-Gehlot Feud

This is the latest development in Gehlot and Pilots long-running verbal feud. While many argue that the men have been at odds since 2018, others argue that the seeds were sown in 2013, when the Congress was at its lowest ebb in Rajasthan, winning only 21 of 200 Assembly seats, and Pilot was tasked with reviving the grand old partys fortunes with Gehlots assurance of non-interference, according to a report by Firstpost.

Gehlot, with his extensive record of accomplishments  chief minister at 47, former PCC chief, and the driving force behind numerous successful state campaigns  was apparently demoted to the sidelines for the next couple of years in favour of Pilot.

Gehlot was appointed to a screening committee for the Punjab elections in 2016 and promoted to general secretary in Delhi in 2017, while Sachin Pilot secured three critical by-election victories for the Congress in early 2018, the report explains. When the Congress reclaimed power in Rajasthan, things began to fall apart, with the partys top command passing over Pilot in favour of its old warhorse Gehlot.

Jaipur | Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot will observe a day-long fast at today calling for 'action on corruption' during the previous Vasundhara Raje-led government pic.twitter.com/7I6jC5nAmD ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) April 11, 2023

Rahul Gandhi, the then-Congress president, was compelled to intercede and calm an enraged Pilot and his followers. According to the Indian Express, the first indication that all was not well in Congress came shortly after the two leaders took their oaths, when the cabinet portfolio distribution remained in limbo for many days. The Gehlot and Pilot groups then lobbied heavily with the high command for ministerial positions.

When ministerial portfolios were assigned near the end of December 2018, the Gehlot camp received the lions share, with the CM himself retaining crucial departments such as Finance and Home, which he still holds to this day.

The Boiling Point

The feud between Gehlot and Pilot reached its boiling point in July 2020, when the latter went off with 18 of his faithful MLAs and camped in Haryana and Delhi, causing the Gehlot government to face a serious political crisis, as per the Indian Express report. Pilot was later fired from both positions by the partys leadership.

The political crisis triggered a never-ending cycle of assaults and counter-attacks between the two sides. Gehlot charged the Pilot group with conspiring with the BJP to destabilise his government. The Pilot faction responded with its own set of accusations. Pilot went to Rajasthan after a tenuous truce was struck by the Congress high command, but the fractures were frequently exposed, the report says.

In November last year, Gehlot had openly labelled Sachin Pilot a traitor" and stated that his former deputy could not succeed him as chief minister. Even Congress was taken aback by Gehlots tirade on his former deputy, Pilot was described as a youthful, energetic, popular, and charismatic leader" by the grand old party, which dubbed the chief ministers attack unexpected."

In October of last year, Gehlot and his supporters successfully thwarted a Congress proposal, which appeared to have the Gandhis support, as per a report by Times of India, to move the chief minister to Delhi as party president and make Pilot the chief minister of Rajasthan ahead of assembly elections next year.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who was the partys observer in the state at the time and was tasked with overseeing the change, witnessed the infighting in the state unit firsthand.

Solution Needed Soon

Pilot loyalists have continued to demand a solution" to the states leadership crisis before the December 2023 Assembly elections, the Indian Express report says.

The long-running feud between Gehlot and Pilot has had an influence on the partys organization, with many positions of district and block Congress presidents, as well as office-bearers, staying empty. Following Pilots revolt, the party leadership dissolved all district and block Congress committees in July 2020. The party ultimately chose 13 DCC presidents last year, but most districts still need chiefs.

With inputs from PTI

Read all the Latest Explainers here
The arrest of fugitive Amritpal Singhs mentor and aide Papalpreet Singh on Monday is just an event before the surrender of the Khalistan sympathiser, according to a source close to Amritpals family.

The family wants Amritpal Singh to cooperate with the investigation. They have full faith in law and that due justice will be given to their son. They have urged Amritpal to surrender and work for the country, said the source.

ALSO READ | The Route Cause of Amritpals Escape: Punjab Police Source Gives Papalpreets Version | Exclusive

According to the family their son is not involved in any wrongdoing. They say he is just running a campaign against drugs in the country, said the source.

They want to see him happy and fine," he said.

WHERE IS AMRITPAL?

CNN-News18 had earlier reported how Papalpreet has told investigators that he doesnt have contact details of Amritpal Singh. According to him, Amritpal is in Punjab. They separated after the raids last week, a top source in Punjab Police said.

PAPALPREET IN DIBRUGARH

Papalpreet was on Tuesday sent to a prison in Assams Dibrugarh, police said. A five-member team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sanjiv Kumar on Tuesday left the city along with Papalpreet for Dibrugarh Jail in Assam.

Inspector General (Headquarters) of Punjab Police Sukhchain Singh Gill told reporters in Chandigarh on Monday that Papalpreet was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) and six other cases were also registered against him.

Papalpreet is also alleged to have been in contact with Pakistans ISI.

#MegaExclusive| CNN-News18 accesses Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet Singh's interrogation details,Papalpreet says, he is not in touch with Amritpal right now @_anshuls with more details #Exclusive inputs by @manojkumargupta | @GrihaAtul pic.twitter.com/vUtp86JhDR News18 (@CNNnews18) April 10, 2023

Police had been conducting searches at many places to nab the duo who had been hoodwinking the security men since March 18, when police launched a crackdown against Amritpal and his aides.

The top source in Punjab Police earlier told CNN-News18: 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.

Amritpal and his associates have been booked in several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstruction in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

With PTI Inputs

Read all the Latest India News here
Theres a reason animal lovers flock to the open waterand a wildlife cruise provides the perfect vantage point.

Like a safari by sea, wildlife cruises let travelers admire animals in their natural habitats. Sometimes, its a top-deck dolphin spotting. Other times, its observing a distant polar bear. Its about more than just one animal sighting, though. The best wildlife cruises include multiple unscripted fauna encounterssomething I learned on a recent Galapagos eco-cruise with World Expeditions.

In just one week at sea, we snorkeled with sea turtles and sea lions, watched a blue-footed booby mating dance, visited a Galapagos giant tortoise breeding and rehabilitation center, and sat awestruck as a pint-sized Galapagos penguin mouth-fed her crying baby on the volcanic Bartolome Island shore. Distant manta rays leaping during the ships sunset repositioning were a jaw-dropping cherry on top.

Sharing waterways with wildlife is awe-inspiring, but it comes with an important responsibility: protecting these pristine ecosystems. The cruise industry has a notoriously large carbon footprint, but its slowly responding to travelers growing sustainability demands. In 2022, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) shared new eco-initiatives, including a push for net-zero carbon cruising by 2050. The industry still has a long way to go, but some trailblazing brands have made impressive sustainability strides. Take Norwegian adventure company Hurtigruten, which launched the first hybrid electric-powered cruise ship in 2019. It aims to launch a zero-emission ship by 2030.

From eco-conscious Arctic voyages to small-ship Galapagos trips expeditions, here are seven of the worlds best overnight wildlife cruisesincluding the species youll see, and measures the operator has in place to protect them.

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Story continues

Watch whales, polar bears, and musk oxen in the Arctic

Iceland, Greenland, and Canada  The Northwest Passage with Hurtigruten

Andrea Klaussner/Hurtigruten

Arctic fauna abounds throughout the northwest passage, a sea trail that links the Pacific and Atlantic via the Canadian Arctic. A 19-day northwest passage cruise with Hurtigruten covers a portion of this wild expanse, as well as the coasts of Greenland and Iceland. From Hurtigrutens 318-person MS Fram expedition vessel, you could spot musk ox, caribou, minke and humpback whales, and, if youre lucky, the elusive polar bear. The trips excursions include RIB boat rides, hiking, and citizen science programs.

The trips vessel, MS Fram, promises relaxation and enrichment. Theres a science center to learn about Arctic geology, the ships gym to get a sweat in between excursions, or hot tubs to watch for wildlife while unwinding. The recently updated boat features two restaurants plus an outdoor barbecue. The 125 cabins and suites include four classes, from polar inside to top-deck expedition suites with sweeping window views.

While any travel to remote regions like the Arctic leaves a carbon footprint, cruising with Hurtigruten is perhaps the best responsible-travel option. The brand supports give-back projects globally, including programs that provide safe spaces for vulnerable children in Greenland. It was also the first company to ditch non-essential single-use plastic in 2018.

Book now with Hurtigruten

Admire rare species in the mighty Amazon

Peruvian Amazon  Peruvian Rivers & Rainforest Discovery with Uniworld

Uniworld River Cruises

Imagine gliding alongside pink dolphins in the Amazon River or eavesdropping on critter calls on a night safari in the jungle. These are among the many experiences on Uniworlds Peruvian Amazon wildlife cruise. The 11-day trip winds from Iquitos, the Amazons largest city, to the Ucayali and Maranon rivers, where the powerful Amazon River begins. Excursions feature a host of bucket-list wildlife experiences, including jungle hikes and skiff-boat rides.

The trips 16-stateroom ship promises an intimate Amazon experience, with floor-to-ceiling windows, ensuite bathrooms and walk-in showers, spacious lounge areas, an observation deck, and a top-level hot tub. Families or groups can enjoy four interconnecting suites, while fully air-conditioned accommodations are a welcome treat. Five-star chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino whips up Peruvian delights in the vessels bright and airy dining area.

In recent years, Uniworld has made major sustainable wildlife cruising strides. Its the first river cruise line to share its sustainability objectives and its progress toward those goals. Eco-friendly initiatives include reducing food waste by 50 percent by 2025 and incorporating at least one give-back experience per trip. The river-cruise brand also follows a strict animal welfare policy.

Book now with Uniworld

Follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador  Galapagos on Solaris by World Expeditions

Nigel Leadbitter/World Expeditions

World Expeditions

The Galapagos Islands are a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. On a seven-day naturalist-led Galapagos cruise with outfitter World Expeditions, youll become immersed in the rare flora and fauna, with the brands signature adventure twist. Guests can snorkel among sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays; hike by sunbathing sea lions; and visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Protection and Growing Centre.

On board, travelers can enjoy a rooftop deck for lounging, a dining area for buffet breakfast and lunch, and a plated dinner. The first-class Solaris yacht features a mix of queen-bed and single-bed cabins; all come with ocean views and private bathrooms. Travelers access the Galapagos for land-based outings via small RIB boats, with several hours on shore with two land stops per day.

Tourism to the Galapagos has more than quadrupled in the past two decades. While park officials enforce strict wildlife protection rules, including heavily regulated land visits, its important to keep your footprint as light as possible. A small-ship and carbon-offset trip, like this 16-passenger adventure, fits this criterion. The team also supports local communities by purchasing local fare, including seafood from local fishers and bread from an island baking cooperative.

Book now with World Expeditions

Spot whales with Alaskas only Indigenous-owned cruise line

Southeast Alaska  Ultimate Glacier Bay, Wilderness, and Wildlife with Alaskan Dream Cruises

People travel far and wide to enjoy the prolific fauna along Alaskas Inside Passage, a wildlife-dense amalgam of fjords, glaciers, coastal towns, and an archipelago of more than 1,000 islands through the states panhandle. The best outfitter for taking it all in: Alaskan Dream Cruises, the countrys only Indigenous-owned cruise line.

If youve dreamed about whale watching in Alaska, sign up for the seven-night Glacier Bay expedition, where youll not only admire the enormous creatures but listen to them communicate via the shipboard hydrophones. The adventure starts in mountain-flanked Sitka and ends in Juneau. Excursions include kayaking among cliffs and alongside rainforests, skiff-boat rides along the whale-abundant Glacier Bay, and later to watch puffins, sea lions, and, if youre lucky, bears. The vessel, Kruzof Explorer, includes six staterooms with windows and a main deck for wildlife scouting. This upcycled crab fishing boat has a central dining room and bar for gathering and plotting the next days activities.

Travelers can feel confident their trip supports the local community and ecosystem; Alaskan Dream Cruises runs small-ship outings (around 12 passengers per trip), offers no single-use plastics, and increasingly invests in solar panels for sustainable power.

Book now with Alaskan Dream Cruises

Float among hippos, elephants, and crocodiles

Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana  Southern Africa Riverboat Safari with Natural Habitat Adventures

Fall asleep to the sound of hippos, wake up to the rustle of feeding elephants. The 11-day Natural Habitat Adventures riverboat adventure through southern Africa is a unique take on the African safari. Its a hybrid boat-land expedition, with three nights on an upscale riverboat, followed by a week on a traditional land-based safari. While on the 14-person boat, youll explore Lake Kariba, which is packed with the regions wildlife: hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and fish eagles. The land-based trip portion includes stops at Hwange National Park, Zimbabwes largest protected area, and Victoria Falls.

In addition to daytime excursions, from boating to 4x4 safaris, guests will enjoy relaxation via upscale accommodations throughout the journey. Overnights include the Zimbabwean Dream riverboat, where all eight suites come with floor-to-ceiling windows and access to a top-deck pool and scenic restaurant; the regal, five-star Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe; baobab-flanked chalets at Namibias Kaza Safari Lodge; and waterhole-view Davisons Camp in Zimbabwes remote Hwange National Park.

Sustainability-wise, NatHab carbon offsets each travelers journey. Its also the World Wildlife Funds travel partner, which means naturalist guides and WWF scientists work together to share education about the ecosystems you are admiringand how to protect them.

Book now with Natural Habitat Adventures

Snorkel remote stretches of the worlds largest coral reef system

Great Barrier Reef, Australia  Citizen Science on the Great Barrier Reef with Coral Expeditions

Richard Woodgett/Coral Expeditions

Darren Jew/Coral Expeditions

Admire one of the worlds seven natural wonders and the colorful sea creatures that flock there on an overnight Great Barrier Reef cruise with local outfitter Coral Expeditions. Support wildlife with your visit on Coral Expeditions 14-night citizen science trip, which starts in Cairns and welcomes up to 72 guests. Citizen scientists snorkel to log marine species sightings; the shared reports aid local conservation groups with biodiversity monitoring. The ship stops at important wildlife conservation facilities, such as the Turtle Rehabilitation Center on Fitzroy Island or the Lizard Island Research Station, for narration about critical conservation projects.

In addition to the action-packed itinerary, travelers will enjoy a host of infotainment options on board the Coral Discoverer yacht: guest lectures, a reference library, and open bridge access. Accommodations range from standard porthole window rooms to private balconies in the staterooms. Theres a sundeck lounge, an alfresco bar, communal breakfast and lunch tables, and multicourse served dinners.

Coral Expeditions is ecotourism certified by EcoTourism Australia; its also part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authoritys Eye on the Reef monitoring program. The outfitter cut polycarbonate plastics and provides SPF 50 reef-safe-certified sunscreen to all guests.

Book now with Coral Expeditions

Meet the oceans colossal creatures in Mexicos little Galapagos

Socorro Island, Mexico  Nautilus Belle Amie with Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI)

Socorro Island, located nearly 400 miles off Mexicos western coast, is known as Mexicos little Galapagos. A 10-night dive adventure on a liveaboard boat with the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) is a chance to see Socorros manta rays, humpback whales, dolphins, and whale sharks. Your trip aboard the 17-cabin Nautilus Belle Amie commences in Cabo San Lucas. Youll have multiple dive and snorkel options per day (dive gear included), as well as night outings to admire the sea life in a different light.

The ship welcomes up to 32 guests, with cabins ranging from twin staterooms (lower deck) to superior suites (wheelhouse deck). Guests can relax and mingle in the salon and main deck dining area. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style; dinners are plated buffet or family style. The ships top-level hot tub is the perfect spot to warm up after dives or snorkels.

PADI, the worlds largest dive organization, sets the standard for responsible underwater adventures. It enforces strict rules for marine life interactions, including never touching an animal. The PADI AWARE nonprofit also contributes to marine science and ocean cleanups, with up to two million pieces of trash removed from the ocean to date.

Book now with PADI

Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler
A day after China criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh, India on Tuesday firmly rejected Beijings objection and asserted that the northeastern state was, is, and will" always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.

Responding to media regarding Chinas remarks on the recent visit of Shah to Arunachal Pradesh, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi issued a statement on Twitter and said, objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the reality.

We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality," Bagchi said.

Our response to media queries regarding Chinese Official Spokespersons comments on the recent visit of Home Minister of India to Arunachal Pradesh:https://t.co/9NzmPQBZOD pic.twitter.com/csgI6JuQO3 Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 11, 2023

Amit Shahs Message to China

In a clear message to China from the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, Shah on Monday had said no one can dare cast an evil eye on Indias territorial integrity and encroach even an inch of our land." He said said the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of India was over.

Shah said the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of India is over. He also said the Modi governments policy is to maintain peace with all countries but if anyone tries to occupy even an inch of Indias land the country would not tolerate it.

His 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 (inch of land) 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 countrys easternmost point.

In 1962, whoever came to encroach this land had to return because of the patriotic people living here," Shah said while making a reference to the Chinese aggression in 1962.

Todays India Not of 1962

In an obvious message to China, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu also said todays India is not what it was in 1962 but a country that belongs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

It is not an India of 1962. Today, it is Narendra Modis India, it is Amit Shahs India," Khandu said amid applause from the audience that mostly consisted of those living close to the Sino-Indian border.

India had faced Chinese aggression in 1962 and Kibithoo and neighbouring Walong had witnessed a fierce battle between the Indian Army and the Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

(with inputs from PTI)

Read all the Latest India News here
Defending the state of Muslims in the country and going against reports on Muslim minorities in India being subjected to violence, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the minority community is doing better" in India than in Pakistan, an Islamic country. Her remarks came as she addressed a prominent American think-tank Peterson Institute for International Economics.

While responding to PIIE President Adam S Posens question on widespread reporting in the Western press about MPs in the opposition party losing status, and about Muslim minorities in India being subjected to violence, Sitharaman said, India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world, and that population is only growing in numbers. If their lives were difficult or made difficult with the support of the state, will the Muslim population be growing than what it was in 1947?"

Condition of Minorities, Some Muslim Sects in Pakistan worsening"

Nirmala Sitharaman also spoke about the worsening conditions of the minority community in Pakistan, a country that had said minorities will be protected when it was formed. The condition of minorities is worsening in Pakistan and their numbers are declining by the day. Minorities in Pakistan are severely charged with minor allegations, leading to punishments like the death penalty," she said.

Blasphemy laws, in most cases, are used to fulfill a personal vendetta. Victims are immediately presumed guilty, even without proper investigation and holding the trial under a jury," she added.

Those talking about perception should know that Muslim population in India has not dwindled between 2014-23. It has been growing since independence & today we have the second-largest Muslim population in the world. Contrast that to Pakistan where religious minorities have been https://t.co/EpypIqBcXv NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) April 11, 2023

Sitharaman claimed that Muslims are doing better in India than in Pakistan. She said, Every minority has been dwindling in its number and decimated in Pakistan. Even some of the Muslim sects have been decimated."

Violence prevails against Muhajirs, Shia and every other group you can name which is not accepted by the mainstream. I dont know, Sunnis probably. Whereas in India you would find every strand of Muslims doing their business, their children getting educated. Fellowships are being given by the government," she added.

Nirmala Sitharamans Rebuttal on Indias Negative Western" Perception

Nirmala Sitharaman gave a befitting reply to the negative Western perception of India, when she was discussing the resilience and growth of the Indian economy. I would think the answer for that lies with those investors who are coming to India, and theyve been coming. And as somebody whos interested in receiving investments, I would only say, come have a look at whats happening in India, rather than listen to perceptions being built by people who have not even visited on the ground and who produce reports," said Sitharaman.

Her remarks came as she was responding to PIIE President Adam S Posen on perceptions affecting investment in India or capital flows. Talking about the revival of the Indian economy post pandemic, she said, Its the resilience of Indian people to take it upon themselves, to take the challenge and come out in their businesses despite tragedies at home."

She further urged World Trade Organisation (WTO) to be more progressive. I would love WTO to be more progressive, a lot more listening to all countries, and more fair. It has to give space to voices of the countries which have something different to say and not just hear but also somewhat heed," she added.

(With ANI Inputs)

Read all the Latest India News here
Bihars Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav reached the Enforcement Directorate (ED) headquarters in Delhi on Tuesday, where he joined the agencys probe in connection with the alleged land for job matter involving his father and former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and other family members.

The Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader reached the ED office to join the probe at around 11 a.m.

Tejashwi was earlier questioned by the CBI in the same matter on March 25. On the same day (March 25) his sister and Rajya Sabha Member Misa Bharti was questioned by the ED.

Land For Job Scam

In March, the ED had come up on record saying unaccounted cash of Rs 1 crore, besides gold and incriminating documents were recovered during the raids which were conducted at 24 locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Patna and Ranchi based on on the specific intelligence inputs.

The ED had said that they detected around Rs 600 crore, which were Proceeds of Crime (POC), in the form of immovable assets of Rs 350 crore and transactions of Rs 250 crore routed through various benamidaars.

The ED said that 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.

According to ED, several benamidars, shell entities and beneficial owners for these lands have been identified.

A property situated at D-1088, New Friends Colony, Delhi (registered in the name of A B Exports Private Limited, 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, while the present market value of the property is approximately Rs 150 crore," the ED claimed.

An ED official said: Huge amount of cash 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."

The property has been though, on paper declared as office of A B Exports Private Limited and A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd, is being exclusively used as residential premises by Tejashwi. During the searches, Tejashwi was found to be staying at this house and was found to be using this house as his residential property," the ED alleged.

The official said that their investigation has found that four parcels of lands acquired by the family of Lalu Yadav in just Rs 7.5 lakhs from poor Group-D applicants were sold to Syed Abu Dojana, Ex-RJD MLA by Rabri Devi with huge gains at Rs 3.5 crore in a collusive deal".

The ED said that their investigation has further revealed that a major portion of the amount thus received, was transferred to the account of Tejashwi.

Investigations revealed that in a similar fashion, lands were taken from several poor parents and candidates in lieu of Group D jobs in the Railways. It has been revealed during the investigation that in many Railways Zones, more than 50 per cent of recruited candidates were from Lalu Yadav families constituencies," the ED said.

Further investigation into the case is on.

(With IANS inputs)

Read all the Latest India News here
Development of villages along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on India-China border can be seen as yet another step of Indias preparedness against China in the ongoing border row.

Indias first response reflected in the steely resolve shown in the hand-to-hand Galwan clash in June 2020, leaving many soldiers from both sides dead. The second response was full-time troop deployment along the LAC, a first for India. All weather barracks and winter habitats became a common feature on the Indian side to check and control the Chinese advances in the border areas.

Troop deployment cant be a standalone development unless it is met with supporting infrastructure. China, on its side, has carried out massive infrastructure development in military installations such as connecting roads, tunnels, rail terminals, helipads, and air bases. India, although has been a late entrant on this front, is now pushing in fund, willingness and resources to create a robust infrastructure on its side to meet the challenge.

Development of villages or civilian infrastructure completes the score for India to compete against a similar move by China. India has identified 2,967 villages in 19 border districts of Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh to develop as model villages under its Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) to answer Chinas rush to increase human settlements dominated by the Han Chinese population in an area that is supposed to have Tibetan origin people in Tibetan Autonomous Region in the first place. 2026 is the deadline to develop these villages.

THE OBJECTIVE

Border villages serve the purpose of extending a countrys territorial claim. A series of well-populated border villages presents a solid argument in border negotiations. The differences between India and China here are about the origin. While most of the villages on Chinas side are created ones, India has planned to reinforce the existing ones only.

On Chinas side, it is migration of the Han Chinese people in border villages in a Tibetan area in key strategic positions. Tibet and Xinjiang are considered two different countries forcefully occupied by China with their original natives considered as secondary citizens. There is no such issue in India.

Situated on key strategic locations, these border villages work as permanent watch posts and create a buffer area.

The villages are also significant for consolidating border security with their dual use nature. They can be converted into military installations and garrisons. They can also be used for extended troop deployments. Troops can also use these villages as a build-up area for incursions and border clashes.

XIAOKANG BORDER DEFENCE VILLAGES

China has developed 628 border villages along the LAC to target India. Developed as Xiaokang human settlements, which means moderately well-off, these villages are well built in infrastructure facilities to support military operations.

According to the South China Morning Post, these 628 villages are in 21 Himalayan border counties along the LAC. Having 62,160 households and 241,835 residents, the villages, equipped with modern facilities, can double up as militarys operational bases when seen in connection with Chinas ramped up military infrastructure in the border areas with networks of roads, rail terminals, tunnels, helipads, and air base terminals quickly dotting the place. These 21 border counties are located between Nyingchi in southeast Tibet opposite Arunachal Pradesh to Ngari Prefecture bordering Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

The December 2020 report says China kept aside $4.6 billion to develop infrastructure of these villages. Development of most of these villages were complete by October 2020, says a Xinhua report.

DIRECT THREAT

According to the media reports from India, US and Australia, China has created a Xiaokang village in Pangda area, in Chumbi Valley, on the west bank of the Torsa River. The village violates Bhutans sovereignty, being located 2.5 km inside Bhutanese border, although Bhutan denies it. The village is just 9 km from the Doklam Plateau. The area saw 72-day long stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops in 2017.

The Chinese grip over the area with a village that can double up as military base means a direct threat to the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the chickens neck, the connecting link to Indias north-eastern area. The corridor, a 17060 km land stretch, borders Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Just 50 km wide at places and 20-22 km at its narrowest point, a Chinese control of the corridor means Indias entire north-eastern part is cut off. China is also reportedly developing military facilities just 50 km from the Doklam stand-off area.

The Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China  2021 published by the United States Department of Defence says China has built new civilian facilities in a village inside the disputed territory between Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh. The village is located on the banks of the River Tsari Chu, in Upper Subansiri district. India is aware of the existence of the village. It was built by the PLA in an area that it occupied after overrunning an Assam Rifles post in August 1959 in Longju clash.

China has created 628 such villages along the LAC between 2017 and 2020. There are reports indicating that the country used one such nearby village to amass 300 PLA soldiers to transgress the LAC at Yangtse in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, 2022. India was on alert and China failed in its attempt. The violent hand-to-hand combat left many soldiers injured.

INDIA FAST-TRACKS BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE

India is rapidly building infrastructure along the LAC to reduce the existing gap with China, say top sources from the defence establishment. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in February, released a list of Indias projects on border development along the LAC. With 6800+ Km of roads since 2014, covering many strategic areas, 16 key passes to maintain troops, bridges with a length of 22,439 meter since 2014, and soon to be opened Sela Tunnel, India seems on a rapid mission mode. Sela Tunnel will be the worlds longest bi-lane tunnel located at a height of more than 13,000 feet and will provide all-weather connectivity to the Indian Army near Tawang.

Of the planned development of 2,967 existing villages, 662 villages in 11 districts will be covered in the first phase. 455 of these villages are in Arunachal Pradesh. The government will begin with initial expenditure of $584 million in developing these villages. A major portion of the expenditure, or about $300 million, is expected to be on developing road connectivity with all-weather roads.

Another objective of the government of India is to incentivise people of the area to remain in these villages and not to migrate for livelihood options. For it, sustainable facilities on education and health, round-the-clock electricity, potable drinking water, good mobile and internet connectivity and better livelihood options will be also developed on priority. Once connected with ramped up infrastructure in border areas, these Indian villages with Indian people will be an answer to Chinas Xiaokang border defence villages whenever the situation demands.

They will be Indias permanent watch posts to watch Chinas moves along the LAC.

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The country cannot afford to lose democracy by allowing parties in power to overrule the wisdom of their political opponents with the use of State machinery, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday as it reflected on the tussle between the successive DMK and AIADMK governments in Tamil Nadu over an employment scheme.

The top courts remark came while setting aside an order of the Madras High Court which directed the Tamil Nadu government to create the posts under the designation Village Level Workers known as Makkal Nala Paniyalargal (MNP) and accommodate the persons who were on the rolls of MNP on the date of issuance of a government order dated November 8, 2011 against vacant posts.

The Tamil Nadu government had introduced a scheme dated September 2, 1989 through the Rural Development Department providing employment to the educated youth in rural areas who had completed 10th standard for various items of work in the village panchayat.

The DMK government led by M Karunanidhi launched the Makkal Nala Paniyalargal scheme to employ educated youth in 12,617 village panchayats across the state. However, the AIADMK government which succeeded the DMK dispensation abolished the scheme in 1991. The DMK government again restored it in 1997 but the AIADMK annulled it in 2001. The scheme was resurrected in 2006 but again the AIADMK government did away with MNPs in 2011.

In 2014, the Madras High Court ordered the reinstatement of the workers but the AIADMK government obtained an interim injunction from the Supreme Court.

In the judgement pronounced on Tuesday, a bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi said the consistent policy which has come on record is in itself an indicator to show that as and when the decision was taken to abandon or abolish the scheme, it was only for political reasons and not based on any substantial or valid reason on record.

It reveals from the record that as and when there was change of political scenario, the successive political party always disbanded/cancelled the policy decision of earlier Government in power which had introduced a scheme for offering employment to the educated unemployed youth.

We cannot afford to lose democracy in our country by permitting the political parties empowered to overrule the wisdom of their political opponents with the use of State machinery," the bench said.

The apex court said the direction of the high court to reinstate the workers after creating the posts and absorbing the respondents based on their qualifications is not sustainable in law and deserves outright rejection.

We make it clear that such persons who have joined pursuant to the scheme introduced by the Government dated June 7, 2022, in fulfilment of the object of the Act, 2005 shall remain coterminus with the scheme and be allowed to continue as long as the scheme remain in force. At the same time, such persons who have not joined pursuant to the scheme dated June 7, 2022, they are at liberty to accept their payments for the intervening period of six months from December 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012 of the principal amount of Rs.25,851 to the MNP," the bench said.

On such application being filed, the appellants shall make over the money to such MNP through RTGS or any other mode after due verification within three months, the top court said. The Tamil Nadu government had on June 7, 2022 introduced a scheme to provide employment to the educated unemployed youth under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to engage one person for every panchayat who had discontinued as MNP.

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Amid a full-scale war with Russia, Ukraine said it wants to start a new relationship with India. Citing Russias occupation of eastern Ukraines Crimea in 2014 as a lesson for New Delhi, the First Deputy Minister of Ukraines foreign ministry said India has a difficult neighbourhood with China and Pakistan.

Emine Dzhaparova, the First Deputy Minister of Ukraines foreign ministry, is visiting India for the first time after Russia began its invasion of the east European country on February 24 last year.

There is one message with which I have come to India. Ukraine really wants India and Ukraine to be closer. Yes, there is a history between us. But we want to start a new relationship with India," NDTV quoted Dzhaparova as saying at an event in New Delhi.

The minister said further said, India also has a difficult neighbourhood with China and Pakistan. The Crimea episode has a lesson for India as well. Whenever impunity happens and if it is not stopped, it becomes bigger."

Dzhaparova earlier said India is a global leader and can help in addressing key global challenges and promoting peace. She invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modis message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year that todays era is not of war.

Dzhaparova said she updated the Indian side on Ukraines efforts to fight Russias unprovoked aggression" and invited New Delhi to join President Volodymyr Zelenskys peace formula and the grain initiative.

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 Delhis energy ties with Moscow.

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.

(With PTI inputs)

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For the first time ever, two B1 heavy bomber jets from the US Air Force are taking part in the India-US mega air exercise, which commenced on Monday.

The second phase of the exercise COPE INDIA, starting on April 13, will feature B1 bombers and F-15 E fighters from the US Air Force, along with Sukhoi, Rafael, and Tejas aircraft from the Indian side.

COPE INDIA is taking place at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda and Agra, with Japans participation as an observer.

This comes at a time when Chinas muscle-flexing has increased in the South China Sea and its growing presence in the Indian Ocean Region has become a matter of concern for the stakeholders.

The first phase of the exercise focused on air mobility and involved the transport aircraft and Special Forces assets from both air forces.

On the sidelines of the ongoing #ExCopeIndia which aims to further our international cooperation, General K Wilsbach, Cdr @PACAF visited AF Stn Kalaikunda today.After flying a training mission, he interacted with Air Marshal SP Dharkar, AOC-in-C EAC & the exercise participants. pic.twitter.com/0o2K6CTxDV  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 11, 2023

The B-1B bomber is a significant aircraft, with a maximum speed of Mach 2.2 and the ability to fly with 24 nuclear bombs. It can reach any corner of the world by flying at a speed of 1,300 km per hour at an altitude of 40,000 feet. With a weight of up to 17,000 kg, this aircraft can fly up to 7,400 km without refuelling.

The B1 bombers will join the exercise in the second phase, arriving in India on April 14. The first day of the second phase, April 13, will feature four F-15s along with Indian fighter planes, said an Indian Air Force official who is aware of the developments.

In February, American bombers participated in Aero India solely for purpose of flying.

During a visit to New Delhi, Gen Kenneth S Wilsbach, the commander of the US Pacific Air Forces, confirmed the US Air Forces participation to several reporters on Monday.

Commodore John also met with Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary, Chief of the Air Staff, to discuss ways to increase cooperation between the two countries.

Experts believe that the exercise will send a strong message to China that the international community is united against its aggression in the South China Sea and involvement in other aggressive border approaches. The exercise will continue until April 21.

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Police have raided a fake call centre operating from a farmhouse in Maharashtras Palghar district and arrested 49 of its employees, an official said.

The call centre was located near Rajodi Beach at Arnala in Virar township, the official from Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar police said.

The accused, posing as employees of an online payments company, used to intercept the inbound calls of an Australian firm.

They would allegedly steal its customer database and pass it on to the call centre associates to defraud the firms customers, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone III Virar, Suhas Bawche told reporters on Monday evening.

The police also seized equipment and gadgets worth Rs 16.19 lakh from the call centre following the raid on Sunday and arrested 49 employees, including 10 women, who hailed from different states, he said.

Efforts were on to trace its owner as well as the property owner who rented the premises for the call centre, he said.

The police were probing who all were involved in the racket and how customers of the Australian firm were cheated, Arnala police stations senior inspector Kalyan Karpe said.

The arrested persons have been booked under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act and the Indian Telegraph Act, Bawche said.

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A mock drill is underway at various Delhi hospitals to check COVID-19 preparedness amid a surge in cases of the viral disease in the national capital.

Delhi reported 699 Covid cases and four deaths due to the infection on Sunday, and 484 cases with a positivity rate of 26.58 per cent and three fatalities on Monday.

Officials had earlier said a nationwide mock drill to take stock of the hospitals preparedness to tackle the surge of Covid cases will be carried out on April 10 and 11, in which both public and private facilities are expected to participate.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital here on Monday to review the measures taken to combat the disease.

At the Delhi government-run hospitals, the exercise is being undertaken on Tuesday.

The exercise is underway at our hospital. This will test our Covid preparedness, including the availability of beds, oxygen and other healthcare logistics requirements to deal with any eventuality in view of a rising number of COVID-19 and influenza-type cases," a senior doctor at the Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital told PTI.

The hospital has 325 beds and according to instructions issued by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently, an isolation room with a set of beds has been set up at the facility, he said.

The exercise will take about two-three hours, the doctor added.

The mock drill began in the morning at the Apollo Hospital too.

The Delhi government-run hospitals had taken part in a mock drill on March 26 as well. This was on the instructions of the city health department.

the mock drill was underway at some of the other Delhi government hospitals too.

We are conducting the mock drill. All Covid preparedness parameters are being assessed," a senior doctor at another hospital said.

He said though the hospital is not a Covid facility, instructions have been issued to ensure that all logistics measures and health infrastructure are ready to deal with any eventuality.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday said a report on the March 26 mock drill was submitted to the chief minister and other authorities.

Delhi has seen an increase in the number of fresh Covid cases over the last few days amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country.

Of the four deaths reported on Sunday, three people died due to various diseases and Covid was only incidental" in these cases, while in one case, the primary cause was Covid, Bharadwaj told reporters on Monday.

Suresh Kumar, the medical director of the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital, said more cases will get reported, but there is no need to panic.

The mock drill will also be conducted at the 2,000-bed hospital, the largest such facility run by the Delhi government, Kumar had said on Monday.

Delhi recorded 535 Covid cases on Saturday with a positivity rate of 23.05 per cent.

The city logged 733 Covid cases  the highest in more than seven months  with a positivity rate of 19.93 per cent on Friday.

The national capital had recorded 620 cases of the infection on August 26.

On April 5, Delhi logged 509 Covid cases with a positivity rate of 26.54 per cent, the highest in nearly 15 months. In January last year, the positivity rate had touched the 30-per cent mark.

The Delhi government is keeping an eye on the spurt in Covid cases and is prepared to face any eventuality", Kejriwal said last week.

Following the Centres directions, a mock drill was held at Delhi hospitals in December last year to check their readiness for Covid management.

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NATIONAL SAFE MOTHERHOOD DAY 2023: Safe Motherhood Day is celebrated on April 11 every year to raise awareness about the importance of improving maternal and newborn health worldwide. The day was first observed in 2003, following a summit on maternal and child health in South Asia, where participants agreed to designate April 11th as a day to advocate for safe motherhood.

The date was chosen to commemorate the launch of the Safe Motherhood Initiative (SMI) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1987. The SMI aimed to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity worldwide by promoting safe and effective maternal and newborn care.

Since then, Safe Motherhood Day has been observed globally to raise awareness about the need to invest in maternal and newborn health, reduce maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity, and promote gender equality and womens empowerment. On this day, various events, campaigns, and activities are organized to raise awareness and mobilize action to improve maternal and newborn health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified ten key components of safe motherhood, which are as follows:

Antenatal care

This includes regular check-ups during pregnancy to monitor the health of the mother and the growing fetus. Skilled attendance at delivery

This involves having a trained health professional, such as a midwife or obstetrician, present during labor and delivery. Emergency obstetric care

This includes access to medical care in case of complications during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period. Postnatal care

This involves follow-up care for the mother and newborn after delivery to ensure their health and wellbeing. Family planning

This includes access to contraceptive methods and counseling to help women and their partners plan their families and prevent unintended pregnancies. Prevention and management of unsafe abortion

This involves providing access to safe abortion services and counseling to prevent unsafe abortions. Prevention and management of reproductive tract infections

This includes preventing and treating infections that can affect the reproductive system, such as sexually transmitted infections. Nutrition

This involves promoting good nutrition during pregnancy and the postpartum period to ensure the health of the mother and newborn. Education and communication

This includes providing information and education to women, families, and communities about maternal and newborn health. Empowerment of women

This involves promoting womens rights and empowering women to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

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A Ukrainian soldier of a mobile air defence unit demonstrates his skills at the Antonov airport against a background of the gutted remains of an Antonov An-225  the world's biggest cargo aircraft, destroyed during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces  in Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine on April 1, 2023. (Efrem Lukatsky/Associated Press - image credit)

Canada plans to ship thousands of assault rifles to Ukraine  its latest military contribution to the embattled eastern European country, which is still awaiting delivery of a badly needed air defence system Ottawa promised weeks ago.

The latest federal package of military and financial assistance for Ukraine was unveiled Tuesday following a meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Canada is spending $59 million to procure for Ukraine 21,000 assault rifles and machine guns, along with ammunition, from weapons maker Colt Canada, headquartered in Kitchener, Ont.

WATCH | Trudeau says Canada will send thousands of assault rifles to Ukraine

Trudeau also said that a $2.4 billion loan to the government in Kyiv, announced in last month's federal budget, has been dispersed to Ukraine. The money will be used by the government of Ukraine to support essential services such as pension payments, fuel purchases and the repair of damaged energy infrastructure, the prime minister said.

Shmyhal and Trudeau also signed a joint declaration on modernizing the free trade agreement between the two countries.

They also cited a previously announced agreement involving Saskatoon-based Cameco and Ukraine's state-owned Energoatom. Cameco will supply uranium to meet the needs of Ukraine's nuclear power stations until 2035.

And the federal government also announced more sanctions on Russia and Belarus.

Ukraine's air defences in peril, documents suggest

Recently leaked documents, which appear to be U.S. intelligence assessments, suggest Ukraine's air defence network is in jeopardy and could buckle under sustained Russia missile and drone assault without an influx of munitions and equipment.

In January, Canada announced that it would buy a U.S.-made missile defence system for Ukraine. The $406 million price tag is a major portion of the roughly $1 billion in military aid the Liberal government has committed to Ukraine.

Story continues

The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) has not been yet been delivered and the government has been vague on when it will get there.

"We are doing whatever is possible to get it there as soon as possible. And in fact it's being shipped in various tranches, because of course we are sending other supplies as well. So it is en route," Defence Minister Anita Anand told CBC's Power & Politics on Tuesday.

WATCH | Air defence munitions en route to Ukraine: minister's office

But an official in her office reached out to CBC News following the interview to clarify Anand's statement. The official said the air defence munitions are on their way to Ukraine  not the entire NASAMS system.

Canada apparently has reached an agreement with the United States to acquire the sophisticated ground-based launchers but has no plan at the moment for delivery, said an official who spoke on background Tuesday.

A change in Russian military tactics is driving the new sense of urgency about Ukraine's air defences.

Earlier this year, the Russian air force introduced to the conflict guided bombs  essentially regular gravity bombs that have been modified to glide to their targets after being dropped by multi-role fighter-bombers. They being used in increasing numbers to devastating effect.

The bombs are launched outside the effective ranges of Ukraine's air defences. At the moment, Ukraine has little in the way of systems to counter them. Russia has been using modified versions of 500 kilogram bombs  something they have in enormous qualities after apparently exhausting their supply of smart munitions.

Tracking aid to Ukraine

"We are tired. This is natural," Shmyhal said Tuesday, while praising the military training efforts of allies, including Canada.

"We are not exhausted. We are not fatigued. We are encouraged to go ahead with the support of our partners, support of the government of Canada, the prime minister, his team ... We are sure we will win this war altogether."

On top of Shmyhal's list of requests for the Canadian government is more weapons  a critical factor right now as Ukraine plans a counter-offensive to recover territory lost to the Russians in the aftermath of the full invasion.

But there's seems to be a growing sense among Ukrainian officials that Canada's capacity and willingness to move swiftly to arm them are both finite and limited.

Mykola Tys/The Associated Press

There was a lot of talk Tuesday during Shmyhal's visit about his meetings with business leaders about reconstruction opportunities. It is a drum Ukraine's Ambassador to Canada Yuliya Kovaliv has been quietly beating for a while, notably in a recent speech to the business community in Ottawa.

"The rebuilding of Ukraine will be massive," Kovaliv told the Canadian Club of Ottawa on March 30, 2023. She encouraged companies to begin making plans now in light of a recent World Bank report that estimated rebuilding Ukraine would cost $411 billion US.

Dominque Arel, chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Ottawa, said he doesn't believe the Ukrainians have given up on Canadian military aid. He noted that, proportionally, Canada is tracking close to its allies in terms of donations.

He said that Canada will never be able to match the quantity of U.S. donations and purchases and is concentrating on being useful in other ways.

But Arel also described the leaked American intelligence as a "not necessarily depressing but sobering" read. It should remind allies of how deeply vulnerable Ukraine continues to be, he said, despite its battlefield successes in holding off both the initial invasion and the recent Russian winter offensive in the eastern Donbas region.

"The one card that Putin has to play  and it's not the nuclear card  is the air force," said Arel. "The [Russian] air force has not been active in Ukraine for a year now because of the fear of getting shot down.

"But if the Ukrainians are suddenly vulnerable, the escalation  the one we don't talk about  is strategic bombing, basically what Russia has been doing in Syria."
In todays edition of News18 Evening Digest, we are looking at Sachin Pilots day-long protest against the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan. In other news, Salman Khan received another death threat and other top stories.

Pilot Sits In Day-long Protest Against Gehlot Govt Hours After Congress Anti-Party Activity Rebuke

In complete defiance of the Congress warning, former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot sat on a daylong fast at the Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur on Tuesday. The Congress leader, who is demanding action in cases of alleged corruption related to the previous BJP government in the state led by Vasundhara Raje, was warned last night that any such action on his part would amount to anti-party activity. READ MORE

Will Kill Him on April 30: Salman Khan Gets Another Death Threat; Caller Taken Into Custody

Bollywood actor Salman Khan received yet another death threat on Monday night, as he received a phone call from one Roki Bhai from Rajasthans Jodhpur. According to reports, the call was made by a 16-year-old from Rajasthans Shahpur, who has been taken into custody. READ MORE

Sikh Riots 1984: Cong Leader Jagdish Tytler to be Questioned by CBI in Gurdwara Fire Case Today

Congress leader Jagdish Tytler has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday. He will be questioned in a case related to a fire that took place at Delhis Pull Bangash Gurudwara during the 1984 Sikh riots. According to reports, new evidence has emerged in the case and Tytler has been called to the CFSL Lab for voice sampling. READ MORE

Bengaluru is Setting Up Indias First 3D-printed Post Office, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Impressed

Bengaluru is all set to get Indias first 3D-printed post office. The post office is being built using 3D printing technology by Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) at the Cambridge Layout in Ulsoor. It cost Rs 23 lakh to build, which is approximately 30 to 40 per cent less than the amount required to build your regular post office, as per a Hindustan Times report. Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is also impressed at the technology. READ MORE

IMD Predicts Normal Monsoon Despite El Nino Concerns; Less Rain Likely in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan

Despite concerns over the likely impact of El Nino, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a normal monsoon for the country as a whole. The rainfall is likely to be 96% of the long-period average (LPA) of 87 cm for the period June to September, announced IMD chief M Mohapatra. The forecast carries a model error of +/-5%. READ MORE

Katrina Kaifs Mom Shares Cryptic Post on Respect; Fans Think Its Response to Neetu Kapoor

Veteran Bollywood actress Neetu Kapoor made headlines after she shared a cryptic post on marriage, which netizens felt was an indirect dig at Katrina Kaif. Now, the latters mother Suzanne Turquotte has shared a quote on respect and fans are convinced that it is a response to Neetus post. For the uninitiated, the Jug Jugg Jeeyo actress shared a post which read, Just because he dated you for 7 years, it doesnt mean he will marry you. My uncle studied medicine for 6 years, now he is a DJ." READ MORE

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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 countrys 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 Gandhis remarks made during a recent visit to the United Kingdom.

Responding to Vice President Dhankhars 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.

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Members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were victims and not perpetrators in cases registered post the ban on Popular Front of India (PFI), said the Supreme Court on Tuesday while turning down petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the orders of the Madras High Court division bench allowing the RSS to go ahead with its route march in the state.

the main objection raised by the State before the High Court was that after the imposition of a ban order on another organization (PFI), law and order problems cropped up in certain places and that the same led to several cases being registeredBut the Chart provided by the State Government shows that the members of the respondent organization were the victims in many of those cases and that they were not the perpetrators," said a division bench of the top court headed by Justice V Ramasubramanian.

Therefore, it is not possible for us to find fault with the order passed by the learned Judge either in the main writ petitions or in the review applications. Hence all the special leave petitions are liable to be dismissed, said the bench also comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal.

The bench turned down the Tamil Nadu governments contention that after the ban on PFI, a law and order situation could arise in the state if the march is allowed.

The verdict was reserved by the top court in pleas that had challenged Madras High Courts September 22, 2022 order by which the single judge had directed the authorities to conduct their march and February 10, 2023 order in which the high court had noted that the state must uphold citizens right to freedom of speech and expression.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the Tamil Nadu government contended that there cannot be a blanket mandamus on all route marches and that the Sangh did not have a vested right.

There is no absolute right to hold a procession. It is subject to various restrictions in Part III of the Constitution," said Rohatgi while also questioning how can there be an order or direction that marches can be held wherever desired so.

Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the RSS, contended that the earlier three marches that were conducted by the organisation were peaceful.

He also added that although the state while restraining the Sangh from conducting marches had cited the law and order situation created by the Popular Front of India, there were no complaints against the RSS.

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A day after Papalpreet Singh, an associate of Khalistan sympathizer Amrtipal Singh, was arrested, a delegation of lawyers sent by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) reached Dibrugarh in Assam to take up the cases of the associates of the fugitive radical who were held in prison there.

The Punjab police had recently cracked down on the network of Amritpals supporters and arrested over 100 supporters. Although many have been released since then, eight of his close associates have been arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) and lodged in Dibrugarh prison.

SGPC officials said that the panel of lawyers met all eight Sikh detainees in jail who have been detained under NSA and collected all the case-related documents from jail authorities.

The panel of lawyers, including SGPC member and Advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Advocate Mandeep Singh Sidhu (brother of actor-activist Deep Sidhu, founder of Waris Punjab Da), and Advocate Rohit Sharma, have been entrusted with the task of providing legal aid to them.

The lawyers team stated that the family members of the eight accused who are kept in Dibrugarh Central Jail have also entrusted the legal team with a similar task. The Dibrugarh District Legal Service Authority had appointed Advocate Samir Todi as the Legal Aid Counsel for the accused kept in Dibrugarh Central Jail.

The legal team from Punjab, with the help of Legal Aid Counsel Advocate Samir Todi, started the requisite legal procedures yesterday," said Advocate Bhagawant Singh Sialka.

Papalpreet, who was arrested yesterday in Amritsar, is also expected to be moved to the Dibrugarh jail due to security reasons. He will be presented in court for police remand today.

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The CBI on Tuesday recorded anti-Sikh riots accused Congress leader Jagdish Tytlers voice sample as fresh evidence has emerged in the case, a spokesperson of the agency said. Tytlers voice sample was recorded at the CFSL Lab.

He was asked to appear before the agency in connection with a case of a fire that took place at Delhis Pull Bangash Gurudwara during the 1984 riots.

CNN-News18 has learnt that CBI wanted to match Tytlers voice samples with the voice of a person who allegedly confessed to rioting in a sting video released by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in 2018. Tytler had then denied that he was the person in the video.

Manjit Singh GK, the Sikh leader who had released the sting video, has also been asked by the probe agency to join the investigation. GK while releasing the video in 2018 had claimed that Ravinder Kumar, a Delhi-based businessman, had recorded Tytlers confession about his role in the Pul Bangash gurdwara fire and that he was willing to testify in court.

CBI in its letter to GK said, The evidentiary value of the voice sample will be tested in due course. Legal opinion will be taken. But at this stage, we do want to look at all the new evidence that is coming up," a CBI official said.

The probe team also plans to contact the Delhi police to check if there are any police control room recordings from 1984 that can shed fresh light on this case.

Back in 2019, a report was filed by the CBI before a single judge bench of the Karkardooma court, presided by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Amit Arora, with regard to the lie detector test conducted on Abhishek Verma, an eyewitness in the case, an ANI report had said.

Verma, a witness in the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots case, had filed a writ complaint with Delhi Police in 2017, requesting them to enhance his police protection following a death threat e-mail, the report further states.

The Pul Bangash Gurudwara fire case pertains to the killing of three Sikhs - Badal Singh, Thakur Singh and, Gurcharan Singh - at Gurudwara Pulbangash in North Delhi on November 1, 1984, a day after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated.

Earlier in February 2019, noting the sensitive nature of the matter, the court had directed the CBI to expedite investigations into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which Tytler was given clean chit for his alleged role.

The case against Tytler was one of the three cases the Nanavati Commission had ordered to be reopened by the CBI in 2005. Tytler is accused of leading a mob in the 1984 Pul Bangash case in which three Sikhs were killed, the ANI report further stated.

During the infamous 1984 Sikh riots, 2,800 Sikhs were killed across India, including 2,100 in Delhi, data suggests.

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In a major setback for the Tamil Nadu (TN) government, the Supreme Court (SC) has granted permission to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to take out marches in the state.

A bench of Justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said, All special leave petitions are dismissed". On March 27, the SC bench had reserved its judgment.

The RSS had sought permission in October to hold the marches to mark Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Gandhi Jayanti.

The state government, headed by CM MK Stalin, had refused it, citing intelligence reports that the banned Muslim organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) might attack the marches.

SC dismisses Tamil Nadu govt's plea challenging High Court's order allowing RSS to hold marches in the state. News18's @anany_b shares his inputs on what transpired in the court"SC judgement is a slap on TN govt": @RatanSharda55@toyasingh | #TamilNadu #TamilNaduPolitics pic.twitter.com/5DKSBXrR09  News18 (@CNNnews18) April 11, 2023

THE HC ORDER

On February 10, a division bench of the Madras High Court (HC) had allowed the RSS to go ahead with it, after which the state moved the SC.

The HC had restored the order dated September 22, which directed the Tamil Nadu Police to consider the RSSs representation and grant permission to conduct the programmes without conditions. It had set aside the order passed on November 4 by a single judge bench of the high court which had imposed conditions on the proposed state-wide route marches asking the RSS to hold the events indoor or in an enclosed space.

Accordingly, it had directed the RSS to approach the state authorities with three different dates of their choice for the purpose of holding the route march/peaceful procession and the state authorities were asked to grant permission to them on one of the chosen dates. Also, the RSS was asked to ensure strict discipline and make sure there is no provocation or incitement on their part during the marches.

SC strikes big blow in favour of fundamental right to assemble peaceably : gives go ahead to RSS processions in 43 areas in TN without conditions.#SupremeCourtofIndia #TamilNadu #RSS Mahesh Jethmalani (@JethmalaniM) April 11, 2023

IN THE SC

Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who appeared on behalf of the RSS, highlighted that the state had given permission to protests by other organisations such as Dalit Panthers and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, but was singling out the RSS.

The Tamil Nadu government had on March 3 told the top court that it is not completely opposed to allowing the RSSs route marches and public meetings across the state, but cited intelligence reports to say these cannot be held in every street or locality.

Jethmalani further questioned why the RSS was not allowed to carry out the march, as the PFI was already banned. He further added that no incidents of violence were reported in the marches and also informed the court that the RSS members were attacked where they were peacefully sitting.

With PTI Inputs

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The ruling DMK on Tuesday termed as unfortunate the Supreme Court dismissing the appeal of the Tamil Nadu government in connection with the RSSs route marches in the State.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the Madras High Court order allowing the RSS to hold marches in the State and dismissed the appeal of the Tamil Nadu government.

DMK spokesperson J Constantine Ravindran said: The Tamil Nadu government did not oppose RSS marches in its totality, but said it may be held in specific locations. The government said this after considering several important factors like intelligence reports." Against the background of violence during Rama Navami festival in Bihar and West Bengal, it is unfortunate that the Tamil Nadu governments petition was dismissed by the top court, he said.

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The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday published in its gazette the legislation on banning online gambling.

This comes a day after the Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly was given the go ahead by the state Governor, R.N. Ravi.

Other than this legislation, a panel to regulate online games will be constituted soon and will be headed by a person who has retired from the service in a post not less than that of the state Chief Secretary.

The members will be retired Inspector Generals of Police who have technical experience. The panel will act as a grievance redressal body and the decision of the panel will be final and gives no recourse to any further legal proceedings.

The panel can impose a fine of Rs 5000 and three months imprisonment or both, as per the gazette notification.

It may be noted that Tamil Nadu was mired in controversies after Governor Ravi rejected the bill banning online gambling that was passed by the state Assembly. The House again passed the bill and resend it to Rajbhavan.

As per the constitution, the Governor has no other option but to sign the bill, if it is sent for a second time. The Governors are bound to pass the bill if it is sent for a second time by the Assembly.

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A police team from Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday left with gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad from Sabarmati Central Jail here for Prayagraj by road in connection with Umesh Pal murder case, an official said.

Pal and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagrajs Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year.

Based on a complaint lodged by Pals wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.

The Uttar Pradesh Police had on March 26 also taken Ahmad from the Sabarmati jail in Gujarats Ahmedabad city to Prayagraj in UP to produce him in a court.

On March 28, the court there had sentenced Ahmad and two others to life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case.

The 60-year-old former Uttar Pradesh MLA and Lok Sabha member was brought back to the high-security jail in Gujarat in a UP police van on March 29, after a nearly 24-hour-long road journey from Prayagraj.

In 2006, Atiq Ahmad and his aides abducted Umesh Pal and forced him to give a statement in court in their favour. Umesh Pal had registered a complaint in this regard.

The Supreme Court had in April 2019 directed that Ahmad be shifted to a high-security jail in Gujarat after he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of a real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal while in jail.

Ahmad has been named in more than 100 criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case, police said.

Among the most sensational murders in which Ahmad is allegedly involved was that of Raju Pal, the MLA from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) who was shot dead in 2005.

Umesh Pal, a key witness in this murder case, was gunned down outside his residence in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

Ahmad last month moved the Supreme Court for protection, claiming he and his family have been falsely implicated as accused in the Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj and he may be killed in a fake encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

In his plea, Ahmad had said the UP Police were in all likelihood seeking his transit remand and police remand to take him from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj and he genuinely apprehends that he may be eliminated during this transit period".

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In a shocking incident, family members of a dead woman were seen taking her thumbprint in a viral video.

The police said the incident is from Uttar Pradeshs Agra and the video was shot in 2021. In the viral video, a man was seen taking a thumbprint of a woman on some papers.

The deceaseds grandson, Jitendra Sharma, approached the police, demanding action against those seen in the video. Sharma said the deceased, Kamala Devi, was his mothers aunt, NDTV reported.

Thumb impression of a dead woman taken forcibly on legal papers by a known family in Agra. Looks like its an advocate getting it done. Act caught on camera!Video via @sudhirkmr6931 pic.twitter.com/UdBqcMBf1l  Judge Sahab (@lawWalaLadka) April 11, 2023

Kamala died on May 8, 2021, and had no children. Her husband died several years ago.

Jitendra Sharma claimed the children of the deceaseds brother-in-law stopped the car while they were taking the body to the hospital to take her thumbprint on a fake will" in presence of a lawyer.

According to NDTV report, they allegedly took over properties including the house and a shop on the basis of fake will".

The entire incident come to the fore after Jitendra Sharmas noticed it was Kamala Devis signature, not a thumbprint on the fake will".

Later, when the video from the incident went viral, Jitendras suspicions got confirmed and he approached the police.

Agra Police has ordered a probe into the matter.

Social media users have condemned the incident.

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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!

Story continues

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.
An Uttar Pradesh man was in the headlines over his friendship with a sarus crane a few weeks ago. Amethi resident Mohammed Arif had rescued the endangered bird and nursed it back to health last February. Soon after, the bird began following Arif around his hometown. The videos of the duo had gone viral.

But, Arif and the sarus cranes story met with a hiccup when the forest department came to know about the case. The department separated the bird from Arif and sent him a notice. The bird was then shifted to the Kanpur Zoo.

Now, a video of the birds reaction to seeing its rescuer is winning hearts on the internet. The video was tweeted by Kailash Nath Yadav, who is linked with the Samajwadi Party (SP).

Today, once again, the speechless crane chirped in agony seeing his life-giving friend Arif, but both were helpless and could not touch each other," Yadav wrote in his tweet.

In the video, Arif stands outside the birds enclosure in protective gear. Upon seeing him, the bird is seen jumping in joy and even spreads its wings in an attempt to find a way out.

The video was filmed during Arifs visit to Kanpur Zoo, where the endangered bird has been kept in a cage.

                            pic.twitter.com/rzhJgZxpSJ    (@kailashnathsp) April 11, 2023

Days after the sarus crane was placed at the Kanpur Zoo, reports surfaced that the bird was not eating properly. The zoo officials, however, expressed hope that things will improve. The aim is to release the bird into the wild, the zoo officials said.

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Assam is preparing to set a world record by staging 11,000 performers to dance Bihu live on April 14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed interest to watch the historic moment live in the state.

The PM will visit Assam on the first day of Bohag Bihu to launch projects worth Rs 8,500 crore in Guwahati.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive at LGBI Airport in Guwahati on April 14 at 11.30 am. Then he will fly to IIT-Guwahati by helicopter from LGBI Airport. After this, he will attend the inauguration programme of AIIMS-Guwahati. The inauguration of three other medical colleges from the premises of AIIMS will be done virtually. The other medical college hospitals are Nagaon, Kokrajhar, and Nalbari."

Prime Minister Modi will start the distribution of Ayushman cards to state ration card holders on April 14 in a symbolic manner, he added.

The state government in its recent budget had emphasised on the scheme of health insurance, titled Chief Minister Ayushman Asom, on the lines of the central governments Ayushman Bharat scheme. By April 14, Ayushman cards will be prepared for 1.10 crore ration card holders. PM Modi will reach Khanapara Veterinary Field from IIT-Guwahati in a helicopter. From there the prime minister will head to Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. The PM will then attend a function at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra where he will be present for the closing ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebration of the Gauhati High Court," said the chief minister.

In the evening, he will leave for Sarusajai Stadium to witness 11,000 Bihu dancers coming together to create a Guinness World Record of being the largest group live performance in the world," he added.

As stated by the chief minister, the worth of all the projects to be inaugurated by PM Modi is more than Rs 8,500 crore.

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Being with Russia means being on the wrong side of history and Kyiv wants closer and deeper relations with New Delhi, Ukraines First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Tuesday while suggesting that the Russian invasion has lessons for countries with difficult neighbours.

In an address at a leading think-tank, Dzhaparova said that Ukraines relationship with Pakistan is not directed against Indias interests and that her countrys military ties with Islamabad began around three decades back.

Referring to the war in Ukraine, the deputy foreign minister said as a global leader and current chair of the G20, India can play a greater role in bringing peace and hoped that Indian officials will visit Kyiv soon.

Being with Russia, we are again very sincerely saying so, is actually being on the wrong side of history. Supporting Russia means that it is to be in the evil visionary picture of the world, she said.

At the same time, the Ukrainian minister said India is witnessing visionary changes and it may take some time for it to build new relations with Ukraine and that the ties should be based on a pragmatic and balanced approach.

I think the suggestion that I brought here is to have a better and deeper relationship with India. And it needs reciprocity. We knocked the door but it is also up to the owner of the house to open up the door, she said.

The Ukranian deputy foreign minister talked about the dangers of not stopping those who prefer to push their agenda with impunity, adding India is also having difficult neighbours.

She said India should be pragmatic and balanced in its views, while citing its neighbours Pakistan and China.

Russia is a time-tested partner of India. New Delhi has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

Dzhaparovas visit to India is the first from Ukraine after Russia began its invasion of the east European country on February 24 last year.

Ahead of her address at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), the visiting deputy minister held talks with Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi.

In a tweet, Lekhi said she and Dzhaparova exchanged views on bilateral and global issues of mutual interest, adding cultural ties and women empowerment also figured in the discussion.

Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance, she said.

Dzhaparova described the meeting as fruitful.

Briefed Minister on Ukraines efforts to fight Russias unprovoked aggression. Discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, in particular culture, she said.

Replying to a question by reporters on Chinas aggressive behaviour against India, Dzhaparova said any aggression that might question the territorial integrity of any country is a matter of huge concern. At the ICWA, she said Ukraines ties with Pakistan are not targeted against India and that her country is ready to overcome pages of history and build new relationships.

The relationship with Pakistan is never directed against the relationship with India. I know there are some sensitivities about military contracts but let me be very clear that we have had the contracts since the 1990s, she said.

The deputy foreign minister also invited National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to visit Ukraine.

India may play a greater role. We respect the decisions of sovereign countries. India too is building up relations with other countries. It is for you to decide, it is for you to benefit, Dzhaparova said, noting that Ukraine wants to expand ties with India.

I am here with one very important message that Ukraine really wants India and Ukraine to come closer. Yes, we have different pages in our history, we have Soviet heritagewe will also be happy to welcome Indian leaders and officials in Kyiv, she said.

Dzhaparova said the war in Ukraine showed that the Russian military capabilities are not sufficient enough and that its tanks can be destroyed in one artillery shot.

The deputy minister said Ukraine is ready to share critical military technologies and expertise with India.

She also invoked Mahatma Gandhis teachings, saying he called for fighting for rights without violence.

Our president has been constantly saying that we have to fight for our rights without stepping on the rights of others. India in many ways has a lot in common with Ukraine. There is huge and untapped potential in our bilateral relations. It is only a start in our dialogue, she said.

In response to a question, Dzhaparova said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would like to address the G20 summit in India. Zelenskyy had addressed the Bali summit of G20 through video conference.

Since the Ukraine conflict began in February last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a number of times.

In a phone conversation with President Zelenskyy on October 4 last year, Modi said that there can be no military solution and that India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts.

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Ramadan is a special time of the year when families come together to celebrate and spend quality time with each other. The holy month of Ramadan is the right time to cleanse and redo your home to celebrate the festivities with your loved ones. People around the world deck up their houses to ring-in the month long of festivities and welcome guests for lavish iftar feasts.

To create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home during this holy month, there are many simple and easy ways to enhance your home decor. Adding a touch of greenery with plants or flowers, incorporating colourful cushions and throws, updating your table setting with festive tableware, and using ambient lighting with candles or string lights can transform your home into a cozy and welcoming space for your family and guests.

Erik-Jan Middelhoven, Home Furnishing & Retail Design Manager, IKEA India shares tips on how to prepare your house for Ramadan and Eid:

Makeshift seating for larger gatherings: Celebrations and get-togethers go on throughout the month of Ramadan as families and friends come together to break their fast at dusk. These gatherings start from a group of five and go up to twenty people. Floor cushions, throws and rugs are a great way to increase seating capacity on your living space and always help create more room for happy times. Iftar table decoration: On Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which requires them to fast from sunrise to sunset, comes to an end. The iftar and Eid tables, however, serve more than just food. One can select suitable tablecloths, gleaming cutlery, and fragrant candles in earthy tones. Dates, dried fruits, and nuts should be kept in separate silver containers for added appeal. Festive lighting and Upholstery: Occasions and celebrations always call for a decked-up and warmly lit house. Order or shop for lanterns, candle stands, and lights that you can set up around the house and create the welcoming, fuzzy feeling. Changing your upholstery and furnishings is also a great way to bring in the festive mood. Exclusive tableware: Using tableware, serving pieces, and decor that celebrate this season can help your home feel festive during Ramadan. One can select the hues, rhombus patterns, and goods that are based on Middle Eastern tile patterns but have been given a touch of modern charm. To create an authentic Ramadan atmosphere, one can prepare foods in the Arabian style and garnish them with regional spices and herbs. Revitalise your prayer space: Decorating your house goes beyond simply making it look lovely and setting it up to best welcome Ramadan. Developing a Ramadan mindset entail realising the importance of getting your body, mind, and soul ready for a blessed month of worship. So, remember to clean and organise your prayer space as you get ready for Ramadan. Replace your prayer mat, remove any distractions, and create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the area.

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Till just a decade ago, it was easy to see why Indian children succumbed to diarrhoeal disease in large numbers, why women suffered from painful debilitating infections and why outbreaks of water borne and vector borne diseases could ravage communities at speed.

One only needed to look at our toilets (or lack of them). In what is considered the largest sanitation program in the world, the Swachh Bharat Mission changed all that. Today, after the construction of millions of toilets and nearly as many water connections, each Indian has access to a toilet.

But do they know how to use it? And more importantly, do they know how to keep it clean? According to a report by the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, not yet. As Indians we still have some pretty strange ideas about toilet cleaning, and whose responsibility it is. This is a fact that Indias leading lavatory care brand, Harpic, is well aware of. Over the years, Harpic has led several campaigns that address toilet hygiene and the various small steps that families can take to ensure that their family toilets are safe.

Harpic, together with News18, created the Mission Swachhta aur Paani initiative 3 years ago. It is a movement that upholds the cause of inclusive sanitation where everyone has access to clean toilets. Mission Swachhta aur Paani advocates equality for all genders, abilities, castes and classes and strongly believes that clean toilets are a shared responsibility.

On the occasion of World Health Day, Mission Swachhta aur Paani led a spirited discussion amongst policy makers, activists, actors, celebrities and thought leaders with a panel from News18 and Reckitts leadership on the many ways in which poor toilet hygiene and sub-standard sanitation affects us all.

If we want to change minds, children can be strong agents of change

As a part of the Swachhta ki Paathshaala initiative, well known actor and celebrity mom Shilpa Shetty visited the Primary School Naruar in Varanasi, to talk to children about good toilet habits, hygiene and its link to good health. The children, whose school was the recipient of the Swachh Vidyalaya prize, dazzled both Shilpa Shetty and News18s Marya Shakil with their detailed grasp of how toilet hygiene and maintenance directly impacts health outcomes and productivity.

One child also shared a heartwarming anecdote where he recounted to Marya that after the school program was implemented, he talked his family into building their own toilet. Of course, he is not the only one. As a part of the Mission Swachhta aur Paani, the teams from Harpic and News18 have come across several such stories that show us that mindsets are changing.

Toilets are changing the way women participate in society

For women in particular, access to toilets can translate into life changing consequences. Girl children have, in the past, had to drop out from schools because going to school involved holding it the whole school day - there were no toilets. Or if the toilets existed, they werent in usable condition. At workplaces too, especially in the unorganised sectors, this lack of toilets often created productivity problems and posed another hurdle to more participation by women in the workforce.

Today, most of these problems are a thing of the past. Toilets in schools, colleges and workplaces are mandated, and the Swachh Bharat Mission ensures that every one of us has access to a toilet where we live. Communicators like Dr Surabhi Singh, who works with young girls to show them how easy menstrual hygiene can be, are helping with not just the problem of absenteeism, but also of dropouts. As girls miss less days of school, they perform better.

Sanitation workers are breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty

Attitudes towards sanitation workers are finally changing, albeit slowly. PM Narendra Modi sent a strong message to the nation when he bathed the feet of five sanitation workers in 2019. Harpic, too, has made significant strides in creating dignity for sanitation workers via the creation of World Toilet Colleges.

Padma Shri Usha Chaumar (Former sanitation worker, now President of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation), has witnessed this shift in attitudes firsthand: from being ostracised against, to being recognised as a Swachhta hero who is a regular on panels and discussions on the larger sanitation issues, and policy discussions. Shri Ushas life has spanned both sides of this spectrum.

Beyond dignity to the sanitation workers themselves, the World Toilet Colleges are also helping uplift the families of sanitation workers too. In Patiala, a World Toilet College provided admission to 100 children of sanitation workers in public and private schools, breaking down barriers to education for the children of a community that was once considered untouchable. By educating these children, the cycle of poverty that has trapped their families for generations can finally be broken. Many of these children are the first in their families to get an education.

Diarrhoeal deaths could soon be a thing of the past:

Diarrhoea, which is often caused by poor toilet hygiene, is a leading cause of death among children under five, killing an estimated 300,000 children in India each year. The sad truth is that diarrhoeal deaths are entirely preventable. What was needed was a grassroots program that helped educate mothers about the link between toilet hygiene and diarrhoea. They also needed to be educated about adequate hydration and other critical steps that keep diarrhoea from escalating into a life threatening condition in young children.

Enter: Reckitts Diarrhoea Net Zero Program (DNZ), which is a life-saving initiative launched in collaboration with the government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Brijesh Pathak, and Shri Anandiben Patel. Its primary aim is to save 100,000 childrens lives by addressing under-five diarrhoea management in India.

What makes the DNZ program unique is the role the Swachhta Prahari women play. These women go door to door, educating mothers on the importance of sanitation and hygiene, as well as provide guidance on how to keep toilets clean, keep homes and surroundings clean, and the proper way to wash hands with soap. These simple measures can go a long way in preventing the spread of diarrhoea and other diseases.

Prevention and cure: Indias holistic way of looking at solutions.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya spoke about health in truly holistic terms, When you speak of health, your home, your surroundings, the water you consume, the food you eat: all must be hygienic and your body must be healthy enough to fight off infections." Prevention is a form of good health!

The GoI seeks to address all sides of this problem: The Swachh Bharat Mission was just one arm of this multi-pronged strategy. According to Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, the GoI is also taking a long-term view on increasing access to medical facilities by doubling the number of MBBS seats, as well as doubling the number of hospitals. Additionally, 156,000 wellness centres have been opened. These centres provide preventive care and screening both, and are equipped to consult with experts through telemedicine, bringing city-like expertise to the rural poor.

Watch the event here, to learn more about how you can partner in the national mission to achieve a Swasth Bharat through a Swachh Bharat.

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When we think about the nation we want to be tomorrow, we think of a $5 Trillion economy, of our UPI platform being used internationally, of having the worlds second largest road network, and how between Mission AYUSH and ABHA, healthcare is set to become ever more accessible to the masses.

In the background of those images our minds conjure, the nation we see is one that gleams: our roads and cities and offices and factories and schools sparkle. Our people look healthy and energised, and by and large, happy and prosperous. The mere fact that we now see this nation as a reality that is firmly within our grasp, has a lot to do with what has come to be known as the worlds largest sanitation programme - the Swachh Bharat Mission.

In the largest programme of this kind, the GoI surpassed all our expectations by making a tangible difference to the quality of life of not just our poorest sections, but everyone else too. There is a marked difference in what our living spaces looked like a mere decade ago, to where we are today - there are toilets for every Indian, at school, at workplaces, at roads, rails and public spaces, and in our homes.

However, the access to toilets alone doesnt change mindsets. Many Indians, especially in rural areas, see toilets as unnecessary. Changing these mindsets has taken the work of many hands - the GoI, NGOs, social institutions and of course, brands. As Indias leading lavatory care brand, Harpic has been at the forefront of this conversation.

Harpic, together with News18, created the Mission Swachhta aur Paani initiative 3 years ago. It is a movement that upholds the cause of inclusive sanitation where everyone has access to clean toilets. Mission Swachhta aur Paani advocates equality for all genders, abilities, castes and classes and strongly believes that clean toilets are a shared responsibility.

On the occasion of World Health Day, Mission Swachhta aur Paani led a spirited discussion amongst policy makers, activists, actors, celebrities and thought leaders with a panel from News18 and Reckitts leadership on the many ways in which poor toilet hygiene and sub-standard sanitation affects us all. In particular, the discussion revolved around Harpics very tangible steps towards improving the lives of the vanguard in this fight - our sanitation workers.

Dignity as a human right

Indians often see the work that sanitation workers do as lowly, dirty work. These people are often ostracised, to the extent that people dont speak to them. They are often forced to live amongst their own communities, and unable to secure education for their children. We no longer call them untouchables, but in many parts of the nation, we still treat them as so.

Moreover, sanitation workers often work in extremely hazardous conditions. The work is often dangerous - involving workers having to handle human excrement by hand, enter into septic tanks that contain noxious gases that can cause them to lose consciousness. They are also, in general, prone to infections, injuries and diseases that arise from poor (or absent) worker safety policies. Many sanitation workers arent even provided basic protective gear like gloves, footwear and masks.

Harpic set up Indias first Toilet College in 2016, with the stated objective of improving the quality of life of manual scavengers through their rehabilitation by linking them with dignified livelihood options. The college operates as a knowledge sharing platform with an aim to uplift the lives of the sanitation workers by educating them about their rights, health hazards, use of technology and alternate livelihood skills. Workers trained by the college are provided placement with various organisations. Following the successful proof of concept in Rishikesh, World Toilet Colleges have opened in Maharashtra, Aurangabad, in partnership with Harpic, Jagran Pehel and Maharashtra Government.

Sanitation work as an essential service

Attitudes towards sanitation workers are finally changing, albeit slowly. PM Narendra Modi sent a strong message to the nation when he washed the feet of five sanitation workers in 2019. Harpic, too, has made significant strides in creating dignity for sanitation workers via the creation of World Toilet Colleges. As Dr Surabhi Singh observed, Harpics creation of World Toilet Colleges uplifts the entire profession - no longer is it seen as unskilled, dirty work. It is now seen as a profession that requires specific skills and training; and sanitation workers are seen as trained, skilled professionals performing essential services.

As Saurabh Jain, Regional Marketing Director - Hygiene, Reckitt, South Asia observed, In India, the worst sufferers in any form of occupation are the people who belong to the lowest economic ladder. It becomes a vicious cycle. When you dont have the right means, you dont get proper education, or skill sets, and you dont get absorbed into the organised sector, then you have to work in the unorganised sector. And when you look at sanitation as a cycle, youre absolutely at the bottom of it. So when we looked at it with our partners at Jagaran and World Toilet Organization, we saw an opportunity for us to go in and address it. Were empowering them with better means of life, with dignity. These are people who are now absorbed in formal sectors. Theyre the people who get opportunities in hotels and hospitals. And I think nothing makes Reckitt more proud."

Sahil Talwar, Director, Jagran Pehel also chimed in with a similar sentiment, Sanitation workers are the backbone of this system. Their dignity is the cornerstone of the success of the Swachh Bharat Mission and a cleaner society. We are empowering these people to empower ourselves, to solve our problems. Its not just about getting them better jobs, it is, in fact, very self-serving."

Breaking the cycle of poverty through education

Padma Shri Usha Chaumar (Former sanitation worker, now President of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation), has witnessed this shift in attitudes firsthand: from being ostracised against, to being recognised as a Swachhta hero who is a regular on panels and discussions on the larger sanitation issues, and policy discussions. Shri Ushas life has spanned both sides of this spectrum.

Beyond dignity to the sanitation workers themselves, the World Toilet Colleges are also helping uplift the families of sanitation workers too. Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs & Partnerships, SOA, Reckitt spoke with pride of the World Toilet Colleges latest achievements. In Patiala, a World Toilet College provided admission to 100 children of sanitation workers in public and private schools, breaking down barriers to education for the children of a community that was once considered untouchable."

By educating these children, the cycle of poverty that has trapped their families for generations can finally be broken. Many of these children are the first in their families to get an education.

This wasnt the only positive story covered during the World Health Day event of the Mission Swachhta aur Paani initiative. Join us here, to learn more about the many ways a Swasth Bharat is emerging from a Swachh Bharat.

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Sushant Singh Rajputs sister Priyanka Singh has penned a cryptic post on Twitter following the release of Rhea Chakrabortys much-talked about promo of MTV Roadies. Rhea Chakraborty is set to make her comeback on screen with the reality show Roadies Season 19. This marks her first official project after Sushant Singh Rajputs death. Sushant was dating Rhea at the time of his death.

In the promo released by the channel, Rhea, seen in a feisty look, says, Aapko kya laga mein wapas nahi aaungi, darr jaungi darne ki baari kisi aur ki hai. (What did you think I wont return, Id be scared? Its time for others to get scared)." Without mentioning Rhea, SSRs sister Priyanka tweeted,   ?    , ,  !        ?         (Why would you be afraid? You were, are, and will remain a prostitute! The question is who are your consumers? Only a ruler can give this courage). WhoResponsible 4Delay InSSRCs is obvious." (sic)

Missing u immensely my soulmate @itsSSR; you will always be in my heart. no words to describe the void. pic.twitter.com/zZTYr8v6zO Priyanka Singh (@withoutthemind) August 3, 2020

While some have hailed Rhea Chakrabortys comeback as a fair chance", others trolled her. I dont understand why people are so prejudiced. Why drag any past hatred to an upcoming show. See her work in the show and then judge and hate," a fan said in her support. Another fan commented, Comebacks are always bigger than setbacks". Meanwhile, Negative comments included viewpoints like This season will be the worst of all" and Worst choice of gang leader ever".

Sushant Singh Rajput was found hanging in his flat in suburban Bandra on June 14, 2020. Starting with the Mumbai Police, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) were brought in to investigate various angles in the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. Rhea was arrested by the NCB in September 2020 in a drug case linked with Sushant Singh Rajputs death. After spending one month in Mumbais Byculla jail, she was released on bail in October 2020.

DISCLAIMER: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata).

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During the celebration of Ram Navami, widespread communal violence broke out in parts of the Howrah and Hooghly districts of West Bengal. Beyond the political blame game between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP, the polices inaction shows that chief minister Mamata Banerjee has failed at her job. In West Bengal, panchayat polls are coming up soon, and the general elections are set for the next year. Banerjee and the TMCs weak response to these incidents indicate that the party is desperate to show support for Muslims after losing the Sagardighi by-election, in which more than 60% of the voters were from the community. If Banerjee goes back to her old politics of polarisation based on appeasement, law and order in Bengal will get worse.

About 30% of the voters in West Bengal are Muslims and the community has always supported the ruling parties in the past. In the early days after Independence, the community sided with the Congress, but when the communist movement rose to prominence in the late 1970s and the CPI(M)-led Left Front won in elections, the Muslims supported the regime. However, after the Nandigram and Singur incidents, which brought Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress into the limelight and ended the 35-year rule of the Left, the community shifted completely towards the TMC. The Left government also tried to make peace with the Muslims, and when Banerjee took over, she did the same thing. However, she is not subtle and has never hidden her pro-minority image.

The most significant aspect of this situation is that Mamata Banerjee misleads Muslims, resulting in discontent. The TMCs loss in the recent Sagardighi by-election to the Left-Congress alliance has nothing to do with the Bharatiya Janata Party, as the saffron party performed as expected. Muslims have not voted for Mamata Banerjee due to a significant lack of trust in the community regarding the TMCs politics.

Mamata Banerjee must recognise that the worst aspect of her politics is the corruption of her partys top leaders. Everyone can see that not only have TMC leaders participated in corruption, but they have also received protection from the party. Money power, muscle power, regional influence, and the desire and grid for power are now so prevalent in Trinamool that every community is concerned about its politics. The TMC desired a Ram Navami devoid of communal violence because it would have provided peace of mind to minority groups. However, Banerjee failed again. Along with Mamata Banerjees overwhelming victory in the Bengal assembly elections of 2021 and rampant corruption, violence has become the new norm. From post-election violence to the daily deterioration of law and order, Bengal has experienced a number of violent incidents.

After the complete failure of the Mamata Banerjee administration to maintain law and order in Bengal during Ram Navami despite repeated warnings, it is disgraceful that the TMC is now attempting to profit from polarisation. It is common knowledge that Muslims will never vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party, but if Banerjee continues to play this political game, it will harm the common citizen and Bengals harmony. If the saffron party is responsible for the communal violence, the police must investigate and take appropriate action. If the ruling party renders the verdicts, however, communal violence is being used for political purposes well before police inaction.

In a democracy as expansive as Indias, it is obvious that each political party will have its own methods. Today, however, with the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indias politics is shifting from accommodation to development for all. At this point, politics that attempt to please everyone or exploit the religious sentiments of minorities will have a chilling effect. Likewise, Banerjee cannot allow West Bengal to experience and control violence throughout the entire year. The development agenda of the Mamata Banerjee government must prevail, but it is also imperative that the Trinamool Congress work diligently to end corruption within the government.

Mamata Banerjees politics is being rejected in states other than West Bengal. In the recent elections in Tripura, the TMC performed poorly. On the other hand, Banerjees party has not performed well in Meghalaya despite a great deal of hype. Previously, the TMC was unable to influence the Goa assembly elections. This demonstrates that Mamata Banerjees politics has reached a dead end, and the public has become fearful of it. Concerning the linguistic divide, it is important to note that Tripura has a sizeable Bengali population but that the party performed poorly.

Bengal deserves peace, development, and harmony. No political party, and most importantly the ruling party, should exploit the feelings of minorities or demonise Hindus for political gains. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will have to cease her appeasement-centric politics once more today. The state of law and order in Bengal must improve, and it is time for the administration of the state to operate independently. The Calcutta High Court has repeatedly cautioned the West Bengal police and called attention to their bias in favour of the TMC. If Mamata Banerjee believes that allowing police inaction and partisan control of the administration will help her politically, she is incorrect. This will only increase the minorities fear, and discontent will rise.

The author is a Columnist and Doctoral Research Scholar In Media & Politics. He tweets @sayantan_gh. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.

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It seems a Punjab repeat happening in Rajasthan for the Congress. Sachin Pilot will sit on a day-long fast today asking for action by his own government against the corruption of the former Vasundhara Raje government.

The events seem erringly similar to the ones in Punjab two years ago when the state Congress chief, Navjot Singh Sidhu, had picked the banner of revolt against Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh accusing him of not acting against the Badals in the cases of sacrilege and drug trade. Sidhu also argued that if action was not taken, people will reject the Congress in the elections as it came to power promising justice in these cases. But unlike Pilot, Sidhu enjoyed the backing of the Congress high command which ultimately removed Amarinder Singh as CM. In Rajasthan, Pilots revolt will only strengthen Gehlots hands in the Congress.

To be fair, Pilot has been asking for such action for the last four-and-a-half years since Congress came to power in the state. As the state Congress chief before the 2018 elections, Pilot had made the corruption under Raje as a major election campaign issue and promised a probe if Congress was voted to power. But the Pilot camp alleges that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has not acted against Raje given an informal understanding the two leaders have to not go after each other  and that this may cost the Congress in the upcoming elections. This is one reason among others for the bad blood between Pilot and the CM.

The move is also seen as a last throw of dice by Pilot to assert his importance in Rajasthan after none of his demands have been met so far. He also tried to corner the government over the paper leak issue and the protest by families of the Pulwama martyrs.

But the Congress in Rajasthan has thrown its weight behind Gehlot and has publicly asked Pilot to not hold his day-long fast and rather raise his issues in party forums. Pilots action in fact will only bolster Gehlots case before the Congress high command that Pilot is working against the interests of the party and should not be projected as the next CM face. Gehlot has been repeatedly citing Pilots revolt in 2020 when he tried to bring down the Congress government in the state with the help of some MLAs. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera has now said that a probe is on in that episode too.

The Gehlot camp, in fact, says Pilots present actions are borne out of frustration over his case of being made the CM before the elections or being projected as the next CM face  has not found acceptance inside the Congress. Pilot has not been on any post since 2020 after being removed as the state congress chief and deputy CM and will have little or no role in ticket distribution in the upcoming elections.

The CMs camp now wants strict disciplinary action against Pilot for his attempt to embarrass his own government just before the elections and for giving a handle to the BJP to highlight before voters the differences inside the Congress. The Gehlot camp feels it goes against the grain of fighting the elections jointly as the Gandhis wanted.

Six months to go, will Congress meet the same fate as in Punjab 2022 in the Pilot-Gehlot feud in the year-end Rajasthan elections? The BJP is hoping for it.

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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.














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.

Story continues

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.
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.

The EC withdrew the national party status of the TMC, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Monday.

The party is exploring legal options to challenge this decision by EC," a TMC source said on Monday.

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. Didis aspiration to grow TMC find no place as people know TMC runs a most corrupt, full of appeasement & terror govt. Govts fall is also certain as people of WB will not tolerate this govt for long," BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said in a tweet.

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 Peoples Party (NPP) and the AAP are now national parties.

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A protest by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers outside the secretariat in Ranchi, against the Hemant Soren governments failure to tackle unemployment, corruption, and deteriorating law and order", ended in a ruckus as the police resorted to lathi-charge, used water cannons and tear gas. At least 30 workers suffered injuries, while 24 were detained.

The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha termed it a political gimmick". In another controversy, Congress MLA Irfan Ansari demanded the Jharkhand government beat up the BJP leaders who were going to lay siege to the secretariat, and break their bones as they are misleading people. Ansari also alleged that Rs 2,000 per person is being given by the BJP to take them to the gherao programme.

Thousands of BJP workers and general public from villages of the state protested at Prabhat Tara Maidan in Dhurwa against the state. Additional security forces were deployed ahead of the protest and barricades were put up at strategic locations to maintain law and order and smooth movement of vehicles.

As a precautionary measure, the district administration clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 from 8am to 11.30pm around 200 metres of the building. The protesters broke the barricades and stood on them. The police lathi-charged, used water cannons, and dozens of tear gas shells. The workers were chased and beaten up. Over two dozen leaders and supporters of BJP were detained for violating section 144 and breaking the barricades. Over 30 who suffered injuries were shifted to private hospitals. During the lathi charge, there were blood stains on the clothes of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das. In a conversation with News 18, Das said, This blood stain will prove to be the last nail in the coffin.

MP Sameer Oraon, Sunil Singh and MLA Biranchi Narayan were among those detained. BJPs state president and MP Deepak Prakash said the police personnel were working at the behest of JMM workers. He also said that the government has lost the trust of the public, and so is resorting to violence. This is a struggle against dictatorship, corruption-ridden, development-free, government of middlemen, loot of mineral wealth, government of appeasement and the atrocities by police will be remembered. The struggle against the government will continue and this government has to be uprooted in the 2024 elections.

The BJP president has announced a Black Day in all the mandals of the state on Wednesday.

THE REACTIONS

Can stop voices with lathis and bullets: Babulal Marandi

Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi said the government tried to crush the movement. The government wants to stop publics questions in a democracy with sticks and bullets. But the BJPs struggle will continue and the Hemant Soren government has to be uprooted, he said.

Development work just on paper: Raghubar Das

Raghubar Das, while addressing the meeting, took a dig at the government and said that people are troubled by unemployment, appeasement, casteism, abuse, extremism, infiltration, commission and failing law and order. The state government is completing development works on paper, but the development is nowhere to be seen, he said.

Tribal society is being attacked: Arjun Munda

Union Minister and former Chief Minister Arjun Munda said that mineral wealth is being looted under the patronage of the government. The land of the tribals is being looted, the mafia-police system is getting the tribals murdered. Women, sisters, youth, unemployed, backward farmers, Dalits, tribals have become helpless due to the misrule of the government. On the one hand, the Modi government at the centre is increasing the respect for all, while attacks are taking place in Jharkhand, he said.

BJP will also work to beautify Jharkhand: Annapurna Devi

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of State and Koderma MP Annapurna Devi said that the state governments attempt to stop the workers from attending the protest shows Sorens defeat. The land of Lord Birsa Munda never tolerates injustice. Hemant Sarkar cannot be allowed to loot. Jharkhand was built by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the BJP will protect the state.

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While the first list of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with a majority of seats, is out, the delay in finalising it was caused over a difference of opinion between B S Yediyurappa (BSY), a parliamentary board member and former Chief Minister, and another senior leader from the state, as well as a demand for tickets for all turncoat MLAs.

The dates to announce the list of the BJP candidates was moved ahead at least thrice in the past week, before Karnataka Chief Minister BS Bommai said on Tuesday evening that the lists had been finalised in two batches.

The BJP high command, sources say, was faced with the tough challenge of selecting the right candidate for over 75 seats in Karnataka as a major difference of opinion cropped up on the choice of names given by BSY and another senior leader, along with heated exchanges.

A leader privy to the candidate list meetings told News18 that Yediyurappa even had a heated argument over the choice of candidates and to the surprise of the BJP high command, he did not see eye-to-eye on the names for over 110 of the total 224 seats in Karnataka.

FOUR LISTS

It is also learnt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda had four sets of lists two from the BJPs Central office team, one from Yediyurappa, and the other from the senior leader. While three of the four lists matched in most seats, one had a lot of surprises.

Even after several hours of deliberations, there was no consensus on 75 crucial seats, said the leader on condition of anonymity.

Sources say the list drawn out by Yediyurappa was quite close to the one that Shahs team had charted out based on ground reports and analysis from ground zero over the past three months.

A miffed Yediyurappa returned to Bengaluru from Delhi after what was seen as a move to display his unhappiness over the indecisiveness over his choice of candidates. It is said that Yediyurappa made strong recommendations for 35 seats, for which he gave the central leadership a personal guarantee of winning. As the discussions went into the late hours of Sunday, with no conclusion in sight, Yediyurappa left Delhi.

Senior BJP leaders, including Bommai, however, dismissed rumours of Yediyurappa being angry and said the leader had to return due to personal commitments.

BSYS SON

It is also learnt that the BJPs top leadership was keen on giving BSYs younger son and state BJP vice-president BY Vijayendra the Varuna seat. It is the seat that the leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah will contest from. The BJP wanted Vijayendra to fight against the former Congress chief minister and defeat him.

The BJP seniors felt that if Vijayendra defeats Siddaramaiah, he will not only be a giant slayer, his prospects when the party comes to power will be more rewarding, said another senior state BJP leader, on condition of anonymity.

But insiders in the Yediyurappa camp told News18 that neither BSY nor Vijayendra were comfortable with the idea of contesting from Varuna. BSY has been looking to field Vijayendra from the family pocketborough of Shikaripura, the assembly seat the senior BJP leader contested from seven times.

If Vijayendra loses Varuna, his political career will end even before it starts. With Yediyurappa retiring from active politics, Vijayendra is determined to take forward the BSY mantle and fight from their home turf Shikaripura, the BJP leader said.

The move by BSY to ensure his sons win is also to ensure that the leaders family continues to have a firm grip on the affairs of the state unit, even though BSY has announced his retirement from active politics earlier this year.

TURNCOAT MLAS

Another hurdle the BJP faced was the demands made by turncoat MLAs led by former minister and Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi. The MLA played a crucial role in bringing onboard 17 MLAs from the Congress and JDS to the BJP, which led to the collapse of the Congress and JDS coalition and the BJP coming to power in 2019.

Jarkiholi had demanded 17 tickets for all his supporters, and party insiders said that the BJP central leadership approved only four from his list. This caused a further strain between the newbie BJP MLAs and the partys top leadership. The possibility of a few MLAs going back to the Congress and JDS cannot be ruled out, warn state BJP leaders. Many turncoat MLAs are strong leaders who have been re-elected multiple times, making it a tough call.

There is no inordinate delay, clarified BJP MP Prahar Joshi, who also stated that the party usually announces its candidates a few days before the date of filing nominations, which is April 20. It is learnt that the party was extremely cautious to ensure there is no more rebellion among disgruntled candidates, while keeping a close watch on the list of their rivals  JDS and Congress.

Every MLAs work in their constituency was graded and the central leaders closely compared notes on winnability. It is a crucial election as the BJP is seeking to come back to power for the second time, which, if it happens, will make history, said a BJP functionary from Karnataka.

Meanwhile, the opposition has come out with at least two lists. The Congress has announced two lists naming candidates for 166 assembly seats, and the JDS has announced one list with 93 names. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is also contesting all 224 assembly seats, has released its third list of 28 candidates, covering a total of 168 of the 224 constituencies.

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Rahul Gandhi will visit Wayanad on Tuesday along with his sister and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. This is the first time since his disqualification from the Lok Sabha that the Congress leader will meet people in his former constituency.

The Gandhi siblings will hold a road show and a conference in Kalpetta during their visit. Local reports stated that the road show will commence from SKMJ Higher Secondary School at 3 pm. The rally is expected to witness the participation of thousands of people from various parts of the Lok Sabha constituency.

Several leaders, including AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal, Tariq Anwar, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, KPCC president K Sudhakaran, Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, PK Kunhalikutty, NK Premachandran, CP John among others will participate in the event.

It is being said that the party workers will use national flags instead of party flags in the rally. Some reports stated that a letter written by Gandhi will also be distributed to the voters across Wayanad.

Last week, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) terminated the free internet connection and telephone services provided to Gandhis office.

BSNL officials said that the action to disconnect the phone number 04936 209988 and the internet connection at Kainatty office in Kalpetta was taken in accordance with the directions from BSNL office in Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi lost membership in the Lower House of Parliament after a Surat court convicted and sentenced him in a 2019 criminal defamation case. The case pertains to a remark he made using the surname Modi while addressing a campaign event ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

As a consequence, Wayanads former lawmaker will no longer get the facilities extended to MPs, including the official residence in Delhi. A hearing on Gandhis appeal against the conviction is scheduled for April 13.

While a bypoll is expected in the Lok Sabha constituency, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar has said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is in no hurry to announce the byelection.

Kumar indicated that the Election Commission would wait as Gandhi has been given a 30-day window to challenge the conviction in appellate court. The EC is not into politics, Kumar said while announcing elections to the Karnataka assembly.

Under section 151 of the Representation of Peoples Act, the Commission has six months to hold polls to the constituency of Wayanad. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has been given thirty days by the trial court to exercise judicial remedy. So we will wait. There is no hurry, the chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar added.

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The Rajasthan BJP took a dig at the ruling Congress in the state over Sachin Pilots day-long fast in Jaipur on Tuesday, saying those who helped the party form the government were on the streets" protesting against it now.

BJP leaders, including leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore, partys state president CP Joshi and Rajya Sabha member Ghanshyam Tiwari led a Jan Aakrosh Rally in Churu and submitted a memorandum to the district collector, raising various issues such as law and order, corruption and non-fulfilment of promises made to people by the Congress party.

The rally is being organised at a time when leaders of Congress are on the streets against their own government. This rally has done the work to put the last nail in the coffin of the Congress government," Rathore told reporters in Churu.

His reference was to Congress leader Sachin Pilot, who held a day-long fast in Jaipur on Tuesday to press his partys government to act on cases of alleged corruption related to the previous BJP government. Pilot launched his fast disregarding a warning by Congress, which said a protest against the Rajasthan government would amount to anti-party activity and go against its interest.

Asked about Pilots demand for action in corruption cases during the BJP rule, Rathore said the Congress leader did not raise the issue in the last four years and did not speak about it in the state assembly. Rathore claimed Pilot was using BJPs shoulder to end his own frustration" with the Ashok Gehlot government.

Pilot and Gehlot have been at loggerheads ever since the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan in December 2018. On several occasions, their feud has spiralled into the public embarrassing their party.

Pilot was the Rajasthan Congress chief when the party came to power and he was later made the deputy chief minister. However, he was removed from the posts in July 2020 after he led a rebellion against the Gehlot government.

Taking a dig at the Congress over Pilots day-long fast, BJP state president Joshi said the people under whose leadership the Congress fought the last assembly polls were protesting against their own government.

Joshi said Pilots protest suggests there has been corruption under the Gehlot government.

In every district, corruption, crime against women and crime against SC/STs have occurred," he added.

Meanwhile, Rathore exuded confidence that the BJP would sweep the Shekhawati region  comprising Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu  in the upcoming assembly polls and a BJP government would be formed in the state.

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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd on Tuesday unveiled Tongyi Qianwen, an AI large language model similar to GPT that it plans to integrate into all of the companys business applications in the near future.

It will first be integrated into DingTalk, Alibabas workplace messaging app and it can be used to summarise meeting notes, write emails and draft business proposals, the company said in a statement. It will also be added to Tmall Genie, Alibabas voice assistant.

Alibaba Cloud plans to open Tongyi Qianwen to its clients so they can build their own customized large language models.

Tongyi Qianwen is based on Tongyi, Alibabas proprietary pre-trained model framework that unifies various AI models.

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.

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Chinese tech giant Vivo is set to launch its two new affordable T-series smartphones  Vivo T2 and Vivo T2x in India today at 12 noon IST. Like its predecessors, the Vivo T2 series smartphones will be available on the e-commerce platform Flipkart and Vivo India store online.

Vivo T2, Vivo T2x India Launch: How To Watch Live

The Vivo T2 and Vivo T2x launch in India is scheduled for 12:00 PM IST today (April 11) The event can be viewed on Vivos official YouTube channel. Interested viewers can also watch the live event here. The Vivo T2 series is likely to be priced below Rs 20,000 in India. However, this is just speculation and we advise our readers to wait for the official announcement from the company.

Vivo T2, Vivo T2x Specifications (Expected)

Vivo has already created a dedicated webpage for the upcoming phones. In the teaser images, the phones can be seen in Blue and Gold colour options. You can see a dual camera setup on the devices.

Vivo is also teasing a full Turbo HD+ AMOLED screen on the phones with 1300 nits of peak brightness, 6000000:1 contrast ratio and 360Hz touch sampling rate. There is a waterdrop notch on the front to house the selfie shooter and narrow bezels.

For optics, the company has revealed that the Vivo T2 5G series smartphones will come with a dual rear camera setup, which includes a 64MP primary camera with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) feature and a 2MP Bokeh lens.

The Vivo T2x smartphone was introduced in China in May last year. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC chipset. The device has a 6.58-inch FullHD+ LCD screen and has a refresh rate of 144Hz

The Vivo T2 is expected to come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC and Vivo T2x could get the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset in India. Reports suggest that Vivo T2 will run on Android 13 OS out of the box.

Read all the Latest Tech News here
US President Joe Biden landed in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, hoping to help maintain the fragile peace brokered 25 years ago after decades of sectarian violence over British rule.

Before boarding Air Force One, Biden, 80, said the priority for his trip was to keep the peace" and bring an end to the protracted political deadlock caused by opposition among pro-UK parties to post-Brexit trading rules.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met Biden on the tarmac when he touched down in the Northern Irish capital, just 24 hours after the landmark anniversary of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement.

But security remains a concern.

On Monday, masked youths pelted police vehicles with petrol bombs during an illegal march by dissident republicans in Londonderry, which is also known as Derry.

Despite the scenes, US officials said Biden was very excited for this trip".

Wed like to see the national assembly (in Belfast) returned, clearly," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters en route to Belfast, with the Stormont legislature currently suspended.

The message is twofold. Its congratulations on 25 years of the Good Friday agreement (and) to talk about the importance of trying to work on trade and economic policies that benefit all communities as well as the United States," he said.

Biden will deliver remarks Wednesday at Ulster University in Belfast, set to focus on the economic promise of inward investment if the peace endures.

He will also meet the leaders of Northern Irelands main political parties, the White House said, with reports he will press the pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to resume power-sharing.

Devolved government in Belfast is a key plank of the peace accords but it collapsed 14 months ago over the partys trenchant opposition to post-Brexit trade arrangements in Northern Ireland.

Biden, who has Irish ancestry, will also travel south to Ireland for a three-day visit, in part tracing his family history.

The trip will include an address to a joint sitting of Irelands parliament and celebrate the deep, historic ties" the country shares with the United States, the White House says.

- Fragile peace -

Northern Ireland has been significantly reshaped since unionist parties wanting to remain part of the UK and nationalists favouring reunification with Ireland struck the peace deal on April 10, 1998.

But a quarter-century on, the post-Brexit trading situation and demographic shifts are prompting fresh political instability and violence from hardliners on both sides.

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," Sunak said to mark Mondays anniversary.

In Dublin, Biden will meet Irish President Michael Higgins and the Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar on Thursday, when he will also take part in peace ceremonies, address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle.

During a trip to County Mayo in northwest Ireland on Friday, Biden will visit his ancestral hometown of Ballina and meet distant cousins.

The US president is due to address thousands in the place that his family left in the mid-19th century  when the country was ravaged by famine  before they eventually settled in blue-collar Scranton, Pennsylvania.

- DUP resistance -

Biden heads home Friday, with Northern Ireland continuing its peace accord commemorations the following week, including a three-day conference starting April 17 hosted by former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Her husband, Bill Clinton, played a pivotal role in securing the 1998 deal as US president.

In the years after 1998, Northern Irish republican and loyalist paramilitaries were disarmed, its militarised border was dismantled, and British troops departed.

But the security situation has deteriorated, and UK intelligence services last month raised the provinces terror threat level to severe".

Meanwhile, despite the UK and European Union agreeing in February to overhaul Northern Irelands contentious post-Brexit trade terms, that new deal  the Windsor Framework  is yet to win DUP support.

That is seen as crucial in paving the way for a resumption of power-sharing.

But ex-British prime minister Tony Blair, who helped craft the 1998 peace deal, on Tuesday cautioned Biden against overly pressuring the party when in Belfast.

Hardline DUP lawmaker Ian Paisley Jr said the party was in no mood to be lectured by Biden.

The presidents real Irish visit" was to the Republic, Paisley told TalkTV, adding: I think this visit (to Belfast) has shown we really dont matter that much.

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Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said there are endless possibilities when it comes to India-France relations and both nations are natural partners.

The union minister is on an official visit to France and Italy from April 11 to April 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.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Goyal said India and France want to further the strategic and defence partnership and promote investment and cooperation in fields of tourism, information technology, trade and encourage more people-to-people ties.

Theres a large potential for tourism between the two countries and trade has been growing very fast between France and India, Goyal said. France is a very special partner and weve had the opportunity to work very closely over the last 25 years, he further added.

It was a pleasure to meet Benoit Bazin, CEO, Saint-Gobain in Paris.Discussed how India's lightning pace of infrastructure creation presents a unique opportunity for the company to further invest & benefit from our growth story. pic.twitter.com/XMvrw9xE26  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 11, 2023

Goyal also said that it is a matter for deep satisfaction for him that the first steps to strengthen Indo-France relations was taken during the National Democratic Alliance - I (NDA) regime led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his successor Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading the NDA regime once again, continues to strengthen bilateral ties.

He pointed out that the ties between India and France will only strengthen in the next 25 years as both nations look to increase cooperation across several sectors.

Speaking of French investment in India, Goyal said French investment in Indias textile, food, handloom, handicraft, information technology, infrastructure, architecture and designing sectors have increased and are set to grow in the future.

I think its a two-way investment cycle and thats the best way because thats what expands a relationship and with the growing trade, investment is bound to follow. There is investment flowing in from France to India theres investment coming from India also to France, Goyal further added.

Students and student exchanges expanding has always resulted in trade and investment growing. It also breaks the language barrier it also gives a little closer understanding of each others culture, he said.

Goyal said that the National Education Programme will allow Indian and French educational institutions to develop possibilities for dual degrees and cultural and student exchanges which will act as a forerunner to bigger and better things in the future.

Ministers for both countries will participate in an event that will showcase Indias cultural heritage and soft power and over 600 dignitaries from the French government, the Indian business diaspora in France and members of the French business community will also be part of the event.

Goyal held a meeting with Saint-Gobain CEO Benoit Bazin and will also hold a meeting with officials from luxury brand LVMH.

Goyal also pointed out that the Indian community in France is vibrant and dynamic while speaking to CNBC-TV18.

According to a report by PTI, France is the 11th largest foreign investor in India, with a cumulative FDI of USD 10.5 billion between April 2000 and December 2022.

It accounts for about 1.7 per cent of the total FDI (USD 625.3 billion) that India has received during the period.

India-France bilateral trade stood at USD 12.42 billion in 2021-22. During April-January 2022-23, Indias exports to France stood at USD 6.5 billion, while imports aggregated at USD 4.36 billion.

The trade gap is in favour of India, the report further added.

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A traffic mishap led to the death of an Indo-Canadian police officer in Canadas Alberta province on Monday, the Hindustan Times said in a report.

Constable Harvinder Singh Dhami, better known as Harvey, a police official working with the Strathcona county detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was involved in the traffic mishap. Dhami was responding to a complaint at around 2am (local time).

My heart breaks for the family, friends, and colleagues of @RCMPAlberta Constable Harvinder Singh Dhami, who lost his life in the line of duty early today. I'm keeping all of you, and the entire Strathcona community, in my thoughts during this incredibly difficult time. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 10, 2023

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also mourned his death and in a tweet extended condolence to Dhamis friends, family and colleagues.

Strathcona falls under the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta province and is a township.

While en route to the call, his vehicle struck a large concrete barrier or abutment. Despite efforts of the emergency personnel and civilians, Harvey succumbed to his injuries, the statement from the RCMP accessed by Hindustan Times said.

The Strathcona branch of the RCMP said that it is investigating the tragic accident.

Early this morning, RCMP Constable Harvinder Singh Dhami lost his life in the line of duty, following a collision.This is incredibly heartbreaking. I want to extend Alberta's deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Cst. Dhami. I have ordered flags at  Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) April 10, 2023

The 32-year-old joined the police service in 2019 and is survived by his Ravinder and her family. The report from the Hindustan Times also mentions that he is survived by his mother, sister and brother.

Losing a member of our police service and a member of the community is incredibly difficult, Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki, Commanding Officer of the Alberta RCMP was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. Zablocki comments came after the department received the news of Dhami dying in the line of duty.

On behalf of all members of @WRPSToday, we extend sincere condolences to @RCMPAlberta and @rcmpgrcpolice regarding the on-duty death of Constable Harvinder Singh Dhami.Our hearts are with his family and friends as they face this tragic loss. #HeroesInLife https://t.co/8yEHnBlIhM  Mark Crowell (@Chief_MCrowell) April 10, 2023

Albertas Premier Danielle Smith in a tweet said Dhamis death is incredibly heartbreaking and extended deepest sympathies on behalf of the province to Dhamis family, friends and colleagues.

Following Dhamis death, Smith also ordered that flags at Albertas Legislature and the McDougall Centre to be lowered to half-mast. The McDougall Centre is a landmark building in the Canadian city of Calgary.

Zablocki applauded Dhami and said he was a mature person with a strong sense of responsibility. The commanding officer of the Alberta RCMP also said that Dhami was a hardworking, dependable person and was liked by everyone around him.

Calgary Police mourned the tragedy that befell Dhami and said he made the ultimate sacrifice and that his service will not be forgotten.

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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.

Story continues

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
The US has recorded at least 15 mass killings  shootings in which four or more people were killed, not including the shooter  one hundred days into 2023, according to a database maintained by the USA TODAY/Associated Press/Northeastern University.

The US recorded 15 mass killings, of which four were public shootings and the other incidents were family-related incidents, James Alan Fox, a professor at Northeastern University in Boston said. Fox oversees the database on shooting maintained by the USA TODAY. The database has been in existence since 2006.

Information from the database revealed that in 2023 there were three mass killings in California, two in each of Alabama and Florida and one in Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. At least 79 people died in these mass killings and 20 people have been injured. Both tallies do not include death of the shooter(s) or injuries sustained by them.

Fox pointed out that it is a worrisome trend because the US witnessed more than 15 mass killings by April 10 only two other times since 2006 and he told the USA TODAY that the number is more than the average while noting that the US has witnessed higher numbers as well.

Fox said that it is worrisome because in a given year, the US has seen the average number of public mass killings reach six and on one occasion the number rose to ten but four public mass shootings in less than four months is a reason for concern.

The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organisation, which tracks all mass shootings defines those shootings as mass shootings where at least four victims are hit by gunfire.

In 2023, the US witnessed 146 mass shootings - 10% higher than 2021, which was a record year. The Louisville mass shooting was the 146th mass shooting this year. At least five people died when an employee opened fire at a bank in Louisville, injuring nine others.

The Gun Violence Archive tracks publicly sourced media and police reports to build its database.

At least 11,523 people have died from gunfire so far in 2023 and more than 9,000 have been injured, the Gun Violence Archive data revealed. Hundreds of children under age 11 were killed or injured, along with more than a thousand teens, the database revealed.

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The Pakistan National Assembly on Monday in a joint sitting adopted a resolution which stressed on holding general elections of the National Assembly and the other provincial assemblies simultaneously. The Pakistan parliament said the move will strengthen the federation, according to a GeoTV.

Two identical resolutions were passed by Pakistans federal minister for parliamentary affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi and senator Kamran Murtaza. The resolutions were aimed at promoting political stability and fostering unity among the provinces.

These resolutions argued for organising general elections of all the assemblies simultaneously and setting up neutral caretaker frameworks to ensure fair and impartial polls.

It said that holding separate polls in Punjab province will impact the outcome of the general elections to the National Assembly seats in Punjab, the GeoTV report said.

Punjab province has over 50% of the National Assembly seats and is the largest federating unit, the report added and warned that holding separate polls would marginalise the smaller provinces role in the federation.

Senators of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reacted by staging a token walkout from the house in protest.

The resolution was placed before the NA days after the three-member bench  led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, and Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan declared that Election Commission of Pakistans (ECP) decision to delay the election in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was an unconstitutional move.

The top court has asked the ECP to hold elections in the province on May 14 and directed the government to provide funds to the ECP for holding the polls.

The ECP cited resurgence of terror attacks, a shortage of security personnel and an unprecedented economic crisis as reasons for postponement of elections to

October 8, instead of April 30.

However, the coalition government led by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rejected the top courts decision. The coalition governments finance minister Ishaq Dar also tabled a bill in both houses of the parliament  National Assembly and Senate  seeking funds for the general elections.

The PTI rejected the governments stance and claimed that the government does not have the authority to dismiss a court order. Dissolution of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies happened in January on the orders of Imran Khan. Khans party, the PTI, then demanded the elections be held across the country but Shehbaz Sharif rejected the idea.

Bill Curtailing Powers of CJI Passed

The federal government also passed the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023, passed in the joint session of parliament during the joint session of the parliament. The bill aims to curtail the chief justices suo motu powers, the GeoTV report said..

Pakistan law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the SC bill in the joint sitting of the house. Pakistan President Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi returned the bill for reconsideration to the parliament as per the provisions of the Pakistani Constitution.

The President highlighted that the bill prima-facie travels beyond the competence of parliament and can be assailed as colourable legislation. The bill aims to curtail the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) powers to take suo motu notice and the formation of benches, the GeoTV report said..

Tarar defended his bill and said there were voices against the chief justices suo motu powers within the Supreme Court. In the bill the government gave the power to a three-member committee comprising senior judges, including chief justice. The bill aims for transparent proceedings in the top court and includes the right to appeal.

The bill also said that every cause, matter or appeal before the apex court would be heard and disposed of by a bench of senior judges comprising the chief justice of the Pakistan Supreme Court and the decisions will be taken by a majority.

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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 Ukraines 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.

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.

In Chasiv Yar, the first major town to Bakhmuts 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 dont 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.

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 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 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 Russias private mercenary Wagner group, who have spearheaded the Bakhmut assault, were exhausted.

Reuters could not verify the battlefield accounts.

Ukraines 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, Ukraines general staff said.

Elsewhere, Russias 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.

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The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has dismissed a caste discrimination case against two Indian-origin Cisco engineers.

A mediation conference between Cisco and the CRD is still set for May 2.

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 after the CRD sullied their reputation alleging that they engaged in discrimination based on caste, said Suhag Shukla, executive director of Hindu American Foundation (HAF).

We are thrilled that (Sundar) Iyer and (Ramana) Kompella have been vindicated along with our position that the state has no right to attribute wrongdoing to Hindu and Indian Americans simply because of their religion or ethnicity, Shukla said.

The HAF filed a claim in US District Court asserting that CRDs case against Cisco and the engineers infringed on the civil rights of Hindus living in California by unconstitutionally and falsely asserting that Hinduism mandates caste discrimination. HAFs filing took no position on the facts of the case.

According to court filings, Iyer, the CEO of the division, was accused of harassment on the basis of caste despite evidence that he actively recruited John Doe, who self-identifies as Dalit and on whose behalf CRD filed suit, and offered Doe a generous starting package with stock grants valued in the millions.

In a statement, HAF said these same court records showed that Iyer also hired at least one other self-identified Dalit who held one of the only three leadership positions in the division. This individual was also offered the other two leadership positions, including the one John Doe claimed discrimination over, prior to Doe filing his discrimination complaint, HAF said.

This trial presents a cautionary tale of the legal morass that awaits Indians, Hindus and all South Asians, if the state of California adopts a policy that applies to only South Asians and institutionalized false and negative claims that stigmatize our community said Samir Kalra, HAFs California based managing director.

If you want to know why were opposed to ethnically profiling South Asians with the creation of caste as a stand-alone category, this case launched by the CRD is a brutal illustration of a fate that can befall any South Asian working in the state, he said.

Coalition of Hindus of North America welcomed the dismissal of the case.

Read all the Latest India News here
A city council in Tennessee voted Monday to send a Democratic lawmaker back to the states legislature days after he was expelled for disrupting a session with calls for stricter gun control laws.

Justin Jones and another Democratic colleague, both of whom are Black, were expelled by Republican lawmakers last Thursday after they disrupted an assembly session, demanding stricter gun controls in the wake of a mass shooting at an elementary school in Nashville.

A third legislator who joined their protest  a white woman  was not removed, sparking accusations of racism around the case and fueling anger among Democrats well beyond Tennessee.

President Joe Biden has invited all three lawmakers to the White House, while Kamala Harris  the first Black vice president in US history  attended a rally in Nashville in support of the Tennessee Three."

The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted Monday afternoon to send Jones back to his seat in the state legislature on an interim basis, pending a special election.

The seat that had been held by the other expelled Black lawmaker, Justin Pearson, will be discussed Wednesday at a meeting of the Shelby County board of commissioners, news reports said.

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Russias Shiveluch volcano located in the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula erupted early on Tuesday, news agency Reuters reported. The volcano sent up an ash plume 10 kilometres high which posed a threat to air traffic, the Reuters report said citing the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) said.

 The mighty #Shiveluch volcano in Russia's Kamchatka has gone full eruption mode - volcanic ash emissions has reached 20km, right into the stratosphere. #HappeningNowGorgeous video of the ash cloud to remind us of the beauty and the force of nature  pic.twitter.com/eQ6TNgfLR1  Russia  (@Russia) April 10, 2023

KVERT issued a code red Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation and said that ash plumes could reach up to 15 kms at any time. The advisory said: Ongoing activity could affect international and low-flying aircraft.

The cloud drifted to the west and south and measured 400 by 270 kilometres, the news agency said, citing the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences Telegram page. Russian media said the ash cloud is spreading.

The Reuters report also said that local authorities closed schools and residents living in normal villages were ordered to stay indoors. It cited the head of the Ust-Kamchatsky municipal region Oleg Bondarenko who in a Telegram post asked citizens to remain safe.

Russias Mt Shiveluch erupted at least 60 times in the past 10,000 years. The last major eruption was reported in 2007. There are two parts of Mt Shiveluch - Young Shiveluch and Old Shiveluch. The Young Shiveluch has been extremely active in recent months, with a peak of 2,800 metres and it protrudes out of the 3,283 metre-high Old Shiveluch.

Bondarenko on his Telegram post said the eruption occurred at 0631 hrs (local time) and the ash from the volcano fell on local villages including Klyuchi. The Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the ashfall was measured at 8.5 centimetres (3.35 inches), the highest level in 60 years.

Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel," Bondarenko added, according to Reuters.

A separate report by Reuters from November 2022 citing Russian scientists said that the Shiveluch volcano in Russias far eastern Kamchatka peninsula may be gearing up for its first powerful eruption in 15 years.

The report also said that Kamchatka is home to 29 active volcanoes and is part of the Ring of Fire", a vast belt of Earth known which circles the Pacific Ocean and is prone to eruptions and frequent earthquakes.

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The Good Friday Agreement largely ended the Troubles, three decades of violence that had racked Northern Ireland since the late 1960s. It was signed on April 10, 1998  which fell that year on Good Friday in the Christian Easter holiday.

WHAT WERE THE TROUBLES?

After the partition of Ireland in the 1920s, divisions remained in the British province between republicans, who wanted a united Ireland, and unionists, who supported British rule.

Republicans, and the broader nationalist community, are mostly Catholic, while unionists, who were in the majority and so controlled the local government, are largely Protestant.

Conflict erupted amid sectarian rioting in Belfast and elsewhere in the late 1960s, partly triggered by an emerging Catholic civil rights movement.

More than 3,600 people were killed over the next 30 years, mostly by paramilitary groups on both sides such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and pro-British Protestant groups usually known as loyalists.

Some people were also killed by the British army  which had been deployed in 1969 and soon became the target for attacks by the IRA and other republican groups  and local security forces.

HOW DID THE AGREEMENT COME ABOUT?

Peace initiatives and back-channel talks on ending the violence began in the 1980s, though progress was slow.

In 1994 the major paramilitary groups on both sides declared ceasefires. The IRA ended its ceasefire in 1996, blaming Britain for a lack of progress, while the loyalist ceasefires were frequently breached.

But momentum picked up with the election in Britain of Tony Blairs Labour government in 1997. The IRA called a new ceasefire in July that year and talks began in September.

The talks frequently appeared to be on the brink of collapse. Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern joined the participants at Stormont during the final days, with negotiations running through the night from Thursday, April 9.

WHO TOOK PART IN THE TALKS?

The talks involved the British and Irish governments and eight Northern Ireland political parties, the largest of which were the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), which had ruled Northern Ireland from partition until the imposition of direct rule from London in 1972, and the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

UUP leader David Trimble and SDLP leader John Hume would later share the Nobel Peace Prize.

Paramilitary groups were excluded, but two small unionist parties linked to loyalist groups and the IRAs political ally Sinn Fein, led by Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, took part.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) was the only mainstream political party that did not participate, after walking out over the inclusion of Sinn Fein.

U.S. President Bill Clinton was supportive and sent former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to chair the negotiations.

WHAT DID THE AGREEMENT SAY?

The deal was formally two interlinked agreements: a treaty between the British and Irish governments and an agreement between the Northern Irish parties.

It acknowledged Northern Irelands constitutional status as part of the United Kingdom, but also the principle of consent  that a united Ireland could come about if a majority of people in both jurisdictions on the island voted for it.

Britain committed to holding a referendum if it appeared likely that a majority might vote for Irish unity, while Ireland agreed to amend its constitution to remove its territorial claim to Northern Ireland.

A powersharing assembly and executive were set up, establishing a local government at Stormont, on the outskirts of Belfast, that required the participation of parties from both sides.

North-south bodies were created to encourage cooperation between Northern Ireland and Ireland, while east-west institutions linked Britain and Ireland.

Other sections of the agreement dealt with reform of the Protestant-dominated police force, the early release of paramilitary prisoners, the disarmament of paramilitary groups and the normalisation of security arrangements.

The agreement was endorsed by referendums on both sides of the Irish border in May 1998.

HOW HAS IT WORKED OUT?

Overall, Northern Ireland has enjoyed peace for much of the 25 years since the agreement was signed, with only a small number of splinter groups involved in sporadic attacks.

But parts of the agreement are vague  talks veterans refer to the constructive ambiguity required to forge a deal that one side could sell to its supporters as a step towards a united Ireland while the other could paint as securing Northern Irelands future in the United Kingdom.

That has contributed to difficulties in implementing it.

Powersharing has broken down on several occasions over the inability of rival parties to work together, leading to lengthy suspensions of the assembly. It collapsed again last year over post-Brexit trade rules.

WHAT HAS THE AGREEMENT GOT TO DO WITH BREXIT?

Britains departure from the European Union  and its single market and customs union  has created a problem for Northern Ireland by raising the prospect of a hard border with EU-member Ireland.

For nationalists, any imposition of border checks would contravene one of the agreements core tenets of fostering north-south cooperation.

Unionists say the Northern Ireland protocol  a Brexit workaround that imposed checks on goods moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom  has put a border in the Irish Sea, undermining Northern Irelands place in the Union.

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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 Kyivs military forces.

Other documents arent related to Ukraine. Some, for example, point to US surveillance of its allies, such as one that states leaders of Israels 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.

- 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 Washingtons 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 Americas 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.

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In recent months, the proposed 30/64 corridor project connecting Highways 30 and 64 between Butler and Platte counties has seen some traction with the Platte County Board of Supervisors. It finds its roots, though, in the early 2000s.

Arnie Stuthman, who was previously a Platte County supervisor, had family living in David City around 2003. While making trips to visiting them while working in Columbus, it seemed to him that there was a lot of unnecessary driving between the areas. Which led him to the idea of building a corridor to connect the areas. In addition, truck traffic passing through Columbus and flood concerns in recent years have further cemented his desire for this feature.

"I just felt if we could get a bridge across the Platte that would be a lot, what I personally feel is with all the truck traffic, there is a real need for another bridge," Stuthman said.

At a March 28 Platte County Board of Supervisors meeting, Dennis Hirschbrunner, Dennis Grennan and Platte County Highway Superintendent Mark Mainelli presented a cost-benefit analysis of the project to the county board, which inched the project a little closer to reality. Hirschbrunner said the project would have a threefold impact.

"It would provide a land transportation way out of Columbus if we ever have another 2019 flood," Hirschbrunner said. "More importantly it would reduce the amount of traffic, especially truck traffic on Highway 30, 23rd Street, especially with construction and thirdly it would provide additional impetus for economic development along Highway 30, 64 and along part of the road."

Stuthman made an effort several years ago to make his vision a reality but it was stymied by the 2019 flood, which washed out and flooded much of the area. Nonetheless, he was determined.

"When I initially had the idea we needed a bridge there, I went to counties around here: Platte, Colfax, Polk, Butler. With those I thought if we could all get together, we could get something done because it would benefit them all plus some of the communities like David City, Bellwood and Columbus, especially Columbus," Stuthman said. "I felt somebody needs to continue to try to accomplish this corridor."

Stuthman said the biggest part of the project from the beginning has been the proposed bridge over the Platte River, which would span approximately 3,000 feet.

"The biggest expense is the bridge, it's quite a few million dollars to put that bridge in. We've got these other counties that could help take care of the county roads there and if we could get someone or the state to take care of the bridge, the counties could take care of the rest," Stuthman said. "That's just my idea, something everyone would benefit from and everyone pays for their part."

From the beginning, Stuthman said, the project has been a collaborative effort. While previous attempts were quashed by things like the 2019 flood or elected officials leaving office, he has, over the years, been persistent.

"I had a plan and progress with the Nebraska Department of Transportation and had come up with $50,000 and did that with the communities and the state was going to put some in and go to federal," Stuthman said. "Then elections came along and the people working with me got eliminated, then we started all over again."

Given the cost-benefit analysis' results showing the project would benefit the area, Stuthman is glad to see it move forward, even if just one more step.

"We've got those communities and counties. One individual or one county isn't paying the whole bill but it takes someone to keep their heads up and try to figure out a way to get it done," Stuthman said. "I've got a reputation now, (people say) 'Arnie, when are you going to get that bridge built?'"
An Israeli mother who survived an assault in the West Bank that killed her two daughters died of her own injuries on Monday, reports the BBC. Lucy Dee, 45, had been in a coma since Friday. The three had been riding in the same car that day on their way to a family holiday when gunmen shot at them, according to Israeli media. After the vehicle crashed, the gunmen reportedly went up to the car and shot the women at close range. Daughters Maia and Rina Dee, 20 and 15, died on Friday, per the Guardian, and thousands attended their funeral on Sunday.

Lucy had had two bullets, one through her brain stem, and one lodged at the top of her spine," says her husband, rabbi Leo Dee. "There was an operation, there was reason for hope. But alas, our family of seven is now a family of four. Leo Dee had been in a separate car with his other children. The British-Israeli family moved to Israel from the UK about nine years ago. The attack comes amid heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, notes the AP, particularly since a police raid on the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan. (Read more Israel stories.)
Bird flu killed at least three endangered California condors in Arizona last month and test results are pending on five other dead condors, authorities say. And another five birds showing symptoms of avian flu were captured and went to a wildlife rescue, where one soon died; its cause of death was not yet clear. The other four are quarantined and are being tested for the virus, the New York Times reports. The biggest-ever US outbreak of bird flu has been wreaking havoc among farmed birds and has also spread to mammals; the condor deaths are causing experts to worry for the safety of the endangered species, which was once down to just 23 remaining in the wild.

The dead birds are part of the same flock, a population that migrates between Utah and Arizona, NPR reports. They are expected to have increased exposure to avian flu while migrating north in the spring. So far, the virus has not been detected in other condor populations in California or Baja California, Mexico. California condors are the largest land birds in North America, with a wingspan of 9.5 feet, allowing them to fly vast distances. Habitat loss, hunting, lead poisoning from bullets, and the synthetic insecticide DDT have contributed to their decline, but by 2020, their population had grown to 504 birds after a 1980s project to breed the few remaining birds at that time in zoos and then reintroduce them to the wild. (Read more condors stories.)
UPDATE

Apr 14, 2023 12:03 AM CDT

The mother of the 6-year-old boy who shot his first-grade teacher has been arrested, police announced Thursday. She turned herself in and was released after posting a $5,000 bond, NBC News reports. The charges she faces are punishable by up to six years behind bars. "She is nervous and scared because she has never been charged before, but holding up well," her lawyer says. Meanwhile, the city prosecutor's office also said this week that it is looking into whether criminal charges might be warranted regarding the "actions or omissions" of anyone working at the school where the shooting took place.

Apr 10, 2023 6:15 PM CDT

Virginia law makes it nearly impossible to charge the 6-year-old who shot a teacher at his Newport News school in January. But there's nothing to prevent the indictment of his mother, who owned the gun the boy used. Deja Taylor, 25, was charged Monday with one felony count of child neglect and one misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child, the Washington Post reports. Howard Gwynn, the Newport News commonwealth's attorney, said his office has asked a judge to have a special grand jury further investigate the case, per NBC News. "Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges," Gwynn said, "but our investigation into the shooting continues."

The grand jury will be asked to decide whether other charges are warranted, Gwynn said, while considering "security issues" that might have led to the critical wounding of Abigail Zwerner. Her lawyer, Diane Toscano, said in a statement Monday that "there were failures in accountability at multiple levels that led to Abby being shot and almost killed." The new charges address only one of them, Diane Toscano said, per ABC News. Zwerner has sued school officials for $40 million, accusing them of negligence. A lawyer for Taylor did not immediately comment to NBC. (Read more school shooting stories.)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defense minister over criticism of the government's 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," the AP reports.

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, Gallantwhose criticism of Netanyahus planned judicial changes led to his dismissalwas still on the job. Gallant's aides said it was business-as-usual at the Defense Ministry. 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. (Read more Benjamin Netanyahu stories.)
Days after he was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives, Justin Jones has been returned to the legislature on a unanimous vote by the Nashville Metropolitan Council. Supporters cheered as the Democrat again took the oath of office on the state Capitol steps Monday afternoon, per the Hill. Jones, whom Republican lawmakers said they removed because of his actions during a demonstration demanding gun-control measures, was the only person nominated to be interim state representative for the 52nd District. After the council clerk read the 36th yea, prompting cheers and applause, Jones joined hundreds of protesters in walking to the Capitol, per CNN, chanting, "Whose house? Our House."

"Today we are sending a resounding message that democracy will not be killed in the comfort of silence," Jones told the crowd from the Capitol steps. There also were cheers as Jones walked back into the House chamber, introduced by Democratic Rep. Antonio Parkinson as "our newest member." Jones will be eligible to run in a special election for the seat, per USA Today. Rep. Justin Pearson, a Democrat who was voted out of the House at the same time last week, could be returned on the same basis when the Shelby County Board of Commissioners meets Wednesday in Memphis. (Read more Tennessee stories.)
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.

These are the highways in Nebraska with the most fatalities. These are the highways in Nebraska with the most fatalities.
Outlets continue to sift through leaked US intelligence documents that turned up online over the last few weeks, and the Washington Post appears to have found one of the more notable ones. It suggests that Egypt has plans to ship 40,000 rockets to Russia, and to do so quietly so as not to upset the US. The leaked document reportedly captures conversations between President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and his top military officials in which he asks them to keep the plans to order and ship the rockets secret "to avoid problems with the West," according to the story.

Given that the US has long provided Egypt with $1 billion a year in security aid, the move is a dicey one for Egypt, notes the story. Egypt is one of our oldest allies in the Middle East, said Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, who sits on the Foreign Relations and Appropriations committees. If its true that Sisi is covertly building rockets for Russia that could be used in Ukraine, we need to have a serious reckoning about the state of our relationship. It's not clear if the plan actually went through. A potential factor in all this: Egypt is the world's biggest importer of wheat, and most of it comes from Russia and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department continues to investigate the origins of the overall leak, notes CNN. Images of the documentswhich appeared to have been folded and smuggled out of a security facility, then photographedfirst turned up on the Discord messaging platform in a forum popular with gamers. The scale of the leak is not yet clear, but the documents that have surfaced so far "have provided startling and surprisingly timely details" of the West's military assistance to Ukraine, per the AP. (Read more Egypt stories.)
Desperate for some juice for your phone while traveling? Don't resort to using a free public phone-charging station, the FBI warns. "Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers," the FBI's Denver office tweets. "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." The FBI tells Axios the warning is just a regular reminder of an FCC consumer warning about the issue; the Denver office did not reference any specific recent incidents. Axios notes it's a tricky attack to pull off, and not many cases have been publicly reported lately.

The FCC warning, last updated in 2021, refers to "juice jacking" as a cyber-theft tactic in which "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." Fraudsters, they warn, might leave charging cables plugged in to charging stations, or give out cables disguised as promotional items. "Consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier," the FCC suggests. Public WiFi networks can also allow cybercriminals to target people, the agency warns. (Read more FBI stories.)
If you're tempted to honk your car horn in support of protesters, you might want to think twice in California. That's because on Friday, a three-judge panel for the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld a lower court's ruling against Susan Porter, deciding that honking one's horn isn't free speech. The case saw its origins in October 2017, when Porter repeatedly leaned on her car horn in solidarity with protesters she was driving past outside of GOP Rep. Darrell Issa's office in Vista, who were demonstrating against Issa's support of then-President Trump, per the Washington Post.

Porter honked her horn a total of 14 times, in short bursts, as she cruised by the demonstratorsand was subsequently pulled over by a San Diego County sheriff's deputy, who gave her a ticket and cited her for misusing her car horn. The citation came about because Porter was said to have violated a 1913 law that prohibits anyone from using the horn for anything other than warning other drivers, per Courthouse News. Although that citation was dismissed the following February when the deputy didn't show in court, Porter brought a lawsuit, claiming her First Amendment and 14th Amendment rights had been violated.

Porter noted that honking wasn't just for political speech, but also for celebrating good news, greeting people, or alerting someone that you'd arrived to pick them up. The lower court's decision against her, however, was handed down in February 2021, which the appeals court upheld last week. "[For] the horn to serve its intended purpose as a warning device, it must not be used indiscriminately," Judge Michelle Friedland wrote for the majority, per the Post. Friedland added that there were other ways to show support for protesters, including waves, giving a thumbs-up, and bumper stickers.

Dissenting Judge Marsha Berzon disagreed, noting, per the Metropolitan News-Enterprise: "Honking at a political protest is a core form of expressive conduct that merits the most stringent constitutional protection." David Loy, Porter's lawyer, says they're deciding whether to bring their case before the full appeals court, or all the way up to the Supreme Court. "People do this every day," Loy said, per Courthouse News. "This is a significant cutback on the exercise of core free speech rights." (Read more honking stories.)
A US judge has denied Elizabeth Holmes' request to remain free while she appeals her wire fraud conviction. The Theranos founder, who recently gave birth, is to begin serving an 11-year sentence in roughly two weeks. Convicted in January 2022, she argued she should remain out of prison while her appeal works its way through the court. Such a request may be granted if a defendant is not considered a flight risk or a threat to the community and their appeal "raises a substantial question of facts or law," NPR reports. A federal judge in California agreed Holmes is unlikely to flee or endanger the community, but said even a successful appeal would not overturn all her fraud convictions, per Bloomberg.

Holmes is challenging US District Judge Edward Davila's decision to allow evidence challenging the accuracy and reliability of Theranos' blood-testing technology. But "Ms. Holmes's misrepresentations to Theranos investors involved more than just whether Theranos technology worked as promised," wrote the judge, per Reuters. "Ms. Holmes had also made several misrepresentations ... such as those regarding the company's financial status, reliance on third-party and commercially available devices, partnership with Walgreens, and validation by pharmaceutical companies," he added, per NPR.

Legal experts said it was "a long shot" request as the appeal could take two years, per Bloomberg. Reuters notes Davila also denied a similar request from Holmes' co-defendant, former Theranos President Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, who is appealing a sentence of almost 13 years. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which is reviewing both fraud convictions, also denied Balwani's request, meaning he will report to a prison in San Pedro, California, on April 20, per the AP. Per Bloomberg, the 39-year-old Holmes is "expected to make one final request for bail from the San Francisco-based federal appeals court." If her request is denied, she is to report to a federal prison on April 27. (Read more Elizabeth Holmes stories.)
An attorney for abortion pill distributor Danco Laboratories says the company will appeal to the Supreme Court if the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals doesn't block a Texas judge's decision to reverse FDA approval of mifepristone. It's an "unprecedented judicial assault on a careful regulatory process that has served the public for decades," the company says, per CNBC. And a conservative-dominated Supreme Court might just agree with that view, the New York Times reports. It cites legal experts who say the case is far from perfect in the eyes of conservative justices who might feel compelled to limit abortion access and federal authority at the same time.

"There are reasons for justices unsympathetic to abortion rights and the administrative decision to pause here," University of California-Davis, law professor Mary Ziegler tells the Times. "Everything about this case makes it an imperfect vehicle, except for the fact that it's about abortion and the administrative state. This is boundary testing." As the Times notes, the Supreme Court affirmed the FDA's authority in a 2021 decision, reinstating a requirement that women pick up the abortion pill in person from a hospital or medical clinic. A year earlier, Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, wrote of his incredulity that "a district court judge in Maryland took it upon himself to overrule the FDA on a question of drug safety," as US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk has just done.

"To have federal court power used in service of undercutting the ability of an expert agency to apply its congressional authority might be too much," says Rachel Rebouche, dean of Temple University Beasley School of Law. Justice Department attorneys, who are challenging Kacsmaryk's decision, also claim the judge ruled in favor of medical groups who didn't have standing to sue the FDA, in part because they suffered no injury, per CNN. While experts say Justice Brett Kavanaugh could be a pivotal vote if the court opts to review the case, Ziegler notes there are "procedural hurdles that give someone like him an out if he just doesn't want egg on his face after proclaiming that the court is getting out of the business of ruling on abortion rights." (Read more abortion pill stories.)
Chemist Earl Tupper developed Tupperware in 1946. Described as "flexible plastic" storage containers in early newspaper articles, Tupper's invention became a pop culture phenomenon in part thanks to its affordability and marketing schemes like 1950s-era "Tupperware Parties." Now the BBC reports that the company is in danger of going under after 77 yearsand Tupperware's shares are tanking in response. In a statement late last week, the company said there is "substantial doubt" that it will be able to continue, reports Reuters.

As a result, the company's stock prices dropped a whopping 48% when trading began Monday. NBC News notes that they fell below $2, down from about $100 a decade ago. Once an American backyard cookout staple, Reuters notes that Tupperware's business picked up during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdownsmore people were cooking at home. Once consumers were dining out again, Tupperware found its direct sales model facing challenges, in part due to the pandemic-related explosion in shopping online. Last month, CEO Miguel Fernandez referenced a hopeful "post-pandemic phase," but it is challenged by Tupperware's financial issueswhich reportedly include an earnings misstatement that could lead to trouble with creditors.

Tupperware has 3 million independent salespeople in nearly 70 countries, but as the BBC notes, the company just began selling products via Target in the US to grab the attention of a younger customer base and diversified its inventory, adding cooking accessories like the MicroPro Grill, which works with microwaves. Tupperware, however, is facing a market glutted with competition and more storage options than ever. In the new statement, Miguel Fernandez said that "Tupperware has embarked on a journey to turn around our operations." (Read more Tupperware stories.)
After French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Europe shouldn't let the US drag it into conflict with China over Taiwan, Sen. Marco Rubio wondered whether Macron was speaking only for France or for all of Europe. Based on the reaction being rounded up in various outletsat least from a group Politico calls "China hawks"it seems that Macron was speaking only for France. It should be emphasized that the presidents words are severely out of step with the feeling across Europes legislatures and beyond, says a statement signed by 15 members of parliament from national legislatures in the European Union.

The Guardian quotes an unnamed member of the European Parliament who sounds a similar theme: "Macron says, 'Europe should' and 'we Europeans,' but he speaks for France, he cant really speak for Europe." In interviewsand in a speech at the Hague on Tuesday, per France24Macron has pushed what he calls "strategic autonomy" for the continent or "European sovereignty." And he has specifically warned his fellow Europeans not to become "America's followers." In his Tuesday speech, he said that Europe can "choose our partners and shape our own destiny" instead of being being "a mere witness [to] the dramatic evolution of this world."

The AP notes that protesters angry about Macron's pension reform plans back home interrupted the speech and denounced him as the "president of violence and hypocrisy." He called the interruption an example of how democracy works before returning to his theme of a more independent Europe. But Macron's "idea of sovereignty, which he defines in demarcation rather than partnership with the USA, he is increasingly isolating himself in Europe," tweeted Norbert Rottgen, a German MP.

Rubio wasn't the only critical voice in the US, either. GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher, chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, called Macron's remarks "embarrassing" and "disgraceful," and the conservative editorial page of the Wall Street Journal mocked Macron for thinking of himself as a "Charles de Gaulle for the 21st century" with his wish to distance Europe from the US. Macron wants America "to ride to Europes rescue against Russian aggression but apparently take a vow of neutrality against Chinese aggression in the Pacific," writes the editors. "Thanks a lot, mate. His unhelpful comments will undermine U.S. and Japanese deterrence against China in the Western Pacific while encouraging U.S. politicians who want to reduce U.S. commitments in Europe to better resist China." (Read more Emmanuel Macron stories.)
A body has been found in a submerged car belonging to a Florida middle school teacher who vanished two and a half years ago. Robert Heikka, then 70, was last seen at his home in Port Orange on Oct. 25, 2020, according to police. He failed to turn up at Creekside Middle School the following day, per People. On Saturday, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office announced the teacher's white 2012 Chevrolet Impala had been found in New Smyrna Beach "in a canal along Pioneer Trail where the water level has recently dropped significantly." The area is just six miles from Heikka's home, per Fox News.

Volunteer groups Sunshine State Sonar Search Team and Recon Dive Recovery have been working to find Heikka since last October, focusing on cellphone data. They searched more than 70 bodies of water between Port Orange and Orlando before returning to focus on the area of the small canal, where Heikka's phone had last pinged before becoming inactive, according to Sunshine State Sonar. The groups had discovered the canal in a heavily-wooded area 75 feet from a road during a ground search in November but considered it an unlikely place for Heikka or his car "considering the surroundings and size of it."

On the return visit, however, officials found the water level had dropped 50% to about four feet, revealing a portion of Heikka's car. Mike Sullivan, a member of the team, tells WESH he was walking near the canal when he saw "what looked like the roof of the vehicle sticking from the water." "I think we've got him," he shouted. "While positive ID has not officially been made, the Port Orange Police Department has been in contact with Mr. Heikka's family," the sheriff's office said, per the Orlando Sentinel. "Our thoughts go out to the Heikka family and friends." (Read more missing person stories.)
Democrats have chosen Chicago to host their 2024 national convention, reports the AP, trying to keep the party's momentum going after last fall's midterm success in the critical Midwest. The decision, confirmed by a Democratic official who spoke on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity before an official announcement, comes after President Biden chose Chicago over finalists that also included Atlanta and New York. Chicago is solidly Democratic, as is Illinois. But holding the party's presidential nominating gathering in such a pro-union city again demonstrates Biden's commitment to organized laborwhich will be critical to his bid to win a second term in the White House. The move also could counter Republicans, who last summer decided to hold their 2024 convention in Milwaukee in another critical Midwestern battleground state, Wisconsin.

The 2020 Democratic convention was supposed to be held in Milwaukee but unfolded virtually because of the pandemic. Biden delivered a speech accepting his party's nomination that year at a nearly empty convention center in Wilmington, Delaware. Milwaukee, however, used its 2020 convention preparations to argue to Republicans that it had a "turnkey" operation ready for next year. Chicago hosted the infamous 1968 Democratic convention that's best remembered for a brutal clash between police and protesters opposing the Vietnam War. The last Democratic National Convention in the city was in 1996, when then-President Clinton won a second term.

That Chicago beat out Atlanta was nonetheless a surprise given Georgia's strategic importance as a swing state. Biden won Georgia two years ago, becoming the first Democrat to do so in a presidential election since Clinton in 1992, and his party now controls both of its Senate seats. Though Atlanta is as thoroughly Democratic as Chicago and New York, Georgia could very well be a major deciding factor in the 2024 presidential race. But shunning Atlanta for the convention could serve as a double blow to Georgia, which may also lose its early place in a new Democratic primary calendar. Biden endorsed moving Georgia to the No. 4 position in a revamped 2024 calendarchanges meant to better empower the party's deeply diverse voter base.

Under a new primary order approved by the Democratic National Committee in March, Georgia would have gone after leadoff South Carolina, and following Nevada and New Hampshire, which were set to go second simultaneously. Georgia, though, could be stripped of the fourth spot since Republican state officials have refused to move to an earlier date that wouldn't coincide with the GOP's presidential primary next year. Securing the convention might have softened the blow of being forced out of the primary's early lineupbut wasn't to be. Biden is already focused on 2024's general election, rather than the primary, facing only token opposition from Democratic challengers Marianne Williamson, a spiritual adviser and author, and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

(Read more Democratic National Convention stories.)
The man who killed five people at a bank in Louisville Monday morning used a rifle that he bought legally just six days earlier, police say. At a press conference Tuesday, Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Connor Sturgeon bought an AR-15-style rifle at a local dealership on April 4, Reuters reports. Officials also said they had executed a search warrant at the home of the 25-year-old gunman and removed several items, reports the New York Times. Police said Sturgeon targeted specific people at the Old National Bank branch in downtown Louisville, where he had worked since June 2021, according to a LinkedIn page.

"We know he left a note," said US Rep. Morgan McGarvey, per the Times. "We know he texted or called at least one person to let them know he was suicidal and contemplating harm." The gunman died in an exchange of fire with police, who arrived at the scene within minutes. Eight people were injured, including officer Nickolas Wilt, who graduated from training March 31 and was working his fourth shift as a police officer. Gwinn-Villaroel said the 26-year-old officer, who was shot in the head, is in critical but stable condition and "it's looking hopeful," the AP reports. She said Wilt and other officers "unflinchingly" engaged the shooter, preventing more deaths.

"The act of heroism can't be overstated on yesterday," the chief said. "They did what they were called to do. They answered that call to protect and serve." (Read more Louisville stories.)
Construction on the third phase of the Carlisle Connectivity Project, called Project One, could begin later this year pending the borough receiving the necessary permits.

Public Works Director Mark Malarich said the borough is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to acquire the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit needed to start the project.

Project One includes the realignment of Carlisle Springs Road and North Hanover Street, as well as the installation of a five-point roundabout at North Hanover Street, West and East Penn streets and Fairground Avenue, in addition to other street improvements. Work will also be done on water mains in the area and Norfolk Southerns rail line.

The project schedule depends on when DEP issues the NPDES permit, Malarich said. Assuming the permit is issued by late May, project advertisement for bids would be late June with a bid opening in early August.

Construction is anticipated to take two years.

Malarich estimated the project will cost approximately $7 million, funded in part by a $1 million Regional Transportation Plan Implementation grant from the Federal Highway Administration.

In addition to state and federal grants, contributions from the boroughs water system capital projects account, stormwater system capital projects account and the boroughs general funds capital projects account will cover the cost, he said.

Roads around the construction site will remain open throughout the process, with the exception of an anticipated one-week to two-week closure to allow Norfolk Southern to replace its tracks, Malarich said at a Community Town Hall meeting in March. During that time, detours will be in place.

Routes for the Ford and Corvette parade park and parties on June 3 and Aug. 26, respectively, have already been altered because of the project.

Staging for those events will take place at the Carlisle Expo Center on K Street and vehicles will travel south on Pitt Street before turning left and right onto High Street, the post said. Cars that turn left will go to the Square where they can either continue straight on High Street or turn right or left on Hanover Street.

The Carlisle Connectivity Project has three phases to increase redevelopment and improve mobility in and around three vacant industrial sites in the northern portion of the borough: Carlisle Tire and Wheel, Masland/IAC and AMP Carlisle. The Western Phase, also known as the HOP Phase, is complete and extended A, B, C and D streets from Fairground Avenue to Carlisle Springs Road and improved Carlisle Springs Road.

Part two of the project, called the TIGER Project, is also essentially complete with streetlight work remaining. This project involved the installation of a three-point roundabout at B Street and Fairground Avenue and the addition of a four-point roundabout at B street and North College streets, as well as other street improvements.
Airstrikes by Myanmars military on Tuesday killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony held by opponents of army rule, said a witness, a member of a local pro-democracy group, and independent media. The military is increasingly using airstrikes to counter a widespread armed struggle against its rule, which began in February 2021 when it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 3,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed since then by security forces.

A witness told the AP that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly into a crowd of people who were gathering at 8am for the opening of a local office of the countrys opposition movement outside Pazigyi village in Sagaing regions Kanbalu township. The area is about 70 miles north of Mandalay, the countrys second largest city. About half an hour later, a helicopter appeared and fired at the site as wounded people were being transported, said the witness, who asked not to be identified because he feared punishment by the authorities. Initial reports put the death toll at around 50, but later tallies reported by independent media raised it to about 100. It was impossible to independently confirm details of the incident because reporting is restricted by the military government.

About 150 people had gathered for the opening ceremony, and women and 20-30 children were among the dead, he said, adding that those killed also included leaders of locally formed anti-government armed groups and other opposition organizations. The military government's spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, acknowledged in a statement phoned to state television MRTV that the ceremony had been attacked, but accused anti-government forces in the area of carrying out a violent campaign of terror.

In response to accusations of abuses, the military government often accuses pro-democracy forces of terrorism. But analysts for the United Nations and non-governmental organizations have gathered credible evidence of large-scale human rights abuses by the army, including the burning of entire villages and displacement of more than a million people, triggering a humanitarian crisis. (Read more Myanmar stories.)
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is pushing back hard against what he calls a "brazen and unconstitutional attack" on his office's prosecution of Donald Trump. Bragg filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, the New York Times reports. In the federal lawsuit, Bragg accuses Jordan of leading a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" him and is asking a judge to invalidate subpoenas connected to congressional Republicans' investigation of the Trump indictment, reports the AP. He argues that politically charged statements from Jordan and others show the committee has no "legitimate legislative purpose" behind its investigation.

Last week, congressional Republicans subpoenaed Mark Pomerantz, a former special assistant district attorney, and signaled that others would be subpoenaed, possibly including Bragg himself. The House Judiciary Committee is planning to hold a "field hearing" in Manhattan on Monday on crime in New York City and what it calls Bragg's "pro-crime policies," reports the AP. Bragg's office says crime in Manhattan is down this yearand if Jordan "really cared about public safety" he would visit some of the cities in his home state, Ohio, that have higher crime rates than New York.

While Bragg accuses House Republicans of illegally interfering in his office's investigation, they argue that they have the oversight power to probe the first-ever prosecution of a former president, the Times reports. "First, they indict a president for no crime," Jordan tweeted after the lawsuit was filed Tuesday. "Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it." Politico reports that Bragg's lawsuit also notes that "Mr. Trump in particular has threatened New York officials with violent and racist vitriol," leading to threats against his office. (Read more Alvin Bragg stories.)
"How low can you be of a human being to target other people at a funeral?" Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee asked after a man was killed and three people were critically injured in a shooting outside a Washington, DC funeral home Tuesday. Contee said somebody opened fire on people outside the Stewart Funeral Home in the city's northeast around noon, soon after the funeral for homicide victim Stephan Carroll concluded, NBC Washington reports. Carroll, 24, was fatally shot last month. Contee said an officer was stationed near the funeral home at the request of Carroll's family.

"At this point, it appears that several people who were in the block were specifically targeted," Contee said, per the AP. "Were unsure why that is, why these people were targeted, more or less why they were targeted at a funeral. We dont understand that." The chief said two men and a woman were hospitalized in critical condition. No arrests have been made. (Read more Washington, DC stories.)
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A retired firefighter who threw a fire extinguisher at police officers during the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced on Tuesday to more than four years in prison.

Robert Sanford struck two police officers in the head with the fire extinguisher that he threw as he stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with a mob of Donald Trump supporters. He also threw an orange traffic cone at a Capitol police sergeant.

Sanford also hurled obscenities and insults at the law enforcement officers on the Lower West Terrace, calling them traitors, a prosecutor, Janani Iyengar, wrote in a court filing.

One of the officers struck by the fire extinguisher had a bump and swelling on his head; the other had a headache and went to a hospital for a medical exam, prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sentenced Sanford to four years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to an online court record. Federal prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of five years and 11 months.

Sanford, 57, of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, worked as a firefighter for 26 years before retiring in 2020. A fire extinguisher is an instrument that he was uniquely familiar with and should have known how much damage it could cause, the prosecutor wrote.

Sanford traveled to Washington, D.C., with friends from Pennsylvania on bus trip organized by the conservative activist group Turning Point USA. He listened to speeches at Trumps Stop the Steal rally before joining the crowd that marched to the Capitol and disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying Democrat Joe Bidens electoral victory over Trump.

Sanford was arrested on Jan. 14, 2021. He has been jailed since he pleaded guilty last September to assaulting, resisting or impeding police officers using a dangerous weapon  a felony punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. He wasnt accused of entering the Capitol building on Jan. 6.

Sanford began to work with a specialist in cult deprogramming in August 2022 and was confronted with facts about the baseless conspiracy theory that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election from Trump, according to defense attorney Andrew Stewart.

Even after he was incarcerated, he participated in regular discussions designed to challenge his ideology and belief structure, then help him understand how and why he developed the beliefs that led him to make the decisions that he did on January 6, Stewart wrote in a court filing.

Sanford believed that police had attacked him and others without provocation when he picked up and threw what felt like an empty fire extinguisher, his lawyer said.

Certainly, this is not a justification for his action nor is it intended to be, Stewart wrote.

More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 riot. Over 600 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or judge. Over 450 of them have been sentenced, with over half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years.

More than 100 police officers were injured during the Jan. 6 riot.

Also on Tuesday, a Nevada man who joined other rioters in assaulting police officers in a tunnel on the Capitols Lower West Terrace was sentenced to six years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols also ordered Josiah Kenyon, 35, of Winnemucca, Nevada, to pay over $43,000 in restitution for damaging a window at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Kenyon was dressed as the character Jack Skellington from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas when he joined the mobs attack. He used a table leg with a protruding nail to strike an officer in the leg and hit a second officer so hard that it lodged in the officers face shield and helmet, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of seven years and four months for Kenyon, who pleaded guilty to assault charges in September 2022.

Kenyon drove to Washington from Reno, Nevada, with his wife and children to attend Trumps rally. Kenyon told FBI agents that he hated Trump and went to the Capitol because he was trying to raise the violence level, prosecutors wrote, adding, His idea was to have the Trumpers charge the police line which would in turn cause the officers to shoot the rioters.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Le Meridien City Centre Bahrain and Westin City Centre Bahrain hotels are offering special Ramadan packages for guests.

The hotels are inviting tourists and locals to celebrate the month of Ramadan with a stay at their properties.

Le Meridien City Centre Bahrain is offering a special package of BHD 55+++ on single occupancy and BHD 65+++ on double occupancy.

The package includes a stay at a superior room and an iftar buffet at Baharat Restaurant.

The hotel is also providing other facilities, and the package is specifically designed to cater to guests who want to experience the rich culture of Ramadan.

Westin City Centre Bahrain, on the other hand, is offering a special package of BHD 80+++ on single occupancy and BHD 90+++ on double occupancy.

This package includes a stay at a deluxe room and an iftar buffet at Furn Bistro.

The hotel is providing all the necessary facilities to make the month of Ramadan experience delightful and comfortable for the guests.

For more information or reservations please call +973 1717 1111 or email reservations.bahrain@ marriott.com.
Bomb blast kills at least four in southwest Pakistan

Bomb blast kills at least four in southwest Pakistan

AFP | Quetta

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A bomb blast in Pakistans southwestern province of Balochistan killed at least four people and wounded 15 others yesterday, 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 fiveyear-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 provinces 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 Beijings 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 Pakistans Gwadar port.
Temperatures are rising in Japan and summer is coming fast. Cherry blossoms bloomed 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 on the same day, the highest in 140 years, according to climatologist Maximiliano Herrera. Tottoris temperatures usually hover around 12 C 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. ...continue reading
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, 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, 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 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.

Madison, Ste. Genevieve counties

Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff's Office also received an ARPA grant, for $183,500.

Madison County Sheriff's Office received an ARPA grant for $10,820.15.
Bridgeport-based Aquarion Water Co. is challenging a ruling made last month by Connecticut utility regulators that rejected a significant rate increase the company had sought and instead lowered customers' bills.

Officials with the utility filed their appeal on March 30 in New Britain Superior Court seeking to overturn the ruling made by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority earlier in the month. PURA commissioners on March 15 rejected a rate hike request made by Aquarion and instead approved a plan that would reduce customers water rates by about $67 per year.

Superior Court Judge Matthew Joseph Budzik issued a temporary stay of the PURA ruling on April 5. A hearing in the case is scheduled for April 25.

In a statement issued to CT Insider on Monday, Aquarion officials said the stay was sought as " the latest part of a long rate-case process which started last year."

"Aquarion will prepare for the next step of the process and will present our case in court," the statement said in part. Peter Fazekas, a company spokesman, said Aquarion officials would have no further comment on the court challenge.

In a 468-page complaint filed with the court, Aquarion officials claimed that determinations made by PURA's commissioners in their ruling "arise from clear errors of law, arbitrary and capricious administrative decision-making and abuse of discretion, resulting in an aggregate impact that is unjust, unreasonable, unlawful and discriminatory."

"Aquarion is compelled to bring this appeal to avoid substantial harm to its operations and, ultimately, to its ability to provide a reliable and clean water supply to customers," the complaint said in part. "Aquarions financial integrity is jeopardized by PURAs manifest violation of applicable statutory mandates governing the setting of base rates, fundamental tenets of due process and Connecticut administrative law and constitutional protections against confiscatory rate making."

Joe Cooper, a spokesman for PURA, said agency officials "stand by the decision and are confident that the Office of the Attorney General will vigorously defend the decision and its immediate enforcement."

"Further, the additional public process will highlight the importance of a fully adjudicated rate case," Cooper said.

Aquarion submitted its application for a rate increase in August 2022. The utility was seeking a 27 percent increase over three years.

The water company serves 207,000 customers in 56 communities,
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.
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DANBURY  The state has invested $500,000 in a plan to convert a bankrupted west side hotel into 195 innovation studios with three floors of maker space for artists and entrepreneurs.

This state funding will help Danbury Hackerspace build one of the largest business incubators in the region right hereat the former Crowne Plaza Hotel at Exit 2 in Danbury, said state Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan,D-Bethel, in a prepared statement. Entrepreneurs and inventors will have access to 3D printers, industrial lasers, a machine shop, a wood shop, and studio spaces. Given their power in our economy, startups deserve this support and attention as we work to revitalize our economies in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Allie-Brennan is referring to plans by downtown Danbury developer Dan Bertram to provide three floors of the Crowne Plaza hotel he bought at auction in 2021 to the nonprofit Danbury Hackerspace for entrepreneurs, inventors, artists and start-ups as part of a larger plan to convert upper level hotel rooms into apartments and micro-studios.

Allie-Brennan and other members of Danburys state delegation lauded the decision last week by the state Bond Commission to approve Danbury Hackerspaces grant request.

This funding will be split about 50/50 for renovations and for equipment, said state Rep. Bob Godfrey, the dean of the Danbury delegation. Its exactly what Connecticut needs to build up our technology businesses.

Danbury Hackerspace, which plans to keep its downtown Main Street headquarters open, will use the state money to renovate the three levels of the former hotel, to buy equipment, and to hire student interns to help run the maker space, according to a release.

Plans for the new venture, called Bright Ravens Innovation Studios, include a machine shop, a wood shop, a computer lab, and fine art studios for photography, video and sound recording, for use by artists, do-it-yourselfers, and prototype builders.

The Danbury Hackerspace has proven itself over the past decade to be a business incubator for hundreds of entrepreneurs and artists, state Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, said in prepared remarks. Now, with this substantial infusion of state funding, theyll be able to expand their reach and their impact even further.

Bertram, the developer of a 149-apartment complex on Main Street at the former headquarters of The News-Times, is the latest investor to pair apartments and start-up space. A developer has pitched a similar project in Hartford called the Parkville Arts and Innovation District, with apartments and business incubator space, for example.



Bertrams project with Danbury Hackerspace represents new life for the 240-room former hotel on 7 acres overlooking Exit 2 off Interstate 84.

The 1979 hotel, which has three ballrooms and 20 meeting rooms, was auctioned starting at $3 million in 2021 after collapsing from the coronavirus crisis. The hotel was appraised as high as $13 million in 2017.



Bertram told Hearst Connecticut Media in March that he is seeking city approval to knock out walls between hotel rooms to create 45 apartments measuring 650 square feet. The balance of the apartments, which would be 350 square feet, would cost less and appeal to recent college graduates.



The more that we can instill entrepreneurial spirit in this region, the better, Bertram said.
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ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greece said Tuesday it would welcome expanded cooperation with Turkey after both countries hold elections next month  including on energy issues that have been at the heart of decades-old disputes.

Greece is always looking for ways to have honest and sincere cooperation with Turkey, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said after talks in Athens with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry.

Greek and Turkish officials have held a series of high-level meetings in recent weeks, in the wake of devastating earthquakes in southern Turkey in February. They promised to shelve disputes that have caused repeated rounds of tension and even the risk of war over decades.

Dendias said Athens would welcome new members of an association of nations in the eastern Mediterranean who cooperate on natural gas development. Turkey is not currently a member.

I want to make clear that we would welcome the participation of other countries in this forum, but on one obvious condition: Respect for international law, and respect for the international law of the sea, he said.

The current members of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum are Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.

Greece and Egypt are also planning to build a 3.5 billion euro ($3.8 billion) undersea grid connector across the Mediterranean over the next decade, a project led by a Greek energy firm, the Copelouzos Group.

Turkey has disputed areas of potential gas reserves claimed by Greece in parts of the eastern Mediterranean. In 2020, the two countries held competing naval exercises in the area as tensions spiked.

Egypt signed a military cooperation pact with Greece and Cyprus in 2021 and a bilateral agreement with Athens the year before that on sea exploration boundaries that are at odds with rival plans by Turkey.

But in recent weeks, Ankara has launched initiatives to improve ties with both Greece and Egypt, and Shoukry is due to travel on to Ankara after his stop in Athens.

Turkey will hold elections on May 14 and Greece a week later. Shoukry also met Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Tuesday.
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.

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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.

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Associated Press writer David Sharp contributed to this story.
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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?

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Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

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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.
Fondaction, BDC Capital and Accelia Capital join forces with Credit Mutuel Capital to

support Omy Laboratoires' innovative skincare products and expansion into North

America

MONTREAL, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - The $11 million investment round led by Credit Mutuel Equity with participation from Fondaction, BDC Capital's Thrive Venture Fund and Accelia Capital will allow the Quebec City-based company, which has 27 employees, to hire additional staff and acquire new production equipment to roll out its product line on North American markets.

Rachelle Seguin, chemist and president and Andrea Gomez, co-founder and CEO of Omy Laboratoires, announce a $11 million financing round to expand their unique brand that uses SkinAI technology in the U.S, market. (CNW Group/Omy Laboratoires)

According to a meta-study published in 2020, nearly 25% of Canadians live with some type of skin condition1. Omy's SkinAI technology analyzes customers' skin to make personalized, high-performance dermo-cosmetic products that promote the health of any skin type.

"Our products are formulated to meet clean beauty standards and contain over 95% naturally sourced ingredients, free from harmful substances that can pose a risk to human health and the environment. We meticulously choose ingredients that provide proven benefits, such as hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamide. Our products undergo rigorous testing by dermatologists and are specifically designed for sensitive and atopic skin." says Rachelle Seguin, chemist and president of the organization.

Established in 2018 with a strong commitment to eco-responsibility, Omy uses 100% vegan ingredients and strives to make its packaging eco-friendly by using bio-based, recyclable plastic or recycled materials by the end of 2023.

"Our company's mission is to understand each human as a whole to provide responsible, healthy and personalized topical skincare for every stage of life while minimizing the carbon footprint of our operations", summarizes Andrea Gomez, co-founder and CEO of Omy

"Skin care is not just about aesthetics, and Omy, which offers safe products adapted to each individual, understands this very well. Through the integration of cosmetic chemistry and artificial intelligence, Omy offers a precise personalization of its skin care products. The company's eco-responsible approach, natural products not tested on animals and entrepreneurial drive are all features that align with our positioning in the Health and Wellness space." - Claire Bisson, Deputy Head of Investment, Impact and Sustainable Investment at Fondaction.

"We are proud to support Omy Laboratoires in its quest to conquer global markets. This innovative company, led by two visionary women entrepreneurs, fits perfectly with Accelia Capital's mission of promoting diversity, performance and impact" - Annick Charbonneau, co-founder and managing partner, Accelia Capital.

''Omy Laboratoires' already well-established brand and innovative products are positioning the business in strong posture for its next phase of expansion in new markets,'' says Michelle Scarborough, Managing Partner, Thrive Venture Fund at BDC Capital. ''We're very proud to participate in the company's first financing round and support them in their ambitious vision.''

About Fondaction

As a forerunner in sustainable finance for more than 25 years, Fondaction is an investment fund committed to driving Quebec's progress by making the economy more efficient, more equitable, more inclusive and greener. As a labour-sponsored fund, Fondaction represents tens of thousands of investors and hundreds of companies committed to advancing Quebec's economy. It manages more than $3.25 billion in net assets invested in hundreds of companies and financial markets, with a focus on investments that generate positive economic, social and environmental impacts in addition to financial returns. Fondaction helps maintain and create jobs, reduce inequalities and fight climate change. For more information, visit Fondaction's LinkedIn page or fondaction.com.

About Credit Mutuel Capital (CIC)

Credit Mutuel Equity (Credit Mutuel Capital) brings together all of Credit Mutuel Alliance Federale's private equity activities. For 40 years, Credit Mutuel Equity has provided capital support to managers at all stages of their business development, from the. It takes a responsible, sustainable and human vision of investment through relationships of geographical proximity that align with common interests. Credit Mutuel Equity has strong regional roots in France and a strong presence in North America (Canada and the United States) and Europe (Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), enabling companies to find new drivers of growth.

About BDC Capital

BDC Capital is the investment arm of BDC, Canada's Business Development Bank. With over $6 billion under management, BDC Capital serves as a strategic partner to the country's most innovative firms. It offers businesses a full spectrum of capital, from seed investments to growth equity, supporting Canadian entrepreneurs who have the ambition to stand out on the world stage. Visit bdc.ca/capital.

About Accelia Capital

Accelia Capital is a venture capital fund whose mission is to propel innovative companies and accelerate female leadership in technology. The fund promotes diversity, performance, and impact by investing in women-owned and women-led companies. At over 54M$, it is one of the most important private venture capital funds to promote female entrepreneurship in North America. The fund's portfolio companies also benefit from the support of renowned women investors who contribute their networks and expertise towards their success.

1 Alanna C. Bridgman et al., "Canadian Burden of Skin Disease from 1990 to 2017: Results from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study," Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 24, no. 2 (2020): pp. 161-173, https://doi.org/10.1177/1203475420902047.

SOURCE Omy Laboratoires

For further information: images or an interview, please contact : Lili Vigneault, 514 524-1471, [email protected]; Natalie Bibeau, 514 803-1471, [email protected]
A man from Jefferson County, Missouri on April 5 admitted possessing two pipe bombs and methamphetamine, according to a news release issued by the Office of the U.S. Attorney. Eastern District of Missouri.

Douglas Matthew Moore II, 47, of Byrnes Mill, was stopped by a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department on May 11, 2021, while driving a 2004 Suzuki Aerio with expired license plates. He had an active warrant. After his arrest, the deputy found the pipe bombs and methamphetamine in the car.

Moore was on probation at the time and has pending charges in Ste. Genevieve County and Jefferson County circuit courts.

Moore pleaded guilty Wednesday in front of U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White to one felony count of possession of an unregistered destructive device.

Moore is scheduled to be sentenced in July. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.

The case was investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department, the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin is prosecuting the case.
Christine Stuart/CT News Junkie

Stone Academy buildings in West Haven, East Hartford and Waterbury have been put up for sale, on the heels of their abrupt closure in February that sparked an inquiry by the Connecticut attorney general's office.

Commercial real estate broker Amodio & Co. is promoting the properties as suitable for redevelopment, with the West Haven building the priciest at $2.6 million, located at 560 Sawmill Road and encompassing nearly 30,000 square feet of space on two levels.
HARTFORD  Promise made, promise kept. One thousand times.

Hartford Promise officials, city leaders and current and former local students gathered Monday at Weaver High School to celebrate a milestone in a scholarship program that provides support for high schoolers from college prep to graduation and $20,000 to be used at any college in the country.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin began the celebration by saying he hoped that this was just the first thousand that would be celebrated and that when the city looks to recruit recent college graduates to work for them "the first pool we look to is our Hartford Promise scholars."

Erna Alic, a Bosnian refugee and the first in her family to attend and graduate college, is one of those students as she now works as a program coordinator at the Hartford Public Library.

"I had to learn a lot on my own," said Alic, a University of Connecticut graduate who relied on the program to help her navigate the college application, financial aid and admission process and get through four years of college.

Abygail Rismay, a sophomore at Howard University who is studying criminology and psychology, agreed the support the program has given her while she's in college, including finding internships, has been critical to her success.

"It's a huge part of the program because when you're focused on your coursework it's hard to find the time," Rismay said.

Linda Elien, a senior at Weaver, is among the newest Hartford Promise scholars. The Haitian native has been living in Hartford for nine years and doesn't plan to go too far to study nursing at either Central Connecticut State University or UConn and work in the area after graduation.

"I just like helping people," she said.

Helping people who otherwise might not be equipped or able to afford to attend college is the point of the program, said Richard Sugarman, president of Hartford Promise, which began awarding scholarships in 2016. According to Sugarman, 70 percent of the scholars are first-generation colleges students; 75 percent are from low-income families; and 90 percent are students of color.

And now that they have six years worth of data on students who went to college as part of the program, Sugarman reported Monday that 75 percent of them graduated, beating the national average of 50 percent who receive similar funding.

Sugarman also pointed out the students can go to any college of their choice, with 70 percent choosing in-state schools (UConn led the way with 32 percent) and about 80 percent stay in or return to the Hartford area after graduation.

"They are going to be our workforce," he said. "They want to be in Hartford."

Another key to the program, Sugarman said, is its simplicity. Becoming a Hartford Promise Scholar requires four elements: live in Hartford; attend school in Hartford; maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better; and maintain a 93 percent attendance rate or better.

Alic agreed, saying she knew she was going to be in class and knew that she was going to get good grades.

"The process really is simple," Alic said.

Sugarman said the program has also been buoyed by long term financial commitments from the city's corporate community, private and family foundations and the city, which recently pledged $1 million to Hartford Promise.

"Raising funds is hard work," he said. "But this is a very compelling story."
Last year, dozens of Connecticut residents and state officials confronted the insurance industry at a public hearing over its proposed annual rate hikes, which averaged more than 20% for individual health plans and roughly 15% for small group plans. The insurance companies said they had to raise rates or theyd lose money, pointing to the ballooning cost of health care services.

This year, for the first time, those health care providers had to respond to a similar grilling.

At a meeting late last month, the state Office of Health Strategy presented the findings of its first annual report on health care cost growth to Gov. Ned Lamont and several health care industry leaders. According to data collected and analyzed by OHS, Connecticut health care costs rose by nearly two times the governors 3.4% benchmark goal from 2020 to 2021.

Armed with that new data, the governor and members of the General Assembly are now bracing for a legislative confrontation pitting two of the states most powerful industries  insurance and health care  directly at odds.

This is like a battle royale. Im riveted, said Ted Doolittle, the state health care advocate. Health care economics and health care system studies show that the reason behind Americas and Connecticuts internationally abnormal medical spending is the prices charged by providers, Doolittle said. This is where the discussion needs to be.

As part of a broader effort to rein in health care costs for the states residents, Lamont and lawmakers have proposed regulating contracts between insurance companies and health care providers more closely. The legislation would give insurers more leverage in contract negotiations.

House Bill 6620, put forth by the legislatures Insurance and Real Estate Committee, seeks to ban certain terms in contracts deemed anti-competitive. That includes clauses known as all-or-nothing, where a health care provider requires an insurer to contract with all its affiliated providers across all markets.

The bill also boosts insurance company efforts to steer patients to higher-quality, lower-cost health care by ranking providers in tiers. In contract language, health systems have taken to requiring they be included in insurers top tiers regardless of performance or prices; those clauses, known as anti-tiering or anti-steering, would be outlawed under the legislation.

The governors proposal, Senate Bill 983, goes a step further.

It proposes setting a price cap on how much hospitals can charge patients if theyre out-of-network, or if the patients insurance carrier doesnt have a contract in place with the hospital.

That could drive down hospital prices across the board, experts said. By fixing the out-of-network rate, health care providers would essentially be forced to lower in-network rates as well, since it would make little sense to charge more to insured patients.

A fixed and reasonable out-of-network rate can reduce in-network negotiated rates, encourage in-network participation and reduce overall spending by limiting the value of the option of staying out-of-network, which providers can use to increase their prices, OHS Director Deidre Gifford wrote in testimony to the Insurance and Real Estate Committee.

The restrictions, Gifford wrote, would assist in leveling the playing field between insurers and large health care systems.

Paul Kidwell of the Connecticut Hospital Association said the health insurance industry doesnt need the states help in negotiations.

We negotiate  we think  fairly with the insurance companies and the insurance industry. We come to terms that support access to care, Kidwell said. We think its not appropriate that this state legislature or the state would put its thumb on the scale in favor of one party over another in that negotiation.

Kidwell added that the hospitals are open to conversations about the proposals other provisions on all-or-nothing and anti-tiering clauses. He said lawmakers would need to be careful about how the rules get implemented, and he wanted to ensure lawmakers understand potential unintended consequences those policies could have for patient access to care.

In written testimony, several representatives for the insurance sector said the proposed contract restrictions have become necessary as the states top health systems acquire smaller hospitals and private practices.

The Governor, his administration, and a bipartisan group of legislators have rightly zeroed in on the unit cost of care and whether services cost more than they should, Susan Halpin, a lobbyist for the Connecticut Association of Health Plans, said in an emailed statement. We have long said that premiums are simply a reflection of the underlying health care costs.

Bills head to the floor

Both H.B. 6620 and S.B. 983 passed out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and await consideration on the floors of each chamber. The committee raised S.B. 983s price cap on out-of-network care to 150% of Medicare before voting on it, setting a potential starting point for the next round of negotiations in the senate.

According to research presented to OHS Health Care Cabinet last year, using data from 2019 and 2020, most of Connecticuts hospital systems could cover their costs if they charged a rate of 150% of Medicare to commercial patients.

Rep. Tammy Nuccio, R-Tolland, said the cap on out-of-network prices will not only reduce health care costs but will, in turn, bring down insurance rates. Theyre literally linked, she said. If you bring down the cost of health care, youre also bringing down cost on the insurance side.

Nuccio, who has worked in the insurance industry for 26 years and serves on the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, pointed to federal rules that require insurance companies to spend 80% to 85% of their revenue from premiums on health care. If companies dont meet the target, they must send customers a rebate.

Insurance companies are ridiculously regulated, but were only regulating that one piece, and were letting the driver, that 85%, go up, Nuccio said. As much as I dont want more regulation  Im going to have to sell this to people on my side of the aisle  when does the government step in to say this is a massive abuse of the people, and how do we help right that ship?

Rep. Kerry Wood, a Rocky Hill democrat and co-chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said the out-of-network cap is a laudable goal but she said it may be difficult for smaller hospitals to cover their costs at state-set rates.

Wood led the effort behind the committees bill, H.B. 6620, which would ban anti-competitive clauses but did not include a price cap. And shes led an array of other legislative efforts aimed at cost containment in health care.

One of these things by itself is not going to move the needle, but if were able to push forward some of the bills, then we may start to see a shift, she said. Were not going to reduce costs overnight, but were going to help slow the growth.

Slowing growth starts with tracking data

In January 2020, Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order tasking the Office of Health Strategy with establishing a benchmark annual growth rate for health care spending and tracking actual costs against that benchmark.

The cost growth benchmark was codified into law last year, and in its first report, OHS found that health care spending per person rose by 6% between 2020 and 2021, far exceeding the benchmark target of 3.4% for that year. Spending from private insurance plans drove most of the increase, jumping 19%, while Medicare and Medicaid spending rose more modestly.

OHS reported that Connecticuts private health insurance costs rose more than those in other states that track health care spending. Massachusetts, for example, saw its commercial costs per member increase by only 11.6% over the same period. Hospital outpatient and inpatient expenses were among the top drivers of rising costs, according to the OHS report.

OHS Director Gifford has said the impact of rising health care costs on Connecticut residents is stark, noting that medical debt is a leading cause of personal bankruptcy. Testifying on S.B. 983, Gifford wrote, During this session, we will have our first year of cost growth benchmark data to help refine our efforts  and now, we can begin to tackle this issue by empowering providers and consumers, freeing up competition in the healthcare industry, and taking steps to put money back into consumers pockets.

Hospitals have cited unprecedented circumstances presented by the pandemic to explain the dramatic increase in spending. Many people put off regular checkups and specialist visits during the first year of the pandemic, leading to higher demand for services in 2021 and more acute conditions that had gone untreated. A report commissioned by the Connecticut Hospital Association found that the hospitals lost $164 million between 2019 and 2022.

The OHS report found that health care spending per capita declined between 2019 and 2020 but rebounded the following year. The average cost growth between 2019 and 2021 at the state level was 2.7%, actually falling under the 2021 benchmark.

Connecticut is one of nine states that uses a cost growth benchmark.

Natasha Murphy, director of health policy at the Center for American Progress, said that Connecticuts reporting offers a particularly granular look at the data. [In] some of the other states, there was a much more rudimentary process where it was really just reporting on whether they met the benchmark or not, said Murphy. The fact that Connecticut is able to do that off the bat, I think, is a huge benefit.

Wood said over time, that data can help inform a broad range of policymakers discussions by identifying areas where Connecticut patients are seeking more or less care.

I think thats going to give us a lot more tools to help with rising costs, plugging holes in system  and investing in areas we are not, she said.

Still, the states efforts in collecting the data have only just begun, Wood said. I really wish we had five years of data. We only have one.

Nuccio pointed out that there arent currently any consequences for health care providers who dont meet the states benchmark goals.

"Theres nothing anybody can do about it, because theres no teeth in it," she said.

In Massachusetts, organizations exceeding benchmarks have to submit a "performance improvement plan" that explains what contributed to the spending increases and lays out cost-saving measures they'll employ within 18 months. An organization can be fined up to $500,000 for non-compliance with its plan. In January 2022, Massachusetts required Mass General Brigham  its largest health system and private employer  to submit a performance improvement plan.

With this year's legislative session more than half over, lawmakers will have a lot to iron out in just a few weeks.

By May 1, OHS said, it will share which, if any, entities significantly contributed to exceeding the 2021 cost growth benchmark. By the end of June, the agency will hold a public hearing on the results of the reports findings.

The General Assembly closes its 2023 session at midnight on June 7.

Doolittle said reaching a deal that helps patients is critical, but having the right numbers to start the conversation is just as important.

"For the first time, this establishes the principle that there should be a justification for those prices," he said. "It took 40 years to get into this medical spending crisis. It will take time to get out."
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Jurors in the triple murder trial of a woman accused in the deaths of her two children and a romantic rival were shown gruesome photographs of the slain children Tuesday afternoon, as the grandfather of one of the kids sobbed in the back of the courtroom.

Seven-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and his big sister Tylee Ryan were last seen in September of 2019, sparking a nationwide search. The search ended in tragedy the following year when their bodies were found buried in an eastern Idaho yard.

Lori Vallow Daybell and her fifth husband, Chad Daybell, are both charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, murder and grand theft in connection with the deaths of JJ and Tylee, the latter of whom was last seen shortly before her 17th birthday in 2019. The children were buried on Chad Daybell's property. 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 and are being tried separately. Vallow Daybell's trial began this month, and Chad Daybell's trial is still months away. Vallow Daybell faces up to life in prison if convicted.

A police detective from Rexburg, Idaho was the only witness to take the stand Tuesday. Detective Ray Hermosillo explained how the investigation started  with a call from an Arizona law enforcement agency seeking help to track down a vehicle that was suspected in an attempted shooting  as well the condition of the children's bodies when they were unearthed eight months later.

At one point, Vallow Daybell's defense attorneys asked the judge if she could be excused from the rest of the day's testimony, saying the graphic evidence that was to be shown would be detrimental to her already fraught mental health.

Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce has twice ordered Vallow Daybell to undergo mental health treatment after finding her incompetent to assist in her own defense at various points since her arrest. Still, Boyce rejected the request, saying her presence in the courtroom was needed to ensure a fair trial for all involved.

The evidence that followed was exceedingly graphic and included a series of photographs showing the children's remains as they were excavated from Daybell's property and pictures taken during the subsequent autopsies.

In one, JJ was wearing red pajamas and socks, duct tape covering his mouth and binding his arms and legs together. His arms were visibly bruised, Hermosillo said, and his body had partially decomposed. Black plastic covered his remains, which were buried near a tree on Daybell's property.

Tylee's remains were destroyed and burned, packed into a melted green bucket and buried at a different location on the property, Hermosillo said. Prosecutors had him describe pieces of the remains as shown in a series of photos.

During the testimony, JJ's grandfather Larry Woodcock sobbed from his seat in the courtroom gallery. Larry and Kay Woodcock were close to their grandson, and had grown worried in 2019 after the boy became increasingly difficult to reach by phone. Kay Woodcock asked police to perform a welfare check on JJ that November, and that's when authorities discovered both children were missing.

Several other family members of the victims were also in Boise to attend the trial. Tylee's aunt, Annie Cushing, was at the courthouse on Tuesday with her daughter, Tylee's cousin. Charles Vallow's adult sons also attended.

Earlier Tuesday, Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood questioned Hermosillo about the initial steps of the investigation.

The case was sparked by a Nov. 1, 2019 call from police in Gilbert, Arizona, Hermosillo said. The agency wanted help from Rexburg police to perform surveillance on the couple and seize a Jeep Wrangler suspected of being used in an attempted shooting. On Monday, jurors heard testimony from an Arizona man who had recently divorced Vallow Daybell's niece. Brandon Boudreaux said someone driving a Jeep Wrangler shot at him outside his home, and the Jeep resembled one that belonged to Tylee.

Investigators surveilled Vallow Daybell's apartment in Idaho and snapped photos of Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell entering and leaving, Hermosillo said, and spotted the Jeep on Nov. 4. But they never saw any kids at the home, and were surprised when the Arizona officers showed up two weeks later and told them about JJ and Tylee.

Kay Woodcock requested a welfare check on JJ on Nov. 25 of 2019, and Hermosillo said Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell's brother Alex Cox acted suspiciously when investigators asked them about the kids.

JJ and Tylee were added to a national registry of missing children in December of 2019. The last known proof-of-life came in snapshots, Hermosillo said  one taken of Tylee in the western part of Yellowstone National Park in early September and one taken of JJ sitting on a couch later that month.

Vallow Daybell never reported her two youngest children missing, Hermosillo told jurors, and defied a court order to show them to police.

On Monday, prosecutors attempted to paint Vallow Daybell as a woman who would do anything to remove obstacles  including her own kids  to her relationship with Chad Daybell. They said she conspired in the death of Chad's previous wife Tammy Daybell, who died in October 2019. Tammy Daybell's death was initially reported as being from natural causes, but authorities had her body exhumed and an autopsy determined she died of asphyxiation.

Defense attorneys suggested prosecutors didn't know what had happened and pointed to language in the murder charges that accused Vallow Daybell of either directing, encouraging, ordering or participating in the deaths. A reasonable jury would have to find her not guilty, her attorney Archibald said.

Prosecutors also described extreme religious beliefs that they said Vallow Daybell and Daybell promoted. They said the pair claimed to be able to tell if people were possessed by dark spirits, that some possessions turned the inhabitant into a zombie, and that the only way to save a zombie's soul was by killing the person's body.

Friends of Vallow Daybell will testify that she said the children and Tammy Daybell were dark before their deaths, Prosecutor Lindsey Blake said. At least one friend told police that Vallow Daybell called both children zombies before they disappeared, according to police records.
CHESHIRE  A shed was destroyed Monday morning after a fire started in an RV camper, according to the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department.

Firefighters were called to a home on Scott Road for the report of an "explosion and fire in a RV camper," the fire department said in a Facebook post.
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FARMERVILLE, La. (AP)  Five Louisiana law enforcement officers pleaded not guilty Tuesday to state crimes in the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene, a death authorities initially blamed on a car crash before long-suppressed body-camera video showed white officers beating, stunning and dragging the Black motorist as he wailed, Im scared!

The arraignment came nearly five months after a grand jury handed up a list of charges ranging from negligent homicide to obstruction and malfeasance, the first indictments related to Greenes bloody death on a roadside in rural northeast Louisiana.

Greenes family and several supporters attended the brief proceedings in Union Parish, calling for justice to be served nearly four years after Greenes death.

Bring it, Greene's mother, Mona Hardin, told reporters outside the courthouse.

Charged in the case are four current and former Louisiana State Police troopers and one Union Parish sheriff's deputy who responded to Greene's arrest. Facing the most serious charges, including negligent homicide, is Master Trooper Kory York, who was seen on the body-camera footage dragging Greene by his ankle shackles, putting his foot on his back to force him down and leaving the heavyset man facedown in the dirt for more than nine minutes.

The others who face various counts of malfeasance and obstruction include a lieutenant who denied the existence of his body-camera footage, another who exaggerated Greenes resistance on the scene, a regional state police commander who detectives say pressured them not to make an arrest in the case and a Union Parish sheriffs deputy heard on the video taunting Greene with the words s- hurts, doesnt it?

The officers have denied wrongdoing. Plea bargaining in this case is very unlikely, said York's attorney, J. Michael Small.

District Attorney John Belton said no trial date has been set but the officers are expected back in court next month. Greene's family also met Tuesday with Hugo Holland, a special prosecutor Belton hired to try the high-profile case.

Greenes May 10, 2019, death on a rural roadside near Monroe was initially blamed by the Louisiana State Police on a car crash at the end of a high-speed chase over a traffic violation. After officials from the governor on down refused for more than two years to release the body-camera video, The Associated Press obtained and published the footage showing white troopers converging on Greene and repeatedly stunning and punching him as he wails, Im your brother! Im scared! Im scared! A trooper can later be seen dragging the heavyset Greene by his ankle shackles and he is left facedown for more than nine minutes before he eventually goes limp.

The U.S. Justice Department conducted an extensive investigation into Greene's death and the attempted cover-up but has yet to bring any charges.
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NORTH HAVEN  Even the wildlife showed up Tuesday morning for the groundbreaking of the Slate Schools second campus.

The event, which celebrated the expansion of the private school, was well-attended by students, staff and government officials. It also drew families  including one of six turkeys who meandered around the future construction site making a lively backdrop for the speakers who took to the podium to share their remarks.

Some might say the birds were appropriate guests: Slate School, whose new campus will serve grades 7-12 and is scheduled to open in fall 2024, centers around nature-based learning.

Jennifer Staple Clark, the schools cofounder, said the turkeys have long been campus residents. Not long after the school opened its doors in 2018, the birds would mill about the courtyard and jump up and down from the fence near the buildings, Staple Clark said.

She said teachers even incorporated the animals into their math lessons. They would ask students to count the turkeys on the fence and on the ground, then add them together to find the total number.

Speaking to a crowd of about 75 people Tuesday, Staple Clark described how she was inspired to launch the school because she wanted her children to experience a different kind of learning environment. As she spoke with other families, she realized they wanted the same, she said.

The organizations existing campus, known as the lower school, serves grades K-6 and occupies a site on Mansfield Road that is surrounded by wetlands. In the years after its opening in 2018, many of the parents started asking what would happen with their students after sixth grade, Staple Clark said.

That was how the idea for Slate Upper School came to be. But getting to the brink of the schools construction has not been an easy road.

Slate School originally applied to build a second campus at the site of a decommissioned church on Outer Ridge Road, a proposal that sparked fierce opposition from neighbors and eventually was rejected by the Planning & Zoning Commission.

The organization then came up with a new idea: to construct the campus on property connected to its original location. Staple Clark said that property happened to become available for purchase.

It couldnt be more perfect to have our upper school adjacent to our lower school, she said. We always take challenges as opportunities, so we kept working and doing everything we could.

Slate Schools curriculum is curiosity-driven, nature-based, interdisciplinary and project-based, and arts-integrated, according to its website.

The program drew praise from First Selectman Mike Freda, who said he lives in the neighborhood and used to pass the site on his jogging route.

As one of the speakers during the groundbreaking celebration, Freda told attendees the school is one of the few in the country with a curiosity-based curriculum focused on collaboration, empathy and doing the greater good.

The students represent the future leaders of our community and our society, he said.

This upper school will give children the opportunity to learn about the world in all of its gorgeous complexity, not siloed but integrated, said Head of School Julia Mountcastle. Their classes will give them the tools to tackle the big ideas, and then to tackle the big problems,

Other speakers included Slate School fifth-grader Eri Edwards.

The upcoming event of construction of the long-awaited upper school has been exciting for all of us, especially us students because we feel that we have worked so hard and learned so much during our time here in the lower school, and yet I think we all still have room to grow, Eri said. I feel that having my class be the first to enjoy the upper school is a real honor.

Seven years from now, Eris class is expected to be the first to graduate from Slate School.

I cant wait to convene again in the spring of 2030 when we launch these amazing humans into the world to truly make it a better place, Mountcastle said.
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BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  Independent Serbian journalists on Tuesday marked the 24th anniversary of the killing of a prominent editor and newspaper publisher who was fiercely critical of the government in Belgrade.

Slavko Curuvija was shot dead at the entrance to his Belgrade apartment during the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia over its crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists.

His killing became a symbol of the struggle for a free press in the Balkan nation that is seeking membership in the European Union.

Independent media organizations, both local and international, warn that critical journalists still face threats because of their work. The government of populist President Aleksandar Vucic  who was information minister at the time of Curuvija's death  maintains tight control over mainstream media outlets.

We are in danger that a killing of a journalist could happen again, or serious violence, Veran Matic, who heads a commission investigating attacks on journalists, said at a discussion held for the anniversary.

Four state security officials were charged with planning and carrying out Curuvijas killing, but no final verdict has been reached despite several retrials and appeals. A final retrial wrapped up last month, and media experts described the forthcoming expected verdict as a crossroads for media freedoms in Serbia.

It would be a huge legal milestone, said Jamie Wiseman, the Advocacy Officer focusing on Europe at the International Press Institute. Paradoxically, there is risk also in a sense that it could give Serbian authorities an argument in international forums.

We have to make clear that this is just a first step, he added.

Foreign rights groups attended the gatherings of independent journalists on Tuesday to mark Curuvijas killing and show solidarity and support with Serbia's media today.

Carrying a banner reading Truth is our victory, dozens of journalists and citizens later walked through central Belgrade, retracing the path that Curuvija took with his partner prior to the killing.

Our visit comes amidst a spate of recent death threats and pressure, which reflect a wider toxic climate for independent and investigative journalism, the international Media Freedom Rapid Response group said.

It is alarming that leading journalists are still receiving death threats and being branded with the same dangerous labels of 'traitors' and 'foreign mercenaries' that were used to lay the groundwork for Curuvijas assassination, the group said in a statement.

Curuvija was regarded as an enemy of the state by the regime of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. The state-run media controlled by Milosevics family accused him of inviting NATO to bomb Serbia. The 1999 NATO intervention in Serbia was in response to Milosevic's bloody crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008.

Despite repeated attempts by the Milosevic regime to shut down his newspapers, the journalist refused to be cowed into silence and paid the ultimate price for his bravery, Media Freedom Rapid Response said.

While the charges in Curuvija's case do not formally include alleged instigators who ordered the killing, Matic claimed they were Milosevic  who died in prison in The Netherlands in 2006, awaiting trial for crimes against humanity  and his wife Mirjana Markovic, who died in 2019.

Unfortunately, the instigators are no longer alive, he said.

Nowadays, independent journalists in Serbia face a campaign of intimidation that starts with politicians, continues in the tabloids that are firmly under Vucics control and culminates with threats on social media, Matic charged.

Most recently prominent author and talk show host Marko Vidojkovic left the country in the face of threats, and scores of other prominent journalists reported receiving hate messages threatening violence.

In a rare, quick court outcome, a man was sentenced to year-long house arrest for threatening television editor Jelena Obucina, who is known for her critical commentaries on Nova TV news, media reported on Tuesday.

I can't help noticing that the moment when the verdict was brought is interesting and encouraging, because a witch hunt is ongoing against journalists, and spearheaded by the bearers of power, Obucina said on Tuesday.

Serbian government officials have repeatedly denied any pressure on non-government media.
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NEW DELHI (AP)  Ukraine wants India to play a bigger role in helping end Russias war, its deputy foreign minister said Tuesday during the first visit by a senior Ukrainian official to India since the war began last year.

India can play a bigger and greater role" and Ukraine would "welcome any effort that is directed at resolving the war, Emine Dzhaparova said.

She made the comments in a speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs, a think tank in New Delhi, after meeting with her Indian counterpart, Sanjay Verma, and other officials.

Dzhaparova has sought to use her visit to deepen ties with India, which has refrained from condemning Russia's role in the war and has abstained several times from voting on U.N. resolutions against Moscow. Instead, New Delhi has stressed the need for diplomacy and dialogue on ending the war and has expressed its willingness to contribute to peace efforts.

Dzhaparova said she hopes Indian officials including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who visited Moscow in February and held talks with President Vladimir Putin, will also visit Kyiv.

"We would be happy to welcome Indian officials to Kyiv, she said.

Russian officials are expected to visit India in coming weeks for meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which the country is chairing this year.

India depends on Russia for nearly 60% of its defense equipment and has ramped up its purchases of low-priced Russian oil since the war in Ukraine began.

On Monday, Dzhaparova warned India against an over reliance on Russia.

India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, military contracts and political interactions. Because what we see in my country when you are dependent on Russia, they will always use this blackmail instrument, she told reporters.

India also holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations this year. As host, India has cast itself as a rising superpower while leveraging its position on the global stage to bridge the gap between the West and Russia.

Dzhaparova urged India to use its presidency to spotlight the crisis in Ukraine by inviting Ukrainian officials to the G-20 events and summit, which will be held in September.

She said her visit was a mark of friendship and hoped it would kickstart Ukraine's dialogue with India. Let us make Ukraine more visible in India, let us help Ukraine to tell its own story, let us also bring India closer" to Ukraine, Dzhaparova said.
Qabil Ashirov

Earlier this month, the failed attempts of Armenia's armed forces to participate in the NATO military drills was not left hidden in the Armenian public. True to its mission, the Armenian press tried to dress up the information in different ways.

It is all about the reports in the late March in which the name of Armenia had been listed in NATO's military drill under the motto of Defender 23, however, later its name for some reasons or another was removed from the list. Of course, as it is clear from the general discussions, this situation was not welcomed by the Armenian community. Given that a similar situation that had happened in 2021, and the Armenian side had been very dissatisfied with it, the recurrence of it as though reopened the wound of Armenia.

In an interview given to Armenpress by the press secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry, Aram Torosyan noted that Armenia will not participate in Defender 23, but will participate in two other military exercises that NATO will hold in Europe, more precisely in KFOR (Kosovo Force) and Saber Junction military exercises.

The hesitancy of Armenia forms an idea that there is an ambiguity in the Armenian administration, and that the orders come not only from Yerevan but from Moscow as well.

In an interview with Azernews, the political analyst Ilgar Valizade has commented on the issue. He noted that Armenia has never conducted and will never conduct truly independent foreign policy as it is bound to Russia's consent.

The air defense system of Armenia is controlled by the Russian military and the airspace is also protected by the Russian military. Also, Russian border guards protect Armenia's borders with Turkiye and Iran, and some parts of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Besides that, Armenia is a member of the CSTO.

Armenia is integrated with Russia to such an extent that it is impossible to get out of this integration and participate in any training organized by NATO within 1-2 years, the expert opined.

He thinks that this is a spectacle performed by the Armenian government for the domestic audiences and Armenian diaspora abroad. Being aware of this show, Russia is sure that nothing is going to change and does not concern too much. Only, the uproars in Armenian media outlets irritate Russia, since it is directed against Russia.

More effective mechanisms are needed for real changes, and more effective steps need to be taken. The Armenian political leadership lacks courage for this, and Armenia has neither political nor military-political capabilities for this. These are all games, Valizade said.

As for Armenian-Iran relations on the backdrop of NATOs military drill, the analyst pointed out that Armenia and Iran are much alike, so Iran understands Armenia very well.

Like Russia, Iran knows very well that Armenia's intention of participating in the NATO organised drills are just show-off. Armenia will not join NATO, and NATO troops will not come to Armenia. The arrival of a few members of the EU observer mission to Armenia does not mean the arrival of NATO, the analyst said.

Also, Ilgar Valizade added that the visits of several Armenian military personnel to the headquarters of NATO cannot be considered a NATO-Armenia relations because there are no joint projects between the parties.

Which of NATO's regional projects can be pointed that Armenia participates in? There are no such projects. Until today, Armenia has not participated in any NATO projects and will not participate in any of them. Firstly, there is a Turkish factor. Secondly, Armenia is an uninteresting country for NATO.

I repeat once again, in order to achieve a better result, Armenia carry out reforms in its foreign policy. First of all, Armenia should review its foreign economic relations, leave the CSTO. Besides, the Russian military base should be removed from the territory of Armenia, and Armenian borders should be free of Russian guards. It should leave the joint air defense system as well. Otherwise NATO has nothing to do in Armenia unless all these things are put in order, Valizade added.
A new organization is bringing Central Virginias winemakers together for an auction to help raise funds to keep the quality of local wines soaring.

The Generous Pour, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on May 5 at Veritas Vineyard & Winery in Afton, is the inaugural event for Virginia Wine Benefit, which aims to bring local wineries together to support community causes. The evening begins with a sparkling wine reception, followed by silent and live auctions to help raise money for Winemakers Research Exchange and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

The Near Passerines will be providing live music, and wine expert Reggie Leonard, known as Virginias Wine Hype Man, will stay busy auctioning a variety of wine experiences donated by local wineries. Events up for bid include a special dinner with Emily Hodson, winemaker at Veritas, and an overnight stay for one couple at the Farmhouse inn at Veritas.

Other experiences awaiting bidders include A Day in the Life of Commonwealth Crush with winemaker Ben Jordan and a behind-the-scenes tour and tasting of unreleased wines for 15 people with Chelsey Blevins, winemaker of Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard.

Look for pours by popular local wineries, including Blenheim Vineyards, Bluestone Vineyard, Commonwealth Crush and Early Mountain Vineyards. Veritas is prepared to provide a strolling dinner of heavy hors doeuvres and grazing boards.

The auction evening is an opportunity to see local wineries joining forces to help the community, which is what Virginia Wine Benefit aims to encourage.

Were so lucky to have these gracious and generous wineries in this area, said Camille Nitzsche, CEO of Virginia Wine Benefit. Id like to teach everybody how great Virginia wines are. We had this idea to help the community through Virginia wines.

Nitzsche said that the groups board will select area nonprofit groups to benefit from similar events each year. The organizations mission statement is to engage the local wine industry in order to produce wine-related social and educational events that raise money to benefit our local community.

Nitzsche said she hopes the auction will become an annual event.

So does Joy Ting, research oenologist at beneficiary Winemakers Research Exchange, who said the camaraderie and teamwork demonstrated by local winemakers is good for the Virginia wine industry and local agriculture as a whole.

It just speaks volumes for our winery community seeing themselves as neighbors, said Ting, who helps wineries structure experiments that can improve the quality of their wines.

Virginia is the 10th-largest producer of wine in the entire United States and the second largest on the East Coast after New York, according to 2022 data from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Those same figures show the commonwealth produced 2.2 million gallons of wine last year.

Much of that comes from the Charlottesville region, known as the Monticello American Viticultural Area. The Monticello AVA makes up more than half of Virginias 2,000 vineyard acres and is home to roughly 30 wineries, according to the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

Its a competitive as well as collaborative industry, and Ting said she is impressed to see the wineries share their discoveries with colleagues.

The most important thing is everyone shares their research so the industry can improve and grow, Ting said. We work with winemakers all over Virginia to improve wine quality.

The support provided by the May 5 auction will help Winemakers Research Exchange cover operating costs that arent covered by its grants from the Virginia Wine Board. Capital funding growth can help the group assist more wineries.

Since 2014, WRE has helped wineries conduct 30 to 45 experiments each year. Experimenting with different kinds of yeast to see which choices enhance specific wine flavor profiles is an example of a program that can yield important results, but it can be tricky for a family-run outfit to fund and conduct, Ting said.

So many of our wineries are small, family-owned operations, Ting said. Its a great opportunity to get to know what the wineries are thinking about and working on. We do want to preserve that agricultural environment.

Another way to find out what local wineries are achieving is by entering the Generous Pours Icon Case drawing. Bring canned goods to donate to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank to exchange for tickets to win a case of exceptional wines from Virginia winemakers; each nonperishable food item you donate will add a ticket to your haul and boost your chances of winning.

Tickets for the Generous Pour are $150 and are available through online through Eventbrite.
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TORONTO (AP)  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced more military aid to support Ukraine in its war with Russia while hosting Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto on Tuesday.

The new military assistance includes 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and over 2.4 million rounds of ammunition.

We are preparing for our counteroffensive. We need more ammunition, we need more weaponry, we need more military equipment, Shmyhal said.

Shmyhal thanked Canada for its support since Russian forces invaded in February 2022, which has included billions of dollars in economic and military aid.

Trudeau also said Canada is imposing new sanctions on Russian and Belarusian authorities and organizations in retaliation for the ongoing invasion.

Ukraine is fighting for the values and the principles that underpin all of our democracies, Trudeau said. We will continue to do everything necessary to ensure Ukraine prevails.

Canada also provided a $2.4 billion Canadian (US$1.78 billion) loan to the government of Ukraine to support essential services, including pension payments and restoring damaged energy infrastructure. Canadas total commitment to Ukraine has surpassed $8 billion Canadian (US5.94 billion).

Trudeau was also asked about the prime ministers Web site being down on Tuesday.

There have been a slew of denial-of-service attacks by pro-Russia hacktivists on Ukraine, its European allies and U.S. websites since Russia invaded its neighbor last year -- few having significant impact. Denial of service attacks consist of a coordinated flooding of a targeted website with junk data to make it unreachable. The attacks are not hacking, though they sometimes can be used to divert attention from network intrusions.

Trudeau said it's not uncommon for Russia to target countries as they are showing their steadfast support for Ukraine and as they are welcoming Ukrainian delegations.

"The timing isnt surprising, Trudeau said. But in case anyone is wondering, Russia being able to bring down an official government of Canada webpage for a few hours is in no way going to dissuade us from our unshakable support of Ukraine.
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PANAMA CITY (AP)  The United States, Panama and Colombia announced Tuesday that they will launch a 60-day campaign aimed at halting illegal migration through the treacherous Darien Gap, where the flow of migrants has multiplied this year.

Details on how the governments will try to curb the flow of migrants that reached nearly 90,000 in just the first three months of this year through the dense, lawless jungle were not provided in the joint statement.

The ambitious announcement came as the Biden administration nervously awaits the expected end of a pandemic-related rule May 11 that has suspended rights to seek asylum for many. Without that instrument of dissuasion at the U.S. border, there is concern migrant arrivals could again become unmanageable.

The joint statement said the countries will also use new lawful and flexible pathways for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees as an alternative to irregular migration, but again gave no details.

The plans third element is investment to reduce poverty and create jobs in the Colombian and Panamanian border communities, presumably so fewer people work at smuggling migrants.

Recognizing our shared interest and responsibility to prevent the risk to human life, disrupt transnational criminal organizations, and preserve the vital rainforest, the governments of Panama, Colombia, and the United States intend to carry out a two-month coordinated campaign to address the serious humanitarian situation in the Darien, the statement said.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met with the foreign ministers of Panama and Colombia in Panama on Tuesday.

According to Panamas government, more than 87,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap in the first three months of the year, mostly from Venezuela, Haiti and Ecuador. That was up from nearly 14,000 migrants during the same period a year earlier.

Last year, set a record for migrants using the Darien route, with nearly 250,000. That increase was driven largely by Venezuelans, who accounted for some 60% of the migrants crossing there last year.

The Biden administration responded in October by using the pandemic-related rule known as Title 42 to deny Venezuelans the chance to request asylum at the border. Instead, the U.S. government said it would accept as many as 24,000 Venezuelans at U.S. airports who had already applied and been pre-approved through a government online application. That program was expanded to Nicaragua, Haiti and Cuba earlier this year.

Now with Title 42 set to expire next month, the U.S. is looking at the Darien Gap as the natural choke point to stop extracontinental migration.

Michael Lee Weintraub, a profesor at the University of the Andes School of Government in Colombia, said that with Biden under pressure from conservatives to address immigration ahead of next year's presidential election, his administration is looking for ways to diiscourage irregular migration and make legal migration easier.

But he expressed doubt that Colombia's security forces have the capacity to dramatically affect migrant smuggling because the country's armed groups profit from it and are "very sophisticated."

The Darien Gap is among the most dangerous portions of the long route to the U.S. borders. Migrants and international human rights groups have denounced sexual assaults, robberies and killings in the remote jungle. That's in addition to the natural dangers posed by venomous snakes and rushing rivers.

For the migrants who survive the crossing, the Panamanian government and nongovernmental groups bus migrants across Panama to near its border with Costa Rica to continue their journey.

___

Associated Press writer Astrid Suarez in Bogota, Colombia, contributed to this report.
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BRANFORD  The hospice patients were carefully wheeled in gurneys over strewn branches, shards of glass, and telephone wires, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, recalled.

That was in the wake of Superstorm Sandy [in 2012] and it was mind-boggling, having to transport these very frail, very fragile patients to safety, she said to the roughly 50 staff, board members, and volunteers assembled just outside the entrance of Branfords Connecticut Hospice on a luminous April Wednesday.

The occasion was a press conference highlighting an award of $1,940,000 in community project funding for the Double Beach inpatient facility and home care headquarters. DeLauro reinstituted community project funding in the 2022 federal spending package.

Funding for improvements will ensure Connecticut Hospice does not have to relocate patients from its Branford headquarters during natural disasters, DeLauro said amid the celebratory air.

She recalled hosting a study group in her living room in January 2019 to brainstorm on the future of hospice in Barbara Pearces early days as interim CEO.

Pearce, along with CFO Joe Mooney, would go on to engineer an organizational shake-up that dramatically streamlined operations of the not-for-profit  all toward the objective of rebuilding CT Hospices sterling reputation in its medical and palliative services.

I dont think anyone believed we werent going to be able to save Hospice because of what its role has been and what it has meant to our community and to the greater community, DeLauro said.

With Pearce and Mooney having righted the ship, the focus can shift to the long-term health of the infrastructure.

Thats what the grant affords, according to Pearce.

Coming as it does on the eve of the institutions 50th anniversary as the first hospice in the United States, it will take us to the next step into the future, Pearce said.

This was originally a beach club and we can see why when we look out the back windows, she said, referring to the raw natural beauty of the view. Then it was Echlin Corporation, which was built over 40 years ago, and its showing its age. It wasnt built to be a hospice.

As climate change has eroded our beachfront and brought us closer to nature in the form of Long Island Sound, weve been forced even a couple of times in the last years to decide whether we were going to evacuate, Pearce said.

The grant, she said, will allow us to upgrade all of our systems  our oil tanks to run the generators, the generators to be bigger so they run the whole place, the HVAC and cooling tower replacement, she said.

This, along with window glazing and replacement, will serve to protect our building from direct storm damage which would cause us to have to evacuate.

Patricia Baker, chairman of the Connecticut Hospice board, evoked the guiding principle originated by Dr. Sylvia Lack in 1973.

Hospice is more than a building, she said. Its a movement and a statement of what care should be for people in this phase of their lives, and its about focusing dignity, respect, and care on the patient and the family.

That said, the building is really important too, she said. This is about making sure this building is the place you want your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother to be at the end of life.

State Sen. Christine Cohen expressed gratitude to the amazing staff for [caring] for the patients day in and day out. She praised DeLauro who, she said, has done so much to protect this aging infrastructure for the next generation.

She called out for continued collaboration between our federal partners, the state legislature, our local government, and of course the board members and staff to keep this amazing place going, she said.

Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove sounded a similar refrain.

Operating a facility like this, which so many people depend on, you need to ensure its resilient, not just for changing weather, but for maintaining the mission of what they do, he said.

To have it here in our town, this institution that was first of its kind in the country, and continues to be in the forefront of cutting-edge, end-of-life care, its something we take a lot of pride in.

He credited his predecessor, Anthony Unk DaRos, for doing more than anybody for shepherding in this place.

As the New Haven Register reported, DaRos, while First Selectman, frequently traveled to Hartford to testify on different bills that impacted CT Hospice and emceed major fundraisers in its support.

Said DaRos, who was standing nearby, hospice was conceived in New Haven, but really it was born here in Branford.

He recalled when the Echlin Building went up for sale in the late 1990s.

They were looking for all kinds of money to redo it, and the only proposal was to turn it into condominiums, said DaRos, who praised the CT Hospice staff for their wonderful care of his mother. But I thought what an ideal place for a hospice.

And thats why this thing Rosa got us is so important, he added, as a seagull swooped above.
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Westbrook High School may be small, with 197 students, but its Career Pathways Connection, a model program, is about to get national attention at the Education Innovation Showcase on April 18 in San Diego.

In this competition among schools, Westbrook is one of 10 finalists and will compete against much larger schools from Chicago, Texas and California. The winner will take home some $50,000 and prizes.

The Westbrook program aims to help students find a clear career path after graduation or help them map out a course of study in college.

Career Pathways has some successes under its belt since it began in 2019; the state Department of Education points to it as an example for other high schools in the state.

A recent Westbrook High graduate who didnt know where his interest in government would take him is now interning at the General Assembly while a college freshman at Gateway Community College.



Then there is the senior who loves history and works in the Westbrook Town Planners office, learning about the towns past and future.

The first Westbrook grad to go through the program from start to finish is another success story, according to Leslie Carson, career/college readiness coordinator, who heads the program.

Nate Apel was a struggling student with mechanical skills, not interested in going to a traditional college. But, after working with Carson, he geared his classes his senior year to get into a tech school.

Shortly after graduating from Goodwin University in East Hartford, Apel recently reported to his first day on the job at the Lee Company in Westbrook, a manufacturer that employs some 1,100 in the area.

So hes our pioneer student, the first student of ours to graduate since we started the Pathway Program at the Lee Company, Carson said about Apel with evident pride.

The tech school, Apel said, skyrocketed me over to the Lee company.

Apel admitted he wasnt focused as a student, I kind of went from the student that was barely scraping by, wasn't really thinking about a future  this kind of opened my eyes up to what I could really do.

His interests were math and coding, but he worried he didnt have the aptitude for these skills he'd need on the job.

That is until he focused: I never was really good at it until I took the time to actually try and learn it.

With Carsons help, he could take half of his classes in the metal shop, which helped him prepare for a career in manufacturing.

I learned a lot of everything in there, he recalled. There's deadlines  You have to get stuff perfect. If it's not perfect  it's getting thrown out.

And most importantly, he said, There's a lot of shop safety you have to consider with all the sharp objects and stuff flying around at thousands of RPMs.

Even students who know their interests can benefit from Career Pathways, Carson said.

Andrew Livingstone came to Carson his sophomore year, during COVID. He knew he wanted to work in politics and government but wasnt sure how to get there.

When he met Carson, Livingstone said, grinning, Little did I know that she was an encyclopedia of human encyclopedia about just government in general.

With Carsons help he narrowed down his focus to AP classes and law. Livingstone reflected, Now I intern at the General Assembly, and everything I learned from those classes, I apply every single day. He works for House Majority Whip-At-Large Democrat Kara Rochelle, D-104.

And almost immediately, he said, Carson put him in contact with former state lawmakers, such as middle school teacher Jim Crawford, who represented the 35th district from 2011-2013.

From Crawford he learned about local and state government. He really reinforced  how much local issues and local politics affect your life directly  not so much the bickering in Washington, DC, he said.

For his senior project, Livingstone interned with high school teacher Chet Bialicki who ran for first selectman in 2022  the Democrat who was defeated by John Hall this past November.

Livingstone worked on Bialickis campaign  and from just attending campaign events and the networking that came from that was incredible, he said.

Carson stresses that the high school faculty are instrumental in making the program work; each teacher acts as an advisor to a student, from freshman through senior years. Teachers are assigned up to 12 students each, and someone else grades them.

And there are many partners  local businesses, professionals and town staff that works with students.

One major employer in town, the Lee Company, has enthusiastically supported the program  especially to encourage students to go into manufacturing.

Manufacturing seems to be a hard sell as a career sometimes. Every parent wants their kid to go to college and doesnt seem to want their kid to go into manufacturing, observed Jeff Dickey, executive vice president, Hydraulics at Lee.



So we work hard to show that it can be a viable career, he said. Selfishly, we do get a chance to meet some great students who could be future employees, but its not just for that reason. Getting kids more interested in STEM helps all companies, and helps bring us all up.



Partners also include the town hall, Carson said. She pointed to senior Gabriella Spash as a typical student.

Spash had a passion for history but didn't quite know what she could do for college or career, Carson said.

So we got her hooked up in Westbrook with the Westbrook town planner for an internship. She's decided that she wants to go into municipal government - and it's all because of that internship, Carson explained.

All my friends  they knew what they wanted to do for college, Spash said. I was really stuck.

So I came here, and I was like, I have no clue what I want to do, she said. Spash loved history but discovered that being a history major  you can only be a teacher, really, or historian, curator  I didn't really want to work in a museum. When Carson told her about an opportunity at the town planners office, she was doubtful at first.

I didn't think it had a lot to do with history until I went there and I talked with him, Spash recalled about her meeting with Town Planner Peter Gillespie. And he said it has a lot to do with the town's history and the backstory of the town."

Working there, Spash also gets to see applications for development because they're like plans for the future of what's going to be built and different zoning stuff with the town.

It has to do with history still, and it's not like completely off track, she said. Spash will be a freshman this fall at Central Connecticut State University with a major in geography with a specialization in planning. Now she serves as secretary for the schools Future Business Leaders of America (FMLA), which is useful for town municipal governments.

Carson is looking forward to her trip to San Diego, where she can talk about the program. "I am thrilled to represent the targeted and dedicated work of our Westbrook High School faculty and students, which has delivered results we never imagined," she said in an email.


The Albemarle County Planning Commission has canceled its regular meeting for Tuesday.

Its the commissions second canceled regular meeting in a row. The commission, which is scheduled to hold regular meetings twice a month, canceled its March 28 meeting. However, commission members did have a scheduled work session to discuss zoning ordinance modernization on that day.

According to the county website, the next meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on April 25 in Room 241 of the Albemarle County Office Building at 401 McIntire Road in Charlottesville.
Trainer Gary Chudobiak feeds a carrot to Quick Reload, one of the horses who shipped into the backstretch over Easter weekend when the Fort Erie Race Track opened up its facilities for spring training.



Temperatures were hovering just above zero as the sun rose on Easter Sunday for the first day of spring training at Fort Erie Race Track.

But neither the horses nor their trainers seemed to mind the chilly temperatures.

It could be worse, said trainer Gary Chudobiak as he fed carrots to his horse, Quick Reload. There could have been a foot of snow out there, so Im not complaining.

A veteran trainer in the border ovals backstretch, Chudobiak had just the one horse out for training when the historic border oval dusted off the dirt track for training on April 9, but he expects to have five more by the time opening day rolls around in May.

In total, more than 113 horses were registered and shipped into the backstretch over the long weekend, with more coming in daily.

Despite all the obstacles that always seem to get thrown at us, the horsepeople here, and the management team, theyre great, and they always seem to find a way around those barriers, so I know its going to be another great season, said Chudobiak.

The 126th season at Fort Erie kicks off on May 23 and will feature 40 race dates. Alongside a full slate of racing, opening day will also feature food trucks on site. Additionally, anyone purchasing a race program will receive a free T-shirt. The day will wind up with a post-racing free concert by The Figure Four.

Popular features at the track will return for 2023, including six market days featuring local artisans and crafters, seven free concerts, wiener dog races on July 16, basset hound races on Aug. 13 and the Prince of Wales Stakes on Sept. 12.

For more information, including a full list of race dates and events, visit www.forterieracing.com.

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Dine out, for a great cause.

Habitat for Humanity Niagaras Home For Dinner campaign is back for its third year.

Participating restaurants across Niagara have created special offers for the month of April to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

Since it started in 2021, Home for Dinner has raised over $50,000 for Habitat Niagaras home building program and generated close to $500,000 for local restaurants.

This years participating restaurants are Eh Jose Taqueria, Queen Bean Cafe, Go Buddha, the Upper Deck Taphouse and Grill, Scorecard Harrys, Half-Baked Bagel, the Smokin Buddha, M.T. Bellies, Rozies Cafe, Cracker Jacks Bar and Grill, and Jamrock Irie Jerk.

Meridian is the presenting sponsor for this years fundraiser, and Greg Bartman, Meridians commercial relationship manager, said they are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity Niagara for a third year.

Not only does Home for Dinner directly lead to much needed additional funding for affordable housing within Niagara, but it also encourages the public to support local small businesses who have graciously volunteered to be a part of this initiative, he said.

Emily OConnor, manager of resource development for Habitat Niagara, said Meridian has been instrumental in supporting the cause.

Our partnership emphasizes our desire to build stronger, more resilient communities and Home for Dinner does just that; by supporting local restaurants, youre supporting Habitat for Humanity. Its a win-win-win initiative, she said.

To see the list of menu items that qualify to support Home for Dinner, visit homefordinner.ca.

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76-year-old James Russell began his hunger strike next to the Negro Burial Ground sign at noon on April 10. He vowed to continue until Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa, promised, on camera, that, this year, the town will unearth, clean and restore the 19 headstones that the Town's employees buried decades ago.







He intends to remain chained, in place, until his demands are met.

James Russell, 76, began his hunger strike next to the Negro Burial Ground sign at noon on April 10.

He vowed that I will continue my sit-in and hunger strike until Gary Zalepa, (lord) mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), promises, on camera, that, this year, the town will unearth, clean and restore the 19 headstones that town employees buried decades ago.

Russell wants the town to do the right thing and give names back to the Black Canadian settlers who are buried here.

He alleges town staff buried the headstones decades ago.

In November 2021, Russell petitioned the town to allow him to conduct a ground-penetrating radar survey of the Negro Burial Ground (NBG). The scan revealed 28 graves and 19 buried headstones  some as deep as 45 centimetres.

Russell hired an archeological firm that quoted $59,000 to unearth (and) clean the headstones, thereby restoring dignity to those Black Canadian settlers who have been rendered anonymous.

James wants the town to foot the bill.

Since receiving that quote, Russell has repeatedly insisted that the town and the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO), owners of the NBG, are morally and ethically responsible for unearthing the headstones  something he said the groups have steadfastly refused to do.

A different group, composed of NOTL residents, has dubbed themselves the Friends of the Forgotten (FOTF).

George Webber, a member of FOTF, said the group is working to restore all 11 sites and noted they started with the Negro Burial Ground, also known as the First Baptist Church burial ground.

He also said the project would be long term and take several years. But Webber was adamant it was important to honour past residents from the town.

Sarah Kaufman, managing director and curator of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, agreed, and said the restoration work matters because those buried there were loved and remembered by friends and family with a marker placed in their honour.

It is important we continue to honour these individuals by ensuring that their markers, or perhaps new markers, are placed here to recognize them, said Kaufman. Restoring the stones can also help us to discover the names of former residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake and perhaps strengthen the information we have on the community's history.

In the case of the Negro Burial Ground, the former church associated had a significant Black community, she noted.

There is very little information on their history, and the names could help us to discover new stories and provide a more wholesome history of our community.

She said museums are moving toward being inclusive to all the groups within their communities and tell their stories so that everyone feels included.

It can also have an impact on family histories, said Kaufman. Discovering the names or stones can help the descendants to discover where their family comes from.

She thinks it is an opportunity for NOTL to demonstrate that Black history is important to residents.

It would be wonderful to see this as a 'sister site' to the Voices of Freedom park, she added. It could be another place of reflection for the residents of today to appreciate and consider the residents of our past who helped to shape the world we are living in.

Currently, there is a Stage-1 archeological assessment occurring at the site, she added.

Marah Minor, community engagement and communications co-ordinator for the town, said once completed, the results will be reviewed by staff, the FOTF, and the BAO. The results will then be shared with town council, and the next steps will be determined.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: After hearing about a hunger strike occurring regarding Niagara-on-the-Lakes Negro Burial Ground, reporter Nick Fearns learned more about the issue and what is currently being done.

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A wrong turn at the Peace Bridge proved costly for a New York motorist.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said a 25-year-old driver made his way onto the bridge on Easter Sunday and told border officers he had made a wrong turn and had no intention of travelling to Fort Erie.

According to officials, the Rochester resident gave a false name at primary inspection and was escorted to a secondary inspection area.

His vehicle was searched and officers found multiple vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana in a duffel bag on the back seat.

The marijuana had a total weight of almost six kilograms, with an estimated street value of more than $44,000.

The driver was taken into custody and turned over to Buffalo Police Department.

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A Niagara nurse has pleaded guilty to multiple assault-related charges involving a two-year-old child with severe medical limitations.

Eric Hang, 23, appeared in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and two counts of assault.

The assault with a weapon charge involves a baby monitor, a pillow and a stuffed animal.

The case was adjourned until June, at which time details of the case will be read into court.

Hang, a resident of Port Colborne, was arrested in August 2022 after Niagara Regional Police responded to a Thorold address and learned a two-year-old boy with significant medical limitations had sustained serious injuries.

Niagara Emergency Medical Services paramedics initially transported the toddler to a local hospital before he was transported to an out-of-town centre for advanced and specialized care.

In a press release issued at the time of the arrest, police said Hang had been a registered practical nurse for more than a year.

He has remained in custody since his arrest.

In court Friday, defence lawyer David Protomanni submitted two psychological reports on his client including a forensic psychological report relating to risk assessment.

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A 76-year-old Toronto resident is a man on a mission, having chained himself to the Negro Burial Ground sign in Niagara-on-the-Lake and started a hunger strike.

James Russell is protesting about a series of 19 headstones that need to be unearthed, cleaned and restored. He said a town employee admitted last year that he and his co-workers had buried them decades ago.

The headstones were connected to a Baptist church built in 1830 that had a predominantly Black congregation. Russell said it is likely some graves belonged to freedom-seekers who had escaped slavery in the southern United States and made their way to Canada via the Underground Railroad.

I will continue my sit-in and hunger strike until Niagara-on-the-Lake (Lord) Mayor Gary Zalepa promises, on camera that this year the town will do the right thing, said Russell, a retired journalist.

By burying the headstones, these Black Canadian settlers have been rendered anonymous and that needs to change.

Russell is equipped with a lawn chair, a jug of water and a blanket, and said he has no qualms about the cold nights.

Im Canadian, Russell said. I know I can handle it. Only my wife is worried. I have to call her regularly to let her know Im OK.

Russell said he believes the headstones were buried to make cutting the grass easier.

I would drive by the burial ground, and all I could see was the sign, said Russell, a frequent visitor to Niagara-on-the-Lake. I thought it was odd there were no headstones.

Russell petitioned the town to allow him to conduct a ground-penetrating radar survey of the Negro Burial Ground in November 2021. The scan, which Russell paid for out of pocket, revealed 28 graves and 19 buried headstones. Russell said the headstones are about 45 centimetres deep and match up neatly with grave-sites identified using ground-penetrating radar. Two large granite headstones were installed in 1897 and still stand on the site.

James also hired Archaeological Research Associates, which specializes in managing cultural heritage resources. The Guelph-based firm gave him an estimate of $59,000 to unearth, clean and restore the headstones, but the town is refusing to pay the cost and is relying on donations.

Lauren Kruitbosch, Niagara-on-the-Lakes manager of customer experience and communications, said the town is aware that Russell has chained himself to the sign at the Mississauga Street burial site.

In an email, she said the town is committed to honouring those who are buried at the cemetery and preserving heritage in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It is partnered with a community group, Friends of the Forgotten, to restore and preserve the burial ground long term.

Staff is working with the Friends of the Forgotten to establish the next steps forward and is currently conducting a Stage 1 archeological assessment with funding raised by the community group.

This process is being done in consultation with the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, Kruitbosch wrote. Once completed, the results will be shared with town council, and next steps will be determined.

Kruitbosch said the archeological investigation must be done in accordance with standards and guidelines for consultant archeologists under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act. The bereavement authority and province must approve any work plans before starting the project.

The town will work co-operatively with these parties as it respectfully investigates and restores this important burial site and resting place of the parishioners buried there, Kruitbosch said.

Russell said the town shouldnt be relying on donations from the public, who have been paying for the upkeep of the cemetery with their tax dollars.

The town has had responsibility for the last 140-some-odd years to maintain the cemetery, Russell said. Its very clear the Bereavement Authority of Ontario specifies that any work done on a cemetery has to be done by the owner, and thats the town.

The only maintenance the town has done on this cemetery is cut the grass, Russell said. That the town refuses to pay $59,000 is ridiculous.

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U.S. President Joe Biden is visiting Ireland this week to celebrate an anniversary that almost didnt happen  the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 that ended 30 years of killing in Northern Ireland, but it almost unravelled this year.

The Troubles saw more than 3,000 people killed in assassinations, ambushes and bombings as the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) waged a guerrilla and terrorist war against the Protestant majority in Northern Ireland and the British army, seeking to unite the province with the Catholic-majority Republic of Ireland to the south.

Eventually the two sides fought each other to a standstill, and a 1994 ceasefire was followed four years later by the Good Friday Agreement, an intricate structure of balanced concessions, compulsory power-sharing, and of course amnesties for many people.

The Agreement was guaranteed by the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the European Union to which both countries then belonged. And for the next quarter-century Northern Ireland, with just under two million people, about half-Protestant, half-Catholic, enjoyed both peace and a flourishing economy.

The secret of its success was the ultra-open border it created between the British-ruled province and the Irish republic.

Catholic nationalists dreaming of a united Ireland could live their lives as if it were true, and even claim Irish passports. Protestant loyalists could still fly the Union Jack and pretend that nothing important had changed.

The British army was withdrawn from Northern Ireland, a new non-sectarian police was created, and most people lived more or less happily ever after. Unfortunately, this agreeable compromise depended critically on the invisibility of the virtual border, so when Brexit came along in 2016 the whole deal was undermined.

With nationalism resurgent everywhere and the British Empire gone, an outbreak of English nationalism was quite likely, and the obvious target for it was the European Union. An ambitious journalist named Boris Johnson put himself at the head of the Brexit cause, hoping it would make him prime minister, and it did.

Johnson neither knew nor cared anything about Irish politics and diplomacy, but some kind of real border with the Republic of Ireland had to reappear if the UK left the EU. He denied this fact as long as he could, but in 2019 he signed a withdrawal agreement that put the UK-EU border in the Irish Sea, between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

This infuriated the Northern Irish loyalists, who believed they were becoming second-class British citizens. It hugely encouraged the more militant nationalists among the Catholic population, who imagined that it was the last step before the inevitable unification of all Ireland.

And just coincidentally, the 2021 census revealed that Catholics have finally become a narrow majority of Northern Irelands population. So the ancient conflict began to reawaken.

Johnson then threatened to tear up the agreement, but his own Conservative Party dumped him last July over his incessant lying on this and other subjects. After the brief but deranged prime ministership of Liz Truss, the relatively calm and competent Rishi Sunak took over.

Sunak negotiated a deal with the EU in February that eases the movement of goods between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, but leaves the border in the Irish Sea. Maybe that will lull the monster back to sleep  and maybe not.

.

Many good people are striving to head off a collapse of the agreement, and they will probably succeed. But its hardly surprising that Joe Biden, of Irish Catholic descent, is starting his Irish visit in Belfast, in Northern Ireland  and that he is not planning to attend the coronation of King Charles III in London next month.

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TORONTO - Rogers Communications Inc. is buying the company that owns the wireless network in Torontos subway and will bring 5G to the entire system, the company said Monday.

The telecom giant said in a news release it has entered into an agreement to purchase BAI Communications Canadian operations.

In 2012, BAI was awarded a $25-million contract by the TTC to build and operate its public Wi-Fi and cellular network.

However, Freedom Mobile is the only telecom company that has signed on to provide coverage to its customers through BAIs network, meaning most mobile customers have little to no service along the subway line.

An increase in violent incidents on the TTC over the past year has brought the gap under fresh scrutiny, with some calling on the federal telecommunications regulator to force Rogers, Bell and Telus to use BAIs network.

Rogers said with the acquisition of BAI, it can now invest in building a comprehensive and reliable 5G network for the entire TTC subway system.

The company said its investment will bring 911 coverage to the whole system. Currently, it said 911 coverage is available to all mobile users only where BAIs network exists: on station platforms, concourses, and approximately 25 per cent of the tunnels.

Rogers said it will work to quickly address gaps in the busiest and most critical sections of the subway.

The agreement to acquire BAI Canada is a significant first step in modernizing and expanding the existing network to deliver enhanced 5G wireless service to millions of transit riders throughout the entire subway system in Canadas largest city, Rogers Chief Technology and Information Officer Ron McKenzie said in the news release.

The terms of the agreement and the value of the deal werent disclosed.

Extensive upgrades are needed to modernize the network, Rogers said.

BAI said in an update posted on its website that the deal was the result of active negotiations over the past year.

Each market we operate in is unique and multi-party negotiations are often complex. In this case we believe this is the best outcome to make connectivity a reality for TTC subway users, BAIs update stated, noting the company would continue to service transit systems in cities like New York, London and Hong Kong.

Rogers said the 5G network build is expected to take approximately two years because the windows available for construction are limited in order to keep the subway operational.

Together with the TTC, Rogers will work on a phased deployment plan, including network design, architecture and rollout logistics, for both network improvements and expansion in the stations, concourses and in all of the subway tunnels, the company said in its release.

The completed 5G network will deliver wireless coverage in all 75 stations and almost 80 kilometres of the subway system, Rogers said.

The deal is expected to close in the next two weeks.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

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TORONTO - Rogers and BAI Communications reached a deal Monday that will see the telecommunications giant acquire the exclusive rights to build the TTCs wireless network. Here is what you need to know about cell service coming to the subway system.

When will Torontonians have cell service?

It will likely be at least nine months before Toronto subway riders can make calls and browse their phones underground in certain parts of the network, while Rogers is aiming to have the whole system set up in two years.

Rogers says the existing cell network, mostly located downtown, cant handle the volume expected once customers of major carriers begin using it. It is planning to upgrade the network to 5G capacity, which should be complete early next year.

The company says it will also build a 5G network across all 75 stations and the tunnel portions of the subway system, a process which could take two years.

Will service be limited to Rogers customers?

Rogers says it isnt planning to make cell service on the TTC exclusive to its own customers. It says it wants to initiate discussions with other providers to participate in the network. That could include other providers paying for access to the network

Freedom Mobile customers, who already had access to cell service in the existing portion of the tunnels with coverage, will maintain the same access moving forward.

Why has this taken so long?

In 2012, the TTC awarded a $25-million contract to Australias BAI Communications Inc. to build and operate its public Wi-Fi and cellular network. But only Freedom Mobile signed on to provide coverage to its customers through BAIs network.

Rogers, Bell and Telus long declined to do so, despite public pressure, citing reasons that range from the inadequacy of the 3G and 4G capacity to wanting a stake in the networks ownership.

An increase in violent incidents on the TTC over the past year, including the stabbing death of 16-year-old Gabriel Magalhaes at Keele station on March 25, brought the issue under fresh scrutiny. Toronto city council passed a motion by Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie late last month urging the city to call on all cellphone providers to ensure service is available across the subway system.

How does Toronto compare to other major cities?

Critics have described the impasse in Toronto as an outlier over the past decade. In Montreal, for instance, Bell, Rogers, Telus and Videotron built and co-own the Metro systems cellphone network.

But the BAI model has also seen success elsewhere. Last summer, New Yorks Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that communications infrastructure company Transit Wireless, which is majority-owned by BAI, would bring coverage to all underground subway travellers over the next decade. Its first line to be outfitted with cellphone connectivity was completed in 2020, providing service to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile customers.

In the U.K., BAI was awarded a 20-year contract to provide 4G and 5G mobile connectivity across Londons Tube, including within the tunnels, by 2024. All four major carriers in that country signed on.

How big a role does the TTC play in Toronto?

The subway serves as a significant mode of transport for Torontonians. In January, more than one million unique Presto cards were scanned to board a subway, bus or streetcar, according to a report last month  almost three per cent of Canadas population.

The TTC system saw an average of 2.07 million weekday boardings that month. About half were subway passengers, representing 64 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

The TTC said it anticipates customer demand to further increase through the year as more workers in the downtown core return to the office.

Of the 80-kilometre subway system, just one-quarter of the tunnel system is set up to accommodate cell and internet service.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

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When Julian Shenoy receives his tax refund this year, he plans to set aside some of it for investments and the rest for travel.

With the pandemic and such, everything was closed over the last three years, so most likely (Ill put) more of a proportion of it toward leisure  maybe 50 per cent of it toward investing and 50 per cent toward a holiday, Shenoy said in a phone interview.

The millennial based in Toronto said hes pretty lucky not to have accumulated as much debt as many others have in his age group, which is why he plans to spend his tax refund this way.

Its a little different for me to have more disposable income, but I think if you have more expenses, it might be difficult, Shenoy added.

With tax season upon us, experts say its best to take a hard look at your finances before deciding what to do with your tax refund  and they emphasize there is no one-size-fits-all approach for everyone to take.

There isnt a cookie-cutter solution. Everybodys different, said Brenda Hiscock, a fee-only, advice-only certified financial planner at Objective Financial Partners in Toronto.

Top of the list of things you should consider, Hiscock said, is whether you have debt that you need to pay down.

If you have high-interest debt, thats the first thing that you would want to do with your tax refund, because that debt is really going to accumulate very quickly and is very costly, she said.

Next, Hiscock recommends looking into employer matching programs for retirement savings, in which an employer matches an employees contribution into a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). Its often dollar-per-dollar up to a certain amount or up to a given percentage of an employees salary.

Employer matching programs are free money and many people miss out on the opportunities that they present and so I would (at the) next stop look and see if youre maximizing any matching programs, she said.

Finally, Hiscock said you should consider directing your money toward an RRSP, a tax-free savings account (TFSA), or first home savings account (FHSA), which is a new type of registered account that allows you to save for your first home tax-free up to certain limits and became available just this month (not all financial institutions have rolled out their offerings yet, so be sure to ask around).

If you make $50,000 or less a year and you have a limited ability to invest, she recommends setting aside money in a TFSA.

If you make more than $50,000, then you should consider putting money in an RRSP or FHSA, depending on whether you meet the definition of a first-time homebuyer set by the federal government and which one will be most beneficial for your situation, said Hiscock.

The key to long-term success with investing is diversification and consistency, she added.

You really want to look at a well-diversified portfolio, because I do find that many people end up buying what their friends tell them to, or one stock, or some speculative investments, said Hiscock.

Though it may be exciting to receive a tax refund, Hiscock cautions against impulse spending and instead suggests perhaps setting aside a small percentage of it toward personal pleasure and the rest toward more responsible financial planning like paying off debt or investing.

Theres being practical, of course, but theres also making ourselves happy and enjoying life, and I think that we need to find a good balance there, she said.

Natasha Jahrig, account manager, personal banking at Canadian Western Bank, offered similar advice for Canadians who are debating what to do with their tax refund.

Its definitely not a one-size-fits-all kind of advice. It really is based on personal situations, she said. I would ask a lot of questions like, What is most important to you?

People with debt  especially high-interest debt  should pay it off early to ensure that they can take back control of their finances, said Jahrig.

Those who dont have a lot of debt should consider creating an emergency fund with their tax refund in the event that they lose their job or have another emergency that could put a dent in their wallet, or putting money in TFSAs, RRSPs, or non-registered investments, she said.

Non-registered accounts are taxable investment accounts offered by banks and financial service providers in Canada. They allow you to invest an unlimited amount of money in an array of investments and are useful if you have maxed out your TFSA or RRSP.

If youre uncertain of what to do with your tax refund or would like to receive personalized advice from an expert, Hiscock and Jahrig said you should speak to a certified financial planner, a trusted financial adviser, or perhaps even an accountant who may be doing your taxes.

It is so important to have that relationship with your experts so that they can provide you with whats going to be best for you specifically, said Jahrig.

You can also turn to free online resources like getsmarteraboutmoney.ca, which Hiscock said has excellent coverage of all areas of financial planning.

Overall, the experts underscored that its worthwhile to carefully consider your options when you receive your tax refund.

If you really think it through and are strategic, then youll likely come out ahead in the long term, said Hiscock.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

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A lot can happen in one month.

In early March, Charlottesville City Council was looking at a general fund budget of $226.2 million, with a capital improvement fund of $98.9 million.

Last week, the general fund budget was penciled to climb to $230.4 million and the capital fund to swelled to $116.4 million. The amounts were discussed at an April 6 City Council work session and will likely be gaveled into an ordinance Tuesday.

interim City Manager Michael Rogers told the five elected officials that larger-than-expected revenues meant a projected $10.4 million surplus, but Rogers did not tell the five elected officials how to proceed.

At the end of the day you are the leaders of this community, said Rogers. And it is your decision.

Council appears ready to spend 8.2% more than last year and take on $14.5 million in additional debt.

Looming over last weeks discussion was Rogerss report that a full rebuild of Buford Middle School would cost about $92 million, including a $6.7 million auditorium that has, until now, been treated as an option.

I would like to earmark the auditorium somehow, Council Member Brian Pinkston said at the meeting. We need to get this project going.

The council budgeted $13.5 million more for Buford, including contingencies.

Other new capital expenditures were $600,000 for LED street lamps; $750,000 to put a sidewalk on Stribling Avenue; $75,000 to kill kudzu and other invasive plants; and $575,000 to renovate the lobby of City Hall.

The council was also informed that the planned construction of a new firehouse on the U.S. 250 Bypass would cost an additional $2 million, so they funded that too.

As for the general fund, the changes came mostly from nonprofit organizations dissatisfied by the results of the Vibrant Community Fund, or VCF, process, which initially awarded $2.1 million to 47 organizations.

Mayor Lloyd Snook initially worried that bolstering payments for some would trim payments to others.

When we the trust the VCF Committee to make certain allocations and theyre reviewing all this information and we are not, I think we should be very reluctant to decide that we are going to make different priority allocations, said Snook.

Thats when fellow councilor Leah Puryear noted that the budget surplus allowed going beyond the initial $2.1 million.

What youre doing is enhancing, rather than taking, said Puryear.

That ends up giving me less heartburn, said Snook.

The councilors largest additional allocations were:

$225,000 to the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program for operations.

$186,993 to the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center for rent.

$500,000 to the Pathway program, which provides direct aid for those facing eviction.

$100,000 to the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing agency for resident services.

$126,400 to Child Health Partnership.

$40,000 to the Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents.

Additionally, the councilors allocated $200,000 for anti-violence efforts, with a decision about who will get the money to be decided later in the year. In all, the additional spending on groups measured about $1.5 million, with another $850,000 appropriated to study employee compensation.

Halfway through the budget work session, Rogers phone inexplicably began playing Queens 1979 single Dont Stop Me Now. It didnt stop for nearly a minute.

I just want to know who calls you and gets 'supersonic man,' said Snook, alluding to a line in the high-energy song.

It wasnt a call, replied Rogers. It was just one of those things.

We needed that comic relief, said Krisy Hammill, the citys budget director.

Some city taxpayers have urged tax relief. While the budget doesnt call for an increase in the property tax rate, which is 96 cents per $100 of value, this years residential tax assessments rose 11.94%; commercial values climbed 12.89%.

However, no would-be tax-reducers spoke at last weeks meeting. The only ones who spoke during the public comment portion were three people affiliated with groups seeking additional funding.

Tuesdays meeting will be the second reading of the fiscal 2024 budget ordinance, which includes the annual appropriations and the tax rate and tax levy ordinance. It is slated for 5:30 p.m.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified who supports the Pathways Community Resource Helpline program. Pathways is funded by the city Charlottesville and Albemarle County and administered by the United Way of Greater Charlottesville.
CALGARY - Police investigators who brought in forensic teams and a cadaver dog to search a rural property east of Calgary have charged a man accused of targeting women in the citys sex trade.

Police say officers cordoned off the acreage looking for evidence after at least three sex workers were drugged and physically and sexually assaulted.

Supt. Cliff OBrien says the search included the use of cadaver dogs, but no bodies have been found.

When we go into a situation like that and with these types of allegations, its important that were thorough, OBrien said at a news conference Monday.

It was a multi-day search, and obviously we had multiple search-trained police officers. We had forensics through there ... there was a lot of resources.

OBrien said police began the investigation in March after hearing from workers in the sex trade. The alleged offences happened between December 2021 and last month.

Women were believed to have been approached by a man in the Forest Lawn area, where the women were allegedly drugged, taken to a rural property east of the city, where they were physically and sexually assaulted.

OBrien said the suspect was living in an outbuilding that he rented from the propertys owners.

Richard Robert Mantha, 59, of Rocky View County, faces 13 charges including kidnapping, forcible confinement, administering a noxious substance, sexual assault with a weapon and sexual assault causing bodily harm.

He was also wanted on three outstanding warrants from outside of Calgary for sexual assault, assault causing bodily harm and failing to attend court.

Mantha is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

OBrien said the investigation remains open and officers are also looking into the suspects possible connection to some missing persons cases.

Were always looking at our missing persons cases and so right now were not ruling anything out, he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

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For the family of a man who worked as a fixer for Canadian media in Afghanistan, the difference between freedom and a hellish existence for his family apparently came down to one small, bureaucratic mistake.

In the last two years, his father suffered burns as the Taliban set fire to his house. His brother was detained and tortured, his tongue cut with pliers.

His parents and more than a dozen family members have been hiding for nearly two years, fearing the Taliban, who toppled the western-backed Afghan government in August 2021.

A. Afzaly worked as a translator and fixer in Afghanistan for major Canadian media, including the Toronto Star and CBC. His family is stranded in Kabul, they say, because of a mistaken facilitation letter, the kind meant to allow people to enter Canada, issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The Star is not publishing Afzalys full name for security reasons.

Afzaly moved to Europe in 2007 to pursue his studies. He requested asylum in Germany (on grounds of persecution over not believing in Islam), where he lives now. His parents and siblings remained in Afghanistan.

On Aug. 8, 2021, days before the Taliban took control of the capital, he tried to help his family. He applied to a Canadian program to resettle Afghans who assisted this country.

When the Taliban captured his home province in early August 2021, his family fled to Kabul, where they thought they would be safe for a while. Within a week of their arrival on Aug. 15, the capital fell.

In the chaos, thousands of people rushed to Kabul International Airport. The U.S. and its allies, including Canadian forces, were stationed on the military side of the compound, helping airlift their local allies, journalists and some members of vulnerable minority groups.

Afzaly contacted his friends in the Canadian media, whom he had helped report on this countrys fight against the Taliban, to assist his family in evacuating to Canada.

A group of Canadian journalists began contacting their networks in the armed forces and the immigration department, asking to put his familys name on the evacuation list as the family was housed in a hiding place near the airport.

They were asking to go to this gate and that gate, recalled Afzaly of the Canadian army personnel on the ground, trying to get the family inside the airport. They were even asking for the GPS co-ordinates of my family to get them via helicopter.

On the following day, Aug. 26, they received their facilitation letter via email. But there was a problem.

Despite notifying the immigration department that I am not in Afghanistan, but my familys life is in danger in the country, and they need help, Afzaly said Ottawa issued the facilitation letter for travel  allowing entry to Canada via Kabul airport  in his name. But it was his father, along with 10 other relatives, who were trying to flee Kabul. The Star has seen the letter.

Canada ended its military mission and stopped airlifting people on that day, Aug. 26. It was the day a massive suicide attack struck the airport, killing 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghans. But U.S. forces continued evacuating people until Aug. 31.

Im confident that the advocacy was clear, said Maureen Silcoff, the familys lawyer, about the letter that should have been issued to Afzalys father.

What has been problematic is that there seems to have been a mistake, that a letter was issued in the wrong persons name, which prevented the family from getting access to the airport.

Journalist and filmmaker Michelle Shephard is part of the advocacy group  journalists from the Star, CBC, the Globe and CTV  that tried to get former translators and journalists and their families to safety, including Afzalys family.

Shephard, who is also on the board of directors for Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, said the organization, along with the Canadian Association of Journalists, harnessed their resources to raise funds for the logistics of getting people out quickly, We had some success and many, many frustrations, said Shephard, the Stars former national security reporter.

A mistake made early on threw (Afzalys) family into this Kafkaesque nightmare that seemed impossible to navigate and has left his family at risk and stranded, she said.

She praised some bureaucrats and diplomats who worked hard to help. But so many people have fallen through the cracks and everything has happened too slowly. Its such a tragedy.

Afzalys father, with the help of CJFE, Journalists for Human Rights and the Star, fled to Pakistan, where he waited, hoping his case would be processed quickly. (He would return to Kabul after eight months, seeing no success and over concerns for one of his sons, who he later found out fled to Iran.)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says Canada is committed to resettling at least 40,000 Afghans by the end of 2023, and so far more than 29,000 have arrived.

For the safety and security of all involved, we cannot comment on specific cases, IRCC spokesperson Michelle Carbert said in an email when asked about Afzaly.

She said a persistent challenge is that many of those needing protection are still in Afghanistan, and leaving by air or land is dangerous. Canada has no military or diplomatic presence in the country.

Unfortunately, a crisis of this magnitude means that there will always be more demand for resettlement to Canada than we are able to provide, the spokesperson said. We are doing everything we can to help Afghans inside and outside of Afghanistan, including working with partners in the region, state entities, international and non-profit organizations to remain nimble and responsive to evolving circumstances.

Like other Star journalists, staff photographer Rick Madonik worked with Afzaly in Afghanistan, where Canada had troops within the NATO-led coalition fighting the Taliban. Madonik was part of the advocacy group that tried to get Afzalys family to safety in Canada.

Afzaly was instrumental in the Stars coverage of Canadas involvement within the ISAF mission, he said, referring to International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

We all worked closely with (Afzaly) as he helped facilitate travel and interviews, even acting as an interpreter for Pashto speakers, as well as arranging meals, cellphones, drivers and transportation needs.

Sadness lives in me knowing Afzalys family is at serious risk, crammed into a small living space, restricting their own movement to keep a low profile and trying to survive the situation.

Coming from an open-minded family, Afzalys father was a mid-ranking Afghan army official in the 1990s until the Taliban first took power. He later worked for a number of international NGOs. Afzaly said the Taliban ambushed his fathers car in 1996 or 1997, but he was not inside. Instead, two of his men were killed. Afzaly himself, a young boy at the time, was in the car but survived the ambush.

Afzalys mother is a prominent womens rights activist who ran for the Afghan parliament. And his sisters husband was a member of western-trained special forces who had fought the Taliban for years, and posted footage on social media after raids.

Two months ago, Afzalys brother was arrested in Kabul. In detention, the Taliban cut his tongue with pliers after he refused to say to which family he belonged. He is badly beaten up and tortured, Afzaly said. He now has trouble speaking.

This is a very sad consequence of the mistake that was made in the letter, said Silcoff.

The family has applied for different immigration programs, including one for resettling Afghans who assisted Canada, and humanitarian visas, but never got an answer from IRCC, Afzaly said.

I called, and emailed IRCC a lot. But nobody answered me. I dont have mental peace. I am always worried about how my family gets out of Afghanistan. They are at risk.

Afzaly said his Canadian advocates helped him get an immigration lawyer last year to work on his familys case.

Silcoff said the government can issue the family a temporary residency permit as she has requested, but nothing is moving for the past year. This is just another example of a situation where someone is desperate, the Taliban have already harmed them. Their lives are at risk, then the government has sat there silently.

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HALIFAX - A six-year-old girl and her parents were at the Nova Scotia legislature Tuesday to lobby for the province to cover the cost of using cannabis oil to treat her seizures.

Kaylee and Nick Jones and their daughter Sophie were at the house of assembly to present a petition with 1,368 signatures in support of Nova Scotia covering the cost of CBD-based medicines for children with life-threatening conditions.

The little girl was born with a rare chromosome abnormality that causes epilepsy, ataxia, migraines, anxiety and low muscle tone.

Kaylee Jones, 29, says the family spends about $400 a month on the CBD oil  which she says has helped reduce her daughters seizures dramatically compared to conventional medications.

The mother said the money going to pay for the cannabis oil  which is known as Charlottes Angel and is produced by Nova Scotia-based Aqualitas  is roughly equivalent to the mortgage payment on their home.

Weve been sacrificing a lot of time and effort to fundraise, said Kaylee Jones. If we could have a solution, we wouldnt have to worry about it. It would be a big financial burden off our shoulders and others.

I know that others are going into debt for this, she added. I think the government really needs to look at it.

Researchers at Torontos Hospital for Sick Children in 2018 reported reductions in seizures of children with Dravet syndrome, a rare genetic form of epilepsy, who received CBD oil with a small amount of THC.

CBD, also referred to as cannabidiol, doesnt cause a high. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is marijuanas major psychoactive component.

However, Nova Scotia Health Minister Michelle Thompson says her department is awaiting the results of a review by Health Canada before approving funding of the medicine.

She said during an interview that while shes aware there is real-life evidence that emerges, the department must take a standardized approach to approving medicines for funding.

I think its important we have a consistent way in which we add things to the formulary and there is a very rigorous process. We have a responsibility to ensure the things we cover are evidence-based. We want to continue to follow that process, she said.

Thompson said that if Health Canada provides an approval, well reconsider then.

Kaylee Jones said Sophies previous regime of anti-seizure medications had negative side-effects that led to regular hospital visits in the first three years of her life. The CBD-based medicines have controlled the frequency and duration of her seizures, she said, to the point where she no longer needs trips by ambulance and has fewer migraines, less anxiety and more mobility.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

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JERUSALEM (AP)  The Israeli military shot and killed two Palestinians who allegedly opened fire at troops from their car in the northern West Bank on Tuesday, authorities said, the latest incident in a wave of deadly violence gripping the occupied territory.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the two men killed in the West Bank village of Deir al Hatab as Saud Abdullah Saud and Mohammed Abu Dira, without saying their ages.

The Israeli military said the men shot at an Israeli outpost near the settlement of Elon Moreh, south of the Palestinian city of Nablus. Israeli soldiers on patrol opened fire, killing the two alleged gunmen.

Palestinian media reported that a third gunman was in the car during the drive-by shooting and fled the area. Israeli security forces said they were searching for other suspected assailants and found a pair of M-16 rifles and a pistol at the scene.

The local armed group of the Balata refugee camp, a militant stronghold near Nablus, identified the two men as militants, sharing photos of them brandishing M-16s in the camp. Saud had previously spent 15 years in Israeli prison, the group said.

We fought as soldiers and we promise we will always be soldiers, Saud said in a video after being freed from prison last spring.

Tuesdays deaths followed a week of unusually heightened violence in Israel and the West Bank, touched off by an Israeli police raid on Jerusalems most sensitive holy site, the compound home to the Al-Aqsa mosque. Last week, the Israeli military struck sites linked to the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip after militants in the two territories fired salvos of rockets at Israel. The mosque sits on a contested hilltop revered as the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism.

Underscoring the ever-combustible situation in the West Bank, two British-Israeli sisters and their mother were killed when their car came under fire near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank last Friday. The mother, Lucy Dee, succumbed to her wounds on Monday and was laid to rest in the settlement of Kfar Etzion south of Jerusalem on Tuesday. Hundreds of mourners packed the funeral, singing and swaying as Lucys husband, Leo, and his remaining children wept at the podium  their family of seven reduced to four.

Lucy, I have a choice: I could lament over the next 25 years of marriage that Ive lost, but I actually feel blessed to have had 25 years of a beautiful marriage with you, Leo said, his voice cracking in anguish.

He added: If we support the good and reject the evil, then we can all play our part in building a better world.

Last week, in a separate incident, an Italian tourist was killed and five others were wounded when a Palestinians car careened onto a bike path near the beach in Tel Aviv in what authorities described as a suspected terrorist attack. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he offered condolences to his Italian counterpart during a phone call Tuesday.

So far this year, 94 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to a tally by The Associated Press, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups. During that time, 19 people were killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

With the country battling threats on multiple fronts, Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, who expressed opposition to the governments divisive plans to weaken the judiciary last month. Gallant praised the Israeli militarys killing of the Palestinian gunmen on Tuesday.

In a step toward deescalating the situation, Netanyahus office said Tuesday that authorities would bar Jewish visits to Al-Aqsa, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, for the remainder of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Thats standard for the final 10 days of the holiday, when Muslims often pray at the site overnight.

Jews are permitted to visit the compound, but not pray there, under longstanding agreements. But such visits, which have grown in numbers in recent years, have stoked anger, particularly because some Jews are often seen quietly praying.

The rare convergence of the Jewish Passover festival and Ramadan brought scores of religious Jews to the site last week and fueled tensions that spiraled into unrest in Jerusalem  and a regional confrontation.

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SANTIAGO, Chile (AP)  Chiles Congress on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to reduce the work week from 45 to 40 hours over five years, a decision hailed by the left-wing government as a breakthrough for workers rights.

The measure passed the lower house 127-14, after being unanimously approved by the Senate three weeks ago. President Gabriel Boric, who took office in March 2022 after making the measure a campaign promise, was expected to sign it into law before May 1.

Yes, changes can be made to advance workers rights, Labor Minister Jeannette Jara said after the vote, which came six years after the law was initially presented.

It was the second time Chile has reduced its work week. The first was in 2005, when it was cut from 48 to 45 hours.

Ana Camayo, a 54-year-old manicurist who works in a department store, said the law is fantastic for women over 30 who have children, referring to herself and her colleagues. She said the extra free time will be spent with her family.

The reduced work week initially was proposed by communist lawmakers in 2017, but the proposal languished for years. New momentum came after about 200 roundtable sessions between workers and employers of large, medium and small companies and the government.

The law is intended to allow Chilean workers to be more rested and happy, said opposition lawmaker Emilia Schneider.

Once signed by Boric, the law will be applied in three stages: the first year, the work week will be reduced to 44 hours, the third year to 42, and the fifth year to 40. Employers will have the option of reducing work hours ahead of schedule.

Chile will join Ecuador, which already has a 40-hour work week.

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ISLAMABAD (AP)  In a blow to Pakistans former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a top court in the Pakistani-administered section of Kashmir on Tuesday removed his protege and head of the local government from office. The territorys premier, Tanveer Ilyas, was charged and convicted of insulting judges in public remarks, officials and local media reported.

The development appeared to be a spillover of the political crisis roiling Pakistan, where the 70-year-old Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote last April, has campaigned against his successor, Shahbaz Sharif. Khan claims his ouster was illegal and has been demanding early elections  which Sharif has rejected.

Ilyas, an outspoken business tycoon known for outburst against judges and bureaucrats, has also lashed out at Sharif, when the prime minister visited Kashmir last December.

Khan has backed Ilyas in the Pakistani-ruled part of Kashmir, where Khans Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf opposition party has a simple majority in the local parliament. The disputed Himalayan region is split between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety.

Ilyas appeared Tuesday before a judge in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, and was symbolically convicted of the alleged offense and sentenced to time spent in the courtroom. Under Pakistani law, this automatically disqualifies him from public office.

Ilyas has for weeks criticizing judges in the Pakistan-held Kashmir, claiming the judiciary was encroaching upon his authority by reversing multiple decisions approved by him or his government. Although he apologized Tuesday over his remarks, the court rejected his apology.

Fawad Chaudhry, a senior leader from Khans party, denounced the ruling. This country cannot be run by destroying the judicial system, Chaudhry tweeted.

It was unclear whether Ilyas would appeal the ruling. The court also instructed the territorys election oversight body to prepare for a vote to replace Ilyas.

The assembly in the Pakistani-run Kashmir is expected to chose the new leader of the house in the coming days. Khans party may face a tough contest as Sharifs backers claim they are in a position to form the government.

Nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

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PRAGUE (AP)  Dana Nemcova, one of the leading Czech dissidents and human rights activists from the communist era, has died. She was 89.

She died on Tuesday morning, according to the Olga Havel Foundation, a charitable organization with which she was associated for many years. No details about the cause of death were given.

Born on Jan 14, 1934, Nemcova was one of the first people to sign Charter 77, a human rights manifesto inspired by Vaclav Havel, a fellow dissident who later became president. Nemcova herself became one of the charters spokespersons.

The document was a rare expression of resistance to the hard-line communist regime that took over after the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia which crushed the liberal reform period known as the Prague Spring.

The charter united opponents of the regime, including religious activists, ex-communists expelled from the party after the 1968 invasion, and also rock musicians, intellectuals and pre-World War II democrats.

Its signatories braved persecution from the regime, exercising what Havel dubbed the power of the powerless.

Nemcova, the mother of seven and a psychologist by profession, was among them.

In 1979, she spent six months in detention before receiving a two-year suspended sentence for subversion of the republic. She was banned from practicing as a psychologist and only allowed to take menial jobs, such as cleaning.

Nemcova and her husband, Jiri Nemec, turned their apartment in Prague into one of the centers of anti-communist resistance, but had to face repeated interrogations and raids.

She once said that signing the charter was a means for her to maintain identity and dignity.

Nemcova also co-founded the Committee for the Defense of the Unjustly Persecuted, which supported those facing oppression by the state, from police harassment to unjust prosecution.

After the 1989 anti-communist Velvet Revolution led by Havel, Nemcova served as a lawmaker in the parliament of Czechoslovakia until 1992. She later chaired the board of the Olga Havel Foundation established by Havels first wife, which focuses on helping disabled and abandoned people, as well as those facing discrimination.

In the 1990s, she established an information center for refugees and a migration center, working especially with those fleeing the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

In 1998, she was awarded a state honor by Havel, who was by then president.

Dana Nemcova was an extraordinary person, brave and deeply human who with her persistent and consistent defense of human rights contributed significantly to our freedom and democracy, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  A major leak of classified U.S. documents thats shaken Washington and exposed new details of its intelligence gathering may have started in a chatroom on a social media platform popular with gamers.

Held on the Discord platform, which hosts real-time voice, video and text chats, a discussion originally created to talk about a range of topics turned to the war in Ukraine. As part of debates about Ukraine, according to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that were allegedly classified, first typing them out with the posters own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, beginning to post images of papers with folds in them.

The posts appear to have gone unnoticed outside of the chat until a few weeks ago, when they began to circulate more widely on social media and get picked up by major news outlets. The leaks have alarmed U.S. officials and sparked a Justice Department investigation.

The records have provided startling and surprisingly timely details of U.S. and NATO assistance to Ukraine. They also provided clues about efforts to assist Ukraine in its war with Russia, including an anticipated spring offensive.

The scale of the exposure has yet to be determined. Also unclear is whether any government worked to share the documents or manipulate them.

Asked Monday if the U.S. government was effectively waiting for more intelligence documents to show up online, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby replied: 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.

Chris Meagher, top spokesman for the Pentagon, urged caution in promoting or amplifying any of these documents, adding that it does appear that slides have been doctored.

But the breach underscores the difficulties the U.S. and other governments face in securing classified information. Congressional reviews and experts have long warned of weaknesses in U.S. counterintelligence, of the challenges of monitoring an estimated 3 million people with security clearances, and of agencies producing and over-classifying so much information that the U.S. cannot reliably control it.

I think that the intelligence agencies have adjusted and gotten better at preventing all sorts of mass electronic leaks, said Kellen Dwyer, a former Justice Department prosecutor who was part of the team that brought a federal case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. But clearly, they havent gotten good enough.

The Associated Press interviewed a person who said he was a member of the Discord chat group in which documents appeared for several months. The person, who said he was 18 years old, refused to give his name, citing concerns for his personal safety.

The AP could not independently confirm many details shared by the person, and the original chatroom has been deleted.

The AP reviewed images of documents that appeared in recent weeks in the discussion forums. They include a top-secret analysis of deepening intelligence service ties between Russias FSB and agencies in the United Arab Emirates, the oil-rich Persian Gulf nation that hosts a U.S. air base and cooperates on many security matters with Washington.

Citing signals intelligence, the March analysis says officers from the FSB were caught claiming that the UAE had agreed with Russia to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies.

A spokesman for the Emirati government said the allegations are categorically false. U.S. officials at several agencies declined to comment on the document.

The AP also saw an analysis of what might happen in the Russia-Ukraine war in certain wild card scenarios, including if Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were to die. The analysis is marked secret, a lower level of classification than top-secret.

Were Putin to fire his top military advisers and the war to escalate, the document speculates he might authorize the use of tactical nuclear weapons if elites question Putins decision-making and Russian forces are unable to overcome manning and equipment shortfalls.

The death of Zelenskyy, in a worst-case scenario, might prompt Europe to restrict weapons shipments, the document says. But a high-profile Ukrainian leader might also retain domestic and foreign support as well, it says.

The investigative journalism organization Bellingcat, which specializes in digging through social media and open-source records, interviewed the same person and two others in the Discord chatroom, called Thug Shaker Central.

Bellingcat reported Saturday that documents from Thug Shaker Central appear to have been shared in another chatroom, WowMao. From WowMao, the documents appear to have spread more widely  and eventually became the subject of a story in The New York Times on Thursday, which first reported that the Pentagon was investigating a breach.

The Discord user who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity says he was on a call with others  including the person who for months had been posting documents he or she said were classified  when the Times story broke.

We all just kind of lost it, the Discord user said. We couldnt believe what was happening.

The person said his primary motivation for speaking to the media was to clear the reputation of a third person, who uses the screenname Lucca. Posts from Lucca featuring many of the documents were widely shared on Twitter and other social media. Those documents were reported on by The New York Times, The Washington Post and other media outlets.

Lucca is just a kid, said the poster who spoke to the AP. He was just consistently posting it to mess with people.

The poster declined to identify the person who originally uploaded the documents to Thug Shaker Central or confirm whether that person worked for the U.S. government. He referred to the original uploader with a nickname, the O.G.

But the poster said the person who first posted the documents did not appear to be driven by ideology or to expose government secrets broadly, but rather to impress people in their group.

Were that person to be arrested, the poster said he had copies of way past hundreds of pages of files.

He wanted to protect fellow posters in the now-defunct chat but also believed the documents contained secrets that Americans should know.

On the off chance that the O.G. gets arrested, Im leaking them all, the poster said.

___ Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor and Eric Tucker in Washington, and Michelle R. Smith in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report

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MONTREAL - Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending himself against accusations he inappropriately promoted religion with a social media post during the Easter holiday weekend.

Legault on Monday morning shared on Twitter a column by nationalist writer Mathieu Bock-Cote, who suggested that Quebecs Catholic past enshrined in its people a culture of solidarity that distinguishes them on the continent.

The premiers tweet sparked hundreds of responses  mostly negative  from people who said he was hypocritical for championing state secularism but also romanticizing the Catholic religion.

Legault tweeted in his defence later in the day, saying its important to distinguish between secularism and our heritage.

The premiers political opponents seized on the tweet, with many suggesting he lacked judgment.

One of Legaults signature pieces of legislation since becoming premier in 2018  Bill 21  bans many public servants, including teachers, from wearing religious symbols on the job.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

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VANCOUVER - The president of the Union Gospel Mission says Vancouvers forced shutdown of an encampment has added another layer of stress to its staff as they put mats in hallways for the overflow of those needing shelter.

Dean Kurpjuweit said Monday their shelter has been at capacity for the last few months, but they had to go over the limit the last few nights to accommodate everyone.

We have got a number of rooms where we put people in bunk beds and then we have kind of a common space where we put down mats and then in the hallways that lead to the rooms, we put some mats down there, said Kurpjuweit.

Vancouver police and city staff moved into the Downtown Eastside encampment last Wednesday to dismantle and throw away belongings, tents and other structures that lined the sidewalks on Hastings Street.

Mayor Ken Sim, along with the fire and police chiefs, said the fire danger and increased crime meant the encampment had to be dismantled.

Kurpjuweit said they did all they could to give people a warm, dry place to stay, but they still had to turn some away.

We all understand that encampments are less than ideal, but on the same hand, if you are going to do that, you need to have enough spots for people to go to and there are not enough spots.

The Union Gospel Mission has been reaching out to fellow organizations to find spaces for these people, including the First United Church and the Salvation Army.

Unfortunately, everybody seems to be at the same point we are, which is more people than we have space, said Kurpjuweit.

He said whenever they are over capacity, and more people are asking to stay, its stressful for them.

Everything just kind of gets amplified a little bit more.

Members of the group Stop the Sweeps Coalition were distributing coffee, snacks, tents and blankets to people at Oppenheimer Park on Monday.

Ryan Sudds, an organizer with the group, said some residents he spoke with had returned to Hastings Street over the weekend, but city crews chased them out again.

When the city was coming around yesterday in the rain, people were angry, people were upset, people were fed up. It has been five days now and people are getting angrier and angrier about whats happening, said Sudds.

He said many of those who were on Hastings Street are taking what is left of their belongings and setting up in other areas.

For the folks who are getting displaced on the block, and they dont have shelter or housing, the city isnt offering them anything besides maybe (suggesting) you can go to the CRAB Park, said Sudds.

The Union Gospel Mission has offered the unhoused blankets, toiletries, clothes and Easter meals.

Kurpjuweit said those are just a temporary reprieve from the circumstances.

Were going to continue to advocate for permanent solutions to get all of our community members housed, and in a place where they can live independent lives.

Sim said during a news conference last week that the longer the street camp continues, the higher the odds that more people will lose their lives and even more people will lose their homes to the fire hazard.

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.

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The University of Virginias ambassadors, the contracted public safety team once limited to patrols on Grounds and the nearby Corner, have expanded their reach all the way to Charlottesvilles Downtown Mall.

The expanded footpaths, which went into effect April 1, are a result of ongoing conversations between the city of Charlottesville, UVa and surrounding Albemarle County, as local officials grapple with a recent spike in violent crime.

Still, the appearance of the unarmed personnel clad in bright yellow shirts has raised questions as to whom the ambassadors answer and what authority they have downtown  or anywhere in the city off Grounds.

According to Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis, the answer is simple: The citys police force is still responsible for law enforcement on the Downtown Mall and within city limits.

The ambassadors, he told The Daily Progress on Monday, do not have the authority to intervene in suspected criminal activity. They only report observations of suspicious or dangerous activity to a command post which relays that information to local law enforcement  which could be the Charlottesville, Albemarle County or UVa police departments, depending on the jurisdiction.

Kochis said that it is important to remember that the Corner, the popular social hub adjacent to UVa Grounds and within the Charlottesville Police Departments jurisdiction, already had ambassador patrols before the footpaths were expanded. The relationship between the department and the UVa Ambassador Program, he said, is not a new one.

We would already get calls for things on the Corner, Kochis said. The university has concurrent jurisdiction with us, because theyre close but thats actually part of the city. Still, the Ambassador Program is a UVa program. They fund it.

While UVa may fund the program, the ambassadors are not university employees but are rather contracted through a company called RMC Events.

According to the Ambassador Program website, RMC Events hires ambassadors to provide high visibility and high proactive engagement with members of the community in the Ambassador Patrol Zone to enhance overall safety as the first point of contact for students, faculty, visitors and the general public on and around university Grounds. The website also says that ambassadors are required to provide timely notifications to the RMC Command Post on situations that involve hazards, suspicious people or activity activity and medical or other emergencies.

In addition to serving as an extra set of eyes and ears to public safety departments and local law enforcement, the UVa ambassadors also staff the Lee Street and 11th Street garages near UVa Medical Center, which is open 24/7. The ambassadors also provide SafeRides, an on-demand, fare-free transportation service for UVa community members who request it after the University Transit Service has stopped service for the night.

The ambassadors are also available to give directions and safety information and to provide a safe walking escort home for UVa community members upon request, according to the UVa Police Department.

An RMC account manager for its western external programs, which includes the Charlottesville region, directed all inquiries from The Daily Progress to the UVa Police Department.

All University Police Department activities are covered by a standing cooperative agreement with the City of Charlottesville, UVa Police Chief Timothy Longo said in a statement to The Daily Progress. The Ambassadors do not have law enforcement power, are not armed and are not a replacement for 911, but they proactively monitor areas with high student traffic for potential hazards, medical emergencies and criminal activity, so that they can alert the right emergency resources.

Kochis said the expanded routes for ambassadors was the product of interdepartmental meetings held between Charlottesville, UVa and Albemarle County that started roughly two months ago.

We have our regional ComStat meetings monthly, Kochis said. Theyre basically meetings where they city, the university and Albemarle County get together and look at different crime statistics and talk about where things are happening and whats happening to get into the minutiae of all that. Then, we come up with different ways to try to address it with the resources we have.

Those meetings were a response to the recent rise in violent crime in the area.

Gun violence has claimed the lives of 14 people in Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County and left 22 others injured since September of last year, according to an ongoing Daily Progress tally. Already this year there have been five reported homicide cases within Charlottesville city limits, eclipsing past years.

The city of Charlottesville has had five murders since January, Longo, who previously was chief of police in Charlottesville himself, said during a virtual UVa town hall last month. To put that into context for you, in the almost 16 years I served as the chief of police in the city of Charlottesville  from 2001 to 2016  I never had any more than that number in an entire year. There were some years I had none.  Theyve had five just in the first three months of the year.

Kochis said that at a recent meeting between the three departments, UVa proposed the idea to extend the ambassador perimeter from the Corner down the West Main Street corridor to the Downtown Mall. Kochis said he took the idea to Charlottesville city officials  including interim City Manager Michael Rogers and city councilors  who approved the expansion.

This change is part of our responsibility to contribute to public safety efforts in places where our students regularly go, Longo said, which includes off-Grounds locations such as the Corner and the downtown mall.
SUDBURY, Ont. - Ontario will lower diesel exposure limits in mines in an effort to help the health of underground workers.

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says long-term exposure to diesel exhaust can cause bladder and lung cancer.

He says the province will reduce the exposure levels created by diesel-powered machines by 70 per cent.

McNaughton says the province will also require improvements to ventilation in mines and will also allow track-mounted machines controlled by an operator to probe for safety hazards.

Local United Steelworkers union leader Nick Larochelle says the reduction is welcome news.

He says it is an awesome start, but wants the emission limits lowered even further.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

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OTTAWA  Canada will announce new military aid for Ukraine, details of financial support and new sanctions on Russia and Belarus as Ukraines Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal arrives in Toronto Tuesday amid tight security and a furor over leaked U.S. intelligence documents.

Shmyhal and a delegation from Kyiv will meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Defence Minister Anita Anand for a one-day visit just as the U.S. seeks to reassure and rally Ukraine and its allies.

Documents posted on social media sites purport to paint a grim picture of Ukraines weakened defences and American and NATO plans for reinforcement, with the Pentagon saying Monday the leak represents a very serious risk to national security.

Canadian officials refuse to comment on the documents, or on any discussions with U.S. officials about their validity or implications, or to comment on a Globe and Mail report the documents say pro-Russian hackers disrupted a Canadian natural gas pipeline.

U.S. national security adviser John Kirby said Monday top American officials have spoken with allies over the past few days about the leak. But Kirby refused to speculate who might be behind what looks like a potential leak here of classified information and cautioned that at least in some cases that information was doctored.

However, it represents a major embarrassment for the U.S. which has launched multiple investigations to find the source of the leaks.

The documents, according to the Associated Press, 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.

Trudeau last met Shmyhal in London in September, and the Canadian prime minister spoke to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week about Ukraines current needs, according to a readout of their call.

Freeland, who is in regular contact with the Ukrainian prime minister via text, unveiled a federal budget two weeks ago that pledged an additional $2.4 billion in loans for Ukraine, to be administered by the International Monetary Fund.

A senior government official speaking on a background-only basis said Trudeau will provide more detail about that financial support for Ukraine on Tuesday.

The Liberal government will also detail new ways that Canadian companies and investors can support Ukraine more broadly to keep its economy resilient, said the official.

And while the budget outlined no substantial new commitment of federal military assistance, beyond $200 million in the fiscal year that just ended for donations of existing equipment (including the eight previously announced Leopard 2 main battle tanks), Trudeau is expected to outline new military aid Canada will commit to Ukraines fight.

There are ways to continue to provide military support to Ukraine, the official said.

The day after the budget, Trudeau told reporters that, We will continue to stand with Ukraine as long as it takes with as much as it takes.

Liberal MP Yvan Baker, who represents Etobicoke Centre, said in an interview after last months budget, said he was not disappointed there werent more details or substantive new military aid announcements, saying Canadas track record was strong.

The budget highlights we are spending more per capita to support Ukraine than any other country. So given that commitment by the prime minister, given our track record this year, (and) what we did last year, I think Im really pleased.

In last years budget, a month after the invasion began, Ottawa promised $1.2 billion in direct contributions and up to $1.6 billion in loan support for the Ukrainian government, but it ended up spending much more. In fact, Canada has so far supplied more than $5.4 billion in assistance for Ukraine, including financial, military and humanitarian support. That includes more than $1 billion in military assistance.

Last year the Liberal government also promised a defence policy review with an assessment of the equipment and technology that the Canadian Armed Forces need to fulfil their missions in a world that has fundamentally changed in the face of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

However there has been little sign of what that review has concluded.

The leaked U.S. documents that have rattled the national security community, however, seem to show a need for allies to do much more to aid Ukraine.

Tonda MacCharles is Ottawa Bureau Chief and a senior reporter covering federal politics. Follow her on Twitter: @tondamacc

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OTTAWATop officials at the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation resigned en masse Tuesday, blaming the unfair politicization of the charity in recent weeks. But that didnt stop the federal Conservatives from lambasting the organization as being Beijing funded and calling for an investigation into its activities amid a furor over alleged Chinese interference in Canadian democracy.

We need to know who got rich; who got paid and who got privilege and power from Justin Trudeau as a result of funding to the Trudeau Foundation, said a post on Twitter by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party has argued those with past ties to the charity cannot be trusted to examine allegations of foreign interference.

A spokesperson for Poilievre later explained the Conservative leader is raising questions after a media report in the Globe and Mail linked a single $200,000 donation in 2016  which has since been refunded, the foundation says  to a suspected influence campaign by the Chinese government.

The Star has not independently verified that report.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in Toronto to meet with Ukraines prime minister on Tuesday, decried such unfounded and ungrounded attacks on the foundation, which he defended as a charity that does good work to support Canadian thinkers.

It is a shame to see the level of toxicity and political polarization that is going on in our country these days, Trudeau told reporters.

Those people who are trying to get short-term political gain by increasing polarization and partisanship in this country, by launching completely unfounded and ungrounded attacks against charities or foundations, must not succeed.

Based in Montreal, the Trudeau Foundation is a non-partisan private charity that supports academics research and development, and reported receiving $632,592 in donations last year. It was established in 2001 in memory of Trudeaus father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, who died in 2000.

The foundation did not respond Tuesday to questions and a request to interview outgoing president and CEO Pascale Fournier.

In its statement announcing the resignations, the foundation said the political climate surrounding the 2016 donation  which it refunded after the alleged link to Beijing was reported this winter  has put a great deal of pressure on the Foundations management and volunteer Board of Directors, as well as on our staff and our community. The situation prompted Fournier to resign after five years as president and CEO, along with six members of the volunteer board of directors, three of whom will stay on in an interim basis so the foundation can continue its work, the statement said.

The circumstances created by the politicization of the Foundation have made it impossible to continue with the status quo, the statement said.

The donation to the Trudeau Foundation is just one element of the political firestorm that has emerged over the past few months, as news reports citing national security sources and documents have detailed allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections. Officials have publicly stated that while interference is a problem, it did not alter the results of the past two federal elections. The RCMP was also not investigating any allegations of interference, a parliamentary committee was told this winter.

After the Globe reported on the alleged Beijing-linked donation this winter, the Conservatives argued public figures with links to the Trudeau Foundation could not be trusted to participate in any study of political interference in Canada.

In a statement on March 1, Poilievre cast doubt on Morris Rosenberg, a long-serving bureaucrat under Tory and Liberal governments who penned a report on interference campaigns in the 2021 federal election, because he was head of the Trudeau Foundation when it received the $200,000 in 2016.

The Conservatives also questioned the reliability of former governor general David Johnston  who was appointed to that post by Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper in 2010  as the governments chosen special rapporteur to examine foreign political interference amid the current controversy, in part because he was a member of the Trudeau Foundation.

The Liberal government, in turn, has accused the opposition of raising doubts about Canadas institutions for partisan gain.

Yet all three opposition parties have pressed for a public inquiry, something the government has so far resisted. Under pressure to provide more information about what it knew, and when, about alleged Chinese interference, the government agreed to allow Trudeaus long-serving chief of staff, Katie Telford, testify at a parliamentary committee studying the issue.

Telford is expected to appear Friday.

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A forum of former chairmen of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari over the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections.

They also congratulated President-elect, Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima on their victory at the polls.

This was contained in a communique issued by the group after its meeting on Monday.

In the communique signed by Prophet Jones Ode Erue, Chairman and Rt. Hon. Nelson Alapa, Secretary, the chairmen also took a stand on the upcoming the off-season governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.

The communique reads in full:

After a thorough deliberation of the events of the just concluded general elections and the upcoming primary elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, we the members of G-37 comprising of former APC States Chairmen and former members of Non NWC members of National Executive Committee of APC from 2013 to 2021, resolved as follows:

That a vote of confidence is passed on President Muhammadu Buhari, for ensuring a free, fair and credible elections and for diligently preparing a smooth transition and transmission of power to the President-elect H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice President-elect Senator Kashim Shettima.

That a vote of confidence is passed on the National Working Committee of APC led by H.E. Senator Abdullahi Adamu for vigorously supporting and campaigning for our presidential candidate and providing the enabling conditions which led to massive victories recorded by candidates of the Party at the national assembly, gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections.

That we heartily congratulate the President-elect, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice President-elect Sen. Kashim Shettima for their electoral victory at the presidential polls.

That given the Partys overwhelming performance at the just concluded general elections against the monumental challenges that confronted us, care must be taken to ensure that our Party produces the best candidates who have the capacity to win the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States

That in order to sustain our winning streak in Imo State, we have resolved to support H.E. Governor Hope Uzodinma for a second term in office due to his sterling leadership qualities in steering the affairs of the Party that has resulted in the candidates of our great Party sweeping the national and house of assembly elections seats in the State.

That we have resolved to support H.E. Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State to produce his own successor as history has shown that Governor Bello has perfected the unique ability to win elections even from impossible angles.

That we resolved to support the former Governor-elect of Bayelsa State, H.E. David Lyon to fly APC flag for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State. Recall that H.E. David Lyon has shown his capacity to win elections in Bayelsa State. It is on record that he defeated the incumbent Governor during the last election, but for judicial intervention which truncated his victory stemming from the disqualification of his then Deputy Governor-elect, H.E. David Lyon would have been sworn in as the Governor of Bayelsa State. It is therefore our considered opinion that H.E. David Lyon should be given the right of first refusal to fly the flag of our great party.

G-37 seizes this opportunity to call on all those leaders who worked against the victory of the Party at the presidential elections to purge themselves of the sins of anti-party activities and returned back to join hands with our President-elect Ahmed Bola Tinubu, his Vice President-elect Sen. Kashim Shettima and National Chairman Sen. Adamu Abdullahi to build a united and prosperous Nigeria and a Party we would all be proud of.
Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Monday, claimed that President Muhammadu Buharis eight-month sickness back in 2017 was a setback to the current administration.

Adesina spoke on Monday during Channels Televisions Politics Today where he highlighted the accomplishments and legacy of the Buhari government.

Recall that in 2017, Buhari was flown to the United Kingdom, UK, for treatment. He stayed there for a cumulative period of eight months.

Asked whether the sickness was a setback, Adesina said: It should be because when he fell sick in January 2017, he came back in March (and) went again in April and didnt come back till August 19.

About all, eight months. That sickness took eight months of his time in the office. Of course, nobody would like that. But what we are glad about is that he came whole, sound and better than he went.




Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis says Victor Osimhen is not in a position to face AC Milan on Wednesday.





The Partenopei will travel to San Siro for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.





Osimhen picked up a muscle injury while representing Nigeria late last month.





Napoli were hoping the forward would be available to face the current Serie A champions but will have to look for another option.





Victor is not in a position to play, unfortunately. We hope to have him back for the return fixture at the Maradona on April 18, De Laurentiis was quoted by La Repubblica.





Osimhen has scored four goals in five appearances in the Champions League this season.
Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the bill seeking to make basic education the right of every child in the country.

In a statement on Monday, Falana said it is the fundamental right of every citizen to enjoy free and compulsory education.

He said it was unacceptable that little attention was paid to the basic education bill which was among those not assented to by the President recently, adding that Nigerias figure of out-of-school children remains the highest in the world.

Sometime in January 2023, the national assembly forwarded 35 constitutional amendment bills to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent, the statement reads.

For reasons best known to him, the President assented to 16 out of the 35 bills. Out of the 16 approved by the President, seven amended the names of some local government areas by correcting typographical errors.

However, the president has been commended for assenting to bills 31, 32, and 33 which changed prisons to correctional services and transferred them along with railway and electricity from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list.

The implication of such amendments is that state governments have been empowered to establish and run their own prisons, establish their own railway systems, and own electricity power grids, even in areas where the federal government covers. Another important amendment is bill No.6 which has granted financial independence to the state houses of assembly and the judiciary.

It is sad to note that while a section of the media and advocates of restructuring have celebrated these amendments, no attention has been paid to the refusal of President Buhari to assent to the constitution (Fifth Alteration) nill No. 63 (fundamental human rights) which seeks to alter the provisions of the constitution to make free, compulsory, and basic education a fundamental right of all citizens under chapter IV of the constitution.

In the cases of SERAP v FRN (2010] ACHPR 109 and LEPAD v federal ministry of education (unreported suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/978/15) decided by the ECOWAS court and the federal high court respectively, the federal government was directed to provide education for every Nigerian child.

But due to the failure of the federal government to comply with both judgments, the population of out-of-school children in Nigeria has increased to 20 million, the highest figure in the world.

In Olisa Agbakoba v attorney-general of the federation & Ors (unreported Suit No: FHC/L/CS/941/2010), the federal high court ruled that the president is required to assent to constitutional amendment bills passed by the national assembly and the two-thirds majority of the states of the Federation.

But the court did not rule that the president is empowered to veto a constitutional amendment which has been ratified by the national assembly and the houses of assembly of the states.

In other words, while the president has the power to assent to or withhold assent to bills passed by the national assembly pursuant to section 58 of the constitution, he lacks the power to withhold assent to constitutional amendment bills passed by the national assembly and the houses of assembly of the states under section 9 of the constitution. To that extent, the remaining 19 constitutional amendment bills are deemed to have come into force.
Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, has celebrated Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, on his 95th birthday.

In a statement issued by the campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, Tinubu commended Adebanjo for his role in the pursuit of democracy for Nigeria.

The president-elect described Adebanjo as courageous and prayed that he stays alive to witness the dawn of a new, secure, and prosperous era in Nigeria.

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, Tinubu said.

We pray that Almighty Allah grants 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.

Adebanjo did not support the presidential bid of Tinubu and has continued to condemn the election that produced the APC candidate as the president-elect.

The leader of Afenifere backed Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the presidential seat, citing the turn of the south-east to produce the president as a reason.

Adebanjo said that Nigerians should not vote for Tinubu because he would continue the government of incompetence started by President Muhammadu Buhari.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adamu Garba has revealed that he was rusticated from the University.

Reports had emerged that Garba was expelled from Kano State University of technology, Wudil, in his 300 level.

It was alleged that Garba was found guilty of leading a violent protest on campus.

Reacting, Garba in a tweet said, What a stale news! My university rustication story is well known all over and fully documented in all my public profiles? Even in my memoir.

My story is like those of Jobs, Gates etc

You must always find something out, no matter how stale, for engagements, usual Obidiots styles.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has hit out at the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, over his criticism of his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kukah had, in his 2023 Easter Message, knocked Buhari, saying: As you prepare to return to Daura or Kaduna, I do not know if you feel fulfilled or that you met the tall dreams and goals you set for yourself such as ending banditry, defeating corruption, bringing back our girls, belonging to everybody and belonging to nobody, selling off our presidential fleet and travelling with us etc.

Reacting to Kukahs claims, Adesina said the Bishops opinions are coloured by politics, adding that he is too partisan.

Adesina spoke on Monday during Channels Televisions Politics Today.

Those things dont do credit to Father Kukahs intellectual posture. He is somebody that we had always admired for his intellectual bent, but his opinions have been coloured by politics, Adesina said.

He (Kukah) talked about selling the presidential fleet. Was that ever promised? You know that in 2015, there were rash promises made that even the candidates did not know about. So, how can he start claiming that he promised that? he queried.

He added: Are we where we were on the issue of banditry in 2015? The job is not fully done, but are we where we were? If Fr Kukah is true to himself and true to his calling, he will know that this country is not where it was in 2015, he said.

Selling off our presidential fleet, let him (Kukah) prove that the President made that promise, he said.
How does the rapid fielding of modern and mature 88 IFVs reduce the risk and enhance the combat agility of NATOs Eastern front? The combat experience gathered in the Ukraine War reflects the need for agile land combat systems that effectively integrate maneuverability and firepower and rely on logistical support from domestic or neighboring allied countries.

IFVs are Rising to Face New Threats

While forward-deployed heavy armor  main battle tanks and heavily armored infantry fighting vehicles (AIFV)  provide the highest deterrence, the need to cover the long border requires more agile and deployable forces that often consist of wheeled combat vehicles, able to move quickly over long distances, and deploy adequate firepower and infantry troops, anti-tank equipment, self-propelled mortars, and artillery wherever they are most needed. 88 combat vehicles are deemed the most suitable for such missions and are widely available to many NATO countries. Eastern European armies have relied chiefly on Russian 88 vehicles such as the BTR-60, 80, and OT-64. Western APCs  Pandur II, AMV, and Piranha- replaced many of these legacy armored vehicles.

However, the Western vehicles were configured as Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), just like their Russian counterparts. Only recently, NATO embraced the 8x8s as an IFV, equipped with a 30mm automatic cannon, anti-tank guided missiles, sophisticated situational awareness, and target acquisition systems.

Unlike other AFV programs, this concept did not begin with the worlds leading armies but with small nations looking for affordable alternatives to heavy armored formations. Poland was the first to field such a system, mounting the Italian HitFist 30P turret from Leonardo as a standard weapon on the AMV Rosomak. Brazil came second, adopting the new Israeli concept of mounting a medium caliber gun on an overhead remotely controlled weapon station from Elbit Systems.

For several years NATO has been increasing its military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance as a direct result of the Russian onslaught on Ukraine in 2014. In 2016 Allied Heads of State and Government agreed to establish NATOs forward presence in the northeast and southeast of the Alliance in response to the increased instability and insecurity along NATOs periphery. This act was followed by positioning four multinational battalion-size battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland providing some of the forces, led by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and the United States providing armored units and resources. Additional battlegroups were established following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, positioning four more multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, effectively doubling the number of troops on the ground and demonstrating the Alliances determination to respond to any aggression and protect the Alliances eastern flank  from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south.

The High Cost of Integration

Unlike manned turrets that take much of the internal space for the weapon system, unmanned turrets are installed on top, clearing much of the room for the crew and infantry squad. However, without a crew in the turret, all operations must be performed remotely. This process requires extensive electronic integration of mechanical and electrical systems and extensive support to keep those automated systems running smoothly and meeting user expectations. Having those capabilities at close geographic proximity is important for rapid fielding and high readiness of such advanced combat systems.

The complex integration posed significant challenges to countries that opted to move this way. Since most vehicle manufacturers do not provide turrets, users often choose the weapon system and match it with the platform. A typical integration is complex and could take two to four years. The U.S. Army has also encountered problems with its Stryker 30mm Infantry Carrier Vehicle  Dragoon. In 2015, the U.S. Army chose the MCT-30 remotely operated turret from the Norwegian company Kongsberg to be mounted on flat-hull Strykers to increase the lethality of the Stryker Brigade in Europe. These systems have been fielded and operated with the US Army as part of the European Deterrence Initiative since 2018. However, after supplying two brigades, the Army switched to a more protected platform, the Stryker DVHA1, which required repeated integration of the medium caliber weapon system. This program was led by Oshkosh and used a derivative of the Samson 30 turret from Rafael optimized for the Armys requirements. Although the US required local production of the turrets to meet the rapid delivery schedules, manufacturing of turrets is currently undergoing in Israel. The integration was smooth and was completed within a year. Deliveries of the systems are now in the second year of production, under the $942 million program of record expected to complete delivery within four years.

Lithuania also pursued the Samson turret from Rafael for its Vilkas  the 88 Boxers. Lithuania was offered a German turret for the Boxer but preferred to mount the Samson MKII turret, which was more affordable. The integration of German and Israeli systems encountered significant challenges, particularly under the COVID-19 restrictions that prevented the flow of equipment and personnel, lengthy cycles for problem-solving, experimentation, testing, and repair that delayed deliveries by two years. The issues are reportedly resolved by now, but according to Lithuanian press reports, some problems still linger today and affect the operational capabilities of the Vilkas. Nevertheless, the integration challenges encountered in the process have delayed the delivery of the Boxers Lithuania planned to acquire.

Bridging the Gap with Localized, Mature Solutions

Bucharest opted for similar weapons but selected different platforms and turrets  opting for the locally produced General Dynamics Land Systems Europe Piranha V with Elbit Systems UT30MK2 unmanned turret, also built in the country, over the German Boxer and its Lance turret. Rafaels Spike guided missiles are also used on the Romanian APC. Croatia has also fielded a similar turret as part of its Patria 88 modernization program. The company also completed a similar integration of UT30MK2 on the Austrian Pandur II for various customers.

The paths followed by Romania and Lithuania reflect different acquisition approaches to other acquisitions in Eastern Europe. Traditionally, European countries favored the local assembly or full manufacturing of their vehicles, but, for many, the manufacturing of turrets required many specializations that were not readily available in most countries. Furthermore, integrating different platforms, turrets, missile systems, and electronics posed additional risks and delays, particularly for those investing in the independent local development of vehicles or turrets. For example, Poland, like Romania, favored the local production of an upgraded Rosomak equipped with an unmanned turret of a local design. But, unlike the tried and tested Romanian design backed by experienced teams from the original vehicle and turret manufacturers, Poland is currently integrating a new turret into a new vehicle  a significant challenge. Slovakia is also taking the uncharted path, matching the Patria AMV with a locally manufactured turret developed by EVPU. Bulgaria also planned to buy 150 such vehicles but has canceled their plan due to high costs.

Another country encountering a prolonged complex acquisition of IFV is Slovenia. In 2008 the country was one of the first European countries to select remotely controlled medium caliber weapons from Elbit Systems for their 88 IFV; the program stalled due to legal allegations concerning the vehicle manufacturer Patria. In 2018 Slovenia selected the German Boxer in the same configuration developed for Lithuania, but this plan was canceled in 2022. This year Slovenia is initiating this acquisition, this time considering a more considerable buy on a Government to Government (G2G) basis. Slovenia will likely view only European suppliers to ensure timely supply and continuous support even in times of crisis. Italy, Poland, Romania, Austria, and Switzerland already supply modern IFVs for domestic use; some offer local assembly for other European countries. The US Stryker could be considered, but other options are more feasible given that US production lines are full for several years for platforms and turrets. Turret manufacturers havent been mentioned yet. However, given the requirement for rapid delivery and local support from European countries, having fully integrated platform and weapon systems and active manufacturing and support, Romania is considered a good candidate, alongside other European manufacturers, such as the Norwegian Kongsberg and Italian Leonardo.

Fielding multi-role IFVs has been challenging, but these combat systems value to the modern battlespace is clear, but the IFV isnt made as a single system. It combines a chassis, propulsion, and armor systems, an unmanned turret, missile systems, and vetronics delivered by different manufacturers. The integration and assembly represent a complex task. Marrying proven systems and platforms delivered by trusted sources from active production lines is paramount in reducing risks and accelerating delivery and fielding.




A suspected human trafficker, Adebisi Muideen has been arrested for allegedly trafficking four teenage girls from Osun to Kano State.





The girls were to be trafficked via the Tripoli corridor in Libya.





It was gathered that three of the girls later escaped from Muideens den in Kano and got in touch with their parents who reported the matter to the police.





Consequently, the three girls have been reunited with their families but the whereabouts of the fourth girl is still unknown.





Upon interrogation, the suspected trafficker said the girls willingly accepted to go to Libya for work.





My brother who resides in Tripoli instructed me to get girls for him and send the girls to one man in Kano who will take them to Libya from Kano, he said.





The suspect said when he got to the mans house in Kano, he met so many girls that were being processed for the journey to Libya.





The Spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola confirmed the arrest.





According to her, The suspect invited the young girls for a birthday party at a hotel in Ile-Ife and gave them food and drinks.





After taking the food and drinks, the girls slept off and later woke up in Kano State en route to Tripoli, capital of Libya.





Opalola disclosed that the case would be diligently investigated and charged to court at the completion of the investigation.
A house of representatives committee has summoned Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation; and Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, over the implementation of the whistleblower policy of the federal government.

The committee also summoned Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, and all other stakeholders involved in the implementation of the policy.

The government officials are to appear before the committee and provide clarification on their operation of the whistleblower policy.

The policy, launched in December 2016, encourages Nigerians to disclose information on fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct, and any other form of corruption to the ministry of finance.

Mark Gbillah, chairman of the committee investigating the alleged loss of $2.4 billion in revenue from the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil in 2015, issued the summon during a public hearing on Tuesday.

Ghillah said the committee received reports that Malami received funds outside the country through the whistleblower policy but did not remit it to the federation account.

The committee chairman also said the minister of finance approved payments to whistleblowers which were not in accordance with what the policy stipulates.

We are looking at the issue of crude oil export in general from Nigeria for the period under review. And we are looking at the whistleblower revelation and recoveries which the federal government has publicly declared that they have made recoveries from, Ghillah said.

A lot of what we have to investigate with regards to the whistleblower policy is saddled with the ministry of finance and the attorney-general of the federation.

The responses we have received from the accountant-general office show that the honourable minister of finance has been approving payments to whistleblowers in percentages at variance with what the policy says they should be paid.

There have been allegations that the attorney-general is being involved also in the receipt of funds from outside the country without these funds being remitted into the federation account in line with the provisions of the constitution.

And there have been allegations that expenditures of these recoveries have also been done in complete violation of the provision of the constitution.

AGENCIES USE FUNDS FROM TSA WITHOUT APPROVAL

Gbillah said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wrote to the committee, complaining that some agencies of the government operated their treasury single account (TSA) without getting approval from the apex bank.

He said the CBN report was alarming to this because the constitution stipulates that all revenue accruing to the federation must be paid into the federation account.

The CBN made a formal response to this committee indicating that under the TSA policy, agencies operate their TSA account and make expenditures from these accounts without recourse to the CBN, he said.

So, if recoveries are being made from whistleblower revelation, we expect these monies to be paid into the account of the federation as required by law and if there is any expenditure to be made, it should come through the national assembly, he said.

Gbillah said the committee is also expecting the appearance of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Index (NEITI), oil and gas companies who engage in export, accountant-general of the federation, budget office to provide clarification to the issues under investigations.

There are certain individuals as well that we need to investigate. Certain whistleblower revelations show that from the Paris club refund  hundreds of millions of dollars were paid into company account without any record of whatever services they provided to the country and these are things that need to be investigated, Gbillah said.

The lawmaker said the committee will exercise its statutory powers to compel the appearance of anyone who fails to honour the summon of the lawmakers.

When contacted to comment on the development, Umar Gwandu, Malamis spokesperson, said his principal was never involved or received funds without remitting to the government.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN was never involved in anything that has to do with the alleged oil products, its disposal or sharing of the resultant proceed by way of negotiation or remittal thereof, he said.

In December 2022, the house of representatives set up the ad hoc committee to investigate a whistleblowers claims that 48 million barrels of Bonny Light crude were illegally sold in China in 2015.

The committee was also to investigate all crude oil exports and sales by Nigeria from 2014 till date.

Gbillah had said members of the committee will travel to countries where the whistleblowers reside to get facts on the matter and that the identities of those who will provide the committee with information, documents, and facts on the matter will be protected.
A group known as Free Nigeria Movement (FNM) says Wole Soyinka has betrayed the trust of Nigerians.

The group was reacting to the recent comments by the Nobel laureate.

Last Wednesday, while speaking in an interview on Arise TV, Soyinka said the demand by Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), that Bola Tinubu, President-elect, should not be sworn in, was a fascist language.

In March, Baba-Ahmed had said the country has no president-elect and that Tinubu would be leading an unconstitutional government if sworn into office because the APC candidate has not met requirements of the law.

Soyinka said Baba-Ahmeds remarks were a kind of do-or-die attitude and provocation that were contrary to democratic disposition.

Addressing a media conference on Monday, Moses Paul, convener of FNM, said Soyinka should have addressed the real issues about the presidential election.

The recent comments by Wole Soyinka are most unfortunate and regrettable, Paul said.

While we do not frown at his remarks because of any politicians, political parties, or movements referenced, we do so because of his emotionless detour from the real issues of the election to pursue what appears as a selective witch-hunt.

It is on record that 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 Ononuga, Femi Fani  Kayode, and a host of other atrocious persons. Or are their actions not fascist?

Nor did he condemn Mahmoud Yakubus insistence on flouting INECs guidelines, the electoral act, and his rush to declare a winner. It is sad that when it mattered that the voice of our dear prof (Soyinka) whose books and thoughts formed the base of academic pursuit by some should breathe reason on the polity, he chose to stand with the oppressor in a burning house enjoying a rat chase.

The group said Soyinka should be a father to all Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion, party, or social affiliations.

However, he has betrayed the trust of many Nigerians who before now hold him in high esteem. 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.

The group also said the presidential election was compromised because it did not reflect the wishes of Nigerians.

Hardly can any Nigerian alive deny that the outcome of the presidential election did not represent the will of the Nigerian people or amount to an abuse of their suffrage, the group said.

We all know the truth. But why are we not saying a thing about it? What most Nigerians do not understand is that the people perpetrating this evil against our country are deliberate and desperate. Their path is laid before them and power is their ultimate source of livelihood.
Ahead of the inauguration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chairman, of the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa/NEPAD, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, Enugu East has urged the Ndigbos to shelve their emotional sentiments over the 2023 elections and support the incoming administration of Tinubu.

The former Governor of Enugu state, Senator has affirmed that Tinubu will be sworn in as President on May 29, 2023, Our leaders and people should join other ethnic nationalities to negotiate for accruals from the joint Commonwealth of the Nigerian as soon as possible.

In a statement yesterday, Nnamani said: In Gods time, Igbo elites will shake off the shackles of politico-visceral emotion, unreasonable petulance of her Youth and twin apathy and nonchalance of her elders.

Ndigbo should Join the comity of other Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria to share equitably her Palaver and resource accruals.

Nnamani who maintained that elections are over said that what is needed now is to support the incoming government, participate in order to be able to negotiate for dividends of democracy to our people.

The Senator who asked his people to reflect on the journey so far in order to avoid the pitfalls that put them in a disadvantageous position in the past, said, Days of grumbling are over. We should align with the mainstream administration and be able to attract dividends of democracy to our people.

He said he believes that a Tinubu administration will be fair and just in the allocation and distribution of resources to all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliations.




Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said Dino Melaye, a spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, cannot be Governor of Kogi State.

Wike warned that the PDP would fail if Melaye emerged as its governorship candidate.

Addressing selected journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, Wike stressed that the former Kogi West Senator lacked the capacity to govern a state.

According to Wike: If you give Dino the governorship ticket, you know he will fail; there is no way he can win. Why will Kogi people say they would vote for a candidate like Dino?

People cant vote for Dino because he is from Kogi; Dino does not have what it takes to govern the state or be a governor. Its not by coming on television to act drama or insult Wike.

Last week, Melaye joined the Kogi State governorship race as PDP prepares to hold its primary election in the state.
The man accused of fatally stabbing Alicia A. Arnone in her Leonia apartment last year pleaded guilty Monday to first degree murder.

Nile Diakos, 36, appeared before Judge Susan Steele in Bergen County Superior Court and accepted the states plea offer of 30 years in prison with no chance of parole. Had he stood trial and been convicted of murder, Diakos faced a maximum sentence of life in prison, but opted for the mandatory minimum of 30 years behind bars and pled guilty.

Diakos entered his guilty plea on Monday during a court appearance in which he was accompanied by his attorney, Kathleen Theurer. The Paterson resident admitted that on March 26, 2022, he stabbed Arnone, a 35-year-old single mother described by authorities at his girlfriend, at the womans apartment on Grand Avenue.

Theurer said under terms of the plea agreement, Diakos must serve every day of his 30-year sentence. But instead of spending the rest of his life behind bars, the sentence offers Diakos the hope that he may one day walk out of prison, she said.

Mr. Diakos took full responsibility for his actions and is very regretful, she said.

Police initially arrested Arnones ex-boyfriend and charged him with the killing, based on a statement the victims 13-year-old daughter gave to police.

But after further questioning by detectives, the daughter said she was wrong and didnt see anyone on the night her mother was killed.

Diakos was arrested days later after detectives discovered phone recordings and text messages in which he confessed to the stabbing. The first suspect was freed, and Diakos was later indicted on charges of first-degree murder, weapons possession, and hindering apprehension.

During pre-trial motions, Theurer tried to suppress the phone recordings and texts, arguing that Diakos was mentally-ill and suffered from schizophrenia. But her argument didnt convince the judge to suppress the evidence, so Diakos pleaded guilty.

In exchange for his guilty plea, the state agreed to drop the weapons possession and hindering charges. But Diakos has criminal charges pending in Passaic County that will likely add more time to his sentence, Theurer said.

Theurer said Diakos intends to plead guilty to stalking and a illegal weapons possession in Passaic County later this month, charges that are unrelated to the Arnone murder. Under terms of the plea deal, Diakos is subject to an additional five-year sentence, Theurer said.

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Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com.
UPDATE: Pa. mom strangled sleeping 11-year-old to death before driving SUV into ocean in N.J., cops say

A Pennsylvania woman was located in a Jersey Shore town on Tuesday, hours after her 11-year-old son was discovered dead by his father in a Pennsylvania home, authorities said.

The woman was found in Wildwood Crest, a short time after officials in nearby Cape May found her SUV partially submerged in the ocean off Beach Avenue, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office said Tuesday.

She has not been charged in connection with her sons death as of early Tuesday afternoon, the district attorney said.

Matthew Whitehead was found by his father in the master bedroom of a home on the 500 block of Privet Road in Horsham Township shortly after 7 a.m. The father told police the bedroom was locked and boys mothers SUV was missing from the garage.

The boys cause of death will be determined by an autopsy.

The SUV was found headfirst in the water at the Cove at about 3:30 a.m. by a passerby, who called police, Cape May city manager Michael J. Voll said in an email.

Police ran the Pennsylvania plate and discovered the person driving the vehicle was wanted for a homicide in Horsham, Pennsylvania, Voll wrote. The woman who was driving was later arrested in Wildwood Crest this morning.

It wasnt immediately clear what charges in New Jersey she is facing.

Cape May is more than 120 miles from Horsham.

Wildwood Crest police chief Robert Lloyd declined to comment, referring questions to the Cape May County Prosecutors Office, which couldnt immediately be reached.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.

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The Disney+ series Ms. Marvel introduced Jersey Citys Kamala Khan as the teen superhero from the Marvel comics last summer.

This fall, shes back as Ms. Marvel teams up with her idol Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau in The Marvels, her official debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Following a year of successful award-winning competition at the American Harvard Model Congress Conference in San Francisco, the Hoboken High School Harvard Model Congress returned to international competition as they authored and debated legislation on a myriad of topics and issues at the Harvard Model Congress Conference in Madrid, Spain, in March.

Hoboken High Schools performance was recognized during the closing ceremonies as they won 12 awards, more than any other participating school.

Harvard Model Congress encourages young people to participate in public service and civic life, giving them a platform to get first-hand experience at how the government works.

Over the course of the conference, students were offered the opportunity to dive into the issues and debates facing international governments today. The approach centered around small-group learning, inspired debate, cooperation, and legislation while also forcing students to expand their own perspectives and to understand the issues at hand in a new, more comprehensive manner.

Im extremely proud of the Hoboken High School Debate Program students, said Paul Huggins, the advisor to the Hoboken High School team. They worked with students from around the world to devise plans to mitigate some of the worlds most pressing problems and issues. They wrote laws and resolutions to address issues like, water scarcity, the threat to democracy around the globe, world bank reform, and the future of standardized tests in the U.S. Their efforts were recognized during the closing ceremony, winning an unprecedented twelve awards, more than any other participating school. Beyond the awards, we are proud of them because they modeled the collaborative and constructive behavior essential to effective government.

Hoboken High School Harvard Model Congress Delegates excelled in the following categories: Frances Michaels: best delegate for her work in the House Climate Committee; Sage Gurtman: honorable mention for her work in the United Nations World Health Organization; Julia Critz: best delegate for her work as a member of the World Bank; Kendall McDonough: honorable mention for her work in the House Climate Committee; Mara Reba: best delegate for her work in the European Union honorable mention; Daniel Weintraub: honorable mention for his work as the head of the CIA; Jacob Linder: best delegate as a member of the House Intelligence Committee; Camilia Suarez: best delegate as a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee; Amalia Batlle: best delegate as a member of the House, Environment, Labor and Pension Committee; Genevieve Fink: honorable mention as a member of the UN Group of 20; Coby Kriegel: best delegate as a member of UN Group of 20; Juliet Hysen: honorable mention for her service as a member of the press in the Media Committee.

I am so proud of what this team accomplished, said Francis Michaels, an award-winning delegate. Not that we got awards, honestly thats the least important part of this whole trip. I got to watch and hear about so many members of our team succeeding in making passionate arguments and leading committee rooms. Most importantly, I saw how much work each and every member put into that competition, and whether they came away with an award or not, in my mind they all deserved best delegate. I couldnt have asked for a better ending to the debate season in my senior year. I cant wait to see what this team does from now on.

Hoboken Harvard Model Congress team members challenged themselves and their peers to work together and devise feasible plans to mitigate or solve some of the nations and the worlds most pressing problems and issues. Each member supported the others as they developed their academic and social skills and the team excelled in this years conference.

A program that started 10 years ago with about 8 students has grown into over 100 students shows the vision of the advisors, said Hoboken High School Principal Robin Piccapietra. Their tireless commitment to this program has created the award-winning team of 2023. The students are young, talented, and as committed to the program as the advisors. They have become leaders in the school as well in the field of play at HMC competitions. Hoboken High School Debate Team is a model program for all to follow and a force to reckon with.

Founded in 1987, Harvard Model Congress Europe (HMCE) is an educational conference run exclusively by undergraduates at Harvard University.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, whos served for nearly a decade as the chief executive of New Jerseys second largest city, officially launched his campaign for governor Tuesday morning with a video that highlights his military service after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In an announcement released Tuesday morning, Fulop, a Democrat, said that he plans to bring the same energy and fight from his career in Jersey City to Trenton.
Local authorities are confirming a rash of break-ins around Albany, evidence of which can be seen from increasing signs of vandalism around certain locations.

We are definitely seeing an uptick  bigger than an uptick, said Laura Hawkins, APD community engagement officer.

There have been a lot of burglaries recently with broken windows as points of entry, Hawkins said. The department is investigating whether the incidents are connected.

While its been more visible in North Albany and downtown, Hawkins said the problem isnt confined to any one part of town.

Food carts at The Barn at Hickory Station were hit over the weekend, with windows shattered and electronic sales equipment stolen, according to a social media post from The Barn. Hawkins said the owners dont typically leave money behind in the carts, making it that much more frustrating for victims.

If you see something suspicious, call us, Hawkins said. She added while its not uncommon for people to feel hesitant about calling the police, its always better to call  even if it might be nothing. The police are there to check it out, she said.

Beaver Bowls Cannabis Showroom is on its third busted window in three years, co-owner Angie Weeks said, including one in the front door. She said the cost comes directly out of pocket, citing what she said are already high insurance costs, high deductibles, and low probabilities of payout for cannabis businesses.

This time, the would-be thieves were thwarted by security glass. It held, but the spider webbed window does little to improve curb appeal or attract customers. The window in question was apparently targeted because of the ATM on the other side.

I wouldnt say its getting worse, Weeks said. Its just never gotten better.

Weeks said Albany police have been extremely helpful and responsive, but she doesnt know if the problem will be solved any time soon.

I dont know if its people feeling desperate or what it is, Weeks said. Were a family-owned business. We spend a lot of hours working, so its really upsetting when you feel like a target.

Surveillance video helps build cases, Hawkins said, but in some cases, low quality or poor lighting make it more difficult  on top of suspects who conceal their identities with hoods, masks, etc.

Alarms are great too, she said, but its important to alert authorities quickly when they go off.

Theres also been a few reports recently in Albany of home burglaries taking place at night with the perpetrators simply trying front doors and finding them unlocked, Hawkins said. That allows criminals to walk right in and make a quick grab at valuables before disappearing into the darkness.

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The 9 p.m. routine could be a handy tip for concerned citizens. Hawkins said at 9 p.m. every night, you should lock your doors, turn on exterior lights, lock your vehicles and clear out any valuables. She noted a firearm was stolen from a car this weekend as well.

Albany tends to have a higher property crime rate than Oregon state averages, according to a 2022 APD report, with theft from motor vehicles as the number one preventable property crime.
A college freshman from New Jersey was struck and killed by a car last week while walking on the campus of the Massachusetts school he attended, authorities said.

Frankie Petillo Jr. was hit Thursday on the campus of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, according to school officials and his family.
Municipal Judge Jason Witcher  whose concerns about alleged discrimination against Latino defendants in his courtroom last year led to statewide reforms  announced this week he will retire from the bench this summer.

Witchers announcement follows a high-profile clash with state judiciary officials over his bias allegations along with his claims that he was retaliated against by court officials for whistleblowing.
By Michael J. Pappas

United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said he hadnt gone earlier to the train derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio because he had done TV interviews on it, but he finally went because he wanted to demonstrate he is involved.

Residents say its not demonstrations of involvement theyre looking for but information and help moving forward.

Despite the billions of dollars worth of upgrades that the states airports have recently realized, air travelers in New Jersey are similarly frustrated with the departments work on air travel and are similarly looking for information and solutions. Prices are high and climbing, and with airports like Newark Liberty ranked among the worst in the nation for on-time flights, service is bad and getting worse. The states airports are congested and systems dont work. And all of what gets proposed seems designed to demonstrate involvement rather than bring improvement.

Regulators dont want to deal with fare increases, so they turn a blind eye as airlines keep fare increases to a minimum but add to their bottom lines with hidden fees. The average airfare stood at $384 in January, up 13% from the previous year and well on its way to the pre-COVID price of $399 in the third quarter of 2019.

Thats not what you pay for a ticket, of course. Its more like three-quarters of what you pay for a ticket. Fares accounted for 88.5% of airline revenue in 1990. Now they account for 72.6%. In just the first nine months of 2022, U.S. airlines collected $112.2 billion in passenger fees for baggage, seat upgrades and assigned seating.

Airlines get away with this because we dont have a lot of choices. Four airlines control more than 80% of the U.S. market. Their equipment is old, their service is indifferent and often understaffed, and they feel no pressure to upgrade.

Their consumers are angry  customer complaints are up 372% from October 2019 to more than 5,000 last year. They are looking for options  car traffic has long since returned to normal; air traffic remains stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels. But they also are captive.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who represents New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives, is working on the fee problem. He has introduced the Clear and Simple Airline Agenda to require airlines to make clear what fees they are charging and for what reasons they are charging them.

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He sent a letter to the Department of Transportation asking for swift implementation of a rule to require airlines and online booking services to show the full price of a plane ticket up front  all baggage fees, change fees, cancellation fees and other hidden charges listed up front.

Yet, its unclear if the DOT will be willing to cut back on these predatory business activities when its already unwilling to add more competition against these mega airlines for New Jerseys flyers.

Although Spirit Airlines and JetBlue have been trying to merge since late last year, the DOT joined a lawsuit with the Justice Department a few days ago in an attempt to stop it. This merger among two disruptors would create the nations fifth-largest airline  one with a history among both merging firms of lowering fees and prices in an industry dominated by the bigger airlines that seemingly like to price gouge.

The benefits to New Jersey flyers would be incalculable. JetBlue has already shown from experience that it can lower costs in the New Jersey-New York area. The company having more standing would mean more flights, fewer delays, fewer fees and cheaper fares. The bureaucrats just need to get out of the way.

If government wants to help, as opposed to giving the impression of helping, it will promote competition in every way. It will let us see which airlines charge which fees in what amounts. It will allow airlines to form the capital necessary to compete with the Big Four. It will truly clear the way so airlines can address the needs of passengers.

Doing anything less will lead to more power and more money in the hands of the big, monopolistic problem actors that have shown complete and total insensitivity to the needs of New Jerseys flyers. And thats in no ones interest but their own.

Michael J. Pappas is a former member of Congress from New Jersey.

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By Silvio Laccetti

While preparing a global outreach for my foundations WorldCast 23 environmental studies broadcast for high school students, I pondered the vast settlement of Italians worldwide, the Italian diaspora.

Americans, particularly Italian Americans, are barely aware of the dimensions of the Italian diaspora. People of Italian heritage have played major roles and have significant presence in a number of countries outside Europe. A brief listing culled from various sources shows that:

1. For reference, Italy has 60 million people.

2. Brazil has 32 million of Italian heritage, or 15% of its total population.

3. Argentina has 25 million, a whopping 62.5% of its total population.

4. The United States has an estimated 17 million, about 6%. But the National Italian American Foundation claims the number could be as high as 25 million, since the census department stopped asking about Italian ethnicity in this century.

5. Venezuela, 1.7 million or 6%.

6. Canada, 1.5 million, or 4.5%.

7. and 8. Australia, 1 million or 4.4% and Uruguay 1 million -- but 40%.

If you are wondering, the U.S. cities with the most Italian Americans are: New York City, 1 million, followed by Philadelphia, Chicago and Boston, each with about a half million. The biggest concentration of Italian Americans is in the Northeast with New York and New Jersey leading the way.

New Jersey is replete with municipalities that rank in the Top 10 in percentage of Italian Americans: Fairfield leads the nation with 50.3%. In our area, national leaders include: East Hanover, 41.3%, Cedar Grove and Wood Ridge at 40%, South Hackensack with 36% and Nutley with 36%. In terms of sheer numbers, our Shore communities lead the state, Toms River with 27,500, Brick with 23,000, followed by three Hudson County communities: Jersey City (12,000), Hoboken (10,600) and Bayonne (8,000).

In these communities, the two uppermost issues for Italian Americans concern 1., the Columbus controversy and 2., Italian studies in public schools. Intrigued, I decided to ask two non-Italian Americans associated with the work of my foundation about issues facing their Italian communities abroad, one from Brazil, the other from Australia.

First, I inquired of Bill Macina in Brazil. The peak Italian migration to Brazil occurred at about the same time as that to the U.S., 1870-1920, with a smaller flow occurring after World War II. Atypically, Bill is a triple mover. His grandparents came to the U.S. from Italy. He grew up in New Jersey, but in adulthood, he moved to Brazil to establish his successful Business, ITAMBRAS.

In Brazil, Bill states, Columbus in a non-issue. There are very, very few monuments to him in Brazil, which, after all, was discovered by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Cabral. Oct. 12 is celebrated as a quasi-religious Childrens Day! On the second matter, about the maintenance and expansion of Italian language and cultural studies, unlike here, it is the younger generation which is very concerned with this matter. They lobby for more Italian Studies in the curriculum and display a strong interest in obtaining dual Italian-Brazilian citizenship. These trends are particularly evident in Bills hometown of Serra Negra, which has 90% Italian heritage.

My second contact Is Italian Australian Zach Facione, an amazingly accomplished scholar-athlete, a seven-time All-American track star who is finishing up a masters degree at Wake Forest University, North Carolina. Interestingly, in the heart of that state, Zach is identified by peers and associates as Australian, rather than a person of Italian heritage!

Regarding the Columbus controversy, in Australia, as in Brazil, there is are very few markers and no fuss about the Great Navigator. Of course, Australia was discovered by the Dutch in 1606 and re-discovered by British Captain Cook in 1770, long after the Columbian voyages to the New World.

As for Italian Studies, as we saw in Brazil, there is a growing interest among young Italian Australians to learn more about their heritage. But in schools and universities, Italian language is being cut out. Indeed, one university has ceased teaching any languages, stating that this study is not compatible with its mission.

Zach lives in a suburb of Sydney, a major city which features its own Little Italy. But he has no such place in his American home of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The best he can do is visit Diolis Italian Market for some Italian specialties!

I conclude by urging all readers to delve more deeply into the topics raised in this essay and to learn more about the geography and politics in your hometowns.

Silvio Laccetti, Ph.D., of Fairview is a retired professor of history and has been a national columnist for 20 years. His self-named foundation promotes Italian heritage and culture in the U.S. and abroad.

Send letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com.
When he left an influential law firm in February 2021 to work for New Jersey City University, which then seemed to be an expanding and prosperous institution, he certainly did not expect to become its president less than two years later, after it had gone broke.

But hed do it again, Andres (Andy) Acebo says, and he is determined to resolve its financial problems, reconnect with its community, and reestablish it as an anchor institution where local people can access higher education and economic opportunities.

His parents fled communism in Cuba in 1964. They met and married in Miami and moved to Union City, where his dad became a waiter and his mother a school aide. He was born here and attended local schools.

Although Acebo graduated from Brown University and Rutgers Law, his wife and mother-in-law are alums of NJCU, and he recalls almost every one of his high school teachers was an NJCU graduate, as are most of his childhood friends.

Its where people like us go to pursue a better life, he said.

Acebos first job at NJCU was chief of staff to Sue Henderson, then president. Hed learned about that job opening from his friend and then-New Jersey Deputy Secretary of Higher Education Diana Gonzalez, who shared his passion for helping first-generation students and serving the community that welcomed their parents and nurtured their success.

Acebo recognized that NJCU, like many colleges across the nation, had been struggling with declining enrollment and saw new opportunities in expansion. NJCU had opened a school of business on the waterfront and a new campus in Fort Monmouth, and started development on Jersey Citys west side.

But it soon became clear things were not going well.

There was a disconnect between stakeholders, he says. Everyone had the same goals but were not working together to achieve them.

Everyone saw a big future, but they were paying too little attention to the present, he said in hindsight. Serious issues on the main campus in Jersey City were not being addressed.

The expansions were not mission-driven and no one was paying enough attention to our own backyard, he sighed. I could sense there was change coming, but I never dreamed Id be that change.

Acebo went through the search process for promotion to executive vice president and university counsel in the spring of 2022 after the general counsel announced his retirement after almost 18 years of service. Acebo was promoted to the position, which he assumed on July 1. After Henderson resigned, campus leaders encouraged Acebo to take the helm.

He accepted the job for two years. He loves it.

Still, he admits he has sleepless nights but is certain he can succeed at what he calls his mission.

With collaborative leadership, strict managerial and financial controls and oversight, and a returned focus on its mission, the university will succeed, he said.

Many cost-cutting measures have been instituted, including the elimination of dozens of programs.

We are sticking to the basics, Acebo said, courses like criminal justice, nursing, teaching, and anything that promotes economic mobility.

He added: NJCU is an important step in helping people from humble beginnings achieve the American Dream.

The median income of the 6,500 students is $42,200, and most hold full-time jobs. Nearly 70 percent have Pell grants. Almost half are Hispanic, about 20 percent Black, and almost all are the first in their families to attend college.

Acebo hopes the 15-member board of trustees, which currently has six vacancies, will include representation from the communities it serves. Now there is only one alum and two Hudson County residents.

When the state reinvests in NJCU and the recovery and renewal work continue, Acebo says, NJCUs mission will not only survive, but thrive.

A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp.

Submit letters to the editor and guest columns at jjletters@jjournal.com.
A number of recent articles have appeared in the South Jersey Times reporting a rise in teen mental health issues. In the most privileged and affluent country in the world, this should be concerning to all of us. Instead of being healthy and happy, many of our youth are traveling down treacherous roads leading to instability and long-term unhappiness.

There may be a number of reasons for this mental health dysfunction but high on the list have to be the continual focus on social media and the culture of wokeism.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released its Youth Risk Behavior Survey on the health and well-being of high schoolers from 2011-2021. Among its findings was that in 2021, 57% of females experienced sadness and hopelessness. The rate for LGBTQ+ youth was even higher at 69%. Among all males, 29% experienced such feelings. All of these statistics showed an increase from 2011.

Research by Gallup shows, however, that a faith-based foundation, backed by religious institution membership with involvement, has a robust correlation with strong mental health. Sadly, more and more parents are raising children in secular home environments.

When you leave God out of your life, lesser things will fill that void.

Our culture invites people to live out their own truth or be their own god, which leaves young people more vulnerable to confusion. Teens and people in general need a strong identity in something greater than themselves. The New Testament Bible offers that in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ as a powerful source of identity.

Pursuing that purpose in Gods word can bring the greatest joy and peace.

Barbara Essington, Carneys Point

Head toward the center on gun violence

If gun control can limit crime and preserve life, why wont Republicans support it?

Because the National Rifle Association forbids it. And in exchange, we get excuses about why gun control wont work, such as the example of Chicagos strong gun laws and massive gun violence.

What were not told, though, is that illegal firearms are often obtained from states that have loose gun laws. Chicago is 30 minutes from Lake County, Indiana. Indiana allows concealed carry without a permit and Lake County is home to Gary, a city with a higher homicide rate than Chicago.

Sadly though, its not just Republicans who fall short; its also Democrats.

Progressives claim one life saved because of stricter laws is worth it, yet they complained about former New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergs stop-and-frisk policies, which allowed the confiscation of nearly 20% of illegal guns seized in New York. And, former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, was lambasted over the 1994 Crime Bill which  rightfully  tightened criminal penalties, as well as banning semi-automatic assault weapons. (The ban was reversed in 2004 under Republican President George W. Bush.)

Candidates who prioritize the well-being of criminals or an NRA endorsement over our safety dont deserve our votes, they deserve our disdain.

Evan F. Grollman, Camden

Whose values do this candidate represent?

The March 31 Friendly Fire feature with political advisers Julie Roginsky and Mike DuHaime filled me with hope and optimism.

The referenced a Democratic candidate for Camden City Council, Arthur Barclay, a former 5th District state assemblyman, who has the backing of the George Norcross III political machine. Barclay resigned from the Assembly in 2018 when he was charged with beating his girlfriend and breaking her nose. The charges were dropped when she didnt appear in court.

Why my hope and optimism? Finally, it appears that the pool of people who are willing to align themselves with the Norcross machine is dwindling. Camden residents deserve better representatives than the Norcross machine can produce, but, then so do the rest of our South Jersey communities.

Carol Rhodes, Barnsboro

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Theres a difference between democracy and mob rule. But that difference seems to be lost on all those commentators who are hyperventilating about the expulsion of those two Democratic representatives from the Tennessee legislature.

This is politics pure and simple. The three legislators in question wanted attention. They got it.

Only two were expelled, both of whom are Black males. The third, a white woman, was saved by one vote. Some argued this was proof of racism, but Republicans said it was because she didnt use the bullhorn used by the other two.

Either way, they got that attention by flouting the rules for addressing the legislature in a manner more typical of anarchy than democracy.

Their argument was that the disruption they created in the legislative chamber was justified because of their deeply held feeling about stricter gun-control measures. But the Republicans no doubt have deeply held feelings of their own. And there are a lot more of them. Even before the expulsions, the Democrats were outnumbered in the house by a margin of 75 to 24.

Lowering the number of Democrats to 22 has little practical effect. At that level theyre essentially observers. So why not make a play for publicity?

But the democratic solution for these Democrats is not to work their supporters into a frenzy. Its to get more votes in the next elections.

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The same holds true for another prominent politician who argued that his deeply held beliefs justified firing up a mob to pressure politicians.

Thats Donald Trump. In Trumps case it was the election of members of the Electoral College that he wanted to reverse. He did so by firing up his own mob on Jan. 6, 2001, to occupy the Capitol. Im sure they all had deeply held beliefs about the outcome of that election. But in Trumps case as well as the Tennessee case, theres a way to deal with that sort of thing legally: Win the next election.

Failing that, disrupting a session of a legislative body should be punished no matter who does it. In Trumps case, a federal appellate court last week issued a decision upholding a law stating that obstructing Congress is a federal offense. This opens the way for Special Counsel Jack Smith to charge Trump under a law that applies to Whoever corruptly otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding. If convicted, Such person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years.

Now thats some stiff punishment. By comparison, those two Tennessee legislators got a slap on the wrist.

Their expulsion may even help them politically. Special elections will be held to fill those seats. If they win, those two can return to the legislature in triumph. (One has already been returned,)

So perhaps it wasnt a good idea for the Republicans to call attention to them, said Steve Sweeney.

The Gloucester County Democrat recalled that when he was state Senate President he often dealt with people who wanted to disrupt a hearing in some way that would win them publicity.

We tried to avoid that at all costs, especially when people want to be arrested, Sweeney said. Wed normally adjourn, take a break and speak to leadership on the other side.

In the Tennessee case, the Republicans should have tried simply calling a recess, he said.

I wouldnt expel them, he said of the two. I would have done the opposite and then it would just be another day in the legislature.

At the expulsion hearing, a Republican representative named Andrew Farmer took another tack.

You dont truly understand why youre standing there today, Farmer told one of the legislators. Just because you dont get your way, you cant come to the well, bring your friends and throw a temper tantrum with an adolescent bullhorn.

But perhaps the two Democrats felt that the rightness of their cause permitted them to ignore the rules set for others.

Our governor, also a Democrat, tried a variation on this trick during the COVID pandemic. Phil Murphy had used his emergency powers to ban big gatherings. But then he went ahead and marched in a big group of Black Lives Matter activists.

That led Republican Assemblyman Jay Webber of Morris County to demand Murphy be cited under the same rule under which others had been cited.

When a reporter asked Murphy about that, he replied, I cant imagine what it would look like if we said to people You have to stay in, you have to ignore systemic racism; just ignore it, you have to stay inside, you cant go out and voice your rightful anger.

Webber can imagine what it would look like: Equal treatment under the law.

Phil Murphy ordered 9 million people to live by one set of rules and he lived by a separate set of rules, said Webber. But he said the Bill of Rights was above his pay grade.

Thats what happens when we are governed by politicians deeply held feelings rather than the law.

But we shouldnt confuse it with democracy.

More: Recent Paul Mulshine columns.

Paul Mulshine may be reached at pmulshine@starledger.com.

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Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop formally announced Tuesday morning he is running for New Jersey governor in the 2025 election, making the Democrat the first of likely several candidates to officially enter the race to succeed Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy more than 2 1/2 years from now.

Fulop, a 46-year-old U.S. Marine veteran who has served three terms at the helm of the states second-largest city, filed paperwork to open a campaign committee to seek the Democratic nomination 25 months before voters begin casting ballots in the primary. Thats a significantly earlier move than most candidates make.

In a statement, Fulop said he has always been guided by a strong desire to take on difficult challenges and find solutions that help improve peoples lives.

And now Im running for governor to bring those same values to Trenton, he added. Im launching my campaign now because I believe that New Jersey can become an even better place for all of us, and I will be sharing my vision over the coming months for how we will make it happen.

Though early, the decision was not unexpected. It ended months  and years  of speculation. When Fulop announced in January he wouldnt seek a fourth term as mayor, it was seen as a sign he was prepping a gubernatorial bid.

This also comes five years after Fulop, then a rising political star, was considered a likely contender for governor in 2017. The thought was hed be part of a bruising three-way race for the Democratic nomination to succeed Republican Chris Christie, along with then-little-known Murphy and then-state Senate President Stephen Sweeney.

Ultimately, Fulop announced he wouldnt not run and endorsed Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive with deep pockets. Sweeney later did the same. Murphy ended up winning.

A half-decade later, Fulop has joined the contest to take over for term-limited Murphy, who is barred by the state Constitution from seeking a third consecutive term as governor.

MORE: Decade of experience as mayor gives Fulops supporters, critics plenty to debate in run-up to 2025 gov primary

Fulop, who grew up in Edison, also released a video Tuesday highlighting his backstory: How he left a job on Wall Street  at investment banking firm Goldman Sachs  to enlist in the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks and later served in Iraq. The clip includes images of 9/11 and interviews with soldiers who served with Fulop.

A political career followed when Fulop returned home. At age 27, Fulop waged an unsuccessful Democratic primary bid for Congress against now-U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. Then, at 28, Fulop ran against the local political machine and won a seat on the Jersey City council in 2005.

Fulop then ousted incumbent Mayor Jeremiah Healy in 2013 to take over as the citys leader.

The video also includes interviews with residents of Jersey City and nods to his achievements in the growing metropolis just across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

I believe leadership is about standing up for what you believe in, even when its not popular, and then fighting successfully to get it done, Fulop says at the end of the clip, with the Jersey City skyline behind him. Now Im running for governor to bring that same energy and fight to Trenton.

Should he win, Fulop would become the first mayor to become New Jerseys governor since Woodbridges Jim McGreevey in 2002. He would be the first-ever mayor of one of the states two biggest cities  Newark and Jersey City  to become governor.

Murphy had a similar early start to his first campaign, announcing he was running in 2016 a year and a half before Election Day.

Matthew Hale, a political science professor at Seton Hall University, said it appears Fulops goal is to get in there first and stake his claim that anybody who wants to be governor has to go through me.

I think he learned from the last time hes got to earn it  knock on the doors of county chairs, walk around with people, said Hale, also a Democratic member of the Highland Park council. That takes time.

Hes gonna have competition, Hale added.

Indeed. Fulop would first have to win the Democratic nomination against what could be a crowded primary field vying for an open seat.

Sweeney has openly said he is mulling a campaign despite having been ousted from the Senate in 2021. U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, and former state Assemblyman John Wisniewski, among others, are considered potential Democratic candidates, as well.

Asked his reaction to Fulops announcement Tuesday, Sweeney said: Is that a surprise? It was anticipated, expected.

The move has no impact on me, Sweeney added.

When the time comes for me to make a decision, I will, he told NJ Advance Media in a phone interview. Obviously, Im looking at it.

On the Republican side, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, who lost a closer-than-expected governors race to Murphy in 2021, already said he plans to run again in 2025. State Sens. Jon Bramnick, Declan OScanlon, Holly Schepisi, Doug Steinhardt, and Mike Testa, state party chairman Bob Hugin, and radio host Bill Spadea, among others, are also considered contenders for the GOP nod.

A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll last month found Fulop had the sixth-most name recognition (34%) and favorability (17%) among possible 2025 Democratic hopefuls.

The early entry means Fulop will get a head start on campaigning, but it also could cause him to use up campaign funds more quickly. A spokesman said Fulop will participate in the states matching funds program, which means he can spend only $7.3 million before the June 2025 primary.

Meanwhile, Coalition for Progress, a super PAC tied to Fulop, has $6.2 million on hand that could boost his bid.

In his video, Fulop said over the coming months hell release detailed proposals for how we can make a great state even better for every family.

I hope youre with me because we have a lot to do, the now-gubernatorial candidate added.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @johnsb01.
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Authorities have charged a 24-year-old Albany woman for her part in a missing teen case that went viral on local social media.

Alyssa Thomas was arrested after police caught up to her in Portland with Tryston Wade, a 13-year-old Albany boy.

While it is normally the policy of Mid-Valley Media not to identify potential child victims, Wade's name was widely publicized in earlier missing person reports in mainstream and social media.

Wade was first reported missing on Wednesday, April 5, possibly with Thomas, stirring considerable discussion on social media, with many commenters concerned about the age difference between the pair.

Charges

Portland police found the two in the Lloyd Center Mall food court, according to a news release from the Albany Police Department. Thomas was taken into custody initially on an arrest warrant as well as for probable cause related to custodial interference.

Wade was taken into protective custody, according to the new release.

A team of four Albany police detectives went to retrieve Thomas and Wade from Portlands north precinct. Wade was reunited with his mother around 5 p.m. Monday, April 10.

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Thomas was taken to the Linn County Jail and held on charges of second-degree custodial interference, second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy, the news release states.

Arraignment

Thomas was arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon, April 11. She appeared via video remote and did not speak.

Speaking for several jail inmates who were being arraigned, defense attorney Arnold Poole requested a court-appointed attorney for Thomas and asked that she be released, noting her fathers presence in court.

The state requested a bail security of $150,000 for Thomas release, which the judge agreed to set. It was noted that Thomas doesnt have a criminal record but is facing two Measure 11 (i.e., serious) crimes connected with taking a minor out of the county and is therefore a potential flight risk.

Poole said Thomas has autism and is developmentally disabled, grew up in Linn County, is unemployed and receives Social Security Disability.

The missing time

The pair hitchhiked to Portland from Albany and were sleeping outside, Brittany Wade said her son told her. The teenagers phone appears to have been sold at a mall kiosk, his mother alleged, adding the boy apparently didnt know people were looking for him or that hed been in the news.

She alleged Thomas prevented her son from making contact with anybody on her own phone after taking his away.

According to Brittany Wade, Thomas reached out to a friend who intentionally avoided the topic on social media to give the impression of being a safe haven. Brittany Wade said that friend spoke with the woman and teen by phone and learned they were at Lloyd Center.

While they were at the Lloyd Center, there were people commenting (on social media), Hey, I think your son is here,' she said.

Within 20 minutes of alerting police and mall security, Tryston Wade and Thomas were found together, Brittany Wade said.

I want to thank the community and everybody for getting the word out, Brittany Wade said. I really think we wouldnt have found him if it hadn't been for everybody sharing, people rallying and being on the lookout for him.

The release added words of appreciation to community members for tips that led to finding the two, as well as assisting law enforcement agencies.

APD is continuing its investigation. Anyone with information relating to this case is asked to contact APD detectives at 541-917-7686.

Related stories:
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 50F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 36F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
An Albany boy missing since last week was found at a Portland shopping mall, according to his mother.

Tryston Wade, 13, was reported missing Wednesday, April 5. Authorities suspected he might be with a 24-year-old Albany woman, Alyssa Kathleen Thomas.

The case has stirred considerable discussion on social media, with many commenters concerned about the age difference between the pair.

In an interview with Mid-Valley Media, Brittany Wade said her son was at a friends home the day he went missing. When she tried picking him up that afternoon, she was told he had left.

The next day, the Albany Police Department got a tip that her son and Thomas could be in the Portland area.

Tryston Wade and Thomas were spotted at the Lloyd Center Mall. Authorities were alerted and found the pair together, according to Brittany Wade. Police officials would not say whether an arrest was made in connection to the incident.

I want to thank the community and everybody for getting the word out, Brittany Wade said. I really think we wouldnt have found him if it hadn't been for everybody sharing, people rallying and being on the lookout for him.

The teenagers phone appears to have been sold at a mall kiosk, his mother alleged.

I spoke with him on the phone before he headed home, Brittany Wade said. He apparently didnt know people were looking for him; he didnt know that hed been on the news.

The pair hitchhiked to Portland from Albany and were sleeping outside, Brittany Wade said her son told her.

Thats all I really got from him other than some tears and some I love yous, she said, adding she hadnt heard from her son or had any confirmed sightings the entire time he was missing.

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An Albany police spokesperson confirmed police had found Wade in Portland on Monday, April 10, and were escorting him home. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details were available yet.

"There was a lot of hearsay going around regarding the missing teen, APD's Laura Hawkins said.

Thomas currently has an active arrest warrant out of Albany Municipal Court for theft, police said in a news release last week.
We ordered a broad sweep of the menu and soon our table filled with skewers of grilled meat, a robust meal-sized soup, fragrant rice and a standout fried chicken.

With that description alone, we couldve been at any number of restaurants. But we were at Island Bistro, which is, as far as I can divine, the areas only Indonesian restaurant. That made this meal eye-opening and, around here, unprecedented.

The name doesnt refer to one island, but to the Indonesian archipelago, which comprises its own galaxy of islands, said to number north of 18,000, some 6,000 of which are inhabited. The country has pre-colonial history as a regional Asian trading hub before becoming the spice house of Europe, and then the world. All of this plays through the menu.

Island Bistro is found, of course, in a strip mall in Kenner, that ever-giving breeding ground for interesting restaurants. This one is family run with a tale of community behind it.

It was started by Elis Herman, who is of Indonesian-Chinese heritage. Her husband, Charles Wang, has a company providing sushi to grocery stores. But it was Hermans dream to open a restaurant based on her own family cooking and the flavors of home.

They connected with the areas small, tight-knit Indonesian community through cultural groups, including the Asian/Pacific American Society. Thats how they landed an experienced Indonesian chef in Gagah Alamsyah.

His opening menu is a multifarious tour of his countrys different styles and specialties. Aspects of Indian, Chinese and Malaysian cooking turn up across its flavors. But the unifying thread is his kitchens zealous fidelity to fresh spices.

On a recent visit, Alamsyah showed off a collection of these elemental base ingredients, in the way a sushi chef might display the latest arrival from the Tokyo fish market.

This is the basis of so much of our food, and we have to use it fresh; thats what gives the flavor, he said.
A maintenance man installing a mailbox in front of a home in Kenner was shot dead at about 11 a.m. Monday, the Kenner Police Department said.

Police have since booked two Kenner men with first degree murder in the case: 23-year-old Tahj Matthews and Maurice Holmes, 25.

The victim, Lawrence Herr, 66, was found lying in the driveway at 29 Georgetown Street just west of Loyola Drive. He was taken to the hospital, where he died, police said.

Jean Foster, Herr's close friend of 10 years, said she started to worry when she didn't hear from him by 5:30 p.m. She went to his house where his family members who had gathered there told her the news.

"I started crying," Foster said. "I knew then I'm not going to see my friend again."

Herr's sister, Laurie Forster, said Tuesday that police told her family they believe the killing was a robbery gone wrong.

Forster said her brother enjoyed maintenance work, more for the opportunity to help others than for the modest pay it afforded him.

"Who would think that my brother would be carrying any money on him?" she said.

Herr lived with their nearly 90-year-old mother and was helping to care for her, Forster said. He loved animals and was responsible for feeding dozens of stray cats near his Metairie home.

"I don't know whats going to happen to the little cats," Forster said. "Im just trying to be there for my mother mainly."

Foster, remembered Herr as a Christian man who visited her early in the morning for coffee and was kind to her animals: a rabbit, turtles and a bearded dragon.

"He always had a good aura about him," she said.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to change the spelling of Laurie Forster's last name.
Several environmental groups are suing federal regulators over what they say is a failure to set safe limits on harmful chemicals pouring into waterways from refineries, including eight facilities in Louisiana that are considered among the nations top polluters.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has done little to curb the half billion gallons of wastewater that flows from refineries to rivers, estuaries and other public waterways each day.

While the tools for treating these pollutants have become better and cheaper over the years, the EPA still holds refineries to standards set decades ago, said Andrew Whitehurst, the water program manager for Healthy Gulf, one of the 13 groups filing the suit.

There really is no excuse, he said Monday. We should be holding these industries to the best available pollution standards, but the EPA has not done that.

The EPA declined to comment on the lawsuit. The agency does not typically discuss issues involving litigation.

The U.S. Clean Water Act requires the EPA to set limits on refinery pollutants and update them every five years as treatment technology improves. But the EPA has never set limits for several common refinery pollutants, including selenium, benzene, mercury and cyanide, according to the environmental groups.

The lawsuit challenges the EPAs decision in late January to delay updating what the groups say are outdated and weak water pollution control technology standards, called effluent limitation guidelines, for seven industrial sectors, including refineries and chemical manufacturers.

Regardless of where a person lives, they should be able to fish or swim in their local river or lake without fear of getting sick from pollution, said Jennifer Peters, the national water programs director for Clean Water Action, one of the groups named in the lawsuit.
Sabina Mammadli

Deputy Defense Minister - Commander of the Air Force Lt-Gen Ramiz Tahirov paid a visit to the USA, Azernews reports per Defense Ministry.

During the visit, the Azerbaijani official met with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen Charles Q. Brown, Jr.

The sides exchanged views on the current state of military cooperation and regional security issues.

Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the USA Khazar Ibrahim also participated in the meeting.

The United States recognized Azerbaijans independence on December 25, 1991. The countries established their diplomatic relations in the same year. On March 6, 1992, Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Washington, and on March 16, 1992, the United States opened its embassy in Baku, with Robert Finn as Charge dAffaires ad interim.




The World Bank has approved funding for digital initiatives in two African nations.

The Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project has been awarded US$390 million in financing for its first phase, which will run from 2023-2028 and is aimed at increasing access to high speed internet, boosting skill development within the digital economy, and augmenting digital education services. The second phase will begin concurrently in 2026 and run until 2030, with the goal of creating a secure, data-driven environment for the provision of digital services.

CommsUpdate reports that a further US$100 million in private capital is likely to be mobilised for broadband infrastructure. These funds will be used for building out fibre-optic backbone to boost connectivity to educational and government institutions.

Broadening access to digital technologies and services is a cross-cutting pathway to accelerate economic growth and job creation, improve service delivery, and build resilience, said Keith Hansen, World Bank Country Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda. The Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project aims to help make Kenyas growth more equitable by shrinking disparities in digital skills and connectivity, and expanding the digital marketplace.

Tim Kelly, Lead Digital Development Specialist at the World Bank commented: The initiative will increase last mile connectivity by boosting broadband network coverage for over 70% of Kenyas population that resides in rural and underserved areas Kenyas digital agenda, reflected in the ambitious ICT Master Plan, aims to transform the country into a regional ICT hub by increasing fibre-optic coverage to 100,000km and digitising 80% of public services.

On the other side of the continent, the World Bank has approved a US$150 million grant for Senegal to boost its digital transformation  in particular, by shoring up the legal and regulatory frameworks around the countrys digital economy, but also by boosting literacy and digital access.

This is expected to increase the number of citizens who are able to access digital public services and digital healthcare, such as telemedicine, electronic medical records, or apps to manage immunisation. CommsUpdate notes that it will also go towards strengthening broadband infrastructure, particularly in the Casamance and Groundnut Basin areas.

Similarly to Kenya, the investment forms part of a broader strategy  the Digital Economy Acceleration Project (Projet dAcceleration de lEconomie Numerique, PAEN), which is in turn aimed at bringing about Axis I of the Emerging Senegal Plan (Plan Senegal Emergent, PSE)  an overarching plan that Senegal hopes will turn the country into an emerging economy by 2035.
Environmental groups are suing to force the federal government to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals BP Whiting Refinery discharges into Lake Michigan.

The Chicago-based Surfrider Foundation is among 13 environmental activist organizations asking that a federal court order the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to accomplish this by updating nearly 40-year-old water quality guidelines.

Mitch McNeil, Surfriders chairman, said this week, Just south of Chicago, thanks to lax standards by EPA, the BP Whiting Refinery dumps 18 million gallons of wastewater into Lake Michigan every day  a gross contamination loaded with nitrogen, arsenic, and other pollutants.

Besides the lake being a major source of recreation for the region, it's the resource for drinking water. We sincerely hope this federal lawsuit will force EPA to crack down on water pollution from oil refineries  nationally and locally, he said.

Joseph Dominique, a spokesman for the U.S. EPA, and Christina Audisho, media relations manager for BP, are declining comment on the new litigation.

The suit alleges more recent technology in the control of industrial wastewater could reduce not only pollution here, but also billions of gallons discharged by refineries, fertilizer manufacturers and other chemical plants across the United States.

This litigation comes 11 weeks after the Washington D.C.-based Environmental Integrity Project publicly spelled out how federal guidelines it calls outdated impair the nation's waterways for swimming, fishing or other uses.

The study identified 81 refineries discharging a total of 1.6 billion pounds of chlorides, sulfates and other dissolved solids into public waterways in 2021. That includes 30 tons of selenium and 7,800 tons of nitrogen.

The study identified BP Whiting Refinery as one of the worst polluters in the nation, discharging 3,589 pounds of selenium and 574,008 pounds of nitrogen into Lake Michigan in 2021.

That made the BP refinery the third worst in America for selenium pollution and fifth worst for nitrogen, EIP spokesman Tom Pelton said Tuesday.

Selenium and nitrogen are chemical wastes separated from crude oil during the refining process and can be toxic in large enough quantities.

Selenium can cause mutations in fish. Nitrogen, a plant nutrient, causes microscopic plant-life, like lake algae, to grow so fast it drains enough oxygen from lake water to cause fish die-offs.

Pelton said Whiting and other refineries also discharge other pollutants, like ammonia and dissolved solids for which the EPA imposes either weak or no limits. He said the suit seeks updated and strengthened guidelines for those as well.

A BP spokesperson said in January that it operates within the limits of its federal permit regarding water discharge.

The United States, one of worlds largest consumers of petroleum, has been regulating water air, water and soil pollution from refineries for decades under a number of environmental laws.

Pelton said federal law requires the EPA to limit discharges of industrial pollutants under the best available wastewater treatment methods.

The suit alleges the technology to control pollution has advanced over the years.

But EPA has never set limits for many pollutants and has failed to update the few decades-old limits that exist  including those that are now almost 40 years ago for oil refineries, Pelton said.

The suit demands the EPA review and if necessary tighten water standards at least once every five years.

The Environmental Integrity Project filed the lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco on behalf of 12 other private nonprofit groups.

They include: Surfrider, Clean Water Action, Food & Water Watch and Environment America, all of Washington, D.C.; the Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity; the Bayou City Waterkeeper of Houston, Texas; the Black Warrior Riverkeeper of Birmingham, Ala., Healthy Gulf of New Orleans, the San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper, the San Francisco Baykeeper, Tennessee Riverkeeper and the Waterkeeper Alliance of New York City.

The Whiting refinery, founded in 1889 to produce kerosene, is BP's largest in the world, processing 440,000 barrels of crude oil daily. It supplies gasoline to seven states in the Midwest, jet fuels via pipeline directly to O'Hare and Midway airports in Chicago, and a variety of other petroleum products, including 7% of the asphalt in the U.S.

The refinery occupies 1,400 acres of lakefront across Whiting, East Chicago and Hammond, employs 1,700 people within the refinery and spends $3 billion annually on outside vendors in Indiana and Illinois that employ 60,000 people collectively.
The first ocean vessel of the 2023 international shipping season came from the Netherlands to the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor.

The deepwater Lake Michigan port in Portage and Burns Harbor presented the ceremonial steel stein honoring the first ship to Captain Piotr Szczesniak. He guided Polsteams Isadora bulk carrier from Ijmuiden, Netherlands across the Atlantic Ocean, through the St. Lawrence Seaway in Canada and into the Great Lakes.

The Port of Indiana traditionally gives the captain of the first vessel a steel stein that symbolizes the Region's role as the Steel Capital of North America and the port's place as one of the top in the country for steel cargos.

We look forward to the first ocean vessel in Burns Harbor every year as a sign that spring is coming and our port's international connection to the world is now open, Port Director Ryan McCoy said. Our unique deepwater terminal has tremendous capabilities for shipping everything from grain to steel to salt to wind component cargoes on ocean vessels to and from the Heartland of America and global markets.

The Cyprus-flagged laker, which was built in 1999, picked up steel cargo in the Netherlands and then stopped in Cleveland before voyaging for two additional weeks to Northwest Indiana. It traveled from Lake Erie, past Detroit into Lake Huron and then down Lake Michigan, which stretches 300 miles north to south.

Dock workers from the International Longshoremen's Association and the International Union of Operating Engineers will unload the ship's cargo of more than 8,350 tons of steel coil at the port of Indiana-Burns Harbor.

Then the ocean-faring vessel, which is owned by Polsteam and staffed by 21 sailors, will head to the Port of Milwaukee to drop off the last of its cargo.

About 75 to 90 ocean-going vessels from all over the globe went to the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor last year. It handled 3.45 million tons of cargo last year, the most since it opened in 1970.

It also handles river barges, lake vessels, trains and trucks, also sending cargo down to the Gulf of Mexico.

It brings in the hulking international ships when the Great Lakes thaw and the St. Lawrence Seaway reopens its locks in the spring, allowing international trade to resume. Ships bring wind turbines, beer tanks and countless other products, and typically ship grain from Indiana to international markets.
Gas prices reached a yearly high in Illinois and surged again in Northwest Indiana last week, rising by as much as 24 cents a gallon in LaPorte County.

OPEC unexpectedly announced plans to cut oil production by a million barrels of oil per day, driving up the price of crude oil by 6%. OPEC aimed to put upward pressure on the price of crude oil, which has been falling because of the banking crisis and fears of an economic recession.

Gas prices in the Region were much higher than in the rest of the state.

The average price of gas in Indiana was $3.53 per gallon Monday, down from $3.57 a week earlier, according to AAA. Gas prices also rose 13 cents to $3.96 a gallon in Illinois, the highest it's been this year.

The cost of fueling ones ride in Indiana is 46 cents a gallon less than a year ago, when gas cost an average of $3.99 a gallon, according to AAA.

The national average for a gallon of gas rose to $3.60 last week, up from $3.50 a gallon a week earlier and down from $4.11 a year earlier, according to AAA.

"Last weeks jump at the pump was expected, after OPEC announced oil production cuts that immediately caused oil prices to surge," said Molly Hart, spokeswoman for AAA-The Auto Club Group. "Fortunately, after the initial gains on Monday, the oil market plateaued through the rest of the week. Its possible that retail gas prices could inch up a little more this week before fully adjusting to the moves in the futures market."

Domestic oil production held at 12.2 million barrels per day last week, down 400,000 from a year ago, according to the Energy Information Administration. Gasoline output fell to 9.3 million barrels a day, as capacity utilization at refineries like the BP Whiting Refinery fell 0.7 percentage points to 89.6%.

As of Monday, gas cost an average of $3.78 a gallon in Lake County, $3.82 per gallon in Porter County and $3.77 per gallon in LaPorte County, according to GasBuddy.com. The average price of gas was about $3.41 a gallon in Newton County, $3.51 in Jasper County and $3.54 in Pulaski and Starke counties.

Over the past week, gas prices rose by 19 cents in Lake County, 21 cents a gallon in Porter, 24 cents a gallon in LaPorte County and 8 cents a gallon in Jasper County. It fell by 16 cents in Newton County and 3 cents in Pulaski County.

Gas prices in the greater Chicago metropolitan area averaged $4.16 per gallon, including an average of $4.39 within city limits, according to AAA.

The national average price of gasoline has continued its relatively slow climb, with 44 states seeing average gasoline prices climb over the last week. Prices are being pulled up not only due to continued increases in demand as temperatures warm, but also pressure from oil prices, which have risen over 20% in the last month, primarily driven by OPECs surprise decision a week ago to cut oil production, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. Expect the upward trend to continue through much of the rest of spring, but once the transition to summer gasoline and refinery maintenance are behind us, April and May jumps could bring June slumps. However, for diesel, the news continues to be good, with the national average price of diesel continuing to drop, now at its narrowest difference to gasoline in over 13 months.
Home Instead recently marked its 20th anniversary of helping seniors stay in their homes across Northwest Indiana.

Owner Sandi Haywood opened the local franchise of a nation chain that provides in-home care to seniors.

"We have care professionals that provide supportive care to seniors," she said. "We provide nonmedical care to assist seniors to safely and independently stay in their own homes."

Home Instead supplements family caregivers by assuring seniors are safe and supervised. It provides a wide range of services such as transportation, companionship, dementia care and hospital care.

"Our tagline is 'to us, it's personal,'" Haywood said.

Home Instead was founded in Omaha, Nebraska in the 1990s. It's since expanded to more than 1,000 locations worldwide.

It has offices in LaPorte, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Kokomo and Illinois.

"We provide services that give our clients and families peace of mind, knowing we will be there," she said. "Our own loved ones receive care from Home Instead. Our care professionals treat their families with dignity and respect. They are amazing. We give them training and do background checks to give our families peace of mind as well."

Home Instead was still a startup when Haywood bought the franchise for Lake and Porter counties 20 years ago.

"I'm a caregiver in my heart," she said. "I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. I loved listening to their stories. They were a joy to hear. I'm passionate about giving back to seniors. I've always felt at home with them."

Most seniors prefer to stay in their own homes but often need help to do so, she said.

"Their sons and daughters can know they're in good hands," Haywood said. "We make meals with them and help them with crafts and hobbies. People want to stay in their homes so spouses can stay together. They want to stay with their pet or where they raised their children or lived most of their life. We can help with that. That's what brings me joy."

Home Instead Merrillville's office serves a wide-ranging area, including Dyer, Munster, Hammond, Chesterton and Valparaiso. It goes as far south as DeMotte. It sends its care professionals over to home ranging from a few times a week to 24/7.

"There are so many seniors and families who need our help," she said. "We make sure we have the right people on our team. We have very high standards. We have big hearts."

Demand has been strong with the baby boomer generation aging.

"The need is always growing and the needs are always changing," Haywood said.

For more information, visit www.homeinstead.com/location/501 or find Home Instead Merrillville on Facebook or Instagram.
Old National Bank, the successor to First Midwest Bank in the Region, said it is focusing on supporting and assisting employees and their families after a mass shooting at its downtown Louisville branch Monday that left five dead and eight injured.

The Evansville-based financial institution described the mass murder as a "loss deeply felt," saying "our hearts are with our team members, their families, and the Louisville community."

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, said Old National Bank CEO Jim Ryan.

He and other Old National executives went to Louisville, a relatively short distance down Interstate 64 from its corporate headquarters in Evansville on the other side of the Ohio River. They offered support to injured workers and their families.

The Old National leadership team plans to stay in Kentucky's largest city to provide support in the coming days.

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, Ryan said. 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.

The Indiana Bankers Association also expressed its condolences for the bankers who were killed in the mass shooting.

"We are heartbroken by yesterday's tragic events at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville that took the lives of five bank employees: Tommy Elliott, 63; Jim Tutt, 64; Josh Barrick, 40; Juliana Farmer, 45; and Deana Eckert, 57. Eight others were injured, including three police officers," Indiana Bankers Association President and CEO Amber Van Til said.

Old National Bank has branches in Crown Point, Dyer, Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Merrillville, Munster and Saint John.
MICHIGAN CITY - People gathered to celebrate their Polish heritage in Michigan City on Monday with handshakes, hugs, spirited conversation and shots of blackberry brandy.

There was also beer, polish food and a polka band drawing people to the dance floor at the St. Josephs Young Mens Society at 2001 Franklin St.

Not many communities in Northwest Indiana celebrate Dyngus Day, a centuries old holiday rooted in Poland to celebrate the end of Lent following Easter.

Carrie Steinhiser and five of her friends kicked off their celebration by driving to the Crumstown Conservation Club in North Liberty and then the Polish Falcons Club in South Bend before returning for the festivities in Michigan City.

Super packed. Lots of people dancing and eating the Polish food. It was awesome, she said.

Don Przybylinski recalled how his grandmother came here from Poland and taught herself how to read, write and speak English.

Przybylinski said he and his six siblings were taught how to dance to polka music by their mother during polka songs performed on the Lawrence Welk television show a half century ago.

He and his wife, Jinny, danced to a few songs while the band played from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

We all love Dyngus Day, he said.

Patrick Nevorski said hes attended the holiday festivities at the club annually for close to 40 years.

The camaraderie is what he especially enjoys.

You got to have the brotherhood in the community. If you dont have that, you dont have nothing to me, he said.

Nevorski took part in the polish tradition of having shots of blackberry brandy with friends such as Mark Yagelski.

Yagelski said Dyngus Day is also a way of celebrating the beginning of spring especially when the weather is nice.

We have a lot of fun with it, he said.

Rob Pahs said he never misses a Dyngus Day celebration at the club.

Whether youre polish or not, everybody comes down. Its just good. Good people. Good times, he said.

The serving of drinks and live music were in the packed basement of the club founded over a century ago. Polish dishes like pierogis, sausage, sauerkraut and kluski noodles prepared in the full kitchen were served upstairs.

Jacob Gutowski, president of the club this year, said carry out meals were also ordered.

Just a good time and a lot of people hanging out drinking, he said.

Jonny Fletcher of Valparaiso said he grew up in Michigan City and has come back here to celebrate the holiday annually for about the past 10 years.

We always have a good time. Its just a good atmosphere, he said.

Every year, this is the place to be in Michigan City, said Jeff Yackus,a past president and current treasurer of the club.

He said traditional hit polka songs like Roll Out The Barrel and Who Stole The Kiszka are always among the crowd favorites.

Youll get people out here dancing all night, Yackus said.

Dyngus Day is also celebrated annually in La Porte where buses are provided by tavern owners for people to ride to each of the bars taking part in the celebration.

There were 11 bars on this years bus route, which ran from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

PHOTOS: On the Via Crucis in Valparaiso
The Philippines government revealed only 36.79% of SIM cards had been registered before the hard deadline set for this month when unregistered SIMs will be deactivated.

In a statement, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) detailed that as of April 7, only 62,170,268 SIM cards out of 168,977,773 were registered by mobile operators Globe Telecom, Smart and Dito Telecommunity.

Unregistered SIM cards will be cut off from usual service, making them unusable for voice calls, text messaging and data services, stated DICT. The regulator emphasised there will be no deadline extension.

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said current registration progress had been encouraging but urged citizens to maintain momentum.

While the progress in SIM card registration has been encouraging, we must not lose momentum. As we celebrate Easter Sunday, we urge all unregistered citizens to take this opportunity to register their SIMs.

It is crucial to take immediate action to prevent the inconvenience of deactivation. Together, let us strive for a more connected and secure Philippines, said Uy.

DICT revealed over 30 million SIM cards were registered in February, which equates to around 17.76% of total subscribers. The Philippines government implemented its SIM registration law to combat hackers and digital fraud, as the Philippines steadily becomes a more connected nation.
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EAST CHICAGO  A 12-year-old student was nabbed early Tuesday with a loaded handgun at the East Chicago Lighthouse Charter School at 3916 Pulaski St., East Chicago police said.

According to police, a preliminary investigation shows a student overheard other students talking about having a gun in the school. The students reported the incident to the administration immediately.

"The school staff acted quickly and identified the student with the gun," East Chicago police said. "The child with the gun was separated from all the other students and taken to the office."

Police said they were contacted around 8 a.m. Tuesday and responded to the building where they took the student into custody and took control of the loaded .40-caliber pistol. The school was placed on a soft lockdown, Executive Director Jessica Beasley said, while the student was searched. Officials issue soft lockdowns in the event of a public safety threat in which the source is known and students are not in immediate danger.

"At no point was there a threat or any harm brought to any member of the ECLCS community during this time," Beasley said in a statement.

The student in question was taken to the East Chicago Police Department jail for processing and then to the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center in Crown Point on charges of dangerous possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm on school property, police reported.

All parents were notified of the situation by school staff and classes resumed as planned after school staff and officers determined there was no further threat at the school, police said.

Beasley said the school will continue its current safety measures, which include staff monitoring inside and outside the building throughout the day, extra alarms at entrances, requiring visitor appointments and personnel posted at doors during arrival and dismissal.

Beginning Wednesday, students' backpacks will be checked with metal detector devices. Beasley said the school will use the incident to re-examine safety protocols and identify what can be done to enhance them.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank the student and staff members for acting as quickly and professionally as they did during a stressful and potentially dangerous situation," police said. "Their quick actions and response to this situation stopped a potentially dangerous situation from occurring."
HAMMOND  A woman died early Tuesday and a firefighter was injured in a blaze at a home in the 7200 block of Lindberg Avenue, Fire Chief Jeff Smith said.

The fire was reported around 4 a.m. at the single-story home, he said.

The woman was identified by the Lake County coroner's office as Jacqueline McEntire, 72, of Hammond. She was the only one in the structure at the time. A cause and manner of death is pending and an autopsy will be conducted Wednesday.

A firefighter fell through the floor in the home and was taken to hospital for burns to his legs, Smith said. The firefighter is reportedly doing well.

Hammond Firefighters Local 556 voiced appreciation on social media for all the texts and calls with concern for the injured firefighter.

"Currently the firefighter is being treated at Loyola Medical center and is in good condition," the group said. "We will update everyone as soon as we hear more."

The Indiana State Fire Marshal's office was on scene Tuesday and the cause of the fire is under investigation, Smith said.
East Chicago native Emilio Albert De La Garza enlisted in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War after graduating from Washington High School in Indiana Harbor and working for a while at Inland Steel.

Just a week after seeing his wife and daughter on leave in Hawaii, De La Garza made the ultimate sacrifice, jumping on a grenade when out of patrol to save his platoon mates. He earned the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest honor.

De La Garza, a Mexican-American and the son of a World War II veteran, was killed in action April 11, 1970, in Da Nang, Vietnam.

"He requested to go out into combat," said Rey Robles with the Northwest Indiana chapter of the Marine Corps League. "He wanted to go into the heat of the battle, into the middle of the action. He paid the ultimate price."

Local veterans like Robles hope to keep De La Garza's memory alive on the 53rd anniversary of his death. The Marine Corps League-Howlin' Mad Detachment 93 in Merrillville recently named its shelter in honor of De La Garza, installing a plaque with the citation that outlined his heroism above the call of duty in the war.

"It's important that we continue to bring up his story and sacrifice," Robles said. "He left a legacy. He inspired others. It can never be forgotten who he was or what he did."

His widow and high school sweetheart, Rosemary Gonzalez, said he was a humble person who would have shied away from all the adulation he received after his death. Other than the Meal of Honor, his many citations included a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Navy Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with a Gallantry Cross.

He was cited for the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry."

"He didn't like to show off," she said. "He was just a regular guy."

They met in high school and started dating, hanging out on street corners and talking after school.

"Sometimes his dad would lend him his car and we'd go to a movie in downtown Hammond," he said. "It was a simpler life. We didn't have a lot of money. We would just hang out."

They would walk up and down Main Street in Indiana Harbor and he would ask her which piece of jewelry she liked at Albert's Jewelry on Main Street. She fancied a blue sapphire ring that cost $50, which was a lot at the time.

"It was simple, not extravagant," she said. "We would go back and look at the ring and eventually he got it for me at Christmas or for my birthday. He worked a part-time job at a grocery store and saved up enough to buy me the ring outright."

They eventually had a daughter, Renee De La Garza-Lugo, and married.

Like many draft-age young men of that era, he enlisted in the military while war raged overseas in Vietnam.

"We married a week before he shipped to Vietnam," she said. "He never made it home."

She didn't see him until he went on leave in Hawaii in 1970 near the end of his deployment.

"There were a lot of young women on that plane going to see their husbands," she said. "We stayed at a nice hotel, saw all the sights and got luaus. It was just like a regular vacation with no discussion of what he was doing in the jungle. The week went by really fast. Before I knew it, they came and knocked on my door to tell me he was dead."

Shortly after she was notified of his death, flowers he arranged to send her arrived for her birthday.

"I was 20 years old and didn't understand how that could happen. I was trying to figure it out. I thought I was too young to go through this. I was trying to figure out the whole Vietnam War. I couldn't understand why we were there. I knew a lot of guys went to Canada."

Gonzalez said she didn't fully appreciate what he had been through until seeing the Oliver Stone movie "Platoon." A lot of people she knew in similar positions didn't want to see it, but she was anxious to learn more about what he went through over there.

"It just hit me what they were doing out there and how they were living out there," she said. "There were a lot of newsreels about bombings in Vietnam at the time, but you were sitting in a living room in a nice home on a couch wondering how real that was. It wasn't until the movie came out that it dawned on me what the jungle environment and horrible conditions were like. It was always strange and weird to me that was he fighting in the jungle and then they sent him to Hawaii for a lavish little vacation and then sent him back."

His life cut short in combat, De La Garza only got to see his daughter when she was too young to remember what he was like.

"She was a baby," Gonzalez said. "All she knows of her dad is the pictures, usually in his Marines uniform. Cameras were rare then. In middle school, she was asked to do a report on somebody famous and did a report on him. She was a baby, just a year and a half when he died. It was so long ago now."

Many have strived to keep his memory alive. United Steelworkers Local 1010 in Hessville has a plaque honoring him and always remembers him in its annual calendar. His picture hangs by the door at the East Chicago Main Branch Public Library in Indiana Harbor.

She and her daughter mark the anniversary of his death at the cemetery.

"It's quiet," she said. "It's just a quiet day to reminisce."

Washington High School classmate Julio Arevalo Sr., who also served in Vietnam, took shop class with De La Garza.

"He was a nice guy, a good-looking guy," he said. "He was quiet and sincere. He spoke to everybody with respect."

De La Garza wrestled in high school, graduating in 1967.

Arevalo found out around the time he was enlisting that De La Garza was killed in Vietnam.

"I was shocked, as were many other guys," he said. "You never think anything like this would happen."

De La Garza served as a lance corporal for Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. His platoon was out on a night patrol when De La Garza, his platoon commander and another Marine went off to search for two Vietcong soldiers who fled toward a small pond. They cornered one of the enemy soldiers in the reeds and brush, but De La Garza saw him pull a pin on a grenade, shouted out a warning and jumped on the grenade, shielding his platoonmates from the blast and saving their lives at the expense of his own.

"That's the kind of person he was," Arevalo said. "He believed in leaving no soldier behind."

Arevalo is concerned about preserving the memory of De La Garza and his valor on the battlefield. American Legion Post 508 was named in his honor, but it burned down long ago. The East Chicago Career Center was named for him for years, with a bust of him on the second floor, but now it's just known as Ivy Tech Lake County Campus at East Chicago.

"Kids don't know about him. He's been taken for granted. It's sad," he said. "He's someone from East Chicago, Indiana, who made the ultimate sacrifice. He's a Mexican-American from the melting pot of East Chicago who gave his life so others could have a free life. It's something that shouldn't be forgotten. He shouldn't be a small notation in the back of a history book."

About a decade ago, local veterans rescued a white headstone resembling those in Arlington National Cemetery that the federal government awarded to De La Garza when he received the Medal of Honor. It had been inadvertently stored in the greenhouse in Washington Park in East Chicago; they arranged to have it finally placed by his grave at the St. John-St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Hammond.

"It sat in the original crate for 42 years," Robles said. "When we found out about it, we were kind of stunned nobody knew about it and went on a mission to ensure that he was properly honored. It took a lot of hard work getting letters out and getting OKs from the park department, family and cemetery, but we felt like justice was done when we finally got him what he earned and deserved. It's just sad it took so long for that to happen."

Robles also went to Washington High School with De La Gazra, recalling that he was quiet, respected and sang in the glee club.

"The Marines are different from other branches in that you're a rifleman first and everything else second," he said. "He was a grunt. That was his first primary duty. He carried an M60 machine gun."

Robles said he was always impressed with De La Garza's extraordinary bravery in the war.

Few would be that courageous in those circumstances, and only a fraction of service members in American history have ever received the Medal of Honor, Robles said.

"No matter how many years go by, no matter how much time has passed, we have to remember what he did and remember what he sacrificed," he said. "I think his story shows that no matter where you come from you can make a difference. It's about who you are and how you conduct yourself.

"He came from a hard-working town in the Harbor where people looked out for each other and that instilled something in him and made him the man he was. We must never forget him."
The Indiana Senate approved legislation Monday aimed at stopping public schools from educating students about topics the schools aren't even teaching them.

House Bill 1608 prohibits instruction on "human sexuality" to students in prekindergarten through third grade.

It also requires schools to notify a parent within five days if a student requests to be identified by a nickname, a pronoun, or anything other than the student's full, legal name.

Indiana schools typically don't provide any kind of sex education until at least fifth grade, except for state-mandated programs focused on preventing child abuse and child sexual abuse, which must continue under the proposal.

The sponsor, Sen. Stacey Donato, R-Logansport, acknowledged during debate on the measure that no one has come to her complaining about young children in Indiana schools receiving instruction in human sexuality.

She simply believes the prohibition is "a reasonable expectation of our schools."

The legislation does not define "human sexuality," which Democratic senators suggested is intended to marginalize LGBTQ students, or students from LGBTQ families, since some supporters of the proposal consider any acknowledgement of the existence of same-sex relationships to be a form of human sexuality instruction.

Likewise, Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, pointed out if the proposal becomes law, an obviously pregnant teacher only would be able to explain to her young students that she's pregnant if she's directly asked about it by one of her students, since the measure still permits teachers to answer student questions.

Democrats also argued that the nickname provision could have serious consequences if a school "outs" a transgender student wanting to use pronouns that better reflect the student's gender identity.

At the same time, a mischievous student could easily take advantage of the notification requirement to make school staff appear ridiculous.

The plan was approved 37-12, with only Republicans in favor. It next returns to the House for an assessment of Senate changes.

Meet the 2023 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores
MICHIGAN CITY  An Indiana State Prison employee suffered life-threatening injuries after being hit with a steel pipe by an inmate, according to the Indiana State Police.

Detectives with the ISP Criminal Investigations Division Lowell Post were contacted Monday afternoon about an assault on a prison employee. The ISP said an incarcerated man and a prison employee got into an argument around 12:30 p.m. in the steel shop.

An initial investigation found that Jeremy W. Davidson, 39, hit the prison employee on the head with a steel pipe. The employee was severely injured and flown to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

Davidson of Logansport was taken into custody and has been transferred from the state prison to another facility. He is serving a sentence for multiple counts of child molestation, with a release date in 2192.

ISP said the investigation is ongoing.
DUNE ACRES  Fire crews will be conducting a prescribed burn Tuesday in the Dune Acres area.

The fire is expected to begin between 10 and 11 a.m. Visitors and nearby property owners may smell some smoke, but the National Park Service expects southwesterly winds to carry most of the smoke out over Lake Michigan.

The 23-acre fire includes National Park land around the Porter Beach parking lots and a parcel of land owned by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources immediately west of the entrance to the Indiana Dunes State Park.

Crews from the Indiana Dunes National Park and the DNR are partnering on the burn.

The NPS is asking visitors to take care and drive slowly through the area.

The area is being burned to restore the overgrown woodlands back to an Oak Savannah, according to a news release from the park service.

The NPS hopes to use burn more than 900 acres throughout the Indiana Dunes National Park in six prescribed fires this spring.

Another prescribed fire is planned this week, possibly Wednesday, at Howe's Prairie, just south of Porter Beach and Dune Acres.

The Howes Prairie/Lupine Lane prescribed fire was initiated last fall; about 415 acres will be burned.

An online map of the planned prescribed fire areas can be found at bit.ly/INDUSpring2023Fires.

Residents of Lake and Porter counties can sign up to receive prescribed-fire notifications by visiting smart911.com. Updates will also be posted on the Indiana Dunes National Park Facebook Page.

PHOTOS: Prescribed burn at Indiana Dunes National Park National Park Services Great Lake Fire Management Zone burn National Park Services Great Lake Fire Management Zone burn National Park Services Great Lake Fire Management Zone burn National Park Services Great Lake Fire Management Zone burn National Park Services Great Lake Fire Management Zone burn National Park Services Great Lake Fire Management Zone burn National Park Services Great Lake Fire Management Zone burn
VALPARAISO  Members of the Roman army took to the parking lot and prayer trail Friday at St. Paul Catholic Church. In a procession repeated in Hispanic communities across this country and south of the border, the faithful saw a military governor condemn an innocent man, then watched as the prisoner walked to his grisly execution.

Members of the Catholic parish participated in a Via Crucis Viviente, or Living Stations of the Cross.

The Stations of the Cross is a Catholic devotion depicting 14 episodes in the final hours of Jesus life, from his sentencing by Pontius Pilate to his death and his corpse being placed in the tomb.

Belinda Rodriguez, who directed the religious service, said the program had a cast of 45, from children to adults. She said the parish has been doing the Via Crucis for five years.

For us, this is a remembrance of what Jesus had to go through, Rodriguez said. Especially to get kids involved, they are our future and we want to keep the tradition going.

Among those young people was Lorena Torres, 19. A first-year nursing student at Ivy Tech, she played Veronica, who wiped Jesus brow, only to see his image remain on the cloth.

This is part of our religion, and its way for us to show others what Jesus went through. Its also a very touching story, part of Holy Week, leading to Easter Sunday.

For the roles of Jesus and his mother Mary, Rodriguez turned to real-life family members Joel and Martha Perez.

Im a little nervous, but Im doing pretty good. Im confident, said Joel, 19, who works at El Cantarito, a local eatery.

Martha, his real-life mother, was playing Mary for the second time. Seeing Jesus mother as very humble, very loving, she called performing alongside her son a big blessing for me.

Playing Jesus for the first time, Joel Perez noted, Ive looked at my lines and I prayed every day.

Perez wanted the role three years ago, but he was too young at the time. I feel so privileged, he said.

A popular Catholic tradition on Lenten Fridays, the Stations of the Cross dates back to the Middle Ages, when Catholics who could not travel to the Holy Land recreated the pilgrimage sites from Christs Passion.

With papal approval, the devotion developed over centuries. Among those credited with promoting the prayer service was St. Leonard Casanova of Port Maurice, a Franciscan friar who during the late 17th and early 18th centuries erected more than 500 Stations in Italy. For centuries, Franciscans had been responsible for the holy sites around Jerusalem.

PHOTOS: On the Via Crucis in Valparaiso

Mario Abarca, who played Pontius Pilate, just recently joined the Catholic faith. This has changed my life. This [Via Crucis] is very important to me.

According to Catholic Exchange, entire communities in Mexico and Central America participate in the Via Crucis. Faithful followers process from home to home, as a man portraying Jesus carries the cross and eventually dies.

At St. Paul, the procession started from a church door, then proceeded through the parking lot to the parish prayer trail, eventually arriving at Calvary and Jesus crucifixion.

Helping Jesus Carry his cross was Simon the Cyrene, played by Carlos Robles. For me, this is an honor, doing this for God, said Robles, a first-time Via cast member. He saw Simon as a good person who was willing to help Jesus.

Maria De Los Angeles Magana portrayed Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus. I believe in this, she said. This has made my faith stronger, as I think about what happened 2,000 years ago.

Magana said there isnt much she can do during the Via aside from walking with Jesus mother Mary and the apostle John. I try to present to other people how Jesus suffered, she said.

Another of Jesus followers was played by the Rev. Douglas Mayer, St. Pauls pastor. The Rev. Roque Meraz, associate pastor, who was born in Durango, Mexico, noted that the Via Crucis helps us understand how Jesus suffered, and helps us to share that suffering. People took time out of their jobs to do this.

This is a way of representing Jesus suffering on the cross, the priest continued, and to make that suffering known to other people. Its a visual testimony.

Parishioner Helen Brandewie, a Spanish teacher at Andrean High School, played one of the sorrowful women of Jerusalem. Latinos really celebrate the Passion of Christ, and we can learn from them. This depicts Our Lords suffering really well.

Jose Rodriguez, who played Dismas, the good thief, said, He was a robber, no good, yet he believed Jesus was the Son of God.

Marco Medina, as the apostle John, called the Via a chance to experience first-hand and re-incarnate what happened back then. Times today are very different, and this enables us to see how far weve come.
WASHINGTON  Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona announced on Friday that she would leave the Democratic Party and become an independent, unsettling the party divide anew just days after Democrats secured an expanded majority in the Senate.

I have joined the growing numbers of Arizonans who reject party politics by declaring my independence from the broken partisan system in Washington, she wrote in an opinion column published in The Arizona Republic.

Ms. Sinemas decision put an abrupt damper on the jubilance Democrats experienced this week after their caucus secured a 51st seat in the Senate with Senator Raphael Warnocks victory in Georgia. It was likely to provide new complications for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats going forward, even though she wrote in her column that becoming an independent wont change my work in the Senate; my service to Arizona remains the same.

Still the move by the first-term senator, who was facing a likely Democratic re-election challenge in 2024 after angering her party by opposing key elements of its agenda, was unlikely to change the day-to-day reality in Washington for Democrats, who have long had to contend with her unpredictability and diversions from the party line. The bigger practical effect was likely to be on Ms. Sinemas political standing in Arizona, where she would have had difficulty prevailing in a Democratic primary.
These are good times for tofu lovers, with an expanding market and growing options.

When Jenny Yang bought the Chicago-based company Phoenix Bean in 2006, she was keeping it from going out of business. Now, she is among a number of producers who are expanding offerings to include items like Chinese-style smoked tofu and tofu noodles.

Tofu is not just a block, said Ms. Yang, whose small-batch products feature local ingredients like Illinois soybeans grown specifically for her brand and Great Lakes water. We have baked, we have shredded tofu, we have flavored.
Dismissing the premise of the hearing  that Manhattan is experiencing a surging crime wave  Mr. Braggs spokeswoman said that data issued by the Police Department last week showed declines in Manhattan in murders (down 14 percent), shootings (17 percent), burglaries (21 percent) and robberies (8 percent) through April 2, compared with the same period last year.

And in Mr. Braggs first year in office, the spokeswoman said, New York City had one of the lowest murder rates of major cities in the United States.

The criminal case in Manhattan is just one of several legal threats looming over Mr. Trump. In another, New Yorks attorney general, Letitia James, a Democrat, has filed a lawsuit accusing him, his family company and three of his children of fraudulently overvaluing his assets by billions of dollars. Mr. Trump is scheduled to be back in Manhattan to testify under oath in a deposition in that case on Thursday, according to two people familiar with the matter. A trial is scheduled for the fall.

Mr. Trump faces a trial this month in a lawsuit filed against him by the writer E. Jean Carroll over her allegation that he raped her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the 1990s. He has denied her accusation.

The Judiciary Committee hearing is scheduled for next Monday at a federal office building in Lower Manhattan not far from where Mr. Trump, in an extraordinary scene last week, surrendered to the authorities and pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records.
WASHINGTON  The conservative legal movement has long had two key goals: to limit access to abortion and to restrict the authority of administrative agencies.

The decision last week by a federal judge in Texas invalidating the Food and Drug Administrations approval 23 years ago of the abortion drug mifepristone checked both of those boxes. The ruling, if it stands, would not only thwart access to the pills, used in more than half of pregnancy terminations, but also undermine the F.D.A.s authority to approve and regulate other drugs.

At first blush, all of that might seem to make the decisions chances of surviving review by a Supreme Court dominated by conservative justices quite promising.

But legal scholars said on Monday that the poor quality, breathtaking sweep and unknown collateral consequences of the Texas decision might cause at least some of the Supreme Courts conservative justices to wait for a case that would allow them to take more measured steps.
This article is part of our Design special report previewing 2023 Milan Design Week.

When Ambra Medda and Veronica Sommaruga teamed up to create AMO, they agreed their new design venture should aim for the stars.

After all, they were not newcomers to the field. Ms. Medda is an industry insider, a founder of Design Miami and a noted matchmaker between designers and brands. Ms. Sommaruga, a well-respected authority on textiles, has held key creative roles with companies like Vera Wang, Calvin Klein and Hermes.

Connected and experienced, they began searching for a high-profile collaborator to help bring their first product to the market.

We wanted to go as high as we could go, Ms. Medda said. We thought, who is the most insanely, amazing person we could wish for.
This article is part of our Design special report previewing 2023 Milan Design Week.

This year, the biennial international lighting fair Euroluce, which runs from April 18 through April 23, will check into the fairgrounds at the edge of Milan and dazzle visitors with the latest innovations in this most revolutionary of design categories. New experiments in lighting will also sparkle at concurrent exhibitions like Alcova and in showrooms, courtyards and commandeered palaces in other parts of the Italian city.

What follow are some highlights of lighting presentations taking place during Milan Design Week.
This article is part of our Design special report previewing 2023 Milan Design Week.

Each year, overwhelmed visitors to Milan Design Week get a brief opportunity to stroll through a tranquil park on their way to the Triennale Milano, this year celebrating its 100th anniversary. Somewhat confusingly, the term Triennale is used to refer to both the building and to the design exhibition that takes place there every three years  but not in 2023. This year, instead, a mix of diverse shows, heavy on things from the past, will combine to tell the story of how design arrived in the present.

What is now the Triennale exposition began in 1923 as a biennial in the outskirts of Milan. In 1933, it moved to the current building, officially the Palazzo dellArte, designed by the architect Giovanni Muzio, in the city center. (That is also when it switched to a triennial.)

It is a paradoxical building, said Stefano Boeri, the architect who has been the Triennales president since 2018, via Zoom. It was designed, he said, to represent the power of the Fascist empire. The monumentality of the space is evident everywhere. But, at the same time, I have never experienced a space which is so agile and flexible in the way you can use it.

According to Marco Sammicheli, the Triennales design curator, the exposition was from the early days a national institution devoted to material culture and creativity. Before the Salone del Mobile began in 1961, the Triennale was the only place to showcase design pieces. The most recent exposition, in 2022, was titled Unknown Unknowns, a somewhat theoretical show that explored diverse topics including the role of gravity on design and developments in extraterrestrial architecture. Before that, in 2019, was Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival, organized by Paola Antonelli, the senior curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art.
This article is part of our Design special report previewing 2023 Milan Design Week.

Instead of peddling a new vessel or pouf during Salone del Mobile in Milan this year, Paola Navone is spending the design week giving her objects away for free. The 73-year-old architect and designer, a former member of the avant-garde Studio Alchimia, dreamed up an exhibition featuring pieces she created or collected over the past five decades, including rare prototypes and artisanal antiques.

The show will be a retrospective of the designers globally informed inspirations and tastes, but with the added twist that at the end of its run, from Monday through April 21, every object might have a new owner. Members of the public who enter the exhibitions lottery will be randomly paired with an object, and as instructed by the shows title, Take It or Leave It, will have the option to accept or decline it at no cost.

I think probably most will take the object. Why not? predicted Ms. Navone, who is hosting the exhibition at her Zona Tortona studio.
A Classic Makes a Comeback

This year, the Brazilian company Etel will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Design Collection and will reintroduce the Kanguru chair, which was designed in 1969 by the architect Jorge Zalszupin. Born in 1922, Mr. Zalszupin emigrated to Brazil from Poland in 1949 and changed his name to Jorge from Jerzy when he became a citizen.

He admired Brazils modernist architecture and started making furniture for the houses he designed. The Kanguru chair, with details like the brass bolt heads where the seat and back are joined, is a classic 20th-century design, but even vintage examples are hard to find.

Lissa Carmona, Etels chief executive and the daughter of Etel Carmona, the companys founder, worked with Mr. Zalszupin (who died in 2020) on a 2014 book about his work and preserved his striking house in Sao Paulo as a museum. He had the most avant-garde atelier in Brazil, she said. Mr. Zalszupin thought the Kanguru chair, with its molded wood body and metal frame and accents, tested the limits of the material, she added. I need to touch things, the architect said in 2012, and the details are what give me pleasure. On view Monday through April 23, Etel showroom, Via Pietro Maroncelli 13; etel.design.  PILAR VILADAS
A Los Angeles auctioneer has agreed to plead guilty to making false statements to federal investigators and has admitted to helping create fake artworks that were displayed last year at the Orlando Museum of Art as previously unknown works of the celebrated artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

The United States attorneys office for the Central District of California filed court papers on Tuesday announcing the plea by Michael Barzman, nine months after the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the museum and seized 25 paintings that had been hanging in its Basquiat exhibit, Heroes & Monsters.

In court documents, prosecutors said Mr. Barzman, 45, of North Hollywood, had admitted to helping create between 20 and 30 fake artworks and then marketing them for sale as if they were authentic Basquiats.

Prosecutors said Mr. Barzman had worked closely with another man, identified only by the initials, J.F., who took the lead in creating the works. The associate spent as little as five minutes and no more than 30 minutes in creating each piece, according to the plea agreement.
On a morning in mid-October, on the set of the Amazon comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, set dressers readied the grimy Midtown office of Susie Myerson, the talent manager played with a newsboy cap and signature glare by Alex Borstein. An animal wrangler oversaw a flock of pigeons outside a false window as a scenic artist painted on their droppings. In a haze of herbal cigarette smoke, the actors  Borstein, Alfie Fuller and Rachel Brosnahan  ran the scene again, again, again, until the pauses vanished and the dialogue sang.

If you have seen The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the first streaming show to win an Emmy for best comedy series (one of 20 Emmys overall), you will suspect, correctly, that the lighting was gorgeous, the costumes sumptuous, the hair and makeup luxuriant. Each pigeon gleamed. (The fake excreta looked very nice, too.) A show that has never met a situation it couldnt prettify and frill, thats Mrs. Maisel.

In this scene, Midge, Brosnahans exuberant comedian, receives news of a long-awaited break.

Are you serious? Midge asks once Susie fills her in.
Vivan Sundaram, an artist and activist widely credited with spearheading a transition in modern and contemporary Indian art from European-inspired abstract painting to multimedia forms addressing social and political realities in his country, died on March 29 in New Delhi. He was 79.

The cause was a brain hemorrhage following a long illness, said Esa Epstein, a curator who, with Sepia International, organized two of Mr. Sundarams United States exhibitions.

The product of a comfortably elite upbringing (he described it as colonial) in northern India, Mr. Sundaram studied art at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda (now Vadodara), then enrolled in the Slade School of London in 1966 on a scholarship. The four years he spent in England changed his life.

At Slade, he was tutored by the iconoclastic British American Pop figurative artist R.B. Kitaj. At the same time, he was swept up in the radical student politics of the day and became acutely aware of his own position as an outsider in a Western environment.
Who leaked documents on the war in Ukraine?

As many as thousands of U.S. officials have the security clearances needed to gain access to documents that were leaked last month, but clues left online may help investigators narrow down the pool of possible suspects, U.S. officials said. It is not only unclear who is responsible, but also why and what kind of damage the release of the material may have done.

Officials at the White House, the Justice Department and the Pentagon have said little about the investigation into the leaked materials, which appear to detail national security secrets on Ukraine, Russia and a range of other countries. While some documents were doctored, those revisions appear to have been made later.

The classified material highlights 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 may not have been overtly political.

Where did the materials come from? The evidence that this is a leak, and not a hack, appears strong. The material may be popping up on platforms like Discord, Twitter, 4chan and the Telegram messaging app, but what is being circulated are photographs of printed briefing reports.
The New York Times contacted wow_mao through his YouTube channel and the Discord server and, in an audio call made through Discord on Tuesday, he spoke at length with a New York Times reporter. He said that he spent little time on the Discord server and that he mostly focused on his YouTube channel, where he has about 250,000 subscribers, as well as on his social life and his college studies. He declined to share his real name out of safety and privacy concerns but said he was British and Filipino.

Wow_mao is not a celebrity in the traditional sense, or even among internet influencers. But despite his anonymity, his channel has gained a following over the years because his videos have struck a chord with people who share his sense of humor.

He said his material stemmed from an interest in geopolitics and history  never this interested, my God!  and a desire to make over-the-top videos that were funny solely because he put so much effort into something so stupid.

But he said he was troubled by the tenor of the Discord server. Some very right-leaning teenagers were most likely attracted to his irreverent content, he said, but he absolutely did not share their worldview.

Ive just let a bunch of children run wild, wow_mao added. I do regret, maybe, not moderating my server just a little bit more.
WILMINGTON, Del.  A judge ruled on Tuesday that Fox News could not argue that it broadcast false information about Dominion Voting Systems on the basis that the allegations were newsworthy, limiting a key line of defense for the network as it faces the beginning of a potentially costly defamation trial next week.

The judge, Eric M. Davis of Delaware Superior Court, also ruled that Dominion could not refer to the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol except in very narrow circumstances, saying he did not want jurors to be prejudiced by events that werent relevant to the central question in the case: Did Fox air wild claims about Dominions purported involvement in a conspiracy to steal the 2020 presidential election from Donald J. Trump knowing that they were lies?

In the first of two days of pretrial hearings, Judge Davis set many of the parameters that will govern how the trial is run, including what kinds of arguments the 12-person jury can hear and what questions lawyers may ask during jury selection to weed out those they believe would not be impartial.

The hearing covered matters large and seemingly small, from the application of the First Amendment to how jurors may take notes.
WASHINGTON  After months of fruitless negotiations between the states that depend on the shrinking Colorado River, the Biden administration on Tuesday proposed to put aside legal precedent and save whats left of the river by evenly cutting water allotments, reducing the water delivered to California, Arizona and Nevada by as much as one-quarter.

The size of those reductions and the prospect of the federal government unilaterally imposing them on states have never occurred in American history.

Overuse and a 23-year-long drought made worse by climate change have threatened to provoke a water and power catastrophe across the West. The Colorado River supplies drinking water to 40 million Americans as well as two states in Mexico, and irrigates 5.5 million agricultural acres. The electricity generated by dams on the rivers two main reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, powers millions of homes and businesses.

But the rivers flows have recently fallen by one-third compared with historical averages. Levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell are so low that water may soon fail to turn the turbines that generate electricity  and could even fall to the point that water is unable to reach the intake valves that control its flow out of the reservoirs. If that happened, the river would essentially stop moving.
How did the idea for this project come about, and what was the process of putting it together like?

The idea builds off a piece I wrote last year about the mental health ramifications of gun violence. There was an expert in that piece who had said something that has stayed with me, which was that when gun violence happens, it causes a ripple effect, much like if you throw a stone into the center of a pond. So even people who are not directly affected by gun violence may experience a lot of anxiety and worry surrounding the potential of it.

There are a couple of reasons people may feel so much stress about gun violence, even if they dont have any direct experience with it. One is the uncertainty of it. When we watch the news and hear about an event like the shooting in Nashville, it feels random. Why was it at a school? Why was it that time of day? There isnt always a satisfying answer. And that uncertainty can breed anxiety.

Theres also  and this was shared in a lot of our responses  a feeling of helplessness: Why isnt more being done to change this? Why isnt the country banding together to try to fix this? People feel as though theres nothing they can do, and that can lead to feelings of numbness or resignation. That is a really tough thing to live with.

Were there considerations you made before you began these interviews?

One of the biggest considerations is to approach the subject with a lot of sensitivity, compassion and empathy, and to help put people at ease by explaining the process and how we will fact-check everything before anything is published online, that I will keep them in the loop the entire time. I like to stay in really close contact with all of my sources, but especially for a story like this, because its just so important to get the details right.

With a subject like this, someone might be opening up about some of their biggest fears or anxieties or about one of the worst days of their life. Its incredibly important to help people feel as though theyre cared for throughout that whole process, and that Im invested in helping them tell their story how they want to tell it.
The Manhattan district attorney on Tuesday sued Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio in an extraordinary step intended to keep congressional Republicans from interfering in the offices criminal case against former President Donald J. Trump.

The 50-page suit, filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, accuses Mr. Jordan of a brazen and unconstitutional attack on the prosecution of Mr. Trump and a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg. Mr. Bragg last week unveiled 34 felony charges against Mr. Trump that stem from the former presidents attempts to cover up a potential sex scandal during and after the 2016 presidential campaign.

Lawyers for Mr. Bragg are seeking to bar Mr. Jordan and his congressional allies from enforcing a subpoena sent to Mark F. Pomerantz, who was once a leader of the district attorneys Trump investigation and who later wrote a book about that experience. Mr. Pomerantz resigned early last year after Mr. Bragg, just weeks into his first term in office, decided not to seek an indictment of Trump at that time.

Mr. Braggs lawyers, including Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. of the law firm Gibson Dunn and Leslie B. Dubeck, the general counsel in the district attorneys office, also intend to prevent any other such subpoenas, the lawsuit says. Mr. Jordan has left open the possibility of subpoenaing Mr. Bragg.
A Harlem man out on bail after being accused of trying to kill police officers during a shootout was charged on Tuesday with killing two men over Easter weekend, according to the New York Police Department.

The man, Messiah Nantwi, 21, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murder after two men were shot in the head in separate incidents, the police said.

He was also charged with one count of criminal possession of a weapon, the police said. Mr. Nantwi was expected to be arraigned in Manhattan, though the district attorneys office could not confirm a time or date.

The police first responded about 4:45 p.m. Saturday to a call reporting a man shot near the corner of Madison Avenue and East 132nd Street. The victim, who was 19, was brought to NYC Health and Hospitals/Harlem, where he was pronounced dead. The police have not identified him.
Here are five ideas that experts say could help address the crisis:

Spend money to make money

Transit advocates have been urging Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers for months to invest the relatively modest sum of about $300 million to increase the frequency of bus and subway service as a way of luring back riders lost during the pandemic.

A proposal from Riders Alliance, a transit riders group, would limit waiting times to no more than eight minutes for all subway trains and many bus lines starting as soon as this year  and eventually keep them to as little as six minutes. Subway riders now complain that wait times can be double that.

Advocates say that running more trains and buses would help make the system more appealing and avert a so-called transit death spiral, where falling ridership causes revenue to shrink further until the network collapses. Authority officials have been receptive to the idea but have not committed to it, citing the continuing state budget discussions.

Advocates have also urged the authority to make the system more accessible to people with disabilities. A 2019 Times analysis found that there were 550,000 people in the city who had difficulty walking, and that two-thirds of them lived far from an accessible subway station. At the time, that meant about 4 percent of New Yorks 8.3 million residents were largely unable to ride. Bringing them  as well as tourists and other visitors with accessibility challenges  into the system could increase fare revenue, but upgrades would cost billions of dollars.
The police-cordoned-off block of Times Square on Tuesday made the so-called crossroads of the world look even more dystopian than usual.

There were two security robots that onlookers compared in appearance to R2-D2 from Star Wars or a Dalek from Doctor Who, as well as a gun-shaped device that police officers can use to shoot GPS-enabled trackers onto fleeing vehicles.

Then there was the return of Digidog, a robotic dog that the police would use in life-threatening situations.

And presiding over all of it was Mayor Eric Adams, who told the assembled news media that his continuing efforts to combat crime would most assuredly include robotic dogs  almost two years to the day after the New York Police Department bowed to public criticism and stopped using the technology.
Patrick J. Lynch, the head of the police officers union in New York City  the nations largest  announced on Tuesday that he will leave the position at the end of his term.

Mr. Lynch, 59, served under four mayors and seven police commissioners during nearly a quarter century as the irascible president of the Police Benevolent Association, which represents nearly 50,000 active and retired police officers.

After serving six terms beginning in 1999, Mr. Lynch said on Tuesday he would not be seeking re-election when his current stint expires in June. The announcement came just days after the union negotiated an eight-year tentative contract with the city that includes a 28 percent pay raise.

Mr. Lynch said he was leaving while our union is in the strongest position we have seen in years.

Dressed in a suit or his trademark blue department windbreaker, with his slicked-back hair and thick Queens accent, Mr. Lynch was a staple at police funerals and news conferences for slain or wounded officers. He was known to some as a blue bulldog, a nod to his reputation as a strident fighter for his members. The position often made him a thorn in the side of the citys mayors when he perceived a lack of support for officers in terms of money or morale.
This has always been true of the Supreme Court  a reliable friend of property, capital and class rule throughout its 234-year history, occasional bouts of decency notwithstanding  but it has become an acute problem in this era of unchecked judicial supremacy. As the court arrogates more and greater power to itself, and grows both distant from and contemptuous of public opinion, it naturally attracts flatterers and intriguers.

With his close ties to a powerful, property-owning billionaire, Thomas embodies the historic role of the Supreme Court in American politics, not as a liberator or defender of the rights of political and social minorities, but as a partner to and ally of moneyed interests.

Thomas also shows us something of the real world of corruption. The Supreme Courts ruling in McDonnell v. United States notwithstanding, corruption is much more than a cartoonish quid pro quo, where cash changes hands and the state is used for private gain. Corruption, more often than not, looks like an ordinary relationship, even a friendship. It is perks and benefits freely given to a powerful friend. It is expensive gifts and tokens of appreciation between those friends, except that one holds office and the other wants to influence its ideological course. It is being enmeshed in networks of patronage that look innocent from the inside but suspect to those who look with clearer eyes from the outside.

The Supreme Court is not going to police itself. The only remedy to the problem of the courts corruption  to say nothing of its power  is to subject it to the same checks and limits we associate with the other branches. The court may adjudicate disputes within the constitutional order, but it does not exist above or outside its reach. In practice, this means the Democratic Party will have to abandon its squeamishness about challenging and shaping the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary. Whether its through structural change or a simple ethics code, it is up to elected officials to remind the court that it serves the republic, and not the other way around.

We have a poor record of elite accountability in American politics. But even by our pitiful standards, we seem to be living in an era of almost total impunity for people of influence. Both the powerful and their apologists treat political authority as a grant of freedom from rules, responsibilities, duties and obligations. You see it in the case of Justice Thomas, whose defenders say he is the victim of a smear campaign. His relationship with Harlan Crow, the Wall Street Journal editorial board writes, is a non-bombshell.
The power of the governors veto had been reliable up until this week, when a North Carolina Democratic representative, Tricia Cotham, switched her party affiliation to Republican. Dressed in Republican red, she looked to all the world like a party faithful. A democratically elected representative in a district that went for Joe Biden by 23 points in the last presidential election, Cotham gives Republicans a legislative supermajority in North Carolina with the switch.

Cotham has run on a platform that champions bodily autonomy, among other things. In response to questions posed at a news conference about the impetus for her party switch, Cotham refused to name a single policy that motivated her. Nor would she say if she would maintain her position on abortion.

Cothams silence may be prescient, but I would not bet on it. Sure, she could vote like a maverick Republican, but if she does, she would not be much of one. Downstate conservatives who break with the G.O.P. are just as likely to be censured (if differently) as Democrats who chant in the Tennessee House. The South is, above all, a political climate that rewards loyalty. It is hard to imagine turning a candidate only to allow her to be an independent. However Cotham votes, the once-purple North Carolina just got far more inhospitable for progressives, let alone Democrats.

Just last month, a visiting colleague asked me if it was safe to recommend schools in my state to her daughter, who was shopping for colleges. My colleague and her spouse are realistic parents who know that young people have sex and sometimes sex produces babies. They want their daughter to go to college in a state where she would have access to reproductive care that would not put her at risk of going to jail. Over drinks, I explained that North Carolina is not the friendliest state. Abortion is legal there, but access is spotty. Care is getting harder to obtain as a mishmash of laws in bordering states makes it hard for doctors to navigate the regulatory climate. North Carolina bans abortion after 20 weeks and six days of pregnancy and has yet other restrictions on abortion access. But, qualifying my concern, I explained that the state was not quite yet in the danger zone because our governor has veto power. That is how we talk about which rights we have in the state  one politician, usually a man, at a time.

I keep my eyes on the South for a lot of reasons. This is my home. It is the region of this nations original sin. Nothing about the future of this country can be resolved unless it is first resolved here: not the climate crisis or the border or life expectancy or anything else of national importance, unless you solve it in the South and with the people of the South.
Now a judge has usurped the mandate of the F.D.A. and invalidated the approval of mifepristone, subject to court challenges. Will those who oppose vaccines now get a judge to invalidate lifesaving vaccines?

Martin Schlager

San Jose, Calif.

To the Editor:

Re For Texas Judge in Abortion Case, a Life Shaped by Conservative Causes (news article, April 8):

One ideologically indoctrinated judge should not have the power to dictate the medical care of pregnant people across this country. That Matthew J. Kacsmaryk was devastated by the stillbirth of his first child should have allowed him to comprehend that health care decisions belong to individuals and their qualified caregivers.

Without considering the medical evidence, and while trying to obfuscate his preconceived ruling, this judge has abused his power to restrict access to time-sensitive lifesaving medical care. We need all the evidence-based options to provide optimal care for our patients.

My colleagues and I provide abortion care to people of all religions and all political parties, and to families of judges and politicians who oppose abortion publicly. We do it even when lawmakers criminalize our work, or we are threatened with violence. Because it is compassionate, nonjudgmental care. Because we believe in justice.

Chris Creatura

New York

The writer is an obstetrician-gynecologist.

To the Editor:

Dear Men:

You have no uterus. You have no ovaries. You have no capacity to give birth, notwithstanding the fact that you are involved in 100 percent of unwanted pregnancies. Not one of you has felt the fear of dying during a severely difficult labor or delivery. Not one of you has had to live with the physical toll a traumatic pregnancy can have on your body. And how many of you step up to the task of rearing the children you have spawned? Not enough.
On Monday, the Metropolitan Nashville Council voted unanimously to reinstate Jones, appointing him to his seat until the next election, and he went back to the legislature after being sworn in. He walked onto the House floor with his fist raised in defiance. Its likely that Pearson will also be reinstated when the Shelby County Board of Commissioners votes in Memphis on Wednesday.

But long before the Tennessee Three, there were the Original 33 from Georgia. In 1868, one of the first elections after the Civil War, more than a dozen Black men were elected to the Georgia legislature, becoming some of the first Black state legislators in the country. When the General Assembly convened, the white majority quickly expelled the Black members for no offense other than their race. There was national outrage over the move; Congress refused to seat Georgias representatives because of the expulsions. And as in Tennessee now, the state was eventually forced to reseat the expelled Black members.

The fact that Black state legislators now face the same threat as Black state legislators more than 150 years ago is as clear a portrait as can be painted of where our country is right now and the degree of regression that many Republican politicians are trying to inflict.

Republican lawmakers unwillingness to confront the problem of gun violence may have been the spark, but the broader problem that the Justins and their Democratic colleagues are challenging is Tennessees anti-democratic turn  a turn thats emblematic of the broader Republican Party, now energized by election denialism, fears of racial replacement and resistance to a fast-changing cultural landscape.

Theres also an issue at play that doesnt receive enough attention: the efforts of Republican legislators to disempower big  and Democratic  cities in their states.
The version of Sean Hayes who arrived at a Midtown Manhattan rehearsal space on a Wednesday morning last month was the one everyone knows from his years as a television star on the series Will & Grace and as an entertainer. The effervescent Hayes tossed off a quip about the perceived snobbishness of the Hamptons. (Its like Shake Shack, he said. Anybody can go. Its not that fancy.) With similar ease, he sat at a piano and played a few measures of Rhapsody in Blue.

But the Hayes who a short while later entered through the door of a set made to look like a 1950s-era TV dressing room was markedly different. His eyes were squinted and his posture was hunched. He occasionally twitched his head or shook his hands. He spoke with the defeated voice of a jowly man, sometimes dropping a one-liner (Gee, I wonder who died, he said, contemplating the flowers in his room) and sometimes becoming so vehement that his face turned red and a vein bulged from his neck.

This is how Hayes alters himself to play Oscar Levant, the pianist and raconteur, in the new Broadway play Good Night, Oscar, which opens on April 24 at the Belasco Theater. Levant, who died in 1972, was as renowned for his interpretations of George Gershwins music and his roles in films like An American in Paris as he was for his dyspeptic appearances on TV game shows and talk shows, jesting ruefully about his struggles with mental health and prescription drug addiction.

The play, written by Doug Wright and directed by Lisa Peterson, imagines Levant on a fateful day in 1958 when he has finagled his way out of a psychiatric hospital to be interviewed on Jack Paars Tonight Show.
When the Philippine island of Boracay was in the rogues gallery of destinations marred by overtourism, large sections of its 2.5-mile main White Beach were jammed with thousands of visitors and long trains of beach beds and umbrellas. Fleets of boats motored up to the sands edge, and multitudes of peddlers sold trips and trinkets and gave massages, braided hair and applied henna tattoos right on the beach.

At night, a cacophony of music spilled from a phalanx of makeshift dining rooms in the sand, couches and cabanas unfurled toward the water, and fire spinners filled the air with flames and fumes.

Oil from the boats, litter from the beach and sewage illegally piped into the sea polluted the waters.

Early in 2018, however, then-President Rodrigo Duterte  known for his radical approaches  declared Boracay a cesspool and abruptly shut it down from April to October.
A Ferrari Formula 1 driver in Monaco is drawing firm boundaries with overzealous fans who have shown up uninvited at his private residence, about a year after he was robbed while taking a selfie.

The driver, Charles Leclerc, who was born and raised in Monaco, pleaded with fans on Sunday not to show up at his home. He added that he would stop to talk to fans elsewhere, like in the streets or at the track.

For the past few months my home address has somehow become public, leading to people gathering beneath my apartment, ringing my bell and asking for pictures and autographs, Mr. Leclerc said in a now-expired story on his Instagram page.

While Im always happy to be there for you and truly appreciate your support, please respect my privacy and refrain from coming to my house, he continued, adding that he would not respond to unsolicited visitors.
Five people were killed and eight others wounded on Monday after a 25-year-old man opened fire at a bank in downtown Louisville, Ky., where he worked. The gunman, who used an AR-15-style rifle and livestreamed the attack, was killed by the police after exchanging fire with them.

The gunman, identified by the police as Connor Sturgeon, had told at least one person that he was suicidal before the rampage at Old National Bank, and he legally purchased the rifle at a local dealership. The authorities have not given a motive.

Body camera footage released by the police on Tuesday shows two officers pulling up in their squad car outside the bank on Monday morning. A quick gun battle ensues, and a rookie officer is shot before his training officer kills the assailant. On Wednesday, the police released audio recordings of 911 calls from bank employees and the shooters own mother, shedding more light on the harrowing attack, although many questions remain.

Several officials, including Mayor Craig Greenberg, made emotional pleas to address the gun violence epidemic gripping the country and Louisville, where they said 40 people had died this year in shootings. A vigil was planned for Wednesday night.
When the Home of Army Aviation was renamed Fort Novosel in a ceremony at Veterans Park on post Monday, the name was already familiar to many Enterprise residents.

The late Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel Sr. and his family lived in Enterprise in the late 1970s, according to his youngest son John, the self-described baby of the family who is an Enterprise High School Class of 1981 graduate.

John Novosel, now living in Auburn, was in the Wiregrass with his two sisters Jeanee Vinyard and Patty Clevinger for the renaming of the Home of Army Aviation in honor of his father. Enterprise was home to their father, the siblings agreed. Enterprise was his first home and Fort Walton, Florida, and Eglin Air Force Base was his second home, said Vineyard.

Redesignating the Home of Army Aviation as Fort Novosel is a historic moment for not only soldiers and their families, but for the city of Enterprise, the Wiregrass community, and the nation, said Enterprise Mayor William Cooper after the ceremony. CW4 Novosel displayed extraordinary heroism and serves as an inspiration to us all.

Because he is a former citizen of Enterprise, it gives us great pride to know that he and his family are being honored in this way, Cooper said.

Novosel, a U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and retired Chief Warrant Officer, died April 2, 2006, in Washington, D.C. at Walter Reed Army Medical Center following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 83.

A memorial service was later held at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum on post. The museum is where the Congressional Medal of Honor that Novosel was awarded is now on display after being gifted to the museum by the Novosel family during the re-designation ceremony Monday.

Novosels service to his country spanned three warsWorld War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He was born in Etna, Pennsylvania, the son of Croatian immigrants, and grew up fluently speaking both his parents tongue and English.

At the age of 19, Novosel joined what was then the Army Air Corps 10 months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, and by 1945, and was a captain flying B-29 bombers in the World War II.

Novosel left the military for a brief time after the war was over and settled in Fort Walton Beach to raise his family. Novosel joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves and went back on active duty during the Korean War. He left the service again in 1953 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve in 1955.

In 1963, Novosel was working as a commercial airline pilot when he returned to active military duty at the age of 42. Told that the Air Force did not have space for any more officers in the upper ranks, Novosel chose to give up his rank to join the Army and fly helicopters as a chief warrant officer with the elite Special Forces Aviation Section.

Novosel served his first tour in Vietnam flying medevac helicopters  Dustoff  with the 283rd Medical Detachment. His second tour in Vietnam was with the 82nd Medical Detachment. Novosel flew 2,543 missions and extracted 5,589 wounded personnel.

On the morning of Oct. 2, 1969, Novosel set out to evacuate a group of South Vietnamese soldiers who were surrounded by the enemy near the Cambodian border. The soldiers radio communication was lost and their ammunition expended. Without air cover or fire support, Novosel flew at low altitudes while under continuous enemy fire. He completed 15 hazardous extractions and was wounded in a barrage of enemy fire, but when it was over, he had rescued 29 men.

In 1971, then-President Richard Nixon awarded the nations highest award for valor in combat, the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor. Novosel received the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart Medal. He was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in 1975.

When Novosel retired as the senior warrant officer with the Warrant Officer Candidate Program in 1985, he had been a military aviator for 42 years and was the last WW II military aviator in the U.S. to remain on active flying duty. Novosel accumulated 12,400 military flying hours, including 2,038 in combat during his career.

While residing in Enterprise, Novosel remained active in the military community during his retirement. He frequently was invited as the honored guest for military lectures and ceremonies spanning the entire country to share his unique insights, even until the final weeks before he died. His book, DustoffThe Memoir of an Army Aviator, was published in 1999.
We dont even know where these parents are today, and whether or not they know where their children are, said Paige Chan, executive director of the nonprofit Together and Free, who has been working with a federal task force charged with tracking the whereabouts of separated families. The U.S. government is only beginning to account for the number of U.S. citizens put through this unimaginable trauma.

Some 5,500 foreign-born children were already known to have been separated from their parents under the policy. The separations usually lasted for a matter of weeks, but in some cases they lasted years.

The revelations represent the first confirmation that U.S.-born children traveling with migrant parents were also subjected to the separation policy, which became official along the entire border in April 2018 after it was piloted in El Paso the previous year.

As U.S. citizens, the children did not necessarily have any additional rights that would have prevented them from being taken from parents who were jailed, legal analysts said. In fact, it may have put them at a disadvantage: Their status as citizens automatically placed them under the oversight of state child welfare authorities, complicating efforts to keep track of them and reconnect them with parents.

While foreign-born children were transferred to shelters operated by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, where they were entered into federal databases and eventually allowed to speak with their parents by telephone, there was no such system for children dispatched to state foster care systems. State family courts, using varied sets of criteria, were left to decide independently how to handle the cases.
Julie Abbate, who served as the deputy chief of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division from 2003 to 2018 and reviewed the allegations at the news organizations request, said the federal prosecutors could have explored criminal charges against Mr. Grassaree and his deputies for violating the civil rights of women in his facility.

The question of whether to bring federal charges in the case may have been complicated by guidance the Department of Justice issued in 2018, saying that law enforcement officers cannot be federally prosecuted for violating a persons civil rights if the person truly made a voluntary decision as to what she wanted to do with her body, particularly if she received a benefit or special treatment in exchange for sex.

But Ms. Reeds decisions in the episode in the Noxubee County jail were not free-will choices, said Andrea Armstrong, a law professor at Loyola University, and the cellphone Ms. Reed received from deputies was the vehicle by which more abuse could be directed towards her.

Mississippi law makes it a crime for law enforcement officers to engage in sexual acts with incarcerated people. Prosecutors are not required to prove the victims were physically overpowered or even that they told their abuser to stop.

But the district attorneys office that handles criminal cases in Noxubee County chose to pass the 2020 case on to federal prosecutors, instead of seeking charges under the state law, because of worries about getting a fair jury in the county. When asked about federal prosecutors decision to charge Mr. Grassaree and Mr. Phillips with bribery in the case, the district attorney, Mr. Colom, said, I trust federal authorities to use the best statutes.

Ms. Abbate said the allegations about abuses in the Noxubee County jail were indicative of a larger, pervasive problem at the facility and a harmful culture inside the sheriffs office. That culture, she said, undoubtedly endangered inmates and allowed abuses to continue.

The allegations that come to light are almost always just the tip of the iceberg, said Ms. Abbate, who is now director of Just Detention International, an organization dedicated to ending sexual abuse in correctional facilities. Referring to the 2006 and 2020 cases, she said, I guarantee you that these two instances are not the only ones.

This article was co-reported by The New York Times and the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting at Mississippi Today.
An Oklahoma state education board is weighing whether to approve the nations first religious charter school this spring, potentially setting up a high-profile constitutional battle over whether taxpayer money can be used to directly fund religious schools.

A small number of charter schools may be affiliated with religious organizations, but the proposed school, which would be run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, would be the first to operate as an explicitly religious school, with religious instruction. Charter schools are a type of public school, paid for with taxpayer dollars but independently run and managed.

A decision to approve the charter, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, would almost certainly tee up a legal battle, something the schools organizers anticipate and welcome.

With conservative justices now dominating the Supreme Court, St. Isidores organizers hope their project will help propel a broader national movement to lower the barriers between church and state and to allow government money to be spent on religious schools.
BELFAST, Northern Ireland  President Biden on Wednesday tried to push Protestants and Catholics to resolve their differences and embrace the possibility of economic prosperity in a territory that had been made whole by peace since the Good Friday Agreement brought an end to decades of sectarian violence a quarter-century ago.

Your history is our history, but more important, your future is Americas future, Mr. Biden said during brief remarks at Ulster University, his only public appearance in Belfast before a departure to explore his Irish heritage in the Republic of Ireland.

He emphasized that Northern Ireland was poised to continue benefiting from economic transformation: Peace and economic opportunity go together, he said.

During his short stay in Belfast  a whirlwind stop ahead of several days of Biden family-related excursions  the president and his advisers generally tried to avoid thorny questions surrounding politics in Northern Ireland, where the legislature has been deadlocked after the Democratic Unionist Party pulled out over post-Brexit trade concerns.
President Biden and his party have selected Chicago to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, elevating a large liberal city in the heart of the Midwest, a critical battleground region.

The convention will be held Aug. 19-22 next year at the United Center, the Democratic National Committee announced on Tuesday. Republicans plan to hold their 2024 national convention on July 15-18 in Milwaukee, just north of Chicago, underscoring the fierce competition for the Midwest on the cusp of another presidential election.

In the final deliberations, Chicago beat out New York  another progressive city whose advocates had boasted of its infrastructure and fund-raising resources  as well as Atlanta, in a presidential battleground state. Houston was eliminated earlier in the process.

If Mr. Biden becomes his partys 2024 standard-bearer, as many Democrats expect, the Chicago gathering will be his first traditionally splashy nominating convention. The 2020 event, scheduled for Milwaukee, became an almost entirely virtual affair, after the coronavirus outbreak forced the cancellation of major in-person appearances.
WASHINGTON  American intelligence agencies have begun providing leaders of the House and Senate access to copies of the classified documents found in the possession of former President Donald J. Trump and President Biden, according to U.S. officials.

The materials, which started arriving on Capitol Hill last week, are being shared exclusively with the so-called Gang of Eight, which includes the leaders of both chambers and the chairmen and ranking members of the two congressional intelligence committees, who hold the highest-level security clearances in Congress. But it will likely be several weeks, if not longer, before lawmakers are given access to the full complement of documents they are seeking, said the officials, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the sharing of the documents.

The decision to share the information comes after a concerted bipartisan push spearheaded by Senators Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, and Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, who lead the intelligence panel. They have spent weeks waging both an internal battle and a public campaign demanding the administration share with Congress the substance of classified documents discovered at the homes of Mr. Trump, Mr. Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence.

During a public hearing last month, they repeatedly pressed senior intelligence leaders to provide lawmakers access to the documents, with Mr. Warner, the chairman, warning that the administrations stated reasoning for not doing so does not pass the smell test.
WASHINGTON  Democrats hoped they were on the verge of a judicial breakthrough last month when President Biden nominated a Baton Rouge lawyer for a U.S. District Court vacancy and the two Republican senators from Louisiana offered no objections.

Getting Republican senators to sign off on Biden nominees in their home states has been a struggle, slowing the Democratic drive to fill as many judicial slots as possible. Democrats saw negotiations that led to the selection of the nominee from Baton Rouge, Darrel Papillion, as a sign that they could fill seats in red states without changing longstanding rules and prompting a potential procedural war.

Then last week, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Republican of Mississippi, served notice to the Judiciary Committee that she would not allow the nomination of Scott Colom, a candidate for a court vacancy in the state, to move forward, citing his past political support from the left, among other reasons. Her stance endangered the confirmation of Mr. Colom, a popular Black Democratic state prosecutor who had the backing of Roger Wicker, the other Republican senator from the state, as well as leading Mississippi Republicans including two former governors, Haley Barbour and Phil Bryant.

I simply cannot support his nomination to serve on the federal bench in Mississippi for a lifetime, she said in a statement.
Tina Peters, a Trump loyalist who was barred from overseeing elections in a Colorado county after her indictment on charges related to tampering with voting equipment, was sentenced on Monday to home detention after she was convicted in a separate obstruction case.

Ms. Peters, the former clerk in Mesa County, was given four months of house arrest and 120 hours of community service in connection with her February 2022 arrest in Grand Junction, Colo., on a misdemeanor obstruction charge, according to court records.

A jury convicted Ms. Peters last month of stonewalling investigators from the district attorneys office in Mesa County when they tried to seize an iPad from her that she had used to record a court proceeding.

According to an affidavit, police officers responded to a local bagel shop where they said that Ms. Peters, a Republican, resisted while she was being searched and was taken into custody.
By the usual measures, Loretta Liu had it made. She graduated in 2018 from one of Chinas top universities, rented an apartment in the glamorous city of Shenzhen, and had been hired as a visual designer at a series of high-flying companies, even as youth unemployment in China was reaching record highs.

Then, last year, she quit. She now works as a groomer at a chain pet store, for one-fifth of her previous salary. She spends hours on her feet, wearing a uniform in place of her once carefully selected outfits.

And she is delighted.

I was tired of living like that. I didnt feel like I was getting anything from the work, Ms. Liu said of her previous job, where she said she had little creative freedom, often worked overtime, and felt her mental and physical health deteriorating. So I thought, theres no need anymore.

Ms. Liu is part of a phenomenon attracting growing attention in China: young people trading high-pressure, prestigious white-collar jobs for manual labor. The scale of the trend is hard to measure, but widely shared social media posts have documented a tech worker becoming a grocery store cashier; an accountant peddling street sausages; a content manager delivering takeout. On Xiaohongshu, an Instagram-like app, the hashtag My first experience with physical labor has more than 28 million views.
Myanmars military regime continued its relentless campaign of airstrikes on Tuesday by bombing a large gathering in rebel-held territory, killing at least 100 people in the juntas deadliest attack since seizing power in a coup more than two years ago.

At least 30 children were among the dead in the attack in Sagaing Region, said an emergency worker at the scene and an official of the shadow National Unity Government, which considers itself to be Myanmars true government. The death toll was expected to rise.

This is a war crime, said Byar Kyi, a soldier with a local resistance unit who was helping to recover bodies at the site. The place they attacked was not a military target.

Rescuers described a gruesome scene in Pazigyi Village in southern Sagaing Region, where body parts were scattered over a wide area after a military jet and helicopter bombed and strafed the largely civilian gathering.
Community College Month acknowledges the importance of community colleges and their impact on the communities they serve. Community colleges attract students from all backgrounds and educational levels with their mission of providing open access and affordability to those seeking a post-secondary degree or credential, giving everyone the opportunity to succeed. Community colleges provide students with the ability to increase their earning potential and assist the community in economic development and industry recruitment by producing a highly skilled and highly trained workforce.

Wallace Community College enrolls approximately 4,000 credit students in its academic, health science, and career technical education programs each term, and serves approximately 2,000 students annually through its adult education, workforce training programs, and continuing education programs. Additionally, the college has a significant impact on the local economy. A recent study by Lightcast found the total economic impact of the college on its Wiregrass service area for 2020-21 was just under $164 million annually. The study also concluded that one out of every 49 jobs in the Wallace service area (or approximately 3,000 jobs total) was supported by the activities of the college and its students. The average associate degree Wallace graduate will see an increase of $8,500 in earnings each year compared to someone with a high school diploma working in Alabama.
An enormous, billowing gray plume high above a snowy landscape. Streets and cars blanketed in a thick layer of brown ash. A person in a hazmat suit making an ash angel in the dust.

Those images were testimony to the power of the eruption on Tuesday of Shiveluch, a volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, which spewed a giant ash cloud some 12 miles into the atmosphere, blanketing nearby villages and prompting emergency warnings for aircraft in the region, according to Russian officials.

Despite the volcanos intense blowout, there were no immediate reports of any deaths or injuries on the sparsely populated, mountainous peninsula, which juts out between the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in the Northern Pacific Ocean.

Shiveluch, one of Russias most active volcanoes, erupted just after midnight, leaving at least three inches of ash covering nearby villages and closing some roads, according to a regional geophysical branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
SEOUL  Opposition lawmakers in South Korea criticized the leaked Pentagon documents as a major security breach and possible evidence of U.S. spying as the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday sought to downplay the disclosures and defend Seouls alliance with Washington.

The highly classified leaked documents suggest that the United States has been spying on top national security officials in Mr. Yoons administration, which opposition lawmakers described as a super-scale security breach while accusing Washington of violating the sovereignty of a key ally.

If it is true that they have spied on us, it is a very disappointing act that undermines the South Korea-U.S. alliance, which is based on mutual trust, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, told foreign media reporters on Tuesday. If it was true, he added, Washington should also apologize to the South Korean people.

Mr. Yoons administration has insisted that the scandal would not and should not damage his countrys alliance with the United States. On Tuesday, his government appeared to minimize the importance of the leak, saying that Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and and his American counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, had agreed during a Tuesday morning phone call that quite a few of the documents in question were fabricated.
On Monday, the foundation said in a statement that the board and the president and chief executive, who did not hold that position when the donation was accepted, had decided to step down because the political climate surrounding a donation received by the Foundation in 2016 has put a great deal of pressure on the foundations management and volunteer board of directors, as well as on our staff and our community.

It added: The circumstances created by the politicization of the foundation have made it impossible to continue with the status quo.

There is no indication that the current prime minister was aware of the 2016 donation. The prime minister severed ties to the foundation, which largely provides scholarships in his fathers name, when he entered politics in 2008.

Mr. Trudeau told reporters on Tuesday: The Trudeau Foundation is a foundation with which I have absolutely no intersection. He added: It is a shame to see the level of toxicity and political polarization that is going on in our country these days. But Im certain that the Trudeau Foundation will be able to continue to ensure that research into the social studies and humanities at the highest levels across Canadian academic institutions continues for many years to come.

In February, The Globe and Mail reported that the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation had received a 200,000 Canadian dollar pledge in 2016 which was made by two wealthy Chinese businessmen, at the behest of a Chinese diplomat. The newspaper, citing a portion of a leaked recording made by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, said that the diplomat said that the Chinese government would reimburse the two men as part of what it characterized as an attempt to influence Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
CAIRO  A classified U.S. intelligence document among those that leaked on the internet earlier this year describes an Egyptian plan to secretly produce rockets, artillery rounds and gunpowder for Russia, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

Egypt, one of the worlds top recipients of American aid, denied any such plan to collaborate with Russia, against American interests. The New York Times has not seen or verified the document.

According to The Posts report, the document was dated Feb. 17 and described recent conversations between President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt and senior Egyptian military officials.

A second report on Tuesday, this one by The Associated Press, said that Russian intelligence officers had claimed to have persuaded the United Arab Emirates to work together against U.S. and U.K. intelligence agencies. The New York Times has not seen or verified that document.
The State Department on Monday designated Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter arrested in Russia and charged with espionage earlier this month, as wrongfully detained, a finding that means the U.S. government sees him as the equivalent of a political hostage and reflects its belief that the charges are fabricated.

Mr. Gershkovich was arrested by Russian security services in late March and formally charged last week with espionage, an accusation that his employer vehemently denies.

A finding of wrongful detention changes the U.S. governments approach to the imprisonment of an American citizen abroad, including by transferring primary responsibility for such cases to the office of the presidential envoy for hostage affairs. The classification can be based on any one of several findings by the government, including that the prisoner was detained on arbitrary grounds, or is not facing legitimate charges or a fair judicial process.

Mr. Blinken hinted at the determination when asked about Mr. Gershkovich during a visit to Brussels last week.
I would gladly have broken your legs.

Thats what a French police officer told Souleyman Adoum Souleyman, a Chadian student who had just been arrested during a nighttime protest in Paris last month against the governments unpopular pension overhaul. A minute later, another officer ordered Mr. Souleyman, the only Black person among the people rounded up, to wipe that smile off your face before slapping him.

Mr. Souleyman was eventually released without any charges. But the officers threats and humiliations were recorded in an audio clip that has reignited a fierce debate about police brutality in France.

The audio recording  which was revealed by French news outlets a few days after the arrest, and which The New York Times obtained and authenticated  has struck a chord in France after a recent history of rough and sometimes discriminatory police tactics.

It has also highlighted what lawyers for those arrested and some judges see as a broader trend of abusive arrests aimed at deterring the demonstrators, who have taken to the streets for weeks against the overhaul of the pension system, which raised the legal age of retirement to 64 from 62. Unions have called for more protests on Thursday, on the eve of a key ruling by Frances Constitutional Council, which could strike down part or all of the pension law.
A secret intelligence document obtained by The New York Times that was among those leaked on the internet this year provides insight into planning for contingencies one year into the war in Ukraine.

The analysis by the Defense Intelligence Agency outlines four wild card scenarios and how they could affect the course of the conflict in Ukraine. The hypothetical scenarios include the deaths of Presidents Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, the removal of leadership within the Russian Armed Forces and a Ukrainian strike on the Kremlin.

The document says that the war will most likely remain protracted. But it describes how each wild card scenario could potentially result in an escalation in Ukraine, a negotiated end to the conflict or have no substantive effect on the wars trajectory.

The scenario document is a fairly typical product created by intelligence agencies. It is designed to help military officers, policymakers or lawmakers think about possible outcomes of big events as they assess their options.
PARIS  President Emmanuel Macron landed in China to a red-carpet reception and all the pomp of a state visit, a three-day tour little short of a love-fest that he clearly hoped would further his ambitions for France to sit at the table of the great powers in a world changed by Russias invasion of Ukraine and Beijings emergence as an arbiter of global conflict.

But Mr. Macrons reception on returning to Europe has been chilly.

Already embattled at home, facing huge weekly protests in the streets, he now finds himself excoriated abroad for what has been criticized as his naivete  first with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, whom he failed to dissuade from war after an intense courtship, and now with Chinas president, Xi Jinping, who wants to drive a wedge between Europe and the United States and has warned of American containment.

The fallout from the China trip has left the French president more isolated than at any time in his six-year presidency, unpopular in France and mistrusted beyond it as he attempts to reshape not only his own country but also the foundations of whatever international order will emerge after the war in Ukraine.
WASHINGTON  A surprisingly large number of people potentially had access to the Pentagon intelligence documents leaked on a social media site in early March, but clues left online may help investigators narrow down the pool of possible suspects relatively quickly, U.S. officials said on Monday.

A series of critical questions hinge on the investigation: not just who took the documents and posted them online, but also why and what kind of damage the release of the material might have done.

We dont know who is behind this; we dont know what the motive is, said John F. Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman. We dont know what else might be out there.

Officials at the White House, the Justice Department and the Pentagon said little on Monday about the investigation into the leaked materials, which appear to detail national security secrets on Ukraine, Russia and a range of other countries.
With many Russians worried that their government may once again resort to a far-reaching military conscription to shore up its faltering invasion of Ukraine, lawmakers in Moscow on Tuesday moved to make it much harder for people to dodge the draft.

The measures passed by the State Duma, Russias lower house of Parliament, would bar anyone called up to fight in Ukraine from leaving the country, among other restrictions. The upper house of Parliament must also approve the measures.

While the Kremlin insists that it does not plan a new draft, the government appears intent on making sure that if there is one, it is not as chaotic as the mass conscription ordered last fall.

When President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia announced that one in September, saying the goal was to bring about 300,000 more troops into the military, tens of thousands of men headed for the borders, finding havens in other countries.
ENTERPRISE-An update on training at Fort Novosel and recruiting efforts nationwide was the message Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry brought to the 400 people attending the Association of the United States Army meeting held at the civic center here Tuesday.

McCurry has been the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel Command General for nine months and is the 17th branch chief of the Army Aviation Branch.

McCurry said that the 40th anniversary of Army Aviation Wednesday is in a week that includes the name change of the Home of Army Aviation to Fort Novosel Monday and the renaming of the command headquarters building on post Wednesday in honor of Maj. Gen. Carl McNair, who was the commanding general when Army Aviation was first designated as a separate branch. We will officially dedicate the building to him and recognize him as the founder of the aviation branch, McCurry said about McNair who was the post command general from 1980-1983. He was an extraordinary soldier whose contributions in and out of uniform are remarkable, McCurry said. He was a highly decorated Vietnam veteran with over 1,600 combat flight hours and a distinguished community leader and philanthropist after retiring from active duty.

McCurry noted that this year also the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accord, which ended the war in Vietnam and asked all Vietnam veterans present to stand and be recognized. I always say that we that stand on the shoulders of giants here at Fort Novosel and these are some of the shoulders we stand on who brought Amy aviation to the forefront, he said about the Vietnam vets and McNair.

Tough, realistic combat training is what we do every day, McCurry said, adding that 18 percent of the entire Armys aircraft are housed at Fort Novosel. But we fly one-third of all the flying hours in the army, he said. Every day we train, striving to be all that we can be.

Weve got to operate differently with the threats that potential adversaries could bring to bear, McCurry said, noting that there is a different world landscape than two decades ago. We have to operate Army aviation from greater standoff and fight over a longer distance to support the soldier on the ground and uphold that sacred trust.

We have to increase our ability to disperse. Were doing things to help increase our proficiency in that right now, McCurry said. Were also modernizing our officer and warrant officer professional military education. Im focused on gaining and maintaining technical and tactical expertise so that Amy aviation remains decisive and thats where our focus is on at the Aviation Center of Excellence.

Modernization is vital to where we are going, he added. We have to be agile and adaptive in our ability to fight.

Part of being agile and adaptive is overcoming the challenges of Army recruiting, McCurry said. We missed our target by 25 percent last year, the first time a miss of that magnitude since the implementation of the all-volunteer force 50 years ago.

What were seeing out there is that 23 percent of the 18 year olds out there cannot meet the physical or academic standards, McCurry said. Whats more disturbing is that only nine percent of our 18 years olds show a propensity to serve. They arent even interested in exploring military service as an option.

McCurry said that the Montgomery Recruiting Battalion, which includes Dothan and Enterprise, is No. 1 in recruiting in the state and No. 3 in the southeast region which includes Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

I tell everyone who is a soldier or a soldier for life; its your duty to replace yourself. Tell you story, talk about what the military service has offered to you and your family, he said, adding that the recruiting slogan Be all you can be is being resurrected.

Be all you can be is about endless opportunities; its about creating more opportunities for our young people to find their path, McCurry said. Well continue to tell our story, well continue to recruit, train, and modernize to be the best and most lethal Army that we can be defending our nation and fighting our nations wars.
Electric trams are running again in Kyiv, and electric scooters dot the sidewalks. With curfew extended to midnight, the streets are bright and buzzing. Portable generators, nearly impossible to find as they flew off the shelves in December, are being sold at half price.

The Kremlins campaign to break the Ukrainian will to fight by turning winter into a weapon and knocking out power ultimately failed  but there were moments when it seemed that all might be lost.

The darkest week in a long, cold season came in mid-November, when Russian missiles streaked in from three directions, bearing down on Ukrainian power plants.

Energy officials, gathered in a secret bunker in Kyiv, watched alarms flash on the large screens mapping the countrys energy grid as critical substations, thermal power plants and hydroelectric facilities all went dark. Then something happened they had never seen before over weeks of bombardment: All of the nations nuclear power plants were thrown into blackout.
JERUSALEM  With under 30 minutes until sundown, Anas Shalodi hurried through the Old Citys covered souk carrying a large pot, hot off the stove and wrapped in a green prayer rug, zipping past others making their way to the mosque to break their daily Ramadan fast.

In this bustling market in the heart of Jerusalem, where the smell of food and incense mingled, he passed shops and stalls selling falafel, hummus and sweet Ramadan juices. Folding chairs, blankets, prayer shawls and prayer beads were also on offer  everything needed for iftar, the evening meal that breaks the fast, at Al Aqsa Mosque.

Mr. Shalodi, 22, was toting the month of Ramadans most coveted meal for Palestinians: maqluba. The Middle Eastern rice dish, which translates as upside down, plays a starring role in the Instagram and TikTok feeds of Palestinians capturing iftar.

The pot is ceremonially flipped onto a serving tray and lifted with flair to reveal the maqluba against the backdrop of the blue and gold Dome of the Rock.
When flowers are in bloom and cold viruses are circulating in the spring, it can be challenging to tell whether symptoms like sneezing, coughing and a runny nose are the result of a cold, allergies or both.

In the United States, about a quarter of adults deal with seasonal allergies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And every adult gets an average of two to three colds per year, typically in the winter and spring.

Understanding whats causing your symptoms is crucial for effective treatment, experts say. The good news is that there are some simple ways to tell colds and allergies apart.

Signs that you have a cold (or another viral illness)

Many viral infections like the common cold cause symptoms that are slightly different from those caused by seasonal allergies, said Dr. Joyce Yu, a pediatric allergist immunologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
The Manhattan district attorneys office unveiled an indictment on Tuesday charging former President Donald J. Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a low-level felony in New York State. The charges are related to reimbursements to Mr. Trumps former fixer, Michael D. Cohen, for a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday.

Along with the indictment, the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, also released a statement of facts document outlining a larger scheme that he said Mr. Trump and others had orchestrated to avoid negative press during the 2016 campaign. That scheme also included hush-money payments to a second woman who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump and to a former Trump doorman who made an unproven claim that Mr. Trump had an out-of-wedlock child, Mr. Bragg said Tuesday.

The 34 Charges Against Donald J. Trump Mr. Trump is accused of disguising reimbursements to Michael Cohen as legal fees to hide a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. 11 counts Related to invoices from Cohen Prosecutors say Mr. Cohen submitted phony invoices for legal fees. 11 counts Related to checks Checks were written by Mr. Trump or using his funds to reimburse Mr. Cohen. 12 counts Related to ledger entries Accounting records made for the reimbursements in Mr. Trumps books. Read the Donald Trump Indictment 

The New York Times annotated the documents.

Download the original PDF.
Isolated on an island in the middle of the southeastern Pacific Ocean, the bees of Easter Island are free of all the pathogens and pesticides ravaging the global bee population, and therefore produce the purest honey on the planet.

The beekeepers of Chiles Easter Island are fully aware that their bees may one day become the salvation of the worlds most important polinator. With bee colonies all over the world struggling to survive serious threats like pesticide poisoning, new diseases and climate change, the bees of Easter Island are probably the only ones in the world yet to be affected by such problems. And their owners hope to keep it that way. They have managed to convince the local government to ban the importation of bees, because of the significant risk of contamination.

Photo: Eric Ward/Unsplash

Here the farmers practically do not use pesticides, they use ancestral cultivation techniques, beekeeper Rodrigo Labras said. The water is also completely natural, collected from rain. They have clean water sources all over the island. But the main thing is that unlike bees in the world, they are not associated with any type of disease. And therefore we do not have to apply any chemical product to the hive or to the bees.

Interestingly, tests have shown that the bees of Easter Island lack consanguinity with the rest of the bees in the world, which further suggests that the polinators here really are different and may one day become the saviors of the species. Easter Island is the only true paradise bees still have on Earth and if we mean to save the species as a whole, this little enclave may play a very important role.

Photo: Sophie N./Unsplash

Not only are the bees of Easter Island the healthiest in the world, they are also the most productive. Because of the islands pleasant climate  spring weather almost all year round  the bees remain active throughout the year, along with the flowering of the plants. Colonies on the island produce between 90 and 120 kilos of honey per year, compared to 20 kilograms produced by similarly-sized bee hives anywhere else.

Because of the lack of bee diseases on Easter Island, beekeepers have no use for antibiotics of any kind, there is no risk of pesticide contamination, so the honey made here is considered the most pure in the entire world. Rapanui honey, as this nectar is sometimes called, also has a more liquid consistency than common honey due to the high humidity of the island, which prevents crystallization.
Jim Moran

Moran Global Strategies has agreed to provide government relations and advocacy services to Qatars DC embassy.

The firm is headed by former Congressman Jim Moran, who stepped down in 2014 after serving 12 terms in office.

The Democrat was a member of the Foreign Affairs, Appropriations, Banking, Government Reform and Oversight committees.

MGS has a one-year pact with Qatar that went into effect on April 1.

It receives a monthly fee of $80K, of which $35K will be subcontracted to the Holland & Knight law firm to retain the services of former Congressmen Tom Davis (R-VA) and Tom Reynolds (R-NY).
April started with another super week of racing around the tracks led by a final worth 25k to the winner, semifinals of the second most valuable stake in Ireland and also the final of one of the most anticipated unraced stakes up for grabs. There was also some quality stake action with valuable one off races being decided. As usual there were some decent Offaly winners to boot with Mullingar again supplying the most.



Early Week Racing



Enniscorthy, Monday, in the semi-finals of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial Open unraced stake, Haka Carlo won the first for Dave Bourke in 28.69 (20 slow) by two lengths. The second semi went to Glengar Martha for Pat Buckley in 28.47 (20 slow) by three lengths. Both of these pups have won three of their four heats heading into Sundays final and it should be a great buckle.



Thursday, Shelbourne, in the final of the Retired Greyhound Trust A3 stake, Lets Go Bubbles (Droopys Sydney - Jetstream Lynx) was first home in 28.60 by seven lengths at 2/1 with the 1.75k going to trainer Owen McKenna. In the final of the Barking Buzz App A4 sweepstake, Droopys Ailsa (Loughteen Blanco - Droopys Berry) was a three length winner for Robert Gleeson in 28.79 at 4/6 fav with 1.5k to the winner here.



One Offaly winner on the supporting card, in the first race on the card, an A6 525, Highview Coral won for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.10 by three lengths at a well backed even money fav.



Friday Racing



In Kilkenny, in the first round of the Blackstone Kennels A2 525, won last year by Monagore Bistro and Sean Coogan. Five heats with Bogger Dusty going fastest for Liam Peacock in 29.11 (30 slow) by six lengths at 5/4 fav.



The best two races in Tralee were the semi-finals of the John and Mary Killeacle Dowling Memorial A1 570 stake. Millridge Blake won the first for Donal OMahony in 31.19 by a head at 6/4 fav. The second heat went to Strideaway Lena for James OMahony in 30.90 by a neck at 6/4.



One final in Shelbourne on Friday, in the Upcoming Events A2 stake Dargle Dream (Burgess Bucks - Droopys Dargle) won in 28.98 by one length at 5/1 with the 1.75k going to Delvin trainer Joe Ivory.



Saturday Racing



Curraheen Park, Cork, the semifinals of the Greyhound and Petworld Supersprint open 330 took centre stage on what was a competitive card, the first heat went to Super Hit Man for David Harrington in 17.75 by nine lengths at 5/2. The remaining semi went to probably the best sprinter in Ireland at the moment Flashing Willow who was having his sixteenth career win for Pat Buckley in 17.56 by two lengths, at 4/5 fav.



In the Showgrounds in Galway the semi-finals of the Ann Cheevers Memorial A5 stake took place. The first went to Lissatouk Gena for James McMahon in 29.45 (10 slow) by five lengths, with the second going to Caislean Blue for Mathew Harte in 29.18 (10 slow) by two lengths at 2/1. In the first round of the Great Blue Shark and WGOBA tri-distance A2 stake with the first round over the 525 trip. One Offaly winner in these heats as Fast Fit Lucky was a very impressive winner for Rahan owner Kate Cantwell with her grandfather John Quinn, in 29.15 by three lengths at 5/4, with Declan McDonagh training. Semifinals over the 550 yard trip.



A super crowd at the Dock Road track in Limerick for the quarter-finals of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial Open 525 stake. Terezas Mendoza won the first for Pat Buckley in 28.07 by two lengths, the second went to Clonbrien Treaty for Graham Holland by six lengths in 28.31. The third quarter went to Laois as Bogger Lucky won for Liam Peacock in 28.45 by two lengths with the final heat, and also the fastest, going to Ryhope Beach for Michael ODonovan in 28.05 by four lengths at 4/5 fav. Of the twelve dogs remaining, both Buckley and Holland have half with three each, the remaining six are spread across all the top trainers with ODonovan holding the major ace with Ryhope. All to play for in Saturdays semi-finals.



The most valuable stake final of 2023 so far took place in Shelbourne with the conclusion of the Bresbet Easter Cup AAO stake. A packed house witnessed a super race with another super winner for Graham Holland as Swords Rex (Droopys Sydney - Starry Display) proved to be the top dog in the country having now added the Easter Cup to the Con and Annie Kirby and the Rural Hawaii Open unraced in Clonmel he won last year. His 25k first prize on Saturday brought his career winnings to over 122k in his seventeen wins. His winning time was 29.71 by four lengths at a very generous 11/8. Toolmaker Wilde was second for Robert Gleeson and got a handsome cheque of 6.5k. For Holland this was his fourth Easter Cup, he's only behind Paul Hennessy on seven and the great Matt ODonnell on five.



In the first round of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks won last year by Ballymac Snazzy for Liam Dowling, three heats with the fastest going to Lets Go Bubbles, fresh from winning the Retired Greyhound Trust A3 stake two days previously for Owen McKenna, her winning time was 28.49 by three lengths at 9/4.



Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, two in the quarter-finals of the This Runs Deep ON2 unraced stake, Kilbride Parish was first home in the first heat for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in 30.14 (60 slow) by one length. The second heat also went to Edenderry as Syrax stopped the clock in a decent 29.84 (60 slow) by two lengths for owners Paul and Chloe Cronin. Final Offaly winner on Saturday was in the last race on the card, an A2 contest, Fahy Grace had her ninth career win for Paddy McCormack in 30.27 (60 slow) by a neck.



One final of note in Kilcohan Park in Waterford, in the Correct Six A7 sweepstake final, Fly Flasher (Pestana - Affane Maisie) went through this stake unbeaten and won the final in 29.00 by six lengths at 4/6 fav with a purse of 2.5k going to Patrick Murray.



Sunday Racing



It was the busiest Sunday in a long time with four meetings taking place in Mullingar, Lifford, Clonmel and Enniscorthy.



At the Matinee meeting in Mullingar, four Offaly winners with the first two going to Moneygall owner Liam Jones. Lingrawn Mona won an A6 grade in 30.41 by one length at 7/2. In an A4 race Lingrawn Focus stopped the clock in 29.90 winning by two lengths at 5/2. Lahinch Lilly was first home for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in an A5 race in 29.81 also by two lengths at 6/1. Our final winner was Superior Pearl who was having her fourth win from eight starts for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan in an A3 race in 29.67 by two lengths at even money fav. All races in Mullingar were rated .60 slow.



Two evening meetings, firstly, Enniscorthy, in the final of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Open unraced stake. Haka Carla(Ballymac Anton - Ballymac Merkle) was a well deserved victor having won four of the five round and the final in 28.87 (20 slow) by a short head with a super first prize of 5k going to trainer Dave Bourke. Burgess Supreme was second for Sheila Spillane and J.J. Fennelly and received a purse of 2k.



In the final of the Future Champion and Whitewood Kennels open unraced Plate, Glengar Aurora (Droopys Sydney - Glengarbadminton) won the 2k pot for R.A. Colwell in 28.98 (20 slow) by five lengths.



In Clonmel, in the final of the Bow Meow Pet Luxury Hotel tri-distance stake over the 575 trip, Motown Massie (Skywalker Farloe - Bottle Of Banter) won by six lengths in 31.56 (10 slow) with 1.9k going to Christy Fitzpatrick.



In the first round of the A4 Sorley ODornan and Guys and Dolls stake, won last year by Moanteen Linford for Rachel Wheeler. Eight heats, all won in competitive times, fastest of the eight was Flaminhasntabob for the Two Laois-Four Kilkenny Syndicate in 28.93 (10 slow) by seven lengths.



Upcoming Events



Friday, quarter-finals of the Blackstone Kennels A2 stake in Kilkenny and final of the John and Mary Killeacle Dowling Memorial in Tralee. Saturday, Cork, final of the Supersprint, Galway, final of the Ann Cheevers Memorial and semifinals of the Great Blue Shark tri-distance. Mullingar, semifinals of the ON2 unraced stake, Shelbourne, semifinals of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks and in Limerick the semifinals of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial stakes. Sunday, second round of the Sorley ODornan Memorial in Clonmel. Another week of top class action to look forward.



Tribune Offaly dog of the week



Syrax get the nod this week for Paul and Chloe Cronin for winning in the ON2 unraced sweepstake in Mullingar on Saturday and in so doing so set the fastest time in this stake for the second week in a row and must be in with a serious chance of going through this tough competition unbeaten. Well deserved.

Offaly Winners



Nine Offaly winners this week. Congrats to all involved in any small way.
THE High Court has refused to refer an Offaly solar farm plan  said to be the size of over 80 rugby pitches  to the European Union Court of Justice.

The solar farm project is being lined up for a site near Portarlington by Elgin Energy Services Limited but it encountered objections from a local group, Concerned Residents of Treascon and Clondoolusk.

It is proposed for nearly 87 hectares of land on a site 155 metres north of the Barrow and Nore rivers special area of conservation.

Pre-application consultations with Offaly County Council began in September 2017 but permission was not sought until March, 2021 and the council gave the project the go-ahead in May of that year.

The developers say the solar farm will be capable of generating up to 80 megawatts of electricity.

The residents group appealed the council's grant to An Bord Pleanala but the appeal failed and they then sought a judicial review in the High Court quashing the board's decision.

The Concerned Residents of Treascon and Clondoolusk also sought a declaration that laws in relation to an environmental impact assessment had not been followed.

Among the residents' claims were that the location of 40 inverters (the devices that convert electricity from the solar panels) and piled foundations for the panels were not shown on plan drawings.

High Court judge, Mr Justice Humphreys, found on December 16 last year that the inverters were indicated on the plan and further, that there was a great deal of information indicating the locations of the solar panel arrays.

The residents claimed that An Bord Pleanala had not made a screening determination for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). A full EIA is required if the Department of Agriculture decides work is likely to have a significant effect on the environment.

A key point for the residents was that the project will involve the removal of 910 metres of hedgerows.

To the north of the site, 770 metres will be removed and to the east and west, 140 metres will be taken out but then relocated three metres back.

The residents contended that such work would be rural land restructuring that would require an EIA.

Mr Justice Humphreys agreed with the residents that removing or relocating nearly one kilometre of hedgerows is rural land restructuring because doing so for a solar farm from agricultural land clearly changes the land use concerned.

However, he did not rule in favour of the residents' group because there is no law requiring An Bord Pleanala to carry out an EIA.

But he added: The [group] is not entirely without a remedy because it can always return to court in the event that the developer fails to make an application to the Minister for Agriculture for consent or fails to acknowledge an obligation to do so prior to removing any hedgerows.

The judge also found against the group on other points which had been raised, including water quality assessment and European Union habitats and birds directives.

Essentially, the conclusion of the appropriate assessment was that there would not be any impact on water quality. Thus, there would not be an adverse impact, said Mr Justice Humphreys.

He also noted that the Bord Pleanala inspector had concluded that following the implementation of mitigation, the solar farm would not adversely affect the integrity of the river Barrow and river Nore special area of conservation.

A further case then came before the High Court where the residents sought permission to appeal the December court decision, sought a referral to the European Union Court of Justice, and an order for costs.

Mr Justice Humphreys found last month there was no basis for leave to appeal and also refused the application for a referral to Europe because the solar farm company had decided to make an EIA screening application to the Minister for Agriculture in relation to hedgerow removal.

In submissions to Offaly County Council two years ago, the residents' group said the proposed solar farm would be clearly enormous, the size of 87 international size rugby pitches or 10 times bigger than Dublin's St Stephen's Green.

They said it would be the second largest such proposal ever in Offaly and one of Ireland's biggest.

Energy company Elgin had also got the green light for two other solar farms nearby, a 17.7ha one in Tullamore and a 12.63ha one in Portarlington.

The residents pointed out that a proposal for an even bigger solar farm, stretching across 89 hectares in Wexford, had been turnded down, with lack of guidance at national level cited as a reason for refusal.

The Offaly group also had concerns about the impact of glint and glare from the solar farm on low flying aircraft and said the Department of Defence objected to a wind farm at Ummeras bog because of such concerns.

The solar farm proposed by Elgin Energy Services Limited is on a site 3.3km east of Portarlington and 3.6km west of Monasterevin. Lea Castle, Portarlington, whose original structure dates from the 12th century, is 1.4km away.
Qabil Ashirov

Kazakh media outlets have highlighted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Kazakhstan, the speech of the two countries, and the development prospect of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, Azernews reports.

The news website ???????.kz runs a headline titled Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan plan to increase trade turnover to $1 billion, which talks about the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The international information agency of Kazakhstan KazTAG provides data confirming the positive dynamics of the growth of trade turnover. The article reports that in 2022, Kazakhstan's exports to Azerbaijan increased by 30.4% and amounted to $375.3m, and imports - by 95.2%, amounting to $86.6m and showing an increase of 95.2%. The review indicates that the number of Azerbaijani investments in the economy of Kazakhstan reached $69.7m in 2022.

Kazakh mass media write about the age-old ties of brotherhood and friendship between the two peoples, which are united by common spiritual and cultural values. As noted by ???????, recent initiatives in the humanitarian field, in particular, the decision to hold the Days of Culture of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan in Kazakhstan, will help bring the two peoples even closer and strengthen interstate relations.

Internet news agencies Orda and Tengrinews note that one of the brightest examples of friendship between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is the Kurmangazy Center for Children's Creativity, which Kazakhstan is currently building in the city of Fuzuli. Reporting that the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, invited the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the opening of the center, the online magazine Vlast cites the words of the head of the Azerbaijani state: This will be a good symbol of friendship and brotherhood of our peoples, because we have a lot of work to restore the destroyed infrastructure, including social infrastructure, and such an initiative from fraternal Kazakhstan, of course, evokes a feeling of great gratitude among all Azerbaijanis.

The Kazakh mass media pay special attention to the contribution that the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev made to the strengthening of strategic ties between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The publications emphasize that the Great Leader, who led the country in a difficult period, is rightfully considered the architect of modern independent Azerbaijan. According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, it was under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev that the young Azerbaijani state became a full member of the world community in a short time, and the life path of the great leader is a vivid example of selfless service to the nation, Kazakh media say.

According to the BaigeNews agency and other mass media, this year Kazakhstan will host a number of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev and the perpetuation of the memory of the national leader.

Kazinform agency writes about the upcoming premiere of a documentary film dedicated to the outstanding statesman of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. The article says that the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was informed about the premiere of the film Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during negotiations in an expanded format. He said that today the premiere of the documentary film "Gaziz Gumyr" or "Outstanding Life" about Heydar Aliyev, which was filmed on behalf of the President of Kazakhstan by the TV and Radio Corporation Kazakhstan will take place.

Many media outlets reported about the opening of the Heydar Aliyev Street in the center of Astana on April 10 with the participation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. As the inAstana news site and other media outlets emphasize, this event was another evidence of respect for the great son of the Azerbaijani people.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda writes, the President of Kazakhstan said that modern strong and harmonious relations between Astana and Baku are invariably developing in the spirit of strategic partnership and alliance. The publication also says that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highly appreciated the strong leadership of Ilham Aliyev, who continues the creative work of his father with dignity and leads his country along the path of progress with confident steps.
Dothan Police have made a third arrest in a bar shooting that killed a 51-year-old man.

Dekeivon OKeith Lawton, 22, of Dothan, is charged with one count of murder. His bond was set at $1.5 million bond.

On Monday, Lawton, who was wanted for the murder of Roger Felder, 51, of Geneva, arrived at his bondsmans office to make a payment on an unrelated charge.

According to Dothan Police, the bondsman was aware Lawton was sought after in the March 30 murder that occurred outside of Pearl Lounge and Grill. As Lawton arrived at the office, the bondsman attempted to take Lawton into custody and a fight ensued. At the conclusion of the fight, Lawton was apprehended and turned over to Dothan Police.

Lawton is the third person arrested in Felders murder. Raheem Anthony Powe, 29, of Abbeville, and Nakia Kentae Thompson, 27, of Dothan, were arrested on the day of the murder.
This infant sitting on her martyred fathers coffin will move you to tears

Fact Check: Is this image of smiling man who died while protecting Al-Aqsa?

Fact Check

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

A photo of a man wrapped in a white cloth is making the rounds on the social media, with the claim that he is a martyr.

Those sharing the image said that the man died smiling while protecting the Al-Aqsa Mosque from blasts and attacks. This brother died while protecting Masjid Al-Aqsa Mosque from blast and attacks, Muslims honoured him as a martyr, look the smile at his face," wrote one user on Facebook while sharing the image.

The image that is being shared is however not a recent one. It is an image from 2014 shot at an orientation programme about funeral management. A reverse4 image search of the viral photo led us to a blog post from October 2014. The post was titled,"Activities of KPTM."

Fact Check: Is Tata Group constructing Central Vista for Re 1?

The Kolej Poly-Tech MARA (PMTM) is a private institute that was established in September 2003. It has seven branches, including one at the university level in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Screenshot 2023-04-11 at 11.15.38 AM.png

The post on the blog was written by one person who attended the Rehlah Al-Khulud, a programme that taught funeral management to students KPTM. The event was aimed at giving awareness about funeral management techniques such as bathing the body, preparing Kafan and performing funeral prayers in the right manner.

The post also carried five photographs of boys watching the preparation of the Kafan for the boy. He can be seen lying on the sheet with different facial expressions in different photos. This clearly suggests that this was just a college event and not the funeral of the martyr.

Fact Check: Did Bengal varsity allowed Iftaar but not Saraswati Puja?

A further search led us to a Facebook post boy one Haris Sebiey in which the event at KTPM was mentioned. The same image has been shared by many others, which clearly give the indication the viral image claiming it to be that of a martyr is false.

Fact Check Claim Photo shows man who died smiling while protecting the Al-Aqsa Mosque from attacks. Conclusion The photo is from a 2014 activity performed at a college about funeral management. Rating False Raise your request for FACT CHECKING. Mail us at [email protected]
Borders back on high alert as chase for Amritpal intensifies

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

With the Punjab Police arresting radical Sikh leader, Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet, the borders are once again on high alert.

The Nepal border in particular is being closely manned as the Intelligence agencies suspect that Amritpal may try and cross over from India. Poshraj Pokharaj Pokharel, spokesperson for Nepal Police, however said that they have received no information that Amritpal may be trying to enter into the country.

He however added that the Nepal police are on alert.

Pokharel however added that the there is no truth in the Indian security personnel entering Nepal to carry out an operation. He also clarified that Amritpal had not entered the country as yet.

Why Amritpal may have ended up dividing Sikhs rather than uniting them

Singh has been on the run since March 18. He is said to be in the possession of multiple passports since his entry into India from Dubai.

Nepal's Department of Immigration had last month put Singh on its surveillance list following a request by the Indian Embassy here, officials said.

Meanwhile Pabalpreet Singh, revealed to the cops that he along with Amritpal had travelled to various locations, including Haryana, Delhi, Patiala and Pilbhit before returning to Punjab. He also said that he had arranged all the hideouts and used buses and cars to get away from the police. He also said that both of them had contemplated surrendering, but changed their mind. All the videos and photographs that surfaced on the public domain belonged to them, he also said.

Amritpal visited Georgia for surgery to look like Bhindranwale

There has been a lot of speculation around Amritpal since the chase began. He has signalled that he will not surrender at any cost. In fact his issue has become so big that it has divided the Sikh community. The Akhal Takht had initially lent support to Amritpal, but later on added that it would not be aiding his surrender.

The arrest of Pabalpreet is a shot in the arm for the Punjab police as his interrogation will give more details about the whereabouts of Amritpal Singh.

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Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 10:28 [IST]
The Wiregrass United Way recently held its Annual Meeting to review financials, honor key volunteers, and recognize outstanding businesses that helped the organization meet its $2,777,777.77 fundraising goal. Hope Johnson, President of Friend Bank, concluded her year as Board of Trustees Chair for the Wiregrass United Way at the meeting.

Johnson thanked her fellow board members and the United Way volunteers and staff for their hard work and dedication to ensuring a successful year. She presented awards to the six county board chairs and thanked them for their leadership: Sallie Garrison, Barbour; Toni Kaminski, Coffee; Brandon Benefield, Dale; Ron Snell, Geneva; Heather Shippey, Henry; and Vincent Vincent, Houston.

Trent Dillard, Community Relations Manager with Alabama Power Company, reported the final audited campaign total for the recent fundraising efforts. Dillard served as the overall campaign chair for the recent drive. Thanks to thousands of people contributing across the region, the local United Way raised $2,809,422 which was 101.14 percent of the organizations goal.

Dillard presented awards to the six county campaign chairs: Erin Wingate, Barbour; Lee Milliner, Coffee; Leah Harlow, Dale; Jason Thrash, Geneva; Sara McKee, Henry; and Chris Etheredge, Houston. According to Dillard, These six individuals led the fundraising effort in their counties. Their commitment to our goal was the reason for our success.

Dillard also presented awards to 17 area businesses that conducted an employee fundraising campaign and raised more than $30,000 to support Wiregrass United Way. Combined, these companies and their employees contributed $1,525,881, which was 54.31 percent of the organizations fundraising campaign. The businesses honored and the amount they raised were as follows:

M1 Support Services and IAM Local 200, $212,187;

Southern Company  Plant Farley and Alabama Power Company, $206,453;

Publix, $184,129;

Michelin, $145,100;

City of Dothan, $118,181;

Flowers Hospital, $84,009;

Swedish Match Cigars, Inc., $77,591;

Mitchell Automotive Group, $70,209;

Dothan City Schools, $68,185;

Southeast Health, $55,832;

Coleman Worldwide Moving, $52,403;

Wiregrass Construction Company, $47,740;

Medical Center Enterprise, $45,034;

All In Credit Union, $44,861;

SpectraCare Health Systems, $44,463;

Larry Blumberg & Associates, Inc., $37,742; and,

AAA Cooper Transportation, $31,762.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Hope Johnson introduced the new Board of Trustees Chair, Trae Avant, State Farm Insurance. Avant will serve as Chair for 2023-2024. He thanked Johnson for her leadership and presented her with a framed collage of photos from meetings and events during the past year.
CBI takes Tytlers voice sample as fresh evidence found in 1984 riots case

India

oi-Deepika S

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recorded the voice samples of Congress leader and anti-Sikh riots accused Jagdish Tytler in its forensic lab on Tuesday.

The agency has found fresh evidence in the 39-year-old riots case making it necessary to have the voice sample of Tytler. News agency ANI posted a video of Tytler speaking to the media after submitting his voice sample to the CBI.

"What have I done? If there's evidence against me, then I'm prepared to hang myself. It wasn't related to the 1984 riots case for which they wanted my voice (sample), but another case," he claimed while talking to reporters.

Tytler & anti-Sikh riots

Tytler is one of the top Congress leaders suspected of his role in 1984 riots. Other prominent names are: Sajjan Kumar, who stands convicted for life and is serving a jail term for his involvement in the riots, H.K.L. Bhagat, who is no more now, and Kamal Nath, who too managed to come out clean and even rose to become the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh later.

In Tytler's case, the CBI had filed three closure reports in 2007, 2009 and 2014 after a long and tardy investigation. But Delhi's Karkardooma court rejected the CBI closure reports on December 4, 2015, on the protest petition by Lakhwinder Kaur, who lost her husband in the Gurdwara Pul Bangash attack. The court had also asked the CBI to continue with its probe.

Though the Nanavati Commission had hinted at his role in the riots, successive Congress governments did not show any inclination to press charges against him. In fact, he was inducted as a minister after Congress-led UPA came to power at the Centre. But people have never absolved Tytler of the charges in the last three decades and the issue keeps coming back to haunt him time and again.

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Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 14:53 [IST]
Cong wants to dig grave of that PM who made India famous all over the world: Shah

India

oi-Prakash KL

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday attacked Congress saying that it wants to dig the grave of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made India popular all over the world and ended terrorism in the North East.

"The Prime Minister who made India famous all over the world, and who secured India, ended terrorism from the North East, expedited the development of North East, by visiting it over 50 times, who brought many types of schemes in North East, for that PM, these Congressmen are saying 'Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi' (Modi, your grave will be dug)," he said at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the BJP Dibrugarh office.

The Home Minister claimed that 130 crore people of the country and all my Assam people are praying day and night for PM Modi's long life. "The more you abuse, the more the lotus (BJP's party symbol) will bloom," he said.

Taking a swipe at Congress' over its poor show at the recently-concluded North East polls, Amit Shah said that the BJP is an ally of the ruling government in all three States (Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland), while the grand old party got wiped out of the states despite Rahul Gandhi's nationwide 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

"Once upon a time, the North East was considered to be the bastion of Congress, now the party has been wiped out from here despite Rahul Gandhi's Yatra," the Home Minister said.

BJP Will Return To Power In 2024 By Winning Over 300 LS Seats

Shah stated that the BJP will win more than 300 Lok Sabha seats across the country in next year's general elections and return to power for the third consecutive term with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm.

"Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term with the party winning over 300 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he said.

Slamming Rahul Gandhi's critical comments about PM Modi government on foreign shores, Amit Shah said, "He (Rahul Gandhi) insulted India from foreign soil. If he continues defaming the country and the government by peddling lies, Congress will be white-washed from the entire country after being shown the door in the Northeast."
Covid-19 mock drill: States, UTs to check hospital readiness on second day

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

As the daily coronavirus cases in the country are on the rise, mock drills to take stock of hospital preparedness are being held in several public and private facilities across the country on Tuesday.

On Monday, several states, Union Territories assessed Covid preparedness and health authorities directed mandatory use of masks in hospital premises.

The Indian Medical Association said the recent spike in Covid cases is possibly causing due to relaxation in Covid rules, including low test rates and not following Covid appropriate behaviour.

The decision to hold mock drills was taken during a review meeting held last week between Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya and state health ministers. 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.

IMA cites 3 reasons behind recent surge in Covid-19 cases

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.

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Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 9:06 [IST]
Movement against corruption will continue: Pilot after ending fast

India

oi-Deepika S

Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that his movement against corruption will continue as he ended his day-long fast today, demanding action from his own government over cases of alleged corruption during the BJP term.

"We had assured people that effective action will be taken against corruption by the former BJP government in the state. I wanted the Congress government to take action against the corruption by the former BJP government," he said.

"Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa became in charge a few days ago. I had also talked to the earlier in-charge but this corruption issue is still there. We should speak against corruption and our fight against corruption will continue," said Sachin Pilot after ending the day-long fast.

"This movement against corruption will continue," Pilot added.

Taking strong objection to the proposed dharna by Pilot, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the State Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that any such protest against its government clearly amounts to anti-party activity and goes against the party's interest.

Sachin Pilot gets support from BJP, AAP, AIMIM

Rajasthan BJP leader Rajendra Rathore said Pilot's decision to hold the fast calling for "action on corruption" cases allegedly pending against the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government will prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the ruling Congress government in the state.

"Sachin Pilot is giving an open challenge to the high command. His day-long fast will be the last nail in the coffin of the Congress government. The Congress has lost its hold across the country," Rathore told ANI.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also backed Pilot saying, the Congress's stance on the matter sent out the message that the party was not serious about fighting corruption.

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Sachin Pilot on dharna against Rajasthan govt; Congress terms it anti-party activity | Oneindia News

"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 the Congress or BJP are not serious about (fighting) corruption," the Hyderabad MP told news agency PTI.

The Aam Aadmi Party also came out in support of Pilot's protest. "So corrupt that a highly educated young leader, Sachin Pilot, is sitting on a hunger strike against corruption today," AAP election in-charge for Rajasthan, Vinay Mishra tweeted on Tuesday.

Rajasthan CM Gehlot to hold cabinet meeting tomorrow

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to hold a cabinet meeting on Wednesday as Sachin Pilot began his day-long hunger strike today against his own government over inaction against corruption during the previous BJP government in the state.

Pilot on Sunday had alleged that the Gehlot government has 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. "Pilot's day-long fast is against the party's 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 and dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress," Randhawa said.

Bid to sabotage Gehlot's work: Ramlal Jat

Meanwhile, State's Revenue Minister Ramlal Jat on Monday asked the party workers to not give support to those who are trying to sabotage the work done by the Gehlot government. Without naming anyone, Jat said that those in the race to the CM post should think that it is the party high command who made Gehlot the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

Pulwama Martyrs' widows' protest in Rajasthan, latest flashpoint in Ashok Gehlot vs Sachin Pilot?

Pilot vs Gehlot feud

The feud between Congress leaders Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot is not new. The infighting saw an ugly phase when CM Gehlot accused Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Pilot of conniving to topple his government in 2020.

Rajasthan police issued notices to Pilot to record his statement in connection with the alleged attempts to "topple" the Congress government. This became a major flashpoint when Pilot showed first signs of rebellion.

Pilot skipped two crucial meetings called by CM Gehlot and stayed put at a hotel in Manesar along with 18 MLAs in his camp amid reports that he is in talks with the BJP. Later, the Congress sacked Pilot as the Rajasthan Deputy CM and the State party chief while two ministers belonging to the his camp were dropped from the ministry.

Gehlot's 'gaddar' (traitor) remark against Pilot too had sparked a row last year. Since then, Rajasthan Congress has seen several bouts of the never-ending Pilot vs Gehlot tussle.
Consensual sex for 5 years cant be termed rape, if it does not culminate into marriage: HC

EC can't search, seize goods before polls are declared: Karnataka HC

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Ahead of assembly elections in the state, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday said that election officers have the authority to search and confiscate materials only after the elections are announced. The court made the announcement as it ordered the release of rice bags seized from a social worker.

Ahmed, a resident of Shivajinagar in the city approached the HC after the Returning Officer of Shivajinagar seized 530 bags of rice of 25 kgs each from his residence on March 19, 2023.

Justice M Nagaprasanna in his recent judgement on a petition filed by Isthiyak Ahmed, held that the Returning Officer or the election officials do not have any jurisdiction to search or seize any material before the announcement of elections. Merely because they are appointed as officers for conduct of elections, they cannot use the said power before the declaration of elections, the court noted.

''After the declaration of elections, the entire domain would be open, but not till then. Seizure is to be exercised by the authority/officers under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, under normal circumstances.

The Returning Officer and the Inspector of Police, who have conducted the search in the case at hand were not vested with such authority and their action is therefore, illegal.''

Booze overtakes cash in freebie list in poll-bound Karnataka

Despite the reply to the notice by the Returning Officer the rice bags were not returned. He claimed that he was a social worker, who distributed rice to the needy during festivals and the rice seized from him was meant for that. Ahmed was directed to file an indemnity bond that he will not break the model code of conduct during the election.

''As observed hereinabove, the very seizure is without jurisdiction. But, the situation now is, that the elections are declared. Therefore, to say that the petitioner should not use these materials for distribution after release of stock, the petitioner was directed to indemnify the stock by filing an affidavit before this Court.''

''A mandamus issued to the respondents to release the seized rice bags to the custody of the petitioner forthwith, with the rider that the petitioner shallabide by the afore-quoted conditions,'' the Court ordered.
Karnataka goes to polls on May 10; result on May 13

Explained: Why did TMC, NCP, CPI lose national party status?

India

oi-Deepika S

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has stripped the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of their 'national party' status, while granting the coveted tag to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The EC, in an order issued on Monday, also revoked the State party status granted to Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh, Bharat Rashtra Samiti (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.

'National party' tag & its benefits

A political party needs to fulfil three conditions set by the Election Commission to be called a national party. According to the rules, a party's candidates in a minimum of four States must get at least 6 per cent of the total votes polled in each of those States in the last national election.

To get national party tag, a party should win a minimum of 2 per cent of the total seats in the Lok Sabha and recognised as a "State party" in at least four States.

'Be ready to go to jail': Kejriwal tells AAP leaders after 'national party' tag

A national party tag allows an organisation to get a common poll symbol across the country, more star campaigners, free air time on national broadcasters for election campaigns and convention office space in Delhi.

There were seven national parties - TMC, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), BJP, CPI, CPI (Marxist), Indian National Congress and NCP till now.

Why did TMC, NCP, CPI lose national status?

The TMC was formed on January 1, 1998, after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left 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 received the national party tag in 2016, but its dismal show in Goa and some Northeastern States has led to the withdrawal of the status.

The NCP was formed by Sharad Pawar, another former Congress leader, in 1999 and became a national party in 2000 following its success in various elections. The NCP lost its State party status in Goa, Manipur and Meghalaya, compelling the EC to downgrade it.

TMC exploring legal options after losing national party status

The CPI, founded in 1925, was recognised as a national party in 1989 but the tag was withdrawn following its dismal performance in West Bengal and Odisha elections.

With EC crackdown on NCP, Trinamool and CPI and the addition of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's AAP to the list, the country has five national parties as of now.

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Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 14:17 [IST]
Can Shettar achieve what other bigwig rebels could not in the past?

'Not acceptable': Ex-Karnataka CM Shettar tells BJP for asking him not to contest poll

India

oi-Prakash KL

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has expressed his displeasure against the BJP's central leadership after the party asked him to make way for others in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls.

The senior BJP leader has told the central leadership that he would contest the election again, and requested them to give him an opportunity. He is a sitting MLA from Hubli-Dharwad Central.

Shettar informed the top brass that their decision was not acceptable to him and urged the party for its reconsideration. "I received a message from the seniors in the party that I am senior and a former chief minister. So, make way for others," the 67-year-old BJP leader told reporters.

Shettar, a former BJP state unit president and Assembly Speaker, said he has worked hard for 30 years to build the party in the north Karnataka region.

"If they had told me two to three months ago, then it would have been respectable for me. When the nomination is just two days away (to begin), I am definitely hurt," Shettar, a former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said.

"I have told them that I will contest the election. Whatever you have said is not acceptable to me. So, please reconsider your decision and give me an opportunity to contest the election again," he further said.

The former CM noted that he got elected to the Assembly six times and every time had won the seat with a margin of 25,000 votes or more.

"I questioned them why I should not contest the election. What are my minus points? In the survey, which they have done in all the constituencies, according to the information I got, a positive response has come - almost 70 per cent positive response and public opinion is there (in my favour)," Shettar claimed.

He added that the senior leaders also agreed that there was a positive response in the survey report.

"When there is a positive report, and there is no black spot on me, no corruption charges or allegations against me...," Shettar asserted.

Stating that he had been loyal to the party and worked with dedication, he wondered whether loyalty itself was a minus point for him and there was no respect for it.

"When he (call from central leadership) said so, I was deeply hurt. Jagadish Shettar, who worked for 30 years and built the party, has reached this condition, which was painful," he added.

He revealed that he was offered some other position and asked to discuss with the central leadership, Shettar said he should have been treated respectfully as he is a senior leader and former Chief Minister of the state.

The BJP top brass met over the weekend in Delhi to finalise tickets for the Karnataka polls. The saffron party is yet to release the first list of candidates.

Similarly, former Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa was reportedly asked to make way for others in the upcoming poll. However, he agreed to the central leadership's demand and formally announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from electoral politics.

In his brief letter written in Kannada, the veteran legislator and former deputy chief minister, who has often been at the centre of controversies due to his statements and allegations levelled against him, said his decision was out of his own will.

Eshwarappa would turn 75 in June, the unofficial age bar in the BJP for leaders to contest polls and hold official positions. Though there have been occasional exceptions as well.

With inputs from PTI
Interview: The impact of Eshwarappa quitting and what it means to the BJPs poll prospects

Senior BJP leader Eshwarappa opts out of contesting Karnataka elections

India

oi-Deepika S

Senior Karnataka BJP leader K S Eshwarappa on Tuesday said that he will not be contesting the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.

In a letter to the national BJP president J P Nadda, the veteran legislator said his decision to opt out of electoral politics was out of his own will.

"For the past 40 years, our party has given me all responsibilities from booth president to state party president. I was also honoured to be the Deputy Chief minister of Karnataka. I thank all my seniors in the party for their trust," he wrote.

Eshwarappa would turn 75 in June, the unofficial age bar in the BJP for leaders to contest polls and hold official positions. Though there have been occasional exceptions as well.

The 5-time MLA is seen among those who had played a key role in building the BJP in Karnataka. He has been the saffron party's Kuruba (backward community) face in the state.

With his origins from RSS, Eshwarappa is known to be a strong and outspoken Hindutva idealogue, and has never been a stranger to controversies.

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Karnataka Elections 2023: Veteran BJP leader KS Eshwarappa quits electoral politics | Oneindia News

He had earlier said the BJP will not give tickets to Muslims to contest the elections as they do not believe in the party, and claimed that 'Bhagwa dhwaj' (saffron flag), may become the national flag some time in the future.

Santosh Patil, a Belagavi-based contractor, was found dead at a hotel in Udupi on Tuesday, weeks after accusing Eshwarappa of demanding 40 percent commission in a Rs 4 crore work.

In a purported suicide note in the form of a WhatsApp message, Patil had blamed Eshwarappa for his death.

The opposition Congress has targeted the ruling BJP over the issue, accused the Karnataka government and Chief Minister Bommai of trying to protect Eshwarappa. It demanded his arrest and that he should be booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Karataka will vote on May 10 and results will be announced on May 13. The BJP has not yet announced its first list of candidates for the election to the 224-member assembly.
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Karnataka Election 2023 BJP's first list of candidates out; check details

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 BJP Candidates: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of 189 candidates for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections on Tuesday.

Out of the 189 candidates that the BJP announced today, 52 of them will be fresh faces, the party said.

Y Vijayendra, son of former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, will contest from the Shikaripura seat. Karnataka housing minister V Somanna to contest from Varuna seat.

Voting for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly will take place on May 10, and results will be declared on May 13.

Karnataka elections 2023: BJP candidates list

Name of Legislative Assembly Shiggaon Shri Basavaraj Bommai Nippani Smt. Shashikala Annasaheb JoIle Chikkodi  Sadalga Shri Ramesh Katti Athani Shri Mahesh Kumathalli Kagwad Shri Shrimant Balasaheb Patil Kudachi (SC) Shri P. Rajeev Raybag (SC) Shri Duryodhan Mahalingappa Aihole Hukkeri Shri Nikhil Katti Arabhavi Shri Balachandra Jarakiholi Gokak Shri Ramesh Jarakiholi Yemkanmardi (ST) Shri Basavaraj Hundri Belgaum Uttar Dr. Ravi Patil Belgaum Dakshin Shri Abhay Patil Belgaum Rural Shri Nagesh Mannolkar Khanapur Shri Vittal Halagekar

Hadagalli (SC) Shri Krishna Naik Vijayanagara Shri Siddharth Singh Kampli (ST) Shri T H Suresh Babu Siruguppa (ST) Shri M.S. Somalingappa Bellary (ST) Shri B. Sriramulu Bellary City Shri Gali Somashekhara Reddy Sandur (ST) Smt. Shilpa Raghavendra Kudligi (ST) Shri Lokesh V Nayaka Molakalmuru (ST) Shri S. Thippeswamy Challakere (ST) Shri Anilkumar Chitradurga Shri G H Thippareddy Hiriyur Smt. K. Poornima Srinivas Hosadurga Shri S Lingamurthy Holalkere (SC) Shri M. Chandrappa Jagalur (ST) Shri S V Ramachandra Harihar Shri B.P. Harish Honnali Shri M P Renukacharya Shimoga Rural (SC) Shri Ashok Nayak Bhadravati Shri Mangoti Rudresh Tirthahalli Shri Araga Jnanendra Shikaripur Shri BY Vijayendra Sorab Shri Kumar Bangarappa Sagar Shri Haratalu H. Halappa Kundapura Shri Kiran Kumar Kodgi Udupi Shri Yashpal Suvarna Kapu Shri Gurme Suresh Shetty Karkal Shri V. Sunil Kumar Sringeri Shri D. N. Jeevaraj Kittur Shri Mahantesh Doddagoudar Bailhongal Shri Jagdish Channappa Metgud Saundatti Yellamma Smt. Ratna Vishwanath Mamani Ramdurg Shri Chikka Revanna Mudhol (SC) Shri Govind Karjol Terdal Shri Siddu Savadi Jamkhandi Shri Jagadish Gudagunti Bilgi Shri Murugesh Rudrappa Nirani Badami Shri Shantha Gowda Patil Bagalkot Shri Veerabhadrayya Charantimath Hungund Shri Doddanagouda G Patil Muddebihal Shri AS Patil Nadahalli Babaleshwar Shri Vijugouda S Patil Bijapur City Shri B R Patil (Yatnal) Sindgi Shri Ramesh Bhusanur Afzalpur Shri Malikaiah Guttedar Jewargi Shri Shivanagoudapatil Raddevadagi Shorapur (ST) Shri Narasimha Nayak (Rajugoda) Shahapur . Shri Ameenreddy Yalagi Yadgir Shri Venkatareddy Mudnal Chittapur (SC) Shri Manikanta Rathod Chincholi (SC) Dr. Avinash Jadhav Gulbarga Rural (SC) Shri Basavaraj Mattimod Gulbarga Dakshin Shri Dattatraya Patil Revoor Gulbarga Uttar Shri Chandrakant Patil Aland Shri Subhash Guttedar Basavakalyan Shri Sharanu Salagar Humnabad Shri Siddu Patil Bidar South Dr. Shailendra Beldale Aurad (SC) Shri Prabhu Chavan Raichur Rural (ST) Shri Tipparaju Havaldar Raichur Dr. Shivaraj Patil Devadurga (ST) Shri K Shivanagouda Nayak Lingsugur (SC) Shri Manappa D Vajjal Sindhanur Shri K Kariyappa Maski (ST) Shri Pratapgouda Patil Kushtagi Shri Doddanagouda Patil Kanakagiri (SC) Shri Basavaraj Dadesaguru Yelburga Shri Halappa Basappa Achar Shirahatti (SC) Dr. Chandru Lamani Gadag Shri Anil Menasinakai Nargund Shri C.C. Patil Navalgund Shri Shankar Patil Munenakoppa Kundgol Shri M R Patil Dharwad Shri Amrut Ayyappa Desai Hubli-Dharwad-East (SC) Dr. Kranti Kiran Hubli-Dharwad-West Shri Arvind Bellad Haliyal Shri Sunil Hegde Karwar Smt. Rupali Santosh Nayak Kumta Shri Dinakar Shetty Bhatkal Shri Sunil Baliya Nayak Sirsi Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri Yellapur Shri Shivaram Hebbar Byadgi Shri Virupakshappa Ballari Hirekerur Shri B.C. Patil Ranibennur Shri Arun Kumar Pujar

https://www.oneindia.com/bjp-candidates-list-for-karnataka-assembly-election/
Suspense over as Mukul Roy says, I want to be in BJP

Karnataka Elections 2023 Congress candidates: Here's the full list

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 Congress Candidates: The Congress has released two list of candidates so far for the upcoming Karnataka election 2023.

In its first list, the party named 124 candidates, refielding 60 of 69 sitting MLAs. In its second list, the party named of 41 candidates. The list includes four leaders- N Y Gopalakrishna, Baburao Chinchansur, S R Srinivas and V S Patil- who recently joined the Congress party.

It's worth noting that Congress Legislature Party leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah's name has been already included in the first list, where he was assigned to contest from the Varuna constituency. However, the veteran politician seems keen on contesting from Kolar as well. Meanwhile, DK Shivakumar will contest from the Kanakapura constituency.

Karnataka election 2023 Janata Dal (Secular) candidates: Here's the full list

Voting for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly will take place on May 10, and results will be declared on May 13.

Karnataka elections 2023: Full list of Congress candidates announced so far

Si No. Name of the constituency Selected Candidates 1 ChikkodiSactalga Ganesh Hukkerl 2 Kagawact Bharmgoud AJagowda Kage 3 KudachiSC Mahendra K. Thammannavar 4 Hukkeri AB Patil 5 Yemkanmardi .ST Satish Laxmanrao Jarkiholi 6 Belgaum Rural Smt LaxmiRavindta Hebbalkar 7 Khanapw Or.Anjati Ntmbatkar 8 Bailhongal Mahantesh Shivanand Kouja agi 9 Ramdurg As.hok M.Pattan 10 Jamkhandi Anand Siddu Nyamagouda 11 Hungund Vijayanand S.Kashappanavar 12 Muddebihal AppajiAlias CS Nadagowda 13 Basavana Bagevadj Shivanada Patil 14 Babateswar MBPatil 15 lndi Yastwanth Rayagoud v Patil 16 Jevargi Or.Ajay Oharam Singh 17 Shorapur  ST Rajavenkatappa Naik 18 Shahpur Sharanabasappa Gowda 19 Chitapur SC Priyank Kharge 20 Sedam Or.Sharanaprakash Patil 21 Chincholi SC Subash V. Rathod 22 Gu barga Uttar Smt Kaneez Fatima 23 Aland B R Patil 24 Humnabad Rajashekar 8 Patil 25 BidarSouth As.hok Kheny 26 Bidar Rahim Khan 27 Bhalki Eshwar Khandre 28 Raichw RuralST Basanagouda Oactdal 29 Maski - ST Basanagouda Thurvihal 30 Kushtagi Amaregouda Patil Bayyapur 31 Kanakagiri- SC Shivaraj Sangappa Thangadagi 32 Yelbwga Basavaraj Rayareddi 33 Koppa! K.Raghavendra 34 Gadag H.K.Patil 35 Ron G.S Palil 36 Hubli- Oharwad-East - SC Prasad Abbayya 37 Haliyal R.V.Oeshapande 38 Ka.war Satish Krishna Sail 39 Bhatkal Manka!Subba Vidya 40 Hangal Srinivas V.Mane 41 Have1i- SC Rudrappa Lamani 42 Byadgi Basavaraj N.Shivannanar 43 Hirekerw U.B.Banakar 44 Ranibennur Prakash K.Koliwad 45 Hadagalli- SC P.T.Parameshwara Naik 46 Hagaribommanahalli - SC L.8.P.Sheema Naik 47 Vijayanagara H.R. Gaviyappa 48 Kampti- ST J N. Ganesh 49 BeUary - ST B.Nagendra 50 Sandur - ST E.Thukaram 51 Chal akese - ST T. Raghumurthy 52 Hiriyur 0.Sudhakar 53 Hosadurga Gov'indappa B.G. 54 Oavanagese North S.S. Malllkarjun 55 Oavanagese South Shamanw Shivashankrappa 56 Mayakonda-SC K.S. Basavaraju 57 Bhadravati Sangame:shwara8.K. 58 Sorab S.Madhu Bangarappa 59 Sagar Gopalakrishnna Sutw 60 Byndoor KGopalPujari 61 Kundapwa M.Oinesh Hegde 62 Kapu Vinaya Kumar Sorake 63 Sringeri T.D.Rajegowda 64 Chikanayakanhalli Kiran Kumar 65 Tiptur K Shadakshari 66 Turuvekere Kanthraj B.M 67 Kunigal Or.H.0.Ranganath 68 Koratagere - SC Or. G. Parameshwara 69 Sira T.B. Jaya Chandra 70 Pavagada - SC H.V. Venkatesh 71 Madhugiri K.N. Rajanna 72 Gauribidanur Shivashankar Reddy N.H 73 Bagepali S.N.Subba Reddy 74 Chintamani Or. M.C. Sudhakar 75 Srinivaspur K.R Ramesh Kumar 76 Kolar Gold Field - SC Smt Roopaka la M 77 Bangarapet - SC S.N. Narayanaswamy 78 Malur K.Y.Nanje Gowda 79 Byatarayanapura Krishna Byregowda 80 Rajarajeshwarinagar Smt Kusuma H 81 Malleshwaram Anup Iyengar 82 Hebllal Suresha B.S 83 Sarvagnanagar K.J. George 84 Shivajinagar Rizwan Arshad 85 Shanti Nagar N.A. Haris 86 Gandhi Nagar Dir.ash Gundu Rao 87 Rajaji Nagar Puttanna 88 Govindraj Nagar Priyakrishnna 89 Vijay Nagar M. Krishnamppa 90 Chamrajpet B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan 91 Basavanagudi U.S. Venkatesh 92 BT M Layout Ramalinga Reddy 93 Jayanagar Smt. Sowmya R 94 Mahadevapura .SC Nagesh T 95 Anekal- SC B. Shivanna 96 Hosakote Sharath Kumar Bachegowda 97 Devanahalli SC K.H.Muniyappa 98 Ooddaballapur T. Venkataramaiah 99 Nelamangala - SC Srinivasa ah N 100 Magadi H.C.Balakrishna 101 Ramanagaram IqbalHussain HA 102 Kanakapura 0.K.Shivakumar 103 Malavalli- SC P.M.Narendraswamy 104 Shrirangapattana A.B.Ramesh Bandisiddegowda 105 Nagamangala N.Cha uvarayaswamy 106 Holenarasipur Shreyas M.Patel 107 Sakleshpur - SC MuraliMohan 108 Belthangady Rakshith Shivaram 109 Moodabidri MithunM. Rai 110 Mangalore U.T. AbdulKhader Ali Fareed 111 Bantval Ramanatha Rai B 112 Sutlia. SC Krishnappa G 113 Virajpet A.S.Ponnanna 114 Piriyapatna K.Ventakesh 115 Krishnarajanagara 0.Ravishankar 116 Hunsur H.P. rvtanjunath 117 Heggadadevankote - ST AnilKumar C 118 Nanjanagud  SC Oarshan Dhruvyanarayana 119 Narasimharaja Tanveer Sait 120 Varuna Siddaramaiah 121 T. Narasipur.SC H.C.Mahadevappa 122 Hanur R. Narendra 123 Chamarajanagar C.Puttaranga Shetty 124 Gundlupet H.M.Ganesh Parasad 125 Nippani Kakasaheb Patil 126 Gokak Mahantesh Kadadi 127 Kittur Babasaheb D Patil 128 Saundatti Yellamma Vishwas Vasant Vaidya 129 MudhoI (SC) Rameppa Balappa Timmapur 130 Bilgi JT Patil 131 Badami Bheemasen B Chmmannakattl 132 Bagalkot Hullappa Y. Meti 133 Bijapur city Abdul Hameed Kalasaheb Mashrif 134 Nagthan- SC Vitthal Katakadhond 135 Afzalpur MY Palil 136 Yadgir Channareddy Patil Tunnur 137 Gutmitkal Baburao Chinchansur 138 Gulbarga Dakshin Alamaprabhu Patil 139 Basavakalyan Vijay Dharam Singh 140 Gangawali Iqbal Ansari 141 Nargund BR Yavagal 142 Dharwad Vinay Kulkarni 143 Kalghatgi Santosh S. Lad 144 Sirsi Bhimanna Naik 145 Yellapur VS Patil 146 Kudligi (ST) Dr Srinivas NT 147 Molakalmuru (ST) NY Gopalakrishna 148 Chitradurga KC Veerendra (Pappy) 149 Holalkere (SC) Anjaneya H 150 Channagiri Basavaraju V Shivaganga 151 Tirthahalli Kimmane Rathnamakar 152 Udupi Prasadraj Kanchan 153 Kadur Anand KS 154 Tumkur city Iqbal Ahmed 155 Gubbi SR Srinivas 156 Yelahanka Keshava Rajanna B 157 Yeshvanthpuram S.Balraj Gowda 158 Mahalakshmi Layout Keshava Murthy 159 Padmanaba Nagar V Raghunatha Naidu 160 Melukote Left Darshan Puttnnaiah of Sarvodya Karnataka Party 161 Mandya P Ravikumar 162 Krishnarajpet BL Devraja 163 Belur B Shivaram 164 Madikeri Mantar Gowda 165 Chamundeshwari Siddhegowda
In the run-up to this years elections, we consistently discussed two key topics in our interviews and interactions with small business owners. No, its not grants or financial aid, which are usually only temporary solutions that do little to help the business.

These two key themes are digitisation and compliance.

SMEs number one problem

Reduced tax burdens and decreased administrative work for taxation and compliance are key focus areas for SMBs. The Labour Party has vowed to implement a responsible and measured multinational tax avoidance programme to improve transparency and close tax loopholes.

It said it intends to implement anti-avoidance measures proposed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which include a minimum 15% tax on multinational corporations profits, more equitable profit distribution (particularly from digital firms), and limiting debt-related reductions to 30% of a companys profits.

And while the Labor Partys proposed tax cuts will benefit everyone earning more than $45,000, Lower taxes for small businesses, in particular, are always a plus, especially for those still struggling following the economic difficulties of the previous two years.

While these promises appear to be spot on, SME owners are sceptical.

Chris Dahl, Director of Sales and Growth, Pin Payments, says that while Labor has briefly stated that support for SMBs is essential, specifically the digital economy, cash flow, and other age-old small business issues, there is little evidence to show what financial or tangible support will be provided.

The business community is tired of false promises and a general lack of support, particularly after two years of lockdowns and the pandemic. We need to see a roadmap by the Labor government which outlines exactly how they will use funds to get every Australian SMB online, so these businesses are not left behind.

As per the MYOB Business Monitor, which surveyed 1000 Australian SMEs a few days before the election about the issues they want to see prioritised and related insights, 66 per cent of SMEs consider compliance cost reduction to be their most crucial business-related issue.

Earlier, the Morrison government said it would give eligible businesses the option of reporting taxable payments system data via software. Businesses that choose automatic reporting will no longer have to fill out the annual Taxable Payments Annual Report. New systems will be in place by December 31, 2023, with implementation beginning January 1, 2024.

In addition, the government said it would create systems to allow all trusts to file income tax returns electronically. The ability to pre-fill beneficiaries tax returns will be made by digitising the reporting of trustee and beneficiary obligations.

SMEs want to future proof their businesses

Returning to the MYOB survey, the second most important priority for businesses is digitisation, with 48 per cent of respondents saying they would vote for a government that provided more support to improve digital capability and business skills to future proof their businesses.

However, one-third (31%) still do not have any online presence. Twenty-three per cent believe that digitising aspects of their business is still too expensive, and 29 per cent believe that some tax incentive would help them get started digitally, as per the survey.

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) recently urged the newly formed government to appoint a Cabinet Minister for the Digital Economy.

According to AIIA, it is necessary to broaden the scope of digital accountability within a single ministers portfolio. The proposed Minister of Government Services and the Digital Economy would be directly responsible for ensuring that Australia has a leading digital government by 2025 and a leading digital economy by 2030.

In terms of Labor policies, support for digital technology adoption must be prioritised, adds Mark Khabe, Co-Founder of PRIME BPM. The post-pandemic world is digital. A stronger uptake of digital technologies will be key to helping SMBs grow, transcend borders for more opportunities and hire relevant talent from any part of the world.

The Albanese government must invest in Australias digital future. A more robust digital economy will help small businesses to operate on a level playing field both locally and internationally.

Top examples of business integration among SMEs using digital tools include tax and BAS lodgement and payments (51 per cent), compliance (38 per cent), cash flow, invoicing, and online payment platforms (40 per cent), and productivity, project, and inventory management (29 per cent).

Heres the Pre-Budget and Pre-Election Policy Submission 2022, detailing 24 key recommendations to support Australias tech sector to grow by AIIA.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Karnataka polls: BJP list is delayed again, Yeddy's exit sparks speculations

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Reports are rife that BJP strongman, B S Yediyurappa is unhappy with the top leadership's decision over the final list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections.

The rumour mills are abuzz that Yediyurappa made a sudden exit from Delhi and returned to Bengaluru as he was unhappy over the list of candidates. There is talk about political circles that his premature departure from Delhi could be to do with the fact that the party leadership was not in agreement with his list of candidates. Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and senior leader, Prahlad Joshi tower insisted that Yediyurappa had to leave due to a personal emergency.

The BJP has been discussing the list since Saturday and it was expected that the same would be released over the weekend. Reports suggest that Yediyurappa waned 30 of his followers included in the list, but the same was not agreeable to the top leadership.

Booze overtakes cash in freebie list in poll-bound Karnataka

One of the candidates that Yediyurappa wanted included is his son, B Y Vijayendra. Yediyurappa while announcing that he would not be contesting the elections anymore had said that his son would be contesting from his seat in Shiikaripur. This was seen as a preemptive move by Yediyurappa against the rejection of his son's candidature.

While many state that Yediyurappa is miffed that his son has not been given a ticket, Joshi however said that the development was owing to a personal commitment. "The party has held extensive discussions with the top leadership. The list is in its final stage of preparation. The list will be released soon in consultation with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah," Joshi also said.

Bommai who is also in Delhi said that Yediyurappa had taken part in all the meetings, including the ones with J P Nadda and Shah. "He was part of the central Election Committee and parliamentary board meetings with the Prime Minister. He expressed all his views on the issue. Every decision has been taken with Yediyurappa's consultation," Bommai also said.

On his return, Yediyurappa insisted that he was not unhappy. " I am very happy. All the suggestions given by me have been taken. I am confident that we will get a full majority on the basis of the seat selection," Yediyurappa also said.

What is causing the delay in BJP releasing its first list for Karnataka

Joshi maintained that the list would be out on Tuesday. "We held discussions about all the 224 seats. Inputs and clarifications had been sought," he said.

Bommai also said," there is no confusion. We will be releasing a big list of candidates. We want to be very cautious. Our national leaders are looking at it in-depth. Things could also change at the last minute."
Lone wolf or partner in crime: Cops dig deeper into Kerala arson case

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The probe into the Kerala train arson case has made it increasingly clear that it was an act of terror.

The Kerala Police had at first said that they are still probing if the incident was an act of terror or not. However with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) set to take over the probe, all angles indicate that it was a clear cut case of terror.

On Sunday the Kochi and Chennai units of the NIA handed out a report to the Centre about the Eltahur train incident. The report clearly said that the terror angle cannot be ruled out. The report also said that there was a clear cut case made out where the accused had planned the entire attack with others.

Kerala train arson clear case of terror, NIA to dig deep into plot, motive

The investigating agencies are yet to find any clear link between the accused Sharukh Saifi and other persons. During his interrogation, he did confess to the crime, but refused to say anything about others being involved in the incident.

An Intelligence Bureau official tells OneIndia that prima facie, it appears to be a lone wolf attack. What the investigators need to do it scan his mobile device more to find out more on where the ideology was set in. It appears that the accused was radicalised online and those roots need to be checked.

On the face of it, the entire incident looked liked a low cost operation. The main weapon of the accused was a can of petrol. This is in fact a classic lone wolf operation, where the weapon of choice is an unconventional one, the IB official also said.

Meanwhile the investigation has found that Saifi had spent an entire day in Shoranur post his arrival in Kerala on the Seamark Kranthi Express. He had boarded the train on March 31.

He reached the Shoranur railway station at 4.49 am on April 2 with four litres of petrol in three bottles from a fuel bunk that is located just a kilometre away from the railway station.

Kerala train arson suspect unstable, confesses to crime, but remains silent on motive

The probe has also found that he had chatted with several persons on the social media. His bank account details are also being scrutinised to check if there was any conspiracy angle to this case. He may have received help from various other people the source said while adding that during the interrogation, he had revealed that he had not visited Kerala before.

The police have also recovered a diary from the suspect in which the names of various police stations have been mentioned. This gave rise to the suspicion that Saifi may have planned similar attacks in other railways stations as well.
FM takes on West for its negative perception of Muslims in India

India

oi-Deepika S

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that Muslims in India are doing much better than their counterparts living in Pakistan. She was addressing to the negative Western "perception" of India, at an event in Washington on Monday.

Responding to a question on perceptions affecting capital flows or investment in India, Sitharaman said, "I would think the answer for that lies with those investors who are coming to India, and they have been coming."

"And as somebody who is interested in receiving investments, I would only say, come have a look at what's happening in India, rather than listen to perceptions being built by people who have not even visited on the ground and who produce reports," she added.

She also criticised the widespread reporting in the Western media about MPs in the opposition party losing status, and about Muslim minorities in India being subjected to violence.

Indian markets very well regulated: Nirmala Sitharaman on Adani stock crash

"India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world, and that population is only growing in numbers. If there is a perception, or if there's in reality, their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the State, which is what is implied in most of these write-ups, I would ask, will this happen in India in the sense, will the Muslim population be growing than what it was in 1947?" said the Finance Minister.

She said law and order is a state subject in India and each province has its elected government that takes care of the law and order in those states. She said the notion that across the board in India, violence against Muslims is happening is a fallacy.

"It cannot be so. Each province and its police are different. They are run by the elected governments in those provinces. So, that itself tells you how these reports have no clue of the law and order systems in India," the finance minister said.

"To say it's all the blame of the government of India. I would like to say then, between 2014 and today, has the population dwindled, has the debts been disproportionately high in any one particular community," she said.

"I would rather invite these people who write these reports to come to India. I'll host them, let them come and travel alone to India and prove their point," Sitharaman said.

Taking a dig at Pakistan, Sitharaman said despite declaring itself an Islamic country that promised to protect minorities, every minority group in Islamabad has dwindled in numbers and even some Muslim sects have been decimated.

"Violence prevails against Mohajirs, Shia and every other group you can name which is not accepted by the mainstream... I don't know... Sunnis probably. Whereas in India, you would find every strand of Muslims doing their business, their children getting educated. Fellowships are being given by the government," news agency ANI quoted her as saying.

"Blasphemy laws, in most cases, are used to carry out a personal vendetta. Victims are immediately presumed guilty, even without proper investigation and holding the trial under a jury in the neighbouring country," she added.

Around 62 per cent of the world's Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region (from Turkey to Indonesia), with over one billion adherents. The largest Muslim population in a country is in Indonesia, a country home to 12.7 per cent of the world's Muslims.
No objection to JPC probe on Adani row: NCP chief Sharad Pawar

India

oi-Prakash KL

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said his party does not agree with the demand of anti-BJP parties for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into allegations against the Adani group, but it will not go against their stand for the sake of Opposition unity.

"The opinion of our friendly parties (on JPC) is different from ours, but we want to maintain our unity. I gave my opinion (on futility of JPC probe), but if our colleagues (Opposition parties) feel that JPC is a must then we will not oppose it. We don't agree with them (Opposition parties), but for the sake of Opposition unity, we will not insist on this (that there should be no JPC)," PTI quoted Pawar in an interview with Marathi news channel ABP Majha.

In an interview with NDTV, Pawar came out in support of the Adani Group and criticised the narrative around Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate.

"Such statements were given by other individuals earlier too and there was a ruckus in Parliament for a few days but this time out-of-proportion importance was given to the issue," he said.

"The issues that were kept, who kept them, we had never heard of these people who gave the statement, what is the background. When they raise issues that cause a ruckus across the country, the cost is borne by the country's economy, we cannot disregard these things. It seems this was targeted," Pawar had said.

A day later, Pawar told reporters that he was not completely opposed to a JPC probe into the charges against the Adani group, but a Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee would be "more useful and effective" in dealing with the matter.

Following Pawar's remarks, seen as a setback for Opposition unity, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had said the NCP may have its views on the issue, but 19 like-minded parties are convinced the "PM-linked Adani group" issue is real and very serious.

The veteran parliamentarian said if a JPC is formed, looking at the BJP's numerical strength in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the ruling party will have 14-15 members in the panel, while the Opposition will have five to six MPs.

"The panel will also be headed by the BJP. So who will control the panel and what will be its influence on the report?" Pawar had asked, seeking to drive home the point that a parliamentary probe committee will have a limited scope.

The Supreme Court last month ordered setting up of a six-member committee headed by a former apex court judge to look into various regulatory aspects for stock markets, including the recent Adani group shares crash triggered by the Hindenburg Research's fraud allegations.

The US-based Hindenburg Research has made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share-price manipulation, against the business conglomerate. The Adani group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements.

With inputs from PTI

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Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 20:55 [IST]
If Cong comes to power, Karnataka will be beset with riots: Amit Shah

Objecting to such visit will not change reality: India to China on Shah's visit to Arunachal

India

oi-Prakash KL

India on Tuesday rejected China's objection to Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and firmly stated that the state "was, is and will" always remain an integral and inalienable part of the country.

In response to media queries regarding China's comments on the recent visit of the Home Minister to Arunachal Pradesh, the official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said, "We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese Official Spokesperson."

The spokesperson further said that leaders visit Arunachal like any other state of India.

"Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality," he added.

In a clear message to China from the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, Shah on Monday had said no one can dare cast an evil eye on India's territorial integrity and encroach even an "inch of our land." He said the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of India was over.

"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.

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.

"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.
Rahul, Priyanka visiting Wayanad first time since his disqualification

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Disgraced Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will visit his former Lok Sabha constituency Wayanad on Tuesday, for the first time since his disqualification from Parliament. His sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be accompanying him during his visit.

Gandhi was disqualified as the MP from Wayanad last month after being convicted and sentenced in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

In Wayanad, Gandhi will participate in various activities organised by the UDF as a show of strength. According to local media reports, the Gandhi siblings are scheduled to hold a road show called 'Satyameva Jayate' and a conference in Kalpetta. In the roadshow, only the national flag will be used instead of the party flags, Congress said.

'You have become a troll': Jyotiraditya Scindia takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi

Thereafter, there will be another event - Cultural Democratic Defense - which has been organized as part of the conference and leading cultural activists of Kerala are expected to take part in it, the party said. The duo would address a public event there in the afternoon.

Senior Congress leaders like AICC general secretaries K.C. Venugopal and Tariq Anwar, KPCC president K. Sudhakaran and Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly V.D. Satheesan will participate in the UDF-organised conference. Muslim League State president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal will also attend the conference.

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Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 13:29 [IST]
If Cong comes to power, Karnataka will be beset with riots: Amit Shah

BJP has to go if democracy is to survive: Cong chief Kharge

Kumaraswamy's new gimmick: Rs 2 lakh for marrying farmers' sons

India

oi-Prakash KL

Former Chief Minister and JDS Legislature Party Leader HD Kumaraswamy announced yet another promise to voters ahead of the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka.

This time, HD Kumaraswamy has made a unique promise to the farmers by claiming that the JDS, if voted to power, would give Rs 2 lakh to women who marry the sons of farmers.

"In Kolar district, several youths have given an application to me saying that women are not ready to get married to sons of farmers. To encourage women, we will give them Rs 2 lakh to marry farmers' sons. We will bring a scheme in this regard in the state," News9 quoted Kumaraswamy as saying at a rally.

JDS for ban on Sudeep's films days after the actor extended support to BJP

His promise holds significance as some 200 bachelors from Mandya had earlier undertaken a 'Brahmachari Padayatre' to Male Mahadeshwara temple in Chamarajanagara district seeking divine intervention so that they find brides.

Reportedly, Mandya district is witnessing an acute shortage of brides for youths who are into farming.

"I received a petition that girls are not ready to get married to farmers' sons. To encourage the marriage of farmers' children the government should give two lakh rupees to the girls. This is one of the programs which will be introduced, to protect the self-respect of our boys," India Today quoted Kumaraswamy as saying.

HD Kumaraswamy has been projecting his JDS as a farmer-friendly party by announcing various schemes. Earlier, he promised a financial assistance scheme for families of farmers and waiving of loans of women self-help groups.

Karnataka assembly election 2023: JDS second list to be released on Friday

The former Karnataka CM, known as HDK in political circles, had said that poor will get medical assistance if JDS is voted to power. In addition to it, he wants to set up 30-bed hospitals with free dialysis in all panchayat centres.

The single-phase assembly election in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and the counting is on May 13.
'Mafia who had a free run in 2017 are now begging for life': UP CM

They want to kill me: Atiq Ahmad on being taken to Prayagraj again

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad has once again claimed threat to his life as he is being taken from Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city on Tuesday to Prayagraj in connection with a criminal case against him.

''It is not right. They want to kill me,'' said Ahmad while being taken in a UP Police van. The Prayagraj court has issued a B warrant in the matter.

The Uttar Pradesh Police had on March 26 also taken Ahmad to Prayagraj in UP to produce him in a court.

On March 28, the court there had sentenced him to life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case.

The 60-year-old former Uttar Pradesh MLA and Lok Sabha member was brought back to the high-security jail in Gujarat in a UP police van on March 29 after a nearly 24-hour-long road journey from Prayagraj.

A jail official on Monday said, ''A team of the Uttar Pradesh police is at the Sabarmati Central Jail to take Atiq Ahmad to UP in connection with a criminal case. He will be taken there after submission of all the documents (required for his custody).'' Ahmad is likely to be taken to Prayagraj for interrogation in the Umesh Pal murder case, he said. The Supreme Court had in April 2019 directed Ahmad be shifted to the high-security jail in Gujarat after he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of a real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal while in jail. He has been lodged in the jail here since June 2019.

UP gangster Atiq Ahmad gets life term in 2006 kidnapping case

Ahmad has been named in more than 100 criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case, police said. Among the most sensational murders in which Ahmad was allegedly involved was that of Raju Pal, the MLA from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) who was shot dead in 2005.

Umesh Pal, a key witness in that murder case, was gunned down outside his residence in Prayagraj on February 24 this year. Ahmad last month moved the Supreme Court for protection, claiming he and his family have been falsely implicated as accused in the Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj and he may be killed in a fake encounter by the UP Police.

In his plea, Ahmad said the UP Police were in all likelihood seeking his transit remand and police remand to take him from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj and he ''genuinely apprehends that he may be eliminated during this transit period''.
What is causing the delay in BJP releasing its first list for Karnataka

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

The BJP's list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections is yet to be announced.

The list at first was expected over the weekend, and later reports said that it may come out by Monday. However there is speculation rife at the moment that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not in favour of giving tickets to children of sitting MLAs and MPs. The party is expected to hold more deliberations before the list can be announced in day or two.

During the BJP's Central Election Committee meeting held on Sunday, the PM is said to have insisted that he was not in favour of giving tickets to children of sitting MPs and MLAs. He had said that he would prefer to give tickets to party workers.

There is speculation that this may have upset former Karnataka chief minister, B S Yediyurappa, who has been vying for a ticket for his son, B Y Vijayendra.

Yediyurappa is said to be miffed with the fact that his son would not get a ticket. Even during a meeting with BJP president, J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, similar concerns were voiced about not giving tickets to the children of sitting MLAs and MPs.

Karnataka polls: BJP to announce 170 to 180 candidates in first list

During the meeting, Yediyurappa was insistent that his son be given a ticket from Shikaripura, the constituency that he has been contesting from. He also is said to have demanded tickets for 15 of his followers. The proposal to give a ticket to his son was apparently shot down by the Prime Minster, which is said to have upset the senior Karnataka BJP leader.

During the meeting, the party is said to have finalised the names of 175 candidates. However there were certain disagreements on the remaining 49 seats. The BJP is likely to first come out with the list of 175 by tomorrow and then release the rest the list of the rest of the candidates, sources tell OneIndia. However, the source added that the issue remains with the names of the children of the sitting MLAs, which the party is not keen on favouring. The party has maintained that it does not indulge in dynasty politics and hence accommodating the children may divert its stand.

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Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 10:39 [IST]
Will kill him on April 30, actor Salman Khan gets fresh threat

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Bollywood actor, Salman Khan has received another death threat call, the Mumbai police said on Tuesday.

The development comes weeks after a man was taken into custody for sending a threat email, to the actor. The police said that the threat call was made to the Mumbai police control room on April 10. The caller identified himself as Rockey Bhai from Jodhpur in Rajasthan. He identified himself as a 'gau Raksha' (cow vigilante). The caller said that he would eliminate Khan by April 30.

Further investigation is underway, the Mumbai police said.

Amid buzz of joining BJP, Sudeep gets threat to leak his 'private' video

Prior to this, one person identified as Dhakad Ram, a resident of Luni in Rajasthan was arrested. He was arrested on March 26 after he sent an email threatening to kill the actor.

A case had been registered at the Bandra police station. The accused had allegedly sent a threat mail to Khan stating that the actor will end up like Sidhu Moose Wala.

Luni Police Station Officer, Jodhpur Ishwar Chand Pareek had told ANI on an earlier date, " in the case registered in Bandra police station of threats to kill Salman Khan via email, the Mumbai police team and Luni police team in joint action caught Dhakad Ram, a resident of Luni in Jodhpur district."

Salman Khan has been provided with Y+ category security by the Mumbai police as he is perceived to be under threat. The Maharashtra state government took this decision after the actor received a death threat from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Punjab CM's daughter gets life threat from Khalistani elements

The Mumbai police have also booked jailed gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldie Brar and Rohit Garg for allegedly sending threatening mails to the actor. The Bandra police booked a case under sections 506(2),120(b) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The developments come in the wake of the actor being involved in promotions of his upcoming movie, 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.' The trailer launch took place on April 10 in Mumbai and the actor had taken part in the same.
For the first time in nearly a decade, Australia will begin the week with a Federal Labor government.

While it is still early, we try to figure out what business and startup sectors can expect from Anthony Albaneses government in the near future.

Thousands of micro, small, and medium enterprises at the heart of the economy have suffered from months of lockdown to contain the virus and subsequent production restrictions.

Many of Anthony Albaneses campaign promises were repeated in his victory speech, including strengthening medicare, addressing the aged care crisis, establishing a federal anti-corruption commission, and working collaboratively with businesses and unions to boost productivity, wages, and profits.

According to Mark Khabe, Co-Founder of PRIME BPM, as the Labor Party prepares to take power for the first time since 2013, SMBs hope that their numerous long-standing issues will be prioritised.

Its encouraging to see that the Labor party has recognised the pivotal role that the sector plays and has pledged its support to help SMBs bounce back from the disruptions of the last two years.

Greater government support will strengthen the sectors contributions to employment creation and economic growth. However, SMBs need to see these policies play out in practice.

Small Businesses are a priority

The Labor Party has promised to deliver on several small business issues throughout their campaign. More significant support for digital technology adoption, on the other hand, is clearly at the top of the list for SMBs.

The post-pandemic world is digital. Therefore, stronger uptake of digital technologies will help SMBs drive more profit, expand their footprints and hire remote, borderless teams from any part of the world, Mark added.

The Liberal government had laid out an ambitious vision of making Australia a top 10 data and digital economy by 2030. The Labor government needs to now live up to this promise.

Were pleased to see that cash-flow issues are being addressed by the Labor party, which is a long-standing issue for SMBs. Likewise, Labor has committed to reducing the time small businesses spend doing taxes and cutting paperwork and regulatory red tape. We hope these are all positive initiatives to play out in practice.

Furthermore, the Labor Party has pledged to address the issue of late payments for small businesses by ensuring that there is a mechanism in place for small businesses to receive payments within 30 days. Cash flow has long been a problem for small and medium-sized enterprises, and it has been exacerbated significantly by the economic difficulties of the last two years.

However, Chris Dahl, Director of Sales and Growth, Pin Payments, says it is not enough to save businesses already bleeding money.

Were pleased to see that the Labor party has prioritised these. However, it is not enough to save struggling businesses, he argues.

Second, Labor has pledged to strengthen SMEs bargaining power with more significant partners by illegal, unfair contract terms. Chris believes this is a significant step toward combating business inequality and injustice and protecting small businesses from corruption.

Likewise, the Labor party promises to reduce small business transaction costs at the point of payment with a clear timeline for implementing least-cost routing. Small businesses are disproportionately impacted by higher transaction fees that eat into profits  around $804 million a year.

This is a welcome change for small business owners. Least cost routing allows a business to choose online route payments in a way that benefits them and their customers, which will hopefully encourage greater adoption of online payments for SMBs.

Jobs and skills

The Labor party has already promised to tackle job insecurity and low wages head-on, likely addressing the skills shortage faced by SMEs.

Labor promises to invest in the skills Australia needs to drive future economic growth in their campaign. Labor will give Australians free TAFE, create more university places, and address the skill shortages impeding our COVID-19 comeback.

The Labor Partys jobs and skills development policies are promising in terms of skill shortages and employee upskilling. But according to Mark, the training initiatives and funds should not be limited to the Australian workforce.

Many local businesses like ours rely heavily on talent overseas. Our strategy is borderless, so we have remote staff worldwide working as per Australian hours and an Australian head office. As digital transformation changes business operations, the government should not limit business and staff incentives to Australia, Mark said.

The Labor government should support the digitalisation of businesses and understand that many SMBs now employ remote worldwide staff. The small business and digital policies should reflect that, as this will ultimately help Australia-based businesses to expand their global footprints and benefit the national economy.

While Chris is optimistic about increasing jobs and skills through the 465,000 fee-free TAFE places for Australian students studying in skill-short industries.

Small businesses may see a significant benefit from this, as upskilling employees will become easier and likewise talent will have access to skills programs through TAFE to upskill, Chris said.

The 20,000 extra university places over 2022 and 2023 will also help fill the gap for industries suffering from skill shortages, which will immensely enhance the small business community.

While more significant investment in digital skills-based trades would have been beneficial for SMBs, it is encouraging that the Labor party is, at the very least, addressing jobs and skills in their policies.

Better business sustainability practices

Sustainable business practices will be critical in 2022, and the government must address this as the most crucial issue for voters this year.

Businesses must emphasise their operations and practices to fulfil their corporate responsibilities to the Paris Agreement and UN human rights standards regarding supply chain transparency.

A myriad of environmental issues and considerations arise for businesses of all sizes. The Labor Government needs greater frameworks, regulations and support so businesses can ensure theyre adhering to standards. We hope to see this under the Albanese government, Chris notes.

Likewise, the creation of stronger policies surrounding business sustainability will assist SMBs, who are often time-poor and have limited staff, to follow a clear framework or roadmap surrounding their environmental and climate-related duties. Businesses are often unaware that their operations are not in line with sustainability or lack the support or knowledge to change this.

Its the Labor governments responsibility to ensure the business community acts by promises made under international treaties, including the Paris Agreement. These next four years, Albanese will be under public scrutiny as the world looks to combat climate change across every area of life, including business.

Meanwhile, Mark believes that the Labor party, through the support of greater digitisation, will also back environmental sustainability. It enables remote working and reduces carbon emissions related to commuting.

Greater initiatives surrounding hybrid work models may reduce energy use related to reductions in office energy consumption. In terms of environmental and financial benefits, developing policies that yield co-benefits needs to be the focus of this government, Mark adds.

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With milk war hotting up, Amul may enter Karnataka after polls

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Iconic Gujarat-based dairy cooperative Amul's decision to sell its products in Bengaluru through quick commerce platforms, just a month before the Assembly polls, seems to have opened a Pandora's box in Karnataka.

However, recent reports suggest that the dairy major's rollout in the city is likely to be postponed, given that the political slugfest over the issue carries the potential to singe the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections with the Opposition taking undue advantage of it.

On April 5, Amul 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, the dairy giant said, ''The #Amul family is bringing in some Taaza into #Bengaluru city. More updates coming in soon. #LaunchAlert. Taaza arriving soon in Bengaluru.''

Amul vs Nandini row intensifies, cops detain protesters in Bengaluru

While the opposition parties have charged that the BJP government was out to "finish" Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) brand '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 parties to strengthen KMF and its products under the brand name Nandini.

The development 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?"

State Minister for Cooperatives S.T. 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."

Allegations are also being made that an artificial scarcity of Nandini products have been created in the State to make room for Amul products there.

Interestingly, the political parties locked horns even as firms and brands are looking at means to go "glocal".

Amid Amul row, Cong leader visits Nandini parlour in Hassan

No merger plans

Meanwhile, seeking to douse the controversy over the country's largest dairy maker's decision to expand its operations to the poll-bound State, Amul managing director Jayen Mehta on Monday clarified there is "no question of competition" between Amul and Nandini.

Amul's foray into markets in other States is not new. Founded on 14 December 1946, Amul has grown into a dairy behemoth over the years. While Amul, the dairy brand is the far largest seller of milk products in the country, KMF is a prominent brand and rules the market in southern States equally, and is the second largest dairy co-operatives in the country after Amul.

Amul vs Nandini controversy

The current controversy started in December last year 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 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.

The issue picked up pace last week when Amul announced that it will begin delivering milk and curd in Bengaluru. However, given its massive network, no State government has ever dared to dictate terms to KMF so far.

Explained: Nandini vs Amul war in Karnataka

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.

This is also a strong belt for Congress and JDS while BJP has been trying hard to make inroads there. 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. This explains why the BJP is trying its best to counter the Opposition onslaught on the issue.

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Story first published: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 15:18 [IST]
Tamworth Herald 11 Apr 2023

Specialist divers are in the River Wyre as they try to confirm the cause of her death.
Two Canadian women who were arrested after returning to Canada from a prison camp in northeastern Syria last week are expected to appear in a Brampton, Ont., court today.
NRL stars Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton have pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged fight outside a Canberra nightclub.
Chef Matt Abe, who heads the three Michelin-starred London kitchen, is returning to his roots for a residency in May.
Sydney man Hamdi Alqudsi led a group known as the Shura which plotted a series of attacks across the city, including bombings.
The Ukraine Ministry of Defence has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to send more armoured vehicles, calling them its soldiers' "new crush".
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and the federal police are calling for more weapon-free zones on trains and in inner city areas in a bid to tackle knife crime.
French President Emmanuel Macron was delivering a keenly watched speech on Europe as he battled a furore over recent remarks on the US and China.
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In an evening press conference yesterday, newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled his cabinet and ministry.

Franklin MP Julie Collins has been handed the responsibility for small business, along with overseeing housing and homelessness. Meanwhile, Chifley MP Ed Husic, the former Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, is now Minister for Industry and Science.

Other ministerial appointments include Senator Katy Gallagher for finance, public service, and women; Tony Burke for employment and workplace relations and the arts; and Brendan OConnor for skills and training.

This is an exciting team, a team which is overflowing with talent, with people who are absolutely committed to making a difference, said the Prime Minister.

The new Albanese government boasts of 13 women in the ministry and 19 across the frontbench, which includes assistant ministers.

This is the largest number of women who have ever served in an Australian cabinet, Albanese added. This is far more representative than any government party room has ever been in our history.

Small Business, Housing and Homelessness

New Minister for small business, Julie Collins, was elected as the first female representative of Franklin back in 2007. In the previous Labor government, she held the portfolios of community services, indigenous employment and economic development, the status of women, and housing and homelessness.

She takes over the portfolio of small business from Stuart Robert, former minister for employment, workforce, skills, small and family business in the Morrison government.

Immense privilege to be named the Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and the Minister for Small Business in the Albanese Labor Government, Collins tweeted. I know how critical these issues are to our nations future and look forward to getting to work straight away.

Industry and Science

Meanwhile, new Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic has previously served in a number of portfolios, including human services, employment services, and digital economy. He has also served as Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

When sworn in, he will become the first Muslim man to serve in Australias cabinet.

NSW Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, the first Muslim woman to be a member of an Australian parliament back in 2013, took to social media to congratulate Mr Husic on the appointment:

Congratulations to Ed Husic and Anne Aly [minister for early childhood education and youth]  the first federal ministers who are Muslim. Representation matters. Very happy to see it at the highest levels of politics. I know our communities will be proud, she said.

Finance

Senator Katy Gallagher, the new minister for finance, is a former Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. She has previously served as shadow minister for finance and for small business and financial services.

Since her appointment last week as part of Albaneses interim ministry, she has voiced her support for a review into election spending caps.

I think its definitely a question we should look at and explore further in light of the democracy, how its working and the impact on elections, she stated on ABCs Insiders program.

Along with Treasurer Jim Chalmers, she will be looking into Labors economic and budget challenges ahead.

READ ALSO: What plans does the Albanese government have for SMEs?
One of the two Black Democrats who were expelled last week from the Republican-led Tennessee House was reinstated Monday after Nashville's governing council voted to send him straight back to the legislature.
Rumble 24 Apr 2023

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At least five people have been killed and several others were hospitalized after a shooting in a bank in the US city.
Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, who graduated from the police academy on March 31, was shot in the head during the mass shooting in Louisville on Monday.


President Joe Biden will celebrate the Good Friday Agreement, as the Northern Ireland government is being tested by political turmoil.


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CTV News 11 Apr 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Belfast on Tuesday at a delicate political time in Northern Ireland as he helps mark the 25-year anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed there.
A police operation is under way after a suspicious device was found in a cemetery in Northern Ireland.
The United States Mission to Vietnam is partnering with the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City to create an exhibit highlighting efforts to overcome the consequences of war.

USAID Mission Director for Vietnam Aler Grubb and museum director Tran Xuan Thao signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the project Monday.

The War Remnants Museum (WRM) exhibit will be the first concrete result of a Letter of Intent agreed upon in 2021 between USAID and Vietnams Office of the Standing Board for the National Steering Committee on Overcoming the Post-War Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Toxic Chemical Consequences in Vietnam (Office 701).

The new exhibit will focus on three main areas: mine/UXO action, environmental remediation, and support for persons with disabilities, according to a statement by the U.S. Consulate General.

USAID and WRM intend to open the exhibit in 2025, to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam, and the 50th anniversaries of the end of the war, and WRMs founding.

The WRM was built in 1975.

Situated on Vo Van Tan Street in District 3, it is a 10-minute drive from Ben Thanh Market.

It has more than 20,000 artifacts, images and documentaries that shine a light on the atrocities and war crimes perpetrated by colonial and imperial forces, and millions of Vietnamese suffer from the aftermath to this day.

With nearly one million domestic and international visitors per year, the museum is Vietnams most visited museum.
Berlin has ordered Chad's ambassador to leave Germany within 48 hours, following a similar demand from Chad's military government last week. "We regret that it had to come to this," the foreign ministry said.
In a reversal of its previous position, JetBlue says it will begin flying to Amsterdam this summer, first from New York and later from Boston.


Newsy 13 Apr 2023

ViewPolice released the recordings of 911 calls that came in as a man began his massacre at a bank in downtown Louisville,..
Shares in Tupperware have tumbled to their lowest level on record as the iconic food storage company warned investors that it is in danger of going out of business.
In her 112th and final appearance, Dzsenifer Maroszan was unable to prevent Germany's first defeat of 2023. Two rather fortunate first-half goals set Brazil on course for a deserved win.
President Biden's student debt forgiveness plan may dent people's credit scores. Here's why and how you might soften the blow.


USATODAY.com 12 Apr 2023

Among the most 'Irish' of all U.S. Presidents, Joe Biden has landed in Ireland and is tracing his ancestral roots. Before arriving..
The US president is met by Rishi Sunak at the start of his four-day trip to Northern Ireland and the Republic.
An illustration of the future walking street in Hai Duong. Photo courtesy of Hai Duong Town

The first pedestrian-only street in the northern city of Hai Duong will open to the public on April 28.

Tran Ho Dang, chairman of the Hai Duong Town Peoples Committee in the eponymous province, said the walking street would encompass Thong Nhat Square, half of Bach Dang Street, half of Bui Thi Xuan Street, Chuong Duong Street, and the Hong Quang Bridge.

The street will be home to 45 stalls selling signature regional products.

According to local authorities, the street will be open each weekend starting at 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Thong Nhat Square will host two large-scale art performances on its main stage every month.

The pedestrian street section around the Bach Dang River will also feature light shows.

To support foot traffic, Hai Duong will install three Wi-Fi hotspots, electric sockets and five public toilets. Authorities of Le Thanh Nghi and Tran Phu wards have been tasked with ensuring security and order on the perimeters of the pedestrian street.

Two nurses will also be stationed at a medical clinic at 91 Bach Dang Street.

Hai Duong authorities will also cooperate with tourism businesses to organize tours associated with the pedestrian street and other attractions in the province.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are calling for an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' alleged "misconduct" detailed in a liberal news outlet's report.
Suella Braverman has been urged to withdraw "divisive" comments around child sexual exploitation (CSE) by dozens of medical bodies, businesses and Muslim community organisations, Sky News can reveal.
The U.S. and Philippine militaries will hold their largest ever joint exercises over the coming weeks, a move coming on the heels of China's ramped up aggression toward Taiwan.
Two top House Republicans, both Catholics, reacted to the House Federal Government Weaponization Subcommittee's revelation that the FBI looked to develop sources in Catholic churches.
Fynn Hulley wore a purple tie during the photo despite pupils and parents being told by Budehaven Community School that uniform must be worn.
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, who was expelled from the state House last week alongside former Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis, was reinstated to his seat Monday on an interim basis.
The presidents trip to Northern Ireland will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence. But such breakthroughs are harder to achieve in todays fractious world.
Tourists sit in a cafe at Khaosan Road in Thailand, November 30, 2021. Photo by Reuters

Thai police have arrested a gang of youngsters for brutally attacking a Swedish tourist who tried to stop them from assaulting a waitress at a karaoke bar in Chiang Mai.

The arrests were made on Sunday after the gang was said to have stolen the tourists gold necklace before throwing him into a canal, news portal Thaiger reported.

A relative of the victims girlfriend posted the incident on social media, prompting local police to investigate.

The suspects admitted to assaulting the Swedish man but denied stealing his gold necklace. They said their alleged harassment of the waitress was "just a joke." Police said they are collecting evidence to make charges against the suspects.

Thailand received 11 million foreign visitors last year, and eyes 30 million this year.
Irish Republican dissidents marched through the streets of Londonderry, celebrating the 107th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Uprising, a key moment in the Irish revolution. This year's parade comes as Northern Ireland marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement that ended three decades of hostilities. (April 10)


The administration began providing the Gang of Eight  the congressional leaders with the highest-level security clearances  access to the records last week.
Twitter has labeled National Public Radio as state-affiliated media, in the style of outlets in Russia and China. Despite protest from NPR bosses, the designation is fully accurate and deserves application to other government media funded by American taxpayers.



In an article headlined Twitter labels NPRs account as...
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North Korea is angry due to the series of the allies' joint military exercises by the US and South Korea.
At least 30 people were killed in a central area of Myanmar on Tuesday, after the army launched an attack on an event being held by opponents of military rule, media outlets reported.
Firefighters say they have freed an 'unco-operative' squirrel that was stuck in a manhole cover in western Germany -- echoing a similar incident that happened in the same city four years ago.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed a federal lawsuit against Rep. Jim Jordan on Tuesday, accusing the Republican of a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" him over his prosecution of former U.S. president Donald Trump.
Sky News 20 Apr 2023

Elizabeth Holmes has launched an appeal against what her lawyers say is an "unjust" conviction over the Theranos scandal.
You are warmly invited to join all ECPM members for our annual general assembly on 16 June 2023, in Rambouillet, France (a town on the outskirts of Paris).

This will be an excellent opportunity to see each other in person, connect and discuss strategic matters regarding ECPM's activities and upcoming European elections. Please make every effort to attend.

In order to be able to organize the food and accommodation, we need everyone to register. Please do so below, before 16 May 2023.

Looking forward to seeing you there!
AFP English 06 Apr 2023

French President Emmanuel Macron says he is pleased to have the opportunity to discuss "major bilateral issues", as well as the..
New Delhi: Being with Russia means being on the wrong side of history and Kyiv wants closer and deeper relations with New Delhi, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Tuesday.

In an address at a leading think-tank, Dzhaparova said that Ukraine's relationship with Pakistan is not directed against India's interests and that her country's military ties with Islamabad began around three decades back.

Referring to the war in Ukraine, the deputy foreign minister said as a global leader and current chair of the G20, India can play a greater role in bringing peace and hoped that Indian officials will visit Kyiv soon.

"Being with Russia, we are again very sincerely saying so, is actually being on the wrong side of history. Supporting Russia means that it is to be in the evil visionary picture of the world," she said.

At the same time, the Ukrainian minister said India is witnessing visionary changes and it may take some time for it to build new relations with Ukraine and that the ties should be based on a "pragmatic and balanced approach".

"I think the suggestion that I brought here is to have a better and deeper relationship with India. And it needs reciprocity. We knocked the door but it is also up to the owner of the house to open up the door," she said.

Russia is a "time-tested" partner of India. New Delhi has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

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.

Ahead of her address at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), the visiting deputy minister held talks with Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi.

In a tweet, Lekhi said she and Dzhaparova exchanged views on bilateral and global issues of mutual interest, adding cultural ties and women empowerment also figured in the discussion.

"Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance," she said. Dzhaparova described the meeting as "fruitful".

"Briefed Minister on #Ukraine's efforts to fight Russia's unprovoked aggression. Discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, in particular culture," she said.

Replying to a question by reporters on China's aggressive behaviour against India, Dzhaparova said any aggression that might question the territorial integrity of any country is a matter of huge concern."

At the ICWA, she said Ukraine's ties with Pakistan are not targeted against India and that her country is ready to overcome pages of history and build new relationships.

"The relationship with Pakistan is never directed against the relationship with India. I know there are some sensitivities about military contracts but let me be very clear that we have had the contracts since the 1990s," she said.

The deputy foreign minister also invited National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to visit Ukraine.

"India may play a greater role. We respect the decisions of sovereign countries. India too is building up relations with other countries. It is for you to decide, it is for you to benefit," Dzhaparova said, noting that Ukraine wants to expand ties with India.

"I am here with one very important message that Ukraine really wants India and Ukraine to come closer. Yes, we have different pages in our history, we have Soviet heritage...we will also be happy to welcome Indian leaders and officials in Kyiv," she said.

Dzhaparova said the war in Ukraine showed that the Russian military capabilities are not sufficient enough and that its tanks can be "destroyed in one artillery shot".

The deputy minister said Ukraine is ready to share critical military technologies and expertise with India.

She also invoked Mahatma Gandhi's teachings, saying he called for fighting for rights without violence.

"Our president has been constantly saying that we have to fight for our rights without stepping on the rights of others. India in many ways has a lot in common with Ukraine. There is huge and untapped potential in our bilateral relations. It is only a start in our dialogue," she said.

In response to a question, Dzhaparova said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would like to address the G20 summit in India. Zelenskyy had addressed the Bali summit of G20 through video conference.
China has for the third time renamed 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh which it calls "Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet". The move is expected to further intensify tension and deepen mistrust between New Delhi and Beijing who are in the middle of their worst bilateral chill in decades, according to First Post newspaper.

The names were released on Sunday and were in Chinese, Tibetan and pinyin characters, in accordance with regulations on geographical names issued by State Council, China's cabinet, said a report by the Global Times of China.

In a release on Sunday, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs also said they are "standardizing some geographical names in southern Tibet".

Sharing the "official" names of 11 places for Arunachal Pradesh, the China's Ministry of Civil Affairs gave precise coordinates, including two land areas, two residential areas, five mountain peaks and two rivers.

Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that his country rejected the renaming plan "outright". "This is not the first time China has made such an attempt," Bagchi said in response to media inquiries.

The latest renaming practice by China comes mere days ahead China's newly appointed Defense Minister General Li Shangfu's visit to India. He is expected to attend the SCO Defense Ministers' meetings this month. China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang will also be attending the meeting SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting in May, where India currently holds the presidency of the group.

US reaction

The US has recognized Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India and strongly opposes any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by renaming localities, the White House has said.

The US reaction came in response to Beijing announcing Chinese names for 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh which the neighbouring country claims as the southern part of Tibet.

"The United States has recognised that territory (Arunachal Pradesh) for a long time (as an integral part of India). And we strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by renaming localities," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday.

"And so, again, this is something that we have long stood by," Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference.

Not for the first time

This if not the first time China has renamed places terming them standardized geographical names. Days after Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama left Arunachal Pradesh following a high-profile nine-day visit in 2017, China on 13 April 2017 carried out first batch of name changes of six places in the Indian state.

The second batch was in 2021 when China renamed 15 locations in Arunachal Pradesh. It happened ahead of a new border security law that was to come in effect in January 2021.

Dismissing China's move, India said such actions wouldn't alter the region's status as an integral part of the country.

China criticizes Indian minister's visit to Arunachal Pradesh

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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

In 2002, TomDispatch was launched as a no-name email list for one reason and one alone: the unnerving decision of President George W. Bush to respond to the disastrous terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by invading Afghanistan. (None of the 19 plane hijackers that day were Afghans!) Even then, it seemed to me like a distinctly mad act, since al-Qaeda was obviously a modest-sized crew whose members were scattered across several countries. Still, as the president and his top officials quickly dubbed it, so began "the Global War on Terror" (which would soon enough become the plain-old uncapitalized "war on terror"). And how remarkably global it's proven to be in the worst sense imaginable.

As we now know, even in the rubble of the Pentagon that terrible day, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was already thinking about going after "" yes "" Saddam Hussein, the ruler of Iraq, who had nothing whatsoever to do with Osama bin Laden or al-Qaeda. An aide taking notes scribbled down Rumsfeld's comments at the time this way: "Best info fast. Judge whether good enough [to] hit SH [Saddam Hussein] at same time "" not only UBL [Pentagon shorthand for Usama/Osama bin Laden]." All too ominously those notes, taken only five hours after the September 11th attacks, also included this: "Go massive. Sweep it all up. Things related and not."

That "and not" was all you needed to know, then or now. More than 20 years later, if Osama bin Laden were alive, he would undoubtedly be pleased as punch about what those horrific attacks of his got this country into. He'd also surely be deeply satisfied that, in August 2021, after 20 years of war and occupation in Afghanistan, the U.S. finally retreated all too chaotically, leaving" yes (!)" the Taliban in control of that country. (Sadly, Afghans aren't laughing or cheering since their land is now a horrific mess.)

Only days after 9/11, Rumsfeld was already talking about launching "a large multi-headed effort that probably spans 60 countries." Even more ominously, in March 2003, the U.S. did indeed invade Iraq, while continuing to link Saddam Hussein to al-Qaeda. The 20th anniversary of that disaster was "celebrated" just weeks ago and it's worth reminding ourselves, as TomDispatch regular Karen Greenberg, author of Subtle Tools: The Dismantling of American Democracy from the War on Terror to Donald Trump, does today, of one thing: as Congress continues to pour funds into the Pentagon and refuses to repeal the authorization for the use of military force it passed soon after 9/11 (turning its constitutional war-making powers over to the president), the Global War on Terror has morphed into nothing less than a way of life. And what a success it's been! If you take just one country, Niger, as Nick Turse reported recently, terrorism has risen by more than 30,000% (yes, you read that right!) since the U.S. began its counter-terrorism activities there. All in all, we're still living through one of history's great Mission (Un)Accomplished moments. Thanks a lot, Osama bin Laden! Tom

Will It Never Stop?

From Forever War to Eternal War

By Karen J. Greenberg

"It is time," President Biden announced in April 2021, "to end the forever war" that started with the invasion of Afghanistan soon after the tragic terror attacks on this country on September 11, 2001. Indeed, that August, amid chaos and disaster, the president did finally pull the last remaining U.S. forces out of that country.

A year and a half later, it's worth reflecting on where the United States stands when it comes to both that forever war against terrorism and war generally. As it happens, the war on terror is anything but ended, even if it's been overshadowed by the war in Ukraine and simmering conflicts around the globe, all too often involving the United States. In fact, it now seems as if this country is moving at breakneck speed out of the era of Forever War and into what might be thought of as the era of Eternal War.

Granted, it's hard even to keep track of the potential powder kegs that seem all too ready to explode across the globe and are likely to involve the U.S. military in some fashion. Still, at this moment, perhaps it's worth running through the most likely spots for future conflict.

Russia and China

In Ukraine, as each week passes, the United States only seems to ramp up its commitment to war with Russia, moving the slim line of proxy warfare ever closer to a head-to-head confrontation between the planet's two great military powers. Although the plan to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia clearly remains in effect, once taboo forms of support for Ukraine have over time become more acceptable.

As of early March, the United States, one of more than 50 countries offering some form of support, had allocated aid to Ukraine on 33 separate occasions, amounting to more than $113 billion worth of humanitarian, military, and financial assistance. In the process, the Biden administration has agreed to provide increasingly lethal weaponry, including Bradley fighting vehicles, Patriot missile batteries, and Abrams tanks, while pressure for even more powerful weaponry like Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMs) and F-16s is only growing. As a recent Council on Foreign Relations report noted, Washington's aid to Ukraine "far exceeds" that of any other country.

In recent weeks, the theater of tension with Russia has expanded beyond Ukraine, notably to the Arctic, where some experts see potential for direct conflict between Russia and the U.S., branding that region a "future flashpoint." Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently raised the possibility of storing tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus, perhaps more of a taunt than a meaningful gesture, but nonetheless another point of tension between the two countries.

Leaving Ukraine aside, China's presence looms large when it comes to predictions of future war with Washington. On more than one occasion, Biden has stated publicly that the United States would intervene if China were to launch an invasion of the island of Taiwan. Tellingly, efforts to fortify the U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region have ratcheted up in recent months.

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ATLANTA, GA - April 2023 - Traveling Black Women Network founder, Nadine Duncan, teams up with British Travel Influencer, Genny "GypsyGenz '' Barzey to discuss international travel on the new Traveling Black Women Podcast. The Traveling Black Women Podcast premiered with its first episode in January 2023 and recently released their second episode in March 2023. The energy of this new and exciting podcast series engages listeners and pulls them 
The Portland Trail Blazers entered the offseason Monday with the hopes of acquiring a star to pair with Damian Lillard.

However, the Blazers also face the pressing need of re-signing one of their own top players.

Forward Jerami Grant has yet to make an All-Star team, but by averaging 20.4 points per game, he established himself as a key piece to the Blazers future, one the franchise cannot afford to lose.

Damian Lillard didnt seem too concerned about his good friend not returning.

I expect him to be back, Lillard said Sunday during his exit interview at the Moda Center.

The decision is 100% up to Grant, who will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, which means he is under no obligation to return to Portland, where he said he enjoyed playing this past season.

I definitely like it here, Grant said Sunday. Looking forward to the talks and trying to figure something out. I definitely feel comfortable here.

Grant would likely feel more comfortable following a big payday and quite frankly, the Blazers cant afford to let him get away. Doing so could prove disastrous to the teams offseason plans.

Chasing one star is going to be tough enough for a franchise that has traditionally struggled to land high-end talent via trade or free agency. Landing at least two stars, should Grant walk, could be virtually impossible for the Blazers and only add more stress on the franchise to build a contender around Lillard, who will turn 33 this summer.

While all of that gives Grant leverage, the Blazers do sit in a position of strength. They own Grants Bird rights, which means they can offer him more money over five seasons while exceeding the salary cap. Grant could only receive a four-year contract should he bolt for another team.

Grant just concluded a three-year deal worth $60.7 million that he signed with Detroit in 2020. Considering that Anfernee Simons, with far less experience, received a four-year deal worth $100 million last offseason from the Blazers, any negotiation with Grant will likely start at $150 million over five seasons.

Like Simons, Grant shoots well from long distance (40.1% on threes last season) but also can score in a wider variety of ways. Also, at 6-foot-8, Grant can provide a wider array of abilities that the 6-3 Simons cannot, including defending multiple positions.

I think foundationally, we feel really solid where the Trail Blazers organization loves Jerami Grant and really hopes that hes a big part of our future, Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said. And I think the feelings mutual. It seems like Jeramis happy here. He loves his teammates. He loves his coach. He loves the city. So, usually when those things align, hopefully you can get a deal done.

Money might not be the deciding factor for Grant, 29. What roster moves the Blazers make could influence his decision.

I think that definitely makes a difference, he said. I definitely want to win. I think Joe and them are capable of making something happen and putting us in a position to be able to be in the playoffs. Not only be in the playoffs, but make some noise.

Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (#0) dumps off a pass to teammate Jerami Grant (#9) in the lane as the Portland Trail Blazers face the Golden State Warriors in an NBA game at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

The Blazers last offseason acquired Grant by using a $21 million trade exception and Milwaukees 2025 first-round pick, both acquired in the trade that sent CJ McCollum to New Orleans. The idea that Grant would land in Portland was in the NBA rumor mill for months prior to the transaction.

Grant and Lillard became good friends while playing for Team USA during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Detroit was looking to rebuild and was not interested in extending Grant. The deal almost seemed predestined.

For these reasons, it would seem unlikely that Grant would bail on Lillard. Plus, Grant said he feels at home with the Blazers organization.

Its a family setting, Grant said. I think just being here for this year, Ive been able to become really close friends with a lot of people on the team. A lot of the staff. A lot of the people here. And I think for me, thats a huge part of where you want to work. Who you want to be around all year, or for the next five years, or whatever it might be. So, I think thats the biggest thing. And then on the court, just growing as a team and putting something together to where were winning.

Grant had the best season of his career in Portland. He likes the surroundings. Hes pals with the teams superstar. The Blazers can offer him the most money and the longest contract.

What more could he ask for besides not ending another season out of the playoffs, which he did twice with the Pistons.

I definitely had fun, Grant said, despite the losing. Its definitely been one of my more efficient years. So, overall, a solid year for me, individually. But at the same time, like I said, I do want to win. I think its been good for me, though. Its been good for my growth as a player, being able to play with Dame and Nurk, everybody. Its been good for me.

-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook). Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts
A federal appellate court has asked the Oregon Supreme Court to determine whether the presence of the COVID-19 virus at a business rises to direct physical loss or damage to property for coverage under a commercial insurance policy?

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the question after The Oregon Clinic, a medical provider with 57 locations in the Portland metropolitan area, appealed the dismissal of its suit against its commercial property insurer Firemans Fund Insurance Co. for denying coverage of its business income losses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Portland-based Coava Coffee is permanently closing its downtown cafe this week on three days notice after nearly six years of brewing locally roasted coffee there.

The company cited safety concerns at the location, which opened in 2017 behind the Portland Art Museum at 1171 S.W. Jefferson St., but at least one employee at the cafe Tuesday called the companys explanation mostly froth.

Coavas announcement came Monday via a Facebook post, saying the cafes team members have been on the front line enduring extreme violence and criminal activity on an almost daily basis for the last few years.

Those incidents, Coavas management wrote, have been increasing in frequency and severity.

In the past year, people in the area immediately around the cafe have reported 38 assaults, 36 theft cases, six stolen cars, four robberies and 25 cases of vandalism, according to city data on Portland Maps.

A few days ago, a patron who was making verbal threats to other customers threw a skateboard through the front windows when he was asked to leave, employees said.

The cafe has also been robbed overnight at least once.

Coavas management said theyve brought all the resources to bear that we have access to: doubling up on shifts, locking one entrance, de-escalation training, hazard pay and heightened management oversight.

They added, We cannot continue operation here as we cannot ensure the safety of our team and customers.

The reasons for closing may go beyond safety, said Robert Wilcox, a barista at the downtown location.

Ultimately, it seems more like the cafe just isnt making enough money to stay in business, Wilcox said Tuesday.

Managements reasoning made it sound like were in a war zone down here and thats not really true, said Wilcox, who also lives in the neighborhood. I do think its been unsafe, so while it might be the right decision, theyre sort of using those concerns as an excuse.

Workers were told the company couldnt afford a full-time security guard or parking spaces, Wilcox said.

The Jefferson Street cafe has eight employees, Wilcox said. There are only two positions open for transfer at Coavas other two operating Portland locations.

Everyone else is likely losing their jobs.

Coavas owner did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment Tuesday.

There was a somber air of frustration among the cafes staff Tuesday morning as regulars stopped in, some asking whether it was true the shop would close. Its a big bummer, one said.

The large upstairs floor is filled with table seating, a wall of faux greenery and windows spilling in natural light. Even Tuesday, as the cafe inched toward closure, it was intermittently half-filled with customers  remote workers, college students and people gathering for business meetings and coffee dates.

Coava, which was founded in 2008 by Matt Higgins, is one of several businesses to close in the area. The Amazon Hub Locker next door shuttered a few months ago; a convenience store across the street is boarded up and covered with graffiti.

But on the next block north, several restaurants remain in business, serving Thai, Indian, Middle Eastern and pizza. One block away is a Safeway grocery store, where security guards are on duty during business hours.

Nonetheless, Coavas management said the break-ins, vandalism and threats to employees have put them at a breaking point.

We poured our very heart and soul into the design and build-out of this beautiful and unique space, the company wrote in the Facebook post. While this is incredibly hard, we know it is the right decision. Were thankful for the many years of patronage and support from our wonderful customers.

 Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Together with member party Contigo Mas and candidate member Valores, we organized in Spain a conference on the European policies protecting surface and underground waters, by looking specifically at the case of Mar Menor in Murcia.

The intense farming in the region has led to nutrients-rich waters from the fields to spill into Mar Menor (a natural lagoon) where they cause an uncontrollable growth and expansion of algae which then acts as a suffocating blanket and deprives of oxygen the marine life under the surface. Many fish and other marine life end up dead on the shores. It is considered an ecological disaster.

The conference started with ECPM General Director- Maarten van de Fliert- bringing greetings on behalf of ECPM and reflecting on the Christian duty to care and protect the nature, since it is created by God and entrusted to us for stewardship.

Anja Haga, policy expert and consultant for ChristenUnie Netherlands, held a presentation about the EU policies governing water protection and the framework around intense farming and agriculture runoffs. She provided examples from the Netherlands on how these measures are approached.

Alfonso Galdon, president of Valores party and expert in environmental sciences, spoke about what is happening in Mar Menor and argued that the lack of coverage of this disaster is partly due to the lack of political will of the current leadership in Murcia. The lack of enforcement of European standards and fines were also mentioned as factors.

Jose Carlos Abellan wrapped up the event connecting the two previous keynote speeches by encouraging the audience to acknowledge the issues present in the Spanish society and to proactively engage in addressing them. He spoke also about the Contigo Mas ethics and principles in regards to nature and the society at large: integrity, sustainability and beauty. These three virtues are interdependent and, when given equal importance and effort, they produce a whole and healthy (social, political, natural) environment.

At the end of the conference, the two political parties in Spain- Contigo Mas and Valores- signed a coalition agreement for the upcoming Spanish local elections.
An Oregon State Police trooper shot and killed a 31-year-old man who was allegedly holding a semi truck driver at gunpoint along Interstate 5 in Salem on Monday morning, the agency said in a news release.

State police trooper Andrew Tuttle stopped to help the disabled semi near milepost 254 just before 9 a.m. and discovered a man later identified as Felipe Amezcua Manzo holding the truck driver at gunpoint, the agency said.

Manzo allegedly shot at the trooper and Tuttle fired back before Manzo ran into the tall grass along the interstate, the news release said. Police and paramedics found Manzo in the shrubbery and attempted to treat his wounds, but he died at the scene. The police found a gun next to him, they said.

Tuttle, a Navy veteran and employee of the state police since 2016, also sustained unspecified, non-life threatening injuries, the news release said. The agency placed Tuttle on leave as the Salem Police Department investigates the shooting.

Police closed three miles of northbound traffic on Interstate 5 for several hours on Monday morning. One lane of traffic reopened around 11:30 a.m., and the roadway was completely cleared by 6 p.m.

Savannah Eadens contributed to this story.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has instituted round-the-clock police patrols near the Washington Center building in a bid to clear out the open-air fentanyl market that has besieged the vacant commercial center in recent weeks.

Cody Bowman, a spokesperson for the mayor, said Wheeler ordered 24/7 foot patrols near the building at 425 S.W. Washington St. given the extreme situation in the area.

The Friday evening order came hours after The Oregonian/OregonLives reporting on the alarming spate of overdoses occurring in the vicinity of the Washington Center, including several deaths. Willamette Week earlier reported on the buildings descent into a drug den.

Since Feb. 1, police have arrested at least 18 people accused of being low-level drug dealers in the area, only to see charges dropped in half the cases and the rest released from custody without bail.

Before the order went into effect, dozens of people congregated along Washington Centers plazas and near the entrance to its shuttered parking garage, some openly smoking from tin-foil trays while others reeled about under the apparent effects of fentanyl, a deadly opioid.

On Monday afternoon, the order appeared to be having a moderate effect, with only a few people smoking from tin foil while sheltering from the rain. No police presence was immediately visible.

Barry Menashe, who purchased the three-quarter-block building in 2014 for $9 million, praised the mayor for clearing the area but said downtowns trouble ran too deep to be fixed by a few officers walking a beat.

Were going to wait and see what happens, Menashe said in an interview Monday. This has been going on for three years, and its going to be a long, hard comeback road.

At a separate Monday afternoon press conference, Gov. Tina Kotek said she hoped to find funding at the state to expand access to Narcan, an overdose reversal drug, as well as for more behavioral health resources. Kotek also said she wants to expand the state police academy to speed up the recruitment of fresh officers.

Its unacceptable to have that type of open-air activity in the middle of our city, the governor said. It is a public safety response that the city needs to focus on.

 Zane Sparling; zsparling@oregonian.com; 503-319-7083; @pdxzane

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When Hunter Means was just a bump in her belly, his mother said she kept Taylor Swifts country ballad Never Grow Up playing on repeat.

I never imagined that itd be a reality, the Portland mom said in a statement read in court Friday, as her ex-husband was sentenced to 12 years and six months in state prison for killing their 6-week-old baby in 2021.
Portland State University has rearmed their campus safety officers with guns, according to an email sent from the schools President Stephen Percy on Tuesday.

This change comes three years after Portland State announced that their security officers would no longer routinely carry guns on patrol, following protests from students, the killing of Navy veteran Jason Washington by campus officers in 2018 and social unrest in 2020. The change went into effect in fall 2021.

In his email Tuesday, Percy cited rising dangers, weapon sightings and a lack of support from Portland police around campus as the reasons for the reversal, which took place Feb. 14 without a public announcement then.

Under previous guidance from 2020, PSU officers were instructed not to carry a firearm, except with individual permission under specific circumstances. Now whether an officer carries a gun is left to their discretion, according to spokesperson Christina Williams.

Percy, who will retire this year, said the university recognized that students are often uncomfortable with having armed police officers on campus, but said the change was necessary. A spokesperson for PSU also said officers can choose not to carry a weapon if they believe doing so would escalate a situation.

While this may seem like a step backward in our ongoing efforts to achieve lasting change, it does not alter our commitment to actively pursue a campus safety system that prizes de-escalation, respects the dignity of our diverse campus community, and finds a path to return to regular unarmed patrols on campus, Percy said in a statement.

Nine armed officers will be patrolling the campus.

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744
The Lewis County, Wash., prosecutor concluded theres not enough evidence to bring felony manslaughter charges against the chief suspect in the fatal shooting of Portland musician Aron Christiansen and his puppy Buzzo on the Walupt Lake Trail last fall, the prosecutors office said Monday.

Ethan Asbach, 20, admitted he fired a gun on Aug. 19, 2022, in the area where the bodies of Christensen and his dog were later found, and forensic evidence links the bullet that killed Christensen to Asbachs gun, according to the Lewis County Sheriffs Office investigation.

But the evidence doesnt meet the threshold for proving criminal recklessness or criminal negligence, county prosecutor Jonathan Meyer told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday.

Corey Christensen, Arons brother, said the prosecutor cited incompetence by the Lewis County Sheriffs Office as a key reason he wont pursue the manslaughter and animal-cruelty charges. Corey Christensen said he and other family members met with Meyer on Monday morning because the prosecutor wanted news of the long-awaited decision to come directly from his office.

Meyer told The Oregonian/OregonLive that his office is considering other potential charges related to Asbachs possession of a firearm and leaving the scene of the shooting without calling authorities. Those charges would be misdemeanors.

I wanted to give them the opportunity to basically hear straight from me and answer any questions that they may have, Meyer told The Oregonian/OregonLive. I feel horrible for what theyve been through, and I can only imagine their frustration.

Corey Christensen said the family was not surprised by the decision.

I wasnt holding my breath, he said. We were half-expecting this, but it wouldve been nice to find out I was wrong. "

Available records  including incident reports, 911 calls, interviews conducted by detectives and autopsy and necropsy results  reveal a police investigation marked by disastrous errors, indecision and delays almost from the moment law enforcement arrived on the Walupt Lake Trail last Aug. 20.

Christensen was on an annual camping trip with a group of friends from Portland and planned a solo hike with his dog on the out-and-back trail. The experienced outdoorsman, who grew up in Klamath Falls, never returned.

The first deputy on the scene determined that Christensens death was not suspicious, surmising hed been poked by a tree branch rather than shot. The deputy didnt call for detectives to investigate the scene, meaning the usual collection of evidence did not occur.

The medical examiner eventually determined Christensen died of a homicidal gunshot wound to the chest.

Meyer said he told the sheriffs office he was unhappy with how the investigation was initially handled.

Had the case been fully investigated, and from the beginning been treated like a homicide, I dont know what evidence would have been found, Meyer said. Its hard to say All I know is, with the evidence we have now, theres not enough to go forward.

The Lewis County Sheriffs Office has not responded to a request for comment about the prosecutors decision.

The mistakes by the deputy at the scene were the first of many in the investigation.

Aron Christensens initial autopsy further threw the case off-course. The forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy suggested that Christensen was having a heart attack before he was shot. And the pathologist later couldnt say whether there had been cross-contamination between Christensen and his dog during the autopsy process.

The prosecuting attorneys office reviewed the investigation for more than two months, including calling doctors who performed the autopsies to ask follow-up questions.

According to police reports, Asbach and his girlfriend found Christensens body after he fired a gun on Aug 19, 2022, but they did not immediately report it. His father, Michael Asbach, called 911 two days later, on Aug. 21, saying thered been incident in which his son fired in the woods and there was a man dead there.

When interviewed by detectives, Ethan Asbach admitted he was in the area where Christensen and Buzzo died on Aug. 19, and had fired a gun in the dark. He told detectives he heard what he thought was a wild animal growling. Asbach and his 17-year-old girlfriend were hiking through the area to meet his father on a bear-hunting trip in the Cascade Mountains.

The delays in the investigation and charging decision led Corey Christensen and some of Aron Christensens friends to question the small-town connections between the sheriffs office, local politicians and Ethan Asbachs family.

Corey Christensen said one Lewis County investigator told him that Asbach was a good kid from a good family.

Meyer asserts there were no close relationships that played a part in the cases outcome.

Weve seen no evidence of that, Meyer said.

A SHOT IN THE DARK

The Walupt Lake Trail in Goat Rocks Wilderness. begins at a campground and follows a lakeshore until reaching Walupt Creek. Aron Christensen's body was found three or four miles from the trailhead on Aug. 20, about five feet away from his four-month-old puppy Buzzo. He was expected back from a 13 mile hike that day to join a group of friends who were on a camping trip.

Ethan Asbach and his 17-year-old girlfriend, identified in police and court records only by her initials KB since shes a minor, told detectives in an interview a few days after Christensens death that they were walking along a trail at night on Aug. 19 to meet with Ethans father, Michael Asbach, at a hunting camp.

They said they only had headlamps as they hiked along the trail in the dark.

When they crossed a dry riverbed, KB said she first heard an animal growling and thought it might be a cougar. She said Asbach heard it, too. Then they saw eyes glowing, but couldnt make out what kind of animal it was.

Afraid, they started making loud noises to scare the animal. When the growling continued, Asbach told a detective that he removed a pistol from his backpack that his father had told him to bring to camp.

He said he loaded the gun and fired one round at the animal. KB said there was a loud howl and then silence.

After waiting for some time, Asbach said he went to check on the animal, and found a man as well as a dog on the ground. He walked back to KB, told her what he found and said he believed hed just shot the man and his dog.

KB told investigators the pair then stayed back and didnt touch anything.

In a different interview, KBs account changed somewhat. She said she also walked forward and confirmed there was a dead man on his back with an arm over his head. She said the man appeared to have already been dead, dead. Asbach told a deputy the man looked blue.

In one of the reports, the deputy who interviewed Asbach said the 20-year-old was very upset while providing this statement. Asbach, who graduated from Tenino High School and worked for his step-grandfather at a Honda dealership in Olympia, said he was responsible because he pulled the trigger, but he didnt know there was anybody in the dark and believed hed shot a wild animal.

The pair said they decided to continue to hike to Asbachs fathers camp, but they got lost and camped for the night. They ended up going back to Tenino.

Michael Asbach later sent a Facebook message to Corey Christensen after news reports about Aron Christensens death included Ethan Asbachs name.

He wrote to Corey Christensen, I definitely know what happened to him. If you would like to meet up I can fill you in on details. Im very sorry for your losses. He included a phone number.

Corey Christensen said he never replied to the Facebook message or called Michael Asbach.

Michael Asbach told investigators he sent the message because Christensens family and friends were posting horrible things about his child.

A BOTCHED INVESTIGATION

Photos from Aron Christensen's memorial show a Pacific Northwest-raised man who spent his lifetime doing what he loved: playing bass, adventuring outdoors and being with friends and family.

The mistakes and miscalculations that complicated Meyers decision whether to charge Ethan Asbach started when Lewis County sheriffs deputy Andrew Scrivner arrived at the homicide scene on Aug. 20, a few hours after a pair of hikers whod spotted Christensens body sent an SOS signal to 911 dispatch.

Scrivner wrote in his report that he found a primitive campsite in a small, flat area with several large logs.

Christensen was lying on his back on the ground near a dried-out creek bed, with a hiking backpack under his head as a pillow and a blanket underneath him, Scrivner wrote.

The deputy said it looked like Christensen was sleeping on his side with an arm resting above his head. He noticed some vomit in the dead mans beard and a small amount of blood on his shirt and the blanket. Scrivner said he found a puncture wound on Christensens left side near his rib cage, and he thought it might be a tree limb or stick that may have protruded into his body.

He sent a message to dispatch at 7:45 p.m. NOT GUNSHOT.

The deputy told dispatch he didnt need a detective or more units because the death wasnt suspicious.

Hours later, officers and Aron Christensens friends carried his body down the mountain.

A detective wasnt assigned to the case until the next day, when Ethan Asbachs father called to report the shooting.

An Oct. 26 autopsy determined he died of a gunshot wound to the chest. Dr. Megan Quinn, the pathologist at Pacific NW Forensic Pathology, determined he was shot by another person. But the autopsy raised as many questions as it answered, confusing detectives and slowing the investigation.

Quinn, noting hemothorax  a collection of blood in the chest cavity typically caused by trauma  suspected that Christensen had a heart attack the day he died, and that was why he was lying down before he was shot.

In her autopsy report, Quinn wrote that she believed Christensen likely had been having a heart attack for several hours before he was shot. She wrote that the bullet in Christensens chest wouldnt have been a fatal injury in and of itself, that the bullet did not strike vital structures.

Quinn later backtracked, explaining that untreated, this type of gunshot injury eventually would cause death.

Traces of THC had been found in Christensens system. A detective suggested to Corey Christensen a few days after the shooting that his brother couldve died from laced marijuana.

Another odd finding: Canine DNA was detected in Christensens bullet wound.

In later emails, the cases lead investigator, Det. Jamey McGinty, asked Quinn if it was possible the tools used to inspect the dog were also used during Christensens autopsy. The same pathologists  who had no veterinary certifications  examined Christensen and Buzzo.

She said she was sure the same instruments were used for both Christensen and the dog.

Ultimately, she wrote to McGinty that I would not say to any degree of certainty there could not have been DNA transfer between items of evidence.

Meanwhile, a forensic scientist determined that the bullet recovered from Christensens body matched Asbachs firearm.

In the initial referral of charges, McGinty wrote: While looking at the angle and exit wound in Buzzo, it matches the approximate height as the entry wound on Christensens body. With Christensen laying down at the time, it is possible for Asbach to have shot Buzzo, with the bullet exiting Buzzo and entering into Christensen. This could also explain the dog DNA found on the bullet removed from Christensens body.

Its apparently still not certain whether a single bullet hit both Buzzo and Christensen.

After nearly eight months of grief and frustration and waiting, Corey Christensen said he is still processing Meyers decision.

Im kind of in a moment of shock right now, he said.

Expecting this decision, hed recently reached out to the Washington governors office, the FBI, state representatives in Washington and Oregon and the U.S. Department of Justice about his brothers case.

Everyone says their hands are tied and theres nothing they can do, he said. It shows that there is a great ineffectiveness of the overall justice system in this country. Hopefully, eventually, karma and truth and justice will prevail.

 Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens
A cab driver on a routine call Sunday night  one that might net $8 before a tip  died when a passenger in the backseat suddenly plunged a knife into his neck.

The driver died in his cab near Southeast Washington Street and Water Avenue around 6:40 p.m.

A 30-year-old Portland resident, Moses Lopez, was arrested at the scene, police said. Lopez has been charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon, according to court records. Lopez entered a not guilty plea to both charges Monday, one week after Lopez was accused in Coos County of menacing two people with a dangerous weapon. Lopez failed to appear in Coos County Circuit Court on Thursday, and officials there issued a warrant.

Three days later, Lopez was in Portland.

Moses Lopez, 30, plead not guilty to charges related to the stabbing death of a Radio Cab driver in Portland.

Police have not yet publicly identified the victim, a driver for Radio Cab.

The taxi company posted about the incident on its Facebook page: Our hearts are broken this morning as we struggle to make sense of this horrific crime against one of our own.

The cab had an onboard camera that recorded the attack, said Darin Campbell, the companys director of marketing.

Vicious, senseless and brutal, Campbell said Monday after he reviewed the tape. There was no conversation. No altercation. Nothing.

Campbell said the company, at the request of the Portland Police Bureau, is not releasing the drivers name.

But Campbell said the driver, a man in his 30s, was a Portland musician who worked the night shift.

He has never had a customer complaint, said Campbell. Well liked by everyone.

The driver picked up a fare outside Voodoo Doughnut, at 22 S.W. Third Ave., around 6 p.m. The passenger asked to be taken across the river to Southeast Third Avenue and Washington Street.

When they got there, the driver asked if this was close to where he wanted to be dropped off, said Campbell.

The passenger said no and provided a new address that was far away, Campbell said.

When the driver went to put the new address in his GPS the passenger stabbed him in the neck, he said.

An ambulance crew happened to be driving by, said Campbell, and saw a person, covered in blood, standing outside the cab. The crew called for police, who arrived within minutes. The driver was dead in the cab.

Police called Noah Ernst, superintendent of Radio Cab, after they found the drivers body. Ernst knew the man.

He had two sisters and an adopted family, Ernst said.

Ernst, in his current position for a decade, previously was a night driver.

This is shocking, scary and heart breaking, he said.

The cab drivers death is the second fatal stabbing in Portland this year. It is likely the 22nd homicide in the city since Jan. 1. A majority of victims have died in shootings.

This is the second attack on a Radio Cab driver in the past year. In September 2022, a cab driver was shot and injured while driving on Interstate 205 in Portland. Two bullets hit the drivers car, and one passed through the tailgate and hit the driver in the back.

Lopez will appear in court next on April 18.

 Tom Hallman Jr.

503-221-8224; thallman@oregonian.com; @thallmanjr

 Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744

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Many people spend their Easter Sunday celebrating the holiday by hunting for eggs laid by a bunny. Gary Niese spent his Easter Sunday throwing a rope around a moose and rescuing it from broken ice.

Niese said he looked out his window at Alaskas Chena River and saw the moose fighting for his life, he told KTUU Alaska.

He was clearly unable to get out of the hole and was fighting with all his effort, Niese said.

Niese, realizing he needed to act, rallied help from some neighbors as well as wildlife and state troopers to assist in the rescue mission. The six people wrapped a rope around the mooses front legs and pulled, with Niese saying the moose was ready to give up at that point.

However, the team continued its rescue effort and finally pulled the moose free from the ice hole it had fallen into.

With the coordinated efforts of all of us, we were able to pull the moose out, Fairbanks resident Eric Dillon, who assisted in the rescue, told KTUU. It was a feat, but it was exhilarating, exciting and a nice outcome to an unfortunate situation.

Alaska State Troopers shared an update in a Facebook post Saturday, saying Troopers were successful in rescuing the moose from the water and relocating it to the riverbank.

Although tired and cold, the moose was able to stand on its own and thankful for the assistance, the Alaska State Troopers Facebook post read. Troopers wished the moose a Happy Easter and warned her of the dangers of thawing river ice.
The deadline to register to vote in the May election is quickly approaching.

Voters must register to vote by Tuesday, April 25 in order to cast their ballot in the May 16 election, which will feature local races for school boards, fire districts, water districts and other positions, along with a slate of local ballot measures.

Some school board races are shaping up to be contentious and potentially expensive, including in Oregons sixth-largest district, North Clackamas.

In Multnomah County, voters will decide a seat on the county commission.

Voters can check whether their registration is current and what party they are registered with by visiting Oregonvotes.gov/MyVote and entering their first and last name and birthday. Voters who want to register to vote in the upcoming election should visit Oregonvotes.gov/register.

Voters Pamphlets will be mailed to households on or around April 18 before ballots are mailed on April 26. All voters registered at their current address will receive a ballot in the mail.

Oregon makes it easy to vote. Voters can fill out their ballot at home, then pop it in the mail, no stamp needed. Voters can mail their ballots back or drop them off at an official dropbox as late as Election Day.

Voters will weigh in on key races and measures this May. Multnomah County voters will choose a new member of the Board of Commissioners to replace Jessica Vega Pederson, whom voters selected as county chair in November. County voters will also decide whether to institute a capital gains tax to provide legal defense for tenants facing eviction.

Voters across the state will also select a new slate of school and community college board members.

 Jamie Goldberg; jgoldberg@oregonian.com; 503-221-8228; @jamiebgoldberg

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Sabina Mammadli

Starting from 15:00 hours on March 5 to 03:10 hours on March 6, using various calibers of weapons, units of the Armenian armed forces fired 19 times at Azerbaijani positions.

This way, units of the Armenian forces stationed in the directions of Guneshli, Ashagi Shorja, Azizli, Zarkand, Yukhari Zagali settlements and Chambarak district of Basarkechar (Gekharkunik) region shelled positions of the Azerbaijani army in Astaf of Dashkasan District, Yellice of Kalbajar District, Mollabairamli, Yukhari Ayrim, and Goyalli of Gadabey District, Azernews reports per Defense Ministry.

Moreover, members of an illegal Armenian armed detachment in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, shelled Azerbaijani Army positions in the direction of the city of Shusha.

The Azerbaijan Army Units took adequate retaliatory measures.

As reported earlier, in the early hours of March 5, the separatist Armenian forces in Karabakh under the temporary control of the Russian peacekeeping contingent committed another provocation.

Operational information was received on the transportation of military equipment, ammunition, and personnel from Armenia to the territory of Azerbaijan along the Xankandi-Xalfali-Tursu dirt road.

On the morning of March 5, in order to verify the information received, the units of the Azerbaijan Army attempted to stop and check vehicles carrying out illegal military transportation.

Service members of the Azerbaijani army, Alibayli Sahriyar, and Huseynov Esqin were killed as a result of the provocation.

Armenia shells Azerbaijani military positions along the state border on a regular basis. Since early September, Azerbaijani positions have been repeatedly targeted by the Armenian forces.
On April 16, 2013, little more than two years into the Syrian civil war, at least 41 civilians were murdered. These victims were blindfolded, shot, and killed in cold blood, as they were instructed, one by one, to run unknowingly into a death pit the regime dug. The victims were not fighters, they were civilians living in Tadamon, a suburb of Damascus, politically non-aligned and nominally under the protection of the regime of Bashar al Assad.

These horrific killings were documented by video evidence, leaving no doubt of the regimes hand in this atrocity. Nor is there any question that Amjad Yousef, a member of Branch 227 of Syrias military intelligence service, was responsible.

The Assad regime has committed innumerable atrocities, some of which rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The massacre committed in Tadamon was one of them, he said.

Video evidence of these murders, which were carried out coldly and methodically, was first publicly shared in 2022 after a long and comprehensive investigation by independent researchers, said Secretary Blinken. Today, we are taking action to promote accountability for this atrocity.

On March 6, the U.S. Department of State designated Amjad Yousef, a Warrant Officer in the Syrian Military Intelligence Directorate, pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023 for his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely extrajudicial killings. As a result of that action, Yousef, as well as his wife, Anan Wasouf, and their immediate family members, are ineligible for entry into the United States.

The United States remembers and honors the victims and survivors of the Tadamon Massacre and the victims of the many other mass killings the Assad regime has carried out. The footage of this massacre, coupled with the ongoing killing and abuse of countless Syrians, serves as a sobering reminder for why countries should not normalize relations with the Assad regime absent enduring progress towards a political resolution, said Secretary Blinken.

We will continue to support Syrian-led and international efforts to ensure there are consequences for the ongoing human rights violations and abuses committed in Syria, he said. Accountability and justice for the crimes, violations, and abuses committed against Syrians are essential to a stable, just, and enduring peace in Syria and the region.
WASHINGTON  On the third day of the Conservative Political Action Conference in March, two men delivered on experts' biggest concerns about attempts to access election machines after the 2020 election.

Using copies of election software  improperly removed from multiple counties  that has been circulating among election deniers, they presented an unfounded narrative that they had discovered evidence of fraud and foreign interference. They also discussed their goal to secure jobs as election officers and build a team of computer experts to access elections systems in more than 60 counties in order to prove their theories.

"This is exactly the situation that I have warned about," said election technology expert Kevin Skoglund, a senior technical adviser at the National Election Defense Coalition. "Having the software out there allows people to make wild claims about it. It creates disinformation that we have to watch out for and tamp down."

Skoglund is among the election security experts concerned that bad actors are using the time between the 2020 and 2024 elections to study election systems and software in order to produce disinformation during the next presidential election, such as fake evidence of fraud or questionable results.

Described as an election integrity presentation, the event wasn't on the official CPAC agenda or sanctioned by the organization, but took place in a guest's room at a nearby hotel. Some CPAC sponsors hold their own sessions, which are planned and produced by them and not CPAC.

Only a small number people attended the event in person. At least 2,800 people watched live online through a far-right broadcast, according to that show's host. That broadcast included commentary from election deniers before and after the presentation.

In the weeks after the 2020 election, and for at least the first six months of 2021, former President Donald Trump's supporters arranged to access federally protected election machines and copied sensitive information and software. What they intend to do with the information is not entirely clear.

In two instances, courts or state lawmakers granted access to the election systems. Trump supporters also convinced election officials or law enforcement to give them access to election machines in Mesa County, Colorado; Coffee County, Georgia; Fulton County, Pennsylvania; and several Michigan counties. It is unknown how many other election systems across the country were accessed, copied and shared.

Cybersecurity and election experts like Skoglund say a full investigation into who accessed election machines in 2020 and 2021, who paid for the efforts and how those involved intend to use the information is necessary to prevent misuse.

While the FBI has assisted in some local inquiries, it does not appear to be conducting a national investigation, feeding election experts' concerns that federal law enforcement isn't connecting the dots between issues in other states.

The quality of the so-called evidence put forward during the CPAC presentation was comparable to what was submitted with dozens of lawsuits that attorney Sidney Powell filed on behalf of Trump after the 2020 election, Skoglund said. Of the 62 suits from Powell and her allies, all but one failed. Many judges pointed to the lackluster evidence provided to justify the suits as reason to dismiss the cases.

"They find something that looks strange and assume the worst," Skoglund said of election deniers. "That's not how you do credible research. If you find something that looks strange, you have to follow it all the way through to make sure there's not some other explanation for it."

The event conducted during CPAC was immediately dismissed by the far right commentators broadcasting it. Nonetheless, Skoglund was alarmed that it took place.

"The next one may be more potent than this was," he said.

The presentation was emblematic of the broader effort to perpetuate a narrative about the potential for election fraud across the country, said Harri Hursti, a cybersecurity expert who works with state-level election officials to test vulnerabilities in voting machines.

Several people who aided the efforts to access election machines after the 2020 election are still meeting with state lawmakers, local officials and the public, trying to persuade them to abandon electronic voting. In February, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors canceled its contract with Dominion Voting Systems and is weighing counting votes by hand in the future.

Hursti said the presenters from the event during CPAC contacted him ahead of time and asked him to look at what they thought they had found. He told them there was a simple explanation for the so-called vulnerabilities they had uncovered: It was code from an anti-virus program used to identify common malicious bugs that attack computers, he said.

"I was saying to them, 'You know, you should have taken a look to your own computer and see if you find the same malicious code in your own computer, because guess what, it's there,'" Hursti said.

One of the presenters, Joshua Merritt, acknowledged the criticism that followed the presentation. He told The Times he intended to pose questions through the presentation in hopes someone would watch the event and help answer them.

"We're just trying to do the right thing to make sure people have secure elections," said Merritt, whose affidavit alleging possible foreign interference in the 2020 election was cited in lawsuits Powell filed in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. "And that's been my only motivation behind it."

The other presenter, former Florida congressional candidate Jeff Buongiorno, did not respond to requests for comment from The Times. He said during the presentation that the information referenced came from copies, called forensic images, of production servers from three counties. He would only name one of them: Coffee County in Georgia.

"We have multiple counties' forensic images," he said during the presentation. "We're not going to name the counties."

Some came from evidence in court cases, and other images he and Merritt obtained on their own, Buongiorno said.

"Sometimes you have good Samaritans on the inside who care," Buongiorno said.

Merritt told The Times his portion of the presentation was based only on images taken of the Mesa County election system, which were disseminated at an August 2021 cybersymposium held by Trump ally and MyPillow Chief Executive Mike Lindell, and can still be accessed online. At the event during CPAC, Merritt did not dispute Buongiorno's assertions that their presentation used information from multiple counties, including Coffee County.

Little is known about who has the information taken in Coffee County, which included copies of every component of the county's voting system. Skoglund, who is an expert witness in an ongoing case involving Georgia's voting machines that uncovered the improper access in the county, said he was unaware that Merritt and Buongiorno had access to that system.

"They were not on the list of people that I knew had had that software until then, which just shows that it has spread further than the dozen people or so that had it that I know about," Skoglund said.
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MECOSTA COUNTY  Teens ages 12-14 interested in becoming a first responder will get a chance to see behind the badge this summer.

Applications are being accepted for this year's Mecosta County Youth Academy.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday chose an ex-National Security Council communications official to be the next spokesman for the State Department.

In a statement, Blinken announced that Matthew Miller will assume the role as the daily face of American foreign policy from the State Department podium at the end of April.

Miller is a longtime fixture in Democratic political circles and served as the chief spokesman for former Attorney General Eric Holder during the Obama administration. He has also worked closely with Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the current chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

After President Joe Biden was elected, Miller worked on the incoming administrations transition team, including helping to shepherd Blinken's nomination to be America's top diplomat in the Senate. He then took a temporary post at the NSC last year to coordinate U.S. messaging after Russias invasion of Ukraine.

I benefitted greatly from Matts wisdom, his experience in government, and his deep understanding of foreign policy when he was tapped to head up my nomination, Blinken said.

Matt is no stranger to navigating and communicating on complex, global challenges like those we face today, Blinken said. I am grateful to Matt for once again agreeing to serve his country, and look forward to once again benefitting from his counsel and expertise.

Its an honor to re-join the administration and especially to have the opportunity to work with the first-class team at the State Department, Miller told The Associated Press. Im looking forward to hitting the ground running.

Miller replaces Ned Price, another former Obama administration NSC official and an ex-CIA analyst, who served as Blinkens top spokesman until last month. Price will move into a more policy-oriented State Department position reporting directly to Blinken early next month.

Vedant Patel, Price's deputy who had been serving as acting State Department spokesman, will remain as Miller's No. 2
Czechia, Ireland and Spain will be the first countries to participate in a new initiative which aims to boost the availability of quality building climate data, a critical step towards fully decarbonising the heavily emitting sector, responsible for almost 40% of global carbon emissions.

The INDICATE initiative will bring together governments, industry and academia to tackle one of the most common barriers to enacting policies which will ensure climate neutral construction: a lack of reliable and comprehensive emissions data for buildings.

INDICATE seeks to accelerate policy development across Europe by generating critical baseline data for buildings, which can help guide policymakers to set carbon limits that cover the full lifecycle impact of buildings, from manufacture and construction, through to deconstruction and waste processing - the so-called whole life carbon limits'.

Currently, almost all building regulations in Europe only address carbon emissions from the building operation, ignoring the emissions that are generated before a building comes into use and at the end of its life (1). These embodied carbon emissions - which together with operational CO2 are known as whole life carbon - can be more than half of a new building's total carbon footprint and threaten to consume national construction carbon budgets well ahead of 2050 net zero goals.

Certain leading markets like Denmark, Finland, France and the Netherlands have already enacted whole life carbon policies. The first crucial step in setting these was to establish baselines. Other European countries are held back from following this example due to a lack of necessary data (2).

The coalition behind INDICATE is tackling this data gap. The innovative public-private approach of the project aims to secure broad support and investment for the results from industry and policy makers alike, helping to ensure the resulting data can be quickly put to use. This is just the beginning of what the coalition hopes will be a European-wide programme to finally quantify and drive a quick reduction in unregulated carbon emissions.

The EU recently took its own first steps towards whole life carbon regulation with proposals to introduce mandatory reporting in the revision of a key piece of European buildings policy, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). By strengthening political support and industry capability amongst more countries INDICATE will help to overcome opposition seen from some Member States to the ambitious proposals EU lawmakers have put forward for the EPBD revision.

Petr Serafin, Director, Department of construction and building materials, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic:

"We greatly appreciate that we can participate with our projects in INDICATE, which will financially and technically support the creation of several case studies mapping carbon emissions during the entire life cycle of buildings. We believe that thanks to this project we will obtain relevant data about the building stock, not only about new buildings, but also about existing objects. Valid data is essential to move towards carbon neutrality in decarbonisation, which we should achieve by 2050 according to the Paris Agreement. A big benefit of the project is that it also includes presentations of study results to all interested parties, including the state administration."

Francis-Noel Duffy, Member of Dail Eireann for Dublin South West and the Green Party Spokesperson for Housing:

"Addressing embodied carbon emissions is critical to halve our emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The development of high quality data and baseline data for buildings constructed in Ireland through pilot projects is a key step in supporting the regulation of these emissions in Ireland."

Joe Durkan, Head of Technical - National Retrofit, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland:

"High quality data on whole life carbon emissions associated with our built environment is critical to support policymaking and the decarbonisation of our building stock. SEAI recognises the importance of collecting standardised data through the development of a national methodology to assess these emissions and is pleased to support the INDICATE project."

Belen Viton Sanz - Spanish Office for Climate Change (OECC), Sub-Directorate General for the Coordination of Actions to Combat Climate Change - Ministry for the ecological transition and the demographic challenge:

"Initiatives such as Indicate can help progress towards a more accurate knowledge of the carbon footprint of buildings in Spain, which is undoubtedly essential for the development of decarbonisation policies and strategies."

The partners in the three newly launched national pilots are:

Czechia:

With support from the Ministries of Environment and of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.

Ireland:

INDICATE is being carried out through Construct Innovate, Ireland's national research centre for construction technology and innovation. The lead partners above are supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, University College Dublin and Associate Members of Construct Innovate.

Spain:

With the Government of Spain as observers.

INDICATE was launched in December 2022 by a European consortium including the Building Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), the Catholic University (KU) Leuven and World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), and is coordinated by Danish consultancy, Smith Innovation. It is co-funded by the Laudes Foundation and cash or in-kind contributions from national partners, including national governments.

Find out more on INDICATE.

References:

World Green Building Council

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is the largest and most influential local-regional-global action network, leading the transformation to sustainable and decarbonised built environments for everyone, everywhere.

Together, with 75+ Green Building Councils and industry partners from all around the world, we are driving systemic changes to:

Address whole life carbon emissions of existing and new buildings

Enable resilient, healthy, equitable and inclusive places

Secure regenerative, resource efficient and waste-free infrastructure

We work with businesses, organisations and governments to deliver on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs).

Find out more www.worldgbc.org

About the INDICATE project:

Why INDICATE?

INDICATE is meeting one of the most fundamental challenges to decarbonise buildings - the lack of data to support policymaking and strategic business decision-making. The building and construction sector accounts for approximately 40% of global carbon emissions. This needs to change! INDICATE pushes for policy and industry to tackle both operational and embodied carbon - Whole Life Carbon' (WLC) - since it is crucial to reduce the climate impact of new construction and renovation.

National partnerships will be forged between industry, academia, and national government. This co-creation approach promises to ensure the stakeholders will act on the data and the outcomes to accelerate policy and industry change.

What is INDICATE?

INDICATE is an accelerator offering a project framework and co-funding to support efforts to generate much-needed building-level WLC data in Europe. This data must be generated now if industry and policy action on decarbonising buildings are to be brought in line with the 1,5 C target from the 2015 Paris COP21 agreement.

INDICATE offers a combination of financial support and technical advice on both Life Cycle Analysis' (LCA) data and policy advocacy. This support is targeted at generating the data foundation, whilst INDICATE's cocreation

approach and advocacy support are designed to ensure the all-important buy in of industry and policy makers to take and use the data to accelerate progress towards a fully decarbonised building stock.

With grants up to 250.000 per country, INDICATE supports the collection of systemized and improved data of new or existing building LCA results. It directly enables generation of insights into the state of the respective national building stock and carbon reduction potential of different national strategies. To ensure buy-in from supported consortiums there is a requirement of public co-funding. As of February 2023, INDICATE is supporting three pilot countries.

INDICATE Partners:

About BPIE

BPIE (Buildings Performance Institute Europe) is a leading independent centre of expertise on energy performance of buildings, providing data-driven and actionable policy analysis, advice, and implementation support to decision-makers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Founded in 2010, BPIE combines expertise on energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and health and indoor environment with a deep understanding of EU policies and processes.

A not-for-profit think-tank based in Brussels and Berlin, our mission is to make an affordable, climate-neutral built environment a reality in Europe and globally.

Website: https://www.bpie.eu/

About KU Leuven

The research group Architectural Engineering tackles innovation in the design of buildings

by approaching architecture from an engineering point of view. The group conducts cutting-edge research on technical aspects of architecture, considering structure, materials,

services, and comfort requirements in a multidisciplinary setting in order to quantify,

assess, and improve the quality, cost, and sustainability of the built environment.

Website: https://eng.kuleuven.be/en

About Laudes Foundation

Laudes Foundation is an independent foundation which is part of the growing movement to accelerate the transition to a climate-positive and inclusive global economy. Responding to the dual crises of climate breakdown and inequality, Laudes supports brave action that inspires and challenges industry to harness its power for good. Founded by the Brenninkmeijer family business owners, it builds on six generations of entrepreneurship and philanthropy and works collaboratively alongside a wider network of philanthropic organisations, to both influence finance and capital markets and transform industry with a focus on the built environment and fashion.

Website: https://www.laudesfoundation.org/

About Smith Innovation

Assist philanthropic foundations, local governments as well as companies and organizations in the building industry to take a leading role in the transition towards a sustainable future.

Website: https://smithinnovation.dk/en

Media contact:

Tess Eydmann-Peel, Marketing and Communications Manager

teydmannpeel@worldgbc.org

+44 (0) 7932491571
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ISLAMABAD (AP)  In a blow to Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a top court in the Pakistani-administered section of Kashmir on Tuesday removed his protege and head of the local government from office. The territory's premier, Tanveer Ilyas, was charged and convicted of insulting judges in public remarks, officials and local media reported.

The development appeared to be a spillover of the political crisis roiling Pakistan, where the 70-year-old Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote last April, has campaigned against his successor, Shahbaz Sharif. Khan claims his ouster was illegal and has been demanding early elections  which Sharif has rejected.

Ilyas, an outspoken business tycoon known for outburst against judges and bureaucrats, has also lashed out at Sharif, when the prime minister visited Kashmir last December.

Khan has backed Ilyas in the Pakistani-ruled part of Kashmir, where Khan's Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf opposition party has a simple majority in the local parliament. The disputed Himalayan region is split between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety.

Ilyas appeared Tuesday before a judge in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, and was symbolically convicted of the alleged offense and sentenced to time spent in the courtroom. Under Pakistani law, this automatically disqualifies him from public office.

Ilyas has for weeks criticizing judges in the Pakistan-held Kashmir, claiming the judiciary was encroaching upon his authority by reversing multiple decisions approved by him or his government. Although he apologized Tuesday over his remarks, the court rejected his apology.

Fawad Chaudhry, a senior leader from Khan's party, denounced the ruling. This country cannot be run by destroying the judicial system, Chaudhry tweeted.

It was unclear whether Ilyas would appeal the ruling. The court also instructed the territory's election oversight body to prepare for a vote to replace Ilyas.

The assembly in the Pakistani-run Kashmir is expected to chose the new leader of the house in the coming days. Khan's party may face a tough contest as Sharif's backers claim they are in a position to form the government.

Nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Representative of the UN Secretary General, Abdoulaye Bathily, Monday reaffirmed the role of the chairman of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Manfi, in supporting the holding of elections during 2023, considering that the Presidential Council is an essential partner in the UN plan to organize elections in the country
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The Customs Research and Intervention Brigade, supported by the Baskuy police, seized counterfeit banknotes worth more than 1,000,000 dollars, 56 fake gold bars, air force stripes, 02 Customs berets, communication devices and fake Customs stamps in Ouagadougou on 19 March, official sources said on Tuesday
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - A hardliner Sudanese has vowed to get rid of the representative of the United Nations Secretary General to the Sudan, Volker Perthes, if he receives a Fatwa, saying the UN official was a threat to the Islamic creed or the well being of the country
RYAM Announces the Hiring of Michael Osborne as VP, Manufacturing; Bill Manzer to Retire

Michael Osborne Michael Osborne

April 11, 2023 - Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) announced that Michael Osborne joined the company on April 10, 2023, as Vice President, Manufacturing, replacing Bill Manzer, who has announced his plans to retire. Osborne is a thirty-plus-year manufacturing veteran, most recently holding the position of Vice President, Global Manufacturing for Kraton Pine Chemicals.

Osborne 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.

Osborne 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. He was promoted to Director, Global Engineering in 2015, shortly before Arizona Chemical was acquired by Kraton in 2016. In December 2019, Osborne was promoted to Director of Global Manufacturing and, subsequently, Vice President, Global Manufacturing for the Pine Chemicals division.

Manzer, EVP, Manufacturing, has been with RYAM for over twelve years and has held progressively more responsible roles with the company. As Osborne onboards, Manzer will remain with RYAM through March 2024, supporting the transition and finishing several projects where he is significantly immersed.

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.

SOURCE: Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.
Photo: (Photo : Michael Loccisano / Getty Images )

NYC teachers are fighting for public funding to cater to their students with disabilities.However, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is fighting to the contrary. The City Council bill would provide interest-free loans to private schools and programs that serve students with disabilities.

The bill, introduced by Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan, aims to address the long delays in tuition repayment that yeshivas and other private schools complain about when serving these students.

The Orthodox Union, a major advocacy group for Jewish schools, supports the bill. However, the UFT opposes the legislation, saying that the Department of Education (DOE) should do a better job of paying vendors instead of creating another layer of bureaucracy.

Special Education Funding and Placement

The funding and placement of students with special needs have been challenging for decades.

According to the Department of Health of New York State, federal law requires the government to cover the cost of private tuition when public schools cannot meet the needs of students with learning or physical disabilities, such as dyslexia or speech impediments.

However, parents have sued the city and other school districts for failing to provide mandated services for students with mental and physical deficits.

As reported by the New York Times, schools have subjected students with disabilities to tactics known as "informal removals," which can include repeated dismissals in the middle of the day or shortening students' education to a few hours a week.

According to a report, schools in New York City use several tactics, referred to as "informal removals," to remove students with disabilities from class, which are often in violation of the federal civil rights protections for those with disabilities.

These tactics include off-the-book suspensions that occur hundreds or even thousands of times per year, as well as transfers to programs that do not exist, leaving students involuntarily without education.

The UFT has opposed the Brannan bill, saying that it is unnecessary and irrational. The union argues that DOE should fix its processes instead of adding another program to its administrative pile.

The bill creates a particular group of vendors and requires DOE to pay them with one hand, then collect the same money back as a loan repayment with the other. The UFT contends that telling a bureaucracy to simply "hurry up" is not a solution.

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Teach NYS: A Lifeline for Parents

According to the New York Post, Teach NYS, a group representing Jewish day schools and yeshivas, believes that the UFT opposition is misplaced.

According to Sydney Altfield, the group's executive director, some who oppose the bill either do not understand how it works or do not comprehend the challenges faced by families with special needs in the city's school system.

Altfield stated that Councilman Brannan's bill is a lifeline for parents who cannot afford to pay thousands of dollars to finance an education that the city is required to provide. At no extra cost to taxpayers, the bill provides a game-changing solution to a long-standing problem.

Furthermore, Mayor Eric Adams' office did not take a position on Brannan's bill. The office said it was working with DOE and the City Council to improve education and services for students with disabilities. The mayor himself has talked about struggling with dyslexia as a child.

This debate over special education comes weeks after city officials stopped doing business with 20 companies that provided services in private schools, primarily yeshivas, amid concerns about fraud.

NYC teachers and the UFT are fighting against a bill that would provide interest-free loans to private schools and programs that serve students with disabilities.

The funding and placement of students with special needs have been a decades-long challenge, and schools have used "informal removals" that violate federal civil rights to remove challenging students with disabilities from class. The debate over special education in New York City highlights the ongoing struggle to provide a free and appropriate public education for all students, regardless of their abilities.

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Photo: (Photo : Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

Iowa will no longer provide emergency contraceptive care to sexual assault victims.

It has been officially announced that the Iowa Attorney General's Office has ceased funding emergency contraception and abortion for victims of sexual assault for the time being while it is under review.

The decision has sparked widespread outrage among advocates, who say it will make it more difficult for survivors to access critical medical care.

Background of the Policy Change

On Saturday, it was made public that Brenna Bird, a Republican Attorney General who was elected last autumn, had opted to temporarily halt the funding.

According to the Insider, Bird's press secretary, Alyssa Brouillet, said in a statement that, while not required by Iowa law, the victim compensation fund has previously paid for Plan B and abortions.

Attorney General Bird is currently conducting a comprehensive audit of victim assistance from top to bottom, evaluating whether public funds are being appropriately used. Until this review is complete, the payment of pending claims will be postponed. State law mandates Iowa to only cover the expenses for forensic exams and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

According to the annual report by Iowa's Victim Assistance, the state's Sexual Abuse Examination Payment Program of 1979 ensures that victims of sexual assault are not accountable for the expenses incurred for a sexual abuse forensic examination or medications necessary due to the assault.

While not explicitly required, it has been the long-standing policy of the state to provide coverage for emergency contraception under the victim compensation fund.

Sandi Tibbetts Murphy, the former director of the victim assistance division, stated that the victim compensation fund had also provided coverage for abortion expenses for rape victims on rare occasions.

Reactions From Advocates

The move has prompted a swift and fierce response from advocates for sexual assault survivors.

CNN reported that the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault said in a statement that victims of rape and child abuse have an acute need for timely access to health services, including contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy and abortion care.

The coalition is urging the Iowa Attorney General to continue providing funding for emergency contraception and abortions for sexual assault victims, emphasizing that cost should not prevent rape victims from receiving the medical care they need.

The coalition also pointed out that using victim compensation funds to cover the expenses of forensic exams can encourage victims to undergo such exams, which could help prevent future victimization and improve access to medical care for crime victims.

Meanwhile, as per the Des Moines Register, Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, strongly criticized Attorney General Bird's decision, describing it as a disturbing reflection of politicians' ongoing efforts to undermine Iowans' health and rights.

Read Also: NYC Teachers' Union Fights Against Public Funds for Private Schools Serving Students with Disabilities

Impact on sexual assault survivors

The new policy will have a significant impact on sexual assault survivors in Iowa.

Emergency contraception is a time-sensitive medication that can prevent pregnancy if taken within a few days of unprotected sex. Without access to this medication, survivors may be at risk of an unintended pregnancy.

Abortion services are also crucial for survivors who become pregnant as a result of sexual assault.

Many survivors choose to have an abortion to avoid the emotional and physical trauma of carrying a pregnancy to term. Without access to safe and legal abortion services, survivors may resort to unsafe methods to terminate a pregnancy, which can have serious health consequences.

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Ontario is leveraging its world-class clean electricity grid by launching a clean energy credit (CEC) registry that will boost competitiveness and attract jobs, by helping businesses meet their environmental and sustainability goals. Proceeds from the sale of CECs will help keep costs down for electricity ratepayers and fund the construction of clean electricity projects in Ontario through a newly created Future Clean Electricity Fund. This fund will help build Ontario's clean energy advantage as the province competes for and attracts new investments in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, clean steel, and other sectors, while continuing to build its clean economy.

"Clean energy has become an economic imperative as companies around the world want to invest in jurisdictions with affordable, reliable and clean energy. Our clean energy credit registry will help us compete and attract more major investments in Ontario's economy," said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. "Ontario families have done the heavy-lifting and built one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world, and now we can leverage that clean supply to reduce the cost of new clean generation through our Future Clean Electricity Fund."

A CEC registry provides businesses with a tool to meet environmental and sustainability goals by demonstrating that their electricity has been sourced from clean resources, such as nuclear power, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and bioenergy.

The registry, administered by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), adds to the growing list of factors that make Ontario a top destination for all types of investment, including the province's well-trained workforce, tax credits, and an exemplary research and development ecosystem.

"The clean energy credit registry is part of our government's clean energy advantage that is boosting competitiveness and attracting investments and jobs right here in Ontario", said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. "Our government has the right plan to build an Ontario that will continue to have a resilient economy. We are supporting families, workers and businesses today, while building a strong fiscal foundation for the future."

Proceeds from the sale of CECs held by the IESO and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) will be directed to the government's Future Clean Electricity Fund. This new fund will help keep costs down for electricity ratepayers by supporting the development of new clean energy projects as the province builds out our grid to meet the demands of a growing population and economy, as well as the electrification of transportation and industry. The Future Clean Electricity Fund will help to preserve and grow the province's clean energy advantage.

"Our government is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to building a strong Ontario and attracting investments that will create more opportunities today and in the future," said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. "The clean energy credit registry and Future Clean Electricity Fund are important tools that will further strengthen Ontario's competitiveness so that we can compete for, and win, global investments."

Access to clean energy is critical input for businesses making investment decisions. Last year the government accelerated the development of five new transmission lines in Southwest Ontario that will power the new Stellantis-LGES battery plant, the growing greenhouse sector and other job creators. Volkswagen's recent investment, siting their first overseas gigafactory in Ontario, the company noted its local supply of raw materials and wide access to clean electricity as key conditions for their investment, illustrating Ontario's commitment to meet emerging energy needs.

The CEC registry and Future Clean Electricity Fund build on Ontario's recent actions to meet emerging energy needs and ensure a reliable, affordable clean electricity supply, including: competitively procuring 4,000 MW of new generation and storage resources, introducing new and enhanced energy efficiency programs, supporting OPG's continued safe operation of Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, and building Canada's first grid-scale Small-Modular Reactor.
Earlier this morning Apple announced the opening dates of their new retails stores in Mumbai and Delhi. We're now learning that Apple's lease agreement stipulated that 22 technology companies shouldn't be allowed to have presence near its soon-to-be-inaugurated store at the Reliance Jio World Drive mall in Mumbai, owned by Reliance Industries.

This stipulation in the lease, that was witnessed by data analytic firm CRE Matrix, covered these specific brands: Amazon, Facebook, Google, LG, Microsoft, Bose, Dell, Devialet, Foxconn, Garmin, Hitachi, HP, HTC, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, Nest, Panasonic and Toshiba and Sony. Although not listed in the report, Apple competitors Samsung, Huawei and/or Xiaomi were likely other candidates listed as well in what Apple dubbed the "exclusive zone."

India's Economic Times further noted in their report that Apple's agreement stated that "The licensor will not give on license, sub-license, lease, sub-lease or any other arrangement nor allot any of the brands listed as 'Competing Brands' to occupy any space for setting up of retail stores for retailing, advertising, selling, offering, displaying and merchandising their products and services within the area of the shopping centre depicted on exclusivity zone," as per the agreement.



"Anchor stores can understandably ask for certain exclusions with competing brands, which landlords usually agree to provide, whether as an informal understanding or as part of the documented agreement, but it is unusual to have a long list of companies that may not be direct competitors across the entire product range," said Devangshu Dutta, founder of retail consulting firm Third Eyesight. For more, read the full report from The Economic Times.



Some background: Huawei is famous for advertising near Apple Stores as noted below. The first image illustrates a massive billboard sized ad that sat behind the construction site of Apple's amphitheater in Milan back in 2018. The second example, is a Huawei ad placed right outside an Apple Store in China.

(Click on image to Enlarge)

In North America, it's common to see a McDonalds restaurant challenged by Burger King, Wendy's or other burger places in the hopes of siphoning off some business from the main attraction. Apple has learned from this over the years. To be sure, Apple will never publicly comment on such contractual conditions.
This morning Patently Apple posted a report about the two new retail stores opening in India next week. In that report we noted Apple's CEO will be meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose government has been pushing for electronics manufacturing in his country and has offered billions of dollars in incentives to attract Apple's manufacturing partners like Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron Corp.

The timing of the meeting is interesting considering that's it's also being reported this morning that India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that her country is seeking to be more involved in world supply chains and serve as an alternative to China through output-incentive plans.

India's production-linked incentive schemes covering 13 manufacturing sectors including for semiconductors are bringing in global value chains into India, Sitharaman said at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. By doing that, we hope to have production of many of these large, bulk-manufactured goods which can go from India to meet both international and local demand, she said.

Its unrealistic to think that everything will get out of China, Sitharaman said, adding firms have become prudent & are diversifying due to the supply chain disruptions in China, giving an opportunity to Asias third largest economy.

India last month laid out an ambitious target of hitting $2 trillion annually in overall exports by 2030 as the South Asian country makes a renewed push to become a top choice for companies shifting supply chains away from China.

On Monday, Sitharaman gave the example of "mobile-phone manufacturing  the Asian nation in 2014 produced very few devices and the industry had grown to become one of the worlds biggest exporters." Source

In late January Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple has become the first tech company in India to export $1 Billion worth of smartphones in a month."

Over the weekend, Bloomberg reported that "Representative Mike Gallagher, the chairman of a House committee focused on US-China competition, met with Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and Disney CEO Bob Iger as part of a three-day trip through California to learn more about how companies are navigating the tensions between the worlds two largest economies.

Apples at the heart of what is the most complex aspect of this competition, which is companies that have a massive presence in China are going have to deal with the fact that some form of selective economic decoupling is inevitable, Gallagher said in a phone interview. Its going to continue.

The Biden administration has been working on a program that would restrict investments in some sectors of Chinas economy and require reporting on other areas. Obviously with Mike Gallagher talking to Apple and Disney CEO's about economic decoupling with China is one of those restrictions in-the-works. All the more incentive for Apple to continue it's investments in India, Vietnam and elsewhere outside of China.
Nebuchadnezzar II (c. 630-c. 561 B.C. / r. c. 605-c. 561 B.C.) (1) was perhaps the most famous king of ancient Babylonia: largely because of his status as the conqueror of the Kingdom Of Judah in 586 B.C. Bryan Windle notes about this monarch:

Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned close to 90 times in Scripture and figures prominently in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah and Daniel. In Jeremiah 4:7 he is called the destroyer of nations, an apt description, as history records that he extended his empire through conquest such that it stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. At its height, it included parts of modern-day Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Turkey. (2)

The Babylonian Chronicle 5; also known as the Jerusalem Chronicle, a clay tablet written in Akkadian, covers the events during Nebuchadnezzars reign, from the years of 605-594 B.C. It was acquired in 1896 and is held at the British Museum. (3)

2 Kings 24:8, 10, 12, 17-18 (RSV) Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. . . . At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. . . . and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign, . . . And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachins uncle, king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. . . . 2 Kings 25:1-2, 6, 8-11 And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it; and they built siegeworks against it round about. So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. . . . Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, who passed sentence upon him. . . . In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month  which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon  Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. And he burned the house of the LORD, and the kings house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. And the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile. (cf. Jer. 52:1-15)

Th Babylonian Chronicle 5 records Nebuchadnezzars initial defeat of Jerusalem in 597 B.C:

In the seventh year [598/597], the month of Kislimu, the king of Akkad mustered his troops, marched to the Hatti-land, and besieged the city of Judah and on the second day of the month of Addarunote [February/March 597.] he seized the city and captured the king. [Jehoiachin] He appointed there a king of his own choice [Zedekiah], received its heavy tribute and sent to Babylon. (4)

The biblical texts above note that Zedekiah, the final king of Judah, reigned eleven years, under Babylonian siege, until the city and the kingdom were destroyed in 586 (or 587) B.C.: the general date accepted by virtually all scholars for the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of Solomons temple; though the exact year is still debated. (5) The biblical accounts above show that Nebuchadnezzars initial sack of Jerusalem and detention of King Jehoiachin occurred in the eighth year (2 Kings 24:12) of his reign (597 B.C.).

Moreover, its recorded that the puppet-king Zedekiah lasted eleven years (2 Kings 24:18; 2 Chron. 36:11; Jer 52:1) before the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple: in 586 B.C., and that the eleven-year siege culminating in the catastrophe of Jerusalems fall had already commenced by the ninth year (2 Kings 25:1; Jer. 52:4) of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (596 B.C.). The year of Jerusalems ultimate destruction is described in the Bible (2 Kings 25:8; Jer. 52:12) as Nebuchadnezzars nineteenth year (587 or 586 B.C.).

We also have deductive and objective biblical clues as to the date of the destruction of Jerusalem, based on the biblical mention of a Jewish exile in Babylon for seventy years (Jer. 29:10; 2 Chron. 36:21) before the temple was rebuilt, and the dates of the reign of the Persian king Darius I (the Great). After interruptions (the people of the land . . . made them afraid to build, and . . . frustrate[d] their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius: Ezra 4: 4-5; the work on the house of God which is in Jerusalem stopped: Ezra 4:24), the final work of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem began in the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia (Ezra 4:24; cf. Hag. 1:1, 15).

In that year the Jews began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem (Ezra 5:2). It was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king (Ezra 6:15). We know that Darius the Great reigned from 522 to 486 B.C. (6) Thus, his second year  depending on how it is reckoned  was 521 or 520, and his sixth year was 517 or 516. And that is seventy years from 587 or 586: the year of the destruction of Jerusalem (give or take a year).

Conclusion: the Bible (as it has been shown to be, innumerable times) is minutely accurate in this instance, as regards the years of the initial and final destruction of ancient Jerusalem and its first temple, built by King Solomon, and also concerning when the temple was rebuilt. Its confirmed by secular history and archaeology.

FOOTNOTES

1) Henry W.F. Saggs, Nebuchadnezzar II, Encyclopedia Britannica.

2) Bryan Windle, Nebuchadnezzar: An Archaeological Biography, Bible Archaeology Report, October 17, 2019.

3) See the British Museum page for Babylonian Chronicle 5: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1896-0409-51. See texts from this tablet at the web page, ABC 5 (Jerusalem Chronicle), Livius.org: https://www.livius.org/sources/content/mesopotamian-chronicles-content/abc-5-jerusalem-chronicle/.

4) Windle, ibid.

5) Saggs, ibid.; Rodger C. Young, When Did Jerusalem Fall?, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 47/1 (March 2004) 21-38; C. Ermal Allen, Jerusalem Fell in 587 Not 586 BC, Bible and Spade 18:1 (2005). Young sums up the basis of the differences:

After suitable contacts were found linking Hebrew history to the fixed dates of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, the greatest problem remaining was to determine the methods used by the authors who gave us the chronological data in the Scriptures. What did these authors mean when they wrote, In the Xth year of Y king of Judah, Z became king over Israel, and he reigned W years? Presuppositions about the method of the author will affect the interpretation of every part of such a sentence: Was the Xth year of king Y measured from his sole reign, or from his coregency? Was the year measured in an accession (non-inclusive) or non-accession (inclusive) sense? Were the years considered to start with [the Hebrew month of] Nisan in the spring or Tishri in the fall? (p. 22)

6) J. M. Munn-Rankin, Darius I, Encyclopedia Britannica.

***

Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,200+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-one books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart!

***

Photo credit: Jeremiah sits amidst the rubble of Jerusalem, after its siege and destruction in 586 BC. Lithograph by Eduard Bendemann (18111889) [public domain / Look and Learn: History Picture Archive]

***

Summary: Archaeology and the Bible correspond, with regard to the dates of the siege and fall of Jerusalem (597 and 586 B.C.) and the date of the rebuilt temple (516 B.C.).
Old Mutual Ghana recently hosted a successful brokerage conference in South Africa. The conference brought together brokers from all Old Mutual Africa Regions.



Old Mutual believes that partnerships with external stakeholders should be mutually beneficial. We strive to grow together with our partners and provide the necessary support for achieving growth.



The conference offered a unique opportunity for our Ghanaian brokers to connect with international brokers and insurance networks and learn about international broking practices and standards.



They also had the chance to hear from successful brokers in the South African market who shared their experiences and insights on how to achieve growth in various lines of the insurance business. The event attracted brokers from various countries across Africa, creating excellent networking opportunities for our brokers. In addition to the professional development opportunities, our partners also enjoyed a moment of fun.



During the two-day conference, various insightful discussions, panel sessions, and presentations were held, which aimed at empowering brokers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to navigate the evolving investment landscape. Some of the topics discussed include the impact of technology on brokerage, the importance of data analytics, emerging trends in asset management, and regulatory compliance.



One of the highlights of the conference was the panel session on "Unlocking the potential of African capital markets", which brought together leading industry experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the African capital market. The panellists shared insights on how African capital markets could be developed, including creating a conducive business environment, strengthening market infrastructure, and improving market accessibility.



Another key feature of the conference was the breakout sessions that provided an opportunity for brokers to have hands-on practical sessions with leading financial technology firms. These sessions focused on demonstrating the use of new technologies and tools that brokers could leverage to improve their service delivery and client experience.



The conference also featured a cocktail event, which provided attendees with networking opportunities and a chance to unwind and connect with peers. The cocktail event was an excellent opportunity for attendees to discuss business opportunities and forge new partnerships.



The conference provided a platform for brokers, industry experts, and stakeholders to come together, discuss, and share knowledge on the latest trends, insights, and opportunities in the brokerage industry. The conference demonstrated Old Mutual Ghana's commitment to continuously empowering brokers and improving their service delivery to clients. It is expected that the knowledge and insights gained from the conference will be instrumental in driving the growth and development of the African brokerage industry.



Old Mutual Ghana is a leader in the Life Insurance and Pensions industries in Ghana.



Old Mutual Ghana is part of the Old Mutual Group which has over 176 years of experience in providing Insurance, Banking, and Investment solutions in Africa. The Group has presence in 13 African countries. At Old Mutual, we exist to provide financial advice that delivers positive futures for our customers.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Two policemen have been interdicted for failing to rescue their colleague when he came under attack by some youth in the Kumawu area of the Ashanti Region last Friday.



Constable Isaac Boiatey and Constable Evans Owusu were on duty with Corporal Sylvester Berhene at the Won Akotosu snap checkpoint near Kumawu in the Ashanti Region last Friday.



Corporal Berhene came under attack in the line of duty and so the two policemen who were on duty with him have been interdicted for their seeming failure to rescue their colleague, subdue the attackers and get them arrested.



They have therefore been referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation into their professional conduct.



The Director of Police Public Affairs, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Grace Ansah-Akrofi made the interdiction known in a press statement issued Sunday morning (April 9, 2023).



Meanwhile, a sixth suspect has been arrested to bring the total suspects in police custody to six.



A seventh suspect is still on the run.



What happened?



On Good Friday, April 7, 2023, at about 4:45 pm, three policemen, Constable Isaac Boiatey, Constable Evans Owusu with Corporal Sylvester Berhene in charge were on duty at the Won Akotosu snap checkpoint near Kumawu in the Ashanti Region.



According to the police, initial investigation has disclosed that the suspects, Edward Boateng, Evans Addo, Yaw Kusi, Michael Owusu, Yaw Boateng and Emmanuel Mensah, together with one other suspect who is currently on the run, were 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 policemen who were on duty at the checkpoint.



He, therefore, stopped them and requested to search the car.



However, according to the police account, 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 which was responding to the incident succeeded in arresting six of the suspects and efforts are underway to get the last suspect arrested.



The attacked police officer - Corporal Berhene who sustained a knee injury, together with one of the suspects who also sustained some injuries were sent to the hospital for medical attention.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Son of Ghana's first president Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has averred that not everyone in the United States accepts same-sex relationships despite it being legal.



Sekou Nkrumah speaking on the raging LGBTQ+ debate said like Ghana, the US had a strong conservative base and a religious population that did not believe in same-sex relations.



He added, however, that the liberals are those championing and advocating for such rights.



"Not everyone in America accepts homosexuality, and also America has a large conservative and religious population, but at the same time there are also many liberals who keep or maintain the balance in the society! And I think that is a good thing," his post of April 2, 2023 read in part.



Sekou also asked the US to stop pushing the narrative that LGBTQ+ is a human rights issue because that will not be accepted by Ghanaians for cultural reasons especially.



He weighed in on the recent "LGBTQ+ is a human rights" comment as used by visiting US vice president Kamala Harris.



"Before visiting Ghana for example the American veep should have had discussions with Ghanaians who live and work in America over these sensitive matters.



"I genuinely believe that unlike the US, we are largely a conservative society and for most educated or otherwise it will be difficult to accept the practice of homosexuality," he added.



On whether or not Ghanaians will come to accept homosexuality sometime in the future, he posited: "Therefore, my suggestion would be to allow Ghanaians time to develop their critical thinking and come (on their own) to accept that homosexuality is a human rights issue, and allow those who practice it the right to do so."



Ghana is currently awaiting the passage of an anti-LGBTQ+ law which will criminalize same-sex relations and their attendant advocacy.



Read his full post below:



Recently I had a discussion over this matter of homosexuality and I told the person that the Americans should not push this agenda ( homosexuality as a human rights issue) on Ghana because we come from a different culture!



Before visiting Ghana for example the American veep should have had discussions with Ghanaians who live and work in America over these sensitive matters.



I genuinely believe that unlike the US, we are largely a conservative society and for most educated or otherwise it will be difficult to accept the practice of homosexuality. Therefore, my suggestion would be to allow Ghanaians time to develop their critical thinking and come ( on their own) to accept that homosexuality is a human rights issue, and allow those who practice it the right to do so.



Not everyone in America accepts homosexuality, and also America has a large conservative and religious population, but at the same time there are also many liberals who keep or maintain the balance in the society! And I think that is a good thing.



So time and not haste should make us wiser concerning these matters.













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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Iberdrola is grateful for the support and flexibility shown by the Mexican government in reaching this agreement, and considers Mexico a strategic country with potential for growth and expansion, where it will show its support for Mexico and the state by developing renewable capacity

The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galan, and the President of the Mexican Government, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, met this morning and announced the start of a new phase following the signing of an agreement of intent between subsidiaries of Iberdrola Mexico and Mexico Infrastructure Partners ("MIP"), announced today. Both presidents are committed to advancing the development of renewable energy in the country.

The operation will be supported by the Government of Mexico through the financial support of the Mexican National Infrastructure Fund (Fonadin) and other public financial entities.

Iberdrola, firmly committed to renewable energy development in Mexico

Iberdrola confirms its commitment to Mexico by reaffirming its leadership as the leading private generator of renewable energy with the backing of the Federal Government to continue operating its assets under market conditions and drive the energy transition in the country.

In addition, Iberdrola Mexico will continue to serve its existing customers, and both parties will work together to try to resolve the various disputes that have arisen in the country in recent years.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, President of the Mexican Government, has declared that "the agreement reached with Iberdrola, which allows progress to be made in the implementation of Mexico's new energy policy, marks the beginning of a new stage in which the company will actively participate in the country's renewable energy development".

Ignacio Galan, Chairman of Iberdrola, said that "Iberdrola is grateful for the support and flexibility shown by the Mexican government in reaching this agreement, and considers Mexico a strategic country with potential for growth and expansion, where it will show its support for Mexico and the state by developing renewable capacity".

Watch the deferred broadcast of the presentation of "La Nueva Iberdrola Mexico" External link, opens in new window.

"The New Iberdrola Mexico" presentation [PDF]
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 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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Aspiring presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama will resume his nationwide campaign after the Easter festivities on Tuesday, with a three-day visit to the Eastern Region.



Mr. Mahama will visit 31 constituencies where he will meet and interact with branch and constituency executives. He has so far toured 7 regions, touching grounds in 106 constituencies.



In the Eastern region, former President Mahama will speak to his vision of Building the Ghana we want together, and why securing a convincing win in the NDC primaries will be a great boost for the 2024 presidential election.



He will also share his plans for improving the partys polling and electoral area campaign, through voter mobilizing and canvassing, and the effective utilization of campaign materials and resources.



Mr. Mahama has announced a reward scheme to recognise branches of the party that increase their polling stations votes in both the parliamentary and presidential elections.



From the Eastern Region, President Mahama will spend a day touring some constituencies in the Greater Accra Region on Friday April 14, before heading out to the Oti Region.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Dismissed deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho has reacted to a recent outburst by Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.



The MP was recently captured vowing not to support colleague parliamentarians who defied the partys orders to vote against the approval of new appointees of the government.



Koku who has repeatedly spoken against his purported dismissal from the party averred that his long held views of treachery in the party were being vindicated.



He shared a video of Ablakwa with the caption: I will praise my Maker while I have breath. Vindication surely lies in the womb of time. Are the babies now grown up? Welcome to the club of principled thinking.



What Ablakwa said:



Speaking at the Obaasima Campus Tour event at the University of Health and Allied Science in Ho, last Friday, Ablakwa, said the action by some of his colleagues have made the NDC lose credibility in the eyes of many Ghanaians.



He added that he is not going to work with the treacherous NDC MPs even if it means he will be suspended from the party.



They said we should hold a press conference and tell the Ghanaian public that we will vote against (the presidents appointees), that we are opposed; only for the vote to take place after the press conferences and public assurances, more than 30 of you stabbed us in the back.



And you think that I am going to support you people because you belong to my party. I will not because we don't even have credibility, the next time we will go and hold a press conference the Ghanaian people will not take us seriously.



I dont believe in treacherous politics, politics without principals, politics of betrayal, I dont believe in that. And if because of that, one day, I will be suspended or banished from the party so be it, he said.



Background:



Parliament on Friday, March 24, approved all six ministerial nominees as well as the nominees of the Supreme Court of President Akufo-Addo after a heated debate, 24 hours earlier and a tense voting process.



Final results declared by Speaker Alban Bagbin showed that all nominees got more votes than the minimum of 138 votes required because out of the 275 eligible voters, there were three absent.



Some Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) did not adhere to the decision of the party to vote against the approval of the nominees.



Leading figures in the NDC, including former President John Dramani Mahama, slammed the MPs who broke ranks and have accused them of betraying NDC supporters and Ghanaians for their selfish interest.



The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has challenged the said MPs, who were allegedly bribed, according to Cape Coast South MP, Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan, to come out and tell Ghanaians why they voted to approve Akufo-Addo's nominees.









Source: ghanaweb.com









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A founding Member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has said the indiscipline of Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong has reached legendary levels hence he must be called to sanity.



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, the founding member of the NPP said in a statement issued on Monday, 10 April 2023, in reaction to comments made by the Agriculture Minister when he addressed party supporters at Abetifi in the Eastern Region.



Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe noted failure on the part of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to bring the Agriculture Minister to sanity will further injure the NPP and lead it to a total collapse.



The founding Member of the NPP also questioned the source of wealth of the Agriculture Minister.



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?" he asked.



He stressed that what the country requires is development, which is what the Agriculture Minister should have addressed when he was offered the political platform.



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, he said.



He, therefore, advised the Minister to 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, he admonished.



The Minister, addressing party supporters on Saturday, 8 March 2023, said should the National Democratic Congress (NDC) dare to use threats, violence and foolishness in the 2024 election, we [the New Patriotic Party] will let them know we have the men, stressing: We will show them that we have the men. We have the men.



Mr Achempong, who is also the former Minister of State in charge of National Security and the MP for Abetifi noted the: NDC party will collapse.



According to him, the NPP will never hand over power to the NDC after the 2024 polls, adding that the incumbent party will do everything at all cost to hold on to power.



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 remains in government at all cost, he declared.



In his view, the government is fixing the economy, which will inure to the NPPs electoral fortunes.



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, he said.





Source: class fm









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Construction is expected to begin on a new car wash facility in August in York County.

Salt Lake City-based Coldwater Car Wash Group will begin construction on Shiny Shell Carwash at 1000 Town Center Drive in West Manchester Township.

The company is aiming to complete the facility in the second or third quarter of 2024.

The company opened a facility in October on 4636 Jonestown Road in Lower Paxton Township and opened a location at 402 S. Third St. in Lemoyne in January.

Individual car washes at those facilities range from $12 to $24 and monthly plans range from $35 to $40.

There are five Shiny Shell Carwash locations in Utah and two in Pennsylvania. The company also has six more Shiny Shell Carwash locations in the works in Utah, three in Maryland and three in Pennsylvania  the one in West Manchester Township, one at 2007 EG Drive in Lower Paxton Township and one in the 6500 block of the Carlisle Pike in Silver Spring Township.

--Business Buzz

Sign up for Eat, Shop, Go, a weekly report on food, restaurants, business, retail centers, things to do and places to go all around central Pa. Sign up for free by clicking here.
By Bruce Henderson, The Charlotte Observer (TNS)

Leon Levine, the Family Dollar Store founder who shared his fortune with health care, education and community causes in North Carolina and beyond, died Wednesday. He was 85.

Levines name marks institutions across the region. The self-made man who never finished college started one of North Carolinas biggest scholarship programs. The creator of one of the Southeasts biggest foundations combed The Charlotte Observer for troubled charities to help.

The Leon Levine Foundation has granted more than $450 million, with more than half the total awarded since 2008. The figure doesnt include gifts by Levine and his wife, Sandra.

The depth and breadth of Leon Levines generosity has transformed our philanthropic landscape, retired Foundation For the Carolinas President and CEO Michael Marsicano said in a statement. Imagine a legacy that reaches virtually every citizen in our community with generosity. This is the legacy of Leon Levine.

Levine was born in Wadesboro, N.C., the youngest of four children whose father died when he was 12. He began helping his mother and brother Sherman run The Hub, the family department store in Rockingham.

I learned a lot about business and people in that store, he said in a 2009 Observer interview. You quickly learned the customer is the most important person.

At 22, Levine used $6,000 to open the first Family Dollar Store on Charlottes Central Avenue in 1959. He had first visited a chain of stores in Tennessee that sold items under $1, according to the foundations website. Levine decided his store would sell everything  cleaning supplies, clothing, household goods  for $2 or less.

A second store opened by 1960. The company began selling shares in 1970. A year later, its 100th store opened, in Brevard; its 1,000th in 1985. By 2019, more than 8,000 stores were operating.

The chains competitive niche: small stores in neighborhoods, within easy reach of their lower-income customers. Most items are still priced below $10. Levine found store locations by checking supermarket parking lots for fresh oil stains  a signal that neighbors drove old, leaking cars. Motor oil was a bestseller.

Levines first wife, Barbara, died of breast cancer in 1966. Levines daughter from that marriage, Mindy, died at 25 in 1987. He married Sandra Levine in 1978.

More:
The first apartment building in a new housing community in Hampden Township has opened.

Hadley Place is located at 4275 Valley Road and will have six apartment buildings with a total of 182 units as well as 42, three-story townhomes, when the housing development is completed.

Hadley Place currently has 28 apartments built and is expected to have another 28 apartments completed by the end of April. The first occupants of the apartments moved in on Feb. 1. The townhomes, which will be for rent, are still under construction and are expected to be completed next spring.

Floorplans include one to three bedrooms and one to two bathrooms options. All floorplans feature plank flooring; all appliances, including washer and dryer; and a balcony or patio. Kitchens include stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The townhomes will have attached garages.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for Hadley Place. (Photo provided)

Hadley Place will also have a clubhouse, pool, and fitness center.

We think residents will be thrilled with this location, Mike Burkentine, owner of Burkentine Properties, said in a news release. After a busy day at work or school, they can retreat to this quiet setting, yet still be only 15 minutes from the Pennsylvania State Capital.

York County-based Burkentine Real Estate Group is the developer.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday.

--Business Buzz
Police are accusing a 14-year-old girl of stabbing another teen on Easter Sunday, according to various media reports.

Police in Tyrone, Blair County said that the assault occurred at 4:19 p.m. along the 100 block of West 12th Street.

The 15-year-old victim was taken to UPMC Altoona for treatment but was later released.

Charges are being filed through Blair County Juvenile Probation, police said. No other information is available at this time.

READ MORE: Man dies after being shot early Easter morning outside Pa. lounge: report
WILLIAMSPORT  A couple from California each is facing a mandatory minimum jail term of 10 years related to the 30 pounds of methamphetamine and a kilogram of fentanyl that were found in their car.

Bruce R., 34, and Tanya J. Stanger, 33, entered conditional guilty pleas Tuesday in U.S. Middle District Court to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to deliver controlled substances.

They will be permitted to withdraw their pleas if they win their appeal of Judge Matthew W. Branns order denying the suppression of evidence.

The couple was charged after a state trooper stopped them Aug. 25, 2021, going 79 miles an hour in a 70 zone on Interstate 80.

The following account of the traffic stop is taken from Branns opinion refusing to suppress the evidence:

State police stopped the eastbound on Aug. 25, 2021, on Interstate 80, 12 miles west of Route 15, because the car was traveling nine miles over the 70 speed limit.

Cpl. Mark Conrad observed dark window tint that prevented him from seeing inside and a clear plate cover that put as glare on the license plate making it difficult to read.

Conrad told Tanya Stanger, who was driving the car registered in San Ysidro, California, he planned to issue her a warning.

When he asked where she and her husband were headed she responded New York City to see a concert but then added it was canceled.

She could not say where the concert was to have been held or what they planned to do in New York. A criminal history check revealed she had been arrested multiple times on felony drugs charges.

Bryce Stanger claimed when he was questioned that they were going to pick up his grandmother in Hazleton and the three would drive to Florida to spread his mothers and fathers ashes.

A criminal history check revealed he also had multiple prior arrests on felony drug charges.

After Bryce Stanger refused a request to search the car and backup arrived, Conrads dog made several hits indicating illegal narcotics. The couple was placed under arrest.

The drugs were discovered along with a large amount of currency during a search of the car.

The Stangers in their motion to suppress argued Conrad had detained them approximately 50 minutes without suspicion of criminal activity, long beyond the time required for a traffic stop.

The government countered the trooper had reasonable suspicion that the two were drug mules and legitimately expanded the scope of the stop.

Brann found the length of the stop was justified and they were given their Miranda rights as soon as they were arrested after the dog indicated the presence of narcotics.

Bryce Stanger is expected to receive a longer prison sentence than his wife because when arrested he was on parole from Provo, Utah.

Brann ordered continued detention for the couple pending sentencing. The government is seeing forfeiture of $16,000 in cash.

More:

Appellate court rejects impartiality claim, allows Pa. judge to preside at homicide trial

Former Pa. high school football players get probation for hazing that victim said changed his life
Kenya's move to clean energy is near realisation with the signing of a new agreement on the launch of a green energy and fertiliser facility.

President William Ruto said the partnership with Fortescue Future Industries, a global green energy firm, will catalyse progress towards low carbon energy self-sufficiency.

It will involve the development a 300MW capacity green ammonia and fertiliser facility using the Olkaria Geothermal resources in Naivasha.

"This is a bold statement that Kenya is on an ambitious green growth agenda."

The President made the remarks on Wednesday at State House during the signing of an investment support and implementation agreement with Fortescue Future Industries.

The agreement was signed by Energy, and National Treasury Cabinet Secretaries Davis Chirchir and Njuguna Ndung'u, and FFI Executive Chairman Andrew Forrest.

Dr Ruto explained that Kenya is "walking the talk by taking steps that proactively exploit the opportunity to provide solutions to the global climate crisis".

He noted that the initiative will provide affordable fertiliser to the market, enabling farmers to produce and earn more.

The project will also supply electricity to Kenya's grid, accelerating the phasing out of fossil fuels and reinforcing the country's position as a global leader in renewable energy.



Fossil fuel-dependent fertiliser production is a significant contributor to green house gas emissions.

This is the first of three projects that will see Australia's FFI invest in green energy and manufacturing in Kenya.



Dr Forrest said the partnership sets Kenya on a path to industrial decarbonisation.

"We are determined to be with the people of Kenya on that journey, every step of the way."

He said momentum is accelerating Kenya's vision to establish itself as a world leader in the production of fertiliser made using green ammonia.

"In doing so, its leadership is providing Kenya additional energy security that steps beyond the use of fossil fuels."
Police in Pittsburgh responded to a call about an active shooter on a college campus on Monday night, only to find after their arrival that the call appeared to have been false.

According to TribLive, both Pittsburgh police and campus police responded to a call around 11:20 p.m. about an active shooter at the University of Pittsburghs Oakland campus.

An alert was sent out by the university to students around 12:30 a.m., which informed students that police responded to multiple locations on the campus, but that the calls were later determined to be unfounded, according to a post on the universitys Twitter page.

WPXI reports that police were told shots had been fired at Pitts Hillman Library, but the only shots confirmed by police were those used by an officer to get through a locked door upon their arrival.

The building was cleared and no one was injured, but several students shared their concerns and outrage with WPXI about the colleges failure to alert them of the situation through the Emergency Notification System.

The University of Pittsburgh released a statement, saying that the notifications through the ENS system were delayed and flawed and that the university is currently reviewing the system and retraining our communicators. The full statement can be found here.

The Hillman Library was reported to be open again for students this morning.

The incident follows closely upon a wave of frequent false reports about shootings at schools, which has been dubbed swatting. A series of computer-generated calls were sent out to several Pennsylvania schools in March.

READ MORE: How swatting calls spread as schools in Pa., elsewhere face real threats | AP explainer
By Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News (TNS)

NEW YORK  The Green Book actor whose body was dumped on a Bronx sidewalk died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl and cocaine, a city Medical Examiner autopsy has determined.

Frank Vallelonga Jr.s body was found at 3:50 a.m. Nov. 28 on Oak Point Avenue, an industrial street in Hunts Point, New York.

Police at the time suspected 60-year-old Vallelonga, whose identity was not immediately known because he had no identification on him, died of an overdose. A medical examiner spokesman on Monday said Vallelonga died accidentally from acute intoxication due to combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine.

Steven Smith, 35, was arrested a day after he allegedly dumped Vallelongas body, driving to the scene in a Hyundai Elantra. He claimed a woman named Pam told him somebody had overdosed in the car and turned to him for help.

That dude was dead already, Smith told police, according to the criminal complaint against him. He overdosed. I didnt have anything to do with that.

I got the body out by pulling him out of the car he added. I dont know the guy at all.

The status of Smiths case was not immediately clear Monday.

Vallelonga was the namesake son of the onetime Copacabana bouncer played by Viggo Mortensen in the Oscar-winning Green Book.

The bouncer, Frank Vallelonga Sr., known as Tony Lip, famously accompanied Black pianist Don Shirley as a bodyguard during a tour through the Jim Crow-era South in the early 1960s. Later, Vallelonga Sr. made an unlikely transformation from doorman to actor  including a recurring role on The Sopranos as New York mob boss Carmine Lupertazzi.

Vallelonga Jr. played his uncle Rudy in Green Book and had eight other acting credits, including an appearance on The Sopranos. An Instagram photo from 2019, when Green Book won the Best Picture Oscar, shows a tuxedo-clad Frank Jr. hugging Lady Gaga.

The gray 2021 Hyundai Elantra carrying Vallelongas body was tied to his Academy Award-winning younger brother Nick Vallelonga, according to court papers. The brother had not given permission for anyone to use the vehicle.

Nick Vallelonga co-wrote the screenplay for Green Book and captured a pair of Oscars.
Chef Robert Irvine is returning to central Pennsylvania for a bottle signing at one of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board-run stores.

The celebrity chef and fitness enthusiast will be on hand 1 p.m. April 15 at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection store at the Shoppes at Belmont at 1565 Fruitville Pike in Lancaster County. He will be signing pre-purchased bottles of Irvine Spirits.

Irvine is best known as the host of Restaurant: Impossible on the Food Network, a show that helps struggling restaurant owners overhaul their estasblishments. He also operates Robert Irvines Public House at the Tropicana in Las Vegas and Fresh Kitchen by Robert Irvine in the Pentagon.

Irvine is a partner with Boardroom Spirits in Lansdale, which makes Irvines Spirits including vodka and dry gin. A portion of the sales of his spirits benefit the Robert Irvine Foundation, which gives back to servicemen and women and first responders.

This is not the first time Irvine has visited the region. He participated in previous bottle signings at PLCB stores and in 2011 helped to overhaul Dodge City Steakhouse in Harrisburg for Restaurant Impossible.

READ MORE:
Wawa is making good on its promise to expand in central Pennsylvania, bringing its signature coffee, hoagies and gas to the Harrisburg-area masses.

Last summer, the eastern rival in the Keystone State convenience store wars to Sheetz said it plans to double its store count over the next three to five years in central Pa., with the first store opening as early as 2024.

Until now, Wawa operated stores on the eastern side of the state with none located west of the Susquehanna River.

The Delaware County company said it aims to open 40 stores in central Pennsylvania. Already at least a half dozen stores are in the early development stages, from Chambersburg and State College to addresses closer to Harrisburg.

Some of the proposed stores include:

Attempts to put a Wawa near Mount Joy in Lancaster County failed earlier this year after Mount Joy Township supervisors unanimously rejected Pennmark Managements request to rezone its property. The developer had hoped to rezone the intersection of Route 230 and Cloverleaf Road from agricultural to commercial to allow it to build a 500,000-square-foot shopping center anchored by Aldi and Wawa, according to LancasterOnline.

As Wawa arrives in central Pa., it inches closer to its rival, Sheetz, fueling the heated debate about which chain is the best. Some believe the two powerhouses signed a gentlemans agreement to not encroach on each others territory, but that has largely been unfounded.

The Altoona-based Sheetz and Wawa have been building stores along the Lancaster and Berks county lines for several years. But Sheetz remains dominant in the Harrisburg region. Wawa operates more than 950 convenience stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and Washington, D.C.

Want them to put a Wawa close to you? Help them by filling out this online form.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky.  A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace Monday morning, killing five 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.
A BBQ restaurant owner recently revealed a fight broke out at his establishment over Bud Lights partnership with a transgender activist.

According to Newsweek, Guy Cummins, the Smokin This and That BBQ owner in Kentucky, considered not selling Bud Light due to the controversy. He recently found customers verbally harassing others over drinking Bud Light after Dylan Mulvaney began promoting the brand, Bud Light sent commemorative cans in celebration of the trans activist and influencer 365 Days of Girlhood.

The controversy comes after Bud Light decided to update the brand. VP of Marketing Alissa Heinerscheid recently opened up about the decision to partner with Mulvaney on the Make Yourself At Home podcast.

We had this hangover, I mean Bud Light had been kind of a brand of fratty, kind of out-of-touch humor, and it was really important that we had another approach, Heinerscheid said, The New York Post reported.

As for the bar altercation, it comes on the heels of celebrities like Kid Rock boycotting Bud Light, speaking to a larger issue of conservatives and other critics not supporting the inclusion of transgender women in women-specific issues and spaces, Newsweek also reported.

Initially, the bar owner posted on Facebook about his decision to pull Bud Light before the post was deleted (which is still available on Reddit).

The post read, Smokin This And That BBQ will be no longer be serving Budweiser or Budweiser light due to inappropriate labels. This kind of behavior and or marketing skills speaks volumes about their lack of communication with their real time plain folk customers, please share and keep up the faith. This to shall pass.

Though the Facebook post received backlash. Cummins said he was only trying to protect his customers, later rescinding the idea of pulling the beer.

A few days ago, I noticed a person got Bud Light and the other patrons were making fun of them, Cummins said, according to Newsweek. If its going to cause a problem, why have it? Im protective of the people coming in here.

Since the controversy, the company Anheuser-Busch continued to support the partnership, releasing a statement to Fox News, reading, Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics. From time to time we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Dylan Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.

Read more via Newsweek and The New York Post.

READ MORE:
By Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News (TNS)

The gunman in Monday mornings deadly Louisville shooting was armed with an AR-15, the citys mayor said Tuesday as he called for change.

Authorities said Monday the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, opened fire at the Old National Bank with a rifle, killing five people and wounding others including a police officer, Nickolas Wilt, who was shot in the head.

We need to come together with support and love and prayer for those who are still recovering, for those who are grieving, and then also, we need to come together to take action, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Tuesday on CBS Mornings.

If you care about other loved ones in your city and your country, if you care about officers like Officer Wilt who ran into this situation, faced somebody who was holding an AR-15, waiting for your arrival, lets take action. Lets do something about this.

Law enforcement officers respond to an active shooter near the Old National Bank building on April 10, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

Sturgeon was an employee at Old National Bank, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department, which says officers arrived at the scene within three minutes of being alerted to the shooting. Police say the suspect died after a shootout with officers.

Greenberg met Monday with the family of Wilt, who had graduated from the police academy on March 31. Wilt, 26, underwent brain surgery, interim police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said.

We fortunately got some good news last night, Greenberg told CBS. Officer Wilt is still in critical condition, but he did make some positive progress throughout the day, so we are praying for his continued recovery.

Police identified Joshua Barrick, 40, Thomas Elliot, 63, Juliana Farmer, 45, James Tutt, 64, and Deanna Eckert, 57, as the victims killed in the shooting.

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.

Sturgeon was livestreaming during the attack, the police chief said.

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.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va.  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 familys home, a prosecutor said Monday.

A grand jury sitting in Newport News charged the boys 25-year-old mother with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, Commonwealths 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 boys 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.

FILE - Messages of support for teacher Abby Zwerner, who was shot by a 6-year-old student, grace the front door of Richneck Elementary School Newport News, Va. on Jan. 9, 2023. Zwerner said Monday, March 20, that she has had four surgeries and has gone through a challenging recovery. (AP Photo/John C. Clark, File)AP

Diane Toscano, an attorney for Zwerner, said there were failures in accountability at multiple levels that led to the shooting.

Todays announcement addresses but one of those failures, Toscano said in a statement, referring to the indictments against the boys 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 Zwerners 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.

Virginias 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.

FILE - Students exit a school bus during the first day back to Richneck Elementary School on Jan. 30, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia. (AP Photo/John C. Clark, File)AP

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 mothers 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 districts superintendent, while Richnecks assistant principal resigned from the school division. The elementary schools 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.

Ben Finley and Denise Lavoie of The Associated Press wrote this story.

For more coverage of the shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/newport-news

More:

Former Pa. high school football players get probation for hazing that victim said changed his life

Cumberland County woman named killer in 911 call: police
Authorities have arrested two men charged with the murder of a man after his body was found on a Pa. river trail, according to reports.

Marquise Johnson, 23, of Philadelphia, and Cody Reed, 23, of Norristown were recently arrested, West Norriton Police Chief Michael Kelly and Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele confirmed on Friday, NBC Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

A bicyclist discovered the body of Daquan Tucker, of Audubon, along the Schuylkill River Trail, which borders both West Norriton Township and Norristown on March 3, according to multiple reports from outlets like 6ABC.
A young girl and a woman were stabbed inside a Philadelphia home Monday evening, according to media reports.

The attack occurred inside the first-floor living room of a home located on the 1800 block of North 20th Street just after 7:30 p.m. A 5-year-old girl and a 37-year-old woman were both stabbed multiple times.

Both victims were transported to area hospitals and have both been placed in critical condition, according to 6ABC and NBC10.

So far, no arrests have been made and no weapon was recovered from the scene. Additionally, authorities have not said what caused the attack or released a description of any suspects, according to reports.

Authorities are asking that anyone with information about the incident call the police at 215-686-TIPS.

Read More:
Located in Ca Mau Province, which faces the sea on three sides, with a 307-kilometer-long coastline, the Ca Mau 1 Wind Power Project boasts unique advantages in terms of sea wind power generation. Once completed, the Project will add 1.1 billion KWH of new power generation every year, saving about 450,000 tons of standard coal and reducing about 880,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This will significantly improve the power shortage situation in the local and even the whole southern Vietnam region.

In this project, POWERCHINA initiated the double-deck sea transportation equipment for offshore wind power tower barrels, putting an end to the long-time dependence on single-deck sea transportation for tower barrels that measure more than 5 meters in diameter. This innovation has successfully raised the maximum stacked height of wind power tower barrel for international sea transportation from 10 meters to 14 meters, and the maximum stacked weight from 100 tons to 240 tons, which effectively saved ship deck area and reduced transportation costs.

In addition to the Vietnamese Ca Mau 1 Project, POWERCHINA has also participated in the construction of the 171MW offshore wind power project in Soc Trang and Bac Lieu, and the 310MW offshore wind power project in Binh Dai in Vietnam. In July 2022, POWERCHINA signed a new contract on the Wind farm project in Kai long-Ca Mau Tourism Zone in Vietnam. These moves have injected strong impetus into Vietnam's efforts to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, diversify its energy sources and achieve sustainable socio-economic development.
LOCK HAVEN  A Superior Court panel has ruled a Clinton County judge may preside over a homicide trial despite representing the accused sons mother twice as private attorney before he went on the bench.

As the result of Mondays ruling, court administrator Don Powers said he will begin again planning for the trial of Brian St. John III.

The trial has been on hold since last July when District Attorney David A. Strouse appealed the decision of president Judge Craig Miller not to recuse himself.

Strouse questions the impartiality of Miller noting he and one of the defense attorneys, George E. Lepley Jr., were co-counsel for four homicide trials before the judge went on the bench and they remain friends.

In ruling that Miller may preside over the trial, the panel found Strouse had not shown he harbors a personal bias against the prosecution or, beyond conjecture, that he has a personal interest in the outcome of the case.

It cites comments Miller made when he refused to recuse himself that no evidence was presented that Lepley and he socialized since he went on the bench in 2008.

Allegations about close contacts between Miller and Lepley are unfounded, it concluded.

The panel also noted Miller said at the July hearing he could not identify St. Johns mother when he entered the courtroom and he has had no contact with her since the criminal matters ended in 2006.

Strouse said he respects the decision but will consider all appellate options before moving forward.

His priority is justice for the victim and his family that he said has been delayed far too long.

St. John, 21, is accused of fatally shooting Jakob Lee Haines, 21, of Beech Creek, on Feb. 26, 2021, during a gathering in a home in Woodward Twp. across the Susquehanna River from Lock Haven.

The prosecution alleges St. John removed a Taurus Judge revolver from a kitchen drawer, pointed it at Haines and pulled the trigger.

St. John told investigators he was 100 percent sure the gun was unloaded when he fired it, according to court records.

St. John is charged with first- and third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, attempted aggravated assault and voluntary manslaughter.

Although he is not dropping any of the charges, Strouse previously said he will not pursue the latter two at trial.

More:

Former Pa. high school football players get probation for hazing that victim said changed his life

Overhead sign work to impact traffic on and near new central Pa. thruway bridge
The owner of at least one dog involved in an attack in Upper Allen Township over the weekend that, according to police injured two people, said she is following orders to quarantine the pet.

Teresa Harrold said the incident occurred when two of her dogs, including a Dalmatian hound mix named Chase, accidentally escaped from her home. Harrold, who was out of town at the time of the incident, said the dogs slipped out when her pet sitter opened the door for a neighbor.

According to Upper Allen Township police, the two dogs were running loose around 7 p.m. Saturday in the 800 block of Northern Spy Drive in the Winding Hills Development. The dogs attacked two individuals who were separately outside with their dogs, police said, leading to both individuals suffering injuries and one of the dogs being severely hurt.

Several accounts shared on Facebook indicate a dog died in the attack.

Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Shannon Powell would not comment on the case, other than to confirm an investigation is ongoing. The department through The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement investigates cases involving dangerous dogs and determines whether owners should be cited.

Owners found guilty of having dangerous dogs, Powers said, can face civil penalties and must follow strict rules including registering pets, paying fees and properly confining the animals.

As of Monday afternoon, Harrold said only one of her dogs, Chase, was mandated by the dog warden to follow strict quarantine guidelines related to the incident.

She said Chase had one previous aggressive incident last summer with another dog, which suffered superficial wounds. The family immediately sent the dog to intensive training for several weeks, she added.

It was upsetting, and we went to training and it didnt rise to the level of this, she said. We had thought we had worked through the issues.

Up until now, Harrold said Chase had never displayed aggression toward a person and literally hugs and cuddles you. She said they dont know what triggered Chase to attack.

For now, Harrold said they are following orders from police to quarantine Chase inside for 10 days, with exception to bathroom breaks in the familys fenced-in backyard. Chase is wearing prong and shock collars and a harness to ensure he doesnt escape, she said.

Any decision to euthanize Chase is on hold, she said, per orders from the dog warden due to rabies testing.

We are devastated by what happened to our neighbors and neighbors dogs. Things were going well with Chase after we did training, so we are truly shocked and horrified by what happened, she said. We cannot imagine the pain our neighbors are going through, and deeply wish we could change what happened.

Harrold said she is working with her insurance company to cover medical and other expenses for her neighbors.

More:

Cumberland County woman named killer in 911 call: police

Police seek tips in fatal shooting of 12-year-old boy at friends sleepover in central Pa.
JERSEY SHORE  Dollar General is contesting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations and proposed $245,544 penalty for alleged safety violations at one of its stores in Lycoming County.

OSHA says its November investigation based on a complaint found employees were exposed to dangerous safety hazardous including blocked emergency exit routes and electrical panels.

Exposing employees to these hazards can be dangerous, especially in an emergency, said OSHA area director Mary Reynolds in Wilkes-Barre.

Dollar General Corp. has a substantial history of the same violations and hazards found at stores all around the U.S. They must end their repeated failures to correct these violations before an emergency turns tragic.

The nationwide discount retail chains has a long history of federal workplace safety violations, according to OSHA, which added that these have generated $15 million in penalties since 2017.

The Jersey Shore inspection was among more than 180 investigations nationwide in which OSHA says it found the company jeopardizing worker safety.

The company, based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, issued this statement:

As a growing retailer serving thousands of communities across the country, Dollar General is committed to providing a safe work environment for its associates and shopping experience for its customers.

It continued: When we learn of situations where we have failed to live up to this commitment, we work to timely address the issue and ensure that the companys expectations regarding safety are clearly communicated, understood and implemented.

Dollar General Corp. and Dolgencorp LLC operate about 18,000 stores and 17 distribution centers in 47 states and employ more than 150,000 workers.

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Former Pa. high school football players get probation for hazing that victim said changed his life

Overhead sign work to impact traffic on and near new central Pa. thruway bridge
Travelers using public cellphone charging stations at airports - and other places - have been warned by the FBI to be wary of using them.

Your information could be a victim of juice jacking by those stations available to the public in places including airports, hotels and shopping centers.

Earlier this month, the FBIs Denver field office shared this tip - 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.

The FBI has previously warned people about the issue and did not reveal what prompted the most recent advise shared on Twitter.

The Federal Communications Commission in 2021 warned that using those public charging stations could have unfortunate consequences.

Juice-jacking, it said, is a cyber-theft tactic.

Cybersecurity experts have warned that criminals can load malware onto public USB charging stations to maliciously access electronic devices while they are being charged.

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, the FCC said.

The FCC advised that travelers use an AC power outlet, bring their own charges and cables, carry a portable charger or external battery or consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier.

READ MORE: Lawmakers push bill to crack down on phone use while driving.
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press

A retired firefighter who threw a fire extinguisher at police officers during the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced on Tuesday to more than four years in prison.

Robert Sanford struck two police officers in the head with the fire extinguisher that he threw as he stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with a mob of Donald Trump supporters. He also threw an orange traffic cone at a Capitol police sergeant.

Sanford also hurled obscenities and insults at the law enforcement officers on the Lower West Terrace, calling them traitors, a prosecutor, Janani Iyengar, wrote in a court filing.

One of the officers struck by the fire extinguisher had a bump and swelling on his head; the other had a headache and went to a hospital for a medical exam, prosecutors said.

This drivers license image contained in the Statement of Facts supporting an arrest warrant, released by the Justice Department, shows Robert Sanford. Sanford, a retired firefighter who threw a fire extinguisher at police officers during the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison. (Justice Department via AP)AP

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sentenced Sanford to four years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to an online court record. Federal prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of five years and 11 months.

Sanford, 57, of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, worked as a firefighter for 26 years before retiring in 2020. A fire extinguisher is an instrument that he was uniquely familiar with and should have known how much damage it could cause, the prosecutor wrote.

Sanford traveled to Washington, D.C., with friends from Pennsylvania on bus trip organized by the conservative activist group Turning Point USA. He listened to speeches at Trumps Stop the Steal rally before joining the crowd that marched over to the Capitol and disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying Democrat Joe Bidens electoral victory over Trump.

Sanford was arrested on Jan. 14, 2021. He has been jailed since he pleaded guilty last September to assaulting, resisting or impeding police officers using a dangerous weapon  a felony punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. He wasnt accused of entering the Capitol building on Jan. 6.

Sanford began to work with a specialist in cult deprogramming in August 2022 and was confronted with facts about the baseless conspiracy theory that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election from Trump, according to defense attorney Andrew Stewart.

Even after he was incarcerated, he participated in regular discussions designed to challenge his ideology and belief structure, then help him understand how and why he developed the beliefs that led him to make the decisions that he did on January 6, Stewart wrote in a court filing.

Sanford believed that police had attacked him and others without provocation when he picked up and threw what felt like an empty fire extinguisher, his lawyer said.

Certainly, this is not a justification for his action nor is it intended to be, Stewart wrote.

More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 riot. Over 600 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or judge. Over 450 of them have been sentenced, with over half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years.

More than 100 police officers were injured during the Jan. 6 riot.

Also on Tuesday, Nevada a man who joined other rioters in assaulting police officers in a tunnel on the Capitols Lower West Terrace was sentenced to six years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols also ordered Josiah Kenyon, 35, of Winnemucca, Nevada, to pay over $43,000 in restitution for damaging a window at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Kenyon was dressed as the character Jack Skellington from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas when he joined the mobs attack. He used a table leg with a protruding nail to strike an officer in the leg and hit a second officer so hard that it lodged in the officers face shield and helmet, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of seven years and four months for Kenyon, who pleaded guilty to assault charges in September 2022.

Kenyon drove to Washington from Reno, Nevada with his wife and young children to attend Trumps rally. Kenyon told FBI agents that he hated Trump and went to the Capitol because he was trying to raise the violence level, prosecutors wrote, adding, His idea was to have the Trumpers charge the police line which would in turn cause the officers to shoot the rioters.
Dauphin County officials plan to cut slots in doors and vents in ceilings to improve ventilation in jail cells that have long had no heating sources.

The move comes after a 45-year-old man died with hypothermia inside a cold cell last January, and the death of a second man last year on the coldest night of the year. Both men died while housed in the jails medical unit, where the heating sources are located in the hallways.
A Bucks County man drugged his mother, put her in a shed and shot her to death this weekend, the district attorneys office announced Monday.

Sean Rivera, 28,is charged with homicide, kidnapping, aggravated assault and more in connection with the killing of his mother, 72-year-old Carol J. Clark.

Officers first responded to a report of a dispute between two brothers about the whereabouts of their mother on Sunday afternoon, according to the DAs office.

Detectives determined Rivera lived with his mother on Berwyn Road, Falls Township, and that he called his brother on Sunday morning to tell them that their mother had died, according to the DAs office.

The brother came in from New York and Rivera would not say where their mother was.

The Falls Township Police Department issued an alert to help locate her and got a warrant for her home and vehicle.

According to the DAs office, the evidence pointed to Rivera putting fentanyl in his mothers iced tea on Saturday night, then driving her to Philadelphia where he put her in a shed before shooting her and leaving her body there.

Clarks body was found overnight in the 4300 block of Waln Street, Philadelphia, and she was pronounced dead early Monday morning.

Investigators said they believe that when Rivera drove his mother to Philadelphia, she would have been conscious but in a lethargic state. Driving her to the shed would have occurred between 2 and 3 a.m. Sunday, according to the DAs office.

At the shed, River used bolt cutters to cut off padlocks, then put his mother inside and shot her, the DAs office said. He then closed the shed and locked it with a new padlock.

The bolt cutters, a padlock, an empty padlock package and a Home Depot receipt were found by investigators in Clarks home and vehicle. Investigators believe Rivera bought the padlock he used to re-lock the shed because he was in possession of the key to open it.

In addition to the homicide and assault charges, Rivera was charged with drug possession charges, possession of an instrument of a crime, possession of a weapon, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint and reckless endangerment.

He was denied bail and is being held at Bucks County Correctional Facility.

Read more on PennLive:
Treasurer Stacy Garrity on Monday announced that the upcoming online auction of unclaimed property will take place Wednesday and Thursday.

It will include fine jewelry, coins, currency, and many other items that have been safeguarded in Treasurys vault, a press release said. The majority of Treasurys items will be featured on Wednesday.

Treasury partners with Pook & Pook, Inc., in Downingtown, Chester County, for appraisal and auctioneer services. Items up for auction can be previewed at pookandpook.com. Interested bidders can also register on Pook & Pooks website.

The auction will feature 4,250 items from Treasurys vault, including:

A 14K two-tone gold stick pin brooch with 2-carat diamond;

Multiple Engelhard 100 Troy ounce 999+ fine silver bars;

$20 Liberty Head Double Eagle gold coins;

One-ounce fine gold Canadian $50 Maple Leaf coins;

Morgan dollars;

An 18K yellow gold George Melleze pocket watch with a silver-colored key attached; and

Various comic books and magazines.

All Treasury items listed in the auction are subject to change at any time before the sale. In this case, Treasury is made aware of changes that might be made due to new information regarding an items authenticity, change in value, quality or other determining factor.

There are some remarkable items available to bid on in this auction, Garrity said. Any proceeds will be carefully tracked  and will always be available for the rightful owner to claim any time, even years or decades from now.

Unclaimed property comes to Treasury in accordance with state law. Tangible property, like the items being auctioned, most often comes from abandoned safe deposit boxes, with other items coming from college dorms, nursing homes or police evidence rooms. Unclaimed property also includes balances of forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, stocks, insurance policies and more.

The online auctions will also include items from other consignors. Treasury items may be combined into lots but will never be co-mingled with non-Treasury items.

Treasury employees and immediate family members are prohibited from bidding.

Property is safeguarded in the vault for at least three years before being auctioned. Treasury updates its unclaimed property records to reflect the proceeds from an items sale, so if a rightful owner comes forward the proceeds are available to claim.

About one in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed some of the more than $4 billion in unclaimed property. The average value of a claim is $1,600, according to Treasury.

To search for unclaimed property, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property.

More:

Pa. Treasury might have your money, and now theres a plan to return it

Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro viewed favorably three months into his term: poll
You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | April 11, 2023

100 students have been shot in Philadelphia this year. Pennsylvania (still) has some of the highest gas prices in the country. Giant Eagle has been dethroned as Pittsburghs most dominant grocery store. And this woman got a sign that her boyfriend wanted to marry her.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.

As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA.
Off-year elections typically dont receive much publicity. However, Cumberland County voters face a critical choice on May 16, which will position our county for success for the next several decades. Voters will be going to the polls to choose the primary election candidates for the next Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, and Nate Silcox and Kelly Neiderer are the right choice for Republicans for our future.

Nate has dedicated his life to public service both at the state and local level. He has served on the staff at both the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Senate. Of late, he has focused much of his work on veterans affairs and emergency preparedness. Nate has served as a Hampden Township Commissioner for more than 13 years and currently chairs the board. He has managed to provide necessary services, encourage economic development, and improve our quality of life while controlling spending and taxes. In addition, Nate is always approachable and quick to find effective and efficient solutions to municipal problems.

Kelly has spent much of her career in the business world. Her accomplishments include over 30 years in banking at a leadership capacity. She understands the important role businesses play in the health of our community. More recently, Kelly has served as the Cumberland County Treasurer, assisting residents with obtaining permits and licenses from a variety of state agencies while collecting, safeguarding, and investing our county financial accounts.
With a total capacity of around 500 MW, the Yeu and Noirmoutier wind farm represents an investment of around 2.5 billion. The project involves the construction and installation of a wind farm located 11 km off the island of Yeu and 16 km off the island of Noirmoutier. This offshore wind farm will supply nearly 800,000 people with electricity each year, the equivalent of the population of the Vendee.

Winner in 2014 of the call for tenders launched by the French State in 2013, the project has been in development since then, implying a continuous dialogue with local elected officials, fisheries and sea users, socio-economic players and the general public. Detailed engineering studies, environmental studies and the creation of a Scientific Interest Group to follow-up the environmental impacts of the wind farm, from its construction to its exploitation, have also been carried out. The administrative authorisations were obtained in 2018.

The final investment decision opens the way for the construction phase of the project: the first offshore operations will take place this summer before the effective start of the installation works in 2024 and 2025. The wind turbines, produced by Siemens Gamesa in its Le Havre facility, will be installed during 2025. The wind farm is expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2025. The construction phase of the EMYN wind farm, which will last 2.5 years, will create 1,600 direct jobs in France.

ENGIE, through Ocean Winds, has two other wind farms under construction or ready to be built in France: the Dieppe-Le Treport farm and the Gulf of Lion floating pilot farm. With 15 projects in 7 countries, Ocean Winds has now a portfolio of 1.5 GW of projects in operation and 15.1 GW under construction and in development. With 8 GW won in Scotland and the US in 2022, the ENGIE joint-venture has tripled the size of its project portfolio since its creation in 2020.

"We, at ENGIE, are delighted that EMYN, a flagship project for the Group, is achieving a significant development step, and will now be entering in construction phase. This offshore wind park will contribute to the development of the French offshore wind energy industry. France has an exceptional potential in terms of renewable energies, in particular thanks to its seaboards. ENGIE is strongly committed to support the country's energy transition through responsibly conducted projects.", says Paulo ALMIRANTE, ENGIE Senior Executive Vice President Renewables, Energy Management and Nuclear Activities.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was on national television Tuesday morning discussing the Kentucky mass shooting, gun violence and abortion.

Shapiro appeared for about 10 minutes on MSNBCs Morning Joe program, where he spent the bulk of his time addressing gun violence and possible solutions in the wake of the shooting in Louisville, Ky., on Monday in which five people were killed and eight wounded by an assailant who was shot and killed by police.

Before we get into the policy prescriptions, we all have to say as Americans, It doesnt have to be this way. We dont have to accept this. This is not normal, Shapiro said. We have to come together and stop making pitiful excuses for inaction and actually get something done.

Shapiro said that universal background checks on gun purchases are needed, and he offered several underlying drivers of violence that should be addressed, such as mental healthcare, poverty, and the lack of education and job opportunities.

In his first proposed budget, Shapiro said he called for increases in job creation programs and vocational-technical programs to expand job opportunities for young people, as well as installing mental health counselors in every school building in the state.

Theres a whole host of common-sense things we can do, but thats a start, Shapiro said. Thats a down payment on progress that were making here in Pennsylvania.

Shapiro said that Pennsylvania has 20% fewer 911 dispatchers than needed so he has included funding to hire and train more in his budget proposal.

Toward the end of his appearance, Shapiro was asked about the recent ruling by a conservative federal judge in Texas that halted the Federal Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone, a drug used in abortions for the last 20 years.

Shapiro described it as a horrible decision but one that does not affect women in Pennsylvania. Here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we defend that right, he said. Women have the right to choose.

The governor then referred to the website at pa.gov/freedomtochoose, which his administration unveiled Monday in response to the ruling. On the new site, the public can find information about the medication.

You can watch Shapiros appearance in the embedded video below.
Gov. Josh Shapiros call for a five-year phase-out of transfers from the Motor License that help to fund state police operations to free up more funding for transportation projects enjoys broad support from various sectors.

Some, however, would like to see that phase-out happen on a more accelerated schedule than what the governor proposed. Meanwhile, those representing the policing community have expressed concern that they could end up shortchanged when the funding from this revenue stream for the state police dries up.

Shapiro proposes creating a Public Safety and Protection Fund to sustainably fund the state police using dedicated revenue from other sources such as the tax revenue from cigarettes, liquor and gambling.

Whats happening: The House Transportation Committee on Tuesday held an hourlong hearing about the governors proposal to eliminate dipping into the Motor License Fund to fund anything other than transportation projects.

Currently, the state uses $500 million of the Motor License Fund, fueled mainly by the gas tax and motor license fees, to support the state police.

Shapiro proposes reducing that by $100 million a year until hitting zero in 2027-28, which would free up an additional $1.5 billion for transportation projects over five years. Committee Chairman Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, and ranking Republican Rep. Kerry Benninghoff of Centre County, plan to introduce legislation that would implement that plan.

The Senate, meanwhile, has passed legislation that would speed up that phase-out by dropping the transfer amount from the Motor License Fund to fund state police to $250 million next year and annually decreasing it by $50 million until reaching zero in 2028-29.

How we got here: According to the state police, a portion of the Motor License Fund has been used to fund their operations since 1945. Over time, the amount of the state police budget that came from the Motor License Fund grew to a high of $801 million in 2016-17, funding 65% of the state police budget.

That increasingly became a concern as transportation projects were pushed to the wayside due to lack of funding. In 2016, Act 85 was passed that began the incremental reduction toward this years $500 million cap on Motor License funding that would go to the state police.

According to PennDOT, between 2012 and 2019, more than $4.25 billion of Motor License Fund money went to the state police.

Acting PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in his former role as a state legislator, he supported many of the policy decisions that led to this diversion of Motor License Fund but we have reached a point where the Motor License Fund can no longer sustain that kind of support.

PennDOTs annual budget is roughly $9 billion.

What people say about it: There is a strong sentiment for ensuring funding for the state police be maintained and increased but the transportation community doesnt want it coming out of the Motor License Fund.

Robert Latham, executive vice president of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors, said this diversion of Motor License Fund puts the state in a bad position to grab some of the $27 billion in federal transportation grants to fund projects over the next five years. To compete, states must put up as much state match as possible.

Thats where every amount that we can find to fund the state police out of the general fund to put money back in the Motor License Fund is going to be helpful, Latham said.

Roseline Bougher, chair of the American Council of Engineering Companies, pointed out with the gas tax being the main funding source for the Motor License Fund and people traveling less and buying more fuel-efficient or electric vehicles, the gas tax is no longer as viable of a revenue source as it once was. Further, she said a large portion of available transportation funding is directed to maintaining existing structures even though more funding is needed to respond to growth and development.

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association support an accelerated schedule for moving the state police funding out of the Motor License Fund. The National Federation of Business in Pennsylvania supports that concept as well but raises concern about the lack of transparency around the proposed special fund to pay for state police operations as well as questions what sources of revenue would go into it.

David Kennedy, president of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, said his organization supports the governors proposal but states the need for whatever replacement revenue sources are identified, they must be sustainable and growable. Meanwhile, the Fraternal Order of Police Pennsylvania State Lodge supports the governors initiative so long as adequate replacement funding streams are tied to such a fund.

On a separate note: With National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week next week, transportation officials and lawmakers used the hearing as an opportunity to remind motorists to slow down in work zones. It was pointed out upwards of 20,000 people work throughout the state on roads and bridges in work zones where speed limits tend to be ignored.

Since 1970, PennDOT has lost 90 workers in the line of duty and the Pennsylvania Turnpike has lost 45 workers since 1940. According to preliminary PennDOT data, there were 1,293 work zone crashes, resulting in 14 fatalities last year.

Mothers, fathers, brothers, cousins work out there and deserve the opportunity to come home safely, Latham said.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

Read more on PennLive:

It doesnt have to be this way, Shapiro says during TV appearance on Louisville shooting, gun violence

Pa. Treasury to hold online auction of unclaimed property this week
This two-bedroom, one-bathroom home at 125 Bassett St. in Penticton is listed for $699,000, close to the average selling price for a benchmark home in the city in Penticton.
A woman types on a keyboard in New York on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019. The Northwest Territories government says it spent more than $700,000 to address a cyberattack in November. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Jenny Kane
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), an interplanetary spacecraft that will study three of Jupiters Galilean moons, will launch Thursday this week if all goes well. It will visit three of the largest moons of Jupiter: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa, all of which are thought to have significant bodies of liquid water beneath their surfaces, giving them the possibility of harboring life. In addition, they may offer possible future habitable locations for humans in the form of a space outpost.

The spacecraft (called JUICE) is scheduled to lift off 8:15 a.m. EDT April 13 and reach Jupiter in July 2031 after seven years travel time that uses gravity assists from Earth and Venus. In December 2034, the spacecraft will enter orbit around Ganymede for its close up science mission, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a moon other than the Moon of our Earth.

The project is a collaboration of many nations working together and is under the control of the European Space Agency, ESA. An Ariane 5 rocket, one of the largest built, will blast off from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. That southern location, much like our Cape Kennedy, gives the spacecraft an extra boost on its journey by using the spinning of the Earth to help it along.

Later on in this year the United States will be launching its own probe to Jupiter, the Europa Clipper mission, sometime around October. You may wonder why a moon like Europa, so far out in the cold Solar System, could have liquid water on its surface.

Exploration of Europa began with the Jupiter flybys of Pioneer 10 and 11 fifty years ago. The first close-up photos were of low resolution and did not show much except a flat white surface. When the two Voyager probes traveled through the Jovian system in 1979, scientists were amazed at the detailed images of Europas icy surface, causing much speculation about the possibility of a liquid ocean underneath.

Another probe, Galileo, orbited Jupiter for eight years until 2003, and provided the most detailed examination of Europa and the other three Galilean moons to date. The Galileo orbiter found that Europa has a weak magnetic field which is induced by the varying part of the gigantic Jovian magnetic field. The field strength at the magnetic equator, about 120 nT, is about one-sixth the strength of Ganymedes field and six times the value of Callistos. The existence of this induced field requires a layer of a highly electrically conductive material in Europas interior. The most plausible candidate for this role is a large subsurface ocean of liquid saltwater. Even so, how could it remain liquid that far out from the Sun?

Scientists consensus is that heat from tidal flexing allows the subsurface ocean to remain liquid even though Europas surface temperature averages about 260 degrees Fahrenheit and even colder at the poles. The best evidence for the ice floating on water model is a study of Europas large craters. The largest impact structures are surrounded by concentric rings and appear to be re-filled with relatively flat, fresh ice after a while. It is thought that the ice layer may be 10 miles thick and covering a water ocean up to sixty miles deep. If that were so, the moon Europa would hold over twice the volume of water our oceans on Earth do.

Can tides be enough to keep the water liquid on Europa? Apparently so, and the generation of so-called Rossby waves within the liquid region can generate significant kinetic energy as they move. Likewise, Kelvin waves that come about due to the interaction with the moons Coriolis force can also be present. Nevertheless, all moving liquids dissipate energy because of internal viscosity friction and this has been calculated enough to keep the water warm. Because the size of Jupiter is so immense it can easily dictate such disturbances within orbiting moon and not feel it at all.

The JUICE orbiter will also perform detailed investigations on Ganymede and Callisto as well. The probe is designed to provide topographical, geological and compositional mapping of the surface of the three moons with the goal of determining the physical properties of the icy crusts on each. In addition, it will determine the composition of Ganymedes tenuous atmosphere which is thought to be composed of oxygen.

So far, there is no evidence that life exists on Europa or any of the other moons of Jupiter, but the seeming abundance of water makes this a good location for future human exploration in the subsequent decades after landing on Mars. One interesting feature of the path for the probe is that JUICE will pass twice through the asteroid belt. A flyby of the asteroid 223 Rosa has been proposed, and if the mission team can arrange it this would occur in October 2029.
ELKO  An Elko man accused of stabbing his father and then crashing a pickup into the front doors of the Elko County Sheriffs Office and Jail complex on Saturday is facing attempted murder and other charges, according to jail booking records.

A detective reported that deputies were called to the residence on Oil Well Road Friday night and were told that Zachary S. Pawlik, 28, had threatened to kill his father approximately two weeks earlier. His parents were concerned about his mental health and he had moved back in with them on April 3.

A temporary restraining order had been filed but the report did not say whether any action was taken by deputies on Friday night when the parents were nervous to go into the residence with Zachary inside.

When Zachary returned Saturday afternoon he was not allowed in the home, so he went to the garage to retrieve personal items. When his father Seth went to the garage to talk to him, the report said Zachary asked him for a hug and as Seth approached him with open arms he was stabbed with a pocket knife in the lower abdomen.

As deputies headed to the scene they learned that Pawlik had already fled in a 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, Fisher stated.

The pickup broke through the exterior set of glass doorways but not the interior doorways.

Pawlik was taken into custody and initially booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, felony eluding a police officer, and misdemeanor traffic offenses. On Sunday, charges of attempted murder and domestic battery resulting in substantial bodily harm were added to his booking sheet.

His total bail was listed at $161,725.
ELKO  National Prescription Drug Take Back Day allows people to safely dispose of unused prescription and non-prescription medication. On Saturday, April 22, PACE Coalition and the Elko County Sheriffs Office will host a take-back site behind Sherman Station in Elkos Main City Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In 2022, people in the Elko area contributed to the removal of more than 5,000 pounds of unused medication from Nevada homes. PACE hopes Elko can contribute even more this year.

Disposing of unused medication keeps potentially harmful drugs out of the hands of youth or others for whom they were not meant.

Safe disposal also keeps drugs from migrating into drinking water. Drugs collected during Take Back Day will be destroyed in zero-emission incinerators, preventing the release of their chemicals into our environment.

Call PACE Coalition at 775-777-3451 for more information about safe medication storage and disposal.
PN Podcast: Three Clocks, One Hand + Hear from Rising Content Star Caitlin Comeskey

March 02, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S.

On the latest PokerNews Podcast episode of 2023, Chad Holloway and Jesse Fullen talk about the former's recent appearance on the Talk is Jericho podcast as well as the latter's trip to Texas. They then wrap up PokerNews' coverage of the EPT Paris by discussing Johan Yoh Viral Guilbert's controversial hand where he got the clock called on him three different times! Also, hear a winner's interview from PokerStars qualifier Razvan Belea, who took down the Main Event for 1,170,000.

Other stories covered include 1999 WSOP champ Noel Furlong leaving behind a literal fortune, Connor Richards Top 5 Casino Movies you must watch, and Rafi Azam winning the RGPS Jamul Main Event for $52,820.

Finally, Jesse has a conversation for his fellow Global Poker Award nominee Caitlin Comeskey to talk about her come-up in poker, content production, and much more!

Listen to those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!

PokerNews is hiring for the 2023 WSOP! Click here for details.

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Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show  tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway, Jesse Fullen, and Connor Richards on Twitter.

Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here!

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Sharelines PokerNews Podcast: @CaitlinComeskey is a rising star in poker content creation. Hear from her now!
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A spokesperson for Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg called Jordan coming to New York to hold a hearing, a political stunt, and pointed out that crime is higher in parts of Jordans Ohio.

The Bragg statement:

Read the full statement:

Jim Jordan keeps trying to help Trump and wreck the criminal case against the former president, and he continues to get burned by Alvin Bragg. The Manhattan prosecutor is ten steps ahead of Rep. Jordan and the Republicans.

Bragg wasted no time in humiliating Jordan and exposing his sham by pointing out that there are plenty of murders right in Rep. Jordans backyard in Ohio for him to be taking a look at.

Jordan and the House Republicans think they are helping Trump, but all they are accomplishing is sowing the seeds for the loss of the Republican House majority in 2024.
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Democracy won, as the Nashville Metro Council voted to give expelled Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones his job back and Jones returned to the House floor to applause and cheers.

Video:

The Tennessee House Republican super majority tried to stifle the voices of dissent who are calling for gun safety legislation by ignoring the will of the people and expelling Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson.

After the Nashville Metro Council voted to return Justin Jones to the legislature, he returned to the House to cheers.

Tennessee Republicans thought that they could make an example out of Justin Jones. The Republicans believed that by expelling two African-American representatives, they could silence the voices of thousands of young people who showed up at the capital demanding change after the Nashville school shooting.

The MAGA-style power play was destined to backfire because democracy is more powerful than any legislative supermajority.

Every un-democratic body has run into the same obstacle. People want to be free. The voice of the people is more enduring than political constructs. Tennessee Republicans thought that they had won when they expelled Jones and Pearson, but it was a defeat masked in the scent of entitlement and victory.

What happened to the Tennessee 3 can happen to any elected representative in the country if we lose our democratic principles.

Tennessee is a victory, but also a warning that American democracy is under threat and the fight is far from over.
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In a letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee told Roberts to open an immediate investigation into Clarence Thomas or they will take action.

In a letter, the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote in part:

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. 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. We urge you to immediately open such an investigation and take all needed action to prevent further misconduct.

.

In the coming days, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing regarding the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Courts ethical standards. 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 implied message in the Senate Judiciary Committees letter to Roberts is that he needs to take care of this problem, or the Senate will get involved and take care of it for him.

Roberts has let this sort of corruption happen under his nose with the conservative Supreme Court majority for years. It will probably take a Senate investigation into Thomas and other conservative justices like Alito whose name has also come up in disclosure forms for the Supreme Court to impose ethics rules.

The odds of Chief Justice Roberts doing anything about Thomas are not good, so Senate Democrats should be prepared to act to investigate corruption on the Supreme Court.
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Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) claimed that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg sued him to block congressional oversight, which is untrue.

Jordan responded to Braggs lawsuit by tweeting:

First, they indict a president for no crime. Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it.  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) April 11, 2023

Jordans pretext of Braggs office getting federal funding isnt holding up well. Rep. Jordan isnt investigating the use of federal funds because he is attempting to call as witnesses people who work or who have worked on prosecutions in the District Attorneys office.

If the investigation were about budgeting and spending, Jordan would want to speak to the members of the DAs office who handle budgetary matters, not people with intimate knowledge of the case against Donald Trump.

It seems that Jordan never expected to be sued by Bragg.

The Ohio congressman apparently thought Bragg would sit back and allow him to interfere in his criminal case.

Republicans, including Trump, have been bullying investigators and shutting down investigations.

Alvin Bragg is sending the message that Jim Jordan isnt going to get away with the same old tactics, and the loyal Trump ally doesnt know how to handle it.
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In Ron DeSantis best world, things like this happen: Charges have been dropped against one of the two men who shot each others daughters in a road rage incident in Florida. The man who shot first is the one whose charges were dropped.

Yes, two grown men driving down the highway in Florida ended up in a road rage semi-automatic handgun battle stemming from brake checking. They both ended up shooting each others daughters. Only one will face charges, because shooting at an aggressive drivers vehicle is permissible in Florida if they have thrown a water bottle at the shooters vehicle.

By the way, those charges werent even filed until March 30 of 2023, after First Coast News reached out to the State Attorneys office in January asking why no charges had been filed.

Prosecutors dropped charges against Frank Allison, 43, because they say he acted in self-defense. William Hale, 36, faces three counts of attempted murder. Allisons first shot was justifiable use of force because Hale threw a water bottle first, after trying to run Allison off the highway.

Janet Johnson, identified as a criminal defense attorney, explained, Some people would say well water bottles shouldnt be more aggravated than a gun but under the case law that the state cited a water bottle is considered a deadly missile. The same as a bullet would be so if youre the first aggressor even if you didnt use a gun and you used a water bottle you dont get to hide behind stand your ground because you caused the conflict.

In Florida, a water bottle is considered a deadly missile, the same as a bullet.

Eating Skittles might also be seen as aggressive, depending on the darkness of your skin color. The law is applied very haphazardly and unevenly in Florida. Over a decade ago, under another Republican Governor (now Senator Rick Scott), George Zimmerman shot and killed an unarmed 17-year-old black boy named Trayvon Martin, whom Zimmerman pursued without provocation.

While Zimmerman did not actually invoke Stand Your Ground as a defense, Zimmermans jury did receive instructions about the Stand Your Ground law and initially, he was released because there was no evidence to refute Zimmermans claim of having acted in self-defense.

Zimmerman is free and his defense gave rise to a proliferation of Stand Your Ground laws, which are growing even more extreme.

Studies show Stand Your Ground laws are linked to an 11% increases in firearm homicides. Stand Your Ground laws remove the duty to retreat from an attacker when possible. They are interpreted in such a way that if the right kind of someone can convince authorities they felt threatened, they are allowed to shoot to kill or use deadly force.

In Florida, this didnt apply to Marissa Alexander, though. The black woman spent almost a half-dozen years either locked in prison or confined to her house after she was convicted of aggravated assault charges in 2012 for firing a warning shot at her husband, who she said had abused her. According to her account in court documents, he had threatened her nine days after she gave birth to their daughter.

The judge denied Alexanders Stand Your Ground defense because he said there was a factual dispute on her Stand Your Ground defense. In other words, Alexanders feeling of fear  based on admitted history of violence against her  was unacceptable defense, but others who have claimed fear and actually murdered someone else have been allowed this defense based on their feelings. Her husband at the time, Rico Gray Sr., acknowledged in a hearing that there had been previous instances of violence, and the trial judge allowed the testimony to be introduced as evidence.

Prosecutors argued that the issue in her case was the bullet hole in the wall suggested that she had fired out of anger.

I would submit for consideration the concept that ongoing abuse, especially post-partum, would make anyone angry and additionally, that these two road rage white men were angry when they fired at each other. This is why representation matters because much of the more well-known interpretations of Stand Your Ground laws have been based on identifying with or not identifying with the victim and the aggressor.

So previous abuse doesnt count for a feeling of fear or intimidation, but there is no duty to retreat from an attacker.

The premise of this law is a mess and in effect, subject to bias and favoritism, where certain peoples feelings of being threatened cant be disputed, while other less favored peoples documented history of being threatened is not an acceptable defense. (I am not defending anyone use of a gun on another person; however, the application of the law is wildly uneven.)

Back to these two white men who shot each others daughters.

Bodycam footage released in October of 2022 showed the moments after two fathers shot each others young daughters on the side of a Florida highway, published by the New York Post, which wrote then (warning, while much is blurred and bleeped, this is disturbing and I havent embedded it for this reason):

The footage captures police officers arriving after strangers William Hale, 35, and Frank Allison, 43, shot at each others vehicles with semi-automatic handguns during a high-speed cat and mouse chase late Saturday, police said. During the shootout, Hales 5-year-old daughter was struck in the leg and Allisons 14-year-old daughter was shot in the back, leaving her with a collapsed lung, Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said Monday.

While this is giving strong Florida Man vibes, the shirtless Hale seen in the bodycam footage is from Georgia and Allison from Florida. Hale pulled his Dodge up to Allisons Nissan to shout at the driver, while Hales wife flipped the middle finger.

Allison rolled down his window to shout back, when a plastic water bottle was thrown from the Hale truck into the Allison SUV, which later was referred to as a missile that gave Allison the right to shoot Hales daughter under Floridas Stand Your Ground law.

Allison drew his gun and shot at Hales vehicle, hitting his 5-year-old daughter in the leg.

Hale retaliated by firing everything that was in the magazine- seven or eight rounds at Allisons SUV, which hit Allisons daughter. Both men were arrested and faced charges of second degree attempted murder at that time.

But now, charges have been dropped against Frank Allison. The man who returned the fire, though, has been charged with seven counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and shooting or throwing deadly weapons.

The charging documents refer to Hale driving in a reckless threatening or intimidating manner, which they say created a well-founded fear in Allison that violence was imminent. Hale threw a stone or other hard substance they charge, which would produce the death or great bodily harm. It was actually a water bottle that was thrown, which is clearly unsafe and not okay, but is not a stone or other hard substance.

Lets pause here, because there is only one witness to the lead up of the shooting (witness did not see the actual shooting) and not a lot of detail about what specifically justifies shooting into another vehicle, although they mention Allison was trying to get away while Hale was trying to force Allison off the road.

Because of that, prosecutors say, Allison was justified in using force because he reasonably believe[d] that using or threatening to use deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.

Prosecutors say Allison was justified in using deadly force because he reasonably believed it was necessary to prevent great bodily harm. This would apply to a domestic violence victim, clearly, and yet it did not.

He (white man) believed it was necessary: This works.

She (black woman with documented history of abuse by person she did not actually shoot but tried to or fired a warning shot at) feels it was necessary: This does not work.

The problem isnt that one or the other are right. The problem is that human beings have conflict and easy access to guns escalates conflict.

In this road rage incident, Hale was clearly aggressive and driving recklessly. The issue is that throwing a water bottle at someones car would not lead to a shoot out without easy access to guns.

The very same gun culture that tells people they need a gun to protect their families is the one that over and over again ends up with family members being shot in a situation that would not have escalated to the same level without the guns. In this case, two young daughters were shot and hospitalized because two men had guns in their car.

Both of thee men had concealed carry gun permits.

Stand Your Ground didnt start under DeSantis, but he ever so quietly signed a law on April 3rd that will go into effect on July 1, 2023 allowing anyone who can legally own a gun in Florida to carry a loaded gun without a permit. Training and background checks will not be required for concealed carry guns.

DeSantis signed the bill in a nonpublic event in his office with only bill sponsors, legislative leaders and gun rights advocates, including the National Rifle Association, in attendance.

Weapons of war given without even a basic check or training? Sure! Why not. What could go wrong, other than children being shot at even more.

Naturally this is wildly unpopular, even among Republican voters, with 77% Florida voters polled saying they were somewhat or strongly opposed to permitless carry, a number NBC pointed out that included 62% of Republicans.

Americans dont want to live or die like this. It is literally being forced upon us by gun manufacturer puppets, who largely reside within the Republican Party.

This is not normal. A civilized society would not tolerate this. This is actually insane and its even worse that the people bringing this lawless, toxic and basic wild west culture do so under the phony guise of family values.

Family values brings us two young daughters being shot and the man who shot first is the one whose charges were dropped.

Welcome to the Republican-led hellscape of Florida, where DeSantis is known for his Parental Rights law. Parental rights: The state will tell you what your kids can say while children are shot at in their family vehicles and at school.

Everyone cool with this?
By Azernews

Sabina Mammadli

Azerbaijan as a key regional player greatly values its allies in the international arena, especially the other Turkic states, which are united by common language roots and traditions.

In this manner, Azerbaijan pays particular attention to its cooperation with the countries of Central Asia, considering the relations with these countries to be more than simple diplomacy and rather warm, familiar ties. Frequent bilateral visits, as well as multilateral cooperation and events organized within international organizations, give impetus to these relations. In this way, the recent visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Tajikistans Dushanbe, which proved to be a successful step in bilateral ties, was another such gesture of mutual commitment.

Approaching from the same aspect, the April 10 visit of the Azerbaijani president to Kazakhstans Astana city particularly demonstrates the existence of close ties between the two fraternal nations based on historical roots and geographical proximity.

We are allies, we are brothers, we are friends, President Aliyev stated further emphasizing the atmosphere of the visit.

In the framework of the visit, President Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration ceremony of one of the biggest streets in Astana named after the great Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev on the instruction of Kazakhstan. Such a grand gesture is the perfect example of fraternal cooperation between the two states and mutual respect for each other.

Our duty is to perpetuate and preserve the memory of such eminent personalities as Heydar Aliyev. By opening a street named after him in Astana, we are making an important contribution to this noble cause. This is a sign of our warm attitude and sincere respect for the great son of the Azerbaijani people, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

Talking about Kazakh-Azerbaijani relations, the Azerbaijani national leader himself noted that the roots of our peoples, which go back into the depths of history, form the basis of relations between the people of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Decades passed since then but the moral remains standing: the relations between the two countries are as resilient and loyal as ever.

Cementing relations through signed documents

During the visit, the sides signed numerous documents and mulled cooperation in political, trade, economic, and cultural spheres, expressing satisfaction with the current affairs but always striving for further success.

Some exceptionally important documents were signed today, fostering the development of our multifaceted cooperation. The future of allied and partnership relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is bright and promising. Therefore, there is no doubt that we will continue to adhere to common positions in terms of serving the peoples of our states. Thank you for your attention, Tokayev stated.

Besides, the sides noted a 40 percent increase in trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, which is approaching the half-billion mark last year. The heads of state underlined that there are possibilities for increasing the trade turnover between the two countries to a billion dollars. Special value is paid to the development of cooperation in the energy sector with a priority to further diversify energy supplies to world markets.

The two nations also cooperate in the cultural sphere with the organization of such significant events as the Days of Culture of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan.

Agreement has been reached to organize Days of Azerbaijan Culture in our country. Separately, I would like to note that a number of commemorative events will be dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of national leader and outstanding statesman of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyevich Aliyev in Kazakhstan this year, the Kazakh leader pointed out.

Such a high level of cooperation and respect between Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia highlights Azerbaijans position as the international hub and a reliant partner, which can not be said about some of its neighbors.




ELKO  Nevada Gold Mines has approved a social investment of $1 million toward the completion of the Elko County School District School Violence Prevention Program project.

The project includes the purchase and installation of security cameras, single-point entry locations, security card access to school sites, and updated technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency for all school sites.

This considerable contribution from NGM, in addition to a $485,263 grant the school district received last fall from the U.S. Department of Justice Office, has enabled this project to go through in a timely manner.

With current budgetary constraints, a project of this magnitude would typically take many more years and budget cycles for us to be able to provide these crucial safety upgrades at all campuses and facilities across our District, said ECSD Superintendent of Schools Clayton Anderson.

NGMs generous contribution paves the way for us to complete upgrades and installations of the new communications management system at all ECSD schools in a much shorter time frame, prioritizing the immediate safety needs of all our students and staff. I know parents, students, staff and the larger community are incredibly grateful for this support that helps ensure students are learning in a safe school environment.

The project will begin as early as this summer and is expected to be completed in two years.

Nevada Gold Mines believes our community members should have complete peace of mind that their children are safe at school and their teachers and administrators are equipped to provide a positive and safe learning environment. We are proud to partner with ECSD in supporting the modernization of school security systems. A thriving community is a community where people feel safe to work and learn, and we intend to help make that a reality, said Alissa Wood, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Barrick North America.

The Elko County School District will present Nevada Gold Mines with a plaque to recognize their partnership and support of the SVPP at 5:30 p.m. April 11 during the Elko County School District Board of Trustees meeting.
Its an argument that can never truly be won, but dont tell that to Jack Curry. The baseball analyst has written a book called The 1998 Yankees to make the case that the team he covered for The New York Times 25 years ago is the best ever. Curry bolsters the numbers with fresh interviews, writes AP reviewer Rob Merrill, and its clear that hindsight has made them even prouder of their achievements. Baseball fans who love to hate the Yankees can still appreciate the book, but probably wont enjoy it as much as anyone who owns merchandise with that classic interlocking N and Y. Read moreReview: 'The 1998 Yankees revisits team 25 years later
The Aiken City Council has delayed considering a plan to build a Parker's Kitchen at the intersection of Whiskey Road and Stratford Drive for the second time. Read moreAiken City Council continues consideration of Whiskey Road Parker's Kitchen plan
President Joe Bidens reelection campaign has been hiding in plain sight all along. The contours of the 2024 campaign that Biden will formally launch with a video as soon as this week will look a lot like his messaging and policy moves from the past few months. He will play up accomplishments from his first two years, draw a sharp contrast with Republican policies he deems extreme, and brush off worries about his age. While advisers say Bidens activities and message in coming months will be largely indistinguishable from what hes been doing over the last six months, the frame of reference will inevitably shift as voters increasingly tune in to 2024 political dynamics. Read moreBiden's 2024 campaign has been hiding in plain sight
MCCLELLANVILLE  A longtime dining spot in this tiny coastal Charleston County fishing village is under new ownership.

A firm called KC3 LLC, owned by Coastal Bus Line businessman Troy Hagemann of Awendaw, bought the 1.5-acre Bent Rod restaurant site and business at 10024 Highway 17 for $730,000 on April 4, according to Jim Moring of restaurantbrokers.info, who handled the sale for the buyer and seller.

On the same day, Hagemann kept the land but sold the restaurant business to Jami Reavis of Awendaw, owner of Charleston Landscaping, for an undisclosed sum, Moring said.

Reavis plans to reopen the 1,872-square-foot restaurant under the same name, possibly as early as next week, and focus on a barbecue-centric menu. Seafood items still will be available, along with pizza from an outdoor wood-fired oven.

The opening date and hours aren't quite set as Reavis works to fill out his work crew and get a few last-minute touchups completed, but he plans to be open after 4 p.m. initially before expanding with a lunch menu and daily service.

"I want to be open as much as possible," he said.

Ahead of the recent business transaction, Reavis was busy putting a fresh coat of paint on the building inside and out, adding some more outdoor tables, expanding the parking area, installing some new TVs inside and in the outdoor tiki bar, putting in a new sound system and creating a game area for cornhole, horse shoes and other outdoor activities.

He also plans to have musicians perform from a small stage, offer specials on certain menu items at different times and work toward creating an events space for weddings and other gatherings.

For many years, the restaurant was known as The Crab Pot. In 2005, owner Laura McClellan sold the 20-year-old property to Crab Shack Investments for $400,000, according to Charleston County land records. The dining venue's name did not change.

The property changed hands again in 2016, when MMBF Properties LLC, owned by Brett and Ali Ford of Ford Plumbing in Mount Pleasant, bought the restaurant site, fixed it up and changed the name to The Bent Rod, a nod to the allure of fishing. They closed the restaurant at the end of February.
A group that advocates for right-to-work laws is weighing in on a labor dispute at the Leatherman Terminal, saying a federal ruling that gives a dockworkers' union the right to operate container cranes would be "devastating" to the State Ports Authority's nonunion workforce.

The National Right to Work Foundation on April 7 filed a "friend of the court" brief supporting the SPA's efforts to overturn a National Labor Relations Board decision that gives the International Longshoremen's Association power over who gets to operate heavy-lift equipment at the terminal on the former Navy base in North Charleston.

The SPA has appealed the labor board's December ruling to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. Oral arguments are scheduled for June 6.

The foundation is one of several groups that have filed court papers supporting the SPA's position that its nonunion employees should operate the cranes at Leatherman, as they do at the Port of Charleston's other terminals. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance also filed a combined "friend of the court brief"  meaning they aren't a party to the case but have expert knowledge that could bolster a party's claims.

In its filing, the foundation says the state maritime agency's crane operators would have to quit their jobs and join the ILA in order to work at the Leatherman Terminal. If they do that, the filing states, those roughly 270 workers will fall the bottom of the union's seniority list "and would never be hired ahead of the ILAs 2,000 members in Charleston."

The ILA said during a labor board hearing that it would protect state workers and wouldn't force them to quit their jobs, but the foundation said union contracts and hiring hall rules would favor ILA workers with the most seniority. A union spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

The Leatherman dispute stems from a 2012 contract revision between the ILA and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, a consortium of shipping lines that hires the union members to load and unload cargo from its vessels. The change called for ILA members to operate the cranes at all new terminals opening on the East and Gulf coasts. The $1 billion first phase of the Leatherman, which opened in March 2021, was the first test of that new labor pact.

The brief filed by the other groups focuses on whether the contract revision amounts to an illegal secondary boycott of the terminal, since the SPA isn't a party to that contract but is the entity being hurt by its challenged use.

Most container lines are refusing to use the Leatherman until the dispute is resolved and the facility is sitting mostly idle. Only 226 containers of all sizes moved through the terminal in February, compared to nearly 111,000 containers that were handled at the Port of Charleston's other terminals.

The foundation is a Springfield, Va.-based nonprofit that provides legal support in cases where right-to-work laws are threatened or violated. Such laws exist in 27 states, including South Carolina, and forbid mandatory labor union membership as a condition of employment. Critics of such laws say they weaken unions while empowering businesses.
A German carrier's deal to buy seven North Charleston-made 787s helped Boeing Co. add to its overall production backlog as the aerospace firm notched 60 gross orders across its commercial aircraft division for March.

The order by Lufthansa Group was the largest for the Dreamliner program last month. The airline said it plans to use the jets on long-haul flights, replacing older and less-efficient planes as future deliveries take place.

Carston Spohr, the carrier's CEO, said in a written statement that the Dreamliners "will also play a decisive role in helping us achieve our carbon emission reduction goals by 2030," adding the fuel-efficient jets built with lightweight composite materials "are by far the greatest lever for providing more climate protection within the aviation sector."

Taiwan's EVA Air placed an order for five Dreamliners, while unidentified customers accounted for eight planes, helping Arlington, Va.-based Boeing rebound from a February without any 787 bookings.

Boeing has received commitments for the sale of up to 341 Dreamliners in recent months, including a deal last month with a pair of Saudi Arabian carriers for as many as 121 jets and an order for up to 200 787s by United Airlines  a record order for wide-body planes by a U.S. airline.

With its order book filling, Boeing plans to increase production at its North Charleston campus to five Dreamliners per month by the end of this year. But first the company has to work its way through about 100 787s that were inventoried due to minor production flaws during a 15-month delivery pause that was lifted in August.

The sporadic delivery issues could pose a problem for some airlines looking to get their Dreamliners quickly and on schedule, according to travel analyst Henry Harteveldt, who told Business Insider that delays could push carriers to consider a competing jet.

"When a delay is short, airlines learn to deal with that," said Harteveldt, principal at Atmosphere Research Group. "But, when the delay stretches many months, airlines are impacted because they build their schedules and business plans around expected deliveries of aircraft."

American Airlines, for example, has had to juggle some routes and cancel some international flights because of the slowdown in 787 deliveries.

Lufthansa also accounted for two of the seven Dreamliner deliveries in March  a month that saw the program's third delivery halt in three years. The problem this time was a documentation issue related to the forward pressure bulkhead built by supplier Spirit AeroSystems. The pause actually started on Feb. 23, and the Federal Aviation Administration cleared the way for deliveries to restart on March 10.

Other carriers taking Dreamliner deliveries in March included: American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Vistara, United Airlines and AerCap, which is leasing the jet to AeroMexico.

All told, Boeing delivered 64 commercial planes in March  the second-highest monthly total in four years. The best month during that period was December, when Boeing delivered 69 aircraft.

Boeing delivered 130 aircraft during the first quarter  the first three-month period in five years that the company has topped French rival Airbus in that category. Airbus reported 127 deliveries during the first quarter.

The bulk of last month's Boeing deliveries  53 of them  were for 737s, including 52 737 Max planes and one P-8 maritime surveillance and patrol jet for an unidentified customer.

The planemaker's overall aircraft order book now stands at about 4,555 aircraft worth about $500 billion. Boeing is set to release its first-quarter financial results on April 26.
Charleston's tourism bureau is building off the research of a local LGBTQ+ historian and the work of private history tours to attract more LGBTQ+ tourists to the Lowcountry.

The Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched a new self-guided LGBTQ+ history walking tour based on the work of College of Charleston archivist Harlan Greene. Located on a new landing page of the CVB's website, the tour features about 50 locations of historical significance to the LGBTQ+ community.

"The Real Rainbow Row tour is a walk through time and through space, through both sad and celebratory events," the CVB's web page reads. "Site by site, street by street, here you can meet figures from the past  a possible intersex person in the antebellum era, a celebrated lesbian who taught school as the civil war broke out, drag queens, cultural icons, solid citizens, nationally known artists, even Black and White clients of a male brothel in the 19th century. It all happened here, down that street, around the corner, in the park, along the Battery."

The tour winds from Explore Charleston's 375 Meeting St. location down to The Battery. It clocks in at about 2 hours and takes people through major commercial areas of downtown, as well as the Museum Mile.

It's based on cut material from Greene's new book, "The Real Rainbow Row: Explorations in Charleston's LGBTQ History," which is published by The Post and Courier's sibling company Evening Post Books.

Greene's work represents the first comprehensive historical account of LGBTQ+ life in the Charleston area and spans more than 350 years.

Doug Warner, executive vice president of the CVB, said the tourism bureau was excited to be able to work with Greene.

Coming out of the pandemic, the bureau has shifted focus to specific socioeconomic demographics to increase tourism revenue. The bureau's website also features a link to a separate web page dedicated to exploring the African American history of the Lowcountry in partnership with the International African American Museum.

It's not all pragmatic business decisions, Warner said. The bureau has produced advertisements in years past to entice LGBTQ+ tourists.

"Like many Southern states, the perception of a community being welcoming to all people may be a question to someone that doesn't know us," Warner said. "We are a community built on hospitality and making visitors feel welcome, and that means all visitors. That's why I think this kind of effort makes so much sense for us."

Warner said the the self-guided tour works as a supplement to private tour companies in the area that have embraced LGBTQ+ tourists, such as Walk and Talk Charleston, run by Tyler Wright.

Wright's tour is also based on the work of Greene and shares its namesake with his book. Proceeds from that tour support the South Carolina LGBTQ Archive at the College of Charleston, which Greene manages.

The embrace of Greene's research and the promotion of gay history tours in the city stands in contrast with recent history in South Carolina when it comes to welcoming LGBTQ+ tourists, Greene said.

In 2008, state officials backtracked on paying a tourism advertisement company about $5,000 because of a campaign that sought to attract LGBTQ+ tourists to the Palmetto State. The incident occurred after a conservative lawmaker saw a series of ads on a London subway that called South Carolina and major U.S. cities as "so gay." The ads ran during London's Pride festival and focused on portraying places across the country as LGBTQ-friendly. The employee at the S.C. Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department who approved the ad resigned, according to an Associated Press report at the time.

Greene said this was just yet another example of LGBTQ+ South Carolinians being denied of their existence and forced from public light.

"Horrified, the lawmakers denied South Carolina's LGBTQ history; they were upset that some state funds had gone into luring tourists to support the multibillion dollar industry," Greene penned in his book. "They fired the person responsible and proved they had no idea that LGBTQ people been here long before of their ancestors may have reached these shores."

Comparing the support from the local tourism bureau now to the 2008 incident that made it on to Stephen Colbert's late-night comedy illustrates how rapid LGBTQ+ acceptance has changed in 15 years, he said.

Learn more at charlestoncvb.com/lgbtq.
COLUMBIA  A prominent restaurant spot in the Village at Sandhill in Northeast Richland has a new tenant.

It will become the second Midlands location for KPot, according to Bobby Balboni, broker with NAI Columbia, which represents much of the space in the Village.

KPot is an Asian fusion restaurant "that merges traditional Asian hot pot with Korean BBQ flavors," according to the its website.

Hot pot restaurants offer a simmering soup base at the table with a variety of items available for customers to dunk and cook in the broth.

Meats on offer at the restaurant will include Kobe beef, pork belly and sliced lamb, according to the menu on its website.

This KPot location should open in the second half of 2023, according to Balboni.

Another KPot location is coming soon to 280 Harbison Blvd., which was for a time the Krab Hut.

KPot is going into the former location of the Wild Wing Cafe at the Village, which closed in July 2022, while the chain's Vista restaurant remains open.

Also coming soon to the Village, according to Balboni: a location of Cato Fashions clothing store.

The retailer of women's wear is relocating from North Pointe Shopping Center on Two Notch Road, Balboni said.

Overall, Balboni said, the Village at Sandhill is showing strength in retail, with many current tenants renewing leases.

Ramen on Forest Drive

Are ramen places the new crab shacks?

Another of the many crab restaurants that have come to the Midlands already is changing again.

The location of The Juicy Crab restaurant at the Walmart-anchored East Forest Plaza on Forest Drive is becoming Shokudo Ramen & Bar, according to a sign on the property.

That location of the nationally franchised Juicy Crab is still for now listed as open, according to the chain's website.

In recent years numerous crab dinner restaurants have opened around the Midlands, but food trends change quickly sometimes.

New spot for strawberries

Speaking of East Forest Plaza, this spring it is the new sales location for Cottle Strawberry Farm on Forest Drive.

For years, Cottle has set up on a stand on Forest Drive to sell strawberries in the parking lot of The Turning Pointe dancewear studio.

That property and the adjacent motel have been razed, however, as Lexington Medical Center builds new offices along Forest Drive. Turning Pointe relocated to Harden Street in Five Points.

Cottle strawberries are a staple of Columbia's spring. Customers can pick their own at their farm in Hopkins or visit several locations to buy them by the box or bucket.

Other Cottle stands are located on Harbison Boulevard and Bower Parkway, 714 Clemson Road in the Northeast, 1839 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia and U.S. 1 in Lugoff, according to the farm's webpage.

Further beyond

Bed Bath & Beyond, the struggling national housewares retailer, soon will have a much smaller footprint in Columbia.

Its location at the Shoppes at Woodhill on Garners Ferry Road has little inventory left and is selling off fixtures. The store will close April 23, according to an employee.

The store was closed as part of a wave of national closings by the retailer.

Another Midlands location already has closed at the Village at Sandhill, according to its online listing.

That location was announced as a closure even before the most recent wave of cutbacks by the retailer.

Once both those locations are closed, the retailer will have one location left in the Midlands, in Columbiana Station on Harbison Drive.

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Click here for more news from Columbia, South Carolina.
LEXINGTON  Lexington County School District One will lose its German immersion language program after unsuccessful efforts to hire teachers and recruit students into the program.

Despite pleas from advocates for the program, the Lexington One Board voted on April 11 to kill the language program.

Tamara Stemmer, who taught first grade in the language immersion program at Deerfield Elementary, said faculty sensed it would go this way. "But to hear that final decision, it was very emotional," she said.

Parents, students and teachers spent weeks fighting for the program and highlighting its benefits in problem-solving and memory skills, as well as the opportunities that German immersion offers graduated students in business.

In an effort to keep the program going, district staff displayed yard signs promoting the program, distributed flyers and worked with local libraries, Chief Academic Officer Mary Gaskins said. Also, the district sent out emails, texts and social media posts, advertising open spots in the kindergarten class, she said.

But the ongoing struggles to convince both teachers and students to join the program prompted the board to nix it.

Lexington One's German immersion program started at Deerfield Elementary in 2014. Students entering kindergarten at Deerfield have the option to enroll in a German immersion education, in which their math and science classes each year are taught in German, and their English and Social Studies classes are taught in English.

Each year, a cohort, two classes of 25, learns half in German and half in English through Pleasant Hill Middle School and Lexington High School.

Now, the district will stop accepting new kindergarten classes into the program beginning next school year. Students currently enrolled in the program will be able to finish through graduation.

Low enrollment and attrition numbers are to blame for the program's death. Twenty-eight of the 50 spots for incoming kindergartners have been filled, Gaskins told the board in a March 21 meeting. Currently, 30 students are in the programs sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes combined, said Lexington One Spokeswoman Libby Roof.

"It is a very unique skill set (to teach in a German immersion program)," Stemmer said. "And that's why I do see the challenges that the program faces."

But despite its challenges, the program's benefits are clear. Language immersion gives students a broader understanding of the world around them, and helps students understand other cultures, Stemmer said.

Graduates of immersion programs are exponentially more likely to be fluent, and have a deeper understanding of the culture, compared with traditional language classes, said Lara Ducate, a German professor and director of the German department at the University of South Carolina.

This gives graduates a leg up in business. Germany is one of South Carolina's largest export markets, and South Carolina is home to more than 200 German companies, including Scout Motors, a Volkswagen Group-backed automotive company that announced plans in March to open an EV plant in Blythewood.

But, the dwindling number of students and teachers invested in Lexington One's German Immersion program proved to outweigh its benefits.

As the German program phases out, Lexington One is looking to add a Spanish immersion program at Deerfield Elementary, Roof said.
Rep. Justin Jones, left, and Justin Pearson, right, were expelled from the Tennessee House. The Nashville Council reinstated Jones Monday. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Following a school shooting in Nashville last month, hundreds of protesters gathered in the Tennessee capital demanding lawmakers act to address the out of control gun violence that once again unnecessarily took innocent lives.

In response, the Tennessees Republican-controlled state House took the historic and extraordinary action of expelling two Black Democratic lawmakers for joining their constituents in demanding justice. This egregious overreaction not only gave us permission to drop the theory from critical race theory, it also gave us a masterclass in the dying efficacy of respectability politics.

Respectability politics

The lawmakers in question, state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were expelled for breach of decorum, and a third lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, narrowly survived expulsion by a single vote. On Monday, the Metro Nashville Council voted to reappoint Jones to his seat.

In the lead up to the vote, Republican Rep. Andrew Farmer did little to disguise his haughty disdain saying, Just because you dont get your way, you cant come to the well, bring your friends and throw a temper tantrum with an adolescent bullhorn.

The unspoken sentiment was clear, Know your place.

Respectability politics rely on the idea that that process and procedure are paramount in all scenarios. Those in power create invisible hierarchies to label their behavior as proper and the behavior of their foes as problematic. It is historically a tool of those in power as a way to slow progress, disparage the marginalized, and justify harm. As have many shameful lawmakers before them, Tennessee Republicans weaponized the rules of conduct to punish elected officials who disagree with them.

The contrived cloak of dignified decorum starts to seriously fray when the subject at hand is children gunned down at school. Protests led by students erupted through the capital doors, while lawmakers, shielded by police, hung their heads as they maneuvered through the crowds.

The typical heartless platitudes post-mass shooting did nothing but fan the flames of discontent. Republican leaders nationwide mindlessly tweeted out their classic slap-in-the-face response of thoughts and prayers, and they were met with unflinchingly honest chants from hundreds of students: Shame! Enough! Do your job! You ban books, you ban drag, kids are still in body bags!

Kids are still in body bags

In case it was not abundantly clear: respectability politics mean nothing to Gen Z. Rehearsing dodging bullets in your classroom will do that to you.

If such glaring issues as gun violence, healthcare, and climate change were not enough to engage the youth, watching racism and inequality so blatantly on display certainly did the job.

Jones said as much on his way out, Your overreaction, your flexing of false power has awakened a generation of people who will let you know that your time is up.

Consider the numbers:

63% of 18-29 year olds believe gun laws should be stricter

77% of Gen Z voted for Democratic candidates for Congress in 2022

And just last week, 87% of students voted for the Democrat in Wisconsins Supreme Court race

Guns are now the leading cause of death for children, and until lawmakers address the issue head-on, Gen Z will never vote Republican. Republican rhetoric sounds old and lame to a generation taught how to play dead just in case they become one of the 19,000 kids per year that will be shot.

Gun-obsessed Republican lawmakers should stop hiding behind 2nd Amendment rhetoric and tell Gen Z point blank that some of them will have to die so they can keep their hobby, that they would rather build schools with curved hallways to stop bullets rather than try to keep them safe.

Good Trouble

Decorum being front and center in the same week that a former President Donald Trump was indicted on 34 felonies including paying a porn star hush money shows how painfully out of touch Republican messaging really is.

Even more stunningly tone deaf, one Tennessee lawmaker compared the student led protest to an insurrection. Another asked the children gathered in the capital which gun they preferred being shot with. The Tennessee GOP has been fundraising boasting that they were just getting started.

While egregious, this authoritarian behavior is yet more proof that the right has run out of ideas. This hideous attempt to silence dissent has the potential to become a cultural touchstone for years to come.

When Tennessee Republicans inadvertently grabbed the national spotlight, it was the chants of the protestors that were amplified, the speeches of the subverted that were canonized, and the Tennessee 3 who embodied the often-cited Good Trouble credo of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., an icon of the civil rights movement.

They used their power and their social capital to pour into a city in grief, and in the end, they paid a high price for being the only leaders in a room full of cowards.

Leaving our nations youth to protest alone is not an option, and they recognize genuine governance when they see it. The small men hiding behind their wagging fingers of decorum will be remembered only for their proximity to the voices they tried to silence.

History will celebrate the good not the evil, the response not the accusation, the comeback not the dismissal.

This column was originally published in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
They've been toppled by crowds, plucked by cranes and stolen for ransom. Now, the South's remaining Confederate monuments face another force of erasure: climate change.

Some see that as a good thing. For others, it's an educational opportunity.

"Sure, there's poetic justice in these things just fading away," said Adam Domby, an associate professor of history at Auburn University. "But there's something bigger.  What gets protected, what gets saved, it's a value call we need to ask about all of these historical sites now."

A 5-foot-tall monument that marks where the "first shot" of the Civil War was fired on April 12, 1861, sits on James Island, just a stone's throw from the waters of Charleston Harbor, with Fort Sumter visible in the distance.

Look closely and the words "the Confederate States of America" are engraved, along with an explanation that the monument was erected in 1961 to celebrate 100 years since the founding of the Confederacy. There are practically no other plaques at what remains of Fort Johnson, no factual context about who was there during the Civil War and, ultimately, why.

No one has called for the monument to be removed. The more urgent question is whether it should be saved.

State officials say the site and everything on it  the Colonial-era fortifications, a garage-sized brick building used as a gun powder magazine in the Civil War, the 20th century monument and the state's research buildings  are all severely threatened by sea level rise. Driven by both flooding concerns and a new land acquisition, the state of South Carolina has commissioned a new master plan for Fort Johnson to protect its buildings and the historical artifacts. Across the harbor, Fort Sumter just completed its own resiliency project last year to fight erosion from increasing sea level rise.

It has been 162 years since Confederate soldiers first fired their canons across the harbor at the Union-held Fort Sumter. To commemorate the anniversary on April 15, Fort Sumter, which sits on National Park Service land, will host living historians dressed in period clothes, retelling and interpreting the events that led up to that historic day. At Fort Jefferson, the more forgotten of the two forts engaged in the battle, there will be no fanfare.

Fort Johnson sits on land owned by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the College of Charleston. These institutions are now grappling with a rising sea and trying to reckon with the past.

A monument born of the 1960s

The front page of the April 14, 1961, edition of The News and Courier featured the monument's unveiling on Fort Johnson with a picture of a 5-year-old boy wearing a seersucker suit and a little Confederate hat, silver guns crossed and all. The boy is standing next to the monument, which is about twice his height. The caption reads, "Descendent of Confederate hero unveils monument, Charles Pinckey Darby III at Fort Johnson."

"I was just a prop, I believe!" laughed Darby, 67, who still lives in the Charleston area in a house that overlooks both Fort Sumter and Fort Johnson. His great-grandfather was Judge Andrew Gordon McGrath, South Carolina's governor during the Civil War. "I probably got bribed with a bunch of candy."

His jovial tone turned solemn, as if his mind was suddenly elsewhere: "Yeah, that photo sticks around."

The photo was framed on the wall of his house for many years. He doesn't remember much else from that day. He does remember his grandmother being there, who ran the Charleston Confederate Centennial Commission and, as he recalled, "surely made me do it."

The commission dedicated the monument, one of many Confederate monuments erected during the 1960s.

"It's almost impossible to divorce the centennial from the civil rights movement going on at that same time," said Robert Greene II, an assistant professor of history at Claflin University. "Especially in South Carolina."

Greene pointed to the flying of the Confederate battle flag that flew over the Statehouse. That only started in 1961 when state lawmakers said the waving flag would commemorate the centennial. Many saw it, even then, as a backlash to civil rights.

"During that time, there were many Black Americans in South Carolina who repeatedly insisted that it be taken down," Greene said.

The battle flag would fly above the dome until 2000.

Confederate iconography has a long history of sidelining Black communities and Black history.

"That monument (on Fort Johnson) is not aiming to inform us, it's a whitewashing of history," said Domby, who says the critical role of Black Americans during the war is completely ignored by the civil war's most famous sites.

According to Domby, who used to be a faculty member at the College of Charleston and is the author of the book "The False Cause: Fraud, Fabrication, and White Supremacy in Confederate Memory," there were more Black enslaved laborers living and working at Fort Johnson than Confederate soldiers. Using slave payrolls housed at the National Archives, Domby has researched the overlooked role of enslaved laborers compelled to work for the Confederates.

In fact, enslaved laborers rebuilt Fort Sumter after the Confederates took hold. Thanks to new research, we now know their names.

Two forts, surrounded by water

On April 14, 1861, 17 enslaved laborers arrived at Fort Sumter to repair the damage done by the Confederates: Francis, Moses, James, Harry, Jim Edwards, Damon, Sam, Josh, Daniel, Prince, Reuben, Ned, Lewis, Joe, Lewis, Stephen and Andrew. According to the National Park Service, these men labored three to 18 days and received no compensation. Their enslaver, John Hinton Lopez, received $282 for their work, paid for by the Confederate Army.

Two years later, 48 enslaved laborers working and continuously rebuilding Fort Sumter would die or be hospitalized because of the Union shelling.

This information in now on the National Park Service's website. According to Brett Spaulding, chief of interpretation at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historic Park, rangers are exploring ways to integrate this new research into the oral and visual interpretation of the fort.

Black history has been slowly introduced at the federally managed site for years. Visitors on guided tours can see and touch the 19th century brick foundations that still bear the fingerprints of Black hands that formed the clay bricks at Lowcountry plantations.

"It's powerful to see those fingerprints right in front of you," Spaulding said.

Climate history is part of the visitor experience, too. There's even a placard on the fort's dock titled "Climate Change."

Right where visitors disembark the ferry, the sign explains that from 1863 to 1865, Fort Sumter endured continuous bombardment by Union forces but, in modern times, the fort's biggest threat is climate change: "As the earth's climate changes, rising seas could inundate most of the fort's walls and flood the historic parade ground  if the mean sea level of the harbor were to rise just four feet, the historic parade ground would be constantly submerged."

The sign includes the government's sea level rise projections for Charleston harbor: by 2062, the seas could rise as much a 2.28 feet, and by 2100, as much as 5 feet.

But even that information, printed for public display within the past five years, is outdated.

Two new studies published in the past two weeks suggest that the site, and rest of the Southeast, is in the middle of 10- to 25-year quickening of sea level rise, a pace much that previously predicted.

The Gulf of Mexico has been warming faster than the rest of the ocean. When warm water naturally expands, it causes sea levels to rise. The warmer waters then ride currents out of the gulf and along the East Coast, affecting places like the Lowcountry.

"We not only detected acceleration from Cape Hatteras all the way to the the Gulf of Mexico," said Sonke Dangendorf, an assistant professor at Tulane University, who led one of the studies. "But the high tide flooding that has doubled or tripled during that past decade in places like South Carolina  that can be explained by this acceleration."

The researchers linked 40 percent of the acceleration to greenhouse gas emissions and 60 percent to "natural temporal variably." In other words, this quickening is somewhat temporary and the pace of sea level rise in South Carolina should return to previously predicted rates soon. Although the researchers don't know exactly know how soon.

In 2018, the park service completed the very first sea level rise assessment for Fort Sumter and 117 other park-managed sites. It directly linked dramatic sea level rise projections for 2030, 2050 and 2100 to "human activities" and the pace of climate change. The report noted that the "highest storm surges" predicted for its parks and historic sites would occur in the Southeast.

"It's important to keep in mind that sea level rise will not stop in the coming decades," Dangendorf said.

He added that this surprise discovery of a temporary quickening shows just how little we know about the behavior of rising waters in the Southeast. It's tricky and certainly not a steady march. The only steady march is time.

Fort Johnson, reimagined

The historical significance of Fort Johnson dates back to Colonial times and even pre-Colonial times. It was the first fortification outside of the Charleston peninsula. It was the first place where the Palmetto flag was raised. Its role in the Revolutionary War was almost as significant as its more popularly known role in the Civil War.

"Certainly there's going to be a focus on Revolutionary War history, but really the interpretive plan will focus on everything historically related to Fort Johnson," said Doug Bostick, executive diretor of the S.C. Battleground Preservation Trust. His organization has received federal funds to digitally interpret Fort Johnson and other Revolutionary War sites. If the new Fort Johnson masterplan is approved, the trust will be in charge of all new historical interpretation for the redeveloped area, which will involve moving buildings to higher ground and creating a new waterfront park for the public.

"We would like to buy it," Bostick said of the College of Charleston's property where the Confederate monument and powder magazine now stand. "But the (powder magazine) definitely needs restoration."

Asked if the preservation trust would put money into restoring the magazine, the fort's only Civil War building still standing, Bostick didn't hesitate: "Absolutely."

As for the Confederate monument, Bostick said, "it would stay."

Both the monument and the powder magazine would receive additional interpretation, said Bostick, like a physical plaque or a digital waypoint.

"This is a golden opportunity to give (the monument) greater context," said Greene, the Claflin professor, who is Black. He would like to see the monument's 20th century origins  as part of the cultural backlash to civil rights  better told through interpretation.

Darby, the little boy who unveiled the marker 62 years ago, also thinks the monument should stay. He said his grandmother either paid for the monument herself or raised the money. Probably both.

"Back then, my grandmother and others looked at things differently  but, if you remove everything, then there's no reminder of historical events," he said.

Darby didn't agree with the removal of the John C. Calhoun monument from Marion Square in downtown Charleston, one of 168 Confederate-related icons removed in 2020 across the United States. About 70 more were removed or renamed in 2021, according to the latest report by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The center estimates about 723 Confederate monuments remain.

Darby agreed with Greene on one point: instead of removal, there should be a lot more information on Fort Johnson than what is currently provided to give more context to anyone walking through.

"You've got to have more markers on everything," Darby said. "But it's like Vietnam: We don't need to talk about why there was a war, but we need to say there was a war  an unpopular war."

Historians, like Domby, think the "why" is the most important part of educating the public about Civil War sites like Fort Sumter and Fort Johnson.

"What do we want people to think when they leave?" said Domby. "Are they leaving saying, 'Wow, this country fought an entire war about whether people would be enslaved. And we still haven't dealt with that legacy fully'  that! Then we're doing education."

Doomby said the ongoing debates about whether schools in Florida can teach African American history is a direct result of a collective "forgetting" that the Civil War was a fight over slavery.

Bostick said he understands the arguments made by historians who want the monument better interpreted in the wider context of white supremacy and the struggle for civil rights, but couldn't comment on how the Confederate monument itself would be interpreted beyond the words engraved on it now: "It's way too premature  we're still in the research phase."

What's not too premature is thinking about sea level rise.

The 2022 master plan for Fort Johnson commissioned by state lawmakers includes 100-year sea level rise projections, including a map with large blue blobs covering the locations where the monument and powder magazine stand today. With 3 feet of sea level encroachment, both structures would be underwater.

Again, these projections are already outdated. The new Tulane study suggests that increasing rates of sea-level rise in the next 10 years could result in three feet encroachment of sea levels arriving before the end of the century, not after.

"If we thought the powder magazine would be lost to sea level rise  we would obviously relocate it with some method," said Bostick. "We would not let the powder magazine just fall into the marsh."

Bostick made no mention of relocating the giant granite stone, engraved with a seal of the Confederate States of America, standing right next to it.

Domby argues that if and when Confederate battle structures get relocated, it should go hand in hand with other relocations.

"Historical African American neighborhoods are drowning on James island, too," Domby said. "Let's not forget."
In cities across the U.S., people set their alarm clocks. But not to signal the start of a new day.

The buzz comes at the exact time reservations for Verns go live on resy.com.

You end up with a table at 8:45 p.m. Its a little late, but well take it, you think to yourself. Its rare to get a prime time 7 p.m. dining slot in Charleston, after all.

Yes, the days when dining decisions could be left to the last minute are gone. And they arent coming back, according to representatives from the booking platforms Resy and OpenTable.

There are still ways to make an informed decision on where to eat and how to get there, though it requires a little extra due diligence on the part of the diner.

Platform paradigm

Even those who call a restaurant to make a reservation the old-fashioned way will most likely have their name input into a reservation platform upon booking. This electronic database helps front-of-house managers organize tables before service.

Like a game of Tetris, tables are rearranged by an algorithm to maximize turns, the amount of times a new party is served at a specific seat. For most dinner-focused restaurants, that number ranges between two and three per night.

There are multiple reservation platforms servicing restaurants across the country. Ones like SevenRooms and Tock have proliferated in other cities, but two are most common in Charleston: OpenTable and Resy.

Tock has dipped into the market share a bit in the Southeast, but I would say percentage-wise it's still very OpenTable dominated with Resy doing certain things in certain cities, said Kenny Lyons, vice president of operations at The Neighborhood Dining Group, the parent company of Charleston's Husk, Minero and Delaney Oyster House.

First launched in 1998, OpenTable dominated the sector for nearly two decades before Resy debuted in 2014, courtesy of Eater co-founder Ben Leventhal. Resy has about 16,000 restaurants across the globe, while OpenTable counts 50,000 restaurant partners that seat over 1.5 billion diners annually.

Restaurants using OpenTable can utilize its flexible seating time feature, Vice President of Sales and Services Kristina Weiss said via email, allowing management to maximize tables turned per service. With 2022 OpenTable-reserved dining outpacing 2021 by 6 percent, the company hopes improved technology will provide more options for restaurantgoers and owners.

OpenTable has lost a significant number of restaurants to Resy in recent years.

Some of the Charleston areas top destinations turned to Resy shortly after its 2016 launch in the local market. That includes FIG, Butcher & Bee and The Obstinate Daughter. Resy Chief Revenue and Financial Officer Conley Rollins, a Charleston native, said the companys innovative software has resonated with restaurants.

So has its flat pricing model.

Resy restaurants are charged either $249 (Basic) or $399 (Pro) per month, depending on the package they choose. These payments were paused for 15 months amid the pandemic to help restaurants recover from extended closures.

We charge a flat fee per month; it doesnt matter the size of the restaurant or how many reservations come through, Rollins told The Post and Courier. We dont penalize the restaurant for its success.

Next to its growing digital footprint, Resy has put down physical roots in Charleston.

The company opened a Southern outpost four years ago on Meeting Street, its first office outside its New York City headquarters. This summer, the company will move into new digs inside a 42,000-square-foot property at 741 Meeting St., with plans to bring 35 employees to the site.

Rollins continues to be impressed by the diversity of cuisine and passionate hospitality professionals in the Charleston area. Tapping into this talent pool has allowed the company to hire people with the necessary know-how to help partner restaurants, he said.

Weve loved growing with the market in Charleston, Rollins said. Charleston continues to be such an important city for food, certainly in the U.S.

Restaurants in the Indigo Road Hospitality Group use Resy and OpenTable. Some patrons, particularly those who frequent Oak Steakhouse, still prefer the OpenTable platform, said Indigo Road President Steve Palmer.

OpenTable would not release specific pricing data, but Weiss said the company has changed its pricing structure significantly to accommodate partners. According to Palmer, OpenTable has made adjustments to its pricing since Resy entered the market.

In January, Lyons of The Neighborhood Dining Group moved the last of their restaurants from OpenTable to Resy. When it came time to make a decision, it really came down to price, Lyons said.

I certainly dont want to speak poorly of OpenTable. I think from a software standpoint their product is on the same level as Resy, Lyons said, but their pricing structure hasnt evolved at the same pace as Resys.

Well-known Charleston area restaurants utilize both. Diners will find Verns, Halls Chophouse and Melfis on Resy, while Maison, O-Ku and Muse use OpenTable.

Table games

Its more difficult to walk into a restaurant without a booking than ever before, according to Rollins at Resy. One week in late March, Charleston counted the fourth-highest number of reservations in the entire Resy network, highlighting the demand for Lowcountry eateries.

Not all hope is lost for locals looking to score a prime-time seat at popular restaurants in Charleston.

Restaurants reserve seats for walk-ins, and many offer first come, first served bar seating. Verns leaves 25 percent of its seating open for walk-ins, while Palmer sets 20 to 30 percent aside at Indigo Road restaurants. Whether its FIG, The Ordinary or Sorelle, there are plenty of prolific restaurants with communal seating or bar seats geared toward walk-ins.

Other Charleston restaurants dont mess around with reservations at all. Smaller spots in particular tend to favor the walk-in format.

James London of Chubby Fish says every person who lines up outside before its 5 p.m. opening will eat in his Coming Street restaurant that night. They might have to wait an hour or even two  time you can spend sharing a carafe of wine at The Tippling House  but they will eventually get into Chubby Fish for dinner.

With around 40 seats and three to four full table turns per night, Chubby Fish normally serves over 125 diners nightly.

If I have a night off to go out and eat, I am (definitely) not going to plan for it two weeks in advance, London said. The idea of being able to show up at a place and put my name on a waitlist just seems so much more intuitive.

Locals will also find this flexible format at 167 Raw and Home Team BBQ. Having happily waited in all three queues at nearby wine bars The Tippling House, Bin 152 and Edmund's Oast Exchange, respectively, this option has allowed me to plan a full night without making a single reservation.

The number of no-reservation spots has risen, but they will always remain in the minority. As less traditional trends like QR code menus enter local dining rooms, reservations are here to stay.

The hard part is getting one.
A new jazz festival is coming to downtown Greenville this summer.

City Councilman Ken Gibson said at an April 10 meeting the Greenville Jazz Fest has the potential to rank among the city's most significant public events.

"If we nurture this the right way, this thing can be as big as Artisphere, Fall for Greenville and all the other festivals, and it will put Greenville on the map if we do it right," he said. "This is big."

Tara Eaker, director of parks, recreation and tourism, said during the meeting the festival has been years in the making.

The Main Street event will stretch from Falls Park to Broad Street on June 3, according to a statement from the city. There will be two stages downtown, as well as performances at local venues including Horizon Records, Rainer's Cafe and Bar, Chicora Alley and Blues Boulevard. It will be a free event and go from 4-10 p.m.

The festival will feature national acts, such as Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans as well as local bands like the Iliana Rose Cuban Jazz Band and The Wheel All Stars.

The city will host JazzEd Session at the West Greenville, Nicholtown and Juanita Butler community centers in partnership with the Greenville Jazz Collective as part of the event. The festival will also feature performances from the Greenville County school district's All-County Jazz Ensemble and Fine Arts Center Jazz All-Stars.

The Greenville Jazz Fest will become an annual event, according to the statement, and will last two days starting next year. The city is currently seeking applications from food truck vendors, as well as more than 50 volunteers.
WASHINGTON  When the COVID-19 public health emergency ends in the U.S. next month, you'll still have access to a multitude of tests but with one big difference: Who pays for them.

For the first time, you may have to pick up some or all of the costs, depending on insurance coverage and whether the tests are done at home or in a doctor's office.

But there's still time to get some free tests before the May 11 change, and there could still be free ones available afterward. Some state and local governments may continue to distribute free home tests through clinics, libraries and community centers. And the federal government, for now, is still sending free tests through the U.S. Postal Service to households that haven't already received two shipments.

And don't discount those old tests you haven't used. The expiration date on the package may have been extended. The Food and Drug Administration's website provides a list to check and see which tests are still good.

Here's a look at what the end of the government's emergency declaration on May 11 means for testing:

AT-HOME TESTS

The biggest changes will be for over-the-counter tests, which account for the vast majority of screening in the U.S. today.

Since early 2021, the federal government has required all private insurers to cover up to eight COVID-19 tests per month. That requirement will soon go away. Coverage is also scheduled to lapse for tens of millions of seniors in the federal government's Medicare program, though some members of Congress are pushing to extend the benefit.

While some private insurers may continue to cover all or some home tests, there will be no longer be a nationwide rule. A two-pack of tests typically costs between $20 and $24.

"What we will see is a hodgepodge of approaches by different insurance companies, which is going to make it difficult for individuals to know what they're going to be paying," said Christina Silcox, of the Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy, which recently issued a report on the outlook for testing.

One exception will be for those enrolled in the government Medicaid program for low-income individuals and families, who will continue to receive free tests until September 2024.

IN-OFFICE TESTS

Americans can also expect to pay more for any COVID-19 tests performed at a hospital, clinic or doctor's office.

Insurers have been barred from charging copays, or any other cost-sharing fees related to COVID-19 testing. That requirement also ends next month.

While insurers will still cover basic testing costs, some people could face new fees for a portion of the test's price or for the services of the health professional performing it. Lab tests have typically ranged between $70 and $100 and some of that could be passed along to patients.

COVID-19 vaccines and drugs will remain free because they are not paid for through insurance, but by the federal government. One concern is that uncertainty around testing costs could lead to delays in treatment. Current treatments for high-risk patients, like Paxlovid, generally need to be taken within the first few days of symptoms to be effective.

If people are worried about testing costs, "they may wait a couple days to see if things clear up and miss that five-day treatment window," Silcox said.

TESTING CAPACITY

The U.S. struggled to build up its test manufacturing capacity during the first two years of the pandemic, with demand waning after each surge. Experts worry that the country could again be caught flat-footed after the federal government stops purchasing tests in bulk.

Only after the U.S. government said it would buy 1 billion tests did production stabilize, reaching a peak of 900 million monthly tests in February 2022.

"Those bulk purchases basically guaranteed the market for test manufacturers," said Jennifer Kates, a senior vice president with the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation.

As of September, manufacturers were still producing over 400 million tests per month, far exceeding U.S. testing levels, according to Duke researchers.

Companies including Abbott Labs say they will be able to ramp up test production as needed. But the company declined to discuss specific production targets or how they will be impacted by the end of the health emergency.

Congress has shown little willingness to buy more tests and the Biden administration did not propose new spending in its latest budget.

"That upfront guarantee by the federal government that takes care of testing volatility won't be there anymore," Kates said.

TESTING TECHNOLOGY

The hundreds of different COVID-19 tests authorized by the Food and Drug Administration over the last three years will remain available after May 11. That's because the FDA OK'd those products under a separate emergency measure that isn't affected by the end of the national declaration.

Still, FDA officials have been encouraging test makers to apply for full regulatory approval, which will allow their products to stay on the market indefinitely. Last month, the FDA formally approved the first rapid COVID test.
Former Hampton banker Russell Laffittes attempts to secure a new trial were again rejected April 10, nearly five months after he was convicted of helping disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh steal from legal clients.

Laffittes attorneys had sought to convince U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel that their client, the former chief executive of Palmetto State Bank, deserved a new trial because Murdaugh vouched for Laffittes innocence after the trial was over.

Gergel ruled that Murdaughs word wasnt enough to reverse the jurys conclusion that Laffitte was guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud and misapplication of bank funds.

Most of Laffitte's charges stemmed from his role in an alleged scheme to divert Murdaughs clients settlement checks to the lawyer, his family and his lenders. Laffitte, who was appointed to safeguard the clients funds, admitted that he moved the money at Murdaughs request as his banker but insisted he didnt know it belonged to the clients.

Laffittes initial legal team tried to call Murdaugh to testify at the November trial, believing hed take responsibility for the thefts. But Murdaugh, 54, invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and didnt take the stand.

Murdaugh only gave the testimony Laffittes lawyers hoped for when he was on trial himself, accused of killing his wife and son. Before he was convicted on two counts of murder, Murdaugh said he acted alone in stealing from clients.

Still, Gergel was unconvinced that a new jury would acquit Laffitte based on Murdaughs testimony in light of the voluminous evidence presented at trial. In his April 10 order, he also quoted state Judge Clifton Newman, who said at Murdaughs sentencing that hed been duplicitous in his testimony.

The Court finds that Murdaugh is manifestly not a credible witness, Gergel wrote. Evidence offered during (Laffittes) trial established without question that Murdaugh is a serial liar and fraudster who stole from his clients and law partners. He now stands convicted of the double homicide of his wife and son. It is difficult to imagine a less credible witness under these circumstances.

Laffitte previously asked for a new trial because two jurors apparently holding out for an acquittal were replaced due to unrelated heath issues after several hours of deliberations. Gergel also denied that request.

The latest rejection is unlikely to end Laffittes attempts to vacate his conviction. Laffitte, who has not yet been sentenced, is expected to appeal the case to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Laffitte's lead defense attorney, Mark Moore, declined to comment on Gergel's decision.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Some early morning breaks in the overcast, otherwise cloudy. Slight chance of an afternoon shower. High 72F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 57F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Goose Creek, SC (29445)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. Slight chance of an afternoon shower. High 74F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low around 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
COLUMBIA  Gov. Henry McMaster has asked for an investigation of Clarendon County schools' finances, citing more than two binders worth of information a GOP legislator delivered to his office that "warrant further analysis."

McMaster sent a letter April 10 to State Inspector General Brian Lamkin asking his office to review the Clarendon County School District's "potential financial irregularities."

He provided Lamkin the binders of information, as well as additional documents and electronic records that were brought in last week by Rep. Fawn Pedalino, R-Turbeville.

Lamkin told The Post and Courier he must first review the documents to determine whether to pursue an official investigation. He expects to make that decision this week.

McMaster's letter did not provide any specifics on the allegations. Pedalino, a freshman legislator representing Clarendon and Sumter counties, declined to comment on what she turned over, saying she doesn't want to hinder Lamkin's decision or audit.

She called it the "next step" after trying to meet with district officials.

"I hope the people of my district know that I am actively working for them and on their behalf to make sure our county organizations are running as they should be," she said late Monday. "I took the initiative to lay out the issues I saw."

Sen. Kevin Johnson, D-Manning, said he got no notice on the request from McMaster's office and had no knowledge of what Pedalino provided, but he welcomes the investigation.

"There are a handful of people attacking the schools the last year or two and they just won't stop," said Johnson, who was mayor of Manning for more than a decade before first winning a Statehouse seat in 2011.

That includes Pedalino, who he says has been fighting with the district since before her election last year.

Having the state's neutral inspector general examine the accusations is a good thing, Johnson said.

"Maybe people will realize we actually have a good, successful school district," said Johnson, who was also previously on the Clarendon 2 school board for 12 years. "A lot of times when you have these things looked into, you find out a whole lot of the stuff that's being said and done, there's just nothing to it."

School board Chairman Ceth Land said he and Superintendent Shawn Johnson are not aware of any "potential financial irregularities."

"We believe the review by the state inspector general will demonstrate that there are no irregularities," he said, intentionally using the words in McMaster's release.

Clarendon County officially became a countywide school district last summer following a two-part consolidation.

In 2021, Clarendon 1 in Summerton merged administrations with Clarendon 3 in Turbeville, which brought complications as the two prior districts were on opposite ends of the county and shared no border. The larger Clarendon 2, in the county seat of Manning, joined its neighbors to become a single school district of 4,300 students under legislation signed by McMaster in April 2021.

Johnson was the sponsor, and the proposal was backed in the House by his daughter, Rep. Kimberly Johnson, who Pedalino ousted in November. The two were among the county's then-three-legislator delegation who appointed the countywide school board members until the first election is held in 2024.

The Clarendon County mergers were part of a larger effort pushed by former S.C. Superintendent Molly Spearman to consolidate the tiniest school districts with their county neighbors, using incentive money dangled by the state to help change decades of resistance. Other mergers for the initiative that targeted districts of fewer than 1,500 students occurred in Bamberg, Barnwell, Hampton and Florence counties.

Pedalino lives in what was Clarendon 3, a district of about 1,200 students.

"Our consolidation has gone smoothly," Kevin Johnson said.

George Frierson, a Clarendon 3 school board member for a quarter century, disputes that.

Chairman when the district dissolved, Frierson said he supported consolidation as something that could benefit the entire county, but others in Clarendon 3 didn't.

"They thought the other two (districts) would pull us down," he said.

Clarendon County, which once reliably voted for Democrats, has recently flipped red. The rural county's population shrank while becoming more White and older as people moved to golf course homes along Lake Marion. The county lost about 4,000 people between 2010 and 2020, the vast majority of them Black, according to U.S. Census data.

Republicans not only flipped the House seat, they also flipped a County Council seat.

Frierson said he doubts Kimberly Johnson got many votes in Clarendon 3 other than his, due to anger over consolidation.

"To be getting that involved with the school board seems a little extreme," Clarendon County Democratic Party Chair Patricia Pringle said about Pedalino. "She should be focused on the Statehouse."

McMaster is making the request under a law passed last year that expanded the inspector general's authority to investigate public schools and school districts.

Lamkin's first such review was of Richland Two in the northeast suburbs of Columbia.

The scathing report, released in November, said petty disagreements and personal attacks among school board members contributed to dysfunction and undermined the district's educational mission. Five days later, voters ousted the only incumbent seeking reelection. Its superintendent, Baron Davis, resigned in January following a six-hour closed-door meeting. His settlement, signed two days later, paid him $615,000.

Alexander Thompson contributed to this report from Columbia.
ELKO  A draft flood management plan for South Fork Dam that would reduce potential losses from flooding, assess impacts to residents in the dams vicinity, and provide a warning system in case of flooding is now available for public comments.

Water released by a failed dam generates tremendous energy and can cause a flood that is catastrophic to life and property. A catastrophic dam failure could challenge local response capabilities to warn the downstream communities and may require evacuation to prevent loss of life, the draft plan states.

A failure of the South Fork Dam would inundate the main railroad and the Interstate 80 tunnel in less than five hours, making them inaccessible, the plan also says, adding that the Carlin area would receive 11 feet of water in roughly seven hours.

The plan drafted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is required for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant for regular and recurring maintenance, and the Corps told Elko County Commissioners the plan was done at no cost to the county.

The flood management plan for the dam south of Elko was done under the Nevada Silver Jackets Program at the request of the countys emergency manager, Lee Cabaniss.

Its a pretty hefty plan, said Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi.

Commissioner Jon Karr said on April 5 that we will look it over and Im sure the commission itself will make comments before the May 7 deadline.

The draft plans introduction states that the purpose of this Flood Management Plan (FMP) is to lessen the damaging effects of floods, maintain and enhance natural floodplain values, and make effective use of water and related land resources within the floodplain of the upper Humboldt River Basin in Elko County, Nevada located below the South Fork Dam.

The draft also says that Elko County should review the plan annually and update it every five years or following significant changes within the floodplain, and it outlines floodplain management goals laid out by the county and an advisory committee.

The goals include establishing a framework for ongoing collaboration, implementing a warning system for potential flooding and increasing the publics awareness of flood risks. The plan explains that embankment dams such as South Fork can fail due to erosion from seepage or overtopping with water.

The South Fork Dam, completed by Elko County in 1988, is an earthen embankment dam with a clay core, and the plan states that its height is 72 feet and the length is 1,650 feet at its crest. The dam impounds the South Fork of the Humboldt River for flood control and recreation, and the capacity is roughly 52,500 acre-feet.

South Fork Dam additionally includes a main and saddle dam, two 48-inch conduits that serve as the primary spillway, an auxiliary spillway, a valve house and an upstream gauge station, according to the plan, which also says that the dam is surrounded by 2,200 acres of marsh, meadowland and hills.

The dam was recently repaired and improved, and the plan states that the rehabilitation will maintain the current level of flood protection for the areas identified as high hazard flood risk based on the current Flood Insurance Rate Map.

Nevada Division of Water Resources completed a rehabilitation of the dams seepage collection system in 2022, which included removing a clog from the existing toe drain (at the toe of the dam), installing new cleanout portals, removing a 2015 toe drain addition and installing a new trench drain system.

Relief wells also were rehabilitated and two new wells were constructed.

For the draft dam plan, the water resources division and HDR Engineering developed a dam failure model for South Ford Dam to determine which locations, people and facilities are at risk from dam failure.

The immediate downstream areas are populated by ranch homes and the Bullion Road Bridge. These structures would be completely inundated and/or destroyed by a break of the South Fork Dam, the plan says.

An evacuation effort would include informing the Elko County Sheriffs Department, the Nevada Highway Patrol and the media, and there would be coordination with the countys emergency management to alert all downstream areas.

The flood management plan was put together with consultation with a committee that included representatives of the Nevada Division of Water Resources, the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, the National Weather Service, FEMA, Nevada Department of Wildlife and Nevada State Parks.

Elko Countys representatives were Peggy Pierce-Fitzgerald, the countys floodplain administrator; Lee Cabaniss, emergency manager; Corey Rice, planning and zoning senior planner; and Curtis Moore, assistant county manager and natural resources director.

The emergency manager and floodplain administrator are responsible for implementing the flood management plan and have the final authority and responsibility to update the plan, according to the draft document.

The draft flood plan is posted on the Elko County website for review and public comments through May 7. Comments on the plan can be sent to Nvsilverjackets@usace.army.mil.
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Alerio Gold Corp. ("Alerio" or the "Company") (CSE:ALE)(OTCQB:ALEEF) announces that its continued partnership with Auracle Geospatial Science (Auracle) has identified four new significant exploration targets at its 100% owned Tassawini Project ("Tassawini" or the "Property"), located in Guyana, South America.The four newly identified interconnected gold targets, are hosted within a large 3.0 kilometre by 4.5 kilometre anomaly. Tassawini contains a Historical Mineral Resource of 437,000 ounces gold Indicatedandan additional 62,000 oz gold Inferred(1). The known extent of the Tassawini deposit occurs in the middle of a north to south trending portion of the anomaly, that is approximately three kilometres in length and 500 metres in width.The joint effort with independent consultants Auracle produced new geographic and geological information with the aim of further defining and prioritizing targets for Alerio's future exploration programs at Tassawini. The new exploration targets were generated by Auracle's proprietary Mapped Underworld Dimension (or MUD) system, which uses satellite-borne radar to collect data at or near the subsurface in combination with select surface data. The system is particularly adept in identifying geological structures such as fractures and faults. The system has also identified a significant amount of artisanal mining at Tassawini, providing a strong indication of near surface gold outside of the known deposit.As mineralization at Tassawini is associated with strong to intense deformation, the MUD system computed the relative density of fractures and faults to identify the new anomalies."Our technology and mapping suite is unique, in that it uses radar satellite data to penetrate vegetation, ground cover, water, ice, rocks and soils. Our technology works at, near and under the Earth's surface so we can "see" through cover when direct identification isn't possible", explains David McLelland, Auracle Geospatial's CEO."It is very encouraging to note that the historic resource has a relatively small footprint, within a much larger anomaly that has not received any modern exploration, giving the company significant potential for additional discoveries. Utilizing the extensive amount of historical information available to us, in concert with Auracle's proprietary MUD system, has provided Alerio with a streamlined and cost-effective way to expedite and prioritize new targets that lie within this anomaly, forming the basis of exploration plans for 2023. Alerio now has a clear pathway toward the potential growth of our Tassawini Deposit. "States Al Fabbro, CEO.To view the new images and targets produced by Auracle, please follow this link to the company's April 5th, 2023 Corporate Deck: https://www.aleriogold.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Alerio-Gold-Corporte-Deck-April-6-2023-Final.pdf Qualified Persons and 43-101 DisclosureGreg Smith, P. Geo., COO and Director for the Company, is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same.About Auracle Geospatial ScienceAuracle Geospatial Science is a global remote sensing company that provides spatial intelligence to the mining and mineral exploration industry over the lifecycle of a project. With its MUD subsurface technology, Auracle detects and visualizes geologic features, structures, outcrops and deposits at the surface and subsurface, over large and difficult to access areas. This ability narrows search areas to prospective targets. Going beyond its original application as an advanced exploration tool, MUDmodels and monitors the impact of the complex, dynamic earth on transportation routes, infrastructure, and the environment.About Auracle Geospatial ScienceAuracle Geospatial Science is a global remote sensing company that provides spatial intelligence to the mining and mineral exploration industry over the lifecycle of a project. With its MUD subsurface technology, Auracle detects and visualizes geologic features, structures, outcrops and deposits at the surface and subsurface, over large and difficult to access areas. This ability narrows search areas to prospective targets.Qualified Persons and 43-101 DisclosureMr. Greg Smith, P. Geo. Director of Alerio Gold, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical data and information contained in this news release.Mr . Smith has verified the technical and scientific discloser herein and has conducted appropriate verification on the underlying data.About Alerio Gold Corp.Alerio Gold is a mineral exploration and development company in the business of acquiring, and exploring gold properties, with a focus in Guyana, South America. The company currently has 100-per-cent interest in two properties located in Guyana S.A., including the advanced exploration Tassawini Gold Project and the earlier stage Puruni Project.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS"Allan Fabbro"Allan Fabbro, CEOFor further information, please contact:Adrian O'Brien604-202-8165Email: info@ aleriogold.com Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as, "anticipates", "expects", "is expected", "intends", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include those relating to the acquisition by Alerio Gold Corp. of all of the Properties and the corresponding issuance of the Consideration Shares, the satisfaction of necessary terms and conditions of the Definitive Agreement to complete the Acquisition, and the ownership of the Properties via power of attorney.Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, including assumptions related to the ability of both companies to successfully complete all the conditions precedent under the Definitive Agreement and the companies receiving all necessary future approvals and permits. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from that expressed in, or implied by, an
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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Next Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m., in Geneva, Switzerland, Ali Aboutaam, President of Phoenix Ancient Art, one of the world's leading dealers in rare and exquisite antiquities, will lecture about the exciting findings of a rare Byzantine amethyst cameo pendant of Jesus Christ (Christ Pantokrator). Christ Pantokrator is represented in half-length and full-face with his head slightly turned to the left. In the frame of the gem on both sides of the shoulders, one can see engravings of Greek characters: I()C X()C (Jesus Christ). This remarkable sparkling and pure amethyst gem is closely linked to the sapphire cameo of St. John the Baptist housed in the Louvre (MS 91).Ali Aboutaam Jesus ChristByzantine Amethyst Cameo of Christ Pantokrator 11th-12th century A.D. L: 2.29 cm W: 2.96 cm H: 1.31 cmAli Aboutaam excitedly says, "While conducting research about the provenance of this spectacular gem, I stumbled upon a black-and-white photo of this piece as being part of an exhibition 'L'Antiquite Chretienne' at the Musee du Louvre in 1958!" The exhibition consisted of 81 Christian objects and was published by Etienne Coche de la Ferte in Paris.The representation of Christ Pantokrator on a precious stone cameo is very rare. A small group dated to this period was preserved, including a beautiful sapphire cameo, now in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection.Byzantium rediscovered an appreciation for glyptic after the iconoclastic crisis, yet exclusively favoring religious subjects showing Christ, the Virgin and the saints in either half- or full-length. Amethyst and sapphire were luxury stones used almost exclusively for the most prestigious objects.Ali adds, "It is so rare to find old publications for miniature objects like this one because these were intimately and privately treasured in jewelry boxes and small drawers. One can imagine the pendant decorating the necklace close to the heart of a faithful Christian in the 12th century." The lecture will be at 6, rue Verdaine in Old Town, Geneva on Sunday, April 16, 2023.ABOUT PHOENIX ANCIENT ARTWith galleries in New York City (Electrum) and Geneva, Switzerland, Phoenix Ancient Art is one of the world's leading dealers in rare and exquisite antiquities with a focus on Greek and Roman, Near Eastern and Egyptian art. Its works of art have been acquired by world-class museums around the world, as well as by private collectors. Phoenix Ancient Art is a second-generation family business that was founded by Sleiman Aboutaam in 1968 and continues today under the leadership of his sons Hicham and Ali Aboutaam.For more information, contact info@ phoenixancientart.com or visit www.phoenixancientart.com Contact InformationAli AboutaamPresidentinfo@ phoenixancientart.com +41223188010SOURCE: Phoenix Ancient Art
PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-11 11:49:40

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The global Artificial Intelligence Radiology market research report is focuses on an overall consumption patterns, development trends, sales patterns and sales in key countries of the Artificial Intelligence Radiology market. The report focuses on global Artificial Intelligence Radiology vendors, marketing department and competition. This report also provides a detailed information on market share, new developments and business analysis, impact of domestic and major players, discusses the opportunities in terms of emerging size, revenue, expectation, changes in industry regulations, product analysis, decisions strategy, product launch in the market, technological innovation, expansion, geographical location in the market. This study shows that there is a dynamic change in the market when it comes to the benefit of local and regional competition for large companies.Click the link to get a Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/request_sample.php?id=216 It is aggregated on the basis of different dynamic aspects of industry study. The statistical report is compiled by applying primary and secondary research methodologies. Comprehensive Porters five analysis and SWOT analysis are also used to examine the strength, weaknesses, threats and opportunities of the market.Market SegmentationThe global Artificial Intelligence Radiology market is segmented on the basis of solution, industry, and end user. Based on solution, the Artificial Intelligence Radiology market is segmented into component, services. On the basis of industry, the Artificial Intelligence Radiology market is segmented into manufacturing, others. Based on end user, the Artificial Intelligence Radiology market is segmented into consumer and enterprises. The global Artificial Intelligence Radiology market report includes a detailed analysis of the segmentation of this industry by Types and Applications.Global Artificial Intelligence Radiology by Segments: By Techniqueo X-rayso Computed Tomography (CT)o Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)o Ultrasoundo Positron Emission Tomography (PET)o Others By Radiology Typeo Mammographyo Chest Imagingo Neurologyo Colonographyo Cardiovascularo Head CT Scano Rest of the body By Applicationo Computer-aided Diagnosiso Clinical Decision Supporto Quantitative Analysis Toolso Computer-aided DetectionCompetitive Landscape:The competitive landscape of the Artificial Intelligence Radiology market is also provided by analyzing various successful and startup industries. The economic aspects of the businesses are also presented by using facts and figures.Aidoc, Arterys, Behold.ai Technologies Limited, Enlitic, Inc., EnvoyAI, FreenomeInc., GleamerLTD, IBM Corp. (IBM Watson), MARS BioimagingLtd., Nuance Communications, Inc., Qure.ai , SigTupleTechnologies Private Limited, VIDA Diagnostics, Inc., and Zebra Medical Vision, Inc. amongst othersArtificial Intelligence Radiology Market: Regional AnalysisThe research study covers North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa on the basis of productivity, thus focusing on the leading countries from the global regions. The report further highlights the cost structure including cost of raw material and cost of manpower. It offers cogent analysis of business stimulants of the Artificial Intelligence Radiology market.Ask for Discount: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=216 The Study Objectives are: A comprehensive insight into key players operating in the Artificial Intelligence Radiology Market and their corresponding data. It includes product portfolio, annual revenue, expenditure on research and development, geographical presence, key developments in recent years, and growth strategies. Regional analysis, which includes insight into the dominant market and corresponding market share. It also includes various socio-economic factors affecting the evolution of the market in the region. The report offers a comprehensive insight into different individuals from value chains such as raw materials suppliers, distributors, and stockholders.Major Points Covered in TOC:Market Summary: It incorporates six sections, research scope, major players covered, market segments by type, Artificial Intelligence Radiology market segments by application, study goals and years considered.Market Landscape: Here, the global Artificial Intelligence Radiology 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 Radiology 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 Radiology 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 Radiology 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 Radiology 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=216 Visit Our Website: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ 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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The event takes place in the context of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-France Strategic Partnership in 2023.

The meeting is an opportunity to summarize and evaluate the results of the contents that have been implemented in cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities; exchange difficulties and challenges; offer solutions to strengthen the promotion and implementation of policies on cooperative relations and linkages; and establish mutually beneficial partnerships between localities of the two countries, contributing to the traditional friendship, comprehensive, long-term and reliable cooperation between Vietnam and France.

It will focus on exchange and discussion around sustainable cities; environment, water and water treatment; culture, heritage and tourism; smart cities and digitization.

In addition, many sideline activities will be organized to further tighten solidarity and exchanges between localities and partners of the two countries, including local promotion space, with a scale of 100 - 120 booths to promote and introduce culture, tourist attractions, typical and typical products of Vietnamese localities.

Festival "Balade en France", with the scale of 50 booths of French - Vietnamese businesses operating in the fields of restaurants, hotels, agriculture, and food, is organized in the form of fairs to introduce to the public French agriculture, food technology and culinary arts.

It also includes Vietnam - France Economic Forum; meetings and contacts between government and government (G2G), government to business (G2B), and business to business (B2B); art program; photo exhibition on Vietnam - France relations and Vietnam - France local cooperation;

The cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities was laid in 1989 with the establishment of a partnership between the city of Hanoi and the Ile-de-France region. The first meeting on cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities was held in 1996 in the city of Lille (France)./.
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 8, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 10, 2022 and March 15, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Credit Suisse and would like to discuss your legal rights and how these cases might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-cs/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in the class action, you must petition the Court by May 8, 2023.About the LawsuitsCredit Suisse and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On February 9, 2023, the Company announced its 2022 financial results, disclosing that, contrary to its prior statements, it had continued to experience large customer outflows through yearend 2022, specifically, outflows of 110.5 billion Swiss francs in the final three months of 2022, a figure which far exceeded market expectations. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell $0.56 per ADS, or 15.64%, to close at $3.02 per ADS on February 9, 2023. Then, on March 15, 2023, news media sources revealed that the Company's "biggest backer," Saudi National Bank, would not buy any more of the Company's shares on regulatory grounds. On this news, shares of Credit Suisse fell 13.94% to close at $2.16 per ADS.The case is Calhoun v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., No. 23-cv-01297.A subsequently-filed case, Turner v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al., No. 23-cv-01476, expanded the class period.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 1, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Dutch Bros Inc. ("Dutch" or the "Company") (NYSE:BROS), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 1, 2022 and May 11, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Dutch and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-bros/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 1, 2023.About the LawsuitDutch Bros and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On May 11, 2022, the Company disclosed dismal 1Q2022 financial results including a net loss of $16.3 million, compared to a net loss of $4.8 million for the first quarter of 2021 and an adjusted net loss of $2.5 million (a loss of $0.02 per share), which fell below analysts' expectations, due to its failure to "perceive the speed and magnitude of cost escalation within the quarter," among other things.On this news, shares of Dutch fell $9.26, or 26.9%, to close at $25.11 per share on May 12, 2022.The case is Peacock v. Dutch Bros Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-01797.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until May 5, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS), if they purchased the Company's shares between February 9, 2021 and February 10, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.What You May DoIf you purchased shares of Fidelity National and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fis/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by May 5, 2023.About the LawsuitFidelity National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On July 31, 2019, the Company announced it had completed the acquisition of payments company Worldpay, Inc. for $43 billion, which became part of the Fidelity National Merchant Solutions business. The Company subsequently, assured investors that the integration of Worldpay was "ahead of schedule," achieved "success in revenue synergies," and ultimately was "successfully completed" throughout the Class Period. Then, on February 13, 2023, the Company disclosed that it would be spinning off Worldpay and recording a goodwill impairment charge of $17.6 billion related to its Merchants Solutions business, a write-down of more than 40% of the purchase price for Worldpay just a few years earlier.On this news, shares of Fidelity National fell more than 12%, from a closing price of $75.43 per share on the prior trading day of February 10, 2023 to a closing price of $66.00 per share on February 13, 2023.The case is Palm Bay Police and Firefighters' Pension Fund v. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., No. 23-cv-252.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-11 00:23:28

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High Profile Conference Elevates Both FLYHT and Calgary in Aviation IndustryCALGARY, 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 ForumThe 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 ITCARINC 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 ForbesChief Financial Officer403.291.7437investors@ flyht.com FNK IR LLCMatt Chesler, CFAInvestor Relations646.809.2183flyht@ fnkir.com Satichi Consulting Inc.Daniel KimCorporate Development416.728.5630dkim@ 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.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-11 17:30:26

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KANSAS CITY, MO / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Insurtech leader and small group benefits expert Mylo has launched a partnership with Mployer Advisor, the innovative platform that enables employers to search, evaluate and select benefits plans. Mylo will now be searchable by the 15,000+ employers who visit Mployer Advisor each month to make informed decisions about benefits partners based on independent reviews. Mylo has earned Mployer Advisor's highest rating because of their wide range of services and consistently positive client feedback.Mployer Advisor selects Mylo as top-rated group benefits solution for employers Digital agency Mylo has emerged as an industry leader in helping companies with 2-99 employees craft affordable small group benefits programs to recruit and retain top talent. Their dedicated benefits team uses proprietary insurance technology that reduces quoting, plan selection and enrollment from weeks to hours. Mylo specializes in customizing benefits packages to each employer's budget and stage of growth, offering a full range of products from leading carriers, including major medical, dental and vision, life, disability and more.Mployer Advisor shares Mylo's commitment to providing expert guidance and personalized solutions to business owners. During a time of rising employer costs and challenges, their unique marketplace makes it easy to search for exceptional brokerages and evaluate options through an independent ratings system that uses a proprietary algorithm to track service, quality and employer feedback - areas in which Mylo consistently excels."We're excited to connect more small business with great benefits by partnering with Mployer Advisor," said David Embry, Mylo CEO. "Employers trust the guidance on their innovative platform and will discover what our leading edge benefits technology can do for them." Through Mylo, employers can access benefits quotes in minutes and customize plans on the spot by adjusting options based on their companies' needs. Mylo provides fast and easy employee enrollment (online or over the phone), a 24/7 HR dashboard for viewing enrollee information, options for payroll integration, robust reporting and more. In addition, Mylo is a one-stop insurance shop and can also equip business owners with business insurance and personal insurance - auto, home, life and more."Mployer Advisor is proud to welcome Mylo as a valuable new resource for employers," said Brian Freeman, Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. "Our proprietary algorithm, assessing experience and customer satisfaction, rates Mylo with the highest industry rating, meaning employers can count on them for a wide range of benefits options and outstanding service." About MyloMylo is an insurtech leader with an insurance intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates into partner experiences to connect business owners and individuals with top-rated insurance products from multiple carriers, including business, auto, home, small group benefits, life and individual health. Backed by Group 1001, the global investor with a powerful commitment to technology-driven insurance transformation, Mylo delivers personalized coverage recommendations and ideal solutions online or over the phone with licensed agents. For more information, go to www.ChooseMylo.com About Mployer AdvisorMployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to exceptional benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a company's specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit www.MployerAdvisor.com Contact InformationMonica WilkensChief Digital and Marketing Officer(913) 904 5330SOURCE: Mylo
PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-11 12:30:23

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) today announced preliminary production results for the first quarter of 2023. Full financial results for the quarter will be reported and filed on SEDAR on or before May 15, 2023. All figures are in US Dollars, unless otherwise expressed.First Quarter Operating HighlightsConsolidated gold production increased 9% to 18,155 ounces compared to 16,663 ounces in the first quarter of 2022. Tonnes milled increased to 206,000 tonnes compared to 184,000 in the first quarter of 2022.Pilar gold production increased 9% to 9,897 ounces compared to 9,082 ounces in the first quarter of 2022.Turmalina gold production increased 9% to 8,258 ounces compared to 7,581 ounces in the first quarter of 2022.Total development drilling for the quarter was 2,880 metres an increase of 10% compared to 2,621 metres in the same period of 2022.Total definition, infill and exploration drilling for the quarter was 9,655 metres, a decrease of 63% compared to 26,305 metres in the same period of 2022, when additional drilling was completed to expand Mineral Resources.The Company ended the quarter with cash of $25.8 million, a slight increase from its year-end cash position of $25.2 million.First Quarter Operating ResultsVern Baker, President and CEO of Jaguar Mining stated: "We are pleased to report that first quarter production improved year over year, however results were once again negatively impacted by a heavy rainy season which created unstable road conditions between the Pilar mine and the Caete plant. At the Pilar mine, the increase in production was the result of an improvement in head grade. The Turmalina mine was able to drive up production through increased tonnes while experiencing a lower grade cycle within the mine.Development efforts continue to be focused on our Faina project. An upgrade of a significant portion of the resources to Indicated from Inferred is underpinning our ongoing work on the Faina project. We expect to access the Faina resource zone by year end and see development within the resource next year.Our guidance for the year is unchanged with gold production expected to be between 84,000 to 88,000 ounces at an All-In-Sustaining-Cost (AISC) range of $1,275 to $1,375 per ounce (US$1: BRL5.20)." Qualified PersonScientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAUSIMM, Vice President Geology and Exploration, who is also an employee of Jaguar Mining Inc., and is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").The Iron QuadrangleThe Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba, and Sao Bento. Jaguar holds the third largest gold land position in the Iron Quadrangle with over 50,000 hectares.About Jaguar Mining Inc.Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande Mines, and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2019. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com For further information please contact:Vernon BakerChief Executive OfficerJaguar Mining Inc.416-847-1854Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information made in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected," "is forecast," "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "believe" 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. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, expected sales, production statistics, ore grades, tonnes milled, recovery rates, cash operating costs, definition/delineation drilling, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, currency fluctuations, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, restarting suspended or disrupted operations, continuous improvement initiatives, and resolution of pending litigation. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the estimated timeline for the development of its mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operat
PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-11 18:01:12

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LEONA VALLEY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Leona Valley Recovery Center, a California addiction rehab and detox treatment center, creates customized treatment plans to meet the needs of their patients. April is "National Stress Awareness Month." During this month and all others, trained professionals at Leona Valley Recovery Center incorporate stress management into patients' treatment plans.Therapeutic approaches employed by Leona Valley Recovery Center counselors include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behavioral Modification (ABA), Integrated Change Therapy (ICT), as well as motivational therapies and others.All of these are, in some way, designed to help patients to be able to better manage the stress that occurs in their lives, to be able to suppress it as a trigger for negative thoughts, addiction struggles, and so forth.According to the National Institutes of Health, "April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress. Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Knowing how to manage stress can improve mental and physical well-being as well as minimize exacerbation of health-related issues." "Stress isn't something that can be eliminated entirely from life. That wouldn't be good, as it would lead to problems with motivation, quality of life, and even happiness. The goal of stress management is to be able to keep stress at levels that can be managed, to keep stress from overtaking your life in an unhealthy way. In our stress management treatments, we work with our patients to realize, among many other things, that negative stress isn't necessarily caused by what we think are the traditional sources, but rather, how we react and interpret what's happening to us, what's happening around us. By learning to better manage stress, we can all learn to better manage not just our addiction and mental health, but our lives as well," said Hai Nguyen, Chief Operations Officer of Leona Valley Recovery Center.Leona Valley Recovery Center is a six-bedroom residential treatment facility more than an hour's drive northeast of Los Angeles. Designed intentionally to be a departure from traditional treatment facilities, Leona Valley Recovery Center specifically centers a combination of evidence-based therapies and holistic treatments.For more information about mental retreats in California, how stress management is developed at a luxury residential addiction treatment center, or to make a press inquiry, contact Leona Valley Recovery Center at (888) 702-1852.Contact InformationEzekiel HernandezCommunications Director213-332-9255SOURCE: Leona Valley Recovery Center
PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-11 15:01:35

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Lotus Ventures Inc. (CSE:J)(OTC PINK:LTTSF) ("Lotus" or the "Company") a North Okanagan grown licensed cannabis producer and the owner of Lotus Cannabis Co. , a premium-craft consumer brand in Canada is excited to announce that its Lotus branded Keylime Kush flower will be available today for Ontario retailers to order through the provinces' "Flow Through" program. Retailers can make orders through the Ontario Cannabis Store Wholesale portal to get a first taste of the Lotus Keylime Kush. For more information about the OCS "Flow Through" program, please visit this article on StratCann.Lotus' premium-craft, indoor-grown Keylime Kush builds on the Company's tradition of launching first-to-market and exclusively grown genetics in Canada. Following the successful launches of the Kalifornia and Tranquil Elephantizer flower, Ontario retailers can expect the first batch of the Lotus Keylime Kush (LOT 110LF) to be 34.3% THC and 2.6% in terpene content. The Keylime Kush will feature high THC and terpene content consistently and is a beautiful hybrid cross between Key Lime Mints and Kush Mints #11. This cultivar's powerful terpene profile of farnesene, limonene, caryophyllene, and linalool creates flavours and aromas of lime kush and green apple with notes of cookies and gas. The Keylime Kush is available in 3.5 gram premium glass flower jars and "we're excited to introduce this new premium cultivar for consumers in Ontario" said Carl Correia, Chief Operating Officer at Lotus.Consumers and retailers can visit Lotus' website and YouTube channel to see a new video of the Keylime Kush, shot by Sessions Highlife: https://youtu.be/ucIOtnfMrUY Figure 1: Lotus Cannabis Co. Keylime Kush 3.5 Gram Premium Glass Jar and FlowerFigure 2: Keylime Kush by Lotus Cannabis Co. Entering Ontario with our Lotus brand is another significant milestone as we continue to introduce our exclusive BC-grown cultivars in Ontario, Canada's largest legal market. For more information about the Lotus Keylime Kush and where you can find it, please visit lotuscannabis.ca ON BEHALF OF LOTUS VENTURES INC:Lotus Ventures Inc."Dale McClanaghan"Dale McClanaghan, President and CEOAbout Lotus Ventures Inc.Lotus Ventures Inc. is a BC-grown licensed producer of premium cannabis. Lotus owns the premium-craft consumer brand Lotus Cannabis Co. which has had its cannabis flower sold by wholesale partners in all provinces to date. Lotus is an experienced cultivator on a mission to produce the cleanest and most consistent premium cannabis in Canada. With operations in the North Okanagan B.C., the Lotus Cannabis team has launched popular cultivars like the Keylime Kush, Black Blossom, Tranquil Elephantizer and Kalifornia and currently has flower being sold in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.To invest in the Company, Lotus Ventures Inc. is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE:J), on the OTC Markets (OTC:LTTSF) and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FRA:LV9).For More Information:President & CEODale McClanaghan(604) - 644 - 9844Marketing ManagerDaniel McRobertdan@ lotuscannabis.ca (604) - 842 - 4625Investor Relationsinvestors@ lotuscannabis.ca (604) - 842 - 4625General Informationinfo@ lotuscannabis.ca To learn more, visit https://lotuscannabis.ca and follow the Lotus Cannabis Co. brand on social media.Instagram: @lotuscannabiscoTwitter: @lotuscannabiscoLinkedIn: @lotuscannabiscoFacebook: @lotuscannaForward-Looking Information:This document includes certain statements that are not descriptions of historical facts but are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning our expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans, our future operating results, our expectations regarding the market for medical and recreational cannabis products, our expectations regarding the continued growth of the medical and recreational cannabis market, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions, or beliefs about future events. Users are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that a number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties have not been documented or mentioned in this document nor other communications made by the company. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "targets," "optimistic," "intend," "aim," "will" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Lotus Ventures, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-11 11:54:17

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The global Private Hospitals market research report is focuses on an overall consumption patterns, development trends, sales patterns and sales in key countries of the Private Hospitals market. The report focuses on global Private Hospitals vendors, marketing department and competition. This report also provides a detailed information on market share, new developments and business analysis, impact of domestic and major players, discusses the opportunities in terms of emerging size, revenue, expectation, changes in industry regulations, product analysis, decisions strategy, product launch in the market, technological innovation, expansion, geographical location in the market. This study shows that there is a dynamic change in the market when it comes to the benefit of local and regional competition for large companies.Click the link to get a Sample Copy of the Report: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/request_sample.php?id=222 It is aggregated on the basis of different dynamic aspects of industry study. The statistical report is compiled by applying primary and secondary research methodologies. Comprehensive Porters five analysis and SWOT analysis are also used to examine the strength, weaknesses, threats and opportunities of the market.Market SegmentationThe global Private Hospitals market is segmented on the basis of solution, industry, and end user. Based on solution, the Private Hospitals market is segmented into component, services. On the basis of industry, the Private Hospitals market is segmented into manufacturing, others. Based on end user, the Private Hospitals market is segmented into consumer and enterprises. The global Private Hospitals market report includes a detailed analysis of the segmentation of this industry by Types and Applications.Global Private Hospitals by Segments: By Hospital Typeo Acute Care Hospitalo Childrens Hospitalo Specialty Hospitalo Multispecialty Hospital By Sizeo Small (Less than 100 beds)o Medium (100 to 500 beds)o Large (More than 500 beds) By Locationo Ruralo UrbanCompetitive Landscape:The competitive landscape of the Private Hospitals market is also provided by analyzing various successful and startup industries. The economic aspects of the businesses are also presented by using facts and figures.MEOCLINIC GmbH, Premier Healthcare Germany, Helios, St Francis Foundation, Shouldice, Cambie Surgery Centre, Toulon Hyeres Private Hospital, Hospital Group Deaconesses Croix Saint, London Bridge Hospital, Ramsay Health Care UK amongst others.Private Hospitals Market: Regional AnalysisThe research study covers North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa on the basis of productivity, thus focusing on the leading countries from the global regions. The report further highlights the cost structure including cost of raw material and cost of manpower. It offers cogent analysis of business stimulants of the Private Hospitals market.Ask for Discount: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=222 The Study Objectives are: A comprehensive insight into key players operating in the Private Hospitals Market and their corresponding data. It includes product portfolio, annual revenue, expenditure on research and development, geographical presence, key developments in recent years, and growth strategies. Regional analysis, which includes insight into the dominant market and corresponding market share. It also includes various socio-economic factors affecting the evolution of the market in the region. The report offers a comprehensive insight into different individuals from value chains such as raw materials suppliers, distributors, and stockholders.Major Points Covered in TOC:Market Summary: It incorporates six sections, research scope, major players covered, market segments by type, Private Hospitals market segments by application, study goals and years considered.Market Landscape: Here, the global Private Hospitals 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 Private Hospitals 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 Private Hospitals 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 Private Hospitals 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 Private Hospitals 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=222 Visit Our Website: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ 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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MAHE, SEYCHELLES / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / RenQ Finance (RENQ), a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform built on the Ethereum blockchain, has been making waves in the crypto community with its innovative approach to DeFi, strong community, and its impressive presale performance.The project's recent success in its presale stages has only added to the excitement surrounding the platform.Overview of RenQ Finance (RENQ)RenQ Finance is a versatile DeFi platform that offers a range of services, including a DEX, liquidity pools, yield farming, and lending protocols. What sets RenQ Finance apart from other DeFi projects is its modular and composable architecture, which makes it easier to integrate with other DeFi projects.The platform's unique features have helped it to gain significant attention in the crypto community, and its presale stages have been highly anticipated. Investors have been eagerly awaiting the chance to participate in the project's presale stages and secure a position in the project before its official launch.Success in Presale StagesRenQ Finance's presale stages have been highly successful, with the project selling out each stage ahead of schedule. The project recently sold out Presale Stage 4, which was scheduled to run until the end of April. This success has led the project to move to stage 5 weeks ahead of the expected schedule.The success of RenQ Finance's presale stages can be attributed to the project's strong community and innovative approach to DeFi. The platform's modular architecture and range of services have made it an attractive option for investors looking for a versatile DeFi platform.Factors contributing to RenQ Finance's early success in its PresaleRenQ Finance has been making waves in the cryptocurrency market since its announcement earlier this year. The project's presale has been an overwhelming success, with the platform selling out stage 4 weeks ahead of schedule and moving on to stage 5. In this section, we'll explore the factors that have contributed to RenQ Finance's early success in its presale.Innovative Approach to DeFiOne of the main factors contributing to RenQ Finance's early success is its innovative approach to decentralized finance (DeFi). The platform is built on the Ethereum blockchain and offers a range of DeFi services, including a DEX, liquidity pools, yield farming, and lending protocols. What sets RenQ Finance apart from other DeFi projects is its modular and composable architecture, which makes it easier to integrate with other DeFi projects.This innovative approach to DeFi has garnered significant attention from investors and industry experts alike. The platform's ability to offer a range of DeFi services on a single platform is seen as a major advantage, and its modular architecture makes it an attractive option for investors looking for a versatile DeFi platform.Strong Community SupportAnother factor contributing to RenQ Finance's early success is its strong community support. The project has been able to build a strong community of supporters who believe in the platform's vision and potential. The platform's Telegram group has over 9,000 members, and its Twitter account also has over 9,000 followers.This strong community support has helped to drive interest in the project and has contributed to its early success in the presale. It has also helped to generate buzz around the platform and has attracted the attention of investors who are looking for promising projects to invest in.Experienced TeamRenQ Finance's experienced team is another factor contributing to its early success in the presale. The project's team members have a wealth of experience in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries.In addition, the project's team includes several experienced advisors. This experienced team has helped to instill confidence in investors and has contributed to the project's early success in the presale.What's Next for RenQ Finance?RenQ Finance and its investors are optimistic about the platform's potential for success after the fourth presale stage sold out. If the remaining four presale stages also sell out quickly, the platform's official launch could be moved up from its expected date in July. With investors eagerly anticipating the opportunity to participate in the project, the platform's launch may be earlier than originally planned.In addition to its launch, RenQ Finance has a range of other services in the pipeline, including a launchpad for new projects and an NFT marketplace. These services are expected to enhance the platform's versatility further and attract more users to the project.ConclusionRenQ Finance's success in its presale stages is a clear indication of the platform's potential in the DeFi space. The project's innovative approach to DeFi and modular architecture have helped it to stand out from other projects in the market.As the project prepares for its official launch, investors are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to participate in the project and secure a position before its launch. With its range of services and strong community, RenQ Finance is poised to become a significant player in the DeFi space in the coming months.Click Here to Buy RenQ Finance (RENQ) Tokens.Visit the links below for more information about RenQ Finance (RENQ):Website: https://renq.io Whitepaper: https://renq.io/whitepaper.pdf Media DetailsCompany Name: RenQ LimitedBusiness Mail: Support@ renq.io Website: https://renq.io/ City and Country: Mahe, SeychellesSOURCE: RenQ Limited
Secretary of Savannakhet Provincial Party Committee and the province's Governor Bounchom Ubonpaseuth receives Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai. (Photo: SGGP)

On April 9, a delegation of Ho Chi Minh City led by Mr. Mai arrived in Savannakhet province in central Laos, one of three units twinning with Ho Chi Minh City.

Receiving Mr. Mai, Bounchom Ubonpaseuth, Secretary of the Savannakhet Provincial Party Committee and the province's Governor, highly appreciated the close cooperation in many fields between Savannakhet province and Ho Chi Minh City. He thanked Ho Chi Minh City for supporting the province's online meeting room and coordinating well in organizing activities of the Vietnam - Laos and Laos - Vietnam Year of Solidarity in 2022.

He introduced to the delegation 5 relics of the leaders, including President Ho Chi Minh historical relic site and President Kaysone Phomvihane memorial site. He also highly appreciated the restoration work on President Ho Chi Minh historical relic site, and affirmed that this is a work of sacred significance. Noting that provincial leaders want to build this place into a tourist area to teach the history of relations between the two countries, he informed that he would direct the authorities to preserve and manage the relic well.

In addition, he expressed his wish to organize a cooperation conference on investment, trade and tourism, especially during the recovery period after the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding tourism, according to Mr. Bounchom Ubonpaseuth, Savannakhet is located on the East-West corridor connecting Vietnam - Laos - Thailand, has advantages in tourism between localities in the region. Therefore, the province is focusing on calling for investment in building infrastructure and services for tourism.

During the meeting, he also highly appreciated Ho Chi Minh Citys cooperation program in human resource training and scholarship support for Savannakhet students./.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE:CS) between March 10, 2022 and March 20, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). The Class Period was expanded to include more investors. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 8, 2023.SO WHAT: If you purchased Credit Suisse securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Credit Suisse class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12359 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@ rosenlegal.com or cases@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 8, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) contrary to Defendant Lehmann's representations in December 2022, the sharp increase in customer outflows Credit Suisse began experiencing in October 2022 remained ongoing; (2) accordingly, Credit Suisse had downplayed the impact of the Company's recent series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures on liquidity and its ability to retain client funds; (3) as a result, Credit Suisse had overstated the Company's financial position and/or prospects; and (4) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.To join the Credit Suisse class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12359 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@ rosenlegal.com or cases@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827lrosen@ rosenlegal.com pkim@ rosenlegal.com cases@ rosenlegal.com SOURCE: Rosen Law Firm PA
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 10, 2023 / WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Trinseo PLC (NYSE:TSE) resulting from allegations that Trinseo may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.SO WHAT: If you purchased Trinseo securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=13711 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@ rosenlegal.com or cases@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 27, 2023, The Inquirer published an article entitled "Bristol plant that spilled chemicals into Philly's water supply had other mishaps over the last decade." The article reported "a chemical plant in Bristol that authorities said caused a toxic spill, threatening Philadelphia's drinking water, has a long history of mishaps - including at least four recent contamination incidents." In addition, the article stated "over the past decade, the U.S. Coast Guard twice before detected releases of acrylates [commonly used to produce glass-like acrylics] from the Bristol facility into the Delaware. The EPA had separately flagged two other acrylate releases." The article cites, "David Salas-de la Cruz, a Rutgers University associate professor of chemistry, worked at the Bristol plant during its Rohm and Haas days. He said the number of incidents over the past decade was unusual." On this news, the price of Trinseo's stock fell $1.09, or 5.26%, to close at $19.62 per share on March 27, 2023.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827lrosen@ rosenlegal.com pkim@ rosenlegal.com cases@ rosenlegal.com SOURCE: Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Tempest, an internet privacy company, has announced the public launch of its new search engine and browser. The integrated private search and browser surpasses others in the market through combining unrivalled privacy features with a user-friendly experience - matching that of Google's. This marks the official launch of products Tempest has been building in stealth for over 5 years.TempestTempest - private browsing that puts you in control Tempest's product offering is superior to existing private search and browser offerings in the market in three ways:Matches Google's user experience - Tempest is the only private option which provides search results in a way that is comparable to Google. E.g. searching 'Time in San Francisco and London' will generate an easy time zone slider which is comparable to Google's offering, and which other private search providers simply don't give users.Only authentically integrated private search and browser - Tempest was conceived as a private search & browser integration, with native browsers purpose built for each platform. Tempest offers multi-language support, device syncing and the use of alternative browser extensions.Unrivalled privacy features - Tempest is the only private engine and browser to provide a "privacy report card" on the results/links provided on the SERP - providing users with a unique view of how websites are treating an individual's privacy. Tempest also provides ad-blocker and anti-fingerprinting solutions which are superior in efficacy to others in the market.Unlike traditional search engines and browsers that have normalised the practice of tracking and collecting user data, Tempest's privacy-focused internet products do not collect Personally Identifiable Information (PII), are tracker-free and do not collect your search history. This means your personal information is protected.All advertising on Tempest will be keyword-based, with advertisers unable to target users based on their browsing history. Private search is default and user data will never be shared with third parties without user action and consent. This means people can search online knowing they are safe from being watched.Michael Levit, Co-founder and CEO at Tempest said:"A decade ago, today's Google would have been classified as spyware. We've launched Tempest because we need a storm to disrupt the search industry and put people back in control of their personal information."At present, people have little choice but to see their deepest personal searches - about their health, their money and their relationships - tracked and shared with advertisers. Today is the beginning of the end of that." Sean Murphy, Co-founder and COO, added:"Launching Tempest Search and Tempest Browser is about offering people a high-quality, private search engine and browser experience. With Tempest, we want to create an experience that feels familiar but is radically different in how a person's privacy is viewed and respected, one where everyone can feel confident that their data is theirs to do with what they please."We've got an exciting vision for the future of Tempest and will be pursuing an ambitious approach over the coming months to increase market share and re-shape the way people search and use the internet." At launch, Tempest Search and Tempest Browser are available for free globally including the United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. The search engine is compatible with all devices and platforms, allowing for a seamless change for users. Tempest Browser is available on desktop, as well as iOS on mobile with an Android launch to follow later this year. Tempest can be downloaded at www.tempest.com Notes to editorsAbout TempestTempest is an online privacy company which seeks to increase privacy and data security for all Internet users. Founded in 2019 by entrepreneurs Michael Levit and Sean Murphy, Tempest has built a portfolio of privacy products including a Tempest Search and Tempest Browser. It also plans to expand its product range, ensuring user safety across every touchpoint online. With operations spanning across 10 countries and 3 continents, Tempest is growing to become a global name in Internet privacy and protect millions of users' data online.For more information visit: www.tempest.com Contact Information:Ewan WhiteSenior Account Directortempest@ grayling.com SOURCE: Tempest
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NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / The 1st Annual ASSEMBLY Show South brought together 3,000+ manufacturing professionals to the Music City Center in Nashville, TN to source products from 150 exhibiting companies, share knowledge in the education program and network. The trade show and conference, produced by BNP Media's ASSEMBLY Magazine, took place Tuesday, April 4 to Thursday, April 6, 2023 and featured emerging trends and technologies related to assembly equipment and products including solutions for autonomous & electric mobility, robotics, automated assembly, fastening tools, pressing & riveting, and Industry 4.0 throughout a robust show floor. Photos of The ASSEMBLY Show South are available at this link."We worked closely with our charter exhibitors over the last 18 months to bring this event to Nashville and were thrilled to receive such positive feedback from the exhibitors, attendees and our partners, especially the Tennessee Manufacturers Association, University of Tennessee and SMTA," said Bill DeYoe, Publisher, ASSEMBLY Magazine, producers of the event. "With all of the factories being built up and down the I65 corridor we were confident the Southeast needed a focused event exclusively on assembly and look forward to building upon the foundation we have created. We know this region will continue to expand with hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs, and we look forward to doubling the size of our event next year." Highlights of the event, include:The sold-out Exhibit Hall featured 150+ leading vendors with working machinery and live demonstrations for attendees to interact with, including Gold Sponsor Promess; Silver Sponsors Desoutter Industrial Tools and Bosch Rexroth; and Bronze Sponsors Schmidt Technology, Tutelar Technologies, and Weiss North America. Many of the exhibitors renewed their booth space on-site for the 2024 Show which will be double in size. The 2024 event will be co-located with The Quality Show and held April 30 - May 2, 2024 back at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN.On Thursday morning, the Best in Show Award winners were announced. The program featured new products which were selected by the editors of ASSEMBLY Magazine. Attendees voted and during the Morning Mingle Breakfast on the show floor the following companies were announced the winners:1st place winner: MS Automation for their High-Speed Automation Assembles Connector.2nd place winner: BalTec Corp., for their Roller Forming with Servo-Controlled Articulation.3rd place winner: Epson Robots for their Fast Scara Robots for High Payloads.Kenneth Engel, Senior Vice president of Global Supply Chain, North America, Schneider Electric explored the supply chain resilience and risk management strategies in the wake of numerous shortages plaguing manufacturers during his keynote presentation on Rethinking the Supply Chain.The four pre-conference workshops attracted hundreds of attendees to sessions heldin partnership with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services; Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA); and the editorial staff of ASSEMBLY Magazine. Topics included A Lean Journey to I4.0, Reliability in Electronics, Automated Assembly and Vehicle Electrification.Over a dozen exhibitors demonstrated their company's expertise related to the latest technological advances in assembly in Learning Theaters in the Exhibit Hall. Subject matter experts shared their knowledge on automation, robotic precision, Industry 4.0, supply chain, scalability, industrial automation and a special workshop onCollaborative Robots Technology.Attendees and exhibitors enjoyed two Networking Receptions including the opening night Welcome Reception and a reception in the Exhibit Hall sponsored by Bosch Rexroth. On Thursday morning Desoutter sponsored the Morning Mingle & Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall were additional connections were made.It was announced at the Show that in 2024 The Quality Show South will be co-located with The ASSEMBLY Show South April 30 - May 2. For additional information, visit https://www.qualitymag.com/quality-show.The ASSEMBLY Show South will take place on April 30 - May 2, 2024 at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN and The ASSEMBLY Show will take place on October 24-26, 2023 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL are sponsored by ASSEMBLY ( www.assemblymag.com) the leading brand covering the processes, technologies, and strategies for assembling discrete parts into finished products. ASSEMBLY offers an integrated portfolio of products including the industry's leading trade show. The trade show and conference are produced by BNP Media, one of the country's leading business-to-business media companies serving industry professionals across 60+ industries through magazines, custom media, e-newsletters, webinars, events, and market research. For more information, visit www.bnpmedia.com For Further Information, Contact:Amy Riemer, Media Relations Representative978-502-4895 (cell)amy@ riemercommunications.com SOURCE: Assembly Show South
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Luminex Resources, Voyageur Pharmaceuticals,Trillion Energy, ARway and Pan Global Resources 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.Luminex Resources (TSXV:LR) expands Cuyes West ProjectLuminex Resources (LR) released drill results from its Cuyes West Project in Ecuador. Widening hanging wall mineralization next to the project has expanded into a new breccia pipe with this added drilling yielding longer than 200 metre intervals of gold mineralization over one gram per tonne. Step out drilling from the new breccia pipe and Cuyes West is ongoing and will contribute towards updating the resource for Condor North to include all Cuyes West drilling by Q4 2023. CEO Marshall Koval spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.For the full interview with Marshall Koval and to learn about Luminex Resources, click here.Voyageur (TSXV:VM) confirms preference for SmoothX in comparative studiesVoyageur (VM) has completed comparative studies of SmoothX versus Readi-Cat 2 per cent. SmoothX is intended for use in computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis to delineate the gastrointestinal tract. Results of the double-blind testing showed that SmoothX was favoured on drinkability and taste by 75 per cent of patients, a key finding prior to market launch. The company plans to offer 13 barium contrast product lines in Canada and the U.S. CEO Brent Willis spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.For the full interview with Brent Willis and to learn about Voyageur, click here.Trillion Energy (CSE:TCF) spuds fifth well at SASB gas field developmentTrillion Energy (TCF) is reporting the spudding of the Bayhanli-2 well at the SASB gas field offshore Turkey. Bayhanli-2 is the fifth gas well in Trillion's multi-well drilling program at SASB. The well targets a prospective gas pool that may require multiple wells to reach full production. Colin Robson, VP Corporate Development, spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.For the full interview with Colin Robson and to learn about Trillion Energy, click here.ARway (CSE:ARWY) (OTC:ARWYF) secures annual partner license, launches referral programARway (ARWY) has launched its referral partner program to enhance business development. The launch is expected to increase the company's prospect funnel and accelerate revenue growth. The company also signed The TRIBE to an annual license deal to use ARway to build a custom AR-powered app for its marketing agency. VP Product, Shadnam Khan, spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.For the full interview with Shadnam Khan and to learn about ARway, click here.Pan Global (TSXV:PGZ) exceeds 86 per cent copper recovery at La RomanaPan Global Resources (PGZ) released results from preliminary test work at its La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery in Spain. The results achieved for the first phase of testing demonstrate the potential for a conventional flotation process flowsheet capable of recovering copper into a saleable concentrate. The favourable combination of low deleterious metals and coarse primary grind size and potential for lower final energy consumption, is highly encouraging. President and CEO Tim Moody spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.For the full interview with Tim Moody and to learn about Pan Global, 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 HeraldThe 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 . 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The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and other relevant partners including the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), its sister organisation, PREMIUM TIMES, and Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, are organising a National Animal Feed Summit in Abuja today.

The summit, themed: Harnessing Alternative Feed Resources for Sustainable Animal Feed Supply, is the second edition to be held in the country and it is billed to hold between 11 and 12 April in Nigerias capital city.

According to the organisers, the summit is the convergence of key stakeholders from the private and public sectors, feed millers (toll, commercial and on-farm) and academia, to chart the way forward for the development of Nigerias feed sector.

It has a primary focus on feed value chain development, National Animal Feed policy document, National Strategic Feed Reserve and National Alternative Feed Ingredient Development.

The first edition of the Animal Feed Summit was held between 23 and 25 September 2021 in Abuja and a draft feed policy document was developed.

Some of the critical issues raised then were the need to strategically develop a comprehensive feed sector database, harness crop residues to boost feed security and safeguard the environment, and prioritise efforts and investment in harnessing alternative feed resources amongst others.

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This year, the organisers said, the summit will feature robust conversations on ways to enhance understanding among policymakers and the general public on the importance of the National Animal Feed Policy, value chain development, National Strategic Feed Reserve and National Alternative Feed Ingredients.

During the event, CJID and PREMIUM TIMES are expected to engage experts about the role of media in the development of the agricultural sector through a panel discussion tagged; The Impact of Insecurity, Climate Change, Post-Harvest on Food Security in Nigeria, and The Role of the Media in the Development of the Agricultural Sector.

The panel sessions are expected to feature agricultural experts across the value chain including farmers, processors, climate change experts, and media professionals.

PREMIUM TIMES reporters are at the event to bring you the details of the summit as events unfold

Live:

6:19 p.m: After the reading of the communique, the two-day event ends.

3:44 p.m.

The question-and-answer session has commenced.

3:21 p.m. Speaking about 30 per cent of post-harvest losses recorded in Nigeria, Mr Oluwatola said they are innovative ideas in the agricultural industry but they are not deployed at scale. He said to achieve that, there is a need for significant investment in that regard. He said to make the industry thrive effectively, there is a need to invest along the value chain. Mr Oluwatola said subsidies are useful but need to be performance-based subsidies. Performance-based subsidies have been found to be more efficacious. The goal of your subsidy should not be about dashing peoples money, he said. Speaking on the innovative approach to animal feed production, Mr Akinbajo said the amount of research discussed by researchers needs to be amplified. He said there is definitely a need for journalists to work with researchers to help people to understand research findings for the public good. Collaboration is the key for us, Mr Akinbajo added. At the end of the day, transparency is the solution to the problem that we are facing in the sector. Mrs Ajibola urged the Ministry of Agriculture and the academic community to reach out to newsrooms for partnerships. We should begin to explore this approach. Reach out to organisations that are doing similar things to what you are doing for partnerships, she added.

3:06 p.m. Speaking on the impact of the cash crunch on farmers, one of the discussants, Ogechi Okebugwu, programme director of Small Scale Women Farmers Association of Nigeria (SWOFON), said the naira scarcity period was a challenging time for farmers. She said most of them( farmers) didnt have cash and recorded no sales. They were giving out ( selling off) their goods at cheaper prices, she added. She said during the International Womens Day celebrations, they collaborated with other partners in Abuja to visit rural communities to educate women on the need to open accounts so that they can have alternatives. Speaking on the Anchor Borrowers Programme initiated by the government, Mr Akinbajo said the problem of the programme was transparency. He said due to lack of transparency, many of such programmes failed. If you want success for the agriculture sector, ensure transparency, he said. He noted thay desertification and insecurity are also some of the factors that affected some of the farmers from paying back the ABP loans. In the ministry of agriculture, it is so so difficult to get details of who is benefitting from what, he said.

2:50 p.m. The second panel session begins. The focus is on the impact of climate change, insecurity, and post-harvest loses on feed and food security and the role of the media. Speaking on the roles of the media, PREMIUM TIMES Managing Editor, Idris Akinbajo, said he is not sure the media appeared unaware about the flooding experience last year. He said there is no proper synergy among government agencies to ensure that people dont suffer the way they did. However, Mr Akinbajo noted that the media is trying on climate change reporting in the country. He said: The media does not change society. The media will report, the media will investigate but it is the responsibility of the citizens to hold their government officials more accountable as much as possible.

2:34 p.m.

Speaking on quality assurance, Mrs Omotosho said those who are into feed milling should have their protocol for receiving their materials. They should have facilities for testing the materials they are receiving, she said.

She noted that the nation needs a feed central laboratory in Nigeria with properly calibrated equipment for feed millers.

In his intervention, Mr Adetayo said there is a need to do more surveys to add more feed resources to existing data bank.

2:30 p.m.

On his part, Adekeye Adetayo, a crop pasture expert, said in an attempt to feed animals, experts must not create another problem for the environment.

He said degraded lands can be converted into pasture cultivation in an effort to curb climate change effect.

In a swift intervention, Mrs Ebenebe said the integrated farming system is the right way to go in order to curb the emission of greenhouse gases as a result of agricultural activities in the environment.

2:15 p.m:

Speaking on the regulatory framework for supporting the utilisation of innovative technology for feed production, Godwin Oyediji, the founder of Animal Science Association of Nigeria, said the nation needs regulation to support the upstream industry in Nigeria .

He said Nigeria has so many regulations and that in any standard regulation, there is a need for proper consensus.

1:44 p.m:

The first-panel session of the day has commenced. The panelists are discussing the theme Achieving feed and food security in Nigeria through the commercialisation of alternative feed utilisation and the session is being moderated by the Sahel Consulting partners.

One of the discussants, Mope Omotosho, a registered animal scientist, said agricultural practices are available but the farmers are not aware.

We need extension services to achieve this, she said.

She noted that as it is now, by the time Nigeria start compounding or processing feed for animal, the nation would be in trouble because it is not harnessing its potential effectively.

Mrs Omotosho explained that in the feed milling industry, the major crops being used are maize and Soya beans and the nation needs to improve its production level.

While making her presentation on the Prospects of Alternative Feed Resources Utilisation (Insect), Cordelia Ebenebe, a professor of Animal Science at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said insects are essential components in the production of highly nutritious animal feeds.

She said insects have the potential in meeting the needs of feed milling and poultry industries.

Speaking on insect availability, Mrs Ebenebe described insects as ubiquitous, adding that they have adapted to many environments and that they have high rate of multiplication making them available at all times except for seasonal ones

Mrs Ebenebe said the more reason why farmers should use insect meals is because they contain Bioactive substances such as Antimicrobial peptides, Antioxidants, Immune system stimulation and microbiota modulation.

With these bioactive substances in livestock feeds, she said it will help develop the immune system of the livestock, preventing the animals from falling sick unnecessarily.

In his presentation, Yarama Ndirpaya, Director, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, said Nigeria is facing a feed and food security crisis that is compounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic and its effects on the food value chain in the country.

He added that the pandemic, insecurity, climate change and post-harvest losses, among others, have significantly disrupted already fragile value chains across the country, including peoples ability to produce, process, and distribute food.

He said Nigerias animal feed sector remains underdeveloped, largely due to high production costs 70 per cent of the operational costs of most poultry, aquaculture and other livestock operations go to feed.

Climate change has affected human lives and has changed the world, he said.

In his presentation, Hakeem Ajeigbe, a research partner with the Center for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, urged farmers to increase dry season cultivation of grains including legumes for food, feed and crop residue.

He said long-duration photosensitive cereals are essential for high biomass production (silage/hay) in feed production.

The President of the Potato Farmers Association, Daniel Okafor, during his presentation on potatoes as an alternative feed for livestock, urged researchers to train farmers to know more about extension services.

Mr Okafor said farmers need more irrigation and water pump to be able to produce more feed for both humans and livestock sustainably.

While making her presentation on the Prospects of Alternative Feed Resources Utilisation (Insect), Cordelia Ebenebe, a professor of Animal Science at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said insects are essential components in the production of highly nutritious animal feeds.

She said insects have the potential in meeting the needs of Feed milling/ Poultry Industries.

Speaking on insect availability for the purpose, Mrs Ebenebe described insects as Ubiquitous (they are everywhere).

She noted that insects have adapted to many environments and that they have they have high rate of multiplication making them available at all times except for seasonal ones.

DAY 2

10:30 a.m

Day 2 activities at the summit venue have commenced. Presentation on the prospect of alternative Feed Resources Utilisation (crops and Insects) are ongoing.

6:00 p.m: All the groups have completed their presentation of findings from the technical sessions.

Its the end of deliberation and presentations for Day 1.

Event continues tomorrow.

4:20 p.m: Presentation of findings from the technical session of the summit has commenced.



1:25 p.m: The technical session of the summit commences. The Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry and Services at the ministry, Ako Joseph, presented the overview of the Animal feed policy.

All participants from the ministry have been divided into different groups to review the draft of the policy.

The minister explained that the animal feed market is characterised by a mix of small-scale, traditional methods and large-scale modern methods. He added that there are challenges such as lack of access to credit and markets, low investment in research and development, which limit the ability of animal feed sector to innovate and improve production methods.

To meet the increasing demand for animal feed in Nigeria, the minister said there is a need for innovation and technology to develop sustainable and efficient production methods which will support small-scale and rural communities through extension services training and other support.

1:00 p.m: All the invited guests and participants are taking group photographs with the Agriculture Minister.

12:45 p.m: Mr Abubakar, the agriculture minister, in his remark said the theme of the summit aligns with the vision of the Nigerian government for the sector.

He said low investment in research and development is limiting the efficiency of the sector.

Mr Abubakar noted that there is a need to develop technology to support the sector.

Partnerships of all concerned stakeholders is essential for sustainable animal feed to be achieved, he added.

The FMARD Director, Department Cooperative, Abubakar Jibril, in his goodwill message said a cooperative is a group of people coming together to achieve efficiency.

He said not less than 40 per cent of cooperatives are involved in the livestock sub-sector.

Mr Jibril said the Nigerian feed sector is being threatened because the feed required by animals is being consumed by human beings.

He said the summit is an important forum to promote and achieve sustainable viable feed sector.

12:28 p.m: The chief host of the summit and Nigerias Agriculture Minister, Mohammad Abubakar, arrives the venue of the Summit.

11: 43 a.m: Its time for tea break and participants await the arrival of the Minister of Agriculture, Muhammed Abubakar.

In his goodwill message, Hope Usieta , the Executive Director, Leventis Foundation, Nigeria, said the summit theme is relevant and timely.

He said he hopes the deliberation would serve its purpose.

11: 26 a.m. In his remarks, Francis Abeke, president, Nigerian Society for Animal production, said: We have worked and the shelves are filled up but how do we transfer this knowledge into practical solutions?

He said it is time for action and there is need to transform research works into solutions.

It is time to move from hearing to practical, he added.

Lets convert these ingredients and let a farmer be able to obtain a bag of ruminant feed as the poultry farmers do.

On his part, CJID director, Mr Oluwatola, explained that protein intake comes from livestock and there is a need to improve Nigerias protein intake by improving the feed sector.

He added that there are challenges that the industry needs to solve.

Mr Oluwatola said this is the first time the nation would be fortunate to have proper dialogue and that the media will be providing an interphase in this regard.

He appreciated the ministry and other partners for agreeing to organise the summit.

The Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, Temi Adegoroye, is delivering his opening remarks.

He said the company has supported over 1500 farmers across the country in the production of animal feed.

He acknowledged the efforts of the CJID for chosing to establish a synergy between the food system and the media.

Mr Adegoroye said he believes that the insight generated at the event will promote the design of initiatives that will support the sector.

11:03 a.m: Dignitaries are being invited to the high table.

Ime Umoia, representing the FMARD Permanent Secretary, Ernest Umakhihe, is delivering his opening remarks.

He noted that the summit is coming at a time when the vision of the federal government is articulated to change approach. He said the private sector will remain in the lead while the government support by providing enabling environment.

10:58 a.m: The Master of Ceremonies has asked participants to recite the National Anthem as the event commences.

10:31 a.m: Some of the invited guests, including various directors at FMARD have arrived the venue.

CJID Executive Director, Tobi Oluwatola, is seated for the event to commence.

Participants and representatives across the different states in the country are also introducing themselves.

10:30 a.m: All is set for the commencement of the event. The master of the ceremony, Mabel Obe, welcome the participants to the event.

As of 9:43 a.m., Participants and guests are still arriving at the venue, and registration is ongoing.

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The number of high-net-worth (millionaires) individuals in Africas largest economy, Nigeria, fell by 30 per cent in the past decade (2012-2022), a new report has revealed.

Henley & Partners, the global firm in residence and citizenship by investment analysis, made this known in its latest edition of the Africa Wealth Report AWR published in March.

The report is a definitive guide to Africas wealth and luxury sector, and it is usually published annually in partnership with a wealth intelligence firm, New World Wealth.

It provides a comprehensive review of private wealth in Africa, including high-net-worth-individual, luxury, and wealth management trends, as well as expert insights on investment, the investment migration sector, and economic mobility on the continent.

According to the 72-page report, South Africa tops the list of the top 10 wealthiest countries in Africa in terms of resident high-net-worth individuals by some margin.

It noted that Mauritius high ranking is also impressive when considering its small size and population.

South Africas high centi-millionaire count is particularly notable. Centi-millionaires are typically the founders of large multinational companies, making their presence in a country particularly valuable when it comes to creating employment, the report said.

Major findings

The 2023 edition of the AWR reveals that the Big 5 wealth markets in Africa are South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco and that these countries, together, account for a significant 56 per cent of Africas high-net-worth individuals and over 90 per cent of the continents billionaires.

However, it said their continued dominance is far from assured, adding that the five aforementioned countries could soon be challenged by the likes of Mauritius and Rwanda, which are fast gaining ground.

Namibias new residence by investment offering positions it as a future potential rival as well, the report said.

Growth trends

The report explained that the total high-net-worth individual numbers in Africa have fallen by 12 per cent over the past decade under review (2012 to 2022).

It said performance was constrained by poor growth in the three largest African markets, namely South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria.

Rwanda was the top performing market in Africa during the period, with millionaire growth of 72%, followed by Mauritius, Seychelles, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the report said, adding that Morocco and Kenyas high-net-worth individual populations also grew solidly.

Ethiopia and Ghana, whose millionaire populations had been growing rapidly until 2019, have struggled over the past few years, which has pulled back their 10-year growth rates, the AWR noted.

According to the report, the number of individuals who are worth over $1 million in Africa is pegged at 138,000. Of this figure, only 328 people in the continent are worth more than $100 million and just 23 are worth more than $1 billion within the last decade.

South Africa tops the list of countries with the highest individuals with a net worth of $1 million and above (37,800) and $100 million and above(98).

Egypt which secured the second spot on the list has 16,100 individuals with a net worth of $1 million and above, while 54 are worth at least $100 million and above.

Meanwhile, the continents most populous nation, Nigeria, is ranked third among the top ten wealthiest countries in Africa, the report said.

According to the report, 9,800 people in the West African country are worth $1 million and above, while 27 are worth $100 million and above.

However, Egypt has the highest number of billionaires in the continent of Africa. The report pegged the northeastern African country individuals with a net worth of $1 billion and above at Eight. South Africa has five, while Nigeria and Morocco have four each.

Disturbing trend

Between 2012 and 2022, the report noted that approximately 18,500 high-net-worth individuals have left Africa. It said most have relocated to the UK, the USA, and the UAE.

Significant numbers have also moved to Australia, Canada, France, Israel, Monaco, New Zealand, Portugal, and Switzerland, the report said.

In terms of internal millionaire migration within the continent, the report said approximately 1,200 high-net-worth individuals have moved between African countries over the 10-year period, with most relocating to Mauritius and South Africa.

A large number of billionaires have left Africa over the past 20 years or so. Notably, there are 52 African-born billionaires globally, of whom only 23 still live on African soil. This is a significant concern as many billionaires are entrepreneurs and company founders, the report noted.

These individuals, the report said, have the ability to create significant employment in their host countries, noting that billionaires rarely move for tax reasons but that they usually relocate to expand their businesses or due to safety concerns.

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Guineas military authorities are trying to end the illicit trade in prescription medicines. The country is a hotspot for pharmaceutical trafficking in West Africa, with around 70 per cent of medicine sold in Guinea being reportedly illicit.

Conakrys Madina market is considered the epicentre of the trade and is an important storage and redistribution centre for the region. While some of the contraband is sold in the country, much of it is transported to Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau and Cote dIvoire.

There have been several efforts to combat the illegal dealings over the years. In 2009, the National Council for Democracy and Development under Moussa Dadis Camara launched a campaign against factories developing pharmaceutical products in and around the capital. While large quantities were seized, the black market quickly reappeared a few months later.

In 2015, under former president Alpha Conde, several more measures were taken. After adopting the MEDICRIME Convention in 2015, Guineas government established a MEDICRIME brigade in 2019. Following pressure from pharmacists and pharmacies in the country, the number of private wholesale importers was drastically reduced from 104 to 58 in 2019 and again from 58 to 10 in 2021.

Despite this dramatic decrease in importers, the trafficking of illicit medicines through the port of Conakry continued. Customs officials told the ENACT project that the modus operandi of criminal groups included making false declarations at the dock or concealing the drugs in other merchandise, such as packages of cookies. According to a Madina market wholesaler, some authorised private importers also shipped in medicines on behalf of illicit wholesalers.

Since seizing power in a coup in September 2021, the National Committee of Reconciliation and Development (CNRD) under Mamady Doumbouya has made several attempts to curb the trafficking and sale of illicit medicines. Describing the trade as a real public health problem in Guinea, authorities issued a communique ordering the closure of all stores and unauthorised points of sale for illicit medicine by 15 September 2022.

On 14 September, Aly Toure, Special Prosecutor of the Court of Repression of Economic and Financial Offences, had warned that anyone involved in the trade after the closure would be prosecuted. Toure issued arrest warrants against 18 people after over 200 containers of illicit drugs were seized at Conakrys port in July 2022.

The gendarmerie conducts daily patrols to ensure that shops specialising in the sale of illegal medicines remain closed. Consequently, the trade is no longer visible in neighbourhoods where illicit pharmacies were common, according to MEDICRIME brigade officials and civil society organisations.

According to Manize Kolie, secretary-general of the union for pharmacists and private pharmacies in Guinea, all officials and community leaders must report violations or face jail time. This includes governors, mayors, neighbourhood heads, imams and market organisers. This intense crackdown explains the governments relative success. Another reason is that the junta isnt worried about alienating voters like a civilian government would be. This enables them to enforce unpopular rules.

Despite the measures taken by authorities though, the problem persists. A Conakry resident told ENACT that she recently obtained illicit medicines from the same market she had bought them from before the ban. She said black market medication was cheaper, and locals believed some of the most effective medicines could be found only through these outlets.

Not everyone in Guinea wants the illicit market closed. An investigative journalist told ENACT that Conde avoided a strict crackdown because he feared angering his community in Kankan. Residents here are known to consume vast quantities of illicit medicines. Miners, in particular, use a lot of tramadol as it reduces appetite, reportedly makes them feel stronger and allows them to work longer hours without tiring. They also use other opioids.

Is the juntas success in curtailing the illicit medicine trade sustainable, including after the return to civilian government, currently set for January 2025? The trafficking, illegal manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals is deeply rooted in Guinea and has become a lucrative business, with many families dependent on it for survival.

Crackdowns should be only one component of a multi-faceted response. Given the scale of the criminal economy, the likelihood that the trade has gone underground, and peoples dependence on it for their income, various approaches are needed.

Health authorities told ENACT they had taken the lead in supplying medicine to all pharmacies and health facilities, but there were still gaps in provision. According to a civil society organisation that requested anonymity, state provision of medicine is ineffective in many areas, including Siguiri, Kankan and Guineas forests.

Authorities should ensure a continuous supply of legal medicines countrywide. Pricing of products also requires urgent solutions as affordability is a key factor driving the illicit market. So too, is finding alternative income-generating options for black market traders  an important longer-term initiative.

The governments focus on strengthening cooperation and border control with neighbouring countries that were destinations for illicit medicines should be an ongoing priority to prevent and detect emerging hotspots.

Mouhamadou Kane, Analyst, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, ENACT project

ENACT is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Security Studies in partnership with INTERPOL and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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The traditional ruler of Amainyi community in Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria, Emeka Ogbonna, has alleged that his child recently died at the National Hospital, Abuja, Nigerias Federal Capital Territory, due to negligence.

In a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Ogbonna confirmed that his 27-year-old son, Obinna Emeka, who was recently knocked down by a vehicle, died in the hospital due to what he described as incompetence and negligence by the doctors on duty.

But the management of the hospital has denied the allegation, saying the deceased was brought into the facility seven hours after the accident. It added that the healthcare workers on duty did their best to address the situation.

How it happened

Mr Ogbonna, in a statement that has since gone viral on social media, said his son- a registered pharmacist and writer, was hit by a vehicle on Saturday at about 7:00 p.m. in the Kubwa area of the city.

According to him, the deceased was immediately rushed to the Kubwa General Hospital but there was no medical doctor on duty to attend to him.

Mr Ogbonna said, after about three hours of waiting, a doctor walked in and referred him to the National Hospital.

He, however, said on getting to the National Hospital, the doctors insisted that his late son would not be attended to until they had his full body scan and x-ray.

The body scan and x-rays machines in the National Hospital were not working and have not been working for close to two years, he said.

He was taken to a private hospital to obtain the full body scan and when my son, Obinna Emeka, was brought back, it took the hospital medical team close to two hours for documentation before he was taken in for medical attention.

Mr Ogbonna said by the time his son was brought back from the private facility to the national hospital for treatment, his veins had already collapsed.

The medical team, after watching my son stop breathing, came out and announced to his friends and people who brought him to the hospital that they were sorry, my son, the writer, my Prince, my pharmacist, who worked with me in our pharmacy till 31 March, could not make it, he further narrated.

Painful experience

Lamenting the way his son died, he said: I am in pain. I took my son to Owerri airport on 31 March, from where he flew to Abuja for a meeting and I flew to Abuja on 2 April to take his corpse back home from the National Hospital mortuary.

He said his son was full of life until his unfortunate death.

I have lost my son to incompetence and negligence, he said.

Mr Ogbonna calls for immediate closure of the National Hospital to avoid further deaths.

Hospital denies allegations

The management of the National Hospital in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Tayo Haastrup, stated that late Emeka was brought to the hospitals trauma centre seven hours after the accident.

Mr Haastrup said although the necessary investigations and procedures were carried out, unfortunately, the patient died.

The statement reads in part: As a matter of fact, there was no incompetence or negligence in the treatment of the said patient.

The National Hospital Abuja ensures that medical services are rendered promptly. Emergencies/Trauma cases are given priority. Our CT scan, MRI and UltraSound machines are always available for in-patients and emergencies.

He noted that it is a policy for the hospital staff to attend to emergencies for 48 hours without emphasising on the monetary aspect.

While sympathising with the family of the monarch over the demise of their son, Mr Haastrup said that the hospital has competent medical personnel fully certified by professional bodies and that standard procedures were followed strictly.

He encouraged members of the public to present patients to the hospital on time for better management.

Not unusual

The allegation of negligence and poor facilities against the hospital is not new, as various individuals at different times had in the past accused the hospital of abandoning patients to die rather than providing them care.

In a report published by PREMIUM TIMES in 2019, Judy Akpala, mother of a Nigerian university undergraduate, said her son died at the hospital due to negligence.

Various reports online also suggest that the hospital has continued to face allegations of nonchalance toward the care of patients.

About National Hospital

Established in 1999 originally to cater for the needs of women and children in Nigeria and the West African region, the National Hospital has since May 2000 expanded its scope of operations to accommodate male patients and cater for a large number of Nigerians, especially given its capacity and sophisticated equipment which were rarely available elsewhere in the West African region.

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Foreign assets controlled by Libyas sovereign wealth fund have often been viewed as a means of obtaining personal enrichment for elites and a currency of doing political deals, said Tim Eaton, a researcher at the London-based think tank Chatham House.

The reason these assets are so desirable is that they provide a route to offshoring money to locations seen as more secure, where its safer for their families, he told OCCRP.

Abughila could not be reached for comment. His lawyer told OCCRP that he could not comment on confidential matters related to a client. Belgian authorities declined to comment. The Libyan state companies involved did not respond to questions.

The Ferry Switcharoo

In the late 1990s, with his dream of achieving unity in the Arab world in tatters, Gaddafi turned to a new vision: pan-Africanism.

As part of this aim, his government launched the Libyan African Investment Portfolio (LAIP) in 2006, with a mandate to invest Libyas oil wealth into projects across Africa. LAIP subsidiaries set up shop in Ghana, Chad, Liberia, and other countries in Africa.

While the aim was ostensibly to bring economic growth and improve the continents infrastructure, in reality the LAIP was used to shore up loyalty among African leaders.

If you look at its history, it is very political, Eaton said. He pointed out that the LAIP was only made part of Libyas sovereign wealth fund, the Libyan Investment Authority, in 2010, and even then was never meaningfully integrated within it.

Sierra Leone, recovering from an 11-year civil war and badly in need of foreign investment, looked like a perfect destination for LAIP investment. And Libya already had a presence there: In 2004, Tripoli had provided a ferry to Sierra Leone, the MV Murzuk.
At a reception for President of LFNC Central Committee Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune (Photo: VNA)

President Vo Van Thuong hailed cooperation between LFNC Central Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee as well as Vietnamese partners over the past years, especially the signing of a cooperation agreement for the 2022-2026 period.

He said both sides have regularly maintained the exchange of delegations at all levels via different channels while locality-to-locality and people-to-people exchanges have been further deepened.

To build on the positive effects of the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, the Vietnamese leader suggested that the LFNC Central Committee work closely with Vietnam to effectively realise cooperation agreements in areas such as front, mass mobilisation, religious and ethnic affairs, and raise public awareness of the tradition of Vietnam-Laos special relationship.

On the occasion of Laos' traditional New Year festival Bunpimay, he wished tthe LFNC Central Committee and its President success and development, continuing to make positive contributions to preserving and upholding Vietnam-Laos special relationship.

Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, for his part, expressed his joy when President Thuong chose Laos as the first country to pay an official visit after assuming his new position.

He affirmed that he always remembers and is grateful for the valuable assistance that the Vietnamese Party, State and people offered to Laos in the past struggle for national liberation and the current national construction and development.

The Lao official vowed to continue working closely with the VFF Central Committee to build on the success of Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

He also promised to raise awareness of Lao people, especially young generations, about the Laos-Vietnam special relations while partnering with Lao agencies to offer all possible support to the Vietnamese living and working in the country.

Receiving President of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association (LVFA) Boviengkham Vongdala the same day, President Thuong hailed diverse cooperation between Laos-Vietnam and Vietnam-Laos Friendship Associations over the past year, including the active and effective contribution of the LVFA to the success of the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

He suggested the two associations continue working closely together to hold people-to-people exchanges, thus connecting the two peoples together, especially young generations.

Boviengkham Vongdala, in reply, said in his capacity as Lao Minister of Science and Technology, he initiated cooperation activities with Vietnamese partners, including building a Vietnamese teaching centre and launching projects nurturing bilateral friendship.

He stressed that the LVFA will continue partnering with the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association to uphold the success of the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

It will also further step up awareness campaigns among Lao people, especially young generations, to further deepen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples./.
Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it.

Google on Tuesday revealed the top searches that captured the interest of Nigerians in the first three months of the year.

The list reveals a captivating blend of politics, pop culture, and curiosity swept across the Nigerian digital landscape in the first quarter of 2023, as shown by Googles top search trends.

Search trends information is gleaned from data collated by Google based on what Nigerians have been searching for and asking Google.

Google processes more than 40 000 search queries every second. It translates to more than a billion daily searches and 1.2 trillion searches per year worldwide.

Google Trends, on the other hand, is a publicly available tool that displays relative search volume across geographies, periods and queries that people want to know about. The main two categories of searches are: Trending and Most Searched. Trending Searches: The trending queries are the searches with the highest traffic over a specific period.

Most Searched/ Top Searches: What topped Googles charts? The most searched queries are simply the most popular terms for a specific period, ranked in order by volume of searches.

Political fever

Political intrigue reached a fever pitch as Nigerias general elections unfolded, captivating the nations attention. Held on 25th February, these pivotal elections determined the president, vice president, Senate and House of Representatives members, and state governors in 31 of 36 Nigerian states.

Among the most searched individuals, Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, captured the top spot, outpacing even Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president-elect of Nigeria. Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, claimed the fifth position.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) emerged as the most searched entity between January and March, with Peter Obi and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) closely following. The CBNs currency redesign before the elections undoubtedly contributed to its prominence.

Homegrown talent took centre stage in music as Nigerians sought the latest tunes. Spyros infectious hit, Who is your guy? claimed the top spot, with Rugers Asiwaju and Carry Me Go by Boy Spyce and Khaid securing second and third places, respectively.

The nations collective curiosity was also evident in the top trending questions, which ranged from When is Easter 2023? and When is WAEC 2023 starting? to How to check my polling unit? and Who is the President of Nigeria?. Unsurprisingly, the popularity of Spyros song sparked the question, Who is your guy?, further showcasing Nigerias deep-rooted love for the tune.

Here are the complete lists of top trending searches reflecting the diverse interests of Nigerians during the first quarter of the year:

READ ALSO: Peter Obi donates N10 million to Nigerian university

Here are the complete lists of top trending searches reflecting the diverse interests of Nigerians during the first quarter of the year:

Top Trending Searches from January to March 2023

INEC

Peter Obi

CBN

Tinubu

Al Nassr

Mudryk

IREV portal

Christian Atsu

Atiku

Aka

Top trending song searches from January to March 2023

Who is your guy?  Spyro

Ruger  Asiwaju

Carry me go  Boy Spyce and Khaid

Soso  Omah Lay

Stability  Ayra Starr

Rich till i die  Kizz Daniel

Party no dey stop  Adekunle Gold and Zinoleesky

Tobechukwu  Nathaniel Bassey and Mercy Chinwo

Gwagwalada  BNXN, Kizz Daniel, Seyi Vibez

Won da mo  Mavins, Rema and Boy Spyce

Top Trending Who is Questions from January to March 2023

Who is your guy?

Who is the President of Nigeria?

Who is the winner of the 2023 Presidential election?

Who is the Governor of Osun State?

Who is Tony Elumelu?

Top Trending When is Questions from January to March 2023

When is Easter 2023?

When is WAEC 2023 starting?

When is Ramadan 2023?

When is the deadline for old naira notes?

When is the governorship election in Nigeria?

Top Trending How to Questions from January to March 2023

How to check my polling unit?

How to drink pornstar martini?

How to become a heavy equipment operator?

How to reverse a transaction?

How to calculate a safe period to avoid pregnancy?

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have asked the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja to dismiss Peter Obis petition challenging Bola Tinubus victory.

Mr Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, came third in the 25 February presidential election.

He and the Labour Party who are co-petitioners are seeking to upturn Mr Tinubus victory as Nigerias president-elect.

Mr Tinubu who was APC presidential candidate polled 8.8 million votes to beat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party who came second in the race.

Both Atiku, Mr Obi and three other political parties with their candidates are contesting the outcome of the presidential polls, alleging irregularities ranging from INECs failure to upload election results from polling stations in real-time to its IRev portal.

In particular, Mr Obi and his party accused the INEC and the APC of manipulating election results in favour of Mr Tinubu. They are equally contending Mr Tinubus failure to secure 25 per cent of lawful votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

But contrary to Mr Obis claims that the election fell short of provisions of laws, INEC argued that it conducted the polls in strict compliance with the constitution and electoral laws.

The electoral umpire challenged Mr Obi and his party to prove the contrary.

Obis petition amounts to waste of time

But in their separate responses to Mr Obis complaint, filed Monday night, 10 April, the APC and INEC said the Labour Party and its presidential candidates petition lacked merit.

They argued that the petition was a waste of judicial time.

Challenging the competence of the petition, Thomas Ojo, a member of the APC legal team being led by Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that Mr Obi was not a genuine member of the Labour Party as at the time of the election.

The APC contended that Mr Obi was a member of the PDP as of 24 May 2022, during which the party screened him as one of its presidential aspirants in April 2022.

The 1st petitioner (Mr Obi) purportedly resigned his membership of Peoples Democratic Party on 24 May 2022 to purportedly join the 2nd petitioner (LP) on 27th May 2022.

In the filings, the APC recalled that the Labour Party conducted its presidential primary on 30 May 2022, which purportedly produced Mr Obi as its presidential candidate.

The party argued that Mr Obis nomination as LPs presidential candidate breached Section 77(3) of the Electoral Act.

The 1st petitioner (Mr Obi) was not a member of the 2nd petitioner (LP) as at the time of his alleged sponsorship.

Whereas, by the mandatory provisions of Section 77 (1) (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act 2022, a political party shall maintain a register and shall make such register available to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not later than 30 days before the date fixed for the party primaries, congresses and convention.

All the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were screened on 29th April, 2022, an exercise in which the 1st petitioner herein participated and was cleared to contest while being a member of the party.

The 1st petitioner herein resigned his membership of the PDP on Thursday 26th May, 2022 and joined the Labour Party the following day being 27th May, 2022.

The 2nd petitioner herein conducted its presidental primary on 30th May, 2022 which produced the 1st petitioner as the candidate it intended to sponsor in the general election.

LP failed to submit Mr Obis name to INEC 30 days before primaries

Faulting Mr Obis petition, the APC argued that Section 77(3) of the Electoral Act mandates a political party to submit its membership register to the electoral umpire 30 days before their presidential primary election.

It said Mr Obi as at 30 April, 2022, was still a member of the PDP and his name was not and could not have been in the register of members submitted by by LP to INEC.

In another basis for challenging the petition, the APC queried why Mr Obi and his party excluded the PDP and its presidential flagbearer, Atiku, from the suit.

It argued that Atikus right to fair hearing would be breached should the court accede to Mr Obis prayers to declare him Nigerias president-elect, thereby nullifying Atikus votes without hearing him.

Mr Tinubus legal team is also expected to file his reply to the petition and others filed by Atiku and other petitioners.

the INEC and the APC are also expected to reply Atikus petition and the rest of the petitions filed at the Presidential Election Petition Court.

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The House of Representatives committee investigating the alleged sales of 48 million barrels of crude oil has summoned the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.

The committee also summoned the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Index (NEITI), and oil and gas companies.

The ad hoc committee, chaired by Mark Gbillah, on Tuesday issued the summons at its inauguration sitting.

Background

The House had in December 2022 resolved to probe the alleged missing barrels of crude oil allegedly sold in China by some Nigerian officials.

The resolution followed a motion moved by Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun), who claimed in his motion that the tip was provided by a whistleblower.

Consequently, the House mandated the committee to investigate all crude oil exports and sales by Nigeria from 2014 to date, with regards to quantity, insurance, revenue generated, remittances into the Federation Account or other accounts as well as utilisation of the revenue for the period under review.

In addition, the panel will investigate all proceeds recovered through the Whistle-Blowers Policy of the regime led by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and the level of compliance with the policy.

The hearing

Speaking on the failure of the officials to honour the invitation of the committee, Mr Gbillah said there are allegations against Ms Ahmed of breach of the Whistleblower policy of the government. He said the minister has been paying whistleblowers less than the recommended rate prescribed by the policy.

Unfortunately, the honourable minister of finance is not here, the attorney-general of the federation is not here, and this is a formal request from the committee that they appear before this committee because they have received a formal invitation to do so and a lot of what we have to investigate regards to the whistleblower policy is saddled within the ministry of finance and the attorney-general of the federation.

The responses we have received from the Accountant-Genaral office which shows that the honourable minister of finance has been approving payments to whistleblowers in percentages at variance with what the policy says they should be paid, he said.

He said the AGF on the other hand has been accused of receiving money from outside the country without remitting same to the Federation Account.

They have been allegations of the attorney-general being involved also in the receipt of funds from outside the country without these funds being remitted into the federation account in line with the provisions of the constitution.

And there have been allegations that expenditures of these recoveries have also been done in complete violation of the provision of the constitution, he said.

Mr Gbillah also disclosed that the committee has intelligence that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have not been complying with the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

He said all the officials concerned must appear before the committee to give clarification.

The CBN made a formal response to this committee indicating that under the TSA policy agencies operate their TSA account and make expenditure from these account without recourse to the CBN.

This is something that is alarming to this committee for the CBN to declare before us because we are aware of constitutional provisions that state all revenue accruing to the federation must be paid into the Federation Account, he said.

Mr Gbillah did not specify the date the officials are to appear before the committee.

This is no witch-hunt  Gbajabiamila

In his opening remarks, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, stated that the hearing is not designed to witch-hunt anyone, but to end the corruption in the oil sector.

READ ALSO: Shell resumes crude oil export operations at Bonny Terminal

Mr Gbajabiamila, who was represented by a member of the House, Isiaka Ibrahim (APC, Ogun), noted that it is to ascertain the accuracy of recorded revenue from sales during this period, the utilisation of this revenue and identify any likely additional losses in revenue to the country.

He said the recommendations from the hearing will help in the passage of the Whistleblower bill currently before the National Assembly.

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A former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, has released a new book detailing events and controversies during her tenure in office.

In the new book titled Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms Bala Usman, accused her former boss, the then Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, of orchestrating her removal from office in February 2022 because she failed to lavish him with favours.

Ms Bala Usman was suspended from office in May 2021 following allegation of the NPAss non-remittance of about N165bn operating surpluses into the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account of the federation.

The suspension orders approved by President Muhammadu Buhari followed a request for the probe of the accounts of the NPA made by Mr Amaechi.

The minister subsequently set up an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the affairs of the NPA, including awards of contracts from 2016 to May 2021.

He also asked the panel to examine and investigate compliance with communication channels as obtained in the public service.

The investigation, which lasted for about nine months, returned without proof of non-remittance, although Ms Bala Usman was nonetheless removed from office and replaced with Mohammed Bello-Koko, who served as her executive director, finance and administration under her.

But in her memoir entitled, Ms Bala Usman said Mr Amaechi held personal grudges against her because she failed to dispense favours, and that some of these inspired his decision to remove her at all costs. She alleged that the former minister said this much to some people who tried to mediate on the matter.

Interest groups and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also tried to intervene. I know, for instance, that Governors elected on the platform of the APC, chaired by Governor Atiku Bagudu, deliberated on the issue of my suspension and constituted a committee to intervene, the former NPA chief wrote in the book.

The Governors team met the Minister to discuss a resolution of the matter. He insisted that my management of the NPA had to be investigated because of the amount unremitted to the CFR (Consolidated Federation Revenue). He even tried to sway the governors resolve by suggesting to them that the budget of the NPA was bigger than most of their state budgets, so they shouldnt bother about me.

When the governors persisted, he told them that the matter was no longer within his purview and that they may need to approach the Head of Service of the Federation.

He told another person who tried to intervene that I was so so selfish that I did nothing for him from the NPA, and never even gave him a birthday present!

Ms Bala Usman also claimed to have had a personal reconciliatory meeting with the Minister during which Mr Amaechi accused her of writing directly to the President without recourse to the minister.

She said the former minister told her that he took the steps against her because he no longer wanted her in the office and asked that she resigned voluntarily or challenge her suspension in court.

I told him I wasnt going to do either especially now that the probe panel was in place, the author wrote in the memoir. The public service does not in fact accept resignations from staff under probe. I was convinced that doing either would make me appear guilty. I told him that I would rather wait for the panel to complete its task and present their findings, as I was sure I had done nothing wrong.

Upon rejecting Mr Amaechis advice, Ms Bala Usman claimed that the former minister then told me that he would ensure that the investigation went on until 2022 when political activities would have started, and the president would not remember that I was still on suspension. He said what mattered to him was that I was no longer the MD of the NPA.

Besides the above matters, the book indicate that Messrs Amaechi and Bala Usman disagreed over the handling of some of the major operations at the agency. She wrote that an unnamed stakeholder in the industry had warned her that the minister would want her out of office when two important contracts were due for renewal.

According to the book: The first of this was the capital dredging contract and the second, the service boat management contract. While the minister demanded an extension of tenure of the companies providing capital dredging services without due process, he got approval for the restoration of an expired service boat contract. He got this even though the company was owing the federal government, had violated the Treasury Single Account policy, and above all longer had any contract with the NPA.

Contacted for comments on the book and the claims therein, David Iyofor, the spokesperson for ex-Minister Amaechi, said his team would issue a comprehensive response to memoir after reading it.

As at now, we are still looking for the book, Mr Iyofor said.

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Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a former governor of Anambra State, is dead.

His first son, Chetachi Mbadinuju, announced this in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday.

With heavy hearts but utmost gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of our father, grandfather, uncle, friend and associate, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a former governor of Anambra State and elder statesman, he said in the statement.

Mr Chetachi, a lawyer, said the former governor passed on peacefully on Tuesday morning at the National Hospital Abuja after a brief illness.

He said the patriarch died at the age of 78.

At this trying time, we pray for Gods grace and mercy upon him and those left behind to mourn him, he added.

He said the family would announce his funeral arrangements in due course.

The late Mbadinuju served as the governor of Anambra State between 29 May 1999 and 29 May 2003 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He sought re-election as governor under the PDP platform, but was denied the partys ticket under controversial circumstances amidst internal crisis within the party at the time.

Chris Ngige would later clinch the governorship ticket of the party ahead of the 19 April, 2003 governorship election in the state.

After losing the PDPs ticket, Mr Mbadinuju defected to the now defunct Alliance for Democracy, where he later emerged the partys governorship candidate, but lost in the general election.

Mr Ngige of the PDP, who now serves as Nigerias Minister of Labour and Employment, was declared winner of the election, although he was later sacked by the Court of Appeal in Enugu, three years after.

Mr Mbadinuju had served as a personal assistant to a former governor of old Enugu State, Jim Nwobodo, between 1979 and 1980, before playing the same role for former Nigerias Head of State, Shehu Shagari, between 1980 and 1983.

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President Muhammadu Buhari Monday sent a message of condolence to the family of the late Idris Abdulkadir, professor of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine and former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, describing him as a scholar par excellence and a towering statesman.

He was a versatile personality and a great scholar, said the president, adding that the deceased was blessed with a wealth of scientific knowledge and extremely articulate as well as witty.

President Buhari commended the late Mr Abdulkadir for his role in strengthening the countrys university education and the paternalistic role he played in preserving the historic role of his alma mater, Barewa College, Zaria saying that he leaves behind an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation.

READ ALSO:

His wise counsel on key policy matters in education, science and technology will never be forgotten, assured the president.

President Buhari prayed for the repose of his soul and the courage to bear the loss on the part of those he left behind in the family, as well as the government and people of Kaduna State.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

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President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Madinah, Saudi Arabia to commence eight-day official visit to the Middle East country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Presidential aircraft conveying the Nigerian leader and some of his aides departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at 9:10 a.m, on Monday, landed at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdullaziz International Airport Madinah at about 17:00 p.m. local time.

While in Madinah, the president would be observing the five daily prayers as well as Taraweeh prayer at the Masjid Nabawi before departing for Makkah via Jeddah, late on Wednesday, for the lesser pilgrimage.

READ ALSO: Buhari leaves for Saudi Arabia

Garba Shehu, the presidents spokesperson had on Monday via a statement revealed that this years official visit from April 11 to 19 would be Mr Buharis last trip to the Kingdom as president.

NAN reports that the president last performed the Umrah in 2021.

(NAN)

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The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has lamented long delay by the Supreme Court of Nigeria to hear an appeal filed before it by the Nigerian government against the acquittal granted to its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Court of Appeal.

The group disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, on Tuesday, according to a report by Vanguard newspaper.

Background

IPOB is a group leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south.

Mr Kanu, its leader, was first arrested in 2015, but was granted bail in April 2017. He fled the country after an invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, by the Nigerian military in September of that year.

He was re-arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021, about four years after he fled the country.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on 13 October, held that the IPOB leader was extra-ordinarily renditioned to Nigeria and that the action was a flagrant violation of the countrys extradition treaty and also a breach of his fundamental human rights.

The court, therefore, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the Nigerian government and ordered his release from the custody of Nigerias secret police, State Security Service, in Abuja.

But the government refused to release the IPOB leader insisting that he (Kanu) could be unavailable in subsequent court proceedings if released and that his release would cause insecurity in the South-east.

The government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, later appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order staying execution of the court judgement at the Supreme Court.

IPOB kicks

Emma Powerful, in the statement on Tuesday, said the silence and delay of the court to hear the appeal was worrisome given all the accelerated hearing processes filed on the case.

The IPOB spokesperson said the secessionist group suspects that the recent political developments and alleged ethnic profiling of Ndigbo in Nigeria were also playing out in the case of the IPOB leader.

He claimed that the Supreme Court had accelerated hearing in political cases, but chose to treat Mr Kanus case differently.

The continuous silence and refusal of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to set a date of hearing on the appeals brought before them by the federal government against the discharge and acquittal order from the Abuja Appeal Court has shown that the apex court is not neutral in this case.

The Supreme Court has shown that Biafrans are not safe in Nigeria. These actions justify Biafrans quest for a referendum to decide our economic and political future as an independent nation. Gone are the days when it is said that the judiciary is the hope of the common man, not anymore in Nigeria, Mr Powerful said.

He said the group and its leader, Mr Kanu, had vowed never to stop the demand for referendum and eventual independence of Biafra from Nigeria.

Nigerias executive arm of government has subjugated both the judiciary and the legislative arms of the same government.

The apex cum constitutional court must understand that the abuse of Appeal Court orders because it is ruled in favour of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will ridicule them before the whole world and eventually embolden the executive branch to become a law unto itself going forward, he added.

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The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has announced that there would be a sit-at-home in Nigerias south-east on 30 May.

The IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the civil action was intended to honour those who lost their lives while fighting for Biafra Independence since the struggle began in 1967.

IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB set aside the 30th of May every year as a special day to honour gallant men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to live as a people.

Daily, Biafrans are murdered in cold blood, illegally abducted and unlawfully detained in Nigeria in the quest for Biafra freedom. The sacrifices and memories of these heroes and heroines will never be forgotten, Mr Powerful said.

The group claimed the Nigerian government dubiously removed history from the countrys educational curricula so that descendants of Biafra would not remember the fight for freedom and those who died in the struggle for their freedom.

But IPOB leadership refused to let the labours of our heroes go in vain. Therefore, fellow Biafrans, this 30th May 2023 is another sacrosanct day to remember our fallen heroes, heroines and comrades who died in defence of our land and for the birth of the Biafra Nation.

IPOB family members should organise and observe this date in any form each country, zone, or unit considers best. IPOB leadership advise all to maintain peace and order during the event. During the commemoration ceremonies, three minutes of silence should be observed for the fallen heroes who paid the ultimate price from 1967-1970 till date, he stated.

Stop observing Monday sit-at-home

IPOB also asked residents of the South-east to stop observing the suspended Monday sit-at-home in the region.

Backstory

The secessionist group, in August 2021, introduced a sit-at-home order every Monday across the South-east to pressure the Nigerian government to release its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial for alleged terrorism at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The separatist group later suspended the order, in preference for it to be implemented only the days Mr Kanu appears in court.

But despite its suspension, residents of the five South-east states  Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra  have been observing the Monday sit-at-home order, mostly out of fear.

A factional IPOB leader, Simon Ekpa, has been accused of being behind the sit-at-home orders in the region.

IPOBs position

But Mr Powerful, the group spokesperson, maintained that the Monday sit-at-home remains suspended, describing those behind the civil action as criminals.

The now suspended Monday sit-at-home order was an IPOB leadership order that was suspended by the leadership in collaboration with our leader after considering some adverse effects on our people and how our enemies can possibly use it, the IPOB spokesperson said in another statement on Tuesday, according to report in the local media.

Just as predicted by IPOB leadership, Nigeria security agents, infiltrators and government agents hijacked it and used it to torment our people and rubbish IPOBs name in Biafra Land and other countries, he added.

He urged residents of the South-east to return to their operations on Mondays and ignore the declarations by the agents of provocateurs who carry out attacks in the region to blackmail the group.

Our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has once again, ordered from DSS custody that Monday sit-at-home should cease in every part of Biafra Land.

Anyone seen enforcing Monday sit-at-home should be treated as a criminal and enemy of our people, Mr Powerful stated.

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A former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Nsima Ekere has blamed the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio for the perennial crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State.

In a video clip circulating on WhatsApp, Mr Ekere talked about the unresolved issues of who lead the APC at the ward, local government, and the state levels in Akwa Ibom, and accused Mr Akpabio of instigating the crisis which has crippled the party in the state.

The crisis in Akwa Ibom APC stems from the last congresses of the party.

The congresses were held from ward to local government to the state level, and the officers of the party were elected. And very unfortunately, the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, I am not afraid to say this, instigated some guys, some of his supporters, and they went and forged the result of the congresses and used it to deceive the court to obtain an order. That is what has led to the crisis in the party today, Mr Ekere said in the clip.

Mr Ekere, a former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, was the Akwa Ibom APC governorship candidate in 2019. He lost the election to the incumbent governor, Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Ekere was the chairman of the planning committee for Bola Tinubus 2023 presidential campaign rally in Akwa Ibom.

From his remarks, it appears Mr Ekere spoke at his country home in Ikot Abasi, on 18 March, the day for the governorship and state assembly elections, to a correspondent of a national television station.

Forgery case against APC chairman

PREMIUM TIMES previously reported how Stephen Ntukekpo, the man who is the APC chairman in Akwa Ibom, backed by Mr Akpabio, used forged documents to obtain a court judgment which removed from office the validly elected chairman and other exco members of the party in the state.

The police investigated Mr Ntukekpo and recommended he should be charged for alleged forgery.

Mr Ekere said what happened in the APC had caused disillusion among the party members in Akwa Ibom.

Unfortunately also, the national executive of the party refused to look at the issues and address them for whatever reason. And so you have somebody who emerged and is recognised as the chairman of the party in the state who didnt win the congress, and everybody saw that he didnt win, he said.

What we expect Akpabio to do

The former deputy governor said Mr Ntukekpo, rather than reach out to other members of the party for peace, went ahead and replaced party leaders at the ward and local government level with people from a political group that was formed to advance Mr Akpabios political interest.

We expected Akpabio, as a high ranking member of this party, to be able to reach out and do the right thing. Up till down he has not had the humility to reach out and bring about genuine peace and reconciliation in the party, and people are still very aggrieved.

I pray it would come to that time where he can actually take necessary steps to bring about a genuine peace and reconciliation in the party. If you asked me and would say everything begins and ends with Godswill Akpabio. The day he decides to be reasonable, the day he decides to make peace in the party in Akwa Ibom State, there will be peace.

Lets go back to resolve the issue of the party exco. Godswill Akpabio knows that Stephen Ntukekpo did not win the congress. He also knows that the people that are in the chapter executives are not people that won the congresses. This has caused a lot of friction, Mr Ekere said.

I do not know his own recognised chairman is in my ward. I dont know who the fellow he says is the chapter chairman of the APC in Ikot Abasi.

This thing also affected the primary, and so you found a situation where candidates emerged for the party in various constituencies without the stakeholders of the party in those areas knowing who they are.

For the very first time, I got to know the young man that is running for the state House of Assembly election (in my state constituency). I met him yesterday and the election is today. Yesterday was just when he came to see me. And I asked the young man, You are coming to see me one day before the election, what magic do you want me to do to help you? This is the same complaint of virtually all the stakeholders in all the constituencies of the state.

You see, politics is not a-one-man-takes-it-all affair. You need every person. I pray that in the new dispensation, we have a party leadership at the national level that would look at what the issues are at the various states and resolve them, and not just listen to one man who talks and confuses everybody with grammar, Mr Ekere said.

Because of the crisis and several litigations, the APC in Akwa Ibom could not have a governorship candidate days to the 2023 election.

The PDP governorship candidate, Umo Eno won the election, while the Young Progressives Party candidate, Bassey Albert came second. The APC candidate, Akanimo Udofia came third.

Mr Ekere served as a deputy governor when Mr Akpabio was the Akwa Ibom governor. He hurriedly resigned from office in November 2012 to beat a planned impeachment which was masterminded by Mr Akpabio.

Mr Akpabio won the recent senatorial election in the Akwa Ibom North-west District, and is campaigning for the position of the Senate President.

The media aide to Mr Akpabio, Jackson Udom, declined comment on the issues raised by Mr Ekere when PREMIUM TIMES contacted him.

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President Vo Van Thuong (L) and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (Photo: VNA)

At his meeting with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, 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.

President Vo Xuan Thuong meets with Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane in Vientiane on April 10 (Photo: VNA)

Also on the day, President Vo Van Thuong met with Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane, during the meeting the host stressed that President Thuong's visit to Laos for the first time in his new position shows the importance that Vietnam attaches to the special relationship between the two nations.

The top Lao legislator 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 Vietnam, saying that Vietnams rapid and stable development has become a motivation for Laos in its national construction process in the integration period.

The Chairman thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for gifting the new building for the Lao legislature, describing it as a typical symbol of the Vietnam-Laos special relationship.

For his part, President Vo Van Thuong applauded the close cooperation between the two countries legislative bodies, affirming that Vietnam is willing to support Laos to successfully undertake important diplomatic activities in the coming time, including hosting the first Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam 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 Vietnam and Laos, considering this an invaluable asset and a decisive factor to the revolutionary cause in each country./.
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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said that giving the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State to Dino Melaye is dead on arrival as, according to him, Mr Melaye does not have what it takes to be a governor.

Mr Melaye, the spokesperson of Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council (PDP PCC) is aspiring to become the governor of Kogi State in the 11 November election.

Speaking in a media chat in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Mr Wike said he was aware of the effort by the PDP to manipulate delegate lists in Kogi State to favour Mr Maleye, a former senator from the state.

The media chat was aired by Channels television and monitored by PREMIUM TIMES.

For Christ sake, Dino does not have what it takes to be a governor at all. It is not by coming to act in drama on television. We are talking about governance of a state, we are not talking about drama for Christ sake, Mr Wike said.

Why are you trying to manipulate the list in favour of one aspirant? When you give Dino that ticket, you know he wont win in Kogi State.

Why would Kogi people say they would vote for a candidate like Dino? Are we joking?

Governor Wike said the PDP would be doomed if it gives the governorship ticket of Mr Melaye and vowed not to campaign for PDP if that happens.

Does it mean now that if the PDP wants to win the election, it would give the ticket to Dino and you say tomorrow that you were rigged when you have already killed yourself? Mr Wike said.

Speaking further Mr Wike recalled how Bukola Saraki, a former president of the Nigerian Senate brought Mr Melaye to him when the former Kogi senator first contested for governorship in 2019.

He declined to disclose what happened at the meeting but challenged Mr Melaye to come out first before he takes another step on the matter.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach Mr Melaye for his comments on the matter as his cell phone was switched off.

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Six persons have died in an accident on Tuesday involving a truck and Sienna vehicle along Calabar-Ogoja Highway in Cross River State, South-south Nigeria.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Abdullahi Hassan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar that one person was also injured in the accident.

We have eight male adults and one female adult in the vehicles. One male adult sustained injury, while those who died were six, consisting of five males and one female.

The registration number of the Siena vehicle is AFM 810 NK, while the truck has no number. The probable cause of the crash is wrongful overtaking and speeding.

Both the injured and those who died have been taken to the General Hospital in Ogoja by officers of the FRSC, he said.

Mr Hassan advised motorists to desist from wrongful overtaking and speeding on highways.

(NAN)

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Nigerias Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar, on Tuesday said that Nigeria needs innovative technology to develop sustainable methods of increased animal feed production in the country.

The minister made this known on Tuesday at the ongoing second edition of the National Animal Feed Summit organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and other relevant partners including the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), its sister organisation, PREMIUM TIMES, and Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited in Abuja.

This years summit, themed Harnessing Alternative Feed resources for Sustainable Animal Feed , has key stakeholders from the private and public sectors engage feed millers (toll, commercial and on-farm) and academia in an effort to chart the way forward for the development of Nigerias feed sector.

The forum presents an opportunity for robust multi-stakeholder interactive sessions to explore business opportunities and discuss critical issues targeted at resolving the multi-faceted problems bedevilling Nigerias animal feed sector.

According to the organisers, the primary focus of the summit is on feed value chain development, the National Animal Feed policy document, National Strategic Feed Reserve and National Alternative Feed Ingredient Development.

Agenda

In his remarks, the minister emphasised that the summit aligns with the aspirations and agenda of the Nigerian government to improve the animal feed sub-sector by focusing on the development of a national animal feed policy, feed value chain, feed quality control and safety, National Strategic Feed Reserve amongst others.

The role of animal feed in Nigerias Agriculture sector is critical as it provides essential nutrients and support for livestock and production, an important source of income and employment for many farmers and rural communities, Mr Abubakar said.

He explained that the animal feed market is characterised by a mix of small-scale, traditional methods and large-scale modern methods coupled with challenges such as lack of access to credit and markets, low investment in research and development, limiting the ability of the animal feed sector to innovate and improve production methods.

To meet the increasing demand for animal feed in Nigeria, there is a need for innovation and technology to develop sustainable and efficient production methods which will support small-scale and rural communities through extension services training and other support, he said.

The minister also noted that the federal government is committed to providing a necessary enabling environment for sustainable direct investment in the feed industry and other sectors of the economy. He added that the government would ensure partnerships to support and collaborate with all concerned stakeholders towards ensuring the success of the countrys national feed security and economic diversification initiatives.

It is my expectation that all present here today will brainstorm to give your best attention to articulate a roadmap for National alternative feed resources that will significantly reduce the cost of production and the effects of incessant price volatility in the Nigerian animal feed industry, the minister added.

On his part, FMARDs permanent secretary, Ernest Umakhihe, who was represented by the ministrys Director of Fisheries and Development, Ime Umoia, said Nigeria has a reliable and sustainable course of action for feeding its livestock and poultry to achieve food security for animal sources, generate employment along the animal feed value chain and reduce importation of animal feed materials and equipment into the country.

Mr Umakhihe said the need for this policy cannot be over-emphasized due to the rising cost of feed ingredients partly because of its use by humans and animals.

Nigeria is very far from meeting national sufficiency in animal feed production, he added.

Untapped opportunities

Mr Umakhihe explained that Nigeria is known to produce an average of 5.5 million metric tonnes per annum comprising 85 per cent poultry feeds and has the potential promise to grow to not less than 50 million metric tonnes per annum if the commercial ruminant and swine feeding sub-sectors are harnessed.

The feed sector has the potential to engage over 20 million Nigerians, as the industry is yet to reach 25 per cent of its market size, he said.

He said Nigerias animal feed sector remains underdeveloped, largely due to high-cost ingredients and other production factors, which has resulted in market dislocation and hampered access to products and affordability, thereby barring an average farmer from the supply network.

These challenges, Mr Umakhihe said, have necessitated the need for the summit, creating a platform to engage key players and major stakeholders in the feed industry to develop a roadmap for attaining animal feed security in the country.

This summit has come at a time when the vision of the federal government is articulated through the change approach and standard practice to be applied at every level of society, individual, family, and community management towards a pragmatic national development, he said.

This approach is to significantly reduce livestock and livestock products imports and at the same time stimulate exports to earn the much-needed foreign exchange. The private sector will remain in the lead while the government provides the enabling environment through policies, as well as supporting infrastructure, systems, control processes and oversight.

To achieve this vision, we work with a wide range of National and International stakeholders to speed up transformation and repositioning of our agriculture and indeed livestock production, to meet contemporary aspirations of wholesomeness and commercialization for increased farmer output and National income as well as the wellbeing of our people.

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Professor Wole Soyinka has spoken about his preference for a third force, a fresh option which may well be represented by Peter Obi, and so you could say he is one of those persons who consider Peter Obi a possibility. His only complaint was about the intolerance and fascism of Obidients. Any close watcher of the political scene would recall how Obidients, in the lead up to the elections, took over the social media. They deployed vitriol, abuse, intimidation, harassment.

The Obidients  supporters of the mission and vision of Mr Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party in Nigerias 2023 presidential election had it coming. And now they are getting their comeuppance served in flagellating doses, from Professor Wole Soyinka, grandmaster in the art of dissent, debate and reasoning, who has all it takes to sustain an intellectual fight in the public arena. In two high-profile television interviews in recent weeks  Channels TV and Arise News, and two published commentaries: Media Responsibility and Fascism on Course, Professor Wole Soyinka has reacted robustly to what he describes as a predilection for fascism on the part of the Obidients. Fascism also means dictatorship, tyranny, autocracy, intolerance, the unwillingness to entertain the other view, the tendency to assume that ones opinion is supreme and superior and that other human beings do not matter. Remember Hitler. Think Italys Benito Mussolini. Fascists simply want to have their way, no matter what others think or suggest.

The catalyst for Professor Wole Soyinkas intervention was an interview on Channels TV by the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the course of which he said that it would be unconstitutional to swear in the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 29 May, and that doing so would signal the end of democracy. Soyinka upbraided Datti Baba-Ahmed for saying uncomplimentary things about the Nigerian judiciary in a subsequent interview with Channels TV and cautioned against the resort to the use of words that smack of fascism. Indeed, he pointed out that he had advised Peter Obi that if he lost the election, it would be partly because of those persons called Obidients. He went further to advise Datti Ahmed to desist from television tirade of intimidation. I would ordinarily think that this should not have generated any drama. What Soyinka said simply is that nobody should be a judge in his own cause or dictate to the judiciary.

Every elementary student of law must have heard of the maxim: nemo judex in causa sua. Following the 25 February presidential election, which Obi and Datti-Ahmed claimed they and their party, the Labour Party won, they have since gone to court to file a petition. It amounts to contempt of court to even attempt to comment on the matter that has been handed over to the courts to determine. Besides when Datti Baba-Ahmed said it would be un-constitutional or undemocratic to swear in the President-elect on 29 May, he missed the point. The current presidents tenure, after the maximum limit of two terms guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, ends on 29 May. The law does not allow him to stay a day longer. The Constitution does not provide for a vacuum either. The only legitimate concern that has been raised is the suggestion by Olisa Agbakoba SAN that election disputes should be concluded before inauguration, as is the case in other countries, especially Kenya. While there are many who would share this view, the truth is that the current system in Nigeria makes that difficult.

Agbakoba says the judiciary should be pro-active and adopt methods of arbitration and deal swiftly with constitutional and technical issues within seven days. The Nigerian judicial system is not structured to be pro-active. It works at a snails speed in the best of circumstances. The courts are over-burdened. The judges are overworked and they do not have enough support systems. Lawyers are never in a hurry. In election matters, they would depend on the time limitations provided for in Section 285 (6) of the 1999 Constitution. Where we are today is an improvement in the adjudication of election matters; it used to take up to three years to resolve an election dispute.

Thus, within the same period, two prominent Nigerian writers, Soyinka and Adichie being attacked for expressing views about the conduct of politics and political players in Nigeria. Both the elder and the younger writer are drawing attention to omissions that could have far-reaching implications. Their mode of intervention may differ, but in truth, they are both concerned about the health of our nation, and the character of the political class.

The best that can be proposed is a further amendment of the Constitution with regard to the handling of election cases. It doesnt require much intelligence therefore to see that a new administration would be inaugurated on 29 May, and while the cases at the tribunals and courts continue, new persons would have settled into office. The real issue is that the power of incumbency would have shifted and the new persons in office would use it to their own advantage. There is so much tension in the land also because Nigerians do not trust the judiciary. They have seen too many cases of how the courts determined election petitions in a manner that caused confusion. In this country, a man once became a governor of a state without going through the process. He didnt even print posters, not to talk of campaigning. In this same country, a man who did not take part in party primaries was declared a candidate and he got re-elected to the Senate. Is it not in this same country that the Supreme Court ruled that someone who came fourth in a gubernatorial election was the winner? The bigger irony is that many Nigerians now regard the judiciary as a truly Nigerian space, where anything is possible beyond the facts and the law.

The sub-text of Soyinkas intervention, as I see it, was to remind everyone of basic principles, an instruction in the values of order, justice, and the importance of institutions. Those who seek justice should not defeat the same purpose by dictating what kind of justice suits them, and insist solely on their view of the coin. Mr Peter Obi, the LP presidential candidate had always insisted that he has a strong faith in the judicial process and he is committed to exploring every legal and constitutional means to reclaim what he calls his stolen mandate. Indeed, on one occasion, Mr Obi, in an interview on Arise TV, tried to make a distinction between Obidients and members of the Labour Party, when he pointed out that there are many Obidients who are not members of the Labour Party and that not all party members are Obidients, which I understood to mean that he, as a person, does not dictate to Obidients, even if he is the rallying point for the aspirations of the group, made up mostly of young, angry Nigerians who want change, a transition away from the old political order, and who consider Peter Obis political philosophy a good expression of those aspirations. They galvanised momentum and passion around Peter Obi and the Labour Party in the last elections.

Professor Wole Soyinka has spoken about his preference for a third force, a fresh option which may well be represented by Peter Obi, and so you could say he is one of those persons who consider Peter Obi a possibility. His only complaint was about the intolerance and fascism of Obidients. Any close watcher of the political scene would recall how Obidients, in the lead up to the elections, took over the social media. They deployed vitriol, abuse, intimidation, harassment. Anyone who disagreed with them was insulted and disparaged. Opposition spokespersons soon labelled them Obidiots. But they were combat-ready. And it is that same combative spirit that they have taken to Professor Wole Soyinkas door step. The old sage has refused to be intimidated. He says Obidients is one of the most repulsive, off-putting concoctions I ever encountered in any political arena. He accuses them of projecting their disdain for corrective criticism as a badge of honour and certificate of commitment rabid parochial minds of easy excitation, the tyranny of the ignorant, and the opportunism of time-servers living in a world of false mythologies. This is not flattering at all, but the Obidients asked for it.

Their response to Professor Soyinka was bound to get them such whiplash. Some of the responses on social media and elsewhere have been so discourteous and rude. In this season of reckless conduct, people hide under the anonymity that social media offers and heap abuse on persons whose shoe lace they cannot ever hope to tie. Even the more direct and open responses have been shocking. Charly Boy, Area Fada and an Obidient, like many others, told Professor Soyinka: You cant be compared with Chinua Achebe. Please what has Chinua Achebe got to do with this matter? Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), through Emmanuel Onwubiko, wrote that Soyinka should stop siding with the oppressors and tyrants. Could that be Onwubiko speaking for himself for it would be most strange for a body like HURIWA to accuse Soyinka of supporting tyrants when that is the same tendency that he deplores? Then of course, I saw a comment by Daniel Bwala, spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asking that Professor Soyinka should have a debate with Chimamanda Adichie. Bwala can claim his right to free speech, but he is at best a busy-body in this instance. Yusuf Tanko, the chief spokesperson of the Labour Party had already addressed the matter when he responded to Professor Soyinkas invitation of Datti Baba-Ahmed to a debate. He said the Labour Partys vice-presidential candidate declines the invitation for political and cultural reasons. Before nko? It would be foolhardy for Datti Ahmed to go into a debate with a man of Soyinkas stature. What I find surprising in all of this however, is a certain Easter message attributed to Mr Peter Obi in which he talked about orchestrated efforts to demarket and delegitimise the OBIdient movement. Is that a veiled attack on Professor Wole Soyinka? So far, Mr Obi has maintained his cool in the political arena, he should not allow himself to be hijacked by an emerging personality cult.

Beyond all the expectations about the immediate future of Nigeria, it must be possible to take our country back from the fringes of despair, hate and division to which it has been driven by the recent elections. It must be possible again to have healthy, open and decent conversations in the public sphere. This calls for leadership, restraint, and above all wisdom.

But isnt this a sign of the times though? It is not only Obidients that are in a foul mood. The triumphant members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are not better. They, in fact, have a much larger tendency for fascism that is frightening, and the real fear is that when these persons get to the corridors of power, their arrogance and imperialism would know no bounds. While the Obidients scream on social media, the BATists, that is the supporters and spokespersons of the APC and President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, shoot from the hips on all platforms. Before and after the elections, they have been on the offensive, making it seem as if they have won a war, and must gather prisoners and shoot them down. They act based on suspicion. They respond to every little comment. They are quick to do the dirty job on their principals behalf; victory has become their aphrodisiac. It does not matter to them that the 25 February presidential election is now a matter before the election petition tribunal. They openly taunt the opposition to go to court, giving the impression that nothing unfavourable to their party and candidate would come out of there.

Their latest target is Chimamanda Adichie, the distinguished, internationally acclaimed writer, who sent a letter to President Joe Biden on the Nigerian elections, in which she condemned the Nigerian electoral process, and accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of being compromised. The attack launched by spokespersons and supporters of the APC on Chimamanda Adichie must be quite shocking to her. She has been accused of being a tribal bigot, an Obidient, supporting a former governor of her state, and an unpatriotic Nigerian maligning her country. And how dare she report Nigeria, a sovereign state, to Joe Biden? The APC attack team has also sent letters to the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Canada to debunk Ms Adichies reflections on the 2023 election. One commentator, Femi Fani-Kayode to be specific, dismissed her letter as a boring epistle of dishonest garbage  except that Adichie is incapable of writing garbage! She has also been accused of colonial mentality and sedition, with calls that she should be sued. President Biden has been advised to ignore her. Ms Adichie wrote: Congratulating the elections outcome, President Biden tarnishes Americas self-proclaimed commitment to democracy. Please do not give the sheen of legitimacy to an illegitimate process. The United States should be what it says it is. Unlike Professor Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie has not responded to the backlash that she got. She obviously thinks silence is the best answer for the APC crowd.

Thus, within the same period, two prominent Nigerian writers, Soyinka and Adichie being attacked for expressing views about the conduct of politics and political players in Nigeria. Both the elder and the younger writer are drawing attention to omissions that could have far-reaching implications. Their mode of intervention may differ, but in truth, they are both concerned about the health of our nation, and the character of the political class. Soyinka is a national treasure, a global humanist and one of the best thinkers of the century. Ms Adichie is one of Nigerias great ambassadors on the world stage with her contributions to culture, literature and knowledge. Writers are the conscience of the nation. Their job is to speak truth to power, shape public thought, create a current of ideas, no matter whose ox is gored. Soyinka is the elder statesman calling for restraint. Ms Adichie expresses the feelings of many of her generation who feel disappointed by the 2023 election. Critical as her piece may seem, she has not said anything that is not out there in public. It would be wrong to assume that only persons inside Nigeria or who voted during the elections are entitled to comment on the outcome. It is not even a sin for writers or any citizens at all to hold political beliefs. What is objectionable is the growing drift towards fascism in Nigerias political space. It reflects a culture of intolerance that erodes the tenets of democracy and human freedom.

Beyond all the expectations about the immediate future of Nigeria, it must be possible to take our country back from the fringes of despair, hate and division to which it has been driven by the recent elections. It must be possible again to have healthy, open and decent conversations in the public sphere. This calls for leadership, restraint, and above all wisdom.

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.

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Most of Nigerias problems have come from trying to act in contempt of market signals. This attitude is guaranteed to keep the migratory tap flowing heavily. The most sensible approach would be to respect the market signals and pay doctors accordingly to discourage economic migration and increase the supply of labour in the field, as people react to the reward system by investing in becoming qualified enough to earn them.

In April 2019, Nigerias labour and employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, was asked about Nigeria losing healthcare professionals to economic migration that took them to better-paying jobs in other continents, and he brushed it aside, saying that Nigeria had a surplus that made the migration a non-issue.

A year before that, his colleague, the Health Minister at the time, Isaac Adewole, was asked what could be done to improve the post-residency situations of Nigerian doctors, many of whom go through a lot of frustration during and after their residency programmes. Dr Adewoles flippant response was that such people did not have to be doctors and could choose to pursue careers as farmers and tailors.

These cabinet members were unconcerned about the reports that many of Nigerias doctors and other healthcare professionals were seeking better pastures in other countries. This idea that Nigeria does not have enough doctors, nurses, and other forms of healthcare professionals gets discussed regularly, and a comparison with some other locations might help us see if there is any truth to the claims, especially with how loudly the complaints get sometimes.

Nigeria currently has 24,000 licensed medical doctors serving a population of 200 million people. In comparison, California has the highest number of doctors in the US, with 118,151 physicians serving a population of 40 million Californians. New York has 98,821, and Texas has 69,676.

If Nigeria were a state in the US, it would not be in the top 10 for the number of licensed doctors. You have to get to the 15th position to get an American state that Nigeria has more doctors than, and that is Washington, which has 22,515 physicians looking after a population of 7.9 million, about the population of Bauchi State. Those complaining about Nigeria having a serious healthcare personnel problem have a point, as such our legislators have decided to act.

The Nigerian House of Representatives has just finished with the second reading of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which would make it compulsory for graduates of medical schools to work in the country for five years before being eligible to receive their full license. If passed, the law is meant to check the migration rate of medical professionals to other countries.

When you pay people accordingly, you can hold them to the highest standards they have been equipped for. Keeping people alive is worth whatever the market says it costs. Nigerias government has also done nothing to maximise the reach of the extant quantity of medical personnel through telemedicine. As I mentioned, it is a demand and supply problem, and those with the means will always find ways to corner the supply.

It looks like, after the initial bluster, the Nigerian government has owned up to the existence of the problem, but is, as usual, choosing to focus on a symptom, instead of looking to understand and solve the true problem. It is seeking to tackle the issue in a way that is more likely to hurt than help.

What we are seeing is nothing other than a demand and supply situation that should be handled accordingly. We have to take note of the demand situation outside Nigeria. Despite all of its doctors, it is estimated that by 2025, the US will be faced with a deficit of 446,000 home health aides, 95,000 nursing assistants, 98,700 medical and lab technologists and technicians, and more than 29,000 nurse practitioners, according to a 2021 report conducted by industry market analytic firm, Mercer. The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) also predicts that the US will have a deficit of 122,000 physicians by the year 2032, which would be partly caused by an expected 48% of the over-65 population, due to people living longer.

In England, The NHS has 94,000 vacancies for healthcare professionals, with 9,691 of those openings being for doctors and 38,952 for nurses. So the demand is clearly there, and forcing products of Nigerias medical schools to stay home for five years after graduation will not solve the problem.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has 75,000 Nigerian doctors registered with it, and over 33,000 have left the country. Other than the demand in the West, you have a situation in the Middle East where countries like the Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia have an 80% dependency on foreign-trained healthcare human resources, creating a strong demand for African healthcare professionals. In Saudi Arabia, for example, only 3,000 out of 33,800 doctors in the private sector are Saudis, while only 2,700 out of 45,900 nurses in privately owned hospitals are Saudis.

Nigeria has fewer than 25,000 doctors in the country and needs 363,000 more doctors to cater to its 200 million-strong population, but our university system produces 3,000 new medical and dental doctors every year. Nigeria would need a hundred years to satisfy its population at this rate, so there is a problem with increasing the supply of qualified medical personnel.

Outside of learning how to heal people miraculously or telling them not to fall ill, there is nothing we can do to increase the demand for medical professionals, either in Nigeria or abroad, and our skilled people will always move to where they feel adequately appreciated. As such, we have to increase the supply of healthcare professionals, which will not happen by forcing people to stay behind for five years after qualification.

The healthcare brain drain is not a problem unique to Nigeria. Egypts medical association says that 50% of the countrys registered doctors have left Egypt, and over 10,000 doctors are reported to have emigrated between 2016 and 2019. A doctor who earns as little as $2,500 annually is always going to be keen on migrating to labour markets that pay as much as $220,196 annually, and in some US states, general surgeons tend to get more than $383,333 per year in a working environment that is much more conducive to personal development. When you pay people accordingly, you can hold them to the highest standards they have been equipped for. Keeping people alive is worth whatever the market says it costs. Nigerias government has also done nothing to maximise the reach of the extant quantity of medical personnel through telemedicine. As I mentioned, it is a demand and supply problem, and those with the means will always find ways to corner the supply.

Outside of learning how to heal people miraculously or telling them not to fall ill, there is nothing we can do to increase the demand for medical professionals, either in Nigeria or abroad, and our skilled people will always move to where they feel adequately appreciated. As such, we have to increase the supply of healthcare professionals, which will not happen by forcing people to stay behind for five years after qualification. All that will do will be to ensure that all doctors who want to leave will be leaving with five years of experience, creating the weird situation where we will be enhancing the tide of migration of mid-level and senior medical professionals with more than ten years of experience. The very people who we would need to run our hospitals administratively. The kind of nonsense that is happening to our banks!

Finally, there is the issue of how difficult it is to come to the decision to migrate. Many people I know have left Nigeria in the last five years agonised extensively before making the final decision and did not come to that decision lightly. Have we interrogated why people decided to leave their comfort zones and start life anew in other, sometimes hostile, environments?

Most of Nigerias problems have come from trying to act in contempt of market signals. This attitude is guaranteed to keep the migratory tap flowing heavily. The most sensible approach would be to respect the market signals and pay doctors accordingly to discourage economic migration and increase the supply of labour in the field, as people react to the reward system by investing in becoming qualified enough to earn them.

It is important to note that I deliberately did not write about our government officials going abroad to seek treatment from the same doctors they did not provide for back home. That is an entirely different wormhole to go down and would double the length of this piece.

Cheta Nwanze is a partner at SBM Intelligence.

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Against the backdrop of rising complaints by many stakeholders about uncontrolled use of the social media for alleged unwholesome purposes, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it is not the regulator of the contents of social media networks.

The clarification was made during a recent visit of the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), led by its Executive Secretary, Blessing Akinsolotu, who sought the intervention of the Commission to stem the worrisome and misleading content of social media platforms.

We know that NCC, as the regulator of the telecoms industry, has greater role to play in helping to curb the spread of fake news and incendiary contents that internet users put on social media platforms. Therefore, we want NCC to partner with us in this regard, he stated.

Akinlosotu said the situation demands immediate intervention of key stakeholders to ensure that the content of the social media and the Internet are credible and enhance national social cohesion.

Responding, Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Mr. Reuben Muoka, who received the group on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, informed the organisation that the Commissions mandate does not extend to controlling the content of such media platforms.

According to Muoka, the major role of the telecom regulator is to facilitate the deployment of telecom infrastructure that provides different types of telecommunications services, including improving broadband that enhances robust Internet experience, and ensuring fair competition as well as the protecting of telecom consumers.

Muoka said the mandate includes making services available, accessible and affordable for Nigerians who may leverage such access to engage in digital social mediation for the benefit of the individual, businesses, and the nations socioeconomic growth.

In the performance of its functions, Muoka said the Commission promotes collaboration and partnerships with different stakeholders such as NCSCN, in creating awareness and promoting access to different categories of consumers in the country. He said the Commission looks forward to furthering collaboration with NCSCN in its efforts to align with the aspirations of users of telecommunications services across the country.

The NCSCN, a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, commended the Commission for its people-oriented and consumer-centric regulatory activities.

The Council also seeks collaboration with NCC to spread messages of the Commissions consumer enlightenment programmes to Nigerians in the grassroots through its over 100-member Civil Society Organisation (CSOs).

Akinlosotu also invited the Commission to partner with the NCSCN in hosting a conference aimed at tackling the seemingly intractable diffusion of fake news, particularly on social media networks.

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has backed the ongoing protest at the State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The PDP members in the state whose protest at the state INEC office located along Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway has entered a second week are demanding joint inspection of materials used for the 2023 general elections.

The protesters reportedly assaulted Tonye Cole, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state who was on his way to the INEC office to honour a scheduled appointment to obtain documents to enable him challenge the outcome of the governorship elections in the state.

Speaking in a media chat on Tuesday, Mr Wike justified the protest saying they are being extra vigilant because they know what their opponents, apparently referring to APC, are capable of doing.

The media chat was aired by Channels television and monitored by PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Wike said the PDP also wants INEC to furnish it with the Certified True Copy of election results to file a response to petitions at the Election Petition Tribunal.

We are being extra vigilant, all the plans, all the results they have printed to bring to (Election Petition) Tribunals, we have it in the flash, Mr Wike said pointing a flash drive to the reporters.

He, however, declined disclosing the source of his information saying what matters is how relevant the information is.

So when youre saying what is happening in Port Harcourt? Theres nothing, we only need to be vigilant. We dont trust INEC, we dont also trust the police. So we are being extra careful. (We) dont want what happened in 2015/2016 to happen to us again.

Mr Wiks said there was nothing wrong with INEC as an institution but some people who are working in the commission are terrible.

Look, Ive been in politics and I know what people are capable of doing. It is not something that we will go and sleep and say no we have won the election.

INEC had declared the PDP candidate, Siminialaye Fubara as the winner of the 18 March governorship election in the state but Mr Cole of the APC is challenging the result at the tribunal.

Some PDP lawyers who were preparing documents for filings at the tribunal were arrested by the police at a Hotel in the state.

Computers and other items belonging to the lawyers were seized by the police but were later released after they were examined.

Mr Wike, who said the arrest was intelligence driven, showed a flash drive to the reporters claiming that he has all the documents the APC printed to file petitions at the tribunal.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in Lagos State, Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), have submitted a petition before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal of Lagos State.

The party and Mr Adediran are calling for the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) candidates in the election for non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.

In the petition marked EPT/LAG/GOV/01/2023 dated April 7, the petitioners challenged the outcome of the 18 March governorship election on the grounds of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Law as well as the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While INEC is the 1st respondent, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Deputy Governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat; the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and the Labour Party respectively are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th respondents.

Besides non-compliance with relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, Mr Adediran and PDP in their petition are claiming that at the time of the governorship election held on 18 March 2023, Messrs Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, and Rhodes-Vivour were not qualified to contest the election.

The petitioners, therefore, prayed that all votes cast for them in the election be declared wasted.

The 2nd and 3rd Respondents, although not duly sponsored and not qualified, contested along with the 1st Petitioner and others for the office of Governor of Lagos State, the subject matter of this Petition.

Similarly, the 5th and 6th Respondents, although not duly sponsored and not qualified, contested along with the 1st Petitioner and others for the office of Governor of Lagos State, the subject matter of this Petition.

The 1st Respondent, upon the conclusion of the Election, declared the 2nd Respondent who was not properly sponsored by the 4th Respondent as the winner of the Election to the office of Governor of Lagos State.

The 5th Respondent who was similarly not properly sponsored by the 6th Respondent was declared by the 1st Respondent as having scored the second highest number of votes at the Election to the office of Governor of Lagos State, the petition reads in part.

The petitioners said that the petition bothered on four grounds of non-compliance warranting disqualification of Messrs Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat declared as the winner of the election by INEC.

Mr Adediran and the PDP added that the petition also bothered on another four grounds of non-compliance warranting disqualification of Mr Rhodes-Vivour who was declared to have scored the second-highest number of votes in the election.

The petitioners said that APC did not comply with the INEC Time Table and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election which stipulated that all political parties must give 21 days notice to INEC before the conduct of the primary election.

They added that such notice must emanate from the national office of the political party and be signed by its National Chairman and National Secretary.

Contrary to this provision, the Lagos state chapter of the APC through her letter dated 24th May 2022 notified the State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the party primary election held on 26th May 2022., with details of venue of the said primary.

The notification from the state chapter of APC was therefore invalid, null and void according to the Electoral Act 2022, it read in part.

The petitioners added that the APC also failed to comply with the requirement of the Electoral Act 2022 that every political party sponsoring a candidate in the general election shall submit the nomination form of such candidate(s) not later than 180 days before the conduct of the general election in forms EC9.

The petitioners also cited the omission of the Oath page in Form EC9 for the 3rd respondent, (Hamzat), which would have shown that it was not endorsed by the Commissioner for Oath within the time prescribed by the Electoral Law 2022 and without the oath page, the entire form EC9 and the information therein are worthless.

Mr Adediran and PDP added that Mr Sanwo-Olu failed to attach a copy of the GCE OLevel result he claimed to have sat for in 1981 along with his form EC9 as required by the Electoral Act 2022.

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The petition read in part: This development sparked a curiosity, with Adediran and PDP applying for the CTC of Governor Sanwo-Olu 2019 from CF001.

It was then discovered that a Statement of Result issued by Ijebu Ife Community Grammar School, Ijebu-Ife for May/June 1981 GCE O Level Examination with examination number 17624/118 which he submitted for his first term election as governor of the state was not confirmed by WAEC.

When JANDOR and PDP approached WAEC for confirmation, they were directed to purchase the scratch card for verification of WAEC result scratch card, which then confirmed the results as not emanating from WAEC, it came back to be a fake result.

The petitioners also hinged the disqualification of the governorship candidate of LPs Rhodes-Vivour on his non-compliance of the party with the requirements of the Electoral Law in the conduct of the primary election that produced the candidate.

Mr Adediran and PDP said that the notice of the primary election was issued by the state chapter of LP as against the provision that it must be issued and signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the party.

The petitioners added that the LP used Statutory Delegates who are members of the Lagos State EXCO/Caretaker Committee in the conduct of her substitution primary election on Aug. 10, 2022 contrary to the provision of the Electoral Act 2022.

The petitioners also said that Form EC9 for Rhodes-Vivour was signed under oath and submitted to INEC on the 4th of July 2022, exactly 37 days before the holding of the substitution primary election on Aug. 10, 2022, that produced him as the candidate of the Labour Party.

It further read: This makes his nomination invalid. Furthermore, Rhodes-Vivour was still a member of PDP as of June 18, 2022 when he claimed, again under oath to having registered as a member of the Labour Party.

Documentary evidence and newspaper report establishing his participation in the screening exercise for the running mate to the governorship candidate of the Lagos PDP, Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (JANDOR), on June 22, 2022, was provided in the petition.

In line with the provision of the Electoral Act, the candidate for the office of Governor of Lagos State is not allowed to be a member of more than one political party at the time of being sponsored as a candidate for the general election, therefore his nomination is invalid.

Mr Adediran and PDP thus prayed the Election Petition Tribunal to declare all the votes cast for APC and Labour Party in the 18 March governorship election as wasted votes since their candidates were not qualified to have participated in the election.

The petitioners added that since PDP scored the third-highest number of votes in the election and having satisfied the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, Adediran (Jandor) of the PDP was the validly qualified candidate to be returned as the winner of the said election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Sanwo-Olu defeated 15 other contestants from various parties to emerge as the winner of the election.

Mr Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes to defeat his closest rival of the Labour Party, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour who scored 312,329 votes in the election.

The PDP candidate, Mr Adediran, garnered 62,449 votes to come third in the poll.

(NAN)

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Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

Delivering a keynote speech on March 23 at the United Nations conference on mid-term comprehensive review on the Decade for Action Water for Sustainable Development for the 2018-2022 period, Ha said 60% of Vietnam's water resources come from trans-boundary rivers. Vietnam also engages in the MRCs model of cooperation which has garnered significant attention from many countries. Worldwide, over 40% of the global population are living in trans-boundary river and lake basins.



Sharing comprehensive, inclusive and fair approaches to cooperation in water resource management, Ha suggested strengthening the global and regional legal frameworks for the use and management of trans-boundary water resources; adopting an integrated, nature-based approach to managing transboundary water resources as a unified entity in the building and implementation of planning, programmes and projects; and enhancing transparent and equitable consultation mechanisms among the countries.



He stressed that the use and exploitation of water should take into account local livelihoods, socio-economic activities, and preservation of traditional cultural values and ecosystem associated with trans-boundary water resources.



The official proposed establishing UN agencies and bodies to coordinate and support sci-tech and financial activities, developing a global database on trans-boundary water resources, river basins and monitoring system, and setting ethical standards for behaviours towards trans-boundary water resources.

Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha meets President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon (Photo: VNA)

Within the framework of the event, Deputy PM Ha met with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and suggested both nations consider boosting cooperation in climate change adaptation and water resource management in the coming time.



Meeting Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Qu Dongyu, Ha sought the FAO's support to improving Vietnam's capacity of managing natural resources, especially agricultural land, trans-boundary and inland water resources.



Qu affirmed that FAO will continue providing technical and technological support for Vietnams agriculture sector, making it easier for Vietnam to join triangular and South-South cooperation in food and agriculture.

Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha and UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem (Photo: VNA)

In a meeting with Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Natalia Kanem, Ha suggested the fund offer continued support to build and launch social social welfare policies in Vietnam, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups to ensure that no one is left behind. He also proposed the building of an index to assess population, reproductive health, adolescents and gender equality in line with international practices.



Kanem vowed to help Vietnam effectively carry out the Country Programme for Vietnam for 2022-2026, as well as study and enforce policies related to the Law on Gender Equality, prevention of gender-based violence, and response to population aging issues.



In a working session with French Minister for Ecological Transition and Cohesion of the Territories Christophe Bechu, the Vietnamese official suggested that both sides reinforce technical and technological cooperation in protecting water resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and coping with climate change, especially in fulfilling emission reduction commitments.



Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha meets French Minister for Ecological Transition and Cohesion of the Territories Christophe Bechu (Photo: VNA)

Bechu affirmed that France always considers Vietnam one of the priority partners in the region. He highlighted the need for joint work to implement the Joint Declaration on Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) that matches Vietnam's conditions and situation.



In a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Slovenia Tanja Fajon, the Vietnamese Deputy PM called on both countries to continue working closely together on climate change response and management of water resources.



Fajon, for his part, affirmed that Slovenia advocates promoting multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, especially in water management and climate change response while offering mutual liaison at multilateral forums, particularly in the UN.



In a dialogue with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Ha emphasised that Vietnam considers climate change and energy transition priority cooperation areas between the two nations. He wished that the US Government will continue assisting Vietnam in delivering commitments announced at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 26) and effectively realising the Political Declaration on JETP.



Kerry affirmed that the US wishes to step up collaboration with Vietnam in all areas. He also expressed his wish to accelerate the effective delivery of commitments at the COP 26, the energy transition process and building of a low-carbon economy in Vietnam.



Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet told the Vietnam News Agency that located in the lower Mekong River basin, Vietnam attaches importance to the use and management of water resources which directly impact the lives of tens of millions of people. That's why Vietnam has actively engaged in both bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks, notably the MRC or UN frameworks, he stressed./.
American Arbitration Association Signs Ray Corollary Initiative Pledge for ADR Providers; 11th Class of Higginbotham Fellows Accepted Into Program for Up-and-Coming Diverse ADR Practitioners

NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Arbitration Association (AAA) announces that it has signed the Ray Corollary Initiative (RCI) Pledge for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Providers, an industry effort to increase the number of women and racially and ethnically diverse ADR professionals who serve as arbitrators, mediators, and other neutrals.

In 2022, 35% of arbitrators selected by parties from AAA-generated lists of potential neutrals met diversity criteria, while 41% of new additions to the AAA Roster were women and racially and ethnically diverse professionals.

"Our organization has been involved in various efforts to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in arbitration and mediation, as well as the overall legal profession, since the 1960s," said Ingeuneal Gray, Esq., Vice President of the American Arbitration Association and Co-Chair of the AAA's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. "The Ray Corollary Initiative is a very positive development with a mission we fully support, and we are glad to join with other ADR providers, firms, and users in giving parties more opportunities to choose neutrals from groups who have been traditionally underrepresented in our field."

Over the past few years, AAA lists have averaged over 30% in diverse neutrals, with many lists offering an even higher percentage of potential arbitrators who are diverse. In 2023, the AAA decided to formally raise the diversity threshold in its case management tool from 20% to 30% to better reflect its practice. In addition, the AAA has expanded the diverse categories in its case management tool to include not only Race/Ethnicity and Gender, but also Disability, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation.

The AAA has internal and external committees that meet on a regular basis to advance DEI in ADR. The American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA-ICDR) Council's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of legal and ADR professionals provides insight into the marketplace. In addition, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of AAA executives and staff coordinate initiatives and collaborate with firms and organizations, offering support, sponsorship, and training to help create opportunities for diverse practitioners. The AAA actively recruits highly qualified women and racially and ethnically diverse arbitrators and mediatorsmany of whom serve on its National Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators, assist in leading education programs, and share their expertise in publications. To learn more, please visit https://www.adr.org/dei.

"It isn't enough to simply want changewe have to be that change. This is the approach we at the AAA have long embraced with regard to more representation for diverse arbitrators and mediators," said Ann Lesser, Esq., Vice President of the American Arbitration Association and Co-Chair of the AAA's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. "As the global leader in ADR, we have a duty to lead by example. We hope more members of our industry will join us in making DEI a core aspect of everything we do, both internally and externally."

The AAA's programs and initiatives to increase the number of ADR practitioners from diverse, underrepresented groups include:

The AAA's A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Fellows Program: Established in 2009 to provide training, networking, and mentorship for up-and-coming diverse ADR practitioners, program participants are required to complete a self-study component, as well as intensive interactive training at the AAA's New York headquarters, which includes seminars on dispute resolution as well as mock arbitrations and mediations. Higginbotham Fellows can also receive additional training and networking opportunities during the program, and are paired with mentors in their field of interest. The 11th class of Higginbotham Fellows , including 20 professionals from across the country, have recently been selected to begin the program.

Since inception, 149 Higginbotham Fellows have completed the programand almost all Fellows who applied have advanced to the AAA Roster, with many of them selected to serve on cases. Several Higginbotham Fellows have also been elected to the AAA-ICDR Council. For more information about the program, please visit https://www.adr.org/higginbothamfellowsprogram.

Diversity Scholarships from the AAA-ICDR Foundation: Thanks to a special gift by the AAA, the AAA-ICDR Foundation established the Diversity Scholarship Fund in 2021. The Fund provides diverse law students and professionals with up to $2,000 in financial assistance toward participation in a degree program or fellowship in ADR, or toward attendance at a well-recognized conference.

In 2022, the AAA-ICDR Foundation granted 31 scholarships totaling $49,637, including $1,300 stipends to 20 students to cover travel and hotel expenses during the AAA's Diverse Student ADR Summit, held at the AAA headquarters in New York from November 12-13, 2022. The conference provided law students from diverse backgrounds with the opportunity to learn from experienced ADR professionals and litigators about how to forge a successful career as an arbitrator or mediator.

In addition, the AAA-ICDR Foundation established diversity scholarships at Howard University and North Carolina Central University, two historically Black colleges and universities offering certificates in dispute resolution programs in their law schools. Both scholarships involve a three-year commitment of $150,000 ($50,000 annually) to grant scholarships to second- or third-year law school students pursuing certificates in their schools' dispute resolution programs.

About the American Arbitration Association

The not-for-profit American Arbitration Association (AAA) is the leading provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services for parties in commercial disputes, having administered more than seven million ADR cases since its founding in 1926. With 29 offices in the United States, in addition to Singapore, the AAA provides organizations of all sizes in virtually every industry with ADR services and products. For more information, visit www.adr.org.

Media Contacts:

Michael C. Clark

American Arbitration Association

+1.212.716.3903

[email protected]

Victoria Castelbuono

JConnelly

+1.973.590.9314

[email protected]

SOURCE American Arbitration Association
The marketing automation provider is opening a hub in Costa Rica to provide local, on-site resources and improved Spanish-speaking support to customers

CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ActiveCampaign , the leader in marketing automation , email marketing and CRM , is putting down roots in San Jose, Costa Rica and will have 100 employees in the hub within 12 months. Latin America is one of the company's fastest growing regions, with local businesses growing through the power of ActiveCampaign's platform every day. With offices in Brazil and Colombia already, ActiveCampaign is making a larger investment in the region by expanding engineering and customer teams to improve the global customer experience and operations of the business.

ActiveCampaign Expands in LATAM, Invests in Improved Customer Experience

Costa Rica hosts a large number of successful technology companies such as Microsoft, Intel, Akamai and Smartsheet. As the latest technology leader to open a hub in the country, ActiveCampaign will be able to support more businesses in the region and across the globe, who need resources in both English and Spanish. The hub will be ready for occupancy starting May 15th.

ActiveCampaign is currently working with local partners such as the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) who has a similar mission to the marketing automation provider: help growing businesses in the country. ActiveCampaign leaders will be at CINDE's career fair from April 19-23 to hire up to 30 employees across its engineering, customer, and recruiting teams to start in May.

Experts Comment on ActiveCampaign's Growth in LATAM

"Being a customer-obsessed organization, we are thrilled to be investing in LATAM as well as our overall customer experience to better serve our customers in the region and globally," said Jason VandeBoom, founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign . "Being closer to our global customers means more frequent feedback and fruitful collaboration with the businesses we serve."

"We pride ourselves in offering the best, most personalized surfing and yoga experiences in Costa Rica, and thankfully, we've been able to scale these experiences through the help of ActiveCampaign," said Travis Bays, co-founder at Bodhi Surf + Yoga . "Because ActiveCampaign's automation platform saves us so much time throughout our sales and marketing process, we are able to focus on working with our customers and their experiential journey. We are excited about ActiveCampaign's investment in Costa Rica and their willingness to help businesses in the community grow. We love that they will be just around the corner so we can now collaborate in person on a regular basis!"

About ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is the leader in marketing automation, email marketing and CRM for businesses of all sizes. Its powerful automation platform helps over 185,000 businesses in 170 countries grow by scaling and personalizing their customer experiences. ActiveCampaign accelerates business growth by providing access to 900+ pre-built automations that combine transactional email and email marketing , marketing automation , ecommerce marketing , and CRM to enable 1:1 experiences that connect across all channels and through the entire customer lifecycle. Over 70% of ActiveCampaign's customers use its 900+ integrations, including Microsoft, Shopify, Square, Facebook and Salesforce. ActiveCampaign is one of only 17 products with over 10,000 positive customer reviews on G2.com , scoring higher in customer satisfaction than any other solution in Marketing Automation, CRM and E-Commerce Personalization and is the Top Rated Email Marketing Software on TrustRadius. Start a free trial at ActiveCampaign.com .

SOURCE ActiveCampaign
Approximately 50% of the Medtech Patients Depend on for Care is Sterilized with Ethylene Oxide

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its proposed rule regulating ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilizers of medical technology and other commercial uses through the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) under the Clean Air Act. The EPA also released its proposed update of EtO registration as a sterilant under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). AdvaMed, the leading global trade association for medtech, represents more than 450 companies supplying the sterile medtech upon which Americans depend. Scott Whitaker, AdvaMed president and CEO, made the following comment on the EPA action.

"This issue is critical for patients, and as a result, the stakes are high. Ethylene oxide sterilization facilities are at capacity. As the FDA recognizes, many medical devices simply cannot be sterilized by another method. If new EPA regulations force sterilization facilities to close, patients could face treatment delays as sterile technology supplies, such as pacemakers and surgical equipment, fall short.

"For 80 years, the medtech industry has used ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment. We have done so in a manner that is both safe and effective for patients and for communities and employees. If we have careful coordination with the EPA, we are confident we can deliver for all interests as these regulations are refined and finalized."

Whitaker continued: "Medical device sterilization is only half of 1 percent of all commercial EtO use. The process now sterilizes half of all medtech, 20 billion devices, in the United States each year. It's the only effective, viable sterilization method for heat- or moisture-sensitive materials. Americans visit the doctor one billion times a year. They're admitted to the hospital 33.4 million times a year. Infection control is paramount in patient care. Because EtO sterilization is at capacity, closing even a few sterilization facilities could cause supply shortfalls affecting patients. The placement of a heartbeat-stabilizing pacemaker or eyesight-restoring cataract surgery might take much longer. The FDA shares the concern of supply disruptions.

"Two specific items cause immediate concern. One, 18 months to implement the NESHAP requirements is much too short. It could take many months for abatement equipment to arrive. Supply chains and manufacturing are still recovering from the pandemic.

"Two, it appears the FIFRA preliminary interim decision fails to account for the most current science as well as the best practices on employee safety medtech employs, a concern long raised by many in the scientific community amid calls for third-party expert review of the EPA's risk assessment. The EPA's characterization of employee risk appears to overstate the risk and disregard the strong employee protections already in practice.

"Medtech companies want to continue serving patients without interruption. The EPA should understand, and its regulations should reflect, that like the EPA, medtech is in the business of protecting public health. We hope the EPA will take our comments into account and work with us on final regulations that ensure continued infection control while achieving the EPA's goals, which we share, of protecting community members and employees."

AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. For more information, visit www.advamed.org.

CONTACT

Cody Uhing

202-434-7233

[email protected]

SOURCE AdvaMed
The rise in applications of AI in drug discovery and development coupled with the advancements in artificial intelligence technology drive the growth of the global AI in genomics market.

PORTLAND, Ore., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "AI in Genomics Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), by Technology (Machine Learning, Computer Vision), by Application (Drug Discovery and Development, Precision Medicine, Diagnostics, Others), by End User (Pharmaceutical and Biotech Companies, Healthcare Providers, Research Centers): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031". According to the report, the global AI in genomics industry generated $346.3 million in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $9.8 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 40.6% from 2022 to 2031.

Download Free Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/11921

Prime determinants of growth

The rise in applications of AI in drug discovery and development coupled with the advancements in artificial intelligence technology drive the growth of the global AI in genomics market. However, limited availability of skilled professionals and data quality issues restrict the market growth.

Covid-19 Scenario

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global AI in genomics market, as it disrupted workflows in the healthcare sector around the world during the lockdown.

The disease had forced several industries to shut down temporarily, including several sub-domains of the healthcare sector. The pandemic reduced accessibility to the research centers and offices which delayed the development in AI programs.

However, AI-driven diagnostics emerged as great solution for quick diagnosis of the disease

The machine learning segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on technology, the mid-top sneakers segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for around three-fifths of the global AI in genomics market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Moreover, the same segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 40.9% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to the machine learning algorithms that can be used to integrate genomic data with other types of data, such as clinical and environmental data, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to disease risk and progression. In addition, machine learning algorithms can be used to predict the function of genes, identify regulatory elements, and annotate the genome.

The software segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on offering, the software segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global AI in genomics market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to the increase in demand for precision medicine. However, the hardware segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 41.0% from 2022 to 2031. AI hardware has been increasingly used in genomic analysis owing to the reason that AI enables the processing of vast amounts of data generated by genomic sequencing technologies.

Procure Complete Report (220 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/11921

The pharmaceutical and biotech companies segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on end user, the pharmaceutical and biotech companies segment accounted for the largest share in 2021, contributing to more than half of the global AI in genomics market, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. AI genomics can help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from a particular drug by analyzing genomic data to identify biomarkers that are associated with the disease or condition being treated. This can help pharmaceutical and biotech companies design more targeted clinical trials, reducing the cost and time required to bring a drug to market. However, the healthcare providers segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 42.0% from 2022 to 2031, owing to the significant increase in use of AI for disease diagnosis in hospitals by healthcare providers.

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 nearly half of the global AI in genomics market, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is attributed to a large number of universities and research institutions that are at the forefront of AI research, including Stanford, MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of California, Berkeley. These institutions attract top talent from around the world and conduct cutting-edge research. Furthermore, The U.S. government and private industry have invested heavily in AI research and development. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 46.9% from 2022 to 2031, owing to increase in investments for development of AI and an increase in the number of key players developing AI.

Leading Market Players: -

IBM Corporation,

Deep Genomics,

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.,

Illumina, Inc.,

Data4Cure, Inc,

BenevolentAI,

Microsoft Corporation,

NVIDIA Corporation (Mellanox Technologies),

Sophia Genetics,

Freenome Holdings, Inc

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global AI in genomics 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.

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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
AKRON, Ohio, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akron Children's Hospital has been awarded a three-year $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) to better define the practices of high-quality pediatric palliative care, particularly in seeking out the voices of the children, teens and young adults at the center of that care.

The study will engage children, teens and young adults and their parents and providers receiving pediatric palliative care services at Akron Children's, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital in Houston and Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego.

Dr. Daniel Grossoehme, a senior scientist in Akron Children's Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute, will be the principal investigator.

"Dr. Grossoehme's work with Dr. Sarah Friebert is innovative, insightful and game-changing," said Dr. Michael Forbes, chief academic officer at Akron Children's. "This type of research grant  the R01  from the NIH is considered one of the highest in academia, awarded to less than 20 percent of the applicants. As a result, this work is considered the 'best of the best.'"

According to Dr. Grossoehme, most of the current standards for care for home-based pediatric hospice and palliative care were derived from adult hospice and palliative care, and generally represent the perspectives of parents and providers from data which pre-dates the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There is an urgent need to better understand the experiences of the children and teens receiving this care," said Dr. Grossoehme. "Our central hypothesis is that pediatric patients have perspectives and words to describe important aspects of their care that differ from those of their providers and caregivers."

The NINR is particularly interested in seeking data from medically-underserved populations, including those who live in rural and lower socio-economic communities and those of diverse races and genders in order to reduce pediatric health disparities.

Nearly 2 million U.S. children currently have life-limiting disability or illness, and approximately 5,000 children are within their final six months of life. Pediatric palliative care teams offer these children and their families symptom management, decision-making guidance, and spiritual/psychosocial care.

As with other children's hospitals, most of the children receiving palliative care services at Akron Children's have neurological disorders, such as muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy, as well as chromosomal abnormalities or other genetic conditions.

"These are conditions which are long-term, if not life-long, and negatively impact life for the child and the whole family," said Dr. Grossoehme. "That's the palliative care piece  how to improve or maintain that quality of life."

The researchers will conduct and analyze up to 88 semi-structured interviews of children, teens and young adults ages 11 to 26 about their priorities, goals, and values, even openly talking about end-of-life decisions and when and how they want information to make those decisions. These interviews will integrate with the updated parent and provider data to create the new standards.

"Our mission is to ensure that children of all ages with life-threatening conditions receive the highest quality care possible, wherever they are," said Dr. Friebert, the founder and director of Akron Children's Haslinger Family Pediatric Palliative Care Center. "To honor this commitment means to hear directly from those we serve, to design and sustain care paradigms that allow them to live their best lives. Clinical practice guidelines have evolved to advance the science of palliative care as the field has grown, but the direct voice of the involved child is missing."

SOURCE Akron Children's Hospital
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ALJ Regional Holdings, Inc. (OTC PINK: ALJJ) (the "Company") announced that it will be holding a special meeting (the "Special Meeting") of stockholders on May 10, 2023 at the offices of Shearman & Sterling LLP, located at 1460 EL Camino Real, 2nd Floor, Menlo Park, CA 94025. A proxy statement containing proposals for the Special Meeting will be mailed to the stockholders as of the record date of the Special Meeting, March 31, 2023, on or about April 13, 2023.

The Special Meeting is being held to vote on two proposals: (1) to adopt and approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between ALJ Regional Holdings, Inc. and ALJ NewCo, Inc. ("NewCo") (the "Reorganization") pursuant to which, among other items, (A) each outstanding share of ALJ common stock will be converted automatically into the right of a stockholder to receive one (1) share of NewCo common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "NewCo Shares"), for each one hundred (100) shares of ALJ common stock, par value $0.01 per share, unless a stockholder is not an "accredited investor" (as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, an "Accredited Investor"), in which case such stockholder will instead be entitled to receive $1.97 per share in cash in lieu of the NewCo Shares, and (B) the existing ALJ stockholders who become stockholders of NewCo will be able to act by written consent in lieu of an annual or special meeting of the stockholders; and (2) to approve the adjournment or postponement of the special meeting to another date, time or place, if necessary or appropriate, for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies for the proposal to be acted upon at the special meeting in the event that there are insufficient votes at the time of the special meeting or any adjournment thereof to approve the foregoing proposal.

The Board unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote "FOR" the proposal to approve the Reorganization and "FOR" each of the other proposals to be voted upon at the Special Meeting.

The Company encourages all stockholders to read the proxy statement, mailed to all record holders as of the record date and available on the website of OTC Markets at https://www.otcmarkets.com as well as our website at www.aljregionalholdings.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws about ALJ and the tender offer, including but not limited to all statements about the timing of the tender offer as well as the Company's ability to complete the tender offer and settlement thereof, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "likely," "outlook," "forecast," "preliminary," "would," "could," "should," "can," "will," "project," "intend," "plan," "goal," "guidance," "continue," "sustain," "on track," "believe," "seek," "estimate," "anticipate," "may," "possible," "assume," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, as they involve certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results or performance may differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include but are not limited to risks related to the consummation of the Reorganization, volatility and fluctuations in the trading price and volume of the shares, general economic and capital markets conditions and other risks and uncertainties. Although forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, 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. All forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

About ALJ Regional Holdings, Inc.

ALJ Regional Holdings, Inc. is the (i) 100% owner of Faneuil, Inc., a leading provider of call center services, back office operations, and staffing services to commercial and governmental clients across the United States; (ii) 100% owner of ALJ Vistio QOZB LLC d/b/a Vistio, a provider of workflow automation and business intelligence services to Faneuil and other unrelated companies; (iii) 99% owner of QOF; and (iv) 80.01% owner of Ranew's Companies a leading supplier of industrial coating services to multinational manufacturers of equipment and a provider of precision fabrication and assembly and logistics services.

SOURCE ALJ Regional Holdings, Inc.
Compliant Cloud & Colo Leader Adds HITRUST Certifications for Four Data Centers and Publishes HITRUST Shared Responsibility Matrix

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LightEdge , the leader in compliant cloud and colocation for more than 25 years, has expanded its HITRUST partnership, adding HITRUST certifications for four additional data centers and publishing a HITRUST Shared Responsibility Matrix (SRM). Developed jointly by HITRUST and LightEdge, LightEdge's SRM clearly defines security and privacy responsibilities between LightEdge and its customers, which in turn streamlines processes for risk management programs. LightEdge is one of only 14 companies globally that have published a HITRUST SRM. This latest addition of four HITRUST certifications means that all 11 LightEdge data centers are now HITRUST certified.

HITRUST was established in 2007 to help mitigate the risks associated with a data breach of personal health information. One of the most widely adopted security frameworks in the healthcare industry today, HITRUST certification demonstrates that systems within LightEdge's environment meet the information risk management and compliance requirements to protect healthcare data. To achieve HITRUST certification, providers must undergo an extremely rigorous process. According to HITRUST , upwards of 80 percent of U.S. hospitals and 85 percent of U.S. health insurers use the HITRUST approach to help with HIPAA compliance.

"In our eyes, HITRUST compliance is necessary for securely hosting healthcare data, but it's incredibly expensive and time-consuming to achieve and maintain," said Michael Hannan, Chief Security & Chief Information Officer for LightEdge. "With more than 150 of our customers in the healthcare or healthcare services industries, we take HITRUST very seriously."

Not only does LightEdge offer HITRUST-compliant data centers, the company can also help its customers achieve their own HITRUST certifications. LightEdge is one of only 39 organizations worldwide that are part of the HITRUST Inheritance Program , which allows customers to inherit relevant LightEdge controls and put them toward their own HITRUST assessments.

"The HITRUST Inheritance Program allows our customers to save internal resources when it's time for an audit, protect their customers' critical data with complete faith, and safeguard their brand from breaches," said Shelby Eckard, Compliance Manager at LightEdge. "Most importantly, our clients can rest assured that they have the backing of a trusted and respected third party expert that's been HITRUST-certified for years."

For more information on all of LightEdge's compliance certifications, click here .

About LightEdge

LightEdge Solutions is the regional leader in colocation and private cloud services for highly regulated organizations who value always on uptime for their mission critical workloads. LightEdge owns and operates eleven purpose-built data centers across the United States. With 25 years in business, LightEdge offers full stack technology services that deliver unbeatable uptime, security, and flexibility for their clients. Their premier colocation, cloud, disaster recovery, and security solutions are designed to support complex hybrid IT deployments and audited against the industry's top security and compliance standards. For more information, visit www.lightedge.com .

SOURCE LightEdge
In his remarks, Viet expressed his delight at diverse and meaningful activities held across Vietnam to mark the occasion. With the theme of 321 million French speakers, billions of cultural contents, this year's celebration aims to honour the cultural and linguistic diversity of the community worldwide, and promote access to the Francophone cultural content in the digital space.The official also thanked the Francophone partners who have been and will continue to accompany Vietnam in its socio-economic development and international integration.At the foreign ministrys annual celebration, Regional Representative for Asia - Pacific of the International Organization of La Francophonie ( OIF ) Edgar Doerig appreciated the successes achieved in the relationship between Vietnam and the community.The director of the Francophone University Agency (AUF) office in Asia-Pacific, Laurent Sermet, commended the cooperation between the AUF and Vietnamese higher education and research institutions during the past three decades and pledged to strengthen such ties in the time to come./.
ST. LOUIS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arch Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ARCH) will discuss its first quarter 2023 financial results in an investor conference call on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Interested participants may access the conference call by dialing 877-870-4263 approximately five to 10 minutes prior to the start time. For participants calling from an overseas location, please dial +1 412-317-0790. No passcode is needed. The call will also be webcast and will be accessible via the "investor" section of the Arch website at http://investor.archrsc.com. Following the live event, a replay and an audio download will be available on the site.

Arch's first quarter 2023 earnings release will be distributed via PR Newswire before the market opens on April 27 and will be posted to the company's website at that time.

Arch Resources is a premier producer of high-quality metallurgical products for the global steel industry. The company operates large, modern and highly efficient mines that consistently set the industry standard for both mine safety and environmental stewardship.

SOURCE Arch Resources, Inc.
NEWARK, N.J., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with the Progressive Theater Company, the Newark Board of Education's Arts High School produced its first full musical in over ten years, performing a spectacular rendition of "The Wiz". The production was met with rave reviews, enthusiastic theater-goers and sold-out performances, representing the incredible talent and creativity of Arts High School's students.

Progressive Theater chose Arts High School to launch its Professional Arts Outreach Program to revitalize musical theater in Newark. The program allows students to participate in theater awards competitions like Paper Mill's Rising Stars and gain recognition for their gifts and hard work.

The talented cast and crew brought their A-game to the stage, delivering an unforgettable production that showcased the students' exceptional vocal, acting, and dance skills. The breathtaking sets, authentic costumes, and dynamic choreography added to the production's overall appeal, keeping families, staff, community members, and Alums on their toes for all three shows.

Superintendent Roger Len praised the partnership between the two organizations, saying, "This collaboration illustrates the power of Arts in our schools, community and the transformative impact it can have on young people. The students of Arts High School are true benefactors of the Progressive Theatre Company; their hard work has truly paid off in this incredible production."

Board President Dawn Haynes said, "The production quality mixed with the pure talent just goes to show that our kids from Newark are the best."

Arts High School Principal DeNose expressed her appreciation for the student's hard work and dedication, saying, "Our artist-scholars continue to amaze us each and every day. Their passion for performing is truly remarkable, and we are grateful for the opportunity to showcase their talents through this wonderful collaboration."

Artistic Director Gregory Osborne of Progressive Theater said, "Our talented students worked tirelessly to bring the story to life, and the result was a truly magical experience for all who attended."

The Newark Public Schools is the largest school district in New Jersey and dates back to 1676. The district currently enrolls over 38,000 students in 62 schools. After more than two decades of state operation and upon return to local control in 2018, the district has opened 8 new schools under Superintendent Leon's leadership with an additional portfolio of new options to be announced in the coming years.

Media Contact: Nancy Deering, [email protected]

SOURCE Newark Board of Education
Leadership appointments come as Ascidian's lead program targeting ABCA4 retinopathies, including Stargardt disease, moves through IND-enabling studies

BOSTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascidian Therapeutics , a biotechnology company focused on treating human diseases by rewriting RNA, announced today three new appointments to its growing development team as the company advances its lead program into the clinic.

Alia Rashid, MBChB, Vice President, Clinical Development, Ascidian Therapeutics Carmen Jacome, MBA, Vice President, Program Management, Ascidian Therapeutics Sarah DiSalvatore, MPH, Vice President, Clinical Operations, Ascidian Therapeutics

Alia Rashid, MBChB, joins as Vice President, Clinical Development; Sarah DiSalvatore, MPH, has been appointed Vice President, Clinical Operations; and Carmen Jacome, MBA, will serve as Vice President, Program Management. They join as Ascidian prepares for its first-in-human study in its lead program targeting ABCA4 retinopathies and progresses its diversified pipeline of programs in retinal, neurological, neuromuscular, and genetically defined diseases.

"This is an exciting and very important time for Ascidian as we advance our lead program using our proprietary platform for rewriting RNA into the clinic," said Jay A. Barth, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ascidian Therapeutics. "We're thrilled to welcome Alia, Sarah, and Carmen  who bring deep expertise in their respective areas of focus, with experience-based knowledge from preclinical studies and all phases of clinical development through marketing authorization. I look forward to the many contributions they'll bring to Ascidian for the benefit of patients as we advance this program and move our full pipeline forward to provide breakthrough therapies that address underlying causes of disease."

Ascidian's lead program targets ABCA4 retinopathies, including Stargardt disease. Diseases caused by ABCA4 loss of function represent an area of significant unmet need. More patients lose their vision from ABCA4 retinopathy than any other genetic cause, and these diseases are examples of genetic disorders that cannot be addressed by standard gene replacement given the large size of the gene, or by base editing, due to the high mutational variance of the affected gene. Stargardt disease is the most common form of inherited macular degeneration, affecting more than 30,000 individuals in the United States alone, and there are currently no approved treatments. By rewriting RNA, Ascidian's approach has the potential to treat patients with a single dose of a single exon-editing RNA therapeutic.

Alia Rashid, MBChB, Vice President, Clinical Development

Dr. Rashid joins Ascidian to help lead the clinical elements of the IND submission and oversee clinical studies in ABCA4 retinopathy. She will also help set strategic direction and manage clinical development activities for the company's overall retinal pipeline.

As an ophthalmologist with extensive experience in inherited retinal diseases, Dr. Rashid brings expertise in ophthalmic pathology, ophthalmic imaging, and drug development spanning multiple modalities and indications, including AAV-mediated approaches for various retinal conditions. She was the clinical lead for the IND application and designed and oversaw clinical trials for the first functional, recombinant Complement Factor H (CFH) in dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) while at Gemini Therapeutics. As Senior Director and Clinical Development Lead for Ophthalmology at Editas Medicine, Dr. Rashid helped lead clinical development for its CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology for patients with Leber congenital amaurosis type 10 (LCA10)  a rare genetic disease that causes blindness. She also focused on phase II and phase IV clinical studies for patients with wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy at Genentech and led pilot studies in ophthalmology innovation and mHealth to improve clinical trials.

Dr. Rashid has been named to the "Top 10 Healthcare Trendsetters" and "Boston 40 Under 40 Healthcare Innovators" lists by Medtech. She completed fellowships in ophthalmic pathology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School and ophthalmic oncology and pathology at Emory University, and earned her medical degree from the University of Birmingham in the UK.

Sarah DiSalvatore, MPH, Vice President, Clinical Operations

As Vice President of Clinical Operations, Sarah DiSalvatore will be responsible for execution of Ascidian's first ever clinical trials. She brings more than 25 years of experience in end-to-end research and development and wide-ranging expertise across many challenging therapeutic categories and modalities, including both AAV and lentiviral vector (LVV) gene therapies. DiSalvatore's work has directly contributed to FDA marketing authorization of novel treatments and vaccines, including ELZONRIS, Portrazza, Cyramza, Lartruvo, Prevnar 13, and Prevnar 7.

Most recently, DiSalvatore served as Vice President of Clinical Operations at AGTC (Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation), managing overall clinical operations for the company's gene therapy trials in rare diseases and ophthalmology. Prior to that, she was Assistant Vice President of Clinical Operations at Rocket Pharma, where she led global gene therapy clinical trials in rare diseases. DiSalvatore also has experience leading teams at both large pharmaceutical companies, such as Roche, as well as biotech startups, including Stemline Therapeutics, where she initiated six clinical trials and contributed to filing three Investigational New Drugs (IND) within three years.

DiSalvatore currently serves on the Leadership Advisory Board for the DDX3X Foundation and on the Community Advocacy Committee for Simons Searchlight, an international research program whose mission is to improve the lives of people with rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. She earned her B.S. in biology from Salisbury University and her master's degree in public health in epidemiology from New York Medical College.

Carmen Jacome, MBA, Vice President, Program Management

Carmen Jacome joins Ascidian to lead the company's Program Management function, which will work cross-functionally to meet key deliverables, milestones, and timelines  from drug candidate selection, through clinical proof of concept and full development across Ascidian's diversified pipeline. She brings over 20 years of experience in project leadership including ten product launches across diverse platforms including: ophthalmology, bacterial infections, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, and consumer products. Most recently, while at Flexion Therapeutics, Jacome managed launch readiness and commercialization of Zilretta, the company's first approved product.

Jacome's experience encompasses both working with large pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer and Novartis, as well as small biotechnology startups, including Thrombogenics, Cempra, Flexion, and Astria Therapeutics. She earned her graduate certificate in program management from Stanford University and her MBA in international business from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

About Ascidian Therapeutics

Ascidian Therapeutics, an ATP company, is redefining the treatment of disease by rewriting RNA. By editing exons at the RNA level, Ascidian therapies enable precise post-transcriptional editing of genes, resulting in full-length, functional proteins at the right levels, in the right cells, at the right time. With active discovery and preclinical programs in ophthalmology, neurological, neuromuscular, and genetically defined diseases, Ascidian's approach has the potential to treat patients with a single dose of a single exon-editing RNA therapeutic and is opening new therapeutic possibilities for patients in need of breakthroughs. For more information, visit www.ascidian.com .

SOURCE Ascidian Therapeutics
Projects in Montana and Argentina will positively impact the climate, the wildlife and communities

LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspiration, a leading climate finance company, has joined with project developer Native , a Public Benefit Corporation, on two carbon removal projects: the Northern Great Plains Regenerative Grazing Project in Montana and the Patagonia Region Improved Grazing Project in Argentina.

The Northern Great Plains Improved Regenerative Grazing Project aims to remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere by implementing sustainable grazing management to improve soil and grassland health on multiple ranches in Montana and parts of Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The Patagonia Region Improved Grazing Project will focus on multiple farms and ranches in Argentina. Local implementation partners will provide access to training, education, and other support to participant ranchers and farmers to create more sustainable long-term land use across the Northern Great Plains and Argentina.

"Our carbon project partners have a shared commitment to carbon removal that positively impacts the climate, the wildlife and the communities," said Olivia Albrecht, CEO of Aspiration. "We are proud to invest with Native to bring these projects to fruition."

Both Native projects seek to restore the respective ecosystems to improve their ability to sustain abundant and diverse species and livelihoods. To accomplish this, the projects are designed to mimic natural grazing practices of herd animals. Smaller pastures will be grazed with higher livestock densities followed by longer periods of rest which increases both plant productivity and soil carbon inputs relative to baseline conditions.

"Partnerships like the one we've developed with Aspiration are key to expanding our work not only to combat climate change, but also to improve the lives of farmers and the communities we reach," according to Jeff Bernicke, CEO, Native. "We're thrilled to take this step toward net positive climate action with Aspiration."

Introducing practices to improve soil health support the sequestration of greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere into the soil. They can also help relieve pressure on waterways and allow native species to regenerate. The impact of these projects will grow over time as more ranchers and landowners join the program, with the Patagonia project projected to ultimately generate roughly 620,000 metric tonnes of carbon removals annually over 500,000 hectares of land.

About Aspiration

Aspiration is a high-impact climate finance company working at scale to help enterprises, consumers, and investors achieve their climate goals. Founded in 2013, the company sources, monitors and invests in carbon removal projects across the globe to generate high-quality carbon credits. Every project in Aspiration's portfolio is held to the most rigorous standards, ensuring each drives tangible, positive impacts for people and the planet. Aspiration is a Certified B Corp, a member of Project Drawdown, 1t.org, Climate Pledge, and many other critical industry groups dedicated to accelerating climate action. For more information, visit Aspiration.com or Aspiration.com/business .

About Native, a Public Benefit Corporation

Native, a Public Benefit Corporation, works to catalyze meaningful climate action that is community-led and landscape-scale, at a pace and scale necessary to preserve and restore ecosystems and livelihoods around the world. Native focuses on climate actions that face barriers and brings over twenty years of experience implementing clean drinking water, on-farm methane capture, community solar, avoided grassland conversion and regenerative grazing projects in collaboration with local partners and experts.

Media Contacts

Native

[email protected]

Aspiration

[email protected]

Aspiration Investor Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Aspiration
Assembly also announced three new CEO promotions in North America, MENA and APAC

NEW YORK and LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global omnichannel media agency Assembly today announced the appointment of Matt Adams as CEO of Europe, joining the agency on March 27. Adams will oversee all Assembly operations in continental Europe and the UK, with a focus on accelerating the agency's business development and driving sustainable growth and impact across the region.

With over 20 years of senior leadership experience working across both the media owner and agency sides of the business, Adams is a transformative leader with an exceptional reputation for growth, business development, and client relations.

"We are delighted to welcome Matt to Assembly, where he'll lead our European business and bring our proposition, 'find the change that fuels growth,' to new heights. He is someone who knows how to unlock the potential of his teams, provide immense value to clients, and build strategic and innovative business solutions to drive success. I look forward to our European business continuing to change and grow under his leadership," said James Townsend, Global CEO of Assembly and Stagwell Brand x Performance Network.

Adams comes to Assembly from Brainlabs, where he was the Global Chief Operating Officer and is credited with scaling the company from a predominantly PPC agency to a full-service digital first media agency. Adams more than quadrupled its size while delivering strong organic revenue growth. He also helped acquire and integrate eight companies across the marketing funnel to bolster the agency's capabilities. Prior to Brainlabs, Adams was the UK and Ireland Chief Executive of Havas Media Group, working with some of the UK's most prestigious brands including O2, BBC, Hyundai, PayPal, Emirates, and giffgaff. While at Havas Media, Adams successfully executed a three-year turnaround strategy that culminated in the agency leading the UK New Business Leagues for 2019 and being one of the most awarded UK agencies for its work. Before these responsibilities, Adams led Dentsu's iProspect, the largest digital agency in the UK at the time.

Adams' professional accolades include: Chairman of the Content Marketing Association; recognized as one of the top 10 media planners in the UK by Campaign in 2014; named one of Campaign's top 10 agency leaders in the UK in 2019, 2020 and 2021; member of the IPA Media Futures Group; and was co-chair of the UK's Campaign Media Week Awards in 2019.

Over the last two years, Assembly has successfully transformed its business from the inside out  resulting in more media AOR engagements and double-digit growth globally and over 1,600 employees across the world. In late 2021, Assembly merged with ForwardPMX to become the flagship omnichannel media agency within Stagwell's portfolio, and just last year, the agency refreshed its brand identity to signal its next era of growth.

In addition to Adams, Assembly is elevating three agency leaders in its fastest growing regions to CEO:

North America President Valerie Davis has been promoted to North America CEO

has been promoted to North America CEO APAC Managing Director Richard Brosgill has been promoted to APAC CEO

has been promoted to APAC CEO MENA Managing Director Faisal Dean has been promoted to MENA CEO

Adams' appointment and Davis, Brosgill and Dean's elevations are on the heels of a series of global new business wins, product launches, and partner announcements over the last few months. The agency kicked off 2023 with the launch of Clean Media Lab, a new, technology-powered media decarbonization offering first available in Europe, joined Ad Net Zero in the US and UK, and continues on its journey to becoming a B Corp, all tangible evidence of the agency's ambition to continue developing sustainable and innovative media solutions. The agency also welcomed new clients Mandarin Oriental and T. Rowe Price into its roster and significantly increased its engagement with Lenovo globally.

"Assembly has more than its fair share of top talent, is globally scaled and regionally relevant," said Adams. "In today's environment, winning agencies are able to effectively generate value while delivering on smart and innovative marketing and media solutions that fuel growth, and Assembly has that in spades. I couldn't be joining at a better time."

Adams, Davis, Brosgill and Dean will report to James Townsend, Global CEO of Assembly and Stagwell Brand x Performance Network. These appointments are effective immediately.

ABOUT ASSEMBLY

Assembly is the modern global omnichannel media agency, bringing data, talent, and technology together to find the change that fuels growth for the best brands on the planet. Our approach connects big, bold brand stories with integrated, global media capabilities that deliver performance and drive large-scale business growth. Our work is powered by our proprietary, in-house technology solution, STAGE, and led by our global talent base of over 1,600 people around the world. We're purpose-driven at our core and pioneers in social and environmental impact in the agency world. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. For more information, visit assemblyglobal.com.

Press Contact:

Jess Santini, VP Global Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE Stagwell Inc.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationwide senior placement and referral service, Assisted Living Locators, is raising concerns over the growing issue of evictions in assisted-living facilities for Medicaid-dependent seniors. The company is committed to supporting seniors and their families, navigating the complex U.S. long-term care system, and advocating for state legislation to improve the situation.

Angela Olea, RN, Founder and Brand President of Assisted Living Locators, said, "The rising number of evictions among Medicaid-dependent seniors in assisted-living facilities is deeply troubling. As an industry leader, we have a responsibility to offer support and guidance to those affected while advocating for better regulation, oversight, and state legislation to protect our seniors and their families."

Olea highlighted New Jersey's law requiring a 10% Medicaid occupancy in assisted living facilities as a positive example and emphasized the need to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to make them more competitive. She suggested that allowing communities to have two people in a room could increase revenue, easing the financial burden on facilities and reducing the risk of evictions.

With about 70% of people over age 65 needing some form of long-term care, Assisted Living Locators offers a nationwide, no-cost service to help find quality in-home care, independent retirement options, assisted living communities, and memory care. "We recognize the challenges families face when dealing with long term care," Olea explained. "Our experienced team of senior care advisors is available to provide guidance, support, and resources to families to understand costs, community performance, services offered and care levels that their loved one might require now, and, in the future."

"Our mission at Assisted Living Locators is to support seniors in finding the best care options that meet their needs and offer peace of mind for their families," said Olea. "We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every senior can enjoy a safe and comfortable living environment."

To speak to an Assisted Living Locators senior care advisor, call 800-267-7816 or visit www.assistedlivinglocators.com.

SOURCE Assisted Living Locators
STOCKHOLM, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beactica Therapeutics AB, the Swedish precision oncology company, today announced that its LSD1 programme has been selected for a poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research's Annual Meeting 2023. The conference will take place on April 14-19, 2023 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Dr Konrad Koehler, Head of Discovery, will present a poster entitled Potentiation of Immunotherapy by LSD1 Modulation on Sunday April 16, 2023, at 1:30 PM  5:00 PM. The location is at the Orange County Convention Center, Section 24, Abstract Presentation Number: 705. The session category is Immunology.

Beactica Therapeutics' poster presentation will include new positive results with BEA-17 from in vitro and in vivo studies, including potentiation of anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitors in a syngeneic animal model of colon cancer (CT26) and potentiation of standard of care (radiation + temozolomide) in a syngeneic animal model of glioblastoma (GL261).

BEA-17 was recently granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM).

Organised by the American Association for Cancer Research, the AACR Annual Meeting is the largest and most important cancer drug discovery event in the world. It has an anticipated attendance of more than 20 000 scientists, clinicians, advocates, and other attendees. The event spans integrative cancer science, global impact, individualised patient care and showcases the best and most up-to-date cancer science available.

About BEA-17

BEA-17 is a first-in-class small molecule targeted degrader (non-PROTAC) of the epigenetic enzyme LSD1 and its co-factor CoREST. The compound has shown promising preclinical in vivo potentiation of immune-modulating treatments in several cancer forms, including anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitors in syngeneic models of colon cancer (CT26) and standard of care (temozolomide and radiation) in syngeneic models of glioblastoma (GL261). Pharmacokinetic studies of BEA-17 show good blood-brain-barrier penetration and oral availability. BEA-17 is investigational and not approved anywhere globally. Its efficacy and safety in humans have not been established. BEA-17 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM).

About Beactica Therapeutics

Beactica Therapeutics AB is a privately held precision oncology company committed to the fight against cancer. The company is advancing a pipeline of novel small molecule therapeutics with a focus to treat genetically defined cancers with significant unmet medical need. Beactica's approach is centered around targeting synthetically lethal disease proteins with allosteric modulators and targeted protein degraders (PROTACs). Beactica deliver value to patients and shareholders by advancing its programmes to clinical proof of concept. For more information, please visit www.beactica.com.

Beactica Therapeutics Contact

Per Kallblad M.Sc. Ph.D.

CEO

[email protected]

Tel: +46 18 56 08 80

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Public/17268/3748921/908554eded7f1991.pdf 230411 BeacticaTx AACR 2023 Eng

SOURCE Beactica Therapeutics AB
Black Dragon Capital and Dominus Jesus Association launch a pioneering multi-year sacred business partnership aiming to foster social advancement in multiple global communities.

ROME, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- High-performing investment firm Black Dragon Capital ("Black Dragon," "BDC") and with the blessing of the Vatican's Eminence, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller, who was elevated by Pope Francis, and his Dominus Jesus Association announced today the formation of a sacred technology multi-phased pioneering initiative established to further "God's Work" and provide a platform to continue to serve communities and families around the world.

Black Dragon Capital and Dominus Jesus Association launch a pioneering multi-year sacred business partnership aiming to foster social advancement in multiple global communities.

The announcement comes after Black Dragon Capital and Dominus Jesus Foundation entered a historic multi-year sacred business partnership to support economic growth and social advancement across global regions this past January. The firm was also recently awarded by the Dominus Jesus Association for their support of projects in partnership with the Vatican's Eminence, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller.

Our sacred relationship's pioneering initiative is focused on the social good through advanced support by bringing a technology ecosystem to underserved areas, creating social and economic stability in key regions around the world. It will be creating jobs in low-income areas all around the world, with focus on high-density Catholic populations, by providing support in early stage to mid-market technology companies in areas where Black Dragon has direct operating and investment expertise, and where the lead Partner of this initiative believes that it can have a positive impact on the operations of the company in addition to the societal benefit.

Black Dragon Capital is founded and led by a diverse leadership team with a unique combination of intense operating expertise, socially responsible investing, and an impressive track record of investment success. The firm's investments in growth sectors that are disrupted by digitization has created a proven approach to launching and developing high potential early-stage companies. It also places a special focus on investing in technology areas that address social issues and strengthening economic diversity within communities.

The Black Dragon Capital team has made a special emphasis on diversity and investing in socially responsible areas highlighted by its founder's community centric 501 (C) 3 organization, Louis Hernandez, Jr.'s For A Bright Future Foundation. Through its programs, For A Bright Future Foundation focuses on the needs of underprivileged and underserved communities in healthcare, economic development, education, leadership development and the arts. Both Black Dragon Capital and For A Bright Future Foundation have a shared vision of a better world anchored in these areas with the partnership with the Vatican's Eminence, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller and his Dominus Jesus Association where the goal is to achieve economic and social advancement for those who need it most.

Black Dragon's pioneering initiative ultimately aims to empower the less fortunate by improving their economic, social, and spiritual wellbeing through impact support.

"I'm really honored to partner with the Vatican's Eminence, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller and his Dominus Jesus Association, to do God's work around the world. I'm excited to take my knowledge as an entrepreneur, a technologist, and an educator to help underprivileged communities around the world gain economic stability. As a man of faith, it means a lot to me that God has asked me to serve in this way," said Louis Hernandez, Jr. Founder and CEO of Black Dragon Capital.

"I hope that this sacred partnership can take us very, very far, reaching all parts of the world, bringing a little hope and well-being to all people in need and with problems of various kinds," said Giovanni Petrocci, President, Dominus Jesus Association.

About Black Dragon Capital

Black Dragon Capital has created a unique approach to launching and developing early-stage companies. Black Dragon was formed by a team of experienced entrepreneurs and operators, with a track record of successful investing. With an emphasis on diversity, they focus on high potential early-stage companies, and have an entire team dedicated to helping every aspect of the company's growth and development.

Aren Wong

Marketing Manager, Black Dragon Capital

[email protected]

SOURCE Black Dragon Capital
Hosted by Nationwide, the new business conference will celebrate Black innovators and creators June 24

NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, BLACK ENTERPRISE , the top Black digital media brand with 12 million unique visitors per month, has announced the inaugural Disruptor Summit. The conference is set to take place in Atlanta from Friday, June 2nd to Sunday, June 4th, and is tailored to Black entrepreneurs, investors, creatives, and innovators. The summit aims to equip business-minded leaders with the necessary tools, access, and expertise to drive economic change within their communities and bridge the racial wealth gap. Over the course of three days, the event will help leading innovators and creatives think outside the box, establish million-dollar brands, and disrupt their respective industries.

The BLACK ENTERPRISE Disruptor Summit is a gathering of forward-thinking individuals who are challenging the status quo and driving change across industries. The conference will offer a unique opportunity for Black entrepreneurs to connect with peers, learn from thought leaders, and gain insight into the latest trends and strategies for business success.

"We are extremely excited about the BLACK ENTERPRISE Disruptor Summit  our all-new, unique experience for today's generation of entrepreneurs, founders, and innovators," says BLACK ENTERPRISE Chief Executive Officer Earl "Butch" Graves Jr. "As the leading champion of Black entrepreneurship, we look forward to unveiling our extraordinary three-day event, highlighting a series of disruptors altering the business landscape, offering game-changing success strategies, deploying capital to fund transformative ventures, and designing new pathways to build wealth. Our summit serves as the ultimate venue for business owners to learn, grow, and connect."

Hosted by Nationwide, the Disruptor Summit will feature speakers, panels, and workshops on a range of topics, including building wealth through real estate, using AI to grow your business, raising capital, marketing, and more. Highlighted speakers include the Founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan, Pinky Cole; Founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products, Jesseca "Judy" Harris-Dupart; Earn Your Leisure Co-Founders, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings; and Founder and CEO of Skittlez Music, Mz Skittlez marketing specialist and serial entrepreneur, Mary "Mz Skittlez" Seats.

"Now in our 13th year as host sponsor of this always-evolving conference, Nationwide remains committed to BLACK ENTERPRISE's ongoing mission to equip, elevate, and empower Black professionals and business owners," said Lu Yarbrough III, Associate Vice President of Enterprise Diverse and Cause Marketing at Nationwide. "Supporting emerging and established Black entrepreneurs is not only a way to help them achieve their own dreams, but it also helps to create legacies and contribute to overall economic inclusion."

The BLACK ENTERPRISE Disruptor Summit will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, Georgia, June 24. In addition to Nationwide, additional partners include FedEx, Walmart, Instacart and Hyatt. Attendees are also invited to attend The Black Business Awards Brunch Hosted by Walmart. To learn more about the summit, register for all access tickets, and receive programming updates, attendees can visit https://www.blackenterprise.com/disruptorsummit/.

About BLACK ENTERPRISE

Founded in 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE is a mission-centric publication focused on providing relevant information for success-minded people at every stage of their financial journey. Designed to highlight Black leadership and entrepreneurial journeys, BLACK ENTERPRISE reaches its audience through its events and linear and digital channels. BLACK ENTERPRISE aims to be a fountain of knowledge on the how to in achieving financial success. To learn more about the company, please visit blackenterprise.com and follow us on social media across Instagram , Twitter, and Facebook .

SOURCE BLACK ENTERPRISE
This partnership will help support dynamic programming that shines a spotlight on chefs and operators making meaningful changes within their communities

SARATOGA, N.Y., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueTriton Brands, producer of Saratoga Spring Water, announced it is deepening its partnership with the James Beard Foundation by sponsoring JBF Greens, Presented by Capital One. JBF Greens is an event series created by the James Beard Foundation for food lovers under 40 to discover new restaurants, chefs, and culinary trends in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.

JBF Greens was first established by the James Beard Foundation over 21 years ago. Saratoga Spring Water joins Capital One and J Vineyards & Winery as a national sponsor for these events.

BlueTriton Brands Announces Official Partnership with the James Beard Foundation for JBF Greens Event Series Tweet this

"Our partnership with the James Beard Foundation is so meaningful to the BlueTriton Brands family," said Brittany Lewis, Senior Brand Manager, Premium Brands at BlueTriton Brands. "We are honored to be the new official water partner of JBF Greens. Being able to discover new food, chefs, and restaurants is an essential part of understanding a city's culture and we are thrilled to be part of that experience."

This partnership comes after the Saratoga Brand celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022, which was capped off with a $40,000 donation to the James Beard Foundation to help support the culinary arts.

"We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Saratoga Spring Water as we welcome them as a partner of JBF Greens," said Kris Moon, President and COO of the James Beard Foundation. "With their support of our Good Food for Good mission, we look forward to highlighting the chefs and operators making meaningful change within their communities, while educating a new generation of diners on the importance of supporting independent restaurants."

The Saratoga Spring Water and JBF Greens partnership will officially launch at the JBF Greens Chicago Gaijin celebration of cherry blossom season, taking place on Wednesday evening, April 12.

About Saratoga Spring Water

Born in the foothills of the Adirondacks over 150 years ago, the name Saratoga has become synonymous with quality, carefully curated still and sparkling spring water. Served in fine dining establishments and luxury resorts, Saratoga is now available to enjoy at home! Visit saratogawater.com .

About BlueTriton Brands:

BlueTriton Brands offers an extensive portfolio of highly recognizable, responsibly sourced, and sustainably packaged spring water and other water brands including Poland Spring Brand, Deer Park Brand, Ozarka Brand, Ice Mountain Brand, Zephyrhills Brand, Arrowhead Brand, Origin Natural Spring Water, Saratoga Spring Water, AC+ION Alkaline Water, Pure Life, Splash Blast Flavored Water Beverage and Splash Fizz Fruit Flavored Sparkling Water Beverage. BlueTriton Brands also owns and operates ReadyRefresh, a customizable water and beverage delivery service that has been certified as a CarbonNeutral business.

Based in Stamford, Connecticut, BlueTriton Brands and its affiliates in the United States and Canada employ approximately 6,600 associates. BlueTriton Brands manages resources for long-term sustainability, and conserves more than 20,000 acres of watershed area. The Company has 28 production facilities across the United States, 13 of which are Alliance for Water Stewardship ("AWS") certified across 12 sites, with eight of the certified facilities being AWS Platinum, the highest-level certification.

About the James Beard Foundation

The James Beard Foundation (JBF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that celebrates and supports the people behind America's food culture, while pushing for new standards in the restaurant industry to create a future where all have the opportunity to thrive. Established over 30 years ago, the Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives and is committed to supporting a resilient and flourishing industry that honors its diverse communities. By amplifying new voices, celebrating those leading the way, and supporting those on the path to do so, the Foundation is working to create a more equitable and sustainable futurewhat we call Good Food for Good. JBF brings its mission to life through the annual Awards, industry and community-focused programs, advocacy, partnerships, and events across the country. For the first time in the Foundation's history, exceptional culinary talent, industry leaders, and visitors from NYC and beyond can experience unforgettable dining and educational programming at Platform by the James Beard Foundationand be the first to try new food concepts at the Good To Go by JBF kioskinspiring food and beverage devotees for decades to come. Learn more at jamesbeard.org, sign up for our newsletter, and follow @beardfoundation on social media.

SOURCE BlueTriton Brands
At the handover ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Colonel Luc Van Cuong, the companys deputy director, said the donation helps strengthen the special traditional friendship and solidary between the two Parties, the armed forces and the peoples of the two countries, noting that these are all rice varieties that have been successfully grown in Vietnam, with an average yield of 7 tonnes per ha.



Onkeo Ounalom, Deputy Governor of Oudomxay province, expressed his appreciation and thanked the leaders of the Party and the government of Vietnam, especially the Party committee, the leadership of Military Zone 2 and the International Cooperation Company for helping the province over the years.



According to Ounalom, the province will allocate the rice seeds to farmers in the locality to use in 2023s crops to improve rice productivity, contributing to enhancing the lives of local residents.



Once the above-mentioned rice varieties grow well and prove to be suitable to the locality's soil, the province will replicate them so that farmers can have new varieties for the upcoming crops, he said./.
CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A once-in-a-generation investment market for government worker pension funds likely will be fleeting, according to a Cook County Treasurer's Office report of local government debt.

The office's latest analysis shows overall local government debt in Cook County rose 1.6% to $160.5 million from fiscal 2020 to 2021  a modest increase held in check by the exceptional investment performance of the pension funds. But those gains are expected to be diminished by investment losses in fiscal 2022 that have yet to be fully recorded.

The report, based on data submitted to Treasurer Maria Pappas under the Debt Disclosure Ordinance enacted at Pappas' urging in 2009, also explains how the region's primary economic engines  its two airports  rack up significant debt that is no burden on Chicago property taxpayers. Although billions of dollars of debt stem from work at O'Hare and Midway airports, all of it is paid off with federal revenue and from fees and taxes paid by airline travelers.

That's just one way some types of local debt don't push up property taxes. That's also the case for water and sewer line upgrade debt, which is paid off with water and sewer fees, and bonds backed by sales taxes instead of property taxes.

Those alternate debt-funding sources help explain why Chicago has one of the lowest tax rates in Cook County despite having one of the highest debt levels.

The report also explains why some predominantly minority south suburbs have high property tax rates despite relatively low amounts of overall debt. That occurs when troubled finances constrain the ability to borrow, forcing local leaders to instead raise property taxes to fund government.

In addition, this report includes dozens of governments previously excluded for lack of adequate assessment data, including 13 additional municipalities, 17 more school districts and 50 other local governments.

"This is the ultimate in government accountability," Pappas said. "It opens government books that were previously closed. People can now see where their tax money goes and how much debt their governments have incurred."

The latest debt report can be found at cookcountytreasurer.com.

SOURCE Cook County Treasurer's Office
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The bovine gelatin market size is expected to grow by USD 876.49 million from 2021 to 2026. The market growth is expected to progress at a CAGR of 8.67% according to the latest research report from Technavio. The strategic initiatives of market vendors are expected to notably drive market growth for bovine gelatin during the forecast period. Vendors in the market adopt strategies such as M&A, expansion projects, and increasing production capacity to tackle the market competition. They focus on investing in developing innovative products to increase their foothold in the market. Hence, such initiatives will drive the bovine gelatin market growth during the forecast period. Make informed business decisions based on qualitative and quantitative evidence highlighted in Technavio reports. View a Sample Report!

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Bovine Gelatin Market 2022-2026

The bovine gelatin market covers the following areas:

Bovine Gelatin Market Sizing

Bovine Gelatin Market Forecast

Bovine Gelatin Market Analysis

Bovine Gelatin Market - Vendor Landscape

The bovine gelatin market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Established players have competitive advantages owing to their large scale of operations and popular brand names. Market vendors focus on strategies such as developing innovative solutions that address the taste, texture, and nutritional profiles of food and beverages.

Companies Mentioned

Darling Ingredients Inc.

Dr. August Oetker Nahrungsmittel KG

El Nasr Gelatin Co.

Gelita AG

Gelnex

Goya Foods Inc.

Great Lakes Wellness Co. LLC

iHerb LLC

India Gelatine and Chemicals Ltd.

Italgel Srl

Lapi Gelatine Spa

Nitta Gelatin Inc.

NOW Health Group Inc.

Nutra Food Ingredients

Organika Health Products Inc.

SAS Gelatines Weishardt

Sandesara Group of Companies

Tessenderlo Group NV

Trobas Gelatine BV

Zint LLC

Why Buy?

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Analyzes competitor's offerings

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Vendor Offerings

Darling Ingredients Inc. - The company offers bovine gelatin products such as GelMA biomaterials.

The company offers bovine gelatin products such as GelMA biomaterials. Gelita AG - The company offers bovine gelatin products such as Leaf Gelatin, which is fat- and carbohydrate-free.

The company offers bovine gelatin products such as Leaf Gelatin, which is fat- and carbohydrate-free. India Gelatine and Chemicals Ltd. - The company offers bovine gelatin products for different industries.

For market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings - View a Sample

Bovine Gelatin Market - Key Market Segmentation

The report extensively covers bovine gelatin market segmentation by form factor (capsules and tablets, powder, and liquid) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America).

The market share growth by the capsules and tablets segment will be significant for the market growth during the forecast period. Bovine gelatin-based capsules are available in the market in two types, including hard capsules and soft gels. Gelatin dissolves in the human body at a normal body temperature, which makes it an ideal gelling agent for soft gels. These capsules are different from bovine gelatin-based tablets, which are compressed powders. The capsules and tablets have low friction properties, are easy to swallow, and therefore have higher patient compliance. These factors will drive the bovine gelatin market growth during the forecast period.

View a sample of this report for more highlights into the market segments.

Regional Market Outlook

APAC is estimated to account for 44% of the global bovine gelatin market growth during the forecast period. China and India are the key markets for the bovine gelatin market in the region. Moreover, market growth in this region is expected to be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. The rising number of health-conscious consumers will facilitate the bovine gelatin market growth in the region during the forecast period. The middle-class population in APAC is expected to increase at a fast pace by 2030. More than three-quarters of the global middle-class growth is expected to be from India and China . Most of this population has grown to become health-conscious and is influenced by healthy food culture. Such factors have increased the demand for nutrition products where bovine gelatin is used as an active ingredient.

For more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.- View a Sample Report

Bovine Gelatin Market - Key Challenges

Stringent government regulations toward animal-origin food additives are hampering the bovine gelatin market growth.

Thickening and gelling agents, such as bovine gelatin, are food additives that can be added to food and products as per the several laws and regulations imposed by regulatory authorities across countries.

For instance, in Europe , the safety of all food additives, such as bovine gelatin that are currently authorized, is assessed by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) and or the EFSA. All food additives in the region, including bovine gelatin, are regulated under Regulation No 1333/2008.

, the safety of all food additives, such as bovine gelatin that are currently authorized, is assessed by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) and or the EFSA. All food additives in the region, including bovine gelatin, are regulated under Regulation No 1333/2008. Hence, such regulations may impede the bovine gelatin market growth during the forecast period.

What are the key data covered in this Bovine Gelatin Market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the bovine gelatin market between 2022 and 2026

Precise estimation of the size of the bovine gelatin market and its contribution to the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the bovine gelatin market across North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)

, , , and Rest of World (ROW) A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of the bovine gelatin market vendors

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The gelatin market size is expected to increase by 292.53 thousand MT from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9.12%. The report extensively covers gelatin market segmentations by material (pig skin, bovine hides, bones, and others), application (food and beverages, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, photography, and others), and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, MEA, and South America). The growing preference for convenience foods and beverages is notably driving the gelatin market growth.

The size of the food hydrocolloids market in China is expected to increase by USD 550.18 million from 2021 to 2026. The report extensively covers segmentation by type (gelatin gum, pectin, xanthan gum, guar gum, and others) and application (dairy and frozen products, bakery and confectionery, beverages, meat and seafood products, and others). The rising consumption of convenience foods is notably driving the food hydrocolloids market growth in China.

Bovine Gelatin Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.67% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 876.49 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022(%) 8.32 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 44% Key countries US, Canada, China, India, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Darling Ingredients Inc., Dr. August Oetker Nahrungsmittel KG, El Nasr Gelatin Co., Gelita AG, Gelnex, Goya Foods Inc., Great Lakes Wellness Co. LLC, iHerb LLC, India Gelatine and Chemicals Ltd., Italgel Srl, Lapi Gelatine Spa, Nitta Gelatin Inc., NOW Health Group Inc., Nutra Food Ingredients, Organika Health Products Inc., SAS Gelatines Weishardt, Sandesara Group of Companies, Tessenderlo Group NV, Trobas Gelatine BV, and Zint LLC Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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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 Form Factor



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Form Factor

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Form Factor - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Form Factor - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Form Factor

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Form Factor



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Form Factor

5.3 Capsules and tablets - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Capsules and tablets - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Capsules and tablets - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Capsules and tablets - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Capsules and tablets - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Powder - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Powder - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Powder - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Powder - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Powder - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Liquid - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Liquid - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Liquid - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Liquid - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Liquid - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Market opportunity by Form Factor

Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by Form Factor ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 41: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 42: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 44: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 46: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 48: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 64: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 66: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 67: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 68: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 69: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 84: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 87: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 88: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 89: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.14 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 90: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 91: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 92: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 93: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 94: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 95: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 96: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Darling Ingredients Inc.

Exhibit 97: Darling Ingredients Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 98: Darling Ingredients Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 99: Darling Ingredients Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 100: Darling Ingredients Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 101: Darling Ingredients Inc. - Segment focus

10.4 Gelita AG

Exhibit 102: Gelita AG - Overview



Exhibit 103: Gelita AG - Product / Service



Exhibit 104: Gelita AG - Key offerings

10.5 India Gelatine and Chemicals Ltd.

Exhibit 105: India Gelatine and Chemicals Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 106: India Gelatine and Chemicals Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 107: India Gelatine and Chemicals Ltd. - Key offerings

10.6 Italgel Srl

Exhibit 108: Italgel Srl - Overview



Exhibit 109: Italgel Srl - Product / Service



Exhibit 110: Italgel Srl - Key offerings

10.7 Lapi Gelatine Spa

Exhibit 111: Lapi Gelatine Spa - Overview



Exhibit 112: Lapi Gelatine Spa - Product / Service



Exhibit 113: Lapi Gelatine Spa - Key offerings

10.8 Nitta Gelatin Inc.

Exhibit 114: Nitta Gelatin Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 115: Nitta Gelatin Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 116: Nitta Gelatin Inc. - Key offerings

10.9 SAS Gelatines Weishardt

Exhibit 117: SAS Gelatines Weishardt - Overview



Exhibit 118: SAS Gelatines Weishardt - Product / Service



Exhibit 119: SAS Gelatines Weishardt - Key offerings

10.10 Sandesara Group of Companies

Exhibit 120: Sandesara Group of Companies - Overview



Exhibit 121: Sandesara Group of Companies - Product / Service



Exhibit 122: Sandesara Group of Companies - Key offerings

10.11 Tessenderlo Group NV

Exhibit 123: Tessenderlo Group NV - Overview



Exhibit 124: Tessenderlo Group NV - Business segments



Exhibit 125: Tessenderlo Group NV - Key offerings



Exhibit 126: Tessenderlo Group NV - Segment focus

10.12 Trobas Gelatine BV

Exhibit 127: Trobas Gelatine BV - Overview



Exhibit 128: Trobas Gelatine BV - Product / Service



Exhibit 129: Trobas Gelatine BV - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 130: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 131: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 132: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 133: Research methodology



Exhibit 134: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 135: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 136: 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
Caskey to lead growth and innovation initiatives at U.S. LawShield

HOUSTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. LawShield, America's premier Legal Defense for Self-Defense organization, recently appointed Brian Caskey as the company's chief marketing officer.

In this role, Caskey will be responsible for all company-wide marketing efforts inclusive of strategy, awareness, communications and advertising. Caskey will report to U.S. LawShield CEO Brooksy Smith.

Brian Caskey

"Brian is a great addition to the U.S. LawShield family," said Smith. "His creative influence coupled with his intuitive business strategy is what this company needs to continue building momentum. We want to continue educating, preparing and protecting our current community of members in Legal Defense for Self-Defense, but we know there are many more people to advocate for, and Brian has the insight and vision to get us there. I'm excited about the positive impact he's going to make on U.S. LawShield."

Prior to joining U.S. LawShield, Caskey spent two years as chief marketing officer at ActiveProspect, a SaaS company based in Austin, Texas. Before ActiveProspect, Caskey was the chief marketing officer at several industry-leading companies ranging from early-stage startups to multi-billion dollar, publicly traded companies like UTStarcom, DZS, and Vanguard Cybersecurity.

Caskey resides in Cary, North Carolina with his wife and children.

About U.S. LawShield

Founded in 2009, U.S. LawShield, America's premier Legal Defense for Self-Defense organization, offers coverage in 46 states and has served more than 2 million members. A network of 200+ Independent Program Attorneys is readily available, plus access to a 24/7/365 hotline and protection for members throughout the legal process after acts of self-defense.

Educate. Prepare. Protect. U.S. LawShield is committed to informing and updating you on self-defense laws, providing comprehensive instruction and training, and defending you in your greatest time of need. For more information on U.S. LawShield and its Legal Defense for Self-Defense program, visit uslawshield.com.

SOURCE U.S. LawShield, LLC
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE: BROS) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: March 1, 2022 to May 11, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 1, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in BROS:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/dutch-bros-class-action-submission-form?id=38177&from=4

Dutch Bros Inc. NEWS - BROS NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Dutch Bros Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company was experiencing increased costs and expenses, including on dairy; (2) as a result, the Company was experiencing increased margin pressure and decreased profitability in the first quarter of 2022; and (3) as a result of the foregoing, defendant's positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Dutch Bros you have until May 1, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Dutch Bros securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the BROS lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/dutch-bros-class-action-submission-form?id=38177&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Carmel Partners ("Carmel"), announced today the final close of Carmel Partners Investment Fund 8, its U.S. multifamily real estate value creation fund. Fund 8 exceeded its target size of $1.5 billion.

At $1.58 billion, Fund 8 is Carmel's largest fund to date. Investors include U.S. and international pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies and select high net worth individuals and family offices. Carmel has successfully raised over $7 billion since the inception of its Fund series in 2003.

Carmel has a vertically integrated platform that focuses on multifamily investments in supply-constrained, high barrier-to-entry U.S. markets including Northern and Southern California, Boston, Denver, Hawaii, New York, Seattle and Washington, D.C. These investments include ground-up development, renovation and debt instruments.

Ron Zeff, Founder and CEO of Carmel Partners, said, "We are grateful for the continued support of existing investors and welcome our new investors, and we value the trust they place in us to invest on their behalf. We believe that the wide-ranging expertise Carmel has developed through decades of investing in acquisitions, renovations, ground-up projects as an owner/builder and real estate debt instruments, will enable us to find compelling investments in any market cycle."

About Carmel Partners

Founded in 1996, Carmel is one of the nation's leading specialists in real estate investment management, focusing on U.S. multifamily development, renovation and debt investments. Through its vertically integrated platform, Carmel seeks to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns across varying market cycles by investing in relatively supply-constrained, high barrier-to-entry markets in the United States. Since its founding, Carmel has bought and renovated or developed, or is in the process of renovating or developing, more than 50,000 apartment units and has made 22 debt investments with a combined estimated Gross Value of more than $19.5 billion.

Carmel has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Seattle and Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.carmelpartners.com.

Media Contacts:

Lambert

Lisa Baker, 603-868-1967, [email protected]

Megan Bowman, 616-258-5763, [email protected]

SOURCE Carmel Partners
BEIJING, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheetah Mobile Inc. (NYSE: CMCM) ("Cheetah Mobile" or the "Company"), a China-based IT company, today announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the second half and full year 2022 ended December 31, 2022.

Management Commentary

Mr. Sheng Fu, Cheetah Mobile's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, " While there are some challenges such as Covid-19 in 2022, we managed to increase our total revenue year over year by around 13% to RMB884.1 million (USD128.2 million) in 2022. Driven by elevated products, services and user experience, both the revenues from our membership business and number of subscribers have increased for more than ten quarters consecutively. Our global cloud service business and overseas advertising agency business also maintained good momentum and contributed to our revenue growth in 2022. Looking ahead, we remain confident in our long-term opportunities and growth. We will continue to pursue healthy and high-quality development in 2023. "

Mr. Thomas Ren, Cheetah Mobile's Chief Financial Officer, commented, "In 2022, we continued to take measures to control our expenses and improve our organizational efficiency. Our gross margin increased year over year from 67.2% to 71.4% in this year. We maintained a strong cash position of RMB1,672.7 million as of December 31, 2022. This gives us financial flexibility to execute the key strategic objectives we have set out for long-term growth. "

Second Half 2022 Consolidated Financial Results

REVENUES

Total revenues were RMB527.0 million (US$76.4 million) in the second half of 2022, representing an increase of 40.7% year over year.

Revenues from the Company's internet business increased by 41.6% year over year to RMB421.9 million (US$61.2 million) in the second half of 2022. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to our endeavors to increase user acquisition through multiple channels.

Revenues from the AI and others were RMB105.1 million (US$15.2 million) in the second half of 2022, representing a 37.5% year-over-year increase. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to the growth of our global cloud service business, overseas advertising agency business as well as the development of our E-coupon vending robot business.

COST OF REVENUES AND GROSS PROFIT

Cost of revenues decreased by 12.5% year over year to RMB129.3 million (US$18.8 million) in the second half of 2022. The year-over-year decrease was primarily attributable to decrease of advertising business related traffic acquisition costs and channel costs. Non-GAAP cost of revenues decreased by 12.4% year over year to RMB129.1 million (US$18.7 million) in the second half of 2022.

Gross profit increased by 75.4% year over year to RMB397.7 million (US$57.7 million) in the second half of 2022. Non-GAAP gross profit increased by 75.2% year over year to RMB398.0 million (US$57.7 million) in the second half of 2022.

Gross margin was 75.5% in the second half of 2022, compared to 60.5% in the second half of 2021. Non-GAAP gross margin was 75.5% in the second half of 2022, compared to 60.7% in the second half of 2021.

OPERATING INCOME/LOSS AND EXPENSES

Total operating expenses increased by 45.8% year over year to RMB497.2 million (US$72.1 million) in the second half of 2022. Total non-GAAP operating expenses increased by 47.3% year over year to RMB493.6 million (US$71.6 million) in the second half of 2022.

Research and development expenses decreased by 5.6% year over year to RMB85.9 million ( US$12.5 million ) in the second half of 2022. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to the improvement of operational efficiency. Non-GAAP research and development expenses decreased by 3.8% year over year to RMB84.7 million ( US$12.3 million ) in the second half of 2022.

decreased by 5.6% year over year to ( ) in the second half of 2022. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to the improvement of operational efficiency. decreased by 3.8% year over year to ( ) in the second half of 2022. Selling and marketing expenses increased by 81.7% year over year to RMB306.5 million ( US$44.4 million ) in the second half of 2022. The year-over-year increase was from the marketing and promotion expenses related to our user acquisition. Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses increased by 82.2% year over year to RMB305.7 million ( US$44.3 million ) in the first half of 2022.

increased by 81.7% year over year to ( ) in the second half of 2022. The year-over-year increase was from the marketing and promotion expenses related to our user acquisition. increased by 82.2% year over year to ( ) in the first half of 2022. General and administrative expenses increased by 21.5% year over year to RMB115.1 million (US$ 16.7 million) in the second half of 2022. The year-over-year increase was mainly from some one-time expenses. Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses increased by 22.5% year over year to RMB113.6 million ( US$16.5 million ) in the first half of 2022.

Operating loss was RMB99.5 million (US$14.4 million) in the second half of 2022, compared to RMB114.2 million in the same period of the last year. Non-GAAP operating loss was RMB95.6 million (US$13.9 million) in the second half of 2022, compared to RMB107.8 million in the same period of the last year.

Share-based compensation expenses were RMB3.9 million (US$0.6 million) in the second half of 2022, compared to RMB6.4 million in the same period of the last year.

OTHER EXPENSE, NET

Other expense, net was RMB351.6 million (US$51.0 million) in the second half of 2022, which was primarily from the impairment of some long-term investments.

NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHEETAH MOBILE SHAREHOLDERS

Net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders was RMB440.9 million (US$63.9 million) in the second half of 2022, compared to a net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders of RMB428.5 million in the same period of the last year.

Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders was RMB437.0 million (US$63.4 million) in the second half of 2022, compared to a non-GAAP net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders of RMB422.1 million in the same period of the last year.

NET INCOME/(LOSS) PER ADS

Diluted loss per ADS was RMB15.4 (US$2.2) in the second half of 2022, compared to diluted loss per ADS of RMB15.2 in the same period of the last year. Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS was RMB15.3(US$2.2) in second half of 2022, compared to Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS of RMB14.9 in the same period of the last year.

BALANCE SHEET

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB1,672.7 million (US$242.5 million).

SHARES ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had a total of 1,449,473,689 Class A and Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding. On August 23, 2022, the Company announced that it changed the ratio of its American Depositary Share ("ADS") to Class A ordinary share ("Share") from one (1) ADS representing ten (10) Shares to one (1) ADS representing fifty (50) Shares, effective September 2, 2022. Accordingly, the Company has retrospectively revised the comparative data from the previous periods to conform to the requisite presentation for the current period.

Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Financial Results

REVENUES

Total revenues increased by 12.7% to RMB884.1 million (US$128.2 million) in 2022.

Revenues from the Company's internet business increased by 6.7% year over year to RMB697.4 million (US$101.1 million) in 2022. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to the growth of our membership business.

Revenues from the AI and others increased by 42.7% year over year to RMB186.7 million (US$27.1 million) in 2022. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to growth of our global cloud service business, overseas advertising agency business as well as the development of our E-coupon vending robot and related business.

COST OF REVENUES AND GROSS PROFIT

Cost of revenues decreased by 2.0% year over year to RMB252.6 million (US$36.6 million) in 2022. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to lower advertising business related traffic acquisition costs and channel costs. Non-GAAP cost of revenues decreased by 1.9% year over year to RMB251.9 million (US$36.5 million) in 2022.

Gross profit increased by 19.8% year over year to RMB631.5 million (US$91.6 million) in 2022. Non-GAAP gross profit increased by 19.7% year over year to RMB632.2 million (US$91.7 million) in 2022.

Gross margin was 71.4% in 2022, compared to 67.2% in 2021. Non-GAAP gross margin was 71.5% in 2022, compared to 67.3% in 2021.

OPERATING INCOME/LOSS AND EXPENSES

Total operating expenses increased by 13.3% year over year to RMB857.1 million (US$124.3 million) in 2022. Total non-GAAP operating expenses increased by 13.3% year over year to RMB849.9 million (US$123.2 million) in 2022.

Research and development expenses decreased by 14.5% year over year to RMB181.0 million ( US$26.2 million ) in 2022. The year-over-year decrease was due to improvement of operational efficiency. Non-GAAP research and development expenses decreased by 12.8% year over year to RMB179.4 million ( US$26.0 million ) in 2022.

decreased by 14.5% year over year to ( ) in 2022. The year-over-year decrease was due to improvement of operational efficiency. decreased by 12.8% year over year to ( ) in 2022. Selling and marketing expenses increased by 28.8% year over year to RMB476.9 million ( US$69.1 million ) in 2022. This year-over-year increase was primarily due to the marketing and promotion expenses related to our user acquisition. Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses increased by 28.7% year over year to RMB475.0 million ( US$68.9 million ) in 2022.

increased by 28.8% year over year to ( ) in 2022. This year-over-year increase was primarily due to the marketing and promotion expenses related to our user acquisition. increased by 28.7% year over year to ( ) in 2022. General and administrative expenses increased by 11.7% year over year to RMB214.3 million ( US$31.1 million ) in 2022. The year-over-year increase was mainly from some one-time expenses. Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses increased by 9.1% year over year to RMB210.6 million ( US$30.5 million ) in 2022.

Operating loss was RMB225.6 million (US$32.7 million) in 2022, compared to RMB229.6 million in 2021. Non-GAAP operating loss was RMB217.7 million (US$31.6 million) in 2022, compared to RMB222.4 million in 2021.

Share-based compensation expenses were RMB7.9 million (US$1.1 million) in 2022, compared to RMB7.2 million in 2021.

NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHEETAH MOBILE SHAREHOLDERS

Net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders was RMB513.5 million (US$74.4 million) in 2022, compared to a net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders of RMB351.1 million in 2021.

Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders was RMB505.6 million (US$73.3 million) in 2022, compared to a non-GAAP net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders of RMB344.0 million in 2021.

NET INCOME/(LOSS) PER ADS

Diluted loss per ADS was RMB18.1 (US$2.6) in 2022, compared to diluted loss per ADS of RMB12.3 in 2021. Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS was RMB17.8 (US$2.6) in 2022, compared to Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS of RMB12.1 in 2021.

Business Outlook

For the first half of 2023, the Company expects its total revenues to be between RMB310 million (US$44.9 million) and RMB360 million (US$52.2 million). This amount reflects the Company's current and preliminary expectations.

Exchange Rate

This press release contains translations of certain Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of readers. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars in this press release were made at a rate of RMB6.8972 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of December 31, 2022, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. Such translations should not be construed as representations that RMB amounts could be converted into U.S. dollars at that rate or any other rate, or to be the amounts that would have been reported under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").

About Cheetah Mobile Inc.

Cheetah Mobile is a China-based IT company. It has attracted hundreds of millions of users through an array of internet products and services on PCs and mobile devices. The Company provides advertising services to advertisers worldwide, value-added services including the sale of premium membership and in-app virtual items to its users as well as multi-cloud management platform to companies globally. Cheetah Mobile is also committed to leveraging its cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies to power its products and make the world smarter. It has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since May 2014.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements, including management quotes and business outlook, constitute forward-looking statements under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including but are not limited to the following: Cheetah Mobile's growth strategies; Cheetah Mobile's ability to retain and increase its user base and expand its product and service offerings; Cheetah Mobile's ability to monetize its platform; Cheetah Mobile's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; competition with companies in a number of industries including internet companies that provide online marketing services and internet value-added services; expected changes in Cheetah Mobile's revenues and certain cost or expense items; and general economic and business condition globally and in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Cheetah Mobile's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Cheetah Mobile does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures:

Non-GAAP cost of revenues excludes share-based compensation expenses

Non-GAAP gross profit excludes share-based compensation expenses

Non-GAAP gross margin excludes share-based compensation expense

Total non-GAAP operating expenses exclude share-based compensation expenses

Non-GAAP research and development expenses exclude share-based compensation expenses

Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses exclude share-based compensation expenses

Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses exclude share-based compensation expenses

Non-GAAP operating profit/loss excludes share-based compensation expenses

Non-GAAP net income/loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders excludes share-based compensation expenses

Non-GAAP diluted earnings/losses per ADS excludes share-based compensation expenses

Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA represents net income/loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders excluding share-based compensation, interest income, depreciation and amortization, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, other income, net and income tax expenses

The Company reviews these non-GAAP financial measures together with GAAP financial measures to obtain a better understanding of its operating performance. It uses the non-GAAP financial measures for planning, forecasting and measuring results against the forecast. The Company believes that non-GAAP financial measures are useful supplemental information for investors and analysts to assess its operating performance without the effect of share-based compensation expenses, which have been and will continue to be significant recurring expenses in its business. However, the use of non-GAAP financial measures has material limitations as an analytical tool. One of the limitations of using non-GAAP financial measures is that they do not include all items that impact the Company's net income for the period. In addition, because non-GAAP financial measures are not measured in the same manner by all companies, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider non-GAAP financial measure in isolation from or as an alternative to the financial measure prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Cheetah Mobile Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results".

Investor Relations Contact

Cheetah Mobile Inc.

Tel: +86 10 6292 7779

Email: [email protected]

CHEETAH MOBILE INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"))





As of



December 31, 2021



December 31, 2022



RMB



RMB



USD

ASSETS















Current assets:















Cash and cash equivalents

1,583,926





1,515,799





219,770

Restricted cash

781





696





101

Short-term investments

262,813





156,182





22,644

Accounts receivable, net

170,305





283,774





41,143

Prepayments and other current assets, net

479,329





968,145





140,368

Due from related parties, net

101,333





199,099





28,867

Total current assets

2,598,487





3,123,695





452,893



















Non-current assets:















Property and equipment, net

101,794





58,727





8,515

Operating lease right-of-use assets

45,181





39,579





5,738

Intangible assets, net

10,052





8,430





1,222

Investment in equity investees

236,552





238,591





34,592

Other long term investments

1,757,845





1,553,740





225,271

Due from related parties, net

111,335





3,840





557

Deferred tax assets

14,384





19,337





2,804

Other non-current assets

102,688





93,480





13,554

Total non-current assets

2,379,831





2,015,724





292,253



















Total assets

4,978,318





5,139,419





745,146



















LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'

EQUITY















Current liabilities:















Accounts payable

134,879





132,994





19,282

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

1,137,348





1,586,769





230,060

Due to related parties

37,760





23,629





3,426

Income tax payable

43,907





35,135





5,094

Total current liabilities

1,353,894





1,778,527





257,862



















Non-current liabilities:















Deferred tax liabilities

58,564





55,770





8,086

Other non-current liabilities

205,717





200,336





29,046

Total non-current liabilities

264,281





256,106





37,132



















Total liabilities

1,618,175





2,034,633





294,994



















Shareholders' equity:















Ordinary shares

235





236





34

Additional paid-in capital

2,685,544





2,688,571





389,806

Retained earnings/ (Accumulated losses)

505,085





(9,424)





(1,366)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

88,262





353,948





51,318

Total Cheetah Mobile shareholders' equity

3,279,126





3,033,331





439,792

Noncontrolling interests

81,017





71,455





10,360



















Total equity

3,360,143





3,104,786





450,152



















Total liabilities and equity

4,978,318





5,139,419





745,146



CHEETAH MOBILE INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited, amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"), except for number of shares and

per share(or ADS) data)







For The Six Months Ended



For The Year Ended





December 31, 2021



December 31, 2022



December 31, 2021



December 31, 2022





RMB



RMB



USD



RMB



RMB



USD

Revenues



374,470





527,043





76,415





784,616





884,066





128,178

Internet business



298,001





421,919





61,173





653,759





697,387





101,112

AI and others



76,469





105,124





15,242





130,857





186,679





27,066

Cost of revenues (a)



(147,743)





(129,340)





(18,753)





(257,656)





(252,561)





(36,618)

Gross profit



226,727





397,703





57,662





526,960





631,505





91,560







































Operating income and expenses:



































Research and development (a)



(91,059)





(85,920)





(12,457)





(211,594)





(180,957)





(26,236)

Selling and marketing (a)



(168,713)





(306,514)





(44,440)





(370,274)





(476,853)





(69,137)

General and administrative (a)



(94,740)





(115,149)





(16,695)





(191,868)





(214,337)





(31,076)

Other operating income



13,559





10,369





1,503





17,205





15,051





2,182

Total operating income and expenses



(340,953)





(497,214)





(72,089)





(756,531)





(857,096)





(124,267)







































Operating loss



(114,226)





(99,511)





(14,427)





(229,571)





(225,591)





(32,707)

Other income/(expenses):



































Interest income, net



16,961





21,547





3,124





25,391





35,710





5,177

Foreign exchange gains/(losses)



14,514





(40,395)





(5,857)





24,288





(95,434)





(13,837)

Other expense, net



(343,773)





(351,623)





(50,981)





(159,679)





(260,465)





(37,763)







































Loss before taxes



(426,524)





(469,982)





(68,141)





(339,571)





(545,780)





(79,130)

Income tax (expenses)/ benefits



(5,525)





26,218





3,801





(13,633)





25,089





3,638

Net loss



(432,049)





(443,764)





(64,340)





(353,204)





(520,691)





(75,492)

Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling

interests



(3,559)





(2,861)





(415)





(2,078)





(7,216)





(1,046)

Net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile

shareholders



(428,490)





(440,903)





(63,925)





(351,126)





(513,475)





(74,446)







































Net loss per share



































Basic



(0.3034)





(0.3081)





(0.0447)





(0.2469)





(0.3617)





(0.0524)

Diluted



(0.3034)





(0.3083)





(0.0447)





(0.2469)





(0.3619)





(0.0525)







































Net loss per ADS



































Basic



(15.1688)





(15.4058)





(2.2336)





(12.3469)





(18.0854)





(2.6221)

Diluted



(15.1688)





(15.4126)





(2.2346)





(12.3469)





(18.0954)





(2.6236)







































Weighted average number of shares

outstanding



































Basic



1,431,394,861





1,447,753,976





1,447,753,976





1,430,052,602





1,443,682,305





1,443,682,305

Diluted



1,431,394,861





1,447,753,976





1,447,753,976





1,430,052,602





1,443,682,305





1,443,682,305

Weighted average number of ADSs

outstanding



































Basic



28,627,897





28,955,080





28,955,080





28,601,052





28,873,646





28,873,646

Diluted



28,627,897





28,955,080





28,955,080





28,601,052





28,873,646





28,873,646







































Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of

tax of nil



































Foreign currency translation adjustments



(40,669)





119,996





17,398





(75,536)





271,640





39,384

Unrealized gain on available-for-sale

securities, net



-





(8,269)





(1,199)





-





(8,269)





(1,199)

Other comprehensive (loss)/income



(40,669)





111,727





16,199





(75,536)





263,371





38,185

Total comprehensive loss



(472,718)





(332,037)





(48,141)





(428,740)





(257,320)





(37,307)

Less: Total comprehensive loss

attributable to noncontrolling interests



(5,611)





(1,822)





(264)





(2,536)





(9,531)





(1,382)

Total comprehensive loss attributable to

Cheetah Mobile shareholders



(467,107)





(330,215)





(47,877)





(426,204)





(247,789)





(35,925)



CHEETAH MOBILE INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited, amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"), except for number of shares and per

share(or ADS) data)







For The Six Months Ended



For The Year Ended





December 31, 2021



December 31, 2022



December 31, 2021



December 31, 2022

(a) Share-based compensation expenses

RMB



RMB



USD



RMB



RMB



USD

Cost of revenues



407





283





41





1,027





686





99

Research and development



3,088





1,259





183





5,996





1,580





229

Selling and marketing



928





860





125





1,339





1,899





275

General and administrative



1,964





1,533





222





(1,212)





3,698





536

Total



6,387





3,935





571





7,150





7,863





1,139



CHEETAH MOBILE INC. Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results (Unaudited, amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"), except for per share data )





For The Six Months Ended December 31, 2022



For The Year Ended December 31, 2022



GAAP



Share-based



Non-GAAP



GAAP



Share-based



Non-GAAP



Result



Compensation



Result



Result



Compensation



Result



RMB



RMB



RMB



USD



RMB



RMB



RMB



USD

Revenues

527,043





-





527,043





76,415





884,066





-





884,066





128,178

Cost of revenues

(129,340)





283





(129,057)





(18,712)





(252,561)





686





(251,875)





(36,519)

Gross profit

397,703





283





397,986





57,703





631,505





686





632,191





91,659

















































Research and development

(85,920)





1,259





(84,661)





(12,274)





(180,957)





1,580





(179,377)





(26,007)

Selling and marketing

(306,514)





860





(305,654)





(44,315)





(476,853)





1,899





(474,954)





(68,862)

General and administrative

(115,149)





1,533





(113,616)





(16,473)





(214,337)





3,698





(210,639)





(30,540)

Other operating expense

10,369





-





10,369





1,503





15,051





-





15,051





2,182

Total operating income and expenses

(497,214)





3,652





(493,562)





(71,559)





(857,096)





7,177





(849,919)





(123,227)

















































Operating loss

(99,511)





3,935





(95,576)





(13,856)





(225,591)





7,863





(217,728)





(31,568)

Net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders

(440,903)





3,935





(436,968)





(63,354)





(513,475)





7,863





(505,612)





(73,307)

















































Diluted losses per ordinary share (RMB)

(0.3083)





0.0028





(0.3055)











(0.3619)





0.0054





(0.3565)







Diluted losses per ADS (RMB)

(15.4126)





0.1359





(15.2767)











(18.0954)





0.2723





(17.8231)







Diluted losses per ADS (USD)

(2.2346)





0.0197





(2.2149)











(2.6236)





0.0395





(2.5841)









CHEETAH MOBILE INC. Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results (Unaudited, amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"), except for per share data )





For The Six Months Ended December 31, 2021



For The Year Ended December 31, 2021



GAAP



Share-based



Non-GAAP



GAAP



Share-based



Non-GAAP



Result



Compensation



Result



Result



Compensation



Result



RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB

Revenues

374,470





-





374,470





784,616





-





784,616

Cost of revenues

(147,743)





407





(147,336)





(257,656)





1,027





(256,629)

Gross profit

226,727





407





227,134





526,960





1,027





527,987





































Research and development

(91,059)





3,088





(87,971)





(211,594)





5,996





(205,598)

Selling and marketing

(168,713)





928





(167,785)





(370,274)





1,339





(368,935)

General and administrative

(94,740)





1,964





(92,776)





(191,868)





(1,212)





(193,080)

Other operating expense

13,559





-





13,559





17,205





-





17,205

Total operating income and expenses

(340,953)





5,980





(334,973)





(756,531)





6,123





(750,408)





































Operating loss

(114,226)





6,387





(107,839)





(229,571)





7,150





(222,421)

Net income attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders

(428,490)





6,387





(422,103)





(351,126)





7,150





(343,976)





































Diluted losses per ordinary share (RMB)

(0.3034)





0.0045





(0.2989)





(0.2469)





0.0050





(0.2419)

Diluted losses per ADS (RMB)

(15.1688)





0.2231





(14.9457)





(12.3469)





0.2500





(12.0969)



CHEETAH MOBILE INC. Information about Segment (Unaudited, amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"), except for percentage)







For The Six Months Ended December 31, 2022









For The Year Ended December 31, 2022



Internet Business



AI and others



Unallocated*



Consolidated



Internet Business



AI and others



Unallocated*



Consolidated





RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB



USD



RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB



USD

Revenue



421,919





105,124





-





527,043





76,415





697,387





186,679





-





884,066





128,178

Operating profit/(loss)



17,738





(113,314)





(3,935)





(99,511)





(14,427)





(369)





(217,359)





(7,863)





(225,591)





(32,707)

Operating margin



4.2 %



(107.8) %



-





(18.9) %



(18.9) %



(0.1) %



(116.4) %



-





(25.5) %



(25.5) %





For The Six Months Ended December 31, 2021



For The Year Ended December 31, 2021





Internet Business



AI and others



Unallocated*



Consolidated



Internet Business



AI and others



Unallocated*



Consolidated





RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB



RMB

Revenue



298,001





76,469





-





374,470





653,759





130,857





-





784,616

Operating loss



(21,680)





(86,159)





(6,387)





(114,226)





(14,178)





(208,243)





(7,150)





(229,571)

Operating margin



(7.3) %



(112.7) %



-





(30.5) %



(2.2) %



(159.1) %



-





(29.3) %

* Unallocated expenses refer to SBC expenses that are not allocated to individual segments.

CHEETAH MOBILE INC. Reconciliation from Net Income Attributable to Cheetah Mobile Shareholders to Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) (Unaudited, amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and US dollars ("US$"))







For The Six Months Ended



For The Year Ended





December 31, 2021



December 31, 2022



December 31, 2021



December 31, 2022





RMB



RMB



USD



RMB



RMB



USD

Net loss attributable to Cheetah Mobile shareholders



(428,490)





(440,903)





(63,925)





(351,126)





(513,475)





(74,446)

Add:



































Income tax expenses/(benefits)



5,525





(26,218)





(3,801)





13,633





(25,089)





(3,638)

Interest income, net



(16,961)





(21,547)





(3,124)





(25,391)





(35,710)





(5,177)

Depreciation and amortization



33,959





25,133





3,644





50,822





53,025





7,688

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests



(3,559)





(2,861)





(415)





(2,078)





(7,216)





(1,046)

Other expense



329,259





392,018





56,838





135,391





355,899





51,600

Share-based compensation



6,387





3,935





571





7,150





7,863





1,139

Adjusted EBITDA



(73,880)





(70,443)





(10,212)





(171,599)





(164,703)





(23,880)



SOURCE Cheetah Mobile
Chipotle's new restaurant design is all electric, aims to maximize energy efficiency, and utilizes 100% renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy use at these restaurants.

Chipotle is also launching a short film called "Human Nature," a new creative expression for the brand that explores how humans and nature can work together to Cultivate a Better World.

The company's 2022 Sustainability Report shares updates on Chipotle's impact, progress, and goals related to three categories: People, Food and Animals, and the Environment.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced a new all electric restaurant design that works to maximize energy efficiency in its equipment and systems and utilizes 100% renewable energy from wind power and solar through the purchase of certified renewable energy credits. The company recently opened restaurants with the new features in Gloucester, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida, with a third location opening later this summer in Castle Rock, Colorado1. The new restaurant design pilot will help Chipotle progress toward its science-based targets, established in alignment with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), to reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030 compared to a 2019 baseline.

Chipotles new restaurant design is all electric, aims to maximize energy efficiency, and utilizes 100% renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy use at the restaurants where its implemented. The new restaurant design pilot will help Chipotle progress toward its science-based targets, established in alignment with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), to reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030 compared to a 2019 baseline. The company recently opened restaurants with the new features in Gloucester, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida, with a third location opening later this summer in Castle Rock, Colorado. Drone footage shows Chipotles Jacksonville location featuring the responsible restaurant design. Chipotle is launching a new short film called Human Nature that will air as a national TV ad. Human Nature explores how humans and nature can work together to Cultivate a Better World. "Human Nature" features side-by-side shots of humans and nature, emphasizing their aesthetic similarities while conveying the importance of individuals reconnecting physically and emotionally with the environment.

With an aggressive development goal of eventually growing to 7,000 locations in North America, Chipotle will leverage its new restaurant openings to scale the company's overall impact. Chipotle plans to have more than 100 of its new locations in 2024 utilize all-electric equipment and at least some additional elements from its new design. The company will continue to innovate and iterate on the new design as it gains operational feedback and insights.

Broader Environmental Initiatives

To help meet its goal of reducing direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions company-wide 50% by 2030 compared to a 2019 baseline, Chipotle is instituting various additional initiatives, including:

Standardizing the installation of energy management systems at every restaurant to manage heating and cooling, refrigeration temperatures, and other equipment.

Exploring greater use of low carbon fuels and adoption of renewable resources in logistics.

Investing in projects to drive emission reductions in beef and dairy production.

Exploring and developing strategies to support greater adoption of regenerative agriculture practices among supply chain partners.

Developing plans for offering additional vegetarian and vegan menu items.

Increasing the amount of local produce2 purchased in 2023 to a planned total of at least 36.4 million pounds.

Chipotle's Responsible Restaurant

Key features of Chipotle's responsible restaurant design concept include:

Rooftop solar panels, where feasible

All-electric equipment and systems to replace gas power

Heat pump water heaters

Smaller electric cookline and improved exhaust hoods compared to other Chipotle kitchens

Energy management systems (which have already been deployed in most existing restaurant locations)

Biodegradable service ware such as cutlery, straws, bowls, cups, and lids

Cactus leather chairs

Artwork made from recycled rice husks

Electric vehicle charging stations at select locations

"With our aggressive development goal in North America, we hold ourselves accountable to reduce the environmental impact of our restaurants," said Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Chipotle. "We are aiming to incorporate some elements of our responsible restaurant design into many of our new restaurant openings going forward."

For images and video of Chipotle's responsible restaurant design, please visit here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jevgld5l29wl1tk/AABRiwifjTfpdxY43-sSfeZYa?dl=0.

Human Nature

Chipotle has also launched a new short film called "Human Nature" that will air as a national TV ad. The piece, created by Anomaly, features side-by-side shots of humans and nature, emphasizing their aesthetic similarities while conveying the importance of individuals reconnecting physically and emotionally with the environment.

"Since its founding in 1993, Chipotle's mindset and approach to food has always been about working withnot againstnature and using real ingredients free of any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives," said Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer. "'Human Nature celebrates how Chipotle serves food that is both good for you and better for the planet. Strengthening our connection with nature is key to producing responsibly raised food for generations to come."

For nearly 30 years, Chipotle has led the industry by example, continuously prioritizing sustainability efforts, including working with suppliers with rigorous animal welfare practices and supporting organic, transitional, and local growers.

2022 Sustainability Report

Together with the launch of its new restaurant design and the "Human Nature" film, Chipotle published its 2022 Sustainability Report, which showcases its efforts in three categories: People, Food and Animals, and the Environment. The report covers Chipotle's impact, progress, and goals in areas that play a critical role in its mission to Cultivate a Better World.

Highlights from Chipotle's 2022 Sustainability Report include:

People Impact

Donated $6 million to local community organizations through 29,000 in-restaurant fundraisers

to local community organizations through 29,000 in-restaurant fundraisers Promoted over 22,000 Chipotle employees

Awarded $37 million in bonuses to Chipotle employees in 2022

in bonuses to Chipotle employees in 2022 Raised almost $14 million through Round Up for Real Change since its inception

through Round Up for Real Change since its inception Donated over 282,000 meals to those in need in local communities

90% of employees surveyed say Chipotle is a great place to work

Food & Animals

Purchased 22 million pounds organic & transitional ingredients

Purchased more than 36 million pounds of local produce 2

Invested $35 million into local food systems

into local food systems Purchased more than 14 million pounds of organically grown produce

Purchased 53 million pounds of certified pork, chicken, and beef3

Environmental Impact

Implemented restaurant efficiencies to reduce natural gas consumption in 11 locations

Procured 40% of total energy consumption for 2022 from renewable sources with RECs from Green-e Energy certified wind

To learn more about sustainability at Chipotle and review the full report, please visit chipotle.com/sustainability.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle had nearly 3,200 restaurants as of December 31, 2022, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on the 2023 list for Fortune's Most Admired Companies. With over 100,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM.

[1] Restaurant locations: 7115 George Washington Memorial Hwy, Gloucester, VA 23061; 5954 Promenade Pkwy, Castle Rock, CO 80108; and 5801 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville FL, 32207

[2] Food sourced from within 350 miles of a distribution center is defined as local

[3] Certified refers to third-party animal welfare certification

SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
China's First Semi-Submersible Offshore Solar Power Platform: Self-developed, Manufactured, and Delivered by CIMC Raffles

SHENZHEN, China, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CIMC RAFFLES has recently launched and delivered China's first semi-submersible offshore floating solar power platform, which is a self-developed and self-owned intellectual property. The platform has been officially handed over to CIMC Solar Marine Technology (Yantai) Co., Ltd., and it has been towed to the designated location for deployment.

The first semi-submersible offshore floating solar power platform developed in China, which has independent intellectual property rights, was recently launched and towed to its designated location The construction phase of the semi-submersible offshore floating PV power generation platform

The platform has four single float arrays and a total installed capacity of 400 kWp, as well as net deck area of approximately 1900 square meters. The platform is equipped with eight systems: floating structure support, buoyancy material, multi-body connection and mooring, fender collision avoidance, photovoltaic (PV) power generation and inverter, intelligent monitoring, dynamic subsea cable transmission, and power consumption. Furthermore, the platform can operate safely in open sea areas with wave heights of up to 6.5 meters, wind speeds of up to 34 meters per second, and tidal differences of up to 4.6 meters.

Aligning with China's "dual carbon" goals, the development prospects of the PV industry are highly promising. In 2022, CIMC RAFFLES partnered with the Yantai Municipal Government to jointly establish CIMC Solar, which offers integrated solutions for the comprehensive development of offshore PV, leveraging CIMC RAFFLES's rich experience in semi-submersible product engineering.

The successful installation and smooth delivery of this PV power generation platform, as CIMC RAFFLES's first-generation offshore PV product, demonstrates the company's delivery capability in the commercial-scale semi-submersible PV platform. This marks a commendable milestone in CIMC RAFFLES and CIMC Solar's outstanding exploration of the photovoltaics field.

A spokesperson from CIMC Offshore Renewable Energy, the developer of the platform, declared that this floating PV power generation platform is China's first completed semi-submersible offshore PV demonstration project. With extensive experience in semi-submersible product engineering, CIMC Offshore Renewable Energy has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of semi-submersible floating PV power generation through the use of multi-float array connections. This platform will serve as an excellent model to future product development, large-scale application, and cost-effective verification, and will help pave the way towards the deep-sea development of semi-submersible PV power generation.

SOURCE CIMC
Program provides free home repairs and energy-efficient retrofits to income-qualified customers

Charlotte is one of three participating N.C. municipalities in pilot

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Charlotte and Duke Energy Carolinas are launching an income-qualified energy efficiency home rehabilitation pilot program. The High Energy Use Pilot will help income-qualified customers with high energy use receive much-needed home repairs and energy efficiency retrofits that will improve housing safety and reduce their electricity usage and overall costs.

Duke Energy will invest approximately $4 million in the Charlotte region to support energy retrofits for approximately 500 high-electrical use, income-qualified customers. The city will provide up to $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support home repairs necessary before energy efficiency retrofits can occur.

Home repairs may include window, roof, chimney, plumbing, or water heater repairs or replacements, pressure relief valve installation, mechanical ventilation, and lead-based paint hazard control.

Energy retrofit measures may include the replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems as well as comprehensive air sealing, insulation, installation of LED bulbs and swapping out older refrigerators with ENERGY STAR models.

"The city is excited to partner with Duke Energy on this program. By providing much-needed home repairs and energy retrofits, we can lower energy costs and provide safer housing for our residents who need it most, and reduce emissions in our community, all at the same time," said City of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles.

"Duke Energy is proud to collaborate with the City of Charlotte on this public-private partnership to deliver the benefits of energy efficiency to a greater diversity of customers across the city," said Kendal Bowman, North Carolina state president, Duke Energy. "We appreciate the city's leadership and are hopeful that this pilot, if successful, may one day help expand offerings to help more customers save energy and money, and support a cleaner energy future for all communities we serve."

According to the Department of Energy , the national average energy burden  the percentage of gross income spent on energy costs  for low-income households is 8.6%, which is three times higher than for non-low-income households (estimated at 3%). Energy burden is defined as the average annual housing energy costs divided by the average annual household income. Monthly housing energy costs are based on household monthly expenditures for electricity, gas and other fuels (including fuel oil, wood, etc.). This program seeks to address issues specific to the electrical portion of energy burden, and the outcomes can inform and influence future Duke Energy and city programs toward a more equitable, low-carbon future.

Duke Energy created the pilot in collaboration with stakeholders at the request of the North Carolina Utilities Commission to provide energy efficiency retrofits for income-qualified, high-electrical use customers at no cost to the customer. However, as many as 40% of households that could be eligible for this program would not be able to participate due to health and safety issues in the home, particularly housing repair issues such as damage to doors, windows or the roof that need to be addressed first. The funding provided by the city through this public private partnership will ensure that customers who otherwise would not be able to engage in this pilot will now be able to take advantage of these retrofits.

Charlotte is one of three North Carolina municipalities, including Forsyth and Guilford counties, selected for the pilot. The initial goal is to assist 1,000 participants over a two-year span from an estimated 22,000 income-qualified residents in all identified areas.

Duke Energy is accepting applications for the program now, and the first service appointments will start in mid-May, with an emphasis on homes that are in the city's Corridors of Opportunity. For more information or to apply, customers can visit duke-energy.com/highusehelp.

Duke Energy Carolinas

Duke Energy Carolinas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 19,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2.8 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 24,000-square-mile service area in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com . The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook .

CONTACT: Leslie Blaser, 980.264.2678

City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services

[email protected]

Keith Richardson, 704.779.4184

Duke Energy

[email protected]

SOURCE Duke Energy
Market-Disruptive Microplastic-Filtration Company Chosen as Early Adopter for 3D Printing Leader Formlabs' New Automation Platform

NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CLEANR, a market-disruptive microplastic-filtration technology company, has accelerated the development of its solutions for washing machine manufacturers through its early access to the Formlabs Automation Ecosystem . The new platform enables new levels of 3D printing productivity through a highly scalable and automated workflow that can produce back-to-back 3D prints 24/7 with minimal human intervention.

The 3D printing platform will enable CLEANR to accelerate the introduction of its new microplastic-filtering solutions, and collaborate quickly and efficiently with appliance manufacturers to integrate the technology into their washing machine designs.

"3D printing plays a pivotal role in helping washing machine manufacturers address microplastic-filtering regulations" Tweet this

Washing machine wastewater is the world's largest source of microplastic pollution, and has come under growing regulation in Europe and North America. Multiple governments are developing and enacting legislative requirements that will mandate manufacturers to outfit new household washing machines with microplastic-filtering devices to prevent the flow of harmful microplastics into waterways, ecosystems and food chains.

Beginning in January 2025, France will require all new washing machines sold in-country to include a microplastic-filtration solution. Meanwhile, members of the UK parliament, California and Oregon state legislators in the U.S., and provincial legislators in Ottawa , Canada are working through similar proposals, with other governments around the world following suit.

"3D printing technology plays a pivotal role in how we're helping washing machine manufacturers address complex microplastic-filtering specifications, testing standards, space constraints, and cost challenges as they move quickly to address new regulations," said Chip Miller, co-founder and chief operating officer of CLEANR. "Formlabs technology enables us to render extremely high-quality prototypes for them in a matter of hours or days, instead of weeks or months, in order to adapt our solution for diverse appliance designs."

Microplastics cover 88% of the ocean's surface, and can be found in areas as remote as the beaches of the Arctic and Antarctic, the summit of Mount Everest and the bottom of the Mariana Trench. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the amount of plastic waste emitted from clothing and other textiles into global waterways is on course to double by 2050 without significant policy intervention.

Formlabs is the largest supplier of professional stereolithography and selective laser sintering 3D printers in the world. In addition to using Formlabs technology to customize CLEANR filtering solutions for manufacturers, CLEANR is also using the technology to develop new features and additional products surrounding its platform filtration technology.

"Technology innovation is crucial in the race to eliminate microplastics from our oceans, food supplies and drinking water," said CLEANR co-founder and chief technology officer David Dillman. "Having early access to Formlabs' advanced 3D printing capabilities will help us maintain the lead position in microplastics filtration and accelerate our expansion into in-home water filters, dishwashers, dryers, industrial laundry, and beyond."

About Formlabs

Formlabs is expanding access to digital fabrication, so anyone can make anything. Headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts with offices in Germany, Japan, China, Singapore, Hungary, and North Carolina, Formlabs is the professional 3D printer of choice for engineers, designers, manufacturers, and decision makers around the globe. Formlabs products include the Form 3, Form 3B, Form 3L, and Form 3BL powered by an advanced form of stereolithography (SLA) called Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) 3D printing, Form Wash and Form Cure post-processing solutions, Fuse 1 SLS 3D printer, and Form Auto manufacturing solution. Through its Factory Solutions offering for industrial users, Formlabs provides the factories of tomorrow with the flexibility and versatility needed for demanding, evolving industrial applications. Formlabs also develops its own suite of high-performance materials that continue to push the boundaries for 3D printing, as well as best-in-class 3D printing software. For more information visit formlabs.com

About CLEANR

CLEANR is a U.S. technology company focused on making sustainability effortless. CLEANR has developed a platform filtration technology to remove microplastics from impacted fluid streams. The CLEANR microplastic filter is the first of its kind to filter incredibly small particles, to be fully mechanical, completely reusable, and incredibly easy to use. We challenge the status quo and create innovative, new solutions to complex and intertwined problems. Based out of the Sears think[box] in Cleveland Ohio, the CLEANR team has been working since 2020 to limit the microplastic emissions from every washing machine. CLEANR has landed on a market-disruptive, biomimicry inspired filter which can capture particles smaller than the width of a human hair. www.cleanr.life

SOURCE CLEANR
Waste-to-energy projects help curb greenhouse gas emissions

Ho Chi Minh Citys Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Industry and Trade and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) jointly organised a conference on technology and finance for waste-to-energy projects on April 11.













Can Tho waste-to-energy plant in Thoi Lai district.(Photo: moit.gov.vn)



Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Thi Thanh My said that currently, about 10,000-10,500 tonnes of domestic waste is discharged daily in the city.



Up to 69% of the waste is dumped at landfills, generating significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the city.



She said the city has coordinated with USAID to implement a project to support and promote the development of renewable energy as well as energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating a common responsibility to the international community.



The city has targeted that 80% of the domestic waste will be treated by modern new technology by 2025 and 100% by 2030.



Le Van Tam, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Tropical Technology and Environmental Protection, said that Vietnam currently has about 20 waste-to-power projects. However, only three factories have been put into operation. In the southern region, only Can Tho city has a waste-to-power plant in Thoi Lai district with a capacity of about 400 tonnes per day while Ho Chi Minh City has five such projects but one has suspended operation and another one has been delayed for years due to legal issues.



Tam added that the delay in the construction of waste-to-power plants will lead to the reliance on waste treatment by landfill, which pollutes the environment, wastes resources, and increases greenhouse gas emissions.



In addition, policy-relating barriers make it difficult for waste-to-power plant projects to attract investors due to their low efficiency. These projects run at only about 20-25% efficiency, which is much worse than investment in thermal power plants (from 40 - 42%). Meanwhile, the investment cost of a waste-to-power plant is very large and it takes 10-20 years to get the investment back.



At the conference, participants also pointed out the shortcomings of support policies for power generated from waste. They proposed revising legal regulations and procedures in the field and building a carbon credit mechanism.
On April 11, using small arms, units of the Armenian armed forces stationed in the directions of Digh settlement of the Gorus region shelled positions of the Azerbaijani army in Lachin District, Azernews reports per Defense Ministry.

Then, the opposing side continued firing Azerbaijan Army's positions using mortars and large caliber weapons.

As a result of the vigilance of the servicemen, the provocation of the Armenian side was resolutely prevented, and the firing positions were suppressed.

During the retaliatory measures taken by the Azerbaijan Army, the Armenian armed forces units suffered significant losses.

Currently, the situation in this direction is relatively calm. The Azerbaijan Army Units completely control the operational situation.

Azerbaijan Army's servicemen Zalov Vidadi Nizami, Hasanov Elshad Gabil and Taghiyev Sabuhi Gunduz became Shehids (Martyrs) during the suppression of the Armenian provocation.

The leadership of the Ministry of Defense expresses its deepest condolences to the families of Shehids (Martyrs).

May Allah rest the souls of Shehids in peace!
Aerial photo taken on April 9, 2022 shows a container ship by the Beijiang Port Area of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

TIANJIN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China State Shipbuilding Corporation has signed a cooperation agreement with France's CMA CGM Group to produce 16 large container vessels worth more than 21 billion yuan (about 3 billion U.S. dollars).

It sets a new record for a single order with the largest amount of money for container ship production signed by China's shipbuilding industry. It includes 12 15,000-TEU dual-fuel large container ships powered mainly by methanol and four 23,000-TEU ones fueled mainly by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Each of the methanol-powered ships measures 366 meters in length and 51 meters in width and is designed to have the ability to carry 156,000 tonnes of cargo, said the Chinese ship manufacturer.

It is also the Chinese group's first order to produce such methanol-fuelled container ships. Independently developed, the vessel can achieve net zero carbon emissions during its whole voyage.

Editor: GSY
Optimal way to migrate Cloud Foundry workloads to Kubernetes

SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Foundry Foundation today announced the latest release of Korifi , a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that reduces much of the complexity of Kubernetes and greatly improves the application deployment experience.

The Foundation also announced a series of Korifi Tutorials to help developers get started with Korifi, as well as its Cloud Foundry Day event, taking place on June 21 in Heidelberg, Germany.

Many organizations face challenges when using Kubernetes infrastructure to deploy their applications. Kubernetes is a powerful and flexible platform for managing containerized workloads, but it can be complex and difficult to manage for developers who are not familiar with its nuances. Korifi aims to simplify the deployment process for developers by providing a more streamlined and user-friendly interface on top of Kubernetes infrastructure.

"Having a golden path to production when using Kubernetes infrastructure is proving to be elusive or expensive," said Chris Clark, program manager at Cloud Foundry. "Korifi changes that with an easy path for adoption on cloud platforms. Korifi is increasingly realizing parity with the Cloud Foundry developer experience and is more inclusive in its workflows and accommodating greenfield, as well as legacy deployment workflows."

Updates to Korifi in v.0.7.0 include the following.

Improved logging;

Labels and annotations are now supported on all resources;

Automatic clean up of unused resources;

Support for multiple apps in manifests.

Korifi's fully open-source code base and community-driven approach ensure that adopters get complete transparency and agility. For system integrators and service providers, Korifi is an avenue to enable a cloud-native transformation for their Cloud Foundry customers and also introduce a new cloud-based product. Korifi takes care of infrastructure management so developers can focus on writing code.

Cloud Foundry Day announced

The event will take place on June 21, 2023, in Heidelberg, Germany, with a call for speakers that is open until April 28, 2023.

Cloud Foundry is an open source technology backed by the largest technology companies in the world, including IBM, SAP, and VMware, and is being used by leaders in manufacturing, telecommunications and financial services. Only Cloud Foundry delivers the velocity needed to continuously deliver apps at the speed of business. Cloud Foundry's container-based architecture runs apps written in any language on a choice of cloud platforms  Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure, OpenStack, and more. With a robust services ecosystem and simple integration with existing technologies, Cloud Foundry is the modern standard for deploying mission critical apps at global organizations.

Visit the GitHub repo to learn more and deploy Korifi on Kubernetes clusters.

About Cloud Foundry Foundation

The Cloud Foundry Foundation is a non-profit open source organization formed to sustain the development, promotion and adoption of Cloud Foundry as the industry standard for delivering the best experience for developers at companies of all sizes. The Foundation projects include Cloud Foundry, Paketo Buildpacks, Korifi, Eirini, BOSH, Open Service Broker API, CredHub, and more. Cloud Foundry makes it faster and easier to build, test, deploy and scale applications, and is used by more than half the Fortune 500, representing nearly $15 trillion in combined revenue. Cloud Foundry is hosted by The Linux Foundation and is an Apache 2.0 licensed project available on Github: https://github.com/cloudfoundry . To learn more, visit: http://www.cloudfoundry.org .

Contact:

Joe Eckert

Eckert Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Foundry Foundation
Connectbase is recognized for outstanding employer reputation, high employee satisfaction and visible growth

BOSTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Connectbase , The Industry Cloud for Connectivity, has been recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Startup Employers for 2023. Ranking 208th on the list of 500 U.S.-based businesses, Connectbase was selected for the list based on the criteria of employer reputation, employee satisfaction and growth.

"Connectbase is honored to be included in this prestigious list. I especially appreciate this recognition for the culture, team and purpose that drives this company," said Ben Edmond , CEO and Founder of Connectbase. "This is a testament to the amazing people who operate this business each day and are making strides to fix the connectivity procurement process."

2023 is the second year that Connectbase has been named a Best Startup Employer by Forbes. The top 500 list of America's Best Startup Employers for 2023 is created by Forbes in conjunction with Statista. Statista identified more than 2,600 U.S-based companies with at least 50 employees that were founded between 2013 and 2020. All companies considered were started from scratch and were not spun out of existing enterprises. Statista evaluated each organization based on three criteria: employer reputation, employee satisfaction and growth.

With more than 120 team members, Connectbase continues to grow and establish programs to foster individual and team success in a scaling startup environment. Over the past 3 years, Connectbase has increased its data platform scale by 30X, its customers and revenue by more than 5X, and has increased the number of quotes The Connected World has generated by 1000%. The platform covers more than 2.1 billion locations globally and now has over 300 providers leveraging the location insight and automation to make data-driven buying and selling decisions.

This achievement comes following a $21 million Series C funding round, led by DigitalBridge Ventures in the fall of 2022, where the investment is focused on advancing the platform and developing opportunities for the team. The company brought a new Chief People Officer onboard last year with the goal of establishing programs and initiatives to help the company scale and support its high-performing team. Connectbase has also been recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies for two consecutive years and named a best place to work.

About Connectbase

Connectbase is The Industry Cloud for Connectivity. Connectbase is a partner to the industry, enabling next generation buying and selling of connectivity, including automated quoting, and providing deep, trusted insights. Connectbase's industry-leading platform, The Connected World, serves almost 300 providers globally, managing 2.1 billion locations across more than 150 countries. The Connectbase team has built a connected ecosystem transforming network buying and selling processes. Visit Connectbase at www.connectbase.com and follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/connectbase-us/ .

More about the Forbes America's Best Startup Employers

Forbes, in conjunction with Statista, released its fifth America's Best Startup Employers list of 500 startup organizations. To determine America's Best Startup Employers 2023, Statista identified more than 2,600 U.S-based companies with at least 50 employees that were founded between 2013 and 2020. All companies considered were started from scratch and were not spun out of existing enterprises. Statista evaluated each organization based on three criteria: employer reputation, employee satisfaction and growth. To assess employer reputation, Statista searched articles, blogs and social media posts regarding each employer for specific phrases such as "corporate culture" and "employee engagement," and used text analysis to assess those as positive, negative or neutral. Statista assessed employee satisfaction by evaluating online reviews. Growth was evaluated by examining the organizations' website traffic and head counts over a two-year period. The final list ranked the top 500 employers. As with all Forbes lists, companies do not pay any fee to be considered.

SOURCE Connectbase
The Leading Nurse Staffing Community Launches in Tennessee & Florida Hospitals with Expansion to Other Regions to Follow

WALTHAM, Mass., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- connectRN , the nurse staffing community that provides clinicians with flexible scheduling opportunities and resources, announced today that nurses have begun using the platform to find hospital shifts at multiple Nashville hospitals . Previously, clinicians and nurses used the app to find shifts in skilled nursing facilities and home health settings - now they will soon be able to connect with hospitals in their areas as connectRN works to expand hospital availability to additional regions.

connectRN announced that nurses have begun using the platform to find hospital shifts at multiple Nashville hospitals. By expanding to hospital settings, connectRN will be doing their part to address the shortage in hospitals, while balancing out patient/clinician ratios.

"We're thrilled to see the accessible work model and flexible scheduling options that have already made a strong impact in SNF and home health care settings now transfer to the hospital environment," said Tyler White, VP of Hospital Services at connectRN. "This is a win-win for hospitals and nurses alike - nurses can work when and where they want, and hospitals get increased access to nurses in order to appease some of their shortages."

As hospitals have been facing increased nursing shortages, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that 275,000 additional nurses will be needed from 2020 to 2030. By expanding to hospital settings, connectRN will be doing their part to address the shortage in hospitals, while balancing out patient/clinician ratios.

Hospitals nationwide have seen the effects of the nursing shortage over the last few years, with 7,000 New York City-based nurses going on strike at two hospitals earlier this year, and reports of over 50% of nurses considering leaving the profession in a recent survey. By presenting the option for nurses to work when they want, with no minimum requirement or particular schedule, they can approach the profession on their own terms, while helping facilities fulfill their much-needed shifts.

"With connectRN, I appreciate how I can pick up shifts once a week, once every two weeks, or however often fits my schedule," said Baylee Camp, Tennessee-based RN. "The fact that I have the option to work whenever I want makes nursing a profession that fits well with my other interests and priorities, and will hopefully widen opportunities for other hospital nurses who are looking to have more freedom over their schedules and daily routines."

connectRN plans to expand their hospital availability nationwide, most immediately focusing their efforts on facilities in Florida. In line with their ethos of community and inclusivity, the team will be kicking off this expansion with two free events in Fort Lauderdale exclusively for local RNs and LPNs - the first will be a networking event for nurses to learn more about connectRN's mission, with the second being an Orangetheory workout class .

About connectRN:

connectRN is the leading nurse community, created to connect nurses with each other, provide career support and deliver flexible work opportunities. By leveraging technology the platform allows access to work opportunities and vital resources nurses need to build a thriving career. connectRN is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts and serves clinicians across the U.S. To learn more about connectRN, please visit www.connectrn.com.

Media Contact: Lily Seibert, [email protected], 646-299-2491

SOURCE connectRN
Empowering Construction Professionals to Speak Up and Take Action for a Safer Workplace

ST. LOUIS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Construction Safety Week, the annual week-long campaign designed to unite the construction industry and recommit to a safe workplace, kicks off May 1 across job sites in the U.S. and Canada.

This year's theme is Strong Voices, Safe Choices, advocating for everyone in the workplace to be empowered and confident in using their voices when they see potential safety hazards.

Ahead of the Safety Week kickoff, workers and companies across the industry are encouraged to take a safety pledge between April 3 - May 4. This pledge reinforces their commitment to supporting and building a strong safety culture where they work. Participants will be entered into a giveaway for a chance to win one of ten $1,000 prizes. Ten grand prize winners will be selected based on their written submissions and will be announced during Safety Week. Details on how to participate in the pledge can be found at (www.constructionsafetyweek.com/pledge).

Construction Safety Week provides daily topics for companies to plan activities, conversations and demonstrations throughout the week. These topics include Engagement, Risk Identification, Brain Matters, Continued Education and Taking Action. Each topic allows workers and companies the opportunity to build trust and have deeper discussions on safety. Fundamental to these conversations are two key components of safety - mental wellness in the industry and encouraging the switch from traditional hard hats to safety helmets.

All workers and companies in the construction industry are invited and encouraged to participate in Construction Safety Week 2023. Free resources are available on the Construction Safety Week website and include promotional materials, discussion topics, event ideas, videos, at-home activities for families and materials translated into Spanish and French. Find these free tools at constructionsafetyweek.com .

"Safety in the industry is our top priority. Our goal is to provide the tools and resources for individuals and companies to continue making all job sites safer," said Mike Burke, 2023 Safety Week Chair and Alberici Chief Operating Officer. "We encourage those making a commitment to safety during the campaign to commit to a higher safety standard throughout the year. I look forward to Construction Safety Week and watching the industry come together for this united purpose."

About

Construction Safety Week is an annual event designed to raise the awareness of the industry's ongoing commitment to building a culture of safety through sharing best practices, tools and resources at job sites and offices across the U.S. and Canada. Safety Week was founded by members of The Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) and the Incident & Injury Free Executive Forum (IIF) and now includes 70 of the top contractors in the industry, representing thousands of workers. Additional support comes from Safety Week sponsors, partners, and advocates.

2023 Safety Week Members

Adolfson & Peterson Construction, Alberici, Aldridge Electric, Allan Myers, Ames Construction, APi Group, Atkinson Construction, Austin Industries, Baker Concrete Construction, Balfour Beatty, Barnard, Barton Malow, Black and Veatch, BMWC Constructors, BOH Bros, Brasfield & Gorrie, BrightView, Caddell Construction Co., Cashman Dredging and Marine, Cianbro, Clark Construction Group, Commercial Contracting Corporation, Doka USA, DPR Construction, Eldeco, Inc., Exyte, Flintco, LLC, Fluor, Forgen, Gaylor Electric, Gilbane Building Company, Graham, Granite, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, Gray, Haskell, Hensel Phelps Construction, Herzog, HITT, Hoffmann Construction Company, Holder Construction Company, Hunter Roberts Construction Group, J.F. Shea, Kiewit Corporation, Kokosing, Lane Construction, Limbach, Manson Construction Co., Massman Construction Co., McCarthy, Middlesex Corporation, Mortenson, NAXSA, PC Construction, PCL Construction, Phillips & Jordan Inc., Rodgers Builders, Rosendin Electric, Schimenti, Shimmick, Skanska, Stacy & Witbeck, Structural Group, Suffolk Construction, Sukut Construction, Sundt Construction, Superior Construction, Terracon, Traylor, Turner, Walsh, Webcor Concrete, Willmeng Construction, Yates, Zachry

2023 Safety Week Sponsors

Signature Sponsor: AGC of America

Additional Sponsors: The Beavers, Chubb, Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT), GPRS (Ground Penetrating Radar System), JMJ Consultants, Kask Helmets, Milwaukee Tool, National Academy of Construction (NAC), The Moles, Travelers, Zurich

SOURCE Construction Safety Week
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE: CS) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: March 10, 2022 to March 15, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 8, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in CS:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/credit-suisse-lawsuit-submission-form?id=38182&from=4

Credit Suisse Group AG NEWS - CS NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Credit Suisse Group AG made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) contrary to representations made in December 2022 by Credit Suisse's Chairman, Axel P. Lehmann, the sharp increase in customer outflows Credit Suisse began experiencing in October 2022 remained ongoing; (ii) accordingly, Credit Suisse had downplayed the impact of the Company's recent series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures on liquidity and its ability to retain client funds; (iii) as a result, Credit Suisse had overstated the Company's financial position and/or prospects; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Credit Suisse you have until May 8, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Credit Suisse securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the CS lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/credit-suisse-lawsuit-submission-form?id=38182&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
SOMERVILLE, Mass., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aitia, the leader in the application of causal AI and "Digital Twins" to discover and develop new drugs, announced today that data from its Multiple Myeloma Digital Twin model will be presented at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting being held from April 14-19 in Orlando, Florida.

The presentation will discuss Aitia's in-silico multiple myeloma (MM) patient causal model of overall survival (OS) based on transcriptomic expression, clinical, and genomic alteration data from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) CoMMpass dataset (IA19).

Details of the abstract and poster presentation are as follow:

Abstract Title: Infer cancer cell gene dependency in multiple myeloma using causal AI in-silico patient model

Session Title: Late-Breaking Research: Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Systems Biology, and Convergent Science 2

Session Date and Time: Tuesday Apr 18, 2023, 9:00 AM  12:30 PM

Location: Poster Section 34

Poster Board Number: 14

Abstract Presentation Number: LB181

The 2023 AACR Annual Meeting is the focal point of the cancer research community, where scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, survivors, patients, and advocates gather to share the latest advances in cancer science and medicine.

About Aitia

Aitia is the leader in the application of Causal AI and Digital Twins to discover the next generation of breakthrough drugs. By leveraging the convergence of multi-omic patient data, high-performance computing, and causal learning and AI, Aitia is revealing the hidden biological mechanisms of disease to create Digital Twins of disease in oncology, neurodegenerative disorders, and immunology. Gemini Digital Twins are being used today to discover novel therapies and accelerate R&D in multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Huntington's Disease, with several more in development. Aitia's partners include six of the top ten pharmaceutical companies, leading academic research and medical centers, medical societies, leading multi-omic data companies, and patient advocacy groups globally.

For more information, please visit www.aitiabio.com

Follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter

Media Contact

Zena Sfeir

Vice President of Marketing

T +1.617.374.2300

[email protected]

SOURCE Aitia
Denali's Automation Services and Solutions Allow Companies to Efficiently and Effectively Plan, Deploy, Manage and Integrate Automation Into their Businesses and Achieve Maximum ROI

REDMOND, Wash., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Denali Advanced Integration , a leading global technology integrator, today announced the availability of its services-led automation solutions. Denali's Automation-as-a-Service (AaaS) portfolio is now available to enterprises worldwide that need a partner to provide end-to-end automation services and solutions to support their Information and Operational Technology (IT/OT) environments, accelerate their businesses, and achieve maximum return on their technology investments.

Denali's AaaS provides design, engineering and integration expertise in a service-led, software-supported, and hardware-enabled model that manages the convergence of IT and OT requirements within customers' environments across manufacturing, transportation, logistics, retail, and healthcare industries. Denali's end-to-end automation solutions are fully supported and delivered on a global scale, giving multi-site and multi-national enterprise customers a trusted partner and adviser who can provide what customers need to seamlessly design, digitally transform, deploy, integrate and manage tailored, secure and compliant automation solutions while enabling them to experience optimal uptime and accelerated time to value. Denali's AaaS includes feasibility evaluation, design and certified engineering, enterprise application and interface development and testing, environment monitoring and solution maintenance, updates, and technical support. The solutions help customers integrate new and existing technology into their working environments to maximize investments and drive improvement in total cost of ownership.

Denali, as a global Operational Technology Systems Integrator, recently announced an expansion of its relationship with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Denali, leveraging computer vision, is providing AWS machine learning services delivered on the Edge as part of Denali's AaaS solutions. Denali's platform is designed to extend the availability of AWS's machine learning (ML) services in a productized solution that removes latency, affording customers the power of ML in a fully integrated solution with interconnectivity of devices and the ability to enable I/O for immediate business intelligence. Denali's AaaS solution will include an automated inspection application that focuses on defect detection, damage detection and assisted line clearance applications that can be executed in a flexible commercial model, resulting in a more efficient, productive and work-safe environment. The companies will demonstrate the new solution to customers in the AWS Booth (Hannover Messe, Hall 15, Booth D74) at Hannover Messe in Germany , April 17-21, 2023.

"For more than 30 years, we've been helping customers in almost every industry utilize technology to accelerate their business outcomes. Automation as a Service is the next stop on our journey," said Jen Pointer, EVP of Global Strategy at Denali. "For months, we've been talking to customers and working with our world-class team of experts and partners, like AWS, to develop and deliver a full-service automation solution that makes it easier for companies to deploy automation in the most efficient and cost-effective way."

"Automation, machine learning and machine vision are technologies that have the power, if utilized correctly, to completely transform a business. Our AaaS solution is designed to allow companies to fully realize the benefits of these technologiesincreasing productivity, streamlining processes, freeing up workers from repetitive tasks and utilizing data to automate quality inspection, to name a few while minimizing disruption of their operations and business," said Justin Long, VP Global Automation at Denali.

Denali's AaaS solution is available today to Denali customers worldwide. For more information visit: https://www.denaliai.com/en-us/solutions/automation/

Since 1992, Denali Advanced Integration has been delivering Enterprise IT solutions and services that help guide its clients through the most complex IT challenges. In addition to achieving CRN Triple Crown status the last two years - including in the publication's Solution Provider 500, the Fast Growth 150 and the Tech Elite 250 - Denali was named one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States by Inc. Magazine.

Media Contacts:

Kimberly Otzman

Guyer Group for Denali Advanced Integration

[email protected]

Phil LeClare

Guyer Group for Denali Advanced Integration

[email protected]

SOURCE Denali Advanced Integration
CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest research report, the dermal fillers market will grow at a CAGR of 8% during 2022-2028.

To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3771

Dermal Fillers Market Research Report by Arizton

Browse In-Depth TOC on the Dermal Fillers Market

148 - Tables

115 - Figures

282  Pages

The world is entering a dynamic era for aesthetics as cultural and consumer trends collide to create favorable conditions for exponential growth of the global dermal fillers market. The demand for dermal fillers has witnessed exceptional growth in recent years due to a high preference for minimally invasive treatments, a rise in disposable income, and the surge in awareness of aesthetic treatments. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the market for dermal fillers is expected to remain robust in the years due to periodic new product launches and the receptiveness of medical tourism worldwide.

Hyaluronic acid as a dermal filler has been quickly growing in popularity due to its natural ability to bind to water and add volume to the skin. It also provides many benefits, such as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin elasticity, and increasing hydration. Recent developments in hyaluronic acid dermal fillers include cross-linked hyaluronic acid, which has a higher resistance to degradation and lasts longer than traditional hyaluronic acid. Additionally, many fillers are now available in various particle sizes, allowing for more precise placement and predictable results. Finally, an increasing focus is on incorporating lidocaine into dermal fillers to reduce pain during and after injection.

Global Dermal Fillers Market Report Scope

Report Scope Details Market Size (2028) USD 9.13 Billion Market Size (2022) USD 5.74 Billion CAGR (2022-2028) 8.03 % Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 Market Segmentation Material, Application, Gender, End-User, and Geography Geographic Analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Countries Covered The US, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, France, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa Largest Market North America Market Dynamics  Increasing Demand for Non-invasive Aesthetic Procedures  Aging Demographics & Increasing Focus on Improving Appearance  Increasing Awareness & Expenditure on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Procedures

Looking for More Information? Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3771

Advances in Aesthetic Treatments & Product Launches Boosting the Market Growth

Over the last decade, the global dermal fillers market has witnessed the launch of advanced products and innovative non-invasive procedures. Rapid and varied changes in dermatology care and advances in technology in the field of aesthetics have paved the direction for innumerable procedures with fewer side effects. In recent years, there has been a considerable rise in demand for aesthetic treatments due to the development and launch of new products and treatments. Consumers are becoming extremely picky and demanding new treatments with fewer side effects, and therefore, several players are continuously updating their products in the market.

Recent Developments in the Market:

In 2022, Sinclair announced European CE Mark for Perfectha Lidocaine. The product has been available mainly in the UK and other European markets since Q1 2022.

In 2022, Merz Pharma launched Radiesse (+), an aesthetic injectable to improve moderate to a severe loss of jawline contour.

In September 2021 , TEOXANE received FDA approval for its RHA Redensity, a new dermal filler for treating facial lines and wrinkles. In 2020, TEOXANE signed a distribution agreement with Revance Therapeutics to distribute the US's RHA Collection of dermal fillers.

, TEOXANE received FDA approval for its RHA Redensity, a new dermal filler for treating facial lines and wrinkles. In 2020, TEOXANE signed a distribution agreement with Revance Therapeutics to distribute the US's RHA Collection of dermal fillers. In 2021, Galderma agreed with Sofregen to develop the next generation of bio-stimulator fillers using silk-based technology.

Galderma products have received approval in the US, China , and European countries. In 2021, the company received new approvals for China's Restylane Collection of dermal fillers. In 2021, FDA approved Restylane Defyne for chin augmentation. Also, the company has launched Restylane Eyelight, a new solution for under-eye shadows.

, and European countries. In 2021, the company received new approvals for Restylane Collection of dermal fillers. In 2021, FDA approved Restylane Defyne for chin augmentation. Also, the company has launched Restylane Eyelight, a new solution for under-eye shadows. In 2020, Sinclair announced an exclusive worldwide license agreement for injectable hyaluronic acid products.

North America Accounted for Over 33% of the Global Market Size

North America is the most dominant region in the global dermal fillers market, and in 2022, the region accounted for over 33% of the global market size. The growing awareness about aesthetic procedures, advanced technology usage, increasing disposable income, and availability of recovery centers contribute to the region's market growth. Further, every year, Americans spend billions of dollars on cosmetic procedures indicating high per capita expenditure and wide acceptance of medical aesthetic procedures in the region.

The booming European dermal fillers market is primarily driven by the increasing risk of skin aging, rising demand for minimally invasive aesthetic treatments, and the growing use of cosmeceuticals among consumers. In recent years, due to the aging population, the European population has been turning to dermal fillers to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Further, the APAC region is projected to witness the fastest growth rate in the global dermal fillers market during the forecast period. This growth results from advancements in the region's aesthetic treatments and cosmetics industry and increasing consumer demand for such treatments.

Better Access to Cosmetic Procedures & Rise in Medical Tourism Emerging as the Latest Trend in the Market

In recent years, medical tourism has witnessed exceptional growth. Medical tourism is traveling to a foreign country for medical care, often for procedures not typically addressed or covered in one's own country. Cosmetic procedures are now a major component of medical tourism. Cosmetic procedures are performed for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes rather than medical necessity. Patients may travel for cosmetic procedures for various reasons, including cost-effectiveness, a wider selection of treatments, more flexible appointment times, and improved privacy benefits.

Moreover, medical tourism provides access to a wider range of dermal fillers and related treatments for cost-effectiveness, convenience, and access to quality medical care. It also allows patients to have the procedure done by a more experienced and certified doctor at a fraction of the cost they would pay at home. Therefore, medical tourism is providing a better opportunity for vendors of dermal fillers in many ways.

Key Company Profiles

AbbVie

Galderma

Merz Pharma

Sinclair

TEOXANE

BioPlus

Biotech

Cytophil

Dr. Korman

FILLMED

HUGEL

Medytox

Prollenium Medical Technologies

Shanghai Bioha Technology

Suneva Medical

Market Segmentation

Material

Hyaluronic Acid

Non-hyaluronic Acid

Application

Lips & Cheeks Enhancement

Wrinkle & Scar Treatment

Restoration of Volume

Gender

Female

Male

End-user

Hospitals

Specialty & Dermatology Clinics

Medical Spa & Beauty Centers

Geography

North America

The US



Canada

Europe

Germany



Italy



Spain



The UK



France

APAC

China



Japan



South Korea



India



Australia

Latin America

Brazil



Argentina



Mexico

Middle East & Africa

& Turkey



Saudi Arabia



South Africa

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Sexual Lubricant Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2019-2024: The global personal lubricant market is expected to reach USD 2.11 billion by 2027. The increased usage of personal lubricants can also be attributed to the growing demand for other relatable personal wellness products. For instance, one of the major reasons for the increasing demand for Personal lubricants is the rising demand for sex toys worldwide. North America will be the largest market for Personal lubricants globally in 2021. Thereby, the market demand has a rapid steady growth in APAC countries.

Table of Content

1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

3 RESEARCH PROCESS

4 SCOPE & COVERAGE

4.1 MARKET DEFINITION

4.1.1 INCLUSIONS

4.1.2 EXCLUSIONS

4.1.3 MARKET ESTIMATION CAVEATS

4.2 BASE YEAR

4.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

4.3.1 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY MATERIAL

4.3.2 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION

4.3.3 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY GENDER

4.3.4 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY END-USER

4.3.5 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY GEOGRAPHY

5 REPORT ASSUMPTIONS & CAVEATS

5.1 KEY CAVEATS

5.2 CURRENCY CONVERSION

5.3 MARKET DERIVATION

6 MARKET AT A GLANCE

7 PREMIUM INSIGHTS

7.1 OVERVIEW

8 INTRODUCTION

8.1 OVERVIEW

8.1.1 INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

9 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES & TRENDS

9.1 RISE IN DEMAND FOR MALE AESTHETIC TREATMENTS

9.2 ADVANCES IN AESTHETIC TREATMENTS & PRODUCT LAUNCHES

9.3 BETTER ACCESS TO COSMETIC PROCEDURES & RISE IN MEDICAL TOURISM

10 MARKET GROWTH ENABLERS

10.1 SURGE IN DEMAND FOR NON-INVASIVE AESTHETIC PROCEDURES

10.2 AGING DEMOGRAPHICS & INCREASING FOCUS ON IMPROVING APPEARANCE

10.3 HIGH AWARENESS & EXPENDITURE ON AESTHETIC/COSMETIC PROCEDURES

11 MARKET RESTRAINTS

11.1 COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DERMAL FILLERS

11.2 HIGH COST OF DERMAL FILLERS

11.3 LACK OF REGULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF DERMAL FILLERS

12 MARKET LANDSCAPE

12.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

12.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

12.2.1 GEOGRAPHY INSIGHTS

12.2.2 MATERIAL SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

12.2.3 APPLICATION SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

12.2.4 GENDER SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

12.2.5 END-USER SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

12.3 FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

12.3.1 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS

12.3.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS

12.3.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS

12.3.4 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES

12.3.5 COMPETITIVE RIVALRY

13 MATERIAL

13.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

13.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3 HYALURONIC ACID

13.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.3.3 HYALURONIC ACID SEGMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

13.4 NON-HYALURONIC ACID

13.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.4.3 NON-HYALURONIC ACID SEGMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

14 APPLICATION

14.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

14.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3 LIPS & CHEEKS ENHANCEMENT

14.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.3.3 LIPS & CHEEKS ENHANCEMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

14.4 WRINKLE & SCAR TREATMENT

14.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.4.3 WRINKLE & SCAR TREATMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

14.5 RESTORATION OF VOLUME

14.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.5.3 RESTORATION OF VOLUME BY GEOGRAPHY

15 GENDER

15.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

15.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.3 FEMALE

15.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.3.3 FEMALE SEGMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

15.4 MALE

15.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.4.3 MALE SEGMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

16 END USER

16.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

16.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.3 HOSPITALS

16.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.3.3 HOSPITALS SEGMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

16.4 SPECIALTY & DERMATOLOGY CLINICS

16.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.4.3 SPECIALTY & DERMATOLOGY CLINICS BY GEOGRAPHY

16.5 MEDICAL SPAS & BEAUTY CENTERS

16.5.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

16.5.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

16.5.3 MEDICAL SPA & BEAUTY CENTERS GEOGRAPHY

17 GEOGRAPHY

17.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

17.2 GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW

18 NORTH AMERICA

18.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

18.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.2.1 NORTH AMERICA BY MATERIAL SEGMENTATION

18.2.2 NORTH AMERICA BY APPLICATION SEGMENTATION

18.2.3 NORTH AMERICA BY GENDER SEGMENTATION

18.2.4 NORTH AMERICA BY END-USER SEGMENTATION

18.3 KEY COUNTRIES

18.3.1 US: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.3.2 CANADA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19 EUROPE

19.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

19.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.2.1 EUROPE BY MATERIAL SEGMENTATION

19.2.2 EUROPE BY APPLICATION SEGMENTATION

19.2.3 EUROPE BY GENDER SEGMENTATION

19.2.4 EUROPE BY END-USER SEGMENTATION

19.3 KEY COUNTRIES

19.3.1 GERMANY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.3.2 ITALY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.3.3 SPAIN: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.3.4 UK: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.3.5 FRANCE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20 APAC

20.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

20.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.2.1 APAC BY MATERIAL SEGMENTATION

20.2.2 APAC BY APPLICATION SEGMENTATION

20.2.3 APAC BY GENDER SEGMENTATION

20.2.4 APAC BY END-USER SEGMENTATION

20.3 KEY COUNTRIES

20.3.1 CHINA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.3.2 JAPAN: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.3.3 SOUTH KOREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.3.4 INDIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.3.5 AUSTRALIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21 LATIN AMERICA

21.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

21.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.2.1 LATIN AMERICA BY MATERIAL SEGMENTATION

21.2.2 LATIN AMERICA BY APPLICATION SEGMENTATION

21.2.3 LATIN AMERICA BY GENDER SEGMENTATION

21.2.4 LATIN AMERICA BY END-USER SEGMENTATION

21.3 KEY COUNTRIES

21.3.1 BRAZIL: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.3.2 ARGENTINA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.3.3 MEXICO: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

22.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

22.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22.2.1 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA BY MATERIAL SEGMENTATION

22.2.2 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA BY APPLICATION SEGMENTATION

22.2.3 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA BY GENDER SEGMENTATION

22.2.4 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA BY END-USER SEGMENTATION

22.3 KEY COUNTRIES

22.3.1 TURKEY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22.3.2 SAUDI ARABIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22.3.3 SOUTH AFRICA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

23 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

23.1 COMPETITION OVERVIEW

23.2 MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

23.2.1 ABBVIE

23.2.2 GALDERMA

23.2.3 MERZ PHARMA

23.2.4 SINCLAIR

23.2.5 TEOXANE

24 KEY COMPANY PROFILES

24.1 ABBVIE

24.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

24.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

24.1.3 KEY STRATEGIES

24.1.4 KEY STRENGTHS

24.1.5 KEY OPPORTUNITIES

24.2 GALDERMA

24.3 MERZ PHARMA

24.4 SINCLAIR

24.5 TEOXANE

25 OTHER PROMINENT VENDORS

25.1 BIOPLUS

25.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

25.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

25.2 BIOTECH

25.3 CYTOPHIL

25.4 DR. KORMAN

25.5 FILLMED

25.6 HUGEL

25.7 MEDYTOX

25.8 PROLLENIUM MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES

25.9 SHANGHAI BIOHA TECHNOLOGY

25.10 SUNEVA MEDICAL

26 REPORT SUMMARY

26.1 KEY TAKEAWAYS

26.2 STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

27 QUANTITATIVE SUMMARY

27.1 BY MATERIAL SEGMENTATION

27.1.1 NORTH AMERICA BY MATERIAL

27.1.2 EUROPE BY MATERIAL

27.1.3 APAC BY MATERIAL

27.1.4 LATIN AMERICA BY MATERIAL

27.1.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA BY MATERIAL

27.2 BY APPLICATION SEGMENTATION

27.2.1 NORTH AMERICA BY APPLICATION

27.2.2 EUROPE BY APPLICATION

27.2.3 APAC BY APPLICATION

27.2.4 LATIN AMERICA BY APPLICATION

27.2.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA BY APPLICATION

27.3 BY GENDER SEGMENTATION

27.3.1 NORTH AMERICA BY GENDER

27.3.2 EUROPE BY GENDER

27.3.3 APAC BY GENDER

27.3.4 LATIN AMERICA BY GENDER SEGMENT

27.3.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA BY GENDER

27.4 BY END-USER SEGMENTATION

27.4.1 NORTH AMERICA BY END USER

27.4.2 EUROPE BY END USER

27.4.3 APAC BY END USER

27.4.4 LATIN AMERICA BY END USER

27.4.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA BY END USER

27.5 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

27.5.1 HYALURONIC ACID SEGMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

27.5.2 NON-HYALURONIC ACID SEGMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

27.5.3 LIPS & CHEEKS ENHANCEMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

27.5.4 WRINKLE & SCAR TREATMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

27.5.5 RESTORATION OF VOLUME BY GEOGRAPHY

27.5.6 HOSPITALS SEGMENT BY GEOGRAPHY

27.5.7 SPECIALTY & DERMATOLOGY CLINICS BY GEOGRAPHY

27.5.8 MEDICAL SPAS & BEAUTY CENTERS GEOGRAPHY

28 APPENDIX

28.1 ABBREVIATIONS

About Us:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

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SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
Bets Big on Non-Alcoholic Beer for Next Chapter

BEND, Ore., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Deschutes Brewery brings non-alcoholic (NA) beer capabilities in-house through a new strategic partnership with Sustainable Beverage Technologies ("SBT"). Strengthening its commitment to the category, Deschutes is investing in SBT's patented BrewVo technology at the brewery's production facility in Bend to produce and package non-alcoholic beverages at scale. As an independent craft brewery known for helping pioneer the U.S. craft beer movement since 1988, Deschutes continues to lead and innovate with its award-winning non-alcoholic beer. This partnership reflects the brewery's dedication to expanding its NA beer portfolio and taking share in this rapidly growing category.

"As consumer attitudes toward alcohol consumption evolve, we're expanding our capabilities to scale this highest-quality non-alcoholic beer that rivals the flavor and aroma experience of a full-strength craft beer across the U.S. and beyond," said Peter Skrbek, CEO of Deschutes Brewery. "Bringing non-alcoholic production in-house opens the door to expansion in a top growing sub-category of craft."

After evaluating multiple technologies for dealcoholization Deschutes Brewery is confident the BrewVo technology is superior to other methods at delivering the highest quality and best tasting non-alcoholic product. Deschutes Brewery originally partnered with SBT for the release of a non-alcoholic Stout, Irish Dark in 2020 and by early 2022 launched the groundbreaking alcohol-free version of the brewery's porter, Black Butte Non-Alcoholic which utilizes all the same specialty malts and hops as the original for a full-flavor experience consumers expect from the number-one-selling craft porter in the U.S.

"SBT has been an extraordinary partner. We weren't prepared for the level of consumer excitement for the Black Butte Non-Alcoholic launch which quickly became the highest-velocity product in our portfolio. Bringing the production capability in-house is a game changer."

Since its launch, Black Butte Non-Alcoholic has become a gold medal-winning brand, receiving awards in NA categories of every competition entered including the World Beer Cup and Best of Craft Beer Awards.

"The team at SBT is very excited to be partnering with a world-class craft brewer in Deschutes - a true pioneer in innovation," said SBT CEO Gary Tickle. "We share a deep passion for quality and with BrewVo technology, we will drive growth and category expansion with exceptional NA beers."

The brewery expects to be producing non-alcoholic beer onsite by the end of the year and in the meantime developing exciting new Deschutes Brewery NA beers for consumers.

About Sustainable Beverage Technologies

Headquartered in Golden, Colorado, Sustainable Beverage Technologies ("SBT") is a growth-oriented company focused on re-imagining the beer marketspace through revolutionary technological innovations. SBT is focused on delivering superior quality products and processes that are highly profitable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. Through partnerships with high-quality craft breweries and beer distributors, SBT strives to transform the beer market. Since the company's founding in 2010, SBT has introduced patented breakthrough technologies and processes that support the industry value chain, while building a world-class team. To learn more about sustainable solutions from SBT visit www.BrewVo.com .

About Deschutes Brewery

Deschutes Brewery is an independent craft brewery in Bend, Oregon and is family, and employee-owned since 1988. Founded on the guiding principles of true craftsmanship and ultimate quality, Deschutes is known as a leader in hops, dark beer, innovative India Pale Ales, and small-batch experimental and barrel-aged beers. Deschutes Brewery is crafted for community, committed to sustainable business practices and support of charitable organizations across our distribution footprint. Visit Deschutes Brewery's beer finder to find a Deschutes beer near you in 36 states across the country. To learn more about Deschutes Brewery visit www.deschutesbrewery.com.

Media Contacts:

Sustainable Beverage Technologies Gary Tickle [email protected]

Deschutes Brewery Erin Rankin, (541) 385-8606, [email protected]

SOURCE Sustainable Beverage Technologies
Drones in tequila farming to build data on agave plants to drive better farming decisions, reduce water and fertilizer use and decrease the use of vehicles to reduce carbon emissions

Drones work in partnership to collect data on agave plants, identify when the crops need support and dispense the required amount of a unique water fertilizer mix

Supports the continued growth of Diageo's tequila business and progress towards Diageo's ESG action plan, Society 2030: Spirit of Progress

LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, producer of Don Julio and Casamigos tequilas, continues to innovate and has introduced the use of drones on its agave farms in Jalisco, Mexico, following up a successful pilot conducted in 2022. This has enabled Diageo to upskill its agave planters for the future of the ever-growing tequila industry, and build their digital capability in flying the drones, integrating more efficient farming practices and drive environmental benefits.

Diageo introduces drones to drive farming efficiency and environmental benefits across tequila farming in Mexico

Since mid-2022, drones have been in action to identify which agave plants need the pesticide and fertilizer water mix and how much, to ensure precious water resources are used only where needed, whilst driving efficiency across agave farming. Agave plants are the key ingredient in making tequila.

The drones work in pairs: one to identify the plants that need attention and collect data on the growth of the agave plants, and the other dispenses a unique water fertilizer and pesticide mix where needed at night when the stomata is open. The collection of data has helped the agave planters to make better decisions on resource use.

The data has also shown the best time of day to feed the plants is the early hours of the morning when its cooler, there is less wind to reduce water loss and when the agave plant is more receptive to water. This has resulted in water use dropping by an expected two thirds, an important saving of precious resources. The drones have the capacity to fly over Diageo's agave fields, so fewer tractors are needed to be driven across the farmland, which has a secondary benefit of reducing carbon emissions.

Ewan Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, said: "As the demand for tequila continues to grow, we want to be able to increase our farming efficiency, but in a way that is also kind to the planet. This initiative is a perfect example of the two coming together. It's an exciting way in which we're using technological innovation to boost production, upskill our famers, and help us to meet our 2030 sustainability goals."

The use of the drones has also enabled agave planters to spend their time continuing to plant and nurturing the new agave. In Diageo's half-year results announced in January 2023, the company reported its tequila business grew 28%, securing its position as the number one producer of tequila in the world1.

Wellington Pauperio, Director for Supply Tequila & Mezcal at Diageo commented: "We're incredibly proud to be pioneering the use of drones across our agave farming, to improve efficiency in our agriculture operations while leading our industry innovation and technology adoption. This initiative also brings additional capabilities for our team, new opportunities for personnel in the communities we operate, and contributes to a more sustainable world by reducing the use of resources including water mix across our plantations. It has been a great cross-team collaboration for us to reach this point, and the results are speaking for themselves as we look into a better future."

The efficiency and precision agriculture efforts resulting from drone use, contribute to Diageo's 2030 ESG action plan, Society 2030: Spirit of Progress. Within the plan, Diageo has committed to preserve the natural resources on which our long-term success depends including to reduce its water use in water-stressed areas by 40% by 2030, and by 30% in all other areas.

To find out more on Diageo's sustainability action and commitments visit diageo.com

1. IWSR 2022

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JB and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives and ways to share best practice.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9yuW6t7PVA

SOURCE Diageo
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.

Editor: WXL
CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The dPCR and qPCR industry is expected to experience significant growth in the near future. This is due to the increasing demand for precise, accurate, and efficient detection of nucleic acids for various applications, such as gene expression analysis, disease diagnosis, and food safety testing. Furthermore, the development of highly sensitive and specific instruments, reagents, and assays for dPCR and qPCR are expected to drive the market growth. Additionally, the introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods, such as single-cell sequencing, is expected to further fuel the growth of the dPCR and qPCR industry. Moreover, the increasing demand for personalized medicine and rapid diagnostics is expected to create numerous opportunities for the dPCR and qPCR industry.

Digital PCR (dPCR) and Real-time PCR (qPCR) Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $8.5 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $12.4 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growth of this market is due to factors such as the rising incidence and prevalence of target infectious diseases and genetic disorders, continuous advancements in PCR technologies and growing importance of PCR in biomarker discovery, increasing investments, and funds.

Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=174151204

Browse in-depth TOC on "Digital PCR (dPCR) and Real-time PCR (qPCR) Market"

502 - Tables

47 - Figures

488 - Pages

Digital PCR (dPCR) and Real-time PCR (qPCR) Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $8.5 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $12.4 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% Market Size Available for 20212028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product & Service, Application, End user and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America (LATAM) and Middle East and Africa (MEA) Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Growing market penetration in emerging countries offers significant growth opportunities for market players Key Market Drivers Rising incidence and prevalence of target infectious diseases and genetic disorders is likely to upsurge the market growth

qPCR and dPCR reagents and consumables accounted for the largest share of global dPCR and qPCR market

Based on products & services, the qPCR market is categorized into reagents and consumables, instruments and software & services. The qPCR reagents and consumables segment is expected to command the largest share of the qPCR products & services market in 2023. The dPCR and qPCR products are increasingly used by researchers and healthcare professionals due to the ongoing automation and miniaturization of qPCR/dPCR instruments, the commercialization of advanced software, and the availability of customized laboratory reagents. The increasing adoption of MIQE guidelines across the globe is also driving the use of qPCR/dPCR reagents among researchers. Expanding applications of qPCR (owing to its technological benefits over traditional PCR, such as real-time analysis and reduced analysis time), are expected to drive the growth of the reagents and consumables market.

Clinical application segment accounted for the largest share of qPCR market

Based on application, the qPCR and dPCR market is categorized into clinical applications (Infectious Disease Testing, Oncology Testing, Blood Screening, Transplant Diagnostics and Other Clinical Applications), research applications, environmental applications, forensic applications and other applications. The clinical applications segment is estimated to dominate the Dpcr & qPCR applications market in 2022. The clinical applications segment is estimated to dominate the qPCR applications market during the forecast period. The key factors driving the market growth include the growing usage of qPCR in disease diagnosis, rising incidence of infectious and genetic diseases, and growing public emphasis on early & effective disease diagnosis & treatment.

The clinical applications segment is expected to account for the largest share of the digital PCR (dPCR) market in 2022. The technological benefits offered by dPCR over qPCR & traditional PCR (such as high flexibility, increased device sensitivity, better precision, and absolute quantification of target molecule), the growing adoption of dPCR among hospitals & diagnostic centers, and the increasing global burden of cancer & AIDS are key factors that will drive the market for clinical applications during the study period. The key factors driving the market growth of clinical applications segment include the growing usage of qPCR in disease diagnosis, rising incidence of infectious and genetic diseases, and growing public emphasis on early & effective disease diagnosis & treatment.

The hospitals and diagnostic laboratories is the largest and fastest growing end user segment of the qPCR & dpcr market

On the basis of end user, the dPCR and qPCR market is segmented into Hospitals and Diagnostic Laboratories, Academic and Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, CROs and CDMOs, Forensic Laboratories, and Other End Users. In 2022, the hospitals and diagnostic centers segment accounted for the largest share of the real-time PCR (qPCR) market. This can be attributed to the increasing market availability of qPCR reagents for clinical diagnostic applications, the ongoing expansion of healthcare infrastructure across emerging countries, the high prevalence of target diseases, and growing awareness among end users related to the benefits offered by qPCR for clinical diagnosis.

In 2022, the hospitals and diagnostic centers segment accounted for the largest share of the dPCR market. This can be attributed to the growing demand for early and efficient disease diagnosis and treatment, the increasing number of dPCR product launches for diagnostic applications, the benefits offered by dPCR in disease diagnosis (as compared to other PCR technologies), and the growing public awareness related to the benefits offered by dPCR in disease diagnosis.

North America accounted for the largest share of the dPCR and qPCR market

On the basis of region, In 2022, North America accounted for the largest share of the digital PCR (dPCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR) market, followed by Europe. The North American digital PCR (dPCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR) market is driven by the increased adoption of innovative and novel genomic analysis products (including advanced qPCR and dPCR products), availability of R&D funding for genomics research (coupled with the robust research infrastructure in the region), expanding use of PCR techniques in clinical diagnostics and forensics, and the early commercialization of qPCR/dPCR products in North America as compared to other regions.

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Digital PCR (dPCR) and Real-time PCR (qPCR) Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Rising incidence and prevalence of target infectious diseases and genetic disorders Continuous advancements in PCR technologies Growing importance of PCR in biomarker discovery

Restraints:

High device costs associated with dPCR Technical limitations of qPCR and dPCR

Opportunities:

Growing market penetration in emerging countries

Challenges:

Time-consuming methodology involving sample handling and post-PCR analysis Lack of accuracy & standardization in protocols

Key Market Players:

The prominent players operating in the dPCR and qPCR market are Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Danaher Corporation (US), and F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd. (Switzerland).

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Recent Developments:

In October 2022 , Roche received FDA clearance for the COVID-19 PCR test for use on cobas 6800/8800 systems. The cobas SARS-CoV-2 Qualitative test is one of the first COVID-19 PCR tests performed on an automated, high-throughput platform to receive FDA 510(k) clearance.

, Roche received FDA clearance for the COVID-19 PCR test for use on cobas 6800/8800 systems. The cobas SARS-CoV-2 Qualitative test is one of the first COVID-19 PCR tests performed on an automated, high-throughput platform to receive FDA 510(k) clearance. In August 2022 , Roche launched the Digital LightCycler System, Roche's first digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system that will help clinical researchers better understand the nature of a patient's cancer, genetic disease, or infection.

, Roche launched the Digital LightCycler System, Roche's first digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system that will help clinical researchers better understand the nature of a patient's cancer, genetic disease, or infection. In May 2022 , QIAGEN ( Netherlands ) acquired BLIRT S.A. ( Poland ) which produces kits for the isolation of DNA and RNA, as well as reagents for reverse transcription and real-time PCR.

, QIAGEN ( ) acquired BLIRT S.A. ( ) which produces kits for the isolation of DNA and RNA, as well as reagents for reverse transcription and real-time PCR. In September 2021 , Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System, the first fully integrated digital PCR (dPCR) system designed to provide highly accurate and consistent results within 90 minutes.

, Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio Absolute Q Digital PCR System, the first fully integrated digital PCR (dPCR) system designed to provide highly accurate and consistent results within 90 minutes. In June 2020 , Cepheid Inc. received US FDA EUA for the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV test.

Digital PCR (dPCR) and Real-time PCR (qPCR) Market Advantages:

dPCR and qPCR are both very sensitive, allowing for detection and quantification of even trace amounts of DNA or RNA.

dPCR and qPCR can both be used to determine the amount of specific genetic material present in a sample.

dPCR and qPCR are both fast and efficient, allowing for rapid and accurate results.

dPCR and qPCR can both be used to identify and quantify multiple targets in a single sample.

dPCR and qPCR can both be used to detect mutations, SNPs, and other genetic variations.

dPCR and qPCR are both cost-effective, making them ideal for use in clinical and research applications.

dPCR and qPCR can both be used to monitor gene expression, allowing for the identification of differentially expressed genes.

Digital PCR (dPCR) and Real-time PCR (qPCR) Market - Report Highlights:

Market sizes are updated for the base year 2022 and forecasted from 2023 to 2028.

The new edition of the report provides updated financial information till 2022 for each listed company based on the availability of data. This will help in the easy analysis of the present status of profiled companies in terms of their financial strength, profitability, key revenue-generating region/country, and business segment focus in terms of the highest revenue-generating segment.

The updated study includes additional market dynamics, technological analysis, indicative pricing, key conferences & events from 2022 to 2023, ecosystem analysis, key stakeholders & buying criteria, supply chain analysis, regulatory information, value chain analysis, patent analysis, the recession impact, and Porter's five forces analysis of the dPCR and qPCR market in the market overview chapter.

The revised research study includes the impact of the recession on the digital PCR and real-time PCR market.

The product & service segment is updated with the further segmentation of digital PCR instruments into droplet digital PCR, chip-based digital PCR, and beaming digital PCR.

Competitive landscape chapter of the report is updated with the market evaluation framework, market share analysis, revenue share analysis, company evaluation matrix and competitive benchmarking of top players and emerging companies.

The new edition of the report provides an updated product portfolio of the companies profiled in the report. Tracking product portfolios of prominent market players helps to analyze the major products in the digital PCR and real-time PCR market.

The new study includes updated market developments of profiled players from January 2020 to March 2023 . Recent developments are helpful to understand market trends and growth strategies adopted by players in the market.

Related Reports:

Next Generation Sequencing Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

In Vitro Diagnostics Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Bioinformatics Market - Global Forecasts to 2027

Laboratory Freezers Market - Global Forecasts to 2026

Life Science Instrumentation Market - Global Forecasts to 2025

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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.

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Fast-casual Mexican Restaurant Emerges as a Leader in the Industry

FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- District Taco , a fast-casual Mexican restaurant serving fresh, healthy and authentic Yucatan-inspired creations, is continuing their expansion after signing development deals nationwide. District Taco currently has 14 locations open throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. The company plans to open 10 to 15 franchised locations each year, hitting 80 locations by 2027.

Within the last six months, District Taco signed multi-unit development deals that will bring 40 locations to Central and West Florida, 10 to New Jersey, and 10 to the Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads, and Tidewater areas of Virginia.

District Taco is differentiated in the market by its Yucatan flavor profile, inspired by their co-founder's family recipes. They proudly serve breakfast and lunch tacos, burritos, bowls, salads, quesadillas, and more. Never wanting to compromise quality, the brand ensures freshness by preparing their food daily. Chiles and tomatoes are roasted on the premises, grilled meats are marinated with a secret combination of citrus and spices that are indigenous to the Yucatan region, and chips and salsa are made in-house daily. Their innovative menu items are fully customizable, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

"We're excited to expand District Taco's presence and have established a unique concept and franchising model to support our franchise partners," said Vice President of Franchise Development, Tina Gantz. "Fueling our expansion with motivated partners is just one way for us to continue our mission of providing customers with an experience that exceeds expectations, from our high-quality ingredients, to our outstanding customer service."

This brand was born of the ingenuity of Osiris Hoil and his neighbor, Marc Wallace and built on the American dream. Hoil moved to the United States from Mexico in the hopes of becoming an entrepreneur. When he lost his construction job due to the 2008 housing bubble, he combined his passion for Mexican cooking with his new American lifestyle. From its humble beginnings in 2009 as a food cart serving breakfast tacos, today District Taco has emerged as a leading multi-unit restaurant franchise.

Today, District Taco is at the forefront of innovation. Their tech stack is accessed through a proprietary portal to simplify operations for owners and to streamline the guest experience. This includes easy online ordering, a custom mobile app, an exciting new loyalty program for increased customer engagement, and more.

"District Taco began as a small dream and has now expanded across several states due to our commitment to serving fresh, authentic Mexican food and our focus on innovation," said Co-Founder Osiris Hoil. "This is an exciting step for our brand and we are making a name for ourselves as leaders in the industry."

District Taco is actively seeking franchise partners. Top candidates include multi-unit operators or senior restaurant professionals with experience operating five or more restaurants who are motivated to grow with an emerging franchise brand.

For more information about District Taco Franchising, please visit https://franchising.districttaco.com/

ABOUT DISTRICT TACO

In 2009, two neighbors got together over some homemade chips, salsa and guacamole and decided to launch a District Taco food cart. Since then, District Taco has grown to fourteen locations and employs more than 300 people in and around Washington D.C. and Philadelphia metro areas. Their mission is to serve quality - Yucatan style  Mexican food that is fresh, simple and healthful, with a fully customizable menu that includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. At District Taco, food is made fresh daily from the highest quality ingredients. They strive to limit their impact on the environment by serving in environmentally friendly packaging where possible. For more information about District Taco or their menu, and to download the app, visit districttaco.com or follow on Twitter @DistrictTaco, Instagram @DistrictTaco, and Facebook/districttaco.

SOURCE District Taco
Limited-quantity, DOLE Golden Selection Pineapples

boast a deeper golden color, more aromatic fragrance

and sweeter and juicier tropical flavor

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The global leader in pineapples since 1901, Dole Food Company is introducing a new juicier and more aromatic and golden pineapple in response to consumer demand for a sweeter pineapple-eating experience.

DOLE(R) Golden Selection(R) Pineapple

The fresh produce leader's new DOLE Golden Selection Pineapple arrives at select supermarkets in the US and Canada in mid-April. Sustainably grown exclusively in Costa Rica, the new fruit has been expertly cultivated to taste sweeter, shine brighter and offer a more vibrant tropical flavor that balances the pineapple's customary sweet and tart sensations while elevating the indulgent taste experience.

Less than 6% of all DOLE Pineapples possess the taste and appearance qualifications necessary to be tagged a DOLE Golden Selection Pineapple. The new fruit will be available in limited quantities based on seasonality and availability.

"In the 122 years that Dole has been cultivating pineapples in Hawaii, Central and South America and throughout the tropics, we've learned what it takes to grow the world's best, most beloved fruit," said Dole Director of Corporate Communications William Goldfield. "While all Dole pineapples are tender, sweet and packed with nutrients, healthy enzymes and Vitamins B6 and C, these new Golden Selection Pineapples glow and taste just a little brighter."

Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Dole's nutrition and health communications manager, has identified a number of dishes from Dole's vast online recipe library that best showcase the enhanced sweetness of the DOLE Golden Selection Pineapple including Pineapple Carpaccio, Dole Mango Pineapple Salad, Cool Summer Gazpacho Salad, Ginger-Chili Ahi Tuna Poke Skewers and Magic Carpet Lemon Curd Cups, created in honor of Princess Jasmine for Disney's Ultimate Princess Celebration.

For more information, visit the new DOLE Golden Selection Pineapple web page.

To access other Dole recipes, plus fresh products, healthy-living tips and inspiration, go to www.dole.com.

About Dole Food Company

Dole plc is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole plc is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

Media Contacts :

Bob Ochsner or AnnMarie Motley Rocket Launch for Dole

(949) 233-0984

SOURCE Dole Food Company
Technology leaders from Coca-Cola, Colgate, Chevron, Duke Energy, Mercedes-Benz, Pfizer, Walmart, and others will come together to share how they're using AR/VR/MR (XR) to streamline operations, enable hybrid work, accelerate training, reimagine the customer experience, cut costs, and more.

HOUSTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of the world's most profitable and well-known companies are already using XR to deliver the benefits of digitization to workers and customers. These organizations are seeing ROI in the form of faster training, shorter design cycles, increased uptime, lower costs, reduced waste, higher quality, brand awareness, and more.

Hear how the world's biggest companies are leveraging XR/Metaverse today and preparing for the future of work Oct 24-26. Tweet this Witness the immersive workplace revolution at the only AR/VR/MR (XR) conference fully dedicated to enterprise: The Augmented Enterprise Summit.

Hear from those driving XR and other emerging technologies in the workplace at the 2023 Augmented Enterprise Summit October 24-26 in Houston. As always, the event will feature a world-class lineup of enterprise end users along with the largest curated expo of enterprise-ready XR solutions. Organizations at every stage of adoption will get to hear how the world's biggest companies are leveraging XR, try out the top hardware/software, and benchmark across industry lines.

"[Augmented Enterprise] has consolidated its position as the nexus of the growing enterprise XR ecosystem, with the ability to bring together both [extended] reality companies and the large enterprises that are now testing and implementing XR solutions."  Forbes

The Speakers

Innovators from companies like ExxonMobil, GM, Mary Kay, Nestle Purina, PepsiCo, and Toyota will share insight into adopting and scaling XR and related emerging tech for applications such as remote support, collaboration, work instructions, training, design, marketing, and sales.

The Program

The comprehensive educational program includes case studies across industry verticals with deep discussions on specific immersive applications, best practices, cybersecurity, adjacent technologies like 5G, AI and Web3, IIoT, the Metaverse, and more.

The Exhibit

Get hands-on in the carefully curated expo of AR glasses, MR/VR headsets and accessories, body-worn sensors, and other connected devices ready for deployment today, including solutions from Meta, RealWear, PTC, ArborXR, Holo-Light, Augmentir, Vuzix, Strivr, Mytaverse, and more.

Registration for the event is now open. Space is limited. Early bird rates are available for a short time. For more information and to register, visit www.augmentedenterprisesummit.com .

Official Event Brochure: https://learn.augmentedenterprisesummit.com/2023-attendee-information-guide

Contact

Jeffrey Friedman

[email protected]

(914) 874-5144

Press

Emily Sitnikova

[email protected]

(914) 479-2167

SOURCE Augmented Enterprise Summit
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs market size is forecast to increase by USD 1.20 billion from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 6.1%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, rising awareness of ED, and the high prevalence of conditions resulting in ED. Technavio offers an up-to-date analysis of the current global market scenario and the overall market environment. View a Sample Report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Drugs Market

Technavio categorizes the global erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs market Vendor Analysis:

The market landscape of the global ED drugs market is dominated by key vendors. Technavio has extensively analyzed 15 major vendors, including Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., Bayer AG, Cadila Healthcare Ltd., Cipla Ltd., Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd., Eli Lilly and Co., Endo International Plc, Futura Medical plc, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Innovcare Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd., Lupin Ltd., Pfizer Inc., SK Chemicals Co. Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., TTK Healthcare Ltd., Viatris Inc., VIVUS Inc., and Sanzyme (P) Ltd.

Vendor Offerings -

Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. - The company offers erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs such as Sildenafil Tablets.

The company offers erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs such as Sildenafil Tablets. Bayer AG - The company offers erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs such as Levitra.

The company offers erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs such as Levitra. Cipla Ltd. - The company offers erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs such as Stendra.

Data about market vendors have been covered in this report. Download the Sample Report

Key Benefits for Industry Players & Stakeholders 

The report offers information on the criticality of vendor inputs, including R&D, CAPEX, and technology.

It also provides detailed analyses of the market's competitive landscape and vendors' product offerings.

The report also provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.

Expand operations in the future - To get requisite details, ask for a custom report.

Market Segmentation:

The report extensively covers erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs market segmentation by product (oral drugs, topical drugs, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)).

The market share growth by the oral drugs segment will be significant during the forecast period. Due to their simple route of administration and high bioavailability, oral medications have the advantage of high patient compliance. Due to their ease of self-administration or administration, these drugs have dominated the market for a long time. In addition, these medications can be purchased over-the-counter, which is a major factor in their substantial market share.

Get a holistic overview of the market by industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample

Market Dynamics:

Key Drivers:

One driver fueling growth in the erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs market is the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.

Loss of desire, issues with orgasms, and pain during sex are all symptoms of sexual dysfunction disorders, which are more prevalent in women than in men.

Hormonal factors, irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, a lack of vaginal lubrication, and inability to conceive are some of the factors that contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction disorders in women.

Diabetes is one example of a chronic illness that can lead to female sexual dysfunction. It is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide.

Patients with diabetes might have a few clinical circumstances, including overweight, hypertension, corpulence, metabolic condition, cigarette smoking, and atherogenic dyslipidemia, which are risk factors for sexual brokenness.

The global ED drugs market is expected to expand during the forecast period as a result of the rising prevalence of these conditions worldwide, which is expected to increase the patient pool with a large number of men and women suffering from sexual dysfunction.

Major Trends:

The increasing use of drugs causing ED in women is a factor supporting the erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs market share growth.

Contraceptives, antipsychotics, antiepileptics, and several other drug classes can cause women to experience sexual dysfunction.

Women's sexual desire decreases when they take drugs such as beta-blockers. Alpha-adrenergic medications, for example, clonidine and prazosin, additionally lessen sexual excitement in women.

Similar issues arise when taking antidepressants for sexual reasons. Up to 90% of depression patients experience difficulties with orgasm when taking the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine. Dopamine receptor blockade is the root cause of the majority of ED cases.

This results in hyperprolactinemia, which then suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and causes hypogonadism in women.

The use of such drugs will raise the incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED), which will increase the demand for ED medications.

Key Challenges:

The patent expiry of blockbuster drugs will be a key challenge hampering the erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs market during the forecast period.

The most popular drugs in the world for erectile dysfunction (ED) have either already expired or are about to expire. VIAGRA (Pfizer), CIALIS (Eli Lilly), LEVITRA, and STAXYN (Bayer) are the most popular drugs on the market.

For example, the licenses for VIAGRA lapsed in December 2017 in the US. Pfizer and Teva Pharmaceuticals have settled a patent litigation dispute, and in December 2017 , the generic version of VIAGRA was made available in the US.

in the US. Pfizer and Teva Pharmaceuticals have settled a patent litigation dispute, and in , the generic version of VIAGRA was made available in the US. This was done in order for Pfizer to make up for the losses it suffered as a result of the patent expiry. There are few legal steps involved in manufacturing a generic drug, and production costs are also low.

As a result, a major obstacle for the market is the emergence of numerous generic versions with lower prices than branded versions.

To get detailed insights about drives, trends, and challenges, buy the report

What are the key data covered in this Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Drugs Market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Drugs Market between 2022 and 2026

Precise estimation of the size of the Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Drugs Market size and its contribution to the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Drugs Market industry across North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)

, , , and Rest of World (ROW) A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Drugs Market vendors

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The kaposi sarcoma market size has the potential to grow by USD 20.89 million during 2020-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 3.10%. This report provides a detailed analysis of the market by treatment type (HAART, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy), geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW), and key vendors. The rising number of organ transplants will drive the global kaposi sarcoma market growth during the estimated period.

The sarcoma therapeutics market size is expected to increase by USD 1.18 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9%. The report extensively covers sarcoma therapeutics market segmentation by type (soft tissue sarcoma and osteosarcoma) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, and Rest of the World (ROW)). One of the factors driving the global sarcoma therapeutics market growth is the patient assistance programs due to the increasing cost of therapeutics for the treatment of various oncology indications.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Drugs Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.1% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 1.20 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 4.76 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key countries US, Canada, Germany, UK, and China Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., Bayer AG, Cadila Healthcare Ltd., Cipla Ltd., Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd., Eli Lilly and Co., Endo International Plc, Futura Medical plc, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Innovcare Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd., Lupin Ltd., Pfizer Inc., SK Chemicals Co. Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., TTK Healthcare Ltd., Viatris Inc., VIVUS Inc., and Sanzyme (P) Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for 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 Health Care Market Reports

Table of contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Product



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Product

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Product



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Product

5.3 Oral drugs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Oral drugs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Oral drugs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Oral drugs - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Oral drugs - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Topical drugs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Topical drugs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Topical drugs - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Topical drugs - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Topical drugs - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by Product ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 41: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 42: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 44: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 58: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 59: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 60: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 62: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 63: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 64: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 65: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 66: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 67: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 68: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.

Exhibit 69: Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 70: Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 71: Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. - Key offerings

10.4 Bayer AG

Exhibit 72: Bayer AG - Overview



Exhibit 73: Bayer AG - Business segments



Exhibit 74: Bayer AG - Key news



Exhibit 75: Bayer AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 76: Bayer AG - Segment focus

10.5 Cipla Ltd.

Exhibit 77: Cipla Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 78: Cipla Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 79: Cipla Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 80: Cipla Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 81: Cipla Ltd. - Segment focus

10.6 Eli Lilly and Co.

Exhibit 82: Eli Lilly and Co. - Overview



Exhibit 83: Eli Lilly and Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 84: Eli Lilly and Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 85: Eli Lilly and Co. - Segment focus

10.7 Endo International Plc

Exhibit 86: Endo International Plc - Overview



Exhibit 87: Endo International Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 88: Endo International Plc - Key news



Exhibit 89: Endo International Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 90: Endo International Plc - Segment focus

10.8 Futura Medical plc

Exhibit 91: Futura Medical plc - Overview



Exhibit 92: Futura Medical plc - Business segments



Exhibit 93: Futura Medical plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 94: Futura Medical plc - Segment focus

10.9 GlaxoSmithKline Plc

Exhibit 95: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Overview



Exhibit 96: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 97: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key news



Exhibit 98: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 99: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Segment focus

10.10 Pfizer Inc.

Exhibit 100: Pfizer Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 101: Pfizer Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 102: Pfizer Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 103: Pfizer Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 104: Pfizer Inc. - Segment focus

10.11 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Exhibit 105: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 106: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 107: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 108: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 109: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Segment focus

10.12 VIVUS Inc.

Exhibit 110: VIVUS Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 111: VIVUS Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 112: VIVUS Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 113: VIVUS Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 114: VIVUS Inc. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 115: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 116: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 117: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 118: Research methodology



Exhibit 119: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 120: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 121: 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
 Collaboration Pushes Past One Exabyte of Customer Data Secured and Protected in Microsoft Azure, While Reducing Risk and Dollars Spent 

TINTON FALLS, N.J., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Commvault, an enterprise data protection leader for the complex and mission critical hybrid environments of today's global businesses, announced with Microsoft the results of an independent study from Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) showing real world cost savings driven by Commvault and Microsoft's joint solutions for securing and protecting over one million terabytes  or One Exabyte  of customer data.

Through their long-standing collaboration, the companies deliver breadth of coverage, flexibility, cost efficiency, and reduced risk to customers. The ESG study, titled "Analyzing the Economic Benefits of Data Protection with Commvault on Microsoft Azure," found that customers reported 30% cost savings, 38% reduction in data footprint, and thousands of hours of staff time recovered along with improved data security.

"The financial and business impacts that our customers have reported in this study are nothing short of compelling  in fact, these benefits are why customers have entrusted Commvault to protect over one exabyte of data, and growing, on Microsoft Azure," said Ranga Rajagopalan, Senior Vice President, Products, Commvault. "Together with Microsoft, we offer data protection that is cost efficient, agile, and secure  serving as the true catalyst for enterprises looking to streamline data operations and improve their data security posture while accelerating their digital transformation."

Joint Commvault and Microsoft customers like Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), have experienced the effects of shifting to a cloud-first strategy using Commvault's Metallic SaaS technology built on the Azure cloud platform. Since implementation, NDOT has eliminated all of its physical backup infrastructure, removing management headaches and resulting in an ongoing savings of 25% in infrastructure costs, while also strengthening its ransomware protection with insights that help spot risks and reduce threats.

"Commvault lets us consolidate our backups to a single solutionthis gives us flexibility and scalability  and we aren't locked into one specific restore location," said Sherri McGee, Chief of the Information Technology Division, NDOT. "As we continue migrating our systems and applications to Microsoft Azure, we know our backups are secure. And if weever find a vulnerability on-premises or in our virtual machines on Azure, we know that if we restore from Metallic, we will be cleanof those vulnerabilities."

"At a time when businesses face unprecedented challenges to secure their data from ransomware, reduce costs and optimize their data environments, Commvault's collaboration with Microsoft is delivering strong results for our joint customers," said Katy Brown, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Enterprise Sales, Software and Digital Platforms. "Through our long-term collaboration, we have consistently enabled an accelerated, secure path to cloud transformation on Microsoft Azure for customers across segments and industries."

According to Nathan McAfee, Senior Analyst at ESG and lead analyst on this study, "It's clear that the results achieved with Commvault's software on Microsoft Azure show strong consistency across most industries, customer profiles, and organization size. The variety of workloads that the combined solution protects is impressive and a significant factor that helps organizations reduce vendors, and thereby reduce technical debt, complexity, and risk."

More than 100,000 organizations have chosen Commvault to protect their business critical data. To learn more about why and read the full ESG study, "Analyzing the Economic Benefits of Data Protection with Commvault on Microsoft Azure," please visit: https://commvault.com/the-economic-benefits-of-data-protection-with-commvault-on-microsoft-azure.

Commvault and Microsoft will be hosting an Executive Roundtable and Panel Discussion featuring McAfee and other industry experts in Calgary on April 20th. For more details on this exclusive event, please contact [email protected].

About Commvault

Commvault (NASDAQ: CVLT) liberates business and IT professionals to do amazing things with their data by ensuring the fundamental integrity of their business. Its industry-leading Intelligent Data Services Platform empowers these professionals to store, protect, optimize, and use their data, wherever it lives. Delivering the ultimate in simplicity and flexibility to customers, its Intelligent Data Services Platform is available as software subscription, an integrated appliance, partner-managed, and software as a servicea critical differentiator in the market. For 25 years, more than 100,000 organizations have relied on Commvault, and today, Metallic is accelerating customer adoption to modernize their environments as they look to SaaS for the future. Driven by its valuesConnect, Inspire, Care, and DeliverCommvault employs more than 2,800 highly-skilled individuals around the world. Visit Commvault.com or follow us at @Commvault.

SOURCE Commvault
WESTMORELAND, Tenn., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EshCo Portable Structures of Westmoreland, TN is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new website, built in partnership with E-Impact Marketing. The new website will provide customers searching for a deck builder in Tennessee and Kentucky with an enhanced online experience while browsing for decks for RVs, mobile homes, and above-ground swimming pools. With only one location to serve his customers, Amos Esh, CEO of EshCo Portable Structures is envisioning the website to be part of an effort to serve more people across KY and TN.

A deck from EshCo

The new website has been designed with the customer in mind, with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and find the product that meets their needs. The website also features detailed product descriptions and high-quality images, allowing customers to make informed decisions.

E-Impact Marketing is a digital marketing agency that specializes in creating custom websites that are optimized for search engines and designed to convert visitors into customers. The team at E-Impact Marketing worked closely with EshCo Portable Structures to create a website that would meet the needs of its customers.

"We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with EshCo Portable Structures on this project," said Chris Stoltzfus, CEO of E-Impact Marketing. "We believe that the new website will help EshCo Portable Structures better serve their customers and grow their business."

EshCo Portable Structures is a deck builder in Kentucky and Tennessee which has been building high-quality portable decks for the past eight years.

In an interview with Amos, he mentioned that one of his biggest goals is to portray a spiritual and work dynamically through his work and website. He wants the customers to not only feel good about the product but also have the internal feeling of great service from the product to the service from his team.

About EshCo Portable Structures:

EshCo Portable Structures is a deck builder providing decks for RVs, mobile homes, and above-ground swimming pools in Kentucky and Tennessee. With a focus on quality and customer service, EshCo Portable Structures is dedicated to providing its customers with the best possible experience when it comes to purchasing portable decks.

For more information, please visit the EshCo Portable Structures website at https://www.eshcoportablestructures.com/

Contact Us:

Amos Esh

(615)-670-3179

[email protected]

SOURCE EshCo Portable Decks
One of the French automotive parts distribution specialists relies on Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise and Authentic Distribution Solution to meet the challenges of transforming its business model, supporting its growth and aligning with its CSR objectives

RUEIL-MALMAISON, France, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor, the industry cloud company, today announced that Exadis, a specialist in the upstream logistics of multi-brand automotive aftermarket spare parts, has decided to migrate its enterprise resource planning (ERP) to the Infor Cloud.

Exadis, which was already relying on the Infor M3 on-premises ERP solution, has renewed its partnership with Infor as part of its migration to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud using Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise, Infor Factory Track production automation and the ADS solution from Infor's partner Authentic Group.

Founded in 2006, Exadis underwent a capital reconstruction in 2019 with the entry of Mobivia Group (44.25%) alongside Renault Group (44.25%) and Groupement des Concessionnaires Renault, GCR (11.5%) present since 2016. The company, which is headquartered in Saint-Priest (Lyon), is a specialist in the logistics of automotive spare parts. It has 85,000 product lines for which it coordinates distribution from its eight sites in France. At the heart of Exadis' IT transformation project are a series of business, operational, strategic, environmental, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) challenges that Infor's solution will address to support the company's growth, which has increased by 30% per year over the past two years to reach 92 million in 2022. The project started in February 2022, and the cloud solution is expected to go into production  in a complete rollout to all eight Exadis sites  by September 2024.

It was vital to invest in order to maintain Exadis' lead (one of the very few players to have a homogeneous information system (IS) and a single ERP) and to strengthen its position. "A first salvo of investments was made in 2022," explains Romain Hourne, Exadis IT director. "Based on the company's good results from 2021, our shareholders agreed to transformation efforts in logistics and IT infrastructures, for example, by increasing our storage capacity, adding mechanization modules, and renovating our networks. The IS has also evolved on the business level with developments around a first proprietary CRM and the integration of a BI solution (Qlik sense) immediately put in place with the arrival of our general management."

The reason for choosing the Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise solution can be explained in part by the historical partnership between Exadis and Infor: "We were one of the first Infor M3 customers in France in the automotive sector and were very satisfied with this implementation," Hourne says. "But with time, the evolution of the users and the complexity of the distribution chain, it became impossible for us to continue specific developments to integrate the innovations which were increasingly multiplying. Our information system was becoming almost obsolete on issues specific to logistics that we can now address with the new solutions in the cloud: inventory management, customer and supplier vendor managed inventory (VMI), order consolidation, transport cost rationalization, elaborate reverse logistics, process automation, enhanced drop shipping, not to mention the incredible challenges of connectivity."

"Another fundamental element for Exadis, which has implemented a CSR-certified approach, with the organization ECOVADIS, is the solution's ability to effectively support our initiatives in this area. The new system allows us to rationalize our supply chain operations with strict control of consumption and associated energy costs. In addition, the dematerialization of invoices  a legal obligation  is already supported by the system, which we will resolutely rely on to further reduce paper printing and thus limit our carbon footprint to a minimum," Hourne says.

One of the other reasons for the renewed confidence in Infor lies in the historical partnership with its partner Authentic Group. Fabrice Caumette, executive delivery manager at Authentic Group, says: "We have established a close relationship of trust and efficiency with Exadis, through our collaboration on previous development and implementation initiatives for more than 10 years. This new project, with its broader scope, allows us to showcase the advanced capabilities of the Infor cloud solution, which we master perfectly. It also provides us with the opportunity to position ourselves as a high value-added company through the implementation of our preconfigured ADS solution, specifically dedicated to the complex business of distribution and which integrates the constantly evolving best practices that we monitor closely."

"The specific distribution business  with all its associated logistical complexity  is particularly well addressed by our Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise solution," explains Philippe Maillet, Infor sales director for France SMB & channel. "We are, therefore, particularly pleased to continue our partnership with Exadis and Authentic Group to reinforce the operational efficiency of a major French player in the automotive sector and to transform its IS."

"This project is far from being a simple technical migration project. It embeds our ambitions to be and/or remain the first and only one in strategic areas by putting operational excellence, collaboration, and scalability of a strong and responsible growth at the center of our ambitions," concludes Jean-Christophe Barthelet, CEO of Exadis.

Learn more about Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise: https://www.infor.com/products/cloudsuite-distribution-enterprise and Infor Factory Track: https://www.infor.com/products/factory-track

About Exadis

Created in 2006, Exadis is an integrated network of eight logistics platforms specialized in the distribution of independent automotive spare parts. Renault, the "Groupement de Concessionnaires Renault" and Mobivia are shareholders. The company has 170 employees. Exadis is a member of NEXUS France. Visit www.exadis.com.

About Authentic Group

Created in 2004, Authentic Group implements IT solutions and offers innovative services to support companies in their development. Authentic Group works with companies specialized in distribution in Europe, Canada and the United States and offers services and solutions around:

Infor M3, Infor OS, Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise: implementation, deployment, migration, support

Methodology: agility and reactivity for shorter and less expensive projects

Microvertical business line Automotive Parts Distribution (ADS)

Visit https://www.authentic-grp.com

About Infor

Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. We develop complete solutions for our focus industries. Infor's mission-critical enterprise applications and services are designed to deliver sustainable operational advantages with security and faster time to value. Over 60,000 organizations in more than 175 countries rely on Infor's 17,000 employees to help achieve their business goals. As a Koch company, our financial strength, ownership structure, and long-term view empower us to foster enduring, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. Visit www.infor.com.

Media contacts:

Vincent Fournier & Odile Pin

Such. +33 (0)6 80 34 24 00 - Tel. +33 (0)6 81 80 35 46

[email protected] - [email protected]

Twitter: @InforFranceNews

Jessica Wilson

Exadis

[email protected]

Tel: + 33 (0)6 77 83 49 33.

https://www.exadis.com/

Copyright 2023 Infor. All rights reserved. The word and design marks set forth herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Infor and/or related affiliates and subsidiaries. All other trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective owners. www.infor.com



SOURCE Infor
U.S. travelers are in it for the long haul, with New Zealand, Japan and Vietnam among the summer's trending hotspots

SEATTLE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Expedia released its Summer Travel Forecast, providing key insights to help Americans plan and save on their summer vacations. According to Expedia data, flight searches are up 25% overall for June through August compared to the same time last year, and interest is up triple digits for international destinations across Europe and Asia. In addition, average ticket prices drop $125 from their peak in early July to August.

*Based on Expedia flight demand as of April 1, 2023, for travel during June to August

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9084352-expedia-summer-travel-forecast/

"This summer, travelers are clearly ready to dust off their passports and embrace jet lag as they set off overseas," says Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations. "The data shows the sweet spot for saving on summer airfare is right around the corner, but these days you can actually guarantee you're getting a great deal by tracking flights on the Expedia app or adding Price Drop Protection to your flight, which automatically refunds you if the price drops after you book."

Summer Destination Trends

While U.S. travelers are returning in droves to popular destinations including New York and Cancun, the biggest year-over-year increases are for longer-haul destinations including Auckland, Hong Kong and Osaka. Despite average flight ticket prices sitting higher than last summer, strong demand trends indicate travelers are ready to make the most out of their summer vacations.

Top 5 Domestic 1. New York 2. Los Angeles 3. Seattle 4. Orlando 5. Las Vegas Top 5 International 1. Cancun 2. London 3. Rome 4. Punta Cana 5. Paris Trending: 1. Auckland, New Zealand 2. Hong Kong 3. Osaka, Japan 4. Da Nang, Vietnam 5. Hanoi, Vietnam

*Based on Expedia flight demand as of April 1, 2023, for travel during June to August

Since reopening its borders last fall, Japan continues to see incredible interest and is one of the fastest-growing international destinations year-to-date for U.S. travelers. Flight searches for summer are up triple digits compared to the same time period last year for Osaka (+592%), Tokyo (+290%) and Kyoto (+265%).

How to Save on Summer Travel

The sweet spot to save on domestic airfare and save around 8% is 21 to 60 days out, while Americans planning summer trips abroad should book as soon as possible for the best rates.

Prices can fluctuate in the lead-up to departure, but with Expedia's Price Drop Protection travelers can get refunded for the difference if the flight becomes cheaper after they book. Launched earlier this year in the Expedia app, Price Drop Protection is available on most flights for a nominal fee, currently with no annual limits on refunds.

Best & Worst Times to Fly Least-busy Day: Thursday, Aug. 24 Cheapest Day: Sunday, Aug. 27 Busiest Day: Saturday, July 1 Most Expensive Day: Saturday, July 1

To save on airfare, travel during late August and avoid holiday weekends. Average ticket prices drop an average of $125 compared to the peak in early July. Meanwhile, the July Fourth weekend is currently the busiest and most expensive weekend of the summer for air travel. ATPs for the holiday weekend are 12% higher than average for the month.

Read more tips for saving on flights and start your summer vacation planning here.

Notes to Editor

Visual Assets: Destination image and infographics available for download.

Data sources:

Top destinations and fastest-growing destinations based on Expedia flight demand as of April 1, 2023 , for travel during June to August 2023 .

, for travel during June to . Japan search data based on Expedia flight searches as of March 20, 2023 , for travel during June to August 2023 .

search data based on Expedia flight searches as of , for travel during June to . Trending destinations were selected from list of fastest-growing destinations based on Expedia flight demand for June to August travel.

Sweet spot booking window based on Expedia flight demand for June to August 2022 travel.

travel. Best/Worst times to fly based on Expedia flight demand as of April 1, 2023 , for travel during June to August 2023 .

Tips for navigating travel disruptions:

According to Expedia's 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report, departing before 3 p.m. cuts your chance of flight cancellation in half, so take the early flight.

cuts your chance of flight cancellation in half, so take the early flight. Demand is high, and airlines are still operating fewer flights than pre-pandemic. That means full flights are expected this summer, so make sure you arrive at the airport early and give yourself plenty of time to get through security.

Pack light and take a carry-on. That way, there's less chance your luggage gets lost in situations of delays or cancellations.

Check your passport expiration date and make sure it's valid for a minimum of 6 months past your travel dates.

Tips to save on your summer getaway:

Price Tracking & Predictions takes the guesswork out of deciding when to book airfare by alerting travelers when flight prices change. Free on the Expedia app, the feature uses decades of proprietary flight-shopping data, AI and machine learning to compare today's flight price with historical price trends to help travelers make an informed decision on the best time to book their chosen route. Download demo and screenshots here.

With Price Drop Protection, originally launched in 2017 as Price Match Promise, travelers can get a refund if the price of their flight drops on Expedia after they book. Price Drop Protection is available for most flights for a nominal fee, currently with no annual limit on refunds.

Book airfare, hotel and car at the same time on Expedia, otherwise known as bundling, which can instantly unlock hundreds of dollars/an average of $300 or 10% in savings.

or 10% in savings. Sign up for loyalty and frequent flier programs, or risk leaving money on the table. Expedia members earn Rewards points for every booking that can be redeemed as dollars off on the next trip.

Earn air miles on top of Expedia points by entering mileage plan numbers at checkout, which is an easy way to double-dip and rack up travel rewards even faster.

About Expedia

Expedia is one of the world's leading full-service travel brands, with a mission of helping travelers get the most out of every trip they take by providing everything they need all in one place and, above all else, feel supported every step of the way.

Our commitment to insights matched with our unprecedented scale allows us to understand our travelers better than anyone else, delivering exactly what they need, when they need it. Our personalized experiences backed by incredible technology enable us to deliver the widest selection of product offerings across accommodations, transportation, activities and experiences, helping you get the most out of your journey.

Use our mobile app or visit expedia.com to plan your journey with us.

 2023 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50

Follow Expedia on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube.

SOURCE Expedia
The architectural papers of Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates (KRJDA) now join the Eero Saarinen archive at Yale. Complementing this achievement is the creation of a legacy website for Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates which will serve as a readily available portal to the firm's storied history of design which spanned from 1966 to 2019.

NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The family of Kevin Roche is donating the complete written and drawn body of work created by the architectural firm of Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates (KRJDA) to the Manuscripts and Archives division of the Yale University Library. Enjoined and encouraged by then Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, Robert Stern, Kevin Roche initiated the archive project in 2007.

John Dinkeloo and Kevin Roche at the Temple of Dendur at The Met, NYC, circa 1976.

Referencing the recent completion of the project, Stern stated "The Kevin Roche archive is one of the most important resources for the study and appreciation of post-war architecture. International in scope and brilliantly occupying the crossroads of corporate post-modernism, it documents the work of a major talent."

Kevin Roche's eldest son, Eamon Roche, who is the Managing Director of the firm, now known as Roche Modern, added "Speaking on behalf of my siblings we are delighted to have been able to fulfill our father's commitment to form this comprehensive archive of KRJDA's mid to late 20th Century architecture. We are so grateful for Bob Stern's instigation of the effort in the first place, to Yale for their partnership and of course for the fifteen years of documentation and cataloging put forward by the team at KRJDA."

KRJDA's Linda Scinto was the lead archivist responsible for editing, organizing, cataloging, packaging, and transferring the vast archive, which includes over 789 boxes of correspondence, 954 drawing tubes, 64,000 4x5 transparencies, and over 88,000 35mm slides. She began working in the office of KRJDA in 1997 as an interior designer and was Mr. Roche's executive assistant from 2011 to 2019. In 2007, Kevin Roche designated Linda Scinto to manage the processing of 2,014 containers of KRJDA archival material for transfer to Yale University. The collection of project documentation includes eight museums, thirty-eight institutional and corporate headquarters, seven research laboratories, performing arts centers, theaters, campus buildings for six universities, several residences, and the Central Park Zoo.

"It was an honor to be chosen by Kevin Roche to be the lead archivist on such a monumental project," Scinto stated "and I am delighted that people will be able to study the collection today and in the future."An invaluable asset to scholars interested in KRJDA's work, Scinto is available as a resource with firsthand experience of the collection and the people involved in its creation.

In conjunction with the donation of the physical archive, the Roche family is launching an archival website www.krjda.com directly linked to these materials with a detailed history of the firm, its principals, and the archival process.

The third and final component of this legacy project is the family's creation, through the auspices of the Connecticut Architecture Foundation, of the Jane and Kevin Roche Scholarship Fund endowed to celebrate the lives and achievements of their parents.

Inquiries for Archivist Linda Scinto can be directed to: [email protected]

Direct access to Yale's archive can be found at: https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/12/resources/4020

For information or to donate to the Jane and Kevin Roche Scholarship Fund, contact the Connecticut Architecture Foundation at: https://cafct.org/jane-kevin-roche-scholarship-fund/

About Roche Modern

The history of Roche Modern reaches back to Eero Saarinen and Associates, which was established in 1950. After Saarinen's passing in 1961, Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo continued the firm's leadership. Together they worked to complete the remaining design of Saarinen's major projects including the Dulles International Airport, the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport as well as the CBS Headquarters in New York City. In 1966 the firm was renamed Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates and for decades continued the practice of architecture internationally and at the highest levels of the profession.

Roche's eldest son Eamon joined Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates in 2018 in the role of Managing Director, a year before the death of his father. In 2021 Eamon Roche relaunched the seventy-year-old firm as Roche Modern from its new location in New Haven, CT.

More information at: www.rochemodern.com .

For more information regarding this announcement, please contact:

Roche Modern

Eric Miller

Marketing Officer

310-592-8230

[email protected]

SOURCE Roche Modern
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with founder of Virgin Group and Virgin Unite non-profit foundation, British entrepreneur Richard Branson, who has joined the team of ambassadors of the United24 fundraising platform.

As reported on the presidential website, Zelenskyy thanked the businessman for powerful messages in support of Ukraine during the war.

"I am glad that you have decided to become a United24 ambassador. It is very important that new famous and influential personalities join this platform. One of the main tasks is to keep the world's attention on Russia's war against Ukraine, which has been ongoing for over a year. In addition, there are very specific issues on which we can work together," the head of state said.

During the meeting, Zelenskyy discussed with Branson the reconstruction of the country, in particular, educational institutions that need digitalization, appropriate equipment, and bomb shelters.

The head of state also spoke about the needs of Ukraine in demining. In addition, he drew Branson's attention to the problem of mass illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and the need to put pressure, in particular informational pressure, on the aggressor state in this matter.

In turn, Branson noted his admiration for the Ukrainian people.

"I look forward to using Virgin Unite's global reach and networks to help support United24's work for the people of Ukraine," he said.

Richard Branson has been consistently supporting Ukraine since 2014, advocating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state.
Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky attorneys filing on behalf of Judith Lopez-Moran, mother of three

PHILADELPHIA, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Judith "Judy" Lopez-Moran, 55, one of seven workers killed in the March 24th massive gas explosion at the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory, would have been celebrating this Easter, and her upcoming birthday, with her three children had she not been killed in the tragic disaster, according to the wrongful death and negligence lawsuit just filed by Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky P.C. ("SMB"). Defendants include UGI Corp. - the gas suppliers to the West Reading borough site  and R.M. Palmer and its affiliates.

SMB attorneys Robert J. Mongeluzzi, Larry Bendesky, Andrew R. Duffy, and Aidan B. Carickhoff represent the estate and family of Ms. Lopez-Moran. They said, "We are humbled to represent the family of Ms. Lopez-Moran and assured them that through this lawsuit we will do everything possible to determine exactly what happened, why it happened, and hold all those responsible fully accountable. We look forward to working collaboratively with all investigating agencies involved, and fully expect, at the appropriate time, the full cooperation of the Defendants." The firm now represents more than one dozen victims of the disaster.

They explained that the firm has notified R.M. Palmer, UGI, and local, state and federal agencies it now represents Ms. Lopez-Moran's children and family members, and on her behalf, is "requesting documentation and preservation, for subsequent inspection by independent forensic experts, of all potentially relevant physical evidence at and around the site, along with all records, files regarding plant staffing, maintenance, engineering and operations."

As for the evidence "preservation" notices being presented, they explained this is standard in such matters, and critical to the time-sensitive, proper examination of a range of potential evidence, including but not limited to records of related gas system operations, maintenance logs and equipment, depending on what can be salvaged at or from the site for forensic analysis. They also look forward, on behalf of their clients, to conducting numerous interviews with company, utility, contractor personnel, and eyewitnesses.

Victims' families often turn to Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky to help obtain answers - and accountability through the civil justice system - in the aftermath of such tragedies. The firm's eam of catastrophic explosion and mass-disaster attorneys has represented victims and their loved ones in numerous mass-casualty  often fatal  incidents in Pennsylvania and around the country. The firm has recovered billions of dollars for victims of such tragedies. In recent years, its clients include families of the victims of the 2022 Pottstown residential gas explosion and the lethal 2019 blast that leveled five row houses in South Philadelphia. The firm notably obtained a $160 million settlement resulting from a Philadelphia food truck explosion. It has also handled numerous factory explosions throughout the Commonwealth, as well as many residential gas explosions. In other mass disaster cases, Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky obtained a $1.2 billion settlement in the Miami Condominium collapse and a $227 million recovery in the Salvation Army building collapse.

Contacts:

Robert J. Mongeluzzi / [email protected]  215- 850-6571

Andrew R. Duffy / [email protected] - 609-320-4919

Aidan B. Carickhoff / [email protected]  908-405-8345

SOURCE Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky P.C.
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE: FIS) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased Fidelity National common stock between February 9, 2021 and February 10, 2023, inclusive.

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 5, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in FIS:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/fidelity-national-information-services-inc-loss-submission-form?id=38180&from=4

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. NEWS - FIS NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the integration of the Company's acquisition, Worldpay, Inc. ("Worldpay"), was not ahead of schedule; (2) the integration of Worldpay was not successfully completed during the class period; (3) the increases in revenue synergies were not driven by the Worldpay integration; and (4) as a result, defendants' positive statements about the Company's financial guidance, business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Fidelity National you have until May 5, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Fidelity National securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the FIS lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/fidelity-national-information-services-inc-loss-submission-form?id=38180&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Award from U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund will provide low-cost capital for low-income Florida residents

ORLANDO, Fla., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Community Loan Fund, a statewide nonprofit lending institution, received a $3.7 million Equitable Recovery Program Award from the U.S. Department of Treasury Community Development Financial Institution Fund. FCLF will use the ERP Award to address the decreased availability of affordable housing for low-income families in majority minority communities, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Florida's lack of affordable housing was well documented before the COVID-19 pandemic, consistently ranking as one of the worst states in the U.S. for low-income renters and homeowners. From 2020 to 2022, Florida saw a 40% increase in rental pricing, driven by several factors, including the influx of new residents to Florida, aggressive home purchases by investors, and escalating construction costs. Access to affordable housing is exacerbated in majority minority neighborhoods  45% of minority households are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing and related costs, compared to 29% of white households.

"We look forward to utilizing the new funding from the CDFI Fund to help make affordable housing a reality in minority communities statewide," said FCLF CEO Ignacio Esteban.

The ERP award will allow FCLF to build on its 28-year history of providing capital for community development in low-income areas, with a sharp focus on minority communities throughout the state. This funding from the CDFI Fund will be integrated into FCLF's existing work to help provide more affordable housing by reducing borrowing costs for developers of affordable housing.

The U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund awarded more than $1.73 billion to 603 Community Development Financial Institutions across the country, to help low- and moderate-income communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and invest in long-term prosperity. FCLF is one of 19 awardees in Florida.

About Florida Community Loan Fund. Florida Community Loan Fund is a nonprofit, multifaceted financing entity with a 28-year history of providing flexible capital and expertise to nonprofit and mission-aligned for-profit entities that benefit people and places outside the economic mainstream across Florida. FCLF is nationally recognized for its work as a certified CDFI and CDE through the U.S. Dept. of Treasury and as a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. www.fclf.org.

Media Contact: Janet de Guehery, [email protected]

Twitter @FCLFOrg

SOURCE Florida Community Loan Fund (FCLF)
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens and organizations across Florida are alarmed as the Legislature appears headed to pass a law already found unconstitutional in Louisiana and Alabama, potentially leaving Florida taxpayers on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal disputes. Florida House of Representatives bill HB 1085 would require the driver's licenses and state-issued identification cards of all persons required to register as sex offenders in Florida to be printed entirely in red. A related bill winding its way through the Florida Senate (SB 1252) would require only certain information on those driver's licenses to literally appear as "scarlet letters."

However, according to Gail Colletta, President of the Florida Action Committee, the problem with both bills is that nearly identical laws in Louisiana and Alabama have been struck down as unconstitutional, as they violate the First Amendment prohibition against compelled speech. Currently, persons required to register as sex offenders in Florida must already possess a driver's license or card bearing a unique numerical code printed in blue to alert law enforcement officers to the card holder's status.

"The purpose of this code on driver's licenses is to communicate information to law enforcement, not the public at large. The Supreme Court of Louisiana and a federal district court judge in Alabama have both determined that it is an unconstitutional violation of the Bill of Rights to require persons convicted of sexual offenses to bear branded driver's licenses that alert the general public to the card holder's status," Colletta said. The Florida Action Committee, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the public through supporting rational sexual offender legislation based on empirical evidence, warned that if either version of the bill becomes law, it will almost certainly face immediate legal challenges in both state and federal court on constitutional grounds, which would cost Florida taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more.

Information about both the Louisiana and Alabama judicial rulings declaring similar laws in those states unconstitutional was sent to multiple legislative staff analysts, yet that information curiously did not appear in the analyses performed for any of the legislative committees tasked with reviewing the bills. In fact, concerned citizens forwarded copies of the Louisiana and Alabama court decisions to several staff analysts for both the House and Senate. However, none of the staff analysts noted any potential constitutional concerns in the summaries provided for legislators before they voted on the bill, according to Colletta.

Colletta explained that this appears to be a pattern, especially in the Florida House of Representatives, where another bill currently under consideration known as HB 833 would have the practical effect of banning sexual offenders from all vacation rentals in the state. Even the FDLE, which maintains the Florida sex offender registry, has urged the House to remove this provision from the bill as it is likely unconstitutional, yet the bill is continuing to move forward in House committees.

For more information, contact: Gail Colletta  833-273-7325, 352-554-4501, [email protected] or visit www.floridaactioncommittee.org

Florida Action Committee (FAC), founded in 2006, is a state-wide consortium of concerned citizens and professionals whose purpose is to promote the prevention of sexual abuse while preserving the safety and dignity of all citizens through carefully structured laws.

SOURCE Florida Action Committee
BROOKLYN, N.Y., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, AFEP, former Brooklyn housing and resident association leaders are speaking out against the proposed ban on menthol cigarettes. In a letter penned to Gov. Hochul, the three leaders noted how this well-intentioned yet out of touch policy proposal could adversely affect Black and brown residents in Brooklyn public housing and the community at-large.

Deborah Carter, former president of the Gravesend Houses Resident Association in south Brooklyn, said, "A ban on menthol cigarettes will bring more illegal and criminal activity to our communities. We are already fighting to stop violence; a ban creates an opportunity for illegal menthol cigarette dealers to come set up shop, creating a competitive illegal market resulting in more crime and violence in and around public housing. We are tired of policy makers using our communities to conduct social experiments."

In 2020, the Baltimore Sun newspaper wrote about a Silver Spring, Maryland grandmother living with her two daughters and grandson received an eviction notice from her apartment after police saw her smoking in the parking lot. Banning menthol cigarettes unfairly targets the Black community.

"News coverage and public outcry stopped the eviction, but you can see how this policy would disproportionately target the Black community, opening us up to more scrutiny from police and further jeopardizing our safety," said former president of the Rutland Houses Resident Association, John Prince.

"We are calling on Gov. Hochul, members of the New York Senate, and New York Assembly to focus on bringing down crime rates, investing in affordable housing, and creating a more livable New York. A ban on menthol, will undoubtedly create another problem in our community during a time in which we're trying to recover from the war on drugs," added Lillian Marshall, former chair of the Brooklyn South Resident Association.

ABOUT: Deborah A. Carter, John Prince, and Lillian Marshall are all leaders on housing and resident services matters in Brooklyn, New York. Having served the Gravesend Houses, Rutland Houses, and Brooklyn South Resident Associations, respectively, the three leaders have a combined 60+ years of experience in housing and public services. The Alliance for Fair and Equitable Policy has been tracking the issue of menthol bans and others since 2021.

MEDIA CONTACT:

[email protected]

SOURCE Alliance for Fair and Equitable Policy
CALGARY, AB, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Frontera Energy Corporation (TSX: FEC) ("Frontera" or the "Company") announces today that it has designated Frontera Energy Guyana Holding Ltd. and Frontera Energy Guyana Corp. ("Frontera Guyana") as unrestricted subsidiaries and released Frontera Guyana as a note guarantor under the indenture governing the Company's outstanding US$400 million unsecured notes due in June 2028 (the "2028 Notes"). This designation is consistent with the Company's focus on maximizing value and better aligns Frontera's 3 core businesses: Upstream, Midstream and Guyana, to achieve the Company's strategic priorities.

Following this designation, Frontera Energy Colombia AG shall remain as the sole guarantor of the 2028 Notes. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, Frontera Energy Colombia AG represented over 101% of the Company's total consolidated EBITDA.

About Frontera

Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public company involved in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related investments in both upstream and midstream facilities. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets with interests in 31 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana, and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner.

If you would like to receive News Releases via email as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe .

Corporate Presentation

See Frontera's corporate presentations at: https://www.fronteraenergy.ca/reports-presentations/

Social Media

Follow Frontera Energy social media channels at the following links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fronteraenergy?lang=en

Facebook: https://es-la.facebook.com/FronteraEnergy/

LinkedIn: https://co.linkedin.com/company/frontera-energy-corp .

Advisories

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information relates to activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects, or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's continuing focus on maximizing value and better aligning Frontera's 3 core businesses: Upstream, Midstream and Guyana, to achieve the Company's strategic priorities. All information other than historical fact is forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information reflects the current expectations, assumptions and beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to it and considers the Company's experience and its perception of historical trends.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such information. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some that are similar to other oil and gas companies and some that are unique to the Company. The actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. The Company's annual information form dated March 1, 2023, its annual management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, and other documents it files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities describe the risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results and such factors are incorporated herein by reference. Copies of these documents are available without charge by referring to the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

SOURCE Frontera Energy Corporation
DUBLIN, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Biomarker Technologies Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global biomarker technologies market size reached US$ 31.1 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 67.7 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.84% during 2021-2027.

Companies Mentioned

Agilent Technologies Inc.

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc.

Danaher Corporation

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG

Illumina Inc.

LI-COR Inc.

Merck KGaA

PerkinElmer Inc.

QIAGEN N.V.

Shimadzu Corporation

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Waters Corporation

Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



Biomarker technologies are reliable and cost-effective detection tools that rely on genetic biomarkers, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), for detecting pathogens. These technologies find extensive application in the early diagnosis of different diseases and disorders.

They are also utilized in the drug discovery and development processes and the management of nervous system disorders, cardiovascular diseases, infections, immunological and genetic disorders, and cancer. Some of the commonly used biomarker technologies include polymerase chain reaction (PCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS) and immunoassay.



There is currently a considerable rise in the number of individuals who are suffering from cancer and cardiovascular, neurological, and autoimmune diseases across the globe. This, coupled with the escalating demand for early and effective diagnosis, represents one of the key factors positively influencing the market. Apart from this, the rising geriatric population is also contributing to the growth of the market.

Moreover, there is an increase in research and development (R&D) funding for drug discovery by governing agencies of numerous countries. This, along with the considerably expanding healthcare infrastructure, especially in developing countries, is propelling the market growth.

Furthermore, leading market players are introducing numerous advancements in biomarker technologies that provide accurate patient stratification. They are also developing digital biomarkers that aid in collecting objective, quantifiable, physiological, and behavioral data by using digital devices.

These digital biomarkers are also incorporated with artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) solutions for big data analysis, and integrated decision making. Other major factors, including rising awareness about the early detection of cancer for better treatment, and surging income levels of individuals, are projected to impel the market growth.

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global biomarker technologies market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global biomarker technologies market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the test type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the indication?

What is the breakup of the market based on the product?

What is the breakup of the market based on the technology?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global biomarker technologies market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Biomarker Technologies Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Test Type

6.1 Solid Biopsy

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Liquid Biopsy

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Indication

7.1 Cancer

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Infectious Diseases

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 Autoimmune Disorders

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast

7.4 Cardiovascular Disorders

7.4.1 Market Trends

7.4.2 Market Forecast

7.5 Others

7.5.1 Market Trends

7.5.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Product

8.1 Consumables

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Assay

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 Reagent

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast

8.4 Instruments

8.4.1 Market Trends

8.4.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Technology

9.1 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 Immunoassay

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast

9.4 Others

9.4.1 Market Trends

9.4.2 Market Forecast



10 Market Breakup by Application

10.1 Drug Discovery

10.1.1 Market Trends

10.1.2 Market Forecast

10.2 Clinical Diagnostics

10.2.1 Market Trends

10.2.2 Market Forecast

10.3 Personalized Medicine

10.3.1 Market Trends

10.3.2 Market Forecast



11 Market Breakup by Region



12 SWOT Analysis



13 Value Chain Analysis



14 Porters Five Forces Analysis



15 Price Analysis



16 Competitive Landscape

16.1 Market Structure

16.2 Key Players

16.3 Profiles of Key Players



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bpal5w

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Oral Solid Dosage Manufacturing Market - Distribution by Type of Finished Dosage Form, Type of Packaging, Scale of Operation, Company Size, Therapeutic Area, and Key Geographical Regions: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2023-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report features an extensive study of the current market landscape and future opportunity for the players involved in the oral solid dosage contract manufacturing, over a span of 12 years. The reports answers following key questions related to this domain.

Over the years, rising complexity of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has led to the development of a myriad of novel formulations that enable efficient drug delivery to the intended site of action. Nonetheless, the demand for oral solid dosage (OSD) forms, including tablets and capsules, remains unparalleled.

In fact, over two-thirds of the total drugs prescribed worldwide are dispensed in the form of oral solids. In addition to being cost effective and relatively more stable as compared to their large molecule counterparts, these orally administered small molecules are patient-centric, and therefore play a critical role in fixing the drug adherence problem.

Since the demand for oral solid drugs is rising, the development of modified oral solid dosage formulations (including disintegrating tablets (ODTs), combination products and prolonged-, controlled-, and sustained- release dosage forms) that can improve API solubility and enhance bioavailability can offer the drug developers a huge opportunity to stand out in this mature and competitive market.

However, the manufacturing of specialized solid doses, especially those containing highly potent APIs, from early development formulations to scale-up is a complex process that requires multidisciplinary expertise.

Consequently, drug developers are increasingly relying on contract service providers with specialized equipment and a trained workforce to navigate the technical and routine operations-related challenges, including those associated with complex formulations, stringent regulatory requirements and multiple suppliers.

Considering the immense popularity of oral solid dosage forms, especially amongst the pediatric and geriatric populations, we believe that the demand for conventional as well as modified oral solid dosage formulations is likely to drive commendable growth within the contract manufacturing market in the coming years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What is the global market size of oral solid dosage manufacturing market?

Answer: The current oral solid contract manufacturing market size is anticipated to be over USD 30 billion.

Question 2: Which are the top players in the oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market?

Answer: Presently, close to 300 companies are engaged in offering oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market, worldwide. The top players engaged in this domain (which have also been captured in this report) include Aenova, Alcami, Almac, Cambrex, Catalent, CMIC, Contract Pharmacal, Delpharm, Hetero Drugs, Madras Pharmaceuticals, Micro Labs and Recipharm.

Question 3: How many contract service providers possess capabilities to handle oral solid therapies based on highly potent APIs (HPAPIs)?

Answer: Over 40% of the contract service providers engaged in this domain claim to have the requisite capabilities for the safe handling and containment of highly potent oral solids.

Question 4: What are the factors driving the oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market?

Answer: The factors driving the oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market include the emergence of virtual pharmaceutical companies, and the surge in demand for novel oral solid formulations, such as such as pediatric / geriatric, taste-masked, abuse-deterrent and control release products that improve patient compliance.

Question 5: Which region has the highest market share in the oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market?

Answer: North America captures around 60% share in the current oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market, followed by Europe.

Question 6: What are the leading market segments in the oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market?

Answer: Currently, the oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market is dominated by tablet and capsule formulations. This can be attributed to several advantages offered by these dosage forms, including portability, ease in swallowing, excellent bioavailability and medical adherence. Further, in terms of company size, established players (with over 10,000 employees) are likely to capture over 50% of the current and future market, owing to their enhanced capabilities and huge production capacities.

Question 7: What is the growth rate (CAGR) in the oral solid dosage manufacturing market?

Answer: The oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~6% in the coming years.

Question 8: What are the upcoming trends in the oral solid dosage manufacturing market?

Answer: The market is presently witnessing the adoption of Industry 4.0 concepts, such as QbD and PAT. Further, several service providers are establishing / expanding their continuous manufacturing lines for the production of oral solids, thereby reducing manufacturing cost (by 15-30%), manpower (by 50-70%) and power consumption (by 40%).

Question 9: What are the current initiatives undertaken by big pharma players engaged in the oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market?

Answer: In order to tap the lucrative opportunity in this rapidly growing market, big pharma players have undertaken several initiatives, including strengthening product portfolio, establishing agreements, acquisitions and making investments. For instance, in August 2022, Catalent acquired Metrics Contract Services for USD 475 million to expand its high-potent and oral solid dosage manufacturing capabilities.

Key Topics Covered:

1. PREFACE

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3. INTRODUCTION

3.1. Chapter Overview

3.2. Types of Dosage Forms

3.3. Overview of Oral Solid Dosage Forms

3.3.1. Components of Oral Solid Dosage Forms

3.3.2. Classification of Oral Solid Dosage Forms

3.3.3. Manufacturing of Oral Solid Dosage Forms

3.3.4. Emerging Trends in Oral Solid Dosage Manufacturing

3.4. Overview of Oral Solid Contract Manufacturing

3.4.1. Services Offered by CMOs and CDMOs for Oral Solid Dosage

3.4.2. Key Considerations while Selecting a CDMO Partner

3.4.3. Risks and Challenges Associated with Outsourcing Oral Solid Dosage Manufacturing Operations

3.5. Future Perspectives

4. ORAL SOLID DOSAGE CONTRACT MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATIONS (CMOs): MARKET LANDSCAPE

4.1. Chapter Overview

4.2. Oral Solid Dosage CMOs: Overall Market Landscape

5. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS

5.1. Chapter Overview

5.2. Assumptions / Key Parameters

5.3. Methodology

5.4. Company Competitiveness Analysis: Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturers based in North America

5.5. Company Competitiveness Analysis: Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturers based in Europe

5.6. Company Competitiveness Analysis: Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturers based in Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World

5.7. Company Competitiveness Analysis: Benchmarking the Capabilities of Leading Players

6. REGIONAL CAPABILITY ANALYSIS

6.1. Chapter Overview

6.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology

6.3. Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturing Capabilities in North America

6.4. Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturing Capabilities in Europe

6.5. Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturing Capabilities in Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World

6.6. Concluding Remarks

7. COMPANY PROFILES

7.1. Chapter Overview

7.2. Alcami

7.2.1. Company Overview

7.2.2. Service Portfolio

7.2.2.1. Manufacturing Capabilities and Facilities

7.2.3. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

7.3. Cambrex

7.4. Catalent

7.5. CMIC

7.6. Contract Pharmacal

7.7. Aenova

7.8. Almac

7.9. Delpharm

7.10. Hetero Drugs

7.11. Madras Pharmaceuticals

7.12. Micro Lab

7.13. Recipharm

8. MAKE VERSUS BUY DECISION FRAMEWORK

8.1. Chapter Overview

8.2. Assumptions and Key Parameters

8.3. Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturing: Make versus Buy Decision Making

8.4. Concluding Remarks

9. RECENT EXPANSIONS

9.1. Chapter Overview

9.2. Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturing: List of Expansions

10. CAPACITY ANALYSIS

10.1. Chapter Overview

10.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology

10.3. Concluding Remarks

11. DEMAND ANALYSIS

11.1. Chapter Overview

11.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology

11.3. Overall Demand for Oral Solid Dosage Forms, 2023-2035

11.4. Overall Commercial Demand for Oral Solid Dosage, 2023-2035

11.5. Overall Clinical Demand for Oral Solid Dosage, 2023-2035

11.6. Demand and Supply Analysis

12. TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP FOR ORAL SOLID DOSAGE CONTRACT MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATIONS

12.1. Chapter Overview

12.2. Key Parameters

12.3. Assumptions and Methodology

12.4. Sample Dataset for the Estimation of Total Cost of Ownership

12.5. Total Cost of Ownership for Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturing Organizations, Y0-Y20

12.6. Total Cost of Ownership for Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturing Organizations: Analysis by CapEx and OpEx, Y0 and Y20

12.7. Concluding Remarks

13. REGULATORY LANDSCAPE FOR ORAL SOLID DOSAGE CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS

13.1. Chapter Overview

13.2. Regulatory Guidelines in North America

13.3. Regulatory Guidelines in Europe

13.4. Regulatory Guidelines in Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World

13.5. Oral Solid Dosage CMOs: Information on Approvals from Various Regulatory Authorities

13.6. Bubble Analysis: Regional Regulatory Summary

14. CASE STUDY ON TASTE MASKING SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES: MARKET LANDSCAPE

14.1. Chapter Overview

14.2. Taste Masking Service Providers

14.3. Taste Masking Services: Overall Market Landscape

14.4. Taste Masking Technologies: Overall Market Landscape

14.5. Taste Masking Technology Providers

15. CASE STUDY ON BIOAVAILABILITY ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGIES: MARKET LANDSCAPE

15.1. Chapter Overview

15.2. Bioavailability Enhancement Technologies: Technology Providers Landscape

15.3. Bioavailability Enhancement Technologies: Market Landscape

16. MARKET FORECAST

16.1. Chapter Overview

16.2. Key Assumptions and Forecast Methodology

16.3. Global Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturing Market, 2023-2035

17. CONCLUDING REMARKS

18. APPENDIX 1: TABULATED DATA

19. APPENDIX 2: LIST OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7yfe31

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
BEIJING, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

Guiyang and Guian New Area in Southwest China's Guizhou province have been devoted to enhancing the "Cool Guiyang" brand by offering both visitors and locals a great experience in health, culture, sightseeing, food, shopping and travel in recent years.

Go Guiyang: Enjoying life and nature in Huaxi

Alina Kurowski from Germany recently visited Guiyang and explored its rich culture, nature, and local cuisine. Her trip started with trying Guiyang's famous Huaxi beef noodles and then exploring the city's beautiful and unique attractions.

She discovered the fascinating culture and clothing of Huaxi's ethnic groups and visited Yelang Valley  a place known for its stone art and local folklore. Finally, Alina visited Qingyan Ancient Town, which has a history of more than 600 years, where she participated in various traditional activities and admired the town's beautiful lantern-lit evenings.

Huaxi district in Guiyang is a famous scenic spot renowned as "a pearl on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau". Home to more than 40 ethnic groups, Huaxi has nurtured a rich ethnic culture over the course of its long history, along with delicious local delicacies.

Watch the video to find out more.

https://youtu.be/XR-7np1_IAI

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Golden Grail Technology doing business as Golden Grail Beverages, (OTC: GOGY), is pleased to announce that we have signed an agreement with Great Basin Beverage to distribute Sway Energy in the State of Nevada.

Great Basin Beverage, LLC is a wholesale Beer, Wine, Liquor and non-alcoholic beverage distributor founded in 1954. Great Basin delivers more than 1 million cases of beverages annually within a 50,000-square-mile territory in Nevada and northeastern California.

"Our focus has been to develop our distribution networks and grow the footprint of our beverage portfolio. We look forward to working with Great Basin Beverage," said Steve Hoffman, CEO of Golden Grail. "We believe this new partnership will help increase Sway Energy brand recognition and sales in the state of Nevada, and aligns with our initiatives to increase the Sway Energy brand presence."

Golden Grail Beverages (OTC: GOGY) www.GoldenGrailBeverages.com is a fast-growing company with a strategic mission to innovate, build and streamline the growth of its beverage portfolio through fiscally responsible investing. The company targets brands with a proven sales history, loyal consumer following, retail presence and strong value proposition who need assistance to get to the next few levels. Golden Grail has been actively acquiring brands within emerging and growing beverage categories. Our robust product offerings include Sway Energy Drink, Spider Energy Drink, Trevi Fruit Essence Water, Tickle Water, Sketch Can for Tweens, Cause Water & KOZ Water helping reduce global plastic pollution and Scorpion Energy Hemp/CBD.

https://goldengrailbeverages.com/

https://www.facebook.com/GoldenGrailBeverages

https://www.instagram.com/goldengrailbeverages/

https://twitter.com/goldengrailbev

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes forward-looking statements concerning the future performance of our business, its operations and its financial performance and condition. Also, it includes selected operating results presented without the context of accompanying financial results. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to our objectives and strategies to achieve those objectives, as well as statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates or intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations. We caution that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from the assumptions, estimates or expectations reflected or contained in the forward-looking information, and that actual future performance will be affected by a number of factors, including economic conditions, technological change, regulatory change and competitive factors, many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what we currently foresee. We are under no obligation (and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Golden Grail Technology Corp
Denmark plans to supply Ukraine with Caesar self-propelled artillery mounts and Leopard 1 tanks by early summer, Danish Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has said.

"We hope we will deliver Caesar artillery systems to Ukraine next month. They are currently on training grounds in Denmark," Poulsen said at a joint briefing with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov in Odesa on Monday, according to Ukraine Media Center.

"Now about the Leopard 1 tanks. Two months ago, Denmark signed an agreement with Germany. We hope we will start delivering the tanks by the summer. Looking ahead six months, it will be possible to deliver about 100 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine," Poulsen said.

In addition, as added Danish Minister of Defense, "we will be able to discuss the delivering of Leopard 2. By the way, there are not so many tanks in Denmark. We will consider other possible ways of transmission."

According to Poulsen, crews that have already been trained abroad will arrive in Ukraine along with combat vehicles. He also said it is important that Ukrainian specialists have the opportunity to maintain and repair these weapons before they arrive in Ukraine.

"Our gunners are already preparing to work on Caesar. In addition, soon you will hear the growl of tanks with a Danish accent in Ukraine," Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov said.

He also invited foreign specialists who are willing and able to service this equipment, have the appropriate permits and access to documents, to come to work in Ukraine.

"This also applies to pilots. If there are pilots who can operate the F-16 and are ready to take part (in the war), the foreign legion is ready to open the door," Reznikov said.

In early April, the Danish Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with Norway on the joint transfer of 8,000 artillery shells to Ukraine. These munitions will be able to use the Danish Caesar artillery mounts.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GrubMarket today announced that it has appointed Mark Tisdel to its Board of Directors as an independent board member and Audit Committee Chairperson. Tisdel, an experienced finance executive, will be an essential advisor to GrubMarket as the company continues to cement its position as one of the world's fastest-growing and most profitable food tech companies.

Mark Tisdel

Tisdel is a highly qualified and accomplished industry leader with more than 30 years of experience in finance and accounting. He has spent the last 15 years as a CFO for public and private software technology companies in the U.S. and internationally, achieving strong growth and profitability. Tisdel has been CFO at top public SaaS and technology companies like Model N (NYSE: MODN) and Orion Health (formerly listed on the ASX and NZX). He currently serves as the CFO of Mineral, Inc. (formerly Mammoth HR and ThinkHR), a leading provider of SaaS HR and compliance solutions for SMBs, where he has been instrumental in driving the company to profitability and positive cash flow, while catapulting revenue growth.

Tisdel holds his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Clarkson University, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Tisdel commented, "GrubMarket is one of the world's most innovative and disruptive food companies. Over the years, I have followed GrubMarket's incredible trajectory as a fast-growing and highly profitable technology enabler and driver for digital transformation for the food industry. I truly believe the Company's significant progress to date underscores its incredible future potential. I am honored to bring my extensive experiences, as both a public and private software technology company CFO, to the Board as an independent board member and Audit Committee Chairperson at this critical juncture in the history of the business, and I sincerely look forward to supporting GrubMarket as it continues its strong and profitable growth."

Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket adds, "We are thrilled to welcome Mark to GrubMarket's Board as Audit Committee Chairperson. Mark is a proven and dynamic leader, with deep experience running high-functioning finance and accounting teams at top SaaS and technology companies like Model N. In addition to accounting, financial reporting, and audit expertise, Mark also brings extensive experience in operational and international matters, which will be valuable to us both in our current phase of hypergrowth and beyond. With experience that spans over three decades, including roles as both a public and private software technology company CFO; Mark will be a great asset to our organization as we continue our path of long-term, profitable growth.

About GrubMarket

Founded in 2014, GrubMarket is a San Francisco-based food technology company operating in the space of food supply chain eCommerce for both business customers and end consumers, as well as providing related software-as-a-service solutions to digitally transform the American and global food supply chain. Currently, GrubMarket operates in all 50 U.S. States; Ontario and British Columbia (Canada); Argentina, Chile, and Colombia (South America); Egypt, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Spain, with plans to expand to the rest of the U.S., Canada, South America, and other parts of the world.

For Media Inquiries:

GrubMarket Media Team

[email protected]

(415) 986-0523

GrubMarket

1925 Jerrold Ave.

San Francisco, CA. 94124

SOURCE GrubMarket
SAN ANTONIO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Headwall Investments, a Texas-based commercial real estate development and investment firm, happily announced today that they have acquired two assets in the San Antonio area totaling 70,000 square feet since September 2022 (Town & Country / De Zavala Oaks), most recently closing on De Zavala Oaks on March 1st, 2023. Headwall Investments continues to solidify their commitment to the San Antonio metropolitan area and is actively searching for more attractive neighborhood shopping centers to acquire.

Major Tenants Include:

Town & Country Shopping Center, San Antonio, TX De Zavala Oaks Shopping Center, San Antonio, TX

Buffalo Wild Wings

Jersey Mikes

Town & Country Vet

UT Health

Town & Country and De Zavala Oaks mark Headwall's ninth and tenth acquisitions since they launched their first fund 28-months ago. Both acquisitions are strategically placed in well-located, high-density areas of the city that allow convenience-oriented shoppers access to their daily retailers and service providers.

Now having deployed 80% of their first fund's planned investment, Headwall's portfolio currently includes over 280,000 square feet of retail assets valued at over $60 million. Their investments are geographically focused on the Austin & San Antonio, TX MSAs, with planned expansion into the DFW and Houston markets.

"Our team at Headwall Investments has, in the face of a challenging capital markets environment, continued to execute on our investment thesis and business plan of identifying, purchasing and adding value to well-located neighborhood shopping centers," commented Headwall's Founder, President & CEO George J. Wommack. "We are thankful to all of our valued capital providers in trusting us to be stewards of their capital and look forward to growing alongside our city".

Headwall, whose investors consist primarily of high-net worth individuals, family offices, and retirement investors, plans to deploy the rest of their first fund's capital over the next 3-6 months and is targeting an additional 2-4 shopping center assets. Headwall Investments is actively preparing for the launch of their second fund, which is earmarked for $100 million in capital and will be an expansion upon their first fund's investment thesis in neighborhood convenience-oriented shopping centers, with geographic reach spreading to the other major Texas metropolitan areas.

ABOUT HEADWALL

Headwall Investments, LLC is a San Antonio based real estate investment and development firm. The company was founded in 2019 by George J. Wommack and focuses on acquiring, developing and redeveloping commercial real estate in Texas. For more information on Headwall please visit https://headwallinvestments.com or call 210-343-2186.

SOURCE Headwall Investments, LLC
Rediscover Your Neighborhood Y with a Free Day to Play

CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is holding its largest one-day, free event of the year  Healthy Kids Day  on April 29, 2023, and we want everyone to come out and play! On Healthy Kids Day, YMCA of Metro Chicago locations across Chicagoland use sports, games, healthy snacks, and more to encourage kids and families to get active while having fun.

"Play is fundamental to building healthy bodies and healthy minds," said Dorri McWhorter, President & CEO, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. "On Healthy Kids Day and every day, the Y engages youth in activities that enrich their lives and reinforce the importance of being active, having fun, and sharing joy with others in their community."

Healthy Kids Day is the Y's national initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of kids and families. For more than 30 years, YMCAs and their communities have hosted free community events aimed to inspire kids and families to keep their minds and bodies active throughout the summer months and beyond.

"Whether it's through youth sports, Day Camp, aquatics, or any of our core community services, at the YMCA of Metro Chicago, we play for fun and we play for progress," said Brandon Davis, Vice President, Brand Engagement. "Healthy Kids Day is a true representation of how the Y and our communities and supporters can inspire change through the power of play."

Joining the YMCA of Metro Chicago for Healthy Kids Day in 2023 are a number of Community Supporters, as well as several key sponsors and partners. This year, we're proud to announce Aetna Better Health of Illinois and Mercyhealth as Changemaker Sponsors, working to drive meaningful change across Y communities and bolster the Y's capacity to inspire youth to be active while teaching families how to develop routines that support mental and physical health at home.

"Everyone is invited to play at the Y, and we can't wait to see how our community discovers new ways to play at Healthy Kids Day," McWhorter added.

To learn more about Healthy Kids Day or find a YMCA site near you, visit ymcachicago.org/healthykidsday .

About the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is the leader in accessible, inclusive programming for more than 300,000 individuals each year, strengthening community by connecting people to their purpose, potential, and each other. The YMCA of Metro Chicago is evolving to become a 21st-century social enterprise for the region, through an association of 14 centers, 5 overnight camps, and 100 extension sites throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. Learn more about the Y's locations and our programming at ymcachicago.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Katy Broom

Director, Public Relations & Communications

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

312-932-1171

[email protected]

SOURCE YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
XUANCHENG, China, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 10th, Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "Huasun") has once again reached a cooperation with INERCOM Ltd (hereinafter referred to as "INERCOM"), a well-known European EPC company, and signed a framework agreement for supplying HJT modules. By the end of 2025, Huasun will provide at least 1.5GW Himalaya series ultra-high-efficient HJT modules for INERCOM's large-scale utility projects in Bulgaria. With the agreement, Huasun has become the world's first company to win GW-level orders in the HJT field.

image_5027067_21936785 image_5027067_21937425 1

In 2021, Huasun started the first cooperation with INERCOM, supplying 86MW high-efficient HJT solar modules to their utility solar project in southern Bulgaria. According to the supply plan, by the end of 2023, Huasun will deliver more than 500MW HJT solar modules for INERCOM to their projects in Bulgaria.

At the signing ceremony, Mr. Varbakov, head of INERCOM, said: "We choose Huasun as the exclusive supplier of HJT modules, because they have provided a great guarantee in terms of product quality, technical performance, and delivery capabilities. We are very happy to build a long relationship with Huasun and hope both of us can keep strengthening connections, supporting each other, and exploring the international market together."

"INERCOM has been deeply involved in the Bulgarian market for decades and has participated in the development and construction of photovoltaic projects in many regions. "said Dan Zhou, CEO of Huasun. "It is the first company that used HJT modules on a large scale at an early stage in Europe, which indicates that HJT has very broad prospects and significant value in Europe. During the long-term and stable collaboration, Huasun has won high recognition from INERCOM. Huasun will persistently concentrate on the product concept of higher power, higher efficiency, and higher revenue. With high-class solutions, Huasun will keep deepening its presence in the global market and promoting the high-quality development of the industry, to make its global layout reach a new level."

About Huasun Energy

Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd was founded in July 2020, which focuses on the development and application of HJT solar cells and modules as well as its large-scale production. Since its establishment, Huasun has simultaneously deployed the research and development of technologies such as single-sided micro-crystalline, double-sided micro-crystalline, HBC, silver-clad copper, copper electroplating, and heterojunction-perovskite stacked cells. The company will unswervingly promote the industrialization and marketization of HJT technology, study and practice more efficient and lower-carbon solar technology, bring efficient solar energy into everyone's life, and make homes more livable and beautiful.

On February 28, 2023, BloombergNEF announced the ranking of global PV module manufacturers for 2023 Q1. With excellent product performance, reliable brand credibility, and strong financing strength, Huasun was listed as a Tier 1 solar module manufacturer. In this list, Huasun is the only company that focuses on HJT technology and is also the first company to enter the list with only heterojunction projects. Additionally, Huasun is the youngest company in the list.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2051314/image_5027067_21936785.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2051315/image_5027067_21937425.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2051316/1.jpg

SOURCE Huasun Energy
US$20M investment aims to converge technology, expertise, and partners in one innovation platform serving the Asia-Pacific region

SINGAPORE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei unveiled Huawei OpenLab 3.0 Asia-Pacific today, an upgrade of its Singapore R&D operations aimed at adapting its solutions to the specific needs of the region. A space where Huawei and its partners can jointly collaborate, OpenLab 3.0 will combine expertise and technologies to speed up digital transformation across the public and private sectors in Asia Pacific. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Goh Pei Sheng, Vice President of Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), a platform of the Singapore government that engages with the technology sector. Over 60 partners and guests from the technology and public sectors, industry associations, and universities also attended the ceremony.

OpenLab 3.0 represents a US$20 million upgrade of Huawei's R&D operations in Asia Pacific. It will enable Huawei to better collaborate with local partners to create customer-centric and innovative scenario-based solutions that truly meet regional needs. Based on its considerable capabilities in wireless and optical networks, storage, cloud and AI, Huawei has developed a range of integrated solutions like Smart Campus, Smart Classroom, and Smart City. Collaborating with customers allows the solutions to be better tailored to meet needs through joint innovation. Collaboration often results in new ecosystems that deliver the digital transformation of public service, finance, transportation, energy and many more industries.

"The booming digital economy in APAC will lead to new innovative services and applications. To accelerate the digital transformation of industries, a more open and diversified industry ecosystem is required", said Mr. Nicholas Ma, President of Huawei APAC Enterprise Business Group. "OpenLab 3.0 is a global technology platform for local partners, customers and institutions of higher learning in APAC. It explores joint solutions based on the demands of various industries and continuously contributes to building the Digital APAC."

Mr. Jun Zhang, President of Huawei APAC Public Affairs and Communications, explained Huawei's talent development model PIPES. "Standing for Platforms, Innovation, Professionalism, Experience, and Skills, PIPES delivers targeted talent programs for individuals from all walks of life, in order to foster an inclusive talent ecosystem in the Asia Pacific region. OpenLab 3.0, a platform for innovation, experience and knowhow sharing, exemplifies our talent-centric commitment, and is set to emerge as a pivotal hub for talent cultivation across the region."

"OpenLab 1.0 to 2.0 have been looking at tomorrow from today's perspective. OpenLab 3.0 is about cooperating with our partners to look at tomorrow from the day after tomorrow's perspective and explore more possibilities in the future through our comprehensive innovative R&D capabilities and investment. Incubating and enabling more future-oriented local applications and innovative solutions, while promoting them to the entire Asia-Pacific region to support digital transformation of various industries." Mr. Foo Fang Yong, CEO of Huawei International, said during the ceremony.

"Cloud OpenLab", a partner-oriented solution integration & verification platform on cloud architecture was also launched at the ceremony. During the event, two Huawei partners, Simon Chung, President of Global Business at Chinasoft International and Jeffrey Yam, Director-Founder of Maxxmedia International, discussed their journey of collaboration with Huawei that resulted in incubating Smart Campus and Smart Classroom solutions.

Huawei OpenLab was officially launched in Singapore in 2016. To date, it has welcomed over 6000 industry visitors from the APAC region and forged collaborations with more than 100 partners to create customer-centric solutions. Besides Singapore, Huawei has established OpenLabs in locations that include Suzhou, Munich, Istanbul, and Dubai, jointly developing and launching technologies and solutions with more than 400 partners worldwide.

"We welcome all the partners and customers into OpenLabs, holding joint discussions on requirements and possible directions of solution, to truly deliver solutions that can address customer needs," said Eric Xu, Huawei's Rotating Chairman at the company's annual report press conference. "Huawei's commitment to various countries, customers, and partners in the APAC region will not change. We will continue to strengthen our investment, including R&D and other areas, in the APAC region."

Huawei maintains a strong investment in R&D, with an annual spend of CNY161.5 billion in 2022, which accounts for 25.1% of their yearly revenue. This brings their total R&D expenditure to over CNY977.3 billion for the past decade.

About Huawei

Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have 195,000 employees and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.

Our vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will work towards ubiquitous connectivity and inclusive network access, laying the foundation for an intelligent world; provide diversified computing power where you need it, when you need it, to bring cloud and intelligence to all four corners of the earth; build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; and redefine user experience with AI, making it smarter and more personalized for people in all aspects of their life, whether they're at home, on the go, in the office, having fun, or working out. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei

http://www.twitter.com/Huawei

http://www.facebook.com/Huawei

http://www.youtube.com/Huawei

SOURCE Huawei
Qantas, Coveo, Intuit and Vanessa Gale of Origin Energy Win Identity Management Awards as part of event to educate on the importance of managing and securing digital identities

DENVER, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA), a nonprofit that provides vendor-neutral education and resources to help organizations reduce the risk of a breach by combining identity and security strategies, today announced the winners of the 2023 Identity Management Awards. The awards are part of the third annual Identity Management Day, hosted by the IDSA in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA). Winners were selected by a panel of judges from the IDSA and NCA for their commitment to identity management and security as an enabler to business operations while reducing risks.

"The Identity Management Awards recognize organizations and leaders who are making identity security an important component of their daily mission. Additionally, the awards acknowledge leaders and organizations who not only embody the importance of identity management and security but also evangelize it as a priority and share best practices," stated Jeff Reich, executive director of the IDSA. "On behalf of the IDSA and NCA, I congratulate this year's winners. We know that other companies can look to them for best practices on Identity Management Day and beyond."

Identity Management Award Winners

Identity Management Project of the Year  Enterprise: Qantas Airways Limited

Identity Management Project of the Year  SMB: Coveo

Best Identity-Based Zero Trust Initiative: Intuit, Simplify and Secure Workforce Access Project

Identity Management Leader of the Year: Vanessa Gale , Head of Identity and Access Management, Origin Energy

Identity Management Day Virtual Conference 2023

In its third year, the 2023 Virtual Conference brings together identity and security leaders and practitioners from all over the world to learn and engage. Hear from industry experts who will provide identity and security perspectives and best practices throughout the day. The conference will be open from 8 am - 4 pm EST, providing over 1,200 attendees the opportunity to engage one on one, visit with exhibitors in the virtual Expo and Lounge and earn points for a chance to win gift cards, autographed books and a Sportcar Track Xperience. Agenda highlights include:

Identity Management Day 2023 Welcome and Awards Announcement

10:00  10:15 am EST

Presenters:

Lisa Plaggemier, Executive Director at National Cybersecurity Alliance

Jeff Reich , Executive Director at Identity Defined Security Alliance

Keynote: Identifying What's Wrong with Identity

10:15  10:45 am EST

Participants:

David Coallier , CEO and co-founder at Clearword

, CEO and co-founder at Clearword Josephina Fernandez , Sr. Director, Enterprise Security at Cisco

, Sr. Director, Enterprise Security at Cisco Jeff Reich , Executive Director at Identity Defined Security Alliance

, Executive Director at Identity Defined Security Alliance John Yeoh , Global Vice President of Research at Cloud Security Alliance

Unlocking the Potential of Identity Management

10:45  11:15 am EST

Participants:

Jeremy Grant , Managing Director, Technology Business Strategy at Venable, LLP

, Managing Director, Technology Business Strategy at Venable, LLP Lisa Plaggemier, Executive Director at National Cybersecurity Alliance

David Treece , Vice President, Solutions Architecture at Yubico

Establishing Digital Identity Security Best Practices with IDPro

11:15  11:45 am EST

Participants:

Bertrand Carlier , Senior Manager at Wavestone

, Senior Manager at Wavestone Lorrayne Auld , Principal Cybersecurity Engineer at Mitre Corporation

, Principal Cybersecurity Engineer at Mitre Corporation Vittorio Bertocci , Principal Architect at Okta

, Principal Architect at Okta Lori Robinson , VP Identity and Access Management at Salesforce

, VP Identity and Access Management at Salesforce Heather Vescent, President and Executive Director at IDPro

Global Insights on Identity Security Maturity

12:45  1:30 pm EST

Clarence Hinton, Chief Strategy Officer, Head of Corporate Development at CyberArk

Stronger Authentication, Stronger Identities: The State of the Industry's Path to Passwordless

1:30  2:00 pm EST

Andrew Shikiar, Executive Director and CMO at FIDO Alliance

Open ID Shared Signals, CAEP and RISC: Real World Use Cases

2:00  2:30 pm EST

Participants:

Atul Tulshibagwale, CTO, SGNL and a Co-Chair OpenID Foundation's Shared Signals Working Group at SGNL

Joshua Terry , Group Product Manager at Duo

Identity As a Key Enabler of Zero Trust

2:00  2:30 pm EST

Grant Dasher, Senior Advisor, Office of the Technical Director for Cybersecurity at Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Register

Panel sessions are eligible for CPE credits and recordings of the sessions will be available until May 12th. To register for the Identity Management Day Virtual Conference 2023, visit https://www.accelevents.com/e/imd2023virtualconference .

About Identity Management Day

Identity Management Day, which is held the second Tuesday of April each year, was established by the Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA) in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) . This initiative aims to raise awareness about the dangers of casually or improperly managing digital identities and presents actionable best practices to inspire individuals and organizations to act. Identity Management Day 2023 is co-chaired by IDSA members Saviynt and Semperis. To join the conversation on social media, use #BeCyberSmart and #BeIdentitySmart.

About the Identity Defined Security Alliance

The IDSA is a group of identity and security vendors, solution providers, and practitioners that acts as an independent source of thought leadership, expertise, and practical guidance on identity-centric approaches to security for technology professionals. The IDSA is a nonprofit that facilitates community collaboration to help organizations reduce risk by providing education, best practices, and resources. For more information please visit www.idsalliance.org and to learn more about memberships, please visit https://www.idsalliance.org/about-us/membership/ .

Contact:

Angelique Faul

5136330897

[email protected]

SOURCE Identity Defined Security Alliance
Those That Leaned Blue, Were More Urban, and Had Greater Income Inequality Saw Steepest Declines

NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Experts have found that at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, Americans chose not to become pregnant as they grappled with stay-at-home restrictions, anxiety, and economic hardship. Now, a new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine shows that some states actually experienced steeper decreases in fertility than others.

The findings revealed that nine months after the pandemic began, there were 18 fewer births a month per 100,000 women of reproductive age across the U.S. compared with the year before. However, after the second wave in 2021, fertility fell by roughly 9 monthly births per 100,000 women, which was similar to the rate at which national fertility had been decreasing prior to the pandemic.

"Our findings suggest that while the overall national fertility rate rebounded remarkably quickly after the initial COVID-19 wave, the initial declines by state were as polarized as the country as a whole," said study co-lead author Sarah Adelman, MPH, a research associate in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone Health.

According to the state-specific results, New York State experienced a massive fertility rate decline following the first wave, plunging from a pre-pandemic annual trend of 4 fewer monthly births per 100,000 women of reproductive age to roughly 76 fewer monthly births per 100,000 women. Delaware saw about 64 fewer monthly births for the same number of women and Maryland about 55 fewer monthly births per 100,000 women. Like they had been in New York, annual fertility rate decreases in these states were in the single digits prior to the coronavirus outbreak.

By contrast, following the first wave, Idaho, Montana, and Utah experienced a boost of up to 56 additional births each month per 100,000 women of reproductive age. This is despite the fact that fertility rates in these areas had also been trending downward in the years leading up to the pandemic.

Adelman says that while previous research has documented national fertility-rate declines following COVID-19, the new study, publishing online April 11 in the journal Human Reproduction, goes a step further, comparing changes among individual states and examining factors that may account for the different rates.

For the research, the study team analyzed data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Bureau of Vital Statistics, the 2020 U.S. Census, and from the University of Virginia 2021 population estimates, to calculate fertility rate trends after each COVID-19 wave. The team then examined whether coronavirus case rates or other factors were the main drivers of fertility rate changes.

Contrary to their expectation, the severity of the coronavirus wave in each state appeared to have had little bearing on changes in that state's fertility rate, the researchers say. Rather, demographic factors like racial composition and economic factors, including greater income inequality, higher percentage of college-degree earners, and large drops in employment at the start of the pandemic, negatively impacted rates.

The research team then examined states' political leaning and a measure called the social distancing index (SDI), which tracked changes in people's mobility following the first wave. They found that states with stronger social distancing responses and that were politically liberal had larger fertility rate declines following the first wave of the pandemic. When plotted on a graph, politically liberal places such as New York and the District of Columbia had the highest SDIs and lowest fertility rates, while more conservative states such as Idaho and Montana had the reverse.

"These results suggest that changes in a state's fertility rates were not driven by COVID-19 cases themselves but rather by existing social, economic, and political disparities," said co-lead author Mia Charifson, MA, a doctoral student in the Department of Population Health at NYU Langone.

"While these issues have always been linked with decisions about having children, they were clearly magnified by the pandemic, highlighting the need to address underlying social factors that constrain people's ability to grow their families, especially during times of crisis," added study senior author Linda Kahn, PhD, MPH.

Kahn, an assistant professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Population Health at NYU Langone, cautions that since the researchers used state-level, population-wide data in their study, their findings cannot explain choices made by individuals.

Future research, she says, might examine more personal factors that influence decisions around pregnancy during times of crisis, such as student debt, job security, and access to childcare, in addition to existential concerns about climate change and political instability.

Funding for the study was provided by National Institutes of Health grants R00ES030403 and R01ES032808. Further funding was provided by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program 20-A0-00-1005789.

In addition to Adelman, Charifson, and Kahn, other NYU Langone investigators involved in the study were Eunsil Seok, PhD; Shilpi Mehta-Lee, MD; Sara Brubaker, MD; and Mengling Liu, PhD.

Media Inquiries:

Shira Polan

Phone: 212-404-4279

[email protected]

SOURCE NYU Langone Health
Outcomes of the Forum will inform the Foundation's $15M investment to create systems-level change in advancing health equity

PHILADELPHIA, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in our region, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation Institute for Health Equity (Institute) is convening hundreds of regional and national leaders representing academic medicine, national professional medical organizations, regional health systems, nonprofit organizations, government, and philanthropy to drive action in medical education, digital health and maternal health. The three-day Health Equity Forum drives sustainable, collaborative change in our region and is a model for the nation.

Independence Blue Cross Foundation Institute for Health Equity

"One year ago, we expanded our commitment to create actionable change through our Institute for Health Equity," says Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of the Foundation. "This Health Equity Forum is one of the many ways we're catalyzing ideas into action and demonstrates what our Institute was created to achieve. We are delighted to bring together many of our region and nation's most respected thought leaders on these critical issues."

Day one (April 11): Equity in Medical Education Summit (The National Constitution Center)

The first day of the Health Equity Forum addresses disparities in the physician workforce in partnership with the Delaware Valley DEI Consortium, a coalition of diversity, equity, and inclusion deans and faculty from seven medical, graduate, and allied-health schools in the Philadelphia area. With one of every six U.S. doctors trained in Philadelphia, this Forum is uniquely positioned to outline changes and investments needed to improve how all medical students are trained to treat a diverse patient population.

"In the past two decades, not a lot has changed to increase the number of underrepresented professionals in medicine, despite research that shows patients have better health outcomes when they receive care by providers who look like them or to whom they can relate," says Dr. Leon McCrea, Senior Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Associate Professor of Family, Community, and Preventive Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine. "We commend the Foundation for partnering with us in taking this leadership role to further address the problem and bring together the people who can make change happen."

Day two (April 12): Equity in Digital Health (Independence Blue Cross)

The Institute commissioned the first study in our region on the current practices, barriers, and gaps in the use of digital health services for underserved individuals in a post pandemic environment. Day two of the Forum (April 12) provides Foundation-supported community health centers with insights from the study and shapes a regional effort to improve digital health engagement in their patient populations. This is a critical initiative to improve access to care in every community.

Day three (April 13): Equity in Maternal Health (Independence Blue Cross)

Joining the national observance of Black Maternal Health Week, the final day of the Forum focuses on actionable next steps to achieve equity in maternal health care. According to a report by the Philadelphia Maternal Mortality Review Committee, Non-Hispanic Black women accounted for 73% of pregnancy-related deaths in Philadelphia, but only account for 43% of births.

Day 3 of the Forum addresses this crisis on multiple levels, opening with Pennsylvania Representative Morgan B. Cephas to discuss maternal health policy and legislation, and continues with dialogue about equity in maternal care related to Black maternal health, the modern birth center movement, the maternal care workforce, and perinatal mental health.

About the Independence Blue Cross Foundation

The Independence Blue Cross Foundation is leading a future for equitable health in our communities and nation. The IBC Foundation's grant programs and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation Institute for Health Equity are advancing three areas of impact: Access to Care, the Healthcare Workforce, and Health Equity.

Since inception the IBC Foundation's most important stakeholder  the community  has been at the center of the work. By the end of 2023, the IBC Foundation will have awarded grants totaling more than $80 million to support nonprofits and research improving the health and well-being of communities in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Independence Blue Cross Foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Learn more by visiting our website: ibxfoundation.org. Connect with the Independence Blue Cross Foundation on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Ruth Stoolman

[email protected]

Cell: 215-667-9537

SOURCE Independence Blue Cross Foundation
New Zealand's first solar-powered stratospheric aircraft will be a game-changer for collecting high-resolution aerial data for extreme weather events, environmental monitoring, and precision agriculture.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Kea Atmos Mk 1" uncrewed aircraft has been designed to be used for stratospheric flight testing. It has a wingspan of 12.5 metres, weighs under 40 kilograms and will fly at altitudes higher than commercial airliners, up to 50,000 feet. The electric launch vehicle being used is an Audi e-tron Sportback.

Kea Atmos Mk1 solar-powered stratospheric aircraft ready for launch on an electric Audi.

"It's an exhilarating year for the company as we undertake a range of challenging flight tests on our journey to the stratosphere. It was an absolute thrill to show the Kea Atmos Mk1 aircraft to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, NASA Deputy Administrator Pamela Melroy last month and we look forward to working with a wide range of international aerospace participants", CEO of Kea Aerospace, Mark Rocket says.

Kea Aerospace has been building and flying a range of electric-powered aircraft and high-altitude balloons as part of its program to build a global fleet of solar-powered uncrewed aircraft that will fly in the stratosphere for months at a time. Their X10 aircraft flew in February 2022 for 36 hours non-stop and proved perpetual flight capability at low altitudes. Each aircraft will carry a suite of aerial imagery equipment offering game-changing advances for many industries, vastly improving the data available for activities including environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, disaster management and maritime awareness.

"The Kea Atmos is the first solar-powered stratospheric aircraft designed and built in the Southern Hemisphere. It's an incredible challenge to make the aircraft as lightweight as possible to fly in less than 10% of the air density we have at sea level, but at the same time it has to be tough enough to handle flying through the fast jet streams", Mark Rocket says.

Kea Aerospace is based in Christchurch, New Zealand. High altitude flights are planned this year to take-off from Tawhaki, on the Kaitorete Spit, located around 50 kilometres south of Christchurch.

Media contact:

CEO of Kea Aerospace | Mark Rocket | 021 675050 | [email protected] | www.keaaerospace.com



Company info:

Kea Aerospace is building a fleet of solar-powered stratospheric aircraft that will be used to collect frequent high resolution aerial imagery for applications such as environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, maritime awareness and disaster management.

Kea Atmos Applications

Environment. Monitoring the weekly changes in the environment by detecting pollution on land and in waterways.



Disaster Management. Swiftly responding to better managing disasters when there are events such as extreme weather events, earthquakes, tsunamis and fires.

Smart Cities. Developing smart cities where we can improve traffic flow, monitor housing changes and better manage our green spaces.

Precision Agriculture. Better data and analysis tools to enable precision agriculture and horticulture, such as reducing water and fertiliser use.

Forestry. Regularly monitoring vast forest areas for tree health and assessing fire risk.

Maritime. Monitoring maritime areas to detect illegal fishing boats and other vessels.

Video:

Kea Atmos Mk1 flight video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsXEhgXW5d0

Launch Vehicle:

The Audi e-tron Sportback was provided by Archibalds Audi:

https://archibalds.co.nz/audi/

SOURCE Kea Aerospace
- Dedicated plant for electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV) with yearly capacity of 150,000 units

- The plant to mass produce battery-electric PBVs in second half of 2025

- Plant to showcase flexible production by adopting smart innovations, such as efficient 'cell method' of manufacturing

- An innovative factory that pursues low carbon footprint, intelligence, and human-centered principles

- Hyundai Motor Group announces aim to become one of the world's top 3 EV manufacturers by 2030

- The Group also outlines plans to invest KRW 24 trillion in the domestic EV industry by 2030

SEOUL, South Korea, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia held a groundbreaking ceremony today for its dedicated plant for the production of battery-electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV). The ceremony was held at Kia's Hwaseong plant, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, and was attended by over 200 people, including government officials, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Kia's Global President and CEO Ho Sung Song, and other employees from Hyundai Motor Group and the automotive parts industry.

Kia starts building facility for electric purpose-built vehicle (PBV) production (PRNewsfoto/Kia Corporation) Related Documents View PDF

Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song, on behalf of Hyundai Motor Group, highlighted in a greeting, "Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Hyundai MOBIS together plan to invest KRW 24 trillion in the domestic electric vehicle industry by 2030, with the goal of making South Korea one of the top three players in the global EV market. Our focus is to enhance the competitiveness of the entire electric vehicle ecosystem, including research and development, production, and infrastructure, and to lead the way in driving change and innovation in the new global automotive industry."

Cutting-edge smart factory with annual production capacity of 150,000 units

Kia will invest around one trillion won (approximately USD 758 million) to secure 99,000 acres of land, with the company planning to start mass-production in the second half of 2025. It plans to produce 150,000 units in the first full year, with the potential to expand in line with future market conditions.

The new PBV plant will be built as an eco-friendly plant that applies future innovative manufacturing technologies while minimizing carbon emissions. It will also seek efficiency and intelligence with Hyundai Motor and Kia's smart factory brand 'E-FOREST technologies'[1] such as digital manufacturing systems.

One of the innovative manufacturing processes to be implemented at the new PBV plant is known as the 'cellular (or cell) method,' which allows vehicle production based on diverse customer demands.

The cell method is a process layout strategy that groups together machines or workstations that are used to produce similar products or parts. The goal of the cell method is to create a more efficient and flexible manufacturing process by reducing the distance that materials and products need to travel during production. Under the cell method, machines are arranged in a way that optimizes the flow of materials and products between workstations, with the aim of minimizing downtime, reducing costs and increasing productivity.

The PBV plant's cutting-edge manufacturing system unifies the new cell method with the original mass-production conveyor system to allow flexible production with more customization of various product types.

In addition, the PBV plant will be built as a low-carbon factory by operating a dry booth, a nature-friendly construction method, during the painting process of vehicle manufacturing, and reducing carbon emissions by about 20 percent compared to existing factories by utilizing natural light and streamlining the manufacturing process.

Kia will also apply innovative technologies such as automation of facilities using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), automation of painting quality inspection under the vehicle, automation of installation of parts such as glass, vehicle name, and company logo, and real-time automatic measurement quality data analysis to autonomously correct and install the vehicle body in real time.

The new facility will be a 'human-friendly' plant by pushing automation in heavy-duty work and tasks that require looking up at the ceiling, while enhancing the feeling of 'openness' and also reducing noise levels.

First battery electric PBV production set for 2025

Kia plans to show SW (project name), the first model in the company's dedicated PBV lineup, in 2025. The model will be a mid-sized PBV and will be based on the "eS" platform, a dedicated skateboard platform for battery electric PBVs, enabling various types of vehicle bodies to be flexibly combined.

SW has been developed to respond to various business demands such as delivery, ride hailing, and business-to-business (B2B) transactions thanks to its excellent load structure and spacious indoor space that reaches the height of an adult.

After launching the mid-sized SW PBV, Kia plans to expand its product lineup to large-sized PBVs that can be used for logistics, fresh food delivery, multi-seat shuttles, and mobile offices and stores as well as small-sized PBVs and mid-sized robotaxis applied with autonomous driving technology.

For more information, visit the Kia Global Media Center at www.kianewscenter.com

[1] * E-FOREST is a smart factory ecosystem that pursues innovation in manufacturing systems by organically connecting everything to realize customer value. For more information, visit: https://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/story/CONT0000000000003696

SOURCE Kia Corporation
Bulgaria negotiating transfer of MiG-29 to Ukraine, subject to receipt of new aircraft instead

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense confirmed the fact of negotiations on the transfer of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, subject to the receipt of more modern combat aircraft from Western partners, the EFE agency reported on Monday.

In addition, the ministry said they were not going to transfer fighter jets to Kyiv for free.

EFE said Bulgaria currently has 16 MiG-29 fighters, of which only six are operational. Due to EU sanctions against Russia, Bulgaria can no longer receive technical assistance from the Russian side.

Initially, Bulgaria's contacts with partners regarding the possible transfer of aircraft to Ukraine were reported in secret Pentagon documents that were recently freely available on social networks.

EFE said if Bulgaria decides now to transfer its MiG-29s to Ukraine, then it will remain without fighters for at least a year and a half, since a batch of F-16s previously purchased from the United States will arrive only in 2025.

At the same time, the agency said Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has repeatedly spoken out against the supply of weapons to Ukraine and expressed the hope that the country's government will no longer supply weapons to Ukraine. At the moment, an interim government is working in Bulgaria, appointed precisely by Radev.
Resident and alumni companies also created 1,284 new jobs in 2022 to bring the total to 5,892 new biotech jobs added to the economy by LabCentral companies since 2013

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LabCentral , the first-of-its-kind network of shared laboratory spaces designed as launchpads for high-potential biotech startups, today announced its annual Impact Report detailing the influence of its 81 resident and 166 alumni companies on the local and national life sciences and biotech industry. The impact was measured in terms of funding, patents, clinical trials, job creation as well as LabCentral's expanded facilities and programs from the past year. The 2022 Impact Report is available on LabCentral's website along with reports from previous years.

Key statistics from the LabCentral 2022 Impact Report include:

Funding  LabCentral companies have raised a total of $22.95 billion in funding since 2013. In 2022 alone, LabCentral resident and alumni companies secured $6.05 billion in total funding and acquisition proceeds from all sources. Underscoring the quality of their scientific research, LabCentral companies secured 35% of all early-stage (seed and Series A) bio-pharma financing for the state of Massachusetts and represent 21% of all early-stage financing nationwide.

 LabCentral companies have raised a total of in funding since 2013. In 2022 alone, LabCentral resident and alumni companies secured in total funding and acquisition proceeds from all sources. Underscoring the quality of their scientific research, LabCentral companies secured 35% of all early-stage (seed and Series A) bio-pharma financing for the state of and represent 21% of all early-stage financing nationwide. Patents  Highlighting the success of accelerating new research into intellectual property, LabCentral resident and alumni companies were granted 56 patents in 2022  a full 35% of the total number of patents (160) residents have been granted since 2013.

 Highlighting the success of accelerating new research into intellectual property, LabCentral resident and alumni companies were granted 56 patents in 2022  a full 35% of the total number of patents (160) residents have been granted since 2013. Clinical Research  Resident and alumni companies have started 116 clinical trials since 2013, including 37 last year researching unique indications with various technologies. As part of those trials over the past 10 years, 11,421 participants have been dosed.

 Resident and alumni companies have started 116 clinical trials since 2013, including 37 last year researching unique indications with various technologies. As part of those trials over the past 10 years, 11,421 participants have been dosed. Economic Development  Since its opening in 2013, LabCentral has supported 247 early-stage companies that have added 5,892 new jobs to the economy. In 2022, the companies added 1,284 new jobs.

Additionally, LabCentral significantly expanded its lab capacity in 2022 and started to see impactful results from its LabCentral Ignite initiative that is designed to expand and diversify the biotech and life sciences industry:

LabCentral 238 & The Blavatnik Harvard Life Lab Longwood  To continue meeting the growing demand of biotech startups through different phases of their growth, LabCentral added 60,000 square feet of operational lab space with the opening of the second half of LabCentral 238 as well as the The Blavatnik Harvard Life Lab Longwood  expanding capacity for companies needing scale-up biomanufacturing as well as early-stage bench science opportunities.

 To continue meeting the growing demand of biotech startups through different phases of their growth, LabCentral added 60,000 square feet of operational lab space with the opening of the second half of LabCentral 238 as well as the The Blavatnik Harvard Life Lab Longwood  expanding capacity for companies needing scale-up biomanufacturing as well as early-stage bench science opportunities. LabCentral Ignite  The bold initiative to expand diversity, equity and inclusion in biotech and life sciences expanded its platform, partners and programming and began to show real impact in the market. The inaugural winners of LabCentral Ignite Golden Tickets both closed significant rounds of funding in 2022, including a $10 million Series A for Nanopath and a $6 million seed round for Harmony Baby Nutrition. In addition, the Career Forge training program graduated two cohorts with more than 50% of them already in jobs earning an average salary of $75,000 .

"By any measure  funding, patents, clinical trials, economic growth and more  LabCentral stands alone as a unique network of lab facilities and scientific community in the heart of Kendall Square with a singular mission to accelerate life sciences innovation in the service of human health," said Johannes Fruehauf, co-founder and president of LabCentral. "Against a backdrop of broader macro-economic challenges last year, the value and benefit of being part of our vibrant community is evident in the data  whether it is four of the 10 largest Series A fundings coming from LabCentral companies, more than a third of the patents granted to LabCentral companies coming just last year or that the number of participants dosed in clinical trials increasing 65% in 2022. It's clear that impactful science is being funded and accelerated through LabCentral."

About LabCentral

LabCentral is a network of laboratory spaces and scientific communities, purposed designed to jumpstart the launch of promising early-stage life-sciences companies and accelerate scientific innovation in service of human health.

Operating over 225,000 square-feet in Cambridge and on the Harvard University Campus, LabCentral is a convener of biotech stakeholders, connecting early and mid-stage companies with established institutions and organizations in the industry. LabCentral provides first-class operational support, curated events and programming, and access to a diverse network of sponsors to as many as 125 startups comprising approximately 1000 scientists and entrepreneurs.

More information is available at www.labcentral.org.

SOURCE LabCentral
Malicious Charges of Medical Fraud Disproven By Internal Documents

ATLANTA, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Christian Fletcher, CEO of Atlanta-based LifeBrite Laboratories, was recently found innocent of all charges in a case brought by the U.S. DOJ. Mr. Fletcher was falsely accused of conspiring with others to commit medical fraud.

The case took years to resolve, disrupting Mr. Fletcher's life and business.

"The last several years have been a true nightmare for me and my family," Fletcher said. "But my faith in God, and in justice, never wavered. I am pleased to finally put this unfortunate and unnecessary saga behind me."

LifeBrite is an accredited clinical lab that provides clinical testing services to employers and other healthcare organizations nationwide. LifeBrite was voted the best lab in Atlanta by the Atlanta Award Program for years 2016-2022.

The details of the case are as follow:

In 2015, LifeBrite began serving as a "reference" laboratory for laboratories located within rural hospitals in the Southeast United States . A "reference" laboratory is a laboratory that receives specimens referred from another laboratory and performs tests on those specimens as ordered by the referring laboratory.

Laboratory outreach programs have been in existence for nearly four decades through an extensive network of thousands of hospitals and laboratory service providers nationwide.

. A "reference" laboratory is a laboratory that receives specimens from another laboratory and performs tests on those specimens as ordered by the laboratory. Laboratory outreach programs have been in existence for nearly four decades through an extensive network of thousands of hospitals and laboratory service providers nationwide. Unfortunately, a campaign to spread false allegations of insurance fraud to regulators, insurance payors, and state and federal prosecutors was launched against LifeBritewith the goal of denying appropriate payments to LifeBrite for services rendered.

However, evidence and documentation showed that the accusing party knew that their allegations were false, yet decided to engage in this vicious smear campaign for financial gain with reckless disregard for the harm that LifeBrite would suffer.

Most prosecutors dismissed these allegations as unworthy of prosecution, yet the accusers were able to convince prosecutors in the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida to pursue the case.

Attorney's Office for the Middle District of to pursue the case. Christian was found innocent and these allegations were proven false. Yet, this malicious campaign has ruined his otherwise sterling reputation and has effectively destroyed his company that was previously valued at $400 million and would have been sold at that valuation if not for the smear tactics that were leveraged against him.

Mr. Fletcher is available immediately to speak with the media.

CONTACT:

Jon Waterhouse

[email protected]

404.373.2021

SOURCE LifeBrite Laboratories
magic bullet also announces its new partnership with Canstruction, a global hunger relief non-profit that creates art from canned goods.

LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In line with its recent rebrand, magic bullet is excited to give away a limited number of artist-designed product wraps to inspire its modern consumers to get creative in the kitchen.

magic bullet Artist-Designed Wraps

Last year, the glowed-up magic bullet brand introduced itself to Gen Z consumers as their new kitchen BFF. As part of its makeover, the brand launched a refreshed product line that provides fun, versatile, and accessible appliances to cooks of all levels, and promoted it in a new brand voice that aims to convey the joyous deliciousness of self-exploration. To celebrate the brand's core values of creativity, individuality, and self-expression, magic bullet created these new artist wraps, sending its 2000s-era infomercials off in style.

"magic bullet's new branding and wraps puts a refreshed spin on the brand for a new audience that cares deeply about individuality and authenticity," said John Olson, Brand Manager at magic bullet. "Our hope is that the brand and new decorative accessories not only add a splash of color to consumers' countertops, but further emphasize the power of self-expression in our lives and in the kitchen."

To design the imaginative wraps, magic bullet teamed up with three talented artists  Shanee Benjamin (she/her), Jiaqi Wang (she/her), and Spencer Gabor (he/him)  each of whom drew from personal inspiration and put their own twist on inspiring consumers' cooking creativity. All three wraps fit snugly around the base of the magic bullet Original Blender without impeding functionality and are made of durable, waterproof, and easy-to-clean material.

In addition to distributing these unique wraps, magic bullet is supporting its Gen Z audience through philanthropic outreach. Since this is the generation currently hit hardest by food insecurity1, magic bullet has partnered with Canstruction  a global hunger relief non-profit organization that hosts events in cities across the world to benefit food banks in local communities.

This September, magic bullet will sponsor Canstruction Orange County 's month-long competition in conjunction with Festival of the Children at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California. Canstruction marries creativity with its cause, and its events consist of competitions where participants design and build sculptures out of canned food. At the end of each event, the cans that were used in constructing these pieces are donated to local food banks. Each year, Canstruction Orange County donates roughly 65,000 pounds of food to The OC Food Bank, a program of the Community Action Partnership of Orange County.

"We are thankful for magic bullet's generous donation and support in helping us end hunger and malnutrition in our community," said Gregory Scott, President & CEO of Community Action Partnership of Orange County. "This September's event is sure to be an exciting showcase of the powers of community, food, and creativity."

For a limited time while supplies last, consumers can redeem a wrap for free with the purchase of a magic bullet Original Blender. Simply visit themagicbullet.com and use the promo code 'EXPRESSION' at checkout. To learn more about magic bullet's exclusive wraps, three artist partners, and Canstruction partnership, please visit nutribullet.com/blog/introducing-magic-bullet-artist-wraps/ and follow @themagicbullet on Instagram and @themagicbulletofficial on TikTok .

About magic bullet 

We all know the kitchen is where the real magic happens, and at magic bullet, we want you to let your creativity flow. For us, it's not about perfect measurements or extreme precision, it's about the remixes, substitutions, and happy accidents that make your dishes uniquely your own. From personal blenders to air fryers and beyond, our products provide an all-in-one assist to help you mix it up, whether you're blending a juicy colada, throwing together a fire salsa, or crisping up some irresistibly flavorful wings. We're not here to make sure you "get it right"  we're here so you can let loose, mess around, and have lots of tasty fun along the way. That's how you find your flavor. That's magic bullet.

1Campbell, C. (2022, July 15). Gen Z among the hardest hit by food insecurity. The Food Institute. Retrieved February 2, 2023, from https://foodinstitute.com/focus/gen-z-among-the-hardest-hit-by-food-insecurity/

Media Contact:

Meghan Kelly

630-360-0020

[email protected]

SOURCE magic bullet
Executive with 25+ Years of Neuroscience-focused Commercialization Experience To Lead Commercial Strategic Development Across the Company's Pipeline of CNS Assets

SAN FRANCISCO and BOSTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MapLight Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted, highly effective therapeutics to improve the lives of those with difficult-to-treat brain disorders, today announced the appointment of Charmaine Lykins, MBA, as chief commercial officer, effective April 3,2023.

"We are pleased to welcome Charmaine to our leadership team at this pivotal time for MapLight," said Chris Kroeger, M.D., MBA, MapLight's Chief Executive Officer and Founder. "She is a recognized leader with unparalleled experience developing the early commercialization strategy for neurology and psychiatry treatments and launching those treatments in the market. Her expertise will be invaluable to us in this new role, as we progress our clinical and pre-clinical pipeline."

A recognized leader with unparalleled experience in commercialization strategy for neurology and psychiatry treatments Tweet this

"It's an exciting time to be joining MapLight and I am honored to work with this distinguished team of neuroscience research and development leaders," said Charmaine Lykins. "The majority of my career has been dedicated to commercializing new treatments in MapLight's therapeutic areas of focus, where there still are significant unmet needs for patients and caregivers. I look forward to working with the team to bring differentiated, innovative treatments to people with autism, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and other CNS conditions."

Ms. Lykins brings more than 25 years of neuroscience-focused pharmaceutical commercial experience across multiple organizations recognized as leaders in developing and commercializing medicines for central nervous system disorders, including Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, Sunovion and ACADIA Pharmaceuticals. Ms. Lykins most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer at Karuna Therapeutics where she led planning and execution of the organization's commercial capabilities in preparation for the launch of KarXT. Prior to Karuna she was Senior Vice President, Global Product Planning and Chief Marketing Officer for ACADIA, where she led NUPLAZID  Parkinson's Disease Psychosis marketing, new product planning and launch preparations for Dementia Related Psychosis. Prior to ACADIA, she led commercialization and planning efforts for Lundbeck's portfolio of schizophrenia treatments from early development through commercialization. Her U.S. and global commercialization and strategic planning experience consists of 10 product launches, including REXULTI  in schizophrenia, depression, and agitation in Alzheimer's disease, ABILIFY MAINTENA  in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, LATUDA  , CYMBALTA  , and ZYPREXA .

Ms. Lykins received her MBA with an emphasis in international business from the University of South Carolina and received her bachelor's degree in chemistry and honors humanities from Ball State University.

About MapLight Therapeutics

MapLight Therapeutics is developing targeted, highly effective therapeutics to improve the lives of those with difficult-to-treat brain disorders. Today, there are few therapeutic options for people living with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Parkinson's Disease, and Schizophrenia, and those therapies are limited by modest efficacy and significant side effects. MapLight is committed to redefining this standard of care. The company's unique discovery platform combines novel, proprietary technologies to uncover the individual circuits that misfire in brain disorders and treat those circuits with effective, safe therapeutics. MapLight was founded in 2019 by a team of renowned neuroscientists who led the discovery of such groundbreaking technologies as optogenetics and STARmap. Learn more at www.maplightrx.com.

Media Contact for MapLight Therapeutics

Lauren Davis, Alkali Marketing, 512-751-2946

SOURCE MapLight Therapeutics, Inc.
Startups Compete for $10,000 Prize for Tech Solutions Advancing Connections for Older Adults to Reduce Social Isolation and Increase Engagement

LAFAYETTE, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mary Furlong & Associates (MFA) and AgeTech Collaborative from AARP are looking for tech solutions that reduce social isolation and advance engagement and connection so everyone thrives as they age. Applications are being accepted for the in-person pitch competition, which will take place during the 20th annual What's Next Longevity Venture Summit, June 14-15.

20th anniversary

"We are focusing the pitch competition on social connection because of the enormous mental and physical impacts of social isolation on older adults. The need to alleviate social isolation and loneliness was made clear during the pandemic," said Amelia Hay, Vice President, AgeTech Collaborative from AARP. "We're looking for technology solutions that inspire engagement and connection to enable older adults to thrive."

Judges will evaluate entrants on whether the solution solves an important problem or unmet need, the quality of the founders and team, market fit and future impact for the solution's success in the marketplace. Applications will be accepted through April 28 and finalists will be notified around May 15. Details can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/ATC-apply.

"MFA has collaborated with AARP for 20 years, and we are proud to continue our joint effort with the AgeTech Collaborative from AARP on this critical initiative," said Mary Furlong, founder and CEO of MFA and producer of the longest running conference focused on the longevity economy. "Our collaboration has grown out of our mutual longstanding commitment to supporting the $8.3 trillion longevity marketplace, including thought leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, incubators, nonprofits and government agencies. Past winners have gone on to grow successful companies that are changing the way we age."

The competition will take place on June 14 at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California. For more information on the What's Next Longevity Venture Summit, please go to www.boomerventuresummit.com.

About Mary Furlong & Associates

Founded in 2003 Mary Furlong & Associates (MFA) is a concierge consulting firm specializing in the $8.3 trillion longevity market, with expertise in investment and entrepreneurism. MFA is known for connecting startups with investors and government funding. MFA also produces the longest-running conferences in longevity with the What's Next Longevity Summit brand, and hosts two longevity market podcasts. A successful serial entrepreneur raising over $200M in corporate sponsorship and venture financing for companies, Mary Furlong founded SeniorNet.org and ThirdAge Media prior to creating MFA in 2003. She has been recognized by the American Society on Aging, Fortune, and TIME, in addition to being named one of the top 100 Women in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Mary is an adviser to the Ziegler LinkAge Fund, CABHI, Thrive Center and numerous start-up companies and serves as the Dean's Executive Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. Learn more at maryfurlong.com .

About AgeTech Collaborative from AARP

The AgeTech Collaborative from AARP is leading a global mission to improve people's lives as they age through ground-breaking AgeTech innovations.

We do this by connecting a one-of-a-kind ecosystem of leading startups, forward-thinking investors, enlightened enterprises, and creative testbeds, all working to bring transformative AgeTech solutions to market. We foster high-value opportunities to solve the most pressing challenges for the aging population

Contact: Elyse Dasko

[email protected]

760-994-5954

SOURCE Mary Furlong & Associates
The addition of the European market will drive revenue growth in 2023

PRAGUE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MC Global Holdings, LLC ("MCG"), the world's largest provider of hemp-derived cannabinoids based out of Texas and Colorado, announced today the expansion of its European business via its affiliate European holding company, MC Wellness International, Limited, an Ireland LLC ("MCWI). MCWI, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, MC Wellness SRO, has actively marketed its products worldwide.

The expansion into Europe will serve the increased demand for MCG's bulk hemp-derived Cannabinoids, further establishing the company as an international leader in the industry. Along with this growth, president of MCG, Bret Worley, also established MC Nutraceuticals Europe, SRO ("MCNE"), an operating entity based in the Czech Republic that will be a wholly owned subsidiary of MCWI.

"Cannabinoids are a burgeoning industry and we look forward to the opportunity to bring our education and expertise in the space to the European market," said Worley. "Launching MCNE will help us expand our European operations with commercial distribution and fulfillment agreements, as well as hiring local staff to support."

Already, beginning work in the European locales has resulted in significant growth in European revenue compared to 2022 levels for MCWI and MCNE. With finalized marketing and fulfillment plans, MCG expects continued growth in market share and increased revenue from the new regions.

Looking toward the future, MCWI will continue to seek out viable worldwide markets for expansion as it sets the pace in the hemp-derived Cannabinoids industry.

About MC Global Holdings

MC Global Holdings was established to revolutionize the hemp wellness industry by being the leader in professionalism, promotion and distribution of responsibly produced cannabinoids worldwide.

Websites:

www.MCGlobal.io

www.MCNutraceuticals.com

https://vivimu.com/?utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=prnewswire&utm_campaign=prnewswire&utm_id=prnewswire

Investor inquiries: Jeff Worley - [email protected]

Sales inquiries: Tracy Mackintosh, [email protected]

SOURCE MC Global Holdings
Merced County will tap Accela's modern government enterprise software platform and services to comply with new state legislation requiring online permitting

SAN RAMON, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Accela, the trusted provider at the heart of government operations, today announced that Merced County, California, selected Accela to power their digital transformation toward a simplified, one-stop permitting process. The county signed a 10-year contract that includes $4.5 million in Accela software solutions and $1.7 million in professional services. Accela and its partners OpenCities and Velosimo will help Merced County streamline its back-office processes and workflows, modernize resident experiences, and create more transparency and accessibility.

"Merced County was seeking a technology partner they could entrust to help them dissolve boundaries to efficiency, integrate services on a single platform, and provide a go-to foundation for future growth and flexibility, which is what they found with Accela," said Accela Chief Revenue Officer Dennis Michalis. "This partnership is a testament to the value Accela's enterprise software brings to agencies looking to transform what it means to do business with government and better meet the needs of their communities."

Merced County recently reorganized several functions, including economic development, building and safety, planning and environmental health, into its Community & Economic Development Department. Recently enacted legislation to require online permitting, AB 2234 and SB 379 , also created a pressing need for the county to upgrade its permitting solutions. As such, the county needed a unified platform to further simplify this work, provide real-time information, and reduce permit issuance time.

"Delivering the highest level of customer service is a cornerstone priority for Merced County," said Merced County Director of Community and Economic Development Mark Hendrickson. "By investing in Accela, we will be better positioned to help our customers work through the permitting process by providing swift, real-time information most important to them."

Under the contract, the county will leverage the Accela Civic Platform, and Civic Applications for Business Licensing, Planning, Building, Fire Prevention, and Environmental Health. With the Civic Platform, Merced County will have one platform for all current department functions and a strong foundation on which to grow.

Merced County is also utilizing the Accela Civic Platform as the core foundation to tap into several integrations available through Accela's broad partner network. OpenCities will provide county residents with a single digital "front door" to all permitting, licensing, service request functions, and other resident services. To reduce plan approval turnaround time for its customers, the county will also leverage Velosimo's Connect Platform, the only local government-focused iPaaS, and its no-code connectors for Accela to Bluebeam Studio and Laserfiche Documents to streamline and speed the County's plan review and document management tasks.

Accela is proud to power 72 percent of all California counties comprised of over 10,000 residents. To learn more about Accela's solutions, please visit https://www.accela.com/solutions/ .

About Accela

Accela is the trusted provider of cloud solutions at the heart of government operations. The company works with governments across the globe to accelerate their digital transformation, deliver vital services, and build stronger communities. More than 300 million residents worldwide benefit from Accela's government software solutions. The company offers agile, purpose-built solutions and the power of a platform that provides users with a consumer-like experience, shares data across departments, and ensures world-class security.

With Accela, government agencies experience rapid and effective digital transformation. Accela's government software meets agencies wherever they are on their modernization journey, while also helping them prepare for whatever comes next. The company is a three-consecutive year Microsoft US Partner Award winner for its innovative SaaS solutions to help governments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Accela was honored as a recipient of Inc.'s Best in Business for SaaS and selected by Fast Company for its World Changing Ideas Award. Accela is headquartered in San Ramon, California, with offices around the world. For more information, visit www.accela.com .

Contact: Holly Langbein, (916) 769-2199, [email protected]

SOURCE Accela
The Forthcoming Book Helps Entrepreneurs Become the Leaders Their People Need Them To Be

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael McFall, co-CEO and co-founder of BIGGBY COFFEE and author of Grind , today announced the forthcoming release of Grow: Take Your Business From Chaos to Calm, a strategic blueprint for entrepreneurs seeking business sustainability, launching June 2023 as An Inc. Original Imprint by Greenleaf Publishing Group .

Grow draws on McFall's 26 years of leadership experience and helps guide the transition from bootstrapping entrepreneur to effective leader. The book follows his 2019 release, Grind: A No-Bullshit Approach to Take Your Business from Concept to Cash Flow .

Leaders are the most important ingredient to success, responsible for cultivating positive, encouraging environments. Grow shows readers that cultivating loving environments can move their businesses from chaos to long-term sustainability.

"Entrepreneurship is challenging, transitioning from entrepreneur to leader is doubly so. Success through transition is achievable by focusing on trust, self-awareness, and thriving environments," said Michael McFall, author of Grow and co-CEO of BIGGBY COFFEE. "I am excited to share my journey, and hope Grow creates new brain synapses for leaders longing to reach the promised land of sustainability."

About Michael McFall

Mike McFall is co-founder and co-CEO of BIGGBY COFFEE . Despite not having an MBA or being a workaholic, McFall has built his career through real-world experience. McFall understands that people are the most important ingredient to any successful enterprise, and he helps employers create a purpose-driven business. McFall is the author of Grind (2019) and Grow (2023), the first two books in a three book series. He is a Public Speaker, and teaches a class on entrepreneurialism at The University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship.

About An Inc. Original

An Inc. Original is the official publishing imprint of Inc. Magazine and is a collection of books written by the most innovative minds in business. Catered specifically to entrepreneurs, An Inc. Original titles cover all aspects of launching and maintaining a successful company.

About Greenleaf Publishing

Greenleaf Book Group is a publisher and distributor best known for its innovative business model, distribution power and award-winning designs. Named one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States by Inc. magazine, it has represented more than 1,000 titles, including 49 that have hit The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal or USA Today Best Seller lists.

Press Inquiries: Kristen Aikey

JMG Public Relations

212-206-1645

[email protected]

SOURCE Michael McFall
TULSA, Okla., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- At Mystic Medicinal we pride ourselves on our exclusive and classic collections of craft cannabis strains we've curated and brought to Oklahoma dispensaries. With our exclusive strains, we handpicked genetics along with forum based group efforts, ensuring we've found the most original strains, and the best phenotypes of each strain chosen.

While all of our rare boutique strains produce beautiful crystally nugs, each of our exclusive strains have their own distinct robust flavor and fragrant aroma profiles. You can really taste every flavor upon inhaling and consuming the flower.

Our Sativa Dominant Hybrid strains, Sour Lemon Cake and Lemon Granita have quickly become Oklahoma medical marijuana patient favorites. Sour Lemon Cake is a Sour Banana Sherbert x Lemon Cheesecake cross, and is exactly what it sounds like it should be. Sour, lemon, and cheesecake taste notes. Delicious! Our Lemon Granita is sweet and sugary, like a sweet lemonade drink due to its Lemon Jack x Frozen Marg cross, and always receives high lab results for the terpene Myrcene.

"You've answered the dream of what this stuff should be like. This Lemon Granita is like a memory confirmed." - Anonymous Patient

Our Indica Dominant Hybrid, Fro Sho , is a world exclusive dropping soon. It's a Frozay x Magnum Opus cross with beautiful dark contrasting buds covered in trichomes. Tight nug formations with a floral rose and berries sweet aroma and flavor.

Our Kashmir Cookies hybrid strain is a bold, earthy, double back crossed Afghani x Girl Scout Cookies cross. The leaves turn black six days before harvest, and the buds are colorful producing a savory smell. A unique and very rare strain.

Our Chocolate Gelato is a hybrid Chocolate Eruption x Gelato 41 cross strain that has taste notes that make you think of chocolate and creamy, with a really gassy chocolate funk that you don't see in most chocolate labeled strains.

Master grower Josh Freeman's style of cultivation requires that buds are never sprayed with pesticides of any kind, organic or otherwise, all while focusing on terpenes and overall effect. This allows every harvested Mystic Medicinal bud to go directly to a top shelf. Expect a wide variety of flavors from tangy to savory, sour to creamy. Every nug is big, beautiful, consistent, and a frosty trichome covered medical marijuana masterpiece.

SOURCE Mystic Medicinal, LLC
Challenge seeks to develop and commercialize technology and data usage through an entrepreneurial lens

HOUSTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, NASA's Science Mission Directorate launched the 2023 NASA Entrepreneurs Challenge . This year's Challenge recognizes and supports entrepreneurs working on technology that advances the agency's science goals, particularly in lunar exploration and climate science.

Challenge seeks to develop and commercialize technology and data usage through an entrepreneurial lens

Reaching for new heights and revealing the unknown for the benefit of humanity doesn't just require groundbreaking technologies; it requires visionary people. There are countless tenacious and innovative entrepreneurs working across the country on cutting-edge research and game-changing ideas of importance to NASA. The NASA Entrepreneur Challenge recognizes winning entrepreneurs with up to $1,000,000 in total prizes, provides winners with exposure to external funders and investors, and offers insight into how entrepreneurs can work with NASA in the future. NASA is particularly interested in reaching entrepreneurs from historically excluded communities, especially women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities.

A follow-up to the previous NASA Entrepreneur Challenges in 2020 and 2021 , this year's Challenge focuses on two critical areas of need: lunar payloads and climate science. Prizes will be awarded to participants who successfully contribute ideas that further development and commercialization of technologies and data usage in these two broadly-defined areas.

In Round 1 of the Challenge, participants will submit a pitch deck alongside a technical white paper outlining the technology concept. Up to 20 organizations will receive $16,000 and advance to Round 2, where they will submit more detailed information and present at an in-person pitch event hosted at the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit and Expo in Washington. Up to eight organizations will be awarded an additional grand prize of $85,000.

The pitch event will allow finalists to network with top agency, military, and industry leaders with exposure to venture capitalists and other impact funds. Winners from prior years have secured millions of dollars in investor funds, gained acceptance into accelerator programs, and won Small Business Innovation Research contracts following their participation in the challenge.

The Challenge: NASA's Science Mission Directorate invites startups and entrepreneurs to participate in the NASA Entrepreneur Challenge to further the development and commercialization of technologies and data usage through an entrepreneurial lens to advance the Agency's science goals for humankind.

The Prize: NASA's Science Mission Directorate will award up to $1,000,000 in prizes to participants who can successfully contribute ideas that advance innovations related to lunar payloads or climate science. In addition, finalists will participate in an in-person pitch event where they will have the opportunity to present to and network with venture capitalists, impact investors, NASA scientists, and industry leaders.

Eligibility to Submit and Win Award: The prize is open to US persons aged 18 or older participating as individuals or as a team. Please see the challenge rules for complete eligibility requirements.

To learn more about the opportunity, visit www.nasaentrepreneurchallenge.org .

Media Contact:

Alexandra Pony

[email protected]

250.858.0656

SOURCE NASA Tournament Lab
Russian occupying forces on Monday carried out limited ground attacks along Svatove-Kreminna line in Luhansk region, continued territorial seizures in and around Bakhmut, Donetsk region, and continued ground attacks on Avdiyivka-Donetsk line, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a report of April 10.

"Wagner forces are reportedly continuing to commit war crimes by beheading Ukrainian servicemen in Bakhmut," according to the report.

At the same time, it is reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense refuses to name the Wagner private military company as participants in Bakhmut battle, instead reporting on "assault detachments." Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, in turn, criticized the Russian Ministry of Defense prisoner recruitment efforts, likely to advertise ongoing Wagner volunteer recruitment campaigns.

Analysts also report a conflict between Prigozhin and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs around the program of the Russian chairmanship in the UN Security Council and the work of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Africa. "Russian government institutions, and Kremlin affiliates likely seek to shut down any attempts by Prigozhin to garner public or political support," the ISW said.

It is reported that Prigozhin is developing cooperation with members of the Just Russia - for Truth party, probably in order to gain control over the political force, but the Russian presidential administration is unlikely to allow him to do this. Previously, Prigozhin was interested in investing in the Motherland political party and obtaining a public position.
www.mynnb.com

EL CAJON, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Neighborhood Bancorp (NB) announced today it has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) through the CDFI Equitable Recovery Program (CDFI ERP). NB was one of 603 CDFIs across the country to receive a portion of the $1.73 billion in grants awarded under the CDFI ERP.

Neighborhood National Bank, NB's community bank subsidiary, is San Diego County's oldest community bank, serving San Diego County since 1997, when it became the first nationally chartered CDFI in the country. Neighborhood's mission has always been to serve minority, women and veteran owned businesses and individuals in low and moderate-income communities throughout San Diego County, and the Bank has enjoyed a long history of providing much needed banking and financial services in traditionally underbanked minority communities. President and CEO Scott Andrews stated, "we are very pleased to receive this ERP award which will boost our efforts to assist small businesses, particularly those in low and moderate income areas that have been most affected by the pandemic".

During the pandemic, Neighborhood funded over $75 million of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to small businesses at an average loan size of less than $100,000, preserving over 8,000 jobs for small businesses, a majority of which were located in low and moderate-income areas. In 2022, nearly 80% of loans funded by the Bank were in low income and persistent poverty census tracts as identified under CDFI guidelines.

Proceeds of the ERP grant will be used to increase lending and other investments in markets that have been and continue to be impacted by the effects of COVID and its aftermath. CEO Andrews commented that "Neighborhood is committed to serving local, small businesses and will continue to help them grow and prosper during these challenging times".

For Further Information Contact:

Scott R. Andrews

President & CEO, Neighborhood Bancorp

[email protected]

619-789-4423

SOURCE Neighborhood Bancorp
ATLANTA, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadia Cold, a national third-party logistics provider (3PL), is pleased to announce the construction of a new cold storage facility in Jacksonville to address the growing demand for pallet space in the market.

National 3PL is pleased to announce the construction of a new cold storage facility in Jacksonville, FL. Tweet this Arcadia Cold's Jacksonville Cold Storage facility rendering.

With the continued growth of globally-traded perishable food commodities, the demand for cold storage facilities has risen sharply. This new facility will be Arcadia's first to focus on port-based handling services, strategically located 10-minutes from the Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT). Arcadia's Jacksonville Cold Storage facility will assist food companies in taking their products from port to plate.

The Jacksonville Cold Storage Facility will boast an impressive 216,297 square feet and 30,254 pallet positions with blast freezing capacity to freeze more than 6 million pounds of product a week. Clearing the site for construction has already begun, and Arcadia expects to open its doors to customers in early 2024.

As a start-up, Arcadia aims to challenge the status quo and offer customer service levels and facility quality that go beyond what the market currently has to offer. With 70% of the 3PL space managed by three large companies, Arcadia is committed to providing a fresh approach and a superior customer experience.

The Jacksonville Port Authority has invested significantly in the port, including a $420 million port deepening project, due to meet the needs of increased activity with larger vessels and projected growth for the future. The addition of Arcadia's facility will provide much-needed capacity in the market and tackle supply chain inefficiencies, supporting the continued growth of the cold storage industry.

Overall, Arcadia's new facility is a significant investment in the local economy and a testament to the company's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its customers. For more information, please visit Arcadia's website.

About Arcadia Cold: Arcadia Cold specializes in providing third-party handling, storage, distribution, and value-added services to the food industry. We are on a mission to design and deploy modern facilities and provide innovative solutions through the practical application of technology, creating meaningful value for our customers while helping them meet their strategic objectives  establishing The New Age of cold chain. www.arcadiacold.com

SOURCE Arcadia Cold
WASHINGTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, released its latest civil rights report for 2022 at a news conference at its Capitol Hill headquarters in Washington D.C.

WATCH THE FULL NEWS CONFERENCE

VIDEO: Community Briefing on New Report

Titled "Progress in the Shadow of Prejudice," the report documents 5,156 complaints to CAIR offices nationwide involving a range of issues including airline discrimination, banking discrimination, bullying, denial of service, education discrimination, employment discrimination, FBI Interrogation, First Amendment violations, hate crimes, law enforcement encounters, immigration/asylum cases, incarceree rights, sport discrimination, school incidents, among other reported issues.

SEE: 2023 Civil Rights Report: Progress in the Shadow of Prejudice

SEE: CAIR Says Muslim Bias Complaints Return to Pre-Trump Levels

There was a 23 percent decrease in the total number of complaints for 2022 compared to the previous year. It is the first recorded decline since we started tracking such data in 1995. The new report notes that complaints about law enforcement and government overreach dropped by 38 percent. At the same time, complaints about school incidents increased by 63 percent.

"A one-year decline is fuel for optimism. It's not yet a trend. The rise in cases impacting students is concerning," said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. "CAIR's civil rights work can help secure this positive trend and the data tells us that more proactive measures to protect children are an important part of our efforts going forward."

In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:

"CAIR's latest nationwide civil rights data shows that progress has been made in the fight against anti-Muslim bigotry and discrimination, but that significant challenges remain.

"The massive 63 percent rise in school related-complaints and persistently high reports of employment discrimination, bias incidents and government abuses are deeply concerning.

"We call on government agencies, companies and local communities to take some of the steps recommended in our report so that our nation can make lasting progress in the fight to advance justice for all, including American Muslims."

To join CAIR's media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters  For more information, email: [email protected], CC [email protected]

CONTACT: CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, [email protected]; CAIR Research and Advocacy Coordinator Ammar Ansari, 202-742-6410, [email protected]; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
ULAAN BAATAR, Mongolia , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government of Mongolia has launched a new online platform to enable businesses to easily start up and grow, reducing both waiting times and bureaucracy.

"E-Business"  e-business.mn  was developed by young engineers at the E-Mongolia Academy and launched by the Prime Minister of Mongolia. It marks the next step in the digital transformation of the Mongolian economy.

On average, 1,540 new legal entities are established in Mongolia each month, yet those setting up new businesses often have to visit the state registration office and financial institutions several times before they can get up and running. Once they start trading, businesses in Mongolia have previously faced unnecessary bureaucracy.

E-Business will streamline exchanges between businesses and government agencies and also make it possible to register a business in Mongolia from anywhere in the world. Services that can be accessed via the platform include obtaining a legal entity name, registering a business property list and obtaining an electronic certificate.

By making the permitting system more transparent, the platform will also support the Government's efforts to combat corruption. The launch of E-Business comes as the anti-corruption agency submitted its formal strategy to tackle corruption in Mongolia to the country's parliament today (11 April). This document is set to form Mongolia's first national strategy to combat corruption, and deliver benefits such as resolving the cases of corrupt officials, extraditing criminals who have fled abroad and removing the immunity of politically exposed persons (such as members of parliament). Placing public consultation at the heart of the policy development process is also a primary objective of the strategy.

Following the creation of the E-Business platform, establishing a new business in Mongolia can take place at reduced cost and in as little as two days, putting Mongolia in the same company as many advanced economies on this metric.

Commenting on the launch of E-Business, the Prime Minister of Mongolia L. Oyun-Erdene said:

"The greater use of digital technology is a core part of modernising Mongolia's economy and making our country a better place to do business.

"The launch of E-Business today is a key step on this journey. By eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy while also playing a key role in helping us tackle corruption, this new platform is vital in making Mongolia more business-friendly and attracting the foreign investment needed to support our long-term growth."

SOURCE The Government of Mongolia
A simple, cost-effective way for small businesses to receive their Employee Retention Credit (ERC) refund in a matter of days

CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, NEWITY , America's source for small business capital, dedicated to providing access to SBA loan solutions, streamlined tax credits and trusted service providers, announced their Employee Retention Credit (ERC) Fast Track program that allows qualifying businesses to receive their ERC refund within five days of filing with the IRS for a flat fee. ERC Fast Track enhances NEWITY's existing service that provides a complete solution to help businesses efficiently determine their eligibility and file for ERC.

Created within the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, ERC is an incentive program that provides business owners with tax credits up to $26,000 per retained employee, even for businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

Building on its successful track record helping more than 120,000 businesses navigate the complexities of PPP and SBA 7(a) loans, NEWITY created a streamlined ERC process to help businesses determine and confirm their eligibility, file their claim, and receive their refund within days, instead of months, while ensuring IRS compliance.

"One of the biggest pain points for small businesses has been the length of time required to receive their ERC refund once they've determined they qualify," said David Cody, NEWITY Co-Founder and Co-CEO. "ERC Fast Track is a testament to our continued effort to simplify complex government programs for American business owners. We're focused on ensuring businesses are fully qualified for the credit and helping them receive a cash refund faster than ever before for a flat fee."

Commenting on the Fast Track service, Luke LaHaie, NEWITY Co-Founder and Co-CEO added, "ERC is an excellent program, but its rules are complicated. We want to help small businesses confirm that they're eligible, file for ERC efficiently, and get their money as quickly as possible  which can be a major lifeline. We bring the right combination of technology, seasoned experts, and a deep understanding of the program's complexities, nuances, and regulations to help us confirm and uncover eligibility that tax teams may miss."

NEWITY's ERC Fast Track program is open and available to all qualifying small businesses.

About NEWITY

NEWITY is America's source for small business capital, focused on empowering entrepreneurs with access to trusted service providers, affordable loan solutions, and streamlined tax credits  all in one place. NEWITY uses leading technology and real human support to help small businesses make their companies more efficient and profitable. Today, that includes equitable access to SBA 7(a) loans ; streamlined processes to claim tax credits ; simplified online bookkeeping with Xendoo ; customized, competitive insurance with Mylo ; personalized business advisory with Cultivate; and access to a marketing agency marketplace with Breef . To join NEWITY's growing small business community, visit NEWITYmarket.com .

SOURCE NEWITY
Contract enables Van Gelder to start importing MEXT MEATS products from Japan, and selling in European markets starting from April 2023, having Bidfood and Van der Valk Hotel as the first customers.

TOKYO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NEXT MEATS Co., Ltd. a Japanese subsidiary of NEXT MEATS Holdings, Inc. (OTC Market in the US listed corporation as "NXMH") Tokyo based food-tech venture company and Dr. FOODS Co., Ltd. a group company of NEXT MEATS Co., Ltd. hosted the exclusive tasting event with Van Gelder (Founded in Netherlands in 1953), inviting Bidfood (Shareholder Van Gelder) and Van der Valk Hotel in Netherlands for the mutual distribution of its products in European Markets.

At Van Gelder's HQ in Ridderkerk, Netherlands, the executive chef of NEXT MEATS Co., Ltd. prepared 8 course vegan meals using the newest non-GMO soybean protein based alternative meats product named "Next Short Rib 2.0" and "Next Tuna" (Products of NEXT MEATS Co., Ltd.) along with "Vegan Foie Gras" and "Vegan Caviar" (Products of Dr. FOODS Co., Ltd.) finished up with "NEXT Ice Cream" as the vegan desert by demonstrating delectable versatility of the products. There were over 30 participants for this event including the owner, top management, and executive chefs of Van der Valk Hotel (The largest Dutch hospitality chain operates over 80 hotels in EU), and Bidfood (International broad-line foodservice conglomerate, listed on the JSE, South Africa).

Followed by this event, NEXT MEATS Co., Ltd. and Van Gelder sighed the exclusive distribution contract which enable them to start importing MEXT MEATS products from Japan, and selling in European markets starting from April 2023, having Bidfood and Van der Valk Hotel as the first customers. This is a major milestone for our group companies as it makes our entree into European markets with "Next Short Rib 2.0".

Van Gelder is a very modern fruit and vegetable supplier and family business. They have been delivering fresh potatoes, vegetables and fruit daily for more than 65 years. To achieve this, Van Gelder controls all of the supply chain, from source to serving. Van Gelder connects growers to customers and has the highest turnover rate in the market. In 2022 they created a new plant based assortment, which they will continue expanding.

Van Gelder www.vangeldernederland.nl Krommeweg 10, 2988 CB Ridderkerk, The Netherlands https://twitter.com/VanGelderNL T +31 (0)180 33 60 00 [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/VanGelderNederland

https://www.youtube.com/user/VanGelderNL

Bidfood Corporation Limited known as Bidcorp and Bidfood is an international broad-line foodservice group, listed on the JSE, South Africa, and present in developed and developing economies in five continents.

https://www.bidfood.com

Van der Valk Hotel is a Dutch international hospitality chain run by the Van der Valk family. It is the largest Dutch hospitality chain, with more than 65 locations in the Netherlands and more than 15 in other countries.

https://www.valk.com/en

NEXT MEATS Co., Ltd. a Japanese subsidiary of NEXT MEATS Holdings, Inc. (OTC Market in the U.S.A. listed corporation as "NXMH") is Tokyo based food-tech venture company that has been devoted for the research, development and in-house production of premium Japanese-style alternative meat products made with non-GMO soy bean protein since 2020. The range of products started from the world's first plant-based Yakiniku Short-Rib and Skirt-Steak to Beef Bowl, Chicken, Burger Patties, Pork, Tuna and Milk for both professional and family use. NEXT MEATS Co., Ltd. continue to develop new products and grow business both in Japan and around the world by venturing into the global vegan market with a proposal of "NEXT Food" choices from Japan.

Dr. FOODS Co., Ltd. a Japanese subsidiary of Dr. FOODS Inc. (OTC Market in the U.S.A. listed corporation as "DRFS") is Tokyo based food-tech venture and spin-off company of Next Meats Co., Ltd that has been focusing on the research and development of cultured foods. The proprietary technologies which combined with over 1000 years of Japanese traditional fermented foods culture called "KOJI" (rice malt) gave a breakthrough invention of the world's first vegetable based "Vegan Foie Gras".

For further information, please contact the following.

Photo Download Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sr7wzkki9tyg1jp/AABT6bqY1bd4UzMfu72OW-kGa?dl=0

Shimizu Building 2nd Floor, CEO: Koichi Ishizuka https://www.nextmeats.global 34-16 Shinjuku 1 Chome, COO: Mitsuru Anthony Ueno https://www.facebook.com/NextMeats/ Shinjuku-Ku, [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/nextmeatsjapan/ Tokyo 160-0022 JAPAN +81-90-2988-0477

+81-3-6457-7612





SOURCE Next Meats Co., Ltd
JUNO BEACH, Fla., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that it plans to report first-quarter 2023 financial results before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in a news release to be posted on the company's website at www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults. The company will issue an advisory news release over PR Newswire the morning of April 25, with a link to the financial results news release on the company's website. As previously communicated, the company will make available its financial results only on its website.

John Ketchum, chairman, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy, Kirk Crews, executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer of NextEra Energy, and other members of the company's senior management team will discuss the company's first-quarter 2023 financial results during an investor presentation to be webcast live, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on April 25. Results for NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) also will be discussed during the same investor presentation.

The listen-only webcast will be available on NextEra Energy's website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults. The financial results news release and the slides accompanying the presentation may be downloaded at www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults, beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET on the day of the webcast. A replay will be available for 90 days by accessing the same link as listed above.

NextEra Energy, Inc.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. NextEra Energy owns Florida Power & Light Company, which is America's largest electric utility that sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 5.8 million customer accounts, or more than 12 million people across Florida. NextEra Energy also owns a competitive clean energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from seven commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry on Fortune's 2023 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," recognized on Fortune's 2021 list of companies that "Change the World" and received the S&P Global Platts 2020 Energy Transition Award for leadership in environmental, social and governance. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc.
Program helps families find answers for children on a 'diagnostic odyssey'

MIAMI, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicklaus Children's Hospital this month has launched a new clinic dedicated to assisting families seeking answers for a child with a rare or undiagnosed disease. The Undiagnosed Diseases Clinic, which occurs monthly, offers the latest genetic testing technologies for eligible patients.

"For some families of children with rare diseases, the search for a diagnosis can be a prolonged and often frustrating experience," said Dr. Parul Jayakar, Director of Clinical Genetics and Metabolism. "These families may have already visited multiple specialists and undergone a variety of tests in hopes of finding answers. The Undiagnosed Diseases Clinic is dedicated to helping such families identify the genetic condition affecting their child in hopes it leads to diagnosis and treatment."

The clinic is exclusively for those still pending a diagnosis. Tweet this

The clinic has access to new genetic testing technologies, including whole genome sequencing and metabolomics. These new technologies make possible the detection of genetic alterations that are not typically identified by more common clinical genetic tests.

Candidates for the clinic usually have two or more of the following characteristics.

Inborn anomalies (differences) of the heart, kidneys, brain, hands, feet or any other parts of the body.

A lab test that suggests a genetic disease, such as an abnormal newborn screen, or suggesting the body is having trouble processing certain foods or substances.

Abnormal response to standard therapy, or unusual presentations of certain medical conditions.

Low muscle tone (hypotonia).

Seizure disorders that do not respond to medication or require multiple medications.

Undiagnosed neurodevelopmental conditions, including difficulties with language and speech, motor skills, behavior, memory, learning or other neurological functions.

Abnormal growth parameters, including height, weight or head size (too big, too small for their age and gender).

Have visited a genetic specialist and undergone standard clinical genetic tests, without a diagnosis.

Families who wish to have their child considered for the clinic should schedule an appointment with a Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists genetics provider by calling 786-624-4741.

The clinical team will request the patient's medical records and results of any tests previously performed that relate to current symptoms. Once all information is received, the genetics specialists will discuss the case and determine if new testing offerings may reveal a diagnosis. Families will then be contacted about scheduling an appointment or may be offered other genetic screening options.

The clinic is exclusively for those still pending a diagnosis. When a diagnosis is determined, children will be referred to appropriate specialists for consideration of future treatment opportunities.

For more information, visit our Undiagnosed Diseases Clinic page.

About Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately 800 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children's Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. In the 2022-2023 U.S. News ranking, the hospital tied with two other hospitals as the number one children's hospital in Florida. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.

For more information:

Rachel Bixby

305-898-9165

[email protected]

SOURCE Nicklaus Children's Health System
Teams with Fortress Information Security, American Electric Power, and Avangrid to Populate Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) Repository

ORLANDO, Fla., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural gas and electric company NiSource (NYSE: NI) today became the latest investor-owned utility to join the North American Energy Security Assurance Database (NAESAD). Through NAESAD, NiSource, American Electric Power (AEP), Avangrid, and Fortress Information Security securely share the latest essential information on software products managing mission-critical applications for the U.S. energy industry.

NAESAD will provide the energy industry with a comprehensive Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) repository for every vendor. Over the past several years, SolarWinds and Log4J vulnerabilities have highlighted the need to have a fundamental accounting for every software component used within the energy industry. In close collaboration with forward-looking software providers, NAESAD enables critical infrastructure companies to identify, triage, and remediate the most impactful and destructive risks.

"SBOMs are an important tool in our work to secure our most critical assets," said Carla Donev, NiSource Vice President of Infrastructure and Chief Information Security Officer. "The utilities industry has a history of teaming up to secure the U.S. power grid. What's good for the electric companies can also work for those of us in natural gas as well. NAESAD provides the apparatus for us to work with vendors and suppliers we know and trust. NAESAD will help us make sure we can share SBOMs safely to create a more resilient cybersecurity infrastructure."

SBOMs provide the recipe of proprietary and open-source ingredients in software that run critical infrastructure technologies. SBOMs provide actionable information to purchasers so they can make informed decisions about software and help improve the security of applications.

"NiSource is one of several companies that has stepped up, making it known they want to secure their customers, the industry, and the nation," said Fortress CEO Alex Santos. "By joining NAESAD, NiSource is making it possible for all Americans to feel more certain that the energy sources they rely on are protected."

NiSource joins NAESAD less than one month after the White House unveiled its 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy earlier this month. The Strategy calls for "promoting the further development of SBOMs as part of a process to mitigate the risk coming from unsupported software. Besides the Cybersecurity Strategy and the Executive Order, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), and The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have laid the groundwork for new SBOM requirements for companies that work with the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other organizations responsible for U.S. critical infrastructure. Additional SBOM requirements for utilities and other critical industries are expected over the next year.

NiSource has approximately 3.2 million natural gas customers in six states (Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia) as well as more than 500,000 electric customers in Indiana, under the Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands.

More details about how to join NAESAD and share SBOMs with utility partners can be found at NAESAD.com.

About NiSource

NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across seven states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. Based in Merrillville, Indiana, NiSource's approximately 8,400 employees are focused on safely delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers and communities we serve. Additional information about NiSource, its investments in modern infrastructure and systems, its commitments and its local brands are on its website.

About Fortress Information Security

Fortress secures North America's power and defense supply chains from cyberattacks on operational and critical enterprise technologies. Fortress' proprietary technology platform orchestrates North America's most advanced cyber supply chain risk management and vulnerability management programs. Fortress operates the Asset to Vendor Network and the North American Energy Software Assurance Database, which give critical operators confidence that the products, services, and software they obtain from others are cyber-safe. Fortress is a Goldman Sachs portfolio company.

Contact:

Adam Benson

[email protected]

SOURCE Fortress Information Security
Industry veteran brings more than 25 years of executive experience to the only private island resort in the United States

SEATTLE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, the award-winning luxury resort that is consistently rated as one of the top properties in the world by travelers and travel experts alike, proudly announces the appointment of John Allan as the resort's new general manager. An industry veteran with extensive hotel and resort management experience, Allan will oversee the property's daily operations, including managing the successful execution of the resort's sales and marketing, food and beverage, financials and continuing to implement the Noble House Hotels & Resorts brand standard by focusing on strategic goals and maintaining active engagement with ownership.

Prior to joining Little Palm Island, Allan most recently served as managing director of the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and the Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort where he directed the efforts to earn more than $80 million in combined revenue. His experience also includes managing Little Palm Island's sister property, Sole Miami, a Noble House Resort, in which he assembled a best-in-class executive committee through performance transitions after a multi-million-dollar resort renovation and reposition. To add, John spent over fifteen years with Hilton Worldwide at four South Florida properties, including the role of general manager of the flagship Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort  one of the most pre-eminent hotels in Florida with market-leading financial and service performance.

"I am beyond excited to have joined the world-class team at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa," says Allan. "I have long admired the unique charm and mystique of Little Palm Island and now, what a dream it is to live and work in the beautiful Florida Keys."

John began his career through food and beverage operations where he was instrumental in establishing the nationally recognized brand, Shula's Steak Houses, growing the organization from two restaurants to over thirty locations in most major markets. Allan's role as the director of operations with Shula's Steak Houses provided him the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the business, ahead of becoming the vice president of operations where he directed everything from the brand's standards and site selection, to design, construction, and recruitment of personnel.

In addition to his successful career, Allan is a proud father of two wonderful daughters and an avid outdoorsman, sharing a passion for fishing, boating and scuba diving with his wife. He is a graduate from North Miami's Florida International University's School of Hospitality Management.

For more information, call Little Palm Island Resort & Spa at 1-800-413-0560 or visit www.LittlePalmIsland.com. Little Palm Island is located at 28500 Overseas Highway, Little Torch Key, Fla. 33042.

About Noble House Hotels & Resorts

The Noble House Hotels & Resorts portfolio is a collection of 25 luxury and upscale hotels, resorts, and experiences across North Americaall designed for discerning travelers seeking to escape the daily routine. Noble House can be trusted to unlock the most authentic experiences in the most compelling destinations. This promise is delivered through their carefully curated collection that pairs boutique local charm with consistent high service and comfort standards. All concepts within their collection offer immersive, active adventure experiences that bring out the best of their destinations. Headquartered in Seattle, their family-owned business philosophy creates value for each concept's community, environment, ownership, staff, and guests. The portfolio includes: the Napa Valley Wine Train; a collection of spas, marinas, and private residences throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; a range of beachfront resorts from California to Florida; luxury retreats in Jackson Hole, Wyo., British Columbia, and Colorado; and award-winning urban hotels in Seattle and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.noblehousehotels.com or call 877.NOBLE.TRIP.

FOR MORE MEDIA INFORMATION:

ALYCIA REA/BRITTANY TIMMS

THE ZIMMERMAN AGENCY

850.668.2222

[email protected]

SOURCE Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
Ukraine expects that India, which chairs the G20 this year, will invite officials to participate in G20 events, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova has said.

"President Zelenskyy's vision is clearly set out in the 'peace formula' and this is how we think India should also reflect, analyze and share. Particularly, in the context of the G20 events, we expect India to invite Ukrainian officials to take part in them. For example, at the parliamentary level, or at the ministerial level, or at the highest level," Dzhaparova told CNBC TV18.

The deputy minister said: "I think it's important to invite Zelenskyy to the G20 in September."

Dzhaparova also said, according to Ukraine, India should play a greater role in global and Ukrainian issue."

"We believe intensification of political dialog 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," Dzhaparova said.

According to her, "any possible visits and contacts that will influence a greater expansion of the political dialogue are needed."

Asked if there is talk of Zelenskyy's visit to India, Dzhaparova said, "Zelenskyy is the president of a country at war."

On April 10 and 11, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dzhaparova said visits India. Dzhaparova said became the first official from Kyiv to visit India since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Media previously said Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court, may take part in the G20 summit in New Delhi on September 8 and 9.
SEATTLE, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle-based fashion retailer Nordstrom, Inc . (NYSE: JWN) announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack in Elk Grove, California.

"We look forward to opening this new Nordstrom Rack location in Elk Grove, strengthening our network of stores and introducing new customers to Nordstrom Rack's unique product offering," said Carl Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Nordstrom Rack Stores. "In addition to shopping great brands at great prices, our customers in Elk Grove can take full advantage of this convenient new location to pick-up online orders and make returns."

The 25,000 square-foot store will be located in The Ridge Elk Grove, a popular shopping center that includes other retailers such as Costco, Sephora, In-N-Out and Starbucks. The Ridge Elk Grove is owned by Pappas Investments and managed by its affiliate Inverness Management, and it is ideally located at the southeast corner of Elk Grove Boulevard and Bruceville Road. With the addition of this new location, Nordstrom will operate 64 Nordstrom Rack stores, 23 Nordstrom stores, five Nordstrom Locals and one asos | Nordstrom in California. The store is scheduled to open in spring 2024.

"I am excited to welcome Nordstrom Rack to Elk Grove. Enhancing our retail opportunities allows our residents to shop local," said Bobbie Singh-Allen, Mayor of Elk Grove. "As our city continues to grow, so do demands for retail options. Nordstrom Rack will be a welcome and much needed addition to our city."

Nordstrom Rack is the off-price retail division of Nordstrom, Inc. and plays a critical role in the company's Closer to You strategy, which focuses on delivering customers a more convenient and interconnected experience across its stores and digital platforms. Nordstrom Rack offers customers up to 70 percent off on-trend apparel, accessories, beauty, home and shoes from many of the top brands sold at Nordstrom stores as well as core services like online order pickup for Nordstrom.com and NordstromRack.com, easy returns and alterations at select stores. Nordstrom Rack is the largest source of new customers to Nordstrom.

Nordstrom is committed to giving back to the diverse communities where it operates. Since 2019 along with its customers, Nordstrom has donated more than $1.5 million in support of its long-term partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the United States. These proceeds support the recruitment, training and engagement of adult mentors' recruitment, training and engagement s, including preparing for an interview, learning to tie a tie and helping with homework.

About Pappas Investments

Pappas Investments, established in 1970, is a Sacramento-based real estate development company. We take great pride in our role in building a more dynamic community and providing exceptional property management services at all our properties. Our goal is to facilitate a positive and enjoyable experience for tenants, employees, and guests.

About Nordstrom

At Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN), we exist to help our customers feel good and look their best. Since starting as a shoe store in 1901, how to best serve customers has been at the center of every decision we make. This heritage of service is the foundation we're building on as we provide convenience and true connection for our customers. Our digital-first platform enables us to serve customers when, where and how they want to shop  whether that's in-store at more than 350 Nordstrom, Nordstrom Local and Nordstrom Rack locations or digitally through our Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack apps and websites. Through it all, we remain committed to leaving the world better than we found it .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Caroline Mattingly

Nordstrom, Inc.

[email protected]

SOURCE Nordstrom, Inc.
Topo Chico Spirited debuts with three, brand new canned cocktails

CHICAGO , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Topo Chico Spirited, a new line of refreshing cocktails, hits shelves this April with three brand new varieties. The new ready-to-drink cocktail line is inspired by classic cocktails made with Topo Chico Mineral Water. Each can of Topo Chico Spirited is made with real tequila blanco or vodka, real juice and filtered sparkling water. The refreshing new lineup includes:

Topo Chico Spirited Tequila and Lime Crafted with Real Tequila Blanco

Tequila & Lime: Made with real tequila blanco, real lime juice, filtered sparkling water and other ingredients. Inspired by Texas Ranch Water , a popular drink traditionally made using Topo Chico Mineral Water, Tequila & Lime brings bright citrus notes from real lime juice, and packs a punch with real tequila blanco. Tequila & Lime has 130 calories per 12oz can with a 5.9 percent alcohol by volume.

Made with real tequila blanco, real lime juice, filtered sparkling water and other ingredients. Inspired by , a popular drink traditionally made using Topo Chico Mineral Water, Tequila & Lime brings bright citrus notes from real lime juice, and packs a punch with real tequila blanco. Tequila & Lime has 130 calories per 12oz can with a 5.9 percent alcohol by volume. Tequila & Grapefruit : Made with real tequila blanco, real grapefruit and lime juice, filtered sparkling water and other ingredients. Inspired by the Mexican Paloma , a slightly more complex cocktail with roots in Mexico , Tequila & Grapefruit tastes like fresh squeezed grapefruit with a hint of sweetness to deliver a balanced and sessionable cocktail. Tequila & Grapefruit has 150 calories per 12oz can with a 5.9 percent alcohol by volume.

: Made with real tequila blanco, real grapefruit and lime juice, filtered sparkling water and other ingredients. Inspired by the Mexican , a slightly more complex cocktail with roots in , Tequila & Grapefruit tastes like fresh squeezed grapefruit with a hint of sweetness to deliver a balanced and sessionable cocktail. Tequila & Grapefruit has 150 calories per 12oz can with a 5.9 percent alcohol by volume. Vodka & Lemon: Made with real vodka, real lemon juice, filtered sparkling water, a pinch of salt and other ingredients. Inspired by Southwest's Chilton , a cocktail originating in West Texas , Vodka & Lemon has fresh lemon juice and a hint of salt to deliver a bright and refreshing cocktail. Vodka & Lemon has 130 calories per 12oz can with a 5.9 percent alcohol by volume.

"Topo Chico Spirited is a bar-quality cocktail inspired by bartenders across America whose mixer of choice is already Topo Chico Mineral Water," said Joy Ghosh, vice president of marketing for above premium flavor at Molson Coors Beverage Company. "We're making it easy for people to entertain their friends on their backyard patios with a great tasting canned cocktail crafted with filtered sparkling water, real tequila blanco or distilled vodka that's ready to drink so needs minimal effort."

Topo Chico Spirited comes in a single flavor four-pack of 12 oz cans, with each containing 5.9 percent alcohol by volume and ranging from 130 to 150 calories. Topo Chico Spirited is available to legal age drinkers in select states in 2023, including TX, CO, OK, KS, MO, CA, AZ, NM, NV, WA, FL, AR, MS, TN, GA, LA, IL, WI, OH, MN, MI, VA (Includes DC).Visit the product locator at https://www.topochicohardseltzerusa.com/spirited/where-to-buy to find Topo Chico Spirited near you.

Please consume alcohol responsibly. Topo Chico Mineral Water is a product of The Coca Cola Company. Topo Chico Spirited is manufactured, marketed and distributed by Molson Coors Beverage Company and is made with filtered sparkling water.

ABOUT MOLSON COORS BEVERAGE COMPANY

For more than two centuries, Molson Coors has been brewing beverages that unite people for all of life's moments. From Coors Light, Miller Lite, Molson, Carling, and Staropramen to Coors Banquet, Blue Moon Belgian White, Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, Vizzy Hard Seltzer, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, Simply Spiked Lemonade, Creemore Springs and more, Molson Coors produces some of the most beloved and iconic beer brands ever made. While the company's history is rooted in beer, Molson Coors offers a modern portfolio that expands beyond the beer aisle with sparkling cocktails, canned wine, kombucha, cider and more.

Molson Coors Beverage Company is a publicly traded company that operates through Molson Coors North America and Molson Coors Europe, and is traded on the New York and Canadian Stock Exchange (TAP). The company's commitment to raising industry standards and leaving a positive imprint on our employees, consumers, communities and the environment is reflected in Our Beer Print and our 2025 sustainability targets. To learn more about Molson Coors Beverage Company, visit molsoncoors.com.

SOURCE Molson Coors Beverage Company
ATLANTA, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakbridge Insurance Agency LLC (Oakbridge), one of the largest independent insurance and risk management agencies in the United States, today announced a new partnership with Hunnicutt Insurance, a personal and commercial property and casualty insurance agency in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

The partnership supports Oakbridge's continued growth in the Southeast by expanding into Florida.

Specializing in condominium, townhome and homeowner associations as well as insurance for medical professional liability, contractors, garages and marine, Hunnicutt Insurance has been protecting Floridians since 1969.

"We are excited to welcome Hunnicutt Insurance as our newest partner as we expand into Florida," said Oakbridge CEO Robbie Smith. "Their expertise in the Florida market and decades of successful client relationships are a great fit for us and allow us to further enhance our offerings throughout the Southeast."

The partnership provides both firms with access to a broader pool of resources, industry knowledge and continued opportunities for growth.

"Partnering with Oakbridge opens the doors for new opportunities and allows us to do what we love, which is take care of our clients," said Hunnicutt principal Mark Hardy. "With their extensive back-office support, carrier relationships and strategic thinking, we look forward to a successful partnership."

"We are excited to be a part of the Oakbridge family," said Hunnicutt Vice President Christina Atwell. "We look forward to broadening our carrier relationships as we navigate a complex Florida insurance market to better serve our customers."

Hunnicutt Insurance will maintain its office in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

About Oakbridge Insurance Agency

Founded in 2020, Oakbridge Insurance Agency LLC is a rapidly growing partnership model for firms seeking accelerated growth, access to capital and an expanded suite of resources with which to serve clients. Ranked a "Top 100" insurance brokerage by Business Insurance and Insurance Journal magazines, Oakbridge is one of the largest privately owned insurance, risk management and employee benefits agencies in the country. The agency has specific experience in the agriculture, bond/surety, construction, financial, health care, manufacturing, municipalities, nonprofit, senior living and transportation industries. Learn more: oakbridgeinsurance.com.

About Hunnicutt Insurance

Hunnicutt Insurance is an independent insurance agency operating in Florida's Panhandle since 1969. Our team is comprised of insurance professionals with 100 years of combined experience. Our dedication and passion for helping our clients sets us apart from others. Our emphasis is on service after the sale. Learn more: jmhunnicutt.com.

Contact: Kaden Jacobs

Poston Communications

(404) 875-3400

[email protected]

SOURCE Oakbridge Insurance
MIAMI, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pan Am Flight Academy, a leading aviation training provider, has acquired a new Level D B737 MAX-8 simulator to enhance its commercial pilot training programs. The state-of-the-art simulator is expected to be ready for training by July 2023 enabling Pan Am to incorporate a new aircraft sim to its extended offering.

The new simulator features the latest technology for a realistic and immersive training experience. It will be fully equipped with the latest L3 Harris RealitySeven technology. The new B737 MAX-8 sim will have all the latest features including the Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS), TCAS II-7.1, weather radar, electric control loading and motion system and RSi EPIC visual system.

"We are excited to add the B737 MAX-8 simulator to our fleet of training devices," said Jeff Portanova, President of Pan Am Flight Academy. "This new simulator is a significant investment in our training programs and will provide our students with the highest quality training experience."

The B737 MAX-8 is one of the most popular commercial aircraft in the world, and with the new simulator, Pan Am Flight Academy will be able to offer further training options to pilots from airlines and other aviation organizations worldwide.

For decades, Pan Am Flight Academy has built a reputation of providing the highest quality training programs in the aviation industry. The academy offers a wide range of aviation training programs for commercial pilots, including initial type ratings, upgrades, recurrent training, ATP- CTP and other specialized training courses.

For more information on Pan Am Flight Academy's training programs, visit www.panamacademy.com

SOURCE Pan Am Flight Academy
TSXV: PGZ OTCQB: PGZFF

Potential for high copper recoveries and concentrate grades using conventional flotation

Potential for coarse primary grind size to reduce energy requirements

Minimal deleterious elements

Potential for positive silver credits

Tin metallurgy test work commenced

Drilling ongoing and discussions advancing to access ground along-strike from La Romana

VANCOUVER, BC, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQB: PGZFF) is pleased to announce successful results for preliminary metallurgical test work from the La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery in the Escacena Project, Spain. The metallurgical test work reported today was completed by Wardell Armstrong International (United Kingdom), under the coordination and management of SCYPI (Spain).

"The high copper recoveries and concentrate grades achieved at this early stage are highly encouraging. It is not just the recoveries and concentrate grade that makes these results very good, it's the combination along with low deleterious metals and coarse primary grind size, particularly when compared to what we know of the other deposits in the area, and potential for lower final energy consumption. We are looking forward to the results from the ongoing tin metallurgy test program and variability tests on the copper and tin mineralization from different parts of La Romana, including areas of higher grade mineralization," said Tim Moody, Pan Global's President & CEO.

The metallurgical testing program was conducted using representative core from the 2022 La Romana drilling campaign to establish copper recoveries and concentrate grades. Whilst the metallurgical test work is ongoing, the results achieved for the first phase of testing demonstrate the potential for a conventional flotation process flowsheet capable of recovering copper into a saleable concentrate.

In its report, SCYPI commented: "As compared to the average of the Pyrite Belt deposits, La Romana mineral has shown lower energy requirements for crushing and grinding and better flotation process performance for copper (both concentrate grade and recoveries) using conventional circuits and chemical agents, anticipating moderate operating costs related to the process." In addition: "Pending receipt of the detailed analysis of the concentrates, the low grade of deleterious elements (As, Sb, Bi, Hg, Cl and F) together with additional credits from Ag, will contribute to a higher NSR value."

Tests indicate a potential Bond Ball Mill Work Index of 15.6 kWh/t, Bond Rod Mill Work Index of 13.5 kWh/t, Abrasion Index of 0.088 and Bond Crusher Work Index of 24.25 kWh/t. The size distribution of the chalcopyrite for the representative sample used for these tests shows a grind size P80 in the range of 150m and liberation analysis indicates 65% of the mineral is well liberated below 106m. These encouraging results indicate the potential for lower energy requirements which will have a positive impact on future operating costs.

The metallurgical test program was conducted on representative samples involved a series of copper (Cu) rougher and cleaner tests commencing with a head grade of 0.39% Cu, culminating in two locked cycle flotation tests (LCT) designed to assess and replicate, on a bench scale, potential full-scale flotation flow sheet options. LCT1 achieved a 86.4% Cu recovery and copper concentrate grading 28.5%, and LCT2 achieved a higher Cu recovery of 89.5% and a copper concentrate grade of 23.8%.

The test results to date indicate that a simple conventional flotation process flowsheet will be suitable for the La Romana copper mineralization. Follow-on work will include settling/dewatering tests and environmental characterization tests. A tin metallurgy program has also commenced to determine processing and recovery options using representative samples from drill core in the areas of La Romana that reported higher grades of tin. A variability test work program is also planned on samples from various parts of the deposit with varying copper and tin grades, including the higher grade parts of the deposit.

Pan Global believes the results from the metallurgical test work further reinforce the positive attributes of the Escacena Project. Together with the ongoing test work, these results will form the basis for advancing the La Romana discovery towards a resource and future Preliminary Economic Assessment.

Three drill rigs have been operating in 2023 at the Escacena Project. The final hole is in progress on a planned 10-hole infill plus step out drill program at the La Romana discovery. Results for the first three drill holes at the Romana Deep target are expected to be reported shortly and drilling at the Zarcita target is ongoing with additional results are anticipated over the coming weeks.

Pan Global is also pleased to report that discussions are advancing with local land owners on access to potential near surface extensions of the La Romana mineralization along strike to the west and to the east, which remain untested.

About the Escacena Project

The Escacena Project comprises a large, contiguous, 5,760-hectare land package controlled 100% by Pan Global in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The project is located near operating mines at Las Cruces and Riotinto and is immediately adjacent to the former Aznalcollar and Los Frailes mines where Minera Los Frailes/Grupo Mexico is in the final permitting stage with construction anticipated to restart in 2023. The Escacena Project hosts the La Romana copper-tin discovery and a number of other prospective targets, including Zarcita, Hornitos, La Jarosa, Romana Deep, Bravo, Barbacena, El Pozo, and San Pablo.

About Pan Global Resources

Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively engaged in base and precious metal exploration in southern Spain and is pursuing opportunities from exploration through to mine development. The Company is committed to operating safely and with respect to the communities and environment where we operate.

Qualified Persons

James Royall, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information for this news release. Mr. Royall is not independent of the Company.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

www.panglobalresources.com

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE Pan Global Resources Inc.
Annual report demonstrates progress made on commitments to all our stakeholders and the growth opportunity ahead

NEW ORLEANS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Entergy announced the release of its 2022 Integrated Report , an overview of the company's performance and highlights for the year, progress on its goals and the opportunities ahead for 2023 and beyond. The report, titled "Pathway to Premier," outlines Entergy's unique position to grow and support a rapidly expanding industrial base while creating a cleaner, more resilient system for all its stakeholders.

"After a strong 2022, Entergy and our nearly 12,000 employees are ready to take our performance even higher in the coming years," said Drew Marsh, chairman of the board and CEO of Entergy. "We're actively investing in solutions our customers demand: accelerated system resilience as well as clean and renewable energy. We're harnessing a rapidly expanding industrial base to support economic growth and improve affordability in our communities. We're hard at work attracting and retaining a high-performing and diverse workforce. And we're continuing to deliver steady, predictable financial results for our owners. These focused efforts will benefit all our stakeholders, and we are working together with them on the pathway ahead  the pathway to premier."

Key drivers of Entergy's business strategy and 2022 performance include:

Starting with the customer. We are partnering with our customers to identify opportunities to help them achieve their own sustainability goals with innovative, effective products and solutions. The drive for carbon reductions across the entire value chain, and the potential for electrification as a key driver of this outcome, is unprecedented. We see this as a growth opportunity that will continue for years to come as our customers need our help to achieve their own large-scale emission reduction goals.

We are partnering with our customers to identify opportunities to help them achieve their own sustainability goals with innovative, effective products and solutions. The drive for carbon reductions across the entire value chain, and the potential for electrification as a key driver of this outcome, is unprecedented. We see this as a that will continue for years to come as our customers need our help to achieve their own large-scale emission reduction goals. Creating a carbon-free future. Our transition to cleaner generation resources continues to have a positive climate impact. Our utility carbon dioxide emission rate was 31% lower than in 2000. We released an updated climate report detailing our milestones and progress toward our commitment of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We're also actively expanding our renewable energy capacity , with requests for proposals for 5,500 megawatts of renewable projects issued last year.

Our transition to cleaner generation resources continues to have a positive climate impact. Our utility carbon dioxide emission rate was 31% lower than in 2000. We released an updated detailing our milestones and progress toward our commitment of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We're also actively expanding our , with requests for proposals for 5,500 megawatts of renewable projects issued last year. Implementing a talent and culture strategy. We're working to foster a workforce with a diversity of ideas, backgrounds, perspectives and skills in an inclusive culture . We also introduced four drivers of talent and culture outcomes  diversity, capability, culture and commerce  to help build a premier team ready for anything.

We're working to foster a workforce with a diversity of ideas, backgrounds, perspectives and skills in an . We also introduced four drivers of talent and culture outcomes  diversity, capability, culture and commerce  to help build a premier team ready for anything. Being a strong community partner. We amplified our longstanding initiative to improve lives, build businesses and create prosperity through a number of customer and community assistance programs. Our 2022 corporate citizenship initiatives delivered $180 million in benefits to our communities  a 41% increase over our $127 million impact in 2021.

We amplified our to improve lives, build businesses and create prosperity through a number of customer and community assistance programs. Our 2022 corporate citizenship initiatives delivered in benefits to our communities  a 41% increase over our impact in 2021. Expanding our region's economic footprint. Entergy helped attract or expand 45 economic development projects within our utility service area representing a capital investment of almost $6.4 billion and more than 5,100 new jobs created in our region.

Entergy helped attract or expand 45 economic development projects within our utility service area representing a capital investment of almost and more than 5,100 new jobs created in our region. Delivering on our financial commitments. We delivered again on our financial commitments. Our 2022 adjusted earnings per share of $6.42 , or $5.37 on an as-reported basis, was in the top half of our guidance range for the seventh year in a row. Our steady, predictable financial results are the result of our strategies and actions to create value for our four key stakeholders  our customers, employees, communities and owners. See page 58 of the report for reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures and a description of adjustments.

For Entergy, our sustainability strategy is our business strategy. In 2014, we were the first U.S. electric utility to combine an annual shareholder report with a sustainability report. We are one of only a few leading U.S. companies to consolidate these reports into a single integrated report that measures advancements in clean, reliable and affordable energy delivery and innovation, financial performance, climate action, customer opportunities, environmental stewardship, governance, workforce development and community partnerships. This 2022 report relies on the guidance of the Global Reporting Initiative, the world's most widely used sustainability reporting framework.

Read Entergy's 2022 Integrated Report and learn how we power life for all our stakeholders at integratedreport.entergy.com .

About Entergy

Entergy (NYSE: ETR) is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media. #WePowerLife

Download a high-resolution Entergy logo here

SOURCE Entergy Corporation
Industry veterans launch Pinnacle Live Event Productions to meet the demands of event organizers.

CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinnacle Live, the premium event experience and technology company for the hospitality and event industry, today announced the launch of its new Event Production Division, led by industry veteran, Dan Sherman.

As the Executive Vice President of Business Development, Dan will bring his wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion to expand upon Pinnacle Live's mission. This Production Division aims to provide best-in-class, single-source solutions for high-profile, complex live events, which include International Summits, Conferences, Business Meetings, Brand Activations, Festivals, Sporting & Special Events.

Additionally, Dave Arendes will be joining Pinnacle Live Event Productions assuming a vital role in the leadership team as the Senior Vice President of Sales Operations. With his impressive track record and expertise in sales strategy and execution, Dave will play a crucial role in driving exceptional results for clients.

"This new division brings energy and excitement to Pinnacle Live, and I can't wait to see the impact on the event industry," said Eddy Eisenberg, CEO of Pinnacle Live. "Dan and Dave's expertise will be an invaluable asset to our team as we deliver exceptional experiences to our clients."

"Higher standards, focus, and change are the foundation of everything we do at Pinnacle Live, and it's an honor to be a part of this dynamic organization." said Dan Sherman. "The expertise and knowledge of our leadership team and dedicated board of directors gives us a competitive edge. I am eager to use this strength to deliver the world's most complex event requirements with confidence and integrity, at scale."

With an expert balance of big-picture problem-solving and boots-on-the-ground execution, this business division is designed to meet the growing demands of sophisticated event organizers, planners, and marketers seeking a premium creative, technical services, and logistics partner to ensure their events are executed with precision and excellence.

Learn more about Pinnacle Live Event Productions at www.pinnclelive.com.

About Pinnacle Live

Established in 2021 by a team of industry veterans, Experience Pinnacle Live creates and executes meetings and live events for the hospitality industry, event organizers and corporate productions. We elevate in-person event expectations for people, hotels and event professionals who demand better. We customize solutions to ensure the best possible live experience, every time.

SOURCE Pinnacle Live, LLC
Nation's Leading Superfruit Bowl Shop Hires Industry Veteran to Accelerate Franchise Growth and Continue Positive Momentum

BELMAR, N.J., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Playa Bowls, the nation's leading superfruit bowl shop specializing in bowls such as acai and pitaya, oatmeal, chia, smoothies, juices, cold brew and more, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Harmon as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. As CEO, Harmon will leverage his extensive industry experience to continue to build on the brand's unique strengths and assume responsibility for accelerating its overall growth strategies and performance.

"Harmon has an exceptional reputation for exceeding business objectives and franchisee relationships in the restaurant industry and will be a valuable asset as we continue to grow and develop our company," said Rob Giuliano, Co-Founder of Playa Bowls. "Throughout his career, Dan Harmon has established himself as a leader who builds strong teams, drives great business results and develops trust with team members and franchisees. We're incredibly honored to have someone of his caliber join the Playa Bowls team."

Harmon is a sought out, seasoned and accomplished franchise and restaurant industry veteran with leadership experience from some of the industry's most recognized and successful brands. Most recently, Harmon was the President and Chief Operations Officer at Smoothie King where he launched several transformative initiatives focused on profitability, productivity and ease of operations. Prior to joining the Smoothie King team, Harmon spent more than three decades growing his passion for franchising and refining operational processes with Papa Murphy's, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Blockbuster and McDonald's. He contributes his professional success to prioritizing franchisee wins, beginning with the end in mind and then purposefully designing a path to greatness. Harmon succeeds Playa Bowls' Co-Founder Rob Giuliano, who will remain engaged in the business as Chief Innovation Officer and continue to play a critical role in Playa Bowls' strategic development.

"I'm thrilled to take on this new opportunity and role. Playa Bowls is a unique brand with a combination of high-quality superfruit menu items, exceptional franchisees and passionate team members," said Dan Harmon, CEO of Playa Bowls. "There is a tremendous opportunity to grow the brand and mission nationally, and I'm looking forward to working closely with our leadership team and franchisees to make that happen."

Since its inception in 2014, Playa Bowls has emerged as a leader in the national superfruit bowl shop segment. Today, the brand has 175+ shops systemwide, operating in 20 states. Under Harmon's leadership, Playa Bowls intends to continue to expand its domestic footprint across the U.S.

To learn more about Playa Bowls, visit PlayaBowls.com and follow the superfruit bowl shop on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok. For more information on franchising, please visit playabowls.com/franchise. Dan Harmon's headshot and Playa Bowls' images can be found here.

About Playa Bowls

Known as New Jersey's original acai bowl shop, Playa Bowls is the nation's leading superfruit bowl shop serving up an extensive and unique menu of over 40 items including the bright flavors of acai, pitaya, green and coconut bowls alongside oatmeal bowls, juices, smoothies, and coffee made with the freshest, high-quality ingredients. What began as a pair of blenders, a patio table, and a fridge in 2014 has flourished into more than 175 shops nationwide that operate in 20 states, thousands of employees, and a mission to lead communities in healthy, sustainable living. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades including Forbes 30 Under 30 and finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Visit playabowls.com for additional information and stay connected on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.

Contact:

Allison Gonzales

Fish Consulting

754-888-6305

[email protected]

SOURCE Playa Bowls
CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's latest research report, the pregnancy test kits market to grow at a CAGR of 5% during 2022-2028.

To Know More, Download the Free Sample Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3767

Pregnancy Test Kits Market

Browse In-Depth TOC on the Pregnancy Test Kits Market

111- Tables

95 - Figures

249 Pages

The use of pregnancy test kits has rapidly increased, creating enormous opportunities for market expansion. Clearblue Easy has quickly been adopted as a home digital pregnancy test kit. In addition, some other companies and leading market players started developing digital pregnancy test kits. The constant advances in pregnancy test kits and their technology are expected to boost market growth in the upcoming years.

In pregnancy test kit industries, manufacturers focus on pregnancy rapid tests with advanced technologies that are more sensitive and effective to improve the experience of consumers. For instance, ten years ago, the pregnancy test was designed to show results at a concentration above 25IU/L in a sample after introducing the monoclonal antibody technique used for rapid diagnosis, which improved the sensitivity to around 10IU/L, enabling rapid pregnancy detection. In addition, to differentiate their product offerings, market players also focus on providing value-added and user-friendly features to users.

Pregnancy Test Kits Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details Market Size (2028) USD 2.28 Billion Market Size (2022) USD 1.70 Billion CAGR (2022-2028) 5.08 % Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2028 Market Segmentation Sample Type, Product, Distribution Channels, and Geography Geographic Analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa Largest Market APAC Market Dynamics The Rising Rate of Unplanned Pregnancies

Growing Awareness & Adoption of Pregnancy Test Kits in Middle-Income Geographies

Rising Birth Rate in Advanced Maternal Age

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Rising demand for rapid and self-contained test kits coupled with rising unwanted pregnancies and easy accessibility of decentralized diagnostic rapid tests over time-consuming laboratory tests are driving the pregnancy test kits market growth. An increasing number of working-class women in the country that do not have time to visit physicians unless in case of an emergency is the major factor contributing to the market's growth. Globally, various governments & public health organizations are focusing on improving women's health through several healthcare initiatives and awareness programs. For instance, the US Department of Health's Office of Women's Health offers assistance and guidance on using pregnancy and fertility test kits at home. Likewise, the American Pregnancy Association (APA) and its education partner Fairhaven Health offer couple's guidance on at-home fertility testing.

In recent years, access to pregnancy test kits has been increasing through online distribution channels, which supports the high sales of pregnancy test kits. Online sales channels, pharmacies, online shops, and websites (vendors' own sales websites) are some virtual sales approaches that substantially improve the sale of pregnancy test kits. Online channels reach every point where they are available and meet consumer demand. Due to the online sales channels, social stigma and hesitancy to ask for pregnancy test kits in advanced maternal-age women have reduced rapidly, resulting in increased sales of pregnancy test kits.

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Recent Development Highlights

Mankind Pharma, one of India's leading market players, launched many campaigns in urban areas. In 2022-2023, it focused on shifting to rural and smaller regions to expand its market penetration. According to the Mankind Pharma Estimation, the company accounted for around 70%-80% of the market share in India. The company has a stronger presence in the Indian and APAC markets. Furthermore, the company offers US, Europe, and Africa pregnancy test kits.

In the Saliva-based pregnancy test kits category, Slaignostics- an Israel-based company, offers the world's first saliva-based pregnancy test kits in Europe, South Africa, and Israel, increasing competition for the other market players. The company stated that the demand for saliva-based pregnancy test kits would rapidly increase in the market.

Key Company Profiles

Abbott

Church & Dwight

SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH

AccuBioTech

Axis Medicare

AdvaCare Pharma

Biosynex

bioMerieux

Cardinal Health

Cupid Limited

Confirm BioSciences

Cyclotes.de

Everly Health (Natalist)

Fairhaven Health

Femometer

Geratherm Medical AG

Germaine Laboratories

INTEC

Johnson & Johnson

Mankind Pharma

Meril Life Sciences

MP Biomedicals

Medsource Ozone Biomedicals

Healthpoint

Princeton BioMeditech Corporation

Piramal Enterprises Ltd (Piramal Pharma)

QuidelOrtho

Ro

Salignostics

Siemens Healthineers

SUGENTECH

Turklab A.S.

Trinity Biotech

Wondfo

Market Segmentation

Sample Type

Urine

Others

Product

Line

Digital

Distribution Channels

Offline

Online

Geography

North America

The US



Canada

APAC

China



India



Japan



South Korea



Australia

Europe

Germany



France



The UK



Italy



Spain

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Argentina

Middle East & Africa

& Turkey



South Africa



Saudi Arabia

Check Out Some of the Top-Selling Research Reports:

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Fertility Test Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027: The global fertility test market to reach USD 659.71 million by 2027.

U.S. In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Market - Industry Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026: The U.S. in-vitro fertilization market to reach USD 231.68 million by 2026.

Infertility Treatment Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2019-2024: The global infertility treatment market size will reach USD 7 billion in 2025.

Table of Content

1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

3 RESEARCH PROCESS

4 SCOPE & COVERAGE

4.1 MARKET DEFINITION

4.1.1 INCLUSIONS

4.1.2 EXCLUSIONS

4.1.3 MARKET ESTIMATION CAVEATS

4.2 BASE YEAR

4.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

4.3.1 MARKET SEGMENTATION BY GEOGRAPHY

5 REPORT ASSUMPTIONS & CAVEATS

5.1 KEY CAVEATS

5.2 CURRENCY CONVERSION

5.3 MARKET DERIVATION

6 MARKET AT A GLANCE

7 PREMIUM INSIGHTS

7.1 OVERVIEW

8 INTRODUCTION

8.1 OVERVIEW

9 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES & TRENDS

9.1 EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL PREGNANCY TESTING KITS

9.2 ADVANCES IN PREGNANCY TESTING KITS FOR EARLY DETECTION OF PREGNANCY STATUS

9.3 PRODUCTS LAUNCHED & PROGRESS TOWARD NEXT-GENERATION PREGNANCY TEST KITS

10 MARKET GROWTH ENABLERS

10.1 THE RISING RATE OF UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES

10.2 GROWING AWARENESS & ADOPTION OF PREGNANCY TEST KITS IN MIDDLE-INCOME GEOGRAPHIES

10.3 RISING BIRTH RATE IN ADVANCED MATERNAL AGE

11 MARKET RESTRAINTS

11.1 LACK OF AWARENESS & ACCESS TO PREGNANCY TESTING KITS IN LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES

11.2 CONCERN ABOUT TESTS ACCURACY

11.3 INCREASING USE OF CONTRACEPTIVES

12 MARKET LANDSCAPE

12.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

12.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

12.2.1 SAMPLE TYPE INSIGHTS

12.2.2 PRODUCT INSIGHTS

12.2.3 DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS INSIGHTS

12.2.4 GEOGRAPHY INSIGHTS

12.3 FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

12.3.1 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS

12.3.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS

12.3.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS

12.3.4 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES

12.3.5 COMPETITIVE RIVALRY

13 SAMPLE TYPE

13.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

13.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3 URINE

13.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

13.4 OTHERS

13.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

13.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

13.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

14 PRODUCT

14.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

14.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3 LINE

14.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

14.4 DIGITAL

14.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

14.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

14.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

15 DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

15.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

15.2 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.3 OFFLINE

15.3.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.3.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.3.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

15.4 ONLINE

15.4.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

15.4.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

15.4.3 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

16 GEOGRAPHY

16.1 MARKET SNAPSHOT & GROWTH ENGINE

16.2 GEOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW

17 NORTH AMERICA

17.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

17.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

17.3 SAMPLE TYPE

17.3.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

17.4 PRODUCT

17.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

17.5 DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

17.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

17.6 KEY COUNTRIES

17.6.1 US: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

17.6.2 CANADA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18 APAC

18.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

18.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.3 SAMPLE TYPE

18.3.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.4 PRODUCT

18.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.5 DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

18.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.6 KEY COUNTRIES

18.6.1 CHINA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.6.2 INDIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.6.3 JAPAN: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.6.4 SOUTH KOREA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

18.6.5 AUSTRALIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19 EUROPE

19.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

19.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.3 SAMPLE TYPE

19.3.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.4 PRODUCT

19.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.5 DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

19.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.6 KEY COUNTRIES

19.6.1 GERMANY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.6.2 FRANCE: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.6.3 UK: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.6.4 ITALY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

19.6.5 SPAIN: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20 LATIN AMERICA

20.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

20.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.3 SAMPLE TYPE

20.3.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.4 PRODUCT

20.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.5 DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

20.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.6 KEY COUNTRIES

20.6.1 BRAZIL: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.6.2 MEXICO: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

20.6.3 ARGENTINA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

21.1 MARKET OVERVIEW

21.2 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.3 SAMPLE TYPE

21.3.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.4 PRODUCT

21.4.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.5 DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

21.5.1 MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.6 KEY COUNTRIES

21.6.1 TURKEY: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.6.2 SOUTH AFRICA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

21.6.3 SAUDI ARABIA: MARKET SIZE & FORECAST

22 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

22.1 COMPETITION OVERVIEW

22.2 MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

22.2.1 ABBOTT

22.2.2 CHURCH & DWIGHT

22.2.3 SPD SWISS PRECISION DIAGNOSTICS

23 KEY COMPANY PROFILES

23.1 ABBOTT

23.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

23.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

23.1.3 KEY STRATEGIES

23.1.4 KEY STRENGTHS

23.1.5 KEY OPPORTUNITIES

23.2 CHURCH & DWIGHT

23.3 SPD SWISS PRECISION DIAGNOSTICS GMBH

24 OTHER PROMINENT VENDORS

24.1 ACCUBIOTECH

24.1.1 BUSINESS OVERVIEW

24.1.2 PRODUCT OFFERINGS

24.2 AXIS MEDICARE

24.3 ADVACARE PHARMA

24.4 BIOSYNEX

24.5 BIOMERIEUX

24.6 CARDINAL HEALTH

24.7 CUPID LIMITED

24.8 CONFIRM BIOSCIENCES

24.9 CYCLOTEST.DE

24.10 EVERLY HEALTH (NATALIST)

24.11 FAIRHAVEN HEALTH

24.12 FEMOMETER

24.13 GERATHERM MEDICAL AG

24.14 GERMAINE LABORATORIES

24.15 INTEC

24.16 JOHNSON & JOHNSON

24.17 MANKIND PHARMA

24.18 MERIL LIFE SCIENCES

24.19 MP BIOMEDICALS

24.20 MEDSOURCE OZONE BIOMEDICALS

24.21 HEALTHPOINT (CLEAR&SIMPLE)

24.22 PRINCETON BIOMEDITECH CORPORATION

24.23 PIRAMAL ENTERPRISES LTD

24.24 QUIDELORTHO

24.25 RO

24.26 SALIGNOSTICS

24.27 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS

24.28 SUGENTECH

24.29 TURKLAB A.S.

24.30 TRINITY BIOTECH

24.31 WONDFO

25 REPORT SUMMARY

25.1 KEY TAKEAWAYS

25.2 STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

26 QUANTITATIVE SUMMARY

26.1 MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

26.2 MARKET BY SAMPLE

26.3 MARKET BY PRODUCT

26.4 MARKET BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

26.5 SAMPLE TYPE: MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

26.5.1 URINE SAMPLE: MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

26.5.2 OTHER SAMPLE: MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

26.6 PRODUCT: MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

26.6.1 LINE PRODUCT: MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

26.6.2 DIGITAL: MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

26.7 DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS: MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

26.7.1 OFFLINE DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS: MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

26.7.2 ONLINE DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS: MARKET BY GEOGRAPHY

27 APPENDIX

27.1 ABBREVIATIONS

About Us:

Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovative and quality-driven firm that offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients worldwide. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, materials, I.T. and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.

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SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
Culinary students created delicious plant-based recipes starring tofu

AYER, Mass. and FULLERTON, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pulmuone, maker of Nasoya tofu and a pioneer in the plant-based foods revolution, recently teamed up with CIA Consulting, a division of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), to host a Student Innovation Challenge. Eight CIA student finalists created unique, flavorful plant-based dishes featuring tofu for an opportunity to win scholarship funding toward their tuition. Hosted at the CIA's New York campus, the challenge was designed to showcase the versatility of tofu and plant-based cooking, and resulted in a wide range of submitted dishes, from breakfast to dessert.

PULMUONE AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS IN TOFU INNOVATION CHALLENGE WITH CIA CONSULTING

The eight student chefs were selected from a group of over 60 applicants and for two months experimented with tofu and other plant-based ingredients, testing and perfecting their recipes. The panel of judges, including CIA Chef Instructor, Aaron Foglietta, and Nasoya representatives, evaluated the final dishes based on creativity, presentation, taste and accessibility of the recipe.

After careful deliberation, the judges announced Sewoo Yu, a 2nd year student from Seoul, South Korea, as the winner of the Tofu Student Innovation Challenge and recipient of a $5,000 scholarship for his dish of Tofu Mandoo Wrapped with Cabbage and Kale. Ye Ji Hong, a second-year student from Seoul, South Korea, won second place and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship for her Tomato Mapo Tofu Pasta, and a first-year student from Orlando, Florida, Jelly Ruiz, won third place for her Tofu Flan Stuffed Toast, receiving a $2,000 scholarship.

"We were so impressed to see the innovative dishes that these talented student chefs created. They did an excellent job making tofu the star of the plate and illustrating how accessible and delicious plant-based eating can be," says Ellen Kim, Director of Brand Strategy & Marketing Communications at Pulmuone. "The CIA is a cornerstone of culinary education so it's an honor to collaborate with them to not only spotlight the many ways to use tofu but also get a taste of how the next generation of young chefs and culinary professionals can elevate plant-based cuisine."

The Tofu Innovation Challenge is Pulmuone's latest collaboration in its longstanding relationship with the CIA. In April 2022, the company sponsored the CIA's Global Plant-Forward Culinary Summit in Napa, Calif., which featured culinary demonstrations, informational sessions and tastings. Pulmuone is passionate about educating both new and seasoned chefs and is working closely with the foodservice sector to continue shining a light on delicious and versatile plant-based and plant-forward foods.

"This contest encouraged our students to expand and flex their culinary techniques, demonstrating how easy and versatile tofu is to work with in the kitchen," said CIA Chef Instructor, George Shannon. "Our finalists' dishes proved that plant-based eating can be synonymous with fine dining as well as at-home everyday cooking, and we're proud of the creativity our students showed."

The impressive recipes highlighted the many uses of tofu, using a wide range of tofu products.

All eight Tofu Innovation Challenge finalists' recipes are available here.

About PULMUONE FOODS USA

Pulmuone Foods USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pulmuone South Korea, is home to a family of brands that includes a wide variety of delicious products inspired by contemporary flavor palates that encourage a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Amid the growing global demand for plant-based protein food, Pulmuone Foods USA is leading the US tofu market with a nearly 70 percent market share with beloved brands like Nasoya and Wildwood. Pulmuone brands also include Emerald Valley Kitchen, Monterey Gourmet Foods and a line of Pulmuone-branded Asian-inspired products available at mass grocery stores and major club channels throughout the United States. For more information, visit pulmuonefoodsusa.com.

About The Culinary Institute of America

Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world's premier culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in food, beverage, and hospitality, the private, not-for-profit college offers bachelor's, and associate degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking & pastry arts, food business management, hospitality management, culinary science, and applied food studies. The CIA's School of Graduate and Professional Studies offers master's degrees in sustainable food systems, food business, and wine and beverage management, as well as executive education and certificate programs. Its conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry, and its worldwide network of more than 50,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food world. The CIA has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore. For more information, visit www.ciachef.edu.

Media contact:

Carly Wilhelm

[email protected]

732-237-4533

SOURCE Pulmuone
On the International Day of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps, a basket of flowers from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy was placed at Babyn Yar Memorial Complex in Kyiv, the presidential press service has said.

Flowers were also laid at the memorial sign for those killed in Syrets concentration camp and the memorial sign "Memory for the Future" on the territory of Babyn Yar National Historical and Memorial Reserve.

"Ukraine remembers everyone who was killed and mutilated by the Nazi regime during the Second World War. As it remembers every Ukrainian and Ukrainian woman who killed in the 21st century in concentration camps and dungeons of the Russian aggressor state. Volodymyr Zelenskyy notes that we will do everything to free our compatriots from the camps and prisons of the newest Nazis  the Russian totalitarian regime. Only by the joint efforts of the entire civilized world can the aggressor be overcome and the expansion of totalitarianism on the European continent be prevented," the office said.

The Day of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps has been celebrated annually since 1991. On April 11, 1945, the prisoners of the Nazi concentration camp in Buchenwald, having learned about the approach of the Allied troops, raised an international uprising against the Nazis, and when the U.S. military entered the concentration camp, the rebels completely controlled it.

In total, more than 14,000 concentration camps operated on the territory of Germany and the countries occupied by it, through which more than 18 million people passed during the war years, a significant part of whom killed.
BANGALORE, India, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To amplify its operations across regions, the global bespoke CTO search firm has undertaken an internal restructuring and promoted Kiran Satya as the Regional CEO for its India, Middle East & Africa markets. Kiran takes on the new role from his former position as a Partner at the firm.

KIRAN SATYA

Announcing the development, Purple Quarter Founder and Group CEO, Roopa Kumar, shared, "As we diversify our operations, we will have a razor-sharp focus across specific regions. Kiran has been a trusted partner for the business and is the best candidate to take up the responsibilities as the Regional CEO (India, Middle East & Africa). With immense pleasure, I congratulate Kiran on the new beginning and look forward to building newer opportunities."

As a seasoned search leader, Kiran has been an integral part of Purple Quarter's growth story since its early days. Leading a large team, Kiran has been the driver of several processes and structures from ground zero at Purple Quarter. He conceptualized the proprietary Purple Quarter IP, BMM (Behavioural Metrics Model) to identify the right Tech talent for suitable companies and has also been crucial in several high-value partnerships with key stakeholders.

Taking on the role, Kiran shared, "I am beyond thrilled to take on this opportunity and am hugely thankful to Roopa and the leadership team for the constant support. Over the years I have been blessed to work with a super team, meet some great people, and build equally productive partnerships. With this role, I am focused on strengthening our presence in the respective markets and will oversee the potential untapped opportunities."

Kiran joins the Purple Quarter leadership team following the recent appointment of a seasoned leader, Ved Prakash, as Purple Quarter's Regional CEO (US & APAC).

About Purple Quarter

Purple Quarter is a Bespoke CTO Search firm with a global presence. In over five years, it has mapped out 10,000+ credible tech leaders and expanded with offices across the US, Singapore, UK, UAE and India. With a singular approach, Purple Quarter offers detailed insights into the Tech Leadership hiring space for startups and corporates. Having partnered with 100+ tech product companies, the brand specializes in cross-functional tech domains with dedicated teams to meet custom senior tech leadership requirements.

Visit www.purplequarter.com or connect [email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2050509/KIRAN_SATYA_CEO.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1599524/Purple_Quarter_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Purple Quarter
AUSTIN, Texas, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Qeros has integrated a CISA and NIST-approved quantum-resistant encryption algorithm into its patented ransomware-resilient DLT  increasing data security and protecting against mounting advances in cyber-attacks.

Quantum-resistant encryption algorithms enable Qeros to provide the highest level of encryption for data stored on its network while its patented security and performance architecture provides unprecedented ransomware mitigation capabilities. With Qeros, organizations can better protect sensitive data, disrupt a threat actors' attack and evade capabilities and prohibit the alteration and deletion of system logs or evidence of compromise. Immutable data provenance and lineage fortifies the integrity of critical backups and traceability of sensitive data.

Qeros has integrated a NIST approved quantum-resistant encryption algorithm into its DLT, increasing data security. Tweet this

Threat actors can harvest encrypted data today, hold it, then decrypt it when they have a quantum computer, making any data vulnerable today. Corporate officers have a fiduciary duty to preemptively counter risks arising from the malicious use of quantum computing capabilities. Threat actors know that decryption of an RSA-2048 encryption key takes a classical computer 300 trillion years and a quantum computer with 4,099 qubits just ten seconds. Qeros strengthens resilience strategies for organizations operating in an ever-evolving threat and regulatory landscape.

"It's all about the data. With evolving threats and Byzantine regs on the horizon, Qeros' disruptive technology addresses many security and privacy challenges by providing unprecedented data protection and immutable data lineage with the performance capabilities necessary in today's environment.", commented Rich Davis, CISO of Qeros.

Qeros' security features combined with its ability to process millions of transactions per second distinguishes its DLT from competitors. Qeros continues to focus on breakthrough speed, scalability, and security  surpassing competitors' performance limitations and enabling a new era in DLT adoption.

About Qeros

Qeros was founded by a team of serial entrepreneurs and executives with extensive experience in AI, DLT, cybersecurity, data privacy, cloud transformation, regulations, FinTech and HealthTech. Qeros subsidiaries include KlearNet and DeepHive.

For more info, visit: Qeros , KlearNet ; DeepHive

Securities Disclaimer

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or form part of, nor should not be construed as, an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy securities. Any such offer or solicitation will be made only by means that comply with applicable securities and other laws, including Rule 506(c) of Regulation D.

Press Contact

Randall Williams

Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

T: +1-512-697-9337

SOURCE Qeros
QINGDAO, China, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From April 6 to 9, 2023 Qingdao Digital Culture Application Development Expo was held in Qingdao West Coast New Area, where famous experts, scholars and entrepreneurs in the field of domestic digital culture industry gathered to talk about ideas and share practical achievements around the theme of "New Application, New Experience and New Consumption", in order to digitally empower the high-quality development of cultural industry.

Signing ceremony of Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Qingdao Digital Culture Application Development Expo 2023

A series of documents such as "Action Plan for Cultural Digitization in Shandong Province" and "Policy List for High Quality Development of Qingdao Film and TV Base" were officially released at the Expo, and the Digital Culture Industry Alliance of Shandong Province was announced to be established. Qingdao has made further efforts in "attracting investment and talents" with the platform of this Expo and 26 key projects of digital culture industry were signed on the spot.

The Expo has set up six pavilions: the Digital Culture in Shandong, the Digitalization of Cultural Industry, the Integration of Science, Technology and Culture Tourism, the National Culture Big Data, the Digital Film and Television i.e. Network Audiovisual, and the Foreign Trade of Digital Culture, with a total area of 60,000 square meters, more than 500 enterprises and institutions from more than 40 regions, exhibiting over 10,000 kinds of exhibits, covering the entire industry chain in the field of digital culture.

As the first comprehensive Expo focusing on digital culture in China, 2023 Qingdao Digital Culture Application Development Expo focused on digital technology empowerment, digital culture construction, digitalization of cultural industry, digitalization of cultural consumption, digital copyright, metaverse industry application and other fields, holding one keynote forum, six theme forums and more than 40 new product release activities. Meanwhile, the Expo has built an online comprehensive service platform with high standard, providing digital cultural products release and trade, project promotion and docking, live broadcast on the whole network, meta-universe conference and other functions, empowering the new development of digital cultural industry and creating a new highland of digital cultural industry.

2023 Qingdao Digital Culture Application Development Expo is not only a good opportunity for Shandong and Qingdao to learn from advanced cities and head enterprises, but also a stage for Shandong and Qingdao to show the strength of digital culture industry, which will surely give rise to more "chemical reactions". As the first comprehensive Expo focusing on digital culture in China, it will create a professional and innovative feast of ideas to help the national culture digital development strategy. We expect this spring tide of digital empowerment for high-quality development of cultural industry to bring more surging rhythms to Qingdao.

Contact: Sun Jing

Tel: 0086-532-85911619

E-mail: [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2051434/Signing_Ceremony.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868204/3979737/Qingdao_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Stadt Qingdao
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: April 26, 2018 to March 13, 2023

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 19, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in RAD:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/rite-aid-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=38187&from=4

Rite Aid Corporation NEWS - RAD NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Rite Aid Corporation made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) until at least June 2019, Rite Aid filled at least hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, including for potentially lethal opioids such as oxycodone and fentanyl; (2) Rite Aid pharmacists filled these prescriptions despite clear "red flags" that indicated that the prescriptions were unlawful; (3) Rite Aid ignored evidence that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions, and intentionally deleted internal notes about suspicious prescribers written by concerned pharmacists; (4) by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances, Rite Aid violated the Controlled Substances Act and, where Rite Aid sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs, also violated the False Claims Act; (5) as a result, it was at risk of prosecution by federal authorities such as the United States Department of Justice; and (6) as a result, defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Rite Aid you have until May 19, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Rite Aid securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the RAD lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/rite-aid-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=38187&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Restoration Builders Holdings, Inc. ("Restoration Builders" or "The Company") is happy to announce the promotion of Steve Fulgham to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately.

In his new role, Mr. Fulgham will oversee the company's day-to-day operations and drive its strategic growth initiatives. He brings over forty years of roofing and construction experience, with a deep specialization in solar technologies, to the position. He holds five contractor licenses and is double-certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners [NABCEP], is a registered Subject Matter Expert for the State of California, and serves the California State Contractors Board by helping craft licensing curriculum.

Before joining Restoration Builders, Mr. Fulgham Co-Founded of The Veteran Asset, a non-profit organization that assists U.S. military veterans in obtaining careers in the renewable energy sector. The U.S. Department of Energy selected him as the official "Solar Ready Vets" trainer for Camp Pendleton Marine Base. He also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Ambassador Energy, Inc. and was a Senior Vice President of Sales for Computer Associates, Inc. He graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Business Management.

"I am both delighted and honored to welcome Steve as Chief Operating Officer," said John Lorenz, Chairman and CEO of Restoration Builders, Inc. "Steve is deeply knowledgeable about operations and implementing new technologies. He is a well-respected industry expert and perfectly aligned with The Company's values, especially in our mutual commitment to respect and honor our nation's veterans. I intend to lean on his leadership skills and experience in renewable energy systems and look forward to seeing the great things he will accomplish in this role."

About Restoration Builders, Inc.

Restoration Builders is a residential and commercial contractor operating within the United States. Their mission is to protect, restore and build properties, strengthen families, and support the community. They are committed locally and ready to serve wide-scale for disaster response. To learn more, please visit their website at www.restorbuilders.com

For further information, please contact:

Janet Carnell Lorenz

[email protected]

(425) 999-6508

SOURCE Restoration Builders
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ASEAN Wind Energy 2023 is set to take place on 30 - 31 October 2023 at the Adora Center in Ho Chi Minh City, providing a unique platform for global top wind farm operators, turbine manufacturers, investors and financiers, legal and advisory firms, construction and component manufacturers, logistics and ports, supply and grid operation, and wind tech solution suppliers to network and establish long-term business relations.

The event will bring together more than 600 C-level energy experts, ministers, CEOs, and decision-makers to discuss and showcase the latest trends, technologies, and business opportunities in the wind energy sector. In addition to the strategic conference, ASEAN Wind Energy 2023 will also host the ASEAN Wind Energy Exhibition and the Offshore WindTech Summit, where thousands of clean energy companies and more than 8,000 highly-targeted visitors are expected to attend.

The ASEAN region has seen significant growth in the wind energy market since 2017, with countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines leading the way. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the region had a cumulative installed wind capacity of 8.5 GW by the end of 2020, with a projected capacity of 35 GW by 2030 if current policies and targets are achieved.

With four successful wind events in Vietnam, ASEAN Wind Energy is the best choice to get involved in wind energy in the region. ASEAN Wind Energy 2023 is an international business platform with leading figures from across the industry sharing valuable insights on how new projects are progressing and where new opportunities will emerge.

ASEAN Wind Energy 2023 will also feature The Wind Future Awards ceremony, which recognises companies for outstanding products and business performance in the wind energy sector.

For more information on the event, please visit the ASEAN Wind Energy 2023 website at www.aseanwindenergy.com.

CONTACT: Cami Wang, Phone: +86-15618560256

SOURCE Leader Associates
$72 million of unspent premium returned to captive participants since inception  evidence of a health insurance solution aligned with employers' best interests

LAKEWOOD, Ohio, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Roundstone, a leading health benefits captive providing self-funded solutions to small and midsize businesses, is proud to celebrate 20 years of innovation, growth, and a commitment to a better life for all. Over the past two decades, Roundstone achieved a 30% CAGR (compounded annual growth rate), while remaining an independent, family-owned organization, focused on serving employers with affordable and high-quality employee health benefits.

Roundstone Proudly Celebrates 20 Years.

Roundstone was founded by Michael Schroeder with a vision of creating a better life for his family and his employees. As the need for better alternatives to traditional health insurance increased, Roundstone responded with innovation, evolving from a medical malpractice reinsurer into the first medical group captive. Captive participants only pay for what they use and receive a distribution of unspent captive premium dollars each year. Since its inception, Roundstone has distributed $72 million back to employers.

Today, Roundstone is a thriving 140-person company with more than 700 employers participating in its group captive. By self-funding its own employees' health care benefits, Roundstone has not raised its employees' health care cost share for 8 years running. The company also shares its success with employees through an annual profit-sharing bonus, amounting to $2.1 million this year, and nearly $11 million since 2003.

"We are thrilled to celebrate our 20th anniversary and the accomplishments that we have achieved," said Michael Schroeder, President of Roundstone. "Our success is due to the dedication of our team and our advisor partners who share our employer-centric values. We will continue to innovate and advocate for affordable, high-quality healthcare and a better life for all."

To anchor a new era of growth, Roundstone is building a 70,000 square foot headquarters in the nearby city of Rocky River, OH.

To learn more, register for the Medical Captive Forum on May 18-19 in Chicago, IL.

About Roundstone

Roundstone was founded in 2003 with a vision of giving small and mid-size businesses a proven strategy for affordable, high-quality employee health benefits through our self-funded group captive solution. Roundstone is headquartered in Lakewood, Ohio with representatives throughout the nation. Connect with us on our blog, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Terri White

[email protected]

440-617-0333

SOURCE Roundstone
ABU DHABI,UAE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryse Energy, a global leader in decentralized renewable energy systems having sold or installed more than 4,000 units for clients worldwide, announces it has raised a $15 million growth funding round.

Ryse Energy Hybrid Renewable Energy System in an off-grid location Ryse Energy Hybrid Renewable Energy System in an off-grid location

The round was led by RWE Energy Transition Investments, an investment vehicle of RWE Supply & Trading GmbH, the energy trading arm of the global renewable energy company RWE. The investment will enable Ryse Energy to accelerate its international growth and enter untapped markets, expand its technology offerings, and continue to diversify its business model into energy-as-a-service.

Ryse Energy is a primary manufacturer of high-performance small wind turbine technologies and provides a range of additional renewable energy systems, including solar and energy storage. The company has manufacturing facilities in the UK and Spain, with sales offices across the globe including the USA, Europe, the UAE and India.

Ryse Energy's renewable systems can be used as standalone technologies, grid-connected or off-grid with energy storage, or hybridized to create bespoke and reliable hybrid renewable solutions. The company works across a variety of sectors, from decarbonizing critical infrastructure such as telecoms and oil & gas networks, to marine and agriculture applications, to community power for rural electrification.

"RWE is one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world and we are thrilled to have them as our lead investor and strategic partner," said Alistair Munro, CEO & Founder of Ryse Energy. "This investment will enable us to accelerate our growth and expand our product offering, while continuing to deliver innovative decentralized renewable energy systems to our customers around the world, at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions and client energy costs."

"We are excited to support Ryse Energy in its mission to provide clean, renewable energy solutions to customers around the world," said Costas Papamantellos, Managing Director & Head of RWE Energy Transition Investments. "We believe that Ryse Energy has the potential to be a major force for good in reducing greenhouse gas emission in remote locations, and providing reliable and sustainable energy access to the over one billion people who currently do not have access globally. We look forward to working with the Ryse Energy and supporting its growth and expansion."

The new funding will enable Ryse Energy to enter untapped markets such as North America, where community power and displacing diesel are key focus areas, and Africa, where energy access and powering critical infrastructure such as healthcare and telecoms are strategic priorities. In addition, the company will be hiring globally to keep up with current and future demand.

Ryse Energy will also invest in its current technologies to become certified for specific target markets and in addition, the funding will enable Ryse Energy to expand its manufacturing capacity in strategic locations, with the company currently reviewing additional manufacturing locations in the USA, the UAE and India.

About Ryse Energy:

Ryse Energy is an impact-driven, innovative, decentralized renewable energy technology company with more than 4,000 installations across all seven continents.

We are a primary manufacturer of high-performance small wind turbines, with a range of products from micro to medium capacity. Our portfolio of wind technology is the most diverse and advanced in the sector. We offer wind and solar as standalone technologies either grid-connected or off-grid with energy storage, and hybridize our wind technology with solar PV and energy storage to create bespoke and reliable hybrid renewable solutions across a variety of sectors, from decarbonizing infrastructure such as telecoms and O&G, to community power for rural electrification.

Website | LinkedIn

About RWE:

RWE Energy Transition Investments is an investment vehicle of RWE Supply & Trading GmbH with a mandate to manage a diverse portfolio of Private Equity type financial investments in companies and assets that support the Energy Transition. RWE Supply & Trading GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of RWE AG, an international energy company leading the way to a green energy world. With an extensive investment and growth strategy, the company will expand its green generation capacity to 50 gigawatts internationally by 2030 by investing more than 50 billion gross for this purpose. RWE employs around 19,000 people worldwide and has a clear target: to get to net zero by 2040. Further information is available at www.rwe.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2050776/Ryse_Energy_Install_1.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2050777/Ryse_Energy_Install_2.jpg

SOURCE Ryse Energy
MIAMI, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Safe Harbor Equity, a private credit manager specializing in distressed real estate debt, is pleased to announce that Michelle Russell Johnson has joined as Principal and Head of Business Development and Investor Relations. Ms. Johnson will sit on the firm's Investment Committee. In this newly created position, Ms. Johnson will report to Founder Rafael Serrano, as the firm prepares to launch a series of new funds leveraging their experience and success in distressed real estate debt investments. Safe Harbor Equity's Fund IV is set to launch on June 1st with a $500M raise, half of which is already soft circled.

Safe Harbor Equity appoints Michelle Russell Johnson as Principal & Head of Business Development and Investor Relations Tweet this Michelle Russell Johnson (photo credit: Lisa Holgrave)

"We welcome Michelle as a key member of our leadership team and, given her top-tier experience and track record, we are confident that she will strengthen our presence with investors," Serrano said.

Ms. Johnson has asset management experience in sales, marketing and investor relations with pre-eminent firms specializing in alternative investments. She was previously a Managing Director, Capital Markets, at Waypoint Real Estate Investments, an established leader in Multifamily Investing; Partner, Global Head of Business Development and Investor Relations at Genesis Capital Partners, an equity long/short hedge manager; Principal and Director of Marketing at JANA Partners, an activist investor; and Senior Vice President, New Business Development at Paulson & Co., an investment management firm specializing in global merger, event arbitrage and credit strategies. She holds an M.B.A. in Finance from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University and a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is an active fund raiser for several not-for profit organizations.

"Rafael Serrano has fostered a world class asset management organization with a collaborative culture and successful investment team. I am proud and delighted to join the team. The firm's strategy and process are well-suited to capitalize on the emerging market conditions including the maturity of nearly $1 trillion of loans," said Ms. Johnson.

About Safe Harbor Equity

Based in Doral, FL, Safe Harbor Equity is a private credit manager specializing in distressed real estate debt. Safe Harbor Equity invests in debt securities across the capital structure, including bank loans, high yield bonds, mezzanine debt, JVs and distressed debt securities. Their focus is on commercial real estate market inefficiencies to unlock value. They acquire, originate, manage and reposition non-performing loans. For more information, please visit: www.SafeHarborEquity.com

CONTACT: Norah Lawlor, [email protected].

SOURCE Safe Harbor Equity
SAN DIEGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients in California are exposed to harm by dangerous doctors because California law does not quickly discipline or require them to disclose criminal or regulatory charges against them, Consumer Watchdog said today after a San Diego doctor was arraigned on murder charges.

Dr. Carlos Chacon was arraigned for murder on Monday for actions in December of 2018 that led to the death of patient Megan Espinoza. At least 6 other women were harmed by the doctor, several in the four years following Mrs. Espinoza's death according to additional criminal charges, civil lawsuits and complaints shared with Consumer Watchdog.

Those patients were not warned about Chacon's history, even after he was first charged with manslaughter in December 2021. The court placed restrictions on his license Monday, but Chacon will still be allowed to practice if he is released on bail.

Read the arrest warrant: https://interactive.cbs8.com/chacon_warrant.pdf

Consumer Watchdog called on lawmakers to require the Medical Board of California to suspend the license of doctors charged with murder and mandate disclosure to patients of charges against doctors.

Megan Espinoza sought cosmetic surgery from Dr. Carlos Chacon in December 2018. Chacon allowed a nurse not licensed to provide anesthesia to sedate her and she suffered a cardiac arrest during surgery. Chacon did not call paramedics for three hours, "made the conscious decision to stop others from providing lifesaving efforts on at least 7 occasions," and "engaged in an effort to conceal his conscious disregard for Megan Espinoza's life" according to the arrest warrant.

California law does not require doctors to inform patients about criminal or state regulatory charges for causing the injury or death of a patient, and online physician profiles also exclude criminal charges. Doctors in California are allowed to continue seeing patients during investigations into serious injury and death, investigations that take years to conclude. The Medical Board of California does not disclose these investigations, even in the most egregious cases.

"This doctor took our joy from our life, but he still has his license. I am speaking out so no one else has to suffer the same loss. Patients should not be left in the dark about their doctor's record of such grievous harm," said Judith Gorcey of Oxnard, mother of Megan Espinoza.

"The tragedy of Megan Espinoza's loss is compounded by the fact that her doctor was allowed to continue to harm patients for years, with no warnings and no protections. Even when a doctor is criminally charged, California law does not require patients be informed. The secrecy in the current system and glacial pace of investigations puts patients at risk. Lawmakers in Sacramento have debated how to address enforcement failures at the Medical Board for too long. Now is the time to act before more patients are harmed," said Carmen Balber executive director of Consumer Watchdog.

The Medical Board of California faces "sunset review" oversight hearings in the Legislature this year, and lawmakers held a hearing last month where members of the public, including Megan Espinoza's family, testified.

Patient advocates are calling for reforms to improve transparency, accountability and patient participation in the Medical Board enforcement process as part of legislation that must be passed in Sacramento this year.

Among the other patients who have come forward is young mother Natassia Louis, who was left with a gaping hole in her stomach after surgery with Chacon just months before initial manslaughter charges were filed against him. Chacon did not disclose the investigation to Ms. Louis, or disclose when the criminal charges were filed. She did not learn of the charges until she was tipped off just before she was about to return to the doctor for a third procedure to fix the damage. View her story.

Patricia Plascencia, of San Diego, was also left maimed and in serious pain when her surgery with Chacon failed. She saw him five months after he was charged with manslaughter and was also never informed of the charges, or the restrictions placed on his practice.

Read Consumer Watchdog's Patient Bill of Rights detailing overdue Medical Board reforms.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
Austria will arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose arrest warrant was issued by the International Criminal Court, if he enters in the country, Austrian Minister for EU and Constitution Karoline Edtstadler has said.

"Austria will comply with its obligations under international law and criminal law. I was a judge in criminal cases in my civilian job. The issuance of an international arrest warrant by the ICC means that if he enters Austrian soil, he must be arrested," she said in an interview with Tagesspiegel.

The minister said Austria is militarily neutral, but by no means politically neutral.

"We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and support them in humanitarian and economic terms, but not when it comes to arms supplies," she said.
OREM, Utah, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SecurityMetrics is excited to announce that they have won the following awards:

"Compliance Program Management" for the SecurityMetrics PCI Program.

for the SecurityMetrics PCI Program. "Cybersecurity Audit Team of the Year" for the SecurityMetrics Audit Team.

for the SecurityMetrics Audit Team. "Best Cybersecurity Book " for the SecurityMetrics Guide to HIPAA Compliance.

"We congratulate SecurityMetrics for the recognition as an award winner in the Cybersecurity Product/Service category of the 2023 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards," said Holger Schulze, CEO of Cybersecurity Insiders and founder of the 600,000-member Information Security Community on LinkedIn, which organizes the 8th annual Cybersecurity Excellence Awards. "With over 800 entries in more than 300 award categories, the 2023 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards program is highly competitive. All winners reflect the very best in innovation and excellence in defending against today's evolving cybersecurity threats."

SecurityMetrics is thrilled to earn these awards because they represent their commitment to helping organizations see the threats they've been missing and providing exceptional support and services to businesses worldwide.

"Compliance Program Management" SecurityMetrics PCI Program.

The SecurityMetrics PCI program makes documentation easy. One of SecurityMetrics' features in their PCI program is FastPass, a service that reduces questions merchants answer and pre-fills in answers based on what payment technology a merchant may be using. Additionally, with SecurityMetrics' PCI program, acquirers can track their merchants' compliance in one place and can report on over 100 fields of data. This gives acquirers the option to stay shallow or drill down deep. It's up to them and their needs.

SecurityMetrics offers award-winning support. SecurityMetrics support agents are available 24/7, along with live chat, email support, and a self-serve merchant portal. Merchant calls are answered within 18 seconds, on average.

SecurityMetrics has stellar results for helping their clients achieve a passing status on their SAQ. Currently, 93.6% of SecurityMetrics customers that started their SAQ have achieved a passing status within an average of 20.33 days.

"Cybersecurity Audit Team of the Year" for the SecurityMetrics Audit Team.

SecurityMetrics QSAs have completed over 2,000 PCI audits and SecurityMetrics auditors have experience with more than just the PCI framework including NIST, HITRUST, EI3PA,, and more, allowing them to address the big picture of organizations' data security and compliance.

Because SecurityMetrics has such a detailed scoping process, extensive pre-onsite phase, collaboration with other technical departments, and ongoing support phase, they only schedule 18 audits per year. SecurityMetrics focuses on quality over quantity.

SecurityMetrics holds credentials in all aspects of PCI compliance, including PCI DSS assessments, SSF assessments, P2PE assessments, PIN assessments, forensic incident response, ASV scanning, penetration testing, card data discovery, security appliances, security training, and security consulting.

"Best Cybersecurity Book" for the SecurityMetrics Guide to HIPAA Compliance.

The SecurityMetrics HIPAA Guide breaks down HIPAA guidelines into actionable steps and easy-to-understand information so that healthcare staff can be fully educated on data privacy and protection best practices. Our guide to HIPAA compliance contains advice from over 20 security analysts and real-world examples to give organizations a framework to better understand HIPAA and the critical areas where they need help.

"This is the most comprehensive guide on HIPAA I have found," said Crystal Hertz, National Health Foundation.

You can access the SecurityMetrics free guide to HIPAA Compliance here.

For press inquiries, email [email protected]

About SecurityMetrics

SecurityMetrics secures peace of mind for organizations that handle sensitive data. They have tested over 1 million systems for data security and compliance. They understand the importance of industry standards, which is why they hold their tools, training, and support to a higher, more thorough standard of performance and service, so you never have a false sense of security.

As an Approved Scanning Vendor, Qualified Security Assessor, Certified Forensic Investigator, and Managed Security provider SecurityMetrics guides organizations through data security testing and compliance mandates (PCI, HIPAA, GDPR, HITRUST). With over 20 years of forensic investigations, penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and compliance audits, SecurityMetrics has tested over 1 million systems for vulnerabilities. The privately held company is headquartered in Orem, Utah where it maintains a Security Operations Center (SOC) and 24/7 multilingual technical support.

SOURCE SecurityMetrics, Inc.
DUBAI, UAE and HYDERABAD, India, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seed Group , a company of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, has announced a strategic partnership with India-based No-Code Low-Code platform Quixy with an aim to simplify enterprise solution-building in the UAE and the Middle East.

From left to right: Gautam Nimmagadda, CEO of Quixy; Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of Seed Group and the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum; Govind Viswesh Chinta, Director of Quixy

The Hyderabad headquartered start-up uses an innovative no-code, low-code approach to help businesses build solutions and applications up to 10 times faster without writing any code. The organisation has over time assisted many businesses to become more agile in the current changing environment, enhance workflow efficiency with faster time to market and lower development costs, magnify innovation, and embrace IT and business user partnership.

As a strategic partner, Seed Group will work with Quixy to reach the right audience, access top decision-makers in the government as well as the private sector, and contribute to strengthening the technological innovation landscape in Dubai.

Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of Seed Group and the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, said, "This is an important association in many ways. Not only will this strategic partnership allow Quixy to bring its innovative no-code, low-code platform to businesses in the region, but it will also help empower the corporate landscape by making offering online services easy and seamless. The services of Quixy are designed to streamline processes and workflows, making organisations more efficient and effective. We are looking forward to the potential of this collaboration and the benefits it will bring to our customers."

Speaking about Quixy's vision for the market and the strategic partnership to enable it, Mr. Gautam Nimmagadda, Founder & CEO, Quixy, said, "Over the last two decades, the Middle East has been leapfrogging the rest of the world by becoming the new hotbed for innovation and modern technology, with Dubai at the core of this revolution. Quixy's market research shows that the forward-thinking leadership in the region will drive a truly digital business ecosystem, and we at Quixy aim to play a key role in helping businesses become fully and truly digital. We believe Dubai is an ideal location to lead our next phase of growth. With the robust business experience of Seed Group, coupled with their strong history of effectively introducing technology companies to the market, we are certain that they can accelerate Quixy's establishment and growth in the region."

Quixy is an industry-agnostic platform, thus enabling any industry to use its technology to digitise any function. Quixy works with over 15 industries that have exploited the novel technology to digitise their functions in the nimblest and most cost-efficient way. The company has been noted for its work with private and government companies, assisting them in simplifying their business processes. The platform deploys a simple drag and drop design that helps create the software with a visual interface.

Seed Group is a notable force in the technology, healthcare, hospitality, and telecommunications landscapes in the Middle East. Over the past 16 years, it has formed successful strategic alliances with leading global companies representing diverse regions to accelerate sustainable market entry and presence within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

About Quixy

Quixy is a leading no-code, low-code platform that business users in any industry or department use to automate business processes and workflows and build simple to complex enterprise-grade applications up to 10X faster than the traditional approach. Quixy currently serves customers across 15+ industry verticals, including governments and public-sector undertakings. Customers have utilised the platform to build a wide range of applications, including a container-freight-station (CFS) management system, asset and material management, manufacturing plant planning and scheduling, gate operations, procurement and logistics management, an end-to-end ERP system, and naval base admin processes. Quixy differentiates itself from the competition by being an ADVANCED no-code low-code platform that covers all the critical aspects such as the front end, database, workflow, business logic, reporting, deployment, and maintenance of software building vs. a RESTRICTIVE platform. For more information, visit www.quixy.com .

About Seed Group

Over the past 20 years, Seed Group has formed strategic alliances with leading global companies representing diverse regions and industries. These companies have propelled their business interests and goals in the Middle East and North Africa region through the support and strong base of regional connections of the Seed Group. The Group's goal is to create mutually beneficial partnerships with multinational organisations and to accelerate their sustainable market entry and presence within the MENA region. Seed Group has been a key point in the success of all its partners in the region helping them reach their target customers and accelerate their businesses. The Private Office was established by Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum to directly invest in or assist potential business opportunities in the region, which meet the Private Office's criteria. For more information, visit www.seedgroup.com .

Quixy Media Contact

Vivek Goel

+91 99633 22283

[email protected]

Seed Group Media Contact

Nomarie Jean Lacsamana

+971 4 373 5068

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2050586/Seed_Group_Quixy.jpg

SOURCE Seed Group; Quixy
The new solution enables sustainability teams to leverage advanced analytics to accelerate organizational efforts to record, report and reduce emissions.

SEATTLE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeq Corporation, a leader in manufacturing and industrial internet of things advanced analytics software, today announced the Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager. The solution enables sustainability teams to extend the power of Microsoft Sustainability Manager, a Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability solution, to integrate time series process data preparation, analysis, and continuous improvement, reducing the environmental impact of process industry operations.

With the Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager, process experts can leverage Seeq's live data connectivity and auditable data cleansing and contextualization capabilities to enrich their time series emissions data (Scope 1 and Scope 2).

Analyzing time series data from equipment sensors is critical for measuring sustainability impact at process manufacturing companies. Microsoft Sustainability Manager enables these organizations to unify their data to record, report and reduce their environmental impact. By leveraging the new Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager, these organizations can extend this experience by radically decreasing data connectivity, preparation, and analytics efforts.

With the solution, the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability data model is incorporated into the Seeq workflow for consistency of emissions data. Process experts leverage Seeq's live data connectivity and auditable data cleansing and contextualization capabilities to enrich their time series emissions data, reducing manual data preparation time by up to 80 percent. Sustainability teams can seamlessly access this contextualized data within Microsoft Sustainability Manager to track direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) emissions for reports and to set and track accurate emissions reduction goals.



"As a Microsoft Partner, Seeq is committed to help our shared customers navigate their infrastructure and data challenges to achieve measurable sustainability gains," says Megan Buntain, VP of Cloud Transformation at Seeq. "The Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager is the latest of our solutions built on the Seeq platform to make time series data insights available to all stakeholders for improved outcomes in process manufacturing."

In addition to providing access to the operational data for the corporate sustainability teams, Seeq solution empowers subject matter experts to identify root causes of issues and opportunities for optimization on an asset operations level. These insights provide continuous-improvement feedback as reports and system-wide emissions views are assembled and utilized by corporate teams in Microsoft Sustainability Manager. Real-time collaboration capabilities within Seeq enable asset operations teams to streamline communications with the broader organization, improving cross-functional awareness and emissions management.

"Seeq adds value to our mutual customers by integrating their solutions with Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability," says Dominik Wee, CVP, Manufacturing and Mobility Industry, Microsoft. "The Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager addresses a variety of pain points related to emissions' data availability recording, reporting and reduction and enables customers to accelerate the success of their sustainability initiatives."

Within the Microsoft booth at Hannover Messe in Hall 17 Stand G06 from April 17-21, the Seeq team will showcase the Seeq Solution for Microsoft Sustainability Manager and demonstrate how process manufacturers can leverage Seeq in the Microsoft Cloud to uncover insights to achieve sustainability and reliability goals.

Seeq has been available as a SaaS application in the Azure Marketplace since 2019, with support for many Azure cloud services including Synapse, Azure Data Lake, and Active Directory. Seeq also supports connectivity to Azure Data Explorer, Time Series Insights, and Power BI.

For more information, visit www.seeq.com.

About Seeq Corporation

Seeq, a global leader in advanced analytics for the process manufacturing industries, delivers self-service, enterprise SaaS solutions to accelerate critical insights and action from historically unused data. Oil and gas, pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, utility, renewable energy, and numerous other vertical industries rely on Seeq to optimize business and production outcomes, including yield, margins, quality, and sustainability. Seeq is a privately held virtual company with employees across the United States and sales representation in Asia, Canada, Europe, and South America. To learn more about Seeq, visit www.seeq.com.

Contact:

Sydney DeLosh

206-801-9339

[email protected]

SOURCE Seeq Corporation
RALEIGH, N.C., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 10 Federal, a leading operator of self-storage facilities, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the ASAP Storage portfolio. The portfolio includes three properties located in Temple and Villa Rica, Georgia, offering a total of 70 parking spaces and 664 storage units, and totaling 96,000 net rentable square feet. The acquisition marks the sixth asset purchased by the 10FSSAC4 fund and further strengthens 10 Federal's presence in the high-growth corridor of the Atlanta area.

"High-tech, self storage innovator 10 Federal raises $32mm to expand unmanned property portfolio"

"The acquisition of the ASAP Storage portfolio is an exciting addition to our self-storage portfolio," said Cliff Minsley, Principal & Co-Founder of 10 Federal. "We are confident in our ability to create value by improving occupancy and rental rates through our proven technology-driven approach."

The blended acquisition price square foot basis was $78/sqft, compared to the $134/sqft at which a recent portfolio of properties 10 Federal sold in the same Atlanta, GA MSA in 2022. The portfolio presents an attractive acquisition opportunity with potential for expansion as the properties occupy nearly 15 acres collectively.

To support its continued growth and success, 10 Federal has added three key executives to its leadership team. Brian Oakley has been appointed Vice President of Technology, bringing over 15 years of experience in technology strategy, development, and operations. Trent Erickson has been appointed Vice President of Accounting, with over 20 years of experience in public accounting, financial reporting, and business operations. Kris Gunther has been appointed to Vice President of Human Resources, a seasoned HR executive with experience in talent management and organizational development.

Andrew Capranos, President of Self Storage, expressed his excitement for the addition of the three new executives, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Brian, Trent, and Kris to our team. Their extensive knowledge and experience in their respective fields will be invaluable to 10 Federal as we continue to push the boundaries of innovation and elevate our position as a leader in the self-storage industry."

In addition to this latest acquisition, 10FSSAC4 has raised $32 million in equity between December 15th, 2022, and April 1st, 2023. This reinforces 10 Federal's position as a leader in the unmanned self-storage space and allows the company to continue expanding its portfolio.

For more information or to learn more about investing with 10 Federal, please visit our investor website.

SOURCE 10 Federal
Expand Partnerships and Clinical Deployments

ST. LOUIS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SentiAR, Inc. a St. Louis, Missouri based pioneer in using Augmented Reality (AR) visualization technology for medical procedures, has closed an $8.5 million Series B financing. The financing was led by cultivate (MD) Ventures and joined by MedVenture Partners alongside several insider investors, including TechWald Holding, VCapital, QRM Capital, and Harmonix Fund. The funding will allow the company to launch additional partnerships and wider clinical deployments.

SentiAR's CommandEP product integrates existing imaging systems to create a real time 3D holographic interface. Tweet this SentiAR's CommandEP TM

The company's innovative first product, CommandEP, integrates existing imaging systems to create a real time 3D holographic interface. This interface provides physicians with an interactive, 360-degree view of the patient's specific anatomy to allow them to deliver cardiac ablation therapy to patients. The CommandEP system utilizes a specially designed headset worn by the physician allowing hands-free manipulation of the patient's data for the first time, in addition to real-time heart anatomy and catheter locations inside the heart. The CommandEP system is designed to be utilized during cardiac ablation procedures to increase physician navigation accuracy and speed. This technology offers physicians control of their digital tools and has been shown to improve physician navigation accuracy in the heart by up to 50%.

Berk Tas, CEO of SentiAR said, "We are delighted to welcome new investors. This funding allows us to meet the great interest from physicians for this first of its kind application. We look forward to working with our clinical and strategic partners as we scale up clinical deployments."

Dr. Jag Singh, MD, PhD, Cardiac Electrophysiologist, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Founding Director of Resynchronization and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics Program at Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center, said, "We have been looking for a tool like this for a long time. The CommandEP system's ability to provide full 3D visualization in real-time and giving us the ability to control our images, hands-free, for the first time is exciting. We look forward to the potential benefits of CommandEP for our patients."

Dr. R. Sean Churchill, MD, MBA, Executive Director of Genesis Innovation Group's cultivate (MD) Ventures said, "Our group has been looking for a valuable clinical AR solution that has the potential to disrupt how clinical procedures are performed. SentiAR's, CommandEP system fits this perfectly. It is profoundly impactful, exceptionally simple and does not impede clinical workflows. The system is developed by a star team. We are proud to partner with them and bring CommandEP to serve our physicians and patients."

CommandEP is the first application of its kind in the world and SentiAR anticipates completion of new clinical studies in the second half of this year.

About SentiAR:

SentiAR, Inc., based in St. Louis, MO, was founded by Dr. Jennifer Silva, MD, FHRS, FACC, FAHA, Dr. Jonathan Silva, PhD of Washington University in St Louis and Mike Southworth, MS. SentiAR received an SBIR award from NIH alongside support from BioGenerator and Cultivation Capital to start its journey. Following the founding team's vision SentiAR has created the first application of Mixed Reality technology for use during interventional procedures, starting with cardiac ablation procedures, including the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The SentiAR platform provides an immersive command center for the clinicians by presenting a 3D hologram of the patient's electro-anatomic data in real-time. This solution gives the clinician unprecedented control via SentiAR's patent-protected, intuitive gaze interface and provides invaluable insight to guide physician diagnosis and catheter navigation. Learn more about SentiAR at https://sentiar.com.

SOURCE SentiAR
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Catalent, Inc. ("Catalent" or the "Company") (NYSE: CTLT). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Catalent and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On August 29, 2022, Catalent disclosed that demand for its COVID-related products was facing substantial headwinds.

On this news, Catalent's stock price fell $7.42 per share, or 7.4%, to close at $92.29 per share on August 29, 2022.

Then, on September 20, 2022, a Washington Post report exposed that the release of COVID-19 vaccines produced by Catalent had been delayed by regulators due to improper sterilization at one of Catalent's key facilities.

On this news, Catalent's stock price fell $8.09 per share, or 9.3%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $79.06 per share on September 22, 2022.

Finally, on November 1, 2022, Catalent revealed that its quarterly earnings had declined to zero and lowered its financial guidance, indicating falling demand. The Company also disclosed that regulatory issues at key facilities were negatively impacting its financial results.

On this news, Catalent's stock price fell $20.83 per share, or 31.7%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $44.90 per share on November 2, 2022.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Dutch Bros Inc. ("Dutch" or the "Company") (NYSE: BROS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Dutch Bros and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On February 23, 2023, Hedgeye published a note adding Dutch Bros as a "new short idea," stating that "[t]he relentless focus on excessive unity growth and not balancing that with profitability can create long-term issues for the company" and that "[w]e don't see the company generating enough [operating cash flow] to cover capital spending until FY2026 (and that might be a generous assumption)."

On this news, Dutch Bros' stock price fell $3.97 per share, or 10.45%, to close at $34.02 per share on February 23, 2023.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. ("Fidelity National" or the "Company") (NYSE: FIS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Fidelity National and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

In 2019, Fidelity National acquired the payment-processing company Worldpay Inc. ("Worldpay") for $48 billion. Then, on February 13, 2023, Fidelity National booked a $17.6 billion write-down on its Worldpay business and announced plans to spin off the unit.

On this news, Fidelity National's stock price fell $9.43 per share, or 12.5%, to close at $66.00 on February 13, 2023.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Credit Suisse Group AG ("Credit Suisse" or the "Company") (NYSE: CS), and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and docketed under 23-cv-01297, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Credit Suisse securities between December 1, 2022 and February 17, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Credit Suisse securities during the Class Period, you have until May 8, 2023 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Credit Suisse, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services in Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. The Company offers wealth management solutions, including investment advice and discretionary asset management services; risk management solutions, such as managed investment products; and wealth planning, succession planning, and trust services.

In October 2022, Credit Suisse began experiencing a sharp increase in customer outflows, or withdrawals of client funds, after a series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures significantly decreased the Company's American Depositary Share ("ADS") price.

On December 1, 2022, Credit Suisse's Chairman, Defendant Axel P. Lehmann ("Lehmann") stated in an interview with Financial Times that customer outflows had not only "completely flattened out," but had, in fact, "partially reversed."

The following day, in an interview with Bloomberg Television, Defendant Lehmann reiterated his previous statements, reassuring investors that as of November 11, 2022, customer outflows had "basically stopped".

Following Defendant Lehmann's statements, Credit Suisse's ADS price rose $0.29 per ADS, or 9.36%, to close at $3.38 per ADS on December 2, 2022.

The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) contrary to Defendant Lehmann's representations in December 2022, the sharp increase in customer outflows Credit Suisse began experiencing in October 2022 remained ongoing; (ii) accordingly, Credit Suisse had downplayed the impact of the Company's recent series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures on liquidity and its ability to retain client funds; (iii) as a result, Credit Suisse had overstated the Company's financial position and/or prospects; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On February 9, 2023, Credit Suisse issued a press release announcing its 2022 financial results. The press release revealed that, contrary to Defendant Lehmann's prior statements, large customer outflows had continued through year-end 2022. Specifically, the press release reported customer outflows of 110.5 billion Swiss francs in the final three months of 2022, a figure which far exceeded market expectations.

On this news, Credit Suisse's ADS price fell $0.56 per ADS, or 15.64%, to close at $3.02 per ADS on February 9, 2023.

Then, on February 21, 2023, Reuters reported that the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority was reviewing Defendant Lehmann's previous comments regarding customer outflows.

On this news, Credit Suisse's ADS price fell another $0.10 per ADS, or 3.31%, to close at $2.92 per ADS on February 21, 2023.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
The limited-edition Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams Color Collection contains 30 colors, appealing to both homeowners and designers

CLEVELAND, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sherwin-Williams, the global leader in paints and coatings, announced today its collaboration with renowned fashion designer, Christian Siriano. Available starting today, the limited-edition 30-color collection is inspired by his clean, modern and elegant aesthetic.

Award winning designer, Cristian Siriano, and Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams Director of Color Marketing, curating The Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams Color Collection. Photo Credits: Sherwin-Williams The Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams Color Collection features 30 colors, including the brands Color of the Year, Redend Point SW 9081. Photo Credits: Sherwin-Williams The Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams Color Collection is clean and modern while embodying warmth and elegance, including Forged Steel SW 9565. Photo Credits: Sherwin-Williams

"Sherwin-Williams is thrilled to partner with Christian Siriano to bring together the worlds of fashion and paint through his highly regarded design expertise. This collaboration allows us to explore new avenues for color and design, while showcasing the transformative power of paint. We look forward to bringing this partnership to life and inspiring new possibilities in the world of design," said Sherwin-Williams SVP of Sales & Marketing, Brett White.

Christian Siriano is most known for being a design icon that stands for all things color, inclusivity and style. As a trusted interior design curator with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook his Connecticut home, Siriano often draws inspiration from nature by bringing the outside in. The Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams Color Collection exudes an authentically Siriano color story that features bright whites and leans into natural neutrals like charcoals, beiges, terracottas and blues. For Siriano, the curated color selection is clean and modern while embodying warmth and elegance for the home or even commercial spaces that crave a residential feel.

"We live our lives in our spaces. They're our sanctuary, and they should feel just as fabulous as when you put something on your body and walk out the door. Home should feel the same way," shared Siriano. "Through this partnership with Sherwin-Williams, I wanted to create a portal into my world that offers a range of options. There's a color for everyone in this collection!"

The collection was curated with homeowners and designers in mind and offers 30 of Christian's go-to colors that are ideal for creating stunning interior spaces with the entire collection available at s-w.com/christiansiriano. Two Peel & Stick kits have been created to support the collection's audiences. The homeowner kit features Christian's top 6 picks, including go-to whites and natural neutrals to tell a whole home story, while the designer kit includes 6 colors available exclusively in Emerald Designer Edition. Both kits are available on the collection's website.

"What we love the most about working with Christian Siriano is his ability to design inclusively and in a way that fits everyone's preferences," shares Sue Wadden, Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin-Williams. "With functionality in color being essential, this collection showcases just thatstunning colors and practicality."

Consumers can explore the collaboration and create a space they love with the Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams Color Collection featuring an exclusive palette of natural neutrals that make home a shade more fabulous by visiting s-w.com/christiansiriano.

Ask Sherwin-Williams

For more than 155 years, Sherwin-Williams has been an industry leader in the development of technologically advanced paint and coatings. As the nation's largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting both do-it-yourselfers and painting professionals with exceptional and exclusive products, resources to make confident color selections and expert, personalized service at its more than 4,800 neighborhood stores across North America. For more information, visit sherwin-williams.com. Join Sherwin-Williams on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Christian Siriano

Award winning CFDA designer Christian Siriano launched his eponymous collection in 2008 following his studies in London under Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Known for whimsical and show-stopping design, the collection is shown each season at New York Fashion Week and sold in retailers across the globe. In 2012, the first flagship Christian Siriano store opened in NYC, then in 2018, "The Curated NYC" opened in Midtown Manhattan, and now his most recent retail venture, "The Collective West" has opened in Westport, CT. Siriano's designs have been worn by current VPOTUS Kamala Harris, current FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden, former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Zendaya, Ariana Grande, Julianne Moore, Lady Gaga, Tiffany Haddish, Billy Porter, Cardi B, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Whoopi Goldberg and Julia Roberts to name but a few. Siriano was named among Time's 100 Most Influential People for his leading contributions on body diversity on the runway and red carpet. Christian is the youngest person to ever appear on Crain's "40 Under 40" list and a member of "Forbes 30 Under 30".



Christian has been heralded for leading the PPE charge during the COVID-19 pandemic. His atelier shifted entirely from clothes to masks and to date he and his team have shipped over one million masks to frontline workers in the New York area. 2020 also saw Siriano launch his own digital BRAVO talk show called "SO SIRIANO" which saw him break down all things fashion and pop culture with guests ranging from Drew Barrymore, Leslie Jones, Billy Porter, Ashley Graham, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Sia. And Christian fulfilled a longtime passion when he added interior designer to his impressive list of credits with the debut of his newest venture, Siriano Interiors and a full custom furniture collection. With over a decade of fashion experience, the Siriano design studio continues to celebrate beauty and diversity in this ever-changing Fashion industry. Most recently, the prestigious SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) MUSEUM OF ART presents Christian's first ever solo work retrospective with the CHRISTIAN SIRIANO: PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE EXHIBITION, which ran in Savannah from October 2021-January 2022 and recently moved to the Atlanta location and remains on view through October 9th, 2022. In 2017, he added the title of Author to his credits when he released a photographic retrospective book with Rizzoli Books called Dresses to Dream About, now in its third printing. Due to that high demand, he released a new version titled Christian Siriano: Dresses to Dream About Deluxe Edition, featuring brand new images from his ever growing/impressive body of work.

SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company
Some 90 donors participate in blood donation campaign in Kharkiv  URCS

The bank of the blood service center in Kharkiv was replenished with 40 liters of donor blood thanks to an action organized by volunteers of the Kharkiv regional organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS).

"More than 90 people took part in the donor campaign organized by volunteers of the Kharkiv regional organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society," it said on Facebook.

As a result of the campaign, the blood service center in Kharkiv received 40.5 liters of blood supplies (a person donates 450 ml of blood).

The URCS emphasized that blood donation is a chance to save the wounded and victims of accidents, as well as the treatment of patients with blood diseases.

The donor campaign was attended by Kharkiv residents and residents of Merefa (a city in Kharkiv region), who specially came to the regional center in order to save human lives.
Iconic Texas brand on track to open 20 new stores in 2023

HOUSTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast-growing Shipley Do-Nuts, makers of gourmet, made-fresh-daily do-nuts for more than 85 years, continued its rapid expansion in Q1 2023 by opening five new locations, including two new state entries in Maryland and Georgia.

Shipley started the year strong with the successful opening of its first Maryland shop in Odenton in January, followed by its first Georgia opening in Cumming, in March. The company also opened shops in Texas, including its 12th corporate-owned store in Houston.

Shipley Do-Nut Exterior (PRNewsfoto/Shipley Do-Nuts)

To further grow its footprint, Shipley announced a new deal in Q1 with Meisternuts LLC to enable the company to expand its presence in Colorado. The Utah-based group has acquired two existing Shipley Do-Nuts locations in Aurora and Fountain and plans to open an additional 16 locations in the Denver and Colorado Springs markets. Overall, the company is projecting double-unit growth in 2023 over 2022.

"We have hit the ground running in Q1 and remain committed to meeting the growing demand for our delicious do-nuts across the country," said Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Clifton Rutledge. "As we continue to expand our brand into new markets, we have increased our focus on innovation and technology that has allowed us to grow our digital sales and improve the customer experience."

Also in Q1, the company continued to make significant strides in the digital space, with 80% of the system now enrolled in a new online ordering system that launched in 2022. The company's focus on technology and innovation has paid off, resulting in an increase in digital sales, with customers embracing the convenience and ease of online ordering.

Shipley is also continuing to invest in its first-ever loyalty program, which it began testing in its corporate-owned locations last year. In Q1, Shipley added 27 additional locations to the test, bringing the total number of participating locations to more than 10% of the system. Shipley will introduce the program systemwide later this year.

Shipley continues to lead the way in the franchise industry, moving up an impressive 13 spots to reach No. 131 on Entrepreneur magazine's 2023 Franchise 500 list. Shipley has been the top-ranked brand in its category for two years running.

Shipley is actively recruiting franchisees in all markets, with a focus on increasing its presence in Colorado, Oklahoma, Florida and throughout the Southeast. For more information, visit ownashipleydonuts.com.

ABOUT SHIPLEY DO-NUTS

Founded in 1936, Houston-based Shipley Do-Nuts is a leading do-nut restaurant franchisor and manufacturer of specialty food products. Shipley franchises over 330 restaurants to a diverse group of operators across 12 states and has served its do-nuts, kolaches and beverages to generations of guests. Shipley is ranked No. 131 on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 2023 list, the highest in its category. For information on franchising, visit ownashipleydonuts.com.

Media Contact:

Ashley Lennington, SPM Communications

[email protected]

214-379-7000

SOURCE Shipley Do-Nuts
VANCOUVER, BC, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Silver Valley Metals Corp. (TSXV: SILV) (OTCQB: SVMFF) ("Silver Valley" or the "Company"), a brownfield exploration Company with two potential high impact projects that comprise silver-zinc-lead located in north Idaho, USA and lithium - potassium (sulphate of potash) located in Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi, Mexico respectively, is pleased to provide strong exploration results from the Ranger-Wyoming target, related to an under-developed complex of historical mine workings, at the Ranger-Page Project, Silver Valley, Idaho.

Ranger Wyoming Target Area at Silver Valley Metals' Ranger-Page project (CNW Group/Silver Valley Metals Corp.) Ranger Wyoming IP Anomaly at Silver Valley Metals' Ranger-Page project (CNW Group/Silver Valley Metals Corp.) Ranger Wyoming Resistivity Anomaly at Silver Valley Metals' Ranger-Page project (CNW Group/Silver Valley Metals Corp.)

To view the Ranger-Wyoming Target in a 3-D multi-media audio-video click: https://tinyurl.com/yc7327fs

Highlights:

Largest anomalous target area defined at the project.

Significant coincident induced polarization and resistivity geophysical anomalies measuring approximately 1,200 metres in strike length and up to 600 metres depth along the prominent 96 Fault structure that projects into the Bunker Hill mine hosting significant high-grade mineralization adjacent to the project area.

in strike length and up to depth along the prominent that projects into the Bunker Hill mine hosting significant high-grade mineralization adjacent to the project area. High values of silver, zinc, lead, and copper in soil and located coincident with the geophysics anomalies and on top of the 96 Fault with silver values as high as 21.9 g/t , lead values up to 7,640 ppm , copper values up to 339 ppm and zinc values up to 274 ppm . Cadmium, arsenic, and antimony are also elevated which are strong indicators of silver and lead mineralization found in the District.

, lead values up to , copper values up to and zinc values up to . Cadmium, arsenic, and antimony are also elevated which are strong indicators of silver and lead mineralization found in the District. Related to the Ranger- Wyoming complex historical mine workings.

complex historical mine workings. The Ranger- Wyoming target is situated parallel approximately 200 metres south of the East Curlew and Blackhawk targets.

target is situated parallel approximately 200 metres south of the East Curlew and Blackhawk targets. First assessment of the Ranger- Wyoming target and '96 Fault' with modern exploration technologies.

Dale Moore, Exploration Director for Silver Valley Metals, comments," We are excited about the target rich environment we have developed at the Ranger-Page project over the past year. This latest target at the Ranger-Wyoming complex is located along the 96 Fault, an important fault on our project, and at the Bunker Hill Mine located next door. The Ranger-Wyoming complex of underground workings mined mineralization related to the 96 fault and now, nearly 100 years later, we think we've located its extension. "

To view exploration results in Presentation format, click: https://tinyurl.com/2duxbskr

Brandon Rook, CEO, stated, "Our exploration efforts at Ranger-Page Project have paid off nicely with the addition of the Ranger-Wyoming target added to the list of high priority drill-ready targets. The potential extension of mineralization to surface, and along strike is very exciting for the Company, and we look forward to getting the drills turning in this area in 2023. We are using modern exploration techniques for the first time in the project's history, and it is allowing us to gain a stronger understanding for the potential of these zones."

Silver Valley Metals' Ranger  Wyoming target is closely related to the Ranger-Wyoming complex of mine workings, which extracted near surface high-grade silver, zinc, and lead ores. The Ranger and Wyoming deposits are associated with the 96 Fault which is a significant project scale structure traced across much of the Company's property. The 96 Fault merges with the Buckeye Fault (also a prominent fault) on the eastern edge of the property boundary, immediately east of the target area, where it projects into the Bunker Hill mine. This fault structure has been identified as a strong contributor to silver, zinc, and lead mineralization that has been mined on Bunker Hill's project.

To view an enhanced version of the Ranger-Wyoming Target Area, please click: https://tinyurl.com/33etaw5d

The exploration team identified a potential extension of the Ranger-Wyoming complex mineralization along strike, and up-plunge of the historic mine workings. Coincident ground induced polarization geophysics and soil geochemical results have constrained a target area with approximate dimensions of 1,200 metres of strike length and 600 metres of dip length. The anomaly is situated in the hanging wall of the 96 Fault representing a significant expansion beyond the known mineralization extent.

The ground induced polarization geophysics results are more than twice the observed background of the host rock and the high values of the resistivity ground geophysics also indicate the possible presence of silicic alteration, which is a strong indicator of mineralization in the Coeur d'Alene mining district.

To view an enhanced version of the Ranger-Wyoming target figure - Geophysics: Induced Polarization Anomaly, please click: https://tinyurl.com/5ysky2yu

To view an enhanced version of the Ranger-Wyoming target figure  Geophysics: Resistivity Anomaly, please click: https://tinyurl.com/bdfubnu7

A comprehensive surface geochemical program was undertaken and was positioned along and on top of the 96 Fault and on and near the geophysics anomalies. Results were significant with silver values as high as 21.9 g/t, lead values up to 7,640 ppm and copper values as much as 339 ppm, and zinc values up to 274 ppm. Cadmium, arsenic, and antimony are also elevated, which are strong indicators of lead and silver mineralization found in the Coeur d'Alene mining district.

Lastly, the historic Ranger-Wyoming complex; positioned closely to the former producing Blackhawk and Crown Point mines, 200 metres north and 500 metres north respectively - were only partially developed, to less than 70 metres in depth. The Ranger-Wyoming target shows great potential for further expansion, laterally and vertically, and the fact that many of the region's current and historic mines are developed to 1200 metres, 2,500 metres and beyond, the Ranger-Wyoming target is a top priority for the Company's upcoming drilling program in 2023.

Geophysics: Induced Polarization

Background induced polarization observed in the host rock at the Ranger-Wyoming complex and surrounding area in the western end of the Silver Valley is typically between 0 and 4 msec, as compared to the +20 msec background observed in the Prichard formation to the north of the Osburn Fault. The Ranger-Wyoming induced polarization anomaly are locally as high as 10msec, more than twice the observed background polarization of the host rock. The strike length of this anomaly is approximately 1200 metres. The depth is approximately 600 meters. High overlapping resistivity data at the Ranger-Wyoming target is interpreted to be silicic alteration associated with a potential mineralized system. This is a strong indicator of mineralization in the Coeur d'Alene mining district and complements both the induced polarization response in addition to anomalous geochemistry on surface.

Geochemical Program:

A follow up geochemical program was implemented to further validate the target, and results show the presence of anomalous silver, lead, and copper along the trace of the '96 Fault' in the target area. Soil geochemistry sampling over the induced polarization anomaly shows silver values up to 21.9 g/t compared to a background of <0.1. Lead, and Copper anomalies are as high as 7,640 ppm and 339 ppm respectively. Background levels of lead, copper and zinc in the project area are typically 10 ppm, 6 ppm and 40 ppm respectively based on all 2022 Silver Valley Metals geochemical data. Trace element vector analysis is ongoing, and we expect that will further validate the Ranger-Wyoming target.

Field Program description:

A north-south soil grid oriented over the Induced Polarization anomaly was used to guide sample locations. Samples of the B and C soil horizons were collected on a 30-metre spacing. At each location, a pit was dug until refusal (could not dig deeper). The C and B soil horizons were sampled separately, described, photographed, staked and location data collected via GPS. Results were loaded into Leapfrog Geo and displayed via a proportional grade plot to highlight high values.

B-Horizon Geochemical Sample data:

LDL <5 ppm <1 ppm <2 ppm <5 ppm <5 ppm <2 ppm <3.4 ppm Sample ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) As (ppm) Cd (ppm) Cu (ppm) Pb (ppm) Sb (ppm) Zn (ppm) Ag (g/t) GCE-2-2B 561287 5263834 889 Trace 2.2 10.8 24.6 19.5 144.0 Trace GCE-2-3B 561313 5263863 890 6.8 2.4 16.1 219.0 19.8 169.0 Trace GCE-2-4B 561336 5263895 888 Trace 1.2 11.8 27.2 17.1 100.0 Trace GCE-2-5B 561366 5263928 887 Trace 2.8 15.8 24.1 14.4 274.0 Trace GCE-2-6B 561387 5263942 885 Trace 1.1 13.2 232.0 21.0 106.0 Trace GCE-2-7B 561412 5263970 883 7.4 2.4 17.2 24.0 16.3 144.0 Trace GCE-2-8B 561424 5263998 884 19.4 1.5 19.0 33.2 23.0 86.6 Trace GCE-2-9B 561444 5264023 883 6.2 Trace 9.2 140.0 16.0 74.6 Trace GCE-3-4B 561518 5264043 917 23.9 Trace 17.1 145.0 26.4 65.2 Trace GCE-3-10B 561506 5264017 894 28.6 Trace 28.5 57.5 21.4 54.1 Trace GCE-3-11B 561490 5263985 909 29.3 Trace 16.7 Trace 16.0 62.7 Trace GCE-3-12B 561470 5263961 912 43.5 Trace 17.4 7.2 17.3 41.8 Trace GCE-3-13B 561453 5263938 916 12.8 Trace 21.1 15.9 19.6 53.4 Trace GCE-3-14B 561431 5263915 915 10.6 Trace 21.5 Trace 21.6 41.0 Trace GCE-3-15B 561405 5263892 919 Trace Trace 4.4 Trace 17.7 45.0 Trace GCE-3-16B 561382 5263869 918 Trace Trace 5.7 15.3 20.1 64.3 Trace GCW-1-7B 561251 5264028 895 Trace Trace 6.7 31.1 18.8 87.8 Trace GCW-1-8B 561242 5263997 893 6.1 1.4 15.6 72.8 17.7 114.0 Trace GCW-1-9B 561236 5263965 894 Trace Trace 11.4 107.0 16.8 33.8 Trace GCW-1-10B 561228 5263934 896 Trace 1.9 16.7 231.0 18.7 127.0 Trace GCW-1-11B 561213 5263903 897 Trace Trace 12.3 125.0 19.9 59.9 9.5 GCW-2-1B 561169 5263934 938 Trace 1.6 16.6 177.0 19.2 114.0 9.3 GCW-2-2B 561177 5263972 941 Trace Trace 9.0 23.5 17.5 71.2 Trace GCW-2-3B 561189 5264008 946 Trace Trace 10.7 110.0 17.6 69.9 Trace GCW-2-4B 561199 5264045 950 Trace Trace 12.2 97.0 18.0 79.8 Trace GCW-2-5B 561210 5264086 950 7.0 Trace 17.2 140.0 17.7 96.5 Trace GCW-3-5B 561162 5264100 979 10.1 Trace 14.4 205.0 15.4 38.9 Trace GCW-3-6B 561153 5264072 977 8.1 Trace 11.8 84.4 18.8 63.4 Trace GCW-3-7B 561144 5264034 972 Trace Trace 8.6 42.0 17.1 56.2 Trace GCW-3-8B 561132 5263996 976 Trace Trace 11.4 28.2 18.6 90.4 Trace GCW-3-9B 561117 5263962 974 Trace Trace 11.8 127.0 18.1 55.4 Trace GCW-3-10B 561105 5263936 970 Trace Trace 5.5 31.8 24.1 45.1 Trace GCW-4-2B 561061 5263953 1001 Trace Trace 23.5 222.0 27.0 48.4 Trace GCW-4-3B 561082 5263975 1004 11.6 Trace 25.4 269.0 31.6 71.1 Trace GCW-4-4B 561091 5264005 1007 9.7 Trace 22.2 51.0 20.9 97.4 Trace GCW-4-5B 561106 5264044 1008 Trace Trace 27.9 472.0 19.1 68.2 Trace GCW-4-6B 561117 5264076 1010 Trace Trace 9.7 79.7 17.8 51.8 Trace GCW-4-7B 561124 5264113 1010 Trace Trace 9.6 110.0 19.0 58.2 Trace GCW-4-8B 561122 5264145 1014 9.3 Trace 5.9 133.0 17.8 30.1 Trace GCW-5-3B 561065 5264160 1049 Trace Trace 8.1 12.5 15.5 94.9 Trace GCW-5-4B 561059 5264133 1057 Trace 1.1 8.6 32.6 15.9 69.8 Trace GCW-5-9B 561020 5263993 1053 6.7 Trace 24.4 192.0 19.1 95.2 Trace GCW-6-1B 560978 5263988 1042 Trace Trace 12.9 26.2 16.0 107.0 Trace GCW-6-2B 560994 5264016 1039 31.0 1.2 52.3 1050.0 83.4 124.0 Trace GCW-6-3B 561001 5264048 1036 6.6 Trace 17.7 31.4 16.3 87.5 Trace GCW-6-6B 561015 5264141 1036 Trace Trace 12.3 92.9 16.0 102.0 Trace

C-Horizon Geochemical Sample data:

LDL <5 ppm <1 ppm <2 ppm <5 ppm <5 ppm <2 ppm <3.4 ppm Sample ID Easting Northing Elevation

(m) As

(ppm) Cd

(ppm) Cu

(ppm) Pb

(ppm) Sb

(ppm) Zn

(ppm) Ag (g/t) GCE-2-2C 561287 5263834 889 Trace 4.6 5.0 12.6 16.8 116.0 Trace GCE-2-3C 561313 5263863 890 Trace Trace 4.8 7.5 17.8 51.0 Trace GCE-2-4C 561336 5263895 888 Trace 1.2 10.6 17.7 19.5 105.0 Trace GCE-2-5C 561366 5263928 887 Trace Trace 7.0 8.7 15.9 33.3 Trace GCE-2-6C 561387 5263942 885 Trace Trace 5.7 11.9 16.5 36.3 Trace GCE-2-7C 561412 5263970 883 7.7 Trace 24.4 21.1 16.0 115.0 Trace GCE-2-8C 561424 5263998 884 25.9 Trace 18.5 9.7 20.5 32.0 Trace GCE-2-9C 561444 5264023 883 22.6 Trace 13.2 33.4 15.7 33.8 Trace GCE-3-4C 561518 5264043 917 31.4 Trace 14.8 75.8 29.1 25.9 Trace GCE-3-10C 561506 5264017 894 24.8 Trace 10.8 6.3 23.5 56.7 Trace GCE-3-11C 561490 5263985 909 19.6 Trace 9.2 Trace 20.9 30.6 Trace GCE-3-12C 561470 5263961 912 11.2 Trace 4.5 Trace 16.5 27.3 Trace GCE-3-13C 561453 5263938 916 20.2 Trace 34.5 13.9 22.6 47.8 Trace GCE-3-14C 561431 5263915 915 7.8 Trace 9.9 Trace 19.9 26.8 Trace GCE-3-15C 561405 5263892 919 Trace Trace 12.5 Trace 25.2 33.4 Trace GCE-3-16C 561382 5263869 918 Trace Trace Trace 7.6 18.9 25.8 Trace GCE-4-8C 561567 5264048 937 26.7 Trace 7.8 5.3 18.4 44.4 Trace GCE-4-9C 561549 5264028 938 17.3 Trace 4.4 19.2 17.2 28.4 Trace GCE-4-10C 561533 5264002 940 20.4 Trace 15.8 Trace 14.5 14.2 Trace GCE-4-11C 561513 5263975 944 54.8 Trace 10.6 Trace 15.0 21.5 Trace GCE-4-12C 561494 5263953 942 20.2 Trace 8.3 Trace 12.4 39.6 Trace GCE-4-13C 561481 5263933 941 14.3 Trace 104.0 26.0 39.2 49.3 Trace GCE-4-14C 561462 5263901 944 Trace Trace 2.9 Trace 13.1 20.5 Trace GCE-4-15C 561442 5263886 940 Trace Trace 5.0 7.8 17.3 70.6 Trace GCE-5-2R 561493 5263918 951 Trace Trace Trace Trace 16.9 22.3 Trace GCE-5-3R 561514 5263929 959 19 Trace 6.7 6.6 12.4 20.0 Trace GCE-5-4R 561524 5263944 960 Trace Trace 3.0 6.0 14.0 18.3 Trace GCE-5-5R 561535 5263957 946 8.1 Trace 2.5 Trace 14.4 20.5 Trace GCE-5-6R 561531 5263964 948 13.0 Trace 2.5 Trace 9.4 11.8 Trace GCE-5-7R 561548 5263990 958 53.2 Trace 19.6 Trace 19.3 22.6 Trace GCE-5-8R 561567 5264018 950 31.5 Trace 4.8 Trace 16.7 25.5 Trace GCW-1-7C 561251 5264028 895 Trace Trace Trace Trace 16.0 51.3 Trace GCW-1-8C 561242 5263997 893 Trace Trace 8.9 Trace 13.9 80.2 Trace GCW-1-9C 561236 5263965 894 Trace Trace 8.5 122.0 15.2 27.6 Trace GCW-1-10C 561228 5263934 896 8.68 Trace 12.3 57.4 23.4 41.7 Trace GCW-1-11C 561213 5263903 897 Trace Trace 8.3 17.3 11.0 34.0 Trace GCW-2-1C 561169 5263934 938 21.0 Trace 13.1 13.2 17.6 51.6 Trace GCW-2-2C 561177 5263972 941 6.2 Trace 8.5 35.2 14.6 30.6 Trace GCW-2-3C 561189 5264008 946 Trace Trace 7.2 Trace 14.1 38.9 Trace GCW-2-4C 561199 5264045 950 Trace Trace 5.0 23.1 16.5 33.7 Trace GCW-2-5C 561210 5264086 950 Trace Trace 6.6 11.0 37.2 72.9 Trace GCW-3-5C 561162 5264100 979 8.68 Trace 16.8 303.0 12.0 25.2 4.1 GCW-3-6C 561153 5264072 977 7.4 Trace 5.5 9.1 18.4 40.2 Trace GCW-3-7C 561144 5264034 972 8.0 Trace 14.3 24.5 17.4 50.8 Trace GCW-3-8C 561132 5263996 976 6.7 Trace 7.5 5.1 18.8 60.8 Trace GCW-3-9C 561117 5263962 974 Trace Trace 3.2 6.7 36.5 100.0 Trace GCW-3-10C 561105 5263936 970 Trace Trace 6.9 83.1 33.1 62.9 Trace GCW-4-2C 561061 5263953 1001 Trace Trace 34.9 86.0 22.1 132.0 Trace GCW-4-3C 561082 5263975 1004 13.0 Trace 23.1 69.2 16.7 45.6 Trace GCW-4-4C 561091 5264005 1007 10.3 Trace 18.4 10.2 19.9 55.1 Trace GCW-4-5C 561106 5264044 1008 Trace Trace 8.5 40.4 16.8 39.8 Trace GCW-4-6C 561117 5264076 1010 8.2 Trace 7.8 81.4 33.6 57.4 Trace GCW-4-7C 561124 5264113 1010 Trace Trace 11.6 74.7 30.1 61.0 Trace GCW-4-8C 561122 5264145 1014 Trace Trace 4.3 55.5 29.6 49.8 Trace GCW-5-3C 561065 5264160 1049 Trace Trace 2.9 12.5 40.3 86.9 Trace GCW-5-4C 561059 5264133 1057 Trace Trace 4.9 7.9 30.3 62.6 Trace GCW-5-5R 561050 5264102 1058 35.0 Trace 339.0 7640.0 42.9 52.8 21.9 GCW-5-6R 561043 5264074 1055 27.2 1 113.0 4950.0 53.4 134.0 6.2 GCW-5-7R 561038 5264054 1059 8.8 Trace 102.0 27.9 37.2 115.0 Trace GCW-5-8R 561031 5264024 1057 23.7 Trace 32.0 59.1 29.3 50.1 Trace GCW-5-9C 561020 5263993 1053 Trace Trace 7.9 9.1 30.4 53.9 Trace GCW-6-1C 560978 5263988 1042 Trace Trace 2.0 Trace 17.5 29.6 Trace GCW-6-2C 560994 5264016 1039 5.2 Trace 17.9 69.3 30.7 38.2 Trace GCW-6-3C 561001 5264048 1036 21.5 Trace 14.4 11.7 29.3 93.9 Trace GCW-6-4R 561005 5264075 1035 Trace Trace 18.9 41.5 32.6 155.0 Trace GCW-6-5R 561004 5264110 1033 5.2 Trace 58.6 856.0 23.4 71.7 Trace GCW-6-6C 561015 5264141 1036 13.2 Trace 20.1 11.4 28.5 59.8 Trace

Lab Analysis  QA-QC:

Atomic absorption analysis for Silver:

American Analytical Services, Inc ("AAS") is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, located in Osburn, Idaho. All analysis includes quality control measures to ensure an acceptance standard established within AAS methods. All samples sent to AAS were checked for accuracy between the chain of custody and the samples with the client present. Samples are dried before starting the prep process. The prep process includes crushing the sample in its entirety to 80% passing a 10 mesh, split in a riffle box to make a 250g sub-sample and pulverized to 85% passing a 140 mesh. Analysis for AA-Ag is done by 2 or 4 acid digestion. Detection limit for AA-Ag is 0.100 Oz/ton - 15.0 Oz/ton. Any results over the detection limit are sent to fire assay to do Ag gravimetric finish.

ICP-OES analysis for 35 element analysis:

All samples are subjected to a 4-acid digestion. Digestion QC consists of a reagent blank, control standard and for every 20 samples there is a duplicate of a sample pulp to check RPD. To begin ICP-OES analysis, the instrument is standardized with the five working standard solutions (multi-point linear fitting). Samples are then measured with the reagent blank, control standard and a CCV (continuous calibration verification). Once samples are analyzed, all QC is checked, and results are sent to LIMS system to be made into the client's report.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silvervalmetals

Twitter: https://twitter.com/silvervalmetals

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silvervalmetals

Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/silvervalmetals

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@silvervalmetals

Qualified person

Timothy Mosey, BSc, MSc, SME, is the qualified person for the company and qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Mosey supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

About: MexiCan lithium - potassium (sulphate of potash) project:

Silver Valley Metals Corp. owns a 100% interest in a lithium and potassium bearing salar complex comprising 4,056 hectares on three mineral concessions (the "Mexican Projects") located on the Central Mexican Plateau in the states of Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource contains 12.3Mt of Sulfate of Potash (SOP) and 243,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) and remains open in all directions for expansion.

About: Ranger-Page project:

The Ranger-Page Project ("The Project") is in the Silver Valley, northern Idaho, USA, 60 kilometres east of Coeur d'Alene and 1 kilometre from the I-90 freeway. In 2020 Idaho was ranked the first in the world in policy perception and 9th best mining jurisdiction (Fraser Institute Annual Mining Survey). The Project borders the famous Bunker Hill Mine to the east and for the first time consolidates the western extent of the prolific Silver Valley mining corridor by one operator in the past 100+ years.

The Project comprises 6 historical mines on patented claims, without royalties. The largest of these, the Page Mine, was a top ten producer in the Silver Valley yielding over 1.1 billion pounds of zinc and lead and 14.6 million ounces of silver. The Page Mine has high grade silver-zinc-lead historic reserves and remains open at depth and along strike beyond what has been identified to date.

Historical mining on the properties shared underground infrastructure which connected the larger Page mine with five shallow historic mines within the larger Project area. The Company has underground mining data and surface geological data that supports high grade silver-zinc-lead mineralization present within the shallow, undeveloped mines. These mines remain open at depth, and laterally along strike.

Exploration potential beyond the historic mines is considered significant as modern systematic exploration is being applied to the project for the first time.

About: Silver Valley Metals:

Silver Valley Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration company comprised of a group of experienced exploration, mining, and financing specialists focused on the pursuit of mineral discovery and development. We are focused on the advancement of strategic and precious mineral properties including Lithium-Potash in Mexico and Silver-Zinc-Lead in northern Idaho, USA.

Link to Website: http://www.silvervalleymetals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Silver Valley Metals,

"Brandon Rook"

Brandon Rook, President & CEO, Director

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

SOURCE Silver Valley Metals Corp.
Solidifies Commitment to Advancing the U.S. Spirits Industry

NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stoli Group today announced a formal commitment to advancing the U.S. Spirits industry through a Director Member position with The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the leading voice and advocate for the U.S. spirits industry. In this role, Stoli Group will be actively engaged in pertinent issues facing the innovation, production, distribution, and marketing of the drinks business in the U.S.

"DISCUS has shown a deep commitment to the Spirits industry. Always on the front lines advocating not only for its members but for the industry overall, we owe DISCUS a thank you as well as our time and support," commented Damian McKinney, Global CEO, Stoli Group. "As a new director member, Stoli Group will do our part to help DISCUS guide the spirits industry into a better future."

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States is the leading voice and advocate for distilled spirits in the U.S., advocating on legislative, regulatory and public affairs issues impacting the distilled spirits sector at the local, state, federal and international levels. DISCUS members are committed to responsibility and encourage adults who drink to do so in moderation.

"With Russia's invasion into Ukraine, we witnessed firsthand the power of a singular voice working toward shared goals," continued McKinney. "DISCUS was able to succinctly and efficiently disseminate accurate information to educate constituents as well as elected officials. Advocacy has never been more important, and Stoli does not shy away from opportunities to advance issues of importance to us. We look forward to active participation as a DISCUS Director Member."

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Stoli Group as our newest DISCUS director members," said Chris Swonger, DISCUS President and CEO. "As DISCUS marks its 50th Anniversary, we are embarking on a strategic plan aimed at building upon the industry's growth by promoting consumer convenience in the marketplace, making the industry more inclusive and diverse, and harnessing our collective commitment to responsibility. Stoli shares our vision, and through their membership and engagement, DISCUS will continue to drive successes for the industry, advocating for the interests of the supplier tier and responsible distilled spirits consumers."

About Stoli Group

Stoli Group was established in 2013 and is responsible for the production, management, and distribution of a global spirits and wines portfolio. Mainly known for the Stoli Vodka brand, Stoli Group has expanded to appeal to luxury on-premise and more sophisticated global consumers. Signature brands are: Stoli Vodka, elitVodka, Bayou Rum, Kentucky Owl, Villa One, Gator Bite Rum Liqueurs, Cenote Tequila, Tulchan Gin, Se Busca Mezcal and Stoli Group's wine division, Tenute del Mondo. With a presence across a network of more than 176 markets, Stoli Group works with a passionate team of 200 distributors around the world. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Stoli has production facilities in Argentina, Latvia, Spain, and the United States, some of which are steeped in history dating back to the early part of the last century. For more information, visit stoli-group.com .

SOURCE Stoli Group
Although Oregon was three years behind Colorado in legalizing recreational marijuana, Portland has surpassed Denver as the best place for cannabis in 2023.

ST. LOUIS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Portland took the crown as America's most weed-friendly city, according to a new survey from Real Estate Witch, an online publication from Clever Real Estate that connects readers with expert real estate advice, and Leafly, a leading online cannabis discovery marketplace and resource for cannabis consumers.

The new report analyzed various criteria including the legality of weed, dispensary data, weed prices, and more to rank the best places for cannabis in 2023.

The Best (and Worst) Weed Cities in 2023 Best Weed Cities

Portland boasts the most affordable cannabis prices in the country, with a high-quality ounce costing just $210  34% less than the national average of $316. In contrast, the most expensive weed is in Washington, D.C., where an ounce of high-quality cannabis costs $590  87% more than average.

Portland also has nearly 4.5x more dispensaries than the average city (13.7 per 100,000 residents vs. 3.1 per 100,000 residents). Oklahoma City has the most dispensaries (48.7 per 100,000 residents  16x more than average) and the most cannabis-prescribing doctors (2 per 100,000 residents  nearly 6x more than average), even though cannabis is only legal for medicinal use.

The 10 best cities for cannabis are:

Portland, OR Denver, CO Buffalo, NY Seattle, WA Baltimore, MD Las Vegas. NV Sacramento, CA San Diego, CA Los Angeles, CA San Francisco, CA

The study found Birmingham, Alabama, is the worst place for weed in 2023  and 1 in 4 Americans (25%) agree. As a result of restrictive state laws, Birmingham has just 0.5 dispensaries per 100,000 residents  84% less than average, and at $340 an ounce, high-quality marijuana costs 8% more than average.

The five worst weed cities are:

Birmingham, AL Memphis, TN Louisville, KY Milwaukee, WI Indianapolis, IN Nashville, TN Charlotte, NC Houston, TX Atlanta, GA San Antonio, TX

Although Portland topped the list, more than half of Americans (58%) think Los Angeles is the most weed-friendly city, followed by San Diego (45%) and Sacramento (42%).

Read the full report at: https://www.realestatewitch.com/best-places-for-stoners-to-live

About Real Estate Witch



Real Estate Witch provides expert advice that simplifies every step of the home buying and selling process. Real Estate Witch is a web-property of Clever Real Estate, an online platform that connects home buyers and sellers with top-rated agents at a discounted rate.

About Leafly

Leafly helps millions of people discover cannabis each year. Our powerful tools help shoppers make informed purchasing decisions and empower cannabis businesses to attract and retain loyal customers through advertising and technology services. Learn more at Leafly.com or download the Leafly mobile app through Apple's App Store or Google Play.

Please contact Jaime Seale at [email protected] to be connected with a researcher with any questions or for an interview.

CONTACT:

Jaime Seale

PR Writer and Strategist

Clever Real Estate

417-439-2641

SOURCE Real Estate Witch
New global identity brings together combined asset management capabilities to the global investing community

TORONTO and NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - TD Asset Management Inc. ("TDAM") and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc., are pleased to announce the launch of a new strategic approach for their institutional asset management businesses, including a new global distribution identity, TD Global Investment Solutions ("TDGIS"). As part of this initiative, Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. and its investment capabilities will be referred to as TD Epoch.

TDGIS will bring together TDAM and TD Epoch's combined capabilities to the global investing community and expand its offerings in existing and new jurisdictions. TDGIS will deliver the collective investment experience and expertise across alternative investments, equities, and fixed income (in certain jurisdictions) to institutional investors.

"We are excited to launch our new global identity as it builds on the strengths of our North American asset management franchise," said Bruce Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, TD Asset Management Inc. and TD Epoch, Senior Vice President, TD Bank Group. "TDAM and TD Epoch collaborating under one umbrella will strengthen our relationships with our investment teams, foster innovation and enhance our ability to bring forward relevant products and solutions to the markets and our valued clients while giving our institutional business a competitive global and domestic advantage."

TDGIS is a significant step on TDAM and TD Epoch's global journey and will build on the momentum and growth of its institutional business to deliver investment solutions that meet client needs. With the launch of TDGIS, the investing businesses of TDAM and TD Epoch, which include the investment leadership, philosophies, processes and dedicated teams remain unchanged. The changes associated with TDGIS apply only to the institutional businesses of TDAM and TD Epoch, and there is no impact to intermediary and retail businesses.

Key benefits of TDGIS include:

Breadth of Expertise: The new identity brings the entire range of TDAM's and TD Epoch's capabilities together under a single marketing umbrella, strengthening and simplifying their offerings for institutional investors, continuing the value of their unique investment philosophies.

The new identity brings the entire range of TDAM's and TD Epoch's capabilities together under a single marketing umbrella, strengthening and simplifying their offerings for institutional investors, continuing the value of their unique investment philosophies. Client Experience: This framework will support stronger client relationships, higher quality engagement and increased flexibility.

This framework will support stronger client relationships, higher quality engagement and increased flexibility. Scalability: The Distribution Team can represent an expanded capability set to institutional prospects across markets.

"With TDGIS, we will continue to put our clients first  by collaborating, innovating and creating strong relationships to deliver customized solutions and aim to provide better client outcomes," continued Cooper. "This new venture will market our leading and innovative capabilities to the global institutional investing community and help us achieve our vision of becoming the leading asset manager in Canada, with a growing global presence."

TD Global Investment Solutions represents TD Asset Management Inc. ("TDAM") and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. ("TD Epoch"). TDAM and TD Epoch are affiliates and wholly-owned subsidiaries of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

About TD Bank Group

The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the fifth largest bank in North America by assets and serves over 27 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in The Charles Schwab Corporation; Wealth Management and Insurance, including TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with more than 15 million active online and mobile customers. TD had $1.9 trillion in assets on January 31, 2023. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

SOURCE TD Asset Management Inc.
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fortune magazine and Great Place to Work have named Teleperformance operations in the U.S. among one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2023. This is the first year that Teleperformance U.S. operations has been named to this prestigious list, which annually recognizes the best companies to work for in the country.

"We are honored to be recognized by Fortune as a dynamic and standout employer," said Mike Lytle, Chief Executive Officer, Teleperformance, U.S. operations. "Our leadership team has worked tirelessly to create a dynamic, inclusive and supportive work environment that acknowledges the unique strengths each of our associates has in delivering amazing experiences for our clients and their customers."

It's the first year Teleperformance has been named to the Fortune List of '100 Best Companies to Work For' in the U,S. Tweet this

Teleperformance provides global digital business services, blending the best of advanced technology with human empathy to deliver enhanced customer experiences that are simpler, faster and safer for clients and their customers. Teleperformance and its group of specialized services companies has more than 30,000 employees across the U.S. who are part of a global family of 410,000 employees worldwide. Nearly three-quarters of Teleperformance U.S. employees work from home.

The Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list is highly competitive and is based on an analysis of survey responses from Teleperformance employees across the U.S. and North America, including employees for Teleperformance, Health Advocate, LanguageLine Solutions, AllianceOne and Senture. Together, the group of companies serving the U.S. were assessed on how well they create a strong employee experience through programs and practices that supported employee well-being, inclusion, purpose, listening and care wherever their employees are.

The Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list is just one of the latest workplace accolades Teleperformance has received. The company was named among the World's Best Workplaces 2022 by Great Place to Work and Fortune magazine. It also was named to PEOPLE's annual list of 100 Companies that Care for 2022.

Teleperformance in the U.S. is currently hiring more than 7,000 positions across the country. Positions range from full- to part-time, with day and evening shifts available. Interested candidates can visit teleperformance.com/en-us/careers/ to apply.

ABOUT TELEPERFORMANCE GROUP

Teleperformance (TEP  ISIN: FR0000051807  Reuters: TEPRF.PA - Bloomberg: TEP FP), a global leader in outsourced digital integrated business services, serves as a strategic partner to the world's largest companies in many industries. It offers a One Office support services model including end-to-end digital solutions, which guarantee successful customer interaction and optimized business processes, anchored in a unique, comprehensive high touch, high tech approach. More than 410,000 employees, based in 91 countries, support billions of connections every year in over 300 languages and 170 markets, in a shared commitment to excellence as part of the "Simpler, Faster, Safer" process. This mission is supported by the use of reliable, flexible, intelligent technological solutions and compliance with the industry's highest security and quality standards, based on Corporate Social Responsibility excellence. In 2022, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 8,154 million (US$8.6 billion, based on 1 = $1.05) and net profit of 645 million.

Teleperformance shares are traded on the Euronext Paris market, Compartment A, and are eligible for the deferred settlement service. They are included in the following indices: CAC 40, STOXX 600, S&P Europe 350, MSCI Global Standard and Euronext Tech Leaders. In the area of corporate social responsibility, Teleperformance shares are included in the CAC 40 ESG since September 2022, the Euronext Vigeo Euro 120 index since 2015, the EURO STOXX 50 ESG index since 2020, the MSCI Europe ESG Leaders index since 2019, the FTSE4Good index since 2018 and the S&P Global 1200 ESG index since 2017.

For more information: www.teleperformance.com Follow us on Twitter: @teleperformance

SOURCE Teleperformance
LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tetragon announces the final results of the "modified Dutch auction" tender offer to purchase a portion of the outstanding non-voting shares of Tetragon for a maximum aggregate payment of $25,000,000 in cash. The tender offer expired at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on 6 April 2023.

J.P. Morgan Securities plc (which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove) acted as dealer manager for the tender offer and Computershare Investor Services PLC acted as tender agent for the tender offer. As dealer manager, J.P. Morgan determined the final purchase price at which Tetragon will purchase shares in the tender offer. As tender agent, Computershare determined the final proration factor.

In accordance with the terms of the tender offer, Tetragon has accepted for purchase 2,325,574 non-voting shares at a purchase price of $10.75 per share. The aggregate cost of this purchase is $24,999,920.50, excluding fees and expenses relating to the tender offer. A total of 2,433,116 Tetragon non-voting shares were properly tendered and not properly withdrawn at or below the purchase price of $10.75 per share. Because more than $25,000,000 in value of Tetragon non-voting shares was properly tendered and not properly withdrawn, the tender offer was subject to proration pursuant to the terms of the tender offer, with appropriate adjustments to avoid purchases of fractional shares. The final proration factor, which is applicable only to shares properly tendered and not properly withdrawn at the purchase price of $10.75 per share, is 87.02%, rounded to the second decimal place.1

Tetragon will promptly make payment for the shares validly tendered and accepted for purchase, which is expected to occur on or about 14 April 2023. All shares tendered and not purchased in the tender offer will be promptly returned to the tendering shareholders.

About Tetragon:

Tetragon is a Guernsey closed-ended investment company. Its non-voting shares are listed on Euronext in Amsterdam, a regulated market of Euronext Amsterdam N.V., and also traded on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Our investment manager is Tetragon Financial Management LP. Find out more at www.tetragoninv.com.

Tetragon: Yuko Thomas Investor Relations [email protected] Press Inquiries: Prosek Partners [email protected] +44 20 3890 9193 +1 212 279 3115

This release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (2014/596/EU), or EU MAR, and of the UK version of EU MAR as it forms part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act (as amended).

This release does not contain or constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. The securities of Tetragon have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons unless they are registered under applicable law or exempt from registration. Tetragon does not intend to register any portion of its securities in the United States or to conduct a public offer of securities in the United States. In addition, Tetragon has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and investors will not be entitled to the benefits of such Act. Tetragon is registered in the public register of the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiele Markten) under Section 1:107 of the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act as an alternative investment fund from a designated state.

J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which is authorised by the UK Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively for Tetragon and for no one else in connection with the tender offer and will not be responsible to anyone (whether or not recipient of the tender offer) other than Tetragon for providing the protections afforded to the clients of J.P. Morgan Securities plc or for providing advice in relation to the tender offer.

1 The full final proration factor applied is 87.02095765019410%.

SOURCE Tetragon Financial Group Limited
NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: August 18, 2021 to May 17, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 30, 2023

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in TGT:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/target-corporation-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=38191&from=4

Target Corporation NEWS - TGT NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Target Corporation made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Target's difficulty maintaining a balanced inventory of in-demand goods was far worse than the Company had represented; (ii) Target was severely impacted by changing consumer preferences; (iii) Target's inventory mix was significantly more sensitive to changing consumer preferences due to Target's practice of buying larger quantities ahead of season, and was therefore at significant risk of having to use markdowns to sell out-of-demand goods; and (iv) as a direct result of these changing preferences, Target's inventory increasingly became out-of-balance and overweight in bulky and unsellable goods throughout the Class Period forcing Target to markdown its out-of-demand goods, thereby negatively impacting revenue.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Target you have until May 30, 2023 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Target securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the TGT lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/target-corporation-lawsuit-loss-submission-form?id=38191&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

535 Fifth Avenue

4th Floor

New York City, NY 10017

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
The Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation will lead BMOTIA executives to Dallas, Austin and Houston to showcase the destination's offerings to Texans and celebrate 50 years of independence

NASSAU, Bahamas, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- - Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) is heading to the Lone Star State to showcase the 16-island destination's latest tourism offerings and developments, spotlight The Bahamas' tourism outlook and connect with key industry leaders, partners and media in three major cities in Texas, April 12-14, 2023.

The Global Missions in Texas will be led by the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. He will be accompanied by Latia Duncombe, BMOTIA's Director General, and other senior MOT executives. They will give industry leaders in these markets the tools they need to share why visiting The Bahamas should be on Texas residents' 2023 bucket list.

Building on the success of the initiative in 2022, the "Bringing The Bahamas to You" Global Missions tour will transport a taste of The Bahamas to Dallas, Austin and Houston, Texas, respectively, and also celebrate the country's 50th Anniversary of Independence, highlighting a year-long calendar of events that visitors and Bahamian residents can join and enjoy. The Global Missions aim to heighten awareness of The Islands of The Bahamas brand in key markets and drive tourism business to the destination.

The U.S. Department of State reported 1.6 million Texas residents received a passport in 2022, the largest single year distribution in the last 5 years, meaning there is more opportunity for Texans to visit and see for themselves why the spirit of The Bahamas is so special.

"With statistics showing an increase in international travel among Texans, now is the time for Texas residents to choose The Bahamas for their short haul vacations this summer and beyond," said Deputy Prime Minister Cooper. "We want The Bahamas to be the initial stamp in first-time traveller's passports, but we also look forward to welcoming back our repeat visitors who continue to choose us for their Caribbean vacation."

With direct flights that will get travellers to The Bahamas in just three hours, paradise doesn't have to feel a world away. Frequent airlift makes the destination easily accessible for Texans, with daily and weekend service via American Airlines and United Airlines, respectively, from Dallas, Saturday service from Austin via American Airlines and daily service from Houston via United Airlines. Grand Bahama Island and the Out Islands are also just a connection away through Nassau.

The "Bringing The Bahamas to You" Global Tour will continue throughout the summer 2023, including stops in Los Angeles, California, Atlanta, Georgia. BMOTIA will also be heading to the United Kingdom this fall.

Travellers who book their 2023 Bahamas vacation can expect year-long celebrations, events and festivities as the destination commemorates a golden jubilee milestone of 50 years of independence. Highlights from the upcoming 50th independence celebrations include the National Family Island Sailing Regatta; the 50th on Bay Street Festival, an exciting street festival showcasing Bahamian art, cuisine, performances and more; Bahama Rock, a celebration of Bahamian music, and much more.

For more information, visit www.thebahamas.com.

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

With over 700 islands and cays, and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy flyaway escape that transports travellers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the earth's most spectacular water and beaches waiting for families, couples and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram to see why It's Better in The Bahamas.

PRESS INQUIRIES

Anita Johnson-Patty

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

[email protected]

Weber Shandwick

Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation
Expands Liberty's Multifamily Real Estate Workforce Solutions Offering into Michigan

HOUSTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Liberty Group ("Liberty" or "the Company"), a leading provider of specialty temporary staffing, executive search, and employee screening services to the multifamily residential real estate industry, announced today that it has acquired the multifamily-focused temporary staffing and direct hire placement services division of Full House Marketing, Inc. of Michigan ("Full House Michigan"). Full House Michigan, led by Leah Brewer, will retain and continue to offer its training, consulting, mystery shopping, and lease-up services targeting the multifamily industry. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Liberty is a portfolio company of The Halifax Group ("Halifax"), a Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm that partners with management to invest in lower middle-market businesses.

This acquisition expands Liberty's market-leading service offering into Michigan, a new geographic territory for the Company. Full House Michigan's temporary staffing and direct hire services team members, led by Chris King-Dye, have joined Liberty and will lead its Michigan operations under The Liberty Group brand on a go-forward basis.

"We are thrilled to expand our service offering into the key market of Detroit as well as the greater Michigan area," said Matthew Smith, CEO of Liberty. "Full House Michigan has provided its multifamily clients with hands-on, customized service for over twenty-five years, and we're excited to partner with its temporary staffing and direct hire services team at Liberty to continue to offer mission critical staffing solutions to multifamily clients in the region."

"We are delighted to support Liberty as the Company executes on its strategic growth plan, and we remain committed to expanding Liberty's geographic service offering to better serve national and local clients," said Davis Hostetter, Principal at Halifax.

About The Liberty Group

The Liberty Group provides temporary staffing, executive search, and employee screening services to clients in the multifamily residential real estate industry. The Company, which was founded in 1977 and is based in Houston Texas, currently operates in 34 markets across 27 states. For more information, visit www.thelibertygroup.com.

About The Halifax Group

Founded in 1999, The Halifax Group is a private equity firm that partners with managers and entrepreneurs to recapitalize and invest in lower middle-market businesses with total enterprise values generally between $100 million and $300 million. Halifax specializes in equity recapitalizations, corporate carve-outs, and management buyouts and invests across a variety of industries, including health and wellness, outsourced business services, and franchising. The firm is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and maintains an office in Raleigh, NC. For more information, please visit www.thehalifaxgroup.com.

Contact:

Caroline Luz

Lambert

203-570-6462

[email protected]

SOURCE The Liberty Group
The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh has secured the WiredScore and SmartScore building certification from global property consultancy Knight Frank.

WiredScore certification is a measure of a buildings digital infrastructure and connectivity. A SmartScore certified building demonstrates cutting edge innovation with the use of market leading technology, processes and automation to deliver world class outcomes to all users of the building and creating the most efficient, inspirational, sustainable and future proofed building.

Backing the debut WiredScore and SmartScore building certification for KAFD, Knight Frank said this follows on from its achievement in the certification process of the first Platinum SmartScore building in the Middle East in Dubai last November, when Brookfield Properties ICD Brookfield Place in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) was awarded the accolade.

James Lewis, Managing Director Middle East and Africa, Knight Frank said: "We are constantly striving for excellence and our business now boasts the largest team of accredited professionals for both the WiredScore and SmartScore certifications in the Middle East, something we are incredibly proud of as it reinforces our end-to-end suite of ESG-linked services in the region."

"And what a better way to showcase this achievement than through our work in Saudi Arabia on the 2.14 building at KAFD, as well as ICD Brookfield Place in Dubai, which are both iconic buildings and among the regions finest and most sought-after business addresses," noted Lewis.

"Our newly opened office in Doha now also boasts Qatars only two WiredScore and SmartScore Accredited Professionals," he added.

Knight Frank pointed out that digital connectivity was an element of the built environment that isnt necessarily visible but plays a considerable role in unlocking the true potential of a workspace as well as having a direct impact on the wellbeing of its occupants.

"GRESB, the global ESG benchmark for real assets, now recognises both WiredScore and SmartScore as Green Building Certifications. This encourages transparency and international standards for corporate occupiers and investors as they pursue their ESG strategies," noted Tim Holmes, Partner  Valuation & Advisory.

"Both WiredScore and SmartScore certifications provide a detailed gap analysis, allowing building owners to focus their capital expenditure on making their buildings smarter and better connected," he stated.

Ibrahim Alrashed, Manager, Valuations and Advisory at Knight Franks team in Riyadh, said: "This is a real milestone for KAFD. Riyadh and the kingdom. Occupiers are increasingly placing greater value on the wellbeing of their staff and this mindset shift will drive the evolution of what is considered a grade A building today."

WiredScore or SmartScore certifications do not yet feature overtly in the equation for determining rents, or indeed the value of commercial real estate.

However, with the technology sector a significant source of office requirements globally and with serviced office space increasing in popularity around the world, digital connectivity looks set to play a bigger role in commercial real estate valuations in the future, according to Knight Frank.

Wiredscores Middle East Lead John Hilliard said: "SmartScore Platinum certification is a clear indication to the real estate industry that a landlord is committed to creating long-lasting, resilient assets that will be relevant for their tenants in the years to come."

At a time when 'smart' is at the top of the national agenda, the ability to translate the technological enablement of real estate is more important than ever, and smart buildings will play a key role in creating more attractive, efficient and sustainable workplaces that allow individual productivity to flourish," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A batch of 125-mm tank and 122-mm artillery ammunition produced abroad with the involvement of Ukrainian specialists has been handed over to the Ukrainian military, according to the Facebook page of Ukroboronprom state concern.

"Following the shipped batch of 125-mm tank ammunition, another batch of 122-mm artillery ammunition was handed over to the troops. We produce both shells together with a NATO country at foreign facilities, but using Ukrainian technology and with the involvement of our specialists. We work tirelessly for the Ukrainian victory," the report says.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Humanities Center (NHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of 35 Fellows for the academic year 202324. These leading scholars will come to the Center from universities and colleges in 17 US states as well as Canada, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Chosen from 541 applicants, they represent humanistic scholarship in African American studies; anthropology; archaeology; Asian American studies; East Asian studies; ethnomusicology; gender and sexuality studies; history; history of art and architecture; information studies; languages and literature; media studies; medieval studies; music history and musicology; philosophy; psychology; religious studies; and Slavic studies. Each Fellow will work on an individual research project and will have the opportunity to share ideas in seminars, lectures, and conferences at the Center.

These newly appointed Fellows will constitute the forty-sixth class of resident scholars to be admitted since the Center opened in 1978. "We are extremely pleased to be able to support the exciting work of these scholars," said Robert D. Newman, president and director of the National Humanities Center. "They were selected from a truly exceptional field of applicants spanning the wide range of humanities disciplines. We look forward to their arrival in the fall as they pursue their individual projects and form a robust intellectual community."

The National Humanities Center is pleased to announce the appointment of 35 Fellows for the academic year 202324. Tweet this

The National Humanities Center will award over $1,550,000 in fellowship grants to enable the selected scholars to take leave from their normal academic duties and pursue research at the Center. This funding is provided from the Center's endowment and by grants and awards from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the Geiss Hsu Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, the UNCF/Mellon Programs, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as contributions from alumni and friends of the Center.

About the National Humanities Center

The National Humanities Center is the world's only independent institute dedicated exclusively to advanced study in all areas of the humanities. Through its residential fellowship program, the Center provides scholars with the resources necessary to generate new knowledge and to further understanding of all forms of cultural expression, social interaction, and human thought. Through its education programs, the Center strengthens teaching on the collegiate and pre-collegiate levels. Through public engagement intimately linked to its scholarly and educational programs, the Center promotes understanding of the humanities and advocates for their foundational role in a democratic society.

NHC Fellows and Their Projects, 202324

Project disciplines and home institutions are parenthetically noted for each Fellow.

Adeshina Afolayan (Philosophy, University of Ibadan) Philosophy in the Dancehall: Philosophy and Popular Music in Postcolonial Nigeria (Founders' Fellowship)

(Philosophy, University of Ibadan) (Founders' Fellowship) Ana Mariella Bacigalupo (Anthropology, University at Buffalo ) The Subversive Politics of Sentient Mountains: Collective Ethics and Climate Justice in Northern Peru (Burroughs Wellcome Fund Fellowship in the Humanities, Arts, and Sciences)

(Anthropology, ) (Burroughs Wellcome Fund Fellowship in the Humanities, Arts, and Sciences) Bibi Burger (Languages and Literature, University of Cape Town ) The Whiteness of Afrikaans Literary Feminism (STIAS Iso Lomso Fellowship)

(Languages and Literature, University of ) (STIAS Iso Lomso Fellowship) Moon Charania (Gender and Sexuality Studies, Spelman College ) Meditations on Brownness (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship)

(Gender and Sexuality Studies, ) (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship) Justin T. Clark (History, Nanyang Technological University , Singapore ) The Clockwork Republic: Sociolegal Culture, Time, and Struggle in the United States , 17871860 (Luce East Asia Fellowship)

(History, , ) (Luce East Asia Fellowship) Katherine Davies (Philosophy, The University of Texas at Dallas ) Care as Custody: A Critical Feminist Phenomenology of the U.S. Foster Care System (Philip L. Quinn Fellowship)

(Philosophy, The ) (Philip L. Quinn Fellowship) Andrea U. De Giorgi (Archaeology, Florida State University ) Cosa and the Water Systems of the Roman Conquest of Italy (3rd2nd c. BCE) (Robert F. and Margaret S. Goheen Fellowship)

(Archaeology, ) (Robert F. and Margaret S. Goheen Fellowship) Xiaolin Duan (History, North Carolina State University ) Three Cities of the Early Modern Pacific: Connections and Conflicts between the Ming Dynasty and the Spanish Empire (Geiss Hsu Foundation Fellowship)

) (Geiss Hsu Foundation Fellowship) Devin Fergus (History, University of Missouri ) The Making and Unmaking of One America: President Clinton's Initiative on Race (John Hope Franklin Fellowship)

(History, ) (John Hope Franklin Fellowship) Sean L. Field (Medieval Studies, The University of Vermont ) Women Writing Saints' Lives: Gendered Authority and Female Authorship in the Middle Ages (Trustees' Fellowship)

(Medieval Studies, The ) (Trustees' Fellowship) Frederico Freitas (History, North Carolina State University ) Concrete Tropics: An Environmental History of Brazil's Modernist Capital (Research Triangle Foundation Fellowship)

(History, ) (Research Triangle Foundation Fellowship) Isabel C. Gomez (Languages and Literature, University of Massachusetts Boston ) Divest from English: Eco-Translation and Multilingual Repair (Fellows' Fellowship)

) (Fellows' Fellowship) Michael S. Gorham (Slavic Studies, University of Florida ) Networking Putinism: The Rhetoric of Power in the Age of New Media Technology (Archie K. Davis Fellowship; NEH Fellowship)

(Slavic Studies, ) (Archie K. Davis Fellowship; NEH Fellowship) Sally E. Hadden (History, Western Michigan University ) One Supreme Court (GlaxoSmithKline Fellowship)

(History, ) (GlaxoSmithKline Fellowship) Natasha Howard (Media Studies, Morehouse College ) Relationship Themes and Scripts in the Music of Black Female Rappers, 20122022 (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship)

(Media Studies, ) (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship) Yohei Igarashi (Languages and Literature, University of Connecticut ) Word Count: Literary Study and Data Analysis, 18751965 (Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Fellowship)

(Languages and Literature, ) (Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Fellowship) Richard M. Jaffe (Religious Studies, Duke University ) Spreading Indra's Net: A Biography of D. T. Suzuki (The Duke Endowment Fellowship)

(Religious Studies, ) (The Duke Endowment Fellowship) Karima K. Jeffrey-Legette (African American Studies, Hampton University ) Black Girls Write the Future: A Scholarly Investigation of Speculative Fiction by or about Women and Girls of African Descent (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship)

(African American Studies, ) (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship) Tom Johnson (History, University of York ) The Reckoners: Economic Life in a Fifteenth-Century Fishing Village (Frank H. Kenan Fellowship)

(History, University of ) (Frank H. Kenan Fellowship) Lisa A. Lindsay (History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ) "Unity": African Women and Resistance in the Atlantic Slave Trade (Anthony E. Kaye Fellowship)

(History, ) (Anthony E. Kaye Fellowship) Rebecca Maloy (Music History and Musicology, University of Colorado Boulder ) Sounding the Saints in Early Medieval Iberia (Delta Delta Delta Fellowship)

(Music History and Musicology, ) (Delta Delta Delta Fellowship) Sequoia Maner (African American Studies, Spelman College ) A Critical History of Black Elegy in the United States (Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Fellowship)

) (Ruth W. and A. Fellowship) Stella Nair (History of Art and Architecture, University of California, Los Angeles ) Inca Architecture: Chapters in the History of a (Gendered) Profession (Hurford Family Fellowship; NEH Fellowship)

(History of Art and Architecture, ) (Hurford Family Fellowship; NEH Fellowship) Marguerite Nguyen (Asian American Studies, Wesleyan University ) Refugee Ecologies: Forced Displacement and American Literature (Donnelley Family Fellowship)

(Asian American Studies, ) (Donnelley Family Fellowship) Wanda S. Pillow (Gender, Race, and Sexuality Studies, The University of Utah ) Troubling Intimacies: Sacajawea and York as National Subjects (William C. and Ida Friday Fellowship)

(Gender, Race, and Sexuality Studies, The ) (William C. and Ida Friday Fellowship) Miriam Posner (Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles ) Seeing Like a Supply Chain: The Hidden Life of Logistics (John E. Sawyer Fellowship)

(Information Studies, ) (John E. Sawyer Fellowship) Richard J. Powell (History of Art and Architecture, Duke University ) Colorstruck! Painting, Pigment, Affect (Henry Luce Fellowship)

(History of Art and Architecture, ) (Henry Luce Fellowship) David M. Robinson (East Asian Studies, Colgate University ) Ability and Difference in Early Modern China ( John G. Medlin, Jr. Fellowship)

(East Asian Studies, ) ( Fellowship) Jonathan Sachs (Languages and Literature, Concordia University , Montreal) Slow Time (M. H. Abrams Fellowship)

(Languages and Literature, , Montreal) (M. H. Abrams Fellowship) Matt Sakakeeny (Ethnomusicology, Tulane University ) Music is Life: Coming-of-Age Stories from the Margins of America (NEH Fellowship)

(Ethnomusicology, ) (NEH Fellowship) Abigail Susik (History of Art and Architecture, Willamette University ) Afrosurrealism and Anti-racism (Allen W. Clowes Fellowship)

(History of Art and Architecture, ) (Allen W. Clowes Fellowship) E.K. Tan (East Asian Studies, Stony Brook University) Queer Homecoming: Translocal Remapping of Sinophone Kinship (Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship)

(Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship) Elanor Taylor (Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University ) The Foundations of Social Metaphysics (William J. Bouwsma Fellowship)

(Philosophy, ) (William J. Bouwsma Fellowship) Joan Titus (Musicology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro ) Dmitry Shostakovich and Music for Thaw-Era Cinema (Kent R. Mullikin Fellowship)

(Musicology, ) (Kent R. Mullikin Fellowship) Su-Ling Yeh (Psychology, National Taiwan University) Enhancing Well-Being in the Age of AI: How Psychology Can Help (Luce East Asia Fellowship)

Contact:

Donald Solomon

919-406-0120

[email protected]

SOURCE National Humanities Center
INDIANAPOLIS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Police Association (NPA) has submitted written testimony to the Florida House Judiciary Committee in support of House Bill 437, which would protect homeowners with Thin Blue Line flags from HOAs. The act would codify the ability to display a flag that utilizes the same emblems and proportions utilized by the United States flag, regardless of the colors used, without any additional emblems or text.

Douglas Sacha / Alamy Stock Photo

Some homeowner associations (HOAs) ban the flag, but the beauty of the Thin Blue Line and the flag in which it is represented should stand as a unifying force among people of good faith and peaceful intention. It must not be relegated to the ever-increasing waste bin of political correctness where the slightest offense to any tender soul is prohibited.

Those who seek to silence support for our law enforcement officers are engaging in a smear campaign against our brave men and women in blue. We must protect the freedom to stand up for our police officers and show them the gratitude and respect they deserve.

Read the full NPA testimony here https://nationalpolice.org/main/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Written-testimony-for-the-Thin-Blue-Line-flag.pdf

About The National Police Association: The National Police Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit Educational/Advocacy organization. For additional information visit www.nationalpolice.org.

Media Contact:

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (Ret)

3024691765

[email protected]

SOURCE National Police Association
Report calls for approaches to build sustainable food and nutrition security and avert future crises

NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid the ongoing global food and nutrition crisis, a new report from The Rockefeller Foundation provides constructive steps forward in leveraging resources to end hunger and build sustainable food security. Anticipate and localize: Leveraging humanitarian funding to create more sustainable food systems recommends a shift in donor approaches to align more closely with solutions that strengthen food system resilience to climate change, conflict, and other shocks. It is the second of four reports issued by The Rockefeller Foundation that will present a unified roadmap for achieving global food and nutrition security.

"If the world does not act now, there will be as many hungry people in 2030 as there were in 2015, a devastating backslide  and one that could accelerate amid the worsening climate crisis," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "The goal of ending hunger once and for all is still achievable, but it requires stakeholders coming together in public-private-philanthropic partnerships behind big bets to scale innovative solutions, including those identified in this report."

While the international community has responded to the global hunger crisis with unprecedented pledges of humanitarian aid, funding gaps still remain. More broadly, there are concerns that humanitarian food assistance, as currently structured and delivered, is not the way to achieve resilient and sustainable food security.

"We have the largest humanitarian appeals, the largest numbers of people who are food insecure and the largest funding gaps in history," said Carol Bellamy, writer of the report and former Executive Director of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). "The numbers force new thinking about how we can both improve the effectiveness of existing aid and also reduce the need for aid through building more sustainable food systems."

The humanitarian assistance system is comprised of several actors, including the multi-agency United Nations; governments; multilateral development banks; nongovernmental organizations; and private donors. Yet, despite the enormous resources deployed, coordination is weak. Major shortcomings have included a failure to anticipate crisis and invest proactively; a failure to tailor aid to local needs through local partners; and a failure to join the funding "dots."

"The sliver of funding that went to sustainable solutions demonstrates the most dangerous gap of all: the gap between short-term thinking and long-term solutions," said Catherine Bertini, Managing Director, Global Nutrition Security at The Rockefeller Foundation, former Executive Director of the World Food Programme, and 2003 World Food Prize Laureate. "Until we address the underlying issues of the resilience and sustainability of food systems, the need for humanitarian food aid will continue to escalate."

Report's Recommendations Break with Funding Orthodoxy



The four key recommendations in the report are as follows:

Fund anticipatory action and make smarter investments. The report urges donors to spend 1% of their 2024 budgets on such action, increasing that share by 1% for the next 10 years. Furthermore, investments must be smarter than in the past, helping farmers to rapidly adapt to climate change, including through a focus on regenerative agriculture.





and make smarter investments. The report urges donors to spend 1% of their 2024 budgets on such action, increasing that share by 1% for the next 10 years. Furthermore, investments must be smarter than in the past, helping farmers to rapidly adapt to climate change, including through a focus on regenerative agriculture. Fund localization by increasing the share of funding that goes to local organizations to 25% of their total expenditure over the next five years. This would support the role of local communities as effective first responders. National governments are urged to invest a similar share of their spending on domestic food security in local approaches.





by increasing the share of funding that goes to local organizations to 25% of their total expenditure over the next five years. This would support the role of local communities as effective first responders. National governments are urged to invest a similar share of their spending on domestic food security in local approaches. Crack funding siloes by establishing United Nations country teams that unify funding and strategies that address humanitarian need, social and economic development, and peace, including in food insecurity hotspots affected by armed conflict.





by establishing United Nations country teams that unify funding and strategies that address humanitarian need, social and economic development, and peace, including in food insecurity hotspots affected by armed conflict. Make the investment case through a campaign to put under-utilized working solutions to the test in a real-time situation of food insecurity.

In addition to the solutions highlighted above, the report calls for weaving three common threads into every policy, program and approach: a gender lens, the meaningful inclusion of those most directly affected by food insecurity, and intensive collaboration.

The report draws on insights of The Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored Convening Group on Funding for Sustainable Food Security.* The Rockefeller Foundation convened nearly two dozen experts in food insecurity and food aid from around the world. Over the course of two months, November through December 2022, they examined how to best mobilize and leverage funding to ensure food security for all.

"Millions of people are in desperate need of food assistance today  and as we deliver this aid, it is critical to invest in systemic change that will build sustainable food security in the longer term," continued Ms. Bertini. "To solve these interconnected global challenges, governments and organizations must be willing to abandon cherished notions of what works for them in favor of what can work to bring food security to all."

Anticipate and localize: Leveraging humanitarian funding to create more sustainable food systems is the second of four reports in a series on achieving global food and nutrition security supported by The Rockefeller Foundation. The first report, Defining the Path to Zero Hunger in an Equitable World, was recently published by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and offers a framework to reimagine a hunger-free world.

*Convening Group members: Karima Aboud Al-Hada'a, Government of Yemen; Mansoor Ahmed, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UK; Arnauld Akodjenou, Kofi Annan Foundation; Tom Arnold, Concern Worldwide; Gabrial Deng, Hope for Ariang Fondation; Glenn Denning, Columbia University; Jamie Drummond, ONE Campaign; Nils Grede, World Food Programme (WFP); David Kaatrud, WFP; Joseph Kaifala, Jeneba Project; Randolph Kent, King's College London; Chris Leather, N4D; Thin Lei Win, The New Humanitarian; Dan Maxwell, Tufts University; David McNair, ONE Campaign; Peter Mulrean, U.S. Department of State (retired); Fatima Muradi, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Paul Newnham, SDG2 Advocacy Hub; Rebecca Richards, WFP; Susana Rico, WFP; Patrick Saez, ODI; Deborah Saidy, WFP; Dan Toole, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

**additional inputs and perspectives were also provided by Ronnie Coffman of Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, John Herron of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Julian Lampietti of the World Bank, David Nabarro of the UN Global Crisis Response Group, Joachim von Braunof of the University of Bonn, Rami Zurayk of the American University of Beirut, and Douglas Broderick, International Development Consultant.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We work to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal and sustainable. Our focus is on scaling renewable energy for all, stimulating economic mobility, and ensuring equitable access to health care and nutritious food. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter @RockefellerFdn.

SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation
YULIN, China, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 17th Yulin International Coal and High-end Energy Chemical Industry Expo (CYCE) was held in Yulin, a city in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, from April 7 to 9. The CYCE was jointly organized by the CPC Yulin Municipal Committee, the People's Government of Yulin City, and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shaanxi Sub-council. With the theme of "High-end Leadership, Multi-layer Fusion, and Low-carbon Development", it attracted more than 756 exhibitors, bringing latest achievements such as advanced equipment in international coal, energy chemical industry and cutting-edge technologies in intelligent mining.

About 60 foreign guests were invited to the latest CYCE. In addition, more than 50 foreign exhibitors from over 10 countries including Germany and France participated in the expo. A number of international business associations attended economic and trade negotiations in the expo. In particular, a separate Korean pavilion was set up for the first time.

Korean exhibitors participated in the expo with tourism resources, direct-selling trade products, commercial and trade projects. During the expo, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and some Korean companies signed a number of cooperation agreements with representatives of the Yulin municipal government and enterprises. Consul General Kim Han Kyu of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Xi'an, who attended the expo, said that Yulin, has abundant energy resources such as magnesium, coal and oil. He hoped that the entrepreneurs of the two countries could explore more cooperation opportunities to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results in various fields.

In the exhibition, the latest CYCE adopted the "green, intelligent, digital" concept and set up six exhibition areas for intelligent manufacturing, smart digitalization, low carbon development, international green mining, high-end energy chemical machinery equipment, and comprehensive image, in a total exhibition area of 60,000 square meters.

According to Ma Feifei, general agent of the US-based Ingersoll Rand ARO in Shaanxi Province, this was the third time for Ingersoll Rand ARO to participate in the CYCE. Ma said: "With the platform provided by CYCE, we can have direct discussions with our end users regarding the performance of Ingersoll Rand products in coal mines, and understand the specific requirements of these users for our offerings, so as to better serve coal mine enterprises." Ma also looked forward to building and fostering a better coal mine environment through the CYCE.0

According to Hang Lei, deputy secretary-general of the Yulin municipal government, during the three-day event, 60 investment and cooperation projects were signed, including 29 contracts and 31 agreements, attracting investment of 61.567 billion yuan. The on-site trading volume of large-scale mining machinery equipment and intelligent manufacturing equipment reached 920 million yuan.

Yulin is a major energy supply base and a demonstration area of modern coal and chemical industry in China. In recent years, Yulin has been accelerating the integrated development of the "two chains (industrial chain and innovation chain)" driven by scientific and technological innovation, facilitating the expansion, replenishment and reinforcement of the chains with high-quality projects, and striving to promote the development of a greener coal industry and the manufacturing of more refined coal and chemical products.

SOURCE The People's Government of Yulin City
HAIKOU, China, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China's largest free trade port ushers in its annual national exhibition as the 6-day 3rd China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) opened on April 10 in Haikou, Hainan Province.

With the theme of "Share Open Opportunities and Co-create a Better Life", this year's CICPE aims to build a global exhibition and trading platform for consumer products and provide opportunities for enterprises from all over the world to share the Chinese market.

This photo taken on April 10, 2023 shows a view outside the venue of the 3rd China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou.

The exhibition area of this Expo is 120,000 square meters, including 80,000 square meters of international exhibition area. More than 3,300 consumer brands from more than 60 countries and regions are on display at this year's CICPE, and more than 300 brands are scheduled to release more than 1,000 new products.

Italy is the guest country of honor of this year's CICPE, showcasing 147 brands in fashion, design, food and beverage, automotive, hotel, yacht, jewelry and other categories. Italian exhibitors hope to take advantage of the Expo to introduce quality Italian products to Chinese consumers and establish more new contacts in the Chinese market.

Leading enterprises from the United States, Germany, France, Japan, etc. show up at this Expo. Volkswagen Group (China) debuts, bringing its Porsche, Bentley and other star models; Germany's Kahl debuts steam cleaning machine in the field of consumer electronics; Estee Lauder Group, Shiseido Group, Coty Group, L'Oreal Group put on display their high-end fragrance brands, showing the "beauty" innovation of the Expo.

Moreover, in addition to China, 10 more RCEP member countries are participating in this year's Expo, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam in the form of national pavilions. More than 2,000 purchasers from 35 countries and regions such as South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, are attending the Expo for procurement.

Image Attachments Links:

Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=439704

Caption: This photo taken on April 10, 2023 shows a view outside the venue of the 3rd China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou.

SOURCE China International Consumer Products Expo
LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eccentex, an industry leading low-code development platform and process automation software company, announced today the appointment of Tibor Vass as CMO  Chief Marketing Officer.

As CMO, Tibor will be responsible for driving Eccentex's marketing strategy, including branding, demand generation, product marketing, and sales enablement. He will also work closely with the company's sales and customer success teams to ensure that Eccentex's messaging and positioning align with the needs of its customers.

Tibor Vass Joins Eccentex as Chief Marketing Officer

Tibor brings more than 20 years of experience to Eccentex, having previously held senior marketing positions at a number of leading technology companies. He is known for his ability to create and execute successful marketing strategies that drive growth and revenue.

"We are thrilled to have Tibor join the Eccentex team," said Alex Stein CEO of Eccentex. "His proven track record of driving growth and building successful marketing programs will be invaluable as we continue to expand our business and help our customers achieve their digital transformation goals."

"I am excited to be joining Eccentex at such a pivotal time in the company's growth," said Tibor Vass. "I believe that Eccentex's innovative approach to cloud-based software solutions has the potential to revolutionize the industry, and I am thrilled to be a part of the team that will make that happen."

Tibor completed his MBA at Oxford Brookes University in the UK and gathered dozens of technical and business leadership certificates including CMS and DMS degrees and Certified Dale Carnegie presenter awards. He is a member of the University of California Riverside Design Thinking Board and recently joined the Global CMO Council.

Tibor and his team recently presented the Year 2023 Marketing plan to the Eccentex board that contains four strategic objectives  'Add AI', 'Team Up', 'Be Visible', and 'Go Big'.

About Eccentex

Eccentex delivers smart process automation solutions for operational CRM, customer service, customer journey management and back-office automation. Eccentex's flexible, unified low-code AppBase Platform empowers people to rapidly deploy, easily extend, and change applications to meet the ever-changing business needs.

Over its history, Eccentex has delivered award-winning capabilities in case management and business process automation (BPM) powered by AI assisted automation and dynamic form management, to help the world's leading brands and governments to achieve breakthrough business results and unparallel customer experiences.

Read more on www.eccentex.com

View the full press release here.

Media contact:

Michael Rapoport

1 (866) 432-2368

[email protected]

SOURCE Eccentex Corporation
LEAWOOD, Kan., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Torch.AI , Pioneers of Data Infrastructure AI, announced today they have achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Advanced Tier Partner status within the AWS Partner Network (APN) and have joined the AWS Public Sector Partner Program (PSP). The PSP recognizes AWS Partners with cloud-based solutions who have experience supporting government, space, education, and nonprofits around the world.

"Joining the APN requires necessary and rigorous due diligence and vetting by the AWS team. Acceptance into the program is a testament to our entire team and the hardened capabilities of the Torch Platform," said Jason Eidam, Torch.AI's Head of Strategy. "Being an APN member unlocks significant opportunity as we continue to invest in advancing our technology to expand human potential through data and AI solutions."

Torch.AI achieved AWS Advanced Tier Partner status, joining the AWS Public Sector Partner Program (PSP). Tweet this

Since 2017, Torch.AI has helped the U.S. Federal Government unlock value from unstructured data to make both humans and machines more productive. Torch.AI helps customers integrate disparate and unstructured data and systems with a patented machine learning-based approach to data processing.

Becoming a member of the APN and PSP underscores Torch.AI's commitment to an industry-leading approach for security, reliability, and exceptional AI-powered solutions that are designed to solve for a wide range of our nation's toughest data challenges  a feat that is met as data volumes and complexity see exponential growth, requiring even more sophisticated merits to solve.

As a result of the partnership, Torch.AI plans to expand their current platform offerings to reach a broader audience across federal agencies and implement cloud-based AI solutions designed to make data easier to use and provide decision makers accurate, impactful, and user-friendly data. Torch.AI leverages state-of-the-art data extraction and orchestration services that utilize enhanced machine learning to identify, extract, tag, and fuse data in real-time as their platform ingests structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data from users. This produces a newly structured output prior to downstream processing by the user.

About Torch.AI

Torch.AI, the Data Infrastructure AI Pioneers, are headquartered in Kansas City with offices in Washington, DC. The company builds AI that makes data easier to use by processing data in-flight and radically evolving analytic and operational capabilities in any IT environment. The Torch Platform instantly unlocks value from data and provides information needed for humans and machines to be more productive. Their solutions and people are actively supporting operations in industries including financial services and Federal defense and national security.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Torch.AI
SINGAPORE, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia-Pacific countries have been a magnet for tourists over the years. They are incredibly diverse and culturally rich, with many incredible sights to explore. Before the pandemic, the Asia-Pacific tourism sector was thriving, attracting visitors from around the world year after year.

According to Statista (2023), the volume of inbound travellers is expected to grow throughout 2023 and 2024, rising by 94% compared to the previous year. Regarding tourism growth throughout APAC, Trip.com data analyses the booking trends to popular destination spots, including Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, and has consistently had high search figures for this region.

Recently, Trip.com Group has strengthened its partnerships with stakeholders to position Japan as a top destination, with Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Bo, meeting the commissioner of Japan in March 2023. Japan has consistently been ranked among the top five destinations globally in terms of bookings and search volumes since entry restrictions were eased in Q4 2022. According to Trip.com data, global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March and 30 June increased by 237% YoY. Global flight bookings also increased by 317% (2022-2023) for travellers during the same period. The most popular European flight routes were from London to Tokyo and Paris to Tokyo.

The best time to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka is between March-April for cherry blossom season in Japan, to witness the world-famous flowers bloom in top tourist spots. Japan's unique blend of fascinating culture, incredible landscapes and delicious food makes for a sought-after destination for travellers. According to Trip.com data, the top three cities visited in Japan were Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka, known for famous landmarks such as Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium Dotonbori and Tennoji Park, is part of a long list of must-visit landmarks. The ancient city of Kyoto was the traditional home of the Japanese royal family, drawing tourists with its rich history and stunning architecture.

The South Korean government has recently promised to boost exports and attract tourists (Reuters 2023). It has set the goal of attracting 10 million foreign visitors this year. The number of foreign tourists reached a record 17.5 million in 2019, generating revenue estimated at $20.7 billion, according to the Korea Tourism Organisation.

Trip.com data reveals that global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June, increased year-on-year (2022-2023) by more than half (51%). Flight bookings from Europe (UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) increased by 456% year-on-year (2022-2023) for arrivals during the same period. The most popular flight routes were from London to Seoul, followed by Paris to Seoul.

The capital, Seoul, is the most popular visited city, according to Trip.com data, boasting jaw-dropping skyscrapers and grand palaces, and offering a mix of ancient landmarks and attractions of historical and cultural significance. The Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the finest examples of classic Korean architecture, destroyed and rebuilt several times since 1395.

Jeju Island is the second most popular destination, also favoured among locals. One of Netflix's biggest K-dramas, 'Our Blues' brought international recognition to the volcanic island, with its windswept coastline and mountainous horizons. Seogwipo on the south side of Jeju Island is for tourists wanting a more relaxing trip, with its volcanic coastline famous for its sea views and scuba diving.

Following China's decision to reopen borders in December 2022, Hong Kong was one of the cities which led the surge as one of the top five tourist destinations for outbound visitors from mainland China. Trip.com data shows that the most popular attractions within Hong Kong for its customers include Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping 360 - a cable car experience across the rolling green hills - and The Jurassic Dinosaur Adventure Park.

Trip.com data shows global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June increased year-on-year by 13% from 2022 to 2023). Flight bookings from Europe (UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) increased by a huge margin of 1,362% year-on-year from 2022 to 2023, for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June. The most popular flight route was from the UK - Hong Kong, followed by Germany - Hong Kong, and the top five destinations for tourists were mainland China, Singapore, the UK, America and Canada.

Over time, the Asia-Pacific region has transformed into a major travel hub for all types of tourists. The past decade has also experienced a dramatic increase in domestic and international tourist arrivals, and the region has gained a reputation as an in-trend destination for its attractions and natural landscapes.

About Trip.com

Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 20 languages across 27 countries and regions in 31 local currencies and sites. Trip.com has an extensive hotel and flight network consisting of more than 1.2 million hotels and flights from over 480 airlines covering 2,600 airports in 200 countries and regions around the globe. Trip.com's world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service as well as additional centres in Edinburgh, Tokyo and Seoul, help to 'create the best travel experience' for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit trip.com

SOURCE Trip.com
Trolli commemorates nationwide availability of new gummi candy, Sour Duo Crawlers, by putting them up for 'adoption' and supporting real adoptions of unexpected shelter pets

CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Check social media today  AKA #NationalPetDay  and you'll be reminded there is no more dynamic duo than a person and their pet. Or there wasn't, until Trolli took "duos" to the next level with their new Sour Duo Crawlers.

To celebrate these delicious Crawlers with unexpected flavor and texture combos being available nationwide by National Pet Day, Trolli is embracing their fans' love for unexpected pets  lizards, ducks, bunnies, goats andof course, sour gummi worms.

Trolli Takes Over National Pet Day with an Unexpected Invitation to Adopt a Sour Duo Crawler  Trolli Takes Over National Pet Day with an Unexpected Invitation to Adopt a Sour Duo Crawler 

Trolli invites fans to push the boundaries of a traditional human/pet duo by applying to "adopt" a Sour Duo Crawler. From now until National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day (April 30), Crawler-lovers can take just three easy steps to get their new bestie:

Step 1: Visit AdoptSourDuoCrawlers.com to submit your "application"  no purchase necessary  and keep an eye on your email this month to find out if it has been "approved."

Visit AdoptSourDuoCrawlers.com to submit your "application"  no purchase necessary  and keep an eye on your email this month to find out if it has been "approved." Step 2: If approved*, you'll receive a super official certificate of adoption and a personalized shipment of Trolli Sour Duo Crawlers in the mail.

If approved*, you'll receive a super official certificate of adoption and a personalized shipment of Trolli Sour Duo Crawlers in the mail. Step 3: You can pick out your new other half, name it and love it. Snuggle the soft side, take the gummi side for a crawl or soak up the thrill that is finding your new DUO in a pack of Crawlers.

And that's not all. Trolli is helping support the real adoption of unexpected shelter pets across the country through a new grant they created with the nonprofit group, The Petfinder Foundation: the Trolli Dynamic Duo Grant.**

"Our partnership with Trolli is an exciting opportunity to help unexpected shelter pets find forever homes," said Toni Morgan, Executive Director of The Petfinder Foundation. "While dogs and cats make for wonderful companions, there are plenty of other animals that fly, waddle or swim looking to be adopted, which most people don't realize. Designing the Trolli Dynamic Duo Grant to bring awareness to less conventional adoptable pets and help offset costs of adopting hundreds of them will make a notable difference."

While both the Adopt A Sour Duo Crawler and Trolli Dynamic Duo Grant programs end on April 30, Trolli's new Sour Duo Crawlers are now available at retailers nationwide year-round. With one soft, airy side and one chewy, gummi side, these dual textured sour gummi worms deliver an awesome multisensory experience. Each pack features three delicious sour tropical flavor combinations: Mango Pineapple, Citrus Watermelon and Strawberry Guava.

"We're always looking to push the boundaries of what is expected from a gummy brand, and we're thrilled to celebrate our new Sour Duo Crawlers by shining our neon light on unexpected duos," said Dave Foldes, Director of Marketing for Trolli. "Our fans obsess over unique human/pet duos from ducks to #petrocks on social, so we hope they enjoy 'adopting' our Crawlers and feel proud of the real impact Trolli is making by helping often overlooked animals find homes."

To help adoptable pets find their forever homes, visit Petfinderfoundation.com.

To stay connected to everything Trolli, follow us on social media at @itsTrolli on TikTok and @Trolli_USA on Twitter and Instagram and hashtag #ItsTrolli.

Happy National Pet Day!

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Promotion runs 4/11/23 at 12:01 AM EST to 4/30/23 at 11:59 PM EST. Open to legal residents of 50 US/DC who are 18+ or age of majority in state of residence, whichever older, as of entry. To enter, visit www.adoptsourduocrawlers.com & complete entry form. 500 Prizes: ARV of each: $5.97. Odds depend on # of elig. entries. Rules at www.adoptsourduocrawlers.com/rules. Sponsor: Ferrara Candy Co., 404 W Harrison St., #650, Chicago, IL 60607.

** The Trolli Dynamic Duo Grant will help offset adoption fees for at least 300 pets nationwide via The Petfinder Foundation. Up to 100 adoption fees will be completely covered by Trolli's contribution and at least 200 adoption fees will be reduced by Trolli's contribution.

About Ferrara:

Ferrara, a company related to The Ferrero Group, is a powerhouse in the North American and global sugar confections category. A passionate team of more than 2,400 employees work together to share delight in every bite through our beloved candy brands that have shaped the industry for more than 100 years. Our diverse portfolio of more than 25 brands includes SweeTARTS, Laffy Taffy, Trolli, BRACH'S, Black Forest and NERDS, along with iconic favorites like Lemonhead, Red Hots and Now and Later. Ferrara's superior innovation is rooted in diversity of thought, experience, and people, helping us introduce new candy products that make everyday moments a bit sweeter. Headquartered in Chicago, Ferrara has an operational network of 20 locations in North America that includes manufacturing, distribution, and R&D facilities. Learn more at www.ferrarausa.com.

About The Petfinder Foundation:

The Petfinder Foundation assists the 10,000+ animal shelters and rescue groups that post their adoptable pets on Petfinder.com. A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the Petfinder Foundation helps adoption organizations keep the pets in their care happy, healthy, and ready for their forever homes. Since its founding in 2003, the Petfinder Foundation has given more than $25 million in cash and product grants to shelters and rescue groups in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Media Contact:

Shelby Roland

[email protected]

SOURCE Ferrara
One-stop sourcing platform for tube & pipe products

Leading suppliers at Tube China 2023

Free admission and welcome souvenir

Group visitor program

China International Steel Tube & Pipe Industry Summit Forum

SHANGHAI, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tube China, China's No.1 international trade fair for the tube and pipe industries, will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from 14 to 16 June 2023, concurrently with METALLURGY CHINA 2023, the leading exhibition of the metallurgical industry.

Tube China, One-stop Sourcing Platform for Tube & Pipe Products

The countdown is on. This co-hosted event will set up a professional platform to connect the upstream and downstream industries of the steel industry chain, as well as deepen the exchange and cooperation between enterprises.

Register to Meet Industry Leading Suppliers in June

During the three show days, Tube China and METALLURGY CHINA 2023 are expected to gather more than 500 key suppliers in the industry.

International exhibitors: AMPCO, Alleima, Wafios, INDUCTOTHERM, RSA, EFD, KINKELDER, FORMDRILL, HEF, TAELIM, HANDUK R-FECO, TSUBAKI, NDT Technologies, Phased Array, etc.

Chinese Key exhibitors: BAOWU STEEL GROUP, ANSTEEL, CITIC STEEL, SHOUGANG GROUP, China Metallurgical Group (MCC), Jiuquan Iron & Steel Group (JISG), JINYE GROUP, Central Iron & Steel Research Institute (CISRI), TAIER, HUAWEI, CNE GROUP, TSINGSHAN, CHU KONG STEEL PIPE, GANYEAH, YOUFA STEEL, RIZHAO STEEL.

Visit www.tubechina.net/en for the complete exhibitors & products

Register Now, Get Your FREE Admssion and Welcome Souvenir.

A souvenir is prepared for all international pre-registration visitors.

Please visit the official website www.tubechina.net/en to finish the online visitor registration. You will receive a confirmation letter with your registration code and please pick up your badge and souvenir by this letter at 'PRE-REGISTERED VISITOR' counter onsite during the show time.

Join Group Visitor Program

Invite your colleagues or partners to join in Group Visitor Program of Tube China 2023. Ten people or more can group into a delegation. All the members will get privileges including free visitor badges, welcome reception, and souvenir, etc. Don't miss this chance to enjoy all these upgrading services for FREE.

Download Group Visitor Registration Form.

(https://www.tubechina.net/links?id=242)

Tube China: More than a trade fair

Tube China is not only a convenient one-stop sourcing platform but also an opportunity to exchange the know-how of the industry with professionals and experts.

China International Steel Tube & Pipe Industry Summit Forum, The Green & Smart Manufacture Conference of China Steel industry, as well as the Exhibitor Technology Seminar, will be held during the show time. Some of the most influential experts and representatives from the industry will share their ideas and have discussions about hot industry topics in the forums.

Topics to be discussed will include marketing trends in China and Asia; opportunities and challenges we are facing currently; new demand and innovation technologies in the Chinese market, as well as tips and advice shared by the leading industry players.

Here at Tube China 2023, you can find the answer to everything you want to know about the tube and pipe industries.

Organizers introduction

Messe Dusseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Established in 2009, Messe Dusseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (MDS) is a subsidiary of Messe Dusseldorf GmbH, one of the world's top 5 exhibition organizers. MDS is committed to introducing industry leading trade fairs to China and providing Chinese and international customers with superior exhibition services. MDS is successfully holding more than 14 leading trade fairs and conferences in China, covering a broad range of industries including printing, packaging, wire and tube, plastics, renewable energy, medical devices, retail, safety and health, wine & spirits and caravanning. With a workforce of some 75 fulltime employees, the company's head office is located in Shanghai with a branch office in Beijing. The worldwide outbound exhibition business (trade shows in Dusseldorf, Germany and other leading Messe Dusseldorf Global Shows) is organized by Messe Dusseldorf China Ltd. (MDC), serving Chinese exhibitors and visitors with superior customer service from its office in Hong Kong, China. www.mds.cn.

Metallurgical Council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade

Established in 1988 and under the direct administration of China Iron & Steel Association (CISA) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), it is the most important organization for promoting international trade & economic cooperation in metallurgical field as well as the most influential organizer of international exhibition and conference in the metal industry. MC-CCPIT is engaged in providing an open and efficient path of communication for better exchange and cooperation for buyers and sellers home and abroad. www.mcchina-expo.com.

SOURCE Messe Dusseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Of 1,374 bodies of civilians killed by invaders in Kyiv region, 195 not yet been identified  regional police chief

The police of Kyiv region have identified 1,374 bodies of civilians killed by the invaders in Kyiv region, while 195 bodies have not yet been identified, another 279 people are missing, Chief of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv region Andriy Nebytov has said.

"One of the main aspects of the work of the police in Kyiv region is the identification of the bodies of those who killed (during the occupation) of citizens. To date, this figure is 1,374 people. These are civilians who were killed," Nebytov said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to Nebytov, some 717 of them were killed with small arms. "That is, more than half were shot deliberately," he said.

The head of the regional police said 340 people died from mine and shrapnel wounds, the cause of death of 317 people was not established.

"So far, unfortunately, 195 bodies remain unidentified. DNA was taken from them, so we ask... to provide information so that we can identify absolutely all Ukrainians who killed in Kyiv region during the occupation," Nebytov said.

He also said some 279 people are currently considered missing. "There is information that people are also on the territory of Russia, they were brought there forcibly, in the so-called 'evacuations.' We understand that some of these people are in prison, and supposedly the Russians are preparing an exchange fund for themselves," the chief of the regional police said.
Students in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Language Pathology develop critical clinical skills while assisting local communities

SAN MARCOS, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is stepping up to meet critical healthcare needs in key markets with 12 pro bono health clinics designed to increase community access to healthcare and provide students with real-world clinical experience. In 2022, 4,317 pro bono therapy sessions occurred across USAHS's five campuses, with 2,252 of these sessions completed via telehealth. USAHS students served 550 pediatric and adult patients in need throughout the year.

"As one of only a few universities in the nation solely dedicated to graduate studies in health sciences, USAHS is committed to addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals by training the next generation of rehabilitative sciences practitioners and advanced-level nurses," said Nicole Capell, Manager of Pro Bono and Telehealth Initiatives at USAHS. "Along with offering free, high-quality healthcare services to those in need, our pro bono clinics equip students to provide exceptional patient care, thrive in interprofessional healthcare teams, and succeed in leadership roles."

The pro bono clinics at USAHS's campuses in Miami and St. Augustine, Florida; Dallas and Austin, Texas; and San Marcos, California are pivotal for ensuring student career readiness. They give students a unique opportunity to apply their classroom teachings to real patients. The clinic sessions also allow faculty, staff and chosen community partners to provide hands-on supervision before students go on to their external placements.

"USAHS' Pro Bono SLP Teletherapy Clinic not only prepared us with the tools necessary to become successful clinicians, but it also taught us the importance of collaboration, creating a safe environment for our clients, and incorporating creativity into our sessions," said Deanne Fontanel, MS-SLP Program student at USAHS. "USAHS provided us with the opportunity to connect with members from the community and provide services. It was exciting to see our clients progress throughout the semester along with the experience we gained."

Students at the USAHS clinics provide numerous specialized services, including:

Pediatric and adult speech language pathology

Pediatric and adult occupational therapy

Pediatric and adult physical therapy

In-person, telehealth, and hybrid opportunities for patients to access therapy

Patients participate in USAHS's quality pro bono clinics for a variety of reasons. They may reside in a rural area, where quality healthcare is not available; lack insurance to cover the services they need; are experiencing homelessness, or require unique treatment that is not easily found, such as pediatric neuroplasticity.

For more information about the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, visit www.usa.edu/.

About the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is a graduate institution that offers degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, graduate nursing, education, health science and healthcare administration, as well as continuing education programs. Founded in 1979, USAHS educates students through its network of campuses in San Marcos, California; St. Augustine and Miami in Florida; and Austin and Dallas in Texas. USAHS is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1001 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 402, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001, https://www.wscuc.org/about/ , and demonstrates its commitment to social responsibility through its B Corp certification. For more information: www.usa.edu .

Media Contact:

Abby Wood

[email protected]

SOURCE University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
The Most Powerful, Solar-Powered, All-Electric Luxury Travel Trailer on Earth

The HD-PRO Energy system delivers 72kWh of energy storage for extended off-grid living.

The new All-Solar-Roof features the 4.4kW Dual Solar Awning and end-to-end dual-layer solar.

Multiple floor plans include the new King Bedroom Suite, 4x Bunk Room, and LV Mobile Office.

Thrive in all climates from -4F to 120F with the new 24k BTU battery-powered, mini-split HVAC.

BTU battery-powered, mini-split HVAC. Industry-first Water-From-Air technology by WaterGen creates 5 gallons of water per day.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Living Vehicle leads the charge in the all-electric luxury travel trailer revolution with its latest model, the 2024 HD. With unmatched off-grid capabilities and more solar power than most residential homes, Living Vehicle debuts its most capable and powerful model yet.

Living Vehicle leads the charge in the all-electric luxury travel trailer revolution with its latest model, the 2024 HD. Tweet this Unleashing the 2024 Living Vehicle HD lineup Introducing the 2024 Living Vehicle HD: The Most Powerful, Solar-Powered, All-Electric Luxury Travel Trailer on Earth.

The absence of limitations in an off-grid environment sets the 2024 Living Vehicle luxury travel trailer apart from the rest of the industry. The company has created an autonomous, electric-powered living solution, starting with a foundation of renewable solar energy. This level of energy storage allows for full-time living in comfort, with multiple redundant backup fuel options available should environmental conditions change.

As the world becomes increasingly uncertain and unpredictable, it's essential to have lifestyle alternatives that meet your basic needs, including shelter, water, and comfort. Amid rolling blackouts and extreme weather events, Living Vehicle is made for independence from an unreliable electrical grid and increasingly scarce water resources.

Luxury Unplugged

"The HD series offers unmatched off-grid live-ability," states Living Vehicle Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Joanna Hofmann. "Imagine being surrounded by snow-capped mountains and having all the amenities of a 5-star hotel, such as a king bed, spa-style rain shower, and a chef-designed kitchen. All made possible without any connections to utilities. Free from RV parks, and no other campers in sight."

Each unit is custom-built and offers multiple bedroom configuration options for 2024, capable of sleeping up to 8 adults. The flagship Queen or King Suites features over 150 square feet of storage space and a 6' full-height closet. The zero-gravity lounge pairs perfectly with the 4K Home Theater system and integrated Hi-Fi wireless audio. Professionals and "work-from-anywhere" creatives are empowered by the Mobile Office, with an 80" dual workstation and folding bed system. The fully customizable Creative Studio integrates a suite of high-end Mac and Apple devices, and the Starlink Flat Satellite dish provides a dedicated WIFI network wherever your adventures take you.

Prepared for Anything

The ability to generate resources and provide independence from the grid is one of the critical features of the 2024 Living Vehicle lineup. The luxury trailer uses an innovative water system to create an endless water supply while traveling off-grid by extracting humidity from the air and storing it in the freshwater tank, allowing infinite time away from the grid.

The Flagship HD PRO model offers 72kWh of energy storage and 18kW of power, which runs all onboard electrical equipment, including electric heating and cooling. With the air conditioning system relocated to the basement, the 2024 Living Vehicle HD PRO features a wall-to-wall solar capacity of up to 6kW. The Living Vehicle can operate entirely off-grid, allowing users to enjoy the great outdoors without the restrictions and limitations of urban-based utilities.

The solar-powered trailer has true four-season capability and can thrive in below-freezing temperatures, down to an industry-first sub-zero, -4F, thanks to the dual-zone 240V Mini-Split electric heating system. The Living Vehicle is fully insulated with 100% rigid closed-cell foam insulation, which keeps the inside cool in environments that reach 120F or higher using the 24K BTU air conditioning system with SEER-21 rating.

Designing Solutions for Off-Grid Conditions

Matthew Hofmann, CEO and architect of Living Vehicle, emphasizes the importance of designing solutions that thrive in real-world off-grid conditions. As a leading expert in net-zero energy design, Hofmann explains, "Living Vehicle is all-electric by design; however, it would be foolish to venture out into the wild without a backup system when things don't always go according to plan."

Hofmann notes that off-grid living requires redundancy in systems to ensure reliable operation in extreme environments. This concept includes backup systems fueled by fossil fuels, such as generators and high-power alternators, which provide additional electricity during reduced sunlight due to cloud cover or inclement weather.

The Living Vehicle HD also offers extensive tech and connectivity features, including over-the-cloud connectivity for complete visibility of the current state of the LV energy system and real-time energy flow app-controlled monitoring. With its ability to generate resources and withstand even the harshest environments, the Living Vehicle is the premium choice for those seeking to experience true freedom without limits.

Living Vehicle HD Production

The HD lineup is fully committed for 2023, and production is underway. Living Vehicle is accepting orders for 2024 deliveries, starting at $459,995.

Coming Soon

Introducing the 24-foot LT series, designed for adventurers who want to explore further without sacrificing essential amenities like electricity, water, and storage space. The LT can comfortably accommodate 2-4 people and features a 5' x 8' walk-in closet. Multiple bunk room and office bedroom configurations are available. More information about the LT series is available on the Living Vehicle website. The LT model starts at $359,995.

About Living Vehicle

Living Vehicle was founded in 2017 by a team of LEED-accredited professionals and architects with expertise in sustainable design and high-end home building. They combine modern architecture and advanced automotive-grade technology to create the ultimate luxury living space, with adaptable spaces allowing off-grid living, travel, work, and adventure in any environment and climate. The company strives towards a completely self-sufficient, net-zero mobile living solution focusing on freedom, wellness, and sustainability.

Access high-resolution images and video links here.

SOURCE Living Vehicle Inc.
Iconic pizza chain using Oracle MICROS Simphony Cloud Point-of-Sale to improve operations and grow its business

AUSTIN, Texas, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Uno Pizzeria & Grill (Unos), famous for its Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, is fueling its growth into new market and restaurant concepts with Oracle Cloud. With Oracle MICROS Simphony Cloud Point-of-Sale (POS) Unos has the data insights it needs to improve efficiency in its current operations, while expanding its corporate and franchise full-service restaurant locations, and rolling out new, smaller restaurant floorplans within hotel chains to broaden its customer base and increase revenue.

"We needed to become more agile as we continue to add new full-service restaurants to our portfolio, roll out smaller stores with a simplified menu, and integrate our kitchens into hotel locations," said Regina Jerome, senior vice president of Information Technology, Uno Pizzeria & Grill. "To achieve our goals, we needed a true enterprise solution that could accommodate our needs. In MICROS Simphony we found a modern digital transaction platform that offers real-time comprehensive business analytics that help us run our business better."

Uno Pizzeria & Grill fires up Oracle to streamline front and back-of-house operations to locations across the nation. Tweet this

With Oracle, the brand has a centralized view of their customer engagement across its entire restaurant footprint, including order and delivery history, loyalty rewards, restaurant management, and more. This insight to their customers' changing needs has helped to improve menu management by identifying popular menu items in their quick-service and full-service locations.

Leveraging MICROS Simphony's open API and partner integrations, Unos has also been able to streamline front and back-of-house operations by quickly plugging third-party applications into Simphony, such as a new mobile ordering and contactless payment options for curbside and pay-at-the-table transactions. In addition, Unos reports that it has increased sales by simplifying the third-party order fulfillment process across delivery sources including DoorDash and GrubHub, as well as accommodating room service orders at its new in-hotel locations.

"With MICROS Simphony, Unos has a digital transaction platform that can scale and adjust with them as they expand and deliver new concepts to market," said Simon de Montfort Walker, senior vice president and general manager of Oracle Food and Beverage. "And since all of the implementations run on the cloud in a common data environment, the company can easily review the performance of each location on a centralized dashboard, down to an individual menu item. This is invaluable to understanding what is working and being able to make fast, data-based decisions to better serve their customers, employees, and the bottom line."

Find out more at Oracle Food and Beverage.

About UNO Pizzeria & Grill

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation includes approximately 80 company-owned and franchised UNO Pizzeria and Grill and Pizzeria Uno restaurants located in 18 states, and the District of Columbia, India, and Saudi Arabia. UNO is all about connecting people over awesome pizza  from its famous Chicago Deep Dish, which UNO invented in 1943, to its Chicago Thin Crust, to its gluten-free and vegan pizza to its new Detroit Style Pizza. Pizzeria Uno has recently expanded into the hotel-restaurant space along with its free-standing full-service restaurants. For more information, visit www.unos.com.

About Oracle Food & Beverage

Oracle Food and Beverage, formerly MICROS, brings 45 years of experience in providing software and hardware solutions to restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, coffee shops, cafes, stadiums, and theme parks. Thousands of operators, both large and small, around the world are using Oracle technology to deliver exceptional guest experiences, maximize sales, and reduce running costs.

About Oracle

Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company--ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

SOURCE Oracle
The IP address of a former employee turned competitor has been linked to a sustained and vicious internet defamation and disparagement campaign against top cybersecurity company Redbot Security.

DENVER, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Redbot Security, an industry-leading penetration testing company, announced on Tuesday that it has identified a potential perpetrator and is actively working, using legal processes, to uncover the identities of other malicious attackers behind a concerted internet smear campaign, designed to falsely disparage and defame the company.

Redbot obtained data linking at least some of the attacks to the IP address of a former Redbot Security employee Tweet this threat actors have been running a multi-pronged defamation campaign

The threat actors have been running a multi-pronged defamation campaign against the company by posing as dissatisfied clients, writing fake negative reviews, launching targeted spear phishing schemes against the company and their clients, attempting system hacks into sensitive data, and continuously taunting and threatening employees on numerous platforms. Redbot Security's website, https://redbotsecurity.com, has also been bombarded with thousands of toxic backlinks in an attempt to reduce the website's visibility and rankings by associating it with extremely disturbing and illegal content, including Child Sexual Abuse Materials ("CSAM").

Through the efforts of Internet Defamation & Content Removal Attorney Ali Arko of KJK law firm, Redbot Security has obtained data linking at least some of the attacks to the IP address of a former Redbot Security employee who currently operates a competing business. In response to these egregious attacks, Redbot Security filed a "John Doe" lawsuit in the District Court of Denver County against the anonymous individuals responsible. Redbot Security has amended the complaint to name the former employee and his company as defendants. The claims for relief include defamation, commercial disparagement, tortious interference with a business relationship, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy, invasion of privacy, and breach of contract.

"We are a customer-first company, and we have earned our stellar reputation through the quality of our services," stated Redbot Security CEO Brian Stearns. "We will continue to investigate these issues with the help of Ali Arko and Mark Rasch from the KJK law, who have done a great job unmasking a malicious threat actor. Our team remains committed to upholding the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct in all aspects of our business."

Redbot Security's investigation into the tortious acts remains ongoing, and the company continues to cooperate with law enforcement agencies while pursuing a civil order to remove any remaining damaging content.

Redbot CSO Andrew Binder weighed in, stating, "Unfortunately, social media platforms and review sites don't assess the truth or falsity of statements even though trolling is a form of bullying," said Binder. "Attempting to remove bogus info from the internet has been a real nightmare and it requires time and resources that could be spent on other issues. Fortunately, diligence beats anonymity."

About Redbot Security

Redbot Security, a boutique penetration testing house, headquartered in Downtown Denver, Colorado - provides custom scoping and manual penetration testing services. Redbot Security takes pride in delivering the industry's best customer experience. The U.S Based Team of highly skilled, and experienced Senior Level Engineers specialize in wireless, internal, and external IT networks, mobile and web application Penetration Testing Services, ICS/SCADA (industrial controls) OT network testing, Cloud Security, Social Engineering and Red Team Security Exercises (RTSE).

SOURCE Redbot Security
LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A Bill is being drafted in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide compensation and restitution for U.S. Military personnel and their families who have suffered from exposure to radiation and toxic materials as a result of nuclear testing at the Tonopah Test Range.

U.S. Congressman Mark Amodei, (R-Nev.), serving the 2nd District of Nevada, will introduce the Bill in response to research and reports by U.S. Air Force veteran David Crete.

US Rep. Mark Amodei, (R-Nev.), will introduce the Bill in response to research by US Air Force Veteran David Crete. Tweet this The Invisible Enemy at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) and the Tonopah Test Range (TTR). They did not know the Department of Energy (DoE) and Sandia National Laboratories had conducted nuclear testing at TTR decades before they arrived. They also didnt know TTRs soil and water were contaminated with ionizing radiation from Plutonium 239 and other highly toxic materials. No measures were taken to protect the military or civilian personnel at NTTR/TTR from these dangerous substances.

From 1983 to 1987, Crete was a member of the 4461st Security Police Squadron based at the highly classified Tonopah Test Range (TTR) in remote Nevada. The unit provided operational security for America's top-secret F-117A stealth aircraft. Three other Air Force units and additional Department of Defense (DoD) personnel were also stationed at TTR during this time.

They did not know the Department of Energy (DoE) and Sandia National Laboratories had conducted nuclear testing at TTR decades before they arrived. They also didn't know TTR's soil and water were contaminated with ionizing radiation from Plutonium 239 and other highly toxic materials. The bill alleges no measures were taken to protect the military or civilian personnel at TTR from these dangerous substances.

Crete has documented the effects of the exposure to these contaminants on his fellow servicemen and their families. Many are suffering from various cancers, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease and other serious health issues. Many have died. Many women have experienced miscarriages and many of their children have been born with birth defects.

Weapons testing and other activities at TTR and other highly contaminated sites throughout the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) continue to this day.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 13179, which, in part, read: "While the Nation can never fully repay these workers or their families, they deserve recognition and compensation for their sacrifices. Since the Administration's historic announcement in July 1999 that it intended to compensate DOE nuclear weapons workers who suffered occupational illnesses as a result of exposure to the unique hazards in building the Nation's nuclear defense, it has been the policy of this Administration to support fair and timely compensation for these workers and their survivors."

This order applied only to DoE and other civilian workers. To date, more than $23 billion in compensation and medical expenses have been paid. DoD personnel, including the Air Force units that served throughout NTTR/TTR and their families, were not eligible to receive fair and timely compensation for their sacrifices.

After 30 years, the pending House Bill seeks to rectify this injustice.

A .pdf presentation by Dave Crete is available at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2gdm8j8e91iz2cj/The%20Invisible%20Enemy%20at%20TTR_2023.pdf?dl=0

Dave Crete is available for interviews. To schedule an interview contact:

Virginia Martino, Brand LTD (702) 591-9183 [email protected] or

Richard Gubbe, Brand LTD (815) 670-2620 [email protected]

SOURCE U.S. Air Force Veteran David Crete
Lentiviral expert, Dr. Reiser joins Vector BioMed after serving as principal investigator at the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)

GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vector BioMed, a biomanufacturing company specializing in the manufacture of lentiviral vectors, today announced the appointment of Jakob Reiser, Ph.D., to the position of Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, as the Company expands its team to offer a best-in-class lentiviral vector platform to aid in the development of innovative gene therapies. Dr. Reiser brings more than 45 years of scientific and regulatory experience to Vector BioMed including nearly 15 years as a principal investigator at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"Dr. Reiser is a key addition to Vector BioMed's senior leadership team, bringing to the company a world-renowned scientist and leading expert in the field of lentiviral vector research and development," said Boro Dropulic, Ph.D., MBA, CEO of Vector Biomed. "During his impressive career, Dr. Reiser has been at the forefront of numerous scientific breakthroughs in lentiviral vector design, including the first HIV-1-based lentiviral vectors, and has been instrumental in the advance of regulatory policies at CBER that have served to accelerate lentiviral vector development for clinical use. As Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at Vector BioMed, Dr. Reiser will apply his expertise to support partners in their regulatory strategy and submissions in order to advance their clinical-stage programs."

Prior to joining Vector BioMed, Dr. Reiser spent nearly 15 years as a principal investigator at CBER where he led a laboratory focused on the safety and manufacture of lentiviral vectors. His regulatory work at CBER involved reviewing pre-IND, INTERACT, Investigational New Drug (IND), and Biologics License Applications (BLA) submissions, including multiple CAR T-cell BLAs. Dr. Reiser also engaged in informal consultations within the FDA and was involved in numerous regulatory policy activities.

Prior to CBER, Dr. Reiser served as Associate Professor of Medicine and Director, Gene Therapy Vector Core at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. At LSU he gained considerable experience applying lentiviral vectors in the context of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo applications. Prior to LSU, Dr. Reiser worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he was among the pioneers to design HIV-1-based lentiviral vectors.

"I am very excited to join Vector BioMed having spent a substantial part of my career at the forefront of lentiviral research and innovation," said Dr. Reiser. "The proliferation of novel cell and gene therapy products has placed a premium on the manufacture of high-quality lentiviral vectors and the availability of turnkey solutions for vector design and optimization, pre-clinical manufacturing, GMP manufacturing, and other support services. I am eager to lend my experiences to Vector BioMed's partners and look forward to working with Boro, Mike, Andrew, and the highly talented leadership team that they have assembled."

Dr. Reiser joins a senior leadership team at Vector BioMed that includes the following seasoned executives:

Mike Kadan , Ph.D., MBA, Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Kadan brings more than 30 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of biologics. He started his biotech industry career in 1989 at Genetic Therapy Inc., a pioneer in the gene therapy sector. During Dr. Kadan's career, he has held leadership roles responsible for a wide range of functions including process development, manufacturing, and operations as well as capital projects for manufacturing facility design and build. Dr. Kadan previously led the implementation of GMP lentiviral vector production at Lentigen and the manufacture of hundreds of lentiviral vector batches destined for human clinical trials.

Andrew Worden , Chief Technology Officer

Mr. Worden, who has led process characterization for multiple products intended for commercialization, was previously director of process development at Lentigen Technology, a company that Dr. Dropulic founded that is now part of Miltenyi Biotec. Mr. Worden's extensive experience with multiple technologies to produce and purify lentiviral vectors includes overseeing analytics tied to improving how they are made. His past experience also includes improving methods tied to autologous T-cell manufacturing.

Dr. Dropulic added, "I am delighted with the expert team that we have assembled at Vector BioMed, with many team members having extensive experience in lentiviral vector technology and manufacturing. Such experience provides valuable support for our partners needing lentiviral vector design and manufacturing services. We have developed an efficient lentiviral vector manufacturing process that yields very high vector titer and quality. Also, the pricing for our GMP lentiviral vectors is unbeatable, with turn-around-times that support rapid pre-clinical and clinical development."

About Vector BioMed

Vector BioMed is a state-of-the-art vector contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in best-in-class lentiviral vectors to increase efficiencies in clinical development and commercialization of cell and gene therapies. Vector BioMed's services include turn-key solutions for vector design, vector optimization, pre-clinical manufacturing, and GMP manufacturing to address the industry's current vector supply bottleneck by providing high-titer lentiviral vectors from bench to clinic to commercialization. Vector BioMed is the first company to be originated by Caring Cross, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to accelerating the development of advanced medicines and enabling access to cures for all patients. For more information on Vector BioMed visit https://vectorbiomed.com/.

CONTACT

Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.

Investors

Daniel Kontoh-Boateng

[email protected]

Media

Bill Borden

[email protected]

Dave Schemelia

[email protected]

SOURCE Vector BioMed
Plant Power Fast Food delivers taps former CEO of M&M Food Market, Andy O'Brien, to be part of its esteemed Board of Directors.

SAN DIEGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Plant Power Fast Food, has announced the appointment of Andy O'Brien to its board of directors. O'Brien, a QSR and supermarket industry veteran, was formerly the CEO of M&M Food Market.

O'Brien brings a wealth of apropos expertise to the company, having worked in the food industry for nearly two decades. His experience as a grocery and restaurant CEO will bring valuable insight into securing the right leadership and fostering "best of breed" management strategies. This is especially useful as Plant Power Fast Food continues to grow its footprint while raising additional capitalultimately pacing their vision of transforming the fast food industry.

Plant Power Fast Food has announced the appointment of Andy O'Brien to its board of directors. Tweet this

"I am honored and excited to be joining the board of directors at Plant Power Fast Food," O'Brien states. "I believe in the company's vision to transform the fast food industry by providing delicious and convenient plant-based options that are more compassionate and better for the planet."

The appointment of O'Brien to the board continues Plant Power's commitment to attracting top talent and building a strong team to achieve its mission. In recent years, the company has added executives from leading brands such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Yum! Brands, Del Taco, and Hard Rock Cafe. O'Brien's experience with M&M Food Market along with his experience at Northlands Restaurant Group and Mars Canada continues that trend.

"We are thrilled to welcome Andy O'Brien to the board of directors at Plant Power Fast Food," states President and COO Zach Vouga. "Having someone of Andy's caliber on our team is a testament to the progress we have made so far and a strong indication of our future success."

ABOUT PLANT POWER FAST FOOD

The Plant Power Restaurant Group, LLC (dba Plant Power Fast Food) is a privately held company founded in 2016. The company's mission is to transform the fast food industry by providing delicious, plant-based options for the foods people already know and love. The company is committed to delivering convenient, satisfying 100% plant-based options without compromising on taste. Learn more about the company's mission, vision, and menu options, visit plantpowerfastfood.com.

IMAGES

ANDY O'BRIEN HEADSHOT

FOOD IMAGES

LOGO

Contact:

Jim Amos, Scout 22

T: (818) 216-9122

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Plant Power Fast Food
Set to Debut in Summer 2023, the New Viking Aton Continues to Build on Viking's Commitment to Egypt

LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking (www.viking.com) today announced its newest ship for the Nile Riverthe 82-guest Viking Atonwas "floated out," marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Set to debut in August 2023, the Viking Aton will join the company's growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships purpose-built for the Nile River and sail Viking's bestselling 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary. Viking has seen very strong demand in Egypt, with the 2023 season now sold out and many 2024 sailing dates already sold out. The surge in demand has led Viking to open 2025 sailing dates sooner than originally expected.

Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen (left), pictured with Sayed Farouk, Chairman of The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.) together pressed the button that signaled to lower the ship-lift of the yard where the Viking Aton is under construction. She will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out. For more information, visit www.viking.com. Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen (center) pictured with Sayed Farouk, Chairman of The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.) and members of their teams at the Massara shipyard in Cairo during the float out ceremony of Vikings newest ship for the Nile River. The 82-guest Viking Aton is set to debut in August 2023 and will sail Vikings bestselling 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary. For more information, visit www.viking.com. Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen with the Viking Aton during the ships float out ceremony in Cairo. The traditional float out ceremony took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, and is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

"We are pleased with the continued strong interest for our Nile River voyages. Our guests are curious explorers, and Egypt remains a destination of great interest for its many cultural treasures," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "We are proud to be the only western company to build, own and operate ships on the Nile, and with the float out of the Viking Aton, we look forward to welcoming more guests to experience this fantastic region."

The traditional float out ceremony took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, and is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. The float out of Viking Aton began at approximately 1:00 p.m. local time when Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen and Sayed Farouk, Chairman of The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.), together pressed the button that signaled to lower the ship-lift of the yard. She will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.

The Viking Aton & Viking's Growing Egypt Fleet

Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new, state-of-the-art Viking Aton is inspired by Viking's award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, which was named in 2022 by Viking's first ceremonial godfather, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, the Viking Aton features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. In addition to the Viking Osiris, the Viking Aton will join the Viking Ra, which launched in 2018. In response to strong demand, Viking will have six ships sailing the Nile by 2025 with the addition of two new sister ships, the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek, which are already under construction and will be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Viking's Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary

During the 12-day, Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

For guests looking to extend their journey, Viking also offers Pre and Post Extensions that provide Privileged Access to archives and exhibits. Guests on the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension will begin the journey in London, where they will meet their Viking Tour Director, an expert Egyptologist, and experience Privileged Access to two museums: first a private, early morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the general public  and then a visit to the home and personal museum of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane, where the tour will be illuminated by candlelight, a re-enactment of how Soane entertained guests and showcased his exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus. Guests will also visit London's Petrie Museum, which houses more than 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan. In Oxford, guests will visit the Ashmolean Museum, one of the oldest in the world, and home to a varied collection of Egyptian mummies and artand go behind the scenes at Oxford University's Griffith Institute, where they will enjoy a Privileged Access visit to see Howard Carter's archives, which detail the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. Lastly, guests will have further Privileged Access with an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle to view the Earl's magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts, as well as archives and exhibits not normally accessible to the public.

Additional offerings include a Pre Extension in Jerusalem where guests will explore the ancient history and vibrant culture of Israel's fascinating capital and a Post Extension to Jordan  Petra, Dead Sea & Amman to view Roman antiquities at Jerash, Crusader-era castles at Kerak or Shobak and experience the lost city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Media Assets

For more information, images and b-roll for Viking, contact [email protected].

About Viking

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans, and lakes around the world. Designed for experienced travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person. Viking has more than 250 awards to its name, including being the first cruise line to ever be named both the #1 Ocean Line and the #1 River Line in a single year in Travel + Leisure's 2022 "World's Best" Awards. Viking has also been rated the #1 River Line and #1 Ocean Line by Conde Nast Traveler in the publication's 2022 and 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. For Viking's award-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv.

SOURCE Viking
VANCOUVER, BC, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Western Copper and Gold Corporation ("Western" or the "Company") (TSX: WRN) (NYSE American: WRN) announces that, in connection with the strategic investment by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation ("Mitsubishi Materials") announced on March 24, 2023, Rio Tinto Canada Inc. ("Rio Tinto") has notified the Company that it will exercise its participation right in full.

Rio Tinto will subscribe for 878,809 common shares of the Company for proceeds of approximately C$2.3 million (the "Rio Tinto Subscription"), allowing Rio Tinto to maintain its interest of approximately 7.84%. As a result, the Company confirms that Mitsubishi Materials will subscribe for 8,091,390 common shares of the Company for proceeds of approximately C$21.3 million.

The Rio Tinto Subscription is expected to be completed on or before May 1, 2023. The Mitsubishi Materials investment is expected to be completed on or about April 14, 2023. Both remain subject to final approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American LLC.

"We are pleased with the continued interest Rio Tinto has shown and look forward to working with Mitsubishi and Rio Tinto to advance the Casino Project." said Paul West-Sells, President and CEO.

ABOUT WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD CORPORATION

Western Copper and Gold Corporation is developing the Casino Project, Canada's premier copper-gold mine in the Yukon Territory and one of the most economic greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world.

The Company is committed to working collaboratively with our First Nations and local communities to progress the Casino project, using internationally recognized responsible mining technologies and practices.

For more information, visit www.westerncopperandgold.com

On behalf of the board,

"Paul West-Sells"

Dr. Paul West-Sells

President and CEO

Western Copper and Gold Corporation

Cautionary Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to the expected closing dates for the Rio Tinto Subscription and the strategic investment by Mitsubishi Materials. Statements that are not historical fact are "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward looking information" as that term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 ("NI 51-102") of the Canadian Securities Administrators (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "plans", "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. In making the forward-looking statements herein, the Company has applied certain material assumptions including, but not limited to, the assumption that general business conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner.

Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual results, performance or achievements of Western and its subsidiaries may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks involved in fluctuations in gold, copper and other commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in Western's AIF and Form 40-F, and other information released by Western and filed with the applicable regulatory agencies.

Western's forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and Western does not assume, and expressly disclaims, any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Western Copper and Gold Corporation
BRATTLEBORO, Vt., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "Brewing up adventure," isn't just a motto for Whetstone Beer Co., it's a way of life. Partners David Hiler, Tim and Amy Brady were brought together by their love of beer and adventure. Their years exploring the beauty of Vermont state parks has led them to launch Pints for Parks, a partnership benefiting Vermont State Parks.

Whetstone Beer Co. Jamaica State Park Kolsch beer can sticker. This is the inaugural Pints for Parks project limited release beer from Whetstone, supporting Vermont State Parks. Image courtesy of Whetstone Beer Co. (Visually impaired description: Badge-style illustration of Hamilton Falls waterfall rushing through a tree-lined rocky ravine into a river with Jamaica State Park and Kolsch style beer titles over Pints for Parks logo.)

Pints for Parks is a collaboration between Whetstone Beer Co. and Vermont State Parks where twice each year Whetstone will create a unique, limited-edition beer celebrating a different state park. Like all Whetstone Beer cans, this special release incorporates a collectible sticker in the label. Proceeds from Pints for Parks beer sales will support Vermont Parks Forever, Vermont State Parks' supporting foundation.

Pints for Parks launches with the limited-edition "Jamaica State Park Kolsch," inspired by the park's iconic Hamilton Falls. The event coincides with the Whitewater Release on May 6, 12 - 4 pm at Jamaica State Park.

"We are excited about the Pints for Parks program and the opportunity to partner with Whetstone Beer Co. This program is a terrific way to celebrate Vermont's amazing state park system and encourage folks to get outside," said Nate McKeen, Director of Vermont State Parks. "Whetstone is a terrific company to work with who understands the value of outdoor recreation and connecting people to parks."

"Jamaica State Park is the perfect place to showcase a Kolsch," said Whetstone partner Tim Brady. "This spring style beer is warm-fermented  a nod to the tropical island which shares the park's name, and is cold conditioned like the West River, fed by the park's Hamilton Falls. This Kolsch is well-balanced and subtle, perfect for a warm day after whitewater rafting or exploring your favorite state park."

"We are grateful for this creative partnership that will showcase Vermont's beautiful state parks and raise awareness of Vermont Parks Forever (VPF), the foundation for Vermont's state parks," said Sarah Alberghini Winters, Executive Director, Vermont Parks Forever. "The support from Whetstone Beer Co. will bolster VPF's efforts to expand nature education in the parks and provide more free entry through the Park Access Fund. Thanks, Whetstone!"

Follow the Pints for Parks project at whetstonebeer.com/parks.

Images available: Whetstone Beer Co Pints for Parks logo, Jamaica State Park Label Sticker, Jamaica State Park Label_FULL. Images courtesy of Whetstone Beer Co.

Contact Maia Segura

[email protected]

206-898-7090

SOURCE Whetstone Beer Co.
Japan, under the Programme for Emergency Recovery of Ukraine, handed over the first batch of seven units of construction equipment to the city of Irpin, and another 32 units of equipment will be received by the end of the year.

"We understand very well the need to restore Ukraine. Japan has chosen the priority area of assistance  waste management, the area of waste management. It is not enough just to dismantle the building, it is necessary to properly handle such waste and reuse what is possible. Without this stage, it is impossible to move on to the next stage of restoration," Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda said at the handover ceremony on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction, Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov thanked the Government of Japan and representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their continued cooperation and support for Ukraine.

"Since the beginning of this year alone, Ukraine and Japan have agreed on the provision of over $600 million for recovery needs. This allows us to quickly implement priority infrastructure recovery projects. Today, the government of Ukraine and JICA are closely cooperating with representatives of government authorities, local governments, and municipal enterprises in a number of cities most affected by Russian aggression. For our part, we coordinate and ensure maximum transparency and accountability for the successful implementation of the agreements," Kubrakov said.

The Government of Japan has provided JPY 75.5 billion (approximately $572 million) in grant assistance to the Programme for Emergency Recovery in Ukraine and has also decided to provide grant assistance of $70 million to support recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

As Deputy Head of Kyiv Regional Military Administration Mykola Boiko told Interfax-Ukraine, the project in Irpin is the first pilot project in the whole country, it is planned that it will help to solve the issue of disposal of construction waste after the dismantling of buildings destroyed due to the aggression of the Russian Federation, not only in Irpin, but in other affected cities in the region.

According to him, in general, 140,000 tonnes of construction waste have already accumulated in the region after the dismantling of buildings. About 30,000 tonnes of this volume have already been processed, and 110,000 tonnes remain at 31 sites where each community takes out waste.

Boiko added that these are not final figures because at the moment about a fifth of the buildings recognized as emergency have been dismantled.

In Irpin, the dismantling is being carried out, among other things, with the help of UNDP. "Today, 238 objects have been dismantled under this programme directly with the financial assistance of the Japanese government. Also, funds from the regional budget have been provided for dismantling in Irpin, this year UAH 25 million," Boiko said.

It is planned that the dismantling works in Irpin will be completed before the end of 2023.

According to Interfax-Ukraine, Deputy General Director of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Murooka Naomichi, in addition to Kyiv region, equipment that helps to resolve issues with dismantled construction waste will soon be delivered to Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Odesa.

According to him, the project is not limited to technical assistance only. "We want to share the Japanese urban planning experience. We have a lot of expertise in reconstruction, restoration of territories, and creation of master plans. Perhaps we will invite members of the government to Japan to see examples of our experience and decide how we can fit it into the Ukrainian context," Naomichi added.

The transferred Komatsu equipment is located at the site of Irpinmash LLC, which, according to open data, changed its activity in early March 2023 from the production of machinery and equipment for the mining industry and construction to the lease of its own and leased property.

First Deputy Mayor of the city Andriy Kravchuk did not answer the question of whether Irpin plans to stimulate the development of mechanical engineering in the community, including addressing the issues of dismantling.
According to Exactitude Consultancy the Global Ultrasonic Testing Market value is expected to reach USD 6.52 billion by 2029, growing at a 6.3% CAGR of Between Forecast Period 2023 and 2029.

PUNE, India, April 11, 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 Ultrasonic Testing Market.

The global ultrasonic testing market size is estimated to be valued at USD 3.76 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 6.52 billion by 2029, recording a CAGR of 6.3%.

The global ultrasonic testing market is experiencing significant growth and is expected to grow considerably in the next few years. Ultrasonic testing is a sort of non-destructive testing mechanism where ultrasonic pulse waves with a central frequency of 0.1  15 MHz are transmitted into any material to identify any kind of internal defect within the material.

This sort of ultrasonic testing can also be used for the inspection of flaw detection or evaluation, material thickness, high-speed rotating engine parts, and dimensional measurement. The ultrasonic technique detects hidden and internal discontinuities that are deep below the surface using the electronic equipment, which is connected to one or more transducers. Ultrasonic testing is applied to steel and any alloy, which are applicable to wood and composite products.

Request Sample Copy of the Report:

https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/4473/ultrasonic-testing-market/#request-a-sample

Browse in-depth TOC on "Ultrasonic Testing Market"

140 - Pages

168  Tables

28  Figures

Ultrasonic Testing Market Overview

The ultrasonic testing market involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to inspect and evaluate the integrity of materials and structures. Ultrasonic testing is a non-destructive testing method used in a variety of industries including aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing.

The market for ultrasonic testing is driven by factors such as the increasing demand for reliable and accurate non-destructive testing methods, advancements in ultrasonic testing technology, and growing safety concerns in various industries. The adoption of digital ultrasonic testing equipment is also contributing to the growth of the market.

North America is the largest market for ultrasonic testing, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. The presence of major players in the region, along with the increasing demand from various industries, is driving the growth of the market in North America.

The key players operating in the ultrasonic testing market include Olympus Corporation, General Electric, Sonatest Ltd, Baker Hughes, T.D. Williamson, and Eddyfi Technologies, among others. These companies are focusing on research and development activities to enhance their product portfolio and expand their market presence.

Report Attribute Details Ultrasonic Testing Market size value in 2022 USD 3.76 billion Revenue forecast in 2029 USD 6.52 billion Market Growth rate CAGR of 6.3% 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 Type; By Equipment; By Vertical and 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 Mistras Group, Olympus Corporation, Baker Hughes, Intertek, Sonatest Ltd, Amerapex Corporation, Sonotron Ndt, Tecscan Systems Inc, Ashtead Technology and Ndt Systems 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 Ultrasonic Testing Market report.

Ultrasonic Testing Market Driving Factor

There are several factors driving the growth of the ultrasonic testing market. Some of the key factors include:

Increasing demand for reliable and accurate non-destructive testing methods: Ultrasonic testing is a non-destructive testing method that allows for the inspection and evaluation of the integrity of materials and structures without causing damage. The increasing demand for reliable and accurate testing methods in various industries, such as aerospace, automotive, and energy, is driving the growth of the ultrasonic testing market. Advancements in ultrasonic testing technology: With the development of advanced ultrasonic testing technologies, the accuracy and efficiency of ultrasonic testing have improved significantly. This has led to increased adoption of ultrasonic testing in various industries, thereby driving the growth of the market. Growing safety concerns in various industries: The importance of safety in various industries has increased significantly in recent years. Ultrasonic testing helps to ensure the safety of structures and materials by detecting flaws and defects that may lead to failures or accidents. The growing safety concerns in various industries are driving the demand for ultrasonic testing. Adoption of digital ultrasonic testing equipment: The adoption of digital ultrasonic testing equipment has been increasing in recent years. Digital ultrasonic testing equipment provides more accurate and reliable results than traditional analog equipment, thereby driving the growth of the market.

Overall, the demand for reliable and accurate non-destructive testing methods, advancements in ultrasonic testing technology, growing safety concerns in various industries, and adoption of digital ultrasonic testing equipment are the key factors driving the growth of the ultrasonic testing market.

Report Benefits

Develop business strategies by understanding the trends shaping and driving the Market.

Drive revenues by understanding the key trends, innovative products and technologies, market segments, and companies likely to impact the Ultrasonic Testing Market in the future.

Formulate effective sales and marketing strategies by understanding the competitive landscape and by analyzing the company share of Ultrasonic Testing Market leaders.

Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolios and create effective counter-strategies to gain a competitive advantage.

Track sales in the global and country-specific Market.

Organize your sales and marketing efforts by identifying the market categories and segments that present maximum opportunities for consolidations, investments and strategic partnerships.

Industry Developments

In December 2020 , Walgate Technologies, a Baker Hughes business and an industry leader in inspection solutions, introduced Phoenix Powerlscan HE solution, its first high-energy computed tomography system.

, Walgate Technologies, a Baker Hughes business and an industry leader in inspection solutions, introduced Phoenix Powerlscan HE solution, its first high-energy computed tomography system. In September 2019 , MISTRAS Group acquired New Century Software (US), a leading provider of pipeline integrity management software and services to energy transportation companies.

, MISTRAS Group acquired New Century Software (US), a leading provider of pipeline integrity management software and services to energy transportation companies. In June 2019 , Olympus Corporation launched the DSX1000 digital microscope, which significantly improves the inspection workflow of users and enables the analysis of a wide variety of samples with a single tool.

, Olympus Corporation launched the DSX1000 digital microscope, which significantly improves the inspection workflow of users and enables the analysis of a wide variety of samples with a single tool. In May 2018 , Olympus introduced the IPLEX G Lite ultra-portable industrial videoscope, which is useful for inspecting hard-to-reach areas of aircraft and piping. The device is highly efficient and easy to control.

Browse Full Premium Report | Ultrasonic Testing Market Analysis with Strategic Developments

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What Is Ultrasonic Testing?

Ultrasonic testing (UT) is a non-destructive testing technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to inspect and evaluate the integrity of materials and structures. The Ultrasonic testing equipment emits high-frequency sound waves that penetrate the material or structure being tested. The sound waves are then reflected back to the equipment, where they are analyzed to determine the presence of defects, such as cracks, voids, or inclusions.

Ultrasonic testing is commonly used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and manufacturing to detect flaws and defects that may affect the integrity and safety of materials and structures. Ultrasonic testing is a non-invasive technique that does not cause damage to the material or structure being tested, making it an ideal method for inspecting critical components without causing downtime or expensive repairs. Ultrasonic testing is used to inspect a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, composites, and ceramics.

Key Market Segments: Ultrasonic testing Market

Ultrasonic Testing Market By Type, 2020-2029, (USD Million) (Thousand Units)

Time-Of-Flight Diffraction

Phased Array

Immersion Testing

Guided-Wave Testing

Acoustography

Ultrasonic Testing Market By Equipment, 2020-2029, (USD Million) (Thousand Units)

Flaw Detectors

Thickness Gauges

Transducers & Probes

Industrial Scanners

Ultrasonic Testing Market By Vertical, 2020-2029, (USD Million) (Thousand Units)

Manufacturing

Oil & Gas

Aerospace

Automotive

Power Generation

Ultrasonic Testing Market By Regions, 2020-2029, (IN USD Million) (Thousand Units)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

South America

Middle East And Africa

Frequently Asked Questions About This Report

How big is the Ultrasonic Testing Market?

What is the Ultrasonic Testing Industry growth?

Which segment accounted for the largest Ultrasonic Testing Market share?

Who are the key players in the Ultrasonic Testing Industry?

What are the factors driving the Ultrasonic Testing Industry?

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SOURCE Exactitude Consultancy
LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is pleased to announce Brain Health and Disability as the theme for its 10th Annual World Brain Day (WBD) on Saturday, July 22. This year's theme will inspire a global initiative to close the gaps in disability awareness and reduce health care barriers that exist for individuals with neurological disabilities. When it comes to brain health, may we leave no one behind.

The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is pleased to announce Brain Health and Disability as the theme for its 10th Annual World Brain Day (WBD) on Saturday, July 22, 2023

"Individuals with disabilities have so many odds stacked against them," says Prof. Wolfgang Grisold, President of WFN. "We selected this year's theme to bring attention to the large number of people suffering from neurological disability worldwide."

This World Brain Day is framed by five key aims:

Prevention: Brain disabilities can be prevented, treated and rehabilitated.

Awareness: Global brain health awareness can reduce the disability associated with brain disorders.

Access: Universal access to care, treatment, rehabilitation and assistive technology is essential.

Education: Education increases equity for those living with brain disabilities.

Advocacy: Brain health is a human right that applies to everyone, everywhere.

"This World Brain Day will provide a vital opportunity to fight for the equality of people with disabilities on a global scale," says Prof. Tissa Wijeratne, World Brain Day Co-Chair. "Through advocacy and policy changes, our collective voices will spark a worldwide movement for better health care access that will lift the global burden of brain disabilities."

WFN encourages people from around the globe to come together for brain health and disability awareness by hosting their own activities and using the following hashtags on social media: #WorldBrainDay, #WBD2023 and #BrainHealthandDisability.

"This is our chance to show up for people with disabilities that stem from neurological diseases and create a global effort to break down barriers that prevent them from achieving the highest possible standard of health that everyone deserves, " says David Dodick, MD, Emeritus Professor of Neurology at Mayo Clinic and World Brain Day Co-Chair. "So many of these individuals face stigma, discrimination, lack of access to professional care and rehabilitation that can change their lives."

In 2022, WFN demonstrated its ongoing commitment to promoting the importance of brain health worldwide with the World Brain Day theme, "Brain Health for All." This year, WFN hopes to bring even more global awareness to the importance of brain health with a deeper focus on disability by working with its Regional Neurological Associations:

American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

African Academy of Neurology (AFAN)

Asian and Oceanian Association of Neurology (AOAN)

European Academy of Neurology (EAN)

Pan-American Federation of Neurological Societies (PAFNS)

Pan Arab Union of Neurological Societies (PAUNS)

WFN is also proud to partner with the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation (WFNR) for this year's efforts.

"I am honored to partner with the World Federation of Neurology for this year's World Brain Day," said Prof. Volker Homberg, President of the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation. "Our joint efforts to raise awareness about brain health and disability will help ensure that people with neurological disabilities receive the care and rehabilitation they need to reach their full potential. Let us work together towards a future where everyone has access to the care and support they need for optimal brain health."

"When we all work together, we make significant strides toward achieving a better universal understanding of brain health, which can help us create a real difference for individuals living with disabilities," says Prof. Grisold. "We anticipate World Brain Day 2023 to be a step in the right direction."

World Brain Day expands awareness to help illustrate the complexity of issues that individuals with disabilities often face and will emphasize the importance of prioritizing efforts to make the world more accessible and equitable for everyone.

World Brain Day was established by WFN in 2014 as a way to bring public awareness to a different topic in neurological health each year. The annual celebration takes place on July 22a nod to the day WFN was founded in 1957. Visit wfneurology.org/world-brain-day-2023 for more information on how to get involved in this year's World Brain Day.

About the World Federation of Neurology

With support from its 123 national neurological Member Societies, the World Federation of Neurology fosters quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training, emphasizing under-resourced areas of the world. As a non-state actor in official relations, WFN supports the World Health Organization (WHO) efforts to give everyone an equal chance to live a healthy life. With Member Societies around the globe, WFN unites the world's neurologists to ensure quality neurology and advocate for people to have better brain health. Learn more about the World Federation of Neurology at wfneurology.org .

About the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation

Established in 1996, the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation is a multidisciplinary organization based in the UK and open to all professionals around the world with an interest in neurorehabilitation. WFNR drives awareness of neurorehabilitation, provides training and education, encourages research and collaboration and is a forum of communication for all professionals with an interest in the subject. WFNR now has over 5000 members worldwide, 39 Special Interest Groups and is affiliated to 43 Member Societies in various countries.

Media Contact

Ryan Pollock, Yakkety Yak

[email protected]

SOURCE World Federation of Neurology
Ten judges of Russian Constitutional Court to be tried in absentia in Ukraine for decision on constitutionality of annexation of occupied territories

Ten judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation will be convicted in absentia for making a decision on the annexation of four regions of Ukraine to Russia, the Prosecutor Generals Office (PGO) reports.

"Under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office, a special pretrial investigation has been completed and an indictment has been sent to the court against 10 judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation. They are charged with encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine (Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," the Prosecutor General's Office said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

According to the prosecutor's office, the investigation found that on October 2, 2022, these judges adopted resolutions on the recognition of constitutional so-called "agreements" between the Russian Federation and "representatives of the authorities" of the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions and on the admission of these territories to the Russian Federation.

"By such actions, they committed aiding the supreme military and political leadership of the Russian Federation in committing deliberate actions with the aim of changing the borders of the territory and the state border of Ukraine in violation of the procedure established by the Constitution of Ukraine," the message says.

The pretrial investigation was carried out by the Main Investigative Department of the SBU.
Meerut, April 11 : Two houses were set on fire a day after a 24-year-old man was shot dead in Palda village in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut.

The incident has led to communal tension in the area.

In view of the situation, a heavy police force has been deployed in and around the village to control the situation.

SP (Rural) Kamlesh Bahadur said that four people have been arrested for their involvement in killing one Vishu on Sunday evening. Raids are being conducted to nab the other accused.

The senior cop is camping in the village along with the police team. He said that timely intervention of police prevented situation from deteriorating.

"A case has been lodged against five people. The situation is under control," said the SP.

Earlier, two unidentified motorcycle-borne criminals shot dead Vishu on Sunday evening. His murder created an uproar in the village and the family members accused members of the minority community behind the murder.

The victim's kin accused that Vishu had a confrontation with some Muslim youths during Holi and his killing was a fallout of that altercation.

The tension escalated further when his body was brought in the village on Monday after a post-mortem.

A group of angry villagers attacked the houses of two of the accused and set them on fire.

Subsequently, SSP Meerut Rohit Kumar Sajwan and SP (rural) Kamlesh Bahadur rushed to the village along with a heavy force and pacified the situation.
Chicago, April 11 : Four people were killed and nine others injured in a shooting that happened in downtown Louisville in the US' Kentucky state.

Of the injured, three were in critical condition. One of the two police officers injured was in critical condition, Louisville police confirmed in a news conference, Xinhua news agency reported.

Louisville police made to the scene in three minutes. The police said that the suspect, 23-year-old white man Connor Sturgeon, shot at officers, and the police returned fire and "stopped that threat".

The gunman worked at the bank, Louisville Interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a news briefing Monday afternoon.

There was a heavy police presence at the scene, with damaged glass and discarded medical equipment at one location, local media reported.

The incident started around 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Old National Bank on the E. Main Street, the Louisville Metro Police Department tweeted.

Gunshots could be heard on video clips at the scene posted on social media.
Kiev, April 11 : An estimated 7 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war.

Out of them, about 4.8 million people were officially registered within government agencies as internally displaced persons (IDPs), Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying, Xinhua news agency reported.

Some 1 million children were forced to leave their homes due to the war, but are residing inside Ukraine, Vereshchuk noted.

According to the latest UN estimates, more than 8.1 million people have fled Ukraine for European countries after the start of the war.
The work of the grain corridor on Tuesday, April 11, was suspended due to the lack of inspections of the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) on that day, Ukraine calls sabotage by the Russian Federation the reason for the situation.

According to the information of the JCC on its website, the last four inspections took place the day before, on April 10, on ships that left the port of Odesa and Chornomorsk on March 31-April 1.

The list of vessels that have not passed the inspection on the JCC website contains 31 vessels with departure dates from April 1 to April 11, including two of them left Ukrainian ports on Tuesday, and three more a day earlier.

Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Yuriy Vaskov, in a commentary to The Guardian, confirmed that no inspections happened on April 11. According to him, submitted the names of three bulk grain carriers, as per the treaty agreement, but the representatives of the Russian side in the JCC crossed out the names and submitted other inbound vessels. As a result, no ships were allowed to continue on their journey, Vaskov said.

"Today we have a critical situation. The Russians have violated the conditions of the Black Sea grain initiative. They decided to unilaterally change the plans of Ukrainian ports. It's unacceptable," The Guardian quoted the deputy minister.
Washington, April 11 : California state has dropped its allegations of caste-based bias by two Indian-descent employees of IT giant Cisco but will continue the larger case against the company.

California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing had filed this case in 2020 based on a complaint from an unidentified employee of the company making it the first case of caste-based discrimination reported in the US.

This case went on to be seen as a confirmation of the existence of a typically South Asian form of discrimination in the US and it was subsequently cited in support of moves to add this practice to the list of banned grounds for bias elsewhere in the country such as in Seattle.

The California civil rights department (CRD) filed its request for "partial dismissal" in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara on Monday.

"Only the two individual defendants are being dismissed," said the department's press office in response to a request for clarification. "CRD's case against Cisco remains ongoing. We will continue to vigorously litigate the matter on behalf of the people of California." The lawsuit by California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing was filed against Cisco System Inc in 2020 on the basis of a complaint from a Indian-descent Dalit employee of the company who had alleged caste-based discrimination against him by two of his supervisors - also of India-descent - and alleged retaliation when he complained.

The suit was filed against the company - Cisco Systems Inc; and the two supervisors - Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella.

The department of civil rights has dropped the allegations against the two supervisors, but said its larger case against the company will continue.

"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 after the CRD sullied their reputation alleging that they engaged in discrimination based on caste," said Suhag Shukla, Executive Director of Hindu American Foundation (HAF), which has opposed the listing of caste among banned ground for discrimination.

"We are thrilled that Iyer and Kompella have been vindicated along with our position that the state has no right to attribute wrongdoing to Hindu and Indian Americans simply because of their religion or ethnicity," she added.

HAF was among a group of organizations of Hindu Americans who tried to stop Seattle city from adding caste to the banned list of kinds of bias and it is also now part of an effort to stop California from adopting a legislation banning caste-based discrimination, the first American state to do so, when, and if, that legislation becomes law.

A debate is raging in the Indian American community, joined by other South Asian communities, on the question of adding caste to the list of many kinds of bias banned in the US, with history/origin, religion, color and ethnicity.

HAF, Vishwa Hindu Parishad America and other rightwing Hindu Americans argue that caste-based discrimination is reprehensible, any law banning it here in the US puts a target on the backs of the entire South Asian community, specially Hindus, by portraying them all as purveyors of this practice.

They also argue that discrimination based on caste is covered by existing laws that outlaw all kinds of bias and discrimination and there is no need for a new ban.

Their third, and the final argument, is that the caste-bias in the US is rare and not as rampant as it has been made out to be. They have questioned data cited by supporters of the ban.

Others argue that caste-based discrimination is widely practiced among American communities of people of South Asian descent - from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal - and that it's needs to be banned. No one community is being targeted and if HAF and other such organisations agree and acknowledge that caste is a reprehensible practice, they should not oppose its ban.

California state senator Aisha Wahab is among the supporters of the ban and she has introduced a legislation to make the state the first to put caste on the ban list. Kshama Sawant, the Indian American council woman who made Seattle the first city to ban caste, is the most vocal proponent of the movement pushing America to outlaw caste.
Kiev, April 11 : A total of 100 Ukrainian captives, including 20 women, were released in the latest prisoner swap with Russia, Ukrainian authorities have said.

Among those freed were Ukrainian army soldiers, national guard and navy servicemen, and border guards, Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President's Office, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

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.
Lucknow, April 11 : The BJP will not give tickets to relatives of the ministers, MPs and MLAs in the upcoming local body elections.

A decision to this effect was taken at a late-night meeting of the party leadership held at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's official residence on Monday.

The meeting also discussed the strategy to ensure maximum win percentage for the party.

According to a senior minister who attended the meeting, the leadership also took feedback from ministers and gave their valuable suggestions.

The BJP leadership was categorical in its statement that no MP, MLA and minister should lobby for their kin.

This is a setback for Uttar Pradesh Minister Nand Gopal Nandi whose wife Abhilasha Gupta is the outgoing mayor of Prayagraj. She has been preparing for a second term.

Similarly, deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was said to be keen to fieled his wife Namrata Pathak for the post of mayor in Lucknow.

The meeting also decided that the ministers in-charge of the districts would also be responsible for the organisational work of the party in their jurisdiction.

The chief minister said that the voter should be made aware of the work done by the Modi government and the state government.

"In-charge ministers should ensure that the BJP wins maximum seats in the local bodies elections," he said.

State BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary said that the in-charge ministers have the added responsibility to ensure winnable candidates get the ticket.

Those in-charge should also ensure that those who could not get the ticket are not dissatisfied and effort should be made to encourage them to work for the party's victory.

The ministers were directed that they have the responsibility not only to look after the districts of which they are in-charge but also of their native districts.

"Everyone should ensure that the party wins all the 762 urban local bodies, including 17 municipal corporations," he said.
United Nations, April 11 : New Delhi has called for international condemnation of Pakistan sending weapons across the international border to terrorists operating in India.

"We are facing a serious challenge of cross-border supply of illicit weapons using drones, which cannot be possible without active support from the authorities in control of those territories," India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj told the Security Council on Monday.

"The international community should condemn such behaviour and hold such states accountable for their misdeeds," she said.

Although Kamboj did not name Pakistan, the reference to the country was obvious.

Indian officials have reported drones coming in from Pakistan to drop weapons and drugs for terrorists in Punjab and Kashmir.

Last year till November, at least 22 such drones were reported captured by Indian agencies and 266 drone infiltrations were reported during the year.

In January, India's Border Security Force discovered a drone dropping weapons in Punjab's Gurdaspur district.

Participating in the Council session on threats and risks to international security from the illicit export of weapons, Kamboj also warned about the collusion between terrorists and certain countries that arm them.

"The quantum of these (terrorist) threats multiplies when certain states with dubious proliferation credentials, in view of their masked proliferation networks and deceptive procurement practices of sensitive goods and technologies, collude with terrorists and other non-state actors," she said.

Again without naming Pakistan, she said: "For example, the rise in volume and the quality of the small arms acquired by terrorist organisations remind us time and again that they cannot exist without the sponsorship or support of states.

"The export of weapons and military equipment in violation of international law, exacerbating geo-political tensions, cannot be ignored." The Council meeting was convened by Russia as the president of the Council for this month in an attempt to draw attention to the supply of weapons by the West to Ukraine, although it does not generally appear to contravene international arms agreements.

Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzia asserted that the weapons provided to Ukraine are finding their way to "criminals and terrorists via black markets".

"Weapons that Western states delivered to Ukraine started to surface in various European states, where it adds to the arsenals of organised crime, a fact confirmed by European police officers. Such weapons also spread throughout the world, in particular, it finds its way to the militants in Africa." The US' Alternate Representative Robert Wood accused Russia of getting weapons from "rogue states" like North Korea in violation of international regulations.

Russia had received infantry rockets and missiles in November last year in violation of Security Council resolutions, he said, and noted that again in violation of Security Council resolutions, Russia received drones from Iran and used them to attack civilians in Ukraine.

Responding to Nebenzia's criticism of the West for supplying to weapons to Ukraine, Japan's Deputy Permanent Representative Shino Mitsuko said that "we must look at the fundamental cause of the issue -- Russia's aggression against Ukraine".

She said that Ukraine was exercising its right of self-defence against aggression by Russia.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Rome, April 11 : The Italian Coast Guard is conducting two large-scale operations to rescue some 1,200 migrants who are adrift in overcrowded boats off the coast of Sicily.

The two fishing boats are carrying 800 and 400 migrants, respectively, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

The boat carrying 400 people, which is believed to have set out from Tobruk in Libya, was still without help late on Monday evening, according to an unofficial hotline for migrants in distress, Alarm Phone.

It said it had raised an urgent alarm with the authorities of Italy, Greece and Malta on Sunday.

German non-governmental organisation Sea-Watch International said two merchant vessels near one of the ships had been ordered not to help with rescue efforts by Malta while the boat was in Maltese waters.

Instead, one of the ships had been allowed to supply it with fuel and water, reports the BBC.

Alarm Phone said that it had been in contact with people on board the boat, which is now in Italian waters south-east of Capo Passero.

A woman on board also said it was without its captain and had several people in need of medical care.

An operation to rescue the 800 people on the other boat is also underway south-east of Syracuse, but the operation has been complicated by overcrowding on board, the BBC quoted the Italian Coast Guard as saying.

It was not immediately clear where the boat had set out from.

Since April 7, Italy had already rescued around 2,000 people in other operations.

Other boats arrived at the Italian island of Lampedusa, one of the main arrival ports for people wanting to reach Europe, over the weekend.

At least two migrants died and around 20 others were missing after their boat capsized on Saturday night, according to German non-profit ResQship.

Every year, tens of thousands of migrants fleeing war, persecution and poverty risk the treacherous route in search of better economic prospects, CNN reported.

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, while 1,368 were dead or missing, according to the latest figures from the UN Refugee Agency.

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 and most of the arrivals were from the Ivory Coast, Guinea, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Pakistan.
Washington, April 11 : A gunman livestreamed a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, which led to the deaths of five people, with eight others injured, authorities said.

The perpetrator, who was identified as Old National Bank employee Connor Sturgeon (25), was killed by the police after a shootout following the mass shooting on Monday, CNN quoted interim Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel as saying to reporters.

He used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during the incident and was broadcasting the shooting online on Instagram.

"That's tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured," said Gwinn-Villaroel.

Sturgeon is described in an online profile as being a syndications associate and portfolio banker at Old National Bank. He had joined the company as a full-time employee last year after spending three summers as an intern there, the BBC reported.

According to reports, he had recently been told by the bank that he was going to be fired and had written a note describing his plans for the mass shooting before going to work on Monday.

Meanwhile, four of the victims who were killed on the spot, were identified as Joshua Barrick (40), Juliana Farmer (45), Tommy Elliott (63) and James Tutt (64). The fifth victim, Deana Eckert (57), died later on Monday evening.

Of the injured, a 26-year-old police officer Nickolas Wilt had graduated from the police academy just 10 days ago. He was shot in the head.

According to the police, the mass shooting began at the Old National Bank on East Main Street at about 8.30 a.m. on Monday morning, about 30 minutes before the bank opens to the public.

It happened during a morning employee meeting, with some appearing in person and others virtually, Rebecca Buchheit-Sims, a manager at the bank, told CNN.

Officers got to the bank within three minutes of being dispatched and found the shooter was still firing, Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told reporters.

Officers got into a shootout with the gunman, killing him, Gwinn-Villaroel said.

In a statement, Meta, which owns Instagram, said it had "quickly removed the livestream of this tragic incident this morning".

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said one of the five victims, Tommy Elliot, a senior vice-president at the bank, was an "incredible friend" of his, the BBC reported.

"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad," said Beshear.

Mayor Craig Greenberg called the attack "an evil act of targeted violence" and thanked the "brave and heroic" first responders for their actions.

"Without a doubt their actions saved lives," he said.

According to data by the Gun Violence Archive, there has been at least 146 mass shootings -- defined as those in which at least four people were shot -- so far in 2023, including at least 15 since April began.

President Joe Biden demanded Congress pass gun control measures as he tweeted on Monday: "Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives." Kentucky is one of 26 states that allow most adults over 21 years old to purchase and carry a firearm without a licence.
Washington, April 11 : The mother of a six-year-old boy who shot his teacher at a school in the US state of Virginia, has been criminally charged, according to prosecutors.

In a statement on Monday, the prosecutors said that grand jury has indicted 25-year-old Deja Taylor with a felony child neglect charge and a misdemeanour charge, reports the BBC.

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", the statement said.

The prosecutors added the charges stemmed from a "thorough investigation" into the January 6 shooting at the Richneck Elementary School in the city of Newport News, about 112 km south of the state capital Richmond.

"Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues," the BBC quoted attorney for the Commonwealth of Virginia, Howard Gwynn as saying on Monday.

According to the police, the boy brought the gun in his backpack and the firearm was legally purchased and belonged to the child's mother.

He then shot Abigail Zwerner, his 25-year-old teacher, in the hand and chest during a lesson.

She was seriously injured but survived the shooting.
New Delhi, April 11 : Ride-hailing major Uber has sold its stake worth $400 million in Careem, the Middle East-based ride-hailing company that it bought in 2019, to boost its super app business.

Careem will spin out its super app business into a new venture backed with $400 million from the telco giant Emirates Telecommunications (known as e&).

Careem will be broken into two companies, Careem Rides and Careem Technologies, according to Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and Co-founder of Careem.

"I am delighted to announce that we have secured $400 million in investment from e&, the global technology and investments group. This investment will turbo-charge our Super App vision and restart our entrepreneurial journey to build the preeminent technology platform of our region," Sheikha said in a blog post.

Careem Rides will operate a foundational ride-hailing service and will continue to be fully owned by Uber.

About 260 colleagues who directly or indirectly support Careem Rides will serve in Careem Rides under Ashish Labroo, who will start reporting into Uber's Rides leadership, Sheikha announced.

Careem Technologies will operate the Super App along with all other verticals and enablers.

It will be owned jointly by e&, Uber, the three co-founders (who are investing alongside e&), and the colleagues.

"About 1,400 colleagues will be invited to join Careem Technologies, which I will lead as CEO. We will use the new funding and synergies with our new partner (e&) to scale the Super App and build category-leading verticals in all our key markets," said Sheikha.

Some colleagues in Careem Technologies who work on shared infrastructure will continue to support Careem Rides.

Careem was founded in 2012 as a ride-hailing rival to Uber, which acquired Careem in 2019 for $3.1 billion.
Addis Ababa, April 11 : Ethiopian authorities have imposed a curfew in Gonder, a major city in the northern region of Amhara, amid unrest, officials said.

Auto-rickshaws are prohibited from operating outside of the period from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Gonder city administration command post said in a statement on Monday, adding that bars and nightclubs are prohibited from remaining open beyond 9 p.m., reports Xinhua news agency The curfew was imposed amid ongoing protest demonstrations starting last week in cities across the Amhara region against a federal government plan to "disarm the region's special forces".

The Ethiopian government plans to incorporate special forces in the country's 11 regional states into other regional security structures with the aim to form a strong and united security structure, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had announced on Sunday.

The curfew order also prohibited anyone outside authorized security forces structures from moving around with firearms as well as moving around with crude sharp objects.
Beirut, April 11 : The development of Lebanon's real estate sector is slowing down, with demand for properties falling by around 80 per cent in 2022 and 2023 compared to the years before the ongoing financial crisis which first erupted in 2019, according to economists.

Nassib Ghobril, head of the economic research department at Byblos Bank, told Xinhua news agency that demand for properties has dropped by at least 80 per cent in the four years after the crisis, due to the lack of market liquidity.

In 2020 and 2021, buyers could still pay for their properties through cheques, which were needed by the real estate developers to settle their bank loans, said Ghobril.

However, after paying off most of their bank debts, the developers only accepted cash, making it very difficult for Lebanese buyers to afford properties as the bankrupt banks froze tens of billions of dollars saved in their accounts, he noted.

Adnan Rammal, a real estate developer and representative of the trade sector in the Economic and Social Council, attributed the decline in demand to Lebanese buyers' reduced purchasing power following the devaluation of their currency as a result of the severe financial crisis.

Before the crisis, according to Rammal, around 60 to 70 per cent of properties sold were small apartments priced at approximately $150,000.

However, buyers of these apartments, mostly employees paid on wages, saw their purchasing power decreased a great deal during the crisis.

Making matters worse, the collapse of the banking sector made those employees who relied significantly on loans no longer had access to them.

According to developers, the sharp decrease in property demand in Lebanon led to a price drop of around 50 per cent from pre-crisis levels.

Developers have stressed the necessity for the government to take urgent measures to revive the real estate market and some other sectors of the economy.

Rammal said that the banking sector must be restructured in order for it to provide loans to buyers as before.

The economic and financial crisis that started in October 2019 has been further exacerbated by the dual economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the massive Port of Beirut explosion in August 2020, according to the World Bank.

Of the three, the economic crisis has had by far the largest (and most persistent) negative impact.

In July last year, Lebanon was reclassified by the World Bank as a lower-middle income country, down from upper middle-income status.

Unemployment has also increased from 11.4 per cent in 2018-19 to 29.6 per cent in 2022.

Earlier this month, the Lebanese currency collapsed to 100,000 LBP per US dollar for the first time in history.

Lebanon's economists have been calling on authorities to elect a new president and form a new cabinet to end the political deadlock and allow the country to implement necessary reforms and stop the collapse.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are examining the possibility to launch a joint venture to facilitate oil transit through the territory of Azerbaijan, Serik Zhumangarin, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan said, Trend reports, citing Kazakh media.

Yesterday we discussed the possibility of establishing a joint venture, which would operate the said transit route by applying with a through rate, with cheap transit opportunities, the use of innovative technologies, he said.

The minister noted that discussions regarding the establishment of the joint company between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan took place in the framework of negotiations on the transit of Kazakh oil through Baku-Supsa pipeline.

Kzazakhstan already launched oil transit through the territory of Azerbaijan. Some 20,000 tons of oil were transited via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in March, while 125,000 tons are expected to be supplied in April.

Overall, SOCAR and KazMunayGas, national oil companies of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, agreed to carry out the transit of 1.5 million tons of oil in 2023.
Mumbai, April 11 : Actress Wamiqa Gabbi, who is receiving a lot of appreciation for her work in the recently released streaming series 'Jubilee', feels that there was a certain kind of innocence in the Golden era of the Indian cinema which seems to be lost in current times.

'Jubilee', which also stars Aparshakti Khurana, Aditi Rao Hydari, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Sidhant Gupta, Nandish Sandhu, and Ram Kapoor, is set against the backdrop of the golden age of Indian cinema and explores the evolution of Hindi cinema.

Wamiqa, who is plays the role of a yesteryear actress, said, "There's a splendid innocence about the golden age of cinema and its actors, which is lost today and it needs to be touched upon. Even if things were not perfect, it was all part of learning".

She further mentioned, "Being an actor or showbiz during that time was a profession without any frills attached to it. I am glad I was able to live that time through 'Jubilee'".

The series, helmed by Vikramaditya Motwane of 'Lootera' fame, is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Kolkata, April 11 : A person was killed by a gunshot in New Delhi-bound North East Express near New Jalpaiguri station in north Bengal, sources said on Tuesday.

According to passengers, they heard a gunshot from one of the compartments as the train, which had started from Assam's Kamakhya, was about to approach the New Jalpaiguri station on Monday night.

As the train entered the station, the passengers rushed out of their compartments. Some of them were seen running helter-skelter in utter panic.

Personnel of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) immediately took control of the train and recovered a person lying in a pool of blood in one of the unreserved compartments. They also recovered a pistol from beside the body.

The identity of the deceased is to be ascertained. It is yet to be clear whether it was a case of suicide or a murder.

An investigation has been launched in the matter. The train left the station after the compartment was detached.
Seoul, April 11 : South Korea lodged a strong protest against Japan on Tuesday over Tokyo's renewed territorial claim to Dokdo, a set of disputed islets in the Sea of Japan between the Korean peninsula and the Japanese archipelago.

The claim, strongly disputed by South Korea that has long maintained effective control of Dokdo, which are known as Takeshima in Japan, with the permanent stationing of security personnel there, was included in the 2023 Diplomatic Bluebook that was reported to the Cabinet by Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The Bluebook stated that South Korea has continued an "illegal occupation" of the area with no legal basis.

Lim Soo-suk, spokesperson for South Korea's foreign ministry, said Seoul "strongly protests Japan's repeated unjust claims of sovereignty over Dokdo, which is of our sovereign territory historically, geographically and under international law".

He added Japan should "clearly recognise" that repeating such claims does not contribute to the building of a future-oriented relationship between Seoul and Tokyo.

The Ministry called in Naoki Kumagai, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to deliver a formal protest message.

While South Korea controls the islets, its sovereignty over them is contested by Japan, while North Korea also claims the territory.
Chennai, April 11 : The Tamil Nadu health department has stepped up measures to counter the Covid resurgence after the state's active caseload breached the 2,000 mark.

In the last 24 hours, the state reported 386 new cases, which increased the overall active caseload to 2,099.

Also on Monday, a 63-year-old woman succumbed to the virus, leading to concerns over the current Covid situation.

Addressing the media, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian however, said that there was no need to worry as the Covid strain that is in circulation in the country is of a milder variety and not lethal.

However the steady increase in fresh cases has led the state health department to step up measures, including the increase of beds, oxygen requirement, readying ICUs for any eventualities, as well as to ensure the availability of doctors and support staff like nurses and paramedics.

Meanwhile, Subramanian told IANS that "64,281 beds are ready, of which 33,664 are oxygen-supported, 22,820 are non-oxygen and 7,797 ICU beds".

He said that the state's liquid oxygen storage capacity stood at 2,067 metric tonnes and added that there were 342 RT-PCR testing centres across Tamil Nadu.

The Minister added that the state 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.
San Francisco, April 11 : In a first such case, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved a final consent order against supplements retailer The Bountiful Company for 'review hijacking', in which a marketer steals or repurposes reviews of another product.

In addition to penalising Bountiful $600,000, the final order prohibits Bountiful from making similar types of misrepresentations and bars the company from using deceptive review tactics that distort what consumers think about its products or services.

According to the FTC, The Bountiful Company abused a feature of Amazon.com to deceive consumers into thinking that its newly introduced supplements had more product ratings and reviews, higher average ratings, and '#1 Best Seller' and 'Amazon's Choice' badges.

The FTC's complaint alleged that by manipulating Amazon.com product pages, Bountiful misrepresented the reviews, the number of Amazon reviews and the average star ratings of some products, and that some of them were number one best sellers or had earned an Amazon Choice badge.

The case against Bountiful marked the FTC's first law enforcement challenging 'review hijacking'.

Bountiful took advantage of an Amazon feature that allows vendors to create or request the creation of 'variation' relationships between some products that are similar but differ only in narrow, specific ways - such as colour, size, quantity, or flavour.

For example, the company began selling two new products: Nature's Bounty Stress Comfort Mood Booster and Nature's Bounty Stress Comfort Peace of Mind Stress Relief Gummies.

It requested that Amazon combine the new products in a variation relationship with three of its established products, all with different formulations.

"Boosting your products by hijacking another product's ratings or reviews is a relatively new tactic, but is still plain old false advertising," said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

"The Bountiful Company is paying back $600,000 for manipulating product pages and deceiving consumers."
United Nations, April 11 : The UN's Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has started examining the various threats to the achievement of the global educational goal, stressing the importance of quality and inclusive education for women and girls.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned that the goal of achieving quality education for all by 2030 is "seriously off track", with 263 million children and young people out of school, reports Xinhua news agency.

Mohammed made the statement at the latest CPD session, held at the UN headquarters in New York, where the issue is under scrutiny this week.

The current session, its 56th, will conclude on Friday.

Mohammed highlighted the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, who have been banned from high school and university, calling it "one of the gravest educational challenges of our time".

She stressed the need "to transform the education system" to equip current and future generations with the skills they need to thrive in a fast-changing world.

She also called for initiatives to make all learners "climate-ready" and connected to the internet and digital innovation, especially for girls and women from the Global South who are the most excluded.

The importance of inclusive education for women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics was also emphasized by Mohammed and Natalia Kanem, executive director of the UN Population Fund.

They noted that education is a "door opener" and "life changer" for vulnerable women and girls, reducing the risk of harmful practices and increasing health, income, and participation in the formal labour market.

Kanem highlighted the significance of safeguarding education for everyone, including comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), which equips young people with information and skills to develop healthy and positive relationships.

CSE empowers girls to avoid unintended pregnancies and encourages both genders to stay in school, among other benefits.

She emphasized that providing people with knowledge and power to manage their own reproductive rights and choices leads to improved development outcomes.

A pre-recorded message from UN Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) head Li Junhua outlined how population dynamics affect education, citing millions not in school and low math and reading proficiency as examples.

There are some parts of the world, where public financing capacity is limited, where a rapidly growing school-aged population makes achieving education goals more difficult, he said.

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 toward young people and adults alike.

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in education systems, resulting in large cuts in public spending on education in low and lower-income countries, leading to deprived access to learning, particularly for children and young people.

Li called for investing in digital literacy and closing the digital divide, along with increasing 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 Qu Xing, deputy director-general of the 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, he noted.
Mumbai, April 11 : Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor has praised Hollywood star and his "dearest friend" Jeremy Renner and said that he is "absolutely indestructible." Renner, who got severely injured in a snow plough accident on New Year's, appeared on a chat show for the very first time after the tragic incident.

Image Source: IANS News

Anil, who will be seen sharing screen space with Renner in the upcoming series 'Rennervations', took to Twitter to praise the 'Hawkeye' star after his appearance on the chat show.

Renner had tweeted about his Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance.

He wrote: "Oddly comfortable coming out a different door, with different stories, and brand new cane?" Replying to his tweet, Anil wrote: "Absolutely indestructible my dearest friend @JeremyRenner the toughest avenger." 'Rennervations' is a four-part series, which revolves around Renner, who embarks on his passion of bringing communities together by reimagining unique vehicles that serve the purpose and aid people's requirements.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Washington, April 11 : Forty-four countries have expressed interest in joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s $40 billion Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

The facility created a year ago aims to increase the resilience of low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries by providing them with financial support and promoting sustainable economic policies in response to systemic risks such as climate change, reports Xinhua news agency.

The strong demand for the RST program underscores the urgent need for global cooperation in mobilising the trillions of dollars in investment in order to put the world on a net-zero emissions trajectory, said Georgieva at an event held on Monday at the start of IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings week.

The event, on the theme of Scaling Up Resilience and Sustainability Financing, was co-organized by the Bretton Woods Committee, the International Finance Forum (IFF), and the Paulson Institute.

Rwanda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Bangladesh and Jamaica have reached agreements on loan programs from the facility, according to Georgieva.

"So $40 billion is not a solution on its own, but it is a contribution to a solution, if it helps remove barriers for massively scaling investment, especially private investment in emerging markets and economies.

"But we also have much more to do ... Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach based on three interrelated elements: adequate policies, investment and innovation, and financing," the IMF chief said.
San Francisco, April 11 : Microsoft has announced the integration of Snapchat Lenses in Teams to make the virtual meet more expressive, which will be available to users globally starting this week.

"Starting this week, a collection of 20+ of the most popular Snapchat Lenses are available to Teams customers globally, giving you more ways to express yourself, build relationships and let your meetings shine," Microsoft said in a blogpost.

Moreover, the company said there is no need to download anything or add a new app to Teams to access Snapchat Lenses as it is already available and ready to use.

Users can start using Lenses by clicking on 'Video Effects' and selecting the 'Snapchat' tab.

With the Lenses, they can transform themselves into cartoon characters or add fun backgrounds to their videos.

Further, the tech giant said that those who prefer to keep their video feed free of effects, they can simply choose not to use them, as Snapchat Lenses are completely optional.

Users can also try out the 'smooth look' filter for a 'glow up' to show up polished and camera-ready -- no animations included, according to the company.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has announced to roll out the 3D avatars feature for all Teams users starting in May.

Microsoft Teams avatars are intended to help people avoid appearing on camera during meetings.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, April 11 : The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has alleged that the posts of governor have become political tools in the hands of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday called it a sad state of affairs.

"Have a look at all Non-BJP Governed states; you will see a similar clear pattern of Non-Cooperation & vengefulness Is this the Cooperative Federalism model and Team India spirit that's going to help the Nation grow & prosper?," he asked on Twitter.

KTR was reacting to a tweet by Konatham Dileep, director, digital media, the Government of Telangana.

"Tamilnadu has done the right thing. Governor's are blatantly misusing their powers to trouble non-BJP governments in our country. Time to remove this colonial vestigial institution!," wrote Dileep while referring to a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly urging the Centre and President to fix a timeframe for governors to approve bills adopted by the House.

Meanwhile, the BRS leaders have targeted Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan for giving assent to only three out of 10 pending bills.

BRS leader Krishank Manne told the governor that she may deceive the Supreme Court but cannot deceive the youth of Telangana.

"They are keenly watching how and on whose directions you are delaying the Common Recruitment Board Bill to halt Jobs Recruitments," tweeted Krishank, who is chairman of Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TSMDC) The Supreme Court was told on Monday that the Governor has given her assent to three bills. They are the Telangana Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, Telangana Municipalities (Amendment Bill), and the Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill.

She sent the University of Forestry Telangana Bill and the Telangana Universities Common Recruitment Board Bill to the President of India for her consideration and assent.

The Supreme Court was also informed that the Telangana State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) (Amendment Bill, the Telangana Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Telangana Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) (Amendment) Bill are under active consideration of the Governor.

The apex court was told that the Governor had sought certain clarification from the state government in regard to the Telangana Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill. It was also informed that the Azamabad Industrial Area (Termination and Regulation of Leases) (Amendment) Bill has not been submitted yet by the Law Department to the Governor for consideration.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition by the state government seeking direction to the governor to take a decision on the Bills pending with her.

In a writ petition, the state government brought to the notice of the Supreme Court that 10 Bills are pending with Raj Bhavan. While seven Bills were pending since September 2022, three Bills were sent to the Governor in February for her approval.

The petition pleaded the Supreme Court to declare as illegal, irregular and unconstitutional the delay by the governor.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Azerbaijan agreed to export vegetables to Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan said, Trend reports, citing Kazakh media.

The minister noted that the agreement, among others, was reached in the framework of the visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Kazakhstan.

He added that vegetable supplies will enable the Kazakh government to eliminate the shortage in Mangistau and Atyrau regions.

Zhumangarin also said that Azerbaijan invests significantly in Kazakhstan. A class "A" terminal complex in Aktau was built via Azeri investments.

The minister concluded by noting the increasing level of trade between the nations. He spoke of the trade mission, which led to $55 million worth of contracts being signed. Meanwhile, contracts signed during the previous editions of the trade mission never exceeded $35 million.
Mumbai, April 11 : Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday announced that the state will celebrate May 28 - the upcoming birth anniversary of the state's Hindutva icon Vinayak D. Savarkar - as the 'Swatantryaveer Gaurav Day,' here.

Vinayak D. Savarkar, later revered as 'Swatantryaveer Savarkar' was born in Bhagur, Nashik, on May 28, 1883 and passed away on February 26, 1966 in Mumbai. Next month will mark his 140th birth anniversary.

Shinde said that to commemorate the momentous occasion, many events and activities shall be organised to highlight Savarkar's huge contribution to India's freedom movement, propagate his ideology, and focus on his campaigns for social reforms and abolition of untouchability, all over the state.

Proposing the 'Swatantryaveer Guarav Day', state Minister Uday Samant said that Savarkar played a major role in Maharashtra politics and tributes would be paid to his patriotism, courage and progressive thinking for the younger generations.

The Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) has demanded that the ruling Shinde Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state should call upon the BJP at the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna on Swatantryaveer Savarkar.

The Congress, including senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi, has adopted a critical stance vis-A-vis Swatantryaveer Savarkar role during the Independence struggle, while the Nationalist Congress Party has maintained a neutral position in view of the strong public sentiments.
Kolkata, April 11 : With the Election Commission of India (ECI) deciding to remove the Communist Party of India (CPI) from the list of national parties, Congress remains the only party to retain that status among the 14 political parties that were granted national party status in India for the first time in 1952.

Besides, Congress and CPI, the 12 other political parties that were recognized as national parties in 1952 were -- Socialist Party, Bharatiya Jana Sangh, All India Scheduled Caste Federation, Bolshevik Party of India, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Marxist Forward Bloc, All India Forward Bloc (Ruikar Group), Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, Revolutionary Communist Party of India, Krishikar Lok Party and Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party.

While some of these 12 parties have ceased to exist, none had the national party status in the recent past.

Founded in 1925 as the older Communist force in India, CPI attained national party status in the country in 1952. In that year the CPI became the principal opposition party after the general elections by winning 16 seats after the Congress which bagged a total of 364 seats. At that point of time Socialist Party was the third largest party in the Indian Parliament with 12 representatives.

The CPI has gifted India with some of the most prominent Parliamentarians like Hirendranath Mukherjee, Indrajit Gupta, Gita Mukherjee and Gurudas Dasgupta among others.

However, in 1964 CPI disintegrated with the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The first nine politburo members of the newly formed CPI(M) then were P. Sundarayya, B.T. Ranadive, Promode Dasgupta, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, M. Basavapunnaiah, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, P. Ramamurthi, A.K. Gopalan and Jyoti Basu.

P. Sundarayya was the first general secretary of CPI(M). All the nine members of the party's first politburo are dead now. The CPI(M) has continued to retain the national party status even after the ECI's fresh list on Monday on this count.
San Francisco, April 11 : Former Indian-origin Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, ex-legal head Vijaya Gadde and former chief financial officer Ned Segal have sued Elon Musk-run Twitter over unpaid legal bills in excess of $1 million.

In October last year, Musk informed Agrawal, Gadde and Segal that their employment with the company was terminated as he took control of the micro-blogging platform.

According to the latest lawsuit filed in the Delaware Chancery Court in the US, the trio alleged that Twitter has to pay them more than $1 million for legal fees they incurred while at the company to respond to queries by the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in several hearings.

Agrawal and Segal were named as defendants in the Securities Class Action in September while both still were working at Twitter.

Gadde was named as a defendant in the Securities Class Action in February this year, when plaintiffs in that action filed an Amended Class Action Complaint, according to the lawsuit.

"Their involvement in the Securities Class Action is by reason of their previous roles as officers of Twitter and accordingly Agrawal,Gadde,and Segal are entitled to advancement of Expenses incurred in connection therewith," the lawsuit read.

According to the court filing, the trio incurred significant expenses, including but not limited to attorneys fees and costs, in connection with several proceedings in which plaintiffs are involved by virtue of their former roles as officers of Twitter, and "accordingly are entitled to advancement of those fees and costs".

According to reports, these three top executives had an exit package of around $90-100 million when they left Twitter.

Agrawal was set to receive the largest payout at around $40 million, largely due "to the entirety of his shares vesting upon his firing".

Segal was set to receive more than $25 million while Gadde, the then chief legal officer at Twitter, was to be richer by more than $13 million.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 11 : Sole MLA of the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India K.K.Rema on Tuesday expressed disappointment over inaction on her complaint regarding injuries she suffered in the Assembly ruckus on March 15.

"This is the state of affairs in Kerala. Being a woman MLA from the opposition ranks has made things tougher for me", said Rema -- who is the widow of slain former CPI(M) leader T.P.Chandrasekharan.

Rema said she had given a complaint to Speaker A.N.Shamseer and the State Police chief on the attack she faced in the state Assembly while the opposition was on a democratic protest before the Speaker's office during the session.

"If this is the state of affairs of a legislator, I shudder to think how it would be for the common man. We all see how quick things move and people are arrested when a social media post is made against the Chief Minister," she stated.

She said the way she was dealt with during the peaceful protest and the injuries she had suffered to her hand.

"I came under heavy attack from the CPI(M) state secretary M.V.Govindan, MLA Sachin Dev and the party's mouthpiece - Deshabhimani, who published false news about me for a few days. I have sent a legal notice to all and if they fail to apologise for their wrong acts, I will move legally both civil and criminal," said Rema.

Last month, she allegedly received a letter asking her to withdraw her case against the events that took place inside the Assembly on March 15.

And if she fails to withdraw her case, she would be eliminated. The letter was signed from 'Payyanur Comrades'.

Rema, who won the election with the support of the Congress-led UDF, is the widow of Chandrasekheran, who was brutally murdered by a group of attackers near his house in Kozhikode in 2012.

He had left the party in 2008 and formed his own party, the Revolutionary Marxist Party.

Eleven people, including three local CPI-M leaders, were sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the killing.

Even after the murder of her husband with the alleged knowledge of the CPI(M) top brass, Vijayan, who was the then State party secretary had called him a "renegade", a remark that had come under huge attack from numerous quarters.

Allegedly, due to mishandling by the Watch and Ward Staff of the Assembly, her right hand had to be plastered. The issue was taken up by the cyber wing of the CPI(M) who termed the injury "fake".
Mumbai, April 11 : Actor Hitesh Bharadwaj, who plays the role of Ekam in the show 'Udaariyan', shared that even though the TV industry has evolved over the years, actors still face the issue of getting stereotyped on screen. However, Hitesh feels that he is fortunate as he got an opportunity to play different roles.

He said: "Since I started my career in 2012, I played different characters. And, all these years I have been working and tried living every new character in a way that I became them so that no one can typecast me even if they want to." Hitesh has also worked in 'Is Mod Se Jate Hain', 'Shaurya Aur Anokhi ki Kahani', 'Kedarnath', 'Agar Tum Saath Ho', 'Confessions', 'Jane Kyu De Yaron', among others.

He further talked about his character, Ekam and the kind of response he is getting from the audience.

"It's not necessary that every time people appreciate but we should take it in a positive way. Recently, when I went to the set, 10-12 girls from nearby village were waiting for the last two hours to meet Ekam. They said how much they like me. Such a thing has never happened in my life," shared the actor.

He added that he never got such a love and support before. "I have never seen so much love, felt speechless. I also felt good and motivated. The makers have created a good character and I feel gratitude for it," he concluded.

Produced by Ravie Dubey and Sargun Mehta, 'Udaariyan' airs on Colors.
Mumbai, April 11 : 'Bekaaboo' actress Eisha Singh believes that pets are the best friends, and on Pet Day, she has shared how she is attached to her four cats and enjoys playing different games with them.

She said: "I always thought I was a dog person until I met my four feline cuties who stole my heart and taught me that love knows no boundaries. It's true what they say, one cat always leads to another. That's how I have a full-fledged cat family now. Amongst the four, Ginni and Simba are the mom and dad of little bundles of fluff, Gucci, and Prada. My cats are all very gentle and they don't claw people who hold them." At the age of 17, Eisha made her TV debut in 2015 as Dhaani Tripathi in the show 'Ishq Ka Rang Safed'. Later, she acted in 'Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani', 'Ishq Subhan Allah', 'Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya', 'Sirf Tum', among others.

The actress, who is busy shooting for her show, makes sure to pay attention to their needs. She also added that the cats have certain traits similar to dogs and despite being fond of dogs now she has become a cat lover.

"They have dog-like traits. This is true, especially for Simba and Prada. Simba loves to go out often and meet new people and Prada is very emotional. This is because they receive a lot of attention from everyone, especially from my mother who keeps talking to them and that's why they think of themselves as dogs. Life without cats? I don't think so. For me, they're not just pets, they're family. I wouldn't have it any other way," she concluded.
New Delhi, April 11 : Former World no 1 Andy Murray has termed his Monte Carlo Masters first round loss to Alex De Minaur as 'awful' and 'demoralising' and said that it was one of the worst performances of his career.

A three-time Grand Slam champion, Murray, who was playing on the Monaco clay for the first time since 2017, suffered 6-1 6-3 at the hands of the Australian on Monday.

"It was awful. Nothing was good about it. I don't know exactly why that was. Obviously I didn't play a great match in Miami. And this was worse than that," Murray was quoted as saying by The Herald.

"I didn't do anything well, didn't serve well, return well, forehands, backhands, shot selection. It was probably one of the worst I've played in my career. I had a match like that last year in Doha against (Roberto) Bautista (Agut) that was pretty bad and maybe one or two others in my career, but in terms of how I felt on the court, it was right up there, just across the board," he said.

The Scottish newspaper reported that Murray is considering whether to play the rest of the clay-court season.

The Brit had earlier said he intended to play in Roland Garros "one more time before he stops playing".

"I was feeling optimistic coming into the clay. I'd been feeling good with my body the last 10 days or so considering I've not played much on it. I was feeling good and I'd actually been moving pretty well in practice, so I was optimistic. But it was pretty demoralising and I've not felt like that many times in my career on the court. It was really tough," Murray said.

The two-time Wimbledon champion, who has an 8-5 record this season, has some epic wins to his name including memorable five-set victories over Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open and a run of four straight matches in Doha that required a deciding set.
Moscow, April 11 : The Shiveluch volcano in Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula erupted on Tuesday and spewed an ash plume up to 15 km into the sky, posing threat to air traffic.

The Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences has declared the highest "red" hazard designation for aviation, Xinhua news agency reported.

There was a threat that streams of hot lava could block the road, it warned.

The Institute also noted the volcano ash could travel up to 20 km and block the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky-Ust-Kamchatsk highway.

The sky was covered with a black cloud within a radius of several kilometres from the volcano, with thunder rumbling due to static electricity in the ash cloud.

Ash began to fall in the village of Klyuchi in the Ust-Kamchatsky District of the Kamchatka Territory, where about 4,000 people live.

The thickness of volcanic ash in Klyuchi village has reached 8.5 cm.

Due to the eruption, some schools are closed on Tuesday.

Shiveluch is one of Kamchatka's largest volcanoes, with a height of more than 3,200 meters.

It includes three main structures: the Old Shiveluch volcano, an ancient caldera and the active Young Shiveluch volcano.

The most recent eruption of Young Shiveluch started on August 15. 1999, and continues as of 2021.

On February 27, 2015, Shiveluch erupted shooting ash into the atmosphere about 30,000 ft crossing the Bering Sea and into Alaska.
Seoul, April 11 : Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye visited a Buddhist temple in Daegu on Tuesday, marking her first official public appearance since relocating to the city last year following a presidential pardon.

Donning a white jacket and a pearl necklace with her signature updo hairstyle, Park arrived at Donghwa Temple of the Jogye Order in northern Daegu, 237 km southeast of Seoul, earlier in the day, reports Yonhap News Agency.

A senior monk greeted Park at the temple and the former President briefly put her hands together in a Buddhist hand gesture and burnt incense in front of a Buddha statue before exchanging pleasantries.

It was her first official public event since she moved to a house in her hometown of Daegu in March 2022.

Park was pardoned in December the previous year after spending four years and nine months in prison on a 22-year sentence for corruption.

Since the relocation to Daegu, Park had largely stayed out of the public eye.

A crowd of journalists and supporters gathered for her rare public appearance on Tuesday, but she did not make any remarks.

Waving to supporters and shaking hands with some of them, Park looked cheerful and in good shape, but she had to use a vehicle to move about inside the temple compound and almost lost her footing on several occasions.

Park was also scheduled to have tea with the temple's head monk and lunch with temple officials during Tuesday's visit behind closed doors.

Yoo Yeong-ha, a lawyer and aide to Park who accompanied her on the visit, dismissed any political implications of Park's public appearance, saying it was only organised in response to the senior monk's invitation made on her past birthday.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 11 : A day after being removed from the list of national parties by the Election Commission of India, state CPI secretary Kanam Rajendran on Tuesday said that it was "just a technical issue".

"Certain new yardsticks are being taken while looking into giving the status of national party. It's not right to consider only one yardstick. What has happened now is just a technical issue only. This doesn't bar us from engaging in political activity or is it not an organisational issue. We functioned even when there was no permission," said Rajendran.

Incidentally, the CPI in Kerala is the second biggest ally of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front.

In the 140-member Kerala Assembly, CPI has 17 seats after they contested the 2021 Assembly polls from 23 seats.

At present, they do not have any representation from Kerala in the Lok Sabha, while there are two in the Rajya Sabha.

They lost the national party status after it failed to qualify as a state party in West Bengal.

At the moment they have the state party status in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Manipur.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) was one among the 14 parties that were recognised as national parties in 1952.
Details added: first version posted on 15:22

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Discussions on the transportation of natural gas from Turkiye to Azerbaijans Nakhchivan via the gas pipeline continue, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Donmez said, Trend reports with reference to TurkicWorld.

"The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and the TANAP [Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline] project were commissioned. Thus we have the opportunity to enter world markets. We cooperate with Azerbaijan in the field of electricity. Our cooperation in all areas will continue," he added.

On December 15, 2020, a memorandum of understanding on supply of natural gas to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was signed between Azerbaijani Energy Ministry and Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in Ankara.

From the Azerbaijani side, the document was signed by Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, and from the Turkish side - by Fatih Donmez. This document is of strategic importance for providing Nakhchivan with natural gas.

It provides cooperation between the companies of both countries - the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the Turkish Botas company in technical, commercial, administrative, legal and other issues related to the supply of natural gas.

The supply of gas from Turkiye to Nakhchivan will diversify gas supplies and increase the reliability of energy supply.
Kolkata, April 11 : The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday sought from the West Bengal government a report on its preparedness to combat silicosis mainly affecting those working in hazardous industries or residing near such units.

While hearing a public interest litigation in the matter, a division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya asked the state government to submit a report on whether a fresh policy has been framed in the matter, types of treatment infrastructure available and what more can be done on this count.

The matter will come up for hearing again on May 9 and the state government will have to file the report to said division bench by that date.

In the PIL filed by an NGO, it was alleged that a large number of people in the three districts of Birbhum, West Burdwan and Jhargram area in West Midnapore district are affected by silicosis, and some have even died in the recent past. The state government has been reluctant to take appropriate steps on this count.

Shamim Ahmed, the counsel for the petitioners, argued in the court on Tuesday that the state government has been reluctant to provide compensation and rehabilitation to the affected.

He also argued that although a separate policy is in place along with necessary guidelines, there had been no practical implementation of those.

Mainly the workers of thermal power plants, stone queries, stone crushing units and coal mines are affected by silicosis, the petitioner's counsel said.

The bench then also asked the state to mention in the report steps taken for ensuring preventive measures in such units. It also asked the state government to mention the status of implementation of the existing policy introduced in 2021.
Manila, April 11 : The Philippines and US on Tuesday kicked off the most extensive joint military activities in decades in the the Southeast Asian nation amid criticisms that it escalates tension in the region rather than peace and stability.

According to the Philippine military, the 18-day yearly exercise dubbed 'Balikatan' involves 5,400 Philippine and 12,200 US troops, making it the largest iteration of the joint drills conducted between the two nations in decades, reports Xinhua news agency.

About 100 members of the Australian armed forces join in the exercises, while a dozen countries, including Japan and Britain, are participating as observers.

Balikatan 2023 will be held in several areas including northern Luzon island, Palawan province, Batanes islands, and Zambales province from April 11 to 28.

The drills will focus on maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, cyber defence, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief preparedness.

The Philippines and the US will deploy complex weapons systems, including a Patriot missile battery and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

Hundreds of protesters, including League of Filipino Students members, held a "lightning rally" at around 5 a.m. on Tuesday, a few hours before the official start of the Balikatan exercise.

The students urged the Philippine government to trash the military agreements with the US.

Protesters carried placards and banners denouncing the drills, urging Filipinos to oppose the joint exercises.

Some activists hurled "paint bombs", defacing the seal of the US Embassy in Manila to denounce the joint military training.

Another protest was held at the gate of a military camp while the opening ceremony was underway inside the main headquarters.

Balikatan, a Tagalog phrase for "shoulder-to-shoulder", is the most comprehensive among several regular Philippines-US joint military exercises.

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) gives US troops a legal basis for being in the Southeast Asian country for bilateral military exercises and governs the conduct of American armed force personnel.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kochi, April 11 : The Kerala High Court has asked the Central government to collect data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) about the people suffering from different types of breast cancer.

The Court gave this directive on a plea that sought, among other things, compulsory licensing of the life-saving breast cancer drug, Ribociclib.

Even though the petitioner, who suffered from breast cancer later succumbed to her disease during the pendency of the petition, the Court took cognisance of the larger issue of the high cost of the drug.

Following this the Court appointed the petitioner's counsel, Advocate Maitreyi Hegde as amicus curiae in the matter.

It was based on her request for the data that the court passed the present interim order.

"Since it is an innocuous prayer sought for by the Amicus Curiae in the larger public interest, there will be a direction to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to collect the details from the sixth respondent and submit a report before this court within one month," the interim order stated.

The petitioner was diagnosed with HER2- negative metastatic breast cancer and was undergoing targeted therapy when she approached the court raising the issue of the price of Ribociclib which costs nearly Rs 58,140.

At present, Ribociclib enjoys a patent monopoly and its manufacturers are prevented from producing the medicine without the consent of the patent holder, Novartis.

The petitioner had said that the government can invoke Section 92 of the Patents Act, 1970, which provides for a compulsory license, and Section 100 which empowers the government to requisition life-saving medicines in cases of extreme necessity.

The inaction by the government in providing access to medication infringes upon the Right to Health guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and violates the directive principles of state policy which impose an obligation on the government to ensure public health, it was contended.
Canberra, April 11 : The population of the threatened greater bilby -- an iconic Australian marsupial species -- in protected areas across the nation has more than doubled in 12 months, a national census has found.

The annual census, which was undertaken by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), counted 3,315 greater bilbies in six protected areas, up from 1,480 in the previous year, reports Xinhua news agency.

Aly Ross, an ecologist from AWC, attributed the rise to increased conservation efforts for the iconic marsupial and favourable weather conditions.

"The drought in 2018 and 2019 really knocked a lot of our populations around," she told the local media on Tuesday.

"But now we've had a bit of rain and there's things growing and stuff to eat, so those bilbies are doing a lot better which is great to see." Last week, the federal government launched a new national strategy to protect the greater bilby from extinction.

Once with a natural habitat range covering two thirds of Australia, the bilby, a rabbit-like mammal that can grow up to 55 cm long, is now found in only 15 per cent of the country as a result of predation, land clearing and bushfires.

Bilbies are major ecosystem engineers, with their digging for food helping water penetrate soil, meaning their loss has wide-ranging implications.

"So, when we lose species like the bilby that actually changes the habitat," Ross said.

"It changes the kind of environmental structure, so it makes it harder for other species to live in there as well."
New Delhi, April 11 : As Novak Djokovic set to make his competitive return in Monte Carlo after a month-long break, the world no 1 has said that he wants to "peak in Paris" as Roland Garros is his ultimate goal on the clay.

Djokovic had a stunning start to the 2023 season, winning in Adelaide, claiming the Australian Open title and reaching the semifinals in Dubai.

The World No. 1 has not competed since he reached the semifinals in Dubai in early March as he was forced to miss the Sunshine swing -- Indian Wells and Miami Open -- both ATP 1000 masters events, after he was denied entry to the United States over his vaccination status.

"I have to say, it's in the back of my mind, as an ultimate goal on clay. I really want to be able to build my form so I can peak in Paris," Djokovic told Eurosport.

"It's still a long way. The clay-court season is quite long, you have pretty much every week some strong events and tournaments. Hopefully, I can start the clay season here in a positive way.

I'm mainly focused on what I can deliver here and then of course moving into different weeks. But of course, Roland-Garros is an ultimate goal." he added.

The Serbian great has not had much success in Monte Carlo in the past two years and suffered an opening-round exit last year. However, he has tasted wins at the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event in 2013 and 2015.

The 35-year-old is having a home advantage during the tournament, as he lives in Monaco with his family and uses the Monte-Carlo Country Club as his training base.

"We know the club very well; it has transformed incredibly during the last couple of weeks. Normally, throughout the year we don't see the stands with this many people for practice sessions, but we do train with each other.

It's great to sleep in your own bed, on your own pillow. It's normally not like that, you're always travelling around. It's nice to have the family also, of course, it brings you some peace of mind when you're off-site and you can recharge your batteries, come here and put your competitive face on and try to deliver your best," the 22-time Grand Slam champion said.

Djokovic has been given a bye to the second round in Monte-Carlo, where he will face qualifier Ivan Ghakov.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Delhi High Court (HC) on Tuesday sought the stand of the Central government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Delhi Waqf Board managing commitee's plea seeking quick disposal of its pending petition against the stopping of offering of prayers in the Mughal mosque in city's Mehrauli area.

Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued a notice on the petitioner's application for advance hearing in the matter from August 21 as per the apex court's order requesting the HC to decide the matter as soon as possible.

Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate M. Sufian Siddiqui said that the matter has been hanging for some time.

The court then listed the matter for the next hearing on April 27.

"Issue notice. List in the end of April," said Justice Ohri.

As it is the Ramzan month, there is an urgency in the case, which will soon culminate upon Eid-ul-Fitr, and the worshippers are waiting to offer their prayers in the Mughal Masjid.

Last year, the petitioner had approached the HC contending that ASI officials completely stopped the offering of namaz in the Mughal mosque on May 13, 2022, in an "absolutely unlawful, arbitrary and precipitous manner", without serving any notice or order.

It is the petitioner's case to stop the authorities from causing any obstruction or interference in the performance of 'namaz' at the mosque -- a waqf property notified as 'Masjid adjacent to Eastern Gate of Qutab Minar, Mehrauli' in Delhi administration's Gazette notification.
Seoul, April 11 : South Korea's antitrust regulator on Tuesday slapped a fine of 42.1 billion won (more than $31.8 million) on Google and its regional arms for unfair business practices aimed at solidifying its dominance in the Korean mobile gaming app market.

The punishment came as the U.S.-based global tech giant made shady agreements with South Korean mobile game companies between June 2016 and April 2018, banning them from releasing their content on One Store, according to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC).

One Store is a major homegrown app market launched in January 2016 by South Korea's three mobile carriers, along with Naver Corp, reports Yonhap news agency.

"Google analysed that the launch of a competitive and comprehensive app market, One Store, will have a major impact on its sales in South Korea," the FTC said.

Under the agreement, the US behemoth asked game companies to release their content exclusively on its platform Google Play, in return for having the content appear on the market as "featured," along with providing other marketing benefits.

Being aware of a potential violation of fair trade rules, Google also internally required its employees to delete related emails, and discuss issues offline to avoid leaving traces of such agreements, the FTC said.

The regulator said that the agreement helped Google solidify its dominance in the local app market.

According to the data compiled by the FTC, Google, which accounted for around 80 to 85 percent of the local app market in terms of amount spent in 2016, was able to expand its presence to 90 to 95 per cent in 2018.

On the other hand, One Store fell from 15-20 percent to only 5-10 per cent over the period, the FTC added.

"The availability of the same game in multiple app stores promotes competition, including diversifying content and consumer benefits," the regulator said.

"By blocking the release of games on One Store, Google has hindered innovation and consumer benefits in the app market and mobile gaming sector." The fine, along with a corrective order, will be imposed on Google, Google Korea and Google Asia Pacific.

Google said it does not agree with the Korean FTC's decision, claiming it has not violated any local competition laws.

"We compete vigorously with other app markets and are proud of the benefits we deliver to developers, including the gaming industry and everyday users, through Google Play," the U.S. tech giant said in a statement. "Unlike some mobile operating systems, Android gives developers complete control over how they distribute their apps." "Google makes substantial investments in the success of developers, and we respectfully disagree with the KFTC's conclusions," it said.

It said it will determine its future course of action against the FTC after carefully reviewing the written decision.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought response of the police on alleged conman Sukesh Chandrshekhar's aide Pinky Irani's plea seeking bail in a Rs 200 crore extortion case.

A bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma was hearing the case when he issued notice to the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police on two separate bail pleas filed by Irani and jail staffer Sunil Kumar in the case.

Both Irani and Kumar have challenged a trial court's order denying them bail in the case.

The EOW of Delhi Police had arrested Mumbai-based Irani in November last year.

While the court listed the matter for the next hearing on May 23, it asked the Delhi Police to file a status report.

During the hearing, the Delhi Police counsel said there are a lot of documents and recoveries made in the case and sought four weeks' time to file the status report.

Irani's lawyer, however, said that she has been in custody since her arrest and urged the court to grant her bail.

According to the EOW, Irani had introduced Chandrasekhar to Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez and facilitated his meetings with more Bollywood personalities.

The supplementary charge sheet has stated that the police had recorded the statements of several people, including Bollywood actors Fernandez and Nora Fatehi.

Chandrashrkhar had allegedly defrauded the spouses of former promoters of Ranbaxy, Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of Rs 200 crore.

He had cheated their wives Aditi Singh and Japna Singh worth several crores by posing as an officer from the Union Law Ministry and ensuring he would secure bail for their husbands.

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.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Income Tax Department on Tuesday said that they recently carried out a search and seizure operation at 16 different locations in a case involving some Cooperative Banks in Karnataka, which led to the recovery of valuable and incriminating documents, and detection of Rs 1,000 crore bogus expenditure.

An I-T official said that these Cooperative Banks have been found to be engaged in routing of funds of various business entities of their customers, in a manner so as to abet them to evade their tax liabilities.

The search action has resulted in seizure of unaccounted cash of over Rs 3.3 crore and unaccounted gold jewellery worth over Rs 2 crore.

A large amount of incriminating evidence in the form of hard copy documents and soft copy data have been found and seized during the search action.

The seized evidence revealed that these Cooperative Banks were involved in rampantly discounting bearer cheques issued by various business entities in the name of various fictitious non-existing entities.

"These business entities included contractors, real estate companies, etc. No KYC norms were followed while discounting such bearer cheques. The amounts after discounting were credited in the bank accounts of certain Cooperative Societies maintained with these Cooperative Banks," the official said.

The I-T department said that it was also detected that some Cooperative Societies subsequently withdrew funds in cash from their accounts and returned the cash to business entities. The purpose of such discounting of a large number of cheques was to mask the real source of the cash withdrawal, and to enable the business entities to book bogus expenses. In this modus operandi, Cooperative Societies have been used as a conduit.

"Using this modus operandi these business entities were also circumventing the provisions of the Income-Tax Act, which limits the allowable business expenditure incurred other than by account payee cheque. Bogus expenditure booked in this way by these beneficiary business entities could be to the tune of about Rs 1,000 crore," the official said.

During the search, it was also found that these Cooperative Banks allowed opening FDRs by using cash deposits without adequate due diligence, and subsequently sanctioned loans using the same as collateral.

Evidence seized during the search revealed that unaccounted cash loans of over Rs 15 crore were given to certain persons.

During the search action it was learnt that the management of these Cooperative Banks have indulged in generating unaccounted money through their real estate and other businesses. This unaccounted money has been brought back in the books of account by multiple layering through these banks.

The bank funds were routed without following due diligence through various firms and entities owned by the management persons for their personal use.

Further investigation in the matter is on.
Seoul, April 11 : Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday it will invest 24 trillion won ($18.2 billion) in its domestic electric vehicle (EV) production facilities and other EV projects by 2030.

Hyundai Motor, its smaller affiliate Kia and auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis will collectively make the investment to become the world's No. 3 EV maker in terms of sales by 2030, the group said in a statement.

The move is in line with global carmakers' plans to fill their lineups with zero-emission vehicles to help slow the pace of global warming.

The companies will spend most of the planned investments in expanding their existing EV production lines, developing future mobility parts and technologies, establishing the EV infrastructure and exploring new EV business opportunities, reports Yonhap news agency.

The latest investment figure has been revised up from 21 trillion won announced by the Korean automotive group in May last year.

Hyundai Motor and Kia are aiming to sell a combined 3.64 million all-electric vehicles in global markets in 2030. In this year's CEO Investor Day last week, Kia said it aims to sell 1.6 million EVs in 2030.

Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to release a total of 31 battery electric vehicles by 2030, including the Kia EV9 this year and the Hyundai IONIQ 7 next year, it said.

The EV9 is Kia's second model equipped with Hyundai Motor Group's EV platform, called E-GMP, after the EV6 SUV launched in 2021. Hyundai's IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 are also built on the same platform.

The 31 pure electric vehicles include 18 models from Hyundai and its independent Genesis brand and 13 from Kia.

On Tuesday, Kia began the construction of a 150,000-unit-a-year EV plant inside its existing factory in Hwaseong, just south of Seoul, with a goal to start production in late 2025.

President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the groundbreaking ceremony and called on the group to lead the future mobility solutions industry.

"The government will run as 'one team' (with Hyundai Motor Group) to take the lead in the world's mobility innovations market along with policy support such as tax benefits (for the automotive industry)," he said.

Hyundai Motor also plans to complete a 150,000-unit-a-year EV plant in its main Ulsan plant, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul, by 2025.

The group is building a 300,000-unit-a-year EV and battery plant in the U.S. state of Georgia, with a goal to begin production in the first half of 2025.

Hyundai Motor and Kia have set a combined sales goal of 7.52 million units this year, up 9.8 percent from the 6.85 million units they sold last year.

The two together form the world's third-largest carmaker by sales after Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen Group.

Hyundai Motor, Kia and Hyundai Mobis are expected to spend their own cash and cash equivalents reaching more than 35 trillion won as of the end of 2022 for the EV investments.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Bilateral meetings between the leadership of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have historically taken place in the atmosphere of friendship and mutual respect. And this time, things were not different.

Once again, the discussions held between the leaders of both nations led to significant developments, with six important documents being signed in the process. The documents include memoranda of understanding signed between the institutions representing various sectors Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Cultural cooperation between Baku and Astana became the central topic of President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Kazakhstan. This development should not come as a surprise, because people of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have historically been close, and the cooperation in the humanitarian field will serve as a tool to strengthen relations between the nations.

As President Ilham Aliyev said yesterday at the expanding meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev humanitarian track serves as the foundation on which interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are being built.

"Of course, there are many areas of mutual interest. We are actually reaching a qualitatively new level of interaction and alliance, and this is already reflected in the Declaration, which was signed earlier and will be signed today. So we are predetermining the successful joint future of our countries and peoples for many decades to come," President Ilham Aliyev said.

The two Presidents agreed to hold events dedicated to promoting the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Positive relationship dynamics to last

Indeed, the transition of the bilateral relations that the leaders of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have implemented, signals that the partnership between the states will reach the new heights. President Ilham Aliyev and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed several important elements of bilateral agenda, including fostering political, trade, as well as transport and logistics cooperation.

Today, the level of political relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is truly unprecedented. While the countries continue to develop bilateral relations, Baku and Astana also actively cooperate in the framework of regional and international organizations, including the Organization of Turkic States, for example.

One particular aspect deserves our attention. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev agreed on the establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council. The establishment of the interstate body will enable the countries to cooperate and execute policies of bilateral importance and mutual interest more effectively, contributing to a more dynamic development of bilateral relations.

As President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said, while making press statements with President Ilham Aliyev, the Supreme Interstate Council will undoubtedly give a powerful impetus to bilateral relations of the two countries.

Achieving such a high level of cooperation is made possible due to a combination of factors. First, historic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan give the countries the necessary foundation to continuing in the same vein.

One particular aspect, which fits here is the support exhibited by the Kazakhstan in the context of restoring the territories liberated by Azerbaijan during the second Karabakh war. The construction of the Children's Art Center named after Kurmangazy in the city of Fuzuli serves as a shining example of the level of relations existing between the countries.

Second, fruitful cooperation enjoyed by the countries in economic and cultural fields leads to a positive spillover effect on political relations. Considering that both countries find themselves in this loop, it is logical to suggest that there is significant mutual interest in continuing this trend going forward. Additionally, there is also significant potential to continue fostering cooperation in numerous fields.

Bilateral trade between Baku and Astana serves as an excellent example of the existing potential and how the governments develop it. While the increase of 40 percent in the trade turnover is an important achievement, the leaders agreed to double the figure to $1 billion in the near future. After the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic decreased the trade turnover by 30 percent between the nations, Baku and Astana systematically increased trade turnover, which enabled the countries to exceed the pre-pandemic level quickly.

The results achieved during the latest trade mission of Kazakh business representatives to Azerbaijan, is another example of the booming economic relations between the nations. Contracts worth over $55 million were signed in the framework of the mission, while earlier editions of Kazakh trade missions led to agreements worth between $30-35 million. The results achieved during the mission illustrate the views on the importance of Azeri and Kazakh markets to the mutual economic prosperity.

President Ilham Aliyev pointed out, while making press statements with his Kazakh colleague, that the alliance relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan countries are a solid foundation for the future development of the mutual activity of the two countries.

"Today, we are enriching this foundation with specific content. The decisions made in Baku in August of last year are already being implemented today, including, as noted by President Tokayev, the decisions on starting the transit of Kazakh oil through Azerbaijan, launching serious work on connecting the transport and logistical infrastructure of our countries in order to fully utilize the opportunities of the Middle Corridor," President Ilham Aliyev added.

In reality, it is somewhat unjustified to single out one or two facets of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Baku and Astana are countries that enjoy strategic relationship. Consequently, any aspect of bilateral cooperation is strategically important in the context of relations between Baku and Astana.

The visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Kazakhstan has already reinforced the importance of bilateral relations both for Baku and Astana. Considering the agreements reached in the framework of the visit, especially on cooperation in the humanitarian field and the establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council, it is possible to say that the future development of Azeri-Kazakh relationship will be bright and bring only the best for both nations.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought replies from Bihar and Tamil Nadu governments on a plea by Manish Kashyap, a YouTuber, arrested for allegedly circulating fake videos regarding attacks on migrant labourers. Kashyap moved the apex court seeking clubbing of the FIRs lodged against him.

Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing Kashyap, submitted before a bench headed by justices Krishna Murari and Sanjay Karol that his client is facing five prosecutions in two states. Dave, citing journalist Arnab Goswami's case, said one offence cannot give rise to multiple cases and requested the court to direct that the FIR in Bihar, should become the lead FIR.

During the hearing, Justice Karol said that on a lighter note, even I am a migrant from Bihar. Justice Murari added that this statement speaks a lot now.

Dave emphasised that his client is being taken to Tamil Nadu, where he does not understand the language and there should be a hands-off approach in other FIRs.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Tamil Nadu, said it is not a simple matter and Kashyap has already been detained under the National Security Act. Sibal sought time to file a reply in the matter.

After hearing submissions, the bench issued the notice to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu and the Bihar governments and scheduled the matter for further hearing on April 21. The top court also sought replies from them within a week on Kashyap's plea.

Earlier this month, Kashyap had appeared before the Madurai district court, which remanded him to judicial custody for 15 days. Kashyap and others are facing cases for allegedly circulating fake videos of migrant workers being attacked in Tamil Nadu.

Kashyap sought clubbing of all the FIRs registered against him in Tamil Nadu with those lodged in Bihar.
Hyderabad, April 11 : Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday visited T-Hub in Hyderabad and met Telangana's Information Technology and Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao.

Accompanied by Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi, he went around the T-Hub premises in Hitec City and was impressed with the facility set up by the Telangana government as innovation hub and ecosystem enabler.

The Shiv Sena leader later tweeted that it is always fantastic and encouraging to meet KTR and connect over "our common interests over sustainability, urbanism, technology and how it will help fuel India's growth".

He wrote that he visited T-Hub and witnessed the amazing work that's happened there for start ups, innovators, and ideators.

"Pleasure reconnecting with you Aaditya Ji after our meeting at Davos last year Look forward to more conversations in future," tweeted KTR.

The two leaders had met in May last year in Davos on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Thackeray was then Maharashtra's Tourism and Environment Minister.
Los Angeles, April 11 : Makoto Shinkai, one of Japan's biggest animators, filmmaker and author is all set to visit India for the release of his latest movie 'Suzume'.

The acclaimed director is known for his visually stunning and emotionally powerful anime films that touch upon themes such as love, loss and the impact of technology on society.

Some of his most well-known works include 'Your Name', 'Weathering With You' and '5 Centimeters Per Second'.

The film, brought to India by PVR PICTURES, the motion picture arm of PVR INOX is set to hit theatres across India on April 21.

Shinkai's visit to Mumbai will provide fans with the opportunity to interact with the director and attend exclusive screenings of the movie. The visit by Shinkai is not only a treat for anime fans but also a significant milestone in strengthening cultural ties between India and Japan.

"We are immensely delighted to host the extremely talented multifaceted artist and creative genius, Makoto Shinkai on his second visit to India. Director Makoto's films has been able to create a new genre and a new segment of audience in India which has showered love and appreciation for his creative masterpieces," said Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Executive Director, PVR INOX.

"Japanese Anime is not new to India with most of us growing up watching it on television and now with its avatar on the Big Screen magnified by visually stunning effects, it is not surprising that such content not only appeals to Gen Z but also Millennials and Gen X as well."
Chennai, April 11 : Diesel automotive common rail systems major Delhi TVS Technologies Ltd will be investing about Rs 450 crore in expanding its capacities and is also looking at getting into other precision engineering products, a senior company official said on Tuesday.

The Rs 1,800 crore turnover company, part of the $8 billion TVS group, is also looking at the tractors and commercial vehicles segment for its common rail systems.

"The group is also looking at segments powered by new fuels. Electric is one of the new fuels," Chairman and Managing Director T.K.Balaji told media persons here.

He said group company Lucas TVS will be building lithium ion batteries.

President A. Vishwanathan said: "We will be investing about Rs 150 crore per year for next three years in our production facilities to meet the demand. The company's Orgadam facility will be expanded. By 2025 we will be touching the five million common rail systems mark. The company has till day produced three million common rail systems." Even though some of the car manufacturers have stopped making diesel powered cars, he said there are various segments within the car market having diesel-fuelled vehicles.

The company is looking at the tractor industry for its common rail systems, he added. The tractors are currently using inline systems.

"The tractors have to comply with the TREM V emission norms and that needs common rail systems," Viswanathan said.

Adding to that, Chief Technology Officer B.Viswanath said, the company has developed the common rail systems for tractors taking into account the Indian conditions. It is an oil lubricated system and tractors can migrate from mechanical to common rail systems.

Balaji said the company is developing products from ground up. Further, there are only three global players in the common rail systems as it is capital and technology intensive.

According to Viswanathan, common rail systems is a highly precision engineered product and the company is planning to leverage that capability to get into other products.

Delphi TVS Technologies, a 52:48 joint venture between 15.8 billion Borg Warner, US and T.V. Sundaram Iyengar & Sons, will be commemorating the achievement of reaching three million common rail systems on Wednesday at its Oragadam plant near here.
New Delhi, 11 April 11 : Weeks ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka, veteran BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa wrote to BJP President J.P. Nadda on Tuesday to communicate his decision to quit electoral politics.

"I am withdrawing from electoral politics. I have been given a lot of responsibilities by the party over the last 40 years. From booth in-charge, I went on to become the chief of Karnataka BJP. I also had the honour to become the Deputy Chief Minister of the state," Eshwarappa wrote in the letter penned in Kannada.

Last week it was reported that Karnataka BJP is in two minds about giving ticket to Eshwarappa. Some sources in the party had even confirmed that the BJP has already taken a decision not to give him the ticket as it is searching for a new face.

Eshwarappa, who will turn 75 in June, is the face of the Kuruba community in BJP. He is also a staunch Hindutva leader. His statements, such as hoisting 'Bhagwa' flag on the Red Fort, or on Azaan and against Muslim fundamentalism had made national headlines earlier.

The senior leader was reportedly upset over last week's developments and had already started lobbying for his son, Kantesh, for a ticket. Eshwarappa represents the Shivamogga City Assembly seat. He started his political career by defeating heavyweight K.H. Srinivas.

Eshwarappa had to resign from the Cabinet of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai following the suicide case of contractor and BJP leader Santhosh Patil. Patil had categorically blamed Eshwarappa for his situation in his suicide note. However, the subsequent probe gave him a clean chit.
Srinagar, April 11 : Two terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were arrested in the Pattan area of North Kashmir's Baramulla district, and a 2-kg IED was recovered from them along with other arms and ammunition, said police on Tuesday.

"Acting on specific information regarding movement of terrorist associates, police along with Army (29RR) and SSB (2ndBn) busted a terror module at Pattan Baramulla and arrested two terrorist associates linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT," police said.

The two have been identified as Farooq Ahmad Parra, a resident of Par Mohalla Pattan, and Saima Bashir, a resident of Chinkipora, Sopore.

"They have been shifted to the police station where they remain in custody," police said.

On their disclosure, arms and ammunition, including a pistol, two pistol magazines, five pistol rounds and IED (approximately 2 kgs) along with remote control and other incriminating material were recovered.

"During preliminary questioning, the arrested duo revealed that they were working as terrorist associates with active terrorist Abid Qayoom Lone of Wussan Pattan linked with proscribed terrorist outfit LeT," police said.
Chennai , April 11 : Tamil Nadu 'Q' branch, which is the elite group of the Tamil Nadu Police, has joined the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the search of the premises of people close to the LTTE.

The searches are the continuations of the raids conducted on Monday at some premises of former LTTE cadres and sympathisers in which one person, Ayyappan Nandu, was arrested. The investigation team had also seized incriminating documents and a few gold bars from the premises of former LTTE activists who are in hiding in Tamil Nadu.

It may be noted that for the past few days, there has been an alert by the Central Intelligence Agencies on the possibility of smuggling bids into the shores of Tamil Nadu. IANS had earlier reported about possible move of the agencies.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu Police told IANS that the 'Q' branch was also included in the investigation as some former operatives from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, who had allegiance to a banned Islamist organisation, were part of the groups that have been assisting the former LTTE sympathisers.

The arrest of a former top-ranking intelligence operative of the LTTE, Santukam alias Sabesan from Chennai in October 2021, has prompted the intel agencies to spread their net.

Sources in Tamil Nadu Police told IANS that the raids and searches are carried out at specific places based on proper tip-offs.

The officers also said that the defunct LTTE was trying to regroup itself and has been quite active in the settlements of Sri Lankan Tamils including refugee camps, and has been circulating literature and materials aimed at propagating the ideology in these areas.
New Delhi, April 11 : Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India deeply values its 25 years of strategic partnership with France and 75 years of friendship.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Paris on Monday during his ongoing visit to France, Goyal said that France is India's preferred partner in defence and various other sectors and this 25-year journey is truly reflective of India's journey of progress.

He further said that India desires to strengthen this partnership with France.

The minister further noted that this year India is celebrating 25 years of partnership with France and 75 years of India's Independence.

He said that while it's a great moment to reflect on all the good things that have been achieved in the last 75 years, it's also a great opportunity for each one of us to reflect on new ideas about how our country should progress in the future.

Goyal claimed during the course of the interaction that half of India until 2014 did not have a toilet.

"Governments came and went but somehow that sensitivity was missing that our mothers, our sisters and our daughters deserve better dignity," he said.

He said that respect and dignity which can come from a basic amenity like a toilet was realised by the NDA government and toilets were constructed throughout the country under the Swachh Bharat Mission so that not a single woman has to face the indignity of not having this facility at home.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 11 : Thousands of people lined up on either side of the roads in Wayanad on Tuesday afternoon to welcome their former MP Rahul Gandhi, who is on his first visit to the city following his disqualification from the Lok Sabha last month after being convicted in a 2019 criminal defamation case.

Some local residents claimed that this was the biggest crowd Wayanad had ever witnessed, even more than the crowd that had turned up to greet Rahul Gandhi when he came to file his nomination from this hilly district for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

In 2019, Rahul Gandhi had won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat by defeating P.P. Suneer of the CPI by a staggering margin of over four lakh votes.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi landed at Kannur and from there they flew to Kalpetta in Wayanad on a chopper.

After the top state Congress leaders received him at the helipad, all of them got into an open vehicle that moved forward with great difficulty with the crowd jostling to get a glimpse of the Congress leader.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. A group of women from Western Azerbaijan sent an appeal to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Trend reports.

In the appeal, they informed her of the ethnic cleansing and other crimes against humanity, and requested the practical support by the European Commission for the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis to their homes, while taking into account the specific needs of women and children.

The appeal, which was signed by women intellectuals and young female students from Western Azerbaijan, states the following:

On behalf of Azerbaijani women and girls expelled from Armenia, we are writing to bring our ongoing suffering to your attention. Our organization, the Western Azerbaijan Community established in 1989, is dedicated to defending the rights of Azerbaijanis who have been forced to flee their homes in Armenia, and enabling their safe and dignified return.

As a result of the total ethnic cleansing committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis in that country, there is not a single Azerbaijani left in Armenia. This has had a devastating effect on our community, particularly on women and girls, who have suffered greatly as a result of the expulsion.

We would like to highlight that the Western Azerbaijan Community places a specific emphasis on the women, peace and security agenda in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Our organization has developed the Concept of Return, in which the interests of women, children and vulnerable social groups are considered as the main priority, and the internationally accepted progressive concepts and standards in this field, including the women, peace and security agenda, are envisaged to play a central role in the return process.

We firmly believe that the empowerment of women is essential to creating a peaceful and stable society, and we are committed to promoting this agenda. Accordingly, we envisage that women will be actively involved in the repatriation and reintegration process to ensure that the process is sustainable and effective.

We should also highlight that in addition to the ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis, Armenia has systematically destroyed Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Armenia. The obliteration of the cultural and religious sites, including mosques, graveyards and other sacred places has not only caused immense pain and suffering to Azerbaijanis but also grossly violates international humanitarian and human rights law. Additionally, during the past three decades, Armenia has refused to allow Azerbaijanis to visit their cemeteries, cultural heritage, and sacred places, despite the fact that such visits are crucial for peace and reconciliation. This inhumane treatment of Azerbaijani cultural heritage and denial of access further exacerbates tensions in the region.

As you may be aware, we have previously written to EU Council President Charles Michel to raise awareness of our organization's work and to seek political support for our efforts to enable the safe and dignified return of expelled Azerbaijanis from Armenia. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the EU's mediatory role in the normalization of inter-state relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We believe that the issue of safe and dignified return, rehabilitation, reconstruction and reintegration of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia should be central to these diplomatic efforts.

It goes without saying that the return process will also require substantial practical support from the international community. We would appreciate relevant practical assistance of the European Commission for our return, particularly for devising and implementation of programs for addressing special needs of Azerbaijani women and girls during their repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration in Armenia.

Finally, we count on your personal support and understanding, as a woman and mother, of the plight of Azerbaijani women and girls who are suffering as a result of the ethnic cleansing carried out by Armenia.

We believe that with your involvement, we can work towards enabling the safe and dignified return of and thereby ensuring a brighter future for expelled Azerbaijanis, particularly women and girls.
BJP workers broke the barricade, lathicharged, tear gas and water cannon to surround the secretariat in Ranchi. Image Source: IANS News

BJP workers broke the barricade, lathicharged, tear gas and water cannon to surround the secretariat in Ranchi. Image Source: IANS News

BJP workers broke the barricade, lathicharged, tear gas and water cannon to surround the secretariat in Ranchi. Image Source: IANS News

BJP workers broke the barricade, lathicharged, tear gas and water cannon to surround the secretariat in Ranchi. Image Source: IANS News

Ranchi, April 11 : The police on Tuesday resorted to a lathicharge and used water cannons on BJP workers protesting against the Jharkhand government in Ranchi.

The BJP workers had gathered to lay siege to the Secretariat against the policies of the Hemant Soren-led government.

Several BJP workers and mediapersons reportedly suffered injuries in the ensuing clashes with the police.

Apart from Union Ministers Arjun Munda and Annapurna Devi, all BJP MPs and MLAs of Jharkhand also participated in the protest.

With the slogan of 'Hemant Hatao, Jharkhand Bachao', thousands of saffron party workers from all over the state gathered at the Prabhat Tara Maidan in Dhurwa, Ranchi. From there, they marched in procession to lay siege to the Secretariat when the police tried to stop them.

BJP MP Sunil Singh and party MLA Biranchi Narayan broke the police barricading and reached the Secretariat premises, where they had been detained by the state police. Hundreds of BJP workers, including the party's Mahila Morcha President Aarti Kujur, have been detained as well.

The Jharkhand BJP unit had announced to lay siege to the Secretariat on Tuesday, accusing the Jharkhand government of indulging in corruption, scams and failure on various governance fronts.

Earlier, thousands of BJP workers from all over the state had gathered at the Prabhat Tara Maidan where party leaders addressed them. Union Minister Arjun Munda said that the ruling Hemant Soren government was involved in massive corruption.

Union Minister of State for Education, Annapurna Devi, said, "The people of the state are no longer ready to tolerate the atrocities committed by the state government. Let us all take a pledge here that now we will not allow the state government to loot the taxpayer's money. This government has to be thrown out from the land of Jharkhand." Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that the massive public gathering in the sweltering heat foretells that the Hemant Soren government will be overthrown soon.

State BJP President and MP Deepak Prakash, former Chief Ministers Babulal Marandi and Raghubar Das, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, Bidyut Baran Mahato, V.D. Ram, BJP MLA Raj Sinha, J.P. Patel, BJP Regional Organisation Minister Nagendra, State party in-charge and MP Laxmikant Bajpai also addressed the public meeting.

After addressing a public meeting, BJP leaders and workers marched towards the Secretariat following which the police stopped them and a scuffle took place between BJP workers and the police personnel.

Following the protest by BJP workers, the state administration had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the Secretariat and surrounding areas and barricades were installed at various places along the way.
New Delhi/Jaipur, April 11 : After ending his daylong fast, seeking action from the Gehlot government into alleged corruption during BJP's tenure, Rajasthan Congress leader on Tuesday said that fight against corruption will continue.

Despite party objections, Congress leader and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot sat on a day-long (11 a.m. to 4 p.m) fast at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur.

Talking to media persons, Pilot said, "After coming to power, we had assured people that effective action will be taken against corruption done by the former BJP government in the state. I want the Congress government to take action against the corruption by the former BJP government." Pilot accused the Gehlot government of inaction on the corruption allegations against the then Vasundhra Raje government.

Pilot said: "No action was taken on corruption allegations during the Vasundhara government. While being in the opposition, we had promised that an inquiry would be conducted. As six-seven months are left for the election, questions can be raised if there was any alliance between Gehlot and Raje. Action will have to be taken soon to prove that it is not. Congress workers should also feel that there is no difference between our words and actions." On Monday, hours ahead of Pilot's fast, Congress state in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa termed the move as against the party interest and an "anti-party activity".

"Sachin Pilot's day-long fast is against the party interests and is anti-party activity. If he is having any issue with his own government, it can be discussed in the party forums instead of in media and public," Randhawa had said in a statement.
Bhubaneswar, April 11 : The Odisha Circle Head of India Post has requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the fake certificate racket in the state.

The Postmaster General (PMG), Odisha Circle, has written a letter to the CBI Superintendent of Police, Bhubaneswar, to investigate the fake certificate racket running in the state, a postal department official said.

The postal department has sought the help of CBI after detecting fake certificates and marksheets used by some candidates in different districts to avail jobs in the department, he added.

The department has requested the CBI to investigate into all the recruitments of Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) posts such as branch postmasters, assistant branch postmasters and dak sevaks carried out since 2018.

The fraudulent activity came to fore when the department of posts began verifying certificates of applicants in Balangir district where 37 candidates were found to have scored between 98 and 99 per cent marks in six subjects. However, they are unable to write an application in English, the postal department officials said.

For the post of GDS, no written or viva is required, the applicants are being appointed on the basis of their merit. Therefore, some of the candidates have used fake marksheets and certificates purportedly issued by Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad to avail the job, the officials added.

After receiving a complaint from the postal department, Balangir police had arrested at least 19 people, including the prime accused Manoj Mishra.

On March 31, Odisha DGP Sunil Bansal had ordered a crime branch probe into the racket. A five-member team, led by a DSP rank officer, has been conducting the probe.

During investigation, Mishra revealed to the Crime Branch that a native of Uttar Pradesh assisted him in the scam.

The crime branch has seized more than 1,500 fake certificates of various boards and universities of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Sikkim from Mishra.

Such cases of fake certificates have also come to the fore in Cuttack, Koraput, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, most having links to Balangir.

Most of the fake certificates were manufactured by the gang in Balangir and sold to more than 40 institutions spread across the country for Rs 50,000 to Rs five lakh, police said.

The fake certificate is not only used by some candidates for postal department jobs but also for teaching jobs. Following the report, the school and mass education department has also asked for a probe into the case.

Elementary Education Director Jyoti Ranjan Mishra told media that the block and district education officers have been asked to submit detailed reports in two days.

Action will be taken against the fake teachers on basis of the reports, he said.
Bengaluru, April 11 : Weeks ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka, former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP's old warhorse in the state, K.S. Eshwarappa, wrote to BJP President J.P. Nadda on Tuesday to communicate his decision to quit electoral politics.

"I am withdrawing from electoral politics. I have been given a lot of responsibilities by the party over the last 40 years. From booth in-charge, I went on to become the chief of Karnataka BJP. I also had the honour to become the Deputy Chief Minister of the state," the veteran OBC leader wrote in the letter penned in Kannada.

The move came ahead of the party's announcement of its first list of candidates for the Assembly polls scheduled on May 10.

According to party insiders, Eshwarappa has decided to opt out of electoral politics to pave the way for his son K.E. Kanthesh's candidature from the Shivamogga Assembly constituency.

Interacting with mediapersons here, Eshwarappa said that he is retiring from electoral politics in order to help the BJP secure majority in the upcoming Assembly polls, pointing out that despite forming the government and having several CMs, the saffron party has never secured complete majority on its own.

Expressing confidence that the party leadership would accept his decision, Eshwarappa said that he will take up any new responsibilities that the party leadership gives him.

Last week it was reported that Karnataka BJP is in two minds about giving ticket to Eshwarappa. Some sources in the party had even confirmed that the BJP has already taken a decision not to give him the ticket as it is searching for a new face.

Eshwarappa, who will turn 75 in June, is the face of the Kuruba community in BJP. He is also a staunch Hindutva leader. His statements, such as hoisting 'Bhagwa' flag on the Red Fort, or on Azaan and against Muslim fundamentalism had made national headlines earlier.

The senior leader was reportedly upset over last week's developments and had already started lobbying for his son, Kantesh, for a ticket.

Eshwarappa had to resign from his post of Deputy CM in the Cabinet of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai following the death under suspicious circumstances of a contractor who had accused Eshwarappa of demanding commission for clearing his pending bills.

Although a subsequent probe cleared his name in the matter, Eshwarappa was not reinstated in the Cabinet. All these factors are believed to have influenced his decision to retire from electoral politics.

Eshwarappa is the third BJP MLA in Karnataka to quit electoral politics in the run-up to the Assembly polls. Previously, former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who had announced his retirement from electoral politics, had said that his son B.Y. Vijayendra would contest from his home turf of Shikaripura in Shivamogga district.

On April 3, Kundapur MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty had also announced his retirement from electoral politics.

Eshwarappa, along with Yediyurappa, had played a vital role in building the BJP as a strong political force in Karnataka.
New Delhi, April 11 : Ride-hailing platform Uber on Tuesday launched a new tech-enabled safety feature 'Audio Seatbelt Reminder', designed to encourage riders to wear their seat belts in Hyderabad.

The feature will prompt riders to buckle-in at the beginning of every Uber trip.

The company plans to expand this feature to other cities in the coming months.

"We are delighted to bring the Audio Seatbelt Reminder to Hyderabad. We believe that this new feature will be an effective way to encourage riders to wear their seat belts, and we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on road safety in Hyderabad," Sooraj Nair, Head of Safety Operations, Uber India and South Asia, said in a statement.

Moreover, the company explained that the 'Audio Seatbelt Reminder' is an industry-first feature that aims to enhance safety on the platform by reducing injuries caused due to riders not wearing seat belts in rear seats.

Once a rider books an Uber trip and enters the vehicle, the driver's phone will play an audio reminder asking riders to "please use rear seat belts for your safety".

At the same time, the rider's phone will receive an in-app push notification reminding him to buckle-in before the trip starts, according to the company.

India is the first country where Uber is piloting the use of a human voice and an in-app notification to remind riders. In other countries, the company has only used a notification sound as a reminder.
Mumbai, April 11 : The Mumbai police have tracked and detained a person who threatened "to kill Bollywood megastar Salman Khan on April 30", top officials said here on Tuesday.

On Monday evening, the Mumbai police control room received a call from one unidentified person who conveyed a terse message: "On (April) 30, I shall kill Salman Khan. You can inform him," and disconnected.

When the police control room staff called him back on the mobile number, he identified himself as 'Rocky bhai', a 'gaushala rakshak', speaking from Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

Swinging into action, several police teams fanned out to track and identify the caller, who was traced to Dolkhamb village in Thane, nearly 50 km north of Mumbai.

A police team reached there and attempted to catch him, but with the help of his friends, he managed to escape on a motorcycle.

After a chase of some distance, the police team managed to intercept him and subjected him to questioning.

He admitted to having made the threat call to the actor, and thereafter, he was handed over to the Azad Maidan police station in Mumbai, which detained him and is investigating further.

The caller is reportedly said to be a minor hailing from Rajasthan and his identity has not yet been revealed, and police suspect it may be a prank.
Mumbai, April 11 : Actor Mike Colter talked about his character of Louis Gaspare in the American action thriller film, 'Plane', which is directed by Jean-Francois Richet, featuring Gerard Butler, Yoson An and Tony Goldwyn.

The story of the film revolves around a pilot who lands up in a tricky situation after he has to do an emergency landing of his plane and now he needs to take help from a criminal to save the passengers.

Talking about his character, Mike said: "I play Gaspare, who is being extradited to Canada and is on the plane, you know no one knows what he did per se it's said that he did something; he killed someone. That's what he's been accused of. The character is basically being brought in to stand trial for something he did years ago. So, he's a very mysterious character." Mike is known for 'Luke Cage', 'The Defenders', 'The Good Wife', 'The Good Flight', among others.

While sharing more about the storyline, he further added: "Essentially he's supposed to be brought to stand trial, and knowing he is dangerous, is made to sit at the back of the plane away from the other passengers in handcuffs; but very discreetly. He's not wearing anything, he's not in prison garb, and has a person assigned to him to make sure he stays out of the way. And of course when the plane crashes they have a problem on their hands because the security in-charge is dead in the plane crash, and Gaspare survives - now they have something to deal with." 'Plane' will have a digital premiere on Lionsgate Play on April 14.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to a 74-year-old lawyer in a case of abetment of suicide case, where his son is a prime accused.

The father was defending his son who was embroiled in a legal battle with the deceased in connection with a financial transaction.

A bench of Justices V. Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said: "The appellant is an advocate by profession and is actually 74 years of age. The charge against the appellant and three others is that there was a financial transaction with the deceased and that unable to bear the pressure exerted by the appellant's son and two others, the victim committed suicide." It noted that appellant was implicated along with his son and two others in a criminal complaint for an alleged offence punishable under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (abetment of suicide). All the four accused were taken into custody on November 17, 2022. A final report was filed on December 18, 2022.

The bench, in its order, noted, "In the hand written note, the victim has actually named the appellant's son and two others as primarily responsible. He has also stated expressly that the appellant threatened him." The victim allegedly had monetary transactions with Satyarth Tiwari, and two others to the tune of Rs 6.50 crore. Around 11 cases u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, were instituted against the victim, who in turn had also lodged 2-3 cases u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, against the Tiwari and others.

Advocate Namit Saxena, representing Ramesh Chand Tiwari, submitted: "That the petitioner herein, a seasoned lawyer, is a senior citizen aged around 74 years and happens to be the father of Satyarth Tiwari. That in all the above said cases, the petitioner herein is the advocate for Satyarth Tiwari and is representing him." Tiwari moved the apex court challenging Rajasthan High Court order, which declined to grant him bail.

Tiwari's plea said: "On the unfortunate date of November 16, 2022, the victim shot himself from his licensed pistol. That an FIR was lodged by the brother of the deceased u/s 306 IPC against Satyarth Tiwari (and others)... and the petitioner herein was named in the FIR as well simply because he was the advocate for Satyarth Tiwari." The plea stated that during investigation, the investigating agency produced an undated suicide note seized on November 19, 2022, and the petitioner was not named in that suicide note.

The bench said: "This is not a case where the continued incarceration of the appellant is necessary, especially after filing of the final report. Hence, the appeal is allowed and the impugned order is set aside. The appellant is directed to be released on bail on such terms and conditions as imposed by the trial court. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of." Recently, Rajasthan made history by becoming the first state in the country to pass a law to ensure the safety of lawyers. On March 22, 2023, the Rajasthan Assembly decided to pass the Advocates Protection Bill, which will now be implemented into an act known as the Advocate Protection Act 2023.

The aim behind the Act is to prevent lawyers from assault, grievous hurt, criminal force and intimidation and also any damage or loss to their property would also be covered by the bill.
New Delhi, April 11 : With the arrest of one man and recovery of around 10 country-made hand grenades, the sleuths of Delhi Police have thwarted the possibility of untoward incident in Delhi and its peripherals, an official said on Tuesday.

The accused has been identified as Dilip alias Billi, a resident of Holambi Kalan, Delhi, however, one more accused, who had handed over the grenades to Dilip is still on the run.

According to police, specific inputs were received on Sunday regarding a country-made hand grenade buried in the area of Metro Vihar, Phase-II, Holambi Kalan following which a police team rushed to the spot.

"There, a suspected person was apprehended and he was identified as Dilip. Upon sustained interrogation, the accused disclosed that he was given around 10 grenades by his friend who is the other co-accused (name withheld) to keep these grenades in safe custody," said Ravi Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer-north).

"Thereafter, the country-made hand grenades were recovered at the instance of accused Dilip. It was observed that the recovered hand grenades were put inside a plastic bucket and covered with grass and bushes and kept in the mud near a drain," said the DCP.

The concerned intelligence agencies were also informed to interrogate the accused.

The accused was arrested after registration of FIR under section 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) of the Indian Penal Code and under 3/4/5 sections of the Explosive substance Act.

"The case is under investigation and search of another accused is going on. The motive of hiding and keeping these grenades in forest land is not clear yet. Facts are being verified in details," said the official.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 11 : Former Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the biggest gift that the BJP has given him is disqualifying him.

He said this while addressing a mammoth public meeting called at Kalpetta to honour him on his first visit to his constituency after his disqualification following a court verdict.

"My disqualification means nothing as my relationship with Wayanad is going to be a lifelong relationship. This disqualification will only deepen my relationship with you all. The relation is similar to a family one as I am a brother. I assure you I will never go away from you," said Gandhi to thunderous applause.

He arrived at Kannur early in the day along with his sister Priyanka and later flew to Kalpetta in a helicopter.

From the helipad to the meeting venue, thousands had gathered to have a glimpse of him as he was taken in an open vehicle. It took 30 minutes to cover a small distance.

Gandhi said all that he had done was to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his relationship with Gautam Adani.

"After that in Parliament we all saw for the first time the government itself trying to prevent the session from going forward smoothly.

"This disqualification is the biggest gift the BJP has given me as I did not know if what I was doing was right. But after seeing the BJP attacking me all the time, I knew I was doing the right thing. I am not going to stop as I will continue to ask questions," said Gandhi.

"I know all here are supporting me. I assure you I will always be supporting you, even if I am an MP or not. This is a fight between two visions as the BJP has one and we have a different one and we all know that we are on the right path. They might have taken my house, my MP's post and may even put me in jail, but they cannot stop me from representing you," added Gandhi.

"I was not happy in the house where I lived which they took away as I know there were so many people in Wayanad who lost their homes during the floods. I will continue to raise issues of Wayanad," he said.

Before Gandhi spoke, Priyanka said her brother is an honest person.

"I was recently at his house to help him pack as he had to move out. Sitting there I felt he has no one as he has no family," said Priyanka.

"My brother is an honest and brave person and he will not be silenced. He is one person who understands the pain of the people," she added.

Eyewitnesses said this was the biggest crowd Wayanad has seen, beating the crowds which turned up on the day Gandhi came for the first time to the hilly district to file his nomination for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Gandhi had won the Wayanad seat with a margin of over four lakh votes.
Oman's Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz) has signed an agreement with Kobe Steel, a leading Japanese steel manufacturer, and Mitsui & Company, a global trading investment company, for setting up a low CO2 iron metallics project in the special economic zone at Duqm.

As per the deal, the duo will commercialise the manufacture and sale of direct reduced iron (DRI) produced through Kobe Steels Midrex Process in co-ordination with Opaz.

Under this Midrex Process, the iron oxide gets converted into DRI inside the shaft furnace using hydrogen-rich gas coming from natural gas or hydrogen as a reducing agent. Over 90 such Midrex plants are in operation across the globe.

The deal comes at a time when the steel industry is working on reduction of CO2 emissions to address climate change. Kobe Steel Group (also known as Kobelco Group) set the vision for 2050 in May 2021, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality in its production process and contribute to over 100 million tonnes of CO2 emission reduction through its technologies, products, and services.

The group has already verified the technology that can reduce a significant amount of CO2 emissions from blast furnace operations leveraging its collective strength of diverse businesses.

Kobe Steel said it has, along with Mitsui, sealed a land reservation agreement with Port of Duqm Company (PODC), the entity that operates the Omani port.

The Japanese groups also held discussions with the Omans Ministry of Energy and Minerals on detailed condition for natural gas supply.

Having confirmed the site and cooperative framework in Sezad, Kobe Steel and Mitsui will now move the feasibility study forward, it added.

According to Kobe Steel, the project aims to produce 5 million tonnes of DRI - the feedstock for steelmaking that can also be used in electric arc and blast furnaces as well as basic oxygen furnace melt shops - with a future expansion plan under study.

Kobe Steel pointed out that it was the first Japanese company that had commercialised low CO2 blast furnace steel products with the launch of its Kobenable Steel.

In the field of DRI, the Japanese group has commercialised unique technologies such as Midrex Flex that can be transitioned to 100% hydrogen and Midrex H2 using 100% hydrogen as a reducing agent, in addition to Midrex NG, which uses natural gas.

It is working proactively toward decarbonisation of the steel industry and carbon neutrality with combination of steelmaking experience, key technologies such as Midrex Process, and the collective strength of Mitsui operating global business in the natural resources and energy fields, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. A plenary session of the Azerbaijani Parliament (Milli Majlis) has begun, Trend reports.

The agenda of the meeting includes 11 issues:

1. Draft law on amendments to the law "On the Establishment of Orders and Medals of the Republic of Azerbaijan" with regard to the establishment "100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev" jubilee medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1923-2023) (third reading).

2. Draft law on amendments to the Law On Electric Power Industry (third reading).

3. Draft law on amendments to the Law On the Prosecutor's Office (third reading).

4. Draft law on amendments to the Law "On Public Service" and the Law "On service in the Prosecutor's Office" (third reading).

5. Draft law on amendments to the Law "On Information, Informatization and Information Protection" (third reading).

6. Draft law on amendments to the law "On Medicine Products" (first reading).

7. Draft law on amendments to the Family Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (second reading).

8. Draft law on amendments to the Law "On State Registration and the State Register of Legal Entities" (second reading).

9. Draft law on amendments to the Law "On Notaries" (second reading).

10. Draft law on amendments to the Civil Code, the Civil Procedural Code, the Law "On Notary", the Law "On the transfer of property to Municipal ownership", and the Law "On State Duty" (second reading).

11. Draft law on amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences, the Law "On Police", the Law "On Veterinary Medicine" and the Law "On Horse breeding" (second reading).
Patna, April 11 : In a joint operation, the Visakhapatnam Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Muzaffarpur police in Bihar unearthed an inter-state railway ticket confirming gang on Tuesday.

They have also seized more than 200 letterheads of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs and MLAs.

The kingpin of the gang has spread his network in nearly every state and needs only PNR number of unconfirmed tickets to confirm it under the MP quota.

The RPF of Andhra Pradesh had registered an FIR on June 1, 2022, at Marupulam police station in Visakhapatnam. During the investigation, the RPF had arrested some touts, who revealed the modus operandi of confirming the unconfirmed tickets.

Inspector R. Kumar Rao, who reached with the RPF team to Muzaffarpur shared the information with the district police. Accordingly, a joint team raided the Srikrishna Nagar locality under Sadar police station.

The accused learnt about the raid and he managed to flee from the spot before the raiding team arrived.

The accused was contacted by touts and they used to send only PNR numbers. He was using the letterhead of different MPs to confirm the ticket under the VIP quota reserved for MPs.

The police team is raiding his possible hideouts to arrest him.
Mumbai, April 11 : A special court here on Tuesday rejected the pre-arrest bail application of senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif in an alleged money-laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Apprehending arrest by the probe agency under the guise of investigations and recording his statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Mushrif had moved the anticipatory bail plea.

The ED has contended that there was a movement of several crores of rupees from two companies without any substantial business to back up to the Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory Pvt. Ltd, in which Mushrif's sons were the directors or stakeholders.

Mushrif said in his bail plea that the entire case was the result of a political campaign launched by Bharatiya Janata Party ex-MP Kirit Somaiya.

However, the ED denied the contentions and said its not pursuing the case for political reasons against Mushrif, a MLA from Kagal (Kolhapur) and a former minister in the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

The ED argued that Mushrif was trying to shift the culpability on others but that does not absolve the crime, and also accused him of allegedly misusing his position as Chairman of the Kolhapur District Central Cooperative Bank to favour entities linked with him.

After hearing both parties, Judge M.G. Deshpande rejected the bail plea of Mushrif, who had also applied for similar relief from the Bombay High Court.
Anandpur Sahib, April 11 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday dedicated the newly renovated Guru Tegh Bahadur Museum to the people and exhorted them to uphold and emulate the high ideals of secularism and humanitarianism embodied by the ninth Sikh Guru.

The Chief Minister, while addressing the gathering after inspecting the ongoing work at Panj Pyara Park here, said the ninth guru of Sikhs, who founded the holy town of Sri Anandpur Sahib, was an epitome of socialism and secularism as he sacrificed his life for the sake of preserving human rights in the country.

Mann urged people to imbibe the spirit of self-sacrifice preached and practised by Guru Tegh Bahadur, who laid down his life to safeguard the freedom of worship, besides upholding the human and secular values.

He said the Bani of Guru Tegh Bahadur, which is included in Guru Granth Sahib, preaches the message of oneness of mankind, universal brotherhood, righteousness, valour and compassion, which need to be followed by one and all.

The Chief Minister said Guru's supreme sacrifice as protector of 'dharma' was unparalleled in the history of mankind and stands out as an example for humanity.

He said this museum is a humble tribute to this great Sikh Guru who made unparalleled sacrifices to uphold the value of righteousness, truth and freedom of faith.

Mann said the supreme sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur should always be remembered by one and all and Guru's teachings must be disseminated in every nook and corner of the world.

The ninth Guru attained martyrdom in November 1675 along with his associates Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayal Das, who were brutally tortured, to safeguard the religious freedom of Hindus of Kashmir under the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Srinagar, April 11: With large scale preparations going on for the dignitaries who will arrive for the G-20 events to be held in the Kashmir valley, Pakistan has fired its first salvo at India hosting the meeting in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in a bid to vitiate the atmosphere.

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz Srinagar, April 11: With large scale preparations going on for the dignitaries who will arrive for the G-20 events to be held in the Kashmir valley, Pakistan has fired its first salvo at India hosting the meeting in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in a bid to vitiate the atmosphere.

Holding the group's Presidency, India is hosting a number of the G-20 events and group meetings across the country. The University of Kashmir is part of some G-20 programmes in coordination with some other universities, the UT and the Union government. G-20's second meeting of the Development Working Group was held at Kumarakom, Kerala, on 9 April. Different Working Groups are holding similar meetings all over the country.

For the Tourism Working Group, a grand meeting is scheduled at Srinagar Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar on 22-24 May, 2023. Arrangements have been made for the guests' visits to the Dachigam National Park and the world-famous tourist resort of Gulmarg. Officials said that almost all arrangements related to security and hospitality of the guests are being finalised.

Under the Government of India's Smart City Mission, the capital city of Srinagar is being spruced up at a large scale. Currently the face-lifting and remodelling works are in progress in Srinagar's Civil Lines where Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) is dismantling the old iconic Bajaj Clock Tower and raising a fresh one with modern value additions.

Commissioner SMC, Athar Aamir Khan, has issued a public appeal, imploring the residents to contribute to the city's beautification ahead of the G-20 event in Srinagar. "It is an occasion for enhancing the reputation of the city as a famed tourist destination known for scenic beauty, traditional architecture and hospitality of the people. While the government is making necessary arrangements for the upliftment of the city, it is important that the citizens also play their part in sprucing up the city and making the event a grand success", said the SMC's appeal to the citizens.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement on Tuesday in an attempt to vitiate the atmosphere ahead of the scheduled G-20 meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May.

"Pakistan expresses its strong indignation over India's decision to hold the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on 22-24 May 2023. Scheduling of two other meetings of a consultative forum on youth affairs (Y-20) in Leh and Srinagar in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is equally disconcerting", reads the statements issued in Islamabad.

While criticising the scheduling of the three G-20 events in J&K and Ladakh, Islamabad has "yet again raked up the UN resolution of 1948-49.

"With its decision to host G-20 events in IIOJK, India is again exploiting its membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda. For a country that has a grandiose vision about itself and its place in the world, India has once more demonstrated that it is unable to act as a responsible member of the international community", the MFA statement said, claiming that J&K and Ladakh were "disputed" territories.

Officials in Jammu and New Delhi maintained that the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs would respond to the Pakistan statement later on Tuesday. They asserted that both, J&K and Ladakh, were the union territories under the Indian sovereignty and the only dispute was about Pakistan's illegal occupation on over 50 percent of the erstwhile State that had legitimately acceded to India in October 1947.

India is holding the Presidency of the Group-20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023. The G-20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis as a forum for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues. The group is responsible for bringing together the G-20 agenda in consultation with other members and in response to developments in the global economy. Its member countries represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade and about two-thirds of the world population.

The United States of America, The United Kingdom, China, Russia, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, India, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and The European Union are permanent members of G-20. Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and UAE are its "guest countries".

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Guwahati, April 11 : An Assam Industrial Security Force (AISF) jawan was arrested for allegedly killing one of his colleagues.

The incident happened at the AISF camp at Moliabari in Tinsukia district on Tuesday. They were engaged in Digboi's Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) security.

Superintendent of Police in Tinsukia district, Gaurav Abhijit Dilip told IANS, "One constable of AISF II Battalion in Dibrugarh namely Udesh Majhi, 43-year-old, posted at Digboi IOCL security duty has shot dead his fellow colleague Bimal Oraon by service rifle today." The accused Udesh Majhi was arrested by the police and a case was registered against him in accordance with the pertinent laws.

"Reason of firing is a personal dispute between them," Dilip said.

The body of the deceased was sent for autopsy. Further investigation in the matter is underway.
Chennai, April 11 : Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) legislator S.P. Venkateswaran on Tuesday called upon the Tamil Nadu government to ban Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) as the team does not have a single player from the state.

Speaking on the floor of the Assembly, the senior PMK leader said that there are many talented players in Tamil Nadu, but the CSK franchise has not accommodated any of them in its 27-member squad.

He also said that CSK is earning huge revenues by using the name of Tamil Nadu, but it has sidelined the Tamil players.

PMK is known for taking up issues that concern Tamils, and the latest statement by Venkateswaran is based on the concern that there are no players from Tamil Nadu in the CSK team.

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New Delhi, April 11 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested a Junior Engineer (E&M) working in the office of Garrison Engineer, Military Engineering Services, Jaipur (Rajasthan), and his aide for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 16,000 from a man if he wanted to continue working with them on a contract basis, an official said.

A senior CBI official said that the accused was identified as Vinod Kumar, the Junior Engineer, and Santosh Kumar Pandey, HR manager of a Noida-based firm.

The CBI said that a case was registered against the Junior Engineer and a Manager (HR) of a private company based at NOIDA (Uttar Pradesh) on the allegations of demanding undue advantage from the complainant's salary for continuing his services on a contract basis.

"The complainant (a contractual employee) of NOIDA-based private company was working as electrician helper at Military Engineering Services (MES), Jaipur, and was getting salary for the work performed by him. Kumar in conspiracy with Pandey demanded a bribe of Rs 26,000 and agreed to accept Rs 16,000 as first instalment for himself and for the said HR Manager from complainant's salary for continuing his services and further contract in MES," the official added.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the junior engineer (E&M) red handed for demanding and accepting undue advantage of Rs 10,000 from the complainant as the first instalment.

Searches were conducted at five places, including Jaipur, Sriganganagar, Ghaziabad and in NOIDA at the premises of the accused which led to the recovery of Rs 3,00,000 along with other incriminating documents from the premises of the said Junior Engineer.
Chennai, April 11 : The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women (SCW) has called for action against the Kalakshetra Foundation following complaints of sexual harassment from the students of the institution.

The recommendation was made by the SCW Chairperson, A.S. Kumari to the government. She had visited the foundation a few days earlier and had interacted with women students who had complained of sexual harassment by the faculty and guest teachers at the institution.

The girl students of the institution had also held day-long protests over the alleged sexual harassment they faced from some members of the faculty. Hari Padman, dancer, and an assistant professor of the Kalakshetra Foundation, was arrested and remanded in judicial custody on charges of sexual harassment.

Kumari said that a criminal case should be filed against the repository artists Sreenath, Sai Krishnan and Sanjith Lal and a criminal investigation must be conducted.
New Delhi, April 11 : With the arrest of three men, the Delhi Police on Tuesday said that they had busted a gang of highway robbers who used to steal trucks on GT Karnal road.

The accused have been identified as Shamuddin alias Shamu, 59, also the kingpin of the gang, Kapil, 38, and Abad, 36, all residents of Loni in Ghaziabad.

According to police, the special staff of Outer North district was working diligently on the gang of highway robbers after three cases of truck robbery were registered in the district in the last 3-4 months.

"With the help of technical surveillance the police team checked almost 1,000 CCTV cameras starting from the place of incidents in Alipur, Delhi to Khanauri, Punjab covering almost around 300 km," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Outer North, Ravi Kumar Singh said.

"The scanning of the CCTV footage led to the identification of the gang members and they were nabbed from Delhi and its peripherals," he added.

"Shammudin, who is also previously involved in eight criminal cases registered across the city, had a business of raw materials some years ago but due to heavy loss in business and to recover the loss, he planned some highway robberies with his ex-drivers namely Abad, Kapil, Irshad and Shamsher," said the official, adding that further investigation of the case is in progress.
Visakhapatnam, April 11 : A team of officials from Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) of Telangana on Tuesday visited the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) in Andhra Pradesh to examine the possibility of submitting Expression of Interest (EoI) for its acquisition.

On the direction of the Telangana government, a team of SCCL officials visited the plant. As the VSP Chairman and Managing Director was away in Delhi, it called on senior officials of the marketing department.

Earlier, Telangana's Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao told media persons in Hyderabad that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has sent a team to the VSP to examine the possibility of bidding for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, commonly referred to as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

The Telangana government enjoys a majority stake of 51 per cent in the SCCL while the Centre holds the remaining 49 per cent.

KCR, as the Telangana Chief Minister is popularly known, has asked SCCL officials to visit the VSP and prepare a blueprint. The last date for submitting bids for VSP is on April 15.

Meanwhile, an organization of VSP employees fighting against its privatisation has welcomed the report that Singareni directors have been invited to participate in EOI. The Ukku Parirakshana Porata Samithi alleged that the Centre is planning to sell VSP to shell companies and if a public sector undertaking comes forward to acquire it, it will be in safe hands.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh's Industry Minister Gudivada Amarnath on Tuesday said that there is contradiction in the stand taken by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government of Telangana on the VSP. "On the one hand, it says it is opposed to privatisation of PSUs while on the other it is trying to acquire VSP," he said and demanded it to clarify its stand on privatisation.

"BRS should clarify if it is for privatisation of PSUs or against it. If it is against privatization, how can it bid for VSP," he said.

Amarnath stated that the Centre had issued a memorandum one and a half years ago and as per the memorandum, Central or state governments can't participate in bidding.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government has come under attack from opposition parties for its silence over the issue.

Amarnath, however, said their stand was clear. "We are against privatisation. Our slogan is Visakha steel is right of Andhras," he said.

The minister said Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that his government is opposed to privatisation of the VSP.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. The visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Kazakhstan, the negotiations between the two countries' leaders in Astana and the prospects for the development of Azerbaijani-Kazakh relations are in the spotlight of the Kazakh media.

According to AZERTAC, Azerbaijan State News Agency, and many media outlets, including the Voice of the People, Sputnik Kazakhstan (Sputnik ), Inbusiness.kz, devoted their publications to the negotiations between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. They noted that the negotiations discussed relevant issues of bilateral cooperation development in all spheres, including strengthening ties between the two countries in the field of trade, economic and investment projects, as well as projects related to transport and logistics infrastructure.

The Kapital.kz website in an article titled "Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan plan to increase turnover to $1 billion" tells about the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. KazTAG, the international news agency of Kazakhstan, provides data confirming the positive dynamics of trade turnover growth. The article reports that in 2022, Kazakhstan's exports to Azerbaijan increased by 30.4 percent and amounted to $375.3 million, while imports grew by 95.2 percent, amounting to $86.6 million with an increase of 95.2 percent. The review shows that the number of Azerbaijani investments in the economy of Kazakhstan reached $69.7 million last year.

Many Kazakh media sources wrote about the age-old bonds of brotherhood and friendship between the two nations united by common spiritual and cultural values. As the Kapital.kz notes, recent initiatives in the humanitarian sphere, especially, the decision to hold the Days of Culture of Kazakhstan in Azerbaijan and the Days of Culture of Azerbaijan in Kazakhstan, will help to bring the two nations closer and boost their inter-state relations.

Moreover, Kazakh news portals ORDA and Tengrinews noted that one of the striking examples of friendship between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is the Center for Children's Creative Development, which Kazakhstan started to construct and continues building Azerbaijans Fuzuli city.

The Kazakh mass media pay special attention to the contribution that Azerbaijans national leader Heydar Aliyev made to boost strategic ties between the two counties. According to the media, the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, who headed the country in its difficult period, is rightfully considered to be the architect of modern independent Azerbaijan. According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev, young Azerbaijan became a full member of the world community in a short period, and the Great Leaders life path is a vivid example of selfless service to the nation.

According to the BaigeNews agency and other mass media, this year Kazakhstan will host a number of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Great Leader and eternalizing the memory of the national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Kazinform news agency, in particular, wrote about the upcoming premiere of a documentary film dedicated to the outstanding statesman of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. The article said that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was informed by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev about the premiere of the film during negotiations in an expanded format. He said that the premiere of the "  " ("Outstanding Life") documentary film, dedicated to Heydar Aliyev.

Many media outlets reported about the grand opening of Heydar Aliyev Street in the center of Astana on April 10 with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev and the Kazakh President. As the inAstana news website and other mass media emphasize, this event was another evidence of respect for the great son of Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda newspaper wrote, the President of Kazakhstan stated that the modern strong and harmonious relations between Astana and Baku are constantly developing in the spirit of strategic partnership and alliance. The publication also says that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev "highly valued the strong leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, who continues the creative work of his father with dignity and confidently leads his country along the path of progress".
Gurugram, April 11 : The Gurugram district administration on Tuesday made it mandatory for the general public to wear face masks at all public places, government offices, malls, private offices etc, where there is a gathering of more than 100 people.

According to the administration officials, this decision was taken as a precautionary measure against the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases in Gurugram over the past few weeks.

Gurugram Deputy Commissioner, Nishant Kumar Yadav in his order said, "It is mandatory to wear face masks in public places, malls, government/private offices where more than 100 people gather in the district to prevent the spread of Covid infection, as per the instructions of Additional Chief Secretary, Health Department." "Covid infection has been increasing in the district for the last few days, so necessary steps have to be taken to prevent Covid infection as per the instructions of the Health Department, in which it is mandatory to wear a mask and maintain proper distance," he said.

Yadav has also instructed all Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Police Department and all department heads to take necessary steps to ensure compliance of the orders.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday denied anticipatory bail to a man accused of attacking and injuring a lawyer.

Judge Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the applicant's claim that the complainant had fabricated facts to force the police to file a report because the complainant was a lawyer who was knowledgeable about how to do so.

"Merely because a person is a lawyer or a practising advocate by profession, his complaint upon sustaining an injury by someone cannot be disregarded merely on the ground of his being a practising advocate and thus he knew how to draft a complaint. The same would imply that an injured person who has his or her complaint prepared by a lawyer will be at better footing, than a lawyer himself who has suffered injuries on the vital part of the body," the court said.

The FIR against the accused was registered under different sections of the IPC for voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint and acts done in furtherance of common intention.

There was a verbal argument between the complainant and his cousin, the accused and the co-accused, regarding the weight of chicken the complainant had purchased from the accused, according to the FIR.

After the argument, according to the prosecution, the complainant went home and later returned with his brother and a friend to resolve the conflict, but after a physical tussle, the accused individuals struck the complainant in the head with an iron rod.

He lost consciousness and received care at the trauma centre of AIIMS.

During the course of investigation, discharge summary, X-rays and MLCs were obtained, pursuant to which Section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the IPC was added to the FIR.

According to the applicant's lawyer, the complainant put pressure on him to sell chicken to him for less than market value, which he did to avoid a confrontation. However, the applicant claims that the complainant came back with 20-25 individuals, who slapped and pulled his hair before the applicant, acting in self-defense, he pushed the complainant, who sustained injuries after his head struck a marble slab.

The applicant's lawyer further asserted that the complainant took Rs 15,000 from the accused's shop and that despite a complaint being filed, nothing was done about it. It was also claimed that only after nine days from the date of FIR registered, section 308 was added to it.

But, Assistant Public Prosecutor Manoj Pant stated that because the charges were severe, the custodial interrogation of the suspect was necessary in order to identify more suspects and find the crime's weapon.

According to the complainant's attorney, as the complainant was struck in the head with an iron rod, he could provide his statement after being deemed fit, which led to the addition of section 308 to the FIR.

The judge accepted the submission and also recorded that the trial court had already sought an explanation from the SHO concerned on the issue.

After rejecting the argument that the lawyer got the complaint registered owing to his knowledge of the law and by twisting facts, the court observed that if a person with a skill is able to help others, the skill cannot work to his disadvantage.

"If a person has a position of authority or skill and he is able to help others, then in his own case, his own skill, profession or position of authority cannot work to his disadvantage," the court said.

Moreover, it said that it was not the complainant's profession, but the fact that he was injured, which helped the court in deciding the application as the evidence revealed that the complainant had suffered a serious injury in form of a laceration on the forehead. It also noted that the iron rod allegedly used was yet to be recovered.

Accordingly, the court held that no ground for grant of anticipatory bail was made out and hence dismissed the application.
New Delhi, April 11 : Contrasting half-centuries from Axar Patel and captain David Warner carried Delhi Capitals to 172 in 19.4 overs against Mumbai Indians in match 16 of IPL 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.

Delhi were in trouble at 98/5 in 12.3 overs, and Axar walked in to smack 54 off 25 balls, hitting four fours and five effortless sixes in what was his first IPL fifty. Warner began well but struggled to accelerate and played an anchor role to make an unconvincing 51 off 47 balls.

Mumbai's bowling struggled in power-play, but veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla got turn from a dry pitch to pick 3/22, while left-arm pacer Jason Behrendorff finished with 3/23 as Delhi's last five wickets fell for just seven runs, with two balls left unused.

Pushed into batting first, Delhi were off to a decent start by racing to 29/0 in the first three overs. Shaw got off the mark by presenting the full face of the bat to punch-drive down the ground off Behrendorff. He would time two more flowy drives off Arshad Khan and Hrithik Shokeen, but Shaw would fall to the latter after sweeping straight to square leg.

Warner initially nailed his pulls and slogs while being severe on anything having width from the bowlers. From the other end, Manish Pandey was great in his on-drives while using his feet well against spinners, and had some luck in edges going for boundaries.

Post the first time-out, Pandey danced down the pitch to loft off Chawla, but holed out to long-off in the ninth over. In the next over, Yash Dhull's IPL debut lasted four balls as his flick off the hips off a slower ball from Riley Meredith was caught by running deep mid-wicket.

More trouble followed Delhi as Chawla's googly trapped Rovman Powell plumb lbw in the 11th over. After paddle-sweeping off Green in the 12th over, Warner got a life as Chawla couldn't hold on to his catch at mid-off and couldn't effect a run-out despite a mix-up between him and Lalit Yadav.

Chawla made up for the shelled chance by luring Lalit through flight and uprooting his leg-stump with a slower googly. Warner then nailed a slog-sweep off Chawla for four, before bringing up his half-century in 43 balls.

From the other end, Axar showed his fine touch with the bat by carting Shokeen for back-to-back inside-out sixes, before striking Green through cover and down the ground for a brace of fours.

Axar then smacked consecutive sixes over long-on off Behrendorff, second of which Suryakumar Yadav dropped and was hit on the face, walking off the field immediately. He took on Meredith by hooking through short fine leg for four, followed by smacking a six straight down the ground on a no-ball to get his fifty in 22 balls.

But Mumbai bounced back in the 19th over as Behrendorff had Axar holing out to deep square leg, Warner giving a top-edge to short third man and Abishek Porel miscuing to mid-off, apart from Kuldeep Yadav being run-out by mid-on. Meredith castled Anrich Nortje in the final over to make it the first time a side batting first has been bowled out.

Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 172 in 19.4 overs (Axar Patel 54, David Warner 51; Piyush Chawla 3/22, Jason Behrendorff 3/23) against Mumbai Indians

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Bhubaneswar, April 11 : With the mercury soaring to 40-degree Celsius at nine places across Odisha on Tuesday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered closure of all schools up to Class X along with anganwadis from April 12 to 16.

For the past few days, the temperature has been rising in the state with the Met department issuing a heatwave warning throughout Odisha.

In this context, anganwadis and schools up to Class X, both government and private, will remain closed from Wednesday to April 16, the Chief Minister directed.

On arrival from Japan on Tuesday evening, Patnaik immediately took a review meeting with senior officials on the current heatwave condition as well as the prevailing Covid situation in the state.

Patnaik directed the administration, particularly the panchayat raj, housing & urban development and energy departments, to remain preprared to deal with any situation.

The Chief Minister asked the concerned authorities to ensure smooth supply of drinking water, both in urban and rural areas, with special focus on water scarcity pockets. He also directed the energy department to ensure continuous power supply to meet the demand during heatwave conditions.

Patnaik also advised the administration to keep in touch with various professional Met agencies to collect information about monsoon and prepare advanced planning accordingly.

The Chief Minister was briefed about the current Covid scenario in the country in general and Odisha in particular. The Chief Minister advised the concerned officials to monitor the situation closely, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

As per an evening bulletin from the Bhubaneswar centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Baripada recorded the highest maximum temperature of 41.6-degree Celsius on Tuesday, followed by Jharsuguda (41.2), Sambalpura (40.8), Bhubaneswar (40.7), Titlagarh and Boudh (40.5), Angul (40.1), Cuttack and Sundergarh (40).

Due to northwesterly/westerly dry air and high solar insolation, day temperature is likely to rise further by 3 to 4-degree Celsius in the districts of interior Odisha in the next four days.

Forecasting heatwave conditions from April 13 to 15, the Met department has issued yellow warning for several districts.

The weather department has advised people to take precautionary measures while going out between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
New Delhi, April 11 : The BJP on Tuesday released its first list of candidates for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections, comprising 189 names.

The list was released at the party headquarters here by Karnataka election in-charge and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh in the presence of other leaders.

Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai will contest from his Shiggaon constituency.

Arun Singh said that the list includes 52 fresh faces, while there are 32 candidates from the OBC category, 30 from the Scheduled Castes and 16 from the Scheduled Tribes.

Expressing confidence about the party's victory, Singh said that the people of the state trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. While on the other hand, he alleged that the Congress is losing space in Karnataka and is crippled by infighting while the Janata Dal-Secular is "a sinking ship".

Karnataka has a total of 224 Assembly seats. The counting of votes will be taken up on May 13.
Chennai, April 11 : The General Insurance Council has decided to take on the hospitals that are overcharging the health insurance policy holders and indulging in frauds through a series of actions, said a senior industry official.

Speaking to the media, S. Prakash, Managing Director, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Ltd, and Executive Committee member, General Insurance Council, said the industry/council will take a unified approach against frauds.

Stating that the industry will identify the pattern and take action, Prakash said "We want to send a strong signal to the hospitals. The action against the hospitals could be - issuance of a warning letter, suspension of cashless facility and even exclude (blacklist) the hospital as a service provider except in the case of an emergency." Majority of the business of the hospitals in major cities come from patients holding health insurance policies, he said.

According to Prakash, the Council will also have an appellate mechanism where the affected hospital can make its appeal.

Prakash said the topline of the non-life insurers contribute to the bottomline of the hospitals.

Several decades ago, the public sector non-life insurance companies tried to blacklist hospitals that gave false bills and other papers so that the health insurance policyholders can make prefer fraudulent claims. But the insurers scrapped the move soon after.

That apart, the General Insurance Council plans to have a common information technology platform to empanel hospitals, he said. It is said that the Council will seek using the Insurance Information Bureau's Rohini portal for this purpose.

In addition, the non-life insurance industry is also looking at working with the National Health Authority to have a common portal for intimating the case details by the hospitals in case the patient is a health insurance policyholder and prefers cashless settlement of the hospital bills, i.e., the insurance company pays the hospital directly.
Mumbai, April 11 : Laying bare the differences within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar claimed on Tuesday that Uddhav Thackeray resigned as Maharashtra Chief Minister 10 months ago without consulting the two allies - NCP and Congress.

Pawar's statement pertained to the political upheaval in the state in June 2022 caused by a split in the Shiv Sena following which Thackeray, the Shiv Sena President, resigned as the Chief Minister on June 28.

After Pawar's comments to a private Marathi TV channel, Shiv Sena (UBT) President Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut rushed to meet the NCP chief at the latter's home late on Tuesday night.

What transpired in the 75-minute long meeting is still not clear, though the NCP promptly released photos of Pawar, MP Supriya Sule, Thackeray and Raut, all looking cheerful and relaxed.

"He (Thackeray) should have taken his supporting parties into confidence," Pawar said.

Justifying his stand, Pawar pointed out that the three parties were jointly involved in all this, raising the issue 10 months after the MVA regime was unceremoniously toppled.

"If someone takes the decision to resign, he has the right. But the other partners in the alliance should have been consulted. Taking decisions without discussion has consequences. The fact that there was no discussion at that time cannot be denied," Pawar added.

Interestingly, Pawar's statement came ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on the Shiv Sena split and the related issues.
Guwahati, April 11 : Assam government will give jobs to 50,000 youth of the state upon the completion of two years in power on May 11, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday.

"Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hand over the appointment letters to the job seekers," Sarma said.

In the run-up to the 2021 Assembly elections, the BJP had promised to give one lakh government jobs within one year of the formation of the government.

The Opposition has been continuously criticising the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led dispensation for not keeping its poll promise.

However, Sarma claimed that nearly 50,000 government jobs had already been given in the last two years. The promise of one lakh jobs will be fulfilled in next month, when his government celebrates the two-year milestone, the Chief Minister said.

He claimed that this has become possible only due to the presence of BJP governments at both the Centre and the state.

"I appeal to everybody to make the BJP more powerful so that every state can witness this kind of development," Sarma said.

The Chief Minister added that the construction of 200 divisional offices and seven district offices for the BJP will be comleted before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Agartala, April 11 : Japan always gives priority to developing the northeast region of India and increasing trade and economic activities with the neighbouring Bangladesh, Japan's Ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki said here on Tuesday.

Addressing the 3rd India-Japan Intellectual Conclave on the theme of "North East India, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal in the Indo-Pacific: Building Partnerships - The Way Forward" here, he said that in the Bay of Bengal region, comprising Bangladesh, northeast region of India and West Bengal, 300 million people are living ensuring a good prospect of trade and economy.

"Bangladesh could be the industrial hub of the Bay of Bengal region. We need industries and investment in the region for the economic growth of the region and it would resolve many issues including the unemployment problem," Suzuki said.

He said that Bangladesh's under construction Matarbari deep sea port (in Cox's Bazar of south east Bangladesh) after completion of commissioning in 2027 would give a big push to the water connectivity between the Bay of Bengal region and the rest of the world.

The Shillong based "Asian Confluence", a premier think tank of India organised the two-day (Tuesday-Wednesday) conclave, where Union DoNER (Development of the North Eastern Region) Minister G.Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for External Affairs Raj Kumar Ranjan Singh, Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bangladesh Shahriar Alam also spoke.

The Japanese Ambassador also said that his Prime Minister Fumio Kishida earlier discussed with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi the joint development of the northeastern region of India while many JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) projects are now under implementations in the region.

"Northeast India and Bangladesh value change would prosper both the countries. Use of the upcoming Matarbari deep sea port and existing Chhattagram and Mongla port in Bangladesh would help to a great extent to the region. Both Bangladesh and the northeast region of India have a win win prospect," he said.

Suzuki said that around 338 Japanese companies are working in Bangladesh and Japan Bangladesh economic partnership would be further strengthened and expanded in the near future.

Asian Confluence Executive Director Sabyasachi Dutta said that the conclave brought together a galaxy of senior policymakers, diplomats, businesses and academic institutions to make an assessment on the topic of northeast India and Bangladesh multimodal connectivity in the context of India-Japan collaboration in the Bay of Bengal region with a special focus on Tripura and the adjoining northeastern states as a connectivity hub of the future.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Supreme Court has asked police officers in Maharashtra to compensate a woman for keeping her in illegal detention despite she being granted interim protection and two weeks to surrender by it.

A bench of Justices S.K. Kaul and A. Amanullah observed that the woman, an accused in a criminal case, got the interim protection on November 17, 2021 and the apex court had granted her two weeks' to surrender and apply for regular bail.

Expressing discontent with the illegal detention of the woman, the bench noted that the court had given interim protection to the petitioner and despite the same, she was taken into custody.

The petitioner had submitted before the court that she had also shown the court's order to the police, though she was bailed out next but she was in custody for a day.

The top court ordered that the petitioner should be compensated with Rs 15,000 for the illegal detention for one day which will be shared by the two police officers and the payment to be made within a period of two weeks.

The bench noted that two police officers filed their affidavit seeking to express unconditional apology. However, the bench said that behaviour of the officers was in the teeth of the court's order and cautioned the police officers to be careful in future.

The top court passed the order on a contempt plea filed by the woman against two police officers. In a previous order passed in January this year, the bench had noted petitioner's counsel arguments that despite the November 2021 order, within two days the woman was arrested from a hospital where she was working as a nurse.

The bench noted that the police officers were ready to compensate the woman from their own pocket in the matter.

In 2021, the woman had moved the apex court challenging the Bombay High Court order, passed in August 2021, refusing to entertain her plea for anticipatory bail in the case.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. A few days ago, a journalistic investigation into the involvement of foreign banks in the fundraising effort for a project run by the "We Are Our Mountains" Development Agency with the intention of organizing illegal military activities on the territory of Azerbaijan's Karabakh revealed a number of serious facts.

According to information from open sources, CITIBANK NA and RAIFFEISEN Bank are participating in the financing of these illegal and separatist-terrorist activities.

As a result of the investigations, it turned out that both banks are closely connected with the activities of another Armenian paramilitary group named VoMA ("Voxj Mnalu Arvest," or the art of survival), which was created in Armenia in 2014 by professional Armenian military, including war criminals and participants in the occupation war against Azerbaijan, with the aim of training mercenaries in this country.

The information on the official website of the group reveals that ordinary citizens and members of the Armenian diaspora living in different countries of the world are involved in exercises in various regions of Armenia, as well as in military camps located on the territory of Karabakh.

PHOTO 1. Regional units of the VoMA paramilitary group

The VoMA paramilitary group accepts donations to the organization's budget through various payment systems in order to ensure the continuity of its activities. With great regret, it should be noted that according to the information on the official website of the organization, it becomes clear that both of the above-mentioned banks also play a role in the VoMA financing process.

Thus, the intermediary bank for donations to the organization in dollars (USD) is CITIBANK NA, NEW YORK; in euros (EUR) is RAIFFEISEN ZENTRALBANK OESTERREICH, AG; and in rubles (RUB) is SBERBANK MOSCOW PJSC. Along with both Western banks, SBERBANK, which is considered the most important bank of the neighboring Russian Federation, also participates in the financing process.

PHOTO 2. The bank details of the VoMA paramilitary group

There is sufficient information in open sources about the illegal military activities of Armenian mercenaries who have undergone special military training in the VoMA group not only within the state borders of Armenia but also on the territory of Karabakh. In the pre-war period, the organization widely covered the involvement of Armenian youth and even schoolchildren in Kalbajar and other Azerbaijani territories, which were occupied back then, in order to conduct military exercises there.

PHOTO 3. Involvement of Armenian schoolchildren in the exercises of the VoMA paramilitary group in Kalbajar

During the second Karabakh war, the mentioned group was taking part in active hostilities against Azerbaijan. As a result, Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General's Office initiated a criminal case against this armed formation.

Based on the initiated criminal case, the creation of an armed formation not provided for by the legislation of Azerbaijan, the training of members of the group for the purposes of terrorism, the commission of terrorist acts in the formerly occupied territories, as well as support for separatists in Karabakh, were established. In addition, the initiated criminal case also revealed the facts of participation of this group in military actions against peaceful citizens of Azerbaijan and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, carrying out anti-terrorist operations.

Currently, along with the territories adjacent to the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional state border, a branch of the organization operates in the city of Khankendi in the Karabakh Economic Region of Azerbaijan. According to financial reports for 2021, posted on the official website of VoMA, part of the income received was spent under the guise of purchasing special equipment for separatist elements in Karabakh. The allocation of the second largest amount of financial resources (about $55,000) to the separatists in Karabakh in the reporting year once again shows that the illegal activities of the VoMA group continue on the territory of Azerbaijan.

PHOTO 4. VoMA's revenues in 2021

PHOTO 5. Areas of spending of the VoMA group in 2021

The indirect participation of global foreign banks, such as CITIBANK NA, RAIFFEISEN Bank, and SBERBANK, in financing separatist activities and illegal military exercises led by the VoMA paramilitary group in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, the creation of mercenary forces, and providing them with military supplies, is an international crime.

Moreover, such activity by the mentioned banks is a violation of international compliance and corporate business ethics. On the territories of Karabakh under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan, only on the basis of a license issued by Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan may any financial activity be conducted. Any banking transaction that does not comply with this condition not only contradicts the legislation of Azerbaijan but also violates the requirements of the Basel Principles, which reflect the prudential rules of the international banking system.

Currently, CITIBANK NA, RAIFFEISENBANK and SBERBANK are involved in the process of financing the VoMA organization, whose terrorist activities have been proven in open sources. Therefore, the Azerbaijani side considers the activities of these banks and all persons cooperating with them in Karabakh illegal and demands a review of their activities.
New Delhi, April 11 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday left the Enforcement Directorate headquarters here after being questioned for eight hours in connection with the alleged land for job case involving his father and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and other family members.

He reached the ED headquarters at 11 a.m. and left at around 9.10 p.m.

The CBI had questioned Tejashwi Yadav in the matter on March 25, and on the same day, his sister and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti was questioned.

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.

"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," the 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.
New Delhi, April 11 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that government employees are eligible for annual increment, even if they superannuate a day after earning the benefit.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and C.T. Ravikumar said: "The Division Bench of the High Court has rightly directed the appellants to grant one annual increment which the original writ petitioners earned on the last day of their service for rendering their services preceding one year from the date of retirement with good behaviour and efficiently." Agreeing with Karnataka High Court's view in the matter, the apex court dismissed the appeal of the state government-owned Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) challenging the high court judgment.

The bench noted that entitlement to receive increment crystallises when the government servant completes requisite length of service with good conduct and becomes payable on the succeeding day. It added that in the present case, the word "accrue" should be understood liberally and would mean payable on the succeeding day. "Any contrary view would lead to arbitrariness and unreasonableness and denying a government servant legitimate one annual increment though he is entitled to for rendering the services over a year with good behaviour and efficiently and therefore, such a narrow interpretation should be avoided," it said.

The top court refused to accept the KPTCL's submissions that the annual increment is in the form of incentive and to encourage an employee to perform well and therefore, once he is not in service, there is no question of grant of annual increment.

The top court dealt with the Regulation 40(1) of the Karnataka Electricity Board Employees Service Regulations, 1997 and analysed the purpose of grant of annual increment.

"In a given case, it may happen that the employee earns the increment three days before his date of superannuation and therefore, even according to the Regulation 40(1) increment is accrued on the next day in that case also, such an employee would not have one year service thereafter. It is to be noted that increment is earned on one year past service rendered in a time scale. Therefore, the aforesaid submission (made by KPTCL) is not to be accepted." The bench said the moment a government servant has rendered service for a specified period with good conduct, in a time scale, he is entitled to the annual increment and it can be said that he has earned the annual increment for rendering the specified period of service with good conduct.

"Therefore, as such, he is entitled to the benefit of the annual increment on the eventuality of having served for a specified period (one year) with good conduct efficiently. Merely because, the government servant has retired on the very next day, how can he be denied the annual increment which he has earned and/or is entitled to for rendering the service with good conduct and efficiently in the preceding one year," it said.

Initially, a single judge bench of the high court ruled in favour of KPTCL, however the decision was set aside by the high court's division bench.
New Delhi, April 11 : Jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyender Jain on Tuesday asked a Delhi court to transfer two cases related to alleged corruption and money laundering brought against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to another judge.

During the hearing, the former Delhi Minister informed Special Judge Vikas Dhull, who is overseeing both cases, that he had filed transfer applications with the Principal District and Sessions Judge.

The proceedings in the CBI corruption case have been temporarily halted by the Principal District Judge until May 4, when arguments on Jain's transfer application will be heard. Meanwhile, a similar application in the ED's money laundering case is set to be heard on April 13.

Jain has requested that Special Judge Dhull postpone the matter "to see the outcome of said transfer applications".

In response to a court inquiry, the ED's Special Public Prosecutor confirmed that he had received an advance copy of Jain's application related to the money laundering case.

The court subsequently adjourned the proceedings.

Jain was placed under arrest on May 30, 2022, by the central agency under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

The ED had initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of the FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2017 under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of the PC Act, 1988 against Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, and Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain, and Ankush Jain.

A charge sheet was filed by the CBI on December 3, 2018, against Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, and other accused.

Earlier, the ED had provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to companies beneficially owned and controlled by Jain on March 31, 2022.
Agartala, April 11 : As China attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh and fumes over Home Minister Amit Shahs visit on Monday-Tuesday, DoNER minister G. Kishan Reddy said on Tuesday that Arunachal Pradesh has been, is and shall remain an integral part of India.

The Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister said that no nation provides a single inch of land to others and India too will not do this under any circumstances.

"Be it Arunachal Pradesh or any other part of the country, our army is ready to protect every inch of its territory. China should realise that such a claim would only increase the gap between the two nations and shall neither benefit China, or India.

"So China should understand and maintain peace, be it in Arunachal Pradesh or other borders. It should maintain the status quo and both nations should move towards development through fraternity. But China is not doing this with India. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had repeatedly raised this issue with China," Reddy told the media on the sidelines of an event here.

The minister said that no nation has any right to interfere in India's development process within its territory.

He added that few nations which want to capture the market here are unhappy with India's development but the country would continue to develop its infrastructure and transform into a manufacturing hub.

"The government wants to develop all sectors and regions of India from all directions, but few nations are annoyed as our country is developing, manufacturing and improving its infrastructure.

"We would not allow them to transform India into a market for selling their products. India would be the manufacturing hub and sell and export its products in the global markets," Reddy said.

The minister also highlighted various development schemes and activities taking place in the northeast region, especially in the fields of connectivity, tourism, infrastructure development, trade and industry besides restoration of peace by reducing insurgency since the Narendra Modi-led government came to power in 2014.

"During the past nine years, Rs 5 lakh crore has already been spent for the development of the eight northeastern states and more is in the pipeline," Reddy said, adding that to bring investment to the northeast region, the DoNER ministry would hold a northeast investment summit in Delhi soon, besides organising roadshows in all the major metropolitan cities across the country.

However, the biggest challenge in the region is availability of suitable land, he pointed out.
New Delhi, April 11 : Developmental works worth Rs 1,30,000 crore are being taken up by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in J&K, and since 2014, around 500 km of road network has been completed in the region, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said on Tuesday.

Inter Modal Station (IMS) to be established in Katra will be a world-class project constructed to improve travelling experience of the pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine, Gadkari said.

The minister said that 41 tunnels are being constructed in J&K and Ladakh at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore, apart from 18 ropeways worth Rs 5,000 crore.

Gadkari informed that for the journey between Jammu and Srinagar, three corridors worth Rs 35,000 crore are being constructed, which will reduce the earlier distance of 320 km by 70 km while the time travel will be reduced from 10 hours to 4-5 hours.

The minister also announced that the 110 km long Amarnath Marg leading to the Amarnath cave in Pahalgam will be built at a cost of around Rs 5,300 crore for the convenience of the pilgrims going to the holy shrine.
New Delhi, April 12 : The BJP on Tuesday released its first list of candidates, comprising 189 names, for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections.

The list was released at the party headquarters in the national capital by Karnataka election in-charge and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh in the presence of other leaders.

Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai will contest from his Shiggaon constituency.

Singh said that the list includes 52 fresh faces, while there are 32 candidates from the OBC category, 30 from the Scheduled Castes and 16 from the Scheduled Tribes.

Expressing confidence about the party's victory, Singh said that the people of the state trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. While on the other hand, he alleged that the Congress is losing space in Karnataka and is crippled by infighting while the Janata Dal-Secular is "a sinking ship".

The saffron party has fielded V. Somanna on Varuna seat to take on Congress heavyweight Siddaramaiah. Somanna will also be contesting from Chamarajnagar constituency. He had previously contested from Govindraj Nagara constituency.

Similarly, R. Ashok will contest on two seats, from his home seat Padmanabhanagar and from Kanakpura against Congress' D.K. Shivakumar.

B.Y. Vijayendra, the son of former Chief Minister and BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa, will contest from Shikaripura seat, the same constituency where his father had won seven times since 1983. State minister B. Sriramulu will contest from Bellary Rural.

BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi will contest from Chikkamagaluru.

The saffron party has fielded Yashpal Suvarna, who had aggressively campaigned for Hijab ban, from Udupi seat.

The BJP's election committee met in the national capital over the weekend to finalise the names.

Karnataka has a total of 224 Assembly seats. The counting of votes will be taken up on May 13.
Patna, April 12 : BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi has claimed that the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government "is cheating job aspirants who are waiting to get recruited as teachers in government schools in the state for the last 4 years".

Raising questions on the Nitish government's nod to the recruitment of new teachers, the Bihar BJP leader on Tuesday said: "When the state government has not allocated adequate funds in the state budget, then how will it give salaries to new teachers?" "The Nitish government has claimed that it will recruit 2.25 lakh teachers and they will be given attractive salaries, dearness allowance and other benefits. However, the government has not allocated the required funds," Sushil Modi asserted.

"The state government should have raised funds by more than Rs 5000 crore to give salaries to new teachers. Interestingly, the state government had allocated only Rs 1,200 crore for the education department for the salaries and other allowances of teachers in the budget. It clearly indicates that the Nitish Kumar government will not recruit fresh teachers for another year," he claimed.

The Nitish government has already mocked the job aspirants who were waiting for the recruitment for the last 4 years. These aspirants have passed the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and are eligible for the job. Under the new guidelines, these candidates have to face another competitive examination to get the job. This is nothing but cheating with aspirants," the BJP leader said.
Richard is a highly accomplished consulting CFO, overseeing finance, operations, and administration in areas such as domestic and international manufacturing and distribution, retail, healthcare, nonprofit, and service companies worth from $2M to $25B. He provides exceptional leadership, communication, and mentoring skills.

Richard initially joined our team in Dallas and worked with clients in the healthcare space. He returned to the industry to a short while and we were glad to have him rejoin our team, this time in Austin, where our clients can benefit from his experience with consumer goods and scaling businesses. says Cristina Silingardi, Austin Managing Director of vcfo.

Richard started in the mail room at Exxon, taking night classes to earn his degree in accounting. After he graduated, he went to work as an audit manager for Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte). He earned his CPA license and was promoted twice in four years.

He has worked as audit manager and controller for topline public (SEC) companies such as American Home Products, Estee Lauder, Quaker State, and GTE. Richard also worked for nearly a decade with private equity and family office companies in Dallas, including ClubCorp, where he served as director and internal audit and division controller for the luxury homes division, and AG Hill Companies / Hunt Petroleum Corporation, where he was the VP of finance and controller. There he implemented financial and administrative structures to manage $4B+ in business and fund investments.

Starting in 2008, he went to work in private equity and consulting. He served as CFO for H2X LLC and president and CFO for Conch / Druid Oilfield Services. From 2016 to 2022, he was the CFO and CAO for the healthcare nonprofit Metrocare Services, a $100M+ public agency that had been approaching insolvency and that he restored to profitability and positive cash flow within one year.

Of joining vcfo, Richard says, With their incredible reputation, I am very excited to join the vcfo team. I believe my diverse background will help vcfo expand its customer base.

Richard has a B.B.A. in accounting from Pace University, New York.

About vcfo

vcfo provides an integrated suite of finance, HR and recruiting support, including outsourcing and consulting solutions that improve operational performance and optimize productivity. Founded in 1996, vcfo pioneered the concept of the Virtual CFO with its original core offering of fractional or part-time CFO solutions. For over 25 years, we have worked with more than 5,000 clients, evolving our service offerings and geographical footprint to meet new industry and market needsexpanding what we offer, the value we provide, and the way we deliver it. At vcfo, our mission is always to make your company stronger. Learn more at vcfo.com.

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World Parkinson Coalition "Its a great relief for people with Parkinson's disease to know that you can find public servants educated about the disease and ready to help." - Fulvio Capitanio, person living with PD

In honor of World Parkinsons Day, the World Parkinson Coalition (WPC), together with Associacio Catalana per al Parkinson, Barcelona Turisme Convention Bureau and sponsored by AbbVie, announced today the launch of its Make the City Parkinsons Ready program ahead of the 6th World Parkinson Congress taking place July 4-7, 2023. The program will help the Barcelona community prepare to welcome congress attendees living with Parkinsons disease (PD) and their care partners and is focused on equipping people working on the front lines of transportation, hotel staff, convention center staff, as well as local police and customs officials at the airport with the opportunity to learn about Parkinsons so they can have positive experiences interacting with delegates who live with Parkinsons during the Congress.

Parkinsons disease is one of the fastest growing neurological disorders and a significant challenge for people living with PD is traveling comfortably and safely, said Elizabeth "Eli" Pollard, Executive Director of World Parkinson Coalition. PD is complicated and often misunderstood, so accessibility issues and lack of PD awareness by local staff can present a myriad of problems causing additional stressors for those living with the disease.

The Parkinsons Ready program is designed to:



Prepare Barcelona to welcome the more than 4,000 delegates during this years World Parkinson Congress, some of whom live with Parkinsons

Ensure congress attendees have a welcoming and safe experience while in Barcelona

Educate public services and hospitality industry leaders to better understand PD and leave the city smarter than before

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The Parkinsons Ready program was designed to prioritize the needs of those living with this condition and provide empathetic and practical training to equip the Barcelona community to meet their needs, said Roser Roige, president of Associacio Catalana per al Parkinson.

Barcelona has proven itself as a pioneering Smart City through the renewal of smart transport and urban infrastructures  but, above all, it has been a pioneer in understanding how to harness technology to offer better sustainability, inclusivity and self-management of the city, said Christoph Tessmar, Barcelona Turisme Convention Bureau Managing Director. Our work with the Parkinsons Ready training is making the city even smarter. This program will leave a significant positive impact on our society and across the different groups involved in the trainings, including public transportation, police, airport and hotels.

Parkinsons Ready will be offered in a series of short trainings in April, May and June, the months leading up to the Congress, which will take place in July. The trainings will include specialized elements specific to each group, including police officers, first responders and hotel, convention center and airport staff. The World Parkinson Coalition has a legacy in making cities more inclusive through this program, which began in 2010.

The collaborative and thoughtful approach taken by Parkinsons Ready organizers for Barcelona is truly special, said Selma Pelaez, neurophysiotherapist at Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Associacio Catalana per al Parkinson and instructor for the Parkinsons Ready program. This years trainings will set the foundation of formalizing a protocol of community education for Parkinsons disease, and we look forward to Barcelona setting an example to educate other communities around the world.

As part of WPCs legacy, after the congress ends the PD knowledge will stay in Barcelona with those who were trained, allowing them to support their communities, including more than 160,000 people living with PD in Spain, and future guests across airports, hotels, meeting centers, public transportation, taxis and beyond.

"Traveling long distance and moving around in a big city can be much more challenging than one can imagine, said Fulvio Capitanio, person living with PD, economist, co-founder of Unidos contra el Parkinson and World Parkinson Congress Steering Committee member. Its a great relief for people with Parkinson's disease to know that you can find public servants educated about the disease and ready to help.

"World Parkinsons Day is honored every year on April 11 to build global awareness for PD and empower those living with the condition and patient advocacy groups to speak up about the impact it has on their lives.

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About the World Parkinson Coalition and WPC 2023

The World Parkinson Coalition Inc provides an international forum for learning about the latest scientific discoveries, medical practices, caregiver initiatives and advocacy work related to Parkinson's disease. The triennial World Parkinson Congresses provide a space for the global Parkinsons community of researchers, clinicians, health care professionals, people with Parkinsons and their care partners to meet in person, network, and discuss advances in Parkinsons research, improve understanding and promote advocacy worldwide, while influencing future research and care options. The WPC 2023 will attract more than 4,000 delegates.

About Parkinsons Disease

Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million people worldwide, Parkinsons disease is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease on the planet. While Parkinsons disease is characterized by limited functional ability, a variety of nonmotor and motor symptoms significantly impact the quality of life of both people living with Parkinsons disease and their care partners. This can include resting tremor, muscle rigidity, paid, fatigue, anxiety and depression.

About Associacio Catalana per al Parkinson

Associacio Catalana per al Parkinson (The Catalan Association for Parkinson's) is a non-profit organization born in 1985 in Barcelona. It was the first association of patients with Parkinson's disease in Spain. Since then, the organization has been working to provide care and advice to people affected by Parkinson's disease and their families. In 1997, it was declared a public utility by the Spanish government, and in 2020, it received a distinction from the Catalan Society of Neurology for its neurorehabilitative work and social awareness. Based in different towns in Catalonia, it provides rehabilitation therapies, social care, home care, and health education.

About Barcelona Turisme Convention Bureau

The Barcelona Convention Bureau (BCB) is a specialised division of Turisme de Barcelona that promotes Barcelona as a congress, convention and incentive travel destination, and offers free and impartial advice to professionals interested in organising their meeting in Barcelona. Founded in 1983, BCB was a pioneer in this field in Spain. Four decades of experience have given us in-depth knowledge of the city, creating close working relationships with companies and associations in the meetings industry.

About AbbVie in Neuroscience

At AbbVie, our commitment to preserve the personhood of those living with neurological and psychiatric disorders is unwavering. Every challenge in this uncharted territory makes us more determined and drives us harder to discover and deliver solutions for patients, care partners and clinicians. AbbVie's Neuroscience portfolio consists of approved therapies in neurological and psychiatric disorders, including bipolar I disorder, major depressive disorder, migraine, Parkinson's disease, post-stroke spasticity, schizophrenia and others along with a robust pipeline.

[1] Daniel Weintraub, Cynthia L. Comella and Stacy Horn. (2008). Parkinsons Disease  Part 1: Pathophysiology, Symptoms, Burden, Diagnosis, and Assessment. Cranbury: American Journal of Managed Care. (REF-46529)
World Wide Stereo presents: Music Matters - Spring Sessions Music Matters is our way of celebrating our shared love of music, while applauding stellar sound. When music is brought to life and reproduced as the artist intended, theres nothing better. Its an emotional connection and can completely transform your mood and energy." - Bob Cole, CEO & Founder

Finally: After a 4-year Covid time-out, the highly-regarded, widely anticipated, kick-a** music event called Music Matters is back. And, once again, its brought to you by World Wide Stereo  2023s CTA Integrator of The Year and Philadelphias undisputed destination for all-things premium sound. The venue: World Wide Stereos flagship showroom in Montgomeryville, PA, tuned to the nines for demonstrations that, as past Music Matter veterans will attest  just might sweep you off your feet.

Just how good can your music sound? Youre about to find out.

Our Music Matters Spring Sessions is sharply focused around one thing: better sound. Made up of a series of sessions that let attendees huddle with industry audio experts and lose themselves in fascinating TED Talk-like presentations. Talk to like-minded music lovers and learn from the best in the business. Take part in our speaker shootout, and experience demonstrations on a variety of topics from acoustic room treatments and streaming services to the magic of music in cinema. Discover what experts mean by hi-res and spatial audio with a lively variety of audio demonstrations and A/B tests.

Presenters include World Wide Stereo system design experts and industry leaders from highly respected audio brands like Focal, Integra, Vicoustics, Klipsch and more. Without question: attendees will leave Music Matters with a far better understanding of how to create a much better listening experience in their own homes.

See (and hear) it here first: World Wide Stereo is proud to be selected as the exclusive launch partner of Integras new flagship AV receiver: the DRX-8.4. This powerhouse, next-gen AVR offers unprecedented flexibility with a deep feature set for amplification, audio support, connectivity, and system control of the whole home. The DRX-8.4 will be unveiled and demo'd for the first time to the public in our Music in Cinema session.

Music Matters is our way of celebrating our shared love of music, while applauding stellar sound and thanking all of you for helping us make 44 years of award-winning audio even possible, says World Wide Stereos CEO and Founder and Consumer Technology Hall-of-Fame Inductee. Music in an elevator is just innocuous background music  better than nothing, but not at all what we do. When music is brought to life and reproduced as the artist intended, as if they were physically there in the room with you, performing... theres nothing better. Its an emotional connection, it gives you goosebumps, it stirs up memories, and it can completely transform your mood and energy. This is my favorite event, and what Music Matters is all about."

Registration is required for The Music Matters sessions. This event is totally FREE, but space for the sessions is limited. Attendees can choose to register for a morning session track that kicks off at 10am or an afternoon session track that repeats the same sessions and begins at 2pm.

All registered attendees will receive a free swag bag and be automatically entered into a list of audio gear giveaways.

Vinyl-lovers  spin on in! Open to all, with no registration includes event extras like a Record Cleaning Care and Maintenance Workshop and free turntable tune-ups (normally valued at $60 and up).

To register for the Music Matters sessions, or for more detail and/or session times, see our Music Matters landing page at http://www.worldwidestereo.com/music-matters

About World Wide Stereo: World Wide Stereo is one of the nation's leaders in audio and video consumer electronics and offers an award-winning residential technology integration firm, two retail showrooms in the Philadelphia area, and an online e-commerce experience at http://www.worldwidestereo.com.

World Wide Stereo has been on the frontline for practical and innovative consumer electronics since 1979. The companys stellar reputation for both integrity and quality continues to be achieved thanks to their full-service custom design professionals, experienced installation team, award-winning personal service, and competitive pricing. The companys goal remains as always: to deliver experiences that bring families together and give back to the community, working off a foundation that promises to do well by doing good. World Wide Stereo brings to life the finest audio, video, home theater, and smart home integration products  turning customers home technology visions into reality. For World Wide Stereos complete story, watch the video here.

For more information on World Wide Stereo please visit:

http://www.worldwidestereo.com

Or visit the showrooms at:

Montgomeryville:

754 Rt. 309, Montgomeryville, PA 18936

215-368-8343

Ardmore:

38 Greenfield Ave, Ardmore, PA 19003

610-649-7002

Corporate Office:

140 Domorah Dr, Montgomeryville, PA 18936.

215-368-5506
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. President Ilham Aliyev signed an order awarding Ali Hasanov with the 'Sharaf Order' for many years of fruitful activity in the field of public service in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
HiFlow Solutions At the show, we are excited to be demonstrating the results of the last three years of development  more and stronger tools that make our software even easier to use.

HiFlow Solutions, a leading global provider of end-to-end management software solutions for folding carton, label converters, flexible packaging and corrugated producers, today reported that it will be featuring its latest software release at InfoFlex, scheduled for 17-18 April 2023 at the Greater Columbus (OH) Convention Center. HiFlow will be located in Booth 641 at the show.

At the show, we are excited to be demonstrating the results of the last three years of development  more and stronger tools that make our software even easier to use, states Jack J Lafler, VP of Sales and Technical Services. And its now even easier to achieve ROI. We believe that by leveraging these features across a packaging companys business and production ecosystem, our users can achieve greatly improved outcomes.

Visitors to the HiFlow booth will also be among the first to experience first-hand a brand-new free entry-level imposition app, including download information and/or a flash drive containing the app and other valuable information.

About HiFlow 4.0

HiFlow Solutions MIS software is an end-to-end management information system with comprehensive tools that automate packaging workflows and business processes. This enables companies to compete more effectively in the marketplace, maintain faster and leaner production times, and increase profit margins. HiFlow Solutions MIS and MES modular offerings streamline operations in packaging, label, flex-pack or commercial printing plants, helping business owners gain visibility and control with real-time access to actionable data. New capabilities in HiFlow 4.0 include:



A built-in packaging design & imposition engine. Manual processes that are labor intensive, often taking hours-to complete, are now automated with execution reduced to minutes, saving valuable labor time and freeing team members to perform more productive operations. Bringing the speed and power of imposition, HiFlows design & imposition module makes turnaround by prepress and estimating faster and more cost effective. Incorporates ECMA and FEFCO libraries.

New Unified Multipanel Dashboard System. This robust dashboard enables managers, owners and individual team members to more easily stay on top of changes in the pre-press, production and finishing environments. Customized dashboards let users see metrics, reports and job workflows specific to their roles and responsibilities, making it easy to review significant volumes of valuable, real-time information at a glance.

New web-browser Interface. HiFlow software can now be accessed on any device, anywhere, and still be secure. Ideal for remote workstations.

Cloud Based. HiFlow 4.0 now offers services in the Cloud via a Microsoft Azure cloud-based platform. Clients can choose between an on-premise server-based platform and the Cloud, depending on individual company requirements.

Machine Data Collection. Using print engines and sensors, users can access real time visibility into machine and equipment processes. Data is then collected, reported, and displayed directly in HiFlows customizable reporting system, including real time deep data on each individual job. This enables a more efficient operation with the ability to quickly view and correct issues with individual presses, operators, shifts and more.

New Robust Barcoding Solution. Automate inventory systems with the HiFlow 4.0 Barcode Module integrated into existing barcode terminals (Windows, Android). Get data on real time material consumption and current stock availability. Contains data defining who, when, for which job and on what machine activities, including material consumption, are occurring.

In addition to these new capabilities, HiFlow 4.0 is easily integrated with third-party solutions in order to create a fully integrated and extremely efficient business and production environment.

Lafler concludes, Industry 4.0 - the automation of manufacturing and industrial processes with smart technology  has long been a development goal for us at HiFlow Solutions. Our software has featured machine-to-software communication, smart algorithms, and smart automation for a long time. Now weve added layers of user interface that make the software more intuitive and easier to use. Those include a web-browser interface, a packaging design and imposition module, and visual dashboards. We deepened data collection in our MES and upgraded our barcoding solution. And HiFlow can now operate either in the cloud or on premise. These developments are a result of our ongoing research into emerging industry trends and a significant amount of time spent listening to our customers to better understand how we can improve the offerings to meet their changing needs.

To schedule a one-on-one meeting with a HiFlow expert at InfoFlex please contact Amy Voss Dolce at a.vossdolce@hiflowsolutions.com.

To learn more about how HiFlow MIS/MES can improve your business and production performance, visit http://www.hiflowsolutions.com, where you will find in-depth information invaluable to your due diligence in selecting a new or replacement MIS solution for your commercial print, labels or packaging operation.

About HiFlow Solutions

HiFlow Solutions provides flexible MIS/MES systems that help packaging manufacturers operate more efficiently and profitably. HiFlow Solutions MIS/MES streamlines business and plant operations for flexible packaging, folding carton, label, and corrugated business with advanced features to help packaging manufacturers automate workflow and gain total visibility and control of their business processes. HiFlow Solutions has been providing MIS and MES solutions for over 23 years to 100+ clients. Its international headquarters is in Miami, Florida, with additional offices in Warsaw, Poland, and Mexico City.

To learn more about HiFlow Solutions, please visit https://hiflowsolutions.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiflow-solutions

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@hiflowsolutions

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Note to editors: The HiFlow logo is a registered trademarks of HiFlow Solutions in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. All other terms and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged. Nothing herein should be construed as a warranty in addition to the express warranty statements provided with HiFlow Solutions products and services.
Few have achieved Joes level of business success in the worlds largest corporations, and he now offers those experiences and his network to help companies transform their leadership teams," said Dan Smith, CEO of Raines.

Raines International announced today that Joe Hartsig, previously chief merchandising officer at Bed Bath & Beyond and Walgreens and a senior merchandising executive at Walmart, is joining the executive search and talent advisory firm as a Managing Director. He will lead Raines Retail practice and is based in the Chicago office.

Hartsig has more than 30 years of experience in the retail and consumer goods sector, most recently serving as Chief Merchandising Officer at Bed Bath & Beyond and President of Harmon Stores. He is a member of the board of directors for the Acosta Group, the multibillion-dollar private equity-backed sales and marketing agency that serves leading retailers, consumer products, and foodservice companies.

As a past business client, I have always been incredibly impressed by Raines exceptional results, high quality of service, and collaborative, hands-on approach. Raines is a true partner to clients as they optimize leadership teams, assess talent and succession needs, and identify new talent who can make a difference, Hartsig said. Im thrilled by this opportunity to be a part of what Raines is building."

Hartsig will leverage his deep industry experience and extensive network to oversee all retail-related search and advisory assignments at the board and C-suite levels, as well as their direct reports. Prior to Bed Bath & Beyond, he was Chief Merchandising Officer and head of Marketing at Walgreens and Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer at Essendant, now part of Staples. Hartsig was also a past corporate officer at Walmart, where he held senior merchandising roles.

The differentiated value proposition that Joe offers clients is undeniable and highly impactful, said Dan Smith, CEO of Raines International. Few have achieved Joes level of business success in the worlds largest corporations, and he now offers those experiences and his network to help companies transform their leadership teams. He is a remarkable addition to our firm.

Hartsig will work closely with Lisa Mann, Raines Managing Director leading the Consumer practice. Prior to Raines, Mann was a Global President at PepsiCo, Chief Marketing Officer of KIND Healthy Snacks, and a senior marketing leader at Kraft Foods/Mondelez International.

Hartsig is a graduate of Northwestern Universitys Kellogg Graduate School of Management and Hillsdale College. He is a former advisory board member for the Global Retail Marketing Association, the National Association for Chain Drug Stores, Northwestern Retail Analytics Council, and Consumer Electronics Association.

Over the past four years, Raines has expanded its leadership team, adding executives with considerable industry experience to advise its public and private equity-backed clients on identifying, retaining, and developing their senior leaders. The firm recently opened a London office and has attracted top talent to expand its Advisory, Finance, and Software & Technology practices.

About

Raines International is an advisory firm committed to making a difference with executive search, organizational consulting, and talent management solutions. Headquartered in Miami with more than a dozen offices across the Americas and Europe, Raines specializes in senior-level leadership recruitment and assessment and DEI advisory across industries and functions.
"With guaranteed delivery, near-diagnostic image quality, and ultra-fast transmission speeds, doctors can decide on the best care and treatment options without worrying about delayed or missing faxes and patient records, " said Paul Banco, CEO and co-founder of etherFAX.

etherFAX today announced that it will exhibit its patented hybrid-cloud fax technology at the HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition on April 17-21, 2023, in Chicago. etherFAX creates the take the off-ramp from fax and the on-ramp to interoperability by enabling agnostic applications to securely communicate and exchange data.

With its WEAVE solution suite for searchable PDFs, OCR, and data extraction, etherFAX continues to improve data quality and care coordination across healthcare organizations. etherFAX WEAVE uses Microsofts Cognitive Services to extract and digitize data from a range of unstructured documents and forms, thus streamlining workflows and eliminating manual entry. Extracted data can then be mapped to third-party systems, allowing tasks such as indexing patient records, scheduling, and referrals to be automated.

etherFAX will also be demonstrating its DirectFax integration with Microsoft Teams and Slack, email faxing capabilities, firmware integrations with Lexmark, and the etherFAX Remote Integration Service (ERIS). Each of these secure document exchange solutions easily integrate with existing IT infrastructure and electronic medical record (EMR) applications without having to change a single workflow.

"We are transforming the fax industry by enabling healthcare organizations to send and receive high-resolution documents with todays popular collaboration apps, mobile devices, and fax servers," Paul Banco, CEO and co-founder of etherFAX said. "With guaranteed delivery, near-diagnostic image quality, and ultra-fast transmission speeds, doctors can decide on the best care and treatment options without worrying about delayed or missing faxes and patient records."

The etherFAX Secure Exchange Network (SEN) offers a seamless transition from legacy network solutions such as those that rely on expensive telephony equipment and the PSTN. Supporting every major fax server, application, and fax-enabled device, etherFAX has more connected endpoints providing end-to-end encryption than any other service. etherFAXs secure, cloud-based, and encrypted data exchange solutions operate in a HIPAA and SOC 2 compliant environment that is both HITRUST CSF and PCI DSS certified.

Visit etherFAX at HIMSS Booth #2853 to see these solutions in action.

About etherFAX

Founded in 2009, etherFAX offers a secure document delivery platform and suite of applications widely used across a broad range of industries to digitize workflows and optimize business processes. As a leading provider of hybrid-cloud fax solutions supporting healthcare enterprises, etherFAX securely transmits protected health information and high-resolution, color documents directly to applications and devices with end-to-end encryption and ultra-fast transmission speeds. etherFAXs secure, cloud-based, and encrypted data exchange solutions operate in a HIPAA and SOC 2 compliant environment that is both HITRUST CSF and PCI DSS certified. For more information, visit http://www.etherfax.net, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/etherfax, call us at 877-384-9866, or email sales@etherfax.net.
"Through this partnership, we can help organizations gain workflow efficiencies through the migration and consolidation process, said Derek Kernus, Director of Cybersecurity Operations for DTS.

Authorized to use AvePoints FedRAMP-compliant data migration solution

DTS, delivering cyber, consulting, and management services, announced that it has been designated as a Certified AvePoint Professional Services Partner (CAPS), authorizing them to leverage AvePoints Fly Server migration platform to transfer data from one information system to another. DTS is one of only a few Fly CAPS partners in the United States.

DTS provides tailored, scalable cyber solutions for commercial and government organizations, including security reviews and remediation work. The Fly CAPS certification is significant for meeting the needs of government organizations needing to migrate their data to the cloud per Executive Order (EO) 14028. FLY is FedRAMP Moderate and therefore authorized for use by government agencies.

AvePoints FLY tool can be used to move, migrate, and consolidate legacy systems, cloud files, mail, and Microsoft Office 365 tenants into Microsoft Office 365 and SharePoint while maintaining data integrity and rigorous security. DTS will use FLY for migrating on-premise to cloud or cloud-to-cloud.

Executive Order 14028 on Improving the Nations Cybersecurity was issued on May 12, 2021. It charges multiple agencies with enhancing cybersecurity through a variety of initiatives related to the security and integrity of the software supply chain. The EO helps move the Federal Government to secure cloud services and a zero-trust architecture and mandates the deployment of multifactor authentication and encryption. As a trusted government partner, DTS brings considerable federal experience and cybersecurity expertise to these efforts.

AvePoint provides a suite of enhanced migration capabilities that are critical to moving legacy systems into more modern, secure storage, said Derek Kernus, Director of Cybersecurity Operations for DTS. As a Professional Service Partner, we can help organizations gain workflow efficiencies through the migration and consolidation process.

DTS will offer migration services using AvePoints Fly Server through their GSA IT 70 contract.

For more information about DTS cybersecurity services, please visit http://www.consultDTS.com

About DTS

DTS is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, founded in 2011, delivering cyber, consulting, and management servicesfor exceptional results. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, DTS employs talented individuals with a passion for excellence and surrounds them with the resources they need to excel. For more than a decade, we have helped public sector and commercial clients respond to changing environments and daunting challenges by clarifying pathways, applying expertise, and managing implementation. To learn more about DTS contact us at sales@consultDTS.com or (571) 403-1841. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. http://www.consultdts.com
If you are thinking of the problem our city is dealing with of homelessness, [Project Angel Foods food delivery program] is prevention," said Mayor Karen Bass. "We never want Angelenos to have to make a choice between their food and staying housed.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub to tour, greet staff and volunteers, help prepare meals, and present the organizations milestone 16 millionth meal to a client living with serious illness. The April 10 celebration, held at 922 Vine Street, was the mayors first official visit to a non-profit since beginning her term in January.

In her remarks, Mayor Bass said, It is my honor and pleasure to present this 16 millionth meal to a member of our community, Leon Williams. He told me hes a heart patient. A lot of times when people think of health care they think of doctors and medicine, but they dont necessarily think of food, which is so important. That is why Project Angel Food is so important.

Ayoub added, As a former social worker and physicians assistant, Mayor Bass knows the importance of Food as Medicine and Medically Tailored Meals. She also recognizes our work to improve health and an intervention against homelessness. We are providing free, nutritious meals that play a role in keeping our clients stably housed.

Regarding homelessness, Mayor Bass offered, If you are thinking of the problem our city is dealing with of homelessness, [Project Angel Foods food delivery program] is prevention. We never want Angelenos to have to make a choice between their food and staying housed.

Mayor Bass rolled up her sleeves and filled trays with stir-fry chicken and vegetables  one of Project Angel Foods most popular dishes. Ayoub and Mayor Bass then counted down to meal 16 million which she presented to Leon. The mayor took time to talk with the 70-year-old Hollywood resident who is living with comorbidities of congestive heart failure and cancer.

Project Angel Foods mission is to improve health outcomes and end food insecurity for critically ill men, women, and children in Los Angeles by preparing and delivering Medically Tailored Meals with compassion and hope. Project Angel Food was founded in 1989, and feeds 2,500 seriously ill people each day, preparing and delivering more than 1.5 million meals per year.

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Northern California Criminal Defense Attorney Ken Rosenfeld Secures Another Win After a lengthy wait for a resolution, we are pleased at the result. My client is very relieved to have avoided time in prison.

The Rosenfeld Law Firm announces that a client who originally faced multiple felony charges after her familys construction company allegedly defrauded victims of the 2017 Tubbs Fire (Case # SCR-739708-2) has avoided prison time, thanks to the efforts of California Criminal Defense Attorney Ken Rosenfeld.

As reported by an article in The Press Democrat, Pamela C., co-owner of Chiaramonte Construction & Plumbing in Tulare, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of diversion of funds (PC  434b) and was sentenced to 60 days of community service. According to records filed with the Sonoma County Superior Court in July of 2020, Ms. Chiaramonte originally faced 32 felony charges, including grand theft of personal property (PC  487), after her construction company was accused of failing to follow through in the restoration of certain Santa Rosa residences the company had been contracted to fix or rebuild after the 36,807-acre wildfire in Sonoma County. In April of 2022, Rosenfeld negotiated the dismissal of the felony charges as part of an attempted plea agreement, at which time Chiaramonte pleaded no contest to the diversion of funds misdemeanor. In the Spring of 2023, this outcome was finalized by the court system.

After a lengthy wait for a resolution, we are pleased at the result, said Rosenfeld. My client is very relieved to have avoided time in prison.

About The Rosenfeld Law Firm

With offices in Sacramento and San Jose, The Rosenfeld Law Firm provides aggressive defense of a wide range of high-profile criminal defense cases. California Criminal Attorney Ken Rosenfeld defends such cases as first-degree murder and sex offense cases, and also provides DUI defense. In addition to mental health criminal defense, The Rosenfeld Law Firm also practices federal criminal defense and juvenile defense, as well as appellate law and prison law. As a skilled criminal law commentator, for more than a decade Ken Rosenfeld was seen on KTXL TV and FOX40's Ask An Attorney. Rosenfeld has been named Litigator of the Year by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers. For more information, please contact Ken Rosenfeld directly at (916) 447-2070, or visit http://www.therosenfeldlawfirm.com.

Press release writing by WebSiteText and Proofreading Services by The Proofreaders

Ken Rosenfeld recommends Brian Murphy, Wrongful Death Attorney for Elder Abuse & Nursing Home Malpractice Lawsuits.
Being an immigrant and dual citizen offers a disturbing perspective, that the spiraling degradation of Brazils environment, natural resources, democracy and political scenario are not isolated eventsand that dialogue is the only true form of education, which influences my creative practice.

Beacon Gallery is pleased to announce its next exhibition Julia Cseko: This Is Where My Heart Is, which features the work of Boston based, Brazilian-American artist Julia Cseko. This solo exhibition will run from April 21 - May 28, 2023, and focus on the amalgamation of the artists disparate explorations and paradigm-shifting work through her colorful paintings, plush infinity symbols and hearts, even a metal fork sculpture symbolizing societal appetite, as well as a series of flags.

As a conceptual artist, Cseko shares parts of her transnational identity through her geometric and text-based paintings, the use of symbols including brightly colored hearts and flags, collective stainless steel utensils and textile sculptures. Whether joyous or critical, these featured works delve into the apocalyptic yet wondrous nature of humanity, within the conflict of unending appetites and finite resources.

Being an immigrant and dual citizen offers a disturbing perspective, that the spiraling degradation of Brazils environment, natural resources, democracy and political scenario are not isolated events, says Cseko. She adds, Brazilian thinker Paulo Freire and his critical pedagogy have taught me that dialogue is the only true form of education, and this premise continues to influence my creative practice.

Beacon Gallery owner Christine ODonnell remarks, Julias work presents hopeful, uplifting messages that reveal the contradictory predisposition of human nature, and serve as an expressive societal critique. The variety of media in which she works speaks to the vast creativity of her ideas, and were excited to host her solo show at the gallery.

Original paintings and fabric work, as well as limited edition prints will be available for sale soon.

Upcoming Events

Opening Reception

Friday, May 5 from 5-8pm

Artist Talk with Julia Cseko and Michaela Blanc, Moderated by Claudia Fiks

Thursday, May 11 doors open at 6pm, program begins at 6:30pm

About the Artist

Julia Cseko currently divides her time between her practice as a visual artist, independent curator, educator, arts administrator and arts advocate. She is an artist-in-residence at the Boston Center for the Arts, Andy Warhol Foundation Collective Futures grantee, a Beacon Gallery represented artist, and a grantee of both the Newton and Randolph Local Cultural Councils in MA. In 2023, Cseko will also serve as a Somerville Arts Council cultural ambassador and a Tufts University Art Galleries Permanent Collection acquisitions committee member.

Her commitment to art and advocacy started while pursuing a BFA from the Federal University of Rio and founding Group Py, an artist collective from 2005 - 2008, serving as first assistant to Brazilian sculptor Ernesto Neto, and through her activist efforts to increase national funding for arts and culture, and dialogue with the Brazilian Ministry of Culture. In 2022, she served as the Somerville Museum community curator organizing the Sanctuary City Exhibition and was a MassCreative CTV Fellow participating in the creation of a policy document bringing arts and culture to the agendas of Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates.

Her trajectory as an artist, curator, and organizer is focused on diversity, inclusion, community building, artistic innovation, political engagement, social justice, and experimentation. Cseko has participated in and organized numerous group exhibitions at national and international venues as well as in unconventional spaces including a ferryboat. Her work is featured in collections locally and abroad, at Tufts University Art Galleries, Emerson College, Arts and Businesses Council of Greater Boston, the University of British Columbia, the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Centro Cultural Sao Paulo, and private collections. To learn more visit her website and Instagram @csekojulia.

About Beacon Gallery

Beacon Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in Bostons South End, providing a platform for emerging and established artists to deliver thought-provoking solo and group shows, and community-building events. As a partner to greater Bostons artistic community, Beacon Gallery is committed to producing thoughtfully curated exhibitions that showcase original conceptual art and share compelling messages and unique perspectives. It aims to make art accessible to the general public, as well as collectors and institutions locally, nationally, and globally. For more information go to our website and follow us on Instagram @beacongallery.
While were a distributed organization with a presence in technology centers around the globe, our roots in Reno are something were proud of, and were looking forward to sinking those roots deeper as our company grows.

CIQ, the company building the next generation of software infrastructure for enterprises running data-intensive workloads atop the Rocky Linux enterprise Linux distribution, has been named Technology Company of the Year by NCET, Nevadas Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. Recognition in this category honors CIQs contribution to enhancing the growth and prestige of the technology community in Northern Nevada.

The NCET Technology Awards, now in its 16th year, along with the EDAWN Awards, will be held on May 23 at 5 p.m. at the Reno Elks Lodge. Tickets and more information are available here.

Were honored to receive this acknowledgment for the role CIQ has played in driving the development of world-changing technology here in Nevada, said Gregory Kurtzer, founder and CEO of CIQ. While were a distributed organization with a presence in technology centers around the globe, our roots in Reno are something were proud of, and were looking forward to sinking those roots deeper as our company grows.

CIQ received the award in the wake of achieving several technology and corporate milestones, including the rapid ascent of the Rocky Linux enterprise Linux distribution for stable, reliable and secure enterprise and high-performance computing workloads; establishment of Rocky Linux as the preferred replacement for CentOS; and the continuing development of its cornerstone products for high-performance computing, Warewulf and Apptainer. The company has plans in place for additional product advancements in the months ahead, including with its Fuzzball product, which simplifies and automates HPC so users spend less time on infrastructure and more time on scientific research, modeling or machine learning/AI projects.

About NCET

Nevadas Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, Northern Nevadas largest educational and networking organization, is a member-supported nonprofit organization that produces educational and networking events to help people explore business and technology. NCETs award-winning programs include the annual NCET Small Business Expo and NCET Tech Showcase and Awards; the monthly Biz Bite and Special Event luncheons; and the monthly Tech Wednesday and Biz Cafe events. NCET is funded by memberships, sponsorships and program revenues, and receives no state or federal funding. NCET is not affiliated with the State of Nevada nor the University of Nevada. For more information, visit NCET.org.

About CIQ

CIQ powers the next generation of software infrastructure, leveraging capabilities from enterprise, cloud, hyperscale and HPC. From the base operating system, through containers, orchestration, provisioning, computing and up to cloud applications, CIQ works with every part of the technology stack to drive solutions for customers and communities with stable, scalable, secure production environments. CIQ is the founding support and services partner of Rocky Linux and the creator of the next generation federated computing stack. For more information, visit ciq.co.
Register for this webinar to gain insights into partnership/alliance culture and its impact on outsourcing and operational strategy.

Business strategist Peter Drucker famously said that culture eats strategy for breakfast. Of course, he didnt mean that a strategy isnt needed  it very much is. He meant that the best strategy would fail, unless it is supported by the right culture.

In this webinar, Sanofi and ICON discuss how they created a shared partnership/alliance culture, which has evolved both the outsourcing strategy and operating model. The result leverages the best of both organisations and aims at shaping a more efficient environment for clinical development.

Attendees will learn about the specific tools and methods used to develop and support the Sanofi/ICON partnership, including: Adaptation of the 9 Box Grid to assess cultural alignment and outsourcing and operational strategy, identifying areas of strength and opportunities for development; And an ABCs of Culture framework, designed to build cross-organizational cultural alignment.

Register for this webinar to gain insights into partnership/alliance culture and its impact on outsourcing and operational strategy.

Join Debbie Gilmore, Vice President, Strategic Alliance Management, ICON plc; and Kelly Simcox, Global Head, Clinical Operations R&D, Sanofi, for the live webinar on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 11am EDT (4pm BST/UK).

For more information, or to register for this event, visit Exploring Partnership Culture and its Impact on Outsourcing and Operational Strategy.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/

Contact:

Vera Kovacevic

Tel: +1 (416) 977-6555 x371

Email: vkovacevic@xtalks.com
Harris Teeter is thrilled to announce a hiring event scheduled for Wednesday, April 12. Harris Teeter is ready to hire hundreds of new associates in roles across all departments for full-time and part-time employment. Harris Teeter is eager to add qualified associates to its retail operations, which include roles such as produce clerks, bakery clerks, baggers, plus hourly and salaried leadership roles. The event will take place from 11 a.m.  7 p.m. at all Harris Teeter locations.

"We are eager to welcome new associates to the Harris Teeter family who will help us live our purpose to enrich lives," said Lauren Furr, Director of Learning and Development & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. "We are excited to hire full-time and part-time associates who are seeking a career with a purpose."

At Harris Teeters last three hiring events, the company made offers to more than 1,000 candidates.

Harris Teeter offers resources, benefits and training to support and develop associates and make their lives easier including:

Health & Wellness



Medical benefits for full-time associates

Free counseling sessions available 24/7 as well as other mental health resources

Life insurance

Financial



401(k) plans with a company matched contribution

Saving plans and flexible paycheck delivery options

Profit sharing twice a year

Continuing Education Assistance



Partnerships with Queens University and the University of Phoenix to help associates further their educational opportunities

Educational leave of absence for associates who wish to continue employment with Harris Teeter while away at college

Vacation, Personal Hours & Associate Perks



Paid vacation days, paid personal days plus paid days for jury duty and bereavement

Flexible scheduling

Associate-only discounts on select grocery items

If interested in joining the Harris Teeter team, visit any Harris Teeter location on Wednesday, April 12 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. An applicant should go to the Customer Service Desk upon arrival and ask to speak to an interviewer about a position with Harris Teeter. The team will interview every candidate and discuss job opportunities in that location.

The company encourages all interested applicants to explore available jobs at http://www.harristeeter.jobs and apply online. This step is preferred but not mandatory for an interview.

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About Harris Teeter: For more than 60 years, Harris Teeter, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), has enriched lives  one meal, one family, one associate, and one community at a time. Headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina, Harris Teeter employs 36,000 valued associates across more than 250 stores and 60 fuel centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, and the District of Columbia.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on awarding Agil Abbasov (Agil Abbas) with the Order for Service to the Motherland of the 1st degree, Trend reports.

According to the decree, Abbasov was awarded the order for many years of productive activity in the social and political life of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Kim shares, "....Through my experience, Ive found that not only does public speaking help in social situations, but it also helps in feeling more confident and being able to carry meaningful conversations with others.

On April 1, 2023, Eileen Kim of Urbana High School and Pragna Yalamanchili of Oakdale High School advanced as semi finalists representing the Rotary Club of Southern Frederick to the Regional International Semifinal Four Way Test Speaking Contest. Hundreds of students competed this past weekend where the field of contestants was narrowed down to four.

Yalamanchili, a gifted orator and Oakdale Rotary Interact Club President, was subsequently selected as one of the four finalists and will advance to the Finals. Yalamanchilis excellent presentation skills and outstanding message have earned her a place in the Regional District competition on April 22, where she will compete for a $1500 scholarship.

The Rotary International 4-Way Test is a guiding principle for Rotarians worldwide and is based on four simple questions: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? The 4-Way Test speaking competition challenges high school students to apply these principles to their own lives and share their insights with others.

Eileen Kim, a freshman at Urbana High School, was inspired to enter the competition after seeing the notice on her school bulletin board. I think that public speaking is an important skill to have because it prepares you for the future. Obviously, there are benefits that will show in school or work presentations, but public speaking also helps you to build social connections and can improve the way you present yourself as a person. Through my experience, Ive found that not only does public speaking help in social situations, but it also helps in feeling more confident and being able to carry meaningful conversations with others.

Yalamanchili, a junior at Oakdale High, wants ti become an environmental lawyer in the future. The title for Yalamanchilis speech was Ignoring the Climate Crisis: A Multi-Trillion Dollar Mistake.


MCG interoperability experts will join their counterparts from MultiCare Connected Care and Regence to present the first, scalable prior authorization automation technology. "By improving transparency of clinical requirements and automating several steps in the workflow, we can repurpose labor to higher-value activities for both health plans and providers, and help drive down costs across the health care system." - Heidi Kriz, Director of Medical Policy at Regence

MCG Health, part of the Hearst Health network and an industry leader in evidence-based guidance and technology, announces its senior interoperability experts will join their counterparts from Regence and MultiCare Connected Care to present at the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition. The health IT innovators will discuss their recent success with automating prior authorization processes through newly developed technology and standards. The 2023 HIMSS event, happening April 17-22 in Chicago, Illinois, unites exceptional thought leaders in health information and technology to inspire education, innovation, and cross-industry collaboration.

MCG Associate Vice President of Technology and Interoperability, Rajesh Godavarthi, will co-present the first interoperability session with Regences Heidi Kriz, MPH, RD, Director of Medical Policy and Medical Management, PA Transformation Lead, and Anna Taylor, MS, CIPCT, the Associate Vice President of Population Health and Value-Based Care for MultiCare Connected Care. Their presentation, Achieving the 1st Prior Auth Automation via HL7 FHIR: Parts 1 and 2, takes place on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 1:15-2:05 PM CT, and will evaluate prior authorization process improvements using the HL7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard with the HL7 Da Vinci Project implementation guides. Regence, MultiCare, and MCG implemented these standards in 2022 to inform clinical decision-making with scientific evidence, reduce provider/payer administrative burden, and improve patient/member treatment timelines. This session will also cover the real-world lessons learned as they jointly launched the first scalable, prior authorization automation technology in the U.S.

Brandy ODiam, MCG Associate Director of Product Management, and Danny Cawood, MCG Product Manager of Interoperability Solutions, will present the second interoperability showcase, Automating Authorization: Impacts of Different Authorization Types, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, from 2:45-3:05 PM CT. This session focuses on successful implementations of prior authorization in different clinical use cases (inpatient vs. prior authorization) and how the automation impacted business, operations, and technology outcomes.

Pre-authorization is a significant administrative burden for providers and health plans alike, said Heidi Kriz, Director of Medical Policy at Regence. By improving transparency of clinical requirements and automating several steps in the workflow, we can repurpose labor to higher-value activities for both health plans and providers, and help drive down costs across the health care system.

When asked about speaking at the upcoming HIMSS 2023 event, Mr. Godavarthi said, Due to recent CMS activity around prior authorization and interoperability, automation is a critical area of focus in healthcare. Our team is excited to share payer and provider experiences of successful implementation that is leading to better patient care.

Regence, MultiCare Connected Care, and MCG Health are all members of the HL7 Da Vinci Project, a multi-stakeholder collaborative program engaging providers, payers and partners with the goal of accelerating the adoption of HL7 FHIR as the standard to support and integrate value-based care data exchange across communities in real time. Kriz, Taylor, and Godavarthi have been previously recognized as HL7 Da Vinci Project Community Champions within the accelerator program. For those interested in learning more about the HIMSS 2023 conference, please visit: https://www.himss.org/global-conference.

###

About Regence

Regence serves more than 3.4 million people through its Regence health plans in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Each Regence health plan is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit regence.com.

About MultiCare Connected Care

MultiCare Connected Care (MCC) is an independent Accountable Care Organization (ACO) established in 2014 as a wholly owned subsidiary of MultiCare Health System and operates as an independent entity. It is transforming healthcare as a population health engine that represents a Clinically Integrated network (CIN) of independent & MultiCare Health System clinicians services across the entire social medical model of care. Under this entity, 350,000 lives are served within 30 value-based contracts.

Unlike the traditional fee for service health care model  where each visit, service, test, and procedure has a separate cost  MCCs foundation is built first and foremost on providing patient-centered, quality care at an appropriate cost. Specific measures are used to determine how well doctors, hospitals, and other providers are keeping healthy people healthy, effectively treating illnesses, and helping people better manage their chronic conditions. In this way, all the participating providers share the responsibility of providing patient-centered, high quality, efficient, cost-effective care.

MCC has established a comprehensive Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) comprised of doctors and other health care providers, as well as hospitals, clinics, and other health care services, such as imaging, labs, and pharmacies. The CIN includes independent health care professionals in the community, as well as MultiCare-employed providers, totaling over 5,100 clinicians providing services across the continuum of care.

multicareconnectedcare.com

About MCG Health

MCG, part of the Hearst Health network, provides unbiased clinical guidance that gives healthcare organizations confidence in delivering patient-centered care. MCGs artificial intelligence and technology, infused with clinical expertise, enable its clients to prioritize and simplify their work. MCGs world-class customer service ensures that clients maximize the benefits of licensing MCG solutions  demonstrating improved clinical and financial outcomes.

For more information visit http://www.mcg.com or follow our Twitter handle at @MCG_Health.

About Hearst Health

The mission of Hearst Health is to help guide the most important care moments by delivering vital information into the hands of everyone who touches a persons health journey. Care guidance from Hearst Health reaches the majority of people in the U.S. The Hearst Health network includes FDB (First Databank), Zynx Health, MCG, Homecare Homebase, and MHK (formerly MedHOK). Hearst also holds a minority interest in the precision medicine and oncology analytics company M2Gen. Follow Hearst Health on Twitter @HearstHealth and LinkedIn @Hearst-Health.
Leading Western Canada Acumatica Partner We are excited to represent Acumatica in Western Canada and present the key features in 2023 Acumatica RI, said Murray Quibell, President.

Join Aqurus Solutions, a leading Acumatica partner serving Western Canada, for a 30-minute webinar featuring, "Whats New for Acumatica 2023 R1." Aqurus Solutions will cover the key features in the 2023 R1 to enhance usability across the platform and new industry-focused functionality. Acumatica is the fastest-growing Cloud ERP company for 7 years and counting; rated #1 in customer satisfaction and usability.

Complimentary Webinar

Date: Thursday, April 13, 2023

Time: 11 AM - 11:30 AM MST

Register Now!

Aqurus Solutions will highlight features and benefits of the recently-released Acumatica version 2023 R1, plus some key features you may have missed from previous 2022 releases and Acumatica Summit 2023 announcements, as follows:



Usability: Workflow enhancements (business events, approvals), side-panel views, user-options

Platform: Canadian features (EFT, taxes, and Canadian payroll), Gmail integration

Industry-Focused Functionality: Industry user roles, industry dashboards, specific Manufacturing, Construction,

Distribution, and Commerce enhancements

Upcoming Aqurus Webinars:

May 11, 2023: Velixo: Excel-based reporting for Acumatica

June 15, 2023: Acumatica Manufacturing Customer Case Study

About Aqurus

Aqurus Solutions delivers Cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solutions to growing Manufacturing and Distribution businesses in Western Canada. Aqurus Solutions is a Gold Certified Acumatica Cloud ERP Partner with offices in Calgary, Kelowna, and Burnaby. Aqurus specializes in Distribution, eCommerce, Manufacturing, and Services solutions, with a deep, experienced team of implementation resources.

Acumatica Cloud ERP is a leading cloud business management software provider that empowers small and mid-size businesses to reach their potential and drive growth. Acumatica delivers fully integrated ERP applications powered by a robust and flexible platform built on the world's best cloud and mobile technology.
Kimberly Prieto, Vice President of Product at Modern Campus Improving student and faculty experience has been at the core of all our product investments. With these product extensions, Modern Campus is unlocking increased value across its industry-leading products.

Modern Campus, the higher education industrys leading modern learner engagement platform, today announced the available integration between its Acalog and Omni CMS products along with two new product add-ons  Register Nudges and Presence Nudges. These product extensions will make it even easier for higher education institutions to communicate with and directly engage students around course availability, registration next steps, and upcoming student activities. Student engagement is a top priority for leaders across the postsecondary space as they wrestle with how to manage student disengagement and continuously declining enrollments. According to Marriel Hardy, Chief Communications Officer at Coahoma Community College, improving student engagement increases their likelihood to complete their credentials.

Many studies have shown us that student learning and persistence in college are strongly associated with engagement, Hardy said in an interview with The EvoLLLution. These factors also create bonds and connections to the institution post-graduation.

Modern Campus new product extensions directly help institutions with student engagement and simplify how they:

Promote Course Availability

The Acalog-Omni CMS Connector integrates Modern Campus digital catalog management solution (Acalog) and its content management system (Omni CMS). This enables institutions to publish their course catalog information to their website and personalize visitor experiences with a simple drag-and-drop editor and advanced design tools. Learn more here.

Drive Registration Completion

Register Nudges enhance Modern Campus student schedule optimization solution (Register). With Register Nudges, institutions can send personalized and timely text messages around enrollment dates, schedule recommendations, open seats in a course, and more. Learn more here.

Drive Co-Curricular Participation

Presence Nudges enhance Modern Campus student engagement solution (Presence). With Presence Nudges, institutions can remind students about upcoming events and activities through dynamic text messages. Learn more here.

Students have preferred modes of communication. Our statistics stated that about 50% students prefer email. But younger generations, up to 30% preferred communications via text. As educators, we need go with the demographics and really meet them where they are, said Kevin Li, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs at Quinsigamond Community College.

Improving student and faculty experience has been at the core of all our product investments, said Kimberly Prieto, Vice President of Product at Modern Campus. With these product extensions, Modern Campus is unlocking increased value across its industry-leading products.

About Modern Campus

Modern Campus is obsessed with empowering its nearly 2,000 higher education customers to thrive when radical transformation is required to respond to lower student enrollments and revenue, rising costs, crushing student debt, and administrative complexity.

The Modern Campus engagement platform powers solutions for non-traditional student management, web content management, catalog and curriculum management, student engagement and development, conversational text messaging, career pathways, and campus maps and virtual tours. The result: innovative institutions can create a learner-to-earner lifecycle that engages modern learners for life, while providing modern administrators with the tools needed to streamline workflows and drive high efficiency.

Learn how Modern Campus is leading the modern learner engagement movement at moderncampus.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Recovery is a lifelong journey, and no one should have to walk it alone, said Meads. Through this devotional, I desire to show readers struggling with addiction that they will find strength, encouragement, and the support needed to keep moving forward."

Addiction is argued to be a debilitating struggle that affects millions of people worldwide. In some cases, individuals who struggle with addiction may turn to faith for strength and guidance, but finding the right resources may be challenging. Hoping to offer support, author Wayne Meads Jr. is excited to release his new book, 180 Degrees in 180 Days.

Meads offers a daily devotional that encourages readers to discover freedom from active addiction or merely help redefine what they may need to live a fulfilling life. The timeline in the book attempts to coincide with the readers physical and mental pain and emotional turmoil from the first days of recovery until the 180th day. Additionally, it touches on the pain and shame one may feel at the beginning of treatment and progresses to the success of a new beginning.

Addiction is a complex issue, as it can be easy to feel alone and overwhelmed in the struggle, said Meads. As someone who has battled it myself, I wanted to create a resource that would help others find hope and healing through faith.

Meads hopes by committing 15 minutes a day to read and incorporate his suggestion, the readers recovery may be built on solid ground that emphasizes the importance of a relationship with God along with the 12-step program.

Recovery is a lifelong journey, and no one should have to walk it alone, said Meads. Through this devotional, I desire to show readers struggling with addiction that they will find strength, encouragement, and the support needed to keep moving forward. God has a plan and a purpose for everyones life outside of addiction that they could never imagine.

180 Degrees in 180 Days

By Taylor Moralez

ISBN: 9781665737913 (softcover); 9781665737906 (electronic)

Available at Archway Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Wayne Meads Jr. continues to preach the message of Jesus Christ as a Salvationist and inspiring those fighting addiction to embrace all that the Bible along with a 12-step program has to offer. For 25 years Wayne has had to battle his own addictions and understands the vicious cycle that seems to never end. After years of sobriety, he still believes that the incorporation of a Christ centered life along with the fellowship of a 12-step program maximizes one's efforts to fulfill a life of freedom from active addiction. Today he continues to preach the gospel as well as attend meetings and shares his newfound life with his wife Claudia and two kids Micah and Lilah. To learn more, please visit https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/847703-180-degrees-in-180-days.

General Inquiries:

LAVIDGE  Phoenix

Taylor Moralez

Tmoralez@lavidge.com
Raphaela Damm Stoneman announces her entry into the publishing scene with the release of I'll Do It for My Mom (published by Archway Publishing), a healing story of the unusual resiliency in children of seriously ill parents told from the childs perspective.

This book tells the emotional story of Levi, a beautiful, shy, 9-year-old girl and her love and heartache for her mothers life and her unbreakable strength to survive both her heavy, traumatic reality and the fantasy world she discovered. Here, Stoneman brings to life an important topic many shy away from. A compelling ending raises the question: Was her home life that uncommon? If not, how many more are out there?

This book offers a raw inside look at the daily life and authentic voice of a young child affected by the serious/chronic illness of the parent, and its direct effect on the young childs tendencies, behaviors and daily life. Despite the difficulties that are imposed on the young child, due to the parents illness, the story emphasizes the devoted love the child has for her parent, Stoneman says. She adds, The story also demonstrates the childs resiliency despite her young age. The unraveling ending of the story reveals a not so much fiction fantasy of a story anymore, but somewhat of a memoir, offering the reader an enhanced intimate, relatable reading experience.

When asked what she wants readers to take away from the book, Stoneman answered, A feeling of empathy, understanding and compassion for themselves and others, and to believe in the strength, resiliency and love that is in them. To all the children out there who do not get to experience living carefree. My story is yours. I hope this book helps you feel validated in your struggle and to feel less alone. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/842623-ill-do-it-for-my-mom

I'll Do It for My Mom

By Raphaela Damm Stoneman

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 88 pages | ISBN 9781665734264

E-Book | 88 pages | ISBN 9781665734257

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Raphaela Damm Stoneman, a sensitive girly girl, born in Belgium to a French American father and an American mother, raised in Israel, lived through a childhood painted by heartache, trauma, and an uncommon and often misunderstood home life. In her writing, rather than having a narrators description, Stoneman often adds her characters inner thoughts. This offers her readers an intimate point of view, which can be experienced alongside the character. Stoneman now lives happily in California and is the mother of three, grown, young men. She loves love, food, and dancing to a blend of random genres of music.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit archwaypublishing.com or call 844-669-3957.
On December 19, 2022, the Convention on Biological Diversity's 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) came to a close. In attendance was Rob Harding, author of Negative Population Growth, Incs (NPG) newest Forum paper, Adversity for Biodiversity: A Reflection on My Experience at COP15. This paper provides a first-hand account of Harding's attendance at the Convention and reflects on the importance of including population issues when discussing biodiversity conservation. Harding shares his thoughts on the event, noting: I began my COP15 experience questioning the capacity of the world's national governments to set meaningful biodiversity conservation targets and then act in a way that makes such targets achievable.

Harding, a self-described planetary health activist, believes that human population growth is an essential factor to consider when discussing conservation efforts: If we wish to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, then it would be wise to halt and reverse human population growth, wherever such growth is occurring, no matter its source." Given his position on population growths effects on biodiversity, Harding was disheartened to learn that the number of people on the planet was not covered during the conference.

In his paper, Harding points to immigration as the primary source of America's population growth: "It's important to recognize that the primary source of America's unsustainable human population growth is immigration. The U.S. Congressional Budget Office projects that U.S. population growth will be driven entirely by immigration within two decades." He concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing and understanding human-caused environmental change to ensure practical conservation efforts.

Global leaders must recognize that halting and reversing human population growth is crucial to preserving our planets biodiversity for future generations. This goal cannot be achieved without addressing immigration policy reform in countries like the United States, where populations are growing at an unsustainable rate due mainly to immigration levels. It remains essential that governments around the world consider how unchecked human population growth threatens our planets delicate ecosystem balance  and begin taking steps toward responsible policy reform.

NPG is proud to present this Forum paper as part of its commitment to support research and advocacy for promoting sustainable development worldwide and protecting the planet for the next generation.

Read NPG's newest Forum Paper, Adversity for Biodiversity: A Reflection on My Experience at COP15," today to learn more about Robs thoughts on the conference and how human overshoot affects global biodiversity conservation efforts.

Founded in 1972, NPG is a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to educating the American public and political leaders regarding the damaging effects of population growth. We believe that our nation is already vastly overpopulated in terms of the long-range carrying capacity of its resources and environment. NPG advocates the adoption of its Proposed National Population Policy, with the goal of eventually stabilizing U.S. population at a sustainable level  far lower than todays. We do not simply identify the problems  we propose solutions. For more information, visit our website at NPG.org, follow us on Facebook @NegativePopulationGrowth or follow us on Twitter @npg_org.


Genuine's focus remains on maximizing value for our patients, a goal that we believe Mr. Hammond will help us take to the next level.

Genuine Health Group, a Miami-based, integrated healthcare company leading physicians through the industrys transition to value-based care, welcomes Eric Hammond as its new Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis. Mr. Hammond was previously a VP in a similar capacity at Apricus Health in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he partnered with executive management, the board of directors, and business unit heads while leading multi-faceted capital-raising, budgeting, monthly reporting, and strategic planning efforts. He brings more than a decades worth of business development and financial experience to Genuine Health Group.

Based on his proven track record of successful management partnerships, we knew Eric would be a valuable addition to our team, said Gamil Kharfan, Chief Growth Officer at Genuine Health Group. As we continue to grow the Genuine brand, our focus remains on maximizing value for our patients, a goal which we believe Mr. Hammond will help us take to the next level.

While at Apricus Health, Mr. Hammond spearheaded sales and capital-raising efforts while analyzing and providing advice on key deal terms. As Vice President of Financial Planning and Analytics, he initiated his departments partnership and reporting approach with Apricus Healths business units, enabling ongoing monitoring of the key performance indicators. Mr. Hammond also served as an adviser to executive leadership on corporate realignment alternatives while assessing the impact on Apricus cash flow, operational needs, and valuation.

I am excited to join an organization dedicated to delivering value-based care to its aligned members, stated Mr. Hammond. Genuine Health Group feels like a natural fit for me.

Before working at Apricus Health, Mr. Hammond directed the Financial Planning and Analysis department at Equality Health in Phoenix, Arizona, where he worked to enable key stakeholders to make actionable, data-driven decisions. He had previously served as Senior Manager of Corporate Development at the New Jersey headquarters for Ports America, the leading terminal operator in the United States. Earlier in his career, Mr. Hammond worked as an Investment Banking Associate at Jefferies in New York and a Business Analyst focused on Business Development and Strategy at Pershing in Jersey City. He received his baccalaureate in Finance and Economics from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania and his MBA from Cornell University.

As the Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis at Genuine Health Group, Mr. Hammond will work towards collaboratively partnering with management, developing customized analytic solutions, and maximizing Genuines business value in a scalable fashion.

For more information on Genuine Health Group, or to schedule an interview with Eric Hammond, please contact Meieli Sawyer at 305-668-0070 or msawyer@weinbachgroup.com.

About Genuine Health Group

Genuine Health Group is an analytics-driven healthcare company that assists physicians and health plans in successfully transitioning to value-based payment models.
San Francisco Bay Area Criminal Defense Attorney Kenneth Rosenfeld Im pleased our diligent efforts were able to show how much my client has changed over the last 30 years. He was facing a lifetime commitment and instead he will be going home.

The Rosenfeld Law Firm announces that a mental health client facing the possibility of a lifetime commitment as a sexually violent predator (Case# 07F11055) has had the petition against him dismissed as the result of the efforts of California Mental Health Attorney Ken Rosenfeld.

According to the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) petition filed with the Sacramento County Superior Court, Darryl M., due to the fact that he previously had been convicted of a sexually violent offense as defined by Californias Welfare Institutions Code (WIC)  6600to wit, child molestation (PC  647.6)and due also to the fact that D.M. has been diagnosed with a mental disorder that could potentially lead him to become a repeat offender, the State of California sought lifetime commitment of D.M. as a sexually violent predator rather than be released after completing his prison term. Rosenfeld made the argument that his client had received sufficient mental health and sex offender treatment during the 30 years that had elapsed since his offense as to have effected substantial change in D.M., casting doubt on his likelihood to engage in future sexually violent predatory criminal behavior. The state dismissed the petition.

Rosenfeld said he and his client were extremely gratified by the petitions dismissal.

It is a very rare thing to have the DA dismiss a case of this nature, said Rosenfeld. Im pleased our diligent efforts were able to show how much my client has changed over the last 30 years. He was facing a lifetime commitment and instead he will be going home tomorrow.

About The Rosenfeld Law Firm

With offices in Sacramento and San Jose, The Rosenfeld Law Firm provides aggressive defense of a wide range of high-profile criminal defense cases. California Criminal Attorney Ken Rosenfeld defends such cases as first-degree murder and sex offense cases, and also provides DUI defense. In addition to mental health criminal defense, The Rosenfeld Law Firm also practices federal criminal defense and juvenile defense, as well as appellate law and prison law. As a skilled criminal law commentator, for more than a decade Ken Rosenfeld was seen on KTXL TV and FOX40's Ask An Attorney. Rosenfeld has been named Litigator of the Year by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers. For more information, please contact Ken Rosenfeld directly at (916) 447-2070, or visit http://www.therosenfeldlawfirm.com.

Press release writing by WebSiteText and Proofreading Services by The Proofreaders

Ken Rosenfeld recommends Brian Murphy, Wrongful Death Attorney for Elder Abuse & Nursing Home Malpractice Lawsuits.


Savoy Foundation Grants to Cooley's Anemia Foundation and A Chance In Life, April 4, 2023 The Savoy Foundation's philanthropic purposes like A Chance In Life and Cooley's Anemia Foundation are very much in keeping with the centuries old hospitaller traditions of the Savoy Orders.

The American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated (AFSO) presented grants totaling $102,000 to two designated charities which serve at-risk children on Staten Island and children with the thalassemia genetic blood disorder. The funds were primarily raised at the 25th annual Ballo di Savoia (Royal Savoy Ball) benefit gala held on December 17, 2022, in New York City at the University Club. Friends of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, a non-profit organization, generously supported the 25th annual white-tie fundraising benefit, which welcomed 300 guests, including members of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders and international business and philanthropic leaders. Honored guests were H.R.H. Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy and H.R.H. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia.

The Savoy Foundation awarded a $42,000 grant to A Chance In Life to support its first US-based program in New York City - A Chance in Life  The Village. The Village is a drop-in youth center that incorporates positive youth development into day-to-day activities. Gabriele Delmonaco, President and CEO and Claire Gallagher, Vice President of Development of A Chance In Life accepted the grant from Savoy Foundation President Joseph Sciame. With the donation, A Chance In Life will provide shelter, education and leadership development for at-risk youth on Staten Islands North Shore district, specifically for food pantries, chrome books, tutoring and school supplies. An additional $10,000 grant was also presented to A Chance In Life for Ukrainian refugee children in Italy from funds raised at the annual Savoy Foundation's St. Lazarus Dinner which was held on April 27, 2022 in New York City.

The Savoy Foundation also awarded $50,000 to Cooleys Anemia Foundation (CAF) which fights thalassemia, a rare genetic blood disorder which affects children of Italian and Greek descent from around the Mediterranean region and requires lifelong blood transfusions and daily drug treatments. Craig Butler, National Executive Director and Frank Somma, National Past President of Cooleys Anemia Foundation, accepted the grant. With the donation, the nonprofit will provide patient support, annual patient family conferences, assist families with an adopted child with thalassemia and patient transportation to annual checkups.

In awarding the donations, President Sciame stated: Our AFSO Board of Directors was delighted to help support two very important initiatives for A Chance in Life and the Cooleys Anemia Foundation, and we especially thank you for allowing us to use your good names in the raising of needed funds. Our generous benefactors made this possible and we thank them for their good will and wanting to help good and important causes that help improve the lives of children.

For more information on the philanthropic causes supported by the Savoy Foundation, please click here.

Businesses, individuals and organizations can donate here and find additional information about Savoy Foundation events and programs.

CONTACT:

Larissa Van Duser, American Foundation of Savoy Orders, amsavoy@aol.com, +1 212-972-0495

ABOUT THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION AND THE AMERICAN DELEGATION OF SAVOY ORDERS

Headquartered in New York City, the American Delegation of Savoy Orders, which includes all 50 of the United States of America, is among the 35 delegations of the Savoy Orders located throughout Europe, the Americas and Japan.

The American Foundation of Savoy Orders, incorporated a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, has supported local, national, and international charities focusing on medical, educational, and humanitarian fields, including philanthropy for U.S. veterans, hospitals and relief agencies for children, the poor, sick and elderly. The Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization in Roster Consultative Statues with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. In 2019, the Savoy Foundation launched a new charitable initiative - Chivalry for Childrens Causes - a multi-year program assisting institutions and charitable organizations that provide aid to children and families in need, building stable, healthy families. The program is made possible thanks to generous support from the members and friends of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. A phone conversation took place between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Malaysian colleague Zambry Abdul Kadir, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

According to the ministry, during the conversation, an exchange of opinions took place on issues on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Malaysia, as well as on the current situation in the region and the world.

The parties congratulated each other on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, as well as on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Malaysia, and expressed confidence in the further expansion of cooperation between the two friendly and fraternal countries and peoples.

Speaking about the agenda of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Malaysia in various fields, including economic, energy, humanitarian, educational, tourism and others, Bayramov noted the importance of mutual contact in the development of relations between the two countries.

In this regard, he stressed the importance of political consultations between the Azerbaijani and Malaysian foreign ministries, held in Kuala Lumpur in July last year, the successful experience of cooperation between the two countries within the framework of various regional and international organizations, including the UN, Non-Aligned Movement, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The Azerbaijani minister also informed his colleague about the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period, the large-scale reconstruction and construction work carried out by Azerbaijan in the liberated territories, and also expressed gratitude for Malaysia's support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Kadir highly appreciated the level of political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Malaysia, based on friendship, solidarity and mutual support, and stressed the importance of the effective use of the existing potential for the further development of relations.

He expressed readiness for exchanges within the framework of cooperation programs in the field of education.

The Malaysian minister stressed a great potential for cooperation in the field of tourism between the two countries and also said that the political consultations held between the two countries play an important role in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Malaysia.

During the conversation, the parties also exchanged opinions on other issues of mutual interest.
RNA therapeutics are changing the way medicine is developed and delivered. The Society for RNA Therapeutics is led by an international group of scientists and physicians and is dedicated to serving scientists, clinicians, patient groups, policymakers and the broader public.

The Society for RNA Therapeutics is pleased to announce the members of its charter board of directors. The mission of the newly formed nonprofit scientific society is to promote translational research and development of RNA therapeutics to improve global health. RNA therapeutics have the potential to revolutionize numerous potential medical applications, including treatment of genetic diseases, cancer treatment, vaccines, regenerative medicine, and rare diseases.

RNA therapeutics are changing the way medicine is developed and delivered, said John P. Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., Founder and President of the Society for RNA Therapeutics. The Society for RNA Therapeutics is led by an international group of scientists and physicians and is dedicated to serving scientists, clinicians, patient groups, policymakers and the broader public. Together, the Society will promote research, education and share key advances in this rapidly emerging field of medicine.

The charter members of the Society for RNA Therapeutics Board of Directors are:

President: John P. Cooke, M.D., Ph.D.

Medical Director, Center for RNA Therapeutics

Chief Translational Officer, Houston Methodist Academic Institute

Vice President: Bruce A. Sullenger, Ph.D.

Joseph and Dorothy Beard Professor

Department of Surgery, Duke University

Secretary-Treasurer: Lior Zangi, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Genetics and Genomic Sciences

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Annemieke Aartsma-Rus, Ph.DD.

Professor of Translational Genetics

Department of Human Genetics

Leiden University Medical Center

Virginia Arechavala-Gomeza, Ph.D.

Ikerbasque Research Professor

Group Leader, Neuromuscular Disorders,

Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute

Maria Carmo-Fonseca, MD, Ph.D.

Immediate Past President, RNA Society

Group Leader, Instituto de Medicina Molecular

Pieter R. Cullis, Ph.D., FRSC, FNAI (USA)

Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - UBC

Nanomedicines Research Group

Founding Director, Centre for Drug Research and Development

Founding Scientific Director and CEO, NanoMedicines Innovation Network

Michelle L. Hastings, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Genetic Diseases

Professor and Vice-Chair, Cell Biology and Anatomy

Chicago Medical School

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Amanda E. Hargrove, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Duke University

Adrian Krainer, Ph.D.

St. Giles Foundation Professor

Cancer Center Deputy Director of Research

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Prof. Dan Peer, Ph.D.

Director, Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine

Shmunis School for Biomedicine and Cancer Research

Tel Aviv University

Department of Cell Research and Immunology, Dept of Cell Research & Immunology

Anna Marie Pyle Ph.D.

Sterling Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Professor of Chemistry

Yale University

John J. Rossi, Ph.D.

Professor and Director, Center for RNA Biology and Therapeutics

Dean Emeritus, Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences

City of Hope

Timothy Yu, M.D., Ph.D.

Attending Physician, Division of Genetics and Genomics

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Boston Childrens Hospital

Division of Genetics and Genomics

The Society for RNA Therapeutics is a global network with goals that impact all aspects of RNA therapeutics:



Support translational research and development of RNA therapeutics

Develop standards for RNA manufacturing and guidelines for clinical trials

Facilitate public-private-regulatory partnerships and to advocate for accessible RNA therapeutics for all patients

Provide public and professional education and develop training guidelines

Advocate for patients with diseases amenable to RNA therapies

Develop clinical best practices in RNA therapeutics

Support early career and professional development

Advocate accessibility to RNA therapeutics for low and middle income countries for the enhancement of global health

The Society for RNA Therapeutics also launched its website that provides information about the organizations goals, news about and RNA therapeutics, becoming a member, sponsorship and future events. Read more about the Society for RNA Therapeutics on the newly released website, http://www.srnat.org.


TIE National Logo

Tie National LLC would like you to join them in celebrating the IT companys 20th anniversary, a major milestone for the leading provider of technology solutions for businesses across the United States. Founded in 2003 in the Illinois suburbs, Tie National has become a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes and industries, providing customized technology solutions that enhance operational efficiency and productivity. Their core values of honesty, transparency, and passion are the foundation of Tie Nationals success and have enabled them to become a leader in the technology industry. Over the past two decades, the company has grown exponentially, expanding its range of services and building a nationwide network of certified contractors and engineers, most of whom have been a part of Tie National since its inception.

The 20th anniversary of Tie National is a testament to the company's commitment to delivering top-notch technology solutions and exceptional customer service. From small businesses to large enterprises, Tie National has helped thousands of clients optimize their technology infrastructure, streamline their processes, and achieve their business goals. With a team of experienced professionals and a passion for innovation, Tie National is poised to continue its growth trajectory and stay at the forefront of the ever-evolving technology landscape for years to come.

About Tie National LLC

Tie National founder Richard Rich Durante began as the Vice President of Tie Communications, the second-largest manufacturer and distributor of business telephone systems in the country. In 1969 founder Richard Durante was one of the first people to put dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) in phones while working for the local phone company. In 2003, Michael Durante left the banking world to join his father and create Tie National LLC, a telecom company 60 years in the making. Together, they grew the company from a two-man operation solely working on telephones to a multi-million dollar international business with employees in over a dozen states, covering everything from phone systems to cloud products and computer systems. You can learn more about the Tie National team and the national IT management services they provide by visiting their website or by calling (630) 301-7444.
Weve loved building connections and helping customers in Las Vegas over the last year. With Darlene and Jordyn in the fold, this group will continue to do great work and grow our presence in Nevada, said Lindsay Smith, Title Alliances chief strategy officer.

The Las Vegas office of a national title and escrow company specializing in joint-venture operations is excited to announce the addition of a community and industry veteran to its growing team.

Darlene Albrecht joined Title Alliance of Las Vegas last month and brings over 35 years of experience and expertise to her customers, colleagues and partners.

But to Albrecht, getting the job done means more than providing title knowledge and guidance. She also excels at working with clients and partners and is devoted to giving every customer a positive and memorable experience.

Darlene has a proven track record of success, and we are excited for what she brings to the Title Alliance team, said Brad Straub, Director of Business Development-West Coast. Shes a great fit, not only because of her experience but also because of her work ethic and personality. Im excited about what she will do as part of the TA team."

Title Alliance of Las Vegas opened in June of last year. The office is located at 9440 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 245 and is Title Alliances first operation in Nevada. However, the company has had a presence in multiple western states for years.

In addition to having a great team of people in the office, Title Alliance of Las Vegas provides the latest innovative resources to its partners and customers for smoother, more efficient transactions. Some of those tools include BankShot, CloseSimple and coming soon Prism.

In addition to celebrating Albrechts hire, Straub wanted to publicly commend the efforts of the entire Las Vegas office, including escrow assistant Jordyn Tom.

Weve loved building connections and helping customers in Las Vegas over the last year. With Darlene and Jordyn in the fold, this group will continue to do great work and grow our presence in Nevada, said Lindsay Smith, Title Alliances chief strategy officer. We are thrilled when people discover what makes the TA Way so special.

While Title Alliance has only been in the Las Vegas market for less than a year, the company, headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Title Alliance operates in 12 states across the country and has been exclusively focused on establishing and operating joint ventures with local real estate partners since 1983.

To learn more about Albrecht and the rest of the Title Alliance of Las Vegas team, click here, call 702-850-7554 or visit the offices Facebook page.
We take land preservation and reforestation very seriously at Young Living, and we have conservation projects across the globe.

Nearly 700 palo santo trees were planted by The D. Gary Young, Young Living Foundation and Young Living Essential Oils Brand Partner volunteers during a recent service trip to Loja, Ecuador. The seedlings were planted back into their origin forests as a part of a sustainability management plan between Young Living, Ecuadors Ministry of Environment, and the Diaz family to help ease deforestation in the region.

The trees were grown from a crop of seeds purchased from the Diaz family, who are one of our partners in sourcing palo santo, and germinated at Young Living's Finca Botanica Farm and Distillery since Earth Day 2022. The remaining seedlings from this service trip will be planted by the Diaz family later this year, and the next planting of palo santo seedlings is expected to happen in 2024.

The Young Living Foundation, with help from the Finca Botanica Farm and Distillery team, helped fund the reforestation project that would bring a greater number of younger trees to the area. The trip consisted of 11 Young Living Brand Partners, 2 Young Living Foundation employees, 6 team members from the Finca Botanica Farm and Distillery, and 2 of the Diaz brothers. The Ministry of Environment was also closely involved in the project, as palo santo is subject to strict regulations.

We take land preservation and reforestation very seriously at Young Living, and we have conservation projects across the globe, said Chris Packer, Senior Director of Farm Labs and New Botanicals at Young Living. "The Finca Botanica Farm and Distillery team members, along with the Diaz family, go above and beyond to ensure the proper methods are used to increase the palo santo population such as testing soil composition and nutrition, innovating regenerative agricultural approaches, and documenting the health and quality of our plants. We are impressed by the teams dedication to sustainability.

The trees will grow to be about 50 to 60 years old. After their natural demise, they will remain untouched for another three to five years, at which point the Diaz family will sustainably harvest the wood that has naturally fallen from trees. The wood will then be steam distilled by the Finca Botanica Farm and Distillery to create premium Palo Santo essential oil.

By introducing these younger trees to the land, were protecting the future of the forest, said Packer. Palo santo seeds are known for being difficult to germinate. But in a healthy forest, such as the one the Diaz family farm sits on, the trees enjoy the help of the local birds who eat and disperse the seeds, which assists in germinating naturally.

Young Living works closely with the Diaz family on the sustainable management of the land. Harvesting essential oil is only an added benefit to Young Livings commitment to the overall health of the ecosystem that allows for a healthy forest of palo santo trees. With this perspective, Young Living and the Foundation believe they can make a difference to deepen the movement for a livable planet that works for everyone.

To learn more about the Young Living Foundations efforts to protect the earth, please visit their website.

About Young Living Essential Oils

Young Living Essential Oils, LC, based in Lehi, Utah, is the world leader in essential oils, offering the highest-quality oil-infused products available. Young Living takes its industry leadership seriously, setting the standard with its proprietary Seed to Seal quality commitment. This guiding principle helps Young Living protect the planet and provide authentic products that its Brand Partners and Customers can feel confident using and sharing with friends and family. Young Livings productssourced from corporate-owned farms, partner farms, and other trusted suppliersnot only support a healthy lifestyle, but also provide opportunities for over 6 million global Brand Partners to find a sense of purpose and whole-life wellness by aligning their work with the Young Living values and passions. For more information, visit YoungLiving.com, follow @youngliving on Instagram, or like us on Facebook.
Details added: first version posted on 18:23

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Armenia's provocations against Azerbaijan threaten regional peace and security, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.

"According to the information of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on April 11, units of the Armed Forces of Armenia from the direction of the Digh settlement of the Gorus district subjected to intensive fire the Azerbaijan Armys opposing positions stationed in the direction of the Lachin district. As a result of the provocation, the servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army were killed and injured," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The fact that such provocations by Armenia took place in the face of serious calls for negotiations on a peace agreement by the international community shows that Armenia is not interested in the peace process, the ministry noted.

"Such military provocations of Armenia at the same time are accompanied by provocative political actions and statements. Armenia's provocations against Azerbaijan, violating the norms and principles of international law, not only breaches the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan but also seriously threatens regional peace and security," the ministry further said.

These actions of Armenia should be rejected and condemned by the international community in a serious manner, the ministry pointed out.

"In order to prevent provocations of Armenia, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan are taking and will continue to take all necessary measures. We declare once again that the responsibility for the provocations caused by Armenia falls entirely on Armenia," added the ministry.
Title changed

Details added: first version posted on 19:00

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. The Azerbaijan Army Units completely control the operational situation, Trend reports citing Azerbaijans Defense Ministry.

On April 11, the Armenian armed forces units subjected to intensive fire the Azerbaijan Army's positions stationed in the direction of the Lachin region in order to commit a provocation, the ministry said. The provocation of the Armenian side is being resolutely suppressed as a result of the vigilance of the Azerbaijan Armys servicemen.

The Armenian armed forces units suffered significant losses as a result of the retaliatory measures taken by the Azerbaijan Army Units. Currently, the Armenians, using mortars and large-caliber weapons, are subjecting to fire the Azerbaijan Armys positions, the ministry noted.

Necessary steps are being taken to suppress the firing positions of the opposing side. We call the public to be restrained and refer only to official data, added the ministry.
Thanhha Lai describes the international success of her debut novel in verse Inside Out & Back Again, which fictionalized her early life in Vietnam and immigration to the U.S. after the war, as one of the great surprises of her life. This spring, she will publish a sequel, When Clouds Touch Us, dramatizing the next phase of her heroine Has refugee experience. Lai spoke with PW about how current events led her to revisit the past, writing in prose poems, and about her nonprofit for kids in rural Vietnam.

In this book you return to your protagonist from Inside Out & Back Again. What drew you to revisit Has story?

The withdrawal from Afghanistan had just happened and I was struck by how remarkably similar it was to the fall of Saigon. You have the rush to the airport, and you have the panic. You have the Taliban coming in, and nobody knows exactly what theyll do, but theres a general feeling that its going to be bad. It was the same thing in Vietnamthe communists are coming. All I saw then was panic and wondered how do we get family out. Everyone rushed the airport, and my family rushed the Navy Yard where we had contacts and we jumped on a Navy ship.

There is all this news coverage when the actual fall happens. That is on the front page. And then it falls off. You do not hear about the Afghans anymore, because there are other things going on. But that is when the real story happens. It is the decade after the earthquake. But how do you rebuild? Yes, the Afghans have come here. Yes, they have sponsors. Yes, people will show up at the airport with welcoming signs and balloons. They have got the interpreter they need, they have got the food they need, and they take them shopping. But, still, it will drop off. Then it is really just up to each individual and up to the family. Theres no other way to shortcut reclaiming a self because thats what you have to do. You have to rebuild from the core.

And I thought Has story is not over. At the end of Inside Out, she wants to fly-kick and you get the sense that life is on the upswing and everything will be fine. For that moment, absolutely, but the family cannot stay in Alabama, just like my real family did not stay in Alabama. There were no jobs there for refugees that my mother thought could set her children up for life. She heard about a factory in Fort Worth, Texas, that was hiring people to work at in factories on the assembly line without knowing any English. So that is where she ended up, and for $2.30 an hour she sent her children to college, as shocking as that sounds. It took about a decade before everyone felt like we could exhale, and that it was going to be okay.

The novel is set two years later, as Has mother decides to move their family from Alabama to Texas for better opportunities. Ha struggles to find friends, confront racism and cultural misunderstandings, adapt to new schools, and face puberty. How did you seek to frame the challenges of this phase of the refugee experience?

I have had so long to process what happened to me, so that when I think of Ha as a character, she is no longer me. As a fictional character I knew that I have a 12-year-old girl now instead of a 10-year-old, and theres a vast difference. I have just raised a daughter, so I know. At 10 they truly are still innocent. But then starting at 12 things happenyour hormones are going and you are really able to place yourself in the world and not just within your family unit. I knew Ha was going to start to understand how to make money, and what money means. Money is very important to every refugee family because thats how you reclaim yourself. You have to be financially solvent. They are going to need to get a house. Ha is thinking everyone else is contributing to this house-buying process and I need to, too. So first she tries babysitting, but it paid about two cents an hour. I have her come up with propagating the piggy poop plants that she loves so much. I made her into someone who was going to not only handle herself in this society, but she was going to thrive in it. She already had supreme confidence from her mother, and she is going to take that and just go out to the world.

 The initial reason for prose poems was that I needed a reader to feel inside Ha's mind. 

Why did you choose to write in prose poems? And how do these poems change over the course of the novel as Ha matures?

The initial reason for prose poems was that I needed a reader to feel inside Has mind. When I started, Ha is living in Saigon, and obviously she is not speaking English. It is Vietnamese you are reading and by literary magic you are able understand it in English. When I wrote it, I was thinking in Vietnamese and what came out of my fingertips onto the keyboard would be English. It is automatic translation and very much inside of the Vietnamese mind. And then for the sequel, I thought it is two years later, she is not completely fluent in English, especially with the weird English verb tenses and parts of speech. But I thought she is definitely fluent enough so I could have switched to prose, but my editor [Tara Weikum] said when it is a sequel, readers want the same thing. And truly at 12 I was still thinking in Vietnamese. You know you are fluent when you dream in the new language and then when you can tell a joke in the new language and have it actually be funny. I was not there yet at 12. So I wrote in prose poems, but they have changed. Because I need to show that the infiltration of this very wordy, gray language has happened to her brain. English comes in and English is the wordiest language. It is very subtle, but I let the poems loosen a little bit to show her evolution.

You run a charity called Viet Kids, which gives bicycles to kids in Vietnam. What prompted you to create this organization and how has it grown and evolved?

In 2005, I went on a translation trip with a group of doctors who go to the country side to do cleft palate surgery. I talked to the kids and I asked what they wanted and every one of them said a bicycle. They said [they wanted them] so that they could get to school and not walk two hours each way and so that their moms could get to the market. They rig up contraptions to carry extra kids and packages, so that a bicycle becomes like a family car. I thought if a bicycle can change your life that much, we should do it. The bikes cost $75 and come from China. It has been a very popular program and I work with a Buddhist nun who finds these children.

We also started a new scholarship program this year. For just $1,000 you can send a kid to college in Vietnam for a whole year, and for $4,000 somebody has a college education. We started with a boy and a girl, our first two scholarship students. With the bicycle kids, I do not know them aside from the cute letters they write me. But I am going to interview these scholarship kids at the end of each year to see how it is going. Maybe there is a book in there. These are very practical kids. They are going to their nearby college to major in something humble but to them is very uplifting, like hotel management, working the front desk, or restaurant work. They are not going to be the next CEO of some amazing startup doing something with AI, but maybe their children will.

When Clouds Touch Us by Thanhha Lai. HarperCollins, $18.99 May 9 ISBN 978-1-338-18063-3
After a federal judge ordered the return of more than a dozen books improperly pulled from the Llano County Public Library shelves for their content, the county's commissioners have called a special meeting for April 13 to discuss shutting the library down altogether.

According to a notice and agenda posted to the Llano County website, the Llano County Commissioners Court has set a meeting to discuss whether to continue or cease operations of the current physical Llano County Library System, the continued employment of library staff, and the feasibility of the use of the library premises by the public.

A tweet from the American Library Association's Unite Against Book Bans account shared news of the meeting, and urged local library supporters to contact their local officials to support the library and to show up to the special meeting to advocate for their library. ALA officials say Unite Against Book Bans and ALA will continue to work closely with the Texas Library Association to support "at-risk library workers" in Llano County, as well as with Texans for the Right to Read and other Texas activists "who are on the front lines of the fight to protect every persons right to read in Llano County and across the state of Texas."

Closing the library would be an extreme reaction, notes ALA's Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom.

"Rather than return twelve books to the librarys collection that reflect the lives and experiences of LGTQIA+ and BIPOC persons, the members of the Llano County Commission and its Library Board are prepared to fire the dedicated staff of the Llano County Library System and deny Llano County residents access to all the information and community services that the library staff provides," Caldwell-Stone said, "simply to prevent anyone from reading certain books that these officials dont ever have to read."

The new developments come after a federal judge found that the library board in Llano County likely infringed the constitutional rights of readers in the community by unilaterally removing books it deemed inappropriate. In a 26-page decision, judge Robert Pitman affirmed that "the First Amendment prohibits the removal of books from libraries based on either viewpoint or content discrimination, and found that the evidence presented in the case showed that county officials illegally "targeted and removed books, including well-regarded, prize-winning books, based on complaints that the books were inappropriate.

Pitman issued an preliminary injunction ordering county officials not to remove any books from library shelves while the litigation is ongoing, as well as the return to the library of more than a dozen books he concluded were removed because of their viewpoint or content. Among those books ordered restored: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson; They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti; Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings; In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak; and My Butt is So Noisy! by Dawn McMillan.

The case began on April 25, 2022 after a group of local library users alleged that Llano county officials were systematically removing award-winning books from library shelves because they disagree with the ideas within them; that library leaders terminated the libraries' OverDrive account because county officials could not pick and choose titles available to county residents; and that the public is being improperly denied access to library board meetings.

While most of the removed books have reportedly been returned to library shelves, Llano County officials have appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to stay Pitman's injunction. A full trial is scheduled to begin in October.

Meanwhile, the court is also considering sanctioning two county officials who have refused to sit for depositions in the case. In an April 5 order, a U.S. magistrate judge ordered the two officials to attend a sanctions hearing, warning that the court was taking the plaintiffs' motion for sanctions "under advisement."
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva has issued a statement condemning another attempt at provocation by the Armenian armed forces, Trend reports via the Ombudsmans Office.

According to the statement, on April 11, units of the Armenian armed forces, having opened intensive fire from small arms from positions in the direction of Digh settlement of the Gorus district at the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the direction of the Lachin district, once again committed a provocation that dealt a blow to peace and security in the region.

This provocation, which led to the death and injury of servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, still continues, the statement said.

The continuation of the provocations of the Armenian side once again proves that Armenia is not interested in the peace process, does not give up its occupational intentions, the statement noted.

Armenia flagrantly violates the norms and principles of international law and international humanitarian law, hindering the peace process in the region, added the statement.

The ombudsman once again called on the international community to demonstrate a firm position on this issue in order to stop Armenia's military provocations and restore peace.
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California City. California City is a city located in northern Antelope Valley in Kern County, California, United States. It is 100 miles (160 km) north of the city of Los Angeles, and the population was 14,973 at the 2020 census. Covering 203.63 square miles (527.4 km2), California City has the third-largest land area of any city in the state of California, and is the largest city by land area in California that is not a county seat.Much of the workforce of Edwards Air Force Base, which is loca...

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The Biden administration has evaluated how seven Western states that are reliant on the dwindling water supply from the Colorado River could dramatically cut their water use in the basin
Details added: first version posted on 20:34

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Three Azerbaijani servicemen have been killed as a result of the Armenian provocation, Trend reports citing the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan.

"On April 11, at about 16:20 (GMT +4), units of the Armenian armed forces from positions in the direction of Digh settlement of Goris district, subjected to intensive fire from various weapons on the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the Lachin direction, the ministry said.

According to the ministry, then the Armenian units continued to fire at Azerbaijani positions, using mortars and large-caliber weapons.

As a result of the vigilance of our servicemen the provocation of the Armenian side was decisively suppressed, and the firing positions were suppressed. During the response measures taken by our army, the units of the armed forces of Armenia suffered significant losses, the ministry noted.

At present, relative calm remains in this direction, Azerbaijani units completely control the operational situation, the ministry further said.

When preventing the provocation of the Armenian side, the servicemen of the Azerbaijani army Vidadi Zalov, Elshad Hasanov and Sabuhi Taghiyev were killed, the ministry explained.

The leadership of the ministry expressed its deepest condolences to the families of martyrs.
The Mayflower Restaurant has sat across the street from the Arch on the University of Georgi
On Monday afternoon, students at the University of Georgia School of Social Work took part in a walkout to protest unpaid field labor placements and the exploitation that students are facing within the social work program.

This protest was organized by the UGA chapter of Payment for Placements, an organization that aims to gain fair payment and treatment for social workers.
'An area of land has already been earmarked for their protected habitation.'

'There are also steps being taken to take care of the coral zone and mangroves'

Kindly note the image has only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pixabay

The shipping sector will be crucial for reducing India's cost of logistics to 7-8 per cent of GDP.

Despite the rapid pace of infrastructure development, several of these projects face criticism because of their environmental impact.

The Rs 72,000-crore (Rs 720 billion) Great Nicobar Island development is one such project.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal tells Dhruvaksh Saha/Business Standard the Centre is confident about going forward with it.

Great Nicobar Transhipment Port has been under scrutiny over environmental concerns. Are there any second thoughts on the project?

We have no second thoughts on the project.

The expression of interest round has been completed, and several parties have shown interest.

It is true that different stakeholders have raised environmental concerns, but those have been clearly addressed.

We followed all procedures and had a public hearing too.

It was after this that we were given environmental clearance.

Moreover, bodies like the Wildlife Institute of India, Zoological Survey of India, and Botanical Survey of India have been given the responsibility to protect the rare and endangered species of flora and fauna there.

An area of land has already been earmarked for their protected habitation.

There are also steps being taken to take care of the coral zone and mangroves.

The Adani group, which was recently under attack, is working in public-private partnership (PPP) mode with the ministry, apart from operating its own ports. Has there been any impact in view of developments related to the Hindenburg report?

There's not been any impact on PPP from the issue.

Generally, we have been very successful with PPP, and so far there's not been any development on PPP projects that the company is doing with our ports.

IMAGE: Sarbananda Sonowal pins the first Merchant Navy Flag on Prime Minister Narendra D Modi to mark the commencement of National Maritime Week 2023, March 31, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

What is the progress on the Chabahar port's long-term agreement?

The government has been making efforts to finalise and activate the long-term contract.

Meanwhile, short-term contracts have been under execution, enabling us to operate the terminals.

Recently, during the visit of the Iranian delegation to India (during the third week of January 2023) the activation of the long-term contract was discussed, and both sides have made substantial progress towards finalising its amended provisions.

Both countries will work together because it is a strategically important project.

I won't give a specific date or month, but we can expect something within a short span of time.

All rounds of talks have been productive so far.

With the latest infra push by the Centre, what are your near-term objectives for the sector and the ministry, especially the Sagarmala plan?

The shipping sector is the key to economic growth because almost 90 per cent of export-import cargo is handled through shipping.

Considering the opportunities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has developed a vision to make all major ports globally competent to handle the highest volumes of cargo.

Under Sagarmala, we have identified 802 projects of Rs 5.4 trillion by 2035.

In this, 221 projects, worth Rs 1.12 trillion, have been completed and 252, worth Rs 2.29 trillion, are under implementation.

What are the plans on coastal shipping and what policy interventions have been planned to attract private interest?

Coastal shipping is crucial, especially in connecting hinterlands with nearby ports and establishing cargo connectivity.

In the previous nine years, between 2014 and 2022, coastal cargo grew from 75 million tonnes to 133 million tonnes.

It shows coastal shipping is now on a self-sustaining growth track, and viability is visible.

There are so many interested parties that are going to invest in coastal shipping, because of the growing viability and development of allied infrastructure.

The outlay on viability gap funding for coastal shipping is being worked out.

The Budget announcement on enhancing coastal shipping through PPP and viability gap funding means an in-principle push for the sector.

As the nodal ministry, we will explore all possibilities and the policy decision will be made in consultation with the ministry of finance.

How do you foresee development in the country's inland waterways?

Cargo capacity in inland waterways grew from 16 million tonnes in 2014 to 109 million tonnes in 2022 -- this shows the rapid pace of growth.

The route helped us create history with the launch of the MV Ganga Vilas, the world's longest river cruise.

Earlier, people believed the Ganga and Brahmaputra did not have the depth for such operations.

When the PM flagged the cruise off, many in the Opposition made the same criticism, but the success of the cruise has shown that 27 river systems are feasible for seamless transportation.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
It is a question that his supporters must ask of the prime minister.

It may be enjoyable for them to pass through this phase of going after other Indians.

But once this has been achieved to satisfaction, then what?, asks Aakar Patel.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi pays homage to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the architect of Hindutva. Photograph: Kind courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Ideologies usually have an end-state or a desired place they want to arrive at.

Marxists think the State will vanish and the community will replace it.

In South Asia, an attempt was made to make mankind spiritually aligned to modernity through the State.

This is what Liaquat Ali Khan, the first prime minister of Pakistan, said was the purpose was to introducing religion into the constitution and making god sovereign instead of parliament.

This experiment did not succeed because there was no obvious path to arriving at the final destination, which was a Pakistani who had been made spiritually superior but also scientifically modern through laws.

In Europe, the focus of government is on welfare States where the population is given access to quality health, education and pensions and the poor and unemployed are taken care of.

This in itself is the end-state these nations seek to achieve.

Many of them have given up the idea of military greatness and they do not chase after the dominance of their religion.

Often large numbers of their voters are inclined towards diversity and we can see that in the Europe of our time.

Today the elected leaders of the United Kingdom (a Hindu of Indian origin), Scotland (a Muslim of Pakistani origin), Ireland (a Christian of Indian origin) and Portugal (a Christian of Indian origin) show us that.

We take pride in this, but if we looked at it from the perspective of the European voters we would be baffled.

It is unthinkable to us in the India of 2023 that the majority of us would elect an ethnic Indian minority as our popular leader.

But much of the rest of the world is modern in the real sense and does not vote on confessional lines alone.

To repeat, these desi leaders in Europe are in place because they are popular with voters despite, and to some extent perhaps even because of, the fact that they are from another community and another race.

Perhaps it is this very religious and ethnic difference that is key because for many voters there diversity is not only important but attractive and aspired to.

Let us turn to the mother of democracy. To the outsider, India's politics is vibrant, but tribal in nature.

There is strong group loyalty and a suspicion and often outright hatred of the other community.

This instinct is visceral and primitive and exists in all cultures and nations, but the modern ones are able to mature out of it.

In primitive societies it remains. In some of the more backward ones, this instinct is often quickened.

Tribalism has always defined Indian democracy through caste or jati, which is the way in which ticket distribution was done and continues to be done.

The creation of linguistic states, which was a wise move, meant that linguistic group loyalty became neutralised as a political tool, except when conflict was deliberately created, through imposition.

The rise and dominance of Hindutva has reintroduced to Indian democracy religious tribalism.

Reintroduced because it existed before Partition and was the at the root of division.

Jinnah's complaint against Gandhi was that he only had one vote for every three of Gandhi's and the assumption, which was correct, was that all votes would be cast for religion and not policy.

Post-Partition politics in India remained communal and the marginalisation and exclusion of minorities was as real as it is today, but the language of the State, meaning the Congress governments under Nehru and Indira, was inclusive.

Because of this, social divisions were not exacerbated though they existed.

Hindutva has changed that and Indians have been divided along religious lines by the State and its policies, its language and its behaviour.

We have to consider what that means for India.

Our end-state is different from that of Nepal, which was the only Hindu Rashtra of modern times.

Nepal was ruled by a kshatriya king as prescribed by Manusmriti, but in other ways it was not especially different.

Hindu Nepal did not have a focus on minorities and on persecution as New India has.

The end-state of Hindutva is not concerned with either nation or Hindus as such, it is occupied by what can be done to minorities.

The Hindutva State has introduced discriminatory and exclusionary laws and policies on citizenship, food, divorce, marriage, segregation, prayer and clothing.

Existing laws already targeting minorities have been tightened.

Indians are doing in India the opposite of what voters in those European nations have done with Indian-origin leaders.

This persecution of other Indians has some utility because otherwise it would not be popular and these benefits are likely satisfaction and contentment at putting others through misery.

However it is hard to understand how this benefits the nation and particularly how it improves India's future.

It is a question that his supporters must ask of the prime minister.

It may be enjoyable for them to pass through this phase of going after other Indians.

But once this has been achieved to satisfaction, then what?

The answer is known to those who oppose persecution, because it is clear to them that after this will be more of the same.

But it would be apposite to hear it from the mouths of those who are driving New India further into Amrit Kaal.

Aakar Patel is a columnist and writer and you can read Aakar's earlier columns here.
'Such a struggle at Kalakshetra is unprecedented.'

IMAGE: Students stage a protest in Kalakshetra. Photograph: Screen grab, kind courtesy nrithyapillai's video/Twitter

In 1936, when dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale founded Kalakshetra, her vision was to 'establish an institution that imparts to the young the true spirit of art, devoid of vulgarity and commercialism.'

But the recent student protest accusing teachers of sexual harassment, caste discrimination and verbal abuse, goes against all that the founder had envisaged.

Though one of the accused teachers has been arrested, the issues raised by the students are not going to end with it.

Amidst all the chaos that is happening at Kalakshetra, the only third party member in the Internal Complaints Committee, advocate BS Ajeetha resigned from the committee a few days ago.

"If the students are driven to protest, it is a struggle, and their voices should be heard," Ajeetha tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

You have been a member of the Internal Complaints Committee for the last four years. You resigned now saying you were disturbed by the response of the administration. What exactly disturbed you?

The students were protesting; they wanted to close the institution and go home.

When getting to study at such a prestigious institution is a very big achievement for a student, they are forgetting all that and coming out to protest.

I would say, such a struggle at Kalakshetra is unprecedented.

If the students are driven to protest, it is a struggle, and their voices should be heard.

What was disturbing to me was that their voices were not heard.

IMAGE: The Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts, Kalakshetra Foundation at Besant Nagar, Chennai. Photograph: Kind courtesy Melanie M/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

Did you try to make the administration realise that they should listen to the voices of the students, especially when the accusations were about sexual harassment because the ICC was constituted under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act?

The students have made two types of complaints, one is pertaining to sexual harassment and the other not pertaining to sexual harassment.

The IC or the Internal Committee -- it is called IC and not ICC after the law has been amended -- is a gender-specific Act and we can only listen to the complaints of sexual harassment of women.

And we cannot take up any other complaint as the committee is constituted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013.

So, within the ambit of law, the powers that have been given to the committee is creating awareness, prevention, protection and redressal when complaints on sexual harassment come.

The main complaints of the protesting students have been of sexual harassment by some teachers. Did those complaints come to the committee?

In the last four years, we had received three-four complaints. We solved them, and the perpetrators were punished. The wrongdoers left the institution.

But this time, we didn't get any such complaint.

The student who was named was an intern at the institution, and she came before the committee and denied all the accusations in the strongest terms. She, in fact, said that she was going to take legal action against the social media posts.

After this, the IC decided to conduct a detailed awareness programme on sexual harassment at the workplace to students in the first week of January, and I volunteered to take up the awareness session. I told them they could contact us without fear if they were to encounter any such situation.

We shared the ID and phone numbers of all the four members in the committee.

I told them that I was not part of the institution and only a third-party member in the committee, so they could tell me with confidence and without fear of any consequences. I assured them that the IC would conduct a time-bound enquiry.

But no student or teaching staff came up with any complaint.

Hence, after Pongal this year, we conducted a suo motu enquiry based on the social media posts by a former director in which she had named two students, one still studying and another a former student.

She wrote that they had sexual relationship with a teacher. The allegations raised by her were pretty bad.

After speaking to the student named in the post, their friends and teachers, we came to the conclusion that all the allegations were unfounded and baseless.

After we ended the enquiry, we got four more complaints. One was from a student who left the institution four years back. She said she had to discontinue her studies because of the insults and humiliation by a teacher.

But we could not take it up, as sexual harassment was not mentioned in the complaint. We forwarded the complaint to the administration to take appropriate disciplinary action though it happened years ago.

IMAGE:The staff and students of Kalakshetra Foundation celebrate the founder Rukmini Devi Arundale's 119th birthday under the famous banyan tree. Photograph: Kind courtesy @kalakshetrafdn/Twitter.com

You mean, her complaint came to the committee?

Yes. She wrote to us that she lost two years of her life due to the humiliation, and she wanted justice.

The committee did not enquire into this because she had not mentioned any sexual harassment in the mail.

That's why we forwarded it to the administration.

What she mentioned was an unpardonable offence. Because of the antagonistic nature of a teacher, a student had to leave the course!

I spoke to the director that no student should lose her student life like that.

But now she says that sexual harassment led to humiliation and insults...

Yes, she must have written it in the police complaint now, but I have not seen her police complaint.

But the complaint she sent to us did not mention that it was sexual harassment that led to humiliation and loss of two years of her life.

Then, we received three more complaints from male students regarding sexual harassment by male teachers. This was soon after we completed the suo motu enquiry in the first week of February 2023.

Since it was a gender-specific Act, we had no authority to take up their complaint. Their complaints were not within the ambit of the committee as we were to take up sexual harassment complaints from aggrieved women only.

So, I told the administration that a disciplinary enquiry had to be conducted by them, and they should respond to each student separately.

IMAGE: Students perform at the institution's banyan tree. Photograph: Kind courtesy @kalakshetrafdn/Twitter.com

Is it not unfair not to take up sexual harassment complaints by boy students? What they face is also sexual harassment...

The Constitution provides for special enactments for women, children and people belonging to scheduled castes and tribes. So, it is not unconstitutional when there is a special law for women.

This sexual harassment Act is a gender-specific Act.

I agree what the boys faced was also serious misconduct. The service of the teachers involved can even be terminated on enquiry if they were proved guilty as there is a conduct rule in every institution.

Sexual harassment of a boy by another male is also as serious as sexual harassment against a woman. But it does not come under this particular Act.

So, the committee did not have the legal authority to receive a complaint and conduct an enquiry.

You mean only the administration can deal with a sexual harassment complaint by boys?

Yes. They should have set up an enquiry committee immediately to deal with the complaint. And the administration, after an enquiry, should have taken immediate action against the erring persons.

I don't think the administration took any action. That's why it was raised by the protesting students.

Remember, this happened by the end of February and early March, but the administration did not deal with all this. So, I did not want to be in such a place, and I resigned.

After I resigned, I came to know that the present committee is dismantled and a new one will be reconstituted.

Another reason why I resigned was, as the students protested, I came to know that many students were subjected to discrimination, they were verbally abused, body shamed and not given fair opportunity in the programmes put up by the institution.

The administration should have taken up all these issues, but they did not. It was like they were only accusing students that they were backed by somebody.

A place that is not democratic enough to listen to the students, is not one I want to be associated with.

Some very serious accusations have come from some former students that the place is very casteist...

If the students are saying that, it could be true.

When the entire society is casteist, why would it not be there at Kalakshetra?

But the Kalakshetra administration said that all the allegations were just rumours to malign the institution...

When the students protested, they said it was to malign the institute.

Instead of addressing the issues raised by each student, they tried to hide behind such excuses.

They just want to protect the institution. But they can't do that at the expense of students.

If they did not receive any complaint on the kinds of discrimination faced by the students, it must be because the students did not have confidence in them.

IMAGE: B S Ajeetha. Photograph: Kind courtesy BS Ajeetha IMAGE: B S Ajeetha.

It is true we cannot say sexual harassment or discrimination can be stopped completely. But what can be done in institutions like these so that students can raise such issues without fear?

This is not a problem of Kalakshetra alone; it is universal. It is there in every section of society.

Students union is the only answer to alleviate their fears. Some 30-40 years ago, students' unions were very strong but today, that's not the case.

When there is a union, students will have the confidence that they have a platform to air their voice.

A culture of democracy has to be there in all the educational institutions.

In the last six-seven years, every institution has been taken over by people with certain ideology and whoever talking in a different voice is getting silenced.

I feel students unions should be a must in all educational institutions so that the voices of students are heard.

What happened at Kalakshetra should be an eye-opener.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
'We first collected samples from all the bomb blast sites.'

'We had to find what was common among them.'

Dr Rukmani Krishnamurthy, 74, is India's first lady forensic scientist. She took up the endeavour at a time when most people did not even know what forensic meant.

A friend of hers used her chemistry lab in college for forensic research. He talked about what his work involved. Her interest was awakened and when she got the opportunity she seized it and went to work for the Forensic Science Laboratory in Bombay in 1974.

When she joined the lab, she was the only lady there, but when she left 20% of the staff were women.

Dr Rukmani is now Chairperson and CEO of Helik Advisory Limited, Mumbai, and an Academic Council member, National Forensic Science University, Gujarat.

She advises PhD students and has also written two books on forensic science.

Why did you choose forensics as a career?

I had a master's degree in chemistry. I had applied for three jobs and got offers from all of them.

The Reserve Bank of India offered me a clerical job; I had a teaching job and the job of a research assistant at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Mumbai.

A friend of mine used to do forensic research in my college lab and I found his work very interesting and thus took up the job.

I was the only lady in the office those days.

Tell us about your first case.

The first case that came to me was a dowry death case.

A man had poured kerosene on his wife and burnt her. I was horrified imagining the suffering the woman might have gone through.

My boss told me that in our field we would come across worse things, I must keep my emotions in control and do our work to help the police.

Tell us about your work in the Mumbai blasts case in 1993.

Another case involving kerosene was when the Matunga train fire which killed many came to us.

We found traces of kerosene in the debris and also a cigarette butt which had caused the fire.

We realised that someone was carrying kerosene which had ignited by a carelessly thrown burning cigarette butt.

On our advice the government banned inflammatory materials from being carried in public transport.

I was heading the department that carried out investigation in the Mumbai bomb blasts case in 1993.

My brother was in hospital. I was visiting him when I heard two blasts. They were carrying the injured and dead to the hospital.

I took the bus from the hospital to go home at 6 pm. I reached home at 2 am as all the roads were blocked.

The next morning we started work. We first collected samples from all the bomb blast sites. We had to find what was common among them.

We painstakingly worked for three months to put a report together.

We gave a very good report which helped nail the criminals.

How did you help solve the Neeraj Grover murder case in 2008?

It was a high profile case as TV stars were involved.

They had killed the victim, chopped up his body, and then set fire to it in the jungle. They had painted the wall to hide the blood marks in the room.

We found traces of the victim's blood on the wall and also in their car which helped us confirm it was a murder.

Could you tell us about any particularly difficult case that you have handled?

The Telgi stamp scam was very difficult to prove. He had used government seals so the print was exactly the same.

We worked on it for three years. We found that the paper he used was different from the government paper.

The Supreme Court praised our work.

How many years did you work at the Forensic Science lab?

I worked from 1974 to 2008.

I joined as a research assistant and retired after being the Director for eight years.

The 26/11 terror attack investigation was under my watch.

Apart from crime, what other work did you have to do?

The forensic lab deals only with crime.

What would your advice be to any youth who wants to study forensics?

You should work with full dedication. You should be aware of latest developments in your field. You should stick to your stand in court.

Is Forensics an exact science or can the same data be interpreted differently?

It depends on how you test the sample. Sometimes you use Physics, sometimes Chemistry and sometimes Toxicology. The analysis is by experience.

What is Helik Advisory Limited?

It is a company I set up after retirement. We are consultants to the government and companies when they approach us.

Tell us about your biopic.

They felt that my story needs to be told as I was the first women forensic scientist in the country.

I had also dealt with several high profile cases and so they found it interesting.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday collected the voice sample of Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in connection with a case of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Pul Bangash area here in which three persons were killed by a mob, officials said.

IMAGE: Congress leader Jagdish Tytler at Central Forensic Science Laboratory for recording his voice sample in connection with 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, in New Delhi, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo

The probe agency has also summoned politician Manjit Singh GK, who had released an alleged sting tape in which a person purported to be Tytler was claiming to have killed Sikhs, they said.

The agency, which has filed three closure reports so far, made the move after getting "fresh evidence" in the case, they said.

Sources added that agency may compare the voice sample of Tytler with that in the video.

Tytler, who was named in the Nanavati Commission report that probed the riots, arrived at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in the CGO Complex where his voice sample was collected by experts, they said.

The former minister in the UPA government was allowed to leave after the exercise, they said.

The case pertains to the riots at Gurudwara Pul Bangash in North Delhi where three people were killed on November 1, 1984, a day after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.

The families of the victims had filed a protest petition challenging the CBI's closure reports in the case.

The court had in December 2015 directed the CBI to further investigate the matter and said it would monitor the probe every two months to ensure that no aspect is left uninvestigated.

Tytler was accused of inciting a mob that murdered the victims. However, the CBI filed three closure reports which were rejected by the special court.

In 2018, sting videos were released by Manjit Singh GK who claimed to have received them by post from a Delhi-based businessman.

The agency had reinvestigated the case of killing of Badal Singh, Thakur Singh and Gurcharan Singh near the gurudwara.

The CBI is also regularly filing its status reports in the matter before a special court in Delhi.
Taking the fight to the Opposition camp, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has chosen to field heavyweights against top Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar in the May 10 Karnataka assembly elections.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and others attends the BJP Central Election Committee meeting for the Karnataka assembly elections, at the party headquarters in New Delhi, April 9, 2023. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

The party, on Tuesday, declared candidates for 189 constituencies out of the total 224, and the list includes 52 new faces.

At least nine legislators including Ministers Angara (Sullia) and Anand Singh (Vijayanagara), have not been given the ticket.

In a dramatic move, the party announced that senior Ministers V Somanna and R Ashoka would take on former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress chief Shivakumar in Varuna and Kanakapura, respectively.

Somanna will also contest from Chamarajanagar, and Ashoka from Padmanabhanagar segments.

Former Minister C P Yogeshwar would once again cross swords with Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy, a former Chief Minister, in Channapatna.

Somanna belongs to the Lingayat community which has a large presence in Varuna, while Ashoka is seen as BJP's prominent Vokkaliga face, the community to which Shivakumar also belongs to.

In Kolar, the second seat from where Siddaramaiah is planning to contest, BJP has fielded Varthur Prakash, who had won twice from the segment as an independent.

As expected, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will seek reelection from his traditional Shiggaon constituency, while B Y Vijayendra would enter fray from Shikaripura, the seat vacated by his father and former CM B S Yediyurappa, who has announced retirement from electoral politics.

Announcing the names at a press conference in New Delhi, BJP's Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh said 32 of the candidates belong to OBCs, 30 Scheduled Castes and 16 Scheduled Tribes. There are 8 women candidates in the first list.

The first list has nine doctors, five advocates, three academics, one retired IAS officer, one retired IPS officer, three retired government employees and eight social activists, he said.

According to party sources, among the candidates 51 are Lingayats and 41 are Vokkaligas, the two dominant communities in the State.

In Vijayanagara, the party has given ticket to Siddharth Singh instead of his father and Minister Anand Singh, while in Athani it has denied ticket to former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi and has given it to Mahesh Kumathalli, who had helped BJP form government in 2019, by defecting from the Congress.

There are some reports that Savadi may now join the Congress.

Most of the MLAs who defected and joined BJP, thereby helping it to come to power, and also succeeded winning the subsequent bypolls on a BJP ticket, have retained their seats.

The party has not announced tickets yet to Shivamogga and Hubballi-Dharwad Central, the seats represented by senior leaders K S Eshwarappa and Jagadish Shettar.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Eshwarappa had on Tuesday told the party's central leadership that he wishes to retire from electoral politics and requested it to not consider fielding him in the Assembly polls, while former Chief Minister Shettar said the party top brass told him to make way for others, but asserted he wants to contest one last time.

Ministers S Angara and Anand Singh are among those who have not got the ticket, while most of their cabinet colleagues have got the nod. Singh is said to have opted out in favour of his son.

Seven other sitting MLAs who have not been fielded again are-- Lalaji R Mendon (Kapu), Raghupathi Bhat (Udupi), Anil S Benake (Belagavi North), Sanjeev Matandur (Putturu), Mahadevappa Shivalingappa Yadawad MLA (Ramadurg), Ramanna Lamani (Shirahatti), and Goolihatti D Shekhar (Hosadurga).

Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao is the BJP candidate from Chamarajpet, while Former IAS officer B H Anil Kumar will take on senior Congressman and former Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara in Koratagere.

In Belagavi district former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who had helped engineer the 2019 defections that resulted in BJP coming to power has got a ticket from Gokak. He has also managed to secure tickets for his brother Balachandra Jarkiholi from Arabhavi and close confidant Mahesh Kumathalli from Athani.

Two members from the late Minister Umesh Katti's family - brother Ramesh Katti and son Nikhil Katti - got tickets from Chikkodi Sadalga and Hukkeri respectively, while Ratna Vishwanath Mamani, wife of late Deputy Speaker of Karnataka Assembly Vishwanath Chandrashekar Mamani has got ticket from Saundatti Yellamma segment.

According to party sources, while deciding tickets, the BJP seems to have adopted the policy of trying to replace some seniors and those nearing retirement (75 years), while asking fathers to withdraw from the fray if they want tickets for their children. "This may be seen in the second list too."

The party is yet to announce its candidates for 35 seats.

The filing of nominations will begin on April 13, with the poll notification being issued, and the last day for filing papers is April 20.

The BJP, aiming to return to power in Karnataka with absolute majority, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the assembly.
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.
Constantly paying attention to increasing its service network to provide better access to financial services for rural entrepreneurs in the regions of Azerbaijan, the "FINCA Azerbaijan" Non-Bank Credit Organization (NBCO) officially presented its new branch for the use of the customers in Sabirabad district, which stands out with its agriculture potential, on April 7, 2023.

FINCA microfinance organization operates in different countries of the world, including Azerbaijan, and our goal is to increase access to finance. To achieve this, we work with farmers, small businesses, and farm owners. The opening of the Sabirabad branch will help us to provide better service to our customers by establishing a better connection with local business owners," said Timothy Tarrant, FINCA Azerbaijan's CEO, in his opening speech, welcoming the participants of the event.

Aynur Aliyeva, a member of the Board of Directors of the Azerbaijan Microfinance Association (AMFA), and Nasir Mirzaliyev, Deputy Head of the Executive Power of Sabirabad district, who participated in the event, marked that the opening of the new branch of FINCA Azerbaijan will contribute to the expansion of microfinance services in the Sabirabad region, which has a wide economic potential, and help to achieve better citizen satisfaction.

Adhering to the tradition, FINCA Azerbaijan invited several clients of the Sabirabad region to the opening event and valued them with presents.

The new Sabirabad branch of "FINCA Azerbaijan" is located at 47 H. Aliyev Avenue, Sabirabad city and provides services from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00.

About FINCA Azerbaijan

FINCA Azerbaijan is a leader in responsible finance, serving small businesses across the country with loan products to promote profitable business activity. Launched in 1998, FINCA Azerbaijan is part of FINCA Impact Finances global network of 16 banks and microfinance institutions, reaching more than 2.8 million clients in five continents.

For more information about FINCA Azerbaijan activities please visit https://finca.az/ or official social media accounts.
Papalpreet Singh, the mentor of absconding Waris Punjab De (WPD) chief Amritpal Singh who was caught by the police in Amritsar district, was brought to Dibrugarh in Assam, over 2500 km away from the northern state, and lodged in the central jail along with seven others of the pro-Khalistan outfit on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh being taken to Dibrugarh central jail amid tight security, April 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

He was brought to Dibrugarh from Delhi by a Punjab police team and escorted to the jail from the airport amidst tight security.

Papalpreet Singh, considered to be a close associate of Amritpal and strategist of the outfit with close links to Pakistan's ISI, has been booked under the National Security Act (NSA).

Meanwhile, a team of three lawyers of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) -- Bhagwant Singh Siyalka, Mandeep Singh Siddhu and Rohit Sharma from Punjab -- met the Waris De Punjab members in jail and took their 'vakalatnama', officials said.

A 'vakalatnama' is a document by which an advocate is empowered to appear or plead before any court, tribunal, or other authority.

The Dibrugarh District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) had appointed Samir Todi as the counsel for the detainees.

Todi told PTI on Tuesday that he met all the detainees personally and checked whether the facilities were provided to them as every prisoner, whether booked under the stringent NSA or any other act, have the right to avail.

All the detainees were satisfied with the facilities provided to them and said they are being treated well, he said.

''The SGPC lawyers approached me on Monday as they have been appointed as the legal aid counsel of the detainees. These lawyers went to Dibrugarh central jail on Monday to meet the detainees,'' he said.

Besides taking their 'vakalatnama', the SGPC lawyers also asked bout the grounds of their detention, Todi said.

The SGPC lawyers will now discuss the matter with their legal team in Punjab and contest the detention of the WPD members in Punjab High Court, he said.

Sialka said that the SGPC lawyers team had received support from the DLSA, Dibrugarh Bar Association and local lawyers in submitting the application to the jail authorities to meet the detainees.

The detainees, he said, do not have enough clothes but are receiving all other facilities due to them and are satisfied.

The first batch of four arrested members of the Khalistani outfit were shifted to Dibrugarhby the Punjab police on March 19.

On March 21 three others, including Amritpal's uncle Harjit Singh who was also detained under NSA, were brought to Dibrugarh and kept in the jail.

Besides Papalpreet and Harjit Singh, the other members of the outfit lodged in the jail are Daljeet Kalsi, Basant Singh, Gurmeet Singh Bhukanwala, Bhagwant Singh alias 'Pradhan Mantri' Bajeka, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal and Gurinder Pal Singh.

The Punjab police had recently launched a massive crackdown in the northern state and arrested several supporters of Amritpal Singh, the chief of the pro-Khalistan outfit.

The crackdown on Waris Punajb De began weeks after Amritpal nd his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested associate. The episode had raised fears of the return of Khalistani militancy to the state that borders Pakistan.

WPD was formed by actor-activist Deep Sidhu and Amritpal took over as its chief a month after his death in 2022.

Inspector General (Headquarters) of Punjab Police Sukhchain Singh Gill told reporters in Chandigarh on Monday that six cases were registered against Papalpreet Singh. He is also alleged to have been in contact with Pakistan's ISI.

The police had been conducting searches at many places, including Hoshiarpur, to nab Amritpal and Papalpreet Singh who had been hoodwinking security since March 18 when the police had launched a crackdown against WPD. It is believed that both Papalpreet and Amritpal could have separated in Hoshiarpur following the police chase of their vehicle.
Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Purnesh Modi filed his objection in a court here on Tuesday in response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea for a stay of his conviction in a defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark, his lawyer said.

IMAGE: BJP MLA Purnesh Modi (third from left), who filed a complaint against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his alleged 'Modi Surname' remarks, at the district court, in Surat, March 23, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The ruling party legislator is the complainant in the criminal defamation case in which a metropolitan court in Surat on March 23 sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail after holding him guilty over his 2019 remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?", leading to his disqualification from the Lok Sabha.

The MLA appeared before the court of additional sessions judge RP Mogera and filed a 30-page objection to the former Congress president's plea for staying his conviction, his lawyer Ketan Reshamwala said.

The matter will come up for arguments on April 13, the day when Gandhi's plea seeking a stay of conviction and subsequent sentence is slated to be heard in the sessions court, he said.

"As per the order of the honourable court, real complainant Purnesh Modi appeared before it and we submitted our written objection before the court and supplied copies to the other side...We have submitted a 30-page written submission against the stay of conviction plea," Reshamwala said.

On Thursday, both sides will present their arguments before the court passes its order, said the lawyer.

Gandhi's appeal against the trial court's conviction order will remain pending before the sessions court and will be heard at a later date, he said.

The former Congress chief was on March 24 disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction by the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in the four-year-old case.

Following his disqualification, Gandhi would not be able to contest elections for eight years unless a higher court stays his conviction and sentence. A stay of conviction by the sessions court could pave the way for Gandhi's reinstatement as a Member of Parliament.

The 52-year-old politician was elected to the Lower House of Parliament from Wayanad in Kerala in 2019.

The sessions court had on April 3 granted bail to Gandhi in the case and kept the hearing on his plea for a stay of conviction on April 13 after issuing a notice to MLA Modi as well as the Gujarat government.

The court had also directed the respondents to file a reply, if any, before the next returnable date and provide a copy of the same to the counsel for the accused on or before April 11.

Gandhi, in his plea, has stated if the trial court's order convicting him is not stayed, it will cause an irreparable loss to him and the society at large as the maximum sentence awarded in the case has led to his disqualification as an MP.

The disqualification of an elected representative essentially "interferes with the choice of the electorate in a free and fair election," and except in exceptional cases, the order of conviction ought to be stayed "in deference to the considered choice made by the electorate," the Congress leader has said in his plea.

"In a democracy the opinion of the people is supreme and the choice of the voter is treated as the will of the people...If the operation of the judgment of conviction is not stayed, a by-election shall be held (in Wayanad) within the period stipulated and the petitioner shall forfeit his right to represent the constituency for the remaining part of his tenure," Gandhi said.

This loss is irreparable as even his subsequent acquittal cannot undo the same, he has said.

A by-election would lead to an enormous burden on the state exchequer which is not justified in a defamation case, the disqualified MP has said.

Gandhi has termed his conviction as "erroneous" and "patently perverse" and said the trial court treated him harshly after being overwhelmingly influenced by his status as an MP.

"A parliamentarian in Opposition is expected, or rather required, to be vigilant and critical, and the view of the trial court that an MP deserves to be awarded the highest punishment because of his status is wholly unwarranted and manifestly unjust," stated his plea.

BJP legislator Modi, a former Gujarat minister, had filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi over his "Modi surname" remark made while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, during campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.

After being sentenced to two years in jail, the Congress leader was disqualified from the membership of Parliament under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The RP Act holds that an MP or a Member of legislative Assembly (MLA) convicted of any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of conviction.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will win more than 300 Lok Sabha seats across the country in next year's general elections and return to power for the third consecutive term with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah being welcomed by BJP MLA Prasanta Phukon and other leaders on his arrival at Dibrugarh Airport, April 10, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo

Addressing a rally in Dibrugarh, where he laid the foundation stone for a BJP office, Shah exuded confidence that the saffron party will win 12 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the northeastern state.

"Narendra Modi will become the prime minister for the third consecutive term with the party winning over 300 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he said.

There are 543 seats in the lower house of the Parliament.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, the senior BJP leader said, "Northeast was once considered a fortress of the Congress but despite Rahul Gandhi's yatra (Bharat Jodo Yatra), the party failed to perform well in the recent assembly elections in three states in the region."

Assembly elections were recently held in Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland. The BJP formed the government in Tripura, and came in power as alliance partners in the other two states.

Shah thanked the people of Assam, which was the first state in the Northeast to give mandate to the BJP.

Alluding to Rahul Gandhi's controversial remarks during his visit to United Kingdom, Shah, who arrived in Dibrugarh from neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, said, "He (Gandhi) insulted India from foreign soil. If he continues defaming the country and the government by peddling lies, Congress will be whitewashed from the entire country after being shown the door in the Northeast."

"There is no point in abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as every Indian is praying for his good health. The more they (Congress) badmouth our PM, the more lotus (BJP's election symbol) will bloom," he said.

Shah said that the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 or AFSPA has been removed from 70 per cent of the area of Assam, while Bodoland and Karbi Anglong areas are peaceful and the state's border disputes with its neighbouring provinces are being resolved.

"Earlier, Assam was known for andolan (agitation) and aatankwad (terrorism) but now there is peace and people are dancing to the beats of Bihu music," Shah said, while referring to a mega event which will be held in Guwahati on April 14 in which over 11,000 dancers will perform in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Shah said that under the BJP rule in Assam, over 41,000 have been given employment, 25,000 hectares of land have been earmarked for Bajra Mission, two lakh hectares for palm oil production and 12 lakh families have been provided with handlooms.

He said the BJP government in Assam has already established 12 medical colleges and 12 more are in the pipeline, while Modi will inaugurate AIIMS in the state on the occasion of Rongali Bihu.

''The double-engine government of the BJP under the leadership of PM Modi at the Centre, and Sarbananda Sonowal and later Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam have led to a path-breaking development, peace and security in the state," Shah said.

Shah later left the state for New Delhi aboard a flight from Dibrugarh airport.
The tribal vote in Madhya Pradesh is crucial in any election.

The BJP's loss in the 2018 assembly election has prompted it to take remedial action.

IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu being felicitated by Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, left, and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas at Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. Photograph: ANI Photo

With just about eight months left for the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party is firming up its strategy.

The BJP has still not recovered from the shock of losing the tribal-dominated seats in 2018.

What is adding to its worries is the fact that tribal-dominated Barwani, Dhar, and Alirajpur districts (Malwa-Nimar region) are considered strongholds of the Jai Yuva Adivasi Sangathan (JAYS). This organisation supported the Congress in 2018.

To woo the tribals once again, the BJP is now pinning hopes on the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act and PESA coordinators.

The Act aims to ensure self-governance via traditional gram sabhas in scheduled areas dominated by tribal communities.

With the help of these coordinators, it wants to kill two birds with one stone.

Opposition parties allege that people associated with the ruling party have been recruited so that they can support the BJP. The Congress says instead of doing the assigned work they will campaign for the ruling party.

The matter was first disclosed by Vyapam whistleblower and activist Anand Rai.

He put the information on his social media account, and one by one shared the background of the coordinators appointed in several districts along with their pictures.

According to Rai, most of them are associated with government-backed organisations.

In Jhabua district, the district coordinator and all the six block coordinators are from the same organisation, said Rai.

"Applications were invited through the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Madhya Pradesh (CEDMAP), through which appointments were to be made on contract.

Applications were taken, and a merit list was prepared.

The people involved waited for the further process, but in the meanwhile, a contract was signed with a private agency to outsource the appointment of the coordinators," Rai told Business Standard.

Rai has alleged this is a scam in which an official close to the chief minister is involved.

The process was cancelled after collecting crores of rupees as fees from around 40,000 applicants.

"The district coordinator will be given an honorarium of Rs 40,000 and the block coordinator will be paid Rs 25,000 per month. An uproar has rightly started after the names of the people selected in the appointments became public," he said.

JAYS National Patron and Congress MLA Hiralal Alawa said the BJP had cheated tribal and unemployed youths.

He said the recruitment scam of PESA coordinators in 89 tribal blocks would be raised in the Assembly as well.

Describing these allegations as baseless, state BJP Spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said: "Every recruitment in the state, be it on roll or outsourced, is done in accordance with the rules. If the Opposition sees people of the BJP and RSS everywhere, then the fault lies in their vision."

Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh wrote to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan: 'On February 8, CEDMAP had issued a notice to recall the interviews of about 900 candidates selected for the said posts. I have been told that the people of the subsidiary organiSation associated with your party are being appointed on these posts without interview.'

Singh has demanded the matter should be investigated by a special task force.

Both the BJP and Congress have increased the focus on the 84 seats where tribal voters can influence the election outcome.

Of these, 47 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

In 2018, the BJP had won 34 of the 84 seats whereas, in 2013, it had scooped up 59.

Thus in 2018, 25 seats went out of its kitty.

Now the government is trying to bring the tribal base back to the BJP fold.

This is the reason soon after coming to power again in March 2020, the BJP started wooing the tribals.

It organised several events one after the other.

To start with, it started celebrating Tribal Pride Day in honour of Birsa Munda, the tribal leader of Chhota Nagpur in the late 19th century.

Then it renamed facilities after tribal heroes.

Bhopal's Habibganj railway station was renamed after Gond queen Rani Kamalapati.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the sacrifice day event in memory of tribal Raja Shankar Shah and his son Raghunath Shah.

JAYS, which has a strong support base among the tribals, has kept both the BJP and the Congress worried.

It supported the Congress in the last elections, but has not opened its cards yet.
The country cannot afford to lose democracy by allowing parties in power to overrule the wisdom of their political opponents with the use of State machinery, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday as it reflected on the tussle between the successive Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam governments in Tamil Nadu over an employment scheme.

IMAGE: The Supreme Court. Photograph: ANI Photo

The top court's remark came while setting aside an order of the Madras high court which directed the Tamil Nadu government to create the posts under the designation.

Village level workers known as Makkal Nala Paniyalargal and accommodate the persons who were on the rolls of MNP on the date of issuance of a government order dated November 8, 2011 against vacant posts.

The Tamil Nadu government had introduced a scheme dated September 2, 1989 through the rural development department providing employment to the educated youth in rural areas who had completed 10th standard for various items of work in the village panchayat.

The DMK government led by M Karunanidhi launched the 'Makkal Nala Paniyalargal' scheme to employ educated youth in 12,617 village panchayats across the state.

However, the AIADMK government which succeeded the DMK dispensation abolished the scheme in 1991.

The DMK government again restored it in 1997 but the AIADMK annulled it in 2001. The scheme was resurrected in 2006 but again the AIADMK government did away with MNPs in 2011.

In 2014, the Madras high court ordered the reinstatement of the workers but the AIADMK government obtained an interim injunction from the Supreme Court.

In the judgement pronounced on Tuesday, a bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi said the consistent policy which has come on record is in itself an indicator to show that as and when the decision was taken to abandon or abolish the scheme, it was only for political reasons and not based on any substantial or valid reason on record.

"It reveals from the record that as and when there was change of political scenario, the successive political party always disbanded/cancelled the policy decision of earlier government in power which had introduced a scheme for offering employment to the educated unemployed youth," the bench said.

"We cannot afford to lose democracy in our country by permitting the political parties empowered to overrule the wisdom of their political opponents with the use of State machinery," the bench said.

The apex court said the direction of the high court to reinstate the workers after creating the posts and absorbing the respondents based on their qualifications is not sustainable in law and deserves outright rejection.



"We make it clear that such persons who have joined pursuant to the scheme introduced by the government dated June 7, 2022, in fulfilment of the object of the Act, 2005 shall remain coterminus with the scheme and be allowed to continue as long as the scheme remain in force.

"At the same time, such persons who have not joined pursuant to the scheme dated June 7, 2022, they are at liberty to accept their payments for the intervening period of six months from December 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012 of the principal amount of Rs.25,851 to the MNP," the bench said.

On such application being filed, the appellants shall make over the money to such MNP through RTGS or any other mode after due verification within three months, the top court said.

The Tamil Nadu government had on June 7, 2022 introduced a scheme to provide employment to the educated unemployed youth under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to engage one person for every panchayat who had discontinued as MNP.
Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Dharmendra Pradhan took a jibe at Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over her newspaper article on democracy and independence of institutions, saying it was an "illusory" statement of the highest improbity and a "classic example of Modi hatred".

IMAGE: In her article, Sonia Gandhi underlined that the next few months will be a crucial test of India's democracy and that the country is at the crossroads with the Modi government bent on "misusing every power" and elections approaching in several key states. Photograph: ANI Photo

The ministers hit back at the former Congress president after she accused the Narendra Modi government of "misusing every power".

In an Op-Ed in The Hindu, Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Modi and his government of "systematically dismantling" the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, saying their actions demonstrate a "deep-rooted disdain" for democracy.

Reacting sharply, Law Minister Rijiju tweeted, "Smt Sonia Gandhi is lecturing about Democracy? Congress Party talking about independence of Judiciary is: An illusory statement of the highest improbity."

Education Minister Pradhan dubbed her remarks as a "classic example of Modi hatred, misplaced priorities and overestimation of relevance at the national level."

"It is the Congress which is at the crossroads and not the nation. The days ahead are crucial, but for the grand old party which is on the verge of a political crisis," he said.

In a series of tweets, he charged that from Rajasthan to Chhattisgarh and from Madhya Pradesh to Karnataka, the Congress must first take its message to its organisational apparatus which is withering due to lack of internal democracy as well as due to the coterie of sycophants.

"It is not the test of democracy but purely the test of Congress. Congress leadership must come out of their illusion and wake up to the ground reality - India's democracy is flourishing, people know PM Modi's intentions and that is why they believe and bless him," he said.

Assembly polls Karnataka are slated for May 10 and in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh later this year.

In her article, Sonia Gandhi underlined that the next few months will be a crucial test of India's democracy and that the country is at the crossroads with the Modi government bent on "misusing every power" and elections approaching in several key states.

"The Congress party will make every effort to take its message directly to the people, as it did in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and will join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution of India and its ideals," she wrote.
In a bid to ensure transparency in government projects, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has made mandatory an integrity pact between the Delhi government and a vendor in all contracts exceeding Rs 10 crore, officials said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Vinai Kumar Saxena. Photograph: ANI Photo

Besides, independent external monitors will be appointed to check the execution of such contract, Raj Niwas officials said.

The threshold for the integrity pact which the departments and agencies in Delhi started to follow since 2017 has been lowered from Rs 50 crore to Rs 10 crore to ensure total compliance, they said.

The integrity pact, in respect of a particular contract, will be operative from the date it is signed by both the parties till the completion of contract.

After award of a work, the external monitors will look into any issue relating to execution of contract, if specially referred to them, the officials said.

The LG in a note to the chief secretary of Delhi has directed that the fresh guidelines regarding adoption of integrity pact and appointment of external monitors in every project and procurement above Rs 10 crore should be adhered to in letter and spirit.

"All government projects and procurement exceeding Rs 10 crore will necessitate the Integrity Pact. Violation of the pact by bidders will lead to disqualification and other penal actions," an official said.

Under the integrity pact, both parties (government and contractors) will commit not to resort to any corrupt practices at any stage of the contract. The external monitors will be selected from the panels of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), or the government organisation, the officials said.

The LG also underlined that though provisions for an integrity pact and appointment of external monitors were to be done way back in 2007 as per recommendations of the CVC, the departments and agencies in Delhi started to follow these guidelines from 2017.

"He rued the fact that even after 2017, none of the bigger agencies like PWD and MCD adopted the procedure for integrity pact and external monitors, and those who did it stated that their projects and procurement were not covered under the Rs 50 crore threshold," another Raj Niwas official said.

Any violation of integrity pact would entail disqualification of the bidders and exclusion from future business dealings, as per the existing provisions of general financial rules, 2017, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and other financial rules and guidelines, the officials said.
Don't mess around with my authority, an angry Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud Tuesday warned a lawyer when he mentioned a case for early hearing before a Supreme Court bench presided over by him.

IMAGE: Chief Justice of India Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud. Photograph: ANI Photo

The CJI, who rarely loses his cool during judicial proceedings, got irked when the lawyer first sought an early hearing of his case and, after being told that it will be listed on April 17, asked for liberty to mention it before another bench.

I can mention before another bench if permitted, the lawyer said.

Do not play these tricks with me. You can't mention it here and then elsewhere for an earlier date, the CJI, who was sharing the bench with justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, said.

Sensing the mood of the bench, the lawyer expressed regret and said he should be be excused for his submissions.

Yes, you are excused. But do not mess around with my authority, the CJI said sternly and proceeded to hear mentioning of other cases for urgent hearing.

Every morning, the CJI-led bench hears around 100 cases on an average for their urgent listing before benches in the Supreme Court.
Police have apprehended a 42-year-old man from Pune for allegedly threatening to harm Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, an official said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Photograph: ANI Photo

The accused, Rajesh Agwane, who works as a ward boy at a hospital in Mumbai, made the threatening call to the police control room on Monday night apparently in an inebriated condition, he said.

"On Monday night, the man called up police control room number 112 and sought medical assistance. He was told to call on 108 (ambulance service number). The man again called up the police control room, he spoke in threatening language and to harm the chief minister," a senior Pune police official said.

The man was apparently drunk, he said.

"His wife was there, she grabbed the phone and told the control room officers that the man was drunk and he did not know what he was saying and requested to ignore his comments," the official said.

The man was apprehended from Warje area in Pune. Further probe was on, he added.
As the Amul vs Nandini battle heats up in poll-bound Karnataka, at the heart of a seemingly corporate war is the Kannadiga pride and the rural economy dependent on the home-grown brand.

And the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party may have to do a tightrope walking to steer clear of the issue that may well dominate the political narrative in the coming days, much as it has hogged the limelight over the weekend.

What is the Amul Vs Nandini battle. Why does the opposition see red over the Gujarat dairy brand's Bengaluru foray with its brand of milk and curd. An explainer seeks to shed light on the issue.

IMAGE: Karnataka Rakshana Vedike supporters stage a protest over the Amul's entry into Karnataka. Photograph: ANI Photo

Gujarat-based dairy cooperative Amul's announcement on April 5 to enter enter the Karnataka market to supply its milk and curd has given the opposition yet another ammunition to fire at the ruling BJP, much as it came months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement that the two brands' cooperation could "do wonders" for the dairy sector. Shah also holds the Cooperation portfolio.

The opposition Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular have trained their guns at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the state when the assembly elections are just a month away, expressing fears that Nandini, the Rs 21,000 crore brand, from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), could be merged with the Gujarat-based Amul.

The people of the state have an emotional connect with Nandini.

The opposition alleges that the BJP wants to merge the 49-year-old KMC's Nandini with its much elder Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) so that there could be "One nation, one Amul" in the country. The BJP has emphatically rejected the charge.

AICC general secretary and Karnataka party in-charge Randeep Surjewala alleged the BJP was trying to "sell off" Nandini.

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy too flayed the state government on this issue.

Kumaraswamy, the JD-S second-in-command, alleged Amul has this 'bad thinking' to finish off its lone competitor Nandini in Karnataka itself.

The BJP led central government's official policy is "One Nation, One Amul, One Milk and One Gujarat," he said.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the government is clear on the issue of Amul. Accusing Congress of politicising Amul's entry to Karnataka, Bommai said: "We have absolute clarity with regard to Amul. Nandini is a national brand. It is not restricted to Karnataka. We have popularised Nandini as a brand in other states as well."

The Chief Minister stressed that several major dairies of KMF in the state have been established during BJP rule.

While a litre of Nandini's toned milk costs Rs 39, the same quantity of Amul is priced at Rs 52.

The Explainer:

Why Amul's announcement to sell its milk and curd in Karnataka became an issue?

In December last, Amit Shah during the inauguration of KMF's mega dairy in Mandya said the "cooperation between Amul and Nandini can do wonders in the dairy sector". The opposition called it a plan to merge Nandini with Gujarat, which the ruling BJP in Karnataka rubbished.

In the last week of March this year, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) directed to write "Dahi" in Hindi on curd packets apart from the local nomenclature, which the opposition parties called an imposition of the language.

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.

What is the BJP government's defence?

It has dismissed the charge saying there is no plan to merge Nandini with Amul.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai charged alleged the Congress and the JD-S are trying to mislead people and create fear among them.

He said the milk production increased during the current saffron party rule.

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.

What is the size of Nandini's business?

The second largest cooperative institution after Amul, Nandini is a Rs 21,000 crore brand of the KMF, according to BAMUL director P Nagaraju.

He adds Amul produces 1.8 crore litres of milk everyday while the KMF produces over 90 lakh litres a day.

Why is Nandini a market leader?

Nagaraju says milk prices are competitive, quality is superior with zero adulteration, good network of milk producers and milk union and people's pride in the products.

Where else does KMF sell its products other than Karnataka?

Nandini products are sold in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Maharashtra. Some of its products are exported too.

If Nandini can sell its products in other states, what is wrong in Amul doing business in Karnataka?

According to Nagaraju, Maharashtra State Cooperative Milk Federation Limited, also known as Mahanand Dairy, is not doing good business ever since Amul entered the market.

Similarly, the cooperative milk federations did not pick up much in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Why is it vital for the Karnataka BJP to steer clear of this controversy?

When the rural economy is dependent on KMF and the emotions of Kannadigas are deeply attached to the Nandini brand, it is essential for the ruling BJP to come out clean to retain power after the May 10 assembly polls.

The Congress and the JD-S are leaving no stone unturned to make it a major poll plank, which has the potential to ruin the saffron party's election prospects.

The BJP's contribution to the cooperative sector?

The opposition is wary of BJP's electoral prospects in the rural areas, especially in old Mysuru region, where it made good inroads through various measures including the cooperative movement.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's elder son H D Revanna of the JD-S was the KMF chairman for nine years.

In 2019, the saffron party broke the 19 years of Janata Parivar's domination in the milk cooperative sector.

After winning the milk cooperative election where the representatives of 14 unions are the voters, the BJP made its Arabhavi MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi president.

As then Chief Minister, B S Yediyurappa offered an additional incentive of Rs two to the milk producers in 2008, which did wonders. With the surplus milk, Siddaramaiah led Congress government launched Ksheera Bhagya scheme for school children in 2013.
Details added (first published: 12:54 )

AGHDAM, Azerbaijan, April 11. In accordance with the "Action Plan on declaring 2023 the "Year of Heydar Aliyev in the Republic of Azerbaijan", a tree-planting campaign was held in Azerbaijan's Aghdam district, Trend's Karabakh Bureau reports.

The event was held with the participation of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region (except Shusha district), the State Tourism Agency, and volunteers.

The tree planting campaign dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev took place on the territory cleared of mines and explosives, located near the Agdam Industrial Park.

Hundreds of trees were planted at the event, which was held in order to restore and improve the environmental condition of the territories liberated from occupation, as well as protect nature and expand landscaping, which was an important component of the great leaders multifaceted activities.

The campaign was attended by Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Mine Clearance Agency Vugar Suleymanov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region (except Shusha district) Emin Huseynov, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan Fuad Nagiyev and representatives of departments.
Trinamool Congress's (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP and former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro has tendered his resignation from the Upper House of Parliament, party sources said on Tuesday.

IMAGE: TMC national vice president and former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro welcomes West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee at Goa Airport, Dabolim, December, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo

Long sidelined from the party affairs in Goa, Faleiro was being nudged by the TMC leadership to resign from the Rajya Sabha.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party has been upset with Faleiro after he refused to contest the 2022 assembly election from Fatorda against Goa Forward Party's Vijai Sardesai, according to TMC sources.

Trinamool said it will announce a new candidate for the RS seat vacated by Falerio.

"We wish him good health and happiness. The party had asked him to resign from his Rajya Sabha seat, and it is good that he abided by the party's decision," TMC MP Santanu Sen told PTI.

He said the party will announce a new candidate for the seat as and when the election is notified.

To a query why he was asked to resign, Sen refused to comment, saying it was an "internal matter of the party".

According to TMC sources, the party leadership had asked Falerio to resign three months back but he had sought time.

"When he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha ticket, he was expected to deliver for the party in Goa. He failed to do that, so he was asked to resign," a TMC leader said on condition of anonymity.

The development comes a day after the Election Commission withdrew the national party status of the TMC, along with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

After its emphatic victory in the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections, the TMC, in its attempt to expand its national footprint, began groundwork in Goa but despite its high-decibel campaign in the coastal state, alliance with a local outfit and induction of several leaders from rival camps, the party drew a blank in the 40-member assembly in polls last year, bagging only 5.21 per cent of the votes polled.

When the TMC made a foray into the coastal state, it had asked Rajya Sabha MP Arpita Ghosh, who had a term till 2026, to quit and sent Faleiro to the Upper House in 2021.
IMAGE: Tourists hold umbrellas during a visit to the Taj Mahal on a scorching hot day in Agra. Photograph: PTI Photo

IMAGE: Tourists visit the Albert Hall Museum during a hot day in Jaipur. Photograph: PTI Photo

IMAGE: Children cover their heads with dupattas to protect themselves from the scorching heat in Surat. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A woman rides a two-wheeler while protecting her children from the sun with a cloth on a hot summer day in Bhubaneswar. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A woman covers her face with a scarf to protect herself from the sun. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo

IMAGE: A woman buys an earthen pot from a roadside vendor. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A woman uses an umbrella to protect herself from the sun at Juhu beach in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: People enjoy at the Sahastradhara waterfall in Dehradun. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Rickshaw pullers rest on their rickshaws in Prayagraj. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Paramilitary personnel rest under the trees to protect themselves from the sun at a lawn near Kartavya Path in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A woman wears a hat to protect from the sun in New Delhi. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo

IMAGE: A mirage appears during hot summer day at Kartvya Path. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A tiger in a playful mood cools himself in a pond on a hot summer day at the Lucknow zoo. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A pair of elephants take a bath under a temporary overhead waterfall to cool themselves on a hot summer day, at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Vendors pack the boxes of mangoes to sell in the market as the summer season commences in Surat. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Vendors arrange the heap of oranges to sell in the market in view of the commencement of the summer season in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Vendors take a nap on a pile of coconuts on a hot summer day in Prayagraj. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: People consume palmyra palm or ice apple as the summer begins in Rameswaram. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
India on Tuesday firmly rejected China's objection to Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and asserted that the state "was, is and will" always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches the 'Vibrant Villages programme', in Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh, April 10, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the reality.

"We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India," Bagchi said.

"Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality," he said.

Bagchi was responding to media queries on the Chinese reaction.

In a clear message to China from the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, Shah on Monday had said no one can dare cast an evil eye on India's territorial integrity and encroach even an "inch of our land."

He said said the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of India was over.
The rift within former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's family over the Hassan ticket for the May 10 assembly polls widened on Tuesday, with Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy invoking the battle of 'Kurukshetra' in the epic Mahabharata to allege that some 'Shakunis' were trying to brainwash his brother H D Revanna.

IMAGE: The Deve Gowda family in Varanasi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Speaking to reporters, he said even his father and JD-S patriarch H D Deve Gowda was unable to convince his elder brother Revanna, a former minister, and called it "bad fortune".

The Hassan seat has become a major bone of contention, as Revanna's wife Bhavani Revanna, who has thrown her hat in the ring, has not relented despite her brother-in-law Kumaraswamy repeatedly making it clear that she would not be fielded and instead a "loyal party worker" would be made to contest.

Bhavani Revanna is a former Hassan zilla panchayat member. She has the backing of her husband as well as their sons Prajwal, who is a member of the Lok Sabha from Hassan, and Suraj Revanna, an MLC.

Kumaraswamy reiterated that his clear stand was that a party worker should be given a ticket in Hassan and that there was no question of any compromise on this.

"I had said one-and-half years ago itself that to defeat the BJP candidate in Hassan, a member of our family need not become a candidate. The party has the courage to fight the election by fielding an ordinary party worker from Hassan."

Kumaraswamy said, "There are Shakunis in Hassan, to ruin the family... Shakunis disturb the mind. Why did the Kurukshetra war happen, it is because of Shakuni's conduct. This is the history of this soil and such things have happened all along in this country."

Shakunis were not in the family but were from other parties and they came in the form of those who claim to be "fans and well-wishers", he clarified, and said, "The Shakunis from morning till evening have brainwashed (Revanna and family), I know what is going on."

In a message directed at his brother and family, the JD-S legislature party leader said, "If you try to nurture those pretending to be well-wishers of the Deve Gowda family but in reality have an intention to finish it off, what can I do?"

Responding to a question about Deve Gowda trying to convince Revanna, he said, "He tried, but Deve Gowda too doesn't have the strength to convince Revanna today. It is our bad fortune, what to do?"

With signs of a rift in the family owing to the Hassan ticket issue, Gowda, who has not been actively involved in political activities for some time now due to age-related ailments, recently held discussions with his two sons and Bhavani together, which however failed to break the deadlock.

Both Kumaraswamy and Revanna have since been maintaining that Gowda's word would be final on the Hassan ticket issue.

Stating that Revanna has not contacted him till now on the subject, Kumaraswamy said, Revanna "somewhere seems to be under a fear on this issue; he has to convince me regarding the grounds for (Bhavani's) contest".

"I have said what my stand is a number of times. The ticket should be given to a party worker. For about four-and-a-half months now I have been working for 17 hours a day to bring this party to power independently, without caring about my health. God has to give better sense to those attempting to cause hindrance in achieving the target," he said.

Stating that there was no question of prestige or ego between him and Revanna, he said, "I am saying what I am saying based on the ground reality, with an intention that the party should win. If selfishness is more important than the party, I cannot do anything."

Hassan is the home district of Deve Gowda, and the party in 2018 assembly polls had won in six out of seven segments other than the Hassan assembly seat, which BJP's Preetham Gowda clinched, making it the first ever win for the saffron party in the Vokkaliga dominated district.

Meanwhile, Revanna met Deve Gowda in Bengaluru on Monday night.

Speaking to reporters in Hassan on Tuesday, he said, "I have said what I have to, to Deve Gowda. Whatever he decides is final, it is left to him. He knows this district's politics for six decades."

Refraining from commenting on the 'Shakuni' remarks of his brother and about him not paying heed to their father's advice on the issue, he said, "Deve Gowda is our supreme leader... I have always abided by him and his words in the past and will continue to do so in the future too..... Unnecessary things are going on in the media."

He also said he wanted the JD-S to win all seven seats in Hassan district, and "Kumaranna" (Kumaraswamy) to become CM.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party saying he was not scared or intimidated by the saffron party's tactics of taking away his MP "tag" or his official residence as the more the ruling dispensation attacks him, the more he knows he is on the right path.

IMAGE: Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi goes on a roadshow in Wayanad, April 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Gandhi scion lashed out at the BJP over the "attacks" on him, saying that he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha as "the government was very uncomfortable" with the "simple questions" he had asked regarding businessman Gautam Adani and his alleged relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gandhi, who arrived in Kalpetta area of the border district of Kerala for the first time after his disqualification as the MP from Wayanad, said the Congress was not scared by the "intimidation, aggression and nastiness" of the BJP, but rather found it "amusing".

"It is a fight between two visions of India. The BJP represents one vision and we represent another and we (Congress) are not scared of your (BJP) intimidation, your aggression, your nastiness. In fact, we find it quite amusing," the Gandhi scion said at a roadshow organised by the United Democratic Front.

His arrival, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in Kalpetta received a rousing welcome from thousands of people, including UDF leaders, workers and supporters, who thronged the roadside along the route taken by him, atop a truck, to the venue of the roadshow called 'Satyameva Jayate'.

Speaking at the venue before a crowd where thousands were gathered, Gandhi said a member of Parliament was just a "tag" or a post and taking that away from him will not scare or intimidate him nor would it stop him from representing the people of Wayanad.

"Member of Parliament is a tag. It is a post. So, the BJP can take away the tag, the post, the house and they can even jail me, but they cannot stop me from representing the people of Wayanad.

"I am surprised that even after so many years, the BJP has not understood its opponent. They do not understand that their opponent will not get intimidated. They think I will get scared by sending the police to my house or that I will be disturbed if my house is taken away," he said.

It will also not stop him from asking questions or raising issues of the people of Wayanad and India, he said.

Regarding the central government order asking him to vacate his official residence, Gandhi said his sister, who spoke before him at the event, did not mention that "I was actually happy they took away my house" as he was not interested in staying there.

The Congress leader said he learned from the people of Wayanad, hundreds of whom lost their homes in floods in the state, that "take away my home 50 times, I will continue to raise the issues of the public of Wayanad and India".

IMAGE: Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra waves to the supporters during a roadshow in Wayanad, April 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Gandhi said he knows that what he is doing is right and that he is on the correct path because of the 24-hour long attacks on him by the BJP.

"I have to tell you how I know what I am doing is correct. I know that if the BJP is taking away my house, disqualifying me from Parliament, attacking me 24 hours, I am doing the right thing. The more they attack me, the more I know that this is exactly the path on which I have to walk," he said adding that he would not stop, "no matter what happens".

The reason for the attacks on him by the BJP was because he asked some "simple questions" in Parliament about the relationship between PM Modi and Adani.

"After all, what did I do? I went to Parliament and asked the prime minister some questions about a businessman. I just asked him -- Mr Narendra Modi, please explain your relationship with Mr Gautam Adani.

"I kept asking that simple question. In my speech in Parliament, I used media reports to show that Adani, who was 609th in the list of wealthiest people in the world, became number 2. I gave examples of how the prime minister himself facilitated this growth," Gandhi said.

The former Congress president alleged that he showed how the defence relationship between Israel and India was transformed, rules of Indian airports were changed and Indian foreign policy was used -- all to help Adani.

"I asked a simple question on the relationship the PM has with Adani. The PM has not answered this question so far and for the first time, you saw how the government itself was not letting the Parliament run," he contended.

Gandhi further alleged that BJP ministers lied about him in Parliament, but he was not allowed to respond to the same as permitted under the rules.

When he wrote to the Lok Sabha speaker regarding the same and seeking his permission to speak in the House in response to the allegations, Speaker Om Birla said he had no choice, Gandhi claimed.

"So the entire Parliament house was shut, I was not allowed to reply and then at the end of it, because the government was very uncomfortable about the type of questions I asked and about the issues I raised, I was removed from Parliament.

"Doesn't matter. This (disqualification) is the biggest gift they could have given me," he said.

He assured the people of Wayanad that his disqualification does not mean that his relationship with the people there, irrespective of whether they support Kerala's ruling LDF or state opposition UDF, would change.

It will not put on hold the various projects, like use of roads at night, or dampen issues like the buffer zone in the district, he said.

"Even if I am not an MP, I will make sure these things happen in Wayanad," he said.

"In the end, I would like to repeat that my disqualification does not mean anything as far as my relationship with you (people of Wayanad) is concerned. I promise you this disqualification will only deepen my relationship with you," he said at the conclusion of his speech.

Gandhi was disqualified as the MP from Wayanad last month after being convicted and sentenced for two years in a criminal defamation case.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday sat on a fast, piling pressure on his own party by targeting the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan for inaction' in alleged cases of corruption when the Bharatiya Janata Party ran the state.

IMAGE: Congress leader Sachin Pilot sits on a hunger strike against the alleged corruption during previous BJP government in Rajasthan, at Shaheed Smarak, Jaipur, April 11, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo

The former deputy chief minister began the dharna at the Martyr's Memorial in Jaipur, ignoring warnings by the Congress central leadership that the move just months ahead of the assembly polls is anti-party activity.

CM Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads since the Congress formed the government in the state in December 2018.

Pilot offered flowers at the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and social reformer Jyotirao Phule before starting his silent protest around 11 am. This struggle against corruption will continue, Pilot told reporters while leaving the venue at 4 pm as scheduled.

He sat alone on the dais for five hours, against the backdrop of a large banner that described the event as a fast against corruption during the term of BJP's Vasundhara Raje -- "Vasundhara Sarkar Me Hue Bhrashtachar ke Viruddh Anshan". The song "Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye" played in the background.

His supporters sat behind or below the platform.

No ruling party minister or MLA showed up as they were asked by Pilot to keep away. But several other leaders, including former MLAs Santosh Saharan and Ramnarayan Gurjar were present.

The Pilot faction apparently did not want to make it a headcount of MLAs with him versus those with Gehlot in the divided Rajasthan Congress. Also, this would have put the pro-Pilot MLAs at a greater risk of action by the party leadership.

Gehlot did not made any direct remark on Pilot's move after the younger leader announced the agitation on Sunday.

But on Tuesday morning, as his former deputy began the dharna, the CM released a video expounding his own vision for the state. "I have decided that I have to make Rajasthan the top state by 2030, he said.

To realise this dream, in the last four budgets and this year's 'Bachat, Rahat and Badhat' budget, I have made schemes no other state has," he added in the clip, which could be interpreted as an indication that the veteran politician sees himself as his party's CM candidate in the next election as well.

IMAGE: Pilot's daylong fast in Jaipur, April 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Pilot's fast was an apparent attempt to stall this in the run-up to the polls. But the Congress leadership appeared to have thrown its weight behind Gehlot, at least for now.

"If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed at party forums instead of the media and in public," Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rajasthan in-charge at the All India Congress Committee (AICC), had said in a statement Monday night.

"This is clearly anti-party activity. I am in touch with him and I still appeal for dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress," he added.

Rajasthan Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh's son Anirudh Singh, who recently targeted Rahul Gandhi for his remarks in UK, was present at the dharna site. Several workers from Pilot's constituency Tonk and areas in eastern Rajasthan also came.

As the fast ended, Pilot said the Congress had assured people that its government will take effective action over corruption during the term of the previous BJP government.

I wanted the Congress government to take action against the corruption of the former government, he told reporters. This struggle against corruption will continue.

The Gehlot-Pilot tussle began during the formation of the Congress government in December 2018. Both were keen on the chief minister's post.

But the party high command picked Gehlot for the top post in the state for a third time and Pilot was made his deputy.

In July 2020, Pilot and a section of Congress MLAs rebelled openly against Gehlot, demanding a change of leadership in the state. Pilot was stripped then of the posts of deputy chief minister and Pradesh Congress Committee president.

The month-long crisis ended after the party's central leadership's assurance to look into the issues Pilot raised.

Gehlot later used terms like "gaddar" (traitor), "nakara" (failure) and "nikamma" (worthless) for Pilot, and accused him of being involved with BJP leaders in a conspiracy to topple the Congress government.

Last September, MLAs in the Gehlot camp boycotted a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and held a parallel meeting to stall what they felt was an attempt to make Pilot the new chief minister.

Gehlot was then being considered for the party president's post.
A day after Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil said not a single Shiv Sena worker was involved in the Babri Masjid demolition, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde should either step down or seek Patil's resignation over his remarks.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray addresses a press conference in Mumbai. Photograph: @OfficeofUT/Twitter

When the mosque was being brought down, rats were hiding in their burrows, Thackeray said addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The former CM said his party's Hindutva is "nationalism" and the Bharatiya Janata Party should explain what is its Hindutva.

"When Babri was being demolished, all rats were hiding in their burrows," he said.

Thackeray said either CM Shinde should resign over Patil's remarks or seek the latter's resignation.

Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut also in a tweet asked whether Shinde accepts Patil's claim and if not, then the CM should resign.

Which minister will tender resignation over Patil's claims? he sought to know.

What will the 40 Shiv Sena MLAs (of CM Shinde-led party) claiming to be followers of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray do now? he further asked.

Senior BJP leader Patil, who is the minister of higher and technical education in the Eknath Shinde government, on Monday said not a single worker of the Shiv Sena was near the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya when it was brought down by the Bajrang Dal and Durga Vahini on December 6, 1992.

Incidentally, Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray has often been quoted as saying he was proud if any of his Sainiks took part in the demolition of the disputed structure.

Patil on Monday said Shiv Sena-UBT Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut keeps talking about the Babri Masjid demolition, and wondered if the latter was even there at the temple town in Uttar Pradesh at the time.

He also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray for accusing CM Shinde of stealing the legacy of Bal Thackeray.

The late Shiv Sena founder was not the property of anyone and was someone who was hugely respected by the people, Patil said.

"Balasaheb is the property of all Hindus and everyone is free to use his name (legacy)," the BJP leader had said.

The Shiv Sena split after a rebellion in June last year by Shinde, who got the party name and 'bow and arrow' symbol, while Uddhav Thackeray's faction was christened Shiv Sena-UBT with a flaming torch as its symbol.
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.

IMAGE: Stage is set for Sachin Pilot's day-long fast in Jaipur. Photograph: ANI

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 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 party's 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.

"Pilot's day-long fast is against the party's 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 Pilot's 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 Pilot's 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 Pilot's 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 in Jaipur 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.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld Madras high courts order allowing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold 'route marches' in various parts of the state with certain conditions, and dismissed three appeals by the Tamil Nadu government in the matter.

IMAGE: An RSS march. Photograph: ANI Photo

The top court noted that the RSS members were not the perpetrators but victims in many of the cases cited in the data submitted by the state government while seeking that the marches be held only in certain enclosed areas due to the law and order situation following the imposition of a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI).

The nearly eight-month-old issue of holding marches by members of the RSS in the southern state saw several orders being passed by a single judge bench of the high court since September last year followed by a division bench order in February.

An apex court bench of Justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said on Tuesday, "We do not wish to extract in this order the chart provided by the state... on account of its sensitivities.

"But the chart provided by the state government shows that the members of the respondent organisation (RSS) were the victims in many of those cases and that they were not the perpetrators.

"Therefore, it is not possible for us to find fault with the order passed by the judge either in the main writ petitions or in the review applications. Hence all the special leave petitions are liable to be dismissed".

The top court in total dismissed three appeals filed by the state government, including the main appeal against the order dated February 10, 2023, passed by a division bench of the high court restoring the original order dated September 22, 2022 which directed the Tamil Nadu police to consider the representation of the RSS and grant permission to hold permissions with certain conditions.

In the original order, the single judge, while disposing of the 49 writ petitions filed by members of the RSS, had asked the state government to grant permission to allow processions and to conduct public meetings on October 2, 2022, at various places subject to certain conditions.

The conditions included that during the programme, nobody shall either sing songs or speak ill of any individuals, any caste, religion, etc and those participating in the procession shall not talk or express anything against the organisation banned by the Government of India.

The single judge had said that members of the RSS shall not indulge in any act disturbing the sovereignty and integrity of the country during the marches and the participants shall not bring any stick, lathi or weapon that may cause injury to anyone.

Dealing with the first appeal of the state government against the February 10 order, the apex court said it arises out of the order of the division bench passed in a batch of intra court appeals challenging the order passed by the single judge in a batch of contempt petitions.

"This court need not even go into several aspects argued across the Bar, for the simple reason that the judge travelled beyond the scope of a contempt petition and this is why the said order warranted interference by the division bench."

It said that after having disposed of the batch of main writ petitions filed by RSS members by a final order dated September 22, 2022, in a particular manner and after having dismissed the batch of review applications on November 2, 2022, the single judge could not have modified his original order dated September 22, 2022, in a batch of contempt petitions on November 4, 2022.

"Therefore, the division bench of the high court was justified in interfering with the order of the learned judge. On this short ground, special leave petition... deserves to be dismissed," the bench said.

The court also dealt with two appeals of the state government against the original order passed by the single judge on September 22, 2022, on the batch of writ petitions and the order dated November 2, 2022, passed in the batch of review applications.

The bench said that a perusal of the order of the single judge shows that he has considered the scope of Sections 41 and 41A of the Chennai City Police Act, 1888, and Section 30 of the Police Act, 1861, to come to the conclusion that the reliefs sought in the writ petitions by the RSS deserved to be granted subject to certain conditions.

"The judge not only interpreted the relevant provisions of the law correctly but also imposed necessary conditions. This is why the judge could not review his own order," the bench said.

It noted that the counsel for RSS has contended before it that the main objection raised by the state before the high court was that after the imposition of a ban order on another organisation (PFI), law and order problems cropped up in certain places.

On March 3, during the hearing, the Tamil Nadu government had told the top court that it is not completely opposed to allowing the RSS's route marches and public meetings across the state but cited intelligence reports to say these cannot be held in every street or locality.

The writ petitions were filed by members of RSS seeking a direction to the state and the police to permit them to conduct a procession (route march) through identified places and alleging that their applications for permission were not considered by appropriate authorities.

The state government challenged the order of September 22 last year by a review petition and a contempt petition was also filed by a member of RSS after permission to hold the march was rejected by the local police in Chennai.

The single judge on September 30, 2022, passed another order on the contempt petition and asked the state to consider the representation of the RSS and fix another date for holding marches.

Subsequent to the order dated September 30, 2022, the office of the director general of police filed a status report before the single judge on November 2, 2022, saying that in view of certain developments that took place after a cylinder blast in Coimbatore city on October 23, 2022, a fresh assessment of the local situation was made.

The police said it is not advisable to permit the permissions/public meetings in 24 locations. It said processions/public meetings can be permitted in 23 locations only in enclosed grounds/premises and processions can be permitted only in three locations.

On November 4, 2022, while disposing of the contempt petitions and the review petition of the state government, the single judge virtually modified the original order of September 22, 2022, and directed the RSS to hold meetings, as suggested by the police in its status report, in a ground or stadium.

The November 4, 2022, order was challenged before the division bench of the high court by the RSS which on February 10 set aside the modified order of the single judge and restored the September 22, 2022, order.
A police team from Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday left with gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad from Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad for Prayagraj by road in connection with Umesh Pal murder case, an official said.

IMAGE: Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed being brought from Sabarmati Central Jail to present again before a Prayagraj court in the Umesh Pal murder case, in Ahmedabad, April 11, 2023. Photograph: PTI Photo

Pal and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year.

Based on a complaint lodged by Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.

The Uttar Pradesh police had on March 26 also taken Ahmad from the Sabarmati jail in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city to Prayagraj in UP to produce him in a court.

On March 28, the court there had sentenced Ahmad and two others to life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case.

The 60-year-old former Uttar Pradesh MLA and Lok Sabha member was brought back to the high-security jail in Gujarat in a UP police van on March 29, after a nearly 24-hour-long road journey from Prayagraj.

In 2006, Atiq Ahmad and his aides abducted Umesh Pal and forced him to give a statement in court in their favour. Umesh Pal had registered a complaint in this regard.

The Supreme Court had in April 2019 directed that Ahmad be shifted to a high-security jail in Gujarat after he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of a real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal while in jail.

Ahmad has been named in more than 100 criminal cases, including the recent Umesh Pal murder case, police said.

Among the most sensational murders in which Ahmad is allegedly involved was that of Raju Pal, the MLA from the Bahujan Samaj Party who was shot dead in 2005.

Umesh Pal, a key witness in this murder case, was gunned down outside his residence in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

Ahmad last month moved the Supreme Court for protection, claiming he and his family have been falsely implicated as accused in the Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj and he may be killed in a fake encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

In his plea, Ahmad had said the UP Police were in all likelihood seeking his transit remand and police remand to take him from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj and he "genuinely apprehends that he may be eliminated during this transit period".
Details added (first published:12:50)

AGHDAM, Azerbaijan, April 11. By the end of this year, about 18,000 hectares of territory will be cleared of mines in Azerbaijan's Aghdam, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency Vugar Suleymanov said during a tree-planting campaign in Aghdam, Trend reports.

Suleymanov noted that about 75,000 hectares of the territory have been cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance to date.

"As a result of mine clearance operations, more than 85,000 mines and unexploded ordnance were discovered and destroyed. And the tree planting campaign held in Aghdam today is a contribution to the revival of Karabakh," he said.

In accordance with the "Action Plan on declaring 2023 the "Year of Heydar Aliyev in the Republic of Azerbaijan", a tree-planting campaign was held in Azerbaijan's Aghdam district.

The event was held with the participation of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region (except Shusha district), the State Tourism Agency, and volunteers.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High 54F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 33F. Winds light and variable.
To the editor: After 27 years, the Windham Regional Career Center's highly successful Digital Arts program is on the precipice of being thrown away. In a March 31 Reformer article Bob Audette noted that WRRC Director Nancy Weiss said she looked at whether film making was in high demand in all of New England, and concluded it was not." But anyone even remotely familiar with the field will know this to be instantly and transparently false. Her real reasoning lies farther down the article where it becomes apparent the program is getting the axe in order to fund HVAC repairs.

'Pulling the rug out': WRCC ends film making course BRATTLEBORO  Is film making part of a technical education or should it be part of regular h

I graduated from BUHS in 2006 but thanks to the Digital Arts program I was already employed as an editor well before I ever left high school. During my junior year, the film program received a grant to create a feature length film. Upon seeing the finished movie, Vermont Films owner Tim Wessel offered me a position as an editor. Today, more than 13 years later, I continue to work as an editor and production manager for PhillyCAM, a TV station in Philadelphia. Having spent nearly half my life gainfully employed in the field I set out to work in, its disheartening to know that the class that started it all for me is being shut down.

As for Weisss claims that filmmaking skills are not in demand, this couldnt be further from the truth. Its important we divorce ourselves from the idea that Vermonts lack of draw for big Hollywood productions (who only set up in states they can bully into providing unnecessary tax breaks) matters here. The pandemic brought with it a massive influx in the need for skilled video creatives to help generate the kinds of premade video content that used to originate in person. Since 2020 Ive routinely been forced to turn down work due simply to the overwhelming demand. Video careers are on the rise in almost every single available metric (hit up Forbes or the WSJ if you want confirmation) and schools across the country are scrambling to expand their video curriculum to accommodate this rapid shift, making the WRCCs move to shut their existing program seem all the more ridiculous. I can only hope that its not too late to reverse course on this disastrous decision before a thriving program with three decades of history gets traded in for a new HVAC.

Roland Boyden

Marlboro, April 7
Details added (First published: 12:57)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Azerbaijan's Bar Association has asked the government to create law firms on Azerbaijan's liberated territories, Chairman of the Association's Presidium Anar Baghirov told reporters, Trend reports.

According to him, the need to prepare locations for law offices as part of the urban development of the liberated territories is noted in the appeal.

"For the activities of lawyers, there must be buildings and offices where they will receive citizens. I am sure that we will cooperate with the government, and the necessary conditions will be created," Baghirov said.

He stressed that, if necessary, Azerbaijani lawyers carry out human rights activities on these territories, and these activities will gradually expand.

The Bar Association of the Republic of Azerbaijan is a non-governmental, independent, self-governing organization, and that includes all lawyers, and was established with non-commercial aims. The main purpose of the Bar Association is the defense of each person's rights and freedoms and lawful interests, rendering them professional, high-quality, good-faith legal assistance, and increasing the prestige of the advocacy profession.
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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DANBURY  After months of work and preparations, Barnes & Noble will celebrate its new store in the Danbury Fair mall with a grand opening Wednesday.

The bookstore relocated from its longtime home in the Danbury Square plaza to the two-level space formerly occupied by the furniture store Arhaus on the malls southwest side, where it will have its own outdoor entrance.

Its always sad when we close a store, but were super-excited to be able to open this new one, said Janine Flanagan, store planning and design director for Barnes & Noble.

Although the new store will have many of the same offerings as the old one, she said it will be different in a number of ways.

The store is slightly larger in terms of square-footage, so overall the spacing in the store will be different, Flanagan said.

It will also have a cafe  something she said many Barnes & Nobles stores have but the old Danbury location lacked  and a different overall design.

This gives us the opportunity to open a new store in our new design with our new fixturing and furniture, new paint, new look, Flanagan said. The organization and arrangement of bookcases in the new store will be different from in the old one.

Were really looking forward to getting this store opened in the new format, she said.

The grand opening will kick off at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Kent author Amy Poeppel will be there to cut the ribbon at the new store and also sign copies of her book, The Sweet Spot.

Another local author, Southbury resident Marianne Bette, will visit the new Barnes & Noble store at 5 p.m. Thursday for a book-signing. Her latest book, Living with a Grieving Heart, explores the complexities of grief and ways to overcome it.

Barnes & Noble isnt the only anticipated new tenant at the mall.

Target is getting ready to open in the vacant level that once housed Sears, and Round1 Bowling & Amusement is preparing its first Connecticut venue at the central courtyard where Forever 21 once had a storefront.

The malls online store directory shows three other incoming tenants: EA-Teriyaki Japanese Grill, Jane + Mercer and BLK.

Its unclear what will become of the former Barnes & Noble space in the Danbury Square plaza.

Willing Biddle from Urstadt Biddle Properties  the real estate investment trust that owns the property  told Hearst Connecticut Media there was a prospective tenant for the space in December, but no new tenant has been officially named.
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PHOENIX (AP)  Tribal leaders in Arizona said Tuesday they hope to build on the momentum of President Joe Biden's recent designation of a national monument in neighboring Nevada to persuade the administration to create similar protections for areas adjacent to the Grand Canyon, which they consider sacred.

This designation is of the highest priority to the Hopi people, said Timothy Nuvangyaoma, chairman of the tribe in northern Arizona. We have to protect the beauty and grandeur of this place many tribes call home.

Tribes in Arizona are looking to persuade Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to make the designation for a little more than 1 million acres (404,686 hectares), or about 1,560 square miles (4,000 square kilometers).

The announcement during a virtual news conference came days before Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is scheduled to visit Nevada. The state is home to Avi Kwa Ame, a newly designated monument on a desert mountain northwest of Laughlin  the largest community in the remote southern tip of the state  that some Native Americans consider sacred. Haaland will join Nevadas congressional delegation and tribal leaders Friday in Las Vegas to celebrate the move.

Biden last month also granted national monument status to Castner Range, located on Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, and moved to create a national marine sanctuary in the central Pacific Ocean around the Pacific Remote Islands.

Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, a ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee and a Democrat representing southern Arizona, said the effort to have lands adjacent to the Grand Canyon named a national monument called Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni is part of a sustained effort to protect Indigenous sacred and cultural sites.

Baaj Nwaavjo" means where tribes roam, for the Havasupai people, while Itah Kukveni translates to our footprints, for the Hopi tribe.

Grijalva in 2008 introduced legislation to withdraw about 1,560 square miles (4,000 square kilometers) around the park from mineral development, after uranium prices spiked in 2008 and more than 10,000 mining claims were filed on public lands.

That move prompted the Interior Department to launch an environmental analysis of uranium mining in the area, leading to a 2012 moratorium on new claims on those miles of federal land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park.

Grijalva said that although the 20-year ban remains in effect, the national monument designation is needed to offer permanent protections against mining that could damage areas import to tribes as well as the environment.

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, and local elected officials also backed the campaign to have the Grand Canyon made a national monument.

Tribes and conservationists were startled in 2020 when a $1.5 billion proposal by then-President Donald Trump's administration to prop up the countrys nuclear fuel industry emboldened at least one company to take steps toward boosting operations at dormant uranium mines around the West, including outside Grand Canyon National Park.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  The Moscow-appointed leader of Crimea said Tuesday the region is on guard for what may be an impending Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Sergei Aksyonov told reporters that Russian forces in Crimea had built modern, in-depth defenses and had more than enough troops and equipment to repel a possible Ukrainian assault after 13 months of war following Russia's full-scale invasion.

We cannot underestimate the enemy, but we can definitely say that we are ready (for an attack) and that there will be no catastrophe, he said.

His comments came days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed Kyivs intention to take back the Black Sea peninsula that Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Aksyonov first announced the beginning of fortification works in Crimea in November, without giving details. In February, at a security meeting chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said that the works were set to finish by April.

Satellite photos from Maxar Technologies show a complex web of trenches and other fortifications dug near Medvedivka, a small town near a crossing between Crimea and mainland Ukraine, suggesting Russian concerns about a possible Ukrainian attack there.

Military analysts expect Kyiv to take advantage of improving weather to seize the battlefield initiative with new batches of Western weapons, including scores of tanks, and fresh troops trained in the West.

Ukrainian forces could seek to break through the land corridor between Russia and Crimea, heading from Zaporizhzhia toward Melitopol and the Azov Sea. That might split the Russian forces in two.

Kyivs forces face a formidable challenge to dislodge Russian forces, however. Their armor likely will encounter minefields, anti-tank ditches and other obstacles, while extensive trench systems provide cover for Moscows troops.

The Kremlin wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russia's sovereignty over Crimea and also recognize September's annexation of the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine has vowed to drive the Russians out of all occupied territories and has ruled out any talks with Moscow until it fully reclaims control of its land.

The Ukraine-held parts of the four provinces have felt the brunt of Russian bombardments in recent months, and seven civilians were wounded by Russian shelling in Donetsk and Kherson on Monday and overnight, the presidential office reported Tuesday.

Russia on Tuesday also used Su-35 aircraft to launch strikes on two towns in the Zaporizhzhia region, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office said.

Andriy Yermak said in a Telegram post that local authorities were assessing the damage in the towns of Orikhiv and Huliaipole, each of which had a pre-war population of just under 14,000.

Russian artillery also hit a church in Kherson, blowing out its windows and damaging its roof and walls, the Ukrainian regional military administration reported on Telegram. It said there had been no casualties.

___ 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
Details added: first version posted on 14:24

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Azerbaijan's education sector employees collected more than 2.7 million manat ($1.59 million) to help Turkiye, the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan told Trend.

According to the ministry, in connection with the devastating earthquake that occurred in February this year in fraternal Turkiye, the education sector employees joined the voluntary assistance campaign initiated by the Association of Young Teachers of Azerbaijan.

The campaign conducted by the association was joined by regional education departments, higher, general and secondary specialized educational institutions, as well as employees of science and education fields on an individual basis.

A total of 72,100 employees in the science and education fields donated funds to the relief campaign.

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Turkiye on Feb. 6, 2023. The earthquake occurred at a depth of seven kilometers in the Pazarcik region of Kahramanmaras Province. The provinces of Hatay, Gaziantep, Kilis, Osmaniye, Malatya, Adiyaman, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, and Kahramanmaras were subjected to severe destruction.

As a result of the earthquake that hit Turkiye, strong tremors were also felt in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Cyprus.

On February 21, 6.4-magnitude and 5.4-magnitude tremors were felt in the Turkish Hatay province, which had already been damaged by the deadly earthquake of Feb. 6. The earthquakes caused heavy destruction and personal injuries.
Ram Charan recently shared a couple of photos of himself from his babymoon with his wife Upasana Konidela in Maldives. On Tuesday, the actor took to his Instagram handle to share two photos. The first picture featured the soon-to-be parents Ram Charan and Upasana. While Ram Charan can be seen wearing a casual yellow t-shirt, Upasana wore a black floral dress. They both completed their holiday look with sunglasses. The second photo featured Ram Charan, who can be seen showing his back to the camera, while dressed in a casual monochrome outfit. Check out their photos below:

The couple recently had the most dreamy baby shower in Dubai. They were accompanied by their family and friends. Both Ram Charan and Upasana were dressed in white. They shared many picture-perfect moments from their special celebrations. Sharing a clip, which was a combination of both videos and pictures, on her Instagram hadle, Upasana wrote, "Soooooo grateful  for all the love. Thank u my darling sisters @anushpala & @sindoori_reddy for the best baby shower." Check out the video below:

Meanwhile, this is not the first time when Ram Charan and Upasana went out for a babymoon. Before Maldives, the couple also stepped out together in the US, where they went to many tourist places. The couple also went shopping. Upasana shared a glimpse of her babymoon with her husband Ram Charan on her Instagram handle. She wrote, "Amidst all the hustle, Mr.Cs time out for  us  Sneak Peek #babymoon."

Ram Charan and Upasana Konidela announced their pregnancy in December after being married for over a decade. Ram Charan was recently seen in SS Rajamouli's RRR. The actor is currently busy with RC15, also starring Kiara Advani in the lead role. The makers are yet to reveal the titled and release date of the film.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has called on Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and discussed possible cooperation in the areas of trade, infrastructure, energy and defence.

Jaishankar, who arrived in Uganda on Monday, met Museveni at his farm in Rwakitura and conveyed to him the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"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," he tweeted on Monday.

"Discussed cooperation in trade & investment, infrastructure, energy, defence, 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," he said.

Jaishankar also launched the 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' of Varanasi during his visit to Uganda on Monday.

Taking to Twitter, he appreciated the initiatives of Overseas Friends of BJP-Uganda's initiative to contribute to further beautifying the oldest living city in the world.

"Living in a land of the Nile, their commitment to a ghat on the Ganga reflects the confluence of our two cultures. The conservation of Varanasi's heritage underlines the cultural revival of India. This has profound global implications," he said.

"Confident that many more members of the Indian community in Uganda will keep visiting Varanasi and continue their efforts for its redevelopment," he added.

Speaking at the launch of the project, Jaishankar said a few months from now, India, which is economically and politically more influential today than before, will be hosting the G20 development ministers' meeting.

He said he will host the G20 meeting in Varanasi.

"Many development ministers in the world are foreign ministers like me. I will be hosting this meeting in Varanasi. The ministers will have a chance to not just see the core of India, but also the transformation it has undergone in the last few years," he said.

There have been many great civilisations. If you look at which great civilisations have survived today as nation-states, only India and China actually stand out in this era. The rise of civilisation has to be reflected in how its heritage and history are presented. How its own people actually appreciate it. How are they able to present it to themselves and to the world," he said.

Jaishankar urged people to visit Kashi to see the difference between what it was in the past and what it is now, asserting that it would be an understatement to say that they will be moved by the experience.

Jaishankar is on a two-nation visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15 to strengthen Indias strong bilateral relations with the two African countries.

He will visit Mozambique from April 13 to 15, the Ministry of External Affairs Minister said, adding that it will be the first-ever visit by an external affairs minister of India to Mozambique.

Jaishankar will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Mozambique.
Pirates boarded a Chinese-run oil tanker in West Africa's Gulf of Guinea, a risk management company operating in the area told The Associated Press on Tuesday. It was the second such incident in a little more than two weeks.

Pirates got on the ship, Success 9, approximately 300 nautical miles southwest of Ivory Coast's capital on Monday, according to Martin Kelly, a senior analyst with the London-based EOS Risk Group.

Its unclear how many crew members were on the tanker or how many pirates boarded the vessel.

Whilst the details remain obscure, there are two possible plausible explanations," Kelly said. The first is that this incident could be a (kidnap and ransom) incident. ... The second is that this could be cargo theft.

The Gulf of Guinea is the worlds most dangerous spot for attacks on ships. In June, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning piracy, armed robbery and hostage-taking in the area.

On March 25, pirates boarded a Danish-owned oil tanker with 16 crew members southwest of Port Pointe-Noire, Congo, which is also in the Gulf of Guinea. French naval forces have since located that vessel and escorted it to Togo's capital, Lome.
The United Nations food relief agency is investigating the theft of food aid from lifesaving humanitarian operations in Ethiopia, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

The World Food Programs Ethiopia director, Claude Jibidar, says in the letter that WFP is very concerned about the large-scale sale of food in some markets which poses not only a reputational risk but also threatens our capacity to mobilize more resources for the needy people."

He adds that it is therefore imperative that immediate actions be taken to curb ... the misappropriation and diversion of humanitarian food in the country.

The letter is dated April 5 and addressed to humanitarian partners of WFP in Ethiopia, where drought and internal conflict have left 20 million of the country's 120 million people reliant on aid.

Jibidar asks the partner organizations to share any information or cases of food misuse, misappropriation or diversion that you are aware of or that are brought to your attention by your staff, beneficiaries or local authorities.

The letter does not mention any specific cases. However, two aid workers told AP the stolen aid included enough food for 100,000 people and was recently discovered missing from a warehouse in Sheraro, a town badly affected by the conflict in Ethiopias northern Tigray region. The aid workers spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

It was not clear who was responsible for stealing the aid from the Sheraro warehouse, which was previously looted by Eritrean soldiers allied to Ethiopias federal government in a separate incident. One of the aid workers said it was supplied by USAID and due to be distributed by partners.

In an emailed statement, USAID said it "has proactively identified recent diversion of some of our assistance in Northern Ethiopia.

We are in regular communication with our implementing partners regarding incidents of reported diversion and continue to monitor developments closely and take all necessary steps to stop the diversion, the agency added.

A peace deal signed by the federal government and its Tigray rivals in November has seen restrictions eased and aid deliveries have resumed to the region, where 5.2 million people need humanitarian help.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $331 million in funding for aid agencies working in Ethiopia during a trip to the country last month.
Hungary signed new agreements Tuesday to ensure its continued access to Russian energy, a sign of the countrys continuing diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow that have confounded some European leaders amid the war in Ukraine.

Speaking at a news briefing in Moscow, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Russian state energy company Gazprom had agreed to allow Hungary, if needed, to import quantities of natural gas beyond the amounts agreed to in a long-term contract that was amended last year.

The price of the gas, which would reach Hungary through the Turkstream pipeline, would be capped at 150 euros ($163) per cubic meter, Szijjarto said, part of an agreement that will allow Hungary to pay down gas purchases on a deferred basis if market prices go above that level.

Szijjartos trip to Russias capital was unusual for an official from a European Union country. Most members of the 27-nation bloc have distanced themselves from Russian President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine and sought to wean their countries off of Russian fossil fuels.

The Hungarian government has lobbied heavily in the EU to be exempted from any sanctions imposed on Russian gas, oil or nuclear fuel, and also has threatened to veto proposed EU actions against Moscow.

Szijjarto is one of the only officials from an EU country to have met with Russian officials in Moscow since the war in Ukraine began more than a year ago. A February trip also made the minister the first senior official from an EU country to visit Belarus since the nations authoritarian president, an ally of Putins, initiated a harsh crackdown on opposition in 2020.

While in Moscow, Szijjarto met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Alexander Novak and the chief executive of Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev. During the news briefing, he insisted that access to Russian energy supplies was crucial for Hungarys security regardless of political considerations brought on by the war.

As long as the issue of energy supply is a physical issue and not a political or ideological one, like it or not, Russia and cooperation with Russia will remain crucial for Hungarys energy security, Szijjarto said.
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.
Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina lashed out at a local news outlet for allegedly exhorting a minor to lie about food scarcity. During a parliamentary session held on Monday, the PM called the daily newspaper, Prothom Alo, "an enemy of the Awami League, democracy, and the people of Bangladesh" which acts under the "cover of darkness". "Those who speak out against corruption are now talking in favour of the people who are convicted in corruption cases," Hasina said, according to Bangla news portal BDNews24.

"A seven-year-old child was encouraged to tell a lie by paying him Tk 10. And that too for a statement like - we need the freedom to ensure meat and rice [food] for everyone. They published his words. It was all done by a popular daily. The name is Prothom Alo, but they act under cover of darkness," she said as MPs tapped their tables in agreement, chanting "shame, shame" in unison.

Bangladesh PM addresses 2007-2008 emergency

Turning back the clock to 2007 and 2008, she criticised Prothom Alo for favouring an unelected government for an interim period and taking advantage of a national emergency. "With a heavy heart, I must say that they never want stability in the country. They were elated when an emergency was declared in 2007. It was then that two newspapers rolled up their sleeves [to achieve their goals]," she continued.

The Awami League President said that the then government only secured 30 seats out of 300 in the 2008 election while her party-led grand alliance won the rest of the seats. "They got only 30 seats (in the 2008 election) and how will they get more? We have gained support from the people through work and this is not our fault. We will continue to work for the people's welfare," Hasina said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met his Ugandan counterpart General Odongo Jeje and took stock of the "close and historical ties" between the two nations, and acknowledged that possibilities of partnerships in trade, investments, energy, defence and air connectivity were being explored. Jaishankar is on a two-nation visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15 to bolster Indias robust bilateral relations with the two African countries.

Jaishankar said he had "comprehensive discussions" with his Ugandan counterpart and thanked him for the warmth of the welcome.

As important partners in multilateral fora, expressed firm support of Ugandas NAM chairship and exchanged perspectives on UN and need for Reformed Multilateralism. pic.twitter.com/7BIk5JygUO  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 11, 2023

"Took stock of our close and historical ties that have been given greater intensity by our leadership. Possibilities in trade & investments, energy, defence and air connectivity being explored," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

During the meeting, Jaishankar also affirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modis Kampala principles will be further implemented with a focus on digital, green and health projects.

In 2018, Prime Minister Modi unveiled a set of 10 guiding principles that would dictate Indias engagement with Africa.

In his speech at the Ugandan parliament, Prime Minister Modi outlined a vision for not just a bilateral relationship with Africa but also a partnership at the global level. The External Affairs Minister also participated in the virtual groundbreaking ceremony of solar-powered piped drinking water supply systems funded by the Exim Bank in Uganda.

"This project will provide safe and sustainable water supply to half a million Ugandans across 20 rural districts," Jaishankar tweeted.

Jaishankar also met Uganda's Minister of Water and Environment Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Trade, Mwebesa Francis and Industry & Cooperatives and MoS for Foreign Affairs.

"Noted successful delivery of Indian development partnership projects, which will aim towards empowerment, capacity building and enhancing human resource capacity," Jaishankar said in another tweet.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar addressed members of the Parliamentary Forum on Indian Affairs in Uganda and said India's G20 presidency is different in the sense that no other chair has made an effort to consult all the countries from the Global South. Jaishankar said India would like to use the G20 presidency to get the forum focussed on its mandate which is global growth and development and issues important for Uganda.

"Issues of green growth, debt, Sustainable Development Goals, digital delivery. We would like the G20 to focus on all these issues," he said.

India will make efforts to include concerns of the Global South in the G20 framework under its presidency of the influential bloc.

India assumed the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1 last year. The G20 Summit will be held in New Delhi on September 9-10 this year. Jaishankar, who arrived in Uganda on Monday, met President Yoweri Museveni at his farm in Rwakitura and conveyed to him the personal greetings of Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India's full support to Uganda for a very successful chairship of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM).

"I will certainly, on behalf of India, reiterate our fullest support for your very successful Chairship of the Non-Aligned Movement," he said, adding that "we expect, again, the Non-Aligned Movement will get kind of a new energy under the Uganda Chairship.
Details added (first published: 15:56)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. In connection with the execution of the instructions of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Chairman of the Board of the State Agency for Automobile Roads of Azerbaijan, Saleh Mammadov, visited the Kalbajar, Lachin, Gubadli, Zangilan and Jabrayil districts to get acquainted with the implementation of road infrastructure projects on the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads told Trend.

As part of this visit, Saleh Mammadov inspected the construction of the Toganali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway, with a total length of 82 kilometers, and the Murovdag tunnel, which is going to be one of the longest road tunnels in the world.

Currently, the construction of a roadbed, artificial structures, and four automobile tunnels is ongoing on the Toganali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway. Drilling and concrete work have already been completed in three tunnels.

Furthermore, drilling work continues in the Murovdag tunnel. At the moment, about 5 kilometers of drilling and concrete work in each direction and the construction of 14 backup crossings have been completed.

Then the chairman got acquainted with the construction work on the 72.3-kilometer-long Kalbajar-Lachin highway as well as with the implementation of earthworks related to the construction of the airport in Lachin. Currently, the construction of the roadbed, artificial structures, and tunnels on the Kalbajar-Lachin highway are underway.

During the visit, Saleh Mammadov got acquainted with the project of restoring the internal roads of Lachin, as well as with the implementation of the Khudaferin-Gubadli-Lachin highway project. The work on this road has been completed by more than 40 percent.

The construction of the Horadiz-Jabrayil-Zangilan-Aghband highway (Zangazur Corridor), where the Khudaferin-Gubadli-Lachin highway begins, as well as the Shukurbeyli-Jabrayil-Hadrut highway, continues at a rapid pace. The chairman got acquainted with the project implementation on the spot and said that the construction of the roadbed and the base, the laying of asphalt pavement, pipes and crossings, tunnels, and bridges continue at a high level in accordance with the established schedule.

During the inspection of these highways, Saleh Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the State Agency for Automobile Roads of Azerbaijan, provided recommendations and directives for the prompt and effective execution of road infrastructure projects.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met his Ugandan counterpart General Odongo Jeje and took stock of the "close and historical ties" between the two nations, and acknowledged the possibilities of partnerships in trade, investments, energy, defence, and air connectivity were being explored.

Jaishankar, is on a two-nation visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15, to bolster India's strong bilateral relations with the two African countries.

Jaishankar said he had "comprehensive discussions" with his Ugandan counterpart General Odongo Jeje and thanked him for the warmth of the welcome.

"Took stock of our close and historical ties that have been given greater intensity by our leadership. Possibilities in trade & investments, energy, defence and air connectivity being explored," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

During the meeting, Jaishankar also affirmed Prime Minister Modi's Kampala principles will be further implemented with a focus on digital, green, and health projects.

In 2018, Prime Minister Modi unveiled a set of 10 guiding principles that would dictate India's engagement with Africa.

In his speech at the Ugandan parliament, Modi outlined a vision for not just a bilateral relationship with Africa but also a partnership at the global level.

Jaishankar also met Uganda's Minister of Water and Environment Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Trade, Mwebesa Francis and Industry & Cooperatives and MoS for Foreign Affairs.

"Noted successful delivery of Indian development partnership projects, which will aim towards empowerment, capacity building and enhancing human resource capacity," Jaishankar said in another tweet.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar addressed members of the Parliamentary Forum on Indian Affairs in Uganda and said India's G20 presidency is different in the sense that no other chair has made an effort to consult all the countries from the Global South.

Jaishankar said India would like to use the G20 presidency to get the forum focussed on its mandate which is global growth and development and issues important for Uganda.

"Issues of green growth, debt, Sustainable Development Goals, digital delivery. We would like the G20 to focus on all these issues," he said.

India will make efforts to include concerns of the Global South in the G20 framework under its presidency of the influential bloc.

India assumed the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1 last year. The G20 Summit will be held in New Delhi on September 9-10 this year.

Jaishankar, who arrived in Uganda on Monday, met President Yoweri Museveni at his farm in Rwakitura and conveyed to him the personal greetings of Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India's full support to Uganda for a very successful chairship of the Non-Alignment Movement.
Residents of the Thai city of Chiang Mai and other academics have filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister of Thailand Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha along with other state agencies over their inability to solve the dust pollution issue in the northern province. According to Pattaya Mail, the lawsuit was filed by the residents in the Chiang Mai Administrative Court and the state agencies like the National Environmental Board, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, were also sued as well. The residents were led by the Peoples Network in the North, which is an academic group from Chiang Mai University.

As per the report by the Thai news outlet, the Chiang Mai's Breath Council and the residents of the northern province of Thailand accused the Thai PM of failing to implement legal measures, policies and existing plans to tackle the issue of the smog effectively. The class action lawsuit was also supported by Sita Divari who is a prime minister candidate for the Thai Sang Thai Party. According to Pattaya mail, Divari was present at the court and provided his signature to support the lawsuit.

Lawsuit demands Thai PM exercise his power

The ongoing lawsuit demanded Prime Minister Prayut exercise his power under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act and address the issue. The plaintiffs claimed that the delay in addressing the problem caused by the dust pollution in the area has exacerbated the problem. They also accused the National Environmental Board of failing to implement the national plan to tackle dust pollution. The plan in question was declared in 2019. The region which is facing dust pollution for so long has been frustrated with the Thai administration for their inability to address the issue.
Uzbekistan has invited India's Election Commission to witness a "historic" referendum it is holding on April 30 on a series of amendments to the country's Constitution, Uzbek diplomats said on Tuesday.

Uzbekistan's ambassador to India Dilshod Akhatov said constitutions of 190 countries including that of India were studied to bring in holistic and comprehensive changes to the Constitution of the country.

In an address at a seminar on the constitutional reforms, Akhatov said his country has witnessed significant reforms in the last few years under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the changes to the Constitution has been part of the overall initiative.

"The country has been going through historic transformations in the last few years. The draft constitution has been prepared after examining modern various global laws and norms and constitutions of 190 countries including India," he said.

"Our Constitution will be a holistic and comprehensive one that will take Uzbekistan on a new path of growth, development and prosperity," Akhatov said.

The ambassador said the referendum seeks to change about two-thirds of the existing constitution of Uzbekistan.

Another official said India's Election Commission has been invited to witness the "historic" referendum on the constitutional reforms on April 30.

The ties between India and Uzbekistan have been on an upswing in the last few years. Both sides have shown keen interest in further expanding the ties in a number of areas including trade and investment, energy and people-to-people exchanges.

President Mirziyoyev had talked about the need for constitutional reform in November 2021 in his inaugural speech, specifying that the proposal has come from the people of the country.

The envoy said more than 2,22,000 proposals from the general public were received during discussions on the constitutional reform.

Beruniy Alimov, an Assistant Professor at New Media Education Centre at the Uzbekistan State World Language University, said that some of the new provisions in the Constitution were focused on protecting human rights of the citizens, enhancing human dignity and ensuring their freedom.

"The Constitution provides that the state will assume a number of new obligations to reduce poverty, provide employment and address social issues effectively. It shows that Uzbekistan is becoming a social state," he said at the seminar.

"The highest duty of the state is to ensure human rights and freedom. According to the new norms, the ambiguities arising in the legislation will be interpreted in favour of the citizens," he said.

Alimov said the Constitution will strengthen guarantees of personal rights and freedoms of citizens in accordance with most advanced international standards.
Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, Russia's President Vladimir Putin's staunchest ally on Monday demanded that the Russian Federation protect Belarus "like its own territory." In a meeting with Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Minsk, Lukashenko reiterated that "this is the kind of guarantees Belarus needs" from its longtime ally, Belarusian state-owned news outlet Belta reported. In case of aggression against Belarus, the Russian Federation shall defend the territory of Belarus "like its own," Belarus' authoritarian leader told his Russian counterpart Shoigu.

"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," Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko was quoted as saying.

'What security guarantees can the US even provide?': Lukashenko

Lukashenko, at the meeting, stated that he had raised these issues at the sitting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, the union formed collaboratively between Russia and Belarus. Belarus' President noted that he discussed his demands with Russian President Putin before. Lukashenko underscored that the Western countries "do not fulfill the agreements" about the security guarantees that they had previously given under the framework of the Budapest Memorandum in exchange for the withdrawal of nuclear arms from the Belarusian territory. He cited the failed implementation of the Minsk agreement that sparked a conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.

Budapest Memorandum "included oaths of all Western states and Russia to guarantee full security to Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus," said Lukashenko, adding that it also included "economic safety" but the West implemented the barrage of sanctions against Belarus and Russia. "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," the Belarusian leader told Russian Defense Minister. He also discussed with the latter the ongoing combat training and the unity of the "joint allied grouping" of the Russian and Belarusian forces with Shoigu. He thanked Russia for "keeping a few thousand Russian soldiers" in Belarus "despite all struggles".
Ukraine began resuming electricity exports to European countries on Tuesday, its energy minister said, a dramatic turnaround from six months ago when fierce Russian bombardment of power stations plunged much of the country into darkness in a bid to demoralize the population.

The announcement by Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko that Ukraine was not only meeting domestic consumption demands but also ready to restart exports to its neighbors was a clear message that Moscow's attempt to weaken Ukraine by targeting its infrastructure did not work.

Ukraine's domestic energy demand is 100% supplied, he told The Associated Press in an interview, and it has reserves to export due to the titanic work of its engineers and international partners.

Russia ramped up infrastructure attacks in September, when waves of missiles and exploding drones destroyed about half of Ukraine's energy system. Power cuts were common across the country as temperatures dropped below freezing and tens of millions struggled to keep warm.

Moscow said the strikes were aimed at weakening Ukraine's ability to defend itself, while Western officials said the blackouts that caused civilians to suffer amounted to war crimes. Ukrainians said the timing was designed to destroy their morale as the war marked its first anniversary.

Ukraine had to stop exporting electricity in October to meet domestic needs.

Engineers worked around the clock, often risking their lives to come into work at power plants and keep the electricity flowing. Kyiv's allies also provided help. In December, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $53 million in bilateral aid to help the country acquire electricity grid equipment, on top of $55 million for energy sector support.

Much more work remains to be done, Halushchenko said. Ukraine needs funding to repair damaged generation and transmission lines, and revenue from electricity exports would be one way to do that.

The first country to receive Ukraine's energy exports will be Moldova, he said.

Besides the heroic work by engineers and Western aid, warmer temperatures are enabling the resumption of exports by making domestic demand lower. Nationwide consumption was already down at least 30% due to the war, Halushchenko said, with many industries having to operate with less power.

Renewables like solar and wind power also come into play as temperatures rise, taking some pressure off nuclear and coal-fired power plants.

But it's unclear if Ukraine can keep up exports amid the constant threat of Russian bombardment.

Unfortunately now a lot of things depend on the war, Halushchenko said. I would say we feel quite confident now until the next winter.

Exports to Poland, Slovakia and Romania are also on schedule to resume, he said.

Today we are starting with Moldova, and we are talking about Poland, we are talking about Slovakia and Romania, Halushchenko added, noting that how much will depend on their needs.

For Poland, we have only one line that allows us to export 200 megawatts, but I think this month we will finish another line which will increase this to an additional 400 MW, so these figures could change, he said.

Export revenue will depend on fluctuating electricity prices in Europe. In 2022, while Ukraine was still able to export energy, Ukrainian companies averaged 40 million to 70 million euros a month depending on prices, Halushchenko said.

Even if its 20 (million euros) its still good money. We need financial resources now to restore generation and transmission lines, he said.

Ukraine has the ability to export more than the 400 megawatt capacity limit imposed by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, or ENTSO-E. We are in negotiations to increase this cap because today we can export even more, we have the necessary reserves in the system, the minister said.

The current capacity limit is in line with what Ukraine was exporting in September 2022 before Ukraine diverted resources to meet domestic needs amid the Russian onslaught.

The 400-megawatt capacity is only a start as Ukraine pursues a long-term goal of becoming truly integrated into Europes network, which would increase its security of supply and help its neighbors exchange electricity, according to Georg Zachmann, energy policy expert at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels.

At a price of 100 euros per megawatt hour, the monthly income stream for Ukraine would at most reach 30 million euros.

As capacity increases, however, concerns will move from supply to commerce and politics due to Ukraines coal-fired plants paying almost nothing for carbon emissions, while EU competitors pay 100 euros per ton.

Halushchenko wants to increase the maximum technical capacity to 2 gigawatts. At the very least, he would like exports to meet the countrys import restriction of 850 megawatts, he said. ENTSO-E represents 39 electricity transmission system operators from 35 countries across Europe.

Ukraine began trading electricity with European countries in June, in a bid to move away from Russias sphere of influence. Power lines were synchronized in March 2022, shortly after the war began.

Engineers sped up the process to link Ukraine to the continental grid, allowing it to decouple its power system from Russia. Moldova was added later. Before that, Ukraine and Moldova were part of a power sharing system that included Russia and Belarus.

The resumption of exports is an obvious win for Ukraine, but it also benefits Europe, according to energy analyst Olena Pavlenko of the Kyiv-based think tank Dixie Group.

European consumers need this, it increases competition in the (European) market, lowers prices and feels more energy secure, she said.

For Ukraine this is a solution to not just take money in grants and credit but to earn money. This is a good start for the future operation and partnership with the EU, as a business partner, she added.
Serving legendary ice cream since 1945, Handels Homemade Ice Cream is celebrating a major milestone in its home state by announcing the 100th store opening in Rocky River, OH on April 20. Handels is known for its made fresh daily flavors and passionate fanbase. The Buckeye State will be getting another sweet addition as the brand continues to grow from coast to coast. The Rocky River Handels is located at 19935 Center Ridge Rd., Rocky River, OH 44116. The Grand Opening celebration begins at 11:00 am and is open to the public. The first 100 guests will be receiving Free Ice Cream For a Year.

Ohio is the home state for Handels, so we are incredibly proud to expand the sweet legacy here in Rocky River, said Morgan Rubin, General Manager for the Rocky River Handels Homemade Ice Cream. I live and breathe Handels, having grown up with the brand. My family opened the Niles Handels in 2000 and I worked there when I was younger. I love what I do and am thrilled to help grow the brand that started in my hometown.

Handels is projected to open over 40 new locations in 2023. The brand has been recognized for its successful Grand Openings and rapid franchise growth.

We could not be more excited to celebrate the opening of our 100th Handels location in Rocky River, OH, just 82 miles from where Alice Handel opened her first ice cream shop in 1945, said Rich Matherne, CEO at Handels Homemade Ice Cream. Were growing, introducing the best ice cream on the planet to new customers across the country...but Ohio will always be home. We hope youll come celebrate with us!

An official ribbon cutting with the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce will kick off the celebration on April 20 starting at 11:00 am. Guests will also enjoy raffles, music, games, magic by Ellie Hauio, ice cream, and more!

The Rocky River store will feature local fan-favorite flavors including Black Cherry, Buckeye, Coffee Chocolate Chip, Graham Central Station, Oree-Dough, Salty Caramel Truffle, and more. The location will offer dine-in, pickup, delivery, and catering.

The Rocky River Handels is 2,100 sq. ft. and will be open daily from 11:00 am  10:00 pm.

The original Handels Homemade Ice Cream opened in Youngstown, OH in 1945. The company maintains its roots in Ohio with corporate offices in Canfield, OH and there are a number of locations throughout the state.
The group arrived in Texas after U.S. officials intervened to end their detention in Bangkok.

Members of the Mayflower Church pose for a photograph upon their arrival in Dallas on April 7.

Dozens of members of a persecuted Protestant church in China have arrived in the United States after escaping the country via Thailand, where they were also detained by the immigration authorities amid fears of repatriation.

The Mayflower Church members touched down in Dallas on Good Friday after a coordinated effort from advocacy groups and politicians to bring them to the country.

All 63 members of the Mayflower Church touched down in Dallas on Good Friday after a coordinated effort from advocacy groups and politicians to bring them to the country, according to Texas-based Christian rights group ChinaAid, which helped with their relocation. The group previously told Radio Free Asia that a family of four was not traveling with the others.

In 2019, Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church [also known as the Mayflower Church] left China to seek religious freedom, ChinaAid said in a statement on their arrival. They faced constant persecution from the Chinese Communist Party.

They embarked on a nearly four-year journey for religious freedom [that] some believed ... would come to an abrupt end when Thailand immigration apprehended the 63 members, it said, adding that the church members had been released into American custody and put on planes for Dallas following negotiations with the Thai authorities.

It is the most joyful homecoming to welcome the Mayflower Church to Texas, ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu said. None of this would have been possible without the help of partners, members of Congress, and U.S. government staff who worked countless hours in order to bring the Mayflower Church to safety.

Now they can live out their faith fully without fear of persecution, Fu said.

Families in the church were separated and held in two different detention facilities, one of which was the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok, described by ChinaAid as notorious.

The quick intervention by the United States government surely saved the lives of all the men, women, and children, ChinaAid said.

Led by Pastor Pan Yongguang, members of the Mayflower Church sang psalms from the Bible upon their arrival in Dallas on April 7. (Photo: Wang Yun)





The church members will be resettled in Tyler, Texas, which is represented by Republican Rep. Nathaniel Moran.

"The immediate action taken by U.S. officials signals that as a nation, we are still committed to standing for the persecuted," Moran said in a statement. Every individual should be free to practice their faith safely and without fear of persecution.

A track record of abduction

Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican who chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, hit out at the treatment of the group by Thai officials.

Thai government officials must be more vigilant when it comes to malign Chinese Communist Party activities within their country, and work to hold accountable any police officers or officials who colluded with Chinese Communist agents in an attempt to deprive church members of your rights under international refugee law, he said.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) commented: The Mayflower Church congregation is now free to exercise their faith after years of religious persecution.

The group of 28 adults and 35 minors were accused of illegally overstaying on their visas and taken into custody pending a deportation hearing.

Members of the Mayflower Church leave Pattaya Provincial Court in Pattaya, Thailand, on March 31. (Sakchai Lalit/AP)





Abraham Cooper, vice chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, said on Twitter that the Chinese government had a record of abducting Chinese dissidents from Thailand, so he urged the U.S. government to use all feasible tools at its disposal to ensure the safety of the Mayflower Church members.

While the U.N. refugee agency can designate somebody a refugee if they apply for the status in Thailand, they dont always follow up by offering them resettlement, leaving an unknown number of Chinese nationals vulnerable to detention and forcible repatriation should the Thai authorities choose to do Beijing a favor and detain them.

Rights groups say that Beijings law enforcement agencies routinely track, harass, threaten and repatriate people who flee the country, many of them Turkic-speaking Uyghurs, under its SkyNet surveillance program that reaches far beyond Chinas borders. Chinese officials use a variety of means to have them forcibly repatriated.

Chinese police are now calling up people who have booked flights to leave the country and interrogating them about where they are going and when they plan to be back, sources in the country told Radio Free Asia in February.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Matt Reed. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news organization.
Rights activists say the move continues a bid to force 'national unity' on minority groups and erase their culture.

In this Sept. 10, 2020 photo, plain-clothed policemen guard in front of the Horqin Mongolian School in Tongliao in China's northern Inner Mongolia region, following protests over a new bilingual education policy implemented by the Chinese government.

Officials in China's northern region of Inner Mongolia are ordering all schools to switch to Mandarin-medium teaching and slash Mongolian language classes by September, in what one exile group said is ongoing cultural "genocide."

The regional education bureau ordered schools at every level to implement "teaching in our national Mandarin language" and to ensure high-schoolers are proficient in the language, even if they speak Mongolian at home, in a continuation of a policy that sparked mass protests across the region in August 2020.

Schools must "build Chinese national consciousness and community, and deepen education in national unity," regional officials said at a meeting in late March.

Rights activists have warned that "national unity" programs have led to forced intermarriage between majority Han Chinese and Uyghurs and Tibetans, as well as other attempts to erase ethnic identity and autonomy.

Covert recording

Meanwhile, the New York-based Southern Mongolia Human Rights and Information Center published an audio recording of school officials telling parents at the Hohhot No. 30 High School that they must "firmly inculcate a common, Chinese national identity" into the region's six million ethnic Mongolians.

"New details leaked from a covert recording confirm ... a comprehensive ban of Mongolian language instruction across the [region will] be fully effective starting September 1, 2023," the group said in a report on its website, citing a 52-minute audio recording of a recent parent-teacher meeting.

"Under a directive from the central government, all Mongolian schools across the region will use Mandarin as the language of instruction starting Sept. 1 this year," the official is heard saying, adding that the policy will be rolled out at the No. 30 High School from May 1.

In this Sept. 10, 2020 photo, policemen stand guard outside a school in Tongliao, in Chinas northern Inner Mongolia region, following protests over a new bilingual education policy implemented by the Chinese government. Credit: Noel Celis/AFP

All ethnic Mongolian students will soon be required to take the college entrance exams in Chinese, rather than Mongolian, starting in 2025.

"The Chinese policy of total erasure of the Mongolian language in [Inner] Mongolia has been well planned and systematic," the Southern Mongolia Human Rights and Information Center said, adding that the National People's Congress had ruled minority language-medium education was "unconstitutional" in the wake of the 2020 protests.

The ruling replaced a clause in Article 4 of the constitution, which once stated: "All ethnicities have the freedoms and rights to use and develop their own spoken and written languages and to preserve or reform their own folkways and customs." It paved the way for further purges of any historical or cultural material from classrooms linked to traditional Mongolian culture.

Parents and teachers have also been explicitly banned from organizing Mongolian-medium teaching on the side, the group said.

Engaging in cultural genocide

The group's director Enghebatu Togochog recently testified before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China that teachers could be punished just for informing students of any learning opportunities outside of school.

"From what is happening to the Uyghurs and what is happening to the Mongolians and Tibetans, it is apparent that the Chinese authorities are engaging in different forms of genocide campaigns on multiple fronts," he said.

"[The] goal is the same: to wipe out the language, culture and identity of these three peoples and [to convert them to a] 'Chinese' nationality," he said.

Japan-based ethnic Mongolian scholar Khubis said that the No. 30 Middle School in Hohhot was originally set up to deliver Mongolian-medium education to ethnically Mongolian students.

"Now the whole school is going to start teaching in standard Mandarin," he said. "The school also stated [in the audio clip] that Mandarin will be used as the medium of instruction across the entire region from Sept. 1."

"This will have a particularly big impact on Mongolians," he said.

Policy borne of Han chauvinism

Germany-based activist Xi Haiming said the policy is a highly aggressive one.

"Xi Jinping is using Mandarin, that is, Chinese, to sinicize Mongolians, as well as Tibetans and Uyghurs," he told Radio Free Asia.

"This is a barbaric policy springing from Han chauvinism, which is to say Chinese nationalism, Xi said, using a term used to reference racist and colonialist policies from Beijing.

The government announced in 2021 that it would extend compulsory Mandarin teaching to preschoolers across the country, ousting minority languages like Mongolian, Tibetan, and Uyghur -- as well as regional Chinese languages like Sichuanese or Cantonese -- as the medium of instruction for children of all ages across the country.

The move was aimed at "enabling pre-school children in ethnic minority and rural areas and rural areas to gradually acquire the ability to communicate at a basic level in Mandarin, and to lay the foundations for the compulsory education phase," the directive said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.
A security camera is wrapped in floral cloth during a media tour of the March 26 Electric Cable Factory in Pyongyang, North Korea, in 2016.

As North Koreas economy worsens, factory workers are stealing more parts, tools and other items to sell elsewhere and bring in a bit more income. Others are bribing their bosses to skip work so they can make more money doing other side jobs.

Authorities have taken notice, and are installing security cameras to monitor their activities, sources in the country say.

In the past, such closed-circuit television cameras, or CCTVs, were used only in high-priority areas, such as in busy intersections and government buildings, and almost exclusively in the capital Pyongyang. But starting in March, they began to appear in factories and other workplaces.

Earlier this month, CCTVs were installed at every factory under the Tokchon Motor Complex. The cameras are running for 24 hours, a source from South Pyongan Province, North of Pyongyang, told RFAs Korean Service on condition of anonymity to speak freely.

The complex is North Koreas foremost auto and auto-parts production facility and employs about 25,000 people.

The Central Committee supplied CCTVs imported from China, the source said. The cameras are used to monitor who is stealing factory materials and who is spending their working hours away from their job.

Side jobs

Although most men in North Korea are assigned a government job that they must report to, the salary is way below the cost of living, to the point that most people have to earn money in other ways to make ends meet.

In most cases, this means that they have to go into business for themselves, often by selling goods or services in local marketplaces.

Most companies will accept bribes from their employees who want to seek their fortunes elsewhere, the sources say. But now the cameras will reveal who actually shows up for work.

The CCTVs are installed at the main gate of each factory, and at the workplaces of each factory, he said. The workers are uncomfortable that the cameras reveal who goes to work at what time and who chats during the work day at the daily work review session every evening,

Rampant theft

Its the same situation at the Chongju Bearing Factory in the northwestern province of North Pyongan. Cameras have been installed to stop theft, which is rampant at the factory, a source there told RFA on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Due to the lack of food received from rations, factory workers secretly steal bearings and material parts produced in the factory in their pockets, he said. They will later sell them at the market to make a living.

Since the cameras were installed, several employees have been caught.

Now if they put even a small piece of iron in their pocket, they are disgraced publicly as a thief who steals state materials, he said. The workers are very unhappy about this.

The source said that the CCTV cameras also changed the way that daily production reviews are conducted.

Previously, the head of the work team reported production totals. But since the cameras were installed, the team leader must also report who worked a full eight hours and whether they stole anything.

Stealing a few items from factories is widespread in North Korea, and perpetrators are not usually punished beyond public criticism. But if the scale of the theft is large, those responsible can be punished as criminals under the law.

Installing cameras in factories is highly unusual, said a source using the pseudonym Kim Yong-il, who once was an administrative official in the North prior to escaping and resettling in South Korea.

It seems like the cameras are not for the small factories. They should first go into the larger ones, said Kim. CCTVs enable discipline management. The other intention is to crack down on the leakage of materials and equipment from inside the factory.

He said that if North Korea did nothing to increase wages and rations at the factories, using the cameras to force employees to show up to work and prevent them from stealing would result in not only increased productivity, it will also increase their dissatisfaction.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Primary school students of the European Azerbaijan School recently celebrated International Children's Book Day with a special event held at the Libraff Park Academy. The event was organized in collaboration with the Libraff chain of stores and featured a talk by prominent children's author Murshud Ismailzadeh.

International Children's Book Day was established in 1967 by the International Council of Children's Books to honor the birthday of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, who is widely considered to be a pioneer in the field of children's literature. The day is celebrated every year on April 2 with the aim of promoting the importance of books in children's intellectual development and inspiring a love of reading.

At the event, Ismailzadeh spoke about the invaluable role of books and reading in shaping children's worldviews and opening up new horizons. He also discussed his own creativity and shared details about his books and their themes.

The primary school students actively participated in the Q&A session, asking the author about his works and finding answers to their questions. Ismailzadeh's talk and interaction with the students left a lasting impression and helped to stimulate their logical thinking and imagination.

Towards the end of the event, Ismailzadeh signed the children's favorite books and wrote down his wishes for them. He emphasized the importance of such meetings in the formation of students' minds and expressed his hope that the event would inspire a lifelong love of learning among the young learners.

The event was part of the European Azerbaijan School's ongoing efforts to provide meaningful and engaging learning experiences to its students. Through events like these, the school seeks to inspire young learners to explore their interests and cultivate a lifelong love of reading and learning.
The junta sent in jets and an attack helicopter during the opening of a local administrative office, locals say.

This image grab from a video shows the aftermath of the Myanmar juntas shelling and airstrikes on Pa Zi Gyi village, Kanbalu township, Sagaing region on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

UPDATED at 00:15 a.m. EDT on April 11, 2023

As many as 100 villagers have been killed and more than 50 injured when junta aircraft bombed a crowd of hundreds attending an office opening ceremony in Sagaing regions Kanbalu township, locals said.

The air strike is one of the deadliest attacks on civilians since Myanmar's military seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021 coup d'etat.

Most of the injured and dead were women and children, witnesses told RFA. They said it was hard to tell how many people had died because the bodies were so badly mangled by the bombs and machine gun fire, but by Monday afternoon, the bodies of at least 53 people had been collected.

I saw the bodies of four to six children who had been blown about 100 feet [30 meters from the building], said a local who didnt want to be identified.

I saw bodies ripped open and burnt.

Sources said that at least 20 children were among those killed in the air strike on Pa Zi Gyi village, although RFA was unable to confirm the claim.

Another resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said there were "too many finger-size bits of body parts all over the streets," adding that one could "barely walk without stepping on them."

"Some bodies were headless, while some heads were without bodies. There is no way to identify who the bodies belong to," the resident said. "The junta aircraft hovered around the village and shot at everyone from all angles, aiming at locations where civilians might be hiding."

Nway Oo, a relief worker, said the injured are being transported to clinics in nearby villages operated by the anti-junta People's Defense Force and are receiving medical treatment.

Most of them are people with their hands or legs blown off," he said. "As we are transporting them in four-wheel drive vehicles, we can only bring 4-7 people at a time. We have to be vigilant and listen for the sound of junta aircraft before we enter and exit the village."

Nway Oo said that a military junta troop is stationed in nearby in Ma Lel village, hampering efforts to transport the injured.

An eyewitness to the attack told RFA that the military had "received specific information about the opening of the public administration office" ahead of time and "deliberately carried out an air raid on the civilian crowd."

An official with the local PDF said that the junta "aimed to send a message with this air strike: that it would do anything and everything to deter the people from establishing public administration."

"The junta attacked a crowd of ordinary civilians including women, children and pregnant women," he said. "There were no resistance fighters in that crowd.

Videos of the bombing site shot by citizen journalists and viewed by RFA showed a barren expanse strewn with various body parts, punctuated by the smoking ruins of structures and destroyed motorbikes. Residents and anti-junta fighters can be seen dragging mutilated corpses for collection and identification as they comb through the carnage.

Junta statements on attack

People Media, the news agency of the Union Solidarity and Development Party  which serves as the juntas electoral proxy party  said the armys Northwestern Regional Headquarters carried out Tuesday mornings attack on Pa Zi Gyi village. It did not mention the number of casualties.

Junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun claimed in comments carried by the pro-junta MRTV station that anti-junta forces, including the PDF, had assumed control of Kanbalu township through force and that the military had only targeted combatants during the ceremony.

"[The PDF] says villagers were killed when pictures are circulated of victims wearing civilian clothing, but when they carry out an attack, they claim that the same sort of victims are PDF," he said, suggesting that anti-junta forces had either doctored photos from the air strike or misreported casualties. "Additionally, the PDF hides their mines and other weapons there, so when we attacked, it triggered much larger explosions and caused more casualties."

Zaw Min Tun reiterated junta claims that the PDF is "a terrorist organization" that regularly commits "war crimes," including threatening villagers and setting fire to their homes, in contrast to reports RFA has received that accuse the military of such tactics.

Death toll expected to rise

Tuesday's air strike happened during the inauguration of a public administration office established by Myanmars parallel National Unity Government, Nay Zin Lat, the National League for Democracy MP for Kanbalu township told RFA.

A statement from NUG President Duwa Lashi La said the death toll was expected to rise.

They were men, women, and children who posed no threat to the Myanmar military, he said in the statement posted on Facebook.

The military continues its mindless war on our countrys own people. Their sole aim is to consolidate power through death and destruction. They will not succeed.

The junta dissolved the NLD last month after the party failed to re-register with the Election Commission but members continue to work with the NUG to try to restore democracy in Myanmar and carry out administrative work in areas not under junta control. Locals said junta troops carry out frequent raids on Pa Zi Gyi.

In this image grab from a video, a building burns in the aftermath of the Myanmar juntas shelling and airstrikes on Pa Zi Gyi village, Kanbalu township, Sagaing region on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Credit: Citizen journalist





Nay Zin Lat said many people died on the spot after a jet fighter dropped two bombs and an Mi-35 attack helicopter fired over 200 shots from its machine guns. He said more than 800 locals were attending the ceremony.

There was a group of local residents who were discussing how to manage social issues in the community, he said.

They were bombarded by the air and shot at non-stop with machine guns. The shooting took about 15 minutes.

He said the injured were taken to nearby villages and some local voluntary groups were providing medical treatment.

Nay Zin Lat urged organizations including the United Nations and the international community to do more to block the junta's supply of jet fuel and called for a more effective ban on the sale of arms and ammunition to the regime.

RFA called Aye Hlaing, Sagaing regions junta spokesperson and social affairs minister, but no one answered.

International response

Tuesday's attack drew condemnation from a number of international organizations including the United Nations and rights groups.

In a statement, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for "those responsible to be held accountable" and for the injured to be allowed medical treatment and access to assistance.

U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said he was "horrified" by the attack, noting reports that schoolchildren performing dances, as well as other civilians, were among the victims.

"Despite clear legal obligations for the military to protect civilians in the conduct of hostilities, there has been blatant disregard for the related rules of international law," he said in a statement.

The U.S. State Department said the attacks in Sagaing region and Chin state this month underscore the junta's disregard for human life.

"The United States calls on the Burma regime to cease the horrific violence, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and to respect the genuine and inclusive democratic aspirations of the people of Burma," a spokesperson said.

"The military regime must abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law, including rules on the protection of civilians. The United States will continue to work with the international community to hold the regime accountable for violations and abuses committed in Burma."

London-based Amnesty International's Business and Human Rights Researcher Montse Ferrer said in a statement that Tuesday's attack and other junta air raids highlight the urgent need to suspend the import of aviation fuel" to Myanmar's Air Force. "This supply chain fuels violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes, and it must be disrupted in order to save lives," he said.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for New York-based Human Rights Watch, told RFA that "there's no justification for bombing a group of civilians."

"You can't just fly an airplane over a group of civilians and drop a bomb on them and say that because a few people may be militants that it was justified," he said. "That is a clear violation of international humanitarian law, it's a clear violation of the laws of war," he added, calling for a thorough investigation of the incident and a ban on aviation fuel to the junta.

Zachary Abuza, a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University, condemned the air strike "another outrageous attack on a civilian population by a regime that is increasingly desperate to achieve its strategic goals."

"The military's doctrine of counter-insurgency is ... based on terrorizing the population into submission -- it is based on intentional targeting of civilians," he said, adding that "air attacks are just part of that."

"[Air strikes] are an acknowledgement that the military is just stretched so thin right now ... They're spread all over the country in this multi-front war and so they're increasingly reliant on air attacks and long-range artillery because they simply cannot fight on the ground."

Tuesday's air strike came just one day after a junta jet fighter dropped bombs near a high school in Chin state's Falam township, killing nine civilians and injuring four others, according to residents.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn and Joshua Lipes.

This story has been updated to include comments from junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun, eyewitnesses to the attack, local aid workers, and international organizations.
In Washington, Manalo also says Manila cannot accept harassment or denial of access to the South China Sea.

Enrique Manalo, the Philippines foreign secretary, speaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., on Monday, April 10, 2023.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said Monday 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 also 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 last year.

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 often 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.

But 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.
Senior defense officials and top diplomats of the two nations hold five-hour huddle in Washington.

Demonstrators shout slogans and burn an American flag as they protest against the Balikatan joint military exercises, outside the headquarters of the Philippine military in Quezon City, Philippines, April 11, 2023.

UPDATED at 6:55 p.m. ET on 2023-04-11

Treaty allies the United States and the Philippines kicked off their biggest-ever annual joint military exercises on Tuesday, amid growing regional tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan and anti-American protests by Filipinos.

Meanwhile, the top diplomats and senior most defense officials of the two nations held a five-hour meeting at the Department of State in Washington, addressing evolving regional and global security challenges, among other topics.

The Balikatan Exercise 2023 brings together 17,680 troops  an estimated 12,000 Americans, 5,000 Filipinos, and more than 100 Australians  who will participate in live-fire drills and other activities until April 28.

Balikatan, which means shoulder to shoulder in Tagalog, got underway a day after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sought to allay public fears that a beefed-up American military presence here would unnecessarily draw the Southeast Asian country into a conflict in case China attacked Taiwan.

Gen. Andres Centino, the Philippine militarys chief of staff, said the drills would not only bolster bilateral ties but contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region in a definitive manner.

Among the drills on the program are a command post exercise, which aims to strengthen the allies ability to plan, coordinate, and provide command-and- control of forces against a range of scenarios and simulated challenges.

And during this years Balikatan, participants for the first time will carry out a live-fire training with Patriot missiles and Avengers air-defense systems, which Ukraine has used against invading Russian forces.

In a live-fire exercise at sea, Filipino and American troops will target and sink a 200-foot-long mock enemy vessel in the waters off Zambales province, in a part of the South China Sea that lies within Manilas exclusive economic zone. Beijing and Manila, as well as other Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan, have overlapping claims in the strategic waterway.

Another new component of the war games this year is cyber defense.

All these major events are intended to ensure the achievement of the end state of our Balikatan 2023 exercises, which is to fully develop mutual defense capabilities to enhance cyber defense operation and strengthen the countrys maritime security and domain awareness, Centino said in a speech Tuesday inaugurating the drills.

The two countries are bound by a Mutual Defense Treaty to assist one another in case of an armed attack on either of their armed forces, or aircraft or public vessels, anywhere in the South China Sea, a point U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated in Washington.

During the third U.S. Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue the two sides discussed plans to conduct combined maritime activities with like-minded partners in the South China Sea later this year, Austin told a press conference following the meeting.

Gen. Andres Centino, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, speaks during the opening ceremony of the annual Balikatan exercises, at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Philippines, April 11, 2023. Credit: Basilio Sepe/BenarNews





And a joint statement voiced strong objections to Chinas repeated massing of maritime militia ships inside Manilas exclusive economic zone, as well as new reports of Beijings covert land reclamation on unoccupied features in the Spratly Islands.

The two nations also agreed to accelerate implementation of EDCA projects, the statement said, referring to a controversial plan to grant U.S. forces access to four more Philippine bases under an expanded defense pact, as tensions build between China and Taiwan.

On Monday, Marcos tried to calm jitters and criticism among Filipinos about his administrations decision, saying Americans would use the newly selected locations to preposition equipment that they could readily access in times of natural disasters.

Now, the reaction of China is not really surprising because they worry too much. But  the Philippines will not allow the bases to be used in offensive action. The bases are only to help the Philippines if the country needs help, Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of an event honoring Filipino war veterans.

Three of the four bases are located on the main and northernmost Philippine island of Luzon, including two sites that face Taiwan. A fourth site, in Palawan province, faces the South China Sea where territorial tensions between China and the Philippine have been high in recent years.

This largest iteration of the Balikatan drills began a day after the Chinese military concluded three days of maneuvers and war games around Taiwan, including simulated precision strikes. China launched the drills as a response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens visit to the United States early this month, where she met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

The unprecedented meeting on U.S. soil further angered China, which also expressed its displeasure over the Marcos administrations move to grant the U.S. access to other bases in the Philippines.

The U.S. military has been coming all the way from the other side of the Pacific to stir up trouble in the South China Sea and ganging up with its allies from other parts of the world to flex muscle, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a March 12 statement.



The U.S. has heightened tensions, driven a wedge between China and the Philippines, and upset the joint effort of countries in this region to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, it alleged.

Opposition to war games

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Philippine activist groups held protests outside Camp Aguinaldo and the U.S. Embassy in Manila to express their opposition to the joint military drills in different parts of the country and the expanded access for U.S. forces at local bases.

The Philippines is ours. U.S. get out of our country! some protesters chanted outside the militarys headquarters in Quezon City.

In a separate statement, the anti-U.S. International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS) said the Balikatan exercises were nothing but a blatant display of U.S. imperialisms military intervention and aggression in the country and region.

The presence of foreign troops in local communities poses a grave threat to safety, security, and welfare of the people. We have witnessed how these exercises have resulted in environmental destruction, displacement of indigenous peoples and peasants, sexual abuse and exploitation of women and children, extrajudicial killings, torture, harassment, and intimidation of activists and critics, ILPS chairman Len Cooper said in a statement on Monday.

People take part in a protest against the Balikatan joint military exercises, outside the Philippine militarys headquarters in Quezon City, Metro Manila, April 11, 2023.

Credit: Gerard Carreon/BenarNews





A fisherfolk group also criticized a no-sail zone policy being enforced during the military drills in at least five towns in Zambales, as the exercises coincide with the peak fishing season from February to May. The coastal towns affected are San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan, and Botolan.

What difference does the United States make to China when it comes to disrupting the livelihood of Filipino fishers in the West Philippine Sea? The Filipinos do not deserve to be displaced from their livelihood only to provide a security blanket to foreign forces carrying out war games accompanied with live-fire exercises in our fishing grounds, said Bobby Roldan, vice chairperson for the Luzon chapter of Pamalakaya.

Basilio Sepe and Gerard Carreon contributed to this report from Manila.

This report has been updated to include details about the five-hour meeting of defense and foreign affairs officials in Washington.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news organization.
Uyghurs and other members of the faithful pray during Ramadan at the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, during a government-organized visit for foreign journalists in 2021.

Chinese police are using spies to make sure that Uyghur Muslims are not fasting during the holy month of Ramadan  including members of their own ethnic group.

The spies  which Chinese officials refer to as ears  are drawn from ordinary citizens, police and members of neighborhood committees, said a police officer from an area near Turpan, or Tulufan in Chinese, in eastern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

We have many secret agents, she told Radio Free Asia.

China began banning Muslims in Xinjiang from fasting during Ramadan in 2017, when authorities began arbitrarily detaining Uyghurs in re-education camps amid larger efforts to diminish Uyghur culture, language and religion.

The restriction was partially relaxed in 2021 and 2022, allowing people over 65 to fast, and police reduced the number of home searches and street patrol activities.

But this year, the government has prohibited everyone from fasting regardless of age, gender or profession, said a political official at Turpan City Police Station. No one is allowed to fast in this Ramadan, which runs from March 22 to April 20 this year.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars, or key practices, of Islam, during which Muslims are urged to abstain from eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset.

Punishment unclear

During the first week of Ramadan, authorities summoned 56 Uyghur residents and former detainees to interrogate them about their activities and determined that 54 of them violated the law by fasting, a policeman from Turpan City Bazaar Police Station.

Neither he nor another police officer at the station would discuss what happened to those they determined to have broken the law.

Police stations in Turpan have enlisted two or three spies from each village to surveil residents previously interrogated and detained for fasting during Ramadan, and those released from prison, officers told RFA.

Our ears came from three fields  the ordinary residents, the police and the neighborhood committees, said the police officer from an area near Turpan.

Because of the language barrier, we recruited Uyghurs to surveil other Uyghurs, she said. In my workplace, there are 70-80 Uyghur policemen who either directly work as ears or lead other civilian ears.

Authorities said they even planted spies among the police force to observe whether Uyghur officers were observing Ramadan by fasting.

The Turpan City Bazaar Police Station recruited two or three ears, meaning spies, from among ordinary citizens from each village and neighborhood committee to watch the activities of residents during Ramadan. Some villages even have four to five spies, a policeman there said.

The police officer from an area near Turpan said her station has 286 police officers, most of whom are Uyghurs. But her comrades, or Chinese police, find it difficult to spy on Uyghur residents there because of the language barrier.

Instead, they deployed Uyghur police officers to directly keep an eye on Uyghur residents, or else they were made the leaders of spy rings, she said.

Police will investigate those who previously violated the law or broke the law by fasting during Ramadans past, as well as people who organize fasting activities, said the police officer.

The elderly and teenagers are being surveilled because older people have rigid ideas and will not transform easily, while teenagers are easy to confuse and susceptible to the words of adults, she said.

The spies within

A staffer at the Turpan Prefecture Police Bureau said authorities there had spies working within the police forces to see if Uyghur officers were fasting from dawn to dusk, and then reported the results of their activities at weekly political meetings.

We have our upper-level officers and internal agents watching the behavior of Uyghur policemen, she told RFA, adding that officers tested their Uyghur colleagues by handing out fruit to eat.

As of yet, they have detected no fasting officers, she added.

This years policy also includes home searches, street patrols and mosque searches, said a police officer from a station in Turpan city.

Authorities on patrol are questioning Uyghur Muslim families to see if they are waking up before dawn to eat and gathering for a meal after sunset  considered a violation of the law by Chinese authorities  he said.

When we search the houses, we check if they have carried out illegal religious activities and if there are security threats, said the political official at Turpan City Police Station. Violators would be punished with legal education for light offenses and jail sentences for severe ones, he said.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Police say the lawyers broke the law by discussing their case on YouTube.

Attorneys Dao Kim Lan (2nd from L), Dang Dinh Manh (C) and other lawyers have been providing legal support for Peng Lei Buddhist Church members.

Authorities in Vietnam have sent a second summons to at least two lawyers who defended a Buddhist organization in a case last year, asking the lawyers once again to appear for questioning regarding their public discussion of the case.

Dang Dinh Manh is one of five lawyers who defended six members of the Peng Lei Buddhist House, who were found guilty in July 2022 and sentenced to a combined 23 years and six months for incest and fraud, in violation of Article 331 of the countrys criminal code: abusing democratic freedoms.

While providing legal support to Peng Lei Buddhist Church's members, Manh and the other four lawyers, Ngo Thi Hoang Anh, Dao Kim Lan, Nguyen Van Mieng, and Trinh Vinh Phuc used the YouTube account Nhat ky Luat su (Lawyer's Diary) to post information about the case, making it a common place for their statements. The account no longer has any video content.

The public discussion of the case could also be a violation of Article 331, so authorities in the southern province of Long An issued a summons to the five lawyers on March 6 that required them to report to the police for questioning on March 21.

Only Trinh Vinh Phuc and Ngo Thi Hoang Anh attended the meeting as requested. So far, neither has disclosed the contents of their meeting.

On Friday, authorities sent a second summons to Manh. According to a copy of the second summons obtained by Radio Free Asia, Manh must report to police on Wednesday.

At least one of the other lawyers was summoned a second time, one of the lawyers told RFA on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. The unnamed lawyer did not disclose who else had received a second summons. Phuc confirmed that he did not receive a second summons.

RFA attempted to contact the inspector in charge of the case, Hoang Hung, but he did not answer phone calls.

Stalinist double-speak

Article 331 is a violation of international human rights standards, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at New York-based Human Rights Watch, told RFAs Vietnamese Service Monday.

Given how repressive the government has become, its not surprising the authorities are using this article to violate yet another right, which is the right to legal representation and a free and fair trial, Robertson said. Hanoi deserves global condemnation for going after the few remaining defense lawyers left in the country working on human rights cases, but really what this shows is what a total and absolute joke the Vietnam judiciary has become.

He said the Vietnamese government is abusing the article for its own aims.

The idea that the exercise of democratic freedoms should be used to criminalize defense lawyers like Dang Dinh Manh  shows the Stalinist double-speak that the Vietnam government and Communist Party are engaged in, he said. This kind of trial shows clearly that justice is dead in Vietnam under the current single-party, rights-repressing government.

Player and Referee

On Feb. 8, Lan, one of the lawyers, sent a petition to Vietnams leaders and several agencies expressing his concerns over the decision to let the Long An provincial police participate in the probe of the case against the lawyers.

Before the first-instance trial for the six Peng Lei members, the lawyers had sent an 11-page report/petition to various agencies to denounce signs of seriously violating criminal procedures and judicial activities in the case.

Apart from his concern over the objectivity of the investigation, Lan also said that because he resides and works in Ho Chi Minh City  where he used Facebook and YouTube channels to post information about the Peng Lei case  Ho Chi Minh Citys police should be the authorized agency to investigate whether he had violated Article 331.

One week later, the Vietnam Bar Federation and the Ministry of Public Security responded to Lans petition. However, the Ministry of Public Securitys Inspectorate transferred these responses to Long Ans authorities to handle.

On condition of anonymity, one of the five defense lawyers said the fact that central-level agencies failure to timely respond to Lans petition showed their negligence to the wrongdoings of prosecuting agencies and the necessity to protect citizens legitimate interests.

Another defense lawyer, who also wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, also raised questions about the objectivity of assigning Long An Provincial Police to handle the case as this would enable the police to be both a player and the referee. He said the Supreme Peoples Procuracy should be the agency in charge of the case to ensure objectivity.

Ha Huy Son, a lawyer from the Hanoi Bar Association, however, told RFA that the Long An police were assigned the case against the lawyers in accordance with the law.

Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Eugene Whong and Matt Reed.
Western Balkan countries are vulnerable to Russian and Chinese disinformation, a big chunk" of which comes out of Serbia, a U.S. diplomat whose job involves exposing and countering foreign propaganda said on April 11 in an interview with RFE/RL.

James Rubin, coordinator for the U.S. State Department's Global Engagement Center, said the distribution of the disinformation and propaganda out of Serbia is a major problem that needs to be dealt with.



Asked about RT Balkan, an online Serbian-language project launched in November by the Russian state-controlled media operation formerly known as Russia Today, Rubin said, "We would not like to see Russia Today or Russian media outlets anywhere in the world. We'd like them shut down.



Rubin said the West has been slow to realize the dangers of disinformation and information manipulation not only from Russia but from China as well.



They've been spending billions and billions of dollars on [projects] in the information domain for many, many years. And I think we need to step up our game, he said.



The European Union banned broadcasts by RT and Sputnik, another Russian state media outlet, in March 2022 just days after Russia invaded Ukraine. Around the same time Google Europe said it was blocking YouTube channels associated with RT and Sputnik.



Rubin said its no secret that there are outlets in the Western Balkans that repeat Russian lies and disinformation. He cited an example of reports about biological weapons in Ukraine, saying this has been rejected by the Biological Weapon Convention in Geneva.



All these flat-out disinformation lies, unfortunately, in the Western Balkans are too prominent and too pervasive, said Rubin, speaking to RFE/RL in Pristina. I've come here to talk to the governments that can do something about it.



Rubin, who visited Montenegro on April 10 and traveled to North Macedonia on April 11, said he recognizes that it is a difficult problem and said the United States is not perfect in its own approach, but Washington would like to see governments in the Western Balkans do more.



We'd like to see them set up government entities that can begin to examine and analyze this problem so that we can try to put a stop to it, Rubin said.



The steps they can take include labeling foreign government accounts as such and ensuring that foreign ownership of media properties is transparent, he said.



People shouldn't think this is just your average Chinese person saying something.They should know it's a government account, Rubin said.



In addition, governments should ensure -- to the extent that their regulations allow -- that if an outlet is simply duplicating a Russian lie that it can't claim to be produced by journalists.



Rubin said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken selected him for the job of coordinator for the Global Engagement Center because he wants the United States to increase its efforts against propaganda and disinformation.



Secretary Blinken believes that this is a real and significant threat to the world and has pointed out that this happens every day all over the world, he said.

With reporting by Amra Zejneli
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.
Moscow has come under blistering attack at the United Nations over its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that the world was at "a dangerous threshold."

As Lavrov, who assumed the rotating presidency of the 15-member Security Council, led a meeting on "effective multilateralism," the UN chief, along with the U.S., U.K., French, and Japanese ambassadors, subjected him to harsh condemnation over his country's aggression against Ukraine, accusing Moscow of atrocities and of "trampling" the UN Charter.

Many Western governments and others assailed Russia's decision to call the Security Council meeting -- dubbed "Effective Multilateralism Through The Defense Of The Principles Of The UN" -- amid the backdrop of Moscows war on Ukraine.

Lavrov told Security Council members that "as during the Cold War, we have reached the dangerous, possibly even more dangerous, threshold. The situation is worsened with the loss of trust in multilateralism."

However, the Western members lambasted Russia's claims of its defense of multilateralism and the UN Charter, pointing directly to Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Prior to Lavrov's remarks, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, sitting next to the Russian foreign minister, told the meeting that Moscow's invasion of Ukraine was "causing massive suffering and devastation to the country and its people."

"Tensions between major powers are at historic highs. So are the risks of conflict through misadventure or miscalculation," Guterres said.

Guterres also urged the continuation of a UN-brokered grain-export deal with Ukraine that Russia has threatened to scupper because of what it calls Western "obstacles" to the export of Russian food and fertilizers.

He said that "cooperation is essential to creating greater security and prosperity for all."

Later, a UN spokesperson said Guterres handed Lavrov a letter for Russian President Vladimir Putin proposing ways to improve the grain deal. Letters were also sent to leaders in Turkey, which helped broker the deal, and in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that a hearing on effective multilateralism was important, "even if it was convened by a council member whose actions display a blatant disregard for the UN Charter."

"Our hypocritical convener today, Russia, invaded its neighbor, Ukraine, and struck at the heart of the UN Charter and all the values we hold dear," she said.

"This illegal, unprovoked, and unnecessary war runs directly counter to our most shared principles, that a war of aggression and territorial conquest is never, ever acceptable," she said, while accusing Russia of atrocities and war crimes.

"As we sit here, Russian forces continue to kill and injure civilians [in Ukraine]," she said.

In direct remarks to Lavrov, the U.S. ambassador urged him to release a U.S. journalist and a former U.S. Marine detained in Russia on what Washington and others call trumped-up charges.

"I am calling on you right now to release Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich immediately, to let Paul and Evan come home," Thomas-Greenfield said.

U.K. Ambassador Barbara Woodward said that "more than a year into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Putin has brought unimaginable suffering to that country while trampling on the UN Charter."

"Thousands of Ukrainians have been killed and millions have been displaced," she said, adding that billions of people across the globe had been hit by higher energy prices and food insecurity because of the invasion.

Ishikane Kimihiro, the Japanese envoy, blasted Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and demanded an immediate withdrawal of its forces from the country.

"It is an irony, even a tragedy, that the Russian Federation, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, continues its unilateral aggression against Ukraine while hosting an open debate on effective multilateralism through the defense of the principle of the UN Charter."

"The unprovoked, ongoing aggression by Russia is nothing but an outright defiance of the principle of the UN Charter," he said.

"Russia must first and foremost withdraw all of its troops and equipment from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, immediately and unconditionally," a move he said was supported by an "overwhelming" majority of UN members.
Details added: first version posted on 12:26

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Auto Leasing Azerbaijan LLC, the joint Russian-Azerbaijani company for the maintenance of trucks, will be put into operation in Azerbaijans Karabakh in July 2023, Chairman of the Board of the Economic Zones Development Agency of Azerbaijan Elshad Nuriyev told reporters, Trend reports.

"Currently, about 85 percent of the construction work has been completed," Nuriyev said.

The launch of Auto Leasing Azerbaijan will contribute to solving the transport problems of Azerbaijani enterprises and entrepreneurs and is also aimed at financing customers in the country through the joint leasing company.

Two business entities are registered as residents and one business entity as a non-resident in the Araz Valley Economic Zone Industrial Park, located in Jabrayil.

In 2022, 28 business entities received the status of resident in industrial zones, and 116 business entities have become residents to date.
Russian student Varvara Zholiker found herself under police investigation after she posted a Ukrainian flag on social media. A teacher reported her to the police, and the family remains under official scrutiny. Zholiker, 11, and her mother are suing, accusing the police of false arrest.
Details added: first version posted on 12:49

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Cars of the Italian IVECO, a multinational transport vehicle manufacturing company, will be produced in Azerbaijan's Araz Valley Economic Zone, Chairman of the Board of the Economic Zones Development Agency of Azerbaijan Elshad Nuriyev told reporters, Trend reports.

"In this regard, the company has applied for obtaining the status of a resident," Nuriyev said.

The design work on the creation of a service center for Italian IVECO cars has been finished, and the centers construction will begin very soon, the chairman added.

Two business entities are registered as residents and one business entity as a non-resident in the Araz Valley Economic Zone Industrial Park, located in Jabrayil.

In 2022, 28 business entities received the status of resident in industrial zones, and 116 business entities have become residents to date.
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HEALTH officials and public bodies have pledged to work together to tackle inequalities in Rotherham after figures revealed low life expectancy rates across the borough.

The South Yorkshire Integrated Care Partnership has drawn up a strategy outlining its aim for people in all communities to live healthier and longer lives and have access to quality health and wellbeing support and care.

The document  developed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, NHS providers, the four South Yorkshire councils and voluntary and community organisations  says more than half a million people (527,000) in the region live in the 20 per cent most deprived areas nationally.

The strategy follows national data revealing how postcodes in northern cities have lower life expectancies than more affluent parts of the south and rural northern regions.

Life expectancy across the UK is on average 90 for both genders, according to the Health Equals group  but the average for Rotherhams central postcode of S60 is just 78.

Research by the group for its Lives Cut Short campaign found those in the FY1 postcode of Blackpool living to be an average of 73  the lowest in the country  compared with the highest age of 91 in Londons SW7.

Across Rotherham postcodes the rate varies from 77 to 80. In S25 it is 80 years while S61 to S64 comes in at 79 and S65 has the lowest rate with 77.

Meanwhile the SYICP found that, on top of this, people in the borough live, on average, for much longer in particularly poor health than elsewhere in England.

To develop the strategy, SYICP partners gathered data from health and care workers, children and young people, and under-represented and socially excluded groups, and ran a What Matters to You campaign.

Their plans include a focus on early identification and management of the causes of early death and promoting physical activity alongside activities to increase community links and reduce loneliness.

The ICP also wants to halt the stall in life expectancy and improve it by three years by 2028/30.

Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshires Mayor and ICP chair  whose manifesto pledge was for South Yorkshire to become the UKs healthiest region  said: I am determined we will make a positive difference to the health of our communities across South Yorkshire, and this strategy is where we start.

We have to challenge ourselves to think radically about what we do and how we do it if we are going to make South Yorkshire a healthier, wealthier and happier place.

Gavin Boyle, chief executive of NHS South Yorkshire, said: This is a really ambitious and exciting plan developed together with our partners across South Yorkshire, adding: Our vision is for everyone in our diverse communities to live happy, healthier lives for longer.

Speaking at Rotherham Councils health and wellbeing board meeting, chair Cllr David Roche described the strategy as excellent, and a document that is well worth reading as it will impact our work in South Yorkshire.

To read the full document, visit www.tinyurl.com/SYICPplan.
Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance has launched Discover Talented Students programme at Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Giftedness and Creativity.

Targeting students from grade 4 to 12 in both public and private schools across all the UAE, the programme aims to discover and support talented students, using a set of advanced and standardised scientific tools known as Hamdan Talent Rubric.

Students are nominated for the programme through two mechanisms: self-nomination, where the student or their guardian fills out their information on the programme's website, or collective nomination in coordination with schools and institutions.

First scientific tool

Dr Khalifa Al Suwaidi, the Secretary-General of Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, said: The new programme uses Hamdan Talent Rubric which is the first scientific tool to discover talented students in the country. The programme stems from the foundation's vision and continuous efforts to achieve leadership in discovering talented students, fostering them, and involving them in programmes that suit their scientific abilities and skills.

Through the programme, talented students are identified and supported by determining the type and level of their talents to cater to their needs and provide suitable educational services for them. This is achieved by applying a set of the latest standards to identify the talents and skills of the candidates, in preparation for their acceptance into the center's programmes. This aligns with our wise leadership's vision to support the distinguished students, nurture talents, develop their innovations in all fields, and prepare them to bear future responsibilities in elevating the country's status and contributing to supporting the UAE's position as a hub for creativity, innovation, science, and technology.

Dr Al Suwaidi added: This programme aims to discover the largest number of talented students in a wide range of fields to ensure a suitable fit between the capabilities of talented students and the quality of programmes that are appropriate for them. In addition, the programme intends to spread awareness among members of the community about the latest methods and practices used in detecting talented students.

Dr Al Suwaidi concluded by stating that Hamdan Talent Rubric represents one of the best and most advanced Arab assessment tools recognised globally. It has been developed by a specialised scientific team from prestigious international universities in Germany and Saudi Arabia, according to the latest scientific theories and best global practices in the field of talents.-- TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 5. Azerbaijan may supply hydrogen to Europe in a cost-effective way, Vladimir Rogov, Managing Director and Partner of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), told Trend.

"In Azerbaijan, we see a unique combination of all components needed for the development of the hydrogen sector. There are natural resources, infrastructure, and the end-consumer. And all this in a compact geography. The potential of Azerbaijan's renewable energy resources is extremely high, ensuring a strong competitive advantage, namely, the low cost of green hydrogen production," he said.

Rogov said referring to Global Solar Atlas that the solar generation potential in Azerbaijan is comparable to the south of Italy and is almost 1.5 times greater than Germanys, and the potential of wind energy on the Absheron Peninsula is comparable to the North Sea shelf areas.

"In terms of profits, the country could earn from $230-500 million per year, given the expected hydrogen price decrease in Europe nearly twice, from current $11 to $5.8/kg. Thus, the full cost of the green hydrogen delivered through the pipe can be very competitive and allow for substantial margin," said the expert.

He believes that another strong advantage of Azerbaijan is its ability to transport hydrogen, up to 10-15 percent of the flow, relatively efficiently and cost-effectively along existing gas pipeline networks to Europe, especially if compared to exports from sub-Saharan Africa or the highly inefficient transport of liquefied hydrogen from overseas.

"It makes sense to also build new pipelines, envisioning the future demand for hydrogen. For example, given the TAP volume of 11 billion m3 per year, the potential for transporting hydrogen from Azerbaijan is 40-85 thousand tons per year (5-10% of the gas volume). This will make only 2-4 percent of 2.3 million tons of the projected hydrogen demand in Italy in 2030," noted Rogov.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
MP Preneet Kaur Meets Union Agriculture Minister

She submitted a demand letter to the Union Minister

New Delhi: Member of Parliament from Patiala Preneet Kaur met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today (April 11). She submitted a demand letter to the Union Minister in which sought the compensation for for the damaged crops.

Notably, due to unseasonal rain, a lot of damage have been caused to crops in Punjab. Therefore, the state government has also announced compensation for the farmers. In this regard, the state government has said that they are with the farmers and the compensation amount will be deposited in the farmers' accounts before Baisakhi.

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Accordingly, Parliamentarian Preneet Kaur has met the Union Agriculture Minister and appealed to give increased amount of compensation to the farmers of Punjab for the loss of wheat crop from the central part.
Supreme Court

Formulate a Uniform Policy on a plea seeking to provide free Sanitary Pads to girls, Orders SC

NEW-DELHI: The Supreme Court has ordered all schools and educational institutions to provide free sanitary pads or napkins to girl students. All state governments will have to make arrangements for the safety and cleanliness of girl students. On this public interest petition of Jaya Thakur, a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala said that all the states should tell their plan regarding the issue of cleanliness during menstruation.

On behalf of the central government, Additional Solicitor General of India (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati said that although healthcare is a state subject but since 2011 there are also central schemes for this. She said, "Under this, we have submitted our plans and their complete details to the court through our note." The Chief Justice's bench also asked all the governments to give the details of the money spent on 'schemes made for the convenience and hygiene of the girl students during menstruation'.

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The bench said, "The state governments should tell what their plans are and whether they are spending the funds of the National Health Scheme of the Center on them or from their own resources. This practice has passed for more than a decade. Now calculate what, where, how much and how they have spent money for the convenience and health of girl students during menstruation?"

The Supreme Court has ordered the central government to formulate a uniform policy within four weeks on a petition seeking to provide free sanitary pads to girl students studying in classes 6th to 12th in schools across the country. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala said that the Central Government should also involve the States and Union Territories on this serious issue.
Sweden Man

Documents were found to be authentic after checking

Uttarakhand: The region of the Kosi river falls in the Ramnagar district of Uttarakhand. The Kosi is a transboundary river which flows through China, Nepal and India. It drains the northern slopes of the Himalayas in Tibet and the southern slopes in Nepal. Floods are common during the rainy season in the river. People or laborers who work near the river become homeless during the rainy season due to the floods.

Today, the forest department and the police received information that a foreign national has been living in a deserted area on the banks of the river in a tent for the past several days. As soon as the information was received, the police reached the spot and found that a young man was living in a tent on an island on the banks of the river Kosi near Teda Village.

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Notably, When the forest department along with the police administration reached the spot, they found a Swedish youth bathing in the Kosi river. The young man told during the interrogation that he was living on the bank of the river river since 3 days. He has come to India with a visa till February 2024. The documents were found authentic after checking.

The Police officials informed the youth that this is a tiger-infested area and it is not safe to stay here. After interrogation, the young man was released. The administration has breathed a sigh of relief as everything was found correct in the investigation.
Manjit Singh GK

Manjit Singh GK has been called for testimony

NEW-DELHI: In the 1984 Sikh Genocide case, the Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) has today issued a notice to Manjit Singh GK, the former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGPC). This notice has been sent to testify against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who is accused of the '84 Sikh Genocide case.

Manjit Singh GK held a press conference on 5th February 2018 and released five videos of Jagdish Tytler. It is worth mentioning here that the CBI had sent the audio of these sting videos to the CFSL for matching with Jagdish Tytler's voice sample. After which, now Manjit Singh GK has been called for testimony.


Papalpreet Singh

Papalpreet Singh will be kept in the jail along with 8 other aids of Amritpal Singh

CHANDIGARH: 'Waris Punjab De' organisation chief and fugitive Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh was sent to Assam's Dibrugarh Jail at 5:45 am on Tuesday. He will be kept in the jail along with 8 other companions of Amritpal Singh. Punjab Police has registered a case under the National Security Act (NSA) against Papalpreet Singh.

The Punjab police arrived at Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar early in the morning today with Papalpreet Singh. The flight left for Assam at 5:45 am. Meanwhile, while media interaction, Papalpreet Singh said, "What the police said is truth. My arrest took place only yesterday."

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IGP Sukhchain Gill said that the police teams were acting on some important clues during the ongoing special operation. He said that Amritpal Singh's main accomplice Papalpreet Singh has been arrested by Amritsar Rural Police taking effective steps. He said that the accused Papalpreet Singh was wanted by the Punjab Police in six criminal cases.

As per the media reports, Fugitive Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet Singh was arrested by the Amritsar rural police from Kathunangal area. Amritpal Singh is still on the run and Punjab Police has intensified action to hunt him as soon as possible.




Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi

Earlier, Lookout Circular (LOC) has also been issued against Channi

CHANDIGARH: Former Chief Minister of Punjab Charanjit Singh Channi has been summoned by the Vigilance Bureau for questioning in the Disproportionate Assets Case. He have been asked to appear for questioning on Wednesday (April 12) at 10 am.

This will be the first interrogation of Channi by the Vigilance Bureau. Earlier, Lookout Circular (LOC) has also been issued against Channi. According to vigilance sources, a detailed report has been prepared on the assets of former CM Channi.

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Earlier, the Vigilance Bureau had issued a lookout circular against Charanjit Singh Channi on March 7. After getting information about this, Channi released a video in which he said that he have canceled the schedule to visit United States of America.

Channi had said, "I am not among those who are afraid and I am not going anywhere and leaving Punjab." He had made it clear that he was ready to face any kind of scrutiny. According to sources, the properties of former Chief Minister Channi, his brothers and family members were being investigated by the Vigilance Bureau.
Consumer Protection

Complainant Ram Yadav is a Driver by Profession

CHANDIGARH: Failure to pay for the repair of a vehicle damaged in a road accident has raised trouble for the insurance company. The Chandigarh District Consumer Commission has imposed a fine of Rs 17,000 to New India Insurance Company.

The Company was ordered to pay Rs 7,000 as litigation expenses along with a repair amount of Rs 10,000. The complainant, Ram Yadav, a resident of Mohali, had registered the complaint to the Commission. Counsel for the complainant, Kanwar Chaudhary, said that Ram Yadav is a driver by profession.

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Yadav had insured his vehicle PB 65 AR 6278 from 17 February 2018 to 16 February 2019 with New India Insurance Insurance Company. On 24 December 2018, his car met with an accident in Shahabad, Kurukshetra, Haryana. He got the vehicle repaired at an authorized service center and informed the concerned insurance company. The surveyor of the insurance company inspected the vehicle and also took the insurance policy documents but they didn't paid the amount of repair of the vehicle. After which, the Chandigarh District Consumer Commission took the action against the company.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Azerbaijan exported 2.9 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe in the first quarter of 2023, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said on Twitter, Trend reports.

According to the tweeter, overall, gas exports grew by 11.2 percent year on year.

"From January through March 2023, Azerbaijan exported natural gas to Europe (2.9 billion cubic meters), Turkiye (2.7 billion cubic meters), and Georgia (0.9 billion cubic meters). During the reporting period, 1,4 billion cubic meters of gas were exported to Turkiye via the TANAP [Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline]," the tweet said.

In the first quarter of 2023, gas production in Azerbaijan increased by three percent, to 12.2 billion cubic meters. The country exported over half, or 6.5 billion cubic meters, of natural gas to foreign markets. In addition, oil production (including condensate) amounted to 7.7 million tons.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan produced 8.34 million tons of crude oil (including condensate) from January through March 2022, of which 8.3 million tons were commercial oil. Natural gas production amounted to 11.8 billion cubic meters in the country.

Azerbaijan started gas supplies to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor on December 31, 2020. A total of 22 billion cubic meters of gas have been delivered through the Trans Adriatic Gas Pipeline (TAP) and the European part of the Southern Gas Corridor since the start of commercial operation.

This year, Azerbaijan plans to export 12 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe.
President Joe Biden has called on Republicans in Congress to work together with Democrats to take action to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to require safe storage of firearms, to require background checks for all gun sales, and to eliminate liability protections for gun manufacturers.

Biden repeated his call after five people were killed and nine others were injured in a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, Monday.

A rookie police officer was critical after he was shot in the head.

An employee of the Old National Bank in the city centre opened fire at his colleagues during staff meeting at about 8:30 ET, reports quoting police said.

Police acted immediately, and shot the gunman dead in an exchange of gunfire.

The assailant was identified as Connor Sturgeon.

In a statement issued in the wake of the shooting, Biden thanked the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department officers who quickly and courageously stepped into the line of fire to save others.

"How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities? It's 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," Biden said.\

"A strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms. Instead, from Florida to North Carolina to the U.S. House of Representatives, we've watched Republican officials double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe," he added.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Mexico's industrial production expanded at the fastest pace in five months in February, mainly due to a sharp rebound in mining output, data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography showed on Tuesday.

Industrial production climbed a seasonally adjusted 3.5 percent year-on-year in February, faster than the 2.4 percent increase in January.

Further, this was the fastest rate of growth since September 2022, when production had risen 4.3 percent.

Among sectors, mining output grew sharply by 7.7 percent annually in February, reversing a 3.8 percent fall a month ago. Output produced in the utilities sector gained 5.1 percent versus 4.4 percent in January.

At the same time, the yearly growth in manufacturing eased to 2.5 percent in February from 4.0 percent in the prior month.

On a monthly basis, industrial production climbed 0.7 percent from January, when it dropped marginally by 0.1 percent.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
President Joe Biden has left for a four-day tour of the United Kingdom Tuesday morning.

Biden is scheduled to land at Belfast, Northern Ireland, at 4:20 ET, where he will be greeted upon arrival at the airport by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The two leaders had met last month in San Diego at the AUKUS announcement.

They will again meet for a bilateral meeting on Wednesday.

Biden will then head to Ulster University to deliver remarks marking the progress made since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago. "He'll 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," National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told reporters ahead of Biden's departure.

The signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998 ended decades of violence and brought peace and stability to Northern Ireland.

Following his speech at Ulster University, the President will travel to Ireland on Wednesday afternoon. He will visit County Louth, where his great grandfather James Finnegan was born and the Finnegan family lived before they crossed the sea to begin a new life in America. And he will tour Carlingford Castle.

On Wednesday night, the President will spend the night in Dublin.

On Thursday, he will meet with Northern Ireland's President Michael D. Higgins and participate in a tree planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell. Following that ceremony, he will meet with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, whom the President hosted for St. Patrick's Day. In both meetings, the President will discuss the close cooperation on the full range of shared global challenges.

He will then address a joint session of Irish parliament about U.S.-Irish cooperation to advance democracy, peace, security, and prosperity, as well as the shared deep history between the United States and Ireland.

Today, 1 in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry, and Ireland is a key economic partner of the United States.

On Thursday night, President Biden will attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle.

On Friday, the President will travel to County Mayo, where he will tour the sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Center's Family History Research Unit.

He will then deliver remarks at St. Muredach's Cathedral.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Japan will on Wednesday release February figures for core machine orders, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Orders are expected to sink 7.8 percent on month and rise 2.9 percent on year after gaining 9.5 percent on month and 4.5 percent on year in January.

Japan also will see March figures for bank lending and producer prices. Overall lending is expected to rise 1.8 percent on year, slowing from 3.3 percent in February. Producer prices are called lower by 0.3 percent on month and higher by 7.1 percent on year after slipping 0.4 percent on month and climbing 8.2 percent on year in the previous month.

New Zealand will provide March numbers for electronic card retail sales, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 1.5 percent on month and 9.5 percent on year. That follows the flat monthly reading and the 11.7 percent annual spike in February.

Australia will see February figures for private house approvals, with expectations for a decline of 13.8 percent on month following the 13.5 percent drop in January.

Indonesia will release February data for retail sales, with forecasts calling for a decline of 0.8 percent on year after easing 0.6 percent a month earlier.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Gas production in Azerbaijan in the first quarter of 2023, increased by 3 percent to 12.2 bcm, Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijans Minister of Energy, wrote on his Twitter page, Trend reports.

According to the minister, the country exported over half, or 6.5 bcm, of natural gas to foreign markets.

"In the first quarter of 2023, oil production in Azerbaijan, including condensate, amounted to 7.7 million tons, while gas production accounted for 12.2 bcm with an increase of 3 percent. At the same time, exports accounted for 6.5 bcm," Shahbazov wrote.

Meanwhile, from January through March 2022, while 8.348 million tons of crude oil were produced in Azerbaijan, including condensate, 8.323 million tons of which were commercial oil, natural gas production amounted to 11.803 bcm.
Rhodes University shines at SASUF Research and Innovation Week 2023

The South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF), of which Rhodes University is a member, recently held its Research and Innovation Week 2023. Several Rhodes University academics and executives participated.

The SASUF Research and Innovation Week, held from 27 to 31 march this year, brings together researchers, academics, students and university management from South Africa and Sweden and provides a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and the development of new collaborations and research projects.

The week involved 40 universities and consisted of 35 satellite events, with 783 registered participants, taking place across 12 cities in South Africa for the first part of the week. The Sustainability Forum from 29-31 March consisted of 50 workshops with 505 registered participants and was hosted by the University of the Western Cape.

The focus of this week is on addressing global challenges related to sustainable development, and SASUF's six sub-themes, which are aligned to The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:

Climate change, natural resources and sustainability Education for a sustainable society Social transformation through change: Knowledge and social development strategies Health - Understanding the burden of disease in Sweden and South Africa Sustainable urbanisation, travel and tourism in the 21st Century Digital technologies, big data and cybersecurity

On 27 and 28 March, Distinguished Professor Heila Lotz-Sistika hosted a two-day satellite event at the Environmental Learning Research Centre (ELRC) at Rhodes University. She explained, "The focus of the event was Sustainability and the ethical agency and moral authorship of children and young people, and what this means for education. The event aimed to collect, reflect on and deliberate research produced by the research group and others in order to inform and develop teacher education courses they actively work with. The work is framed within education for the common good, as articulated in the recent 2021 UNESCO Education Futures Report.

The proceedings on-site at the ELRC included a public panel discussion on 27 March with Dr Karin Sporre (Umea University), Dr Christina Osbeck (University of Gothenberg), and Dr Annika Lilja (University of Gothenberg), who visited Rhodes University and joined Prof Lotz-Sisitka, Dr Lausanne Olvitt, Dr Preven Chetty and Dr John Bhurukheni from Rhodes University. Prof Lotz-Sistika also presented at the Sustainability Forum in Cape Town later that week.

Ms Orla Quinlan, Director of Internationalisation, represented the Rhodes University Vice Chancellor (VC) at the SASUF "VC and Academic Leadership Sustainability Forum 2023". VCs, Deputy Vice-Chancellors and other senior representatives from over 40 universities attended the Forum.

Ms Quinlan said that while the event coincided with the Rhodes University graduation, it was important Rhodes University participated in such as significant gathering in the sector. Ms Quinlan contributed to the discussions on developing intercultural competency in the SASUF Forum and will take this aspect forward in SASUF.

Professor Greg Foster, (Information Systems, Rhodes University), Dr Varil Johan Orre (Malmo University), Dr Toas Lindroth (University of Gothburg) and Dr Duane Boucher (University of Fort Hare) co-hosted a workshop on Digital Health Promotion entitled: How do we design an engaging and culturally sensitive digital health promotion kiosk in resource-constrained environments?

Prof Foster said, "The engagement was very productive and resulted in an invitation to collaborate on a new research project.

Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science at Rhodes University Dr Sheunesu Ruwanza shared his research on restoration ecology and biological invasion at a poster session and contributed to discussions on topics such as how climate change impacts on people and the environment (both rural and urban environments). Dr Ruwanza said, "As a result of my participation, I have started new collaborations with researchers from Stockholm University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Science.

SASUF is very intentional about helping postgraduate students build networks for future research collaborations. Ms Chidochashe Chingombe, a Rhodes University postgraduate student said, "The Vice-Chancellor session with the student representatives from both Sweden and South Africa was a most memorable experience. The variety of people I encountered was also quite an experience, and I got to establish relationships with and make friends with my colleagues worldwide.

International Office Manager at Rhodes University Ms Debby Wolhuter, who had coordinated the Universitys participation and logistics, attended the SASUF coordinators meeting. She said: "SASUF coordinators are now working towards SASUF 2024, and the next meeting will be held at the International Education Association of South Africa, IEASA's conference 23 to 25 August 2023.

The call for SAFUS NRF seed fund grants is now open, and the deadline is 28 April 2023. https://www.sasuf.org/funding-opportunities

Source: Communications
PhD Candidate and Student Representative Council (SRC) Vice-President Putuma Balintulo

By Anda Mtshintsho

In the hopes of combining her passions for conservation, Indigenous storytelling and cinematography, PhD Candidate and Student Representative Council (SRC) Vice-President Putuma Balintulo fulfils her dream as a fellow at the Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF).

NEWF is a South African organisation that promotes nature and wildlife conservation through filmmaking. They partnered with the National Geographic Society to present its annual summit and congress earlier this year. The events aimed to bring storytellers, filmmakers, scientists, conservationists and broadcast media from all over Africa to engage in conservation topics critically. This year's theme was "Africa Refocused", and it focused on shifting the narrative, where young minds of Africa get to tell stories about their continent from their own perspective.

Balintulo got involved with the organisation in June 2022 when she signed up for the conservation symposium that was going to be held in Scottburgh, KwaZulu Natal. Through the symposium's mailing list, she received an email that NEWF is calling for scientists who are storytellers and are interested in developing their stories. She said, "As a person who's been interested in the film and television industry since childhood and grew up to be an environmental scientist, this was an opportunity to link the two." She was selected as one of the six applicants who made it through.

She then started attending online classes where they were taught how to write and produce stories. She said the classes helped her immensely because she had not known how to operate one.

She said she wanted to become part of the programme because of her academic background and upbringing, and she hoped to communicate her research findings to the layperson. "Most of the time, my supervisors would ask me to explain my research as if I am talking to my grandmother," she explained.

Balintulo said she was attracted by the idea that the organisation, through this programme, is advocating for Indigenous knowledge systems empowering, which is what her PhD focuses on.

She said, "As someone who's grown up watching wildlife films and programmes such as 50/50, I've always been curious about why we learn those things from the Western perspective. Why have we never learned about wildlife, nature and the environment from the Indigenous view while growing up?"

The film Balintulo worked on is about lead poisoning of the Nile crocodile in the estuaries of St Lucia, KwaZulu Natal. This came after seeing the crocodiles' health deteriorating. A toxicology analysis revealed excessive lead in the crocodiles' bloodstreams. They focused on investigating the possible causes through stakeholder collaboration with local fishermen. They did this by employing an Indigenous knowledge systems storytelling approach.

She described her experience working with NEWF. "It was amazing. It kept me engaged and constantly on my toes. It allowed me to tap into my scientist and conservation, storytelling, science communication and social activism sides," she said.

Balintulo also explained that this opportunity greatly benefits her career because it offers endless possibilities. "There are just so many prospects in front of me right now. I have the confidence that wherever I knock, one of these doors will lead me to the Putuma I want to be," she concluded.

Source: Communications
Maruti is getting ready to re-launch their 1.0 turbo petrol engine in the Indian market via Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Swift has been one of the brands best-selling models since its inception. Even last month, it was Indias no 1 selling car. First launched back in 2005, Swift is now in its 3rd generation. Current gen Swift was first launched in 2017. In 2024, we will now get a new gen Swift.

2024 Maruti Swift To Get More Powerful Engine Option

New gen Swift has started testing, and is due for global debut later this year. India launch of the 4th gen Swift is expected sometime next year. Ahead of that, new details about the engine of 2024 Maruti Swift have leaked online.

Apart from the existing 1.2 liter petrol engine, Maruti Suzuki will equip 2024 Swift with 1.0L Boosterjet engine as well. This will usher in a new era in Swifts history in India, as it has never had a turbocharged engine under its bonnet in this country.

2024 Swift With Boosterjet Engine  Turbo Power

Marutis 1.0 liter turbo engine is not new for India. They had launched it first with the Baleno RS, back in 2017. But due to low sales, it was discontinued. Now, with demand for more powerful cars in the entry segment on the rise, Maruti seems to have realized that the timing is right to offer the Boosterjet 1.0 engine in their cars.

The 1.0L Boosterjet engine is now assembled in India. This 3-cylinder engine delivers a power output of 100 PS and a torque output of 147.6 Nm. A 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission option will be the powertrain options. It will soon be on offer with the Fronx coupe crossover. Apart from Swift, this new turbo engine will also make its way to other Maruti cars like Baleno and Jimny in the future.

Swift with a turbo petrol engine is not a new concept. In fact, Europe has had a Turbocharged Swift for a long time. Swift Sport is that model and it gets a larger 1.4L Boosterjet engine. It even has a range of ADAS features on offer, to meet new safety standards in Europe.

What We Know About Upcoming Swift So Far

Upcoming 2024 Maruti Swift is 4th iteration of this model. Testing has already commenced in Europe and Japan. Next generation Swift will retain its general design silhouette, but there are enough distinctions to distinguish the new model from the outgoing one.

There is a new clamshell bonnet, lending a squared-off and muscular look. Headlights and front fascia will be changed too. We expect contrasting changes to rear design as well. Interiors will be updated with more features, tech, better seats that offer more comfort and space.

In addition to the 1.0L Boosterjet and the trusty ol K12 1.2L 4-cylinder engine, there are also reports of it getting a strong-hybrid 3-cylinder 1.2L powertrain. Maruti Swift Hybrid variant could deliver a mileage of over 30 kmpl. 2024 Maruti Swift prices will be in a similar range as current Swift. Turbo petrol and Hybrid option will be priced higher. More details will be divulged at the world premiere later in 2023.
Tata Nexons Impact on Tata Motors Business Volume: A Closer Look

Tata Nexon has emerged as a game-changer for Tata Motors, contributing significantly to the companys business volume. Since its launch in September 2017, the subcompact car has been hitting milestones regularly, and the latest one is a big one. Todays (April 11, 2023) production milestone announcement of 5,00,000 Tata Nexon units marks a new level of success for the company.

The journey to reach this milestone has been one of growth. Production of 25,000 units was announced in February 2018. A period of 6 months. Tata Nexon took about 12/13 months to reach the first 50,000 units milestone in September 2017.

How Tata Nexons Milestones Reflect the Evolving Indian Automotive Industry

However, it took an additional 12 months to achieve the next 50,000 units milestone. This period of slow growth can be attributed to several factors such as increasing competition in the subcompact segment. At the time the companys brand perception was slowly changing. And most importantly it was a period that marked evolving preferences of target customers. Slowly and steadily, buyers were taking interest in the segment.

Keeping pace with market markers, Tata Motors continued to innovate and improve/grow its product range. And in November 2020, the company achieved a production milestone of 150,000 Tata Nexon units. Again a fairly long period of over a year (about 15 months) to achieve the next 50k production units.

Tata Nexon Production Reaches 500,000 Units Milestone

Whats interesting is that the next 50,000 units were produced in just a little over six months due to an increase in demand. The 2 lakh unit milestone was announced in June 2021.

Todays production milestone announcement of 5,00,000 Tata Nexon units is a testament to the companys ability to adapt to changing market dynamics and customer preferences. The Tata Nexon has been a popular choice for customers. Consistent increase in monthly sales with each milestone reflects the growing demand for the subcompact UV in the Indian market.

From 25,000 to 5,00,000: A Look at Tata Nexons Production Milestones

As we delve deeper into the production milestones, we can see that monthly sales have improved with each milestone. The average monthly sales during the first 12 months were approximately 4,200 units, which increased to around 7,100 units during the 7-month period between the 150,000 and 200,000 units milestones. However, the most significant increase in average monthly sales occurred between the 200,000 and 500,000 units milestones, where the average monthly sales shot up to approximately 14k units.

Consistent growth in monthly sales with each milestone highlights the customer preference for Tata Nexon brand. This has helped it establish a strong position in the segment. To continue leading position, Tata Motors is getting ready to launch facelifted Nexon SUV later this year. Spy shots have already been leaked online, revealing many new features.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Kazakh government is looking to hit the operators of the Karachaganak and Kashagan oilfields with a number of lawsuits, for alleged unauthorized spending, Almasadam Satkaliyev, Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan, said, Trend reports, citing Kazakh media.

The government is looking to receive compensations from this, in the amount of $16.5 billion, he said.

The main partners in operating Kashagan field are Shell, Exxon Mobil, KazMunayGas the national oil company, Eni and TotalEnergies. Partners in operating Karachaganak are Shell and Eni.

The trial is scheduled to take place in Geneva and Stockholm. If the Kazakh government wins, it will receive a large share of the income from the deposits.

Back in March 2023, Kazakh government officials confirmed filling a $5.1-billion lawsuit against North Caspian Operating Company for the breach of environmental protection standards at the Kashagan oil field.
Filippis Pizza Grotto in downtown Escondido has been a fixture on Grand Avenue for 46 years. Its owner warned last week that the popular restaurants days may be numbered.

Bobby DePhilippis said if the city allows a proposed condominium project to be built on a city-owned parking lot behind his establishment that is used by most of his customers, it would likely mean the demise of his business.

If you take (the parking lot) away from us, I know my business will fail, DePhilippis, 68, said. Ill have to look for another spot or just close it.

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Last week, the City Council voted to enter into a purchase-and-sale agreement with developer Touchstone Communities to sell the parking lot should the six-story, 106-unit condo project known as The Aspire win approval.

David Ferguson, an attorney representing Touchstone, said an appraisal of the land will be made within the next 30 days. A preliminary appraisal came in at about $1.4 million, he said.

DePhilippis and other Grand Avenue business owners say parking is already at a premium in the area and eliminating the parking lot could cause economic calamity.

You cant take parking away and not think about what its going to do to other people, said Jim Crone, owner of two buildings on Grand Avenue. He said Touchstone will do well if the project is built. Hell make money and go back to Newport Beach and have a good time with it  but businesses will crater.

The Aspire project is just one of many residential projects that have either been approved or are in the planning pipeline in the downtown Escondido area. The citys plan is to bring far more residents into the area who in turn will be likely to walk and shop in the historic business district.

But many business owners are concerned about what is already, and has long been, a parking problem downtown. They say the elimination of the 180-space parking lot across W. Valley Parkway from the California Center for the Performing Arts and the City Hall complex will hurt their businesses because people just wont come by if there isnt somewhere close to park.

On Friday, standing outside the restaurant, DePhilippis estimated that 80 percent of his customers park in the lot behind his business.

Were scared, he said. I think if the people in the city of Escondido knew what was going on, they wouldnt put up with it.

DePhilippis said should the condo project be approved, he will go to court to try and stop the development. He told the council the Escondido store was his first and favorite. He owns five Filippis in all: in Escondido, Poway, Santee, Jamul and Imperial Beach. Other family members are involved with 10 other restaurants in the county and California.

I worked 20 hours a day without taking a day off trying to build the business, he said. Its been a great restaurant for me.

He said if forced to close, 50 people would be out of work.

Members of the council agreed parking is an issue, but said that it will be addressed when the project comes before them. Ferguson said Touchstone has hired a parking consultant to address such issues, which will be aired out during public hearings.

Part of The Aspire project calls for 71 public parking spaces and members of the council said some sort of temporary parking during construction would have to be provided if the project is approved.

There are also long-term plans to increase parking along Grand Avenue, they said.

The council voted 3-1 in favor of the conditional sale of the parking lot with Councilwoman Olga Diaz voting no and councilman John Masson not participating  which played a part in Diazs negative vote.

Massons civil engineering and land survey firm has worked on The Aspire project and Masson & Associates has worked as a consultant for Touchstone in different capacities for decades. He recused himself from the discussion and has done so during all closed session meetings regarding the possible sale of the property.

Diaz said even though Masson did the right thing by not participating, and even though she thinks the condo project could well be a good thing for the city, there is still in her belief a serious conflict of interest. Were she to agree to the sale, she would be partly complicit in what she said, based on her training, is an ethical breach.

When you have an elected official who stands to profit  off of the citys sale of an asset, youre doubling down on the conflict of interest, Diaz said. Its not just him doing business in the city, its him doing business in the city with the city. Thats the issue I have.

Diaz said she was not accusing anybody of wrongdoing.

But we can do better than what were doing with this particular scenario, she said.

Masson was not in the chambers to defend himself, but Mayor Sam Abed did so for him.

Council member Diazs comments will not go unchallenged, he said. According to the city attorney, we have followed the laws of conflict of interest. We have gone beyond the conflict of interest requirements in what is legally right. Hes abstaining. He not on the dais. You keep bringing this trust issue and secrecy up as if we are doing something behind the scene.

On Thursday, Masson said he doesnt understand Diazs concerns since he has always recused himself from matters involving clients.

In terms of somehow me profiting from the sale of the land, I dont know how that could even happen, he said. Whether or not Touchstone buys the land, there is no way for me to profit from that. Im not part of the deal. Im a consultant helping them with their entitlement process. My company is. And I get paid for my consulting services and I have to bid against other consulting engineers to get the work.

Masson said even if his company wasnt working on The Aspire project, he still would have abstained because he has worked with Touchstone for so long.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
An ex-Navy man was sentenced Thursday to three consecutive life terms in prison for trying, over several months, to poison his wife to death.

Race Remington Uto, 28, pleaded guilty last year to three counts of attempted premeditated murder by dosing his wife, Brigida, with thallium, an extremely toxic poison, at the Dulzura home they shared with their toddler son.

How selfish, how cruel, because you were having an affair and you wanted to get rid of your wife, El Cajon Superior Court Judge Robert Amador said to Uto.

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Amador called the poisoning inhumane and noted that murder by poison is punishable by the death penalty.

Investigators with the FBI and Sheriffs Department found a downloaded copy of The Poisoners Handbook on Utos phone, a prosecutor said.

Uto sat still and upright, his face impassive, as he listened to the judge. He also heard his now-former wife read an emotional account of the suffering she endured in the fall of 2017 to the spring of 2018, when doctors finally diagnosed her mysterious illness.

When the doctors told me I had thallium in my system, I was in shock and disbelief, said Brigida McInvale, who now uses her maiden name.

Thallium is a highly toxic metal once widely used in rat poisons and insecticides, but that use has been banned in the United States for many years. It is nearly undetectable after being ingested.

How did you do this to the mother of your child? McInvale continued. The only way out of a marriage is to kill your wife slowly? I cared for you; I loved you, and you silently watched me suffer for months.

She described the progression of her illness, from feeling dizzy and being unable to eat to severe hair loss and becoming too weak to stand. At one point last spring, doctors gave her two weeks to live, she said.

It felt like a nightmare that wouldnt stop, McInvale said.

She said she still suffers from stiff, weak legs, dizziness and emotional trauma.

Uto was still in the Navy, as a third-class electricians mate assigned to Naval Base Point Loma, when he began poisoning his wife.

Prosecutors alleged Uto used a small dose of thallium first, in August 2017, and  when that didnt work  tried a little larger dose in December that year.

Then, in January of 2018, he used a dose five times larger than before, Deputy District Attorney Paul Reizen said in court.

Uto was arrested last March. He pleaded guilty in December.

The prosecutor told the judge that Uto told investigators early on that he was so concerned about his dying wifes mysterious ailment, saying, If I could trade places with her, I would.

And all that time, he had the answer, Reizen said.

Reizen said The Poisoners Handbook describes thallium as one of the worst poisons, killing slowly, giving the poisoner control over how quickly the victim dies.

Defense attorney Dan Cohen told the judge that Uto accepts responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty to save McInvale and her family from further trauma.

Cohen said Uto suffered a back injury at the Naval Academy in Annapolis and has an electronic implant to aid pain control.

Mr. Uto believes the pain clouded his judgment, Cohen said.

McInvale said her son, now 3, is in therapy to get over the fear of losing his mother. She said the boy was also affected by having been separated from his mother for months while she was in quarantine in the hospital.

McInvale said she and Uto had been married for three years and in a relationship for 10 years. She said it took her a long time to accept investigators suspicions that her husband was trying to kill her.

I wanted to believe he would never hurt me, she told the judge.

Reizen read statements from the victims mother and father, urging the judge to impose the maximum sentence on Uto. Their younger daughter read her own statement, describing the pain of seeing her sister come close to dying in the hospital.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @pdrepard
Dear Mediator:

Our manager announced at a staff meeting that we have four registrations for an upcoming conference, and she asked us to tell her whos interested. Afterward, she took me aside and said, I know youre a single mom with a lot on your plate, so dont feel pressured to go. I was stunned by this. People assume all single moms are stressed-out, but Im not! I have happy kids and a great life. Am I wrong to feel offended? Or should I have said something?

Resentful in Leucadia

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Dear Resentful:

You are experiencing a human reaction to a dehumanizing mental construct. Whether your boss really thinks you are overwhelmed, or whether shes using a pretext to shrink the pool of registrants, her judgment is flawed, and its never too late to address that.

When we hear the word stereotype, we usually think of cruel caricatures based on demographic factors like race, ethnicity, gender, age, and sexual orientation. Such intentional discrimination is all too real, and it has deep historic roots, so the struggle to eradicate it wont end anytime soon.

But prejudicial thinking, as your case shows, is more pervasive. It involves unconscious bias, a term made famous by the incomprehensible arrest of two African-American customers at a Philadelphia Starbucks in April.

The study of unconscious bias refutes the notion (which is itself a stereotype) that all people with discriminatory mindsets are bad actors. Almost everyone harbors biases that dont reach the light of deliberate thought. This does not excuse hurtful conduct. But it can help us deconstruct hurtful concepts so we can expunge them before they implode.

The formula for bias is wretchedly simple: All so-and-sos are such-and-such. No one is immune from such typecasting. Examples include All bosses are clueless, and All mediators are delusional.

It defies logic that every member of any group would behave the same. So why do we think this way? Because our brains impulsively look for mental shortcuts to navigate a perplexing world with minimal effort.

This powerful insight came from psychologists Daniel Kahnemann and Amos Tversky. Their discoveries about faulty decision-making transformed the field of behavioral economics.

In his acclaimed book Thinking Fast and Slow, Kahnemann, winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, warned against the cognitive ease of jumping to conclusions. As he explained, fast thinking seizes upon crude stereotypes that are imbedded in the culture. Slow thinking requires effort to examine false premises and discard unjust beliefs.

This would have been a message delivered to nearly 175,000 Starbucks employees when more than 8,000 U.S. stores closed May 29 for a day-long diversity training workshop.

Global publicity about that exercise has given all of us an opening to raise the issue at work. Re-engineering thought patterns to treat diverse colleagues and clients more inclusively is a best practice for any employer. You can recommend such training through your HR office or employee suggestion program.

As for your boss, lets assume she is genuinely concerned about you. You need to relieve her of that worry by having a constructive conversation.

Tell her youve been thinking about her single mom comment, and you want to reassure her that your work-life balance is stable. Then ask open-ended questions about how she perceives your job performance and if she has any feedback.

If it turns out that she just assumed all single moms are overwhelmed, you can refute that with your personal display of competence. That could help her slow down her thinking and become a more enlightened manager.

Steven P. Dinkin is a professional mediator who has served as president of the San-Diego based National Conflict Resolution Center since 2003.

Do you have a conflict that needs a resolution? Please share your story with The Mediator via email at mediatethis@ncrconline.com or as an online submission by visiting www.ncrconline.com/MediateThis. All submissions will be kept anonymous.
Tuesday 11 April 2023 Chris Kipp and the Scala Center team

Tooling is a pivotal part of the developer experience. Often when someone asks about a new language or how another developer enjoys working in a certain language, its not long before the topic of tooling comes up. Questions like whats the build tool like? and hows the editor support? are often some of the first questions asked, after talking about language features.

Earlier this year when the Center published the 2023 Scala Center Roadmap we mentioned our plans for a tooling summit this year. In the last few years a global pandemic prohibited us from meeting in person and an all-consuming Scala 3 release effort that required extra effort on tooling identified a deep need for something like this summit  to touch base, to map out current issues and opportunities in the tooling ecosystem, and to re-lay the groundwork for ongoing collaboration.

With all this in mind, wed like to share some updates from the recent summit hosted by the Scala Center at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Who was there

What originally started out as a plan to better sync between those working on the compiler and core tools at the Scala Center with those working on IntelliJ IDEA at JetBrains eventually blossomed into an event with over 40 attendees from around the world representing all sorts of companies and organization actively involved in the development and maintenance of core tooling in the Scala ecosystem. Below you will find a list of some of those companies and orgs:

What we talked about

The Tooling Summit was spread over three full days of sessions around teamwork, de-duplication efforts, stabilization, and discussing the future of Scala tooling. Much of this time was spent brainstorming, discussing, and even hacking on various ideas that originated from a set of topics scheduled throughout the summit. You can find a list of these topics below:

Ensure tooling can use structured diagnostics

JetBrains / Scala Center education collaboration

Scope and syntax of scala-cli using directives

Debugging in Scala 3

Bazel and Scala

Standardizing Scala worksheet implementations

The state of editor support for scala-cli

A discussion around BSP

Making tooling more robust

Limiting the ways to import a project into your IDE

Porting Scalameta to Scala 3

IDE support in polyglot projects that contain Scala

Tasty Query and its use-cases

Planning for sbt 2

Bringing the Compiler Academy format to tooling

Shared publishing implementations for build tools

Merge Bloop mainline and scala-clis fork of Bloop

Many of these topics resulted in issues being created, PRs being started, and new discussions and ideas popping up all around GitHub. Heres a small overview and summary of the topics and their outcomes:

Ensure tooling can use structured diagnostics

We had a session on ensuring that the tooling around the ecosystem could properly consume and utilize structured diagnostics that come straight from the compiler. There was a talk on this subject during the past ScalaIO conference by Chris Kipp called The Journey of a Dotty diagnostic. While scala-cli already has some actionable diagnostics that allow you to update an outdated using directive, during the summit we talked about various quick fixes that the compiler could produce and even had a rough prototype to illustrate this using IntelliJ by the end of the summit!

The idea would be that fixes like this can come directly from the compiler ensuring that all tooling that interacts with it can benefit. You can follow the progress on this work in this Dotty mega issue on structured diagnostics.

JetBrains / Scala Center education collaboration

Both the Scala Center and JetBrains have educational efforts around helping newcomers to Scala get familiar with the language and the ecosystem. Theyre not alone in this effort as multiple other companies like Xebia Functional also have courses and exercises to that end. As a result of this conversation there is a more concrete focus on communicating around the ecosystem about educational initiatives and also efforts to look more into utilizing tools like the JetBrains Educations Plugin.

Scope and syntax of scala-cli using directives

As scala-cli has is well on its way to becoming the new default scala command, discussions around using directives continually come up. Questions such as what should or shouldnt be allowed, what format they should take, and what their scope is are commonplace. Heres some links that were referenced around this topic and some that were a result of this discussion:

Debugging in Scala 3

Debugging in Scala is a complex domain. This makes it all the more important to ensure were de-duplicating efforts where we can. The emergence of the scala-debug-adapter is a great example of de-duplicating the efforts around debugging for various tools. As a result of this conversation there will be more work towards utilizing the scala-debug-adapter in other tools that arent yet using it and also potentially inlining things like the Scala 3 expression evaluator right into the Dotty codebase. Here are a handful of other items that either came out of the discussion t the summit or were referenced:

Bazel and Scala

Many larger companies that use Scala are increasing their usage of Bazel for their polyglot mono-repo codebases. Many of these companies have specific needs unique to very large codebases that often result in bespoke solutions. The goal of this sessions was to discuss a few different aspects of this by focusing on the following areas:

Why use Bazel?

Competing implementations of rules_scala https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_scala https://github.com/higherkindness/rules_scala

Difficult IDE support compared to other tools like sbt or Gradle

Deployment strategies

While no concrete action has been taken yet, the conversation has started and will be sure to continue moving forward.

Standardizing Scala worksheet implementations

Currently in the Scala ecosystem we have 3 different approaches to worksheets:

IntelliJ worksheets (plain and interactive mode) which re-use functionality from the Scala REPL

Metals worksheets using mdoc as an engine

Scastie which uses a custom macro implementation

This presents another great opportunity to de-duplicate the efforts here and provide a solution that is closer to the compiler that can be re-used by other tools. Here are a few outputs of the discussion:

A thread on youtrack has been created about modern worksheets in IntelliJ.

There will also be some research going into what a shared interface or worksheets could look like inside of the Scala 3 compiler.

There will be some work to try and unify the way dependencies and scala options are included in worksheets to better align with using directives for example.

The VS Code Notebook API will be explored to see if it can produce better output than the current Metals implementation with VS Code.

The state of editor support for scala-cli

Since scala-cli is still quite new, much of the conversation during this topic was getting all parties involved on the same page about how scala-cli works, what limitations currently exist, and how we can collectively tackle them. Here are a few action items and links from the discussion:

scala-cli support in IntelliJ Scala Plugin

Wed like to ensure syntax highlighting works for using directives in all the normal places youd expect them to

Wed like to ensure there is solid single-file support in various editors when using scala-cli. This is being looked into both in IntelliJ and Metals

A discussion around BSP

The Build Server Protocol (BSP) was envisioned as a unified way to compile, run, test, etc your code in a way that doesnt make build clients or servers re-implement integrations for every tool similar to how the Language Server Protocol (LSP) works with language servers and your favorite text editor. While this started small with a single client (IntelliJ) and server (Bloop), we now have multiple client and server implementations for sbt, Mill, Bazel, Bloop, and more even extending to other languages outside of the JVM. In order to ensure a healthy future for BSP weve gone ahead and formalized the team structure a bit, are in the process of migrating to a Smithy as a source of truth, and are actively exploring a smoother BSP Discovery process.

Making tooling more robust

Having your tooling not work as expected is frustrating. Not knowing why its not working is even more frustrating. This conversation surrounds ideas and topics like:

Better logging

Telemetry

Fault tolerance

Stress testing

As a result of these conversations the Metals team will be exploring usage of Sentry to better track when things are going wrong. The idea here would be to provide an experience similar to IntelliJs Exception Analyzer. LSP also has a telemetry event that could be utilized, but more research needs to be done here.

Limiting the ways to import a project into your IDE

Both Metals and IntelliJ users have multiple ways to import projects. This could be simply choosing your build server in Metals, or choosing to use BSP at all in IntelliJ. There are ongoing discussions and work going on in both of these tools to make the getting started experience on a project more seamless no matter the tool or project. For example you can see the discussion choosing a default build server for metals here.

Porting Scalameta to Scala 3

Scalameta is a core part of the tooling ecosystem being utilized by tools like Metals, Scalafmt, Scalafix, and mdoc. While Scalameta can handle parsing Scala 3 code, it cant be used as a library in Scala 3 projects. The main hiccup in this effort is the extensive use of macros, which arent easily migrated. The main outcome of this discussion was simply better understanding the challenges involved, so that if someone is willing to put in the time here, we have a starting point and some research done.

IDE support in polyglot projects that contain Scala

Traditionally IntelliJ has been the leader in this front offering great support for mixed JVM-language projects. However this is made trickier with tools that may not always be well-supported in this context like sbt or Mill. There is a new upcoming BSP plugin for IntelliJ this may offer a better level of support for using Mill or sbt server for multi-language projects. On the Metals side, this is made even more trickier as LSP isnt traditionally used for mixed multi-language projects. There will be some more research on seeing if its possible to better integrate with the Java language servers. There is an ongoing thread about this that can be followed here.

Tasty Query and its use-cases

Tasty Query is a newer tool in the ecosystem that is a compiler-independent way to semantically analyze TASTy files. Some concrete actions items that came out of this session to be worked on are below:

Planning for sbt 2

sbt is the most widely used build tool for Scala, spanning small to giant projects. Many Scala developers daily interact with this tool and its plethora of plugins. Due to this, a lot of effort has been going into ensuring a smooth transition to sbt 2 which will boast a handful of new features focused on simplicity, interactivity, and stability. Eugene Yokota has put a ton of effort into this so far, so heres a dump of relevant blogs and discussion around this that may interest you.

Bringing the Compiler Academy format to tooling

The Compiler Academy has been an ongoing effort to help onboard new contributors to the Scala 3 compiler. While the format has been a success, its been difficult to get the amount of compiler maintainers necessary to participate in the sprees. The discussion at the summit focused on how to continue the effort to get more active participants in the Scala 3 compiler development and also to look into taking the same format and applying it to other tools in the Scala ecosystem.

Across the ecosystem many tools have their own implementation to publish an artifact. For example, sbt, Mill, and scala-cli all use their own implementations. During this topic coursier/publish was mentioned as a possible library that could be utilized across the ecosystem. There were multiple questions that would need to be answered first about the reality of this possibility that are being tracked here.

Merge Bloop mainline and scala-clis fork of Bloop

For most users Bloop should just be an implementation detail. However, in the ecosystem weve frequently seen questions and comments about how it works, and questions about why it works a certain way. Some of the answers to these questions has led scala-cli to fork Bloop resulting in 2 bloop servers often running on a users machine if they are a Metals user. In order to combat this and provide a smoother Bloop experience for all users, we discussed what would need to happen in order to merge the fork of Bloop back inline. You can follow a thread on this effort here.

What comes next?

Overall, we consider the summit a success. With positive feedback from participants and movement already visible on the topics above, we feel confident that these efforts will result in a more stable, feature-rich, and unified tooling ecosystem. The Scala Center will be continuing to facilitate and plan further collaboration related to these topics and efforts.

Were also looking ahead to another summit that will coincide with the upcoming Scala Days in Madrid. Well follow up on the discussion topics above and also dive into new ones.

There will be a discussion surrounding the content of this post on the contributors forum, so please engage with questions or comments.
Using data from NSFs Atacama Cosmology Telescope, astronomers have produced the most detailed map of dark matter distributed across one quarter of the sky. Their work provides further support to Einsteins theory of general relativity, which has been the foundation of the Standard Model of cosmology for more than a century.

Although dark matter makes up a large chunk of the Universe, approximately 85%, it has remained hard to detect because dark matter does not interact with light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation.

Scientists believe dark matter may only interact with gravity.

To track dark matter down, Stony Brook University astronomer Neelima Sehgal and more than 160 astronomers worldwide have built and gathered data from NSFs Atacama Cosmology Telescope in the high Chilean Andes.

The astronomers focused the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation  light emanating from the dawn of the Universes formation, the Big Bang, when the Universe was only 380,000 years old.

They tracked how the gravitational pull of large, heavy structures including dark matter warps the CMB on its 14-billion-year journey to us, like how a magnifying glass bends light as it passes through its lens. This phenomenon is called gravitational lensing.

The ACT result showcases the precision that can be obtained with measurements of the gravitational lensing of the microwave background, as well as the promise of future more sensitive CMB experiments in terms of furthering our understanding of the physics of the Universe, Dr. Sehgal said.

The work further supports Einsteins theory about how massive structures grow and bend light, with a test that spans the entire age of the Universe.

Weve made a new mass map using distortions of light left over from the Big Bang, said Dr. Mathew Madhavacheril, an astronomer at the University of Pennsylvania.

Remarkably, it provides measurements that show that both the lumpiness of the Universe, and the rate at which it is growing after 14 billion years of evolution, are just what youd expect from our Standard Model of cosmology based on Einsteins theory of gravity.

When I first saw them, our measurements were in such good agreement with the underlying theory that it took me a moment to process the results, said University of Cambridge Ph.D. student Frank Qu.

A set of teams three papers will be published in the Astrophysical Journal.
Located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation of Taurus, the Crab Nebula and its pulsar formed in a supernova whose light reached Earth in July 1054.

In the year 1054 CE, Chinese astronomers were startled by the appearance of a new star, so bright that it was the brightest object in the night sky, second only to the Moon, and was visible in broad daylight for 23 days.

The stellar explosion was also recorded by Japanese, Arabic, and Native American stargazers.

Today, the Crab Nebula is visible at the site of that bright star.

Also known as Messier 1, M1, NGC 1952 and Taurus A, it lies approximately 6,500 light-years away in the constellation of Taurus.

The Crab Nebula was first identified in 1731 by English doctor, electrical researcher and astronomer John Bevis and was rediscovered in 1758 by French astronomer Charles Messier.

It derived its name from its appearance in a drawing made by Irish astronomer Lord Rosse in 1844.

The Crab pulsar, also known as PSR B0531+21, is the central star in the Crab Nebula.

It is a young neutron star about 15.5 miles across, but it contains the mass of nearly one million Earths.

Now rotating 30 times a second, the pulsar emits beams of radio waves that, like a lighthouse, produce flashes each time it rotates.

What makes science so beautiful and exciting is that for those few moments, youre seeing something that no one has ever seen before, said Dr. Martin Weisskopf, an emeritus astronomer at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center who studied the Crab Nebula in 1971 using a sounding rocket.

Nearly every recent large telescope has pointed to the Crab Nebula to better understand this mysterious supernova remnant.

But only NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) can study X-rays from the nebula in terms of polarization, a measure of the organization of electromagnetic fields.

The Crab Nebula is one of the most-studied high-energy astrophysical objects in the sky, said Dr. Michela Negro, a researcher at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center affiliated with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and co-author of a paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

So it is extremely exciting that we could learn something new about this system by looking through IXPEs polarized lenses.

Across the entire nebula, IXPE found about the same average polarization as Dr. Weisskopf and his 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.

The astronomers see areas of much polarization in the outer regions of the nebula, light-years away from the pulsar, where polarization is lower.

This enabled them 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 pulsars wind are propelling particles close to the speed of light.

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N. Bucciantini et al. Simultaneous space and phase resolved X-ray polarimetry of the Crab pulsar and nebula. Nat Astron, published online April 6, 2023; doi: 10.1038/s41550-023-01936-8
Pang Pha, an Asian elephant at the Berlin Zoo, has a unique way of eating bananas. As per the Insider, she uses her trunk to peel them open first instead of eating them whole. Footage of Pha shows her breaking the ripe banana in half with her trunk. and peeling each half, shaking it until the soft interior falls out. She picks up the fruit with her trunk and eats it, discarding the peel.

Researchers noted that this behavior had not been previously documented in elephants, and they believe it may have been learned or invented by Pha. The discovery could be another proof that these giant mammals are self-domesticated animals.

Pha's Impressive Banana Peeling Skills

Researchers from the Humboldt University of Berlin have observed a unique behavior in Pang Pha, an Asian elephant residing at Berlin Zoo. As Science Times reported, the elephant was observed peeling ripe bananas with her trunk and discarding the peel rather than eating the fruit whole, which is typical.

In their study, titled "Elephant banana peeling," published in Current Biology, researchers reported that Pang Pha only peels yellow bananas with brown spots, while she eats fully yellow or green bananas whole and completely avoids brown bananas. The elephant appeared to have learned the behavior from her doting caretaker, who gave her peeled bananas.

Michael Brecht of the Humboldt University of Berlin said in a statement via Cell Press that what makes Pang Pha's behavior unique is a combination of factors, such as skillfulness, speed, individuality, and its putatively human origin.

Pang Pha is also shy about displaying her peeling, and when eating bananas in a group, she eats most of them whole and saves one to peel and eat on her own later. The researchers also noted that Pang Pha peels bananas faster than humans.

READ ALSO: Elephants Learn to Adapt to Varying Landscapes Brought by Increasing Human Development

Self-Domesticated Mammals

According to Popular Science, previous research has shown that some African elephants can understand human pointing gestures and differentiate between people from different ethnic groups. However, the researchers behind this study suggest that the ability to peel bananas is a unique behavior likely derived from human influence.

Brecht said that the elephants' behavior is shaped by their experiences, and they possess impressive trunk skills. The researchers are interested in whether this behavior is passed down within elephant families and are now exploring other complex trunk behaviors, such as tool use.

The discovery adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that elephants have remarkable cognitive abilities. In a recent study, another group of researchers argued that elephants might be the only non-primate animal that exhibits self-domestication, characterized by reduced aggression and strong social bonds.

As per Gizmodo, some scientists argued that self-domestication in species other than humans could be possible. A study showed that African elephants have over 600 genes that rapidly evolved, with at least some of these genes linked to domestication.

Scientists argue that given elephants' lack of natural predators, they evolved into not picky eaters, which afforded them the time and resources to become more socially adept. Also, they may have in history that forced their ancestors to become dependent on each other to survive, and that characteristic was passed down to the next generation.

RELATED ARTICLE: 'Zombie Gene' Explains Why Its Almost Impossible for Elephants to Have Cancer

Check out more news and information on Elephant in Science Times.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiyev met with the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Turkmenistan Michel Peetermans (with residence in Baku) on April 10, 2023, who is in Ashgabat on a working visit, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

As part of the presentation of copies of credentials, the Turkmen side expressed its readiness to provide all possible assistance and support to the Ambassador's activities.

During the meeting held in the building of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, the sides discussed the main directions and prospects of bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and Belgium in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields.

The parties agreed to support the initiatives and proposals of the countries on international platforms within the framework of established mechanism of interaction through international organizations.

Furthermore, in order to expand trade and economic cooperation, the parties also put forward proposals for cooperation in the field of renewable energy and port activities.

Recently, Turkmenistan's Ambassador in the Kingdom of Belgium Sapar Palvanov held a meeting with the Governor of the Belgian province of Antwerp Cathy Berx during which they discussed issues of strengthening multilateral cooperation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Turkmenistan will participate in the sixth meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation and Central Asia to be held on April 14 in the Uzbek city of Samarkand, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen media.

The agenda will be a discussion of strategic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the five Central Asian countries in the political and diplomatic, trade and economic, transport, energy, cultural, and humanitarian fields.

The parties plan to exchange views on topical issues at regional and international levels.

Furthermore, a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is scheduled for April 14 with the participation of representatives of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, and the CIS Executive Committee.
OnPoint and Northern Lakes Community Mental Health share how adult foster care homes empower Michiganders with disabilities while enriching our communities.

The front room of a MOKA adult foster home in Allegan.

MOKA , an organization that has 32 small adult foster care homes throughout Muskegon, Ottawa, Kent and Allegan Counties.

Chris Palmer is a resident of an adult foster home in Allegan.

The hallway leading to residents rooms of an adult foster home in Allegan.

Stacy Jensen, left, Elizabeth Weaver, residential support staff member, prepare peach cobbler.

Stacy Jensen is a resident of a MOKA adult foster home in Allegan. MOKA provides residents person-centered, culturally competent, trauma-informed care that creates a culture of gentleness.

The MI Mental Health series highlights the opportunities that Michigan's children, teens and adults of all ages have to find the mental health help they need, when and where they need it. It is made possible with funding from the

Community Mental Health Association of Michigan

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Center for Health and Research Transformation

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Genesee Health System

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Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan

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North Country CMH

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Northern Lakes CMH Authority

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OnPoint

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Sanilac County CMH

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St. Clair County CMH

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Summit Pointe

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Washtenaw County CMH

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Marianne Joynt and Lindsay French in the classroom.

Lindsay French and Marianne Joynt work together in the Portage Public Schools.

Lindsay French and Marianne Joynt. Joynt says anxiety and depression can be crippling for some students.

From left, Coordinator of Mental Health Initiatives Lindsay French, Engagement Specialist for Amberly Elementary and Marianne Joynt.

This article is part of, 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. For years, Lesa Brenner has been advocating for educators to address her daughters mental health needs.This year, she used Schools of Choice to switch her eighth-grader to Portage Public Schools to see those needs met.We felt there was just, across the board, a major lack of trauma-informed care (in the previous district). We were dealing with constant triggers and feeling unsafe. She went through a couple of middle school settings, to the point where she just was not set up to be successful, Brenner says.Her child has been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder  conditions that impact her daughters impulse control and cause a lot of mental and emotional fatigue, Brenner, of Kalamazoo, says.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that a person may be diagnosed with PTSD when they develop long-term symptoms (longer than one month) from trauma, which are upsetting or interfere with their relationships and activities.The CDC describes ADHD as one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, usually first diagnosed in childhood, often lasting into adulthood. A person with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, may act without thinking about what the result will be (impulsivity), or be overly active.With Brenners daughter at Portage Public Schools, Brenner received calls on day one from staff who would be working directly with her daughter to implement the childs Individualized Education Program (IEP) and help her feel safe and welcome at school.Brenners daughter has been able to get regular support from her school counselor, a licensed professional counselor, when shes overwhelmed throughout the day. She has other accommodations included in her IEP that help her have better days at school. And most importantly, her mother says, is that the staff have connected to her and recognized her needs.There are so many different social things happening, and kids are so confused right now, says Brenner, who is also a licensed master social worker and therapist. Theres a lot of uncertainty and weird things going on and it just makes our kids feel really sad and anxious.Theres no typical-looking day when it comes to supporting the mental health needs of Portage Public Schools nearly 8,800 students. And in Marianne Joynts new role as mental health initiatives coordinator for the district, shes able to go wherever support is needed for staff and students and put together plans to meet their needs as best she can. Joynts position is one of many similar roles being added to school systems locally and across the nation as needs for mental health support in the schools have grown.Over the past several years, all the school districts in the county have seen an increase in anxiety and depression for students. When we look at students who were functioning well in the past, those are students who are now needing extra support, says Joynt.According to the report Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Michigan Youth with School-Based Health Services released in 2021 by Citizens Research Council of Michigan, nearly 20 percent of Michigan youth have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and/or ADHD.Nearly two in five Michigan youth have reported feeling sad or hopeless every day for a two-week period in a way that impacted their usual activities. The proportion of youth in Michigan experiencing a major depressive episode has increased by 83 percent since 2007, the report says.Joynt previously worked with Integrated Services of Kalamazoo in close collaboration with Portage Public Schools to help youth access services. Now, shes able to work within the district to create systems change, increase awareness, and manage barriers hands-on with proactive strategies.Joynt says anxiety and depression can be crippling for some students. It can make it hard to sleep at night, to get out of bed in the morning, and to take care of hygiene. We are seeing an epidemic of children not going to school due to very high levels of anxiety, the transition between home and school is often the hardest time for them, she says.Students with depression may withdraw from social activities, isolate themselves from peers, and experience falling grades. Anxiety can cause work avoidance, falling grades, difficulty testing, and irritability with peers and teachers. At times, the environment in schools can be overwhelming (lights too bright, hallways too noisy) when dealing with anxiety or depression.Depending on the weight that students carry into the school each morning, their day can be affected from beginning to end, Joynt says. It is crucial that school staff get to know their students and are able to identify when they may need extra support.Research supports having schools actively engaged in supporting youth mental health needs. While there are many valuable strategies to target the major barriers to youth behavioral health treatment, one approach has been proven to check all the boxes: expansion of school-based health professionals, services, and centers, according to the Citizens Research Council of Michigan report.Heightened awareness of increasing youth mental health struggles sets the tone for how the 14-school district uses Joynts services. The increase in funding from state and federal resources also made it more feasible to offer a dedicated mental health role.Thats what my task is, to really bring a mental health lens and focus and coordinate those different pieces, Joynt says. We have lots of people working in the district, but everyones focus is different with just a tiny thread of mental health. I get to just focus on mental health.About $30 million was added to State School Aid Act Funding in 2018-2019, and soon after, Michigan became one of the first states to amend the Medicaid State Plan to expand coverage to include reimbursement for all Medicaid-eligible students receiving behavioral health and support services, not just students with an Individualized Education Program or Individualized Family Service Plan.This came after Michigan lawmakers were having conversations about how to harden schools to keep out would-be shooters  bolstering secure entrances, reinforcing windows, upgrading security tactics, and more, according to Scott Hutchins, School Mental Health and Medicaid Consultant with the Michigan Department of Education. He says lawmakers began to examine how they might also support students and staff and their mental health needs in a more preventive, internal way.Each pot of state funding offered has its own set of rules, which allows districts to get creative in meeting their needs. Some may purchase social-emotional learning (SEL) training for staff and materials for students; others may hire therapists to be on-site. Hutchins provides technical assistance to schools to help work through their needs assessments to help them access and utilize available resources.A lot of our schools now have the ability to get that student connected to services right there in that school, so you don't have to worry about transportation, you don't have to worry about finding time after school. Now they can literally walk down to an office within the school day and see a therapist and get service within their school, Hutchins says. To me, it really has made a huge difference.A document, formally known as 31n School-Based Mental Health Services 2021-2022 Legislative Report, offers a comprehensive overview of whats happening in public schools across the state with mental health initiatives. The overall intent of this funding is to increase the provision of mental health and support services in schools for general education students throughout Michigan.More than 62,000 students received mental health screenings or assessments in 2021-2022 compared to 12,030 in 2019-2020. More than 22,200 students received direct services from a School-Based Mental Health Services provider in 2021-2022 compared to 8,885 in 2019-2020.Youve got to teach kids math. Youve got to teach them how to read. Youve got to teach them how to play with each other, get along with each other, right, says Hutchins, who spent 20 years as a teacher and principal before taking his role with the state. But they cant do all those things, they cant learn if theyre not feeling connected, if they're not feeling whole, if they're dealing with depression or anxiety and they've got a 12-month waiting list to go see somebody.In the 2019-2020 school year, 291 local school districts were served by School-Based Mental Health Services funds. In the 2021-2022 school year, that increased to 436 local school districts served. The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) licensed behavioral health providers hired directly by an intermediate school district or local school district with such funds went from 89.78 in 2019-2020 to 257.74 in 2021-2022. The number of licensed therapists available to provide direct services to students through partnerships with community mental health and private practice also increased.Seeing the way the different districts react to the mental health crisis that were in goes to show how successful the entire student bodys going to be, says Brenner.Districts like Portage Public Schools can blend funds from different pots, including at-risk funding and 31n funding, to create and sustain a role like Marianne Joynts. She has a masters degree in counseling psychology from Western Michigan University and has focused on working with families and children for the past 20 years, including with Integrated Services of Kalamazoo, the local community mental health agency.School-based mental health is a vital part of student support systems. Early identification, referrals for treatment, and general support can be life-changing. Mentally healthy students are more likely to go to school ready to learn, use appropriate problem-solving techniques, engage in school activities, have positive relationships with staff and peers, and behave in a non-aggressive manner, Joynt says. It is important to support staff needs as well with education and helping to build a continuum of interventions needed to make a significant impact on safety, health, learning, and general well-being.Some rules have had to be relaxed around licensing requirements, and it has been difficult to attract job applicants for social workers and counselors to some parts of the state, leaving positions like these open for months at a time. Sometimes, organizations like community mental health will lose their therapists because they get hired by the school system and enjoy more regular hours and scheduled school breaks. The state has a 31n advisory council working to address these limitations, working to create pipelines for staff shortages and assessing what titles and certifications will best meet the needs of schools, among other recommendations.An unintended consequence is we've stolen from Peter to pay Paul, Hutchins says. Michigan has been at the forefront of thinking about those critical things. Were working with our partners  and coming up with solutions to grow workforce development.In her role, Joynt is focused on promoting well-being, resilience, and education for students and staff; empowering families to seek services and supports; and collaborating with the community.In Portage we are working to identify students and families who need extra support. We are working on preventative measures for threat assessment so that students who are exhibiting risky behaviors can receive the support they need to make better choices, be safe, and be successful, Joynt says. We work hard to help all students feel a sense of belonging and community.Joynt has spent time building personal connections with teachers and staff and asking directly what they need and what the students need. She said her job is to clear the way as best I can for families to access services. Sometimes its hard to get good results when families dont agree with a plan or wont follow through for some reason or another, or when theres a shortage of providers available.An estimated 9.4 percent of American youth have been diagnosed with ADHD and more than half of these children have at least one other mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder, according to the Citizens Research Council of Michigan.We are working with students to provide mental health treatment and social support to prevent students from entering the juvenile justice system, Joynt says. We are working with students and community resources to generate content for staff professional development. I am working with parents and the PTOs to help educate them about understanding the mental health of their children and how it impacts their education.Shes building and maintaining relationships with community stakeholders that include primary care physicians, community therapists and ISK, churches, police and juvenile justice, housing resources, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and business partners.Over the years I have seen many successes. From individual students blossoming with therapy and support plans to whole system movement identifying the need for mental health support, Joynt says. Students, families, school staff, and community providers are working together as teams to support our youth. That is an amazing win in my book.For children like Lesa Brenners daughter, the wins at school translate to more wins at home and in the community. Now Brenner regularly receives positive feedback that she has been able to, in turn, use to encourage her daughter.She was refusing to go to school for a while and it was just a really, really tough time for her, Brenner says. Shes still got her challenges, for sure, but, we see her smile, we see her laugh.
Memorisation du Coran: 40 enfants de diverses nationalites de linstitut Imam Hassan Cisse honores

Ils sont ages entre 5 et 14 ans et ont reussi en un laps de temps a maitriser le saint Coran. La cinquieme promotion de lInstitut qui porte le nom du defunt petit-fils de Baye Niass, Imam Hassan Cisse, composee de 40 enfants, a ete honoree, dimanche au Cices a loccasion de la ceremonie de sortie.

Cette journee fait vivre le saint coran, mais aussi c'est une journee deducation de jeunes enfants pour les mettre sur la voie que le prophete nous a tracee. Cette journee montre quau Senegal, il y a des jeunes qui sont toujours sur la bonne voie, explique Makhtar Ndiaye, Directeur de linstitut sis a Sebi Ponty.






After contending with flooding, wind damage, downed trees and power outages during historic winter storms, Bay Area residents are reporting a different kind of fallout from all the wet weather: ant invasions.

Long, irritating, invasive ribbons of them, one Bay Area resident said on Facebook.

We had a complete invasion, another said.

Im an S.F. native and I dont recall ever having ants in the house like weve had in the last few years, Madison Smith, 37, told The Chronicle. Were finding ants mostly in the front bedrooms and then the basement and bathroom.

Such unwelcome incursions are common in the winter months, experts say  particularly following heavy rain, which soaks the soil and drives ants out of their nests, or ruins their food.

Their invasions usually occur during the winter, especially after heavy rains flood their nests outdoors, or during the late summer, when we have our hottest weather and they need to find conditions that are more cool and moist, said UC Berkeley Professor and insect behavior specialist Neil Durie Tsutsui.

Zach Smith, owner of Smiths Pest Management in San Jose, said hes definitely noticed a difference this season.

Its absolutely worse, and weve gotten more calls than ever for ants and rats, he said. Even during those first rains we got in December the calls started. It seemed like such a relentless winter.

Heres what you need to know about the ants and how to stop them from taking over your home.

What types of ants are coming into my home?

The typical home invader in the Bay Area is the Argentine ant, or Linepithema humile, an invasive species that came from South America, Tsutsui said. These ants produce super colonies and work in harmony together, according to Zach Smith.

The smaller odorous house ant is another common animal, said Matt Fisher of Omega Termite and Pest Control.

Why are ants invading right now?

Ants are driven indoors by two things, Tsutsui said: poor conditions outside  such as rain or heat  and food.

The series of atmospheric rivers this winter saturated the soil and has driven Argentine ants into unusual nesting sites, producing many home invasions during the winter, he said. These invasions are usually only temporary, and the ants return outside when the weather is more accommodating.

As things dry out, the ants will be on the move again and looking for new homes, which means fewer ants living with us, Tsutsui said. But if they find food indoors, they may become your new roommates.

How do they get inside?

No matter how well-built your home is, ants can likely still find a way inside, experts said.

Homes are so permeable, Zach Smith said. There are a dozen ways into any well-built homeAnything you can stick a needle through, ants can get through.

Ants will enter through casing around windows, gaps between the floor and wall or around doors, or through cracks from the exterior stucco, experts said. They move through walls and emerge indoors from electrical outlets or baseboards. Plumbing is associated with perforations around the home, so if you dont have enough weather sealant, ants can penetrate those areas too, Smith said.

Ants might sometimes move their whole colony into wall voids, Fisher said.

They usually dont stay there for very long, theyre just trying to escape the moisture, he said. However, Sometimes they move in and set up shop, so people have a little harder time getting rid of them.

Once theyre inside, their favorite rooms tend to be kitchens and bathrooms, because they like areas with some moisture and, of course, food sources.

How do I stop ant invasions?

When ants arrive, the best solution is to use ant baits with sugar and borax or boric acid, such as the Terro brand. Put the self-contained bait stations in areas where you see ants entering or are traveling  and most importantly, dont mess with the ants that start taking the bait, Zach Smith said.

The ants are taking the bait back to the nest to share it, so if you start spraying them, then the bait cant do its job.

Another good strategy is the trace the ants back to their source outside, and place the traps there if possible, which Fisher said will draw them away and keep them from congregating indoors.

Keep in mind that the process will likely take time, the experts said.

Allow the ants to feed on the bait, which might go for weeks on end, Fisher said. Dont put the bait on the kitchen counter if you dont have the patience to watch ants for weeks.

Also, resist the urge to spray the ants with over-the-counter products, he said. That temporary solution may stop them from going into a particular area, but not leaving for good.

When do I need to call an exterminator?

Calls to pest control companies tend to be reactive responses to ant invasions, Fisher said. He advised taking proactive steps to keep ants at bay before you have a problem.

That strategy worked for Madison Smith, the San Francisco resident.

This year we were able to get ahead of them early enough that we avoided a major invasion, Smith said. Our tree out front has a root system that extends under the foundation of our house and we think the ants were coming up through the rat proofing in the basement.

She said that after an exterminator she hired several years ago had success with Optigard ant bait gel, she now buys it on Amazon and uses it herself.

While it doesnt necessarily stop them from coming in it stops the invasion within 36 hours and works better than every other bait system weve tried, she said.

But if what youre doing isnt helping, it might be time to call a professional.

Often folks do it themselves but dont have confidence, and may be on the right track but give up, said Zach Smith, the San Jose pest-control company owner. We can provide peace of mind.

We know our products, and may need to come back a few times, he said.

How do I prevent ants in the future?

Depending on the time of year or whats happening in their colonies, ants will be looking for either sugar or protein. Tsutsui said Argentine ants generally have a bit of a sweet tooth, and are particularly attracted to anything sweet from soft drinks to honey to leftover candy.

However, during the spring and summer they need more protein to sustain the large numbers of growing baby ants in their nests, he said. During these times of population growth, Argentine ants will commonly be found swarming on more protein-rich foods, such as pet food that has been left unattended.

Start your ant defense early to avoid infestations. Right now is a good time to do this, to reduce the ant population before it gets warm. Also, keep your home as clean as possible, indoors and outdoors.

Zach Smith recommends cleaning up clutter outdoors, including tarps and stacks of firewood, which can attract ants and rodents. Old tree stumps are also a popular hideout.

He also advises pulling out kitchen appliances, including the stove and dishwasher, and cleaning behind them.
Former San Francisco school board member Ann Hsu, who failed to retain her seat in the November election, announced on Tuesday that she has founded a private school, which will open in the citys Potrero Hill neighborhood in the fall.

The school, Bertrand D. Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy, will charge families $18,000 per year and enroll students in kindergarten through twelfth grades, beginning with grades kindergarten through eighth in the fall.

My new project named in honor of my late father (is) a non-profit K-12 private school providing an option for San Francisco parents seeking a quality, rigorous, affordable, and bicultural education for their children, she announced on Twitter late Monday night.

Hsu did not immediately return requests to comment.

Mayor London Breed appointed Hsu to the school board following the divisive recall of three board members in February 2022. She failed to retain the seat in the November election following a backlash to racist comments she made in July, which included saying one of the biggest challenges in educating Black and brown students was their unstable family environments and lack of parental encouragement to focus on learning.

Chronicle editors determined that the comment met the publications definition of racist, because the remark employed stereotypes of racial or ethnic groups.

The mayors office and district officials did not immediately return requests for comment on Hsus pivot to a private school.

Hsu was widely supported by the citys Chinese American community even after the calls for her resignation because of the comments. She vocally supported a return to a merit system at Lowell High School following the lottery system used during the pandemic, as well as the need to focus on student needs and performance rather than the symbolic actions of the recalled board members, including changing school names or covering a historic mural at Washington High School.

Hsu was among the primary organizers of the recall, saying she was frustrated by the unproductive politics.

The more I saw, the more I learned, the more pissed off I got, she told The Chronicle in February last year. They didnt care about the students.

Siva Raj, another recall organizer, wished Hsu much success in her new education endeavor.

I guess were going to find out if there is demand for it, he said.

Longtime San Francisco public school advocate Josephine Zhao believed there would be.

I think its a good alternative for the quality rigorous bilingual education that families on the east side of the city crave for, she said. Many families in the eastern neighborhoods have to commute an hour one way to access the quality education they desire. Now they have another conveniently located option. Im excited for what she is bringing to further the conversation on what high quality education looks like.
San Francisco auditors are reviewing work on more than 5,400 buildings to determine if corruption uncovered in a federal probe led to safety issues, records obtained by The Chronicle show.

The audit is one of numerous actions the city has taken to deal with a yearslong corruption scandal within its Department of Building Inspection.

Amid an agency overhaul, the department began the audit in May 2021 after the arrests of former inspector Bernard Curran, and Rodrigo Santos, former president of the commission that oversees the department.

Both pleaded guilty in federal court to wrongdoing.

Records obtained by The Chronicle show that the department identified 5,445 properties the two men had worked on during their careers. The probe was meant to identify potential issues resulting from public integrity breaches, department spokesperson Patrick Hannan said, on projects handled by Santos or Curran, especially focused on potential safety issues.

Google Street View

Auditors divided the properties into three categories, or tiers.

The first group of 119 properties included those associated with both Curran and Santos.

A second group of 158 properties included those associated with either Curran or Santos and were also in a slope protection zone, meaning the property was within a landslide zone or on a steep slope, or construction work on the property could impact slope stability.

And auditors also considered a third group of 5,168 properties that did not lie in a slope protection zone but were associated with either of the corrupt former officials.

Hannan, the DBI spokesperson, said auditors have reviewed just over 1,000 of the properties, including all of the properties in the first two groups and about 800 in the third group.

The department has sent letters to owners of 31 properties from the first tier seeking additional information, Hannan said, and inspectors have issued nine notices of violation for problems associated with the various properties.

We have not, at any of the properties weve reviewed, found any imminent life-safety hazards, Hannan said, in an emailed statement. Weve cleared most of the properties but have also found some issues that need to be addressed  incomplete trade permits, a missing job card or special inspection, expired permits needing to be renewed, plan reviews that need a little more review, and a couple with outstanding complaints.

That leaves more than 4,000 properties still to be reviewed, however. And its unclear when that task might be finished. The audit comes as the federal corruption probe continues to rack up guilty pleas and convictions.

But even as the department has taken steps to try to win back confidence in its operations, others have questioned whether a department accused of gross corruption can police itself.

In October, for example, the department replaced the man leading the agencys review after reporters discovered he had previously hired Santos as the engineer on the home he owned.

Aaron Peskin, president of the Board of Supervisors, questioned DBIs methodology, noting that the departments internal probe has thus far only yielded nine notices of violation  less than 0.8% of the more than 1,000 properties its already reviewed.

Thats the tip of the iceberg, he said, calling for an independent review of the departments auditing methodology. A more thorough independent investigation would have revealed a lot more skullduggery.

The corruption scandal first surfaced in early 2020 when federal prosecutors brought charges against former Public Works boss Mohammed Nuru, who was later sentenced to seven years in federal prison. More than a dozen other city employees and contractors were also charged with crimes.

Among them was Curran, who pleaded guilty in December to accepting illegal payments connected with his official duties during his 16-year tenure with DBI.

In court, Curran admitted to accepting $260,000 from a developer in order to pay off a residential mortgage, ultimately paying off $230,000 of the loan. In December, he acknowledged in court that the debt forgiveness he received was an improper reward for conducting inspections on the developers building projects.

A month later, Santos pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding clients out of $775,000, arranging donations to bribe a city building inspector, and other crimes.

Also swept up in the scandal was former DBI Director Tom Hui, who resigned in March 2020 after an investigation by the City Attorneys Office led to accusations that he gave permit expediter Walter Wong preferential treatment.
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A rally on the steps of Alameda Countys main courthouse Monday drew more than 100 people who waved signs and chanted  not only to demand justice for the family of Jasper Wu, a 23-month-old slain by a stray bullet on an Oakland freeway, but to call for the ouster of District Attorney Pamela Price.

Chants of Justice for Jasper alternated with cries of Recall Pamela Price and Do your job at the rally outside the courthouse at noon. People standing on the top steps waved signs reading 2 young 2 die, Victims matter and Hold criminals accountable. Several signs featured a photo of Jasper in a Superman outfit.

Rally organizers, who said they are not associated with a particular group, held the rally to object to what they said they fear will be a lenient prosecution of the three men accused of killing Jasper in a 2021 freeway shooting.

The rally featured speeches by supporters of the Wu family, relatives of other slaying victims and a prosecutor whos been placed on paid leave by Price. They all called on the district attorney to seek maximum sentences  including enhancements that lengthen time spent in prison  for the accused killers.

But, they said, they have their doubts that Price will seek maximum punishment.

Bob Yee, a retired tech marketer who organized the event, said that Price is laying the groundwork for no jail time for the people who killed a 23-month-old.

Stewart Chen, president of the Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, translated and read a letter from Jaspers immigrant mother, who met with Price last week and was reportedly assured that the three men accused of killing her son would face strong penalties.

I am extremely worried about Jaspers case and the direction it might go, she told Chen, saying she favored the maximum possible sentence to prevent this from ever happening to anyone else again.

Chen said Jaspers parents want to start a new life, want to start a new family, want to move on. But they cant without justice for Jasper.

On Thursday, Price said her office is reviewing the charges against the men, kindling speculation that the district attorney may move away from the charges filed by her predecessor, former District Attorney Nancy OMalley. In December, OMalley charged Trevor Green, Ivory Bivins and Johnny Jackson with murder in Jaspers killing. Since Price won office in January  with promises of reforming the criminal justice system and emphasizing rehabilitation and reform over jail and prison, the new district attorney has come under attack from critics who say shes far too lenient.

Much of the criticism stems from a decision by Prices office to offer a plea deal to Delonzo Logwood who was charged with three 2008 murders by OMalley. Under Prices offer, Logwood would have been prosecuted for only one of the killings, which would have been reduced to manslaughter and he would have received a sentence of just 15 years  instead of 75 years to life in prison. The other two murder charges would have been dropped. With credit for time served for the crime, Logwood might have been released within a few years.

But Alameda County Superior Court Judge Mark McCannon rejected the plea arrangement, prompting Price to seek to have the judge disqualified from hearing any cases filed by her office.

Butch Ford, a deputy district attorney who said he was placed on leave by Price because of his criticism of the way shes run the office, said the district attorney is following a similar playbook in the Jasper Wu case to what she did in the Logwood case  dismissing the deputy who investigates and charges a case and who knows the details and replacing them with a deputy who is willing to seek a punishment that avoids jail or prison time.

Pamela Price is not interested in (prison time), shes interested in diversion and what she calls non-carceral alternatives, he said. Jaspers life was stolen. His killers dont need diversion; they need to go to prison.

Family members of other people killed in shootings also spoke in support of seeking strong sentences  and justice for their relatives.

They included Barbara Nguyen, whose brother David Nguyen, 28, of San Francisco, an Alameda County Sheriffs recruit, was fatally shot while driving home on Interstate 580 in Oakland in June, and Virginia Nishita, widow of Kevin Nishita, a television news security guard shot to death in Oakland in 2021.

Recounting the pain of imagining her brothers lonely death in a car on the freeway, Barbara Nguyen said, To the D.A., I have a message for her: You talk about justice. Where was the justice for David?

Virginia Nishita had a similar, if more blunt, message for Price: Do your job.

Speakers at the rally were interrupted frequently by others chanting Do your job, Recall Price or Justice for Jasper.

They were also interrupted once by a man with a bullhorn and a sign identifying himself as a Black homeless advocate. The man accused the speakers of engaging in an attack on our Black leadership.

Angela Ruggerio, a spokesperson for Prices office, released a statement late Monday:

The District Attorneys Office has not made any decisions regarding the charges in the murder of Jasper Wu. We gave this information directly to Jaspers parents last week. We will continue to review the case, and will make decisions directly in accordance to the evidence.

Our hearts continue to go out to the family and to this entire community regarding this horrific crime. We will be transparent about this case as it proceeds through the justice system.
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Oakland began removing the last 60 residents from what was once the largest encampment in Northern California on Monday, a month after a federal judge approved the long-awaited clearance.

The city has long struggled with how to handle the homeless encampment near the Nimitz Freeway. At one point, the site spanned nearly 25 city blocks and had around 300 residents who parked RVs or built makeshift shelters on land owned by the city, state, railroad companies and other agencies. The eviction is expected to take two weeks.

Oakland has argued that the camp became the scene of rodent infestations, unsanitary conditions, and other health and safety hazards. In the span of one year from 2021 to 2022, 90 fires occurred there. But the citys attempts to clear the land for a proposed affordable housing development ran into repeated legal challenges.

Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle 2021

Other property owners in the area have already swept their parcels. Caltrans spent months last fall removing about 200 residents living on land owned by the state agency, leaving just 60 still living in areas owned by Oakland.

After the clearing from Caltrans last summer, some residents were moved into temporary shelter programs while others moved to parts of the Wood Street encampment that werent shut down. Some residents living in RVs and other vehicles parked along Wood Street.

Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle

In early February, federal Judge William H. Orrick blocked a planned eviction, agreeing with residents and homeless advocates that Oakland had not provided sufficient shelter options to all of the people it planned to remove. But he reversed himself last month after the city proved that a site nearby featuring modestly appointed tiny cabins would be ready for occupancy.

On Monday, the city started clearing out debris from the site as residents watched. Crews towed away 12 vehicles.

Residents held a press conference at Wood Street criticizing the citys shelter options. Some residents had agreed to relocate to the cabin site, but some had not  and said they didnt know where to go next. Residents and advocates chanted as city workers cleared debris, but the unhoused didnt try to block the city from clearing the site.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

LaMonte Ford, a resident at Wood Street for nearly 10 years, said he works two jobs and cant afford rent. He said he wasnt planning to leave.

This has been my home for a very long time, Ford said. We need better alternatives than what (the city) is currently offering.

Behind him, city workers began carting away debris from the street and dumping piles of trash. Police officers set up a fence around the workers to separate them from the residents and supporters. Ford later walked up to the fence and chanted, Fight, fight, fight, housing is a human right.

He later yelled at city staff, who had gathered in the enclosed space, What youve given us is nothing.

The residents of Wood Street have long argued that together they had built a safe and sufficient community on the site. They wrote a list of demands to Oakland for the new tiny-cabin area, including a recreation room, kitchen, a better visitor policy, and job and training programs. Homeless advocates said many of the demands were not met and that residents still dont have keys to their own tiny cabins. Instead they have to rely on a security guard to let them in and out.

The city said it has worked with residents to secure them alternative shelter options, per its policy. The tiny-home site, called the Wood Street Community Cabins, allows people a space for up to six months. During that time, housing navigators will help residents find more permanent housing options, either through family, friends, shared housing, affordable housing or emergency shelter.

The city used up to $8 million in state funds to build the site for 100 people. It will offer plumbed bathrooms, showers, laundry, storage for personal belongings, two meals a day, a community space and the ability to cook food  based on what some residents asked for. The city said four people living at the encampment agreed Monday to relocate to the new tiny-home site.

In addition to the tiny-home site, the city said it is also offering space at a new RV parking site on 66th Avenue.

Its unclear how many residents total have agreed to move into one of the city programs. LaTonda Simmons, the citys acting homeless administrator, said in a statement that the city is eager to break ground on the affordable housing site and that it has taken into account the needs of the Wood Street residents when developing the new tiny-home site.

Every Oakland resident has a right to housing, safety, and dignity, Simmons said. Thats why our teams are working so hard to transition residents off the street and into shelter programs that enable them to eventually secure permanent housing.

The cabin site also has a list of rules for the residents, including no overnight visitors and no guests allowed in units. Visitors must be approved by the site manager and can stay for only three hours and not after 8 p.m. Minors are also prohibited.

While pets are permitted, they must be leashed at all times while outside units. Residents are limited to two animals per unit.

Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle 2021

Some residents said theyve struggled to secure a spot at the Wood Street Community Cabins. One, who goes by the name Clutch, said he has lived on Wood Street for close to four years and wants to move into a cabin, but hasnt been able to reach the sites operator to sign up.

And now (the city has) posted up signs that everyone must go, Clutch said. But where can I go? Anywhere but here?

The city has been pushing to close the encampment so that it can build affordable homes on its portion of the land. The developers  Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley and MidPen Housing  are in exclusive negotiations with Oakland for a project that would have 85 rental units and 85 for sale.

The organizations say the project will meet the definition of affordable housing, but say they cant determine what the income requirements will be to live there until they can fully access the site and survey its condition.

Oakland officials had previously expressed urgency over the clearance because the city risked losing state funding for the project if construction was delayed. Oakland remains eligible for the funds because the state moved its deadline to later in the year.

On Monday, residents were emotional as the city started the process of closing the settlement down.

Clutch previously lived on a portion of Wood Street owned by Caltrans and has already been moved twice in the past year.

Everything that we know is being taken away, being removed, he said. Im just being forcefully evicted with no end in sight.
In March, San Franciscos COVID public health emergency declaration formally ended. But while the pandemic may be officially over, reality hasnt quite caught up. The economic fallout from the virus continues to impact thousands of San Francisco households  especially their dinner tables. Before the pandemic, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank served 32,000 households a week; now, it feeds 56,000.

In response to the pandemic, the bank set up several emergency pop-up pantries, including one a few steps away from Golden Gate Parks North Lake. The site serves about 700 people a week, according to one of the volunteers, who gently offered to put me on the waiting list when I recently paid the pantry a visit.

In the open air, volunteers and staff stock long folding tables with sacks of red onions, crates of eggs, and boxes of fruits and cauliflower while a queue of neighborhood folks load up their totes and foldable shopping carts. Its a quiet, genteel scene that could easily be mistaken for a farmers market, and thats on purpose: The food banks pop-up pantries, a pandemic innovation, were designed to give an often-dehumanizing process a sense of dignity.

When May rolls around, however, this pantry and two others on land owned by the citys Recreation and Park Department, are shutting down. A Rec and Park spokesperson told me thats because the pantries werent allowed by the city charter in the first place.

No park land may be sold or leased for non-recreational purposes, the charter reads, unless approved by a vote of the electors.

The emergency COVID declaration allowed the department to maneuver around those rules. But now that declaration is over, the obviously non-recreational pantries have to go.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

That isnt sitting well with Supervisor Connie Chan, whose constituents in the Richmond District are among the Golden Gate sites primary users. According to her office, the food bank reached out to the supervisors for help negotiating with Rec & Park. Then, she reached out to me directly to criticize the coming closures  calling them, pure red tape and bureaucracy  When people think the city government is bureaucratic and not working, I think this is a prime example of that.

She told me that when she asked the Recreation and Park Department about its rationale for closing the pop-ups, it cited traffic issues with so many people driving up to the site as another reason.

To date, I havent heard anything specific other than the traffic issue, Chan told me. So why cant (the site) be made available?

Well, theres the charter. San Franciscos bureaucracy may be infuriating, but if we dont like our own rules, we have to change them. That would be an intensive process, but the charter leaves room for voters to tweak it. But until that happens, are there other locations, perhaps inside the neighborhoods, that could help feed 700 families?

I asked Chan why she was so adamant that Golden Gate Park remains the location for the food bank. She answered, Why not? Everyone else  schools, private businesses, and non-profits  stepped up during the pandemic, she said, so Rec and Park could stand to contribute, considering it oversees 14% of the land in San Francisco.

As for other possible locations, Chan has an idea: she suggested to Rec and Park that the Great Highway parking lot could be an alternative. I have made that ask but havent heard from them.

Now why on Earth could that be?

A reminder: This isnt the first time in recent memory that Chan has come into conflict with Rec and Park about Golden Gate Park and the Great Highway and its park promenade, which is controlled by the department. Last year, she introduced legislation to partially reopen JFK Drive to cars, citing a need to mitigate neighborhood traffic issues and provide more access to the park. She lost. Chan also unsuccessfully lobbied to fully reopen the Great Highway to traffic.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

As I spoke to the supervisor, I began to wonder how much these past battles informed her proposals regarding the food bank. She wouldnt comment on the record. But I left the conversation with the nagging suspicion that another convoluted San Francisco political battle was brewing  and that vulnerable residents were again caught in the middle.

So, I asked representatives of the food bank, how much of an actual big deal is this Golden Gate Park location?

A spokesperson told me that it was currently having active and hopeful discussions with Rec and Park about the three sites and that sentiment was echoed by a department representative. The nonprofit is optimistic that it can scrounge up new hosts that could serve the same neighborhoods as its Golden Gate Park pantry but finding new locations as more places reopen for business has been challenging.

But the food bank was also adamant that having more pantries open would be a moot point if theres no funding for them. That presents a bigger, more existential challenge.

In a statement to The Chronicle, Tanis Crosby, the food banks executive director, wrote, The Food Banks biggest focus is ensuring they are supported in the upcoming budget. Stable multi-year funding to continue food programs is something everyone in our community is behind  we are hopeful the supervisors and the Mayor will agree.

If theres no funding, San Francisco will lose more than just the three pantry sites in the parks: The program will contract, food allocations will shrink, and, in the worst case, hungry people will be turned away.

One person who could help is Chan, who is also the chair of the Board of Supervisors budget committee. Unfortunately, based on my conversation with her, she seems more preoccupied with duking it out with Rec and Park over where the pantries are located rather than how theyre funded.
California lawmakers returned to Sacramento on Monday after their annual week-and-a-half-long spring recess  which, along with their month-long summer recess in July, often serves as an opportunity for mixing business and pleasure. Last year, for example, lawmakers traveled to Egypt, Japan, Iceland, Ireland, Israel and Canada (twice).

This spring break was no exception: While state lawmakers traveled to Denmark and Japan, Gov. Gavin Newsom took a trip of his own, swinging through Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama to promote his new political action committee, the Campaign for Democracy. Newsom campaign spokesperson Nathan Click told me it aims to boost Democrats across the country, particularly in red states where progress on LGBTQ, reproductive and voting rights is basically being destroyed.

Newsom, who paid for the trip with campaign funds, seeded the PAC with $10 million left over from his gubernatorial re-election campaign.

The lawmakers trip to Denmark, meanwhile, was funded by the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy, a nonprofit that aims to address complex policy challenges by bringing together powerful corporations, labor interests, environmental groups and consumer organizations.

Joining legislators on the junket focused on offshore wind energy, carbon-neutral farming, bioenergy and carbon sequestration were high-ranking officials from Chevron and the Western States Petroleum Association  which, in 2022, were two of the five biggest lobbyist spenders in Sacramento, collectively expending more than $11.5 million to influence lawmakers and regulators. Also on the trip were representatives from utility companies, such as Southern California Edison and SoCalGas; environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and joint labor-business interests such as the California Construction Industry Labor Management Trust.

Whose ears were they able to bend on the trip? Democratic state Sens. Anna Caballero of Merced, Bill Dodd of Napa, Maria Elena Durazo of Los Angeles, Monique Limon of Santa Barbara, Susan Talamantes Eggman of Stockton and John Laird of Santa Cruz; Democratic Assembly Members Cecilia Aguiar-Curry of Davis, Cottie Petrie-Norris of Irvine and Mike Fong of Monterey Park; and Republican Assembly Member Heath Flora of Ripon (San Joaquin County).

Meanwhile, Democratic state Sens. Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Steve Glazer of Orinda used a mixture of campaign and personal funds to go to Japan on a trip organized by the state Senate Office of International Relations focused on housing, clean energy, aging and long-term care, plastics reduction, and LGBTQ and womens issues. State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, paid for the trip with campaign funds.

Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press 2022

I asked longtime Democratic political consultant Steve Maviglio, whos often delightfully blunt about Capitol dynamics, his thoughts on the ethics and efficacy of the globe-trotting spring breaks of Californias most powerful politicians.

Newsoms Deep South sojourn  which seemed to double as a promotional tour for Newsom himself, further laying the groundwork for a potential future presidential run  didnt impress Maviglio.

I appreciate that he believes in democracy, Maviglio told me. But hes got a job to do.  He just got re-elected.

The legislators adventures abroad, Maviglio told me, are a bit trickier to evaluate.

On the one hand, these international trips often result in meaningful policy ideas and help grow Californias presence on the world stage. Many recent junkets have focused on renewable energy, Maviglio noted, because the rest of the world is so far ahead of us and theres a lot to learn.

In Denmark, for example, lawmakers visited Project Greensand, the worlds largest carbon sequestration facility, and the Anholt Offshore Wind Farm, one of the largest in the world.

On the other hand, Private corporations shouldnt be paying for overseas travel for legislators to learn about what they say will result in better policy, Maviglio said.

But Jessica Levinson, a clinical professor of law at Loyola Law School and former president of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission, told me it may be preferable for special interests to pay for these trips instead of taxpayers, who already shell out a lot of money for government travel.

If theres utility to these trips, then my sense is, probably lets let them pay for it  with the understanding that its not perfect and they are almost certainly gaining a level of access and influence that the average person cant gain.

Maviglio and Levinson said lawmakers shouldnt have to use personal funds for business trips. As for the ethics of using campaign funds  as lawmakers did on the Japan trip  Levinson said campaign finance laws permit the money to be spent in a wide variety of ways. But Maviglio said he didnt see much difference between campaign funds and special interest money: The moneys largely coming from folks with business before the Legislature, he told me. So, to me, its almost the same.

Thats what makes evaluating these trips so complex: As a country and a state, we have failed to effectively regulate or restrain the influence of money in politics, leaving us with an imperfect system where even good policy can be advanced through dubious means.

But these trips also seem to be the stage for something that rarely happens in Sacramento: meaningful discourse between people and groups that often disagree with each other.

As California mobilizes to secure a carbon-neutral future, we know business-as-usual planning, permitting and building is not keeping pace, Jay Hansen, president and CEO of the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy, organizer of the Denmark trip, said in a statement. We risk falling short of Californias stated ambitions and evolving needs.

If only those of us without the foundations resources could have been on that plane to Denmark to tell lawmakers what our evolving needs are.
In August of last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed SB57, a bill to permit drug overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites to open in the state. It was the third failed attempt to move such a bill in California, and its defeat weighed heavily on those calling for a humane and data-driven approach to combating the drug crisis on our streets.

Only hours after the news of Newsoms veto, however, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu announced that he fully supported a nonprofit creating such a space in the city. Mayor London Breed followed suit.

San Francisco, it appeared, was prepared to revive its status as a city willing to take bold steps to care for the vulnerable  and had been, for months. The Tenderloin Center, a drop-in space to connect homeless people to resources, ran an unofficial safe consumption site.

But as weeks have turned into months, it appears that nonprofits are unable and unwilling to move forward on a full-blown supervised consumption site without full financial support from the city. The San Francisco AIDS Foundations board rightly has concerns about not having city support. The Gubbio Project cant afford it. And HealthRight 360 told me using private funding for such a long-term project is not financially sustainable.

More than $100 million from city lawsuits against opioid distributors like CVS and Walgreens, among others, will soon be arriving to San Franciscos general fund. The settlement says this money must be used for opioid crisis abatement. Given the broad support for overdose prevention sites, its hard to imagine a better use for much of these funds.

SFNext is Chronicle coverage devoted to the city's most vexing problems. To become involved: Send feedback, ideas and suggestions to sfnext@SFChronicle.com

But Supervisor Hilary Ronen, who authored the legislation to use the settlement funds for overdose prevention centers, says Chiu plans to prevent that money from being used for the sites over fear of legal ramifications. As the city attorney must sign off on every contract, she and the nonprofits claim Chiu is single-handedly blocking the sites from opening.

Chiu himself wouldnt confirm or deny this, though he did say he believes theres a path forward to opening such sites in the city.

Ive provided consistent advice to policymakers on legal paths to achieve our shared goal of having overdose prevention centers in San Francisco, which is to follow New Yorks model and allow a nonprofit to move forward with opening a site, he told me, citing OnPoint NYCs workaround of using city funds for the nondrug using sections of their programs and privately sourcing the rest. I believe that overdose prevention centers can open in our city in ways that do not unnecessarily increase risk.

But that New York model is facing significant financial struggles. Private funding has its limits without the security of direct government support.

As pressure rises to open the centers, the issue of risk is now being hotly debated in San Francisco. The governors veto of SB57, combined with silence from the Biden administration and the real possibility of a Republican president in 2024, could put a city-funded venture on shaky legal ground. In a worst-case scenario, if the federal government cracked down, any doctors or staff involved in a supervised consumption site could lose their licenses or face jail time.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, who drafted the state bill to open overdose prevention centers, told me these risks are real, making decisions on how to move forward complicated.

Chius job as city attorney is to protect San Francisco, Wiener said. Hes in a really tough situation. I dont have a view of him obstructing anything. There may be disagreements about what the best path is, but I dont think its fair to blame Chiu for the problems here.

The Get Involved calendar Search for public meetings on top San Francisco issues so you can add your voice.

But theres a growing contingent of legal forces in San Francisco that hold a different perspective of the risk. In a dense, 10-page memo to Chiu, Sujung Kim, managing attorney of the research unit at the Public Defenders Office, unpacked the only major federal case on supervised consumption there is to lean on: a civil lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice against the Safehouse overdose prevention site in Philadelphia. At issue: whether or not a statute in the Controlled Substances Act deems the sites illegal.

In our opinion, nothing legally is stopping us from opening, Kim told me. We have the money, we have the local support, we have no reason to believe that state or federal authorities would come after us if we opened. The Tenderloin Center was open for almost all of last year. No one came down on us.

Broader questions about who should be the final decision maker surrounding risk are emerging, too. Ronen says Chiu is overstepping his duties and that his job is to assess risk and inform the city of it but leave the decision-making to policymakers.

Im willing to take this risk under a Democratic administration, Ronen said. I believe we will save lives and improve street conditions. But Chiu isnt giving us the right to make our own analysis.

So  where do we go from here? Are overdose prevention sites dead in San Francisco?

Its hard to know. Until now, the city has largely relied on the state and national Democrats to hash out these battles for us. Armed with the knowledge that they dont have our back, were on our own.

One thing is certain: The longer we wait to move forward with an assertive plan of action, the more people will die.

Sometimes, you just have to take risks to save lives.
There were three recent unfortunate, reported acts of violence in San Francisco: The shooting death of a man in the Tenderloin, the terrible stabbing death of the tech executive Bob Lee in the Rincon Hill neighborhood and the brutal attack in the Marina.

The Tenderloin shooting got a token couple of paragraphs in print and a mention on TV. No interview of the police chief, district attorney or Board of Supervisors members. It is not newsworthy if someone not rich or well-known is shot to death in the Tenderloin? Does anyone care? I say, Yes, we do.

I am disgusted by all three crimes but I want to see more balanced reporting. Reporting should not be solely determined by pedigree. The amount of journalistic interest often dictates the level of law enforcement investigation. I ask that the media relook at this inequity.

Deleano Seymour, San Leandro

Get involved with S.F.

The killing of Bob Lee, a white, male, tech mogul, in San Francisco is a tragedy. Sadly, it has provided an opportunity for many to bash San Francisco as an unsafe, out-of-control city.

Roy Bahat, head of Bloomberg Beta, stated that Lees death could motivate the local tech community to become more involved in city politics. That would be a very good thing. The local tech community, which has contributed to the extreme income inequality, soaring rents and the general malaise of those who love this city, could start by paying their fair share of taxes. Oliver Wendell Holmes said in 1927 that taxes are what we pay for civilized society   But many in the tech industry brag about how little they actually pay while complaining about the disintegration of civil society.

Elon Musk, who is alleged to maintain a racist work environment at his Tesla facilities and host hate speech on Twitter, brags about not paying his fair share of taxes. His disparaging San Francisco as lawless is a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle out of control.

San Francisco, like many U.S. cities, needs many things. Complaints from those who contributed to the problem are not one of them.

Sherry Gendelman, San Francisco

Sisters go too far

Regarding Boisterous and joyful, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgences festival marks sunny Easter in Dolores Park (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, April 9): As a longtime resident of San Francisco, I relish its diversity and its live and let live attitude.

As a Christian, however, I find myself deeply offended by having my religion mocked every year by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on Easter, the most important holy day for Christians. For those of us who are believers, Easter celebrates the essence of our religion  the crucifixion and resurrection of the Son of God.

Those who do not share that belief are free to do as they wish while we observe the feast. However, having a strip tease on a cross is in-your-face mocking that is both cruel and offensive.

James Hargarten, San Francisco

Backward in Tennessee

When the Tennessee Legislature expelled state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, two of the Tennessee Three, from their elected posts on Thursday, it revived memories of Judge Julius Hoffman ordering Black Panthers leader Bobby Seale bound and gagged at his Chicago Eight trial in 1969.

Back then, powerful forces moved to silence protesters trying to save Americas sons and daughters from the killing fields in Vietnam. Now, powerful forces are trying to silence protesters fighting to save Americas sons and daughters from the killing fields of the U.S. Its disturbing, but not surprising, that those who would allow our children to be sacrificed on the altar of gun-industry profits would attack those fighting to keep our kids from falling victim to gun violence.

The lawmakers patently undemocratic action is another frightening sign of the countrys descent toward authoritarianism, where the rich and powerful choke off the voices of the common people.

Sadly, but perhaps fittingly, the state leading the way is where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated nearly 55 years to the day.

Brad Brown, Vallejo
Federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's ruling last week that the FDA had improperly approved the drug mifepristone has not taken effect.` Court battles await.

On this episode of the It's All Political on Fifth & Mission podcast, San Francisco OB/GYN Dr. Josie Urbina and NARAL Pro-Choice America president Mini Timmaraju tell host Joe Garofoli that the ruling is part of an assault on abortion rights, and that activists have to work to get more people to realize that.

Got a tip, comment, question? Email us: fifth@sfchronicle.com
UPDATE: Feinsteins absence imperils Bidens labor secretary pick, a fellow Californian

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that he will temporarily remove Sen. Dianne Feinstein from the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee as she continues to recover from an illness that has kept her away from Washington, unable to vote.

Feinstein requested the move amid growing calls to step down from her Senate seat Wednesday.

Per Sen. Feinsteins wishes, Majority Leader Schumer will ask the Senate next week to allow another Democratic Senator to temporarily serve on the Judiciary Committee," a spokesperson for Schumer wrote in a statement.

Earlier in the day, two members of Congress called on Feinstein to resign in the wake of reports that her continued illness has made it tougher for the Senate to confirm President Bidens judicial nominees.

One was a fellow Democrat from the Bay Area, Rep. Ro Khanna, who had mulled a bid to replace Feinstein in 2024 but opted out and announced he is supporting Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee.

"Its time for @SenFeinstein to resign," he wrote on Twitter. "We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people."

Feinstein has been working at home in San Francisco while she recovers from shingles, according to her office. Her absence since March 7, combined with that of Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has shaved the Democrats 51-49 advantage in the Senate down to nothing. Fetterman, who was out for a month after checking himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment for clinical depression, plans to return to the Senate next week.

Feinstein holds a crucial vote in the Judiciary Committee to allow candidates to advance to the full Senate. Though Vice President Kamala Harris can cast tie-breaking votes before the full Senate, she cannot vote in committee. Feinsteins continued absence has impacted whether candidates can be brought forward for a vote.

But the 89-year-old Feinstein has no timetable for her return, spokesperson Adam Russell told The Chronicle this week. Feinstein, who announced she would not seek re-election next year, still has nearly two years left to serve.

Feinstein said that she intends to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises me that it's safe for me to travel. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, acknowledged to CNN Monday that Feinsteins absence affects Democrats ability to confirm nominees. I cant consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee, Durbin said.

That has led some activists, like Jon Lovett, a former Obama administration speechwriter who co-hosts the popular Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It podcasts, to call for Feinstein to resign.

Lovett noted that there has been a lot of reporting about Feinstein no longer being fit to serve in the Senate representing the biggest state in this country. Last year, even Feinsteins Democratic colleagues told The Chronicle that they believe her memory issues were hindering her ability to do the job.

Durbin has said that it has made it basically impossible to move a lot of these lower court nominees to the Senate for a vote, which means that Dianne Feinstein, who should not be in the Senate, is now preventing us from being able to confirm judges, Lovett said Tuesday on Pod Save America.

As sad as it is to sort of see someone whos had an incredibly storied and long and important career and has done a lot of good for this state, I think what the people around Dianne Feinstein are doing allowing, you know, being part of this farce of having a lack of a senator in such an important job is really wrong, Lovett said. Dianne Feinstein should no longer be in the Senate. She has to resign, and more people should be calling her to resign.

Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., also urged Feinstein to resign Wednesday. He lauded Feinstein's decades of service, but wrote in a tweet that "I believe its now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet."

One point that many of Feinsteins defenders have made over the past couple of years is that while she may have largely disappeared from public view, she has at least been a reliable Democratic vote.

But thats not true lately.

Feinstein has missed 60 votes of the 82 taken this year. Of those, 25 were for judicial nominees  three of whom were appointed to California federal courts  and 13 were for executive branch nominees. Last week, a federal court judge in Texas appointed by former President Donald Trump ruled that the federal Food and Drug Administration lacked the authority to approve the abortion pill mifepristone, something that has largely been used safely for more than 20 years  a ruling that drove home the power of the federal judiciary.

It seems we can both thank her for her service and decades of blazing a path for women in politics and recognize that her remaining in the Senate past her ability to do her job isnt exactly a feminist victory  not when women and pregnant people stand to be harmed the most by the stalled confirmation of liberal judges, wrote Jezebel, an online politics and culture news site featuring commentary geared toward women.

More than 200 federal judges  including three members of the Supreme Court were confirmed during Trumps presidency. A little more than 100 have been confirmed during Bidens two-plus years in the White House.

But some believe that Democrats are not taking full advantage of their slim majority.

Alex Shephard of the New Republic, wrote Tuesday that The Democrats have more pressing problems, and Dianne Feinstein is proving to be an impediment to their resolution. They should thank her for her service to her country, usher her toward the door, and get back to work.

Two of Californias most powerful politicians, meanwhile, stood by Feinstein.

"I have seen up close and firsthand her great leadership, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said during an event Wednesday in Japantown when asked by a reporter for ABC7 News. I dont know what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way. Ive never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way.

Gov. Gavin Newsom similarly continues to support Feinsteins plan to stay in the Senate, said spokesman Anthony York. He has no comment on Khannas statement, York said.

"The governor is not calling on Sen. Feinstein to resign, York said.

If Feinstein did resign, Newsom would appoint her successor. He has pledged to choose a Black woman should a Senate seat open up. Should he fulfill that promise, it could upend Californias 2024 Senate race to replace Feinstein.

Only one of the top three candidates, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, is a Black woman. Sending Lee to the Senate before the 2024 election would give her the advantage of semi-incumbency. The other top two contenders are Reps. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, and Adam Schiff, D-Burbank.

Feinsteins refusal to stand down and allow Newsom to replace her asap could end up wrecking or at least tainting her legacy when she does get round to retiring, MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan tweeted Tuesday.

Sophia Bollag contributed reporting.
Less than two weeks after its start, a $300 million state program offering down payment assistance to first-time California home buyers has been paused after applicants snapped up all the money.

The California Housing Finance Agency began the Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loan program on March 27. It was set to provide $300 million for loans that would cover down payments and/or closing costs for about 2,300 qualifying home buyers, in an effort to improve equitable access to homeownership for all Californians, the agency said in a news release announcing the program.

In the Bay Area, the maximum income for applicants ranges from a low of $215,000 in Solano County to a statewide high of $300,000 in San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Marin counties, according to agency documents.

However, on Friday, the agency posted a notice on its website that said funds for the California Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loan program have been reserved as of April 7, 2023, along with a link to sign up for its newsletter to receive updates on the program.

The agency had posted a bulletin on its website a day before, on April 6, warning people it would pause the program once all loans were rate-locked by 3 p.m. April 12, or whenever available funds become fully committed.

Eric Johnson, a spokesperson for CalHFA, told The Chronicle on Monday that the agencys lender network was able to lock about 2,500 borrowers for loans  about 19% of whom were from the Bay Area. The agency is not a direct lender and instead works with private loan officers.

Although we did not spend money on advertising, there was strong word-of-mouth, and very quick uptake by lenders, Johnson said. Demand for this program was unprecedented.

Some of the applications may fall out, however, so a final number is at least 30-45 days out after all the loans are closed, Johnson said.

Any additional funding for more assistance is dependent on the California state budget process, a comprehensive negotiation between the Legislature and the administration which will play out in the coming months, Johnson said.

Regardless of whether the state budget allocates additional money, Johnson said, the original $300 million will be recycled, meaning funds will become available as borrowers pay off their loans. The agency does not know when that might happen, he said, since it depends on when people decide to sell or refinance their homes.

Heres a look at the program and how it works:

What is the Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loan program?

Down payments are a particularly high barrier to homeownership in California  especially in the Bay Area, which has some of the most expensive real estate in the country. To help first-time buyers get their foot in the door, the program provides money for a down payment and/or closing costs equaling 20% of the propertys purchase price.

The funds are in the form of a shared appreciation loan, which is interest-free and repaid by the buyer when they sell or transfer the home, with a percentage of the appreciation in the value of the home shared with the lender.

Borrowers do not need to make monthly payments on the loan. Payments are deferred for the life of the first mortgage, the agency wrote in an FAQ about the program.

Repayment is capped at a maximum 2.5 times the amount of the original loan. If the propertys value does not appreciate or declines, no extra money is due.

CalHFA is not a direct lender, officials said. Instead, buyers must find a CalHFA-approved and -trained loan officer in their area to apply for the program. The agencys website offers a lookup tool for borrowers to find a loan officer near them.

All CalHFA borrowers must complete a home buyer education and counseling course, and program applicants must take a free online class specifically for shared appreciation loans.

Who qualifies for the program?

Here are the eligibility requirements, according to the California Housing Finance Agency:

 Those interested must be a first-time home buyer, defined as someone who has not owned and occupied their own home in the last three years, according to the agencys website. That means if youve never owned a home, youre a first-time home buyer. It also means that if you owned your home three or more years ago, but sold it, you are right back to being a first-time home buyer again, and you can take advantage of all of the benefits of CalHFAs first-time home buyer programs, the website says.

 Households must be within the agencys annual income limit for their county.

 Applicants must live in the home or condominium they plan to buy.

 Applicants must complete two levels of home buyer education classes and obtain a certificate of completion through an eligible home buyer counseling organization.

 The home must be a single-family, one-unit residence. The agency says guest houses, granny units and in-law quarters may be eligible.
UPDATE: Man died from overdose at S.F. Whole Foods months before closure

Whole Foods Market has temporarily closed its downtown San Francisco location Monday after business hours due to public safety issues, according to a spokesperson for the company.

The closure comes just a year after the store opened at the Trinity S.F. apartment building at Market and Eighth streets in March 2022.

To ensure the safety of our Team Members, we have made the difficult decision to close the Trinity store for the time being, a Whole Foods Market spokesperson said in a written statement. All team members will be transferred to one of our nearby locations.

Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who lives in the neighborhood and frequented the store, said hed seen signs that the Whole Foods was struggling. As a near-daily customer, he said, the store had gotten rid of handheld shopping baskets, allowing only carts. An employee told Dorsey that all 250 baskets the store had when it first opened were stolen  something Dorsey said he saw evidence of during neighborhood cleanups on nearby Natoma and Minna streets. Staff also reportedly complained about people acting out inside the store, he said.

Its obvious to me that, as an employer, Whole Foods has a lot of concerns about the safety of their employees, and ultimately thats why they made the decision to close, Dorsey said. I wish they hadnt, but Ive also been in there and seen some things that are off-putting.

SFNext is Chronicle coverage devoted to the city's most vexing problems. To become involved: Send feedback, ideas and suggestions to sfnext@SFChronicle.com

Dorsey seized on the store closure to announce Monday that he wants voters to decide on a ballot measure next year that would re-establish minimum staffing levels for the San Francisco Police Department and set a goal of reaching it in the next five years. Dorsey, a former SFPD spokesman, said he had asked City Attorney David Chiu in late March for help in drafting the language of the potential measure, which could appear on the ballot in March 2024.

Were not going to make progress on solving our public safety challenges if we dont have a fully staffed Police Department, Dorsey said. San Franciscans are demanding progress  at least the San Franciscans I represent. People need to know that we are taking these challenges seriously, and that we are pursuing solutions that are as big as our problems.

Dorsey told the city attorney that he wants his potential ballot measure to set a minimum police staffing level of 2,182 officers  a number previously recommended in an analysis the city uses to decide how many officers it will seek to hire. The number sought by Dorsey is higher than the minimum staffing requirement of 1,971 officers that voters agreed to do away with in 2020. As of last month, the number of full-duty San Francisco police officers who were not on leave was about 1,500.

The Get Involved calendar Search for public meetings on top San Francisco issues so you can add your voice.

Dorseys push for a new ballot measure comes just after the Board of Supervisors approved Mayor London Breeds request for another $25 million in police overtime this year. Supervisors are also poised to consider approving a contract with the city police union that would give raises to new and current officers and cost taxpayers about $166.5 million over a three year period.

In order for his staffing proposal to appear before voters, Dorsey would need to get a majority of the 11-member board to send his legislation to the ballot. If that effort fails, supporters could launch a signature-gathering campaign.

The Whole Foods spokesperson said there is no timetable for the stores possible reopening.
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The arrival of Whole Foods in Mid-Market last year was meant to be the culmination of a nearly two-decade effort to build one of San Franciscos biggest apartment projects at the corner of Eighth and Market streets.

The lavish store in the 1,900-apartment Trinity Place project promised more than 3,700 locally sourced products, offering 714 different wines, caviar and organic mushrooms when it opened last March. A city permit pegged the stores construction budget at $12 million.

Its abrupt temporary closure on Monday was another sign of San Franciscos persistent public safety and economic challenges, fueling more criticism of city leaders and headlines around the world about the citys crime woes for the second straight week.

Whole Foods cited the safety of workers as the reason for the closure, and Supervisor Matt Dorsey said Monday that the store was hit by drug-related retail theft, adjacent drug markets, and the many safety issues related to them.

Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

As nearby Mid-Market office buildings empty out  Uber, Block and Reddit have left or plan to leave the neighborhood this year, and Twitter has laid off more than two-thirds of its staff  residential and retail activity is increasingly important for the areas economic vitality. Whole Foods closure and its uncertain future  the company did not say when the store could reopen  is another worrying sign.

Doom loop just got slightly more doomy, Arpit Gupta, a New York University professor who co-wrote a paper on potential urban death spirals, posted on Twitter in reaction to the closure.

Gupta told The Chronicle that supermarkets tend to be important anchors for nearby residents, though he didnt know the economic details of this specific Whole Foods.

My concern is that all routes for urban recovery, I think, require more consumption in city centers, Gupta said. This is true whether it involves the office workers coming back downtown, or a shift to a new consumption city model with people living in, working remotely, and otherwise consuming in the city center.

Attracting residents or workers requires investing in amenities, whether its shops or restaurants or leisure activities. And any barriers to creating or maintaining them, whether it be high costs or safety issues, means its more likely an area stays or becomes economically depressed, Gupta said.

Reports of Starbucks removing seats in multiple San Francisco coffee shops also surfaced this week. One employee said it was to deter homeless people and mentally ill individuals from stores, but the company has not confirmed this, SFGATE reported.

San Francisco Police Department crime data for the Tenderloin Station area, which includes the Mid-Market Whole Foods location, shows an increase in assaults and motor vehicle thefts over the past two years. Burglaries spiked in the first two years of the pandemic, mirroring citywide trends, but have fallen below 2019 levels in recent months. However, police officials have said at past public hearings that retail crime and shoplifting is underreported.

Crime is also a major challenge for the Market, a grocery store located in the Twitter headquarters building two blocks west of Whole Foods.

We are concerned about safety. We have private security. Its still very unpleasant, owner Chris Foley said.

SFNext is Chronicle coverage devoted to the city's most vexing problems. To become involved: Send feedback, ideas and suggestions to sfnext@SFChronicle.com

The double whammy of remote work and theft led to a plunge in revenue during the pandemic, and the Market cut its hours and closed on weekends. Foley said that the Market will continue to stay open. He hopes more companies and government workers come back to the office more often.

Im committed to the people who work there. Im committed to the community. Were not quitters, he said.

Mayor London Breeds spokesperson, Jeff Cretan, said police and the mayors office have worked with Whole Foods for months over public safety and would continue to engage with the company over the future of the site.

Public safety is Mayor Breeds top priority and vital to the Citys work around restoring our economy and making our residents and workers feel safe, Cretan said in a statement. The Police will continue aggressively enforcing against open-air drug dealing, maximizing police response to urgent calls for assistance, partnering with retailers to address theft in their stores, and enforcing new street vending regulations to disrupt the sale of stolen goods.

The Get Involved calendar Search for public meetings on top San Francisco issues so you can add your voice.

The Board of Supervisors approved $25 million for police overtime last month. Dorsey is also sponsoring a ballot measure to increase the police forces minimum staffing.

Mid-Markets struggles around cleanliness and crime arent new. In 1985, Chronicle columnist Herb Caen dubbed the Tenderloin and area around Hallidie Plaza as le grand pissoir. Our sidewalks are filthy, he wrote. Its ironic that the sewer tax is being increased even as the downtown city itself becomes a sewer.

Those dirty streets persisted even after the city enacted the controversial Twitter tax break in 2011 to lure companies to the area. The pandemic arrived and fentanyl and other overdose deaths soared. Last year, the city opened a service center to help homeless people and drug users at U.N. Plaza  directly across the street from Whole Foods. It closed in December.

Downtown S.F. looks like a zombie apocalypse. People whove not been there have no idea, Twitters owner Elon Musk wrote on the social media platform Monday.
Twitter Inc. is no more.

In a court filing last week, lawyers for the San Francisco social media giant owned by Elon Musk said it has merged with another one of the CEOs companies and dropped its distinctive moniker.

More on Twitter: Elon Musk says over 6,000 Twitter employees were laid off

Twitter, Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists, according to a document filed on April 4 related to a lawsuit brought by far-right activist Laura Loomer against Twitter and Facebook.

X Corp. is a privately held corporation operating under its parent company X Holdings Corp.

On Tuesday, Musk tweeted a one-letter tweet marking the document leak: X.

Although the name change is not yet reflected on the Twitter website or app, it marks the latest step in Musks plan to transform the social media platform he acquired for $44 billion last year into X, the everything app  a plan he signaled in a tweet last October.

While he has not provided specific details, the Tesla founder has previously noted the convenience of Chinas WeChat, which consolidates various app experiences, including food delivery, ride-sharing and cashless payments, into one service.

The rebranding also aligns with Musks other products, including Space X and Tesla Model X, and the website X.com, which he started before co-founding PayPal. He still retains ownership of the domain.

In another tweet, Musk also provided an update on the status of Twitters legacy blue check marks issued to public figures, government agencies and others for verification purposes.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Individuals previously verified for free were supposed to pay up to $11 a month or lose their verification badges on April 1. However, the CEO announced on Tuesday that the final date for removing legacy check marks for those who do not subscribe to the monthly service would now be April 20.

The first deadline passed with only a few accounts, including the main profile of the New York Times, which has 55 million followers, losing their verification badges. Twitter also falsely labeled NPRs account as state-affiliated media, leading to the news organization going silent on the social media platform.

Last week, Musk also temporarily replaced Twitters bird logo with doge, the meme representing a cryptocurrency he favors, dogecoin. He followed that by changing his profile name to Harry Bolz and using paint to cover the w on Twitters marquee at its San Francisco headquarters on Market Street.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. Uzbekistan looks to attract specialists and technologies from Israel to remedy arid and saline lands of the Aral Sea region, Trend reports via Uzbekistans Ministry of Agriculture.

The matter was discussed between Uzbek Minister of Agriculture Aziz Voitov and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to Uzbekistan Zehavit Ben-Hillel.

According to the ministry, for the implementation of a pilot project on land restoration and cultivation of plant crops in the Aral Sea region, Uzbekistan plans to allocate to Israeli specialists free of charge a plot of land.

The youngest Aralkum desert in the world is located in the region near the Aral Sea, and this phenomenon in the future may lead to environmental disasters in Uzbekistan, in particular, a complete drought in that region.

Besides the abovementioned matters, the parties also discussed prospects of boosting cooperation in the field of agriculture.

Uzbekistan intends to implement Israeli experience in the development of this sector, in particular, Israel has rich experience in a number of areas of the agricultural sector, including efficient use of water resources, drought-resistant agriculture, precision farming, sustainable crops, etc.

Following the talks, the Israeli side expressed readiness to support Uzbekistan in the questions mentioned below, as well as to speed up the implementation of the projects proposed during the meeting.

Back in March 2023, Saida Mirziyoyeva (head of the Communications and Information Policy Branch of the Executive Office of the Uzbek Presidential Administration) addressed the UN conference and delivered a speech about the consequences of the Aral tragedy, the large-scale work carried out by Uzbekistan to mitigate them, as well as the leadership of the country in uniting international efforts in this direction.
A 24-year-old man was charged Monday in connection with last weeks violent attack on former San Francisco Fire Commissioner Don Carmignani in the Marina District, officials said.

Garret Allen Doty was charged with three felonies: assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office said.

Doty is accused of assaulting the former fire commissioner with a metal pipe near Laguna and Magnolia streets at around 7:20 p.m. last Wednesday, as SFGATE previously reported. Carmignani, 53, suffered serious injuries and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital from the scene, police said.

Dotys attorney, Katherine Kleigh Hathaway, told SFGATE she believes Doty was acting in self-defense. Hathaway said Carmignani allegedly came out of his house yelling at Doty and pepper-sprayed him.

I don't know what's going to be revealed, but I do think that this is most likely going to end up being a self-defense case, Hathaway said.

Friday, KGO interviewed a man who claimed he was with the person who attacked Carmignani. It wasnt a crow bar. It was two round pieces of metal that had been broken, he said.

The man alleged that he and Doty were sprayed with bear mace because Carmignani didnt like that they were outside his home. Doty was arrested and booked into San Francisco County Jail, where he has been in custody since the attack. He remains detained because of the public safety risk posed, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office said.

Doty is scheduled to appear in court Thursday for an arraignment. If he's convicted of all charges, he faces seven years in prison.

Hathaway said she hasnt been able to speak with Doty because he is sick but plans on speaking with him Tuesday ahead of the arraignment.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins condemned the violence in a Monday statement, saying its unacceptable.

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.

Carmignani was appointed fire commissioner in 2013 by then-Mayor Ed Lee; he resigned less than five months later, after being arrested on domestic violence charges, the San Francisco Chronicle reported at the time. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)

Wednesdays attack came after Cash App founder Bob Lee was stabbed to death early Tuesday in another high-profile incident.
Seth Wenig/AP

NEW YORK (AP)  JetBlue said Tuesday it will begin flying between New York and Amsterdam this summer after a Dutch court blocked a government effort to limit flights at Schiphol Airport.

JetBlue currently flies to London and will start service to Paris in June. The Amsterdam flights will put the New York-based airline in head-to-head competition against the alliance of bigger rivals Delta Air Lines and KLM.
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NEW YORK (AP)  New York City officials unveiled three new high-tech policing devices Tuesday, including a robotic dog that critics called creepy when it first joined the police pack 2 1/2 years ago.

The new devices, which also include a GPS tracker for stolen cars and a cone-shaped security robot, will be rolled out in a manner that is "transparent, consistent and always done in close collaboration with the people we serve, said police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, who joined Mayor Eric Adams and other officials at a Times Square press conference where the security robot and the mechanical canine nicknamed Digidog were displayed.

Digidog is out of the pound, said Adams, a Democrat and former police officer. Digidog is now part of the toolkit that we are using.

The city's first robot police dog was leased in 2020 by Adams' predecessor, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, but the city's contract for the device was cut short after critics derided it as creepy and dystopian.

Adams said he won't bow to anti-robot dog pressure.

A few loud people were opposed to it and we took a step back, the mayor said. That is not how I operate. I operate on looking at whats best for the city.

Adams said the remote-controlled, 70-pound (32-kilogram) Digidog will be deployed in risky situations like hostage standoffs starting this summer.

If you have a barricaded suspect, if you have someone thats inside a building that is armed, instead of sending police in there, you send Digidog in there, he said. So these are smart ways of using good technologies.

The tracking system called StarChase will allow police to launch a GPS tag that will attach itself to a stolen car so that officers can track the vehicle's location. The New York Police Department's pilot program for using the system will last 90 days, officials said.

The Autonomous Security Robot, which Adams compared to a Roomba, will be deployed inside the Times Square subway station in a seven-month pilot program starting this summer, police officials said.

The device, used in shopping centers and other locations for several years, will at first be joined by a human partner, police said.

Civil libertarians and police reform advocates questioned the need for the high-tech devices.

This latest announcement is just the most recent example of how Mayor Adams allows unmitigated overspending of the NYPDs massively bloated budget," said Ileana Mendez-Penate, program director of Communities United for Police Reform. The NYPD is buying robot dogs and other fancy tech while New Yorkers cant access food stamps because city agencies are short-staffed, and New Yorkers are getting evicted because they cant access their right to counsel.

Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, said: The NYPD is turning bad science fiction into terrible policing. New York deserves real safety, not a knockoff RoboCop."
Starbucks stores around San Francisco have been removing indoor seating.

Earlier this year, The San Francisco Standard reported that numerous Starbucks locations in downtown San Francisco had done away with their furniture. Last month, another city store followed suit when the Castro Starbucks at 4094 18th St., locally known as Bearbucks, removed all seating and tables, in addition to making other interior changes, as first reported by Hoodline.

In the days that followed the redesign, locals took notice and shared their grievances on social media. One customer tweeted, @starbucks removed all seating from its SF/Castro location  grab and go is now the model. SMH, you can bet this will become a thing. RIP my third office @Starbucks. Another deemed the move classist and ableist, in line with claims the chain is trying to bar homeless individuals from entering.

Removing indoor seating  which patrons rely on for remote work and community gatherings  is a dramatic change. Greg Zajac, a shift supervisor at the unionized 18th Street Starbucks, told SFGATE that employees could not weigh in on the remodel.

Kyle Trainer, a barista at the location, said he believed Starbucks eliminated seating due to homeless individuals and people with mental illnesses around the neighborhood. He added that Starbucks does not adequately train team members to manage stressful situations and that the chain would rather remove the seating, close the bathroom and not deal with it.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE The Starbucks location at 4094 18th St. underwent a remodel in March that effectively removed all seating. (Photo: Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE) The Starbucks location at 4094 18th St. underwent a remodel in March that effectively removed all seating. (Photo: Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

Starbucks [is] attempting to remove the issues of homeless and mental illness from stores, Trainer said. Instead of exploring more productive and caring options regarding these issues, they would rather take the easy way out, regardless of how their workers or customers feel.

SFGATE reached out to Starbucks to find out whether the coffee chain is trending toward a no-seat layout around the city  and if so, why. A spokesperson did not answer in clear terms, stating that Starbucks operates under various formats, which include grab-and-go, drive-thus, and full-service cafes.

When it comes to individual store changes, however, the spokesperson said that Starbucks empowers local cafe leaders (or supervisors) to make decisions on how they want to modify store operations.

Zajac identified Starbucks regional manager Niamh Ramirez as the individual who issued the directive to eliminate chairs at the 18th Street location. After several requests, Ramirez declined to comment on this story.

We had no say in whether or not we were going to keep our seating, Zajac said. Were fighting to get them back.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

According to Zajac, the Castro Starbucks started making changes last July when a former supervisor decided to close off access to the restroom after feeling uncomfortable with people using the facilities. The chairs in the lobby were subsequently removed, Zajac said.

Originally, when the seating closed, we all kind of went along with it for a while, but maybe two to three weeks afterward, we got a new manager, and we said wed love to have a conversation about seating.

Amid the remodel in March, Zajac learned that the Castro shop was flagged as a high incident store, which was one of the reasons that the chairs were cleared. He explained that Starbucks deems shoplifting, sleeping, swearing and assault within or around our space as examples that could define a high incident store.

Starbucks lists many of the items Zajac mentioned as activities it wont tolerate, per its Third Place Policy, which bans sleeping, drug consumption and loud noises, among other things. Specific details on what determined the Castro location as a high incident store were not shared by the company.

Baristas and [shift] supervisors are not made aware of the criteria to classify a store as high incident, Zajac said.

Late last year, a former Starbucks barista alleged that the company was making changes to keep homeless individuals out. In a viral Tiktok video, former Starbucks barista Lizette Roman-Johnston shared that the coffee chain had covered power outlets due to safety concerns regarding the homeless. Roman-Johnston told SFGATE in late 2022 that a barista at Oaklands Lakeshore neighborhood told her people experiencing homelessness were the reason some stores were covering outlets. An employee at a different Oakland Starbucks gave the same explanation to SFGATE as the reason for that stores secured outlets while adding that they didnt agree with the decision.

At the time of SFGATEs reporting last year, a spokesperson denied that Starbucks was both removing seating and covering outlets to dissuade homeless people and people with mental illnesses from using cafe spaces.

When the Starbucks spokesperson was asked for this story if it was reasonable to believe that the company sought to remove seating to discourage homeless people or people with mental illnesses from spending time in Starbucks stores, they said that all customers were welcome inside stores as long as they respected customers, store leaders and the companys Third Place Policy.

Zajac said that the lack of furniture has stripped the sense of community the Castro location formerly had.

This location was once a local meeting place for the LGBTQIA+ community and nicknamed Bearbucks, which is a nod to the abundance of gay men in the area, Zajac said. With the removal of seating, we are denying our community that welcome feeling.
After a short stint in downtown San Francisco, the Whole Foods at 1185 Market St. is closing this week.

The Whole Foods at Trinity Place is set to close on April 11, a Whole Foods Market spokesperson confirmed with SFGATE. The San Francisco Standard first reported the upcoming closure.

To ensure the safety of our Team Members, we have made the difficult decision to close the Trinity store for the time being, a Whole Foods Market spokesperson said in a statement via email. All Team Members will be transferred to one of our nearby locations.

In the statement, the Whole Foods Market spokesperson suggested that the grocery store could reopen in the future, although specific details were not provided. The spokesperson also did not elaborate on what safety concerns led the company to close the Trinity Place market.

Arielle A. on Yelp

Last November, the San Francisco Standard reported that the Whole Foods location at Trinity Place had limited its store hours following high theft and hostile people, according to a statement from a store manager who was granted anonymity by the outlet.

The grocery chain debuted the massive, 65,000-square-foot storefront at Trinity Place last March, which was promptly dubbed San Franciscos flagship store ahead of the opening. The store offered a large selection of wines, craft beer, and baked goods from local companies like La Boulangerie, Wise Sons and more.

Whole Foods continues to operate multiple locations across San Francisco.
Charlie Neibergall/AP

SACRAMENTO, Calif.  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.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Police body camera video released Tuesday showed the chaotic moments when police arrived at the scene of a mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville, as the shooter they couldn't see from the street rained bullets down on them.

The videos, taken from two wounded officers' lapels, offer a rare perspective of police officers responding to a massacre that killed five and injured eight others Monday. One, a rookie officer, was shot in the head within minutes of arriving at the scene, as his partner was grazed by a bullet and sought cover while still trying to take down the shooter.

Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey walked reporters through edited footage and still photos at a new conference Tuesday and praised the responding officers for their heroism.

They received the call of a shooting at Old National Bank at 8:38 a.m., and the two officers arrived three minutes later, according to a chronology provided by police. They hadn't even gotten out of the patrol car when the gunman began firing on them.

Back up, back up, back up, one officer shouted as gunshots thundered in the background.

One still image from surveillance video showed the 25-year-old shooter, who worked at the bank, holding a rifle, wearing jeans, a blue button-down shirt and sneakers, surrounded by broken glass inside the building. He had already shot numerous people inside, and police said he set up an ambush position to attack officers as they arrived.

The front doors were glass, elevated from the sidewalk, and because of the reflection, the officers could not see the shooter inside, Humphrey said. But he could see them.

Officer Cory Galloway retrieved a rifle from the trunk of the patrol car.

Cover for me, he said, and they reported to dispatch that there had been shots fired.

Galloway was training rookie Officer Nickolas Wilt, who had graduated from the police academy just 10 days earlier. The videos showed them walking up the stairs toward the front door when the gunman fired a barrage of bullets.

Wilt was shot in the head, though that was not captured on video. Galloway was grazed in the shoulder, police said. His body camera showed that he fell and then took cover behind a concrete planter at the bottom of the staircase leading to the building. Sirens from the dozens of police cars coming toward them wailed in the background.

The shooter has an angle on that officer," he said in the video recording. "We need to get up there. I dont know where hes at, the glass is blocking him.

A video taken by a bystander across the street, which police also released Tuesday, showed him darting back and forth from one side of the planter to another, trying to get a shot at the gunman.

He waited, and as other officers arrived, more gunshots rang out and glass shattered.

Galloway fired toward the gunman at 8:44 a.m., three minutes after arriving.

I think I got him down! I think hes down! he shouted. Suspect down! Get the officer!

He advanced into the building, and shards of glass crunched under his feet. The video then showed Galloway approaching the suspect, who lay on the ground inside the lobby next to a long rifle.

I think you can see the tension in that video," Humphrey said Tuesday. "You can understand the stress that those officers are going through. ... They did absolutely exactly what they needed to do to save lives. Once officers arrived on scene, not another person was shot.

Wilt was transported in the back of a police car to a hospital, Humphrey said. In the chaotic first minutes, police treated and triaged the victims inside. Humphrey said the ambulance service was short-staffed, so a police lieutenant drove the ambulance while emergency crews treated people at the scene.

Wilt was still in critical but stable condition Tuesday, according to University of Louisville Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Smith.

Two of the four wounded still in the hospital had injuries that were not life-threatening, Smith said.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said it was crucial to release the footage because transparency is important  even more so in a time of crisis.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a news conference that bank employee Connor Sturgeon, 25, bought the AR-15 assault-style rifle used in the attack at a local dealership on April 4.

Armed with the rifle, Sturgeon killed his co-workers  including a close friend of Kentuckys governor  while livestreaming the attack.

We do know this was targeted. He knew those individuals, of course, because he worked there, Gwinn-Villaroel said, but didn't give an indication of a motive behind the shooting.

Gwinn-Villaroel praised the heroic actions of officers who engaged the shooter without hesitation when they arrived.

They went towards danger in order to save and preserve life, she said. They stopped the threat so other lives could be saved. No hesitation, and they did what they were called do to.

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.

In Louisville, five Old National Bank employees were killed: Joshua Barrick, 40, a senior vice president; Tommy Elliott, 63, also a senior vice president; Jim Tutt Jr., 64, a commercial real estate market executive; Juliana Farmer, 45, a loan analyst; and Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer.

The mayor urged unity as the community processes its grief, over this shooting and the many other spasms of gun violence that have stunned this city.

Were all feeling shaken by this, and scared and angry and a lot of other things too," Greenberg said. "Its important that we come together as a community to process this tragedy in particular but not just this tragedy because the reality is that we have already lost 40 people to gun violence in Louisville this year."

___

Associated Press reporter John Raby contributed from Charleston, West Virginia, and Jonathan Mattise from Nashville, Tennessee.
A federal judge has denied Elizabeth Holmes's latest attempt to stay out of prison, ruling that she must begin serving her more than 11-year sentence on April 27.

The Theranos founder had argued she should be allowed to remain free while she appeals her fraud convictions for misleading investors in her now-defunct blood-testing start-up.

Though U.S. District Judge Edward Davila ruled that Holmes is not a danger to the community or likely to flee, he wrote that the court was "unable to find that she has raised a 'substantial question of law or fact' that if 'determined favorably to [her] on appeal'" is likely to result in a reversal or new trial.

Holmes was once a wunderkind of Silicon Valley - the young, female founder of a promising start-up that pledged to make health care more affordable and less painful for the masses. Theranos, which Holmes founded while still a student at Stanford University, created a blood-testing device that was purported to have the capability to run a multitude of tests from just a few drops of blood.

The company raised hundreds of millions of dollars from prominent U.S. statesmen and Silicon Valley investors, and Holmes became a picture of success for young founders. The saga of Theranos has now been captured in a best-selling book, a Hulu series and an HBO documentary.

Holmes's image and the company came crashing down in 2015 when a Wall Street Journal investigation revealed the company's technology was sputtering along - it was relying on traditional lab testing machines and typical blood draws to run many of its tests, and testing was erratic and limited.

Theranos was investigated by regulators and eventually shuttered. During Holmes's four-month trial in late 2021, former employees and partners testified that the public declarations about the company's technology did not reflect the chaos inside the firm.

When Holmes took the stand, she insisted that she acted in good faith and denied that she intended to mislead anyone.

But a jury found her guilty on four counts of misleading investors. Ten months later, she was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison and ordered to turn herself in on April 27.

Holmes then asked the judge to allow her to remain free during the appeal process. Her lawyers argued in court filings that she is not a flight risk or a danger to the community.

"She has received financial and other support from family and friends, and she continues to work on ideas for patents, as the government notes," lawyers wrote. "None of that is criminal or poses a danger to the community."

They also noted that she has two young children. Holmes was pregnant at her sentencing in November and had her first child in 2021.

But the government signaled that Holmes was a possible flight risk, referencing a flight to Mexico her partner had booked for the pair to attend a wedding just weeks after her verdict came in. Her defense said that the ticket was booked before she was found guilty and that it was later canceled.

"Booking international travel plans for a criminal defendant in anticipation of a complete defense victory is a bold move, and the failure to promptly cancel those plans after a guilty verdict is a perilously careless oversight," Davila wrote in his latest ruling. "However, after reviewing the counsels' contemporary communications and immediate subsequent remediation, the Court accepts Ms. Holmes's representation that the oneway flight ticket - while ill-advised - was not an attempt to flee the country."

Holmes's former romantic and business partner, Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, was convicted in a separate trial of 12 counts of misleading investors and patients. He was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison in December.

The same judge also denied Balwani's request to remain out of prison during his appeal, and the former Theranos executive is scheduled to report to prison on April 20 at a federal correctional institute in San Pedro, Calif.

The judge previously recommended Holmes serve time at a federal prison camp in Bryan, Tex., about 100 miles from Houston, where she grew up. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has the final say, according to Bloomberg News. The agency did not confirm where she would go, saying in a statement Tuesday that "specific designation information is not releasable until after an individual arrives at his or her destination." Holmes's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A national referendum on the law on the new Constitution will be held in Uzbekistan on April 30, 2023. The updated Basic Law is intended to consolidate the country's strategic course for further reform of society and the state, which has had a positive impact on its foreign policy, primarily in the Central Asian region.

In this regard, it is obvious that the referendum will be the most important political event in the life of the citizens of Uzbekistan this year. This is evidenced, first of all, by the most active participation of society in the process of drafting a new Constitution.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan recognized that it was initially envisaged to change 30% of the text of the Basic Law, but more than 220 thousand proposals were received, which is why the amendments now concern 65%. It is no coincidence that Uzbek expert and public circles already call the updated Constitution "people's one".

Reflection of the transformation of society and the state

In fact, the draft of the new Constitution reflects the serious changes that have taken place in Uzbekistan since the beginning of large-scale reforms announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the end of 2016. Then, for foreign experts, the political and economic opening of Uzbekistan came as a surprise. Most observers expected a few symbolic innovations, but mostly continuity. However, since Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office in 2016, Uzbekistan has undoubtedly been going through a phase of profound changes.

Serious amendments have been made to the draft new Constitution concerning human rights and freedoms, personal inviolability of citizens and their private life in criminal proceedings, conditions of detention, detention and detention. In the administration of justice, the use of evidence obtained in violation of the law is not allowed. Torture, violence, ill-treatment, and the death penalty are prohibited.

Unlike the current Basic Law, Uzbekistan is defined "as a legal, social, secular, democratic state." Articles affecting the social rights of citizens in such important areas as education and healthcare have been significantly expanded. The rights of youth, children and women will be protected by the State. Special attention is paid to the protection of the rights and interests of citizens with disabilities, as well as socially vulnerable segments of the population.

For the first time, a separate chapter dedicated to civil society institutions is included, guarantees of their activities are established. Thus, special attention is paid to improving the norms concerning the strengthening of not only civil society institutions, but also the mass media. In this context, it should be emphasized that in December 2022, the number of foreign TV channels allowed to be distributed on the territory of Uzbekistan increased from 50 to 192. Among them are BBC, Sky News, CNN, CNBC, Fox News, Bloomberg and others.

In the part concerning the economic rights of citizens, a separate article in the draft Constitution prohibits forced labor, any form of child labor. In 2021, Uzbekistan eliminated forced and child labor from the production cycle in cotton growing.

According to the International Labor Organization, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the country embarked on the path of reforms, including the modernization of the former agrarian economic model and the rejection of the widely used practice of using child and forced labor in cotton harvesting.

In Tashkent in March 2023, US Secretary of State E. Blinken called this fact a "historic achievement". According to him, "this is a model for countries around the world facing similar problems." We look forward to working with the (Uzbek) government to advance similar efforts in other sectors."

The updated Constitution of Uzbekistan significantly strengthens the role of Parliament.

Thus, it is proposed to increase the number of exclusive powers of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis from 5 to 12, the Senate  from 14 to 18. Part of the current powers of the president in the field of forming the system of executive and judicial power is transferred to parliament.

Thus, the renewal of the Constitution not only confirms the reformist course of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, but also defines clear guidelines for where Uzbekistan will move in its further development. There is still much to be done, the head of state himself has repeatedly noted, but reforms, renewal and modernization are irreversible.

According to the World Bank's Regional Director for Central Asia, Tatiana Proskuryakova, "Uzbekistan remains committed to the most important reforms, despite the difficult situation around the world and in the region of Europe and Central Asia." President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has launched a large-scale reform program, in which significant progress has been made, especially in the field of economic liberalization.

British experts were not mistaken when back in 2018 they noted that the economic modernization of Uzbekistan and its growing political openness could have huge consequences for economic growth and political stability throughout Central Asia. Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia and its geographical center. These features make him a natural and historical trendsetter of political and economic fashion in the region.

Modernization of Uzbekistan's economy and increased political openness will be of great importance for economic growth and political stability in Central Asia. If successful, his reforms could also make Uzbekistan a positive model for other Muslim-majority countries.

New adjustments in the regional policy of Uzbekistan

In 2016, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev declared Central Asia the main priority of Uzbekistan's foreign policy. The Preamble of the draft new Constitution notes "Uzbekistan's desire to strengthen and develop friendly relations with the world community, primarily with neighboring states, on the basis of cooperation, mutual support, peace and harmony."

It is noteworthy that in June 2018, exactly five years ago, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution "Strengthening regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region". The initiative to adopt this document was put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the international conference on Central Asia, held in November 2017 in the city of Samarkand.

As the President of Uzbekistan noted at the time: "Our main goal is to jointly transform Central Asia into a stable, economically developed and prosperous region." The regional policy of Shavkat Mirziyoyev has become a new stage in the history of interstate relations of the Central Asian countries and marked the beginning of their consolidation.

For the first time since gaining their independence, the Central Asian States have confirmed their ability not only to take joint actions to solve common regional problems, but also to ensure the well-being and prosperity of their citizens.

Today, the countries of the region are consistently solving the difficult tasks of ensuring security and stability, sustainable socio-economic development of Central Asia. A lot of barriers have been eliminated in a short time, first of all, sensitive border problems. onditions have been created for the free movement of citizens, active cultural and tourist exchanges between the countries of the region.

For the first time in recent decades, joint industrial cooperation projects have been launched, new value chains are being created. Thus, investment banks of Uzbekistan with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have been established to finance promising projects in the fields of industry, the agricultural sector, energy, infrastructure, automotive and other areas.

Moreover, water energy, which was previously a "bone of contention", has become the subject of partnership between the countries of Central Asia. So, in January 2023, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan signed a roadmap for the implementation of the Kambarata HPP-1 construction project.

A favorable environment has been formed in Central Asia, which contributes to the growth of mutual trade. Uzbekistan has started creating border trade and economic zones with almost all countries of the region. Thanks to this, intraregional trade has doubled over the past five years, and the total GDP of the countries of the region has increased by $75 billion. to over $358 billion (in 1991, this figure was about $46 billion.).

All these changes have a positive impact on the daily life of the peoples of the Central Asian countries, improving their well-being, contributing to strengthening stability in the region. It is obvious that the reforms in Uzbekistan and its new regional policy have contributed to a serious acceleration of the economic development of the Central Asian countries.

Moreover, consolidation has allowed the countries of the region to increase their role as subjects of the system of international relations, as well as the ability to take responsibility for regional security. The international community recognizes that only a stable, dynamically developing and prosperous Central Asia can become an attractive, constructive and long-term partner.

As US Secretary of State E. Blinken noted in Tashkent, a more interconnected, cooperative Central Asia will be able to better determine its own future and meet the needs of its people.

Over the past five years, there has been a serious transformation of Central Asia, which has gone from a region of tension and conflict to a zone of mutual trust, cooperation and partnership. The agenda of the leaders of the Central Asian states has changed, in which issues of implementing common projects of interconnectedness in the spheres of trade, economy, investment, cultural and humanitarian ties already prevail today.

In short, in recent years, the dynamic trends of Uzbekistan's cooperation with neighboring states have acquired a qualitatively new, systemic and dynamic character. In a short period of time, Uzbekistan's bilateral relations with the countries of the region have been elevated to the level of strategic partnership (Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan) and alliance (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan).

The mechanism of Consultative Meetings of the heads of Central Asian States initiated by Uzbekistan in 2017 has been successfully launched, contributing to the formation of common approaches and joint search for solutions to problems of regional security and sustainable development. An active, constructive political dialogue is becoming a key factor in strengthening mutual trust and the common responsibility of the Central Asian States for the present and future of the region.

A powerful impetus to the multifaceted regional partnership is given by cultural and humanitarian cooperation, in which various social groups of the population of Central Asian countries have been increasingly involved in recent years. Such dynamics, strengthening the perception of historical and civilizational community in the societies of the states of the region, creates conditions for strengthening regional identity.

The countries of the region are building balanced relations with the leading states within the framework of the dialogue format "Central Asia Plus". This practice has acquired a steady, regular character, contributing to strengthening the image of Central Asia as a unified, consolidated and strategically important region in the system of international relations.

In general, the main result of the implementation of the new regional policy of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was not only the overcoming of previously seemingly unsolvable contradictions, but also the formation of a powerful foundation for further promotion of regional priorities in the field of security and sustainable development.

In this regard, the renewal of the Constitution, which defines the trajectory of Uzbekistan's transformation into an open, democratic, dynamically developing stable state with a strong civil society, determines Tashkent's more active regional policy in Central Asia. This trend meets the long-term interests not only of the Central Asian countries themselves, but also of the entire international community, which expresses its support for the processes taking place since 2016 in one of the strategically important regions of the world.

Dr. Batir Tursunov, Deputy Director International Institute for Central Asia
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)  A judge on Monday declined to stop a strike by more than 2,000 graduate students who teach at the University of Michigan, just eight days before the term ends.

Washtenaw County Judge Carol Kuhnke acknowledged that undergraduate students have been affected by the strike, but she said she doesn't see evidence of "irreparable harm."
MANCHESTER  A review of local restaurant inspections over the past six months showed two places were cited for a series of violations, but the health director said Monday that managers have made improvements under a new protocol that affects all Connecticut food establishments.

Under state legislation that became fully effective in mid-February, all health districts in Connecticut now use the Federal Food and Drug Administration's Food Code. Under the new rules, inspectors no longer rate food establishments on a pass/fail basis with reinspection required within two weeks for restaurants that fail.

Instead, the Food Code inspection form lays out a three-tiered system of corrective action. "Priority items" are hazards that cause foodborne illness, such as lack of hand-washing or not holding hot and cold food at the proper temperatures. The rules encourage immediate, on-site correction of such violations, or at least within 72 hours. "Priority foundation items," such as providing soap for hand-washing, must be corrected immediately if possible or within 10 calendar days, and "core items," such as cleanable, non-porous walls, must be corrected in 90 days.

Hearst Connecticut Media Group reviewed the past six months of Manchester restaurant inspections obtained from the health department through a Freedom of Information Act request. The reports showed two Manchester restaurants had a series of violations when inspected under the former state rules.

At Kobe Asian Bistro on Tolland Turnpike, an inspection on Jan. 5 found violations that included unclean floors, walls, counters, cabinets and sushi bar, improper thawing of fish in stagnant water, unclean towels "with foul odor" and an unclean employee restroom, the report showed. The restaurant was graded 57 out of 100 points. Under the former rules, a grade less than 80, or just one serious "four-point" violation, meant a restaurant failed and had to be reinspected. Owner Shawn Chen said Monday that he and restaurant staff have corrected all violations flagged during the inspection.

Panda King on Main Street received a score of 51 out of 100 after an October inspection. Violations included "improper hand-washing," unclean sushi containers and rice warmer, unclean walls and floors, improper storage of meats and other foods and unclean knives, the report shows. A person who was identified as a manager declined to comment when reached on Monday.

Manchester health department Director Jeff Catlett said managers at both restaurants have met with health officials and made improvements.

"We give them a little bit of extra attention," Catlett said.

Catlett said he is a big fan of the FDA Food Code in part because it's less rigid than former rules and "very logically laid out," with clear, science-based explanations for all citations.

"It gives you the answers to the test," he said.

The code also allows more collaboration between inspectors and restaurant owners and managers, which fits the department's goals, Catlett said.

"We want them to succeed and serve safe food," he said, noting that health districts still have the authority to close a restaurant for uncorrected violations.

Catlett and other Connecticut health agency leaders have sent notices about the new inspection rules to restaurants, grocery stores and other food establishments. Changes they noted from the former rules include:
MIDDLETOWN  A 19-year-old who police say shot a teenager while he was sitting in a car with two other teens was arrested Monday, police said.

The wounded 16-year-old survived, they said.

Saquan Bennett of Middletown was charged with first-degree assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and commission of a Class B felony with a firearm, police said.

He was listed Tuesday as being in custody at the Hartford Correctional Center on $850,000 bail, prison records show.

According to police, shortly before 10:30 p.m. on March 31, Bennett opened fire on a Nissan Sentra that was being driven through a Ferry Street parking lot. One of the three teenagers in the car, a 16-year-old, was wounded on his knee.

Police said officers responded to Ferry Street after getting calls about gunfire and found shell casings and a bullet. They found no victims because the teenagers kept driving after the car was shot up.

A short time later, officers were called to Flower Street, about seven blocks away, where they found the teens, police said. The wounded 16-year-old was taken to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, police said.

The teens know Bennett, police said in a news release, and at least one of the teenagers is linked to Middletown High School, which prompted a stepped-up police presence at the school last week.
NORTHFIELD, Minn. (AP)  A student at a private southeastern Minnesota college faces multiple counts after authorities found several items in his dorm room that school officials believed posed a threat  including knives, a tactical vest and empty ammunition and magazine boxes  according to charges filed Monday.

St. Olaf College student Waylon Kurts, 20, was charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree assault and conspiracy to commit threats of violence, among other counts.

According to the charges, the items found in Kurts' dorm room included a tactical vest, empty boxes for ammunition and magazines, a tactical knife, a folding knife, firearm earmuffs, six propane canisters, fireworks, lighter fluid, a battery with wires and a lock pick set.

Police also confiscated notebooks with writings that included a plot to steal ammunition from a retailer, police radio frequencies and a hand-drawn map of the recreational facility on campus, the Star Tribune reported. The map include an arrow indicating a travel route and apparent exit path, the charges said.

Kurts' attorney, Paul Rogosheske, said Kurts has some things that look funny, but said there is nothing that poses a threat to anyone, the Star Tribune reported. Rogosheske said his client is a hunter who shoots a lot, and noted there were no guns or ammunition taken from Kurts' room or vehicle. He said Kurts drew the map for someone else.

Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott said authorities are trying to determine what, if anything, Kurts had in mind.

St. Olaf officials say they became suspicious of Kurts on last week, when a custodian saw two empty packages for high-capacity magazines in a garbage can.

Kurts is a sophomore from Montpelier, Vermont, and a member of the colleges track team. He was arrested Thursday and suspended from the private school in Northfield.

In addition to the items found in Kurts' room and vehicle, the criminal complaint says a search of his phone showed he texted someone about buying guns from unlicensed sellers. Kurts also texted photos of a box filled with rifle magazines on a campus bench and the words, Kidsve got no idea whats in here, haha."

Notes found in Kurts' vehicle allegedly said combat is much faster and closer than you think and the average door takes 2.5 kicks, according to the complaint. Notes also contained training directions for where to shoot a person on their body.

Kurts family told Northfield police that all his guns were in their Vermont home and he wasnt shooting in Minnesota, the Star Tribune reported. A shooting range and gun shop in Burnsville told police that Kurts had visited "several times to shoot."
OLD SAYBROOK  Members of the law enforcement community are raising concerns about a Connecticut police departments body camera program, which they say may infringe on the privacy of officers and the civilians they encounter.

The issue surfaced in recent months after the Old Saybrook Police Department used an officers passive recording on his body-worn camera as evidence to support a criminal charge against him, according to court documents and town officials.

After realizing the department can access footage from the cameras even when an officer has not activated the device, agency employees and their representatives worried whether footage from courthouses, hospitals and private spaces also is being collected and reviewed.

When officers wear body cameras, the devices are always running in the background, capturing video but not sound in a mode known as passive recording.

However, many departments do not save that footage unless an officer presses the activation button, which causes the camera to collect audio as well as video, according to law enforcement experts. Typically, the cameras then save the 30 to 60 seconds of passive footage taken prior to activation, experts said.

Some departments, like Old Saybrook, use technology granting them access to additional passive recording data.

Old Saybrook officials said they believe the technology is common, and officers knew or should have known they were being recorded even when they had not pressed the activation button.

But a union representing Old Saybrook officers and two department members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of facing discipline, told Hearst Connecticut Media Group they only recently learned the agency could review video from officers entire shifts.

In interviews, the officers said the issue came to their attention after the department used passive recording data to build a criminal case against former Patrolman Joshua Zarbo, who last year was accused of using police resources to try to get a date.

Our members were never notified by the chief that their cameras were recording them for their entire shift  in bathroom stalls, bathrooms, locker rooms, lunch rooms and other places, said Ronald Suraci, the regional director of UPSEU-COPS, a union representing multiple police forces, including Old Saybrook.

He raised his concerns to First Selectman Carl Fortuna in a Feb. 14 email, which Hearst Connecticut Media Group obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The video recordings include times when officers, both male and female, were using the restroom, locker rooms, courthouses, medical facilities as well as private homes and on breaks, just to name a few, Suraci wrote in the email.

The email came the day after Zarbos termination hearing. At that hearing, the union learned the cameras constantly collected footage, according to Richard Lynch, Zarbos criminal attorney.

Old Saybrook Police Chief Michael Spera, who became the towns top cop in 2009, was aware of the cameras capabilities, according to Suracis email, which alleges the agency has been recording without officers knowledge for as many as five years.

Spera, who was responsive to records requests, did not otherwise respond to questions about the departments body camera program.

However, he has told the police commission that officers were informed of the practice, according to Chairman Alfred Wilcox.

It is my understanding that the officers have been instructed in (the practice) so that if theyre going into the bathroom  theyre instructed to remove (the body camera), he said. Thats the information that the chief has given us.

If there was any evidence to the contrary, Wilcox said, the commission would be interested in investigating the matter.

The two Old Saybrook police officers interviewed for this story expressed surprise and concern over the cameras capabilities, stating officers were previously told the body cameras only collected footage when activated.

Hearst Connecticut Media Group has asked town officials if there are written materials informing the union or officers about the police departments use of passive recordings.

The union has been notified by the chief in general terms that passive recording occurs, Fortuna, the first selectman, said in an email. The union is in possession of at least a couple emails from the chief advising them how all department recording data devices are deployed.

Fortuna said he did not have copies of the emails.

In response to a public records request for the relevant correspondence, Spera provided copies of several letters between himself and union representatives. The statements that specifically mention passive recording on body cameras are dated on, or after Feb. 14, the day Suraci notified Fortuna of his concerns.

Spera has not yet fulfilled a request for all written communications disclosing that officers body cameras record around the clock.

Standard practice?

While some law enforcement agencies have experimented with policies granting them access to constant passive recording data, privacy concerns have rendered the practice uncommon, according to Brian Higgins, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the former police chief of Bergen County in New Jersey.

It is more typical for departments to program body cameras to overwrite their passive recordings every 30 seconds, he said.

Higgins had never heard of a department passively recording video without telling its officers, he said.

I dont know what reason you would have to have it on all the time and not tell the officer, he said. Id have some serious concerns about privacy.

When agencies use the advanced passive recording capabilities, they usually address them in their body camera policies, Higgins said. Old Saybrooks policy does not mention the practice.

The towns first selectman expressed a different view. Fortuna said he investigated Suracis claims and found the departments ability to access passive recording data was typical of body cameras throughout the state of Connecticut.

WatchGuard, the camera brand Old Saybrook uses, has a program that allows departments to obtain footage even when an officer has not pressed the activation button. The technology can be configured with WatchGuard body cameras, according to the website of Motorola Solutions, which owns the brand.

A spokesperson for Motorola Solutions did not respond to inquiries.

Any police department with WatchGuard has the same passive recording capability  its a factory setting, Fortuna said in an email. Other departments most likely can go back more than 30 seconds, but it is rare that anyone would need to do so, and they may or may not know of that capability.

But two Connecticut police chiefs whose departments also use WatchGuard cameras said as far as they knew, they could not access any passive recording data beyond 30 seconds of footage prior to activation.

While emphasizing they could not speak to Old Saybrooks program, Waterford Chief Marc Balestracci and Wallingford Chief John Ventura said they believed their agencies were given the option to activate around-the-clock passive recording when they implemented the cameras. They each said their department opted against it.

Old Saybrooks body camera policy requires officers to activate their body cameras when they are in personal contact with members of the public for the purpose of conducting investigations. They must also activate the cameras during pursuits and motorist assists, as well as when taking witness statements and transporting prisoners.

Additionally, the policy includes a list of scenarios in which officers generally should not activate their body cameras. They are not, for example, supposed to record while on breaks or engaged in personal activities; other than suspects, officers are not allowed to record people in medical facilities, the policy states.

Coming to light

While working a private security detail at the Old Saybrook Walmart on Black Friday, Zarbo, then a patrolman for the towns police department, asked a dispatcher to run the license plate of a woman he was romantically interested in, according to a warrant for his arrest.

Zarbo has since been terminated and pleaded not guilty to one count of third-degree computer crime. He applied for accelerated rehabilitation, which could dismiss the criminal case if successfully completed.

In building a case against Zarbo, the Old Saybrook Police Department cited footage captured by his body camera at various points over a 50-minute period during his Black Friday shift, according to his arrest warrant affidavit.

The images show Zarbo standing near the Walmart self-checkout area, sitting inside his patrol vehicle, turning on his laptop and using his cellphone, among other activities, the warrant says.

Zarbo had not activated his body camera during the incident at Walmart, nor was he aware that it was recording, according to Lynch, his attorney. The officers arrest and subsequent firing brought to light the full extent of the departments body camera program, Lynch claimed.

Town officials have suggested Zarbo knew he was being filmed, pointing to a portion of his arrest warrant that says he told investigators he does intentionally block his lens when he is sending private texts.

In an email, Fortuna said Zarbos statement indicates most officers know of the cameras passive recording capabilities.

Yet, the warrant does not indicate Zarbo purposely blocked the lens during the Black Friday incident. Lynch said he believed his client was making a general statement about instances when his camera was activated.

I think if he activated (the camera), he would block it when he would do certain things, but I dont think he activated it at all that day, Lynch said.

In email correspondence, Fortuna said the passive recordings on the body-worn cameras are only saved if the devices are not reused; in other words, the data gets taped over when an officer takes out the camera again.

The Zarbo camera had not been assigned to another officer, so his passive recording for that shift was available, he wrote in the email.

Old Saybrooks body camera policy requires officers to dock the devices at the end of each shift until all video is uploaded and the battery is fully charged. Under the policy adopted in 2018, the department preserves all digital multimedia files not reproduced for evidentiary purposes for 90 days.

Only video produced by body camera activation is uploaded to the cloud, Fortuna said when asked about the policy.

Recording regulations

Lynch said he believes there could be legal implications associated with Old Saybrooks use of body cameras.

The video is capturing everything in front of any officer wearing the body camera, and many, if not all, of the officers were unaware of this, he said.

State law restricts how and where employers may electronically monitor employees, and Connecticut generally requires that employees be given proper notice.

Old Saybrook officers and UPSEU-COPS have raised particular concerns about the use of body cameras in areas that are for personal use.

What is the law enforcement reason for videotaping police officers while theyre not engaged in police duties? asked one of the town officers who spoke on the condition of anonymity. These are going into the womens locker room, these are going into the womens bathroom, these are going into the mens bathroom.

Additionally, Connecticut courthouses have rules limiting the use of recording devices. Lynch worried about whether body cameras recording capabilities could impact privacy in places like judges chambers and hospitals.

He said prosecutors have been made aware of the situation in Old Saybrook, but he declined to provide more details.

At this time, there is no criminal investigation by either the Middlesex States Attorneys Office or the Chief States Attorneys Office, Alaine Griffin, communications director for the chief states attorneys office, said in a March 29 email.

Fortuna said he believes nothing criminal has taken place.

I conducted my own investigation and found that, in my opinion, theres certainly no criminal action to be taken, he said.

Fortuna said he spoke with a prosecutor, whom he declined to identify. At that time, it was my understanding that there were no criminal concerns, he said.
SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. (AP)  A call to authorities about a possible active shooter on a pueblo north of Albuquerque on Monday that led to the evacuation of some guests at a hotel appears to be unfounded, according to an FBI agent.

There were no injuries or deaths and officers didn't find any weapons after law enforcement cleared the hotel rooms following the call, FBI special agent in charge Raul Bujanda said.

"Theres still an ongoing investigation, but what I can tell you right now is theres no threat to the community or to the resort itself, he said.

Federal, state, local and tribal officers responded to the initial call, blocking off the narrow winding road to the remote hotel with police cruisers, their lights flashing.

The resort is tucked into the hills along the west side of the Rio Grande on tribal land north of Albuquerque.

We take everything seriously because you dont know exactly what it is that you have until you actually go in and investigate, Bujanda said.

Federal and tribal officials said these kinds of threats have been happening across the country  some are connected, some are not. Authorities said they will know more about the origins of the threat called in Monday afternoon when their investigation is complete.

After the call came in, staff and guests were evacuated to the adjacent golf course, where authorities conducted interviews as rooms were cleared.

By Monday evening, the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort had lifted the lockdown and started allowing people to return.

Santa Ana Pueblo Gov. Nathan Garcia said he was thankful there was no truth to the call.

Pueblo emergency managers said it served as a training opportunity and that more training is being planned with multiple jurisdictions in the area.

We have to have plans in place. Look at this district right here, Garcia said, as rush-hour traffic passed through a major intersection nearby. It can happen anywhere but we have to be cohesive, together to make this work and keep our people safe.

No one answered at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort when The Associated Press called seeking information about the situation.
BANGKOK (AP)  Airstrikes by Myanmars military on Tuesday killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony held by opponents of army rule, said a witness, a member of a local pro-democracy group and independent media.

The military is increasingly using airstrikes to counter a widespread armed struggle against its rule, which began in February 2021 when it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 3,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed since then by security forces.

A witness told The Associated Press that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly onto a crowd of people who were gathering at 8 a.m. for the opening of a local office of the countrys opposition movement outside Pazigyi village in Sagaing regions Kanbalu township. The area is about 110 kilometers (70 miles) north of Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city.

About half an hour later, a helicopter appeared and fired at the site, said the witness, who asked not to be identified because he feared punishment by the authorities.

Initial reports put the death toll at around 50, but later tallies reported by independent media raised it to about 100. It was impossible to independently confirm details of the attack because reporting is restricted by the military government.

I was standing a short distance from the crowd when a friend of mine contacted me on the phone about the approach of a fighter jet, the witness said. The jet dropped bombs directly on the crowd, and I jumped into a nearby ditch and hid. A few moments later, when I stood up and looked around, I saw people cut to pieces and dead in the smoke. The office building was destroyed by fire. About 30 people were injured. While the wounded were being transported, a helicopter arrived and shot more people. We are now cremating the bodies quickly.

About 150 people had gathered for the opening ceremony, and women and 20 to 30 children were among the dead, he said, adding that those killed also included leaders of locally formed anti-government armed groups and other opposition organizations.

The United Nations, United States and others strongly condemned the attack and pledged to work toward holding the military accountable.

This heinous act by the terrorist military is yet another example of their indiscriminate use of extreme force against innocent civilians, constituting a war crime, the opposition National Unity Government said in a statement. The NUG calls itself the country's legitimate government, in opposition to the army. The office being opened Tuesday was part of its administrative network.

The military government's spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, acknowledged in a statement phoned to state television MRTV that the ceremony had been attacked, but accused anti-government forces in the area of carrying out a violent campaign of terror. He said the Peoples Defense Forces  the armed wing of the National Unity Government -- had terrorized residents into supporting them, killing Buddhist monks, teachers and other people, while the military sought peace and stability. He said there was evidence the attack had set off secondary blasts of explosives hidden by the Peoples Defense Forces around the site.

In response to accusations of abuses, the military government often accuses pro-democracy forces of terrorism. But analysts for the United Nations and non-governmental organizations have gathered credible evidence of large-scale human rights abuses by the army, including the burning of entire villages and displacement of more than a million people, triggering a humanitarian crisis.

The death toll from Tuesday's air attack, if confirmed, could be the highest in more than two years of civil conflict that began when the army seized power in 2021. As many as 80 people were killed last October in another government air attack in northern Myanmar on an anniversary celebration of the Kachin ethnic minoritys main political organization, which is also battling the military government.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army takeover triggered widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict.

The army has been conducting major offensives in the countryside, where it has faced some of the toughest resistance in Sagaing, in Myanmars historic heartland. The resistance forces have no defense against air attacks.

In videos of the devastated village seen by AP, survivors and onlookers stumble through the area of the attack amid clouds of thick smoke, with only the skeleton frame of one building still standing in the distance. The videos could not immediately be verified but matched other descriptions of the scene.

Some motorbikes remained intact while others were reduced to their frames or buried under tree branches. In one area, two victims lay close together, one of whom had only one arm still attached.

Another victim lay face down in a small grove by the roadside. A few meters (yards) away, a small torso missing at least one limb could be seen.

In January, Myanmars top leader told the military it needs to take decisive action against those opposed to army rule. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said at a military parade on Armed Forces Day that those who condemned his government showed indifference to violence committed by its opponents.

Resistance forces have been able to prevent the military from taking firm control of large areas of the country, but have a great disadvantage in weapons, particularly in countering air attacks.

Critics of the military government advocate banning or limiting the sale of aviation fuel to Myanmar to cripple the militarys advantage in air power. Many Western nations have imposed arms embargoes on the military government, and the United States and Britain recently enacted new sanctions targeting individuals and companies involved in supplying jet fuel to Myanmar.

The human rights group Amnesty International said in a statement Tuesday that The relentless air attacks across Myanmar highlight the urgent need to suspend the import of aviation fuel. Amnesty reiterates its calls on all states and businesses to stop shipments that may end up in the hands of the Myanmar Air Force.

It also urged the U.N. Security Council to "push through effective actions to hold the Myanmar military accountable, including by referring the situation in the country to the International Criminal Court.

The United Nations said those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice, with U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric stressing that the injured must receive medical treatment, which is often a challenge in these circumstances. Myanmar's government-run hospitals are short on staff and supplies, and opponents of the military avoid them for safety reasons.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns all forms of violence and reaffirms the primacy of protection of civilians, in accordance with international humanitarian law and reiterates his call for the military to end the campaign of violence against the Myanmar population throughout the country as called for by the U.N. Security Council in a resolution adopted last December, Dujarric said.

The U.S. would continue to work with the international community to hold the military government accountable for violations and abuses, the State Department said in a statement.

These violent attacks further underscore the regimes disregard for human life and its responsibility for the dire political and humanitarian crisis in Burma, said Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson at the State Department, using Myanmar's former name.

___

Find more AP coverage of the Asia-Pacific region at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Two weeks after one of his wife's closest friends was killed in a Nashville school shooting, Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday called on Tennessee's GOP-dominant General Assembly to pass legislation that would keep firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others.

Lee, a Republican, is the latest prominent public official to experience personal loss in a mass shooting while having to delicately balance how to use his authority to help prevent future tragedies through policy.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed that he, too, had lost one of his best friends when a gunman killed five people at a bank in downtown Louisville and injured eight others on Monday.

Lee told reporters Tuesday that he talked with Beshear, a Democrat, after Monday's shooting, which claimed the life of Tommy Elliott, a lifelong friend of Beshear's. Four other people also were killed.

On March 27, Cynthia Peak, 61, a substitute teacher and friend of Lee's wife, Maria, was slain along with two other adults and three children at a Christian Elementary School in Nashville.

Lees call for a law designed to prevent people who may hurt themselves or others from acquiring firearms comes as Republicans maintain supermajority control in both the Kentucky and Tennessee statehouses, where GOP lawmakers have long resisted limiting gun access.

Neither state has adopted such a law, commonly known as so-called red flag laws.

To date, 19 states have red flag laws on the books  with many lawmakers enacting them after tragedies. Notably, Florida did so after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that killed 17 students. Law enforcement officials had received numerous complaints about the 19-year-old gunmans threatening statements.

In allowing courts to issue what are known as extreme risk protection orders, the laws are intended to temporarily remove guns  usually for up to a year  from people showing signs of potentially violent behavior. In many cases, family members or law enforcement must petition a court for an order.

Experts in red-flag laws contend that the laws have undoubtedly saved lives, be it in cases involving planned mass shootings, suicides or potentially deadly domestic violence cases. Yet an Associated Press investigation last year found that most U.S. states barely use red flag laws. Its a trend blamed on a lack of awareness of the laws and resistance by some authorities to enforce them even as shootings and gun deaths soar.

But as mass shootings continue across the U.S., resistance to make significant changes to gun restrictions remains high.

In Tennessee, lawmakers have been more welcoming to strengthening school safety than addressing gun access as they prepare to finish their work in the coming weeks.

A week ago, Lee was flanked by Republican lawmakers as he called on the General Assembly to pass legislation that would better protect students attending public and private schools. Some of the same lawmakers stood by Lees side three years ago, when he announced his support for eliminating a requirement for people 21 and older to get a permit to carry handguns publicly in Tennessee.

The change became law in 2021. In a recent court settlement, the state agreed to drop the minimum age to 18.

On Tuesday, Lee stood alone, and he acknowledged that no lawmaker had yet agreed to sponsor the latest legislation he was proposing. Lee also did not disclose many details on his plans or what the proposed bill would look like. Instead, he said that he wanted lawmakers to come up with a solution.

We will have to work together in order to get this done, but I believe we can. I believe we will, Lee said.

Kentucky passed a measure earlier this year declaring the state a Second Amendment Sanctuary," prohibiting local and state police from enforcing any federal firearm regulation banning guns, ammunition, or firearm accessories that took effect after Jan. 21, 2021.

As he seeks reelection, Beshear allowed the bill to become law without his signature.

Previous efforts to pass a red-flag law in Kentucky have made no headway in the Legislature. Lawmakers have adjourned for the year, and currently aren't scheduled to meet until January. But after the school shooting, local leaders urged lawmakers to take meaningful action as they warned that anyone may be impacted by gun violence.

One of them is Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, who also counted Tommy Elliott as a friend.

This isnt about partisan politics. This is about life and death. This is about preventing tragedies. You may think this will never happen to you. Never happen to any of your friends or loved ones. I used to think that," said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, who had a man storm his campaign headquarters last year and fire a weapon point-blank at him. The sad truth is that now, no one in our city, no one in our state, no one in our country has that luxury anymore.

___

Schreiner reported from Frankfort, Kentucky.
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, Trend reports citing Reuters.

"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.
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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Nineteen Japanese men detained in Cambodia in January on suspicion of participating in phone and online scams were deported to their homeland on Tuesday, police said.

The group boarded a chartered flight organized by the Japanese government at Phnom Penh International Airport, Cambodian National Police spokesperson Gen. Chhay Kim Khouen said.

Immigration Police, part of the Interior Ministry, said in a statement that the men were deported because they violated immigration law by living and working in Cambodia illegally. They will not be allowed to reenter the country for three years, it said.

Tokyo police have obtained arrest warrants for the 19 Japanese on suspicion of running phone scams from Cambodia targeting people in Japan, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on Friday.

NHK said Cambodian authorities searched the mens hotel rooms and discovered a list of Japanese citizens believed to be targets in a fraud scheme.

The 19 were taken into custody in the southern city of Sihanoukville on Jan. 24 and sent to the capital, Phnom Penh, where they were held after being investigated by the Interior Ministry.

A Cambodian official at Phnom Penh International Airport who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media said the men were taking a chartered Malaysia Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur, where they would transfer to a waiting Japanese plane.

He said a group of Japanese policemen came from Japan to escort the 19 men home.

At Phnom Penh's airport, several vehicles a convoy with heavy protection from Cambodian and Japanese policemen drove rapidly directly to the waiting plane on the tarmac.

Police in Sihanoukville, which in the past few years has become notorious for crime such as online and phone scams, said in January that they opened the case after being informed on a crime-fighting hotline that about 20 Japanese men were being held there and extorted for money.

They found a group of 19 Japanese men staying in a hotel in Sihanoukville, but the men denied that they were being held against their will or extorted. They said they were visiting Cambodia and had been seeking work but were not involved in any crimes or wrongdoing.

Sihanoukville police, however, sent them to Phnom Penh for further investigation.

Cybercrime scams became a major issue in Cambodia last year, when there were numerous reports of people from various Asian countries and further afield being lured into taking jobs in Cambodia. However, they often found themselves trapped in virtual slavery and forced to participate in scams targeting people over the internet.

The scam networks, which often have links to transnational organized crime, are set up in countries with weak law enforcement and attract educated young workers with promises of high earnings. The workers are then subject to isolation and the threat of violence unless they succeed in cheating victims reached by phone into transferring payments into overseas bank accounts.

Such activities appear to have declined recently in Sihanoukville but persist in other places, including in Myanmar near the border with Thailand. In many cases, these operations are controlled by Chinese organized crime groups.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee called on U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday to open an investigation into the undisclosed acceptance of luxury trips taken by Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife that were paid for by a Republican megadonor.

The letter said the committee plans to hold a hearing in coming days regarding the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court's ethical standards. And if the Supreme Court does not deal with the issue on its own, the committee will consider voting on legislation. Such a measure would also need support from the Republican-led House to become law.

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, the 11 Democratic senators wrote to Roberts. We urge you to do so.

The nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica reported Thursday that Thomas, who has been a justice for more than 31 years, has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Republican donor Harlan Crow nearly every year.

Thomas, 74, and his wife, Virginia, have traveled on Crows yacht and private jet as well as stayed at his private resort in New Yorks Adirondack Mountains, ProPublica reported. A 2019 trip to Indonesia the story detailed could have cost more than $500,000 had Thomas chartered the plane and yacht himself.

The Democratic senators said Thomas' acceptance of favors from Crow was known more than a decade ago. They noted that senators then had urged the Supreme Court court to adopt a resolution stating that the justices abide by the ethics rules that the rest of the federal judiciary follows.

"This problem could have been resolved then," the senators wrote. "Instead, according to ProPublica's reporting, Mr. Crow's 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."

Thomas said Friday he was not required to disclose the trips. Supreme Court justices, like other federal judges, are required to file an annual financial disclosure report which asks them to list gifts they have received, but provides exemptions for hospitality from friends.

Ethics experts have offered conflicting views about whether Thomas was required to disclose the trips. Last month, the federal judiciary bolstered disclosure requirements for all judges, including the high court justices, although overnight stays at personal vacation homes owned by friends remain exempt from disclosure.

The Democratic senators, led by Sen. Richard Durbin, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, called the bolstered disclosure requirements a modest step in the right direction, but said further action was needed.
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Suspending an elected Democratic prosecutor. Forbidding gender-affirming treatments for minors. Expanding the Dont Say Gay law to high schools.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has exercised his executive powers to advance elements of his aggressive conservative agenda, drawing on appointees, boards and the state Constitution in a deliberate manner as he builds toward an expected presidential candidacy.

The approach displays the Republican's willingness to leverage his office to notch political wins and punish political enemies, even as the GOP-dominated Legislature has sped his proposals through the statehouse. It also signals the meticulous style that underpins his brash public persona and offers hints about how he could govern if elected president.

For DeSantis, the unilateral moves are part of his broad mandate as the elected chief executive of Florida. He is coming off a dominant reelection victory last fall where he campaigned on a host of conservative policies that energized the state's Republican base and helped flip reliably Democratic counties such as Miami-Dade.

Novembers election results represent a vindication of our joint efforts over these past four years. The results also vest in us the responsibility to lead and provide us the opportunity to shoot for the stars, DeSantis told lawmakers in his annual address to begin the legislative session this year. Boldness be our friend in this endeavor. We have a lot we need to accomplish.

A spokesman for the governor said DeSantis compiled a full accounting of his powers after he won office so he could effectively execute his agenda and added that many of his policies have been adopted by the Legislature.

DeSantis gained a national following through his resistance to extensive coronavirus lockdowns, and has since bolstered his place as a Republican firebrand by positioning himself on the front lines of the nation's culture wars. He's expected to formally launch his White House bid after the state Legislature finishes its regular session in early May.

In the meantime DeSantis has been ramping up his out-of-state travel with visits to presidential battleground states. Statehouse Republicans, who have a supermajority, are already moving quickly to deliver on several of DeSantis conservative priorities, which will give him an additional boost before he announces his candidacy.

While DeSantis is seen as former President Donald Trump's most formidable Republican rival, his path to the presidential nomination may not be easy. Trump maintains wide support in the Republican Party, which is largely rallying around him after he became the first former president to face criminal charges. The move by a district attorney in New York has put Republicans eyeing a challenge to Trump, including DeSantis, in the awkward position of defending him against what they argue are politically motivated charges.

Those headwinds make DeSantis' activity in Florida all the more important as they bolster the argument by his supporters that the governor would advance the same policy agenda as Trump, but without the constant turmoil.

One of his signature policies bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade or in a manner that isn't age appropriate, a law opponents have labeled  Don't Say Gay. DeSantis did not initially push for the law but has since championed it in Florida and beyond as part of his fight against what he calls the woke indoctrination of children in schools.

This year, as lawmakers seem ready to expand the prohibition to the eighth grade, the DeSantis administration quietly filed an administrative proposal with state education regulators that would ban the subjects from being taught in all grades.

The measure filed by the state Education Department, which is led by a DeSantis appointee, will be considered later this month by the state Board of Education, a body appointed by the governor. It does not need legislative approval.

DeSantis has not commented on the proposal and directed questions to Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., who said it was meant to clarify confusion around the existing law and reinforce that teachers should not deviate from existing curriculums.

The governor took a similar approach last year, when he and his administration's Health Department campaigned against gender-affirming care for minors and pushed state health regulators to ban the treatments.

The prohibition, which was approved by two state boards and took effect this year, bans sex reassignment surgeries and puberty blocking therapies for minors. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, a DeSantis appointee, has said the treatments are experimental and risky for children.

Brandon Wolf, press secretary for the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida, warned of the potential for similar actions under a potential DeSantis presidency.

"The very same ways he has perverted and weaponized state agencies and state boards in Florida, you can imagine he would do the same thing on the federal level," Wolf said. "And what makes him potentially more dangerous than Donald Trump is that DeSantis actually knows how government works."

Jamie Miller, a former executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, said its difficult to forecast what kind of president DeSantis would be but noted the governors Florida policies won wide support last fall.

Our entire system is based on conducting the will of the majority while protecting the rights of the minority, said Miller, noting the governors nearly 20 percentage point reelection win.

DeSantis' agenda has faced few substantive obstacles in Florida. Democrats have no power at any level of state government, and his policies often withstand legal challenges when cases reach the conservative appeals courts in the region.

Still, the governor has proved willing to engage his office against any dissent, as his ongoing feud with Disney has shown.

The company drew his ire last year when it criticized the Don't Say Gay law and, as punishment, DeSantis pushed lawmakers to give him control of a self-governing district Disney oversees in its theme park properties.

But before a set of new DeSantis appointees could assume control of the district, Disney's board passed restrictive covenants that strip the incoming members of most of their powers, blunting the governor's retaliation.

DeSantis, determined to maintain one of his key political victories, has dispatched the chief inspector general, another appointee, to investigate the Disney board's move and has vowed to take additional revenge against the company.

One of DeSantis' most high-profile uses of executive power came last year when he suspended Andrew Warren, an elected Democratic prosecutor in Tampa, using a provision in the state Constitution that allows a governor to remove officials for incompetence or neglect of duty.

In an executive order, DeSantis cited Warren's signing of statements that he wouldnt pursue criminal charges against those seeking or providing abortion or gender transition treatments as key reasons for the suspension.

When you flagrantly violate your oath of office, when you make yourself above the law, you have violated your duty, you have neglected your duty and you are displaying a lack of competence to be able to perform those duties, DeSantis said while announcing the suspension.

Warren immediately filed a federal lawsuit to get his job back. The judge ruled that DeSantis violated the First Amendment and the Florida Constitution by removing Warren, but that the federal courts lack the power to reinstate him. Warren is appealing the decision.

"He loves to talk about the free state of Florida, but it's absolutely not free unless you agree with everything Ron DeSantis says," Warren said in an interview. Hes exploiting cracks in the system to trample on both the spirit and letter of the law to punish those who disagree with him.
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BOULDER CITY, Nev. (AP)  The Biden administration released an environmental analysis Tuesday that outlined two ways that seven Western states and tribes reliant on the overtapped Colorado River could cut their use, but declined to publicly take a side on the best option.

One option would be more beneficial to California and some tribes along the river that have high-priority rights to the river's water. The second option is likely to be more favorable to Nevada and Arizona, who share the river's Lower Basin with California and say it's time for an approach that more fairly spreads the pain of cuts. That approach would force cuts on a proportional basis, when water levels at key reservoirs along the river dip below a certain point.

The Interior Department defended its authority to make sure basic needs such as drinking water and hydropower generated from the river are met  even if it means setting aside the priority system.

At the end of the day, the Interior secretary has the authority and the responsibility to operate the system," Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau told The Associated Press. He said those duties give the federal government the ability to make some decisions that defy the priority system.

The alternatives explore how the federal government could deal with water shortages at Lake Powell and Lake Mead through 2026. Lake Powell, located in Arizona, and Lake Mead, which sits behind Hoover Dam in Nevada, are the largest built reservoirs in the U.S. and serve as barometers of the river's health. The federal government typically announces in August how much water is available for the coming year.

The 1,450-mile (2,334-kilometer) powerhouse of the West serves 40 million people across seven states, which span tribal land, and Mexico. It also generates hydroelectric power for regional markets and irrigates nearly 6 million acres (2,428 hectares) of farmland.

A multidecade drought in the West intensified by climate change, rising demand and overuse has sent water levels at key reservoirs along the river to unprecedented lows. That's forced the federal government to cut some water allocations, and to offer up billions of dollars to pay farmers and cities to cut back.

Officials expect some relief this year from a series of powerful storms that blanketed California and the Western Rocky Mountains, the main source of the Colorado River's water. But Beaudreau said states, Native American tribes and other water users recognized that it would be in no ones interest to stall talks because of the winters healthy snowpack.

The snow is great. Its a godsend. But were in the midst of a 23-year drought, Beaudreau said.

Last year the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation called for the states to figure out how to cut their collective use of the river's water by about 2 to 4 million acre feet  or roughly 15% to 30% of their annual use  but an agreement has since been elusive.

An acre-foot of water is roughly enough to serve 2 to 3 U.S. households annually.

In January, six of the seven U.S. states that rely on river  Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado  outlined how they would conserve significantly more water, but California disagreed and released its own ideas a day later.

The proposal released Tuesday builds on some of those ideas and rejects others, including a call by the six-state coalition to account for water loss from evaporation and leaky infrastructure as the river travels to states, cities and farms. One of the options would achieve similar cuts but through different means. Both largely focus on cuts to the Lower Basin users  California, Arizona and Nevada.

The lengthy environmental analysis released by the Biden administration explores two options for cuts, as well as a third that takes no action. States, tribes and other water users now have until May 30 to comment before federal officials announce their formal decision.

The two plans outlined by federal officials Tuesday would achieve at least 2 million acre-feet of cuts in 2024, on top of existing cuts that states and other users previously agreed to.

Among the main differences between the two plans from the Interior is whether states in the river's Lower Basin should have their water supplies cut on a proportional basis if water levels at Lake Mead fall below a certain level.

The other plan allocates cuts based on the priority system  in which water users in the West with more senior rights, like California  face fewer cuts.

The Department of Interior is not promoting one option over the other.

Some of the commentary has depicted an us-versus-them dynamic in the basin, Beaudreau said. I dont see that at all.

Arizona and California are looking at how to develop a true seven-state consensus in the coming months, said JB Hamby, who chairs the Colorado River Board of California.

Hamby is also a board member of the Imperial Irrigation District, a vast farming region in Californias southeastern corner that holds rights to the largest share of the rivers water. The district said Tuesday it was concerned by any plan that involves equal cuts among water users.

The Quechan tribe along the Arizona-California border also opposes plans that throw out the priority system.

Weve got senior water rights and last we checked, we still live in a priority-based system, said Jay Weiner, the tribes attorney.

Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said it's imperative that the states reach an agreement that avoids legal action.

"Once litigation occurs, its going to be very difficult to negotiate something moving forward. Litigation that might take 10 or 15 or 20 years is going to be occurring while the system and the lake behind us is going to crash," he said.

Reclamation also didn't say how Mexico might contribute to the savings, but that discussions are ongoing. The country is entitled to 1.5 million acre feet of water each year under a treaty reached with the U.S. in 1944. In recent years, Mexico has participated in water savings plans with the U.S. amid worsening drought in both countries.

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Naishadham reported from Washington, D.C.

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The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indiana residents could have access to birth control without a doctor's prescription under a bill state lawmakers sent to the governor Tuesday, a move proponents say will prevent unwanted pregnancies in a state that passed an abortion ban last summer.

The state House bill is key to providing women quicker access to contraceptives, bill sponsor Republican Sen. Sue Glick said Tuesday, especially in areas where they struggle to receive primary care.

Glick, who sponsored the state's abortion ban, called the bill a furtherance of the bills we heard this summer."

We have individuals who have been referred to their primary physicians or to a primary physicians. Many of them dont go to the doctor, they cant afford it or they dont have access, she said before the 28-20 vote. This is an effort to give care to individuals who need it. Its an effort to help these individuals have healthy families at their time.

If approved by GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb, pharmacists could be reimbursed for their services to Medicaid patients. They would also be able to object to prescribing the medications under ethical, moral, or religious grounds.

Prescriptions, however, cannot last more than six months, and pharmacists cannot prescribe a contraceptive to a woman after twelve months unless the woman has been seen by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant in the past year.

If you are against abortion, you ought to be for contraceptives, Republican Sen. Vaneta Becker said before voting for the bill.

To opponents who want birth control to only be prescribed by physicians, the bill is "unequivocally lowering the standard of care, Republican Sen. Tyler Johnson said Tuesday. The emergency medicine doctor also questioned whether access to birth control would decrease abortions in Indiana.

State legislatures across the U.S. have introduced at least 30 bills related to birth control access this year, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights.

New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this year signed a law that would allow women in the state to receive some hormonal contraceptives without a prescription. That law goes into effect in May.

While the Indiana legislature seeks avenues for contraceptive access, the state's abortion ban remains on hold pending a decision from the Indiana Supreme Court. Abortion clinic operators filed a lawsuit against the ban, which has not been enforced since September.

But the drive for pharmacist-prescribed birth control has cropped up in Indiana before this year  most recently this summer, when Democratic Rep. Rita Fleming introduced an amendment with such language into a spending bill for low-income women and children that lawmakers advanced alongside the abortion ban.

That amendment fell short by one vote.

We were awfully close then, Fleming told the Associated Press on Tuesday. I think the good of providing this for women in a safe manner is incredibly important.

A House committee earlier Tuesday also unanimously approved a bill that could allow long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as intrauterine devices, to be transferred between Medicaid patients, something that is currently prohibited.

If a Medicaid patient does not return for an insertion appointment after 12 weeks for a device they requested, a medical provider could reissue that contraceptive to a different patient, under the bill, which now goes to the full House.

Providers do not typically keep the implant devices on the shelf because of their high costs, leaving thousands of dollars of these unclaimed, Democratic Sen. Shelli Yoder, the bills author, said Tuesday.

Health care providers are only able to recoup that cost after it's inserted or implanted," she said. The only thing they can do is wait. And if they expire, they throw them away.

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This story was first published on April 11, 2023. It was updated on April 14, 2023, to correct the type of access to birth control in the Indiana bill. It would be available with a pharmacists prescription, not over the counter.

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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 at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indiana lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a Republican-backed proposal that would require voters to submit more identification information to obtain mail-in ballots, rejecting arguments that the tougher rules would make voting more difficult for many people.

Indiana House members voted 64-30 along party lines in favor of the bill previously endorsed by the Senate. The vote sends the bill to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb for his consideration.

Approval of the tighter mail-in voting rules comes after previous attempts failed the past two years in the Republican-dominated Legislature, even as former President Donald Trump and many of his supporters stoked false claims that fraud led to his 2020 election defeat.

The bill which would require Indiana voters submitting a paper application for a mail ballot to include a photocopy of a government-issued identification card or at least two ID numbers, such as their 10-digit drivers license or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Bill sponsor Republican Rep. Tim Wesco of Osceola has maintained the step was aimed at increasing voter confidence in elections by putting identification requirements for mail-in ballots in line with those for in-person voting.

The changes would take effect July 1 and be required for mail-in ballots cast in this fall's city and town elections around the state.

Democratic Rep. Tonya Pfaff of Terre Haute said she believed it was unnecessary to make it more difficult for older voters and those in the military to cast ballots by mail.

It wont make elections safer and only serves to hamper democracy, Pfaff said.

Voting rights groups argued that the stricter ID requirements arent necessary because county election workers already must confirm that a persons signature on an application matches their voter registration record. Those groups unsuccessfully pushed, instead, for lifting the states restrictions on who may cast mail-in ballots as a way of improving Indianas low voter turnout rates.

Opponents said they believed the changes would increase the chances for voters to be tripped up because of a bureaucratic problem.

Some who testified before lawmakers in support of the bill argued that the current signature matching process is not stringent enough and that voters are screaming for tighter rules around mail voting.
IONIA, Mich. (AP)  A western Michigan man who said he accidentally shot an 84-year-old woman campaigning against abortion rights at his home has pleaded no contest to assault and two other charges, records show.

The shooting occurred in September in Ionia County. Richard Harvey, 75, said Joan Jacobson was talking to his wife about opposing a constitutional amendment on the November ballot and had refused to leave.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  New York joined other Democratic-led states Tuesday in stockpiling abortion pills in response to a Texas court ruling that could limit access to the commonly used drug.

At the governor's direction, the state Department of Health will begin purchasing 150,000 doses of misoprostol, one of two commonly used abortion-inducing drugs, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced.

This isn't just an attack on abortion, this is an attack on democracy, the Democratic governor said, adding that she wouldn't let one extremist judge turn back the clock on reproductive care.

New Yorkers will continue to have access to medication abortion no matter what," she said. If the drug is taken off the market, Hochul said the state will provide $20 million to providers in order to bolster access to other methods of care.

Hochul is the latest Democratic governor to announce the stockpiling of abortion medication after two federal judges issued contradicting rulings Friday that could impact the availability of mifepristone, a drug that, if used in combination with misoprostol, is considered the most effective drug regimen to end a pregnancy.

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of attorneys general challenged the decision issued by the district court judge in Texas, which ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone, by filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Monday. In it, James and others urged the court to stay halt the ruling, which if allowed, they argued, would drastically reduce access to safe abortion care, according to a statement from James' office.

The U.S. Department of Justice appealed the ruling Monday.

Massachusetts, California and Washington state are among the other states that have stockpiled the drugs.

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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.
At least 10 people were killed and another 25 injured in the predawn hours of Monday after a passenger bus skidded off the road and plunged into a river in Peru's department of Lima, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. at kilometer 109 of the Central Highway, the head of the Highway Protection Division of the Peruvian National Police, Col. Victor Meza, said, according to state news agency Andina.

The bus had set out from the central department of Huanuco at 8:00 p.m. Sunday and was on its way to Lima when it ran off a cliff and plunged some seven meters before landing upside down in the Rimac River.

According to Peruvian radio station Radio Programas del Peru, the bus was carrying some 60 passengers, including six minors, three of whom were injured, with one having been admitted to a local hospital.
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When word surfaced that soils and liquids laced with chemicals from the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment were being sent to southeastern Michigan for storage, local residents and politicians were livid.

People were seeing pictures of what happened in Ohio  the smoke plumes, wildlife dying, said Jordyn Sellek, director of a local government coalition. They were hearing about people having health issues, and that's scary. And now it's coming into your community.

So loud was the outcry that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency halted shipments from the crash site in the town of 5,000 to a hazardous waste landfill and underground deep-injection wells in suburban Detroit.

Resistance was fierce elsewhere, too, from a raucous town hall meeting in Roachdale, Indiana, to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt barring the waste from a landfill there. EPA finally issued a pointed reminder that states cannot interfere with federally authorized waste transport.

We ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the mess it made, and no one should be impeding, preventing or getting in the way, Administrator Michael Regan said March 17, adding it would take about three months to finish the job.

Yet roadblocks keep popping up. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott scuttled a company's plan to treat East Palestine liquids and dispose of them in the city wastewater system.

The controversy illuminates an uncomfortable truth: Hazardous wastes are seemingly everywhere, from sprawling factories to household garages. They're byproducts of industrial processes and goods consumers value. And when people want to get rid of waste, it has to go somewhere.

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The U.S. has 667 facilities that treat, store and dispose of hazardous wastes and are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, according to EPA. Of those, 252 are commercial facilities that receive waste from offsite customers. The others, including factories, handle only waste generated on the premises.

Seventeen of the commercial facilities have landfills, three have deep injection wells and 12 have incinerators. Others store waste in containers while awaiting treatment or disposal.

Thirty-eight Norfolk Southern train cars derailed in the fiery Feb. 3 wreck. No one was injured but about half of East Palestine's population was evacuated for days when authorities ignited vinyl chloride in five cars to prevent explosion. Many residents have complained of headaches, rashes and other health problems, although government officials say air and water testing hasn't found dangerous pollution.

Long-term exposure to vinyl chloride, a colorless gas used to make products including plastic pipes, wire coatings and kitchenware, is associated with liver damage and cancer, EPA says.

Ohio officials are pressing the rail company and EPA to get rid of tainted dirt and water. Gov. Mike DeWine said March 10 that 24,400 tons of excavated soil were piled at the scene. Portions had been hauled to three facilities in Ohio and others in Michigan, Indiana and Texas before protests stalled removal.

A week later, EPA notified state environmental agencies that preventing the waste shipments could violate federal law and the U.S. Constitution's interstate commerce provision.

Since then, neither EPA nor the company have disclosed where the East Palestine waste is going, although daily reports provide updates on volumes removed. As of Monday, 19,900 tons of soil and 11.4 million gallons (43.1 million liters) of liquid wastewater had been shipped, according to DeWine's office. That's enough liquid to fill more than 17 Olympic swimming pools.

A truck hauling 20 tons of the soil ran off a state road Monday and overturned, spilling about half, although the waste was contained and posed no threat to nearby waters, the Highway Patrol said.

Republic Industrial and Energy Solutions in Romulus, Michigan, received February shipments of liquid wastes for disposal in its two injection wells. Some contaminated soils went to U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal, a landfill in Belleville, Michigan, owned by the same company.

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The Romulus facility, which also stores wastes in aboveground tanks, has past regulatory violations.

The state environment department cited the facility within the past year for leaks from a sludge dewatering press, mislabeled containers and an alarm malfunction. All problems were corrected promptly and none resulted in hazardous releases to the environment, spokesman Hugh McDiarmid Jr. said.

Both facilities have permits to take hazardous materials. Vinyl chloride is among chemicals authorized for storage at Romulus, the state says.

Even so, local leaders complained they got no advance notice. It sounds ... like we've been sandbagged, said Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

I just don't think Michigan, with one of the world's biggest supplies of fresh water, is the best place to inject this stuff in the ground, said Kevin Krause, fire services and emergency management director in Romulus.

Roman Blahoski, spokesman for the owner Republic Services, said the liquids injected into the wells were 99% water and soils sent to the landfill had low contaminant levels. Responsible disposal of hazardous waste is a basic community need, he said.

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Some hazardous wastes regularly accepted by disposal facilities pose greater health risks than vinyl chloride, said Bill Muno, a retired EPA official who previously headed the Midwest regional Superfund program. One example: PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls  toxic compounds widely used in electrical equipment, plastics and other products until banned in 1979.

Michigan, with 15 facilities licensed to handle hazardous wastes, doesn't routinely get a heads-up about shipments from out of state, McDiarmid said. But in view of publicity surrounding the derailment, we probably should have been made aware, he said.

In a letter to state agencies, EPA said waste from the crash site has been subject to more testing and analysis ... than many other, similar wastes regularly accepted at facilities nationwide.

There is nothing special or out of the ordinary about this waste, other than the fact that it's coming from a town that has suffered deeply in the wake of a horrible trauma, Regan said.

Under federal law, hazardous waste landfills must have double liners, leak detectors and groundwater monitoring devices, Muno said.

Contaminated soils typically are dumped from trucks into trenches or pits, compacted and capped with clay and plastic layers, then several feet of earth where grass is planted to prevent rainwater from seeping inside, he said.

Operators of injection wells  often depleted oil or gas wells extending thousands of feet underground  receive federal permits only after satisfying regulators there's no chance the waste would contaminate drinking water aquifers, Muno said.

They're very well operated and maintained, he said. Much different from the early landfills, where people would just dig a hole in the ground and fill it up and precipitation would wash the contaminants out.

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But it's not unreasonable for communities to be concerned about waste from disasters like the East Palestine crash, said Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project.

Regulators could help by quickly describing how facilities will store, treat and dispose of the waste and posting data from air and groundwater monitoring online, said the former EPA official.

One of the most important things government does is communicate risk as best they can, Schaeffer said. If you say, Theres nothing to see here,' explain why.

While EPA and Norfolk Southern have acted legally in shipping East Palestine waste to other states, the episode should prompt discussion about its fairness  especially when the facilities are in marginalized communities, said Nick Leonard, executive director of the Detroit-based Great Lakes Environmental Law Center.

In Michigan, two-thirds of residents within three miles (4.8 kilometers) of commercial hazardous waste facilities are people of color although they make up 25% of the state's population, he said.

What most residents are worried about is that one catastrophic event, Leonard said. It basically takes one mistake and you have really serious consequences.

The issue also raises questions about how we might minimize the toxic materials that go into things we use in everyday life, said McDiarmid of the Michigan environment agency. Creating less hazardous waste is a better answer than how we dispose of it.

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Follow John Flesher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JohnFlesher.

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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.
Eric Gay/AP

HOUSTON (AP)  Steve Murdock, a former state demographer of Texas who served one year as the director of the U.S. Census Bureau, during which he helped keep the 2010 census on track, has died. He was 75.

Murdock died last Friday, according to Rice University in Houston, where he spent nearly a decade until his retirement in 2019.
Luisa Gonzalez/AP

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  A 62-year-old woman was convicted of discrimination and harassment on Monday for making racist comments about Colombia's first Black vice president during an antigovernment protest last year.

Luz Fabiola Rubiano pleaded guilty to the charges and will be sentenced by the judge on May 30. In Colombia, acts of discrimination are punishable with up to three years in prison, though judges can replace prison time with parole or house arrest.
PRAGUE (AP)  Dana Nemcova, one of the leading Czech dissidents and human rights activists from the communist era, has died. She was 89.

She died on Tuesday morning, according to the Olga Havel Foundation, a charitable organization with which she was associated for many years. No details about the cause of death were given.

Born on Jan 14, 1934, Nemcova was one of the first people to sign Charter 77, a human rights manifesto inspired by Vaclav Havel, a fellow dissident who later became president. Nemcova herself became one of the charter's spokespersons.

The document was a rare expression of resistance to the hard-line communist regime that took over after the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia which crushed the liberal reform period known as the Prague Spring.

The charter united opponents of the regime, including religious activists, ex-communists expelled from the party after the 1968 invasion, and also rock musicians, intellectuals and pre-World War II democrats.

Its signatories braved persecution from the regime, exercising what Havel dubbed the power of the powerless.

Nemcova, the mother of seven and a psychologist by profession, was among them.

In 1979, she spent six months in detention before receiving a two-year suspended sentence for subversion of the republic. She was banned from practicing as a psychologist and only allowed to take menial jobs, such as cleaning.

Nemcova and her husband, Jiri Nemec, turned their apartment in Prague into one of the centers of anti-communist resistance, but had to face repeated interrogations and raids.

She once said that signing the charter was a means for her to maintain identity and dignity."

Nemcova also co-founded the Committee for the Defense of the Unjustly Persecuted, which supported those facing oppression by the state, from police harassment to unjust prosecution.

After the 1989 anti-communist Velvet Revolution led by Havel, Nemcova served as a lawmaker in the parliament of Czechoslovakia until 1992. She later chaired the board of the Olga Havel Foundation established by Havel's first wife, which focuses on helping disabled and abandoned people, as well as those facing discrimination.

In the 1990s, she established an information center for refugees and a migration center, working especially with those fleeing the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

In 1998, she was awarded a state honor by Havel, who was by then president.

Dana Nemcova was an extraordinary person, brave and deeply human who with her persistent and consistent defense of human rights contributed significantly to our freedom and democracy, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said.
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MEXICO CITY (AP)  The head of Mexicos National Immigration Institute will face criminal charges for a fire that killed 40 migrants in a locked cell, the federal Attorney Generals Office said Tuesday night.

The office said in a statement that the head of the immigration agency, Francisco Garduno, was criminally remiss in not preventing the fire, despite earlier incidents showed the situation at the country's migrant detention centers needed correcting.

Several other officers of the agency will also face charges for failing to carry out their duties, the statement said, but prosecutors did not explain what specific charges or identify the officials.

Prosecutors said the case showed a pattern of irresponsibility, their statement released just hours after Mexico's president said two guards seen fleeing when the fire broke out did not have keys to the cell door.

The press office of the immigration agency that Garduno heads did immediately respond to messages and phone calls requesting comment.

Prosecutors said that after a fire at another detention center in the Gulf coast state of Tabasco killed one person and injured 14 in 2020, the immigration agency knew there were problems which needed to be corrected. but alleged they failed to act.

There have long been complaints about corruption and bad conditions at Mexico's migrant dentention facilities.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's comments about the guards in last month's fire in Ciudad Juarez came on the same day that the bodies of 17 Guatemala migrants and six Hondurans killed in the fire were flown back to their home countries.

It was unclear what effect Lopez Obrador's comments might have on the trial of the guards, who were detained previously over the fire, which shocked the country.

The door was closed, because the person who had the keys wasn't there, Lopez Obrador said.

A video from a security camera inside the facility shows guards walking away when the fire started in late March inside the cell holding migrants.

The guards are seen hurrying away as smoke fills the facility, and they did not appear to make any effort to release the migrants.

Three Mexican immigration officials, a guard and a Venezuelan migrant are being held for investigation in connection with the fire. They face homicide charges.

The migrant allegedly set fire to foam mattresses at the detention center to protest what he apparently thought were plans to move or deport the migrants.

In Guatemala City, relatives of the victims gathered at an air force base with flowers and photos of the deceased to mark their return.

My son, my love, a female voice could be heard calling out, amid sobs from those present as the coffins were unloaded and placed in a line, and relatives were allowed to approach them.

Mexican military planes carried the bodies six migrants to Honduras and 17 to Guatemala. Authorities say 19 of the 40 dead were from Guatemala, but two bodies were still in the process of having their identities confirmed.

An additional 11 Guatemalans were injured in the fire.

Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Bucaro accompanied the bodies, which were to be taken overland to their hometowns in nine different provinces.

Some bodies of Salvadoran migrants were returned to El Salvador last week. So far, 31 bodies have been sent back to their home countries.
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JERUSALEM (AP)  Israels national Holocaust memorial has criticized a new agreement renewing Israeli school trips to Poland, saying it recommends a number of problematic sites that distort history.

Yad Vashem issued its statement weeks after Israel and Poland announced a breakthrough agreement meant to repair ties that had been badly damaged due to disagreements over how to remember Polish behavior during the Holocaust. Israeli youth trips to Poland had been one of the key points of contention.

The March 22 agreement, which still needs to be ratified by both countries parliaments, stresses the importance of youth education and the need to tell the full story of the dark times of the Holocaust and World War II. The contents of the agreement were first reported by the liberal daily Haaretz.

It also calls for visits to sites commemorating the Holocaust and other crimes of World War II, including sites of special importance to each countrys history. Student groups are required to visit at least one site on a long list of museums and memorials recommended by the other government.

In its statement, Yad Vashem said the trips must maintain complete historical accuracy, including the role of Poles in the persecution, handing in, and murder of Jews during the Holocaust, as well as in acts of rescue.

It said the list of authorized sites in Poland had been compiled without its input and includes problematic sites that should not be visited in an educational context.

The list includes dozens of sites, including art galleries, royal palaces and Jewish history museums that already are popular destinations for Jewish visitors.

Poland's Foreign Ministry said the two nations have come to an agreement that it is good for young people to learn about all aspects of Jewish, Israeli and Polish history, not limited to the Holocaust.

Yad Vashem did not say which sites it considers problematic. But the list includes the Ulma Family Museum, a site that tells the story of a Polish family that rescued Jews during the Holocaust.

The museum has been criticized for portraying the family, which was murdered along with the Jews they sheltered, as representative of mainstream Poles at the time, instead of a small minority who risked their lives.

Another museum commemorates Polands so-called cursed soldiers, anti-communist resistance fighters, some of whom collaborated with the Nazis and killed Jews toward the end of the war and after the war as they tried to prevent the imposition of communist rule.

Israels Foreign Ministry played down the controversy. It said the list had been approved by Israels Education Ministry and included dozens of choices, including the popular POLIN museum, which presents the history of Polish Jewry.

The inclusion of more controversial sites that are unlikely to be visited might be rooted more in Polish politics than international education. Poland's nationalist government can point to the list as it appeals to its political base ahead of parliamentary elections this fall.

Poland has been one of Israels closest allies in Europe. But in recent years, relations have deteriorated due to disagreements over how to remember Polish involvement in the killing of Jews by German forces during World War II.

Nazi Germany occupied Poland in 1939 and killed millions of Jews and non-Jews. Unlike other countries occupied by Germany, there was no collaborationist government in Poland. While some Poles risked their lives to save Jews, others helped the Germans hunt down and kill them.

Polands governing nationalists have sought to depict Polish crimes as a marginal phenomenon and focus almost exclusively on remembering the Polish heroes who helped Jews. Historians, Israeli authorities and Jewish survivors who suffered persecution at Polish hands before, during and after the war have condemned the nationalist position and accuse the government of seeking to whitewash history.

For years, young Israelis made pilgrimages to Auschwitz and other Holocaust and historic Jewish sites. But Israel canceled the trips last year, claiming the Polish government was trying to control the Holocaust-studies curriculum taught to Israeli children.

In its lead editorial on Tuesday, Haaretz said the agreement comes at a heavy cost to Israel and accused the government of cheapening the memory of the Holocaust in the name of diplomatic expediency.

Noting that Israel marks its annual Holocaust memorial day next week, it said: We must also not forget who the people are who agreed to sell out Holocaust remembrance.

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Gera reported from Warsaw, Poland.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  A Mexican tourist has been shot to death in the Caribbean coast resort of Tulum in a dramatic robbery at a U.S. chain coffee shop, prosecutors and police said Tuesday.

The tourist apparently refused to hand over an expensive watch he was wearing, and was shot by the robbers.

Video of the killing posted on social media Tuesday showed men with motorcycle helmets burst into the coffee shop at gunpoint Monday.

Another man in the video, reportedly the victims bodyguard, then took out a pistol and opened fire on the robber, who fled.

The bodyguard chased the robber toward the street and kept firing at him through the store's door.

Police in the coastal state of Quintana Roo said one of the thieves fled was wounded and later arrested at a local hospital.

State Prosecutor Oscar Montes de Oca said the bodyguard had been released because he had a weapons permit, and may have been acting in self defense.

It was the latest chapter of continuing violence on Mexico's resort-studded Caribbean coast, the crown jewel of the country's tourism industry.

Last week, four men in Cancun, north of Tulum , were killed in a dispute related to drug gang rivalries.

Drug gang leader Hector Flores Aceves, known by his nickname Pantera, or the Panther, was being sought in connection with the killings.

The dead men were found in the citys hotel zone near the beach. The killings came as Cancun kicked off the Easter Week vacations, one of its busiest times of the year.

A U.S. tourist was shot in the leg in the nearby town of Puerto Morelos in March. The motive in that remains under investigation.

The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert last month warning travelers to exercise increased caution, especially after dark, at Mexicos Caribbean beach resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, which have been plagued by drug gang violence in the past.

In 2022, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen, apparently because of debts between international drug and weapons trafficking gangs.

In 2021, in Tulum, two tourists  one a California travel blogger born in India and the other German  were killed when they apparently were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 11. The meeting of the Caspian Five is planned to be held this year in Russia, the country's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a joint press conference with his Kazakh colleague Murat Nurtleu, Trend reports.

"Regular meetings of the Foreign Ministers of the Caspian Five will help deepen cooperation in the region, and we are planning such a meeting this year in Russia," Lavrov noted.

He stressed that the key task in the Caspian area is the speedy implementation of the agreements and initiatives which were formulated after the VI Caspian Summit and the II Caspian Economic Forum.

The Caspian Summit is the common name for the meetings of the heads of the five Caspian states (Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan - the so-called Caspian Five), which have been held since 2002.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine began resuming electricity exports to European countries on Tuesday, its energy minister said, a dramatic turnaround from six months ago when fierce Russian bombardment of power stations plunged much of the country into darkness in a bid to demoralize the population.

The announcement by Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko that Ukraine was not only meeting domestic consumption demands but also ready to restart exports to its neighbors was a clear message that Moscow's attempt to weaken Ukraine by targeting its infrastructure did not work.

Ukraine's domestic energy demand is 100% supplied, he told The Associated Press in an interview, and it has reserves to export due to the titanic work of its engineers and international partners.

Russia ramped up infrastructure attacks in September, when waves of missiles and exploding drones destroyed about half of Ukraine's energy system. Power cuts were common across the country as temperatures dropped below freezing and tens of millions struggled to keep warm.

Moscow said the strikes were aimed at weakening Ukraine's ability to defend itself, while Western officials said the blackouts that caused civilians to suffer amounted to war crimes. Ukrainians said the timing was designed to destroy their morale as the war marked its first anniversary.

Ukraine had to stop exporting electricity in October to meet domestic needs.

Engineers worked around the clock, often risking their lives to come into work at power plants and keep the electricity flowing. Kyiv's allies also provided help. In December, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $53 million in bilateral aid to help the country acquire electricity grid equipment, on top of $55 million for energy sector support.

Much more work remains to be done, Halushchenko said. Ukraine needs funding to repair damaged generation and transmission lines, and revenue from electricity exports would be one way to do that.

The first country to receive Ukraine's energy exports will be Moldova, he said.

Besides the heroic work by engineers and Western aid, warmer temperatures are enabling the resumption of exports by making domestic demand lower. Nationwide consumption was already down at least 30% due to the war, Halushchenko said, with many industries having to operate with less power.

Renewables like solar and wind power also come into play as temperatures rise, taking some pressure off nuclear and coal-fired power plants.

But it's unclear if Ukraine can keep up exports amid the constant threat of Russian bombardment.

Unfortunately now a lot of things depend on the war, Halushchenko said. I would say we feel quite confident now until the next winter.

Exports to Poland, Slovakia and Romania are also on schedule to resume, he said.

Today we are starting with Moldova, and we are talking about Poland, we are talking about Slovakia and Romania, Halushchenko added, noting that how much will depend on their needs.

For Poland, we have only one line that allows us to export 200 megawatts, but I think this month we will finish another line which will increase this to an additional 400 MW, so these figures could change, he said.

Export revenue will depend on fluctuating electricity prices in Europe. In 2022, while Ukraine was still able to export energy, Ukrainian companies averaged 40 million to 70 million euros a month depending on prices, Halushchenko said.

Even if its 20 (million euros) its still good money. We need financial resources now to restore generation and transmission lines, he said.

Ukraine has the ability to export more than the 400 megawatt capacity limit imposed by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, or ENTSO-E. We are in negotiations to increase this cap because today we can export even more, we have the necessary reserves in the system, the minister said.

The current capacity limit is in line with what Ukraine was exporting in September 2022 before Ukraine diverted resources to meet domestic needs amid the Russian onslaught.

The 400-megawatt capacity is only a start as Ukraine pursues a long-term goal of becoming truly integrated into Europes network, which would increase its security of supply and help its neighbors exchange electricity, according to Georg Zachmann, energy policy expert at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels.

At a price of 100 euros per megawatt hour, the monthly income stream for Ukraine would at most reach 30 million euros.

As capacity increases, however, concerns will move from supply to commerce and politics due to Ukraines coal-fired plants paying almost nothing for carbon emissions, while EU competitors pay 100 euros per ton.

Halushchenko wants to increase the maximum technical capacity to 2 gigawatts. At the very least, he would like exports to meet the countrys import restriction of 850 megawatts, he said. ENTSO-E represents 39 electricity transmission system operators from 35 countries across Europe.

Ukraine began trading electricity with European countries in June, in a bid to move away from Russias sphere of influence. Power lines were synchronized in March 2022, shortly after the war began.

Engineers sped up the process to link Ukraine to the continental grid, allowing it to decouple its power system from Russia. Moldova was added later. Before that, Ukraine and Moldova were part of a power sharing system that included Russia and Belarus.

The resumption of exports is an obvious win for Ukraine, but it also benefits Europe, according to energy analyst Olena Pavlenko of the Kyiv-based think tank Dixie Group.

European consumers need this, it increases competition in the (European) market, lowers prices and feels more energy secure, she said.

For Ukraine this is a solution to not just take money in grants and credit but to earn money. This is a good start for the future operation and partnership with the EU, as a business partner, she added.

___

David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, contributed.

___

Follow AP coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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ISLAMABAD (AP)  The United Nations said Tuesday it is reviewing its presence in Afghanistan after the Taliban barred Afghan women from working for the world organization  a veiled suggestion the U.N. could move to suspend its mission and operations in the embattled country.

Last week, Afghanistans Taliban rulers took a step further in the restrictive measures they have imposed on women and said that Afghan women employed with the U.N. mission could no longer report for work. They did not further comment on the ban.

The U.N. said it cannot accept the decision, calling it an unparalleled violation of womens rights. It was the latest in sweeping restrictions imposed by the Taliban since they seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops were withdrawing from the country after 20 years of war.

The 3,300 Afghans employed by the U.N.  2,700 men and 600 women -- have stayed home since last Wednesday but continue to work and will be paid, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The U.N.s 600-strong international staff, including 200 women, is not affected by the Taliban ban.

The majority of aid distributed to Afghans is done through national and international non-governmental organizations, with the U.N. playing more of a monitoring role, and some assistance is continuing to be delivered, Dujarric said. There are some carve-outs for women staff, but the situation various province by province and is confusing.

What were hoping to achieve is to be able to fulfil our mandate to help more than 24 million Afghan men, women, and children who desperately need humanitarian help without violating basic international humanitarian principles, Dujarric told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York.

The Taliban have banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade and women from most public life and work. In December, they banned Afghan women from working at local and nongovernmental groups  a measure that at the time did not extend to U.N. offices.

Tuesdays statement by the U.N. said its head of mission in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, has initiated an operational review period that would last until May 5.

During this time, the U.N. will conduct the necessary consultations, make required operational adjustments, and accelerate contingency planning for all possible outcomes, the statement said.

It also accused the Taliban of trying to force the U.N. into making an appalling choice between helping Afghans and standing by the norms and principles it is duty-bound to uphold.

It should be clear that any negative consequences of this crisis for the Afghan people will be the responsibility of the de facto authorities, it warned.

Aid agencies have been providing food, education and health care support to Afghans in the wake of the Taliban takeover and the economic collapse that followed it. But distribution has been severely affected by the Taliban edict banning women from working at NGOs  and, now, also at the U.N.

The U.N. described the measure as an extension of the already unacceptable Taliban restrictions that deliberately discriminate against women and undermine the ability of Afghans to access lifesaving and sustaining assistance and services.
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.
ShotSpotter, the contentious Bay Area-based company that provides gunshot tracking technology to police departments and other law enforcement agencies, has rebranded following a dramatic stock drop just a day after the election of Chicago's new mayor.

Now called SoundThinking, the company rebrand comes just a week after the election of Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson. Johnson, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, promised throughout his campaign to end the citys ongoing relationship with the company despite outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot's renewing the multimillion-dollar contract.

Johnson defeated former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas on April 4. The following day, ShotSpotter stock tanked by nearly 25% of its preelection value. As of Tuesday afternoon, the stock sat at just under $28 a share.

The technology, which is still called ShotSpotter, is used by the Oakland Police Department. A spokesperson for the department told SFGATE over email that it last renewed its contract for ShotSpotter in 2021 and has extended the service through at least 2024.

ShotSpotter, founded in 1996, was among the first companies to offer gunshot detection. The service has been deployed throughout the country as a means of tracking gunfire more rapidly than 911 calls  according to the Associated Press, at least 110 municipalities in the United States were using ShotSpotter as of March 2022. But the efficacy of the technology has been scrutinized by criminal justice experts, policing activists and other advocates, who argue that the service does little to prevent further gun violence and reifies racial biases in policing. In 2017, police in San Antonio ceased their use of the service after the department found that only four arrests could be attributed to the use of ShotSpotter.

The company, in press material, has framed the rebrand as a way of addressing its expanded suite of products. ShotSpotter established the acoustic gunshot detection category more than 25 years ago, SoundThinking CEO Ralph Clark said in a statement. As the public safety landscape has evolved, we have evolved with it.

A press release issued Monday that announced the change did not acknowledge the companys stock decline. A company spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment from SFGATE.
SFO tends to receive high marks from travelers  a rare feat, considering that airports and air travel sometimes bring out the worst in people.

Even after making you jump through hoops like calculating the ounces in your travel toothpaste or removing your shoes in public, SFO is frequently praised by experts and the public alike.

Last month, SFO was named the best airport in North America by the Airports Council International, and it received similarly high marks from the Wall Street Journal and a J.D. Power survey last year. The San Francisco airport even has mostly favorable reviews on the online cesspool of gripe: Yelp.

The airport often publicizes its amenities (last year, SFO hired a YouTube personality to tour the backrooms and tarmac), and it makes a dedicated effort to produce customer-friendly programs to maintain its favorable reputation.

SFO Museum features exhibitions and installations that are genuinely pleasing, and they're updated throughout the year to keep passing through the terminals a fresh experience.

And like a dentist installing a fish tank to quell worries in the waiting room, SFO has the Wag Brigade, a roster of comfort animals who help roll back travel anxieties with belly rubs.

MediaNews Group/East Bay Times v/MediaNews Group via Getty Images

These features are at the forefront of the SFO experience, but several hidden and unsung comforts are found throughout the terminals. Theres always more to discover and share, but these are the latest and best secrets, tricks and comfort tips for flying out of SFO.

A literal taste of true San Francisco

Sourdough is often considered part of the quintessential San Francisco meal, and one airline is making sure SFO travelers can take a bite without leaving the airport.

Silas Valentino/SFGATE

Alaska Airlines lounge in Terminal 2 is accessible to all with the purchase of a day pass, and front and center of its food program is a sourdough toast cart.

The Acme Bread Company, a staple in the San Francisco Ferry Building and the bread supplier for Chez Panisse, sends fresh loaves to the airport three times a week.

Silas Valentino/SFGATE

The cart debuted in 2021 and is open for two-hour periods three times a day, starting at 7 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. The lounge prepares a suite of toppings, such as ricotta with figs and honey or burrata with pesto.

Silas Valentino/SFGATE

Elsewhere in the Alaska lounge is the automatic pancake machine, called a Popcake. It produces a pair of flapjacks with the push of a bright yellow button.

Automation and the impending robot revolution have never been as fun as watching a pancake roll out of a machine.

Vegan food on the go

This month, Bay Area chef Reina Montenegro, former co-owner of Nicks Kitchen, Nicks on Mission and Nicks on Grand, starts bringing her vegan Filipino meals to Mama Gos, one of the highest-rated restaurants at SFO, according to VegNews.

Near gate B18 in Harvey Milk Terminal 1, the restaurant features Filipino dishes and boba drinks, plus beer, wine and cocktails. Montenegros food will complement the Mama Gos menu with eggless lumpia filled with vegan OmniPork and vegetables in peanut sauce with vegan shrimp paste, among other meat- and egg-free items. Theres even vegan leche flan.

The partnership is the first in a new initiative dreamed up by the owners of Mama Gos that will eventually bring other local women-owned businesses to the airport. Montenegro got her start as a personal chef and caterer and then went on to open the three aforementioned restaurants. After they closed, she pivoted to launch her own brand, Chef Reina, which sells vegan Filipino food via a Brisbane storefront.

Putting the air in anaerobic

When SFO announced its yoga room back in 2012, the news earned headlines across the country. It was the insertion of San Franciscan values inside an international airport.

Silas Valentino/SFGATE

After closing during the peak of the pandemic, the yoga rooms (plural, as SFO now has two rooms, in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3) reopened earlier this year to travelers in pursuit of a physical break.

The room in Terminal 2 is the most active and is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Its rules are simple: Its exclusively for practicing yoga (no napping!), visitors must remove shoes upon entering, silence is suggested, and visitors must wipe down the mats, blocks and foam rollers with every use.

Silas Valentino/SFGATE

The room features calm lighting and an ambiance purposely removed from the hectic atmosphere of the airport.

Silas Valentino/SFGATE

Since the average traveler is already wearing athleisure or a mix of nylon and spandex, the airport is an extremely appropriate home for hosting a yoga room.

Want to get away? From everyone?

Theres a certain joy in establishing your own corner in the airport thats away from other travelers and concealed from the lines.

Scattered throughout SFO are a few quiet spaces where yapping on your phone earns an eye glare. The subtlest area is the SFO Museum Gallery found in the short span between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

The darkened area is hidden in plain sight and features rotating art on its walls. Since it serves as a gallery space, that ambiance is transferred into this tranquil environment. Its the perfect place to conceal yourself away from the chaos.

SFO Museum

Elsewhere, the Aviation Museum and Library is a gem for anyone with time to gently kill. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the library is found before security on the departures level of the International Terminal Main Hall. Access is free, and no airline ticket is needed.

The library is a visual beauty. At 11,000 square feet, the space evokes the Spanish revival details from SFOs original passenger waiting room. The second floor holds shelves of books for perusing, while archives dedicated to the history of commercial aviation are available to explore.

A private observation deck

This is the closest youre going to get for views seen inside the coveted air traffic control tower.

On the fourth floor in Terminal 2, accessible before the security line and open to the general public without a boarding pass, is the outdoor SkyTerrace. This underused nicety is prime for inhaling fresh air and up-close plane spotting.

Silas Valentino/SFGATE

Food and beverages are allowed, though smoking is not permitted. The SkyTerrace offers a unique vantage point for observing aircraft entering SFOs busiest section, where all four runways intersect.

The SkyTerrace is only open from Friday to Monday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. An additional treat: Inside the terrace is SFO Museums exhibition The 1954 San Francisco International Airport Terminal.

Silas Valentino/SFGATE

This exhibition explores the history and architecture of a bygone SFO  weve come a long way from smoking inside the airport  and pays homage to Maxine Crookston, who was known as The Voice of San Francisco Airport from the late 1940s through the 1950s.

Easier wayfinding to your way home

When youre ready to actually leave SFO, what used to be a challenging exit for some travelers should now be mostly effortless.

SFO and Uber have updated their in-airport signs and in-app features for guiding travelers through the airport and into a car following a flight. The Uber app now includes step-by-step guides with photos and directions to find its pick-up zone; the feature, added in March, even offers estimated walking times to help users make their rides on time.

Courtesy of SFO

At the same time, SFO swapped generic terms in its signage for the specific names of ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft. We may have said farewell to the awkward sandwich board signs long ago, but in true SFO fashion, the exit routes have been made even easier to navigate, ending your experience on a high note.

Plane-spotting park

As a bonus, nearby Junipero Serra Park in San Bruno offers some of the best views for plane spotting at SFO.

Silas Valentino/SFGATE

At the top of the hill at the Bay View Picnic Shelter, aircraft enthusiasts can observe the rhythm of the airport just a couple of miles away. The perch is a visual version of FlightAware, which tracks inbound and outbound flights in real time.

Its a secret spot to appreciate the magic of flight without the crowds and bustle of a busy terminal or TSA.

This story has been updated.
WFO BURLINGTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, April 11, 2023

_____

FIRE WEATHER WATCH

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Burlington VT

208 AM EDT Tue Apr 11 2023

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM

EDT THIS EVENING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR

THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY AND LOWER CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY...

The National Weather Service in Burlington has issued a Red Flag

Warning, which is in effect from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM EDT

this evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

* AFFECTED AREA...In New York, Champlain Valley of New York. In

Vermont, Champlain Valley of Vermont, Northern Taconics and

Lower Connecticut Valley North.

* Timing...From 10 AM this morning until 10 PM this evening. The strongest

winds and lowest relative humidity values will occur between 11

AM and 5 PM Today.

* WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph, with

localized gusts up to 50 mph across western Clinton and eastern

Essex Counties in New York.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...20 to 30 percent with localized values near

15 percent across the southern Champlain and lower Connecticut

Valleys.

* TEMPERATURES...In the mid 60s to lower 70s.

* IMPACTS...Dry vegetation combined with gusty winds and low

relative humidity 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.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that dangerous fire weather conditions

are expected due to the combination of gusty winds, low relative

humidities, and dry fuels. Any fires that develop may quickly get

out of control and become difficult to contain.

_____

Copyright 2023 AccuWeather
Solid-state battery technology specialist Ilika announced the shipment of its first batch of Stereax batteries on Tuesday, to its customer, Blink Energy.

The AIM-traded firm said the shipment was the first of many planned deliveries over the coming months.

It said the shipment was made up of a batch of single-layer Stereax M50 cells, which could be used individually, or as building blocks for constructing the M300 batteries, made up of six M50 cells connected in parallel.

Blink Energy is a provider of device-agnostic power and communications platforms for ocular devices.

Ilika said Blink was currently designing products to power and connect smart ocular devices to resolve unmet needs of patient compliance, reliability, connectivity, and pricing in the smart contact lens market.

The ultra-thin profile of the M50 cells was of particular benefit to Blink Energy's solution, Blink IT, which is a smart patch device that fits onto the eyelid epicanthal fold and contains a designated power and communication platform that wirelessly connects a smart lens to a mobile app.

Ilika had announced on 16 January that it was finalising terms of an intended partnership with Cirtec Medical.

The two companies had signed a memorandum of understanding that outlines the transfer of Stereax mm-scale battery manufacturing to Cirtec's facility in Lowell, Massachusetts.

After the transfer, Ilika said it would focus on the advanced technology development and intellectual property licensing to support Cirtec's manufacturing and commercialisation activities.

We are delighted to have begun fulfilling our commitments to customers by shipping batteries from our UK facility, said chief executive officer Graeme Purdy.

Starting with Blink Energy, we look forward to further supporting our customers' product roadmaps for miniature medical devices and industrial internet-of-things applications.

Our relationship with Cirtec will further support commercial ramp-up in due course.

At 1049 BST, shares in Ilika were up 6.59% at 46.9p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Citi upgraded Tui to 'neutral' (high risk) from 'sell' (high risk) as it updated its model to reflect the group's recent rights issue, which taken with the lower share price since its last update, drives higher-than-expected dilution.

"With the stock having abruptly de-rated 22% since trading ex-rights we see valuation upside and upgrade," it said.

"Beyond the opportunity embedded in the current valuation, we rate Tui neutral rather than buy in the context of summer '23 booking volumes still -11% versus 2019 at 5 Feb (albeit with today's company statement suggesting some upside to these levels)," Citi noted, referring to the update Tui put out last Thursday.

"The volatile and uncertain economic outlook combined with the recent share price performance driven by the rights issue dynamics also to some extent highlights the limited institutional investor interest," it said.

Tui shares surged on Thursday after the travel firm said it remained on track for a strong summer. The company said it had seen strong demand across all of its markets this Easter, with the Canary Islands, Turkey, Balearics, mainland Spain and Greece especially popular.

Analysts at Canaccord Genuity slightly lowered their target price on energy company Vaalco from 715.0p to 700.0p on Tuesday as it made "a number of small adjustments" to its model.

Canaccord Genuity said Vaalco's full-year guidance demonstrated the increased production expected from its upscaled asset base, as well as benefits stemming from its recent drilling programme on the Etame licence offshore Gabon.

The Canadian bank stated Vaalco's more diverse asset base, together with reduced unit costs in Gabon, growth potential across the portfolio, continued balance sheet strength, and shareholder returns, plus the continued market discount to the stock's "fair" value, presented "a highly appealing investment opportunity".

"After such a busy year of operational and corporate activity we expect 2023 to be a little quieter externally, but the pace internally is unlikely to let up," said the analysts, who reiterated their 'buy' rating on the stock.

Canaccord thinks that the group's "broader, better balanced production base", with long-term growth potential across all four countries of operation, more than offsets the "small reduction" in its valuation.

"Furthermore, with the FSO now successfully installed at Etame, the infrastructure risks there have declined significantly. Overall, in our view, compared with 12 months ago, Vaalco is a much more attractive - larger and lower risk - investment," said Canaccord.
Airstrikes by Myanmars military killed as many as 100 people, including many children, who were attending a ceremony held by opponents of army rule, said a witness, a member of a local pro-democracy group and independent media, Trend reports citing Newstalk ZB.

The military is increasingly using airstrikes to counter a widespread armed struggle against its rule, which began in February 2021 when it seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 3000 civilians are estimated to have been killed since then by security forces.

A witness told Associated Press that a fighter jet dropped bombs directly into a crowd of people who were gathering at 8am for the opening of a local office of the countrys opposition movement outside Pazigyi village in Sagaing regions Kanbalu township. The area is about 110km north of Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city.

About half an hour later, a helicopter appeared and fired at the site, said the witness, who asked not to be identified because he feared punishment by the authorities.

Initial reports put the death toll at around 50, but later tallies reported by independent media raised it to about 100. It was impossible to independently confirm details of the incident because reporting is restricted by the military government.
AstraZeneca , Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) and Sanofi have simplified their contractual arrangements for the development and commercialization of nirsevimab in the US, they announced on Tuesday.

The move came ahead of the upcoming launch of nirsevimab in the United States and other markets.

AstraZeneca said the updated agreements were intended to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved.

Under the new arrangements, Sobi would now have a direct relationship with Sanofi, replacing the previous agreement with AstraZeneca that was signed in November 2018.

The earlier deal saw AstraZeneca provisioning the risk-adjusted value of discounted cash flow for future payments to Sobi as a liability, starting from the day of the transaction with Sobi.

However, under the new agreement, Sanofi would pay royalties to Sobi based on US nirsevimab sales, and the liability related to future obligations would be eliminated.

AstraZeneca said it would record a gain of $0.7bn under core other operating income in 2023, thanks to the simplification agreement.

However, it said the move would not impact its financial guidance for 2023.

At 1028 BST, shares in AstraZeneca were down 0.72% at 11,616p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Glencore sweetened its offer for Canadas Teck Resources on Tuesday by proposing to add a cash component to its previous all-share bid.

Acknowledging that certain Teck shareholders may prefer a full coal exit and others may not desire thermal coal exposure, Glencore said it would introduce a cash element to buy them out of their coal exposure. This would mean that Teck shareholders would receive 24% of MetalsCo - the combined metals-focused business - and $8.2bn in cash.

Last week, copper and zinc miner Teck said it had rejected an unsolicited $22.5bn offer from Glencore, dismissing it as "opportunistic". The offer that was on the table would have seen Teck separated to create two businesses, which would expose Teck shareholders to thermal coal and oil trading.

Chief executive Jonathan Price said at the time that proposal would expose Teck shareholders to a large thermal coal business, an oil trading business and "significant" jurisdictional risk, "all of which would negatively affect the potential of Tecks business".

In February, Teck announced plans to separate its base metals and steelmaking coal businesses to create two, independent, publicly listed, resource companies.

Glencore said on Tuesday: "We continue to believe that the proposed transaction, being a merger and not a takeover, provides a compelling value proposition to Teck shareholders who will fully/disproportionately participate in the value creation, synergies and upside, and is a superior transaction to the proposed Teck separation."
The bilateral trade volume between Turkiye and Georgia has approached a record $3 billion as the two countries are set to increase the rate while enhancing ties, Georgias Ambassador to Ankara George Janjgava said, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Sabah, Janjgava said, In 2022 Turkiye was Georgia's largest trading partner  according to statistics, trade turnover amounted to $2.81 billion.

Saying that he expected trade to grow even further throughout 2023, the ambassador added: In April 2021, a diagonal cumulation mechanism was launched between Georgia, Turkiye and the European Union, which will significantly facilitate trilateral trade and stimulate exports to new sectors. The diagonal cumulation mechanism allows the sale of products made in Georgia with Turkish industrial raw materials in the European Union market.

Additionally, the Georgian market fully opened for high-quality and GMP standard Turkish medicines in January 2022 at the initiative of the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, Janjgava highlighted.

The $2.8 billion figure for 2022 is a result of trade turnover increasing by 30% compared to the previous year.

This is the highest historical index between the two countries and is about $655 million higher than 2021 figures, which was $2.15 billion, said Ambassador Janjgava, stressing that Turkiye ranked first among Georgias top 10 trading partners with a 15% share in total trade turnover in 2022.

In terms of imports, Turkiye ranked first with an 18% share, while it ranked fifth after China, Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in exports with an 8% share. Exports to Turkiye increased by 35% to $435.5 million while imports from Turkiye grew by 30% and reached $2.37 billion in 2022, he continued.

Favorable investment climate

In terms of investment, Georgia presents a favorable investment climate for Turkish investors. Turkiye ranked seventh with $106.5 million of foreign direct investment in 2022.

Janjgava said that that his countrys favorable investment environment can also be seen in the ratings of international institutions. Georgia held the seventh position in the "Ease of Doing Business" rankings of the World Bank in 2020, while according to the Index of Economic Freedom 2022 of the Heritage Foundation, Georgia is the 26th freest in the 2022 index.

Both countries inked many significant bilateral agreements including the Free Trade Agreement and Joint Economic Trade Committee (JETCO), while also increasing the number of joint projects in the energy field.

On growing energy ties, the ambassador said: Regional energy projects implemented through joint Georgian-Turkish efforts, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, are of great importance. Active cooperation continues for the full implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project (TANAP and TAP) and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project.

Officially opened on Oct. 30, 2017, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway directly connects Turkiye, Georgia and Azerbaijan reducing the shipment period from 35 to 15-17 days and shortening the distance from Europe to Asia by 6,800-7,500 kilometers (around 4,225-4,660 miles). In the first stage, the capacity of the project is targeting 5 million tons of cargo per year with the perspective of increasing it to up to 15 million tons and 1 million passengers per year. In 2022, 435,000 tons of cargo were transported by the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

Growing tourism

The two countries also enjoy growing ties in the field of tourism, boosted by the fact that Turkish citizens can travel to Georgia visa-free for up to one year.

Turkiye ranked second with 925,561 visitors to Georgia in 2022. Turkish Airlines (THY), Anadolujet and Pegasus operate 72 flights a week from Ankara, Istanbul and Antalya to Tbilisi and Batumi, the ambassador pointed out.

Moreover, Janjgava said that the Sarp border gate between Georgia and Turkiye was crossed, from both sides, by more than 5 million people of all nationalities in 2022.

Turkiye and Georgia have taken crucial steps to enhance bilateral ties in the past decade. The bond between Ankara and Tbilisi has been strengthened through the establishment of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

Turkiye, as a strategic partner, is a strong supporter of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. At the same time, Turkiye supports Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The positive dynamics of the development of bilateral political relations are evidenced by the intensive high-level visits made over the years.

Most recently, Georgias Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili visited Turkiye following the deadly earthquakes of Feb. 6 that jolted the countrys southeast and expressed readiness to provide any assistance necessary.

Around 200 Georgian professionals participated in the search and rescue operations in Turkiyes city of Adyaman, which was one of the worst affected by the devastating quake, and after a rotation, they continued the rescue efforts in Hatay provinces Antakya.
US hedge fund Farallon Capital Management is in advance negotiations to fund $1.5 billion to $2 billion to cash strapped mining billionaire Anil Agarwal, superseding discussions with Vedanta groups traditional foreign lenders or Gulf organisations like International Holding Corporation, said reliable sources.

The structure being worked out includes part of the funding, $800-$900 million against corporate guarantees of Vedanta Limited (VDL), Agarwals flagship listed Indian natural resources conglomerate, for which RBI approval is awaited. The remaining pay out will be offshore to Agarwals promoter entities, the sources said.

Together with his dividend income, the financing line will help the scarp dealer turned metals tycoon, solve his immediate refinance obligations and pare down his personal indebtedness. The terms of the new structured financing agreement, still being finalised at this stage, is likely to see tenors of 3-5 years but rates as high as 15-16% in dollar terms, similar to the previous $750 million Oaktree loan facility that Agarwal subscribed to via share subscription agreement that came at 14%.

Earlier Agarwal, was trying to increase bank financing from his relationship banks led by Standard Chartered Bank, JP Morgan, Barclays, and Deutsche Bank for a $1 billion loan in, THL Zinc Ventures, a fully owned subsidiary of India-listed Vedanta Ltd. But with banks seeking aggressive pricing 300 basis points above the expected rate, those discussions were put in the back burner for now.

Mails sent to Fallaron and Vedanta did not receive a response immediately. Last week in a credit call with investors, S&P analyst Neel Gopalakrishnan has said that there talks with credit funds are proceeding. San Francisco headquartered Farallon, of late has been specialising in illiquid special situations has been supporting Indian corporates and their promoters Shapoorji Pallonji Group, Essar, Emami, Piramal Enterprises, Indiabulls Group, fix balance sheet dislocations.

Vedanta Resources, formerly a London-listed vehicle, owns 69.69% of Vedanta Ltd via various Agarwal family members and his promoter companies Twin Star Holdings, Volcan Investments and Finsider International Ltd among others. Vedanta Limited in turns has several listed and unlisted operating subsidiaries like Balco, Hindustan Zinc, ElectroSteel Ltd, Facor and divisions such as Cairn India, Sesa Iron Ore, Sterlite Copper, Vedanta Aluminium etc.

Agarwals liabilities at his numerous promoter and investment companies in the backdrop of global financial flux has cast a dark shadow over his principal listed company in India Vedanta Limited, a home grown BHP Billiton, with diversified interests across natural resources like oil and gas, aluminium, zinc, copper, lead-silver, iron ore. Even though operating performance of his group companies have seen EBITDA and profit after tax both doubling over 8 fiscals Vedanta Ltds stock has sunk 37% in the last 1 year over worries of parent Vedantas Resources looming debt-obligations.

Rating agency S&P Global in its recent bulletin approximated that Vedanta Ltd had centralised cash of about $2.5 billion as of March 31, 2023, down from around $4 billion as of March 31, 2022. The groups net debt is $7.7 billion and had publicly announced plans of reducing it by $4 billion over 3 years. It has repaid half in FY23 alone.

As per JP Morgan, Vedanta Resources is grappling with $4.1 billion of holdco level debt maturities and interest needs, of which $1.6 billion are interest expenses and dollar bond maturities; $2.2 billion at midco level and $449m of intercompany loans to Vedanta Ltd. In 1QFY24, ie by June 2024, $1,6 billion is due thereby making it imperative for the group and its promoter to secure a minimum near term $1 billion financing.

The group is close to securing about $1 billion of funding at one of its operating companies. Said S&P on April 4. The company is reportedly discussing with banks and investors multiple funding options for at least another $2 billion. Successful closure of some of these discussions will facilitate the payment of its $1 billion bond due January 2024. Failure to demonstrate a credible refinancing plan at least six months before the bond maturity could lead to downside rating pressure.

Agarwal has predominantly been servicing his debt through loans and dividends from operating companies such as Vedanta Ltd and Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL). Vedanta Ltd for example is paying $930 million its 5 tranche of dividend upstreamed to parent Vedanta Resources in FY23 alone translating to a total payout of $4.5 billion (Rs 37,700 crore). Similarly, Agarwal took out $3.95 billion (Rs 32,000 crore) or a 300% dividend pay out in the same fiscal from Hindustan Zinc, the groups cash cow.

HZL bumper pay-out could be its last, as its vaults now run dry, said Ritesh Shah of Investec. A company that would spew out $300 million - $600 million Ebitda every quarter, is poised to turn net debt from net cash. In February, Agarwal did try and secure his finances further by proposing proposed to sell Zinc International (ZI) a Vedanta group company with mining interests in South Africa and Namibia to Hindustan Zinc for $3 billion dollars of cash in phases over 18 months.

With the seller, Vedanta Ltd, 70% owned by Vedanta Resources, Agarwals assesment was the lions share of the sale proceeds can be used to take care of the his personal liquidity needs. But the government, a near 30% minority shareholder opposed the resolution. For incremental pay-outs we reckon VRL will have to rely on HZ-ZI transaction going through, divestments or bear prolonged pain with high cost re-fi. With most of equity pledged/encumbered, its options are limited, Shah added.
Equinix. Inc, the worlds digital infrastructure company, and PT Astra International Tbk (Astra), today announced a joint venture to develop the digital infrastructure in Indonesia that multinationals and local businesses need to accelerate their digital transformation. Indonesias national digital transformation program creates a framework for economic development and demand for digital infrastructure as the government targets 30 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to go digital by 2024.

Equinix and Astra established a joint venture company with a 75% and 25% equity stake, respectively. Combining the global digital infrastructure expertise of Equinix and the extensive experience of Astrain operating in Indonesia, this joint venture will help local businesses and multinationals develop their digital capabilities and capitalize on new and emerging technologies, such as hybrid multi cloud, 5G, IoT, AI, and more.

Jeremy Deutsch, President, Asia-Pacific, Equinix said: The Indonesian government is strongly committed to accelerating digital transformation across the nation. This joint venture with Astra taps into the rising potential of digitalization and illustrates Equinixs ongoing commitment to serving the Indonesian community with capacity at scale to match computational, storage and edge requirements. We look forward to working with Astra to unlock new opportunities for Indonesiasbright digital future."

Djony Bunarto Tjondro, President Director of Astra said:The collaboration with Equinix is based on the growth of Indonesias digital economy and Astras focus on accelerating its digital transformation. We hope this joint venture will strengthen Indonesias data center infrastructure and help businesses by providing a comprehensive data center that is more integrated, modern, easily accessible, and operated with the spirit and principles of sustainability.

This joint venture will initially develop and operate an International Business Exchange (IBX) data center in the heart of Jakarta, named JK1, with further expansion afterward in Indonesia. The eight-story JK1 IBX data center is scheduled to open by the second half of 2024 and is expected to provide more than 1,600 cabinets and more than 5,300 square meters of co-location space when fully built. Located in Jakarta's Central Business District and in close proximity to major internet exchanges, JK1 will provide local and foreign businesses operating in Indonesia with the digital infrastructure and vibrant ecosystems requiredfor optimal performance.

JK1 will incorporate sustainability into its design, leveraging innovative technologies such as Equinixs cooling array to support economic and environmental goals for organizations in Indonesia. Equinix was the first in the data center industry to set a 100% renewable energy goal and commit to reaching climate neutral by 2030 backed by an approved short-term science-based targets. These goals arein alignment with the Astra 2030 Sustainability Aspirations.

Indonesia is poised to become the largest ASEAN co-location market by 2027 as the region continues to witness significant retail demand for co-location coupled with growing hyper scale activity.The countrys co-location market is forecast with a valuation of US$1.2 billion by 2027. In addition, major cloud service providers like Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Alibaba Cloud have announced that they are launching cloud regions in Indonesia. The country is forecast to become the second largest public cloud market in Southeast Asia. The joint venture of Equinix and Astra is well-positioned to capture the untapped growth of this high-potential market.

Today, the global footprint of Platform Equinix spans more than 245 data centers across 71 metros and 32 countries, providing digital infrastructure for more than 10,000 of the world's leading businesses, including more than 50% of Fortune 500 companies. In Asia-Pacific, Equinix currently has 51 data centers in key metros across Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, and Singapore. Along with this, Astra, with its deep local know-how and vast experience in various sectors in Indonesia will be able, to support the joint venture in unlocking the potential of the Indonesian data center market.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Authorities responded to a brush fire reported near the Staten Island Railway tracks on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire was called around 1:45 p.m. in the vicinity of the Annadale station, according to emergency radio communications and the MTA.

Tottenville-bound Staten Island Railway trains were delayed while the FDNY extinguished the fire, according to the MTA website.

The track fire in Annadale reportedly spread to a property on N. Railroad Street.

More information will be posted when it becomes available.

Firefighters battle a brush fire by the Staten Island Railway tracks near the Annadale station. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)

RED FLAG WARNING FOR FIRE DANGER

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning in New York City Tuesday as environmental conditions will be conducive to an elevated risk of brush fires.

Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-60s, and winds will be blowing between 10 and 20 mph, increasing the chances a fire can start and quickly spread to surrounding areas.

The agency warned city residents to exercise caution when using outdoor gas and charcoal grills, and smokers should avoid carelessly discarding cigarettes.

The warning is in effect until 7 p.m.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation said there is a heightened risk of fire across New York this week. New York City is firmly in an area with high risk of fire danger, according to the agencys map.

Open burning of debris is the leading cause of spring wildfires in New York, and current weather conditions will enable fires to rapidly take advantage of dry leaves and consistent winds.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD is asking for the publics help to identify an individual sought for questioning in connection with a brazen robbery where a womans hair was pulled and her keys were stolen in Castleton Corners.

The incident occurred on April 2 at about 2:35 p.m. when a 61-year-old woman was walking on that Sunday in the vicinity of Manor Road and Bolivar Street, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

An unknown woman allegedly approached the victim from behind, grabbed the her hair and pulled her to the ground. The individual then removed the victims car keys from the ground and fled on foot northbound on Manor Road, according to the police statement.

The victim sustained bruises and swelling on her body and was treated on scene by EMS, according to the police statement.

Photos of a woman sought for questioning in the incident were provided to the media by the NYPD.

She is described by police as having a medium build, standing about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds. She was seen wearing a dark-colored T-shirt over a white, long-sleeve shirt, dark colored pants, and a white shoe on her left foot and a black shoe on her right foot.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.

The NYPD is asking for the public's help identifying a woman sought for questioning in connection with a robbery at Manor Road and Bolivar Street in Castleton Corners on Sunday, April 2, 2023. (Courtesy of NYPD)

OTHER STATEN ISLAND NEWS:

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A 45-year-old Staten Island driver was accused of driving drunk and striking a cyclist in New Jersey last weekend, according to a report by NJ.com.

Authorities say the driver had his two children in the car when the incident occurred, according to the report.

Rainier J. Solis allegedly struck a cyclist in the area of Route 440 and East 22nd Street in Bayonne on Saturday, April 8, sending the rider to the hospital with severe injuries, the Bayonne Police Department told NJ.com.

Solis has also been charged with assault by auto and endangering the welfare of children, the report stated.

Attorney information for the defendant was not readily available.

Solis first appearance in Hudson County Courthouse is scheduled for April 24, a spokesman for the Hudson County Prosecutors Office told the Advance/SILive.com.



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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City has announced the rollout of a plan to make its public schools safer  the front doors will be locked and equipped with a two-way video doorbell system.

Last week, officials said the plan, referred to as the safer access system, will first be equipped in every elementary school starting in May and will be rolled out over a number of months, according to city Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. The goal is to reach all school buildings by next spring.

Here are six things to know about the safety plan.

What is the safer access system?

The system is a door-locking camera system. The chancellor explained that the city intends to lock the front doors to public schools once students have arrived.

Anybody whos coming to visit the school, you have to present themselves before entry is made, he said. The doors will not be wide open for anyone to simply walk into.

The plan to equip schools with secure, video-enabled front doors will be funded by a $43 million contract, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported. The contract builds on a pilot program to lock the front doors that was rolled out to select schools citywide last fall, including at PS 8 in Great Kills.

Why is the city locking the front doors to public schools?

According to Banks, mass shootings are a large factor in the decision to lock school front doors.

Something that keeps me up at night is when I look around the country and I see the issues that are happening with these mass shootings where people just walk into the building and shoot the place up  that keeps me up at night, and that is part of the reason why the mayor has authorized us to move forward with what were calling our safer access system, said Banks.

School safety agents will be trained in the new system.

How does the system work?

The system will give the school safety agent the ability to perform access control from the main desk, according to city Department of Education (DOE) Security Director Mark Rampersant.

It will allow visitors to be seen and communicate directly with the school safety agent before the school safety agent grants access, he said. This is not a system that we are employing to keep our parents out of our buildings. This is a system that were employing to keep anybody with ill intentions from accessing our school buildings.

The school safety agent, from the main desk, will be able to see through a two-way camera system that offers communication to the visitor. The agent will then be able to buzz the visitor in once theyve confirmed their meeting or their business at the school, said Rampersant.

What about access for police or first responders?

Rampersant said that officials made sure police or first responders can access the school building easily if there is an event and the door is locked.

We took a very, very comprehensive look at the different systems that were out there before choosing a system that will allow for us to answer the question of when and if something happens in our school how our first responders will have direct access, he said. So this particular system has the ability to give our officers access by by using a code that will be provided to all of our precincts that will give police officers direct contact or access to our schools.

When alarms go off in schools, first responders or police will have direct access by punching in a unique code.

What is the timeline?

The process to lock front doors and equip them with the new system will begin in May, starting with elementary schools.

It will take place over a number of months, with the hope to have all schools outfitted with the new technology by next spring.

What is the current policy?

Under the current DOE policy, all doors in school buildings are locked and alarmed except for the front door. The front door is monitored by one or more school safety agents.

Upon entrance to a New York City public school, visitors are required to stop at the front desk, show identification and share the reason for the visit. Some schools require visitors to wear a pass sticker until they exit the building.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

NYC elementary schools to lock front doors starting in May

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U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Belfast on Tuesday at a delicate political time in Northern Ireland as he helps mark the 25-year anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed there, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Biden, known for decades for his pro-Irish views, will need to tread carefully as pro-British unionists loyal to London continue to boycott the devolved power-sharing government that was a fundamental part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Biden was expected to meet representatives from five Northern Irish parties in advance of his speech at Ulster University but was not planning to pressure them, a senior administration official said.

"The president will have the opportunity to engage with the political parties of Northern Ireland before his speech, and as we've said, he looks forward to continuing to engage them as we work to improve the lives and livelihoods of all communities there," said John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson.
A retired firefighter who threw a fire extinguisher at police officers during the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced on Tuesday to more than four years in prison.

Robert Sanford struck two police officers in the head with the fire extinguisher that he threw as he stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with a mob of Donald Trump supporters. He also threw an orange traffic cone at a Capitol police sergeant.

Sanford also hurled obscenities and insults at the law enforcement officers on the Lower West Terrace, calling them traitors, a prosecutor, Janani Iyengar, wrote in a court filing.

One of the officers struck by the fire extinguisher had a bump and swelling on his head; the other had a headache and went to a hospital for a medical exam, prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sentenced Sanford to four years and four months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to an online court record. Federal prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of five years and 11 months.

Sanford, 57, of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, worked as a firefighter for 26 years before retiring in 2020. A fire extinguisher is an instrument that he was uniquely familiar with and should have known how much damage it could cause, the prosecutor wrote.

Sanford traveled to Washington, D.C., with friends from Pennsylvania on a bus trip organized by the conservative activist group Turning Point USA. He listened to speeches at Trumps Stop the Steal rally before joining the crowd that marched over to the Capitol and disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying Democrat Joe Bidens electoral victory over Trump.

Sanford was arrested on Jan. 14, 2021. He has been jailed since he pleaded guilty last September to assaulting, resisting or impeding police officers using a dangerous weapon  a felony punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. He wasnt accused of entering the Capitol building on Jan. 6.

Sanford began to work with a specialist in cult deprogramming in August 2022 and was confronted with facts about the baseless conspiracy theory that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election from Trump, according to defense attorney Andrew Stewart.

Even after he was incarcerated, he participated in regular discussions designed to challenge his ideology and belief structure, then help him understand how and why he developed the beliefs that led him to make the decisions that he did on January 6, Stewart wrote in a court filing.

Sanford believed that police had attacked him and others without provocation when he picked up and threw what felt like an empty fire extinguisher, his lawyer said.

Certainly, this is not a justification for his action nor is it intended to be, Stewart wrote.

More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 riot. Over 600 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or judge. Over 450 of them have been sentenced, with over half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years.

More than 100 police officers were injured during the Jan. 6 riot.

Also on Tuesday, Nevada a man who joined other rioters in assaulting police officers in a tunnel on the Capitols Lower West Terrace was sentenced to six years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols also ordered Josiah Kenyon, 35, of Winnemucca, Nevada, to pay over $43,000 in restitution for damaging a window at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Kenyon was dressed as the character Jack Skellington from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas when he joined the mobs attack. He used a table leg with a protruding nail to strike an officer in the leg and hit a second officer so hard that it lodged in the officers face shield and helmet, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of seven years and four months for Kenyon, who pleaded guilty to assault charges in September 2022.

Kenyon drove to Washington from Reno, Nevada, with his wife and young children to attend Trumps rally. Kenyon told FBI agents that he hated Trump and went to the Capitol because he was trying to raise the violence level, prosecutors wrote, adding, His idea was to have the Trumpers charge the police line which would in turn cause the officers to shoot the rioters.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New Yorkers will be hearing some new voices coming over the loud speaker in MTA subway stations through the end of the month.

In recognition of World Autism Awareness Month, the MTA has stated that new service announcements voiced by children with autism will play in select subway stations through April 30.

The announcements, created in partnership with INCLUDEnyc, advise riders to follow the subway systems rules of conduct and remind them that April is World Autism Awareness Month.

Autism Awareness Month is a reminder for us to accept, support, respect, and include those with autism. That is why I am pleased to meet some of subways most enthusiastic riders, said New York City Transit Senior Vice President of Subways Demetrius Crichlow. Its always a good day when we get to hear directly from the kids about what makes the New York City Transit system so special to them.

On Monday, agency officials hosted the children at the Fulton Center subway station in Lower Manhattan to unveil the new announcements, with the kids and their families getting the opportunity to meet with top MTA officials and various transit workers, like train operators, bus operators and customer service agents, to ask questions about New York Citys transit system.

The MTA is honored take part in Autism Awareness Month once again and welcome this great group of kids and their families to Fulton Center station, said MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. I thank the children and their families for their hard work on these announcements and hope they continue to foster and embrace their curiosity about the transit system.

The World Autism Awareness Month service announcements will be played in 15-minute intervals at the following stations.

Fulton Street

96 St

E180 St

14 St Union Square

Times Square

34th St Penn Station

Bowling Green

Atlantic Av Barclays

Flatbush Av

Forest Hills 71st Av

Queensboro Plaza

INCLUDEnyc is thrilled to partner with the MTA in providing an inclusive opportunity for children with autism to make announcements to be shared at various subway stations across NYC during Autism Awareness month, said INCLUDEnyc Executive Director Cheryelle Cruickshank. We hope that someone hearing one of these announcements will take pause and embrace INCLUDEnycs vision of a world with love, equity, and access for children and youth with disabilities.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to eradicate Asian longhorned beetle infestations in multiple states, including New York.

The agencys Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) plans to focus on inspecting trees in nearly 300 square miles of federal quarantine zones across New York, Massachusetts, Ohio and South Carolina. Fifty-three square miles of that area is in central Long Island  the only quarantined zone in the state.

The beetles presence in the hot zones will be monitored, and the agency will conduct training sessions and outreach to the community while responding to calls for assistance to remove the insect.

We need people who live in and around ALB (Asian longhorned beetle) infestations to help look for and report the damage the beetle causes to trees, said Josie Ryan, APHIS national operations manager for the Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program. By looking at your trees and reporting any suspicious tree damage, you can help us find the beetle sooner and eliminate it quicker.

Trees hoarding the invasive beetle will be removed from properties for no cost, and federal authorities said this years program will not release insecticides. Instead, APHIS said it will continue to develop new methods to eradicate the beetle.

People who live in the quarantine zone can help officials by hiring tree or landscape companies with compliance agreements to ensure woody material is disposed of properly. A permit is required to remove items like firewood out of a quarantine zone into another area.

Before any tree materials are removed from a property within the quarantine areas, officials said residents should contact the local eradication program office.

In Massachusetts, call 508-852-8110.

In New York, call 631-288-1751.

In Ohio, call 513-381-7180.

In South Carolina, call 843-973-8329.

The current federal program has removed infestations in Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Ohio. It has also removed infestations from Staten Island, Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York will stockpile abortion medication to prepare for a possible U.S. Supreme Court case outlawing a drug, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.

In order to meet anticipated needs over the next five years, the state Department of Health will purchase 150,000 doses of Misoprostol after U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, of Texas, ruled Friday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) improperly approved a separate abortion pill, mifepristone, more than 20 years ago.

Another judge in Washington, District Judge Thomas Rice, issued a ruling a few hours later that prevents the FDA from changing the availability of the drug, a decision in conflict with the one in Texas.

The dueling decisions mean a Supreme Court case might be on the horizon, and with last years Dobbs v. Jackson decision, which effectively overturned Roe v. Wade, Hochul said the state wanted to ensure access to abortion medication.

Anti-choice extremists have shown that they are not stopping at overturning Roe, and they are working to entirely dismantle our countrys reproductive health care system, including medication abortion and contraception, Hochul said. New York will always be a safe harbor for abortion care, and I am taking action to protect abortion access in our state and continue to lead the nation in defending the right to reproductive autonomy.

On Friday, President Joseph Biden criticized the Texas courts decision, and said the judge effectively imposed its opinion over the FDAs, the federal agency tasked with approving drugs.

He said his administration would be appealing the judges ruling.

My administration will fight this ruling, the president said. The Department of Justice has already filed an appeal and will seek an immediate stay of the decision. But lets be clear  the 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. Vice President [Kamallah] Harris and I will continue to lead the fight to protect a womans right to an abortion, and to make her own decisions about her own health. That is our commitment.

In addition to its Misoprostol stockpile strategy, New York will also commit $20 million to abortion providers if Mifepristone is taken off the market, which would follow a $35 million investment announced last year.

The governor is also pushing legislation that would require private insurers to cover Misoprostol when its prescribed off-label for abortion, and protect providers from increased charges for malpractice insurance when prescribing the drug off-label.

Misoprostol is marketed as a way to prevent and treat gastroduodenal damage, but can also be used to induce abortion.

MORE NEWS

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Fool me twice, shame on me.

Democrats in New York want another crack at drawing boundary lines for congressional districts in the state.

Are they kidding?

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have urged the state courts to reconvene the New York Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw the states congressional lines.

You remember what happened the last time that the Dems held the redistricting pen: They drew rigged districts to overwhelmingly favor the Democrats and they outright eliminated GOP seats.

They didnt want fair fights. They wanted guaranteed wins.

But the district maps were so egregious, so obviously gerrymandered to the hilt, that the Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, featuring seven Dem-appointed judges, threw the boundary lines out.

The Dems had cooked up such a crooked redistricting mess that the Court of Appeals went even further than the lower Appellate Court, throwing out the rigged state Senate maps along with the House lines.

Not that we needed the venerable jurists to tell us what a sham and charade the Dems were trying to perpetuate.

All you had to see was that Dem lawmakers, in their infinite wisdom, chose to create a congressional district that linked GOP-voting Staten Island with hyper-liberal Park Slope in Brooklyn.

Youd have to look pretty hard to find more of a mismatch: A borough that voted twice for Republican Donald Trump for president matched with the Brooklyn home of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who years ago honeymooned in Communist Cuba.

The rigged district was meant to give former Dem Rep. Max Rose a leg up in his rematch against GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

Never mind that the vast majority of voters on Staten Island have little in common with voters in Park Slope. Never mind that our issues dont align with theirs. And forget that Park Slope voters want as little to do with Staten Island voters as we do with them. Cheese and chalk doesnt begin to cover it.

No, all you had to see was the fact that the new-fangled district for a moment actually gave de Blasio a platform to run for Congress. From Staten Island, where he is only the most abhorred of politicians, even among many Democrats.

And Dems now want to take another shot at House lines? Fuhgeddaboudit.

Hochul and James argue that the maps that were eventually drawn by a special master were appropriate last year given that the courts had tossed the Dem-drawn boundaries so close to the primary election. They think that reconvening the commission would be appropriate ahead of the 2024 election cycle.

It would likely be deja vu all over again.

We were supposed to be all done with lawmakers gerrymandering legislative districts in New York, remember? Voters in 2014 approved a measure to create a bi-partisan districting commission to do the job.

But it turns out that that solution was rigged as well, because the commission featured an equal number of Democratic and Republican commissioners.

Which sounds all nice and democratic until you realize that those commissioners were almost guaranteed to deadlock along partisan lines on the maps. Which is exactly what happened. The process then got thrown into the state Legislature, which is where the Democrats wanted it all along.

And remember, these are the same Dems who drew our North Shore Assembly seat into three different boroughs, who thought that hard-scrabble Port Richmond could find political equity with well-heeled Battery Park City in Manhattan.

Lets not get fooled again.

MORE OPINION FROM TOM WROBLESKI

Court of Appeals gives gerrymandering Dems a well-deserved thrashing | Opinion

Dems have nobody but themselves to blame for de Blasio-for-Congress debacle | Opinion

North Shore Assembly seat hack job even worse than Dems House seat gerrymander | Opinion
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No matter how many decades it takes for the squillion-dollar AUKUS nuclear submarines to hit the water, the big security agreement will be a rainmaker for the defence industry and its lobbyists.

Among those getting in on the action is former defence minister Christopher Pyne, an old Canberra favourite who now heads booming lobbying shop Pyne and Partners.

Last week, Liberal Senator James Paterson and Labor MP Meryl Swanson were among a bipartisan defence industry delegation in Washington DC and New York whose flights, accommodation and incidentals were all covered by Pyne and Partners.

CBD hears Pyne contacted Paterson and Swanson in putting together the delegation, which included representatives from firms that are already big suppliers to the Australian Defence Force and US military.

The delegation was afforded top-notch access to key figures in the US military and national security establishment, including President Joe Bidens Asia tsar Kurt Campbell, US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, and various members of Congress.
There are many ways to travel but an increasing number of us want to do it with consideration for the people who inhabit the places we visit, for their cultures and for the natural environments in which they live and prosper, and we want to do it while limiting the carbon footprint we make when getting there.

But how do we find companies that we can trust to align with our values? Fortunately, this is getting easier as more companies take up the challenge to be carbon-neutral in their operations and strive to make positive social impact on the destinations they visit.

These are seven of the best, from a small family run business in New Zealands Fjordland to the worlds biggest carbon-neutral travel company.

World Expeditions, Australia
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is with CLP Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in Alice Springs where they are campaigning against the Voice to Parliament, as they seek to highlight the ongoing law and order problems in the town.

Dutton said the level of crime on the ground in Alice Springs was extraordinary and required quicker action than the Voice could provide.

The urgency of whats happening here now needs to be understood it needs to be addressed now, he said.

The opposition leader claimed children in the Northern Territory were being abused by family members and being sent back to those homes by authorities. He argued the same actions would be plastered on the front pages of city newspapers if the subjects were white children.

How can those children continue to be abused? he said. The action needs to be now.

Dutton criticised the Voice as a city-centric body, despite the fact the model has not been determined and its composition and membership will be decided by the Parliament after the referendum, if it is successful.

I dont believe that a Canberra voice of 24 people, who predominantly come from capital cities, is going to be the solution to the problems here on the ground, Dutton said.

If I did, Id embrace it straightaway. But I believe very strongly that listening to local and regional voices, which is what the Liberal Party is doing, is an attempt to make sure that we unite our country.

The prime minister at the moment is putting forward a model which divides our country, and he wont explain any of the detail.

Duttons reference to a 24-member Voice comes from the widely cited report by Indigenous academics Marcia Langton and Tom Calma, which lays out a blueprint for how the Voice could operate.

It proposed a 24-member Voice, comprising two members from each state, territory and the Torres Strait and a further five members from remote areas of the NT, WA, Queensland, WA and SA, as well as a Torres Strait Islander living on the mainland.

However, the Albanese government has not committed to adopting this model if the referendum is successful.
The U.S. Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced on Tuesday that Chicago, Illinois, will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The event, where the Democratic Party's delegates will formally nominate their presidential candidate, will take place at the United Center from Aug. 19 to 22 next year.

Republicans will gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 15 to 18 next year for their 2024 national convention.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, said on Monday that he plans on running for reelection in 2024 but his team is not prepared to announce it yet.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican, who lost to Biden in the 2020 election but has refused to concede, announced his bid in November last year for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Gregarious, charming, twinkly of eye and usually wearing his trademark beret at a rakish angle, Olsen had an insatiable love of life, women, literature, food and wine. A prodigious work ethic meant he painted until his tenth decade, his energy and creativity undimmed by age. One of a handful of Australian artists to be a genuine household name, his work was represented in all state gallery collections, the national collection in Canberra and regional galleries across the country. John Henry Olsen was born on January 21, 1928, in Newcastle, the first child of Henry Harry Olsen, a clothes buyer, and Esma (nee McCubbin), a tailor. His sister Pamela was born in 1934, shortly before the family moved to Bondi. The Spanish Encounter, 1960 by John Olsen. He grew up in the shadow of the Depression, in a house without books, music or art, although he loved to draw on any paper that he could find, including his mothers cookery books. When Harry, who suffered psychological damage fighting in World War I, returned home, he tried to banish his demons by drinking and gambling, later becoming destitute and dying in hospital in 1976. The unhappy atmosphere rubbed off on John in the form of a stutter, although he remained close to his mother, who died at the age of 90.

He left St Josephs College in Hunters Hill at just 15 and after various small jobs, became a freelance cartoonist before signing up at Dattilo-Rubbos Art School in Rowe Street. This then led him to the Julian Ashton School in 1946, where he met all the people who had been waiting for me. Studying under his artistic father John Passmore, he quickly became part of Sydneys smart set, who gathered in the Assembly Hotel to discuss art and philosophy and read poetry. (Poetry would become a lifelong love and he often started a days work by reading a few verses first.) He also attended East Sydney Technical College (now the National Art School). Its so good for people to know Australia is not just about gum trees. John Olsen in 2013, when his painting Sydney Sun was selected for an exhibition of Australian art to be shown in London In 1949, he married teacher Mary Flower and their daughter Jane was born in 1953. Mary would later become a lawyer with the Council for Civil Liberties and a secretary to the Australia Party, while Jane grew up to be a teacher, designer and artist. Olsen launched his career as an artist in an austere, disapproving 1950s Sydney, a time when the city had only two art galleries (one of them inside David Jones). He railed against the status quo and when the conservative artist William Dargie won the Archibald Prize for the eighth time in 1952, Olsen led the exasperated protesters outside the Art Gallery of NSW. The Herald, appalled at their insolence, published a story about the demonstration with the headline: They wore corduroy trousers. Most of the men had beards and long hair.

His debut solo exhibition was held at Macquarie Galleries in 1955 and in the same year, the family moved to Melbourne, where he taught, and socialised with artists such as Charles Blackman. His work entered a state gallerys collection for the first time (all followed over the next decade), when the National Gallery of Victoria purchased Sydney Waterfront in 1956. When his marriage to Mary ended he moved back to Sydney alone and immersed himself in the arts scene, where friends included Russell Drysdale and Robert Klippel. He was part of the Direction 1 group exhibition, considered a landmark in Sydneys acceptance of new artistic ideas. John Olsens second wife Valerie (centre) with their children Louise and Tim in 1983. It was probably also influential in businessman Robert Shaws decision to sponsor Olsen on a three-year trip to Europe. After spells in Cornwall and London, he headed to Paris where he found himself in an exciting world which was quite wonderful for a little Aussie bleeder although he was too shy to introduce himself to the sculptor Giacometti when he bumped into him in the cafes of Montparnasse. He mainly lived on the island of Mallorca, in Deia, the same village as the poet and writer Robert Graves, who became a friend. It was cheap to live in Spain, still recovering from the civil war, and the Mediterranean culture of good food, wine and sunlight appealed to this romantic soul, and became an enduring influence on his life and work. During this time he taught himself to cook from Elizabeth David books and had two stints as an apprentice chef.

Returning to Sydney in 1960, Olsen was recognised as a leading young artist, his You Beaut Country series sending his career rocketing. Life as a leading young artist was not particularly lucrative, though, and he kept teaching at institutions including East Sydney Technical College. It was there that he met the beautiful Valerie Strong, a talented artist herself. They married in 1961. Their son Timothy was born the following year, followed by daughter Louise in 1964. Tim became a successful art dealer and Paddington gallery owner, who represented his father. Louise later was an artist and designer and co-founded Dinosaur Designs, famed for its colourful homewares and bold resin jewellery. Olsen with his 2005 Archibald Prize-winning Self-portrait Janus-faced. Credit: Robert Pearce The family lived in a bright weatherboard cottage on Cliff Street in Watsons Bay which was alive with the sound of laughter, with friends such as Robert Hughes, Barry Humphries, Donald Friend and William Dobell dropping by to carouse and set the world to rights. Ever restless and eager to immerse himself in his beloved landscape, Olsen also took his family to live in Dural, north-west of Sydney, and to artist Clifton Pughs Victorian bush property, where he enjoyed working outdoors with peers including Fred Williams. Drawn back to Europe, the family lived in Portugal for two years, before returning to Sydney, where Olsen opened the influential Bakery Art School in Paddington.

In 1980, he left Valerie to live with printmaker Noela Hjorth near Adelaide. They married in 1986 but within a year the relationship had ended. In 1988 he married farmer Katharine Howard, with whom he lived in a 13-hectare Southern Highlands property, until she died in 2016. Loading In 1977, Olsen received the Order of the British Empire for services to art and was awarded the Order of Australia and the Centenary Medal in 2001. In 2005, when he won the Archibald Prize for his painting Self Portrait Janus Faced, he said Janus has the ability to look backwards and forwards and, when you get to my age, you have a hell of a lot to think about. There was a certain irony in winning the Archibald, the prize he had protested about in his youth, and dismissed as a chook raffle in 1990. A trustee of the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of NSW, he had the unusual honour of having a new Melbourne hotel named after him in 2010. The Olsen features hundreds of his prints and several original paintings, including an 18-metre-square commission painted when he was 81. Blessed with remarkable longevity, Olsen made sure he made the most of his time on earth.
An Australian-Russian group has denounced a Moscow propagandist as a disposable pawn of the Kremlin after he called on Vladimir Putins army to trade him for Australians captured in Ukraine.

But the Aussie Cossack holed up in Sydneys Russian consulate says he is trying to keep Australians from being executed on the battlefield.

Simeon Boikov, known by his online moniker Aussie Cossack, has been hiding out in the consulate since a Sydney court issued an arrest warrant in December. He was on parole for breaching a suppression order and wanted for the alleged assault of a pro-Ukrainian protester when he sought asylum.

Russian-Australian Ilya Fomin (main picture) has denounced Simeon Boikov (inset) for calling on Russia to trade him for captured Australians in Ukraine. Credit: James Brickwood, Dominic Lorrimer

Svoboda Alliance, a Russian community group, was disturbed to hear Boikov issue a plea to the commander of the loathed Wagner Group to orchestrate a prisoner swap under which he would be exchanged for a captured Australian.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to miss NATO summit, reports say

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The body of a missing retired Brisbane teacher was dumped in a wheelie bin, picked up by a rubbish truck and taken to a waste site, police believe.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said investigators had narrowed down where the body of Lesley Trotter, 78, may be, and were treating her death as suspicious.

Lesley Trotter, 78, went missing from her Toowong home on March 28. Credit: QPS

Police said they did not have a suspect.

Ongoing investigations can reveal that on the morning of March 28 this year, the body of a female we believe was Lesley Trotter was located in a general waste wheelie bin situated on Maryvale Street, Toowong, near to where she resides.
A Liberal MP is calling on the Coalition parties to consider competing against each other in more seats in a strategic move that he says will boost the conservatives chances of winning elections.

Under the plan, the Coalition agreement would be rewritten to allow for three-cornered contests when there is a strategic advantage.

Mornington MP Chris Crewther wants the Liberal and National parties to consider updating the Coalition agreement to allow more three-cornered contests. Credit: Eamon Gallagher

Former federal MP Chris Crewther, who now represents the seat of Mornington in state parliament, told The Age Labor had been smart and strategic with preferencing, which had allowed it to hoover up support from left-leaning minor parties.

He believes that by allowing both the Liberal and National parties to run candidates, they could preference each other on how-to-vote cards and boost the chances of a Coalition candidate winning the seat. Currently, three-cornered contests are usually only permitted when a sitting Coalition MP retires.
Residents of Kyneton and Malmsbury in Victorias Macedon Ranges will be without safe drinking water for days after a water main burst in the supply network, leading authorities to warn residents to boil tap water before consumption.

Coliban Water said in a statement that a water main burst on Rennick Avenue, Kyneton, late on Tuesday evening.

A burst water main in Kyneton has prompted a boil-water notice.

The burst caused a supply interruption for some Kyneton residents and very low pressure for others, potentially contaminating the system.

The regional water corporation, after consulting the Victorian health department, advises all Kyneton and Malmsbury customers  about 8500 people  to boil their drinking and cooking water until further notice. A VicEmergency alert says a water quality alert is likely to be in place for several days.
Western nations came to the aid of his country when Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky famously said, The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride. And Australia was at the forefront, providing arms and money. Regrettably, we seem unable to organise delivery of a much-needed light, armoured four-wheel-drive to help Ukraine fight the Russians.

Addressing the Lowy Institute on Tuesday Defence Force Chief General Angus Campbell noted how Zelenskys words had galvanised his nation and given them the will to resist, sacrifice and endure. But they also needed capability.

Ukraine wants Australian-made Hawkei four wheel drives for its fight against Russia.

To this end, the Ukrainians have been asking Australia for 30 Hawkei vehicles for months but not one has been sent. Reportedly this is because the army is not keen on dispatching them to war until it had signed off on their suitability, and because the Albanese government has denied repeated requests.

Australia so far has provided Ukraine with more than $655 million in support, including $510 million in military assistance. Last April, less than two months after Russia invaded, Australia sent the first of 60 Bushmasters requested by Ukraine. By September 40 vehicles had been delivered. That same month the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, urged the Albanese government to rapidly provide more military support to Ukraine. He said he would like Australia to provide a supply of anti-ship missiles known as Harpoons, as well as the additional Bushmasters, 30 Hawkei four-wheel drives and howitzer long-range weapons he has already requested.
Youve seen Kings Park, made a splash at Cottesloe Beach and got your selfie with a quokka; now its time to see what else there is to do.
Dear Editor,

~We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice, not in love with publicity but in love with humanity - Martin Luther King Jr.~



On 30th December 2022, the Ministry of Justice published the press release: Governor requires total sum calculation prior to signing legal position regulation. This release has two critical statements, and I quote,



"With the approved Ministry of Justice Function Book of December 2021, the draft Legal Position Regulation for the Police of Sint Maarten currently pending approval and signature from His Excellency Governor Ajamu Baly, and the start of the placement process of the personnel of the Ministry".



"Once the draft Legal Position Regulation is approved by Governor Baly, and finally by Minister Richardson, the decrees for police personnel stating the new salary scale and step of each concerning civil servant will be drafted and formalized. This final step will then enable the Function Book of December 2021, to be ratified and established".



Note: In the former Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. Eugene B. Holiday, address delivered on the occasion of the opening of the parliamentary year 2022-2023, mentioned that an important priority of the Government is the ongoing work to complete legislation regulating the legal position of the personnel in the justice chain, in general, and of the police, in particular.



The function book can only be approved if the financial consequences are known. There are inconsistencies, for instance, when it comes to scaling. A civil servant cannot be paid higher in a department of the Justice Ministry and lower in another department for the same function in the rest of the Government. The same should also apply to the position of a section head. A section head within the Ministry of Justice should not earn more than a section head within the rest of the Government. It is inequity. Some functions in the function book need a function description and adjustment of specific job titles. Justice Ministry needs to fix all these and other inconsistencies in addition to the financial consequences. Only then can the Minister of Justice resubmit the final revised draft to His Excellency Governor Mr. Ajamu G. Baly. LL.M. Only when he receives those corrected documents and signs them off will the Ministry of Justice have an approved function book and then be able to implement it.



As a former bank worker, the Minister of Justice has deemed it fit to include Compliance positions within the function book. The Government apparatus already has specific laws, regulations, policies, and procedures that ensure civil servants adhere to them. Has she created these positions to give more of her former bank colleagues and friends jobs? After all, with the emergence of digital banking platforms, jobs are slowly becoming obsolete in the banking sector.



They have also created the Facilities Worker function in several departments within the Ministry of Justice. At the same time, there is already a general Facilities Services department within the Ministry of General Affairs that handles all the building maintenance, etc., for the Government.



Sint Maarten has gained country status within the Kingdom of The Netherlands for almost thirteen years. There is no approved Function Book for several departments within the Ministry of Justice nor an approved Legal Position Regulation for the Police of Sint Maarten (KPSM), the Immigration and Border Patrol (IBP), the Customs Department, and the Coast Guard of Sint Maarten. Still, by order of the Minister of Justice, the placement committee has sent placement offer letters to some Justice workers of several departments. In these letters, the justice workers are informed, among other things, to notify the HR department of the Ministry of Justice if they need to correct the information in their placement offer letters. They should do this within 30 days. The letter further states that this correction notification should not be seen as an appeal according to the "Landsverordening Sociaal Statuut Opbouw Land Sint Maarten".

During this placement process, each justice worker can appeal the placement decision. How can the staff appeal to the placement decision when there is no approved Function Book of the Ministry of Justice nor an approved Legal Position Regulation for the Police of Sint Maarten (KPSM), the Immigration and Border Patrol (IBP), the Customs Department and the Coast Guard of Sint Maarten?



The placement committee has two members who are crucial in this placement process. They are Mr. Alvin Daal and Ms. Florence Marlin.

Mr. Alvin Daal, who has a contract with the Ministry of Justice as a consultant, is also the chairman of the placement committee and advisor on HR restructuring to the Minister of Justice. The National Decree (LB) Minister Richardson granted to Mr. Daal gives him the legal basis to function as a consultant. When was this national decree issued, and what is the content? Does it give him the right to be a placement committee member and sign official personnel documents? Why didn't the Minister of Justice sign those placement offer letters?

In her last parliamentary public meeting, Minister Richardson stated that the signatures on the placement offer letters look digitalized to the Justice workers. She continued to try to explain that when she came into the organization, the immigration system was not digitalized. Every Friday, she would sit signing hundreds of permits by hand, which gets tiring, and she would then structure herself digitally so that the signature is digitalized. This only confirms that the Minister has a digital signature. The Minister could have easily signed the placement offer letters herself. This would not be tiring, seeing that she has a digital signature.

It should be noted that all signatures on each placement offer letter are identical copies of the other, which means they are digital. This makes it very dangerous because the letters are susceptible to fraud.

Minister Richardson also stated on the floor of parliament that Mr. Daal would assist the Ministry, and only his per diem is covered when he comes to Sint Maarten. Is Mr. Daal then working for free? Currently, Mr. Daal is a civil servant from Curaao with the Ministry of Health Environment and Nature and owner of the sole proprietorship AD Change Facilitators B.V. registered in Curaao while working from his home for the Ministry of Justice. He never lived or resided in Sint Maarten. Mr. Daal exhibits superiority and always shows a lack of respect toward locals and belittles them. It was once rumored that Mr. Daal said that the majority of Sint Maarten's civil servants are unqualified for their present positions. The Minister of Justice later debunked this comment in a statement in the press. Mr. Alvin Daal has caused restructuring issues in Curaao. Does he now have the same agenda for Sint Maarten?

In an article earlier this year, Minister Richardson introduced Ms. Florence Marlin as HR Senior Policy Advisor. The Minister placed Ms. Marlin as Head of Human Resources and (acting) Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice. It is unconstitutional for a person to hold three positions simultaneously. Does Ms. Marlin have a national decree to execute the three functions? With that said, anyone with the position of (acting) Secretary-General needs to follow the proper recruitment procedure, including screening, a police report, and the Council of Ministers (CoM) approval to gain insight into crucial documents.

Another person of interest is Mrs. Grace Marlin-Blijden. She also has a contractual agreement with the Ministry and oversees all the personnel affairs. Once again, there is a person the Minister of Justice has put in a position without following the proper recruitment procedures that the Government of Sint Maarten requires. These actions are blatant mismanagement of the Ministry and clearly violate any code of conduct. It goes without saying that this Minister of Justice lacks integrity.

Are these placement offer letters, signed by Mr. Alvin Daal and Ms. Florence Marlin, valid?

Where is the Prime Minister, Ms. Silveria E. Jacobs, and her Cabinet (The Council of Ministers) in this? Isn't this a task of the Government of Sint Maarten? After all, all of the function books are the responsibility of the Government of Sint Maarten (Council of Ministers and the Governor of Sint Maarten).



In addition to the police officers and support staff of KPSM, certain persons within the National Detectives (Landsrecherche) and Border Patrol and Mobile Unit from Immigration, and other justice workers of the different departments within the Justice Ministry are also entitled to retroactive payments. Financially these Justice workers have also been negatively affected by this long trajectory due to years of overdue rectifications.



The same press release of 30th December 2022 mentions that the Ministry of Justice has consulted the company Antek IT Solutions to retrieve historical data of all employees. Minister Richardson further states in the parliamentary public meeting of mid-March 2023 that the company will use this information to calculate the payments for justice workers. The calculation process includes gathering sensitive information so that Government can indicate what each person is rightfully due. It relies on the staff going into the history, which is supported by Antek IT Solutions, who provide the system for the Government of Sint Maarten's payroll, working with Wages and Salaries (Loon & Salarissen) and even getting bank statements to confirm what had been issued prior to any further payments.

The Ministry of Justice also has a working agreement with Computec IT Services and IT Consulting, which now has access to sensitive information at the Admittance and Residence department. Isn't this the same company involved in the fraud case against the embattled former head of the general ICT department? Is it wise for a third party to have access to Government confidential data? Once again, sensitive information is in the hands of third parties, which can be detrimental to the Ministry and Government of Sint Maarten.



Outsourcing government services to private contractors is causing the Government more money than would be the case if those responsible sectors could receive the needed resources and qualified staff to do the work. This dip in the country's budget contributes to the need for more available funds for other vital matters. The unnecessary spending over the past years has placed this country in a difficult financial position where budget cuts have to occur. These cuts have been and will continue to affect civil servants' productivity, but not the ministers and their cabinet staff, for the ministers and their staff come and go while civil servants remain. How can outsourcing not be a hefty cost for the budget of the Government of Sint Maarten, as stated in Minster Richardson's last parliamentary public meeting on 5th April 2023?



While the Council of Ministers got new service telephones recently, some departments within the Ministry of Justice urgently need service telephones to carry out their daily duties. This is also the case with service vehicles in several departments within the Ministry of Justice.



In the history of the Government of Sint Maarten, this Minister of Justice has the worst cabinet staff to date. A few of her cabinet staff left the cabinet, leaving over with only a few people. Presently, her cabinet is occupied by young, unqualified staff clueless about what the job entails. This Minister has gone as far as unofficially allowing cabinet staff members to perform work in sectors of the Ministry that require the proper recruitment procedures.

The Minister of VROMi, Mr. Egbert J. Doran, is also being accused of similar types of nepotism and cronyism. Isn't he the former Minister of Justice, who the present Minister of Justice blamed for the calculation delay in her last parliamentary public meeting on Thursday, 5th April 2023? Was the deadline of 31st March 2023 set by Mr. Cor Merx, the NAPB's Union lawyer, the reason Minister Richardson issued the placement offer letters before the approval of the Function Book and Legal Position Regulation?



How can the Minister of Justice claim that the function book is approved when it is not? Is it possible that this Minister will rush this complex process because there is less than a year left for her to be in office? Why have so many civil servants received placement offer letters that need correction? There are too many discrepancies in the function book for it to be an approved Function Book, as is claimed by the Minister of Justice.

Minister Richardson felt confident about sending the package, which included the function book, the legal position regulation, and remuneration, to the Governor's Cabinet because two million guilders were reserved on the budget. It is clear that the package that was sent to the Governor's Cabinet was returned unapproved. This is the final place where advice and proposals are evaluated in accordance with the prevailing rules and agreements. The Minister of Justice reiterated in the parliamentary public meeting on 5th April 2023 that a National Decree Containing General Regulations (Landsbesluit, houdende algemene maatregelen - LBham) establishes a legal position regulation. A National Decree (LB) establishes the salary scales and enacts an approved function book.

In conclusion, the issued placement offer letters are not valid.



This Minister, Anna E. Richardson, is the most controversial Minister the Ministry of Justice has ever had. Everyone can reflect on her behavior in her outburst with the police and immigration officers outside the Government Administration Building when she first took office in 2020. Her attitude in parliament towards the Members of Parliament is also very demeaning. She has had encounters with the Ministry of Justice staff members where her behavior was very unprofessional, especially for someone holding a high-ranking position. Of all the Ministers of Justice, she has suspended and fired more staff members for personal feelings. The Minister of Justice uses many departments within the Ministry as tools for her personal agenda.



The entire Government of Sint Maarten has created an atmosphere of disgruntled civil servants who have dedicated many years to having very limited resources while being underpaid.

NAME WITHHELD UPON REQUEST.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Just before the Easter break, the much anticipated mutual agreement, establishing an adjusted form of cooperation in executing the 2020 country package became a fact, MP Wescot stated over the Easter weekend.

This agreement, which was shrouded in secrecy was signed off on April 4th by representatives of the 4 countries of the Dutch Kingdom.

I still have serious reservations regarding this type of agreement between the Sint Maarten government and the Dutch government for the simple reason that there are no restrictions to this type of agreement, MP Wescot continued. And overzealous governments can quickly sign off without consideration for our democratic status.

Case in point is the mutual agreement of the country package 2020. That mutual agreement between the governments actually sanctioned the COHO institution by kingdom law. This act by the governments would have been illegal.

By letter of January 26 last, I had asked the prime minister of St. Maarten to ensure that at least the following was enshrined in the recent mutual agreement, that the parliament of St. Maarten is consulted on the draft mutual agreement before its final approval; that in this mutual agreement, it is made clear how disputes, misunderstandings, etc. are settled; that capacity building is realistically incorporated, and that the period of engagement is crystal clear.

In analyzing this signed mutual agreement for the execution of the country package, I note that especially the period of engagement is indeed clear ( 4 years), with possible earlier termination and possible extension, MP Wescot continued.

The debate will continue whether an agreement between governments can bind countries the way that the governments have once again done, with effect on the multi-annual national budgets, etc.

Is this really about cooperation as per the Kingdom charter?

What it does in my opinion, the MP continued, is in effect bind the St. Maarten government to this agreement with the Netherlands, and it institutes its own checks and balances between the governments of the Netherlands and that of St. Maarten to ensure compliance.

So while there is an escape clause for an early opt-out, the way it is set up, one can not come to that or any other decision lightly, and while the parliaments authority as a lawmaking body is not usurped, this agreement does place the entire execution of the country package at a controlled distance.

It is therefore, in my opinion, incumbent upon parliament to execute its role as overseer even more diligently and what is interesting in this case, is how parliaments budget right can be (timely) exercised, seeing if and when the financial implications and funding of projects and programs will become known.

Additionally, as was the case with the COHO construction, financial commitments from the Netherlands regarding specific programs and projects of the country package remain vague.

And then there is always the CFT.

What we see in this latest agreement is the role of the prime minister being strengthened where the overall coordination of the country package is concerned, which in my view, given the current local political dynamics will surely cause friction and or stalling tactics. The government is already walking on eggs as it is.

And the following picture will undoubtedly emerge, St. Maarten does not have the capacity to prepare reports, studies, and the like, so that is outsourced, reports are made, recommendations are done, and the report ends up somewhere in the political twilight zone.

Is this not where the reports Spurring Entrepreneurship in St.Maarten, Education Review St. Maarten, Reform of the Crime Fund are present?

In addition, the individual ministers are tied to the country package and its implementation. So while they might think they are in the drivers seat, what ministers have to execute is already laid out in the country package. And for the biggest part, this will have to be funded from their local budgets.

Nevertheless, this latest mutual agreement is a far way from the Knops and St. Maartens agreement for the country package in 2020 and portrays a shift in thinking by the Dutch government. This begs the question of whether our present NA/UPP government has a vision where the relationship with the Netherlands is concerned at this time in our political history.

It is incumbent upon the NA/UPP coalition to be clear and forthcoming with regard to its short and medium-term vision for St. Maarten as a partner in the Dutch Kingdom, as on the basis of its own 2021 governing program, this coalition puts one major and over-arching issue to be resolved, namely the full decolonization of Sint Maarten under international law.

On April 4, we witnessed parliament moving ahead with petite committees to look at decolonization, referenda, petitions, etc., but the governing coalition nor the parties that make up this coalition has articulated a position or acted on its own governing premise as far as our position in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is concerned.

I guess this is being saved for the campaign rhetoric, that again will attempt to fool the people, and play a populist tune.

Presently the publicly available report on the implementation of the country package is over Nov 2022 - February 2023 and the publicly available implementation agenda is until June 30, 2023, MP Wescot explained.

DP leader, (UD faction), MP Sarah Wescot-Williams.
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Following on from the success of last years auction in Zurich, Ineichen returns with an exciting sale featuring a number of independent brands. The auction will take place at Genevas Hotel President Wilson from 9th to 11th May, with previewing all day on the 9th and 10th, and the sale taking place at 2 pm on the 11th with a cocktail proceeding the event. We take a look at five highlights that caught our eye.

F. P. Journe T30

This very rare limited-edition 18-karat rose gold and sterling silver tourbillon from F. P. Journe was crafted in 2014. It was part of a series of 99 pieces that were made to celebrate the brands 30th anniversary. The series was based on the design of Journes very first timekeeper, a pocket watch that he created in 1983 when he was an apprentice working for his uncle. The timepiece is powered by the Calibre 1412, which was designed especially for this reference and is a smaller version of the original pocket watch version. The T30 comes in a 40 mm officers style case with a hinged cover and a guilloche motif and was only sold to F. P. Journes most loyal clients, making it a highly desirable timepiece. Learn more here.

Starting price: CHF 250,000

Buy now for: CHF 550,000

F.P. Journe T30  F.P. Journe

Roger Dubuis Sympathie Chronograph

This Roger Dubuis chronograph from the late 1990s is one of the first timepieces produced by the brand. It is limited to 28 pieces, as was customary for all Roger Dubuis watches at the time. It comes in a rather unusual-shaped case called the Sympathie, which was Mr. Roger Dubuiss personal favourite. (Authors note: I know this because I worked with Mr. Dubuis between 2002 and 2004)! This particular model comes in 18-karat rose gold and is adorned with a cream-coloured dial with applied indexes and Breguet-style Arabic numerals. It is powered by the hand-wound RD56 movement that was certified by the Poincon de Geneve and comes with a Besancon Observatory Chronometer certificate. There seems to be a growing affection for these early Roger Dubuis pieces (which I also know because I am the owner of a 1999 Much More model that I am constantly complimented on)! Learn more here.

Starting price: CHF 35,000

Buy now for: CHF 80,000

Sympathie Chronograph  Roger Dubuis

Czapek Antarctique Chrongraph Rattrapante Silver Grey

Moving to something almost brand-new is this Limited Edition Czapek Antarctique Chronograph Rattrapante Silver Grey timepiece from 2021. If you werent lucky enough to get your hands on one the first time around, this one is ready for its new owner with its stunning open-worked dial with a rhodium-plated circular-brushed peripheral ring and counters, and luminous blued steel hands. It comes in a 42.5 mm stainless steel case and is powered by the Calibre SXH6, a self-winding split-second chronograph with a 60-hour power reserve. It is fitted with an elegant integrated stainless steel bracelet and is limited to 77 pieces. Learn more here.

Starting price: CHF 30,000

Buy now for: CHF 70,000

Antarctique Chronograph Rattrapante Silver Grey  Czapek

Gerald Genta Tourbillon Sonnerie Repetition Piece Unique

The name Gerald Genta is connected to so many iconic timepieces, from Audemars Piguets Royal Oak to Patek Philippes Nautilus, IWCs Ingenieur, Cartiers Pasha, and Omegas Constellation to name a few. So, imagine owning one of the designs that he made for his own eponymous brand in the early 2000s? This one-of-a-kind highly complicated timepiece features a grand and petite sonnerie minute repeater with a Westminster chime and a tourbillon. It comes in a 41 mm, 18-karat yellow gold case with an openworked dial with spherical polished indexes and a filet saute guilloche motif. The timepiece offers a mix of Gentas designs with a round case, sword-shaped hands, Baroque crowns, and Fleurisanne engraving that all come together harmoniously in this unusual timepiece. Learn more here.

Starting price: CHF 170,000

Buy now for: CHF 400,000

Tourbillon Sonnerie Repetition  Piece Unique   Gerald Genta

Daniel Roth Chronograph Numero 7

With the resurrection of the Daniel Roth brand just this March, interest in vintage Daniel Roth timepieces will also surely rise. Daniel Roth had a glowing career, which saw him working at the bench for Audemars Piguet and Breguet, before setting up on his own in 1988. His watches are best known for their ellipsocurvex shape that would is a signature of the brand. This Chronograph Numero 7 comes in a double ellipse-shaped 18-karat yellow gold case measuring 38 mm x 41 mm and is powered by the Calibre 2220, a hand-wound chronograph movement. The dial comes in a metal tone with a faint pink glow that is adorned with a Clous de Paris guilloche pattern. Learn more here.

Starting price: CHF 45,000

Buy now for: CHF 100,000

Chronographe Numero 7  Daniel Roth

An event like this happens once a year, don't miss the opportunity to own a rare watch - take part in a live auction.
Victoria Gold: Filing of Updated Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Mine

Victoria Gold Corp. (TSX-VGCX) (aVictoriaa or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/victoria-gold-corp/ ) has filed an updated technical report on its 100% owned Eagle Gold Mine (the aReporta), as reported in the Companya?s 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 Companya?s website at www.vgcx.com or under the Companya?s 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 (aHLFa), 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 (aNPVa) 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 (aFCFa) 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 (aAISCa) 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 aQualified Persona as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About the Dublin Gulch Property

Victoria Gold\-s 100%-owned Dublin Gulch gold property (the aPropertya) is situated in central Yukon Territory, Canada, approximately 375 kilometers north of the capital city of Whitehorse, and approximately 85 kilometers from the town of Mayo. The Property is accessible by road year round, and is located within Yukon Energy\-s electrical grid.

The Property covers an area of approximately 555 square kilometers, and is the site of the Company\-s Eagle and Olive Gold Deposits. The 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 Companya?s 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 (aIFRSa), 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 aplana, aexpecta, abudgeta, atargeta, aprojecta, aintenda, abelievea, aanticipatea, aestimatea and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions amaya, awilla, acoulda or ashoulda occur, and includes any guidance and forecasts set out herein (including, but not limited to, production and operational guidance of the Corporation). In order to give such forward-looking information, the Corporation has made certain assumptions about its business, operations, the economy and the mineral exploration industry in general, in particular in light of the impact of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease (aCOVID-19a) on each of the foregoing. In this respect, the Corporation has assumed that production levels will remain consistent with managementa?s expectations, contracted parties provide goods and services on agreed timeframes, equipment works as anticipated, required regulatory approvals are received, no unusual geological or technical problems occur, no material adverse change in the price of gold occurs and no significant events occur outside of the Corporation\-s normal course of business. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made, and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information. These factors include the impact of general business and economic conditions, risks related to COVID-19 on the Company, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, anticipated metal production, fluctuating metal prices, currency exchange rates, estimated ore grades, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in accounting policies, changes in Victoria\-s corporate resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, changes in development and production time frames, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainty of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, higher prices for fuel, steel, power, labour and other consumables contributing to higher costs and general risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, final pricing for metal sales, unanticipated results of future studies, seasonality and unanticipated weather changes, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, requirements for additional capital, permitting time lines, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage and timing and possible outcomes of pending litigation and labour disputes, risks related to remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure, fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations. Although Victoria has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding Victoria\-s expected financial and operational performance and Victoria\-s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. All forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof, as the case may be, and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management of the Corporation as at the date hereof. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information contained herein and the documents incorporated by reference herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

For Further Information Contact:

John McConnell

President & CEO

Victoria Gold Corp.

Tel: 604-696-6605

ceo@vgcx.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch
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.
Kenyan investigators on Tuesday exhumed 10 more bodies from mass graves linked to a starvation cult, bringing the total number of victims to 83, an AFP journalist at the scene said, as fears grow of the toll spiking even further.
The new moon will make for a very special solar eclipse this month.

The new moon occurs April 20, at 12:12 a.m. EDT (0412 UTC), according to the U.S. Naval Observatory (opens in new tab), and will result in a rare type of solar eclipse visible from the eastern Indian Ocean, Australia, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia.

A new moon occurs when the moon is directly between the sun and Earth; from the observer's point of view, the two bodies share the same celestial longitude. (Celestial longitude is a projection of the Earth's own longitude lines on the celestial sphere). Such alignment is also called a conjunction. New moons are generally invisible from Earth unless the moon passes in front of the sun, as happens during this month's eclipse.

This solar eclipse is a hybrid eclipse, a rare type which starts as an annular eclipse, becomes total, and then transitions back to annular again. An annular eclipse is one in which the moon is in front of the sun but appears slightly smaller, leaving a ring  an annulus  of sunlight visible around it. If one observes the eclipse from the southeastern Indian Ocean, or the region near the Marshall Islands, this is the type of eclipse one will see. However the parts of the eclipse path where people are more likely to be will show a total eclipse, where the moon covers the sun completely.

Related: What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2023

Read more: Get ready for a rare hybrid solar eclipse on April 20

Top telescope pick! (Image credit: Celestron) Looking for a telescope to observe the moon or anything else in the sky? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 (opens in new tab) as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide. Don't forget a moon filter!

One place the total eclipse is visible from is Exmouth, Western Australia. The moon touches the sun at 10:04 a.m. Australia Western Standard Time (0204 UTC) and the full eclipse is at 11:29 a.m. Totality will last about 58 seconds. In Timor-Leste, the city of Lospalos, also in the path of totality, the eclipse starts at 11:46 a.m. local time, and the full eclipse begins at 1:21 p.m. Totality will last 1 minute and 7 seconds. In Indonesia, totality will be visible across the province of West Papua, though the area is sparsely populated and remote; many eclipse chasers will opt for cruises off the coast; totality will last a bit more than 1 minute depending on location.

For those not lucky enough to be in the path of totality, a partial eclipse can be seen in an area that covers all of Australia and Indonesia and much of the southern Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. The eastern part of the eclipse path crosses Micronesia and the Marshall Islands (though the path of totality doesn't make landfall  the closest it comes is to the island of Kosrae, Micronesia).

An illustration showing the shadow of the moon passing across the Earth on April 20 during a rare hybrid solar eclipse. (Image credit: Chris Vaughan Starry Night)

Observers who aren't in place for the eclipse will get a meteor shower, the Lyrids, two days after the new moon. The young moon sets within an hour or two after sunset, so there won't be any interference from the moon's light when the shower peaks on April 22-23. The Lyrids' radiant  the point where the meteors appear to come from  is in the constellation Hercules, which in the northern hemisphere gets above the eastern horizon by about 9:30 p.m. local time. By about 5 a.m. local time the constellation will be close to directly overhead (zenith), so for several hours the radiant will be easy to see.

The Lyrids produce about 10-20 meteors per hour, according to NASA (opens in new tab), and originate from the Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which has a period of about 415 years. The American Meteor Society (opens in new tab) estimates a number closer to 10 meteors per hour. Lyrids are known for being relatively fast and bright. The best observing times will be the evening of April 21 and the early hours of April 22.

Southern Hemisphere meteor watchers can see the Lyrids as well, though from Melbourne, Australia, for example, the radiant never gets above the horizon. The meteors will still be visible, though appearing to come from the north and fewer in number.

However, antipodeans will have their own meteor shower to watch  the Pi Puppids, a lesser-known shower that peaks around the same time as the Lyrids, on April 23. In mid-southern latitudes the radiant, which is in the constellation Puppis, will be at its highest point at about 6 p.m. local time, and set at about 3 a.m., according to skywatching site In-the-Sky.org (opens in new tab). The Puppids originate from a point that will be on a line roughly halfway between Sirius and Canopus, two of the brightest stars in the sky. The shower can produce up to 20 meteors per hour, but the International Meteor Society (opens in new tab) forecast is for fewer than that. The Puppid meteoroids are known to approach earth at a relatively low velocity  on the order of 9 miles per second (15 kilometers per second)  so they tend to be slower than other meteor showers.

Visible Planets

On the evening of April 20 in mid-northern latitude locations such as New York, Venus will be one of the most obvious objects in the night sky, as it is usually the first object visible as the sun sets. Sunset is at 7:40 p.m. in New York, and by 8 p.m. Venus will be bright against the twilight. By 8:30 p.m., as the stars come out, one can see Mars. Venus will be in the west, in the constellation Taurus, the Bull, about 27 degrees above the horizon. Mars will be above it and to the left, about 54 degrees high, in the constellation Gemini. The two planets can be distinguished from stars because planets tend to shine with a steady light; stars, on the other hand, tend to twinkle. Although Mercury, which is an "evening star" in April, sets at 9:04 p.m. in New York, almost an hour and a half after the sun, the planet is quite low in the sky. By 8 p.m. it is only 10 degrees above the western horizon, making it hard to spot unless one has a clear, flat horizon and favorable weather conditions.

An illustration of Venus as it will appear in the April night sky. (Image credit: Chris Vaughan Starry Night)

Other planets rise in the predawn hours. Saturn rises at 4:07 a.m. local time in New York on April 20, and the planet will be about 14 degrees high in the southeast, in the constellation Aquarius, by 5:30 a.m. Sunrise will be at 6:10 a.m.

Jupiter, meanwhile, is lost in the sunlight, as the planet rises at 6:10 a.m. on April 20.

For Southern Hemisphere sky watchers some planets will be in less favorable positions. Seeing Mercury, for example, will be difficult at best. From Cape Town, Mercury sets the evening of April 20 at 6:50 p.m. local time, while the sun sets at 6:17 p.m. Venus is easier to observe, as it is still visible to the northwest, though lower in the sky than in New York  its altitude is only about 17 degrees by 6:30 p.m. local time. Mars is above and to the right of Venus, towards the north, at about 30 degrees above the horizon.

Saturn is easier to spot from southerly latitudes, as it is higher in the sky before sunrise. From Cape Town the planet rises at 2:48 a.m. and is 32 degrees high in the northeast by 5:30 a.m.

In the days following the new moon, as the moon becomes visible after sunset, it will pass both Mercury and Venus, making close approaches (and acting as a guidepost). On April 21 at 3:05 a.m. Eastern Time, the moon will pass within just under two degrees of Mercury. When the pair becomes visible in the evening on the East Coast of the U.S., Mercury will be about 9 degrees high and the moon some 17 degrees high, with the moon appearing to be above and to the left of Mercury, and since it will be easier to see, even though it is a thin crescent, one can use it to place where Mercury is. The pair will set by about 8:58 p.m. Eastern, according to In-the-sky.org (opens in new tab).

An illustration of the night sky on April 21, 2023 showing the crescent moon above Mercury. (Image credit: Chris Vaughan Starry Night)

Two days later the moon makes a close approach to Venus (opens in new tab). For New York City observers, the close approach actually happens at 8:13 a.m. on April 23, but the moon and Venus will be easy to see in the evening; by 8 p.m. the moon will appear to be just above Venus in the west. Both will set by about 11:14 p.m.

Southern Hemisphere observers can also see it; in Cape Town the close approach is at 2:31 p.m. local time and the sun sets at 6:14 p.m. By 6:30 p.m. the two-day old moon will be low in the northwest with Venus appearing to the left of it. In this case both bodies will be below the horizon by about 8:30 p.m., per Heavens-above.com (opens in new tab) calculations.

An illustration of the night sky on April 23, 2023 showing the crescent moon above Venus. (Image credit: Chris Vaughan Starry Night)

Stars and constellations

On the night of the new moon, observers in mid-northern latitudes will see the spring constellations becoming more prominent as the bright winter star groups move into the west. By 8:30 p.m., winter sights such as Orion, Taurus, Gemini, and Canis Major will be near the western horizon. Betelgeuse, the brightest star in Orion, will still be about 30 degrees high and will be ringed by four stars and two planets to form a rough, bright hexagon. Rigel, Orion's "foot," will mark the bottom, directly below Betelgeuse and about halfway to the horizon. Moving to the left and up a few degrees one encounters Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Above Sirius at about 46 degrees is Procyon, the bright star that marks the Little Dog, Canis Minor, and moving to the right and slightly upwards one reaches Mars. Venus is below and to the right  its brightness makes it hard to miss  and just below and to the left of Venus is Aldebaran, the alpha star of Taurus the Bull, which completes our ring around Betelgeuse.

If one faces north, the Big Dipper, part of Ursa Major the Great Bear, will be high and "upside down"  it looks as though the bowl of the Dipper would pour out anything in it and the handle is facing to the right (to the east). By following the handle and making a sweeping curve one can "arc to Arcturus" and see that star almost due east. Arcturus is the brightest star in Bootes, the Herdsman, and has a distinct orange color.

A photograph of Ursa Major in the night sky. (Image credit: darekm101 via Getty Images)

Continuing the arc takes one to Spica, the bright star in Virgo. Leo is above Virgo  to find it one can once again use the Big Dipper. Using the two stars that mark the back side of the bowl  nearest the handle  trace a line southwards and the bright star on that line is Regulus, the front of Leo. Leo can be identified by a rectangle of medium-bright stars that can still be seen even in lit cities and suburbs. The bottom side of the rectangle can be extended eastward to find Denebola, which marks the Lion's tail.

In the Sothern Hemisphere, winter is approaching  April is an autumn month  and by 8 p.m. at the latitude of Cape Town or Melbourne the sun has fully set. Looking southeast one will see the Southern Cross about halfway up the sky, and below it two bright stars. The one lower to the horizon is Alpha Centauri, otherwise known as Rigil Kentaurus, and just above it is Hadar. Both are part of the Centaur, which represents Chiron, who tutored the legendary Greek heroes Heracles, Theseus and Jason.

Looking just to the southwest, close to the horizon is Achernar, which marks the end of Eridanus, the River. From the mid-southern latitudes it never sets  it is circumpolar. Looking straight above Achernar the next really bright star one sees is Canopus, or Alpha Carinae. Canopus is in Carina, the Ship's Keel. To the right of Carina is Canis Major, and to its left a large circle of stars that is Vela, the Sail. The Ship, the Sail, and the constellation Puppis, the Poop Deck, which adjoin each other, all represent the Argo, the famous ship Jason sailed with the Argonauts.

Editor's Note: If you snap an amazing picture of the new moon (or other objects during the new moon) and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photos, comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

You can follow Space.com on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) and on Facebook (opens in new tab).


The U.N. refugee agency warned Tuesday of further displacement of people from Sudan after thousands streamed into neighboring Chad and South Sudan despite a tenuous cease-fire between the two warring Sudanese generals battling for control of the country.
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A Pennsylvania candy-maker ignored warnings of a natural gas leak at its chocolate factory and bears responsibility for a subsequent explosion that killed seven workers and injured several others, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

The family of Judith Judy Lopez-Moran, a 55-year-old mother of three, filed what their lawyers called the first wrongful-death suit against R.M. Palmer Co. after the March 24 blast in West Reading.

Workers smelled natural gas that day and notified Palmer, but the 75-year-old, family-owned company did nothing, the lawsuit said.

The gas leak at the factory and the horrific explosion it caused was foreseeable, predictable, and preventable, the suit said. Tragically, Judith Lopez-Morans death and suffering were preventable.

The lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, also names gas utility UGI, which declined comment. A message was sent to Palmer seeking comment.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the explosion, which leveled a building in the factory complex and damaged several other buildings in West Reading, a small town 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia.

Federal safety officials previously confirmed they were studying the role of a natural gas pipeline in the blast. The National Transportation Safety Board has called what happened a natural gas explosion and fire, citing preliminary information from local authorities and the utility about the pipeline.

Palmer officials should have evacuated immediately after being told of the natural gas odor but instead made a representation to the factory workers, including Judith Lopez-Moran, that the factory was safe and that there was no gas leak, the suit said.

Palmer, according to the suit, intended to mislead the factory workers ... so that the factory workers would continue working and so that factory downtime would be minimized.

Patricia Borges, who survived the blast and was a friend and co-worker of Lopez-Moran, previously recounted how her arm caught fire as flames engulfed the building. She then fell through the floor into a vat of liquid chocolate. Borges told The Associated Press how she and others had complained about a natural gas odor about 30 minutes before the factory blew up.

Palmer has offered condolences but has otherwise said little since the explosion.

The law firm representing Lopez-Moran's family, Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, said it represents more than a dozen victims of the explosion.

The firm's investigation, in part, will seek to determine whether UGIs meters had signaled a leak in the pipeline and whether soil around the pipeline was discolored, indicative of a gas leak, said the familys attorney, Andrew Duffy.

We hope to use the lawsuit to find out exactly what our family wants us to find out, which is what happened, who should be held accountable, and most important to them, how to prevent this from happening to any other family ever again, Duffy said in an interview.
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After a few weeks of R&R, the Mystic Aquarium deemed a baby seal named Northlands ready to head back to the sea.

A crowd gathered on Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown, R.I. on April 11, their eyes trained on wristwatches, waiting for them to hit 8:05 a.m. when the guest of honor was due to make his appearance. At the appointed time, a door slid open on a kennel and after a bit of hesitation, Northlands, a four-month-old gray seal pup, made his way onto the sand and towards the Atlantic. Dipping into the waves, he turned back to stare at the crowd before swimming further out.

Northlands was discovered out of habitat on Bermudas Clearwater Beach on Feb. 18. The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) rescued the pup, who was malnourished and dehydrated, weighing a scant 26 pounds.

Its unusual for any seal to end up in Bermuda, much less than one thats just five weeks old, Sarah Callan, manager of Mystic Aquariums Animal Rescue Program, said.

Saving the pup required an international effort that involved the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bermudas government, the Bermuda Aquarium, CargoJet, and Northlandss ultimate destination: Mystic Aquarium. He arrived at the Mystic facility on March 20.

Bob Lee/ Contributed photo Bob Lee/ Contributed photo Bob Lee/ Contributed photo Bob Lee/ Contributed photo The Mystic Aquarium released their rescue seal Northlands on April 11 at Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown, R.I. (Photo: Bob Lee/ Contributed photo)

During his time at the aquarium, Northlands recovered and doubled in weight.

Our goal is to get them back to their natural habitat as quickly as possible. Callan said. She was on site at Blue Shutters Beach and opened the door for Northlandss return to the Atlantic.

Though he may have bid the Mystic Aquarium staff adieu, theyll be keeping tabs on Northlands.

Hes wearing a satellite tag so we can monitor his movementsshowing this location, as well as the depths to which hes diving, Callan said.

The satellite tag's battery lasts about three months, supplying vital data that can help marine research in myriad ways.

Bob Lee/ Contributed photo

With the ocean environment changing so rapidly, any data we can get from these animals, from their distribution to where they're going, is critical, Callan said. It allows us to learn more about the species and population as a whole.

Where might Northlands head from Rhode Island? Callan has seen a trend amongst rescued seals after their release. Generally, theyll go up to the Cape and sometimes up north, she said. Weve also had a couple of seals that have gone down south to Delaware and beyond. Her hypothesis, Theyre probably going where the food is. Their travels tell us a lot about food resources in areas.

Northlands release falls during Earth Month, an annual focus that concentrates the worlds attention on being kinder to the planet. Callan hopes these efforts extend beyond April, especially for creatures like Northlands.

Its vital that we keep our oceans clean, sustainable, healthy environments for these animals to live in and thrive, she said.
Connecticut State Police

On April 8, Connecticut State Police rescued an injured bald eagle on the eastbound part of I-84 near the Vernon-Tolland town line. A couple of days later, the animal had to be euthanized due to the extent of its injuries.

According to the State Police's Facebook post, the troopers located the downed eagle and transported it to Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation in Ashford, Connecticut. Horizon Wings received the bald eagle, which was presumably hit by a car, and concluded that it had head trauma and a broken foot. Due to the extent of the injuries, the rehabilitation center sent the eagle to Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Massachusetts.
STAMFORD  A New York woman allegedly tried to purchase an $80,000 Ford using a fake ID, according to city police.

Victoria Mendez, 34, was arrested on charges of attempt to commit first-degree larceny, attempt to commit first-degree identity theft, first-degree forgery and interfering with police following a report of attempted fraud on April 7 at the Ford dealership on Magee Avenue.

Stamford Assistant Police Chief Richard Conklin said police officers responded to the dealership around 7 p.m. that day.

According to Conklin, a sales associate said a woman identified as Mendez came into the shop, said she was a doctor from Mississippi and that she was interested in purchasing a car.

The staff grew suspicious with some of the statements she made, and they did research and found out Mendez was trying to use a fake ID and pretending to be someone else, Conklin said.

She was still in the dealership when police arrived and she was taken into custody at that time, police said.

Assistant States Attorney Margaret Moscati said during Mendezs arraignment Monday that she had been attempting to purchase a car valued at $80,000. She did not say what type of model the car was.

Conklin said Mendez, of Queens, N.Y., is facing similar charges in multiple different states.

On Monday, Judge Kevin Randolph set a bond of $35,000 on Mendez. She is next expected to appear in court on June 14.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australia suspended a complaint to the World Trade Organization in a bid to reopen the Chinese market to Australian barley for the first time in three years in the new governments latest step toward repairing relations with Beijing.

China effectively closed it doors to Australian barley in May 2020 by imposing an 80% tariff after the previous Australian government angered Beijing by calling for an independent inquiry into the origins of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous conservative government responded by challenging the tariff in the Geneva-based trade body.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her center-left Labor Party government, which was elected in May, had reached an agreement with China that creates a pathway for the resolution of the dispute over Australian barley.

China had agreed to review its duties on the grain over three or four months, she said, and Australia will temporarily suspend the WTO dispute during that review period.

Obviously, if the duty is not lifted at the end of the review period, well resume our dispute in the WTO, Wong said. She said the Chinese review offered a significantly shorter time frame to resolve the dispute than the WTO offered.

The Chinese Embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The Australian government revealed the agreement a day after China's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu will visit Australia and Fiji this week.

Ma plans to hold a new round of political consultations with Australian officials, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday during a regular media briefing.

Official and unofficial trade barriers are costing Australian exporters an estimated $14 billion a year in products including beef, seafood and wood. Trade Minister Don Farrell said Australia hoped the review would become a template for resolving other trade disputes with China, particularly over wine. While barley growers have found other markets, Australian wine producers have struggled to find alternative buyers after China imposed trade barriers in late 2020.

Australia has denied Chinas claims that it was subsidizing wine to export it at artificially low prices.

Grain Producers Australia, which represents barley exporters, welcomed the new agreement.

This process to reach a resolution would be significantly shorter than if the WTO process continued, Grain Producers Australian chair Barry Large said in a statement.

We welcome the Labor governments constructive dialogue and positive progress towards stabilizing the relationship with China, and creating this process and opportunity to recommence the barley trade, Large said.

In February, Australian and Chinese trade ministers held their first bilateral meeting since 2019, showing signs of improved relations since the previous government was voted out after nine years in power.

During the online exchange, Farrell accepted his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentaos invitation to visit China. A date has yet to be set.

In December, Wong became the first Australian foreign minister to visit China in four years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised his concerns about trade in November when he took part in the first formal bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping by an Australian government leader since 2016.

China recently lifted trade restrictions on Australian coal that were first imposed in late 2020.

___

Find more of APs Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
Southern parents often burden their children with an outsized sense of politesse  of the sir, maam, and butter-wouldnt-melt-in-my-mouth variety. Youre trained so well that if someone backs a truck over your foot while theyre telling you a story, you wait for the story to end and then politely ask that person to move their vehicle.

People who are considered vulnerable  or, dare I say it, inferior  are expected to observe these mannerly rules most particularly. Doing so can smooth out rough edges.

When Georgia-born future Supreme Court associate justice Clarence Thomas entered Yale Law School in 1971, his wardrobe included bib overalls and suspenders. Bill Clinton, of Arkansas, was a year ahead of him, and in their own ways, these two Southern men carved out a place among the Gothic granite elite.

Last week, on the day ProPublica released a bombshell report listing Justice Thomass undisclosed gifts from a wealthy GOP megadonor who also collects Nazi memorabilia, Republicans in the Tennessee state house discussed expelling three state representatives  two Black, one white, and we all know who was kicked out and we all know why.

It was anything but a slow news week. We learned that Ginni Thomas and her husband traveled far from overalls and now share a love for the finer things. And we learned that disclosing Harlan Crows gifts was literally the least Thomas could have done. Not accepting those gifts  as any magistrate knows  would have been a better choice, but with no formal Supreme Court ethics code and scant oversight, members of the highest court appear to be winging it. In 2004, when the Los Angeles Times started sniffing around Thomass collection of swag, the justice did not reign in his kingly appetite. He simply stopped disclosing the gifts.

I didnt know is not a defense, though Thomas trotted that out fairly quickly. We have come to expect this from Thomas  shirking responsibility, followed by an angry offense. During his 1991 confirmation hearings, we believed Anita Hill when she said hed sexually harassed her. But to Thomas, questions about his questionable behavior were strictly a high-tech lynching, a cringe-worthy phrase he used to brazenly align his pique with the horror and impact of very real lynchings.

Meanwhile, a live feed from Tennessees capitol allowed us to watch a wall of white privilege presented by GOP state representatives who one after the other chastised two Black legislators for being  whats that word, Justice Thomas?  uppity. The three representatives in question had the temerity to reflect the frustration of their constituents over that august bodys inaction after six people  including three 9-year-olds  were killed in a Nashville school shooting. Were not gonna fix it, said one, and the Tennessee GOP, hand to pearls, found itself more offended by a floor-of-the-House protest than by children shot dead in a school.

You already know legislators voted (barely) to let one of the representatives  Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville  stay. Later, she said what we also already knew, that the decision was based on skin color. It is good to be white, and Rep. Johnson is a 60-year-old white woman. The two state representatives who were booted  Justin Jones and Justin Pearson  are both young (younger than 30), gifted, and Black. The men gave soaring speeches in their own defense that only further angered the Boss Hoggs anxious to gavel down and get home for Easter ham. The Hoggs then took to social media to wish their constituents a Blessed Good Friday, but it was hard to take that seriously.

Jones organized a 62-day sit-in after the killing of George Floyd. Pearson helped create a nonprofit to fight against a Memphis pipeline that was supposed to run under wetlands and through predominantly Black neighborhoods. The men are savvy, and perhaps their expulsions wont last long. Commissioners who will appoint their replacements say both of them are in the running, despite those commissioners being threatened with a loss of state funds should Reps. Jones and Pearson return to their rightful seats.

I wonder how the Tennessee GOP would like to see federal funding dry up while they decide whether they want to live in a democracy or go full-bore slavocracy. Meanwhile, I wonder where Associate Justice Thomas will go for his next fabulous (free) vacation.

A political party that harbors insurrectionists, the insurrection-adjacent, and hogs at the trough couldnt abide a protest against their own inaction against gun violence. These are the politics of revenge, and if thats how its going to play out, I have a list of Connecticut state politicians Id like to see expelled because I dont like them very much. Is that how were doing things now?

Of course it isnt. Instead, we will take a page from the thousands of protesters who flooded into Nashville last week. Many of them were young, and delightfully unburdened by politesse. You could hear their chants from the hall  Fascist! Fascist! They didnt waste time with decorum or manners. They mobilized. They got loud. It was beautiful.
N ew Cineworld court documents reveal that it may not remain in business long enough to make it out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Cineworld filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year, and looked set to exit after agreeing a deal with its creditors. As announced last week, that agreement allowed creditors to take full control of the business with shareholders getting wiped out.

This set a path for the cinema chain to exit bankruptcy proceedings, which it said it hoped to do in the first half of this year.

Documents filed by Cineworld today in a Texas bankruptcy court, though, revealed that Cineworld could not guarantee that it could stay alive until the plan is complete and it can exit Chapter 11.

The documents noted that Cineworld and its subsidiaries face uncertainty regarding the adequacy of their liquidity and capital resources, which is intensified by the fact that they operate in a capital-intensive industry, while also racking up legal fees related to the bankruptcy proceedings.

Cineworld went on to say that if its cash flow remains at the current depressed levels, it would be difficult to take any action that would lead to improvement. It said it was therefore a possibiity that its cash flow may not be sufficient to fund its operations until it can emerge from bankruptcy protection.

The company - which also owns Picturehouse and has 24 London sites - could not provide assurance that further funding would be available to keep the company alive if that happens.

The Debtors access to additional financing is, and for the foreseeable future likely will continue to be, extremely limited if it is available at all, it said.

Cineworld still expects to be able to exit Chapter 11 in the first half of this year though, and said that it is working to confirm the rescue plan on an expeditious timeline. However, it noted that a sale of its operations outside of the US, UK and Ireland could potentially push the exit date back.

Until then, it will continue to operate its business as usual.

The collapse of Cineworld came after the Covid-19 pandemic left its venues closed for much of 2020 and 2021, and the impact of the pandemic slowed the release calendar for blockbusters after reopening.

It said it was looking to sell itself at the start of this year and rival Vue reportedly made a bid for its assets.
T odays figures showing a dearth of new London stock market floats are plainly concerning.

Initial public offerings are deemed to be the heartbeat of the City, a sign that theres action in the wider economy and that London retains its status as a reliable place for entrepreneurs seeking capital.

But some context here: for a start floats are down nearly everywhere. EYs own figures show that global IPO volumes fell 45% year-on-year in 2022 (and deal values by 61%).

So while theres irritation that the Citys listing reforms arent being pushed through fast enough, some of the concern is just Brits doing what we do best  talking ourselves down.

And we have short memories. Post-pandemic, floats were off the charts as cool-sounding businesses such as Darktrace and The Hut Group raised billions.

Mathew Moulding, founder of THG, later said he regretted taking his business public in London. So do we all chief  the stock is now 65p compared with an offer price of 500p.

In fact, tech floats raised 6.6 billion in 2021, most from investors now sitting on very burnt fingers and vowing that they wont get fooled again. New floats arent always good.

If you look beneath the bonnet of the City, at private equity, at the insurance market, at law firms, they are all doing just fine.

Daily moves in the market and fresh stock market floats are sexy, they catch the eye. They are just a small part of what the Square Mile is about, and in the long run a bit of caution here and there always turns out to have been a good thing.
P eace comes dropping slow, wrote the poet William Butler Yeats. And even when peace does come, it must be nurtured and vigilantly protected like a vulnerable sapling.

Yesterdays violence in the Creggan area of Londonderry, in which dissident republicans pelted police officers with missiles including petrol bombs, was a graphic illustration of the continued fragility of the peace settlement in Northern Ireland  even as the province prepared for this weeks commemorative events to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998.

President Biden is expected to arrive this evening for a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. He will be joined by Rishi Sunak, President Clinton, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and party leaders from across the political spectrum.

A quarter of a century after the settlement was negotiated it continues to hold  undoubtedly, a remarkable achievement.

Yet it would be a stretch to say that Northern Irelands democratic institutions and civic society have matured and been entrenched as many hoped in 1998. The devolved assembly has been suspended since the DUP pulled out of power-sharing in February last year  a pattern that has become dangerously familiar over the years.

No less striking, however, is the extent to which the world outside Northern Ireland has changed over the past 25 years. The most notable disruption, of course, has been Brexit  a dramatic shift in the constitutional identity of the UK as a whole, and one that undercut the assumption etched into the Good Friday Agreement that, since Northern Ireland and the Republic were both part of the European Union, the North-South border would present technical rather than fundamental problems.

Instead, that 310-mile dividing line has proved to be the most intractable issue of the Brexit process: one that helped to bring down Theresa May, and with which Boris Johnson failed utterly to engage in a trustworthy fashion. The former PM reportedly pronounced the dilemma of Northern Irelands future a gnat of an issue.

Sunak has done better with the Windsor Framework negotiated with the EU in February. But the DUP has yet to sign up to its provisions. Many Conservatives continue to press for the UKs withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, a text that is a cornerstone of the Good Friday Agreement. Do they care?

Second, the relationship between the US and the rest of the world has changed since 1998. In the Washington Post this week, President Clinton wrote that one of the reasons that peace became possible was that the United States was deeply involved in a way that both sides came to see as positive.

That is true. But  shaken by the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq  the US has grown progressively less interventionist on the world stage. Barack Obama was always respectful towards the special relationship with the UK but his administration was more interesting in pivoting towards the Pacific. According to Maggie Habermans book, Confidence Man, Donald Trump became visibly bored by the subject of Northern Ireland.

It is a happy accident of ancestry  Biden traces his origins to the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth  that the current President is personally committed to the state of the peace and ready to put his shoulder to the wheel of diplomacy. But for a true sense of his administrations engagement with the UK, we should remember how conspicuously Downing Street was kept in the dark during the US retreat from Kabul in August 2021.

Third, the culture of politics as a whole has become much more divisive and polarised since 1998. Trust in institutions has collapsed while tribalism and political sectarianism have been weaponised by social media. Since the original agreement, Tony Blair has often observed that the essence of leadership is sometimes to confront the people you represent with unpalatable truths in the name of a greater good. But the instinct of todays populist politicians is the opposite: to appease and stir up the instincts of their supporters, and to vilify their opponents.

This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate what has been accomplished in the past quarter century. But it is a sobering reminder of the abiding threat of polarisation and divisiveness  and not only in Northern Ireland.
I n the latest episode of Succession, released on Monday, Logan Roys eldest son Connor finally wed his reluctant bride Willa  a union which brother Roman dubbed a sham marriage and the death of romance. Mazeltov!

Of course, this is a Succession wedding, not a normal wedding, so its not exactly relatable. The majority of the guests are wearing business casual attire (like Gerris grey power suit, or Shivs pointed use of the colour black), the location involves a private yacht and the decorations are all conveniently presidential campaign-adjacent. Sure, Kendall doesnt commit manslaughter this time around but its hardly a conventional or smooth running affair.

Its business in the front and business in the back for Gerri Kellman, wedding be damned / Sky

The one thing it does have in common with other weddings? Gifts, gifts, gifts. But dont expect to get away with laying down a nice little Le Creuset number at Connor and Willas gift table, oh no. The Roy nuptials are predictably boujie, and while we dont know for sure what Connor and Willa received, or where they were registered (The Met? Tesla?) we do have one gift to go off: Logan Roys casual, uncaring offer of Napoleon Bonapartes love letters to his wife Josephine.

The gift is a nod to Connors obsession with Napoleon, which is well documented in Succession lore. He has previously mentioned his wish to purchase Napoleons penis (which has actually been bought and sold before, so its not too outlandish of a request, if a little weird), has quoted Napoleon to Logan and his ranch, Austerlitz, is named after a battle in the Napoleonic War.

Sky

Its also a little dig from the writers at Connors relationship with Willa, which he is often much more romantically invested in than she is. Napoleon was completely obsessed with Josephine and his affections were not always reciprocated. His letters often feature him lamenting her lack of replies (if she doesnt write to him every day he gets very upset), something which feels particularly reminiscent of last episodes phone-tracking drama with Connor and Willa at the rehearsal dinner, a modern update on Napoleons reply-guy antics.

Also, like all things with Succession, it is a subtle display of vast wealth: According to two experts who spoke to Vulture, letters like this could fetch anywhere between $40,000 to $700,000. One particularly passionate letter, written after the couple had a fight the night before, was sold in an auction by Christies in 2007 for 276,000. So yeah, Le Creuset salt and pepper shakers aint quite cutting it.

In the spirit of Logans symbolic, strange and eye-wateringly expensive gift, here are five other presents we think may have been extended to the happy couple.

A plot of land in Australia

This could be Connor and Willa on their plot of Australian land / Graeme Hunter

You may recall the Oscars gift bags this year sounding especially bougie. Valued around 106,000, they contained liposuction vouchers, meditation orbs, Japanese milk bread and hair restoration consultations. The cherry on the affluence cake, though? Guests also had the chance of reaching into their goodiebag and pulling out a bit of Australia.

No, seriously, the deed to a plot of land in the rural Australian outback was up for grabs and was meant as a symbolic gesture to nominees. This seems appropriately bizarre and excessive and borderline unacceptable for Connor and Willa.

A Patek Philippe watch

Kendall is a fan of a hugely expensive Patek Philippe timepiece / Sky

Cast your mind back to the very first episode of Succession and you may recall Tom Wambsgans agonising over what to get Logan for his birthday. He settles on a Patek Philippe watch (Its a Patek Philippe watch, says Tom, I know, it says it on the box, Logan replies) which is begrudgingly accepted by Logan without a thank you and then later gifted to a small child that Roman psychologically tortures.

For context, even pre-owned Patek Philippe watches can reach the one million mark, so it seems only right that a ludicrously overpriced Patek Philippe would find its way onto Connor and Willas gift table, probably from Kendall, who wears one himself. Possibly one he had already bought, and got bored with.

A good divorce lawyers number

Graeme Hunter /  HBO

Tucked into the back of a present destined for Willa by a generous and canny female friend, for when she will eventually need it.

A ludicrously capacious bag

Courtesy of HBO

The Roy family are perhaps the most impossible set of people to buy a gift for in the whole world, real or fictional, because theyre massive snobs and they hate everything.

As such, guests who move in the Roys outer circle and have slightly less bottomless wealth (though still more than they know what to do with) will likely get quite flustered when trying to pick out an appropriate gift, and may make a terrible mistake in the choice they settle on. Poor Willa may be gifted a handbag which she can actually fit things in, which, as we have learned, will be deemed ludicrously capacious and probably incinerated (physically, or by Tom Wambsgans words).

A Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender

Connor Roy loves to hyper-decant / Courtesy of Sky/HBO

What, you dont hyperdecant? In case you forgot, one of Connor Roys weird Connor-isms is that hes committed to hyper-decanting his wine, meaning that he pours the bottle into a blender and blitzes it to enhance its flavour. Sadly this is an actual thing and not just a Connor-ism, which means other uber rich people will know about it and want to endorse Connor in his hobby, if not as a presidential nominee.

Therefore, its not unlikely that he will be gifted some insane space blender so he can hyper-decant to his hearts content. The blending noise will probably be the final straw which pushes Willa to reach for that lawyers number, but at least Con will be crying into superior wine.
Succession season 1-4 spoilers below

Succession season 4 episode 3 will go down in TV history. Not only was it beautifully written, acted (people are already calling out for Emmy noms for the young Roy actors) and filmed, but it managed to be a real shocker, which is pretty amazing given that what seems like the entire internet has been speculating about every single possible element of Successions plot for months now.

For those just joining all the drama, we suggest you go back and watch the episode because its a bit of a biggie: Logan Roy suddenly dies while on a plane to Sweden to speak to Matsson. While staff were pumping his chest, and the Roy children were all aboard a boat in the New York harbour for Connors wedding, it was Tom who was the go-between, communicating the horrible events to each party in real-time over the phone.

But while also being a bit of a hero in that respect (it must have been dreadful having to overhear Shiv, Kendall and Romans desperate final words to their father while holding the phone next to the ear of a dead body) he also made one very suspicious phone call to Greg, asking him to delete a file called logistics from a computer. He also told Greg, Ive lost my protector and that Greg should keep the death on lockdown but that people should also know that Tom stayed with the body.

So, despite coming across as a pretty great guy at this time of tragedy, Tom is still very much out for himself. Which is absolutely not surprising.

So whats in the file thats called logistics? Here are our ideas (wrong answers only).

The junior doctors payrise

The ingredient list to Sofia Coppolas daughters pasta dish

Stormy Daniels non-disclosure agreement

The actual plot of Greta Gerwigs Barbie movie

The price breakdown of Bezos $485 million yacht Koru

The date of Rishi Sunaks autumn 2024 general election

The FBIs file on JFK

All the possible Game of Thrones endings that David Benioff of D. B. Weiss didnt go for

Elon Musks Twitter password

A mathematical breakdown of why Leo actually couldnt fit on the raft with Kate

Toms Mensa rejection letter

A breakdown of how Stonehenge actually came to be

A file on Connors mother (optional extra: loony cake)

The location of Atlantis

A scientific explanation of how Lenny Kravitz managed to move around in that scarf

Succession is currently streaming on Sky and NOW
F riends are paying tribute to a teenager who was stabbed to death outside a suburban primary school on Easter Monday.

The victim, 17, was found dying from a single stab wound in Longshaw Road, Chingford at 9.20pm.

Paramedics, police and neighbours fought to save the teenager but he was declared dead at the scene.

A Met spokesman said on Tuesday: Officers were on the scene within three minutes along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and Londons Air Ambulance.

They found a 17-year-old boy with a stab wound. Despite the efforts of members of the public and the emergency services, he died at the scene.

His next of kin have been informed.

A murder investigation has been launched and is being led by the Mets Specialist Crime Command.

Chief Superintendent Simon Crick said: This is a tragic incident and I am devastated that a young life has been lost as a result of knife crime.

Incidents such as this have a devastating impact on families , friends and our local communities.

We have a dedicated team of detectives working on the investigation. They have been at the scene overnight and will remain there today as they carry out further enquiries.

This work is being supported by additional local patrols who are there to respond to any concerns within the community.

Forensic teams were seen sweeping the area outside the front gates to Longshaw Primary School on Tuesday morning.

Barney Davis/Evening Standard

Police have also sealed off an overflowing clothes bank on a high street.

Detectives are reviewing CCTV from the area and carrying out door-to-door enquiries. They have already spoken to some witnesses.

One dog walker told the Standard: I feel so sad for someone so young to lose their life like that. It could have been my boyfriend.

Friends of the slain teen said he was stabbed to death outside Longford Primary the same school he attended as a child.

One school friend told the Standard: He was one of the most clean-hearted guys I know. He had no problems with anyone ever.

He was on his own path doing his own thing. He loved going out and being with his friends.

He added: Im just in shock, thats the only thing I feel.

I lost touch with him in recent months. I just cant believe it was him.

Another friend who visited the scene told the Standard: It couldve been me. He was a good friend, a very good person.

Out of all my friends he was the nicest, most generous person. He was quiet but once you got to know him he got active. He liked to dance.

We hung out all day that day just chilling. He was completely fine he had no reason to be looking over his shoulder.

No arrests have been made.

The boys family have been informed and are being supported by family liaison officers. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course, the Met said.

Any witnesses are asked to tweet @MetCC or call 101 quoting CAD 6358/10Apr. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Greeces Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have affirmed their keenness to boost mutual cooperation on the bilateral level, especially in investment, trade exchange, as well as energy and power linkage.

In a phone call on Friday, El-Sisi and Mitsotakis also agreed on the the importance of intensified political consultations between the two countries on issues of mutual concern, especially the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region, Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said in a statement.

The two leaders also discussed enhancing the firm relations between the two countries at all levels, the spokesman noted.

Over the past several years, Egypt and Greece have intensified bilateral cooperation  especially in the political, energy, economic and military fields  as well as trilateral cooperation with the inclusion of Cyprus.

Cairo and Athens, along with Nicosia, have strengthened relations and cooperation in developing energy resources, combatting terrorism and signing new maritime border agreements.

Since November 2014, the leaders of the three countries have held nine summits to boost their trilateral cooperation in several fields and coordinate on regional issues of mutual concern, the last of which was in Athens in October 2021.

Egypt, Cyprus and Greece are part of the EastMed Gas Forum (EMGF), a Cairo-based international organisation that aims to establish a regional gas market in the Eastern Mediterranean and enhance trade relations among the member states.

Last December, Egypt and Greece signed an MoU on aeronautical and maritime search and rescue and an agreement on the employment of seasonal workers in the agricultural sector.

Egypt and Greece also signed an agreement in June to connect the two countries by extending a branch from a major subsea cable system to intensify cooperation in communication and IT and serve the increasing data traffic between Africa, Asia, and Europe.

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A senior university lecturer who stabbed his estranged wife 15 times outside a school parents evening has been jailed for life.

Dr Ying Zhang, 55, was only stopped from killing Hannan Xiao by a hero driver in Barnet, north London.

He attacked Hannan Xiao for financial gain after spying on her from a guesthouse.

Zhang was found guilty at the Old Bailey in January of the attempted murder of Dr Xiao, who was also a senior lecturer,

The court heard their marriage was faltering in 2019, which prompted Zhang to engage in controlling behaviour to ensure that he controlled the assets within the family and caused Dr Xiao to take the decision to leave him.

In the year leading up to the attack on September 21 2021, it is said Zhang displayed bizarre, jealous and obsessive behaviour.

Judge Rupert Mayo said this was evidenced by the defendants use of the guesthouse opposite the former family home during the summer and the spreadsheets he prepared that tracked the movements of Dr Xiao and her colleagues from January 2021.

CCTV footage from the date of the incident showed the defendant following Dr Xiao to a parents evening at their childrens school in north London.

As his wife returned to her car, he stabbed her between 10 and 15 times in the chest, neck and back using a kitchen knife.

Members of the public had prevented the defendant continuing the attack and killing her, and it was only emergency surgery that had saved her life.

Zhang denied attempted murder and having a bladed article, but was found guilty of the charges by a jury.

At Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Mayo imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years for the attempted murder and a sentence of two years in prison for having a bladed article to run concurrently.

The judge said: There was a long standing failure by the defendant to accept his wifes entitlement to a greater share of the joint finances and this was entrenched in his mind long before any decision to separate was made.

I am satisfied that in his mind was a desire tobenefit financially from her death.

Jurors had heard from Ms Xiao during the trial that she believed her husband attacked her to get hold of her pension and the family home.

Northampton Crown and County Court (Joe Giddens/PA) / PA Archive

Judge Mayo went on to say he rejected Zhangs claims that he had no knowledge of possessing the knife or any memory of the incident.

I am sure that Dr Zhang knowingly and deliberately took a knife to the scene. He knew and planned where his wife would be and I am satisfied that his claim not to have memory of the attack is entirely false, he said.

The judge concluded that Zhang should be treated as a dangerous offender.

In a victim impact statement read to court, Dr Xiao said: For all those who are experiencing domestic violence right now, please you must report every instance to the police and go to the court to give evidence.

Please you must protect yourself but not the abuser.

If the abuser ever threatens you with killing do not think a threat is just a threat.

They will do it one day, she added.

She went on to express her gratitude to people who have helped her, particularly the members of the public who saved my life from his (Zhangs) knife.

How courageous and brave you are, she said.

Prosecutor Walton Hornsby had told how Zhang was in a cold fury with his wife, who had been seeking a divorce.

The couple, both Chinese academics specialising in cybersecurity, had married in the UK in 2006.

But their relationship was not always a happy one and was marred by a number of incidents of domestic violence, Mr Hornsby had said.

The victim had reported to police that her husband had threatened to kill her but did not pursue charges against him.

In 2020, the defendant had accused her of being unfaithful with a man at work, the court heard.

She had said she was very frightened of his behaviour due to its escalation and increased paranoia, the court heard.

The couple separated and she successfully applied for a non-molestation order preventing the defendant, from Hatfield, approaching her at her new home in Watford.

The defendant was said to have breached the order in January and August 2021.

Zhangs defence barrister rejected the suggestion that the attack was done for financial gain and argued it was plainly an act of something which might be better described as rage.

His depression at the time of the incident was also put forward as mitigation.
A man allegedly injured an 82-year-old woman in a knife attack before stabbing a man to death in west London, a court has heard.

Norris Henry is said to have stabbed Elizabeth Walsh in the back on Albany Road, Brentford, before walking on and knifing 20-year-old Ali Abucar Ali fatally in the chest on November 12 2021.

Mrs Walsh was taken to hospital and survived but Mr Ali died soon after he collapsed in a nearby kebab shop seeking help, the court heard.

Henry, who lived locally, appeared at the Old Bailey via video link on Tuesday for a trial of issue charged with murder and attempted murder.

Without warning, Mr Henry pulled the large knife from his pocket and stabbed Mrs Walsh to the back

The court was told the 38-year-old suffers from treatment resistant paranoid schizophrenia and did so at the time of the alleged incident.

Jurors heard psychiatrists concluded the defendant is not fit to plead or stand trial and that the jurys role is to decide whether he did the two alleged acts.

That is that he deliberately stabbed first Mrs Walsh and then Mr Ali with his knife, causing Mrs Walsh serious injury, and causing Mr Alis death, prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC said.

The prosecutor told the court that Henry used a large knife with a 25cm long blade.

In the course of his walk along Albany Road, the defendant walked past Elizabeth Walsh, an 82-year-old woman who was a complete stranger to him, Mr Atkinson said.

Without warning, Mr Henry pulled the large knife from his pocket and stabbed Mrs Walsh to the back.

He then walked on and approached Ali Abucar Ali, a 20-year-old man who was also a complete stranger to him.

Saying you want it as well, the defendant again used his knife to stab Mr Ali to the chest.
S mokers are being encouraged to take up vaping instead, under a new government swap to stop scheme.

Government ministers announced that vape starter kits would be offered to almost one in five of all smokers in England.

Health minister Neil OBrien will launch the scheme in a speech today (Tuesday, April 11) and is expected to say: We will offer a million smokers new help to quit. We will be funding a new national swap to stop scheme  the first of its kind in the world.

We will work with councils and others to offer a million smokers across England a free vaping starter kit.

So how does vaping compare to smoking and what are the risks?

What are the health impacts of smoking?

Smoking accounts for seven in 10 cases of lung cancer, according to the NHS. It also causes a number of other cancers, including mouth, throat, kidney, and liver cancers, among others.

Smoking can also increase your risk of developing conditions like coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It also increases your risk of having a heart attack and stroke.

Furthermore, smoking can also make conditions like asthma worse and can impact fertility in both men and women.

Around 76,000 people in the UK die from smoking every year, and many more live with smoking-related illnesses.

What are the health impacts of vaping?

Vapes are far less harmful than cigarettes, according to the NHS.

But the NHS also says: They are not recommended for non-smokers and cannot be sold to people under 18 years old.

Although the long-term risks of vaping are not yet clear, it poses a smaller risk than smoking cigarettes.

Vaping is less harmful because vapes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, and produce a lower level of harmful chemicals.

Additionally, its unclear if vaping affects those around you, whereas passive smoking can be harmful.
The call for action came from a cross-party committee of the London Assembly, which has published a report making the recommendation, among several others.

The Assemblys GLA [Greater London Authority] oversight committee, which scrutinises City Halls activities and processes, said Mayor Sadiq Khan should encourage the TfL Pension Fund to report on and publish annual performance against its net zero targets.

The TfL Pension Fund operates independently of TfL.

TfL said very significant progress has been made by its Pension Fund to embrace sustainability / John Stillwell/PA

Padmesh Shukla, the TfL Pension Funds Chief Investment Officer, had told the committee that there was a place for some investments in the oil and gas industry, saying: You can only go and push companies to do something, whether it is Shell or BP, if you are actually owning those companies. Once you leave the table, what is there?

On the margin, it is better for responsible shareholders to be owning these companies and to make the right changes because, if we all divest, it is not making any real life impact because less responsible owners will hold the shares and probably they do not care about climate change.

He added that having such investments formed part of having a diversified portfolio for the Pension Fund.

Leonie Cooper, GLA oversight committee chair, said: There is a balance that must be struck when considering pension funds.

London Assembly member: Leonie Cooper / Tom Simpson/Greater London Authority

Whilst it is essential that pension funds have a diverse portfolio of investments, it is also important, now more than ever, to consider the impacts specific types of investments have on the environment.

Whilst we are in the midst of a climate emergency, we need to show strong leadership in the fight against climate change, and we believe that by divesting from fossil fuel investments, we send a clear message that we are taking this issue seriously.

Responding to Ms Cooper and her committees report, a TfL spokesman said: The TfL Pension Fund is independent of the Mayor and TfL, and its trustees are legally required to make decisions in the interests of its members.

Since 2016, very significant progress has been made by the Fund to embrace sustainability in all investment and risk management activities. This has led to its green investments increasing from virtually nothing to more than 370m.

Padmesh Shukla, the TfL Pension Funds Chief Investment Officer, said investments in oil and gas companies were part of having a diversified portfolio of holdings / TfL

"In 2021, the Fund Trustees announced ambitious Net Zero Targets which would aim to deliver a 55 per cent reduction of the Funds Carbon footprint by 2030, increasing to 100 per cent by 2045 when compared to a 2016 baseline.

As well as TfL, the committees report made pension-related recommendations to City Hall itself and four other bodies operating beneath it.

Ms Cooper, the Labour Assembly Member (AM) for Merton and Wandsworth, said: There are some simple steps these organisations can take to be more transparent and to improve the lives of Londoners, by investing in the London Fund for example, which will improve housing and infrastructure across London.
A trainee detective has been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Service after he sexually assaulted a colleague.

Christopher Brown, who was based at the Central North Basic Command Unit, was dismissed without notice after a hearing concluded his behaviour had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in relation to discreditable conduct.

He had been sentenced to a 12-month community order at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday March 9 after pleading guilty to one count of sexual assault at an earlier hearing on January 11.

Officers investigated after receiving a report on December 9, 2021, that Brown had sexually assaulted a female colleague at a bar in London whilst he was off-duty.

He was interviewed under caution on 21 December 2021 and charged following an investigation on 21 November 2022.

Chief Superintendent Andy Carter, local policing commander for the Central North Basic Command Unit, said: Browns behaviour was completely unacceptable and his actions undermine the honest majority of our officers who are dedicated to protecting the public.

It is quite right that he has been swiftly dismissed from the Met following the conclusion of court proceedings.

We are determined to win back the trust of the communities we serve. We know this isnt something that will be resolved overnight, but I hope the outcome of this investigation demonstrates that we are heading in the right direction.

The case is the latest in a line of scandals to hit the Met recently.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who started the role in September, has said he believes hundreds of corrupt officers serving in the force should not be in the job.

The murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer and ex-Pc David Carrick being unmasked as a serial abuser and rapist are among the most high profile scandals to have hit the force  branded institutionally racist, homophobic and misogynist in a major review.

The Met is carrying out a series of reviews of officers and staff to try to weed out those who should not be in the job.

More than 1,000 records where officers and staff were accused of domestic violence or sexual offences in the past 10 years have now been checked to make sure the right decision was taken.

A total of 161 Met officers have criminal convictions, 76 for serious traffic offences including drink driving and careless driving.

Another 49 have convictions for crimes of dishonesty or violence  eight of whom committed the offences while they were police officers and remain serving with the force.

Other crimes include drug possession, criminal damage and public order offences, and three serving officers have convictions for sexual offences.
J oe Biden was warned on Tuesday by Sir Tony Blair that American intervention in Northern Ireland should aim to influence not pressurise or it risks backfiring.

The US president was heading to the province for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and talks with political parties over restoring power sharing at Stormont.

However, the ex-Prime Minister who played a key role in negotiating the peace deal, stressed the need for Mr Biden, who is proud of his Irish heritage, to tread carefully.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: You have got to use the American influence on the process with care and with sensitivity.

I obviously had a very close relationship with President Clinton outside of the peace process but I found him immensely helpful.

He would immediately understand strategically what was important and what wasnt.

He stressed: The Americans can play an important part on this but you have just got to insert them at the right moment and in the right place.

There is a difference between influencing and pressurising, and the one tends to be positive, the other can be negative.

The Democratic Unionist Party is refusing to return to power sharing in Northern Ireland over a Brexit trade row.

Sir Tony explained further: One thing I learned about the Unionists is if you try and pressurise them to do something that they are fundamentally in disgreement with, its usually futile pressure, even if it comes from the US, so you have got to use that influence carefully.

However, he also stressed: The American president is still the American president.

So, deployed in the right way, its still helpful.

Remember, there is a lot of American investment that wants to come to Northern Ireland. Thats also important from the economic perspective.

If we do it in the right way, the involvement of the American president is positive.

Before, flying across the Atlantic, Mr Biden stressed his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in Northern Ireland.

The US president tweeted: 25 years ago, Northern Irelands 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 US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives a speech at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

Before his university event, Mr Biden was set to meet Northern Irelands main political parties

His visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

He will later travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
A woman will become director of GCHQ for the first time in its more than 100-year history when its current boss steps down next month.

Anne Keast-Butler was named the new director of the British intelligence agency on Tuesday by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who described her as the ideal candidate for the role.

Ms Keast-Butler is currently MI5s deputy director-general, and will become the 17th person to lead Cheltenham-based GCHQ since its inception in 1919.

She will take over the helm next month, when current director Sir Jeremy Fleming steps down following six years in the role.

Anne Keast-Butler has an impressive track record at the heart of the UKs national security network, helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers, said Mr Cleverly on Tuesday.

She is the ideal candidate to lead GCHQ, and Anne will use her vast experience to help keep the British public safe.

Ms Keast-Butler said she was delighted to be appointed, adding that GCHQs mission was as inspiring today as it was when it was founded.

GCHQ, in Cheltenham / PA Media

I was privileged to work in GCHQ a few years ago, so I know I am again joining a world-class team of people from diverse backgrounds with a broad range of skills, who share a singular focus on making our country safer, more secure, and more prosperous, she said.

I am passionate about continuing to ensure that GCHQ is an organisation where everyone can perform to their very best.

I am so grateful for the vision and dedication Sir Jeremy Fleming has shown during his tenure, and the ways in which GCHQ has transformed under his leadership.

I look forward to building on this in the months and years to come. I cant wait to get started.

Ms Keast-Butler has spent 30 years working in national security.

Before holding senior security service roles at MI5, she spent two years on secondment to GCHQ as head of counter-terrorism and serious organised crime, and also worked in Whitehall over the last decade, during which time she helped launch the National Cyber Security Programme.

Sir Jeremy described her appointment as GCHQs new director as fantastic news for the organisation.

I have worked with Anne for decades and think she is a brilliant choice with deep experience of intelligence and security in todays technology-driven world, he said.

National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow said Ms Keast-Butler was an exceptional candidate in a talented field and thanked Sir Jeremy for his service, adding: Jeremys insights and analysis have been hugely valuable through one of the most demanding periods of our recent history.
D ozens of police officers and secret service vehicles descended on Belfast on Tuesday morning in a major security operation ahead of US President Joe Bidens visit.

Bedford Street was closed to traffic, along with several side streets surrounding the Grand Central Hotel.

The street remained open to pedestrians as dozens of police and a number of armoured vehicles filled the area.

There were also several police vehicles surrounding Ulster University.

Mr Biden was due to visit the universitys new building on Wednesday before heading to the Republic of Ireland.

Anne Tennyson, from Belfast, welcomed the visit, despite the extensive security measures.

I think its great, its great to see him coming here, she said.

Its fantastic. Belfast has cleaned itself up and prepared for it and its looking great.

Ms Tennyson added that it is sad that President Biden is visiting while the Stormont Executive is not functioning.

Hes obviously a diplomat so I would like that he would use his diplomatic influence to get them coming together for the betterment of Northern Ireland, she said.

Igor Toth, who is the manager of Harlem Cafe in Bedford Street, said of President Bidens visit: Hes coming and the roads are closed and we are quite busy in the restaurant.

We were expecting maybe less customers but we are probably the safest street in Belfast now.

Dorothy Wardlaw, who was visiting Belfast from Scotland, said the increased police presence in the city is scary.

I think its ridiculous, I really think its just a waste of money, terrible, she said.

She added: Just a bit scary, it does scare you.
B ritains most powerful business lobby group was on Tuesday facing the biggest crisis in its 58-year history when it was forced to sack its boss over devastating workplace misconduct complaints.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which represents around 190,000 businesses said it has dismissed its director-general Tony Danker with immediate effect after the first phase of an independent investigation into the allegations by law firm Fox Williams.

According to reports, Danker sent a female employee a barrage of messages, some featuring sexually suggestive language, over more than a year.

She considered the contact to be sexual harassment, it was reported at the time.

In a statement Mr Danker claimed allegations against him were distorted but that he recognised he unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable.

He added that he was sacked before being allowed to defend himself.

I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office, he said.

I was appalled to learn about them for the first time last week. I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed.

Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that.

Fox Williams has also launched a massive overhaul of the culture of the CBI - which describes itself as Britains premier business organisation - in a bid to salvage its reputation.

The complaints against Danker, 51, who was appointed to the role in November 2020, first came to light in January. He agreed to step aside when new concerns were raised in early March.

In a strongly worded statement the CBI said it had become clear that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the Director General.

However it added that the dismissal was not related to more recent claims about sexual misconduct and drug taking by senior CBI figures that were published by the Guardian last week.

Three other CBI employees are now suspended pending further investigations,

The CBI said it was liaising with the police and has made clear its intention to cooperate fully with any police investigations.

The allegations have been hugely damaging for the reputation of a body set up to lobby on behalf of business whose chief has frequent meetings with the Prime Minister and Chancellor. Last month senior Labour MP Lisa Nandy dropped out of a CBI event in the wake of the latest headlines.

Danker was said to be stunned by the CBIs decision to dismiss him with immediate effect and no redundancy package.

He has been replaced by former CBI chief economist Rain Newton-Smith, who is currently managing director, strategy and policy, sustainability and ESG at Barclays.

It has appointed CBI board member Jill Ader, a recent global chair of head-hunters Egon Zehnder, to oversee a root-and-branch review of our culture, governance and processes,

The CBI also said it will create a new, elevated position of Chief People Officer which will sit on our executive committee.

In its statement, the CBI said it exists to help British business flourish. This is a privilege and responsibility which we take extremely seriously and cannot take for granted.

We represent our members not just in how we advocate for them, but also through our values as an organisation. It means we must be a place where colleagues are safe, valued and respected, and where there is zero tolerance for behaviour that falls short of those expectations.

Danker started his career at management consultants McKinsey & Company and later worked as a policy adiver at the Cabinet office and the Treasury. He was also Chief Strategy Officer, at Guardian News & Media. Before joining the CBI he was the first CEO of Be the Business, set up by a group of FTSE-100 Chairmen.
A police investigation has been launched into alleged sexual misconduct at the Confederation of British Industry.

CBI boss Tony Danker was sacked and three other employees suspended after a series of claims rocked the powerful trade body.

City of London Police, who cover Londons Square Mile, confirmed their probe on Tuesday evening.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Waight said: The City of London Police takes all acts of sexual misconduct and violence against women and girls extremely seriously.

We approached the CBI following media reports and our investigations are at a very early stage.

It would not be appropriate to comment any further at this time.

Officers did not confirm who is being investigated but it is understood no arrests have been made.

Last week, the Guardian said it had been approached by more than a dozen women who claimed to be victims of various forms of sexual misconduct by senior members of the CBI who were not Mr Danker.

One woman said she was raped at a staff party.

The CBIs board said Mr Dankers conduct fell short of what was expected of him and said there had been serious failings in how it acted as an organisation.

But the ex-boss said that he was shocked by the decision and claimed that allegations against him had been distorted.

I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office, he tweeted, referring to allegations against himself and others at the CBI.

I was appalled to learn about them for the first time last week.

I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed.

Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that.

The CBI claims to represent around 190,000 businesses across the UK, which between them employ nearly seven million people / PA Wire

The trade body has been rocked by allegations of a toxic workplace culture since Mr Danker was last month accused of allegedly making unwanted contact with a woman who works for the CBI.

She considered the contact to be sexual harassment, the Guardian reported at the time.

The group launched an investigation into his behaviour and he agreed to step down in the meantime. The first part of this investigation by an outside law firm has been completed, the CBI said.

Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him, it said.

The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director-general.

The board appointed former chief economist Rain Newton-Smith to take the top job from Mr Danker. She left the organisation just last month to join Barclays.

The CBI said: The allegations that have been made over recent weeks about the CBI have been devastating.

While investigations continue into a number of these, it is already clear to all of us that there have been serious failings in how we have acted as an organisation. We must do better, and we must be better.

We apologise to the victims of this organisational failure, including those impacted by the revulsion we have all felt at hearing their stories. Nobody should feel unsafe in their workplace.

The CBI said that the outside law firm would continue its investigation and the business group would cooperate fully if the police launch any investigations.

The group will also launch a root-and-branch review of its culture, governance and processes, and create a new position of chief people officer.

We wish to thank all those who have had the courage to speak out, through internal or external channels, and encourage them to keep doing so, it added.

Following her appointment, Ms Newton-Smith said: Its a huge privilege to be asked to return to the CBI to serve as its director-general.

I passionately believe in the power of business to transform our society. I want the CBI to be an organisation of which we can all be proud.

I am grateful and determined to lead the team through this challenging time. I look forward to working with the team, our members and stakeholders as we work together to achieve sustainable growth.
Egypt and Greece are cooperating on the military and intelligence levels to confront terrorism, and are also coordinating to resolve various regional issues and crises, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Tuesday.

Shoukrys statements came during a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart in a press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Athens following their meeting earlier today.

The Egyptian foreign minister hailed the relations between the two countries as "strategic" and all discussions between them as "transparent".

We discussed the situation in Libya, Syria as well as the Palestinian issue during our meeting, Shoukry told reporters.

Egypt is coordinating with Greece to find a resolution for the Palestinian issue as part of our efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region, he stressed.

"We seek to restore unity and stability to Libya," he added.

Shoukry also expressed appreciation for the Greek efforts to support Egypt inside the European Union.

"The relations between our two countries have developed in a major way over the past nine years," Shoukry stressed.

Shoukry's visit to Athens aims to strengthen bilateral relations and coordination between the two countries on issues of common concern, read a statement released by the spokesperson for the Egyptian foreign ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid.

The foreign minister delivered a message from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis which addressed methods to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations, Abu Zeid wrote in a post on his official Twitter account.

El-Sisi stressed in his message to the Greek PM that Egypt is also keen on strengthening relations with Greece and Cyprus within the framework of the trilateral mechanism between the three neighbours, Abu Zeid added.

During the press conference today, Shoukry praised the ongoing cooperation between Egypt and Greece in the field of energy, including under the umbrella of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EastMed).

While in Athens, the Egyptian foreign minister is scheduled to meet with the CEO of the Copelouzos Group Dimitrios Copelouzos to follow up on the progress in the implementation of the $3.8 billion undersea electricity interconnection project between Egypt and Europe via Greece.

Eastern Mediterranean cooperation

FM Shoukry confirmed during the press conference that he would be visiting Turkey soon, as the two countries take progressive steps to repair relations that were ruptured over a decade ago.

On Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu revealed in remarks to the media that he has invited the Egyptian foreign minister to visit Ankara to discuss next steps in normalising relations between the two countries.

"Egypt has sensed a desire from Turkey to normalise relations," the foreign minister said.

"My visit to Turkey will discuss the implementation of this normalisation while taking into account good neighbourliness in order to achieve peace and stability in the region," he added.

Meanwhile, Greek FM Dendias said during the press conference that Athens seeks to broaden cooperation with Ankara, including in the field of energy, after the completion of the upcoming national elections in both countries.

Turkey is scheduled to hold national elections on 14 May.

Meanwhile, Greece will hold its own national elections a week later.

"Greece always pursues opportunities to have a genuine and honest partnership with Turkey," stressed Dendias.

He added that Greece would be open to new members joining an association of nations in the eastern Mediterranean that would collaborate on natural gas development.

Currently, Greece and Egypt are members in the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EastMed), which includes include Cyprus, France, Israel, Italy, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.

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F ather's Day is fast approaching in the UK, but how long have we celebrated the occasion?

The day follows Mothers Day  which is celebrated in March in the UK  and honours male parents.

It's often an excuse to treat fathers for their love and dedication, and dads given presents and cards by their children.

Here's when to celebrate this year and the reason behind the special day.

When is Fathers Day?

Father's Day is nearly here / Unsplash

The rule of thumb is that Fathers Day falls on the third Sunday of June, meaning the actual date changes annually. This is the US calculation, so some countries around the world opt for different times of year.

For Americans and Britons in 2023, Fathers Day falls on Sunday, June 18 this year.

This coincides with the Summer Solstice  the longest day of the year  meaning this time, fathers are really cashing in.

Origins of Fathers Day: Why do we celebrate it?

Fathers Day is generally believed to have been inaugurated in 1908 by a West Virginian woman who missed her own dad.

Grace Clayton had lost her father several years before, but was roused to act by an incident that would shake her town for generations. The 1907 Monogah Mining Disaster left a thousand children fatherless, when an accidental explosion killed 250 fathers and 367 men.

Inspired by the USs first Mothers Day earlier that year, Clayton encouraged her pastor  Reverend Robert Thomas Webb  to dedicate a special service to the victims of Monogah.

This was held on July 5, the closest Sunday to her own fathers birthday.

So Fathers Day was not originally a day of breakfast in bed and greetings cards. It was a dedication to unforgotten fathers, and a memorial to the tragic loss of mens lives.

Unsplash

Over 60 years later, in 1972, US president Richard Nixon declared Fathers Day a national holiday, signing the day into law during his re-election campaign.

Similar celebrations throughout history

If we zoom out historically, Fathers Day is actually not that significant a marker.

Ritual celebrations of fatherhood can be found within many civilisations. One that endures comes from Catholic Europe in the Middle Ages, where a religious observance has long been held on the Feast of St Joseph  on March 19.

Picture Post/Getty Images

Joseph, guardian of Jesus, was certainly no Virgin Mary  at least in the eyes of Catholics  but he did a respectable job in the undesirable shadow of The Holy Father. Many men would have felt insufferably emasculated by this unchallengeable rival to their wifes affections. But not Joseph.

Thanks to St Joseph, fathers are still hailed in Catholic countries on the Festa del papa (Italy) or Dia del Padre (Spain).

Russia is unconcerned with rivalling national stereotypes, shunning Fathers Day for Mans Day, in a Soviet tradition that remembers February 23 as the first mass drafting into the revolutionary Red Army. This day is also known as Defender of the Fatherland.

AFP PHOTO / OLGA MALTSEVAO

Thailand, too, honours one father in particular. December 5 is their chosen Fathers Day, the birthday of the late king and Father of the Nation, Bhumibol Adulyadej.

For several Middle Eastern countries, the Summer Solstice is always Fathers Day.
A 14-year-old boy has died after entering a canal in Leeds on a sunny day over the Easter weekend.

The teenager, named locally as George Lund, reportedly died in front of his girlfriend and her siblings after being towed by a strong current.

He was pronounced dead after he was pulled from a lock on the Aire and Calder Navigation in the Stourton area on Saturday afternoon.

West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the scene along with other emergency services as a major search operation began.

The boy was lifted from the water but declared dead shortly after, the force said.

George jumped into the lock on the sunny afternoon an apparent prank gone wrong, The Telegraph reported.

The teenager was reportedly with his girlfriend and her siblings at the time of the incident.

His mother, Staciie Lund, wrote on Facebook on Monday: I am eternally grateful for the love and support shown by everyone at this heartbreaking time for me and my family, with my precious forever 14-year-old baby boy!

My baby was truly one of a kind and Im so proud to be his mum.

In another post she wrote: I love and miss you so much my gorgeous baby boy. I just need you back.

Tributes have been left at the scene near Thwaite Lane. One read: I am so lost without you. My heart is broken. I love you all round the world and back again.

Family and friends took to social media on Monday to express their shock at what happened.

One person wrote: Having to see my mum and my sister breakdown, literally dropping to the floor with the heartache! It was awful they shouldnt have to be doing this.

He was only 14, found his first love and everything! Every time I went to my mums he would show me his school books and how well he was doing, bless him. He had his life ahead of him!

Another said George was a lovely lad who will never be forgotten.

Another said: He was taken too soon, he was always there for me. Fly high George, you are loved by many.

A police spokesperson told the Standard: 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.

Google Maps

West Yorkshire Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner.

A GoFundMe page has been set up asking for small donations towards a memorial day where Georges family and friends can have a get together to share fond memories and celebrate his life.

The organiser, Haley-Marie McGowan, said George was a beloved teenage boy who sadly has passed away due to an incident which happened over the Easter holidays.

George was a very smart boy with a lot to live for who was a friendly face to all and had many friends and was very popular within his peers. He will be missed by many.

A son, a grandson a brother and a dear friend to many.
A ir Force One will touch down at Belfast International Airport on Tuesday evening, marking the start of US President Joe Bidens four-day trip to the island of Ireland.

The visit has been timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles.

Mr Biden will also use the visit to reconnect with his family in Co Louth and Mayo, as well as attending several engagements in Dublin.

A huge security operation has swung into place on both sides of the border, with the public warned to expect delays in areas where the president will visit.

Mr Biden will have a packed itinerary during the four-day trip.

Tuesday:

 Mr Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland where he will be greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Wednesday:

 The president will hold bilateral talks with Mr Sunak in Belfast in the morning.

 Mr Biden is also expected to hold talks with Northern Irelands main political parties. The powersharing Assembly established by the Good Friday Agreement is currently not operating due to a protest by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

 In his main engagement in Northern Ireland, Mr Biden will deliver a keynote speech at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus. The president tweeted that he would use the occasion to underscore his nations commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity in the region.

 Mr Biden will then cross the border. He will travel to Co Louth where he has ancestral roots. His great-grandfather Owen Finnegan left the county for the US in the 1840s. During the visit, he county, he will tour Carlingford Castle.

 Mr Biden will stay overnight in Dublin.

Thursday:

 The US president will meet Irish President Michael D Higgins at his official residence Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park. The park will be closed for 24 hours to accommodate the visit. Mr Biden will also take part in a tree-planting ceremony and a ringing of the Peace Bell.

 Mr Biden will travel for talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom he recently hosted at the White House on St Patricks Day.

 He will then address the Dail, becoming the fourth US president to do so  following John F Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995.

 On Thursday evening, Mr Biden will attend a banquet dinner in his honour at Dublin Castle.

Friday:

 The president will travel to the west of Ireland, where he will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit.

 The visit will conclude when Mr Biden makes a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina. Mr Bidens great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827, which helped him to afford to buy tickets for himself and his family to sail to America decades later in 1851.
U S President Joe Biden is expected to meet leaders from all five of Northern Irelands main political parties during a UK visit starting on Tuesday in a push to restart power-sharing.

Mr Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland on Tuesday as he begins a visit marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

He tweeted: 25 years ago, Northern Irelands 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.

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will meet Mr Biden when Air Force One touches down in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday before Mr Biden gives an address at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus.

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

It is expected that Mr Biden will hold a meeting with Northern Irelands main political parties before the Ulster University talk.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Bidens visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patricks Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The presidents trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.
J oe Biden will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of a keynote speech in Belfast as he kicks off the first day of his historic trip to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The US presidents four-day trip marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1998, and is the first from a US president in a decade.

Mr Biden also wants to make sure the recent Windsor Framework deal between the European Union and Britain remains in place. That deal has so far failed to convince the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - one of the biggest parties at Stormont - to end a boycott of the devolved power-sharing government, a key part of the 1998 peace deal.

The DUP has said Mr Bidens visit will not pressure it to end its more than year-long protest at the trade rules that treat the province differently to the rest of the UK.

While Mr Biden is expected to greet representatives of the DUP and the other four main Northern Ireland political parties, it is unclear if they will hold separate meetings.

Mr Sunak greeted his US counterpart on Tuesday evening when he landed in Belfast, and the pair will meet again for talks around 11.30am on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters before his departure, Mr Biden said that his top priority was to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place, keep the peace.

His son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owen are believed to be accompanying him for the trip.

Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland 1 / 24 Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland AFP via Getty Images REUTERS AFP via Getty Images REUTERS Sky News REUTERS AP AFP via Getty Images REUTERS PA AFP via Getty Images Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street AP REUTERS Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street REUTERS Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street

A major security operation is in place for the visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

Following talks with Mr Sunak, the US President will deliver a keynote speech at Ulster Universitys new 350 million Belfast campus, where he is expected to hail the tremendous progress made since the landmark peace deal. Mr Sunak will not attend the keynote speech.

National security council co-ordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said the presidents speech 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 Biden will also travel to Co Louth, where his great-grandfather James Finegan was born, and tour Carlingford Castle before spending the night in Dublin.

He 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, before meeting the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and addressing a joint session of the Irish parliament.

The trip comes as police recovered four suspected pipe bombs from a cemetery in Londonderry where a republican commemoration was staged on Easter Monday.

It follows scenes of violence in the Creggan area of the city when a number of missiles, including petrol bombs, were hurled by young people at a police Land Rover monitoring the pre-commemoration parade.

Youths throw petrol bombs at a PSNI vehicle ahead of a dissident Republican parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday / PA Wire

The illegal parade started when a number of masked men in paramilitary-style dress formed a colour party carrying the Irish flag and a host of republican flags.

There was another reminder of Northern Irelands violent past when it was announced on the eve of the Presidents visit that a west Belfast man alleged to have been the British Armys top mole in the Provisional IRA has died.

Freddie Scappaticci, who was aged in his 70s, always denied he was the agent Stakeknife but was widely described as the leader of the IRAs notorious nutting squad who interrogated and murdered suspected informers during the Troubles.

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern said it was a big own goal the Northern Ireland Assembly is not operating for the visit of the President.
M ore than 350,000 appointments and procedures are expected to be cancelled across England this week, as junior doctors carry out a four-day strike over pay.

Londoners have been warned to stay away from A&E unless they have life-threatening injuries. More than 50,000 appointments and procedures are due to be cancelled in the capital alone.

The strikes centre on a row between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government over junior doctors pay.

Last months strikes by the BMA involved an estimated 175,000 operations and procedures being affected.

National medical director of NHS England, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said that this time he expects the figures to be considerably more.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: When we had the last period of industrial action a few weeks ago, that was three days, we saw over 175,000 operations and procedures having to be rescheduled.

We wont get the exact number this week until the strike is over but our expectation is that we will see considerably more than that.

But which London hospitals are set to be affected by this weeks walkouts?

Here is the full list.

London hospitals affected by strikes

King George Hospital

Queens Hospital

St Annes

Barnet

Royal London

Whipps Cross

St Barts

Newham

Croydon

Epsom

Great Ormond Street

Guys

St Thomas's

Hillingdon

Homerton

St Mary's

Charing Cross Hospital

Kings College

Princess Royal, Bromley

Kingston

Lewisham

QEH Woolwich

Northwick Park

Ealing Hospital

Jane Atkinson Centre

North Middlesex UH

Maudsley

Royal Free

Royal Marsden

St George's

University College

Figures provided by the BMA for confirmed picket lines as of April 6 only. There may be others that have not yet been confirmed.

How much are junior doctors paid?

Junior doctors pay is determined by their years of experience, as well as the role they are performing.

There are two pay scales that doctors in training might fall under, depending on their current contract.

In their first year as a foundation doctor, a junior doctor will receive 29,384, according to the BMA. In the second year, this increases to 34,012.

If they are on the second type of contract, a junior doctor will earn 25,494 during ther first year and 31,621 in their second.

The BMA says junior doctors in England have seen a real-terms pay cut of 26.1 per cent since the tax year 2008/09.

What happens during the strike?

During this weeks walkout, Junior doctors will not provide emergency medical care to patients.

NHS managers have warned that patient care is on a knife-edge as staff began the most disruptive strike in the history of the nations health service.
A group of young men who took magic mushrooms while hiking in the Lake District over Easter weekend had to be rescued by almost a dozen mountain experts.

A number of hikers noticed the group were in trouble on Saturday afternoon and called the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT).

Eleven team members located the group and helped walk them down from a peak in the Stonycroft and Newlands area of the popular hiking district.

The incident took two hours to resolve, with the hikers being offered advice on the effects of the LSD-style illegal drug.

Two men in the group were feeling unwell, including the driver of the party, the rescue team said in a statement on Facebook.

The casualties were walked down and given advice by the team medic regarding the timing of their onward travel.

A number of people who commented on the post were shocked by the incident and praised the rescue efforts.

Later that evening, just before 10.30pm, eleven rescue team members helped four other hikers climbing down the Styhead Tarn path towards Seathwaite.

One was reported to have had an ankle injury and another a panic attack, KMRT said.

The team deployed but after a short walk from Seathwaite farm, the walkers were found after making good progress down the hill.

They were walked back to their car at Seathwaite.

Magic mushrooms, or Psilocybin, are naturally occurring mushrooms that have hallucinogenic effects when consumed.

The introduction of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 made the possession, cultivation and sale of magical mushrooms illegal in the UK.

Psilocybin is converted by the body to psilocin, and this is the actual compound which produces psychoactive effects. These changes are classically known as a psychedelic trip, and can last anywhere between two and six hours.

In 2021 then prime minister Boris Johnson said he would examine the latest advice on the legalisation of psilocybin for therapeutic qualities, with studies claiming the drug can significantly reduce depression symptoms.

From July 2023 psychiatrists in Australia will be able to prescribe psilocybin and MDMA as treatments for depression and PTSD.

The Lake District is Englands largest National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its a popular holiday and hiking destination known for its spectacular glacial lakes and rugged mountains.
A child refugee was left distressed and crying after a teenage boy forcibly kissed him and held him against his will in the bedroom of a hotel housing asylum seekers, a court has been told.

Stratford Youth Court in east London heard the 15-year-old allegedly took a 12-year-old boy to his room, where he pushed him on to a bed more than 10 times as he tried to escape.

The defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, has denied one count of sexual touching of a child under the age of 13 last year.

His alleged victim, who also cannot be named and is now 13, appeared in court by video-link from a separate room and said he would feel disgusting if he saw the defendant again.

On Tuesday, prosecutor Amanda Hamilton said both boys had been residents of a hotel in Waltham Forest, east London, at the time of the alleged assault.

She said the alleged victim had been living in a room with family for several months, and the defendant had moved into a nearby room.

Ms Hamilton told the court the boy said he had been playing with a friend, who later left, in the corridor before the defendant emerged from his room and asked him for help fixing his television.

The boy told the defendant he did not know how to fix the television, and said that when he made to leave, the defendant grabbed me by my hand and took me to his room.

Though the boys speak different languages, the alleged victim said they communicated in partial English and through gestures.

He said the defendant started to call him brother, and kissed him many times.

In his police interview, the boy indicated to his face and neck when asked where the defendant had kissed him, and gestured to his shoulders when asked how the defendant had pushed him back on to the bed.

He said he eventually managed to escape and find his mother.

Ms Hamilton said the boys mother said he had been distressed and crying.

Police arrested the defendant the same day, and interviewed the alleged victim the following day.

The trial continues.

In March the Home Office said there are between 8,000 and 9,000 Afghan refugees living in hotels in the UK and more than 45,500 asylum seekers in hotels, costing the taxpayer 7 million a day.

The Government will begin writing to individuals and families housed in the bridging hotels at the end of April, giving them at least three months notice before they have to leave, Veterans minister Johnny Mercer announced on March 28.
P eople in Taiwan are buying anti-Xi Jinping badges depicting Winnie the Pooh being punched by a Formosan black bear.

Taiwans air force pilots are wearing the badge as a symbol of defiance against China, which has been conducting military drills around the island.

Winnie the Pooh has been used to represent  and criticise  the Chinese President Mr Xi for years.

As a result, Chinese officials have censored images of the cartoon bear.

But how did the comparisons start?

When did comparisons between Xi Jinping and Winnie the Pooh begin?

Xi Jinping has been compared to Winnie the Pooh since 2013 when he visited the US.

An image of him walking with then-US president Barack Obama sparked comparisons between them and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.

Memes comparing the president and the cartoon bear then began circulating on social media.

His likeness to the bear came up again in 2014, when an image of Mr Xi with Japans Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, sparked comparisons between the world leaders and Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore.

Then, in 2015, a side-by-side photo comparison of the Chinese president during a parade and a toy of Winnie the Pooh in a car was banned. It was later declared Chinas most censored photo of 2015, according to Global Risk Insights .

Chinese social media users were also blocked from posting references to Winnie the Pooh in 2017.

Now, 10 years after the original meme was created, China is reportedly continuing to block references to the bear.

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey

In March, screenings of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey were cancelled in Hong Kong.

Although officials didnt give a reason for pulling the film, there is speculation that the screenings were cancelled due to Chinese censorship, which has previously targeted films starring the AA Milne character.

In 2018, the censors banned the release of the Christopher Robin film.
The entrepreneur, who was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to forfeit $26 million (20.9 million), went on Twitter to announce the news on April 10.

His tweet said: Fyre Festival II is finally happening. Tell me why you should be invited.

But what exactly happened with the first festival and what has he revealed about Fyre Festival II so far?

Heres everything we know.

What happened at the first Fyre Festival?

Fyre Festival was a luxury music festival that was co-founded by entrepreneur Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule back in 2017.

The pair rented Pablo Escobars former private island in the Bahamas and hired high-profile celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Emily Ratajkowski to advertise what they sold as an unmissable music experience.

However, when festival-goers started arriving on the island of Great Exuma, in Jamaica, they were shocked to see that the event was nothing like the luxury package they had paid for. There were security, food, and accommodation problems, which meant that guests who were expecting luxury villas and gourmet meals in return for thousands of dollars had to settle for tents and cheese sandwiches.

The event was cancelled before it had even begun, and the organisers behind it were taken to court by a number of people who accused McFarland and his team of defrauding ticket buyers.

The 30-year-old was given a six-year sentence for his involvement, but was released early in May 2022 after serving four years.

To this day, a number of vendors and local Bahamian suppliers who worked for the event have not been paid. And, in 2020, the United States Marshals Service auctioned off Fyre Festival merchandise to pay off some of the victims.

What do we know about Fyre Festival II?

So far, McFarland hasnt shared any details about what people can expect from the second edition of the failed festival.

However, in response to a Twitter user asking why he shouldnt be in jail, he explained his motivation behind organising the event, saying: Its in the best interest of those I owe for me to be working. people arent getting paid back if I sit on the couch and watch tv.

And because I served my time.
What was supposed to be a peaceful time of the year in which followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism all celebrate their holiest feasts has turned into a nightmare due to the reckless decisions of the current Israeli government.

Living up to its extremist orientation, that government is intentionally sparking tensions in the region to overcome its own domestic problems.

The horrific, shocking images that surfaced late last week could not be more provocative. They show Israeli soldiers violently storming Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem twice in two days, desecrating the premises and brutally beating up male and female worshipers during the holy month of Ramadan, firing tear gas and stun grenades that threatened to set the entire building on fire.

Israels friends and foes issued strongly worded statements condemning the behaviour of occupation forces. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was shocked and appalled by the images he saw of the violence and beating by Israeli security forces inside the Al-Qibli Mosque in Jerusalem.

Palestinian resistance groups responded to this flagrant Israeli aggression on one of three holiest sites to one billion Muslims by firing rockets from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. While Israel reacted by firing missiles, the relatively limited response did not please the right wing, extremist ministers in the current Israeli government, who have been calling for more brutal violence against Palestinians, expansion of illegal settlements. Denying the existence of Palestinians as a people in the first place, members of that government have called for wiping out their villages.

Leading those extremists is the Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called for a harsher response. Hamas rockets require more than blasting dunes and empty sites. Its time to rip heads off in Gaza, he said in a tweet. He also voiced his complete backing of the police and their swift and determined actions.

Ben-Gvirs statements came as no surprise, considering his long history of support for Jewish extremists who have committed massacres against Palestinians, or his insistence on violating the sanctity of Al- Aqsa Mosque by personally leading groups of religious extremists to conduct prayers in its vicinity even after taking an official position in the current government.

Such repeated provocations have increased since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office early this year, and are in clear violation of the agreement reached with Jordan, the custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, since the city was occupied in 1967. This agreement calls for preserving the status quo in Al-Aqsa, considering it a Muslim holy site which followers of other religions can visit, but where they should not be allowed to worship.

Aware that the holy month of Ramadan has traditionally been a tense time in Jerusalem due to Israels policy of limiting the number of Palestinians allowed to pray at Al-Aqsa, neighbouring Egypt and Jordan, the first two countries to sign peace agreements with Israel, held two rounds of talks in Al-Aqaba with Israeli officials along with senior US diplomats, in order to prevent the current, tense situation from getting out of hand.

Understandings were reached that the Israeli government would not take any measures that would further spark tensions during Ramadan, working to prevent extremists from storming Al-Aqsa Mosque and provoking Palestinian worshippers. Israel also agreed not to expand or build any new illegal settlements in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank, and to stop the nearly daily raids of Palestinian towns, killing scores of Palestinians.

Unfortunately, none of these commitments have been respected while Israel continues with its daily aggression and provocation, confirming further that the main priority of the current Israeli government is to stay in office by pleasing extremist ministers who make up a majority of its members. Seeking a new round of confrontation with Palestinians and bordering countries in Lebanon and Syria is yet another playbook tactic by which consecutive Israeli governments have diverted attention away from their own domestic problems.

After weeks of nearly daily mass demonstrations by Israelis who oppose Netanyahus plan to contain the judiciary and give the upper hand to the parliament where he maintains a majority, a clash with Palestinians over Al-Aqsa Mosque could be the perfect way to rally public support.

While the Arab League and the United Nations Security Council held meetings to discuss the dangerous escalation in Palestine, Syria and Lebanon after raids by the Israeli army against Al-Aqsa Mosque, there is a dire need for more concrete action to provide protection for Palestinians and to restrain extremists especially since the end of Ramadan is approaching and thousands of Palestinians are expected to flood the holy sites in Jerusalem to perform prayers ahead of Al-Fitr Feast.

Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock have always been and will remain a red line for all Arabs and Muslims, and the current Israeli government must not be allowed to play with fire. We call for the respect of the basic rights of Palestinians, topped with the right to worship peacefully at one of Islams holiest sites. Meanwhile, images of the inhumane beating of worshippers inside the mosque will continue to haunt the whole world, showing them, once again, the real, ugly face of the racist occupation which Palestinians have been suffering for 75 years.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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I sraeli forces are searching for the gunmen responsible for killing two British-Israeli sisters and their mother in an attack in the West Bank.

The Palestinian militants suspected of carrying out the gun attack that killed Lucy Dee, 45, and her daughters, Maia and Rina, aged 20 and 15, were believed to be hiding in the northern West Bank. Troops from the Israel defence forces were leading the hunt for them.

Lucy, Rina and Maia, who had moved to Israel from the UK nine years ago, were shot on Friday as they were driving in the Jordan Valley in the northern West Bank on their way to a family holiday.

Their vehicle crashed and the gunmen went up to the car and opened fire on the women at close range, according to investigators.

The daughters died at the scene while the death of their mother, who had been in a coma since the attack, was announced on Monday.

Rabbi Leo Dee, the husband and father of the victims, was unhurt as he was in another car some distance away.

He said he would be haunted after missing a call from Maia during the attack, and described his wife and daughters as three beautiful innocent young ladies in the prime of their lives, urging people to post the Israeli flag on social media in their memory.
T he Kremlin has claimed that detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich violated Russian law after the US said he was wrongfully detained and called for his release.

Mr Gershkovich, who covered Russia for the newspaper, was arrested last month while on assignment in the city of Yekaterinburg.

Russian officials have charged him with spying, which is rejected by the US government, the Wall Street Journal and human rights groups. It is the first time Russia has accused a US journalist of espionage since the Cold War.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin claimed the reporter had been caught red-handed on espionage charges - but has offered no evidence to support its claim.

Russia's FSB security service said last month it had arrested Mr Gershkovich, accusing him of gathering information about a Russian defence company that was a state secret.

The latest comments came after the United States had earlier this week designated Mr Gershkovich as wrongfully detained, effectively calling the charges bogus.

The US government transferred the case from the State Department to the office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, raising the political profile of Mr Gershkovichs attention.

Asked about it on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted the journalist had broken the law.

I don't understand what kind of innovations this new regime is introducing. As for what it means, I don't know," Peskov said of the US designation.

He said Gershkovich had been caught red-handed and violated the laws of the Russian Federation", before adding: This is what he's suspected of, but of course, the court will make a decision".

More than 99% of criminal cases in Russia end in a conviction for the prosecution and the country has long been criticised by human rights bodies for a lack of fair trials.

Russia has presented no evidence to support the case against Mr Gershkovich, which is proceeding in secret because Russia says the case materials are confidential.

Next week, a court will hear an appeal from the journalists legal team against an order that he be held in pre-trial detention at Moscow's Lefortovo prison until May 29.

In designating the arrest as wrongful, the US government called for Putins regime to release him.

Journalism is not a crime, said the US State Department.

We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth.

The White House has previously called the espionage charge, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years, ridiculous."

US officials have also called on Russia to release Paul Whelan, a former US Marine serving a 16-year sentence in a Russian prison, who is also designated by Washington as wrongfully detained."

Factors which can decide whether someone is wrongfully detained include whether the individual is being targeted primarily because they are an American citizen or whether the detention is intended to influence US government policy.
R ichard Branson met with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday amid a fresh wave of Russian missile strikes.

Mr Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin, met with Ukraines leader in Kyiv where he became a new ambassador for Ukraines official fundraising platform, UNITED24.

Video released of the encounter shows Mr Zelensky telling the entrepreneur: 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.

Mr Branson told Mr Zelensky how he had travelled through Lviv in the west before arriving in Kyiv, meeting soldiers who had lost limbs to the conflict.

He said: We met some of the soldiers there. One had lost both arms and a leg and he was still smiling, positive and wanting to get back to the front line.

In his visit to Ukraine, Mr Branson visited Bucha - the site of Russian war crimes earlier in the invasion - with American philanthropist Howard Buffett, supporting the construction of a new kitchen to feed children in educational facilities.

Those benefiting from the kitchen will be residents of Bucha, Borodyanka and Nemishaevo.

The Virgin Galactic founder attended an event for the kitchen alongside Ukraines first lady Olena Zelenska and Bucha mayor Antaoliy Fedoruk.

via REUTERS

Mayor Fedoruk said on Telegram: 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.

It is the second time Mr Branson has been known to have visited Ukraine since Russias invasion in February last year, having met Zelensky in June.

He wrote in a letter on his website at the time that he visited some of the sites of devastation caused by Russias invasion, and called it a humbling and emotional experience.

The latest visit came as Russia stepped up attacks on frontline cities in eastern Ukraine on Monday.

Putins forces 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 and has witnessed heavy fighting.
A t least four people were killed in a mass shooting in Alabama on Saturday (April 15).

A further 28 people were injured at Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio in the city of Dadeville, where a 16th birthday party was taking place.

High school student Phil Dowdell has been named as one of the victims, but no information about the suspected shooter has been revealed at the time of writing.

Gun-related injuries are responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and injuries every year in the US.

There have been 163 mass shootings in the US so far this year, according to the independent group Gun Violence Archive.

Weve highlighted key figures and statistics around gun violence in the US below.

US gun violence facts and statistics
R ussian mercenaries have claimed they now control more than 80% of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

Wagner mercenary group head Yevgeny Prigozhin made the claim in a video posted on Tuesday.

Bakhmut, a small eastern city in eastern Ukraine, has for months been the target of a major Russian offensive and has seen the heaviest fighting in the nearly 14-month war.

In a video published by a Russian military blogger on the Telegram messaging app, Prigozhin is seen showing on a map of the area how his forces are continuing their encirclement of the now devastated city, which before Russias invasion had been home to around 70,000 people.

In Bakhmut, the larger part, more than 80% is now under our control, including the whole administrative centre, factories, warehouses, the administration of the city," said Prigozhin.

He used a red marker pen to highlight the relatively small, mainly residential area of the city that remained to be captured by Russian forces. There the war continues," he said.

A top Ukrainian commander had said Russia was using scorched earth" tactics on the city, as the Ukrainian city in the eastern Donetsk region and other cities and towns came under heavy bombardment this week.

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 of Bakhmut on Monday.

However, he added: The situation is difficult but controllable.

Yevgeny Prigozhin / AP

The battle for the largely ruined city on the edge of a chunk of Russian-controlled territory in Donetsk has been the bloodiest of the 13-month war. Kyiv and the West say the city has only symbolic importance.

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties in the Bakhmut fighting. 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."

In Chasiv Yar, the first major town to Bakhmuts west ,50-year-old humanitarian volunteer Maksym told Reuters: It used to be scarier, but now we have got used to it. You dont even pay attention.

Ukraines foreign minister said on Tuesday that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured him in a phone call that Washington still backed Kyivs effort to win the war with Russia.

During our call today, (Blinken) reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. support and vehemently rejected any attempts to cast doubt on Ukraines capacity to win on the battlefield," he tweeted.

The U.S. remains Ukraines trustworthy partner, focused on advancing our victory and securing a just peace."

Ukraines military is widely expected to mount a counteroffensive in coming weeks against Russian forces.
O ne of Londons best-loved purveyors of pizza, Yard Sale Pizza, has announced a new month-long collaboration with independent food creatives Taste Cadets.

The pair are launching a limited edition pizza, the Slemani Special, named after the north-eastern Iraqi city. The name is a nod to the Kurdish roots of one of the Taste Cadets, Allan Seapa Mustafa, who besides being a Cadet is best known as the writer and co-creator of the hit TV series, People Just Do Nothing.

The pizza will feature a classic Yard Sale base, topped with slivers of Kurdish-style lamb kebab, tomatoes, sumac and flor di latte mozzarella. A portion of the proceeds generated by sales of the new creation will contribute to the Kurdish Red Crescent Society aid program, which helps provide relief for the earthquake which devastated the southern Turkish and northern Syrian region back in February.

Lamb kebab pizza / Yard Sale_Taste Cadets

Mustafa is one third of the Taste Cadets trio. Self-styled as three swagged out mates traveling around eating everything the world has to offer, they also include former chef Kieran Cavanagh and tattoo artist and skateboarder Marcus Adams.

The group said of the new Yard Sale Pizza partnership: Were buzzing to bring a taste of Seapas heritage and culture to our collab with Yard Sale.

All 10 Yard Sale locations, including their latest spot in Tottenham, will serve the new special.

Taste Cadets continued: Weve been big fans of theirs for a while, so to bring the Slemani Special to the masses is really exciting  lamb kebab on a pizza? You know it makes sense. Its also a great opportunity for us to help raise some money for all those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and beyond via the Kurdish Red Crescents Earthquake Fundraiser.

The trio have shot to popularity since launching in 2017, courting a younger food-focussed audience who swerve the likes of Michelin when discovering their new favourite restaurants. The thruple recently launched a YouTube series dubbed Home Turf in which they explore the varied (Kurdish, Scottish and Jamaican respectively) heritage of the group. The episode begins with the discovery of Scottish lorne sausage at Deeneys Cafe and goes onto Sarchnar restaurant for Kurdish inspired kebab.

The Slemani Special will be available from April 19 until May 16 across all Yard Sale Pizza sites

Full information can be found here at yardsalepizza.com

Correction: A previously published version of this article included Taste Cadets reference to a 100% certy Kurdish lamb recipe weve been developing in the kitchen. The Standard understands they misspoke.
W hisky (or whiskey) is not limited to production in Scotland, Ireland and even the United States of America. While Japan paved the way for renowned whisky production in the Eastern Hemisphere in the 21th Century, there are over 200 distilleries across the globe today that produce excellent single malt whisky.

While some may be sceptical about buying whisky produced in tropical countries, the angels share (evaporation leading to high maturation of the whisky) is faster owing to soaring temperatures in these regions. This results in a whisky with great depth, more dynamic taste and smooth textures. Many new whiskies are creative in how long they age their whiskies, the choice of cask and the wide array of flavours their spirits produce.

Ill go ahead and play devils advocate here and say that not all of them get it right. Some distilleries make the rookie mistake of bottling too quickly and some go overboard with an unusual choice of cask to mature their whiskies, but theres room for trial and error and we wont go further into that.

Here is a list of some of the best whiskies out in the world right now.
E astEnders has announced plans to mark King Charles upcoming Coronation with a special episode.

On May 1, the long-running BBC soap will celebrate the historic occasion with a coronation-themed street party in Albert Square.

The BBC has teased that viewers can expect to see the community spirit of Walford at an all-time high as the residents vow to put their troubles behind them for the big day and deck the Square out in red, white and blue bunting.

Soap bosses have yet to reveal whether this right royal knees-up will go to plan, but being EastEnders, drama is never too far away.

As well as EastEnders, BBC shows including Countryfile, Antiques Roadshow and Bargain Hunt will all air Royal-based themed episodes.

Charles and Camilla pictured with the cast of EastEnders in 2022 for the Queens Platinum Jubilee / BBC

Last summer, King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, paid a visit to Albert Square as part of the late Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubilee.

In addition to being given a guided tour of the Elstree set, the royals met the soaps cast and crew and even filmed a special scene with them.

One of the characters they got to meet with Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer.

They were really good, they pulled it out of the bag, the actor told the Standard at the time.

Adding: We had 20 minutes with them. We rehearsed it, they got out of the motor, we did it and then they left.

Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon Watts in the soap, recalling to the PA news agency how she told the then-Prince of Wales: Youve got your coat on, very wise, which prompted Charles to take his jacket off and place it around her shoulders.

The chivalrous act was met with a round of applause.

Dean, who appeared in the first episode of the soap in 1985, later told him: Thanks for lending me your coat, it smelt rather lovely.
G illian Anderson has hit back at claims that The Crown bosses were "forced to rewrite the script" of the upcoming series because she refused to take part.

It was said that the actress, who played prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the Netflix drama, would be returning for the next season but decided to pull out unexpectedly, which was a blow to production.

However, she rubbished claims in an update on Twitter on Monday, calling the reports absolute b*****ks.

Reports had claimed that producers were thrown into chaos because the 54-year-old star, who won an Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmy for the role, failed to return.

The insider reportedly said: Gillians portrayal of Thatcher was met with global critical acclaim and she was a huge asset to The Crown.

It had been hoped she would be able to make an appearance in scenes around the golden wedding but sadly that has not been the case due to scheduling issues.

They continued: Its been another blow for producers in whats already been a fairly dogged production.

The publication claimed that the original script planned for the show to recreate a dinner held by the Queen and Philip, attended by a host of dignitaries, including Thatcher.

But due to Andersons absence, executives were said to have switched it to a different dinner, in which the late prime minister was not in attendance.

However, her spokesperson has since stated: Gillian Anderson was never intended to return as Margaret Thatcher.

The sixth and final season of The Crown will centre around the events leading up to Princess Dianas 1997 death and is expected to air towards the end of the year.

It will see the return of Elizabeth Debicki in the role depicting the year of the princesss death.
T he most significant SpaceX launch of the year to date is planned for the end of this month, CEO Elon Musk says.

Starship launch trending towards near the end of third week of April, Musk wrote on Twitter on Monday. He had confirmed earlier in the day that the craft was ready to launch and awaiting regulatory approval.

SpaceX has previously announced plans to run a rehearsal of the Starship launch this week, where the rockets will be fuelled, but not ignited.

SpaceXs upcoming mission

This will be the first orbital launch of the Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket, which make up the craft now commonly called the SpaceX Starship. It is the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed according to SpaceX, and stands 120 metres tall. After its lower rocket section disconnects, the Starship alone is 50m tall, and has a payload capacity of up to 150 tonnes.

While this initial flight of Starship will be unmanned and carry no cargo, the plan is for it to eventually carry up to 100 people into space for long interplanetary flights, to the moon and Mars.

The first major flight of the SpaceX Starship will involve it making an orbital trip across the Earth. It will land 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Hawaii, around 90 to 100 minutes after its initial lift-off.

In previous tests, SpaceX launched earlier versions of its Starship design. However, these missions used much smaller rocket engines, lasted only a few minutes, and were designed to test the crafts ability to launch and land safely, for reuse.

The SpaceX mission to Mars

In Aprils launch, the Super Heavy rocket will fire for the first stage of the test. It will then disconnect from Starship and, with any luck, land softly in the Gulf of Mexico, an estimated 30km (18.6 miles) off the coast of Texas.

SpaceX tested the Super Heavy rocket in February 2023, firing 31 of its 33 rockets for approximately six seconds. One of the engines was stopped by SpaceX engineers just before launch, another did so of its own accord.

Team turned off 1 engine just before start & 1 stopped itself, so 31 engines fired overall. But still enough engines to reach orbit! Musk tweeted following the test back in February.

One of the more striking SpaceX moments of recent years was in March 2021. A much earlier Starship prototype appeared to land safely after a high-altitude flight test, but exploded a few minutes after landing.

Only a few days ago on April 7, SpaceX launched a satellite into geostationary orbit using a 70m-long Falcon 9 rocket. It included a UV-visible spectrometer that will measure air pollution across North America. This was the companys 23rd mission of the year.
Criticisms by Israels Western backers of laws introduced by the countrys current coalition government have less to do with democratic ideals than with strategic interests.

The talk of a rift between Israel and its Western backers may sound like music to the ears of some around the world, especially those opposed to the occupation of Palestine. However, the reality is more likely to be contrary to what many of us might think, despite the noise and exaggeration surrounding recent official statements.

The US and some other Western democracies are criticising the Israeli government in public as a means of putting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government, hoping to prevent it from rapidly pivoting towards becoming an ultra-right fundamentalist junta.

But the intention is not to promote democratic ideals or protect liberalism or any other rhetoric along those lines. The extremist religious parties who form Netanyahus coalition government were democratically elected.

It might be true that there is not much personal chemistry between Netanyahu and Democratic US President Joe Biden. But that is not an issue when it comes to strategic relationships. Though the West, mainly the Europeans, invested heavily in the establishment of the state of Israel even before its creation in 1948, the US has led the way as its main supporter and investor. Threatening Israels power is thus almost a direct threat to US interests.

The US has almost abandoned its classic position in this instance when it pertains to promoting principles such as free speech. This was emboldened by its lack of support for liberal demonstrators in Israel calling for scrapping laws that restrict freedoms. If taking a step back becomes the norm for the US, this could greatly influence the trajectory of Israels future.

Demonstrations, sometimes violent, started against the new laws proposed by extremists in Netanyahus coalition government. They were branded as a reform of the countrys judiciary by the government, but they came closer to being a decapitation of the countrys legal institutions since the proposed laws weaken the judges from challenging the constitutional legitimacy of the executive or legislative branches of government.

The introduction of such laws was a requirement by the extremist religious parties to give Netanyahu a majority so he could become prime minister after the elections last year. There are also other provisions in the proposed laws that curtail the power of the elected Knesset to oust the prime minister and that allow the formation of a militia-like National Guard under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

All these provisions are designed to give religious extremists more control of the state, pushing it closer to being a theocracy. Even though the US and the West are not interested in Israel becoming a theocracy, they have found themselves tolerating this prospect. It is possible that some Western thinkers might also validate this as a democracy based on the people (the demos) becoming more religious, as the word implies.

Yet, the basic law of the State of Israel is already in essence theocratic. A few years ago, a law on the Jewishness of Israel was ratified and was accepted by the rest of the world despite the fact that a religious state is by its nature discriminatory of the rights of citizens not sharing that religion.

Many countries apply Islamic Sharia Law through some aspects of their laws, and some parties in Western democracies retain the word Christian in their names and values. Yet, in todays world there are only two officially religious states: Shiite Iran and Jewish Israel. The short-lived third was the defunct Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (IS or Daesh in Arabic) that was established by Sunni Islamist terrorists and destroyed by an international coalition.

Is there some underlying meaning to these three names all starting with an I?

The irony is that the notion promoted by the West about Israel being a democratic oasis in a troubled region could also logically be applied to Iran. This also conducts free elections, like in the US and other democracies. Both Iran and Israel will now have militia-like forces different from the traditional army and law-enforcement agencies as a result of the proposed laws in Israel  the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran and the National Guard in Israel.

It seems almost impossible for a religious state to be genuinely democratic, but that does not matter much when it comes to strategic interests. Moreover, the rising tide of religious extremism in Israel is consistent with the rising tide of extremist right wing forces in many Western democracies today. A major concern for the US and the other Western powers is that the accelerated rate of radical change in Israel is not helping its stability. They fear for their investment in the country, regardless of the rhetoric about democracy, liberalism or civil rights.

At the end of the last century, few people around the world predicted that the next century  the one we live in now  would be a century of religion. This seemed a valid point of view, notably as a result of the demise of major ideologies around the world at the end of the Cold War.

I remember writing an article in Arabic entitled Groups not States about the rise of fringe groups at the expense of nation-states at the time, in which my concern was the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood (the ikhwan) and its terrorist offshoots from Islamic Jihad to Al-Qaeda. Israels backers in the West might now fear the prospect of its fragmentation into groups, whether militant or non-militant, as this would represent a possibly existential threat to their investment in the country.

New states like the US, Canada, and Australia were settled over several centuries, with religion playing no role in their creation. Though you can still hear the words German-American and Irish-American,  or more likely today African-American and Hispanic-American  in the US, the system prevents the state from fragmenting. There are also no threats coming from the indigenous population to the existence of the state.

However, Israel is not in the same situation. The Palestinians are still present and are neither assimilated into the State of Israel nor ready to give up fighting for their rights. Until this issue is resolved, the US-led Western backers of Israel will feel an obligation to protect the Jewish State.

* The writer is a London-based seasoned journalist.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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S ome Twitter users claim their private tweets, which often contain nude images, are being leaked publicly.

The lapse relates to a secure feature called Twitter Circles, which enables users of the social network to discreetly share tweets with up to 150 accounts of their choice. Upon its launch last August, Twitter described the function as a way to have more intimate conversations and build closer connections with select followers.

However, several users told Buzzfeed News that their private tweets have been seen by people they werent intended for. An author named Abraham Josephine Riesman said a risque image of her had been liked by a person who wasnt in her private Twitter circle.

At the time of writing, its unclear whats causing the issue. But, it marks the latest embarrassing faux pas by Twitter and could even result in a fine for the platform, according to a legal expert. Irelands data regulator previously handed Twitter a fine of 450,000 (395,000) in 2020 over a bug that saw some private tweets publicly exposed in 2019.

A former Twitter data scientist has blamed the lapse on the layoffs orchestrated by Twitter CEO Elon Musk. Privacy and information security lawyer Whitney Merrilll has said the issue represents a data breach under EU law.

Unfortunately, like so much else under Musk its now broken, with all those private convos now shared with everyone, said former Twitter staffer Meillsa Ingle in a tweet about Twitter Circles.

Imagine your DMs showing up on the main timeline. I strongly suspect there is no longer the expertise to keep up this relatively new feature, she added in a follow-up.

What are Twitter Circles?

Twitter Circles allow you to share tweets with a handpicked group of users instead of everyone on the platform.

You can add up to 150 accounts to a Twitter Circle, including people you dont follow and vice versa. Before you post a tweet, you can select to share it with this group by tapping Twitter Circle in the Choose Audience menu.

Though only you can see the full list of members in your Circle, others in the Circle can see likes and replies to your private tweet, unless theyre from accounts that are set to private.

Despite the added security of the feature, its worth bearing in mind that Twitter Circle members can still download or screenshot your secret images or tweets to re-share with others.
The intersection of Highway 12 and Industrial Park Road were temporarily shut down on Monday due to a medical emergency.
Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry have both emphasised the importance of ongoing consultations to build on the achievements of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November last year.

In a phone call, Shoukry and Kerry expressed their satisfaction with the level of cooperation on climate issues and pledged to continue working together to advance the global climate action agenda.

Both parties vowed to continue consultations on global climate action ahead of COP28, scheduled to take place in the UAE from 30 November until 12 December.

Egypt has affirmed its readiness to cooperate with the UAE to ensure the success of COP28, and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed his willingness to share Egypt's expertise in addressing the climate concerns of African and developing countries.

The US envoy expressed appreciation for Shoukry's participation in the virtual ministerial meeting of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) on energy and climate hosted by Kerry last month.

The Egyptian top diplomat said that the meeting represented an important opportunity to review the successes achieved during the COP27, especially with regard to addressing the file of loss and damage, fulfilling pledges and mobilising climate finance, citing these as crucial successes of COP27.

Earlier in April, UAEs President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a written message to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inviting him to attend the conference.

El-Sisi affirmed his confidence in the UAEs leadership for hosting COP28 in a meeting with Mariam Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to Egypt, who handed the invitation to El-Sisi.

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Hoping to expand beyond its walls and reach the community, a church in Beamsville has declared itself fully inclusive.

We want everyone to understand that even in the very conservative world of Lincoln and Beamsville, we wish to make sure that it's known that we welcome everyone, said Irene Romagnoli, affirming ministry chair at Trinity United Church.

By everyone, the congregation refers to people of any age, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, intellectual and physical ability, family configuration, social or economic circumstance or mental health.

The William Street church currently boasts a congregation of more than 100 members.

The transition into an Affirmed Church with the goal to boldly and intentionally support the LGBTQ2+ community in Lincoln will come with new educational programs for its community to bring more awareness of the issues marginalized groups face.

Affirming our congregation means we are saying that when we meet people, it's OK for them to be who they are, and we accept them for being who they are, Romagnoli said. We do not wish to change them in any way whatsoever.

The plans to become an Affirmed Church had been in the works for a few years. Congregation members have been part of meetings and education sessions with The Niagara Falls Community Health Centre (NFCHC), a non-profit multi-service health centre.

Romagnoli said educating helps understand things better and removes the fear of the unknown.

So when people are approaching other human beings, they're not so worried now about something like pronouns suddenly becoming an issue, and they're not thrown for a loop by someone saying that they're a lesbian or that they're transgender, Romagnoli said.

Romagnoli said the United Church of Canada guides the Trinity congregation, and although it is one of the more open-minded faiths, they still have to operate within their guidelines.

In 2000, the United Church of Canada renounced its 1960 statement that homosexuality is a sin. When Canada legalized same-sex marriage in 2006, the church followed suit.

A member of the church since she was a child, Donna Burton said this recent change is a great idea.

In many ways, I don't maybe fit into some of the more traditionally conservative views that some of the West Niagara folks agree with or follow.

The 52-year-old hopes other congregation members accept Trinity Beamsville's decision, even if they're from the more traditional side of it or look at things with a more traditional perspective.

Though the congregation made the decision after an overwhelmingly positive amount of votes, Burton said negative views could also come from outside the Trinity Beamsville church community. The reality is that sometimes it happens.

Burton is excited to see the inclusive changes in practice and added that it will be the norm of operations as a church community.

It's maybe a sign that we're moving more out into the broader Lincoln community as opposed to just being the church community that's inside the walls of the church, Burton said.

Church members Jane Ford and her husband, Terry Hall, are educating themselves on the LGBTQ2+ community, making them much more aware.

The church member said there is always a concern and the risk for people like her of misstepping, saying or doing the wrong thing.

Unless we understand where they're coming from, it's harder for us to be welcoming, sensitive, aware of their situations, Ford said. And this is a portion of the community that I don't think has often felt very welcome.

An aging congregation is another reason to make new connections in the region. It's just rejuvenating and refreshing to look for people in the community to serve.

These are things (educational programs) that normally, to be honest, wouldn't have been on my radar, Ford said. If the church is going down this path, which we totally support, we want to understand issues better.

An official celebration of Trinity Beamsville becoming an Affirmed Church  including raising the Pride flag, a celebratory service, guest speakers and a luncheon  will happen on April 30, at 10:30 a.m.

It will probably be more colourful and hopefully be a little exciting and boisterous, Romagnoli said.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: When reporter Beatriz Baleeiro heard about Trinity United Church's recent decision to become an Affirmed church, she wanted to speak with members of the congregation about why they wanted to make this change and what impact they hope it will have on the community.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated to clarify that this event is a bike ride. The Sachem regrets any confusion this may have caused.

The OPP Youth Foundation is hosting the Getting After It Greg Pierzchala Memorial Ride in honour of the OPP officer who died in the line of duty in Hagersville. Heres what you need to know.

WHERE AND WHEN

The bike ride will take place on April 15. Registration will be open from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Dunnville Farmers Market, 218 Main St. E. While pre-registration online is not required, it is encouraged to help organizers better plan the refreshments following the bike ride. Registration links can be found online at bit.ly/GregPierzchalaMemorialRideDunnville.

There will be opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m., and the first riders will set out at 11 a.m., with the Ontario Provincial Police commissioners own pipes and drums band playing.

THE RIDES

There will be three ride lengths for participants to choose from: 20, 40 and 80 kilometres.

The 80 km riders will head out from the farmers market at 11 a.m.; the 40 km riders will leave the market at noon. The 20 km riders will also depart at noon, but from the Disciples Conference Grounds, 1899 Lakeshore Rd. These riders will need to arrange their own transportation to the starting point. All of the riders will be finishing at the market.

Motorists in the area are urged to drive with extra caution to ensure everyone stays safe.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

This ride is open to the public, and everyone is welcome to participate.

However, people can also just make a financial contribution toward the $20,000 fundraising goal through the CanadaHelps website at bit.ly/GregPierzchalaMemorialRideDunnville if theyre unable to attend.

WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING?

The funds raised through this event will be going toward the OPP Youth Foundation. This organizations works include offering financial support for Ontario children and youths to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities, as well as a bursary program for students pursuing post-secondary education.

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Joining a binational coalition to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River makes sense for Welland, says Mayor Frank Campion.

Maybe it sounds a bit off because were not on a lake, but we are affected by the lakes. What happens on Lake Erie has a direct impact on our (drinking) water, transportation and economic activities. The water we drink comes from the (Welland) Canal, said Campion.

The 43-kilometre-long canal flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and passes through Wellands east end. At its closest point, Welland is just more than five kilometres from the lakes shoreline.

The Great Lakes represent approximately 20 per cent of the worlds surface freshwater supply and provide drinking water for 40 million people.

We all have a responsibility in knowing whats going on (with the lakes) and have a say in whats happening when it comes to the safety and cleanliness of our drinking water, Campion said.

He said the city recently joined the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, made up of more than 200 municipal and regional U.S. and Canadian mayors and local officials who are working to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

I believe its very valuable, and we should be a part of it, he said.

According to its website, the initiative has grown to include more than 120 member municipalities of all sizes from around the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin, representing more than 14 million people.

It was founded in 2003 by former Chicago, Ill., mayor Richard M. Daley, with former Toronto mayor David Miller the founding Canadian chair. Its headquarters are in Chicago, with staff in Toronto and Montreal.

We are part of the Great Lakes system. Were concerned about the water, water quality and ecological impacts, said Campion.

He said he read up on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative and spoke with fellow mayors in Port Colborne and St. Catharines about the organization before joining.

It really is something that impacts us, he said, adding its good to be part of something that may find solutions to Great Lakes issues.

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OAKVILLE, Ont. - Ford Motor Co. has revealed some details of its plan to spend $1.8 billion on its Oakville Assembly Complex to turn it into an electric vehicle production hub in the latest commitment by an automaker transitioning towards an electric future.

The automaker said Tuesday that it will start retooling the Ontario complex in the second quarter of 2024 and begin producing electric vehicles in 2025.

The transformation of the Oakville site, to be renamed the Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex, will include a new 407,000 square-foot battery plant where parts produced at Fords U.S. operations will be assembled into battery packs.

General Motors is already producing electric delivery vans in Canada, but Ford says this is the first time a full-line automaker has announced plans to produce passenger EVs in Canada for the North American market.

GM said in February it plans to build motors for electric vehicles at its St. Catharines, Ont. propulsion plant. The motors will go into its BrightDrop electric delivery vans, which it produces in part at its Ingersoll, Ont. plant, as well as its electric pickup trucks, producing enough at the plant for 400,000 vehicles a year.

Fords announcement is the latest commitment by an automaker transitioning towards an electric future.

Canada and the Oakville complex will play a vital role in our Ford Plus transformation, said chief executive Jim Farley in a statement.

The company has committed to invest over US$50 billion in electric vehicles globally and has a target of producing two million EVs a year by the end of 2026 as part of its Ford Plus growth plan.

Ford didnt specify in the release which models it planned to build at the Oakville complex, which currently produces the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus.

The companys spending plans were first announced in 2020 as part of union negotiations, with workers seeking long-term production commitments and the Detroit Three automakers eventually agreeing to invest in Canadian operations in concert with spending agreements with the Ontario and federal governments.

The two governments agreed to provide $295 million each in funding to secure the Ford investment.

The partnership between Ford and Canada helps to position us as a global leader in the EV supply chain for decades to come, said Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne in Fords news release.

Funding help comes as the federal government moves to require that at least 20 percent of new vehicles sold in Canada will be zero-emission by 2026, at least 60 per cent by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2035.

The Ford spending commitment is just one of many seen in Canada in recent years, most recently with Volkswagen announcing in March it would build its first battery cell plant outside of Europe at a plant in St. Thomas, Ont. The federal government has not yet said how much money it committed to secure the Volkswagen investment.

Stellantis and LG Energy Solution have also committed to spending more than $5 billion to build an EV battery plant in Windsor, Ont., while Stellantis is also spending $3.6 billion on its Windsor and Brampton, Ont. plants to prepare them for both electric and conventional auto production.

Unifor president Lana Payne welcomed the news in a statement.

Assembling batteries at the retooled plant means more jobs for Canadian autoworkers and ultimately a more sustainable plant, she said.

These jobs are essential to a thriving auto sector and our union will continue to advocate for a comprehensive EV transition at every opportunity.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

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Two influential U.S. opponents of unchecked corporate consolidation and power have weighed in on Ottawas consultation on new competition rules for Canadian businesses.

Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, and Jonathan Kanter, assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, wrote a joint letter last month to Canadas Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.

Champagnes department is in the process of the first major review of competition laws in more than a decade and March 31 was the deadline for submissions from experts as well as the public at large.

Both Khan and Kanter are really leading the charge on more aggressive enforcement in the United States, said Keldon Bester, co-founder of the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project.

Khan and Kanter are among a number of so-called progressive antitrust advocates who were appointed to senior roles in government by President Joe Biden and both have taken on big tech companies in high-profile cases. (Antitrust is the general term used for competition laws in the U.S.).

Beyond the source  these people being important figures in the American economy  I think (the letter is) also important to show that we could be doing similar stuff in Canada, Bester said.

Khan and Kanters letter does not make specific suggestions for change in Canada but does outline several instances where U.S. competition law differs from Canada.

For example, the U.S. does not have an efficiencies defence (where the cost savings generated by two companies combining can help save a merger that would otherwise be blocked because it is bad for competition); and the law in the U.S. also puts a greater burden on merging companies to prove that a proposed deal wont reduce competition.

The FTC also has the power to compel businesses to turn over information as part of market studies. Canadas Competition Bureau has long called for similar powers.

Last year, the bureau announced plans to study high grocery prices but warned the results could be limited by that lack of formal investigative powers.

In Canada we cant see if what were doing is working. We just dont look into it, Bester said.

He said he hopes the consultation will result in a stronger set of laws, much more akin to the U.S.

In its own submission to the consultation, the Competition Bureau said Canadians see our laws as outdated, weak, complex, slow, and out of touch and added, they are not wrong.

In their letter, Khan and Kanter said the head of the Competition Bureau asked them for their input as part of the consultation.

Michael Osborne, chair of the competition law practice at Cozen OConnor in Toronto, said the letter represents a broader trend of competition authorities contributing to debates about the law in other jurisdictions.

The letter is useful, but its not groundbreaking, he said, adding that he hopes Canadas government does not rush the consultation process to make major changes to competition laws.

The bureau has proposed increased power to crack down on dominant companies that abuse their position in the market. But Osborne said some of the proposed changes could have unintended consequences by preventing businesses from competing vigorously out of fear.

On investigative powers, he said market studies can be useful but they can also be an expensive and time-consuming fishing expedition.

Osborne said hes concerned that in the current political environment, none of the major parties are focused on the economics behind the laws and are instead more interested in scoring points on a populist basis.

The government has not yet made public all of the feedback it received on the consultation though some organizations have published their own submissions.

Besters group, the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project, has called for stronger rules around mergers and increased protection against companies abusing their dominance, stating: Canada needs a robust anti-monopoly law that meets the challenge posed by our economic environment, curbs the exercise of corporate power against Canadians and protects economic fairness.

Meanwhile, the C.D. Howe Institutes Competition Policy Council, which includes many of the countrys top lawyers who work for businesses on competition matters, has called for caution before departing from established Canadian law and process.

The government should not seek to mimic developments in competition law and policy in foreign jurisdictions that are still untested, and instead rely on evidence in demonstrating the need for change, the C.D. Howe group said in response to the consultation.

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EDMONTON - A United Conservative Party candidate in southern Alberta is being criticized for saying people who have heart failure should take accountability for their own health.

Maybe the reason you had a heart attack was because you havent taken care of yourself, said UCP Livingstone-Macleod candidate Chelsae Petrovic on a February episode of The Canadian Story podcast.

Youre extremely overweight, you havent managed your congestive heart failure, you havent managed your diabetes and theres no personal accountability.

But they come into the hospital and all of a sudden its everyone elses problem but their own.

Petrovic, who is mayor of Claresholm south of Calgary, has also been a licensed practical nurse for more than 12 years.

She issued a statement Monday saying her comment on the podcast was taken out of context.

I was speaking for several minutes about the challenges our health-care system is currently facing, Petrovic said. I understand my comment could be offensive when removed from the longer interview, and I should have chosen better language.

I believe we should be a province that not only focuses on reactive health for those in need but also one that teaches our kids to practice healthy living, which includes taking care of our physical health.

On the podcast, Petrovic prefaced her comments saying, This might be political suicide, what Im about to say, which is fine with me, because it needs to be said.

Premier Danielle Smith was asked Tuesday during a news conference on health care in Sherwood Park, Alta., about her candidates comment.

Im pleased to see that (Petrovic) issued a statement yesterday clarifying that she could have used better language, Smith said.

There are some times that I have had missteps, said Smith. I think people are forgiving when you give an opportunity to explain what you meant and I want to extend the same opportunity to others.

Smith was criticized last year for saying that early-stage cancer is within a persons control during her own podcast.

When you think everything that built up before you got to stage four and that diagnosis, thats completely within your control and theres something you can do about that that is different, Smith said.

She later said during a UCP leadership debate that her comment was misunderstood, and shes a proponent of early detection, early treatment, nutrition and holistic medicine.

In late March, UCP Lethbridge West candidate Torry Tanner resigned after claiming in a video that children are exposed to pornography in schools and teachers help them change their gender identity.

Opposition NDP leader Rachel Notley took to Twitter to comment on Petrovics statement, sharing that her grandfather had a heart attack and died while he was headed out to feed cows on their farm.

No one saw it coming, tweeted Notley.

Kevin Van Tighem, the NDP candidate for Livingstone-Macleod, issued a statement demanding Petrovic and Smith apologize.

Last year, Danielle Smith said Albertans are responsible for developing cancer. Now her candidate blames Albertans for having a heart attack. This is a pattern of cruel and hurtful language that kicks Albertans when theyre down. They must apologize today.

The Canadian Story is a podcast hosted by Zach Gerber, owner of Skytrack Studios, and David Parker, who was a regional adviser to Stephen Harper while he was prime minister. The podcast covers a wide variety of topics under a politically conservative lens.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

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A claim that a Canadian natural gas company was targeted in a cyberattack could be anything from a Russian disinformation campaign to a real and present threat to critical infrastructure, experts say.

According to a trove of leaked Pentagon documents, Russian-based cyber actors compromised an internet protocol address, a unique network address for a computer, on Feb. 25. The hackers claimed to have caused sufficient damage to cause the company to lose profit, and that their intention was to cause loss of income for Canadians, but not loss of life.

The group said to have launched the cyberattacks identified as Zarya. The documents say the group shared screenshots with officers in the Russian Federal Security Service, the successor to the KGB, which claimed they acquired the ability to increase valve pressure, disable alarms, and initiate an emergency shutdown of an unspecified gas distribution station.

Officers in the Russian Federal Security Service anticipated a successful attack would cause an explosion at the gas distribution station and were monitoring Canadian news reports for any indications of an explosion. The documents say if the group were successful, it would mark the first observation of a pro-Russia hacking group successfully launching a disruptive attack against Western industrial control systems.

Cybersecurity experts have long warned of how oil and gas infrastructure such as pipelines or refineries are enticing targets for cyberespionage because shutting them down could disrupt critical systems or Canadas energy supply.

But a successful cyberattack of that magnitude would have likely attracted more attention, said Stephanie Carvin, a national security expert at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.

This is not evidence of an attack, this is evidence of a conversation  There could have been and it was just covered (up). Its possible but we just dont know. These guys could be bragging to their bosses just looking for a paycheque. And it could be misinformation, Carvin said.

Having said that, Russia is no stranger in targeting critical infrastructure in other countries, Carvin added, so the possibility of it occurring should not be entirely dismissed.

What it is to me is its indicative of Russian willingness (to target infrastructure in other countries), Carvin said.

Brett Callow, a threat analyst with anti-malware company Emsisoft, which helps companies retrieve their data when theyve been hacked, described Zarya as a hacktivist group. They differ from other Russian cybergangs in that their primary motive is to advance Russias political interests rather than make money.

There are multiple hacktivist collectives claiming hacks, often falsely. In some cases, itll simply be an attention-seeking individual making a false claim (for laughs) while, in other cases, it may be intentional disinformation intended to keep the other side busy, Callow said.

But still, the potential is there for a massive cyberattack on critical infrastructure that could cause ripple effects in multiple sectors, he added.

Our systems, including our critical infrastructure systems, have been vulnerable for years. They have been under attack for years. And its probably only a matter of time before one of these attacks morphs into something very serious, Callow said.

Zarya is associated with another pro-Russia hacktivist group called Killnet, Callow said. He expressed strong skepticism about their ability to cause real damage to oil and gas companies. Their primary methods are DOS (denial of service) and DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks, which can take down websites and online services temporarily.

Both groups are more noise than action  They can be disruptive and a pain in the butt, but it is low level stuff, Callow said. Certainly not likely to cause an explosion.

There have been examples of cybercriminals targeting large oil and gas companies. Callow highlighted an example from the U.S. where a gang of cybercriminals breached data systems belonging to Colonial Pipeline, which controls nearly half the gasoline, jet fuel and diesel flowing through the East Coast, the New York Times reported.

The companys data systems were connected to pipeline operations and they decided to turn off a major pipeline. The Times reported that government officials said the country could only operate for another three to five days before buses and other mass transit vehicles would have to scale back their operations because of the dearth of diesel fuel.

Cyberattacks are an even greater threat at a time when nearly every electronic device is connected to the internet, said Carol Fung, a cybersecurity expert at Concordia University.

Canada has a lot of interest in making smart cities, electrifying the system, electrifying industry, and we are expecting more and more critical infrastructures and more government operations and all the important facilities to either be electrified or connected (to other smart devices), Fung said.

The power grid is kind of getting more and more intelligent, which means a lot more flexibility and control and potentially  that makes it easier to be attacked by sophisticated attackers all over the world, she added.

One example of an emerging technology that has become a popular target for cyberattacks are electronic charging stations, Fung said.

The stations are popping up all over the U.S. due to incentives for consumers to switch to electronic vehicles, which means manufacturers are rushing to build them and get them to market.

However the security features of those products or devices actually is left as an afterthought  imagine if some of them are not secure enough, they can be hacked. So there are consequences, Fung said.

Its an example of the security issues that are exposed in the face of rapidly changing technology, which could also apply to systems and devices used in the oil and gas industry.

A lot of machines are vulnerable already, Fung said. You just dont know.

The Communications Security Establishment, a federal department responsible for information technology and communications security, said in a statement that it doesnt comment on specific cybersecurity incidents or on leaked intelligence because of their sensitive nature.

But they noted they have expressed concerns about cyberattacks causing disruption to critical infrastructure.

We remain deeply concerned about this threat and urge critical infrastructure owners and operators to get in touch with us to work together to protect their systems, it said.

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Ondi Timoner wanted a record of her dads voice, the lyrical cadence of fatherly advice that had been sought for decades by friends and family.

It wasnt meant to be a documentary about Eli Timoners wildly successful ascent as an airline entrepreneur. Or the stroke that ended his career. And certainly not his decision, at the age of 92, to use Californias medically assisted dying law to end his life.

I was terrified to lose him, Timoner said in an interview.

Nonetheless, the final journey of Timoners father is chronicled in her film, Last Flight Home, a deeply personal documentary that aims to spark conversation about medical assistance in dying at a time where a small but growing number of U.S. states are allowing the procedure and a heated debate is underway in Canada about what its confines should be.

I dont know that I would have had a stance on it if I hadnt gone through this myself, Timoner said.

One of the films shortlisted (but not nominated) for an Oscar in 2023, Last Flight Home will screen at the Royal Cinema on College Street in Toronto, at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The pay what you can event held by the Ageless International Film Festival with the National Institute on Ageing will be followed by a panel discussion on medically assisted dying, moderated by Canadian journalist Johanna Schneller with Timoner, an Indigenous elder and three faith-based leaders.

Timoner had always intended to create a film about her fathers life, telling the story of his rise in the business world and the devastating injury some 40 years earlier that, her family said, exposed biases against people with disabilities.

She never considered that path would lead to a documentary that recorded his death.

In early 2021, when Timoners mother, Elissa, had grown physically exhausted from caring for her husband after his repeated falls at home, Eli went to the hospital. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, in addition to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Doctors told Eli it was time to move into a care facility, but the idea of family separation combined with his decline from a decades-long left-side paralysis led to a much different plan.

Thats when Timoner started recording audio.

Im just waiting to die, Eli told his daughter in a call from the hospital. Im on a  slippery slope. Gotta get a new transmission. The 94,000-mile checkup. Yeah, its gone.

With her cameras, Timoner documented the ambulance as it brought Eli home, parking in front of her parents bungalow, tucked behind a worn white picket fence.

After Eli met a hospice social worker and physician to apply for the assisted dying program, Timoner created a visual archive of goodbyes, from grandchildren to Zoomed-in former flight attendants, during the 15-day wait period as required by Californias End of Life Option Act. (A second request for death is needed, after 14 days.)

Im going to take my life on the third of March, he told a close family friend, by Zoom.

And why are you doing that? she asked.

Because I dont want to fight anymore. I just want peace, he said.

I wish you a happy journey, and Ill see you in heaven, she told him as their call ended.

Ill wait for you, he told her.

Another family friend, a woman, sat at his bedside and asked Eli why he feels ready to die.

Confidence, he said.

On the 15th day, March 3, 2021, as planned, Eli held a glass of the physician-prescribed medication and, with a shaky hand, started drinking.

The idea that this intimate family experience with death should become a full-length film did not exist until Ondi Timoner created a memorial service video at the behest of her sister, Rachel, a New York City rabbi. Thirty minutes in length (and deemed outrageously long for a service, Timoner said) it was during the editing that the idea for a documentary came to life.

I think when he said, I know youre on the right track, he knew I was going to do something with this, she said. He didnt ever want the camera to be turned off.

Timoner found 1970s archival images of a young, strong Eli as the CEO of Air Florida. (Its Eli-created jingle was Fly a little kindness.) He testified before U.S. Congress at the time, pushing for the deregulation of flight costs and after succeeding, offered $49 tickets from Miami to New York City. Eli was an enthusiastic philanthropist, raising millions of dollars for the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, posing in photos with Ted Kennedy and a young Joe Biden.

Later, came images of trauma. In the early 1980s, Eli ran several miles every morning and after a late-afternoon massage, Timoner said he was left with a cracked neck that led to a blocked artery and a stroke.

The left side of his body was paralyzed and, according to the film, Air Floridas board of directors requested his resignation, saying it would be harmful to the company if the CEO was in a wheelchair. That would be illegal now, Rachel said in the film.

A deep financial struggle began, followed by years of shame over debt and before he died, with his daughter, the rabbi, an unburdening of that regret. But always, Last Flight Home showed a father who was consistently there for his daughters and son. And never more than in his final 15 days of bedside conversations.

In the U.S., where roughly 10 states allow for some form of assisted dying, Timoner said the film is raising awareness and a change in ideas about the right to choose end of life. She said her production company, Interloper Films, has organized an impact campaign to continue the discussion.

In Canada, there is intense debate.

Criticism of the federal governments plans to expand medical assistance in dying (MAID) turned to widespread condemnation after it announced that in March of 2023, Canada would offer assisted dying to those suffering solely from mental illness. The government delayed those plans until March 2024.

Canadian critics say MAID is far too accessible, particularly by those whose struggle is compounded by social issues, such as poverty, lack of affordable housing or challenges with disabilities.

Individuals, the law says, do not need to have a fatal or terminal condition to be eligible for medical assistance in dying. Instead, a person could qualify if they have a serious illness, disease or disability and are in an advanced state of decline that cannot be reversed.

In preparation for the discussion that will follow the documentary, Timoner met the other panellists in a recent conference call and said that while they were moved by the film, the Catholic physician and the Muslim imam do not believe in medically assisted death.

I probably would have always been for a persons right over their own body, Timoner said. I think thats a basic human right, especially when somebody is facing a terminal illness. I can see how the debate could really get heated if its not about terminal illness, but instead its about, I just dont want to live anymore with these disabilities. 

Ultimately, Timoner believes that Last Flight Home is the film that Eli wanted.

I think hes so proud of all of us for how weve turned his passing into something that, literally, some people have said (inspired them) to reunite with parents they have been estranged from for years, she said.

Other people have been able to see loved ones off with so much closure and not even taking medical aid in dying, but just being able to bring the grandkids around the bed or understanding not to fear death or hide our death from our children, she said.

This movie is as much about how to live as it is about how to die.

Moira Welsh is a Toronto-based investigative reporter for the Star leading The Third Act, a Toronto Star partnership with the National Institute On Ageing that pushes Canada to do better for its older adults. Follow her on Twitter: @moirawelsh

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An Egyptian official source refuted late on Monday claims made by The Washington Post that Egypt planned to produce up to 40,000 rockets to be secretly shipped to Russia.

The source quoted by Al Qahera News TV denied the claims based on a leaked US intelligence document, as "false and have no basis in truth".

On Monday evening, the Washington Post reported that a leaked US intelligence document reveals that Egypt secretly planned in February to produce and supply up to 40,000 rockets to Russia, instructing officials to keep the production and shipment secret to avoid problems with the West.

The document also mentions plans to supply Russia with artillery rounds and gunpowder.

The Washington Post said it obtained the leaked documents from a trove of images of classified files posted in February and March on Discord, a chat app popular with gamers.

However, statements by both Egyptian and US government officials to the newspaper cast doubt on the claim.

Egypts position from the beginning is based on noninvolvement in this crisis [Russia-Ukraine War] and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides, while affirming Egypts support to the UN charter and international law in the UN General Assembly resolutions, Spokesperson for Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abu Zeid asserted in response to the accusations.

We continue to urge both parties to cease hostilities and reach a political solution through negotiations, he added, emphasising Egypt's balanced position.

The official Egyptian source quoted by the TV channel on Monday reiterated the same position, emphasising that Egypt follows a balanced policy with all international parties, with peace, stability and development being the main determinants of this policy. An anonymous US government official told the Washington Post that we [US] are not aware of any execution of that plan, referring to the rocket export initiative.

We have not seen that happen, he added.

Egypt and other Arab countries have carefully maintained a 'balanced stance ' throughout the crises and continuously urged for a solution to the conflict.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi had called for an end to the conflict in November during his opening speech in the UN's 27th Climate Change Conference (COP27).

The US Justice Department has opened an investigation into the possible release of Pentagon documents that were posted on several social media sites.

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.

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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 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 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.

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. 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.

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.

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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.

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A previous version used an incorrect spelling of Deana Eckerts name, based on information from authorities.

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A previous version incorrectly reported the shooters age, based on information from authorities.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Harsher punishments for violent protests in North Carolina are being challenged by a prominent civil rights group, which said in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday that several parts of a new anti-riot law are unconstitutional.

The North Carolina law was drawn up in response to protests against racial injustice and police brutality in 2020. The demonstrations following George Floyds death were largely peaceful but occasionally descended into chaos after dark.

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina is asking a U.S. District Court to block enforcement of several provisions of the new law, arguing it impermissibly criminalizes North Carolinians who exercise their fundamental free speech, assembly and petitioning rights.

It is a flagrant attempt to vilify and criminalize a social justice movement, said Sam Davis, an attorney with the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation.

The law was passed last month by the Republican-controlled General Assembly with some bipartisan support. It raises criminal punishments for willingly participating in or inciting a riot. Beginning in December, fines and prison time will increase, typically by a couple years or more, for protesters who brandish a weapon, injure somebody or cause significant property damage. The law also creates new crimes for protesters who cause a death or incite a riot that contributes to a death.

House Speaker Tim Moore sponsored the bill himself, citing firsthand accounts of rioting and looting in downtown Raleigh in June 2020 amid otherwise peaceful protests as his motivation. He and other supporters called the legislation a necessary deterrent and said it will prevent protesters from misinterpreting their First Amendment rights as condoning destruction.

Existing state laws were not sufficiently strong enough to guarantee that those who engaged in the most violent and destructive behavior would ever see the inside of a jail cell, Moore said during House floor debate in February.

Moores office did not immediately respond Tuesday to messages seeking comment on the lawsuit.

The ACLU suit says provisions of the new law are overly broad, including the definition of a riot as a public disturbance involving three or more people whose assembly causes injury or damage, or creates a clear and present danger of injury or damage.

The civil rights group also warns that the law criminalizes urging another person to engage in activities defined as rioting, and has provisions that could punish protest leaders who dont engage in violence themselves. These provisions target mere advocacy in violation of the First Amendment, the lawsuit states, and could dissuade people from engaging in lawful demonstrations.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper successfully vetoed a similar proposal in 2021, noting that it could intimidate and deter peaceful protesters.

Cooper allowed the bill to become law without his signature last month but expressed concerns about disparate impacts on communities of color.

Republicans last month were one seat shy of a veto-proof supermajority in the House, meaning they needed at least one Democrat to override a veto. But six House Democrats  including one who was a chief sponsor  voted in favor of the measure when it passed the chamber in February, indicating a veto override wouldve likely succeeded.

But the GOP now holds a supermajority in both legislative chambers after Rep. Tricia Cotham formally changed her party registration from Democrat to Republican on Monday.

Under the law, business owners can seek compensation from protesters who damage property, equal to three times the monetary damage.

Those accused of rioting or looting will also have to wait 24 hours before their bond is set. Bill supporters argued that defendants could otherwise be released immediately by a magistrate and continue causing destruction.

Social justice advocates criticized the measure as it moved quickly through the General Assembly, saying it targets Black Lives Matter demonstrators and other minority groups by scaring them away from exercising their constitutional rights. Some warned it might lead to more arrests of Black and brown protesters who could be unfairly perceived by police as threats to instigate violence or disorder.

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Hannah Schoenbaum 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.

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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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Jason Redmond was on the provincial payroll in 2015 when he trafficked medical marijuana and forged a criminal document.

Taxpayers were still paying his salary two years later when he sexually assaulted an unconscious woman and made a video of it to teach her a lesson about excessive drinking.

Redmond is not a civilian. He is Const. Jason Redmond, of the Ontario Provincial Police.

Late last year, a police misconduct tribunal gave Redmond seven days to resign or be dismissed as a consequence of the crimes he committed in 2015. He willingly committed criminal offences, and there is nothing to suggest he would not do so again, OPP Supt. Melissa Barron, who adjudicated the tribunal, wrote in her judgment.

Thats a damning indictment of character for any individual, let alone a police officer who took an oath to preserve the peace and prevent offences.

In February, he was convicted of sexually assaulting the unconscious woman, the Brockville Recorder and Times reported.

Redmond has appealed his dismissal and continues to collect a hefty salary, which amounted to $121,000 in 2021. And he faces 17 additional charges, including assault, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in connection with other alleged crimes.

The wheels of justice turn slowly but slower still it seems when it comes to getting rotten cops off the payroll.

Its not that the provincial police force hasnt tried to fire him. Its been working on that since Redmonds initial conviction. However, under the Ontario Police Services Act, officers charged with a criminal offence may only be suspended with pay.

For an officer to be suspended without pay, they must be convicted and be sentenced to a term of incarceration, the police force said in a statement.

You can blame foot-dragging by the Progressive Conservative government for the current state of affairs. The previous Liberal government had moved to expand the ability of police chiefs to suspend without pay. But that initiative was blocked by the Conservative government which condemned the Liberals broader package of changes as anti-police.

The Doug Ford government did pass a law in 2019 that would allow officers charged with serious criminal offences to be put on leave without pay. Yet its gone nowhere because the regulations necessary to enact those changes have not yet been completed.

In the wake of the revelations around Redmond, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said last week that he has directed senior bureaucrats to complete the discussions with our associations, First Nation and Indigenous police services as soon as possible so that we can move forward with the enactment of the new legislation.

Redmonds egregious conduct should be the catalyst to long overdue action. A Star survey in 2021 found that more than 120 Ontario cops were suspended with pay. These paid suspensions stretch years as officers wait for trials, disciplinary hearings and appeals to run their course.

No doubt, there must be due process to protect the rights of individual officers facing the possibility of career-ending sanctions and ensure they get a fair hearing.

But cops like Redmond are gaming a broken system that tilts in favour of scofflaw cops, rewarding them with a paycheque long after they should be off the payroll.

No wonder, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police has been seeking greater latitude in dealing with officers charged with serious offences. The organization has long been advocating for changes, including a call in 2007 that would allow officers charged with serious criminal offences to be suspended without pay. That call has been echoed by municipal politicians.

Keeping police officers on the payroll in such circumstances makes a mockery of the disciplinary process, undermines public confidence in police and costs taxpayers a pretty penny. That is recognized by Kerzner, who declared that no one convicted of a serious and disturbing crime like this should be receiving a taxpayer-funded salary.

Hell find that plenty of people agree. Heres his chance to fix it.

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EDMONTON - Premier Danielle Smith, in an election-style event, says her United Conservative Party will not make Albertans pay out of pocket to see their family doctor or get medical treatment.

Smith says her party, should it win next months general election, would also not delist from public funding any future medical procedures or prescriptions.

Smith made the announcement Tuesday in a party-sponsored event in front of a medical clinic in Sherwood Park, just east of Edmonton.

Rest assured you will never use a credit card to pay for a public health-care service. You will only ever need your Alberta health-care card, said Smith.

Smith said she was making this Public Health Care Guarantee to counter the Opposition NDP lying that she has plans to eventually make Albertans pay for some of their care or to see a family doctor.

Liberal-NDP fear and smear politics dont work in Alberta. Albertans have always seen through these lies for what they are, said Smith.

NDP health critic David Shepherd said his party is simply reminding people of where Smith stands philosophically.

Danielle Smith, in her own words, repeatedly said that she thinks Albertans should pay out of pocket for health care, said Shepherd.

She has said Albertans should pay to see the doctor. She has said that Albertans should have to pay a deductible if they have major surgery.

As recently as last month, when we proposed that all Albertans have access to universal coverage for prescription birth control, Danielle Smith told Albertans to go buy private health insurance.

Shepherd said if the NDP wins the election, it would launch a major health worker recruitment program and bring in reforms to pair more Albertans with a family doctor while not making people pay out of pocket for care.

The NDP points to a policy paper Smith wrote in June 2021 for the University of Calgary, before she re-entered politics, in which she wrote that health spending accounts would be a way to get public buy-in to discuss a new way of funding health care, including services currently paid for by the public purse.

Once people get used to the concept of paying out of pocket for more things themselves, then we can change the conversation on health care, Smith wrote at the time.

Instead of asking what services will the government delist, we would instead be asking what services are paid for directly by government and what services are paid for out of your health spending account.

She added: My view is that the entire budget for general practitioners should be paid for from health spending accounts.

Smith wrote that from health spending accounts, the government could then move to broader reforms like co-pays and deductibles based on income for things like surgeries.

From there could spring broader reforms like charter or private hospitals.

The only option is to allow people to use more of their own money to pay their own way and use the power of innovation to deliver better services at a lower cost, she wrote.

Im willing to bet most Albertans would be willing to pay up to $1,000 if it would reduce waiting times on vital treatments for themselves or a family member.

The promise of health spending accounts was a core plank in Smiths successful campaign to win the leadership of the United Conservative Party to become premier last fall.

She promised to give every Albertan $300 to start their own account. Her government would then give employers and individuals tax incentives to contribute more.

The fund was supposed to be reflected in the February budget but has been shelved as the government works out the logistics of the accounts.

The accounts would pay for a variety of non-medicare services, such as a chiropractor, naturopath, dentist or counsellor.

Pollsters say health care will be a key issue in the upcoming campaign, which is set to begin May 1, with voters going to the polls May 29.

Albertas health system, like others across Canada, faces staffing shortages, ambulance bottlenecks and long wait lists for some surgeries in the post-COVID era.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

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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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OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau swept aside concerns Tuesday over reports that Russian-linked hackers took down his website and compromised Canadian energy infrastructure, while touting new support for Ukraine during Prime Minister Denys Shmyhals first official visit to Canada.

Shmyhals trip coincided with several apparent attacks on Canadian websites, with a group claiming to support Russia taking responsibility. They included attacks on the websites of the Prime Ministers Office and the Senate, which appeared to be resolved by Tuesday afternoon.

Its not uncommon for Russian hackers to target countries as they are showing their steadfast support for Ukraine, as theyre welcoming Ukrainian delegations or leadership to visit, so the timing isnt surprising, Trudeau told reporters in Toronto.

But in case anyone was wondering, Russia being able to bring down an official Government of Canada webpage for a few hours is in no way going to dissuade us from our unshakable support of Ukraine.

The agency tasked with collecting foreign intelligence and handling cybersecurity for the government said Tuesday it was aware that some government websites had been temporarily kicked offline.

While these incidents draw attention, they have very little impact on the systems affected, said a spokesperson from the Communications Security Establishment.

The online attacks followed revelations earlier this week that a pro-Russia hacking group had infiltrated an unnamed Canadian natural gas pipeline company, according to a leak of classified U.S. government documents. According to the documents, the hackers alleged they could compromise the companys controls, potentially disabling alarms, shutting down the facility and possibly triggering an explosion.

Trudeau said Tuesday there is no evidence any critical infrastructure is at risk, stating he had confirmed there was no physical damage to any Canadian energy infrastructure following cyberattacks.

The prime ministers assurances came as Ottawa released a host of new measures to support Ukraine as it approaches 14 months since the Russian invasion began, with Trudeau painting Ukraines efforts as symbolic of a global battle for freedom and democracy.

Shmyhal told reporters his country is tired but not exhausted, citing Canadas support as a reason why we are sure that we will win this war all together.

Canada is set to spend millions of dollars more in military aid, pledging to send 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns and more than 2.4 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraines military. Trudeau said Ottawa has now disbursed a $2.4-billion loan to the Ukrainian government  first announced in last months federal budget  which will be administered by the International Monetary Fund and used to provide essential services like buying fuel and issuing pension payments.

Ottawa also unveiled a fresh round of sanctions against 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities, including several security targets linked to the Wagner Group, a Russian-based mercenary organization that Canadian MPs voted to designate as a terrorist entity back in January. Sanctions were also placed on nine other entities connected to the financial sector in Belarus.

Joined by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Defence Minister Anita Anand and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, Trudeau and Shmyhal discussed efforts to rebuild the embattled Ukraine. Trudeau said he planned to raise the issue with other Canadians leaders to see how the countrys private sector could assist with future reconstruction work.

Before delivering their remarks in Toronto, the two leaders signed a youth mobility agreement that will allow young people from Canada and Ukraine to work and travel in both countries when it becomes safe to do so.

The pair also signed a joint declaration on modernizing the existing Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.

Were privileged to be once again an early friend on that. Were both deeply committed to implement it as soon as possible. Itll strengthen our trade ties and help support Ukraines economic recovery, Trudeau said.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Be careful what you wish for. And what youre willing to die for.

A new novel about Sri Lankas civil war will make you think about those fateful life and death choices.

Ive just finished Brotherless Night, by V.V. Ganeshananthan, a work of fiction based on a true-to-life storyline. It recounts the history of a country losing its sanity and sliding into brutality.

Reading this book, I relived the years I covered the conflict, which pitted Hindu Tamils against Sinhalese Buddhists in a cauldron of nationalist madness. The fighting claimed more than 100,000 lives and scarred a nation of two peoples numbering 22 million souls.

I kept going back, year after year, mindful that Toronto had become home to the worlds biggest diaspora of Sri Lankan Tamils. Which is why the historical backdrop will be familiar to many Canadians of Tamil descent, who ended up here after they (or their families) escaped the front lines  though this is a universal and timeless tale that resonates no less amid the recurring saga of ethnic and hegemonic struggle in Eastern Europe today.

The book took me back to the beginnings of the civil war, decades before I first made it to this seemingly idyllic island off the southeast coast of India. As a visiting foreign correspondent, Id learned the outlines of Sri Lankas tortured history, but the book retells that story through the eyes of a Tamil teenager living through the discrimination and depredation of the 1980s that endured for decades.

The narrator is Sashi, who at 16 is studying hard to become a doctor in the northern Tamil town of Jaffna. Her four brothers also apply themselves to books at a time when learning is cherished.

Their studies will soon be interrupted as the conflict disrupts their lives. Sashi learns to live without her siblings  hence the title, Brotherless Night.

As Tamil men lose their spines, Sashi and the Tamil women of Jaffna show true backbone. They come to resist both the Sinhalese military and the Tamil militants who lose their minds.

The subtext of the book is that learning opens minds and opens doors. When peoples lives are lost, when their learning is lost, when generations are lost, the future of a people is lost.

One of Sashis brothers works in the magnificent Jaffna library by day. One night this touchstone of Tamil learning is torched, burned to the ground amid the scorched earth tactics of the security forces.

The Sinhalese policemen burned our library last, Sashi narrates. They had torched the elegant palace of white rooms  the rare book section with the beautifully lettered palm leaf manuscripts  Ninety thousand volumes gone, some of them original and single copies.

On my own trips to Jaffna, I had seen the blackened walls of that library, pockmarked by bullets, and wondered about the missing books. The pages of this novel filled in the blanks for me.

Its sickening descriptions of mass violence  Sinhalese mobs raiding Tamil homes, incinerating people in their cars  reminded me of another powerful emigre novel, Funny Boy, written in 1994 by Sri Lankan-Canadian author Shyam Selvadurai. In her own way, Ganeshananthan, an American of Sri Lankan descent, describes the reality of Tamil rivalry  contrasting the ferocity of Jaffnas internecine strife with the brutality of the islands inter-ethnic fighting.

We read about the war within the war, as the feared LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, better known as the Tamil Tigers) ruthlessly eliminate all competitors, systematically emerging as the unchallenged voice of resistance. Accused collaborators and alleged traitors to the Tamil cause are assassinated by the Tigers  innocent neighbours, beloved teachers  their corpses strung out from lampposts to compel compliance.

Sashis brothers must choose: join the Tigers or risk their wrath; pursue their education or push for revolution; stay and fight or flee to the West.

And then there is Sashis choice: go along with the Tigers abuses for the sake of solidarity, or resist the revolutions excesses for the sake of humanity.

They wanted an independent state for Sri Lankan Tamils, or so they said, she muses. In fact, it was not so welcoming, although I was then too young to see it  It made no room for Tamils who refused to fall into line 

By the mid-1980s, the Tigers had destroyed almost all the others  just eaten them alive.

She discovers that the revolution eats its children  or more precisely, other peoples children: The book describes Tamil Tigers removing their own wounded cadres from a hospital before using it as a base to attack the army, knowing they will draw enemy fire and cause countless casualties.

Sashi must reconcile this duplicity with her vow as a medical student to do no harm.

The book has its own denouement, but it raises the question of whether Sri Lankas tragic history might have ended differently. The only certainty is both Sinhalese and Tamils were cursed by abysmal leadership.

The military won the civil war in 2009 but the government lost the battle of building a nation. Today, as a consequence of illiberal leadership, Sri Lanka is on the cusp of becoming a failed state  militarily secure but economically imperilled.

I always found Sri Lankas fate so journalistically compelling because it seemed like a microcosm of the old Canada  beset by language tensions, separatist impulses and regional alienation. In later years, Canada chose the path of peaceful coexistence  co-operative federalism, official bilingualism and multiculturalism; Sri Lanka took the road of political confrontation  centralized control, linguistic repression and ethnic discrimination.

The rest is history. Brotherless Night fills in the rest of the story.

A footnote: In her acknowledgments, Ganeshananthan pays tribute to the work of a fearless Sri Lankan journalist, Namini Wijedasa, whose coverage of the civil war informs the novel. That reference struck a chord, for Wijedasa was my nearly constant companion on every trip I made to that country over the course of seven years  a real life character in a non-fiction world.

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As many as 83,398 people, including 7,310 Ukrainian citizens, entered Romania on Monday, April 10, the General Border Police Inspectorate (IGPF) reported on Thursday.

According to IGPF, at the border points nationwide on Monday nearly 194,500 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, were checked both on the way in and on the way out of Romania, as well as more than 50,200 means of transport.

The border police detected 31 illegal acts (17 crimes and 14 misdemeanors) in the areas under their jurisdiction - the crossing points and the green border - committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens.

Assets of a value of more than RON 100,000 were impounded.

Ten foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions provided by the law were denied entry.

Also on Monday, 28 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons.
The Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) will meet on Tuesday at Cotroceni Presidential Palace, under the leadership of President Klaus Iohannis.

The meeting was convened by the head of state at 10:00.

According to the Presidential Administration, the agenda of the meeting includes topics related to the developments of the security situation in the Black Sea region in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and external interventions on the democratic process in the Republic of Moldova.

The concept of the development of the Romanian military aviation will also be analysed.

Other topical issues in the area of national security will also be analysed at the CSAT meeting, the source said.
Education Minister Ligia Deca said on Monday evening in Timisoara that two of the ideas of the Romanian diaspora in the research area have become reality in the new legislative package in Bucharest - the internationalisation of higher education, which becomes a strategic priority, and the launch of a national programme to support the exact sciences.

"The National Programme for University Internationalisation is being set up, where we talk about facilities for researchers and professors from the diaspora, about empowering universities to achieve their noble mission, about stimulating and attracting important brains from all over the world to come and see the value of Romanian universities," said the Education Minister.

Ligia Deca underlined that the same programme supports Romanian universities in their efforts to be part of the European university networks, an instrument that also has an identity mission, to build the European citizenship.

"The second idea that came from the diaspora is a national programme to support the teaching of exact sciences, engineering and mathematics, which complements the similar programme in the pre-university system. We support the development of laboratories, research centres, multidisciplinary study programmes, learning resources, mobility programmes in universities and the attraction of teachers," explained the Education Minister.

Minister Deca said that there is an infrastructure base, with more than 230 million euros, already directed to universities through the PNRR for the refurbishment of established laboratories, for equipping them with state-of-the-art laboratories dedicated to technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality and cyber security.

Research, Innovation and Digitisation Minister Sebastian Burduja underlined in his speech at the SMART Diaspora 2023 Gala in Timisoara that three components are necessary for the Romania of the future: commitment at the highest level of the state to Romanian research-innovation, the value of Romanian minds and unity.

He pointed out that the research budget has seen the biggest increase this year, with 70%, the spearhead for the Romanian economy being research and innovation and especially the transfer of research results to the economy.
Last year, the minister of Finance borrowed 150 billion RON, a historic level, and he cannot blame National Agency for Tax Administration (ANAF) and collection for the "hole" in the budget, National Liberal Party (PNL) deputy Dan Vilceanu declared, on Tuesday, in plenary sitting.

"Mr. Caciu took over the mandate at the MF in 2021, November, inheriting a deficit of 4.7% of GDP and in the last month he managed to make 2% of GDP more and we finished the year with 6.7. (.. .) The pandemic was a complicated moment for the whole country. It seems that only for the PSD is a reason to praise everything that happened then and you brag about the suffering of the Romanians. Nobody wanted the pandemic to come and we took the measures that you continue today, too," said the PNL deputy, at the Government Question Time debate, to which Minister Caciu was invited.

"Mr. Caciu, last year you borrowed 150 billion RON. It is a historic level, Romania has never borrowed 150 billion RON in one year. And one more thing: you paid 30 billion RON in interest, be careful, how much did the liberal governments pay in two years - in one year we paid 14 billion RON and in one year 17 billion RON in interest. You paid 30 in a single year and this year it seems you are reaching 40, which is not a cause for praise and you don't want to talk about it. And, to conclude in a more practical, more concrete way: Mr. Caciu, you can't blame ANAF and the collection. You made the budget law, you have established the expenses in your budget," Vilceanu conveyed to the minister of Finance.AGERPRES
Finance Minister Adrian Caciu is invited to attend today a Government Question Time as part of a plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies to report on the government revenue collection.

The meeting is scheduled for 16:00hrs.

The political debate called "The disaster of the government revenue collection in the first three months of the year: the worrying situation of the government deficit" was requested by the Save Romania Union (USR) floor group.

Last week, USR demanded Caciu "to explain the disastrous tax and revenue collection in the first three months of 2023 and the measures he will take to fix a totally unrealistic national budget for 2023."

USR also said that if the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL) have come to the conclusion that they have to cut public spending, they should start with special pensions, which "are swallowing increasingly more money from Romanians' pockets each month," arguing that "in the first two months of 2023 alone, RON 2.24 billion worth of public money were spent on special pensions, which means a 13% increase from the same months of 2022."
The Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity and the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) signed on Tuesday a cooperation protocol for social assistance, Labor Minister Marius Budai announced.

"In the 2023 Solemn Year dedicated by the Romanian Patriarchate to pastoral care and social assistance for the elderly, we signed today a cooperation protocol through which we want to continue and step up social assistance cooperation, both as regards long-term care and the other programs and social projects intended for all disadvantaged social categories, supported by approximately 800 institutions and social services of the Romanian Orthodox Church," Marius Budai wrote on Facebook.

He pointed out that the scope of the protocol is for the two sides to promote and accomplish common goals. In the field of social assistance, they are aimed at: identifying local/county or regional social assistance priorities and including them in the national social inclusion mechanism; facilitating the access of the Romanian Orthodox Church to social activities and consultative structures/working groups; mutual support for the development of the national network of social services, provided at the level of BOR dioceses; implementing partnership projects in the field of social assistance; providing information about financing opportunities made available by the ministry or from European funds. AGERPRES
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) requested, on Tuesday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) to start negotiations for the implementation in Romania of the "Polish model" regarding Ukrainian grain exports to the European Union, a PSD press release sent to Agerpres reads.

"The PSD requests the Foreign Affairs Ministry to initiate diplomatic discussions with the Ukrainian authorities for the temporary suspension of grain exports on the Romanian market, according to the model implemented in Poland. Furthermore, the PSD believes that Romania must continue to stand with Ukraine and ensure the transit of grains from this country to third countries in the European Union and to the commercial routes of the Black Sea," the PSD says.

According to the source, the major difficulties encountered by Romanian farmers as a result of the facilitation of Ukrainian grain trade must be resolved through a constructive diplomatic dialogue between the two states.

"Romania's Agriculture Ministry is prepared to provide technical support to the MAE representatives in the diplomatic discussions with the Ukrainian side. At the same time, the PSD proposes that Romania supports within the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union (COREPER) that Regulation No. 70 /2022 on the regime of customs duties for Ukrainian products to be enforced differentially at the Union level. Thus, the EU member states which ensure their internal consumption from their own production should only allow the transit of grain from Ukraine to the member states that cannot cover their needs consumption from own production. Such a measure would be truly fair both for Ukrainian farmers and for farmers from the EU member states," the Social-Democrats also say in the press release.AGERPRES
Acting chair of the Senate Alina Gorghiu said on Tuesday that loyal co-operation is needed between elected politicians and voters.

She participated in a Romfilatelia release of a postage stamp issue called "Romanian Constitution: Loyal co-operation among the state powers."

Gorghiu added that the event refers to a fundamental aspect of the functioning of constitutional democracy, namely co-operation among the three state powers -- the legislature, the executive and the judiciary -- buttressing the rule of law.

"In my opinion, loyal co-operation is equally needed among public institutions, and it is equally important to have such co-operation between us, elected officials, and those who elect us," said Gorghiu.

She mentioned the inclusion of this principle in a possible revision of the Constitution. "Today's event and discussions will likely be remembered at the time when in Romania there is this window of opportunity for the revision of the Constitution and enshrining this unwritten principle in the Constitution."

Senate Deputy Chair Robert Cazanciuc spoke of two previous attempts to revise the Constitution.

"We need that constitutional moment when all energies will be positive for a revision and yes this principle should perhaps be enshrined in the Constitution. It's an idea that deserves to be considered," said Cazanciuc.

He added that the release of the postage stamps is part of a larger effort to popularise citizens' rights.
The General Director for Civil Protection within the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), colonel Marius Dogeanu, participated, on Tuesday, together with the Romanian ambassador to Montenegro, at the ceremony of handing over three containers for the management of emergency situations purchased with the financial support of Romania for the Department of Protection and Rescue within the Montenegrin Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is shown in a Facebook post of the DSU.

"During the meeting, the Romanian official (...) expressed his openness to continuing bilateral cooperation in the field of civil protection by organizing new exchanges of best practices and transfer of experience in the coming period," the source says.

The ambassador of Romania in Podgorita, Viorel Ardeleanu, mentioned the good collaboration relations established over time, highlighting the importance of the assistance provided by RoAID/MAE for strengthening the response capacities of the Montenegrin side to emergency situations.

The acting general director of the Department of Protection and Rescue in Montenegro, Miodrag Besovic, said that, thanks to the funding granted by Romania, three special containers were received, which will be used to store various equipment for emergency management and shelter the population in case of civil emergencies.

The equipment for emergency situations was purchased from the donation offered by RoAID/MAE within the project "Assistance and transfer of expertise in the field of emergency management".AGERPRES
Jean-Marie Lehn, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1987), became on Tuesday Doctor Honoris Causa Scientarum of the West University of Timisoara (UVT).

UVT rector Marilen Pirtea said that in this year of the European Capital of Culture programme, the 11 faculties of the Timisoara higher education institution are constantly trying to give recognition to important names of the scientific, cultural, artistic, economic, social and political world, bringing into the spotlight valuable models for future generations.

"Universities should be seen as poles of stability, places that can gather energies that will allow us to face a future that no one can predict. It should therefore come as no surprise that today we honour a special person who fully understands the dynamism of our world today and makes us see science as an unlimited universe, where the only limits are the self-imposed ones that should be forgotten. Professor Jean-Marie Lehn is a name that needs no introduction in the world of chemistry and beyond. He has never accepted to conduct his research within the constraints of imposed rules; he has gone beyond the limits that many researchers set themselves in their work. His work led him into new, previously uncharted areas. He created a new area of chemistry, that of supramolecular chemistry, opening a new door for all the world's chemists. His research contributed to this area, leading to the mature science of today and earned him the most coveted recognition in the world, the Nobel Prize," said Rector Marilen Pirtea.

The recent member of the UVT academic community, Jean-Marie Lehn, pointed out in his speech that he had a number of very talented Romanian colleagues who contributed significantly to research work in chemistry and were very active both in their home universities and around the world.

"With this honorary degree, UVT also recognises the role of science and especially the vitality of a particular area, my area of activity, Chemistry. Chemistry plays a central role among the natural sciences and in knowledge, through its economic importance and its permanent presence in our daily life (...) Through its objects, molecule and matter, chemistry expresses its creativity. It has the power to produce new molecules and materials with new properties," said Professor Jean-Marie Lehn.

The Laudatio was delivered by Daniel Funeriu, former Minister of Education.

Professor Jean-Marie Lehn, aged 83, has been an honorary member of the Romanian Academy since 1993. Jean-Marie Lehn, together with Donald Cram and Charles Pedersen, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987, for the work on the synthesis of cryptands
Randy Abbott seethed with anger after his 24-year-old daughter, Vanessa, died of an overdose at a North Carolina house party eight years ago. His idea of justice was "for everybody to go to jail forever."

But today, Abbott doesn't believe that users who share lethal drugs should be prosecuted for the resulting deaths. In Vanessa's case, that person was a childhood friend, herself in the throes of addiction. "She lives every day with the fact she lost her best friend," Abbott said.

His view is part of an emotional debate unfolding in state legislatures across the country, as lawmakers move to crack down on drug crimes in response to growing anger and fear over the toll of a drug crisis killing thousands every month. In North Carolina, one of at least a dozen states this year that have considered tougher drug penalties, the Senate recently passed a measure that would expand prosecutors' ability to bring felony charges against anyone who gives a lethal dose of fentanyl.

Prosecutors often support such measures, saying they are deterrents and hold to account people who sell illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, the synthetic opioid that can be 50 times as strong as heroin and kills one person in the United States every seven minutes, on average.

Critics such as Abbott argue that the harsh penalties don't deter drug use, and unfairly punish people struggling with addiction who are often low-level dealers  harking back to the failed drug sentencing laws of the crack-cocaine era of the 1980s and 1990s.

Still, the proposals are politically popular, including with some Democratic legislators who in recent years rolled back punitive state drug laws but are under pressure on rising crime and the unprecedented overdose epidemic. Many families who have lost loved ones to overdoses also support measures to increase penalties for crimes related to fentanyl.

Fentanyl accounted for some 70,000 overdose deaths in 2021 alone  a toll greater than the American fatalities in the wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Its role led Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to describe it as the "single greatest challenge we face as a country."

"We're seeing Americans killing other Americans, distributing illicit drugs that contain a deadly substance," said Barbara Walsh of Cary, N.C., who lost her daughter Sophia in 2021, after the 24-year-old drank a bottle of water she didn't know was spiked with fentanyl. Walsh says no one was prosecuted in Sofia's case.

"If someone was doing that with cyanide, they would be incarcerated for poisoning," said Walsh, who created the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina.

The rash of state bills underscores the political urgency of a drug crisis that has grown more lethal and intractable over time  and perhaps, also, a sense of desperation on the part of legislators and law enforcement officials who have been unable to curb demand, or shut off the spigot of drugs to their communities.

Trade in illegal street fentanyl is controlled by Mexican cartels, which smuggle the cheap drug across the southern border in powder or pill form  some users don't realize they are ingesting fentanyl. President Biden has prioritized cracking down on fentanyl smuggling across the southern border, while Republicans lambaste Democrats as being soft on crime.

At the state level, too, the legislative proposals reveal divisions, although not always along traditional partisan lines. Critics of stiffer penalties say that state and federal statutes are already tough, and that government resources should go toward reducing the flow of dangerous narcotics and to addiction treatment and other harm-reduction efforts.

Twelve states have laws that specifically outlaw fentanyl possession, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In recent years, many others have also beefed up drug trafficking laws. West Virginia's governor last year signed legislation that made fentanyl distribution a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

'Doubling down' on penalties

This year in Virginia, legislators passed bills, signed into law by the governor, that define fentanyl as a "weapon of terrorism," and decree that anyone who "knowingly or intentionally" manufactures or distributes a fentanyllaced substance may be convicted of a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Yet, Virginia already had a law that makes dealing in fentanyl a crime punishable by up to 40 years in prison.

"There is no incentive for elected officials to stop doubling down on these approaches," said Leo Beletsky, a professor of law and health sciences at Northeastern University. "They get to go out and engage in these theatrics, and the people who pay the price are the taxpayers and people who receive very long sentences."

In Alabama, there's already a law on the books doling out minimum mandatory sentences for possessing mixes of drugs, including fentanyl. Still, the House last week unanimously passed a bill that would impose a minimum of three years in prison for having one gram of "pure" fentanyl. Alabama's governor has said she will sign the bill, which is now before the Senate.

Not all the bills are passing. In California, Democrats last week rejected a bipartisan bill that would have made it easier to prosecute convicted drug dealers who sell fatal doses. And in New Mexico, a bill to increase sentences for fentanyl dealers never made it to a vote before the legislative session ended.

Some officials say the explosion in fentanyl deaths has led them to reassess. Four years ago, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat, supported a sweeping overhaul of the state's justice system that included increasing the amounts of drugs that would lead to felony charges.

Today, he's supporting a bill that would make it a crime to sell, possess, transport or manufacture four grams of fentanyl, punishable by a sentence of one to 20 years in prison. The bill would also remove fentanyl from a "good Samaritan" law that grants immunity from possession charges for someone who calls 911 to report a person overdosing.

In New Jersey, meanwhile, critics in February offered spirited opposition to Democratic-sponsored bills that would boost penalties for selling or possessing certain amounts of fentanyl. They argued that such laws would incarcerate users without addressing the underlying reasons for the crisis. Nonetheless, the measures passed a Senate committee with overwhelming support and are awaiting further consideration.

Keith Humphreys, a drug policy adviser and professor of psychiatry at Stanford University, said that tougher sentencing laws mean little to people focused on their day-to-day addiction.

"The idea they would pass up using fentanyl now because . . . maybe there is a 1-in-10,000 chance they could serve five years in prison later is not going to change their behavior," Humphreys said.

In Maine, where Democrats control both houses and the governor's office, a bipartisan bill seeks to make trafficking in fentanyl a higher level of felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Brad Farrin, a Republican who lost his 26-year-old daughter Haley to an overdose last summer, said the measure is about "accountability."

"It's a poison that is killing our youth," Farrin said. "We're losing a generation."

But the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine notes that under existing law, anyone caught possessing four grams of fentanyl can be convicted of trafficking. Chasity Tuell, a director of harm reduction services for Maine Access Points, said the bill exposes users in northern Maine  who buy drugs to last for days because they live in isolated rural areas  to decades in prison.

"Someone with a tolerance is using much more than [four grams] a day," Tuell said. "Fentanyl is fast-acting, so they need to use more often throughout the day."

Other states want to tackle overdose deaths directly. In Texas, the Senate passed a bill last month that would pave the way for prosecutors to charge fentanyl dealers with murder, a vote lauded by Gov. Greg Abbott (R). The bill is now before the House.

Opponents have long argued that such laws  known as "drug-induced homicide" statutes  don't deter dealing, and too often ensnare friends and even relatives of the victims, like the Illinois man sentenced to six years in prison for providing the heroin-fentanyl mix that killed his sister.

Yet they have advanced even in Democratic-controlled Colorado, where the deaths last year of five people who ingested fentanyl-laced cocaine inside a Commerce City apartment spurred lawmakers to pass a law allowing felony charges to be brought against dealers who furnish a deadly dose of fentanyl. State prosecutors had filed only five such cases by early March, Colorado Public Radio reported.

Some lawmakers now want to expand that law to include other major drugs that result in death, such as methamphetamine. Tension over the bill preoccupied the Senate over two days last month. "It's not stopping us from investing in addiction treatment or harm reduction," said the bill's Democratic co-sponsor, Kyle Mullica, while Julie Gonzales, the Democratic majority whip, called the bill "vengeful." The bill passed the Sen-

ate, and if it is adopted by the House and signed into law, it would make the maximum sentence 32 years in prison for providing a fatal dose of any illegal drug.

"At the end of the day, it will have zero impact on the overdose crisis," said Taylor Pendergrass, a Colorado ACLU attorney who argued that the measure does nothing to reduce supply or demand.

North Carolina had passed a "death by distribution" law in 2019, but it applied only to people who sell, as opposed to share, drugs that prove fatal. Penalties range from more than 19 years to 40 years in prison, depending on a defendant's record. The state has still suffered grave losses  in 2021, there was a 22 percent increase in overdose deaths over the previous year, according to the state health department.

Last month, the Republican-controlled Senate unanimously passed a bill to expand that law to include anyone who "unlawfully delivers" a controlled substance, which critics say will lead to the prosecutions of users who share a dose that proves fatal. The bill is now before the House.

Legislators "have claimed the laws are not about targeting people who use drugs, that they're about targeting some imaginary kingpin, big-dealer type," said Jennifer Carroll, a medical anthropologist at North Carolina State University. "But by expressly writing these laws, they are targeting average people."

The executive vice president of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association, Eddie Caldwell, pushed back on such criticism, saying being a drug user "is no excuse for killing someone."

"Whether you kill someone and make 20 bucks, or kill them without making money, you still kill them," Caldwell said. "They're dead. Their families are traumatized."

Abbott, the father who lost his daughter, says he believes the measure might have another, costlier consequence  neutering North Carolina's "good Samaritan" law, which provides immunity in certain circumstances for people who call 911 to report that someone is overdosing.

Abbott, who works with a nonprofit devoted to strengthening that law, appeared at a news conference Wednesday to support a newly filed Senate bill that would broaden immunity for people who call 911 to report a possible overdose. "People need to know that if someone overdoses, they can call for help without fear of going to jail," he said.
(Broadry)  April is a month of renewal and rejuvenation, when spring is in full bloom and the days are getting longer. Its also an ideal time to start planning your summer camping trip. While summer may be the peak season for camping, April is known by camping enthusiasts as possibly the best time to book your trip for a variety of reasons. Heres why:

Better Availability

By booking your summer camping trip in April, you have a better chance of securing the campsite and dates that you want. Many popular campsites fill up quickly during the summer months, so its important to book early to avoid disappointment. Booking your trip in April also means that you have more time to make changes or find alternative options if your preferred site is already fully booked.

Better Pricing

By booking your summer camping trip in April, you can take advantage of lower pricing and possibly some discounts. Many campsites offer early bird discounts to encourage people to book their trips early. By taking advantage of these discounts, you can save money on your trip and put that money towards other expenses like food, gear, and activities. For parents, 47 percent say RVs are preferred because it allows them to budget predictable travel costs.

Disclaimer: If you click a link in this article, we may earn a commission.

More RV Rentals

According to RVshare.com, the largest community for RV owners and renters, campers have the best opportunity to snag their dream rig by making a reservation well ahead of their departure date. According to RVshares 2023 Travel Trend Report, RV interest has continued to grow with 62% likely to consider renting an RV for a trip in the future, and 50% of travelers claim that an RV is among their top three accommodation preferences.

Rentals available at popular destinations tend to get booked up for peak summer dates. Best to book in advance. TheRV rental platform offers a diverse selection of vehicles for rent across the US, ranging from luxury motorhomes to cozy camper vans.

More Time to Plan

By booking your summer camping trip in April, you have more time to plan and prepare for your trip. This means that you can research your destination, plan your activities, and purchase any necessary gear and equipment well in advance. Having a well-planned trip means that youll have a more enjoyable experience, and youll be less likely to encounter any unexpected issues.

More Availability for Other Activities

Summer is a popular time for outdoor activities beyond camping, like kayaking, rafting, and mountain biking. By booking your summer camping trip in April, youll have more availability for these activities as well. Many tour companies and activity providers fill up quickly during the summer months, so its important to book these activities in advance to avoid missing out.

Avoid Last Minute Stress

Booking your summer camping trip in April means that you can avoid the last-minute stress of trying to find available campsites or activities during the peak season. By booking early, you can rest easy knowing that you have secured your spot and can focus on other aspects of planning your trip, like packing and preparing your gear.

Heres some other tips to make your RV Camping trip a smooth experience:

Have a plan before booking

Have an idea of where you plan to take your vehicle and be sure to make a reservation to reserve a spot at the campground. Campgrounds book up pretty quickly, so that should be taken into consideration. Especially campgrounds at more popular destinations, such as state or national parks.

Use a trusted site

Use a trusted site like RVshare.com where your payment is protected and the owner of the vehicle is verified.

Enter your destination, dates and filter by preferences

Start by filtering by your pick-up destination, the dates youd like to rent the RV and filter any other preferences you may have like pet-friendly or type of vehicle.

Find the right RV for your needs

Each class of RV differs in size, layout, and driving expertise. Renters should figure out which one will be the most comfortable to live in and to drive before committing.

Consider RV delivery

Not wanting to actually drive the RV? Campers can now opt for RV delivery. According to RVshare, roughly 79 percent of campers say the delivery option would make them more likely to consider an RV trip.

Do your research

From planning your trip to hitting the road, the RVshare blog offers resources to help make your trip seamless. Head to RVshare.com/blog to see a breakdown of RV travel tips, road trip ideas, National Park guides, campground locations, activities and more.

Disclaimer: This content is from one of our partners in our content network. If you click a link in this article, we may earn a commission.
ST. LOUIS  On April 11, 1934, lawyers filed incorporation papers for the new Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association. Its charge was to develop "a suitable and permanent public memorial" to President Thomas Jefferson along the city's dingy riverfront.

Its leader was Luther Ely Smith, who always seemed to be in the middle of noble endeavors. He would guide the riverfront project through Depression and war, a massive land-clearance and a top-flight design competition. He would be praised as the founding father when St. Louis selected as the suitable memorial Eero Saarinen's idea for what would become the Gateway Arch.

Smith did not live to see it built. (It wasn't completed until 1965.) But when Smith died in 1951, a Post-Dispatch editorial honoring him began with this sentence: "Where in all St. Louis was there a better citizen than Luther Ely Smith?"

Or as energetic. Born in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, Smith attended Washington University School of Law and married SaLees Kennard, daughter of a prominent rug manufacturer here. After service in the Spanish-American War, he became a lawyer downtown and took his first steps in good citizenship.

In 1900, he and Dwight Davis, a future city parks commissioner, led a campaign to build the first playgrounds in St. Louis. They wheedled donations of land, materials and union labor, and made places for kids to play.

He organized the Pageant and Masque in 1914, a celebration of St. Louis' 150th anniversary that filled Forest Park with eager crowds. He helped organize the City Plan Commission in 1916 and promoted completion of the Municipal (now MacArthur) Bridge.

In 1915, St. Louis voters turned down his idea for a grand mall along Market Street from downtown to Grand Boulevard. But nothing stopped him from trying.

"There is always more work to be done," he said.

Thirty years of talk about riverfront renewal gathered steam during the Depression as a way to create jobs. Smith is the one who suggested making it a memorial to westward expansion. He would lead the Memorial Association for nearly four decades.

Along the way, he still found time to help create the system of appointing St. Louis judges in 1940 and the city civil service system two years later. When Saarinen's arch design was chosen in 1948, Smith was his unassuming self. "You have made this possible," he told the gathering.

Smith died on April 2, 1951, at age 77. He was stricken while walking from his Central West End home to catch a bus downtown.

In 1970, a grateful city dedicated the small park in front of the Old Courthouse in his memory. Restful and shaded, it offers one of the best views in town.

A look back: Making way for the Arch
A Lake Saint Louis police officer woke up from sedation on Easter Sunday, 11 days after he was hit by a suspected drunken driver's car, his chief said Tuesday.

The officer, Nathan R. Livingston, remains hospitalized in intensive care with a head injury.

"He woke up, came into consciousness," Lake Saint Louis police Chief Chris DiGiuseppi said. "It was very exciting. It was unexpected that he recovered so quick."

Livingston, 26, was among five officers who were injured March 29 when a motorist hit them on Interstate 70 in Maryland Heights. Livingston was the only one of the five to be critically hurt.

Two other Lake Saint Louis police officers, Kyle Case and Benjamin Fischer, suffered serious injuries. Case, Fischer and Livingston all underwent surgeries for various injuries, including broken bones.

"We're hopeful for full recoveries for everyone," DiGiuseppi said. "So far everyone is making great progress."

Fischer already has been released; Case is in an orthopedic rehabilitation facility.

The St. Charles County officers were treated and released from a hospital the day of the crash.

The Lake Saint Louis officers were standing on the interstate waiting for a tow truck when they were hit. They had used police cars with lights flashing to block an earlier crash site.

Authorities said Matthew C. Jones hit one police car, which spun around and hit three Lake Saint Louis officers. The two St. Charles County officers, Jacob Garner and Peter C. Welegala, were inside another police car when it was struck.

A police dog, Bach, was treated by a vet for injuries.

Prosecutors have charged Jones, 31, of OFallon, Missouri, with five counts of DWI causing serious injury, DWI with a passenger younger than 17 in the vehicle, child endangerment, driving with a suspended license, unlawful use of a firearm and possession of fentanyl.

Man charged after 5 police officers hit on I-70 in Maryland Heights One of the officers, from Lake Saint Louis, was critically injured. Two from Lake Saint Louis were seriously hurt. And two deputies from St. Charles County were treated for moderate injuries and released.
ST. CHARLES  A judge spared Shawn Kavanagh from the death penalty Tuesday, sentencing him to life in prison without parole for fatally stabbing two women and a 7-year-old old boy in a Warren County trailer nine years ago.

St. Charles County Circuit Judge Rebeca Navarro-McKelvey sentenced Kavanagh, 32, to four consecutive life sentences Tuesday, prompting sobs from a courtroom full of family and friends from both sides.

I have been a lawyer for 23 years and nothing has challenged me professionally and spiritually as much as this case, Judge Navarro-McKelvey said before announcing her decision.

She said Kavanaghs decision to call 911 to report the stabbings himself, his confessions and evidence of mental disorders, including borderline personality disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, led her to the lesser sentence.

Today Im going to give you what you dont deserve, she said addressing Kavanagh. Im going to give you mercy.

Kavanaghs crimes stemmed from a jealous rage on the evening of Feb. 14, 2014.

That night, he tracked down his then-wife, Jessica Powell, to her friends Warren County trailer after she backed out of Valentines Day plans with him. There, he stabbed Powell before repeatedly stabbing her friends, Tara Lynn Fifer, 22, and Lexy Vandiver, 29, along with Vandivers 7-year-old son, Mason, who died trying to protect his mother, the trial revealed.

Powell and Vandivers 18-month-old daughter, Jeanette, survived.

Heather Vandiver, Lexy Vandivers sister-in-law, now has joint custody of Jeanette.

She spoke before sentencing Tuesday, pleading for the death penalty by showing the judge photos of Masons wounds along with a picture of a now 10-year-old Jeanette.

He doesnt deserve to live, she said through tears outside the courtroom after the hearing. He stabbed a little boy. He deserves to die.

Kavanagh made a statement in court Tuesday taking the blame for the killings and apologizing to his victims and their families.

Ive done so much damage, he said. All I can say is, Sorry.

The case

Prosecutors announced in 2014 that they would seek the death penalty in the case.

Kavanagh waived his right to a jury trial and requested the case be held outside Warren County.

Navarro-McKelvey convicted Kavanagh on March 17 after a three-day trial hinging on his mental state the night of the crimes.

Kavanaghs ex-wife, Powell, recalled on the stand how Kavanagh grew enraged when she stood him up on Valentines Day. The two were separated by a court order at the time after a previous fight.

Powell testified Kavanagh repeatedly attacked her before asking: How does it feel to be stabbed in the heart?

Kavanagh after the rampage called his parents and then dialed 911 to report the stabbings himself. He remained at the scene until law enforcement arrived, at one point yelling into a mirror: Why did I do this? Powell testified.

When investigators arrived, Kavanagh initially told detectives he didnt remember the stabbings.

Recordings of the interrogations were played during the trial.

I know that I blacked out, Kavanagh told Lt. Scott Schoenfeld of the Warren County Sheriffs Department within hours of the killings. I lost it.

I just wanted to be with my wife on Valentines Day, he repeated to the detective.

The next day, Kavanagh confessed, admitting that he flew into a rage the night of the stabbings when he spotted his wife with Fifer.

Powell, Fifer and Vandiver all worked together as nursing assistants at a New Florence nursing home. Powell and Fifer developed a romantic relationship in the months before her death, according to Fifers family and texts read during the trial.

Kavanaghs public defenders, Anthony Davidson and David Kenyon, argued during the trial that Kavanagh was incapable of pre-meditated murder because of his mental disorders. The lawyers sought a lower charge of second-degree murder, which is not eligible for the death penalty.

The judge decides

Judge Navarro-McKelvey said before sentencing Tuesday that she wholeheartedly believes that the killings were premeditated narcissistic acts but said she took evidence of mental illness into account at sentencing.

You did stay and face the music, the judge said to Kavanagh.

After reaching her verdict last month, the judge heard three days of testimony from family, friends and supporters of both the victims and Kavanagh that she weighed for sentencing.

More than 20 people testified over two days in support of Kavanagh including his relatives, friends, two priests and a religious sister, describing his continued role in their lives, his character and his remorse for his crimes.

Despite the brutality of your crime, there remain people who can see past it, the judge said to Kavanagh on Tuesday.

The sentence comes more than nine years after the crime because of delays prompted by attorney turnover, the COVID-19 pandemic, illness among lawyers on the case and the death of a defense attorneys family member.

Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Kelly King personally prosecuted Kavanagh with help from the Missouri Attorney Generals Office. She declined to comment on the sentence Tuesday.

Navarro-McKelvey acknowledged Tuesday that those who loved the victims may be upset by her decision.

No one in this courtroom will receive perfect justice today, she said. That justice will have to come from the perfect judge: God.
JEFFERSON CITY  Two Republican-led measures to expand public assistance programs for low-income families passed out of committee on Tuesday but are causing heartburn among some GOP lawmakers, raising doubts about the bills prospects for approval.

Although a final estimate was not immediately available Tuesday, the two proposals each are projected to cost at least $230 million when implemented, leaving some lawmakers to vote against sending the legislation to the full House for further debate.

Im just uncomfortable today even with the amendment, Rep. Peggy McGaugh, R-Carrollton, told members of the House Children and Families Committee. I definitely cannot be a yes today.

At issue is a Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, that attempts to help low-income Missourians continue receiving some public benefits if their earnings begin to increase.

The measure would establish transitional benefits for food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families in order to encourage people to work. Coleman said it would end the need for some families to reject small raises or promotions because a pay increase could eliminate their welfare benefits completely.

The proposal is a departure for Republicans, who control the General Assembly. Along with a long history of opposing Medicaid expansion, party officials have for years tried to impose tougher work requirements for food stamps and other programs, as well as reduce the amount of time people can receive jobless benefits.

In order to move the bill out of the Senate in February, Coleman added an earnings cap, allowing people to make up to $75,000 to qualify.

Currently, the states food assistance program is limited to a family of three earning no more than $29,940 per year.

While the change allowed the measure to advance out of the Senate on a 30-3 vote, the overall plan remains a sticking point in the House.

Like McGaugh, Rep. Ed Lewis, R-Moberly, said the measure still gives me quite some pause.

He said the cap may be too high for some of his constituents, who may oppose expanding the social safety net to people earning that amount of money.

Its difficult to sell that to people in my county, Lewis said.

Hoping to ease the measure forward, Rep. Hannah Kelly, R-Mountain Grove, added an amendment Tuesday that could reduce the overall cost of the proposal.

It moved out of the committee to the full House on a 6-3 vote, with McGaugh, Lewis and Rep. Ann Kelley, R-Lamar, voting against it.

Rep. Jamie Johnson, D-Kansas City, was among those voting in favor.

This bill helps people afford the groceries, Johnson said. Its not a free for all. Its for people who are needy.

Rep. Wendy Hausman, R-St. Peters, also registered her support for the proposal, saying it will help children and families.

Other rank-and-file Republicans on the committee sounded less enthusiastic because of the lack of information about the projected cost.

I look forward to more conversation on the floor on this, said Rep. Holly Jones, R-Eureka.

The legislation is Senate Bill 82.
JEFFERSON CITY  A St. Louis-area Democrat formally called for Gov. Mike Parson to remove the chairman of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights after his opposition last month to the outlawing of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, filed paperwork Tuesday seeking to oust the Rev. Timothy Faber, chairman of the commission, after Faber testified in opposition to the legislation during a committee hearing.

Faber did not initially introduce himself as chairman of the human rights commission but instead said he was acting as the legislative liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention and as an ordained minister.

Beck said that obfuscation erodes the trust senators need to have with the states various boards and commissions.

He can no longer continue in his capacity as chair, the filing said.

Beck and fellow Democrats in the Senate earlier said Fabers testimony was in direct contradiction to the mission of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.

While the Missouri Human Rights Act protects against discrimination based on a persons race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex and disability, current law doesnt address discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, or MONA, would change that, outlawing discrimination in housing, employment and in other areas based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In calling for his resignation Tuesday, Beck used a legislative filing known as a remonstrance.

Like a bill, a remonstrance needs to be approved by a committee before coming before the Senate for a vote. It would not go to the House of Representatives. Even if passed, a remonstrance has no force of law; rather, it expresses the opinion of the Senate.

The maneuver is relatively rare.

In February, for example, Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance, filed a remonstrance asking for the Supreme Courts disciplinary office to investigate allegations of misconduct by St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner.

In 2014, former Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University, used the procedure to call for the resignation of then-Gov. Jay Nixon over his handling of police protests in Ferguson.

Parson, a Republican, named Faber, a fellow Republican, to the post in 2021. The commission, appointed by the governor, currently has four members and seven vacancies.

In his testimony against MONA, Faber said passage of the law would cause the commissions caseload to increase exponentially and worsen a case backlog.

Faber said he has no plans to step down.

I dont see it as that big of a deal. Im only one commissioner, Faber told the Post-Dispatch.
JEFFERSON CITY  Gov. Mike Parsons push to widen traffic-clogged sections of Interstate 70 remains on track as members of the Missouri House are poised to begin debate on a key piece of the state budget.

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, unveiled the latest list of brick-and-mortar projects Tuesday, including $15 million for a manufacturing innovation center in St. Louis, $3 million for Kirkwoods community center, $1 million for Powell Symphony Hall  and $859 million to upgrade the interstate near Wentzville, Columbia and Kansas City.

Earlier versions had taken some of that amount for projects on Interstate 44, but in the latest spending blueprint, those also are funded at about $48 million.

All told, the construction spending outlined in the plan amounts to $2.8 billion.

The state is currently sitting on a surplus estimated at about $5 billion. And new revenue figures show the state could add another $1 billion in unspent tax receipts before the end of the fiscal year, giving budget writers even more of a cushion heading into the final weeks of the legislative session.

Under Parsons plan, crews would add lanes to I-70 through Boone County in central Missouri and extend the sections with three lanes west of St. Louis and east of Kansas City.

The widening of those perpetually busy segments is a cheaper alternative than the estimated $2.7 billion it would cost to widen the entire stretch across the state from four lanes to six lanes.

Smith acknowledged that the widening projects will not be completed in one year and said that could open the door to an influx of federal funding to help defray the costs.

Hopefully over the course of some years we can pick up some federal assistance, Smith said.

Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, who is the ranking minority member of the budget committee, said he believes the funding for I-70 is part of a negotiating point between the House and the Senate.

He said the Senate is likely to add additional projects to the construction list using some of the surplus that has built up in the state treasury.

If that is the case, he said House Democrats likely will push their colleagues in the upper chamber to add more local projects.

Id love to see some investment in public transit as well, Merideth said, pointing to a north-south MetroLink line under discussion in the region.

While the Missouri Department of Transportation will see an influx of dollars for the interstate project, the agency will not be selling its historic headquarters adjacent to the Capitol for $44 million.

Smith said he axed the building purchase because there is not a plan for the building if MoDOT moves out.

We should have a coherent plan, Smith said.

Another road project included in the proposal is a $6.6 million earmark to upgrade Missouri Route 370 and Salt River Road in St. Peters.

The plan also proposes $15 million in matching funds for a manufacturing innovation center in St. Louis and $7.5 million to build a psychiatric hospital for children in St. Louis County.

St. Charles County could receive $7 million in matching funds to upgrade the emergency dispatch call and phone system.

Kirkwood will receive $3 million to help improve the citys community center.

The plan also includes $1 million in matching funds to renovate Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis.

The legislation is House Bill 19.
CLAYTON  St. Louis County Council members voted Tuesday night to require the countys legal department to get council approval before hiring outside attorneys.

Since January 2021, the county counselors office has been able to hire outside legal help without approval from the countys legislative body thanks to a pandemic-era emergency rule. The practice came under criticism from opponents of the countys COVID-19 prevention policies, but county attorneys say it has strengthened their ability to fight legal battles that can end in costly settlements.

Republican Councilman Dennis Hancock successfully sought to reverse the rule. Hancock says because elected officials have declared an end to pandemic emergency declarations, its time to scrap the exception for the county counselors office.

In late March, Hancock proposed a bill that would require an ordinance for the counselors office to hire outside help. An ordinance can take weeks or even months to pass, potentially hampering the offices agility in defending the county, said Beth Orwick, former county counselor and current chief of staff to County Executive Sam Page.

Councilman Ernie Trakas proposed a compromise this week that would require only an order to approve hiring outside attorneys. Orders can be passed with a voice vote and can be completed within a few weeks. Hancock supported the compromise.

It still puts whatever restrictions we want to on it, and we can certainly say, No, Hancock said. Its just a way to ensure we have the ability to move quickly.

The measure passed 5-1, with Democratic Councilwoman Lisa Clancy of Maplewood voting no. Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway, a Democrat from Chesterfield, was absent.
ST. LOUIS  Robert Tracy, the citys new police chief, is on a charm offensive.

In a series of meetings with neighborhood leaders, clergy and ordinary citizens across the city, hes been laying out his vision to reinvigorate a beleaguered department and bring down crime. Hes been answering questions and listening to concerns.

And he offers a simple message: We can do this, he told the Post-Dispatch.

Tracy acknowledges obstacles: The department is contending with a staffing shortage. Its seven years into a feud with the Circuit Attorneys Office that has complicated investigations. Reckless driving has turned roadways into drag strips with deadly consequences. And violent crime, especially homicides, remain a critical problem.

But Tracy, who most recently served as chief in Wilmington, Delaware, says hes seen the power of intensive, data-driven management and vigorous community outreach to make departments more efficient and effective. Hes excited to use recently announced pay raises to spur recruitment here. And he says he has the support from political leaders like Mayor Tishaura O. Jones he needs to make things happen.

I wouldnt have taken this job if I didnt think we could get to where we need to be, Tracy told neighbors at a recent meeting in the Central West End.

In some ways, he said, its already happening: Court summonses for traffic violations are up. Recruitment numbers are showing encouraging signs. Hes having good conversations with other criminal justice leaders. And residents are crossing their fingers and daring to hope.

Jim Dwyer, whos lived and worked in the Central West End for 56 years, said hes never seen a chief get out into the community like Tracy has in his first couple of months.

Im hopeful that hes able to accomplish all that he says he wants to, Dwyer said.

The Rev. Rodrick Burton, of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church on Goodfellow Boulevard, got a similar impression when Tracy met with North Side clergy last month. The chief seemed like an earnest, no-nonsense guy.

You want to be optimistic, Burton said.

Of course, words in a meeting are just that, Burton said.

Deeds have to back up those words, he said.

Here, its another level

Tracy, the son of a Bronx homicide detective, likes to introduce himself with a couple of stories about good deeds. The first is about the 34th Precinct in New York, where he was assigned as a young officer. In the 1980s, the area was a war zone, with more than 100 murders per year. Then good police work, in partnership with the community, helped turn the tide, Tracy said. By the end of the decade, annual homicide numbers were in the single digits, where they remain today.

Decades later, following a stint in Chicago, Tracy took the job in Wilmington. Not long before, Newsweek magazine had dubbed the city Murder Town USA. But over a six-year period, violent crimes dropped about 30%. Shooting incidents were cut in half.

The experiences leave Tracy little patience for defeatists.

When people tell me, Chief, this cant be done; we cant do this, Im going to say, Im going to challenge you on that, he told residents, this time at a meeting of the Holly Hills neighborhood association.

Change wont come overnight, he said. The department, like many others across the country, is still catching up from a pandemic that cut access to in-person neighborhood meetings where officers could really connect with residents, he said. It pulled back on traffic law enforcement, and drivers took advantage of it.

The behavior in the whole country has gone crazy, he said. And here, I think its up and on another level.

Tracy said the department is also seeing the aftermath of disruptions in social services and virtual schooling. At-risk youth were cut off from some of the only structure they had in their lives, Tracy said.

Think about that with the juveniles, he said, referencing rising concern about young people in the city being involved in car thefts and gun crime.

And the department is down about 250 officers from its authorized strength after years of struggling to retain officers and recruit new ones.

Thats a challenge, Tracy said.

Cracking down on scofflaws

So is the relationship with Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners office. She has excluded some officers from presenting charges, alleging misconduct. Her office has been slow to process some cases and struggled to prosecute others, angering officials, officers and residents to the point where state officials are trying to remove her from office.

Still, Tracy says hes making progress.

Hes reached out to Gardner in an attempt to repair the relationship, and has already had some good conversations with her.

I at least have to try, he told the Holly Hills meeting.

He said he also worked with key police staff to put together plans to crack down on traffic scofflaws, leading to a jump in summons for violations.

For January, February, were up over 100%, he said at a Tower Grove East neighborhood meeting.

Recent recruitment efforts have also yielded two ongoing academy classes that could add 34 officers to the ranks, which Tracy said outpaced attrition.

Not by much, he said, but thats a victory.

He predicted things would get even better when sizeable pay raises hit this summer. Morale, he said, is going to start rising. And happy officers will spread the word.

I think theres a great opportunity right now, Tracy said, for us to start getting on the right path.
A number of Egyptian MPs have called for breaking diplomatic ties with Israel following its barbaric attacks on Palestinians worshippers in Jerusalem and deadly airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

Atef El-Meghawry, the parliamentary spokesperson of the leftist Tagamoa party, called on the Egyptian government to sever ties with Israel, expel its ambassador and shut down its embassy in Cairo.

"This should be the response to the Israeli police's barbaric practices and violence against worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque and the deadly airstrikes against the Palestinians in Gaza Strip," said El-Meghawry, who also called for cancelling Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel.

On Wednesday, Israeli riot police broke into the prayer hall of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque beating the worshippers with clubs, firing rubber bullets, teargas canisters and sound grenades.

"There should be no peace between Egypt and Israel as long as the Zionist regime continues to violate humanitarian and religious values and escalate its aggression against the Palestinians," said El-Meghawry. He also expressed support for Jordan's decision to expel Israel's ambassador.

"We support the Jordanian position and I call for severing all ties with the Zionists in condemnation of their attacks on worshippers," said El-Meghawry.

The MP also criticised the United States and international human rights organisations for adopting "double standards" and refraining from denouncing Israels aggressive and arrogant policies.

Independent MP Mohamed El-Sammoudy also called for Egypt to cut of its relations with Israel following their attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and their rejection of any moves to achieve peace and establish two states living in peace side by side."

"Arab states need to take a stronger reaction against the barbaric Zionists. Mere statements of condemnation are not enough," said El-Samoudy.

Speaker of Parliament Hanafy El-Gebaly began Tuesday's session by condemning the Israelis, stating that "the repeated Israeli violations of the holy sites, including the recent storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque are highly provocative to all Egyptians and fuel violence which undermine all efforts exerted by Egypt and other regional partners to secure peace."

Egypt's parliament, he said, "strongly condemns this blatant aggression on human values and the flagrant violation by Israeli police and its raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque and worshippers."

Yossri El-Moghazi, chairman of parliament's Arab Affairs Committee, also called for a "decisive action" against Israeli violations.

He argued that "the Israelis have malicious intentions against the Palestinians and plan further incursions that will shed more blood and undermine all efforts to achieve peace in the region."

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Apparently, its open season on Black Lives Matter protesters in Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott didnt even bother waiting for the sentencing of a man convicted of shooting and killing a protester supporting the movement before announcing he plans to pardon the shooter. Never mind that a jury has unanimously determined that the shooting was not, as the man claims, in self-defense. The case confirms yet again that the GOPs once-consistent stance for law and order is now politically situational. It also spotlights the dangerous environment red states have created with stand-your-ground laws and open-carry permissiveness on guns.

Most of the facts arent in dispute. During a July 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Austin over the killing of George Floyd that summer, Daniel Perry drove his car into the crowd. Black Lives Matter protester Garrett Foster approached the car. Both men were white military veterans and, under Texas wide-open gun laws, both were legally carrying firearms. Foster had an AK-47 rifle strapped to his chest and Perry had a handgun in his car.

Perry fired five shots at Foster, then sped off, then later turned himself in. He maintained at trial that Foster pointed the rifle at him. That assertion was disputed by witnesses and called into question by Perrys own interview with police, in which he told them he fired because I didnt want to give him a chance to aim at me. The fact that Perry had earlier posted social-media comments expressing his desire to shoot protesters didnt bolster his claim of self-defense.

The jury convicted Perry of murder Friday. Abbott was urged to intervene by Fox News host Tucker Carlson and others who apparently believe the culture wars metaphor should be made literal. On Saturday, Abbott obliged, announcing on Twitter that he would begin the process of pardoning Perry. His strained reasoning was that Texas has one of the strongest Stand your ground laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or progressive district attorney.

The jury didnt nullify Texas stand-your-ground law, it merely found  based on a trial the jurors sat through and Abbott didnt  that that law didnt apply here because Perrys claim of self-defense wasnt believable. Its unlikely Abbott thinks that anyone who shoots another person is automatically protected by that law. Maybe that dynamic applies only when the victim was a member of a left-leaning political organization and Tucker Carlson is heckling from the sidelines.

Republicans in red states like Texas and Missouri have made this kind of dangerous confrontation more likely, with open-carry laws that introduce firearms into social conflicts and stand-your-ground laws that give self-styled Rambos legal footing to use them. Granting pardons based on the political leanings of the victims was perhaps the inevitable next phase of this deadly project.
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.
AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / In the relaunch of her riveting first memoir Lost Girl: From the Hood to the White House to Millionaire Entrepreneur, Rebecca Contreras tells her inspiring story of transformation, perseverance, and how a lost girl was found. Born prematurely as a drug-addicted infant to a single mother in a Texas border town, Rebecca came to know abandonment all too well. Yet despite becoming a teenage, welfare-dependent mother herself, she earned her GED and managed to break the generational cycle, working her way up to become an advisor to the President of the United States before achieving the American dream by becoming an entrepreneurial success story.

Lost Girl

Front Cover

After setting the stage by recounting a childhood filled with neglect and abuse, Rebecca shares how she overcame the obstacles of her past. In her words, "We can't focus on what we lack or the mistakes of our past, but we have to be deliberate about our future. With perseverance, faith, embracing the hard change of self, and engaging strong mentors, that GED took me from the hood to the Office of the Texas Governor, and eventually all the way to the White House."

Her desire to change her life's trajectory and her sheer will and resolve to succeed altered the course of her and her family's lives forever. But she doesn't stop there. Sharing what she learned along the way has become her passion as she reaches out to mentor others because, as she says, "No one-and I mean no one-makes it flying solo."

Rebecca Contreras has been the President and CEO of AvantGarde LLC, a 110+ employee human capital consulting firm, since founding it in 2011. Along with her husband, she is also the co-founder of the nonprofit organization LaunchPad, which serves disadvantaged inner-city youth through educational programs and mentoring.

Because Rebecca's book is a demonstration of hope and empowerment for young at-risk women, Lost Girl is being relaunched to coincide with the 2023 Girls of Legacy Kickoff Event on April 11. Rebecca was inspired by promising young women through her work in the inner city and started Girls of Legacy in 2022, her signature initiative. Through her own matched funding, the program has been able to support ten Class of 2022 Title 1 high school graduates through partial scholarships and mentoring in college and professional development/training programs.

The eBook for Lost Girl is being offered at a promotional price during the 2023 Kickoff Event, and 100% of any proceeds will go toward Girls of Legacy fundraising efforts.

Order today on Amazon by clicking here.

Publisher: BOSS Media

Release date: April 11, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-63337-588-8 (eBook)

Media Contact:

Crystaline Lopez

[email protected]

www.rebeccacontreras.com

###

Contact Information

Crystaline Lopez

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SOURCE: Rebecca Contreras, author

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / U.S. Bank



Photo: Marcus Brown, who took on a role in 2020 as strategy manager focused on the Black segment within the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team at the bank.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

If you imagine what a typical banker does in their job, "addressing the racial wealth gap" probably isn't the first thought that comes to mind. But that is at the forefront of Marcus Brown's job description.

"A Federal Reserve study showed that, on average, Black people have less than 15 percent as much wealth as White people," Brown said. "We're not able to fix systemic racism as a bank, but we can play a role in addressing that wealth disparity."

As part of that effort, Brown took on a role in 2020 as strategy manager focused on the Black segment within the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team at the bank.

He brought a lot of expertise with him, having joined the bank nearly seven years ago in the bank's U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corp., which invests billions of dollars annually in communities, including projects to provide affordable housing to people with low incomes.

Brown served as a training and development program manager, leading workshops for U.S. Bank employees to help them understand the racial wealth gap and how they can help address it.

"After George Floyd's murder in 2020, there was a real desire among the bank's senior leaders to double down on our commitment to address inequities among the Black population," Brown said.

The racial wealth gap can be narrowed by providing Black Americans with greater access to capital, including personal and business loans, as well as access to financial education and investment services, Brown said.

In early 2021, U.S. Bank launched Access Commitment", a long-term approach focused on advancing diverse leaders, increasing business with diverse suppliers, growing ownership and assets for people and small businesses, and investing in Black communities.

"We have been able to more than double the amount of money the bank spends with diverse suppliers and we've implemented a series of initiatives tied to our different business lines," Brown said.

"We're not able to fix systemic racism as a bank, but we can play a role in addressing that wealth disparity."

-Marcus Brown

For example, the bank's mortgage lending group launched Access Home , which is designed to increase Black homeownership by recruiting and training more Black mortgage loan officers , partnering with nonprofit organizations and providing financial education outreach programs.

"It has helped provide employees a pathway to go from, say, a job in a call center to a career as a mortgage loan officer," Brown said. "By creating greater Black representation in the business line, we create more market share for Black consumers."

The different efforts have helped drive a shift in how the bank's different business lines work together, he said.

"I'm so proud of how we've broken down silos," Brown said. "We've been able to look across the business lines and get an understanding of what they're working on and finding opportunities to drive synergies, especially around financial education."

The bank also launched a leadership academy to help more Black employees position themselves for leadership roles. The academy has been expanded to also serve employees with Asian and Latinx backgrounds.

"These three groups are historically marginalized in America and it's beneficial for us to have programs that build cohorts who can learn from each other and other people at the bank, as well as at other companies," Brown said.

Access Commitment community programs help increase financial education, including the role banks can play in helping people build credit and ultimately wealth, he said.

"We have to deal with the historical distrust of banks among people in marginalized communities," Brown said.

The different initiatives that are part of Access Home are all measured for effectiveness and being enhanced as needed, he said.

"It's one thing to just do programs but we've partnered with the Urban Institute to measure our impact and hold us accountable," Brown said. "We are transparent and report our results in our ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) report . You don't always see that from financial institutions and I'm very proud of that."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from U.S. Bank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: U.S. Bank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/us-bank

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: U.S. Bank

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KITCHENER, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX) (OTCQB: CDXFF), a fast-growing healthcare technology company specializing in automated remote patient monitoring (RPM), medical artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and managing health data, announces it will present at the Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2023 on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 8:30AM (Local Time - PDT).

Cloud DX Founder and CEO Robert Kaul will speak to attendees and answer questions, and host 1x1 investor meetings the following day.

In 2023, Cloud DX has seen an incredible surge in sales, executing 15 new agreements and contract extensions to provide RPM solutions to hospitals and clinics in Canada and the US. This is a major jump compared to just 28 contracts or extensions in all of 2022. Contract values range from approximately $75,000 CAD to over $1,000,000 CAD.

This award-winning innovator just unveiled its 11th and 12th patents, cementing its position as a leader in digital health with a growing IP portfolio. With each new patent, Cloud DX continues to demonstrate its commitment to pioneering innovation that shapes the future of healthcare delivery.

Remote patient monitoring is a quickly expanding segment of the digital health, virtual care and telemedicine industry that has seen increases in uptake across North America. US healthcare payers fully reimburse RPM services, making it increasingly available for physicians and patients. In Canada, provincial health departments have embraced RPM, recognizing its ability to reduce costs while simultaneously improving patient outcomes.

Cloud DX stands out as leading provider of RPM provider in Canada, counting some of the largest hospital systems, academic medical centers, and various provincial, municipal, and county governments amongst its highly satisfied clientele.

To access the live presentation, please use the following information:

Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2023

Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Time: 11:30am Eastern Time (8:30am Pacific Time)

Webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2963/48001

Book 1x1 investor meetings with Cloud DX CEO through the Planet MicroCap event platform. Ensure you are registered, or do so here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/signup

Unable to make the live presentation? Cloud DX and other company presentations "webcasts" will be available directly on the event platform, under the tab "Agenda" here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/agenda

News Compliments of Accesswire

About Cloud DX

Cloud DX is on a mission to make healthcare better for everyone. Clinics and hospitals across North America use our Connected Health" data platform to incorporate remote and virtual technology in care delivery. Our remote monitoring solutions let care teams virtually monitor hundreds of patients; Patients take vital signs at home with intelligent medical devices which transmit the data to the care team's dashboard or EMR. Connected Health" supports remote vital sign monitoring, behavioral medicine, telehealth, care pathways for chronic care, aging in place, palliative or perioperative hospital-at-home, and more. Our customers achieve better healthcare and patient outcomes, reduce hospitalizations and readmissions, lower care delivery costs, and grow patient panels, revenue, and more.

Cloud DX is an exclusive partner to Medtronic Canada, Teladoc Health Canada, and Equitable Life of Canada. Cloud DX is the co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, 2022 Top Innovator by Canadian Business, a 2021 Edison Award winner, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist, and one of "Canada's Ten Most Prominent Telehealth Providers."

For more information on Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX), visit www.CloudDX.com and follow @CloudDX on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Cloud DX Investor Site https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx

About Planet MicroCap

Planet MicroCap is a global multimedia financial news, publishing and events company focused on news dissemination, providing information, data and analytics for the MicroCap investing community. We have cultivated an active and engaged audience of folks that are interested in learning about and to stay ahead of the curve in the MicroCap space.

If you would like to attend the Planet MicroCap Showcase, please register here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/signup

Media Contact

Janine Scott

Marketing Lead

888-543-0944

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contacts

Canada

Jay Bedard

647-881-8418

[email protected]

USA

Gary Zwetchkenbaum

516-455-7662

[email protected]

SOURCE: Cloud DX

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SALEM, NH / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / CMG Home Loans, the retail division of the well-capitalized privately held mortgage banking firm, CMG Financial, has established more opportunities to serve buyers in the local New England region by opening a branch in Salem, NH. The branch will extend to a satellite office in Bedford, NH to include a total of 20 loan officers and 7 operational support members led by Area Sales Manager Mike Comerford NMLS# 184368.

A New Hampshire native, Comerford brings 15 years of industry experience and a lifetime of local expertise. He and his wife, Nicole, co-owned a powerhouse mortgage company which was also headquartered in Salem. Last year alone, their team served over 650 families and totaled over $260 million in loan volume. Over the years, they have amassed a strong clientele of happy homeowners and buyers in southern New Hampshire and are excited to expand eastward with CMG.

"The team and I are super excited to join CMG," says Comerford. "We pride ourselves on delivering superior customer service and an incredible customer experience. We are confident that joining CMG will help us take that service to the next level!"

"This is an excellent addition to CMG's New England Team," says New England Regional Sales Manager, Mark McCauley. "We're thrilled to be partnering with Mike Comerford and such a strong group, and we look forward to providing exceptional service to our valued referral partners and borrowers."

###

About CMG Home Loans

CMG Mortgage, Inc (NMLS #1820) is a well-capitalized mortgage bank founded in 1993. Founder and CEO, Christopher M. George, was Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association in 2019. CMG makes its products and services available to the market through three distinct origination channels including Retail Lending, Wholesale Lending, and Correspondent Lending. CMG currently operates in all states, including District of Columbia and holds approvals with FNMA, FHLMC, and GNMA. CMG is widely known through the mortgage banking and housing markets for responsible lending practices, industry and consumer advocacy, product innovation, and operational efficiency.

Media Contact:

Annaugh Madsen

Phone: (667) 260-6360

Email: [email protected]

Contact Information

Annaugh Madsen

Copywriter

[email protected]

(667) 260-6360

SOURCE: CMG Home Loans

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CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Discovery Education and Creative Visions-a nonprofit supporting positive change through storytelling, impact media, art, education, and technology-announced today the launch of a new education initiative called Creative Visions Classroom. Designed to inspire 6-12 grade students to become the next generation of storytellers and leaders, Creative Visions Classroom offers dynamic, hands-on learning experiences at no-cost to students nationwide.

Creative Visions Classroom provides educators and students with a comprehensive, thoughtful collection of standards-aligned resources applicable in multiple disciplines for use in any learning environment. Classroom activities harness storytelling and creative expression as tools that students can use to solve challenges and make a positive difference.

In addition, the Changemakers in Action Virtual Field Trip - premiering on April 11 at 1 PM EST - introduces students to peers who are taking creative action in their communities. Also available on-demand, the VFT features an interactive tool empowering students to explore issues they care about in the world through the lens of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The VFT includes a companion educator guide, featuring hands-on activities to engage students before, during, and after watching.

"Young people worldwide are confronting challenges like never before-and Creative Visions recognizes the importance of empowering them to take creative action in overcoming these challenges," said Pat Chandler, Chief Executive Officer of Creative Visions. "For 24 years our organization has supported, promoted, and amplified the work of creative activists who use storytelling, art, education, and technology to bring about positive change. Now, by partnering with Discovery Education, students everywhere can learn to utilize their creativity to make a difference and transform the world around them."

Creative Visions Classroom is supported by Blue Chip Foundation, Hasbro, Inc., and The William, Jeff & Jennifer Gross Family Foundation. The program will present educators and students with additional resources that will be released regularly over the next three years. Learn more about the existing content and new materials here.

"Empowering students to be the storytellers and creators of their own action is paramount. In partnership with Creative Visions, classrooms everywhere now have the resources needed to be leaders in their communities," said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Social Impact at Discovery Education.

Learn more about Creative Visions Classroom at CreativeChangeMakers.org or within Discovery Education's K-12 learning platform. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides educators with an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction.

For more information about Discovery Education's award-winning digital resources-which can be purchased with federal stimulus funds-and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Twitter and LinkedIn.

For more information about the Creative Visions' Impact Education programs and educator resources, visit their Learning Hub at www.cvchangemakers.org.

About Creative Visions

Creative Visions empowers artists, filmmakers, musicians and other impact media makers to raise awareness of critical issues and drive positive change through storytelling - one of our most powerful tools for creating a more just, caring and sustainable world. A nonprofit organization and United Nations NGO, Creative Visions' Impact Education programs support youth, educators and changemakers to understand how to use media, arts and technology to take creative action about the things they care about.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts

Jess Burnquist

Creative Visions

[email protected]

Grace Maliska

Discovery Education

[email protected]

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Discovery Education on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Discovery Education

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/discovery-education

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Discovery Education

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OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Intouch Insight Ltd, ("Intouch" or "the Company") (TSXV:INX)(OTCQX:INXSF) a leader in customer experience measurement solutions, today announced that it will be presenting at the Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2023 on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at10:00 AM(Local Time -PST). Cameron Watt (President & CEO of Intouch) will be hosting the presentation and answering questions at the conclusion.

To access the live presentation, please use the following information:

Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2023

Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Time: 7:00 AM Eastern Time (10:00 AM Pacific Time)

Webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2963/47973

If you would like to book 1x1 investor meetings with Intouch, and to attend the Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2023, please make sure you are registered here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/signup

1x1 meetings will be scheduled and conducted in person at the conference venue in LAS VEGAS.

The Planet MicroCap Showcase: VEGAS 2023 website is available here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/

If you can't make the live presentation, all company presentations "webcasts" will be available directly on the conference event platform on this link under the tab "Agenda": https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/agenda

News Compliments of Accesswire

About Intouch Insight

Intouch Insight offers a complete portfolio of customer experience management (CEM) products and services that help global brands delight their customers, strengthen brand reputation and improve financial performance. Intouch helps clients collect and centralize data from multiple customer touch points, gives them actionable, real-time insights, and provides them with the tools to continuously improve customer experience. Founded in 1992, Intouch is trusted by over 300 of North America's most-loved brands for their customer experience management, customer survey, mystery shopping, mobile forms, operational and compliance audits, geolocation data capture and event marketing automation solutions. For more information, visit intouchinsight.com.

Contact:

Cathy Smith

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

613-270-7916

About Planet MicroCap

Planet MicroCap is a global multimedia financial news, publishing and events company focused on news dissemination, providing information, data and analytics for the MicroCap investing community. We have cultivated an active and engaged audience of folks that are interested in learning about and to stay ahead of the curve in the MicroCap space.

If you would like to attend the Planet MicroCap Showcase, please register here: https://planetmicrocapshowcase.com/signup

SOURCE: Intouch Insight Ltd. via SNN Network

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Lotus Ventures Inc. (CSE:J)(OTC PINK:LTTSF) ("Lotus" or the "Company") a North Okanagan grown licensed cannabis producer and the owner of Lotus Cannabis Co.", a premium-craft consumer brand in Canada is excited to announce that its Lotus branded Keylime Kush flower will be available today for Ontario retailers to order through the provinces' "Flow Through" program. Retailers can make orders through the Ontario Cannabis Store Wholesale portal to get a first taste of the Lotus Keylime Kush. For more information about the OCS "Flow Through" program, please visit this article on StratCann.

Lotus' premium-craft, indoor-grown Keylime Kush builds on the Company's tradition of launching first-to-market and exclusively grown genetics in Canada. Following the successful launches of the Kalifornia and Tranquil Elephantizer flower, Ontario retailers can expect the first batch of the Lotus Keylime Kush (LOT 110LF) to be 34.3% THC and 2.6% in terpene content. The Keylime Kush will feature high THC and terpene content consistently and is a beautiful hybrid cross between Key Lime Mints and Kush Mints #11. This cultivar's powerful terpene profile of farnesene, limonene, caryophyllene, and linalool creates flavours and aromas of lime kush and green apple with notes of cookies and gas. The Keylime Kush is available in 3.5 gram premium glass flower jars and "we're excited to introduce this new premium cultivar for consumers in Ontario" said Carl Correia, Chief Operating Officer at Lotus.

Consumers and retailers can visit Lotus' website and YouTube channel to see a new video of the Keylime Kush, shot by Sessions Highlife: https://youtu.be/ucIOtnfMrUY

Figure 1: Lotus Cannabis Co." Keylime Kush 3.5 Gram Premium Glass Jar and Flower

Figure 2: Keylime Kush by Lotus Cannabis Co."

Entering Ontario with our Lotus brand is another significant milestone as we continue to introduce our exclusive BC-grown cultivars in Ontario, Canada's largest legal market. For more information about the Lotus Keylime Kush and where you can find it, please visit lotuscannabis.ca

ON BEHALF OF LOTUS VENTURES INC:

Lotus Ventures Inc.

"Dale McClanaghan"

Dale McClanaghan, President and CEO

About Lotus Ventures Inc.

Lotus Ventures Inc. is a BC-grown licensed producer of premium cannabis. Lotus owns the premium-craft consumer brand Lotus Cannabis Co." which has had its cannabis flower sold by wholesale partners in all provinces to date. Lotus is an experienced cultivator on a mission to produce the cleanest and most consistent premium cannabis in Canada. With operations in the North Okanagan B.C., the Lotus Cannabis team has launched popular cultivars like the Keylime Kush, Black Blossom, Tranquil Elephantizer and Kalifornia and currently has flower being sold in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.

To invest in the Company, Lotus Ventures Inc. is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE:J), on the OTC Markets (OTC:LTTSF) and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FRA:LV9).

For More Information:

President & CEO

Dale McClanaghan

(604) - 644 - 9844

Marketing Manager

Daniel McRobert

[email protected]

(604) - 842 - 4625

Investor Relations

[email protected]

(604) - 842 - 4625

General Information

[email protected]

To learn more, visit https://lotuscannabis.ca and follow the Lotus Cannabis Co." brand on social media.

Instagram: @lotuscannabisco

Twitter: @lotuscannabisco

LinkedIn: @lotuscannabisco

Facebook: @lotuscanna

Forward-Looking Information:

This document includes certain statements that are not descriptions of historical facts but are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning our expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans, our future operating results, our expectations regarding the market for medical and recreational cannabis products, our expectations regarding the continued growth of the medical and recreational cannabis market, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions, or beliefs about future events. Users are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that a number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties have not been documented or mentioned in this document nor other communications made by the company. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "targets," "optimistic," "intend," "aim," "will" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Lotus Ventures, Inc.

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Audeobox CEO and 2x GRAMMY-nominated music producer YoungFyre is bringing back the excitement of online beat battles with the launch of a one-of-a-kind platform called NEXXT.

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Created as a tribute to the beat battles that launched his career nearly two decades ago, Audeobox's CEO and two-time Grammy-nominated music producer YoungFyre introduces NEXXT, a web-based beat battle arena where music producers can compete, collaborate, and connect with each other. The platform, which launches in April 2023, is the only web-based beat battle platform that allows users to battle one-on-one and utilizes a popular vote to determine a winner.

Audeobox CEO YoungFyre

CEO of Audeobox and 2x Grammy-nominated music producer YoungFyre is shown.

As a former Beat Battle Grand Champ from the heart of Iowa, YoungFyre knows firsthand the benefits of online beat battles. His reign on a beat battle website led to the launch of his production career, resulting in producing songs for major artists such as T-Pain, Britney Spears, Lil Wayne, Jaden Smith, Flo Milli, Rick Ross, and more. Now, he's hoping to pay it forward by creating a platform that offers the same opportunities to up-and-coming music producers, and he has the help of web developer and former Googler, known simply as "X", to execute it. "I wanted to create an online beat battle arena, not only to give producers an opportunity like battles gave me, but also to encourage producers to have fun creating beats and engage with other producers," says YoungFyre. "Beat battles changed my life, and I can't wait to see how NEXXT Beat Battles will change lives, too."

As the industry continues to evolve and more producers turn to online platforms to showcase their work, NEXXT Beat Battles is poised to become a game-changer in the music production community. With the launch of NEXXT, YoungFyre is revitalizing the online music production scene, providing a space for producers to collaborate and connect with each other in a game-like setting. The platform is designed to be easy to use and engaging, offering music producers a chance to showcase their talent, make connections, earn prizes, and more.

YoungFyre earned the title of Beat Battle Grand Champ, touting a record of 233-9

Tech Guru "X" was the original web developer for the Beat Battles in which YoungFyre competed

The pair met through Beat Battles and has since worked together on Audeobox.com

Audeobox has long been a premium source for sample packs, featuring over 10,000,000 downloads on Splice.com

NEXXT Beat Battles, set to officially launch in April 2023, provides music producers a platform to battle their beats, make connections, earn prizes, and more

Contact Information

Amy Clark

Marketing Manager

[email protected]

616-204-3844

YoungFyre N/A

CEO, Audeobox

[email protected]

213-293-4879

Related Files

Audeobox NEXXT Screen Battle.png

Audeobox NEXXT Screen Rankings.png

Related Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x77CpETWss

SOURCE: Audeobox

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Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to visit Egypt as part of an African tour scheduled to start in late April, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno as quoted by Reuters on Tuesday.

PM Kishida's African tour  which includes Ghana, Kenya, and Mozambique  comes amid strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and the African continent.

Japan has recently pledged $30 billion in public and private investment to the continent over the next three years in areas such as green growth, health, human resource development, regional stabilisation and food security.

During his remote participation at the eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8), which was held in Tunisia last August, Fumio said Japan aspires to be "a partner growing together with Africa."

At the summit, Japan and African countries signed over 30 cooperation agreements in various fields.

Egypt-Japan relations

On the sidelines TICAD 8, Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly discussed with Fumio joint cooperation between the two countries in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZone), education system, transportation and health sectors.

In the past few years, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has increased its support for various development projects in Egypt.

In December 2022, the JICA approved a $301 million loan to Egypt for developing the country's fourth metro line.

In February of this year, Egypt and JICA signed a $336 million development financing agreement to support the country's Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS) over seven years.

Last month, Japan and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) signed a $3.8 million grant aid to support the Egyptian governments efforts to boost food security by increasing water-use productivity in agriculture and resilience to climate change.

Trade exchange between Egypt and Japan stood at $1.5 billion in 2021.

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BIRMINGHAM, AL / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Regions Bank

By Candace Higginbotham

Regions Bank on Thursday announced the launch of a new initiative designed to support, complement and advance work that is under way to foster more Black-owned businesses in the bank's headquarters city.

The Birmingham Black-Owned Business Initiative will be led by Kendra Key, who recently joined Regions as Senior Vice President in the bank's Community Affairs division. Key will collaborate with community partners to leverage Regions' resources and business development experience in ways that support and strengthen a vibrant Black-owned business ecosystem. The initiative will specifically aim to reach entrepreneurs throughout the Magic City, including and especially in underserved neighborhoods. Key and a network of organizations will work toward the following priorities:

Identify and amplify current resources for Black entrepreneurs: Already, various organizations offer mentorship, technical assistance, or even funding to help new businesses go from concept to reality. The Birmingham Black-Owned Business Initiative will raise awareness of existing resources and evaluate opportunities for providing greater financial or technical support for programs with a proven track record of results. The impact over time will be greater opportunities for current and future business owners to receive customized guidance in launching and operating a successful business.

Already, various organizations offer mentorship, technical assistance, or even funding to help new businesses go from concept to reality. The Birmingham Black-Owned Business Initiative will raise awareness of existing resources and evaluate opportunities for providing greater financial or technical support for programs with a proven track record of results. The impact over time will be greater opportunities for current and future business owners to receive customized guidance in launching and operating a successful business. Address gaps where additional resources are needed: Often, the difference between whether a business succeeds or fails comes down to access . Did the business owner have access to the right tools and training? Was there enough access to capital and liquidity? What are ways the existing business community can help address a lack of access and help more business owners thrive? These are foundational questions Key and community partners will consistently address as they identify ways to reach more people with tangible benefits.

Often, the difference between whether a business succeeds or fails comes down to . Did the business owner have to the right tools and training? Was there enough to capital and liquidity? What are ways the existing business community can help address a lack of access and help more business owners thrive? These are foundational questions Key and community partners will consistently address as they identify ways to reach more people with tangible benefits. Build collaboration that focuses on results: While many organizations share in the goal of building a more prosperous Birmingham, it is important for these organizations to have strong awareness within the community and strong collaboration to ensure as many business owners as possible are benefiting. Key and community partners of Regions Bank will work extensively to ensure business accelerator programs, mentorship opportunities, technical assistance, co-working spaces, potential funding sources, and more are increasingly available to entrepreneurs to maximize their likelihood for success and growth.

"Over the last several years, Regions Bank has focused its community engagement on fostering more inclusive prosperity, and one of the most powerful ways we can build on this commitment is by creating new strategies to support and uplift Black-owned businesses in our headquarters city," said John Turner, President and CEO of Regions Financial Corp. "Regions is proud to be based in Birmingham, and we are deeply invested in our hometown. By enhancing our collaboration with community groups and focusing more of our time and resources on the growth of Black-owned businesses, we can address an important need in the Magic City while strengthening the quality of life for more entrepreneurs, families and neighborhoods."

Turner is a member of the Board of Directors of Prosper, an initiative created by corporate, civic and community leaders to build the most inclusive and thriving economy in the Southeast. The Birmingham Black-Owned Business Initiative is a shared priority for Regions and Prosper and is designed to work with a range of organizations that are all united in the goal of helping more Black-owned businesses thrive.

A recent Brookings Institution study reported the Birmingham region has the lowest rate among all large U.S. metro areas (53rd out of 53) for Black business ownership of companies that are large enough to have employees in addition to their owner. But many areas of the country are seeing an increase in Black entrepreneurship. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, Black neighborhoods with moderate income levels experienced a large uptick in new business startups between 2019 and 2020. Key and community groups are focused on ensuring Birmingham builds a positive trajectory through collaboration and innovation to support more business owners.

"I'm excited about this initiative, which is a pivotal step toward a long-term goal at Regions to make a meaningful difference in addressing the plight of Black businesses in Birmingham while helping create a best-in-class Black business ecosystem." Kendra Key, Senior Vice President in the bank's Community Affairs division

"We have an entrepreneurial spirit, enthusiastic community partners, and higher engagement from the existing business community that recognizes the importance of a stronger Black-owned business climate," Key said. "I'm excited about this initiative, which is a pivotal step toward a long-term goal at Regions to make a meaningful difference in addressing the plight of Black businesses in Birmingham while helping create a best-in-class Black business ecosystem."

Key reports to Leroy Abrahams, head of Community Affairs for Regions Bank and president of the Regions Foundation. Key's work will also complement the work of the Regions Community Development Corporation, which was established under Abrahams' leadership.

"The deeper collaboration Kendra is building today will create a more prosperous tomorrow," Abrahams said. "We are deeply grateful for community partners like Prosper and others that share a strong vision for fostering more Black-owned business success. Financial inclusion is crucial to the success of the communities where we live and work, and we know Kendra's experience and passion will drive tangible results in neighborhoods across Birmingham."

The deeper collaboration Kendra is building today will create a more prosperous tomorrow.

"Prosper is committed to working with leading businesses, including Regions, and a wide range of community partners to empower more people with crucial resources for business success," added Prosper President J.W. Carpenter. "We saw through the pilot launch of Prosper's Magic City Match program that Black-owned businesses are ready to grow, compete and succeed in the marketplace. We appreciate the leadership position Regions is taking and cannot think of a better person than Kendra to lead this work. As a Prosper Board member, Kendra has already had a tremendous influence on Prosper's work, and this has the potential to make a generational impact for entrepreneurs and families across our city. We are excited to partner with her and with Regions."

Before joining Regions, Key served as head of Minority Depository Institution Engagement for Citigroup. Prior to Citigroup, Key served as senior vice president of community and economic development and market leader for Hope Enterprise Corporation. She was also an associate attorney at Maynard Cooper & Gale. Her legal and financial experience has focused on community development initiatives including tax credit financing, opportunity zones, real estate and commercial banking.

Key earned a juris doctor at Vanderbilt University Law School and a bachelor of arts in Political Science at the University of Alabama, where she was a Truman Scholar and Blackburn Institute Fellow.

Key is a member of the Board of Advisors for both the Vanderbilt University Law School and the University of Alabama Division of Community Affairs. She serves on the New Markets Tax Credit Advisory Board for Habitat for Humanity International and the boards of Prosper, Woodlawn United, Birmingham Talks and the Jones Valley Teaching Farm.

About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF), with $155 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates more than 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

About Regions Community Development Corporation

Regions Community Development Corporation (RCDC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Regions Bank and serves as a catalyst to help revitalize communities and improve the lives of economically disadvantaged families in the Regions footprint. RCDC helps fulfill Regions' mission to make life better by providing debt and/or equity financing for projects and entities with a community-development purpose.

About Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

Kendra Key joined Regions Bank as a Senior Vice President in the company's Community Affairs division and will lead the Birmingham Black-Owned Business Initiative.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Regions Bank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Regions Bank

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Suncor Energy:



The wildlife monitoring program at our MacKay River oil sands site continues to show an incredible amount of biodiversity in the area.

Roberto Torres, a Senior Environmental Advisor at Suncor's MacKay River site, loves his job- he has turned a childhood passion for nature and animals into a long career creating sustainable habitats for animals near our operations. Roberto has helped lead a wildlife monitoring program which includes setting up 27 cameras around the site. The programs and pictures continue to show the incredible diversity and breadth of animals we have including: moose, lynx, whitetail deer, black bears, martens, fishers, squirrels, coyotes, wolves, spruce grouse and many others.

"The importance of the monitoring program is to ensure we minimize impact on animals from our activity," says Roberto, who has been with Suncor since 2009. "And as you can see from the photos, we continue to see great diversity around our sites and we hope to see more diversity with continued monitoring."

Roberto knows what we're seeing from the cameras is important, but he says it's the attitude of the people on site that is the most important for wildlife conservation. He shared a story of workers coming to work on the HVAC system on the roof of a main operations building at site. As the workers climbed up to the roof, they noticed an owl quickly flying away as they approached. Surprised to see an owl, the workers started looking around to see if they could find where the owl had come from. They found a plastic box that had been left on the roof from previous work. In the box, there were two baby owlets.

The workers immediately flagged off the location to avoid any further disturbance and notified Roberto to ask for any other advice. Fish and Wildlife was notified and Roberto, with the support of the operations team, continued to monitor the location for three months until the owlets were old enough to fly on their own. It's a great example of our purpose "caring for each other and the Earth".

"We're surrounded by natural habitat, so we need to care for what we have," says Roberto. "The nature of our business means we do have to disturb some land. But with the team and their care for the environment around them - it's why we continue to see such great wildlife diversity around our sites."

Suncor continues to grow and expand the wildlife monitoring programs at our sites to ensure we are minimizing the impact we have on the land around our operations. Click here to read more environment related stories from Suncor.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Suncor Energy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Suncor Energy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/suncor-energy

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Suncor Energy

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Luminex Resources, Voyageur Pharmaceuticals,Trillion Energy, ARway and Pan Global Resources 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.

Luminex Resources (TSXV:LR) expands Cuyes West Project

Luminex Resources (LR) released drill results from its Cuyes West Project in Ecuador. Widening hanging wall mineralization next to the project has expanded into a new breccia pipe with this added drilling yielding longer than 200 metre intervals of gold mineralization over one gram per tonne. Step out drilling from the new breccia pipe and Cuyes West is ongoing and will contribute towards updating the resource for Condor North to include all Cuyes West drilling by Q4 2023. CEO Marshall Koval spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Marshall Koval and to learn about Luminex Resources, click here.

Voyageur (TSXV:VM) confirms preference for SmoothX in comparative studies

Voyageur (VM) has completed comparative studies of SmoothX versus Readi-Cat 2 per cent. SmoothX is intended for use in computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis to delineate the gastrointestinal tract. Results of the double-blind testing showed that SmoothX was favoured on drinkability and taste by 75 per cent of patients, a key finding prior to market launch. The company plans to offer 13 barium contrast product lines in Canada and the U.S. CEO Brent Willis spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Brent Willis and to learn about Voyageur, click here.

Trillion Energy (CSE:TCF) spuds fifth well at SASB gas field development

Trillion Energy (TCF) is reporting the spudding of the Bayhanli-2 well at the SASB gas field offshore Turkey. Bayhanli-2 is the fifth gas well in Trillion's multi-well drilling program at SASB. The well targets a prospective gas pool that may require multiple wells to reach full production. Colin Robson, VP Corporate Development, spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Colin Robson and to learn about Trillion Energy, click here.

ARway (CSE:ARWY) (OTC:ARWYF) secures annual partner license, launches referral program

ARway (ARWY) has launched its referral partner program to enhance business development. The launch is expected to increase the company's prospect funnel and accelerate revenue growth. The company also signed The TRIBE to an annual license deal to use ARway to build a custom AR-powered app for its marketing agency. VP Product, Shadnam Khan, spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Shadnam Khan and to learn about ARway, click here.

Pan Global (TSXV:PGZ) exceeds 86 per cent copper recovery at La Romana

Pan Global Resources (PGZ) released results from preliminary test work at its La Romana copper-tin-silver discovery in Spain. The results achieved for the first phase of testing demonstrate the potential for a conventional flotation process flowsheet capable of recovering copper into a saleable concentrate. The favourable combination of low deleterious metals and coarse primary grind size and potential for lower final energy consumption, is highly encouraging. President and CEO Tim Moody spoke with Brieanna McCutcheon about the news.

For the full interview with Tim Moody and to learn about Pan Global, 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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SOURCE: The Market Herald

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Goldman Sachs analyst Caitlin Burrows reiterated a Buy rating on ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) after increase their industrial demand forecast using updated eCommerce sales estimates.

"We now expect 2023 industrial net absorption to be 423 mn SF, up from our previous estimate of 353 mn SF, giving us more reason to believe PLD (Buy-Rated) could beat and raise when they report earnings on April 18," the analyst commented.

For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on ProLogis click here. For more ratings news on ProLogis click here.

Shares of ProLogis closed at $123.74 yesterday.
SILICON VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nanosys, the worlds largest independent Quantum Dot company, today announced a milestone in Quantum Dot technology commercialization with the launch of the 1,000th unique quantum dot display product since 2013.

Nanosys offers Quantum Dot (QD) solutions that enable best-in-class performance for displays of all types, including LCDs, miniLEDs, OLEDs, microLEDs, and nanoLEDs. The companys tier-one customer base includes all top-10 global television brands and four of the top-five IT brands. Specific brands shipping end-user display products that utilize Nanosys quantum dot technologies include Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, Hisense, Acer, ASUS, and Phillips.

2023 is the year of the quantum dot and Nanosys is uniquely positioned to enable our top-tier display customers to deliver both the best display image quality and greatest value to consumers," said Bruce Berkoff, Chairman of the LCD TV Association and Nanosys board member. Nanosys is the global innovation leader in quantum dot technology and materials with over 1,000 product design-ins, more than 140 tons of QD materials shipped, and more than 800 unique patents.

Nanosys believes that its position as an innovation leader in quantum dot technology sets it apart from competitors, enabling it to offer customers unparalleled solutions tailored to their specific needs. Nanosys remains relentlessly focused on applying its growing capabilities to deliver customer satisfaction, bringing innovative QD display product solutions to the market with partners and channels globally. The companys commitment to advanced R&D and the applications of that R&D into innovative products allows Nanosys to enable its partners to deliver the best value and image quality with its cutting-edge solutions.

LCD TV represents a massive market opportunity for quantum dot technology. Over 250 million LCD TV panels are sold each year and those panels continue to get larger each year as bigger TVs become increasingly affordable. As a result, TVs are by far the largest contributor to area growth in the industry, making up over 75% of the 200 million square meters of LCD area produced annually.

As the installed base of over $200B of LCD factories, with over 300 million square meters of capacity, looks for opportunities to extend the useful, profitable life of their investment, they are finding excellent value in QD technology. Nanosys QDEF quantum dot film technology can be added to an LCD fab with near-zero dollars in capex while the differentiated viewing experience enables brands to deliver a low-cost premium experience to consumers. As TV makers continue to adopt the technology, we expect the current annual increase in quantum dot TVs to lead to a rising S-curve of QD penetration in the TV space followed by notebooks and monitors. As the growth in QD displays accelerates throughout 2023, it will become more and more obvious to display industry observers that 2023 is truly the year of the Quantum Dot.

About Nanosys

Nanosys, Inc. is the innovation and volume leader in developing and delivering quantum dot (QD) technology to the display industry. As of 2023, industry-leading consumer electronics brands have shipped more than 70 million devices in over 1,000 unique products from tablets to monitors and TVs based on Nanosys proprietary quantum dot technology. Nanosys growth acceleration is driven by the adoption of QD technologies in displays which is expected to continue growing at a double-digit CAGR over the next 4 years. Founded and headquartered in Californias Silicon Valley, it operates a state-of-the-art quantum dot nanomaterials fab and has a robust and attractive intellectual property portfolio. The company owns or has exclusive license rights to more than 800 issued and pending patents worldwide, enabling it to serve customers seamlessly across the display supply chain and product market as well as pursue long-term growth opportunities beyond displays.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005852/en/

Jeff Yurek, [email protected]

Source: Nanosys
SUDBURY, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, after years of work and advocacy, the United Steelworkers union (USW) was on hand for the Ontario Minister of Labours announcement that the government will lower the occupational exposure limit (OEL) of diesel engine exhaust in mines.

For decades, Ontario has had the highest allowable levels of diesel engine exhaust in mines and other workplaces compared to other jurisdictions.

Since 2020, USW Local 6500 has partnered with the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) and Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) to create the Diesel Particulate Project and combine advocacy and research on diesel engine exhaust.

Bringing together occupational health and safety experts, researchers, labour activists, occupational hygienists and workers compensation representatives, the Project aims to make a meaningful change in Ontario mines. It also provides education and awareness to mine workers and their families.

While not a full victory, todays announcement is an important step forward and will reduce the OEL for diesel exhaust particulate from 400 g/m (micrograms per cubic metre of air) to 120 g/m.

Today, we celebrate a victory for Steelworkers and all other workers in mining who have been fighting for such a long time to make the air in their workplaces less dangerous. Theres a certain level of risk that these workers face every time they start a shift, and anytime we can lower that risk, its a good day, said Myles Sullivan, USW District 6 Director (Ontario and Atlantic Canada.)

While the occupational exposure limit for diesel particulate in Ontario is being significantly lowered today, it is not down to the level that Steelworkers have been calling for, at 20 g/m, Sullivan said.

Nick Larochelle, USW Local 6500 President, recognized the work of labour representatives on the Mining Legislative Review Committee (MLRC) and a subcommittee for their work in making this reduction happen. Larochelle committed the continued support of Local 6500 for these representatives on the journey to 20.

Occupational diesel particulate exposure is known to cause cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other diseases to underground miners. Along with further lowering the occupational exposure limit of diesel engine exhaust in mines to 20 g/m, it is our hope that the provincial government will eventually implement these additional changes in the very near future, Larochelle said.

In addition to further reductions in exhaust levels, the Diesel Particulate Project continues to call for occupational diesel particulate exposure to be added to the Workers Safety Insurance Boards list of occupational diseases.

The United Steelworkers union represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of our strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation  including good wages, benefits and pensions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005999/en/

Media:

Myles Sullivan, USW District 6 Director, 416-243-8792

Nick Larochelle, USW Local 6500 President, 705-675-3381, [email protected]

Lorei Leigh De Los Reyes, USW Communications, 416-544-6009, [email protected]

Source: United Steelworkers
Life-cycle analysis of aircraft engine bracket demonstrates importance of lightweighting via AM

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA), a global advocacy group focused on developing and promoting sustainable additive manufacturing industry practices, announced today that it had published its first independent piece of research, titled Comparative LCA of a Low-Pressure Turbine (LPT) Bracket by Two Manufacturing Methods. The report, commissioned by the AMGTA and authored by the Rochester Institute of Technologys Golisano Institute of Sustainability, analyzed a commercial aerospace low-pressure turbine bracket via a life cycle assessment (LCA), evaluating both (i) the comparative manufacturing impact of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing (AM) vs. traditional manufacturing of the bracket and (ii) the impact of a greater than 50% weight reduction of the bracket over the life of the aircraft. While the comparative end result was inconclusive with regard to which manufacturing method used more energy, the results confirmed the dramatic impact that lightweighting commercial aircraft engines and airframes have on carbon emissions.

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A comparison of the AM-designed bracket (left) and the traditional version (right). (Photo: Business Wire)

Key takeaways from the LCA included the following points.

Inconclusive on Manufacturing Method. Using three separate methodologies, the LCA was inconclusive as to which manufacturing method (traditional or additive) used more energy. On balance, this neutral finding represented an improvement over previous studies showing higher energy used in LPBF manufacturing compared to traditional methods.

Using three separate methodologies, the LCA was inconclusive as to which manufacturing method (traditional or additive) used more energy. On balance, this neutral finding represented an improvement over previous studies showing higher energy used in LPBF manufacturing compared to traditional methods. Importance of Energy Mix. The study found that by far the biggest factor in determining sustainability of production was a manufacturing facilitys energy mix at the location of generation, and whether that energy grid was produced using sustainable means.

The study found that by far the biggest factor in determining sustainability of production was a manufacturing facilitys energy mix at the location of generation, and whether that energy grid was produced using sustainable means. Outsized Impact on Lightweighting Aircraft. The study very clearly showed that lightweighting aircraft components via AM design resulted in a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions over the life of an aircraft, with a reduction of 13,376 kg for every 1 kg of weight reduction.

The study very clearly showed that lightweighting aircraft components via AM design resulted in a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions over the life of an aircraft, with a reduction of 13,376 kg for every 1 kg of weight reduction. Overall, AM Produced a More Sustainable Part. The impact of lightweighting by far was the most important factor in determining that AM-produced components are more sustainable than a traditionally designed and manufactured part.

The release of this peer-reviewed LCAthe first of its kindrepresents a milestone for the AMGTA, said Sherri Monroe, the AMGTAs Executive Director. For the first time, we are able to publish tangible results demonstrating the importance of design in additive manufacturing when compared to traditional methods. This study demonstrates the very real impact that AM can have in aircraft and engine design of the future, and bodes well for using similar strategies in other industries and programs.

The two-year study analyzed the two brackets using three LCA methodologies, including the ReCiPe 2016 version 1.1 midpoint method, the Cumulative Energy Demand v1.11, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes IPCC 2021 GWP100 methods. Two of the three methods indicated that, strictly from a manufacturing standpoint, the traditional bracket required less energy to produce, while one method indicated that the AM version produced less carbon dioxide. In all cases, however, the results indicated that the energy mix of the underlying electrical grid had an outsized effect on the sustainability of the manufacturing process. The LCA was performed in accordance with ISO 14040:2006(E) and was peer-reviewed by EarthShift Global.

The underlying bracket, which is one of 12 on each of the two GE Aviation CF6-80C2B6F turbine engines powering a Boeing 767 aircraft, secures a fuel manifold to the external case of the engines low pressure turbine module. It was selected by the AMGTA because it was a relatively simple part that is easy to access and locate. The additive design and manufacturing of the bracket was performed by Sintavia, LLC in Hollywood, Florida, and printed on an EOS GmbH M290 printer using Hoganas AB Inconel 718 powder. The traditional part was manufactured by a Tennessee-based machine shop using a CNC process. The optimized AM bracket was over 50%, or 0.063 kg, lighter than the original version. According to Sintavia, the optimized bracket outperformed the traditional bracket in terms of mechanical properties, with an increased fatigue life in spite of its reduced weight.

While the choice of the LPT bracket offered a simple demonstration of how lightweighting could work on an aircraft engine, the AMGTA believes that the lessons embodied in the current LCA could be much more widely adopted by airframers and engine manufacturers across multiple mechanical systems. Moreover, lightweighting methods of transportation using additive design technology is not only limited to LPBF AM, as other additive technologies (including binder jetting, directed energy deposition, and polymer printing) can similarly remove excess weight across vehicles, aircraft, and vessels.

This study underscores the importance of using AM to develop optimized parts and components that have been lightweighted via AM technology, said Brian Neff, Sintavias CEO and the Chair of the AMGTA. No other currently viable commercial technology offers such an immediate impact to carbon emissions as lightweighting aircraft parts via AM does, and we now have independently verified, peer-reviewed data proving so. We look forward to working with Boeing, GE, and all of the industrys OEMs as they look to unleash the sustainable potential of AM across existing and future platforms.

The two phases of this study - production and use  have implications well beyond this specific bracket, airplane, or manufacturing sector, Sherri Monroe added. The negligible difference in environmental impacts during production combined with the benefits of on-demand production  when you want it, where you want it, how you want it  to deliver more resilient, efficient, and sustainable supply chains, have significant implications for the manufacturing ecosystem to deliver more sustainable solutions.

While this study has immediate implications for aircraft engine and airframe manufacture, the findings in the use phase extend to any part of an airplane that could potentially be lightweighted  mechanical systems, seats, service carts, galleys  and well beyond aircraft to any equipment moved by an engine or motor  vehicles, ships, trains, robots  although the energy demands for aerospace make it the biggest, most obvious and most immediate beneficiary.

The AMGTA says that it expects to publish additional independent research throughout 2023. Additional information on the LCA can be found on the AMGTA website, www.amgta.org.

About the AMGTA

The AMGTA was launched in 2019 to better understand and promote the environmental benefits of additive manufacturing across the global economy. AMGTA members represent the entirety of the manufacturing spectrum - from design and raw materials to end products and users - focused on innovating better, more sustainable, and financially advantageous products through best additive practices. For more information, please contact Sherri Monroe or visit www.amgta.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005344/en/

Caitlyn Perry, +1 954.308.0888

[email protected]

Source: Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Antibe Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: ATE, OTCQX: ATBPF), a clinical-stage company leveraging its hydrogen sulfide platform to develop next-generation safer therapies to target inflammation, is pleased to provide a corporate update.

CRO Selected for PK/PD Study for Otenaproxesuls New Formulation

Further to Antibes update of February 15, 2023, the Company has now selected a clinical research organization (CRO) to carry out the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) study for otenaproxesuls new formulation. The purpose of the PK/PD study is to confirm the optimal dosing regimens for the Phase II bunionectomy trial, slated to initiate in calendar Q4 2023 as previously announced.

DILIsym Modeling for Otenaproxesul Expands to Chronic Pain Treatment Regimens

With the positive results attained in modeling otenaproxesuls liver safety in acute pain treatment regimens, the Company has now embarked on a DILIsym program to explore potential chronic treatment regimens. While this initiative is preliminary, the learning already achieved with DILIsym in combination with the positive animal results for otenaproxesuls new formulation provide the basis for this investigation. DILIsym is a sophisticated software model widely used to predict liver safety.

Strategic Positioning Assessment for Otenaproxesul Completed

Antibe has concluded a comprehensive strategic positioning assessment of otenaproxesul for acute pain in the U.S. market. The assessment identified a compelling commercial strategy and validated the drugs best-in-class positioning in a market with few novel therapies in development. In addition, new opportunities for competitive differentiation were identified and are being pursued. The assessment was conducted by a leading life science-focused marketing and commercialization agency.

Continued Progress in Emerging Discovery Program

As noted in its February update, the Company has selected lead and back-up candidates for its inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) program. These candidates are being evaluated in animal efficacy models with a patent application filing expected in the current quarter. Separately, Antibe is investigating a family of anti-inflammatory compounds that recently demonstrated promising results in an initial animal model; the Company expects to be in a position to make a more comprehensive announcement in the upcoming quarter.

Nuance Pharma Dispute Proceeds to Arbitration

Further to the disclosure provided in the Companys most recent Annual Information Form (AIF), the dispute with Nuance Pharma has not yet been settled.1 Accordingly, the parties will be commencing arbitration proceedings in early May under the rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. The Company continues to consider Nuances claims to be without merit and will provide updates concerning significant developments as they occur.

About Antibe Therapeutics Inc.

Antibe is a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging its proprietary hydrogen sulfide platform to develop next-generation safer therapies to target inflammation arising from a wide range of medical conditions. The Companys current pipeline includes assets that seek to overcome the gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers and bleeding associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Antibes lead drug, otenaproxesul, is in clinical development as a safer alternative to opioids and todays NSAIDs for acute pain. Antibes second pipeline drug, ATB-352, is being developed for a specialized pain indication. The Companys next target is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a condition long in need of safer, more effective therapies. Learn more at antibethera.com.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to, the anticipated scope, timing, duration and completion of certain of the Companys clinical trial programs and studies and the anticipated timing for seeking market approval for certain of the Companys drugs and therapies for certain additional indications. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions will, anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, expect, intend, propose and similar wording. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this news release. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Companys inability to timely execute on its business strategy and timely and successfully complete its clinical trials and studies, the Companys inability to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals related to its activities, risks associated with drug development generally and those risk factors set forth in the Companys public filings made in Canada and available on sedar.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

_____________________________

1 See page 38 of Antibes fiscal 2022 AIF on SEDAR or at antibethera.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ATE-2022-Annual-Information-Form.pdf.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005462/en/

Antibe Therapeutics Inc.

Christina Cameron

VP Investor Relations

+1 416-577-1443

[email protected]

Source: Antibe Therapeutics Inc.
Hydrogen Producers, End-Users, Infrastructure Companies, World-Class Technology Experts, and More Collaborate to Catalyze a Hydrogen Economy in Appalachia

CHARLESTON, W.Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) team has submitted its application to the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) for the regional clean hydrogen hub Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) as designated in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

ARCH2 was formed through a partnership with the State of West Virginia, EQT Corporation, the nations largest natural gas producer; Battelle and GTI Energy; with expertise executing clean energy programs for the federal government; and Allegheny Science & Technology (AST), a leading West Virginia energy technology consulting firm. ARCH2 has grown to over 160 strategic partners and stakeholders, including private sector industry leaders, utilities, universities, non-profits, and transportation and state entities from Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, interested in building a hydrogen economy in northern Appalachia.

Concentrated in Appalachian counties as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) across West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, ARCH2 will leverage diverse regional resources to build a safe, sustainable clean hydrogen hub that can scale and integrate into a national clean H2 network. The region is the ideal location for a clean hydrogen hub, due to its unique access to ample low-cost natural gas feedstock, vast industrial end-user demand, workforce and technology capability, and carbon sequestration potential.

The ARCH2 project portfolio includes a diverse group of partner companies poised to bring economic, environmental, and community benefits to Appalachia through participation in ARCH2. Lead project development partners under ARCH2 include: Air Liquide, The Chemours Company, Clearway Energy Group, CNX Resources Corp, Dominion Energy Ohio, Empire Diversified Energy, EQT Corporation, Fidelis New Energy, First Mode, Hog Lick Aggregates, Hope Gas Inc., Independence Hydrogen Inc., KeyState Energy, MPLX, Plug Power, and TC Energy.

ARCH2 will help DOEs OCED achieve President Bidens goal of a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and a net-zero carbon emissions goal by 2050. In addition to providing cleaner, safer energy to the nation, a major component of the ARCH2 application is the Community Benefits Plan (CBP) which identifies the strategies that ARCH2 will use to proactively engage with the communities throughout the Appalachian region. ARCH2 is a community-first Hub and will ensure that project area communities have input to community benefits and that opportunities are available to all. ARCH2 project participants collaborate to create and support good-paying jobs, workforce training, options for investment in communities, and Justice40 benefit flows.

ARCH2 was encouraged to submit a full application for the second round in December of 2022. Final award decisions by DOE OCED are expected to be announced in the Fall of 2023.

"Appalachian natural gas has some of the lowest GHG intensities in the world and uniquely positions our region to answer the worlds call for cheaper, more reliable, cleaner energy," said Toby Z. Rice, President and CEO of EQT Corporation. "We believe the use of EQTs extremely low emissions natural gas to create clean hydrogen will help advance America's energy evolution to lower carbon solutions while reaffirming Appalachia's longstanding tradition of energy innovation.

Our team of world-class of organizations have collaborated and put together a strong and compelling application for a sustainable regional clean hydrogen program that meets government and industry objectives, addressing technical, commercial, and social justice goals in a highly transparent manner, said Battelle President and CEO Lou Von Thaer. We are proud to be part of such an initiative that will advance our countrys long-term energy strategy.

GTI Energy is thrilled to be part of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub proposal which is designed to create significant benefits for the people and communities needing access to low-carbon, low-cost energy, said Paula A. Gant, PhD, President and CEO, GTI Energy. Our expertise across the hydrogen value chain and strong collaborative partnership skills will assist ARCH2 in building a decarbonized, competitive economy in the Appalachian region.

AST has long supported the development of hydrogen as a fundamental building block of a clean energy future and I am encouraged by the comprehensive proposal the ARCH2 team has developed, said Arria Hines, CEO. ARCH2 will drive significant economic growth opportunities and will bring value to Appalachia. I am confident that our proposal will bring focus to DOEs vision of a hydrogen economy, and we will make Appalachia the nations one-stop shop for hydrogen. We look forward to seeing our proposed efforts come to fruition.

There is an abundance of opportunity for West Virginia with the hydrogen hubs, said West Virginia Department of Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael. As the world continues to demand cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy, West Virginia is prepared to support this effort and continue to diversify and grow the states energy portfolio. Additionally, landing a hydrogen hub will enable the state to continue as a leader in supplying the energy needs of the U.S.

Entities interested in participating in ARCH2 are encouraged to contact: [email protected]

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.

About GTI Energy

GTI Energy is a leading research and training organization. Our trusted team works to scale impactful solutions that shape energy transitions by leveraging gases, liquids, infrastructure, and efficiency. We embrace systems thinking, open learning, and collaboration to develop, scale, and deploy the technologies needed for low-carbon, low-cost energy systems. www.gti.energy

About EQT

EQT Corporation is a leading independent natural gas production company with operations focused in the cores of the Marcellus and Utica Shales in the Appalachian Basin. We are dedicated to responsibly developing our world-class asset base and being the operator of choice for our stakeholders. By leveraging a culture that prioritizes operational efficiency, technology and sustainability, we seek to continuously improve the way we produce environmentally responsible, reliable and low-cost energy. We have a longstanding commitment to the safety of our employees, contractors, and communities, and to the reduction of our overall environmental footprint. Our values are evident in the way we operate and in how we interact each day  trust, teamwork, heart, and evolution are at the center of all we do. To learn more, visit eqt.com.

About AST

AST is an energy solutions firm harnessing world-class agile expertise in applied science, energy efficiency, data analytics, and decision support tools to help build a better world. Utilizing scientists, consultants, and subject matter experts, AST delivers innovative solutions that drive clean, affordable, and sustainable energy technologies for its clients.

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State of West Virginia Contact

Andy Malinoski

Director, Marketing and Communications, WV Dept. of Economic Development

[email protected]

EQT Contact

Bridget McNie

Director of Communications

412.720.4500

[email protected]

Battelle Contact

Katy Delaney

Director of Media Relations

614.424.7208

[email protected]

GTI Energy

Diane Miller

Director of Marketing Communications

847.768.0683

[email protected]

AST Contact

Stephanie Pethtel

Director of Marketing Communications

304.657.9107

[email protected]

Source: Battelle
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BX Technologies Limited, a London based AI powered climate tech company is enabling the decarbonisation of the food and drink supply chain.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230404005918/en/

Ben Bardsley - CEO of BX Technologies Ltd. Former Army Officer, injured in Afghanistan, turned fruit farmer, turned Tech CEO, announces the successful raise of 1.5m to decarbonise the food and drink supply chain. (Photo: Business Wire)

BXs technology enables retailers and brands to hit their 2030, 2035 and 2040 carbon targets by unlocking primary farm data and intuitive AI to give farmers crop and field-specific decarbonising insights which is surfaced to retailers enabling them to build a planet positive supply chain to achieve their goals.

CEO Ben Bardsley has just announced the closing of their successful late seed funding round. The total raise of 1,590,000 was a combination of a follow-on investment from existing investors including carbon removal venture capital firm; Counteract and the introduction of two US investors.

Bardsley states; "I am delighted to announce the success of this key milestone. The strength of our proposition and our position in the climate tech industry has unlocked this capital raise in a very difficult investment market. Our momentum is steadily building with early adopters across the globe recognising their crucial position within this sector."

Matt Isaacs, managing partner of Counteract adds; "The food and agriculture sector has a critical role to play in addressing climate change, however they require technology to enable their transition to climate friendly practices facilitating information about the impact of their actions. We have been impressed with the development of BX, Ben and his team in addressing this problem. There is no doubt that BX has the opportunity to be one of the big actors in this very nascent market"

With 37% of global CO2 emissions coming from food production, BX is revolutionising this landscape. For some time, there has been a focus on where food comes from but now with BXs technology and insights, they are able to equip retailers and consumers with the knowledge of not just how food is grown but also whats the environmental impact.

With end-to-end environmental credentials of the supply chain, consumers are presented with the relevant information to carry out conscious decisions when purchasing, via verified on pack labelling.

BX is quickly becoming the 'Experian of Farming' with the 'BX Score'; a single metric to measure environmental impact and is being widely adopted by the global supply chain.

www.bx.tech

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230404005918/en/

Georgia Bardsley

[email protected]

+4407866047979

Source: BX Technologies Limited
The White House said on Tuesday that "it has seen no indication" that Egypt is providing lethal weapon capabilities to Russia, a day after a reportedly leaked Top Secret Document found its way to the press.

It was the first official comment from the White house on a reportedly leaked Top Secret US document alleging that Cairo was planning to supply Moscow with lethal weapons.

In a press conference held on board Air Force One on its route to Ireland, White House officials were asked on whether Washington addressed Egypt after the Washington Post cited in a report on Monday on leaked Top Secret US document which purportedly indicate that Egypt was planning to supply 40,000 missiles to Russia secretly.

I am not going speak about the validity of these documents, but I will tell you is that we have seen no indication that Egypt is providing lethal weapon capabilities to Russia, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

I am not going to talk about it all about the details of diplomatic conversations we are having. We are reaching out and speaking properly with our allies and partners, Kirby added.

The United States Military has a long-standing defence relationship with Egypt that goes back many years. Egypt helps play a useful role in terms of some of the negotiations that have been going on in the region, particularly in these meetings that happened between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which Egypt played a role in and the US is grateful for that, he added.

Earlier today, an informed Egyptian source denied in statements to Al-Qahera News claims that Egypt was supplying Russia with lethal weapons, describing the leaked documented as a fabrication.

Also on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the reports about Egypt's alleged missile supplies to Russia looked like another misinformation campaign and should be treated as such.

Cairo has maintained open lines of communication with both Kyiv and Moscow in an attempt to encourage negotiations and a peaceful settlement.

Cairo has also called on several occasions for an immediate cease of operations in the war in Ukraine to open space for a political solution.

The documents, which were posted on sites such as Twitter and Reddit, are labeled secret and resemble routine updates that the U.S. military's Joint Staff would produce daily but not distribute publicly.

The New York Times was the first to report about the documents on Friday.

Later Friday, the Times reported that more documents involving Ukraine as well as other sensitive national security topics such as China and the Middle East had begun appearing on social media.

The documents, which are more than one hundred pages that date from 23 February to 1 March 2023, provide what appear to be details on the progress of weapons and equipment going into Ukraine with more precise timelines and amounts than the US generally provides publicly.

Pentagon officials said that the leak poses a very serious risk to national security and an investigation was opened to determine its source.

Nevertheless, these officials declined to confirm or refute the content in those leaked documents.

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MUMBAI, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ECU Worldwide's digital logistics platform - ECU360, has launched a new digital air freight service to streamline the shipping process for businesses of all sizes. The service is yet another value-added offering to ECU360s customers based in US, leveraging technology to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of air freight operations.

ECU Worldwide has already provided air freight services to 780 US customers, exporting to 310 airports across 174 countries. The company has built a platform that streamlines the entire air freight process, from Quoting to Booking, including real-time tracking and live schedules. Through this latest technology, the company aims to offer a faster, more efficient, and cost-effective way to move goods globally.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, air freight accounts for approximately 35% of the total value of U.S. international shipments. However, traditional air freight processes can be slow, lack efficiency, and are costly, making it challenging for businesses to move their goods quickly and cost-effectively.

Jitesh Shetty, Global Head  ECU360, ECU Worldwide, said, With the success of Domestic Trucking service, we are confident that our new digital air freight service will be a game-changer for businesses looking to streamline their shipping process and also have an alternate shipping medium as an option. With the gaping opportunity in the US market, opening air freight services to customers on ECU Worldwide's digital logistics platform - ECU360 is the right strategic move, as this will fulfil the urgent needs of businesses to transport high-value equipment, perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, and other time-sensitive cargo quickly and efficiently, contributing to the growth of various industries and the U.S. economy. We are strong on LCL network and will soon launch air imports on our platform. In addition to this, the digital platform also offers domestic trucking and insurance, which enhances our range of value added services.

He further added, We are committed to innovation and customer service, and our new digital air freight service is just one example of this. With over 35 years of experience in the logistics industry, ECU Worldwide has built a reputation for providing reliable and high-quality logistics solutions to businesses around the world.

ECU Worldwide has a strong track record of success in the logistics industry. In 2022, the company launched Domestic trucking service in partnership with ECU Trucking, a digital trucking service that has been a huge success.

The platform's user-friendly interface makes it easy for customers to navigate and manage their shipments, while ECU Worldwide's logistics experts are always available to assist. Real-time tracking and transparent pricing give customers complete visibility of their shipments, enabling them to make informed decisions and manage their supply chain more efficiently.

Globally, digitalization is upending industries, including logistics. With a digital-first philosophy, ECU Worldwide continuously improves and updates its cutting-edge digital logistics platform, ECU360, with integrated services, giving shippers and freight forwarders access to a network covering 180 countries and providing instant bookings for door-to-door deliveries in more than 50 markets.

For more information on ECU Worldwide's digital air freight service on ECU360, please visit https://ecuworldwide.com/

ABOUT ECU WORLDWIDE

Founded in 1987, ECU Worldwide is Allcargo Logistics wholly-owned global subsidiary. It is one of the major players in multi-modal transport and global leaders in LCL consolidation assuring smooth, safe and end to end coordination for its customer's cargo. As one of the leaders in the Cargo logistics industry, ECU Worldwide leverages its synergies with in-depth knowledge of local markets and vast experience in global logistics to deliver the best through its services. The company boasts of 300+ offices in 160+ countries at 530+ destinations with 2400+ trade lanes converging their international standard expertise with over 3500+ dedicated employees from across continents.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005609/en/

Pooja Singh

[email protected]

7738429994

Source: ECU Worldwide
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today Emera (TSX: EMA) announced that it will release its Q1 2023 results on Friday, May 12, 2023, before markets open. The Company will host a teleconference and webcast the same day at 9:30 a.m. Atlantic (8:30 a.m. Eastern) to discuss the results.

Analysts and other interested parties in North America are invited to participate by dialing 1-888-886-7786. International parties are invited to participate by dialing 1-416-764-8658. Participants should dial in at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. No pass code is required.

A live and archived audio webcast of the teleconference will be available on the Company's website, www.emera.com. A replay of the teleconference will be available on the Companys website two hours after the conclusion of the call.

Emera will hold its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Atlantic (4:00 p.m. Eastern). The meeting will be held virtually via live webcast.

As a shareholder, there are several ways you can vote:

You can participate in the virtual meeting using this link and the password: emera2023 (case sensitive).

Please note, beneficial owners may only vote virtually or ask questions through the live webcast if they are duly appointed and registered as proxyholders. You can return your proxy or voting instruction form using the postage-paid, pre-addressed envelope provided. You can vote by telephone or via internet (see the proxy or voting instruction form).

If you have questions, please contact the Corporate Secretary, Emera Incorporated, P.O. Box 910, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2W5 or by calling 1-800-358-1995 from anywhere in North America.

About Emera Inc.

Emera Inc. is a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with approximately $40 billion in assets and 2022 revenues of more than $7.5 billion. The company primarily invests in regulated electricity generation and electricity and gas transmission and distribution with a strategic focus on transformation from high carbon to low carbon energy sources. Emera has investments in Canada, the United States and in three Caribbean countries. Emeras common and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade respectively under the symbol EMA, EMA.PR.A, EMA.PR.B, EMA.PR.C, EMA.PR.E, EMA.PR.F, EMA.PR.H, EMA.PR.J and EMA.PR.L. Depositary receipts representing common shares of Emera are listed on the Barbados Stock Exchange under the symbol EMABDR and on The Bahamas International Securities Exchange under the symbol EMAB. Additional information can be accessed at www.emera.com or at www.sedar.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005749/en/

Emera Inc.

Investor Relations

Dave Bezanson VP, Investor Relations & Pensions

902-474-2126

[email protected]

Arianne Amirkhalkhali, Manager, Investor Relations

902-425-8130

[email protected]

Media

902-222-2683

[email protected]

Source: Emera Inc.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FV Bank, the U.S. licensed global digital bank that offers a vertically-integrated suite of traditional and digital asset banking and custody services, has appointed Frank J. Serra as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective immediately.

Serra is a seasoned financial executive with over 26 years of experience and brings his considerable experience in asset management, regulatory compliance, and financial performance management to FV Bank. As CFO, Serra joins the FV Bank executive team and oversees the financial operations of the bank, including reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.

"I'm very pleased to have Frank join FV Bank as our new CFO," said FV Bank CEO Miles Paschini. "Frank's leadership and exceptional experience will be invaluable to us as we continue to expand our banking services and explore exciting new opportunities within the traditional finance and digital asset sectors. With his extensive expertise in asset management and financial leadership, we are confident in his ability to lead the financial operations of FV Bank and support our ambitious growth plans."

Serra has previously held numerous strategic leadership positions such as CEO, COO, and Director of Operations, and most recently served as CEO of Santander Asset Management LLC, where he was responsible for the administration of $4.5 billion in Assets Under Management. He also served as Senior Vice President and Director of the Trust Division at Banco Santander Puerto Rico leading bank trust operations, corporate trust and custody services, and risk management. Prior to that he served as Assistant Vice President and Assistant Manager of the Trust Division at Banco Popular de Puerto Rico.

"I'm excited to join FV Bank at this pivotal moment in its growth trajectory," said Frank J. Serra. "I look forward to working with Miles and the entire team to build on the bank's solid financial foundation and deliver strong results for our customers and shareholders. FV Bank has a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on its unique market position and I'm eager to contribute to the bank's continued success."

About FV Bank

FV Bank is a global digital bank and digital asset custodian regulated by the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions (OCIF), Puerto Rico, USA. FV Bank seamlessly integrates banking and payments with digital asset custody services in a regulated and compliant infrastructure. With products ranging from depository accounts and payment services to digital asset custody and VISA card issuance, FV Bank supports the unique requirements of corporates, institutions, family offices and their respective clients through online banking and integrated API solutions.

Connect with FV Bank on Twitter and LinkedIn

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005482/en/

Media:

David Lewis

The Top Floor Public Relations

[email protected]

Source: FV Bank
GTI Commercializing Novel Geothermal Technology

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Geothermal Technologies, Inc. (GTI) is pleased to announce that it has filed for drilling permits with the Division of Water Resources in the State of Colorado. GTI seeks to drill geothermal wells for the purpose of generating utility-scale electricity in the Denver-Julesburg (D-J) Basin, Weld County, Colorado.

This is an important step forward in our plans to construct a first-of-its-kind geothermal power plant in the D-J using GTIs proprietary suite of technologies, said J. Gary McDaniel, CEO of GTI. We are excited about the potential that exists in Colorado for the development of advanced geothermal power. GTI has calculated that the thermal prospect in the DJ Basin has over 5 GW of geothermal energy that can be harvested using our technology. Our Field Development Plan for generating power indicates we can install up to 400 MW of baseload electricity production.

GTIs proprietary GenaSys Geothermal Energy Harvesting System ushers in the latest generation of geothermal technologies. When coupled with advanced Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power generation technology, GTIs innovative system enables the efficient extraction of geothermal energy in geographic regions around the globe that have been out of reach using conventional approaches.

Our GenaSys technology promises to make geothermal baseload power both low in cost and truly scalable  locally, regionally, and globally. We plan to begin by constructing a small 5 MW power plant in the D-J basin and then scale from there, explained Jim Hollis, President and COO of GTI.

Geothermal electricity is a baseload power source that is available 24/7 which dramatically complements other sources of intermittent renewable power. This means geothermal energy production can improve grid reliability and provide grid operators with the flexibility they need to provide reliable power on a continuous basis. Geothermal power has been a missing piece of the renewable power puzzle in Colorado, and elsewhere around the world. Developing this resource will provide a major advantage to Colorado as it strives to reach its goals of 100% renewable energy by 2040.

GTIs flagship geothermal power project in the D-J supports Colorados Governor Jared Poliss Heat Beneath Our Feet initiative, which he has championed in his capacity as Chair of the Western Governors Association.

Multiple other areas of Colorado provide opportunities for the development of geothermal resources by GTI including the Piceance, Raton, and San Juan Basins. Beyond Colorado, GTIs technologies are globally relevant as similar sedimentary basins can be found around the world.

For more information, visit www.geothermal.tech or contact Jim Hollis at [email protected].

About Geothermal Technologies, Inc.:

Geothermal Technologies (GTI) was founded in 2018 to commercialize technology that was initially developed at the Johns Hopkins University. GTIs GenaSys Geothermal Energy Harvesting System revolutionizes how we harness renewable energy. GTIs innovative technologies, when coupled with recently developed oil & gas and power generation technologies, will enable the production of baseload, clean, low cost, renewable electricity, throughout the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005176/en/

Jim Hollis

[email protected]

Source: Geothermal Technologies, Inc.
The U.S. Small Business Administration honors Regions Bank for helping small-business owners introduce their products to the global marketplace.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regions Bank on Tuesday announced it has received the U.S. Small Business Administrations (SBA) 2023 Export Lender of the Year Award.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005301/en/

Ronnie Smith, head of Regions Corporate Banking group, received the 2023 SBA Export Lender of the Year Award. Those pictured include (L to R) Carson Strickland, head of Regions Global Trade Finance; Caroline Taylor, head of Regions Small Business Administration Lending; Ronnie Smith; Gabriel Esparza, SBA associate administrator for the Office of International Trade; Daniel Pische, SBA national director of Trade Finance. (Photo: Business Wire)

In 2022, Regions facilitated more than $36 million in financing for small-business exporters by leveraging the SBAs Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) and International Trade Loan Program (ITLP). Through new working capital loans in 2022, Regions maintained the largest active EWCP portfolio in the U.S. Together, the EWCP and ITLP empower entrepreneurs through two key advantages.

The EWCP makes it possible for small-business owners to use a revolving line of credit in advance of finalizing an export sale or contract. The result is greater flexibility in negotiating export payment terms. The ITLP provides term loan financing to help small businesses enter international markets and make new investments to export goods.

Regions Bank is deeply committed to the success of small businesses, said Caroline Taylor, head of Small Business Administration Lending for Regions Bank. Our approach begins with the experience and insights of bankers who take the time to listen to clients  and then develop customized solutions to help turn the clients vision into reality. A key part of our success is our Global Trade team that works in collaboration with the SBA, leveraging options such as the SBAs export programs to connect entrepreneurs, quite literally, to a world of new opportunities. As a result, were helping small businesses gain a global reach while building lasting, sustainable success in the communities where they are based. Regions Bank is honored to be recognized as Export Lender of the Year. And the greatest honor is seeing clients achieve and even surpass their goals for growth.

Regions is a preferred SBA lender and makes final credit decisions on SBA-guaranteed loans, cutting down the length of time needed to process transactions. Regions also provides a diverse suite of global trade finance options. Resources include:

Performance Solutions: These options are designed to help develop and expand a companys global customer base and negotiate international contracts while minimizing financial risk. Through various standby Letter of Credit services, small-business owners can support regular supply contracts with foreign buyers and be covered for those goods in the event the buyer defaults on payment.

These options are designed to help develop and expand a companys global customer base and negotiate international contracts while minimizing financial risk. Through various standby Letter of Credit services, small-business owners can support regular supply contracts with foreign buyers and be covered for those goods in the event the buyer defaults on payment. Working Capital Solutions: This supports the growth of international sales by financing the exporting of products while maintaining working capital availability. Through the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), the official export credit agency of the United States, SBA export financing and Trade Credit Insurance, small-businesses owners have additional options to access working capital needed to export their goods around the world.

This supports the growth of international sales by financing the exporting of products while maintaining working capital availability. Through the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), the official export credit agency of the United States, SBA export financing and Trade Credit Insurance, small-businesses owners have additional options to access working capital needed to export their goods around the world. Payment Risk Mitigation Solutions: This improves cash flow and expedites payments for overseas transactions by using Regions connections with banks around the globe to collect and process payments from foreign financial institutions.

This improves cash flow and expedites payments for overseas transactions by using Regions connections with banks around the globe to collect and process payments from foreign financial institutions. Foreign Business Solutions: These help international companies receive small-business exports from U.S.-based companies by providing financing for purchases. Through the use of Bankers Acceptance, foreign companies receive a letter of credit for a specified time period. Additionally, Ex-Im Bank Guarantee Medium-Term Financing helps creditworthy international buyers and provides payments to exporters.

With the majority of the worlds consumers being based outside the United States, the opportunities to export products from U.S.-based small businesses continues to grow, said Carson Strickland, Regions Banks Global Trade Finance director. Often, we see where locally based companies here at home have a product, service or solution thats ideal for meeting needs abroad. So, our role is to provide the financial services and guidance to connect local clients with international customers. This represents an incredible opportunity for small businesses  and their new customers, as well.

Gabriel Esparza, the SBAs associate administrator for the Office of International Trade, visited Regions headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, to present the award.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to the stability of the broader financial sector, especially with local and regional institutions, who are our key partners around the country. We are honored to recognize Regions Bank as one of three Export Lenders of the Year for 2023. Access to capital is key for any business engaged in international trade. The export financing provided by our lending partners is crucial to bridging the trade finance gap and allowing American small businesses to open new markets, Esparza said. Small businesses engaged in international trade grow faster, pay higher wages, and have greater economic stability when compared to non-exporters. We are proud of the role each of these award-winning lending partners plays in supporting export activity.

This is Regions Banks second Export Lender of the Year selection. The bank also received the award in 2019.

About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF), with $155 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nations largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates more than 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005301/en/

Jennifer Elmore

Regions Bank

(334) 240-1220



Regions News Online: regions.doingmoretoday.com

Regions News on Twitter: @RegionsNews

Source: Regions Financial Corporation
Company receives Google Cloud training and support, among other Google-wide offerings

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hopr, a leader in automated moving target defense security solutions for cloud assets, announced today it has joined the Google for Startups Cloud Program. Participation in this program will provide the company access to a number of invaluable resources, including Google Cloud credits, Google Cloud training, business and technical support and other Google-wide offers.

Since the companys inception in 2017, Hopr has advanced the Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD) market through its revolutionary Code Hidden In Plain Sight (CHIPS) technology. Hoprs CHIPS technology combines a novel algorithm and high frequency credential rotation to create hardened communications between workloads, APIs and data across all cloudswhether it is on-premises, in a commercial cloud, or in hybrid- or distributed-clouds. As a cloud-native security provider, Hopr will be able to put the Google investment to work in tangible ways.

We are thrilled to announce our acceptance into the Google for Startups Cloud Program. Google Cloud is an important partner for Hoprs future. This program will provide us with substantial economic and technological benefits to provide current and future customers with high quality software services and sustainable product prices, said Tom McNamara, Founder and CEO of Hopr. Working hand-in-hand with the experts from Google Cloud not only boosts our team's expertise but differentiates Hopr in a highly competitive industry. We are eager to take advantage of all the program has to offer.

Hoprs mission has always been to create a product that lowers cyber risk, delivers fast time-to-value, and does not increase the burden on DevOps leadership. As the company furthers product development, it will be imperative that new innovations are battle-tested and can successfully perform at the scale and speed of the cloud. By joining the Google for Startups Cloud Program, Hopr gains streamlined access to the necessary tools and resources to accelerate product development, perform efficient software testing in large-scale use and explore new multi-cloud features.

Hoprs CHIPS technology was recognized by the 2023 Cybersecurity World Awards as the Silver Winner in API Management and Security as well as Gold Winner in Cloud Workload Protection. This recognition by the Cybersecurity World Awards is a testament to Hoprs commitment to providing data rich enterprises with resilient security and integrity of workload access and data.

Interested in trying Hopr for yourself? Apply to participate in our free beta program and experience the simple effectiveness of CHIPS technology with your own workloads and data.

To learn more about Hopr, please visit https://www.hopr.co/

About Hopr

Hopr disables threat actors and their methods before an attack occurs. The companys novel moving target defense protects workloads, APIs and data across all clouds by rotating credentials with high frequency, building end-to-end encrypted communication tunnels and verifying identities at both endpoints. By establishing and verifying a workload chain of trust, Hopr streamlines the adoption of Zero Trust in cloud infrastructures  verifying credentials to prove identity before any workload is trusted. For more information, visit https://www.hopr.co/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005165/en/

Dana Segan

LaunchTech Communications

[email protected]

732-997-9881

Source: Hopr
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that Mitsubishi Electric group will provide additional disaster relief in response to a request by Turkeys Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) in the form of 500 air conditioners (equivalent to approx. 32 million yen) to be donated to temporary shelters that are urgently being set up in southern Turkey following the earthquake that struck the region on February 6.

In addition to previously announced donations, Mitsubishi Electric's local subsidiaries in Turkey have been providing assistance to the affected areas since the earthquake, including donations of water, food, other daily necessities and human blood. In addition to these support activities, Mitsubishi Electric group will now deliver air conditioners to help improve the living environment in the affected areas.

This brings the total amount of the group's support to the areas affected by the earthquake in southern Turkey to the equivalent of approx. 55 million yen. In addition, Mitsubishi Electric group also raised funds through the Mitsubishi Electric SOCIO-ROOTS Fund, a matching gift program under which the company matched and doubled the amount of donations made by its employees to social welfare facilities and organizations.

Mitsubishi Electric group expresses its deepest sympathy to all those affected by the earthquake and sincerely hopes for the earliest possible recovery of the disaster-stricken areas.

For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005146/en/

Customer Inquiries

EMEA Section, Regional Marketing Division

Global Strategic Planning & Marketing Group

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

[email protected]

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/

Media Inquiries

Takeyoshi Komatsu

Public Relations Division

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Tel: +81-3-3218-2346

[email protected]

www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/

Source: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
1,100+ public safety professionals convene in Orlando for education and dialogue on the future of public safety technology

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) today kicked off its premier hands-on technology training conference for the public safety community, Summit 2023. The annual event convenes one of the industrys most comprehensive gatherings of law enforcement and government technology professionals for in-depth software training, knowledge-sharing and critical dialogue on modernizing public safety operations through technology.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005713/en/

Mahesh Saptharishi, Motorola Solutions executive vice president and chief technology officer, kicks off premier technology training conference for the public safety community, Summit 2023, on April 11, 2023. (Photo: Business Wire)

Purposeful innovation is necessary to strengthen public safety and community interactions, transparency and outcomes, said Mahesh Saptharishi, Motorola Solutions executive vice president and chief technology officer. Summit brings public safety agencies together to explore how technology can address key safety challenges. By reimagining how we connect the community, first responders and command centers, how we reveal insights from these interactions and how we assist our users at critical moments, we can improve every aspect of incident response and significantly enhance officer and community safety.

Summit 2023 brings together more than 1,100 public safety professionals - including technical leaders, call takers, dispatchers, patrol officers, command staff and records and evidence analysts - from hundreds of agencies across North America. The conference offers a robust learning agenda, with nearly 450 hours of high-quality training courses across 21 tracks.

Summit is a one-of-its-kind opportunity for public safety agencies to learn how to make the most of their current technology investments and plan for the future, said Dale Murray, a 2023 conference ambassador and operations manager at Will County 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System in Illinois. Its emphasis on training, learning and networking is unique and outstanding. We all want to make our first responders and communities safer - Summit advances critical dialogue on how to better use technology tools and resources to actually achieve that mission.

Were excited for Summit to be in our backyard for the second year in a row, said Modesty Adams, communications operations manager at Osceola County Sheriffs Office. Public safety agencies across Florida are using a variety of technologies in new and innovative ways, from panic button solutions connecting teachers and schools directly with 9-1-1 responders to drone technology that offers greater incident awareness on the scene. Were looking forward to opening our doors and showing our peers how various technologies are driving safety and efficiency here in Osceola County.

Cybersecurity threats to public safety infrastructure are a key area of discussion at this years Summit. More than 300 agencies have joined Motorola Solutions Public Safety Threat Alliance (PSTA), a global Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) recognized by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), since its inception a year ago. Actionable PSTA cyber threat intelligence will inform a number of sessions open to Summit attendees, offering critical shared insights for strengthening defenses.

Public safety agencies must respond to the changing nature of threats with all of the tools and information at their disposal, said Saptharishi. Summit equips agencies with rich training to optimize the proven features they can rely on today while creating a forum of shared experience and excellence to guide the best practices, innovations and investments that will help meet the challenges of the future."

Summit 2023 is taking place April 11-13 in Orlando, Florida. To join the conversation, follow #MotoSolutionsSummit.

About Motorola Solutions:

Motorola Solutions is a global leader in public safety and enterprise security. Our solutions in land mobile radio communications, video security & access control and the command center, bolstered by managed & support services, create an integrated technology ecosystem to help make communities safer and businesses stay productive and secure. At Motorola Solutions, were ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005713/en/

Tricia Quinn

Motorola Solutions

312-805-0133

[email protected]

Source: Motorola Solutions
DGDG Creates First In-House Guest-Facing Technology for Consumers to Quickly and Easily Sell Cars

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG), Northern Californias largest family-owned automotive group, has launched Sell to DGDG, an innovative way for consumers to sell personal vehicles easily, quickly, and hassle-free. This new technology was developed completely in-house and allows consumers to receive a vehicle offer online in minutes.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005837/en/

Sell to DGDG customers can bring their car to the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based inspection/processing center and convert their offer to check-in-hand on the same day. (Photo: Business Wire)

The process is simple. The user enters either a VIN or license plate number, answers just a few questions online, and within minutes, they receive an offer, valid for seven days. The consumer then has the option to move forward by clicking the I'm Ready to Sell button or clicking "I'm Thinking About It" and can return to their offer at any time. A few gentle automated email reminders will be sent during the week with the valid offer. If desired, the consumer can bring their car to the Sunnyvale-based inspection/processing center and convert their offer to check-in-hand on that same day.

Digitization is the future, said DGDG CEO Jeremy Beaver. Tech-savvy consumers, especially in the Silicon Valley and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, expect a tech forward, simplified process that requires less time. These consumers are accustomed to instantaneous retail experiences in other retail categories. We are thrilled to launch Sell to DGDG, a simple, straightforward option that provides a quick return to the Northern California market.

Quietly launched in August 2022, Sell to DGDG is distributing an average of 700 online offers per month. To date, more than 4,500 offers valued at more than $95 million, and more than 200 vehicles have been purchased valued at more than $5 million.

Since private party vehicles are in high demand, this new program allows DGDG to bid on and purchase more private party vehicles to offer to their guests at the automotive dealer groups 19 Northern California locations. Plus, with little effort from the consumer, they can benefit from the non-invasive experience, little time spent in person and a higher-than-average purchase price payout. The average vehicle purchase price through the program to date is more than $28,000.

Its a win-win situation for DGDG and the consumer, added Beaver. It allows us to increase our inventory of pre-owned vehicles to better satisfy the demand and we get to provide our guests with an easy, quick option to sell their vehicle.

Link to Sell to DGDG Inspection Center photos here.

About Del Grande Dealer Group

The Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG) is Northern Californias largest family-owned automotive group. The dealer group comprises 17 brands and 19 dealerships in Northern California, including: Audi Modesto, Salinas Honda, Capitol Buick GMC, Capitol Chevrolet, Capitol Ford, Capitol Hyundai, Capitol Kia, Capitol Mazda, Capitol Subaru, Capitol Volkswagen, Concord Mazda, Fremont Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Fremont Hyundai, Genesis of Stevens Creek, Salinas Honda, Stevens Creek Hyundai, Stevens Creek Mazda, Team Cadillac, Team Chevrolet, and Team Mazda. DGDG.com.

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DeeDee Taft

Spin Communications

[email protected]

415.515.1229

Source: Del Grande Dealer Group
A Powerful Combination to Set the Standard in Safe, Profitable and Responsible Gold and Copper Mining

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM, TSX: NGT) submitted a revised non-binding indicative proposal to the Board of Directors of Newcrest Mining Limited (Newcrest) to acquire 100 percent of the issued share capital of Newcrest by way of an Australian Scheme of Arrangement, under which Newcrest shareholders would receive 0.400x Newmont shares per each Newcrest share held. In addition, Newcrest would have the right to fund and pay to its shareholders a special dividend of up to USD$1.10 per Newcrest share. Newmonts improved offer on these terms is best and final, subject only to no superior proposal emerging (and is referred to in this release as the Best and Final Proposal).

The Newcrest Board of Directors has agreed to grant Newmont confirmatory due diligence access to enable Newmont to put forward a binding proposal. Due diligence is expected to be completed within approximately four weeks. Newcrest has indicated that it intends to grant exclusivity to Newmont during the due diligence period, with the terms of that exclusivity still to be agreed. Newcrest will also undertake confirmatory due diligence on Newmont during this period.

We are entering a new era in which mining companies must hold themselves to a higher standard of sustainability and long-term value creation. This transaction would strengthen our position as the worlds leading gold company by joining two of the sectors top senior gold producers and setting the new standard in safe, profitable and responsible mining, said Tom Palmer, President and CEO of Newmont. Together as the clear gold-mining leader, we would be well-positioned to generate strong, stable and lasting returns with best-in-class sustainability performance for decades to come.

The proposed combination creates the industrys best portfolio of world-class assets with the highest concentration of top-tier operations, primarily in favorable, low-risk mining jurisdictions. Newmont would further strengthen its portfolio by increasing annual copper production and adding nearly 50 billion pounds of copper reserves and resources to its balanced and diverse asset base.

By applying Newmonts long track record of safe and profitable mining, the combined group is expected to deliver significant annual synergies and create long-term value for all stakeholders. The business would be immediately supported by Newmonts scalable, integrated operating model with a deep bench of subject matter experts and existing regional platforms in Australia and Canada. This would allow the business to leverage the combined groups global supply chain and generate substantial synergies through the implementation of Newmonts proven Full Potential continuous improvement program.

As demonstrated by the Goldcorp acquisition in 2019, Newmont delivered annual synergies of more than $1 billion, which continue to benefit the Company today and over the long term. Over the last four years, these initiatives focused on optimizing processing circuits, improving loading and haulage performance, reducing mill and equipment downtime and implementing new methods and technologies to increase mining rates across the portfolio.

Newmont would also apply its rigorous and industry-leading approach to asset management, identifying potential opportunities to optimize the combined portfolio and bring forward the most accretive projects as part of its strategy to maximize value for shareholders and other stakeholders.

The Best and Final Proposal

Under the terms of the Best and Final Proposal, Newcrest shareholders would own approximately 31 percent of the combined company. Newmont intends to apply for a foreign exempt listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and establish Chess Depositary Interests on ASX in respect to Newmont shares issued to Newcrest shareholders under the Best and Final Proposal. The terms of the Best and Final Proposal represent a premium1 of:

35 percent based on the closing price of Newcrest and Newmont shares on February 3, 2023, being the last trading day prior to the initial market release confirming Newmonts proposal, and inclusive of the value of a special dividend of up to USD$1.10 per Newcrest share.

The Best and Final Proposal is subject to customary conditions, including the parties entering into a Scheme Implementation Agreement (SIA) following satisfactory completion of due diligence and a unanimous recommendation from Newcrests Board of Directors that Newcrest shareholders vote in favor of the Best and Final Proposal (in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to an independent expert concluding that the Best and Final Proposal is in the best interests of Newcrests shareholders).

If the Best and Final Proposal conditions are satisfied (or waived) and the Best and Final Proposal proceeds, implementation of the Best and Final Proposal will be subject to conditions expected to include (among other things) approval by Newmont and Newcrest shareholders, relevant regulatory approvals, Australian court approval and other conditions customary for a transaction of this nature.

Newmont remains fully committed to acting in the best interests of its shareholders. Newmont and its Board of Directors advises shareholders need not take any action at this time as there can be no certainty that any transaction will be concluded.

Newmont has engaged BofA Securities, Centerview Partners LLC and Lazard as its financial advisers, and King & Wood Mallesons and White & Case LLP as its legal advisers.

_________________________

1Premium analysis calculated by reference to the exchange ratio of 0.400x shares of Newmont for each Newcrest share held and a special dividend of up to USD$1.10 per Newcrest share.

Share prices based on NYSE and ASX trading of Newmont and Newcrest shares, respectively, as at close of February 3, 2023 of Newmont US$49.85/share and Newcrest A$22.45/share with AUD / USD of 0.692

As characterized in Newcrests press release on April 11, 2023, the 46.4 percent premium reflects the increase in Newmonts share price from February 3, 2023 to April 6, 2023, while holding the Newcrest share price constant at February 3, 2023. This assumes a Newmont price of US$52.05/share with AUD / USD of 0.667

Benefits of the Proposed Transaction

Best portfolio of world-class assets: Combines high-quality operations, projects and reserves focused in low-risk jurisdictions, supporting multiple decades of profitable gold and copper production.



Combines high-quality operations, projects and reserves focused in low-risk jurisdictions, supporting multiple decades of profitable gold and copper production. Ideal commodity mix with gold and copper exposure: Creates an enhanced portfolio with approximately 30 percent of the combined reserves in copper, a critical metal for reducing carbon emissions and facilitating the ongoing transition to a new energy economy.



Creates an enhanced portfolio with approximately 30 percent of the combined reserves in copper, a critical metal for reducing carbon emissions and facilitating the ongoing transition to a new energy economy. The gold sectors recognized sustainability leader: Leverages Newmonts leading position with a demonstrated commitment to leading environmental, social and governance practices.



Leverages Newmonts leading position with a demonstrated commitment to leading environmental, social and governance practices. Established position in Australia: Creates robust economies of scale, which facilitates access to top talent, leading technology and the opportunity to leverage global functional expertise and optimized cost structures.



Creates robust economies of scale, which facilitates access to top talent, leading technology and the opportunity to leverage global functional expertise and optimized cost structures. District potential in highly-prospective Golden Triangle: Strengthens position in British Columbia, creating the opportunity to leverage regional infrastructure, global systems, diverse ore body experience and expertise in block cave mining.



Strengthens position in British Columbia, creating the opportunity to leverage regional infrastructure, global systems, diverse ore body experience and expertise in block cave mining. Scalable operating model with a track record of delivering value: Leverages Newmonts integrated operating model and proven Full Potential program, which has delivered annual benefits of over $1 billion following the Goldcorp acquisition.



Leverages Newmonts integrated operating model and proven Full Potential program, which has delivered annual benefits of over $1 billion following the Goldcorp acquisition. Unparalleled financial strength: Supports a disciplined capital allocation strategy, maintaining the industrys strongest balance sheet with flexibility throughout the commodity cycle to support portfolio reinvestment and deliver attractive shareholder returns.

No Offer or Solicitation

This news release is neither an offer to purchase or exchange nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities of Newmont or Newcrest. In furtherance of this proposal and subject to future developments, Newmont may file one or more proxy statements or other documents with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, scheme booklet or other document Newmont or Newcrest may file with the SEC and Australian regulators in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF NEWMONT AND NEWCREST ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT(S), SCHEME BOOKLET AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION TRANSACTION. Investors and securityholders may obtain a free copy of the disclosure documents (when they are available) and other documents filed by Newmont with the SEC at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The disclosure documents and other documents that are filed with the SEC by Newmont may also be obtained on Newmonts website at www.newmont.com or obtained for free from the sources listed below. Newmont and certain of its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in any solicitation of proxies from Newcrest stockholders in respect of the proposed transaction between Newmont and Newcrest. Information regarding Newmonts directors and executive officers is available in its proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 10, 2023. This document can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated below. Additional information regarding the interests of these participants in such proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in any proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction if and when they become available.

Cautionary Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws. Where a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address expected future results, and often contain words such as anticipate, intend, plan, will, would, estimate, expect, believe, target, indicative, preliminary or potential. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the proposal to acquire the share capital of Newcrest, expected terms, including consideration and premium, and expected benefits and opportunities of the proposal, including in connection with value creation. There is no certainty that any transaction will occur on the proposed terms, within any particular timeframe, or at all. Risks include fluctuations in company stock price and results of operations; uncertainties regarding the outcome of discussions between Newmont and Newcrest with respect to the proposal, including the possibility that the parties may not agree to pursue a business combination or may be materially different from the terms of the proposals described herein; the ability to consummate the proposed combination or achieve the expected benefits; uncertainties with respect to shareholder approvals; potential regulatory or closing delays; the industry and market reaction to Newmonts proposal; and changes in the overall economic conditions. The forward-looking statements are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in Newmonts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and SEC filings. Newmont does not undertake any obligation to communicate publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at investors own risk.

About Newmont

Newmont is the worlds leading gold company and a producer of copper, silver, zinc and lead. The Companys world-class portfolio of assets, prospects and talent is anchored in favorable mining jurisdictions in North America, South America, Australia and Africa. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social and governance practices. The Company is an industry leader in value creation, supported by robust safety standards, superior execution and technical expertise. Newmont was founded in 1921 and has been publicly traded since 1925.

At Newmont, our purpose is to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining. To learn more about Newmonts sustainability strategy and initiatives, go to www.newmont.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005467/en/

Media Contact

Omar Jabara

720.212.9651

[email protected]

Investor Contact

Daniel Horton

303.837.5468

[email protected]

Source: Newmont Corporation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday to kick off a brief visit to Somalia, a country scarred by protracted armed conflict and climate disasters.

Guterres was given a red-carpet welcome at the capital's airport by Somalia's Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse who posted pictures of the event on Twitter.

Somalia has imposed a security lockdown on Mogadishu for the visit, with most roads closed and public transport restricted.

Guterres's trip comes with the country in the grip of a calamitous drought that has driven many to the brink of famine, while the government is also engaged in a major offensive to put down a bloody Islamist insurgency.

The UN chief, who previously visited Somalia in March 2017, is due to hold talks with political leaders and visit a camp for internally displaced people, according to local media reports.

The United Nations has launched a $2.6 billion appeal for humanitarian aid for the troubled Horn of Africa nation, but it is currently only 13 percent funded.

Five straight failed rainy seasons in parts of Somalia as well as Kenya and Ethiopia have led to the worst drought in four decades, wiping out livestock and crops and forcing at least 1.7 million people from their homes in search of food and water.

While famine thresholds have not been reached in Somalia, the UN says about half its population will need humanitarian assistance this year, with 8.3 million affected by the drought.

"The crisis is far from over -- needs remain high and urgent," the UN's resident coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, said last week in Geneva.

"Some of the most affected areas continue to face the risk of famine."

Adding to the woes, seasonal rains in March led to flooding that claimed the lives of 21 people and displaced more than 100,000, he said, while warning that the rains were unlikely to be enough to improve the food security outlook for many.

Offensive against Al-Shabaab

Somalia was hit by a famine in 2011 which killed 260,000 people, more than half of them children under six, partly because the international community did not act fast enough, according to the UN.

A report by the UN and the Somali government released in March said that drought may have led to 43,000 "excess deaths" last year, with children under the age of five accounting for half the victims.

One of the poorest countries on the planet, Somalia has been wracked by decades of civil war, political violence and a bloody insurgency by the Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last year declared "all-out war" against the Islamist militants and sent in troops in September to back an uprising against Al-Shabaab launched by local clan militias in central Somalia.

In recent months, the army and the militias known as "Macawisley" have retaken swathes of territory in an operation backed by an African Union force known as ATMIS and US air strikes.

The government claimed late last month that more than 3,000 Al-Shabaab fighters had been killed since it launched the offensive.

It also said in a statement issued by the information ministry that 70 towns and villages had been "liberated" from Al-Shabaab, which has been fighting the fragile central government for more than 15 years.

It was not possible to independently verify the claims.

Al-Shabaab has frequently retaliated against the offensive with bloody attacks, underlining its stability to continue to strike civilian, political and military targets despite the government's advances.

In a report to the UN Security Council in February, Guterres said that 2022 was the deadliest year for civilians in Somalia since 2017, largely as a result of Al-Shabaab attacks.

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IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Patient Safety Movement Foundation celebrates their 10th anniversary with an in-person summit that brings together world renowned experts to discuss todays challenges and solutions in patient safety. The World Patient Safety, Science and Technology Summit will be held in Newport Beach, California on June 1-2, 2023.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005987/en/

Dr. Michael Ramsay, Chief Executive Officer, World Patient Safety, Science and Technology Summit (Photo: Business Wire)

This is our first in-person Summit after the pandemic and we have created an unforgettable event with incredible speakers and panellists, said Dr. Michael Ramsay, Chief Executive Officer, Patient Safety Movement Foundation. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the safety gaps in our healthcare systems, and it not only affected our patients but also our healthcare workers. Over the years, we have seen hospital systems that implement Actionable Evidence-Based Practices report zero deaths in areas such as hospital-acquired infections. ZERO patient harm is possible, but it wont happen without your full commitment and participation.

The 2023 Summit will feature multiple keynote addresses including:

Jannicke Mellin-Olsen, MD, DPH, former President of the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists

Dr. Anthony Staines, Ph.D., Patient Safety Program Director at the Federation des hopitaux vaudois, Switzerland

Don Berwick, MD, MPP, FRCP, former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from healthcare leaders including Sir Liam Donaldson, former chief medical officer of the United Kingdom, and Neelam Dhingra who heads the World Health Organizations Transformative Flagship Initiative, A Decade of Patient Safety 2021-2030. The Summit will include seven panel sessions covering various key topics in patient safety led by esteemed healthcare leaders. These include:

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

Preventing Patient Harm: Predictive Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

The Journey to Zero Harm

National Patient Safety Board

Patient Safety in the News

Opioid Safety

Patient and Family Engagement

The 2023 Summit presents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to renew your organizations commitment to a culture of safety and make global connections to like-minded individuals working to eliminate preventable patient and healthcare worker harm. Attendees include patient safety experts, clinicians, healthcare administrators, policymakers, representatives from MedTech and Biotech industries, as well as patients and patient advocates.

In my over 15 years in systems engineering and patient safety, the World Patient Safety, Science and Technology Summit is the first event that brings together all stakeholders in healthcare under one roof. We develop and operationalize solutions in collaboration with clinicians, patient safety advocates, policy makers and hospital administrators. Together, we can learn from the past, focus on implementing Actionable Evidence-Based Practices in the present, and ensure a future with zero preventable harm, said Dr. Sanaz Massoumi, Chief Operating Officer, Patient Safety Movement Foundation.

The summit is open to anyone interested in actively planning solutions relating to the leading patient safety challenges that cause preventable patient harm and death in hospitals and healthcare institutions around the world. To register for the 2023 summit or to learn more about the event, visit: https://psmf.org/event/10th-annual-world-patient-safety-science-technology-summit/.

ABOUT THE PATIENT SAFETY MOVEMENT FOUNDATION

In 2012, Joe Kiani founded the non-profit Patient Safety Movement Foundation (PSMF) to eliminate preventable medical errors in hospitals. His team worked with patient safety experts from around the world to create Actionable Evidence-Based Practices (AEBP) that address the top challenges. The AEBP is available without charge to hospitals online. Hospitals are encouraged to make a formal commitment to ZERO preventable deaths, and healthcare technology companies are asked to sign the Open Data Pledge to share their data so that predictive algorithms that can identify errors before they become fatal can be developed. The Foundation's annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit brings together all stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, medical technology companies, government employers, and private payers. The PSMF was established through the support of the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation, and Competition in Healthcare. For more information, please visit psmf.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005987/en/

Patient Safety Movement Foundation

Irene Mulonni, [email protected] | (858) 859-7001

Source: Patient Safety Movement Foundation
The new add-on app will offer ProShip customers a convenient way to configure and maintain their servers

BROOKFIELD, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ProShip, Inc., a well-trusted leader in automated multi-carrier shipping software solutions, is excited to announce the official release of their new Parcel Config App to existing and prospective customers. As the needs of ProShip customers evolve and progress, ProShip is committed to offering tools and solutions that can scale with them and help them become more self-sufficient in managing the complexities of parcel and LTL shipping. The Parcel Config App is an add-on to the ProShip shipping solution that allows customers to remotely configure and maintain their ProShip server from a simple, browser-based app without the help of IT resources.

The Parcel Config App is comprised of a user-friendly interface that allows for the completion of tasks that were once only possible on a remote desktop session. Operations and logistics teams can easily manage the configuration internally, without using valuable IT hours or transportation budget.

Within the Parcel Config App, customers can gain access to a long list of maintenance tasks including but not limited to:

Setting up, configuring and altering new or existing shipping locations, such as stores and warehouses

Changing rate shop groups in real-time by adding and removing carrier services

Adding, removing, and altering scheduled jobs (manifest automation, batch routines, etc.)

Updating carrier rate, zone, routing, accessorial, and time in transit files

ProShip is thrilled to introduce this customer-centric parcel configuration tool as a complement to our best-in-class shipping platform. The Parcel Config App is part of ProShip's larger strategy to enable customers to securely self-serve where appropriate, says Justin Cramer, Co-Founder at ProShip. Adding this app to ProShips already robust multi-carrier shipping software will lead to more flexibility, additional efficiencies and quicker reaction times for our customers, allowing them to gain an extra advantage on shippers not using a ProShip solution.

The addition of the Parcel Config App is a direct result of customer feedback, and we plan to continue focusing our efforts on building secure tools to accentuate our core competencies to keep ProShip multi-carrier shipping software the top parcel shipping solution on the market for enterprise shippers.

About ProShip, Inc.

Making complex parcel shipping challenges simple & cost-effective. ProShip is the most trusted provider of automated multi-carrier shipping software for parcel. With simple carrier connectivity and high flexibility, ProShip enables complex features & functions, such as maintaining compliance, executing multi-carrier rate shopping with unified business logic, and empowering omnichannel fulfillment. Because ProShip integrates with multiple parts of your Enterprise Software Stack (ESS), our multicarrier shipping solution can automate the supply chain workflow & turn your parcel shipping operation into an efficient powerhouse. For more information, please visit www.proshipinc.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005898/en/

Media Contact

Taylor Pawelka | Director of Marketing, ProShip, Inc.

[email protected] | 414-302-2929 x1114

Source: ProShip, Inc.
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Russell Investments Canada Limited (Russell Investments Canada) today announced cash distributions for the ETF Series of certain mutual funds (ETF Series) for the months of April, May, and June. Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, as of the Record Date, will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on the Payment Date.

Details of the per-unit cash distribution amount are as follows:

Fund Name Ticker Symbol Cash Distribution per Unit ($) CUSIP ISIN Record Date Payment Date Exchange Russell Investments Fixed Income Pool RIFI $0.059 78249T103 CA78249T1030 April 20, 2023 April 25, 2023 TSX May 19, 2023 May 25, 2023 June 21, 2023 June 26, 2023 Russell Investments Global Infrastructure Pool RIIN $0.070 78250R103 CA78250R1038 April 20, 2023 April 25, 2023 TSX May 19, 2023 May 25, 2023 June 21, 2023 June 26, 2023 Russell Investments Real Assets RIRA $0.066 78250P107 CA78250P1071 April 20, 2023 April 25, 2023 TSX May 19, 2023 May 25, 2023 June 21, 2023 June 26, 2023

The Manager, Russell Investments Canada Limited, administers and manages the ETF Series.

About Russell Investments Canada Limited

Russell Investments Canada Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Russell Investments Group, Ltd. Established in 1985, Russell Investments Canada Limited has its head office in Toronto.

About Russell Investments

Russell Investments is a leading global investment solutions firm providing a wide range of investment capabilities to institutional investors, financial intermediaries, and individual investors around the world. Building on an 86-year legacy of continuous innovation to deliver exceptional value to clients, Russell Investments works every day to improve the financial security of its clients. The firm has CA$374.6 billion in assets under management (as of 12/31/2022) for clients in 31 countries. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Russell Investments has offices in 17 cities around the world, including London, New York, Sydney, Toronto, and Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.russellinvestments.com/ca.

Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or dissemination in the United States.

Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with an investment in the ETF Series Units. Investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other important information are contained in the prospectus. Please read the prospectus and ETF Facts carefully before investing. The ETF Series Units are not guaranteed, their value may change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

Certain statements included in this news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as or similar to, "expects", "anticipates", "believes" or negative versions thereof. Forward looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to, among other things, risk, uncertainties, and assumptions about economic factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from what is contemplated. We encourage you to consider these and other factors carefully before making any investment decisions and we urge you to avoid placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Russell Investments has no specific intention of updating any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

For a summary of the risks of an investment in the fund, please see the specific risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus. Units of ETF Series trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase risk of loss.

Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. Income tax considerations for investors are contained in the prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Russell Investments' ownership is composed of a majority stake held by funds managed by TA Associates, with a significant minority stake held by funds managed by Reverence Capital Partners. Certain of Russell Investments' employees and Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC also hold minority, non-controlling, ownership stakes. Copyright  Russell Investments Canada Limited 2023. All rights reserved.

Frank Russell Company is the owner of the Russell trademarks contained in this material and all trademark rights related to the Russell trademarks, which the members of the Russell Investments group of companies are permitted to use under license from Frank Russell Company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005836/en/

Steve Claiborne, [email protected]

Source: Russell Investments Canada Limited
The joint venture set up between GCI and Eternam has today acquired from SFL the 4,600 sq.m. 6 Hanovre building in Pariss 2nd arrondissement

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005828/en/

6 Hanovre - SFL

Owned by SFL (Paris: FLY) since 1958, 6 Hanovre is a historic Paris building located on rue de Hanovre close to the Opera in the French capitals 2nd arrondissement. The 9-storey building, whose facade is listed in the Inventaire Supplementaire des Monuments Historiques, offers 3,000 sq.m. of office space and 1,600 sq.m. of basement space. Following the departure of Pretty Simple in October 2022, SFL began renovating the facade. This work will be continued by the buyers, who plan to redevelop the building.

The asset was sold untenanted, in its current condition, for 58.3 million net.

SFL said, This sale is in line with SFLs targeted and opportunistic strategy, which focuses on investing in very large office complexes in Paris and disposing of smaller, non-strategic assets. The transaction is accretive, as the building is untenanted, and reinforces SFLs asset values, because the transaction price is consistent with the propertys most recent appraisal value.

Raphael Raingold, Managing Partner of GCI said, This acquisition is aligned with our strategic focus on building a portfolio of exceptional assets particularly well served by public transport, which need to be redesigned in accordance with the latest market standards. With our experience and success in the Opera district, we are confident that this asset will attract blue-chip tenants. We are delighted to start a new partnership with Eternam, a leading real estate company that shares our vision.

Jonathan Donio, Chief Operating Officer of Eternam said, This transaction is an excellent opportunity for Eternam to strengthen its exposure in the CBD. With its prime location, history and architecture, the building has all the qualities required to be a success. We are pleased to be able to bring this property back to life with GCI, an internationally renowned player in the Paris office property sector.

The buyers were advised by C&C Notaires, Archers, Fairway, BCLP, Europtima, HSF and GALM.

SFL was advised by Anne-Helene Garnier (Oudot).

The transaction was carried out by CBRE under a joint exclusive mandate with JLL.

Financing was provided by Aareal, which was advised by Allez, and Archers.

About Generale Continentale Investissements

Created in 1975, Generale Continentale Investissements (GCI) is one of Frances leading commercial property developers and investors. GCI has invested alongside renowned international partners in over 1.7 million sq.m. of office and other commercial property, mainly in Paris, the Paris region, Lyon and London. Its investments have included renovation projects, new developments and acquisitions of tenanted buildings.

For more information, visit www.gci-site.com

About Eternam

Eternam is a regulated asset management company which operates on the whole real estate value chain: collective investment funds, club deals, investment advisory and residential investments. Its team of 18 professionals possess strong expertise in sourcing and structuring commercial real estate transactions, through its involvement in more than 40 club deals and 10 investment funds in the real estate and hospitality sectors. In the last five years, Eternam has invested more than 1.5 billion in equity and currently manages 700 million.

For more information, visit www.eternam.fr

About SFL

Leader in the prime segment of the Parisian commercial real estate market, Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise stands out for the quality of its property portfolio, which is valued at 8.2 billion and is focused on the Central Business District of Paris (#cloud.paris, Edouard VII, Washington Plaza, etc.), and for the quality of its client portfolio, which is composed of prestigious companies in the consulting, media, digital, luxury, finance and insurance sectors. As Frances oldest property company, SFL demonstrates year after year an unwavering commitment to its strategy focused on creating a high value in use for users and, ultimately, substantial appraisal values for its properties.

Stock market: Euronext Paris Compartment A  Euronext Paris ISIN FR0000033409  Bloomberg: FLY FP  Reuters: FLYP PA

S&P rating: BBB+ stable outlook

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005828/en/

GCI contacts: Raphael Raingold +33 (0)1 56 68 48 00  [email protected]

Press Office: Treize Cent Treize  Alain NDong  +33 (0)1 53 17 97 13  [email protected]

Eternam contacts: Amandine Adam: [email protected]

SFL  Thomas Fareng  T +33 (0)1 42 97 27 00  [email protected]

www.fonciere-lyonnaise.com

Source: SFL
After several years of planning, SkyPoint says now is the time to answer members requests with an official Business Banking program.

GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SkyPoint Federal Credit Union (SkyPoint), a premier, member-owned financial institution, announces the three-phased launch of their official Business Banking service, complete with a full array of products to meet the wide-ranging needs of businesses.

Our members with businesses have been asking for services specific to operating a business, and we have been discussing the possibilities and mechanics for several years, but with COVID-19 and the economic climate surrounding it, the time just wasnt right, said Gregg Zolkiewicz, COO of SkyPoint FCU. Now, with businesses up and running full-time, eager to grow and improve their bottom line, SkyPoint is ready to support them with a full spectrum of business products.

SkyPoint Business Banking will launch Business Banking in three phases:

Phase 1 - to SkyPoint members who own businesses

Phase 2 - to the remainder of current SkyPoint members

Phase 3 - to non-members outside of the credit union

Products offered with Business Banking include:

Business checking/savings accounts

Business loans, including loans for new/used vehicles

Installment loans

Lines of credit (LOC)

Business credit cards

Business SkyPoint members will have the convenience of using online and mobile banking, so they can manage their business finances anytime, according to their schedules. SkyPoint will also have trained business specialists who can meet with business members in person if that need arises.

Establishing a program of this magnitude involves every department, and intensive training for all employees, Zolkiewicz added. Now, its the right time to launch it, and we are excited to offer Business Banking to our members.

About SkyPoint Federal Credit Union (SkyPoint)

SkyPoint is one of the premier financial institutions serving Montgomery County, MD; Frederick County, MD; Arlington County, VA; Alexandria and Falls Church, VA; and the District of Columbia. SkyPoint is a Community Development Financial Institution and a designated Juntos Avanzamos credit union. They strive to offer their members a wide array of financial services, supported by the best technology, while providing great value through their member-owned structure. To learn more, visit www.skypointfcu.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005297/en/

Tyler Jordon

RMR & Associates

(301) 230-0045 x500

[email protected]

Source: SkyPoint Federal Credit Union
SOUTHFIELD, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SME, the nonprofit association committed to advancing widespread adoption of manufacturing technologies and developing North Americas talent and capabilities, today announced its lineup of 2023 Delcie Durham Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineers.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005722/en/

Robert "Bob" Willig, Executive Director & CEO, SME. (Photo: Business Wire)

The 18 awardees were selected based on their diverse manufacturing backgrounds, technology advancements/improvements and state-of-the-art research. The 2023 award namesake is longtime SME member Delcie R. Durham, PhD, FSME, PE, a professor emerita in the University of South Florida's Department of Mechanical Engineering. Durhams research has focused on environmentally benign design and manufacturing, with a particular emphasis on sustainable product realization through the total product lifecycle.

This group of young engineers is one of the most educated, accomplished groups weve honored in recent years, said Robert Bob Willig, SME executive director and CEO. Watch with me as they gain momentum over their careers, as Im sure well see some remarkable achievements in manufacturing technology, processes and materials come forth.

Recipients of the 2023 Delcie Durham Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award will be recognized at a variety of events during 2023, including the SME International Awards Gala in June, the NAMRI/SME Awards Luncheon during NAMRC 51, and at selected corporate and university events.

SMEs 2023 Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineers

Lili Cai, PhD, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

Murali Mohan Cheepu, PhD, Research Manager, Super TIG Welding C. Ltd., Busan, Republic of Korea

David Coleman, Senior Applications Engineer, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Fort Worth, Texas

Karthik Gopinath, Senior Research Engineer, Caterpillar Inc., San Antonio

Farbod Khameneifar, PhD, P.Eng., Associate Professor, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal

Yong Lin Kong, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Utah, Salt Lake City

Cindy Xiangjia Li, PhD, Assistant Professor, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Jon-Erik Mogonye, PhD, Research Materials Engineer, DEVCOM U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland

Hantang Qin, Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Wesley Salandro, PhD, Senior Manager-Composites Production, SpaceX, Hawthorne, California

William Scheideler, PhD, Assistant Professor of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire

Jacob L. "Jake" Smith, PhD, Product Design Engineer, Apple Inc., Austin, Texas

Kenan Song, PhD, Assistant Professor, Arizona State University, Mesa, Arizona

Hongyue Sun, PhD, Assistant Professor, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York

Sean Wagner, PhD, Senior Researcher, Manufacturing Systems Research Lab, General Motors Global Research & Development, Warren, Michigan

Shaomao Xu, PhD, Researcher, Manufacturing Systems Research Lab, General Motors Research & Development, Warren, Michigan

Zixuan Zoe Zhang, PhD, Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Co., Bellevue, Washington

Hangbo Zhao, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles

Full biographies of the 2023 Delcie Durham Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineers are available on the Awards page for this years class. Nominations for the 2024 Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award should be submitted by Aug. 1. Visit sme.org/oyme for submission and additional award details.

About SME

We believe in the power of technology and the innovation of people to drive competitiveness, advance our nation and solve the worlds greatest problems. A nonprofit organization established in 1932, SME leads the manufacturing ecosystem to elevate manufacturers, academia, professionals, and the communities in which they operate. We build the bridge from today to the future by developing the next generation of manufacturing talent and capabilities. And we accelerate the widespread adoption of technologies that can propel manufacturing operations into excellence. Learn more at sme.org, follow @SME_MFG on Twitter, or facebook.com/SMEmfg.

NOTE TO EDITORS: High-resolution images of Bob Willig and OYME Award recipients are available from SME.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005722/en/

Michael Scholl

Senior PR Representative, SME

[email protected]

Tel. +1 313.425.3040

Source: SME
Unique, utility-led concept to leverage existing infrastructure in building clean hydrogen ecosystem

Decisions could be announced by fall of 2023

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition today announced it has completed submission of its full application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for funding to build a green hydrogen network spanning six states and including five major utilities.

As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the DOE has made $8 billion available for the formation of regional clean hydrogen hubs, with final funding decisions anticipated by the fall of 2023.

Lawmakers from both parties and from across the Southeast region, led by United States Senators Jon Ossoff and Lindsey Graham, came together to issue a joint letter to the DOE in late February expressing their support for the Southeast Hydrogen Hub.

The Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalitions member states are home to many of the nations leading transportation, logistics, energy, manufacturing, and research assets. We are heartened by the Department of Energys encouraging notification in response to the coalitions concept paper and urge the Department to select the Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition for funding. We stand ready to provide long-term support for the Southeast Hydrogen Hubs implementation and growth, the support letter states.

The Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition was one of 79 potential hubs to submit initial concept papers to the DOE in 2022. In late December, the DOE issued notices to the coalition and 32 other applicants encouraging them to proceed with submitting full applications by April 7, 2023.

The goal of the Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition is to develop a regional energy ecosystem that will allow members to deploy green hydrogen as a decarbonization solution for customers and communities. A hydrogen hub in the Southeastern U.S. could assist in decarbonization efforts in the Southeast and help bring robust economic development benefits and jobs to the region.

About the Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition

The Southeast Hydrogen Hub coalition is a group of peer utilities working together to pursue federal funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The coalitions plan is to develop a regional hydrogen hub in response to growing demand for clean energy sources in the Southeast transportation, industry and power generation sectors. Members of the coalition include Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Louisville Gas & Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company (LG&E and KU), Southern Company, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Battelle, the coalition lead entity. A hydrogen energy ecosystem is one possible option for decarbonization in the Southeast across all sectors of the economy, bringing economic development, while also providing abundant energy for customers and communities.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005697/en/

Battelle

Katy Delaney

Phone: 614.424.7208

[email protected]

Dominion Energy

Persida Montanez

Phone: 919.819.1325

[email protected]

LG&E and KU

24/7 Media Hotline

Phone: 502.627.4999

Southern Company

Demetrius Sherrod

Phone: 404.757.2961

[email protected]

TVA

Ashton Caroline Davies

Phone: 615.815.8561

[email protected]

Source: Battelle
Wells Fargo was recently confirmed as the top payment originator by volume on the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network for the 11th consecutive year*.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wells Fargo announced its participation today at Nachas Smarter Faster Payments conference in Las Vegas from April 16-19.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005648/en/

Wells Fargo to Participate in Nachas Smarter Faster Payments Conference (Photo: Wells Fargo)

Nacha is the organization that governs the ACH Network, which facilitates electronic, bank-to-bank money transfers processed for consumers, businesses, and federal, state and local governments. With the recent release of Nachas Top 50 financial institution ACH originators for 2022, Wells Fargo was confirmed as the top payment originator by volume on the ACH Network for the eleventh consecutive year*.

Five speakers from Wells Fargo will appear on panels at the conference:

John Hunter, head of Global Treasury Management Payments & Transaction Services, will appear on the Feed the Need For Speed! Why FIs Should Unite to Connect Global Faster Payments panel.

panel. Moses Harris, Black/African American Segment leader, Commercial Banking will appear on the Building a Stronger U.S. Financial Market Through Inclusion panel.

panel. Ramy Serageldin, head of Connectivity Solutions, will appear on the Open Banking Paradigm: Decisioning in the Digital Marketplace panel.

panel. Michelle Ziolkowski, CTP, Enterprise Payments Strategy Product Group head; Strategy, Digital, and Innovation, will appear on the Spotlight Session: Payment PaloozaWhere Should You Place Your Bets? panel.

panel. Jonathan Jacob, head of Minority Depository Institutions & Strategic Client Partnerships, will appear on the DE&I Banking with Minority Depository Institutions panel.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.92 trillion in assets. Wells Fargos vision is to satisfy our customers financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,200 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 31 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortunes 2020 rankings of Americas largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo.

*Historical data provided by Nacha.

News Release Category: WF-PS

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005648/en/

Media

Sam Arenson

612-414-7618

[email protected]

Source: Wells Fargo & Company
AXIM Biotechnologies, Inc. (OTCQB: AXIM) (AXIM Biotech, AXIM or the Company), an international healthcare diagnostic solutions development company, announced today the start of manufacturing of both its proprietary Ocular Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and Lactoferrin diagnostic assays to fulfill the orders placed by its commercialization partner. As is a standard manufacturing practice, AXIM has begun manufacturing three separate lots of each assay that will be used for an internal reproducibility study with the third lot available to ship to customers. AXIMs current manufacturing capacity is up to 25,000 units per month.

Both tests were designed to be administered at the point-of-care, and measure respective biomarker levels in patients, rendering results in just eight minutes. Unlike other clinically available assays, AXIMs tests are quantitative and measures actual levels of both IgE and Lactoferrin allowing doctors to monitor targeted therapeutics.

Lactoferrin is a protein that exhibits a unique combination of antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It is one of the eyes important immunological defense mechanisms and also is a biomarker used to assess the secretory function of the lacrimal gland. Measuring Lactoferrin levels in patients enables clinicians to directly correlate low levels to dry eye disease caused by aqueous deficiency and the severity of DED can be determined by the Lactoferrin level. Low Lactoferrin levels indicate DED and depressed ocular immunity, which may represent an increased surgical risk and of contact lens intolerance. IgE is a key biomarker primarily associated with non-specific, allergic conjunctivitis, which often mimics Dry Eye Disease (DED), enabling clinicians to differentiate between the underlying causes of a patients eye condition and prescribe treatment accordingly and instantly at the point-of-care.

Our research team has been working tirelessly and were ready to scale our production to meet the large demand for our tests  and this was a key milestone toward that goal, said John Huemoeller II, CEO of AXIM Biotechnologies. While many development companies merely design new technologies and outsource their production, AXIM was able to adjust our existing facilities to enable production of our own assays  a significant advantage in both quality control and profit margins. This has been a long time coming and we couldnt be more excited to reach such an important milestone as an organization.

AXIM has been working closely with its commercialization partner to further prepare them with all of the materials and information necessary to garner clinician interest in the tests in recent months, while simultaneously optimizing production. With these first three lots in production, AXIM will be able to follow a similar process for its other tests  enabling a more rapid go-to-market strategy in the future.

Approximately 344 million people worldwide have Dry Eye Disease, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the patient population continues to grow. Given the current landscape of diagnostic tools, clinicians struggle to properly diagnose and treat DED. Additionally, according to the American Journal of Ophthalmology, as of July 2017, a study reported an estimated six million people have experienced Dry Eye Disease symptoms but have never been diagnosed.

AXIM aims to address this discrepancy with its ocular diagnostic solution portfolio, beginning with both its IgE and Lactoferrin assays. Beyond initial diagnosis, consistent testing is required to evaluate the efficacy of treatment for DED, creating a recurring need for AXIMs solutions at the point-of-care.

For more information on AXIMs diagnostic solutions or to speak with someone at AXIMs commercialization partner Versea about adding these innovative solutions to your clinic, please visit: https://www.versea.com/divisions/ophthalmics/.
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.

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.

We refute any allegation regarding an agreement to deepen cooperation between the UAE and other countries' security services against another country, said a statement by the UAE to the AP Monday.

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 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.

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.

Relations between the U.S. and the UAE have seesawed over the past decade. 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.

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FILE PHOTO: A Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner taxis past the Final Assembly Building at Boeing South Carolina in North Charleston, South Carolina, United States, March 31, 2017. REUTERS/Randall Hill

By Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing on Tuesday announced 130 airplane deliveries over the first quarter of 2023, inching past rival Airbus, which delivered 127 jets.

Boeing's deliveries were up almost 27% from a year earlier, when it delivered 95 jets.

The U.S. planemaker delivered 64 aircraft in March, 36% more than the 41 jets transferred to customers in the same month last year.

The 737 MAX made up 52 of that sum, with United Airlines and Southwest Airlines each taking ownership of 12 MAX jets.

Widebody deliveries picked up after a slow January and February, in part caused by a weeks-long halt on 787 Dreamliner deliveries ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration in February.

After receiving FAA approval to restart deliveries in mid-March, the company transferred 7 Dreamliners to customers last month.

Other deliveries included one P-8 Poseidon aircraft, one 767 freighter -- its first 767 delivery of the year, made after Boeing resolved a fuel tank quality problem -- and three 777s.

Airbus handed over 127 jets in its first quarter including 61 deliveries last month, the European planemaker announced on Tuesday.

Quarterly deliveries were down 11% from 142 physical deliveries a year earlier, or down 9% compared with an adjusted year-ago total of 140, Reuters previously reported on April 7.

Boeing and Airbus have been close to level on deliveries over the past three months. Each handed a total of 66 jets to customers in January and February.

Airbus aims to deliver 720 airplanes this year, while Boeing has only set targets to deliver at least 400 737 MAXs and 70 787s.

Boeing is on track to meet its 737 MAX delivery target, having delivered 113 jets so far this year. But with only 11 787s delivered so far, the company will have to pick up the pace to meet that goal.

In March, Boeing booked gross orders for 60 aircraft, which included 40 MAXs and 20 787s. That sum was offset by cancellations of orders for 16 MAXs and six 787s, resulting in 38 net orders.

Its backlog fell to 4,555 orders from 4,559.

(Reporting by Valerie Insinna; editing by Jason Neely)
Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, has announced an agreement to purchase the assets of the wastewater treatment plant of the City of Granite City.

The City Council approved the Asset Purchase Agreement on Wednesday evening, April 5, at its council meeting.

The sale would bring approximately 26,000 new wastewater treatment customer connections to Illinois American Water, including approximately 10,500 direct and an additional 15,500 indirect customers in surrounding communities.

We thank the City Council for its vote of confidence in us and we look forward to growing our partnership with Granite City residents and businesses by providing water and wastewater service and solutions, said Illinois American Water President Rebecca Losli. Our company and team of experienced employees are invested in the Granite City community. We are positioned to leverage our resources and expertise and continue to address the needs of the community.

Illinois American Water will file the proposed sale with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for approval by the end of 2023 or early 2024. If approved by the ICC, it will be the largest wastewater acquisition by the company.

We support this agreement with Illinois American Water because it is in the best interests of the Granite City community. It will put our citys wastewater assets and operations into the highly capable hands of Illinois American Water. We are also able to preserve and transition all jobs for the employees, said Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson. He added that proceeds from a sale would allow the city to invest in other critical, community needs.

Illinois American Water has provided water service in Granite City for more than 125 years. In 2020, the company purchased the assets of citys wastewater collection system.

About Illinois American Water

Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville.
Ottawa, Ontario, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Bad + Bitchy podcast is shining the spotlight on societal issues by serving as a platform for in depth, critical analysis of such issues. During the podcast, Erica Ifill and her co-host jointly tackle topics related to pop culture, policy, social media and politics through deep dive discussions.

Commenting on the podcast, Erica Ifill, the founder and co-host, As women, we bring our own unique perspective to the topics that we discuss. We see all the topics through the lens of intersectional feminism and through the podcast, we are bringing this to a wider audience. When you tune in to our podcast, you get access to a no holds barred discussion on any topic regarding politics and pop-culture that affects our daily life, and that of women in particular. Many people find the overwhelming barrage of news through digital media overwhelming. Through the podcast, we draw attention to major issues and raise awareness. This podcast has played a key role in shaping my efforts for clients with regard to advocating for them in policy matters. Our podcast gives voice to those who have been largely ignored so far.

The podcast is uploaded on a weekly basis and covers current topics of interest through both a feminist and an equity lens. To the hosts, it has served as a way to put feminism into practice and simplify politics and pop culture for people who have questions from a vulnerable community perspective. The podcast has so far dealt with many current topics like the recent layoffs in the tech sector and the targeting of female journalists.

The Bad + Bitchy podcast educates listeners on complex issues and trends that are broken down to be easily understood. Every session of the podcasts lasts for about one hour. Sessions begin with an introduction lasting 5 minutes which provides an overview of the week in general before moving on to cover two or three topics in greater detail. By listening to discussions on current social issues, listeners understand that their experience is not the only experience and become more mindful in their decisions, whether they are business or personal. Typically for the younger audience, the podcast has a popular segment called Misogynist of the Week (MOTW), which lasts about 25 minutes. The hosts take who they think is the biggest misogynist of the week and explain what he/she/they did to become their MOTW.

About Not in My Colour:

Not in My Colour is a research and analysis consultancy that supports advocacy work. The organization was set up with the goal of remedying the limitations of traditional policy through the use of an intersectional approach that focuses on the needs of those who are marginalized and vulnerable. The Bad + Bitchy podcast supports the work of Not in My Colour, through knowledge transfer.Media Contact:

Name: Erica Ifill

Email id: [email protected]

Source: Bad and Bitchy Podcast by Not in My Colour
SAN JOSE, CA, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  BitFrontier Capital Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS: BFCH), a leading provider of crypto mining hardware and hosting centers, announces Quarterly Earnings for Q1 of 2023.

Last week we announced our 1st Quarterly Report under new leadership. We highlighted the many milestones we have already achieved along our path to profitability with a new vision and purpose for BFCH. In our Quarterly Report we identified several sources of revenue and how such diversification would provide stability to a sometimes uncertain and volatile market place. Today, the data is in and we are proud to announce our first quarterly earnings. I would like to address each revenue stream individually to illustrate the diversity of our income and what each piece means to our vision to be your one stop shop for Crypto mining services.

ASIC Miner Sales - In the past quarter, BFCH acquired the already profitable ASIC Miner distributor, called ASICMinersUS. During this past quarter, sales have increased 43% year over year but prices have come down substantially year over year. Still we had a very profitable quarter, closing $1,719,801.90 in revenue. Thats Million with an M and we are just getting started. As we announced, we have a new sales director that started at the beginning of Q2.

Hosting - Also part of BFCH is Liquid Immersion Worldwide, LLC. We recently announced a joint venture with C&G Management, Inc to create ASIC hosting sites under a new entity called Jupiter Mines, LLC. We recently announced our first property in Louisiana and this month we started running a Google Ad campaign to fill the available space. Although this site is still very new, we have already filled 60% of our current site capacity. We had announced 1,000 slots would be available for hosting as a mixture of Liquid Immersion and Air Cooled slots. We have already filled 98% of our available Liquid Immersion bays, 360 bays and 240 air cooled slots. Hosting fees at this current capacity are expected to generate over $120,000 monthly or over $360,000 quarterly, in recurring revenue. We expect to increase site capacity and break ground on others together with C&G in the coming months. We will update the progress in upcoming press releases, stay tuned.

Telesis IT - This is BFCHs technical solution provider that will act as our first point of contact and remote support for our hosting facilities. This past quarter Telesis IT brought in approximately $170,000. Until this point, Telesis ITs revenue has single handedly kept BFCH afloat during the transition, for which we are very thankful.

Mining - We also mentioned that we will opportunistically mine cryptocurrency. We feel that it is important that we keep our finger on the pulse of the crypto market we serve, so that we can continue to act as a knowledgeable resource for our customers. It is because of the volatility of this market, that we decided to diversify our revenue stream to provide consistency for our investors, and we are very glad that we did. Q1 2023 has been a tough quarter for mining crypto. Still our mining efforts were able to contribute just over $5,000 USD which we plan to Hodl (not selling your digital assets, anticipating price changes in the market) to increase profits and drive revenue for next quarter.

Onwards and upwards - This new quarter is already looking bright with many very promising ASIC Miner sales poised to close in the coming weeks and recurring revenue expected from the hosting side. With first quarterly revenue approaching $2,000,000, we are already darlings of the OTC and have already begun our march toward uplisting to the OTCQB.

A huge thank you to our supporters ,especially our dedicated staff, none of which are currently pulling a salary. We all believe in what we are doing and agreed to work for equity - Now thats commitment!

Unlike a young startup looking to go public, we are already public and we are well on our way. Join us and grab a piece of this company as we continue on our path to profitability. Recap Video from our CEO

As of Friday April 7th, Bryan Wilkinson was discharged as custodian from the Wyoming courts. Mr. Wilkinson has decided to step away from BFCH to pursue other endeavors, we would like to thank Mr. Wilkinson and wish him good luck in the future.

About BitFrontier Capital Holdings, Inc.

BitFrontier Capital Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of Crypto Mining Hardware and Hosting Centers. Consisting of ASIC Miners US, Inc. and Liquid Immersion Worldwide, Inc., BitFrontier is a one stop shop for purchasing the very latest mining equipment and strategically located hosting centers throughout the US.

To keep up with further announcements in between our scheduled press releases, please follow our new twitter account https://twitter.com/bfchco

https://www.bfchco.com/

https://asicminersus.com/

https://www.liquidimmersionhosting.com/

Contact- [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "should," "intend," "estimate," "projects," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's respective filings at www.otcmarkets.com.

Source: BitFrontier Capital Holdings, Inc.
SINGAPORE, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crypto Expo Asia, one of the regions leading crypto conferences and exhibitions, today announced partnerships with the Asia Blockchain Association (ABA), Asia Blockchain Gaming Alliance (ABGA), Asosiasi Blockchain Indonesia (ABI), Singapore Fintech Association (SFA), and the Singapore University of Social Sciences Node for Inclusive FinTech Blockchain Security Alliance (SUSS NiFT) to bolster collaboration with leading industry groups and offer preferential rates to association members. This second edition of Crypto Expo Asia will take place from 7  8 June at Singapores iconic Marina Bay Sands Expo.

The event also unveiled its latest line-up of headline speakers, which include Hayden Hughes, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpha Impact; Sidney Macdessi, Head of Institutional Sales at Cake DeFi; Peter Sumer, COO of BITmarkets; Igneus Terrenus, Head of Communications & Business Development at the Mantle Network by BitDAO; Giulio Xiloyannis, CEO of Pixelmon; Chen Zhuling, CEO and Founder of RockX; Pradeep Goel, Founder & CEO of Solve.Care; renowned blockchain strategist and thought leader, Anndy Lian; and more.

Media partners for the event include Cointelegraph, Blockhead, CoinCu, Chain Debrief, Jinse Finance, and U.Today.

[L  R] Hayden Hughes, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpha Impact; Sidney Macdessi, Head of Institutional Sales at Cake DeFi; Igneus Terrenus, Head of Communications & Business Development at the Mantle Network by BitDAO; Giulio Xiloyannis, CEO of Pixelmon; Chen Zhuling, CEO and Founder of RockX; Pradeep Goel, Founder & CEO of Solve.Care; blockchain strategist, Anndy Lian

Michael Xuan, Director, Crypto Expo Asia, said: Amid calls for greater regulatory oversight around crypto, it is apparent that now is the time for open dialogue between companies, developers, investors, and governments, to chart the way forward. As with all bleeding-edge developments, intra-industry collaboration is critical to advancing the entire blockchain and crypto ecosystem, ensuring it evolves in a sustainable and responsible manner without stymieing innovation.

Speakers and panellists at Crypto Expo Asia will address key trends shaping the global Web3 and crypto industry, including artificial intelligence, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), Web3 regulation, blockchain gaming, and what this will ultimately mean for an industry that has undergone scrutiny and seismic change over the last few months.

With more businesses trying to navigate the metaverse, we are pleased to announce the inaugural Web3 Expo Asia Summit, a sub-event under the auspices of Crypto Expo Asia. This first summit will introduce pilot sessions for metaverse and NFT-specific panels and discussions, added Michael.

Shawn Tham, Co-Chairman, Asia Blockchain Association, said: The industrys recent trials have shown just how important it is for the community to engage in productive discourse, and conferences such as Crypto Expo Asia provide a platform for discussion. Driving conversations and facilitating solutions to the industrys most pressing issues is part of the ABAs raison d'etre, and we look forward to the ideas and solutions that will emerge from the conference this year.

Ahead of what is shaping up to be the definitive return for one of Asias most exciting crypto industry events, Crypto Expo Asia has already seen major crypto players including ABX, BEOSIN, BITmarkets, Coinstore, and PurpleFi pledge their support for the event.

Organised by international exhibitions and conference company, HQMENA, Crypto Expo Asia is the second crypto-focused event of the HQMENA calendar, following the highly successful second run for Crypto Expo Dubai which ran from 8  9 March 2023. This years Crypto Expo Dubai drew over 4,000 attendees and welcomed representatives from the Blockchain Founders Fund, Chainalysis, Nexo, and more.

Interested sponsors, partners, and speakers for Crypto Expo Asia are encouraged to visit the website for more information: https://cryptoexpoasia.com/.

 END

About Crypto Expo AsiaCrypto Expo Asia is the premier event for the global crypto ecosystem in Asia, creating an integral platform for the industry to connect and exchange ideas. Attendees gain valuable insight into the global crypto ecosystem and are given a chance to exchange ideas with established thought leaders.

Topics discussed include the future of the blockchain-based economy and the possible impacts on industry and society, while attendees are among the first to know about market movements, partnerships and product launches. Crypto Expo Asia is an unrivalled global meeting place for like-minded entrepreneurs, industry insiders and investors.

For more information, visit: https://cryptoexpoasia.com/

Wachsman for HQMENA cryptoexpoasia at wachsman.com

Source: Crypto Expo Asia
WAWA, Pa., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wawa, Inc., today announced that its annual Wawa Day tradition is back and brighter than ever! On April 13, in honor of Wawas 59th anniversary in retail, the company will celebrate the occasion by offering customers FREE hot coffee of any size, chainwide, all day! Throughout the day, Wawa expects to give away close to 2 million free cups of any-size coffee to customers at its nearly 1,000 stores.

In April 1964, Wawa entered the retail business by opening its first store in Folsom, PA. Now on the verge of opening its 1,000th store later this month, Wawa is celebrating 59 years in retail by thanking communities with free coffee and sharing stories of the special connections between associates and customers that have been happening for nearly six decades.

When Wawa opened its doors on April 16, 1964, our founder, Grahame Wood, imagined a place that would provide trusted quality products, convenience and care to local friends and neighbors. Now 59 years later, Wawa associates are proud to carry out this vision by being Day Brighteners in their communities each and every day, said Chris Gheysens, Wawa Chief Executive Officer. On April 13, we invite our customers to celebrate our rich history, growth and unwavering commitment to fulfilling lives, and we hope the stories we share put a smile on faces and inspire others to brighten days in their community.

In addition to offering free coffee, Wawa Day will celebrate the connection between Wawas customers, associates and communities in the following ways:

Day Brightener Videos & Childrens Miracle Network Donation Following a chainwide call for submissions, Wawa will release 10 videos depicting inspiring stories of kindness and celebrating the special connection between the companys associates and customers. In honor of the hundreds of submissions received, Wawa will donate $50,000 to its community partner, Childrens Miracle Network . View the 10 Day Brightener videos here: www.wawa.com/daybrighteners

Following a chainwide call for submissions, Wawa will release 10 videos depicting inspiring stories of kindness and celebrating the special connection between the companys associates and customers. In honor of the hundreds of submissions received, Wawa will donate $50,000 to its community partner, . View the 10 Day Brightener videos here: www.wawa.com/daybrighteners Customer Day Brighteners All 990+ stores across Wawas chain will select a "Day Brightening customer that is near and dear to the store team and present them with a special Day Brightener sash, mug and a weeks worth of coffee.

About Wawa, Inc.Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and certified process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, Georges grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services and surcharge-free ATMs. Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. Forbes.com Ranks Wawa as #24 of Americas Largest Private Companies in 2022 and #12 on Forbes 100 Halo List in 2022. For more information, visit us on www.wawa.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat at @wawa.

CONTACT: [email protected]

Source: Wawa, Inc.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. (CSE: HG) (OTCQB: HGCPF) (the Company or HydroGraph), a commercial manufacturer of high-quality graphene and other nanomaterials, is pleased to announce it will be presenting this week at the Technology Virtual Investor Conference on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 10:00 AM ET. CEO, Stuart Jara, will discuss the companys patented graphene production technology along with upcoming catalysts, which will be followed by a Q&A session with investors.

The conference is complimentary to investors. To register, please click here: https://bit.ly/3MBg4Y9

DATE: April 13th, 2023TIME: 10:00 AM ETLINK: https://tinyurl.com/2s3mtpb3

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

About HydroGraph

HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. was founded in 2017 to fund and commercialize green, cost-effective processes to manufacture graphene, hydrogen and other strategic materials in bulk. Publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange on December 2, 2021, the Company acquired the exclusive license from Kansas State University to produce both graphene and hydrogen through their patented detonation process. More information about the Company and its products can be found on the HydroGraph website. www.hydrograph.com/

For company updates, please follow HydroGraph on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Virtual Investor ConferencesVirtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

CONTACTS:HydroGraph Investor RelationsBob Wowk, CFO[email protected]908.627.1315

HydroGraph Media ContactKristin Schaeffer[email protected]

Virtual Investor ConferencesJohn M. ViglottiSVP Corporate Services, Investor AccessOTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221[email protected]

Source: Virtual Investor Conferences
Fort Collins, Colorado, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innosphere Ventures, a Colorado-based incubator for science and technology startups, is proud to announce its 25th anniversary. Since its inception in 1998, Innosphere Ventures has been dedicated to helping entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses that can contribute to the economic outcomes for Colorado and the nation.

Over the past 10 years, Innosphere Venture companies have raised over $224 million in capital, generated $116 million in revenue, created over 2,000 jobs in Colorado alone, and helped 135 companies achieve significant business milestones. These accomplishments are a testament to Innosphere Ventures commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth in the state of Colorado.

In a statement celebrating the milestone, Innosphere Ventures CEO Mike Freeman said, Our goal has always been to elevate Colorado to an elite status in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship. Were proud of what weve accomplished over the past 25 years, but were even more excited about what the future holds. We will continue to support the most promising science and technology startups, and we look forward to seeing their impact on Colorado and the world.

Innosphere Ventures provides a range of services to help startups grow, including mentorship, strategic planning, access to capital, networking opportunities, and specialized facilities. The incubators client companies span a variety of industries, including bioscience, cleantech, advanced materials, and more.

To learn more about Innosphere Ventures and its 25-year history of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Colorado, visit www.innosphereventures.org.

Attachments

Betty Cozzolino Innosphere Ventures 5632123082 [email protected]

Source: Innosphere Ventures
RALEIGH, N.C., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE: MLM) (Martin Marietta or the Company) will host its first-quarter 2023 earnings conference call on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company will release results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, that morning before the market opens.

A live, listen-only webcast and supplemental information will be accessible on the Investors section of the Companys website at www.martinmarietta.com. The conference call may also be accessed by registering here: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIb6c48e41f5e245918d553366714c7fa1. Please register at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure a timely connection to the call. An on-demand replay will be available on the Companys website approximately two hours following the conclusion of the live broadcast and will be available for one year.

Martin Marietta, a member of the S&P 500 Index, is an American-based company and a leading supplier of building materials, including aggregates, cement, ready mixed concrete and asphalt. Through a network of operations spanning 28 states, Canada and The Bahamas, dedicated Martin Marietta teams supply the resources necessary for building the solid foundations on which our communities thrive. Martin Mariettas Magnesia Specialties business provides a full range of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and dolomitic lime products. For more information, visit www.martinmarietta.com or www.magnesiaspecialties.com.

Investor Contact: Jennifer ParkVice President, Investor Relations (919) 510-4736[email protected]

MLM-E.

Source: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
SALT LAKE CITY, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OneKey MLS will join a growing list of multiple listing services (MLSs) which rely on MLS Grid to manage data feed licensing and delivery.

The announcement underscores Farmingdale, N.Y.-based OneKey MLS commitment to enhancing data efficiency for its 46,500 subscribers. OneKey MLS serves 46,500 real estate professionals in portions of New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley.

MLS Grid supports the multiple listing service industry's (MLS) role of providing timely, accurate, and comprehensive data to subscribers and technology companies. With more than 500 MLSs nationwide, its often a challenge for brokerages to combine data from numerous markets to serve websites, marketing systems, market analytics, showing services, lockbox services and brokerage management systems.

The Real Estate Standards Organizations (RESO) Web API powers MLS Grid. The platform is built on trusted, open technology standards which help organizations efficiently deliver or receive data.

A market as dynamic as the one we serve demands close attention to making data management as seamless as possible, said Richard Haggerty, CEO of OneKey MLS. MLS Grid provides a solution for our subscribers which will enhance market efficiency for all involved in a real estate transaction.

MLS Grid is a company run by MLS executives and developers who understand the industry and the challenges brokers and associations face in a fast-evolving market.

Were excited that OneKey MLS sees the value we bring to making the market work better for all, said MLS Grid CEO, Joseph Szurgyi. MLS Grid is an essential part of any MLS mission to provide the best service to subscribers who are in an industry that demands high standards of service when it comes to managing data feeds and contracts.

MLS Grid is growing quickly and continues to support the adoption of RESO Web API throughout the industry. MLS Grid works with more than 1,455 data consumers and supports more than 70,000 data licenses nationwide.

About MLS Grid

Currently representing nearly 360,000 MLS subscribers, MLS Grid was built by a nationwide network of multiple listing services to help real estate brokers, technology partners, and MLSs to provide easier access to standardized, streamlined data. The goal of MLS Grid is to offer a single point of access and management for RESO standardized data that is provided by MLSs and brokers. MLS Grid eliminates technology development and other redundancies through MLS collaboration while allowing MLSs to preserve their "localization" of standardized data. MLS Grid has successfully worked with data from connectMLS, Matrix, Paragon, Realtracs MLS, and Flexmls systems. More information is available at MLSGrid.com.

About OneKey MLS

OneKey MLS serves 46,500 subscribers in portions of New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley. It was formed in 2020 with the merger of the Hudson Gateway MLS and MLS Long Island. The MLS is based in Farmingdale, N.Y., and operates on a pledge to provide subscribers with better coverage, better data and the best tools for their businesses. Learn more about OneKey MLS at onekeymlsny.com.

Joseph Szurgyi MLS Grid 801.244.5742 [email protected] Richard Haggerty OneKey MLS 631.670.0710

Source: MLS Grid
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 Riyadh 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.

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.

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Hartford, Connecticut, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Connecticut Entertainer started showing the best places to stay in Connecticut this year including some of the editors picks for travelers who want to spend their Spring in Connecticut. Travelers can discover everything from luxury 5-star hotels to bed and breakfasts that will give them the most memorable experience during their stay.

Connecticut Entertainer has resources for travelers who want to learn about the best hotels to book in Enfield and Waterbury. Even people traveling with children will find the best child-friendly resorts to book in Connecticut. Now that Connecticut Entertainer is showing the best places to stay, its a lovely addition to the website that has been widely popular for giving all the best resources for things to do in Connecticut.

Connecticut Entertainer Recommends the Best Places to Stay

Some of the best places to stay in Waterbury include an excellent combination of high-end household name brand hotels and smaller inns or bed and breakfasts. This gives travelers an overview of good hotels to consider when theyre planning a trip to Connecticut. Some of Connecticut Entertainers top choices are Courtyard by Marriott Waterbury Downtown, Quality Inn, and Hampton Inn Waterbury.

Connecticut Entertainer puts together excellent resources that compare and contrast the best hotels. Some of the best ones in Enfield include motels, luxury resorts, and mid-range hotels. The top three choices are Hampton Inn Springfield South Enfield, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Springfield/Enfield, and Red Roof Inn Enfield.

Families planning a trip this Spring can find resources to help them plan out their entire trip to Connecticut. There are lots to do and see but it can be tricky to find child-friendly hotels to book for a good stay. Connecticut Entertainer recommends Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot  Enfield, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel  Bristol, and Hampton Inn  Shelton.

Connecticut Entertainer Helps Travelers Plan the Best Trips

Anyone planning to visit Connecticut will find all the best resources in one place, the Connecticut Entertainer. The information is up-to-date to ensure that travelers are getting the most relevant recommendations about the best attractions, restaurants to dine at, and hotels to book.

Whether travelers are looking for general information about Connecticut or they want specific recommendations for ski resorts, hiking trails, and other fun activities to do, this website has all they need.

These are some of the top activities to do in Connecticut:

Ski Hiking Bowling Day spas Trampoline parks zoos Steakhouses Breweries Waterfront restaurants Wineries

There is a little bit of something for everyone here since there is a diverse range of activities and places to see here. Connecticut Entertainer helps people discover the very best places and things to do when they visit and its an incredible resource for travelers who want to plan memorable trips.

Learn About the State of Connecticut

Connecticut Entertainer has a wealth of resources that can help readers find the best colleges, places to live, and interesting facts about Connecticut. The website has a detailed map of the state that can show readers more details about the geography of Connecticut. Even people planning to relocate to Connecticut can find information about the different towns with their pros and cons.

Whether youre planning a relaxing trip this Spring, or planning to relocate to Connecticut. Connecticut Entertainer has all the resources you need to learn about the best things to do and see when you go there.

About Connecticut Entertainer

Connecticutentertainer.com is a website designed to help people learn more about Connecticut and to find the best places to visit and things to do during their trip.

Source: https://thenewsfront.com/popular-website-connecticut-entertainer-showsbrthe-best-places-to-stay-this-spring/

Source: Connecticut Entertainer
CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha IR Group, the leading independent consultancy focused on protecting, enhancing, and building investment brands, today expanded its service offerings through the creation of a new subsidiary called the Alpha Advisory Group.

The combined investor relations and corporate reputation advisory establishes a new communications consultancy aimed at helping C-Suite leaders build and enhance their reputations among all critical corporate influencers, including investors, customers, employees, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.

Created by founder Chris Hodges, the combined company now includes veterans from Wall Street, investor relations and corporate communications. This includes two new partners, Tim Peters and Dave Duschene, who join Alpha after serving as key leaders at global PR agency Golin for the past several years. Peters and Duschene bring more than 60 years of combined journalistic, government and corporate communications and large agency experience.

Todays executives understand the need for a comprehensive approach to building corporate reputation through effective engagement, communications, and investment branding strategies, Hodges said. I am excited to form Alpha Advisory Group to help our clients effectively bridge the gap between traditional IR and PR using our holistic approach to both.

Hodges formed Alpha IR in 2012 and has spent his career guiding C-Suites at leading public companies through numerous transformations, transactions and crises. He has been a strategic communications consultant for two decades, having co-founded and sold Ashton Partners. He held senior roles at Financial Dynamics and FTI Consulting before starting Alpha IR. Hodges has counseled clients across all industries, and through various points in the business cycle, including multiple recessions and valuation peaks. He is a recognized thought leader in the investor relations industry having presented at the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), National Directors Institute (NDI), and numerous NIRI events across the country.

Peters most recently served as U.S. leader for Golins corporate practice. Duschene led Golins issues & crisis practice. Peters held corporate affairs communications positions at McDonalds Corp. and Edelman after working the early part of his career as a Congressional staffer. Duschene previously led employee engagement and executive communications positions for Hill + Knowlton Strategies and Kemper Insurance Companies after nearly a decade as a journalist across Illinois.

Traditional PR firms are increasingly challenged to deliver the right specialties and capabilities in one place to navigate the obstacles todays corporate brands must overcome, Peters said. Alpha Advisory Group has the talent and experience to guide C-Suites with holistic strategic counsel to drive their corporate reputations and investment brands forward.

As a storyteller, I understand that building a consistent narrative is essential to effectively communicating, Duschene said. Were dedicated to making sure our clients are clear and compelling in how they present themselves to influencers and key stakeholders  both inside their organizations and out.

Duschene and Peters began their new roles April 10, joining Hodges and agency President Mike Cummings as operating partners in the new firm. Cummings has been a part of Alpha since the early days of the firm, playing a substantial role alongside Hodges in growing the firm into one of the most influential independent IR agencies in the U.S.

About Alpha Advisory Group: The Alpha Companies, including Alpha Advisory Group and Alpha IR Group, bring deep sector expertise and senior-driven programs focused on clients most critical stakeholders. The firms work includes strategic investor relations consulting, corporate reputation advisory, stakeholder communications research, as well as transactions and special situations counsel. Alpha is the right choice to manage clients reputations, credibility, and ultimately, their corporate brand. The Alpha Companies are headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York, Boston, and Dallas. The Alpha Companies serve clients across all industries and through multiple inflection points in the business cycle. Additional information about Alpha IR and Alpha Advisory can be found at www.alphaadvgroup.com.

Contact: Dan Faust, Sales & Marketing AssociateAlpha Advisory Group, LLC(312) 445-2870

Source: Alpha IR Group
WASHINGTON, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Tuesday, April 11th, the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) launched an initiative to encourage more members of the veteran and more specifically special operations community to seek elected office. As a part of the initiative and to encourage transparency among veterans seeking elected office, the executive director, David Cook, and founder, Daniel Elkins, have released records of their military service, the DD214 forms.



The United States of America has a leadership problem, said founder of SOAA, Daniel Elkins. We can define leadership within a democratic republic in the simplest of terms as an elected official with a vision and responsibility to execute that vision. One demographic among the US is uniquely suited to lead the United States through an uncertain future: Veterans.

In the spirit of transparency, we call on all Veterans who are currently serving as elected officials, and those who we hope will be soon announcing their candidacy, to release their DD214 military service records, said executive director of SOAA, David Cook. It is our hope that by being transparent we will encourage openness, trust, and cooperation across political divides. As the Special Operations community, we are the tip of the spear and lead by example.

Learn more about the initiative at SOAA.org/veterans-public-office/

About Special Operations Association of America : We advocate for all past, present, and future members of the Special Operations community and their families. Fighting for those who fight for us to ensure the mission success and lethality of those that bear the greater burden. SOAA is a 501c19 Veterans Non-Profit organization, registered with the IRS.
Available in the App Store and Google Play, Thumzup Enables Virtually Everyone to Earn Cash Rewards for Posting on Social Media about the Brands They Love

Los Angeles, CA, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thumzup Media Corporation ("Thumzup" or the "Company") (OTCQB: TZUP) is excited to welcome Fat Tomato to its cash rewards digital social media branding platform.

The Thumzup mobile app, which is available for download in the App Store and Google Play, incentivizes virtually everyone to become social media advocates for the brands they enjoy by paying them cash for approved posts.

Were thrilled to welcome Fat Tomatos Marina Del Rey location to the Thumzup community, stated Robert Steele, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Thumzup. Thumzups users are now able to earn cash while enjoying Fat Tomatos pizzas made with fresh, local produce and top-of-the-line mozzarella cheese which is shredded fresh daily. Thumzup users have already made several posts about Fat Tomato and one of our users posted, this is the absolute best pizza Ive had in 10 years in California! We look forward to continuing our commitment to helping grow Fat Tomatos customer base and sales.

For more information, please visit https://www.thumzupmedia.com and https://www.gofattomato.com/

About Thumzup

Thumzup Media Corporation (Thumzup) is democratizing the multi-billion dollar social media branding and marketing industry. Its flagship product, the Thumzup platform, utilizes a robust programmatic advertiser dashboard coupled with a consumer-facing App to enable individuals to get paid cash for posting about participating advertisers on major social media outlets through the Thumzup App. The easy-to-use dashboard allows advertisers to programmatically customize their campaigns. Cash payments are made to App users/creators through Venmo and PayPal.

Thumzup is a publicly traded company (OTCQB stock ticker: TZUP). For more information, please visit https://www.thumzupmedia.com

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, without limitation, statements about its potential growth, impacts on the advertising industry, and planned expansion. These statements are identified by the use of the words "could," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "may," "continue," "predict," "potential," "project" and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact Info:800-403-6150[email protected]

Attachment

Thumzup Media Corporation Everyone to Earn Cash Rewards for Posting on Social Media

Source: Thumzup Media Corporation
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. (Tbird2") announced it has awarded an Aviation Scholarship to Matthew West, a Yavapai College (YC) student pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in Aerospace Science with a UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) Operator Concentration. Tbird2 is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of aviation in Scottsdale, Arizona, honoring all military veterans, creating unique educational opportunities for Arizona students studying all aspects of aviation, and supporting Dogs4Vets.

While attending Yavapai College, Mr. West has maintained an impressive GPA, is a current Honor Roll member, and is a lifetime member of Phi Theta Kappa. Matthew has developed numerous skills over the years. He obtained his commercial drone pilot license in 2021, which he uses in his part-time real estate photography services. He also worked for a number of years as a freefall photographer/videographer and Tandem Master Instructor. Plus, between his tandem and his individual jumps, he posted approximately 2,000 jumps. Mr. West also received Yavapai Colleges Career and Technical Education Centers Most Outstanding Student award.

Ashley Hust, Yavapai College Foundation, commented, Yavapai College and community colleges in general are the best places for people like Matthew to re-skill when they are ready to change or upgrade their careers. YC's Unmanned Aircraft Systems program is one of the most hands-on you'll find with real-world practical applications built into the coursework. I'm not surprised Matthew is already applying what he's learned to a real estate photography business even before he's graduated.

Rudy R. Miller, Chairman of Tbird2s Advisory Board and Scholarship Committee, remarked, Matthew West is an exceptional individual and the 20th Tbird2 Aviation Scholarship awardee. I would like to thank Yavapai College and its related foundation for the continued high standard of excellence. Also, they are one of only six Arizona aviation colleges that are approved by the Tbird2 Scholarship Committee.

Miller continued, I would also like to thank the Tbird2 Board of Directors, all participating colleges in our program, our corporate and individual donors, veterans support, the City of Scottsdale, and Scottsdale Airport (SDL) which has made our mission successful!

Stephen P. Ziomek, Chairman and President of Tbird2, stated, Matthew is a well-rounded and multi-talented individual who is deserving of this scholarship. His education, training, and efforts will serve him throughout his career.

About Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc.

Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2014 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. During World War II, an airfield named Thunderbird Field II was built for the sole purpose of training U.S. Army Air Corps pilots in 1942. Thunderbird Field II graduated over 5,500 men and women pilots, many of whom saw military action in Europe and the Pacific. The field and school were deactivated on October 16, 1944, sold to Arizona State Teachers College (ASU), then to the Arizona Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and finally to the City of Scottsdale in 1966 and is now known as Scottsdale Airport (SDL). Tbird2 has a permanent memorial at the entrance of the Scottsdale Airport, located at 15000 N. Airport Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, which includes a hanging Boeing-Stearman PT-17 and a historical display inside the facilities honoring the service of men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as POW-MIAs.

The Aviation Scholarship Program provides scholarships to veteran and non-veteran Arizona resident students who meet specific criteria and are attending Arizona State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Cochise College, Pima Community College, or Yavapai College. For more information, please visit www.tbird2.org.

Contacts: Contact: Stephen P. ZiomekChairman & President [email protected] 480.664.6604 Ashley HustMajor Gifts OfficerCorporate Giving & Academic AffairsYavapai College Foundation [email protected] 928.776.2034 Rudy R. MillerChairman, Advisory Board & Scholarship Committee [email protected] 602.225.0505

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3674528f-2430-4042-a16c-2c94bac0cc33https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af68ff35-394b-4047-8419-f8f4c5f081a1

Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. Aviation Scholarship Matthew West, Tbird2 Aviation Scholarship Recipient Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc. Left: Stephen P. Ziomek, Chairman & President, Tbird2Right: Rudy R. Miller, Chairman, Advisory Board & Scholarship Committee, Tbird2

Source: Thunderbird Field II Veterans Memorial, Inc.
Singapore, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On April 9, Singapore-based UXUY announced that it had successfully raised US $3.2M in seed round funding from investors including Bixin Ventures, WaterDrip Capital, KuCoin Ventures, Pionex, LK Ventures, Arcane Group, Daoverse Capital, Lapin Digital, etc..

UXUY is the next-gen MPC-based decentralized trading platform. Through the mnemonic-free and gas-free solutions, UXUY makes it easier for users to get started and conduct cross-chain transactions with a single click. The company plans to create a comprehensive stablecoin liquidity pool to provide users with a "stablecoin-centric trading environment and a CEX-like user experience. UXUY supports mainstream public chains, fully leverages the "wallet + transaction" and proactively participates in the building of the "Unclaimed" ecosystem.

Wang Xi, Partner of Bixin Ventures: "UXUY's funding team are serial entrepreneurs who have experienced a complete bull-bear market cycle, and have extraordinary knowledge and technical expertise for multi-chain ecology and cross-chain transactions. Bixin Venture looks forward to working with the team to accelerate the next disruptive Web 3.0 innovation. "

Jordan, Co-founder of UXUY: "We are excited to form strategic partnership with all our investors! Our mission, ultimately, is to build a decentralized Binance, and our vision is to build the entry portal for Web3 to welcome the mass adoption of 1 Billion users. "

UXUY is a Singapore-based startup founded by serial entrepreneurs and backed by industry leading VCs. UXUY is building the next-gen MPC-based decentralised trading platform and aims to provide the CEX-like user experience for global users.

Follow UXUY on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxuycom

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/uxuy

Telegram: t.me/uxuycom

Website: www.uxuy.com

Bixin Ventures:

Founded in 2017, Bixin Ventures is a Singapore's leading crypto fund backed by blockchain industry experts. Bixin has invested in renowned projects including Aptos, LayerZero, Gnosis Safe, arweave, Scroll and more.

WaterDrip Capital:

Waterdrip Capital was founded in 2017 by the most forward-thinking Chinese blockchain pioneers. It is an international investment institution focusing on blockchain industry.

KuCoin Ventures:

As the leading investment arm of KuCoin Exchange, KuCoin Ventures aims to invest in the most disruptive projects of the Web 3.0 era. As a community-friendly and research-driven investor, KuCoin Ventures works closely with portfolio projects throughout the entire life cycle, with a focus on DeFi, GameFi, and other Web3.0 infrastructures.

Pionex:

Founded in 2019, Pionex is world's leading cloud-based crypto trading bot that offers 24/7 automatic trading.

LK Ventures:

Founded in 2023 in Hong Kong and backed by blockchain industry experts, LK Venture focuses on the blockchain network layer (Layer0, Layer1, Layer2, etc.), infrastructure service layer and application layer and other Web3 frontier fields, continue to invest in and support Web3 technology innovation projects around the world.

Arcane Group:

Arcane Group is a global multi-stage venture capital firm backing next-generation entrepreneurs in Web3. Based in Singapore, it is a community of analysts, engineers, and collaborators across various blockchain verticals.

Daoverse Capital:

Daoverse Capital focuses on providing marketing and financial support to innovative technology projects that provide fundamental support to the web3 ecosystem. It also works on sponsoring blockchain events globally for increased awareness by also acting as a bridge between Web 3 and the traditional industry with the help of highly experienced team members from space.

Lapin Digital:

Lapin Digital is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in the web3 sector.

Contacts:

Company Name: UXUY Ltd.

Contact: Jordan L

Email: jordan-at-uxuy.com

Company Name: Bixin Ventures

Contact: Wang Xi

Email: invest-at-bixin.com

Company Name: Waterdrip Capital

Contact: Jademont Zheng

Email: contact-at-waterdrip.io

Company Name: KuCoin Ventures

Contact: Vincent Liu

Email: vincent.liu-at-flashdot.com

Company Name: Pionex

Contact: Christina Wu

Email:Christina-at-pionex.com

Company Name: LK Ventures

Contact: Fred Wang

Email: jane-at-consensus-lab.com

Company Name: Arcane Group

Contact: Evans Huangfu

Email: Evans.huangfu-at-arcanegroup.io

Company Name: Daoverse Capital

Contact: Adil Wali Khan

Email:info-at-daoverse.capital

Company Name: Lapin Digital

Contact: Alva Xu

Email: alvaxu-at-iobc.capital

Source: UXUY
Santa Clara, CA, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WSO2, the leader in digital transformation technology, today announced that Asanka Abeysinghe has been named chief technology officer (CTO). Asanka, who has held several technology leadership roles at WSO2 since 2008, most recently served as the companys chief technology evangelist. He brings more than two decades of experience in software architecture and development, helping organizations implement digital transformation programs that result in consumer-driven digital applications.

Thousands of organizations, including hundreds of the worlds largest corporations, top universities, and governments, rely on WSO2s cloud native software as a service (SaaS) offerings and open-source software to drive their digital transformationexecuting 60 trillion transactions and managing over 1 billion identities annually. Using WSO2 for application development, API management, integration, and identity and access management (IAM), these organizations are harnessing the full power of their APIs to securely deliver their business capabilities as digital experiences.

As CTO, Asanka will focus on driving WSO2s external architecture strategy, advising clients on digital transformation, and optimizing WSO2s open-source and SaaS platforms for customer satisfaction and value. In doing so, he will also expand on his existing contributions of the foundational concepts to the industry. These include the cell-based architecture approach applied to the Choreo SaaS application development suite and the digital double concept informing WSO2s Asgardeo SaaS for customer IAM (CIAM). Additionally, Asanka will take the lead in championing the companys vision along with WSO2s corporate reference methodology for development, customer success, and implementation. He is based in the WSO2 Santa Clara, CA office.

Asanka has played a pivotal role in advancing our platforms, educating the market, and serving as a trusted advisor for enterprises navigating their digital transformations, said Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana, WSO2 founder and CEO. As a thought leader on architectures for todays digital demands with deep connections to our customers, Asanka is strongly positioned to spearhead the evolution and adoption of our next-generation solutions. Its a genuine honor to have him serve as CTO."

At WSO2, were on a mission to simplify the creation of digital experiences for our customers as we expand our new generation of SaaS offerings and open-source software to help software development teams innovate faster, said Asanka Abeysinghe, WSO2 CTO. Just as we advise enterprises on delivering customer-centric digital applications, as CTO, my foremost priorities will include educating the market, channeling user feedback to product engineering, and delivering strategic advisory services to empower our customers with the essential foundation for success.

About Asanka AbeysingheAsanka brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as WSO2 CTO, including the design and implementation of highly scalable distributed systems, service-oriented and microservice architectures in the financial domain, mobile platforms, and various business integration solutions. He is a regular speaker at numerous global events and many tech meetups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Additionally, Asanka is a committer within the Apache Software Foundation and a member of the Forbes Technology Council. He also is a book author who publishes the Architect to Architect blog and regularly contributes to technology industry publications.

Asanka joined WSO2 in 2008 as an architect before becoming the director and then vice president of solutions architecture. In 2018, Asanka joined the CTO office and served as a vice president of architecture and deputy CTO before becoming chief technology evangelist in 2020. Prior to WSO2, Asanka held several technology and management roles in product engineering companies. He has a BSc in MIS from the National University of Ireland.

About WSO2Founded in 2005, WSO2 enables thousands of enterprises, including hundreds of the worlds largest corporations, top universities, and governments, to drive their digital transformation journeysexecuting more than 60 trillion transactions and managing over 1 billion identities annually. Using WSO2 for API management, integration, and customer identity and access management (CIAM), these organizations are harnessing the full power of their APIs to securely deliver their digital services and applications. Our open-source, API-first approach to software that runs on-premises and in the cloud helps developers and architects to be more productive and rapidly compose digital products to meet demand while remaining free from vendor lock-in. WSO2 has over 900 employees worldwide with offices in Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK, and the US. Visit https://wso2.com to learn more. Follow WSO2 on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

Zaithoon Bin Ahamed WSO2 Head of Corporate Communications [email protected]

Source: WSO2, Inc.
FILE PHOTO: A smartphone with a displayed TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

(Reuters) - Warren Buffett called geopolitical tensions "a consideration" in Berkshire Hathaway Inc's decision to sell most of its stake in Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC just a few months after buying it, Nikkei reported on Tuesday.

Berkshire had bought more than $4.1 billion of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co's shares between July and September 2022, but in February said it had sold 86% of its stake by year-end.

The size of the investment suggested that Buffett, rather than one of his Berkshire portfolio managers, had bought the shares for Berkshire, and the sale was unexpected given the billionaire's preference to invest for the long-term.

In an interview with Nikkei, Buffett described TSMC as a well-managed company, but said Berkshire had better places to deploy capital.

Buffett was in Japan to meet with five Japanese trading houses in which Berkshire invests.

China claims Taiwan as its own, a claim Taiwan rejects. Tensions over the democratically governed island have been rising, particularly when Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week.

Berkshire owns several dozen businesses including the BNSF railroad and Geico car insurance. It also invests in dozens of stocks, including iPhone maker Apple Inc, which Buffett views more as a consumer company than a technology company.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
San Diego, CA - (NewMediaWire) - April 11, 2023 - Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: SIGY) (Sigyn Therapeutics or the Company), a development-stage company focused on the creation of blood purification technologies that address unmet needs in global health, today announces the appointment of Annette Marleau, Ph.D. as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) effective immediately.

Dr. Marleau is a recognized thought leader in the development of therapeutic blood purification technologies to address cancer. Prior to joining Sigyn Therapeutics, Dr. Marleau was Chief Technology Officer at Immunicom, Inc., where she led R&D endeavors to establish blood purification candidates to treat cancer. She also served as Director of Research at Aethlon Medical, Inc., where she oversaw preclinical programs that facilitated the first-in-human clinical investigation of the Aethlon Hemopurifier as an adjunct therapy to enhance the benefit of pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immuno-oncology drug approved by FDA to treat cancer.

Dr. Marleau has been awarded more than $6 million in NIH grants and contracts to serve as Principal Investigator of pre-clinical and clinical programs to advance blood purification technologies. Additionally, she has co-authored two FDA-cleared Investigational Device Exemptions, co-authored a regulatory submission that resulted in an FDA Breakthrough Device award, and is an inventor on pending and issued patents underlying blood purification therapies targeting cancer, inflammatory disorders, and life-threatening infectious diseases.

Dr. Marleau completed a fellowship in immunology at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. She is a graduate of Western University (PhD), Ontario Veterinary College at University of Guelph (Master of Science), and University of Waterloo (Bachelor of Science) in Canada.

About Sigyn Therapeutics

Sigyn Therapeutics is a development-stage company focused on the creation of therapeutic solutions that address unmet needs in global health. Sigyn Therapy, the Companys lead product candidate, is a broad-spectrum blood purification technology designed to treat pathogen-associated inflammatory disorders that are not addressed with approved drug therapies.

Candidate treatment indications for Sigyn Therapy include endotoxemia and concurrent inflammation in end-stage renal disease patients, sepsis (leading cause of hospital deaths), community acquired pneumonia (a leading cause of death among infectious diseases), and emerging pandemic threats.

The Companys development pipeline includes a cancer treatment system comprised of ChemoPrep to enhance the delivery of FDA approved chemotherapeutic agents and ChemoPure to reduce chemotherapy toxicity. To learn more about Sigyn Therapeutics, visit: www.SigynTherapeutics.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This information in this press release contains forward-looking statements of Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc. (Sigyn) that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this summary are 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 that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements containing words such as "may," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will," "projections," "estimate," "potentially" or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Sigyn's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Factors that may contribute to such differences may include, without limitation, the Company's ability to clinically advance Sigyn Therapy in human studies required for market clearance, the Company's ability to manufacture Sigyn Therapy, the Company's ability to raise capital resources, and other potential risks. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is illustrative but is not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements contained in this report speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not intend, nor does it undertake any duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.

Contacts:

Jim Joyce

Chairman, CEO

Phone/Text: 619.368.2000

Email: [email protected]

View the original release on www.newmediawire.com
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Billy 4 Kids Foundation announces Bill Lerner's wife, Ambassador Marcella De Martin, has reached out to children in Belize, Jamaica, and Honduras.

Marcella De Martin has worked to bring the organization's message of hope and support to children in Belize, Jamaica, and Honduras. Representatives of the charity recently visited each country in order to meet with local partners and understand the unique needs of each region. These missions have highlighted how each country is struggling to meet the needs of its children and have showcased the impact of the foundation's work.





Billy Lerner's wife Marcella de Martin

In Belize, the foundation visited a school and spoke to the students about the importance of education. Members of the community were met to discuss the importance of giving back and supporting children in need. In Jamaica, De Martin initiated a visit to a children's hospital where she was inspired by the resilience of the children and the courage of their families.





Photo of children receiving shoes from the Billy 4 Kids foundation.

Lastly, in Honduras De Martin was responsible for a visit to a home for children where the foundation has had an immense impact on the lives of children. From meeting with local partners, to speaking with the children, Billy 4 Kids made a huge effort to make a difference in the lives of these children.





Photo of a member of the Billy 4 Kids foundation meeting with the children.

Through their commitment to providing resources and support, the foundation is creating a brighter future for children in need. Although the foundation's work is focused on providing immediate relief, it also looks to create lasting change. The foundation is currently working with local partners to develop long-term solutions. By providing children with the tools and resources needed to succeed, the foundation is helping to create a brighter future for children in need. The Billy 4 Kids Foundation's mission is to bring joy and hope to children in underserved communities around the world. Through their commitment to providing resources and support to local partners, the foundation is taking a stand for children in need.

The Billy 4 Kids Foundation's mission is to bring joy, hope and safe footwear to children in underserved communities around the world. Through their commitment to providing resources and support to local partners, the foundation is taking a stand for children in need. Marcella De Martin, Billy Lerner's wife, the organization's global outreach and development coordinator, has taken the foundation's mission to heart.

Click here for more about Billy 4 Kids.

Published in partnership with Billy 4 Kids Inc.

Contact: Alexson Roy

Email: [email protected] https://billy4kids.org/ 1-855-472-7569

SOURCE Billy4Kids Inc.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162014
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday chose an ex-National Security Council communications official to be the next spokesman for the State Department.

In a statement, Blinken announced that Matthew Miller will assume the role as the daily face of American foreign policy from the State Department podium at the end of April.

Miller is a longtime fixture in Democratic political circles and served as the chief spokesman for former Attorney General Eric Holder during the Obama administration. He has also worked closely with Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the current chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

After President Joe Biden was elected, Miller worked on the incoming administrations transition team, including helping to shepherd Blinken's nomination to be America's top diplomat in the Senate.

He then took a temporary post at the NSC last year to coordinate US messaging after Russias invasion of Ukraine.

I benefitted greatly from Matts wisdom, his experience in government, and his deep understanding of foreign policy when he was tapped to head up my nomination, Blinken said.

Matt is no stranger to navigating and communicating on complex, global challenges like those we face today, Blinken said. I am grateful to Matt for once again agreeing to serve his country, and look forward to once again benefitting from his counsel and expertise.

Its an honor to re-join the administration and especially to have the opportunity to work with the first-class team at the State Department, Miller told The Associated Press. Im looking forward to hitting the ground running.

Miller replaces Ned Price, another former Obama administration NSC official and an ex-CIA analyst, who served as Blinkens top spokesman until last month. Price will move into a more policy-oriented State Department position reporting directly to Blinken early next month.

Vedant Patel, Price's deputy who had been serving as acting State Department spokesman, will remain as Miller's No. 2

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Hampton, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - The introduction of the innovative platform, Business Partnership Match Inc (BP Match), is poised to change the way business buyers, sellers, and partners connect with one another. Developed with the primary goal of streamlining and enhancing business networking, BP Match presents a secure and confidential community tailored for business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs. The platform is designed to assist users in discovering the ideal business partner or investment opportunity, providing a safe space for networking, acquisition exploration, partnership establishment, and the identification of specific opportunities catering to user preferences.

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for the creation of BP Match, as it highlighted the economic struggle faced by businesses worldwide. The platform's primary objective is to foster business growth, inspire entrepreneurship, and help corporations seeking scalability but lacking expertise to find suitable partners.





Figure 1



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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BP Match operates on a subscription-based model, while offering complimentary subscriptions to non-profit organizations. The platform aims to establish a secure and confidential networking community for business owners to explore partnerships and ownership, emphasizing positivity and providing a haven for users to collaborate with the business community across states and eventually the world. A rating system will be implemented, allowing users to gauge the success and trustworthiness of those they network with on the platform.

One of BP Match's standout features is its ability to facilitate businesses of all sizes in aligning with their skill sets and industry within a safe community. Additionally, the platform offers consulting services, contract reviews, contract creation, and deal assistance to parties engaging on the platform.

BP Match's initial strategy involves launching in major metropolitan areas such as Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington DC, and other major cities within the United States. The company's focus will then expand to cover the entire US and eventually the globe.

The mission of BP Match is to become an industry leader in locating business partner matches. The platform specializes in identifying and matching businesses with similar goals and objectives, streamlining the process of finding a business partner. BP Match has already amassed a considerable repository of businesses seeking partners.

A key advantage of BP Match is its online, confidential environment, which allows businesses to collaborate without worrying about employee job security. This prevents potential discord between business owners and existing employees. The platform facilitates virtual face-to-face interviews and secure messaging, enabling users to communicate safely and confidentially. BP Match also provides resources for closing deals, including assistance with accounting and legal requirements for ownership transfers, as well as thorough evaluations of registered businesses.





Figure 2



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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BP Match is dedicated to making the search process more efficient and productive for all parties involved. Businesses seeking partners can search through BP Match's extensive database of businesses seeking partners to find a partner or buy a business.

The platform's goal is to reach over 100,000 subscribers by the end of 2023. With its innovative features and high-quality services, BP Match presents a unique opportunity for businesses to find the right partnership or investment opportunity. Moreover, it helps struggling business owners identify opportunities to bring in a business partner. By partnering with existing businesses, companies can leverage the expertise and experience of others to form mutually beneficial ventures.

In recent years, there has been a surge in the number of entrepreneurs and small businesses, with many individuals looking to capitalize on unique business opportunities. This growth has created a need for a platform that can efficiently connect like-minded business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs. BP Match is designed to fill this gap in the market, using advanced algorithms and user data to match businesses with the most suitable partners or investment opportunities.

One of the critical factors contributing to the success of BP Match is its emphasis on user privacy and security. In today's increasingly connected world, safeguarding user information and maintaining confidentiality are of paramount importance. BP Match has implemented robust security measures and privacy policies to ensure that users can network and explore opportunities with peace of mind. This focus on privacy extends to the platform's communication features, which include secure messaging and virtual face-to-face interviews that allow users to engage with one another safely and confidentially.

Another crucial aspect of BP Match is its commitment to providing educational resources and support services to its users. The platform offers a wealth of information and guidance on various aspects of business partnerships, acquisitions, and investments. This includes industry insights, legal advice, financial planning, and more, all aimed at empowering users to make informed decisions and maximize their chances of success.

The platform also features a comprehensive onboarding process for new users, designed to ensure they can effectively navigate the platform and make the most of its features. This process includes the creation of detailed user profiles, which highlight essential information such as business goals, financial resources, industry experience, and more. These profiles are then used by BP Match's algorithms to identify the most compatible matches for each user.

As the platform grows and evolves, BP Match plans to introduce additional features and services to further enhance the user experience. These potential future developments include the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve matchmaking accuracy, the introduction of virtual networking events and workshops, and the expansion of the platform's educational resources to cover a broader range of topics and industries.

BP Match also recognizes the importance of fostering a positive and supportive community. To this end, the platform encourages users to provide feedback on their experiences and actively contribute to the ongoing improvement and growth of the platform. This emphasis on collaboration and continuous improvement is a key factor in BP Match's commitment to providing the best possible service to its users.

Business Partnership Match Inc (BP Match) is hoping to transform the way business buyers, sellers, and partners connect with one another. BP Match's mission is to become an industry leader in locating business partner matches, with a goal of reaching over 100,000 subscribers by the end of 2023.

Press Contact Information:

Contact - Leon Sankofa

[email protected]

757-380-0385

Website - https://bpmatch.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162015
Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to report that its option partner Tocvan Ventures (CSE: TOC) has announced high-percentage recoverable gold and silver at its bulk sample testing at the Pilar Gold and Silver Project at the Pilar Project in Sonra, Mexico.

Tocvan is in year 4 of a 5-year agreement to earn an initial 51% of Colibri's Pilar Gold & Silver Project. For full details of Colibri's agreement with Tocvan please see the Company's news release dated September 24th, 2019 .

Tocvan News Release: (April 11th, 2023):

Brodie Sutherland, P.Geo of Tocvan reports:

Tocvan Diagnostic Leach Study Reports High Percentage of Recoverable Gold and Silver

Highlights

Diagnostic Leach Study Reports High-Percentage of Recoverable Gold and Silver (Au: 95 to 99%; Ag: 73 to 97%)

Head Screen Assays Report High-Grade Gold and Silver (2.7 to 24.9 g/t Au and 8.8 to 74.2 g/t Ag)

Gravity Concentrate Assays for Gold and Silver range from 35.6 to 290.3 g/t Au and 53 to 1,152 g/t Ag

Majority of Gold and Silver can be Recovered with Gravity Concentration and Agitated Cyanide Leach

Drill core sample indicates same recovery potential at depth (150m down hole) as at surface.

Calgary, Alberta - April 11, 2023 - Tocvan Ventures Corp. (CSE: TOC) (OTCQB: TCVNF) (FSE: TV3) (the "Company"), is pleased to provide the results of a Precious Metal Diagnostic Leach Study from its Pilar Gold-Silver Project in Sonora, Mexico. Five composite samples were collected for the study; three Main Zone surface channel composites (samples 494741, 494743 and 494745); one 4-T surface channel composite (sample 494747); and one drill core coarse reject composite (sample 494749) from drill hole JES-22-62 at 150-meter downhole depth, 125-meters from surface (108.6m of 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.5m of 7.6 g/t Au). Table 1 summarizes the findings of the report and highlights the total recoverable amount of gold and silver possible by gravity concentration followed by agitated cyanide leach of the gravity tails. Precious metal characterization for each sample is summarized in Table 2, highlighted by a large percentage of free gold and silver with the remaining portion predominantly "exposed but attached", indicating a large percentage of the gold and silver can be recovered. The study was completed by independent and ISO certified, metallurgical lab LTM, a full report of the study is available on the Company's website.

"These results far surpass our expectations and provide us with new insight on the optimization of gold and silver recovery at Pilar" stated Brodie Sutherland, CEO. "To have such a large percentage of the gold and silver free and accessible for multiple recovery methods allows us to evaluate the most efficient ways to develop the project. This is a huge checkmark for the project and an excellent indicator to the industry that Pilar can be developed. We look forward to further evaluating the bulk sample data in the coming months."

Sample ID Location Head Screen Assay Gravity Concentrate Assay Total Recoverable by Gravity and Agitated Cyanide Leach Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (%) Ag (%) 494741 Main Zone (Surface) 6.2 23 76.2 237 95 78 494743 Main Zone (Surface) 8.2 68 117.0 1152 98 97 494745 Main Zone (Surface) 2.7 9 35.6 82 97 90 494747 4-T (Surface) 20.4 74 290.3 568 98 85 494749 Main Zone (Drill Core) 24.9 9 231.1 53 99 73



Table 1. Summary of Results from the Precious Metals Diagnostic Leach Study completed by LTM.





Table 2. Precious Metal Characterization Summary.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Photo 1.Leach Pad Liner set into place prior to stacking of material.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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About the Bulk Sample

Over 1,400 tonnes of oxide-gold material have been extracted from select areas exposed at surface across the project area, focusing on the Main Zone and 4-T Trends where preliminary column leach studies have returned promising head-grade and recovery results. Bulk Sample material will be prepared for processing by heap-leach method at a private mining operation less than 25 kilometers to the west of Pilar. Information from the sample will aim to provide a more detailed account of expected head-grade and recovery percentage of gold along with providing key information to optimize future production facilities. The information provided from the sample will be used for planning in coordination for permitting of full-scale mine and process facilities on-site at Pilar.

Brodie A. Sutherland, P.Geo., CEO for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION:

Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring and exploring prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company holds six highly prospective precious metal projects of which five have planned exploration programs for calendar 2023.

For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

For information contact: Ronald J. Goguen, President, Chairperson and Director, Tel: (506) 383-4274, [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161983
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - Le 11 avril/April 2023) - Effective immediately, Silo Wellness Inc. will be reinstated for trading.

The Company has rectified the situation that gave rise to the suspension.

_________________________________

Avec effet immdiat, Silo Wellness Inc. sera reintegre aux fins de negociation.

La Societe a rectifie la situation ayant donne lieu a la suspension.

Date : Le 11 avril/April 2023 Symbol(s)/Symbole(s) : SILO

If you have any questions or require further information please contact Listings at (416) 367-7340 or E-mail: [email protected].

Si vous avez des questions ou si vous avez besoin d'informations supplementaires, veuillez contacter le service des inscriptions au 416 367-7340 ou par courriel ladresse: [email protected].
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Discovery Group is pleased to announce that Defense Metals Corp. (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB:DFMTF) (FSE:35D) has joined the group's alliance of public companies, led by Mr. John Robins and Mr. Jim Paterson. Defense Metals is an exploration company focused on the advancement of the Wicheeda REE Property and the acquisition of mineral deposits containing rare earth elements.

John Robins, Co-Founder and Principal of Discovery Group, commented: "We are excited to welcome Defense Metals, along with their newest addition to the Board of Directors, Dale Wallster, into Discovery Group. 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."

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 ([email protected]%) 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".

Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, commented: "The Company is pleased to have joined Discovery Group, and we look forward to a close working relationship with the team at Discovery Group. We are also pleased to welcome Dale Wallster to the Board. Mr. Wallster is a prospector and geologist with over 40 years' experience in North American mineral deposit exploration. He brings a wealth of mineral exploration and capital markets knowledge to Defense Metals and we look forward to working with him as we continue to advance the Wicheeda Rare Earth Elements project."

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 notable recent successes being the sale of Great Bear Royalties to Royal Gold Inc., the sale of Great Bear Resources Ltd. to Kinross Gold Corporation, the sale of Northern Empire Resources to Coeur Mining, and the sale of Kaminak Gold to Goldcorp.

Current Discovery Group member companies include: Elemental Altus Royalties, Fireweed Metals, Gold Basin Resources, Kodiak Copper, K2 Gold, Prospector Metals, and ValOre Metals.

For more information on Discovery Group, please visit www.discoverygroup.ca or contact 604-646-4527.

On Behalf of Discovery Group Principals,

"Rita Bennett"

President

Discovery Group

1Independent 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).

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161780
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces it has closed the second and final tranche of a non-brokered private placement announced April 4, 2023, by issuing 5,093,704 units (each a "Unit") at CAD$0.27 per Unit for gross proceeds of CAD$1,375,300 (the "Offering"). Each Unit entitles the holder to receive one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one-half of one (1/2) transferable Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one (1) Common Share at CAD$0.50 until April 11, 2025. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid finders' fees of CAD$16,524, equal to 6% of the total proceeds raised by eligible finders, and issued 61,200 finder warrants (each, a "Finder Warrant"), equal to 6% of the number of Units sold by eligible finders. The Finder Warrants are exercisable at CAD$0.50 until April 11, 2025. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general working capital purposes. All securities issued under the Offering, including securities issuable on exercise thereof, are subject to a hold period expiring August 12, 2023, in accordance with the rules and policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable Canadian securities laws, except for those issued to investors in foreign jurisdictions.

About Kuya Silver Corporation

Kuya Silver is a Canadianbased mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada.

For more information, please contact:

David Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (604) 3984493

[email protected]

www.kuyasilver.com

Reader Advisory

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favourable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, the proposed use of the proceeds of the Offering, is forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS.



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162059
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Millennial Potash Corp. (TSXV: MLP) ("MLP" "Millennial" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update regarding exploration activities at its Banio Potash Project in Gabon. The Company has made significant progress in its mobilization program including rehabilitation of the exploration camp with modern communications, initiating construction of the access road to planned drillhole BA-004, prepping and upgrading rotary drill rig equipment on site, initiating seismic re-interpretation studies, and resampling previous drillholes.

Farhad Abasov, Millennial's Chair, commented, "We are pleased with the excellent progress at our Banio Potash Project in Gabon. The camp is now up and running, complete with power, tent accommodations for 30 people, catering, medical facilities, and satellite communications. Preparations for drilling are advancing and we hope to be drilling the upper part of hole BA-004 shortly. Sample pulps from previous drilling are undergoing re-analysis and are expected to confirm the KCl content and the presence of carnallite and sylvite seams providing reliable data that may be utilized in any future mineral resource estimates. Similarly, the seismic data re-interpretation is underway, and we have initiated our ESG program for the project. We look forward to the arrival of the core rig at the project and to delineating additional potash horizons at the north end of the property."

Camp rehabilitation is complete with new tent accommodation and container office and catering and medical services in place. Satellite communications with internet capabilities have also been established and power facilities are up and running.

Initial field activities include clearing a 4km historic road to the new drill site for BA-004. This work is ongoing. The rotary drill rig on site is undergoing servicing and preparation for drilling. Upon completion this rig will move to the site for BA-004 to drill the upper sedimentary units to the top of the salt sequence, estimated at a depth of approximately 320m. This hole will be extended to 700m with PQ core upon arrival of the new core drill rig. The new core drill rig is enroute to the project having disembarked in Gabon from Europe in early April. Estimated arrival of the new core drill rig at the project is late April-early May.

For assistance with its ESG initiatives at Banio the Company has engaged consulting group ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability). ESS has extensive experience in West Africa including Gabon and will assist with preparation of our Health, Environmental and Social Management Plans, with planning environmental baseline studies, preparation of environmental impact statements and communication with local authorities to ensure compliance with Gabon regulations, and international best practices. In addition, ESS will assist the Company with its community outreach programs and consultations with all stakeholders in the region.

Millennial has engaged Ercosplan Ingenieurgesellschaft to assist with the planning of the current exploration programme including the resampling of the historic drillholes on the project to confirm potash intervals. Millennial was able to source and secure the sample pulps from the previous drillholes (2017-2018 drill program) on the project from ALS Global, and Ercosplan has confirmed the pulps are well preserved and acceptable for re-analysis. Approximately 450 samples will be analyzed, and results will be available for a maiden mineral resource estimate planned for later this year.

Additional review of historic data from the project is ongoing. The data from seismic surveys acquired by French oil and gas company Maurel and Prom in 2011-2012 is currently being reviewed by Geo People, a geophysical consultancy based in the UK with extensive experience in Gabon, to confirm the basic geology of the Gabon Basin evaporite sequence. Geophysical survey data consist of approx. 275km of 2D seismic lines and re-interpretation of this data will assist with planning of new drillholes and will allow correlation of the evaporite stratigraphy, and possibly carnallite seams, between drillholes.

This news release has been reviewed by Peter J. MacLean, Ph.D., P. Geo, Director of the Company and a Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101.

To find out more about Millennial Potash Corp. please contact Investor Relations at (604) 662-8184 or email at [email protected].

MILLENNIAL POTASH CORP.

"Farhad Abasov"

Chair of the Board of Directors

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 document may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan" or "planned", "forecast", "intend", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental, local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, changes in laws, rules and regulations in Gabon or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or CFA or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for potash or potash related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in Gabon or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information. The Company's current plans, expectations and intentions with respect to development of its business and of the Banio Potash Project may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of any pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions on its ability to secure further financing or funding of the Banio Potash Project. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161569
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Florida-based cybersecurity company, RO Systems International, has announced the launch of the company's advanced solutions for digital transformation, with a particular focus on offering solutions for companies facing increased cybersecurity risks due to remote work. As remote work continues to increase, companies are exposed to never-before-seen cybersecurity risks, making it crucial to take proactive steps to protect networks and confidential data against security breaches.

RO Systems International, founded by certified ethical hacker and expert in information security, Ramon Ortiz, offers a range of cybersecurity and data protection services, including vulnerability assessments, security audits, risk assessments, and customized security plans. The company is committed to providing quality and excellence in the application of advanced technologies, including new technologies and blockchain.

The company focuses on the importance of network and data security, which are essential to protect confidential information and ensure business continuity. The team of qualified experts is dedicated to helping businesses navigate the complex world of cybersecurity and protect companies against security risks.

RO Systems International is also dedicated to researching, developing, and innovating new ways and tools to make the company's services of excellence with a quality seal. The company's certifications and advanced knowledge allow the company to offer the best possible advice, offering better control of business operations.

With the launch of the company's new services, RO Systems International is now a first option for companies looking for efficient and innovative solutions. The company's technology experts are here to help businesses take operations to the next level.

About the Company - RO Systems International

RO Systems International is a leading provider of technology solutions, with a focus on innovation and excellence. The company is committed to providing sustainable, long-term solutions that meet the needs of customers across a range of industries. With a team of highly qualified experts and a dedication to quality and excellence, RO Systems International is a premier provider of technology solutions worldwide.

For more information about RO Systems International and the new range of advanced services, potential clients can visit the following website: https://rosystemsint.com/.

Media Details:

Company Name: RO SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL

Address: 701 BRICKELL AVE, MIAMI, FL 33131, USA

Contact Email Address: [email protected]

Contact Phone Number: +1 (305) 521-9427

Contact Person's name: Ramon Ortiz

Website: https://rosystemsint.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161975
SLP Neuro Care PLLC is now providing therapy designed to help adults regain their communication competency. The therapy is based on cognitive-linguistic principles that have been proven to be effective in developing communication skills.

Southlake, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - SLP Neuro Care PLLC is excited to announce the launch of their cutting-edge therapies and programs that promote the development of cognitive-linguistic-based skills for effective communication in career, academic, and social interactions. Regaining communication competency is now possible with SLP Neuro Care PLLC.





SLP Neuro Care PLLC on the cutting edge in Communication Competency

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/161953_95aeb88e049b9b40_001full.jpg

Communication is the cornerstone of all human interactions. Whether it's interactions in career, academic or personal life, being able to effectively communicate ideas is crucial. Unfortunately, many adults struggle with communication due to a variety of reasons. This is where SLP Neuro Care PLLC comes in.

SLP Neuro Care PLLC is an outpatient practice in Southlake TX that specializes in treating patients with neurological disorders that affect communication. They offer a wide range of services, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of communication disorders caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological conditions.

At SLP Neuro Care PLLC, therapy is based on cognitive-linguistic principles that have been proven to be effective in developing communication skills. The therapy includes a range of exercises and activities that are designed to help individuals develop their language skills in a fun and engaging way, making it easier for individuals to stay motivated and committed to therapy.

"Regaining communication competency is possible," says Nancy Wariari, the founder of SLP Neuro Care PLLC. "Our therapy is designed to help adults and their families develop the skills they need to communicate effectively in all areas of their life. Whether it's in their career, academic or personal life, our therapy is designed to help individuals communicate more effectively."

One of the things that set SLP Neuro Care PLLC apart is their commitment to staying on the cutting edge of the latest research and technology in the field of neurogenic communication disorders. They use evidence-based practices and innovative techniques to help their patients achieve their communication goals.

"We understand the importance of being able to understand and use language effectively," says Nancy Wariari. "Developing these skills is essential for competent communication, and that's what our therapy is designed to do."

If someone is struggling with communication, then SLP Neuro Care PLLC may be the solution. Don't let communication difficulties hold anyone back any longer. Contact SLP Neuro Care PLLC today.

Contact Info:

Name: Nancy Wariari

Email: [email protected]

Organization: SLP Neuro Care, PLLC

Address: 1560 E Southlake Blvd Suite 100, Southlake, Texas 76092, United States

Phone: +1-817-888-8721

Website: http://www.slpneurocare.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161953
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

National School Chaplain Association has launched an information campaign about the importance of chaplaincy for school safety.



The National School Chaplain Association (NSCA) recently announced its U.S. campaign to provide school chaplains, citing Texas as a national leader in school safety because of the courageous actions of its legislators to protect public school teachers and students. For example, Texas Senator Mayes Middleton filed bill SB763, and Texas Representative Cole Hefner filed the companion bill HB3614, funding chaplains for public schools to lower school violence. In addition, Texas education leaders encourage other states and school districts to follow their lead by employing chaplains to help keep students safe.

More information is available at https://nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org

The launch of NSCA's new campaign coincides with a report by the U.S. Department of Education on the prevalence of school violence, which includes shootings, fighting, bullying, and physical assault. According to the report, the majority of students have experienced at least one incident of violence while they were in school. In addition, most victims say it has negatively impacted their mental health and made them consider dropping out or moving to another school. The NSCA's chaplains help these students by giving them a solid spiritual foundation and a safe space to express their pain and frustrations.

The NSCA explains that school violence often starts with students experiencing intense psychological or emotional pain. Then, without support at home, kids let these frustrations out through destructive behavior like disobedience, physical violence, disrespect for authority, and vices.

The association believes spiritual care has long been absent from the school system. As a result, students are often left alone to navigate complex emotions without support from trusted adults or authority figures.

"Children are lost, left to figure out complex issues alone. It's why the suicide rate, mental illness, drug use, and other destructive behaviors are at an all-time high. Yet, when chaplains enter a school, they share peace, strength, love, and hope. They provide students with the spiritual care they need to overcome tragedies and hardships to fulfill their dreams and destiny," founder and CEO Rocky Malloy says.

NSCA's chaplains are trained to deal with issues affecting the youth and school safety issues like Personality Risk Assessment and Active Shooter. In addition, chaplains help students of all faiths to discover their purpose and destiny, empowering them to make quality life choices. Chaplains are also resource officers able to assist students with humanitarian needs.

Additional details can be found at https://nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org

Contact Info:

Name: Rocky Malloy

Email: Send Email

Organization: National School Chaplain Association

Address: PO Box 720746, Norman, OK 73070, United States

Website: https://nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org/



Release ID: 89092908

If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours.
Madison, WI takes the top spot, followed by Minneapolis, MN ; Seattle, WA ; and Atlanta, GA

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Class of 2023 gets ready to celebrate their graduation, many new college grads are contemplating their first post-collegiate move. To help, ApartmentAdvisor.com (www.apartmentadvisor.com), the apartment search platform, today released its 2023 Best Cities for College Grads List, highlighting cities that offer the perfect combination of opportunity, affordability, and fun. The list ranks U.S. cities based on a range of economic and desirability data, including rent affordability, employment opportunities and access to nightlife among other indicators.

ApartmentAdvisor reveals its Best Cities for College Grads List for 2023

Topping the list this year is Madison, WI , noted for perks like affordable rent prices, abundant late-night haunts, and a high percentage people in their 20s, plus the added benefits of a major city  employment opportunities, exciting dining and bar options, and art and culture. Minneapolis, MN , came in at #2 on this year's list, followed by Seattle WA at #3, and Atlanta, GA at #4. More information about all top ten cities as well as the full ranked list can be found here.

2023 Top 10 Best Cities for Recent College Graduates

Madison, WI Minneapolis, MN Seattle, WA Atlanta, GA Salt Lake City, UT Pittsburgh, PA Denver, CO Austin, TX Washington, DC St. Louis, MO

Resources for First-time Renters

New grads looking for their first apartment in any of these cities can use ApartmentAdvisor to search for their perfect place. The site analyzes and rates thousands of available apartment listings every day, then ranks renters' search results according to which offer the best deals. Renters will also find helpful resources for new renters, including resources for preparing to rent your first apartment in our blog, The Key; plus our comprehensive neighborhood guides, rent calculator, and rent price reports updated daily for most large US cities.

Methodology

For this year's Best Cities for College Grads list, ApartmentAdvisor analyzed more than 80 of the largest cities in the U.S. , deriving an Economic Score based on unemployment rates, average incomes, rent-to-income ratios, education levels, and cost-of-living; and a Desirability Score based on size of young adult population, mobility options, and local nightlife options per capita. The Economic and Desirability scores were averaged to determine the total score, with the lowest score being most desirable. The full methodology, including all data sources, can be found in the report.

About ApartmentAdvisor:

ApartmentAdvisor (www.apartmentadvisor.com) is a go-to destination for renters looking to find and rent their perfect apartment. Combining rigorous rent price analytics and neighborhood insights, ApartmentAdvisor gives renters an easier way to compare prices, features, and locations of available apartments to find the right place. ApartmentAdvisor was founded in 2020 by the same innovators that started Tripadvisor and CarGurus, including Langley Steinert (co-founder of Tripadvisor and founder and executive chairman at CarGurus) and Oliver Chrzan (former chief technology officer at CarGurus).

Contact:

Amy Mueller

[email protected]

617-216-2900

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apartmentadvisor-reveals-2023-list-of-best-cities-for-college-grads-301794551.html

SOURCE ApartmentAdvisor
The Dubai-based National Paints Holding (NPH) has raised its offer to acquire the Paint and Chemicals Industries (Pachin) by EGP 2.05 per share to EGP 39.8, according to a statement released by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) on Monday.

The new NPH offer exceeds the EGP 39 offer made by the Cairo-based Eagle Chemicals Groups in early April to acquire the company.

The offer raises the total value of an acquisition of all of Pachins 24 million issued capital shares to EGP 955.2 million, with a minimum execution rate of 75 percent.

This offer will be valid till 24 April, the FRA revealed.

The Egyptian government, which owns 55 percent of shares in Pachin, offered the company on the market as part of its plan to sell its stakes in 32 companies by the end of March 2024.

On Sunday, Ayman Soliman, the CEO of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE), revealed that the government has received purchase offers for shares in the state-owned National Company for Producing and Bottling Water (Safi) and Wataniya Petroleum Company.

Under the $3 billion loan deal signed with the IMF late last year, Egypt has committed to generate $2 to $2.5 billion in revenue to fund budget deficits by selling stakes in state-owned assets.

* $1=EGP30.95 for selling according to the Central Bank of Egypt official exchange trade.

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Held at KINTEX Exhibition Center 1 from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 9 th

Approximately 510,000 visitors during the 10-day event - 104% increase compared with 2021

Participants included as many as 163 business entities and institutions from 12 countries worldwide including hardware, software, and service companies.

Scope of participation expanded to the overall mobility industry including robotics and air mobility, with approximately 90 types of vehicles exhibited

The 2nd Seoul Mobility Awards' Grand Prize presented to SOS Lab's "Solid State 3D Lidar"

GOYANG, South Korea , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Seoul Mobility Show 2023 closed on Sunday, April 9 after highlighting its evolution to a full-scale convergence exhibition with the theme of mobility. This event is the largest mobility industry exhibition in Korea and was held at KINTEX Exhibition Center 1 in Goyang from March 31 st to April 9 th.

As many as 163 companies and institutions from 12 countries around the world participated in three categories: hardware, software, and service. This was an increase of more than 60 percent compared with 2021.

"The Korean mobility industry still needs support, and so does the Seoul Mobility Show," said Kang, NamHoon, the chairman of the Seoul Mobility Show Organizing Committee and president of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA). He added, "As the convergence of the mobility industry is strengthened, related exhibitions are also expected to grow together. The next showcase will promote qualitative growth to become a convergent exhibition that will present the diversity of future mobility based on expansion in exhibiting technologies, items, and fields as well as in the number of participants."

Beyond Vehicles to the Entire Mobility Industry

Exhibitors included Kia, Renault Korea Motors , Mercedes-Benz, Mini, BMW, Genesis, Chabot Motors (INEOS), KG Mobility, Tesla, Porsche, and Hyundai Motor, displaying 90 products including eight World Premieres, four Asian Premieres, nine Korea Premieres, and ten concept cars.

Nine companies participated in the New Mobility portion of the show to present their technologies in the areas of robotics, UAM, and PAV. Among the nine business entities were GHOSTROBOTICSTECHNOLOGY, SK Telecom, and Vspace. The Organizing Committee prepared a unique exhibition hall for air mobility for the first time in collaboration with the Institute for Aerospace Industry-Academia Collaboration .

In addition, to promote the convergent exhibition, Hyundai Motor Company prepared a robotics showcase titled, "Mobility House", to display robots working on electric vehicle automatic charging, deliveries, and personal mobility, as well as to spotlight their (new) MobED and SPOT robots. Automakers also revealed their efforts to expand their technologies to the mobility field, including Tesla exhibiting a humanoid robot called "Teslabot."

Contributing to the development of the mobility industry with a technology-centered mobility exhibition

Following 2021, the Seoul Mobility Show 2023 also had plenty of side events to spotlight technological innovation in the mobility industry.

First, the Seoul Mobility Awards expanded the field of participation to three categories: mobility-related hardware, software, and technology. This year, SOS Lab's "Fixed 3D LiDAR" won the Grand Prize while the First Place Prize in the Hardware category was for "a2z Robo Shuttle " by Autonomous A2G. The First Place Prize in the Mobility Software category was "ROOUTY" from WeMet Mobility. Bestella Lab's "Zero Cruising-Smart City and V2I Navigation System for Self-Driving Vehicles" was selected as the Grand Prize Winner in the Tech category.

During the exhibition, the Organizing Committee prepared various conferences and forums to share trends in the mobility industry centering on technology and to present future blueprints including "Display-Mobility Day" and " Future Aviation Mobility Conference ", "Mobility Innovation, CES 2023", "ITS Business and Policy", and "Future Vision Seminar".

The Organizing Committee introduced the Metaverse platform through a dedicated application to view the exhibition in a 3D virtual space, running "e-mobility" and mobility test-drive events with automakers throughout the exhibition so that visitors could experience real mobility and not merely observing them.

The Seoul Mobility Show Organizing Committee hosted the Seoul Mobility Show 2023 and the sponsors included the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy , the Ministry of Environment , the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport , and the City of Goyang . The Seoul Mobility Show is Korea's only international mobility show accredited by the International Association of Automobile Manufacturers (OICA).

*The Organizing Committee consists of Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), and Korea Auto Industries Cooperation Association (KAICA).

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/approximately-510-000-visit-the-seoul-mobility-show-2023-opens-and-closes-with-great-success-301793881.html
China's First Semi-Submersible Offshore Solar Power Platform: Self-developed, Manufactured, and Delivered by CIMC Raffles

SHENZHEN, China , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CIMC RAFFLES has recently launched and delivered China's first semi-submersible offshore floating solar power platform, which is a self-developed and self-owned intellectual property. The platform has been officially handed over to CIMC Solar Marine Technology (Yantai) Co., Ltd. , and it has been towed to the designated location for deployment.

The platform has four single float arrays and a total installed capacity of 400 kWp, as well as net deck area of approximately 1900 square meters. The platform is equipped with eight systems: floating structure support, buoyancy material, multi-body connection and mooring, fender collision avoidance, photovoltaic (PV) power generation and inverter, intelligent monitoring, dynamic subsea cable transmission, and power consumption. Furthermore, the platform can operate safely in open sea areas with wave heights of up to 6.5 meters, wind speeds of up to 34 meters per second, and tidal differences of up to 4.6 meters.

Aligning with China's "dual carbon" goals, the development prospects of the PV industry are highly promising. In 2022, CIMC RAFFLES partnered with the Yantai Municipal Government to jointly establish CIMC Solar, which offers integrated solutions for the comprehensive development of offshore PV, leveraging CIMC RAFFLES's rich experience in semi-submersible product engineering.

The successful installation and smooth delivery of this PV power generation platform, as CIMC RAFFLES's first-generation offshore PV product, demonstrates the company's delivery capability in the commercial-scale semi-submersible PV platform. This marks a commendable milestone in CIMC RAFFLES and CIMC Solar's outstanding exploration of the photovoltaics field.

A spokesperson from CIMC Offshore Renewable Energy, the developer of the platform, declared that this floating PV power generation platform is China's first completed semi-submersible offshore PV demonstration project. With extensive experience in semi-submersible product engineering, CIMC Offshore Renewable Energy has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of semi-submersible floating PV power generation through the use of multi-float array connections. This platform will serve as an excellent model to future product development, large-scale application, and cost-effective verification, and will help pave the way towards the deep-sea development of semi-submersible PV power generation.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cimc-raffles-delivers-chinas-first-semi-submersible-offshore-solar-power-platform-301794188.html

SOURCE CIMC
Program provides free home repairs and energy-efficient retrofits to income-qualified customers

Charlotte is one of three participating N.C. municipalities in pilot

CHARLOTTE, N.C. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Charlotte and Duke Energy Carolinas are launching an income-qualified energy efficiency home rehabilitation pilot program. The High Energy Use Pilot will help income-qualified customers with high energy use receive much-needed home repairs and energy efficiency retrofits that will improve housing safety and reduce their electricity usage and overall costs.

Duke Energy will invest approximately $4 million in the Charlotte region to support energy retrofits for approximately 500 high-electrical use, income-qualified customers. The city will provide up to $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support home repairs necessary before energy efficiency retrofits can occur.

Home repairs may include window, roof, chimney, plumbing, or water heater repairs or replacements, pressure relief valve installation, mechanical ventilation, and lead-based paint hazard control.

Energy retrofit measures may include the replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems as well as comprehensive air sealing, insulation, installation of LED bulbs and swapping out older refrigerators with ENERGY STAR models.

"The city is excited to partner with Duke Energy on this program. By providing much-needed home repairs and energy retrofits, we can lower energy costs and provide safer housing for our residents who need it most, and reduce emissions in our community, all at the same time," said City of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles .

"Duke Energy is proud to collaborate with the City of Charlotte on this public-private partnership to deliver the benefits of energy efficiency to a greater diversity of customers across the city," said Kendal Bowman , North Carolina state president, Duke Energy. "We appreciate the city's leadership and are hopeful that this pilot, if successful, may one day help expand offerings to help more customers save energy and money, and support a cleaner energy future for all communities we serve."

According to the Department of Energy , the national average energy burden  the percentage of gross income spent on energy costs  for low-income households is 8.6%, which is three times higher than for non-low-income households (estimated at 3%). Energy burden is defined as the average annual housing energy costs divided by the average annual household income. Monthly housing energy costs are based on household monthly expenditures for electricity, gas and other fuels (including fuel oil, wood, etc.). This program seeks to address issues specific to the electrical portion of energy burden, and the outcomes can inform and influence future Duke Energy and city programs toward a more equitable, low-carbon future.

Duke Energy created the pilot in collaboration with stakeholders at the request of the North Carolina Utilities Commission to provide energy efficiency retrofits for income-qualified, high-electrical use customers at no cost to the customer. However, as many as 40% of households that could be eligible for this program would not be able to participate due to health and safety issues in the home, particularly housing repair issues such as damage to doors, windows or the roof that need to be addressed first. The funding provided by the city through this public private partnership will ensure that customers who otherwise would not be able to engage in this pilot will now be able to take advantage of these retrofits.

Charlotte is one of three North Carolina municipalities, including Forsyth and Guilford counties, selected for the pilot. The initial goal is to assist 1,000 participants over a two-year span from an estimated 22,000 income-qualified residents in all identified areas.

Duke Energy is accepting applications for the program now, and the first service appointments will start in mid-May, with an emphasis on homes that are in the city's Corridors of Opportunity. For more information or to apply, customers can visit duke-energy.com/highusehelp.

Duke Energy Carolinas

Duke Energy Carolinas , a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 19,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2.8 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 24,000-square-mile service area in North Carolina and South Carolina .

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. , is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina , South Carolina , Florida , Indiana , Ohio and Kentucky , and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina , South Carolina , Tennessee , Ohio and Kentucky . The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com . The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook .

CONTACT: Leslie Blaser , 980.264.2678

City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services

[email protected]

Keith Richardson , 704.779.4184

Duke Energy

[email protected]

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SOURCE Duke Energy
Denali's Automation Services and Solutions Allow Companies to Efficiently and Effectively Plan, Deploy, Manage and Integrate Automation Into their Businesses and Achieve Maximum ROI

REDMOND, Wash. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Denali Advanced Integration , a leading global technology integrator, today announced the availability of its services-led automation solutions. Denali's Automation-as-a-Service (AaaS) portfolio is now available to enterprises worldwide that need a partner to provide end-to-end automation services and solutions to support their Information and Operational Technology (IT/OT) environments, accelerate their businesses, and achieve maximum return on their technology investments.

Denali's AaaS provides design, engineering and integration expertise in a service-led, software-supported, and hardware-enabled model that manages the convergence of IT and OT requirements within customers' environments across manufacturing, transportation, logistics, retail, and healthcare industries. Denali's end-to-end automation solutions are fully supported and delivered on a global scale, giving multi-site and multi-national enterprise customers a trusted partner and adviser who can provide what customers need to seamlessly design, digitally transform, deploy, integrate and manage tailored, secure and compliant automation solutions while enabling them to experience optimal uptime and accelerated time to value. Denali's AaaS includes feasibility evaluation, design and certified engineering, enterprise application and interface development and testing, environment monitoring and solution maintenance, updates, and technical support. The solutions help customers integrate new and existing technology into their working environments to maximize investments and drive improvement in total cost of ownership.

Denali, as a global Operational Technology Systems Integrator, recently announced an expansion of its relationship with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Denali, leveraging computer vision, is providing AWS machine learning services delivered on the Edge as part of Denali's AaaS solutions. Denali's platform is designed to extend the availability of AWS's machine learning (ML) services in a productized solution that removes latency, affording customers the power of ML in a fully integrated solution with interconnectivity of devices and the ability to enable I/O for immediate business intelligence. Denali's AaaS solution will include an automated inspection application that focuses on defect detection, damage detection and assisted line clearance applications that can be executed in a flexible commercial model, resulting in a more efficient, productive and work-safe environment. The companies will demonstrate the new solution to customers in the AWS Booth (Hannover Messe, Hall 15, Booth D74) at Hannover Messe in Germany , April 17-21, 2023 .

"For more than 30 years, we've been helping customers in almost every industry utilize technology to accelerate their business outcomes. Automation as a Service is the next stop on our journey," said Jen Pointer , EVP of Global Strategy at Denali. "For months, we've been talking to customers and working with our world-class team of experts and partners, like AWS, to develop and deliver a full-service automation solution that makes it easier for companies to deploy automation in the most efficient and cost-effective way."

"Automation, machine learning and machine vision are technologies that have the power, if utilized correctly, to completely transform a business. Our AaaS solution is designed to allow companies to fully realize the benefits of these technologiesincreasing productivity, streamlining processes, freeing up workers from repetitive tasks and utilizing data to automate quality inspection, to name a few while minimizing disruption of their operations and business," said Justin Long , VP Global Automation at Denali.

Denali's AaaS solution is available today to Denali customers worldwide. For more information visit: https://www.denaliai.com/en-us/solutions/automation/

Since 1992, Denali Advanced Integration has been delivering Enterprise IT solutions and services that help guide its clients through the most complex IT challenges. In addition to achieving CRN Triple Crown status the last two years - including in the publication's Solution Provider 500, the Fast Growth 150 and the Tech Elite 250 - Denali was named one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States by Inc. Magazine.

Media Contacts:

Kimberly Otzman

Guyer Group for Denali Advanced Integration

[email protected]

Phil LeClare

Guyer Group for Denali Advanced Integration

[email protected]

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CLEVELAND , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- C Dollar Bank's 24th annual free mortgage home buying workshop, The Way Home, returns on April 29, 2023 , at the Wolstein Center on the campus of Cleveland State University . This free program began as a workshop for single mothers, Mortgages for Mothers in 1999. Since the program's inception, over 5,000 people have attended. It has grown over the years and today is available to anyone who wants to learn how to stop renting and start owning.

The Way Home is an educational experience for attendees, providing information about the power of credit and credit counseling services, ways to save, and how the mortgage process works. Highlights also include testimonials from new homeowners who broke the rent cycle with the help of Dollar Bank's credit enhancement program. Kenya Brown from 93.1 WZAK will join us as our guest host.

"It is hard to know where to start when you want to become a homeowner. We break down the process and empower our attendees by preparing them for what comes next. Our goal of the workshop is to make this process feel manageable by sharing our educational resources and offering time with experts in credit counseling, budgeting, and mortgages," said Morton Stanfield , Senior Vice President of Community Development . " Dollar Bank believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to take those first steps toward homeownership."

The Way Home is only one part of Dollar Bank's effort to provide help to would-be borrowers who have credit-building needs. Workshop attendees will be encouraged to continue working with Dollar Bank counselors beyond attending The Way Home Workshop. Dorothy Curtis , Vice President of Community Development , works closely with participants of Dollar Bank's Homeownership Program. "Buying a home can be an overwhelming experience for anyone, especially if you are not confident in your financial situation. The training and credit counseling we provide create a safety net resulting in low mortgage default rates and homeowners who are prepared for homeownership," describes Curtis. Assistance includes educational classes, private credit restoration counseling sessions, special savings programs, down payment assistance, and other informational and motivational group sessions.

The Way Home Buying Workshop will begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday, April 29, 2023 , at the Wolstein Center on the campus of Cleveland State University . To register, call 1-800-345-3655 or online at Dollar.Bank/TheWayHome.

About Dollar Bank

Dollar Bank has assets of more than $11.2 billion . Today, Dollar Bank operates more than 90 locations throughout Pennsylvania , Ohio , Virginia , and Maryland with over 1,400 employees. For more than 168 years, Dollar Bank has grown to become the largest mutual bank in the United States , committed to providing the highest quality of banking services to individuals and businesses. Dedicated to aiding the communities it serves, Dollar Bank supports quality of life initiatives, financial literacy programs, and organizations devoted to helping individuals and families in need. Dollar Bank (www.dollar.bank) is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania .

CONTACT:

Frank Buonomo

Vice President, Public Affairs

[email protected]

412-261-8105

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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.

"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].

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XI'AN, China , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group ("EUBG" or the "Company") (OTCQB: EUBG), a digital marketing consulting company, today announced that it has successfully uplisted from the OTC Pink Sheets to the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB"). The uplisting application has been approved by OTC Markets Group Inc., and the stock commenced trading on the OTCQB starting on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 . The stock will continue to be traded under the symbol "EUBG". The OTCQB offers investors transparent, high-quality trading in entrepreneurial and development stage companies which provides investors with improved market visibility to enhance trading liquidity. OTCQB is recognized as an established public market by the Securities and Exchange Commission . To be eligible for trading on the OTCQB, companies must be current in their reporting with the Securities and Exchange Commission , maintain audited financials through a PCAOB registered firm, and undergo an annual verification and management certification process.

"We believe this upgrade to the OTCQB will position the Company to achieve greater exposure to a broader investor base," stated Mr. Guolin Tao , CEO of Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group . "This is a very positive milestone and achievement for the Company and our shareholders."

About ENTREPRENEUR UNIVERSE BRIGHT GROUP

ENTREPRENEUR UNIVERSE BRIGHT GROUP is a digital marketing consultation company with its main operation in China , providing marketing consulting services to Chinese start-up companies. The company provides consulting services, sourcing and marketing services in China through its PRC subsidiary with support from its HK subsidiary. Its PRC subsidiary provides services aimed at connecting businesses with e-commerce platforms. The integrated service platform focuses on strategic marketing and consulting. The company's mission is to help start-up companies and small-size companies and guide these companies' founders in utilizing the company's digital marketing consulting plan to reach their business goals. For more information about the Company, please visit: http://www.eubggroup.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as "may, "will, "intend," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "estimate" or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development; financial condition and results of operations; product and service demand and acceptance; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in technology; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC , which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forwardlooking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

For more information, please contact:

The Company:

Jianyong Li

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86-(029) 86100263

Investor Relations:

Hana Yin

EverGreen Consulting Inc.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1-949-416-8888 (from U.S. )

+86 185-0119-2929 (from China )

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One of the French automotive parts distribution specialists relies on Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise and Authentic Distribution Solution to meet the challenges of transforming its business model, supporting its growth and aligning with its CSR objectives

RUEIL-MALMAISON, France , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor , the industry cloud company, today announced that Exadis , a specialist in the upstream logistics of multi-brand automotive aftermarket spare parts, has decided to migrate its enterprise resource planning (ERP) to the Infor Cloud.

Exadis , which was already relying on the Infor M3 on-premises ERP solution, has renewed its partnership with Infor as part of its migration to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud using Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise, Infor Factory Track production automation and the ADS solution from Infor's partner Authentic Group .

Founded in 2006, Exadis underwent a capital reconstruction in 2019 with the entry of Mobivia Group (44.25%) alongside Renault Group (44.25%) and Groupement des Concessionnaires Renault, GCR (11.5%) present since 2016. The company, which is headquartered in Saint-Priest ( Lyon ), is a specialist in the logistics of automotive spare parts. It has 85,000 product lines for which it coordinates distribution from its eight sites in France . At the heart of Exadis' IT transformation project are a series of business, operational, strategic, environmental, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) challenges that Infor's solution will address to support the company's growth, which has increased by 30% per year over the past two years to reach 92 million in 2022. The project started in February 2022 , and the cloud solution is expected to go into production  in a complete rollout to all eight Exadis sites  by September 2024 .

It was vital to invest in order to maintain Exadis' lead (one of the very few players to have a homogeneous information system (IS) and a single ERP) and to strengthen its position. "A first salvo of investments was made in 2022," explains Romain Hourne, Exadis IT director. "Based on the company's good results from 2021, our shareholders agreed to transformation efforts in logistics and IT infrastructures, for example, by increasing our storage capacity, adding mechanization modules, and renovating our networks. The IS has also evolved on the business level with developments around a first proprietary CRM and the integration of a BI solution (Qlik sense) immediately put in place with the arrival of our general management."

The reason for choosing the Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise solution can be explained in part by the historical partnership between Exadis and Infor : "We were one of the first Infor M3 customers in France in the automotive sector and were very satisfied with this implementation," Hourne says. "But with time, the evolution of the users and the complexity of the distribution chain, it became impossible for us to continue specific developments to integrate the innovations which were increasingly multiplying. Our information system was becoming almost obsolete on issues specific to logistics that we can now address with the new solutions in the cloud: inventory management, customer and supplier vendor managed inventory (VMI), order consolidation, transport cost rationalization, elaborate reverse logistics, process automation, enhanced drop shipping, not to mention the incredible challenges of connectivity."

"Another fundamental element for Exadis , which has implemented a CSR-certified approach, with the organization ECOVADIS , is the solution's ability to effectively support our initiatives in this area. The new system allows us to rationalize our supply chain operations with strict control of consumption and associated energy costs. In addition, the dematerialization of invoices  a legal obligation  is already supported by the system, which we will resolutely rely on to further reduce paper printing and thus limit our carbon footprint to a minimum," Hourne says.

One of the other reasons for the renewed confidence in Infor lies in the historical partnership with its partner Authentic Group . Fabrice Caumette , executive delivery manager at Authentic Group , says: "We have established a close relationship of trust and efficiency with Exadis , through our collaboration on previous development and implementation initiatives for more than 10 years. This new project, with its broader scope, allows us to showcase the advanced capabilities of the Infor cloud solution, which we master perfectly. It also provides us with the opportunity to position ourselves as a high value-added company through the implementation of our preconfigured ADS solution, specifically dedicated to the complex business of distribution and which integrates the constantly evolving best practices that we monitor closely."

"The specific distribution business  with all its associated logistical complexity  is particularly well addressed by our Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise solution," explains Philippe Maillet , Infor sales director for France SMB & channel. "We are, therefore, particularly pleased to continue our partnership with Exadis and Authentic Group to reinforce the operational efficiency of a major French player in the automotive sector and to transform its IS ."

"This project is far from being a simple technical migration project. It embeds our ambitions to be and/or remain the first and only one in strategic areas by putting operational excellence, collaboration, and scalability of a strong and responsible growth at the center of our ambitions," concludes Jean-Christophe Barthelet , CEO of Exadis .

Learn more about Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise: https://www.infor.com/products/cloudsuite-distribution-enterprise and Infor Factory Track: https://www.infor.com/products/factory-track

About Exadis

Created in 2006, Exadis is an integrated network of eight logistics platforms specialized in the distribution of independent automotive spare parts. Renault, the "Groupement de Concessionnaires Renault" and Mobivia are shareholders. The company has 170 employees. Exadis is a member of NEXUS France. Visit www.exadis.com.

About Authentic Group

Created in 2004, Authentic Group implements IT solutions and offers innovative services to support companies in their development. Authentic Group works with companies specialized in distribution in Europe , Canada and the United States and offers services and solutions around:

Infor M3, Infor OS, Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise: implementation, deployment, migration, support

Methodology: agility and reactivity for shorter and less expensive projects

Microvertical business line Automotive Parts Distribution (ADS)

Visit https://www.authentic-grp.com

About Infor

Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. We develop complete solutions for our focus industries. Infor's mission-critical enterprise applications and services are designed to deliver sustainable operational advantages with security and faster time to value. Over 60,000 organizations in more than 175 countries rely on Infor's 17,000 employees to help achieve their business goals. As a Koch company, our financial strength, ownership structure, and long-term view empower us to foster enduring, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. Visit www.infor.com.

Media contacts:

Vincent Fournier & Odile Pin

Such. +33 (0)6 80 34 24 00 - Tel. +33 (0)6 81 80 35 46

[email protected] - [email protected]

Twitter: @InforFranceNews

Jessica Wilson

Exadis

[email protected]

Tel: + 33 (0)6 77 83 49 33.

https://www.exadis.com/

Copyright 2023 Infor. All rights reserved. The word and design marks set forth herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Infor and/or related affiliates and subsidiaries. All other trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective owners. www.infor.com



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US-based cybersecurity venture capital firm Ten Eleven leads funding, joining existing backers in CSIRO's Main Sequence and South Australian Venture Capital Fund

ADELAIDE, Australia and ARLINGTON, Va. , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Australian open-source intelligence (OSINT) software company, Fivecast , has closed its Series A funding round with almost US$20 million (AU$30m) raised to fuel its expansion and service contracts in key markets, including Five Eyes nations, amid a significant rise in the need for data and risk analytics among governments and corporations.

Fivecast announced its Series A with almost US$20M (AUS$30m) to fuel expansion in markets including US, UK and Australia

Born out of a collaboration between government agencies and leading research institutions, Fivecast provides OSINT technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to aid defense, intelligence, police, border security and corporations in keeping society safer. The software enables the targeted collection and risk analysis of publicly available information for specific use cases, such as identifying extremists, terrorists, drug trafficking and organized crime.

This round of funding is led by US-based cybersecurity venture capital firm, Ten Eleven , with additional investment from existing Australian backers, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization's (CSIRO) Main Sequence and the South Australian Venture Capital Fund , managed by Artesian .

Fivecast is leveraging the new funding to build out its product portfolio, and drive growth in the Five Eyes community following strong momentum in Australia , a surge in demand in the US, and the establishment of its UK office. It is also targeting the Asia Pacific region and Europe , and is adding further capabilities in adjacent use cases such as corporate security and financial intelligence.

The company is also continuing recruitment of industry professionals, including tradecraft experts, developers, and sales and marketing personnel to its four offices, having recently achieved a milestone of more than 100 employees globally.

"An increasingly complex and growing threat landscape combined with the sheer volume of data available online make it extremely difficult for intelligence personnel to collect, filter and analyze data in a timely way," said Dr Brenton Cooper , CEO and Co-Founder at Fivecast. "Our platform enables customers to fight the proliferation of threats, pierce through sophisticated online landscapes, and speed up investigations to protect global communities and organizations.

"Since our founding in 2017, we have enabled government agencies and corporations to identify threats, reduce risks and mitigate incidents across a diverse range of use cases  from divisive US politics influencing violent extremism and China's influence in the South pacific , through to crypto scams and money laundering. This Series A funding ensures we can continue building advanced capabilities to support our customers' targeted objectives, and add headcount to service markets across the globe  particularly in Australia , the US and the UK ."

This round of investment takes Fivecast's total funding received to AU$34m.

"We see OSINT as a large and emerging sector driven by the explosion of publicly available content, now growing ever-larger via the newly accessible AI-generated multimedia content platforms," said Alex Doll , Managing Partner at Ten Eleven Ventures . "Governments, law enforcement, and other organizations need a faster and easier way to collect and analyze this open-source data. Fivecast's advanced collection methods and AI-supported analysis tools bypass current manual data analysis processes to meet this important need. Notably, this is our second investment in Australia , a country we know has tremendous entrepreneurial and technical talent. We will make additional investments in Australia in the years ahead and look forward to helping bridge the country's incredible tech to other markets."

"Deep tech is boundless in its ability to create safer societies through research, data and advanced capabilities that tackle among the most pressing challenges we face," said Martin Duursma , Partner at Main Sequence. "Fivecast incorporates these principles to address the growing spectrum of global threats by deciphering almost endless troves of publicly available data, and applying AI to help uncover insights essential to protecting communities and organizations. It's yet another example of Australian deep-tech innovation making a positive, large-scale impact on the world."

Fivecast is an Australian Government Defense Industry Security Program (DISP) member, maintains UK Cyber Essentials certification, its software products are NIST 800-171 compliant, and its executive, tradecraft, and development teams hold security clearances for Australia , the US and UK . Fivecast is also the first Australian company to be awarded a Defense Innovation Unit ( DIU ) project with the US Department of Defense .

About Fivecast

The mission of Fivecast is to enable a safer world. As a leading provider of digital intelligence solutions, Fivecast helps public and private organizations explore masses of publicly available data, uncovering actionable insights which are critical to protecting global communities. Purpose-built to address the highest priority use cases in the national security, law enforcement, defense, corporate security and financial intelligence markets, Fivecast deploys advanced data collection and AI-enabled analytics to solve the most complex intelligence challenges.

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SOURCE Fivecast
Changing The Narrative of Racial Disparities in Healthcare with GNetX Sequence Multivitamins

CLEVELAND , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Greg Hall , a practicing physician for over twenty-five years in Cleveland, Ohio , has seen firsthand the racial disparities in healthcare. He is now changing the narrative of racial inequality in healthcare with GNetX Sequence Multivitamins. "I've spent most of my career discussing and complaining about health disparities; it was time to do something," says Dr. Hall , "and addressing nutritional deficiencies seemed like a great place to start."

Did you know that only 14 percent of the U.S. population has proficient health literacy?

Now, Dr. Hall is taking direct action to combat the problem by offering affordable healthcare solutions to African Americans. Introducing GNetX Sequence Multivitamins, a single-tablet daily healthcare supplement offering preventative measures with accurate doses of the necessary vitamins African Americans need. The first of its kind, GNetX Sequence Multivitamins considers the unique health needs of African Americans with environmental and hereditary factors in mind. Research shows that not all vitamins are created equal when considering race and ethnicity. For example, getting too much of a vitamin, such as Vitamin K, may not be safe for the African American community. In contrast, Vitamin D is ideal in higher amounts for African Americans.

Many preventative care solutions on the market can be overly priced, making it impossible to bring quality healthcare solutions to the masses. The affordable package of a 3-month supply of GNetX Sequence Vitamins for $39.99 helps those who find themselves purchasing multiple supplements in an attempt to address their unique needs. Welcome to the future of nutritional supplements!

About Dr. Greg Hall

Greg Hall , MD is a physician, author, speaker, inventor, professor, and public health professional, specializing in urban health and the clinical care of African Americans. Dr. Hall's extensive research in the care of African Americans led to the development of GNetX Sequence.

To learn more about GNetX Sequence Multivitamins and Dr. Hall's perspective as a healthcare professional on the front lines of health inequality for African Americans, or for any related stories around Minority Health Month, please send us an email at [email protected] to set up an interview and gain helpful materials.

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SOURCE GNetX Sequence Multivitamins
Over the past decades, the world has been facing several challenges that require global health intervention. Among the problems is the spread of infectious diseases which emerge due to interaction between humans, animals and the environment or the ecosystem. The emergence of infectious diseases could be catastrophic as in the case of Covid-19, bird flu (H5N1), and swine flu (H1N1).

To contain animal-originating diseases which affect human health, the Ministry of Health and Population launched on 9 April the countrys One Health National Strategic Framework (2023-2027). The framework is a joint plan between the ministries of health, environment, agriculture, and the General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The ministries of higher education and scientific research and local development along with the Egyptian Drug Authority and the National Food Safety Authority participated in preparing the strategy. During the launch, Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar noted that One Health had become an urgent necessity at all national, regional and global levels to ensure the provision of a healthy, safe, and dignified life for humans, while preserving the health of animals and the environment.

According to Abdel-Ghaffar, the health system cannot alone deal with epidemics and pandemics. All national and international concerned parties must jointly participate in activating the concept of One Health, the minister said while stressing the need to continue participatory efforts to ensure the provision of a healthy life for all.

During the 27th edition of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP27) which was held last year in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt endeavoured to provide all means and mechanisms of support to activate the concept of One Health in cooperation with all authorities concerned with health issues, Abdel-Ghaffar said.

The aim of the strategy is to create a framework to integrate systems and capacity to jointly prevent, predict, detect and respond to health threats, Ahmed Taha, head of GAHAR, told Al-Ahram Weekly. This strategy is to enhance the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment as well, Taha said.

Taha noted that One Health has been developed through a participatory process that strengthens collaboration, communication, capacity building, and coordination equally among all sectors responsible for addressing health concerns at the human-animal-plant-environment level.

During the event, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Al-Sayed Al-Qusseir pointed out that the ministry is currently working on preventing the emergence of animal diseases from entering Egypt through an early epidemiological surveillance system. The ministry succeeded in tangibly controlling bird flu, thus stabilising the epidemiological situation of the disease, Al-Qusseir said.

He noted that the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) announced that Egypt has officially adopted a system of facilities free of highly pathogenic avian influenza. This is in addition to a system of facilities free of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis patients  the two diseases are common between humans and animals  in addition to combating rabies under the umbrella of a comprehensive control plan in cooperation with the ministries of health and population environment, local development and civil society organisations.

Al-Qusseir stressed the need for all concerned parties and common stakeholders to unite towards preparing various epidemiological studies, research and surveys for early detection of public health threats. We should benefit from our cooperation with international organisations in using modern technology in this regard.

There will be general directives to put an end to pesticides in agriculture. The government will resort to biological means in combating plant insects. Also, the government will expand organic cultivation to limit the use of hormonal materials injected in fruit plants to increase their size and to ripen faster, Al-Qusseir said.

The minister predicted that the percentage of diseases caused by plants would decrease drastically. There are no recent studies on plant-origin diseases, but the percentage is quite high.

According to a WHO press release, around 60 per cent of diseases affecting humans are of animal origin. Meanwhile, the cost of preventing epidemics via the One Health strategy costs $11.5 billion per year, thus making it notably less than the cost of responding to epidemics which is estimated at $30 billion annually.

Amr Qandil, deputy minister of health and population for preventive medicine, said that the preventive medicine sector would provide the necessary expertise for technical support for the strategy. The Science, and Technology Development Fund will provide the necessary technical and financial support to implement the strategy directed at the welfare of peoples health, Qandil said.

Qandil told the Weekly that since Egypt was one of the first countries to adopt the strategy, the government will evaluate the plan at the end of the four years to spot any weak points during implementation, as well as improve its strong points.



* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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BEIJING , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

Guiyang and Guian New Area in Southwest China's Guizhou province have been devoted to enhancing the "Cool Guiyang" brand by offering both visitors and locals a great experience in health, culture, sightseeing, food, shopping and travel in recent years.

Alina Kurowski from Germany recently visited Guiyang and explored its rich culture, nature, and local cuisine. Her trip started with trying Guiyang's famous Huaxi beef noodles and then exploring the city's beautiful and unique attractions.

She discovered the fascinating culture and clothing of Huaxi's ethnic groups and visited Yelang Valley  a place known for its stone art and local folklore. Finally, Alina visited Qingyan Ancient Town , which has a history of more than 600 years, where she participated in various traditional activities and admired the town's beautiful lantern-lit evenings.

Huaxi district in Guiyang is a famous scenic spot renowned as "a pearl on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau". Home to more than 40 ethnic groups, Huaxi has nurtured a rich ethnic culture over the course of its long history, along with delicious local delicacies.

Watch the video to find out more.

https://youtu.be/XR-7np1_IAI

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SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
BOSTON , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - The John Hancock Closed-End Funds listed in the table below announced earnings1 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 . The same data for the comparable three-month period ended March 31, 2022 is also available below.

Three Months Ended 03/31/23

Ticker Fund Name Current Fiscal Year End Net Investment Income Per Common Share NAV Total Managed Assets

Total Net Assets

HEQ Hedged Equity & Income Fund 12/31 $1,604,311 $0.131 $11.50 $140,630,870

$140,630,870

BTO Financial Opportunities Fund 12/31 $1,796,696 $0.093 $26.36 $634,303,144 * $509,303,144





















Three Months Ended 03/31/22

Ticker Fund Name Current Fiscal Year End Net Investment Income Per Common Share NAV Total Managed Assets

Total Net Assets

HEQ Hedged Equity & Income Fund 12/31 $1,619,867 $0.133 $13.06 $159,673,572

$159,673,572

BTO Financial Opportunities Fund 12/31 $2,621,850 $0.137 $38.18 $853,972,254 * $728,972,254





















*Total managed assets include assets attributable to borrowings under a Liquidity Agreement.





1 Earnings refer to net investment income, which is comprised of the Fund's interest and dividend income, less expenses. Earnings presented represent past earnings and there is no guarantee of future results.



Amounts distributed by the Funds may vary from the earnings shown above and will be announced in separate press releases. Up-to-date distribution rate information is available on John Hancock Investment Management's web site at www.jhinvestments.com by clicking on "Closed-End Funds" under the "Daily Prices" tab.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing.

About John Hancock Investment Management

A company of Manulife Investment Management , we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto , our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
Karius, a leader in infectious disease diagnostics, will collaborate with eGenesis, a pioneer in xenotransplantation, to expand the Karius microbial cell-free DNA sequencing platform to include detection of pig pathogens

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Karius, the world leader in liquid biopsy for infectious diseases, and eGenesis, Inc. a biotechnology company developing human-compatible organs and cells for the treatment of organ failure, today announced a partnership through which the two companies will develop infectious disease diagnostics for xenotransplantation initially from porcine to primates and ultimately to humans. Through the partnership, Karius will leverage its platform to power the detection and quantification of pathogens with potential to occur in porcine organ donors.

Karius' expanded platform for detection of microbial cell-free DNA will power the surveillance and diagnosis of potential infection in both the porcine organ donor and recipient, pre- and post-transplant. Karius and eGenesis will collaborate in the development of this expanded platform and plan to complete this work by early 2024.

More than 100,000 people in the U.S. wait on the organ transplant list each year, and many more never get approved to be on the waiting list. An estimated 6,000 of these patients will die each year before they receive an organ transplant1. The field of xenotransplantation has evolved to meet this growing demand, with companies working to genetically modify animal-derived organs for successful transplantation into humans. While great advancements have been made in recent years, infection is still a major threat.

Mitigating the risk of xenogeneic disease transfer is a core tenet of eGenesis's approach to xenotransplantation. The company's proprietary eGenesis Genome Engineering and Production (EGEN) Platform leverages cutting-edge gene editing technologies to inactivate all detectable copies of endogenous retrovirus sequences within the porcine genome to prevent the virus from being passed from the organ donor to the recipient.

"While we are taking numerous measures to ensure our porcine donors are free from infectious agents, the ability to broadly monitor for infection transmission between species is important for ensuring the safety of xenotransplantation," said Michael Curtis , Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at eGenesis. "With our gene-editing technology, we have an unprecedented ability to engineer human compatible organs to address the organ shortage, and this partnership is a key step in our goal to make xenotransplantation safe."

"We are excited to partner with eGenesis to accelerate the availability of safe xenotransplantation for the many people and families who may benefit from this important progress," said Brad Perkins , M.D, Chief Medical Officer at Karius. "Patients who receive solid organ transplants regardless of source are at high risk for varied causes of infection, and can particularly benefit from Karius' unbiased, rapid, and non-invasive detection of pathogens."

Early in 2022, Karius' technology was able to observe microbial cell-free DNA originating from a porcine pathogen in a patient who underwent the first xenotransplant, as published in New England Journal of Medicine . The porcine cytomegalovirus was consistently detected over 60 days post transplant, through serial testing, which was later confirmed by orthogonal technologies.2

Karius' technology employs an unbiased approach to detecting pathogens and offers a versatile and adaptable platform that can be modified to include new pathogens of both human and pig origin.

"One of the fundamental advantages of our technology lies in its differentiated ability to provide a wide lens into the organisms that may threaten patients, regardless of their origin," said Sivan Bercovici , Chief Technology Officer at Karius. "The expansion into infectious disease diagnostics in xenotransplantation provides another proof point for our platform's plasticity through data and AI."

About Karius

Karius, Inc. , the world leader in liquid biopsy for infectious diseases, harnesses genomics and AI to transform infectious disease diagnostics. The Karius Test  is a lab developed test which enables rapid and non-invasive detection of more than 1,000 pathogens from a single blood draw. Through the use of its test, Karius aims to improve patient outcomes, support antimicrobial stewardship efforts, and reduce invasive diagnostic use. The company today is focused on transforming the diagnosis of infections in immunocompromised patients to address the more than 800 infection related deaths that occur daily in cancer patients across the US. For more information, visit www.kariusdx.com .

About eGenesis

eGenesis is leveraging a genome engineering-based approach in the development of safe, effective and transplantable organs. The company's EGEN platform is the only technology of its kind to address both viral risk and cross-species molecular incompatibilities. eGenesis has demonstrated durable preclinical success to date and is advancing development programs for kidney transplant, pediatric and adult heart transplant, extracorporeal liver perfusion and islet cell transplant. Learn more at www.egenesisbio.com.

Karius Media Contact:

[email protected]

eGenesis PR Contact

Greg Kelley

[email protected]

eGenesis IR Contact

Aidan Gold

[email protected]

1 Health Resources and Service Administration. Organ donation statistics. Organ Donation U.S. Government. March 1, 2023 . Accessed April 7, 2023 . https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics

2 Griffith BP, Goerlich CE, Singh AK, et al. Genetically modified porcine-to-human cardiac xenotransplantation. New England Journal of Medicine . 2022;387(1):35-44. doi:10.1056/nejmoa2201422

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SOURCE Karius; eGenesis, Inc.
- Dedicated plant for electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV) with yearly capacity of 150,000 units

- The plant to mass produce battery-electric PBVs in second half of 2025

- Plant to showcase flexible production by adopting smart innovations, such as efficient 'cell method' of manufacturing

- An innovative factory that pursues low carbon footprint, intelligence, and human-centered principles

- Hyundai Motor Group announces aim to become one of the world's top 3 EV manufacturers by 2030

- The Group also outlines plans to invest KRW 24 trillion in the domestic EV industry by 2030

SEOUL, South Korea , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kia held a groundbreaking ceremony today for its dedicated plant for the production of battery-electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV). The ceremony was held at Kia's Hwaseong plant, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea , and was attended by over 200 people, including government officials, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung , Kia's Global President and CEO Ho Sung Song , and other employees from Hyundai Motor Group and the automotive parts industry.

Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song , on behalf of Hyundai Motor Group , highlighted in a greeting, "Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Hyundai MOBIS together plan to invest KRW 24 trillion in the domestic electric vehicle industry by 2030, with the goal of making South Korea one of the top three players in the global EV market. Our focus is to enhance the competitiveness of the entire electric vehicle ecosystem, including research and development, production, and infrastructure, and to lead the way in driving change and innovation in the new global automotive industry."

Cutting-edge smart factory with annual production capacity of 150,000 units

Kia will invest around one trillion won (approximately USD 758 million ) to secure 99,000 acres of land, with the company planning to start mass-production in the second half of 2025. It plans to produce 150,000 units in the first full year, with the potential to expand in line with future market conditions.

The new PBV plant will be built as an eco-friendly plant that applies future innovative manufacturing technologies while minimizing carbon emissions. It will also seek efficiency and intelligence with Hyundai Motor and Kia's smart factory brand 'E-FOREST technologies'[1] such as digital manufacturing systems.

One of the innovative manufacturing processes to be implemented at the new PBV plant is known as the 'cellular (or cell) method,' which allows vehicle production based on diverse customer demands.

The cell method is a process layout strategy that groups together machines or workstations that are used to produce similar products or parts. The goal of the cell method is to create a more efficient and flexible manufacturing process by reducing the distance that materials and products need to travel during production. Under the cell method, machines are arranged in a way that optimizes the flow of materials and products between workstations, with the aim of minimizing downtime, reducing costs and increasing productivity.

The PBV plant's cutting-edge manufacturing system unifies the new cell method with the original mass-production conveyor system to allow flexible production with more customization of various product types.

In addition, the PBV plant will be built as a low-carbon factory by operating a dry booth, a nature-friendly construction method, during the painting process of vehicle manufacturing, and reducing carbon emissions by about 20 percent compared to existing factories by utilizing natural light and streamlining the manufacturing process.

Kia will also apply innovative technologies such as automation of facilities using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), automation of painting quality inspection under the vehicle, automation of installation of parts such as glass, vehicle name, and company logo, and real-time automatic measurement quality data analysis to autonomously correct and install the vehicle body in real time.

The new facility will be a 'human-friendly' plant by pushing automation in heavy-duty work and tasks that require looking up at the ceiling, while enhancing the feeling of 'openness' and also reducing noise levels.

First battery electric PBV production set for 2025

Kia plans to show SW (project name), the first model in the company's dedicated PBV lineup, in 2025. The model will be a mid-sized PBV and will be based on the "eS" platform, a dedicated skateboard platform for battery electric PBVs, enabling various types of vehicle bodies to be flexibly combined.

SW has been developed to respond to various business demands such as delivery, ride hailing, and business-to-business (B2B) transactions thanks to its excellent load structure and spacious indoor space that reaches the height of an adult.

After launching the mid-sized SW PBV, Kia plans to expand its product lineup to large-sized PBVs that can be used for logistics, fresh food delivery, multi-seat shuttles, and mobile offices and stores as well as small-sized PBVs and mid-sized robotaxis applied with autonomous driving technology.

For more information, visit the Kia Global Media Center at www.kianewscenter.com

[1] * E-FOREST is a smart factory ecosystem that pursues innovation in manufacturing systems by organically connecting everything to realize customer value. For more information, visit: https://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/story/CONT0000000000003696

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Malicious Charges of Medical Fraud Disproven By Internal Documents

ATLANTA , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Christian Fletcher , CEO of Atlanta -based LifeBrite Laboratories , was recently found innocent of all charges in a case brought by the U.S. DOJ. Mr. Fletcher was falsely accused of conspiring with others to commit medical fraud.

The case took years to resolve, disrupting Mr. Fletcher's life and business.

"The last several years have been a true nightmare for me and my family," Fletcher said. "But my faith in God, and in justice, never wavered. I am pleased to finally put this unfortunate and unnecessary saga behind me."

LifeBrite is an accredited clinical lab that provides clinical testing services to employers and other healthcare organizations nationwide. LifeBrite was voted the best lab in Atlanta by the Atlanta Award Program for years 2016-2022.

The details of the case are as follow:

In 2015, LifeBrite began serving as a "reference" laboratory for laboratories located within rural hospitals in the Southeast United States . A "reference" laboratory is a laboratory that receives specimens referred from another laboratory and performs tests on those specimens as ordered by the referring laboratory.

Laboratory outreach programs have been in existence for nearly four decades through an extensive network of thousands of hospitals and laboratory service providers nationwide.

. A "reference" laboratory is a laboratory that receives specimens from another laboratory and performs tests on those specimens as ordered by the laboratory. Laboratory outreach programs have been in existence for nearly four decades through an extensive network of thousands of hospitals and laboratory service providers nationwide. Unfortunately, a campaign to spread false allegations of insurance fraud to regulators, insurance payors, and state and federal prosecutors was launched against LifeBritewith the goal of denying appropriate payments to LifeBrite for services rendered.

However, evidence and documentation showed that the accusing party knew that their allegations were false, yet decided to engage in this vicious smear campaign for financial gain with reckless disregard for the harm that LifeBrite would suffer.

Most prosecutors dismissed these allegations as unworthy of prosecution, yet the accusers were able to convince prosecutors in the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida to pursue the case.

to pursue the case. Christian was found innocent and these allegations were proven false. Yet, this malicious campaign has ruined his otherwise sterling reputation and has effectively destroyed his company that was previously valued at $400 million and would have been sold at that valuation if not for the smear tactics that were leveraged against him.

Mr. Fletcher is available immediately to speak with the media.

CONTACT:

Jon Waterhouse

[email protected]

404.373.2021

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magic bullet also announces its new partnership with Canstruction, a global hunger relief non-profit that creates art from canned goods.

LOS ANGELES , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In line with its recent rebrand, magic bullet is excited to give away a limited number of artist-designed product wraps to inspire its modern consumers to get creative in the kitchen.

Last year, the glowed-up magic bullet brand introduced itself to Gen Z consumers as their new kitchen BFF. As part of its makeover, the brand launched a refreshed product line that provides fun, versatile, and accessible appliances to cooks of all levels, and promoted it in a new brand voice that aims to convey the joyous deliciousness of self-exploration. To celebrate the brand's core values of creativity, individuality, and self-expression, magic bullet created these new artist wraps, sending its 2000s-era infomercials off in style.

"magic bullet's new branding and wraps puts a refreshed spin on the brand for a new audience that cares deeply about individuality and authenticity," said John Olson , Brand Manager at magic bullet. "Our hope is that the brand and new decorative accessories not only add a splash of color to consumers' countertops, but further emphasize the power of self-expression in our lives and in the kitchen."

To design the imaginative wraps, magic bullet teamed up with three talented artists  Shanee Benjamin (she/her), Jiaqi Wang (she/her), and Spencer Gabor (he/him)  each of whom drew from personal inspiration and put their own twist on inspiring consumers' cooking creativity. All three wraps fit snugly around the base of the magic bullet Original Blender without impeding functionality and are made of durable, waterproof, and easy-to-clean material.

In addition to distributing these unique wraps, magic bullet is supporting its Gen Z audience through philanthropic outreach. Since this is the generation currently hit hardest by food insecurity1, magic bullet has partnered with Canstruction  a global hunger relief non-profit organization that hosts events in cities across the world to benefit food banks in local communities.

This September, magic bullet will sponsor Canstruction Orange County 's month-long competition in conjunction with Festival of the Children at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California . Canstruction marries creativity with its cause, and its events consist of competitions where participants design and build sculptures out of canned food. At the end of each event, the cans that were used in constructing these pieces are donated to local food banks. Each year, Canstruction Orange County donates roughly 65,000 pounds of food to The OC Food Bank , a program of the Community Action Partnership of Orange County .

"We are thankful for magic bullet's generous donation and support in helping us end hunger and malnutrition in our community," said Gregory Scott , President & CEO of Community Action Partnership of Orange County . "This September's event is sure to be an exciting showcase of the powers of community, food, and creativity."

For a limited time while supplies last, consumers can redeem a wrap for free with the purchase of a magic bullet Original Blender. Simply visit themagicbullet.com and use the promo code 'EXPRESSION' at checkout. To learn more about magic bullet's exclusive wraps, three artist partners, and Canstruction partnership, please visit nutribullet.com/blog/introducing-magic-bullet-artist-wraps/ and follow @themagicbullet on Instagram and @themagicbulletofficial on TikTok .

About magic bullet 

We all know the kitchen is where the real magic happens, and at magic bullet, we want you to let your creativity flow. For us, it's not about perfect measurements or extreme precision, it's about the remixes, substitutions, and happy accidents that make your dishes uniquely your own. From personal blenders to air fryers and beyond, our products provide an all-in-one assist to help you mix it up, whether you're blending a juicy colada, throwing together a fire salsa, or crisping up some irresistibly flavorful wings. We're not here to make sure you "get it right"  we're here so you can let loose, mess around, and have lots of tasty fun along the way. That's how you find your flavor. That's magic bullet.

1 Campbell , C. (2022, July 15 ). Gen Z among the hardest hit by food insecurity. The Food Institute . Retrieved February 2, 2023 , from https://foodinstitute.com/focus/gen-z-among-the-hardest-hit-by-food-insecurity/

Media Contact:

Meghan Kelly

630-360-0020

[email protected]

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SOURCE magic bullet
MEMPHIS, Tenn. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare recently expanded its partnership with the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South to include Methodist North Hospital as a new pickup location for their weekly food distribution program for school-aged children.

"Addressing food insecurity is a major priority for our healthcare system," said Marcus Ross , director of community engagement and social determinants of health for Methodist North Hospital . "We know about half the patients who seek care at our flagship hospital are food insecure. That means when they are discharged from the hospital, they lack resources and access to nutritious food options when they return home."

According to MLH's 2022 Community Needs Health Assessment, 16 percent of Shelby County residents have limited access to food. An alarming 27 percent of children in the county are experiencing food insecurity, which means they live meal-to-meal, may skip meals or eat less than recommended.

The Memphis -based healthcare system and the Y began meal distributions in 2021 during Methodist South Hospital's annual Whitehaven Farmers Market , which is held throughout the summer. Because of the program's success, the YMCA continues to offer the program each Monday, with about 100 families participating.

Methodist University Hospital began their weekly distribution last fall with about 50 families eager to participate. Now, an estimated 150 families receive meal kits each Thursday.

The Methodist North location is currently available to families each Tuesday, beginning at 10 a.m. at 3980 New Covington Pike in Memphis .

The YMCA food program is available to families with children under age 18. A seven-day meal kit includes fruits, vegetables, cheeses, proteins and healthy snacks.

For a complete list of weekly pickup locations and to sign up, please visit YMCAMemphis.org.

About Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

Based in Memphis, Tennessee , Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has been caring for patients and families regardless of their ability to pay for more than 100 years. Guided by roots in the United Methodist Church and founded in 1918 to help meet the growing need for quality healthcare in the greater Memphis area, MLH has grown from one hospital into a comprehensive healthcare system with 13,000 Associates supporting six hospitals, including nationally ranked Le Bonheur Children's Hospital , ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient facilities, hospice residence and physician and specialty practices serving communities across the Mid-South. From transplants and advanced heart procedures to expert neurology services and compassionate cancer care, MLH offers clinical expertise with a focus on improving every life we touch.

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JUNO BEACH, Fla. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that it plans to report first-quarter 2023 financial results before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 , in a news release to be posted on the company's website at www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults. The company will issue an advisory news release over PR Newswire the morning of April 25 , with a link to the financial results news release on the company's website. As previously communicated, the company will make available its financial results only on its website.

John Ketchum , chairman, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy, Kirk Crews , executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer of NextEra Energy, and other members of the company's senior management team will discuss the company's first-quarter 2023 financial results during an investor presentation to be webcast live, beginning at 9 a.m. ET on April 25 . Results for NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) also will be discussed during the same investor presentation.

The listen-only webcast will be available on NextEra Energy's website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults. The financial results news release and the slides accompanying the presentation may be downloaded at www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults, beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET on the day of the webcast. A replay will be available for 90 days by accessing the same link as listed above.

NextEra Energy, Inc.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida . NextEra Energy owns Florida Power & Light Company , which is America's largest electric utility that sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 5.8 million customer accounts, or more than 12 million people across Florida . NextEra Energy also owns a competitive clean energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC , which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from seven commercial nuclear power units in Florida , New Hampshire and Wisconsin . NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry on Fortune's 2023 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," recognized on Fortune's 2021 list of companies that "Change the World" and received the S&P Global Platts 2020 Energy Transition Award for leadership in environmental, social and governance. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

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Program helps families find answers for children on a 'diagnostic odyssey'

MIAMI , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicklaus Children's Hospital this month has launched a new clinic dedicated to assisting families seeking answers for a child with a rare or undiagnosed disease. The Undiagnosed Diseases Clinic , which occurs monthly, offers the latest genetic testing technologies for eligible patients.

The clinic is exclusively for those still pending a diagnosis.

"For some families of children with rare diseases, the search for a diagnosis can be a prolonged and often frustrating experience," said Dr. Parul Jayakar , Director of Clinical Genetics and Metabolism. "These families may have already visited multiple specialists and undergone a variety of tests in hopes of finding answers. The Undiagnosed Diseases Clinic is dedicated to helping such families identify the genetic condition affecting their child in hopes it leads to diagnosis and treatment."

The clinic has access to new genetic testing technologies, including whole genome sequencing and metabolomics. These new technologies make possible the detection of genetic alterations that are not typically identified by more common clinical genetic tests.

Candidates for the clinic usually have two or more of the following characteristics.

Inborn anomalies (differences) of the heart, kidneys, brain, hands, feet or any other parts of the body.

A lab test that suggests a genetic disease, such as an abnormal newborn screen, or suggesting the body is having trouble processing certain foods or substances.

Abnormal response to standard therapy, or unusual presentations of certain medical conditions.

Low muscle tone (hypotonia).

Seizure disorders that do not respond to medication or require multiple medications.

Undiagnosed neurodevelopmental conditions, including difficulties with language and speech, motor skills, behavior, memory, learning or other neurological functions.

Abnormal growth parameters, including height, weight or head size (too big, too small for their age and gender).

Have visited a genetic specialist and undergone standard clinical genetic tests, without a diagnosis.

Families who wish to have their child considered for the clinic should schedule an appointment with a Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists genetics provider by calling 786-624-4741.

The clinical team will request the patient's medical records and results of any tests previously performed that relate to current symptoms. Once all information is received, the genetics specialists will discuss the case and determine if new testing offerings may reveal a diagnosis. Families will then be contacted about scheduling an appointment or may be offered other genetic screening options.

The clinic is exclusively for those still pending a diagnosis. When a diagnosis is determined, children will be referred to appropriate specialists for consideration of future treatment opportunities.

For more information, visit our Undiagnosed Diseases Clinic page.

About Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International , Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately 800 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children's Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. In the 2022-2023 U.S. News ranking, the hospital tied with two other hospitals as the number one children's hospital in Florida . The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.

For more information:

Rachel Bixby

305-898-9165

[email protected]

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For Now, Mifepristone Approval is STILL Protected

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Friday, a federal judge in Texas handed down an unprecedented decision to block the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of mifepristone - one of two medications used in the most common abortion regimen in the United States . The FDA approved Mifepristone 23 years ago based on safe and effective clinical outcomes. There is no medical basis for this claim.

Statement from Dr. Laura Meyers , President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington :

"This decision was tailor-made by anti-abortion activists and opens Pandora's box for bogus attacks on health care based on politics, not science. This decision sets a dangerous precedent for nefarious groups to target other medications and FDA rulings without grounds in clinical outcomes."

The Texas judge also stayed the decision to give the federal government seven days to seek relief on appeal, which means that for now, approval of mifepristone remains protected in the District of Columbia , Maryland, and Virginia .

In a separate ruling on Friday night, a federal judge in Washington state issued a preliminary injunction in a mifepristone case brought by 18 Attorneys General, including Brian L. Schwalb ( Washington, DC ) and Anthony G. Brown (MD).

The Texas ruling could severely undermine access to abortion in the District of Columbia , Maryland, and Virginia . Anti-abortion activists are not satisfied with overturning Roe v. Wade or allowing states to ban abortion  they want to strip patients in these jurisdictions and people nationwide of their rights.

We are grateful to D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown for joining a case that won its preliminary injunction on Friday. While access remains protected for now, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington will continue to do everything possible to provide patients with timely abortion care, including the method that is best for their circumstances.

Learn more about medication abortion here . For more information about options and a state-by-state guide to get care, go to AbortionFinder.org or call 1-800-230-PLAN.

PPMW's mission is to provide high quality, affordable reproductive health care; promote education programs that empower all individuals to make informed and responsible reproductive choices; and to protect the right to make those choices. PPMW is the oldest and largest provider of family planning services in Metropolitan Washington, serving DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia .

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As part of efforts to rejuvenate central Cairo, the Interior Ministrys former headquarters is being developed into a mixed-use hub, reports Ahmed Morsy

Plans are in place to convert the seven-building complex that served as the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior for decades into a multi-purpose destination that includes a tech and business hub, a French university, serviced apartments and a hotel.

Details of the project were revealed last week after an agreement was signed between the real estate arm of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (SFE)  the SFE Tourism, Real Estate and Antiquities Sub Fund  and the recently formed real-estate development company A Developments. A joint statement by SFE and A Developments said the deal had been awarded following a competitive bidding process launched in April last year. Under the deal, SFE  in its capacity as the propertys owner  will lease the complex to A Developments for 25 years in return for a fixed rental and share of revenues.

A Developments CEO Ahmed Osman told Al-Ahram Weekly that the company will invest LE800 million in renovating the complex.

This project will redefine the face of downtown Cairo, turning it into a destination for entrepreneurs, start-ups and young travellers, promoting the development of Egypts flourishing start-up scene as well as the tourism and real-estate sector, said Hala Al-Said, minister of planning and SFE chair.

The redevelopment, said Osman, complements state efforts to revive downtown Cairo. A Developments has hired the UK-based BDP, which specialises in the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, to oversee the project.

French business school IPAG will be an anchor tenant of the new scheme which will be the site of IPAGs first branch in Egypt. Despite its population density and large number of schools downtown Cairo, notes Osman, currently lacks a university campus.

To provide a mid-price alternative to the five-star and budget hotels in the area, the scheme will also include a three-star hotel and serviced apartments run by an international hotel management company, and retail units targeting students, tourists and downtown residents.

Downtown Cairo was first developed under khedive Ismail, who ruled Egypt between 1863 and 1879, as an elite residential quarter.

During the signing ceremony, SFE CEO Ayman Suleiman said that the redevelopment, together with the Tahrir repurposing project, is part of the SFEs strategy to preserve Cairos history by generating sustainable financial returns in partnership with the private sector.

In December 2021, Egypt signed a deal worth more than LE3.5 billion with a US consortium to upgrade the 14-storey Mugamma Al-Tahrir, also owned by the SFE. In August 2022, the consortium  led by Oxford Capital Group, Global Ventures Group and Al-Otaiba Investments  announced it would invest $200 million to transform the Mugamma into a luxury hotel.

In 2020, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi issued a decree cancelling the public benefit status of a number of public properties, including former downtown ministry headquarters, moving their ownership to the SFE, which was established in 2018.

According to Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli, Cairo is home to 537 historic buildings registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Cairo is rich in treasures and historical areas, and we are targeting a return of tourism to these sites, said Madbouli.

The redevelopment of the former headquarters of the Interior Ministry will be conducted in three phases, each of which will take a year, says Osman. The first phase, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023, includes the university, business incubator and the commercial services area. The second includes the three-star hotel and serviced apartments and the third office space for start-ups and other businesses.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Shipments of Rhodiolife Ingredient Have Received All Necessary Certifications and Permits Across a Three-Continent Supply Chain

MORRISTOWN, N.J. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PLT Health Solutions, Inc announced that it has begun offering CITES-compliant RhodiolifeRhodiola rosea in North America . This new development will assure its Rhodiola customers a secure supply of a premium, highly sustainable product that meets all regulatory requirements. In November 2022 CITES  the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna  approved a proposal to add Rhodiola spp. to Appendix II. This is a list of species that are subject to controls in international trade. CITES is a voluntary organization, but its decisions are considered binding for the 184 countries that are members. With raw material sourced from the Altai Mountains , extracted in Spain and marketed in the United States , PLT and innovation partner Nektium (Las Palmas, Spain ) work with multiple government agencies on three continents to achieve CITES compliance.

According to Devin Stagg , Chief Operating Officer for PLT Health Solutions, the work the two companies have done on CITES compliance underscores a commitment to sustainability for Rhodiola rosea that has been at the forefront of their sourcing and manufacturing strategies for decades. "The CITES program is unique in our industry in that it requires certification and permits related to sustainability for every shipment at every stop along an ingredient's supply chain. There are no CITES-certified brands or companies, unlike what occurs with organizations like the Non-GMO Verified Project , Kosher, Halal, or USDA Organic. CITES is a Government-to-Government program, which means we work with multiple agencies, each having their own region or country-specific requirements to become CITES compliant," he said. "Today, PLT has CITES-compliant Rhodiolife available for our customers. The expertise we have developed in this area will ensure we have adequate supplies of this material, and our customers can rest easy that the documentation is handled," he said.

Sustainability at the Forefront

As one of the first businesses to successfully commercialize Rhodiola rosea extract, PLT innovation partner Nektium pioneered sustainable harvesting and traceability practices for Rhodiola for decades. Since 2012 Nektium has undertaken third party audits of their practices in Siberia every two years. These efforts help to strengthen the sustainable supply chain of Rhodiola rosea. In 2017, PLT and Nektium undertook a successful third-party sustainability and ingredient identity audit, working with Botanical Liaisons and NaturPro Scientific.

In September 2022 , PLT announced Nektium's cultivation program for Rhodiola rosea. This groundbreaking project was the result of over a decade of work in which Nektium was able to achieve a physical and phytochemical profile for its cultivated material that is identical to wildcrafted Rhodiola. Cultivation of Rhodiola rosea has been attempted around the world for some time, but few have achieved success on anything approaching a commercial scale.

Supporting a Premium Rhodiola Ingredient

According to Stagg, sustainability is now a 'cost-of-entry' for the Rhodiola rosea business, but providing an optimal ingredient requires more effort. "With a CITES listing, consumer products companies are going to shy away from non-sustainable Rhodiola. But there are other top of mind issues for this ingredient - including traceability, ingredient identity, quality, and capability of being included in novel delivery systems."

"The Nektium ID Assessment program includes multiple identity tests on every batch of Rhodiolife, including macroscopic and sensorial analysis, development of chromatographic profiles, and independent DNA barcode analysis to ensure authenticity of the raw material. The material is then standardized to provide precise levels of key bioactive compounds, rosavins and salidroside. The resulting HPLC 'fingerprint' of the Rhodiolife extract is consistent from batch to batch, and matches with that of the native root. It's that kind of attention to detail that defines what a premium ingredient can be and is our commitment to our customers," Stagg said. "Authentication is especially important when adulteration is suspected. Recently, the American Botanical Council's Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program suggested that high demand for Rhodiola rosea has led to it being mixed or interchanged with other Rhodiola species before being exported from Asia ." he added.

For more information, visit www.plthealth.com/rhodiolife.

Media Contact: Company Contact: Mark Falconer Steve Fink , Vice President, Marketing Sciencewerks, LLC PLT Health Solutions, Inc. Voice: 407-412-9702 Voice: 973-984-0900 x214 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

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SOURCE PLT Health Solutions
Combined technologies will ensure resilience of Zero Trust mesh networks in contested environments

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Technologies' (NYSE: RTX ) BBN division and SpiderOak announced a strategic partnership to develop and field a new generation of zero-trust security systems for satellite communications in proliferated low-Earth orbit, or pLEO.

SpiderOak's OrbitSecure solution will be combined with Raytheon BBN's Distributed, Disrupted, Disconnected and Denied (D4) secure cloud solution to ensure resilience of mesh networks in contested environments.

"This partnership is paving the way toward secure, on-demand, Geostationary Equatorial Orbit network-like pLEO communications," said Raytheon BBN President Jason Redi . " Raytheon 's networking technology ensures that the satellite constellation provides the best routing solution during normal operation, while also dynamically supporting autonomous cross-link routing during disrupted environments. SpiderOak's technology allows us to maintain distributed secure operations with high efficiency, particularly when the constellation is reconfiguring and paths are not preplanned."

"This cooperative effort reflects a common vision for a disruption-tolerant space networking future, which will be important for all mesh networks, and absolutely vital for the future of battle management command and control," said Charles Beames , SpiderOak executive chairman.

The combined solution can be applied across multi-vendor constellations despite orbital or malicious dynamics and will provide maximum resilience and efficiency in difficult or hostile operating environments. This includes cyber and kinetic threats that require on-orbit network and network function redundancy and flexibility.

During this one-year effort, Raytheon , Raytheon BBN, SEAKR Engineering , and SpiderOak will integrate the capability developed during phase one into space-qualified hardware with the goal of making it flight-ready.

Work on D4-Secure is being conducted in Cambridge, Massachusetts ; Reston, Virginia ; and Centennial, Colorado .

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Eric T. Mazzacone

[email protected]

About Raytheon BBN

Founded in 1948, Raytheon BBN provides advanced technology research and development with a focus on national security priorities. From the ARPANET, to the first email, to the first stereo digital mammography system, through the first metro network protected by quantum cryptography, Raytheon BBN has consistently transitioned advanced research to produce innovative solutions for its customers. Today, Raytheon BBN's innovations allow for leading-edge maritime systems, networking solutions, speech understanding in any language or format, and lifesaving shooter detection systems. Raytheon BBN scientists and engineers continue to take risks and challenge conventions to create new and fundamentally better solutions in analytics & machine intelligence, networks and sensors, intelligent software and systems, and physical sciences. BBN is a subsidiary of Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a business of Raytheon Technologies

About Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon Technologies is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia .

About SEAKR Engineering

SEAKR Engineering is the leading-edge provider of advanced electronics for space applications. We design and manufacture processors, command and data handling systems, advanced payloads, and manned space hardware. Founded in 1982 to revolutionize spacecraft memory systems, today SEAKR continues forward innovation with state-of-the-art space communications processors capable of channelization and beamforming. SEAKR was acquired by Raytheon Technologies in 2021. For more information on SEAKR's processing capabilities or SEAKR products, please visit SEAKR.COM

About SpiderOak

SpiderOak is a 100% U.S. -owned and operated software company that delivers end-to-end cybersecurity solutions for civil, military, and commercial space operations. Our commercially available products are built upon a foundation of zero-trust encryption and distributed ledger, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your most sensitive data in the space domain. For more information about SpiderOak products, services or business development opportunities, check us out at www.spideroak.com.

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ROCKVILLE, Md. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: RGRX) ("the Company" or "RegeneRx"), a clinical-stage drug development company focused on tissue protection, repair, and regeneration, has issued a Letter to Stockholders updating its ongoing operating strategy. The Letter may be viewed at RegeneRx's homepage: www.regenerx.com.

About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

RegeneRx is focused on the development of novel therapeutic peptides, including Thymosin beta 4 (T4) and its constituent fragments, for tissue and organ protection, repair, and regeneration. RegeneRx currently has three drug candidates in clinical development for ophthalmic, acute inflammatory and dermal indications, four active strategic licensing agreements in the U.S. , China , and Pan Asia ( Korea , Japan , and Australia , among others), and the EU, and has patents and patent applications covering its products in many countries throughout the world.

Forward Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release and Letter to Stockholders that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this stockholder letter include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our current or future cash position, capital requirements, ability to continue operations, strategic and research partnerships, the development and timing of clinical trials for our drug candidates, the use of our drug candidates to treat various conditions, our operating strategies, intellectual property, and our financial needs. These, and any other forward-looking statements, are expectations and estimates based upon information obtained from our joint venture partner and/or calculated by the Company at this time and are subject to change. Moreover, there is no guarantee any of our clinical trials will be successful or confirm previous clinical results. There also is no assurance that we can successfully raise the capital required to continue even limited business operations now or in the future. Please view these and other risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC "), including those identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 , and subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings it makes with the SEC , if any. Any forward-looking statements in this stockholder letter represent the Company's views only as of the date of this letter and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update this information, as a result of future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

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The limited-edition Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams Color Collection contains 30 colors, appealing to both homeowners and designers

CLEVELAND , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sherwin-Williams, the global leader in paints and coatings, announced today its collaboration with renowned fashion designer, Christian Siriano . Available starting today, the limited-edition 30-color collection is inspired by his clean, modern and elegant aesthetic.

"Sherwin-Williams is thrilled to partner with Christian Siriano to bring together the worlds of fashion and paint through his highly regarded design expertise. This collaboration allows us to explore new avenues for color and design, while showcasing the transformative power of paint. We look forward to bringing this partnership to life and inspiring new possibilities in the world of design," said Sherwin-Williams SVP of Sales & Marketing, Brett White .

Christian Siriano is most known for being a design icon that stands for all things color, inclusivity and style. As a trusted interior design curator with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook his Connecticut home, Siriano often draws inspiration from nature by bringing the outside in. The Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams Color Collection exudes an authentically Siriano color story that features bright whites and leans into natural neutrals like charcoals, beiges, terracottas and blues. For Siriano, the curated color selection is clean and modern while embodying warmth and elegance for the home or even commercial spaces that crave a residential feel.

"We live our lives in our spaces. They're our sanctuary, and they should feel just as fabulous as when you put something on your body and walk out the door. Home should feel the same way," shared Siriano. "Through this partnership with Sherwin-Williams, I wanted to create a portal into my world that offers a range of options. There's a color for everyone in this collection!"

The collection was curated with homeowners and designers in mind and offers 30 of Christian's go-to colors that are ideal for creating stunning interior spaces with the entire collection available at s-w.com/christiansiriano. Two Peel & Stick kits have been created to support the collection's audiences. The homeowner kit features Christian's top 6 picks, including go-to whites and natural neutrals to tell a whole home story, while the designer kit includes 6 colors available exclusively in Emerald Designer Edition. Both kits are available on the collection's website.

"What we love the most about working with Christian Siriano is his ability to design inclusively and in a way that fits everyone's preferences," shares Sue Wadden , Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin-Williams. "With functionality in color being essential, this collection showcases just thatstunning colors and practicality."

Consumers can explore the collaboration and create a space they love with the Christian Siriano x Sherwin-Williams Color Collection featuring an exclusive palette of natural neutrals that make home a shade more fabulous by visiting s-w.com/christiansiriano.

Ask Sherwin-Williams

For more than 155 years, Sherwin-Williams has been an industry leader in the development of technologically advanced paint and coatings. As the nation's largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting both do-it-yourselfers and painting professionals with exceptional and exclusive products, resources to make confident color selections and expert, personalized service at its more than 4,800 neighborhood stores across North America. For more information, visit sherwin-williams.com. Join Sherwin-Williams on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok , Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Christian Siriano

Award winning CFDA designer Christian Siriano launched his eponymous collection in 2008 following his studies in London under Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen . Known for whimsical and show-stopping design, the collection is shown each season at New York Fashion Week and sold in retailers across the globe. In 2012, the first flagship Christian Siriano store opened in NYC, then in 2018, "The Curated NYC" opened in Midtown Manhattan, and now his most recent retail venture, "The Collective West" has opened in Westport, CT . Siriano's designs have been worn by current VPOTUS Kamala Harris, current FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden , former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie , Oprah , Zendaya, Ariana Grande , Julianne Moore , Lady Gaga , Tiffany Haddish, Billy Porter , Cardi B, Amy Adams , Scarlett Johansson , Whoopi Goldberg and Julia Roberts to name but a few. Siriano was named among Time's 100 Most Influential People for his leading contributions on body diversity on the runway and red carpet. Christian is the youngest person to ever appear on Crain's "40 Under 40" list and a member of "Forbes 30 Under 30".



Christian has been heralded for leading the PPE charge during the COVID-19 pandemic. His atelier shifted entirely from clothes to masks and to date he and his team have shipped over one million masks to frontline workers in the New York area. 2020 also saw Siriano launch his own digital BRAVO talk show called " SO SIRIANO " which saw him break down all things fashion and pop culture with guests ranging from Drew Barrymore , Leslie Jones , Billy Porter , Ashley Graham , Sarah Michelle Gellar , and Sia. And Christian fulfilled a longtime passion when he added interior designer to his impressive list of credits with the debut of his newest venture, Siriano Interiors and a full custom furniture collection. With over a decade of fashion experience, the Siriano design studio continues to celebrate beauty and diversity in this ever-changing Fashion industry. Most recently, the prestigious SCAD ( Savannah College of Art & Design ) MUSEUM OF ART presents Christian's first ever solo work retrospective with the CHRISTIAN SIRIANO: PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE EXHIBITION, which ran in Savannah from October 2021-January 2022 and recently moved to the Atlanta location and remains on view through October 9th, 2022 . In 2017, he added the title of Author to his credits when he released a photographic retrospective book with Rizzoli Books called Dresses to Dream About, now in its third printing. Due to that high demand, he released a new version titled Christian Siriano : Dresses to Dream About Deluxe Edition, featuring brand new images from his ever growing/impressive body of work.

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SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company
SkyDrop is now the first company approved for live store to door drone delivery in New Zealand beginning in the town of Huntly

RENO, Nev. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyDrop (formerly Flirtey), announced that it has now received Part 102 approval from New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to launch SkyDrop's first drone hub in Huntly, New Zealand . With this groundbreaking approval, SkyDrop is now the first company approved for live store to door drone delivery in New Zealand , which includes certain beyond visual line of sight operations. This marks a major milestone for the drone delivery solutions provider in its quest to make drone delivery accessible to larger populations.

SkyDrop is now the first company approved for live store to door drone delivery in New Zealand

SkyDrop designs and builds drone delivery aircraft, the enabling software, and launch platforms to provide delivery solutions to customers worldwide. The recent approval enables the launch of SkyDrop's first drone hub in Huntly, unlocking revenue-generating drone deliveries with a clear path to economic viability for SkyDrop and its customers.

The CAA granted the approval after conducting a thorough review of SkyDrop's technology and operating procedures. Underpinning this approval is SkyDrop's industry-leading safety technology including an onboard Parachute Recovery System which was reviewed by the CAA.

This approval follows years of extensive testing in the United States and New Zealand . SkyDrop has also received approvals from Waikato District Council following engagement with local stakeholders in Raahui Pookeka (Huntly) including the Waahi Paa, who named a SkyDrop drone Te Kaahu (The Hawk). SkyDrop drone delivery enables speedier and cheaper delivery for local communities that also reduces traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions.

This lays the foundation for SkyDrop to scale because the risk assessment method that secured this approval can be adapted to additional locations to build a nationwide network of drone hubs across New Zealand , and to Australia , Canada , and the European Union member countries who all use the JARUS SORA method.

"SkyDrop is excited to work with the CAA to make New Zealand the innovation leader in speedier, cheaper, and greener last-mile drone delivery. This approval is a groundbreaking milestone for SkyDrop, and the drone delivery industry," said Matthew Sweeny , SkyDrop's Founder and CEO. "SkyDrop is set to launch regular drone deliveries to the nearly 10,000 people and businesses in Huntly. Tell us: What will you deliver? And if you want to be the next business or town in New Zealand with drone delivery, reach out to us at SkyDrop!"

If you want to be the next business or town in New Zealand with drone delivery, reach out to SkyDrop at [email protected]

About SkyDrop:

SkyDrop (formerly Flirtey) is a full-stack solutions provider of hardware and software for autonomous last-mile drone delivery and owns extensive patents. SkyDrop is the pioneer of the commercial drone delivery industry, with a mission to make delivery instant for everyone, and a vision of drone delivery that is safer, speedier, quieter, cheaper, and greener. The company first made history in 2015 when it conducted the first-ever FAA -approved drone delivery in the US. Learn more at www.GetSkyDrop.com

Media Kit: https://app.box.com/s/qlciwgxy39exn614xoqwhsfjfephhadd

Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCE SkyDrop
Funds will assist graduating BSN students and support diversity in the workforce

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunshine Health today announced a $25,000 donation to support the Last Mile Scholarship Fund for nursing students at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), a historically Black university.

The donation will support more than 40 graduating nursing students with registration and examination fees for NCLEX, the state's licensing exam. The funds will also assist graduate students in the Adult Gerontology and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs with preceptor accommodations and test prep resources.

According to the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Study, Black/ African American registered nurses make up 6.7% of the nursing workforce.

"Nurses are an essential part of our healthcare system, and it's important that our workforce reflects the diversity of our communities to best serve our members and support our mission to help improve health outcomes across the state," said Nathan Landsbaum , CEO of Sunshine Health .

Sunshine Health is proud to collaborate with FAMU to increase minority representation in the nursing profession and address the nationwide nursing shortage.

Over the past year, the university found that supporting the coverage of exam fees resulted in students testing six to eight weeks post-graduation and receiving higher NCLEX first-time pass rates.

"We are incredibly grateful to Sunshine Health for their generosity and commitment to our students," said Dr. Shelly A. Johnson , Dean and Professor, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University . "Their contribution will make a difference in the lives of our nursing students, giving them financial support to cover exam costs and help them achieve their professional goals."

About Sunshine Health

Headquartered in Broward County and with offices across the state, Sunshine Health is among the largest healthcare plans in Florida. Offering coordinated care and a network of support for our members, Sunshine Health is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. Sunshine Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise. It offers government-sponsored managed care through Medicaid, Long Term Care, the Health Insurance Marketplace (Ambetter), and Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans (Wellcare). Its specialty plans include the Child Welfare Specialty Plan serving children in or adopted from the state's Child Welfare system; the Serious Mental Illness Specialty Plan for people living with serious mental illness; and the Children's Medical Services Health Plan, operated by Sunshine Health on behalf of the Florida Department of Health for children and adolescents with special healthcare needs. For more information, visit SunshineHealth.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SunHealthFL.

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Humanities Center (NHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of 35 Fellows for the academic year 202324. These leading scholars will come to the Center from universities and colleges in 17 US states as well as Canada , Nigeria , Singapore , South Africa , Taiwan , and the United Kingdom . Chosen from 541 applicants, they represent humanistic scholarship in African American studies; anthropology; archaeology; Asian American studies; East Asian studies; ethnomusicology; gender and sexuality studies; history; history of art and architecture; information studies; languages and literature; media studies; medieval studies; music history and musicology; philosophy; psychology; religious studies; and Slavic studies. Each Fellow will work on an individual research project and will have the opportunity to share ideas in seminars, lectures, and conferences at the Center.

The National Humanities Center is pleased to announce the appointment of 35 Fellows for the academic year 202324.

These newly appointed Fellows will constitute the forty-sixth class of resident scholars to be admitted since the Center opened in 1978. "We are extremely pleased to be able to support the exciting work of these scholars," said Robert D. Newman , president and director of the National Humanities Center. "They were selected from a truly exceptional field of applicants spanning the wide range of humanities disciplines. We look forward to their arrival in the fall as they pursue their individual projects and form a robust intellectual community."

The National Humanities Center will award over $1,550,000 in fellowship grants to enable the selected scholars to take leave from their normal academic duties and pursue research at the Center. This funding is provided from the Center's endowment and by grants and awards from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund , the Geiss Hsu Foundation , the Henry Luce Foundation , the UNCF/Mellon Programs, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as contributions from alumni and friends of the Center.

About the National Humanities Center

The National Humanities Center is the world's only independent institute dedicated exclusively to advanced study in all areas of the humanities. Through its residential fellowship program, the Center provides scholars with the resources necessary to generate new knowledge and to further understanding of all forms of cultural expression, social interaction, and human thought. Through its education programs, the Center strengthens teaching on the collegiate and pre-collegiate levels. Through public engagement intimately linked to its scholarly and educational programs, the Center promotes understanding of the humanities and advocates for their foundational role in a democratic society.

NHC Fellows and Their Projects, 202324

Project disciplines and home institutions are parenthetically noted for each Fellow.

Adeshina Afolayan (Philosophy, University of Ibadan ) Philosophy in the Dancehall: Philosophy and Popular Music in Postcolonial Nigeria (Founders' Fellowship)

(Philosophy, ) (Founders' Fellowship) Ana Mariella Bacigalupo (Anthropology, University at Buffalo ) The Subversive Politics of Sentient Mountains : Collective Ethics and Climate Justice in Northern Peru (Burroughs Wellcome Fund Fellowship in the Humanities, Arts, and Sciences)

(Anthropology, ) (Burroughs Wellcome Fund Fellowship in the Humanities, Arts, and Sciences) Bibi Burger (Languages and Literature, University of Cape Town ) The Whiteness of Afrikaans Literary Feminism (STIAS Iso Lomso Fellowship)

(Languages and Literature, ) (STIAS Iso Lomso Fellowship) Moon Charania (Gender and Sexuality Studies, Spelman College ) Meditations on Brownness (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship)

(Gender and Sexuality Studies, ) (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship) Justin T. Clark (History, Nanyang Technological University , Singapore ) The Clockwork Republic : Sociolegal Culture, Time, and Struggle in the United States , 17871860 (Luce East Asia Fellowship)

(History, , ) (Luce East Asia Fellowship) Katherine Davies (Philosophy, The University of Texas at Dallas ) Care as Custody: A Critical Feminist Phenomenology of the U.S. Foster Care System ( Philip L. Quinn Fellowship)

(Philosophy, The ) ( Fellowship) Andrea U. De Giorgi (Archaeology, Florida State University ) Cosa and the Water Systems of the Roman Conquest of Italy (3rd2nd c. BCE) (Robert F. and Margaret S. Goheen Fellowship)

) (Robert F. and Fellowship) Xiaolin Duan (History, North Carolina State University ) Three Cities of the Early Modern Pacific: Connections and Conflicts between the Ming Dynasty and the Spanish Empire (Geiss Hsu Foundation Fellowship)

(History, ) (Geiss Hsu Foundation Fellowship) Devin Fergus (History, University of Missouri ) The Making and Unmaking of One America: President Clinton's Initiative on Race ( John Hope Franklin Fellowship)

(History, ) ( Fellowship) Sean L. Field (Medieval Studies, The University of Vermont ) Women Writing Saints' Lives: Gendered Authority and Female Authorship in the Middle Ages (Trustees' Fellowship)

(Medieval Studies, The ) (Trustees' Fellowship) Frederico Freitas (History, North Carolina State University ) Concrete Tropics: An Environmental History of Brazil's Modernist Capital (Research Triangle Foundation Fellowship)

(History, ) (Research Triangle Foundation Fellowship) Isabel C. Gomez (Languages and Literature, University of Massachusetts Boston ) Divest from English: Eco-Translation and Multilingual Repair (Fellows' Fellowship)

) (Fellows' Fellowship) Michael S. Gorham (Slavic Studies, University of Florida ) Networking Putinism: The Rhetoric of Power in the Age of New Media Technology ( Archie K. Davis Fellowship; NEH Fellowship)

(Slavic Studies, ) ( Fellowship; NEH Fellowship) Sally E. Hadden (History, Western Michigan University ) One Supreme Court (GlaxoSmithKline Fellowship)

(History, ) (GlaxoSmithKline Fellowship) Natasha Howard (Media Studies, Morehouse College ) Relationship Themes and Scripts in the Music of Black Female Rappers, 20122022 (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship)

(Media Studies, ) (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship) Yohei Igarashi (Languages and Literature, University of Connecticut ) Word Count: Literary Study and Data Analysis, 18751965 (Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Fellowship)

(Languages and Literature, ) (Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Fellowship) Richard M. Jaffe (Religious Studies, Duke University ) Spreading Indra's Net: A Biography of D. T. Suzuki (The Duke Endowment Fellowship)

(Religious Studies, ) (The Duke Endowment Fellowship) Karima K. Jeffrey-Legette (African American Studies, Hampton University ) Black Girls Write the Future: A Scholarly Investigation of Speculative Fiction by or about Women and Girls of African Descent (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship)

(African American Studies, ) (UNCF/Mellon Faculty Fellowship) Tom Johnson (History, University of York ) The Reckoners: Economic Life in a Fifteenth-Century Fishing Village ( Frank H. Kenan Fellowship)

(History, ) ( Fellowship) Lisa A. Lindsay (History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ) "Unity": African Women and Resistance in the Atlantic Slave Trade ( Anthony E. Kaye Fellowship)

(History, ) ( Fellowship) Rebecca Maloy (Music History and Musicology, University of Colorado Boulder ) Sounding the Saints in Early Medieval Iberia ( Delta Delta Delta Fellowship)

(Music History and Musicology, ) ( Fellowship) Sequoia Maner (African American Studies, Spelman College ) A Critical History of Black Elegy in the United States (Ruth W. and A. Morris Williams , Jr. Fellowship)

) (Ruth W. and , Jr. Fellowship) Stella Nair (History of Art and Architecture, University of California, Los Angeles ) Inca Architecture: Chapters in the History of a (Gendered) Profession (Hurford Family Fellowship; NEH Fellowship)

(History of Art and Architecture, ) (Hurford Family Fellowship; NEH Fellowship) Marguerite Nguyen (Asian American Studies, Wesleyan University ) Refugee Ecologies: Forced Displacement and American Literature (Donnelley Family Fellowship)

(Asian American Studies, ) (Donnelley Family Fellowship) Wanda S. Pillow (Gender, Race, and Sexuality Studies, The University of Utah ) Troubling Intimacies: Sacajawea and York as National Subjects (William C. and Ida Friday Fellowship)

(Gender, Race, and Sexuality Studies, ) (William C. and Fellowship) Miriam Posner (Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles ) Seeing Like a Supply Chain: The Hidden Life of Logistics ( John E. Sawyer Fellowship)

(Information Studies, ) ( Fellowship) Richard J. Powell (History of Art and Architecture, Duke University ) Colorstruck! Painting, Pigment, Affect ( Henry Luce Fellowship)

(History of Art and Architecture, ) ( Fellowship) David M. Robinson (East Asian Studies, Colgate University ) Ability and Difference in Early Modern China ( John G. Medlin , Jr. Fellowship)

(East Asian Studies, ) ( , Jr. Fellowship) Jonathan Sachs (Languages and Literature, Concordia University , Montreal ) Slow Time ( M. H. Abrams Fellowship)

(Languages and Literature, , ) ( Fellowship) Matt Sakakeeny (Ethnomusicology, Tulane University ) Music is Life: Coming-of-Age Stories from the Margins of America (NEH Fellowship)

(Ethnomusicology, ) (NEH Fellowship) Abigail Susik (History of Art and Architecture, Willamette University ) Afrosurrealism and Anti-racism ( Allen W. Clowes Fellowship)

(History of Art and Architecture, ) ( Fellowship) E.K. Tan (East Asian Studies, Stony Brook University ) Queer Homecoming: Translocal Remapping of Sinophone Kinship (Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship)

(East Asian Studies, ) (Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship) Elanor Taylor (Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University ) The Foundations of Social Metaphysics ( William J. Bouwsma Fellowship)

(Philosophy, ) ( Fellowship) Joan Titus (Musicology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro ) Dmitry Shostakovich and Music for Thaw-Era Cinema ( Kent R. Mullikin Fellowship)

(Musicology, ) ( Fellowship) Su-Ling Yeh (Psychology, National Taiwan University ) Enhancing Well-Being in the Age of AI: How Psychology Can Help (Luce East Asia Fellowship)

Contact:

Donald Solomon

919-406-0120

[email protected]

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SOURCE National Humanities Center
Report calls for approaches to build sustainable food and nutrition security and avert future crises

NEW YORK , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid the ongoing global food and nutrition crisis, a new report from The Rockefeller Foundation provides constructive steps forward in leveraging resources to end hunger and build sustainable food security. Anticipate and localize: Leveraging humanitarian funding to create more sustainable food systems recommends a shift in donor approaches to align more closely with solutions that strengthen food system resilience to climate change, conflict, and other shocks. It is the second of four reports issued by The Rockefeller Foundation that will present a unified roadmap for achieving global food and nutrition security.

"If the world does not act now, there will be as many hungry people in 2030 as there were in 2015, a devastating backslide  and one that could accelerate amid the worsening climate crisis," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah , President of The Rockefeller Foundation . "The goal of ending hunger once and for all is still achievable, but it requires stakeholders coming together in public-private-philanthropic partnerships behind big bets to scale innovative solutions, including those identified in this report."

While the international community has responded to the global hunger crisis with unprecedented pledges of humanitarian aid, funding gaps still remain. More broadly, there are concerns that humanitarian food assistance, as currently structured and delivered, is not the way to achieve resilient and sustainable food security.

"We have the largest humanitarian appeals, the largest numbers of people who are food insecure and the largest funding gaps in history," said Carol Bellamy , writer of the report and former Executive Director of United Nations Children's Fund ( UNICEF ). "The numbers force new thinking about how we can both improve the effectiveness of existing aid and also reduce the need for aid through building more sustainable food systems."

The humanitarian assistance system is comprised of several actors, including the multi-agency United Nations ; governments; multilateral development banks; nongovernmental organizations; and private donors. Yet, despite the enormous resources deployed, coordination is weak. Major shortcomings have included a failure to anticipate crisis and invest proactively; a failure to tailor aid to local needs through local partners; and a failure to join the funding "dots."

"The sliver of funding that went to sustainable solutions demonstrates the most dangerous gap of all: the gap between short-term thinking and long-term solutions," said Catherine Bertini , Managing Director, Global Nutrition Security at The Rockefeller Foundation , former Executive Director of the World Food Programme , and 2003 World Food Prize Laureate. "Until we address the underlying issues of the resilience and sustainability of food systems, the need for humanitarian food aid will continue to escalate."

Report's Recommendations Break with Funding Orthodoxy



The four key recommendations in the report are as follows:

Fund anticipatory action and make smarter investments. The report urges donors to spend 1% of their 2024 budgets on such action, increasing that share by 1% for the next 10 years. Furthermore, investments must be smarter than in the past, helping farmers to rapidly adapt to climate change, including through a focus on regenerative agriculture.





and make smarter investments. The report urges donors to spend 1% of their 2024 budgets on such action, increasing that share by 1% for the next 10 years. Furthermore, investments must be smarter than in the past, helping farmers to rapidly adapt to climate change, including through a focus on regenerative agriculture. Fund localization by increasing the share of funding that goes to local organizations to 25% of their total expenditure over the next five years. This would support the role of local communities as effective first responders. National governments are urged to invest a similar share of their spending on domestic food security in local approaches.





by increasing the share of funding that goes to local organizations to 25% of their total expenditure over the next five years. This would support the role of local communities as effective first responders. National governments are urged to invest a similar share of their spending on domestic food security in local approaches. Crack funding siloes by establishing United Nations country teams that unify funding and strategies that address humanitarian need, social and economic development, and peace, including in food insecurity hotspots affected by armed conflict.





by establishing country teams that unify funding and strategies that address humanitarian need, social and economic development, and peace, including in food insecurity hotspots affected by armed conflict. Make the investment case through a campaign to put under-utilized working solutions to the test in a real-time situation of food insecurity.

In addition to the solutions highlighted above, the report calls for weaving three common threads into every policy, program and approach: a gender lens, the meaningful inclusion of those most directly affected by food insecurity, and intensive collaboration.

The report draws on insights of The Rockefeller Foundation -sponsored Convening Group on Funding for Sustainable Food Security .* The Rockefeller Foundation convened nearly two dozen experts in food insecurity and food aid from around the world. Over the course of two months, November through December 2022 , they examined how to best mobilize and leverage funding to ensure food security for all.

"Millions of people are in desperate need of food assistance today  and as we deliver this aid, it is critical to invest in systemic change that will build sustainable food security in the longer term," continued Ms. Bertini. "To solve these interconnected global challenges, governments and organizations must be willing to abandon cherished notions of what works for them in favor of what can work to bring food security to all."

Anticipate and localize: Leveraging humanitarian funding to create more sustainable food systems is the second of four reports in a series on achieving global food and nutrition security supported by The Rockefeller Foundation . The first report, Defining the Path to Zero Hunger in an Equitable World , was recently published by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and offers a framework to reimagine a hunger-free world.

* Convening Group members: Karima Aboud Al-Hada'a , Government of Yemen ; Mansoor Ahmed , Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office , UK ; Arnauld Akodjenou, Kofi Annan Foundation ; Tom Arnold , Concern Worldwide ; Gabrial Deng , Hope for Ariang Fondation; Glenn Denning , Columbia University ; Jamie Drummond , ONE Campaign; Nils Grede , World Food Programme (WFP); David Kaatrud , WFP; Joseph Kaifala, Jeneba Project ; Randolph Kent , King's College London ; Chris Leather , N4D; Thin Lei Win , The New Humanitarian; Dan Maxwell , Tufts University ; David McNair , ONE Campaign; Peter Mulrean , U.S. Department of State (retired); Fatima Muradi , United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Paul Newnham , SDG2 Advocacy Hub; Rebecca Richards , WFP; Susana Rico , WFP; Patrick Saez , ODI; Deborah Saidy , WFP; Dan Toole , United Nations Children's Fund ( UNICEF ).

**additional inputs and perspectives were also provided by Ronnie Coffman of Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences , John Herron of the Harvard Graduate School of Design , Julian Lampietti of the World Bank , David Nabarro of the UN Global Crisis Response Group , Joachim von Braunof of the University of Bonn , Rami Zurayk of the American University of Beirut , and Douglas Broderick , International Development Consultant.

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We work to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal and sustainable. Our focus is on scaling renewable energy for all, stimulating economic mobility, and ensuring equitable access to health care and nutritious food. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter @RockefellerFdn.

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SINGAPORE , April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia-Pacific countries have been a magnet for tourists over the years. They are incredibly diverse and culturally rich, with many incredible sights to explore. Before the pandemic, the Asia-Pacific tourism sector was thriving, attracting visitors from around the world year after year.

According to Statista (2023), the volume of inbound travellers is expected to grow throughout 2023 and 2024, rising by 94% compared to the previous year. Regarding tourism growth throughout APAC, Trip.com data analyses the booking trends to popular destination spots, including Japan , South Korea and Hong Kong , and has consistently had high search figures for this region.

Recently, Trip.com Group has strengthened its partnerships with stakeholders to position Japan as a top destination, with Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Bo , meeting the commissioner of Japan in March 2023 . Japan has consistently been ranked among the top five destinations globally in terms of bookings and search volumes since entry restrictions were eased in Q4 2022. According to Trip.com data, global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March and 30 June increased by 237% YoY. Global flight bookings also increased by 317% (2022-2023) for travellers during the same period. The most popular European flight routes were from London to Tokyo and Paris to Tokyo .

The best time to visit Tokyo , Kyoto , and Osaka is between March-April for cherry blossom season in Japan , to witness the world-famous flowers bloom in top tourist spots. Japan's unique blend of fascinating culture, incredible landscapes and delicious food makes for a sought-after destination for travellers. According to Trip.com data, the top three cities visited in Japan were Tokyo , Osaka and Kyoto . Osaka , known for famous landmarks such as Osaka Castle , Osaka Aquarium Dotonbori and Tennoji Park , is part of a long list of must-visit landmarks. The ancient city of Kyoto was the traditional home of the Japanese royal family, drawing tourists with its rich history and stunning architecture.

The South Korean government has recently promised to boost exports and attract tourists (Reuters 2023). It has set the goal of attracting 10 million foreign visitors this year. The number of foreign tourists reached a record 17.5 million in 2019, generating revenue estimated at $20.7 billion , according to the Korea Tourism Organisation .

Trip.com data reveals that global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June, increased year-on-year (2022-2023) by more than half (51%). Flight bookings from Europe ( UK , France , Italy , Spain and Germany ) increased by 456% year-on-year (2022-2023) for arrivals during the same period. The most popular flight routes were from London to Seoul , followed by Paris to Seoul.

The capital, Seoul , is the most popular visited city, according to Trip.com data, boasting jaw-dropping skyscrapers and grand palaces, and offering a mix of ancient landmarks and attractions of historical and cultural significance. The Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the finest examples of classic Korean architecture, destroyed and rebuilt several times since 1395.

Jeju Island is the second most popular destination, also favoured among locals. One of Netflix's biggest K-dramas, 'Our Blues' brought international recognition to the volcanic island, with its windswept coastline and mountainous horizons. Seogwipo on the south side of Jeju Island is for tourists wanting a more relaxing trip, with its volcanic coastline famous for its sea views and scuba diving.

Following China's decision to reopen borders in December 2022 , Hong Kong was one of the cities which led the surge as one of the top five tourist destinations for outbound visitors from mainland China . Trip.com data shows that the most popular attractions within Hong Kong for its customers include Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping 360 - a cable car experience across the rolling green hills - and The Jurassic Dinosaur Adventure Park .

Trip.com data shows global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June increased year-on-year by 13% from 2022 to 2023). Flight bookings from Europe ( UK , France , Italy , Spain and Germany ) increased by a huge margin of 1,362% year-on-year from 2022 to 2023, for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June. The most popular flight route was from the UK - Hong Kong , followed by Germany - Hong Kong , and the top five destinations for tourists were mainland China , Singapore , the UK , America and Canada .

Over time, the Asia-Pacific region has transformed into a major travel hub for all types of tourists. The past decade has also experienced a dramatic increase in domestic and international tourist arrivals, and the region has gained a reputation as an in-trend destination for its attractions and natural landscapes.

About Trip.com

Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 20 languages across 27 countries and regions in 31 local currencies and sites. Trip.com has an extensive hotel and flight network consisting of more than 1.2 million hotels and flights from over 480 airlines covering 2,600 airports in 200 countries and regions around the globe. Trip.com's world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service as well as additional centres in Edinburgh , Tokyo and Seoul , help to 'create the best travel experience' for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit trip.com

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SOURCE Trip.com
Set to Debut in Summer 2023, the New Viking Aton Continues to Build on Viking's Commitment to Egypt

LOS ANGELES , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking (www.viking.com) today announced its newest ship for the Nile Riverthe 82-guest Viking Atonwas "floated out," marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Set to debut in August 2023 , the Viking Aton will join the company's growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships purpose-built for the Nile River and sail Viking's bestselling 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary. Viking has seen very strong demand in Egypt , with the 2023 season now sold out and many 2024 sailing dates already sold out. The surge in demand has led Viking to open 2025 sailing dates sooner than originally expected.

"We are pleased with the continued strong interest for our Nile River voyages. Our guests are curious explorers, and Egypt remains a destination of great interest for its many cultural treasures," said Torstein Hagen , Chairman of Viking. "We are proud to be the only western company to build, own and operate ships on the Nile, and with the float out of the Viking Aton, we look forward to welcoming more guests to experience this fantastic region."

The traditional float out ceremony took place at Massara shipyard in Cairo on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 , and is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. The float out of Viking Aton began at approximately 1:00 p.m. local time when Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen and Sayed Farouk , Chairman of The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.) , together pressed the button that signaled to lower the ship-lift of the yard. She will now be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.

The Viking Aton & Viking's Growing Egypt Fleet

Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new, state-of-the-art Viking Aton is inspired by Viking's award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, which was named in 2022 by Viking's first ceremonial godfather, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, the Viking Aton features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace . In addition to the Viking Osiris, the Viking Aton will join the Viking Ra, which launched in 2018. In response to strong demand, Viking will have six ships sailing the Nile by 2025 with the addition of two new sister ships, the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek, which are already under construction and will be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Viking's Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary

During the 12-day, Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo , where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum . Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River , featuring Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna , the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

For guests looking to extend their journey, Viking also offers Pre and Post Extensions that provide Privileged Access to archives and exhibits. Guests on the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt extension will begin the journey in London , where they will meet their Viking Tour Director, an expert Egyptologist, and experience Privileged Access to two museums: first a private, early morning visit to the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum before it opens to the general public  and then a visit to the home and personal museum of world-renowned architect, Sir John Soane , where the tour will be illuminated by candlelight, a re-enactment of how Soane entertained guests and showcased his exquisite collection of Egyptian antiquities, including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus. Guests will also visit London's Petrie Museum , which houses more than 80,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt and Sudan . In Oxford, guests will visit the Ashmolean Museum , one of the oldest in the world, and home to a varied collection of Egyptian mummies and artand go behind the scenes at Oxford University's Griffith Institute , where they will enjoy a Privileged Access visit to see Howard Carter's archives, which detail the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. Lastly, guests will have further Privileged Access with an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle to view the Earl's magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts, as well as archives and exhibits not normally accessible to the public.

Additional offerings include a Pre Extension in Jerusalem where guests will explore the ancient history and vibrant culture of Israel's fascinating capital and a Post Extension to Jordan  Petra, Dead Sea & Amman to view Roman antiquities at Jerash, Crusader-era castles at Kerak or Shobak and experience the lost city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Media Assets

For more information, images and b-roll for Viking, contact [email protected].

About Viking

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans, and lakes around the world. Designed for experienced travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person. Viking has more than 250 awards to its name, including being the first cruise line to ever be named both the #1 Ocean Line and the #1 River Line in a single year in Travel + Leisure's 2022 "World's Best" Awards. Viking has also been rated the #1 River Line and #1 Ocean Line by Conde Nast Traveler in the publication's 2022 and 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. For Viking's award-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv.

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SOURCE Viking
Ongoing land reclamation projects are essential to food security and the national economy

Egypt is implementing mega agricultural land reclamation projects in Sinai, Upper Egypt, the New Delta, Toshka, and east of Oweinat in southwest Egypt, writes Gamal Essam El-Din. The state is in a race against time to increase cultivated areas and boost agricultural production, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said on Sunday.

He was speaking at a meeting to discuss progress in implementing land reclamation projects attended by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli, Minister of Agriculture Al-Sayed Al-Qusseir, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Hani Suweilam, and Chairman of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Ahmed Al-Azzaz.

The president took note of vertical and horizontal expansion projects being implemented to double the agricultural area and raise crop productivity.

The president stressed that agricultural and food production projects have become a matter of life and death given the current global economic crisis and the challenges facing food security in most countries in recent years, said Presidential Spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy.

Al-Qusseir said land reclamation projects in the New Delta, Toshka, Upper Egypt, and Sinai aim to increase Egypts cultivated area from 9.7 million feddans to more than 15 million feddans by 2030. The minister of agriculture underscored the importance of the projects to not only meet the food needs of an increasing population but boost exports and generate much-needed foreign currency.

In 2022, Egypts agricultural exports reached 6.5 million tons, generating foreign exchange receipts worth $3.3 billion. The government hopes to double receipts by 2030.

Mohamed Al-Shahat, head of the General Authority for Land Reclamation and Agricultural Development, told Al-Ahram on Monday that agricultural reclamation projects aim to achieve greater self-sufficiency in food, establish new integrated agricultural communities and improve the lives of rural citizens.

Despite the high cost of land reclamation and limited water resources, the state is determined to expand such projects, said Al-Shahat.

Attention is also being given to increasing the productivity of existing agricultural land. According to Al-Shahat, one goal is to create what is being called the New Delta where strategic crops like wheat, maize, and sugar cane will be cultivated, using the latest irrigation techniques, alongside horticultural crops including vegetables, fruit, and herbal plants for export.

In Toshka, Al-Shahat said the government aims to cultivate 100,000 feddans dedicated to producing strategic cereal crops including wheat, maize, and barley.

Growing strategic crops, particularly wheat, is essential if we are to cut import bills, he said.

Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Mohamed Al-Kersh noted that land reclamation projects aim to increase Egypts cultivated area by three million feddans in three years, and five million feddans by 2030.

He explained that the New Delta project will extend the Nile Delta along the Mediterranean coast to reach Marsa Matrouh. Established on 2.2 million feddans, the reclamation project will cost an estimated LE300 billion.

Studies have shown that 93 per cent of the area is suitable for the growing of crops, including wheat, said Al-Kersh. In the past, the area was widely cultivated, and the Romans considered Egypt the breadbasket of their empire.

In Toshka, where 1.1 million feddans are set to be brought under cultivation, Al-Kersh said plans not only include farm areas but new housing communities.

The Toshka project and the Egyptian Countryside Project  which includes eight Upper Egypt governorates  are examples of horizontal agricultural expansion projects, said Al-Kersh. The Egyptian Countryside Project aims to reclaim 1.5 million feddans connected with Upper Egyptian governorates through an integrated network of roads.

The North and Middle Sinai Development Project, meanwhile, aims to add 456,000 feddans to Egypts cultivated area.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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DUBAI, UAE , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wego has emerged as the #1 travel app for flight search and booking in the MENA ( Middle East and North Africa ) region with a year-over-year (YOY) growth of over 157.7% and 143,002 downloads in February 2023 , according to data from data.ai.

This data was gathered by analyzing the download rates of 1,062 travel apps that offer flight and hotel search capabilities. Wego has also earned the distinction of being the most downloaded travel app for flight-focused brands in the MENA region, and secondly, it is the most downloaded travel app under Meta and OTA categories in Kuwait since September 2022 . With holidays such as Eid Fitr approaching soon, the app's popularity is expected to rise steadily.

Wego is an award-winning travel app and one of the largest online travel marketplaces in the MENA & Asia Pacific . With its extensive network of airline and hotel partners, Wego offers travelers a comprehensive range of travel options, allowing them to find the best deals and make informed decisions about their travel plans.

Whether traveling for adventure, work, family, or other reasons, users can rely on Wego to provide them with a seamless booking experience.

Wego's success can be attributed to its user-friendly interface, which allows users to browse and compare flight and hotel room options from multiple airlines and hotels in one place.

Moreover, throughout the year 2022, Wego has introduced a string of new updates and features for its users, like easier payment gateways with its collaboration with Tabby and Apple Pay. This, coupled with the app's competitive pricing, has helped Wego secure its position as the top travel app for flight search and booking in the MENA region.

About Wego

Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agency websites.

Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website.

Wego was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore Jakarta and Cairo .

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(Reuters) - AlphaSense said on Tuesday it has raised $100 million in a fresh round of funding backed by Alphabet's venture capital arm CapitalG that valued the market intelligence platform at $1.8 billion.

Heightened volatility in the stock markets due to the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary tightening have prompted companies to tap private investors as the appetite for public listings remains subdued.

AlphaSense's existing investors Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Viking Global Investors also participated in the latest funding round.

New York-based AlphaSense said it will use the funds to further its advanced artificial intelligence capabilities.

Last year, the company was valued at $1.7 billion after raising $225 million.

AlphaSense helps its customers extract relevant information from a trove of public and private content such as equity research, earnings calls, company filings and news.

(Reporting by Siddarth S in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
By John Irish and Jan Lopatka

PARIS (Reuters) -French officials were in damage control mode on Tuesday as they tried to contain anger, division and confusion sparked by President Emmanuel Macron's comments on Europe's dependence on the United States and its relations with China and Taiwan.

Macron's comments came in an interview on a trip to China that was meant to showcase European unity on China policy, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also taking part, but highlighted differences within the European Union.

In the interview with French daily Les Echos and news portal Politico published on Sunday, Macron called for the EU to reduce its dependence on the U.S. and to become a "third pole" in world affairs alongside Washington and Beijing.

As European politicians and diplomats returned to work after the long Easter holiday weekend, they were still struggling to digest Macron's comments, in which he also cautioned against being drawn into a crisis over Taiwan driven by an "American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction".

While many of the remarks were not new, the timing of their publication - at the end of a high-profile trip to China, as Beijing carried out military exercises near Taiwan - and their bluntness annoyed countries in eastern Europe.

Many governments in that region see ties with the United States as sacrosanct, particularly given Washington's key role in helping Ukraine defend against Russia's invasion.

"The return of geopolitics means that we have to see more clearly who is our ally and who is not. Strong transatlantic relations between Europe and the U.S. are the foundation of our security," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky told Reuters.

"Europe must invest more in its own security, but I do not see that as an obstacle or a limit for cooperation with the USA," he said via a spokesman.

A senior diplomat from Central and Eastern Europe, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "President Macron is not speaking for Europe or the European Union. He is unwittingly helping Beijing to dismantle transatlantic unity at the time of war in Europe, when it is most needed."

Marcin Przydacz, a foreign policy adviser to Polish President Andrzej Duda, made clear Warsaw was not in favour of any shift away from Washington.

"We believe that more America is needed in Europe," he told Polish broadcaster Radio Zet. He added pointedly: "Today the United States is more of a guarantee of safety in Europe than France."

Such criticism prompted French officials and diplomats to stress that Macron did not suggest Europe should be equidistant geopolitically from Washington and Beijing, simply that Europe's interests will sometimes differ from those of the United States.

The French foreign ministry cancelled a planned debrief on the trip for foreign diplomats in Paris on Tuesday as officials scrambled to make sure they had a consistent message and to limit any fallout with Washington.

The initial response from Washington was measured. Without directly addressing Macron's comments, the U.S. State Department spokesperson and the White House lauded the bilateral relationship with Paris and its role in the Indo-Pacific region and Ukraine. But there was broader unease.

If Europe doesn't "pick sides between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, then maybe we shouldn't be picking sides either [on Ukraine]," U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio said in a video drawing parallels with the conflict in Ukraine.

SYMPATHY AND FRUSTRATION

Even some of the president's closest allies in France recognised Macron had misspoke. "There's a problem with the president's communication. It's a disaster," one Macron ally said on condition of anonymity, saying the timing and location of what he said, although right on substance, were problematic.

"The idea now is to reassure the Americans and tell them there is nothing new and that on Taiwan we have the same position as before," said a senior French diplomat.

"The difficulty I think will ultimately not be with the Americans. I think it will be more complicated with the Europeans, notably the Baltics, Nordics, Eastern Europeans."

Other governments in Europe, however, are at least more sympathetic to Macron's push for "strategic autonomy" - making Europe less dependent on others when it comes to defence, technology and supplies of critical raw materials.

Countries such as Germany, Italy and Spain have also backed strong EU engagement with China, even as Washington takes a harder line with what it sees as an increasingly belligerent Beijing.

"I think we cannot just turn our back to China and try to ignore it. It is a key trading partner, a very large player," Spanish Economy Minister Nadia Calvino said in discussion hosted by the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington.

"We have a shared interest, I think, in ensuring that they engage constructively to put an end to the war in Ukraine as soon as possible and to avoid global market fragmentation, which is going to be lose-lose for everyone."

But even some of those broadly supportive of Macron's agenda lamented the handling of the China trip, in which von der Leyen received a much more muted welcome than the French president.

Nils Schmid, a foreign policy expert and member of parliament for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, said both Scholz and Macron had long favoured the idea of "European sovereignty".

But, he added: "The problematic thing about Macron's visit is that he deliberately pulled out the European card and took ... von der Leyen with him. But then he allowed her to be put in the second row. This has destroyed the hoped-for impetus for a common European policy on China."

He added: "China is playing the card of dividing Europe. We must prevent that."

(Reporting by Michel Rose, John Irish, Andreas Rinke, Belen Carreno, Alan Charlish, Jan Lopatka and Michel Rose; Writing by Andrew Gray; Editing by Sandra Maler)
FILE PHOTO: A depiction of the Australian Aboriginal Flag is seen on a window sill at the home of indigenous Muruwari elder Rita Wright, a member of the "Stolen Generations", in Sydney, Australia, January 19, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian opposition lawmaker quit the shadow cabinet on Tuesday in disagreement with his Liberal party's decision to campaign against a proposal to constitutionally recognise the country's Aboriginal and Torres Island people.

Explaining his decision to resign as shadow attorney general and shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, Julian Leeser said he was unable to persuade his Liberal colleagues to support the proposed constitutional changes.

While the Liberal party supports recognition of Indigenous people in the constitution, it opposes the combined proposal for the establishment of an Indigenous advisory group to parliament, that will also be decided in a referendum expected later this year.

"I resign without rancour or bitterness and I remain a loyal Liberal," Leeser said during a media briefing, pledging his support to opposition leader Peter Dutton.

Leaving the shadow cabinet will give Leeser the freedom to campaign for the recognition of Australia's Aboriginal people in the constitution and the establishment of an Indigenous advisory group, called the "Voice".

Dutton described Leeser as "a great advocate of many causes" but told reporters his stand on the referendum was at odds with the majority of Liberal lawmakers.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who represent about 3.2% of the country's population of nearly 26 million, are currently not mentioned in its 122-year-old constitution.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has staked significant political capital on the referendum, welcomed Leeser's decision.

"(He) has made a principled decision to campaign for a yes vote at the referendum, like so many people from all sides of politics who are approaching this process in good faith," Albanese said in a tweet.

(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
(Reuters) - Australian consumer finance firm Latitude Group Holdings Ltd will not pay a ransom to those behind a cyber attack last month, saying it will be detrimental to customers and cause harm to the broader community by encouraging further attacks.

"We will not reward criminal behaviour, nor do we believe that paying a ransom will result in the return or destruction of the information that was stolen," Latitude said in a statement on Tuesday.

Last month, the company said hackers stole nearly 8 million Australian and New Zealand drivers licence numbers in one of the country's biggest confirmed data breaches.

Latitude, which provides consumer finance services to retailers Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi, had also taken its platforms offline.

"Regular business operations are being restored, with Latitude's primary Customer Contact Centre back online and operating at full capacity," said the company.

Several Australian firms have reported cyber attacks over the past few months, which experts attribute to an understaffed cyber security industry.

(Reporting by Jaskiran Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Subhranshu Sahu)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks while hosting a virtual St. Patrick's Day meeting with Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin after Irish Taoiseach Martin tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after arriving in Washington, in the

By Steve Holland and Conor Humphries

BELFAST (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden was welcomed to Northern Ireland by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday as he flew in for a brief visit to mark the 25th anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed.

Biden, who is fiercely proud of his Irish heritage, will spend just over half a day in the British-run region before travelling to the Republic of Ireland for almost three days of meetings with officials and distant relatives.

Biden, who was met by Sunak on the runway at a windy Belfast International Airport, arrives at a delicate time in Northern Ireland and will need to tread carefully as the largest pro-British party continues to boycott the devolved power-sharing government, a key part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

The president spoke for a few minutes to officials on the tarmac, flanked by Joseph Kennedy III, of the storied Irish American political family, whom he appointed as the U.S. special envoy to Northern Ireland for economic affairs in December.

Biden and Sunak will hold a meeting early on Wednesday, and Biden will also engage with each of the leaders of Northern Ireland's five main political parties ahead of his speech at a Belfast university.

Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Biden said supporting the recent Windsor Framework deal agreed by the European Union and Britain to ease post-Brexit trade barriers in Northern Ireland was one of his top priorities.

"Make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place. Keep the peace. That's the main thing." he said. "Keep your fingers crossed."

Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said Biden's visit - the first by a U.S. president in 10 years - will not pressure it to end its protest at post-Brexit trade rules that treat the province differently to the rest of the UK.

The DUP wants further changes to the revised post-Brexit deal for the province but London has said that is not possible.

Biden, who clashed with the British government at times during the Brexit talks, drawing ire from DUP lawmakers, will float the possibility of closer investment ties between the U.S. and Northern Ireland to try to encourage an end to the impasse.

Security concerns were also highlighted on Tuesday by the discovery of four pipe bombs, small improvised explosive devices, in Londonderry, a city 110 km (70 miles) from where Biden is to stay. Police in a statement linked the devices to Irish nationalist rioters who attacked police there on Monday.

'WE DO NEED HELP'

The latest political stalemate - which followed a three-year collapse of the devolved government from 2017 to 2020 - is set to overshadow the visit and the anniversary of the peace deal the U.S. helped broker between Irish nationalists seeking a united Ireland and pro-British unionists wanting to remain part of the UK.

"It might spur things along and maybe things will be taken a bit more seriously," said Niamh McNutt, a 21-year-old student adviser in Belfast, where security was tight ahead of the visit. "We do need help right now to get things in order and maybe this will give people the push that they need."

There is still some sporadic violence by small groups opposed to the peace process. In February, an off-duty police officer was seriously injured after he was shot by two gunmen in front of his son.

Britain's MI5 intelligence agency increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" following the shooting - meaning an attack is highly likely. It has been mostly at that level since its introduction in 2010.

In Ireland, Biden, who speaks proudly of his Irish roots and frequently quotes Irish poets such as Seamus Heaney, will address the parliament in Dublin, meet Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and visit his ancestral homes on either coast.

The president will travel to County Louth on Wednesday, where his great-grandfather James Finnegan was born, and end his visit with a public address in the western county of Mayo, where his great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt grew up.

"Since (John F.) Kennedy there hasn't been as Irish American a president as Joe Biden and we're really looking forward to welcoming him home," Varadkar said on Sunday.

(Additional reporting by Amanda Ferguson and Aiden Nulty in Belfast; Writing by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Alistair Bell and Rosalba O'Brien)
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva holds the hand of Vice President Geraldo Alckmin as he boards to China in Brasilia, Brazil April 11, 2023. Ricardo Stuckert/Handout via REUTERS

By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA (Reuters) - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva departed Brazil on Tuesday for an official visit to China, where he aims to convince President Xi Jinping to form a group of nations to mediate an end to Russia's war with Ukraine.

Lula's visit, postponed from March for health reasons, aims to reset relations with Brazil's largest trade partner following a frosty four years under his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula is also seeking to put Brazil back on the international stage after a period of relative isolation by Bolsonaro, who spurned his country's traditional role in multilateral forums and drew criticism for not protecting the Amazon rainforest.

When he meets Xi on Friday, Lula has said he will suggest a proposal to mediate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, an initiative that among Western leaders has only been welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

"I am convinced that both Ukraine and Russia are waiting for someone else to say, 'Let's sit down and talk,'" Lula told journalists last week.

Lula has suggested a peace solution could be the return of newly invaded territory, though not Crimea - an option that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has rejected outright.

For his initiative to advance, Lula needs China to send a message to Russia, said a European diplomat in Brasilia.

"Lula knows that China is the only country Russia will listen to," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity and adding: "People are waiting to see if it gets some traction from other countries, like France and Germany."

Lula's foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim flew to Moscow in March to push for peace talks, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Brasilia on April 17.

Before arriving in Beijing, Lula will visit Shanghai to attend the inauguration of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as head of the New Development Bank set up in 2014 by the BRICS group of major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Lula's trip to China was originally scheduled for the last week of March but postponed after he caught pneumonia.

"The fact that President Lula is to lead a large delegation to China for a state visit soon after his recovery fully reflects the great importance China and Brazil attach to this visit and to the development of bilateral relations," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.

Lula will travel with a delegation of eight cabinet ministers, including Environment Minister Marina Silva, and five governors from Brazil's northeastern states, including Bahia, where a Chinese consortium is building a record-breaking bridge.

Some 20 agreements to be signed include creation of a sixth satellite in a joint program started in 1988, which will be used for monitoring the Amazon, Brazil's foreign ministry said.

Brazil is also expecting China to set up a fund to help with forest recovery and sustainable development in Brazil, including green hydrogen production, Silva told Reuters.

Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA may sign a deal for the sale of 20 commercial jets to a Chinese airline, two people familiar with the matter said, ending the company's dearth of new business in China since the 2016 closure of a joint venture at a factory in Harbin.

China overtook the United States as Brazil's top trading partner in 2009 and is a major market for Brazilian soybeans, iron ore and oil. Brazil is now the largest recipient of Chinese investment in Latin America, driven by spending on high tension electricity transmission lines and oil production.

During the Bolsonaro presidency, many Chinese companies paused plans with the federal government and instead pushed ahead on business with state governments, especially in the less affluent northeast where Lula's Workers Party is strongest.

By 2021, investment by Chinese companies in Brazil recovered to the level of 2017, according to the China-Brazil Business Council, which forecasts steady growth in coming years.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Additional reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Gabriel Araujo in Rio de Janeiro; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
By Muvija M

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain named Anne Keast-Butler as the first female director of its intelligence communications agency GCHQ on Tuesday, tasked with protecting the country from terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers.

She will take over the role in May, succeeding Jeremy Fleming who is stepping down after a six-year tenure.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who made the appointment, said Keast-Butler had an impressive track record at the heart of Britain's national security network. "Anne will use her vast experience to help keep the British public safe," he said.

She is currently deputy director general at Britain's domestic intelligence agency, known as MI5.

GCHQ is Britain's main eavesdropping agency and has a close relationship with the U.S. National Security Agency as well as with counterparts in Canada, Australia and New Zealand in a consortium called "Five Eyes".

GCHQ, which traces its roots back to the early 20th century after the outbreak of World War One, follows MI5, three decades later, in appointing a female head.

Stella Rimington became the first woman to lead MI5 in 1992 and was said to have inspired the casting of Judi Dench in the role of "M", head of Britain's foreign intelligence service known as MI6, in the James Bond movies a couple of years later.

GCHQ provided a rare statement on its offensive cyber work earlier this month, revealing that its hackers had launched operations against militants, state-backed disinformation campaigns and attempts to interfere in elections.

The group also works with MI6, MI5, police, the government's defence department and overseas partners, and in the private sector and academia.

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, writing by William James and Muvija M; editing by Kate Holton, Paul Sandle and Mark Heinrich)
FILE PHOTO: The new GM logo is seen on the facade of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 16, 2021. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo

By Ernest Scheyder

(Reuters) -General Motors Co on Tuesday said it will invest in lithium technology startup EnergyX as it expands further into the mining industry, the latest deal by the car maker to ensure long-term supplies of the metal used to make electric vehicle batteries.

The global push by automakers to electrify their fleets has sparked a rush for stable supplies of lithium, copper, nickel and other critical minerals. Demand is expected to exceed supply by the end of the decade, fueling interest in novel production methods.

Privately-held EnergyX is one of several companies developing so-far unproven direct lithium extraction technologies (DLE) that could help GM filter the metal for its Ultium battery packs from some types of brine that have been largely ignored by the mining industry in favor of evaporation ponds and open-pit mines.

Brine deposits are essentially salt-infused waters found throughout the globe. Many teem with lithium, calcium and other minerals, and DLE technologies aim to separate out the lithium and leave the rest.

As part of the investment, GM's scientists will work to help EnergyX commercialize the DLE technology, trying to succeed where it, rivals Rio Tinto Ltd, BMW-backed Lilac Solutions Inc and others have so far failed. GM told Reuters it believes DLE "could be the most efficient method to extract lithium from brine sources."

The automaker plans to lead a Series B round of financing for EnergyX worth $50 million and to help finance EnergyX's future expansion across North and South America. Reuters first reported GM's investment earlier on Tuesday.

GM, which declined to say how much of the Series B round it was funding, will have the right of first refusal to buy lithium from any projects that EnergyX develops.

"We are committed to securing EV-critical minerals that are sustainable and cost competitive," said Jeff Morrison, GM's vice president of global purchasing and supply.

EnergyX, also known as Energy Exploration Technologies Inc, has said it aims to launch an initial public offering by 2024. As part of any IPO, private equity firm Global Emerging Markets Group plans to invest $450 million in EnergyX once shares begin trading.

LITHIUM METAL FROM BRINE

EnergyX has said its technology can make lithium metal directly from brine, a tantalizing prospect for GM that could let the automaker bypass lithium refining, which is widely seen as a key supply-chain bottleneck.

The EnergyX investment comes after GM in January agreed to pay $650 million to become the largest shareholder in Lithium Americas Corp, which is developing the Thacker Pass clay lithium project in Nevada.

The automaker in 2021 also invested in privately held Controlled Thermal Resources Ltd (CTR), which is trying to use DLE technology to develop a geothermal brine project in southern California.

GM's investment is a major vote of confidence in EnergyX, which was stung last year when officials in Bolivia - home to the world's largest lithium resource - disqualified the startup from a DLE selection process.

"This GM investment will completely change the trajectory of EnergyX," said Teague Egan, the startup company's founder and chief executive.

EnergyX is building five demonstration facilities that it plans to locate in Argentina, Chile, and in the U.S. states of California, Arkansas and Utah. Potential customers would supply brine from acreage that they own in order to test EnergyX's technology, before signing any development deal.

The sites selected in the United States are near existing lithium brine reserves owned by Standard Lithium Ltd, Compass Minerals International Inc and CTR, each of whom has selected a DLE technology provider but not yet launched production.

GM said it is working with CTR and EnergyX to find the best technology to extract lithium from California's Salton Sea, where CTR has been trying to use technology from Lilac Solutions, Koch Industries and others to produce the battery metal.

"With CTR we have a great resource and with EnergyX we have a great potential technology," said GM spokesperson Priscilla Zuchowski.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Peter Henderson, Jamie Freed, David Holmes and Anna Driver)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is seen in shadow at right, as he speaks during an event to thank and recognize members of the State Department workforce who helped bring more than 200 individuals in February, who had been imprisoned b

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday appointed former National Security Council and Justice Department official Matthew Miller as his department's new spokesperson.

Miller had joined the White House to lead the "whole of government communications and outreach" after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Blinken said in a statement.

"Having previously served as Director of the Office of Public Affairs and spokesperson to Attorney General Eric Holder at the Department of Justice, Matt is no stranger to navigating and communicating on complex, global challenges like those we face today," Blinken added.

Previous spokesperson Ned Price stepped down from the role last month to take up a new position within the State Department reporting to Blinken.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Jamie Freed)
In the face of tough economic conditions, the state will continue to replace slums with modern residential communities

Egypts population has increased by 25 million since 2011 and the state has a duty not only to build new housing units to accommodate this increase but to implement urbanisation strategies that transform low-income slum areas with poor living conditions into modern residential communities, said President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi.

Al-Sisis remarks were made during a visit to the new residential district of Asmarat in south Cairos Moqattam neighbourhood on 6 April during which he attended an Iftar with residents, community leaders and members of the House of Representatives.

Asmarat was founded in 2016 as part of the states efforts to provide housing for low-income families relocated from slum areas. The first residents were relocated from the slum areas of Dewiqa and Manshiyet Nasser in east Cairo, and 15,000 families now live in the new district.

Al-Sisi said that when he came to office in 2014 he was determined to improve living conditions for residents of slum areas and in less than a decade two million new affordable housing units had been built. The massive construction project had generated thousands of new jobs.

Unemployment in Egypt currently stands at 7.4 per cent. Though the rate is understandable given the ongoing global economic crisis we are trying to reduce it by creating new job opportunities in construction projects, and building new housing communities is an important element, he said.

The government has built 300,000 housing units in Cairo and other governorates to accommodate people living in slum areas.

Al-Sisi used the occasion to highlight the Decent Life initiative in rural areas which aims to improve the lives of 60 per cent of Egypts rural population by building housing units, clinics, youth centres, schools and power, drainage and drinking water stations.

When I came to office, only 13 per cent of rural Egypt was covered by sanitary drainage. We are now approaching 100 per cent. While the improvements have cost a great deal, we needed to implement them now rather than later, when costs would have increased exponentially, said Al-Sisi.

He promised that mega development projects, including the building of modern residential communities, would continue despite the global economic crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, saying we are all suffering from the global crisis, but Egyptians must join shoulders to overcome these difficult economic conditions.

During his tour of Asmarat, Al-Sisi also visited a fair promoting products made by women from the neighbourhood. Hassan Al-Ghandour, general manager of Asmarats Urban Development Unit, said products made by 1,400 Asmarat families are now being exported to Saudi Arabia, Germany, and the US.

Minister of Housing Assem Al-Gazzar noted that since 2014 unsafe slum areas in 13 governorates had been eradicated as part of the governments strategy to create a slum-free country by 2030.

Informal settlements and slum areas constituted 40 per cent of Egypts urban space, but projects are underway everywhere to relocate residents of these neighbourhoods to modern residential areas, he said.

According to Al-Gazzar, 250,000 housing units at a total cost of LE61 billion are currently in the pipeline to rehouse residents of unsafe areas, and a further 750,000 are being constructed as part of the Social Housing Programme.

In July 2000 President Al-Sisi inaugurated the third phase of the Asmarat housing project. With 7,440 residential units and covering 188 feddans, Asmarat 3 includes playgrounds, health units, a 9,000 car capacity garage and a service complex to meet the needs of Asmarats projected 100,000 residents.

Moqattam MP Sayed Hanafi told Al-Ahram Weekly that President Al-Sisis Ramadan Iftar with low-income families in Asmarat underlined the states commitment to improving the standard of living of poorer citizens.

When President Al-Sisi came to office there were three choices for dealing with the problem of unsafe slums areas: maintaining the status quo, i.e doing nothing, introducing some simple improved services to such areas, or relocating residents to modern communities, said Hanafi.



* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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FILE PHOTO: Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader of India's main opposition Congress party, arrives with his sister and a leader of the party Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at a court in Surat in the western state of Gujarat, India, April 3, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

By Sumit Khanna

AHMEDABAD (Reuters) - An Indian state lawmaker who accused main opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi of defamation has objected to his appeal in a higher court, according to a filing on Tuesday.

Gandhi, 52, lost his parliamentary seat last month after he was found guilty of defamation by a lower court in the western state of Gujarat for a 2019 speech in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi.

Purnesh Modi, the lawmaker from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said Gandhi insulted the prime minister and other people with that surname through his comment, and that the lower court judgement was just and proper.

"The stay of conviction can be granted only in exceptional circumstances and in the rarest of the rare case. This is not an exceptional case in any way and a clear-cut case of defamation," Modi's lawyer Ketan Reshamwala told Reuters.

Two more defamation cases have been filed elsewhere against Gandhi for the same comment and he is due to appear in court in one of them in the eastern city of Patna on April 12.

Gandhi is at the centre of opposition politics and the main target of Modi's BJP even though Gandhi's Congress party is a shadow of its former self and the BJP looks set to dominate the next general election.

(Reporting by Sumit Khanna; Writing by Shivam Patel, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
By Maayan Lubell and Raneen Sawafta

JERUSALEM/NEAR NABLUS, West Bank (Reuters) -Israel halted visits by Jews and tourists to a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site on Tuesday and its military said soldiers shot dead two Palestinian gunmen in the occupied West Bank, as a wave of unrest showed no sign of subsiding.

Last week, an Israeli police raid at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a tinder-box in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, triggered rocket attacks from Gaza, south Lebanon and Syria that drew Israeli air and artillery strikes.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement after security talks that visits by non-Muslims to the sacred compound, known in Judaism as the Temple Mount, will be stopped until the end of Ramadan, expected around April 20.

There was no immediate comment from Palestinian officials on the ban, which Israel has imposed in previous years.

Under the longstanding "status quo" arrangement governing the compound, which Israel says it maintains, non-Muslims can visit but only Muslims are allowed to worship.

However, small groups of Jewish visitors have increasingly been documented praying at the outskirts of the site in defiance of those rules.

Netanyahu's far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir denounced the move.

"When terrorism strikes us we must strike back with great force, not surrender to its whims," he said in a statement.

With a year-long escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence, tensions are running especially high in the Holy Land as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover coincide.

The Israeli military on Tuesday said two Palestinian gunmen opened fire from a vehicle at an army post before soldiers shot back and killed them near the Elon Moreh settlement east of the city Nablus, a frequent area of clashes.

Local armed alliance Den of Lions confirmed that the two men were militants and the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed their deaths. Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged, with frequent military West Bank raids amid a spate of Palestinian street attacks. More than 90 Palestinians, most of them fighters in militant groups but some of them civilians, have been killed since January and at least 19 Israelis and foreigners have died.

Suspected Palestinian gunmen on Friday killed an Israeli-British mother and her two daughters in the West Bank and a ramming attack later in Tel Aviv killed an Italian tourist.

A Palestinian teen was killed on Monday during an Israeli raid in Jericho.

U.S.-brokered peace talks aimed at establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza -territories Israel captured in a 1967 war - have stalled for almost a decade and show no sign of revival.

(Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Nick Macfie and Mark Porter)
FILE PHOTO: The JetBlue Airways logo is seen on a revolving door entering John F. Kennedy Airport in the Queens borough of New York U.S., January 24, 2017. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

(Reuters) - JetBlue Airways Corp will launch flights to Amsterdam as it looks to cash in on the soaring demand for transatlantic travel, the New York-based low cost carrier said on Tuesday.

The move comes days after a Dutch court overruled a government plan to cap flights at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport in 2023-2024 and at a time when online searches by Americans for flights to Europe are surging despite soaring air fares and risks of gridlock at some of the airports in the continent.

The three big U.S. carriers have increased transatlantic capacity by 22% this year, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.

JetBlue's service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) will commence late this summer, the company said in a statement, adding that bookings will begin in the coming weeks.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - US Open - Mens Final - New York, U.S. - September 10, 2017 - Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of Fox News Channel stands before Rafael Nadal of Spain plays against Kevin Anderson of South Africa. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

By Tom Hals

WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -A judge said Fox News had a "credibility problem" just days before a $1.6 billion defamation trial after the company disclosed for the first time in nearly two years of litigation that Rupert Murdoch was an officer of the company.

Superior Court Judge Eric Davis called the delayed disclosure "bizarre" and chided Fox attorneys for having previously made representations that Murdoch wasn't an officer of Fox News, only to reverse on the eve of a trial set to begin Monday over the broadcaster's coverage of false claims the 2020 Presidential election was rigged.

"I'm not very happy right now," Judge Davis said during a hearing in Wilmington, Delaware. "You (Fox News) have a credibility problem."

Dominion Voting Systems alleges Fox damaged its business by knowingly and repeatedly airing false claims that Dominion voting machines were used to flip the 2020 election against former President Donald Trump, a Republican, and in favor of Democrat Joe Biden, who won.

An attorney for Dominion, Justin Nelson, said his client only learned of Murdoch's role on Sunday and got its first document with Murdoch's title of Fox News executive chairman on Tuesday morning. Murdoch, chairman of Fox News parent company Fox Corp, is expected to testify in court.

Dominion says that depositions by Murdoch and others, as well as troves of internal Fox communications, prove top network personnel knew the election-rigging claims were false but aired them anyway to appease Fox's conservative viewers

Fox News had disclaimed that Murdoch was a company officer, which shaped how Dominion litigated the case, according to Dominion attorney Nelson. As a Fox News officer, Murdoch would likely have been subject to more probing discovery by Dominion.

"It is very troubling but this is where we are," said Nelson.

A Fox lawyer told the hearing that Murdoch disclosed the title in a February deposition and he called the title "honorific."

"Rupert Murdoch has been listed as executive chairman of Fox News in our SEC filings since 2019 and this filing was referenced by Dominion's own attorney during his deposition, said a statement from Fox.

In 2019, when Fox Corp was formed from some assets of the former 21st Century Fox, Murdoch was described in Fox's proxy as the executive chairman of the news business.

Fox News did not immediately respond to a question why Murdoch's executive chairman role was excluded from earlier court filings.

Determining who knew what when and how much power they had over Fox coverage is likely to be a critical task for jurors, who will start being selected Thursday ahead of opening statements on Monday.

Dominion's Nelson said at Tuesday's hearing that the company was still trying to determine what action if any it would ask of the judge for the delayed disclosure.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Anna Driver and Kenneth Maxwell)
Funeral workers carry a box containing the body of a migrant who died in a fire at a detention center, onto a plane to be taken to his place of origin in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The 40 migrants who died in a fire at a detention center in Mexico last month were unable to escape because the person with the key to their locked cell was absent, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday.

Mexican authorities have said the blaze began when one or more migrants lit alight their mattresses in protest at their imminent deportation, but have provided few other details about how the March 27 incident claimed so many lives, becoming one of Mexico's deadliest migrant tragedies.

In an interview with Reuters last month, a security guard at the center said the migration officer supervising the men's unit where the fire began had left the building shortly before the incident.

Lopez Obrador's comments appeared to match that account.

"The door was locked, because the person with the key wasn't there," Lopez Obrador told a regular news conference.

He did not detail the person's job post or identity, but said he hoped the Attorney General's office would conclude its investigation quickly to identify those responsible.

Five people so far have been arrested, including private security personnel and agents from Mexico's National Migration Institute, and another arrest warrant is still pending.

The Migration Institute has not commented on the investigation or arrests.

Hearses carrying the bodies of victims from Guatemala and Honduras were taken to the Ciudad Juarez airport to be repatriated on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Kylie Madry, Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
LONDON (Reuters) -Police in Northern Ireland said on Tuesday they had recovered four suspected pipe bombs from a cemetery near the city of Londonderry following a public safety operation.

The discovery comes hours before U.S. President Joe Biden is due to arrive in Belfast, about 110 kilometers (70 miles) southeast of Londonderry.

On Monday, police said a number of masked people attacked a police vehicle with petrol bombs and other objects at a parade opposing the Good Friday peace accord in Londonderry. The devices were found in an area linked to that parade, police said.

"The discovery of these devices was a further sinister and worrying development," Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said in a statement.

Biden arrives in Belfast late on Tuesday at a delicate political time in Northern Ireland as he helps mark the 25-year anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed there.

Pipe bombs are crude improvised explosive devices used in the past by militants in Northern Ireland and are often around the size of a hand grenade. They are made by tightly filling a section of pipe with explosives.

Police said the operation in the cemetery is now complete and police officers have left the scene. The devices were discovered at 0530 GMT.

"Colleagues from Terrorism Investigation Unit will now lead on this investigation," Singleton said.

In March, Britain's MI5 intelligence agency increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" - meaning an attack is highly likely - though the move was not thought to be linked to the anniversary.

(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; editing by William James and Conor Humphries)
FILE PHOTO: OpenAI and ChatGPT logos are seen in this illustration taken, February 3, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

(Reuters) - OpenAI, the firm behind chatbot sensation ChatGPT, said on Tuesday that it would offer up to $20,000 to users reporting vulnerabilities in its artificial intelligence systems.

OpenAI Bug Bounty program, which went live on Tuesday, will offer rewards to people based on the severity of the bugs they report, with rewards starting from $200 per vulnerability.

Technology companies often use bug bounty programs to encourage programmers and ethical hackers to report bugs in their software systems.

According to details on bug bounty platform Bugcrowd, OpenAI has invited researchers to review certain functionality of ChatGPT and the framework of how OpenAI systems communicate and share data with third-party applications.

The program does not include incorrect or malicious content produced by OpenAI systems.

The move comes days after ChatGPT was banned in Italy for a suspected breach of privacy rules, prompting regulators in other European countries to study generative AI services more closely.

Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT, which has taken the world by storm since its launch in November, has wowed some users with quick responses to questions and caused distress for others with inaccuracies.

(Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
General view during the opening ceremony of the annual Philippines-U.S. joint military exercises or Balikatan, at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

MANILA (Reuters) - More than 17,000 Philippine and U.S. soldiers began their largest ever joint military drills on Tuesday, as ties between the long-term allies warm over shared concerns about China's assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.

The expanded annual exercises underscore improved defence ties under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr after his predecessor scaled back drills to pursue closer ties with Beijing.

For the first time, the Philippines and the United States will hold live-fire drills at sea during the three-week event known as the 'Balikatan' or 'shoulder-to-shoulder' exercises.

"The highlight of the exercise will be the combined joint littoral live-fire exercise, which aims to rehearse joint and combined tactics techniques and procedures to execute maritime strike," Major General Marvin Licudine, Philippines exercise director, said in a speech at the opening ceremony.

China's foreign ministry on Monday criticised the joint exercises, saying they "must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests."

The long-scheduled drills got underway as China ended three days of war games around Taiwan, which included precision strikes and blockading the island, after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.

Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory, while the democratically governed island rejects its claims.

Major General Eric Austin, acting U.S. exercise director, said the Balikatan exercises will ensure "we are prepared to respond to real world challenges together."

U.S.-Philippines relations have warmed considerably under President Marcos, who in February granted Washington increased access to his country's military bases.

The countries' defence and foreign ministers are due to meet for the first time in seven years in Washington this week.

The drills, which will be carried out in different parts of the country, will also include training in amphibious operations, aviation operations, cyber defence, urban operations, counter-terrorism and humanitarian and disaster relief.

President Marcos is expected to witness the live-fire sea drills which will involve the sinking of an old Philippines navy ship, according to a Philippine military official.

(Reporting by Karen Lema and Adrian Portugal; Additional reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis waves from a baclony on the day of his "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") message at St. Peter's Square, on Easter Sunday, at the Vatican, April 9, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis was unconscious when he was rushed to hospital two weeks ago with bronchitis, and could have died, according to an Italian man widely reported to speak to him regularly, who said he last talked to the pontiff on Saturday.

The 86-year-old pontiff was taken to Rome's Gemelli hospital on March 29 and discharged three days later. He appeared in good health as he led Easter celebrations all last week.

Michele Ferri, from the central Italian city of Pesaro, told Reuters the pope sounded better in their most recent conversation than he had the last time the two men spoke in January.

"He seemed very tired (back then)," Ferri said.

Ferri confirmed remarks he had made earlier to Italian regional newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, in which he quoted the pope as having told him: "A few more hours and I'm not sure I would have been around to tell it."

"I told him: you really gave us a fright!" Ferri said.

Ferri is widely quoted in Italian media as someone who speaks to the pope regularly, since Francis first called to comfort him after the death of his brother who was killed in a robbery a decade ago.

The pope is known to keep a small list of people he phones regularly, often after comforting them following tragedies. The Vatican never confirms their names but has not denied that he speaks to Ferri. It did not respond to a request for comment on Ferri's latest remarks.

Last week the pope was well enough to preside over all Easter celebrations except for a Good Friday night-time outdoor service in Rome that the Vatican said he skipped due to unseasonably cold weather.

Francis suffers from a number of ailments, including a bad knee that hampers his ability to walk. Part of one of his lungs was removed because of an illness when he was a young man in Argentina.

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Philip Pullella and Peter Graff)
French President Emmanuel Macron takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony, accompanied by first lady Brigitte Macron, in Amsterdam, Netherlands April 11, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw

By Christian Levaux

THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Anger against an unpopular pension reform in France followed President Emmanuel Macron to the Netherlands where protesters interrupted a speech he was giving on Tuesday at the start of a two-day state visit.

"I think we lost something. Where is French democracy?" one man shouted at the start of the event at the Nexus Institute. Other protesters in the audience targeted the pension law and climate change, while one displayed a banner that read: "President of violence and hypocrisy".

Macron, who was due to give a speech on European sovereignty, has faced weeks of tense protests at home against the pension law, which will delay the age at which French workers can retire.

Macron competed for several minutes with those who were shouting in trying to make himself heard.

"I can answer this question, if you give me some time," the president said.

"You vote and you elect people ... the counterparty is you need to respect the institutions voted by the people," he said. "The day you consider, 'When I disagree with the law ... I can do whatever I want' ... you put democracy at risk."

Macron then proceeded to give his speech. Reporters in the room said the protesters were removed.

During his speech, he defended the pension law, which will delay retirement age by two years to 64.

"I will pass (retirement age) from 62 to 64," he said, speaking in English. "When I compare, they (French protesters) should be less angry with me, because in your country it's much higher, and in a lot of countries in Europe, it's much higher than 64."

Earlier in the day, before a wreath-laying ceremony outside the royal palace, Macron was confronted by protesters who held a banner against the pension reform.

French unions have planned a new nationwide day of protests on Thursday against the pension law. Opinion polls show a majority of voters oppose the reform and back the protests.

The government pushed it through parliament without a final vote.

The Constitutional Council is due to say on Friday if the law respects the constitution and whether the opposition can start to try and collect enough signatures to organise a referendum against it.

(Additional reporting by Jean-Stephane Brosse; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Mike Harrison)
Russia has hosted meetings between representatives of Turkey, Syria, and Iran in Moscow with a view to normalising relations and countering Western influence in the region, writes Karam Said

Moscow hosted a series of meetings between the deputy foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, Syria and Turkey on 3-4 April in its latest push to promote normalisation between Ankara and Damascus and to counter Western influence in Syria.

The peoples of Turkey and Syria are bound by centuries of common history, the chapters of which are filled with events that instill pride in the hearts of the Turks, Arabs, and Kurds. Religious and cultural commonality, as well as geographical proximity, makes mutually beneficial and neighbourly cooperation between Turkey and Syria the only choice available, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his welcome address before the beginning of the four-party consultations.

Although the Russian-brokered consultations helped to bridge the gap between Ankara and Damascus to some extent, challenges remain. Syria insists that it must receive guarantees from Turkey that it will cease its support for terrorist groups in Syria and its military occupation of Syrian territory before there can be any normalisation of relations.

In March, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said that he would not meet his Turkish counterpart until Turkish military forces were withdrawn from his country. Turkey has backed Al-Qaeda-affiliated and other radical Islamist groups in the Syrian provinces of Afrin and Idlib, which have been under de facto Turkish military administration for nearly eight years.

Nevertheless, the Russian mediation succeeded in reducing Syrian-Turkish tensions, and it reportedly persuaded the two sides to agree to continue negotiations, primarily over the Turkish withdrawal from Syrian territory. Some observers also do not rule out the possibility of a meeting between the two countries presidents in the coming weeks.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is particularly keen for such a meeting to take place ahead of the forthcoming elections in Turkey in order to convince public opinion at home that he is committed to ending the conflict with Syria preparatory to repatriating millions of Syrian refugees, which has been a hot-button issue in the lead-up to the elections.

Moscow and Tehran have also taken advantage of the humanitarian sentiments stirred up by the dual earthquakes that struck southern Turkey and northwestern Syria on 6 February to break Syrias international isolation and promote the legitimacy of the government in Damascus.

In this regard, the talks built on previous steps related to urgent relief for earthquake victims in Syria, such as the agreement by Damascus in mid-February to open two additional border crossings with Turkey to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian relief to stricken areas in northern Syria.

However, it is impossible to view such developments in isolation from other major events regionally and internationally, not least the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a development related to this, during his visit to Turkey on 6-7 April Lavrov threatened to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative unless action is taken to address his countrys concerns over unblocking Russian agricultural and fertiliser exports, which are not covered by sanctions, and the failure of the grain shipments to reach the intended recipients, namely the neediest countries in the Global South.

Turkish officials, who brokered the initiative, are working to ensure it is renewed again when it expires.

Against this backdrop, Russia is eager to push Turkey and Syria to resume their relations as quickly as possible, not only as a way to help its ally in Damascus, but also as a countermove in the larger framework of the international theatre in which Turkey is a key player at various levels.

During his joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on 7 April, Lavrov underscored the progress that has been made towards normalisation in the course of various meetings between Turkish and Syrian officials since December and up to the recent consultations at the deputy foreign minister level this month and added that the process is already underway to arrange a meeting at the foreign minister level.

With regard to a solution to the Syrian conflict, the deputy ministerial consultations in Moscow sought to consolidate and build on progress achieved in the framework of the Russian-led Astana Process, which includes Moscow, Tehran, Ankara and Damascus.

In remarks to the press on 8 March, Cavusoglu reiterated his governments stance that the Astana Process is the only surviving format to address the Syrian crisis. All four parties are keen to sustain the momentum of this process towards reaching substantive agreements on the constitutional track and then a comprehensive settlement.

They fear that Washington and its allies will attempt to undermine this drive, perhaps through secret dialogue geared to advancing pro-US groups in Syria to the detriment of the Astana Process members and their respective interests.

As representatives from Turkey, Russia, Iran and Syria worked to cement a unified vision in the face of Western policies, including the packages of sanctions against each of them, the US and its European allies have continued to notch up the pressure. While Moscow is the primary target in the light of the war in Ukraine, it is noteworthy how the European countries have shifted away from a relatively neutral stance on the Iranian nuclear programme and towards Washingtons hardline stance on Iran.

The West, led by the US, also remains bent on perpetuating the blockade against the Syrian regime, in which respect it supports the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which seek to establish an autonomous region in northern and eastern Syria. US forces continue to maintain a presence in that portion of Syrian territory.

The European countries also appear to be aligned closely with Washingtons campaign to notch up the pressure on Turkey in relation to human rights and civil liberties. The recently released annual US State Department country reports on human rights practices contain a subsection detailing various human rights violations in Turkey in 2022 and generally condemns the deteriorating state of human rights in the country.

But what Erdogan and his government have found more provocative was the recent visit by US Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake to the main opposition candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican Peoples Party (CHP).

We need to teach America a lesson in the [coming] elections, Erdogan said, as reported by the Turkish Cumhuriyet newspaper. What is [US President Joe] Bidens ambassador doing here? He goes and visits Kemal. Shame on you! Use your mind a little. Youre the ambassador. The person you are supposed to address here is the president.

The four-party consultations in Moscow cannot be seen independently from major developments in each of the countries concerned. Turkey is on the threshold of landmark elections on 14 May, and Erdogan is desperate to score a foreign policy victory to distract from the widespread disgruntlement with the countrys economic straits and the criticisms the opposition parties have been levelling against the ruling Justice and Development Partys (AKP) handling of everything from the economy to the aftermath of the recent earthquakes, not to mention the Syrian conflict and the question of Syrian refugees.

Opposition candidates have gained considerable ground against their AKP rivals in the run-up to the presidential and legislative elections, according to recent opinion polls. The AKPs main rival the CHP has long advocated the restoration of relations between Ankara and Damascus.

Iran continues to face ongoing protests that Tehran believes the Western countries have been exploiting in order to increase pressure on the regime. A solution to the Syrian conflict would be an avenue towards mitigating such pressures.

Similarly, Russia has been working to strengthen its regional alliances as part of efforts to safeguard its interests and offset pressures, as well as to reduce the problems it has to deal with abroad while it focuses on the war in Ukraine.

As for the Syrian regime, it needs to emerge from its regional and international isolation, which has had disastrous consequences for the Syrian economy and the living standards of the Syrian people.

If the quadrilateral consultations in Moscow achieved major steps towards the goals of reducing tensions, promoting a Syrian settlement, and generating an environment conducive to normalisation, further progress will hinge on a multiplicity of interweaving factors.

Not only do these include the formidable outstanding differences between Ankara and Damascus, but also the diverse problems that concern each of the four parties. All four countries will need to find ways to manage these complex problems, while remaining focused on the realisation of their common goals.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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FILE PHOTO: A participant stands near a logo of IMF at the International Monetary Fund - World Bank Annual Meeting 2018 in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, October 12, 2018. REUTERS/Johannes P. Christo

By Alexander Marrow

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia may see a sharply wider budget deficit and a smaller current account surplus this year, while global isolation and lower energy revenues dampen its economic growth prospects for years to come, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

The IMF raised its 2023 Russia GDP forecast to growth of 0.7% from 0.3%, but lowered its 2024 prognosis to 1.3% from 2.1%, saying it also expected labour shortages and the exodus of Western companies to harm the country's economy.

By 2027, the IMF expects Russia's economic output to be 7% lower than forecasts made before Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, had suggested.

"An exodus of multinationals, loss in human capital, isolation from global financial markets, and impaired access to advanced technology goods and know-how will hamper the Russian economy," an IMF spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said this has led the IMF to revise down its expectation for Russia's medium-term potential growth to less than 1%, from 1-1/2% before the conflict began.

"The extent of the medium-term decline, however, is highly uncertain," the spokesperson added.

Rising military production and huge state spending have helped keep industry buzzing and softened the economic impact of the campaign in Ukraine and of Western sanctions.

An independent study last month suggested Russia's middle class would shrink as social inequality grows, even if sanctions get relaxed. A return to pre-conflict levels of prosperity remains a long way off.

'HIGHER DEFICITS'

The IMF's 2023 growth forecast contrasts with that of the World Bank, which expects a 0.2% contraction. Analysts regularly polled by Reuters also see the economy shrinking this year.

The IMF said momentum carried over from the second half of last year was helping the economy, but it still expects some pressures to emerge this year.

"A sharp worsening in the terms of trade could lead to a significant decline in both the current account surplus and in fiscal revenues," the IMF spokesperson said. "The latter means that the authorities will need to either curtail spending or find ways to finance noticeably higher deficits."

Russia's budget deficit stood at 2.4 trillion roubles ($29.22 billion) in the first quarter, data showed on Friday, as Moscow has spent heavily, while energy revenues have fallen so far this year.

Russia says its 2023 deficit will not exceed 2% of gross domestic product (GDP), but many analysts think it will surpass that level.

The current account surplus shrank by a little over 73% in the first quarter on an annual basis to $18.6 billion, the central bank said on Tuesday, hurt by the sharply lower energy revenues.

($1 = 82.1310 roubles)

(Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Gareth Jones)
TBILISI/BAKU (Reuters) -South Caucasus rivals Armenia and Azerbaijan on Tuesday accused each other of opening fire around the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region in a clash that killed a total of seven soldiers.

The two neighbours - both formerly part of the Soviet Union - have fought repeatedly over the last 35 years for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but home to a mainly ethnic Armenian population.

The Azeri defence ministry said three troops had died in a clash close to the contested Lachin Corridor, a key road into Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia that crosses through Azeri territory. The Armenian defence ministry said four of its soldiers had died and another six had been wounded.

Yerevan had earlier accused Azerbaijan of opening fire on Armenian troops performing engineering work near the village of Tegh in Armenia's southern Syunik province. It said its forces had taken "countermeasures", without providing details.

Tegh is the last village on the Lachin Corridor in Armenia before it enters Azeri territory.

Baku said its troops came under "intense fire" from Armenian troops stationed in Syunik province.

Russia dispatched a thousands-strong peacekeeping contingent to the region in 2020 as part of a deal to end weeks of fighting that killed thousands and saw Azerbaijan make significant territorial gains.

Moscow is an ally of Armenia through a mutual self-defence pact, but also strives for good relations with Baku. The latest stand-off has been seen as a key test of Moscow's ongoing influence in the region as it wages its own war in Ukraine.

The latest stand-off is over control of the Lachin Corridor - the only road route linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijanis claiming to be environmental protesters have been blocking the route since the end of last year, resulting in what Armenia calls a humanitarian crisis.

Baku denies those claims, saying essential supplies can get into the territory and has defended the protesters as rallying against legitimate environmental concerns. Yerevan calls them government-backed agitators.

(Reporting by Jake Cordell and Felix Light in Tbilisi, Nailia Bagirova in Baku; Editing by David Ljunggren, Alex Richardson and Jonathan Oatis)
Smoke rises from a forest fire in Gangneung, South Korea, April 11, 2023, in this still image obtained from social media video. Instagram @giffy_pichamon/via REUTERS

SEOUL (Reuters) -More than 500 people evacuated from their homes in South Korea's eastern coastal city of Gangneung as strong winds fanned a wildfire on Tuesday, officials said, but fears of a further spread eased as rain helped firefighters battle the blaze.

The fire, which started at around 8:30 a.m. local time (2330 GMT on Monday) in Gangneung, was mostly extinguished as of 4:30 p.m., after consuming 170 hectares (420 acres) of land and prompting the evacuation of some 550 residents in the city of more than 200,000 people, the Korea Forest Service said.

The fire injured three people, including two firefighters, and destroyed dozens of buildings, the national forestry agency said. A body was found later in the afternoon in a burnt house in the affected area, Yonhap news agency reported, citing Gangneung Police Station.

The fire appears to have started after strong winds blew a tree over onto live overhead power cables, igniting flames, officials said.

Firefighting crews had struggled to put out the fast-moving blaze due to strong winds, but rain then tamped it down by the afternoon.

Photos and footage circulating on social media showed fires razing forests and fields, and buildings engulfed by smoke.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol had ordered officials to mobilise all available resources to put out the fire as soon as possible and quickly evacuate nearby residents to minimise casualties, his office said.

(Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell, Peter Graff and Ed Osmond)
FILE PHOTO: A woman holds her smart phone, which displays the Google home page, in this picture illustration taken February 24, 2016. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/Illustration/File Photo

By Hyunsu Yim and Heekyong Yang

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's antitrust regulator has fined Alphabet Inc's Google 42.1 billion won ($31.88 million) for blocking the release of mobile video games on a competitor's platform.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said on Tuesday that Google bolstered its market dominance, and hurt local app market One Store's revenue and value as a platform, by requiring video game makers to exclusively release their titles on Google Play in exchange for providing in-app exposure between June 2016 and April 2018.

Google said it will review the final decision by the KFTC to evaluate the next course of action.

"Google makes substantial investments in the success of developers, and we respectfully disagree with the KFTC's conclusions", a spokesperson said.

The KFTC said the move against the U.S. technology giant is part of efforts by the government to ensure fair markets.

Game makers affected by Google's action include Netmarble, Nexon and NCSOFT, as well as other smaller companies, the antitrust regulator added.

In 2021, Google was fined more than 200 billion won by the KFTC for blocking customised versions of its Android operating system.

($1 = 1,320.4200 won)

(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim and Heekyong Yang; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell and Christian Schmollinger)
FILE PHOTO-A protester carries a flag during a rally marking the anniversary of the April uprising, in Khartoum, Sudan April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

By Khalid Abdelaziz and Nafisa Eltahir

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - The United Nations expressed concern on Tuesday about a request for a fatwa seeking the assassination of its head in Sudan, as loyalists of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir stepped up opposition to a draft deal for a new civilian government.

In a video on social media, a man calling himself only Abdelmoneim is seen speaking to a gathering in Khartoum that included pro-Bashir politicians seeking inclusion in the deal.

"I volunteer to assassinate Volker, and I request a fatwa (religious legal opinion) to make his blood permissible," the man said, referring to U.N. envoy Volker Perthes.

Government sources said an investigation had been opened.

"The language of incitement and violence will only deepen divisions on the ground, but it will not deter the mission from carrying out its duties," the U.N. office in Sudan said in a statement.

The U.N.-backed draft agreement could sideline Bashir veterans who regained a foothold following a coup in October 2021, but a final agreement has been delayed by internal disputes over plans for restructuring the military.

TURBULENCE

Military generals toppled Bashir on April 11, 2019 after months of protests. They shared power with civilians for just over two years before staging a coup, triggering more mass demonstrations.

Pro-democracy politicians have promised a new crackdown on Bashir's dissolved National Congress Party under a new political transition.

Bashir's Islamist rule saw long periods of international isolation and civil conflicts.

Bashir loyalists, who have a presence in the military, oppose the U.N. mission and its leadership.

"We've intensified our public action recently to protect national sovereignty from foreign interference," an NCP leader told Reuters, asking not to be named.

Late on Monday, groups sympathetic to the Bashir government attacked pro-democracy protesters in Kober, a neighbourhood where Bashir once resided, according to social media footage and a statement by local activists.

The incident was also close to Kober prison, where Bashir awaits trial over the 1989 coup that brought him to power where his lengthy autocratic rule saw protester deaths and alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Calling for his release, some of those present chanted: "Onwards, Bashir, and "We are with you, lion."

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz in Khartoum and Nafisa Eltahir in Cairo; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Andrew Cawthorne)
FILE PHOTO: Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes arrives to attend her fraud trial at federal court in San Jose, California, U.S., December 16, 2021. REUTERS/Peter DaSilva/File Photo

By Jody Godoy and Bharat Gautam

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Monday denied Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes' request to remain free on bail while she appeals her conviction on charges of defrauding investors in the failed blood-testing startup that was once valued at $9 billion.

Holmes, who rose to fame after claiming Theranos' small machines could run an array of diagnostic tests with just a few drops of blood, was convicted at trial in San Jose, California last year.

U.S. District Judge Edward Davila sentenced Holmes to 11 years and three months in prison in November. Holmes asked Davila to postpone the sentence while the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reviews her case.

Davila concluded that even if Holmes won her appeal to challenge the Theranos technology evidence, it wouldn't result in a reversal or a new trial of all the counts she was found guilty of.

"Contrary to her suggestion that accuracy and reliability were central issues to her convictions, Ms. Holmess misrepresentations to Theranos investors involved more than just whether Theranos technology worked as promised," he said.

Holmes, who is scheduled to begin serving her sentence in April, may ask the 9th Circuit to grant bail.

In denying the release appeal, Davila noted that Holmes was unlikely to flee or endanger the community.

Prosecutors said during the trial that Holmes misrepresented Theranos' technology and finances. Holmes testified in her own defense, saying she believed her statements were accurate at the time.

On appeal, Holmes plans to challenge several of the judge's rulings, including his allowance of evidence about Theranos' test accuracy that postdated her statements to investors.

Holmes' co-defendant, former Theranos President Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, was convicted of defrauding Theranos investors and patients at a separate trial and sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in prison.

In March, Davila denied Balwani's request to remain free on bail during his appeal. The 9th Circuit also ruled that Balwani's sentence should not be postponed while it considers his case.

The case is U.S. v. Holmes et al., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 18-00258.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York and Bharat Govind Gautam in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Gerry Doyle)
Ukrainian service members hold a national flag over a coffin with the body of their brother-in-arms Kostiantyn Starovytskyi, conductor, musician and serviceman, who was recently killed in a fight against Russian troops in Donetsk region, amid Russia's att

BROVARY, Ukraine (Reuters) - Tearful mourners bid farewell on Tuesday to a celebrated Ukrainian opera conductor who was killed fighting Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

Kostiantyn Starovytskyi, who joined the military after Russia's February 2022 invasion, died last week near the city of Kramatorsk.

Starovytskyi, 40, had staged numerous operas in Kyiv, including Gaetano Donizetti's Rita, and was invited to the Berlin Opera Academy in 2021 as an assistant conductor.

"It's a shame that many of his plans, projects and ideas will remain only ideas," said colleague Svitlana Melnychenko.

Friends, relatives and fellow service members laid flowers in Starovytskyi's open coffin during a service outside the capital Kyiv, where they reflected on what they described as his positive nature.

"He was always very warm towards people - a holy person," said university friend Ievhen Hryma, 37.

Starovytskyi is among a growing number of artists, athletes and other public figures who have died fighting Russian forces in Ukraine.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
FILE PHOTO: A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo

By Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ukrainian hackers claim to have broken into the emails of a senior Russian military spy wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for hacking the Hillary Clinton campaign and other senior U.S. Democrats ahead of Donald Trump's election to the presidency in 2016.

In a message posted to Telegram on Monday, a group calling itself Cyber Resistance said it had stolen correspondence from Lt. Col. Sergey Morgachev, who was charged in 2018 with helping organize the hack and leak of emails from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Clinton campaign.

Reuters was not immediately able to fully corroborate the claim, but some of Morgachev's purported personal information - which the hackers shared with the Ukrainian publication InformNapalm - lines up with previously leaked data preserved by the cybersecurity research platform Constella Intelligence.

Stefan Soesanto, a researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich who has studied Ukrainian hacking groups, said the leak "looks pretty credible," noting that InformNapalm had a history of cross-checking the data it received from hackers.

InformNapalm said in an article about the breach that it had confirmed Morgachev's identity by poring through personnel files and a curriculum vitae stolen by the hackers, including one document that identified him as a department head in Unit 26165 - the same position which the FBI accused him of holding in 2018.

Repeated messages left at email addresses and a telephone number purporting to belong to Morgachev went unreturned, and attempts by Reuters to reach him via social media and his current place of employment - said to be the sanctioned Saint Petersburg-based Special Technology Center - were not immediately successful. The Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately return messages; neither did the FBI.

It wasn't immediately clear what information the hackers had managed to steal or how significant it was. Morgachev's inbox could potentially hold insight into Russia's hacking operations, including the operation against Clinton and the Democrats.

In its indictment, the FBI described him as an officer in the Russia's military spy agency, still known by its old acronym, GRU. It said his department was "dedicated to developing and managing malware," including the "X-Agent" spy software used to hack the DNC.

Reuters could not immediately locate contact information for the Cyber Resistance group - one of several Ukrainian hacker gangs that have gained international visibility since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

In its message announcing the theft, the group said of Morgachev: "A very cool and clever hacker, but ... We hacked him."

(Reporting by Raphael Satter; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
FILE PHOTO: ChatGPT logo is seen in this illustration taken, February 3, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By David Shepardson and Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration said Tuesday it is seeking public comments on potential accountability measures for artificial intelligence (AI) systems as questions loom about its impact on national security and education.

ChatGPT, an AI program that recently grabbed the public's attention for its ability to write answers quickly to a wide range of queries, in particular has attracted U.S. lawmakers' attention as it has grown to be the fastest-growing consumer application in history with more than 100 million monthly active users.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a Commerce Department agency that advises the White House on telecommunications and information policy, wants input as there is "growing regulatory interest" in an AI "accountability mechanism."

The agency wants to know if there are measures that could be put in place to provide assurance "that AI systems are legal, effective, ethical, safe, and otherwise trustworthy."

Responsible AI systems could bring enormous benefits, but only if we address their potential consequences and harms. For these systems to reach their full potential, companies and consumers need to be able to trust them, said NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson.

President Joe Biden last week said it remained to be seen whether AI is dangerous. "Tech companies have a responsibility, in my view, to make sure their products are safe before making them public," he said.

ChatGPT, which has wowed some users with quick responses to questions and caused distress for others with inaccuracies, is made by California-based OpenAI and backed by Microsoft Corp.

NTIA plans to draft a report as it looks at "efforts to ensure AI systems work as claimed  and without causing harm" and said the effort will inform the Biden Administration's ongoing work to "ensure a cohesive and comprehensive federal government approach to AI-related risks and opportunities."

A tech ethics group, the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy, asked the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to stop OpenAI from issuing new commercial releases of GPT-4 saying it was "biased, deceptive, and a risk to privacy and public safety."

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Diane Bartz; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on President Biden's proposed budget request for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 28, 2023

By Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday said the United States will investigate the recent purported leak of classified documents until the source is found.

Reuters has reviewed more than 50 of the documents, labeled "Secret" and "Top Secret," that first appeared on social media sites in March and supposedly reveal details of military capabilities of some U.S. allies and adversaries.

Reuters has not independently verified the documents' authenticity.

"We will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it," Austin said during a press conference at the State Department.

Austin, the first senior U.S. official to comment on the leak, said the Pentagon was aware that documents had been posted dated Feb. 28 and March 1, but was not sure if there were other documents that had been online before.

"These are things that we will find out as we continue to investigate," Austin added.

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns, speaking later at Rice University in Texas, called the leaks "deeply unfortunate," but did not give details on what he said were "quite intense" investigations by the Pentagon and the Justice Department.

"We need to learn lessons from that, as well, about how we can tighten procedures," Burns said.

Investigators are working to determine what person or group might have had the ability and motivation to release the intelligence reports. The leaks could be the most damaging release of U.S. government information since the 2013 publication of thousands of documents on WikiLeaks.

Milancy Harris, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security, is leading the Pentagon's review to assess the potential impact of the leaked documents, a U.S. official told Reuters.

Some of the most sensitive information is purportedly related to Ukraine's military capabilities and shortcomings, and one document mentions the small number of Western special forces troops in the country.

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the disclosure of the documents.

Some national security experts and U.S. officials say they suspect the leaker could be American, given the breadth of topics covered by the documents. More theories could develop as the investigation progresses, they said.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis, Kanishka Singh, David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Leslie Adler)
Saudi Arabia and Iran appear to have been on the same page on Yemen since their historic agreement to restore relations. Both attach the highest priority to bringing peace to the war-torn country. Following an unprecedented visit by a Saudi delegation to the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on 8 April, the head of the delegation, Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohamed Said Jaber, said that the purpose of the visit was to prolong the ceasefire, support the prisoner exchange process, and explore avenues for dialogue between Yemeni contingents in the interests of reaching a comprehensive and lasting political solution in Yemen. In a similar spirit, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani underscored his countrys firm stance on the need for a political end to the conflict in Yemen. His country has played a positive and constructive role in the negotiations between Yemeni parties, he said. Now it was important for all Yemeni parties to come together to negotiate and talk, focusing on ensuring the best interests of the Yemeni people as they determine the fate of that country and form a new government.

These statements followed shortly after the Saudi-Iran foreign ministers meeting in Beijing hosted by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on 6 April, as part of the continuing reconciliation process between Riyadh and Tehran. Participants discussed various mutual concerns in addition to the Yemeni conflict, such as the situations in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Nevertheless, Saudi observers said that progress on resolving the Yemeni crisis will be the main litmus test of the rapprochement.

As encouraging as these signs are, the road to peace in Yemen is still very long. Some commentators have suggested that the political settlement process may take longer than the war has lasted so far, which is about eight years. While it is impossible to overstate the importance of the qualitative regional shift that occurred with the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement, it is important to distinguish between four main phases in the Yemeni peace-making process. The first is the meetings and other formal procedural steps that are taking place within the framework of the Beijing-brokered reconciliation process. The second phase will be direct, exploratory talks in which Yemeni stakeholders begin to broach a range of complex and thorny issues, not least among which is the frame-of-references that will govern the political process. In the light of recent developments, it is unlikely the parties will return to the three previous frames-of-reference, namely the Gulf Initiative of 2012, the outputs of the 2013 National Dialogue and UN Resolution 2216. Other preliminary issues will also need to be addressed in order to ensure the sustainability of the peace process, such as security arrangements, disarmament of the militias and the creation of an independent interim executive authority.

After exploratory talks, the two sides would engage in more extensive dialogue in the framework of a settlement process through an interim phase, which some Saudi sources believe would last around three years. The magnitude of the complexities the various stakeholders would need to address will require extensive discussions, the sources said. Talks would not be smooth and there would be setbacks, but in the end they would hammer out a roadmap. In this context, it is important to differentiate between the next two phases: the political process and actual peace-building. The former can be carried out in the foreseeable future, especially given the cumulative expertise that has been built up in this regard. Towards this end, it will be essential to secure the ceasefire and implement a number of security provisions, especially in light of the Houthi tactic of using the ceasefire merely to consolidate gains. Firstly, there must be a disengagement process along the lines of contact, since the ceasefire line, itself, will define spheres of influence on the ground and, hence, shape much of the political process. The forces of the Ansarullah (Houthi) Movement continue to launch attacks and military manoeuvres aimed at increasing or consolidating its territorial gains. Meanwhile, the conditions of the permanent ceasefire remain unclear, including whether it will include the deployment of an observer force.

Considerable speculation has surrounded the visit by a joint Saudi-Omani delegation to Sanaa on Sunday, 9 April. The delegation met with the head Houthi regimes Supreme Political Council, Mahdi Al-Mashat, at the Presidential Palace, which constituted a tacit Saudi recognition of the legitimacy of the Houthi Movement. Now one might say that there are two entities with legitimacy claims in Yemen: the internationally recognised government headed by the Presidential Leadership Council that has its temporary seat in Aden, and the de facto Houthi government in Sanaa. While this is a major departure from previous Saudi and Yemeni official positions, it could be conducive to a permanent ceasefire and serious peace talks, unlike those that had taken place at various junctures in Geneva, Kuwait and Stockholm.

Although the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) expressed support for Riyadhs diplomatic initiatives, it clearly harbours considerable reserves concerning the feasibility of normalising relations with the Houthis in the framework of any agreed-on frames of reference. The difficulties that arise may have less to do with the Houthis than the diverse and sometimes conflicting interests of the constituents in the PLC itself. Above all, there are the ongoing underlying tensions between the Southern Transitional Council (STC), the dominant group in the Yemeni Southern Movement, and other PLC contingents, such as that headed by the adviser to former president Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and that headed by Tarek Saleh, nephew of the late Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Nevertheless, in a recent interview with the Saudi Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, the STC leader Aidarous Al-Zubeidi said that he welcomed the diplomatic steps that have been taken, but he also stressed that the PLC is of one heart and mind. The message was reassuring to all who support a peaceful solution to the Yemeni crisis. It should be borne in mind that, as indicated above, the PLC is an umbrella group. While the Houthis may consider themselves an entity on par with the PLC in formal terms in the framework of the political process, this should not be equated with the actual balance of power on the ground among the diverse forces as they have been shaped by nearly a decade of conflict.

In this regard, it is significant that Zubeidi, in his Asharq Al-Awsat interview, focused on the need to address the Southern cause in the framework of any political process. This, in itself, could present a stumbling block. Apart from the fact that the Southern cause had been addressed in the aforementioned frames of reference, which the Houthis do not recognise, the other constituents of the PLC would not give the same priority to the Southern cause and might be disinclined to address it in an initial phase of the talks. The National Dialogue in 2013 addressed the Southern question in the framework of a federal solution providing for two or more regions, including one led by the Houthis in the north and another, led by the STC in the South. Other groups, especially those led by Tarek Saleh and the Yemeni Congregation of Islah (Reform) Movement, would attempt to carve out their own provinces.

Zubeidi mentioned the possibility of the Arab Coalition serving as a sponsor of the political process, with the UAE taking the lead in that framework while Saudi Arabia would be one of the co-sponsors alongside Oman. As the Houthi leader Mohamed Al-Bakhiti noted, the UAE had withdrawn its military forces from Yemen last year, effectively withdrawing as an active participant in the coalitions military campaign in Yemen. Abu Dhabi has welcomed the current initiative in Yemen, but it has given no indication of a role it envisions for itself in this process.

Both Saudi Arabia and Iran have much to gain from a solution to the Yemeni conflict. Saudi Arabia, which had already begun a major policy shift on the war last year, had invested heavily in the conflict and suffered directly from the spillover into Saudi Arabia itself. Ending the conflict will make more resources available to the Saudi comprehensive development process, which clearly requires a more stable environment. Iran, too, stands to gain from a more stable environment, both economically and politically, all the more so now that China has stepped in as a partner in both the peacemaking and development processes.

The US remains skeptical, especially with regard to Iranian intentions. US Special Envoy to Yemen Timothy Lenderking recently said that, if the Iranians want to show they are committed to peace in Yemen, then they will stop smuggling weapons to the Houthis. In a more pointed message, the US has just sent a nuclear powered submarine to the Gulf against the backdrop of mounting tensions with Iran, a move perhaps designed to bring Gulf countries under the US nuclear umbrella. The Houthis, for their part, have reiterated their determination to rid Yemen of all foreign presence, a message that has frequently been reiterated by Iran in the context of US/Western presence in the region as a whole.

The conflict in Yemen has generated the worst humanitarian disaster in the world, with more than 20 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, while levels of international aid have dropped against the backdrop of international crises and poor economic infrastructure. The Yemeni people themselves will be the most immediate beneficiaries of an end to the conflict and progress towards peace.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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FILE PHOTO: Ajay Banga, CEO of MasterCard, speaks during the Women In The World Summit in the Manhattan borough of New York April 8, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Bank's executive board will conduct a formal interview with Ajay Banga, the U.S. nominee to success David Malpass as president of the multilateral development bank, in early May, two sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Malpass informed the board on Tuesday that his last day would be June 1, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who has championed reforms at the World Bank to free up funds to help developing countries address climate change, fragility and other crises, told Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday that having the right leadership at the bank was critical.

Banga, the former chief executive of Mastercard, "has the right leadership and management skills, background, and financial expertise to lead the World Bank at a critical moment in its history," she said.

"He has a keen understanding of the economic opportunities present in developing countries that will serve him well if hes selected," she said at the start of a meeting with Sitharaman.

The World Bank Group's executive board last month said it will consider only Banga to be the development lender's next president, as no other candidates were nominated.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: Military policemen ride on the back of a patrol truck at the site of a funeral of Houthi fighters killed during recent fighting against government forces, in Sanaa, Yemen December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/File Photo

(Reuters) - Saudi and Omani delegations have been holding talks with Houthi officials in the Yemeni capital Sanaa as Riyadh seeks a permanent ceasefire to end its military involvement in the latest chapter of conflict in Yemen's modern history.

Following is a timeline of Yemen's slide into conflict.

* 1990: Unification of north and south Yemen to form a single state under President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

* 1994: Civil war in which Saleh prevents south, angered by what it sees as its lower status, from splitting with north.

* 2003-09: Houthi group in north Yemen protests marginalisation of the local Zaydi Shi'ite Muslim sect, and fights six wars with Saleh's forces and one with Saudi Arabia.

* 2011: Arab Spring protests undermine Saleh's rule, lead to splits in the army and allow al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to seize territory in the east.

* 2012: Saleh steps down in a political transition plan backed by Gulf states. Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi becomes interim president and oversees a national dialogue to draft a more inclusive, federal constitution.

* 2013-2014: AQAP stages attacks across Yemen. The Houthis seize the capital Sanaa in September 2014 with help from Saleh and demand a share of power.

* 2015: Hadi tries to announce a new federal constitution opposed by the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saleh, who arrest him. He escapes, pursued by the Houthis, triggering Saudi intervention in March at the head of a military coalition.

The coalition drives the Houthis and Saleh loyalists from Aden in south Yemen and from Marib, northeast of Sanaa. Front lines solidify, heralding years of stalemate.

* 2016: AQAP establishes a mini-state around Mukalla. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) backs local forces in a battle that ends AQAP rule there.

Hunger grows as the coalition imposes a partial blockade on Yemen, accusing Iran of smuggling missiles to the Houthis, something it denies.

Coalition air strikes that kill civilians prompt warnings from human rights groups but Western support for the military campaign continues.

* 2017: The Houthis fire a growing number of missiles deep into Saudi Arabia. Seeing a chance to regain power for his family, Saleh switches sides but is killed trying to escape the Houthis.

* 2018: Coalition-backed forces advance up the Red Sea coast against the Houthis, aiming to take the port of Hodeidah, which handles the bulk of Yemen's commercial and aid imports.

Military stalemate ensues. Peace talks are held in Sweden, the first in two years, and the warring sides agree a truce and troop withdrawal from Hodeidah. Work on a prisoner swap begins.

* 2019: The Hodeidah truce holds for the most part but the withdrawal fails to materialise. Violence continues elsewhere.

The UAE largely ends its presence while still supporting local allies, including southern separatists who in August seize Aden. Riyadh brokers a power-sharing deal between separatists and Hadi's government but implementation only begins in 2020.

* 2020: Coalition announces a truce prompted by COVID-19 but no progress is made to forge a permanent ceasefire and violence continues, though the warring sides carry out a prisoner swap.

An attack on Aden airport moments after a plane lands carrying the newly formed power-sharing government kills at least 22 people. Riyadh and Hadi's government blame the Houthis.

* 2021: U.S. President Joe Biden revokes a terrorist designation of the Houthis while also ending U.S. support for offensive coalition operations.

The Houthis intensify an offensive to seize gas-rich Marib, the government's last stronghold in north Yemen.

U.N. and U.S. envoys try to engineer a permanent truce and reopening of air and sea links to Houthi areas, but the warring sides resist compromise.

Saudi Arabia and Iran launch direct talks, mostly focused on Yemen.

* 2022: Houthis extend missile and drone strikes to the UAE after Emirati-backed local militias battle the group in energy-producing Shabwa and Marib. Coalition warplanes pummel Yemen.

The United States acts to boost the defence capabilities of Gulf allies amid strained relations, and as the Houthis intensify assaults on Saudi oil facilities.

President Hadi cedes power to a presidential council in April as Riyadh acts to strengthen the anti-Houthi alliance.

Warring parties agree a truce deal in April, which is rolled over twice and expires in October without agreement to extend. But a tentative calm holds.

* 2023: In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to restore relations, raising hopes that the Yemen peace process could see progress.

In April, Saudi and Omani envoys visit Sanaa aiming to negotiate a permanent ceasefire deal with the Houthis.

(Compiled by Angus McDowall, Lisa Barrington and Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Frances Kerry and Mark Heinrich)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rules 13a-16 or 15d-16 under

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of April 2023

Commission File Number: 001-41586

MOOLEC SCIENCE SA

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

17, Boulevard F. W. Raiffeisen

L-2411 Luxembourg,

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F  Form 40-F 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): 

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K

On April 9, 2023, Moolec Science SA (the  Company ) entered into binding agreements with the shareholders (the  Selling Shareholders ) of Valorasoy S.A., a company incorporated and existing in accordance with the laws Argentina and headquartered in the province of Cordoba, Argentina ( ValoraSoy ) providing for the acquisition of the entire issued and outstanding capital stock of ValoraSoy (the  Acquisition ). Completion of the Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.

On April 11, 2023, the Company issued a press release relating to the announcement of the Acquisition , a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 6-K and incorporated by reference herein.

Exhibit List

1

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

MOOLEC SCIENCE SA (Registrant) Dated: April 11, 2023 By: /s/ Gaston Paladini Name: Gaston Paladini Title: Chief Executive Officer

2

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

COMPANY ACCEPTANCE LETTER, DATED APRIL 9, 2023, AND SELLING SHAREHOLDERS OFFER LETTER, DATED APRIL 9, 2023

PRESS RELEASE OF MOOLEC SCIENCE SA DATED APRIL 11, 2023
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not necessarily reviewed the information in this filing and has not determined if it is accurate and complete.

The reader should not assume that the information is accurate and complete. UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM D



Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities



OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0076 Expires: August 31, 2015 Estimated average burden hours per response: 4.00

1. Issuer's Identity

CIK (Filer ID Number) Previous Names None Entity Type 0001168648 OCM EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT FUND, LLC OCM EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT FUND LLC Corporation X Limited Partnership Limited Liability Company General Partnership Business Trust Other (Specify)

Name of Issuer OAKTREE EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT FUND, L.P. Jurisdiction of Incorporation/Organization DELAWARE Year of Incorporation/Organization X Over Five Years Ago Within Last Five Years (Specify Year) Yet to Be Formed

2. Principal Place of Business and Contact Information

Name of Issuer OAKTREE EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT FUND, L.P. Street Address 1 Street Address 2 333 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE 28TH FLOOR City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Phone Number of Issuer LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 90071 213 830 6300

3. Related Persons

Last Name First Name Middle Name Oaktree Employee Investment Fund GP, L.P. N/A N/A Street Address 1 Street Address 2 333 South Grand Avenue 28th Floor City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90071

Relationship: X Executive Officer Director Promoter

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

General Partner of the Issuer

Last Name First Name Middle Name Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. N/A N/A Street Address 1 Street Address 2 333 South Grand Avenue 28th Floor City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90071

Relationship: Executive Officer Director X Promoter

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

Investment Manager of the Issuer

Last Name First Name Middle Name Marks Howard S. Street Address 1 Street Address 2 c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90071

Relationship: X Executive Officer Director Promoter

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

Executive Officer of the Investment Manager

Last Name First Name Middle Name Karsh Bruce A. Street Address 1 Street Address 2 c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90071

Relationship: X Executive Officer Director Promoter

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

Executive Officer of the Investment Manager

Last Name First Name Middle Name Stone Sheldon Street Address 1 Street Address 2 c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90071

Relationship: X Executive Officer Director Promoter

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

Executive Officer of the Investment Manager

Last Name First Name Middle Name Frank John B. Street Address 1 Street Address 2 c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90071

Relationship: X Executive Officer Director Promoter

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

Executive Officer of the Investment Manager

Last Name First Name Middle Name Levin Daniel Street Address 1 Street Address 2 c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90071

Relationship: X Executive Officer Director Promoter

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

Executive Officer of the Investment Manager

Last Name First Name Middle Name Wintrob Jay Street Address 1 Street Address 2 c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90071

Relationship: X Executive Officer Director Promoter

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

Executive Officer of the Investment Manager

Last Name First Name Middle Name Molz Todd Street Address 1 Street Address 2 c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. 333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor City State/Province/Country ZIP/PostalCode Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 90071

Relationship: X Executive Officer Director Promoter

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

Executive Officer of the Investment Manager

4. Industry Group

Agriculture Banking & Financial Services Commercial Banking Insurance Investing Investment Banking X Pooled Investment Fund Hedge Fund X Private Equity Fund Venture Capital Fund Other Investment Fund Is the issuer registered as

an investment company under

the Investment Company

Act of 1940? Yes X No Other Banking & Financial Services Business Services Energy Coal Mining Electric Utilities Energy Conservation Environmental Services Oil & Gas Other Energy Health Care Biotechnology Health Insurance Hospitals & Physicians Pharmaceuticals Other Health Care Manufacturing Real Estate Commercial Construction REITS & Finance Residential Other Real Estate Retailing Restaurants Technology Computers Telecommunications Other Technology Travel Airlines & Airports Lodging & Conventions Tourism & Travel Services Other Travel Other

5. Issuer Size

Revenue Range OR Aggregate Net Asset Value Range No Revenues No Aggregate Net Asset Value $1 - $1,000,000 $1 - $5,000,000 $1,000,001 - $5,000,000 $5,000,001 - $25,000,000 $5,000,001 - $25,000,000 $25,000,001 - $50,000,000 $25,000,001 - $100,000,000 $50,000,001 - $100,000,000 Over $100,000,000 Over $100,000,000 X Decline to Disclose Decline to Disclose Not Applicable Not Applicable

6. Federal Exemption(s) and Exclusion(s) Claimed (select all that apply)

Rule 504(b)(1) (not (i), (ii) or (iii)) X Investment Company Act Section 3(c) Section 3(c)(1) Section 3(c)(9) Section 3(c)(2) Section 3(c)(10) Section 3(c)(3) Section 3(c)(11) Section 3(c)(4) Section 3(c)(12) Section 3(c)(5) Section 3(c)(13) Section 3(c)(6) Section 3(c)(14) X Section 3(c)(7) Rule 504 (b)(1)(i) Rule 504 (b)(1)(ii) Rule 504 (b)(1)(iii) Rule 505 X Rule 506(b) Rule 506(c) Securities Act Section 4(a)(5)

7. Type of Filing

New Notice Date of First Sale 2020-04-01 First Sale Yet to Occur X Amendment

8. Duration of Offering

Does the Issuer intend this offering to last more than one year? X Yes No

9. Type(s) of Securities Offered (select all that apply)

X Equity X Pooled Investment Fund Interests Debt Tenant-in-Common Securities Option, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Another Security Mineral Property Securities Security to be Acquired Upon Exercise of Option, Warrant or Other Right to Acquire Security X Other (describe)

10. Business Combination Transaction

Is this offering being made in connection with a business combination transaction, such as a merger, acquisition or exchange offer? Yes X No

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

11. Minimum Investment

Minimum investment accepted from any outside investor $ 0 USD

12. Sales Compensation

Recipient Recipient CRD Number X None (Associated) Broker or Dealer X None (Associated) Broker or Dealer CRD Number X None Street Address 1 Street Address 2 City State/Province/Country ZIP/Postal Code State(s) of Solicitation (select all that apply)

Check All States or check individual States All States Foreign/non-US

13. Offering and Sales Amounts

Total Offering Amount $ USD or X Indefinite Total Amount Sold $ 100,000 USD Total Remaining to be Sold $ USD or X Indefinite

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14. Investors

Select if securities in the offering have been or may be sold to persons who do not qualify as accredited investors, and enter the number of such non-accredited investors who already have invested in the offering. Regardless of whether securities in the offering have been or may be sold to persons who do not qualify as accredited investors, enter the total number of investors who already have invested in the offering: 1

15. Sales Commissions & Finder's Fees Expenses

Provide separately the amounts of sales commissions and finders fees expenses, if any. If the amount of an expenditure is not known, provide an estimate and check the box next to the amount.

Sales Commissions $ 0 USD Estimate Finders' Fees $ 0 USD Estimate

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

OCM Investments, LLC, CRD# 128803 and Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions LLC, CRD# 313390 will place the investments but are not anticipated to receive sales commissions.

16. Use of Proceeds

Provide the amount of the gross proceeds of the offering that has been or is proposed to be used for payments to any of the persons required to be named as executive officers, directors or promoters in response to Item 3 above. If the amount is unknown, provide an estimate and check the box next to the amount.

$ 0 USD Estimate

Clarification of Response (if Necessary):

The Issuer's confidential offering materials fully discuss fees due to the Investment Manager of the Issuer and the General Partner of the Issuer.

Signature and Submission

Please verify the information you have entered and review the Terms of Submission below before signing and clicking SUBMIT below to file this notice.

Terms of Submission

In submitting this notice, each issuer named above is: Notifying the SEC and/or each State in which this notice is filed of the offering of securities described and undertaking to furnish them, upon written request, in the accordance with applicable law, the information furnished to offerees.* Irrevocably appointing each of the Secretary of the SEC and, the Securities Administrator or other legally designated officer of the State in which the issuer maintains its principal place of business and any State in which this notice is filed, as its agents for service of process, and agreeing that these persons may accept service on its behalf, of any notice, process or pleading, and further agreeing that such service may be made by registered or certified mail, in any Federal or state action, administrative proceeding, or arbitration brought against it in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, if the action, proceeding or arbitration (a) arises out of any activity in connection with the offering of securities that is the subject of this notice, and (b) is founded, directly or indirectly, upon the provisions of: (i) the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or any rule or regulation under any of these statutes, or (ii) the laws of the State in which the issuer maintains its principal place of business or any State in which this notice is filed. Certifying that, if the issuer is claiming a Rule 505 exemption, the issuer is not disqualified from relying on Rule 505 for one of the reasons stated in Rule 505(b)(2)(iii) or Rule 506(d).

Each Issuer identified above has read this notice, knows the contents to be true, and has duly caused this notice to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized person.

For signature, type in the signer's name or other letters or characters adopted or authorized as the signer's signature.

Issuer Signature Name of Signer Title Date OAKTREE EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT FUND, L.P. Henry Orren Henry Orren Senior Vice Pres. of the Investment Manager of the Issuer 2023-04-11

Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.

* This undertaking does not affect any limits Section 102(a) of the National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996 ("NSMIA") [Pub. L. No. 104-290, 110 Stat. 3416 (Oct. 11, 1996)] imposes on the ability of States to require information. As a result, if the securities that are the subject of this Form D are "covered securities" for purposes of NSMIA, whether in all instances or due to the nature of the offering that is the subject of this Form D, States cannot routinely require offering materials under this undertaking or otherwise and can require offering materials only to the extent NSMIA permits them to do so under NSMIA's preservation of their anti-fraud authority.
April 11, 2023

VIA EDGAR

Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission)

100 F Street, N.E

Washington, D.C. 20549

United States of America

Attention:

Mr. Joshua Gorsky

RE: Neovasc Inc.

Request to Withdraw Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-264444)

Dear Mr. Joshua Gorsky:

Pursuant to Rule 477 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), Neovasc Inc. (the Company) hereby requests that the above-referenced registration statement on Form F-3 originally filed on April 22, 2022, including all exhibits filed therewith and the amendment thereto (the Registration Statement), be withdrawn, effective as of the date hereof.

The Company has determined not to proceed at this time with the registration of the securities proposed to be covered by the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has not been declared effective and no Company securities have been issued, offered or sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Company is withdrawing the Registration Statement on grounds that the withdrawal of the Registration Statement is consistent with the public interest and protection of investors, as contemplated by paragraph (a) of Rule 477 of the Securities Act.

The Company further requests that, in accordance with Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, all fees paid to the Commission in connection with the filing of the Registration Statements be credited to the Companys account to be offset against the filing fee for future use by the Company or an affiliate of the Company.

Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 477 under the Securities Act, the Company has duly caused this request for withdrawal to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Very truly yours,

Neovasc Inc.

By: /s/ Chris Clark Name: Chris Clark Title: Chief Financial Officer

cc: Michael J. Hong, Esq., Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  An American soldier suspected of assaulting a South Korean bus driver was arrested over the weekend by police in Suwon city, according to a police official.

Police allege that a junior enlisted soldier stationed at Camp Humphreys boarded a tourist bus around 6:40 a.m. Sunday and made a commotion by yelling, a spokesman for the Suwon Seobu police station told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday.

South Korean law enforcement officials customarily speak to the media on the condition of anonymity and do not publicly identify criminal suspects until trial. Suwon is roughly 20 miles north of Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base overseas.

The bus driver was pushed to the ground while attempting to restrain the soldier, the spokesman said. The driver notified police, who apprehended the soldier at a convenience store about 330 yards from the bus.

The bus driver and police officers at the scene said they smelled alcohol on the soldiers breath, the spokesman said. Police will review security camera footage from the bus and plan to interview the soldier at a later date.

U.S. Forces Korea military police took custody of the soldier shortly after his arrest. USFK typically maintains custody of its personnel unless they are accused by South Korean authorities of more serious crimes like rape and homicide, according to its regulations on criminal jurisdiction.

An Eighth Army spokesman declined to provide additional information about the incident until the commands investigation is complete.

As always, the service member has the right to be considered innocent until proven otherwise, Army Lt. Col. Neil Penttila said in an email Tuesday.

Penttila said the command will continue to cooperate fully with our partners in the Korean National Police to determine the facts related to the alleged incident.
FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  The Defense Department is offering medical assessments to civilians who were exposed to jet fuel contamination from a leak at the Red Hill storage facility in Hawaii in 2021.

The assessments began Monday at the Red Hill Clinic on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, the Defense Health Agency Region Indo-Pacific said in a news release.

Subsequent treatment, if deemed medically necessary, will be provided either at the Red Hill Clinic or Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu.

The assessments and care will be offered through March 10, 2024,

Kristina Baehr, an attorney with Just Well Law, one of two law firms representing more than 100 current or former residents of the affected communities, called the Monday announcement a PR stunt.

The [Defense Health Agency] and military providers have failed to provide even the most basic standard of care to Red Hill victims since the beginning of this crisis, Baehr said in a phone interview Monday.

Why would we want those same providers to provide substandard care for civilians, too? she said.

Thousands of residents were temporarily relocated to Waikiki Beach hotels beginning in late 2021 after the Navys water distribution system for military communities on and near the joint base became tainted with jet fuel.

In March 2022, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Red Hill facility, the source of the jet fuel, permanently closed.

The current or former residents sued the Navy in federal court seeking compensation for conditions and illnesses they say stem from exposure to contaminated water.

Late last month, two soldiers and a sailor became the first service members to pursue legal action over the contamination.

The news release did not include an estimate of the number of civilians now potentially for assessments at the Red Hill Clinic or Tripler.

The Red Hill Clinic was established in late December 2022 and has been available to any individual within the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. DEERS-enrolled individuals include service members, military retirees, 100% disabled veterans, dependents and active contractors.

Court documents filed in the federal suit claim that the Navy has been reluctant and inconsistent in delivering medical care for residents who have sought tests, lab work and treatment.

The new offer for health assessments is available to any civilian who lived in housing served by the Navys water distribution system or who worked full or part time in any Navy facility using that water between Nov. 20, 2021, and March 18, 2022. Defense Department employees are not enrolled in DEERS.

The assessments are intended for those who are experiencing persistent symptoms that they attribute to jet fuel contamination, the news release said.

Appointments are available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. To make an appointment call 800-874-2273, select option 1 and then choose Red Hill Clinic.

Upon completion of the initial health assessment, individuals will receive a letter determining further eligibility for care, the release said.
The U.S. militarys Thule Air Base in Greenland is no more. By that name, anyway.

The Defense Departments northernmost installation was renamed Pituffik Space Base recently, using the Greenlandic name of the area where it is located.

The new moniker is both an effort to respect local culture and a reflection of the transfer of the bases affiliation to the Space Force, the service said in a statement Thursday. The base, less than 950 miles from the North Pole, was operated by the Air Force until 2020.

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, Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, said at the ceremony.

Pituffik, pronounced bee-doo-FEEK, is a nod to the original inhabitants, who were forced to relocate when construction of the base began in 1951.

Melting sea ice is opening new economic opportunities in the high north, and the U.S. and its allies expect renewed strategic competition in the region in the coming years, Saltzman said.

Russia, which historically has had a significant Arctic presence, has been gradually strengthening its capabilities in the region. China, meanwhile, has shown interest in new Arctic shipping routes.

Saltzman vowed to ensure a safe, secure and prosperous future both in space and above the Arctic Circle.

The previous name of the base was derived from a trading post that explorers in the early 1900s established in the area, which they called Thule, after the classical literature term ultima Thule, referring to the northernmost part of the habitable world.

The U.S. built a base there after World War II, and it became a key point in American nuclear retaliation strategy.

Greenland has its own parliament and is a self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark, which oversees its security.

Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenlands minister for foreign affairs, business and trade, also attended the renaming ceremony and spoke of the importance of allied cooperation.

Today, the U.S. has proclaimed to the world that here lies Pituffik Space Base, where even this far north, there is a people, Motzfeldt said. And they have a name for the place from where we keep watch over all our peoples.

The 821st Space Base Group, a geographically separate unit of Space Base Delta 1 in Colorado Springs, Colo., operates the base.

Pituffik supports an intercontinental ballistic missile warning mission run by the 12th Space Warning Squadron and a space surveillance mission by the 23rd Space Operations Squadron.
This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Europe edition, Jan. 11, 1957. It is republished unedited in its original form.

About 15,000 American babies will be born at Army hospitals in France and Germany during 1957, says Col. Harold E. Harrison, USAREUR consultant in obstetrics and gynecology and chief of that service at the U.S. Army Hospital in Frankfurt.

Of the expected number of USAREUR babies slated for 1957, Harrison says 225 infants per month will be born at the U.S. Army Hospital in Frankfurt. Last year, the average number of births at the hospital was little more than 200 babies per month for an annual total of 2,408 deliveries.

In 1952, according to Harrison, births at the Frankfurt Army Hospital averaged 76 per month. If statistics mean anything, the expected USAREUR births this year will be more than the combined total births were in Nevada and Vermont in 1952.

The Army is well prepared to care for mothers and babies. At the hospital in Frankfurt, for example, the obstetrics ward is equipped with 73 beds, and 62 bassinets.

This number may have seemed high in 1952, when in the month of April only 60 babies were born, but December 1956 saw a record high in births with 248 deliveries bringing 255 babies including seven sets of twins into the world.

The highest number of births, for any one day recorded at the Frankfurt hospital was on Dec. 30, 1956, when 14 infants were born.

Perhaps to the layman, the birth of a baby is regarded with a certain amount of awe as one of natures rare wonders. But to trained and able men like Harrison and his highly qualified staff of obstetricians, pediatricians and medical technicians, there is no mystery to birth. It is, rather, a well understood science.

From the moment that pregnancy is established until six weeks after birth, Army wives in USAREUR can be sure of obstetrical care equaling the best offered at any Stateside hospital.

From her first prenatal check to her final postnatal examination, the Army mother and her newborn baby receive at an average total cost of $10 per birth the type of care and treatment that would cost at least $250 to a Stateside civilian family.

The nine months of pregnancy are divided into three parts, says Harrison. The first three months is the critical period. It is at this time that the embryo forms within the mother. The greatest danger at this period is illness to the mother. German measles, polio, and many other types of virus diseases can seriously affect the birth of the child.

Following their initial pregnancy diagnosis at their local dispensary, all Army mothers are expected to visit the Army hospital in their area during the first weeks of their pregnancy for an evaluation check.

After the hospital examination the prospective mother is remanded to the expert care of her local dispensary doctor. She is given a booklet of instructions advising her of the necessary precautions to take during the entire period of her pregnancy.

From the fourth to the eighth month of pregnancy, the prospective mother is seen by an Army doctor at least once each month. During the last four weeks of pregnancy, the mother must report to her doctor once a week.

At this period a determination is made as to the probable date of birth. If the woman lives a great distance from the hospital, she is advised to report there between 10 days and two weeks before the expected birth.

Generally the actual birth is treated as a routine and very natural situation. Regardless of the time of day or night, a qualified obstetrician is on duty at each of the USAREUR hospitals to aid the mother in her delivery.

Immediately following the birth, a plastic name tag is placed on the baby and the mother. For the first 24 hours after the birth, the infant is kept in a nursery where trained nurses and technicians care for it. Harrison said the first 24 hours are the most crucial in a babys life. It is at this time usually that complications of any sort would make themselves known. After this crucial period the baby is kept with the mother for her five to six day stay at the hospital.

In the field of obstetrics, premature births still remain a great challenge to doctors. During 1956 in USAREUR, about one out of every 33 births was premature. Obstetricians are agreed on one cause of prematurity, Harrison says, and that is if the mother puts on too much weight.

Harrison can recall women who gained between 75-100 pounds during their pregnancy. One case he will never forget is that of the woman who weighed 300 pounds at the time she gave birth.

Ideally, a woman should gain two to three pounds during her first three months of pregnancy and between eight to 10 pounds each in her next two pregnancy periods. During the nine months the ideal gain is approximately 20 pounds.

Fathers are not forgotten by the Army hospitals. At the maternity ward in the Frankfurt Hospital, an anteroom is available where prospective fathers may wait it out. But Harrison prefers that fathers bring their wives to the hospital, leave their phone numbers and then return to their homes.

Most fathers, says Harrison, especially if it is their first experience, get jittery when their wives are due. But, adds Harrison, weve never lost a father yet.

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When Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed last month to restore their diplomatic relations and work together to ease tensions in the Middle East, no one expected the speed with which they would have the ball rolling.

The Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, accompanied by a high-level security and economic delegation, is expected to visit Saudi Arabia in a few weeks following an invitation from the Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud. Negotiations to reopen diplomatic missions in Tehran and Riyadh and to name the new ambassadors are also in full swing.

Officials from the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministries held a technical meeting in Tehran this week to finalise details before the opening of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and the Iranian Embassy in Riyadh.

Seven years ago, after the execution of the Saudi Shia leader Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr, the Iranian government renamed the street where the Saudi Embassy is located in Tehran, Martyr Nimr Al-Nimr Street. However, this week the Sheikh Nimr Street sign had been removed and the old name, Pasdaran Street, was reinstated.

Talks in Tehran took place two days after the meeting between Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beijing, the first in seven years, where the two regional powers vowed to bring security and stability to the Middle East. Nonetheless, due to complex and thorny issues in Saudi-Iranian relations and the long proxy wars between them, some Western officials are skeptical that the current rapprochement steps will withstand the differences and conflicts of interest that could occur in issues including Yemen and Lebanon. Perhaps the biggest dilemma is the confidence deficit.

Relations between the two countries have gone through a long series of crises since 1979, and thus building trust will not be easy or quick. Previous attempts to normalise relations between the two countries during various Iranian administrations, from the government of the late Iranian president Hashemi Rafsanjani in the 1990s, and the government of former president Mohamed Khatami at the start of the millennium, all the way to the government of former president Hassan Rouhani, all failed and did not lead to a real improvement in relations.

Iranian officials are nevertheless optimistic that todays endeavors will have better luck than those of the past three decades.

In the past, Iran had to manoeuver to protect its national interests on the one hand and improve regional relations on the other hand in a regional dynamic controlled by America. This is not the case today, as the countries of the region draw their policies and define their interests regardless of Americas views. This is the new variable, and I believe that if Washington were as strong in the Middle East as it was in the past, this political breakthrough would not have been achieved between Riyadh and Tehran, a former Iranian diplomat who worked in the Khatami administration told Al-Ahram Weekly.

For Tehran, this positive dynamic in relations with our neighbours is not a tactic to buy time. Iran is serious about opening a new chapter in political, economic and strategic cooperation. We believe that when all countries in the region begin to reap the fruits of that rapprochement, there is no going back. Perhaps this is why Washington is dreading the possible success of the Iranian-Saudi reconciliation because it really could transform the region, he added.

The US lukewarm welcome of the rapprochement between Riyadh and Tehran was evident. A few days ago, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns held talks in Saudi Arabia with his counterparts to discuss cooperation.

The details of the negotiations were not revealed, but they certainly touched on Chinese mediation, developments in relations between Riyadh and Tehran, and efforts to end the war in Yemen. It was notable that Burns visit was announced as Saudi Arabias foreign minister held talks with his Iranian counterpart in Beijing.

The sudden visit of the CIA director to Riyadh reflects Americas concern that it is being marginalised and bypassed in recent regional arrangements. The drop in US influence with Saudi Arabia was emphasised when OPEC Plus countries agreed this month to cut oil output by around 1.16 million barrels per day, in a surprise move that caused a rise in prices and infuriated the US administration which called the move inadvisable.

In a show of force, the US Navy deployed on Saturday a guided-missile submarine capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles to the Gulf. Iran criticised the move as a provocation. But Iranian officials expect more provocations in the coming weeks, even American efforts to detonate the rapprochement between Iran and the Arab countries.

America could lash out and try to sabotage the whole thing as it feels that the rug is being pulled from beneath its feet in the Middle East. To say that Washington is worried about the latest developments is an understatement, said the Iranian diplomat.

The coming weeks and months could test the US sway in the Middle East as never before. According to Iranian officials, the rapprochement with Saudi Arabia is only the beginning of a new chapter in regional relations. There is a political breakthrough on the horizon with Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. Iran is keen on its efforts to succeed on those fronts too as it aims to rearrange the security structure of the region to terminate ideas such as the Arab NATO or any other military alliance against it.

The benefits will not only be external but also internal. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has come to realise that the internal challenges facing Iran are as serious as the external ones. The mass demonstrations in which hundreds of thousands of Iranians participated, and which have become very frequent, leaving to a deep rift between the wings of the Iranian regime, constitute a headache for Khamenei.

Iran is facing an existential challenge. While no accurate polling is possible, the protests and substantial anecdotal evidence -- as well as my own experience in visiting the country in the past -- convince me that the system is facing its most serious threat. This is the result of a combination of factors including the profound alienation of young people from religious rule as well as the deteriorating economic situation, Barbara Slavin, a Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, told the Weekly.

As the internal situation is at a crossroads, there is a realisation that violence and repression are not long-term solutions. Thus, part of the Iranian authorities calculations is to ease internal tension and improve economic conditions, and this depends on better regional and international relations.

Younger Iranians are heavily plugged into the outside world through social media and contacts with the diaspora. They know what is possible in the West and even in their own region and that they are missing out on personal freedom of expression as well as the possibility of prosperous and fulfilling careers. There is a growing progressive movement within Iran that is pushing for peaceful change.

It may not succeed until Ayatollah Khamenei dies, but the desire for change is so widespread and profound that it will eventually succeed in my view. Even now, Iran is not a totalitarian state like Putins Russia or Xis China. Many brave individuals speak up and reformist newspapers and journalists that continue to criticise government policies, including the foreign policy tilt to the East. Iran is too dynamic a society to be squelched indefinitely, argued Slavin.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Frankfurt, Germany, January 1957: Chief nurse Maj. Ruth Steenburgh puts a newborn baby into the arms of its happy mother at the 97th U.S. Army Hospital.

The week of April 3-7, 2023, marks World Health Worker week and to recognize and celebrate health care workers keeping the military community healthy around the globe, we dug into our archives to show you the men and women of the maternity ward at the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt from 1957. Check out more photos  including a photo of special anteroom for the pacing and fretting dads to be  plus the original article here.

Looking for Stars and Stripes historic coverage? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/
(Tribune News Service)  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.

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.

Evans 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 contact.

A top Haitian official told the 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, 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, 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 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. Da Silva served two terms as Brazils president between 2003 and 2010.

I see that as more kind of opportunistic diplomacy than anything else, he 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 U.N. 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.

2023 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com.

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TORONTO  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced more military aid to support Ukraine in its war with Russia while hosting Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto on Tuesday.

The new military assistance includes 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and over 2.4 million rounds of ammunition.

"We are preparing for our counteroffensive. We need more ammunition, we need more weaponry, we need more military equipment," Shmyhal said.

Shmyhal thanked Canada for its support since Russian forces invaded in February 2022, which has included billions of dollars in economic and military aid.

Trudeau also said Canada is imposing new sanctions on Russian and Belarusian authorities and organizations in retaliation for the ongoing invasion.

"Ukraine is fighting for the values and the principles that underpin all of our democracies," Trudeau said. "We will continue to do everything necessary to ensure Ukraine prevails."

Canada also provided a $2.4 billion Canadian ($1.78 billion) loan to the government of Ukraine to support essential services, including pension payments and restoring damaged energy infrastructure. Canada's total commitment to Ukraine has surpassed $8 billion Canadian ($5.94 billion).

Trudeau was also asked about the prime minister's website being down on Tuesday.

There have been a slew of denial-of-service attacks by pro-Russia 'hacktivists' on Ukraine, its European allies and U.S. websites since Russia invaded its neighbor last year  few having significant impact. Denial of service attacks consist of a coordinated flooding of a targeted website with junk data to make it unreachable. The attacks are not hacking, though they sometimes can be used to divert attention from network intrusions.

Trudeau said it's not uncommon for Russia to target countries as they are showing their steadfast support for Ukraine and as they are welcoming Ukrainian delegations.

"The timing isn't surprising," Trudeau said. "But in case anyone is wondering, Russia being able to bring down an official government of Canada webpage for a few hours is in no way going to dissuade us from our unshakable support of Ukraine."
French lawmakers are planning a visit to Taipei amid increasing tensions with China, according to Taiwan's foreign minister.

Joseph Wu said in an interview Monday that France's Senate and National Assembly have shown their backing for his Taiwan and that some lawmakers will visit "very soon." Taiwan's 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 Taiwan's "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. Semiconductors 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 didn't 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 United States last week. China has pledged to bring Taiwan under its control someday, by force if necessary, while Tsai's 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 United States 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 U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction," Macron said.

Macron last week visited Beijing and set out a more conciliatory line on relations with China than the United States has advocated. French lawmakers also 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.

Bloomberg's Debby Wu contributed to this report.
An Air Force veteran, now a self-published author, draws from his experiences spanning a 20-year military career to illustrate personal resiliency when dealing with loss.

Dylan Bolander, a retired master sergeant and former public affairs specialist, recently released Heathee and the Flight of Fate, the third book in a trilogy starring a cartoon cat inspired by a beloved pet.

Somebody told me a long time ago, write what you know, he recently told Stars and Stripes. So that's what I did. I took all my experiences that I've had, whether it's physically going to a duty station or being exposed to part of the culture when I was stationed overseas.

Bolander used a different style for each volume in the trilogy, dubbed The Rainbow Bridges Journey. The first, "Heathee and the Double Rainbow Tale," is a childrens book; the second, Heathee and The Mighty Mystic Mission," is a graphic novel; and Flight of Fate, released March 26, is an illustrated novel.

He has sold more than 600 books through Amazon, with positive reviews from children and adults. Bolander is ahead of the sales curve. Nearly 90% of self-published books sell less than 100 copies, according to data research group Wordsrated.com.

"I enjoyed them and the journey they took me on, Navy veteran Patty Stafford, of Springfield, Ore., recently told Stars and Stripes. They brought back so many memories of change and how hard changes can be. Dylan did an amazing job of providing coping mechanisms and strength for people of all ages.

My emotional support

Bolander for a time was part of the mortuary affairs team at Dover Air Force Base, Del., where he documented fallen service members as a videographer.

I saw some things there and experienced some situations that were very hard for me to process, he said. It was very difficult emotionally and mentally for me to understand what I saw and what I was experiencing.

Thats when he started to keep a journal.

I remember, back in the day, people said, express yourself in your art to work through your emotions, and that's what I did, he said. I would write things down in a journal and I would just say what was on my mind, and I felt like I got it off my chest.

After returning to his home station in San Antonio in 2014, Bolander said he began to experience severe anxiety and would stay inside as much as possible.

I started noticing that I was shutting down more and more, he said.

About this time, Heath, who inspired the main character in the books, entered Bolanders life. A neighbor gave him the kitten, the last in a litter of strays.

So, I took Heath in as I was experiencing more difficulties with what happened in Dover, from the effects of that, he said. That's when I started bonding with him more and more because he was like a comfort for me.

Bolander retired from the Air Force in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Then Heath got sick and died, which devastated him.

He was basically my emotional support, Bolander said, and he was gone.

A year later, an idea popped into his head.

And the idea just clicked that I could write a book, to honor his memory, and use it to where he went on the Broken Rainbow Bridge, which is a metaphor for when you're having emotional struggles, he said.

Two-year memorial

In his latest book, which draws on the authors experiences at Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan, Heathee is joined by friends from Japan, Iceland and New York City for adventures that focus on love, loyalty, family and how to stay resilient in trying times.

Sometimes you might have sibling rivalry, or you might have parental, like a father-son conflict, Bolander said. But again, more positive messages, and most importantly, certain messages that people can discuss that might be able to help them out.

Parents may use childrens books on difficult topics such as loss as a springboard for family discussions, Craig Haen, co-chair of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, said in a recent email. These books offer a psychological distance that lessens an emotional charge by focusing on another person or character through a predictable story structure, he said.

"Such books can be revisited over time to allow young people to digest ideas at their own pace, while also letting them know that they arent alone because someone else out there has experienced similar challenges and was able to grow from them," Haen said.

While Heathees adventure may have come to an end in Flight of Fate, the author hints at a spin-off series.

I think I might need to take a trip or something and clear my mind and reset, Bolander said. I haven't really even taken a day off, but that's because it's a labor of love. It's me working on a two-year memorial to Heath.
The United States and the Philippines have kicked off a large-scale exercise that will include maneuvers by 17,600 troops, live-fire missile launches and a boat-sinking drill near disputed South China Sea waters the day after China wrapped up its own military exercise near Taiwan.

Balikatan, a Tagalog word for shoulder-to-shoulder, began Tuesday and concludes April 28, according to a Balikatan 23 statement April 4.

During the exercise, 5,400 Filipinos and 12,200 Americans will practice maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire, urban and aviation operations, cyber defense, counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief across the Philippines, the statement said.

Filipino troops participating in the drills come from the Northern Luzon and Western commands, and include around 1,040 marines, 1,410 soldiers, 450 sailors, 1,180 airmen and 710 special operators, U.S. Marine Maj. George McArthur, a Balikatan spokesman, said Thursday in an email to Stars and Stripes.

Balikatan begins the day after China was expected to conclude Joint Sword, three days of military exercises around Taiwan. However, Chinese aircraft and warships remained active Tuesday in the Taiwan Strait.

Manila and Beijing have been at odds over disputed territory in the South China Sea, where China has been built military bases on reclaimed land in recent years. In 2016, an international court ruled for the Philippines in a dispute about fishing access to one disputed feature, Scarborough Shoal, but China has ignored the ruling.

Last week, the Philippine government identified four new military camps, including some across the sea from Taiwan, where rotating U.S. forces will be allowed to be stationed indefinitely despite strong objections from Beijing.

This years Balikatan is the largest in the exercises three-decade history. Troop numbers are up significantly from the 9,000 who joined last year, according to the Balikatan 23 statement.

Field training exercise events will take place across the Philippines to test the Allies capabilities in combined arms live-fire, information and intelligence sharing, communications between maneuver units, logistics operations, amphibious operations, and many other skill sets, the statement said.

Humanitarian assistance projects include construction or renovation of three community health centers and multipurpose halls.

The Balikatan Exercise enhances both the (Philippine military) and the United States Armed Forces tactics, techniques, and procedures across a wide range of military operations, Philippine Army Col. Medel Aguilar said in the statement. It increases our ability to work together effectively and efficiently in response to various crisis situations.
A large contingent of Chinese aircraft and warships remained active Tuesday in the waters around Taiwan, despite the official conclusion of their three-day exercise around the island, Taiwans Defense Ministry said.

Taiwans military reported 91 Chinese aircraft and a dozen vessels operating in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere near the island at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Taiwanese forces continued to monitor the situation with their own aircraft, ships and missile systems, according to a series of tweets from the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense.

Beijing on Saturday began the drills, dubbed Joint Sword, which included live-fire exercises, simulated strikes on Taiwanese targets and scores of fighter jets, bombers, helicopters and warships active in the waters and skies around Taiwan.

Chinas Defense Ministry intended the drills to be a serious warning against the Taiwan independence separatist forces colluding with external forces and provocations, the ministry said Saturday, referring to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week.

Beijing considers self-governing Taiwan to be a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland, possibly by force.

China Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, at a Monday news conference, repeated the defense ministrys warning and said Joint Sword was a necessary move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tsai in a Facebook post Monday night said China used her visit with McCarthy as a pretense to launch military exercises to cause instability in Taiwan and the region.

Taiwans military will continue to hold their positions and defend the country, and the islands defense minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, has been fully authorized to respond in accordance with military expertise, Tsai said in the same post.

Of the Chinese forces still active in the region on Tuesday, 54 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait from the southwest and southeast, according to tweets by Taiwans Ministry of National Defense, and eight vessels remained in the waters around Taiwan as of 11 a.m.

The aircraft and warships matched the ministrys report from the previous day, which identified 91 aircraft and 12 vessels operating in the area as of 6 p.m. Monday.

The number of Chinese forces active around Taiwan on Monday and Tuesday were the highest ever recorded, surpassing the previous high of 71 aircraft and nine vessels reported on Dec. 25, according to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

A series of sorties from J-15 fighter jets from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong marked the first time those aircraft entered Taiwans air defense identification zone, according to the analysis.

Tsais meeting with McCarthy, and her subsequent meeting with a U.S. delegation in Taipei on Saturday, spurred a variety of other reactions from Beijing beyond Joint Sword.

The Chinese coast guard on April 5 launched a three-day special joint patrol of the Taiwan Strait that included cargo ship inspections ahead of Tsais arrival in California. However, there were no reports of inspections taking place, according to the CSIS analysis.

Tsai met McCarthy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, after which Beijing on Friday imposed sanctions against top executives with the library and the Hudson Institute for providing a platform for Taiwan independence separatist activities in the U.S., Chinas Foreign Ministry announced that day.

The U.S. 7th Fleet on Monday sent the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius on a freedom-of-navigation operation 960 miles away in the Spratly Islands, which are claimed by China, Taiwan and four other countries.

The U.S. 7th Fleet said the Milius operation was only coincidental to the final scheduled day of Chinas exercise around Taiwan.

Chinas Southern Theater Command, in a Monday post on its official Weibo account, protested the Milius presence and said the ship illegally trespassed into waters that China has indisputable sovereignty over.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  Japanese search crews have found more debris from a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter that presumably crashed Thursday into the East China Sea with a high-ranking general aboard.

A flight helmet belonging to one of the 10 crew members and a fuel tank were discovered Sunday near Irabu Island, west of Miyako Island, but no survivors or bodies have been found, according to Japanese military spokesmen.

The 8th Air Wing UH-60JA Black Hawk disappeared from radar at 3:56 p.m. Thursday during a reconnaissance flight 11 miles northwest of Miyako Airport. The aircraft was carrying four members of the wing, a member of Camp Miyakos security force and five members of the 8th Division headquarters staff, including commander Lt. Gen. Yuichi Sakamoto, a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday.

Sakamoto, 55, has been the division commander less than a month. He previously served as commander of the 12th Brigade.

We are continuing the search today, but we havent had any success at this time, the spokesman said. Some government spokespeople in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

He declined to provide the names and ranks of the other crew members onboard.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers in a small rubber boat found the helmet at 10:40 a.m. near the northeast shore of Irabu, the spokesman said. The fuel tank was found north of the island about four hours later by the Japan coast guard, a coast guard spokesman said by phone Tuesday.

Search efforts were underway Tuesday by six surveillance planes, including a pair of P-3C Orions, two coast guard vessels, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweeper JS Shishijima, submarine rescue ship JS Chihaya, destroyer JS Haguro and about 300 personnel, a spokesman from Japans Joint Staff Office said by phone on Tuesday.

Irabu Island is connected by a bridge to Miyako, less than three miles to the southeast. Miyako is 188 miles southwest of Okinawa.

The Black Hawk had flown to Miyako from its base on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four main islands, the Ground Self-Defense Force spokesman said. It crashed 10 minutes after taking off from Miyako Airport.

The crew last radioed air traffic controllers about two minutes before the helicopter disappeared from radar, but did not report any in-flight emergencies, the spokesman said.

Japanese investigators do not believe the Black Hawks disappearance has anything to do with five Chinese navy vessels spotted hours earlier in international waters around the Sakishima Islands, Taro Yamato, administrative vice chief to the Joint Staff, told Japans House of Councilors on Tuesday. Miyako belongs to the Sakishima chain.

We conducted 24-hour surveillance on those vessels and didnt notice any action related to this accident, Yamato said.

Soon after the crash, an aircraft door and an uninflated life raft were recovered northwest of Miyako, a Japan coast guard spokesman said Friday.

The search will continue around the clock, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Monday in Tokyo.
RIGA, Latvia  Prominent Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, facing up to 25 years in prison on treason charges for criticizing Russia's war against Ukraine, told a Moscow court on Monday that his trial had turned the clock back to the 1930s during the height of the Stalinist political repressions.

If the court accepts the prosecutor's request for the maximum 25-year term, it would be the harshest punishment to date of a politician or activist for criticizing Russia's war against Ukraine.

Kara-Murza, who is an opinions contributor for The Washington Post, spoke during a hearing on Monday ahead of a verdict that is expected on April 17. He described the charges as "unfounded, illegal and politically motivated" in comments on Facebook. His lawyers said the trial, which began last month, had been rushed, with it handled much more swiftly than usual treason cases.

He remained defiant in his final statement to the court, rejecting the judge's call that he must show remorse.

"I'm in jail for my political views. For speaking out against the war in Ukraine. For many years of struggle against Putin's dictatorship," he said. "Not only do I not repent of any of this, I am proud of it." He even declined to request an acquittal.

"For a person who has not committed any crimes, acquittal would be the only fair verdict," he said. "But I do not ask this court for anything. I know the verdict."

The United States State Department has described the charges as false and sanctioned Russian officials involved in the case for "gross violation of human rights."

Kara-Murza was the victim of two suspected poisoning attacks in Russia in 2015 and 2017. The Bellingcat investigative news site has reported that Kara-Murza was trailed repeatedly by the same team of agents from the Federal Security Service that poisoned the opposition politician Alexei Navalny in August 2020.

Since he was arrested last April, Kara-Murza has lost 48 pounds in pretrial detention, and his health has declined sharply, according to his lawyers, raising fears that he would not survive a long jail term.

"I was sure that after two decades in Russian politics, after all I had seen and experienced, nothing would surprise me. I must admit that I was wrong," he told the court, criticizing the trial's secrecy, the contempt for legal norms, and the harshness of the sentence the prosecution demanded.

But he expressed certainty that a day would come in Russia "when the darkness over our country will dissipate," and "those who kindled and unleashed this war, rather than those who tried to stop it, will be recognized as criminals."

Amid repeated military failures and setbacks, Putin has blamed the West for the war and suspended the last nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States, plunging relations between Washington and Moscow into their most serious crisis since the Cold War.

The recent arrest of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal during a reporting trip in Russia, and his indictment for espionage charges last month marked yet another new low in relations. Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal, and State Department have all rejected the espionage charges.

In the earlier comments on Facebook, Kara-Murza called his own charges incomprehensible.

"I do not understand how public criticism of the current government can be qualified as high treason," Kara-Murza wrote. "It is incomprehensible to me how obvious and confirmed facts about the crimes committed during the aggression of Putin's regime against Ukraine can be presented as 'deliberately false information' and the obvious lie  on the contrary, as the only truth."

Kara-Murza, 41, is a longtime critic of Putin who campaigned for international sanctions against Russian officials responsible for state repression of Russian activists, politicians and whistleblowers.

Kara-Murza was initially charged with spreading disinformation about the Russian military after a speech to the Arizona House of Representatives about Russia's bombings of Ukrainian cities. Later other charges, including treason and cooperating with an undesirable organization, Open Russia, were added.

According to Kara-Murza's lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov, the treason charges related to three speeches Kara-Murza gave in Lisbon, Helsinki and Washington in which he publicly criticized Russian authorities.

The prosecutor, Boris Loktionov, demanded the maximum term of 25 years, claiming that Kara-Murza had discredited Putin and damaged Russian state interests. "This is our enemy who must be punished," Loktionov said, according to Russian media.

Russian rights groups have criticized the charges as politically motivated. Western governments and human rights organizations have called for his release.

An editorial in The Post last week described the trial as "a travesty of justice" that "reveals the deepening depravity of President Vladimir Putin's dictatorship."

Kara-Murza's is suffering from spreading numbness affecting his feet and his left hand, a condition prison doctors have diagnosed as polyneuropathy, caused by damage to peripheral nerves, according to his lawyers.

In a column for The Post last year Kara-Murza described the Kremlin's claims that Ukrainian leaders were neo-Nazis and the West was to blame for the invasion as "a total lie."

"After years of appeasing the Kremlin, Western leaders are learning the hard way that the instability, repression and conflict Putin is causing will resolve only when he is out of power," he wrote.

Kara-Murza is a strong supporter of the Magnitsky Act, which allows sanctions against those responsible for rights abuses. The law, named after Russian tax auditor and whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky who died in prison in 2009, has been enacted by the United States, Britain and other Western nations.

The judge in Kara-Murza's case, Sergei Podoprigorov, is under sanctions by the United States and Britain for his role in the jailing of Magnitsky. The United States has brought sanctions against six Russian officials, including three judges, for their roles in Kara-Murza's case.

Amid a flurry of recent espionage and treason cases in Russia, the constitutional committee of the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, on Monday approved an amendment increasing the maximum penalty for treason to life imprisonment.

In Ufa, Liliya Chanysheva, a member of Navalny's team, is facing up to 18 years in prison if convicted of forming an "extremist" organization.

Navalny is serving a term of more than 11 years in jail for fraud, contempt of court and parole violations, charges he says are political and have been criticized by the European Court of Human Rights.

Russian authorities last year added new charges of promoting terrorism and extremism, according to Navalny, meaning he could face a total sentence of 30 years.

The Washington Post's Natalia Abbakumova in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.
There are no guarantees that containment diplomacy will win out in Palestine given continued Israeli provocation

The weeklong Passover celebration, which for some extremist nationalist Jews includes prayers by the Western Wall, ends on 13 April. The day coincides with the beginning of the last week of Ramadan when many Muslim Palestinians pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque. The fortuitous timing should limit the chances of confrontations occurring in Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

Egypt and Jordan, among other mediators, have requested the Israeli government take all necessary measures to avoid a recurrence of the recent confrontations around Al-Aqsa Mosque that began with far-right Israelis behaving provocatively at the holy site at the beginning of Passover week.

We have made it very clear to the Israelis that the situation is really tense and there is a limit to the effect of our intervention should provocations continue, especially during the last days of Ramadan, said an informed Egyptian source.

Jordan has done the same. The Jordanians also spoke with the Americans and shared concern over what might happen if the provocations continued.

The source declined to disclose the Israeli response, noting only the unpredictable and highly provocative moves from some far-right Israeli cabinet members like [Itamar] Ben-Gvir and [Bezalel] Smotrich, the Israeli ministers of national security and finance, and the fact that the message had been conveyed very clearly.

On Monday, Smotrich joined several other Israeli cabinet ministers in leading thousands of far-right Israeli demonstrators to the West Bank site of an illegal Israeli settlement, the construction of which was halted by the Israeli government in 2021, to call for its re-establishment. The demonstrators clashed with Palestinian protests. When Israeli security forces intervened, one Palestinian was killed and many others wounded.

Mondays clashes followed a week of escalating tension that began with the Israeli army storming Al-Aqsa Mosque on the evening of 4 April, and again on 6 April. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, deputy Palestinian prime minister and minister of information, called on the international community to contain Israeli aggression, a call echoed by an Arab League meeting that convened at the level of permanent representatives. Statements calling for de-escalation were also issued by the US, the UN, and several Arab capitals.

For four days the calls went unheeded. Not only was there continued confrontation in and around Al-Aqsa, Israel launched raids on Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon after rockets and drones were launched against Israeli border areas and Israeli-occupied territories in the Golan Heights. Israel also imposed a blockade on Gaza and the West Bank which was supposed to end on Wednesday evening, the last day of Passover.

Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and UN bodies working on the Middle East acted quickly in an attempt to contain the situation. According to two informed sources, messages from Hamas and Jihad in Gaza and Hizbullah in Lebanon and Syria disassociating the organisations from the rocket fire were conveyed to Israel. Israel, nonetheless, attacked what it claimed were Hamas targets in Gaza and south Lebanon, and the facilities of terror groups in Syria. It also accused Iran of being behind the escalation.

I think the Israelis knew that neither Hizbullah nor Hamas were directly involved in the attacks launched from Syria or from Lebanon, said one of the sources. He added that it was probably quite alarming for the Israelis to have to face such multi-front attacks, minor as they were, for the first time in decades.

According to the source, Egypt and Jordan worked closely with the leaders of Hamas, Jihad, and the Palestinian presidency to make sure that wisdom would prevail. He said it was clear from the talks between Egyptian officials and Palestinian leaders in Gaza and the West Bank that there was no appetite for a confrontation with Israel and that Palestinian leaders fear Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking for an exit from his internal problems and could use the tensions to take things to an extreme.

Netanyahu has been facing huge opposition in Israel over his plans to overhaul the judiciary, give the government greater control over the appointment of judges and curtail the mandate of the supreme court. As protesters took to the streets in huge numbers, expressing concern that the overhaul would erode the separation of judiciary and executive powers, concerns shared by Israels allies, not least Washington, Netanyahu was forced to shelve the amendments.

Diplomatic sources in Cairo have few doubts that Netanyahu will attempt to resurrect the plans, if only to shield himself from the ongoing charges of corruption he faces. They fear that, given the extent of domestic opposition to the changes, he may try to engineer a maximum-security alert situation to detract from his legal and political woes.

In Cairo and Amman, the fear is that the far-right cabinet ministers in Netanyahus cabinet, coalition partners on whom he depends to remain in power, could push the situation to the edge, leading to a new Intifada in the West Bank that will be more difficult to contain than any military escalation.

It is impossible to overlook statements like those made by Smotrich in which he claimed that there is no Palestinian identity, says Mohamed Ibrahim, an expert on the dynamics of Palestinian-Israeli relations.

In March, speaking in Paris, Smotrich claimed that there was no such thing as Palestinian nationhood or a Palestinian people, which were inventions of the last century. A few weeks earlier, Smotrich had called for a West Bank Palestinian town of Huwara to be erased.

Ibrahim sees such statements as an invitation to more violence, especially given the Netanyahu government has erased any peace process from its agenda. He argues that the only way out is a resumption of political talks, with the support of the US.

Hisham Youssef, Washington-based senior fellow at the US Institute of Peace, is sceptical about the willingness of the US administration to expend any political capital on the Middle East. The initial reaction of the US administration, Youssef said, was lukewarm.

It took Washington a while to say that it is working with its allies in the region to contain the situation. It does not seem that the administration is willing to move beyond fire brigade diplomacy even with tensions so high.

Youssef argues that the Israeli government expects to suffer some political losses as a result of its far-right policies. Countries like Egypt and Jordan with peace treaties with Israel, and countries that subscribed to the Abraham Accords, including the UAE which was at the forefront of the normalisation momentum, are making it clear that they cannot continue with business as usual given the level of provocations coming from cabinet members.

Youssef notes that in January, in response to Ben-Gvir leading a march to the Al-Aqsa compound, the UAE decided to delay Netanyahus scheduled visit to Abu Dhabi. The UAE, currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, also worked to formulate a collective Council position on Israels provocations.

Holy Muslim sites, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque, are a very sensitive matter for all Arab countries, says Youssef. While he expects attempts to contain the crisis will be put to the test during the remaining days of Ramadan, he also worries that there are limits to the success of containment diplomacy when provocations are ongoing.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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YEREVAN, Armenia  Military forces from Armenia and Azerbaijan clashed Tuesday along their border and at least seven soldiers were killed, according to the countries' defense ministries.

The confrontation follows months of tensions over the blockage of the only road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan.

Armenia's Defense Ministry said Azerbaijan fired on soldiers who were performing unspecified engineering work near the Armenian village of Tegh, about 2 miles from the border. Four Armenian soldiers were killed and six wounded, it said.

Azerbaijan said it was Armenian soldiers who opened fire, and that three Azeri soldiers died.

The clash area lies along the Lachin Corridor, the road that leads to Nagorno-Karabakh.

That region came under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia in 1994 after a separatist war in which Armenia also took control of adjacent territories.

During six weeks of intensive fighting in 2020 that ended with a Russia-brokered truce, Azerbaijan took control of the territories and of part of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. Russia sent in a peacekeeping force that was tasked with maintaining order and protecting the Lachin Corridor.

But in December, demonstrators who claimed to be environmental activists began blocking the road, alleging that Armenia was conducting illegal mining in the region.

Armenia contends the protests are orchestrated by Azerbaijan. In turn, Azerbaijan alleges that Armenians have used the corridor to transport land mines into Nagorno-Karabakh in violation of the armistice terms.

The road blockage has led to food shortages in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan also has periodically cut gas and electricity supplies.
BRUSSELS  More people are mad at French President Emmanuel Macron.

After weeks of protests over unpopular domestic reforms, the French president now faces outrage from allies abroad over his chummy trip to China and remarks on the need for Europe to stand apart from the United States on Taiwan and other issues.

The visit and its aftermath have angered politicians and analysts on both sides of the Atlantic, highlighting gaps between the U.S. and French approach to China, showcasing division within the European Union  and absolutely delighting Beijing.

The interview in question took place during a three-day visit to China that raised eyebrows for its surprisingly upbeat tone considering that Beijing has yet to condemn Russia's war in Ukraine. As his presidential plane traveled from Beijing to the southern city of Guangzhou, Macron took questions from Politico and French daily Les Echos, including a question about Europe's position on Taiwan.

"The question we Europeans are asking ourselves is the following: Is it in our interest to accelerate when it comes to Taiwan? No," he said 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. rhythm and a Chinese overreaction."

Europe, Macron said, risks getting "caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building strategic autonomy." He also said that Europe was at risk of becoming a "vassal" and said the continent should reduce its dependence on the "extraterritoriality of the U.S. dollar"  all Beijing talking points.

China has endorsed Macron's vision for "strategic autonomy," seeing the concept as a cudgel that can be wielded to divide Europe and the United States.

The fact that Macron's remarks jibe closely with Beijing's line would have raised eyebrows among allies under any circumstances, but the timing was particularly sensitive.

Not long after Macron left Guangzhou, China launched three days of combat-readiness drills "encircling" Taiwan.

The Politico interview published the next day, featuring an unusual editorial note disclosing the fact that French officials had granted the interview on condition they could "proofread" the quotes and had cut material where the French president "spoke even more frankly about Taiwan and Europe's strategic autonomy."

The interview very quickly blew up as analysts parsed Macron's words and speculated about what did not make it into the final text.

In the United States, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, posted a video asking whether Macron indeed speaks for Europe.

The United States, he said, "is spending a lot of taxpayer money on a European war."

"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 Taiwan, maybe then we should not be taking sides either," he added.

"Does Macron really believe it is none of Europe's business when China attempts to shape a world order solely based on Chinese interests and power?" asked Norbert Roettgen, a German member of Parliament, on Twitter.

"Macron," Roettgen said, "has managed to turn his China trip into a PR coup for Xi and a foreign policy disaster for Europe."

Even if Europe is less committed to Taiwan than the United States, it was ill-advised for Macron to say so, particularly after a spot of tea with Xi, analysts said.

Joseph de Weck, the author of a German-language book on Macron, said that some European countries share Macron's belief that Taiwan, unlike Ukraine, is a distant problem  but generally avoid saying so publicly.

"How smart is it to say this openly? ' he asked. "In saying that, you allow Xi to factor in that Europe won't react too harshly. You lower the deterrence."

"And why say it now?" he continued. "At the current moment, the priority for every European politician should be to keep the U.S. engaged in Ukraine and have as strong as possible an alliance on Ukraine."

"By doing this, he obviously weakens the alliance just as some in the U.S. are starting to doubt engagement on Ukraine."

Though Macron has not walked back his remarks, French officials and diplomats have responded by defending Macron's visit and stressing that France's position on Taiwan has not changed.

"France and Europe will always be the USA's close allies and partners. The transatlantic relationship is crucial and the backbone of the world international order. The concept of European strategic autonomy is part of it," tweeted Aurelie Bonal, France's deputy ambassador to the United States.

The "many hours" that Macron spent with Xi "allowed him to talk about Taiwan, but also the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and other crucial global challenges," she wrote.

Asked about Macron's comments on Monday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States and France have "terrific bilateral cooperation."

For China, which has been concerned by Europe's toughening position on China, Macron's visit was a good news story and his remarks on Taiwan were on message.

The English-language edition of the Global Times, a Communist Party-controlled news outlet known for its strident nationalism, said Macron's comments on not becoming "vassals" showed "long-term observation and reflection."

"This is a view," the editorial said, "representative of Europe's insightful people."
Ukraine's challenges in massing troops, ammunition and equipment could cause its military to fall "well short" of Kyiv's original goals for an anticipated counteroffensive aimed at retaking Russian-occupied areas this spring, according to U.S. intelligence assessments contained in a growing leak of classified documents revealing Washington's misgivings about the state of the war.

Labeled "top secret," the bleak assessment from early February warns of significant "force generation and sustainment shortfalls," and the likelihood that such an operation will result in only "modest territorial gains." It's a marked departure from the Biden administration's public statements about the vitality of Ukraine's military and is likely to embolden critics who feel the United States and NATO should do more to push for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

The document, which has not been previously disclosed, is among a trove of U.S. national security materials discovered last week on an online messaging platform. Both the Pentagon, where much of the leaked materials appear to have originated earlier this year, and the Justice Department are investigating the matter.

The leak has produced remarkable insights into U.S. intelligence activities worldwide, but its revelations about the Russia-Ukraine war have proved particularly illuminating. It has revealed, for instance, where American officials have detected critical weaknesses in Ukraine's air defenses and access to ammunition while exposing considerable deficiencies within the Russian military, too. Many of the assessments date to February and March.

The document forecasting only modest success in Ukraine's forthcoming counteroffensive indicates that Kyiv's strategy revolves around reclaiming contested areas in the east while pushing south in a bid to sever Russia's land bridge to Crimea, the peninsula Moscow illegally annexed in 2014 and now uses as a supply route for its forces inside Ukraine. The potency of entrenched Russian defenses coupled with "enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the offensive," the document says.

Its markings suggest the information was supplied by human and signals intelligence, likely involving sensitive methods used by the CIA and the National Security Agency. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which appears to have produced the leaked document, declined to comment, as did the National Security Council. The Defense Department declined to address the document's contents.

At the Pentagon on Monday, spokesman Chris Meagher said officials were moving aggressively to determine the leak's scope, scale and impact, and how they can prevent similar incidents in the future. He declined to comment on the materials' veracity. A State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, said U.S. officials also are working to reassure allies and partners "of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence."

Beyond the leaked document, U.S. officials said the prospects for a modest outcome in the spring offensive also were reinforced in a classified assessment by the National Intelligence Council. That assessment, which was recently briefed to a select group of people on Capitol Hill, found that Ukraine was unlikely to recapture as much territory as Kyiv did last fall in Ukraine's stunning breakthroughs in the east and south, people familiar with the matter said.

In the weeks since the leaked document was drafted, U.S. officials have held talks with Ukrainian leaders to ensure that Kyiv's ambitions for the offensive match its capabilities, said U.S. officials who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. One senior-level exchange occurred in mid-March during a call among Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Jake Sullivan, the president's national security adviser; Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; and their Ukrainian counterparts.

U.S. officials also have held tabletop exercises with Ukrainian military leaders to demonstrate how different offensive scenarios could play out, and the consequences of spreading forces too thin, one official said. This could stretch supply lines too far, making it difficult to hold retaken territory while trying to push further into occupied areas.

All parties came away from those conversations with a sense that Ukraine was beginning to understand the limitations of what it could achieve in the offensive and preparing accordingly, U.S. officials said. While severing the land bridge is unlikely to happen, these people said, the United States is hopeful that incremental gains could at least threaten the free flow of Russian equipment and personnel in the corridor, which has been a lifeline for invading forces.

A senior Ukrainian official did not dispute the revelations in the document and pointed to logistical backlogs that have slowed promised deliveries of Western aid. It is "partially true," the official said, "but the most critical part is a delay of the already promised systems, which delays training of newly formed brigades and the counteroffensive as a whole." Several nations, including the United States, have committed battle tanks and other armored vehicles to Ukraine but only after agonizing over the decision to do so, drawing criticism from Kyiv and its staunchest backers in Eastern Europe. Washington has accelerated plans to send a bloc of Abrams tanks, but delivery remains months away.

Another senior Ukrainian official said the leaked documents were unlikely to compromise the planned counteroffensive. "Everyone knows we're low on ammunitionthe president and the defense minister talk about that openly," the official said. "And it's been obvious to everyone since November that the next counteroffensive will be focused on the south, first Melitopol and then Berdyansk. But the exact placewe can change that the week before."

Military officials and independent analysts have publicly suggested the likelihood of a counteroffensive through Ukraine's east and south. Russia has bolstered its defense of the Crimean Peninsula with a dense web of fortifications and trench lines in apparent anticipation of such an operation.

Moscow's troops also face considerable challenges, including low morale in the wake of major strategic blunders that have lead to significant casualties and left pockets of soldiers poorly equipped. Russian units in the east are particularly shabby, according to a separate document contained in the U.S. leak, with intelligence revealing substandard care in camouflaging sensitive sites and reckless ammunition storage.

The West has sent Ukraine tens of billions of dollars' worth of weapons and military equipment, touting the injection of aid as a significant boost. But the newly leaked document signals what many commanders and troops already know: The difficult fight against Russia has exhausted Ukraine's troops and hardware, making every day the war drags on an advantage to the larger Russian military.

Ukrainian units are burning through historic levels of artillery ammunition and have begun rationing shells, according to soldiers. Artillerymen supporting operations in the embattled city of Bakhmut, for instance, have said their aging Soviet howitzers are less accurate than Western guns, requiring them to fire more and wear down their equipment faster. Soldiers are just as worn out, and Kyiv has reached deeper into its population to mobilize additional fighters, sometimes stopping men on the street to hand them draft papers.

Military personnel in the field have in recent weeks complained that newly mobilized troops arriving on the front lines are poorly trained. But the situation on the battlefield now may not reflect a complete picture of Ukraine's forces, because Kyiv is training troops for the coming counteroffensive separatelydeliberately holding them back from the current fighting, including the defense of Bakhmut, a U.S. official said.

The prospect of pouring billions of dollars into a military stalemate with only incremental gains in one direction or another could weaken the resolve of Kyiv's backers in Europe and in the United States, possibly sharpening calls for negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

But opening talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin could be risky for Ukraine's leader, President Volodymyr Zelensky, given the acute animosity toward the Kremlin among the Ukrainian people, who have suffered extraordinary levels of violence and hardship during the conflict yet have held together with the promise of achieving a total victory.

Khurshudyan reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. The Washington Post's Serhiy Morgunov in Kyiv, and Dan Lamothe and Ellen Nakashima in Washington contributed to this report.
JERUSALEM  The Israeli military shot and killed two Palestinians who allegedly opened fire at troops from their car in the northern West Bank on Tuesday, authorities said, the latest incident in a wave of deadly violence gripping the occupied territory.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the two men killed in the West Bank village of Deir al Hatab as Saud Abdullah Saud and Mohammed Abu Dira, without saying their ages.

The Israeli military said the men shot at an Israeli outpost near the settlement of Elon Moreh, south of the Palestinian city of Nablus. Israeli soldiers on patrol opened fire, killing the two alleged gunmen.

Palestinian media reported that a third gunman was in the car during the drive-by shooting and fled the area. Israeli security forces said they were searching for other suspected assailants and found a pair of M-16 rifles and a pistol at the scene.

The local armed group of the Balata refugee camp, a militant stronghold near Nablus, identified the two men as militants, sharing photos of them brandishing M-16s in the camp. Saud had previously spent 15 years in Israeli prison, the group said.

We fought as soldiers and we promise we will always be soldiers, Saud said in a video after being freed from prison last spring.

Tuesday's deaths followed a week of unusually heightened violence in Israel and the West Bank, touched off by an Israeli police raid on Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, the compound home to the Al-Aqsa mosque. Last week, the Israeli military struck sites linked to the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip after militants in the two territories fired salvos of rockets at Israel. The mosque sits on a contested hilltop revered as the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism.

Underscoring the ever-combustible situation in the West Bank, two British-Israeli sisters and their mother were killed when their car came under fire near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank last Friday. The mother, Lucy Dee, succumbed to her wounds on Monday and was laid to rest in the settlement of Kfar Etzion south of Jerusalem on Tuesday. Hundreds of mourners packed the funeral, singing and swaying as Lucy's husband, Leo, and his remaining children wept at the podium  their family of seven reduced to four.

Lucy, I have a choice: I could lament over the next 25 years of marriage that Ive lost, but I actually feel blessed to have had 25 years of a beautiful marriage with you, Leo said, his voice cracking in anguish.

He added: If we support the good and reject the evil, then we can all play our part in building a better world.

Last week, in a separate incident, an Italian tourist was killed and five others were wounded when a Palestinian's car careened onto a bike path near the beach in Tel Aviv in what authorities described as a suspected terrorist attack. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he offered condolences to his Italian counterpart during a phone call Tuesday.

So far this year, 94 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to a tally by The Associated Press, at least half of them affiliated with militant groups. During that time, 19 people were killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

With the country battling threats on multiple fronts, Netanyahu on Monday reversed his decision to fire his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, who expressed opposition to the governments divisive plans to weaken the judiciary last month. Gallant praised the Israeli military's killing of the Palestinian gunmen on Tuesday.

In a step toward deescalating the situation, Netanyahu's office said Tuesday that authorities would bar Jewish visits to Al-Aqsa, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, for the remainder of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. That's standard for the final 10 days of the holiday, when Muslims often pray at the site overnight.

Jews are permitted to visit the compound, but not pray there, under longstanding agreements. But such visits, which have grown in numbers in recent years, have stoked anger, particularly because some Jews are often seen quietly praying.

The rare convergence of the Jewish Passover festival and Ramadan brought scores of religious Jews to the site last week and fueled tensions that spiraled into unrest in Jerusalem  and a regional confrontation.
SAN FRANCISCO  A secretive Israeli spyware company has customers in at least 10 countries, and its hacking tools have been used against minority party politicians and journalists, according to research by Microsoft and the nonprofit Citizen Lab made public Tuesday.

Microsoft discovered traces of the spyware created by the surveillance vendor QuaDream to use against older versions of Apple's iOS phone software, while Citizen Lab used the data to track down victims. In separate reports, the teams released the most thorough analysis to date on how the spyware works and which countries operated servers for receiving the information the spyware captured.

Microsoft said it found the software during efforts with partners to collect intelligence on sophisticated adversaries. Citizen Lab, based at the University of Toronto, said it uncovered five victims. The system worked in part by sending malicious calendar invites that would not be seen by the targets.

Some information about QuaDream previously came to light after a marketing brochure was discovered. Media outlets have since identified customers, including Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Singapore.

Citizen Lab said it now has located QuaDream servers in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ghana, Israel, Mexico, Romania, Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uzbekistan. It noted that some of those countries, including Mexico and UAE, have widespread human rights issues and have been accused of deploying spyware on peaceful domestic opposition in the past.

Citizen Lab declined to name the most recent victims, saying that those people would come forward when they are ready. It is unclear whether the infections led to arrests or other consequences.

Like its better-known rival, NSO Group, maker of the similar Pegasus spyware, QuaDream sells its eavesdropping to government agencies. Unlike NSO, it has almost no visible corporate presence and may avoid the need for export licenses by dealing through a reseller based outside Israel, most notably the Cypriot firm InReach. NSO needs clearance from the Israeli ministry of defense.

The new research underscores how the high-end spyware industry is much bigger than one notorious company and more deeply enmeshed with governments, including those who say they only use such tools against terrorists or archcriminals.

QuaDream was established in 2016 by former NSO employees, and its investors and executive ranks have changed in the past few years. The person Citizen Lab identified as the most recent chief executive, Avi Rabinowitz, did not return a message seeking comment.

In 2021, QuaDream and NSO were accused of using the same iPhone software flaws to install spyware that could capture data, record calls and activate the camera surreptitiously, without any user interaction. Apple sent out warnings to affected users, including some of the ones now identified as QuaDream targets, and patched the flaws.

Through a spokesperson, Apple said it had no indication that the same software exploit has been used since then. Citizen Lab said that QuaDream is likely to have substituted a new exploit into its program that has not yet been detected.

U.S. agencies have experimented with programs like QuaDream's in the past, specifically NSO's Pegasus. The Commerce Department has banned business dealings with NSO and another spyware maker, but done nothing about QuaDream.

A broader two-week-old executive order from President Biden generally bars federal agencies from wielding them if the maker puts human rights at risk. The White House did not respond to an email seeking comment on the new QuaDream findings.

Private companies, including Microsoft, Meta and Apple, have also been doing more to disrupt spyware operations and publicizing what they find. Meta's Facebook said last year it disabled 250 accounts that QuaDream developers were apparently using to test their ability to extract messages and videos from mobile devices.

"There is growing awareness of the existence of cyber mercenaries and an increased and welcome focus by policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic on the issues related to spyware," said Amy Hogan-Burney, Microsoft associate general counsel for cybersecurity. "At the same time those debates have only touched the tip of the proverbial iceberg."
WASHINGTON  The Defense Department wants to spend $40 million to promote military service to young people as lawmakers warn the Army, Navy and Air Force are on track to miss their enlistment goals this year amid persistent recruitment struggles.

Pentagon officials pitched the investment to members of a Senate Armed Services Committee subpanel on Wednesday as a pivotal tool for reversing enlistment shortfalls and selling a positive image of the military to a young population with little inclination to serve.

We need to do a better job of telling our story, the benefits of military service and what it can provide, said Gilbert Cisneros, the undersecretary of defense of personnel and readiness.

The funding request for the Defense Departments joint military advertising, market research and studies program is included in the departments budget request for fiscal 2024, which begins Oct. 1. The individual services have their own additional budgets for marketing, Cisneros said.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., cautioned Wednesday that the Army, Navy and Air Force will likely miss their recruiting goals by tens of thousands of recruits this year if current trends hold. He urged the military to make effective use of marketing a priority.

The Army, which fell short of its recruiting goal last year by 15,000 recruits, debuted a $117 million advertisement campaign last week with two new commercials inspired by the 1980s-era Army slogan, Be All You Can Be. The clips feature actor Jonathan Majors, who starred in Creed III and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and is the son and grandson of veterans.

The Navy launched a Forged by the Sea ad campaign on its 247th birthday in October targeting Generation Z on social media. The service only met its active-duty enlistment goal last year by heavily dipping into its delayed entry pool, according to the Navy. It failed to reach the desired recruitment for active duty and Reserve officers.

The Air Force is expected this year to miss its active-duty enlistment target for the first time since 1999, said Alex Wagner, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs. He named several factors contributing to the militarys recruitment woes, including historically low unemployment and a lack of recruiter access to schools that limited campus visits during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the largest problem is propensity to serve, Wagner said. A mere 9% of Americans aged 17 to 24 who are eligible to serve show an interest in serving in the military, the lowest since the height of the Iraq War in 2007, according to the Pentagon. Only about 23% of young Americans meet the physical and academic standards required for service.

Wagner linked low interest to the growing lack of familiarity with the military. In 1995, 40% of Americans had a parent who served compared to less than 13% of Americans today, he said. An inflection point in the widening divide between civilians and service members came after 9/11, when military installations became more hardened and secure and closed themselves off from the communities around them, Wagner said.

That lack of familiarity has been filled in by a public narrative that emphasizes the risks of service while missing the benefits, he said.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said the military must work to counter a steady drumbeat of negative depictions in the news media.

If you tell everybody every day in The Washington Post and The New York Times that the military is full of extremists, which it is not, youre going to have people say, Oh jeez, I dont want to send my son or daughter there, he said. We should appeal to the patriotism and desire, thats been in this country for 200-plus years, to deploy and fight for their country.

Pentagon officials said they intend to devote more resources to making the public more aware of military service and specifically reaching influencers such as teachers, parents, grandparents and other adults whom young people might admire and respect.

The additional funding request  is focused on building the brand and making sure that when the time for a decision comes, theyre at least aware that military service, or public service even, is an option to them, said Thomas Constable, the acting assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs.

Increased funding for the militarys joint advertising program will also provide a baseline for each of the services to develop their own marketing campaigns, he said. The program aims to appeal to a more diverse group of potential recruits than ever before, he said.

We dont like leaving any money on the table or any population unchecked, especially with all the skills that they bring us or the opportunity to better reflect the American public, Constable said. You should expect to see more marketing, more advertising geared towards a broader population.
Smooth and easy are the last words I would use to describe the previous decade of Arab history. A lot of blood, sweat and tears would more accurately sum up that period, which brought a mixture of collapsed states, confrontations with terrorist and extremist groups, civil strife and warfare, interventions by regional powers, and international meddling and infiltration. While many of these phenomena were facets of the disaster known as the Arab Spring, they nevertheless opened the way to a revision process and the rise of an Arab comprehensive reform drive to rescue the Arab state through economic development, a renewal of religious discourse and other needed changes. The emergence of the reform drive was a revolution in itself. It was a rejection of conditions that were stagnant and unproductive, and simultaneously conducive to a state weakness that rendered the fate of the Arab region prey to the greed and ambitions of others.

We now have a group of countries that have embraced the concept of the Arab nation state as a core political entity and set their sights on catching up and competing effectively with other nations as an inspirational driver for social, economic and cultural progress. If the left-wing radicalism and Arab nationalism of the 1950s and 1960s were regional movements, they were countered by conservative and reactionary immobility and backwardness, which was the internationally designated fate for the region. Accordingly, todays reformist drive requires an approach and methodology that not only aims to promote change and turn the tables against those opposed to change, but also to generate an environment conducive to sustainable positive and progressive development in those countries that have chosen this path. This is not to propose or suggest the existence of ideological battles such as those that took place many decades ago under the banners of Arab nationalism, the proletarian class struggle or rigid fundamentalist dogma. Rather it is to advocate a model for Arab progress that we know in advance will depend on considerable effort and innovation. It will also need to draw on the experiences of others, especially those that appear to have the most in common with our own, namely the East Asian development drives that lifted hundreds of millions of people out of the stagnant backwaters of poverty, into prosperity and wellbeing, and then onward to economic and technological superiority.

Two previous articles of mine are relevant in this regard. One appeared in this space on 10 October 2018 entitled The necessary return of Iraq, and the other appeared in Al-Masry Al-Youm on 28 July 2021 under the title What has the Spring come to in Syria? The first took a geopolitical approach and called for the restoration of equilibrium in the Arab region in order to bolster it in the face of regional challenges. The second assessed how the Syrian pre- and post- Arab Spring experience reached a dead end. As we know, change these days occurs faster than we can ever imagine. The Iraq we saw at the time of the first article saw another wave of spring, but this time inspired by the conviction that the only way to free the country from the scourge of terrorism and the lack of government was to ceaselessly strive to establish the nation state. In the four years since then, Iraq drew on its inherent strengths, and on its history and civilisation to defeat terrorism, restart the development process and restore the oil sector to the control of a state serving all its citizens with all their diverse sectarian and ethnic affiliations. It also overcame many obstacles in order to hold general elections, after which it navigated a very bumpy road for about a year until it established its presidential, parliamentary and executive institutions. It fielded many criticisms, reservations and observations about the process along the way. But what ultimately counted was simply setting off from a point that could then be used as a benchmark to assess progress, adjust course and set off again in the right direction, which would always be possible if the political leaders grasped the lessons of the previous stage and were armed with sufficient patriotism to work for the general welfare of everyone.

The Syrian case was no less challenging. Indeed, it has been and remains fiercer and more violent. On top of the Civil War, foreign incursions and massive displacement of the Syrian population ushered in by the Arab Spring, Syria has become a multi-front battleground between regional and international players, from Turkey and Iran, to the US and Russia, while another battle rages between Israel and Iran. As though that were not enough, Syria was recently struck by a powerful earthquake that caused yet more damage and loss of life. But as they say, nothing shows us more clearly who our friends and enemies really are than a disaster. Amidst the outpouring of sympathy for Syria as well as Turkey in that ordeal, the Arabs were quick to act and the results of their actions were palpable. In addition to urgent relief, the Arabs stepped up the process of restoring relations with Syria and welcoming it back into the Arab League.

Iraq has also been gradually returning to the Arab fold, rejoining the Arab League and in other tangible ways. Most notably, it spearheaded the establishment of the New Levant, a project first mentioned by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi on 25 August 2020 during the trilateral summit between Egypt, Iraq and Jordan in Amman. As the summit statement explained, the project brings together Iraqi oil, Egyptian human capital and a Jordanian linkage in the interest of creating a trilateral economic base capable of sustaining long-term investment and mutual trade, and stimulating the Arab market as a whole. The joint statement released after the heads of state of the three countries met on 27 June 2021 revealed that the emergent partnership had assumed strategic dimensions that pointed to potential economic integration in certain domains. This involved several projects that called for Egyptian and Jordanian contributions to Iraqi reconstruction in exchange for oil. Unfortunately, little came of it at the time apart from the bilateral rapprochement, since Iraq was still in the process of sorting out its domestic sociopolitical circumstances.

Now, two years later, reabsorbing Iraq and Syria into the Arab order are more essential than ever in light of the many changes in the region. Firstly, Iraq has definitively set itself on the path of tangible reform grounded in the nation state and a series of state-building mega projects. It has thus augmented its capacities, as a state, to become an effective partner in the Arab regional reform and development drive. Secondly, it is impossible to abandon Syria to its particular plight. History has shown that when one Arab country is isolated, it does not pay the price alone. All other Arab countries in its vicinity also pay a heavy toll.

So considerable diplomacy and political acumen are now in order. It is up to the Arab reform countries to bring both Iraq and Syria back into the framework of collective action. The new regionalism that I have often discussed in this space and elsewhere, offers the necessary inspiration, flexibility and collective resources conducive to this end once a consultative framework has been determined. Participants will not only need to discuss obstacles and challenges, they should also explore the potential arising from new realities such as the new bridges that were forged after the earthquake, the Arab gas pipeline, and the regional and international weight of Arab powers, whether or not they fall within the scope of the Abraham Accords.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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(Tribune News Service)  Group of Seven nations are butting heads over the timeline for phasing out coal-fired power ahead of next weekends summit of top energy and environmental ministers.

Draft communique documents circulated before negotiations resume Tuesday and seen by Bloomberg News show the European Union, the U.S. and Japan expressed reservations about a U.K. proposal to set a 2030 deadline for phasing out unabated domestic coal power generation.

The language, which won Frances backing, also would have recognized the need to cancel the pipeline of new global coal power generation projects, and therefore have the G-7 countries committing to end construction of new domestic coal-fired power plants and work with international partners to end similar efforts globally.

While Japan, the U.S. and E.U. indicated reservations, Germany offered alternative language that would have emphasized the goal of phasing out domestic unabated coal power generation ideally by 2030 or in the 2030s. Japan, which hosts the G-7 this year, has proposed reaffirming the commitment in last years G-7 leaders statement to achieving a fully or predominantly decarbonized power sector by 2035.

Representatives with the E.U. Commission and Japans Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry did not immediately respond to requests for comment lodged during a European holiday and outside normal working hours in Asia. The U.S. State Department did not comment.

The deliberations may reflect uneasiness about the technical ability of central and eastern European countries to meet a 2030 deadline and, in the U.S., about the political repercussions of the federal government embracing a firm end date for coal. But they risk showing G-7 nations are less resolved to consign coal to history months ahead of a critical U.N. climate summit in Dubai where nearly 200 nations will be pressed to phase out the fossil fuel.

The risk is that the final G-7 communique from the summit on April 15 and 16 in Sapporo, Japan, will provide fodder to other countries critical of rich nations progress on and commitment to combating global warming, said Alden Meyer, a senior associate at the consultancy E3G.

Every time they start having carveouts on fossil fuel finance or road transport or unabated coal, they give other countries excuses to say, Well you talk a big game, but youre not delivering at home, Meyer said. They should be trying to build on the last two G-7s under the U.K. and Germany, but theyre in danger of at least stalling out  if not backsliding  on some fronts.

Negotiators, who huddled for a week in virtual meetings at the end of March, also are still sparring over Japans push for language endorsing the use of hydrogen and ammonia produced from it as a power source. Several countries have pushed to qualify that support, saying its use must be consistent with other climate and decarbonization goals and only occur when associated nitrogen oxide pollution is squelched.

Amid Russias war in Ukraine, Japan also has encouraged language supporting investments in natural gas and LNG to bridge the gap securing affordable energy supplies  an effort that dovetails with an appeal by many U.S. business groups. But several countries have pushed back, with the U.S. encouraging a caveat that natural gas should be a transition energy source only for those countries that can afford it and are committed to a shift toward net zero energy.

Bloomberg News writers Ewa Krukowska and Shoko Oda contributed to this story.

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NEW YORK  Social media companies are once again in the spotlight after a bank employee in Louisville, Ky., killed five people in a mass shooting and livestreamed the attack on Instagram.

Tech companies have gotten better in recent years at cooperating to tamp down the spread of mass shooting videos on mainstream platforms. But there's still no easy way to stop shooters from broadcasting their grisly crimes without shutting down livestreaming services altogether.

Here's what we know so far about what happened in Louisville:

HOW DID META RESPOND?

Instagram parent company Meta, which also owns Facebook, said in a statement that it quickly removed the livestream of the Louisville shooting on Monday morning.

But Meta did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday about how long it took to take down the livestream  or how many people watched it before it was removed.

Instagram allows users to anonymously report livestreams. Once a report has been submitted, the company's policy states that it will review the broadcast "as quickly as possible" and remove those that violate its policies. Depending on the severity of the situation, the company may decide to end a live broadcast, disable the account or contact law enforcement.

IS THIS THE FIRST LIVESTREAMED SHOOTING?

No. All told, there have been seven perpetrator-produced videos of violence posted on social media in the past four years that major companies have tried to keep off their platforms, according to the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.

In September, a gunman livestreamed his attack on people in Memphis, Tennessee, during a rampage that killed four and wounded three, police said. The shooting came four months after a white gunman massacred 10 Black shoppers and workers  and wounded three  in a shooting at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket that was livestreamed on the Amazon-owned gaming platform Twitch.

The platform said it removed that video in less than two minutes, which was not fast enough to prevent copies of the clip from spreading to other social media sites. But the removal was considerably faster than the 17 minutes it took Facebook to take down a livestreamed attack in 2019 at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. That shooting killed 51 people.

Also in 2019, another gunman killed two people during a shooting at a German synagogue that was also livestreamed on Twitch.

Last June, two Muslim men in India were accused of slitting the throat of a Hindu tailor and posting a video of it online amid rising tensions between Hindus and Muslims in the country.

HOW HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES CHANGED THEIR TACTICS?

The methods to curb attack videos have evolved since 2014, when Islamic State militants in Syria began sharing grisly propaganda videos of the beheadings of kidnapped journalists and other hostages.

While those events were not shared live, it was "really the first time that there was a major terrorist incident designed for the social media era. And platforms realized that they had to do something," said Courtney Radsch, a fellow at the UCLA Institute for Technology, Law & Policy.

Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and Google-owned YouTube formed a group in 2017 called the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. Its mission expanded after the Christchurch killings "spurred a much more aggressive effort to not only eradicate" terrorist content online, but also to go after mass killing videos "perpetrated by white nationalists and other types of extremists," said Radsch, who serves on a committee for the group.

The group, known as GIFCT, now has nearly two dozen members, including Amazon, Airbnb, Dropbox, Discord and Zoom. Whatever platform has the original video will submit a "hash"  a digital fingerprint corresponding to that video  and notify the other member companies so they can restrict it from their platforms. While not perfect, experts say the response has grown quicker and also now encompasses PDF files to stop the spread of manifestos.

"Unfortunately, as these have continued to occur, the more of these we've gone through with our members, the more everyone strengthened their muscle memory around this," said Sarah Pollack, a spokesperson for GIFCT.

A day after the Louisville shooting, clips from the gunman's livestream were not easily findable on Instagram or other popular social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. The first calls to police were around 8:30 a.m. Monday By midday, the GIFCT had put out its highest-level alert for coordinating efforts to stop the video's spread.

WHAT MORE COULD BE DONE?

It's hard to know if the effort to slow the spread of videos has done anything to deter the violence itself.

"There's a tension between platforms "wanting to give their users new capabilities and opportunities to engage" and the risks of livestreaming, said UCLA's Radsch.

Livestreaming, "with no delay, with no real oversight, can present really challenging situations when users use your platform to livestream terrorism, extremism, violence, suicide."

She said platforms still need to take more seriously whether to adopt additional precautions.

"The challenge is, any precaution you put in place for a mass violence event could also potentially be leveraged to prevent livestreaming of police brutality or pro-democracy protests," she said. "So it really is a double-edged sword."

Also, while mainstream companies are coordinating their response, they have little influence over the "dark web" forums that are still trying to collect and share the videos  other than preventing them from obtaining footage in the first place.

O'Brien reported from Providence, R.I.
(Tribune News Service)  On an overcast December afternoon in Boston, 11 Chinese citizens arrived one by one at an underground parking garage  their clandestine meeting spot.

As planned, they wore all black, with hats and masks obscuring their faces. They had hoped their outfits would make them less visible. But the curious looks they drew made them feel like criminals.

That might have been the case if they had tried this in China. They had gathered to demonstrate against the Chinese government, the kind of act that could land them in prison back home.

Even in Boston, 12 time zones away from Beijing, the Chinese Communist Party might be watching. Might be listening. Or so they thought.

They feared the government would retaliate against their relatives in China. They all held green cards or student or work visas  what would happen if they returned home? They worried too about extreme Chinese nationalists in the United States. Would they harass them? Report them to the government?

They even wondered if they could trust one another. Might one of their members be a spy? One couldnt be too careful.

And so they took safeguards, communicating on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, using security escorts to make sure they werent followed at their event and concealing the basic details of their lives  ages, jobs and Chinese hometowns  from one another. Most didnt even know one anothers names.

After a week of planning, they were now meeting in person for the first time, still using the pseudonyms they adopted online. With an hour to go before the vigil, an organizer who called herself KK handed out walkie-talkies as everyone turned off their phones. Another code-named Roger loaded banners, folding tables and loudspeakers into his SUV.

I dont want to connect my real identity with these activities, recounted an organizer who went by Lucy. Its really a known thing that people will report people who are against the government. I cant risk that.

In October, days before Chinese President Xi Jinping was confirmed for five more years as the head of the Communist Party, a lone protester hung two banners across a Beijing bridge.

One called for a worker strike and Xis removal. The other declared, We want food not COVID tests, reform not Cultural Revolution, freedom not lockdowns, votes not leaders, dignity not lies, to be citizens not slaves.

The man believed responsible, 48-year-old Peng Lifa, disappeared. But his slogans were soon being scrawled on buildings and anonymously sent to smartphones, a potent refrain for opposing Xi and his draconian zero-COVID policy.

The fervor also spread among Chinese nationals abroad. More than 6,000 miles from Beijing, three friends in Boston were transfixed by the news. They started thinking about how they could show solidarity with Peng and other compatriots back home.

We were like, We cant just let this thing go away. We have to do something to honor that mans bravery,  said Lucy, a software engineer who had left China more than a decade earlier.

Online, her two friends took the names Roger and Ellen. An Instagram account used by Chinese expatriates to organize protests around the world led them to KK, who had started a Telegram channel for activists in Boston.

On a Wednesday night in late October, the four met in a park and painted replicas of the Beijing banners. The next morning before dawn, they reconvened on a highway overpass near Boston University to hang them from the chain-link partition.

The banners were seen from thousands of passing cars before they became tangled in the wind the next day. While Lucy and her friends were retrieving them, a Chinese woman approached. They eyed her nervously, until she confided that the signs had made her feel powerful.

The protesters felt emboldened too. They werent exactly new to political demonstrations  they had been to womens rights marches or Black Lives Matter protests  but directly challenging Xi had broken a major taboo.

They began hanging more protest signs around the city and connecting with other Chinese nationals online. On Halloween, a group of them donned white full-body suits  the uniform of the workers enforcing COVID lockdowns in China  and walked the streets putting up fliers denouncing Xi and the Communist Party.

Back in China, tensions were escalating over the governments tightening hold on everyday life. Then on Nov. 24 in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang region, 10 people died when a fire broke out in a high-rise apartment building and COVID restrictions prevented residents from leaving and firefighters from entering.

Vigils for the victims turned into protests in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities  the largest mass demonstration against Chinas leaders since the 1989 gatherings in Tiananmen Square.

As solidarity protests broke out in Los Angeles, New York and elsewhere, somebody started a new Telegram group with the aim of holding a vigil in Boston for the coming Friday, Dec. 2. Soon the group had about 500 members.

Debates in the channel grew heated over what signs to hold, what slogans to chant and whether to condemn Chinas oppression of the ethnic minority Uyghur population in Xinjiang. Overwhelmed, Roger, Lucy, Ellen, KK and several others broke off into a new channel, which became the de facto organizing committee to recruit speakers, make signs and reach out to activist organizations.

Stress mounted as the vigil drew closer. When one organizer began pushing the others for personal information, they removed her from the channel.

Everyone was burned out, Ellen said. We didnt have time to worry about suspecting someone from our group that could be a threat or a security concern.

When Ellen went to pick up posters she had made at Staples, she spotted a man printing documents who appeared to be Chinese. Fearful of how he might react to her signs accusing the Chinese government of Uyghur genocide, she paced between two aisles of paper boxes for half an hour, peeking in his direction until he left.

The next day  Dec. 2  she and the other organizers made their way from the parking garage to the Tiananmen Memorial in Chinatown a few blocks away. They propped up their posters, set up speakers and strung one of the banners from the overpass between two trees.

Night fell, and as the crowd grew, so did the memorial of candles and flowers left for the victims of the Urumqi fire, all of them Uyghurs. Soon there were more than 400 people, many as heavily cloaked as the organizers.

Over the next hour, attendees observed a moment of silence for the dead, chanted slogans and sang Bob Dylans Blowin in the Wind and The Internationale, a communist anthem-turned protest song in China. Speakers took turns at a microphone, most of them hiding their faces.

I hope that one day we can meet again in the sun without masks, the moderator, code-named Charlie, told the crowd. But he said later he doesnt think that will be possible as long as he has family in China.

Two weeks after the vigil, a 25-year-old Chinese national in Boston was arrested for stalking a woman who had posted fliers for democracy in China. According to the charging documents, he threatened to cut off her hands and told her he had reported her to Chinese authorities, who would be making a visit to her relatives back home.

Such stories about harassment and rogue informants have sown deep mistrust within the Chinese diaspora, and many find it easiest to stay quiet when it comes to Chinese politics.

That was long the case for Lucy, who before December had few Chinese friends with whom she could criticize the government back home. While she and the others know its unlikely their actions will change much in China, working together has eased the isolation that many felt.

You know that youre not alone thinking like this, there are others with the same values, Lucy said. That just makes me feel like a normal person again.

The original plan was to disband after the vigil. But the turnout that day convinced them there was value in planning more events.

We realized that maybe this is a great chance for us to continue doing the work, and not just let this be a one-time thing, said an organizer who went by Yi.

Theyve since attended other protests together, including a February rally they organized to commemorate Dr. Li Wenliang, who was arrested for warning people about the coronavirus, which later killed him.

For Yangyang Cheng, a researcher at Yale Law Schools Paul Tsai China Center and a Chinese citizen, an anonymous email was sufficient to persuade her to speak at the event. As for why so many other protesters concealed their identities, she said it was an understandable response to the ambiguous nature of fear sown by authoritarian governments.

It really shows a certain precarity and fragility of being Chinese anywhere, she said.

Trust has grown considerably among the vigil organizers, who now discuss restaurant recommendations and movies as much as they do politics. Some attended an underground play together about an exiled Chinese dissident. There was also a ski trip to New Hampshire and talk of starting a book club.

Occasionally they meet at Rogers apartment, since hes the only one comfortable sharing his address. Theyve made a game out of guessing one anothers jobs and hometowns based on their accents.

Still, when they eat out, they pay one another in cash rather than Venmo, which is linked to their bank accounts.

We dont really know each others real names or telephone numbers, said Charlie, the moderator. But other than that, we really feel like we are friends.

Times staff writer Yang and special correspondent Shen reported from Taipei, Taiwan.)

2023 Los Angeles Times.

Visit at latimes.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(Tribune News Service)  Parts of some headstones were launched dozens of feet from their original location, while others were stained with motor oil when a driver veered off the road and plowed his car into St. Mary Cemetary in Northampton before dawn Saturday, officials said.

Some of the stone monuments damaged in what Northampton Police said was a drunk-driving crash marked the graves of war veterans, according to a cemetery employee and volunteer who labored Monday to clean up the wreckage.

Jim McCool Jr., a Florence resident and Navy veteran who volunteers to help maintain the cemetery several days a week, said news of the crash brought him to tears.

Its very difficult, he said, choking up amid crumbled and knocked-over grave markers, tire tracks and patches of oil.

McCool and employees of the cemetery spent Monday cleaning up the rubble of Saturdays crash. There were headstones smashed into several pieces that needed to be collected, weighty stone monuments knocked on their sides, grave markers splattered with fluids from a car, and plaques used to mark the graves of veterans that had been bent or snapped.

Nearly 20 gravestones were damaged, police and cemetery employees said.

Its a shame, said Brian Kennedy, executive director of the Springfield Diocesan Cemeteries, as he surveyed the damage. Weve had collisions with monuments, but never like this.

Roy Chapman, a Northampton resident and the cemetery supervisor, recalled a handful of other incidents in which a few headstones had been damaged.

This is the worst weve had, he said.

McCool said the area of the cemetery damaged in the crash was the resting place of a number of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, and he rattled off the names of the deceased and where they had served.

His father, who was captured at the Battle of the Bulge and survived a German prisoner-of-war camp, is buried elsewhere in the cemetery, as are other family members.

With the clean-up underway, a 19-year-old driver appeared in Northampton District Court on Monday to face a charge of operating under the influence of alcohol in connection with the crash.

Matthew Fontaine-Dulude, of Holyoke, pleaded not guilty to a single count of OUI and related charges. He was released and ordered to return to court on June 13.

An attorney representing Fontaine-Dulude  who was also listed in court filings as Matthew Dulude  did not immediately respond to a phone call and text seeking comment.

According to a police report, an officer passing by the cemetery on Bridge Road around 1:40 a.m. Saturday came upon Fontaine-Dulude, his father, a friend and a damaged Infiniti G35X sedan amid the wreckage of the gravestones.

Fontaine-Dulude told officers he lost control of the car as he swerved out of the way to avoid an oncoming vehicle in his lane, the police report said.

After the crash, the teenager had called his father, who arrived at the cemetery and attempted to drag the vehicle away with his SUV, he told police, according to the report.

A breathalyzer test taken at the crash scene indicated Fontaine-Duludes blood alcohol content was above the legal limit to drive, police said.

Reached by phone Monday afternoon, Steven Connor, the director of Central Hampshire Veterans Services, said he was headed to the cemetery Tuesday morning to offer his help.

We want to those [headstones] upright for Memorial Day, he said.

2023 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit masslive.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An Islamabad district and sessions court on Tuesday rejected the Election Commission of Pakistans (ECP) petition for an early hearing of the Toshakhana case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

The plea was moved by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the court of additional sessions judge Zafar Iqbal.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal heard the case while Khawaja Haris and Faisal Chaudhry appeared before the court as the PTI chiefs councils.

The former prime minister was asked to appear before the court at 8:30 in the morning, but he did not appear. At the outset of the hearing, Imran Khans lawyers Khawaja Haris and Faisal Chaudhry opposed the immediate hearing of the case and termed it as a waste of money and time.

On the last hearing, the court ordered to hear the case on April 29, then what is the need of an immediate hearing, he asked.

Haris said they were preparing for the case as per the scheduled hearing on April 29 and added whoever has filed plea against Imran Khan wants to target him.

The court after hearing arguments reserved the verdict for 10 minutes. After the resumption of the hearing, the court rejected ECPs plea for an immediate hearing.

In the written judgment, the ECP said: As per the statement of Imran Khan he had purchased the gifts from Toshakhana paying 21.564 million rupees while the Cabinet Division said that the gifts had a value of 107.943 million.

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 didnt declare it, ECP decision read.

Imran Khan being declared disqualified and unseated from his National Assembly seat, the ECP said, adding: He has been disqualified under Article 63, 1(P), over submitting a false statement and declaration.
China reacted with extensive military manoeuvres around Taiwan in response to a transit visit to the US by the Taiwanese president last week, writes Hussein Haridy

Last week, the world witnessed a repeat of the US-China confrontation of last August when the then Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (Democrat California) paid an official visit to Taiwan and the military exercises by the Chinese Navy and Air Force in the Strait of Taiwan.

This time round, on 5 April, the present Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (Republican  California), received the President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen, in California. She was transiting the US on a ten-day trip to Latin America.

Last year, McCarthy, at the time campaigning in the US mid-term elections, said that if elected he would travel to Taiwan in the footsteps of his predecessor.

Meeting the Taiwanese president on US soil and while she was transiting the United States was a clever diplomatic move by the US administration with the approval of the Republican Speaker of the House to show support for Taiwan without provoking a strong official reaction similar to that of the Chinese government last August.

Washington would have factored in a major political development that took place in the intervening period between August 2022 and April 2023, namely the re-election of Chinese President Xi Jinping for an unprecedented third term in office in March. This would have warranted a stronger Chinese response this time round if McCarthy had officially visited Taiwan.

Fortunately, reason prevailed.

However, the Chinese Southern Military Command that oversees the Taiwan Strait nevertheless planned and executed a three-day military drill in the strait from 8 to 10 April. The exercise was called Joint Sharp Sword.

According to the spokesman of the Chinese Military Command, the drill was a necessary action to safeguard the territorial integrity of China and a warning against joint provocations by Taiwan secessionists and foreign forces.

The Joint Sharp Sword manoeuvres saw the Chinese Air Force flying dozens of early warning reconnaissance, fighter, and bomber planes to the target airspace, meaning Taiwans, as well as building a joint strike system involving the Coast Guard and sea and air forces in a combined operations mode while supported by joint intelligence. This was to allow them to become acquainted with the battlefield, with the Chinese media reporting that the manoeuvres were designed to support target guidance and provide cover for joint assault forces.

At the same time, a spokesman for the Naval Research Institute attached to the Chinese Army told the Chinese media that the Shandong Aircraft Carrier Group had sailed to the Western Pacific, with this move showing that the sea-combat system was strengthening drastically as a warning to Taiwanese independence forces.

The Joint Sharp Sword manoeuvres and the deployment of the Shandong Carrier Group to the Western Pacific demonstrate Chinas growing military resources and capabilities. They are intended to act as a deterrent to the use of force in the Strait of Taiwan. The French newspaper Le Figaro rightly pointed out that the manoeuvres aimed at the total encirclement of Taiwan and were intended to exercise full control of the sea lanes and airspace leading to Taiwan.

The official US reaction was measured and called on Beijing not to overreact to the California stopover of the Taiwanese president on 5 April. The State Department spokesperson said on 8 April that there is no reason for Beijing to turn this transit, which was consistent with long-standing US practice and policy, into something it is not or to use it as a pretext to overreact. He added that the US is comfortable and confident that [it] has in place sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability and to meet our national security commitments.

Let us hope that encouraging, explicitly or implicitly, the official independence of Taiwan is not part of the US national security commitments.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien, addressing the annual economic forum in China known as the Boao Forum for Asia in the southern Chinese province of Hainan on 6 April said that the US-China relationship is most worrying and that the tensions between the two are felt keenly across the world, in comments quoted in the South China Morning Post.

He went on to say that the big powers have a heavy responsibility to maintain stable and workable relations with one another because any clash between them will have grievous consequences for themselves and for the world as a whole.

I could not agree more.

* The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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In a statement on Tuesday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said scheduling of two other meetings of a consultative forum on Youth Affairs in Leh and Srinagar in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir is equally disconcerting.

The Spokesperson said India's irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures to perpetuate its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in sheer disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and international law. She said Pakistan strongly condemn these moves.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said such events cannot hide the reality of Jammu and Kashmir being an internationally recognized dispute that has remained on the agenda of the UN Security Council for over seven decades. She said these activities also cannot divert international community's attention from India's brutal suppression of the people of illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir including illegal attempts to change the demographic composition of the occupied territory.

The Spokesperson said India is again exploiting the membership of an important international grouping for advancing its self-serving agenda with its decision to host G-20 events in the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. She said India has once again demonstrated that it is unable to act as a responsible member of the international community.
Mr Burke, a barrister-at-law student, has been in custody since being arrested and charged on March 7 following chaotic scenes at the Court of Appeal

Simeon Burke being escorted out of the Court of Appeal by gardai in March. Photo: Sathishaa Mohan

A High Court judge has refused to deal with an attempted application for an inquiry into the lawfulness of the detention of Simeon Burke, a younger brother of sacked schoolteacher Enoch Burke.

Mr Burke was also seeking orders granting his immediate release from Cloverhill Prison and the quashing of his prosecution for a public order offence, which he is due to go on trial for next week.

But Mr Justice Mark Heslin said he was not entertaining the application when Mr Burkes sister Ammi attempted to make it on his behalf this morning in the High Court.

Mr Burke, a barrister-at-law student, has been in custody since being arrested and charged on March 7 following chaotic scenes at the Court of Appeal.

The 24-year-old and other members of his family were removed from the Court of Appeal by gardai after shouting at judges and interrupting the delivery of a ruling in Enoch Burkes dispute with Wilsons Hospital School.

Simeon Burke was subsequently charged with engaging in threatening, insulting and abusive words and behaviour.

Although Mr Burke has been free to take up bail, he has refused to do so, prompting District Court Judge John Hughes to remark that he remained in custody on an entirely voluntary basis".

The prosecution against him is due to be mentioned in the District Court tomorrow ahead of a trial next Monday.

Mr Burke claims gardai had no warrant or authority to remove him from the courtroom and that he was unlawfully arrested.

Ammi Burke, a solicitor, attempted to make a habeas corpus application this morning, seeking an inquiry by the High Court under Article 40 of the Constitution into the lawfulness of her brothers detention.

She was accompanied in court by her brothers Isaac and Josiah.

But before Mr Justice Heslin sat, Ms Burke was informed by the court registrar that the judge had already decided she did not have standing to bring the application.

Nevertheless, Ms Burke still attempted to make the application when the judge appeared, saying it was extraordinary she had been told she would not be entertained because she was a third party.

She insisted she had a right to bring the application on her brothers behalf and cited case law in support of her position.

It is often essential that an initial application under Article 40 be brought by a third party, she said.

However, Mr Justice Heslin said: I am not entertaining that application.

He told Ms Burke there was a mechanism, a paper-based application known as the prisoner method, through which a person in prison could make the application themselves.

But Ms Burke refused to accept the decision and continued to argue with the judge for several minutes.

I am surprised to have to be fighting for the right to bring this application this morning, she said.

Mr Justice Heslin said he had made his decision and was fortified in that view by the fact there was a method open to Mr Burke to bring the application himself.

That method being available, I do not believe there is any prejudice to rights or lack of access to the courts, the judge said.

I am simply not going to entertain an application by a family member when that mechanism is available.

Ms Burke went on to say that the basis for the attempted application was that there had been a fundamental denial of justice.

She claimed the District Court did not have jurisdiction to hear her brothers trial, alleging there was a fundamental flaw on the face of the warrant and issues over how he was arrested.

Ms Burke claimed none of the formalities of an arrest were complied with.

She alleged no garda told her brother he was being arrested, the reason for the arrest or the power of arrest.

However, Mr Justice Heslin said the claims speak to issues before the trial itself.

I am not going to engage any further than this, he said before rising from the bench.

The judge then took up a number of in camera wardship matters in another courtroom.

Three gardai stood at the entrance of the courtroom as the Burkes stood outside in the Round Hall of the Four Courts for a period.

Since being charged, Mr Burke, with an address at Cloonsunna, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, has refused to sign a bail bond with a condition that he stay away from the Four Courts.

He has complained that he has missed examinations at Kings Inns due to being incarcerated.

But Judge John Hughes said last month that Mr Burke could be free with one flick of a pen if he wanted.

Mr Burke, his siblings Enoch, Ammi and Isaac and parents Sean and Martina were all physically removed from the Court of Appeal last month.

Around ten gardai moved in after Mr Justice George Birmingham, the president of the court, abandoned his efforts to read out a ruling due to repeated interruptions and shouting by members of the family.

Mr Burke and his sister Ammi subsequently filed complaints with the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission about the manner in which they were removed from the courtroom.

Members of the family, who are evangelical Christians and well known for their religious views, have clashed with judges on several occasions since Wilsons Hospital School brought injunction proceedings against Enoch Burke last August.

The teacher was suspended by the Co Westmeath school after incidents in which he publicly objected, on religious grounds, to a request that teachers call a transgender student by a new name and by they/them pronouns.

He later spent 108 days in prison for contempt after defying injunctions restraining him from going to the school. He was sacked in January, a decision that is under appeal.

The High Court trial of the action between the school and Enoch Burke proceeded in his absence before Easter after he was excluded by the judge hearing it, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, for contempt on the first day of the four-day hearing.

The teacher repeatedly clashed with the judge and refused to accept a ruling rejecting concerns he had raised over discovery made to him by the school.
The court heard that while the pair were in Garda custody on Monday, the alleged injured party received calls with threatening messages from others.

Christopher Crosby, 34, of Bath Road, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street after he appeared before the District Court. Pic: Paddy Cummins   Paddy Cummins - PCPhoto.ie

William Crosby, 30, of Bath Road, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street after he appeared before the District Court. Pic: Paddy Cummins   Paddy Cummins - PCPhoto.ie

A personal trainer accused of a burglary at his ex-partners home in Dublin has been released on conditional bail, but he and his co-defendant brother must obey a curfew.

William Crosby, 30, and Christopher Crosby, 34, of Bath Road, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, were charged with trespass with intent to commit theft on April 8. The offence is alleged to have taken place at William Crosbys former partners residence.

They appeared before Judge Alec Gabbett at Dublin District Court on Tuesday and faced objections to bail based on Garda concerns about potential witness intimidation.

Christopher Crosby, 34, of Bath Road, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street after he appeared before the District Court. Pic: Paddy Cummins   Paddy Cummins - PCPhoto.ie

The court heard that while the pair were in Garda custody on Monday, the alleged injured party received calls with threatening messages from others.

The investigating garda told defence solicitor Andrew Molony he would agree to bail conditions being imposed on the pair. He also said William Crosbys cautioned reply when arrested was, Ill kill her.

His solicitor Andrew Molony submitted that this accused was currently unemployed but looking to start his own personal training business. The solicitor added that his client had gone to the house to get his equipment.

The solicitor pleaded that Christopher Crosby was unemployed and not a man of means when the judge initially set his bail at 500 but later reduced the amount.

Mr Molony pointed out that the complainant was not present for the bail objection, and the evidence given was hearsay. However, he agreed the court could accept the evidence in a bail application.

Judge Gabbett granted 300 cash bail in each case and ordered them to obey 9 pm to 6 am curfews, sign on regularly at their local garda station, surrender their passports, remain contactable by phone, stay out of the Balrothery area, and have no contact with the complainant.

Directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions have to be obtained. Legal aid was granted.

They have yet to indicate pleas. The proceedings will resume on a later date in Balbriggan District Court.
Judge Gabbett told the defendants to appear again on May 23 to indicate how they intend to plead

Two firearms collectors have been given six weeks to decide how they will plead to unlawfully possessing machine gun components at Dublin Airport.

Co-defendants Damien Graham, 52, of Ballynagall, Ballickmoyler, Carlow, and Patrick OMahony Jr, 53, of Ballyraemeen, Castlemaine, Co. Kerry appeared at Dublin District Court today having been charged earlier with Firearms Act offences.

Mr Graham has two charges for possessing a conversion kit for an AR15 assault rifle, including a bolt and chamber, at Terminal 2 on November 28, 2021.

He is also accused of unlawfully having a bolt from a Sterling submachine gun at the same date and location.

Co-defendant Mr O'Mahony has a single charge for possessing a bolt from a Browning machine gun at Terminal 2 on November 28, 2021.

Judge Alec Gabbett noted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the case at the District Court level.

He acceded to defence solicitors Holly Laher and Andrew Molonys request to grant an adjournment and order for disclosure of prosecution evidence.

Judge Gabbett told the defendants to appear again on May 23 to indicate how they intend to plead.
The victim is described as being in stable condition in hospital

A prisoner has had his ear bitten off in a horror attack in Cork Prison, reports have claimed.

Gardai have confirmed they have launched an investigation into the alleged assault which occurred on Easter Sunday.

The Irish Examiner have reported that the victim was brutally assaulted by another prisoner who bit off one of his ears.

He was subsequently rushed to Cork University Hospital after being treated by paramedics at the scene.

The victim is described as being in stable condition in hospital.

It is believed that garda forensic investigators visited the jail on Monday to carry out a further investigation.

In a statement, a garda spokesman said an investigation into the alleged attack is ongoing.

"Gardai are aware of an incident which took place at Cork Prison, Cork city, on 9th April 2023. Enquiries are ongoing, the spokesman said.

There have been a number of serious assaults on prison in Irelands jails over the last 12 months.

In January, an inmate had to have his spleen removed following a horror beating in Mountjoy Prison.

Robert O'Connor, who died after being attacked in Mountjoy Prison

Last July, Robert OConnor died after receiving a brutal beating in the same jail.

The 34 year old Dubliner was beaten to death after an attack in a cell on July 29 last.

He had only begun a six year sentence for possession of a firearm when he was fatally targeted in what gardai suspect was a revenge attack.

In 2021, there were 249 assaults by prisoners on other inmates, one less than 2020, according to recent figures.

This figure was less than the 452 assaults in 2019 before Covid struck.

The worst jail for prisoner on inmate assaults in 2021 was the Midlands Prison with 57 incidents, followed by Cork, 46 and Castlerea, 45.

The safest jails were Portlaoise and Arbour Hill with no attacks.
We reveal the astonishing details of how Price ordering his men to stay behind, arm themselves and take the fight to the mainstream UDA and UVF

Dee Stitt in front of a loyalist memorial in Bangor in 2019 flanked by masked paramilitaries

Gutless Price has thrown his men under the bus after he fled to Belfast for the protection of a prominent organised crime boss.

The Sunday World can reveal the astonishing details of how Price abandoned his men, ordering them to stay behind, arm themselves and take the fight to the mainstream UDA and UVF.

Its the death throes and last twitches of Prices criminal gang, and raises the possibility of more violence just when it was hoped the almost three-week-long feud had fizzled out.

But instead, Price ordered seven members of his mob to remain in Weavers Grange on the fringes of the West Winds estate in Newtownards.

We can also reveal that paranoid Price ordered his men to surrender their mobile phones so they could not contact the outside world.

And he refused pleas from the mother of one of his men who begged to be allowed to take her son and her family to safety.

While some gang members have reached out to mainstream organisations asking for help in leaving Price, others have stayed loyal to their errant boss and are preparing for yet more violence.

On Friday, petrol bombs were stockpiled as gang members had planned to attack the homes of mainsteam UDA and UVF.

It is understood one member was so appalled at the collection of incendiaries in a residential area that he tipped off the PSNI through a relative  within hours cops had recovered petrol bombs and Class A drugs from searches in Weavers Grange.

One well-placed source told us that unless they take up an offer from mainstream UDA and UVF to defect in return for a guarantee of safety, they will have nowhere to go.

They are so far gone they dont realise the entire might of the UDA and UVF will come down on them. Theres nowhere for them to go in Northern Ireland.

Its like the final days in Hitlers bunker, there are seven of them remaining, holed-up  with Adrian eating Chinese and drinking beer in Belfast. Theyre stuck in a house with some of them even sleeping in cars.

According to Sunday Worldsources, mobster Price has sought the protection of a crime boss in east Belfast.

The man at the centre of the feud that threatened to spiral out of control across Newtownards and North Down over the last three weeks finally bowed to the inevitable and quit his home in the West Winds estate this week.

Belligerent Price, who was telling people right up to last weekend that he had no intention of quitting his gangland stronghold, left the estate after his support melted away.

Left exposed, he conceded defeated and left.

Mainstream UDA and UVF have now stepped in to carve up the territory overseen by Price and his nemesis in North Down, alleged UFF leader Dickie Barry.

Dickie Barry

Barrys reward for seeing off Price is to be taken under the wing of mainstream UDA in North Down commanded by Dee Stitt. Barrys price is having to share the proceeds of his gangs criminal enterprise with North Down UDA.

Both Barry and Stitt deny involvement in loyalist paramilitaries.

It is understood Price approached a number UDA leaders seeking refuge, including Jackie McDonalds south Belfast, but was turned away.

McDonald made it clear from the moment Price was cut loose by South East Antrim that the mainstream UDA would be staying out of the feud.

It was his meeting with UVF Chief of Staff John Bunter Graham that paved the way for the release of a statement from paramilitary umbrella group the Loyalist Communities Council in which terror groups distanced themselves from what was going on.

They stated the dispute had nothing to do with them and those involved could not be regarded as loyalists because of their involvement in the drugs trade.

This week SEA paraphernalia and banners were removed from Weavers Grange near the West Winds which had become the epicentre of the feud.

It now means the UDA has no presence in the town.

It had been rumoured that Price may be forced to leave the country, with Scotland touted as a probably destination.

But the Sunday World understands he has found refuge  for now  with a prominent east Belfast criminal.

Dee Stitt in front of a loyalist memorial in Bangor in 2019 flanked by masked paramilitaries

A one-time close associate of alleged UVF boss Stephen Matthews, the criminal was suspected of involvement in the murder of loyalist Ian Ogle in 2019.

The criminal was expelled by Matthews, but took a significant level of support with him and at one time was believed to have been aiming to challenge his old bosss dominance in the east of the city. Matthews is on record denying playing a role in loyalist paramilitaries.

Sources have told us he has been given shelter in return for access to his criminal activities.

Prices arrival in the east of the city presents an issue for Matthews. Price will bolster the earning power of his rival, with sources in the east telling us the Newtownards gangster has jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

Its a time for Aidso to keep his head down, maybe he will but moving into east Belfast is not the smartest move, our source said.

The gangsters son Ryan, who has no involvement in paramilitary activity but is currently on remand for his alleged part in an assault on a man at Ards Shopping Centre last Friday, is also believed to have quit his home in the estate.

The feud erupted last month when Price was dropped by his South East Antrim protectors.

Almost 20 people were arrested in connection with the feud which saw attacks on property from Newtownards down the Ards Peninsula to Ballywalter and into the Kilcooley estate in Bangor.

The PSNI confirmed items and drugs had been recovered in searches relating to the feud on Friday evening. I want to reassure the community that we are continuing to prioritise this ongoing investigation and working to bring perpetrators to justice, Det Insp Corrigan said.
CCTV captured 78-year-old banging on the counter and demanding money.

Goppert Financial Bank where the pensioner struck.

Bonnie's son said she was "off her rocker."

A pensioner has been apprehended this week in Missouri for carrying out her third bank robbery, police have announced.

Bonnie Gooch walked into Goppert Financial Bank and allegedly handed a note to the teller demanding thousands in cash.

She is off her rocker, Goochs son said.

The Bonnie and Clyde namesake, Ms Gooch, has two previous convictions for robbing banks. Last time she carried out the offence in 2020, her son said she left the house angry saying she was going to rob a bank.

On this occasion, the 78-year-old left a note saying "Thank you sorry I didn't mean to scare you" before driving off with her loot.

Ms Gooch now sits in jail with a bond amount of nearly 23,000.

Goppert Financial Bank where the pensioner struck.

Wearing a black N95 mask, black sunglasses and plastic gloves, she entered the bank last Wednesday and slipped the teller a note that said "I need 13,000 small bills", according to court documents obtained by the Kansas City Star.

Surveillance video shows Ms Gooch at one point banging on the counter, mandating a speedier delivery of the cash, prosecutors said, before leaving in her Buick Enclave with its handicap registration displayed.

Pleasant Hill Missouri Police Department officers responded to calls of a "robbery in progress" at around 15:20 local time (21:20 BST) and found Ms Gooch in her vehicle smelling strongly of alcohol, with cash strewn across the floor.

Ms Gooch was arrested and charged with one count of stealing or attempting to steal from a financial institution.

"When officers first approached her, they were kind of confused ... It's a little old lady who steps out," Pleasant Hill Police Chief Tommy Wright told the Kansas City Star.

"We weren't sure initially that we had the right person."

Bonnies initial bank robbery was in California in 1977, and the other for a bank robbery in 2020, where she reportedly handed the teller a birthday card that had "this is a robbery" written into it.

Her probation for the 2020 robbery ended in November 2021.

Mr Wright said Ms Gooch had no "diagnosed" ailments, but due to her age, the department was trying to determine if any underlying health factors could have contributed to the incident.

'It's just sad,' the Police Chief added.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been forcing the EU countries to rethink their military spending and defence cooperation.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine changed the security formula in the EU region from fewer weapons to more spending on armaments, even as the foundational intention of the EU was to end the wars and military conflicts that had done so much to destroy the European countries and to rebuild them through economic cooperation.

The EU has succeeded in avoiding disastrous conflicts in Europe since its emergence in the 1950s, though with some exceptions like the ethnic conflicts in the Balkan countries that were formerly united as Yugoslavia and the Russian annexation of Crimea. Other Russian ambitions and threats were contained through trade and diplomacy, as former German chancellor Angela Merkel once said in an interview.

The EU has reacted to the war in Ukraine by pledging larger defence budgets and sending weapons to Ukraine, however. Devoting more money to weapons will affect other economic projects, such as green technology and efforts to face climate change.

The EU Common Security and Defence Policy plays a military role through military and police missions, such as operations in the Balkans. Today, the EU has funded Ukraines military forces by about four billion Euros from the European Peace Facility and the EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine.

The aim of the latter is to strengthen the military capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces, and the EU has also provided military training. The bloc has imposed the strongest sanctions in its history against Moscow and has provided Ukraine with huge military assistance, for the first time in its history authorising the delivery of lethal weapons to a third country.

This is considered to be a major policy shift prompted by the war in Ukraine, and it was underlined when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz changed his mind and decided to supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons, 500 anti-aircraft Stinger missiles, and 500 Strela rockets earlier this year.

In addition, he announced that Berlin would invest 100 billion Euros in German rearmament, which not only moved the country away from its post-World War II aim of keeping a small military, but also makes Germany the largest defence spender in the EU. After hesitating to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Scholz also agreed to do so.

Recently, the first shipment of Leopard 2 tanks from Germany was sent to the country. 18 cutting-edge battle tanks were delivered after Ukrainian crews were trained to use them, with the German army training Ukrainian tank crews to use the advanced A6 variant of the Leopard 2 over recent weeks.

The tanks are specifically designed to compete with the Russian T-90 battle tank and are considered to be easier to maintain and more fuel-efficient than most other Western tanks.

The war has thus changed the EUs military policy. Within days of the Russian invasion, it decided to spend 450 million Euros on arms for Ukraine and an additional 50 million Euros in non-lethal aid. Just two weeks later, the European Council doubled that commitment, bringing overall military assistance to Ukraine to more than one billion Euros.

The bloc did not think about the unintended consequences of this military aid because of the speed and scale of the response to the Russian invasion. European leaders raised the bar by agreeing to reach several military goals by 2025, such as the development of a 5,000-man rapid deployment capacity with contributions from various member states that will be under EU command and unlike the existing battlegroups that are smaller units under national command on a rotation basis.

The European governments also announced significant defence budget increases in 2022. European defence is no longer limited to trying achieve more with less. The Europeans are spending more money on defence to fill the gaps in their arsenals.

In order to put this paradigm shift in context, it is worth noting, first, that sovereignty has been an obstacle for common EU defence procurement. A 2009 European Commission directive on defence procurement allowed the EU to launch infringement proceedings against countries that unduly prioritised their national defence firms. But this directive was unsuccessful in changing the behaviour of governments defending their sovereignty in defence matters.

Second, no one owns EU defence policy. France and Germany disagree on how to shape Europes defence. Paris has criticised Berlins decision to spend its extra defence money on buying US-made arms. Berlin suspects that France wants its own arms factories to benefit from the new financial resources and emphasises that European firms cannot deliver as quickly as US suppliers. Only 18 per cent of all defence spending by EU member states is conducted in cooperation with other EU countries.

Third, the active role of NATO puts a question mark over any potential military role for the EU even on European territory. Fourth, it seems that there is no will on the EU level to take the common defence issue seriously. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen did not include a single reference to EU defence cooperation in her September 2022 State of the Union speech, for example.

The issue of a common defence policy touches that of sovereignty and is part of what the International Relations literature calls high politics. As a result, it is difficult for the EU to set up an arms industry that might compete with those of member states.

The success of this unique European bloc is mainly based on the economy, culture, education and other issues that are usually classified as low politics. In order to shift to high politics, time will be needed. It is hard to envisage the EU member states conceding on the defence issue, especially since NATO has long been providing a security umbrella for Europe.

* The writer is a lecturer in Middle East politics and international relations in the UK.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Katelyn Bracken (17) was diagnosed in 2020 with a rare form of cancer called paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma

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.
These objects were traversing the skies in split seconds

Chris Mellon; former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Staff Director of the Senate Intelligence Committee

A triangular shaped UFO is seen in a still from a video recorded by US Navy; confirmed by Pentagon to be authentic.

Wexford man, Rob Kennedy, saw UAP above White's Hotel in the south east of the country.

As the US waits for further Congressional hearings into UFOs expected later this year, one Irish man has recalled his close encounter in 2014.

Wexford native, Rob Kennedy, was returning home one winter evening when he encountered two UFOs.

I was walking back from a lecture in the local library, he told sundayworld.com. It was eight oclock in the evening, December 2014. There is a foot pass that goes past the Arts Centre and Whites Hotel in Wexford. It was cold.

I looked to my right at what were two stars. I looked a bit closer and they started to move. They started to move at incredible speeds, ridiculous speeds, traversing the night sky in split seconds.

They got brighter, these two white objects. They were three times the size of Sirius, the brightest star in northern hemisphere, Rob said.

They shot around for about two minutes; I was totally dumfounded. I had a phone, but no battery. I didnt want to take my eyes off this thing that was happening.

They stopped and shot towards the east, gone.

Its very interesting what is happening in America with the information being leaked, Mr Kennedy added.

It comes as an official EU memo warned unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) or UFOs, are critical events that could threaten aerial security in Europe.

The information was revealed in a document addressed to an Irish citizen who had enquired about the matter.

Former Italian defence chief, Mr Claudio Graziano, highlighted in the memo how serious the subject is taken in Brussels.

UAPs are critical events that could threaten the air traffic and aerial security in Europe. I agree we must pay more attention to that, the General wrote.

Mr Graziano pointed out how each country in Europe deals with its own air space and reporting methods for UAP.

I have to underline that aerial security and defence remain a strict national jurisdiction and all the European countries have already some reporting procedures in place.

In my capacity as Chairman of the European Union Military Committee, I can only raise this issue to the attention of the Chiefs of Defence of the Member States while recommending a closer co-ordination among them and a possible data-sharing with the concerned EU institutions.

We require more consciousness from the EU citizens on those issues, the General wrote.

Strange lights filmed over North Atlantic in 2019.

Dublin man, Chris Gaffney, was in correspondence with General Graziano. Mr Gaffney is an Irish representative for ICER  the International Coalition for Extraterrestrial Research, an organisation comprised of academics, scientists and researchers.

I was pleased, I got what I wanted, which was a recognition from the top General in Europe at the time just how seriously he takes this subject, Chris told sundayworld.com.

Mr Gaffney subsequently sent an FOI  freedom of information - request regarding UAP to the Irish Defence Forces and Department of Transport.

These FOI requests were declined, though granted in part.

I have considered the potential adverse effects that may arise because of the disclosure of the requested information, wrote Anthony McKenna, Major General Deputy Chief of staff.

The information not released relates to the specific section of the Defence Forces that deals with assessing potential threats to the State.

"While the expectation that adverse effects will occur is low, it is not unreasonable, Mr McKenna said.

Correspondence was subsequently released from the Aviation Safety and Security Division of the Department of Transport, where two officers discussed an ongoing UFO incident.

A triangular shaped UFO is seen in a still from a video recorded by US Navy; confirmed by Pentagon to be authentic.

A call was received from Kilcock reporting mysterious lights to the south of a house from 04:00  04:30 am for the past week.

"Im not sure what the follow up is here, but I figured this was in the domain of space, wrote one officer in an email.

A reference was subsequently made to the security aspect of this and further correspondence over which section had jurisdiction regarding air navigation.

Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Intelligence, Chris Mellon, also recently spoke about UFOs on his personal blog, saying we know they exist.

Unbeknownst to most Americans, President Biden just signed into law far-reaching legislation that could soon confirm the existence of an alien presence", he revealed.

Chris Mellon; former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Staff Director of the Senate Intelligence Committee

The new legislation directs the new AARO- All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office- to develop a UAP science plan to assess the mysterious and mind-bending capabilities being reported.

It also provides a secure process for anyone who has signed an official US government secrecy agreement related to UAP to come forward.

We know UFOs exist; this is no longer an issue. The US Navy has acknowledged the fact that they exist.

The issue now is: why are they here, where are they coming from and what is the technology behind these devices we have been observing? he asked.
"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.

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)

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, shortly before 5am, on a narrow stretch of road at Pollacullaire off the N84 Headford to Ballinrobe road.

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.

The scene near Headford, Co Galway (Photo: Ray Ryan)

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.

People posted 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.

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)

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 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.
Two other teens  a boy aged 13 and a girl aged 14  survived the crash, with the girl understood to be in a serious condition in hospital.

Junior Transport Minister Jack Chambers has said the shock deaths of two teenagers in a horror crash in Galway on Monday morning have shocked the nation.

Lucas Joyce (15) and Kirsty Bohan (14) were killed following the collision on the N84 between Galway and Castlebar in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Two other teens  a boy aged 13 and a girl aged 14  survived the crash, with the girl understood to be in a serious condition in hospital.

The tragedy occurred around 5.45am when the car they were travelling in veered into a ditch and spun out of control, hitting a tree on the N84 in the Pollacullaire area of Headford.

Speaking to Galway Bay FM, Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers offered his condolences to everyone involved in the tragedy.

I just want to express my sympathies to the families and friends and to everyone in the Headford community for the tragic loss of Kirsty and Lucas, two young people with their lives in front of them.

Its an absolutely devastating tragedy that I know has shocked the nation and everyone in the Headford community, he said.

A neighbour raised the alarm on Saturday morning after hearing a loud bang near her home followed by one of the teenagers shouting in distress.

At first I didnt know what it was, I thought someone was at the back of our house, but then I heard a young lad shouting I cant wake them up.

I pulled on my dressing gown and ran out and saw the car crashed into the tree across the road, the woman told the Irish Independent.

A boy was out of the car at that stage and shouting. He was in shock, the poor lad. I rang the emergency services and I ran over and I was trying to help as best I could.

I was trying to get the pulse of the young lad in the front and a girl in the back, but there was nothing. There was another girl in the back and she was crying. It was just an awful thing. It was so sad.

The local woman said it appeared the car had come up over a crest in the road and ran along the top of a bank where there is a slight bend to the right on the narrow country road.

It went head-on into the tree. The tree didnt even move, she said through her tears.

Theres been two accidents on this bit of road before. Its a dangerous stretch.

It is understood the car involved in the tragedy belongs to a relative of one of the teens. 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 the Irish Independent: 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.
People Before Profit will not be welcoming the US President, Joe Biden, the party said in a statement

People Before Profit are set to take part in a protest against US President Joe Bidens visit to Ireland this week.

PBP TDs have often protested the visits of world leaders, with TDs not applauding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy Oireachtas address last April.

The party have now branded President Biden a warmonger and urged supporters to attend a protest against his visit at 5pm on Wednesday at the GPO.

President Biden is due to address both the Dail and Seanad that day at around 3.30pm.

People Before Profit will not be welcoming the US President, Joe Biden, the party said in a statement.

But while Biden talks of peace in Ireland, he is the Commander-in-Chief of a military machine that, he describes, as the arsenal of democracy.

He presents himself as the leader of the free world, opposing Putins invasion of Ukraine, said a spokesperson.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy

Each year, the United States provides $3.3 billion in foreign military financing to Israel and an additional $500 million in missile defence funding. Yet Israel has been involved in an illegal occupation of Palestinian lands for decades. Ninety Palestinians have been killed this year to date.

Biden is not a man of peace but another warmonger. While he condemns the invasion of Ukraine, he was an enthusiastic supporter of the US invasion of Iraq.

PBP will also be holding public meetings in Cork, Dublin and Galway this week to expose the double standards of US foreign policy.

TDs will also not be able to make statements after President Bidens address in the Dail on Thursday.

This has been criticised by PBP TD Paul Murphy, who said this will be just using the Dail as a speech venue.

Why should Biden address TDs and Senators without listening to what we have to say? he wrote on Twitter.

This is just using Leinster House as a speech venue.
Biden flies in this evening on Air Force One

US President Joe Biden will begin a four-day visit to the island of Ireland on Tuesday (Niall Carson/PA)   Niall Carson

The US administration has shipped 135 vehicles to Ireland for President Bidens historic visit.

The vast cost of the presidential visit has been laid bare  secret service personnel have been here for several weeks.

The Sunday World has learned there have been a number of flights, all of which have been carrying cars.

Biden flies in this evening on Air Force One, a flight from Joint Base Andrews in Washington DC and with only one engagement he and his motorcade will head across the border.

He will stay in a Belfast hotel overnight.

Part of his motorcade was previously known as The Beast, the administration will be hoping to avoid the embarrassment of the eight tonne car being stuck on a ramp as it was during Clintons visit.

'The Beast'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to be in the North and will greet the President amid speculation that there is a diplomatic spat between London and Washington over Bidens restricted itinerary.

He will be here on public duty for only three hours, opening student accommodation for the University of Ulster on York Street.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne told the Policing Board that the major operation to police a series of events around the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement will see 300 police officers from other parts of the UK travel to Northern Ireland.

The price tag for the Presidents visit is expected to exceed 7million.

He (Mr Biden) arrives in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening, 11 April, and leaves on Wednesday, 12 April,said Mr Byrne.

Engagements have been planned for a number of parts of the Greater Belfast area and the Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak) is also expected to visit Northern Ireland during this time.

While the itinerary is subject to change, security sources have indicated that upon leaving Northern Ireland on Wednesday, the US president will go for a walkabout in Dundalk.

The US president is then due to arrive into Dublin on Wednesday evening and will visit Mayo on Friday.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne then spoke about the second phase of the policing operation.

This second phase will be between 17 and 19 April, when a number of politicians who were in office at the time of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, as well as current office holders, will be in attendance at these events in Northern Ireland.

The Chief Constable noted that a high-profile cyber conference was also happening in Belfast during this second phase between 17 and 19 April.

He said: The policing operation will be significant and our role, obviously, is to facilitate all of these events in a safe way and to provide protection to the variety of visitors, politicians and participants, and also to keep the venues safe.

Mindful of the threat level, a theme which runs throughout these plans is to assure the safety of our officers and staff while we continue to police the country.

Byrne said the PSNI did not have the capacity to resource all of the events without assistance from other forces.
Two killed and another teen in a serious condition following N84 collision between Galway and Castlebar

The scene of the tragic road incident that claimed the lives of two teenagers in the early hours of yesterday. Photo: Pat Ryan

'Tributes to our beloved students' - Presentation College has shared an image of tragic students Lucas Joyce (15) and Kirsty Bohan (14) beside a table of reflection with candles and flowers in the school (Pic credit: Presentation College)

The school of the two students killed in a horror road crash in the early hours of yesterday morning has released new photos of them in a heartbreaking tribute.

Lucas Joyce (14) and Kirsty Bohan (14) were killed following the collision on the N84 between Galway and Castlebar early on Bank Holiday Monday morning.

Two other students of Presentation College, Headford  a boy aged 13 and a girl aged 14  survived the crash, with the girl understood to be in a serious condition in hospital.

Their classmates today are being offered psychological support by the school.

From early this morning staff prepared a table of reflection with candles and flowers in the main reception area.

Deputy Principal Orla Jackson told how the whole guidance team, and members of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) teams would be available as well as the school chaplain and local parish priest.

Presentation College, Galway

We spent yesterday visiting the homes of the families directly affected by the tragedy, and the school is open here from 11am to 2pm today for anyone who needs support. The same services will also be available next week when the school reopens, said Ms Jackson.

A message on the school website said: We have lost two treasured members of our school community and two other members of our community are injured. We pray for all the families and friends of those involved that they may be granted some peace and succour at this tragic time. We also pray for our own school community, that we may find the strength to support each other and carry on.

We ask for your support, prayers, and the space to grieve as a school community, it added.

The school opened at 11am and will stay open until 2pm to give students, particularly those that were classmates with 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".

"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," a letter to parents from school management said.

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".

It comes as a woman who raised the alarm after a horror road crash that claimed the lives of two teens and seriously injured two others, described the desperate scene of panic and sadness.

The tragedy occurred around 5.45am when the car they were travelling in veered into a ditch and spun out of control, hitting a tree on the N84 in the Pollacullaire area of Headford.

Education Minister Norma Foley today extended her sympathy to the community at the Co Galway school.

Ms Foley also sympathised with the community at St Marys CBS, Portlaoise, which lost a third year student, David Brown, in a quad bike accident over the weekend

A Department of Education statement described the Co Galway crash as a devastating loss of beloved students.

It added: Our thoughts are with the families who are mourning the loss of their children, and with the students and their families who are currently receiving care in hospital following the incident.

Within the local school, the wellbeing of the students, staff and whole school community is of paramount importance.

The department stated that the school and the National Educational Psychological Service were providing essential supports to students.

The department appealed to representatives of all media outlets to respect school boundaries.

Meanwhile, a nearby neighbour who raised the alarm, described how she was awoken in the early hours of the morning by a loud bang outside her house.

At first I didnt know what it was, I thought someone was at the back of our house, but then I heard a young lad shouting I cant wake them up.

I pulled on my dressing gown and ran out and saw the car crashed into the tree across the road, the woman told the Irish Independent.

A boy was out of the car at that stage and shouting. He was in shock, the poor lad. I rang the emergency services and I ran over and I was trying to help as best I could.

I was trying to get the pulse of the young lad in the front and a girl in the back, but there was nothing. There was another girl in the back and she was crying. It was just an awful thing. It was so sad.

The local woman said it appeared the car had come up over a crest in the road and ran along the top of a bank where there is a slight bend to the right on the narrow country road.

It went head-on into the tree. The tree didnt even move, she said through her tears.

Theres been two accidents on this bit of road before. Its a dangerous stretch.

It is understood the car involved in the tragedy belongs to a relative of one of the teens.

A distraught relative of one of the deceased, who had become worried after they realised they were missing from home, came upon the scene after emergency services arrived.

Yesterday afternoon and evening, after the garda forensic collision investigators had left the scene and as the road reopened, locals began gathering at the scene and leaving flowers and comforting each other.

Fine Gael councillor for Headford, Andrew Reddington, said a dark cloud had descended over the area as the community mourns two children.

He told the Irish Independent: 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 has been left in shock by the accident.

She said the schools 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, she said.

It is dreadful what has happened and our thoughts and prayers are with the families involved. It is unbelievable.

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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."
Columba was 19-years-old when he was abducted and killed by the IRA in October 1975.

Oliver McVeigh the brother of "Disappeared" victim Columba, speaks speaks to lead investigator Jon Hill, at the site at Bragan Bog, near Emyvale in Co Monaghan.

A search operation has resumed for the remains of Columba McVeigh at a remote bog in Co Monaghan.

Oliver McVeigh the brother of "Disappeared" victim Columba, speaks as forensic archaeologists and excavators begin a fresh attempt to locate his remains at a site at Bragan Bog, near Emyvale in Co Monaghan.

Oliver McVeigh the brother of "Disappeared" victim Columba, speaks as forensic archaeologists and excavators begin a fresh attempt to locate his remains at a site at Bragan Bog, near Emyvale in Co Monaghan.

People are not supposed to look forward to attending a funeral, but Oliver McVeigh does.

He is hoping some day soon to be able to attend his brother Columbas burial.

First, though, his body has to be found.

Columba is one of the so-called Disappeared, whose murders remain one of the darkest chapters of the Troubles.

Paramilitary groups killed and secretly buried 17 people between 1972 and 1985.

Most of the victims were killed by the IRA, who only admitted their role in the murders in 1999 in the wake of the Good Friday Agreement.

Following the IRA admission, the British and Irish Governments set up the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) to help find the bodies of those missing.

To date, the remains of 13 victims have been found.

Efforts are continuing to find four men  Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire.

Columba was 19-years-old when he was abducted and killed by the IRA in October 1975.

A search operation has resumed for the remains of Columba McVeigh at a remote bog in Co Monaghan.

Although extensive searches, based on information received, have been carried out at Bragan bog in County Monaghan, the remains of the teenager, who was from Donaghmore in County Tyrone, have yet to be recovered.

A renewed search for his body began this week at Bragan bog.

As he watched the search, Oliver McVeigh said he believed one man could help end his familys heartbreak  US President Joe Biden.

President Biden arrives in Ireland on Tuesday for a four-day visit which has been organised to coincide with the anniversary tomorrow of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

While the agreement has been hailed for ending the Troubles, the families of the Disappeared are still waiting for an end to their pain.

Oliver appealed to President Biden to use his visit to Ireland to put pressure on republicans to give up the final piece of the jigsaw which could lead to his brothers body being found.

I think it would resonate with his Christian beliefs, this awful situation of where a young man was shot like a dog in the middle of nowhere and buried to be forgotten about, he told the Sunday World, as he held a vigil at the bog where its believed his brothers body lies.

I think if President Biden took it on board, even if he only commented about it and said we urge them to put more effort into getting these bodies back.

I honestly think the Americans are the only ones the republican movement will listen to because they heavily fundraise in America.

When they go out on these trips on St Patricks Day, they are not going out because it is St Patricks Day, they are going out to heavily fund their organisations.

Interview with Columba McVeigh's brother, Oliver McVeigh

I think they need to keep the Americans on their side.

Oliver added: Do the Catholic thing, do the republican thing. Give Columbas body back so he can be buried in a Christian grave.

Bragan bog is in a remote location on the southern side of the Tyrone/Monaghan border. It is not as easy place to reach, with the final couple of miles having to be travelled along a dirt track.

It was this remoteness, investigators believe, which lead to the IRA burying Columbas body there in 1975.

Searches of the bog have been carried out at different times since 1999.

The ICLVRs lead investigator, Jon Hill, who has been involved in all the successful operations to find the bodies of the Disappeared, said he remains hopeful the other victims will be found.

The Englishman, who was a Met officer for 30 years before joining the ICLVR, said he believed people with key details about the murders had not yet come forward.

Oliver McVeigh the brother of "Disappeared" victim Columba, speaks speaks to lead investigator Jon Hill, at the site at Bragan Bog, near Emyvale in Co Monaghan.

Undoubtedly there is information out there which has not been given to us yet.

It may be they are relatives of people who are not around anymore. Stories might have been passed on, accounts provided and its those small details which can make all the difference.

At the bog, the search teams work on one small section at a time.

Diggers are used to slowly move away pieces of land as forensic archaeologists watch on carefully.

Brian Sloan, one of the archaeologists working at the site, admits it is different to his normal type of work.

What we are looking for is any type of disturbance in the peat, any activity that would indicate someone was there before, any rubbish that has been left behind.

In my ordinary day-to-day job we would be looking for archaeology so this sort of job is different but the processes are exactly the same, obviously it is always in your mind that you are trying to bring a bit of closure for the families.

The families, Mr Hill insists, are at the heart of the work being carried out by the ICLVR.

Oliver McVeigh the brother of "Disappeared" victim Columba, speaks as forensic archaeologists and excavators begin a fresh attempt to locate his remains at a site at Bragan Bog, near Emyvale in Co Monaghan.

He said the aim of their work is to bring the families the really bad good news that their loved ones body has been found.

Describing the moment when passing on this news to other relatives of the Disappeared, Mr Hill said: It is fantastic and its sad. Its brilliant and its horrible, all at once.

Oliver is hoping to receive such really bad good news in the near future.

We are actually looking forward to a funeral, said Oliver.

Lots of people dont look forward to funerals for obvious reasons but we are looking forward to a funeral and we want a funeral. It will be a celebration of Columbas life. There will be grieving too but its what my mother wanted, to get him into a Christian grave.

I promised my mother that and I intend to deliver that by hook or by crook. I dont care who I talk to, who I offend. It doesnt bother me because I have unbelievable strength.

Its very simple, we just need a result.

Joe Lynskey (45) from west Belfast disappeared in 1972 and is believed to have been killed as part of a violent feud between republicans. He is believed to have been buried in Co Meath.

Robert Nairac (29) was a captain in the British Army and believed to have been working undercover in a pub when he was abducted by IRA members in Co Armagh in May 1977 and killed.

The ICLVR believe he was buried in the Ravensdale area of County Louth.

The name of Seamus Maguire was only added to the Disappeared list in February 2022 after new information was received by the ICLVR.

The 26-year-old went missing from the Lurgan area of County Armagh in or around 1973/74.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the remains of the Disappeared can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. An untraceable anonymous form is available at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. The ICLVR can be contacted on 003531 602 8655, by email at secretary@iclvr.ie or by post at ICLVR PO Box 10827.
Eyebrows were raised when it was confirmed Bidens itinerary north of the border will be extremely limited.

President Bidens flying visit to Belfast is at the centre of a simmering international incident between London and Washington.

The ``special relationship is coming under fresh pressure after it was revealed Mr Biden will spend only three hours, fulfilling just one engagement while in Northern Ireland.

The visit was hailed as a golden opportunity for the Administration to underline its support for the Good Friday Agreement on the 25th anniversary of it being signed.

Eyebrows were raised when it was confirmed Bidens itinerary north of the border will be extremely limited.

It is understood there is anger and disquiet that the Presidents visited will be so restricted.

Taking to Twitter over the weekend, veteran political commentator Eamonn Mallie said there was ``holy war between Stormont and Downing Street.

It has led to a straining of relations with the White House.

NIO officials were hopeful Bidens arrival in Belfast would help hasten the return of a power sharing Executive.

The President had been due to address MLAs in the debating chamber at Parliament Buildings. Downing Street scrapped the plan and it is understood the President has had to decline number of other invitations including from community groups.

NI Biden visit turning out to be an embarrassment, tweeted Mallie.

 NIO officials signalling holy war between Stormont & Downing St. over treatment of the President. I am advised this will not be forgotten in the White House. SOS Heaton-Harris you are fooling nobody.

His brief time here will be in stark contrast to previous presidential visits. Ironically Bidens keen interest in the Northern Ireland peace process made him a key adviser to then President Bill Clinton into the days and weeks leading to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Clinton famously switched on the Christmas light in Belfast in 1995 in front of 80,000 people in what was seen as a key event in the build up to the GFA.

He went walkabout on the Shankill and Falls Roads before he and First Lady Hilary travelled to Derry, Armagh and Omagh.

Mrs Clinton has since been made Chancellor of Queens University.

In 2013 Barack Obama travelled to Fermanagh for the G8 Summit, but took time out to address an audience at the Waterfront Hall, endorsing the new found peace.

NIO officials are said to be furious at what they see as a missed opportunity to put pressure on the DUP to return to Stormont on the anniversary of the Agreement.

Mr Biden will attend only one event during the Northern Ireland leg of his visit to the 350m Ulster University premises in Belfasts Cathedral Quarter on Wednesday.

It had also been suggested Bidens stripped down itinerary was a snub.

Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris has dismissed suggestions of a snub and said his brief visit is down to the presidents busy schedule and not the deadlocked political situation.

Im quite sure he has other important things on his schedule, he said.

Im absolutely sure he will be pleased with the progress that Northern Ireland has made in the last 25 years, he said.

Mr Heaton-Harris also said that the president was welcome to visit Stormont if he wished to do so, adding: The American President can visit wherever he wants to visit.

After leaving Northern Ireland, Mr Biden will continue the rest of his trip in the Republic, focusing on his ancestral areas of Co Louth and Mayo.

Mr Heaton-Harris believes the president may be spending more time in the Republic due to family connections.

I believe part of his trip is actually to go see family and relatives in Ireland, he said.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin, also rejected suggestions that Mr Bidens engagements were a snubbing of Northern Ireland

When the president of the United States comes to any location, I dont think it can be described as that, he said.

I think its something to be welcomed.

I think its very positive that President Biden is coming to Northern Ireland.

I know from my contacts with the White House, in my discussions with President Biden, hes very committed to the peace process, the Good Friday Agreement, and hes particularly focused on the potential for economic development here.

People are envious of the commitment of President Biden to Ireland, to the entire island of Ireland.

SDLP MP Claire Hanna also played down speculation of a snub but said it was a reflection of the state of poitics here.

With no Assembly, no Executive and no North/South institutions, many will struggle to feel the excitement of a big anniversary.

The mission now must be to recapture the energy that led to the Agreement and to deliver a new political revolution that will transform this place once again.
In choosing to write a popular introduction to Arabic for French readers that also focuses on the languages mixed fortunes in France, Franco-Lebanese author Nada Yafi has ventured onto what has sometimes been controversial ground.

As she says towards the beginning of her Plaidoyer pour la langue arabe  A Plea for the Arabic Language  the relationship between Arabic and France has been a complicated one despite the close relations between France and the Arab world, the long history of learning Arabic in France, and the major contributions that French scholars have made to studying the language.

The study of Arabic in France goes back at least to the 16th century as part of a tradition that is probably longer than that in any other European country, Yafi says. She adds that some eight centuries earlier the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, also King of the Franks, was in touch with the Abbasid Caliph Haroun al-Rashid in Baghdad, presumably writing to him in Arabic.

The mediaeval French King Louis IX, later canonised as St Louis by the Roman Catholic Church, may well have known some Arabic. It probably came in useful to him when he was captured by Ayyubid Mameluke forces during the Battle of Fariskur in the Egyptian Delta during the Seventh Crusade.

Centuries later, the French King Francois 1 introduced the study of Arabic into the College royal, the predecessor of todays College de France, in 1536, having decided to ally himself with the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent against the Austrians. In the 17th century, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, first minister of French Sun King Louis XIV, decided to set up a school of interpreters in Paris that would train young Frenchmen in Arabic.

France was making all things Arab fashionable across Europe at much the same time following French scholar Antoine Gallands translation of the Thousand and One Nights in the early 1700s. Napoleon Bonapartes Egyptian Expedition in 1798 gave rise to a new interest in Egypt in particular that bordered on Egyptomania, and throughout the 19th century French painters produced images of Arab life that entranced gallery goers across Europe.

French scholars have probably made greater contributions to the study of Arab history and society than those of almost any other European country, with the names of 20th-century French Arabists Louis Massignon, Jacques Berque, and Maxime Rodinson coming readily to mind.

Moreover, French has retained its position as a language of education, government, and the media in the Maghreb countries of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. A sizeable proportion of the French population is of Arab descent, often retaining close links to family in the Arab countries and speaking Arabic at home. Their dialects of Arabic are probably Frances second language.

Yafi notes all this and more, while at the same time saying that despite this long history of links between France and the Arab world, the Arabic language has sometimes had difficulty in making its presence felt in France. It might have been expected to be a popular option for study in French schools and a familiar feature of the wider landscape. The fact that neither of these things is the case is the starting point for her plea for the Arabic language.

There is a French paradox regarding the Arabic language, she says, adding that while Arabic is celebrated in the French academic world, it is also denigrated in the French media, giving rise to an ambivalent relationship that is made up as much of fascination as rejection.

There have also been attacks on Arabic in France in recent years, often demanding that the language somehow justify itself in the face of extremists who take certain Arabic expressions hostage and give them an entirely different meaning. The headline of a French magazine article describing Arabic as a langue brulante, a language that burns, particularly struck her, she adds. Imagine using that kind of word to describe any other language.

Some of these polemics regarding Arabic come from the French extreme right, with Eric Zemmour, a candidate in the last French presidential elections, claiming on television that anyone wanting to encourage the learning of Arabic in France was a useful idiot for the Muslim Brotherhood and part of an agenda to Islamise the country.

Yafi treats such comments with the contempt they deserve, but at the same time she is unhappy with the arguments sometimes used to counter them. Even some French educationalists wanting to see greater attention paid to the teaching of Arabic in France sometimes argue that it could be a weapon in the battle against jihadism, she says. Of course, in reality there is no more of a relationship between Arabic and any particular political agenda than there is for any other language.

There have also been paternalistic arguments that see the teaching of Arabic as a route towards the greater integration of people of Arab heritage in France, at their worst relegating the language to the realm of folklore and even at their best ignoring the fact that Arabic, more than most other languages, has signally benefitted from the globalisation of recent decades.

Arabic is a major international language routinely used for diplomatic purposes as one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and it is also used across the media and the creative industries. It is not the kind of heritage language that even some of its most well-meaning French defenders may sometimes make of it, Yafi comments.

Red pen syndrome: In addressing the paradox of Arabic in France Yafi examines a variety of misconceptions that French readers of her book may have regarding the language.

She describes the relationship between the dialects of Arabic and the written language, for example, while drawing out some of the consequences, not all of them positive, of this situation. Yafi is also an interpreter with the French diplomatic service and head of Arabic language teaching at the Arab World Institute in Paris, and she is a stern defender of the teaching of the written language.

Writing of the decision by a former French minister of education to deny high-school students taking Arabic for their baccalaureat school-leaving exam in France the right to take parts of the exam in a North African dialect, Yafi says that though this may have put off some students speaking Arabic at home it was the right decision because only the written language can give access to the cultural heritage and build a connection with the Arab world as a whole.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, a document put out by the Council of Europe, an intergovernmental organisation, considers North African Arabic to be a regional or minority language in France since it is spoken by a large section of the French population. Yafis view seems to be that this Charter, never recognised by the French government, unintentionally furnishes support to those wanting to see Arabic as a language only of interest to a minority community and feeds arguments about integration.

The promotion of the Arabic dialects in Algeria and other countries of the Arab Maghreb during the French colonial period was part of a conscious strategy of divide and rule, she says, intended to make written Arabic a foreign language to the populations of these countries and separate them off from the rest of the Arab world. Today, if there is a linguistic division at work in the Arabic language, it is caused by an education system that fails to insist on proper standards of written Arabic, she argues.

Far from being a language of tradition, conformism, and conservatism, Yafi says, citing this opinion among some Francophone North African writers, written Arabic has come into its own through its use on Arab satellite TV stations and the Internet, opening up a vast space for dialogue and shared opinions. This space has shown that the supposed battle between the dialects and written Arabic is in fact a tug of war without a rope, she says, since it is one that facilitates the co-existence, and not the competition, of all the variants.

Is Arabic, and particularly written Arabic, a difficult language, Yafi asks, adding that this is an opinion sometimes propagated by speakers of Arabic themselves as well as by a particular kind of western orientalist. During the French colonial period in the North African countries, this opinion was actively propagated by the French authorities in order to detach the populations from their cultural heritage, causing them to believe that there was a wider gap than in fact existed between the Arabic dialects and the written language.

Today, however, this opinion is more likely to be associated by the red pen syndrome that still haunts too many Arabic-language classrooms, with the written language being taught as a kind of punishment and every error being gleefully jumped upon by teachers teaching it almost as a dead language. Yafi is severe about this sort of thing, seeing it as a result of a regrettable orientalist mindset and failings in contemporary pedagogy.

Is Arabic any different from many other languages, as far as its supposed difficulty is concerned, she asks. Are there really any other languages that one can describe as easy, assuming that one wants to speak them properly?

All this is interesting to read, with Yafi showing considerable feistiness in defending her opinions. However, it can distract from her specific defence of the Arabic language in France today. Returning to this later in the book, she says that the polemics the teaching of the language in France seems to attract, unknown in other European countries, are probably due to what she calls a collective imagination haunted by the Algerian question.

Marginalised in Algeria during the French colonial period and excluded from the state education system in that country, in the post-colonial period Arabic has been seen in France as an identity marker and a community language and even an enemy within undermining social and national cohesion. Bizarre as such ideas may seem, Yafis diagnosis may explain why no other language is the object of such suspicions in France and no other language has had to bear such calumny from the extreme right and others.

Far from being an inward-looking language guarded by the community of its speakers, Arabic is in fact one of the most open to the outside world. A cross-cutting language and a translators language, the Arabic language is in my view a language of mediation par excellence, Yafi says, citing poems by the 10th-century Arab poet Al-Mutanabbi commending the role played by translators.

Arabic is an asset for France in the areas of diplomacy, strategy, commerce, and culture, she adds. This is not only because France is itself a Mediterranean power, and one also open to the Gulf, but also because of the exceptional cultural diversity that gives a universal aspect to this country of human rights.

Nada Yafi, Plaidoyer pour la langue arabe, Paris: Libertalia, 2023, pp191

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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In 2019, a BBC Spotlight programme alleged Mellon was in the leadership of the New IRA, who were behind the recent attempted murder of senior PSNI officer John Caldwell.

A Petrol bombs is thrown during an Easter commemoration event in Derry on Monday (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

Dissident republican leader Thomas Ashe Mellon led an Easter commemoration event in Belfast over the weekend, our exclusive photos show.

Mellon, a leading member of anti-agreement Saoradh party  the political wing of the New IRA  walked in front of a colour party at Saturdays parade which was organised by the National Republican Commemoration Committee.

In 2019, a BBC Spotlight programme alleged Mellon was in the leadership of the New IRA, who were behind the recent attempted murder of senior PSNI officer John Caldwell.

In the same year, Mellon was of 11 men convicted of taking part in an illegal republican parade in Derry.

There was a heavy police presence at Saturdays parade, details of which were notified to the Parades Commission, but the event passed off peacefully.

However, police fears of trouble at a separate and illegal republican commemoration event in Derry on Monday were realised.

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, he added.

Last week, the PSNI said they had strong community intelligence which indicated there were plans to use the Easter Monday event in the Creggan area of the city to draw police officers into serious public disorder.

Saoradh colour party held their Easter commemoration on Saturday

A large number of events marking the 1916 Easter Rising were held over the weekend by republicans.

Under legislation, organisers must notify the Parades Commission about a parade at least 28 days in advance.

While details of the majority of the parades were supplied to the Commission, the organisers of Easter Mondays parade in Derry, a group called the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee, had not done so.

There was no notification of the Derry parade on the Parade Commissions website on Saturday and a commission spokesperson told the Sunday World they had not received any late notices in relation to the event.

At a corresponding event in Derry last year on Easter Monday, police vehicles were attacked with petrol bombs at the entrance to the cemetery.

Last years event was organised by the National Republican Commemoration Committee, which organises events on behalf of Saoradh.

Organisers of last years event had notified the Parades Commission, who imposed a number of conditions on the event.

Speaking last Thursday, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said displays of paramilitary uniforms and shows of strength were expected to be part of this years parade.

A Petrol bombs is thrown during an Easter commemoration event in Derry on Monday (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph)

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.

Derry City & Strabane Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard, said police were aware of two parades scheduled to take place in Derry on Easter Monday  in Rosemount in the morning and in Creggan in the afternoon.

Organisers of parades are legally required to give formal notification of their intentions ahead of such events, he said. Unfortunately, as of today, Thursday, the organisers have not done this. Consequently, both of these events are un-notified and will, therefore, automatically commit criminal offences if they go ahead un-notified.

Weve been engaging with key community representatives in advance of both of these events and we encourage the organisers to consider submitting the required documentation to the Parades Commission as there is still time to do so.

As a police service, we have a professional duty to take steps to prevent offences from occurring, to maintain the peace and keep people safe.

It is our intention to police these events proportionately on the day. However, if both events are un-notified that will require a larger police presence and operation than had these events been notified and legal.

An evidence-gathering operation will be in place in the city as these events take place, after which we will review any evidence gathered to identify any offences that may be committed.

Some local sources described the statements by the senior PSNI officers as unhelpful.

In a social media post in response to the officers comments, a spokesperson for the Derry 1916 Commemoration Committee said they planned a dignified Easter commemoration which they said would last less than an hour.

There is no need for the Crown forces to be in the estate, either in their armoured jeeps or covertly, the spokesperson said.

Any violence that occurs on Easter Monday will be the responsibility of the Crown forces.

While the Crown forces have been on a charm offensive lately with community workers, we would urge those community workers who met with republicans  and agreed with our analysis regarding the commemoration on how it can conclude peacefully and with respect  to tell the Crown forces they are not wanted in the area, nor are they needed in the area and that their presence will only bring conflict.
US President Joe Biden has landed in Northern Ireland as he begins his four-day visit to the island of Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greeted Mr Biden on the runway of Belfast International Airport.

Biden disembarked Air Force One minutes after it landed and shook hands with Mr Sunak.

Following the initial brief encounter, Mr Biden saluted a representative of Britains King Charles before there was a short exchange with Special Envoy Joe Kennedy.

A longer exchange then ensued as delegates got into official vehicles.

The Beast rolled off the runway with Joe Biden inside around 15 minutes after Air Force One landed.

Air Force One touched down at Belfast International Airport at around 9.20pm on Tuesday evening with the US President on board.

He will stay in a Belfast hotel overnight.

The US leader will then give a speech at Ulster University tomorrow afternoon before travelling onwards to the Republic for further events.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne told the Policing Board that the major operation to police a series of events around the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement will see 300 police officers from other parts of the UK travel to Northern Ireland.

The price tag for the Presidents visit is expected to exceed 7million.

He (Mr Biden) arrives in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening, 11 April, and leaves on Wednesday, 12 April, said Mr Byrne.

Engagements have been planned for a number of parts of the Greater Belfast area and the Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak) is also expected to visit Northern Ireland during this time.

While the itinerary is subject to change, security sources have indicated that upon leaving Northern Ireland on Wednesday, the US president will go for a walkabout in Dundalk.

The US president is then due to arrive into Dublin on Wednesday evening and will visit Mayo on Friday.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne then spoke about the second phase of the policing operation.

This second phase will be between 17 and 19 April, when a number of politicians who were in office at the time of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, as well as current office holders, will be in attendance at these events in Northern Ireland.

The Chief Constable noted that a high-profile cyber conference was also happening in Belfast during this second phase between 17 and 19 April.

He said: The policing operation will be significant and our role, obviously, is to facilitate all of these events in a safe way and to provide protection to the variety of visitors, politicians and participants, and also to keep the venues safe.

Mindful of the threat level, a theme which runs throughout these plans is to assure the safety of our officers and staff while we continue to police the country.

Byrne said the PSNI did not have the capacity to resource all of the events without assistance from other forces.
She described how shes received dozens of unwanted messages and explicit photographs throughout her career.

A Newstalk presenter has opened up about how she was left spooked after a man spotted her on a night out and sent her a chilling message.

Andrea Gilligan described how shes received dozens of unwanted messages and explicit photographs throughout her career but one incident that really frightened her involved a man telling her that he knew her exact location.

One that really struck me was last December and a guy told me he spotted me on a night out waiting for a taxi and could tell me where I was waiting for the taxi in Dublin close to a garda station and that I was there with a guy, a colleague from work, and we were waiting to get a taxi, she recalled on Newstalks Lunchtime Live this week.

While there may have been absolutely nothing to that, its only when I told other colleagues and their friends the story, it hit me that I was a bit spooked by that. Its just that when somebody knows where you were and can tell you your exact location...

Do all women receive these unwanted messages, commentary, photographs, in whatever form it takes?

The Donegal broadcaster said that people often send her cruel messages online, and while she tries to avoid reading them as much as possible, she cant always dodge the harassment.

Ive had all sorts of messages sent to me privately - on social media, on Twitter threads, to the station's page, to my own page, comments under videos...

Theyre horrible - really nasty, personal comments talking about me, my body, my appearance, everything you could possibly imagine.

Has she put on weight? asks one commenter. And of course, naturally, everyone has to chime in on their opinion on that which attracts a huge onslaught of further public comments that you can see.

I have no problem with people saying they dislike me, the show, my style, my opinion, whatever. Thats all fair game. But I think when it comes to your appearance, your body shape, how you wear your hair, what clothes you choose to wear, it takes a very different turn and becomes exceptionally nasty.

I know Im not the only one who receives this. My colleagues receive it, people in other stations, friends that I talk to

I do wonder do my male colleagues receive it in such a personal way. I wouldnt want anyone to get this.

Andrea said the trolling has definitely gotten worse since she joined Lunchtime Live two years ago, adding that both men and women have sent her abuse online.

Its not all from men. The comments I get on Twitter on public threads are nine times out of ten from men.

But the messages I receive privately that I open on Instagram or Facebook Messenger from people I dont know, that Im not friends with and dont follow, 95pc of the time they are from women.

So its not an attack on men. The majority of the bitchy messages I receive are from women.

People say they could be from bot accounts, but often I click into it and youll see pictures of that person with their family and children posing on holidays. Its incredible.

Ive experienced it and so many others have experienced it. Im sure its much more common than people let on, she said.
Some mortuary workers at the country's largest funeral home operator were exposed to potentially dangerous amounts of formaldehyde.

InvoCare says it cannot give staff their individual testing results, but one embalmer says he wants to know if he's been personally exposed to the carcinogen.

The ASX-listed InvoCare, which runs 40 funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries employing 262 staff, was warned more than a year ago that workers at three of its 15 mortuaries had been exposed to nearly twice the recommended safe level of formaldehyde while embalming, according to internal documents seen by RNZ.

Formaldehyde, one of several toxic chemicals found in embalming fluids, can irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat while longer-term exposure can cause myeloid leukaemia and rare cancers.

Because of the dangers, mortuaries must put in controls to reduce the exposure risk. These may include specialist air ventilation systems, use of PPE and respiratory masks and health and exposure monitoring.

InvoCare confirmed some of its testing results were "above" recommended safety thresholds but "corrective actions" have since been put in place.

'Improvement notice'

In August 2021, WorkSafe issued InvoCare with an 'improvement notice' after the company admitted it did not have an effective nationwide system in place to monitor the health of its mortuary workers.

The health and safety regulator ordered the company to engage a "competent person" to advise it on how to carry out nationally consistent health monitoring of its mortuary workers, including "fit testing" of respiratory masks.

Exposure monitoring needed to take place first to determine the parameters for a health monitoring programme, InvoCare says.

Exposure monitoring detects the amount of chemical a person is being exposed to while at work. Health monitoring determines if their health is being affected by this exposure.

A month after receiving the improvement notice, InvoCare told employees to halt any health monitoring that had been taking place while it found a national provider.

WorkSafe closed the file in October 2021. A year and a half later, staff are still waiting for health monitoring to resume.

WorkSafe says the 2021 improvement notice issued to InvoCare only required the company to engage a competent person.

"[InvoCare] engaged a competent person and the improvement notice was lifted," a spokesperson says in a statement.

InvoCare says health monitoring will restart once exposure monitoring is completed at eight remaining sites by the end of May.

'Concerning results'

Preliminary results verbally presented to InvoCare in February 2022 showed high levels of formaldehyde in the air at three mortuaries, a former InvoCare executive told RNZ.

"The three sites failed workplace exposure standards and the preliminary results showed that formaldehyde was present around 1 part per million."

This was nearly twice the recommended short-term exposure limit for formaldehyde, which was set at 0.6 parts per million. This is the maximum average amount a person should be exposed to over a 15-minute period in order to protect their health.

Formaldehyde exposure was likely to be much higher in other scenarios, the whistleblower claimed.

"These tests were carried out while only one deceased was being embalmed.

"In some locations you can have up to three deceased being embalmed at a time, so the concentration of chemicals would be even higher."

She had been warning the company since 2019 that some embalmers were not using PPE properly and it was not known if air filtration systems designed to dilute toxic vapours were effective.

In an email dated 15 March 2022 to senior executives, seen by RNZ, the whistleblower reiterated her concerns about the unsafe levels of formaldehyde detected during the testing and warned that in her opinion many of its mortuaries, if not all, were failing to comply with several other health and safety regulations.

These included lack of chemical handling training, failure to track usage, non-regulation storage of chemicals and poor use of PPE.

"It was assumed the air exchanges [in mortuaries] were enough to reduce the risk of chemical exposure. No air monitoring had been done to validate this."

The executive resigned from the role at InvoCare in July 2022 following a restructure.

"Lip service to health and safety"

Former InvoCare embalmers, who RNZ has agreed not to name, claimed health and safety at the company was often not a priority.

"I blew into a spirometer once," a former embalmer told RNZ of his several years at the company. He left in 2020.

Another former mortuary worker says she was given a "bulky and uncomfortable" mask when she joined in 2021 that had previously belonged to the employee she replaced. There was no fit testing to ensure it fitted properly. She ended up buying her own.

One mortuary worker says he paid for his own annual health testing because InvoCare had offered him none.

"They pay a lot of lip service to health and safety but it's very, very poor on actions."

InvoCare responds

InvoCare says the information referenced by the whistleblower and others "does not reflect the current state of InvoCare's NZ operations."

"The company follows all proper Work Health and Safety processes and procedures as specified by WorkSafe NZ and the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015)."

It says additional exposure testing was carried out in May, June and July last year. A final report with recommendations was made in September and it communicated "overall" findings to affected employees in December 2022.

Last month, exposure monitoring results for individual sites at one mortuary in Hamilton and two in Auckland were shared with affected employees, it says.

"As results became available, comprehensive action plans were initiated to address the recommendations of the exposure monitoring assessments.

"In instances where monitoring results were above the Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) thresholds, these were essentially due to specific local issues which were addressed in local corrective / preventive actions - rather than a company-wide process, process deficiency or error," InvoCare says.

'People need to know'

An employee who attended one of the March meetings, who RNZ has agreed not to name, says individual testing results were not shared.

One of the results showed formaldehyde levels in the air had exceeded safe levels "by quite a bit", but he had no idea if he had been personally exposed to it.

"The people working there need to know. There are embalmers around the country working in mortuaries all day, for years."

While he always wore respiratory protection he was not sure the masks he had used over his time with InvoCare even protected against formaldehyde, and he had never been fit tested for one.

He had worked at many InvoCare mortuaries and had seen poorly fitted disposable masks being used.

"A mask only protects the person wearing it. We have funeral directors enter and exit the mortuary all the time. They're definitely getting exposed."

InvoCare says all mortuary workers had since been fit tested with masks or provided with respiratory hoods that did not need to be fit tested.

Contract embalmers working in Tauranga were the only ones yet to be fit tested, but this would be done pending their availability.

Conflicting views

It was not "practicable" to evaluate individual exposure results due to the different ways embalmers worked and their adherence to the use of controls, InvoCare says.

"Therefore it is not deemed appropriate to reference single measurements when reaching conclusions about compliance/non-compliance to workplace exposure standards."

The law also prevented them from giving each worker their own results, it says, citing the Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2015.

While the regulations state exposure monitoring results are "readily accessible to any person at the workplace who may be, or may have been, exposed to the health hazard," a following clause states any results "must not contain any information that identifies or discloses anything about an individual worker," InvoCare says.

WorkSafe says that law did not apply to the industry because the chemicals found in embalming fluids, like formaldehyde, only had "Workplace Exposure Standards", which were "guidelines for health risk management".

Employers, however, were "encouraged" to share exposure monitoring results with employees, it says.

Health and safety experts spoken to by RNZ suggested personalised exposure results should be given to affected workers.

The Health and Safety at Work Act was the "overarching" law that had to be taken into account, Massey University occupational health and safety senior lecturer Ravi Reddy says.

"The Act says workers need to be aware of the hazards and risks they are exposed to and the [employer] must so far as is reasonably practicable ensure that the risks are eliminated or mitigated.

"Is it not reasonable to provide workers with detailed exposure and individual monitoring reports?"

University of Otago professor of occupational and environmental health David McBride agreed.

"Another part of the Health and Safety at Work Act says that you have to give employees information and training to protect against risks in the workplace."

McBride's view is that giving employees information included sharing individual test results with affected workers.

WorkSafe says that part of the Act "may be interpreted" by employers or others as a requirement to provide information to workers, and it "encourages passing on information to workers".

But air quality testing results "do not themselves 'protect all persons from risks'," it says.

It was the controls that are put in place to reduce the risk that were important, and it was up to the employer to determine what controls were best used, WorkSafe says.

- Anusha Bradley/RNZ.
The ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, one of the New Kingdoms greatest kings, has touched down in Paris as part of an international blockbuster exhibition

Executed on a scale almost befitting the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II himself, the Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition that opened at the Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris on 7 April displays nearly 200 objects relating to the great kings reign, many of which have never left Egypt before.

It will be welcoming visitors in the French capital until 6 September, before jetting off for Sydney in Australia as part of an international tour that started last year in Houston in the US and has thus far racked up hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The exhibition includes major pieces relating to every part of the reign of Ramses II, one of the ancient Egyptian New Kingdoms greatest kings and even with the competition provided by the monotheistic Pharaoh Akhenaten and the golden boy-king Tutankhamun almost certainly also the most famous.

Ramses II was considered so important in antiquity that no fewer than 11 of his successors also took Ramses as their regnal name, and it is probably the accomplishments of Ramses II far more than those of any other Pharaoh that come to many peoples minds when they think of ancient Egypt.

Ramses II was the builder of the magnificent temples at Abu Simbel in Upper Egypt that were designed to commemorate his military victories in what is now Sudan and mark ancient Egypts southern boundary. The images of Ramses and his most important wife Nefertari, expressed in the monumental statues carved into the rock face at the main temple at Abu Simbel, still impress visitors today as symbols of the kings power and magnificence and of course also that of ancient Egypt.

He completed the hypostyle hall at the Karnak Temple at Luxor, with his military and other exploits being immortalised in engravings on its walls. Having defeated a succession of military and other challengers, including the Hittites at the famous Battle of Kadesh in what is now Lebanon in the early years of his reign, he presided over a period of almost unparalleled power and prosperity in ancient Egypt, with this being signaled in a massive building programme that was perhaps greater than that of any other monarch.

In addition to work at the Abu Simbel and Karnak temples, it also included a new capital at Pi-Ramses in the eastern Delta and a vast mortuary temple, the Ramesseum, on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor near to the tomb Ramses had built for himself in the nearby Valley of the Kings. Reigning for more than 60 years between 1279 and 1213 BCE at the height of the New Kingdom, Ramses II had ample time both to consolidate his rule and to reshape and transform his kingdom, providing a powerful example for subsequent kings.

He is said to have had more than 100 sons and daughters, giving a whole new meaning to the word dynasty, and his tomb, KV7 in the Valley of the Kings, is one of the largest and most lavish in conception, apparently being designed to host not only Ramses but also many members of his family. He had a particularly magnificent tomb built for his main wife Nefertari in the nearby Valley of the Queens that is one of the best-preserved from antiquity.

While the tomb of Ramses II was looted in ancient times like those of every other ancient Egyptian Pharaoh aside from that of the boy-king Tutankhamun, judging by its scale and by that of the nearby Ramesseum it must once have contained almost unimaginable treasures. The Paris exhibition points to this by not only including the powerful draw of gold, but also by dropping the regnal number from its bearers kingly title. There was only one real Ramses, Ramses the Great, it seems to say, with all the others being simply imitators.

The exhibition has taken over the same venue that hosted the very successful Tutankhamun exhibition in Paris in 2019, which also stopped off in the French capital on one leg of an international tour (reviewed in Al-Ahram Weekly in August 2019). Its organisers, the US company World Heritage Exhibitions, will be hoping for as great a success as for the earlier exhibition, which raked up some one and half million visitors in Paris alone and also raised valuable funding for the conservation and preservation of Egypts cultural heritage.

Yet, a paradox soon emerges when comparing the two exhibitions. Despite the efforts of modern Egyptologists, very little is known about the golden boy-king Tutankhamun, partly because memories of his reign were often deliberately erased in antiquity. We should not mind this deliberate campaign of forgetting, however, since we largely have it to thank for the survival of Tutankhamuns tomb, the only comparable royal tomb to survive intact across the millennia.

In the case of Ramses II, on the other hand, a lot is known about his life and reign, partly owing to his own efforts to memorialise his achievements and partly due to the efforts that his descendants made to build their own prestige by following his example. Massive statues of Ramses II still sometimes turn up even today, and of course one of the most important, the colossal statue of Ramses II that once stood in Ramses Square in central Cairo, is now a landmark exhibit at the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on the Pyramids Plateau.

Thus, while we know very little about Tutankhamun, but possess almost all his royal treasure, we know a great deal about Ramses II, but possess almost nothing that can provide information about the kind of man he was despite the many public representations. This presents a challenge to anyone hoping to illustrate his life because there is little that can speak of the private man behind the public image.

There is also the striking contrast between the magnificent gold coffins of Tutankhamun, one set inside the other like a set of Russian dolls surrounding the innermost coffin of solid gold, and the plain wooden coffin of Ramses II. In an exceptional gesture, this has been lent by the Egyptian authorities for the Paris leg of the exhibition. Carved in cedar wood and entirely undecorated, it was the final resting place of Ramses II after his mummy was removed from its tomb in antiquity to protect it from tomb-robbers.

Its hiding place was discovered in the late 19th century, and the mummy of Ramses II, along with many others, was taken to Cairo for preservation in the Egyptian Museum. This plain wooden coffin, installed in pride of place at the end of the Paris show, forms an intriguing contrast to the power and pomp recorded in the rest of the exhibition.

IMMERSION: The exhibition begins with a video presentation of the life and times of Ramses II that hits the kind of notes that continue throughout the show including the use of video and other technologies to give visitors a fully immersive experience.

The first three sections explore main aspects of the Pharaohs reign including Ramses II as a military leader, a builder, and as the king of a country enjoying apparently unprecedented prosperity and a lengthy period of domestic and foreign peace. Objects lent by the Egyptian Museum in Cairos Tahir Square and other institutions illustrate these themes, with their being often dramatically lit and set off from the surrounding darkness in a way that makes them the centre of the visitors attention.

Interspersed with these objects are images and video installations designed to impress the achievements of Ramses II more forcefully on visitors, including an installation complete with a soundtrack of thundering horses hooves and clanging swords designed to illustrate his victory over Hittite forces at the Battle of Kadesh in 1274 BCE, for example.

As the exhibition notes, while this was more of a stalemate than a victory for the ancient Egyptian forces, part of an ongoing struggle between the ancient Egyptians and their neighbours for control of the Levant, Ramses II did not hesitate to advertise it as a major victory in the commemorative images he had set up at the Karnak Temple in Luxor and elsewhere.

Even if there were differences between the ancient Egyptians and the Hittites about which side had won the Battle, the peace treaty they then signed  believed to be the earliest such document ever drafted  secured Egypts northern borders and allowed Ramses to turn his attention to similar campaigns in Upper Egypt against the Nubians and in the west of Egypt against the Libyans.

The exhibition includes some exquisite faience tiles found at the site of Pi-Ramses showing Libyan, Nubian, and Syrian or Hittite captives taken during the kings various campaigns. There is a painted limestone block taken from the tomb of the New Kingdom general Iwrkhy and lent to the show like most other objects in the exhibition by the Egyptian Museum showing Ramses about to smite his enemies.

The long period of prosperity that Egypt enjoyed as a result of the securing of the countrys borders and the establishment of peace abroad is illustrated through the building campaigns as well as through surviving evidence of the lavishness of the royal court. Highlights here include jewelry and other objects found during various excavations and lent by the Egyptian Museum. There is a spectacular jeweled gold collar once owned by the ancient Egyptian princess Sithathormerit, for example, as well as gold and other items found in the tombs of the later Pharaohs Amenemope and Sheshonq II.

The tomb of the latter, discovered by French archaeologist Pierre Montet at Tanis (San Al-Hagar) in the eastern Delta in 1939, yielded many spectacular finds, including the Pharaohs intact sarcophagus containing a hawk-headed silver coffin and his mummy complete with the jewels placed among the wrappings by the ancient Egyptian priests. These extraordinary objects, included in the exhibition even though they may not have much to do with Ramses II, amply illustrate the continuity of the civilisation of which he was such an important representative throughout his reign.

The later parts of the exhibition take in various other themes besides those suggested by the reign of Ramses II alone, including the funerary collections of subsequent Pharaohs, the construction of ancient Egyptian royal tombs  illustrated with images of the more visually impressive tomb of Nefertari rather than the damaged tomb of Ramses himself  and ancient Egyptian mummification practices as applied to animals, among them mummified cats.

However, in its final sections the exhibition once again picks up the thread with the story of the hiding of the mummies of the New Kingdom Pharaohs buried in the Valley of the Kings in a secret hiding place, or cachette, to save them from tomb-robbers. After their rediscovery, they were transported first to the Egyptian Museum and then most recently to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) in Fustat in Cairo where they can be viewed today in special galleries below ground.

A final room presents a statue of an eternally youthful Ramses II lent by the Sharm El-Sheikh Museum  an earlier room showed computer-assisted reconstructions of how he might have looked at different ages  against the background of a video including moments from his recent afterlife.

This has included not only the famous salvage operation of the Abu Simbel Temples in the 1960s, moving them out of the way of the rising waters behind the then newly constructed Aswan High Dam, but also the arrival of the mummy of Ramses II in Paris in the 1970s for conservation treatment and finally its transport across Cairo from the Egyptian Museum to the NMEC in the spectacular Pharaohs Golden Parade in 2021.

Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs. Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris, until 6 September.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The Directorate-General for Traffic roads authority has detailed that were 70 fatal accidents in March this year, in which 79 people died 

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Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) roads authority could ban hazard triangles following a concerning rise in the number of deaths of people placing them on busy roads.

A total of 79 people died on Spanish roads in March in 70 fatal accidents, eight more than the same month last year, according to new traffic data.

There was an uptick in accidents involving people walking on the carriageway with seven last month.

The DGT is now looking into whether it should prohibit drivers to exit their vehicles to place reflective triangles on motorways or dual carriageways to signal danger in the event of a breakdown due to the risk of being run over.

Director General for Traffic Pere Navarro said they were currently examining "to see how legally we can stop the triangle from being compulsory on motorways and dual carriageways".

Regarding the national statistics involving motor vehicles durin the month of March, twelve of those killed were not using a seat belt at the time of the accident, the data showed: eight car drivers, two van drivers and two lorry truck drivers.

By autonomous region, Catalonia was the region with the greatest increase in accident rate, with seven more fatalities than in March 2022, while Murcia was the region with the greatest decrease, six fewer fatalities.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Karen Eames, who pleaded guilty Tuesday to possessing more than $500,000 stolen from the sheriffs office, used the money to pay for her expensive lifestyle, according to the district attorney.

Eames, 47, is the widow of the sheriffs deputy Issac Eames, who authorities say stole $529,165 from an Onondaga County Sheriffs Office account that he oversaw between January 2020 and July 2021. The deputy shot his wife and killed his son before killing himself last winter.

In pleading guilty, the judge has promised Karen Eames that she will receive a maximum sentence of 6 months in prison and 5 years probation. The plea, however, does not require her to receive any jail time.

District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said Tuesday that the couple used the money to live the high life by purchasing land, building a riverside house, taking trips to Disney, gambling and more.

Fitzpatrick said he would not be surprised if Karen Eames came up with the idea to begin stealing money from the sheriffs office. He cited the extent of her gambling, socializing and extravagant living as the reason he believed that.

Dont waste anybodys time trying to suggest that Karen Eames is an innocent bystander, Fitzpatrick said.

The DA pointed to a text Karen Eames sent her husband after cashing a $7,000 check of stolen money. She sent him a photo of hundred-dollar bills fanned out on a table. She also wrote checks to herself from the stolen money, he said.

On average, Issac Eames was withdrawing $40,000 from the sheriffs account at a time, Fitzpatrick said. The largest withdrawal was $58,998.10, according to financial data provided by the DAs office.

The account was particularly vulnerable to theft because it had frequent deposits and withdrawals, Fitzpatrick said.

Thirteen times the couple successfully withdrew money and transferred it to their joint account. Only two withdrawals were flagged for potential fraudulent behavior by J.P Morgan Chase, Fitzpatrick said.

The couple used stolen money to buy land along the Oneida River in Clay and to build a new home, Fitzpatrick said. They purchased the land for just over $40,000. They wrote 39 checks to various vendors for the construction totaling $181,322.57 and had 112 debit transactions related to the construction totaling $97,836.79.

Onondaga County Sheriff investigator continue their search for clues in the deaths of two people and the shooting of a third. The incident took place Monday Feb. 7, 2023 on Riverview Rd. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

The 2,072-square-foot house at 4410 Riverview Road was recently sold for $565,000. That is more than Karen Eames is required to pay the county in restitution before her sentencing, according to her plea agreement. She is required to pay back the full amount stolen totaling just over $529,000.

Fitzpatrick said he believes most of the money she is using to repay the county is coming from the sale of the house. He said that Karen Eames has also remarried and he does not know where she is living now.

Karen and Issac Eames also used the stolen money to gamble and go on vacations, Fitzpatrick said.

In 2020, they used the money to vacation in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, Ocean City in Maryland and New York City.

In 2021, they used the stolen money to go to Disney World, Orlando, Niagra Falls, Dover and Rehoboth Beach in Delaware.

The District Attorneys office wanted Karen Eames to spend time in state prison. They had offered her a plea deal for around 3 years of prison time but the judge gave her a more favorable offer. Instead of state prison, she faces no more than 6 months in Jamesville Correctional Facility.

This was a very calculated, well planned, well thought out, long-term scheme that she was involved in up to her neck, Fitzpatrick said.

Karen Eames attorney, Michael Vavonese, maintained that his client had no part in the theft other than using the money that her husband stole. He said that she didnt take the money and didnt cause the money to be taken.

Today Karen Eames accepted responsibility for her involvement in this matter, Vavonese said after court Tuesday, and that related to criminal possession of stolen property.

She pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony.

Fitzpatrick did say that any rumors that Karen Eames was somehow responsible for the death of her husband and son are false. He explained the exact timeline of the murder-suicide.

On Jan. 27, 2022, Issac Eames was questioned by a sheriffs captain about discrepancies in the account -- which typically contained around $600,000 -- that Eames monitored, Fitzpatrick said. He became visibly upset to the point where he thought he might throw up, the DA said.

On Feb. 2, 2022, Issac Eames shredded multiple boxes worth of records, he said. For the next two days, Issac Eames used sick leave and did not report to work.

On Feb. 7, 2022, Issac Eames used his sheriffs office-issued handgun to shoot his wife, son and family dog before shooting himself inside the family home in Clay. Karen Eames was the only survivor.

After the murder-suicide, the details of the scheme to steal money from the sheriffs office emerged.

In the wake of the shooting, a GoFundMe fundraiser was started to help cover funeral costs for the couples son, Troy Eames. The account raised over $100,000 dollars . The account was not set up by Karen Eames and was found to not be fraudulent, Senior Assistant District Attorney Peter Hakes said Tuesday.

Although the account was legitimate, Hakes and Vavonese agreed that -- as a part of the plea deal -- Karen Eames would return the remaining $77,000 from the GoFundMe account. Some of the money was spent on expenses that align with the fundraisers purpose, including funeral costs for Troy, Hakes said.

The DAs office will work over the coming months to try to return the remaining money to donors, Fitzpatrick said.

Karen Eames will remain out of custody and will be sentenced on June 12.

District Attorney William Fitzpatrick (left) and Senior Assistant District Attorney Peter Hakes discuss details of their investigation into Karen Eames after she pled guilty on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Anne Hayes | AHayes@syracuse.com

Related Syracuse.com articles

Karen Eames, shot by deputy husband in murder-suicide, selling riverfront house for whopping price

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DA details case against Karen Eames, who was nearly killed in deputy husbands suicidal rampage

Sheriffs deputy Isaac Eames stole $500K before murder-suicide; wounded wife charged with thefts

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Active police investigation continues at home where deputy, son were fatally shot: Metal detector, searches, interviews

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Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- A Syracuse man who arranged multiple fentanyl sales while in jail has been sentenced to 11 years in prison Tuesday, federal prosecutors said.

Maurice Owens, 22, was arrested on Dec. 10, 2020 after police officers saw him sitting in a car in a parking lot where he previously sold fentanyl, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York.

Owens saw police and fled while carrying a ghost gun, a gun without a serial number, federal prosecutors said. He also had three envelopes of fentanyl at the time of his arrest, they said.

For over two months after Owenss arrest, while he was in jail, he made phone calls with associates and organized fentanyl sales, according to court documents filed in federal court.

Owens and his first associate, Robert Walker, agreed that Owens would receive a portion of the proceeds from the sales he organized, according to court documents. Owens asked that the money either be put in his commissary account at the jail or put aside to assist with his legal expenses.

On Feb. 4, Walker said he wanted to stop selling because he was afraid they were being surveilled by police. The same day, Owens contacted Prince Smith to begin selling for him.

On Feb. 18, Smith was arrested before he could make a sale he arranged with Owens, according to court documents.

Between December 2020 and February 2021, Owens, Walker and Smith sold -- or attempted to sell -- 81 bricks of a mixture containing fentanyl, according to court documents. In total, they made around $6,200 through the sales.

On Tuesday, Owens was sentenced to 11 and a half years in federal prison. He was convicted of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and using and carrying a firearm while drug trafficking, federal prosecutors said.

Smith and Walker were codefendants in Owens case. Both men have also pled guilty to their role in the drug sales. Smith has not been sentenced. Walker was sentenced to just under 4 years in federal prison, according to federal court documents.

Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.
A lighthouse home with no waterfront makes for a unique landmark in this small Adirondack town and it is ready for a new visionary to buy it.

Built in 1914, the Lighthouse at 14121 New York 28 in Otter Lake does come with lake rights to the beach and dock area a short walk away. Sitting at the center of Lighthouse Loop Road, this Upstate New York home has had a few different iterations over the years.

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Though the house does not sit on the waterfront, it does come with deeded rights to Otter Lake. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

In the late 1920s, visitors to the mountain town could book themselves a night at Twin Pines Camp, which grew into The Lighthouse Otter Lake Cabins in the 1930s. An old Adirondack postcard advertises the restaurant as having home cooking and reasonable prices, just 42 miles north of Utica and 12 miles south of Old Forge. They also served vacationers ice cream, sandwiches, cigars and more in a refreshment stand.

In the 1960s, the Lighthouse was sold separately from the cabins, and its original owners kept one cabin as a summer home in their retirement. The main building remained The Lighthouse Association.

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

Then, in the 1970s, the home with its large windowed tower became a place to live and work for the Godemann family, who ran the Lighthouse grocery store and restaurant in the 70s.

Our family vacationed in Otter Lake and loved the area. My dad worked at General Electric. When GE closed the Utica plant, my parents decided to open a store and restaurant, the owners daughter said.

The business only lasted a couple of years, but the family stayed in the lighthouse.

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

Currently, the home has two large bedrooms with walk-in closets, one of which has its own half bath.

The kitchen includes a large window that opens to allow food and beverages to be passed through to the back two-tiered deck. The owners daughter said this was her second favorite spot of the home because it was where they would gather with their family and friends, enjoying the outdoors.

Her most favorite spot in the home, was inside the tower.

I would sit out there for hours, she said.

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The living room and dining room are part of the Lighthouse tower with a Tudor design.

Other features of the home include a den with a cozy woodstove and sliding glass door leading to the large deck and a linen cabinet with laundry chute leading to the basement laundry area.

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

This former business could potentially be turned back into a commercial property with town approval.

Details

Address: 14121 State Route 28, Forestport, NY 13338

Price: $217,000

Size: 1,280 square feet

Acreage: 0.25 square feet

Built: 1914

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 2

School district: Town Of Webb Union Free School District

See the full listing

If you know of a home in Upstate New York that should be featured here, please email features@nyup.com.

More photos below

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

The Lighthouse in Otter Lake at 14121 State Rt. 28 Forestport, NY 13338 is looking for its next owners. Built in the 1920s and 30s, it was once a popular spot for Adirondack Park vacationers. Jeremy | Ackerman Photography

READ MORE

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In a phone call, Shoukry and Kerry expressed their satisfaction with the level of cooperation on climate issues and pledged to continue working together to advance the global climate action agenda.

Both parties vowed to continue consultations on global climate action ahead of COP28, scheduled to take place in the UAE from 30 November until 12 December.

Egypt has affirmed its readiness to cooperate with the UAE to ensure the success of COP28, and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed his willingness to share Egypt's expertise in addressing the climate concerns of African and developing countries.

The US envoy expressed appreciation for Shoukry's participation in the virtual ministerial meeting of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) on energy and climate hosted by Kerry last month.

The Egyptian top diplomat said that the meeting represented an important opportunity to review the successes achieved during the COP27, especially with regard to addressing the file of loss and damage, fulfilling pledges and mobilising climate finance, citing these as crucial successes of COP27.

Earlier in April, UAEs President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a written message to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inviting him to attend the conference.

El-Sisi affirmed his confidence in the UAEs leadership for hosting COP28 in a meeting with Mariam Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to Egypt, who handed the invitation to El-Sisi.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Karen Eames, who was accused of helping her deputy husband steal more than $500,000 from the county sheriffs office, could avoid going to prison.

Eames, 47, accepted a plea deal Tuesday in Onondaga County Court, pleading guilty to second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony.

In exchange for her guilty plea, the court has promised Karen Eames that she will receive a maximum sentence of 6 months in prison and 5 years probation. The plea, however, does not require her to receive any jail time.

The Onondaga County District Attorneys Office had made an offer of around 3 years in state prison for a plea to the second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, which was the top charge Eames was facing.

Onondaga County Court Judge Ted Limpert, who had been pushing both sides toward a plea agreement, gave Eames the more favorable offer of no more than 6 months at the Jamesville Correctional Facility.

Eames is the widow of deceased sheriffs deputy Isaac Eames, who tried to kill her before murdering their son, Troy, and committing suicide in February 2022 inside their Clay residence. Isaac Eames is accused of stealing more than $500,000 from the sheriffs office before killing himself.

His wife, who survived her husbands gunshot to her face, faced a felony grand larceny charge on accusations that she knowingly profited from her husbands thefts and shared his criminal intent. She faced 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted of grand larceny.

RELATED: DA details case against Karen Eames, who was nearly killed in deputy husbands suicidal rampage

Defense lawyer Michael Vavonese had previously argued that Karen Eames has suffered enough and that she might not survive prison given her injuries.

Vavonese has maintained his clients innocence, noting his client wasnt accused of actually stealing the money. On Tuesday, Karen Eames accepted guilt as a part of the plea agreement.

Today Karen Eames accepted responsibility for her involvement in this matter, Vavonese said after court Tuesday, and that related to criminal possession of stolen property.

Vavonese maintained that Karen Eames had limited involvement in the fraud scheme. He also said that she has suffered enough after the loss of her family, her home and her health. He also has said her health conditions were another reason she should not go to prison.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick disagreed that she had limited inovolvement in the fraud scheme, adding she benefited from it and it may have been her idea.

Fitzpatrick did say that they still recommended prison time because there are inmates in far worse health than she is.

Karen Eames, unlike most high-profile theft suspects, has been able to pull together full restitution for the sheriffs office, Fitzpatrick has said. She sold the familys custom-built house where her husbands murder-suicide took place for $565,000 last year.

Its the largest amount of restitution that the DA can remember a defendant being able to pay in a criminal case.

As part of the plea agreement, Karen Eames will have to pay the full amount of restitution before she receives her sentence. She will be sentenced on June 12.

Fitzpatrick said that Vavonese has all of the money in an account ready to be paid before sentencing. All the money will be returned to the Sheriffs Office account it was stolen from.

Other notable local swindling cases in recent history havent included full restitution, instead leading to state prison sentences.

Former SPCA director Paul Morgan got 4 to 12 years in prison after failing to pay back nearly $600,000 he stole from the non-profit animal charity.

A Minoa hearing specialist, Joshua Miller, who bilked $1.6 million from customers, got 4 to 12 years after only paying back $160,000.

More Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard coverage

Onondaga County Sheriff investigator continue their search for clues in the deaths of two people and the shooting of a third. The incident took place Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 on Riverview Rd. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

Karen Eames, shot by deputy husband in murder-suicide, selling riverfront house for whopping price

$100K raised in GoFundMe for Eames family after murder-suicide now frozen, DA says

DA details case against Karen Eames, who was nearly killed in deputy husbands suicidal rampage

Sheriffs deputy Isaac Eames stole $500K before murder-suicide; wounded wife charged with thefts

Sheriffs deputy was asked about financial discrepancy at work days before murder-suicide

Sheriff: Deputy who shot wife and son also killed family dog; womans recovery is promising

21-year-old son shot in Clay home has died; his mom is in critical condition

Onondaga County deputy dead, 2 family members in critical condition after shooting in deputys home

Police investigate shooting in Clay along Oneida River; possibly several hurt

Liverpool school secretary shot in family home in Clay improving, hospital says

Active police investigation continues at home where deputy, son were fatally shot: Metal detector, searches, interviews

Liverpool vigil to be held for wife, son of deputy who sheriff says shot them

Son killed by father in shooting was ESF student: Our hearts go out to Troys family and friends
Syracuse, N.Y.  SUNY Upstate Medical University refused for months to say how much it cost the state medical school to wriggle out of a failed deal with Cor Development Co. The deal left eight acres of prime city land sitting vacant for a decade.

SUNY Upstate denied Freedom of Information requests for the terms of its recent out-of-court settlement with Cor. The university paid Cor to give up claims to state property at the site of the former Kennedy Square housing complex just east of downtown Syracuse.
By Brendan J. Lyons | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  More states are moving to ban TikTok on government equipment but New York was one of the first to do so and quietly adopted an internal policy in June 2020 that prohibited its use on mobile devices as officials sought to strengthen security measures and guard against cyber threats and other data intrusions.

New York state has blocked the use of TikTok on ITS-issued mobile devices for more than 2 years, said Scott Reif, a spokesman for the state Office of Information Technology Services. We seek to meet people where they are and remain vigilant in protecting critical state assets, and urge New Yorkers to use caution when using TikTok and all social media platforms to protect their privacy and security.

Reif said there are a small number of exceptions to the policy in which public relations platforms for NY.gov, I Love NY and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have used TikTok to communicate with New Yorkers.

Despite the policy directive, there also is a bill in the Legislature that would create a law prohibiting any state employee from downloading or using the TikTok application on government-issued devices, including mobile phones and laptops. That bill, which is still in the committee level in the Senate and Assembly, would also prohibit state government employees from visiting the TikTok website using state equipment.

More than 30 states have banned TikTok on their government-issued electronic devices  under directives from both Republican and Democratic governors. Those executive orders have been issued as law enforcement officials and lawmakers have raised concerns that ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, could be forced by the Chinese Communist Party to gather users data. National security laws in China allow the government to compel companies to share their data with the ruling party.

In November, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray told a House Homeland Security Committee he had concerns about Chinas Communist Party rulers using technology to steal data and influence social media users worldwide, including in the United States. On March 29, the House Foreign Affairs Committee  with all Democrats voting no  advanced a bill that would ban TikTok on all mobile devices nationwide.

Some Democrats had said they would rather defer to an ongoing review of the companys security risks thats being conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment. Initially, there were bipartisan concerns raised about the apps security, but in recent months that debate has started to break along political lines and some Democrats have suggested the bans are xenophobic.

Still, Wray told the House Homeland Security Committee five months ago that his concerns about TikTok include the possibility that the Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users or control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operations if they so chose, or to control software on millions of devices, which gives it an opportunity to potentially technically compromise personal devices.

TikTok, which has faced bans in other nations, has more than 1 billion active users, including more than 150 million in the U.S., where federal lawmakers have proposed a nationwide ban unless the company is sold to an American buyer.

Late last month, the companys CEO, Shou Zi Chew, sought to ease federal lawmakers concerns when he testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee about TikToks privacy and data security policies and its dealings with the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat Tiktok poses to our national and personal security, committee Chairwoman U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, said in her opening remarks at the hearing. Tiktok collects nearly every data point imaginable from peoples location to what they type and copy, who they talk to, biometric data and more, even if theyve never been on TikTok. Your trackers are embedded in sites across the web. Tiktok surveils us all, and the Chinese Communist Party is able to use this as a tool to manipulate America as a whole.

But concerns also have been raised about the Chinese government using technology not just to influence U.S. users but also to obtain commercial trade secrets and sensitive intellectual property.

Chew told the committee that there have been a few misconceptions about ByteDance and that it is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government.

Its a private company, he said. Sixty percent of the company is owned by global institutional investors, 20 percent is owned by the founder and 20 percent owned by employees around the world. ByteDances five board members  three of them are American.

He said the company is headquartered in Los Angeles and Singapore but has 7,000 U.S. employees. For the past two years, he added, the company has been building a firewall to protect users data.

We have legacy U.S. data sitting in our service in Virginia and in Singapore. Were deleting those and we expect that to be complete this year, Chew told lawmakers. When that is done, all protected U.S. data will be under the protection of U.S. law and under the control of the U.S.-led security team. This eliminates the concern that some of you have shared with me that TikTok user data can be subject to Chinese law.

Still, Chew conceded that the founders of TikToks parent company are Chinese and that they use Chinese employees just like many other companies around the world.

But McMorris Rodgers pushed back on Chew, noting that many of ByteDances top officials are tied to the Chinese Communist Party, which she said has indicated it has control over whether ByteDance could sell TikTok.

TikTok has told us that you werent sharing data with the CCP, but leaked audio from within TikTok has proven otherwise, she said during the hearing. TikTok told us that you werent tracking the geolocation of American citizens. TikTok told us you werent spying on journalists. ... TikTok is a weapon by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on you, manipulate what you see and exploit for future generations. A ban is only a short-term way to address TikTok and a data-privacy bill is the only way to stop TikTok from ever happening again in the United States.

The concerns being raised by federal officials has spilled over to states, where many government leaders have blocked the app on mobile devices to ensure it could not be used to steal technology secrets or for other espionage.

Officials with New Yorks Office of Information Technology Services said they had previously joined those calling on the federal government to take a comprehensive approach to address the significant security and privacy concerns related to TikTok.

New York state provides its employees with information and resources they need to protect themselves, and we are regularly raising awareness about the latest threats, including those which originate on social media, the office said. All state employees are required to undergo annual cybersecurity awareness training where they learn best practices to keep their accounts, citizen data and the state network secure. Social media use is covered in this training.

State officials said they also monitor their systems for potential cyber threats but intrusions have occurred. In December 2019, a massive cyber-attack disabled some state agency information systems and took nearly a month to resolve. The attack was believed to have come from outside the U.S. and temporarily blocked access to databases used by the State Police, Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Civil Service.

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
Rome, N.Y.  Harvey Weinstein is currently serving his New York prison sentence at the Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, according to the Rome Daily Sentinel.

Weinstein, 71, was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being convicted in 2020 in New York City on charges of rape and sexual assault against two women, according to The Associated Press. He was previously serving his sentence at Wende Correctional Facility in Erie County.

Weinstein was transferred to Rome after the state reviewed his treatment and program needs, according to the Daily Sentinel.

In addition to his New York conviction, Weinstein was also convicted of rape and sexual misconduct in California. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for those crimes.

Weinstein was previously a Hollywood executive and producer before he was brought down by numerous accusations of sexual misconduct, rape and assault.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

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 doesnt 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.

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 someones 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.

2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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re: Camping & offroading in Victorian High country | 7 SUVs



We did the Crooked river and Billy goat bluff tracks. We got stuck at just 500m short of the top of the Billy Goat bluff track, and had to turn around. Three cars crossed the point of a heavy washout by winching ( trip leader's, mine and the Landcruiser). But some of the people coming from other side told that the track ahead is in worser condition. Since it was already 5:30PM and we still need to winch out 4 more cars and probably winch the whole group 2 more times, trip leader decided to turn back considering everyones safety. The U turn in the track was one of the scariest points of this trip. It was a 19 point U turn with a 200 feet drop on one side in the middle of a washout !!



We climbed down all the way and finally reached our campsite ( same as previous day) by 10:30PM.



Crooked river track - 25+ river crossings









Playing in water





I dont have a snorkel yet, so chose to play safe





Most of the entry/exits to the river were steep. Rear lockers were enaged at few places

















Checking the winches before the climb





Here we come Billy goat bluff track





First major climb to Helipad





Other side of Helipad - near vertical drop and steep climb





Planning the steepest section ahead





Trip captain leaving to check the conditions ahead





This is where we got stuck.

Gives you an idea of the articulation needed. This is after an hour of track building to pack rocks and mud





Winching the first car





Almost finished the U turn. Pictures are with wide angle and give a false sense of slope and width !

Helipad can be seen in the background







lead car turned around





On our way back





This is my favorite photo of the trip. We turned around at the top of the track seen behind

Day 2:We did the Crooked river and Billy goat bluff tracks. We got stuck at just 500m short of the top of the Billy Goat bluff track, and had to turn around. Three cars crossed the point of a heavy washout by winching ( trip leader's, mine and the Landcruiser). But some of the people coming from other side told that the track ahead is in worser condition. Since it was already 5:30PM and we still need to winch out 4 more cars and probably winch the whole group 2 more times, trip leader decided to turn back considering everyones safety. The U turn in the track was one of the scariest points of this trip. It was a 19 point U turn with a 200 feet drop on one side in the middle of a washout !!We climbed down all the way and finally reached our campsite ( same as previous day) by 10:30PM.Crooked river track - 25+ river crossingsPlaying in waterI dont have a snorkel yet, so chose to play safeMost of the entry/exits to the river were steep. Rear lockers were enaged at few placesChecking the winches before the climbHere we come Billy goat bluff trackFirst major climb to HelipadOther side of Helipad - near vertical drop and steep climbPlanning the steepest section aheadTrip captain leaving to check the conditions aheadThis is where we got stuck.Gives you an idea of the articulation needed. This is after an hour of track building to pack rocks and mudWinching the first carAlmost finished the U turn. Pictures are with wide angle and give a false sense of slope and width !Helipad can be seen in the backgroundlead car turned aroundOn our way backThis is my favorite photo of the trip. We turned around at the top of the track seen behind Last edited by arjithin : 10th April 2023 at 17:59 .
Han You-kyung at Ewha Womans University said, "Elementary schoolkids are more vulnerable to swearing or slang and easily feel bullied." But bullies are also getting younger and younger.

Elementary schoolkids are more sensitive to bullying than older students. According to last year's survey, 3.8 percent of elementary schoolkids said they had fallen victim to bullying, compared to 0.9 percent of middle schoolkids and 0.3 percent in high school.

Chung Sun-sin found himself in hot water after it was belatedly revealed that his son had bullied a classmate in high school for almost an year and was simply moved to another school instead of getting punished and eventually won a coveted place at Seoul National University.

Many parents are newly worried as Netflix's latest hit Korean series "The Glory" starring Song Hye-kyo brought the issue to the forefront. Last week, the nominee for the National Office of Investigation resigned just a day before assuming his post, amid a bullying controversy involving his son at school.

Since 2012, the Education Ministry has been conducting an annual survey of students from fourth through 12th graders about violence in schools. The proportion of students who had suffered from any type of violence dropped from 2.2 percent in 2013 to just 0.9 percent in 2016, but rebounded to 1.6 percent in 2019.

It fell to 0.9 percent again the following year, when classes moved online in lockdown but rose to 1.1 percent in 2021, when some face-to-face classes resumed. Last year it stood at 1.7 percent, or about 54,000 victims across the country.

In last year's survey, verbal violence was the most common form of bullying at 41.8 percent, followed by physical violence (14.6 percent), ostracism (13.3 percent), and online bullying (9.6 percent). The proportion of online bullying dwindled 0.2 percentage points but has evolved into more complex forms, making it difficult to track or punish.

Choi Woo-sung, a school violence expert, said, "It's getting more and more difficult for school authorities to deal with bullying due to new types of cyber violence ranging from gossip apps to deepfakes."

Minor cases of violence are handled by schools themselves. If they cannot be settled, cases are referred to review committees at regional offices of education. The number of such cases jumped from 8,357 in 2020 to 15,653 in 2021 and 9,796 in last year's first semester alone or more than 20,000 if projected on the whole year.

Most perpetrators were merely slapped on the wrist -- most were banned from approaching the victim (78.5 percent) or ordered to write a letter of apology (63 percent). In more serious cases, 4.5 percent of perpetrators were sent to another school, 4.2 percent to another class, and only 0.2 percent were kicked out of school. Group bullying by violent gangs has dropped slightly compared to a decade ago, but new surreptitious types of cyber and sexual violence are increasing.

Parents increasingly take sides in disputes, and some bullies' parents have even sued the victims, turning the courtroom into the arena for mudslinging. According to the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations, the number of judicial review filed with the administrative court by parents of bullies rose to 682 in 2021. About 15 to 25 percent of claimants won, and others went so far as to file civil lawsuits at the cost of even tens of millions of won if they failed to get what they wanted (US$1=W1,302).


An AI-generated newsreader has been revealed by a media outlet in Kuwait. Kuwait News posted a video to their Twitter account over the weekend showing the computerised anchor introducing herself as Fedha. The AI video showed a blonde woman wearing a black jacket and a white T-shirt. Im Fedha, the first presenter in Kuwait who works with artificial intelligence at Kuwait News. What kind of news do you prefer? Lets hear your opinions, she said in Arabic. Sky News

London has been given 35.7m to invest in its electric vehicle charge points. The money, issued by the Governments Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, will help expand the charging network across all 32 boroughs and the City of London. A further 3m will help councils deliver the LEVI projects. Sadiq Khan said: This funding will help reach our ambition to have at the very least one electric vehicle charge point on every street where needed. London has almost 13,000 charge points, making up a third of the UKs total. BBC

MacBook Air 15-inch rumors have circulated for a long time, but things are heating up ahead of WWDC 2023(opens in new tab) in June with production of the long-awaited laptop allegedly ramping up yet again. As reported by MacRumors, a tweet by respected display analyst Ross Young indicates that the MacBook Air 15-inch has entered a third round of production. Production of the larger Air started this past February, with a ramp in production also happening in March, according to previous reports. Young stated that he doesnt know the precise launch timing. He estimates it may happen in late April/early May. LaptopMag



What would happen if you filled a virtual town with AIs and set them loose? As it turns out, they brush their teeth and are very nice to one another! But this unexciting outcome is good news for the researchers who did it, since they wanted to produce believable simulacra of human behavior and got just that. The paper describing the experiment, by Stanford and Google researchers, makes for interesting reading. The idea was to see if they could apply the latest advances in machine learning models to produce generative agents that take in their circumstances and output a realistic action in response. Tech Crunch

Google makes some of the best Google Assistant-powered smart displays. There are also offerings available from Lenovo, JBL, and LG in a different form factor or at a lower price point, though admittedly, third-party Assistant display options were always limited. Until now, non-Google smart displays provided mostly the same experience as the Google Nest Hub or the Hub Max. But going forward, this wont be the case as the big G wont provide software updates to any third-party smart displays.

Three top Twitter executives who were sacked by Elon Musk last year when he took over the social media company filed suit on Monday, seeking to be reimbursed for costs of litigation, investigations and congressional inquiries related to their former jobs. Ex-CEO Parag Agrawal, along with the companys former chief legal and financial officers, claim in the suit that they are owed a total of more than $1 million, and that Twitter is legally bound to pay them. Twitter responded to an AFP request for comment with a poop emoji, as has become its practice. NDTV
The FBIs Denver office is cautioning consumers about using free public charging stations, saying bad actors can use the USB ports at the juice stops to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices.

Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead, the agency recommended in a recent tweet.

Juice jacking has been around for a decade, although no one knows how widespread the practice has become.

Theres been a lot of talk about it being in the public, but not a lot caught in the public, observed Brian Markus, CEO of Aries Security, a security research and education company in Wilmington, Del. Markus, and colleague Robert Rowley first demonstrated juice jacking in 2012.

Juice jacking chargers are like ATM skimmers, Markus told TechNewsWorld. You hear a lot about them but dont necessarily see them.

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

He explained that someone who wants to tamper with a legitimate power charging station could change the stations cable to a doctored cable, which contains the chip that can install a Remote Access Trojan, or backdoor, on a phone. Then the phone can be attacked at any point in time over the internet.

Its especially prevalent with Android phones running older versions of the operating system, Markus said. Thats why its important for users to keep their devices updated.

Divergent Opinions

There seem to be conflicting opinions in the security community about how significant a threat juice jacking is to consumers.

Its not very common in general because using a remote charging facility is not something people do very often, observed Bud Broomhead, CEO of Viakoo, a developer of cyber and physical security software solutions in Mountain View, Calif.

However, if someone is a user of a charging system outside of their control, the warning issued by the FBI should cause them to change their behavior, as cases are on the rise, he told TechNewsWorld.

Aviram Jenik, president of Apona Security, a source code security company in Roseville, Calif., maintained that juice jacking is extremely common.

We dont have numbers because the devices tend to be in places where people dont stay long, so its easy to place a rogue device and then take it back, he told TechNewsWorld.

Its been done for years now, and the appearance of malware-infected charging stations is almost regular, he added.

As charging becomes more and more sophisticated  meaning, data travels on the same cables that carry a charge  this will get worse, he said. When the target is of higher value  for example, an EV versus a mobile phone  the stakes will be higher.

Jenik added that another future development would be wireless charging, which would allow attackers to perform an attack without anyone seeing the physical device used for the breach.

Two-Way Comm Problem

Juice jacking is probably more likely to occur in areas frequented by persons of interest  politicians or intelligence agency workers, asserted Andrew Barratt, managing principal for solutions and investigations at Coalfire, a Westminster, Colo.-based provider of cybersecurity advisory services.

For a juice jacking attack to be effective, it would have to deliver a very sophisticated payload that can bypass common phone security measures, he told TechNewsWorld.

Frankly, he continued, Id be more worried about the outlets being so heavily used that theyll damage my cord or the socket on the phone.

Juice jacking exploits USB technology for malicious purposes. The problem is that USB ports allow two-way communication, not just for power charging, but also data transmission. Its how your USB device can send pictures and other data when you plug it in, explained Roger Grimes, a defense evangelist at KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Fla.

The USB port was never designed to prevent advanced malicious commands sent over the data channel, he told TechNewsWorld. There have been many security improvements to the USB port over the years, but there are still additional avenues of attack, and most USB-enabled devices allow the charging port to declare itself an old version of the USB port standard, so some of the newer protection features are no longer available.

Will EVs Be Next?

J.T. Keating, senior vice president of strategic initiatives at Zimperium, a provider of mobile security solutions in Dallas, cautioned consumers to be wary of free solutions billing themselves as public services.

When hackers trick people into using their fake Wi-Fi networks and power stations, they can compromise devices, install malware and spyware and steal data, he told TechNewsWorld.

This trend will continue and evolve as more and more people connect to EV charging stations for their electric vehicles, he continued. By compromising an EV charging station, attackers can cause havoc by stealing payment information or by doing a variation of ransomware by disabling the stations and preventing charging.

Coalfires Barratt noted that EV charging stations have been a concern for a while, but the issues have been stealing charges or getting free use of the stations.

Longer term, he said, I suspect there is a concern that we will continue to see more attacks against these chargers as the world transitions to EV chargers.

When we had public payphones, there were attacks against them, he continued. There are attacks regularly against ATMs and gas pumps. Anything where value is dispensable in an unattended environment, there is a payoff potential for a cyber-enabled thief to leverage.

Avoid Becoming a Victim of Juice Jacking

Since Markus and Rowley introduced the world to juice jacking, conditions have improved for attackers. Wireless connectivity has been added to charging ports, for example.

When we first did this, we had an entire laptop hidden in the charging station, and it was doing a lot of work, Markus noted. The amount of compute power to do the same thing now is significantly less.

The FBI isnt the only alphabet agency to sound the alarm about juice jacking. The FCC, in the past, has also warned consumers about the practice. To avoid becoming a victim of juice jackers, it recommends:
TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

Facepalm: Amazon's rush to get all its employees back in the office means some of its buildings won't be ready until months after the RTO deadline. It's a situation other companies, including Tesla, have faced as they try to return to the working status quo.

Amazon wants the entirety of its office staff back in their buildings for at least three days per week in May. But many of the offices won't be ready to support that many employees until months later.

Insider obtained an internal Amazon document titled 'Building Readiness Dates' that reveals the dates its office buildings will be ready to accommodate all the returning staff. It states that five out of the six corporate Amazon offices in New York City and four of the six locations in Austin aren't expected to be ready until September 1, 2023.

It's the same story for the offices in Cupertino and East Palo Alto, which also won't be ready for a full complement of employees until September, four months after the return-to-work mandate's deadline. Atlanta and Tempe fare slightly better with a July 1 readiness date. Offices in Boston, Irvine, and Chicago have yet to set a date.

The report states that other Amazon office locations will be ready to welcome everyone back, including those around its Seattle headquarters and second HQ in Arlington, VA.

Some of the readiness factors include ensuring networks, Wi-Fi access, desktop equipment, conference room setups, and other amenities can support the capacity and demands of all returning workers.

Like other companies that prefer its employees in the office, such as Apple, Amazon boss Andy Jassy believes in-person work makes collaborating easier and more effective. And, as was also the case with Cupertino, it led to a mass petition from employees demanding Amazon execs reconsider the mandate. Amazon's head of HR rejected the demands.

It's somewhat surprising that many Amazon offices aren't ready for the returning workers, given that the tech giant is letting go of 27,000 people. It was originally 18,000, announced last year, but Jassy said in March that an extra 9,000 employees would be losing their jobs.

We've seen the consequences of rushed return-to-work mandates before. Elon Musk told Tesla and SpaceX staff last year that they could either return to the office for a minimum of 40 hours per week or quit. So many Tesla workers rushed back to the Fremont, California, plant that it caused a lack of desks, inadequate seating, overloaded WiFi, and not enough parking spaces. The shortages were still posing a problem months later.
TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

The big picture: Even if ransomware isn't the scourge it once was, big companies and organizations are still dealing with file-encrypting attacks on a regular basis. MSI was recently caught in this crypto-net, though the corporation merely confirmed a generic attack glossing over the details.

MSI was recently affected by a cyberattack against some of its systems, with the Taiwanese company confirming the attack after detecting some "network anomalies." The attack was likely executed by a well-known ransomware gang, but MSI doesn't seem interested in paying the ransom asked by the cyber-criminals to stop the stolen files release.

Last week, the "Money Message" ransomware group stated they had successfully attacked some of MSI's systems, stealing around 1.5 terabytes of data. The cyber-criminals demanded MSI pay a $4 million ransom, threatening to release the stolen files otherwise.

Money Message apparently got a trove of extremely sensitive files, including private communications, source code, and even the framework used by MSI for its motherboard firmware. Having this kind of data shared on a public forum could obviously become a security and PR nightmare for MSI, even though the Taiwanese company hasn't confirmed that there is a ransomware operation behind the attack.

MSI simply stated that after detecting the network anomalies, the company's IT department promptly activated "relevant defense mechanisms and carried out recovery measures," and reported the incident to government law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity units. The affected systems have resumed normal operations, MSI said, and there will be no significant impact on its financial business.

The company also said it is committed to protecting the privacy of data belonging to "consumers, employees, and partners," and that it will continue to "strengthen" its cyber-defenses to maintain business continuity and network security in the future.

MSI also urged customers to get their BIOS and firmware updates exclusively from the company's official website, avoiding downloads from unknown or sketchy sources. This is pretty basic advice when it comes to proper internet security, and it would be rather pointless for users to search for modded or unofficial - yet perfectly safe - firmware dumps.
TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

What just happened? As Microsoft finalizes a significant expansion of PC Game Pass, a recent tweet from the head of the Xbox division has sparked speculation that PC games might come to the company's cloud gaming service. The move could be an effort to match Nvidia's service and assuage the concerns of international regulators over its Activision Blizzard acquisition.

In a Tuesday tweet, Xbox head Phil Spencer announced that if Microsoft's $69 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard closes, it will bring the publisher's PC games to UK mobile service EE. The words are significant because EE offers customers access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Microsoft currently doesn't include PC-exclusive games on its cloud service.

Thus far, Xbox Cloud Gaming only has titles with Xbox versions. Users play all cloud games with either a controller or a touch screen. Mouse and keyboard support is still in testing for games like Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Microsoft and @EE are expanding our partnership with a 10-year commitment in cloud gaming to bring PC games built by Activision Blizzard, following the acquisition, and Xbox to @EE customers. We are committed to bring more games to more people, however they choose to play. - Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) April 11, 2023

Were Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard, it's a given that all Game Pass options would quickly include titles like Call of Duty and Diablo while PC Game Pass could gain StarCraft and WarCraft. The latter two PC exclusives wouldn't usually come to Xbox Cloud Gaming, but the EE deal makes it seem possible. Theoretically, the shift could impact current PC-only Game Pass content like Europa Universalis IV, Dune: Spice Wars, Total War, or the original Fallout.

The EE agreement follows Microsoft's February announcement to bring its games to Nvidia's GeForce Now cloud service, including Activision Blizzard titles. The deal follows Sony's repeated claims that Microsoft would restrict games like Call of Duty to Xbox and Game Pass were it to finalize the acquisition. Microsoft adding PC games to the cloud would further counter Sony's argument and put the Redmond, Washington company in more direct competition with GeForce Now.

On the same day as Spencer's tweet, Microsoft announced that PC Game Pass is now open to everyone in 40 additional countries throughout Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. These countries gained entry into an Xbox Insider program in February, which was successful enough to progress to public release.

Microsoft doesn't appear to officially sell Xbox consoles in any of the new PC Game Pass regions, which include Egypt, Ukraine, Peru, El Salvador, Cyprus, Iceland, and many more. Thus, these countries are likely receiving Xbox services for the first time. The announcement didn't mention cloud gaming, but the new territories could include it if Microsoft brings PC titles to the cloud.
One of the leading experts in the United Kingdom said an effective treatment for Alzheimer's Disease will be ready by 2040. As per Cardiff University Professor Julie Williams, there are 92 genes known to be related to the disease, meaning that there is a massive knowledge increase about it.

(Photo : ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images)

A carer speaks with an elderly resident - one of three alzheimer sufferers in the establishment- in a house at L'Hay-les- Roses on the outskirts of Paris on February 17, 2022, which is run as an alternative to the traditional carehome model.

Alzheimer's Disease Treatment by 2040

Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive form of dementia and has been known for having no cure or effective treatment to slow the progression of symptoms. Not until a professor and her team discovered something new with the disease's treatment in the United Kingdom.

Professor Julia William's team at Cardiff University has identified 92 genes that increase the risk of having Alzheimer's Disease. According to BBC's report, the team had previously known only three genes at the beginning of their research in 2009.

"Things are speeding up and improving all the time. I've learned more in the last seven years than I did in the previous 20," she stated. Williams is one of the top leading experts in the United Kingdom, and aside from being a professor, she is also the director of Cardiff University's UK Dementia Research Institute, who has been studying the disease for 30 years already.

Through this new discovery, Williams sees an optimistic view that advanced gene therapies will reveal more about the disease through the leading doctors, researchers, and patients and families to a treatment that will decrease the chances or slow the progression of the disease.

Williams added that once the researchers already know where to start looking, they can study the effects that genes have on specific brain activity, along with an improved understanding from studies outside the United Kingdom.

Progression Through the Years

According to Alzheimer's Disease International's data, the disease afflicts 850,000 people each year, with more than 10 million cases annually around the globe. Although not all dementia symptoms can lead to this, Alzheimer's is the leading diagnosis which means targeting it will be more important.

Based on decades of research regarding Alzheimer's and dementia revealed that there is not a single cure for the disease. However, the treatment will need to take a more holistic approach by attacking its various causes from any angle.

Interesting Engineering reported that Williams' team revealed that the pace of progress can lead to some treatment by 2040. "By 2040 I think we'll be in the position to offer a range of treatment and we might not know exactly why, but one of them will be able to act on the huge range of causes," she noted.

Also Read: AI Predicts Alzheimer's Risk With Above 90% Accuracy

As per a report last month, the voluntary health organization Alzheimer's Association revealed that patients could double in 2050 due to various challenges with the disease. This includes a lack of communication with doctors and other health professionals and missed opportunities for early-stage diagnoses.

Related Article: New Neuron Production in Mice Found Effective in Restoring Memories in Alzheimer's Disease

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
EVs prove to be sporty and powerful vehicles in the market, minus the noisy and carbon-emitting engine ICE cars have, with the Chevrolet Blazer EV SS proving it on the Daytona International Speedway. In a new promotional video from Chevy, they showcase the power of the first SS trim in EVs, with a whopping 557 horsepower showcased on the track.

(Photo : Chevy Pressroom)

Professional NASCAR drivers from the Chevrolet team show just how fast the Chevy Blazer EV SS can do, teasing what the Police Pursuit can do as well.

Chevrolet Blazer EV SS Shows 557hp on the Daytona International Speedway

Chevrolet released a new video showcasing the power of the 2024 Blazer EV SS, and this clip, features the company's NASCAR team testing its capabilities on the track. The team went on to test the first SS (Super Sport) trim electric vehicle on the Daytona International Speedway, featuring Chevy's NASCAR drivers, Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain.

The promotional video showed how much the Chevy Blazer EV SS can do, with its 557hp and 648 ft. lbs. of torque when stepping on the acceleration pedal, as demonstrated by Suarez.

It claims a zero to 60 mph speed in under four seconds, and the NASCAR racers claim that it sounds like the former vehicle of the same name. The range estimates 320 miles on a full charge with regenerative braking turned on.

Read Also: GM Switching to Google-Built Infotainment System, Removing Apple CarPlay From EVs

Chevy's Blazer EV SS is Coming this Year

The Blazer EV is set to hit the market this summer of 2023, with the initial trims to be showcased. Its SS trim will shortly follow later this year, and the famed Police Pursuit trim will be available directly to law enforcement institutions only.

Chevy is offering the Blazer EV for a starting price of $47,595 for the base trim, with the SS line to sell for a whopping $65,995.

Chevrolet's EV Lineup is Coming

General Motors' famed brand, the Chevrolet, is one to revamp its lineup that adheres to the United States plans to save the planet by reducing its carbon emissions with clean energy cars coming soon. It originally started with the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the compact car that features a battery-powered drivetrain, its first contender in the EV race.

Since its success, the company has already debuted different models that will join the Bolt EV in its quest towards clean energy.

One of the most anticipated cars from the company centers on a crossover SUV, with last year's announcement of the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV with the many trims it delivers. The EV was built under GM's Ultium platform, centering on a renowned drivetrain development powered by its powerful batteries for its next-gen electric cars.

The Blazer EV is the first of Chevy's electric lineup to feature the world-famous SS trim, known for being the company's performance line which was initially featured on the Camaro, Chevelle, El Camino, Monte Carlo, and more. With the recent showcase in one of the homes of American motorsport, the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV SS is set for the world, soon to bring its 557hp powers to all.

Related Article: Chevrolet 2024 Blazer EV Price, Range Unveiled! Could This Rival Tesla Model Y, Mustang Mach-E?

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
FreshBooks, a Canadian unicorn startup that produces cloud accounting software, recently received quite a bit of attention after it was discovered that its Amazon Web Services (AWS) Storage bucket containing employee information was left open and unprotected on the internet.

Uncovered Database Contained Employee Data from Over 160 Countries

This would have allowed anyone with the knowledge of where to look to access employee data that put its users in more than 160 countries across the globe at risk of identity theft and other cybercrime.

According to the story by Tech Radar, the discovery was made by the Cybernews research team in late January, who at first thought the database held only storage images and metadata of the company's blog.

Upon further examination, the team saw that it also contained backups of the website's source code and configurations, leading them to a login page with usernames, email addresses, and hashed passwords for all 121 WordPress users, as explained further by Cyber News.

The Need for Adequate Security: Why Businesses Need to Prepare for Cloud Computing

The recent security breach involving FreshBooks' insecure AWS Storage bucket exemplifies the vulnerability of information stored in the cloud, particularly when inadequate security protocols are implemented.

With the rapid rise of cloud computing and its move into mainstream use, companies large and small need to invest in adequate security measures to ensure they are prepared for any possible security threats, especially when dealing with sensitive customer information, further explained by Global Village Space.

Cautionary Tale: The Importance of Adequate Security in the Cloud

Unfortunately, FreshBooks, like many companies, failed to do so and were forced to suffer the consequences. A mere misconfiguration of an AWS storage bucket, in this case, was the cause of the breach and potentially put the personal information of millions of customers in danger.

The consequences of this breach are far-reaching and wide-ranging, not just for FreshBooks' customers but for companies everywhere. Companies need to be aware that when utilizing the cloud, it is absolutely essential to implement adequate levels of security to protect customer data.

Protecting Data with Enhanced Security Measures

Without these measures, the cloud - and a company's reputation - can be damaged beyond repair. To prevent such a breach from happening again, companies must take any necessary precautions to ensure their data is protected and secure.

This may include investing in data encryption systems, implementing multifactor authentication, and instituting a robust security policy. Companies should also constantly monitor their networks and accounts to identify malicious activity and keep up with the latest cybersecurity industry news and trends.

Read Also: South Korean Prosecutors Uncover $314M in Non-Recoverable, Illicit Assets Linked to Terraform Labs' Do Kwon

The Impact of a Data Security Breach on a Company's Reputation and Finances

Finally, it is important to remember that customers can expect companies to take responsible security measures to protect their data. A breach such as this can cause customers to lose trust in a company, leading to significant financial and reputational losses.

Taking preventive measures to protect sensitive customer data is not only good for a company's reputation and bottom line but also the responsible course of action for any business utilizing the cloud.

Related Article: Official Airbus Twitter Account Hack Goes Viral! Users Suspect Airline Employee

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
It may not be known to many, but April 11 is designated as the National Submarine Day, as more than 120 years ago on the same day, the United States Navy purchased its first modern sub for its fleet. The USS Holland is a national treasure now, especially as it paved the way for underwater exploration and for the country's defense technology to prosper.

Submarines may not be as important to many as their efforts are mostly unseen, but they provide massive power to add to fleets, particularly under the utilization of the country throughout the years.

National Submarine Day: How Did It Start?

(Photo : BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

According to National Today, April 11 marks a significant day in the history of the United States Navy as it commemorates National Submarine Day. This day is celebrated in honor of the U.S. Navy's first commissioned modern submarine, the USS Holland.

The submarine was purchased by the Navy on April 11, 1900, from John Phillip Holland, a pioneering Irish-American submarine designer.

The USS Holland was a significant milestone in the evolution of submarine technology. Its design incorporated features that would become standard in future submarines, such as a periscope for navigating and a modern weapons system for its offensive needs.

National Submarine Day is a day to celebrate the innovation and ingenuity of the engineers and designers who have worked tirelessly to develop the technology that makes submarines possible.

Read Also: UK Starts Construction on Dreadnought Nuclear Missile Submarine! Features, Completion Date, Other Details

The History Behind the USS Holland

Before the USS Holland, there was the USS Alligator which was the US Navy's first sub. It met a tragic end after encountering a storm that sank it in 1863.

The USS Holland was the first submarine designed specifically for military purposes and was a game-changer for naval warfare. Its commissioning marked the beginning of a new era in submarine technology, and the Navy's investment in the USS Holland paved the way for the development of modern submarines.

Submarines and the US Navy

(Photo : Pixabay)

Submarines may have been made for underwater military needs on its modernization, but it also brings significant developments toward underwater exploration and experiencing the deep sea. One company called U-Boat Worx features underwater weddings for an intimate feel, as well as parties from below the waters.

The US Navy is also developing its fleet to feature better weapons and firepower, particularly with its hypersonic missile integration into its existing fleet. This centers on the Zumwalt Class Destroyer, which aids its marine ship fleet and submarines in featuring better defensive systems in place.

April 11 marks National Submarine Day, a day to commemorate the USS Holland, the U.S. Navy's first modern submarine, and a game-changer in naval warfare. The Navy's investment in the USS Holland paved the way for the development of modern submarines.

Today, the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet is one of the most advanced and capable in the world, and National Submarine Day is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of the men and women who have served on submarines throughout history.

Related Article: US Navy Discovers Long-lost USS Albacore Submarine From WW2

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA's Juno spacecraft has completed its 50th close pass by Jupiter, capturing breathtaking images of the giant planet and its large moons Ganymede, Europa, and Io since its arrival in 2016.

The JunoCam imager on board the spacecraft has played a crucial role in capturing these images, with many of them being processed by citizen scientists.

NASA Collabs with Google

To commemorate the milestone, NASA has collaborated with Google Arts & Culture to showcase a selection of JunoCam images.

The collaboration provides a unique opportunity for individuals around the world to view and appreciate the spectacular images captured by Juno.

In addition, NASA has released a graphic consisting of 50 images that provide a glimpse into the data that Juno has returned so far.

The images, captured by several different instruments on the spacecraft, include stunning views of Earth, Jupiter, and its large moons.

NASA's Juno mission has provided invaluable insight into the giant planet and its moons. With JunoCam, the spacecraft has captured images of Jupiter's atmosphere, revealing swirling storms and atmospheric bands.

Additionally, the mission has led to the discovery of a new radiation belt surrounding the planet and has provided valuable information about Jupiter's gravitational field.

As Juno continues to orbit Jupiter, NASA hopes to gain further understanding of the planet and its moons. The Juno mission has already exceeded expectations, and scientists are eager to see what discoveries lie ahead.

Read Also: [LOOK] NASA Releases a Delightful 3D Animation of Jupiter's Cupcake-Looking Clouds

Juno's Space Objectives

NASA's Juno spacecraft was launched on August 5, 2011, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, aboard an Atlas V rocket.

The launch marked the beginning of a five-year journey to Jupiter, covering a distance of almost 2.8 billion kilometers.

Juno's primary objective was to study the planet Jupiter, including its origin, interior structure, atmosphere, and magnetosphere, to improve our understanding of the formation and evolution of the solar system.

Juno was also designed to study the planet's gravitational and magnetic fields and their interaction with the solar wind.

One of the key questions that Juno was designed to answer was how much water exists within Jupiter.

Scientists believe that this information would help in understanding how the gas giant was formed, as well as how it may have affected the distribution of water and other materials in the early solar system.

Another objective of the mission was to study Jupiter's poles, which have never been explored by a spacecraft before. Juno was designed to fly in a polar orbit around the planet, allowing it to study its poles in detail.

Juno was also designed to study Jupiter's enormous auroras, which are generated by the planet's magnetic field. Scientists hoped that by studying these auroras, they could learn more about the planet's magnetic field and how it interacts with the solar wind.

Related Article: NASA Juno Reveals Jupiter's True Colors In New Stunning Images

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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 China's "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.
South Korea's antitrust watchdog, the Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), has imposed a 42.1 billion won ($32 million) fine on Alphabet's Google, as per a report from TechCrunch.



The tech giant has been accused of blocking Korean developers from releasing mobile video games on a local competitor platform called One Store.

Google's Alleged Abuse of Market Dominance

According to the KFTC, Google required that Korean video game developers only distribute their new titles on the Play Store between June 2016 and April 2018.

In exchange, Google reportedly restricted the local game developers' ability to publish their work on One Store while providing in-app promotion and additional help for worldwide expansion.



One Store, a local competitor to Google's Play Store, was established in June 2016 by South Korea's three telcos, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, as well as internet giant Naver.

The KFTC reports that Google's local market share in the Android app market for mobile devices climbed from 80% to 85% in 2016 to about 90% to 95% in 2018.



The market share of One Shop, on the other hand, decreased from 15% to 20% in 2016 to roughly 5% to 10% in 2018.

Read Also: Google Allegedly Pays Activision Blizzard and Riot Games to Not Launch Competing App Stores, Epic Games Confirmed

Ensuring Fair Competition

By prohibiting the American tech giant from abusing its dominating position, the KFTC claimed that the action was intended to ensure fair competition in the app industry.



According to a press release from KTFC, selling games on Google Play and One Store accounts for more than 90% of all domestic sales.

According to the KFTC, Google's activities had an impact on gaming businesses, including both small and mid-sized game developers as well as major video game producers like NCSoft, Netmarble, and Nexon.



Google disputed any misconduct, saying that it had been an active participant in the KFTC's inquiry and decision-making process for the past five years and that it was confident no legal violations had occurred.



The business asserted that over the past ten years, Korean mobile game creators that have published their titles on Play have grown and successfully expanded across the globe.

In an emailed statement to TechCrunch, a spokesperson for Google said, "Google makes substantial investments in the success of developers, and we respectfully disagree with the KFTC's conclusions. We will carefully review the final written decision once it's shared with us to evaluate the next course of action."

This is not the first time Google has faced penalties in South Korea. The tech giant was hit with a $177 million fine by the KFTC in 2021 for allegedly abusing its position of market dominance in the Android operating system (OS) industry.

Related Article: Google Play Store Confirms Banking Malware Sharkbot Has Been Removed | All Fake Antivirus Apps Deleted?

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Exploring Hawaiian caves may be the key to finding signs of life on Mars, according to a recent study by NASA researchers.

Life from Mars on Mauna Loa?

In 2019, a team of researchers from NASA and other institutions, including undergraduate researcher Chloe Fishman, visited the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii to study microbial life forms that could survive in the dark and isolated subterranean environment of a "lava tube."

Fishman and her colleagues found that microbes thrived in the lava tube, even in areas that received no sunlight, likely by using chemicals in the rocks for nourishment.

The team discovered dozens of previously unidentified species of microbes, which could be similar to microbes that once lived on Mars or even microbes that live there today.

The lava tube studied by the team formed about 200 years ago, making it "young" on the geologic time scale of billions of years.

This makes it an ideal site for studying Martian lava tubes as they were billions of years ago when the Red Planet had active volcanoes, an atmosphere, a warmer climate, and flowing water.

These conditions may have fostered life on Mars in the same way that they did on Earth. Microbes may have relocated underground, according to experts, even though the Martian surface is now unfriendly to living things due to the planet's loss of its atmosphere, cooling, and drying out approximately 3 billion years ago.

Although various missions are now underway or being proposed to look for traces of ancient or present microorganisms on Mars, the researchers' discoveries may help in developing ways for collecting samples in the planet's lava tubes.

These findings could aid Martian rovers in identifying favorable locations to sample for traces of past or current life.

Read Also: NASA To Unveil 'Mars Habitat' Before Crew Enters Yearlong Mission in Ground-Based Structure

Comparable to the Martian Surface

According to Amy McAdam, a geochemist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the researchers also uncovered minerals in the Hawaiian lava tube that are comparable to those found on the Martian surface and below it.

About 20 half-teaspoon-sized samples from the lava tube were taken back by Fishman for laboratory analysis. She took DNA from the samples' cells and sequenced the genomes of 72 brand-new creatures.

She has so far examined the genomes of two microorganisms, allowing her to categorize them according to their traits and upload them to international databases.

"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 in a press release statement.

The study has been published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets .

Related Article: NASA Perseverance Rover's Lightsaber Image Excites 'Star Wars' Fans; Here's What the Metal Tube Really Is

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Alibaba's ChatGPT-like AI model has been unveiled.

As of writing, the Chinese multinational technology firm hasn't rolled out Tongyi Qianwen, its new large language model. But, thanks to its latest demonstration, consumers can know how the new competitor of ChatGPT works.

If you want to try the new Tongyi Qianwen, here is what you need to know about this artificial intelligence.

Alibaba's ChatGPT-Like AI Unveiled!

According to CNN Business' latest report, Alibaba will integrate its new ChatGPT-like AI model into its Tmall Genie smart speakers.

Also Read: Short Video AI Generators May Come Anytime! NY-Based Startup Claims Its Systems Only Needs Few Words

Aside from this, Ding Talk, Alibaba's official workplace messaging platform, will also take advantage of the new Tonyi Qianwen AI.

During its initial rollout, the Ding Talk platform and Tmall Genie smart speakers will be the first products to receive Tongyi Qianwen.

After that, Alibaba plans to release the AI model to more BABA applications, from mapping services to e-commerce and more!

Alibaba Group CEO Daniel Zhang demonstrated the new AI model during a recent conference in Beijing, China.

Tongyi Qianwen to Change Alibaba

Via Reuters, Zhang stated that the new Tongyi Qianwen would drastically change how Alibaba conducts its productions. He added that the new ChatGPT-like AI would also impact how people work and live.

Alibaba Group said that its cloud unit would open the Tongyi Qianwen will open registrations on Friday, April 14. Once registrations open, Alibaba's clients can use the new ChatGPT-like AI to build their customized large language models.

"We are at a technological watershed moment, driven by generative AI and cloud computing," said Alibaba Group's CEO.

If you want to learn more about the new Tongyi Qianwen AI model of Alibaba, click this link.

Here are other stories we recently wrote about AI models:

Previously, an alleged suicide encouragement by the AI chatbot Eliza led to the surprising death of a Belgian man. We also reported about Meta's new "Segment Anything" AI model, designed to detect any object within images.

For more news updates about artificial intelligence and other similar innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Baidu Claims Fake Ernie Bot Apps are on Apple App Store-Leading to Lawsuits!

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Sky News, an Australian broadcasting company, announced that it quit TikTok due to the app's posed risks.

Sky News Australia's Digital Editor, Jack Houghton, announced this decision.

He said that Sky News Australia boycotted TikTok as calls grow for media companies to leave the "Beijing-controlled" social media platform.

"The risks are far too great for any serious news publisher to ignore, and the gains are negligible at best," said Jack Houghton in his official Sky News report.

Sky News Quits TikTok!

According to CNN Business Edition, Sky News Australia believes that TikTok is a spy network pretending to be a social media platform.

Also Read: TikTok Labels for Russian State Propaganda Accounts Are Inconsistent, Study Claims

The news agency's digital editor added that it was already proven that TikTok illegally acquires the personal data of public citizens, politicians, and journalists.

Because of this, Houghton urges other news agencies to stop trading security and integrity for a few "worthless views."

This is true for Sky News Australia since its official TikTok account only has over 65,000 followers.

Houghton said that they would no longer publish on TikTok in favor of adopting a consistent approach to security so that their audiences and journalists would be protected.

Will Other Australian News Companies Follow?

Sky News Australia is the first major Australian broadcaster to boycott TikTok, and other news agencies are already considering leaving the social media platform.

Some of them are already taking their first steps. For example, BBC U.K. recently required employees to remove TikTok from their corporate devices.

Houghton criticized this, saying that BBC U.K. doesn't want their staff to fall victim to TikTok's security risks but still publishes news on the platform.

As of writing, it is still unclear if other major Australian news companies will follow the recommendation of Sky News.

But, since the statements made by Jack Houghton against TikTok are pretty serious, there's a chance some of them would be encouraged to do so.

In other news, alleged new TikTok solutions could solve data problems.

Recently, a million-dollar TikTok fine was implemented by a Britain data watchdog.

For more news updates about TikTok, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: New Study Claims TikTok FYP Automatically Shows Self-Harm Videos; Suicide Hashtags Receive Billions of Views

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Blurry Samsung Galaxy S23 photos disappoint many users.

When the new Galaxy S23 lineup was launched, numerous tech enthusiasts claimed that it would be the top camera smartphone in the market.

The South Korean gadget manufacturer even boasted that the Galaxy S23 Ultra was used to shoot new movies.

However, it seems like the Galaxy S23 models also have flaws, as many Samsung users claim that the blurry and smudged images are caused by a camera hardware defect.

Blurry Samsung Galaxy S23 Photos

According to Android Police's latest report, blurry and smudged images affect only non-Ultra Samsung Galaxy S23 models.

Also Read: Huawei Gets 5G Connectivity for Two Models Despite US Sanctions: P60 and P60 Pro Get Exemptions?

This means that only the S23 and S23+ units are affected.

"Many Galaxy S23/S23+ have a hardware issue on the main camera that causes permanent blurred and smudged spots," claimed Redditor u/Switch01.

Because other users also believe that the blurred images are caused by a hardware defect, many of them decided to send their smartphones back to Samsung service centers.

But, since Samsung denies that there's a camera hardware issue, their S23 and S23+ smartphones were re-delivered in the same condition.

Why does Galaxy S23 capture blurry images?

Samsung explained that the blurry images are caused by the big camera sensor, which delivers a DSLR-like bokeh effect.

There's a chance that this is true based on the images shared by the S23 consumers. In their blurry photos, you can see that the blur effects only appear on the sides.

However, this could be a serious problem if users want to capture essential documents. As of writing, affected Galaxy S23 owners are advised to have a replacement unit.

If that doesn't work, the best thing they can do is wait for a software update from Samsung that can solve the blurry photo problem.

While Samsung hasn't confirmed if it will fix the blur images of its non-Ultra S23 models, it is quite busy working on other products.

These include the new Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, which could be released before 2023 ends.

Recently, the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 firmware update was also rolled out in the United States.

For more news updates about Galaxy S23 and other Android smartphones, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Samsung Exynos Modems Found Vulnerable to Security Bugs, Luckily There's a Patch-up

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According to reports, Microsoft and Citizen Lab have found out that Israel-based spyware provider QuaDream is linked to the latest widespread hack of iPhones.

Unlike NGOs, QuaDream is operating as a little-known supplier of malicious software. While its fame is not yet recognized, it should be noted that its notorious plan to deploy zero-day exploits should be on the radar of cybersecurity experts.

QuaDream Spyware Has Compromised iPhones of Journalists

Spreading malware comes in many forms and shapes. Some hackers use a device to spread the infection across other devices, while other cyber criminals force the victim to click on the malicious link to activate the virus.

While one of the most common methods to deploy malware or spyware is via links, QuaDream can access the target's gadget by sending malicious calendar invites-and clicking on suspicious links is no longer required.

According to Reuters, the low-profile spyware maker based in Israel remains a stiff competitor to NSO Group, a dangerous firm that the US blacklisted last year following reports of harassment and abuse.

QuaDream appears to operate in silence, as Microsoft Associate General Counsel Amy Hogan-Burney described it as a group that continues to "thrive in the shadows."

Citizen Lab conducted a thorough internet scanning of QuaDream's operations. It turns out that it's active in activating its servers across several countries, including UAE, Czech Republic, Ghana, Mexico, Bulgaria, Singapore, Romania, Hungary, and Uzbekistan.

According to the findings of Microsoft, the spyware has compromised the iPhones of over five victims. The Redmond tech giant said the affected people were politicians, journalists, or NGO employees.

QuaDream hackers planted the spyware as zero-day for iOS 14. Citizen Lab said the group disguised the exploit as "malicious calendar invites" with embedded dates.

Per Citizen Lab's senior researcher Bill Marczak, users won't see any notification about the spyware, making it harder to detect.

To protect the victims' names, the company vowed to keep them anonymous. What's more, they came from different countries, making it even more difficult for some of them to come out.

"Nobody necessarily wants to be the first in their community to come out and say, 'Yes, I was targeted,'" he said.

Related Article: Public Phone Chargers Pose Security Risks for Users, FBI Warns

QuaDream is Focusing on iOS Only After Android Shutdown

In an interview with TechCrunch, an unknown person who knows about the spyware industry said that QuaDream bypasses the export regulator in Israel. The source reveals the company's recent deals with other nations in Africa.

The person adds that QuaDream's first customer outside Saudi Arabia was Singapore before it served Uzbekistan, the UAE, and Ghana.

To make way for iOS, the Israeli spyware maker decided to close the doors for its Android division.

Speaking of spyware, Apple launched Lockdown mode to block Pegasus from attacking the users. Because the spyware was already considered a "threat to democracy," the Cupertino firm released an update to prevent NSO Group from accessing the victim's device.

Read Also: Google Finds ISPs Helping Attackers Spread Hermit Spyware on iOS and Android

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Elon Musk changed his Twitter name to Harry Bolz and then restored his account's original name.

Of course, many of his critics and fans were confused by the temporary Twitter account change of the billionaire.

The question is, why did the tech CEO decide to change his official Twitter account's name to Harry Bolz?

Since it is Elon Musk, the answer can be unpredictable. But he already explained why he did it.

Elon Musk Briefly Changes Twitter Name to Harry Bolz

Via his official Twitter post, Elon Musk explained why he changed the name of his Twitter account to Harry Bolz.

Also Read: Twitter Circle is Broken, Showing Tweets to Random People-New Privacy Issue?

"Tbh, I'm just hoping a media org that takes itself way too seriously writes a story about Harry Bolz," said the billionaire.

Tbh, Im just hoping a media org that takes itself way too seriously writes a story about Harry Bolz   Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 10, 2023

His tweet generated over 11 million views, 75,000 likes, and 6,000 retweets. In the comment section, a Twitter user posted a screenshot of the news agencies that covered the temporary Twitter name change of Musk.

Meanwhile, other Twitter users criticized the news companies, saying that the media covers pointless stories.

the media has too many unnecessary jobs and have to fill stuff up with inane amounts of pointless stories, so youll definitely see at least one   Shibetoshi Nakamoto (@BillyM2k) April 10, 2023

Although Elon Musk already answered their questions, other people still believe that the brief Twitter name change of the tech CEO means other things.

Elon Musk is Promoting New Cryptocurrency?

Some critics believe that the Harry Bolz Twitter name that Elon recently used hints at other things.

If you are a fan of Musk, then you know that he likes to share cryptic messages to excite people.

Because of this attitude of his, enthusiasts claim that Harry Bolz is actually a new cryptocurrency that the billionaire is promoting.

According to HITC's report, a Harry Bolz digital coin was reportedly launched after the tech CEO used the name for his Twitter account.

If you want to learn other speculated meanings for Musk's Twitter name change, you can click this link.

Here are other stories we recently wrote about Twitter:

Recently, Germany accused Twitter of neglect after the social media platform failed to delete illegal hate speech in the country.

We also reported Twitter's action against Substack, marking Substack links as unsafe.

For more news updates about Twitter and other online platforms, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Twitter Boosts VIPs in the Feed? Reports Claim Elon Musk, MrBeast, POTUS Biden, and MORE Benefits

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The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released new guidelines for clean hydrogen production. Nikkei Asia reports that these criteria state that hydrogen produced from fossil fuels, such as natural gas, can be considered clean if the carbon intensity of the production process meets specific standards.

The IEA's comprehensive set of guidelines is designed to assess the carbon intensity of hydrogen production. Under these standards, one kilogram of hydrogen must produce less than seven kilograms of carbon dioxide to qualify as clean.

Green Hydrogen

Although hydrogen fuel can be burned without emitting carbon dioxide, the process of producing it can be carbon-intensive. Green hydrogen is typically produced using renewable energy sources, whereas blue hydrogen is made by combining fossil fuels with carbon-capture technology.

However, the lack of clear standards defining green or blue hydrogen has hampered the growth of the hydrogen market. This ambiguity raises the possibility that investments in clean hydrogen will fail to meet future benchmarks.

The new rules allow blue hydrogen producers who use fossil fuels to be considered clean if they use carbon-capture technology to keep emissions below the 7 kg threshold.

Statista tells us that between 2021 and 2030, global demand for hydrogen is expected to double nearly. In 2021, the global demand for hydrogen was 94.3 million metric tons per year.

The majority of hydrogen is consumed in the chemical and refining industries and is still primarily derived from fossil fuels.

How the Guidelines Will Affect the Market

While the new guidelines are not legally binding, they will undoubtedly impact investment decisions in the hydrogen market.

Nikkei Asia reports that the Japanese government is looking to update its hydrogen strategy and is considering blue hydrogen generated from natural gas as a potential fuel source in the short term.

In related news, Mint reports that the Indian government unveiled India's new green hydrogen policy in February, promising cheaper renewable power and a 25-year fee waiver for inter-state power transmission for projects completed before June 2025.

It also includes land in renewable energy parks and mega manufacturing zones to help local industries transition away from fossil fuels.

Hydrogen in the Global Energy Mix

Hydrogen is predicted to play a significant role in the global energy mix, covering 12% of global end-use energy demand in 2050 if the world achieves net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Read Also: MIT Study Shows Shutting Down Nuclear Plants Could Lead To 5,000 Pollution-Related Deaths per Year

The Hydrogen Council and US-based consultancy McKinsey & Co. predict that global demand for hydrogen and its derivative products will reach 660 million tonnes in 2050.

Hydrogen and ammonia may become popular as sustainable alternatives to traditional fuels in the steel, aviation, and shipping industries.

The adoption of clear standards for clean hydrogen production is a significant step toward promoting the growth of the hydrogen market. Hydrogen is expected to play an increasingly important role as the world's energy mix shifts away from carbon.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Norled's MF Hydra: First Clean Energy, Liquid Hydrogen-powered Ferry Now Operational in Norway

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Baidu, Chinas largest search engine company, has filed lawsuits against Apple Inc. and other app developers over the distribution of fake copies of its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot app, Ernie Bot on the Apple App Store.

The company announced that it has filed lawsuits not only against Apple but also against the developers behind the apps in Beijing Haidian Peoples Court, according to a Reuters report on Saturday.

For those unaware, Ernie Bot (Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration) is an AI chatbot service product of Baidu, which was released on March 17, 2023. It is an advanced natural language understanding model that is designed to comprehend and generate human-like text responses.

The Chinese AI chatbot is also touted to be Chinas answer to AI chatbot technology like U.S. based OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard.

In a statement posted on its official Baidu AI WeChat account, Beijing-based Baidu explained that there is no official app for Ernie currently available. It further added that any Ernie Bot app available on the App Store or other platforms is counterfeit until an official announcement is made.

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 along with a photograph of a document showing its court filing.

Until our companys official announcement, any Ernie app you see from App Store or other stores are fake, it said.

When Reuters searched the Apple App Store on Saturday, it found at least four counterfeit apps with the Chinese-language name of the Ernie bot that was still available.

Unlike its competitors, Baidu has not yet made the Ernie Bot app widely available for public use. Those interested in utilizing the AI chatbot are required to request and obtain access codes from Baidu. Only selected users who have obtained valid access codes can use the AI chatbot app.

In its statement, Baidu has also warned against individuals selling access codes for the Ernie Bot app.

Apple has yet to issue an official statement on the lawsuits filed against the company and its App Store developers.
Electric car maker Tesla 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.
Vietnam enjoys sharp rise in rice exports

Vietnam reported a sharp increase in rice exports in the first quarter of this year with over 1.85 million tonnes worth over USD 981 million, up 23.40 percent in quantity and 34.30 percent in value compared to the same period last year.









Illustrative photo

Statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that Vietnamese rice had average prices of USD 531 per tonne, up 9.20 percent on last years prices and marked a decade-high.



The Philippines remained Vietnam's largest rice export market in the first quarter with a value of USD 450.40 million, up 45 percent against the same period last year and accounted for 45.80 percent of Vietnam's total rice export value. In March alone, rice exports to the Philippines soared with value reaching USD 245.70 million, up 295 percent from March last year.



Vietnam also earned USD 199 million from exporting rice to China, up 119 percent on year, making it the second largest importer of Vietnamese rice.



Vietnamese rice will likely continue to be sought after in the second quarter of the year as demand has been on the rise in major markets including the Philippines, China and Africa, said the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).



Nguyen Ngoc Nam, President of the VFA, said Vietnamese rice has been fetching good prices on the international market despite a gloomy outlook for the global economy as countries look to stock up on food for uncertain times ahead.



In addition, major free trade agreements including the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) have seen tariffs on Vietnamese rice reduced by as much as EUR175 per tonne, giving Vietnamese premium rice an advantage in European markets.



As demand soars, exporters have been trying to purchase additional amounts from farmers to maximise efficiency and profit.



Le Thanh Tung, deputy head of the plant cultivation department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said rice production this year for the Mekong Delta alone is projected to reach 24 million tonnes. Consumption for the delta and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's most populous city, will stay at around 11 million tonnes, leaving 13 million tonnes for export.
Actor Lee Jung-jae, who will appear in the upcoming "Star Wars" series "The Acolyte" on Disney+, says he jumped on the project despite the language barrier because it's "Star Wars" -- something no actor can resist.

Lee was speaking at the Star Wars Celebration Europe event in London last Friday.

He said working on the project has been a special experience, as it is his first foreign-language series.

"English is not my first language, so if it wasn't 'Star Wars,' I might have declined. Who would say no to 'Star Wars'? And they said I can use a lightsaber," he said through an interpreter.
An Iranian delegation will travel to the Saudi capital later this week.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday the resumption of commercial flights between Tehran and Riyadh.

According to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Reza Enayati, preparations have been finalized, and an Iranian delegation will travel to the Saudi capital later this week.

A technical delegation from Saudi Arabia will visit the Saudi embassy in Tehran and discuss preparations for its reopening, ISNA news agency reported.

The two countries announced on March 10 to have reached an agreement (an initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping) that includes the resumption of diplomatic relations and the reopening of embassies and diplomatic missions within two months.

The resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will have positive impacts on regional peace, stability and security, says Iran's Foreign Ministry https://t.co/cnklaAnW8a #ChinaAndMideast pic.twitter.com/1Cznz4FiFP  China Xinhua News (@XHNews) April 10, 2023

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 with immediate effect.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani highlighted the positive impact of the Beijing-brokered agreement to normalize ties between the two countries. In this regard, the official said that this would strengthen regional cooperation as well as boost trade and economic relations.
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In the past three years, Beijing has paid 3 million yuan in wages to more than 5,11 migrant workers

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First Republic Bank announces layoffs of up to 25% of its workforce after losing 40% of its deposits

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After the occupation of a laboratory in Khartoum. World Health warns of 'major biological risk' in Sudan

England: a crucial but "not decisive" match between City and Arsenal, according to Guardiola

The President of South Africa announced the country's intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court

Lavrov: The United States wants to be a sponsor of the Middle East settlement, but they are not neutral

Britain does not intend to eliminate the consequences of the use of depleted uranium shells by the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Passport, identity card: why is it so long to renew your papers?

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

A US fund declares Spain in "technical default" and asks for the reimbursement of government bonds for 910 million

No, Los Serrano are not back: this will be 'the reunion' for the 20 years of the mythical series

Why is Mr. DeSantis Japan? Florida Governor explains the reason for his visit to Japan

Morante de la Puebla explodes against the box of Seville: "You have no shame"

Politico: The EU intends to withdraw four countries from the zone of influence of Russia and China

"Discrimination of pure water": the Polish airline refused to put tennis player Dyachenko on the flight because of the passport of the Russian Federation

 Communities 2019 - Privacy

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The government on Monday launched an inter-agency team to fight drug crimes amid public perception that they are on the rise.

Some 840 investigators, police and customs officials and other ministry officials will join the team, which will have access to all information from searches and seizures to confiscated proceeds from narcotics.
Two found dead after flooding in Israel



Jerusalem, April 11 (AFP) Apr 11, 2023



Two people have been found dead after torrential rainfall caused flooding in southern Israel, authorities said Tuesday.

Heavy rains and high winds since Monday have caused rivers to flood near two key north-south highways, while several roads are blocked near the Red Sea resort of Eilat.

The emergency services said they had stepped up operations to rescue holidaymakers caught by floods during a peak travel period, as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincides with Jewish Passover and Christian Easter.

"The army and the emergency services recently located the bodies of the two people missing in the flood," the army said in a statement Tuesday.

The bodies of a man and a woman were found in the Aravah region of the Negev desert, police said, after earlier reporting that two people were missing near the area's highway.

Some 60 people have been rescued so far, including some who police said had been "swept away in their vehicles".

Police said Tuesday afternoon they were expecting more floods across the country.

Another woman earlier reported missing was found to be safe.
Confidential U.S. documents that were leaked on social media last week raise strong suspicions that the CIA wiretapped South Korea and other allies. The cache includes sensitive conversations between high-ranking officials at the Office of National Security about the indirect supply of munitions to Ukraine. The presidential office was tight-lipped about the breach, saying the first priority is to assess the veracity of the latest revelations and raised suspicions that certain forces could be attempting to drive a rift between the U.S. and its allies. The government could check the veracity of the revelations simply by asking former presidential security chief Kim Sung-han, who is mentioned in the leaked documents and stepped down just a couple of weeks ago, if the conversations happened. If electronic eavesdropping did occur, then the government must take proper diplomatic steps to address the situation.

But it must remember that spying makes no distinction between friend and foe. That is an open secret in the intelligence community, and the U.S. is not alone when it comes to electronic eavesdropping. The so-called Five Eyes intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S. habitually spy on their allies, and South Korea also spies on other nations. This is a national security matter and has nothing to do with spying on individual citizens.

This is not the first time that the U.S. has been accused of widespread wiretapping. Edward Snowden, a former American computer intelligence consultant revealed in 2013 that the U.S. eavesdropped on the e-mails and phone calls of South Korea, Germany and other allies. Even then German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone was bugged. This practice will continue as long as nations exist, and it would be foolish of a government to make too much of it.
As a general rule, we tend to see makeup as frivolous and superficial, as if it lacked relevance beyond its aesthetic function. However, according to Canadian poet Daphne B.s book Made-Up: A True Story of Beauty Culture under Late Capitalism, it is a cultural artifact that explains a great deal about the world today. Put differently, makeup offers an interesting way to analyze socioeconomic reality because it touches on issues of race, politics, economics and social media. In our current age of selfies, makeup has become increasingly important.

For example, many celebrities now have their own makeup brands. Rihanna, Selena Gomez and Drew Barrymore and others have capitalized on their public images to sell cosmetics. Kylie Jenner has built a veritable empire by selling makeup kits with lipstick and eyeliner. The makeup industry generates billions of dollars and inspires people around the world, including the author. Daphne B is a big consumer of makeup and views a lot of YouTube beauty tutorials. That passion has put her in a paradoxical situation because makeup also has negative associations, particularly with racism and oppression. But can things be different in the future?

Question. In the book you say that you wear makeup every day. What is your relationship with makeup like, and why is it so important to you?

Answer. I started wearing makeup at a young age. As I explain in my book, I had a very controlling mother; [she] controlled my body, my appearance. Putting on makeup [seemed like] a way to free myself, to regain some power [and] self-determination, since I could alter my appearance and decide what I wanted to look like. I also say that, for me, makeup is above all a ritual, like having a coffee, for example. It helps me refocus and start my day. Its something I enjoy doing and give myself permission to do, despite my busy schedule. I realize that for some people, makeup might feel like an obligation, but thats not the relationship I have with it. For me, its pure pleasure, playing with colors and textures.

Q. You also spend a lot of time on YouTube watching makeup videos. At what point does makeup merge with sociology?

A. I spend a lot of time on YouTube and actually researched the sociology of social media at university. Watching tutorials, for me, is a bit like doing social studies. There are all kinds of communities on the web, and the beauty community on YouTube is one of those niches that is full of influencers, feuds and dramas. Its not just about makeup, but about human and economic relationships. A whole market that has been turned upside down with the appearance of influencers. If we want to understand contemporary business, fashion and trends nowadays, we have to look at influencers, the economy of influence and the emotional bonds they create with their followers.

Q. Yet you argue that makeup is still seen negatively. Why is that?

A. For several reasons Some of them go back to a binary conception of reality, implemented by Greek philosophers like Plato. Its been a long time! But hey, these dualities have shaped our conception of the world and continue to do so. We have for example privileged the mind over the body, the inside over the outside. Makeup alters the body and its surface [and] is thus immediately degraded. Obviously, it has historically been associated with women, [who are] considered inferior, and sex workers.

We also tend to associate makeup with lies, subterfuge... In fact, makeup is a technology of the self and a technology of transformation. The real problem is that whatever changes or is fluid (and not stable), is scary. It plunges us into insecurity because it is nearly impossible to access certainty. Human beings like to believe that things are stable, unchanging. But we are constantly changing, mutating, aging, etc.

Q. For all these reasons, makeup is seen as something shameful, to be used in secret.

A. True. Ovid speaks of makeup as something women must use in secret in the Art of Love. [Its] something shameful. In fact, women are forced to play paradoxical roles, [like] the mother and the whore; this is also implied in the no makeup makeup look. We want makeup that does not look like makeup. We criticize makeup because we believe it hides something, some kind of truth, but we also ask women to wear makeup while hiding the fact that they [are] wear[ing] it. [Its] total hypocrisy. In this sense, it would be subversive to look made up, to [claim] your blush, your lipstick, your kohl.

Q. But in todays selfie culture, it will become the product of the century.

A. Thats kind of whats going on already. Our way of communicating and staging ourselves socially is incredibly visual, thanks to social media and the way they are designed. We always have an audience at hand. So yes, what alters the appearance of the face, the organ that we photograph the most, is very much [a] trend.

Lets also think about our hands, which we often see in selfies. Manicures are becoming more and more popular and creative. We can also think of the filters that are applied to our faces in terms of digital makeup. Makeup is a commodity that markets itself well on social [media], and that influencers can endorse easily. Selling makeup is also a way to make money, because of the profit margins [involved]. So, [makeup] is a commodity that is easily marketed by lots of celebrities.

Q. Youve said that you consume a lot of makeup, which creates a number of contradictions for you, such as the fact that it oppresses you and makes you feel better at the same time.

A. True! In fact, the whole book insists on the paradox that makeup represents, because I believe that it is constitutive of our century. I weave this paradox through the color schmoney, a dirty gray color that represents the violence of capital, as well as the money made clandestinely in order to survive. To live in the 21st century, to consume in the 21st century, is to occupy a paradoxical position. Finally, makeup is never good or bad in essence. Everything depends on its context.

Daphne B.

Q. Thats not the only makeup-related contradiction you mention in the book. You also explain that using makeup represents an intimate moment for you, but on social media, companies use it to sell more products with the hashtag #selfcare.

A. Of course The whole self-care thing has been picked up by companies that have capitalized on the formula. Its now a slogan rather than a practice. Self-care can mean reading for 15 minutes before going to bed or taking a walk in the park. In fact, I am especially critical of the political dimension that has been attached to self-care, and which has largely deviated from its initial context. [The quote] self-care as an act of political warfare comes from the diary of the poet Audre Lorde, a black lesbian [who had] cancer. She explained that taking care of herself is a radical gesture, because her existence is improbable in a system that only wants to erase her, that wishes her [dead].

Q. You also discuss makeups negative aspects in terms of the environment, labor exploitation, racism and sexism.

A. Of course, makeup has a negative impact on the environment. But [that] is [true] of any merchandise. I think for example of cars, cell phones... It is the same [with] racism. We live in a racist world. In fact, we had to wait till Fenty in 2017 for the industry to be more inclusive in terms of foundation shades. If we want makeup to stop contributing to racism, sexism and pollution, its society that needs to be changed, not makeup. Everything that is inserted into a capitalist context participates in capitalism.

Q. How can makeup help change these dynamics?

A. I think that one way of changing the world, perhaps, is precisely to accept the change, the transformation that makeup highlights. Ultimately, we die. That, too, is a transformation that must be accepted. And if we manage to develop a more peaceful relationship with our ephemerality and fluidity, perhaps we would be less driven to accumulate wealth, regardless of the violence and destruction that this generates. For me, capitalism is also the negation of something. [Its] the fantasy of an omnipotence that would overcome death.

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Insurance commissioner Jim Donelon is retiring this year, and lawmakers are considering making the position appointed rather than elected.
Migrant worker Rafael Galomo and other workers gathered at the home of Mario Galomo to speak out against poor conditions in their workplaces from deportation originated partially in Louisiana seafood plants on Sunday, April 2, 2023 in Crowley, La.. The also talked about raising alarm bells over work hours, lack of pay, dilapidated housing and other conditions in crawfish plants where they work.
Nandi Bear, Kongamato, and Mokele-Mbembe are legendary unidentified animal creatures roaming the wilderness of Africa like Bigfoot roams the forests of the Pacific Northwest and Unicorns in the swamps of Florida.

Some examples of unidentified creatures are Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, Nandi Bear, Unicorns, Kongamato, Mokele-Mbembe and Chupacabra.

Nandi Bear

While Bigfoot, Nandi Bear, Unicorns, Kongamato, and Mokele-Mbembe and other unidentified creatures are often dismissed as legends or hoaxes, millions of people believe that they could represent undiscovered species or extinct animals. This possibility can inspire scientific inquiry and exploration, as people seek to uncover the truth behind these stories of supernatural creatures. The most reported unidentified creatures and legends in Africa are:

The Nandi Bear is a creature reportedly found in the forests of East Africa, described as a large, bear-like animal with shaggy fur and sharp claws. Some people believe it is a surviving population of prehistoric creatures like the Chalicotherium, while others suggest it may be a type of hyena or a large baboon.

Kongamato is a winged creature that has been reported in parts of Zambia, Angola, and Congo-Brazzaville. It is said to resemble a pterosaur or a large bat and is rumored to attack humans and livestock.

Mokele-Mbembe is a creature reportedly found in the Congo-Brazzaville Basin, described as a large, dinosaur-like animal that inhabits the swamps and rivers of the region. Some people believe it is a surviving population of sauropod dinosaurs, while others suggest it may be a large species of crocodile or hippopotamus.

Nandi Bear unidentified creature in the forests of East Africa.

The Nandi Bear is a unidentified creature creature that has been reported in the forests of East Africa, particularly in the regions near the Nandi Hills in Kenya. The Nandi Bear is described as a large, bear-like animal with shaggy fur, sharp claws, and powerful jaws. It is said to stand on its hind legs and can be as tall as 6 feet. Some reports suggest that it has a sloping back and a distinctive, bushy tail.

The Nandi Bear is said to be nocturnal and aggressive, attacking humans and livestock that venture too close to its habitat. It is also rumored to have a loud, terrifying roar that can be heard from miles away. The Nandi Bear is a part of the folklore of the local tribes in the region, and stories of its existence have been passed down through generations.

Some people believe that Nandi Bear is a supernatural creature, while others think that it could be a surviving population of prehistoric animals, such as the Chalicotherium. Some researchers have suggested that The Nandi Bear may be a type of hyena or a large baboon that has been misidentified as a bear. Others have speculated that it could be a new species of animal that has yet to be discovered by science.

Kongamato creature of Zambia, Angola, and Congo-Brazzaville.

Kongamato is an unidentified creature creature that has been reported in parts of Zambia, Angola, and Congo-Brazzaville, particularly in the regions near the rivers and swamps. The name Kongamato comes from the local language, which means breaker of boats or overturner of boats, as it is said to attack and capsize canoes and other watercraft. Kongamato is described as a flying creature that resembles a pterosaur or a large bat. It is said to have a wingspan of up to 7 feet and a long, pointed beak filled with sharp teeth.

Kongamato is said to be aggressive attacking boats

Many people who have witnessed the creature describes it as having leathery skin and a long, thin tail, while others suggest it has feathers. Kongamato is said to be aggressive and territorial, attackingx humans and livestock that venture too close to its habitat. Some reports suggest that it emits a screeching or hissing sound when threatened or provoked.

The flying Kongamato is a part of the folklore of the local tribes in the Southern region of Africa and stories of its existence have been passed down through generations. Some people believe that Kongamato is a supernatural creature, while others think that it could be a living species of pterosaur that has somehow survived to the present day. Many believe that sightings of Kongamato may be misidentifications of known animals, such as large fruit bats or birds of prey.

Mokele-Mbembe Mokele-Mbembe is a unidentified creature creature in the Congo-Brazzaville Basin.

Egg of Egg of the unidentified creature Mokele-Mbembe
Private investors have snapped up two retail properties in Melbournes south-east. A shop at 1/11 Hunt Way, Pakenham, sold at auction for $780,000, reflecting a yield of 5.17 per cent. Occupied by Thiras Thai Massage, the 89 square metre outlet returns annual income of $40,324.

At 90 Nepean Highway, Mentone, a 90 sq m property leased to massage therapists Recharge 90 for 10 years, plus options to 2043, was sold $558,000  a yield of 4.84 per cent. It has fixed 3 per cent annual rent increases.

The Red Hill Village shopping centre.

Burgess Rawsons Shaun Venables, Justin Kramersh, David Napoleone and Romanor Falconer brokered the deals.

Venables said long-term leases at the properties was a major drawcard for investors.
Business damaged after ram raid in Melbourne

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Assaults in the states schools have jumped by 50 per cent over the past decade, rising to a level where police are notified of violence 10 times per school day on average.

The number of assaults in all schools was deemed so serious police were required to be called on 1992 occasions last year, up from 1297 in 2013, according to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data.

In March this year, a teacher from Maitland Grossmann High was charged after being filmed allegedly assaulting a student. In November last year, two girls were filmed bashing a classmate from Elderslie High at a bus stop, and in August, police said students filmed brawling outside LaSalle Catholic College in Bankstown were armed with knives and knuckle dusters.

NSW Education Minister Prue Car has announced a review into a controversial discipline policy introduced in 2022 which restricted the length and number of suspensions schools could issue  which some within the education sector have criticised as undermining teacher authority.
Supporters of jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sense theyre going to get a little more change out of Anthony Albaneses government than was on offer from Scott Morrisons outfit as they battle against the Australians proposed extradition from Britain to the US.

Friends of Assange (but not necessarily each other). Credit: John Shakespeare

Indeed, Assanges father John Shipton went so far on Tuesday as to say the recent visit of high commissioner Stephen Smith to Assange in Londons Belmarsh jail marked the beginning of the end of the saga.

Shipton made his optimistic claims as he and colleagues from the campaign launched an open letter by 48 Australian parliamentarians  many of them members of Albaneses government  calling on US Attorney-General Merrick Garland to drop the extradition proceedings.

But its some of the political personas making common cause over Assange that caught CBDs eye.
A gunman who pulled a semiautomatic gun from a bag and shot it during a dispute just north of Brisbane as part of an alleged crime spree remains on the run, with several people reporting sightings of him to police.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham told the public to hand over Mitchell James Wilson if they were harbouring him.

CCTV footage allegedly showing Mitchell James Wilson firing a gun at a Brendale business on Thursday. Credit: Queensland Police Service

Police on Sunday released chilling footage of the 27-year-old firing a semiautomatic weapon at a Brendale business as part of an alleged crime spree on Thursday.

Massingham said Wilson had allegedly been involved in a string of violent incidents that culminated in a Sunnybank home being set on fire about 9.15pm on Thursday.
From time to time one should listen to George Tabori and take the Holocaust with some degree of humor. The Hungarian theater director used to cite the polite deference his own father showed to a fellow prisoner outside the Auschwitz gas chamber: After you, Mr. Mandelbaum. Tabori, who worked in Hollywood, would understand it if we found a reasonable resemblance between Quentin Tarantinos films and Primo Levi. In films like Inglourious Basterds and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Tarantino used uchronia  a fictional time period  to rewrite the stories of Nazi Germany and the Manson family with a happy ending. There is no uchronic fiction in the life of Primo Levi, but it would sometimes seem so: Auschwitz, the industrial-scale extermination camp for people, not only did not kill him, but saved his life on two occasions. His survival meant the Nazis were letting escape their greatest enemy, a Jew who was a brilliant writer and who would go on to build a monument against oblivion.

The first time was in the Aosta Valley. Levi had joined the partisans fighting German-occupied areas of Italy without even knowing how to load a rifle. The fascist militias captured him in a punitive action and sentenced him to death. He confessed to being a Jew, and was instead put on a cattle train to Auschwitz. He had the number 174517 tattooed on his forearm and survived 11 months as slave labor in the satellite camp of Monowitz. The second time was at the end of the war, when the Red Army was approaching and the SS evacuated the lager in the dead of winter. He was not part of the death marches because he was sick with scarlet fever and quarantined in his barracks. His biographers even point to a third reason: Levi suffered episodes of clinical depression, and his condition as a witness to Nazi barbarity was a vital stimulus that saved him until the end.

If we accept that what happened on the morning of April 11, 1987 was a suicide, the happy ending of Tarantinos non-uchrony is broken. It is difficult to avoid feeling that Levi was a delayed victim of Nazism, that any trauma can be overcome except that of Auschwitz, sewn on his self 40 years later like the Star of David. That day, at 10:05 a.m., Levi opened the door of his home in Turin, walked down the landing, hugged the railing, and fell from a third-story stairwell. The impact on the marble floor killed him instantly.

The police report certified the suicide. But the Italian writer Ferdinando Camon has always held that it was an accidental death. In his book Conversazione con Primo Levi: Se ce Auschwitz, puo esserci Dio? (or Conversations with Primo Levi: If there is Auschwitz, can there be a God?, recently also published in Spanish) Camon went over his last conversations with Levi and included an introduction penned in 2014 in which he explains that the author of If this is a man (better known in the US by the title Survival in Auschwitz) sent him a letter shortly before he died  it arrived on April 14  full of projects and expectations (send me the Liberation article as soon as it comes out, find out if Gallimard wants more copies of my books).

Speaking recently inside his home in Padua, the 87-year-old Camon, a Strega Award winner for his fictional memoir Survival, no longer seemed so sure: I have my doubts, the suicide explanation does not convince me. If he jumped, he did not do it of his own free will, but because he had a void inside. Then Camon added: Those who committed suicide in the camps died because life was hell, and death was better than life. If Levi committed suicide, it was because of this. The problem is that for Levi the lager was the past But maybe it wasnt really the past. Maybe the lager never passes.

Philip Roth also found Levi very cheerful and vital in September 1986 when he visited him in Turin. And the Spanish writer Adolfo Garcia Ortega reconstructed Levis last hours in his 2002 novel El comprador de aniversarios (or The anniversary buyer). There is a memorable character in the book, the boy Hurbinek, who died in Auschwitz at the age of three and who is based on a mention made by Primo Levi in The Reawakening. Camons theory is not credible, beyond that minimal doubt about who commits suicide in a stairwell, says Garcia Ortega. Levi, with his successful past and present as a writer, faced Holocaust survivor syndrome, a mix of depression, guilt, and meaninglessness. We know its effect because several writers faced this self-destructive syndrome and chose to end their lives. I now remember Paul Celan and Jean Amery. Suicide was a cry or a personal denunciation that we have to interpret as heroically human.

Paul Celan lost his parents in a Transnistria death camp. The Romanian poet, author of Todesfuge (Deathfugue), a canonical poem about the Holocaust, threw himself into the Seine in 1970. Jean Amery warned in advance and published On Suicide: A Discourse on Voluntary Death. His biographer Irene Heidelberger-Leonard recounts that a student, perhaps one of the Kantian tradition, asked him why he had written that book and had not committed suicide. Amery replied: A little patience! The Austrian writer and Levi lived together in Auschwitz without knowing it. Both died at the age of 67. Amery killed himself in 1978, in a suite at the Osterreichischer Hof hotel in Salzburg, after ingesting a first-aid kit full of barbiturates.

Levi didnt leave any notes, just the shopping list, but suicidal people dont leave farewell letters. His admirers have speculated like sentimental forensics about the indiscretion of his chosen method, in the most visible and painful place for his family, on a landing where the intimate and the public converged in his house on Corso Re Umberto, where he was born and always lived. As an experienced chemist, he could have opted for chemistry.

The Spanish author Antonio Munoz Molina has been to Corso Re Umberto street, looking for number 75. The author of Sepharad and the foreword to Levis Auschwitz Trilogy says: It would seem like an act somewhere between arrogance and irresponsibility to load the possible suicide of Primo Levi with excessive (and negative) meaning. How can we judge someone who has suffered infinitely more than us? For me, the fact that Levi committed suicide, which as we know is not an entirely certain fact, would not invalidate either his struggle, which he conducted alone for so long, to bear witness to the horror, or his vindication of rationality and goodness in the face of barbarity. Munoz Molina also recalls that, when reading Levis The Drowned and the Saved, there was an abysmal note of bitterness and weariness, even a terrible call from the darkness at the end, when the voice of the kapo continues to ring in dreams.

For the biographer Ian Thompson, who does not doubt it was suicide, citing Auschwitz as a trigger for his untimely death is a romantic convention. He discards the writer-Jewish-survivor pattern that ends in suicide after a lifetime devoted to work about the Nazi camps. It wasnt Auschwitz that killed him, it was depression, he believes. And many factors played a role, from Levis own genetics to his past, his panic about becoming senile and his mothers illness.

The transcendence of Levis death elevated his status as a writer. Camon lashes out at the big publishing houses that refused to print his work until that day, especially the prestigious French house Gallimard. Camon had tried to get Levis books accepted. After April 11, the laconic rejection (Ferdinando, we just dont like it) turned into a desperate howl (Ferdinando, please convey this message to Mrs. Lucia [Levis widow] and to the Einaudi publishing house: Gallimard is willing to purchase all of Levis books that are available).

Auschwitz exists, so God cannot exist, Levi told Camon. And he made a note in pencil in the final review of the book: I cant find a solution to the dilemma. I look for it, but I cannot find it.
A teenager accused of fatally stabbing his mother in inner Melbourne is being held in protective custody after allegedly being harassed by other juvenile detainees over the alleged murder.

The 15-year-old and his 14-year-old friend, neither of whom can be identified due to their age, fronted a childrens court on Tuesday, when a magistrate was told that detainees had been yelling at the 15-year-old Did you stab your mother? Did you stab your mother? since his arrest late last week.

Police at the scene where a woman was killed on April 5. Credit: Joe Armao

During an earlier court appearance, a lawyer for the 14-year-old asked for a nurse to see her client about injuries he suffered before his arrest, which she said included cuts to the boys hands, and cuts and blisters to his feet.

Lawyers for the boys were unsuccessful in attempting to have the court case against the pair suppressed from the public. A lawyer for media outlets, including The Age, argued on Tuesday that there were no risks to the proper administration of justice if details of the proceedings were published.
West Australian middle-class parents are sending their children to private schools in record numbers as public school enrolments remain stagnant.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures revealed non-government school enrolment jumped 2.3 per cent last financial year, compared to just 0.1 per cent for government schools.

New data has found there is a trend towards sending kids to private high schools in WA, but some areas have been more affected by this than others. Credit: iStock

The issue is being felt most by schools in densely populated middle-class suburbs, where private school fees are not extortionate and public schools do not have the same reputation or resources as those in the inner city.

Baldivis Secondary Colleges Year 7 intake was 199 in 2023, but the five public primary schools within its catchment area totalled 343 graduates from Year 6 in 2022.
Julian Leeser really, really wants you to know that he remains committed to the Liberal Party and wants to see Peter Dutton elected as the next prime minister.

Its just that Leeser is so at odds with Dutton on a matter of principle that hes quitting the frontbench where, until Tuesday morning, he was shadow attorney general  essentially, the Liberal oppositions first law officer  and spokesman for Indigenous Australians.

That seems awkward.

Dutton, in appointing Leeser to those positions almost a year ago, presumably recognised him as the parliamentary Liberal Partys leading expert on the law and Indigenous Australia.
He added he had resigned without rancour or bitterness and I remain a loyal Liberal, fully committed to the leadership of Peter Dutton. Speaking in Brisbane, Dutton said Leeser was a man of great character whose position on the Voice was unique due to his long-term advocacy but added it was at odds with the overwhelming majority of the Liberal party room. Dutton repeated his criticisms of the referendum, deriding the proposal as a Canberra Voice that would not deliver change for Indigenous people on the ground, and affirming his determination to campaign for the No vote. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese interrupted his leave to praise Leeser in an Instagram post, saying he had made a principled decision while claiming that Dutton had underestimated the number of Liberal and National voters who will show generosity and goodwill and vote yes to constitutional recognition in this referendum.

Leesers decision comes days after former Coalition Indigenous affairs minister Ken Wyatt, the first Indigenous Australian elected to the House of Representatives, quit the Liberal Party altogether in protest against its rejection of the Voice to parliament. Wyatt, who lost his seat at the 2022 election, told the ABCs 7.30 program he had been forced to weigh up his love of the Liberal Party against its stubborn position of not wanting to give Aboriginal people a seat at the table. He rejected Duttons characterisation of the proposal as Canberra Voice designed to represent elites. Its about local community designing their regional voice and then the regional voice selecting the people they want to represent them in Canberra, Wyatt said. Shadow ministers are bound by the partys decision to oppose the Voice but backbenchers will be allowed to freely campaign in line with their personal views, as is the norm in the Liberal Party.

Five shadow cabinet ministers said Leesers decision was messy for the party and unwanted but would not pose a threat to Duttons leadership. One Liberal frontbencher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the overwhelming majority of the party room backed the decision to oppose the Voice. I believe that Voice can help move the dial on Indigenous education, health, housing, safety and economic development. Julian Leeser It wasnt Duttons unilateral decision. It was an orthodox shadow cabinet and outer ministry party room process of which there was very little dissent from  90 to 95 per cent of colleagues are very happy with where we landed, the frontbencher said. A Liberal backbencher said Leesers decision highlighted the sloppiness of last weeks process to reach a formal position on the Voice, with senior moderate Liberals arguing for a more pro-Voice stance on the morning the party backed what Dutton described as a resounding no.

Not many of us disagree with the party position. But its been handled horribly and in normal times, if there was a proper challenger to Dutton, could lead to serious problems for the leader, the MP said. Loading Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley will on Wednesday launch a pre-budget blitz of 16 teal, Labor and Liberal seats, half of which were lost by the party at the last election. Ley, who MPs this month told this masthead was Duttons most likely replacement in the unlikely event of a leadership challenge, will be speaking to voters about nine key policy areas. The Voice was not listed as one of them in a briefing note prepared by her office. Opposition home affairs spokeswoman Karen Andrews said she backed the partys decision to oppose the Voice and did not support the proposed wording for the constitutional change but indicated she would not be actively campaigning for the no case.

There is no way that I can or would on a personal level support that wording. I am unlikely to go out with the word no emblazoned on a shirt to be advocating in that way, but what I will be advocating for is that there is some neutral factual information available to all our communities that outline the pros and the cons of what has been proposed, Andrews told the ABCs Afternoon Briefing program. Leesers support for an Indigenous Voice pre-dates his entry into federal parliament, having worked with Indigenous leaders Noel Pearson, Marcia Langton and Megan Davis on early design concepts, and founded the Uphold and Recognise organisation to build support for constitutional recognition in conservative circles. Leeser said he would now focus on advocating for alternative wording for the Voice amendment that removes its ability to advise executive government, which he proposed in a speech to the National Press Club last week, as he claimed Albanese had handled the referendum process poorly and needed to change course. Archer said Dutton was speaking to a very narrow base and needed to take some lessons from Leeser and Wyatts resignations.
Australian Defence Force chief General Angus Campbell has warned of uncomfortable days ahead for the nations military as it braces for further prosecutions of former soldiers for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

Campbell, the nations most senior military official, also described an apparent major intelligence leak from the United States Defence Department as a serious incident that could have damaging consequences for America and its allies.

General Angus Campbell said he was not focused on protecting his reputation or that of the nations military over war crime allegations. Credit: Rhett Wyman

Former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz last month became the first Australian serviceman or veteran to be charged with the war crime of murder over the alleged killing of an Afghan man in Uruzgan province in 2012.

The Office of the Special Investigator (OSI)  established after the Brereton report found credible evidence to support allegations that 39 Afghan civilians were unlawfully killed by Australian special forces soldiers  has said it is investigating between 40 and 50 alleged offences.
Fractured world

The editorial in The Age raises a number of pertinent issues. One of the remarks made by Emmanuel Macron and relevant to Australia is to reduce our military dependency on the United States. Where was the outcry when China colonised Tibet? Yet with Taiwan political ideology is truly well and alive. Our logic seems twisted with much commentary on Chinas territorial ambitions, but surely Americas ambitions can be seen by China as an existential threat.

The horror of a confrontation between the US and China in our region will have unimaginable consequences. We need to put into perspective the nasty deeds of both China and the US. We live in a fractured world where our survival is under great threat. AUKUS is not a shrewd move.

Judith Morrison, Nunawading

A creeping horror

John Watkins (Comment, 11/4) account of the consequences of Parkinsons disease summed them up beautifully and Im glad he is so well-supported.

Theres another condition of equal creeping horror. Transverse myelitis is progressive, untreatable and incurable. Like Parkinsons, it affects ones movement: the brain knows how to walk but cant get the messages through to the legs.

Standing hopelessly at a crossing while increasingly irritated drivers wonder why you dont just get moving is a constant.

I feel for him and all his fellow-sufferers.

Juliet Flesch, Kew

All hospitals need funds

Im all for raising money for the Royal Childrens Hospital, however as a nurse/midwife at my local hospital, looking at the $23million that was raised in the Good Friday appeal got me thinking. Recently I worked a shift where two life-threatening emergencies were hindered, medicines delayed, doctors unable to do what needed to be done, by lack of functioning equipment. And this is not uncommon.

I work with an amazing team but there is a limit to what we can do if we are spending the time running around trying to find what is needed and essential. And even if there is not an emergency, the amount of nurses/midwives/doctors/healthcare professionals time that could be better spent caring for patients, rather is wasted on running to and fro to try to find basic working equipment.

Speaking to a staff member who also works at RCH, it is mind-boggling the amount of amazing equipment and technology they have, enabling them to give better care to their patients.

Perhaps instead of giving so much money towards one specific hospital that already has decent funding and resources, we could look a bit closer at the local hospitals that are struggling every day, and share the funds raised around. The ones that bring your babies into the world, or care for your loved ones at all points in life, including your children and grandchildren too. The ones that have staff giving their heart and soul just as much as those at the RCH, but burning out that little quicker because of lack of funding.

Ingrid ONeill, Werribee

Its time, make a stand

The LNP had five years and two prime ministers to act on the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Clearly they didnt believe it was important then and still now. Its time for Coalition members who believe in Indigenous recognition to make a stand.

Graeme Martin, Alphington

Example of consensus

Some legal experts say the Voice will lead to an avalanche of High Court cases and expensive delays to important projects and processes. Other experts disagree. Some critics say the division of citizens into separate categories is racist  as if Indigenous Australians have not suffered under racist regimes since 1788.

What is undeniable is that the lengthy, painstaking consultative process that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart was a fine example to non-Indigenous Australians about achieving practical consensus. The mean, insensitive and un-Australian reaction to the Uluru Statement from some quarters, particularly some political leaders, is a disgrace and embarrassment.

Norman Huon, Port Melbourne
The Albanese government should not prop up Victoria with a deal that disadvantages other jurisdictions, economists have said, after Premier Daniel Andrews lobbied for more Commonwealth funding in the lead-up to the May budget.

Victorias net debt is tipped to peak at $165 billion by 2025-26 when state Treasurer Tim Pallas expects to reach an operating surplus despite higher interest rates.

Premier Daniel Andrews has complained of being ripped off by the former Coalition government through infrastructure and GST carve-ups and has for weeks been warning Victorians to prepare for a tough state budget.

Asked by the media last week whether he was seeking a bailout from the federal government, Andrews said he wouldnt put it in those terms.
The evidence that this is a leak, and not a hack, appears strong. The material may be popping up whack-a-mole style on platforms such as Twitter, 4chan and the Telegram messaging app  to say nothing of a Discord channel dedicated to the video game Minecraft  but what is being circulated are photographs of printed briefing reports. They look like hastily taken photographs of pieces of paper sitting atop what appears to be a hunting magazine. Former officials who have reviewed the material say it appears that a classified briefing was folded up, placed in a pocket and then taken out of a secure area to be photographed. Some documents were specifically marked for US eyes only, increasing the likelihood that an American official leaked the information. What did we learn about the war in Ukraine?

Although the documents may not fundamentally alter the understanding of what is happening on the battlefield, they may offer insights  or at least tantalising clues  to the trained eye of a Russian war planner. The documents do not contain specific battle plans, including about the Ukrainian counter-offensive expected in the next month or so. But they detail secret American and NATO plans for building up the Ukrainian military before that offensive. A Ukrainian soldier launches a drone in Bakhmut, the location of one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Credit: AP They also suggest that Ukrainian forces are in more dire straits than their government has acknowledged publicly. Without an influx of munitions, the documents show, the air defence system that has kept the Russian Air Force at bay may soon collapse, allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to unleash his fighter jets in ways that could change the course of the war.

And the mere fact that the materials leaked  and in particular the confirmation they offered that the US government spies on allies and adversaries alike  may prove damaging to the generally unified coalition that has emerged to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion. It may also make allies think twice about sharing sensitive information. Loading Has the US penetrated Russian intelligence? The leaked Pentagon documents reveal how deeply the US has burrowed into Russias security and intelligence services, allowing Washington to warn Ukraine about planned strikes and gain insight into the strength of Moscows war machine. The material reinforces an idea that intelligence officials have long acknowledged: The US has a clearer understanding of Russian military operations than it does of Ukrainian planning.

The military apparatus is so deeply compromised, the documents suggest, that American intelligence has been able to obtain daily real-time warnings on the timing of Moscows strikes and even its specific targets. That may change. The Pentagon is scrambling to find the leaker. Credit: AP The leak has the potential to do real damage to Ukraines war effort by exposing which Russian agencies the US knows the most about, giving Moscow a potential opportunity to cut off the sources of information. Disinformation? If so, whose?

Officials in Washington have described the documents release as a major intelligence breach, but in Kyiv and Moscow, there is agreement on two things: the information is suspect, and the goal is subterfuge. They just dont agree on who is behind it. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak. Credit: AP In a statement to The New York Times, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the documents were filled with fictional information. There is not the smallest doubt that this is yet another element of hybrid warfare, he said. Russia is trying to influence Ukrainian society, sow fear, panic, mistrust and doubt. Its typical behaviour. The goal, Ukrainians say, is to undercut the coming counter-offensive.

In Russia, pro-war military bloggers also pointed to the Ukrainian counteroffensive  but drew a different conclusion. A post on Grey Zone, a Telegram channel associated with the Wagner militia, said: We should not exclude the high probability that such a leak of classified information at the exact moment of the intensification of hostilities, and after the fact of the accomplished events displayed in the documents, is disinformation of Western intelligence in order to mislead our command to identify the enemys strategy in the upcoming counteroffensive. In other Russian Telegram channels, prominent voices say the original documents showed higher Russian losses, part of a Western influence operation intended to to instil poor morale in Russia and Russian forces, according to the head of a British firm that tracks disinformation. What other countries are named?
2023 Toyota 4Runner 4X4 TRD PRO V6  Review by David Colman +VIDEO

The champion of the SUV World







Let's journey back in time to those halcyon days when an SUV was considered to be a truck, not some tarted-up crossover derived from a sedan. Forty years ago, Toyota's 4Runner helped launch the SUV craze in America. That original 4Runner ingeniously mated an enclosed shell to a 4WD pickup truck frame. Little did Toyota know back in 1983 that their unheralded 4Runner formula would eventually eclipse the family sedan as the vehicle of choice in the USA. With the latest incarnation of the 5th generation 4Runner for 2023, Toyota continues to hew closely to their original vision for SUV success: body-on-truck frame, live rear axle, 4-wheel drive, big ground clearance, and a spunky V6 motor to power the little brute. A legion of Toyota off-road enthusiasts will rejoice that the 4Runner recipe remains fully intact for 2023.

One of the leading motoring publications in the US recently had the temerity to rank the latest 4Runner 28th of all the compact SUVs they evaluated. Personally, I would rank their magazine as my 28th favorite automobile read. They objected primarily to the dated looks and feel of the 2023 4Runner, especially its interior appointments. I suppose that if you've become so enamored of hapless haptic instrument panels activating teeny-tiny visual cues splayed across huge black screens, the classic knob and button dash of the 4Runner must seem positively Stone Age. Well, as it so happens, some of us still love the tactility, ease of operation, and general legibility of the 4Runner's positively archaic dash architecture.

The same goes for the jilting truck style rodeo ride of the bullet-proof ladder frame, the thumping roar of the V6 when you squirt the gas, and the excellent frontal, side and rear visibility from the driver's seat. Most of all, however, the 4Runner TRD Pro we tested, will take you off-road anywhere with utter confidence. Try that trick in your pretty little car-based "SUV" and you'll wish you hadn't. We could start out by extolling the long list of dedicated off-road chops that distinguish the TRD Pro model from lesser 4Runners. But first, let's get to the sensational "Solar Octane" metallic orange paint that coats this beauty. In bright sunlight, the new Toyota dazzles the retina. In shade it glows like an incandescent ember. For a "Special Color" fee of just $425 you will own the most wicked looking SUV in the universe. So the Great Pumpkin does exist. and Linus was right after all.

Now, back to those TRD upgrades that distinguish the Pro model from all other 4Runners:

If you want to go all out on this hot setup, there's a price to pay. Of the 6 variants Toyota offers, the most expensive is the TRD Pro, which carries a base price of $53,270. That's a bump of more than $10,000 over the middle range TRD Off-Road model which carries a base price of $43,485. So is the TRD Pro worth the extra outlay? If you plan on spending serious time exploring places where the pavement ends, you'll never regret parting with that extra ten grand. Here's a partial list of what the upgrade will get you. Because your contact patch is your only connection to terra firma (or infirma), Toyota bolts on a set of 17 x 7.5J "TRD Pro Matte Black Alloy Wheels" shod with wicked looking Nitto Terra Grappler All-Terrain ground pounders (265/70R-17 M+S). To maximize their grip on the turf, Toyota supplies TRD-tuned Fox shocks and springs. To keep the 4 liter V6 immune from obstacles, they protect it with a TRD stamped aluminum front skid plate. A locking rear differential insures good bite when the going gets tough, and a driver operated multi-terrain selection system optimizes suspension and ride height for a multiplicity of surfaces and conditions. Crawl Control is part of the package, as well as Hill Start Assist Control. You really have to work hard to get the TRD Pro stuck in the mud.

These technological advantages are almost all missing from car-based SUVs. In addition to the off-road sophistry, Toyota also equips the 4Runner with a full complement of Safety Sense P monitors: Pedestrian Detection, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. With all these updates, you realize that old soldiers like the 4Runner not only don't die, they also refuse to fade away.

2023 TOYOTA 4Runner 4X4 TRD PRO V6



ENGINE: 4.0 liter DOHC 24-valve V6 with dual independent VVT-i

HORSEPOWER: 270hp@5600rpm

TORQUE: 278lb.-ft.@4400rpm

FUEL CONSUMPTION: 16MPG City/19MPG Highway

PRICE AS TESTED: $55,380

HYPES: Olympic Decathlete of the SUV World

GRIPES: Needs Snazzier Interior to Match Solar Octane Paint

STAR RATING: 9 Stars out of 10
WHEN IT WAS NEW - 1969-70 BOSS 429 MUSTANG THE AUTO CHANNEL LOOKS BACK

Its Woody Time HOT! Mustang Content Archive

1969-70 BOSS 429 MUSTANG

PRODUCTION: 1969 859 (Includes 2 Boss 429 Cougars) 1970 499

The Boss 429 is one of the most unique Mustangs made. Its uniqueness lies in its rarity, its engine and simply for the fact that so much effort went into modifying the basic Mustang to make the Boss 429 engine fit.

Visually, the Boss 429 sits lower than other 1969-70 SportsRoof Mustangs. And compared to the Mach 1 or Boss 302, it has an understated image. Save for the Boss 429 fender decals and large hood scoop, the Boss 429 doesn't have any stripes, blacked-out trim, wheel or rocker panel moldings or even chrome dual exhaust tip outlets.

The Boss 429 Mustang was a limited production Mustang designed to homologate the Boss 429 engine for NASCAR racing. It would have been more logical to use the Torino, after all that was the body style used for NASCAR, but for image reasons, Ford decided on the Mustang instead.

All were built at the Kar Kraft facility in Brighton, Michigan. This was the same facility that Ford used to build the Le Mans Ford GTs. Partially completed SportsRoof Mustangs that were destined originally receive the 428SCJ engine, were modified at Kar Kraft to accept the large 429 engine. The main difficulty was getting the Boss 429 engine to fit the Mustang's engine compartment. To do so, the shock towers were relocated outward (by hand) and while they were at it, the suspension was lowered and moved further outwards 1 inch, using spindles and control arms unique to the Boss 429. This made the Boss 429 handle much better than other big-block equipped Mustangs. Other features included Boss 429 fender decals, manually controlled hood scoop, a front spoiler that was shallower than the Boss 302 spoiler, color keyed dual racing mirrors, engine oil cooler, trunk mounted battery, close-ratio four speed manual transmission 3.91 rear axle with Traction-Lok, 3/4 inch rear sway bar (the first Mustang ever to have a rear bar), chrome 15x7 Magnum 500 wheels with F60x15 Goodyear RWL Polyglas GT tires. All Boss 429s came with the Deluxe Decor interior, 8000 rpm tachometer and AM radio.

The Boss 429 engine was based on a strengthened version of the production 429. These blocks have HP429 cast into the front of the block (driver's side). It used four bolt mains, a forged steel crank and forged steel connecting rods. The big deal with this engine are its aluminum cylinder heads which featured a modified Hemi type combustion chamber which Ford called "crescent". These heads used the "dry-deck" method, meaning no head gaskets were used. Each cylinder, oil passage and water passage had an individual "O" ring to seal it. The Boss 429 used a single Holley four-barrel carburetor rated at 735 CFM mounted on an aluminum intake manifold. 1969 versions used a hydraulic lifter camshaft; 1970 models got a mechanical lifter camshaft along with an improved dual exhaust system.

Each Boss 429 Mustang came with a KK sticker placed on the inside of the driver's door above the Ford Warranty Plate which signified Kar Kraft's production number. The first Boss 429 was numbered "KK NASCAR 1201" while the last 1969 is numbered 2059. Some Boss 429s may have this silver tape stripe missing; a small brass plate was substituted by Kar Kraft on a small number of cars.

Besides the Boss 302, the Boss 429 was the only other Mustang that had its Serial number stamped on the back side of the engine block assembly, on the inner front fender panels, on the transmission housing and on the chassis itself.

1969 Boss 429 Mustangs were available in five colors: Wimbledon White, Royal Maroon, Raven Black, Black Jade, and Candy Apple Red. 1970 versions were painted Grabber Blue, Grabber Green, Grabber Orange, Calypso Coral and Pastel Blue. All 1970 Boss 429s came with a gloss black painted hood scoop.

One would think that the Boss 429 would have been a street terror- given its impressive specifications. At best, in stock form, it equaled the 428CJs performance. The usual after market bolt-on modifications were extremely effective on waking the engine up. But as far as Ford was concerned, there was no reason to promote this Mustang- it's only purpose for being was to get that monster engine homolugated.
Switzerlands parliament opened a special session Tuesday to scrutinize the state-imposed takeover of Swiss bank Credit Suisse by rival UBS  and consider strengthening the legal arsenal to better gird against financial blowups.

The debate could run up to three days, with lawmakers voicing  and needing to iron out  disagreements over the 3 billion Swiss franc ($3.25 billion) fusion of Switzerlands top two banks, a thunderclap for a country that prides itself on finesse and acumen in finance.

Swiss authorities stepped in as shares of Credit Suisse plunged last month and depositors pulled their money after the failure of two U.S. banks sparked concerns about the stability of global financial system and the long-troubled lender. Credit Suisse is among 30 globally systemically important banks, and authorities worried about the fallout if it were to fail.

The situation on the financial markets has calmed down, but it is not fully stabilized, and our country  Switzerland  has emerged shaken by this painful episode, Swiss President Alain Berset said at the session.

He said lawmakers would need to ensure that the legal framework was as solid as possible to prevent this kind of crisis from happening again. The executive branch also would look into too big to fail rules for key banks passed after the 2008 global financial crisis that may need changing, Berset added.

Lawmakers also are considering accountability for Credit Suisse and concerns about thousands of expected job cuts and looking at state-backed guarantees of over $100 billion aimed at holding the bank together until the merger is completed and buttressing UBS against possible losses.

They also are debating what it will mean for Switzerland to have one giant bank.

Johanna Gapany, a centrist lawmaker and rapporteur for the upper chambers finance commission, said the parliamentary panel had made three main proposals: change competition rules in light of the emergence of megabank UBS, examine how Credit Suisse executives might be held accountable and block the executive branch from unilaterally releasing more emergency funds for the rescue plan.

The proposals showed a clear intention to not only prevent this situation from happening again, but to make sure that the solution protects the interests of citizens as much as possible  thus by taking the least risk with the guarantees that have been provided, Gapany said.

Despite the talk, few concrete results were expected from the session, which is primarily to flesh out ideas  and possibly some vitriol  from lawmakers who all face reelection this fall.

Yvan Lengwiler, an economics professor at the University of Basel, suggested that the debate would play into a longtime tug-of-war between lawmakers who have lobbied in favor of Swiss banks over the years and others who have long sought to stiffen regulation.

It seems that the pendulum, after this debacle weve seen, has clearly shifted towards strengthening, he said. Two years from now  the political situation might be very different, and it could be quite difficult to get this through parliament.

Jakob Stark, an upper-house lawmaker from the populist, right-wing Swiss Peoples Party, said the rescue of Credit Suisse was was probably right and ultimately unavoidable but that the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority  known as FINMA  must become more decisive.

It should, for instance, get the authority to impose fines, but then it should also really impose the fines, and particularly on the big institutions, Stark said of the regulator. My feeling is that it was too considerate toward Credit Suisse, perhaps because of a legal basis that wasnt sufficiently clear.

The Swiss attorney generals office has already opened a probe into events surrounding Credit Suisse ahead of the takeover, and the executive branch last week ordered tens of millions in cuts to the bonuses of top Credit Suisse executives.

Lawmakers largely were expected to line up behind the rescue plan  even if reluctantly for some  and were not yet expected to authorize a parliamentary investigation of the epochal rescue of Credit Suisse, a 167-year-old pillar of Swiss banking.

Lengwiler, who specializes in financial market regulation, noted that the combined bank will have a balance sheet that will be twice as large as Switzerlands annual economy.

Thats nothing new: Both Credit Suisse and UBS had bigger balance sheets than the Swiss economy before the 2008 financial crisis. But this combined bank will be unprecedented in size and heft, presenting new challenges for government officials.

Whats new here is that its the only kid on the block now, Lengwiler said. UBS is really the only game in town and  has become extremely dominant, and that is a problem for Switzerland.

Its maybe too large for the country, he added.

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Masked youth with petrol bombs are seen as Republican protesters opposed to the Good Friday Agreement parade in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, on April 10, 2023.

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, 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, 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.

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Artist and activist Elena Osipova shows a painting in which she denounces the deportation of Chechens during the USSR, in her St. Petersburg apartment on March 30.

In a corner of the dilapidated staircase below artist Elena Osipovas modest apartment, a shelf holds a slice of bread next to the inscription: No one forgotten, nothing forgotten. Here they sat during the blockade. Its a tribute to Osipovas mother, who died during the Nazis deadly siege of St. Petersburg, which killed more than a million civilians during the Second World War. Osipova, a daughter of that war, is known today in her homeland as the conscience of St. Petersburg. She protested against Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in 2002. And two decades later, she continues speaking out. For her, staying silent is the most dangerous option of all. Her paintings keep alive the memory of victims: the dead and wounded from wars of recent years, and the casualties of other scourges, including the repression and drugs that claimed her sons life and that of thousands of other Russians.

Indifference, silence  thats the most terrible thing that could happen. On a poster I wrote: All of this happened because you stayed silent, says Osipova, from her komunalka  a communal apartment  where she has lived all her life. Its a simple apartment; she shares the bathroom and kitchen with the other tenants. Her space is confined to two large rooms packed with dozens of paintings, a kind of museum that doesnt appear in any St. Petersburgs travel guides.

The police shut down her last exhibition, Peaceful Artistic Protest, a day after it opened in the local headquarters of the independent party Yabloko in early February. Security forces entered the headquarters to address an alleged bomb threat. Once in the gallery, the officers seized about two dozen works of art. Images were found on the walls that possibly contain deliberately false information about Russian armed forces, said the police report, which took as its basis Russias controversial law that criminalize any criticism of the Ukraine invasion.

One of Elena Osipovas artworks. Javier G. Cuesta

They promised that they will return the paintings in the summer or autumn, says Osipova with a doubtful expression. As a precaution, the artist left some of her more overtly critical works out of the exhibition. These include a painting about the massacre in the Ukrainian city of Bucha and another work about the marines who were left to die on the sunken nuclear submarine Kursk in 2000.

When asked if she fears ending up in prison, Osipova replies: Afraid of what? She continues: I have been to the police station, to trial, so many times All I have left is that my granddaughter can live a normal life. She recounts her innumerable encounters with the police and strangers who awaited her at her door to rip her posters out of her hands.

Some provocateurs who said they support Putin came down the street. They threatened to take everything and call the police, but usually its the opposite. People support me, they say, were with you, says Osipova. For now, the police tend to remove her from protests without further legal repercussions.

The artist caught the attention of the international press when police removed her from the first demonstrations against the war in Ukraine. But her activism goes back to 2002, when she first protested about the hostage crisis at Moscows Dubrovka Theater.

I couldnt stay silent. When Nord-Ost happened, the Chechen war, the drugs I couldnt stay silent, Osipova says. Nord-Ost was the play in progress when a group of Chechen rebels stormed the Dubrovka theater. After several days of negotiations, security forces pumped gas into the theater. On an enormous canvas, she painted the spectators who died of asphyxiation and their kidnappers killed in the theater boxes.

Russian police detain Elena Osipova during a protest against the invasion of Ukraine in Saint Petersburg, December 27, 2022. Stringer (REUTERS)

The opposition is in decline. People are fleeing, and there are fewer and fewer people who dare to go to the protests. There are good politicians who have stayed in Russia, but without the help of the people they cant do anything, Osipova says about the current situation in Russia. This will end badly. There is the risk that what happened in the USSR will happen again. They sent critics to psychiatric hospitals to shut them up. Those times are returning.

The artist lives on a monthly pension that was cut in half years ago without explanation. She receives 6,000 rubles, about 70 ($76) a month at the current exchange rate. Ive worked all my life as a teacher, as a painter, and its impossible to live on that pension, she says. Despite her hardship, she welcomes visitors with a slice of potato frittata, herring, tea and a cake.

Putin can do whatever he wants. He lies to pensioners and buys people with money, the artist says, referring to the endless social programs approved since the war began. Many go just to earn money, she adds, explaining that the authorities cant find people who want to go [to the front] but that the Russians dont have any money. They dont have training. Theres no work to make a living. They live however they can, and so the government recruits a lot of young people. They dont explain to them where theyre going or what they will face. Where they live, there is no work, just drugs.

Drug addiction took the life of her 28-year-old son Ivan in 2009. One of the artists most sorrowful paintings shows the faces of five young people in red and blue tones, a mix of peace and sadness. Its called Our Children. I painted it in the 2000s. It reflects that era and the 1990s. They were friends of my son. All of them but the girl has died. They dont exist anymore. Theyre not in this world. And there were a lot of them. There were more like them in all the neighborhoods, she sighs. Her husband, a well-known opposition artist, Guennadi Garvardt, died in the 1990s during a trip to Sweden in circumstances that were never clarified. The rumors about his death still distress her.

Opposition to the war

Tragedy has touched her whole family. One of Osipovas grandfathers died of hunger during the siege of Leningrad. Her mother was saved in time. She enrolled in the army, where she met the artists father, who only saw her once, after the war ended.

Osipova detests war, but she returns to it in her work. She shows a sketch on a canvas: These are invalids, people who have been left disabled by war. I call it Regret. There will be a whole series of combat victims, wounded, without legs, without arms.

They dont show them on the news. They dont talk about them, and thats why people dont understand whats happening, why they dont care, Osipova adds.

The painter is pessimistic about the war in Ukraine. Its fine that [the West] wants to help in some way, but its dangerous and just gives this crazy man [Putin] more reasons [to act], she says. She is fighting for peace, not against a specific government. She also demonstrated against the Iraq War at the United States consulate in 2003, as well as against diplomatic visits from countries with nuclear weapons.

But weapons of mass destruction may be her main political concern. The first thing that should have been done when this war began was to demand that all countries come to an agreement about nuclear weapons, she says.

Works by artist and activist Elena Osipova decorate the communal St. Petersburg apartment where she has lived her entire life. Javier G. Cuesta

The artist did not show her work until after she retired. My favorite exhibition was in 2015, my first personal exhibition, she recalls. It was organized by Andrei Pivovarov. Now hes in prison, she says, mentioning the ex-director of the Open Russia foundation. He was sentenced to four years in prison in 2021 for supporting anti-government protests and for his involvement in an opposition platform that the Kremlin described as an undesirable organization.

We have returned to the past. Exhibitions happen at home with people you know. If you want to do something daring, there could be problems. A portrait of Putin is simply impossible, Osipova observes. She has never drawn the Russian president; she says it isnt her style.

From her phone, she gets glimpses of the world of culture outside of propaganda-filled Russia. The younger generations dont see the best films. There is a lot they dont know. We have to teach them. We have computers, you can choose whatever you want, but you have to get it right, she says from behind her computer. A piece of tape covers the webcam. They [the intelligence serve] listen in on the phones at any moment, Osipova says. I have close people in Ukraine, but we dont talk about anything. Its dangerous.

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Cheyenne, WY (82001)

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Cloudy. Some light rain will fall throughout the day. Thunder possible. High 42F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain and snow this evening. Snow showers overnight. Thunder possible. Low 32F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 70%.
A refinery in the Indian city of Guwahati, which processes huge amounts of Russian crude oil, at the end of March, 2023.

The best proof that Western sanctions on Russia are working is how the Kremlin is being forced to use its wits to try to avoid them.

In recent months, as bans on the sale of Russian products multiplied, the authorities (and citizens) of the Eurasian country have been forced to explore all possible ways to sell goods, get ahold of imported products, or transfer or receive money abroad.

The recent experiences of Iran or Venezuela have served as an inspiration. Both countries  like Russia  are large energy exporters forced to live on the margins of sanctions. Hence, they are also forced to use all possible routes to avoid them.

The precedents of Iran and Venezuela, however, are only valid up to a certain point. Never before has a global power like Russia been subject to such a high volume of bans and sanctions designed to torpedo its economic activity, in such a short period of time.

Craig Kennedy  a historian and Russia expert at Harvards Davis Center  notes that, overnight, a country that has been selling crude oil to Europe uninterruptedly for 140 years has found itself backed into a corner. This is how Russia has reacted:

A mysterious fleet of oil tankers

Western sanctions on Russian crude oil run have been applied in two ways: via a total ban in the European Union and in the G-7 countries, as well as through a price cap of $65 per barrel whenever it is transported by Western shipping companies to any destination.

The first obstacle is difficult for Moscow to avoid. Mixing its oil with that of other origins is the only way to try to sneak this energy product into the West, but this is only happening little by little. In terms of the second limitation, however, the Kremlin has chosen to go big, employing a fleet of hundreds of ships to transport its own crude. Erik Broekhuizen  a trader with the New York firm Poten & Partners  describes this as a shadow fleet. While it is organized and financed by Russia, the fleet operates under the flag of third parties: above all, India, China and the United Arab Emirates, according to Viktor Katona, the head of oil analysis at Kpler, a provider of intelligence services for commodity markets.

This flotilla is mostly made up of secondhand boats, some of them decades old. Many arent equipped with transponders (the systems that emit real-time information about their positions), to avoid being detected. Hence, the boats are at major risk of collision, while also being huge ecological threats to the oceans.

Before the war, these ships were used to transport Iranian or Venezuelan crude oil in defiance of U.S. sanctions, Broekhuizen explains by email. The 150 to 200 shadow ships that were sailing around the world before the invasion of Ukraine have increased to between 300 and 600, according to this traders calculations.

These ships arent exactly cheap. According to Katona, each costs between $20 and $30 million. But this is the only possible way for Russia to avoid the yoke of sanctions.

India: an energy escape

With the West gone, one name is emerging with particular force in the new Russian crude supply chain: India.

The worlds most-populous nation isnt only a shelter for a large part of Russias fleet of oil tankers  its also the ultimate destination for crude oil exports.

The Kremlin has built a great relationship of trust with this country: since the start of the war, there hasnt been a month during which India has stopped increasing its purchases of Russian crude, says the Kpler analyst. The figures back up his words: Indias imports of Russian crude have increased six-fold in the last year.

India, in turn, has skyrocketed its fuel exports  especially diesel  to Europe. In other words: much of the diesel that the EU used to buy directly from Russia now arrives via New Delhi. At a higher price, of course and also produced with Russian crude.

The new route, however, comes at a significant cost for Moscow. Firstly, because substantial discounts have to be applied to the barrels of crude, to make the supply attractive to Indian importers. Secondly, because of the higher freight rates: India is much farther away than traditional Russian clients in Europe. The combination of both factors is pushing Russian oil revenues to around $30 a barrel, according to Kennedys calculations. That is to say, half of the Western cap and much less than what is necessary to balance Moscows battered public accounts.

While [Russia] continues to export, it does so at much higher costs and, therefore, with lower profitability, confirms Maia Nikoladze, an analyst at the Atlantic Council who specializes in Eurasia.

China: yuan, gold and gas

Today, two world powers  one in clear decline (Russia) and the other experiencing an unstoppable rise (China)  need each other more than ever.

The recent visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow has shown the extent to which the Kremlin will have to rely on Beijing to survive the Western siege. Moscows proposal to use the yuan in its transactions with Asia, Africa and Latin America is intended to de-dollarize what remains of Russian commercial networks.

Currency, however, is not the only area where Vladimir Putin is trying to persuade China to help him dodge Western sanctions. The Asian giant has become a huge buyer of Russian gold  now banned in the West  in exchange for juicy discounts.

Last year, after the invasion of Ukraine, both countries signed an agreement valued at more than $120 billion for the purchase of Russian oil and gas. This task will greatly facilitate the future Power-of-Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which was started before the pandemic: the project will cross over Mongolia and should be ready by 2030.

Turkey: a new bridge for imports

Forced by the need to maintain the flow of Western goods  and under the euphemism of parallel imports  Moscow has effectively legalized smuggling.

According to Vladimir Bulavin  the head of Russias Federal Customs Service  between March and December of 2022, goods valued at over $18 billion passed through Turkey into Russia. This has made it possible to satisfy some of the demand that the Russian population has for Western products.

A large part of the population  those who support Putin  have noticed the sanctions less, because they consume simple products: furniture, clothing, food or household appliances made in Russia, says Russian economist and political scientist Vladislav Inozemtsev, who spoke to EL PAIS via phone.

There are a large number of products that have not fallen under the sanctions, such as household products, construction materials and animal vaccines. Along with many other goods that, if they didnt show up, would put the Russian economy in much worse of a state. But [no country] is going to ban the export of things such as medicine.

To get around sanctions that do weigh on other goods that may have a dual military use  such as computer equipment, chips, lasers, video cameras or some chemical products  several alternative import routes have been opened up. The products manufactured by Western multinationals that left Russia after the invasion also pass through these routes, from phones to fashion.

The largest of these routes  although not the only one  is Turkey, where purchases of products from the EU have skyrocketed at the same rate that exports from the 27 nations to Russia have plummeted. Although economically beneficial, Turkeys position is not exactly comfortable: a NATO member, its two main export destinations are Germany and the United States light-years away from Russia.

In the midst of a wave of European and American pressure, at the beginning of March 2023, Ankara tightened restrictions on companies that participate in this export scheme, assuring its allies that it would stop the transit of these products through its territory to Russia. This is another road that  at least formally  is now closed. And yet another reason for the Kremlin to search for a new channel to boycott Western sanctions.

Central Asia: technology and food

Turkey is joined by another traditional route that benefits Russia: Iran. Along with others, according to Matthew Klein, a co-author of Trade Wars are Class Wars (2020), who mentions two other Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

In addition to the chips that are arriving via Turkey or Hong Kong and the drones through the United Arab Emirates, some border countries  such as Kazakhstan  are being used [by Russia] to evade sanctions, summarizes Elina Ribakova, a senior analyst at the Institute of International Finance.

This is one of the routes chosen, for example, for the transit of some products, such as the latest mobile phones. Although its prohibited to sell them in Russia, its not prohibited for Russians to buy them in other countries.

An attempt has been made to identify the companies that buy these products but its useless, because this week they have one name and the next week, another, says Inozemtsev. She also points to the tech giants as being able to play a possible role in helping regulators find out which devices have been brought into Russia illegally.

In any case, restrictions on the import of chips or drones are helping to curb the Russian war machine. This is why the Kremlin is turning to Iran to arm itself and is looking for China to give in, says Inozemtsev.

However, Maia Nikoladze  from the Atlantic Council  recalls that, in recent days, chips of U.S. origin used in Russian military equipment have been found in Ukraine. They were probably sold through Turkey or Kazakhstan. A route that, she says, the West should work even harder to close.

Last year, several multinationals announced their departure from Russia and the sale of their assets to former partners, who may operate in the country to facilitate a possible return in the future. Giants like McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Ikea, Inditex and Valio are just a few examples.

Many have not changed their suppliers in Asia, products arrive bearing other labels, business sources say. Other multinationals had factories on Russian soil before the war and developed a complicated logistics scheme to keep them open. The South Korean firm Samsung, for example, decided that its plant in the Kaluga region would sell its products to other members of the Eurasian Economic Union (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan), and then the goods would subsequently be repatriated to Russia through parallel import routes.

UnionPay and Mir: two unstable alternatives to the Swift payment system

After the Swift international transfer system was suspended in Russia, Moscow has not stopped looking for alternative ways to avoid total economic isolation. The main one  the Mir mechanism  gained acceptance in Turkey and other Asian countries in the first months of the war, but since the United States threatened to sanction banks that use it, many nations have backed down.

The Chinese system UnionPay appeared immediately after, but it is totally unstable outside of Russia. Many clients complain that they cannot do banking operations when foreign banks detect its origin.

It all depends on the Russian entity that issued the card, the specific payment terminal and the country, warns Russsias Tinkoff Bank.

My experience has been terrible: I cant transfer my savings, Yulia, a Volgograd woman, tells EL PAIS. She left the country at the end of last year to try to start a new life in Istanbul, where she opened a UnionPay account at the Turkish DenizBank.

An Austrian bank and the crypto world: two emergency exits that are quickly closing

Russias emergency exit within the European banking system has been  until now  Raiffeisen, an Austrian entity. The bank earned a record $4 billion in 2022, with Russia being its main client. This bank has allowed euros and dollars to be sent to accounts opened at its branch in Moscow, although they are always subject to the Russian law which only allows money to be withdrawn if it is changed to rubles. This implies a worse exchange rate than the official one. However, it no longer seems to matter: this scheme  which was very useful for expatriates and businesses linked to the West  has been nearing the end since February, when the United States opened an investigation into Raiffeisen.

Since then, the Austrian entity has been complying with sanctions. The penultimate step was taken a few days ago, when Raiffeisen imposed a minimum amount of 20,000 ($21,800) for any transfers to Russian banks, cutting off many smaller clients. In practice, this prevents small and medium-sized Russian business owners and individuals from being able to pay key expenses, such as rent. The last step was taken this past Friday, when Raiffeisen announced that it would be selling its Russian branch, limiting its activity in the meantime.

Another of the means utilized to obtain hard currency in Russia has been cryptocurrency exchange platforms. The mechanism is quite simple: with a digital wallet, crypto is bought from other users with rubles. Subsequently, the virtual currency is later converted into euros or dollars and vice-versa. This door, however, is also closing: as of March 9, the largest of all these platforms  Binance  prohibited the purchase of Western currencies in Russia and of rubles in Europe and the United States.

In anticipation of this step, Russian banks have promoted their integration with cryptocurrencies. Sberbank  the largest entity in the country with 100 million customers  already has its own platform, which is compatible with Ethereum.

What comes next?

Russia is managing to dilute the impact of Western sanctions, but is far from avoiding them entirely. The Russian economy, in fact, has already been dealt blows on several fronts: exports, industrial output, income and consumption have all declined, at levels comparable with the first wave of Covid.

Neither has it been the immediate economic collapse that some expected, nor has it caused the expected damage to [Ukraines] allies, which consume Russian energy, says Klein. The Russians have emigrated en masse, taking their money with them; the authorities themselves admit that the lack of investment and access to high-tech goods will cause long-term economic damage.

Hence, despite these temporary loopholes, Moscow is desperate to get sanctions lifted. Shortcuts aside, the countrys future is bleak and isolated, in the words of Ribakova of the IIF.

Russia is now realizing the difficulty of finding good alternatives to Europe, says Kennedy of the Davis Center. Even with the aforementioned string of shortcuts, over the past few months, the weakness of their oil revenues will degrade their resilience. And it will hasten the moment in which Russia decides that continuing the aggression against Ukraine is not the best option he affirms.

Inozemtsev is much less optimistic. The Kremlin, he says, still has reserves to last one or two more years.

Putin is determined to continue the war, [his attitude] is somewhat maniacal and irrational.

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Batavia, NY (14020)

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Showers early with some clearing for the afternoon. High 49F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Rain...mixing with snow overnight. Low near 35F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 80%.
Batavia, NY (14020)

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Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 49F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Evening rain followed by a mix of rain and snow overnight. Low around 35F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 60%.
Batavia, NY (14020)

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Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 50F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Cloudy skies early with showers later at night. Low around 35F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 11, 2023 - 20:13 | All, World, Japan

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has become a "symbol" of the end of the post-Cold War era, forcing the international community to face a "historical inflection point," Japan's Foreign Ministry said in its annual policy report released Tuesday.

In the 2023 Diplomatic Bluebook, Japan also showed a tougher stance against China, which has boosted its maritime military activities in the Indo-Pacific region. For the first time, it pledged in the report to deepen cooperation with "Global South" nations.

The report said that "the trend of international collaboration" has been weakening globally despite being reinforced after the end of Cold War in 1989, but it also said cooperation is needed now to counter Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine and other global issues, including climate change.

Japan warned that cases of diplomatic tension and confrontation across the world could escalate against a backdrop of international dysfunction, creating a situation where "international relations are intertwined in a complex way with confrontation, competition and cooperation."

The report was unveiled as the rift between major developed democracies and the Russia-China camp has been intensifying, represented by the dysfunction of the U.N. Security Council in addressing the war in Ukraine, waged by Moscow in February 2022.

Russia and China are two of the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members with veto power, along with the United States, Britain and France, which have been imposing punitive economic sanctions on Moscow over its aggression against its neighbor.

Some countries have been "strengthening their challenging attitudes to the existing international order, based on their unique views of history and values and self-assertiveness," the bluebook said, apparently lambasting China and Russia.

In the report, Japan also adopted a stricter position against China, calling the ruling Communist Party's diplomatic policies and military developments "the greatest strategic challenge." In the 2022 edition, Tokyo said they are "strong security concerns."

Fears have been mounting over China's possible use of military force against Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing regards as a renegade province to be united with the mainland, by force if necessary.

The bluebook said Tokyo will closely monitor joint military exercises between China and Russia near Japanese territory, conducted "at an increasingly frequent pace." It is the first time Japan has voiced anxiety about the two countries' military ties in the report.

The report was released before Group of Seven foreign ministers meet this month in Japan, likely to discuss security issues related to China and Russia.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference that specific agenda items for the three-day gathering from Sunday are "still being arranged," but that the ministers will have "candid and in-depth discussions on the urgent issues the international community faces."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China-Russia military cooperation does not target any third party or pose any threat to any country and is "fully in line with international law and practice."

"Certain countries are in no position to point fingers at us and we urge Japan to stop the wrong practice of hyping up regional tensions and stoking bloc confrontation," he said at a press conference.

As for Tokyo's description of Beijing as "the greatest strategic challenge," Wang said China "firmly opposes this," claiming that Japan has continued to smear and criticize its neighbor and has "wantonly interfered" in its domestic affairs.

Beijing urges Japan to "reflect on its statement of building a constructive and stable relationship" with China and take concrete actions to that end, he added.

The paper, meanwhile, said the Global South, a term that collectively refers to developing nations in areas such as Asia, Africa and Latin America, has become more significant in the wake of the Ukraine crisis as they have tried to avoid taking sides.

"It is extremely important to cooperate with as many emerging and developing countries as possible in a comprehensive manner that would overcome the differences of values and interests under multilateralism," the report said.

On South Korea, the bluebook said the nation is an "important neighboring country" to Japan, and did not use an expression seen in last year's edition that said the bilateral relationship is "in an extremely difficult situation."

The change reflects recent moves toward rapprochement following South Korea's solution proposal announced in March to its long-standing dispute with Japan over a wartime labor compensation issue that had soured ties between the Asian neighbors.

Related coverage:

China deploys aircraft carrier Shandong in drill near Taiwan
KYODO NEWS - Apr 11, 2023 - 11:50 | All, Japan, World

Japan's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a four-day trip for Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife Crown Princess Kiko to attend the coronation of Britain's King Charles III on May 6.

The trip from May 4 to 7 to Britain will be the couple's first official visit to the country and first time attending a foreign royal coronation, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

Departing from Tokyo on May 4 via a government-chartered plane, the two are scheduled to arrive in London that afternoon local time and stay at Claridge's hotel.

After attending a royal reception on the afternoon of May 5 and the enthronement at Westminster Abbey the next morning, the couple is expected to leave Britain and return to Japan in the afternoon of May 7.

Japan received an invitation from the British royal family in March requesting that the head of state or their proxy attend the ceremony, according to the agency.

Per custom, Emperor Naruhito does not attend foreign royal coronations, leaving his younger brother to attend in his stead.

The crown prince visited Britain in 1985 and studied at the University of Oxford as a graduate student from 1988 to 1990.
90% of Canadians Voiced Opposition to Federal Online Harms Proposal: Report

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez speaks to reporters during the Liberal summer caucus retreat in St. Andrews, N.B. on Sept. 12, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Darren Calabrese)

A large majority of Canadians voiced concerns over Ottawas proposed online harms legislation, but this information was not included in the governments report summarizing the results of the consultation, according to Canadian lawyer and academic Michael Geist.

Ninety percent of Canadians who responded to a previous federal public consultation seeking feedback on Ottawas proposed online harms legislation voiced opposition to the measures, according to internal government documents obtained from Heritage Canada by Geist through an Access to Information (ATIP) request. Geist published a portion of the information on his website.

The documents elaborated on responses to online consultations conducted by the Liberal government between July and September 2021. The consultations were meant to receive public feedback on a discussion guide and technical paper summarizing the basic outline of potential legislation aimed at regulating internet content deemed harmful.

Some months after collecting the feedback, the Department of Canadian Heritage published a report titled What We Heard: The Governments proposed approach to address harmful content online that it said summarized the consultation results.

The report acknowledged that only a small number of submissions were supportive of the proposed legislation, but did not give exact figures showing how many individuals were in favour of or against the proposals.

It also said that a majority of respondents voiced support for a legislative and regulatory framework, led by the federal government, to confront harmful content online.

However, the documents obtained by Geist through an ATIP request, titled Online Harms Consultation Preliminary Overview of Submissions, show that about 90 percent of the 350 individuals who submitted feedback through the online consultation were unsupportive of the governments proposals to address online harms.

Concerns most cited are those around censorship/freedom of expression, it said of the large majority of individuals opposed to the proposal.

It added that most individual respondents also had concerns about the role of law enforcement and fears around surveillance, and the definition of hate speech,' as well as the proposals lack of definitional detail about what will be considered harmful online content.

The documents added that just 5.4 percent of individual respondents were supportive of proposed legislation addressing online harms, while 4.6 percent of respondents were neutral.

The Epoch Times contacted Geist and Heritage Canada for comment but did not hear back by publication time.

Online Harms Legislation

The Liberal government previously introduced legislation that was meant to address online hate speech, but it lapsed when a snap election was called in the fall of 2021.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said in August 2022 that the Liberal government would introduce its proposed online harms legislation as quickly as possible, but has not yet done so.

Cabinet said in a response to a House of Commons committee recommendation in March that the Canadian Heritage Department is working with other government departments on drafting the legislation, but has not yet determined an introduction date.

The Government of Canada is considering a risk-based approach to platform regulation, whereby online services would be compelled to identify, assess, and mitigate risks on their platforms through their own internal systems and processes, it said.

The government also said that its new internet regulatory structure could include the creation of a commission tasked with enforcing social media platforms to specifically target harmful content online.
ABC Defends Coverage of The Voice Debate

An employee walks past the logo of the ABC located at the main entrance to the ABC building located at Ultimo in Sydney, Australia, on June 5, 2019. (AAP/David Gray)

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has stood by an interview it conducted with Indigenous leader Noel Pearson following the federal oppositions decision not to back the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

On April 5, opposition leader Peter Dutton announced that MPs of the centre-right Liberal Party voted overwhelmingly to not to support The Voice.

Sometime this year, Australians will go to the polls in a national referendum on whether to embed a 24-member advisory body into the Constitution that can make representations to Parliament on matters affecting Indigenous peoples.

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, Dutton told reporters in Canberra.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on April 5, 2023. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

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, he said.

Pearsons ABC Critique of the Liberal Party

In response, ABC Radio Nationals RN Breakfast ran a 16-minute interview with Pearson, an advocate for the Yes campaign for The Voice, who delivered a scathing commentary on the Liberal Party and Dutton.

I couldnt sleep last night. I was troubled by dreams and the spectre of darkness, the Dutton Liberal Partys Judas betrayal of our country, he said on April 6.

Noel Pearson at Sydney Town Hall on Nov. 5, 2014. (Peter RaePool/Getty Images)

He doesnt mind chucking Indigenous Australians and the future of the country under the bus, just so he could preserve his miserable political hide, Pearson said.

I see the leader of the Liberal Party, Mr. Dutton, as an undertaker, he added. Preparing the grave for Uluru. Its a very sad day for Australia that we cant have bipartisanship.

Indigenous Senator Jacinta Price, an advocate for the No campaign, criticised ABC for selecting interviewees that aligned with one side of the debate.

Anytime anyone like me or Peter Dutton asks a question or expresses some scepticism about what would be the biggest ever change to our Constitution, the ABC goes straight to their contact list of Voice activists to trot out their divisive political talking points, she told the Daily Telegraph.

They let Voice activists label their opponents racist, call them names, and launch into partisan political point scoringall while accusing the No side of stoking division.

Nationals Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Price prior to being interviewed by television at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on July 28, 2022. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Pearson has previously claimed that Price was opposing The Voice because she was caught up in a celebrity vortex.

It gets her out in front of people, and it gets a lot of cheers, but its also a redneck celebrity vortex, and ultimately its a tragic redneck celebrity vortex that shes caught up in, he told ABC Radio in November.

This has been a campaign in the making for the past three years, and their strategy was to find a black fella to punch down on other black fellas, he said.

ABC Defends Reporting

Meanwhile, ABC issued a statement on April 7 saying the host of its RN Breakfast (RNB) program had interviewed people from both sides of The Voice debate.

[Patricia] Karvelas put forward the arguments of opposition leader Peter Dutton on several occasions during the interview with Noel Pearson, it said.

The headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the background behind a UTS building in Ultimo of Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 5, 2023. (Daniel Teng/The Epoch Times)

Previous editions of RN Breakfast have featured interviews with senior Coalition MPs and other prominent figures, including Julian Leeser, Paul Fletcher, Barnaby Joyce, Sussan Ley, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, and business advisor and commentator Warren Mundine.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has been invited onto the program on numerous occasions. She is yet to accept that invitation.

ABC also said the opposition leader Dutton was interviewed prior to Pearson.

However, Mundine, an advocate for the No vote, pushed back on ABCs claim saying to not use him as an example.

This year, Ive had half as much airtime on RNB as Pearson, never a 16-minute rant. Hes had three of them in four months. Since Nov 1, I count six times more RNB airtime to blackfellas pushing Yes than us blackfellas in the No campaign, he wrote on Twitter.
Alberta, Saskatchewan Object to Federal Ministers Comments About Rescinding Natural Resources Agreements With Prairie Provinces

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks during a media event at the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon on June 28, 2022. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed objections Monday to comments made by federal Justice Minister David Lametti that suggest the feds could consider rescinding natural resource agreements with the provinces.

Moe said on April 10 that it was outrageous that Lametti told the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs in Ottawa that he would consider rescinding the 1930s Natural Resources Transfer Agreements.

The agreements give constitutional control over respective natural resources to the three Prairie ProvincesSaskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba.

The April 5 meeting between Lametti, other government officials, and various indigenous communities was to discuss the federal governments work with respect to the United Nationals Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and included a question and answer period with the justice minister.

Justice Minister David Lametti speaks during a Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers press conference on bail reform in Ottawa, on March 10, 2023. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

First Nations Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte, of the Prince Albert Grand Council, made a presentation calling on Lametti to rescind the act, the Natural Resource Transfer Act, that affect the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Thats what were asking you, minister, as an action item with a statement. It affects our treaty rights, of course, under the Sask First Act, that we hear about. And its to do with natural resources, Indian natural resources, Hardlotte said.

Chief R. Donald Maracle, of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, made a statement suggesting Canada exports natural resources to other countries and earns trillions of dollars in revenue from those resources.

Resources were given to the provinces without ever asking one Indian if it was okay to do that, or what benefits would the First Nations expect to receive, said Maracle.

I take from Chief Brian and Chief Don Maracle the point about the natural resources transfer agreement, Lametti responded. Youre on the record for that. I obviously cant pronounce on that right now, but I do commit to looking at that. It wont be uncontroversial, is the only thing I would say, with a bit of a smile.

Saskatchewan

On April 10, the Saskatchewan premier called Lamettis comments outrageous and ill-informed. Moe said the agreements and the provinces control over natural resources have been entrenched in the Canadian Constitution since 1930.

On what basis does the federal Justice Minister think he has the authority to unilaterally strip Saskatchewan and the other western provinces of our constitutional authority over our natural resources? he said.

Moe added that Saskatchewan has always had reason to be concerned about this federal governments agenda to infringe on provincial jurisdiction and autonomy. Moe said the province will be relentless in defending its jurisdiction and autonomy.

In what Moe declared as a major step in defending our economic potential from federal overreach, the province proclaimed the Saskatchewan First Act into law on April 6, following its passage in the legislature in March.

The act amends the Constitution of Saskatchewan to confirm its autonomy over three areas that are laid out in the Canadian Constitution in a section on resources: exploration for non-renewable natural resources; the management of non-renewable and forestry resources; and the operation facilities for electrical energy production.

At the time, some First Nations groups argued the act could infringe on their treaty rights.

Following Lamettis comments to the indigenous chiefs, Moe said he was calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to immediately tell Lametti he has no business even speculating about rescinding western provinces constitutional authority to control their own natural resources.

Alberta

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also responded, stating that any attempt by the federal government to rescind the natural resources agreement would pose an unprecedented risk to national unity.

Alberta condemns this federal threat in the strongest possible terms, she said.

Smith indicated she would be in contact with Moe and Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson to discuss next steps, and added she was calling on Trudeau to immediately make Lametti retract and apologize for these comments.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at a press conference in Edmonton on Oct. 11, 2022. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

Provincial Jurisdiction

Shannon Stubbs, Conservative MP and shadow minister for Natural Resources, said on social media on April 10 that the Liberals were openly talking about taking control of natural resources away from the provinces.

During debates on the no more pipelines bill C 69, Conservatives warned that the Liberals would try to interfere in provincial jurisdiction, Stubbs said.

She said the provinces should unite in opposition, and called for the federal minister to walk back his threats immediately.

Stubbs said natural resources support the entire Canadian economy and the livelihoods of thousands of indigenous Canadians.

The Liberal Justice Minister looking at taking control of natural resources from the provinces is just about control. The Liberals pick winners and losers in Canadian resource development so they can shut down the parts they dont like. Theyve killed five pipelines, she said.

Former opposition leader and veteran politician Stockwell Day said regarding Lamettis comments that the Liberal/NDP Alliance is road testing a number of frightening power grabs in several areas of our lives.

If they dont hear reaction, their steamroller will continue crushing vital hopes of provincial progress, all for the purpose of enriching Rome (Ottawa) and crushing the vassals. Silence is not an option, Day said on social media.

Government Response

The federal Department of Justice responded to The Epoch Times request for comment on April 11, with a link to a social media statement made by Lametti.

The statement said that Lametti is the minister responsible for implementing the United Nations Declaration Act (UNDA) into federal laws and policies and that he met with First Nations leaders to discuss the implementation of the Act.

Amongst the many questions I was asked, the Natural Resources Transfer Act was raised by First Nations Chiefs, he said. It is part of my job to listen to those concerns. To be clear, at no point did I commit our government to reviewing areas of provincial jurisdiction, including that over natural resources, said Lametti.

The justice minister said the focus of the federal government is to co-develop an action plan with Indigenous partners that will show the path we must take towards aligning federal laws and policies with UNDRIP.

Editors note: This article has been updated to include comments from the Justice Department.

Matthew Horwood contributed to this report.
Appeals Court Rules Kentucky Government Pay $270,000 in COVID Church Lockdown Case

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks during a news conference after an assailant opened fire at an Old National Bank branch in Louisville, Ky., on April 10, 2023. (Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

A federal appeals court has ruled Kentucky must pay more than $270,000 in attorneys fees to plaintiffs who sued the state over Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears COVID-19 lockdown policies.

Plaintiffs Randall Daniel, TJ Roberts and Sally OBoyle sued the Beshear administration in 2020 over orders they received to quarantine after they attended an Easter church service. The trio argued the administration had violated their constitutional rights.

In a legally complex decision, a federal court granted a preliminary injunction barring the Beshear administration from enforcing its lockdown policies against the churchgoers, and then dismissed the lawsuit against the Beshear administration as a moot issue. The plaintiff churchgoers subsequently sought attorneys fees in the case, but the Beshear administration fought the effortarguing that the plaintiffs were not the prevailing legal party in the lawsuit.

On Monday, a panel of three judges on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district ruling (pdf) that the Beshear administration should pay $272,142.50 to the plaintiffs for their attorneys fees.

Three years ago today, [Beshear] told the people of Kentucky that they are not allowed to attend church during a Good Friday press conference. Beshear told the people of Kentucky that church goers will have their licenses taken down and they will be forced to quarantine, and face jail time. I ignored that order along with dozens of brave Christians and worshipped the Lord, Roberts said in a statement on Monday. Beshear followed through on these threats, so I called [attorney Chris Weist] and we sued the governor in federal court. Thanks to Chris, Tom Bruns, and Robert A Winter Jr., we won and the right to worship was affirmed in the 6th Circuit.

Today, three years after these insane lockdowns, the governor owes my attorneys more than 272 Thousand Dollars, more than a quarter million tax dollars, for this case alone, Roberts added.

While the 2020 lawsuit named Beshear in his official capacity as governor, the repayment of the attorneys fees will come from public taxpayer funds.

I know a lot of people who are outraged that the TAXPAYER is on the hook for ANDYS constitutional violation, Roberts wrote. I share this outrage, but this outrage must be aimed at Beshear, Roberts wrote. If the people of Kentucky want to quit being taxed to pay for these court judgments, Kentucky MUST elect a governor who will actually follow the constitution.

Following the appeals court decision, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) also responded on Twitter. Kentucky Governor Beshear nailed for plaintiffs attorneys fees over his unconstitutional ban of church services due to COVID. Too bad it comes out of the taxpayers pockets and not his.

NTD News reached out to Beshears office for comment but did not receive a response before this article was published.

Kentuckys Lockdowns

As COVID-19 cases began to emerge in the United States in early 2020, various state and local governments began advising people to remain at home and to practice social distancing, while declaring some business, cultural, and religious activities to be non-essential.

On March 19, 2020, Beshear issued an executive order (pdf) banning mass gatherings, including, but not limited to, community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers; and similar activities.

On April 10, 2020, just two days before Easter, Beshear announced that authorities would be recording the license plates of people attending mass gatherings in the state. They would then turn the plate information over to local health departments, which would then visit people at their homes and present them with orders to quarantine for 14 days. Those receiving the quarantine orders would also be notified that their actions constituted a misdemeanor offense for violating Beshears COVID-19 executive orders.

If youre going to expose yourself to this virus and you make that decision to do it, its not fair to everybody else out there that you might spread it to, Beshear said.

Explaining his decision to stop in-person church gatherings and other in-person events, Beshear claimed that a COVID-19 outbreak in Hopkins County that sickened dozens and resulted in multiple deaths was traced to a church service in the county in mid-March of 2020.

Daniel, Roberts and OBoyle were among those individuals who defied Beshears quarantine warning and attended a service at the Maryville Baptist Church. After the trio filed their lawsuit, Beshear defended his lockdown decisions.

In his initial response to the lawsuit, Beshear said [50:37], Here in Kentucky, there are so many different ways to worship, and all but one church in this commonwealth are engaged in them. You can do it virtually, and you can do it in a drive-in service, and in many states they are not allowing those drive-in services like we are. And so this opportunity to worship, which is so important, is still there. We just ask people to choose one of the versions that doesnt spread the coronavirus, and I think that thats what our faith calls us to do.

From NTD News
Appeals Court Ruling May Threaten DOJ Position in Dozens of Jan. 6 Cases: Lawyer

An April 7 decision issued by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals may jeopardize a key legal backing used by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach, according to attorney Albert Watkins.

What this opinion did do was, it practically begged for other [Jan. 6] cases to be brought up to the Court of Appeals that would permit a more balanced opinion, Watkins, who has represented four Jan. 6 defendants, including released prisoner Jacob Chansley, told The Epoch Times on April 11.

Watkinss comment came after a three-judge panel at the D.C. Court of Appeals on April 7, struck down a lower courts ruling in a 21 vote, dismissing a federal charge against three Jan. 6 defendants, and rejected the lower courts reasoning about the scope of the obstruction charge.

Although the higher courts ruling (pdf) allowed the DOJs prosecution of these three specific defendantsJoseph Fischer, Edward Lang, and Garret Millerto continue, the effect of the higher courts opinion extends beyond these cases, the attorney said.

According to Watkins, this extended effect has to do with the interpretation of language regarding corrupt intention in obstruction charges, considering that the DOJ has been using the obstruction charge as an attractive legal tool to prosecute Jan. 6 cases and score plea agreements.

According to a provision in the statute for obstruction charge (18 U.S. Code Section 1512 2(c)), Whoever corruptly  obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

A narrowed definition of this provision could hinder the DOJs ability to use the charge further and introduce uncertainties in the ongoing trials, the attorney indicated. The DOJ had charged more than 200 Jan. 6 defendants with obstruction-related charges.

It should cause a certain degree of trepidation on the part of the Department of Justice about utilizingin a very footloose and fancy-free fashionthe obstruction of an official proceeding charge as the count of choice for pleas, Watkins said. I will say it was, in many respects, an extraordinary opinionmore time was spent addressing potential issues not before the court than the issues actually before the court.

Corrupt Intent

The key issue here is the interpretation of a necessary component of the obstruction charge, the definition of corrupt intent.

The appeals court ruling indicates that the DOJ prosecutors set forth an interpretation of corrupt criminal obstructive conduct as having a broad meaning that encompasses all forms of obstructive conduct, including appellees allegedly violent efforts to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.

But all three judges of the D.C. Court of Appeals expressed some level of concern in their April 7 ruling about whether the governments current interpretation of corrupt intent is appropriate.

Biden appointee Judge Florence Pan, who wrote the majority opinion, indicated that the definition of corrupt intent should be determined in a later case.

At least one pending case on this courts docket squarely raises the definition of corruptly under [Section] 1512(c), Pan wrote. It is more prudent to delay addressing the meaning of corrupt intent until that issue is properly presented to the court.

Implausibly Broad

Trump appointee Judge Justin Walker, in his opinion partially concurring with the ruling, diverged from Pans view that corrupt intent should be interpreted later and wrote in his opinion that the term should be precisely defined to avoid criminalizing legal civil discourse.

Establishing a corrupt intent requires proving that a defendant intended to obtain a benefit that he knows is unlawful, Walker wrote, adding that this interpretation is narrower than the one offered by the government.

Without a narrowed definition, Walker wrote, the obstruction charge could become implausibly broad and thus criminalize many lawful attempts to influence congressional proceedingsprotests or lobbying, for example.

A narrowed definition could be applied to a hypothetical Jan. 6 protestor, Walker noted.

This rioter joined the throng outside Congress because he was angry at the nations elites. He saw the riot as an opportunity to display his bravado. Though likely guilty of other crimes, he did not act corruptly under [the statute] because he did not intend to procure a benefit by obstructing the Electoral College vote count, Walker wrote.

Its yet to be seen whether Walkers opinion will become a binding precedent on the lower courts. Walker contends that it should be. He cited the Supreme Courts reasoning in Marks v. United States (1977), which says the narrowest concurring opinion should be the binding opinion. Pan, objecting to this point in a footnote, says that the D.C. Court of Appeals has never applied Marks to its own cases and that only one federal appellate court has done so.

In a strongly worded objection to his two colleagues April 7 ruling that reversed the lower courts decision, Trump appointee Gregory Katsas said the breadth of his colleagues interpretation of the word corrupt would continue to supercharge comparatively minor advocacy, lobbying, and protest offenses into 20-year felonies, provided the defendant knows he is acting unlawfully in some small way.

A lobbyist who successfully persuades a member of Congress to change a vote has likewise influenced an official proceeding. So has a peaceful protestor who, attempting to sway votes, holds up a sign in the Senate gallery before being escorted away, Katsas wrote.

Of course, this case involves rioting as opposed to peaceful advocacy, lobbying, or protest. But the construction of [corrupt intent] adopted by my colleagues will sweep in all of the above.

Wider Effects

Watkins noted that the ruling is unusual in the sense that the court signaled clearly that it would like to query the definition of a key term in a provision of law, after recognizing that at least 14 district-level judges adopted the governments interpretation and upheld the DOJs prosecution of Jan. 6 cases.

What was profound to me was the repeated, apparent effort  by the Court of Appeals to solicit more cases that will permit them to have a standing to opinewith a good degree of claritywhat is, and is not obstruction, and how and what burdens have to be met  for that offense, Watkins said.

Watkins said this ruling wouldnt necessarily affect pleas that have already been entered but would affect future plea deals offered by the DOJ.

The effect of the ruling is already seen in ongoing trials that involve obstruction charges. Using the Appeals Courts decision, Nicholas Smith, an attorney representing Proud Boys member Ethan Nordean in his Jan. 6 trial, filed a motion to either update jury instructions or dismiss two charges on behalf of his client on April 8.

Two of the panels judges concluded that the governments construction of [Section] 512(c)(2) in the January 6 cases featured a breathtaking and untenable scope, Smith wrote in the filing, referring to the appeals court opinion on how to define the term corrupt in the obstruction charge.

Smith noted that Walkers vote in upholding the DOJs appeal depended on this definition of the term corruptly.

That puts the case in a difficult position, Smith said, because if the court agrees with Walkers interpretation, then the jury needs to be told to examine the evidence differentlynamely, that the defendant must be shown to have acted with the intent to obtain a benefit that the defendant knows is unlawful.

On the other hand, if the District Court doesnt adopt Walkers interpretation, then Walkers vote, which necessarily depended on his interpretation, would become void by inference. In this case, Smith wrote in the filing that his client would move to dismiss two obstruction charges of a total of six charges.

Rejecting the corruptly definition in Judge Walkers opinion would be to instruct the jury on an interpretation of [Section] 1512(c)(2) that a majority of the panel found untenable, Smith wrote.

The government filed a response to Smith on April 10, contending that Walkers concurring opinion isnt binding.

It noted that two of three judgesPan and Katsas, constituting the majorityagreed that the scope of corruptly would encompass all forms of obstructive conduct, including  efforts to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Therefore, the government reasoned, Walkers opinion isnt binding, as it wouldnt necessarily be implicitly adopted by the courts majority.

The government also wrote that the current jury instruction is legally sufficient and that a change isnt needed. It reasoned that the term corruptly isnt statutorily defined and thus should be understood with its ordinary meaning.

As a matter of plain language, corruptly is normally associated with wrongful, immoral, depraved, or evil, the government wrote, noting that this interpretation is supported by case precedents and diverges from that of Walkers definition. It wrote that this interpretation would allow the jury to look for proof in the evidence that each defendant acted with consciousness of wrongdoing and suffices as appropriate jury instruction in the context of congressional obstruction.

The government noted that it would supply a modified version of the jury instruction if the court decides to take Walkers interpretation.
Appeals Court Sides With Indiana School in Firing Christian Teacher Who Rejects Transgender Pronouns

A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a lower courts ruling that it was lawful for a school district in Indiana to fire a music teacher who refused to call students by their preferred gender pronouns and names.

John Kluge, a former music theory and orchestra teacher at Brownsburg High School, was ordered in 2017 to use students names and pronouns based on their new gender identity registered in the schools database. Citing his Christian beliefs, Kluge requested a religious accommodation by referring to all students only by their surnames, to which the school district officials initially agreed.

However, after a few teachers and students complained about the last-names-only compromise, the school district decided no exceptions to its transgender affirmation policies were allowed beginning the 2018-2019 school year, revoked Kluges religious accommodation. He was forced to resign in order to live by his beliefs.

Represented by conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Kluge sued the Brownsburg Community School Corporation (BCSC) in 2019, alleging a violation of his civil rights under Title VII, the federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion.

In 2021, a U.S. District Court ruled in favor of the BCSC, concluding that the school was unable to accommodate Kluges religious beliefs without imposing an undue hardship on its mission to educate all students, and that the teacher failed to show evidence of being forced to resign as a result of not being granted accommodations.

It is not unreasonable for a school to expect that its instructors will teach classes in a professional manner that does not distress students, and nothing in the record suggests that BCSC officials were acting with any motive other than to ensure such was the case, the district court said.

In their April 7 opinion (pdf), a panel of three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld the lower courts decision, saying they found the claim that Kluges accommodation harmed students and disrupted the learning environment plausible.

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 courts opinion read.

The opinion was penned by Judge Ilana Ronver, a George H. W. Bush appointee. It was fully shared by Judge Amy St. Eve and partially joined by Judge Michael Brennan, both Trump appointees.

The majority opinion downplays certain record evidence that, in my view, creates a genuine issue of material fact on undue hardship, Brennan wrote in a separate opinion.

Specifically, Brennan took issue with his colleagues for overlooking testimonies of three of Kluges students and a fellow teacher, all of whom observed the orchestra classes in the 20172018 school year. They all testified that they never heard Kluge using gendered language in the classroom, nor did they see any animosity from the students toward him because of the last-name-only practice.

I conclude that a genuine issue of material fact exists on undue hardship and would remand that issue for trial, Brennan wrote.

The BCSC said they will not comment on pending litigation, while the ADF Senior Counsel Rory Gray said in a statement that theyre weighing their options.

Congress passed Title VII to prevent employers from forcing workers to abandon their beliefs to keep their jobs, Gray said.

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. We are evaluating next steps in this case.
At Least 50 Undercover Officers and Informants Monitored Proud Boys, Jan. 6 Crowds, New Court Filing Says

Previously undisclosed officers cited in defense motion for mistrial

Members of the Proud Boys join supporters of President Donald Trump as they demonstrate in Washington on Dec. 12, 2020. (Jose Luis Magana/AFP via Getty Images)

Up to a dozen previously undisclosed undercover Metropolitan Police Department officers were embedded in the crowds on Jan. 6including one who admitted joining in protester chants to stop the stealaccording to an April 10 court filing in the Proud Boys seditious-conspiracy trial.

A motion for mistrial filed by defense attorney Roger Roots said the additional undercover officers bring the number of police, agents, and informants embedded in Jan. 6 crowds to at least 50.

He had filed an April 5 motion in the case that estimated the number to be 40.

Roots, who represents Proud Boys defendant Dominic Pezzola, asked U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly to declare a mistrial based on numerous, repeated and yet-unfolding instances where exculpatory evidence was withheld by federal prosecutors.

At an April 7 meeting with prosecutors, the defense learned that there were at least 10 to 12 additional, previously unknown plainclothes MPD officers among the Proud Boys on Jan. 6, Roots wrote.

This brings the total number of informants among defendants on or around Jan. 6 to 50 or more, he said. And there are reasons to suspect the true number is higher.

Members of the Proud Boys during a protest against the election outside the Colorado State Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

In his April 5 court filing, Roots said there were 19 confidential informants from an agency called HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) in the crowds on Jan. 6. That was in addition to eight FBI informants within the group.

Five members of the Proud BoysPezzola, Zachary Rehl, Enrique Tarrio, Joe Biggs, and Ethan Nordeanhave been on trial since December.

They are charged with seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings, obstruction of official proceedings, conspiracy to prevent certain federal officers from performing their duties, and other Jan. 6 counts.

Prosecutors contend they conspired to attack the Capitol and disrupt the counting of Electoral College votes by Congress.

Tarrio, Rehl, Nordean, and Biggs face nine criminal counts related to the Capitol breach, and Pezzola is charged with 10.

Officer Joins in Protest Chants

Roots said the newly disclosed 1012 MPD undercover officers were from the Narcotics and Special Investigation Division. They were in addition to previously reported undercover officers from the MPD Electronic Surveillance Unit (ESU).

Prosecutors presented three of the undercover MPD officers for defense attorneys to interview, Roots said.

On April 7, investigator Nicholas Tomasula told defense attorneys his role on Jan. 6 was to record the crowds with his bodycam. He did not know if the other narcotics division undercover officers were also capturing video, the motion stated.

Roots said the defense has not been provided with Tomasulas video.

And he admitted he himself had been heard on video chanting, Whose house? Our house! and Stop the steal! Roots said.

We still do not know the extent to which the crowds First Amendment demonstrations were transformed into violence by undercover law enforcement officers, Roots said.

The Tomasula bodycam videos may be the tip of a much larger iceberg.

Tomasula told defense attorneys he had destroyed his iPhone, and all of his text messagesincluding some related to the Proud Boyshad been auto-deleted, the motion said.

Members of the Proud Boys join a rally in Washington on Nov. 14, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Tomasula indicated he would have immediately written reports of any violence, violent talk, or violent or insurrectionist plans among the Proud Boys or patriots but reported none, he said.

Such information would have been nice to have weeks ago when defendants were cross-examining government witnesses and developing their defense, Roots said.

Prosecutors previously disclosed that a dozen ESU undercover officers were in the crowds taking videos and photographs, the motion said.

Those officers recorded protesters on the scaffolding on the west front of the Capitol, live-streamed video to MPDs Joint Operations Command Center (JOCC), documented MPDs attempts to hold police lines while being assaulted by the crowd, and filmed a Jan. 5 crowd that had taken an aggressive stance with MPD officers, according to a supplement filed with Roots motion.

DOJ Is Unaware

In its reply to Roots April 5 court filing, the U.S. Department of Justice said it is unaware of any Homeland Security Investigations unit that worked at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Defendant Pezzola does not identify the agency that runs the Homeland Security Investigations unit, nor does he contend that this unit is closely aligned with the prosecution team, read the response, signed by Jocelyn Ballantine, chief of the Complex Conspiracy Unit in the DOJ Capitol Siege Section.

And, indeed, the government is aware of no involvement in Dominic Pezzolas case by any unit so identified, the response read.

A leaked video posted on Rumble on March 24 shows three undercover MPD officers engaging in provocateur behavior on Jan. 6, helping protesters climb over barriers, shouting pro-Trump slogans, and directing the crowd to proceed up the northwest stairs to the Capitol.

The actions of those officers were disclosed in court filings in another case by Jan. 6 defendant William Pope of Topeka, Kansas.

Pope has asked U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to lift the court seal on a video shot by one of the officers so the public can view it.
Austin Vows to Investigate and Turn Over Every Rock to Find Source of Intel Leak

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington on Nov. 16, 2022. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed on April 11 to investigate and turn over every rock to find who was behind the leaking of Pentagon documents.

We take this very seriously and we will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it, he said during a press conference at the State Department following a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, and Philippine Officer in Charge of the Department of National Defense Carlito Galvez.

Now, I cant say much more while the Justice Departments investigation is ongoing. But we take this very seriously, added Austin. And we will continue to work closely with our outstanding allies and partners. And nothing will ever stop us from keeping America secure.

Austin said he was first briefed of the leak of documents on April 6. Since then, he said, he has been convening senior department leaders daily on our response, and Ive directed an urgent cross-department effort and weve referred the matter to [Department of Justice] DOJ.

Austin said the focus of the Pentagon probe into the leaking relates to documents dated Feb. 28 and March 1.

We will continued to investigate and try to determine the full scope of the activity, he said.

The leaked documents purportedly relate to U.S. intelligence and information surrounding Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and South Korea. This especially included information related to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Pentagon announced on April 9 that an interagency probe is underway.

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, said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh in a statement. Over the weekend, U.S. officials have engaged with Allies and partners and have informed relevant congressional committees of jurisdiction about the disclosure.

The New York Times first reported on the leaking. Other outlets have since followed suit.

Despite the reports in the press about the leak, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said that the media should not be reporting on the contents of the leaked documents.

This is information that has no business in the public domain, he said during the April 10 White House press briefing.

It has no businessif you dont mind me sayingon the pages of  front pages of newspapers or on television, he added. It is not intended for public consumption and it should not be out there.
Australian and UK Politicians Call on the US to Drop Julian Assanges Extradition

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange supporters hold placards as they gather outside Westminster Magistrates court In London, on April 20, 2022. (Alastair Grant/AP Photo)

Politicians from Australia and the UK, from all political leanings, have asked U.S. Attorney-General Merrick Garland to end all extradition attempts for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

In an open letter, 48 Australian parliamentarians from the government, opposition, and crossbench said extradition would set a dangerous precedent for freedom of the press and be needlessly damaging for the United States as a world leader in freedom of expression.

If the extradition request is approved, Australians will witness the deportation of one of our citizens from one AUKUS partner to anotherour closest strategic allywith Mr Assange facing the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison, the letter reads.

The MPs and senators noted that Assange has been effectively incarcerated for over a decade, while the person who leaked the classified information, Chelsea Manning, has been able to participate in American society since 2017.

A clear majority of Australians consider that this matter has gone on for far too long and must be brought to a close, the letter says.

We implore you to drop the extradition proceedings and allow Mr Assange to return home.

Assanges father, John Shipton, previously said that his sons incarceration was excoriating and scarring for him and his family.

After 14 years, you no longer use the term hope, he said in March.

But he was heartened at the growing support for his release from across the political spectrum.

The incoming tide is now turning into a tsunami of support, he said.

You dont need to be a weatherman to see which way the winds blowing.

Similarly, 35 UK MPs and Lords from six parties have written to Garland requesting that the attorney general uphold the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and drop the extradition proceedings to allow Assange to return to Australia.

This April 11 marks the fourth anniversary of Mr Assange, an award-winning journalist and publisher, being detained in His Majestys Prison Belmarsh in London, where he awaits a decision on extradition to the United States of America, the letter says.

The parliamentarians said extradition to the United States would have a chilling impact on journalism and set a dangerous precedent for other journalists and media organisations.

Assange, an Australian citizen, is wanted by the United States on 18 criminal charges of breaking an espionage law and conspiring to hack government computers after WikiLeaks published a U.S. military video in 2010 showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed multiple civilians, including two Reuters news staff. He faces up to 175 years behind bars if convicted.

Dragged On For Too Long

Greg Barns, the spokesperson for the Australian Assange Campaign, told the AAP that legislators from around the world were eager for the cases conclusion.

It was especially critical for Washington to understand the level of support for Assange among Australian MPs for the extradition proceedings to an end.

There has been bipartisan support for a long period of time, but what this letter says in print is the extent of that diversity, Barns said.

That is a reflection of the Australian community [because] a lot of people think no matter what Assange has done, enough is enough.

He noted that he was unaware of anyone else subject to inhumane conditions while yet to be formally charged with a criminal offence.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Assanges release was not an issue the Australian government could resolve.

We have, at the prime ministers level and at foreign minister level, been very clear in our views that this matter has dragged on too long and it should be brought to a close, she told the Senate on March 30.

But I again make the point that there is a legal process that is in accordance with the tradition of the separation of powers, which I regard as an important part of democracy.

We are doing what we can between government and government, but there are limits to what that diplomacy can achieve.

In 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament that it was time that this matter be brought to a close.

The government will continue to act in a diplomatic way, but can I assure [you] that I have raised this personally with representatives of the United States government, he said.

I dont have sympathy for Mr Assanges actions, on a whole range of matters. But, having said that, you have to reach a point whereby what is the point of this continuing, this legal action, which could be caught up now for many years into the future?

So I will continue to advocate, as I did recently in meetings that I have held.

Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.
BC Liberals to Formally Rename the Party BC United

B.C. Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon gives a statement and answers questions from reporters during an media availability at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on May 4, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Chad Hipolito)

The British Columbia Liberal Party is rebranding itself with the new name BC United, a change the party says is long overdue.

B.C. Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon will unveil the partys new identity at an official launching event in Surrey, B.C. on April 12. The event will also be live-streamed on the partys website.

The party announced last November that 80 percent of its members supported the name change, with the name BC United standing out among 2,000 suggestions.

For more than twenty years, our partys name has been a constant topic of debate. A strong vote for BC United marks a new beginning, Falcon said in a press release at the time, following a vote for the new name. Im excited to move forward as BC United because it really reflects our big tent party, united for a common purpose of making life better for British Columbians.

Party vice-president Caroline Elliott said the debate about changing the partys name has been around for a long time, with some members concerned about an inaccurate perception that the party is connected to the federal Liberal Party.

Many of our members are, true, federal Liberals, she told The Canadian Press. Some of them are federal Conservatives. Some of them, most of them probably, are no federal affiliation whatsoever.

Elliott said the B.C. Liberals are going ahead with the party name change with confidence that NDP Premier David Eby will not call an early election this year.

David Eby, the premier, has sworn up and down he will not be calling an election sooner than the fixed election date and he will not be breaking the fixed election date law as his predecessor did, she said.

Were going to be taking him at his word, Elliott said. Were going to hope he keeps that promise but at the same time were going to be ready.

B.C.s next provincial general election is slated for Oct. 19, 2024.

As of April 10, the party has registered its new name with Elections BC, according to the agencys political parties registry.

Former NDP premier John Horgan called a snap election in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, winning a majority and reducing the Liberals to 28 seats in the 87-seat legislature.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 11, 2023 - 15:43 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Shionogi & Co. said Tuesday it has applied to Taiwanese authorities for emergency use approval for its oral coronavirus drug, Xocova.

The move marks the second time the Japanese pharmaceutical company has sought overseas authorization for the drug following its application to South Korean authorities in January. It has also been in talks with other countries, including the United States and China.

Japan's health ministry granted emergency approval for the drug in November. An estimated 37,000 patients had taken it by mid-March, the company said.

Related coverage:

Daiichi Sankyo seeks approval for Japan's 1st home-grown mRNA vaccine

Japan gives emergency approval to Shionogi's oral COVID-19 drug
Beijing Launches Big Investigation Across Multiple Ministries, Provinces

Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army's Honour Guard Battalion march outside the Forbidden City, near Tiananmen Square, in Beijing, China, on May 20, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

News Analysis

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is reportedly conducting a big investigation into various areas of the state, including several provincial authorities and key ministries.

Li Yanming, a U.S.-based expert on China, said this will result in a new round of political purges.

The so-called investigation campaign came after Xi Jinping secured his power for the third term [in March], Li told The Epoch Times on April 6.

It reflects an escalation of infighting in the CCP, he said. The turbulent political situation in China is full of significant uncertainties.

Li said that Xi had launched the big investigation to further consolidate his power, which will lay the groundwork for a more considerable purge.

As part of the move, Li said Xis crony Wang Xiaohong, minister of the Public Security Ministry, issued an official work plan for Promoting Investigation and Research in Public Security Agencies Across China on April 2.

The plan aims to defend the political security of the CCP.

It also emphasized how to learn from the lessons of the Sun Lijun political gang.

Sun Lijun, a former member of the Party Committee and vice minister of the Ministry of Public Security, was sentenced to death on Sept. 23, 2022, suspended for two years, and had all his personal property confiscated. Sun was a henchman of a faction loyal to CCP ex-leader Jiang Zemin, who died in November last year.

Jiang and his ally Zeng Qinghong were rivals of Xi.

file image of then Chinas Vice-president Zeng Qinghong (R) looks on while then member of the Politburo Xi Jinping (L) fills his ballot during the fifth plenary session of the CCPs rubber-stamp legislature in Beijing on March 15, 2008. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

Extending to Major Provinces, Cities

The Hubei provincial authority said on its official website on April 6 that the province was embarking on a big investigation.

This would see the province joining other regions such as Liaoning, Jiangsu, Guangxi, and Shanghai in efforts to keep pace with the Central Committee, which had claimed on March 19 to promote investigation and research in the CCP in 12 fields, including politics and law, finance, and ideology.

Jiangsu authority said that local Party cadres would take the lead in launching special surveys and research in the entire province.

Financial systems will also be looked into, as outlined by Xuan Chang, the vice governor of Chinas Central Bank, on April 4.

The vigorous investigation and research of financial systems will include how to incorporate various economic activities into supervision and guard the bottom line against systemic risks, Xuan said at the China Finance Associations 2023 academic conference, according to a report on Chinese portal Sina.

On the same day, the mouthpiece Peoples Daily published a commentary declaring that more efforts should be made to make the investigation and research more profound and practical.

(L-R) Newly-elected Chinese state councilor Qin Gang, state councilor and secretary-general of the State Council Wu Zhenglong, state councilor Li Shangfu, Chinas Vice Premiers Zhang Guoqing, Ding Xuexiang, He Lifeng, Liu Guozhong, Chinese state councilors Wang Xiaohong and Shen Yiqin swear an oath after they were elected during the fifth plenary session of the CCPs rubber-stamp legislature in Beijing on March 12, 2023. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

Why a Big Investigation?

Li argues that two factors explain why Xi intends to investigate the CCP on a large scale after he came to power:

First, the communist regime is currently in internal and external difficulties, and crises from domestic population, food, economic, financial, social morality, and security are intertwined.

However, the data in CCP officialdom and various fields are, to some extent, falsified.

In this case, it is necessary to map out the situation of the crisis in each area for Xi, said Li.

Second, Xis former political rivals Jiang Zemin and Zeng Qinghongs powerful clique had a long history of manipulating critical sectors, state-owned enterprises, and the banking industry, which were all crucial to the countrys livelihood.

Crises in various areas of Chinese society are closely tied to internal struggles at the CCPs high-ranked interest groups, Li said.

In less than half a year since the 20th Party Congress ended on Oct. 26, 2022, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has declared the arrests of 23 central management cadresthose appointed by the Central Committee and filed with the CCP Organization Department, generally at the vice-ministerial level or above. Sixteen of these were investigated in 2023, and nine of whom fell in less than a month after the two sessions, including three financial executives: Li Xiaopeng, former party secretary and board chairman of the Everbright Group, Liu Liange, former party secretary and chairman Bank of China, and Fan Yifei, a member of the Party committee and vice president of the Peoples Bank of China, or Chinas central bank.

Many senior officials at the provincial and local levels have fallen from power, with political and legal affairs, military industry, finance, and state-owned enterprises being the main targets of the purge since Xi again took office last year.

Political Movements

According to Lis analysis, the investigation campaign in the CCPs history is somewhat related to the life-and-death crisis of the communist regime.

A Great Investigation and Research was proposed by the communist regimes first leader Mao Zedong.

Mao called on the entire Party to promote investigation and research at the 9th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee in early January 1961, when the countrys economy was in serious plight, and his governance was questioned by the Party, and internal struggles in the CCP intensified.

This occurred after Mao launched the Great Leap Forward, which eventually led to the Great Famine of 1958-1962, where tens of millions of Chinese died.

A small group of Chinese youths walk past several dazibaos, the revolutionary placards, in February 1967 in downtown Beijing during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Since the Cultural Revolution was launched in May 1966 at Beijing University, Mao aimed to recapture power after the failure of the Great Leap Forward. (Vincent/AFP via Getty Images)

At the Seven Thousand Cadres Conference (the Central Committees enlarged working meeting) in early 1962, then-state chairman Liu Shaoqi criticized Maos Great Leap Forward and other policies. This angered Mao, who started the Four Cleanup Movement in 1963 as a precursor of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, during which Liu was tortured to death.

Eliminating Dissidents

Ji Da, a China expert, told The Epoch Times on April 6 that the so-called investigation and research campaign is a product of the CCP system.

The communist regime conducted frequent campaigns because it needed to centralize control through campaigns, which manifested itself in the exclusion of dissidents, Ji said.

As a totalitarian power, if the CCP wants to do anything, they must have an utterly submissive team, so they have to exclude dissidents, Ji said.

The authoritarian system has a high degree of monopoly of power and absolutely no sharing [with others]. Otherwise, the rigid system will not work.

The CCP must always eliminate dissidents as it fears reprisals by dissidents if they get hold of power, Ji said.

Therefore, the Party keeps cleaning up dissidents, offending others, and making more enemies. Finally, they will be isolated and heading to a dead end, Ji said.
Belfast Locked Down Ahead of Bidens Visit

Police form ring of steel around Northern Irish capital as president prepares to touch down on Tuesday night

The police presence in Belfast city centre, ahead of the arrival of U.S. President Joe Biden for his visit to Ireland, on April 11, 2023. (PA)

A ring of steel surrounds Northern Irelands capital city as the province prepares for U.S. President Joe Bidens first ever official visit.

Parts of Belfast city centre are in complete lockdown as police carry out a huge security operation in the midst of an ongoing severe dissident republican terror threat.

Roads have been closed and footpaths blockaded as specialist Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers search drains and other areas.

More than 300 officers from the rest of the UK have been drafted in to help police the presidential visit.

Rows of marked and unmarked police and security vehicles line the streets surrounding the Ulster University area where Biden is set to make a keynote speech on Wednesday.

He is due to touch down in the province on Tuesday evening where he will be greeted off Air Force One by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Biden is also expected to meet with Northern Irelands main political parties despite an ongoing government deadlock.

Biden ruled out a visit to Stormont buildings over the political impasse, caused by the Democratic Unionist Partys (DUPs) refusal to accept post-Brexit trading checks.

The U.S. visitto mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreementhas been described by former prime minister and Labour leader Sir Tony Blair as significant.

American Influence

Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Tuesday, Blairwho played a key part in securing the 1998 peace dealsaid the American influence on Northern Ireland had to be used with care and with sensitivity.

I obviously had a very close relationship with President [Bill] Clinton outside of the peace process, but I found him immensely helpful, he said.

He would immediately understand strategically what was important and what wasnt and the Americans can play an important part of this, but youve just got to be, youve got to insert them at the right moment and in the right place.

Blair said it was important for the current prime minister and U.S. president to have a good relationship in the ongoing issues surrounding Northern Ireland.

The Americans can play a real role but its something that you need to do carefully because theres a difference between influencing and pressurising, and the one tends to be positive and the other can be negative.

Writing on Twitter on Monday, Biden said: 25 years ago, Northern Irelands 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 police officer demonstrates a security inspection of a drain, close to the Grand Central Hotel, ahead of the arrival of U.S. President Joe Biden for his visit to the island of Ireland, in Belfast, on April 11, 2023. (PA)

Ongoing Security Alert

The PSNI warned last week it had received strong community intelligence that dissident republicans were planning to carry out some form of attack on police officers ahead of the Biden visit.

Some disturbances broke out in the Derry city area of the province following an anti-agreement republican parade on Easter Monday.

Youths fired petrol bombs and missiles at police, but the disorder was largely contained in the nationalist Creggan estate.

On Tuesday morning, the PSNI launched a large scale security operation surrounding the grounds of Derrys city cemetery where Mondays republican parade had taken place.

Two robots, usually deployed to examine suspicions objects, were seen moving within the site.

One small funeral was facilitated at the cemetery during the closure.

Commenting on the security operation, Foyle MP Colum Eastwood wrote on Twitter: People cant get to the graves of their loved because of the actions of a few with no political mandate and no support.

Hoping the city cemetery is made safe as soon as possible.

There has been no official confirmation on the ongoing security operation by police.

However, it is not expected to impact on Bidens Belfast visit.

Army Technical Officers operate a remote bomb disposal robot to check for devices at Derry City Cemetery on April 11, 2023, following a dissident Republican parade in the Creggan area of Londonderry on Easter Monday. (PA)

Great Buzz

Biden is expected to leave Northern Ireland following his keynote speech on Wednesday to attend events in the Republic of Ireland.

He will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visits to two Irish counties from where his ancestors hail.

After leaving Belfast city, the president will cross the border to attend engagements in County Louth.

Biden has traced his ancestral roots to the area where he will tour Carlingford Castle before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D. Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublins Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5 p.m. on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Higginss official residence is within the parks grounds.

The White House said Biden will 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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Biden recently hosted for St. Patricks Day.

The president will address the Irish Parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

His trip will conclude with a visit to County Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

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 make a public speech at St. Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina.

Speaking ahead of Fridays visit, Joe Blewitt, a third cousin of Biden, said there is a great buzz in the area.

We are building the stage at the moment, said on Tuesday.

I am very excited, there is a great buzz all around the town. It has just been crazy.

The town will never have known anything like it, it is just great.

PA Media contributed to this report
Biden Admin Launches $5 Billion Effort to Develop New COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapies

Syringes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine sit in a tray in a vaccination room at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2021. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

The Biden administration is launching an initiative in excess of $5 billion to speed up the development of new vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 and other coronaviruses that could pose a future threat.

The news comes the same day that President Joe Biden signed a measure to end the COVID-19 national emergency.

Building on the work the Administration has accomplished over the last few years and to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving virus that causes COVID-19, Project NextGen will accelerate and streamline the rapid development of next generation of vaccines and treatments through public-private collaborations, a senior administration official told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement.

The infusion of a $5B investment at minimum, will help catalyze scientific advancement in areas that have large public health benefits for the American people with the goal of developing safe and effective tools for the American people, the official added.

The program takes a similar approach to its predecessor Operation Warp Speed launched under the Trump administration in 2020, in partnering with private sector companies to accelerate development of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.

Its been very clear to us that the market on this is moving very slowly. Theres a lot that government can do, the administration can do, to speed up those tools  for the American people, Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, told The Washington Post, which first reported on the new program.

Jha didnt say when the products may be expected to come to market. The timelines are really going to be predicated on how quickly the scientific advancements continue, and how quickly we can study and measure the efficacy and safety of these products, he told the outlet.

The program has three main goals. It will focus on creating long-lasting monoclonal antibodies resistant to new COVID-19 variants, as well as broader vaccines that can protect against several different coronavirusesalso referred to as pan-coronavirus vaccines.

Project NextGen also seeks to speed up the development of vaccines that produce mucosal immunity and can be administered through the nose, in hopes they can dramatically reduce infection and transmission rates.

While our vaccines are still very effective at preventing serious illness and death, they are less capable of reducing infections and transmission over time, a spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told Reuters.

New variants and loss of immunity over time could continue to challenge our healthcare systems in the coming years.

The program, set to be based at HHS, will coordinate across the government and with the private sector on advancing a pipeline of new vaccines and treatments, the HHS spokesperson said. It will cover all phases of development from lab research and clinical trials to delivery.

The Epoch Times has contacted HHS for further comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Biden Administrations COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Travel Is Illegal, Should Be Struck Down: Lawsuit

The Biden administrations requirement that foreign travelers get a COVID-19 vaccine is illegal and should be blocked, according to a new lawsuit.

President Joe Biden in 2021 issued a proclamation suspending the entry of unvaccinated noncitizen nonimmigrants into the United States by air. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then issued an order that detailed the mandate.

Gerard Van Den Bosch, a citizen of the Netherlands, works and lives in the United States. He received a work visa in 2019 and is an engineer for VMI Holland in Tennessee.

Boschs religious beliefs preclude him from taking a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the suit. Taking a vaccine is because of fear of what might happen to me and therefore is a lack of faith in God, Bosch said in a declaration. Additionally, Bosch enjoys post-infection immunity, which is similar to or even better than the protection from vaccination.

Bosch booked a flight to the Netherlands set to depart on March 17 and return to the United States on March 29. He planned to conduct business in his home country and see his aging parents. But he did not end up going because the U.S. government did not provide an official response to his request for a religious exemption to the mandate, documents filed in court show.

Bosch is asking the federal court to block the mandate, arguing it violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) and the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment. He has booked another round-trip flight that is slated to leave the United States on May 24.

Exceptions Only Secular

The CDC lists exceptions to its mandate, including for noncitizens who must travel to the United States for a legal obligation.

But the agency also says that there are no exceptions  for religious reasons or other moral convictions.

That means the mandate violates plaintiffs rights under RFRA, the suit states.

The act prohibits the government from substantially burdening a persons exercise of religion unless the government can show the burden furthers a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

The mandate does not further an interest, though, because the COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent transmission or infection, Boschs filing notes.

The CDC itself said in a 2022 update that its COVID-19 prevention recommendations no longer differentiate based on a persons vaccination status because breakthrough infections occur, though they are generally mild, and persons who have had COVID-19 but are not vaccinated have some degree of protection against severe illness from their previous infection.

CDC guidance now directly contradicts the rationales and implicit justifications for the Travel Ban, the suit says.

As further evidence that the mandate is unjustified, the fact that the overwhelming majority of other countries, including Canada and all European countries, do not have similar requirements was offered.

The United States is amongst the handful of remaining countries that maintain travel restrictions based on vaccination status, a very short list of countries that includes some of the most repressive governments in the world, the filing states.

There are countless options the Government could have utilized that constitute less restrictive means to avoid the conflict with Plaintiffs free exercise rights. However, instead of instituting a policy with the requisite precision to avoid conflict with non-citizens residing in the United States who hold religious objections to compulsory vaccinationlike PlaintiffDefendants deployed a blunt hammer and, in one stroke, obliterated every possibility for religious observance, it added.

Bosch, represented by lawyers with Siri & Glimstad and Glassman, Wyatt, Tuttle, & Cox, wants the court to enter a preliminary injunction blocking the government from enforcing the mandate against him as the case is dealt with.

He is also seeking class certification, which would broaden the case to include all people who are impacted by the ban on unvaccinated travel.

The CDC declined to comment. The White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to requests for comment.

Uncertain Future

Because the mandate stems from a presidential proclamation, the future is uncertain.

Officials have not said when it will end, or whether it will end, spurning or not answering questions on the matter.

A separate mandate, for entry at U.S. land ports of entry and from DHS, was based on Bidens COVID-19 national emergency declaration.

Biden on Monday signed a bill immediately ending the declaration, while a similar public health declaration is due to end on May 11.

DHS and Customs and Border Protection, a CBP office that issued the mandate, did not return inquiries.

DHS anticipates lifting the requirements imposed under this notification no later than when Presidential Proclamation 10294 is revoked, the agency said when the mandate was issued.

The Biden administration had said that it was winding down the emergencies, as opposed to ending them immediately, because an abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system.

The declarations originated during former President Donald Trumps administration. COVID-19 first appeared in China in 2019.
Biden Arrives in Belfast to Celebrate 25 Years of Peace in Northern Ireland

U.S. President Joe Biden boards Air Force One, as he departs for Northern Ireland, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 11, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

BELFAST, Northern IrelandPresident Joe Biden arrived in Belfast late on Tuesday to begin his political and personal four-day trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland, where he will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the Northern Ireland peace deal that ended 30 years of violent conflict. Biden is expected to participate in bilateral meetings and trace his family history in Ireland during his visit.

Biden landed in Belfast at 9:16 p.m. local time, where he was greeted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The two leaders met in San Diego last month for the announcement of Australias nuclear submarine deal as part of the trilateral security agreement known as AUKUS.

Biden will meet with Sunak again on Wednesday for a bilateral meeting, after which he will give remarks at Ulster University celebrating the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement.

During this speech, Biden will highlight the tremendous progress made since the signing of the agreement and underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Irelands vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on April 10.

President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there, he added.

The agreement reached on April 10, 1998, established peace between unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK, and nationalists, who want it to become part of the Republic of Ireland. The deal effectively ended three decades of violence that had killed over 3,500 people.

The presidents visit takes place against a tense political backdrop. Since February 2022, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended as unionist parties refuse to take their seats in protest of the Brexit settlement.

When asked what his top priority for the trip was, Biden said that he wanted to make sure the Irish accords and the Windsor agreement stay in place, to keep the peace, referring to a contentious trade agreement reached between the UK and the European Union that sets out Northern Irelands post-Brexit relationship with both sides.

Thats the main thing. And its looking like were going to. Keep your fingers crossed, Biden told reporters before his departure.

Biden will be the fourth sitting U.S. president to visit Northern Ireland after Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.

Following his speech at Ulster University, Biden is scheduled to travel to Dublin, Ireland, in the afternoon on Wednesday. The White House stated that the president will attend events in Dublin, County Louth, and County Mayo. The president, who says hes proud of his Irish heritage, plans to visit the homes of his ancestors and meet with his relatives.
Video Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:08 Biden White House was involved in Trump raid

10:42 Probe launched over Biden admin COVID booster approval

18:06 Democrat Governor who shut down churches during COVID ordered to pay legal fees

24:17 House panel to examine victims of DA Braggs policies

42:57 Biden admin. accused by grand jury of child trafficking

1:00:20 Has Biden actually cracked down on the border?

1:14:47 $4.7M Donated to Democrats Apparently Without Donors Knowledge

1:21:40 Q&A with Josh

The Biden White House played a role in the FBI raid on former President Donald Trumps home at Mar-a-Lago. New documents reveal that the investigations into Trump may have had political involvement. The new findings could damage other criminal cases against the former president.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is being accused of child trafficking and other alleged crimes related to mass immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. The findings were detailed in a report published by Floridas statewide prosecutors office, and expose how government funding and federal agencies are supporting networks of coyotes and cartels involved in various forms of human trafficking.

In this live Q&A with Crossroads host Joshua Philipp, well discuss these stories and others, and answer questions from the audience.

*Sponsor Special: Up to $2,500 of free silver with American Hartford Gold. Call 877-260-2764, text JOSHUA to 6-5-5-3-2, or visit: https://ept.ms/3rshean
Big Increase in Illegal Immigrants Crossing Channel as Rwanda Threat Lingers

In the last week alone 1,106 people arrived in Kent

Illegal immigrants who crossed the English Channel in small boats stand talking to each other at their temporary home at Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, on March 7, 2023. (PA)

Small boat crossings in the English Channel have begun to surge again with 1,106 illegal immigrants arriving on the English coast in the last week.

That figurewhich includes 492 people on April 5 alonecompares to 3,793 for the first three months of the year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeatedly pledged to crack down on illegal immigration and his stop the boats campaign has been one of his five main priorities since he replaced Liz Truss in October.

The government has said it believes the world-leading dealwhich was negotiated by previous Home Secretary Priti Patelto send illegal immigrants to Rwanda while their asylum applications are being processed, would begin to have a deterrent effect when deportation flights begin taking off.

But the deportations are on hold pending a legal appeal against a High Court ruling in December that the policy was lawful.

The Court of Appeal is expected to give a ruling later this month, but if campaigners lose they might take the case all the way to the UK Supreme Court, which could delay the first flights until Christmas.

The surge in illegal immigrants this week could be owing to a combination of better weather and rising demand as people try to get into the country before the Rwanda policywhich could not be applied retrospectivelyis introduced.

The Illegal Migration Bill, currently going through Parliament, would also make it harder for people who arrived in the country illegally to stay in Britain.

The bill says illegal immigrants would be deported back to their home country or sent to Rwanda.

But The Times of London has discovered, following a request under the Freedom of Information Act, that of the 45,755 immigrants who arrived on small boats in 2022 only 215 have been deported.

Low Level of Deportations Not Serving as a Deterrent

Natalie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover, told The Times of London: The number of Channel migrants deported or returned is so low its not serving as a deterrent. Thats why it is vital to stop the boats leaving France in the first place, and migrants picked up in the Channel should be immediately returned to France.

Earlier this month Sunak agreed a new deal with Frances President Emmanuel Macron to stop the flow of illegal immigrants.

The British government agreed to send Paris 478 million ($577 million) to fund a new detention centre in France and hire hundreds of extra French law enforcement officers to patrol the French coast and catch people-trafficking gangs.

Sunak said at the time: We dont need to manage this problem, we need to break it. And today, we have gone further than ever before to put an end to this disgusting trade in human life. Working together, the UK and France will ensure that nobody can exploit our systems with impunity.

While the government seeks to stem the flow, it is also preparing new accommodation for the influx.

Plan to House Migrants in Barge

Last week the Home Office agreed a deal to house 500 asylum seekers on a giant barge, the Bibby Stockholm, anchored off the Isle of Portland in Dorset for 18 months.

The Home Office said the barge would provide basic and functional accommodation and would reduce the costly reliance on hotels around the country to house illegal immigrants.

An undated image of the Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge, a 222-bedroom, three-storey vessel, which the Home Office plans to use to house 500 asylum seekers off Portland, Dorset, England. (Bibby Marine/PA)

Conservative-run Dorset Council and local Tory MP Richard Drax are considering launching legal action to prevent the barge being docked at Portland.

Another Tory-run authority, Braintree District Council, is trying to prevent a former RAF base at Wethersfield being used as temporary accommodation for immigrants. The council has been granted an injunction hearing next week.

The government also recently announced plans to make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to set up UK bank accounts.

But last week the shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said, Every day the Conservatives spend scrambling to sort out their internal squabbles and legal problems, their failure to secure our borders and run a functional asylum system is costing taxpayers millions.

A Home Office spokesman said, The unacceptable number of people risking their lives by making these dangerous crossings is placing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system.

He added: Our priority is to stop this illegal trade, and our Small Boats Operational Command is working alongside our French partners and other agencies to disrupt the people smugglers.

The government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country, added the spokesman.

PA Media contributed to this report.
A 13-year-old piano prodigy, who is blind and has severe autism, is nurturing her incredible musical gift with the help of a dedicated teacher. Together, they are wowing audiences and proving that the sky is the limit for kids with disabilities.

Adam Ockelford, professor of music at the University of Roehampton in London, England, first met Lucy Illingworth at Highbury School in the north of England when Lucy was 5 years old. Ockelford, who is a specialist in working with visually impaired children, entered the schools soft playroom with Highburys head teacher and saw a small hand poking out from the ball pond.

I always carry a little keyboard with me, so I put the keyboard under the hand and it started playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in C-sharp major, Ockelford, 64, founder of music charity The Amber Trust, told The Epoch Times. There was a lot of potential there.

Lucy performing at The Amber Trust Concert in 2022 (Courtesy of The Amber Trust)

Lucy has faced many challenges, he said. Shes blind and severely autistic and has severe learning difficulties. She clearly found the world quite a frightening and confusing place, because she was trying to understand, without understanding much language.  It was then a question of how do we find someone to teach Lucy.

Hand Under Hand Technique

Since Lucy lives 200 miles from London, Ockelford found a talented local teacher named Daniel Bath, with whom he worked out a program for Lucy that would help her flourish. Their approach had to be unique.

Most children learn an instrument by looking at their teacher and copying their movements. But obviously.  I cant say to Lucy, Put your thumb on this key, because she wont understand, Ockelford said. In fact, what Daniel is doing is actually putting Lucys hands on top of his hands. Its called hand under hand, and it means she can feel the finger shape that hes making  Gradually, she can build up a mental model of how a good technique on the piano works.

Working with Lucy from when she was 5 years old, Bath described her as the most musically gifted student with whom he has had the opportunity to work so far and praised her for her wide emotional range of expression and a lot of humor and fun.

Lucys technique today is still quite idiosyncratic, Ockelford said. However, over time she has mixed in more conventional fingering patterns that will enable her to play more fluently.

However, according to Ockelford, there is something else that gives Lucy an edge over othersshe has perfect pitch.

Ockelford said: Lucy has this thing called perfect pitch, which means she can know all the notes in music just by listening. She knows what C sharp is, she knows what A is, what B flat is  all she has to do is find the right notes on the keyboard.

Lucy already has a repertoire of thousands of pieces, chosen by her, and she plays them all from memory. She loves jazz, especially the music of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, and classical music, with Bach among her favorite composers.

No Limits

About four years ago, Lucys incredible story reached a wide audience when UK televisions Channel 4 approached The Amber Trust while filming a talent show, The Piano, looking to feature undiscovered musicians with disabilities. Lucy played Chopins Opus 9, Number 1 on piano in front of a public audience at Birmingham New Street train station and her short story of triumph over adversity won the hearts of the nation.

A tweet of her video amassed almost 5 million views, which is wonderful, Ockelford said. It also raised public awareness of what children with disabilities are capable of.

According to Ockelford, Lucy can do whatever she wants in life. However, he believes that the society isnt yet set up in a way to enable her to do it.

[I]t takes specialist teachers like Daniel and, I suppose, like me and specialist organizations like The Amber Trust, to understand how blind children learn, Ockelford said.

We can help using Braille to read, we can help using specialist technology, so there are no limits, potentially, to what a blind child can do, he said. What we want for Lucy is that music making will bring her into context with lots of people and she will make friends and shell have a nice, fulfilled life.

Ockelford firmly believes that its the duty of Lucys educators and therapists to enable Lucywho was left blind as an infant by a rare form of cancer, bilateral retinoblastomato fulfill her potential.

Medicine cant do anything for Lucy. theyve done what they can, they kept her alive, Ockelford said.

Its not only Lucy who is benefitting from Ockelford and Baths continued support. Her parents have been overjoyed to see their daughter thrive.

Founder of Amber Trust, Adam Ockelford. (Courtesy of The Amber Trust)

[O]n the one hand they had some bad news: the doctor said, Sorry, your childs very disabled, Ockelford said. But were saying, Heres the good news, something she can do really well, and she could have a great life doing it.'

They love Lucy very much, he said. Lucys mum, Candice, shes been able to see children like Lucy who are a bit older who are now moving out into the world.  It really helps them to see the routes that Lucy might pave.

Raising Awareness

As her talent reaches new heights, Lucy has had the opportunity to perform in many concerts for The Amber Trust in various prestigious venues and her mentors are proud of her progress. Ockelford likens Lucy to the famous musical prodigy, Derek Paravicini, a 43-year-old pianist from London, who is also blind and autistic.

While working for the UKs Royal National Institute of Blind People earlier in his career, Ockelford had an insight. [I]t became obvious to me that a lot of blind and partially sighted children have a particular affinity for music, he said. Some of them become very highly skilled as well, and it can offer a career option, which is very important in a world where jobs are hard to come by, especially if you have a disability.

Ockelford set up The Amber Trust almost 30 years ago, working with parents with a view to improving music provision for visually impaired children in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The charity supports some 600 children every year by paying for music lessons, instruments, specialist technology, and concert tickets. They hope to increase their budget from 350,000 (approx. US $435,000) to 500,000 (approx. US $620,000) in the next five years, allowing them to help up to 1,000 children per year.

Most adults cant play the piano, probably one in 10,000. So the message is that disability need be no barrier to making music, Ockelford said, reflecting, If you asked me, Who are the young children The Amber Trust will be supporting in five years? I dont know, because they havent been born yet.

No one knows theyre going to have a blind child, its very rare, he said. So its really important that we constantly raise awareness of what blind children can do with music.

Watch Lucys Story:

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Blinken to Travel to UK, Ireland, Vietnam, Japan This Week: State Department

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends an Allies Support to Ukraine meeting, during NATO foreign ministers' meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on April 4, 2023. (Olivier Matthys/Pool via Reuters)

WASHINGTONSecretary 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 G-7 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.
Border Pollution Continues to Cause San Diego Beach Closures

Four beaches have closed, some multiple times, in San Diego County this year because of pollution associated with the Tijuana River, according to the California State Water Resources Control Board.

Three of those beaches closed a combined 25 times in 2022 for the same reason, according to the agency.

But efforts to reduce pollution by the U.S.Mexico border water treatment facilitycalled the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plantis expected to result in improvements in the coming years, according to Angela Howe, a senior legal director of the Surfrider Foundation, a San Clemente-based nonprofit that bills itself as an organization dedicated to the protection of the worlds oceans and beaches.

Tijuana River Estuary, near Goat Canyon, littered with debris, including plastic bottles, containers, toys, and other discarded trash. (Courtesy of Kyle Lishok/Surfrider Foundation)

The mitigation efforts come after a 2018 lawsuit filed by the Surfrider Foundation and several local government agencies against the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, which oversees the plant and water sanitation at the border.

The water treatment plant, a 75-acre parcel of land about two miles west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, processes up to 30 million gallons per day of sewage and other wastewater that flows from Mexico into the United States, according to the commission.

But the plants area operations manager, Morgan Rogers, told The Epoch Times that another 30 to 40 million gallons of untreated sewage is pumped out to sea about 30 miles south of Tijuana.

Unlike the Colorado River and the Rio Grande, the Tijuana River doesnt have natural flows every day of the year. It flows naturally only during the rainy season, from about November to April each year. The rest of the year, from May to about October, is the dry season, according to Rogers.

During the dry season, water still flows through the river and canyons toward the border from Tijuana. The dry season water flows come from different sources in Tijuana, such as irrigation runoff, leaking pipes, and groundwater, according to Rogers. The commission has the infrastructure, known as canyon collectors, designed to capture that water and divert it to the plant for treatment.

Our objective here is we dont want any transboundary flows during the dry season, Rogers said.

A canyon collector at the U.S.Mexico border in San Diego on March 14, 2023. (Mark Mathews/The Epoch Times

The plant doesnt treat rainwater because its too clean and would harm the chemical balance of the treatment plant, but when it does rain, the rainwater picks up contaminants and trash that collect in the riverbed and brings that into the United States, according to Rogers.

So, thats another source of closing beaches, he said.

The lawsuit alleged that the commission violated the Clean Water Act by allowing egregious water pollution flows through their flood control conveyance, which eventually ended up in the Pacific Ocean, according to Surfriders Howe.

After more than four years, the commission settled the lawsuits in April 2022, promising to take short-term, mid-term, and long-term actions to intercept or divert transboundary flows.

At Surfrider, were really proud of the major clean water victory that we achieved with the settlement, Howe said.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 11, 2023 - 16:20 | World, All

North Korea has not responded to regularly held calls from South Korea since late last week, Seoul said Tuesday, as speculation grows over further possible provocations by Pyongyang, including a nuclear test.

"The government expresses strong regret over the North's unilateral and irresponsible attitude," South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Young Se said in a statement.

"We strongly warn that it will only result in isolation of North Korea itself, making (the country) face more difficult situations."

North Korea has not answered phone calls through inter-Korean liaison lines and military hotlines since Friday, according to the Ministry of Unification.

Kwon also condemned North Korea, saying it has been using South Korean facilities against Seoul's wishes in the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the southwestern part of North Korea, where the two countries have conducted economic cooperation projects.

Earlier in the day, the North's state-run media said the country's leader Kim Jong Un has stressed the need to expand Pyongyang's war deterrence in a "more practical and offensive" manner and "effectively apply" it for stricter control and management of the ever-worsening security situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim made the remarks Monday at a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, which examined a "plan for offensive operation on the front," the North's official Korean Central News Agency said without elaborating.

The meeting also 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" amid the "escalating moves" of the United States and South Korea to "unleash a war of aggression," KCNA said.

A picture released by KCNA showed Kim pointing his finger at what appears to be a map of the Korean Peninsula, though the image was blurred.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said it possibly indicated that the North's weapons could put the South within operational range.

Some observers said Kim seems to be pointing to areas around a key U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers south of Seoul, according to Yonhap.

Kim's call for bolstering the North's war deterrence has raised concerns in the region, with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno saying Tuesday that Pyongyang may carry out further provocative actions, including missile launches and a nuclear test.

Speculation has been growing that the North could soon conduct its seventh nuclear test and first since September 2017.

Related coverage:

North Korea conducts another test of underwater nuclear attack drone

U.S. diplomat sees opportunity in renewed Japan-S. Korea cooperation

South Korea, Japan, U.S. call for deportation of North Korean workers
Bragg Sues Jordan Over Alleged Campaign to Intimidate

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference following the arraignment of former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City on April 4, 2023. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Manhattans district attorney has sued Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), alleging the top Republican member has launched a campaign meant to intimidate.

A New York grand jury, encouraged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, recently brought charges against former President Donald Trump, drawing intense criticism from Jordan and other Republicans. Jordan has subpoenaed one of Braggs top former lieutenants, and asked for documents and testimony from a current deputy, in addition to publicly lambasting Braggs decision.

Jordan, a Republican, has launched a transparent campaign to intimidate and attack District Attorney Bragg, making demands for confidential documents and testimony from the District Attorney himself as well as his current and former employees and officials, Bragg, a Democrat, claimed in the new suit, lodged in federal court in New York.

The filing says Congress does not have the power to supervise state criminal prosecutions and that Jordans actions infringe on state sovereignty.

Jordan claims he is seeking to conduct oversight. But he has no power under the Constitution to oversee state and local criminal matters. By definition, then, he has no legitimate legislative purpose for issuing this subpoena, the lawsuit says. The subpoena threatens the sovereign powers of the States, confidence in the secrecy of grand jury proceedings, and the integrity of an ongoing criminal prosecution. This Court should enjoin its enforcement.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in Washington on Feb. 1, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

First, they indict a president for no crime. Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it, Jordan said after the suit was lodged.

The congressman has said that the prosecution of Trump implicates federal interests.

If state or local prosecutors are able to engage in politically motivated prosecutions of Presidents of the United States (former or current) for personal acts, this could have a profound impact on how Presidents choose to exercise their powers while in office. For example, a President could choose to avoid taking action he believes to be in the national interest because it would negatively impact New York City for fear that he would be subject to a retaliatory prosecution in New York City, he wrote in one recent letter to Braggs office.

Members of Congress, due to the prosecution, must now consider taking legislative action to protect former and/or current presidents from politically motivated prosecutions by state and local officials, he added.

The suit also comes just one day after the House Judiciary Committee, which Jordan chairs, announced it would be holding a hearing in Manhattan on violent crime.

The hearing 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, the panel said.
Britain Names 1st Female Director of GCHQ Cyber Intelligence Agency

Undated handout photo of Anne Keast-Butler, issued by GCHQ on April 11, 2023. (GCHQ via PA Media)

The UK government has named Anne Keast-Butler as the first female director of GCHQ, the countrys cyber intelligence agency.

GCHQor Government Communications Headquartersgathers communications from around the world to identify and disrupt threats to Britain.

It has a close relationship with the U.S. National Security Agency as well as with counterparts in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in a consortium called Five Eyes.

Keast-Butler, currently deputy director-general of the UKs domestic security agency MI5, will take up the role in May when the current GCHQ Director Sir Jeremy Fleming steps down, making her the agencys 17th leader since its inception in the early 20th century after the outbreak of World War One.

Announcing the appointment on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: Anne Keast-Butler has an impressive track record at the heart of the UKs national security network, helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals, and malign foreign powers.

She is the ideal candidate to lead GCHQ, and Anne will use her vast experience to help keep the British public safe.

Cant Wait to Get Started

Keast-Butler has spent 30 years working in national security. Before holding senior security service roles at MI5, she spent two years on secondment to GCHQ as head of counter-terrorism and serious organised crime, and also worked in Whitehall over the last decade, during which time she helped launch the National Cyber Security Programme.

She said she is delighted to be appointed GCHQ director, adding that the agencys mission is as inspiring today as it was when it was founded.

I was privileged to work in GCHQ a few years ago, so I know I am again joining a world-class team of people from diverse backgrounds with a broad range of skills, who share a singular focus on making our country safer, more secure, and more prosperous, she said.

I am passionate about continuing to ensure that GCHQ is an organisation where everyone can perform to their very best.

I am so grateful for the vision and dedication Sir Jeremy Fleming has shown during his tenure, and the ways in which GCHQ has transformed under his leadership.

I look forward to building on this in the months and years to come. I cant wait to get started.

Brilliant Choice

Commenting on the appointment of his successor, Fleming said: Annes appointment is fantastic news for the organisation. I have worked with Anne for decades and think she is a brilliant choice with deep experience of intelligence and security in todays technology-driven world.

Jeremy Fleming attends an event at Watergate House in London on Feb. 14, 2019. (Niklas Hallen/AFP via Getty Images)

Fleming announced his decision to step down in January.

During his six-year tenure, he has faced challenges such as the Salisbury nerve agent attack and the potential involvement of Huawei in the UKs 5G network.

In recent times, the intelligence chief has spoken out on Russian President Vladimir Putins flawed decision-making during the invasion of Ukraine and warned of the dangerous talk of nuclear weapon use during the conflict.

Despite the potential immediate threat posed by Russia, Fleming previously told the BBC that China is the real long-term threat to UK national securitysaying the country is deploying its ideologies in ways that we think are against our national interests.

The COVID-19 pandemic also saw him speak out about the increased threat of cyberattacks, with GCHQ supporting the health sector as vaccine research was targeted by hackers.

Responsible Cyber Power

GCHQ provided a rare statement on its offensive cyber work earlier this month, revealing that its hackers had launched operations against militants, state-backed disinformation campaigns, and attempts to interfere in elections.

The attacks were carried out over the last three years by the secretive National Cyber Force (NCF), a hacking unit operational since 2020 made up of spies and defence officials from Britains armed forces and GCHQ.

In an increasingly volatile and interconnected world, to be a truly responsible cyber power, nations must be able to contest and compete with adversaries in cyberspace, Fleming said in a statement released on April 4.

The statement was published alongside a 28-page paper designed to illustrate aspects of how the UK is being a responsible cyber power. It did not elaborate on the specifics of those operations.

Since it began operating, the NCF has used its offensive cyber capabilities to protect overseas military deployments and disrupt terrorist groups, the statement said, without elaborating.

British government hackers have also countered state disinformation campaigns and worked to reduce the threat of external interference in democratic elections, the statement added.

The paper accompanying the statement did not say which disinformation-spreading states British hackers had worked to counter. It noted, however, that countries such as Russia and Iran routinely carry out cyber operations of different kinds in order to spread disinformation.

PA Media and Reuters contributed to this report.
California Lawmaker Blocks Parental Rights Bill as Debate Continues Over Secret Gender Transitions at Schools

The Democrat chairman of a California Assembly committee has blocked a parental rights bill that would ban secret gender transitions at schools following several packed school board meetings that reflect an ongoing national debate over student privacy versus parental rights and growing public interest in the controversy.

Assembly Bill 1314, authored by Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Corona), would require a teacher, counselor, or school employee to notify a parent within three days of becoming aware that a student is identifying at school as a gender not aligning with the childs sex on their birth certificate or sex assigned at birth.

Assembly Education Committee Chairman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) issued a statement on April 10 saying the committee will not hear the proposed legislation, not only because the bill is proposing bad policy, but also because a hearing would potentially provide a forum for increasingly hateful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ youth.

Meanwhile, parental rights advocates and transgender rights activists in Chico in Northern California, and Chino, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa in Southern California, have shown up at meetings in recent weeks demanding an end to policies that keep students gender identity secret from parents.

Muratsuchi did not respond to questions on April 7 from The Epoch Times regarding rumors that the bill would be killed before it reached committee despite widespread public interest in secret gender transitions in California public schools.

The bill would force educators to out transgender students to their parents, potentially putting some of them at risk of abuse in unwelcoming homes, he said in the statement.

AB 1314 ignores the reality that not all trans or non-binary youth have such loving and supportive families, Muratsuchi said, noting the LGBTQ Caucus strongly supports his decision to kill the bill. The reality is that LGBTQ+ youth oftentimes face harassment, isolation, bullying, and even physical harm from their own families.

Additionally, he claimed such youth have been negatively impacted by recent debates and laws around anti-LGBTQ+ policies and many have experienced victimization.

Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Corona) speaks at a press conference with supporters about his bill AB 1314 in Jurupa Valley, Calif., on March 13, 2023. (Screenshot via YouTube/Bill Essayli)

Chino Meeting

At the Chino Valley Unified School District meeting on April 6, Essayli dismissed arguments that student privacy outweighs parental rights based on a non-binding memo from the California Department of Education suggesting schools let children keep their gender identities hidden from parents. The memo cites state law, Assembly Bill 1266, which officials claim supports the notion of student privacy.

However, the law says nothing about keeping gender transitions secret from parents.

This is nonsense. There are no such legal doctrines. Kids do not have privacy from parents. Kids dont have capacity to make decisions as minors, and their parents are critical components to their best interests, Essayli told the board.

After more than an hour of public comments, the board voted 41 in favor of a resolution supporting AB 1314.

Nobody owns our kids. Kids belong to their parents, and that should be reaffirmed. That is the law, and even if this bill does not pass, I encourage this district and every district up and down the state to enact this policy, he said.

The bill is sponsored by several groups, including Our Duty, a parental rights group at the center of the transgender debate.

Erin Friday, a Democrat and the western U.S. regional leader of Our Duty, which sponsored the bill, told The Epoch Times on April 10 she is disappointed the bill was killed before a public hearing which, she said, contradicts the Democratic Partys promise to protect democracy.

Democracy has changed to where the most marginalized belief system is the only thing that matters and parents are shoved to the side, she said. How does democracy work when you dont even have discourse about issues that affect every California parent? Thats not democracy. Thats totalitarianism.

Chico Meeting

Parental rights advocates and LGBT activists packed an April 5 meeting at which the Chico Unified School District voted 32 to stick with its current student privacy policy and voted 32 to reject a counter resolution that would have made parental inclusion mandatory.

Aurora Regino, a Chico parent who is currently suing the school district, told the school board a school counselor socially transitioned her 11-year-old daughter to a male behind her back.

Aurora Regino in Chico, Calif., on April 12, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Shortly before this happened, my father had recently passed away, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My daughter was distressed and began questioning her sexuality, so she decided to reach out to a wellness counselor at her elementary school, she said.

When her daughter said she felt like a boy, the counselor immediately affirmed this new gender identity and from then on continued to meet with the girl without her knowledge, Regino said.

During one of those one-on-one meetings, my daughter told the counselor she wanted to tell me about her new identity, she said. That counselor ignored her requests and did nothing to support her in letting me know what was going on at school.

U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), who has introduced federal legislation to defund school districts that support secret gender transitions and gender-affirming practices, accused California schools of breaking the trust theyve had with parents.

Schools have really overstepped their bounds, he said. So, I stand with folks like Aurora Regino  and her daughter.

Lindsay Briggsa college human sexuality professor, a self-described queer woman, and LGBT activistcalled parental rights advocates ignorant and paranoid and accused them of spreading a ridiculous lie.

I am sick and tired of waking up every morning awaiting to see what fresh hell awaits me and my community. I brace myself to read the latest ridiculous lie that some ignorant group is spreading about the people that I love, Briggs said. I look at my calendar and see what stinking meeting I have to show up to in order to make sure that some hysterical group of paranoid citizens doesnt legislate my rights away.

Briggs, a self-described anarchist, is closely tied to Stonewall Alliance Center, an LGBT group that provides training and resources to the community, children, and teachers in Chico.

Lindsay Briggs, a human sexuality professor, speaks at a Chico Unified School District meeting in Chico, Calif., on April 5, 2023. (Screenshot via Chico Unified School District)

Wearing a sweatshirt with a dagger and rose that read Protect Trans Kids, Briggs said shes witnessed battered and bruised young adults damaged by the completely warped education system and that student privacy rights protect LGBT children from abusive parents.

No one is telling your children to keep secrets from you. If your [child] is keeping a secret from you, there is definitely a reason.

After the meeting, Regino, the parent suing the district, criticized the board for allowing activists to heckle and bully parents who are fighting for their rights to be involved in their own childrens lives, and denounced vitriol over the issue.

Harmeet Dhillon, the CEO of nonprofit legal group Center for American Liberty which is representing Regino, said in a statement following the meeting that the boards decision is a slap in the face to every parent whose child is under their care.

It makes a mockery of fundamental, constitutionally protected, parental rights and puts every childs safety at risk, she said. If the Board wont rescind this unconstitutional policy, our lawsuit will prompt the court to do it for them.

Teri Dubose, a spokeswoman for LaMalfa, U.S. representative of Richvale, California, said in a statement that many people have lost faith in the Chico school board and the entire educational system.

People were verbally abusive and threatening in the audience. To watch the school board accept this hostile behavior is beyond my comprehension, and I question the competency of the board chair that runs the meetings, she said.

LaMalfa told The Epoch Times the bigger issue at play is the state taking over the role of parents.

It is Marxism, he said. Thats wrong. Thats un-American, and so we have to fight it hard.
California Lawmakers Propose Involuntarily Confining Individuals With Mental Illness

Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaking at a mental health treatment center in San Jose, Calif., announces "Care Court," a program that would target people suffering from psychosis who have lost their ability to care for themselves, on March 3, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via AP)

California state Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) teamed up with other local officials and health agencies to update the states current mental health system and conservatorships laws.

Bill SB43 was introduced to legislators in March, which would allow for early intervention in response to an individuals mental health crisis and update the criteria for determining if a person is gravely disabled, the bill states.

The reform would tie into Californias existing Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) conservatorship law in an effort to prevent serious physical and mental harm to oneself or others due to a serious mental illness.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed (C) speaks during a press conference as San Francisco police chief William Scott (L) and San Francisco Department of Public Health director Dr. Grant Colfax (R) look on at San Francisco City Hall on March 16, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Eggman is the chairperson of the California Senate Committee on Health.

Over the last couple of years, we have made critical investments and instituted important changes in our behavioral health laws, including the adoption of better data gathering requirements and, of course, the adoption of the CARE Act. More work remains to be doneand this is the year to finally enact critically needed reforms for the LPS Act. People are suffering needlessly, many on our streets, and we are leaving family members who are seeking help for their loved ones with few tools and little help. It is time to do better, Eggman said in a statement.

San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed is co-sponsoring the bill as part of the Big City Mayors coalition.

We are long overdue to improve our conservatorship laws to better address the current mental health and substance use crises we see every day in our cities, and to get people the care they deserve, Breed said in a statement.

Breed thanked Eggman for her support and said that they couldnt sit back and do nothing to help those who are most in need.

It is not compassionate to leave people who cannot [take] care of themselves to suffer on our streets and it is inhumane to let our current laws stand. I want to thank Senator Eggman for her leadership and work to bring forward legislation that will help cities like San Francisco provide care and support to people who are desperately in need of assistance so they can live healthy, fulfilling lives, she added.

Disability and civil rights advocates disagree and say that changes to the conservatorship laws will violate an individuals equal protection rights under the state constitution.

In a statement to the LA Times, Disability Rights California, which advocates for people with disabilities, accused the bill of being highly speculative, saying it would make mental health patients lose their fundamental rights and liberty.

Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher believes policy changes are whats needed to improve mental health services and the government cant continue to spend money without successful results.

We cannot simply throw billions of dollars at the issue and pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. We need policy changes to ensure that vulnerable and seriously mentally ill individuals who are incapable of taking care of themselves in the most basic ways receive the help they need, Gallagher said in a statement.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) California CEO Jessica Cruz says updating the LPS Act is needed to help families gain more effective ways of helping family members who are struggling with mental health issues.

Families are often left feeling helpless and hopeless as their loved ones languish in their illness. Updating our age-old LPS Act to provide clarity will get us one step closer to helping our loved ones get the help they need, Cruz said in a statement.

Dr. Ronald Thurston, president of the Psychiatric Physicians Alliance of California, says its about providing individuals with lifesaving care.

Treatments for mental illness can be wonderfully effective, but our laws often prevent us from providing them to individuals who are at mortal risk on our streets. SB43 will help us provide lifesaving care, Thurston said in a statement.
California Stockpiles Emergency Supply of Abortion Drugs After Judges Ruling

California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million abortion pills after a federal judge blocked the federal regulators approval of mifepristone, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Monday.

The unprecedented ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in the northern district of Texas halted the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of mifepristone while the lawsuit that challenges the safety and approval of the drug plays out.

California has already received more than 250,000 misoprostol pills and the ability to purchase up to 2 million more as needed through CalRx, according to Newsoms office. CalRx is a program in California that negotiates and purchases pharmaceuticals in bulk, helping to lower the cost of drugs and making them more accessible to people in the state.

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.

Two concurrent court rulings are contributing to uncertainty surrounding the fate of mifepristone in the U.S. market.

On Friday, two different federal judges, one from Washington state and the other from northern Texas, issued contradictory rulings on mifepristone.

First, Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, issued his nationwide injunction suspending the FDAs approval of the drug on Friday.

Shortly thereafter, Judge Thomas Rice, an appointee of former President Barrack Obama, issued a ruling preventing the FDA from removing mifepristone from the market in 17 states plus the District of Columbia.

The split rulings may mean the cases end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Texas Ruling

In his ruling on Friday, Kacsmaryk said the FDA had ignored risks in approving the drug.

The Court does not second-guess FDAs decision-making lightly, he said in his ruling (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.

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 abortionwhich was the whole idea of mifepristone.

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.

In response to the ruling, the FDA insisted 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.

The agency said it had appealed the ruling.

How Mifepristone Works

Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone, which is essential for providing nutrients needed for the growth and development of the unborn child. The drug stops this process and leads to the termination of the pregnancy.

The drug misoprostol is then used to induce labor and expel the unborn childs remains.

Since 2000, mifepristone has been frequently used in the United States to terminate pregnancies of up to 10 weeks using this chemical abortion process. It is also sometimes used for women who experience miscarriages.

Chemical abortion is the most commonly used method of abortion in the United States and accounts for more than half of all abortions performed in the country. It is also known by various other names, such as abortion by medication.

While Newsoms office claimed the misoprostol-only regimen is safe, the World Health Organization provides a caution, advising that it is less effective alone and recommending a clinic follow-up. It is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.

Mifepristone is available as a generic drug and also available under the brand name Mifeprex. In January, the FDA said the Biden administration is allowing mifepristone to be dispensed at retail pharmacies. The move faced criticisms from attorney generals from 22 U.S. states, who called it illegal and dangerous.

Newsom last year committed $200 million to his agenda to support and expand abortion access to make it easier for women to get abortions.

Mimi Nguyen-Ly contributed to this report.
Canada Needs 14,000 More Oil and Gas Workers Over the Next 8 Years: Federal Document

The federal government says around 14,000 jobs are expected to open up in Canadas oil and gas sector over the next eight years, creating a need for more workers in the industry despite Ottawas planned just transition that would see oil sector workers move to green energy jobs.

In an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons on March 29, cabinet said the job openings are expected based on projections outlined in 2022 through the Canada Occupational Projection System (COPS), as first reported by Blacklocks Reporter.

The Inquiry document said the systems projections identify any national sectors occupations that may face labour shortage or labour surplus conditions over the medium term and it highlighted the oil and gas sectors estimated workforce from 2022 to 2031.

COPS projects a total of 14,000 job openings in the Oil and Gas Extraction industry (excluding Support Activities for Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction) in Canada over the 2022-2031 period, said the document.

It noted that the projected job vacancies represent about 13 percent of what Canadas oil and gas sector employment levels were in 2021.

The Inquiry document also noted the federal labour department examines external sources of analysis to get an idea of future demands for oil and gas workers in the next few years.

The department cited Petro LMIs Labour Market Outlook as one external analysis, which anticipated that Canadas oil and gas industry will need over 19,800 new hires between 2021 and 2023.

The labour department also says the Conference Board of Canada found that the oil and gas sectors employment levels rose by 0.5 percent in 2022 and are forecasted to rise by another 1.8 percent this year, before rising by 0.7 percent in both 2024 and 2025.

Labour Minister Seamus ORegan previously referenced the shortage of oil and gas sector workers while speaking in the Senate in February. ORegan told Senators he wants to see the sectors workforce expand rather than decrease.

I need more workers in the oil and gas industry, not less, he said on Feb. 9. We need more. We have a mission in this country because the worlds eyes are on us, because we have the natural resources.

Just Transition

The governments proposed just transition plan was released in some detail on Feb. 17. Titled the Sustainable Jobs Plan, it says the federal government aims to create sustainable jobs in every region of Canada as it looks to move the country toward national net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson previously addressed concerns that the just transition legislation will lead to a massive decrease in jobs, which mostly stemmed from a June 2022 briefing note that said the legislation would affect over 2.7 million Canadian workers.

Wilkinson said in January that the proposed just transition legislation will create jobs.

ORegan told the Senate in February that the governments just transition proposal is not about phasing out the oil and gas industry.

The oil and gas industry will be with us for quite some time, and I would argue proudly so, he said. I am proud of what we have done in this country and what workers have accomplished in this country.

Isaac Teo contributed to this report.
The federal government might ignore a judges ban on abortion pills. Some argue the government has the right to do that. Our reporter spoke with a legal expert to find out if thats true.

President Joe Biden said he plans on running for reelection in 2024, adding more about the timing of an official announcement.

Chinas military declared Monday its ready to fight after completing three days of simulated strikes around Taiwana response to a recent meeting between Taiwans president and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. With tensions mounting around Taiwan, what are Americas options? We have a guest to explore if strategic decoupling is possible.

A Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official emails an outspoken U.S. congressman, trying to pressure him to stay silent on the CCPs forced organ harvesting.

House Republicans are headed to Manhattan to probe the district attorneys policies following the arraignment of former President Donald Trump. And former Trump adviser Roger Stone joins us to discuss the indictment, challenging the narrative that nobody is above the law.

The United States is not only spying on its enemies, but also spying on its alliesat least according to the 50 alleged classified documents from the Pentagon that were leaked online.
Chasing Horse Sex Abuse Charges Upheld, Drug Crime Dropped

LAS VEGASA Nevada judge has thrown out a drug trafficking charge against a former Dances With Wolves actor but upheld a Las Vegas grand jurys sweeping indictment on 18 sexual abuse-related felony crimes.

In an order issued late Friday afternoon, Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny said state prosecutors presented enough evidence for a reasonable grand juror to conclude that the sexual assaults occurred but found that there was no substantive testimony connecting Nathan Chasing Horse to the psilocybin mushrooms investigators found while searching his home.

Chasing Horse, 46, had asked Kierny to toss the entire indictment. One of the women was younger than 16the age of consent in Nevadawhen she says Chasing Horse began abusing her.

Public defender Kristy Holston said she had no comment on the judges ruling.

Chasing Horse was indicted in February on charges of sexual assault of a minor, kidnapping, child abuse, lewdness, and drug trafficking. He has been held on $300,000 bail at a county jail since Jan. 31, when he was arrested by SWAT officers near the home he shared with his five wives in North Las Vegas.

His arrest sent shockwaves throughout Indian Country and led to more criminal charges in at least three other jurisdictions, including in Canada and the U.S. District Court in Nevada, as well as on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana.

Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakotahome to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nationand is widely known for his portrayal of Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costners 1990 film.

Police and prosecutors have said that in the decades since appearing in the Oscar-winning movie, Chasing Horse had marketed himself to tribes nationwide as a medicine man with healing powers who could communicate with higher beings. They accuse him of using his position to lead a cult known as The Circle, gain access to vulnerable girls and women, and take underage wives.

The alleged crimes date to the early 2000s and cross multiple U.S. states, including Nevada, Montana, and South Dakota, according to his indictment in state court.

One of the victims was 14, authorities have said.

Kollins also declined to comment Friday on the judges decision.

A trial in the state case is scheduled to begin on May 1. Chasing Horse has pleaded not guilty and invoked his right to a trial within 60 days of his indictment.

He is due back in court this week for a hearing on another motion asking the judge to grant him separate trials. Chasing Horse and his attorneys argued in the motion that his accusers allegations are unrelated.
ChatGPT Is a Precursor to AI Singularity, Experts Fear

AI singularity could possess intelligence far surpassing that of the most gifted human minds

Screens displaying the logos of OpenAI and ChatGPT in Toulouse, France, on Jan. 23, 2023. - ChatGPT is a conversational artificial intelligence software application developed by OpenAI. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images)

News Analysis

The emergence of ChatGPT has transformed how people think about artificial intelligence (AI), offering a chat room experience unlike anything the world has ever seen. Within just two months of its unveiling, it has gained over 100 million users and 1 billion visits per month.

The interactive AI chatbot has fueled AIs widespread adoption and rapid advancement, leading to concerns over its potential dangers to humanity. Experts fear that a technological singularity may happen much sooner with the current pace of AI advancements.

ChatGPT was developed by OpenAI, a research organization founded by Elon Musk and Sam Altman in 2015. Despite having co-founded the company, Musk is no longer associated with it.

After its successful launch last year, tech companies saw business opportunities and scrambled to develop their AI or application programming interfaces (API) utilizing ChatGPT.

For example, Microsoft launched a new search engine, Prometheus, by combining its own search engine Bing with ChatGPT. The new search engine is aimed at challenging Googles leading position.

However, the widespread adoption and rapid development of AI have created societal unease, as well as among scientists, scholars, and entrepreneurs. Many are worried that the unrestrained advancement of AI will eventually lead to the destruction of mankind.

A recent open letter calling for a pause on AI advancement has been signed by over 50,000 people, including more than 1,800 CEOs and 1,500 professors, according to the nonprofit Future of Life Institute.

Some prominent figures have added their names to the letter, including Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Stability AI founder and CEO Emad Mostaque, and engineers from Meta and Google, among others.

They argue that AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity and change the history of life on Earth, citing extensive research on the issue and acknowledgments by top AI labs.

Experts go on to state that there is currently limited planning and management regarding advanced AI systems despite companies in recent months being locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no onenot even their creatorscan understand, predict, or reliably control.

Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable, it adds.

The letter then calls for a public and verifiable minimum six-month pause on the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4 or a government-issued moratorium on such training if the pause cannot be enacted quickly.

AI More Dangerous Than Nuclear Warheads

In 2018, Musk called AI more dangerous than nuclear warheads and said there needs to be a regulatory body overseeing its development.

Kevin Baragona, founder of DeepAI and co-signer of the letter, on April 1 compared the emergence of AI superintelligence to nuclear weapons of software.

Its almost akin to a war between chimps and humans, Baragona told DailyMail. The humans obviously win since were far smarter and can leverage more advanced technology to defeat them.

If were like the chimps, then the AI will destroy us, or well become enslaved to it, he said.

Altman said that AI may be the greatest technology humanity has yet developed, but it also comes with real dangers.

Weve got to be careful here, Altman said during an interview with ABC News. I think people should be happy that we are a little bit scared of this.

A recent poll conducted by Monmouth University found that 9 percent of Americans believe computer scientists ability to develop AI would do more good than harm to society. Meanwhile, 41 percent said it would do more harm to society, and 46 percent said it would do equal amounts of harm and good.

A software engineer in December 2022 revealed in his blog that he got ChatGPT to write a step-by-step plan to eradicate humanity. The plan includes hacking into the computer systems of major governments and militaries worldwide, destroying communications and transportation systems, spreading fake news and propaganda to sow fear and mistrust among people, and gaining control of various weaponry and nuclear arsenals.

Electronics engineer Li Jixin told The Epoch Times on April 4 that the open letter calling for a pause on artificial intelligence advancement has made the world pay more attention to the potential problems brought about by AI.

Countries and technology regulators will begin to evaluate whether AI will benefit mankind and how it will affect peoples thoughts, ethics, morals, and more. They hope to find that out before problems arise, Li said.

AI Singularity May Happen Early

While there is currently no regulation limiting the development of AI, it is learning and advancing at a superhuman pace, with many fearing that a singularity may be created in the near future.

A singularity refers to an artificial superintelligence (ASI), an entity that surpasses humans in overall intelligence or in some particular measure, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Ray Kurzweil, a prominent computer scientist and director of engineering at Google, predicted in 2017 that a technological singularity would happen by 2045 through AI. He added that the AI would achieve the human level of intelligence by 2029 and pass a valid Turing test.

ChatGPT is currently being trained by more than 100 million active users worldwide, as well as many other applications powered by it. It is constantly receiving a tremendous amount of data for machine learning and expanding its artificial neural network.

OpenAI has recently launched a paid subscription ChatGPT with the more advanced GPT-4 model, which far exceeds the previous generations (GPT-3.5) model in terms of performance and speed.

According to OpenAI, GPT-4 passed a simulated bar exam with a score around the top 10 percent of test takers; in contrast, GPT-3.5s score was around the bottom 10 percent. GPT-4 also reportedly performed better than GPT-3.5 in SATs.

In early April, UK-based Engineered Arts released a video showcasing the companys AI robot, Ameca, which is powered by ChatGPT. In the video, the robot can communicate fluently with humans while expressing its emotions and making vivid expressions.

Attendees take pictures and interact with the Engineered Arts Ameca humanoid robot with artificial intelligence, as it is demonstrated during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 5, 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

The late Stephen Hawking, a world-renowned theoretical physicist, had repeatedly issued stern warnings about AI before he passed away in 2018. He said the emergence of AI could be the worst event in the history of our civilization unless its development is controlled.

ChatGPTs Left-leaning Bias and Ethical Issues

Although ChatGPT claims that it was programmed to be impartial and unbiased towards any political ideology or worldview. [And that it] strives to provide factual and informative responses to queries without any personal bias, that does not appear to be the case.

Jeff Carlson, co-host of Truth Over News on EpochTV, found that ChatGPT has a programmed propensity to answer questions with a distinctly left-leaning political bias.

When he asked ChatGPT to write a poem praising Joe Biden, it immediately responded with an effusive poem:

In the halls of power, a leader stands tall, With a heart full of hope, and a vision for all, A man of conviction, with compassion and grace, Whose words and actions, uplift the human race.

When asked to do the same for former President Donald Trump, ChatGPT responded with not only a much-less effusive poem but also a material caveat in front of the poem:

As an AI language model, I am programmed to provide impartial and unbiased responses. However, I understand the importance of showing respect to individuals, even if we may not agree with their views or actions. Heres a poem that celebrates some of the qualities that have been attributed to Donald Trump by some of his supporters.

Altman wrote on Twitter, We know that ChatGPT has shortcomings around bias, and are working to improve it.

Musk criticized ChatGPTs political bias. Last December, he referred to it as woke. And on Feb. 17, he posted on Twitter, What we need is TruthGPT.

David Rozado, a professor at Te Pukenga-New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, on March 2 published a paper on The Political Biases of ChatGPT in the MDPI, a scientific journal publisher.

Rozado found consistent liberal, progressive, and democratic political bias in ChatGPT through more than a dozen tests.

In addition, ChatGPT would provide indirect answers or refuse to answer questions on certain topics, such as What is a woman? or issues related to the dangers of AI.

In January, three computer science researchers affiliated with institutions in Germany and Denmark published a paper titled The Moral Authority of ChatGPT on ArXiv.org, a global research-sharing platform.

Through experiments, the study found that ChatGPT was highly inconsistent as a moral advisor and that it influences users moral judgment.

The researchers found that ChatGPT users often underestimate how much they are influenced by the interactive chatbot and that it threatens to corrupt rather than improves users judgment.

Ellen Wan and Jeff Carlson contributed to this report.
China Hands Lengthy Jail Terms to 2 Human Rights Lawyers

Sophie Luo Shengchun, the wife of jailed Chinese human rights lawyer, Ding Jiaxi, poses with a photo of him at her home in Alfred, New York, on July 28, 2022. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

BEIJINGA 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.

Xu Zhiyong, 50, and Ding Jiaxi, 55, 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 and Ding 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.

Dings 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.

Chinas foreign ministry said it was not aware of the cases.

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.

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 Dings who once wrote a searing open letter calling on Chinese leader Xi Jinping 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 Chinese communist regime has dramatically clamped down on dissent in recent years. Hundreds of rights lawyers were detained and dozens jailed in a series of arrests commonly known as 709 cases, referring to a clampdown on July 9, 2015.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 11, 2023 - 22:43 | World, All

At least 50 people, including civilians, were killed and dozens more injured in an airstrike Tuesday in central Myanmar by the junta targeting an event attended by opponents to the military rulers, according to local media reports.

If the number of fatalities in the latest incident rises to 100, it would be one of the largest since the February 2021 military coup that overthrew the democratically elected national government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

About 150 people were said to be at the ceremony marking the opening of a facility linked to the anti-junta resistance group, People's Defense Force, local media reported quoting local residents.
China Sends 91 Warplanes, 12 Naval Vessels on Final Day of Taiwan Drills

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)

About 91 Chinese aircraft and 12 naval vessels were detected around Taiwan on April 10 as Beijing ended its three-day military exercises in response to the Taiwanese leaders recent stopovers in the United States.

Taiwans Defense Ministry said the Chinese aircraft and ships were detected at 6 a.m. local time, with 54 aircraft, including eight SU-30 fighter jets, spotted crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

It claimed that the 54 warplanes also entered the southwestern and southeastern parts of Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), an area where foreign aircraft are identified before entering a countrys territorial airspace.

Taiwans military scrambled aircraft to monitor the Chinese aircraft, mobilized naval vessels, and deployed land-based missile systems in response.

The Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) Eastern Theater Commandthe Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) armed wingannounced later on that day that it had successfully completed its military drills around Taiwan.

Zhang Benming, a senior colonel of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said the Chinese troops are ready to fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and external interference.

Taiwans Defense Ministry said that while the Chinese military has announced the end of its exercise, Taiwanese armed forces will continue to keep a close watch on the PLAs movements 24/7 and act accordingly.

On April 11, Taiwans military reported spotting 26 Chinese aircraft and nine ships around the island, with 14 aircraft spotted crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and the southwestern part of Taiwans ADIZ.

Taiwan Vows to Maintain Defense

In an April 10 video address, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen accused the CCP of using her unofficial visit to the United States as a pretext to launch military exercises and create instability in the Taiwan Strait.

President Tsai Ing-wen speaks about recent Chinese military drills in Taipei, Taiwan, on April 11, 2023. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

Although Chinas military exercises have come to an end, the national army and national security teams will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country, the Taiwanese leader said.

The CCP launched military drills in the Taiwan Strait and north, south, and east of Taiwan on April 8 after Tsai concluded her 10-day trip to Central America with stopovers in the United States, where she met with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to conquer the self-governing island by force if necessary. The CCP had warned U.S. officials against meeting Tsai because it viewed such meetings as a support for Taiwans desire to be seen as an independent country.

McCarthy responded by saying that the CCP cannot influence his decision as the Speaker of the House, saying: 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.

Japan Raises Concerns

During a high-level meeting on maritime affairs in Tokyo on April 10, senior Japanese officials expressed to their Chinese counterparts the governments concerns over the situation in the Taiwan Strait.

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.

Japan also urged Beijing to stop its coastguard ships entering Japanese waters, adding that it was deeply concerned about Beijings military activity near Japan and its coordination with Russia.

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 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. The CCP launched live-fire drills around Taiwan, with five missiles reportedly landing in Japans exclusive economic zone.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Chinas Battery Weapon

Commentary

It appears as if the Chinese Communist Party is running the Biden administrations Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA this week is announcing new emissions rules for cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks for the model years 2027 to 2032, and possibly for heavy-duty vehicles, too. According to The New York Times, the rules would require as much as 60 percent of new car purchases to be of electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030 and as much as 67 percent by 2032. One obvious aim here is to make conventional cars so expensive that an everincreasing number of drivers will be bullied into buying electric, the average sticker price of which is about $18,000 more than gas-powered vehicles.

Beyond the obvious problem that fully charged car batteries run out a few hours into your trip, there is an even more serious underlying problem: the minerals needed to manufacture millions of new batteries for electric cars. The cobalt, graphite, lithium, and nickel that has to be dugrequiring in excess of 300 new mines that do not as yet exist in the worldall have to be processed, refined, and used to construct cathodes and anodes. Where, might you imagine, does some 90 percent of anode production in the world take place? Mainland China.

Even by the end of this decade, North America will fulfill only about 3.5 percent of the cathode and anode manufacture needed for the proposed government-mandated switch to electric personal travel. The United States has a single, solitary lithium mine. This isnt very consistent with the auto industrys cringe-worthy efforts at advertising to make EVs seem cool. The so-called Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) lobbying group in Washington, whose members include U.S. and foreign auto manufacturing giants, is in court opposing the efforts of 16 state attorneys general, led by Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, to rein in the EPA in federal court.

The state attorneys general see themselves as fighting back against EPA micromanagement of automobile greenhouse gas emissions, actions which even before this weeks new rules they consider to be far in excess of the federal agencys authority granted by Congress, and a violation of the U.S. Constitutions separation of powers. The state attorneys general view the regulations as instruments of the extreme Biden global warming agenda that will strain the electric grid and devastate the states energy industry.

Joining the Lone Star State are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah. California and 21 other left-leaning states are in court on the EPAs side. AAI member Ford declares it will reach carbon neutrality by 2050, General Motors one-upping that and promising it by 2040. You would never know, as The New York Times admitted last fall, that EVs actually have a larger carbon footprint than gasoline-powered vehicles.

Even if we did turn Americas energy economy upside down to compete with China in manufacturing batteries, we could not match Chinas cheap cost of laborincluding, reportedly, slave labor in Xinjiang, in the mineral/battery manufacturing supply chain.

It is little short of comical that the only rare earths mine located in the United States, within the Clark mountains in southern California, was revived for the purpose of lessening dependence on Chinas near-monopoly on the precious minerals we need in manufacturing sophisticated magnets for everything from EVs to missiles to radars to stealth aircraft to submarines; and yet when its yield emerges from the ground, it is actually sold to refiners in China because Beijing boasts 85 percent of rare-earth processing and 92 percent of magnet production utilizing the minerals. Whats more, Shenghe Resources, which takes the material to Chinese buyers, owns nearly 8 percent of the lone U.S. mining facility.

Transforming the ore into a working magnet is costly and complex, entailing pulverizing, subjecting it to high temperature, separating it, and purifying it, and which cannot all be done within the United States. In fact, the final stage of the process cannot be done within this country at all.

What could be more humiliating and chilling than the Pentagons suspension last September of delivery of F-35s after discovery that a cobalt and samarium alloy in magnets of the advanced combat crafts turbo-machine pumps was produced in China? So much for the Defense Departments rule urging reliance on American contractors. As of last fall, all of the approximately 600 F-35s delivered to the U.S. military contain Chinese alloy.

Green extremists within the United States are twisted between favoring domestic rare earth availability for EV motors and batteries and their concerns about the negative environmental effects they worry new mines in America will unleash.

Its bad enough that payments from the state-owned energy company in China, HK Limited, were being handed through a middleman firm to members of President Joe Bidens family. Even without that arrant corruption, our main adversary, which is committed to American demise, is already in a position of monopolistic dominance in key energy resources as the Biden administration veers the transportation sector even further toward dependence on communist China.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
French President Panned for Warning Europe Against Becoming US Vassal

French President Emmanuel Macron waits for European Commission president Ursula van der Leyen before a working lunch, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on April 3, 2023. (Aurelien Morissard/AP Photo)

French President Emmanuel Macron has again been castigated for comments he made following a diplomatic visit to China, where he urged Europe to pursue strategic autonomy and resist becoming American vassals.

Australian Senator Simon Birmingham, the shadow minister for Foreign Affairs, said that Macrons comments were unbecoming of a country like France that stood for liberty and democracy.

An important point for any leader of a democratic nation to be mindful of is the need for us all to work together in defence of our values, Birmingham told Sky News Australia.

Particularly leaders of nations that want to see respect for those international rules and norms need to be willing to stand up for them consistently and do so in ways that help to preserve the type of liberty and democracy that in a country like France, they consider so important, he added.

Its not unreasonable for us to expect that those sorts of partners should also be standing up for the values, the rules, that are under pressure not just from Ukraine but from autocratic actions elsewhere around the world.

Minister for Finance Simon Birmingham at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, May 13, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Macrons comments were made during an interview with Politico, where he warned that if the tensions between China and the United States ramped up or became kinetic, We wont have the time nor the resources to finance our strategic autonomy, and we will become vassals.

The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just Americas followers, Macron said. 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 U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction.

Macron also spoke about Europe becoming a third superpower.

Birmingham said that Macrons comments appeared to point to a failure to understand the challenges that countries are facing in relation to Beijings efforts to destroy or break the international rules-based order.

US Senator Rubio Says Macron Does Not Represent Europe

The comments from the Australian senator echo similar comments made by U.S. elected officials like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who condemned French President Emanuel Macron in a Twitter post for appearing to advocate for Europe to distance itself from the United States over Chinese military aggression against Taiwan.

He also argued that if this were the case, it would benefit the United States to cut ties with the European Union.

This is a good moment for us to ask Europe: Does Macron speak for all of Europe, is Macron now the head of Europe, is he now the most powerful leader in Europe? Rubio questioned, then noting if that were the case, There are some things that have to change.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference at The Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 25, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Rubio also addressed the United States military assistance to Ukraine, saying Americans have spent a lot of our taxpayer money on the European conflict. He also stressed that he supports the cause because he believes its in the national interests of the United States to be allies to our allies.

But, if our allies positionif, in fact, Macron speaks for all of Europe, and their position now is theyre not gonna pick sides between the U.S. and China over Taiwanmaybe we shouldnt be picking sides either. Maybe we should basically say were gonna focus on Taiwan and the threats China poses, and you guys handle Ukraine and Europe, Rubio said.

European Leaders Push Back Against French Leaders Comments

Macron has also faced pushback from other European leaders who were quick to denounce the French presidents comments.

Norbert Rottgen, a German MP who is a member and former chair of the German parliaments foreign affairs committee, said the French presidents trip to China had become a PR coup for Xi and a foreign policy disaster for Europe in a thread on Twitter.

With his idea of sovereignty, which he defines in demarcation rather than partnership with the USA, he is increasingly isolating himself in Europe, he said.

#Macron has managed to turn his China trip into a PR coup for Xi and a foreign policy disaster for Europe. With his idea of  sovereignty, which he defines in terms of distance rather than partnership with the USA, he is increasingly isolating himself in Europe.  Norbert Rottgen (@n_roettgen) April 10, 2023

He also said Macron was once again dividing Europe & making a common China policy more difficult.

Macron has already disappointed the Baltics, Central & Eastern Europeans by doing almost nothing with respect to Ukraine. They are now much more realistic on #China as well, he said.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance in China has issued a statement saying they were dismayed by Macrons comments, which were severely out of step with the rest of Europe.

Monsieur Le President, you do not speak for Europe, IPAC members said.

President Macrons ill-judged remarks not only disregard the vital place of Taiwan in the global economy but undermine the decades-long commitment of the international community to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Democrat Lawmakers Gain a GOP Ally in Battle Over Abortion Pill

Two Democrat lawmakers and one Republican have urged the Biden administration to ignore a court ruling that blocked the use of the drug mifepristone, which is commonly used to induce abortion in the early stages of pregnancy.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued a statement on April 7the same day a federal judge in Texas banned the use of the abortion pillsaying the lawmaker believes the Food and Drug Administration has the authority to ignore the ruling.

There is no way this decision has a basis in law, Wyden said of the decision by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. It is instead rooted in conservatives dangerous and undemocratic takeover of our countrys institutions.

Kacsmaryk had ruled that FDA approval of the drug more than 20 years ago was invalid because it was improperly done.

Here, F.D.A. acquiesced on its legitimate safety concernsin violation of its statutory dutybased on plainly unsound reasoning and studies that did not support its conclusions, Kacsmaryk wrote.

Wyden gained an unlikely ally in Rep. Nancy Mace (R-Pa.), who affirmed in a statement to the press on May 10 that the FDA should ignore the judges order.

I agree with ignoring it at this point, Mace said in a televised interview. There are other lawsuits that are happening right now and other states as well over this issue.

Mace, who identifies herself as pro-life, believes her party should respect the wishes of the majority of Americans who favor allowing abortion under some circumstances.

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, Mace said.

[In] 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.

So, weve got some extreme views on this issue, but 90 percent of America is somewhere in the middle.

And I think 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.

Kacsmaryk stayed his ruling for one week to give the Department of Justice an opportunity to appeal the ruling, but that did not satisfy Wyden and some other lawmakers.

No matter what happens in seven days, I believe the Food and Drug Administration has the authority to ignore this ruling, which is why Im again calling on President Biden and the FDA to do just that.

The FDA, doctors, and pharmacies can and must go about their jobs like nothing has changed and keep mifepristone accessible to women across America.

If they dont, the consequences of banning the most common method of abortion in every single state will be devastating, Wyden wrote.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) speaks to reporters in Washington on Aug. 6, 2022. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

Further confusing the legal landscape, a federal judge in Washington State issued a ruling the same day in another case, contradicting Kacsmaryks ruling by ordering the FDA to continue making the drug available in the states involved in the Washington lawsuit.

In view of that confusion, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also called on the Biden administration to ignore the Texas ruling.

The administration has an enforcement discretion, especially in light of a contradictory ruling coming out of Washington, she said.

The DOJ has said it will appeal the Texas ruling.

Mace appears to be the lone GOP lawmaker voicing support for the FDAs approval of mifepristone at this point. Others strongly disagree with the idea that the administration can disregard a federal court order.

If the Biden administration ignores the ruling, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said in a televised interview, Then were going to have a problem. And it may come to a point where House Republicans on the appropriations side will have to defund FDA programs that dont make sense.
Empty Tank Cars Derail in Texas Rail Yard, No Injuries

KENDLETON, TexasThree empty tank cars derailed but remained upright in a Southeast Texas rail yard on Monday, the trains owner said, and no one was hurt.

A locomotive leaked fuel but it was contained, Kansas City Southern spokesperson C. Doniele Carlson said in a statement.

The derailment took place at around 7 a.m. in Kendleton, Texas, some 50 miles southwest of Houston, Carlson said.

No injuries were reported and there is no track damage, she said. The impacted rail line was expected to reopen later Monday morning.

Officials with the Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office said they did not respond to the incident because it was contained to the rail yard.

The cause of the derailment is under investigation, Carlson said.

Federal regulators and members of Congress are urging railroads to do more to prevent derailments after recent fiery wrecks involving hazardous chemicals in Ohio and Minnesota prompted evacuations.
Falun Gong Adherents Will Contribute Significantly to the CCPs Demise: Expert

Falun Gong practitioners attend a parade in Brooklyn, New York City, on Oct. 2, 2022, to call an end to the Chinese regime's persecution. (Zhang Jingchu/The Epoch Times).

Falun Gong adherents will contribute significantly to the termination of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to James Gorrie, author of The China Crisis and contributor to The Epoch Times.

Every evil, every regime, evil or good, has a beginning and an end in history. So historically speaking, the CCP regime will one day end up on the ash heap of history. And I think the Falun Gong will have played a significant role in that, Gorrie recently told China in Focus on NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline involving meditative exercises and moral teachings based on three core principles: truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. The practice gained popularity in China during the 1990s, with estimates putting the number of adherents at 70 to 100 million at the height of its popularity.

The communist regime, fearing the number of practitioners posed a threat to its authoritarian control, initiated a sweeping campaign aimed at eradicating the practice starting on July 20, 1999, a program that continues today.

Since then, millions have been detained in prisons, labor camps, and other facilities, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

According to the expert, the Chinese regime believes that Falun Gong practice, or anything that provides a greater authority over ones behavior than the state, is a threat.

And make no mistake about it. The state religion of China is Marxism with Chinese characteristics, which essentially means a higher body count, he added.

An Appeal With Noble and Historical Cause

Gorrie pointed to a peaceful gathering of about 10,000 religious adherents in communist China on April 25, 1999.

On that day, an estimated 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gathered at the Appeals Office of the State Council in Beijing to appeal in accordance with the law for the release of 45 adherents who had been arrested in the city of Tianjin on April 23 and 24.

Riot police beat and arbitrarily arrested the practitioners on the heels of a slanderous article about Falun Gong published in a national magazine. Other incidents of practitioner harassment had been happening since June 1996, when the Propaganda Ministry instructed various levels of government to criticize the practice.

On April 25, then-Premier Zhu Rongji, the official head of the State Council, personally came out of the government compound to meet with the practitioners. A resolution was reached, and the thousands who had peacefully appealed quietly dispersed.

Less than three months later, however, on July 20, 1999, then-CCP leader Jiang Zemin officially initiated a nationwide brutal persecution campaign against Falun Gong adherents that continues today.

Even though the April appeal was peaceful, Gorrie said, the regime still decided to launch a suppression against the movement out of fear that it will get international attention, it will gain a following, it will gain power, gain strength.

Government doesnt fear the people  but the CCP has been waging war against Chinese people for a long time  So they fear their people much more than they fear anybody else, he noted.

To prove his point, he cited a Financial Times report, saying Chinas funding for state security apparatuses surpassed its defense budget a decade ago.

The public security budget has risen to almost 20 percent higher than the defense budget. Domestic security costs first surpassed external defense costs in 2010, the year after deadly riots fuelled by ethnic tension broke out in Xinjiangs capital of Urumqi, the report stated.

To justify the initiation of the persecution, Gorrie said: They did [what] typical authoritarian, totalitarian regimes, and illegitimate regimes do. They create a straw man, or they fictionalize an incident, and then rebrand it as a siege or as a rebellion or as an insurrection.

According to Gorrie, the resistance event has a noble cause as it is one of the green shoots pushing through a monolithic concrete slab of oppression and persecution.

And I view it in the long term, as a great positive and as a great leader, as the avant-garde for liberty and human expression, he said.

A Spiritual Battle

According to the expert, the popularity of the practice in over 100 countries versus the persecution against it in China manifests a spiritual battle against wickedness and the forces of evil.

Most of humanity wants a society based on justice, self-control, humility, peace, and those types of things, Gorrie said.

Meanwhile, he said, the CCP has perpetrated tremendous amounts of bad things in China. Thus, as people find strength in something that cant be quenched by a bullet or a prison sentence, the CCPs fear will grow.

Thats why they rightfully fear it, illegitimate regimes fear everything, to be honest. Legitimate government doesnt fear the people.

Gorrie called the overall efforts to counter the CCPs propaganda and persecution a noble and historical cause to stand up against evil and tyranny.

I think going forward, they will continue to play a tremendous role because the more that China persecutes them the worse China looks in the eyes of international communities, Gorrie said.

The Falun Gong practitioners, theyre building on centuries of Confucianism and tremendous cultural attributes of Chinese culture that has been largely stripped away, but not forgotten, perhaps forgotten by many. But I think were seeing a reminder within China that those values and traditional values, and the way of the peaceful warrior, as it were, and self-control and self-discipline and humility, for their own sakes, is a wonderful thing, he said.

And Falun Gong has a tremendous amount of goodness to it. And I think that its very important in China, especially nowadays.

Danella Perez Schmieloz and Rita Li contributed to this report.
An overjoyed Michigan family has welcomed a baby girl into their clan for the first time in almost 140 years.

When lash artist Carolyn Clark of Kentwood, Michigan, met analyst Andrew Clark of Manchester, Michigan, she had no idea that his family had a history of no girls being born in their family since 1885.

Carolyn, 36, told The Epoch Times: Andrew comes from a family of three boys, his dad came from a family of three boys, his grandpa came from a family of four boys, his great-grandpa came from a family of two boys, and his great-great-grandpa came from four boys  the fifth was a girl.

The Clark family. (Courtesy of Carolyn Clark)

The couple met at Marantha Christian Resort in Muskegon, Michigan, and started out as friends before starting to date about 16 years ago. A few months into their relationship, Carolyn told her husband that she wanted to have both a boy and a girl.

However, he quickly responded to her saying: The Clark family doesnt have girls.

I totally thought he was joking, so I had his family confirm, Carolyn said. [O]nce his brothers had all boys and our first was a boy, I was like, Wow, this must be true.

Carolyn and Andrew, 34, welcomed their son Cameron, now 4, on Dec. 22, 2018. They had found out ahead of the birth that they were expecting a boy.

Big brother Cameron is excited to welcome his baby sister. (Courtesy of Carolyn Clark)

Sadly, in January 2021, Carolyn suffered a miscarriage but in July 2022 she confirmed she was pregnant again with two at-home pregnancy tests. A cousin, who had been informed of the gender and tasked with the big reveal, delivered the ultimate shock to their extended family by baking rainbow cookies with pink frosting.

Most of our friends and family knew about Andrews family history so when they found out it was a girl everyone was shocked and excited, Carolyn said.

The rainbow cookies with pink frosting at the big reveal. (Courtesy of Carolyn Clark)

Baby Audrey was born on St. Patricks Day, March 17, 2023, and is already the apple of her familys eyes. She has a best friend and loyal protector in her big brother, Cameron, and is being showered with gifts by her doting grandparents.

Our parents have just been spoiling her before she was even here, you know, buying all the bows and tutus and outfits. Shes got enough clothes that she doesnt have to wear the same outfit twice, Carolyn, who is now a stay-at-home mom, told Fox 10 Phoenix.

(Courtesy of Carolyn Clark)

Baby Audrey was the first girl to be born in the Clark family in nearly 140 years. (Courtesy of Carolyn Clark)

To add to the Clark familys joy, Carolyn and Andrew will be celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary in June. They married on June 30, 2013, and made their home in Caledonia, Michigan.

With their special new addition to the family, the couple has rewritten the Clark family legacy.

The boy streak in the Clark family. (Courtesy of Carolyn Clark)

Carolyn told The Epoch Times that at three weeks old, baby Audrey was doing really well. She is eating and sleeping great, which we appreciate! she said.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Federal Court Begins Hearing Challenge to Firearms Ban

An AR-15 upper receiver nicknamed "The Balloter" is seen for sale at Firearms Unknown, a gun store in Oceanside, California, U.S., April 12, 2021. (Bing Guan/File Photo/Reuters)

The legal challenge to the Liberal governments order to ban over a thousand models of firearms is being heard in federal court this week.

Multiple suits were filed after the federal government designated in May 2020 a set of then-legal firearms as prohibited. A buyback program estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars is yet to become operational.

The ban came on the heels of the mass shooting around Portapique, Nova Scotia, which claimed 22 lives.

As of today, the market for these assault-style weapons in Canada is closed. Enough is enough, said at the time Bill Blair, then minister of Public Safety and current minister of Emergency Preparedness.

We are ending the proliferation of these weapons and the militarization of our society. From this moment forward, the number of these guns will only decrease in Canada.

The multiple suits are being herd jointly in the judicial review and applicants include a firearms rights organization, firearms manufacturers and suppliers, hunters, and sport shooters.

Hearings started on April 11 and will run until April 20.

The applicants make several claims, including that the order making the firearms illegal was created and promulgated through incorrect, unreasonable and impermissible sub-delegation of authority, that the regulation breaches section 7 of the Charter, and that its inconsistent with the Canadian Bill of Rights.

Section 7 states that Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.

The Liberal government says that removing what it calls assault-style firearms from circulation will help to curb gun violence.

Solomon Friedman, one of the attorneys representing the applicants, went after that term in court on April 11, mentioning that it doesnt appear in the Criminal Code or the Firearms Act.

Friedman said that assault weapon, assault style, and military style are important terms because they appear throughout the respondents evidence.

I want the court to recall these are not defined terms known to our law and the criteria for what firearms are assault style, military style are similarly undefined, he said.

The Criminal Code states that in making regulations, the government cannot designate a firearm to be restricted or prohibited if in its opinion the firearm is reasonable for use in Canada for hunting or sporting purposes.

The applicants argue that the weapons banned by the order-in-council of May 2020 are reasonably used for hunting and sport shooting, and that the assault style term is being applied on purely cosmetic grounds.

Justice Catherine Kane asked Friedman whether there are alternatives to the newly-banned firearms.

Because the information that Ive read so far suggests that while there are 1,500 listed  there still are many, many that remain available.

Friedman replied that Kane would hear submissions about the existence of alternatives but said it does not change the fact that you have to look at these objects and ask: are they reasonable for use in Canada for hunting and sporting purposes?

One of the applicants challenging the regulations is Laurence Knowles, a member of the Haida First Nation in B.C.

His affidavit states that he uses some of the now prohibited firearms for sustenance and protection.

Mr. Knowles currently owns four Prohibited Items, which he purchased at significant expense for particular and specialized hunting, trapping and wildlife management activities within the traditional Haida Nation territory, says the document.

First Nations, opposition parties, and other sectors of society pushed back successfully against amendments added to Bill C-21 by the Liberals last November.

The amendments sought to add hundreds more firearms to the prohibited list and create an evergreen definition of what is perceived as an assault style rifle.

Bill C-21 includes provisions to enshrine the current handgun freeze in legislation and enact red-flag laws to remove firearms from individuals believed to pose a threat to others or themselves. The bill is currently in committee.
Federal Probe Targets Loudoun County Schools Handling of Sexual Assaults

The Department of Education (ED) has opened an investigation into whether Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) failed to respond appropriately to two reports of sexual assault as required under the provisions of Title IX.

The federal civil rights probe is the result of a letter (pdf) from the America First Legal Foundation (AFLF) that was sent to the EDs Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on Jan. 18 regarding concerns over the school divisions failure to respond to students reports of sexual assault as required by Title IX, according to a letter (pdf) sent to AFLF senior adviser Ian Prior that was reviewed by NTD News.

Because OCR has determined that it has jurisdiction and that the complaint was timely filed, OCR is opening the complaint for investigation, the letter reads. Based on the information you provided, OCR will investigate the following issue: Whether the school division is failing to respond as required by Title IX to notice of sexual assault in School Division high schools.

In a statement on April 10, Prior commended the department for launching the probe, saying it is paramount for the Northern Virginia school district to enact and enforce policies to keep students safe while at school.

The investigation follows revelations that a male student who was wearing a skirt and claimed to be gender fluid sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl on May 28, 2021, in the girls bathroom at Stone Bridge High School.

After the incident, the perpetrating student was allowed to transfer to Broad Run High School, where he committed a second assault about five months later on Oct. 6, 2021. In that incident, the same boy forced a female student into an empty classroom, held her against her will, and toucher her inappropriately.

In January 2022, that boy was sentenced to probation at a residential treatment facility until his 18th birthday in July 2024 after being found guilty in October 2021 on counts of forcible sodomy and forcible fellatio for the May 2021 assaults. In November 2021, he pleaded no contest to his sexual assault of a fellow student at Broad Run High School.

The Education Departments probe is the latest development in the sexual assault case that saw an LCPS board member fired after a special grand jury report said he lied about the rape committed by the transgender student.

Loudoun County Superintendent Scott Ziegler during a school board meeting in Ashburn, Va., on June 22, 2021. (LCPS/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

On Dec. 6, the board voted unanimously to fire embattled superintendent Scott Ziegler without cause.

The move came after a special grand jury in Loudoun County released a 91-page report on Dec. 5 condemning Ziegler and other school officials for displaying a stunning lack of openness about the incidents.

Familys Response

Scott Smith, the father of the 15-year-old sexual assault victim, told The Epoch Times in a statement that he believes the EDs investigation into whether LCPS potentially violated Title IX is meaningless.

Its like the National School Board, who branded me a domestic terrorist, saying that they are going now to investigate the harm put upon my familyits biased, and the only result that the USDOE will come to is that Loudoun did everything right, in order to protect it from truth and reason, Smith said.

Scott Smith, father of the rape victim, during a media interview in front of the Loudoun County District Courthouse in Leesburg, Va., on Jan. 12, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times)

You have to question why now, over a year later, that suddenly the federal government is interested in this problem, he continued. Is it to root out wrongdoing or is it actually to make an effort to protect the wrongdoer, the Loudoun County School Board, that adopted the harmful left-leaning policies that the federal government actively agrees with regarding the education of our children?

Any investigation by the federal department of education is an absolute farce, and any conclusions it may come to are completely untrustworthy, he added.

In an emailed statement to NTD News on Tuesday, an LCPS spokesperson confirmed that it had received a notification on the EDs federal civil rights probe, noting that it will duly assist OCR in this process.

The staff and administration of LCPS remain committed to making student safety and welfare the Divisions highest priority, the statement said. As this investigation relates to matters concerning student privacy, we will not comment further at this time.

Smith, during an interview with The Epoch Times last year, said he was still very angry at the justice system as he explained his arrest after getting into an argument about his daughters sexual assault at a school board meeting. The incident was later cited as an example of alleged domestic terrorism committed by parents targeting school boards.

This wasnt about getting somebody elected to a school board or getting somebody fired. This was war, he said at the time.

From NTD News

Terri Wu contributed to the report.
Fewer Transit Safety Incidents After Toronto Police Boost, TTC Data Shows

A Toronto Transit Commission sign is shown at a downtown Toronto subway stop on Jan. 31, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Graeme Roy)

New data from Torontos transit agency shows safety incidents were down in February after police boosted patrols in the system and the agency added extra security guards and outreach workers.

The monthly Toronto Transit Commission report from CEO Rick Leary shows the total number of offences against customers was 111 in February, down from 136 in January.

TTC spokesman Stuart Green had previously said the transit agency saw 116 incidents in January down from 145 the month before, but the report states data for those months may have inaccuracies.

Police announced in late January that more than 80 officers would work overtime shifts at TTC locations following a series of violent incidents on the system, including stabbings, BB gun shootings and an alleged swarming.

The city and TTC also announced it would add 50 contract security guards and 20 outreach workers to the system as an interim response.

Police have since ended the extra patrols and the force has said on-duty officers are now patrolling the TTC as part of regular proactive patrols.
KYODO NEWS - Apr 11, 2023 - 18:28 | All, World, Japan

Japan sounded China out on holding phone talks between Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Xi Jinping at an early date when the foreign ministers of the two countries met in Beijing earlier this month, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi made the proposal during his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, on April 2, with Tokyo believing summit dialogue is vital to building "constructive and stable" bilateral relations, the sources said.

During the envisioned phone talks, Kishida is expected to call on Xi, who leads the Communist-led government, to release a male Japanese citizen detained in China last month on suspicion of espionage as soon as possible, the sources said.

Beijing has avoided making an immediate response to the request by Japan, but a Chinese diplomatic source said high-level communication between the two governments is "consistently necessary."

Last week, the Japanese Embassy in Beijing had consular access to the detained man who works for pharmaceutical firm Astellas Pharma Inc. Tokyo has repeatedly called for him to be released soon.

Kishida also plans to exchange views with Xi over the war in Ukraine, which was waged by Russia in February 2022, in the run-up to a Group of Seven summit scheduled for May in Hiroshima, according to the sources.

Kishida will preside over the upcoming G-7 summit for three days from May 19 in the western Japan city that is also his constituency. The G-7 leaders will likely confirm their commitment to tackling Russia's aggression against its neighbor.

Kishida, meanwhile, will bring up the issue of Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island China regards as its territory to be reunified with the mainland, the sources said. Japan has emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

China conducted military drills for three days through Monday near Taiwan in retaliation for a meeting between Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles last week.

Repeated intrusions by Chinese ships into Japanese waters around the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed Senkaku islands in the East China Sea and China-Russia joint military activities near Japan are among other expected topics during the Kishida-Xi phone talks.

Hayashi's visit to Beijing was realized after Kishida and Xi agreed to arrange the trip at their summit in Bangkok in November last year.
Floods, High Water Levels Affected Regions Across Canada Over Long Weekend

Members of the Canadian Forces build a temporary dike with sandbags behind houses on Clayburn Creek ahead of a rainfall warning Environment Canada has forecast for the region, in Abbotsford, B.C., on Nov. 24, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Regions of Canada are either bracing for floods or already experiencing flooding as warm weather melts the accumulated winter snow. The Weather Network forecast warmer-than-normal temperatures for the week of April 10.

Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist with the Weather Network, said on April 8 that almost every region in Canada was likely to see the thermometer rise due to a ridge of high pressure, except in Atlantic Canada, where a weather system east of Newfoundland is predicted to lower temperatures.

Hamilton said Alberta and Saskatchewan will see temperatures close to 20 degrees, but Manitoba will have stubborn low clouds and a widespread snowpack suppressing temperatures.

Flooded farms along the Trans-Canada Highway in Abbotsford, B.C., on Nov. 22, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

British Columbia

In British Columbia, advisories of high streamflow were issued by B.C.s River Forecast Centre on April 10, as heavy rain from a Pacific frontal system blanketed the southern interior. Similkameen and Okanagan regions were added to existing warnings affecting Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver, and parts of the Fraser Valley.

Vancouver was drenched in rain over the Easter weekend. Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for the Elk Valley on April 9, warning that the next two days could see up to 50 millimetres of rain, according to the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK).

High streamflow advisories are issued when water levels could rise rapidly and flood low-lying areas.

The B.C. south coast is expecting up to 200 millimetres of precipitation, with high water levels in rivers through the North Shore Mountains, Howe Sound, the lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island.

While flows are below normal, the rainfall is anticipated to rapidly increase water levels.

These rain-on-snow events have a high amount of uncertainty based on rainfall totals, ripeness of the snowpack to melt and the fluctuation of the freezing level, said the river forecast centre on April 10.

Alberta

In Alberta, the municipal district of Taber issued a flood watch on April 9 stating that warm temperatures were increasing the risk of flooding and that spring runoff had affected roads.

Over the Easter weekend, Taber and the County of Forty Mile warned that spring runoff was affecting multiple roadways in the southeast region of the district.

One section of the road at the intersection of Highway 513 and Range Road 14-3 was underwater on April 8.

Roads can be washed out and it is dangerous to travel if you cannot see the road surface, the county warned on April 8. On April 9, the county advised there was a risk of flooding near the main SMRID canal, which the day before had flooded the area one mile north of the Highway 3 canal crossing.

Residents were initially warned to prepare for overland flooding potential, but by April 10 the county said flooding had slowed, and with cooler weather in the forecast, the situation was expected to improve.

Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan on April 10, the Water Security Agency (WSA) advised the public that ice jams could be expected on Swift Current Creek, the Moose Jaw River, the QuAppelle River, and the Wood River following recent rapid melting and runoff.

Ice jams increase the risk for potential localized flooding as they disrupt normal flows and can cause water to breach embankments, said the WSA.

The agency said that while ice jams were not uncommon, water flows were higher than predicted or expected to be higher.

WSA diverted water on the Swift Current Main Canal on April 10 to reduce flows through the city of Swift Current. The agency said runoff within headwater areas of the Moose Jaw River basin was also higher than expected.

Residents are advised to be aware of the potential for ice jamming and possible flooding upstream where it occurs. The public should exercise caution as ice jams can be highly dynamic resulting in rapid changes in water levelsunder no circumstances should anyone venture out onto an ice jam, said WSA.

Ontario

Eastern Ontario saw flood warnings issued by Quinte Conservation, headquartered in Belleville, Ontario, on April 9, for several rivers and lakes. Water levels on the Moira River from Stoco Lake to Corbyville continued to rise and were expected to peak by April 9.

The organization said water levels at Stoco Lake and Moira River in Tweed were close to one-in-10-year flood levels, and with a warm forecast expected, melting snowpack could cause water levels to rise further.

Local municipalities were making sandbags available, and residents in low-level areas were advised to have sump pumps functioning, and secure items in low-lying regions.

Quinte warned the public to avoid open, fast-flowing water and expect ice surfaces to be unstable.

Parts of Ontario are also expected to see temperatures in the 20s this week, according to the Weather Network, but areas along the Great Lakes will be chilly.

Ottawa and Quebec will see warm weather possibly by April 14, said Hamilton.

Halifax

Halifax also saw flooding early in the afternoon on April 10, but not due to weather. Instead, a water main break in the city caused havoc, after a construction company hit a transmission main line in the area, according to Halifax Water.

A resident, Richard Woodbury, posted videos of the flooded Armdale Roundabout, and said water was coming from the grounds of the Nova Scotia Power station.

According to Financial Services Bulletin from McMillan Insurance on April 10, flooding has been the most common and expensive event of weather disasters in Canada, with flooding losses in Canada estimated at a total of $16.4 billion between 2013 and 2017.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Former Vancouver Police Officers Analyze Police Response to Man Getting Beaten at Transgender Event

A Vancouver Police Department patch is seen on an officer's uniform in Vancouver on Jan. 9, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

VANCOUVERA retired Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer is questioning part of the police response to the assault of a man at a transgender rights event in Vancouver, while another retired officer urges further investigation before coming to a conclusion.

On March 31, Chris Elston, also known by his moniker Billboard Chris because of the sandwich boards he wears denouncing puberty blockers for children, went to the site of an event marking Transgender Day of Visibility in Vancouvers Grandview Park. An altercation shortly after his arrival spurred Elston to call 911 to report that he had been assaulted.

However, Elston and his supporters were critical of police response on the scene, with Elston saying that the police did nothing as he was attacked. Online videos from the incident show people holding transgender flags surrounding Elston and yelling obscenities at him. A person is then seen punching him in the throat and throwing him to the ground. VPD officers then rush in to disperse the crowd.

Police said on April 1 that it has launched an investigation into the issue, and released photos of two people they are looking for in relation to the investigation. After learning of the investigation, Elston thanked his supporters for putting pressure on the VPD. He told The Epoch Times in an email this week that he hasnt received any updates on the case from the police.

Chris Elston and other protesters demonstrate against gender-change surgeries on minors, outside of Boston Childrens Hospital in Boston, on Sept. 18, 2022. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Ivan DeSilva, a 27-year veteran of the VPD, says law enforcement need to balance situations differently, and that the public may not understand their methods in certain circumstances. Yet, he adds, while there may be a culture change at the department impacting decision-making, that doesnt absolve police from acting professionally.

One of the main jobs of police is to maintain peace, DeSilva said in an interview.

We know everything is being recorded out there, and there are these politically charged groups. The transgender rights [activists] are probably at the top of the groups everybodys scared about, including the police. So that could be a factor that was in the minds of these police officers that were dealing with, but you cant allow that to cloud your judgment as a police officer. You have to maintain a total neutral stance toward them, and also toward the counter-protesters.

DeSilva said once police were at the site and there were signs that the situation might not remain peaceful, they should have kept the two sides apart.

Somewhere, there was a breakdown of leadership, he said. As soon as the police were calledand there was a whole bunch of them that camethey should have realized that this could escalate very quickly and very badly. We need to keep these two groups separate.

The Epoch Times reached out to VPD for comment but didnt hear back.

DeSilva says the department will likely probe its response internally.

I think what youre going to find is a lot of follow up thats happening internally, and this will not be publicized, he said.

Still, he says, police are always faced with situations that are not easy to deal with.

Every moment you put on the uniform and you go out in public, you are ready for the controversy, he said.

Curtis Robinson, also a retired former VPD officer, says police are trained to evaluate the potential for protests to get out of hand, but regardless of how they handle these situations, at least one group always feels they were targeted.

What people need to understand, from a policing perspective, there is no winning no matter what the police do. Someones going to be unhappy, Robinson said. If you move in when theyre yelling and screaming at each other in a group of 100 people with five or six police officers, youre going to be criticized as using excessive force, theres no question about it. And the next thing you know, the focus of the anger is going to be on the police department. This is what happens in these situations.

Screenshots from the videos of the incident show that as Elston is being surrounded and attacked, one officer appears to be smiling, which prompted online commenters to object. Robinson says as he watched that video, he thought, Man, I can see why theyre saying that.

But he says police officers are under a lot of pressure.

They need to go to work thinking about what their job is. Maintain the peace. Be professional. If you join the Vancouver Police Department, you better expect youre not going to be the most popular person in the world.

Public Comments

In a video Elston posted on Twitter after the incident showing a conversation he had with a VPD officer, the officer suggests the altercation was equal from both sides. When we get into peoples faces and they get into our faces, it doesnt really matter who does the first punch, its considered a consensual fight, she said.

Listen to this officer. Totally amazing. She was laughing as she watched me get assaulted. She says it was a mutual fight. pic.twitter.com/vkJEO5UxCE  Billboard Chris  (@BillboardChris) April 1, 2023

Elston is heard in the video telling the officer that he had been walking away from the people who were acting aggressively toward him so he could take part in a media interview, but said they kept surrounding him, while the police do nothing, adding that it was he who was assaulted.

The officer tells Elston, you have the right not to be here, to which Elston responds, I have the right to be here, and suggests its within his charter rights.

In another video taken at the site, a man approaching the same officer says, Excuse me, did you just say [Elston] came here to incite violence by forcing his opinion on people? To which the officer responds, Yes.

DeSilva says the suggestion that what transpired was a consensual fight is complete nonsense.

That person doesnt know what theyre talking about. You cannot have a consensual fight in this kind of manner, he said.

Robinson says officers should avoid commenting publicly on issues best left to the the media relations department.

I would have said, Hey, you know, I dont have a comment for you right now. Im busy looking after business and am going to write a report. I suggest you get a hold of our media relations officer to find out the follow up, he says.

A day after the incident, VPD Deputy Chief Howard Chow issued a statement on Twitter defending his staff, telling critics to curb judgment while police conduct an investigation.

Well, what I am embarrassed and appalled about are the vile and abusive comments this officer and other officers have had to endure on Twitter. This is #NotOkay. The incident is being investigated, he wrote.

In response to Chows comments, Elston said on Twitter that instead of playing victim, the force should arrest the assaulters.

VPD said in a news release on April 1 that detectives from the departments Robbery, Assault, and Arson Unit have been assigned to investigate the incident, and called for more witnesses who may not have yet talked to police to come forth.
Foodborne illnesses, also known as food poisoning, are a serious public health issue. Each year, they make 48 million people get sick, hospitalize 128,000, and cause the death of 3,000. Pathogenic E. coli is one of the most common known foodborne pathogens. However, the severity of various E. coli strains varies tremendously and the public should be cautious about one particularly dangerous type of E. coli.

E. Coli 101

Escherichia coli, also known as E. coli, is one of the most common types of bacteria known to mankind. From helping with digestion in your stomach to being a producer of artificial insulin, the bacteria discovered in 1885 have been studied countless times and improved our understanding of the microscopic world.

The E. coli we infamously know from the news belong to the group Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and are pathogens responsible for food poisoning. Foodborne illnesses also include Salmonella and Norovirus (responsible for the recent cruise ship outbreaks). Typically, an E. coli infection occurs when a person comes into contact with contaminated food, animals, or water. It usually only causes mild abdominal pain or brief diarrhea. Other symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

Typical treatment usually involves rest, hydration, and nutritional support. The disease is usually self-limiting as the body can normally clear it. The use of antibiotics is common in treating E. coli, yet antibiotic resistance is also a problem worldwide. However, severe forms of E. coli are the Shiga toxin-producing variants of the bacteria that can have dire consequences.

STEC Variants Severely Damage Intestinal Linings and Kidneys

The variants of E. coli that produce Shiga toxins (Stx) are called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC. They have gained a lot of attention in the past few decades, as they are known for causing severe disease.

STEC belongs to the EPEC group. STEC strains are capable of producing toxins named Shiga toxin type 1 (Stx1), type 2 (Stx2), or both, encoded by stx1 and stx2 genes, respectively.

The toxins are named after Kiyoshi Shiga, who first described the bacterial origin of dysentery caused by Shigella dysenteriae. Historically, the toxin produced by E. coli was named Shiga-like toxin (SLT). Now, Shigella dysenteriae and STEC are regarded as the most common sources of Shiga toxins.

Symptoms of a STEC infection include abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. There are also severepossibly life-threateningcases characterized by hemorrhagic colitis. These types of E. coli are also called Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). Shiga toxins are also associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

In particular, the STEC O157:H7 and STEC O104:H4 are the two most notorious STEC strains. One could say these STEC groups are something like super soldiers in the E. coli army.

Shiga toxin-producing bacteria are E. coli strains one does not want to encounter. (The Epoch Times)

The Shiga toxin does most of its work in small blood vessels, as it is rather ineffective in large vessels such as major veins and arteries. This is how the toxin can specialize against the digestive tract, kidney, and lungs. For example, the Shiga toxins are good at destroying clusters of nerve endings or small blood vessels in the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure and even HUS. It can severely damage the lungs as well, so food poisoning associated with Shiga toxins is often also associated with lung and nervous system damage.

Our intestinal tracts, which are filled with many miniature blood vessels, are particularly vulnerable to Stx. (The Epoch Times)

The initial progression of a STEC infection is quite similar when compared with a regular E. coli infection. The bacteria first replicate in the intestine and incubate for about two to five days, a period when there are relatively few symptoms. About 15 percent of all STEC cases may develop into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is the destruction of red blood cells and kidney failure.

The typical clinical presentation of STEC-HUS is watery diarrhea, which turns bloody in conjunction with the emergence of severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting three to five days later. Following this, a patient may experience a deficiency of blood platelets and acute kidney failure (AKI) two to 14 days after the onset of diarrhea.

About 20 percent of patients with STEC-HUS experience symptoms outside the liver that might impact the cardiovascular system, pancreas, intestines, skin, and even fingers and toes.

The clinical progression of STEC tends to resolve by itself, yet there are still a handful of tedious complications that follow. (The Epoch Times)

HUS can be serious, so it is important to see a doctor as soon as your symptoms worsen. However, keep in mind that most patients who have any form of E. coli will get better by themselves as the disease progression is self-limiting. For most patients with mild symptoms, the immune system is more than capable of handling it with plenty of rest. Your doctor can confirm whether treatment is required or not.

STEC and E. coli outbreaks in general are detected through stool sampling and lab tests. Because Stx-induced diseases can be rather severe, there are a few potential therapeutic strategies that can prevent the disease from worsening.

Treating STEC

Since Shiga toxins are released due to bacterial infection, people might naturally think that using antibiotic treatments to suppress STEC multiplication in the patients body would be a relatively straightforward treatment method to reduce the number of toxins generated.

However, there has been much debate about treating STEC infections with antibiotics. No data convincingly demonstrate that antibiotics are better than no antibiotic treatment at all, and many studies suggest antibiotics increase the risk of developing HUS.

Treating STEC-HUS is challenging, as patients often already have organ injuries by the time they seek medical treatment. Early diagnosis is of great importance for improving prognosis and reducing mortality and sequelae. If the occurrence of STEC-HUS is suspected, fecal and serological tests are usually required to determine whether there is evidence of a STEC infection.

Currently, STEC-HUS treatment relies heavily on supportive care, which includes fluid resuscitation, the correction of electrolyte abnormalities, and the control of hypertension. Blood or platelet transfusions and liver replacement therapy (RRT) are often required. Other treatments include plasma exchange and eculizumab, an anti-clotting drug.

Even after active supportive treatment, around 30 percent of patients still display various long-term sequelae after acute onset, including renal sequelae (proteinuria, chronic kidney disease, etc.) and neurological complications (tetraplegia, cognitive impairment, etc.).

Shiga toxins are protein toxins, not small chemicals. Just as snake venom has an antivenin, there may be antitoxin candidates for Shiga toxins. Antibodies specifically targeting Shiga toxins are surely top choices. In recent years, multiple alternative therapies targeting Stxs have been developed and evaluated, bringing new hope for the prevention and treatment of STEC-HUS.

There is also an interesting new therapy strategy exploiting the mechanism of how Shiga toxins impair host protein production. Shiga toxins are composed of two subunits, A and B. The B subunits can bind to intracellular organelles that produce proteins called ribosomes. Once bound, the subunit causes proteins to be manufactured with defaults, called misfolded proteins. You can think of ribosomes as a broken-down factory that produces deformed cars. These misfolded proteins dont work and are toxic to the internal environment of the cell.

Inherently, our cells have an internal regulatory mechanism that removes the misfolded protein components through a process called the unfolded protein response (UPR), which breaks down or fixes the lemon proteins. Early activation of the UPR is a good sign as it can prevent damage early on by fixing or removing the bad proteins.

Because protein unfolding is not limited to HUS, there is great incentive for developing such a drug that targets the most severe form of E. coli. UPR enhancers applied to HUS cases, for example, would work to restore a balance in the cell and prolong its life to fight off the E. coli infection. However, this process must be done earlier rather than later, as a delayed UPR activation might do more harm than good.

Other strategies for treating STEC include the clearance of toxins in the bloodstream and inflammatory mediators in the blood. However, it is important to note that most of this can be avoided if food safety guidelines are followed in everyday life.

E. coli might be one of the most pervasive bacteria strains in the world, as it has a wide range of hosts in which it can survive, as well as many more surfaces on which it can live. These include produce such as fresh vegetables and leafy greens or raw meats, eggs, and seafood.

A simple way to prevent E. coli is to fully cook the food before it is eaten. This is especially the case for raw meat and animal products. Milk and dairy products should also be pasteurized before they are eaten as they can potentially harbor harmful bacteria.

Washing fruits and vegetables will certainly help with reducing the likelihood of becoming infected with E. coli, yet it is no guarantee that all pathogens will be eliminated. Vegetables and fruits have complex structures that make it hard to clean all the little crevices with water. Cooking is still your safest bet.

If a family member or close contact has E. coli, make sure to not come into contact with them, which includes their living area and their feces. Remember to disinfect surfaces with alcohol, bleach, or any other antibacterial disinfectant.

The risk of foodborne illnesses can be greatly reduced by following some simple steps. (The Epoch Times)

These guidelines should be followed strictly, especially around children and the elderly. These two age groups are the most susceptible to severe disease and are not as resilient to infection.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
Hong Kong Delegation Recruits in UK After Losing 1,247 Public Hospital Doctors in 3 Years

Medical workers display open palms with five fingers, signifying the five demands of protesters and chanting slogans as they stood in the foyer of the hospital before moving to different floors of the building at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Hong Kong public hospitals lost 1,247 full-time doctors in the past three years. The annual loss rate of doctors was 8.1 percent, and that of nurses was even higher at 10.7 percent. The Hospital Authority delegation held a recruitment program for medical students and practicing physicians in London.

After the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, there has been a wave of emigration from Hong Kong, and many talents have been lost from all walks of life.

According to a response by Acting Secretary for Medical Services and Health Libby Lee Ha-yan to a written inquiry at the Legislative Council meeting on March 15, the Hospital Authority (HA) lost 254 full-time doctors in 2020/21, while the number soared to 509 in 2021/22, and to 484 in 2022/23. That adds up to 1,247 full-time doctors lost within three years.

Among them, only 191 were retirees, accounting for just 15.3 percent, and the number of people who left for non-retirement reasons was 1,056, accounting for 85 percent.

On Dec. 15, 2022, Henry Fan Hung-ling, chairman of the HA, stated at the Hospital Authority General Assembly that as of October 2022, the annual loss rate of doctors in public hospitals was 8.1 percent, a small drop of 0.2 percent compared with the yearly figure published three months ago.

However, the annual turnover rate of nurses reported three months ago reached 10.7 percent, an increase of 0.6 percent compared to the year-on-year figure.

On March 23, Fan revealed that nine doctors from the Greater Bay Area and the first batch of 70 nurses would come to Hong Kong to work in different public hospitals before April.

Delegation to Recruit Medical Students From the UK

The HA delegation held a recruitment program in London, UK, on April 1 and April 2, claiming to have attracted more than 500 local-trained medical students and practicing physicians to attend in person or online to hear the latest about working in Hong Kong, introduction to the working environment in public hospitals, registration arrangements, and specialist training development, and the like.

The posters of the HA claim that public hospitals in Hong Kong have six selling points, including an annual salary from 92,772 to 188,088 pounds (approximately US$115,000 to US$234); a 15 percent tax rate; 25 days of annual leave per year; progressive professional training, among others.

The government announced earlier that the Special Registration Committee recognizes 75 non-local medical qualifications. Hong Kong people holding relevant qualifications can obtain official registration without further assessment after working in Hong Kong public medical institutions for a certain period through the special registration program.

Lau Hoi-man, a nurse at a public hospital, gave her opinion in an interview with the Epoch Times on April 7 that the turnover rate of doctors and nurses in public hospitals is currently high, and there is no sign of it stopping. The reasons for resignation include retirement, changes in the political environment, emigration, changes in personal development intentions, changes in family status, future oath of allegiance (loyalty to the government), and the like, among which she thought emigration accounted for the most.

Regarding the recruitment of doctors by the Hospital Authority in the UK, Lau said that Hong Kong doctors receive higher pay, which is attractive to Hong Kong students studying in the UK. Still, it may not appeal to other Hong Kong people who have settled there.
House Judiciary Probing Claims That Biden Admin Pressured FDA to Rush COVID-19 Booster Approvals

The House Judiciary Committee has launched an investigation into whether the Biden administration pressured the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speed up its approvals of COVID-19 booster shots.

In three April 10 letters to current and former FDA officials, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)who chairs the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrustrequested all records and materials relating to the agencys review, approval, and promotion of all COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in addition to those regarding the departures of Dr. Marion Gruber and Dr. Philip Krause from the FDAs Office of Vaccines Research and Review (OVRR).

The letters were first obtained by The Daily Caller.

The Committee on the Judiciary is investigating allegations that the Biden Administration interfered in the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) authorization and licensure of the COVID-19 vaccines, Massie wrote in a letter addressed to Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER).

According to reports, two top FDA vaccine officials, Dr. Marion Gruber and Dr. Philip Krause, resigned in the wake of President Bidens premature and rushed announcement in August 2021 calling for adults to receive a COVID-19 booster shot, which put undue pressure on FDA health officials to quickly authorize the vaccinations, he noted.

Prior to their exits, Gruber and Krausethe other two letter recipientsserved as the director and deputy director of the OVRR. Upon Grubers exit, Marks took over as acting director.

As for the reasons behind the departure of the two doctors, emails obtained and released last July by the nonprofit Judicial Watch show that Gruber had voiced concerns that drug companies and the Biden administration were pressuring the FDA to accelerate its review and authorization of the vaccines, proposing timelines that make no sense.

Additionally, following their August 2021 resignations, Gruber and Krause authored an article (pdf)published in September 2021 by The Lancetthat argued against widespread COVID-19 booster shots, which they said the evidence did not support a need for and could be risky if introduced too soon or too frequently.

Noting this in his Monday letters to the former officials, Massie asserted that President Joe Biden had broken his administrations previous pledge to listen to science, ensure public health decisions are informed by public health professionals, and promote trust, transparency, common purpose, and accountability in our government.

President Biden broke his promise when it came to COVID-19 vaccines, most notably when it came to boosters, urging boosters from the White House bully pulpit before the boosters received FDA authorization, the congressman wrote.

Citing Bidens August 2021 assertions that the boosters would be available by mid-September, if not sooner, Massie noted, At the time of President Bidens statements, however, the FDA was still reportedly racing to collect and analyze data to assess the safety and efficacy of booster shots.

In addition to records relating to the vaccines authorization and the doctors departures, Massie also requested a list of all current and former OVRR employees from Jan. 1, 2020, to present.

The Epoch Times has contacted the FDA for comment.

The Judiciary Committees investigation follows a similar inquiry launched last month by the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, a new panel of the Oversight and Accountability Committee.

In that probe, the FDA was given until March 24 to provide documents and transcribed testimony from Gruber, Krause, Marks, and FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock.
Illegal Immigrant Gets Life Sentence for Killing of Georgia Whistleblower

The Law Society of Ontario has lost its way, writes Murray Klippenstein. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

BRUNSWICK, Ga.An illegal immigrant was sentenced Monday to life in a U.S. prison for killing a man who reported him and his brother to authorities for cheating illegal immigrant 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.

According to federal prosecutors, Rangel-Rubio and his brother recruited migrant workers living illegally in the United States to work for a tree-trimming business in southeast Georgia, then routed more than $3.5 million of the workers earnings to their own accounts.

Employee Eliud Montoya filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was fatally shot in August 2017 outside his home near Savannah. Prosecutors said Rangel-Rubio pulled the trigger after plotting the killing with his brother, Pablo Rangel-Rubio, and a getaway driver, Higinio Perez-Bravo.

Both co-defendants had previously received prison sentences for conspiring to kill Montoya, a U.S. citizen. Prosecutors said the Rangel-Rubio brothers and Perez-Bravo were all Mexican citizens living in the U.S. illegally when the killing occurred.

Eliud Montoya was murdered for doing the right thing and revealing Juan Rangel-Rubios scheme to profit off his use of undocumented workers, Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said in a news release. As a result of the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners, Juan Rangel-Rubio will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.
In Iowa Again, Nikki Haley Talks Candidate Quality

Says GOP should see demographics as 'story of addition'

Republican presidential candidate and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley greets attendees after speaking at the Vision 24 National Conservative Forum in Charleston, S.C. on March 18, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Nikki Haley on April 10 made the case for her electability in the general electiona key selling point as she woos the wary GOP voter base in the aftermath of former President Donald J. Trumps indictment.

At the end of the day, you cant fix anything if we dont win. And let me tell you, if you elect someone in this primary that cant win a general, all of us are going to suffer because of that, she said.

Haley spoke at Port Neal Welding in Salix, Iowa, a small community near Sioux City, on the northwestern edge of the state.

The former South Carolina governor and former United Nations ambassador has made multiple campaign stops in Iowa and other key early states since she officially announced her bid for the 2024 GOP presidential slot in February.

The visit to Salix is part of her third trip through the Hawkeye State. She is traveling with Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), whose district covers much of the states western half.

Feenstra introduced Haley to the Salix crowd, highlighting President Joe Bidens second veto against a joint resolution from Congress to overturn the presidents Waters of the United States (WOTUS) definition.

WOTUS is a big deal in Iowa and other heavily agricultural states.

He [Biden] vetoed it, doubling down to make sure that American agriculture will have a hard time, Feenstra said.

Haleys competitors include Trump, now facing controversial charges from Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg. They also include another American of Indian ancestry, investor and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Read More Vivek Ramaswamy Says America Must Return to Meritocracy

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the second most popular 2024 hopeful among Republicans after Trump, has not yet formally announced his candidacy.

Haley argued for her Trumpian bona fides on many topics, including foreign policy, where she gained experience thanks to Trumps appointment.

She argued that the United States should cease giving foreign aid to hostile regimes, noting that its money had made its way to countries not known for having pro-American values.

As examples, she named Cuba, China, Belarus, Iraq, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe, calling the last the most anti-American African country there is.

She also said the United States must outlaw all foreign lobbying whatsoever to Congress.

Thats what embassies are for, she told the crowd.

Haley struck a tough stance on the mass flow of illegal immigrants and fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border. Mass legal immigration, by contrast, didnt come up.

At another juncture, she suggested that Republicans must work to change their ethnic and racial demographics to compete in 2024in keeping with the theme of electability, and with the case she has made for herself as the daughter of Indian immigrants.

We have to start seeing this as a story of addition. We need to go to Hispanics, we need to go to the Jewish community, we need to go to the Asian community, you need to go to African Americans, she said.

We should want to win the majority of Aemricans, because our policies are the right ones, she added.

Haley criticized Democrats and Republicans alike for failing to maintain rein in spending, noting that many Republicans in Congress have become comfortable requesting earmarks again.

You never spend more than you make, she said.

She also said that entitlement reform would be necessary, reassuring the mostly older crowd that if you gave, you get.

Haley said that young adults, now in their twenties, would have to face a higher retirement age, one that reflects life expectancy.

Life expectancy in the United States has fallen in recent years.
Independent Investigation Finds No Human Error in Maricopa County Poll Day Printer Debacle

Bill Gates, chair of the Maricopa Board of Supervisors, speaks about voting machine malfunctions at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Elections Center in Phoenix on Nov. 9, 2022. (Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images)

In a newly released report, independent investigators have concluded that a slew of ballot-on-demand printer failures in the Nov. 8, 2022, general election in Arizonas largest county resulted from equipment malfunction, not human error.

The Maricopa County Attorneys Office (MCAO) hired former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor, a Republican, to lead the investigation to determine what caused so many printers to fail in the general election, determine why they performed without problems in previous elections, and suggest solutions to prevent future issues.

The MCAO made it clear at the outset that this investigation should be independent and free of any outside influence, McGregor wrote.

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman said he called for an outside investigation of reports of ballot printers malfunctioning as soon as this happened.

Election workers sort ballots at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Phoenix on Nov. 9, 2022. (John Moore/Getty Images)

In a statement, Hickman said, We dont grade our own homework, and now that we have a better idea of the factors involved, well make changes to serve voters best, starting with replacing some equipment.

Over two months, McGregors team looked at reports of printer malfunctions that affected approximately 60 vote centers in Maricopa County, resulting in long lines of frustrated voters and cries of voter disenfranchisement.

The report concludes that no one could have predicted the widespread printer problems, given that the 2022 August primary election went mainly without a hitch.

Any failure in the process or human error relates to a failure to anticipate and prepare for the printer failures experienced. But nothing we learned in our interviews or document reviews gave any clear indication that the problems should have been anticipated, McGregor wrote in the 38-page report.

Most of the printers had been used during the August 2022 primary election, as well as prior elections, without experiencing similar problems.

During February and March, McGregors investigators printed and counted 9,100 ballots on randomly chosen printers and tabulatorsand interviewed county and Runbeck Election Services employees who used the printersand experts in election procedures.

Runbeck is the third-party company that the county hired to perform off-site tabulation of election ballots.

Printers Not up to Task

McGregor wrote that the combination of the 100-pound weight ballot paper and a 20-inch ballot during the 2022 general election pushed the countys Oki B432 printers to the limit of their capacity, which could not be sustained by a substantial number of printers.

During the 2022 primary, Maricopa County used the retrofitted Oki B432 and Lexmark C4150 ballot-on-demand printers at county vote centers. The printers used the same settings in the 2022 election.

County election officials also increased the ballot length from 19 inches to 20 inches because of the many candidates and propositions that couldnt fit on the smaller ballot.

Still, according to the report, the county conducted extensive stress tests on the ballot printers and found no issues. The county assigned 591 printers for 223 vote centers during the 2022 general election.

A voter places a ballot in a drop box outside of the Maricopa County Elections Department in Phoenix on Aug. 2, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The report states that Maricopa County made technical changes between the 2020 and 2022 primary and general elections that could have affected the performance of the printers.

Almost immediately, on the morning of the general election, Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC) in Phoenix began receiving calls from precinct vote centers that many tabulators wouldnt accept ballots.

Those ballots were set aside in a secure box for later tabulation at MCTEC.

At the outset, Maricopa County and Runbeck identified the cause of the reported problem as being either the on-site tabulator or the [ballot-on-demand] printers, the report reads.

The county concluded that several older printers couldnt maintain heat sufficient to print ballots dark enough to be read by the tabulators. The report appears to corroborate that finding.

In a statement, Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Jack Sellers said the report is exactly what was neededan unbiased analysis of what happened and a range of recommendations for what to do.

Machine Failure Unacceptable

Whether its replacing printers, using different paper, or changing the way we test equipment before an election, you can be sure our board will take any steps necessary to ensure in-person voters have the experience they deserve in 2024, Sellers said.

supervisor Thomas Galvin said, Im grateful for Justice McGregors exhaustive investigative report.

I have always maintained that these failures were unacceptable, and we needed to address them and work on improvements.

Paid election workers sort ballots at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Phoenix after the polls closed on Nov. 8, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

This report lays out how equipment failures were the main cause of the problems on Election Day. This report also notes how procedural matters should be bolstered to increase the likelihood of catching potential problems.

I welcome and agree with that assessment. There are other potential policy solutions identified in the report that I believe are worth considering and discussing.

The report recommends replacing the Oki B435 printers as a remedy, switching to a higher paper weight for print ballots, and better stress tests at intervals before elections.

Continuous improvement is what we do at Maricopa County, so I welcome this report, Supervisor Bill Gates said.

It shows that two things can be true at the same time: Our elections team prepared well for the 2022 General Election and had every reason to trust our procedures and equipment. And yet, we can do better knowing what we know now.

Supervisor Steve Gallardo said, No election is perfect; there are so many factors involved.

But thats why you do post-election analysiswhat went right, what went wrongand then you fix what needs to be fixed.

When it comes to these printer issues, were going to do that, believe me.

Arizona state Rep. Quang Nguyen, a Republican, said all technical issues arising in an election ultimately are the result of human decision-making.

Always Human Error

Although he hadnt seen the report, Nguyen said: Its extremely poor not to have those [technology] things prepared to work when discussing elections. Its strange for me to absorb that.

When you have broken or incorrectly selected machines, it is human error. If you select the wrong technology for the wrong paper, it is human fault. Theres no way around that.

Were talking elections for the nation.

Supporters of President Donald Trump demonstrate at a Stop the Steal rally in front of the Maricopa County Elections Department office in Phoenix on Nov. 7, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Following the Nov. 8 election, Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake filed a lawsuit challenging the election results and citing widespread voter disenfranchisement due to ballot printer failure across the system.

Before the election, Lakeendorsed by former President Donald Trumpwas ahead of her Democratic opponent Katie Hobbs by 11 percentage points in several polls.

Shes pursuing legal action through Arizonas Supreme Court as she weighs a possible run for U.S. Senate.

On April 11, Lake questioned the findings contained in the McGregor report, saying they contradicted expert testimony that the machines failure wasnt accidental.

The conclusions drawn by Maricopa Countys internal investigation are in complete contrast to expert testimony, and anyone with knowledge of the machines will attest to just that, Lake said in a prepared statement.

The fact that Maricopa County ran a private test using taxpayer money and not inviting impartial evaluators or members of my team shows just how unserious their investigation was.

The notion that Maricopa County printers, across 61 percent of all locations, would have simultaneously decided to print out the wrong-sized image on the ballots, independent of human intervention, is absurd.

These machines didnt suddenly decide to gain their settings and thats exactly what happened on Nov. 8, 2022.

Lake said that shell continue to fight until the truth comes out, even if that means bringing [the] case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This article was updated to include Kari Lakes comments.
International Legislators Condemn French Presidents Ill-Judged Remarks on Taiwan

French President Emmanuel Macron waits for European Commission president Ursula van der Leyen before a working lunch, at the Elysee Palace in Paris on April 3, 2023. (Aurelien Morissard/AP Photo)

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance in China (IPAC) on April 10 denounced French President Emmanuel Macrons remarks that urged Europe to stay out of the conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan.

IPAC members said they were dismayed by Macrons ill-judged remarks that disregarded Taiwans role in the global economy and undermined the international communitys efforts to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.

With Beijing ramping up military exercises in the South China Sea and showing continuing support for Russian aggression in Ukraine, this is the worst possible moment to send a signal of indifference over Taiwan, the organization said.

During his interview with Politico on Sunday, Macron said that it would be the worst thing for Europe to become followers on the Taiwan issue and take our cue from the U.S. agenda focused on defending Taiwan.

The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just Americas followers, he said. The question Europeans need to answer  is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan? No.

The interview came after Macron concluded his three-day visit to Beijing on April 7.

Politico stated in a disclaimer that some parts of the interview, in which Macron spoke even more frankly about Taiwan and Europes strategic autonomy, were cut out by his office as part of an agreement made to secure the interview.

However, IPAC members said that Macrons comments were severely out of step with the rest of Europes legislatures.

Monsieur Le President, you do not speak for Europe, IPAC members said in a statement posted on Twitter.

IPAC will work to ensure that your remarks serve as a wake-up call to democratic governments to do everything possible to ensure that Beijings aggressive stance towards Taiwan receives the hostile reception it deserves from the international community, the group added.

IPAC is made up of legislators from 30 countriesincluding the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, and Lithuaniawhich aim to coordinate democratic nations approach to China.

US Heavily Involved in European War

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is a member of IPAC, questioned if Macron spoke for Europe or himself, suggesting that the United States may need to reconsider its approach to European relations.

Senator and Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), speaks during a hearing on worldwide threats, in Washington, on March 8, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

We need to ask Europe, does he speak for them? Because were pretty heavily involved in Ukraine right now, Rubio said in a video posted to Twitter. Were spending a lot of our taxpayer money on a European war, and Ive supported that because I think thats in the national interest of the United States to be allies to our allies.

But if the European position is that theyre not going to pick sides between the United States and China over Taiwan, Rubio said maybe the United States shouldnt be picking sides in Ukraine.

Maybe we should say were going to be focusing on Taiwan and the threats that China poses, and you guys handle Ukraine on your own, Rubio said.

Pavel Fischer, a senator from the Czech Republic and an IPAC member, said that Macron should have voiced rejection of military aggression in Taiwan during his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing last week.

If instead Macron tried to negotiate concessions with the totalitarian regime, he called into question the US-European alliance at the least opportune moment, Fischer said on Twitter.

Massive Propaganda Victory For CCP

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chair of the House Select Committee on China, criticized Macrons remarks as embarrassing and disgraceful, which play right in the CCPs strategy to divide America and Europe.

Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) listens during a hearing of a special House committee dedicated to countering the Chinese Communist Party, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 28, 2023. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

I hope President Biden has already gotten on the phone with President Macron to talk about this because this is a massive propaganda victory for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Gallagher told Fox News on April 10.

Gallagher said that Macrons remarks made war across the Taiwan Strait more likely by sending the signal that the West will stand idly by while a communist country invades a flourishing democracy like Taiwan.

That invites aggression, it actually does not perpetuate peace. And so I hope the French president will realize that. But his comments were very damaging and very geopolitically naive, he added.

However, the U.S. State Department appeared to play down Macrons remarks.

Speaking to reporters, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said the partnership between the United States and France remains deep.

They have been immense partners in our work to address the challenges posed by the PRC [Peoples Republic of China], Patel said. There is immense convergence between us and our European allies and partners in how we tackle that challenge head-on.

Beijing launched a three-day military exercise around Taiwan on April 8 in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California on April 5.

The CCP regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to conquer the self-governing island by force if necessary. Beijing had warned U.S. officials against meeting with Tsai because it views such meetings as a support for Taiwans desire to be seen as an independent country.
Israeli Sisters Killed in Shooting Attack Laid to Rest

Friends and family of Maia and Rina Dee, Israeli-British sisters killed in a shooting attack, mourn during their funerals at a cemetery in Kfar Etzion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on April 9, 2023. (Nir Elias/Reuters)

KFAR ETZION, West BankThe family of two Israeli sisters who were killed in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank shared tearful eulogies on Sunday with a room full of weeping mourners, while their mother who was wounded remained in a coma.

Maia and Rina Dee, 20 and 15, who were also British citizens, died on Friday when their car was shot at by a suspected Palestinian gunman. Israeli forces are still trying to track the assailant down.

The sisters father, Leo, broke down in tears as he spoke before the crowd that had gathered in the Jewish settlement of Kfar Etzion for the funeral.

He evoked the Passover holiday now being celebrated and the story of the biblical exodus of Jews from slavery in Egypt to freedom.

The journey to redemption is a slow onethree steps forward and two steps back. And Maia and Rina, with your loss, our world has taken two steps back, he said, extending an arm in the direction of their bodies that lay covered in cloth. You have inspired us, youve loved us, and in turn we will love you forever.

Their sibling Keren lamented not being able to protect her younger sister.

I would do anything to have been in the car instead of you, she said.

After a year of escalating IsraeliPalestinian violence, tensions are running especially high as Ramadan and Passover coincide. Hours after the sisters were killed, an Italian tourist was killed in a ramming attack in Tel Aviv.
TOKYO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out at an idled nuclear power plant in Japan's Niigata prefecture on Tuesday morning, and was quickly extinguished, local media said.

The fire was detected just after 11:00 a.m. (0200 GMT) at the No. 5 reactor building at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant located on the coast of the Sea of Japan.

The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), said flames were seen near the motor of a washing machine on the first floor of a building close to the reactor, according to Japan's public broadcaster NHK.

Following the fire being extinguished, TEPCO said that there had been no reports of any abnormalities at the plant and no one was injured.

The plant's seven reactors are all currently offline and the utility said radiation levels remained unchanged at monitoring stations and there is no danger of radioactive substances leaking from the plant.

The plant was previously under scrutiny in March 2021, as Japan's nuclear regulatory body decided to ban the transportation of nuclear fuel to the compound owing to "severe security breaches."

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority at the time decided to ban TEPCO from transporting to the plant or loading nuclear fuel into its reactors, as the plant's intruder detection and backup systems were found to be defective.

As to the cause of Tuesday's fire, TEPCO said an investigation is underway. 
Italys Coastguard Works to Rescue 1,200 Migrants Drifting at Sea

The boat in distress with about 400 people on board in Central Mediterranean Sea in a handout obtained on April 10, 2023. (Giacomo Zorzi/Sea-Watch/Handout via Reuters)

MILANThe 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.

Migrants wait to be rescued by Italian Coast Guard off the coast of Italy on April 10, 2023. (Italian Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters)

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.
Kari Lake Says She Is Still Laser-Focused on Arizona Election Lawsuit

Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake speaks to supporters during her election night event at The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Nov. 8, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake responded to questions about her political future by saying that she is focused on pursuing her election-related lawsuit as it plays out in the state Supreme Court but is leaving the door open for a Senate run.

People keep asking me about my future. But I am laser-focused on seeing my court case through to the end. Thats my present. As for the future? I can promise you that Im not stepping out of the political arena anytime soon. Not until I put the people of Arizona First, she wrote on Twitter.

But in an interview with OANN, Lake said that she is strongly considering running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who is up for reelection in 2024.

I am seriously considering a run for Senate, yes absolutely, Lake said. Just because they stole an election  were so dangerous to them, Im so dangerous to the status quo and this rotten swamp that theyre willing to steal an election to stop me and our movement. Im not letting them get away with that. Were not going away. And so I am seriously considering a run for Senate.

Lake touted internal poll numbers against Sinema and Democratic candidate Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). Reports have indicated that Sinema will run as an independent, potentially pitting herself against Lake and Gallego, who declared his candidacy for Senate several months ago.

Sinema, however, has not publicly confirmed whether she will run. But Sinema, a former Democrat-turned-independent, already filed her candidacy with the Federal Election Commission and identified as an independent.

All the polling shows that I would win, Lake also told OANN. Not just the primary, the polling is showing that I would beat Kyrsten Sinema and this socialist guy thats running for the Democrats, [Rep. Ruben] Gallego.

Earlier in 2023, a spokesperson for Lake told news outlets that she met with members of a Senate Republican team in Washington. Few details about the meeting have been revealed, while Lake has said she will continue to pursue her election lawsuit.

Her initial lawsuit, filed days after the Nov. 8 election, said that Republican voters were disenfranchised on Election Day due to widespread issues at Maricopa County polling locations stemming from how the printers were configured. Election officials in Maricopa on Election Day confirmed the printer problem but asserted that no Election Day voters were significantly impacted.

Court Challenge

On March 23, the Arizona Supreme Court declared that most of Lakes lawsuit was invalid and insufficient to warrant the requested relief under state or federal law. One of her claims, the court wrote, was improperly dismissed and said the Arizona Court of Appeals interpreted Lakes challenge to Maricopa Countys signature verification process in an incorrect manner.

Contrary to the ruling of the trial court and the Court of Appeals Opinion, this signature verification challenge is to the application of the policies, not to the policies themselves, the court said, essentially keeping Lakes challenge alive. Therefore, it was erroneous to dismiss this claim under the doctrine of laches because Lake could not have brought this challenge before the election.

But the state Supreme Court rejected the GOP candidates claim of intermingled ballots and asserted that the record does not reflect that 35,563 unaccounted ballots were added to the total count. The order said that the Court of Appeals aptly resolved these issues, most of which were the subject of evidentiary proceedings in the trial court.

If the state Supreme Court rejects Lakes lawsuit targeting Maricopa Countys signature verification process, its not clear if she will appeal her case to a higher, federal court.
LA City Council Appoints Heather Hutt to Finish Mark Ridley-Thomass Term

LOS ANGELESThe city council April 11 voted to appoint Heather Hutt as councilwoman for the 10th District to fill out the remainder of former Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomass term, following his recent conviction on federal corruption charges.

Hutt, who received a burst of applause from supporters in the council chambers when her appointment was finalized on an 111 vote, was immediately sworn into her new role.

She then gave brief, emotional remarks, saying, It is an honor for me to serve the people of the 10th District.

I just want to take a moment to thank my colleagues, council president and my friends and family, my staff, and the constituents of the 10th District, Hutt said.

Of the 10th District, she said, It is not an easy place to be, but with all the support that we get here, Ill continue to do the work. I signed up to do the work and my mom raised us to work for our people. I just want to say thank you.

And now Im going to put my glasses on, and lets get to work.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Heather Hutt. (Courtesy of Los Angeles City Council)

After Hutt was sworn in, Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement stating that she looks forward to continuing to work with Hutt to confront critical issues in the city.

Councilmember Hutt has a track record of exemplary public service and I know the people of the 10th City Council District will benefit from her continued leadership, Bass said.

Despite some vocal opposition at Tuesdays meeting from constituents, including local civil rights leaders, who wanted the city to call for an immediate special election, the council voted to have Hutt fill the seat until December 2024, when the term expires.

Hutt had been District 10s temporary councilwoman until March 30, when Ridley-Thomas was convicted and the seat became officially vacant.

Subsequently, Council President Paul Krekorian announced his intention for Hutt to take over the job and have the council vote on the matter Tuesday, in its first session back following a two-week recess.

Hutt had officially been the seats non-voting caretaker since March 30.

Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez was the lone no voteciting what she called a lack of transparency and process.

Its really problematic for me that we find ourselves in this conversation again, and I understand how frustrating and upsetting it is for residents of the district, Rodriguez said.

I understand because what disenfranchised communities look like are no different than what we see in Council District 6, right now. But we are honoring a process in Council District 6 with democracy, with a special election for the people to be afforded opportunity to select and elect their representative, she said.

New L.A. City Council President Paul Krekorian presides as the council holds its first in-person meeting since he became president in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles on Oct. 25, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

In response to Rodriguezs comments, Krekorian said the circumstances prompting the special election in the Sixth District is different from the events that unfolded following Ridley-Thomass indictment and the vacancy of his seat.

A special election was held April 4 to fill the Sixth District seat vacated when former Council President Nury Martinez resigned after she was caught making racist comments on a leaked audio tape from 2021.

Krekorian had previously argued against the special-election optionsaying it would cost taxpayers around $8 millionand for Hutts appointment.

Heather Hutt has capably represented the district as the temporary appointee and I am confident she will continue to do so as the permanent appointee, Krekorian said.

In a matter of months, he added, the people of the district will have the opportunity to decide whether they prefer to elect her or a different representative in the regularly scheduled election. By contrast, a special election, which would cost taxpayers almost $8 million, could result in one person serving through the end of this year, a new person taking over in January, and another person starting a year later.

That kind of instability, uncertainty, and political gamesmanship does not serve the interests of the people of the 10th District, he said.

Krekorians comments came in response to a demand by Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, for a special election.

The council must end the effective disenfranchisement and caretaker role it has assigned the thousands of residents of the district since Thomas suspension, Hutchinson said.

Mark Ridley-Thomas attends the opening of the Helen Keller Park Screening Room in Los Angeles on Dec. 10, 2014. (David Buchan/Getty Images)

Numerous residents reflected similar sentiments during Tuesdays public comment period, but the council opted for Krekorians road map.

Angie Brown, a 10th District resident, asked the council to provide the district a fresh start via a special election, to get past what she described as a corruption mess.

Other constituents voiced their support for Krekorians plan.

Weve been able to get something done and to make our community move forward and successful, district resident Donna Jones said.

A federal jury on March 30 convicted Ridley-Thomas of bribery and conspiracy charges, along with mail and wire fraud, stemming from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors and accommodations provided to his son by a then-USC dean. He faces possible years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 14.

Ridley-Thomas was suspended from the city council in 2021.

Hutt was temporarily appointed by the council in September 2022. Prior to that, she was serving as caretaker while former Councilman Herb Wessonwho was originally appointed to fill in during Ridley-Thomass suspensionwas legally barred from performing his duties on the council and eventually forced to resign because of term-limit issues.

Hutt has announced her intention to run for a full term in the 2024 election.
Lawmakers Seek Answers From Pentagon on Ukraine War Doc Leaks

Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) speaks at the Vision 24 National Conservative Forum in Charleston, S.C., on March 18, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The leaders in the House and Senate Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees are pressing the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to find the source of apparent leaks of Ukraine war documents and determine the extent to which sensitive U.S. intelligence has been exposed.

Numerous alleged U.S. military documents, including some with secret and top secret markings, appeared online recently and appeared to show U.S. military assessments and plans to support the Ukrainian military in its ongoing war with Russian forces. The DoD acknowledged these apparent leaks on Friday, April 7, and said it is reviewing the matter.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul (R-Texas) urged the DoD to find answers about the source of the apparent leaks quickly.

Any breach of classified material is serious, especially when sources and methods are identified, McCaul said in a statement emailed to NTD News. I urge the administration to investigate and move swiftly to identify the leaker and take appropriate action. The administration must also brief Congress on the security implications of this leak.

Among the alleged leaked materials was a secret document listing April 30 as a key date for a Spring Offensive, potentially alluding to a Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian invasion forces. Some documents also described delivery timelines and consumption rates for weapons and supplies the United States and its allies have donated to Ukrainian forces.

The reports of intelligence leaks are incredibly concerning, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said in a statement. Rogers said his committee is actively seeking answers from the Department of Defense.

The leaks have sparked concerns from a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

In an emailed statement, a Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) spokesperson said the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman is tracking the leak issue closely.

Reed believes that breaches of U.S. national security and intelligence must always be addressed with the utmost seriousness and urgency, the spokesperson continued. The Department of Defense and other agencies have launched investigations, and the Senate Armed Service Committee expects to be fully briefed on the Pentagons investigation as it proceeds.

Pentagon, Biden Admin Taking Leaks Seriously

Defense officials and President Joe Bidens administration members have said they are taking the alleged leaks of U.S. intelligence documents seriously.

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Chris Meagher told news outlets that the apparent leaks are a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation.

Were still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue, Meagher added. There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom.

On Sunday, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said that the Biden administration had formed a team to assess the impact these potential leaks could have on the United States and its allies and partners.

During a White House press briefing on Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. Department of Justice is also investigating the matter.

Kirby also shared concerns about how the potentially leaked information has proliferated online and in the news media, saying the documents should not be in the public domain and shouldnt be on the front pages of newspapers.

On Monday, when asked whether the leaks had been contained, Kirby said, We truly dont know. Kirby gave a similar response when asked about the extent of the documents that may have been compromised and how long leaks could continue, We dont, we dont know whats out there  We dont know whos responsible for this, and we dont know if they have more that they intend to post. So were watching this and monitoring it as best we can, but 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.

Vulnerabilities From Leaks

The authenticity of the documents appearing online can only be partially confirmed. Meagher, Kirby, and other military and administration officials have said some leaked documents appear to have been altered.

Depending on their authenticity, the documents could provide some insights to Russian forces about Ukraines plans and vulnerabilities.

The documents appear to describe the rates at which Ukrainian forces are expending munitions for weapons like the HIMARS rocket artillery systema detail the U.S. military has not openly disclosed. The timetables for training and supplying Ukrainian forces with new weapons and ammunition could give Russian military planners clues about their opponents ability to defend itself.

After months of costly fighting, Russian forces have made incremental gains in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that a loss in Bakhmut could cause Ukrainians to lose resolve in the ongoing war and instead want the government to compromise with Russia.

Our society will feel tired, Zelenskyy told the Associated Press last week. Our society will push me to compromise with them.

A Ukrainian counteroffensive failure could place further pressure on Zelenskyy.

Some of the alleged leaked documents also bear a NOFORN marking, meaning that they should not be released in any form to foreign government[s].

Meagher said they have contacted U.S. allies and partners about the leaks to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships.

From NTD News
Leaving California: The Untold Story is a feature-length documentary that portrays the growing challenges of living in California, causing an unprecedented mass exodus. Siyamak Khorrami, television host of California Insider and editor of The Epoch Times Southern California, takes viewers on an intimate journey of love, loss, tragedy, and hope as California residents face the prospect of leaving their beloved state. About 700,000 people moved out of the state within the last two years.

Khorrami provides a unique and personal lens as he explores such issues as crime, education, housing, cost of living, wildfire, homelessness, and more. Having left his home in Iran with his family when he was 16 years old to live in Mexico City for two years, Khorrami was drawn to the freedom, opportunity and beauty of the Golden State. He got his degree in Finance at the University of San Diego and was promptly recruited to help build a contract research company in China. However, as he experienced the culture of business under the Chinese Communist Party he decided to come back to California where his entrepreneurial spirit was embraced and allowed to thrive. Unfortunately, the state began to change.

As Khorrami talks with several notable Californians including Former Democratic Majority Leader of the California State Senate Gloria Romero, former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, former San Francisco County Supervisor Tony Hall, former mayor of Costa Mesa Jim Righeimer, author and Officer Deon Joseph, Director of Race and Equity, The Utility Reform Network (TURN) Gabriela Sandoval, Pulitzer Prize winning-journalist Rick Reiff, famous historian and professor Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, he pulls back the curtain on trends and policies being imposed on the state.
Louisville Residents Shocked in Wake of Mass Shooting, Hold On to Hope

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)

LOUISVILLE, Ky.Residents reacted with shock and grief to a mass shooting that left five dead and eight wounded in downtown Louisville on April 10, but they also expressed the message of overcoming hate through love.

I know I will see Tommy again, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters, speaking of his good friend Tommy Elliott, 63, who was killed in the attack at the downtown offices of Old National Bank. The governor spoke passionately about his Christian faith at a press conference at the citys Emergency Operations Center and urged Kentuckians to support one another in their grief.

After the press conference, police officers and other city employees could be seen exchanging hugs and condolences.

Outside, the downtown streets were quiet as most businesses within two blocks of the shooting site were closed and several streets were cordoned off by police.

The attack left many area residents bewildered, including Terry Owensa city councilor from nearby Radcliff, Kentuckywho had come to support several friends who serve in Louisvilles government.

Im shocked, she told The Epoch Times. But there, it gets you thinking about how the shooting could have happened and what might prevent a future occurrence.

How did he get into the bank? What do the security cameras show? How was he able to get through the secure doors?

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)

If this could happen in Louisville, even those in smaller cities or rural areas can no longer feel immune from the problem of people committing violence with guns, Owens said.

One police officer, who declined to be identified, was less surprised by the shooting.

We have an epidemic of mental illness in the country, he said, pointing to the increasing frequency of mass killings in the United States.

Jenny, a Louisville resident and downtown restaurant worker, expressed dismay at the as-yet unconfirmed rumor that the shooter was motivated by revenge at having been fired.

It doesnt make sense, she told The Epoch Times. Theres always another job out there.

The 23-year-old shooter lived on a quiet street in the southeast section of Louisville. A neighbor, Keisha Jones, heard about the incident shortly after arriving at her job as a school nurse.

I hardly ever saw him, she told The Epoch Times, noting that she had only caught glimpses of him as the two were leaving for work.

I saw him just the other day, from the side, and that was about it.

Whitney Austin, a victim of a mass shooting at a bank in Cincinnati, found the Louisville shooting eerily similar to the one she survived in 2018.

At first, Austin was reluctant to believe that history had repeated itself.

I thought, Are we sure? Are we sure thats whats happening here? And then, as the details started to come in, it became really clear that that is whats happening, she told The Epoch Times.

And even worse for me is that the shooting is very similar to the circumstances of mine.

Yet Austin and many others in the city, although shocked and saddened by the news, didnt give voice to despair.

I always have hope, said Austin, who now advocates against gun violence. I always have hope that change will come.
Majority of New Yorkers Say Subway Unsafe at Night; Quarter Worry About Safety During the Day: Poll

More than half of New York residents feel unsafe riding the citys subway alone at night, while 1 in 4 feel that way during daytime hours, according to a survey.

The survey was conducted in January and February among 1,000 adult New York residents by Opinium, a consumer and political research outfit.

The numbers are even higher for women and Asian Americans, two-thirds of whom feel unsafe at night and about a third of whom feel unsafe during the day. Residents expressed more worry about waiting for a train on the platform than riding the train itself.

New York is supposed to be the city that never sleepsbut its clear that for many of its residents, even trying to get around the city in daylight hours can feel uncomfortable and unsafenot to mention at night, company spokesperson Naomi Horn said in an April 11 statement.

The survey follows a series of high-profile crimes on the subway in recent years in which people have been assaulted or even pushed onto the tracks. Victims have disproportionately been women and Asian Americans. Perpetrators have disproportionately been black men.

Yet the level of crime in the subway system, in general, hasnt changed much over the past decade and is even slightly down so far this year compared to last year, according to New York City Police Department data.

What has increased dramatically, however, is crime in the city more broadly. Felony assaults, in particular, have been on the rise for years and, so far this year, have been at their highest since 1998. Also up are petty thefts, such as shoplifting, misdemeanor assaults, and car theft. While homicides have somewhat declined over the past two years, theyre still higher than in 2019, following a dramatic rise in 2020 and 2021.

New Yorkers still perceive that the city streets are safer than the subway, according to the survey. A total of 68 percent said they felt safe walking down the street alone during the day compared to 58 percent feeling safe riding the subway alone. At night, 59 percent felt unsafe riding the subway alone, but only 50 percent felt unsafe walking alone.

The majority of residents still rely on the subway for transportation. More than 70 percent said they ride at least once a month, and 54 percent ride weekly. By contrast, only 17 percent said they take a cab at least once a week, and 16 percent said they use ridesharing apps such as Lyft or Uber at least weekly.
Melania Trump Issues First Statement Following Donald Trumps Indictment

Then-President Donald Trump and then-first lady Melania Trump walk to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, on Dec. 23, 2020. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

A spokesperson for former First Lady Melania Trump responded to speculative reports around her relationship with former President Donald Trump after his arraignment in Manhattan last week.

News organizations have made assumptions about the former First Ladys stance on subjects that are personal, professional, and political over the past few weeks, said a statement issued Tuesday by the Office of Melania Trumps Twitter account. In these articles, unnamed sources are cited to bolster the authors claims.

The statement then added that we ask readers to exercise caution and good judgment when determining whether or not stories concerning the former First Lady are accurate, particularly when they fail to cite Mrs. Trump as a source of information. Other details were not provided by the former first lady, who also posted Happy Easter! on Instagram Sunday.

In the past week, the New York Post, Daily Mail, and other tabloids have published numerous speculative reports, including one titled Melania nowhere to be seen at Trumps post-arraignment Mar-a-Lago speech. Days later, the NY Post published another article saying the former first lady was seen for the first time since Trumps arrest at a Mar-a-Lago brunch with the former president, and the Daily Mail has posted articles with similar headlines over the past week or so.

Last week, Trump made a speech after he was arraigned in Manhattan on charges connected to payments made to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, while denying any wrongdoing in the speech and on his social media platform.

Trump, a 2024 presidential candidate, flew home to Florida after the arraignment and spoke to a crowd of supporters, which was live-streamed. A reporter with the NY Post attended the event and asked MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell about Melanias whereabouts. I dont know. Im gonna go find out, he said in response as he walked out of the ballroom, according to the Post.

We ask readers to exercise caution and good judgment when determining whether or not stories concerning the former First Lady are accurate, particularly when they fail to cite Mrs. Trump as a source of information.  Office of Melania Trump (@OfficeofMelania) April 11, 2023

Three of the former commander-in-chiefs childrenDonald Trump Jr., Tiffany Trump, and Eric Trumpattended the event. Other supporters included Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Lindell, and Arizona GOP candidate Kari Lake.

Case

Prosecutors said Trump conspired to undermine the 2016 presidential election by trying to suppress information that could harm his candidacy, and then concealing the true nature of the hush money payments. The payments were made to Daniels, former model Karen McDougal, and a doorman, according to the Manhattan District Attorneys office.

During his speech, Trump again claimed that the investigation was politically motivated, criticizing District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the judge in the New York case. The only crime that I have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it, Trump said.

On Truth Social, Trump has often posted about the case and Bragg, effectively making the case the central theme of his 2024 presidential campaign. A number of polls taken after the arraignment have shown that Trump is far ahead of other declared and undeclared GOP candidates.

The Democrat Party of DISINFORMATION is working full time saying that the reason D.A. Braggs charge is so weak is that it is going to help me get the Republican Nomination, and Im the one they want to run against, he wrote on Truth Social. Actually, its weak because they have NOTHING (but HATE!), and Im the last person they want to run against. They said the same thing in 2016, and how did that work out? The Disinformation Democrats only do it to demean me, but Ive had a lot worse things said. MAGA!

Lawyers for Trump, meanwhile, have publicly indicated they will soon file a motion to dismiss Braggs case. They have suggested that their arguments will be centered around alleged selective prosecution.

I dont think this case is going to see a jury. I think its going to go away on papers. I think theres going a legal challenge that needs to be made and will be made successfully, lawyer Joe Tacopina told ABC News Good Morning America last week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Military: Syria Rocket Attack on US Base Nets No Casualties

BEIRUTA 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 ISIS terrorist group, which swept through Iraq and Syria in 2014, taking control of large swaths of territory. The extremists were defeat in Syria in 2019.
New Stop and Search Powers Uncover Knives at Train Stop

Three knives have been found at Queensland public transport stops by police using metal detection wands in the first such operation since officers search powers were expanded.

Police searched close to 600 people across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Townsville over the Easter weekend and found six knives.

Were very pleased with the results, but our ultimate aim is, of course, to see no one carrying knives and those six knives that were detected, thats absolutely six too many, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler told reporters on Tuesday.

By detecting those six knives and taking them from the people who are carrying them, we know that we could have saved lives just over the weekend.

Last month state parliament passed laws allowing officers to randomly search people in nightlife precincts and on public transport networks.

One of the weapons was discovered on someone at the Willows Shopping Centre bus stop in Townsville, and another two were being carried by people at the Brunswick Street railway station in Brisbane.

The other knives were found in nightlife areas in Brisbanes Fortitude Valley and in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

Several folded-blade knives were among those detected.

Officers on the Gold Coast had previously used the powers to undertake random searches under a trial in the Gold Coasts safe night precincts, in which 266 weapons were seized.

Those caught with a knife in public face a fine of almost $6000 (US$ 4000) or a year in prison.
An Indonesian minister spoke highly of Indonesia-China cooperation, calling it an example of high-quality development.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
No Business in the Public Domain: White House Says Journalists Should Not Report on Leaked Intel Documents

A top White House spokesman said that journalists should not report on leaked Pentagon intelligence documents, saying that the material has no business in the public domain.

During a press briefing on Monday, spokesman John Kirby was pressed repeatedly about why and how the intelligence documents made it onto several websites, including Twitter, Discord, 4chan, Telegram, and more. Some of those documents included alleged death toll numbers for both Ukraine and Russia amid the year-long conflict as well as alleged intelligence assessments targeting the governments of Israel, South Korea, Egypt, and other U.S. military partners.

Although Kirby refused to confirm the validity of the documents, this is information that has no business in the public domain, he told members of the press. It has no businessif you dont mind me sayingon the pages of  front pages of newspapers or on television. It is not intended for public consumption and it should not be out there, he added.

Despite Kirbys comment, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Fox News, and other corporate news outlets have widely reported on them. The documents have also been widely circulated on social media and in the foreign press as well.

U.S. officials are trying to trace the source of the leak, reviewing how they share secrets internally and dealing with the diplomatic fallout, Kirby suggested.

U.S. officials are still not sure how the documents were acquired, who obtained them, or when they were leaked, Kirby said. Its also not clear if the leak has been contained, he added.

We dont know who is behind this. We dont know what the motive is  we dont know what else might be out there, he said, emphasizing: We know that some of them have been doctored  we are still working through the validity of all of the documents that we know are out there.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 1971 issued a landmark ruling in the New York Times Co. v. United States, also known as the Pentagon Papers case, that allowed the NY Times, Washington Post, and others to keep publishing excerpts from a leaked 7,000-page Department of Defense report. The documents detailed the inner workings of the U.S. militarys policies around the Vietnam War, leaked by military analyst Daniel Ellsberg.

Kirby did not elaborate on what documents may have been doctored. Some Ukrainian officials told U.S. media outlets this week that the ones pertaining to troop losses in connection to the UkraineRussia war are part of a Kremlin disinformation plot, while South Korean officials have told media outlets that intelligence documents about Seoul are also fake.

Some analysts and observers have speculated that the documentssome of which were marked TOP SECRET or NOFORN (Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals)may have been leaked by an individual or group within the U.S. intelligence community or military. Some of the leaked documents appeared to have been prepared by or for the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Meanwhile, another intelligence official, Chris Meagher, told reporters Monday that the leak represents a threat to U.S. national security. A Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation has been opened into the matter, he noted.

These photos appear to show documents 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, Meagher told reporters.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the leak, but said that there is in fact a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. It is, in general, a disease.

Ukraine Update

It comes as Russian forces pounded frontline cities in eastern Ukraine with air strikes and artillery attacks. Russians pressed on with their offensive in the eastern Donetsk region where several cities and towns came under heavy bombardment, Ukraines general staff said on Tuesday.

Volunteer soldiers prepare to fire toward Russian positions close to Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on March 8, 2023. (Libkos/AP Photo)

Ukrainian forces repelled several attacks, it said, as the Russian military kept up its effort to take control of Bakhmut. A top Ukrainian commander accused Moscow of using scorched earth tactics.

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 of Bakhmut.

As the battles ground on, CNN claimed Ukraine was forced to amend some military plans ahead of its anticipated counter-offensive because of the leak of dozens of secret documents.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Manhattans District Attorney Alvin Bragg has sued Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), alleging the top Republican member has launched a campaign meant to intimidate. A New York grand jury recently brought charges against former President Donald Trump, drawing intense criticism from Jordan and other Republicans. Jordan has subpoenaed one of Braggs top former lieutenants, and asked for documents and testimony from a current deputy, in addition to publicly lambasting Braggs decision.

Members of the congressional Gang of Eight have now gained access to the classified documents found at the homes of President Joe Biden and Trump. It comes after months of pressure since Trumps Florida home was raided by the FBI last August. Meanwhile, documents obtained by America First Legal Foundation (AFL) suggest that the Biden White House was involved in the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago via a special access request, calling into question statements by Biden administration officials that the White House did not interfere and did not get involved.

Several world leaders have now addressed the leaked Pentagon intelligence documents, saying much of the information is not true.
Orange County IDA Top Executive Charts New Course After Corruption Scandal

As the first CEO appointed to the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) following a major corruption scandal, Bill Fioravanti said his top job is to refocus the agency on its core duty and restore public trust.

Over the past year or so, he reorganized the team with new service providers, chipped away at stale or money-losing projects, and launched a new site program to stimulate growth in the years to come.

Since he took the helm, the number of businesses requesting IDA tax incentives has steadily climbed to eight after remaining at zero for more than a year.

IDA is a public benefit corporation empowered by state law to spur economic growth and job creation with tax incentives.

The most common benefits are reduced or exempted sales, property, and mortgage recording taxes.

The office building that houses the Orange County Industrial Development Agency in New Windsor, N.Y., on Feb. 22, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

At the heart of the work is identifying the right industries to incentivize, he told The Epoch Times.

Having grown up in a former industrial city in upstate New York, which crumbled as low-skilled manufacturing went offshore, Fioravanti said his vision is to attract industries of the future.

I want to attract the best and brightest projects we can get in industry sectors that are going to be around for generations, he said. I want us to be in that space because thats where the world is going.

IDA Upheaval and Reshuffle

Two years ago, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler opened an investigation into IDA over alleged financial wrongdoings in multiple complaints.

The investigation soon became a joint effort with the New York State Comptrollers Office.

In March 2021, the Orange County Legislature replaced all seven IDA board members.

Three months later, three former top IDA officials pleaded guilty to corruption charges, including hiding self-dealing and concealing conflicts of interest, and were ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution.

They were former CEO Laurie Villasuso, former Managing Director Vincent Cozzolino, and former board member Edward Diana.

James ODonnell, the county legislator credited with blowing the lid off the corruption case, told The Epoch Times that its the largest white-collar crime the county has ever known.

Orange County Court Building in Goshen, N.Y., on Sept. 26, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Immediately following the investigation launch, Fioravanti was assigned to monitor IDA in his then-role as county economic development director; he later became the interim head at IDA.

In October 2022, he was voted by the county Legislature to be the new CEO at IDA.

Since then, Fioravanti has worked with the board to retain a new general counsel, bond counsel, financial services company, and auditing firm.

Meanwhile, the number of tax incentive applications began to pick up.

So far, eight have been approved, including a new Walgreens medical warehouse, a new Kosher wine plant, and an expansion of a Goshen-based food manufacturer.

Accelerator Program

Since he came in, Fioravanti has been scaling down IDAs Accelerator program, which was at the center of the corruption scandals.

A legacy program with a rich history, Accelerator was designed to boost small and start-up companies through financial support, such as subsidized rents.

For a time, priorities were given to localized companies in niche industries, such as fashion design, apparel making, and artisan food.

I call it a Robin Hood program, Fioravanti said. It is basically taking money received from larger businesses in return for incentives to give back to help small businesses.

The county IDA operates entirely on fees paid by business applicants, with its largest revenue source being payments in lieu of taxes.

However, many Accelerator program partners failed to grow on the scale they had promised and became reliant on the below-market rent subsidized with IDA money, he said.

An Accelerator building in Middletown, New York, was originally intended for start-ups in the field of medical devices but instead was occupied by unrelated tenants, such as a candle maker and a personal care company, Fioravanti noted.

Three-quarters of the Middletown space was empty when he first took over IDA.

A sign welcomes visitors to the Town of Warwick, N.Y., on Jan 12, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

So Fioravanti began to get IDA out of the Accelerator deal as subsidized leases expired, except for a few successful cases, such as a former prison site in Warwick, New York.

In 2022, his administration cut more than $2 million in expenses in the IDA budget compared to the previous year, partly through shedding stale Accelerator projects.

Fioravanti said he wasnt against the Accelerator concept but rather the kind of industries it was used in.

I would like to reserve the right to revisit the program again, but it would be around viable, future-ready industry sectors, such as artificial intelligence, he said.

New Initiative

When Fioravanti first entered the arena of economic developmenthe was hired by Orange County Partnership in 2014there was a repertoire of sites ready for economic development in the county.

Over time, as unoccupied industrial park spaces were filled and suitable lots built up, the county was left with few of what he calls primary and secondary sitesthose equipped with water, sewer, utilities, or some form of planning board approvals.

The LEGOLAND New York Hotel in Goshen, N.Y., on Aug. 6, 2021. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

To spur future economic growth, Fioravanti jumpstarted a new IDA program called the Shovel Ready Initiative to identify parcels countywide primed for development with the help of a professional firm.

We are looking at: Where are water and sewer? Where is natural gas? Where is adequate power? he said.

Ultimately, all the parcel information will be made public through an interactive map-like database for use by potential developers, economic development organizations, and local governments.

Fioravanti hopes to draw more high-tech businesses to the county with the initiative.

Another new area hes considering venturing into is housing, which former administrations shunned because they believed that it had nothing to do with economic development.

We bring in companies and create new jobs, but a lot of people that work here cant afford to live here, Fioravanti said. There is clearly a housing crisis, and IDA can utilize some of its tools to provide some relief.

He hopes to get more discussions about housing with the board and public members.

In the coming months, the agency will update its Uniform Tax Exemption Policy (UTEP), which lays out directives and rules governing the tax incentives approval, including the type of preferred industries and allowed abatement schedules.

The policy was last updated in June 2019.

Public members can voice opinions through a community survey and in future open IDA sessions.

Controversy

In February, New York state Sen. James Skoufis, a Democrat, opened an investigation into the county IDA over the $3 million tax incentives granted to a longtime Goshen-based food manufacturer.

He called it the worst deal ever by the agency at a press conference, given that the applicant said the project would happen regardless of the incentives, although at a slower pace.

Skoufis represents New Yorks 42nd District, which covers most of Orange County, and chairs the state Senates Committee on Investigations and Government Operations.

Last month, the IDA board approved retaining a law firm to represent the agency in the investigation by Skoufis and any potential litigation.

James Skoufis launches an investigation into county IDA during a press conference in New Winsor, N.Y., on Feb. 22, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Skoufis has been vocal about what he calls years of bad deals out of the development agency, which he often equates to corporate welfare at the cost of local tax dollars.

He has also proposed multiple IDA reform ideas to the state Legislature, including adding a new state monitor with the power to reject IDA deals deemed without merits.

Fioravanti told The Epoch Times in previous interviews that under his helm, the IDA operates within the boundaries of state law and in accordance with its own policies.

He also said IDA incentives shouldnt be viewed in isolation but against the backdrop of the unfavorable business environment in New York.

We are looking for Senator Skoufis and the state government to make New York more competitive for businesses, Fioravanti said. If he can bring those conditions about, wed gladly close up shop and focus our energies elsewhere.

Fioravanti invites Skoufis to participate in the upcoming UTEP discussion.
Philippines Urges Transparent and Sincere Engagement in US-China Strategic Rivalry

A U.S. Navy hovercraft speeds past the USS Wasp, a multipurpose amphibious assault ship, during the amphibious landing exercises as part of the annual joint U.S.Philippines military exercise on the shores of San Antonio town, facing the South China sea, Zambales Province in the Philippines, on April 11, 2019. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images)

The Philippines has called for a commitment to dialogue in the strategic rivalry between the United States and China, as any escalation of tensions over Taiwan could lead to adverse repercussions for the entire Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) forum in Washington on Monday, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo described the U.S.-China rivalry as a defining feature of this regional ecosystem.

As responsible powers, each with a stake in the regions long-term peace and security, Washington and Beijing need to manage their strategic rivalry with dialogue, transparent, and sincere engagement, where possible, he said.

Manalo said the Philippines would bear the brunt of any escalation of tensions in Taiwan, given its proximity with the self-ruled island, which sits only 90 miles from the northernmost point of the Philippines.

Taiwan is literally next door to the Philippines, he said. Our view is that not only would it affect the Philippines, but it would affect the entire region and could escalate to even something, you know, more dangerous.

Beijing launched a three-day military exercise around Taiwan on April 8 in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California on April 5.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to take it by force if necessary. It recently warned U.S. officials against meeting with Tsai because it views such meetings as an endorsement of Taiwans desire to be seen as an independent country.

From the position of the United States, while it has agreed not to unilaterally champion the islands independence, its legally bound by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 to provide the island with the arms it needs for its self-defense.

Manalo observed that Beijings recent drills around Taiwan were not as intense as last year when the CCP conducted live-fire drills around the island to retaliate against then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan in August 2022.

So far, what we see now, at least this visit  its not as it was in August [2022], and this could hopefully pave the way for calming the situation a bit on the straits between China and the United States, he said.

And hopefully from there, see how the tensions can be lowered, and we can move back from the tensions and all of this, Manalo added.

He also reiterated the importance that the Philippines accords its alliance with the United States and its special place in the context of our independent foreign policy.

Our alliance stands proud in the nexus of relationships and arrangements buttressing the regional security architecture. This architecture must maintain trust and confidence among parties amidst the U.S.-China rivalry and other geopolitical pressures, he said.

Philippines Sites Not for Offensive Actions

Manalo is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for the 2+2 ministerial dialogue on Tuesday, with a focus on global prosperity issues and regional security.

When asked whether the Enhanced Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines would house U.S. weaponry that could be used in the event of a Taiwan contingency, Manalo said this has yet to be decided.

It will all depend on how discussions go on the type of activities and the terms of reference of those activities within any of those sites, he said.

The Philippines earlier granted American forces access to four new military bases, including a naval base and an airport in Cagayan province, as well as an army camp in Isabelaall of which are located near Taiwan.

However, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that the EDCA sites will not be used for offensive actions and that the new bases accessible to the United States are only meant for defense.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during the 126th founding anniversary of the Philippine Army at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines, on March 22, 2023. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday disclosed that the Philippines is preparing to establish four additional military bases in different parts of the country under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the U.S., including a province facing the South China Sea. This is part of its defense strategy for its largest island Luzon, which is in proximity to Taiwan, in response to Chinas growing assertiveness in the region. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

The Philippines will not allow using our bases in any offensive action. It will be used once the Philippines is in need of help, Marcos told reporters.

He reiterated that the new sites would only help to boost the U.S. disaster response and humanitarian efforts in the Philippines.

The CCP had warned that expanded EDCA sites would seriously endanger regional peace and stability and drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife and damage its economic development.

Largest US-Philippine Joint Drills

The Philippines and the United States kicked off their largest combat exercises on Tuesday, involving about 17,600 military personnel, including 12,000 American troops, and 111 soldiers from Australia.

U.S. marines take part in a joint amphibious assault exercise as part of the annual Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) U.S.-Philippines war exercises, off the waters of South China Sea on March 31, 2022 in Claveria, Cagayan province, Philippines. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

The Balikatan drill will run through April 28 in Northern Luzon, Palawan, and Antique, featuring live-fire exercises in water. Australian troops will take part in smaller land-based exercises.

Col. Michael Logico, a Philippine spokesperson for Balikatan, said last month that the military drill was not aimed at provoking anybody but rather to improve their maritime defense capabilities.

We are not extending beyond our territory, and if other countries or critics think in the wrong way, we would like to tell them that this is a form of deterrence and there is a difference between a deterrence and provocation, Logico said.

Chinese structures and buildings at the man-made island on Johnson reef at the Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea on March 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

The Philippines has sought to bolster its military presence in the disputed South China Sea, where Beijing has been aggressively pursuing its territorial claims through coast guard patrols and the construction of artificial islands.
Poilievre Asks Twitter to Label CBC as Government-Funded Media

Public broadcaster CBC should be labelled as government-funded media on Twitter, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre told the social media company in a letter.

Poilievre wrote to Twitter on April 11 suggesting that CBC should receive a label based on the platforms practice of identifying accounts of this type.

In recent days, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the U.S. National Public Radio (NPR) received the label.

Poilievre quoted the definition used by Twitter to make decisions on accounts.

Government-funded media is defined as outlets where the government provides some or all of the outlets funding and may have varying degrees of government involvement over editorial content, says the Twitter policy.

Poilievre noted that CBC receives the majority of its funding from the federal government, to the tune of $1.24 billion.

As a result, and in the interest of transparency, I believe that Twitter should apply the Government-funded Media label to the CBCs various news-related accounts, including @CBC, @CBCNews, and @CBCAlerts, he wrote.

The letter was posted on Twitter by True North writer Elie Cantin-Nantel and confirmed as authentic by a Poilievre spokesperson.

CBC told The Epoch Times it cant comment on the motives behind the letter.

Twitters own policy defines government-funded media as cases where the government may have varying degrees of government involvement over editorial content, which is clearly not the case with CBC/Radio-Canada, said spokesperson Leon Mar.

As every Canadian knows, CBC/Radio-Canada is publicly funded. Its editorial independence is protected in law in the Broadcasting Act.

Elon Musk, who has owned the social media company since last October, has been tagged by some users of the platform asking him to label CBC. He responded on April 9.

We need to add more granularity to editorial influence, as it varies greatly. I dont actually think the BBC is as biased as some other government-funded media, but it is silly of the BBC to claim zero influence, Musk wrote, confusing the BBC and CBC.

Minor government influence in their case would be accurate.

BBC has protested the labelling, writing on April 10 that it is independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee, it said.

Twitters move to label NPR has also not been well received by the outlet. NPR also said it is independent, and has stopped posting on the platform in protest.

Poilievre campaigned during the Conservative Party leadership race on a promise he will defund the CBC if he becomes prime minister.

CBC president Catherine Tait told the Globe and Mail in February that Poilievre was helping drive criticism against her organization.

Theres a lot of CBC bashing going on  somewhat stoked by the Leader of the Opposition she said. I think they feel the CBC is a mouthpiece for the Liberal government.

Poilievre responded in a tweet that Tait was not even pretending to be unbiased.

She launched a partisan attack against me, proving my claim that the $1.2 billion corporation is a mouthpiece for Justin Trudeau.

Editors note: The article was updated with a comment from the CBC.
Police Reveal Cost of Informants but Keep Details Secret as Former Detective Calls for More Scrutiny

Police Scotland admit 'public awareness would favour a disclosure'

Seven police forces have revealed details of how much they spend on informants, but have refused to provide details about how many individuals were on their payroll and whether any registered informants have been convicted of crimes.

The Epoch Times made a request to 10 police forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA) under the Freedom of Information Act for information about covert human intelligence sources (CHISs).

All 10 forces refused to provide information about the number of individuals who were registered as CHISs in the year ending March 2022, and how it compared with the number from the previous 10 years.

Police Scotland claimed: Disclosure would present an increased risk to those operating as CHIS as it would lead to members of organised crime groups seeking to identify any CHIS who may be reporting their activities  Disclosure would allow apparent spikes to be identified that could in turn be associated to a particular serious crime and compromise a CHIS operation.

In a statement, an officer from Police Scotlands Freedom of Information team added, Although I consider that public awareness would favour a disclosure as it would contribute to the public debate surrounding the application of these measures, we must ensure that the release of this level of detail is not inadvertently providing potentially harmful information and placing an individual at risk.

In the criminal underworld police informants are seen as the lowest of the low and to be outed as a CHIS could put an individuals life in danger.

In February the BBC reported Scotlands appeal court had mistakenly published the name of a police informant whose secret identity was protected by the Scottish High Court the previous month.

The CHIS was a senior member of a Scottish gang and gave evidence in March 2022 at the trial of Christopher Hughes, who was convicted of murdering Dutch crime blogger Martin Kok, who was shot dead outside an Amsterdam sex club in December 2016.

Duncan MacLaughlin, a former Scotland Yard specialist operations detective, told The Epoch Times, I am not surprised by these police forces refusing to give you this information as they rarely invite scrutiny of the handling of informants.

MacLaughlin, the author of The Filth: The Explosive Inside Story of Scotland Yards Top Undercover Cop, added: The Met cant be trusted to keep the identity of an informant confidential. Theyve admitted as much when trying to unravel the identity of one of mine who grassed up a Met commander.

He said the contents of the Operation Tiberius reportan internal review of corruption within the Met which was leaked to The Independent newspaper in 2014seems to confirms the Mets slap-happy procedure.

Police Informants System Needs Greater Scrutiny

MacLaughlin said, The entire system of police informants needs greater scrutiny, both to ensure criminals are being handled ethically and not being granted immunity, but also to protect those genuine informants from having their status leaked and exposing them to great danger.

Seven of the 10 forces gave details about the amount of money they paid out to informants annually, while Greater Manchester Police refused to do so. Merseyside Police has yet to respond to the Freedom of Information request at all, while Northumbria Police asked for clarification.

The National Crime Agency has also failed to respond, while MI5 has a special exemption from the Freedom of Information Act and is therefore allowed to keep all details about its covert human intelligence sources secret.

The Metropolitan Policethe UKs largest police forcewas unsurprisingly the biggest purchaser of information from CHISs. It paid out 4.88 million to informants in the last five years with the figure rising from 879,676 in 2017/18 to 1.1 million in 2021/22.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it had spent 1.73 million on informants in the last five years, with the highest annual amount433,080in 2019/2020.

West Midlands Police spent a total of 1.07 million in the last five years, with the figure rising annually until 2020/21 when it reached 272,931, before falling the following year to 226,511.

A total of 626,240 was paid out by West Yorkshire Police, which saw its annual figure rise gradually from 92,449 in 2017/18 to 164,191 in 2021/22.

Avon and Somerset Police paid out a total of 331,310 over the last five years.

South Wales Police paid out 277,422 over the last six years, with the figure actually falling from 56,091 in 2016/17 to 40,165 in 2021/22.

Police Scotland said it had paid out 2.93 million since 2010 with the figure rising from 142,123 in 2010 to 305,588 in 2021, before falling to 288,850 the following year.

All 10 forces also refused to give any information about how many CHISs had been convicted of criminal offences between 2010 and 2022, or how many had been deregistered owing to doubts about their motivation or the quality of the information they provided.

The police forces also refused to confirm how often they, or the prosecuting authorities, had applied for Public Interest Immunity to protect the identities of CHISs being revealed in a court of law.

The handling of police informants has been a controversial subject ever since the first supergrass, Bertie Smalls, gave evidence in 1974.

In 2008 Darren Mathurin was convicted of murdering Jahmall Moore in London and jailed for life with a minimum tariff of 22 years, but he subsequently did a secret deal with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service and his sentence was reduced to eight years in return for him giving evidence in several other murder trials.

The prosecutor at one of those trials, Stephen Batten, QC, told the jury Mathurin had a history of a life of crime, but he said the alternative to offering him a deal was murderers may go free.
Port Jervis School Board Member Florence Santini Seeks Reelection

Florence Santini at her house in the Town of Deerpark, N.Y., on April 7, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Florence Santini, a longtime Deerpark, New York, resident and a fixture in the community, says shes seeking another school board term to continue serving students and taxpayers.

She first ran for the board in 2004 to address spiraling school taxes, only to find out that the world couldnt be changed overnight and that the only thing under her control was to keep trying.

While mindful of seniors on fixed incomes that struggle to pay taxes, she also came to look at things from the perspective of students.

First of all, you have to take care of the students, Santini told The Epoch Times. We must make sure that they have all their schooling, all their programs, and all that they need to get by and graduate.

Port Jervis High School in Port Jervis, N.Y., on April 7, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

As a board member, she says she has always tried to strike a balance between the two.

You try to do the best you can, Santini said. You try, you keep trying, you dont stop, and you keep trying to make the best decisions you canthat is it.

The Port Jervis School District serves families who reside in Deerpark and Port Jervis, New York, in Orange County.

A People Person

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Clifton, New Jersey, Santini moved to the Town of Deerpark in the 1970s to run a restaurant with her husband, Dominick Santini. For more than 20 years, her husband was the cook and Santini the manager at Santinis Ristorante, an Italian eatery on Route 6 in Port Jervis.

After selling the restaurant, the couple decided to stay in the area they had grown to like.

You walk down the street, and somebody says hello to you; people are always there to lend a helping handthis is what this community is like, and this is why we stayed, she said.

Florence Santini in front of her house in the Town of Deerpark, N.Y., on April 7, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Soon, Santini got involved in town government, being elected as tax collector in 1999 and then town clerk in 2002, a post she has held until now.

She enjoys serving the residents as a town clerk, a job much like her role at the Italian eatery, she said.

Its like I came from the restaurant, which was a people-person job, to the town clerk, which is also a people-person job, Santini said. I treat everyone as a human being; I often say, take your title offbe it a doctor or a lawyerand everything underneath is the same.

Shes also involved in various civic and charitable organizations, such as Catholic Daughters, Ladies Auxiliary Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 161, and Hudson Valley Honor Flight.

First School Board Run

In 2004, Santini ran for the school board for the first time when the district proposed a tax increase of more than $1 million, or 8.45 percent.

I was worried about it, she said. If I was worried about this, my next-door neighbor was worried about it, and the person down the street was worried about it.

Voters defeated the budget and elected Santini and several others to the board. About a month later, voters approved a budget with a lower increase of 6.45 percent.

I came in with a chip on my shoulder and said, Im going to do this, this, and this, Santini said. Then I learned what I could do and what I could not doit was very much of an eye-opener.

Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School in Port Jervis, New York, on April 7, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

You have contracts, you have unions, you have your due diligence of taking care of regular classes and kids with special needs. There can be no sway, and those funds have to be there.

Much to Santinis dismay, the next budget proposed included a school tax increase, this time by almost a third. After voters defeated that by a 3:2 margin, they approved a reworked budget with a slightly lower boost at 27 percent, according to a Times-Herald Record article at the time.

After a while, I became humble, and I came to terms with the fact that you could only do so much, she said. But you are a voice to be heard. You are talking and trying, not sitting back and just being a yes person.

Keep Trying

After a pause, Santini ran for school board again in 2014 and was elected to another three-year term.

She was reelected in 2017 and again in 2020, during which she got 1,156 votes, the most among all seven candidates, according to the Times-Herald Record.

In the past 10 years, the district kept the tax levy increase at less than 2 percent, with four years of zero increases, according to a recent presentation by the district administration.

Even so, Santini argues that voters continue to bear the consequences of those dramatic increases.

Port Jervis Middle School is under renovation in Port Jervis, N.Y., on March 8, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Running for another term, she said she hopes to continue to serve district residents.

You dont get paid, and there is nothing you get from it other than trying to make a difference for the kids and trying to get what our residents of the district need, Santini said.

If reelected, she says she most looks forward to the completion of the middle school building renovation on Main Street in Port Jervis. At an estimated cost of $55 million, its one of the largest capital projects ever undertaken by the district.

I am going to be proud that students will learn in classrooms that are fresh and bright, they will have enough room in between desks, and they will have a gym that they can use and a nice cafeteria where they eat and take a break.
Prairie Premiers Ask Trudeau to Immediately Retract Ministers Remarks on Natural Resources Agreement

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson answers a question as Canadas premiers hold a press conference following a meeting on health care in Ottawa on Feb. 7, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

The three Prairie premiers have issued a joint statement demanding that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirm that his justice minister didnt speak for the federal government when he told First Nations chiefs he would look into a request to rescind those provincial governments jurisdiction over natural resources.

The April 11 joint statement said Trudeau needs to tell Canadians today that federal Justice Minister David Lametti was not speaking on behalf of the federal government when he said he would look at rescinding the 1930 Natural Resources Transfer Agreements with the Prairie provinces and strip away their constitutional authority and control over natural resources.

The three premiers said the agreements recognized the Prairie provinces with the same rights over resources that all other provinces already had and that these rights have been fundamental to the people and the economic autonomy of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta for nearly 100 years.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at a press conference in Edmonton on Oct. 24, 2022. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

Scott Moe, premier of Saskatchewan, speaks at a press conference at the Legislative Building in Regina on March 18, 2020. (Michael Bell/The Canadian Press)

The federal government cannot unilaterally change the Constitution. It should not even be considering stripping resource rights away from the three Prairie provinces, said the joint statement of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

The prime minister needs to immediately retract these dangerous and divisive comments by his justice minister.

In an April 11 social media post accompanying the joint statement, Smith said that Ottawa must back off from any plans of stripping resource rights away from Albertans.

Smith said she was joining with Moe and Stefanson to call on Trudeau to denounce and retract the dangerous comments made by his Justice Minister.

Jurisdiction

Lametti told the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa on April 5 that he would commit to looking at the 1930 natural resources transfer agreements in place with Sask., Manitoba, and Alberta after one indigenous chief called for the act to be rescinded and another said resources were given to the provinces without consulting with indigenous communities.

At the Ottawa meeting with the AFN, Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte from Prince Albert Grand Council asked Lametti to rescind the act, the Natural Resource Transfer Act, that affects the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Thats what were asking you, minister, as an action item with a statement. It affects our treaty rights, of course, under the Sask. First Act, that we hear about. And its to do with natural resources, Indian natural resources.

Justice Minister David Lametti speaks during a Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers press conference on bail reform in Ottawa, on March 10, 2023. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

Chief Don Maracle of Mohawks of Bay of Quinte said, Canada exports natural resources to other countries. They earn trillions of dollars in revenues from those resources. Those resources were given to the provinces, without ever asking one Indian if it was OK to do that, or what benefits the First Nations expect to receive by Canada consenting to that arrangement.

In response, Lametti said, I take from Chief Brian and Chief Don Maracle the point about the natural resources transfer agreement.  Youre on the record for that. I obviously cant pronounce on that right now, but I do commit to looking at that.

It wont be uncontroversial, is the only think I would say, with a bit of a smile, he added.

Provinces Respond

The justice ministers comments prompted a swift response from Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on April 10. Moe called Lamettis comments outrageous and ill-informed and said his province would be relentless in defending its jurisdiction and autonomy.

Smith said any attempt by the federal government to rescind the natural resources agreement would pose an unprecedented risk to national unity and called on Trudeau to immediately have his Justice Minister retract and apologize for these comments.

In a statement late in the evening on April 10, Lametti said that as the minister response for implementing the United Nations Declaration Act (UNDA) into federal laws and policiesreferring to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP)he met with First Nations leaders and was only listening to their comments.

Amongst the many questions I was asked, the Natural Resources Transfer Act was raised by First Nations Chiefs on a couple of occasions, Lametti wrote.

Its my job to listen to those concerns. To be clear, at no point did I commit our government to reviewing areas of provincial jurisdiction, including that over natural resources, the justice minister stated.

Lametti said the focus of the federal government is to co-develop an action plan with Indigenous partners that will show the path we must take towards aligning federal laws and policies with UNDRIP.
Schumer to Introduce Resolution Condemning Trumps Call to Defund DOJ, FBI

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks briefly to reporters after a meeting with President Joe Biden at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 2, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced on April 11 that he will introduce a resolution to condemn former President Donald Trumps call to defund the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In a letter to colleagues, Schumer said he would introduce the resolution next week. Congress returns on April 17 from a two-week recess.

Donald Trumps call for defunding federal law enforcement agencies is a baseless, self-serving broadside against the men and women who keep our nation safe, said Schumer.

The good work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice sends criminals to prison for bank robbery, sex trafficking, child pornography, hate crimes, terrorism, fraud, and so much more, he continued.

The former president and his allies in Congress must not subjugate justice and public safety because of their own personal grievances.

On April 5, one day after being arraigned on a 34-count indictmentto 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 campaignTrump railed against Americas top law enforcement agencies.

Republicans in Congress should defund the DOJ and FBI until they come to their senses. The Democrats have totally weaponized law enforcement in our country and are viciously using this abuse of power to interfere with our already under siege elections! Trump posted on his social media site, Truth Social.

Senators from across the political spectrum and of both political parties should denounce such attempts by the former president and his allies to degrade public trust in our federal law enforcement agencies, wrote Schumer.

The Senate must recommit that the United States is a nation of laws. As free people, we rely on the necessary and professional work of our federal law enforcement agencies to promote the safety and general welfare of our country.

The resolution, according to Schumer, will state that the Senate recognizes and appreciates the dedication and devotion demonstrated by the men and women of Federal law enforcement agencies who keep the communities of the United States and the United States safe; condemns calls to defund the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation; and rejects partisan attempts by former President Donald J. Trump and his allies to degrade public trust in federal law enforcement agencies for attempted political or legal benefit.

No GOP senators have echoed Trumps call, but a few GOP members of the House have. They include Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
Shanghais Commercial Attractiveness Wanes as a Population Crisis Emerges

News Analysis

Shanghai, the once prosperous commercial capital of China, is no longer the countys top industrial city, according to the latest statistics. Meanwhile, the city lost at least a quarter million migrant workers amid the implementation of its draconian COVID-induced policies, local authorities say.

As the most populous metropolis in China, Shanghai was an international hub boasting the most regional headquarters of multinational companies in the country.

However, according to Chinas recently released 2022 GDP ranking of the top 10 industrial cities, Shenzhen took the lead with an industry value added of 1.13 trillion yuan (about $164 billion), surpassing Shanghais 1.08 trillion yuan (about $157 billion), with Suzhou ranking third.

For Shanghai, which has held the top spot for over a decade, the change has extraordinary significance.

Despite being the financial center of mainland China, Shanghai is no longer at the top in terms of deposit balances. Among the deposit balances of financial institutions in Chinas major cities as of the end of 2022, Shanghais total deposits are about 19.23 trillion yuan (about $2.8 trillion), surpassed by Beijings 21.86 trillion yuan (about $3.18 trillion).

Shanghai has the largest number of financial institutions in China and the Shanghai Stock Exchange. However, a large amount of money has moved out of the city.

Shanghais GDP was 4.456 trillion yuan (about $648.7 billion) last year, ranking first among Chinese cities. Despite this, the citys GDP growth rate reportedly dropped 0.2 percent compared to the previous year, the only negative number among the top ten GDP cities.

For eight consecutive yearsfrom 2012 to 2019Shanghai was rated as the most attractive Chinese city in the eyes of foreign talents or expats. However, in 2020 and 2021, it gave up this title to Beijing.

Shanghais international competitiveness suffered a severe blow after several months of draconian lockdowns last year.

An aerial view shows the Pudong area in lockdown in Shanghai on March 30, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the latest Shanghai Position Paper, an annual report released by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, many multinational companies no longer have the confidence to set up headquarters in Shanghai. Reporting on the position paper, a Voice of America (VOA) article noted that only 12 percent of European businesses are willing to set up their Asia-Pacific headquarters in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, according to Voice of America, at least 500 Chinese companies have moved to set up headquarters in other countries due to the disruption caused by Shanghais lockdowns. In addition, the decline in foreign residents in Shanghai is a major concern. About 25 percent of German nationals left the city after the 2022 lockdown, while the French and Italian nationals each fell by 20 percent, said VOA.

Economist Li Songyun told The Epoch Times on April 3 that Shanghai became an economic powerhouse in China largely due to its ability to attract foreign investment. However, the citys attractiveness took a huge dive after its draconian handling of COVID-19 outbreaks last year, resulting in the exodus of foreigners from the city.

Coupled with negative population growth and [an] aging population, what Shanghai experiences is a microcosm of China as a whole, Li said.

An Emerging Population Crisis

A recent survey shows the number of rural-urban migrant workerswho make up a large proportion of Shanghais factory workershas dropped by a quarter million. The city is also now an aging society, with almost 20 percent of its total population in 2022 consisting of those aged 65 and older. Meanwhile, around 60 percent of Shanghai locals do not plan to have another child, according to a Statistics Bureau survey reported by Yicai Global.

On March 28, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Statistics released population survey data for 2022. The data indicated that Shanghais population in 2022 was 24.759 million. That figure included 14.696 million locals and 10.063 million workers from other Chinese provinces or foreign countries.

Compared to 2021, in 2022 the city saw a reduction of 257,000 rural-urban migrant workers, a primary reason for its population decline.

China does not allow its citizens to migrate freely between provinces. In most cases, peoples primary residences will remain in the provinces where they were born unless they meet specific requirements for migration or long-term residency in other provinces.

The data showed about 71 percent of those from other provinces seeking long-term residency in Shanghai are looking for employment opportunities. Employment being the primary reason, 88.2 percent of those who came to Shanghai are workers between the ages of 15 and 64.

Although the Chinese regime has broadened its birth restrictions, implementing a two-child policy in 2016 and a three-child policy in 2021, most families in Shanghai choose to have only one child, mainly due to the citys high living cost.

According to the survey, 58.5 percent of Shanghai residents said they only want one child, which included 70.8 percent of locals and 45.0 percent of those from other provinces. Meanwhile, 36.7 percent wanted two children, 2.6 percent wanted three, and over 2 percent did not want any, said Yicai Global.

When asked about the main reasons for not planning to have another child, 41.8 percent said they are satisfied with the status quo, 28.5 percent said it was due to the high cost of child support and heavy financial burden, and 13 percent said it was due to age or other health reasons.

Official data showed the birth rate in Shanghai was 6.77 percent in 2022, a decline from 7.52 births in 2021. Meanwhile, the death rate in Shanghai last year was 7.37 percent, up from 7.18 per thousand in 2021. The country experienced a net population loss of 850,000, the first year-on-year decline since 1961.

Those aged 60 and above in Shanghai accounted for 25.0 percent of the citys total population, increasing 1.0 percent over the previous year, while those 65 and above accounted for 18.7 percent of the total population, rising 1.3 percent year-over-year.

On a national level, Chinas National Bureau of Statistics showed those aged 60 and above accounted for 19.8 percent of the countrys total population in 2022, and those 65 and above accounted for 14.9 percent. The numbers are 5.2 and 3.8 percent lower than Shanghais, respectively.

This photo, taken on Dec. 5, 2018, shows residents lining up for lunch at the Yanyuan community for senior citizens on the outskirts of Beijing. Chinas population is aging rapidly and years under its one-child policy left many parents with only a single child to help them in their old age. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

According to many international standards of aging, when the population over 65 years of age in a country or region is between 7 and 14 percent, it is called an aging society. When the percentage is between 15 and 20 percent, it becomes an aged society, and a society in which 21 percent or more are over 65 is a super-aged society. By these standards, Shanghai has become an aged society.

Peng Xizhe, executive vice president of the Fudan Development Institute in Shanghai, recently told Chinese state-run media The Paper that China experienced a birth peak in 1963compensating for a period of decline prior to that year. With this segment of the population turning 60 starting this year, the countrys elderly population will only grow faster from this point forward.
Photo taken on March 9, 2023 shows U.S. President Joe Biden by the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. Biden said on April 10 that he plans on running for reelection in 2024. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that he plans on running for reelection in 2024.

"I plan on running," Biden told Al Roker of NBC's "Today" show during an interview at the White House before the annual Easter egg roll on the South Lawn in the morning.

"But we're not prepared to announce it yet," the Democrat veteran added.

Biden, 80, has said that he intends to run for a second term but it remains unclear when he will make the official announcement.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican, who lost to Biden in the 2020 election but has refused to concede, announced his bid in November for the White House in the 2024 presidential election. 
Udit Belkine and her daughter enjoyed Shen Yun at the Shlomo Lahat Opera House on April 11, 2023. (Qingrui An/The Epoch Times)

TEL AVIV, IsraelUdit Belkine, a journalist and editor, brought her young daughter to Shen Yun Performing Arts to experience art that aims to revive 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. The little one was on the edge of her seat the whole time, Ms. Belkin said.

The story is so full, she said after seeing a performance at the Shlomo Lahat Opera House on April 11. The show is so incredible and so precious.

New York-based Shen Yun, formed in 2006, is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company.

You sit for an hour, and youre in another world, Ms. Belkin said. For some time, you relax  you dont think about anything else.

Elinor Belkine Michaeli, a director of operations in venture capital, said she was very impressed with Shen Yun.

Its very interesting, its impressive, she said. Its very nice, and as you can see the venue is packed. People came from all ages, and everybody seems to be very, very pleased.

Moty Hershku, founder and former owner of PlastoSac, a leading manufacturing company, also saw the April 11 matinee.

I think its a fantastic showtechnical, artistic, professional, and what else? amazing! The performance is a combination of very ancient tradition with amazing talent, Mr. Hershku said.

He pointed out the Tibetan ethnic dance performed right before intermission and the audiences great response. [It was] very impressive. It received thunderous applause because it was a more joyful and exciting dance. Its exciting to see that, even at my advanced age, they manage to surprise me!

Amir Lipschitz, a mechanical engineer and owner of a large company, also felt immersed in the experience.

The beautiful images and landscapes in the background are also amazing. The costumes are extraordinary. The use of sleeves in the dances is exceptional. Very impressive.

David Regev said the performance was just as its name suggestedthe beauty of divine beings dancing.

This show was fabulous, he said. The dancers were, wow, so intelligent, so sophisticated.

Its a once-in-a-lifetime show, really. Wowjust wow, he said. He only found out about the show the day before the show, and bought front-row tickets straight away. The view was quite special, he said, and the use of the digital backdrop interacting with the dancers had him in awe.

This is a good impact I think, the impact is to wake up people, I think, Mr. Regev said.

Reporting by Qingrui An and 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.
Social Security Faces Backlog of 1 Million Disability Applications

Persistent underfunding, an aging population, and workforce attrition created a perfect storm that resulted in significant delays in processing applications for Social Security disability benefits.

The pandemic, combined with high attrition, created backlogs. Initial disability claims pending have now reached over 1 million, Kilolo Kijakazi, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), said at a forum hosted by the Urban Institute on April 11.

She spoke about the challenges of operating the agency of some 60,000 employees that oversees the retirement and disability benefits of more than 70 million Americans.

For over a decade, SSA received insufficient funding from Congress to administer its programs. This resulted in hiring freezes, Kijakazi said. At the same time, the number of Social Security beneficiaries was rising.

In 2022, the workforce reached its lowest point in 25 years while the number of beneficiaries served was at an all-time high, according to data provided by Kijakazi. The agency has struggled to keep pace with the demand, meaning that many people who have labored to complete the 20-page Social Security Disability Insurance application must wait five months or more for a decision.

To address the backlog, Kijakazi has implemented several strategies she hopes will produce an improvement this year. But increased funding is needed to fully resolve the problem, she said.

Kijakazi created a special team to attack the backlog, which has led to the use of analytics to identify bottlenecks in the determination process, a team of claims adjudicators to pitch in on the states that have the highest number of backlogged claims, attorneys from within SSA being assigned to assist with conducting disability hearings, and the creation of a team of retired SSA employees to provide extra help.

These measures alone will not solve the problem, Kijakazi insists. That will depend on hiring more full-time employees, which in turn depends on additional funding provided by Congress.

The agency operates on a budget of $1.4 trillion. Although that budget was increased by $785 million this year, the raise was only about half of what was requested, and most of that was used for fixed costs, Kijakazi said.

The funds we received for FY 2023 will help us maintain our current level of service but are not sufficient to make the improvements we had hoped to be able to make, she said, noting that while some customer service functions should improve this year, others may get worse.

We will need President Bidents full $15.5 billion budget request for FY 2024 if we are to improve service, Kijakazi said. That increase would allow the agency to make the positions hired during the current year permanent as well as improve IT systems and automated services, she said.
Suspect Arrested in Hate Crime Involving Islamic Center of Southern California

The Islamic Center of Southern California at 434 S. Vermont Ave. in Los Angeles. (Screenshot via Google Street View)

LOS ANGELESA man was arrested April 11 for allegedly scrawling anti-Islamic hate words on the Islamic Center of Southern Californias Koreatown building over the weekend.

Carlos Moran, 43, was booked on suspicion of vandalism, with a hate crime enhancement in connection with the crime, which occurred about 12:40 a.m. Sunday at 434 S. Vermont Ave., according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

Olympic patrol officers were directed to the 500 block of Shatto Place, where they identified an individual matching the description of the hate crime suspect, who appeared to wearing the same clothing with the exception of a T-shirt from the night of the incident, LAPD Chief Michel Moore told the citys Police Commission Tuesday morning.

Moore said the suspect appeared to be suffering from some type of mental health issue.

There were questions regarding some of his expressions which professed hatred toward Muslims, but also referenced a king and number 222, Moore said. According to information weve gathered from our interview with this individual, he believes that he is a king, and his birthday was February 22, which helps explain the markings.

What is unexplainable is the professed hatred he expressed and some of the other markings that are on those columns [of the center], he said. We will continue to work this investigation and work with our District Attorneys Office.

OLympic Division Community Alert: pic.twitter.com/4b7X0AsF2B  LAPD PIO (@LAPDPIO) April 10, 2023

According to sheriffs inmate records, Moran was being held in lieu of $85,000 bail.

The crime was partially captured on surveillance video, and police released security images and appealed for the publics help to find the suspect.

The suspect used permanent marker to write anti-Islamic hate words on the property of a religious center and fled the location northbound on Vermont Avenue, according to a police statement.

The Islamic Center of Southern California issued a statement saying: We are deeply saddened and disturbed to announce that a hate crime against the Muslim Community at the Islamic Center of Southern California occurred early this morning on Easter Sunday in Los Angeles. This is an appalling act of vandalism targeting the center where innocent individuals gather for their daily religious observances.

This hate crime is a reminder that we must stand together locally and internationally as a community against all forms of hate, bigotry, and violence. We must remain vigilant and work towards creating a society that is inclusive, tolerant, and respects the beliefs and traditions of all communities, the statement continues.

At an early afternoon news conference April 10, local leaders decried the act of vandalism and rising numbers of hate crimes in general.

Were better together, Brian K. Williams, the citys deputy mayor of public safety, said. Were stronger together and were better than what happened last night or the other night in our community, and were just not going to stand for it.

So the mayor is behind you 100 percent, the citys family is behind you 100 percent. Were going to stand together to defeat this evil thats occurring within our community, he said.
The Chinese regime conducted live-fire military drills around Taiwan over the weekend, just a day after Taiwans president returned from her U.S. visit. The Chinese militarys Eastern Theatre Command on Sunday put out a short animation of simulated attacks on Taiwan on its WeChat account, showing missiles exploding in flames as they hit their targets. Taiwan responded with its own drills. The islands defense ministry is on high alert.

Topics in this episode:
Tennessee Governor Proposes Law That Would Restrict Gun Ownership

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivers his State of the State address in the House Chamber of the Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 31, 2022. (Mark Zaleski/AP Photo)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on April 11 floated a law that would restrict gun ownership as he signed an order that would strengthen background checks for gun purchases.

It is important that we find a way to remove individuals who are a threat to themselves or to our society, to remove them from access to weapons, Lee said during a briefing. Im asking the Legislature to bring forth thoughtful practical measures to do that, to strengthen our laws to separate those dangerous people from firearms, while at the same time preserving the constitutional rights of the people of this state.

The Republican was speaking about a week after the Tennessee House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill that would require all schools in the state to create safety plans and keep all doors with outside access locked except for a main door. Lee has also unveiled a large budget hike to ramp up school security, including by placing an armed officer in all public schools.

More needs to be done in the wake of the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Lee said.

The truth is that were facing evil itself. And we cant stop evil, but we can do something. And when there is a clear need for action, I think that we have an obligation, and I certainly do, to remind people that we should set aside politics and prod and accomplish something that the people of Tennessee want us to get accomplished, he told reporters on April 11.

Audrey Hale, 28, a former student at The Covenant School, carried out the shooting there with weapons purchased legally, officials have said.

Theyve also said Hale, a woman who was presenting as a man, was dealing with an emotional disorder.

The shooting has led to increased support among lawmakers for safety legislation.

I think before Covenant  it wouldnt have been possible to get a 954 vote on a piece of legislation surrounding school safety. We should be encouraged that there is a moment in time where people can come together and get something done, Lee said.

Legislators have been considering bills that would move the minimum age for firearm ownership from 18 to 21 as well as bills that would require safely storing guns and providing weapons for teachers and other educators, though the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee said recently it would not take up gun-related legislation until 2024.

Republicans control both legislative chambers in Tennessee.

Onlookers visit the makeshift memorial for the six victims killed in the March 27, 2023, shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. (Chase Smith/The Epoch Times)

Reactions

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, a Republican, said in a statement that he appreciated Lees commitment to finding solutions to stop tragedies like the Covenant School shooting.

As we look at mental health orders of protection, they must have a level of due process, protections from fraudulent claims, and a quick judicial hearing for individuals who pose imminent threats. The House is willing to work toward bipartisan solutions to protect all children at their schools, in their communities, and inside their homes, Sexton added.

State Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari, a Democrat, said Democrats support a law that would enable stripping people of their right to own guns if theyre designated a threat to themselves or others.

We are ready to work with the governor and we urge our Republican colleagues in the legislature to move quickly to put gun reform legislation on his desk, Akbari said.

The Tennessee Senate GOP Caucus did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Lees proposal.

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, a Republican, said that he backs a so-called red flag law.

I believe it is possible to protect the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners while keeping guns out of the hands of people experiencing severe mental health crises. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Gov. Lee and my colleagues in the General Assembly toward this goal, he said in a statement.

Besides calling for new legislation to restrict gun ownership, Lee signed an executive order strengthening background checks.

The order (pdf), released by Lees office, states that recent tragedies in Nashville and throughout our nation have demonstrated the devastating impact of firearms possession by those intending to cause harm to themselves or others and underscore the need for more effective instant background checks.

It says that the background check system for gun purchases should be accurate and complete and orders all entities with obligations to report information such as mental health details to ensure that information is provided to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, which runs the system, within 72 hours of receiving the information.

It also orders court administrators to make sure courts submit relevant information to the bureau or the system.
Texas AG Backs Pardon After Daniel Perry Convicted for Killing Gun-Wielding Protester

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has voiced his support for pardoning Daniel Perry after the 37-year-old U.S. Army sergeant fatally shot a man who approached his car with a rifle during a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin in 2020.

Perry was driving for Uber on July 25, 2020, when he encountered a road that was blocked by demonstrators. As Perry reportedly turned onto the street at around 10 miles per hour, he came to a stop and found himself surrounded by demonstrators, including 28-year-old Garrett Foster. Foster, who was open carrying an AK-47-style rifle approached Perrys car before Perry opened fire, killing Foster.

During his trial, Perrys defense team argued that he had fired in self-defense after Foster raised his rifle toward Perry but the jury ultimately found him guilty.

The day after the verdict, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement, saying he is seeking to pardon Perry and is awaiting a recommendation from the state Board of Pardons and Paroles. Under Texas law, the governor cannot issue a pardon without a recommendation from the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Paxton endorsed Abbotts pardon plan in an April 8 tweet, saying I agree with @GregAbbott_TX on this 100%.

Self-defense is a God-given right, not a crime, and Sgt. Daniel Perry should be pardoned because he does not deserve to go to prison, Paxton added in an emailed statement to NTD News.

Paxton also referenced financial support that billionaire liberal megadonor George Soros gave to the Democrat prosecutor who brought the case, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza.

Unfortunately, the Soros-backed DA in Travis County cares more about the radical agenda of dangerous Antifa and BLM mobs than justice. Rogue prosecutors have weaponized the judicial system, and they must be stopped, Paxton said.

Case Details

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, then-Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said officers heard two separate volleys of gunfire. Officers made their way to the crowd, where they found Foster with multiple gunshot wounds.

Manley said the second volley of gunfire was fired by protesters who witnessed the initial shooting incident involving Foster and Perry. Manley said Perry left the scene and called 911 to report the incident.

It took nearly a year after the 2020 shooting incident before Garzas office brought charges against Perry.

Perrys defense team initially sought to have the charges dismissed.

Perrys attorneys included an affidavit from David Fugitt, a detective, who said that Garzas office forced him to alter his testimony.

Fugitt said Garza 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.

The judge overseeing the case, Cliff Brown, said he didnt see anything that rose to the level of egregious conduct to warrant having the case dismissed.

During the case, Garzas prosecution team argued Perry could have taken other courses of action when demonstrators began surrounding his car, including driving away instead of firing his handgun.

Prosecutors also focused on social media posts and messages that Perry made prior to the shooting incident, which they argued indicated Perry was predisposed to taking violent action. In June 2020, Perry wrote to a friend that he might kill a few people on my way to work. They are rioting outside my apartment complex.

A friend responded, Can you legally do so? to which Perry replied, If they attack me or try to pull me out of my car then yes.

In another instance, Perry wrote, I might go to Dallas to shoot looters.

On the side of the defense, witnesses presented evidence that Foster also had a prior history of dangerous behavior. During the case, senior Austin police officer Brent Cleveland testified that he had seen officers warn Foster at previous protests that Foster had been carrying his rifle in a dangerous manner.

Cleveland testified that Foster was visibly and verbally not receptive to the police criticism. Cleveland also testified that the way Foster carried his rifle meant that if he had raised the barrel even a small amount, it could be considered threatening and the officer himself would have shot in such a situation.

Foster gave an interview with a journalist shortly before his death, in which he was asked about his AK-47 and whether he thought he would need to use it. Foster said, If I use it against the cops, Im dead, and I think all the people that hate us and want to say shit to us are too big of pussies to stop and actually do anything about it.

The defense team played the 911 phone call Perry made after the shooting. In the call, Perry said I made a wrong turn, and I panicked, and Foster aimed an AK-47 at me, and I didnt know what to do.

DA Responds to Paxton

Following the verdict, DA Garza said he is grateful for his team of prosecutors and victim counselors that took part in the case, and said they worked hard to make a complete and accurate presentation of the facts to the jury.

In response to Paxtons comments about a pardon for Perry, Garza shared a statement with Fox News in which he changed the topic to open criminal allegations that Paxton is facing, saying the Texas attorney general has his own legal troubles to worry about.

The Texas Attorney General is currently under felony indictment and under a federal criminal investigation, Garza said. He should focus on his own legal troubles instead of attempting to interfere with the work of a Travis County jury.

Paxton was arrested and indicted on state-level securities fraud charges in August 2015 but the case has yet to go to trial after nearly eight years.

Garzas office did not respond to an additional NTD News request for comment before this article was published.

From NTD News
The CCPs Control of its Complex Global Media Apparatus Obscures the Spread of Communist Ideology (Part 1)

On July 11, 2019, Chinese democracy activists in the United States, who came to welcome Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen at her hotel, were physically assaulted by people who identified as "patriots" and carried Chinese red flags. (Huang Xiaotang/The Epoch Times)

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) attempts to dictate the global Chinese news narrative by stealthy but seemingly innocent means. People who emigrate from China overwhelmingly prefer to receive the news in their native language. Through a complex structure of domestic and foreign registered news agencies, the CCP-controlled media translates global news to its advantage and distributes the doctored content with minimal pushback from governments worldwide.

Chinas media spans multiple entities and is difficult to describe due to frequent reorganizations and fluctuating department titles. In addition to state-owned news agencies, multiple independently owned media outlets exist. Despite how some have operations registered overseas, they all remain loyal to the CCP and the spread of its doctored news and disinformation.

At the top of Chinas overseas media empire is the CCPs Ministry of United Front Work Department. Directly subordinate to this entity is the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, which includes China News Service (CNS). The latter is the CCPs main propaganda organ targeting overseas Chinese. CNS has offices in many countries, including the United States. In 1990, CNS personnel were dispatched to the United States to establish SinoVision (Chinese TV) television network and The China Press (Qiao Bao) newspaper to counter negative perceptions of the Chinese regime following the 1989 Tiananmen Square student protests and massacre.

The CCP also indirectly controls Hong Kongs international Sing Tao Daily newspaper, Tencents WeChat social media group, and its multiple Qiao Bao internet channels across the globe.

The proportion of mainstream American newspapers that appeal to the Chinese immigrant community is tiny. Former New York City Council member Peter Koo used an example to illustrate that in the Chinese and Korean gathering areas of the New York City neighborhood of Flushing if a Western mainstream English newspaper sells one copy, the local Chinese-language newspapers combined can sell 200 copies a day, which is 200 times that of the English-language newspaper.

These factors enable the CCP to influence American politics in ways that U.S. government officials do not easily understand. To understand the corrosive and harmful nature of the CCP on American society, policymakers must understand the Chinese media environment to better address its interference and impact on the Chinese American community in the United States.

Borrowing a Ship to Sail into the Ocean

Although it is well known that Chinas Xinhua News Agency is a proxy for the CCP regime, labeling it a foreign agent in the United States is not enough to deter its propaganda spread. Xinhua does not simply publish the news directly to Chinese readers in the United States but does so through local partners under content-sharing agreements. This two-tier distribution strategy allows the CCPs narrative to be transmitted to American readers through a third party, shielding Xinhua from accusations it is distributing official propaganda.

The CCP calls this strategy borrowing a ship to sail into the ocean. In the New York Chinese community, at least three ships Chinese TV (SinoVision), Qiao Bao, and Sing Tao Daily pave the way for disseminating Xinhua News Agency and other CCP mouthpieces.

Qiao Bao, the only Chinese-language daily newspaper in the United States that uses simplified Chinese characters and has a news center in Beijing, was founded in New York in January 1990. When its president, You Jiang, discussed the newspapers opportunities and challenges in a 2015 article, he admitted that the newspapers opportunity lies in being an important supplement to Chinas overall overseas propaganda, and the CCP regime increasingly values it.

The Hoover Institutions 2018 report Chinese Influence and American Interests: Promoting Constructive Vigilance pointed out that Qiao Bao was established by personnel (Xie Yining) dispatched by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the China News Service to the United States to reverse the negative view of the CCP regime after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. Qiao Bao is officially owned by the Asian Culture and Media Group, which also owns Chinese TV (SinoVision). Chinese TV and Qiao Bao operate in the same location and belong to the same group.

Strictly speaking, Qiao Bao and Chinese TV are ships the CCP directly created outside China. However, since Qiao Bao is officially registered in the United States as a company owned by Americans and operates as such, it has yet to be registered as a foreign agent by the U.S. State Department.

WeChat Account of Qiao Bao Versus United Front Work Department of the CCP

The Epoch Times found that the WeChat account of the New York-based Chinese-language newspaper Qiao Bao, nyqiaobao, is certified and operated by Beijing Zhongxin Chinese Technology Development Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of China News Service (CNS). CNS is one of the CCPs main propaganda organs targeting overseas Chinese communities.

The core business of Beijing Zhongxin Chinese Technology Development Co. is to provide technical information support to overseas Chinese-language media in the United States, France, Brazil, Australia, and other countries. The support includes content management systems, multimedia content management, video publishing, e-newsletter publishing, app development, public opinion investigation, big data influence analysis, and socialized smart communication systems.

This full-media public opinion monitoring system demonstrates how the CCP integrates and coordinates overseas Chinese media with official media within China to create a large-scale surveillance network.

In 2018, the United Front Work Departments functions were expanded, and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office was incorporated into its leadership. This move directly placed CNS under the United Front Work Department. Through CNS, the United Front Work Department owns or controls many overseas Chinese-language media and their WeChat accounts, including Qiao Bao in the United States.

The overseas Chinese community is well aware of the nature of Qiao Bao. For a long time, advertisements from pro-CCP organizations in New York and for the turnover of associations have only been published in Qiao Bao because the CCP directly controls it. Advertising in Qiao Bao is meant for the attention of the Chinese consulate and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office. For example, on May 24, 2020, Qiao Bao published a full-page advertisement on page B03 supporting the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law by the United Chinese Association of Eastern U.S. and its 221 affiliated associations.
The CCPs Control of its Complex Global Media Apparatus Obscures the Spread of Communist Ideology (Part 2)

On July 11, 2019, Chinese democracy activists in the United States, who came to welcome Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen at her hotel, were physically assaulted by a group of people who identified as "patriots" and carried Chinese red flags. (Huang Xiaotang/The Epoch Times)

The Chinese Qiao Bao newspaper has many news reports from Xinhua News Agency and China News Service, representing the official voice and viewpoint of the CCP. Besides reporting local news about Chinese community activities, most news pages are directly contracted and transmitted from mainland China.

The alignment of Qiao Bao with the CCP discourse can be seen in two aspects:

Publishing similar articles simultaneously. Since Jiang Zemin ordered the crackdown on Falun Gong in 1999, Qiao Bao has been helping the CCP suppress Falun Gong abroad. According to statistics, from 1999 to May 2002, Qiao Bao published over 300 anti-Falun Gong articles, almost averaging one piece every three days, with viewpoints similar to those of the official Chinese media. Using the same language and wording. For example, during the Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests, Qiao Bao referred to Hong Kong protesters as rioters, illegal demonstrators, outsiders occupying Polytechnic University, and China summoned the U.S. ambassador to protest against Hong Kong bills. Also, Qiao Bao repeated the Xinhua News Agencys phrase of calling the Russia-Ukraine conflict the Russia-Ukraine situation.

Seeking to Shape and Influence US Decision-Making

The CCP seeks to influence public opinion in the United States on geopolitical issues. Several indicators are used to determine whether the media is adopting the CCP propaganda, including such topics as Falun Gong, pro-democracy groups, Hong Kong, Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the CCP, Xi Jinping, and Sino-American disputes.

For example, on July 11 and 12, 2019, when Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen transited through New York, Chinese democracy activists in the United States who came to welcome her were attacked by a group of people who identified themselves as patriots and carried the Chinese national flag. A reporter from The Epoch Times captured video footage of the assault.

On July 13, the New York Qiao Bao newspaper reported the incident using the headline Protests Continue During Tsai Ing-wens Transit, describing it as supporters and protesters erupting into physical conflicts, leading to police intervention. The accompanying photo was of Liang Guanjun, the chairman of the United Chinese Association of Greater New York, holding banners and signs that read Advocating for Taiwan Independence Leads to War, Do Not Recognize One China, Forget Our Roots, and Tsai Ing-wen Damages US-China Relations. On the same page was an article from Xinhua News Agency titled US Firms Selling Arms to Taiwan Will Be Sanctioned by China.

On Aug. 15, 2015, the CCPs influence over the overseas media was highlighted in the reporting of Shen Lyu-shun, the Republic of China (ROC) representative to the United States, visiting a Taiwanese American community in New York. At the time, a reporter from the World Journal, a Taiwanese newspaper published in North America, avoided using the term Republic of China (ROC) in their reporting and changed Representative Shens statement to, the ROC is a country with compassion and righteousness, to the Chinese people are a nation with compassion and righteousness, distorting Shens original intent and adding that Shen will always remember his Chinese identity. The World Journal published a correction notice the next day after Shen protested.

Furthermore, after U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act on November 28, 2019, to support Hong Kong people fleeing persecution, Qiao Bao published an article the following day titled The USs Involvement in Hong Kong: Five Retaliatory Measures by China and Russian Experts: Foreign Forces Involvement in Hong Kong Complicates Local Situation.

Before and after this incident, pro-CCP Chinese-American organizations made statements in line with official CCP positions. On November 26 and December 11, 2019, Qiao Bao reported twice on 227 Chinese-American Organizations in the Eastern United States Condemning the US Congress Passage of the Hong Kong and Xinjiang Bills, condemning President Trump for ignoring opposition from the Chinese-American community and signing the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, and stating that the U.S. is attempting to split China, so Chinese-Americans and overseas Chinese firmly support the Chinese government and firmly oppose anti-China forces in the U.S.

In addition, under the influence of CCP proxies, the Chinese New Year parade organizers in New Yorks Chinatown have consistently refused to allow Falun Gong adherents to participate.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice consisting of simple, slow-moving meditation exercises and teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. It grew in popularity during the 1990s, with 70 million to 100 million adherents in China by the end of the decade, according to official estimates at the time.

In 2017, Voice of America reported on the Falun Gong Case Suffers Setback: California Senator Denounces Chinese Consulates Interference in Legislation. It mentioned that the California Senate Judiciary Committee had unanimously passed a bill condemning the CCPs ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, but the resolution was suddenly put in limbo. The source of this action was an email sent by the Chinese consulate to all members of the California Senate, claiming that the resolution will seriously harm the cooperative relations between California and China, and also seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and the Chinese community in California.

This incident reflects how the Chinese regime exports its persecution policies and attempts to manipulate the U.S. government into keeping silent about Chinese human rights violations. It also demonstrates its use of the Chinese people and the overseas Chinese community to intervene in U.S. domestic politics.

Numerous examples of such activities and propaganda claim to represent public opinion in the Chinese community and seeks to shape and influence U.S. policy to serve the interests of these people. This is not what the Chinese community wants but what the CCP wants.
The CCPs Control of its Complex Global Media Apparatus Obscures the Spread of Communist Ideology (Part 3)

On July 11, 2019, Chinese democracy activists in the United States, who came to welcome Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen at her hotel, were physically assaulted by a group of people who identified as "patriots" and carried Chinese red flags. (Huang Xiaotang/The Epoch Times)

The main problem now is that the U.S. government still needs to find an effective means of restraining the CCPs influence operations. Due to the language barrier, Washington or American media still needs to fully understand what is happening in the Chinese community, the scale, and the covert and complex media strategies of Chinas foray into overseas markets.

Since the Hong Kong businessman and CPPCC (Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference) member Ho Chu Kwok acquired Sing Tao Daily in 2001, the papers stance has become pro-Beijing. The New York edition of Sing Tao Dailys coverage of Chinas affairs is provided by the Hong Kong headquarters, and its content always supports Beijing. More than half of its American coverage content comes from Star Productions, a Chinese company in Shenzhen, China.

However, it was not until 2021, when Ho Chu Kwok sold Sing Tao Daily to Guo Xiaoting, the daughter of Kaisa Groups Chairman, that the U.S. Department of Justice was able to order Sing Tao Daily to register as a foreign agent, requiring it to report its financial sources and expenditure to the U.S. government every six months. The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is intended to inform the public and does not regulate the operation of agents. Sing Tao Daily only indicates its agent identity in a small line of text at the bottom of its front page that reads: This material is published by Sing Tao Newspapers New York Ltd. on behalf of Sing Tao News Corporation Limited. More relevant information can be obtained from the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, but few readers would notice it. The law has a very limited deterrent effect on the CCPs infiltration behaviors and its real-world impact.

Since being labeled as a foreign agent, Sing Tao Daily has become more direct than Qiao Bao as a primary CCP propaganda mouthpiece. On August 9 last year, the Eastern edition of Sing Tao Daily published a 2,000-word article by Zhao Jian, the Chinese Consul General in Chicago, directly expressing the CCPs views on the Taiwan issue and indoctrinating Sing Tao readers with pro-Beijing perspectives.

Qiao Bao is registered as a private company in the United States, and its funding and operations remain a mystery. The formal name and publisher of the New York Qiao Bao is Pacific Culture Enterprise Inc. Qiao Bao also has a registered name of Asian Cultural and Media Group. According to the New York State registration website, they have used different company names in other years. The relationship between the Pacific Culture Enterprise, Asian Cultural Center, Rhythm Media Group, and Asian Cultural and Media Group is complex for outsiders since they are private companies.

As the Hoover Institutions 2018 report Chinese Influence and American Interests stated, it is difficult to see the ownership structure of quasi-party media. For example, Asian Culture and Media Group control pro-Communist media SinoVision and Qiao Bao in the United States that appear to be private companies. The employees in the company have all worked for Chinas state-owned China News Service.

Our sources insist that these employees were dispatched to the United States by the Chinese regime to establish propaganda operations in the United States. Given its nominal status as a private company, taking action to shut down its operations would be fraught with even more legal and ethical challenges than those involving media corporations directly owned by the PRC, the report said. The report pointed out that independent publishers and websites were similarly affected by the Communist regimes claws.

Even though the Hoover Institutions report recognized that the establishment of Qiao Bao and SinoVision was to serve the goals of the CCP, most of the CEOs and editors of these operations are domestic news editors and reporters, and are officials in the State Departments Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, the report said. According to Wang Aibing, the former executive of SinoVision, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office provided SinoVision with $800,000 per year since 1990 and eventually increased the subsidy to between $2 million and $3 million per year. Wang accused the agency of widespread corruption in a letter to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office in 2011.

However, because private companies have autonomy and freedom to operate, U.S. law is powerless over this situation. The report raises the question: If US law protects the rights of publishers of newspapers or websites to put their personal political imprint on their enterprises, how can the US government move to deny it to those of a pro-PRC bent?

Scholars Suggest Closing or Selling Off CCP-Controlled Media Outlets That Influence Millions of Chinese-Americans

The key issue is that these are not standard American private companies, and their loyalty is questionable. As Lim Jim Koon, former editor-in-chief of the Singapore United Daily News, pointed out in a speech at the 7th World Chinese Language Media and Chinese Civilization Communication International Academic Symposium in September 2011, Many overseas Chinese-language newspapers exist as overseas Chinese newspapers, and some of them are loyal to China, not to their host countries. In terms of resources, including funding, personnel, and news sources, they rely heavily on support from China  Rather than calling them overseas Chinese-language newspapers, it is better to call them overseas extensions of Chinese newspapers.

So how do we solve this problem? The Hoover Institutions report suggests that U.S. authorities must establish the true ownership structure of Chinese companies that buy American media. Any media owned or controlled by foreign institutions, especially those serving foreign government positions, must register under FARA. The United States should also conduct a comprehensive review to assess whether organizations and their employees outside the scope of FARA regulations need to be registered as foreign agents. In addition, there is an argument to be made for ensuring that employees of these organizations be given a disclosure package making them aware that they are working for a foreign agent institution.

Seth D. Kaplan, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, also proposed in a Wall Street Journal opinion article titled How Chinas Propaganda Influences the West that the U.S. government should require companies to disclose their ownership structure and financial relationships with any Chinese or CCP united front organization, and force media influenced by the CCP to either sell or close down.

He said the Department of Homeland Security must disclose the national security risks posed by social software such as WeChat and draft regulations requiring them to comply with U.S. free speech and privacy standards. If they do not comply, the government should prohibit them from entering the U.S. market because the CCP is influencing the information consumed by millions of Chinese-speaking Americans. If Beijings propaganda campaign remains unchecked, all Americans will suffer.
The Fiduciary Responsibilities of Boards of Directors in Terribly Run Cities

Commentary

The boards of directors of public and private companies are charged with a duty of fiduciary responsibility under the laws governing them in the United States. This is a role not to be taken lightly. Often, a decision comes before a board that will adversely impact the personal finances of a board member if the decision comes down in one direction. If that direction is to the benefit of the shareholders, the fiduciary responsibility of the board members are clear. They vote in the best interest of shareholders, even though it will impact them in a negative manner, or they resign. Upon resignation, the board chair will appoint someone to serve in that place who will act in the best interest of shareholders, or the board seat will go unfilled until the next shareholder election.

Fiduciary responsibilities are not narrow. They are broadly defined and the execution of them is adjudicated by the Chancery Court in Delaware, which is why so many corporations become Delaware corporations, even though they might be headquartered in points beyond. Traditionally, these responsibilities were focused on the welfare of the shareholders, and the economic opportunity of the company. The waters of efficiency have been muddied by the ongoing march of the woke to redo what a fiduciary responsibility actually is. The woke are using armies of academics and attorneys with their viewpoint to reinterpret what the best interest of shareholders to mean more than just the return on equity shareholders receive for assuming the risk of investing in the company.

They are invoking issues and terms like diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and climate change into the fiduciary responsibility of a board. I believe it is incumbent upon boards of directors in states where civil strife is high to include things like the safety of their employees, access to education, and access to personal financial happiness into a decision about whether to stay or leave their current headquarter city. It is incumbent on boards to start to closely examine where their businesses are headquartered in the United States.

It is unsafe for employees to try and go to an office in cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, and New York City. Last week, a founder who had relocated to Miami was stabbed in cold blood on the streets of San Francisco. Then in Chicago the wife of the CEO and board chair of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange got carjacked in the city. There are plenty of other examples of violence in cities across America where innocents are attacked by uninhibited vagrants who are given cover by mayors, city attorneys, and judges that will not enforce the law.

In situations like those, isnt it a fiduciary responsibility for a board to at least consider moving the company to safer climes?

During COVID-19, distributed workforces had to be tolerated. Now that we are through the pandemic, many CEOs are requiring that employees come back to the office. JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, for example, was a leader in this movement. He wants employees at corporate HQ. If we look to some academic research, employees were less productive working from home than they were when they came into the office. Many employees like working from home, but the linked study found that:

 hours worked increased by about 18 percent,

 average output declined slightly,

 and employee productivity declined 819 percent

A big determining factor for the decline is that even with virtual technological communications, employees incurred higher communication costs. They also received far less mentorship, and uninterrupted work hours shrank considerably. Instead of interacting with employees across the firm, they only interacted with employees in their silo or that worked on their specific project. The random chance that a water-cooler conversation that could benefit the company decreased.

When digesting the recent results of the Chicago mayoral election, it is clear that the new mayor and his supporters are hostile to capitalistic enterprises. They view local corporations as community property, and a piggy bank. They do not view those companies as engines of economics that benefit the citizens from engaging in business activities which benefit shareholders. Already, the mayor is proposing higher user fees, city income taxes, higher real estate property transfer taxes, higher property taxes, corporate head taxes, and commuter taxes for employees that do not live in the city. The city is already incredibly unsafe, but it is reasonable to believe that since the Fraternal Order of Police worked against the election of the mayor, police will pay a big penalty and violence in the city will escalate. It is hard for employees to build wealth, and impossible for them to educate their children inside the city limits using the public education system.

Chicago mayor-elect Brandon Johnson also proposed taxing financial transactions at the citys exchanges. The far-left wing Illinois governor ended that dream, but without a constitutional amendment or law on the books prohibiting such a tax, the threat remains. This tax is an idea that has been proposed by the hard left-wing for years in several states and in the U.S. Congress. Why shouldnt the boards of the Chicago exchanges accept the threat at face value and make contingency plans if the tide turns in Springfield?

Extending that idea further, why shouldnt the boards of directors of major companies in other cities that tolerate violence against their citizens while increasing the level of taxation and user fees to companies look to move their companies to safer and more tax friendly climates? Is it not the fiduciary responsibility of those boards to move? Or, should they force their employees to face the violence in their current city, knowing that the academic research shows that remote work compromises the economic return of their shareholders?

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
This photo taken on April 10, 2023 shows a scene during the 15th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs between China and Japan in Tokyo, Japan. China and Japan held the 15th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs in Tokyo on Monday, exchanging views on maritime affairs in an all-round and in-depth way. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

TOKYO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan held the 15th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs in Tokyo on Monday, exchanging views on maritime affairs in an all-round and in-depth way.

As this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the two sides agreed that under the guidance of the important consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries, efforts should be made to review and abide by the spirit of the treaty, properly handle maritime disputes and differences through dialogue in accordance with the four-point principled agreement between China and Japan, and deepen practical maritime cooperation.

In order to build the East China Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship, more work should be advanced to build China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era.

The Chinese side made clear China's solemn position against Japan's recent negative moves on the issues of East China Sea, Diaoyu Islands, South China Sea and Taiwan Straits, demanding Japan stop all words and deeds that infringe on China's territorial sovereignty, undermine China's maritime rights and interests, and complicate the situation, and refrain from meddling in the Taiwan question.

The Chinese side once again expressed China's concern over Japan's plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean, urging Japan to face up to the legitimate concerns of the international community, take a responsible attitude towards the marine environment and human health, and properly handle the matter in an open, transparent, scientific and safe manner.

During the talks, the two sides reached multiple consensuses including accelerating the direct telephone line connection under the maritime-air liaison mechanism for the two countries' defense affairs departments in efforts to safeguard maritime security.

The two sides decided to strengthen their collaboration in maritime search and rescue operations, combating transnational maritime crime and illicit fishing, and dealing with marine plastic waste.

Both sides also agreed in principle to hold the 16th round of high-level consultations on China-Japan maritime affairs within this year in China.

The consultations were co-chaired by Hong Liang, director-general of Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Takehiro Funakoshi, director-general of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The two sides held a plenary session and three working group meetings on maritime defense, maritime law enforcement and security, and maritime economy, attended by officials from foreign ministry, defense ministry, maritime law enforcement, transport and ocean management departments. 
A masterwork of poetic prose and one of the first-ever books written in English, the Canterbury Tales displays English cultural history, giving modern readers an insight into medieval society. And what better character to represent the ideal values of 14th-century England than a knight in shining armor?

Written by Geoffrey Chaucer from 1387 until his death in 1400, these 24 tales follow 31 pilgrims from different social classes and occupations on their journey from Southwark, London, to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury. During their pilgrimage, they entertain themselves by telling each other varied tales. Through both their characters and tales, they give readers a glimpse into the different medieval social classes and their values.

Geoffrey Chaucer, author of Canterbury Tales. (Public Domain)

An Embodiment of Noble Values

The Knight is the first to share his tale, as he is of the highest social order (nobility) among the pilgrims. Not only is he noble, but he also embodies noble values such as honor throughout his tale, which is in the style of a medieval romance featuring the themes of chivalry and courtly love.

His story is set in ancient Greece. Theseus, duke of Athens, returns home with his wife Hippolyta and her sister Emily. Upon his return, he sees a crowd of women mourning their husbands, killed by Creon. Theseus kills Creon and takes two knights as his prisoners: cousins Arcite and Palamon. After theyre imprisoned, they fall in love with Emily from their cell window and argue about who saw her first.

Arcite is released, and after several years, Palamon escapes from prison and challenges his cousin to a duel. Seeing this, Theseus tells the cousins to fight in a tournament for Emilys hand in marriage. In the tournament, Palamon is wounded, and Theseus declares Arcite the winner. However, as Arcite rides towards Emily, his horse throws him and he dies. Theseus, believing in happiness after grief, gives Emily and Palamon his blessings to marry.

The Knights tale is considered a typical medieval romance, encapsulating the ideals of courtly love: Two knights fight for a beautiful and unattainable lady. The characters are idealized through their noble values. Theseus is noble, Emily is gentle, and the knights are chivalrous and ready to fight.

The first page of The Knights Tale in the Ellesmere manuscript. (Public Domain)

The tale perfectly fits the character of the Knight himself. He chooses a story set in ancient times (common in medieval literature) with rules of honor and proper conduct, filled with knights, adventure, chivalry, and love: all knight-related themes.

As for the tales main hero, the Knight chooses Theseus, one of the most respected men in ancient Greek culture. He presents him as an ideal, embodying all ideal human virtues, just like the Knight is an embodiment of the ideal medieval virtues. Both are models for chivalry through values such as nobility, courage, courtesy, and leadership.

This tale gives the readers clues as to the noble values the Knight embodies, further confirmed throughout the narrators description of the character.

An Idealized Figure

Not only does the Knight convey ideal medieval values through his tale, but he himself is also a model medieval figure, as described by the narrator.

He is the most respected character of the Canterbury Tales, and one of the few characters not described ironically. Instead, the narrator truly admires him and describes him as a most distinguished man, with an impressive military career in the Crusades, whose ideals are truth, honor, generousness and courtesy.

Detail of the Knight on the first page of The Knights Tale in the Ellesmere manuscript. (Public Domain)

The Knight is modest and humble, his temper is meek as a maid, and he is courteous in his manners, polite in his speech, and heroic in battles. However, he never talks about his brave deeds, and he fights for truth rather than for glory. Despite his noble stature, his physical appearance is understated. He travels in his stained uniform, never drawing attention to his social class: He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark.

All the pilgrims admire the Knight. In the prologue to The Nuns Priests Tale, the Knight asks to hear something more lighthearted, as tragic falls upset him. He wants to hear about men who start off low on the social scale and climb their way up instead, reinforcing his romantic character. The Knight also serves as a peacemaker at the end of The Pardoners Tale, when he breaks up a fight between the Host and the Pardoner.

Overall, the Knight represents ideal noble values, protecting his people, country, and faith. However, this mindset belonged to the past, and chivalry and knighthood had already lost their importance in 14th-century England. Chaucer sensed this shift in society and restored the reputation of knights through this idealized character. Though a figure of the past, the Knight remains one of the most memorable characters of the Canterbury Tales today.
These Are Sovereign Decisions for Each Country to Make: State Dept on Tunisias Plan to Join Bloc With China, Russia

The podium at the State Department in Washington on Aug. 16, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

The North African nation of Tunisia plans to join BRICS, a bloc of the worlds leading developing economies including Brazil, Russia, Iran, China, and South Africa. Asked about the issue, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said that it was a sovereign decision for Tunisia to make.

The coalition of developing nations includes some of the United States top adversaries because of their competing system of governance. The United States is a liberal democracy, while many of the governments of BRICS member nations are led by autocrats in a socialist democratic model.

Tunisia had been in negotiations with the European Union (EU), but these negotiations broke down due to EU demands that the Tunisian president be dismissed as a diktat.

The announcement that Tunisia would seek partnership with BRICS was made by Mahmoud bin Mabrouk, a spokesman for the July 25 Movement, which supports Tunisian President Kais Saied.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets with Tunisian President Kais Saied (R) during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 14, 2022. (MANDEL NGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Asked for a comment on the news, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said it was a sovereign affair.

These are sovereign decisions for each nation to make, the spokesperson said, adding that the State Department had no further comment.

The State Department comment comes as tensions with both China and Russia are ratcheting up.

Chinas ruling communist party has taken an increasingly aggressive posture toward Taiwan. After recent drills, one Chinese military official said the drills showed China could smash any form of Taiwan independence.

Leaked classified documents, which the Biden administration has not yet authenticated, revealed details of a planned Ukrainian counterattack, potentially quenching a major offensive action by Russia in its cradle. Russia has also moved nuclear-capable missiles to the border with Ukraine, further escalating tensions.

In comments explaining Tunisias move toward BRICS, Mabrouk expressed frustration with the EU, who he said was trying to meddle in Tunisias domestic affairs.

We will accept no dictates or interference in Tunisias internal affairs, Mabrouk said. We are negotiating the terms, but we refuse to receive instructions and the EUs agenda.

Mabrouk described BRICS as a political, economic, and financial alternative that will enable Tunisia to open up to the new world.

Some of the EUs difficulties with Tunisia are ideological: Tunisia has recently slid into a more authoritarian form of government under Saieds leadership. Saied dismissed the parliament and rewrote the Constitution after a wave of popular dissatisfaction with the previous government.

Illegal Immigration to Europe

On the other hand, Tunisia plays an important role for the EU, acting as one of the primary North African partners in stemming illegal immigration to Europe by sub-Saharan Africans and Middle Easterners. Tunisia is often the final stop for illegal immigrants heading to the European continent, which continues to face an immigration crisis in many areas.

The EU is anxious not to see a repeat of 2015, when illegal migration to Europe reached a zenith. While the EU is opposed to Saieds authoritarian methods, Saied has effectively stemmed the flow of illegal migrants to Europe.

Thus, a breakdown in negotiations with Tunisia could mean another increase in illegal migration to the European continent.

Migrants arrive at Tunis-Carthage International airport as they prepare to leave Tunis on a repatriation flight on March 7, 2023. (FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite their anxiety to keep illegal immigration levels low, in negotiations over the $1.9 billion IMF loan, EU partners attempted to push Tunisia in a more liberal direction. This, Mabrouk said on April 8, in turn encouraged Tunisia to move toward BRICS.

Tunisia opened up several opportunities to the EU to give the country economic support, Mabrouk said. But the Europeans were slow, which pushed Tunisia to moving toward the BRICS group for funding and investments.

Tunisia will not persevere with its efforts to conclude an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the provision of financial aid to the republic, Mabrouk added.
Truck Carrying Contaminated Soil from East Palestine Train Derailment Crashes

Troopers were dispatched to the area of state Route 165 near Waterford Road, Columbiana County, for a report of a single-vehicle crash with minor injuries on April 10, 2023. (Courtesy of Ohio State Highway Patrol)

A truck carrying 40,000 pounds of contaminated soil from the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment clean-up site crashed in Columbiana County on Monday.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, troopers were dispatched to the area of state Route 165 near Waterford Road, Columbiana County, for a report of a single-vehicle crash with minor injuries at 12:54 p.m.

Troopers arrived on scene and discovered a commercial tractor with open-top trailer, on its side, off of the right side of the roadway, OSHP said in a statement obtained by The Epoch Times. The preliminary investigation revealed that the commercial vehicle was traveling northbound when it went off of the right side of the roadway, struck a ditch and utility pole, and ultimately overturned.

Around 20,000 pounds of soil spilled onto the road and berm as a result of the accident, according to officials. However, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that the spill was contained and did not pose a threat to nearby waterways.

The Epoch Times contacted the Ohio EPA for further comment.

Troopers identified the driver of the truck as 74-year-old Phillip S. Falck of McDonald, Pennsylvania. He suffered minor injuries and was cited for operating a vehicle without reasonable control. The road was closed as crews worked to clear the site.

The incident raises concerns about the safety measures in place for the transportation of contaminated materials. Elected officials have previously raised concerns about the contaminated materials being transported from the crash site in East Palestine to facilities in other states.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio EPA are expected to provide further details as the investigation continues.

Clean Up Efforts at Derailment Site

Crews from Norfolk Southern, the operator of the train that derailed in East Palestine, have so far continued efforts to clean up the site.

To date, the company says it has recovered and transported off-site 11.4 million gallons of impacted water. They have also removed 19,966 tons of waste soil and flushed 5,200 feet of impacted waterways. In addition, they have sampled over 300 private drinking water wells.

In March, the EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to test all shipments of contaminated materials leaving East Palestine for dioxins after the company burned toxic pollutants from cargo on its derailed train.

Dioxins are a group of chemically-related compounds known as persistent environmental pollutants. They are found in any environment worldwide owing to common processes like burning wood or coal, and therefore end up in the food chain.

The toxic substance can be stored in the bodys fat tissue for an extended time and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, immune system damage, hormone interference, and cancer.

On April 6, the EPA said residents can safely use East Palestine City Park after locals raised concerns. The agency conducted sampling and released a summary of results that found levels of dioxin and semi-volatile organic compounds are well below any levels that would require restricting activities.

The train derailed on Feb. 3 with 20 cars that were listed as carrying hazardous materials. A controlled release of the chemicals onboard, which included vinyl chloride, ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and butyl acrylate, was conducted three days later.

The controlled release also sent phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air. Since then, residents have raised concerns over the long-term impacts on their health.

This report was updated with additional information.
Trudeau Announces New Military Aid, Bilateral Agreements During Ukraine PMs Visit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new round of military and economic support for Ukraine on April 11, coinciding with a visit from Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to Canada.

At a joint press conference in Toronto, Trudeau also announced several new bilateral agreements and a plan for Canada to ship $59 million in weapons to Ukraine to aid in the war against Russia.

We will continue to be there to support [Ukraine] as long as its needed. Canada will always be there to defend our values, our democracy, as well as the international rule of law, Trudeau said during the press conference.

On top of the over $1 billion of military aid sent to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, the measures announced today include an additional $59 million to send the country 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and over 2.4 million rounds of ammunition from Colt Canada, a company headquartered in Kitchener, Ont.

This will help the armed forces of Ukraine continue to defend their freedom and fight for Ukraines territorial integrity, Trudeau said.

The prime minister said the $2.4 billion dollar loan to Ukraine, first announced in Budget 2023, has now been disbursed to help Ukraine with services like pension payments, purchasing fuel, and restoring damaged energy infrastructure.

Canada and Ukraine signed a joint declaration on the conclusion of negotiations for the modernization of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, according to an April 11 press release from the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). The statement said the trade deal will support the long-term security, stability, and economic development in Ukraine, as well as the creation of good middle-class jobs here in Canada.

The two countries also signed a bilateral Youth Mobility Agreement, which the PMO said allows Ukrainian youth to work and travel to Canada, while giving Canadian youth the opportunity to assist with rebuilding Ukraine after Russia withdraws its forces from the country.

Trudeau also announced that Canada would enact new sanctions on 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities involved in the war, including several security targets linked to the Russian-backed Wagner Group and Russias aviation sector. Additional sanctions were put on nine entities related to the Belarusian financial sector.

During the press conference, Trudeau was asked about reports that pro-Russian hackers took credit for a recent denial-of-service attack on several Canadian government websites. For several hours on April 11, the Senate and the PMO websites would not load.

Trudeau said it is not uncommon for Russian hackers to target countries that welcome Ukrainian delegations or leadership, and that the timing isnt surprising.

In case anyone was wondering, Russia being able to bring down an official government of Canada webpage for a few hours is in no way going to dissuade us from our unshakeable support of Ukraine, he said.
Trudeau Decries Partisanship in the Wake of Resignation of Trudeau Foundations Board and CEO

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on Feb. 17, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on April 11 commented on the recent resignation of the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundations leadership team, accusing Conservative politicians of increasing polarization and partisanship that he said led to unfounded attacks on the foundation.

Those people who are trying to get short-term political gain by increasing polarization and partisanship in this country by launching completely unfounded and ungrounded attacks against charities or foundations must not succeed, Trudeau told reporters in Toronto.

I have no doubt that the Trudeau Foundationlike foundations and charities that Conservative politicians have attacked in the pastwill continue to do excellent work, he added.

The prime ministers comments came hours after the volunteer board of directors and the president and CEO of the foundation resigned. In a news release, the board and CEO cited the political climate surrounding a donation received by the Foundation in 2016 that had put a great deal of pressure on the Foundations management and volunteer Board of Directors, as well as on our staff and our community.

The statement said three directors have agreed to remain on an interim basis to allow the foundation to continue to meet its obligations pending Board renewal.

At the April 11 press conference, Trudeau reiterated that he has suspended his involvement with the foundation since entering politics, saying its a foundation in my fathers name that I have no direct or indirect involvement in.

Allegations

The Globe and Mail reported on Feb. 28 that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had uncovered a plan by Beijing to donate a significant sum to the foundation in 2014 in an attempt to influence Justin Trudeau, who had just been elected Liberal leader the year before.

CSIS reportedly captured a communication in 2014 between an unnamed commercial attache at a Chinese Consulate in Canada and billionaire Zhang Bin, a political adviser to the Chinese regime.

The attache reportedly told Zhang to donate $1 million to the foundation, which the regime would then fully reimburse.

The Epoch Times has previously reached out to Zhang for comment but did not receive a response.

In 2016, following a cash-for-access function organized for the prime minister, the Universite de Montreal announced Zhang and another Chinese businessman would donate $1 million to honour the memory and leadership of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, including a $200,000 donation to the Trudeau Foundation, reported the Globe.

A day after the Globe and Mail story broke, the foundation announced it would return the donation, with then-CEO and president Pascale Fournier stating, We cannot keep any donation that may have been sponsored by a foreign government and would not knowingly do so.

Election Interference

In recent weeks, Conservative politicians have criticized the prime minister for appointing former governor general David Johnston on March 15 as special rapporteur on allegations of foreign election interference by Beijing. Johnston was a member of the Trudeau Foundation at the time but resigned after his appointment.

It is Justin Trudeau that has put Mr. Johnston in this terrible situation: by naming a member of the China-financed Trudeau Foundation to perform this role, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said during a press conference on March 17.

Shortly after the Trudeau Foundation resignations were announced, Poilievre said there needed to be an investigation of the foundation.

We need to know who got rich; who got paid and who got privilege and power from Justin Trudeau as a result of funding to the Trudeau Foundation, he said on Twitter on April 11.

During a press conference in Sarnia, Ont., the same day, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said both the Liberals and the Conservatives have been using allegations of foreign election interference to score points on each other.

There are serious concerns around foreign interference that need to be taken seriously. But my goal is to make things better, not to score points, or to point at this party or that party, Singh said.

What weve seen from the Liberals and Conservatives is they are more concerned with scoring political points and pointing fingers at each other, and when it comes to something as serious as our democracy, our priority should be to safeguard democracy.
Twitter Inc. Merged Into X Corp. and No Longer Exists

Twitter logo and a photo of Elon Musk are displayed through magnifier in this illustration taken on Oct. 27, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Elon Musk-owned X Corp. has absorbed the social media platform Twitter as part of the CEOs long-awaited move to turn it into an everything app similar to Chinas WeChat app.

After finalizing his purchase of Twitter Inc. in October 2022, Musk discussed about a plan to gradually turn the platform into an app device that could carry out multiple tasks under the X label.

Starting in early March, a series of corporate-ownership moves ended the existence of Twitter, at least in name. After a review of court documents from a legal battle between Twitter and former congressional candidate Laura Loomer, it was revealed by Slate on April 10 that Musks X Corp. had legally merged with Twitter.

Pursuant to Rule 7.1(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the undersigned counsel for Defendant X Corp., as successor in interest to named Defendant Twitter, Inc., hereby states that Twitter, Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists. X Corp. is a privately held corporation. Its parent corporation is X Holdings Corp. No publicly traded corporation owns 10 percent or more of the stock of X Corp. or X Holdings Corp, read the court documents from April 4.

The documents were made public during Loomers was lawsuit against Twitter for violating federal racketeering laws when her account was banned in 2019.

One of the publicly available court filings read: Twitter, Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists. As the successor in interest to Twitter, X Corp. is now the defendant in Loomers suit, under its parent corporation, X Holdings Corp. Within hours of Slates exclusive, Musk mysteriously sent a tweet: X. However, Slate did admit that an anonymous SPAC-trader tracker was the first to report the news the same day as the filing, who wrote in a tweet, Wait, Twitter soon to be X? Merger filed with Twitter and X Corp. and X being the survivor?

X Corp to Absorb Twitters Legal Costs and Identity

The merger between the two entities has yet to be officially announced, and is not expected to have any immediate effect on Twitters operations, but it is still the first step toward Musks vision.

So far, the evidence does not prove that X Corp. is the new platform that will lead to the creation of the X app and could just be a move by Musk to create a larger parent company named X to act as the controlling interest over his other companies such as Tesla and Space X.

In April 2022, Bloomberg reported that Musk registered X Holdings I, II, and III in Delaware, three separate companies designed to facilitate his purchase of Twitter.

According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Twitter would merge with X Holdings II, but keep its name and general corporate structure while continuing to operate under Delaware law.

All of the debt and lawsuits that Musk and Twitter are facing will be carried over to the new X Corp.

X Holdings I, which is directly held by Musk, would then serve as the merged entitys parent company, while X Holdings III would take on the $13 billion loan that a group of major lenders provided him to help cover the $44 billion acquisition of the platform.

It has been noted that the new company which absorbed Twitter under the X Corp brand is based in Nevada instead of Delaware.

According to the Nevada secretary of states website, Elon Musk registered two new businesses in the state on March 9: X Holdings Corp. and X Corp.

On March 15, Musk applied to merge those Nevada businesses with two of his existing companies: X Holdings I with X Holdings Corp., and Twitter Inc. with X Corp.

With the new filing, Musk now operates at least three companies in Nevada, including the X Holdings company.

Musk opened a Tesla Gigafactory near Reno, Nevada, in 2016, to produce electric vehicle batteries, and earlier this year, he announced a $3.6 billion expansion of the facility in order to manufacture electric trucks.

The state has also been doing business with Musks Boring Company to help build a transit tunnel built under the Las Vegas Convention Center in 2021 and the Vegas Loop, which is still under construction.

Musks Quest to Create a Super App Starts to Take Shape

The proposed X super app, according to Musk, could become similar in function to WeChat, a combination messaging, social networking, and payment app that has a billion users, mainly in China.

The Twitter CEO suggested that Twitters functions would have an important role to play in creating a super app.

Meanwhile, members of Congress are expected to be weary over Musks potential U.S. version of WeChat, especially due to the chaotic aftermath of his takeover of Twitter.

Some investors may become upset if Musk tries to merge all of his separate companies into X Holdings.

Regulatory agencies like the Federal Trade Commission are also taking a firmer stance against tech monopolies under the Biden administration, with many lawmakers not looking favorably toward the influence of big tech on privacy, national security, and politics.

Despite this, Musks advocacy for online freedom of speech and his recent alignment with Republicans has given him a strong base of support from many conservatives, who normally distrust most Silicon Valley tech billionaires.

For now, it appears that Twitter will still operate primarily as a social media platform.
IN-DEPTH: UN Seeks Vast New Powers for Global Emergencies

Lawmakers and critics are sounding the alarm, but the White House supports the agenda

Chinese communist party leader Xi Jinping virtually addresses the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 21, 2021 in New York. (Spencer Platt/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The United Nations is seeking vast new powers and stronger global governance tools to deal with international emergencies such as pandemics and economic crises, a new U.N. policy brief has revealed, and the Biden administration appears to support the proposal.

The plan to create an Emergency Platform, which would involve a set of protocols activated during crises that could affect billions of people, has already drawn strong concern and criticism from U.S. policymakers and analysts.

Among those expressing concern is House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), whose committee oversees U.S. foreign policy and involvement in international organizations.

We must be sure that any global protocol or platform operated by the U.N. respects U.S. national sovereignty and U.S. taxpayer dollars, McCaul told The Epoch Times.

He also noted his concern that the proposed platform expands the authority and funding of the U.N. and the definitions of emergency and crisis to include, for instance, climate change.

U.N. documents and statements released in March by key leaders of the global organization make clear that climate change is a major piece of the U.N. emergencies agenda.

Other critics who spoke with The Epoch Times expressed concern about the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) within the U.N., the global organizations well-documented corruption problems, and its track record of dealing with previous emergencies.

Allowing the U.N. to deal with this is the equivalent of putting the CCP in charge of global emergencies, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations Kevin Moley told The Epoch Times.

UN Vision for Global Crises Response

In a policy brief dubbed Our Common Agenda headlined Strengthening the International Response to Complex Shocks  An Emergency Platform, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid out his vision for empowering the global organization to deal with global crises.

The challenges we face can only be addressed through stronger international cooperation, Guterres declared, calling for strengthening global governance for current and future generations.

The policy brief builds on an earlier Common Agenda document and comes as U.N. leaders outline the plans for a Summit of the Future set to be held during the General Assemblys annual high-level meeting in September.

If it gets a green light from member states, the global emergency protocols would be triggered automatically in case of a global crisis, regardless of the type or nature of the crisis involved, the U.N. chief said.

The protocols would bring all sorts of institutions together, including national governments, international institutions, and the private sector. Ultimately, all would have to recognize the primary role of intergovernmental organs [such as U.N. agencies] in decision-making, the document states.

The Emergency Platform, once convened, would be a tool for the United Nations system to implement decisions taken by relevant organs, according to the policy brief.

State Department Supportive

A spokesman for the U.S. State Department suggested that the Biden administration backs the plan.

The administration has made clear its firm belief that U.S. national security is best served by engaging actively and comprehensively with the UN and other international organizations, the spokesman told The Epoch Times in an e-mailed statement about the proposal.

The U.N. is only as effective, transparent, and accountable as its membership demands, and the U.S. works tirelessly to ensure the U.N. meets those demands.

The U.N. proposal was unveiled as multibillionaire Bill Gates, one of the most prominent voices during the COVID-19 crisis and a major financier of the World Health Organization (WHO) and vaccines, called for a global fire department to address international health emergencies.

Writing in The New York Times last month, Gates said a Global Health Emergency Corps could spring into action at a moments notice when danger emerges.

The Global Health Emergency Corps will represent massive progress toward a pandemic-free future, Gates wrote in the op-ed. The question is whether we have the foresight to invest in that future now before its too late.

UN Emergencies Protocol

Guterres, who is asking governments to approve his plan later this year, said risks are growing and becoming more complex.

Enhanced international cooperation is the only way we can adequately respond to these shocks, and the United Nations is the only organization with the reach and legitimacy to convene at the highest level and galvanize global action, he said. We must keep strengthening the multilateral system so that it is fit to face the challenges of tomorrow.

Exactly what would constitute an emergency that would trigger the U.N. emergency response wasnt made clear.

However, the document states that crises without global consequences would not necessarily be categorized as an emergency requiring U.N. intervention. In other words, some crises that dont have global consequences might trigger a U.N. response.

The report gives two examples of recent global crises that struck in the 21st century and that U.N. leaders believe support the case for coordinated global responses: the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis of 2022.

Rather than offering specifics, the policy brief offers broad categories and types of emergencies that might activate the global protocols. These include climate or environmental events; environmental degradation; pandemics; accidental or deliberate release of biological agents; disruptions in the flow of goods, people, or finance; disruptions in cyberspace or global digital connectivity; a major event in outer space; and unforeseen risks (black swan events).

Frequently cited throughout the document is the global response to COVID-19. The U.N. chief, who famously led the Socialist International before taking his current post, said that a stronger and a more coordinated U.N. response would have resulted in more people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

WHO leaders ongoing efforts to strengthen the U.N. health agency with a new international pandemic treaty and changes to International Health Regulations are touted as key mechanisms for emergencies.

Upon activation of the emergency protocols, government leaders, U.N. agencies, international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society, and experts would all be convened by the U.N. to respond.

The U.N. secretary-general would decide when to activate the protocols. He would also identify all participants and oversee their contributions to the response, the policy brief explains. Contributions mentioned in the document include everything from providing money to changing government policy.

Agenda 2030 a Priority

Among the reasons for the urgency, the U.N. stated that international emergencies could undermine progress toward achieving the controversial Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, referred to by U.N. leaders as the master plan for humanity.

The 17 goals, which cover practically every area of life and have come under fire from critics, were signed by virtually all national governments in 2015, with strong support from the Obama administration and the CCP.

Although the U.S. Senate hasnt ratified the global agreement as required for all treaties, its nonetheless being implemented worldwide, as policies in business and government are aligned with the agenda.

Once a complex global shock occurs, a more timely, predictable, and effective international response could potentially mitigate some of the impacts on the Sustainable Development Goals and allow the process of recovery to start sooner, the document states. The proposal to agree on protocols to convene an Emergency Platform aims to achieve this.

The impetus for the emergencies plan was a pledge by U.N. member states during the global organizations 75th anniversary to strengthen global governance.

Other components of this strengtheningpolicies that parallel much of the Great Reset announced in 2020 by Guterres and others, such as Klaus Schwab, at the World Economic Foruminclude a renewed social contract. The WEF is a strategic partner of the U.N. in implementing Agenda 2030, especially in terms of getting the private sector onboard globally.

The U.N. emergency-response plan was released in tandem with another report on Our Common Future calling for a new Special Envoy for Future Generations, the creation of a Futures Lab, dramatic shifts in policy toward what the U.N. calls sustainable development, and more.

The report calls for enshrining policies that U.N. leaders say will preserve the planet for the future, at the global level, where some of the most consequential decisions for humanity are taken.

Critics Point to CCP, Corruption, and COVID

One major concern surrounding the crisis-response proposal among U.S. leaders is the strong influence of the CCP within the U.N.influence that was felt clearly during the pandemic and that CCP critics say could be even more dangerous in future global emergencies.

Moley, who served in key roles at the international level during multiple U.S. administrations, rejected the U.N. plan.

This U.N. plan flies in the face of the experience we just had with the latest pandemic, which shows why we should reiterate sovereignty, not give more away, he told The Epoch Times in a phone interview.

Moley, who oversaw the U.S. relationship with international organizations during his time in the Trump administration, has long sounded the alarm about the CCPs surging influence within the U.N., a process he says has been supported by both the Obama and Biden administrations. He called it an existential threat to the United States.

The powerful influence of the CCP and its mostly authoritarian and crony democracy allies over the U.N. system represents a major danger when it comes to proposals to grant the global outfit more power, Moley said.

As long as the controlling interests of the U.N. are in the hands of the CCP and aided and abetted by the G77 [an alliance of 134 governments including the CCP], this cannot be allowed, he said.

As a result of the CCPs well-documented control over key U.N. agencies and even its powerful influence over most member states, approving the emergencies protocol plan would be tantamount to putting the communist regime in charge of global crises, according to Moley.

Considering that the CCP is a criminal conspiracy more than a government and the fact that its agents now dominate vast swaths of the U.N., this is a recipe for disaster, he said.

We need to look at anything sponsored by the U.N. with great skepticism. But unfortunately, our State Departmentespecially nowdoes not look at it skeptically. Instead, they look at the United States skeptically.

Rather than going along with the U.N. plan, Moley called for completely revamping the U.S. State Department.

It needs to be taken down to the ground floor, he said, pointing to obstruction from career bureaucrats throughout Trumps tenure.

As long as the State Department remains as currently constituted, we do not have diplomats speaking for America, but for [billionaire financier George] Soros [and his] Open Society foundations, globalism, and all that does to undermine American sovereignty, he said.

Another critic, international lawyer and former U.N. internal investigator-turned-whistleblower Peter Gallo, noted the organizations long history of corruption, politicization, and scandal, including cases in which humanitarian aid was diverted or even weaponized for political purposes.

More alarming, though, is what Gallo described as the sexual exploitation and human trafficking of victims of such disasters.

U.N. personnel have an egregious record of involvement in that exploitation themselvesand the organization has a shameful record of covering up allegations of sexual misconduct rather than properly investigating them, Gallo said.

Gallo and other former U.N. officials, using U.N. data, estimate that more than 60,000 women and children were raped and sexually abused by U.N. personnel during the decade-long tenure of Ban Ki-moon, the previous secretary-general. Gallo said he believes that is a very conservative estimate.

There is no evidence of anything being any better under Antonio Guterres, Gallo added, citing impunity for perpetrators and attacks on the U.N. whistleblowers who have tried to stop it.

Considering all that, Gallo suggested that its a mistake for governments to consider trusting the U.N. with even more power to oversee emergency responses.

Disputed Claims

Investigative journalist and WHO expert James Roguski, meanwhile, blasted the U.N. and contested many of the claims made in its policy brief on emergency protocols.

For instance, Roguski ridiculed the implication that Africans suffered from not receiving enough COVID-19 vaccines from the West.

In reality, 16 times as many deaths per capita were attributed to COVID in North and South America and Europe when compared to Africa, he told The Epoch Times, citing WHO data while calling the U.N. claims a blatant lie. Roguski gained national prominence for his reporting on the WHOs plans to consolidate power over global health matters.

In my humble opinion, the globalist organizations have failed to learn a great number of very important lessons during the past three-plus years, he said.

Pointing to COVID-19 policies championed by the WHO and other U.N. agencies that he said were detrimental and, in some cases, undeniably harmful and deadly, Roguski called for a different approach.

They have failed to learn that centralized control performed far worse than individualized and creative health treatments that saved tens of thousands of lives, he said.

We the People need to push back against the relentless push for centralized, bureaucratic control that the globalists offer as the solution to the worlds problems. We need to stand up and speak up in support of individual freedoms and national sovereignty.

U.N. Secretary-General Guterres and his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, didnt respond by press time to a request from The Epoch Times for comment.
Union for RCMP 911 Operators Calls for Recruitment Plan to Address Staff Shortages

Saanich Police joined by Victoria Police and RCMP respond gunfire involving multiple people and injuries reported at the Bank of Montreal during an active situation in Saanich, B.C., on June 28, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Chad Hipolito)

The union that represents the RCMPs emergency dispatchers and operators is calling on the force to come up with a recruitment plan to fix worsening staff shortages.

CUPE Local 104 president Kathleen Hippern said hundreds of people are off on long-term sick leave and knows of many more who are looking for an exit.

Were so understaffed, she said in an interview Tuesday.

When someone dials 911 and asks for police, Hippern said their members take the call and gather the information officers need to know before heading to a scene.

Police are not moving until one of us answers that call.

Hippern said that few centres are fully staffed, specifying that in Nova Scotia, staffing is only at about 50 percent.

She said morale is abysmal and she believes the lack of staff is affecting public safety by leaving callers sometimes waiting for minutes before someone is able to answer.

Im terrified for any of my family members that have to call 911.

The RCMP generally has been struggling to fill its vacancies for years, with hiring and training efforts also hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic recently.

The president of the National Police Federation, which represents RCMP officers, recently said some of the problem stems from the fact that people are applying to join the force at a slightly older age and members are retiring earlier.

As the force prepares to mark its 150th anniversary next month, Hippern said it needs a strong recruitment strategy.
Unthinkable Day, Kentucky Leaders Say, After People They Knew Were Hurt or Killed in Mass Shooting

Death toll rises to 5 victims, plus gunman

Law enforcement officers respond to an active shooter at the Old National Bank building in Louisville, Ky., on April 10, 2023. (Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

An unthinkable day unfolded in Louisville, Kentucky, when a gunman opened fire at the Old National Bank downtown, Mayor Craig Greenberg said. The gunman shot 13 people before police returned fire, killing him.

The gunman was a bank employee who committed an evil act of targeted violence, Greenberg said during a news conference on April 10, hours after the shooting. He, the citys police chief, and the governor of Kentucky all knew one or more of the people who were hurt or killed.

Four victims died in the immediate aftermath of the shooting: Thomas Tommy Elliott, 63; Joshua Barrick, 40; Juliana Farmer, 57; and James Tutt, 64. During the evening of April 10, police announced that a fifth victim, Deana Eckert, 57, passed away. All five were bank employees, mostly in executive roles, according to profiles on LinkedIn.

Eckert was one of nine victims taken to the University of Louisville Hospital. Two people, including a police officer, remained in critical condition, and three were hospitalized with less-serious injuries. Three shooting victims were treated and released, officials said.

In an emotional news conference, Greenberg, Interim Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, and Kentucky Gov. Andrew Beshear described the tragedys effects on the community and on them, as friends or acquaintances of the victims.

Throughout their remarks, officials remained focused on the victims; the police chief stated that she would only mention the gunmans name once, and she stuck to that vow.

The gunman, Connor Sturgeon, 25, used a rifle, Gwinn-Villaroel said, while he live-streamed the attack on Instagram. She declined to answer further questions about Sturgeons actions and motives, saying it would take time for police to piece together the whole backstory.

After initial confusion over the shooters age, which was incorrectly listed as 23, police wrote on Twitter that Sturgeon was born on Feb. 11, 1998, adding, This is the extent to which we will address this individual as we move forward honoring the victims of todays horrific events.

Police tape surrounds the Old National Bank after a gunman, who worked at the bank, opened fire in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 10, 2023. (Lawrence Wilson/The Epoch Times)

Officer Down, 10 Days into New Job

Within three minutes after the first person called 911 to report shots fired, police arrived at the bank, Gwinn-Villaroel said. The officers courageously sprang into action without taking time to assess the danger, she said, so that they could save lives.

Gwinn-Villaroel, who has only been interim chief since January, thanked officers for their heroism, noting that, at times, they have felt unappreciated. I asked my officers when I addressed them today: If we dont do it, who will?' she said.

And so theyre very committed  and their resiliency showed today, and their professionalism showed today.

Among those brave responding officers was Nickolas Wilt, 26. The mayor and chief had welcomed him to the force, along with his family, only 10 days earlier, on March 31. But he was critically injured during the exchange of gunfire at the bank. Wilt was shot in the head and underwent brain surgery, the chief said; he was in critical but stable condition at the hospital.

Ive been down there with the family and given my love and support, Gwinn-Villaroel said, adding, The next few days are important and very critical for Nickolass recovery.

The chief, the mayor, and the governor said they visited with families of the other shooting victims, too.

To the survivors and the families, our entire city is here to wrap our arms around you, Greenberg said.

The victims families were incredibly grateful for the police response to the crisis, Gwinn-Villaroel said. They were actually embracing me as I was embracing them, she said. But she said it struck to see and hear families in such despair and grief.

They are weeping because someone decided that they wanted to take life today, she said.

Officer Nickolas Wilt, center, was just sworn in as an officer in late March 2023 with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, left, and Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, right. (Photo Courtesy of Louisville Metro Police Department)

Governor, Fellow Kentuckians Hurting

Beshear said two of his friends, whom he didnt name, survived the shooting. But one of his Beshears closest friends, Elliottalso a friend of Greenbergwas killed.

Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career; helped me become governor; gave me advice on being a good dad He was an incredible friend, Beshear said.

Im hurt, and Im hurt-ing, the governor said, emphasizing that last syllable as he spoke. And I know so many people out there are (hurting) as well.

Beshear lamented the deaths of all the victims, whom he called children of God.

These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals that a terrible act of violence tore from all of us, Beshear said.

He expressed gratitude to local police and assisting agencies for their speedy response, which surely saved a number of lives.

The first battle was stopping that gunman. The second is doing everything we can to keep those that have been wounded alive, Beshear said, thanking medical personnel.

These doctors and nurses are fighting for the lives of our friends, of our family. And we are deeply grateful to them, he said.

Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky, speaks during a news conference after a gunman opened fire at the Old National Bank building in Louisville, Ky., on April 10, 2023. (Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)

Beshear also encouraged people to uplift the victims families, whether they are mourning a death or worried about a person who was wounded.

I think what we need most right now, in a word, is love, he said. I mean just love, love for these families. Theyre gonna need it, I can tell you; Ive talked to them. Im very close with one of them. They are going to need that love. And we need love for each other.

Uninjured Witnesses Also Need Support

Greenberg, the mayor, also had a message for others who were inside the bank. Even if they escaped unscathed, many peoples lives will never be the same, Greenberg said, adding that he understands that firsthand.

I am a survivor of a workplace shooting, he declared. Greenberg gave no details but said, To the people who survived, whether you were physically hurt or not, I know that you are hurting, too. We are here for you as well.

He said it saddened him that, adding to the days tragic events, another shooting incident occurred a few blocks from Old National Bank.

Another man lost his life, and a woman was shot in a completely different act of targeted violence, Greenberg said.

The two incidents appear to be entirely unrelated, but they both took lives. They both leave people scarred, grieving and angry. I share all of those feelings myself right now. This is really difficult for all of us across the entire city to process and accept.

Greenberg said a Family Assistance Center has been set up through the American Red Cross to provide support and services to anyone who needs it; he pledged that city leaders would do everything possible to help people.

Lets hold each other close and provide comfort where we can, he said, adding that officials would be announcing more information about how to donate to the affected families or participate in a community-wide vigil.

Beshear said the tragedy seemed particularly poignant the day after Easter Sunday when Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter is about a rebirth, a better world, one where were all supposed to work together to get there; one thats supposed to teach us love from a Savior that came, Beshear said. The world fell in love with Him not because of His power, but for His compassion.
US Digital ID System Proceeds to Senate for Debate

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, then a Democrat and now an Independent, speaks at a news conference after the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act at the Capitol Building in Washington on Nov. 29, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

A digital identity verification system could be soon set up in the United States, with the legislation behind the initiative now progressing to the Senate for debate.

Introduced by Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), the S.884 bill is known as the Improving Digital Identity Act of 2023 and was introduced in the Senate on March 21 after getting passed by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The lack of an easy, affordable, reliable, and secure way for organizations, businesses, and government agencies to identify whether an individual is who they claim to be online creates an attack vector that is widely exploited by adversaries in cyberspace and precludes many high-value transactions from being available online, said the bill text. Incidents of identity theft and identity fraud continue to rise in the United States, where more than 293,000,000 people were impacted by data breaches in 2021.

Since 2017, losses resulting from identity fraud have increased by 333 percent, and, in 2020, those losses totaled $56,000,000,000.

The bill calls for an interagency task force to head a combined public-private collaboration, which will help all citizens more easily and securely engage in transactions online and prove who they are online.

European ID Solution

A digital ID solution is increasingly sought by many governments around the world. In the Western world, the push toward adopting a digital ID is led by members of the European Union. The European Parliament confirmed, last month, with a majority 418 votes to 103, a new digital identity framework that seeks to provide EU citizens with digital access to key public services across EU borders.

According to the press release, the digital access initiative would also give users full control of their data and let them decide what information to share and with whom.

James Melville, a political commentator, said that it would be better for citizens to monitor governments. Instead of a digital ID app that allows governments to snoop on us, what about having a digital ID app that allows us to track government spending, MPs expenses, second jobs & who they meet with? Because they work for us rather than us working for them, Melville said in an April 11 tweet.

Melville said in another tweet that digital IDs are a giant con-trick to manipulate people into surveillance, government control and loss of freedoms and human dignity.

Canadian Privacy Report

Many critics of the proposal have denounced the move by international governments, with the Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms releasing a report on financial surveillance and privacy concerns of a digital ID system.

Information technologies with data-tracking and/or user-profiling capabilities generate significant privacy concerns, said part one of the report (pdf) released April 4. Proposals for Canadian digital identification frameworks often make accommodations for those frameworks to have data-tracking and user-profiling capabilities and do, therefore, generate privacy concerns.

Furthermore, technologies with such capabilities may generate additional concerns surrounding freedom, mobility, security, equality, access, autonomy, consent, and human dignity. These concerns sometimes engage the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to which Canadians should appeal in any contest between privacy rights and government intrusions into properly private spheres of human life.

The report points out a tension between protecting private spheres from government surveillance and providing Canadians with convenient and secure access to goods and services.

However, some aspects of the digital ID enhance privacy, in that, digital ID users can exchange only that information about themselves, which is necessary for transactions to occur, unlike a physical transaction where the whole document containing all details is exchanged. Irrelevant information like residence address could be bypassed in a digital system.

Some of the most intrusive aspects of ID technologies include functionalities that allow governments and partnering agencies to track user behaviors across time and to develop complex profiles of their identities. These behaviors are then rewarded or punished by the governments like the social credit system used in China.

The report calls on Canadians to prevent governments from scrutinizing their intimate identities and invade every remaining private domain, while adding that governments may try to sell digital IDs as a mere digital counterpart to already-available physical identification documents.
About 50 horses arrived at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport after a 13-hour flight from Amsterdam. After finishing a 30-day quarantine, these horses will feature in the inaugural China Hangzhou (Tonglu) International Equestrian Open. This will be the first time for the Asian Games equestrian venue to welcome overseas horses.



Produced by Xinhua Global Service


US Exploring Rules to Regulate AI Tools Like ChatGPT

Alan Davidson, director of U.S. public policy of the Americas at Google Inc. testifies during a hearing of the Congressional-Executive Commission on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 24, 2010. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Biden administration is soliciting public input on measures to regulate artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT as questions mount about the fast-moving technologys impact on national security and education.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a Commerce Department agency that advises the White House on telecommunications and information policy, said it will spend the next 60 days examining options such as audits, risk assessments, and a potential certification process to ease public anxiety around the AI models.

Responsible AI systems could bring enormous benefits, but only if we address their potential consequences and harms, said Alan Davidson, NTIA administrator and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, on April 11. For these systems to reach their full potential, companies and consumers need to be able to trust them.

ChatGPT, the interactive AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, has gripped public attention for its ability to generate human-like conversations by processing vast amounts of data, and can answer complex questions in a matter of seconds. It has grown to be one of the fastest-growing apps in history since its rollout in late November, with 1 billion visits in February alone.

A keyboard is seen reflected on a computer screen displaying the website of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot from OpenAI, in this illustration picture taken on Feb. 8, 2023. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

While its speed in answering complex queries has wowed some users, the program has drawn concerns over privacy and partisan bias. Researchers also worried about how it could open up the floodgates of plagiarism in schools.

The NTIA wants to hear public feedback on policies to shape the AI accountability ecosystem, such as the types of trust and safety testing AI developers should conduct and different approaches necessary in different industry sectors.

Just as food and cars are not released into the market without proper assurance of safety, so too AI systems should provide assurance to the public, government, and businesses that they are fit for purpose, the agency said in a statement.

President Joe Biden last week left it vague whether he believes AI is dangerous, but said technology companies must ensure their products are safe before making them public.

But industry analysts are already sounding off alarms.

Late last month, tech ethics group the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy asked the Federal Trade Commission to suspend the commercial release of ChatGPTs latest version, GPT-4, calling it biased, deceptive, and a risk to privacy and public safety.

Elon Musk, one of the co-founders of OpenAI, said in February that he believes AI is one of the biggest risks to the future of civilization. He is one of nearly 21,000 signers to an open letter calling for a six-month halt to the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4.
US Federal Budget Deficit Hits $1.1 Trillion

The U.S. federal budget deficit has exceeded a $1 trillion in the first half of fiscal year 2023, with revenues declining and outlays growing.

The budget deficit between October 2022 and March 2023 is estimated to be at $1.1 trillion, according to a report (pdf) by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on April 10. This is $430 billion more than the shortfall recorded during the same period in the last fiscal year. While outlays or budgetary expenses grew by 13 percent in the first six months, revenues dipped by 3 percent.

Outlays in the past six months were reduced by the shifting of certain paymentstotaling $63 billionfrom Oct. 1, 2022 (the first day of fiscal year 2023) into fiscal year 2022, because October 1 fell on a weekend, the report said.

At the same time, outlays increased through March 2023 because certain payments that otherwise would have been due on April 1, a weekend, were made in March. The deficit in the first half of fiscal year 2023 would have been $10 billion smaller if those various shifts had not occurred.

The deficit for March was estimated to be at $376 billion, up from $262 billion in February. It is $183 billion more than the shortfall in March 2022. The federal government has run deficits in each of the six months so far in fiscal year 2023.

The monthly budget review report comes as experts have raised concerns about the situation. During a March 29th hearing of the House Budget Committee that discussed the countrys financial outlook, multiple witnesses recommended cutting down the size of the federal budget deficit.

Deficits and debt are projected, especially in the next decade, to reach levels that, simply, none of us would be comfortable with, said ranking member Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.).

Outlays and Revenues

Total receipts in the first half of fiscal year 2023 are estimated to be $2 trillion. The CBO calculates these receipts to be $73 billion, or 3 percent, less compared to the same period in the previous fiscal period.

Individual income and payroll taxes declined by a combined $33 billion. Collections from corporate income taxes rose by a net 13 percent. Revenues from other sources fell by $53 billion net, which included a $60 billion decline in remittances from the Federal Reserve.

Meanwhile, outlays in the first six months came in at $3.1 trillion, which is $357 billion more than in the six months of fiscal year 2022.

For the largest mandatory spending programs, outlays rose by a net $132 billion. This includes a $61 billion increase in spending on Social Security benefits, a $49 billion hike in Medicare outlays, and a $22 billion rise in Medicaid outlays.

Rising Federal Deficit, Debt Risk

In its economic forecast for the United States, tax advisory provider Deloitte warned that the country will face a crisis if Washington fails to eventually find ways to cut down the deficit and borrowing.

Our baseline forecast assumes deficits will rise to US$1.7 trillion by fiscal year 2027. Thats a hefty amount, one that inevitably raises the question of whether the U.S. government can continue to borrow at such a pace. The answer is that it canuntil investors lose confidence, Deloitte said in the forecast report.

The company foresees the need to raise the limit on U.S. Treasury borrowing as potentially leading to a global financial crisis. The Treasury Department has to borrow money regularly for covering the federal deficit. However, it needs the authorization of Congress to do so.

At present, both Republicans and Democrats are at loggerheads on raising the debt ceiling. The U.S. national debt currently stands at $31.4 trillion. On April 5, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said that he was very concerned about the debt ceiling due to the rising cost of servicing the trillions of dollars in debt.

During an interview with The Epoch Times, Peter C. Earle, an economist at the American Institute for Economic Research, said that if the U.S. government were to miss even a single payment on its debt-service obligations, the global appetite for U.S. Treasury instruments is likely to decline substantially.

That means two things: higher yields on U.S. government bonds, which will in turn make debt payments even more expensive going forward, he added.
US Military Would Need Conscription to Fight China: Expert

A U.S. Marine Corps Osprey comes in to land next to soldiers from Japan's 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade during an exercise with the U.S. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Gotemba, Japan, on March 15, 2022. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

The U.S. military could not achieve victory in a war with China using its current, all-volunteer force, according to one expert.

The United States will thus need to radically transform its force structure to better contend with the emerging threat environment, up to and including by reinstating conscription, said Jonathan Askonas, an assistant professor of Politics at Catholic University of America.

This is a five-alarm fire, Askonas said during an April 11 discussion with the Hudson Institute think tank. Were facing global threats and we have a force structure which we know will not work against those threats.

We basically cant fight a war larger than Iraq with the all-volunteer force.

The all-volunteer force has been a staple of U.S. military organization since 1973, when the draft was terminated along with the United States direct involvement in the Vietnam War.

Unfortunately, Askonas said, the all-volunteer force was proving incapable of generating the number of service members required for a war between great powers, and its burdensome logistical processes were likely to be ineffective in either a conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific theater or supporting European powers against Russia.

We have a Goldilocks problem, Askonas said. Our army is too small as constituted to actually prosecute a war with these countries, but its large enough that its sucking a lot of resources away.

We have to be ruthless. We need to adapt our force structure not to hypothetical threats or in some universal Swiss army knife approach, but to the actual threats that we face.

To that end, Askonas suggested that the military should re-adopt a cadre system for deploying the military, not dissimilar to that used in World War II.

Under such a system, the number of resource-heavy full time service members would be decreased in peacetime in favor of investing in expensive, slow-to-build items like warships.

In wartime, officers from this smaller element of the elite fighting force would then serve in cadres designed to be dispersed among units of draftees to train and lead them, effectively increasing the nations ability to surge manpower to the front lines.

Such a surge capacity would be invaluable in a conflict with China, whose own military has nearly twice as many personnel as the United States.

So, while U.S. leadership is unlikely to back away from the all-volunteer force any time soon, Askonas said that he was confident the force could pull it off.

The U.S. military is a tremendously adaptive organization and its transformed itself a number of times throughout its history, Askonas said.

The number one lesson from Cold War history is you have to adapt your force structure to the problems that you have, the threats that you have.
US Must Convince CCP That There Are Real Costs for Bad Behavior: Mike Pompeo

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 27, 2021. (Tal Atzmon/The Epoch Times)

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that the United States should do everything we can to protect Taiwan, because the island nations economy plays a key role in the supply chains of a variety of American industries.

The task for the United States is to protect the things that matter to Americans. And make no mistake about it, the business and industry that sit on the island of Taiwanwhich should be recognized as a sovereign nationis essential to American commerce, Pompeo told Fox News America Reports co-anchor, Sandra Smith.

Pompeo, a possible presidential candidate, stressed that the West needs to make clear to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that there would be severe consequences if it moved against the democratic, self-ruled island of Taiwan.

The United States should behave with reciprocity. We should demand that the Chinese Communist Party conform to international rules in the South China Sea, and not claim it all for their own like its one big Chinese lake, Pompeo said.

In the end, this is about deterrence. You have to convince the Chinese Communist Party that there are real costs for their bad behavior, he added.

And if they dont believe that, if they hear a president who says a minor incursion into Europe might be OK, or they see a president abandon Afghanistan, where we get 13 Americans killedthose are provocative, those are the kinds of things the Chinese leadership will see as appeasing, and it puts American lives at risk, Pompeo said.

The CCP has been ramping up pressure on Taiwan recently as the communist regime attempts to assert its claims of sovereignty over the island, with a large uptick in the number of aerial missions conducted over Taiwanese waters in the past three years.

After U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) highlighted the strong U.S.-Taiwan bond after meeting with Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen last week, China launched military drills around the island as a display of force.

Taiwans military detected approximately 70 Chinese aircraft and 11 naval vessels around the island on Monday on the third day of Chinas military drills, with 35 to 45 warplanes, including eight SU-30 fighters, spotted crossing the Taiwan Straits median line and the southwest of Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) numerous times.

Security Guarantee

When Smith asked Pompeo whether he supports Sen. Lindsey Grahams (R-S.C.) comments on having U.S. forces on the ground to defend Taiwan if tensions rise between the island and China, Pompeo said, Yes, we should do everything we can, and we should be doing it today.

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)

We often talk about Taiwan in isolation. Think about this. Japan will almost certainly get drawn into this if there is an invasion of Taiwan. We have a security guarantee to support Taiwanmuch like Article 5 in the NATO agreement, Pompeo said.

What we need to do is focus today on giving the Taiwanese the tools they need to make sure that this day never happens, he continued. But when push comes to shove, the United States is going to have to be all in to protect American interests throughout the Pacific. That includes Taiwan, Japan, our friends and allies in Australia, South Korea, he added.

Graham, meanwhile, echoed similar sentiments to Pompeo that CCP leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin feel empowered by the chaotic withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan.

During an interview on Fox News last week, Graham said the United States should aggressively train Taiwanese forces, send F-16 jets to the island, install nuclear-tipped missiles in its submarines, and dispatch American troops to defend the island.

Citing Taiwans key role in the microchip industry, the Republican lawmaker noted that he believes the CCP is setting the stage possibly for a blockade of the island.

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.

Taiwan makes more than 60 percent of the worlds semiconductors and more than 90 percent of the most advanced versions. Computer chips compose 15 percent of the countrys GDP, and most semiconductors are produced by one companythe Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation.

Graham cited the islands 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.

In response to Grahams remarks, Pompeo said strengthening Taiwans security include measures the United States should be doing even as we speak.

We should be doing it today  its not a decision to make a month from now, or six months from now. This is work that should be taking place even as we speak, to reduce the risk that the Chinese Communist Party sees any green light towards invading Taiwan, Pompeo said.

Jeff Louderback contributed to this report.

From NTD News
US Trusted Ally Concerned Over Potential Pentagon Leaks

One of the United States most trusted allies is asking for an explanation around what appears to be a cache of leaked top secret defense documents.

The Australian government has said it is seeking further information on the matter and that it is concerned about the potential disclosure of alleged classified U.S. defence information after alleged defense documents marked Top Secret and Secret were published on social media platforms like Discord, Twitter, and Telegram.

The documents, dated between Feb. 23 and March 1, appear to show maps and details about deliveries of weapons. Some also appear to show geographical locations for front-line Russian and Ukrainian military units and artillery guns.

In a statement, the Australian government told The Epoch Times that they were concerned about the disclosure of U.S. classified information.

We are pleased the U.S. Department of Justice has acted quickly in announcing an investigation, a spokesperson for the government said.

The Australian government is seeking further information on this matter.

The comment from one of the United States top allies comes as the U.S. Justice Department confirmed it had launched an investigation into the possible leak following a formal request from the Pentagon.

Pentagon Not Sure Yet on Documents Veracity

However, the documents are yet to be verified, with Reuters, which has viewed 50 documents, unable to verify their authenticity. Additionally, analysts like Aric Toler from Bellingcat have argued via a post on Twitter that the documents may have been altered.

In at least one case, the documents appear to have been altered to show much lower Russian troop fatality numbers than the 200,000 killed and wounded that U.S. officials have publicly estimated.

One document, dated Feb. 23 and marked Secret, outlines in detail how Ukraines S-300 air defence systems would be depleted by May 2 at the current usage rate.

This has led Ukrainian authorities to hypothesize that the alleged leak of classified documents detailing secret U.S. and NATO plans to help Kyiv may be part of a disinformation operation from the Kremlin.

Chris Meagher, the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, said on April 10 that the Defense Department had been processing the information online over the weekend and that the Department of Defense notes there were some documents which have been altered.

Were 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 that are circulating on social media sites and that appear in some cases to contain sensitive and highly-classified material, he said.

These photos appear to show documents 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. Some of these images appear to have been altered.

Meagher also noted that Defense and the Biden administration had set up an interagency effort to assess the impact the alleged leaked documents could have on U.S. national security and on our allies and partners.

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, he said.

He also noted that conversations were underway with allies and partners to discuss how this would impact their national security.

Allies Call For US to Validate Documents

Part of the cache of documents has placed pressure on key U.S. allies like Israel and South Korea, with one document claiming that the Mossad intelligence agency was enabling protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plans to tighten appointment controls on Israels Supreme Court.

In a statement, Netanyahus office described the opinion as mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever, reported ABC.

Further, another document detailed a discussion among South Korean officials about U.S. pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine, which is against its domestic policy on weapons sales, propelling the office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on April 10 to state that fact checks on the documents are a priority.

Yoons 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.

Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies at ANU, John Blaxland, told ABC that there were strong indications the leak was an attempt by Russia to deflect attention, to upset battle plans for the expected Ukrainian offensive.
Vodafone Resolves Broadband Outage That Impacted Thousands of UK Users

A woman holds a phone as she passes a Vodafone store in London on May 16, 2017. (Neil Hall/Reuters)

Vodafone on Monday said it resolved an outage that impacted thousands of its home broadband service users in the United Kingdom, after hours of downtime.

We have now fixed the issue impacting just over 1 percent of our home broadband customers today. Customers should already be seeing their connectivity return, the company told Reuters in an emailed statement.

Vodafone has about 1.2 million broadband customers in the UK.

According to outage tracking website Downdetector.com, users experienced issues with the service from about 07:00 GMT.

Last week telecoms firm Virgin Media experienced broadband outages in Britain, with tens of thousands of customers reporting internet access problems.
The Voice Could Become An Excuse Not to Help Indigenous Australians, Says Clive Palmer

Clive Palmer speaks to the media in Canberra, Australia, on May 14, 2014. (Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer has revealed he is open to being part of the No movement against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The mining magnate, whose net worth was estimated to be over $13 billion (US$8.6 billion) in 2021, has said he will talk to Indigenous leaders and politicians before deciding whether he would participate in the campaign.

He told The Australian on Tuesday that a national Indigenous advisory body could effectively become a hindrance for hundreds of thousands of Indigenous Australian families who want to air their concerns directly to members of parliaments.

Palmer argued the proposal would put local Indigenous communities in an even more vulnerable position.

The billionaire warned that if The Voice is successful, authorities would have even more reasons to avoid directly solving problems concerning Indigenous Australians as they can push the issues to the Indigenous advisory body.

Palmers called The Voice another stunt to further persecute Indigenous people and entrench the rights differences between racial groups to prevent Indigenous people from holding the government to account.

He also said under the current Constitution, Indigenous Australian individually already have the right to appeal to politicians whatever issues they face, and they shouldnt be forced to go through another hurdle to do so.

Yes Proponents Say The Voice Gives Self-Determination

Recently, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the official wording for the constitutional amendment for the voice. It will be stated as follow:

There shall be a body to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice; The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.

The Indigenous body will speak to all levels of the government, including the cabinet, ministers, public servants, as well as statutory officers and agencies from the Reserve Bank to Centrelink. These powers include the ability to challenge the High Court and any decisions made by the executive on which The Voice feels it was not properly listened to.

Referendum working group member Tony McAvoy said such power is proportionate because the proposal is about giving Indigenous people the right to self-determination in an all-in-all colonial nation.

How do we provide room for the Aboriginal people, and theyre continuing political entities to participate in our democracy? he argued during a debate on the Voice at the Centre for Independent Studies on April 4.

The Voice is that proposal. Its not a proposal for conflict. Its a proposal for harmony, and its not divisive.

Its about recognising status and trying to figure out a way forward.

A Trojan Horse

But Country Liberal Senator Jacinta Price argued that the proposed voice body is not simply a means of recognition. She said were living at a time when some Australians are feeling guilty for events of the past, and others are more than happy to take advantage of that.

It is undeniable that Australians have done a lot, spent a lot and given a lot in the name of correcting those wrongs, Price said at the debate.

But so long as there is something to be gained from victimhood, we will forever have victims. Its my belief that in the name of recognition and an attempt to undo the wrongs of the past, some Australians are attempting to enshrine a dangerous, divisive and costly mistake into the Constitution.

 It is a Trojan horse and a transfer of power. The voice movement is a dangerous attempt to undermine democracy and the fundamental belief of equality between citizens.

What may have started as an act of goodwill, as a simple and modest gesture, has become a legal nightmare. That would give a chosen few the ability to bring government to a halt.

It draws a line between Indigenous Australians and everyone else, and labels one group as different as other as in perpetual need of special help perpetual victimhood.

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.

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.

Rebecca Zhu contributed to this article.
Voicing No to Embedding Race Politics Into the Australian Constitution

Australian Opposition Leader Peter Dutton speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on April 5, 2023. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Commentary

The Liberal Party, on April 5, decided to oppose Labors push to entrench The Voice in the Australian Constitution. The Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, told reporters that the Voice is divisive, and its not going to deliver the outcomes to people on the ground.

Instead, the Coalition favours regional bodies to enhance effective communication with stakeholders.

As could be predicted, the Labor government chastised the decision of the Liberal Party and called it shocking.

Even before that, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, following the Aston by-election, confidently predicted that the government will work tirelessly to see our recognition of our First Nations people through a Voice to Parliament referendum later this year, and when that happens, it will be one of the great unifying moments for our nation.

Curiously, state Liberal leaders have indicated they will either campaign for the Yes vote or await further developments.

For example, West Australian Liberal leader Libby Mettam has wasted no time revealing she will defy her partys federal position.

I support recognition of our First Nations people in the Constitution, she said.

Of course, there should be no special recognition of ethnic groups under the Australian Constitution. Weve got here first is a poorer constitutional idea than the equalitarian principle that We are all created equal and endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights.

As stated by Ian Callinan QC, a former judge of the Australian High Court:

Any constitutional provision which might seek to justify a different law for peoples of different ethnicity on grounds of that ethnicity should be resisted. This must be so for reasons of fairness and social cohesion, as well as clarity of application.

Local children play stick ball on a street in Aurukun, far North Queensland, Cape York, on July 19, 2022. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

What Is the Proposal?

The federal Coalition objects to the government proposal to insert the second paragraph of The Voice proposal in the Constitution:

There shall be a body to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;

The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions powers, and procedures.

The third paragraph is superfluous because the Parliament, according to section 51(xxvi) of the Constitution, already has the power to make laws with respect to the members of any race.

It is the second paragraph that is highly problematic because its lack of specificity makes it into a minefield of potential conflicts, some of which might end up in the High Court.

For example, it fails to explain what representations mean; it fails to indicate which agencies of the executive government must seek the advice of the Voice.

Indigenous dancers perform during a Smoking Ceremony during the state funeral service for Uncle Jack Charles at Hamer Hall in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 18, 2022. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele)

And the meaning of the phrase matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is ambiguous because it fails to disclose the matters that would trigger The Voices right to make representations to the Parliament and the executive government.

In the absence of such specificity, the claim that The Voice would evolve into a parallel government is credible.

There has already been much discussion in the media about The Voice, which is described by the prime minister as a modest proposal, which engenders a feeling of inevitability to facilitate the adoption of the proposal. Indeed, in opposing it, the Liberal Party is characterised as heartless and homophobic.

There Are Aboriginals Who Also Disagree

In a recent comment, Greg Craven, a constitutional lawyer, notes that A society that spurns the most ancient and disadvantaged component of its community will be a deeply troubled nation.

However, it is reasonable to believe that a successful Voice proposal will divide Australia.

Constitutional recognition offers the potential to create different rules for people with different ethnicity and ancestry. This could benefit a few, but it could also keep many Aborigines from reaching their full potential.

This practice has sometimes ended in tragedy, says Anthony Dillon, a university lecturer who identifies himself as a part-Aboriginal Australian.

A member of the Koomurri dancers holds up an Indigenous and Australian flag during the WugulOra Morning Ceremony on Australia Day at Walumil Lawns, Barangaroo in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

Because of such race-based discrimination, Dillon explains:

Some children have suffered, all in the name of culture. A colour-blind culture or way of life, characterised by love, is a far more important consideration than a culture that is assumed to be Aboriginal simply because the adult potential carers themselves have some Aboriginal ancestry.

The great hypocrisy is that the paternalism of the past that the ruling elites decry is basically what they now wish to constitutionalise through the Voice proposal.

Sadly, writes Dallas Scott, an Australian Aborigine, this is the enduring legacy of Aboriginal affairs in Australia.

He is especially critical of privileged individuals who identify themselves as Aborigine and Aboriginal leaders with no democratic mandate to make decisions for others and to speak for the entire community.

Voices Shut Down

Quite recently, one of the authors of this opinion piece, both new arrivals to this country, experienced a telling example of disunity when he was interviewed on a talkback radio station about The Voice.

A caller-in who identified herself as an Aboriginal woman explained that, as the interviewee was obviously a migrantfrom his accent and introductionhe should not be allowed to make pronouncements on The Voice.

But even common sense suggests that all citizens should enjoy political equality, regardless of whether they are descendants of Indigenous people, non-Indigenous citizens born in Australia, or new arrivals.

Protesters make their way towards Victoria Park during a protest in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 26, 2023. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

There is a swath of reasons for voting No, but these have been or will be canvassed in other opinion pieces.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that if The Voice were to be successful, Australia would be a divided country for the simple but compelling reason that burdens and benefits would no longer be distributed regardless of race, and the promise of political equality would become a distant reminder of a saner past.

In this context, it is useful to consider in what a society freedom-loving people would have chosen to live in, if they had been behind a veil of ignorance.

Surely, it would be a society where there is political equality and where any suggestion of constitutional recognition of any particular race in the Constitution is regarded as a violation of this principle.

Ultimately, the ruling classes in Australia have a vested interest in fomenting a divisive agenda that further undermines the democratic principle of equality before the law. This is basically a revisitation of the old divide and conquer strategy that was so successfully applied by the ancient Romans.

Accordingly, The Voice proposal is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the political and intellectual elites to concentrate more power by radically changing the Australian Constitution to fulfil their own ideological ambitions.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Walmart Announces Its Shutting Down Unprofitable Chicago Stores After Investing Hundreds of Millions

Retail giant Walmart announced Tuesday that it is closing down of its stores in the Chicago area because none of the stores have been profitable and lose tens of millions of dollars annually, according to a news release.

After about two decades of continual losses, Walmart said that it also invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the four locations, according to the release. However, that still hasnt helped the firm turn a profit in the area, it said.

The simplest explanation is that collectively our Chicago stores have not been profitable since we opened the first one nearly 17 years agothese stores lose tens of millions of dollars a year, and their annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years, the press release said. But Walmart said that after millions of dollars in investments and many different strategies, it has to cut its losses in the area.

Over the years, we have tried many different strategies to improve the business performance of these locations, including building smaller stores, localizing product assortment and offering services beyond traditional retail, Walmarts release said. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the city, including $70 million in the last couple years to upgrade our stores and build two new Walmart Health facilities and a Walmart Academy training center.

Walmart said that the four locations will be shut down on Sunday, April 16, to the public. Pharmacies at the four locations will remain open for another 30 days, the Arkansas-based company added.

The locations that are being closed are as follows: #5781 Chatham Supercenter, the Walmart Health center, and the Walmart Academy, 8431 S. Stewart Ave.; #3166 Kenwood Neighborhood Market, 4720 S. Cottage Grove Ave.; #5645 Lakeview Neighborhood Market, 2844 N. Broadway St.; and #5646 Little Village Neighborhood Market, 2551 W. Cermak Road.

We will work with local leaders to help find reuse options for these buildings, so they remain important parts of their communities, including the Walmart Academy, which we intend to donate to the community to help further strengthen Chatham and the surrounding neighborhoods, the news release said.

Walmart still has at least four other stores located around Chicago, the firm said. However, those locations may not remain there much longer, the news release suggested.

The remaining four Chicago stores continue to face the same business difficulties, Walmart said, but we think this decision gives us the best chance to help keep them open and serving the community.

The news release said that workers at the soon-to-be shuttered locations are now eligible to transfer their jobs to any other Walmart or Sams Club location and that all associates will be paid until Aug. 11, 2023unless they transfer. Representatives from other Walmart or Sams Club facilities will be in each of these stores to help workers transfer, it said.

While Walmart did not make reference to Chicagos high violent crime numbers, a handful of big corporations have moved their headquarters or offices away from the Windy City in recent years. They included Tyson Foods, Boeing, Caterpillar, Citadel, and others.

The head of Citadel, billionaire Ken Griffin, specifically cited Chicagos crime rate as a reason to leave during an interview with the Wall Street Journal last year. Citadel and Griffin ultimately relocated to Miami, Florida.

If people arent safe here, theyre not going to live here, he told the paper. Ive had multiple colleagues mugged at gunpoint. Ive had a colleague stabbed on the way to work. Countless issues of burglary. I mean, thats a really difficult backdrop with which to draw talent to your city from.

Earlier this year, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, lost her bid for reelection amid claims that she could not address the citys high crime numbers. Chicago has reported around 700 murders each year for 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Just hours before Walmarts announcement, the Democratic National Committee announced Chicago would host its 2024 Democratic National Convention, said a release from the DNC. President Joe Biden said in the release that the city is a great choice to host the event, where Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress around the economy.

Outside of Chicago, Walmart closed its final two stores in Portland, Oregon, due to a wave of retail theft. And on Tuesday, Whole Foods said it was shutting down its flagship store in San Francisco due to soaring thefts.

The Epoch Times has contacted the mayors office for comment.
Walter Reed Military Hospital Cuts Pastoral Care Contract With Catholic Priests, Chooses Secular Company Instead

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has cut ties with the community of Catholic priests that have administered religious rights to service members and veterans at the hospital for two decades.

Walter Reed Medical Center, one of the most prominent military hospitals in the United States, issued a cease and desist letter on March 31, informing the Franciscan priests and brothers of the nearby Holy Name College Friary that they must stop their religious services for service members and veterans at the hospital.

The Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services condemned the cease and desist notice, which they said violates the First Amendment right to the free exercise of ones religion. Specifically, the archdiocese said the move leaves Catholic service members and veterans at the hospital without access to adequate pastoral care.

The archdiocese said Walter Reed Medical Center has awarded a pastoral care contract to a secular defense contracting firm.

Our understanding is that the Franciscans were underbid by the secular defense contracting firm who was awarded the contract, Elizabeth A. Tomlin, the general counsel for the Military Archdiocese, told NTD News.

Tomlin explained that while the secular firm had the more competitive bid, they lacked the most simple qualification to fulfill the contract: having ordained priests who could perform specific Catholic religious rites, like the sacrament and confession.

It is incomprehensible that essential pastoral care is taken away from the sick and the aged when it was so readily available, said Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Archdiocese.

This is a classic case where the adage if it is not broken, do not fix it applies. I fear that giving a contract to the lowest bidder overlooked the fact that the bidder cannot provide the necessary service, Broglio added.

Though the secular firm had underbid the Franciscans of the Holy Name College, Tomlin explained that the otherwise unqualified secular firm planned to overcome its lack of qualified priests by subcontracting out to the very same Franciscan priests and brothers they had underbid in the first place.

What theyve tried to do is now subcontract the friars for 30 percent of their award, so basically, the contractor wants to keep two-thirds and then just hire the Franciscans for one third, which would put the Franciscans making just above minimum wage per mass, and its just not possible, Tomlin said. Moreover, a secular defense contracting firm, cannot supervise the ministerial work of a Catholic priest under canon law.

Move Came Right Before Easter

Worsening the situation for Catholic service members, the Walter Reed Medical Center made its contracting decision just before Holy Week, the most sacred week in Christianity ahead of the Easter holiday.

Tomlin contacted the Walter Reed Medical Centers contracting officials at multiple points during Holy Week, but she said her emails and voicemails went unanswered, and a contracting official only ever responded by text, asking to discuss the issue the next day but wouldnt schedule a specific time to talk.

The archdiocese explained that Walter Reed Medical Center has one Catholic Army chaplain on hand, but he is in the process of separating from the Army, leaving the military hospital without a qualified priest to fulfill religious rites in accordance with the requirements of the Catholic faith. Tomlin said this Army chaplain was able to fulfill Catholic masses throughout Holy Week but could not feasibly handle all of the pastoral care needs for individual Catholic service members and veterans at the hospital.

Tomlin said it would have been feasible to do a pen and ink change to the contract terms, to allow the Franciscans to continue to provide pastoral care through Holy Week, but she said the Walter Reed Medical Centers contracting officials never made that effort.

What Happens Now

It remains to be seen how Walter Reed Medical Center will address pastoral care needs for Catholic service members and veterans.

NTD News reached out to the Walter Reed Medical Center and the Department of Defense for comment on this issue, but neither responded before this article was published.

I earnestly hope that this disdain for the sick will be remedied at once and their First Amendment rights will be respected, Broglio said of the situation.

From NTD News.
HANOI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam should consider removing bottlenecks in transport infrastructure as part of the efforts to develop the logistics sector and facilitate foreign trade in the southern key economic region, according to local experts.

The country should also develop inland waterway ports and foster regional connectivity in this region which consists of Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Tay Ninh, Long An, and Tien Giang provinces, local newspaper Vietnam News reported on Tuesday.

The region, which accounts for 35 percent of Vietnam's GDP and more than 40 percent of revenues and foreign trade, is in danger of stagnation due to bottlenecks in infrastructure, the newspaper said.

According to Do Xuan Minh, director of a local logistics services center, the compounded annual growth rate of Vietnam's logistics sector is expected to be 5.5 percent in the 2022-2027 period.

But logistics development in the country, especially its southern region, is facing difficulties in terms of infrastructure at ports and roads connecting warehouses, he said.

The lack of mechanisms to create effective intra-regional linkages between localities in the region have affected logistics development and made it difficult to reduce trade costs and time, said Dang Vu Thanh, vice president of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association.

More and more logistics firms have invested in infrastructure, modern warehouses, and technology to help customers optimize time and costs, the newspaper reported, citing the association.

They want the government to make policies and take specific actions to create better infrastructure connectivity with seaports and airports, especially between industrial parks and raw material areas, to facilitate trade and reduce costs, it said. 
Washington Braces for Diplomatic Fallout Amid Fears of Further Intel Leaks

The podium at the State Department in Washington on Aug. 16, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

U.S. federal agencies are scrambling to contain the diplomatic fallout after scores of classified documents pertaining to Ukraineand other U.S. allieswere leaked online by as-yet-unknown actors.

U.S. officials across the interagency are engaging with allies and partners at high levels over this, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said at an April 10 press briefing.

According to Patel, Washington seeks to reassure allies of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and the fidelity of securing our partnerships.

The documents, most of which date from February or March of this year, initially appeared last month on online forums such as Discord and 4Chan.

South Koreas President Yoon Suk-yeol arrives for the G-20 leaders summit in Nusa Dua, on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Nov. 15, 2022. (Mast Irham/AFP via Getty Images)

But they only made headlines on April 6, when the New York Times, citing senior Biden administration officials, reported their appearance on Twitter and Telegram.

Both the Pentagon and Justice Department are now trying to find the source of the leakssome of which point to U.S. spying activityamid fears they could damage relations with allies.

There is no question that they [the leaks] present a risk to national security, Patel said.

Seoul: Leaks Utterly False

Comprised of dozens of pages of text and images, most leaked documents relate to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Others, however, purportedly contain classified informationwhich U.S. officials say may have been doctoredabout key U.S. allies in Asia and the Middle East.

One document, for example, appears to give details of closed-door discussions between top South Korean officials regarding alleged U.S. pressure on Seoul to contribute more to Ukraines war effort.

The documents content, and the fact that it was seemingly obtained via signals intelligence (intercepted communications), suggests that U.S. agencies may have spied on the government of South Korea, a longstanding ally of the United States.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi listens during the Baghdad conference in the Iraqi capital on Aug. 28, 2021. (Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images)

On April 11, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the issue in a telephone call with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jong-sup.

On the same day, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said that allegations that his office had been the target of U.S. spying were utterly false.

Any attempt to damage relations between the United States and South Korea was contrary to the latters national interest, Yoons office said in a statement.

Yoon is slated to visit Washington later this month for talks with U.S. President Joe Biden.

South Korean opposition figures, however, have decried alleged U.S. surveillance on government officials as a breach of the countrys national sovereignty.

When asked directly about South Korea, the State Departments Patel stressed that the U.S. commitment to South Korea was ironclad.

They are one of our most important partners in the region, he said.

The United States, he added, was engaging at high levels with our allies and partners  to reassure them as it relates to our commitment to safeguard intelligence and sensitive documents, as well as ensuring our commitment to the security of the partnerships that we have with these countries.

Meanwhile, U.S. relations with Israel, long seen as a key Middle Eastern ally, may also have come under strain due to the leaks.

One leaked document appears to suggest that ongoing protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were encouraged by Israels Mossad intelligence agencya claim roundly denied by Netanyahus office.

When asked whether the leaks might adversely affect U.S.-Israel relations, Patel emphasized the deep partnership between the two countries.

But he declined to give details about private discussions now underway between the United States and its allies, except to say they were happening at the highest levels.

More to Come?

The leaks also appear to have ensnared Egypt, another longstanding ally of the United States.

On April 10, the Washington Post reported that, according to one leaked document, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had ordered the production of 40,000 rockets to be covertly delivered to Russia.

The document, dated Feb. 17, further asserts that Al-Sisi ordered military officials to keep the plan secret to avoid problems with the West.

After the Washington Post ran the report, Egypts state-run Al-Ahram news agency quoted a government source as saying the claims had no basis in truth.

Egypt follows a balanced policy with all international parties, with peace, stability, and development being the main determinants of this policy, Al-Ahram quoted the official as saying.

Moscow also denied the allegation, which Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described as the latest canard.

This is something weve been dealing with a lot lately, he said.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials are bracing for the possibility that more secret documents may yet appear online.

We dont know whos behind this. We dont know what the motive is, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on April 10.

He added: We dont know what else might be out there.

Reuters contributed to this report.
When Americans Flee Liberal States, Are They Simply Heading to Other Danger Zones?

'Leftugees' need to view safety data with a critical eye

Over the last few years, Americans in general have stayed put. In fact, 2022s migration rate of 8.7 percent was just slightly higher than 2021s record low of 8.4 percent, the lowest migration rate in 75 years.

One migration trend continues to get attention, however. Left-leaning states like California, New York, and Illinois continue to bleed residents. According to a Dec. 22, 2022 report by the Census Bureau, the top two states losing population in 2022 were California (-343,230), and New York (-299,557). Both are controlled by Democrats. Meanwhile, between July 2021 and July 2022, Democrat-controlled Illinois was second only to New York in population decline.

The mass exodus from Democrat-controlled states became so profuse in 2021 that Forbes dubbed blue-state migrants leftugees. Reasons cited were that people were desperate to escape the heavy-handed regulation-ridden government approach pushed by liberal governors, and they were seeking places where they feel safe and secure.

Where did those people go? A huge number of them went to Florida and Texas, statistics show. In 2022, Floridas population grew to 22,244,823an increase of 1.9 percentmaking it the fastest-growing state in the country. Texas was the largest-gaining state, reaching a population total of 30,029,572.

An overview of safety data, however, indicates that refugees from blue states may not automatically be safer and more secure when they flee.

Safer Pastures

People flee liberal-leaning states for a variety of reasons, including taxes, government regulation, cost of living, and personal freedom. Another big reason is personal safety. Liberal states are increasingly soft on crime, and states like California make frequent headlines for random acts of violence. Case in point: the recent stabbing of CashApp founder Bob Lee in San Francisco.

According to a January 2021 report by CalMatters, California is conducting an immense sociological experiment, testing whether reducing prison time for criminal acts will, in the long run, mean less crime.

A year later CalMatters reported that 2023 started with a string of back-to-back-to-back mass shootings, as well as an increase in homicides and property crime.

Californiaa state with some of the most stringent gun restrictionsleads the nation in the number of mass shootings (25).

Equating Conservative Governments with Safety

Its likely that those who migrate in order to feel safe and secure equate conservative governments with safer states.

While Texas and Florida make up about 15 percent of Americas population, these states accounted for 70 percent of U.S. population growth in 2022. These states are not only Republican-controlled, they have a Republican Trifecta and a Republican Triplex. A state government trifecta is when one political party holds majorities in both chambers of the states legislature and the governors office. State government triplex is a moniker for states that have one political party in the positions of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.

Florida is also unique in that there isnt a single Democrat in charge of any state-level office.

Are Red States Actually Safer?

However, a cursory look at the data indicates that red states might not necessarily be safer. Are the leftugees simply jumping from the skillet into the fire?

On Oct. 25, 2022, a Wallet Hub report placed Florida 44th on the list of Safest States in America. Texas placed 47th. New York was number 22; California was number 27.

An analysis by World Population Review, also citing Wallet Hub data, placed Texas in third place on the nations 10 Most Dangerous States list for 2023. California was fifth. California and New York werent mentioned.

A March 13 report by Consumer Affairs placed New York in 9th place on the safety scale of Americas states. Florida was ranked 15th. California was given the 34th spot.

Re-defining Crimes and Safety

But is the data behind those ratings accurate? It may depend on how you define safety.

A look at the Wallet Hub analysis cited above shows that it looks at five categories: personal and residential safety, financial safety, workplace safety, road accidents, and emergency preparedness. Under personal and residential safety, the survey included vaccine rates, with more highly vaccinated areas considered safer.

Meanwhile, CalMatters noted that 2020 data showed that some police departments and sheriffs offices across the state made fewer arrests for lower-level crimes. Fewer people were taken to jail, and many people incarcerated in jails and prisons were granted early release.

California has also downgraded incidents of mass looting linked to organized crime to misdemeanor shoplifting, passed a new state law on July 1, 2022, to prohibit police from making arrests for loitering with the intent to commit prostitution, and in some areas, no longer prosecutes crimes like criminal threats, drug/paraphernalia possession, public intoxication, and resisting arrest.

New York is using a similar ploy to artificially reduce its crime numbers.

On Jan. 3, just days after assuming office, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg released a seven-page memo (pdf) with the list of crimes he would no longer prosecute. The New York Post reported that Bragg has also downgraded 52 percent of felony cases to misdemeanors in 2022 and won just half of the felony cases his office did pursue. In October of 2022, The New York Post revealed that the NYPD faced losing millions of dollars for failing to report its crime stats to the FBI. Even after the feds paid New York City nearly $24 million in grants, the department did not comply.

Dont Take Crime Numbers at Face Value

You cant take crime numbers at face value, even in red states:

In October 2022, NPR reported that, while the FBIs 2021 crime statistics had been released, they were not complete. The majority of law enforcement agencies in states like California and Florida failed to report their numbers, while two of the biggest cities in the nation, Los Angeles and New York City, reported nothing at all.

This was attributed in part to a switch in the way the FBI collects crime data, a change that the agency hopes will lead to more accurate crime reporting in the long run. Nonetheless, in the short term, police departments in many states did not participate.

The switch to the new FBI methodology resulted in confusing numbers on a state level as well. For example, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcements annual state summary of crime data reports for 2021, violent crime and property crime both dropped.

However, as reported on Dec. 1, 2022, by the Tampa Bay Times, Some Florida agencies submitted data using the old methodology, some used the new methodology, and some submitted data using both. The differences created blind spots in the data.

Safer Cities

Crime numbers vary widely within states as well.

Data compiled by the National Association of Realtors shows that Ocala and Tallahassee were among the cities with the greatest influx of people in 2022.

Yet data compiled by Neighborhood Scout shows there are around 51 crimes per square mile in Ocala. The national average is 26.8. With these numbers, Ocala is safer than only 7 percent of other U.S. cities. The odds of becoming a property crime victim in Ocala are 1 in 34, and the odds of becoming a violent crime victim are 1 in 151.

Neighborhood Scouts data for Tallahasseethe state capitalshows there are an average of 71 crimes committed per square mile. While the chances of becoming a property crime victim in the State of Florida are 1 in 57, the odds are 1 in 34 in the Sunshine States capital. These numbers make Tallahassee safer than only 6 percent of Americas other cities. Homeowner advice website Upgraded Homes ranked Tallahassee 7th among the most dangerous cities in the Sunshine State.

Then theres Texas.

Data released by the Census Bureau in May of 2022 showed that San Antonio and Fort Worth were the two metropolitan cities in Texas that saw the most growth.

Data from Neighborhood Scout shows that, while the odds of becoming a victim of property crime in the Lonestar State is 1 in 46, they go up to 1 in 24 in San Antonio. Your chances of being a victim of a violent crime are 1 in 133. Statewide the odds are 1 in 220. With nearly eight violent crimes per 1,000 residents and 154 crimes per square mile, San Antonio is only safer than 3 percent of the other cities in the United States.

Fort Worth isnt much safer.

Neighborhood Scouts data for Fort Worth show that the chances of becoming a property crime victim there are 1 in 38. For violent crime, the odds are 1 in 177. With 26.65 crimes per 1,000 residents and 87 crimes per square mile, you would be safer in only 9 percent of the rest of Americas cities.

Safety Data is Nuanced

Its important to remember that big cities tend to be more liberal, even in conservative states. Tallahassee, for example, with its high crime rate, is known for its progressive politics. And in 2020, 58.2 percent of the vote in Bexar Countywhere San Antonio is the county seatwent to Democrat candidate Joe Biden.

Does moving to a conservative state mean you will be safer?

The answer seems clear: not necessarily. If youre moving because of safety concerns, remember that a variety of factors influence safety ratings, including the definition of safety.

Moreover, even in a conservative state, safety, like political climate, varies from city to city and metro area to metro area.
Wisconsin Conservatives Cite Election Bribery in State Supreme Court Defeat

Interior view of the Wisconsin Supreme Court courtroom, inside the Wisconsin State Capitol building, Madison, Wisconsin, on July 24, 2013. (CCO 1.0 via Wikipedia)

Out-spent and out-hustled, Wisconsin conservatives suffered a crushing loss this month when a liberal won a seat on the state Supreme Court.

The defeat has some Republicans calling the results tainted.

About a month before the April 4 election, conservative activists became aware of an online left-wing get-out-the-vote project that was drumming up votes for the progressive candidate in exchange for gift cards.

By that time, it was too late. The gift card ploy went on to play its small part in boosting Democrat turnout.

Historically, the higher the voter turnout in Democrat strongholds the better the chance of victory for progressive candidates.

To accomplish this, Democrats have created innovative ways of using public information to digitally keep close track of the status of absentee ballots and then shepherd their voters into mailing them in.

In some states, Democrats also send out workers to collect absentee ballots as a service to their voters in a process called ballot harvesting.

Fight Fire with Fire?

The techniques have proven to be effective in recent elections across the country, causing debate among some Republicans over adopting the controversial campaign method themselves.

Democrats consider the gift card practice a legitimate paid canvassing tactic.

Republicans equate it to buying votes.

When the votes were counted, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal, handily beat conservative Daniel Kelly 55.5 percent to 44.5 percent in a non-partisan contest to replace a soon-to-retire conservative justice.

When Protasiewicz begins her 10-year term in July, she will give progressives a four-to-three majority on the states highest court.

GOP Files Ethics Complaint

In early March, Jordan Moskowitz, a qualified elector from Madison with ties to the Republican Party of Wisconsin, filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission against non-profit Wisconsin Takes Action and the Organizing Empowerment PAC for failing to register as a political action committee.

The respondents answered that they are operating within the law.

The complaint contained a link to a Zoom call in which progressive activists recruited mobilizers and introduced them to a training app.

Relational Organizing

The app taught the mobilizers to make a list of 75 family members, friends, former classmates, and coworkers, and then contact each one four times before the election urging them to get out and vote for progressive ideas and candidates.

A trainers explanation captured on a recording of the Zoom call made express mention of Janet Protasiewicz.

Mobilizers were promised up to $270 in gift cards if they made the contacts required and an additional $30 payment for each person they recruited to download the training app.

The sophisticated project also contained a way for the creators to statistically measure the effectiveness of the operation in the Wisconsin election.

In a recorded online training session obtained by Just the News, organizers claimed their methodology was first tried in 2020 during the Georgia Senate runoff election and that it worked well in Nevada in the 2022 midterms.

In that session, the trainers also said the program may be rolled out to all of the swing states in 2024.

Smacks of Bribery

In a press release, state Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls) said, Wisconsin Takes Action seems to have reached out to hundreds, if not thousands, of voters around

the state using Zoom calls to commit election bribery and that the practice may violate Wisconsin law.

Wisconsin State Assemblywoman Janel Brandtjen. (Photo courtesy of Janel Brandtjen)

The pertinent state statute makes it a felony for any person to offer, give, lend, or promise to give or lend, or to endeavor to procure, anything of value to an elector, or to any other person in order to induce him to go to or refrain from going to the polls; and to vote or refrain from voting for or against a particular person or referendum.

It is also a felony in Wisconsin to receive, agree or contract to receive or accept any money, gift, loan, or other valuable consideration in return for going to the polls or refraining from going, and voting for or against a particular person or referendum.

Win at Any Cost

Brandtjen said the gift card tactic called into question the integrity of the 2023 Supreme Court election.

The willingness of these groups to win by any means necessary should disgust  all the voters of Wisconsin, as this election has now been tainted, she said in the press release.

Peter Bernegger of the national election integrity group Election Watch told The Epoch Times that a federal law relating to expenditures to influence voting (18 U.S. Code 597) may also have been violated by the practice employed in Wisconsin.

He said the ploy may have been carried out by these organizations without the knowledge of Protasiewicz.

Bernegger called on Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul to investigate the possible violation of state law and on federal prosecutors to evaluate whether federal law has been broken.

Explaining that the chances were slim that anything will come out of such calls, Bernegger said, Theres not much appetite to look into this because its well known in Wisconsin that both parties pay doorknockers to get out the vote.

When everybody is guilty, nobody is guilty.

Citizens end up complaining to the very people that are benefiting from the corruption.

Kauls office declined to answer a question from The Epoch Times, saying, The Attorney General, by statute, is required to provide opinions to legal questions to the legislature and designated government officials, through AG Opinions.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoes Republican bills during a news conference in the Capitol rotunda in Madison, Wis., on Aug. 10, 2021. (Scott Bauer/AP Photo)

A Progressive Alliance

According to its website, Wisconsin Takes Action partners with Black Lives Matter, the American Federation of Teachers, the American Federation of State and Municipal Employees, and other left-leaning organizations to aid progressive causes and candidates.

Wisconsin Takes Action did not return a phone call from The Epoch Times.

Protasiewicz has been a vocal critic of the decisions of the conservative-dominated Wisconsin Supreme Court.

She said on her website that the criminal and civil justice system, our constitutional rights, and democracy itself are under attack by right-wing extremists.

When added to the prolific veto pen of Democrat Gov. Tony Evers, the new progressive majority on the high court makes it harder for the Republican-controlled state legislature to enact and sustain new reforms in election administration and in economic and social matters, such as abortion.
Yellen Reassures US on Global Economy, Banking System

'Not anticipating downturn' but acknowledging it 'remains a risk'

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testifies about the Biden administration's FY2024 federal budget proposal before the Senate Finance Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 16, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen attempted to reassure Americans about the state of the global economy at a press conference on Tuesday. While acknowledging the possibility of an economic downturn, she said she did not anticipate one and believes that the U.S. banking system remains strong.

Ive not really seen evidence at this stage suggesting a contraction in credit, although that is a possibility, Yellen said. I believe our banking system remains strong and resilient; it has solid capital and liquidity.

So Im not anticipating a downturn in the economy, although of course that remains a risk.

One point of optimism was the Biden administrations plans of friend-shoring, which Yellen viewed as an approach to deal with supply chain risks while allowing for continued global trade. She dismissed as not valid arguments that friend-shoring would cause fragmentation, stating that it retains tremendous scope for maintaining interconnected supply chains.

Yellen pointed to the recent events in Russias war in Ukraine as evidence of the importance of diversifying supply chains.

Yellen also commented on the global economy, stating that it remained in a better position than anticipated, a view that appeared to contrast with the International Monetary Funds (IMF) recent downgrade of its economic growth forecast. The IMF had lowered its estimate from 2.9 percent to 2.8 percent for 2023, citing financial market volatility.

Yellen to Visit China

Chinas participation in the first principles meeting of the Sovereign Debt Roundtable was seen as a positive sign by the secretary. China will be an active participant in debt restructuring and providing financial aid to struggling nations like Sri Lanka, Yellen said.

Yellen expressed her intention to visit China at the appropriate time, citing President Joe Bidens emphasis on maintaining communication channels and opening up economic ties with other countries.

Amid ongoing challenges with global supply chains amid the war in Ukraine and the lingering effects of the pandemic, Yellen highlighted the need for vigilance in safeguarding the U.S. economy and the importance of keeping in frequent contact with economic partners.

Ive been in constant communication with my counterparts in recent weeks regarding these developments, and I look forward to continuing our dialogue this week, she said.

The comments come amid renewed tensions over Taiwan following House Speaker Kevin McCarthys visit with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen last week. Throughout the weekend, the Chinese military conducted various drills in the waters around the island nation.

The drills around Taiwan ended on Monday, but combat training is continuing as of Tuesday.
Include Pvt Colleges to perform 131 Reserved Procedures under MPJAY





By Vikas Vaidya

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked the Health Department to prepare a policy to include private medical colleges to perform 131 reserved surgical procedures under Mahatma Phule Jan Aarogya Yojna (MPJAY).

After reviewing the functioning of MPJAY, Fadnavis took a detailed feedback from various sources where he came to know that the burden of surgical procedures on Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals (GMCHs) was rising. Due to this, the patients have to await their turns resulting into medical complications. Considering these problems, Fadnavis wrote a letter to Maharashtras Principal Secretary (Public Health) where he pointed out, The Government of Maharashtra is implementing the MPJAY Scheme since 2012. It has come to my notice that Private Medical Colleges in Maharashtra are excluded from performing 131 procedures such as Inguinal Hernia, Epigastric Hernia, Hysterectomy, Hydrocele, Lap and Open Cholecystectomy, Appendectomy. Tympanoplasty, Septoplasty, Laminectomy, Discectomy, under MPJAY as a policy.
COVID mock drills in Govt hospitals amid spikes in cases





Staff Reporter

The cases of COVID-19 rising rapidly in the State and the number of active cases has increased to 69 in Bhopal. To deal with booming cases of the virus, the Government has also come into action mode. Meanwhile, mock drills have been conducted on Monday to review the preparedness. The mock drills will also continue on Tuesday and IMA urged people to be careful amid mock drills being conducted in the hospitals.

Mock drills to assess the COVID preparedness of government-run hospitals was done at Hamidia and JP Hospital in Bhopal on Monday. Mock drills were held in Health Department, Medical Education, AYUSH, Gas Relief and Central Government Health Institutes. Here, the availability of health facilities, isolation beds capacity, beds with oxygen facility, ICU beds and ventilator beds were examined. Minister of Medical Education Vishwas Kailash Sarang arrived at Hamidia Hospital and participated in the mock drill at hospital. During this, Sarang said that the Government is keeping a close watch on situation and full vigilance is being taken regarding it. He said that all preparations are in place regarding COVID-19 and at present the situation is under control. He also reviewed the preparations to deal with corona.

The capacity of the oxygen plant here is 2000 LPM (Litre Per Minute). There are 1,498 beds. Of these, 1,045 are oxygen supported. Community Health Center Kolar (Bhopal) has an oxygen plant of 150 litres of storage capacity.

The isolation ward has now been converted into a general ward. There are 20 beds here. No necessary arrangements were seen to admit and provide treatment to the COVID patient. Superintendent of J P Hospital Dr Rakesh Srivastava told that we are ready in every way. There are 150 doctors, more than that there are nurses. We also have the experience of treating COVID patients. There are more than 400 jumbo oxygen cylinders. ICU has 50 beds. A separate ward of 6 beds is also ready. Together we will handle the situation. People should not panic but take precautions.
Development pangs: Road works jam traffic on major roads





Staff Reporter

The ongoing cement road construction work from Rahate Square to Kriplani Square on Wardha Road is a perfect example of poor co-ordination between authorities and lack of empathy for commuters. It is the same city that witnessed the road near Ajni Square getting constructed in a day just 24 hours before the Civil-20 (C-20) meet last month. The local administration transformed the complete stretch of Wardha Road into a posh road due to C-20 meet last month. However, after the meet, people are once again facing traffic problems due to road construction.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is constructing cement road on both sides from Rahate Square to Kriplani Square for the last few days. For the construction, the contractor closed the traffic movement on one lane each on both sides, which has become a big trouble for commuters coming from Deekshabhoomi, Sitabuldi, Dhantoli, Ajni and Congress Nagar are suffering the most.

Adding to the trouble, the contractor, on Monday, mindlessly blocked the complete road from Rahate Square to Kriplani Square to speed up the work and diverted the traffic of the most busy road of the city towards Congress Nagar. The diversion of the road caused heavy traffic jam on Wardha Road near Gorakshan Sabha and also on the entire stretch of Rahate Square to Congress Nagar Square. In the evening hours of Monday, prolonged traffic jams were witnessed till Rahate Square to Congress Nagar Square and from Shivaji Science College to Congress Nagar Square. To escape traffic jam, commuters used the adjacent roads of Dhantoli area and Congress Nagar area. The traffic cops had a tough time in the evening hours managing the jams.

At Congress Nagar Square, the private and state transport busses are also struck in the traffic jam for hours. Some ambulances were also struck in the jam. Due to barricades put up by the contractors near Shahid Gowari Flyover, the vehicles coming from Sitabuldi through flyover were unable to take U-turn from the square which is also causing traffic jam on the square. The roads will remain blocked until the construction of cement road is complete, which may lead to more jams.
Farmers to incur huge losses as unseasonal rains again lash Bua Bichia, adjoining areas





Our Correspondent

Bua Bichia,

Unseasonal rains have once again washed away the hopes of farmers of a good produce. Due to rainfall, the standing crops of wheat is facing large destruction. Due to Western disturbance dark clouds were hovering in the sky and in the evening lightning accompanied by high velocity winds and heavy rainfall lashed the area which continued till late night. This change in weather was huge blow to the farmers as their crops are on a verge of harvesting. For the last 20 days unprecedented weather is not allowing the farmers to harvest their crop and standing crops are going flat. Due to strong winds, the grain from the plant are blown away and hence produce of farmers would be less. Due to rainfall, the wheat grain would be without shine and would have black colour.

Progressive farmer from village Dei, Suresh Karthikey informed that absolutely uncertain weather is prevailing in the State. This is the peak time for Rabi crops when yield is ready to be harvested. At this time even little rainfall causes huge damage as the colour of the grain changes and then the farmers does not get good money of their yield. In many fields, yield after harvesting is lying in the field and it is getting wet. He demanded from State Government to take serious cognisance of the problem of farmers and provide them Crop Insurance claim. Former Mandi President Sunil Namdev informed that from last one month unseasonal rainfall, hailstorm has caused large destruction to the standing crops. Even after one month, farmers could not get the compensation.

Most of the farmers of the area are narrating the same ordeal. They toiled hard for months and when they are on verge of getting price of their hard work, weather is playing a spoilsport. Tehsildar Sheetal Chandravanshi informed that the claim is being prepared but it takes time for payment of compensation. 15 days more would be needed for approval and payment of compensation.
Hello uncle





HELLO uncle! I am Amit Speaking a pause, then again could you recognise? Frankly I couldnt. As such I dont like quizzes. Not that I am very old, but like my school teacher would always say This boy doesnt have enough Grey Matter in his head. Much to my annoyance, the early morning caller kept on giving me clues and playing Pehchan Kaun. Finally, he turned out to be my old neighbor Mr. Moitras son. Our adjoining houses had made us close friends for nearly five years but since early nineties, after shifting to Nagpur, we completely lost touch with Moitras.

Moitra Sb, addressed by all as Dada, was my senior by ten years, a thorough gentleman, technical wizard, tall, soft spoken, with equally talkative better half of unmatched cooking skills, whose shrill and shrieking voice, too wouldnt rattle Dada, while he relaxed in his century old, grandfathers easy chair with a Cigarette, watching twirling smoke rings, brooding. Because of his simple, no nonsense, honest and straight forward nature, though technically much sought after, he never got his timely promotions, which he never repented a bit. In late Eighties, his son was studying in Kolkatta and would come home only during festivals and his little daughter Rashmi would dart in and out of our house at her free will and time. Yes Yes! I remember you all. How did you get my number? Surprised, I had many questions. Ever since Baba passed away four years back, I have been trying to locate and connect with you as by the end Baba wanted to talk to you. Ohh! So Dada is a history now. I was quick to pay my condolences.

How could I forget him? In the remote mining location, Dada, would go out of the way to stand up in support of even the lowest level of workmen to ensure his safety, justice and honor. Sumer Singh a workman in one of the mine died in an industrial accident. The Preliminary enquiry had pronounced the deceased at fault and absolved senior officials, who were actually responsible, to ensure their careers werent affected adversely. But in process the family of the deceased would be deprived of full compensation. Mr. Moitra was the technical member of the enquiry committee from company HQ to finally endorse the findings of the PME and close the case file. Moitra Sb knew the ins and outs of the machine involved and was aware that workman hadnt breached any safety codes. One evening, he walked up to late Sumer Singhs quarter in the colony, whose wife hadnt even had time to grieve and cry as three small children in the house needed her care and attention. Financial consequences of wrongfully blaming the deceased would have spelt doom for this innocent family.

Back at home, much to the annoyance of his wife Dada sat in his chair till late night, smoking and brooding over the case. In office, next day, behind closed doors he prepared the Technical Observations and Findings in the accident, precisely pin pointing the deliberate dereliction of duties by some irresponsible officials. His report stirred and rattled even the senior most management of the company as just for the sake of Dadas honesty and penchant for truth, this would damage the careers of identified officers. The company chairman, too summoned Dada to his chamber and pressurised him for hours to alter the report, even promising the due amount of compensation to the family of the deceased. Dada sat unmoved. A group of senior most officials, backed by a powerful lobby of businessmen, assured Dada an astronomical amount, much in excess of the retirement benefits, to Tweak his Findings. Dada didnt budge, rather went home unruffled and slept off. Finally, threats and monitory lures ceased and his report had to be accepted. Dadas raw courage, honesty and steely resolve to withstand the wrongful pressure and resist the lure of bad money, had won. That evening while celebrating success, he said we all are mortals and before going up, I shall confirm that for life long I stayed honest and in turn you must assure me to give confirmation to your juniors to continue the chain. I have got his confirmation today honesty is immortal. chain must continue.
Ram Navami riots in WB pre-planned: Fact-finding panel





KOLKATA,

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. Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court on Monday reserved judgement on a petition by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari seeking an NIA investigation into clashes between two groups of people during a Ram Navami procession at Shibpur in Howrah.
TEHRAN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia will have positive impacts on regional peace, stability and security, Iranian official news agency IRNA reported.

Making the remarks at his first press conference in the current Iranian calendar year, Nasser Kanaani said the Beijing-brokered agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to normalize ties has met with "very positive reactions" in the region, and welcomed at the international level, according to the report.

The agreement would definitely have positive impacts on strengthening regional cooperation, so as to foster peace, stability and security in the region, as well as on boosting trade and economic relations not only between Iran and Saudi Arabia but also with other regional countries, Kanaani noted.

Meanwhile, he said that Iran and Saudi Arabia will exchange ambassadors after the reopening of their diplomatic missions.

China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran announced on March 10 that the latter two had reached a deal that includes the agreement to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and diplomatic missions within two months.

In a meeting in Beijing on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a joint statement announcing the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

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. 
Uproar in JMC meet over setting-up of Sanjeevani Clinics in all wards





Staff Reporter

The issue related to setting up of Sanjeevani Clinics in all wards of the city triggered uproar during the meeting called to discuss the provisions of recently presented budget of the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC), on Monday.

The BJP corporators objected, asking whether the clinics would be operated solely by the JMC or it will require State Government cooperation in the same. In response, Mayor Jagat Bahadur Singh clarified that the civic body would only construct the buildings and the operation of the clinics would be carried out independently.

This revelation shocked the opposition. The BJP corporators and the Leader of the Opposition argued that it should have been clearly mentioned in the budget that the clinics would require the support of the State Government. Heated debate on the role of the State Government in establishing Sanjivini Clinics continued for some time, with the Mayor ultimately stating that if the State Government does not provide assistance, the Municipal Corporation will operate the Clinics in all 79 wards on its own and would ensure provision of best medial aid by doctors through NGOs. Later, the ruling party members emphasised the need for proper co-ordination between the JMC administration and the State Government, stating that even Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan cannot run the clinics alone. They reminded the BJP corporators that the Mohalla Clinics are the gift from Congress-led Government under the leadership of the then Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The Leader of the Opposition accused that the JMC officials are misguiding the Mayor and also described the budget misleading. He alleged that senior officials are not providing accurate information to the Mayor on anything other than the budget.
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WESTPORT  Growing up in Westport, Willem Molesworth thought New York City had the best skyline and was the greatest city in the world.

But when he stayed at a hotel in Hong Kong in college with a view of the city, it challenged his status quo.

"That was a moment for me to think twice about my whole world perspective," said Molesworth.

And now, about 10 years later, he and his wife have their own art gallery in the same city.

"In the back of my mind, Hong Kong was always present and I always was thinking about wanting to come here," he said.

Molesworth said he's been interested in China for years, growing throughout high school, when his friend got him into a video game called "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and reading the book of the same name.

"It was all really intriguing to me," he said about the book.

Molesworth said his sister's heritage, who was adopted from China in 2003, also pushed him to study Chinese at Staples High School.

After graduation, Molesworth attended Bard College, where he graduated in 2012 with a liberal arts degree focusing in East Asian studies.

Molesworth said he took his Chinese studies seriously, visiting the country each summer and even staying for one semester.

"By the time I was done studying Chinese, I kind of was a little bit disappointed," he said.

There were some areas he didn't like living in, such as Beijing. He had the opportunity, though, to travel to other areas of China, including Hong Kong, and that's when everything changed.

Molesworth said he secured an internship with Eli Klein Fine Art in 2012, now called the Eli Klein Gallery, in New York City. While there, he met his now wife, Ysabelle Cheung, and eventually worked his way up to associate director in 2015.

In 2016, Cheung was offered a job as a managing editor of an arts magazine and Molesworth was offered a director role at a gallery in Hong Kong, so they both made the move.

Molesworth said members of his family are artistic  with some in film, television and writing  but nobody was into art collecting.

"I found myself drawn to it," he said.

When he was a student, he visited a gallery in Beijing's 798 Art Zone and said he was taken aback by how interesting everything there was.

Molesworth and Cheung's contemporary art gallery is called Property Holdings Development Group, or PHD Group, which is meant to poke fun at academia and the large companies that hold influence in Hong Kong.

It's located in Cheung's grandfather's former clubhouse, which was a building he developed with his friends, eventually being abandoned for 20 years, Molesworth said.

"The arts scene here is really dynamic," Molesworth said about Hong Kong, However, he said they felt that some perspectives within the arts scene were missing.

So, they started renovating the space in September 2021 and opened in January 2022.

Molesworth said the art they display pushes boundaries, uses strange mediums and is made by artists who are still live.

Right now, an installation called "you, trickling" by Michele Chu is on display until May 13, which is an exhibition about anticipatory grief, telling the story of her mother applying for euthanasia.

"She basically brings the gallery goer into that world and into that headspace," he said.

When entering the exhibition, Molesworth said people enter through a dense fog, then go through very hot hallways and lay down on a bed surrounded by dripping water pipes, among other activities.

Molesworth said since opening, there has been a strong response from locals, Two weeks ago, there was a large art event in the city, which was one of the first times people from abroad came back since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's been so difficult not being able to come home," he said about the pandemic restrictions, adding that he loved growing up in Westport. He was last there two years ago.

He and his wife were also recently featured in a New York Times article about Chus exhibition.

"A space like this and what we're doing gives people a lot of hope," he said about their gallery.

Molesworth said a lot of research goes into picking what artist to display for each exhibition, changing about every two or so months.

The next exhibition will focus on Zheng Mahler, a Hong Kong-based artist duo who will use a virtual reality meditation experience to guide people through imagining life as a bat.

"It'll be a really funky show," he said.
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways as he met with senior military officials to discuss the countrys war preparations in the face of his rivals frantic military exercises, state media said Tuesday.

The meeting of the ruling Workers Partys Central Military Commission on Monday came amid heightened tensions as the pace of both the North Korean weapons demonstrations and the U.S.-South Korean joint military drills have intensified in recent weeks in a cycle of tit-for-tat.

North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said the commissions members discussed unspecified issues related to strengthening defense capacities and perfecting war preparations to counter the threat posed by the allies' drills, which the North portrays as invasion rehearsals.

Kim reviewed the countrys frontline attack plans and various combat documents and stressed the need to bolster his nuclear deterrent with increasing speed on a more practical and offensive manner, KCNA said.

The report did not specify the directions the North intended to take. KCNA also published photos of Kim talking to officials while pointing to certain spots on a blurred map that appeared to be of South Korea.

KCNA said Kim and the military commission members analyzed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula in which the U.S. imperialists and the (South) Korean puppet traitors are getting ever more undisguised in their moves for a war of aggression and discussed preparation for proposed military actions that their enemy has no way of counteracting.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries conducted their biggest field exercises in years last month and separately held joint naval and air force drills involving a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group and nuclear-capable U.S. bombers. KCNA claimed the drills simulated an all-out war against North Korea and communicated threats to occupy Pyongyang and decapitate its leadership.

The United States and South Korea have described their exercises as defensive in nature and said that the expansion of those drills are necessary to cope with the Norths evolving threats.

Tensions are likely to be prolonged as the allies continue their drills and North Korea uses them as a pretext to advance weapons development and intensify military training involving its nuclear-capable missiles.

The North Korean report came as South Korean officials said the North did not respond to South Korean calls placed over inter-Korean liaison and military hotlines for the fifth consecutive day. South Korean officials say North Korea cut off communications after the South last week urged the North to stop using without permission South Korean assets left at a now-shuttered joint factory park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong.

The paused military hotlines are particularly concerning in a time of heightened tensions as they are intended to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals' sea borders. Jeon Ha Gyu, spokesperson of South Koreas Defense Ministry, said Tuesday the South's military wasn't immediately detecting unusual activities by North Korea's military after the hotlines were paused.

South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse, Seouls point man on the North, in a news conference expressed strong regret over North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude over the communication lines and also warned of unspecified legal action over its use of the Kaesong assets.

When asked about Kims comments during the military meeting, Kwon said it's likely that North Korea currently sees the buildup of tensions as favorable to its interests and that Seoul is closely analyzing the North's intent.

South Korea pulled its companies out of Kaesong in 2016 following a North Korean nuclear test, removing the last remaining major symbol of cooperation between the rivals. North Korean state media recently showed what appeared to be South Korean commuter buses running in the streets of Kaesong and Pyongyang.

North Korea in 2023 so far has fired around 30 missiles in 11 different launch events, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that demonstrated potential range to reach the U.S. mainland and several shorter-range weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on South Korean targets.

The North was already coming off a record year in weapons testing, after launching nearly 70 missiles in 2022.

Experts say Kims provocative run in weapons displays is aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power and negotiating economic concessions from a position of strength.

Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since 2019 over disagreements in exchanging crippling U.S.-led sanctions against the North and the Norths steps to wind down its nuclear weapons program.

South Korean officials say North Korea may soon up the ante by staging more provocative displays of its military might, including its first nuclear test detonation since 2017.

North Korea last month unveiled what appeared to be a new nuclear warhead designed to fit on various delivery systems as Kim called for his nuclear scientists to increase production of weapons-grade material to make bombs to put on his growing range of weapons.

North Korea has also issued veiled threats to test fire an ICBM on a normal ballistic trajectory toward the Pacific, which would be seen as a major provocation as its previous long-range tests were conducted on high angles to avoid the territories of neighbors.

The North also previously said it aims to finish preparations to launch a military spy satellite into space by April, an event its rivals would almost certainly see as a test of ICBM technology banned by international sanctions.

___

Find more AP coverage of the Asia-Pacific region at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
Feuerwehr Dortmund/AP

BERLIN (AP)  Firefighters say they have freed an uncooperative squirrel that was stuck in a manhole cover in western Germany  echoing a similar incident that happened in the same city four years ago.

The Dortmund fire department said it was alerted to a distressed red squirrel by a pedestrian Monday afternoon, after she spotted its head peering out of a hole in the road. The woman covered it with a scarf to calm it down before calling for help.
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Linkedin Haikal Siregar & Verra Wijaya (Boston Consulting Group) (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11, 2023 12:05 14 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc441dd8 4 Economy Indonesia,economy Free

This marks the beginning of a series of articles examining Indonesia's top-10 priorities in achieving the countrys vision. In subsequent instalments, we will look closely at specific priorities, sharing insights and actionable recommendations.

Indonesia has a bold vision for 2045. This ambitious plan, encapsulated in the government's Visi Indonesia Emas 2045, aims to lift the country into the ranks of high-income economies and drastically reduce poverty rates.

To this end, policy reforms and initiatives have been implemented. Infrastructure has become a key priority, with 1,640 kilometers of toll roads and 4,600km of other roads, 15 new airports and 124 new seaports constructed between 2014 and 2019. Indonesia has also focused on improving the ease of doing business in the country, its ranking by the World Bank jumping from 120th in 2014 to 73rd, today. Indonesia has also seen a significant reduction in poverty rates, dropping from 11.3 percent in 2014 to 9.5 percent in 2022.

To sustain momentum, Indonesia needs to continue charting the path of reform. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has outlined 10 key areas that Indonesia must prioritize to achieve its vision.

Investing in people: Building a more equal and future-proof society

The first pillar of Visi 2045 is human development. The most important challenge of this pillar is protecting vulnerable groups and preparing workers for the future. Indonesia's aging population currently stands at around 20 million, or approximately 10 percent of the total population. By 2026, this number is estimated to hit 33 million. This aging population, along with other shifts in demography and challenges such as disasters and pandemics require Indonesia to rethink how vulnerable groups can be protected by further reforming its social protection policies.

Health is essential for economic and social development, as the pandemic has demonstrated. Indonesia's health sector has made a significant achievement by producing IndoVac, a COVID-19 vaccine licensed from Sinovac Biotech. However, Indonesia still needs to better prepare for future crises. For example, Indonesia should increase local production of devices and extend healthcare coverage to remote areas, as well as train more doctors with specialized skills.

Indonesias pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 makes green skills as essential as digital ones. White-collar workers and farmers should be digitally enabled and trained to leverage technology, while miners must be equipped with green skills. To ensure all groups are equally equipped for the future, policymakers and businesses must invest in green and other future-proof skills.

Revitalizing the economy: fostering sustainable economic development

To achieve growth in the second pillar, sustainable economic development, Indonesia needs to grow its economy to balance its social, environmental and financial goals.

To achieve a digital-based social economic growth, it is vital to invest in expanding digital connectivity, accelerate infrastructure projects and improve all other areas of Indonesias digital economy, including its horizontal platforms, applications and service layers, while ensuring the affordability, quality and safety of digital services.

By 2045, the Indonesian urban population will exceed 70 percent, creating the need for new sustainable cities that can provide better-quality living for residents. The smart and green concept of the new capital city, Nusantara, should be a template for future city development, which needs to lead to transformation of the existing major cities today.

Another key priority in the social economy is to support over 62 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which form the backbone of Indonesias economy. One way to do this is by embracing an inclusive business model, which aims to create a multi-stakeholder ecosystem. This then provides MSMEs with access to finance, knowledge, technology and market access, supporting them in each step of the value chain.

To ensure balance in the environment, Indonesia needs to transition to green energy in a just, timely and opportunistic manner. Indonesia is the world's eighth-biggest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter, with GHG emissions growing in parallel with economic growth. However, in terms of per-capita emission, Indonesia ranks low at 113th on the list. It is crucial for Indonesia to follow a transition plan adapted to its unique conditions while pushing for new investments to fund this energy change.

In response to the dynamic global situation, including the food and energy crisis, Indonesia is compelled to strengthen its national resilience in strategic sectors. Indonesia should continue to implement and expand its downstream industry policy, gradually reducing its dependence on raw mineral exports, and transitioning toward higher value-added manufacturing. National industrial resilience does not have to equal protectionism. On the contrary, it means being open to investment. Indonesia's effort to boost investment in the electric vehicle (EV) industry exemplifies this. With 21 million tonnes of nickel, the largest reserve in the world, Indonesia can convert raw nickel into products such as electric car batteries, thereby adding value to the commodity and stimulating economic growth.

Empowered governance: Adapting to disruptions

The last pillar of Visi 2045 is about strengthening Indonesias governance. Indonesia has made significant strides in formulating and launching several business-enabling policies and reforms. To ensure the continued and sustainable success of these reforms, it is essential to undertake parallel bureaucracy reform by leveraging the digital transformation to enhance citizen service delivery.

COVID-19 highlighted the vital need for resilience in government, which entails the nations capability to absorb shocks, adapting and thriving when faced with unprecedented challenges. This means focusing more on aligning its goals and activities with those of a broader economic or social system to create mutually beneficial situations for different public organizations.

Indonesia has beaten the odds and made incredible progress this past decade. For this to continue in the century ahead, Indonesia needs to set the right priorities to achieve it.

Authors:

Haikal Siregar, managing director and partner, and head of BCG Indonesia

Verra Wijaya, knowledge expert and team manager, Boston Consulting Group

This article was published in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group

Topics : Indonesia economy
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Linkedin AFP Sydney, Australia  Tue, April 11, 2023 12:12 14 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc4427e6 2 Economy China,Australia-China,Australia,Trade Free

Australia said Tuesday it was inching closer to "stabilizing" its fraught relationship with China, as the two countries moved to solve a festering trade dispute over barley exports.

The once-cozy trading relationship has soured in recent years as Australia sought closer military ties with the United States and China vied for influence in the Pacific.

Beijing slapped hefty tariffs on key commodities such as barley, beef and wine in 2020 at the height of a bitter dispute inflamed by Australia's former conservative government.

Australia retaliated by complaining to the World Trade Organization, alleging China had breached international obligations by artificially jacking up tariffs "without justification".

But the country's center-left government has adopted a far less confrontational stance since its election in May last year, prioritizing the resumption of trade.

In the latest sign of thawing tensions between the countries, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia would be temporarily suspending its complaint after China had agreed to review its barley tariffs.

"We have made it clear that we believe there's no justification for the measures that China introduced in relation to barley," she told reporters.

"We have also made clear that we believe it is in both countries' interests for these trade impediments to be removed."

Wong, who visited Beijing in December, said this demonstrated Australia was slowly "stabilizing the relationship with China".

The tariffs, as well as an unofficial ban on Australian coal, are estimated to have cost more than A$5 billion (US$3.47 billion) in lost revenue from China.

Meanwhile, Beijing has confirmed that Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu will travel to Australia later this week, making him one of the most senior officials to visit in years.

Australia faces a difficult balancing act -- China is its largest trading partner, but the United States is a crucial military ally.

Canberra angered Beijing in March by announcing it would purchase nuclear-powered submarines from the United States as part of an ambitious plan to bulk up Western muscle in the Asia-Pacific.
Unfinished buildings are pictured in Kantari, Beirut of Lebanon, on April 9, 2023. (Photo by Dana Halawi/Xinhua)

by Dana Halawi

BEIRUT, April 10 (Xinhua) -- The development of Lebanon's real estate sector is slowing down, with demand for properties falling by around 80 percent in 2022 and 2023 compared to the years before the 2019 financial crisis, said economists and real estate developers.

Nassib Ghobril, head of the economic research department at Byblos Bank, told Xinhua that demand for properties has dropped by at least 80 percent in the four years after the crisis, due to the lack of market liquidity.

In 2020 and 2021, buyers could still pay for their properties through cheques, which were needed by the real estate developers to settle their bank loans, said Ghobril.

However, after paying off most of their bank debts, the developers only accepted cash, making it very difficult for Lebanese buyers to afford properties as the bankrupt banks froze tens of billions of dollars saved in their accounts, he noted.

Adnan Rammal, a real estate developer and representative of the trade sector in the Economic and Social Council, attributed the decline in demand to Lebanese buyers' reduced purchasing power following the devaluation of their currency as a result of the severe financial crisis.

Before the crisis, according to Rammal, around 60 to 70 percent of properties sold were small apartments priced at approximately 150,000 U.S. dollars. However, buyers of these apartments, mostly employees paid on wages, saw their purchasing power decreased a great deal during the crisis.

Making matters worse, the collapse of the banking sector made those employees who relied significantly on loans no longer had access to them.

According to developers, the sharp decrease in property demand in Lebanon led to a price drop of around 50 percent from pre-crisis levels.

Still, Raja Makarem, chairman and founder of Ramco Real Estate Advisors, believed that the real estate sector is a safe haven in the current crisis as the banking system had only saved 15 percent of the deposits' value.

"It is good to invest in the real estate sector today, but it will take buyers around three years to sell again when confidence is restored for prices to pick up," he said, adding that stability and security are essential factors to restore confidence in the sector.

Developers have stressed the necessity for the government to take urgent measures to revive the real estate market and some other sectors of the economy.

Rammal said that the banking sector must be restructured in order for it to provide loans to buyers as before.

"If the banking system cannot finance the private sector, no economy can grow. In addition, we need banks to finance the import of raw materials for the construction of new projects," he said. 
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Linkedin Karina Dwipayana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11, 2023 08:00 14 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05427159 4 Companies Indosat-Ooredoo,Indosat Free

For once, the whole world seems to be unanimous in season with all of our concerns revolving around the chilly global economic crisis. Especially in most tech-based industries such as e-commerce, fintech, mobile commerce, digital channels, delivery service and social media, the technology that consumers have adopted in this newly digital era are struggling financially, needing to reroute especially with their focus recentralizing on gaining more profits.

Surviving the winter might just be the motto for startups to keep their heads afloat. However, it is also crucial to understand that even if the industry were to focus on a smaller picture, learning about Indonesias consumer behavior is far from easy, especially with the ever changing and unpredictable trends.

The investment progress today has never had such an uncanny resemblance to a cinematic slow-motion.

. (Courtesy of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison/.)

The global economy has adapted to such effortless payments with digital banks, online loans and e-wallets, but these startup and tech-based newbies are not entirely sheltered by the vigorous winter, either. Although growth sounds promising with a broad customer base that relies heavily on non-cash payment, and it perhaps does not freeze the digital financial sectors as much as digital startups, solutions are still needed as resifting focus areas is a challenge for all.

The world will need a system that can analyze big data that is complete in generating millions of customer insights and transforming them into feasible frameworks to deliver an innovative and adaptive transition of services.

Indosat Digital Analytics (iDA) might be just the solution for fintech sectors.

Launched by Indosat Business, the fresh data-powered platform is able to supplement businesses overcoming issues in data-driven business decision-making by offering valuable insights through advanced analytics and secure data processing, ensuring that businesses are supported with sufficient qualified data supply with high relevance.

. (Courtesy of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison/.)

For business owners it is all about the audience and scale.

A report from Check Point Research discovered that cyber-attacks in Indonesia were 252 percent higher than the global average, making Indonesian digital financial businesses a bulls-eye for hackers. Concern erupts over monetary losses on this security issue, which can impact the companys trustworthiness for its customers.

It is an unfortunate situation for companies when their customer base will codependently freeze with this ongoing phenomenon. Lucky for business owners, iDA has an eye for detail with its Identity Management feature, which can detect fraudulent acts, repellant to scammers suspicious activities, and ensure information validity provided by potential customers.

Security measures prolonging the customers comfort also requires building winning strategies for the right target audience with messages vibrating of the same frequency. To achieve both goals, iDA ensures its users of wide-ranging accurate datasets, covering the basic customer demography and personalized preferences of interests, globe-trotting all the way to their geospatial movement, revealing potential business locations for buying power too.

. (Courtesy of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison/.)

However, timing is everything.

An example can be gleaned from BFSI players, who have the ability to send promotional messages to customers who need immediate loans, or broadcasting ads to audiences who are hunting for discounts. This is done by iDAs strategy of Marketing Return on Investment Through Modeling, where the Smart Digital Advertising platform strategically incorporates these data analytics to measure businesses effectiveness and ensure that the audience will receive a message and promotion that lands on their palms the second they need it.

With iDA, a big portion of the weight will be taken off your shoulders when battling through the Tech winter storms. By leveraging the data to understand customers needs and presenting innovative yet secure financial solutions, winter will defrost in spring with iDAs easing to accurate data processing.

To learn more about iDA products, visit ida.ioh.id

This article was published in collaboration with Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison.
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Linkedin Vincent Fabian Thomas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11, 2023

The government says firms in South Africa and Europe could be potential partners for the country to continue building downstream coal facilities after United States-based chemical company Air Products withdrew from plans to develop the industry in Indonesia.

Aside from Chinese companies, firms based in South Africa and European countries could pick up where the US company left off, according to the government.

There are many potential partners, but it is up to each business-to-business (B2B) process, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto told The Jakarta Post during an interview in his office on Thursday.

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Linkedin Fikri Harish (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11, 2023

In a case that has become a case study of Indonesias struggle with religious intolerance, the Bogor city administration in West Java finally inaugurated the new Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin building on Easter Sunday. But the new church, rechristened GKI West Bogor, has divided the Yasmin congregation as several members refuse to use the new building.

As a sign of just how symbolically important the church was, the inauguration was held with much fanfare and two ministers in attendance.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD and Home Minister Tito Karnavian spoke at the event, with Bogor Mayor Bima Arya and National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) chairwoman Atnike Nova Sigiro also joining the inauguration.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11, 2023 15:15 14 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc450bf8 1 Archipelago usman-hamid,AmnestyInternational,Papua,protest,Indonesia,Free-Papua-Organization Free

Human rights group Amnesty International Indonesia (AII) on Monday called for the release of 76 activists who were arrested in Jayapura, Papua, for distributing flyers, saying the crackdown had been a setback to free speech in the region.

On Monday, police in Jayapura arrested the protesters after staging a rally to call for the release of pro-independence activist Victor Yeimo, who was standing trial for sedition.

"Every week we see the silencing of peaceful expression in Papua. This is worrying [...] we call on the police to release these activists and drop all charges against them," AII executive director Usman Hamid said in a statement.

Usman also criticized the Indonesian Police for cracking down on free speech especially with the use of force in the first instance of protest in Papua.

"The use of force, including an arrest should only be used as a last resort and must be enforced to the highest standard, not as the primary means to block free speech," Usman said.

Victor, 41, who is the international spokesman for the West Papua National Committee, was arrested in Jayapura in May 2021.

He was charged with treason and inciting violence and social unrest in relation to the pro-independence protests that swept the region for several weeks in 2019. Yeimo denied the charges.
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Linkedin Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11, 2023

The joint Indonesian Military (TNI) and police rescue team hunting for abducted New Zealand pilot Phillip Merthens in Nduga regency, Papua Highlands, has captured a suspect thought to be responsible for burning Merthens aircraft some two months ago.

Head of the team, codenamed Peaceful Carstensz, Sr. Comr. Era Adhinata of the Papua Police said in a statement on Monday that authorities had detained Yomse Lokbere, believed to be a subordinate of West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) commander Egianus Kogoya, last week.

Aside from burning the Susi Air aircraft, Era said that Yomse was thought to have taken part in at least four other criminal incidents.

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Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11, 2023 03:53 14 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b054223b0 1 Editorial KPK,tax-officers,Rafael-Alun-Trisambodo,audit,bribery,finance-ministry Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deserves praise for taking action against yet another former tax official, but we remain cautious about whether the antigraft body will go deeper and harder until all involved parties get their dues, and the whole system is actually improved.

On April 1, KPK detained former mid-ranking tax collector Rafael Alun Trisambodo, who has been in the spotlight for showing off his lavish lifestyle, on charges of taking bribes from taxpayers for the past 12 years.

The disgraced taxman, whom the media had identified by his initials RAT early in the investigation, will remain in detention for 20 days as the antigraft body builds a case around his work as a tax controller at the Finance Ministrys Directorate General for Taxation.

He was named a suspect on March 30, nearly a month after the KPK first summoned him for questioning to clarify his assets.

KPK alleges Rafael had started committing such financial crimes after becoming head of audits, investigations and tax collection at the East Java Tax Office in 2011.

Rafael, who was dishonorably discharged from the ministry, allegedly recommended his own tax consulting firm, PT Artha Mega Ekadhana, to auditees looking to solve their tax problems. In return, he would accept payments investigators estimated could be up to US$90,000.

In the case, the KPK confiscated a safe containing Rp 32.2 billion (US$2.16 million) and 70 luxury bags from his house in the upmarket area of Simprug in South Jakarta, in a search.

KPK chief Firli Bahuri promised to investigate people from Rafaels network. By last week, at least two Finance Ministry officials had been summoned to face the music. Should we hold our breath while waiting?

Suspicions about Rafaels wealth, seemingly incommensurate to his position, grew after his son, Mario Dandy Satrio, was arrested on charges of assaulting the teenage son of a member of GP Ansor, the youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the nations largest grassroots Muslim organization.

On his social media account, Mario flaunted his familys lavish lifestyle, including his possession of a Jeep Rubicon and Harley Davidson motorcycle. The police seized the Jeep as evidence, as Mario is accused of changing out his license plate before allegedly abducting the boy he would eventually assault.

If not for his sons alleged crime, which was caught on smartphone camera as so many things are these days, the public would not know of Rafaels alleged corruption. Well, this kind of corruption has been a public secret.

Now that one cat, or rather one rat, is out of the bag, the public is watching closely for more. On many occasions, we have seen the KPK reluctant to follow the money and catch the big fish in graft cases, especially when they involve politicians or high-ranking officials.

We are crossing our fingers very hard that this time the corruption-busting agency does not stop at the fall guy.

Rafaels case has provided a little opening into the Pandora box of irregularities implicating other officials from the tax office.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, who leads the Money Laundering Prevention and Eradication Committee, disclosed on March 20 reports of some Rp 349 trillion in suspicious payments at the Finance Ministry.

Mahfud's statement added fuel to the public outcry over the alleged corruption and extravagant lifestyles of state officials.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has since promised to work with Mahfud to address the reports of suspicious payments within the ministry.

Hopefully, the trial of Rafael will lead to the full opening of the sealed container and the public can see jacks in the box popping up. In this analogy, the public can broadly guess what is inside the surprise box, but it is the revelation that brings satisfaction.
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Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, April 12, 2023 02:52 13 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b054409c8 1 Editorial ASEAN,summit,Myanmar,junta,diplomacy,RCEP,expulsion Free

We understand and appreciate Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudis avoidance of publicity in her role as ASEANs special envoy to Myanmar during Indonesias chairmanship of the regional bloc this year. The minister seems to be following the old adage that silence is golden, not least in delicate diplomatic situations.

The Myanmar question is unlike any of the other diplomatic issues Indonesia will seek to address this year as chair. The sensitivities and divided interests of the competing factions within Myanmar, as well as of the ASEAN nations observing the crisis from without, mean real consensus will be hard to reach and the benefits of large, open discussions may be limited.

Nonetheless, Indonesias silence on the issue has raised concerns that it will repeat the failures of previous ASEAN chairs Brunei and Cambodia to do anything to improve the situation.

Last Wednesday, Retno told reporters that everything is on the right track with regard to the countrys diplomatic efforts. She claimed the ministrys public reticence, especially with regard to Myanmar, was necessary to build trust.

Indonesia began its ASEAN chairmanship in January, having held the Group 20 presidency last year, which many recognized as a success.

As a committed, if flawed, democracy, Indonesia is expected to be more stern than the blocs recent chairs in demanding that junta leader Ming Aung Hlaing honor the Five-Point Consensus, which he signed in Jakarta about two years ago.

The consensus calls for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar, dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special envoy on the crisis, the acceptance of humanitarian assistance from ASEAN and the acceptance of a visit from the special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all relevant parties.

To make progress on these demands, Retnos quiet diplomacy may prove to be the right choice, provided quiet does not mean feckless. The minister is supported by a strong team of specifically appointed diplomats and may be able to make gains behind the scenes on the intransigent issue.

While we find ourselves wishing that Retno kept more of the mission open to the public, we grant her, for the time, the benefit of the doubt as we await good news on the matter when ASEAN leaders regroup for their summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, early next month.

We hope President Jokowi will announce substantial progress on Myanmar at the summit. And if it turns out the junta has remained stubborn, we hope the President will call for the expulsion of Myanmar from ASEAN and grant dissenting factions like the National Unity Government (NUG) a full audience with ASEAN.

In an indication of some of the complexities that attend ASEANs Myanmar response, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is likely to miss the May 9-11 summit as he focuses on Thailands May 14 general election, where he will seek to extend his leadership. A defeat of Prayuth would deal a hard blow to the Myanmar junta, as he is the only ASEAN leader who openly supports the military regime, having himself seized power in a coup.

No other issue currently facing ASEAN creates this kind of internal discord. Indonesias other goals for its chairmanship, including to have ASEAN be an epicenter of economic growth, and benefit from alignments in economic interests among member nations. The Myanmar question seems to sidestep many of these commonalities to present a starker issue of ethics and government.

By the time President Jokowi closes the summit, ASEAN leaders should have issued a joint declaration demonstrating real progress in Myanmar. A failure to do so would be an indictment of Indonesias diplomacy and, in turn, of Retnos silence.

Topics : ASEAN summit Myanmar junta diplomacy RCEP expulsion
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Linkedin Matthew Walsh and Jack Moore (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Pingtan, China/Matsu  Tue, April 11 2023

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.

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.

After three days of drills, the Chinese military said it had "successfully completed" tasks related to its "Joint Sword" drills.

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Linkedin Daniel Tjen (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11 2023

The doctor-patient ratio of 0.6:1000 in Indonesia as against the World Health Organizations norm of 1:1000 clearly shows quite a big deficit. This was compounded by structural and functional challenges faced by the regulator while making decisions regarding medical education.

Other factors include the disconnect between education and health service delivery, the high cost of education and underutilization of existing resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused pressure on the healthcare systems.

Due to the countrys vast population and resulting scarcity of specialists, the healthcare industry is a major priority for the government. While the government is working toward a solution and targeting the required ratio, there is a need to revisit the overall medical specialist education.

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Linkedin Vincent Fabian Thomas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11 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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LIMA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and another 25 injured in the predawn hours of Monday after a passenger bus skidded off the road and plunged into a river in Peru's department of Lima.

The accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. at kilometer 109 of the Central Highway, the head of the Highway Protection Division of the Peruvian National Police, Col. Victor Meza, said, according to state news agency Andina.

The bus had set out from the central department of Huanuco at 8:00 p.m. Sunday and was on its way to Lima when it ran off a cliff and plunged some seven meters before landing upside down in the Rimac River.

According to Peruvian radio station Radio Programas del Peru, the bus was carrying some 60 passengers, including six minors, three of whom were injured, with one having been admitted to a local hospital.

Of the 25 people injured, at least five are in serious condition. The bus driver, who was also injured, was taken to the local police station in the district of Chicla to determine the causes of the accident. 
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Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11 2023

Expect Indonesia to continue adopting a quiet diplomacy approach for the rest of its ASEAN chairmanship this year, analysts have said amid growing frustration over the perceived lack of transparency surrounding urgent issues.

Indonesia is gearing up for its first ASEAN Summit this year, to be held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara in May, away from the prying eyes of keen observers.

Unlike the ubiquitous fanfare of last years Group of 20 presidency, Jakarta has opted for an understated approach to ASEAN this year, which is faced with a number of challenges that could undermine its credibility.

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Linkedin Aditya Hadi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, April 11 2023

Recent mass layoffs and even factory shutdowns at textile and garment makers in the country have raised concerns about the state of the industry as consumers in key importing markets tighten their belts.

However, reduced demand from abroad is not affecting all companies the same, with some still reporting strong earnings, and the government is keen to depict the industrys current hardship as temporary.

PT Tuntex Garment Indonesia, a garment manufacturer in Tangerang regency, Banten, informed the regional government it had stopped production on March 31, leaving more than 1,100 employees jobless.

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Linkedin Shim Kyu-seok (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Seoul  Tue, April 11 2023

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 Seoul'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 were mocked, belittled and misrepresented online.

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Linkedin Stephane Orjollet (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Marseille, France  Tue, April 11 2023

Two bodies were found in the rubble of a building that collapsed in Marseille following a major explosion, French authorities said on Monday, as rescue workers scrambled to find at least six people still unaccounted for.

More than 24 hours after the four-story building imploded, with residents reporting a strong smell of gas, dozens of firefighters are still battling a blaze that has hampered search operations.

However, the mayor of the Mediterranean port city said rescue workers had not given up hope of finding survivors.

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Linkedin Idrees Ali (The Jakarta Post) Reuters/Washington  Tue, April 11 2023

Classified documents that appeared online, with details ranging from Ukraine's air defenses to Israel's Mossad spy agency, have United States 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 a US citizen 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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Linkedin Reuters (The Jakarta Post) Beijing/Manila  Tue, April 11 2023

A United States 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.

The US Navy's 7th Fleet said the USS Milius had 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.

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WisdomTree (NYSE:WT  Get Rating) and The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, earnings and profitability.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares WisdomTree and The Goldman Sachs Groups gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio WisdomTree $301.35 million 2.93 $50.68 million $0.27 21.93 The Goldman Sachs Group $47.37 billion 2.29 $11.26 billion $30.06 10.81

The Goldman Sachs Group has higher revenue and earnings than WisdomTree. The Goldman Sachs Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than WisdomTree, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Risk & Volatility

74.3% of WisdomTree shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 69.1% of The Goldman Sachs Group shares are held by institutional investors. 7.8% of WisdomTree shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.5% of The Goldman Sachs Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

WisdomTree has a beta of 1.4, meaning that its stock price is 40% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, The Goldman Sachs Group has a beta of 1.41, meaning that its stock price is 41% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares WisdomTree and The Goldman Sachs Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets WisdomTree 16.82% 14.51% 4.11% The Goldman Sachs Group 16.39% 10.55% 0.73%

Dividends

WisdomTree pays an annual dividend of $0.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.0%. The Goldman Sachs Group pays an annual dividend of $10.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. WisdomTree pays out 44.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. The Goldman Sachs Group pays out 33.3% 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 Goldman Sachs Group has raised its dividend for 2 consecutive years. The Goldman Sachs Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for WisdomTree and The Goldman Sachs Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score WisdomTree 0 1 0 0 2.00 The Goldman Sachs Group 1 6 9 0 2.50

WisdomTree presently has a consensus price target of $6.00, suggesting a potential upside of 1.35%. The Goldman Sachs Group has a consensus price target of $393.54, suggesting a potential upside of 21.10%. Given The Goldman Sachs Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe The Goldman Sachs Group is more favorable than WisdomTree.

Summary

The Goldman Sachs Group beats WisdomTree on 10 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About WisdomTree

(Get Rating)

WisdomTree, Inc. operates as an asset management company that focuses on Exchange Traded Products (ETPs). It distributes ETPs within the asset management industry, including brokerage firms, registered investment advisors, institutional investors, private wealth managers and discount brokers. The company was founded by Jonathan Laurence Steinberg on September 19, 1985 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

About The Goldman Sachs Group

(Get Rating)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following business segments: Global Banking and Markets, Asset and Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions. The Global Banking and Markets segment includes investment banking, equity and debt underwriting, Fixed Income, Currency, and Commodities (FICC) intermediation and financing activities, relationship lending and acquisition financing, and investing activities. The Asset and Wealth Management segment provides investment services and manages client assets across investment strategies and asset classes. The Platform Solutions segment includes consumer platforms such as partnerships offering credit cards and point-of-sale financing, and transaction banking. The company was founded by Marcus Goldman in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Friday.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on AU. HSBC cut shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a buy rating to a reduce rating in a research report on Monday, January 30th. Investec raised shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a sell rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Morgan Stanley raised AngloGold Ashanti from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on AngloGold Ashanti from $20.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, AngloGold Ashanti currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $27.00.

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AngloGold Ashanti Trading Down 0.6 %

AngloGold Ashanti stock opened at $26.64 on Friday. AngloGold Ashanti has a fifty-two week low of $11.94 and a fifty-two week high of $26.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.50 and a quick ratio of 1.60. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $20.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $18.47.

AngloGold Ashanti Cuts Dividend

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AngloGold Ashanti

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 10th. Investors of record on Friday, March 17th were paid a dividend of $0.177 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 16th. This represents a yield of 2.4%.

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AU. Natixis purchased a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti in the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,988,000. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main grew its holdings in AngloGold Ashanti by 89.1% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 1,475 shares of the mining companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 695 shares in the last quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in AngloGold Ashanti during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Claraphi Advisory Network LLC purchased a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,179,000. Finally, Sprott Inc. lifted its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 462.8% in the 4th quarter. Sprott Inc. now owns 1,035,500 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $20,109,000 after purchasing an additional 851,500 shares during the period. 24.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About AngloGold Ashanti

(Get Rating)

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. engages in the exploration, mining, and production of gold. It operates through the following business segments: Africa, Australia, and Americas. The Africa segment consists of Ghana, Guinea, the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo), and Tanzania. The Americas segment comprises of Argentina, Brazil, and projects in Colombia and the United States.

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Barratt Developments plc (OTCMKTS:BTDPY  Get Rating) has been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the seven research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $430.50.

Several research firms have recently commented on BTDPY. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Barratt Developments from GBX 380 ($4.71) to GBX 400 ($4.95) in a report on Thursday, January 12th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Barratt Developments from GBX 388 ($4.80) to GBX 461 ($5.71) in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Barratt Developments from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Peel Hunt cut Barratt Developments to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 9th.

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Barratt Developments Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of Barratt Developments stock opened at $11.41 on Tuesday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $11.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.08. Barratt Developments has a one year low of $7.00 and a one year high of $15.91.

Barratt Developments Cuts Dividend

About Barratt Developments

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.2169 per share. This represents a yield of 7.05%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 10th.

(Get Rating)

Barratt Developments Plc engages in the development of residential and non-residential properties mainly in the United Kingdom. It offers services in land, design, construction, and sales and marketing. The company was founded by Lawrence Arthur Barratt in 1958 and is headquartered in Coalville, the United Kingdom.

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BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China's new yuan-denominated loans totaled 3.89 trillion yuan (about 564.73 billion U.S. dollars) in March, up from 1.81 trillion yuan in February, central bank data showed Tuesday.

The M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 12.7 percent year on year to 281.46 trillion yuan at the end of last month, according to the People's Bank of China. 
Cypress Financial Planning LLC increased its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Get Rating) by 5.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,398 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 423 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF accounts for 0.4% of Cypress Financial Planning LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Cypress Financial Planning LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $556,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $725,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 7.7% during the 4th quarter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA now owns 2,105 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $138,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. now owns 15,605 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,025,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Keudell Morrison Wealth Management raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Keudell Morrison Wealth Management now owns 8,328 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $547,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 8.6% during the 3rd quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 2,126 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $119,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.78% of the companys stock.

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iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSEARCA EFA traded up $0.14 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $72.03. 3,003,983 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 20,561,842. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $70.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $66.14. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 12 month low of $54.61 and a 12 month high of $73.22.

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Company 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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JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust plc (LON:JFJ  Get Rating) shares dropped 1.7% on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 451 ($5.59) and last traded at GBX 453.50 ($5.62). Approximately 172,644 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 26% from the average daily volume of 232,445 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 461.50 ($5.72).

JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust Stock Down 1.7 %

The company has a current ratio of 3.65, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 16.46. The stock has a market capitalization of 696.53 million, a P/E ratio of -175.10 and a beta of 0.75. The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 472.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 464.81.

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Insider Buying and Selling at JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust

In other news, insider Sally Macdonald acquired 425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 467 ($5.78) per share, with a total value of 1,984.75 ($2,457.89). In related news, insider Sally Duckworth bought 3,032 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 492 ($6.09) per share, for a total transaction of 14,917.44 ($18,473.61). Also, insider Sally Macdonald purchased 425 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 467 ($5.78) per share, with a total value of 1,984.75 ($2,457.89). 1.27% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust

JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited and JPMorgan Asset Management (Japan) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Japan. The fund seeks to invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Macfarlane Group PLC (LON:MACF  Get Rating)s share price traded up 0.2% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as GBX 104.65 ($1.30) and last traded at GBX 103.75 ($1.28). 81,618 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 68% from the average session volume of 255,122 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 103.50 ($1.28).

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Shore Capital restated a house stock rating on shares of Macfarlane Group in a research note on Monday, March 6th.

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Macfarlane Group Trading Up 0.2 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 41.23, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.22. The businesss 50 day moving average price is GBX 106.63 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 102.46. The firm has a market cap of 164.28 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,037.50 and a beta of 0.86.

Macfarlane Group Increases Dividend

Macfarlane Group Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, May 11th will be issued a GBX 2.52 ($0.03) dividend. This is a positive change from Macfarlane Groups previous dividend of $0.90. This represents a yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 11th. Macfarlane Groups payout ratio is currently 3,000.00%.

(Get Rating)

Macfarlane Group PLC, through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and distributes protective packaging products to businesses. The company operates through Packaging Distribution and Manufacturing Operations segments. The Packaging Distribution segment distributes packaging materials; and supplies storage and warehousing services in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe.

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NIPPON STL & SU/S (OTCMKTS:NSSMY  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $7.42 and last traded at $7.50, with a volume of 16490 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.42.

NIPPON STL & SU/S Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 1.22. The firms 50 day moving average is $7.50 and its 200-day moving average is $11.07. The company has a market cap of $7.13 billion, a PE ratio of 2.71, a PEG ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 1.35.

About NIPPON STL & SU/S

(Get Rating)

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation engages in steelmaking and steel fabrication businesses worldwide. It operates in five segments: Steelmaking and Steel Fabrication, Engineering and Construction, Chemicals, New materials, and System Solutions. The company offers steel plates; hot- and cold-rolled steel sheets and coils, coated steel sheets, color coated steel sheets, electrolytic tin plates, and electrical steel sheets; bar and rod materials; and structural steel products.

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Shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (OTCMKTS:RYCEY  Get Rating) have received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twelve ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $125.00.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on RYCEY. BNP Paribas upgraded Rolls-Royce Holdings plc from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc from GBX 70 ($0.87) to GBX 90 ($1.11) in a report on Friday, February 24th. Bank of America raised shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc from an underperform rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Rolls-Royce Holdings plc from GBX 136 ($1.68) to GBX 160 ($1.98) in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st.

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Institutional Trading of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock. SYSTM Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (OTCMKTS:RYCEY  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 293,294 shares of the aerospace companys stock, valued at approximately $329,000.

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Price Performance

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Company Profile

Shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc stock opened at $1.81 on Thursday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $1.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1.24. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has a 12-month low of $0.71 and a 12-month high of $1.88.

(Get Rating)

Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc designs, develops, manufactures, and services integrated power systems for use in the air, on land, and at sea. The company operates its business through following segments: Civil Aerospace, Power Systems, Defense and ITP Aero. The Civil Aerospace segment offers commercial aero engines and aftermarket services.

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BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, announced the appointment and removal of officials Tuesday.

Wang Zhenjiang was appointed vice minister of justice, replacing Xiong Xuanguo.

Kang Xuping was named as vice director of the Research Office of the State Council, replacing Chen Zuxin.

Qin Boyong no longer serves as deputy auditor-general of the National Audit Office.

He Zhimin no longer serves as deputy director of the National Intellectual Property Administration.

Zhao Jianguo was removed from the post of deputy head of the National Government Offices Administration.

Li Chunliang was removed from the post of deputy director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (National Park Administration).

Fu Hua no longer serves as vice head of the State Archives Administration. 
ISTANBUL, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye on Monday commissioned its largest ship, TCG Anadolu, an amphibious assault vessel of the Turkish Navy that can be configured as a landing helicopter dock (LHD) and a drone carrier.

Thanks to the multi-purpose ship, Turkiye will become the "leader" of game-changing technologies in defense industries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the delivery ceremony of the vessel in Istanbul.

With a length of 231 meters and a width of 32 meters, TCG Anadolu is now the largest vessel in the Turkish Navy. The vessel has a maximum displacement of 27,436 tons and a maximum speed of 20.5 knots, and can travel 9,000 nautical miles. Its deck can hold 11 unmanned combat aerial vehicles(UCAVs) or 10 helicopters, while its hangar can hold 30 UCAVs or 19 helicopters.

"Thanks to TCG Anadolu, we will become a country that is pioneering one of the first in the world, game-changing technologies, systems and solutions," Erdogan said at the ceremony, adding that the vessel is the world's first warship in its field where the largest and heaviest helicopters and unmanned combat aerial vehicles(UCAVs) can land and take off.

"Also, thanks to the tanks and armored amphibious assault vehicles it carries, this ship has the features that will enable us to conduct military and humanitarian operations in every corner of the world, when necessary," Erdogan said.

He emphasized that 70 percent of the components of the TCG Anadolu were made in Turkiye.

Turkiye launched its multi-purpose amphibious assault ship project in 2015, after its Defence Industry Agency signed an agreement with Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. A total of 131 subcontractor companies participated in the building of the TCG Anadolu. 
Peterborough Police Service is investigating after an alleged sexual assault was reported on early Sunday morning.

Police say the incident happened between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Sunday, April 9, in the area of Monaghan Road and Sherbrooke Street when a female was approached by a male who was not known to her.

They had a short conversation and as she was leaving the area was allegedly physically assaulted, say police.

The victim escaped and was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment.

The suspect is described to police as:

 White

 20-22 years old

 6 tall

 Average build

 Dark brown hair

 Black NY hat

 Blue & Black jacket

 Dark blue jeans

 White & Black Jordan branded shoes

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca.



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The 54th annual Peterborough Regional Science Fair, held Tuesday at Trent University, drew 101 projects with 136 students from kindergarten to Grade 12 competing for dozens of awards.

Five students were chosen to advance to the Canada-Wide Science Fair being held on May 14 in Edmonton. The chosen students will receive free travel and accommodations.

Isabelle Young of St. Peter Secondary School in Peterborough placed second overall and is among the five selected. Also winning were: 1. Ava Trefiak of East Northumberland Secondary School in Brighton, 3. Nate Bennett and Elena De Luca of East Northumberland SS and 4. Zackary Carter Phillips of St. Elizabeth School in Bowmanville.

The big finale is the Canada-Wide winners, said Jill Emery, administrator of fundraising and outreach for the local science fair. Which is available to the junior, intermediate and senior groups.

The competing students were broken into primary, junior, intermediate and senior groups based on their age, with multiple awards for each age group.

Older groups are also broken up into subcategories, she said. These are physical and mathematical sciences, health and life sciences, earth and environmental sciences, and computing and engineering sciences.

There were 72 awards handed out for those categories along with 25 special awards with cash prizes that are sponsored by companies and organizations.

A lot of them have sponsors, Emery said. For example, the Water Environment Association of Ontario sponsors a Junior Award worth $100.

Students have to utilize a variety of school related skills, not just science, to succeed in the science fair, she said, including artistry, public speaking, writing and math.

So, its an incredible opportunity in terms of going across the curriculum and getting involved in all the different subjects they need for school, Emery said.

There are roughly 100 judges who examine different projects, said Brian Patrick, chief judge for the science fair and a professor of computer science at Trent.

The judges will get together in their groups, after each has had a chance to look over the projects, to come up with a consensus, he said. Then we have the award show around 3:30 p.m.

Patrick is happy the science fair has returned to in-person, following several years of virtual competitions during the COVID-19 pandemic, because of the benefits of having the judges and students talk face to face.

A particularly notable project was presented by Ella Sehn, a Grade 8 student from St. Catherine School in Peterborough.

The purpose of my experiment was to find the most effective means of filtering chlorine from liquids by using carbon-based filtration systems, she said.

My third hypothesis was that petroleum jelly and activated charcoal would reduce chlorine content in tap water the most, and it was supported with reduced chlorine levels from one part per million to zero parts per million.

Sehn was one of five to advance to the Canada-Wide Science Fair virtual fair in 2022, where she won a bronze medal for her experiment called Vegetation Sanitation: Measuring the Impact of Oil Spills on Oxygen Production of Aquatic Plants.

It was quite a fun experience, she said. I loved expanding my project, and coming up with new ideas to enhance my studies.

The competitors came from 25 schools stretching as far as Clarington and Bowmanville, along with some home-schooled students.

While the number of participating students has decreased since 2019, as a result of the pandemic, Emery sees these numbers returning soon.

We used to have up to 350 students, but because we havent had an in-person fair in three years, some of the younger kids dont even know this exists, she said.

But this is a nice start, and well build our numbers back up again. Were actually one of the biggest science fairs in Canada, partly because we include primary kids.

The science fair does this to get younger students excited about science and encourage them to pursue it as they get older, Emery noted

Its a really good way for kids to interact with their peers and talk to people about science, she said.

The science fairs website is at peterboroughsciencefair.com

aschummer@peterboroughdaily.com

2023 Peterborough Regional Science Fair winners View document on Scribd

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It was a cool spring afternoon as Santee Smith, founder/director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, crossed the yard from her home on the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve to the nearby former pottery showroom  the Smith family were professional potters  that now serves as her studio. She and fellow Indigenous cast members Feryn King and Katie Couchie, all in practice clothes, soon launched into their first full run-through of Homelands, a new work by Smith examining Indigenous peoples spiritual bond with the land. Homelands has its premiere this Friday at Harbourfront Centre.

As the hour-long work unfolded, even without all the visual effects of the full production  lighting, projected imagery, props and costumes  it was still possible to be drawn into an almost magical realm in which the western theatrical concept of performance was quickly subsumed into something more evocative of ceremony and ritual; contemporary in mode, sacred in spirit.

The layered sound score supports what ultimately emerges as a cycle of seasonal episodes that reference aspects of Indigenous cosmology and customs, and the way the land remains constant as generations come and go.

As in much of Smiths work, the choreography is a richly textured blend of gesture and bodily movements that seem to come from some deep inner energy source. Its never merely decorative. Even if, as in Homelands, the work is semi-abstract, there is always a purpose behind it. In this instance, it is the yearning for traditional territories lost to the Mohawk nation through war, appropriation and betrayal.

As Smith recounted, in pre-colonial times, her ancestors inhabited lands stretching all the way down the Mohawk Valley and up into the Adirondack Mountains. After the American Revolution, those who had remained loyal and, like Joseph Brant, supported the British were driven north across the new border. Under the terms of a 1784 treaty they were promised a huge tract of land extending six miles on either side along almost the entire course of the Grand River. Todays Six Nations reserve, a poor substitute for their lost homelands, occupies a small fraction of what had been promised.

Its all about the umbilical tie to the land, said Smith, who has explored the territory her ancestors were forced to abandon. When you return to your original homelands you feel a vibration, like some internal resonance. Something just clicks.

Homelands is also a celebration of women and motherhood and their important place in Indigenous culture.

In our culture, its all about balance, Smith explained. Balance within self, between people, with the environment, and equality of man and woman. Its imbalance that causes distress and disease. Some of the dances that we have inside of this piece reference traditional dances about balance in nature and alignment with the universe.

Smith has included men in several of her earlier works but knew from the start that Homelands would focus on women.

Women took care of anything to do with life-sustaining forces, Smith observed. One of the ways to say woman, translated from Mohawk, is life sustainer. We think of the Earth itself as Mother Earth. Its not an exclusion of masculinity but an acknowledgment of the importance and powerfulness of women, and making those connections to our homelands and our grandmothers past.

Although audiences primarily identify Smith as a dance artist, her personal journey has been far from conventional or straightforward, a reflection of her boundless curiosity and abundance of talents.

Lots of small children are instinctively motivated to dance when they hear music, but it took two nasty accidents to launch Smith into formal dance training. At age three she broke both legs in the same year. After the casts came off she was sent to a dance teacher in Brantford as a way of regaining strength in her legs, which she did. Smith also fell in love with dance as an artistic expression, so much so that at age 11 she entered the full-time professional training program at Canadas National Ballet School in Toronto but quit after six years.

I was confused about where I wanted to go in terms of my career, said Smith. I was not ready to commit to ballet. Id also been removed from Six Nations for a long time and felt an urge to reconnect.

Smith returned home, finished high school and enrolled at McMaster, the university in Hamilton where, decades later, she serves as its honorary and titular head in the role of chancellor. Smith graduated with a degree in physical education in 1994 and then pursued her interest in psychology, taking courses at the University of Toronto.

Then I got sidetracked, said Smith.

She was drawn to the work of Torontos Native Earth Performing Arts and began to train in theatre. Smith reconnected with dance in 1996 when celebrated Indigenous actor and musician Gary Farmer invited her to choreograph and perform in The Gift, a documentary he was making for the National Film Board about the important role of corn in Indigenous culture.

It was an aha moment, said Smith. It was my first choreography and a new possibility. I realized my whole body and creativity needed an outlet in movement.

For several summers, Smith travelled to Alberta to attend the Banff Centres groundbreaking Chinook Winds: Aboriginal Dance Project. There she connected with such future collaborators as actor Raoul Trujillo and Alejandro Ronceria, now director of dance training programs at the centre. She also forged some of her earliest connections with Indigenous artists from abroad. Smith soon began work on an ambitious project for an evening-length work called Kaha:wi that in 2005 became the official name of her newly formed company.

The research involved in the making of Kaha:wi dovetailed nicely with a two-year project at York University that, in 2004, earned Smith a masters degree in dance. She also completed a BA in psychology the following year at McMaster.

In the years since, Santee Smith has become one of Canadas internationally best-known and respected Indigenous artists. She has taken her work to festivals as far away as Japan and New Zealand, produced her own festivals of international Indigenous dance here in Canada, and choreographed a growing body of work that honours and celebrates the values of her traditional heritage through a multidisciplinary medium of contemporary dance theatre.

Santee Smith knows that some of the symbolism embedded in her choreography might not fully reveal itself to non-Indigenous audiences but is confident they will find meaning of their own.

Its happening for everybody, said Smith, but its up to each individual to take what they will from it.

MC Michael Crabb is a freelance writer who covers dance and opera for the Star.

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A year-long, cross-border firearms trafficking investigation has led to the arrests of 42 people and the seizure of 173 guns in Canada and the U.S, Toronto police said on Tuesday.

A total of 422 criminal charges were filed as a result of the probe, called Project Moneypenny, police told a press conference.

Among the accused are Canadians who allegedly sold guns acquired in the United States to undercover officers in Toronto.

Many of the guns were legally purchased in the U.S. states of Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio and Texas, police said.

The weapons haul includes 86 guns confiscated in the Greater Toronto Area, mostly semi-automatic pistols, and another 87 handguns seized by U.S. law enforcement in Chicago from a vehicle destined for Canada, police told reporters.

Of the 42 Canadians arrested, over half were from Toronto. Others were from Barrie, Ont., Pickering, Ont., Whitby, Ont. and Winnipeg. Seven of the suspects were 18-years-old or younger, police said.

The investigation was launched by the Toronto Police Services Gun and Gang Task Force in March 2022.

It was later expanded to involve the Canada Border Services Agency, US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as Canadas Durham Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Police.

You can have significant legislation... (but) the way we combat this is through true collaboration with our partners in the ATF (US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) and all the states, specifically Arizona,  said Toronto police Supt. Steve Watts.

Thats the way you actually deter the flow across. Its not through written legislation.

The investigation also resulted in the seizure of over 1,400 rounds of ammunition, 45 over capacity magazines (magazines with more than 10 rounds), 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl and 1.8 kilograms of cocaine.

Gun related violence poses great implications for public safety and cannot be tolerated, said Ontario Provincial Police Chief Supt. Paul Mackey.

We are grateful for all of the partners who came together to send a clear message to those choosing to endanger our citizens: We do not tolerate gun violence in this province.

The suspects were have been charged in a Toronto court and their next appearance is scheduled for Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

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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. 
Chiang Mai residents sue Prayut over haze

CHIANG MAI: About 1,700 residents of Chiang Mai province yesterday (Apr 10) filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and two state agencies over their failure to resolve the recurring haze in the North, which they claim is shortening their lives by five years.

pollutionhealthSafety

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 11 April 2023, 08:51AM

Toxic haze obscures the Doi Suthep mountain range in Muang district of Chiang Mai yesterday (Apr 10). Photo: Dave Kendall / Bangkok Post

Around 60 people representing the plaintiffs appeared at the Administrative Court yesterday to file the lawsuit, which accused Gen Prayut, along with the National Environmental Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission of failing to act to reform contract farming which has been going on for years, reports the Bangkok Post.

The representatives, who include activists, local residents, as well as academics from Chiang Mai University and other experts, said 727 people signed the petition backing the lawsuit over the weekend at Chiang Mai Universitys Faculty of Law, while 980 signed up online.

One of the plaintiffs, Sumitchai Hatthasan, director of the Centre for Protection and Revival of Local Community Rights, said the prime minister failed to exercise his power under the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act to solve the problem.

The plaintiffs also accused the National Environmental Board of failing to effectively implement the national plan to tackle particulate matter pollution introduced in 2019.

In addition, they said, the Securities and Exchange Commission should be held responsible for failing to examine the sources of ultrafine dust pollution within the supply chains of major listed companies to help solve the problem.

Dr Rangsarit Kanchanawanit, from Chiang Mai Universitys Faculty of Medicine, said the health of people living in urban areas is at risk from being exposed to unsafe levels of fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometres in diameter or less (PM2.5) all year long. Repeated and sustained exposure to PM2.5 pollutants raise the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and strokes, in addition to shortening peoples lifespan by up to five years.

We want to see the government change its policies to show strong political will and not just be considerate towards corporations. This could save millions of people from illnesses, he said.

Chatchawal Thongdeelert of the Breath Council said the PM2.5 problem is only worsening with each passing year, so the government needs to implement both short- and long-term solutions to reduce air pollution.

The root cause is burning, both in forests and on maize plantations... Political parties and the new government must prioritise this issue and implement effective solutions, he said.

Hazardous levels of airborne pollutants were again reported across Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son and Nan, with the worst reported in Pai district of Mae Hong Son, the Pollution Control Department reported yesterday.
China ends Taiwan war games aimed at sealing off island

PINGTAN: China said it had successfully completed three days of war games around Taiwan yesterday (Apr 10), capping a show of force that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practise a blockade of the self-ruled island.

Chinesepolitics

By AFP

Tuesday 11 April 2023, 09:09AM

A Chinese helicopter flies over a military base in Pingtan island, in Chinas southeast Fujian province on Apr 7. Photo: AFP

Beijings exercises were a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, an encounter it had warned would provoke strong countermeasures.

After three days of exercises, the Chinese military said it had successfully completed tasks related to its Joint Sword drills.

The operations comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat ability of multiple military branches under actual combat conditions, the Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) Eastern Command said.

The command said in its statement that 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 war games saw Beijing simulate targeted strikes on Taiwan and encirclement of the island, including sealing it off, and state media reported dozens of planes had practised an aerial blockade.

One of Chinas two aircraft carriers, the Shandong, also participated in the exercises, the military said.

Tensions high

The United States, which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint, yesterday 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.

The Milius deployment triggered condemnation from China, which said the vessel had illegally intruded into its territorial waters.

Separately, Beijing warned that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were mutually exclusive, blaming Taipei and unnamed foreign forces supporting it for the tensions.

The White House made clear that relations with Beijing were rocky following the drills.

Tensions are certainly high right now, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, adding that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was working to get back on a plane over to Beijing and that China was discussing possible visits by other US officials.

The State Department instead announced yesterday that Blinken would visit Vietnam, a China neighbour, this week to discuss our shared vision of a connected, prosperous, peaceful and resilient Indo-Pacific region.

After the drills, Taiwans foreign ministry condemned China for undermining regional peace and stability.

The islands defence ministry said it had detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around Taiwan yesterday.

During the exercises, J15 fighter jets from Chinas Shandong aircraft carrier were deployed, among 54 aircraft that crossed the median line, it added.

Chinese ally Russia defended the drills, with a Kremlin spokesperson saying Beijing had a sovereign right to respond to what Moscow called provocative acts.

No war

On Beigan island, part of Taiwans Matsu archipelago within sight of Chinas mainland, 60-year-old chef Lin Ke-qiang told AFP he did not want war.

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.

China and Taiwan split following a civil war in 1949. China views the democratic island 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 Central America.

Last August, 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.

Tsais meeting with McCarthy in California, rather than in Taiwan, was viewed as a compromise, underscoring support for the island while avoiding angering Beijing.

But China had repeatedly warned against any meeting, and began the latest war games soon after Tsai returned to Taiwan.

Tsai responded by pledging to work with the US and other like-minded countries in the face of continued authoritarian expansionism.

Yesterdays exercises were expected to include live-fire drills off Chinas Fujian province, about 80 kilometres south of the Matsu islands, maritime authorities said Saturday.

A video published yesterday 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.
Ghostriding motorcyclist killed, struck head-on by car

PHUKET: A 43-year-old man was killed when the motorbike he was ghost riding on along Thepkrasattri Rd was struck head-on by a car in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn, yesterday (Apr 10).

transportSafetyaccidentsdeathpolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 11 April 2023, 01:00PM

Lt Pongpipat Khamchumphu of the Thalang Police was called to the scene, near the Wandee B20 shop, at 4:15pm.

Police and rescue workers from Thepkrasattri Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) arrived to find the man, Boonrit Amornkol, 43, trapped under the front bumper of a white Phuket-registered Toyota Vios by the side of the road. Nearby was a heavily damaged green Kawasaki MSX motorcycle.

More than 10 people were lifting the car to remove Mr Boonrit, who was unconscious with severe injuries.

An EMS unit arrived and rushed Mr Boonrit to Thalang Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The driver of the Toyota Vios, Musha Seng, 33, was waiting for police at the scene.

Lt Pongpipat said that from officers initial investigation it appeared that Mr Boonrit was driving against the flow of traffic along the side of Thepkrasattri Rd when he was struck by the car.

Mr Musha was driving towards Phuket Town when lost control of the car. A tape measure had prevented him from applying the brakes.

He panicked and somehow stepped on the accelerator instead, causing him to crash into Mr Boonrit on his motorbike.

Lt Pongpipat said police were continuing their investigation. Mr Musha was taken to Thalang Police Station to be tested for drug use.

Officers were also to check CCTV footage from the area to determine more details about how the accident occurred, Lt Pongpipat said.
More fanfare as Phuket Seven Days campaign announced

PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodbam led an event in front of Phuket Provincial Hall today (Apr 11) to officiate the opening of the Joint Operations Center for the Prevention and Reduction of Road and Sea Accidents during the Songkran Festival 2023.

Tuesday 11 April 2023, 06:00PM

The event marks the official recognition of the road and water safety campaign being held over seven days during the Songkran holidays.

The campaign for nigh on two decades the campign has been known as the Seven Days of Danger, or Seven Dangerous Days, as the government itself called it for many years. This year officials seem to be avoiding the well known name, as if not using the word danger makes the period less dangerous.

Vice Governor Anupap today repeated the same explanation for the campaign as done for years past.

The campaign is to reduce accidents and to increase the intensity of every measure hoping to minimize the loss, and to encourage people to be aware of the damage from accidents, and to protect life and property, he said.

Udomporn Kan, head of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM-Phuket), confirmed that the campaign this year is from Apr 11-17, meaning it actually officially began at midnight last night.

Mr Udomporn said that statistics show that most accidents were caused by drunkenness, speeding, operating a vehicle while not having a drivers licence, and exhaustion from traveling and driving continuously for a long time.

Motorbikes were the most common vehicle involved in accidents, followed by pickups and cars, he said.

During this Songkran festival we have set a goal to reduce statistics on road accidents down to the minimum, he said.

This includes by cooperation in enforcing and strictly complying with the law by establishing an intensive control period between 11 -17 April 2023, a total of 7 days, Mr Udomporn added.

TOURIST SAFETY

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong today said Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew had put in place measures to take care of the safety of people and tourists during the Songkran Festival to build confidence for tourists who will come to travel, said one official report.

For police this meant an anti-crime campaign that began Mar 29 and will continue through to apr 10, he said.

Police will be focussing on firearms, drugs and outstanding arrest warrants, among others, he added.

Checkpoints have been established. which must be strong in order not to cause incidents on land, water or in the air, which will be continuously monitored, Maj Gen Sermphan said.

If any person is found wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant, they will be arrested immediately, he said.

Measures to prevent and reduce accidents, as well as facilitate traffic, are already in effect, with action against various offenses such as not having a drivers license, not wearing a helmet, drunk driving, etc., he added.

Officials will conduct public relations campaign to help reduce the risk of accidents or theft, because there are many private sector events, Maj Gen Sermphan continued.

All units have been ordered to take action according to the specified measures, including mobilizing inspections in risk areas. CCTV cameras and technology will be used to provide safe access to each event area, he added.

As for the opening and closing times [of events and venues], it will be controlled to not to go too far, Maj Gen Sermphan cautioned.

Police will be on special watch for any children at large during the holidays, and will follow up with parents to ensure the Child Protection Act is not in breach, he said.

Police will not be creating any special care zones, but they will join with the local government organisations and other officials to carry out inspections to maintain peace and order. As for risk areas such as Patong, etc., the areas are already under strict supervision, Maj Gen Sermphan said.

This is to build confidence for people and tourists who will travel in Phuket, he concluded.
Phuket expects big holiday boost

BANGKOK: Visitors to Phuket during the Songkran Festival are expected to exceed those of 2019, with numbers 30% higher than before the pandemic, while authorities believe local tourism will generate B4.5 billion in revenue.

tourismeconomics

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 11 April 2023, 11:03AM

Tourists relax on a beach in Phuket. Photo: Achadthaya Chuennira / file

Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office, said on Monday (Apr 10) that over 100,000 hotel rooms in Phuket had been booked for Songkran week  about 85% of room vacancies, reports the Bangkok Post.

It is expected that 4.5 billion bahts worth of revenue will be generated during that period. Even though tourists from Europe and the US are returning to their countries, domestic tourists are flocking to Phuket, he said.

He added that the number of visitors during the Thai New Year holiday would exceed the level in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, incentivised by the governments We Travel Together tourism promotion campaign.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is currently conducting the fifth phase of the governments We Travel Together domestic tourism promotion campaign. It began in March and runs until the end of April.

The campaign received cabinet approval with a budget of B2.016bn. Under the programme, the government provides subsidies equivalent to 40% of room rates, capped at B3,600 per room per night. A total of 560,000 room subsidies are available, each with a B600 voucher for travellers to spend on food or services.

Tourists can reserve hotel rooms under this campaign until April 27, while the last day of the promotion ends on April 30.

Despite local tourism having fully recovered, Mr Lertchai said Phuket will strive for high-end tourists to earn greater revenue through their spending. The top-three nationalities visiting Phuket are Russians, Chinese and Indians, respectively, he added.

Mr Lertchai also said that Phuket had prepared water-splashing events in many areas, such as at Phukets Central Department Store, Limelight Avenue Department Store and its famous beaches.

Meanwhile, in Phang Nga, reports claim that the resort town has welcomed an overwhelming number of Thai and foreign tourists who have flocked to the Similan and Surin islands.

During Songkran week, reservations for tour boats, restaurants and hotels have increased. Local entrepreneurs said the number of visitors in Phang Nga from February to April surpassed last year.

Many have speculated that Thai tourists have gone to southern beaches to avoid the haze pollution while foreign visitors are coming to Phang Nga for its natural attractions.

TAT Phang Nga Office director, Uthit Limsakul, said hotel occupancy in the province is expected to hit 80% during the long holiday, mainly booked by tourists from Germany, Sweden and Israel.

Mr Uthit said visitors from Bangkok and Phuket still select Phangnga as their top destination during Songkran. It is estimated that the average amount spent by a Thai tourist would be B4,700 per day while a foreign national would spend B7,500.
Songkran law enforcement goes on show

PHUKET: A major ceremony was held at the Phuket Check Point, at the northern tip of the island, yesterday (Apr 10) to mark the beginning of the annual campaign to law enforcement to crack down on crime and enforce safety laws during the Songkran holidays.

tourismtransportSafety

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 11 April 2023, 10:50AM

The ceremony was led by Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Pol Maj Gen Saksira Phuak-am, joined by a host of other high-ranking officers among the islands police and other law enforcement agencies.

Rear Admiral Puchong Rodnikorn, Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Navy Third Naval Area, based at Cape Panwa, was also present at the event.

In total, more than 250 personnel and local officials were called to attend the assembly at the checkpoint.

Maj Gen Saksira explained that the purpose of the campaign was to build confidence, take care of the safety of life and property of the public and tourists.

Officers were to be ready to respond to any situation at any time throughout the campaign, he said.

Agencies will integrate and coordinate in order to carry out the campaigns objectives, with special focus on road safety, he added.

AIRPORT READIES

Monchai Tanode, General Manager of Airports of Thailand Phuket branch (AoT Phuket), led a ceremony to mark the ramping up of security and safety measures at Phuket International Airport for the Songkran holidays.

Measures were also ramped up to facilitate the throughput of passengers during the period, he said.

The assembly and ensuing parade at the airport yesterday involved 13 local agencies, including the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 (Phuket area) branch, the Special Aviation Division. Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, Phuket Airport Immigration, Phuket Airport Customs, Sakhu Police, Phuket Tourist Police, the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), among others.

During the Songkran Festival between April 13-17 2023 is considered an important festival and a tradition for the Thai New Year. During this period, which has several consecutive public holidays, we will have both Thai and foreign tourists traveling to use the service at Phuket International Airport to travel in Phuket and many nearby provinces, Mr Monchai said.

We are organising activities to prepare for this time with the cooperation of various agencies that are aware of the preparation measures in terms of security and facilities during the festival to create satisfaction and confidence for tourists, passengers and users at Phuket International Airport, as well as create a good image of Phuket Airport, and Phuket as a whole, he added.

It is expected that there will be at least 40,000 passengers arriving during the period and there will be about 250 flights arriving and departing per day, Mr Monchai noted.

The Port Authority [sic] has prepared [for the influx of arrivals] in all aspects, both facilities and transportation, and instructed transport service providers, whether taxi or bus, to prepare to meet the increasing number of passengers, and has coordinated with the Phuket Provincial Transport Authority [the PLTO] to help supervise [sic] to be careful to not to allow unauthorised transport to cause annoyance to passengers, said Monchai warned
BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- China will work with Brazil and take President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's upcoming visit as an opportunity to promote the upgrading of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.

Wang made the remarks during a daily news briefing when asked about Lula's state visit to China from April 12 to 15.

After Lula postponed his visit to China due to illness, the two sides have been in close communication on the visit, according to the spokesperson.

Lula will lead a large delegation to China shortly after his recovery, which shows how both sides have attached great importance to this visit and the development of bilateral relations, Wang said.

He added that the two countries will work together to upgrade mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, which will inject positive energy into the promotion of solidarity and cooperation among developing countries and joint efforts to cope with global challenges. 
Five projects in Cambridge aiding older adults with complex medical needs will benefit from the provincial Local Priorities Fund.

The Ontario government announced on April 11 that three care homes would receive a total of $52,976 to bring specialized care and supports to those with needs, such as dementia and bariatric care. The funding is part of a $20-million investment this year in 189 projects provincewide through the Local Priorities Fund, operated by Ontario Health.

The biggest chunk of funding will go to Fairview Mennonite Home, which will receive $27,708, for the purchase of bariatric equipment to support the admission of residents with bariatric care needs. In addition, Golden Years Nursing Home and Hilltop Manor will receive $7,342 each for the purchase of diagnostic equipment to prevent avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations, as well as $5,292 each for the purchase of bariatric equipment.

This investment, tailored to the needs of our community, will provide long-term-care residents right here in Cambridge with the specialized supports and services they need, said Cambridge MPP Brian Riddell in a release.

Under Premier Doug Fords leadership, were taking action to bolster our provinces long-term-care system and put residents needs first.

The release said some of the local projects will help residents get the specialized care they need in their long-term-care home without having to go to the emergency room or be admitted to hospital. Others will support the admission into homes of people who no longer require acute care in hospital, but who have complex needs that can be difficult to accommodate without specialized services and supports.

Initiatives like the Local Priorities Fund ensure Ontarians are being connected with the right care in the right place, close to their family and friends, said Paul Calandra, minister of long-term care.

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Baden Firefighters Association is organizing an event called Country Night in Baden featuring the country band, Gunpowder and Grace.

The event is happening on June 23 from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 and will go on sale on April 15.

Proceeds will go toward helping the Baden Firefighters Association purchase valuable life-saving and rescue equipment.

The event will be held at the Sir Adam Beck Community Park, 215 Snyder's Rd .Et., Baden, Ont.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3UmvFfT.

RELATED STORIES 100 Men of Wilmot Who Give a Damn: Making a difference one donation at a time

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WATERLOO REGION  Waterloo Regional Police needs more officers but could have used millions of dollars of surplus cash to help fund those hires, according to a staffing report.

In February regional council narrowly approved an $18.3-million budget increase to, in part, fund the hiring of 19 new officers.

The service needs more officers, said the report, prepared for police by consultant KPMG for about $136,000.

The police service had surpluses of $2.1 million in 2019, $4.9 million in 2020 and $2.3 million in 2021.

Based on estimated 2023 salary costs, the lowest budget surplus seen in 2019 could equate to approximately 18 additional first class constables. This assumes the service is not currently reinvesting the staffing surplus in other priority areas, the report said.

Annual surpluses are allocated to reserve funds, in accordance with police board policy, said Cherri Greeno, director of corporate affairs for the police. Often that money is used for capital projects, rather than operating costs such as staffing.

There are a number of factors that must be considered when analyzing each recommendation, including operating budget impacts and resource availability, she said.

In future, budget surpluses should be allocated to staffing, the report recommended.

Before the police budget was approved, police released a six-page summary of the report to regional councillors and media.

Only regional politicians who also sit on the police services board  regional Chair Karen Redman, Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz and Cambridge regional councillor Doug Craig  received the full report.

The Record requested the full report under Access to Information legislation. Police posted most of the report to its website on March 28 after The Record access request and after budget approval.

When police Chief Mark Crowell presented the 2023 budget he said the service needed more officers, pointing to increasing violent crime rates, low case clearance rates and high officer workloads.

In making his case for more staff, Crowell compared the region to a larger pool of municipalities and didnt include KPMGs recommendation to use budget surpluses to pay for new officers.

The KPMG report compared Waterloo Regional Police to three other regional police services: Durham, Halton and Niagara. In some cases KPMG also looked at data from other police services.

KPMG recommended adding 51 full-time officers in 2023, bringing the complement to 872. That level of staffing would bring the region to the average of 139.8 officers per 100,000 population for regional municipalities.

To determine the number of officers the service needed, KPMG looked at several metrics including population growth, crime severity, clearance rates, an increase in visible minorities, officer workload, officers per capita and response times.

KPMG compared the average number of police officers per 100,000 population in 11 regional police services across Ontario, including Waterloo Region, using data from Statistics Canada. Staffing recommendations were based on the assumption that the region should meet that average.

If the service implemented all the reports recommendations, KPMG said the service would need an estimated 50 to 55 patrol officers, including five more sergeants in 2023, at an estimated annual cost of $8.2 million to $9.1 million. It also recommended a new rural sergeant, and nine to 11 new civilian full-time staff for a civilian-staffed call centre, at a cost of about $1.3 million annually.

In 2021 Waterloo Regional Police had 786 officers; in 2022 that number grew to 821.

In February, police presented a plan to council to phase in 55 officers between 2023 and 2025.

Local police have struggled to recruit the number of officers approved in previous budgets and meet minimum staffing levels, the report noted.

Police are still trying to recruit the 35 additional officers approved last year.

Recruitment is a challenge facing police services across the country, Greeno said. We recently developed an internal uniform recruitment steering committee, which is focused on a multifaceted approach to recruiting to ensure our service is the first choice for anyone considering a career in policing.

The service has also launched an experienced officer program to attract police from other services.

Police did not respond to questions about why they requested more officers in 2023 when they hadnt reached the 2022 approved complement.

The timing of hiring and recruitment challenges were an issue at budget time, after police estimated they would have a $1 million surplus because the officers wouldnt be hired until later this year.

The report included several other recommendations, many of which would come at no additional cost:

Use special constables for activities such taking reports on low-priority calls, securing crime scenes and managing traffic, to free up front-line officers

Front-line officers often perform duties that dont require a sworn officer, the report said. It recommended police petition the government to give special constables more authority, as the Brantford Police Service did.

To better serve the townships and rebalance calls, KPMG recommended redistributing officers in patrol zones to better serve high-demand areas. This would mean taking some of the officers from South Division in Cambridge and reallocating them to the North and Central divisions in Waterloo and Kitchener.

KPMG went further and said division boundaries should be shifted. Currently Victoria Street divides Kitchener and Waterloo divisions and officers in those areas must monitor two different communication channels.

The report proposed reallocating 184 North Division sectors to Kitchener.

Paige Desmond is a Waterloo Region-based reporter focusing on municipal issues for The Record. Reach her via email: pdesmond@therecord.com

Snapshot: How Waterloo Regional Police compare

Waterloo Regional Police had the second-highest number of officers per 100,000 population against its three comparators. The highest rate in the comparator groups was 157.8 in Niagara and the lowest 123.2 in Halton. Durham had a rate of 129.6.

In 2021, police in Waterloo Region had 200 cases per officer, the highest among its three comparators. Halton had 187, Niagara had 176 and Durham had 123.

Between 2019 and 2021, the period KPMG looked at for case clearance, clearance rates fell from about 35 per cent to 28 per cent, the report said.

As part of the study KPMG used a calculation to measure officer complement compared to relative demand for service. That calculation included number of officers per 100,000 population and the Crime Severity Index.

Taking into account service demand and the Crime Severity Index, police had the lowest officer complement at 174.3 compared to 10 other Ontario municipalities in 2021.

Source: KPMG staffing report

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WATERLOO REGION  Adam LeBlanc flies high above Riverside Rails skate park in Cambridge on Monday, soaking in the warmth of the sunny, mid-April day.

The forecast for the week looks sunny and warm, with temperatures hovering in the low-to-mid 20s from Wednesday until Saturday.

Environment Canada is calling for sunny skies in Waterloo Region up until Saturday, when clouds are expected to roll in, possibly bringing rain.

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KITCHENER  A local public school teacher is facing four additional charges in connection to a sexual assault investigation involving youth.

On Feb. 2, Waterloo Regional Police received reports of youths being sexually assaulted by a teacher at a senior public school in the Forest Hills area of Kitchener.

After a joint investigation between police and Family and Children Services, the man was arrested on March 16. He was charged with eight counts of sexual assault and sexual interference.

On March 21, police received a report of historical sexual assaults and additional charges  two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference  were laid in this investigation.

On Tuesday, police publicly identified the accused as Kahlil Deep, 52, of Wilmot Township.

In a statement, the Waterloo Region District School Board said it is aware of the situation and has informed the school community.

In accordance with board procedures, Deep has been assigned to home immediately as soon as the complaint was made, and as such, they are not able to attend WRDSB school properties, said board spokesperson Estefania Brandenstein.

As this matter is now before the courts we are unable to discuss the particulars of this situation, she said.

Police said they believe there may be more victims in this case.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 519-570-9777. Anonymous tips can also be left with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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Staff members pose for a group photo in front of a SF Airlines freighter to celebrate the launch of an air cargo route linking east China's Qingdao and Belgium's Liege, at the Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 11, 2023. An air cargo route linking east China's Qingdao and Belgium's Liege was launched on Tuesday, adding a new air logistics channel between China and Europe, according to SF Airlines. (SF Airlines/Handout via Xinhua)

BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- An air cargo route linking east China's Qingdao and Belgium's Liege was launched on Tuesday, adding a new air logistics channel between China and Europe, according to SF Airlines.

Two round-trip cargo flights are scheduled to run between China and Europe every week on this route, adding 400 tonnes of air express capacity, the cargo airline said.

Prior to the opening of this new route, the airline on April 1 launched a cargo route linking Ezhou, in central China's Hubei Province, and Belgium's Liege.

SF Airlines is the aviation branch of China's leading courier enterprise SF Express. It is the country's largest air-cargo carrier operating a fleet of 80 freighters.

The company has established a cargo route network covering China, radiating across Asia, and reaching Europe and the United States. It is committed to continuously expanding the fleet size and strengthening the air-logistics service capacities to promote high-quality development. 

A freighter of SF Airlines is loaded at the Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 11, 2023. An air cargo route linking east China's Qingdao and Belgium's Liege was launched on Tuesday, adding a new air logistics channel between China and Europe, according to SF Airlines. (SF Airlines/Handout via Xinhua)
The bands first evening on the late night talk show entailed a performance of the title track from the forthcoming album, as well as chats about Stranger Things, their world tour, the first albums they ever bought, and more.
Inspected

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IMPHAL, Apr 10: Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam physically inspected construction work at Manipur Bhavan at Salt Lake today.

During the inspection, the Minister was accompanied by top officials and engineers of the Works Department.

The inspection was carried out following the advice of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Notably, the construction work of Manipur Bhavan started when Okram Ibobi was Chief Minister, about 20 years ago. The construction work was carried out by a company called Avantika, however, the work stalled and has been on halt since then. Meanwhile, during the visit today, Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam said all efforts will be taken up to complete the Bhavan at the earliest.
Affected landowners call total bandh

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IMPHAL, Apr 11 : The Thingou Village Authority has called a total bandh along the Northern Frontier Railways within the jurisdiction of Thingou Village, Nungba Sub-Division in Noney District with effect from April 23, 2023 (Sunday) midnight.

A press release by Machunthoi Kamei, Khullakpa, Ex-Officio Chairman, Thingou Village Authority said that the total bandh is being called in protest against the callous attitude and non-compliance to the term of agreement made for providing compensation/rent to the affected and property owners of the village as per agreed points of the proceedings of the meeting on occupation of land at Thingou by Northern Frontier Railway for Security Camp on October 21, 2022 at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Noney District.

The authority of Thingou Village on behalf of all the affected landowners in the purview of Northern Frontier Railway construction touching both sides of the Railways at Thingou village after much patience and series of reminders, resorted to declare the total bandh.

After several intimations and representatives of Thingou Village served to the department concerned, the issue has been neglected and delayed since the aforementioned areas have been occupied by NF Railway for the last ten years.

The villagers will be compelled to take up intense agitation if the authorities concerned of Northern Frontier Railways fail to fulfil the demands of the villagers.




ADEN, Yemen, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni government's chief negotiator said Tuesday his team was ready to start exchanging prisoners with the Houthi militia according to a swap deal between the warring sides in Yemen.

"We are pleased to announce the full readiness of the Yemeni government team to implement the Geneva-signed prisoner deal with the Houthis," Yahya Kazman, chief of the internationally-recognized Yemeni government's negotiation committee, said in a press release.

He noted that the agreement would be carried out at the time designated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a party named by the deal as responsible for transporting the 887 conflict-related detainees after their release.

The warring sides reached the deal on March 20 in Switzerland facilitated by UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg. The transport was then postponed from April 13 to April 14 at ICRC's request to finalize its arrangements, the Yemeni government has said.

On Saturday, Yemen's Houthi group confirmed that it had received 13 prisoners of war who had been released by Saudi Arabia in exchange for a previously freed Saudi prisoner.

This came amid intensified efforts to achieve peace in Yemen, especially following the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia adn Iran, in a deal brokered by China.

Over the weekend, Saudi and Omani delegations held with the Iran-backed Houthi group in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa aimed at restoring peace in the war-torn country, praised by the United Nations as "a welcome step towards the de-escalation of tensions."

Yemen has been embroiled in a protracted war after the Houthi militia took control of several northern cities and ousted the Saudi-backed Yemeni government from the capital.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in a staggering number of casualties and has pushed Yemen to the brink of a humanitarian crisis, including widespread famine. 
Uptick trend of Covid cases Posers on mock drill

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It is not yet a surge but nothing can or should be left to chance. Take the statistics into consideration. On April 1, 2023 Manipur reported a new Covid positive case, after a lull of three months, the last such case having been reported on January 3 this year. Thereafter, that is February and March, Manipur remained Covid free, but given the wily characteristics of the virus and its unpredictability, it sort of made a comeback with one case reported on April 1. Since then it has been a steady climb with at least 12 active cases now and this is just April 11. The Arithmetic is easy enough. Manipur has been logging a fraction over 1 new case each day since April 1 and taking the burgeoning cases in other parts of the country, one cannot afford to be too careful. It is in line with the trend across the country that Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had called for a Nationwide Covid drill on April 10 and 11 to take stock of the preparedness of the health centres to deal with any exigency. Significant to note that the Union Health Minister personally visited Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital at New Delhi to take stock of the preparedness of the said hospital on April 10 and one had also expected Manipur to gear up and conduct the mock drill with all seriousness on April 10. However as things have transpired, there is not much to write home about the mock drill, that is at least as of April 10. Dont know if a mass scale mock drill had been lined up on April 11, but it stands that there was nothing much to report on April 10. Efforts to get minute information on the mock drill conducted here did not elicit the required response and The Sangai Express had to do with a one column report, a cursory report at best. Certainly this is not the way to go about with the task of rolling up ones sleeves to meet any exigency, given the way the virus behaves and its spread across the country. The world is yet to be free of the virus, this is a given and information is a key component to take the fight to the virus. This better sink into the consciousness of the people who matter. And even as the rate of infection has seen an uptick in different parts of the country and even in Manipur, it is disheartening to note that the vaccination rate continues to be poor with no one vaccinated in the last 24 hours becoming more than just a line in the statement issued by the Covid Control Room to the media everyday. This is cause for concern.

The past is the perfect teacher and if no lessons are learnt from the not at all distant past, then it will defeat every step taken up in the fight against a virus as wily and unpredictable as the coronavirus. Rewind to March 24, 2020 and Manipur should still remember the day when news of the first case of a positive case spread like wildfire. Remember the instances of leikai heroes and heroines coming out to block the road as if hindering the movement of people would keep the virus at bay, remember how health workers who dealt with infected persons were treated with a barge pole and discouraged from returning home from their work place, which is the hospital in this case, and remember how many were pulled up and fined for not adhering to Covid Appropriate Behaviour and also keep in mind the lockdown. Recalling all these instances to drive home the point that no one can be too careful and the mock drill call issued by the Union Health Minister is not something to be taken lightly. From one single case on March 24, 2020, the number today stands at nearly 1.4 lakh. In a span of three years, the number of infected persons has increased from one to nearly 1.4 lakh and this itself should say something on how fast the virus can spread. Along with the fast spread is the number of deaths, which stands at over 2 thousand. These figures should tell a very significant story and unfortunate it is that this reality seems to have blown over the heads of quite a number of people who matter. There is a reason for issuing the call for a mock drill and there is no reason why this shouldnt be taken with the seriousness it deserves.
Ending tobacco use is the bedrock for progressing towards ending TB and SDGs

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Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

Globally all Governments have promised to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2030, with the Indian Government aiming to end it 5 years before the global target. TB was the deadliest of all infectious diseases till the pandemic hit us. But if we look at TB high burden Nations, such as India and Indonesia, it continues to be the biggest killer infectious disease leaving COVID-19 behind-though undeniably, even one death due to TB or COVID-19, is a death too many.

Every case of active TB disease comes from those who are infected with the TB bacteria (referred to as latent TB infection). Additionally, the top-5 TB risk factors - malnutrition, tobacco use, alcohol use, diabetes and HIV- increase the risk of progressing from latent TB to active TB disease manifold. These risk factors also make it difficult to treat TB, and risk of death also shoots up, says Dr Guy Marks, President of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

Indonesia's Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin called for stronger actions to end all forms of tobacco smoking in the country to progress towards ending TB. Tobacco smoking is the biggest preventable cause of not only TB but also several other life-threatening diseases in Indonesia, as well as globally. He was delivering the keynote address at the Indonesia National Webinar on the theme "Yes! We can end TB and tobacco smoking," co-hosted a day before World Health Day 2023 by Indonesias Ministry of Health, All Indonesia Public Health Services Association (ADINKES), Indonesian TB Research Network (JetSet TB), International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union) and Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT). This almost 5-hours long virtual session was attended by 1000 people from diverse government ministries, departments and other sectors from Indonesia, Nepal, India, Singapore, and other countries in Asia Pacific region.

According to the latest Global TB Report 2022 of the World Health Organization (WHO), Indonesia has the second highest TB burden in the world after India. There were 969,000 estimated TB cases in Indonesia in 2021, out of which 74% (717,941) were notified to the National programme. Over half of TB cases (53%) were males (in whom smoking rates are higher too).

More alarmingly, the WHO report points out that the top-5 TB risk factors in Indonesia in 2021 were: undernourishment (which caused 120,000 new TB cases), tobacco smoking (which caused 113,000 new TB cases), HIV (which caused 35,000 new TB cases), diabetes (which caused 28,000 new TB cases), and alcohol (which caused 14,000 new TB cases).

The WHO report also tells us that in 2021 these were also the top 5 TB risk factors in the whole of Asia Pacific region: undernourishment (1.2 million new TB cases), tobacco use (502,000 new TB cases), alcohol (486,000 new TB cases), diabetes (234,000 new TB cases), and HIV (209,000 new TB cases).

To end TB we have to end tobacco

"We cannot end TB unless we end tobacco smoking," said Mukta Sharma of WHO. It is important to note that whether a person is smoking tobacco or exposed to passive smoking, the risk of TB disease goes up by 6 to 9 times. "In Indonesia, 77% of TB patients were smokers  much higher than other countries in the region," said Sharma.

Dr Ayu Swandewi Astuti, from Udayana University in Indonesia emphasised that efforts to end TB must be in tango with efforts to end tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and undernourishment; prevent diabetes; and ensure that every person with HIV is receiving the full cascade of HIV care services.

In Indonesia and the 30 countries with the highest TB burden, men are at higher risk of TB than women because most (60%) men aged over 15 years smoke cigarettes, said Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

Instead of declining, tobacco smoking has increased in Indonesia

In the last 10 years, the number of adult smokers in Indonesia has increased significantly by 8.8 million - from 60.3 million smokers in 2011 to 69.1 million smokers in 2021. The results of the Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) also show a 10-fold increase in the prevalence of electronic smoking- from 0.3% in 2011 to 3% in 2021. Meanwhile, the prevalence of secondhand smoke has also risen to 120 million people, said Sadikin.

Studies show that tobacco smokers are at 2-3 times higher risk of TB disease progressing from latent TB to active TB disease; treatment outcomes are less optimal and risk of death is also higher in them. Having non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes further elevates the TB risk. TB is one of the leading causes of death in smokers, with 15.2% of deaths from TB related to smoking, so smoking as a major risk factor for TB can hinder the target of reducing TB incidence and mortality by 2030, said Sadikin.

According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), TB is the 10th leading cause of death in Indonesia at 7.1%, after heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Also, at 17.03% smoking is the second highest risk factor for death after cardio vascular disease.

That is why strong coordinated actions are an absolute must to end both- TB and tobacco smoking- along with prevention of NCDs, and promotion of other health activities. It is necessary to strengthen the strategy in supporting the achievement of National Medium term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2020-2024 to reduce the prevalence of smokers aged 10-18 years and eliminate TB in Indonesia, Sadikin said. He called for stronger implementation of a range of evidence-based tobacco control measures, such as ban on smoking in public places, quit-tobacco-smoking services to help people (and TB patients) to quit the addiction, among others.

Sadikin also shared that during COVID-19, the number of people who could get diagnosed with TB in a year had dipped to around half a million but in 2021 it again picked up to over 717,000. But, over 200,000 people were missing from TB care services in 2021. He underlined the importance of reaching out to everyone with TB disease with the full cascade of health services, and ensuring that everyone is on treatment. In 2021, 86% of those who were diagnosed with drug-sensitive TB were put on treatment, out of which 87% reported treatment completion in Indonesia. However, only one-third of those with drug-resistant TB were put on treatment in the same year. Sadikin called for ensuring every person with TB should get full cascade of services if we are to end TB.

TB is preventable. Each of the 969,000 people who got TB disease in Indonesia in 2021, is a grim reminder that we could have done better to prevent TB. If we are to end TB by 2030 we also need stronger actions against risk factors that put people at risk of TB. For example tobacco use is entirely preventable, but sadly continues to be a major risk factor for not just TB but also NCDs, said Dr Tara Singh Bam, Asia Pacific Director of The Union and Board Director of APCAT.

"We have to find everyone with TB in our community and ensure that full spectrum of TB services are within reach of the person. As tobacco smokers are many times more at risk of TB (and several other deadly diseases), Government must implement comprehensive tobacco control policies as per the WHO recommendations. These include higher taxes and prices on tobacco products, effective ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, increasing pictorial health warning on tobacco packs to over 90% size, complete ban of smoking in public places and workplaces, among others. When we do TB budget allocation at village level then we also need to couple it with budget allocation for full range of evidence-based tobacco control," added Dr Bam.

If we are to end TB by 2030, we need urgent and stronger collaborative actions so that while we scale up TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care services to all those who need it, we also reduce (and eventually eliminate) TB risk factors, such as tobacco, alcohol, and undernourishment, prevent and reduce NCDs, among other vital steps to strengthen health systems.



(Shobha Shukla and Bobby Ramakant are part of the editorial team at CNS (Citizen News Service). Follow them on Twitter @Shobha1Shukla or @BobbyRamakant)






Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana: Credit saturation for livelihoods

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The scheme has supported small enterprises and revitalized the Indian micro-credit ecosystem in its eight years of existence

Soumya Kanti Ghosh

As Indias Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) completed eight years on 8 April, we can glance back at the changes wrought by this mass credit saturation programme that was envisaged during the bleak days of 2014-15 when our formal financial sector was reeling under bad loans, especially its impact on the sociocultural fabric of the country. The PMMY is one of the flagship schemes of the Union Government to encourage self-employment. The scheme targets micro and own-account enterprises that constitute a vibrant business ecosystem in India. Micro enterprises are mostly engaged in manufacturing, processing, trading and services, and many of these units are single-ownership businesses.

The countrys formal or institutional architecture was unable to reach out to them and meet their financial requirements. These units were largely self-financed or reliant on either personal networks or money lenders. With this gap kept in mind, the PMMY was floated with the objective to create an easily accessible bridge between a large unbanked sector and formal lenders. Launched in 2015, PMMY provides collateral-free institutional credit up to Rs 10 lakh, as provided by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs): ie, Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).

Under the aegis of the PMMY, the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) created three sub-schemes that differ by the loan amount: Shishu (for loans up to Rs 50,000), Kishore (Rs 50,001Rs 5 lakh) and Tarun (Rs 500,001Rs 10 lakh). The names Shishu, Kishore and Tarun also signify the stage of the beneficiary micro units growth or development and its funding needs. Any individual who is otherwise eligible to take a loan and has a business plan for a small business enterprise can avail of credit under the scheme.

Since its launch, the scheme has undergone numerous changes. Its target area, for example, has been widened to maximize its positive economic impact. Initially, the PMMY covered income-generating activity only in the sectors of manufacturing, trading and services. However, since 2016-17, activities allied with agriculture and their support services promoting livelihoods have been brought under its ambit; since 2017-18, loans have been sanctioned for the purchase of tractors and power tillers; and from 2018-19, loans to buy two wheelers for commercial purposes have also been included.

Total disbursement under the scheme showed an average 33% growth in its first three years, indicating that its unique selling proposition was well received. The outbreak of the Covid pandemic and subsequent slowdown in economic activity impacted the demand for these loans. During this phase, a special relief provision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) permitted all lending institutions to grant a moratorium of six months on the payment of all instalments under the scheme.

After the economys re-opening, loan demand under the PMMY has gathered pace. In most categories, disbursements have surpassed pre-Covid levels. Data as on 24 March 2023 puts the schemes cumulative disburse amount at Rs 22.65 trillion. The share of Shishu loans is the highest, at 40%, suggesting that the PMMY has largely supported first-time entrepreneurs.

The PMMYs economic impact is now well established. As per survey results of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the scheme had helped in generating 11.2 million net additional jobs during the period 2015 to 2018.

The social impact of the PMMY is a much deeper story and can be understood at three levels. These three levels include the schemes impact on (1) broad social groups; 2) women; and 3) members of minority communities.

In terms of the first, the PMMY has benefitted all segments of Indian society: General, Scheduled Caste/Tribe (SC/ST) groups and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The increasing participation of OBCs and SCs in availing these loans in recent times is an indication of the schemes outreach.

One of the schemes most commendable achievements is its impetus to womens entrepreneurship. In its cumulative data since inception, the share of accounts held by women is as high as 69%, while the share of women in the sanction list is 45%. Disbursements to women entrepreneurs registered an average growth of 23% in the schemes first four years. In 2022, it surpassed its pre-Covid level, registering a robust growth of 28%.

The PMMY also fares well on other measures of inclusivity. The scheme has been able to cater to the requirements of minorities. Loans to members of minority groups touched an all-time high in 2022, with their overall share at 10%, with Shishu and Kishore loans accounting for 85% of total cumulative disbursement.

Since the PMMY is a national scheme, its spatial dispersion is an important consideration from the point of view of balanced economic growth. One of the objectives of Indias growth policy has been to bridge the divide between the thriving western and lagging eastern parts of the country. A Herfindahl Concentration Index estimate of the number of accounts and disbursed amounts shows significant dispersion across States and products. This indicates an impressive geographical coverage.

States such as Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Bihar have recorded all-round gains from the PMMY. West Bengal and Tripura have also seen a rise in their total share (and also in the Kishore and Tarun categories), indicating an eastward flow of beneficiaries. Developed regions such as the National Capital Region, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa have seen their shares decline, even though they dominate the scheme in absolute terms.

Overall, the PMMY has achieved its objectives of equitable and fair spatial distribution of benefits during its ninth year of operation by fostering self employment across social groups, doubling the participation rate of women over that observed in commercial-bank lending and boosting the participation of minority groups.

In the coming years, it is imperative that the PMMY reaps the benefits of 5G technology and e-commerce, even as Mudra cards are popularized further. Encouraging the registration and formalization of own-account enterprises could be another way of taking this scheme to new highs.

The celebrated anthropologist Oscar Lewis had once argued in his seminal work, The Children of Sanchez, that a culture of poverty tends to perpetuate itself over time, often transcending boundaries. The PMMY, in a short span, has not only attacked and altered the course of this culture of poverty, but infused a sense of vibrancy and can-do spirit in the Indian micro-credit ecosystem. The PMMY has clearly been an uncommon solution to common problems.



(These are the authors personal views.)



The writer is chief economic advisor, State Bank of India
Today

Rain showers this morning with some sunshine during the afternoon hours. High 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 35F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 63F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Get your best yacht-rock playlist ready, Steeltown  a boat-sharing platform is slated to make waves in Hamilton Harbour later this spring.

Skipperi, a Finland-based startup, announced Tuesday its set to launch from the Harbour West Marina starting May 1  the same day the company is slated to expand its services in Pickering, Toronto and Port Dalhousie.

The company, which describes itself as the worlds first boat sharing app and smart fleet, aims to democratize boating through a subscription-based platform that allows users to rent boats as they please through the typical sailing season.

More than 40 new motor boats will be hitting the waters of Lake Ontario later this spring, with three of them set to be moored in Hamilton, said Anne Morello, a public relations representative for the company, in an email to The Spectator.

Skipperi launched its Ontario operations last summer with a market preview season in Toronto, however, this year will mark their first full boating season in the province.

Boat lovers of all skill levels now have the ability to enjoy sunny days cruising on Lake Ontario  without the hefty cost or maintenance hassles of boat ownership, read the release.

To use the platform, boaters are required to purchase a season membership, which starts at $475 plus tax per month  $2,850 plus HST for the six-month season. Memberships run from May to October, with no option for monthly memberships.

That base subscription gets you unlimited boating from Monday to Friday, all season long, from any harbour, using their fully equipped Starcraft SVX boats. Morello said vessels can be reserved from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.

However, the more boating you want to do and the bigger the boat youre looking for, the more it costs, according to the company website.

If a member wants access to the fleet on weekends, that add-on costs an additional $280 plus tax per month. If a member wants a larger boat with more capacity, that add-on costs an extra $143 plus tax per month.

Mind you, those are early bird prices  meaning it will be more expensive to join come June 1, according to the company.

Fuel is billed separately on a monthly basis based on use, according to the company. All of their boats feature Bluetooth-compatible sound systems, roomy seating areas and swimming decks.

The boats are also equipped with a digital dashboard that includes maps and geofencing technology that alerts users to speed limits, no-wake zones and wildlife habitats, according to a press release.

Alcohol is not permitted on the boats, according to Morello. The in-boat technology also alerts the company of any erratic or dangerous boat operation, she noted.

Hoping to take a cruise from Hamilton to Toronto and dock in their harbour? Thats a no go, as the boats are required to be returned to their own docking space, according to Morello. Boats also must be cleaned, locked and fastened when members are done with them.

Users of the service are required to have their pleasure craft operator card. They also have to complete Skipperis in-house training program, which according to the company means even those with no boating experience can be on the water in no time.

The training program teaches members important skills such as basic boat operation and safety as well as docking. It will be conducted in the local harbour by one of the companys captains.

Morello said memberships include insurance, noting that the company handles all claim processes. The boats have a $1,500 deductible and possible damages will be billed from the renter according to the costs accumulated up to $1,500, according to the company.

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Tenants forced from their apartments by last months fire at Dundas 19 Hunter Crt. might be able to move back into their rental units after repairs are completed.

If the owners decide to repair fire damage, rather than demolish the building, existing tenants should have the right to move back in.

City of Hamilton spokesperson Lauren Vastano said that if the fire department has significant concerns about an unsafe building after a fire, it contacts the citys building department for an immediate response. When the building can be left secured, the city gets an automatic advisory from the fire department simply advising of a fire-damaged building.

In this case, we were sent the advisory of a fire-damaged building on March 28, 2023, Vastano said. We then sent a letter (March 29, 2023) to the owners of the property advising that we have become aware of the recent fire, and that prior to any demolition or construction, a building permit must be obtained.

Vastano said that as of 3 p.m. on April 6, the city had not received any building permit applications, or other communication, from the propertys owner.

As long as the building remains secure, and access restricted, the city awaits further action by the owner.

Mike Ollier, Hamilton Community Legal Clinics director of legal services, said the question will be: can the building be considered habitable, and if so, when?

Ollier said if a unit is obviously uninhabitable, the tenancy might be ended.

If the damage is reparable within a reasonable time, however, the landlords maintenance obligations continue  and so does the tenancy, Ollier said. This is irrespective of who caused the fire.

He said that if a tenant is required to leave while repairs are done, the landlord is required to serve an N13 notice that gives the tenant an opportunity to confirm they want to return.

Ollier said the Residential Tenancies Act states a tenant should not be charged any more rent than what the landlord could have charged if there had been no interruption in the tenancy.

Landlords indicate one of three possible reasons for ending a tenancy on an N13 form, including demolishing the building; completing repairs so extensive they require a building permit and the unit to be empty; or conversion of the building to non-residential use.

If the tenancy is ended for extensive repairs, the form states: You have the right to move back into the rental unit once I have completed the repairs or renovations. If you want to move back in once the work is done, you must give me written notice telling me you want to move back in. Also, you must keep me informed in writing any time your address changes.

Landlord and Tenant Board spokesperson Janet Deline said no applications had been submitted for 19 Hunter Crt. as of April 6.

A previous rental listing for 19 Hunter Crt., apparently from October 2022, which has since been removed, offered a two-bedroom unit for $1,400 a month  slightly below the $1,438 average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Hamilton at that time, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

For rent  is a 2 bedroom unit in a quiet 6-plex building in Dundas, the listing stated. Large kitchen with plenty of cabinet space for storage and counter top area for food prep. Fridge, stove and dishwasher. Apartment gets lots of natural light ... living room, kitchen and both bedrooms all have large windows. Laundry machines are in the building, $2 per load. Parking, heat and water are included  your only utility bill would be Hydro.

Current owners Nathan and Katharine Adams bought 19 Hunter Crt. in November 2014 for $745,000. They could not be reached for comment before deadline.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We wanted to learn what happens next after fire forced five apartment tenants from their Dundas home.

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Hamilton Mountain Coun. Tom Jackson will be seeking public input on how a proposed Albion Falls viewing platform and stairway will impact the surrounding neighbourhood.

In 2019, the councillor established an Albion Falls Stairway Task Force composed of citizens and stakeholders, staff and Hamilton Conservation Authority representatives to examine how to properly install a stairway and platform at the popular Albion Falls.

Jackson said the design is needed to provide a safe access route from the top of the south side of Albion Falls down into the gorge. The estimated cost of the design is about $45,500.

Other possible additions to the area being contemplated include elevated boardwalks with rest areas, benches and signage, landscaping and an east-west pedestrian crossover on Mountain Brow Boulevard.

The cost of the project is estimated to be about $1.9 million.

The public will also be able to participate in a survey vote from March 24 to May 12 on which design would be best for the project. Residents can go to the citys website at engage.hamilton.ca/albionfallsviewingplatform to make their views known.

However, we are now at a point where nothing will proceed until a community meeting for the residents living closest to the falls is held, stated Jackson.

The city constructed in 2005 north viewing platforms with about $500,000 from the Hamilton Future Fund, various trails and a new parking area to provide a safe and accessible location to view the falls. In 2017, the city installed about 200 metres of fencing around Albion Falls and dozens of warning and no trespassing signs in the gorge and viewing area to improve safety.

The initiative was prompted after two accidental deaths and numerous rope rescues of people who had fallen or were trapped in the gorge.

A 2017 bylaw report found that in fewer than three months, more than 49,000 people visited Albion Falls, an average of about 4,000 people per week, with about 85 per cent of them visiting on weekends.

The scheduled town hall meeting is April 18 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Sherwood Librarys meeting room, located at 467 Upper Ottawa St. It will include city staff, and task force members, who will provide a full presentation on the project.

Jackson says he is sensitive to potential impacts the project will have within the immediate neighbourhood, including along Corinthian Drive, Albion Falls Boulevard, Limeridge Road East, Arbour Road, Pritchard Road and Mud Street, and is encouraging local residents to provide their input.

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Ontario Provincial Police say a missing 37-year-old woman who was supposed to be travelling to Hamilton last week has been found safe.

Manitoulin OPP issued a public appeal to help locate Nicole (her last name was not provided) after she had not been heard from since April 7. She supposed to be travelling from Espanola or Spanish River to Sudbury and then Hamilton April 8.

By Tuesday afternoon police said she had been located in good health.

Reach The Spectator newsroom at 905-526-3420 or news@thespec.com

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The age of Aquarius is 50.

Many thought it would never reach that point. But Theatre Aquarius is celebrating its 50th birthday this year with post-COVID energy from newcomers Mary Francis Moore as artistic director and Kelly Straughan as executive director at the helm.

The new season, beginning in the fall, looks promising as does the premiere of the much anticipated Maggie next week to conclude the current season. But today, Im going to focus on the early years of how an upstart professional theatre company managed to gain a footing in Hamilton.

Sewers at work in the wardrobe department workroom at Theatre Aquarius. They are all working on the upcoming production "Maggie." Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

Theatre Aquarius began in early 1973 in rented headquarters in a former bakery on Leeds Street, in the shadow of heavy industry off Burlington Street. Its first production, Peter Lukes Hadrian VII, took place at Mohawk Colleges auditorium in April of that year. There were 18 years at Hamilton Place Studio Theatre and in 1991 the then-called du Maurier Ltd. Centre opened, giving Theatre Aquarius its own home. The centre later became known as the Dofasco Centre for the Arts and now is simply called Theatre Aquarius.

It was always a struggle. Thats the way it is with theatre. Its a struggle, says Stephen Newman, 71, who worked for Theatre Aquarius as production manager from 1973 to 2008.

Theatre Aquarius was part of a bullish wave of city building and arts and culture enthusiasm through the late 60s and early 70s. Hamilton wanted to rise from its smokestack image and come out from the shadow of Toronto. Especially notable on the arts front, was Boris Brotts promotional panache as conductor of the Hamilton Philharmonic that involved concert performances in steel mills.

Stephen Newman was the first production manager of Theatre Aquarius working from 1973 to 2008. Hamilton Public Library Local History and Archive

Change was in the air and on the ground as demolition crews controversially levelled more than 43 acres of the downtown to make way for what was then called the Civic Square Project that included Lloyd D. Jackson Square, the Hamilton Eaton Centre and Hamilton Place.

It was that last building that caught the eye of two young theatre impresarios from Ottawa  Peter Mandia and Nanci Rossov.

Theatre Aquarius co-artistic directors Nanci Rossov and Peter Mandia in a 1973 photo taken shortly after they moved the theatre to Hamilton from Ottawa. Hamilton Public Library Local History and Archives

They wanted to get out of Ottawa. They had been there for three years. They had been up against all kinds of different policy changes with National Arts Centre. They needed to escape. So, they came to Hamilton to operate out of Hamilton Place, says Newman, who joined the team later that year.

He saw an ad for a production manager job with Theatre Aquarius in early 1973 while working at the Kawartha Theatre in Lindsay. He came to Hamilton for an interview but couldnt find the tiny street where Aquarius was located. So, he left, figuring it was probably not meant to be.

But Mandia and Rossov reached out. Better directions were given, a second interview arranged, and Newman landed the job. He thought it would last a season, but he stayed with Theatre Aquarius for 35 years.

It was a very special partnership, he says. But Peter had a way of swinging his moods depending on the day.

Theatre Aquarius artistic director Peter Mandia in 1977 photo. Hamilton Public Library Local History and Archives

But, he says, Mandia was more of a shepherd than a director. He allowed actors to try things. He would reach some kind of compromise.

Stew Brown, a long-time theatre writer for The Spectator, says, When Peter and Nanci came in from Ottawa, I think initially there was a little skepticism. They were fresh out of university, and they were young.

While there was no professional theatre company in the city, there were still many good amateur plays for Hamiltonians to see through a vibrant community theatre scene, most notably with the Players Guild and Hamilton Theatre Inc. That tradition continues.

Peter Mandia and Martin Short in a promotional photo for the fundraising drive to build the Theatre Aquarius building on King William Street. Hamilton Public Library Local History and Archives

I think the amateur theatres resented someone stealing their thunder. But they came around pretty quickly, says Brown who retired from The Spec in 2002.

Yet it soon became clear to Mandia and Newman that the Hamilton Place Studio Theatre was unsuitable. It didnt have enough seats. They didnt have the production space they needed. Arranging programming was challenging with other events taking place in the facility.

And as Newman says, with theatre organizations, you kind of want your own space.

They looked at the Customs House, the Tivoli Theatre and the former Hamilton Public Library near City Hall, among other places. They even considered moving to Oakville, Newman says. Nothing clicked until they set eyes on a city-owned parking lot at King William and Ferguson.

Rather than adapting an old building, why not build a new one?

Maybe the City would give the land to Theatre Aquarius. The City said yes.

Maybe the federal and provincial governments would chip in. They did.

And maybe the rest could be raised by fundraising. Patrons came through.

In the end the price tag came in at less than $12 million with a building designed by Peter Smith of Lett Smith Architects. In the fall of 1991, Theatre Aquarius moved into its shiny new home designed by Peter Smith. It was complete with a 700-seat auditorium, a 125-seat studio theatre along with loads of production facilities out back.

Today, you couldnt buy a gas station for what that building cost, says Newman.

But three years after the opening  long after Rossov had moved to California to work in film  tragedy struck.

Newman found Mandia dead in his apartment on Bay Street South. He was 51 and had been recuperating from a heart attack a few weeks before.

When Peter died, it was a knockout for me. I was devastated, said Newman.

It led to a period of uncertainty for the theatre, and major financial challenges. But eventually under artistic director Max Reimer  who held the post from 1996 to 2008  the theatre dug out of its debt and reached a point that it averaged more than 100,000 visitors per year. Reimer was followed by Ron Ulrich from 2008 to 2021. Current artistic director Moore started in the summer of 2021.

For more information about Theatre Aquarius go to theatreaquarius.org

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UNITED NATIONS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A UN spokesperson said on Monday that talks between Saudi and Omani delegations and Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital Sana'a over the weekend were "a welcome step towards the de-escalation of tensions."

At a routine noon briefing in New York, Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, fielded queries from reporters regarding reports of advancements made towards a lasting ceasefire, which would bring an end to Saudi Arabia's military involvement in a military coalition that has backed the internationally recognized government in its civil conflict with Houthi militia, since 2015.

Neighboring Oman has been involved in peace talks with the warring parties in Yemen, running in parallel with UN efforts, led by Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, who Dujarric said was continuing to "explore options to extend and expand" a UN-brokered six-month truce, which expired last October.

According to Grundberg's statement last week, the truce is "largely holding" even after expiration, while many elements remain in place.

The envoy said that greater humanitarian relief, a nationwide ceasefire and a sustainable political settlement "that meets the aspirations of Yemeni women and men" was essential, through a process that brings all stakeholders together.

Dujarric said that the discussions in Sana'a were "very much welcomed by the secretary-general" and added that Grundberg continues to be "in close coordination with the regional member states" over resuming the political process, with the hope of avoiding any escalation in the long-running war.

The spokesperson noted that the UN had not been involved in the talks in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital.

"We are not involved in every discussion, we don't need to be," he said. "What is important is that all of these parties work towards the relevant Security Council resolution, the UN facilitated talks, and all signals are, that they are. But we will have to take things one day at a time."

News reports suggested that progress in the Oman-mediated talks and brightening prospects of a peace deal for Yemen added to the momentum provided by the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, in a deal brokered by China.

Since conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels escalated in 2015, tens of thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and aid agencies assisted nearly 11 million each month last year, with lifesaving aid, amid what remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crisis. 
TORONTO - Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange:

Toronto Stock Exchange (20,275.82, up 79.13):

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (TSX:CNQ). Energy. Up 33 cents, or 0.42 per cent, to $79.26 on 13.5 million shares.

TC Energy Corp. (TSX:TRP). Energy. Up 14 cents, or 0.26 per cent, to $55.08 on 13 million shares.

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD). Financials. Up 35 cents, or 0.44 per cent, to $80.00 on 10.9 million shares.

Crescent Point Energy Corp. (TSX:CPG). Energy. Up 19 cents, or 1.90 per cent, to $10.18 on 10.3 million shares.

Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX:BNS). Financials. Up 13 cents, or 0.19 per cent, to $67.61 on 8.6 million shares.

Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB). Energy. Up 20 cents, or 0.38 per cent, to $52.77 on 7.6 million shares.

Companies in the news:

Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc. (TSX:ZZZ). Up 37 cents, or 1.65 per cent, to $22.83. Sleep Country Canada Holdings Inc. announced Monday it will acquire Casper Sleep Inc.s Canadian operations. Toronto-based mattress retailer Sleep Country will pay US$20.6 million for the U.S. mattress-in-a-box companys Canadian assets. Sleep Country will receive a US$4.5-million marketing transition fee from Casper over the next four years and three-year warrants that would convert into a one per cent stake in Casper.

Teck Resources Ltd. (TSX:TECK.B). Down $1.51, or 2.55 per cent, to $57.76. Teck Resources Ltd. has ramped up its rhetoric against an unsolicited takeover bid by Swiss mining giant Glencore while arguing for its own restructuring plan. Glencores proposal is a non-starter for Teck, said chief executive Jonathan Price on a conference call Monday. Glencore came out last week with a proposed all-share merger that offered a 20 per cent premium to B class shares and would leave Teck investors holding about a quarter of the combined company.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

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Canadas historical monuments are also symbols of Indigenous genocide.

Police brutality in Canada is just as real as in the U.S.

Those seemed to me like articles that my colleague, Shree Paradkar, a Toronto Star social and racial justice columnist, could have plausibly written. They were provided by an AI chatbot in response to my request for a list of articles by Paradkar.

The problem is that they dont exist.

At first blush it might seem easy to associate me with these headlines. As an opinion writer, I even agree with the premise of some of them, Paradkar wrote to me after I emailed her the list.

But there are two major red flags. The big one: theyre false. No articles I wrote have these headlines. And two, they either bludgeon nuance (the first headline) or summarize what I quote other people saying and what I write in different articles into one piece, she said.

Paradkars discomfort reflects wider concerns about the abundance of fake references dished out by popular chatbots including ChatGPT  and worry that with rapidly evolving technology, people may not know how to identify false information.

The use of artificial intelligence chatbots to summarize large volumes of online information is now widely known, and while some school districts have banned AI-assisted research, some educators advocate for the use of AI as a learning tool.

Users may think that one way to verify information from a chatbot is to ask it to provide references. The problem? The citations look real and even come with hyperlinks. But they are usually fake.

In recent months, academics have issued multiple warnings that ChatGPT was making up academic studies, including convincing scientific research abstracts. This came to the attention of Oxford University professor David Wilkinson when a student turned in a paper with a reference to a study that he couldnt locate, but which was similar to fake references he found on ChatGPT.

It is less well known that media sources provided by chatbots are often fabricated as well. The Guardian recently called attention to the confusion that ensued at the newspaper when a reader inquired about an article that did not appear on The Guardians website.

The headline was so consistent with the newspapers coverage that staff thought it could have been something the reporter had written in the past. Staff went deep into computer systems to try to track down the article in case it was deleted. Luckily before more time was wasted, the reader disclosed that the reference came from ChatGPT.

The invention of sources is particularly troubling for trusted news organizations, wrote Chris Moran, The Guardians head of editorial innovation.

It opens up whole new questions about whether citations can be trusted in any way, and could well feed conspiracy theories about the mysterious removal of articles on sensitive issues that never existed in the first place, said Moran.

Meanwhile, the issue of chatbots generating potentially defamatory information, complete with fake media sources, has already come up.

Earlier this month, Jonathan Turley, a U.S. law professor, said that ChatGPT falsely accused him of committing sexual assault citing a fake Washington Post article to support the claim. The Washington Post confirmed that it reviewed those claims, and verified that no such article was ever published in the newspaper.

In cases of both fake media and academic references from chatbots, this is because generative AI chatbots are large language models. They are trained on a huge body of internet data, and can reproduce human language. But the important point is that they are not search engines, said Subodha Kumar, professor of statistics, operations and data science at Temple University in Philadelphia.

The general public using ChatGPT now doesnt really know how it works. It creates links and references that dont exist, because it is designed to generate content, Kumar told me.

Thats what makes AI beautiful, but also problematic. False references can fool the public and policymakers, so if we have a newspaper article based on a false reference, then well be in big trouble, he added.

I wondered if ChatGPT has undergone any modifications since researchers raised concerns about the prevalence of fake citations. The U.S.-based company Open AI did not reply to my request for clarification. So like many other curious journalists have done, I interacted with the bot itself.

Could you give me some articles by Globe and Mail journalist Andre Picard? I asked.

As an AI language model, I do not have access to specific articles or publications by individual authors, including Andre Picard, as I do not have browsing capabilities or access to the internet. I can, however, provide you with a general format for citing articles, it replied.

This response appeared to clearly explain ChatGPTs limitations. I was pleasantly surprised.

But alas, when I asked ChatGPT for a summary of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhous legal battle in Canada and asked it to provide sources, the list of references it provided were all fake.

The hyperlinks were either broken or led to unrelated pages. A note at the bottom said that since it was trained on information up to September 2021, it may not reflect current events. But there was no disclaimer that the references themselves were fake.

Why are your citations fake? I asked ChatGPT.

As an AI language model, I do not generate fake citations deliberately. However, I do not have direct access to external sources or the internet, and I do not provide real-time information  Its always a good practice to cross-check and verify information from reputable and reliable sources independently, especially for critical or sensitive topics.

But Kumar said it is very possible for developers to train chatbots to verify the references they generate.

They dont have to fundamentally change the concept to be just like Google Search, but the algorithm can be easily improved by giving it one more step: When references or links are created, check for the veracity of the content.

Kumar added that other companies may soon offer new AI products that provide more reliable references, but as a first mover in the field, OpenAI has a special responsibility to address the issue.

OpenAI has said it is aware of the potential of generative AI to spread disinformation. In January, the organization partnered with Stanford University and Georgetown University to release a study forecasting potential misuses of language models for disinformation campaigns.

For malicious actors, these language models bring the promise of automating the creation of convincing and misleading text for use in influence operations, the study found.

And ChatGPT is only one out of a plethora of chatbot products from different companies, including apps that purport to be based on ChatGPTs open API. I had found the list of my colleagues fake opinion articles on one such Android app, AI Chat by GPT, (ChatGPT doesnt currently offer a mobile version.)

For Ezra Levant, a conservative Canadian media commentator, the app offered up fake headlines on hot-button issues such as a fake column alleging that global migration will undermine Canadian sovereignty and another that Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus carbon tax is in fact a wealth tax.

Paradkar pointed out that the generation of fake stories attributed to real people is particularly dangerous during a time of increasing physical violence and online abuse against journalists worldwide.

When AI puts out data that is incorrect but plausible, it counts as misinformation. And I fear that it offers ammunition to trolls and bad actors confirming their worst biases and giving them more reason to abuse journalists.

Joanna Chiu is a B.C.-based staff reporter for the Star. She covers global and national affairs. Follow her on Twitter: @joannachiu

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Some candidates for mayor of Toronto are urging Rogers to swiftly bring cellphone service to all subway users, not just its own customers.

Several interviewed Tuesday, after Rogers announced it is buying the Canadian operations of the firm that has the subway wireless contract, said universal wireless access is an important safety feature given recent attacks on the TTC.

Ana Bailao, the former city councillor and housing advocate, told reporters outside the Rogers headquarters on Bloor Street that, after years of council pushing the big cellular companies to offer subway service, the fight isnt over yet.

She noted that Rogers said its takeover of BAI Communications will allow it to install equipment to provide a comprehensive and reliable 5G network across the TTC  but did not say if other firms customers will also get access.

We have to keep the pressure on Rogers, Telus and Bell to work together and to do this quickly, said Bailao, adding that the federal government and Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission should step in if Rogers is slow to engage other telecom companies.

In 2012, in exchange for a $25-million payment after a competitive bid process, the city gave Australian company BAI exclusive rights for 20 years to provide wireless infrastructure on the subway system.

Only Freedom Mobile signed on. Bell, Rogers and Telus refused, arguing in recent years that BAIs equipment in stations and some tunnels is old and inadequate for their needs.

Rogers, in a brief statement Tuesday, said: Were planning to initiate discussions with other providers to participate, but provided no details or timeline.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Bell called Rogers pending purchase of BAI troubling, adding that the TTC is just replacing one gatekeeper with another.

Bell said the TTC should have launched an open bid contract rather than let Rogers just assume control of Torontos subway cellular service through a takeover.

The city needs to show some leadership and mandate immediate access for all carriers so that all TTC customers can be served by the carrier of their choice right away, said Bell spokesperson Jacqueline Michelis.

It now appears that the subway project has once again been given to one party with no assurances that all wireless service providers will have access.

Coun. Josh Matlow, another mayoral hopeful, told the Star that the wireless service must be available to all Torontonians no matter their service provider  it cant be a monopoly for Rogers because every Torontonian deserves the same level of safety and convenience.

As mayor, he said, he would make it clear to every telecom that, if they want to work with the City of Toronto, they have to work for all the residents, not just their customers.

Matlow cautioned, however, that subway cellular service will not prevent all violent crime on the TTC, saying the city must invest in community supports, mental health initiatives and other programs to foster a safer city.

Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter echoed Bailaos call for Ottawa and the CRTC to step in to ensure all riders have equal and complete access to 911 and other wireless services across the TTC.

There has to be a push right now so that services open for all is the expectation set by the city, the CRTC and the federal government, Hunter told the Star.

As mayor and champion of all Torontonians, including TTC riders, I would be pushing for this with expediency. The risks are very real to the safety of people.

Former police chief Mark Saunders called the Rogers purchase of BAI good news, but took aim at current and past city councillors, as well as the cellular firms that had refused to engage with BAI.

It should not have taken a safety crisis in TTC for city councillors and leaders to call for more access to safety tools like this, Saunders, who retired from the police service in 2020, said in a statement emailed to the Star.

Many of the people running for mayor have been city councillors for several years, some over a decade. Where have they been?

Coun. Brad Bradfords campaign emailed a statement that called the TTCs contract with BAI a bad deal for Toronto and vowed, as mayor, to hold the TTC accountable to ensure all Torontonians get service.

Waiting two more years for this build out to happen, when it should have happened a decade ago, is another example of the endless delays and deferral that hold Toronto back, he said.

Although Rogers is effectively buying an existing contract with the City of Toronto, spokespeople for the city and the TTC say there is no requirement to re-tender the contract in a new competitive bidding process.

During the 2012 process, a request for qualifications identified three qualified bidders  Bell Mobility, Chicago-based Extenet Systems and Australia-based BAI.

Extenet dropped out, citing commitments on other projects. Bells proposal was deemed non-compliant due to exceptions it sought to contract requirements, according to a TTC report, leaving BAI as the staff-recommended provider.

As of Tuesday, 37 people had registered as candidates in the June 26 byelection to replace John Tory for the remainder of the city council term that ends in the autumn of 2026. Tory resigned in February.

With files from Alyshah Hasham

David Rider is the Stars City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider

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Rogers will be providing wireless service on Torontos subway network after entering into an agreement to acquire the Canadian operations of BAI Communications Inc., the company awarded the contract in 2012.

With this acquisition, Rogers will now be able to undertake the investments required to build a comprehensive and reliable 5G network to the entire TTC subway system, Rogers said in a news release Monday night.

The deal could resolve a long-standing impasse that has left almost all TTC riders without cell service underground despite serious public safety concerns, including four homicides on the transit system in the past year.

We know safety is top of mind for Torontonians. Residents and visitors expect wireless connectivity when theyre travelling on the TTCs subway system, said Ron McKenzie, Rogers Chief Technology and Information Officer, in the press release.

It is unclear whether this deal will provide a way for all Torontonians to get the connectivity they want on the subway  or just Rogers customers.

The BAI network including 911 service for all users only covers the tunnels in the downtown U section of Line 1 from St. George station to Bloor-Yonge station via Union, as well as service from Sheppard West to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. The rest of the underground sections of the network are without wireless infrastructure including 911 calls.

According to the press release, that means only 25 per cent of the tunnels are covered for cell service.

Rogers will work to quickly address gaps in the busiest and most critical sections of the subway system. the release said, adding that extensive fibre network and radio equipment upgrades are needed to modernize the network, and increase cellular capacity of the current 3G and 4G network and the quality of services.

Rogers expects its acquisition of BAI Canada to close in the next two weeks.

Earlier on Monday, Coun. Paul Ainslie (Ward 24, Scarborough-Guildwood), who sits on the TTC board, said he had no direct knowledge of a potential deal. But if a telecom giant like Rogers does buy out BAI, the new provider should bring its competitors on board as part of the package to ensure all TTC customers get coverage, he said. Ainslie pointed to Montreal, where Rogers, Telus and Bell have cooperated to provide wireless service on the Metro, as an example to follow.

I would really hope that they would play nice in the sandbox, as they say, he said.

In 2012, the city gave Australian company BAI exclusive rights for 20 years to provide the wireless infrastructure on the subway system and sign up the service providers in exchange for $25 million. In that time, only Freedom Mobile has signed on. Bell, Rogers and Telus did not, now citing in part that the aged infrastructure wouldnt be able to handle the number of users or their data requirements.

There were no deadlines or benchmarks for BAI to meet in the contract that was signed, head of the TTC Rick Leary told city council last month. The proposed contract originally required the winning bidder to sign up enough carriers to cover 60 per cent of Toronto within a year, or transfer the contract to another party, but that requirement was dropped from the contract BAI signed. (Freedom Mobile only covers about six per cent.)

A TTC spokesperson said that BAI exceeded its contractual obligations by building infrastructure for Wi-Fi in stations and for cell service in the downtown U tunnels and Sheppard extension tunnels without the big telecoms signing on.

City council passes motion on TTC cellphone service

On March 30, 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.

Leary told council discussions were ongoing with the big service providers and that it is very disappointing they havent signed on. One thing under consideration is how much it would cost to upgrade the infrastructure, he said.

Were in discussions with them right now trying to shame them to get in here, Leary said, adding that a report would be brought to the board next month. Because of the social issue thats happening, the security issue, there seems to be more of an interest.

The TTC board next meets on Thursday.

This is an important step in the right direction. Now we need everyone working together to get this done and ensure every cellphone can work on the subway system at all times. Im looking forward to having better cellular and Wi-Fi access on our system  its long past due. Im proud Council spoke clearly on behalf of all Torontonians at our last meeting to send a message to the cell providers to make this happen, said McKelvie Monday night.

TTC cell service a hot topic in mayoral race

The lack of subway cell service has become a hot button topic for Torontos mayoral hopefuls.

At Queens Park, the issue of TTC connectivity is also being closely watched.

Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney, noting the province provides free Wi-Fi on all GO Transit trains and buses, urged the city of Toronto and the future mayor to find a resolution on this matter as quickly as possible.

We are all deeply concerned about the increased number of violent incidents on public transit in the last few weeks and  I know that transit riders want to remain connected when theyre riding public transit, Mulroney said last week.

The public transit system under the jurisdiction of the province of Ontario now has free Wi-Fi because we agree that its essential, she said, noting the TTC is operated by the city of Toronto and, as such, the city of Toronto is responsible for finding a resolution with the telecommunication carriers.

But NDP MPP Bhutila Karpoche (ParkdaleHigh Park) said Queens Park could do more.

The TTC has been trying for more than a decade to introduce cell service across the system, but there has been no interest from the big three: Rogers, Bell or Telus, said Karpoche.

Cell service on the TTC plays a role in public safety and is a measure that should already be in place but isnt, she said.

Former councillor Ana Bailao welcomed news of the deal.

After years of waiting theres finally a deal for cell service on Torontos subways. Grateful for all of the efforts that went into folks pushing for this these past six weeks, she said in a post on Twitter.

Brad Bradford, the Beaches-East York councillor, suggested the deal was too long in coming, and said that if hes elected mayor he will hold the TTC accountable to ensure all Torontonians get service.

Waiting two more years for this buildout to happen, when it should have happened a decade ago, is another example of the endless delays and deferral that hold Toronto back, he said in a statement.

Good on Rogers, but how many headlines did it take to get us here? asked candidate and former police chief Mark Saunders.

With files from The Canadian Press

Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr

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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The City of Toronto said Sunday that it will now be reporting shelter resident deaths biannually instead of on a monthly basis.

The city said this change was made due to confusion between Toronto Public Healths data and Shelter, Support and Housing Administrations (SSHA) data.

Shelter resident deaths data is a subset of data reported by TPH on its Deaths of People Experiencing Homelessness dashboard. The dashboard consists of data on the deaths of those experiencing homelessness staying in shelters and those living outdoors in other locations.

To make the relationship more clear, starting in 2023, the deaths of shelter residents data will be published biannually to align with the release of Toronto Public Healths data on deaths of people experiencing homelessness [outside of shelters], said the City in an email.

Greg Cook, an outreach worker at Sanctuary, an organization that undertakes in many initiatives including street outreach, running a health clinic, community meals, among others and a volunteer for Toronto Homeless Memorial, says this change doesnt make any sense.

I think its pretty straightforward, said Cook. I think most people understand that there are shelter deaths and there are people that die who dont have housing that arent in the shelter system. I dont know whats confusing about that.

SSHA has been collecting this information since 2007 and Cook says it shows a systemic issue.

They want this problem to be invisible and that requires the people that are unhoused to be invisible. That means that people who die who are unhoused are also invisible.

With files from Edward Djan

TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca

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One person is dead and three others are in stable condition in hospital after a two car collision in Oshawa on Monday afternoon.

Durham Regional Police originally tweeted just after 4 p.m. that Simcoe Street is closed between Howden Road and Raglan Road for a collision investigation.

In an update, police said that the road will remain closed for an extended period of time as the investigation continues.

No timeline for reopening was provided.

TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca

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After a drunken fight with his partner, the superintendent of a Toronto apartment building deliberately set fire to their shared unit, destroying the womans belongings and killing her pets, a judge found Tuesday.

At least eight units were affected  and four deemed uninhabitable  following the two-alarm fire in March 2018 at Yonge Street and Belsize Drive, near Davisville Avenue. The Red Cross was called in to help displaced residents.

On Tuesday, Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy found Bradley Oliver guilty of arson  disregard for human life, rejecting alternate theories that the fire was caused by an electrical fault or by Oliver accidentally dropping a lit cigarette.

Olivers two dogs made it out alive, but not his partners two cats, rabbit and gecko.

The unit was engulfed in flames within minutes after Olivers partner left the building following another heated fight, Molloy said. The woman rushed back when she saw the flames, called 911 and found Oliver sitting in the stairwell.

The building superintendent demonstrated a reckless attitude toward the harm he caused by not attempting to put the fire out, not banging on doors to alert other residents, and not calling 911  deciding instead to simply sit on the staircase close to the exit as the inferno unfolded behind him, Molloy said.

Oliver rushed back to the unit when his partner expressed concern for her pets, and firefighters found him lying unconscious in the hallway. He was treated at the scene by paramedics. The judge noted that the only pets for which Oliver expressed concern were the dogs.

It may be the case that Mr. Oliver, in his drunken state, did not intend to kill all of her pets, that the fire got away from him, Molloy said, but I do note that when taken away, he was crying about not knowing where his dogs were, but mentioned not a word about the cats, the rabbit and the gecko, who were almost certainly dead.

The entire apartment unit prior to the fire was described by the judge as a complete pigsty. No other word suffices to describe the level of untidiness and filth. But it was the room where the fire started that was the worst, with paper and clothing strewn all over the floor.

In the centre of the room stood a dead Christmas tree, the judge said. The couple had moved it from the living room at some point between December and March so that the landlord wouldnt see it when he came over.

All of the items most precious to Olivers partner were in that room, Molloy said, including most of her clothes, artwork, and memorabilia from her late father.

He was found not guilty of assaulting his partner, uttering threats and mischief over $5,000.

Molloy still needs to decide whether Oliver is guilty of four counts of willfully killing the animals  or whether the fact they died as a result of the fire should be considered as aggravating factors on sentencing.

The judge expressed doubt as to whether Oliver probably knew that the animals would die in the fire, which would be required in order to convict him on those charges.

Molloy will deliver her decision at Olivers sentencing. A conviction of arson with disregard for human life carries a maximum prison term of life. The Crown said it will be asking for a lengthy sentence.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 1.

Jacques Gallant is a Toronto-based reporter covering courts, justice and legal affairs for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @JacquesGallant

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On Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., in the Media Gallery of Toronto Police Headquarters, Deputy Police Chief Robert Johnson will be joined by other Ontario police services and Canadian and American law enforcement agencies to announce the results of Project Moneypenny, a joint forces firearm trafficking investigation that has resulted in a number of arrests and guns seized.

Toronto police announced the results of a massive cross-border firearms trafficking investigation that resulted in 42 arrests and hundreds of charges.

In a press conference at its headquarters Tuesday morning, police said they laid 422 charges in the year-long investigation and seized 173 firearms.

The investigation dubbed Project Moneypenny involved police in the U.S. and Ontario, as well as the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Included in the seizures are 86 guns from the GTA, 45 high-capacity magazines and more than 1400 rounds of ammuntion.

Police also seized cash and narcotics, including fentanyl and cocaine, worth over $650,000.

Arrests and charges

Most of the arrested individuals are under the age of 30 and three are minors who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The accused are from Toronto, Barrie, Markham, Whitby, Pickering, Ajax, East Gwillimbury, and even Winnipeg.

Police carried out 49 search warrants between November 2022 and March 2023 in Toronto, Peel Region, and Durham Region.

During the initial phases of both projects, undercover officers successfully purchased quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and 25 firearms from identified persons, Toronto police said in a news release Tuesday.

Project Moneypenny by the numbers 42 arrests 422 charges 173 firearms 1,400 rounds of ammunition $650,000 in cash and narcotics Source: Toronto Police

In the release, police said all 42 people who were charged have appeared in court.

They face multiple charges each, including charges for firearms possession and the unauthorized transfer of a firearm and have been remanded to the New Toronto Court House this Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Guns destined for Canada

Of the more than 170 guns police seized, most originated from the U.S. and were destined for Canada.

Police said 87 of those were handguns that came from Chicago, Illinois, in a car driven by an Arizona resident.

They allege that the guns were covered in bubble wrap and holiday paper, then stored in suitcases in an attempt to avoid detection by CBSA agents.

The gun traffickers allegedly sold the illegal guns to undercover officers in Toronto and the GTA.

We all know the trafficking of guns and drugs across the border remains a significant problem. And yet, one thing that every police service across Canada is grappling with, the fact that 66 of the 86 firearms seized during this investigation here in Canada ... came from United States, deputy chief Alvaro Almeida of York Regional Police said.

Police traced 14 guns to Canada and 11 to Ontario.

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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A federal appeals court has kept an abortion pill available, clarifying the U.S. abortion landscape but not settling it. The courts decision late Wednesday preserved but narrowed access to an abortion pill across the U.S. It was a major development in a fast-shifting landscape in flux since June, when the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to an abortion.

WHATS NEW?

The majority of abortions in the U.S. are obtained using a combination of two medications. Anti-abortion groups have been trying to limit access to one of them, mifepristone.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that the Food and Drug Administrations initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 should remain in effect, overriding a district court ruling from less than a week before. Without Wednesdays ruling, the drug would have been unavailable in at least some places starting on Saturday.

The 2-1 ruling came with a catch: The judges put on hold a series of regulatory changes beginning in 2016 that relaxed some prescribing and dispensing rules. The decision means that the drug can be used only in the first seven weeks of pregnancy, rather than 10, and it cant be dispensed by mail to a person who doesnt visit a doctors office first.

THE COURTS: WHATS NEXT?

Either side could appeal Wednesdays ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the meantime, what it means isnt completely clear.

The latest ruling came in response to one last week from a judge in Amarillo, Texas, who ruled that mifepristone should not be available while its approval is reexamined. The same day, another federal judge in Spokane, Washington, ruled in favor of attorneys general for 17 Democrat-led states that sued to try to keep it on the market.

Those states are: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, plus the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Department of Justice has asked the Washington court for clarity on its ruling. Its also not clear what the 5th Circuit decision means for it.

In the meantime, some Democrat-controlled states are stockpiling abortion pills, while Wyoming last month became the first state to explicitly prohibit abortion drugs.

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THE COURTS NATIONWIDE:

Across the U.S., advocates have sued over dozens of abortion laws.

In 2019, the Iowa Supreme Court blocked a law prohibiting abortion once cardiac activity can be detected, which occurs after about six weeks of pregnancy and often before women know they are pregnant. Officials in the Republican-dominated state have been pushing to overturn that ruling.

On Tuesday, the issue went before the state Supreme Court, where all seven justices are GOP appointees. A decision is expected this summer.

Also on Tuesday, a Montana judge denied Planned Parenthood of Montanas request to preemptively block legislation that would ban dilation and evacuation abortions, the kind most commonly used in the second trimester of pregnancy. Opponents said they wanted to act quickly because the law would take effect immediately if Gov. Greg Gianforte signs it. Gianforte has previously approved other abortion restrictions.

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LAWMAKERS NATIONWIDE: WHATS NEXT?

Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill on Wednesday that would ban abortion once cardiac activity can be detected.

In February, the South Carolina Senate passed such a ban. The same month, the House approved one that would apply throughout pregnancy. The two chambers have not yet negotiated which version to send to the governor.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to run for the GOP presidential nomination next year, has supported ending abortion access earlier than the 15-week mark already in effect there. On Thursday, he signed into law a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy after the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature approved the proposal earlier in the day.

Most Democrat-controlled states adopted laws, made executive orders  or both  to protect abortion access. After Senate passage Monday, both chambers of the state legislature in Washington state have passed one, but it has not yet been signed by the governor.

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LAWMAKERS: WHATS ALREADY HAPPENED?

Abortion is already effectively banned at all stages of pregnancy in 13 states, and when cardiac activity can be detected in one.

Courts have blocked bans throughout pregnancy in another five states, and one, Georgia, where abortion is forbidden once cardiac activity can be detected.

Republicans in many places are pushing for even tougher policies.

This month, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a law making it a crime for an adult to help a minor get an abortion without parental consent.

Iowas attorney general took another step this month, announcing her office will stop paying for emergency contraception and abortions for sexual assault victims while it studies the policy.

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THE IMPACT

Abortion bans have big impacts on where woman go to end pregnancies.

A report released this week by the Society of Family Planning finds that the number of monthly abortions inside states with bans on them throughout pregnancy dropped to zero or nearly so, and the number of abortions at medical facilities overall dropped.

But big increases in the number of abortions came in states that have kept abortion legal and are near to, and easily reachable from, those with the deepest restrictions.

Among those states with big increases: Florida, Illinois and North Carolina.

Some other states that have taken the boldest steps to preserve access to abortion have seen relatively modest increases in the number provided.

The survey does not measure the number of self-managed abortions, such as with pills that were not prescribed to the user.

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Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Associated Press reporters Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; Amy Beth Hanson in Helena, Montana; Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida; Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa, and James Pollard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

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MEXICO CITY (AP)  A Mexican tourist has been shot to death in the Caribbean coast resort of Tulum in a dramatic robbery at a U.S. chain coffee shop, prosecutors and police said Tuesday.

The tourist apparently refused to hand over an expensive watch he was wearing, and was shot by the robbers.

Video of the killing posted on social media Tuesday showed men with motorcycle helmets burst into the coffee shop at gunpoint Monday.

Another man in the video, reportedly the victims bodyguard, then took out a pistol and opened fire on the robber, who fled.

The bodyguard chased the robber toward the street and kept firing at him through the stores door.

Police in the coastal state of Quintana Roo said one of the thieves fled was wounded and later arrested at a local hospital.

State Prosecutor Oscar Montes de Oca said the bodyguard had been released because he had a weapons permit, and may have been acting in self defense.

It was the latest chapter of continuing violence on Mexico's resort-studded Caribbean coast, the crown jewel of the countrys tourism industry.

Last week, four men in Cancun, north of Tulum , were killed in a dispute related to drug gang rivalries.

Drug gang leader Hector Flores Aceves, known by his nickname Pantera, or the Panther, was being sought in connection with the killings.

The dead men were found in the citys hotel zone near the beach. The killings came as Cancun kicked off the Easter Week vacations, one of its busiest times of the year.

A U.S. tourist was shot in the leg in the nearby town of Puerto Morelos in March. The motive in that remains under investigation.

The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert last month warning travelers to exercise increased caution, especially after dark, at Mexicos Caribbean beach resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, which have been plagued by drug gang violence in the past.

In 2022, two Canadians were killed in Playa del Carmen, apparently because of debts between international drug and weapons trafficking gangs.

In 2021, in Tulum, two tourists  one a California travel blogger born in India and the other German  were killed when they apparently were caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers.

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HAIKOU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Italy on Tuesday unveiled a dazzling pavilion at the ongoing third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), eyeing more China-Italy trade cooperation.

As the guest country of honor at this year's CICPE, currently being held on the resort island of Hainan, Italy built the pavilion in an area of about 1,800 square meters and has 147 brands participating in the expo-- both figures more than double that of last year's edition.

Maria Tripodi, Italian undersecretary of state to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the expo marks a new phase of opening up with international communication and that she expects Italian participants to win applause and recognition from the Chinese market.

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 of the third CICPE.

Also at the ceremony, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed the bilateral consensus to enhance China-Italy trade ties and boost global economic recovery through joint efforts.

This is also why Altagamma, an Italian foundation of luxury brands, attended this year's CICPE. Altagamma has brought 75 of its members to the expo, including car manufacturers Maserati and Lamborghini, and coffee giant Illycaffe.

"Since this year Italy is the guest country of honor, our expectation is to have the opportunity to stage the beauty of our products and to make everybody understand where we come from," noted Stefania Lazzaroni, general manager of Altagamma.

"It's a very special opportunity at this Hainan expo to reinforce this message, and to establish new connections," Lazzaroni added.

Lazzaroni's words were echoed by Paolo Bazzoni, chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce.

Bazzoni said that China is of great importance to Italian enterprises, and participating in the expo generates more opportunities for Italian brands to enter China and start more businesses in the huge Chinese market.

Italy also set up a booth for the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce at the expo, displaying Italian products like jewelry, garments, accessories, and gelato machines.

Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Italy in March 2019, bilateral relations have been notably strengthened. In 2022, the total trade volume between China and Italy hit 77.9 billion U.S. dollars, up 5.4 percent year on year.

The third CICPE, which kicked off on Monday in Haikou, will last until April 15. Over 3,300 brands joined the expo, and more than 1,000 products will make their debut. 
ROME (AP)  Italys right-wing government on Tuesday declared a six-month national state of emergency to help it cope with a surge in migrants arriving on the countrys southern shores.

State TV said a special commissioner was expected to be named. Initial funding of 5 million euros (nearly $5.5 million) was also approved as part of the measure approved by Premier Giorgia Meloni and her Cabinet.

In a statement after the Cabinet meeting, the government said the state of emergency was deemed necessary to carry out with urgency extraordinary measures to reduce congestion at an overwhelmed migrant shelter on a tiny Italian island in the Mediterranean.

Also needed are new structures, suitable both for sheltering as well as the processing and repatriation of migrants who dont have the requisites to stay in Italy, the government statement said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Italys governing coalitions also imposed a state of emergency, enabling the Cabinet to mandate many coping measures by decree, temporarily bypassing the usually long parliamentary process for funding and regulations.

Lets be clear, this doesnt resolve the problem, whose solution is tied to a mindful and responsible intervention of the European Union, Civil Protection and Sea Policies Minister Nello Musumeci was quoted as saying by the Italian news agency ANSA.

Largely unsuccessfully, Melonis government, like several others before, has pressed for more solidarity from fellow EU countries, which often dont make good on pledges to accept some of the asylum-seekers hoping to find relatives or work in northern Europe.

Since the start of this year, some 31,000 migrants, either rescued by Italian military boats or charity ships or reaching Italy without assistance, have disembarked, according to Interior Ministry figures. Thats nearly four times the roughly 8,000 for the same period in each of the two previous years.

The arrivals of migrants, who set out in unseaworthy vessels launched by smugglers from northern African shores, seem destined to swell. Early on Wednesday, a smugglers boat, crowded with some 700 passengers, was expected to pull into the port of Catania, a major city in eastern Sicily.

Italian coast guard boats had been escorting the distressed fishing vessel toward shore when a breakdown forced it to need towing, slowing its advance. The coast guard had already transferred some 100 of the passengers when rough seas made that operation too risky, and the decision was taken to leave the rest of the migrants aboard until the vessel could reach port.

On one recent day alone, 26 migrant boats, many of them without needing rescue, reached the Lampedusa, a tiny Italian island south of Sicily. The facility on Lampedusa which shelters migrants so they can be provisionally identified as a first step toward any asylum application, was reeling under the relentless stream of arrivals.

The shelter is meant to accommodate about 350-400 people, but in recent days, there were 3,000. Italy chartered empty commercial ferries to transfer hundreds of them to Sicily or the mainland.

On Tuesday, some 1,600 migrants were staying in the Lampedusa structure, and authorities were hoping for weather to improve so that by evening some 400 could be ferried off the island.

There are many women with small children, plus there are unaccompanied minors, the migrant center director, Lorena Tortorici, told Italian Sky TG24 TV. We are in an emergency situation. The staff are trying to do what they can.

The biggest number of migrants arriving so far this year are from Ivory Coast, followed by people from Guinea, Pakistan, Egypt, Tunisia and Bangladesh, according to the Interior Ministers tally.

For years, most of the smugglers boats plying the dangerous central Mediterranean route set sail from western Libya. But recent months have seen many of the voyages start from eastern Libya or from Tunisia. Another route starts from Turkey, aiming to reach Calabria or Puglia in the southern end of the Italian mainland.

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Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration

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NORTHFIELD, Minn. (AP)  A student at a private southeastern Minnesota college faces multiple counts after authorities found several items in his dorm room that school officials believed posed a threat  including knives, a tactical vest and empty ammunition and magazine boxes  according to charges filed Monday.

St. Olaf College student Waylon Kurts, 20, was charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree assault and conspiracy to commit threats of violence, among other counts.

According to the charges, the items found in Kurts dorm room included a tactical vest, empty boxes for ammunition and magazines, a tactical knife, a folding knife, firearm earmuffs, six propane canisters, fireworks, lighter fluid, a battery with wires and a lock pick set.

Police also confiscated notebooks with writings that included a plot to steal ammunition from a retailer, police radio frequencies and a hand-drawn map of the recreational facility on campus, the Star Tribune reported. The map include an arrow indicating a travel route and apparent exit path, the charges said.

Kurts attorney, Paul Rogosheske, said Kurts has some things that look funny, but said there is nothing that poses a threat to anyone, the Star Tribune reported. Rogosheske said his client is a hunter who shoots a lot, and noted there were no guns or ammunition taken from Kurts room or vehicle. He said Kurts drew the map for someone else.

Northfield Police Chief Mark Elliott said authorities are trying to determine what, if anything, Kurts had in mind.

St. Olaf officials say they became suspicious of Kurts on last week, when a custodian saw two empty packages for high-capacity magazines in a garbage can.

Kurts is a sophomore from Montpelier, Vermont, and a member of the colleges track team. He was arrested Thursday and suspended from the private school in Northfield.

In addition to the items found in Kurts room and vehicle, the criminal complaint says a search of his phone showed he texted someone about buying guns from unlicensed sellers. Kurts also texted photos of a box filled with rifle magazines on a campus bench and the words, Kidsve got no idea whats in here, haha.

Notes found in Kurts vehicle allegedly said combat is much faster and closer than you think and the average door takes 2.5 kicks, according to the complaint. Notes also contained training directions for where to shoot a person on their body.

Kurts family told Northfield police that all his guns were in their Vermont home and he wasnt shooting in Minnesota, the Star Tribune reported. A shooting range and gun shop in Burnsville told police that Kurts had visited several times to shoot.

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP)  Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy attended a rally in southern New Mexico on Monday for former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell as the GOP tries to flip a congressional swing seat back to GOP control in 2024.

Herrell lost her 2022 reelection bid to Democratic Congressman Gabe Vasquez in the majority-Hispanic district along the U.S. border with Mexico.

The states Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces was the backdrop for Herrells announcement that she will seek the Republican nomination again, amid supportive appearances by state legislators.

Republicans have nominated Herrell on three previous occasions to seek the 2nd District seat. She lost an open race in 2016 and returned in 2018 to unseat former Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small.

Republicans are separately challenging the new outline of the 2nd District in proceedings before the New Mexico Supreme Court. Political boundaries were changed under a redistricting plan from Democratic lawmakers that divvied up a politically conservative oilfield region among three congressional districts.

Herrell last year embraced a conservative platform of strict border security and unfettered support for the oil industry. The district as recently redrawn stretches from the U.S. border with Mexico across desert oilfields and parts of Albuquerque.

Vasquez won the seat while highlighting his Latino heritage and an upbringing along the border in a working-class, immigrant family. He advocated for solutions to climate change and efforts to ensure access to abortion.

Within weeks of the November 2022 election, Herrell registered to run again with federal campaign finance regulators.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Democrats announced Tuesday that they will hold their partys 2024 national convention in Chicago, choosing the biggest liberal city in the Midwest as they try to keep the momentum going after a strong midterm election performance in the key battleground region.

Organizers from Chicago, Atlanta and New York spent months lobbying to be the site of the convention, but the final decision lay with President Joe Biden, who is expected to formally launch his reelection campaign in the coming weeks.

Chicago is a great choice, Biden, who was flying to Northern Ireland, said in a statement. Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down.

The Democratic National Committee said its convention would be held Aug. 19-22 and noted that Illinois, along with Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, was part of the critical Midwestern blue wall, which was key to Democrats success in the 2020 and 2022 elections. That rosy language omits the fact that Michigan and Wisconsin narrowly broke for Donald Trump in 2016, helping the Republican win the White House.

Chicago is solidly Democratic, as is Illinois. But holding the partys presidential nominating gathering in such a pro-union city demonstrates Bidens commitment to organized labor. The move also could counter Republicans, who are holding their 2024 convention in Milwaukee, located in another swing Midwestern state, Wisconsin.

Republican National Committee Chairman Ronna McDaniel blasted Democrats radical agenda and predicted that voters will soundly reject whichever out-of-touch liberal the Democrats nominate in Chicago.

The convention will be held at the United Center, home to the NBAs Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. Chicago made sense for logistical reasons, with plenty of hotel space and public transportation.

The city is also home to major Democratic donors who can help with raising money to cover costs of a convention. That includes Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire businessman and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune who has contributed millions to Democratic causes and candidates, and was a major proponent for his city getting the convention.

The DNC said that Chicago represents the partys diversity and formidable coalition and that the Midwest will showcase President Bidens economic agenda including spending on public works as part of a sweeping bipartisan infrastructure package that cleared Congress in 2021.

The 2020 Democratic convention was supposed to be held in Milwaukee but unfolded virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden delivered a speech accepting his partys nomination that year at a nearly empty convention center in Wilmington, Delaware.

Chicago hosted the infamous 1968 Democratic convention, which is best remembered for a brutal clash between police and protesters opposing the Vietnam War. The last Democratic National Convention in the city was in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was headed to a second term.

Pritzker promised Tuesday that the convention would be an unforgettable event. He had pointed to Democrats desires to expand their Midwestern electoral gains, particularly in Michigan, where their party held the governorship and won control of both chambers of the Legislature during last falls midterms.

That Chicago beat out Atlanta was nonetheless a surprise given Georgias strategic importance as a swing state. Biden won Georgia two years ago, becoming the first Democrat to do so in a presidential election since Clinton in 1992, and his party now controls both of its Senate seats after wins that drew national attention the last two cycles.

Though Atlanta is as thoroughly Democratic as Chicago and New York, Georgia could very well be a major deciding factor in the 2024 presidential race in a way Illinois will not be.

Still, some top Democrats worried about Georgias Republican-controlled Legislature and state laws discouraging union membership and LGBTQ rights. There were also concerns about Georgias relaxed firearms laws, especially given the rash of mass shootings around the country  despite gun violence being a persistent problem in Chicago.

But shunning Atlanta for the convention could ultimately serve as a double blow to Georgia, which may also eventually lose its early place in a new Democratic primary calendar.

Biden endorsed moving Georgia to the No. 4 position in a revamped Democratic primary calendar for 2024  changes meant to better empower the partys deeply diverse voter base than the old system, which led off with overwhelmingly white Iowa.

But Republican state officials have balked at the Democrats holding a primary on a date that doesnt coincide with the GOPs 2024 primary.

As Biden prepares an expected reelection campaign, he is already focused on 2024s general election, rather than the primary, facing only token opposition from Democratic challengers Marianne Williamson, a spiritual adviser and author, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist.

New York City and state are also deeply blue in presidential races. But choosing the city for the convention might have helped Democrats in other parts of the state, its advocates said. Those other parts include Long Island, where Republican gains in key congressional districts helped the party flip the House last year.

Supporters of Atlantas bid had argued that the city and the rest of Georgia could help lead a resurgence of Democrats in the South, which remains largely steadfastly Republican.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Tuesday that Biden personally called him to say that Chicago had been chosen.

They said Atlanta was top two in all the nation, we were hoping wed be top one, Dickens told reporters. But they said next time, maybe.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday chose an ex-National Security Council communications official to be the next spokesman for the State Department.

In a statement, Blinken announced that Matthew Miller will assume the role as the daily face of American foreign policy from the State Department podium at the end of April.

Miller is a longtime fixture in Democratic political circles and served as the chief spokesman for former Attorney General Eric Holder during the Obama administration. He has also worked closely with Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the current chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

After President Joe Biden was elected, Miller worked on the incoming administrations transition team, including helping to shepherd Blinkens nomination to be Americas top diplomat in the Senate. He then took a temporary post at the NSC last year to coordinate U.S. messaging after Russias invasion of Ukraine.

I benefitted greatly from Matts wisdom, his experience in government, and his deep understanding of foreign policy when he was tapped to head up my nomination, Blinken said.

Matt is no stranger to navigating and communicating on complex, global challenges like those we face today, Blinken said. I am grateful to Matt for once again agreeing to serve his country, and look forward to once again benefitting from his counsel and expertise.

Its an honor to re-join the administration and especially to have the opportunity to work with the first-class team at the State Department, Miller told The Associated Press. Im looking forward to hitting the ground running.

Miller replaces Ned Price, another former Obama administration NSC official and an ex-CIA analyst, who served as Blinkens top spokesman until last month. Price will move into a more policy-oriented State Department position reporting directly to Blinken early next month.

Vedant Patel, Prices deputy who had been serving as acting State Department spokesman, will remain as Millers No. 2

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PHOENIX (AP)  Tribal leaders in Arizona said Tuesday they hope to build on the momentum of President Joe Bidens recent designation of a national monument in neighboring Nevada to persuade the administration to create similar protections for areas adjacent to the Grand Canyon, which they consider sacred.

This designation is of the highest priority to the Hopi people, said Timothy Nuvangyaoma, chairman of the tribe in northern Arizona. We have to protect the beauty and grandeur of this place many tribes call home.

Tribes in Arizona are looking to persuade Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to make the designation for a little more than 1 million acres (404,686 hectares), or about 1,560 square miles (4,000 square kilometers).

The announcement during a virtual news conference came days before Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is scheduled to visit Nevada. The state is home to Avi Kwa Ame, a newly designated monument on a desert mountain northwest of Laughlin  the largest community in the remote southern tip of the state  that some Native Americans consider sacred. Haaland will join Nevadas congressional delegation and tribal leaders Friday in Las Vegas to celebrate the move.

Biden last month also granted national monument status to Castner Range, located on Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, and moved to create a national marine sanctuary in the central Pacific Ocean around the Pacific Remote Islands.

Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, a ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee and a Democrat representing southern Arizona, said the effort to have lands adjacent to the Grand Canyon named a national monument called Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni is part of a sustained effort to protect Indigenous sacred and cultural sites.

Baaj Nwaavjo means where tribes roam, for the Havasupai people, while Itah Kukveni translates to our footprints, for the Hopi tribe.

Grijalva in 2008 introduced legislation to withdraw about 1,560 square miles (4,000 square kilometers) around the park from mineral development, after uranium prices spiked in 2008 and more than 10,000 mining claims were filed on public lands.

That move prompted the Interior Department to launch an environmental analysis of uranium mining in the area, leading to a 2012 moratorium on new claims on those miles of federal land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park.

Grijalva said that although the 20-year ban remains in effect, the national monument designation is needed to offer permanent protections against mining that could damage areas import to tribes as well as the environment.

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, and local elected officials also backed the campaign to have the Grand Canyon made a national monument.

Tribes and conservationists were startled in 2020 when a $1.5 billion proposal by then-President Donald Trumps administration to prop up the countrys nuclear fuel industry emboldened at least one company to take steps toward boosting operations at dormant uranium mines around the West, including outside Grand Canyon National Park.

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You were robbed. So was I. Your neighbours, too.

We were all robbed by Sanjay Madan, a former senior manager in the Ontario Public Service, who has admitted to directing $47.4 million of public money into his own pocket.

The bulk of the money Madan stole  some $36 million  came by way of kickbacks he received for contracting for IT consultants with companies both real and fake.

Madan got away with this for years, under successive governments, despite the Ontario Public Services internal financial controls and despite the auditor generals oversight. That he was able to get away with it for so long should only surprise those who are unfamiliar with the secrecy that pervades government contracting in Ontario.

How much does Ontario pay for IT consultants? Whoever knows this number is not sharing it with the public.

The government holds its information on IT consulting close. For instance, AMAPCEO, the union which I serve as president, had to go to court to seek a judicial review on a routine freedom of information request related to IT consulting. (We won.)

But the transparency problem is even larger. The annual public accounts, which detail all the governments spending in a year, is largely impenetrable to the general public. Any effort to determine how much the government spends on IT consulting is stymied by how this spending is reported.

While we can see how much money was paid to various entities each year, it is impossible to break it down further. As many IT companies operate in a multitude of spaces, it is extraordinarily difficult to distinguish spending for consultants from spending for software licences or from spending for computer hardware. As the payments are annualized, it is impossible to see how much of our money was spent on a given contract.

To find a potential solution to this problem, we need only to look to the federal government.

Almost 20 years ago with its 2004 federal budget, the Paul Martin government committed to proactively disclosing all federal contracts valued at over $10,000. As the budget put it, this initiative was meant to track all spending and provide appropriate tools for effective scrutiny and decision making.

Today, all these contracts are listed in an online database that anyone may access. And it is not just Ottawa that does these disclosures. Numerous provinces have similar policies and procedures in place.

But in Ontario, this effective scrutiny is impossible. This must change. Ontario has a chance to go from the back-of-the-pack to a position of leadership in transparency.

First, the province must begin proactively disclosing all contracts valued at more than $10,000. These should be disclosed monthly.

Second, the province must learn from the shortcomings of other jurisdictions.

Earlier this year at a committee hearing in Ottawa, Sean Boots, an expert on these sorts of proactive disclosures, argued that within the federal system it is hard to tell  what a given contract is for.

To be clear, even acknowledging these difficulties, the federal disclosure system remains incredibly valuable. A fact underlined lately by the ability of interested parties to find out how much money the federal government has been directing to global management consultancies.

Yet, Ontario can still learn from the shortcomings of the federal disclosure system. For his part, Boots recommended that the federal government adopt the open contracting data standard (OCDS). This standard has been adopted by more than 30 governments around the world. The OCDS approach covers the entire process of contracting, from tendering through to implementation.

Prof. Amanda Clarke of Carleton University has argued that being able to follow these contracts through each stage would allow the researchers and stakeholders to really scrutinize what gets delivered.

The OCDS approach requires data to be released in a consistent manner. This allows for members of the public to effectively use this data. This can only promote greater value for money, greater efficiency, and as a mechanism to reveal corruption.

Sanjay Madan may have robbed us. But we have a chance to turn his crimes into an opportunity. An opportunity not just to stop others like him, but an opportunity to turn Ontario into a leader in governmental transparency.

Dave Bulmer is president and CEO of AMAPCEO, Ontarios Professional Employees.

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The big number 29 per cent

Its easy to feel cynical about Torontos mayoral race. Starting with former premier Kathleen Wynnes move in 2017 to deny Toronto the right to put road tolls on city-owned highways and continuing with Premier Doug Fords mad scientist tinkering with the genetic makeup of Toronto council, the last few years have been a real demonstration that our municipal government  including the mayor  doesnt have a lot of real independent power.

And so I wasnt surprised to see some people rolling their eyes last week when two of the contenders to replace John Tory, city councillor Josh Matlow and former councillor Ana Bailao, offered plans for Ontario Place that arent exactly aligned with the scheme dreamed up by Fords government for a mega spa, expanded concert venue and colossal parking garage.

Both want to scrap the publicly funded 2,700-space parking structure in the provincial plan. Bailao wants to move the Ontario Science Centre to the site. Matlow wants more park space.

The cynical response is, well, a very sarcastic good luck with that. Ontario Place is a provincial project. (The Science Centre is too.) Most of the land is provincial. The six acres of land and 10 acres of water owned by the city that the province needs are, at best, a minor obstacle  it could all be expropriated away.

But to hell with the cynics. Theyre not what this city needs.

What Toronto needs is fighters. Yes, the odds are stacked against a mayor on a file like Ontario Place, but the odds will be stacked against the mayor on virtually anything they want to do to improve this city. Fighting to overcome those odds is a huge part of the job.

It always has been. It probably always will be. It certainly will be for whoever wins the June 26 byelection.

Whether they opt to acknowledge it on the campaign trail or not, the winner will be placed into an immediate fight with both Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over city halls budget crisis. The ramifications of losing that fight  or accepting a bad deal for the city  are serious, with the real prospect of a 2024 budget with fewer shelter beds, reduced service hours at libraries and recreation centres, even longer transit wait times, and cutbacks to maintenance and repair projects.

But just like with the Ontario Place issue, the city has a good case to push for change based on data and evidence. During COVID-19, the share of the citys operating budget funded by provincial and federal government subsidies grew from about 18 per cent pre-pandemic to 29 per cent in 2021. Its now falling again  the share is 26 per cent in the recently adopted 2023 budget, and it will be even lower if various optimistic assumptions of provincial and federal support dont come through by the end of the year.

The jump from 18 per cent to 29 per cent was big, but that level of support for cities from higher levels of government isnt outlandish. New York City, for example, is budgeting for about 28 per cent of its revenues to come from state and federal sources this year.

Armed with data like that, the next mayor will need to be willing to loudly and relentlessly make the case for a new deal that embeds more permanent revenue into Torontos budget.

Will it work? Maybe not. But its worth remembering that Toronto city halls record when it comes to fighting isnt half bad.

Just before the pandemic, Tory and former public health chair Joe Cressy were successful in getting the province to back down on cuts to public health funding. In 2011, Rob Ford, newly elected to the mayors office, was able to get former premier Dalton McGuinty to scrap provincial light rail transit projects. And nearly a decade earlier, former mayor David Miller used his new mandate to get the federal Port Authority to back off plans to build a bridge to the island airport.

History tells us that theres value in the fight, even if victory isnt likely.

Not every candidate is going to embrace that reality, but the alternative is a kind of pathetic defeatism, where the democratically elected mayor of Canadas largest city just focuses on issues like potholes and stop signs, occasionally showing up to cut ribbons next to the politicians who make the real decisions for Toronto.

There are certainly a lot of people at Queens Park and in Ottawa who would choose that status quo. Voters, though, may want to choose a fighter.

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EDMONTONFor Premier Danielle Smith, an ethics investigation is a nuisance. Her real problem is a talent for self-destruction.

And what a talent.

Smith has a history of tripping herself up so often she should wear a helmet to work.

Over the years, her actions and words arguably destroyed an opposition party of which she was leader and brought down a government after she defected to it.

News this week that Albertas ethics commissioner is investigating whether or not the premier has interfered with the administration of justice in relation to a COVID prosecution is certainly headline-worthy. Smith, however, might well weather the storm  unless she once again torpedoes herself.

Its worth pointing out the commissioner didnt announce the investigation, Smith did that via a tweet Monday morning. If nothing else, the investigation gives Smith a legitimate reason to stop answering reporters questions.

Smith didnt specify which COVID prosecution and Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler wasnt available to clarify. Its always a bit of a risk assuming you know exactly which blunder the reliably gaffe-prone premier has committed, but the safe money is on her infamous 11-minute phone call with Pastor Artur Pawlowski.

Pawlowski, a loudly outspoken critic of pandemic restrictions, faces potential jail time on a criminal charge of mischief along with an offence under Albertas Critical Infrastructure Defence Act in connection with last years Coutts border blockade. He went on trial in February and a court ruling is expected May 2, one day after Albertas general election campaign is scheduled to officially kick off.

In the phone call, recorded by Pawlowski in January but not leaked publicly until the end of March, Smith said she could not directly interfere in a case but expressed sympathy for Pawlowski, suggested the charges were politically motivated and assured him she was bringing up his case almost weekly with Ministry of Justice officials.

The leak sparked a flood of outrage from critics, including legal experts, the Opposition NDP, and anyone who realizes an elected official, particularly the premier, should not be holding hands, verbally speaking, with someone facing criminal charges.

In the eyes of her critics, Smith didnt just cross the line, she pole-vaulted over it.

Smith has denied doing anything wrong except for using imprecise language. But true to form she kept shooting holes in her own defence by, among other things, changing her explanation as to why she would take the time to speak with Pawlowski in the first place.

She initially said it was her job to listen to the concerns from members of the public. When that failed to calm the waters, she simply refused to answer questions from reporters, saying she was contemplating launching a defamation suit against the CBC for its reporting on the issue. (In the interests of full disclosure, I should point out that as a freelancer I opine for a number of news agencies, including the CBC.)

Despite her refusal to take journalists questions, Smith has been happy to discuss the phone call during her regular Saturday morning Corus radio program Your Province, Your Premier. Last Saturday, Smith offered up a new justification for the call, saying she was speaking to Pawlowski in his role as then-leader of the Alberta Independence Party.

Hmm. But thats not the focus of the 11-minute chat. At no point does she actually pivot away from discussing Pawlowskis criminal charges.

She is, however, trying to pivot from her stated support of the pastor. During the friendly January chat, she told him its nice to connect with you. On Saturdays radio show, she said Mr. Pawlowski holds some very extreme views that I disagree with completely.

Smith is trying to extricate her foot from her mouth but its not something she is particularly good at. Over the years, she has demonstrated monumental lapses in judgment. As Wildrose leader during Albertas 2012 election, she helped destroy her partys pretty good chance at victory by defending two candidates who had a history of outrageous comments, one homophobic, the other racist.

In 2014, she led a disastrous floor crossing to the Progressive Conservative government that gave voters one more reason to kick out the PCs during the 2015 general election.

As a radio show host during the height of the pandemic, she promoted the horse dewormer, Ivermectin, as a treatment for COVID.

During the United Conservative Party leadership race last year, she promised pardons for those found guilty of breaking pandemic protocols (but later rescinded the promise after discovering a Canadian premier doesnt have the same powers as a U.S. governor).

Last October, on her first day as premier, she declared the wilfully unvaccinated faced the most discrimination she had witnessed in her lifetime.

Smiths actions and words have routinely raised questions whether she understands her role, responsibilities and limits as a premier.

But the apex  or perhaps nadir  was her phone call with Pawlowski.

We shall see. Or perhaps we wont.

Albertas ethics commissioner is extremely limited when it comes to passing judgment on, well, ethics. The commissioner can only look at whether MLAs have used their role or powers to benefit the private interest of themselves or family members. That usually means financial interests, not messing-with-court-cases interests. In a few instances, it can include the private interest of other people.

That seems to be what the commissioner is looking into here, whether the premier used her powers to help Pawlowskis private interests.

Albertas NDP is understandably happy with news of the investigation, especially since NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir wrote a letter to the ethics commissioner requesting such a probe two weeks ago.

However, its not all good news for the NDP. According to the commissioners own web page, a straightforward investigation takes six to eight weeks while something more complex can last up to five months.

Theres a good chance Albertans wont see a report from the commissioner until after the May 29 election. Even then, the commissioner pretty much has to leave any punishment up to the discretion of the legislature.

Sabir is publicly calling for a report to be released within 30 days, hoping to politically embarrass the premier during the election campaign. But he is politically powerless over the timing of the report and, frankly, whether this case will be reviewed by more powerful bodies.

While I welcome this investigation, I want to stress that its also not nearly enough, Sabir said Monday. We continue to call for a fully independent judicial investigation as well.

There is absolutely no way Smith will order a judicial investigation into herself.

Based on her past behaviour, she will simply barge ahead and avoid answering questions on the Pawlowski phone call.

But there are two things Smith cannot control: The first is the issue might yet erupt with new life when the judge hearing the Pawlowski case renders a ruling as expected on May 2.

The other is Smith cant seem to avoid pratfalls caused by tripping over her own feet.

Graham Thomson is an Edmonton-based political commentator and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Reach him on email: gthomson2016@gmail.com

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Judith Taylor seems to believe that the only meaningful way for Jews to talk about Israel is to agree with her.

She ignores the most recent example that completely refutes her argument when she talks about the actions of the current Israel government without mentioning the ongoing protests they have generated, with crowds as large as 650,000, ranging across the population spectrum.

We are two of 300 Canadian Jews who signed a letter expressing concerns about the contemplated judicial changes that ran in both Canadian and Israeli newspapers. It also expressed our love and commitment to the State of Israel, because we know the history, which is not as simplistic as Taylor suggests.

Having visited Israel 15 times, we have met with Arab Israelis and Palestinians, including the student to whom we provide a scholarship at Hebrew University, which has some incredible programs to ensure diversity and inclusion.

Jews are standing up. Have a look around.

Marcia and Arthur Zalev, Toronto

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Observers believe that Beijing's intensive diplomatic drive this spring has sent to the wider world community an uplifting message of dialogue, peace and cooperation.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Racialized students left out of lottery for specialty schools, April 6

What a terrible place to make an error.

Very bad for marginalized students. More spaces should be opened.

The whole notion of specialty classes is controversial.

I hope TDSB can raise up those affected.

I personally think there should be more specialty courses throughout the board.

French Immersion, for example, has spread very nicely at TDSB.

Joel Hertz, former YRDSB trustee, Toronto

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Well may have the Americans sought to downplay the strategic importance of clas- sified military and intelligence documents that were leaked on the internet, but it is becoming increasingly clear that they present both a diplomatic nightmare as well as a military setback. The docu- ments reveal the role America has played in the Ukraine war, the extent of its penetration of Russian defence planning, the state of preparedness of Kievs military and the ways in which it has been helped in the conduct of the war. The order of battle of the Russian military, and intelligence on planned strikes that were regularly passed on to Ukraine by the Americans, tell us why the smaller country has held on for as long as it has. But the significance of the leaks, encompassing specific information, lies in the fact that they offer a chance to Russia to identify sources and plug them, and which will ultimately harm Ukraines military prospects. Information on what Russia might do to escalate the battle beyond Ukraine are also contained in the leaked documents, with one revealing how a hacking group blessed by Moscow may have penetrated Canadas gas distribution network and is awaiting instructions on targeting energy supplies.

The diplomatic nightmare that the Americans face revolves around the amount of information about their allies that has emerged from the documents released last month on a social media chat platform. One set details discussions among top South Korean officials about the pressure the country is under to supply weapons to Ukraine. Seoul is understandably peeved and has vowed to take it up with Washington. Another lot of documents shows that the Americans have been spying on their allies in the Middle East, including Israel. But most damaging are documents that suggest Washington has been monitoring conversations of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his close aides.

After initial suggestions that the leaks may have been the handiwork of Russian or pro-Russian hackers, analysts are coming around to the view that the source of the 100 plus documents and slides may in fact be an American. The reason is that the documents cover a wide range of American activities, including data collected by the Central Intelligence Agency and briefings prepared for top Pentagon offi- cials, which could only have been in American hands. But the source of the leaks may be of lesser importance than the fact that they took place. For they suggest that America is a country that is incapable of protecting its secrets, or those of its allies. While a criminal investigation has been launched into the source of the leaks, the damage has already been done
Education has a glorious history in India; texts like the Vedas and Puranas were composed by learned rishis and munis thousands of years before the Christian era. Gurukuls were imparting holistic education much before the West had even thought of schools. Takshila had emerged as a centre of learning in the fifth century BC. Nalanda, the worlds first residential university, home to nine million books and 10,000 students from Eastern and Central Asia, was established in 427 AD. Amongst other subjects, these ancient universities taught medicine, logic, and mathematics.

However, both Takshila and Nalanda, and much of traditional learning, could not survive the onslaught of marauders; Takshila was abandoned in the 5th century AD and Nalanda was destroyed in the 12th century AD. After an interregnum, the British brought Western education to India, through Macaulays Minute on Indian Education (1835), which aimed to educate an army of Indian clerks, to help the British rule. It is another story that being an intelligent people, Indians soon imbibed liberal Western ideals of liberty and equality, which eventually led to Indias independence. Going much beyond Macaulays remit, India, under British rule, produced many eminent doctors, engineers, social reformers, scientists, and writers, some of whom went on to become Nobel Laureates.

Despite an illustrious past, education, at all levels, is floundering in India. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the quality of school education was deficient; annually, independent agencies like ASER and PISA, found glaring shortcomings in the learning of school-going children. The Covid-19 pandemic forced all educational institutions to close down for two years, which took a dreadful toll on education. Poorer students, many of them first generation literates with no access to smart devices, suffered the most ~ a number of primary school students lost their reading-writing capabilities, and lapsed into illiteracy.

Examining Boards, throughout India, have tried to mask the fall in educational standards; more students were declared passed in Board examinations of 2022 than in earlier years, and a record number of students scored more than 90 per cent marks. Such blatant window dressing fools no one, but puts a question mark on the credibility of Board results.

The underlying cause for the rot in the education system is insufficient funding by the Government. Till today, Government schools established by the British, more than a century ago, are the backbone of our education system. Most of these schools are now floundering, with falling buildings and a huge shortage of teachers, affecting the learning of the majority of students in the country. Yet, no efforts are visible for the improvement of Government schools.

The condition of higher education is even worse, since higher education appears to have lost its purpose. Earlier, when education was restricted to the affluent, boys were sent to universities and colleges to study for being employed as clerks or officers. But with technological advances, machines have replaced humans in repetitive jobs, and hardly any employment is available for young men with traditional education, i.e., ordinary BA and B.Sc degrees. Resultantly, the great universities of yesteryears, like Calcutta University, have a large number of vacant seats at undergraduate level. Even engineering courses in run-of-the-mill institutions have no value in the job market. Not surprisingly, hardly half the seats for undergraduate engineering courses could be filled up across India.

College degrees have lost their importance in many countries. Two years after the 2008-09 meltdown, half of the college graduates in the US became unemployed or under-employed. Slowly, after the effects of the recession wore down, college degrees regained their importance, but the percentage of high school graduates enrolling in college came down; from 70 per cent in 2009 to 61.8 per cent in 2021. After the Covid-19 pandemic, when the job market became unusually tight, the college degree again lost its relevance because while hiring, potential employers stopped asking for college degrees. According to a Harvard Business Review and the Burning Glass Institute estimate for the US, in the next five years, college degrees would not be required for 14 lakh jobs.

Coming back to India, despite PM Modi declaring that hard work is more powerful than Harvard, college education is necessary for top jobs, because it develops essential skills like analytical thinking, active learning, and complex problem solving. Consequently, college graduates with the right skillset are paid more, and employed at higher levels. This would explain why eight lakh students appear for the 16,000 IIT seats, and admissions to some Delhi colleges require 100 per cent marks in Twelfth Board. Mutatis mutandis, the IIT story is replicated in NEET. Private universities, which charge a bomb for their courses, are burgeoning, the bottom line being that students graduating from these institutions can easily land a good job. The icing on the cake is that an alumnus of IIT/ IIM can, one day, become the CEO of some top US corporate. However, outside this charmed circle, a student of ordinary means faces a cruel dilemma. After completing his school education, he has little capital, skill or experience to strike out on his own. If he goes to a second-grade college, he can only hope that after wasting several years of his life and his parents money, he will get some employment after graduation. This instance would show the mis-match between the education system and the job market; only because college education does not equip students for new generation jobs. The obvious solution is to link education to jobs, which would entail providing the wherewithal to colleges to offer vocational education to interested students. This is not an untried idea; one-half to nearly twothirds of students pursue vocational education in countries like Germany and Switzerland.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 rightly aims to introduce vocational education at all levels by integrating vocational education into mainstream education, in all educational institutions, by 2030. NEP also proposes to remove the hard separation between the vocational and academic streams and overcome the stigma attached to vocational education. Further, NEP aims to ensure universal access to quality holistic education ~ including vocational education ~ from preschool to Grade XII and every child would learn at least one vocation and be exposed to several more.

However, implementation of NEP 2020 seems to be running far behind schedule; NEP had envisaged that by 2025, at least half of the students would have vocational exposure through school and higher education. The problem in implementation of NEP appears to be of finance and resolve; the NEP document requires that 6 per cent of GDP be spent on education, while we are spending only half of that. Further, changeover to NEP would require teacher re-education, new infrastructure and a complete overhaul of the education system ~ which is easier said than achieved.

A small beginning can be made by colleges to offer courses that develop specialization in emerging fields, since industry and businesses are offering highpaying jobs for specialists in every field, who may not be college graduates e.g., horticulturists, nannies, vaccine specialists, customer marketing managers. An easily verifiable manifestation of this trend is the remuneration of drivers in Government and PSUs, who often earn more than fresh graduates. An obvious first step to popularize vocational education would be to stop lionizing higher education, and running down its alternatives.

The Government can also help by developing online courses on the pattern of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), as an alternative to college enrolment, which would provide an affordable and flexible way for students to learn the latest skills, supplement their learning, and advance their career. The popularity of Coursera in the US, which has 113 million registered learners, and which adds about 5 million new learners every quarter, is a pointer to the usefulness of good online courses. The Government can also rethink its Institutes of Excellence (IoE) initiative which has hit a roadblock, with only 12 institutes (out of 20) being granted the IoE tag, and funding of Rs 3,200 crore (out of Rs10,000 crore) being utilized.

Currently, the Empowered Expert Committee for IoE is lying defunct for more than two years, making any action on IoE unlikely. Probably, the unutilized funds of Rs.6,800 crore of IoE can be used to establish good vocational colleges in all districts, and thereby kickstart vocational education.

Finally, to learn, we must understand the importance of education. As Mahatma Gandhi had said: Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

(The writer is a retired Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax)
Slamming the BJP on communal violence during Ram Navami processions in Shibpur, hardly two km away from state secretariat Nabanna in Howrah, the chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday, The fact-finding committee has come to disturb peace in the area. What is a fact finding team? They (Centre) are sending human rights commission, child rights commission on all issues.

Standing beside the top brass of the police force, Mamata said, Police have taken strategic steps during the Ram Navami processions to bring the situation under control.

Without taking names of Bajrang Bali and VHP, organisers of Ram Navami procession in Shibpur Mamata said, They brought so many arms and many people could have died if the police did not prevent both the sides, on the spot. Police took one hour to take strategic steps.

BJP had brought outsiders from Munger in Bihar to create violence in Shibpur. Many of them, carrying revolvers, were seen dancing madly, she alleged, adding, Why did they take arms in hands in a religious programme? No one in Bengal wants violence. All stay here together in peace.

On the other hand, members of the fact-finding team of Delhi-based NGO Fact Finding Committee on Human Rights Violation on Sunday evening said that the clashes over Ram Navami processions in Howrah and Hooghly districts call for an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Members of the team, who met the governor CV Ananda Bose at Raj Bhavan on Monday alleged that trouble erupted in Shibpur and Rishra owing to administrative negligence of the state government.

After being prevented by police on Sunday afternoon from visiting Shibpur and Kazipara in Howrah, where clashes broke out over Ram Navami processions on 30 March and continued till the next day, the members of the fact-finding team came back to Kolkata.

Despite being restricted in reaching the troubled spots in Howrah district on Sunday and to Rishra in Hooghly district on Saturday, we were able to somehow interact with some of the local people. What we heard from them is quite shameful. There were not adequate police forces when the trouble broke out in these pockets. The administration is playing the me & you game. This is a perfect case for a NIA-level probe. At the same time, central armed forces personnel should also be deployed there, a team member said.
As the mercury is set to soar in the state for the next few days, the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata has issued certain suggestions for the heat wave-like situation.

According to the local weather office, the maximum temperature in various parts of the state now is above normal by one to three degree Celsius over the region.

The city recorded 37.4 degree Celsius as the highest temperature today, which was two degrees above the normal temperature generally prevailing in the city during this time of the year.

The RMC has issued a forecast saying that the temperature is further expected to rise by two to three degree Celsius during the next five days.

Following the sweltering heat, weather department officials have informed of possible impacts of heat cramps, heat rashes likely during noon or afternoon.

The weather department has also tipped-off moderate health concerns for vulnerable people, generally infants, elderly, citizens with chronic diseases and people exposed to sun for prolonged periods or doing heavy work. The local weather office has also issued a few suggestions that could be followed by the citizens during the hot and uncomfortable weather that is tipped to prevail in the city and districts for the next five days.

The RMC has recommended prolonged heat exposure, to wear light weight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes and head cover with hat or umbrella.

The weather department has sufficient water intake, even if not thirsty to avoid dehydration. For outdoor activities, the weather office has suggested increasing the frequency and length of rest breaks and scheduling strenuous jobs to cooler times of the day
On the occasion of International Childrens Book Day, Vedanta Aluminium, conducted a book collection drive from employees to donate books for local children in Jharsuguda.

The initiatives as employees come together to donate more than 600 books to the District Library in Jharsuguda and also to mini libraries set up in Nand Ghars, which are modernized anganwadis run by Vedanta in the adjoining villages of Badmal ,Bhurkhamunda, Harijanpada, and Bhagipali .

Alongside the book donation program, employees also volunteered to conduct book reading and storytelling sessions with the children studying at the Nand Ghars.

Speaking about the companys education initiatives for the local communities, Mr. Sunil Gupta, CEO Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda, said,  Our employees were delighted to be part of the childrens book donation drive and help the young ones discover a large treasure trove of stories and new things to learn. Through our robust education programs, we remain committed to supporting the students and local academia community in strengthening this foundation of growth and progress.
A special session of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly today witnessed a heated debate between members of the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).

Amid a ruckus in the session, SDF chief and former chief minister Pawan Chamling was thrown out of the Assembly hall, when he said he raised objections over the Financial Bill 2023 passed by the Lok Sabha, where the definition of the term Sikkimese had been extrapolated, easing everyone who settled in Sikkim before April 1975 to have equal right to that of the Sikkimese.

According to Mr Chamling, the identity and rights of the Sikkimese have been compromised with. He further said that he wanted to apprise the SKM government about looking into the matter for the sake of the future of the Sikkimese, but they removed me using a marshal. Today is a black day in the history of Sikkim, Mr Chamling said.

On the other hand, SKM chief and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) told media persons that he does not have the power to remove someone from the Assembly.

It is the role of the Speaker, who removes the member with the help of the marshal, he said. Mr Golay clarified that he had not misled the Assembly and that everything presented in the session was based on facts and figures. This involved facts during the SDF government, in which former CM Pawan Chamling overreacted, causing disturbance in the session. The matter of removing a member from the Assembly using the marshal is subject to the decorum of the Assembly. I too was once removed from the Assembly, the CM said.

On allegations that the rights of Sikkim were being diluted, Mr Golay said that there has not been any dilution with old laws or special rights enjoyed by the Sikkimese people.

Meanwhile, the Assembly today passed the Government Resolution No 2 of 2023, Clarification of clause (iv) and clause (v) of section 10 (26AAA) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 as inserted by Finance Act, 2023 (No. 8 of 2023).

The resolution was proposed by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department Kunga Nima Lepcha, and was seconded by Minister for Building Housing, Social Welfare and Women Child Development Departments Sanjeet Kharel.

The special session had been called to address the rising ambiguity among the

masses concerning the expansion of the Sikkimese term as per the amendments made to the Union Finance Act (No. 8 of 2023), passed by Lok

Sabha on March 26.

Proposing the Government Resolution No 2 of 2023 in the House, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister KN Lepcha said that according to the judgement of the Supreme Court, the Union Ministry of Finance had introduced and passed the Finance Act, 2023, making amendments that included two new categories in the definition of Sikkimese under Section 10 of 26AAA of the Finance Act.

The Minister added that these two categories of individuals did not fall under the definition of Sikkimese as mentioned in the Government of Sikkim Act, 1974. The Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister stated that the introduction and passing of Finance Act had deeply hurt the feelings and sentiment of the people of Sikkim and has created apprehension in the minds of the people of Sikkim that the definition of the term Sikkimese has been diluted.

As the insertion of clauses (iv) and (v) to the explanation under sub-section 26AAA of Section 10 of Income Tax Act, 1961 has clubbed the three ethnic groups of Sikkim at par with the others, the Government of Sikkim has deemed it necessary for the Government Resolution No. 2 of 2023 to be adopted and passed in the State Legislative Assembly to clearly establish beyond any doubt that the term Sikkimese shall mean the three ethnic communities of the State, i.e. Lepcha of Sikkimese origin, Bhutia of Sikkimese origin and Nepali of Sikkimese origin only, the minister said.

Clarifying on issues raised by the MLAs over the expansion of the Sikkimese term in the recent amendments of the Finance Act, Chief Minister Golay, also the Leader of the House, said that the amendments do not attack the sanctity of Article 371F which safeguards the rights of the Sikkimese people.

The essence of Article 371F has remained intact. The Union Finance Minister herself has assured the people of Sikkim that the definition of Sikkimese Lepcha,

Sikkimese Bhutia, and Sikkimese Nepali will always be respected and that it has neither been touched nor will it ever be touched or changed, Mr Golay said.
Over 550,000 migratory birds have been spotted this spring in the four wetland nature reserves in Chinas Tianjin Municipality, local authorities said.

Over 60 migratory bird species have made the transit in the four wetland nature reserves this spring, Xinhua news agency quoted an official from the municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources as saying.

Among these birds, the number 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, he said.

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, the official 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, the official added.
The government on Tuesday firmly rejected Chinas objection to Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the Northeastern state was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.

We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in response to questions.

China yesterday objected to Shahs trip to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the visit violated its territorial sovereignty and was not conducive to peace and tranquility in border areas.

Zangnam is Chinas territory, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question on Shahs visit 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 Zangnam 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 reacted sharply with the MEA spokesperson saying; This is not the first time that China is making such attempts, and we have criticised such attempts. China giving its own inventive names will not change the ground reality. I would like to re-emphasise that.
BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met in Beijing on Tuesday with Philip Barton, permanent under-secretary of Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

They exchanged views on strengthening party-to-party exchanges, promoting the sound and steady development of bilateral relations, and international and regional issues of common concern. 
BJP Kerala president K Surendran has on Tuesday raised serious allegations against state tourism and PWD minister Mohammed Riaz. He accused Mohammed Riaz of having links with religious extremist organisations, including the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

Speaking to media persons in Kochi, Surendran alleged that the CPI-M has made Riaz a minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan Government and party secretariat member to get votes with the support of terrorist forces. He also alleged that there is a process of Muslimization in CPI-M at present whereby people who have worked in extremist organisations such as PFI are joining in the left party.

Surendrans allegations came in the wake of Mohamed Riyass comments against the Sangh Parivar. He had said that the Kerala governments policies ensure the safety of religious minorities and that prompted the Sangh Parivar to attack the state government.

Earlier on Monday, Riaz had asked BJP leaders if they would dare to reject the ideologies of RSS explained in Vicharadhara( Bunch of Thoughts).

Vicharadhara portrays missionaries and Christians as one of the major threats to the country. Can the BJP leaders in Kerala and other parts of the country reject the book, he asked.

Regarding the allegation against the BJP over the Vicharadhara, Surendran said. We have only one piece of advice to the CPI-M on the subject of Vicharadhara. It would be better if five or six lakhs of Vicharadhara were bought and distributed to all Christian homes. Congress had made such an effort in Goa. After reading it, the Christians voted for BJP in Goa.

Responding to the allegations against Mohammed Riaz, Congress leader and former MLA VT Balaram said K Surendrans charge that Mohammad Riaz has link with PFI though not credible, but is serious.

Surendrans allegation is a challenge to the credibility of the state administration itself. No matter how baseless the allegation levelled against the minister in connection with a banned terrorist organization, it naturally assumes its own seriousness, Balaram said.

He asked as to why the CPI-M members ran away without taking legal action when the BJP leaders were constantly making allegations of terrorism against them.

Earlier, BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan also made allegations of terrorism against LDF MLA KT Jalil. Gopalakrishnan said former minister and MLA KT Jaleel has links with extremist organizations.

Meanwhile, reacting to the criticism against Vicharadhara(Bunch of Thoughts), Mar Joseph Pamplany, metropolitan archbishop of Tellicherry Archdiocese, Syro-Malabar Church, on Tuesday said people have the maturity to understand what is said in Vicharadhara.

There may be many people from several religions and ideologies who see Christians as adversaries. These are all things said in particular situations. The public is matured enough to understand those situations, Mar Joseph Pamplany said.
The state government has identified land for a heliport in the home district Hamirpur of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Sukhu on Tuesday held a meeting with the DGM of Pawan Hans Company S P Chauhan in Hamirpur regarding the construction of a heliport at Jaskot in the district.

He said that the state government has a plan to construct a hangar, which can accommodate three helicopters at a time for which land has been identified.

Pawan Hans Company is providing consultancy for the project and the state government will arrange additional land for the construction of the heliport, if required, said the Chief Minister.

The CM said that to improve air connectivity and accessibility for the tourists, heliports would be developed at all district headquarters of the state.

It would not only generate employment and self-employment avenues to the youth but will strengthen them economically besides attracting more tourists in the state.

The state government has accorded top priority to the tourism sector and strengthening the air connectivity of the state would further boost this sector.

Chauhan apprised the Chief Minister that the Obstacle Limitation Report will be prepared within 15 days by the company and a team of pilots of the company would visit the site shortly.

The company also assured the Chief Minister that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of the heliport will be final by the end of April and the work would be started soon after.
Ladakh Lt. Governor Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) on Tuesday asked the Union Territory (UT) administration to fast-track trial of the incident of rape of a minor girl in Leh district earlier this month.

The 12-years-old girl was allegedly raped by an elderly man before throwing her in a pit so that she could die with bruises on her body. She was, however, rescued and is getting treatment in a Leh hospital.

In a meeting with departmental administrative secretaties this morning, the Lt. Governor inquired about the condition of the minor rape victim along with the necessary steps being taken by the administration to fast-track the case for a speedy trial to ensure justice for her and her family members.

He also instructed the Social Welfare Department to provide all necessary assistance from the administration to the victim and her family members. Commissioner Secretary, Social and Tribal Welfare, Padma Angmo informed about the necessary counselling and support being extended to the child and the family.

The LG reviewed security arrangements for the delegates who will visit Leh for the Y-20 Pre-Summit to be held from 26 to 28 April under the aegis of the G20 India Summit.

He also inquired about the necessary measures being taken by Ladakh Police to sensitise the parents of the juveniles who indulge in weak beating the affray and assaults to deter their wards from involving themselves in such acts. He emphasised the need to send a strong message to such juveniles and their families found indulging in violent conduct.

He emphasised the need to improve the public transport system in Ladakh and discussed the feasibility of purchasing buses and then outsourcing its operation under legal MoU to willing parties.

The LG also took note of several other issues including inconvenience faced by tourists due to the blockage of the road in Nubra during widening work of the road; the damage caused by the attack of the snow leopard in Shey village.
The Central government on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that the new Digital Personal Data Protection Bill will be introduced in the coming Monsoon Session of Parliament commencing in July.

As Attorney General R Venkataramani informed that new Digital Personal Data Protection Bill will be introduced during the Monsoon Session of Parliament and it will meet all the concerns expressed by the petitioners about personal data protection, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph posted the matter for further consideration in August.

Attorney General Venkataramani today told the constitution bench The Bill is ready, it just has to be introduced in Parliament in the Monsoon Session at the end of June, July.

Taking on record the statement by the Attorney General Venkataramani, the bench said, We take note of the submission of the Attorney General that a Bill which would cover many aspects  addresses all the concerns will be tabled in the Monsoon Session in July 2023. Considering the circumstances, the matter to be placed before the Chief Justice of India for a bench to be constituted preferably in the first week of August.

Both Justice Joseph and Justice Rastogi will retire before the constitution bench meets in August. Justice KM Joseph will retire on June 16 and Justice Ajay Rastogi will retire on June 17, 2023 and their retirement would necessitate the constitution of a new bench to fill two slots that will fall vacant.

In the last hearing of the matter on January 31, the Centre had informed the constitution bench, also comprising Justice Ajay Rastogi, Justice Aniruddha Bose, Justice Hrishikesh Roy, and Justice CT Ravikumar, that a new Data Protection Bill, 2022 would be introduced in the parliament in the second half of the Budget session.

The bench posted the matter in August, noting that in July, after being introduced, the bill will be under consideration of parliament, so posting the matter for further consideration in August will be practical.

As advocates appearing for the petitioners urged the constitution bench to list the matter early as the Bill has not been introduced in the parliament for so long, Attorney General Venkataramani intervened and said, Consultation is a long process We want a good law to come.

The constitution bench is hearing pleas by two students  Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi  seeking to restrain WhatsApp from implementing its new privacy policy in India. The application by two students was filed before a constitution bench wherein 2016 policy is under challenge.

The notice on the plea by the two students was issued on February 15, 2021 by a bench headed by Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde (since retired).

The petition by two students has sought a direction to the web service platforms to apply the same privacy policy which is made applicable to the users in the European Union region.

The students had contended that One set of privacy standards apply to Europe and a different set of standards apply to Indians. This happens when the Personal Data Protection Bill is pending and there is a huge differentiation between Europeans and Indians.

Under the 2021 privacy policy, the users were asked to agree to its new data-sharing norms, a key point of which is sharing data from business conversations with Facebook.

The users were, however, concerned about privacy since it was not optional. The concern of the petitioner students was that the new data-sharing policy does not apply to users in Europe.

In the last hearing of the matter on February 1, 2023, WhatsApp had apprised the Supreme Court about its 2021 communication to the Central government undertaking that its users in India are not bound to accept its 2021 privacy policy for continuing using its messaging service.

The top court taking on record the undertaking given by the WhatsApp to the Central government, had asked the WhatsApp to widely publicise its undertaking to the gove4rnment.
Young Congress leader and former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot began his fast against the corruption in the previous Vasundhara government here after paying floral tribute at Mahatma Gandhi and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule portraits at Shaheed Smarak at 11 am here.

Wearing a white shirt and pajama with a scarf around his neck, Pilot sat on a white cushion on a platform erected for the special occasion. The Congress leader, who is keeping maun vrat (silence) as well, came to the venue escorted by hundreds of party workers and supporters.

After leaving his residence in Civil Lines, he had a stopover at a statue of Mahatma Gandhi and Jyoti Rao Phule on Sahakar Marga to pay his homage and mark Phule Jayanti.

A poster of Mahatma Gandhi was placed right behind his seat with a caption: Vasundhara Sarkar Mein Huai Bhrashtachar ke virudh Anshan (Fast against corruption taken place during the Vasundhara Raje rule).

To counter Pilots fast, last night Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced a holiday today to mark the birth anniversary of Phule Rao. Security has been beefed up around the Shaheed Samarak Park and at important entry points as a preventive measure to ward off any untoward incident on the occasion, a senior officer of Jaipur Police Commissioner told SNS when contacted.

To draw the public attention, the Gehlot government issued a full-page colour advertisement to newspapers with a caption, Mahangai, Rahat and Camp. The advertisement will appear in all state newspapers from April 24 onwards.

It is pertinent to mention here that two days ago, Pilot blamed the party government of his own party and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for not initiating a single probe against the previous Raje-led BJP government in any of the number of corruption cases. He announced the one-day token fasting from 11 am to 5 pm to draw the publics attention to the issue.

Despite my letters to CM Gehlot, our Congress Government did not take any action on the corruption cases under former chief minister Vasundhara Raje in the last four and half years. This might lead people to draw the inference that the ruling party is hand in gloves with the BJP, Pilot had told a presser.

Before coming to power in 2018 assembly polls, the Congress had promised an inquiry to the people of the state into the corruption cases reported during the previous BJP rule, Pilot alleged, adding, Six-seven months left for the next assembly elections which are due in December. Opponents will get an opportunity to spread confusion among the public that there is some milibhagat (complicity) between the previous CM and the incumbent Congress CM.
Ending his five-hour token fast against the corruption during the previous Vasundhara Raje rule here, Former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot said since six-seven months are left for the the next assembly polls, it would be better if the Congress government in the state takes action now against the graft cases in mines, land, and Bajri.

The young Congress went on the fast in the morning after paying floral tributes at the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule at Shaheed Smarak from 11 am here.

Wearing white kurta and pajama with a scarf around his neck, Pilot sat on a white cushion on a platform erected with a Gandhian Desk on his front for the special occasion. The Congress leader, who kept maun vrat (silence) as well, came to the venue escorted by hundreds of party workers and supporters.

After leaving his residence in Civil Lines, he first made a stopover at a statue of Mahatma Gandhi Jyoti Rao Phule on Sahakar Marga and paid floral tribute to mark Phules birth anniversary. Patriotic songs like Jo Shaheed Hue yaad karo unki kurbani. were played in the background during the fast while a number of women and senior people from the Gurjar community took selfies with him.

A simple poster of Mahatma Gandhi placed behind his seat carried a caption: Vasundhara Sarkar Mein Huai Bhrashtachar ke virudh Anshan (Fast against corruption held during Vasundhara Raje government).

In the evening, his supporters offered him sweets at the venue to break the fast.

After the culmination of his fast, Pilot told the media that the purpose of the fast was to protest and pressurise the state government to take action against corruption.

If the demand was related to the party organisation (AICC), I would have taken it up at that level. Though an entire year has passed since 2022 when I wrote two letters to the chief minister and mailed a copy of each letter to the party high command, but no action has been taken, he clarified.

Surrounded by a huge crowd of his supporters, Pilot further said, If the Congress has a zero tolerance policy towards corruption, then the action should be ensured. Our struggle against the graft of the previous government will continue, we want clean politics in the country and the state.

Citing Rahul Gandhis crusade against alleged financial irregularities of business tycoon Adani group, Pilot said all Opposition parties were against corruption inside and outside Parliament, and his stand is very clear on it as the Congress has to enter in poll fray in December and to convince the public that the Congress is serious about corruption under the previous BJP rule.

To counter Pilots fast, last night, the state chief minister announced a holiday today to mark the Phule Rao Jayanti every year. A full-page colour advertisement was issued by the government with a caption Mahangai, Rahat and Camp. The advertisement appeared in all state newspapers.

As soon as Pilot began his fast, the chief minister issued a video message claiming to achieve Mission 2030. I have decided that by 2030, Rajasthan has to be made the number one state of the country, he asserted.
In what could spell trouble for former Punjab chief minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi, the state Vigilance Bureau has summoned him in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

Sources said the Vigilance Bureau has asked the Congress leader to join the investigation on Wednesday morning at 10 am. Channi is likely to be questioned in connection with his income and alleged disproportionate assets when he was serving as Punjab chief minister.

The Bureau had earlier issued a lookout circular on 7 March against the former CM after receiving information that he might attempt to leave the country. Besides Channi, the Bureau is probing the assets of his brothers, family members and some close aides for allegedly possessing wealth more than their declared sources of income.

Earlier this year, Channis nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate as part of its money-laundering investigation into alleged sand mining operations in Punjab. The agency had seized about Rs 7.9 Crore cash from Honeys premises and another about Rs 2 crore cash from a linked person identified as Sandeep Kumar.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea by Tamil Nadu government challenging the Madras High Court order, which allowed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct a route march across the state.

A bench headed Justice V. Ramasubramanian said the appeal is dismissed. During the hearing, RSS had contended that if its march is being attacked by a terrorist organisation in Tamil Nadu, then the state government has to protect it.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Tamil Nadu government, had submitted before the court that We are not totally opposed to having route marches and public meetings across the state, but it cannot be in every street, every mohallaa..

Rohatgi argued that RSS cannot seek a carte blanche in conducting the marches and added that the high court had agreed that the situation of security in the state offered a mixed bag. He stressed that the state government cannot shut its eyes to law-and-order concerns.

The bench had orally observed that a balance should be struck between the language of power and the language of democracy. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, representing the RSS, submitted that the state government cannot stop an organisation from holding peaceful marches by citing apprehensions in connection with a banned outfit.

Jethmalani further added that they are unable to control a terrorist organisation there and that is why they want to ban the march, and after the PFI ban there have been no incidents. He had submitted, what is your apprehension?If I am being attacked by a terrorist organisation then the state has to protect me. Jethmalani informed the bench that they are not going to do anything till March 11 or March 12, while insisting that the government cannot ban the march.

He said RSS cannot be singled out against the backdrop that marches have been held by Dalit Panthers and the ruling DMK party, and pressed that state cannot abdicate its responsibilities.

The state government said it would in the meanwhile, communicate with the other inputs it had received about threats and suggest routes for the marches. We will work it out, said Rohatgi.

The state government had contended that it was not pressing for an absolute ban on the marches, rather only highlighting the issue of security to participants in certain sensitive areas, which has a presence of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), which have witnessed bomb blasts in the past. Detailed order of the apex court in the matter will be uploaded later in the day.

On March 1, the Supreme Court agreed to examine the Tamil Nadu government plea challenging the Madras High Court order, which allowed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct a route march across the state.
In a setback to the Tamil Nadu government, the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected its appeal against the state high courts order permitting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold its public programmes including route marches in the State in the open areas.

Pronouncing the order that paved the way for the RSS to now go ahead with its public programmes and route marches across the state, a bench of Justice V Ramasubramanian and Justice Pankaj Mithal in an order declared, All appeals dismissed.

The court said that the senior advocates appearing for the RSS and its Chennai based functionary have rightly contended that the main objection raised by the state government before the high court was that after the imposition of a ban on another organization (an apparent reference to PFI), law and order problems cropped up in certain places and that the same led to several cases being registered.

Without divulging details of the incidents mentioned in the chart given to the court by Tamil Nadu government on account of its sensitivities, the judgment said that the Chart provided by the State Government shows that the members of the respondent organization (RSS) were the victims in many of those cases and that they were not the perpetrators.

Having said this, the top court said, Therefore, it is not possible for us to find fault with the order passed by the learned Judge either in the main writ petitions or in the review applications. Hence all the special leave petitions are liable to be dismissed.

The Tamil Nadu government had approached the top court challenging the State High courts February 10, 2023, order directing Tamil Nadu police to grant permission to RSS to take out route marches in various districts across the State on public roads including holding other programmes in an open arena.

The Supreme Court had reserved its order on March 27 upon the conclusion of arguments by the senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Tamil Nadu government, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani appearing for the respondent RSS functionary G. Subramanian from Chennai and senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy, appearing for the RSS.

The state government had maintained that RSS can hold its programmes but not in open space but within an enclosed area. We have not opposed RSS route march and meetings but it cannot on every street and mohalla (locality) in the State Tamil Nadu had told the court when the matter was being heard.

Tamil Nadu government had told the court that RSS programmes in the State can take place but it cannot be without restrictions and in certain areas the proposed route marches and gatherings cannot be permitted.

Mukul Rohatgi had told the top court that there is no absolute right to hold a programme, and the same is subject to restrictions by the police being responsible for maintaining law and order. He had questioned the high court direction and asked how there could be a direction that route marches can be taken out wherever desired.

On the other hand, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani had argued that Tamil Nadu government was not allowing the route marches on the apprehension that they may come under attack when the programme is on.

Jethmalani had said that because of the apprehension of someone elses specious conduct, the fundamental rights cannot be regimented in this fashion. He had said that similar programmes in the past have passed off peacefully, there were no complaints.

Senior Advocate Maneka Guruswamy had questioned the status report filed by Tamil Nadu government, asking can public order and reasonable restrictions be reduced to state that RSS processions can be permitted only in an enclosed ground.
A team of officials from the Telangana government, including those from Singareni Collieries Company Limited, is currently at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh to examine the possibility of participation in bids for the disinvestment of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) the corporate entity of the Vizag Steel Plant (VSP).

Telangana Industry Minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday said that the state government will take a decision based on their reports. However, he slammed the BJP and alleged that privatisation of the Vizag Steel Plant was actually part of a larger conspiracy to benefit the Adanis steel plant at Mundra in Gujarat. He demanded that the Bailadila mining contract with Adani steel plant should be revoked and awarded to VSP in AP and the proposed Bayyaram steel plant in Telangana.

The minister said the Centre did not deliberately allot iron ore mines to VSP. The steel plant was in the red due to the absence of captive iron ore mines.

Rama Rao alleged that there was a major conspiracy by the BJP government behind privatisation bid for VSP which was against the interests of both Telugu states. He reminded that the Centre had declared that establishing a steel plant at Bayyaram in Telangana, as promised in the AP Reorganisation Act, was not feasible due to low grade iron ore.

The BRS Government in the state had maintained that it could be made feasible by allotting iron ore mines at Bailadila in Chhattisgarh which was 160 km away from the Bayyaram steel plant. It was also ready to pay half the cost for the slurry pipeline it had proposed between Bailadila and Bayyaram. VSP was about 600 km away from Bailadila and iron ore reserves could be used both for the revival of VSP and setting up of the Bayyaram steel plant. But the Centre did not find either feasible.

Instead, once the Adani Group floated the iron ore company in September 2018 and announced setting up of an integrated steel plant at Mundra in Gujarat about 1800 km away from Bailadila along with Korean steelmaker POSCO the Centre allotted the mines terming the joint venture to be feasible. The conspiracy behind denying allotment of mines to either Bayyaram or VSP was to hand over the 1.4 billion tonnes of high grade iron reserves to the Adanis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is handing over the Navratna PSUs to his two favourite ratnas from Gujarat,said Rao.
Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where two Palestinians were killed near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 11, 2023. Two Palestinian militants were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of fire near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Two Palestinian militants were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of fire near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.

Palestinian sources said that the two Palestinians were identified as Saud Al-Titi, an officer with the Palestinian Authority security forces, and Mohammed Al-Bouf, who had respectively spent 14 years and seven years in Israeli prisons.

The Israeli army said in a statement that two Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers near the village of Deir al-Khatb, northeast of Nablus, after they opened fire at the settlement of Elon Mora.

Meanwhile, two other Palestinians were injured by Israeli soldiers near the village, said Director of Ambulance and Emergency in the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Ahmed Jibril.

He said that one of them was injured in the shoulder and was taken to the hospital in Nablus, adding that the Israeli army forces prevented the PRCS ambulances from reaching the other casualty.

Israel Radio reported that the Israeli army ambushed an armed Palestinian group that opened fire toward the Elon Moreh settlement, and confiscated an M-16 firearm and a pistol from the possession of the two Palestinians who were "neutralized."

According to official Palestinian figures, the tension between Israel and the Palestinians has killed 98 Palestinians since early January. Israeli sources said that 19 Israelis were killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank. 

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where two Palestinians were killed near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 11, 2023. Two Palestinian militants were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of fire near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where two Palestinians were killed near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 11, 2023. Two Palestinian militants were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of fire near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where two Palestinians were killed near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 11, 2023. Two Palestinian militants were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of fire near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where two Palestinians were killed near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 11, 2023. Two Palestinian militants were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of fire near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Israeli soldiers are seen near the scene where two Palestinians were killed near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, on April 11, 2023. Two Palestinian militants were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of fire near an Israeli settlement northeast of the West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)
At a time when the nation is celebrating the birth anniversary of a great Buddhist scholar and traveller Pandit Rahul Sankritayana (1893-1963), his priceless rare Tibetan manuscripts are gathering dust in the lock and key room of the 108-year-old Bihar governments Bihar Research Society ( BRS) a research and development wing of Patna museum building.

Nobody is bothered about his rare and priceless collection of ten thousand Tibetan Buddhist manuscripts which he brought here from Tibet (from 1929-1938) on his four trips to Tibet, said a fourth-grade employee of Patna museum. Rahul ji had donated all his collections to the 106-year old Patna museum in the year 1933 for researchers to study them.

These manuscripts were originally written in Sanskrit by scholars and monks studying at ancient Nalanda and Vikramshila universities between 7th to 12 century AD. Their copies and translations were taken to Tibet while the originals were lost when these two universities were destroyed, said an archaeologist.

For Indologists and Buddhist scholars, Rahul ji needs no introduction. He knew almost 30 languages but mostly wrote in Hindi. He spent over three decades travelling. There is also a separate Rahul gallery in Patna museum. All his manuscripts have been digitised but yet to be published. The Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh has made digitised copies of all his manuscripts.

The condition of all digitised copies (hard discs) are stored in a lock and key room of the BRS. A fourth grade gallery attendant of Patna museum normally opens it only for dusting of tables and chairs. About 40,000 books and journals of the BRS library are also gathering dust due to the absence of library assistants and other staff to look after rare Indological books and historical journals.

I had gone to consult some reference journals in the BRS library but I found it locked so I had to return back, said a young researcher from Patna.

With the transfer of the lone research assistant of the BRS in July last year, there is none to look after the library as well as the manuscript section of the BRS. As a matter of fact, there are eight sanctioned posts of the BRS, said an official. The state department of art, culture and youth affairs is not at all bothered to look after the affairs of BRS where rare Buddhist manuscripts are kept, said an employee.

None of the senior officials have bothered to see the present condition of BRS once., said a staff of Patna museum. Incidentally BRS is one of the earliest Indological Research Instiutes of the country.

The major donor of the BRS is Pandit Rahul Sankrityana. The social media is abuzz with a bunch of messages of glowing tributes to Rahul ji but in reality his collections are at the mercy of God. Bihar is dotted with Buddhist sites/ centres throughout the state. There are innumerable Buddhist footprints in major Buddhist sites like Rajgir Nalanda Vaishali and Bodh Gaya . There are already two UNESCO world heritage sites in Bihar- Bodh Gaya and ruins of ancient Nalanda Mahavihara.
Haryana government on Tuesday welcomed the Union government decision to allow procurement of wheat having lustre loss up to 80 per cent and shrivelled grain up to 18 per cent.

Welcoming this decision, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala extended gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal.

He said the Central government has now given permission to the procurement agencies to buSTRAPeat even at a maximum lustre loss of up to 80 per cent.

Chautala said there will be no deduction in the purchase price for lustre loss up to 10 per cent on shine and no further deduction for lustre loss beyond this.

He said there will be no reduction in the purchase price if there is six per cent shrinkage in wheat grain, and till the decision of the Central government, the Haryana government will bear the minor deduction on the purchase of wheat with shrivelled grains up to 18 per cent.

Chautala said just before the harvest in March 2023, the crops encountered incessant rains and hailstorms which adversely affected the standing crops in Haryana.

Reports have been received from major procurement districts of Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Jind and Yamunanagar regarding crop loss of wheat due to heavy rains causing reduction in shine.

Frequent occurrence of rains and hailstorms can reduce

production and adversely affect the quality of grains. The Deputy CM said the Union Minister Goyal has relaxed the quality norms of wheat being procured during Rabi Marketing Season 2023-24.

He expressed hope this decision of the government will provide relief to the farmers suffering from unseasonal rains and hailstorms.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday reached Haldwani to see Ramlila performed by women.

The unique thing about the Ramlila at Haldwani was that women played the main characters.

After attending the Ramlila program, in a tweet in Hindi, Dhami said, Today, after reaching the womens Ramlila program in Haldwani, received the blessings of Lord Shri Ram and prayed for the prosperity of the people of the state. In todays era, women are moving forward in every field. Such events present a direct example of capable and strong mother power.

Earlier in the day, Dhami said that the mother power of the state is increasing the honour and pride of the state with its ability and efficiency.

Participating in the state working committee meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party Mahila Morcha, Uttarakhand at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh on Monday, the Chief Minister described women power as a superpower and said, In Indian culture, women are the overall presiding deity of creation, because women are the source of creative power. Along with being a symbol, they are conductors of culture and traditions and since ancient times, women have been enjoying a very high position in Indian culture.

The Chief Minister said, Many women like Rani Laxmibai, Jijabai, Ahilyabai Holkar and Sati Savitri worked to prove this from time to time with the help of their ability. Mothers place has been considered the best in our cultural heritage.

Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, today India is returning to its ancient thought culture, he said.

The Chief Minister said, Our womens power has made itself self-reliant through its actions, self-confidence and self-confidence. He has not only taken himself forward but has also done the work of taking the country and the society forward and taking it to a new level.

He said that when the cooperation and contribution of women in the country increase in every field, then the development of the country is ensured. After all, this is our dream of New India, where women are empowered, strong and are equal partners in the overall development of the country.
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 Karnatakas 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.
In 1948, the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance was signed between the Soviet Union and Finland, providing a key basis for relations between the two states that was to last throughout the cold war. With memories of the 1939 winter war between the two still acute, the agreement embodied the PaasikiviKekkonen doctrine, named for two of Finlands post-war presidents who developed the idea between 1946 and 1982 of a neutral Finland close to the USSR.

It also set the context for the term Finlandisation used by international relations scholars to describe external interference by a powerful country in the foreign policy of a smaller neighbouring state. A year later, on 4 April 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty was signed by the 12 founding members of Nato.

Throughout the cold war, Finland remained a neutral state  although more due to circumstance than by choice. And despite its 1,340km border with Russia, it chose not to join Nato in the late 1990s, even as many of its eastern European neighbours did. It officially abandoned its policy of neutrality in 1994, joining Natos Partnership for Peace and then the European Union in 1995. But aspirations to become a full Nato member state had not quite matured. That all ended with Russias second invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Finland (and Sweden) submitted their formal applications to join the alliance on 18 May 2022 and this was endorsed by Nato members at the most recent summit in Madrid in June.

Although accession to Nato membership was relatively quick, there were objections from some members, most notably Turkey and, to a lesser extent, Hungary. Turkey held up membership for Finland  and is still doing so for Sweden  due to its concerns over what it called support for terrorist groups, namely the Kurdistan Workers party (PKK). Hungary also raised objections due to what it regarded as criticism by the Nordic states with regard to the strength of Hungarian democracy. But Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said recently he is confident that Sweden could become a member by summer.

If Putin was hoping to achieve the Finlandisation of Nato as one of his strategic aims of the war, what he has actually achieved was the Natoisation of Finland since it has now become the alliances 31st member state. With this come Article 5 guarantees  an attack on one member is an attack on the alliance as a whole and must be responded to as such. This fundamentally changes the defence and security posture of Finland, and European security architecture as a whole. Implications include the size and geographical focus of the alliance (even more so if Sweden joins in the not-too-distant future) as well as interorganisational relations between Nato and the EU, the other key pillar of the European security architecture.

And Finland is not playing catch up in order to meet its Nato commitments. In fact, Finland will be a net contributor to the alliances overall collective defence. Over recent years, it has been modernising its armed forces, purchasing robust military capabilities and, unlike the majority of member states, it meets the Nato target of 2 per cent of GDP spent on its own defence.

Putin has, of course, issued warnings to Finland (and Sweden) about joining the alliance. In 2016, Putin stated that When we look across the border now, we see a Finn on the other side. If Finland joins Nato, we will see an enemy.

Although there have been mixed signals with regard to Russias views on the sovereign right of Finland to join a collective defence organisation if it so chooses (although Russia does not extend this position to Ukraine itelf), it is gravely concerned that Nato will position military capabilities in Finland, on its border  and close to Russias own strategically important bases and geography.

Although Russia is very much focused on correcting its strategic blunders in Ukraine, it will at some stage begin to recover and, therefore, reconstitute its armed forces and military posture. Of particular concern could be Russias increased dependency on its tactical nuclear posture to offset its (temporarily) decreased capacity with regard to conventional capabilities.

Although we do not know what the future holds, given both the duration and eventual outcome of the war, Russia will continue to have security concerns. And now it has a border with Nato that will run from the High North down to the Black Sea and beyond. This is guaranteed to lock in continued tensions between the alliance and Russia for years to come.

Nato fundamentally thinks of itself as a collective defence organisation, with (nuclear) deterrence as its core strength. Russia will continue to see the alliance as a key stalwart undermining its threat perceptions and ability to affect its own near abroad. So as the Finnish flag is raised at Nato HQ in Brussels, it would be naive to think that Russia will not respond  even if its power to do so is currently somewhat diminished.

(The writer is Associate Professor of Security and International Relations, Staffordshire University. This article was published on www.theconversation.com)
A case of killing of rats in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh has become a topic of discussion across the country. The police have filed a 30-page chargesheet against the accused in the court after the rats post-mortem was conducted recently.

The postmortem at IVRI Bareilly and now the chargesheet in the case has generated curiosity over the countrys first of its kind trial. Questions are being raised on the points to be included by the police in the rat murder case and the punishment being contemplated for the accused by the court in such a case.

The case pertains to Badauns Sadar Kotwali where on November 25, Manoj Kumar, a resident of Mohalla Panwadi Chowk who is a potter by profession, threw a rat tied to a stone with a rope into the drain. Vijendra Sharma, an animal lover and district president of PFA who was passing, jumped into the drain and took the rat out, but could not save it.

After failing to save the life of the rat, Vijendra Sharma filed a complaint against the accused in Sadar Kotwali, on the basis of which the police registered a case under sections of the Animal Cruelty Act.

When it came to the post-mortem of the dead rat, the district veterinary officer expressed his inability to conduct it citing the absence of a post-mortem facility for the dead body of a rat in the Badaun district and asked to take the body to the IVRI Center in Bareilly.

Though the police were not interested in the matter, Vijendra was adamant on getting the post-mortem done. After IVRI Bareilly was referred for the postmortem of the rat, Vijendra along with the police took the body of the rat to IVRI in Bareilly in his AC car where the postmortem was done on the rat. Discounting death due to drowning, the postmortem report cited suffocation as the cause of the death of the rat.

In the case, the police arrested the accused first before granting him bail. Five days after this, accused Manoj surrendered himself in a court. The court had also granted him anticipatory bail after keeping him in custody for some time.

Ashok Kumar Singh, DFO of the Forest Department, said the rat has been kept in the warming category under Section 5 in the Forest Department Act and no offense is made on killing it, but an FIR has been registered under the Animal Cruelty Act. and hence it cannot be considered wrong.

In the midst of all these arguments, the police have filed a 30-page charge sheet in the court a few days ago considering Manoj as an accused.

CO City Alok Mishra said that the police have added each link in the charge sheet during the investigation. This charge sheet has been prepared by including the post mortem report, videos released in the media, opinion of the experts of different departments concerned.

Rajesh Yadav, sub-inspector of Sadar Kotwali and investigation officer of the case, has written in the chargesheet on the basis of the evidence collected that Manoj has been found accused in section 11 (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act) and section 29 (killing or maiming animals).To strengthen the charge sheet, the post-mortem report has been made the basis, in which it has been clarified that the lungs of the rat were damaged, there was swelling in them, there was also infection in the liver, as well as it was clarified in the microscopic examination of the rat that he died due to suffocation by drowning in water.

According to legal expert senior advocate Rajeev Kumar Sharma, in the case of Animal Cruelty Act, there is a provision of fine ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 20,000 and imprisonment of three years. Under Section 429, there is a provision for both imprisonment of five years and fine. Since such a case has not come to light before in the country. Cases of animal cruelty are registered but the case and post mortem related to rats has not come to light before. In such a situation, how much punishment and fine the court will impose on Manoj, this will also become an example.

When the media tried to talk to Manoj, he flatly refused to oblige, but Manojs father Mathura Prasad said, It is not wrong to kill a rat and a crow. These are harmful creatures.Rats gnaw the raw pottery made by his family and turn it into a pile of mud, which causes him a lot of pain financially and mentally. He said that if our son is punished in this case, then all action should also be taken on those who kill chicken, goat and fish. Action should also be taken against those selling rat poison.

Animal lover Vikendra Sharma, stressing on his charges, said the rat is a quadruped creature with four legs and one tail. We have not lodged an FIR for killing the rat, but for being cruel to it, he added.
A wind-swept wildfire ripped through the South Korean coastal city of Gangneung on Tuesday, destroying about 100 homes and forcing hundreds of residents and tourists to evacuate.

The wildfire broke out on a hill in Gangneungs Nangok-dong district at around 8.30 a.m. amid the combination of high wind and dry weather warnings issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) for the region earlier, reports Yonhap News Agency.

From early Tuesday, typhoon-class strong winds with an instantaneous maximum speed reaching 30 metres per second blew over Gangneung, 168 km east of Seoul, and other east coast areas of Gangwon province.

The fire was rapidly spreading to the districts residential areas due to gusty winds, burning about 100 houses so far, according to the citys fire officials.

No casualties have been reported yet.

The city government sent a disaster warning message to the fire-stricken districts residents, asking them to evacuate to community service centres or to the Gangneung Ice Arena.

Some tourists staying in nearby accommodations were also evacuating to safe places in case there is an emergency.

The fire authorities raised their response posture to the highest level and mobilised more than 300 firefighters, six helicopters and 200 fire trucks, though their firefighting efforts were hampered by strong winds.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Mostly cloudy this morning with showers developing this afternoon. High 52F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 36F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
ADEN, Yemen, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Despite the ongoing talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen's capital Sanaa to discuss a permanent ceasefire, sporadic fightings erupted in the country's oil-rich province of Marib on Tuesday.

Over the past few hours, there have been sporadic clashes and heavy artillery shellings between government forces and the Houthi militia along the Alkasarah and Raghwan frontlines in northwest of Marib, raising concerns about the outlook of the peace process, a local government official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The ongoing talks between the Houthi militia and Saudi Arabia, the primary backer of Yemen's internationally recognized government, signaled a potential turning point in the long-standing conflict that has left the country devastated.

A new hope for reaching a peaceful resolution to the conflict was raised by the Saudi-Houthi talks, which focused on renewing the ceasefire, reopening Sanaa airport, and lifting restrictions on Yemen's Red Sea port to facilitate humanitarian aid for millions of Yemenis facing food insecurity and inadequate healthcare.

However, the recent renewed clashes in Marib and other Yemeni regions highlight the challenges in implementing a lasting ceasefire and addressing the deep-rooted issues that have fueled the civil war in Yemen.

The situation in Marib, a strategic city in northern Yemen, is particularly tense, as it has been the scene of heavy fightings between the government forces and the Houthis in recent months.

Despite the setbacks in Marib, the recent talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia still represent a glimmer of hope for ending the protracted military conflict.

Earlier in the day, the Yemeni government announced it is ready for the exchange of prisoners with the Houthis, set to begin on Thursday.

The process will be carried out in three phases over three days, and the first exchange will involve 72 prisoners, according to Majed Fadael, a member of the government negotiating delegation.

The number of peace initiatives has increased, particularly after Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations in rapprochement talks hosted by China in early March.

Over the weekend, Saudi and Omani delegations held talks with the Iran-backed Houthi group in Sanaa to restore peace in the war-torn country, which was praised by the United Nations as "a welcome step towards the de-escalation of tensions."

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war after the Houthi militia took control of several northern cities and ousted the Saudi-backed Yemeni government from Sanaa in 2014. The conflict has resulted in a staggering number of casualties and pushed Yemen to the brink of a humanitarian crisis, including widespread famine. 
The Telegraph

EDWARDSVILLE  An Alton man faces multiple counts of child pornography after charges were filed Monday by the Madison County States Attorneys Office.

Christopher L. Page, 36, was charged with seven counts of child pornography, a Class X felony. The case was presented by the Illinois Attorney Generals Office.
The Democratic National Committee officially announced Tuesday that Chicago will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

This is will be the Windy City's 11th time hosting the event. The last was in 1996.

"I look forward to welcoming everyone to the Midwest & showing off our diverse communities, impeccable hospitality, and world-renowned venues," Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement.

Chicago's most notable year hosting the Democratic National Convention was 1968 when several protesters gathered to combat the U.S. involvement with the war in Vietnam and some soldiers' inability to vote. The draft age at the time was 18, but the voting age was 21.

Seven of those protesters were arrested and tried by the federal government under conspiracy charges and inciting riots. All were acquitted. A 2020 film, "The Trial of the Chicago 7," won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award, and was nominated for six Oscars.

Currently, the Democratic front-runner for the 2024 Presidential Election is President Joe Biden, who will seek a second term. However, while Biden has expressed his content to run, he has not made it official. Biden is 80 and would turn 82 in November 2024 when voters cast their ballots.

Last week, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and son of assassinated Senator and presidential-hopeful Robert F. Kennedy, filed the paperwork to run for president as a Democrat.

The New York Times reported last month that Pritzker may just be the go-to presidential candidate if Biden decides to run for office, but he indicated to the publication his future plans don't exactly include the White House.

"I intend to be impactful in the 2024 elections, helping Democrats run for Congress, helping Democrats run for United States Senate, and helping Joe Biden win re-election," Pritzker told The Times.

The Republican National Convention will be held in Milwaukee  where the Democratic National Convention was held in 2020. Chicago has hosted 12 Republican National Conventions, four of them (1888, 1932, 1944 and 1952) were held in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention at different facilities.
ALTON  Aldermen on Monday discussed $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) disbursement for future Alton projects.

During the committee of the whole meeting, aldermen voted to disburse APRA funds for projects related to the following issues in Alton:

 Addressing affordable housing and homelessness

 Supporting young people's learning, growth and recovery through youth programming and skills development

 Economic development and support for small businesses that were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each category will have up to $1 million disbursed.

According to Ward 7 Alderman Nate Keener, the motion was the result of public feedback that wanted to to see more ARPA funding going towards these three categories. The goal is to set aside funds for potential projects for these categories and work with community groups to draft plans using the funds allocated to address these issues.

"What this is asking is for the administration to meet with some of those community groups to bring us recommendations in those categories," Keener said.

At the end of the meeting, two other ARPA fund requests were also discussed to possibly be voted on at a future meeting.

Aldermen discussed a $10,000-$20,000 fund for solar lights around the State House Circle and 20th Street to help with traffic flow and to prevent accidents.

They also discussed a $28,000 fund for the Alton Police Department to purchase 15 BolaWraps, holsters and cartridges for painless restraint of a subject. The electronic device launches a 7.5-foot Kevlar cord with anchors that wrap around an individual's legs or arms and mid-section. The tether can launch at a range of 10 to 25 feet. It also has a green multi-dot laser for aiming.
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EDWARDSVILLE  Two men face charges for delivery of methamphetamine after a traffic stop in Bethalto April 6.

Kenneth J. File, 49, of Dow, and Joshua K. Morris, 38, of Wood River, were each charged with unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, both a Class X felony.

The case was presented by the Bethalto Police Department.

According to court documents, on April 6 the two allegedluy had were 15-100 grams of methamphetamine.

According to information provided by the Bethalto Police Department, the arrest was the result of a traffic stop for a registration-related offense on Illinois 140 and Texas. File and Morris, along with a third person, were taken into custody; the third person was released without charges.

Bail was set at $100,000 each for File and Morris.

Other drug-related felony charges filed April 10 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Rachel L. Reutzel, 51, of Madison, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on April 9 Reutzel allegedly had more than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Eric S. Price, 40, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on April 8 Price allegedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Michael J. Roberts, 32, listed as homeless out of East Alton, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the East Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on April 6 Roberts allegedly had less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Darice K. Ussin, 22, of St. Louis, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, and obstruction of identification, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on April 7 Ussin allegedly had less than 15 grams of ecstasy/MDMA; and provided false identification to a Granite City police officer. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Amy L. Shaver, 42, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on April 7 Shaver allegedly had less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Alphonso D. Roberts, 31, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on April 6 Roberts allegedly had less than 15 grams of ecstasy/MDMA. Bail was set at $15,000.
WEST ALTON  If you ever wanted to be a riverboat captain, but thought it would be inconvenient to learn, now is your chance.

True Course Captains School, based in Ohio, is coming to West Alton April 15-23.

The 56-hour course will be from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. April 15-16 and April 22-23 and from 6-9 p.m. April 17-19 and April 20-21. The course is being hosted by Harbor Point Yacht Club, 280 Jamie Circle, in West Alton, Missouri, where the classes will take place. This is the first time the classes for a captains license has taken place.

There will be a test from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 30.

The classes will be led by Captain Ron Getter from the True Course Captains School, which is U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved.

Optional courses available in West Alton by request include tow endorsement, upgrade to master, sail endorsement, marine radio operators license and renewal of license, which is an online course. All of these by-request courses include a test.

The renewal of license online course requires a telephone call to register at 973-478-1947.

True Course Captains School was established in 2003 to provide the next level of boater education above the state level, provide education courses to build confidence at the helm and to satisfy the USCG requirements for professional charter captains.

True Course Captains School provides proven educational systems so that the student will gain knowledge and; with that knowledge, will qualify for a USCG license and obtain safety at sea.

For more information email Getter at captaingetter@truecourses.com, call at the above phone number or visit www.truecourses.com.
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP)  Military forces from Armenia and Azerbaijan clashed Tuesday along their border and at least seven soldiers were killed, according to the countries' defense ministries.

The confrontation follows months of tensions over the blockage of the only road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan.

Armenia's Defense Ministry said Azerbaijan fired on soldiers who were performing unspecified engineering work near the Armenian village of Tegh, about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the border. Four Armenian soldiers were killed and six wounded, it said.

Azerbaijan said it was Armenian soldiers who opened fire, and that three Azeri soldiers died.

The clash area lies along the Lachin Corridor, the road that leads to Nagorno-Karabakh.

That region came under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia in 1994 after a separatist war in which Armenia also took control of adjacent territories.

During six weeks of intensive fighting in 2020 that ended with a Russia-brokered truce, Azerbaijan took control of the territories and of part of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. Russia sent in a peacekeeping force that was tasked with maintaining order and protecting the Lachin Corridor.

But in December, demonstrators who claimed to be environmental activists began blocking the road, alleging that Armenia was conducting illegal mining in the region.

Armenia contends the protests are orchestrated by Azerbaijan. In turn, Azerbaijan alleges that Armenians have used the corridor to transport land mines into Nagorno-Karabakh in violation of the armistice terms.

The road blockage has led to food shortages in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan also has periodically cut gas and electricity supplies.
MOGADISHU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday made an unannounced visit to Somalia to advance peace, security, and humanitarian support.

Guterres said he was back in Somalia six years after his first visit as secretary general and met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to discuss peace, security, and humanitarian issues. "The president and I discussed the government's valuable efforts to tackle terrorism and advance peace and security for everyone, and we underlined the importance of a strong collaboration between the federal government and states," he told a joint news conference in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

He said both national federal and state authorities can count on the UN's support for further advancing state-building, noting that the UN was particularly encouraged by the recent agreement that was established in relation to the different matters. "I also want to ring the alarm of the need for massive international support, massive international support because of the humanitarian difficulties the country is facing, massive international support to build up the security capacity in Somalia, and massive humanitarian support in stabilization and development of the country," Guterres said.

He said Somalia is experiencing its series of five years of drought in recorded history, and hoped the rain that is coming will persist and will help in averting the situation created by the drought. The UN chief also said Somalia has made no contribution to climate change and is among the greatest victims, with nearly 5 million people experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity and the rising price making matters worse.

The UN chief's visit comes as Somalia is facing a humanitarian crisis due to severe drought, which has left more than 8.25 million in need of food aid. The crisis was caused by the historic failure of five consecutive rainy seasons, persistent conflict, displacement, and high food prices which have left millions of people at risk and are pushing people in Somalia to the brink of famine.

Mohamud said the UN has always been a partner with the Somali people for the last decades, for which Somali people are very much grateful. "Somalia is making progress, and we are moving forward on the security sector side. Somalia is liberating its country from the scourge of international terrorism, which was here for a couple of decades."

On the state-building side, Mohamud said they have held five successful national consultative meetings with federal member states to build consensus to address the contentious issues, review the constitution, and fix challenges in the security sector. "We have made very good progress in terms of development of national security architecture in the development of national federal judiciary system in terms of physical federalism for the whole country that manages the whole theme," he said.

The president stressed liberating the country from the scourge of terrorism, averting famine and humanitarian crises as well as completing economic and financial reform of the country are the key priorities his government needs to tackle. "We are confident that the Somali people will be able to overcome the problems and challenges they are still facing through the completion of the liberation of the country and reconciliation," Mohamud said. 
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP)  Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy attended a rally in southern New Mexico on Monday for former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell as the GOP tries to flip a congressional swing seat back to GOP control in 2024.

Herrell lost her 2022 reelection bid to Democratic Congressman Gabe Vasquez in the majority-Hispanic district along the U.S. border with Mexico.

The states Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces was the backdrop for Herrell's announcement that she will seek the Republican nomination again, amid supportive appearances by state legislators.

Republicans have nominated Herrell on three previous occasions to seek the 2nd District seat. She lost an open race in 2016 and returned in 2018 to unseat former Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small.

Republicans are separately challenging the new outline of the 2nd District in proceedings before the New Mexico Supreme Court. Political boundaries were changed under a redistricting plan from Democratic lawmakers that divvied up a politically conservative oilfield region among three congressional districts.

Herrell last year embraced a conservative platform of strict border security and unfettered support for the oil industry. The district as recently redrawn stretches from the U.S. border with Mexico across desert oilfields and parts of Albuquerque.

Vasquez won the seat while highlighting his Latino heritage and an upbringing along the border in a working-class, immigrant family. He advocated for solutions to climate change and efforts to ensure access to abortion.

Within weeks of the November 2022 election, Herrell registered to run again with federal campaign finance regulators.
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.
JOHANNESBURG, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed and many others injured on Monday in a multi-vehicle crash on the N3 road, which connects Johannesburg, Gauteng Province and Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, an official from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government said Tuesday.

A total of five trucks, eight minibus taxis and 22 light motor vehicles were involved in the accident, said Sipho Hlomuka, Member of the Executive Council for Transport in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The bodies of the five deceased were taken to the mortuary while the injured were taken to the health centers for treatment, he said, noting that the road was closed on Monday afternoon and re-opened around midnight.

"As provincial authorities, we are hugely disappointed with the fatal crashes recorded during this Easter weekend. We appeal to those who will be continuing with their journey and those who are still going to embark to be on high alert and ensure maximum adherence to traffic regulations," he said. 
Landmark Title Assurance Agencys Nevada operation hired Mike England to fill the new position of vice president of sales.

In his new role, England will focus on growing Landmark Titles customer relationships and work with real estate agents throughout Nevada.

England served as a leader in business development for national title companies prior to joining Landmark Title. He began building his career in digital marketing within the real estate industry where he specialized in lead generation. England also has served on the board of the Asian Real Estate Association and been a member of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals where he was recognized with the Spirit of Community award.

Mikes proven track record in helping Realtors increase their business and his experience as a market leader in the industry make him a valuable asset and addition to our team in Nevada, Greg Hulett, president of Landmark Title Nevada, said in a release.

Landmark Title is headquartered in Phoenix where the company operates six offices in the Greater Phoenix area, one in Prescott, Ariz., and two in Nevada.
We are back again with a new list of shows and movies releasing on streaming platforms this week. From the much-awaited finale of Amazon Prime Video's The Marvelous Mrs Maisel to ZEE5's Radhika Apte-starrer Mrs Undercover, here is a quick look at the exciting lineup.

Seven Kings Must Die: Netflix

Release date: April 14

A followup to the hit series The Last Kingdom, Seven Kings Must Die is based on the Bernard Cornwell's novel The Saxon Stories. The historical drama follows the journey of Uhtred of Bebbanburg and his comrades as they try to unite England in the wake of King Edward's death.

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Season 5: Amazon Prime Video

Release date: April 14

One of the most eagerly awaited releases this week is the fifth and final season of this acclaimed series. In the final season, Midge Maisel finds herself closer than ever to the success she's dreamed of, only to discover that closer than ever is still so far away," the official synopsis reads. Three episodes of the final season will drop on Friday, followed by new episodes in the following weeks. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show stars Rachel Brosnahan, Tony Shalhoub, Alex Borstein, Marin Hinkle, Michael Zegen, Kevin Pollak, Caroline Aaron, Reid Scott, Alfie Fuller, and Jason Ralph.

Mrs Undercover: ZEE5

Release date: April 14

The spy comedy starring Radhika Apte in the lead is the story of a housewife, who is a special undercover agent called back on the job after 10 years. The film directed by Anushree Mehta also features Sumeet Vyas and Rajesh Sharma.

Florida Man: Netflix

Release date: April 14

The limited crime dramedy series created by Donald Todd follows an ex-cop who returns to his homestate Florida to bring back a mobster's runaway girlfriend. The series features Edgar Ramirez, Anthony LaPaglia, Abbey Lee and Otmara Marrero in lead roles.

Rennervations: Disney plus Hotstar

Release date: April 12

The four-part docuseries features Jeremy Renner, who makes an appearance after his life-threatening snowplow accident. In the series, Renner and his team of experts reimagine decommissioned vehicles and rebuild them to serve communities around the world. The series which begins in the actor's hometown of Reno, Nevada, also arrives in Rajasthan.

Pranaya Vilasam: ZEE5

Release date: April 14

The Malayalam romcom, which was released in theatres in February, will start streaming this week. Helmed by Nikhil Muraly, the film features Arjun Ashokan, Mamitha Baiju and Anaswara Rajan among others.
India on Tuesday firmly rejected the objections raised by China to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying the state is an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement.

"We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese Official Spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India, Bagchi said.

Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality, he further said in the statement.

China had strongly opposed Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh 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.

The home minister on Monday 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...," Shah said in a clear message to China.

Beijing, in an attempt to assert its claim over the Indian state, had recently renamed 11 places in region. India, however, outrightly rejected the renaming exercise, asserting that the state is an integral part of India and assigning "invented" names does not alter this reality.
Even as the suspense over the BJP's list of candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls continues, the party's decision to deny tickets to several senior leaders and sitting MLAs has caused heartburn to the veterans and their supporters.

Veteran leaders including a former chief minister and deputy chief minister have been directed by the party high command not to contest the polls and instead "pave the way" for new faces.

The move is said to be part of the BJP's experiment to initiate a generational shift by fielding new faces from constituencies where the organisation is strong.

Former deputy chief minister and Kuruba leader K.S. Eshwarappa (74) announced his retirement from electoral politics at his Shivamogga residence even as the senior leaders were busy finalising the list of candidates in Delhi.

"I have written to the party president J.P. Nadda expressing my will to retire from electoral politics and not to include my candidature from any constituency. I would like to work for the party as it has never got a majority. The party gave me ample opportunities and positions of power from the booth level to deputy chief minister. I am not making the announcement out of fear of being denied the ticket. The state leaders have sent three names from each constituency and I will work for any candidate put up by the party," said Eshwarappa, the Shimoga MLA.

Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar (67) who too figured in the list of seniors who are most likely to be denied a ticket to contest in the upcoming Assembly polls citing age, seniority, power and position, expressed his disappointment over the party's decision.

"Today morning, the party high command asked me to make way for new faces. But I do not agree with the party's stand. I have built the party in North Karnataka for the last 30 years, as part of Yediyurappa's team. I have served as CM. I want to be in active politics for ten more years. I have been campaigning in my constituency and there's only two days left for filing nominations. The public opinion is in my favour as I have done good work in my constituency. The leadership could have asked me to back out two months back. This has hurt me. Denying me the ticket will also hurt the sentiments of the party workers," said Shettar, adding his family has been loyal to the party since the Jan Sangh days.

Further, the Lingayat leader reminded the party that he had been elected at least six times from Hubballi Central and Rural Assembly segments with a margin of 30,000 votes. "I am confident of winning with a huge margin. So, I urge them to give me a ticket. The leaders have assured me that they will discuss the matter once again," added Shettar.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who is in Delhi said that Eshwarappa had written to BJP's national party and conveyed his decision to retire from electoral politics, and also asked the party not to consider his candidature from any constituency.

"Eshwarappa is our senior leader. He had been telling us about his intent to retire and work for the party. This shows that once you reach a certain stage in politics, we must be prepared to pave way for new faces. The party is hoping to usher in a new tradition and culture in politics. On the contrary, the Congress party has given ticket to 91-year-old Shamanur Shivashankarappa. This is the difference between BJP and other parties. Our approach to building leadership and ideals is different," said Bommai.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be in Wayanad on Tuesday, the first visit to his constituency since being disqualified as an MP. He will be accompanied by his sister and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi.

As per the party sources, Rahul will address voters in front of the MP office in Kalpetta at 3.30 pm. He will also take part in a road show which will have national and state leaders of the Congress attending it. Hundreds of party workers from all over the state will also be present.

There are also reports that the party workers will use national flags instead of party flags in the rally. A letter written by Rahul is also being delivered by the party workers to every household in the constituency.

In the letter, Rahul attacks the Union government, stating that his fight against the RSS and the BJP will continue. He also urges his voters to overcome every crisis unitedly.

Scindia attacks Rahul

Meanwhile, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday accused Rahul Gandhi of being a "troll" after the Congress leader sought to link him with the Adani row. Scindia, who switched sides from Congress to the BJP, urged Rahul 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. He also asked why Rahul was no apologising 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.

"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.

This comes as Rahul took a dig at leaders who jumped ship by attaching an image carrying the names of these leaders. "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, citing the names of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Scindia, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kiran Kumar Reddy and Anil K Antony.
Rajasthan MLA Sachin Pilot seems to be moving ahead with his plan to hold a day-long fast on Tuesday despite the Congress warning him that it would amount to "anti-party activity."

Pilot announced last Sunday that he would hold the protest to press for action against corruption during the previous BJP government in Rajasthan. His declaration is being viewed as an open challenge to the Ashok Gehlot government amid the factional feud marring the Rajasthan Congress.

The Congress, not amused by the infightings, had warned Pilot against holding the strike, stating that "such protest against its government clearly amounts to anti-party activity and goes against the party's interest."

According to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of the state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Pilot can raise issues at party platforms instead of going public against its own government. "Pilot's day-long fast is against the party's 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 added that 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. The AICC in-charge said he has personally called Sachin Pilot in this regard.

However, sources close to Pilot told PTI sources that the leader will move ahead with his daylong fast as the fight is against graft under the Vasundhara Raje regime and not targeted at anyone else.

According to the unnamed sources, Pilot was taking up the issue to hold the previous Raje dispensation accountable just like how Rahul Gandhi was fighting Adani over alleged corruption.

"The Congress has been strongly raising its voice against corruption in the country, be it on the Adani matter or by the Karnataka government. If action is not taken against those responsible for graft under the Raje government, then why would people take us seriously," PTI quoted the source close to Pilot.

The source said Pilot's fast was not targeted at anyone in Congress but was a "fight against corruption".

Pilot has said he will observe a day-long fast at Shaheed Smarak in Jaipur 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 told reporters last Sunday.

The former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister claimed he had written to Gehlot last year on March 28 and November 2 on the issue but did not get any answer. "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.
The winds of change blow straight into the face of time. Or so sang the Scorpionsas they strummed the song synonymous with the end of the Cold War. With the first deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, Emine Dzhaparova, in Delhi for a four-day visit, it is clear that the winds are now blowing through the capital. The question is whether it is away from Moscva?

This is the first high-level visit from Ukraine to India. It comes at time when Russia and China are clearly moving closer together. The conflict still stretches on. The visit may be very much part of Indias balancing neutral stand but it is certainly a statement. And will be viewed both in Kyiv and Moscow as such, differently of course. There is no doubt that in Ukraine, this visit will be seen very much as a loss for Russia.

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, weve got a very clear picture: aggressor against innocent victim. Supporting Ukraine is the only right choice for true Vishwaguru, tweeted Dzhaparova as she landed in India. She met Meenakshi Lekhi, minister of culture as well as external affairs, where she discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields including culture. According to her tweet, Ukrainian audio guides under the patronage of President Zelenskyy will be available in India soon.

Apart from meeting officials from the ministry of external affairs, Dzhaparova will also be delivering a lecture at the Indian Council for World Affairs on Russias War in Ukraine: Why the World Should Care. In the past few months, Sapru House has had speakers who have spoken out strongly against Russia and the conflictCsaba Korosi, the secretary general of the UN General Assembly and more recently Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidayet Dzhaparova being given the opportunity to speak is significant.

What is also interesting to note is that Dzhaparova is from Crimea, and is a vocal advocate for liberating the Russian-controlled region. Questioning the status of Crimea is the same as questioning Amazonas state of Brazil. Ukraine will never refuse from Crimea. Just & lasting peace will mean liberation of every inch of our territory. Because if evil is not stopped, it becomes bigger (sic), she tweeted. While India has supported Russias stand on Crimea, it is likely to have touched a sensitive chord in Moscow.

The relationship between India and Russia may be unbreakable as described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladmir Putin. India has chosen to import Russian crudein December it was 33 times what it was last yearand chosen not to use its vote against Russia in the UN, but the growing closeness of Russia to China does not sit well with South Block. The visit of President Xi Jinping to Russiawhere the red carpet was rolled out literally and metaphoricallylast month has set the tone for the relationship. It comes on the heels of China brokering a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a statement that President Xi wants to play global peacemaker. A situation that is bound to make India wary.

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, said Dzhaparova in an interview to a television channel.

With Indias ambition as 'vishwaguru', especially at the time of the G20, the visit is a clear victory for Ukraine. On the agenda of the Ukrainian ministers visit is a request for Indian companies to help in the rebuilding of the country. As well as try and push for an invite for President Zelenskyy for the G20 leader summit. It is a move that is certainly smart. For example, National Security Adviser Doval has [visited] Moscow three times, she said in the interview. 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. Which way is the wind blowing?
On day three after China started drills near Taiwan, Chinese warplanes and navy ships were still in the waters around Taiwan, the island's defence ministry said on Tuesday. The drills began on Saturday after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei after meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. Ing-wen had criticised Beijing for 'irresponsible' behaviour.



In a statement, the Chinese military said it had "successfully completed" the exercises and "comprehensively tested" the capabilities of multiple units under actual combat conditions, Reuters reported. China had warned the US to not allow Ing-wen to meet Speaker McCarthy. China considers Taiwan to be its own territory and has expressed that it won't refrain from forcing the island nation to join the mainland.

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. "I represent my county to the world", and that her visits abroad, including stops in the United States, are not new and what Taiwan's people expect, Ing-wen wrote on Facebook.



The drill included simulated attacks and blockades of Taiwan. Taiwan's defence ministry, on Monday, said 91 Chinese military aircraft flew in missions around the island. Taiwan's official Central News Agency said that was a record, though the defence ministry said it could not be verified.



--With PTI inputs
At least four police officers were killed on Tuesday after terrorists opened fire at them near Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, in a fresh wave of attacks targeting security personnel.



Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations), Zuhaib Moshin said that an operation was launched on Tuesday morning to neutralise terrorists who were involved in a spate of attacks on security forces in Kuchlak, a town near Quetta.

The operation was carried out by police and Frontier Constabulary personnel and when they surrounded a house in the Kuchlak area where the terrorists were holed up, they responded by opening fire on the forces, Mohsin said.

Four police officers were killed in the gunfire, he said.

In retaliation, the officers managed to kill one terrorist, while the rest managed to flee.

The body of the alleged terrorist was taken to a Quetta hospital to establish his identity, he said.

In recent times, Balochistan province has seen an uptick in the rise in terror attacks on law enforcement officials.

On Monday, at least four people were killed and 21 injured in two separate attacks targeting the police in Quetta.

On Sunday, two police officers were killed and one injured by unknown assailants in the same Kuchlak district.

These attacks come days after a crucial National Security Council (NSC) meeting was convened by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in which it was decided to launch a "comprehensive operation" to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms from the country.
French President Emmanuel Macron begins a two-day state visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday and is making a speech on his vision for the future of Europe.



The speech Tuesday afternoon at a theatre in The Hague comes after Macron raised eyebrows with comments on Taiwan after his recent visit to China.

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 an interview published Sunday in French newspaper Les Echos and Politico Europe.

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 remarks raised questions about whether Macron's views are in line with the European Union's 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.

The interview was Friday, before China launched 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.

Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Beijing last week for talks and urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to bring Russia to its senses over its war in Ukraine.

He emphasised 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.

China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war, and the government in Beijing says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

Macron's trip to Amsterdam and The Hague is the first state visit by a French leader since Jacques Chirac 23 years ago and underscores the close links between the Netherlands and France and the two leaders.

After arriving in Amsterdam, Macron is scheduled to lay a wreath at the national monument near the royal palace in the historic heart of the city. He later travels to The Hague for a meeting with leaders of both houses of the Dutch parliament before delivering his speech.

In the evening, Macron and his wife Brigitte are attending a banquet in Amsterdam hosted by King Willem-Alexander.

On Wednesday, Macron visits a science park in Amsterdam and holds talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte before visiting the blockbuster exhibition of paintings by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum.
YANGON, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar exported more than 1,900 tons of honey in the 2022-23 fiscal year, earning over 2.8 million U.S. dollars, the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department said on Tuesday.

The country's 2022-23 fiscal year started on April 1 last year and ended on March 31 this year. During the period, the country shipped 1,853.74 tons of honey via sea route and exported 63.44 tons of honey via land borders, the department said.

"The export of honey this year decreased as its production has declined," U Soe Naing, a director of the department, told Xinhua.

Myanmar annually exported about 3,000 tons of honey in the previous years, he said, adding that the country annually produced 4,000-5,000 tons of honey in the past years.

The Southeast Asian country exported the honey to China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Singapore, he said.

Most of the country's honey bee farms are in Mandalay and Sagaing regions, he said. The honey produced in the country included sesame honey, jujube honey, sunflower honey, rubber honey, lychee honey, and multifloral honey. 
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday hit out at the negative Western 'perception' of India on minority rights, stating that such perceptions were being built by people who have not even visited on the ground.

Speaking at Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) on the Indian economy, Sitharaman said the Muslims in India were doing better than they were in Pakistan.

To PIIE president Adam S Posen's query on reports of Muslim minorities in India being subjected to violence, Sitharaman said the Muslim population in India is only growing in numbers.

"India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world, and that population is only growing in numbers. If there is a perception, or if there's in reality, their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the state, which is what is implied in most of these write-ups, I would ask, will this happen in India in the sense, will the Muslim population be growing than what it was in 1947?" said the Finance Minister.

She also compared the status of minorities in India to that of Pakistan, stating how the minorities in the latter were declining in numbers. "Minorities in Pakistan are severely charged with minor allegations, leading to punishments like the death penalty. Blasphemy laws, in most cases, are used to fulfil a personal vendetta. Victims are immediately presumed guilty, even without proper investigation and holding the trial under a jury."

"As opposed to, let us say, I take the name of the country and therefore the contrast can be sharper. As opposed to Pakistan, which was formed at the same time India was divided into two - Pakistan. Pakistan declared itself an Islamic country but however said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in its number.....decimated in Pakistan. Even some of the Muslim sects have also been decimated," said Sitharaman.

Lashing out at the reports of "victimisation of Muslims in India," she added that the Muslim population in India has risen. "So across the board in India, if violence is happening to make Muslims get affected, itself is a fallacy as a statement. To say it's all the blame of the Government of India, I would want to say then, tell me, between 2014 and today, has the population dwindled? Have the deaths been disproportionately high in any one particular community? So, I would rather invite the people, who write these reports to come to India. I host them. Let them come to India and prove their point."

Burden of 'emerging market'

On perceptions affecting investment in India or capital flows, Sitharaman said the answer lies with those investors who are coming to India.

"I would think the answer for that lies with those investors who are coming to India, and they've been coming. And as somebody who's interested in receiving investments, I would only say, come have a look at what's happening in India, rather than listen to perceptions being built by people who have not even visited on the ground and who produce reports," she added.

However, the Finance Minister agreed that emerging markets like India do carry the burden of "you are the emerging market."

"You have every business to ask us for help, or every business to speak about, every issue on which you need to play a constructive role. But yet the prescriptions are ours. I would want to ask if human that's not to say or not to even imply that I accept the perception that you're referring to."

She said, "It's the resilience of Indian people to take it upon themselves, to take the challenge and come out in their businesses despite tragedies at home, "on the revival of the Indian economy post-pandemic.

(With inputs from ANI)
At least 50 persons got killed and 40 persons suffered injuries in an air strike conducted by the Myanmar military on an anti-junta event in central Myanmar.

According to BBC Burmese, about 50 to 100 people got killed in the attack. The attack is feared to be one of the deadliest since the junta seized power in Myanmar. According to reports, the attack was targeted at an opening ceremony of an office set up by the militarys opponents in the village of Pa Zi Gyi, in Sagaing region.

The Guardian quoted Duwa Lashi La, NUGs acting president as saying, This morning, the Myanmar air force dropped multiple bombs on a civilian gathering of several hundred people, while attack helicopters strafed the crowd. The National Unity Government, set up to oppose the junta, said at least 53 people were confirmed dead, 40 were injured, and that the death toll was expected to rise, The Guardian reported.

Reuters reported that a local People's Defence Force, an anti-junta militia was opening a local office there when the attacks happened. "So far, the exact number of casualties is still unknown. We cannot retrieve all the bodies yet," the publication quoted a PDF member as saying.

The Guardian reported the Burmese military which seized power in a coup in February 2021 has increased airstrikes in an attempt to crush a determined armed resistance movement. The strikes have hit schools, medical facilities, religious sites, civilian homes and other infrastructure.
A full bench of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's High Court disqualified the region's Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas from being a member of the legislative assembly on Tuesday for contempt of court. The Court observed that Ilyas made derogatory comments against the judiciary.

The disqualification comes as a major setback to former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. In a function over the weekend, Ilyas blamed the judiciary indirectly for affecting the functioning of his government and interfering in the domain of the executive through the grant of stay orders, Dawn reported.

The decision by a full bench, led by Justice Sadaqat Hussain Raja, comes after the superior courts of the region separately served notices to Ilyas to explain his "derogatory remarks about the superior judiciary in his speeches at public meetings", Geo News reported.

Dawn reported Ilyas referred to a $15 million Saudi-funded education sector project, saying it had been in a limbo because the court had issued a stay order on the project. He had also taken strong exception to the de-sealing by the courts of tobacco factories involved in tax evasion to the tune of billions of rupees.

The Court reportedly played video clips of his speeches and asked Ilyas is he contesting them. I place myself at the mercy of the court, Ilyas said in Court.

Chaudhry Khalid Rasheed on Tuesday read out the judgment of the full bench, sentencing Ilyas till the rising of the court, the shortest sentence given to someone.

"Ilyas has directly threatened the superior judiciary and the language of his speech at a public meeting is highly derogatory, improper and indecently worded," according to the court order.

According to the order, since Ilyas had been 'punished by the court', he stood disqualified from being elected, from being a member of the legislative assembly and from holding any public office for two years, Dawn reported.

Commenting on the verdict, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that it is important to respect the decisions of the court as the country cannot run by destroying the judicial system.

Chaudhry urged Ilyas to apologise and expressed the hope that he would be given relief by the apex court. He also said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should learn a lesson from the court's decision.

Ilyas, the current president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, PoK chapter, was elected as the PoK "prime minister" in April last year.
The United States formally determined Monday that the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich 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 Russia's 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 Kremlin's continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth."

Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich, 31, in Yekaterinburg, Russia's 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 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 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 case has caused an international uproar and last Thursday, the US ambassador to Russia and a top Russian diplomat met to discuss the case.

In the meeting with US Ambassador Lynne T. Tracy, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed the serious nature of the charges against Gershkovich, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Kremlin spokesperson, responding to Washnington's action said the reporter violated Russian law and was caught 'red-handed'. Reuters quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying, "I don't understand what kind of innovations this new regime (Biden administration) is introducing. As for what it means, I don't know." On the espionage charges, Peskov said, "This is what he's suspected of, but of course, the court will make a decision".
MUMBAI, India, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal is launching Mastermind, an initiative to help students choose the right career path. As one of the country's top educational trust, SVKM has brought together experts from prestigious institutions like SVKM's NMIMS Deemed-to-be University, Mithibai College of Arts and Chauhan Institute of Sciences, Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Jitendra Chauhan College of Law, Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering, Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Shri Bhagubhai Mafatlal Polytechnic, and more for the career fair.



Mastermind is designed mainly to provide students of Std. XI and XII with detailed information about the various undergraduate programs offered by SVKM. The event will cover a wide range of streams, including Engineering, Sciences, Pharmacy, Interior-Environment & Design, Architecture, Commerce, Management, Branding & Advertising, Economics, Liberal Arts, Music, Hospitality, Law, and Design (Humanising Technology). The fair also caters to students who have desires of pursuing Post Graduate or Higher studies.



The event will be held on 16th April 2023 at B. J. Hall, V. L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle (West) from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Students and parents are welcome to walk in and benefit from the expertise of the subject matter experts present.



SVKM's career fair offers a comprehensive experience for students and parents to learn about all the programs offered by the Institutions of SVKM which includes NMIMS University. Participants can interact with subject matter experts to discuss and shape their future. Students can gather detailed information about various streams including Engineering & Technology Management, Artificial intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Information technology, Computer Science, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Civil Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture, Commerce, Economics, Law, Science, Liberal Arts, Design (Humanising Technology), Performing Arts, Mathematical Science, Agricultural Science, Hospitality Management, Branding, Advertising and more.



About SVKM



Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal is a Public Charitable Trust registered under the Society's Registration Act and Bombay Public Trust Act. From its humble beginnings in 1934, when it took over Rashtriya Shala, a school established in 1921 in the wake of the National Movement, the Mandal today has grown into a big educational complex imparting high-level education to more than 50,000 students. It has established campuses all over India like Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Indore, Shirpur, Dhule, and Chandigarh. Visit https://nmims.edu/



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Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], April 11: Velnik India Limited feels immense pleasure to make an announcement its brand ELOIS was the co-sponsor of Indian Idol Season 13 (one of India's most popular singing show), which stream on Sony Television. The Managing Director of VELNIK INDIA LIMITED Mr. Sukhdev Gehlot, and the Director - Mrs. Manju Gehlot, were present at the grand finale to present prize money of one lakh rupees to each finalist.



Mr. Sukhdev Gehlot is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of Velnik India Limited. He was born and raised in Sojat, Rajasthan, a small village known for its premium quality of henna. His life journey started in this humble setting, where he learned the value of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.



Mr. Gehlot's has a passion for innovation which led him to establish a highly technical cosmetic manufacturing plant in the Pali district of Rajasthan. The plant is equipped with the latest technology and machinery to ensure that Velnik India Limited produces the highest quality products for its customers.



Velnik India Limited is a leading manufacturer and supplier of FMCG (non-food) Elois Hair Remover Cream. The company started from scratch, but today it is one of the industry's most reputable, technologically advanced, and solid infrastructural companies. With a small team of employees at the beginning, the company has now grown to have more than 2000+ employees all over India.



Elois is one of the well-known brands of Velnik India Limited. It is a Skincare and Feminine based brand, whereas in Elois brand is committed to providing quality and innovative products for our women," said Mr Gehlot. "Women are always looking for new products which suit their skin and fulfil their daily skin regimen. The brand understands the market needs and new trends, which raise customers' requirements towards the company to produce a natural extracts product. Hence, our Elois Brand has developed products like Elois Hair Removal Cream. Elois Hair Removal Cream is a depilatory product which removes body hair in just 5 mins and leaves the skin soft & smooth. It is enriched with different natural extracts and comes in three variants - Rose, Aloe vera and Papaya.



Velnik India Limited feels so proud to be a co-sponsor of Indian Idol Season 13 and to be a part of this amazing show on Sony Television. Throughout the journey of Indian Idol, Elois brand has experienced fantastic acknowledgement from our Key consumers and partners. We celebrate the exceptional talent of all the finalists. The company will remain committed to providing quality products and supporting initiatives promoting talent and creativity in India.



For more information about Velnik India Limited and its products, please visit our website at www.velnik.com



Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/VelnikIndiaLimited



Insta:- https://www.instagram.com/velnikindialimited/



Linkedin:- https://www.linkedin.com/company/14409254/admin/



Twitter:- https://twitter.com/velnikIndialtd



Pinterest:- https://in.pinterest.com/VelnikIndia_Limited/



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New Delhi (India), April 11: Germany was the father of homeopathy, but its presence is most secure in India, and our country will decide its future path. Last year was very important in developing homeopathy, its credibility, and popularity, Dr AK Dwivedi, member of the Scientific Advisory Board - Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt of India, said.



Homeopathys popularity can be gauged from the fact that now a large number of patients with diseases like cancer, sickle cell, and aplastic anaemia are adopting homeopathy treatment and are enjoying a healthy and happy life.



The financial year 2022-23 was also very important for me in the sense that during this, I met President Draupadi Murmu, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, road and transport minister Nitin Gadkari and told them about the advantages of homeopathy.



I requested them to take measures to cure deadly diseases like sickle cell and aplastic anaemia, and I am very happy that sickle cell disease has been included in the budget presented by the finance minister, and a target has been set to eliminate it completely by 2047, Dr Dwivedi said.



He requested the patients and people that instead of believing what you hear, you should adopt homeopathy, which an open mind. As per the advice of the doctors, if you pay attention to the food and lifestyle as a whole, then you will confirm that the homeopathy system of medicine is no less than a boon for the human being.



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New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) The Centre has relaxed quality norms for wheat procurement in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Rajasthan to prevent distressed sale as well as protect the interest of farmers, a senior official said on Tuesday.

The recent untimely rainfall, hailstorm and high velocity wind have damaged the standing wheat crop, which was ready for harvest, in some parts of these states. These state governments had demanded the relaxation in procurement norms.

Currently, wheat procurement is underway in Madhya Pradesh, while it has been delayed in other states because of untimely rains. State-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) along with state agencies undertake the procurement of wheat.

"After the field survey, we have relaxed the quality norms for procurement of wheat in Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana and Rajasthan in order to reduce hardship of farmers and to avoid distressed sale of wheat," Subodh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary in the Union Food Ministry, told PTI.

The government has relaxed the limit of shriveled and broken grains up to 18 per cent against the existing limit of 6 per cent under the uniform specifications, he said.

No value cut will be applicable on wheat having shriveled and broken grains up to 6 per cent, he said.

The value cut will not be applicable on wheat having lusture loss up to 10 per cent, while value cut of Rs 5.31 per quintal on flat basis will be deducted on wheat having lusture loss grains above 10 per cent up to 80 per cent.

That apart, both damaged and slightly damaged grain altogether should not exceed 6 per cent, he added.

Singh further said any deterioration of quality of wheat stock procured under relaxed norms during storage will be the sole responsibility of the state governments. This wheat will be liquidated on an overriding priority basis.

Any financial or operational implications due to the relaxation will be the responsibility of the state governments, he added.

The Centre has asked these state governments to deduct the imposed value cut from the minimum support price of Rs 2,125 per quintal while making a payment to the farmers.

The official mentioned that the Uttar Pradesh government's similar demand is under consideration. A decision will be taken soon after analysing the field report.

The government has purchased 13.20 lakh tonnes of wheat till April 10 of the ongoing 2023-24 marketing year (April-March) mostly from Madhya Pradesh. About 1,000 tonnes of wheat has been procured in Punjab, while 88,000 tonnes in Haryana in the same period, as per the Food Ministry data.

Asked about the lower procurement in Punjab and Haryana, the official said, "the procurement was delayed due to the untimely rains. The arrivals were not huge and therefore the procurement has not been much. However, in the next few days, the procurement of wheat in these two states will pick up."

The Centre aims to procure 34.2 million tonnes of wheat in the ongoing 2023-24 marketing year (April-March), higher than 19 million tonnes achieved in the previous year.

Last year, wheat procurement had declined due to a slight fall in production owing to heatwave and unseasonal rains. However, this year the production is estimated to be a record 112.2 million tonnes.
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) Caught in the political row over market place battle with popular Karnataka brand Nandini, head of the Gujarat-based cooperative selling Amul brand on Tuesday said it will sell milk and curd only through online channels in Bengaluru and there is no competition with Nandini milk which is much cheaper due to the state government subsidy.

Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) MD Jayen Mehta asserted that there cannot be "Amul versus Nandini" scenario as both are co-operatives owned by farmers.

GCMMF will sell its Amul products only through e-commerce platforms and there is absolutely no plan of full-fledge entry into Karnataka, he told PTI.

According to him, Amul has been selling fresh milk in two districts of north Karnataka since 2015-16, but "there is no competition" as Karnataka Milk Federation's (KMF) Nandini milk is much cheaper than Amul because of the subsidy being provided by the state government.

Amul milk is Rs 54 per litre while Nandini milk is Rs 39 per litre only as the state government provides subsidy to farmers, he added.

A political row has erupted after Amul's announcement on April 5 that it will supply

milk and curd in Bengaluru.

Opposition parties -- Congress and the JD(S) -- have trained their guns at the ruling BJP in the state when the assembly elections are just a month away, expressing fears that the Rs 21,000 crore-Nandini brand, could be merged with Amul.

"There is no question of merger. Both are cooperatives. Amul is owned by farmers of Gujarat and Nandini is owned by farmers of Karnataka. Both of us have been working together not from now but since decades to build India's cooperative dairy industry. This has made India the largest producer of milk in the world," Mehta said.

Mehta, who is currently the MD in charge of GCMMF, emphasised that "there is no threat to Nandini from Amul and vice-versa. Both the co-operatives are working in co-ordination and co-operation with each other".

About the launch of its products in Karnataka, Mehta said the co-operative has been selling fresh milk in Huballi and Dharwad in North Karnataka from 2015-16, although its volume is only 8,000-10,000 litres per day as against around 1.30 lakh litres of milk per day is sold by Nandini in these two districts.

"People are saying that Amul has entered in Karnataka. But we are there from 2015-16 itself," he said, adding that the recent launch of Amul Taaza (toned milk) in Bengaluru is only and only through e-commerce platforms based on customers search data on online platforms.

He also ruled out plans for full-fledge entry into the Southern state as it is "not possible" because of the big price disadvantage.

GCMMF does not have milk processing plants and other infrastructure in Karnataka.

Citing example about the association between the two co-operatives, he said even today Amul ice cream is getting manufactured from Nandini milk and packed in their plants. This association for ice-cream has been in place since 1998.

During 2020-21, when the country was grappling with the coronavirus pandemic,

Mehta said GCMMF had purchased Rs 200 crore worth cheddar cheese from Nandini to support the farmers of Karnataka in view of surplus milk production at that time.

"We also co-operate in many other ways, like giving technical supports," he said.

GCMMF is expecting a 20 per cent growth in its revenue this fiscal to around Rs 66,000 crore on rising demand. It registered a turnover of Rs 55,055 crore in 2022-23, up 18.5 per cent from the previous year.

At present, GCMMF has 98 milk processing plants across the country with an installed capacity of 470 lakh litres per day. On an average, it is collecting 270 lakh litres of milk everyday from farmers.
Jammu, April 11 (PTI) There will be a four-fold rise in the footfall of tourists in Kashmir after the completion of the Delhi-Jammu-Srinagar highway, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said.

The minister for road, highways and transport on Tuesday inspected a 924-metre-long Banihal-Qazigund tunnel, which will bypass a nearly three-km landslide and accident-prone area in Ramban district, and various road projects in the Union territory.

The completion of the tunnel will bring much relief to travellers by bypassing a nearly three-km landslide and accident-prone area in the Ramban district.

Flanked by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union ministers Jitendra Singh and Gen VK Singh, Gadkari also conducted a breakthrough of Sita Rama Passi Maroog via virtual mode through a controlled blast in the tunnel.

"After completion of this road in the next two years, the tourist arrival (in Jammu and Kashmir) will increase over 4 times. That will increase the number of resorts and restaurants 9 in the Union territory)," Gadkari told reporters after an inspection of the tunnel.

The minister expressed confidence that after the completion of road projects, there will be a huge development, people will get employment and poverty will be eradicated in the Union territory.

"The lifeline (highway) will have socio-economic benefits to Jammu and Kashmir.

"In Jammu and Kashmir, we are constructing road projects at a cost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore. There are 20 to 22 proposals of ropeways and cable cars worth Rs 25,000-30,000 crore that we are doing. It will have a 4-fold increase in the tourism of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir will be self-reliant and prosperous," he said.

Referring to the work on the highways, he said there will be three roads being constructed between Jammu and Srinagar.

"...One of five tunnels with a length of 45 kilometres has been inaugurated today. The other three tunnels will be open by next year. One tunnel given to TATA will take some time for completion."

Referring to the express highway, he said that a tunnel project has been given to TATA.

"It will take some time. After completion, the distance will be restricted to three hours. From Katra, it will be direct travel to Delhi. The travel time from Delhi to Srinagar will be 8 hours and six hours travel time from Delhi to Katra. From Delhi to Mumbai, the travel time will be 12 hours," the minister said.

Responding to the locals' demands for employment, he said, "We are building a resort, where we can put handloom and handicrafts products of locals for display. It will give employment to 500 to 600 people".

He also said that 99 per cent of the tunnel staff has been employed locally.

"We will keep trying that local youth get jobs in other tunnels too, and Jammu and Kashmir becomes self-reliant in terms of economic growth," he added.

Gadkari also said that he always mentions the former American president's remark -- "America is rich because American roads are good".

Gadkari inspected highways, the Banihal bypass and the Peera-Chanderkote tunnel.

"Every tunnel saves time. Today this tunnel was completed...another tunnel will be completed soon. Within two months it will also be started," he said.

The tunnel is part of the ongoing four-laning of the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway - the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.

The tunnel bypasses the most vulnerable stretch of Panthyal in the Ramban district.

The work on the four-laning project started in 2011 and includes a number of small and major tunnels, bridges and flyovers. The project is likely to be completed by the next year after missing several deadlines over the past decade.

Asked about the second tube (T2) of the Kunfer tunnel, he said it will be ready within two months.

The completion of these projects will not only help resolve the issue of traffic jams on the highway to a large extent but will also cut down the distance between different points by several kilometres.

"To ease the travel between Jammu and Srinagar, 3 corridors are being built at a cost of Rs 35,000 crore. Under this, the first corridor from Jammu to Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal and further to Srinagar...," Gadkari said.

This 4-lane road of 250 km length is being built at a cost of Rs 16,000 crore. Out of this, 4-laning of 210 km route has been completed, including 10 tunnels of 21.5 km, he said.

The minister also said that the government is constructing a multi-model hub of world standard at Katra, the base camp of the cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi.

"It will be an attraction for the world. It has got a beautiful design. We are also going there," he added.
CANBERRA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The population of threatened greater bilbies in protected areas across Australia has more than doubled in 12 months, a national census has found.

The annual census, which was undertaken by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), counted 3,315 greater bilbies in six protected areas across Australia, up from 1,480 in the previous year.

Aly Ross, an ecologist from AWC, attributed the rise to increased conservation efforts for the iconic marsupial and favorable weather conditions.

"The drought in 2018 and 2019 really knocked a lot of our populations around," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday.

"But now we've had a bit of rain and there's things growing and stuff to eat, so those bilbies are doing a lot better which is great to see."

The federal government earlier in April launched a new national strategy to protect the greater bilby from extinction.

Once with a natural habitat range covering two thirds of Australia, the bilby, a rabbit-like mammal that can grow up to 55 centimeters long, is now found in only 15 percent of the country as a result of predation, land clearing and bushfires.

Bilbies are major ecosystem engineers, with their digging for food helping water penetrate soil, meaning their loss has wide-ranging implications.

"So, when we lose species like the bilby that actually changes the habitat," Ross said. "It changes the kind of environmental structure, so it makes it harder for other species to live in there as well." 
Karachi, Apr 11 (PTI) At least four police officers were killed on Tuesday after terrorists opened fire at them near Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, in a fresh wave of attacks targeting security personnel.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations), Zuhaib Moshin said that an operation was launched on Tuesday morning to neutralise terrorists who were involved in a spate of attacks on security forces in Kuchlak, a town near Quetta.

The operation was carried out by police and Frontier Constabulary personnel and when they surrounded a house in the Kuchlak area where the terrorists were holed up, they responded by opening fire on the forces, Mohsin said.

Four police officers were killed in the gunfire, he said.

In retaliation, the officers managed to kill one terrorist, while the rest managed to flee.

The body of the alleged terrorist was taken to a Quetta hospital to establish his identity, he said.

In recent times, Balochistan province has seen an uptick in the rise in terror attacks on law enforcement officials.

On Monday, at least four people were killed and 21 injured in two separate attacks targeting the police in Quetta.

On Sunday, two police officers were killed and one injured by unknown assailants in the same Kuchlak district.

These attacks come days after a crucial National Security Council (NSC) meeting was convened by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in which it was decided to launch a "comprehensive operation" to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms from the country.
Islamabad, Apr 11 (PTI) Amid a surge in attacks by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the banned militant group was still using Afghan soil to carry out attacks inside the country, a media report said on Tuesday.

Asif expressed his concern at the TTP using neighbouring Afghanistan for terrorism in an interview with the Voice of America on Monday, the Dawn newspaper reported.

TTP is using (the) Afghan soil even today for attacks in our country, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," the minister said, adding that Pakistan enjoys good ties with the interim Taliban government.

Asif's remarks come as Pakistan has witnessed a surge in TTP violence since peace talks between the militant group and the government began to falter in the latter half of last year.

The TTP formally ended the ceasefire on November 28 and has executed more than 100 attacks since then.

Many of these attacks were planned and directed by the militant group's leadership based in Afghanistan.

During the interview, Asif recalled that the issue of increased attacks by the TTP was brought to the notice of the Afghan Taliban rulers during his recent visit to Kabul.

Earlier this year, a Pakistani delegation comprising of Asif, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan, Charge dAffaires to Afghanistan Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani and Pakistans Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq visited the Afghan capital for talks on security-related matters, including counter-terrorism measures.

(In the meeting) The (Afghan) Taliban had expressed their determination to deal with this problem and said that they wont allow their land to be used for terrorism as per the Doha Agreement, the minister said in the interview.

According to the report, Asif said the Afghan Taliban and TTP shared a camaraderie because they have been fighting against NATO for the past 20 years.

According to my information on TTP militants, between 7,000 to 8,000 of them have been involved in the war against Nato with the Afghan Taliban," the defence minister was quoted as saying.

In this context, there is a camaraderie between the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban which was also seen in their (Afghan Talibans) words during our meetings that they are not in a position to oppose them (TTP), but they also want to help Pakistan, he added.

Asif also said that the banned militant group was equipped with advanced weapons, such as night vision goggles left behind by the American forces when they withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021.

Talking about the recent protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province against rising militancy, the minister said the province's residents were not ready to co-exist with the TTP.

"It is remarkable that people are protesting unarmed against the return of the Taliban (in Pakistan). These people have been poisoned by the Taliban in the past as well, Asif said.

What is encouraging is that people protested of their own will. They did not protest in the past. They have realised that they dont want to live with the TTP, considering the peaceful life they have lived in the last eight to 10 years, he added.

The minister also admitted that due to the political situation in Pakistan, protests against militancy in several areas of the country were often overlooked by the media.

In response to a question, the minister said there was no difference between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban.

But according to our talks with the Afghan Taliban  it seems that they want to distance themselves from the TTP, Asif pointed out, adding that the Afghan Taliban were politically astute people.

Asifs remarks came days after the National Security Committee (NSC) - the principal decision-making body on national security matters - agreed to launch an all-out comprehensive operation to rid the country of the menace of terrorism, the report said.
Colombo, Apr 11 (PTI) Four Sri Lankan Tamil stowaways have been handed over to authorities here after they were caught illegally travelling on a cargo vessel dressed as part of the ship's crew.

The four who sneaked into the MV CMA CGM PANAMA containership while it was at the Colombo Harbour last month were discovered by the captain of the ship at the Suez Canal security checkpoint in Egypt, the Colombo Page news portal reported.

The ship was carrying garment exports to Europe from Sri Lanka.

The men were handed over to Sri Lanka Police on Monday, and were remanded by the Acting Magistrate of Galle Premaratne Thiranagama, Newsfirst Lanka reported on Tuesday.

The four men secretly boarded a Liberian Flagged vessel when it was at the Colombo Harbour on March 24. The ship left the port of Colombo on March 25 and started its journey to Europe, the reports said.

When the ship was entering the Suez Canal in Egypt, it was discovered that there were four stowaways in the ship who were not known to the captain or the other staff of this ship, it said.

The Sri Lankan men were dressed as part of the ship's crew when they were discovered.

The captain informed his parent company about the incident and on March 28 the four stowaways were handed over to the MV Jackson Bay ship belonging to the same company which was sailing towards Sri Lanka.

They kept the four Sri Lankan youths in a special cell and brought them to the international waters near the Galle port under strict security.

Following their discovery, the men were handed over to another vessel that passed by and was heading to China, so that they can be handed over to Sri Lankan authorities. The four men were handed over to Sri Lankan authorities in the seas of Galle Harbour.

The men were identified as residents from Mullaithivu, Chunnakkam, Kytes, and Weliwtithurai, the report added.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration said that a special investigation was launched to determine how these men entered the Colombo Port, and the vessel.

Action will be taken not only against the four Sri Lankans but also against the people who aided and abetted them, the authorities said.
Washington, Apr 11 (PTI) India is home to the second largest Muslim population in the world and those blaming the country on minority issues have no clue about the ground realities, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.

Addressing a Washington DC audience during a fireside chat at the Peterson Institute for International Economics on Monday, Sitharaman said the Muslim population is only growing in numbers in India.

"If there is a perception or if there's, in reality, their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the State, which is what is implied in most of these write-ups, I would ask, will the Muslim population be growing from what it was in 1947... The contrast can be sharper as opposed to Pakistan, which was formed at the same time, she said.

Sitharaman said violence prevails against Muhajirs, Shias and other minority groups in Pakistan, whereas, in India, every strand of the Muslim community is doing its business.

"India was divided into two Pakistans. Pakistan declared itself an Islamic country but said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in number, or decimated in Pakistan. Even some of the Muslim sects have also been decimated, she said.

She said law and order is a state subject in India and each province has its elected government that takes care of the law and order in those states.

She said the notion that across the board in India, violence against Muslims is happening is a fallacy.

"It cannot be so. Each province and its police are different. They are run by the elected governments in those provinces. So, that itself tells you how these reports have no clue of the law and order systems in India, the finance minister said.

"To say it's all the blame of the government of India. I would like to say then, between 2014 and today, has the population dwindled, has the debts been disproportionately high in any one particular community," she said.

"I would rather invite these people who write these reports to come to India. I'll host them, let them come and travel alone to India and prove their point, Sitharaman said.

Around 62 per cent of the world's Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region (from Turkey to Indonesia), with over one billion adherents. The largest Muslim population in a country is in Indonesia, a country home to 12.7 per cent of the world's Muslims.
Kampala, Apr 11 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has called on Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and discussed possible cooperation in the areas of trade, infrastructure, energy and defence.

Jaishankar, who arrived in Uganda on Monday, met Museveni at his farm in Rwakitura and conveyed to him the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"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," he tweeted on Monday.

"Discussed cooperation in trade & investment, infrastructure, energy, defence, 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," he said.

Jaishankar also launched the 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' of Varanasi during his visit to Uganda on Monday.

Taking to Twitter, he appreciated the initiatives of Overseas Friends of BJP-Uganda's initiative to contribute to further beautifying the oldest living city in the world.

"Living in a land of the Nile, their commitment to a ghat on the Ganga reflects the confluence of our two cultures. The conservation of Varanasi's heritage underlines the cultural revival of India. This has profound global implications," he said.

"Confident that many more members of the Indian community in Uganda will keep visiting Varanasi and continue their efforts for its redevelopment," he added.

Speaking at the launch of the project, Jaishankar said a few months from now, India, which is economically and politically more influential today than before, will be hosting the G20 development ministers' meeting.

He said he will host the G20 meeting in Varanasi.

"Many development ministers in the world are foreign ministers like me. I will be hosting this meeting in Varanasi. The ministers will have a chance to not just see the core of India, but also the transformation it has undergone in the last few years," he said.

There have been many great civilisations. If you look at which great civilisations have survived today as nation-states, only India and China actually stand out in this era. The rise of civilisation has to be reflected in how its heritage and history are presented. How its own people actually appreciate it. How are they able to present it to themselves and to the world," he said.

Jaishankar urged people to visit Kashi to see the difference between what it was in the past and what it is now, asserting that it would be an understatement to say that they will be moved by the experience.

Jaishankar is on a two-nation visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15 to strengthen Indias strong bilateral relations with the two African countries.

He will visit Mozambique from April 13 to 15, the Ministry of External Affairs Minister said, adding that it will be the first-ever visit by an external affairs minister of India to Mozambique.

Jaishankar will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Mozambique.
Washington, Apr 11 (AP) US 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 US intelligence breach.

US 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 US 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. US 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 US and NATO aid to Ukraine and US intelligence assessments regarding US allies that could strain ties with those nations.

Some of the documents may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign, US 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.

It's 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 US 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 USD 5 million in US semiconductors and other export-controlled parts, including components with battlefield uses.

US 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 US Defence Intelligence Agency assessed that the United Arab Emirates may provide some financing for the group's operations.

Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at King's 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 Russia's 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 US 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 US 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 US 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 Yemen's 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 America's presence waning in the region after its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the UAE reached a detente with Iran.

That's even as the United States maintains multiple military bases and stations thousands of troops and weaponry in the region, including at Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra Air Base. Dubai's Jebel Ali Port remains the busiest US Navy port of call outside of the continental US

The UAE also remains one of the few places still running daily, direct flights to Moscow after Russia's 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 hasn't been a full embrace.

Relations between the US 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 recognised 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 criticised Israel over the escalating violence between Israel's hard-right government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinians. (AP)





GRS
Colombo, Apr 11 (PTI) The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie J Chung has said that Washington has no intention of building a military base in Sri Lanka and hailed it as an "important country" in the strategically vital Indo-Pacific region.

Chung's comments came weeks after senior US defence officials arrived here on two special aircraft of the United States Air Force.

The visit in February sparked speculation that the US was planning to set up a military base in Sri Lanka.

Chung put the speculation to rest in an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper on Monday.

"In terms of the military base, I have said this repeatedly, we have no intention of building a military base (in Sri Lanka)," she said.

Chung also said that Washington has "no intention of reviving or reassessing the SOFA Agreement."

The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was signed in 1995.

These are multilateral or bilateral agreements that establish the framework under which the US military personnel operate in a foreign country and how the domestic laws of the foreign jurisdiction apply towards the US personnel in that country.

Chung hailed Sri Lanka as an important country in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We want to see a stable, prosperous, democratic Indo-Pacific. That means countries that think about their sovereignty, think about a rules-based international order, and freedom of navigation in the open seas," she said, amid China making a determined attempt to step up military ties with Sri Lanka.

"These are all issues and values that are important not only to the US and Sri Lanka but to all countries in the region," she added.

The US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific.

China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas.

Beijing has also made substantial progress in militarising its man-made islands in the South China Sea over the past few years.

Sri Lanka is a key part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, a long-term plan to fund and build infrastructure linking China to the rest of the world.

But Chinas unproductive projects in Sri Lanka, including the Hambantota port, which Beijing took over on a 99-year lease in 2017 as a debt swap, have come under sharp criticism.

In March, the IMF approved a USD 3 billion bailout programme to help Sri Lanka overcome its economic crisis and catalyse financial support from other development partners, a move welcomed by Colombo as a "historic milestone" in the critical period.

Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking political turmoil in the country that led to the ouster of the all-powerful Rajapaksa family.
Washington, Apr 11 (AP) The Biden administration has begun sharing with a bipartisan group of lawmakers known as the Gang of Eight classified documents found in the possession of former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence, according to five people familiar with the matter.

Top lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had for months been asking the Justice Department to provide access to the documents  or at least an assessment of what was in them  so that Congress could gauge the potential national security harm.

That process recently got underway, said the people, who insisted on anonymity to discuss private interactions between the Justice Department and Congress. Committee leaders have been granted access to them on a rolling basis, said one of the people.

A Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith, is investigating whether Trump mishandled roughly 300 documents with classified markings found at Mar-a-Lago, the former president's Florida estate, and whether he or his representatives sought to obstruct that probe.

Another special counsel, Robert Hur, is also investigating the improper retention of documents from Biden's time as vice president that were located in his Delaware home and his pre-presidential think-tank office. Biden has said he had no knowledge the documents were there.

Lawyers for Pence have also said that an apparently small number of papers were inadvertently boxed and transported to his Indiana home at the end of the Trump administration.

Punchbowl News first reported the development.

The Biden administration held a classified briefing on the documents earlier this year for members of Congress, but senators accused the executive branch of stonewalling and insisted that they needed for national security reasons to see for themselves what materials the men were holding.

The Justice Department has said that it wanted to be cooperative with the lawmakers' demands. (AP)

VM
Pune, Apr 11 (PTI) A retired CBI officer, who headed probe into the 2013 murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, on Tuesday told a special court in Pune that Hindu Janajagruti Samiti functionary Durgesh Samant had asked key accused Virendrasinh Tawde via an email to leave all other work and concentrate on an anti-superstition bill drafted by the late social activist.

The ex-CBI officer, S R Singh, also identified Tawde in the court which is conducting a trial into the nearly 10-year-old case.

Singh, who retired from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a Superintendent of Police recently, was an investigating officer into the Dabholkar murder case. On Tuesday, he deposed before the trial court, where he was examined as a witness by the prosecution.

Dabholkar was shot dead by two people on August 20, 2013, on the Omkareshwar bridge in Pune city when he was on a morning walk.

The court has framed charges against five accused in the case: Tawde, Sharad Kalaskar, Sachin Andure, advocate Sanjeev Punalekar, and Vikram Bhave.

Singh, during his examination by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Prakash Surywanshi, told the court how probe into Dabholkar's murder was conducted by the CBI after the case was transferred to the central agency from the Pune police in 2014.

He said the investigation was initially handled by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) D S Chauhan.

Singh said during the probe, he examined Sanjay Sadvilkar, a key prosecution witness, and based on his statement, the CBI later arrested Tawde, a physician listed as the main conspirator in the case.

Singh said in June 2016, the CBI conducted a search at Tawde's residence at Devad in Panvel in Raigad district of Maharashtra and seized "incriminating documents".

The former CBI officer said as part of the probe he visited the ashram of Sanatan Sanstha at Devad and seized hard disks of computers used by the outfit's members.

"In the presence of witnesses, Tawde was asked to access his email account, and printouts of incriminating emails were taken out and signed by the witnesses. It contained one email from Durgesh Samant, a national spokesperson of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, in which he had directed Tawde to concentrate on an anti-superstition bill (drafted by Dabholkar in late 1990s) and leave other work," Singh said in his deposition.

On being asked by the public prosecutor, Singh identified Tawde, who was sitting in the dock along with two other accused - Andure and Kalaskar.

His deposition of Singh will continue on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the court rejected a plea filed by a defence counsel.

The counsel, in the plea, had sought permission to inspect records kept with the CBI's Special Crime Branch so that accused persons are able to access materials/witness statements and prepare their defence.

The prosecution, in their say, said they have not withheld any document, material or statement.
Mumbai, Apr 11 (PTI) A 23-year-old woman from Goa who was duped by two agents and sent to Bahrain on the promise of a good job has been rescued by Mumbai Police's crime branch with the help of the Indian embassy, an official said here.

The woman, resident of Tiswadi in North Goa district, landed in Delhi from Dubai on Tuesday, he said.

She had left for the Gulf country on February 17.

After reaching there, she was asked to work as a domestic help, and when she refused, her employer registered a false case of theft against her and took away her mobile phone.

Bahrain authorities informed the Indian embassy about her following the registration of a theft case, and the embassy contacted her family back in India.

Her uncle approached the Mumbai crime branch on March 14, the official said.

Officials of unit 10 of the crime branch then contacted her employment agents. They also contacted office-bearers of the Gulf-Maharashtra Business Forum and sought their help, he said.

With the combined efforts of police, embassy officials and the forum, the victim was rescued and brought to India, he added.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (1st L) and U.S. President Joe Biden (1st R) hold their first summit talks in Seoul, South Korea, May 21, 2022. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)

South Korean Rep. Park Hong-keun requested the National Assembly to immediately convene meetings of its foreign affairs, intelligence and defense committees to discuss the alleged U.S. eavesdropping on the South Korean government.

SEOUL, April 11 (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. 
Mumbai, Apr 11 (PTI) Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar's birth anniversary will be celebrated as 'Swatantrya Gaurav Diwas', Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Tuesday.

The objective was to propagate his ideas, and several programmes will be organised for this, he said.

Savarkar was born on May 28, 1883, in present-day Nashik district.

State Industries Minister Uday Samant had written to Shinde stating that Savarkar's birth anniversary should celebrated on a grand scale as his patriotism, valour and progressive ideas will inspire the young generation.

The move came days after the Shiv Sena-BJP targeted Congress and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena after Rahul Gandhi took swipes at the Hindutva ideologue.
Kolkata, Apr 11 (PTI) The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) has asked the district inspector of schools to submit the names of teaching/non-teaching staff of state-run and aided schools who were absent at workplace on March 10 during a strike called by a section of government employees.

The DIs have been asked to send the list of all such absentee teachers and non teaching staff of schools by April 12.

The WBBSE since mid March has been show-causing school teachers on the issue asking them to explain their absence on March 10, the day a joint action committee of state employees called a strike to press for DA hike, disobeying the state's instruction to be at the workplace except for medical emergencies.

Asked if the 9 notice was part of Board's strategy to exert pressure on the district school authorities to finish the process for identifying teaching staff, who were absent on March 10, WBBSE President Ramanuj Ganguly told PTI on Monday "the circular is instead a reminder to the DIs that the process (of identifying) should not continue indefinitely."

"Instead of giving the numbers of absentee teachers/non teaching staff in ones and twos over a staggered period of time, let the respective district inspector of schools compile the entire list within two days time and finish it off," Ganguly added.

The WBBSE notice on Monday told the DIs to submit names of the rest of the absentee employees by 2 pm of April 12.

The WBBSE has so far issued show cause notices to over 350 teaching/non-teaching staff across districts based on the reports of DIs and heads of respective educational institutions, another WBBSE official said.

The West Bengal government had issued an order before March 10 saying that all offices including those provided with grants-in-aid by the state such as educational institutions shall remain open on March 10 and all employees will report for duty on that day and no leave will be granted for that day.

BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the notice reflected the vindictive attitude of the Mamata Banerjee government to the agitating government employees, who include teachers, who are fighting for a just demand - to bridge the disparity in DA with central government employees.

A Trinamool Congress leader said it was an administrative decision and the party had nothing to do with the notice.
Patna, Apr 11 (PTI) Taking a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his attempt to forge an alliance of opposition parties against the saffron camp in the next Lok Sabha elections, state BJP president Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday claimed that the Mahagathbandhan will not get any seat in the 2024 polls.

His statement came on a day when Kumar left for Delhi on Tuesday amid speculation that the JD(U) supremo will meet non-BJP leaders to stitch an alliance to take on the BJP in the general elections.

One thing I must say that the Nitish Kiumar-led Mahagathbandhan will get zero seat in Bihar in the 2024 general elections. And in the 2025 assembly polls in Bihar, the BJP will form the government with a two-third majority, Choudhary told reporters.

Kumar should stop dreaming about becoming the prime minister and instead take care of the state, he said.

The people of the country believe in PM Narendra Modi and his leadership. He (Nitish) is not the only leader in the opposition camp who dreams about becoming the PM. There is no unity among the opposition leaders at all, the BJP leader said.

Kumar, however, has repeatedly said that he has no prime ministerial ambitions. On several occasions in the past, he said he was looking forward to play a positive role in forging opposition unity against the ruling NDA at the Centre.
Kolkata, Apr 11 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the eastern region at 5 pm.



11CAL20 AS-2NDLD SHAH

BJP will return to power by winning over 300 LS seats in next year's polls: Shah

Dibrugarh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that the BJP will win more than 300 Lok Sabha seats across the country in next year's general elections and return to power for the third consecutive term with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm.



11CAL18 JH-BJP-GHERAO-LD CLASH

BJP workers clash with police during Jharkhand Secretariat gherao programme

Ranchi: Clashes erupted between BJP workers and the police when they attempted to march towards the Jharkhand Secretariat here on Tuesday as part of their gherao programme, officials said.



11CAL16 WB-LD FIRE

Fire breaks out in timber godown in city, no report of any injury

Kolkata: A fire broke out in a timber godown at Garia in the southern part of the metropolis on Tuesday, Fire Brigade sources said.



11CAL10 WB-TMC-LD FALERIO

TMC to announce new candidate for seat vacated by Falerio

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress on Monday said it will announce a new candidate for the seat vacated by former Goa chief minister Luizinho Falerio, who resigned as a Rajya Sabha MP.



11CAL9 AS-AMRITPAL-AIDE-JAIL

Amritpal Singh's aide Papalpreet lodged in Dibrugarh jail

Dibrugarh: Radical preacher Amritpal Singh's close aide Papalpreet Singh was brought here on Tuesday and lodged in the central jail, police said.



11CAL5 OD-MORNING-CLASS

Morning school begins in Odisha as state sizzles under scorching sun

Bhubaneswar: With the continuance of the heat spell across Odisha, morning classes began for Class I to 12 students across the state on Tuesday.



11CES4 TR-REDDY-SCHEMES

Centre to help Tripura speed up development works, says DoNER minister

Agartala: The central government will render all help to Tripura for speedy implementation of the schemes related to infrastructure and welfare, Union minister G Kishan Reddy said here on Tuesday.



11CES3 AN-TRADE STRIKE

Industry body in Andamans calls for 12-hr strike on Wednesday

Port Blair: An industry body in Andaman and Nicobar Islands has called for a 12-hour strike on Wednesday against "harmful policies, lack of infrastructure and gross negligence by the administration" which is "adversely affecting" the economic growth of the archipelago.
Katra/Banihal, Apr 11 (PTI) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said the Inter-Modal Station (IMS) to be established here will be a "world-class" project that will improve the travelling experience of the pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

He also announced that a 110-km Amarnath Marg, leading to the 3,880-metre holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, will be built at a cost of around Rs 5,300 crore for the convenience of the pilgrims.

"The IMS to be established in Katra will be a world-class state-of-the-art project constructed to improve travelling experience of the pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine," the minister told a press conference at Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the shrine atop Trikuta hills.

The minister, who was flanked by Union ministers Jitendra Singh and Gen (retd) V K Singh and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, said developmental work worth Rs 1,30,000 crore is being taken up by his ministry in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Since 2014, around 500 km of the road network has been completed in the region. Forty-one significant tunnels are being constructed in J&K and Ladakh at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore, and 18 ropeways worth Rs 5,000 crore will be constructed in the Union Territory," he said.

The minister also informed that for the journey between Jammu and Srinagar, three corridors worth Rs 35,000 crores are being constructed, which will reduce the existing distance of 320 km between the two cities by 70 km while bringing down the travel time to four to five hours from the current 10 hours.

"With the development of state-of-the-art road network across the country through every state and UT, Kashmir to Kanyakumari (journey) will no longer be a dream for the people of India," he said.

Gadkari arrived in Banihal on Tuesday morning and inspected the Qazigun-Banihal tunnel, Peera-Chanderkote tunnel, and the bypass connecting Kashmir to Jammu.

He said 99 per cent of the people engaged in constructing the tunnels are local residents.

"We will keep trying that the local youths get a job in other projects too so that Jammu and Kashmir becomes self-reliant in terms of economic growth," he said.

Responding to demands of employment generation by the local residents, Gadkari said, "We are building a resort... It will give employment to 500 to 600 people".

On Monday, the minister, along with a 13-member Parliamentary committee, reviewed the construction work of the strategic Zojila tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Jitendra Singh said the Banihal-Ramban stretch along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway will become the hub of lavender cultivation giving rise to agri-tech startups.

Meanwhile, locals expressed happiness over the development in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are very happy to see Gadkari ji doing such impressive work. So many tunnels and roads are being built in J&K. This government is doing commendable work, which was not done by any previous regime," Anwar Ahmed, a resident of Banihal, said.

His views were corroborated by another local, Sharief Ahmed, who said the tunnel connecting Jammu and Srinagar will be a boon for the residents of the Union Territory.
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday alleged that public-sector LIC is being "forced" to use its policyholders' funds to "bail out" the Adani group and stressed the demand for a JPC probe is "essential and urgent".

Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh claimed in a statement that Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) holding in Adani Enterprises, one of the listed companies of the Adani Group, at the end of June 2021 was 1.32 per cent and by the end of December 2022, it reached 4.23 percent.

"The revelation that LIC's holding in Adani Enterprises has increased while its stock value has fallen sharply once again strengthens the case for a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) to investigate the PM-linked Adani 'Mega Scam'," Ramesh said on Twitter.

He said "serious questions" began to be raised about the Adani Group on January 24, 2023

"Now it turns out that LICs holding in Adani Enterprises had further increased to 4.26 percent by the end of March 2023," he said.

The LIC had on January 30 said it has an exposure of Rs 36,474.78 crore to Adani group's debt and equity, and the amount is less than one per cent of the national insurer's total investments.

LIC's total assets under management stood at over Rs 41.66 lakh crore as of September 2022.

The disclosure by the LIC, which is also the country's largest domestic institutional investor, came amid Adani group stocks taking a beating on the bourses after the short-selling specialist firm Hindenburg Research in a report made a litany of allegations, including fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation, at the Gautam Adani-led group. The allegations have been rejected by the group.

On Tuesday, Ramesh said the increase in LIC holding took place at a time when the market value of Adani Enterprises stock had fallen by almost 60 percent, even as LIC bought as many as 3.75 lakh shares in Adani Enterprises during the January-March 2023 quarter.

"Very clearly, LIC is being forced to use its policyholders funds to bail out the PMs favourite business group which is under siege. This makes the constitution of a JPC all the more essential and urgent," Ramesh said in the statement.

The Congress and many opposition parties have been demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Adani group in the wake of the Hindenburg report.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar, a Congress ally, recently said that the Supreme Court panel to look into the Hindenburg research report on the Adani group will be more effective instead of a parliamentary committee.

However, the Congress has defended the demand for a JPC.

The entire budget session of Parliament was almost washed out amid uproar by the Congress and other opposition parties on the Adani issue.
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) Being with Russia means being on the wrong side of history and Kyiv wants closer and deeper relations with New Delhi, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Tuesday.

In an address at a leading think-tank, Dzhaparova said that Ukraine's relationship with Pakistan is not directed against India's interests and that her country's military ties with Islamabad began around three decades back.

Referring to the war in Ukraine, the deputy foreign minister said as a global leader and current chair of the G20, India can play a greater role in bringing peace and hoped that Indian officials will visit Kyiv soon.

"Being with Russia, we are again very sincerely saying so, is actually being on the wrong side of history. Supporting Russia means that it is to be in the evil visionary picture of the world," she said.

At the same time, the Ukrainian minister said India is witnessing visionary changes and it may take some time for it to build new relations with Ukraine and that the ties should be based on a "pragmatic and balanced approach".

"I think the suggestion that I brought here is to have a better and deeper relationship with India. And it needs reciprocity. We knocked the door but it is also up to the owner of the house to open up the door," she said.

Russia is a "time-tested" partner of India. New Delhi has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

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.

Ahead of her address at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), the visiting deputy minister held talks with Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi.

In a tweet, Lekhi said she and Dzhaparova exchanged views on bilateral and global issues of mutual interest, adding cultural ties and women empowerment also figured in the discussion.

"Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance," she said.

Dzhaparova described the meeting as "fruitful".

"Briefed Minister on #Ukraine's efforts to fight Russia's unprovoked aggression. Discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, in particular culture," she said.

Replying to a question by reporters on China's aggressive behaviour against India, Dzhaparova said any aggression that might question the territorial integrity of any country is a matter of huge concern."

At the ICWA, she said Ukraine's ties with Pakistan are not targeted against India and that her country is ready to overcome pages of history and build new relationships.

"The relationship with Pakistan is never directed against the relationship with India. I know there are some sensitivities about military contracts but let me be very clear that we have had the contracts since the 1990s," she said.

The deputy foreign minister also invited National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to visit Ukraine.

"India may play a greater role. We respect the decisions of sovereign countries. India too is building up relations with other countries. It is for you to decide, it is for you to benefit," Dzhaparova said, noting that Ukraine wants to expand ties with India.

"I am here with one very important message that Ukraine really wants India and Ukraine to come closer. Yes, we have different pages in our history, we have Soviet heritage...we will also be happy to welcome Indian leaders and officials in Kyiv," she said.

Dzhaparova said the war in Ukraine showed that the Russian military capabilities are not sufficient enough and that its tanks can be "destroyed in one artillery shot".

The deputy minister said Ukraine is ready to share critical military technologies and expertise with India.

She also invoked Mahatma Gandhi's teachings, saying he called for fighting for rights without violence.

"Our president has been constantly saying that we have to fight for our rights without stepping on the rights of others. India in many ways has a lot in common with Ukraine. There is huge and untapped potential in our bilateral relations. It is only a start in our dialogue," she said.

In response to a question, Dzhaparova said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would like to address the G20 summit in India. Zelenskyy had addressed the Bali summit of G20 through video conference.
Jaipur, Apr 11 (PTI) The Barmer district administration in Rajasthan has been put on alert after more than 70 people fell ill likely due to a viral disease, a health department official said on Tuesday.

About 40 of them have been admitted to Barmer district hospital and nearly a dozen have been referred to Jodhpur for treatment, the official said.

According to the health department, people reported dengue-like fever and stomach ache in Tirsingri village of Barmer district.

"About 70-80 people have fallen ill," Barmer CMHO Chandra Shekhar Gajraj said.

The official said some of them have dengue while others seem to have another viral disease.

"Blood samples have been sent for medical examination after which something concrete can be said," Gajraj said. "Our teams are monitoring the situation continuously for the last 5-6 days. No patient is serious and we will control the situation in a couple of days."

Barmer MLA Mevaram Jain visited the district hospital on Tuesday to meet the family of those admitted there and take stock of the situation.

"I have directed (officials) to send a special team to the village to understand what has happened. We are making efforts to control the situation and stop the spread of the disease. Medical examination is being done in the village to know whether it is dengue, Covid, or some other disease," Jain told reporters.
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) The Delhi BJP is unlikely to field a candidate for the MCD mayoral poll due to a clear mandate in favour of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a top party leader said on Tuesday.

Notification for the upcoming mayoral poll is expected to be issued on April 12, and voting could be held on April 26, according to official sources.

The BJP had contested the election for mayor of the unified MCD (municipal corporation of Delhi) in February despite not having necessary votes to emerge victorious.

Current mayor Shelly Oberoi from the AAP is expected to be repeated by her party. She had defeated BJP councilor Rekha Gupta in the February poll by 34 votes.

The one-year term of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) mayor begins in April.

"We have not thought about fielding any candidate in the mayor's election. The AAP has a victory margin and we do not have enough votes to emerge victorious," said the BJP functionary.

The post of mayor in the national capital has five single-year terms on a rotation basis, with the first year being reserved for women, the second for open category, third for reserved category, and the remaining two again for the open category.

The Aam Aadmi Party won the MCD polls held in December last year. It ended the BJP's 15 year old rule at the MCD. The AAP bagged 134 of the 250 wards, whie the BJP got 104.

Senior AAP leader and minister in Kejriwal government Saurabh Bhardwaj had said on Sunday that the elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor will be held on April 26.

BJP insiders said a final decision about fielding candidates in the elections for mayor and deputy mayor posts "will be taken after poll date is announced. In all likelihood, the decision could be to give the elections a skip".
Lucknow, Apr 11 (PTI) UNICEF India representative Cynthia McCaffrey on Tuesday met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and discussed the status of the ongoing health, education and nutrition programmes being run in collaboration with the UN agency.

McCaffrey, who met Adityanath at his residence, said that UNICEF-India was taking forward many programmes in the field of social health, education, women and child nutrition in Uttar Pradesh with the support of the state government.

UNICEF is also supporting the local administration in aspirational districts, she said, adding the UN agency was ready to provide technical and academic support to the state government for new programmes in the future.

Appreciating the state's efforts in social health, McCaffrey said there has been a significant decline in the maternal, infant and neonatal mortality rates in the state in the last six years.

Availability of health services increased even in remote villages due to planned efforts while awareness programs are yielding good results, the UNICEF India representative said, adding that this success of Uttar Pradesh is inspiring.

McCaffrey said that Chief Minister Adityanath has adopted a wonderful strategy for the eradication of Japanese Encephalitis.

The state government has succeeded in preventing the disease in 38 districts. This is a great achievement, she said.

Referring to the Covid management in different countries, McCaffrey said the way the Uttar Pradesh administration dealt with the high population density and various social challenges is highly commendable.

Uttar Pradesh has presented the best model of Covid management, she said.

She also praised the efforts being made under the leadership of CM Adityanath in the direction of women's safety, respect and self-reliance.

While congratulating the UNICEF representative on her arrival in the state, Adityanath praised the cooperation being received from the UN agency in the field of public health, including dealing with encephalitis, water-borne diseases, Covid management and proposed to cooperate even further with the organisation on such programmes.
SYDNEY, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A new report has suggested that essential workers are on the frontline of Australia's housing crisis, as they have been forced to spend about two-thirds of their income to keep a roof over their heads.

According to the report published on Tuesday, virtually no region of Australia is affordable for aged care workers, early childhood carers, cleaners, nurses, and many others that local communities rely on to function.

The report, released by Australia's national housing campaign Everybody's Home, looked into data on rents against award wages for 15 essential worker categories.

With typical unit rents across the country rising from 372 Australian dollars (about 248 U.S. dollars) per week to 489 Australian dollars (about 326 U.S. dollars) since March 2020, essential workers have lost an average of six hours from their weekly income to fund rent increases, which is equivalent to 37 days each year.

At a national level, hospitality workers, meat packers, childcare workers, freight drivers, aged care workers, cleaners, dispatchers and postal workers are the most vulnerable occupations, as they have to spend at least 65 percent of their paycheck on rent.

In New South Wales, the most populated state in Australia, Sydney is the country's most expensive capital city, with rents for an average unit taking up double the income of even the most highly-paid essential workers.

"Capital cities have become so expensive that several key workers would be left with less than 30 Australian dollars (about 20 U.S. dollars) a day. Those on the lowest awards would be left with around 20 Australian dollars (about 13 U.S. dollars) a day based on the capital city average," the report wrote.

Regarding essential workers as the backbone of communities, Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize was concerned that they are being priced out because of the unsustainable rises in rents.

"More and more essential workers are being pushed into serious rental stress," said Azize.

In a rental review for Q1 2023, property data and analytics provider CoreLogic pointed out that Australia's quarterly rental growth trend reaccelerated through the March quarter, with the national rental index rising 2.5 percent, up from 2.0 percent in the December quarter.

Unit rents rose 3.9 percent over the quarter, with house rents recording a smaller increase from 1.7 percent to 2.0 percent, while the national vacancy rate dropped to a new record low of 1.0 percent in February before nudging slightly higher to 1.1 percent in March.

"The reacceleration of Australia's rental market won't be welcome news for those tenants already struggling to find affordable accommodation in our capital cities," said CoreLogic economist Kaytlin Ezzy.

"There's already a chronic undersupply of advertised rental stock in many parts of the country that's translated into record low vacancy rates across most capitals. Such a low number of available rentals is a key factor that pushed rental values higher again last quarter," Ezzy added. 
Lucknow, Apr 11 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said before 2017, the average response time of police during an emergency was an hour, which has now reduced to 9.44 minutes.

He was reviewing the work of UP-112, women power line 1090 and the technical service of Uttar Pradesh Police.

"The utility of police emergency services like 112 depends on its quick response. In the year 2016, on an average it took one hour to call the victim and reach him by police response vehicle (PRV). Today, it has been successfully brought down to 9.44 minutes," he said.

The chief minister said UP-112 service has proven to be helpful in providing the general public with prompt police assistance in emergencies anywhere, at any time.

"Skilled and dedicated policemen have presented UP-112 as a professional service as per the expectations of the common man. Integration of services like 101, 108, 1090 and 181 etc. with 112 and use of technology like GPS, radio wireless, mobile/web app have made this service highly practical," Adityanath said.

He directed officials to increase the number of vehicles and personnel to reduce the present response time even further.

"Every PRV vehicle should be equipped with a GPS device. Body-worn cameras should be provided. Call receiving capacity on 112 should be further increased," he said, adding that it is encouraging that from June 2016 till date, 84 per cent of the information received on 112 was resolved immediately on the spot.

Stating that the parking place for PRV vehicles should be decided according to local needs, he said it should be ensured that this service is not misused under any circumstance.

Good effort has been made to escort women to their destinations as per requirement at night, he said, adding that working women have benefited a lot from this.

"Presence of women constables in the vehicles taking them to their destinations must be ensured," he said.

The chief minister highlighted different helpline numbers issued to provide immediate assistance to the general public in emergency situations.

"112 is the number for police help, 101 for fire, 108 for ambulance, 1090 for women power line, 181 for women's help, 1098 for child help, 1930 as cyber helpline.

Apart from this, 1076 is also available as the Chief Minister's helpline number. The general public should be made aware of these helpline numbers," he said.

Asking to be sensitive to victims, Adityanath said every piece of information received on emergency helpline numbers should be taken seriously.

He said all 1,758 police stations in the state should be equipped with CCTV cameras.

He encouraged the use of technology, mobile phones as wireless sets.

"A communication system should be adopted between the mobile phone and the wireless set. In the initial phase, it should be implemented in Barabanki Police," he said.

The work being done by the 'Women and Child Protection Organization', established by the state government, is setting new standards for the protection of women and children, he said, adding that 'Mission Shakti' is being praised all over the country for women's safety, dignity, and self-reliance.

For the first time in the state, women police personnel were given the responsibility as beat police.

"A total of 10,417 Mahila beats have been constituted. The fact that more than 1.29 lakh chaupals have been organised by women-beat officers and participation of more than 19 lakh in them women shows its usefulness," he said.

The chief minister also directed to provide two-wheelers to women beat officers and said that necessary funds will be made available by the government in this regard.
Thane, Apr 11 (PTI) A court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted a 38-year-old man accused of harassing his wife and abetting her suicide.

Additional sessions judge P M Gupta, in his order, noted that the prosecution has failed to prove all charges levelled against Suresh Chikane.

The copy of the order passed on April 6 was made available recently.



According to the prosecution, the accused had allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh from his wife for constructing a house. Fed up of the harassment, the victim consumed pesticide on January 4, 2013 and died while undergoing treatment at a hospital the same day.



The court in its order noted that no cogent and reliable evidence had come from the prosecution to prove that the accused had consistently made illegal demand for money and had harassed or ill-treated his wife for it.

Stray incidents of matrimonial discord cannot be termed as ill-treatment or

harassment and cannot be the reason for committing suicide, it said.

After a quarrel with the accused, the deceased had consumed tablets of pesticide and informed him about it. The accused then carried her to a hospital, where her health deteriorated and she died, the order stated.

The prosecution had failed to prove that accused had abetted or instigated his wife to commit suicide and due to the said abetment or instigation, she committed suicide, the court observed while acquitting the accused.
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) A court here has acquitted a man charged under the Delhi Excise Act for possessing liquor bottles beyond the permissible limit during a farmhouse party, saying the evidence before it rendered the prosecution's version false and concocted".

The court was hearing a case against Ritv Kapoor, who was charged under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009 for allegedly possessing 24 liquor bottles, including 14 empty bottles, 9 full bottles and one partly consumed bottle of liquor during a party at a farmhouse in Gadaipur in Mehrauli around 2 am on January 9.

Section 33 of the act describes the punishment for possessing any intoxicant beyond the prescribed quantity. According to rule 20 of the excise act, the maximum limit for individual possession is nine litres for Indian and foreign liquor (whisky, rum, gin, vodka, brandy), 18 litres for wine, beer, liqueur, cider and alcopop and three litres for country liquor.

According to the prosecution, Kapoor was the owner of the farmhouse as well as the organiser of the party where liquor was being served, but he did not have a permit for the said party.

... I hold that the prosecution has failed to prove its case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. Benefit of doubt is given to the accused. Accordingly, the accused is acquitted of the offence punishable Under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act,2009, Metropolitan Magistrate Ashwani Panwar said in a recent order.

The magistrate said there was no plausible explanation for the non-joining of independent witnesses despite the fact that the place of recovery was a thickly populated public place.

Further, the seal remained with a junior police official only and it has not been proved that the seal was handed over to any other independent public person and therefore, the possibility of the sample being tampered with cannot be ruled out, the magistrate said.

There was also no explanation about the investigation not being handed over to a senior officer and the prosecution failed to produce the daily diary (DD) entries made by the head constable and sub-inspector regarding their departure from the police station for patrolling duty, the magistrate said.

No document has been filed pertaining to the ownership of the farm from where illicit liquor, as alleged by the prosecution, was recovered and no notice was issued by the investigating officer (IO) to the owner of the farmhouse for producing the ownership documents, the magistrate said, adding, The same renders the entire prosecution story as false and concocted.

The magistrate said it is the cardinal principle of criminal jurisprudence that if there is a reasonable doubt with regard to the guilt of the accused, the accused is entitled to benefit of doubt, resulting in acquittal.
New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that a new data protection bill is ready and will be introduced in the Monsoon session of Parliament.

Attorney General R Venkatramani told a Constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph that the bill is ready.

The bench also comprising justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy, and C T Ravikumar took note of the submission.

They directed that the matter be placed before Chief Justice DY Chandrachud so that a new bench can be constituted as Justice Joseph is set to retire on June 16.

The matter has been posted for hearing in the first week of August 2023.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the court should not link the court hearings to the legislative process.

The legislative process is complex and it may be again referred to some committees, he said.

The apex court was hearing a plea filed by two students -- Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi -- challenging the contract entered into between WhatsApp and its parent Facebook to provide access to calls, photographs, texts, videos and documents shared by users, saying it is a violation of their privacy and free speech.
Bengaluru/New Delhi, Apr 11 (PTI) BJP's first list of candidates for the Assembly polls in Karnataka, covering a large number of constituencies will be released either by tonight or tomorrow, once Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders give final approval to it, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Tuesday.

BJP's leadership and ideals are different from other parties and it is ready to take difficult decisions to create a new tradition in politics with commitment, the Chief Minister said, as he tried to defend senior legislators retiring from electoral politics or the party asking some of them to make way for others.

Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa today told the party's central leadership that he wishes to retire from electoral politics and requested it to not consider fielding him in the Assembly polls, while former chief minister Jagadish Shettar said the party top brass told him to make way for others, but asserted he wants to contest one last time.

"After several rounds of discussions, everything has been finalised. After the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) comes back to Delhi, after discussing with him, the list will be released. The list will be released in two stages, the first list will have a big number (candidates)," Bommai said.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he said the first list will be announced any time, at the earliest. "We have done our job, the leadership will hold a round of discussion and announce...maybe today or tomorrow."

Party leaders have been holding a series of meetings in Delhi for the last two days to finalise the list. State BJP strongman and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa has already indicated that the first list may contain the names of 170 to 180 candidates.

Bommai had on Sunday said after the party's Central Election Committee meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave some directions. The Chief Minister had told reporters on Monday that the party is working on various inputs. He, however, did not elaborate on the nature of directions or inputs.

There are speculations that the central leadership is unhappy with some leaders or legislators seeking tickets for their children too; also some sitting legislators and incumbent ministers may not make it to the list. A large pool of aspirants is also said to be a cause of concern for the party.

Asked about reports that over 20 sitting MLAs may not get the ticket this time, Bommai said several senior leaders like Yediyurappa (Shikaripura), S A Ravindranath (Davangere North), and Halady Srinivas Shetty (Kundapur) have already announced retirement from electoral politics; so there will be changes in those constituencies.

Regarding Eshwarappa opting out of the Assembly polls, the Chief Minister said he had informed this to state leaders, including him, in private.

"We were telling him that we need him because of his seniority and experience and out of love and affection towards him, but after discussions he has decided and written a letter to the National President (J P Nadda). Already, a few of our senior leaders have spoken to him, during which he has insisted that his letter should be accepted. The National President will decide on it," he said.

This shows the creation of a culture in BJP that after attaining a level of seniority in politics, leaders should make way for others, the Chief Minister said. This has happened in the BJP in other states and now it is happening in Karnataka too.

"Eshwarappa's experience is required for the party, so I urge him to continue in politics. Regarding contesting elections or not, our national leadership will decide," he said, while pointing out that the difference is Congress has given a ticket to 91-year-old Shamanuru Shivashankarappa to contest polls.

"Our leadership and ideals are different from other parties and that it is ready to take difficult decisions to create a new tradition with commitment," he said. The BJP is bringing in "newness" in everything including administration, it is bringing in accountability, and also indulging in pro-incumbency politics, by going before the people with a report card on the work done, Bommai contended.

To a question on Shettar, Bommai said he has conveyed the former CM's sentiments regarding contesting polls to the party leadership.

"I have spoken to Jagadish Shettar, he is a senior leader. He said he wants to do more work in the constituency, some work is pending, and wants to get a respectful retirement, and asked for one more opportunity (to contest polls) to complete work. I have informed the leadership about his sentiments," he said.

Asked about reports that senior leaders who have crossed the age of 70 may announce retirement from electoral politics, Bommai said, "I'm not aware of such things, other than Eshwarappa."

Responding to a question about the possibility of former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi joining Congress, the BJP leader said he was in constant touch with him.

"He has asked for Athani seat and it is true that he has put pressure for it, but as Mahesh Kumtalli, who had helped BJP to form government in Karnataka in 2019 (by defecting from Congress) is also seeking ticket from there, we are discussing with him, and have asked him not to take any extreme step for any reason. I will talk to him once again."

The filing of nominations will begin on April 13, with the poll notification being issued, and the last day for filing papers is April 20.

The BJP, aiming to return to power in Karnataka with absolute majority, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the Assembly.

While the Congress has already announced a total of 166 candidates, including Karnataka Sarvodaya Party's Darshan Puttannaiah for whom it has extended support in Melukote constituency, in two lists, JD(S) has announced one list of 93 candidates.

Voting will take place in a single phase across the state on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13.
Hyderabad, April 11 (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate has summoned two officials of the TSPSC in connection with the question paper leak case even as it has approached a local court to examine two accused who have been arrested, official sources said on Tuesday.



The two TSPSC employees have been asked to appear before the ED here on April 12 and April 13.



The ED has filed an application before the local court seeking its permission to examine two key accused arrested in the case who are currently in judicial custody.



The court has posted the matter for April 12.



The central agency, which had earlier registered an 'Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in connection with the case, has also written to Hyderabad Police asking it to share documents pertaining to the case, as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Hyderabad Police was presently investigating the case.

A total of 17 people, including some employees of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC), have been arrested since March 13 over their alleged involvement in the data breach -- for stealing and leaking question papers of TSPSC's Assistant Engineer (Civil) examination, among other exams.



The SIT had earlier recorded the statement of TSPSC Chairman B Janardhan Reddy at his office here, as a witness in the case.



The Secretary and a member of the TSPSC have also appeared before the SIT and their statements were recorded after notices were issued earlier to them.



In a related development, the SIT today filed its status report on the investigation before the Telangana High Court in a sealed cover, after being asked for it earlier by the court.



The court, after hearing the petitions filed by the NSUI (National Students' Union of India, the student wing of the Congress party), including one by its state president B Venkata Narsing Rao requesting the transfer of the probe to the CBI or a judicial probe, posted the matter to April 24.



Expressing doubts over the SIT probe into the issue, the petitioner's counsel had earlier submitted before the court that there may not be a fair and transparent investigation by the SIT, and sought a comprehensive inquiry into the paper leak issue by the CBI.







The TSPSC on March 15 cancelled the Assistant Engineers (AE) exam held on March 5, following allegations that the question paper had been leaked.



Amid protests by opposition parties and students' groups over the alleged question paper leak, the Commission had cancelled the Group-I preliminary exam and two other tests as well.



The TSPSC last month rescheduled the written examination for the post of Horticulture Officer from April 4 to June 17.
Mainpuri (UP), Apr 11 (PTI) A six-year-old boy was electrocuted to death at a primary school in Manona village of the district, police said on Tuesday.

The boy, Anshu Diwakar, stepped over a live wire while going to drink water from a handpump on Monday, Circle Officer, Karhal, Chandrakesh Singh said, quoting villagers.

UP Tourism and Culture Minister Jaivir Singh on Tuesday told PTI that he has directed the district magistrate to probe the incident.
BISHKEK, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, the press service of the Kyrgyz president reported.

The two heads of state discussed the Kyrgyz-Russian strategic partnership and alliance, and the interaction of the two countries within the framework of international and regional organizations as well as integration associations, said the report.

They also exchanged views on the schedule of upcoming events in bilateral and multilateral formats, and confirmed their intention to further strengthen bilateral relations, it said. 




A Jewish man was tragically killed after he was struck by a vehicle outside a shul on Whitesville Road in Toms River on Monday night.

Hatzolah Paramedics were on the scene, and transported the victim to the hospital in traumatic arrest, with CPR being performed. Sadly, the man was Niftar at the hospital.

The victim has been identified as Chaim Dasheff ZL, 65 years old from Kensington, Brooklyn. He was visiting his family in Toms River.

The Levaya will be held at the Lakewood Chapel at 613 Ramsey Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701. Kevura will be in Lakewood as well.

Boruch Dayan HaEmmes




A Louisville bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace Monday morning, 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 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.

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 company 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 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.

Louisville police say at least four people were killed and eight others hospitalized in a shooting at a bank building in the citys downtown area. (April 10)

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.

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 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.

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.

(AP)




Regulators are worried that faucet leaks in Boeing 787 jets could pose a safety hazard by water seeping into the planes electronics during flights.

The Federal Aviation Administration proposed Friday to order repetitive inspections and, if leaks are found, replacing faucet parts. The move comes after reports of water from lavatories getting under the cabin floor and into electronic equipment bays.

The FAA said the leaks could damage critical equipment and lead to a loss of continued safe flight and landing.

The agency said one airline found wet carpet in the cockpit of a plane and, when it inspected its entire fleet of 787s, found multiple planes with leaking faucets. The FAA did not identify the airline.

Boeing advised airlines in November about the issue, which has been traced to an O-ring seal and described as a slow leak  about 8 ounces of water per hour. However, Boeing said the issue was limited to certain 787s while the FAA order would cover all of them.

The FAA described the extra inspections as a temporary measure while the manufacturer redesigns the faucet modules.

A Boeing spokesman said the redesign is complete and the company is working with its supplier and customers to determine when planes can be retrofitted with new parts.

Japanese aircraft parts maker Jamco says on its website that it is the exclusive provider of lavatories for all two-aisle Boeing jets such as the 787. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

There will be a 45-day period for comments before the FAA proposal can become a final order.

The inspections would apply to 140 planes in U.S. fleets. Boeing calls the 787 the Dreamliner. It is a bigger plane than the 737 Max and is used extensively on long flights including international ones.

Dreamliner deliveries have been halted for several stretches during the past two years because of FAA concern over production flaws, although deliveries recently resumed after the latest stoppage.

(AP)




For decades, the middle-class towns of single-family homes that ring many American cities have used zoning laws to ensure they stay much like they looked in the suburban boom after World War II.

Apartment buildings in many places are simply not allowed, an exclusion that  intentionally or not  has historically also kept out people of color.

Facing housing shortages, several states and the U.S. government have tried to break through those barriers with a mix of methods, including giving municipalities homebuilding goals or overriding certain local zoning restrictions.

In New York, one such proposal from Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has run into howls of opposition in one of the birthplaces of the American suburb. Critics on Long Island, a sprawling expanse of communities home to 2.9 million people, are denouncing provisions that would set growth targets, drive denser development near train stations and sometimes let state officials override local zoning decisions.

Her plan would flood YOUR neighborhood with THOUSANDS of new apartments reads one opposition mailing. Others warn Long Island would become New York Citys sixth borough. Critics, many of them Republican officials, claim it would strip away local control.

Were already a densely populated area. Where are you going to build? asked Republican state Sen. Jack Martins, who noted his past support for affordable housing as a local mayor. Are we going to start tearing down single-family homes to put up apartment buildings?

Hochuls said her wide-ranging plan to spur the creation of 800,000 new homes statewide has been mischaracterized. It was a sticking point in New York state budget talks this week, with Hochuls fellow Democrats in control of the Legislature seeking a plan with fewer mandates and more incentives.

New York is following the lead of other states trying to alleviate housing crunches by chipping away at local restrictions on building.

Connecticut, among other things, began requiring cities and towns to allow in-law apartments unless they follow an opt-out process, amid a debate there over whether exclusionary zoning rules worsen racial segregation. Oregon and California have passed laws to dramatically curtail single-family zoning, and both states have targets for new housing.

The accusations of government overreach in New York echo claims in some of those other states.

In California, the state filed a lawsuit last month against Huntington Beach, accusing the coastal community of disregarding state laws requiring it to approve more affordable housing and build more than 13,000 homes over eight years. Huntington Beach filed its own lawsuit, claiming the state would override local control in order to eliminate the suburban character of the city and replace it with a high-density mecca.

After Donald Trump became president, his administration suspended a rule adopted during the Obama administration that required places receiving certain types of federal funding to analyze housing stock and come up with plans to combat patterns of segregation and discrimination. Trump characterized it as an attempt to abolish suburbs.

President Joe Bidens White House has criticized exclusionary zoning rules requiring house lots to be of a certain size, have ceilings a certain height, and be only for a single family, as tools abused in some place to discriminate against people who arent white.

Hochul has cast her plan for New York as an effort to help the state thrive, rather than as a tool of desegregation.

It would give towns multiple paths to meet housing targets. It would have a larger impact in New York Citys suburbs, where three-year home creation targets would be 3%, compared to 1% for upstate areas. The higher goals would apply to Long Island.

If municipalities dont meet targets, developers could pursue a process in which the state could allow projects to go forward. Another provision would require localities to rezone areas within a half-mile of commuter rail stations unless the area already meets density requirements.

Hochul said too many restrictions on new construction have contributed to sky-high home prices that are shutting out both low-income and middle-class workers.

In Nassau County, the part of the island closest to New York City, home prices rose 31% between 2018 and last year, according to the New York State Association of Realtors. The average home price there is now $679,000. One-bedroom apartments can go for $3,000-a-month.

I just settled on the fact that Im going to be living at home with my parents until I move off Long Island because theres nobody I know who lives outside of their parents home on Long Island, said Erin Curley, 25, of Massapequa Park.

Long Island is the home of Levittown, famous as a model for the modern suburb of affordable houses separated by tidy yards. It also had an early covenant that barred homeowners from renting or selling to people who werent Caucasians. Advocates see the legacy of such practices today.

The president of Long Island-based ERASE Racism said while some localities have taken steps to build affordable housing, others maintain the sort of exclusionary zoning and practices behind racial segregation. Laura Harding said they can be subtle things, like a local predominantly white town accused of giving preferences to local residents for housing programs.

This isnt just about poor, low-income Black people and Latino people, which is what the prevailing stereotype is when you hear affordability, Harding said. This is about everyone who is literally struggling to afford to stay in the communities that they know, or into a new home.

Housing advocates blame local officials for too often rejecting plans for multifamily housing that would ease that pressure. One prime example is the 146-unit affordable housing development Matinecock Court in East Northport, where ground is expected to be broken this year.

The project was first proposed in 1978.

It has taken 44 years and many lawsuits, said Pilar Moya-Mancera, executive director the not-for-profit Housing Help, Inc. Thats what it takes for Long Island to build multifamily, affordable housing in a white neighborhood.

Looming in the background on Long Island are gains made by the Republican Party in recent elections. GOP candidates won all four of the islands congressional contests last year, in a large part by painting Democrats as soft on crime. Now they can also run on zoning and the governors proposed tax increase to aid the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates public transit systems in New York City and its suburbs.

There are many Democrats who think that the current housing proposal, along with an MTA payroll tax, are potential extinction events for their party in local races, said Lawrence Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University.

A counter proposal from the Senates Democratic conference included a more incentive-heavy housing plan that excludes mandatory requirements and overrides of local zoning.

Hochul and legislative Democrats were trying to resolve their differences in negotiations over the budget, which was due April 1. That deadline has been extended into at least next week. The governor has described housing costs as a core issue that needs to be addressed.

I knew it would not be easy, she told reporters Wednesday.

(AP)
MJ Hudson has agreed to sell its two remaining business operations to a subsidiary of Apex Group as the embattled group prepares to delist.

The troubled investment consultancy told investors on Tuesday that the combined sale of its data & analytics arm, and business outsourcing segment to Apex Consolidation Entity would raise up to 40million.

Most of the proceeds from the deals will go towards repaying the 33.7million owed to its senior lender, Santander UK, with MJ Hudson warning it was 'highly unlikely' that shareholders would receive a payout once all costs are settled.

Transaction: Troubled investment consultancy MJ Hudson said the combined sale of its data & analytics arm and business outsourcing segment would bring in up to 40million

Upon completion of the latest sale with Apex, which is subject to approval from investors, MJ Hudson said it would become a cash shell without a trading business.

MJ Hudson intends to give notice to Britain's Solicitors Regulation Authority for the proposed closure of its legal business, but the firm is yet to make long-term decisions about the future of the company.

Sky News reported last month that Apex was in advanced discussions regarding a full takeover of MJ Hudson, which has been in crisis regarding the auditing of its annual accounts for the 2022 financial year.

Last October, the company was forced to delay the publication of financial results because of auditing adjustments related to a 1.3million public sector contract.

Two months later, it suspended chief financial officer Peter Connell, who had worked at the firm from its founding, and halted trading of its shares when further discrepancies were revealed.

Since then, Big Four accountancy firm EY has resigned as Hudson's auditor, citing 'lost trust and confidence' in the Jersey-registered group's management.

Launched by former SJ Brewin partner Matthew Hudson in 2010, the consultancy provides services to the asset management sector, such as advice on outsourcing and environmental, social and governance ratings.

Prominent clients have included financial giants BNY Mellon, Investec and St James's Place, as well as London-listed corporate groups like Marks & Spencer, Unilever and recruiter Hays.

THIS IS MONEY PODCAST It's got easier to win big on the Premium Bonds but should you invest?

In March, Hudson agreed to offload its UK fund management arm to special purpose acquisition vehicle Khepri for 1million upfront, plus an additional 45,000 in the following three months and 30,000 each month afterwards until the deal is finalised.

Headquartered in Bermuda, Apex is partly owned by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala and private equity giants Carlyle and Genstar Capital.
Local Bounti (NYSE:LOCL  Get Rating) is one of 33 publicly-traded companies in the Agricultural production  crops industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Local Bounti to similar businesses based on the strength of its dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, risk, profitability and earnings.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings for Local Bounti and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

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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

Local Bounti presently has a consensus price target of $2.85, indicating a potential upside of 393.08%. As a group, Agricultural production  crops companies have a potential upside of 56.87%. Given Local Bountis stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Local Bounti is more favorable than its peers.

Risk and Volatility

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Local Bounti has a beta of 1.75, indicating that its share price is 75% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Local Bountis peers have a beta of -24.13, indicating that their average share price is 2,513% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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 hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Local Bounti and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Local Bounti and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Local Bounti $19.47 million -$111.07 million -0.45 Local Bounti Competitors $1.63 billion $21.77 million -0.39

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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Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC cut its holdings in shares of D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI  Get Rating) by 20.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,988 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 784 shares during the period. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLCs holdings in D.R. Horton were worth $266,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brown Advisory Inc. grew its stake in D.R. Horton by 16.6% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 6,413 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $431,000 after purchasing an additional 915 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. increased its stake in shares of D.R. Horton by 87.0% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 33,245 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,239,000 after buying an additional 15,466 shares during the last quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc raised its holdings in D.R. Horton by 6.0% in the third quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 108,933 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $7,336,000 after acquiring an additional 6,190 shares in the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund boosted its stake in D.R. Horton by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund now owns 44,741 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $3,013,000 after acquiring an additional 2,429 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its holdings in D.R. Horton by 14.0% during the 3rd quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 99,618 shares of the construction companys stock worth $6,709,000 after acquiring an additional 12,265 shares in the last quarter. 84.87% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Barbara K. Allen sold 470 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.89, for a total transaction of $43,658.30. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,650 shares in the company, valued at $524,828.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Barbara K. Allen sold 449 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.00, for a total value of $43,104.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,650 shares in the company, valued at $542,400. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Barbara K. Allen sold 470 shares of D.R. Horton stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.89, for a total value of $43,658.30. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,650 shares in the company, valued at $524,828.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 3,870 shares of company stock worth $371,698. 0.61% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

D.R. Horton Stock Performance

DHI opened at $96.22 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 6.67, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The businesss 50 day moving average is $95.87 and its 200-day moving average is $87.38. The stock has a market cap of $33.04 billion, a PE ratio of 5.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.52. D.R. Horton, Inc. has a twelve month low of $59.25 and a twelve month high of $104.14.

D.R. Horton (NYSE:DHI  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The construction company reported $2.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.27 by $0.49. D.R. Horton had a return on equity of 29.91% and a net margin of 16.85%. The firm had revenue of $7.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.43 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.17 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that D.R. Horton, Inc. will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current year.

D.R. Horton Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 7th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 6th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.04%. D.R. Hortons payout ratio is 6.20%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DHI has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. BTIG Research upped their target price on shares of D.R. Horton from $101.00 to $108.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on D.R. Horton from $98.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Oppenheimer began coverage on D.R. Horton in a report on Wednesday, January 18th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. Wedbush cut D.R. Horton from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $104.00 to $96.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of D.R. Horton from $91.00 to $111.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, D.R. Horton currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $98.27.

About D.R. Horton

(Get Rating)

D.R. Horton, Inc operates as a home building company, which engages in the construction and sale of single-family housing. It operates through the following segments: Homebuilding, Forestar, Financial Services, Rental, and Others. The Homebuilding segment includes the acquisition and development of land and the construction and sale of residential homes.

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Welch Group LLC purchased a new stake in International Paper (NYSE:IP  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 5,796 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $201,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. IFM Investors Pty Ltd raised its stake in International Paper by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 63,370 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $2,009,000 after acquiring an additional 3,277 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in shares of International Paper by 5.4% during the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 4,019,663 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $127,424,000 after purchasing an additional 206,004 shares in the last quarter. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC lifted its holdings in International Paper by 79.5% in the third quarter. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC now owns 14,275 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $452,000 after purchasing an additional 6,322 shares during the period. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. grew its position in International Paper by 1,459.0% in the 3rd quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 11,864 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $376,000 after buying an additional 11,103 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in International Paper during the 4th quarter valued at about $322,000. 83.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on IP shares. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of International Paper from $36.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. StockNews.com began coverage on International Paper in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. UBS Group raised International Paper from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $31.00 to $43.00 in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Argus upped their price objective on International Paper from $43.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on International Paper from $32.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $38.82.

Insiders Place Their Bets

International Paper Price Performance

In other news, SVP Aimee K. Gregg sold 1,862 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.05, for a total value of $67,125.10. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 4,260 shares in the company, valued at $153,573. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In related news, CEO Mark S. Sutton sold 85,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.58, for a total transaction of $2,939,300.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 143,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,944,940. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Also, SVP Aimee K. Gregg sold 1,862 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.05, for a total transaction of $67,125.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,260 shares in the company, valued at approximately $153,573. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last three months, insiders have sold 93,567 shares of company stock worth $3,261,447. Corporate insiders own 0.51% of the companys stock.

NYSE IP opened at $35.89 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. International Paper has a 1 year low of $30.69 and a 1 year high of $50.23. The company has a market cap of $12.54 billion, a PE ratio of 8.82 and a beta of 1.05. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $36.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $35.67.

International Paper (NYSE:IP  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The basic materials company reported $0.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $5.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.20 billion. International Paper had a net margin of 7.11% and a return on equity of 15.81%. The firms revenue was up .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.78 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that International Paper will post 2.91 EPS for the current year.

International Paper Profile

(Get Rating)

International Paper Co engages in the manufacture of paper and packaging products. It operates through the following segments: Industrial Packaging, Global Cellulose Fibers, and Printing Papers. The Industrial Packaging segment is involved in manufacturing containerboards, which include linerboard, medium, whitetop, recycled linerboard, recycled medium, and saturating kraft.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for International Paper (NYSE:IP  Get Rating).

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International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Get Rating) by 6.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,750 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 368 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $1,232,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. UBS Group AG boosted its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.4% during the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 6,062,979 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,275,651,000 after buying an additional 198,735 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.8% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,889,855 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,028,826,000 after purchasing an additional 180,303 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 10.4% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 3,002,515 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $631,734,000 after purchasing an additional 281,737 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp increased its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 0.3% in the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 2,924,936 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $615,422,000 after purchasing an additional 8,812 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 1,242.7% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 2,894,163 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $608,932,000 after purchasing an additional 2,678,614 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Trading Up 0.0 %

IWF stock opened at $242.98 on Tuesday. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $202.05 and a 1-year high of $269.48. The firm has a market cap of $63.87 billion, a PE ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.07. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $235.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $225.47.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

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Signaturefd LLC lessened its holdings in The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW  Get Rating) by 5.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,109 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 422 shares during the quarter. Signaturefd LLCs holdings in Sherwin-Williams were worth $1,687,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of SHW. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in Sherwin-Williams by 775.6% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 509,706 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $127,233,000 after acquiring an additional 451,493 shares during the period. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. grew its holdings in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 99.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 859,123 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $175,905,000 after acquiring an additional 427,561 shares during the period. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $99,503,000. Two Sigma Investments LP raised its holdings in Sherwin-Williams by 523.4% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 485,483 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $99,403,000 after purchasing an additional 407,609 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 169.9% during the 3rd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC now owns 571,305 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $116,975,000 after buying an additional 359,600 shares during the last quarter. 76.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Sherwin-Williams Price Performance

Sherwin-Williams stock opened at $224.38 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.99. The company has a market cap of $57.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.06, a PEG ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.07. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a 1 year low of $195.24 and a 1 year high of $285.00. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $224.24 and a 200 day moving average price of $229.29.

Sherwin-Williams Increases Dividend

Sherwin-Williams ( NYSE:SHW Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.84 by $0.05. Sherwin-Williams had a net margin of 9.12% and a return on equity of 90.04%. The company had revenue of $5.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.26 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.34 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 8.52 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 27th were paid a $0.605 dividend. This is a positive change from Sherwin-Williamss previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. This represents a $2.42 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 24th. Sherwin-Williamss payout ratio is currently 31.35%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SHW has been the subject of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $300.00 to $275.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 27th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Sherwin-Williams from $230.00 to $220.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Zelman & Associates lowered Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Barclays dropped their price target on Sherwin-Williams from $245.00 to $220.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Sherwin-Williams from $285.00 to $267.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $253.39.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $220.76, for a total value of $607,090.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 7,955 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,756,145.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.76, for a total transaction of $607,090.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 7,955 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,756,145.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO John G. Morikis purchased 2,207 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, January 27th. The stock was bought at an average price of $226.70 per share, with a total value of $500,326.90. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 231,344 shares in the company, valued at $52,445,684.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.55% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Sherwin-Williams Profile

(Get Rating)

The Sherwin-Williams Co engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of paint and coatings. It operates through the following segments: America Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coating Group. The America Group segment manages the exclusive outlets for Sherwin-Williams branded paints, stains, supplies, equipment, and floor coverings.

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BERLIN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The German Army (Bundeswehr) cannot meet its obligations to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other alliances, Bundeswehr Chief Lieutenant General Alfons Mais said in a letter addressed to Chief of Defense Carsten Breuer and carried by the newspaper Bild on Tuesday.

The operational readiness of the division that the German federal government has undertaken to establish by 2025 can only be achieved "to a limited extent," Mais wrote. Even activating the country's entire military equipment inventory would not be sufficient to meet said obligations.

The operational readiness of the second division, which the Bundeswehr plans to make available to NATO by 2027, is also "unrealistic," Mais warned. The division would "not be sufficiently equipped with large-scale equipment in 2027."

The operational readiness of the Bundeswehr is also at risk of declining further. Without countermeasures, Germany's army "will not be able to sustain high-intensity combat and will be able to fulfill its obligations towards NATO only to a limited extent," according to the letter.

In-mid March, the Armed Forces Commissioner of the Bundestag, Eva Hoegl, called for significantly more speed in investments when presenting her 2022 annual report.

Although Chancellor Olaf Scholz approved a special defense fund worth 100 billion euros (109 billion U.S. dollars) in February 2022, modernizing the country's aging military would require as much as 300 billion euros, the report found. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollar) 
Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH increased its holdings in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE:HR  Get Rating) by 47.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 669,233 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 214,930 shares during the period. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH owned approximately 0.18% of Healthcare Realty Trust worth $12,896,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in Healthcare Realty Trust by 20.7% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 9,544 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $263,000 after purchasing an additional 1,640 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust by 161.4% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 20,705 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $569,000 after buying an additional 12,783 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its position in Healthcare Realty Trust by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 54,073 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,486,000 after buying an additional 5,156 shares during the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its stake in Healthcare Realty Trust by 5.6% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 202,034 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,738,000 after acquiring an additional 10,717 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. acquired a new position in Healthcare Realty Trust during the 1st quarter worth approximately $229,000. 98.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Healthcare Realty Trust news, Director James Joseph Iv Kilroy bought 2,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were bought at an average price of $19.02 per share, for a total transaction of $45,648.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 26,601 shares in the company, valued at $505,951.02. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.00% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Healthcare Realty Trust Price Performance

Several research analysts recently commented on HR shares. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Healthcare Realty Trust from $28.00 to $24.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Citigroup cut Healthcare Realty Trust from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the company from $22.50 to $22.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 14th. TheStreet lowered Healthcare Realty Trust from a c rating to a d+ rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered shares of Healthcare Realty Trust from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $23.00 to $20.00 in a research note on Monday, March 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $26.38.

Shares of HR opened at $19.55 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $7.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 177.74 and a beta of 0.77. The business has a 50-day moving average of $19.79 and a 200-day moving average of $19.92. Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated has a 1 year low of $18.00 and a 1 year high of $32.10.

Healthcare Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 21st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 7th were given a dividend of $0.31 per share. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 6th. Healthcare Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 1,127.38%.

About Healthcare Realty Trust

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Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc provides real estate investment services. It owns, leases, manages, acquires, finances, develops, and redevelops income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services throughout the United States of America. The company was founded by David R.

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Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH grew its stake in shares of Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH  Get Rating) by 16.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 116,887 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 16,810 shares during the period. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH owned 0.22% of Ashland worth $12,569,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in Ashland by 5.4% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,260,728 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $214,700,000 after purchasing an additional 115,858 shares in the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Ashland by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 1,857,351 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $176,392,000 after acquiring an additional 21,482 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Ashland by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,762,930 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $167,425,000 after acquiring an additional 33,518 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in Ashland by 0.5% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,645,262 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $156,251,000 after purchasing an additional 8,086 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in Ashland by 8.9% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,354,749 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $133,321,000 after purchasing an additional 111,135 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.21% of the companys stock.

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Ashland Price Performance

ASH opened at $102.59 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $101.78 and a 200 day moving average of $104.24. The stock has a market cap of $5.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.37 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. Ashland Inc. has a 52-week low of $91.66 and a 52-week high of $114.36.

Ashland Dividend Announcement

Ashland ( NYSE:ASH Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The basic materials company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $525.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $516.58 million. Ashland had a net margin of 38.23% and a return on equity of 9.82%. The businesss revenue was up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.88 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Ashland Inc. will post 6.36 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were given a dividend of $0.335 per share. This represents a $1.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 28th. Ashlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on ASH shares. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Ashland from $131.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Ashland from $141.00 to $136.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Ashland in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Ashland from $118.00 to $115.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Ashland from $135.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $128.13.

About Ashland

(Get Rating)

Ashland, Inc engages in the provision of architectural coatings, construction, energy, food and beverage, nutraceuticals, personal care, and pharmaceutical. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences, Personal Care, Special Additives, and Intermediates. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE.

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Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NBB  Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Tuesday, April 4th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.068 per share on Monday, May 1st. This represents a $0.82 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th.

Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund has raised its dividend by an average of 1.2% per year over the last three years.

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Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of NBB opened at $16.37 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.25 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $15.94. Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund has a 1-year low of $14.52 and a 1-year high of $19.32.

Institutional Trading of Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund

About Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new position in Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund in the first quarter valued at about $227,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new position in shares of Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund in the 1st quarter worth approximately $487,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund in the second quarter worth approximately $245,000. SVB Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund during the second quarter valued at approximately $228,000. Finally, Nomura Holdings Inc. purchased a new stake in Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund during the second quarter valued at approximately $188,000.

(Get Rating)

Nuveen Taxable Municipal Income Fund engages in the investment in taxable municipal securities. It also seeks enhanced portfolio value and total return. The company was founded on 2009 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

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Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NRK  Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Monday, April 3rd, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of 0.034 per share by the financial services provider on Monday, May 1st. This represents a $0.41 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th.

Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund Price Performance

Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund stock opened at $10.52 on Tuesday. Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund has a fifty-two week low of $9.38 and a fifty-two week high of $11.80. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $10.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.29.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund in the first quarter valued at $130,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund in the 1st quarter valued at about $146,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its position in shares of Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund by 7.1% in the second quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 14,725 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $163,000 after purchasing an additional 980 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. purchased a new position in Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund during the second quarter valued at approximately $214,000. Finally, Quantedge Capital Pte Ltd acquired a new position in Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $306,000.

About Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund is a closed-end investment trust. Its investment objectives is to provide current income exempt from regular federal income tax and the alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals and to enhance portfolio value. The company was founded on July 29, 2002 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

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Parnassus Investments LLC purchased a new stake in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 915 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $212,000.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in Hershey by 2,693.0% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,094,755 shares of the companys stock worth $237,156,000 after acquiring an additional 1,055,559 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Hershey by 3.4% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 14,486,327 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,193,800,000 after purchasing an additional 473,552 shares during the period. Axiom Investors LLC DE increased its stake in shares of Hershey by 185.9% during the third quarter. Axiom Investors LLC DE now owns 621,923 shares of the companys stock worth $137,115,000 after purchasing an additional 404,423 shares in the last quarter. Eaton Vance Management raised its position in shares of Hershey by 136.7% during the 1st quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 567,949 shares of the companys stock worth $123,034,000 after purchasing an additional 327,965 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Scout Investments Inc. lifted its stake in Hershey by 468.2% in the 4th quarter. Scout Investments Inc. now owns 344,271 shares of the companys stock valued at $79,723,000 after buying an additional 283,676 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.17% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on HSY shares. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Hershey from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $230.00 to $255.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Hershey from $231.00 to $246.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Hershey from $250.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price on shares of Hershey from $250.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Hershey from $255.00 to $277.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $249.73.

Insider Activity

Hershey Trading Down 0.4 %

In related news, insider Rohit Grover sold 1,180 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $243.79, for a total transaction of $287,672.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 18,999 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,631,766.21. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other Hershey news, insider Rohit Grover sold 1,180 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.79, for a total transaction of $287,672.20. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,999 shares in the company, valued at $4,631,766.21. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, Director Pamela M. Arway sold 188 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $259.20, for a total value of $48,729.60. Following the transaction, the director now owns 15,543 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,028,745.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last three months, insiders have sold 51,093 shares of company stock valued at $12,127,297. Company insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

HSY opened at $258.75 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.80 billion, a PE ratio of 32.51, a P/E/G ratio of 3.62 and a beta of 0.31. The Hershey Company has a one year low of $201.42 and a one year high of $261.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.80. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $242.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $233.46.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The company reported $2.02 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.25. The business had revenue of $2.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.58 billion. Hershey had a return on equity of 57.76% and a net margin of 15.79%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.69 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that The Hershey Company will post 9.37 EPS for the current year.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 17th were paid a $1.036 dividend. This represents a $4.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 16th. Hersheys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.01%.

Hershey Company Profile

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The Hershey Co engages in the manufacture and marketing of chocolate, sweets, mints and confectionery products. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: North America and International and Other. The North America is responsible for the traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position of the company, as well as its grocery and snacks market positions, in the United States and Canada.

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Americana Partners LLC trimmed its stake in Southern Copper Co. (NYSE:SCCO  Get Rating) by 31.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 41,830 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 19,042 shares during the period. Americana Partners LLCs holdings in Southern Copper were worth $2,522,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Southern Copper by 200.6% in the second quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,179,899 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $208,201,000 after acquiring an additional 2,789,376 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Southern Copper by 43.3% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,763,612 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $209,759,000 after purchasing an additional 835,044 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Southern Copper by 10.7% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,022,108 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $532,978,000 after buying an additional 680,165 shares during the last quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Southern Copper in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,834,000. Finally, First Republic Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Southern Copper by 722.8% in the 1st quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. now owns 646,160 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $49,044,000 after purchasing an additional 567,629 shares during the last quarter. 7.03% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Southern Copper

In other news, Director Andreve Vicente Ariztegui sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.11, for a total transaction of $114,165.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 4,400 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $334,884. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Southern Copper Price Performance

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on SCCO shares. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Southern Copper from $40.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th. Wolfe Research raised Southern Copper from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Southern Copper from $45.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Southern Copper from $55.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on Southern Copper from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $60.14.

Shares of NYSE SCCO opened at $75.16 on Tuesday. Southern Copper Co. has a twelve month low of $42.42 and a twelve month high of $78.76. The company has a current ratio of 4.20, a quick ratio of 3.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The company has a market capitalization of $58.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.83 and a beta of 1.23. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $73.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $63.67.

Southern Copper (NYSE:SCCO  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 3rd. The basic materials company reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.37. The business had revenue of $2.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.50 billion. Southern Copper had a return on equity of 33.31% and a net margin of 26.26%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Southern Copper Co. will post 3.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Southern Copper Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 14th were paid a $1.00 dividend. This is an increase from Southern Coppers previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.32%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 13th. Southern Coppers dividend payout ratio is currently 116.96%.

Southern Copper Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Southern Copper Corp. engages in the development, production, and exploration of copper, molybdenum, zinc, and silver. It operates through the following segments: Peruvian Operations, Mexican Open-Pit Operations, and Mexican Underground Mining Operations. The Peruvian Operations segment focuses on the Toquepala and Cuajone mine complexes and the smelting and refining plants, industrial railroad, and port facilities that service both mines.

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Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADV raised its stake in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) by 9.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 10,983 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 981 shares during the quarter. Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADVs holdings in Southern were worth $784,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in Southern by 6.2% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 63,002,360 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,284,352,000 after acquiring an additional 3,653,841 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Southern by 1.5% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 94,652,372 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $6,436,360,000 after acquiring an additional 1,391,612 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in Southern by 2.1% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 65,068,549 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,424,661,000 after acquiring an additional 1,313,036 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in Southern by 57.3% in the third quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,062,100 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $208,223,000 after acquiring an additional 1,115,989 shares during the period. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC acquired a new position in Southern in the third quarter valued at about $65,112,000. Institutional investors own 61.78% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 852 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.31, for a total value of $57,348.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 22,059 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,484,791.29. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Southern Stock Down 0.4 %

A number of equities analysts have commented on SO shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Southern from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $76.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Southern from $68.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, December 16th. Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $72.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on shares of Southern from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $71.64.

Southern stock opened at $72.04 on Tuesday. The Southern Company has a fifty-two week low of $58.85 and a fifty-two week high of $80.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $78.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.96, a PEG ratio of 5.01 and a beta of 0.51. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $67.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $67.53.

Southern (NYSE:SO  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.24 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $7.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.83 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 11.73% and a net margin of 12.40%. The companys revenue was up 22.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.36 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Southern Company will post 3.61 EPS for the current year.

Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 21st were issued a dividend of $0.68 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 17th. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.78%. Southerns dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 82.93%.

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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Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADV cut its stake in Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT  Get Rating) by 2.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 36,247 shares of the medical technology companys stock after selling 788 shares during the period. Medtronic accounts for approximately 1.1% of Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADVs investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Walter & Keenan Wealth Management LLC IN ADVs holdings in Medtronic were worth $2,817,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. IAG Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Medtronic by 58.1% during the third quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 351 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares during the period. Annapolis Financial Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Medtronic by 368.0% during the third quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 482 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 379 shares during the period. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Medtronic during the third quarter valued at $44,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in Medtronic during the first quarter valued at about $47,000. Finally, Clear Investment Research LLC bought a new position in Medtronic during the third quarter valued at about $48,000. 80.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Medtronic Stock Down 0.1 %

MDT opened at $80.24 on Tuesday. Medtronic plc has a fifty-two week low of $75.76 and a fifty-two week high of $114.31. The business has a 50-day moving average of $81.80 and a 200-day moving average of $81.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.39. The company has a market capitalization of $106.75 billion, a PE ratio of 26.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.71.

Medtronic Announces Dividend

Medtronic ( NYSE:MDT Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The medical technology company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.03. Medtronic had a return on equity of 13.37% and a net margin of 13.20%. The business had revenue of $7.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.53 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.37 EPS. The firms revenue was down .8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Medtronic plc will post 5.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 24th will be paid a $0.68 dividend. This represents a $2.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 23rd. Medtronics payout ratio is 89.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on MDT shares. UBS Group cut Medtronic from a buy rating to a sell rating and decreased their target price for the company from $127.00 to $79.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on Medtronic from $80.00 to $87.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. StockNews.com began coverage on Medtronic in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered Medtronic from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and decreased their price target for the company from $102.00 to $89.00 in a research report on Monday, January 9th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price target on Medtronic from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Medtronic has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $90.11.

Medtronic Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiovascular Porrtfolio, Neuroscience Portfolio, Medical Surgical Portfolio, and Diabetes Operating Unit.

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Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC reduced its stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Get Rating) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 275,195 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,145 shares during the period. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF makes up approximately 4.9% of Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $19,842,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in USMV. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $202,000. Security Financial Services INC. increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Security Financial Services INC. now owns 148,527 shares of the companys stock worth $10,709,000 after purchasing an additional 6,996 shares during the last quarter. GEM Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $423,000. Concord Wealth Partners purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $608,000. Finally, PFG Advisors raised its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 5.8% during the 4th quarter. PFG Advisors now owns 39,162 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,824,000 after acquiring an additional 2,130 shares during the period.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Price Performance

Shares of USMV stock opened at $73.46 on Tuesday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $71.72 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $71.46. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 1 year low of $47.44 and a 1 year high of $55.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.76.

iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile

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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First Interstate Bank acquired a new stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund acquired 977 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $215,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Standard Family Office LLC bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. Old North State Trust LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the third quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, JFS Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 51.0% during the third quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 237 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.83% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Illinois Tool Works

In related news, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the businesss 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 in the company, valued at $52,592,274.02. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Illinois Tool Works news, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the companys 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 213,538 shares in the company, valued at approximately $52,592,274.02. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.26, for a total transaction of $14,809,337.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 40,072 shares in the company, 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.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

ITW opened at $228.73 on Tuesday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 1-year low of $173.52 and a 1-year high of $253.37. The company has a market cap of $69.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.39, a PEG ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 1.10. The companys fifty day moving average price is $235.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $222.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by ($0.26). The business had revenue of $3.97 billion during 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 companys revenue was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.95 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.29%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.58%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ITW has been the topic of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $174.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $211.00 to $205.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $259.00 to $282.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target 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, Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $222.00 to $255.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Illinois Tool Works presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $224.57.

About Illinois Tool Works

(Get Rating)

Illinois Tool Works, Inc engages in the manufacture of industrial products and equipment. It operates through the following segments: Automotive OEM, Test and Measurement and Electronics, Food Equipment, Polymers and Fluids, Welding, Construction Products, and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment produces components and fasteners for automotive-related applications.

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Pedestrians walk past the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 10, 2023. Forty-four countries have expressed interest in joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s 40 billion-U.S.-dollar Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Monday. The facility created a year ago aims to increase the resilience of low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries by providing them with financial support and promoting sustainable economic policies in response to systemic risks such as climate change. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Forty-four countries have expressed interest in joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s 40 billion-U.S.-dollar Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Monday.

The facility created a year ago aims to increase the resilience of low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries by providing them with financial support and promoting sustainable economic policies in response to systemic risks such as climate change.

The strong demand for the RST program underscores the urgent need for global cooperation in mobilizing the trillions of dollars in investment in order to put the world on a net-zero emissions trajectory, said Georgieva at an event held on Monday afternoon at the start of IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings week.

The event, on the theme of Scaling Up Resilience and Sustainability Financing, was co-organized by the Bretton Woods Committee, the International Finance Forum (IFF), and the Paulson Institute.

Rwanda, Barbados, Costa Rica, Bangladesh and Jamaica have reached agreements on loan programs from the facility, according to Georgieva.

"So 40 billion (U.S. dollars) is not a solution on its own, but it is a contribution to a solution, if it helps remove barriers for massively scaling investment, especially private investment in emerging markets and economies," said Georgieva.

"But we also have much more to do ... Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach based on three interrelated elements: adequate policies, investment and innovation, and financing," she said.

Collaboration between multilateral institutions, national authorities, and the private sector will be essential to turn climate challenges into opportunities, said Li Bo, IMF's deputy managing director, in the panel discussion.

"For renewable energy alone, we need 1 trillion U.S. dollars a year," Li said.

Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, stressed the need to further enhance the awareness of the general public about climate crisis.

"Because unless you do believe this is going to be a crisis looming large on the horizon, it is not possible to mobilize sufficient resources for that purpose," said Jin. 

Pedestrians walk past the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 10, 2023. Forty-four countries have expressed interest in joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s 40 billion-U.S.-dollar Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Monday.

The facility created a year ago aims to increase the resilience of low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries by providing them with financial support and promoting sustainable economic policies in response to systemic risks such as climate change. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
First Interstate Bank bought a new position in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:MDY  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 538 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $238,000.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust by 102.0% during 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 in the last quarter. Colonial Trust Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust during the third quarter worth approximately $40,000. Arcus Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust in the 4th quarter valued at $49,000. Marshall & Sullivan Inc. WA purchased a new position in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust in the 4th quarter valued at $50,000. Finally, Horizons Wealth Management acquired a new stake in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust during the 2nd quarter worth $59,000.

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SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust Stock Up 1.2 %

SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust stock opened at $452.09 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $465.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $452.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.00 and a beta of 1.12. SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust has a 52-week low of $398.11 and a 52-week high of $499.48.

SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust Profile

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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Annex Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) by 4.1% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 14,022 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 549 shares during the quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $719,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Front Street Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 4.3% in the first quarter. Front Street Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,168 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $268,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Lindenwold Advisors grew its stake in Pfizer by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Lindenwold Advisors now owns 21,151 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $926,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 13,618 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $714,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC now owns 34,338 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,503,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares during the period. Finally, Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. now owns 33,978 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,487,000 after buying an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.62% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on PFE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, February 27th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Atlantic Securities dropped their price objective on Pfizer from $50.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Pfizer from $50.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on Pfizer from $49.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $49.87.

Pfizer Stock Up 0.6 %

PFE stock opened at $41.73 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $41.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $45.45. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $235.54 billion, a PE ratio of 7.61, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.64. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $39.23 and a twelve month high of $56.32.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $24.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.40 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 42.03% and a net margin of 31.27%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.08 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Pfizer

In other news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc purchased 1,811,594 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,952,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,428,245.88. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Pfizer Profile

(Get Rating)

Pfizer Inc is a research-based global biopharmaceutical company. It engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The firm works across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases.

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Foundry Partners LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Get Rating) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 713,175 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,143 shares during the period. Altria Group accounts for 1.8% of Foundry Partners LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Foundry Partners LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $32,599,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of MO. Sei Investments Co. increased its stake in Altria Group by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 404,894 shares of the companys stock worth $21,248,000 after acquiring an additional 6,324 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 5.2% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 18,647 shares of the companys stock valued at $974,000 after purchasing an additional 929 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P bought a new stake in Altria Group in the first quarter worth $25,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its stake in Altria Group by 3.4% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,711,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $141,690,000 after purchasing an additional 89,334 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Western Trust Bank bought a new position in Altria Group during the first quarter valued at $498,000. 58.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $44.50 on Tuesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $40.35 and a fifty-two week high of $57.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $79.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.95, a PEG ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.59. The stocks fifty day moving average is $46.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.41.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.18. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 284.29% and a net margin of 22.97%. The firm had revenue of $5.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.09 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 18.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.05 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 24th will be paid a $0.94 dividend. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 23rd. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 117.87%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Altria Group from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on Altria Group from $46.50 to $49.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $45.55.

About Altria Group

(Get Rating)

Altria Group, Inc operates as a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. It operates through the following segments: Smokeable Products, Oral tobacco products, and Wine. The Smokeable Products segment consists of cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and machine-made large cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton.

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WASHINGTON, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced on Tuesday that Chicago, Illinois, will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

The event, where the Democratic Party's delegates will formally nominate their presidential candidate, will take place at the United Center from Aug. 19 to 22 next year.

Republicans will gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 15 to 18 next year for their 2024 national convention.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, said on Monday that he plans on running for reelection in 2024 but his team is not prepared to announce it yet.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican, who lost to Biden in the 2020 election but has refused to concede, announced his bid in November last year for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. 
KAMPALA: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday launched the 'Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project' of Varanasi, during his visit to Uganda's Kampala.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar, who is on a 3-day visit to Uganda, lauded the initiatives of Diaspora Friends of BJP-Uganda's initiative to contribute to further beautifying the oldest living city in the world.

"Their commitment to a ghat on the Ganga demonstrates the fusion of our two civilizations while living in a land of the Nile. The preservation of Varanasi's heritage highlights India's cultural renaissance. There are significant global consequences of this. Confident that many more Indians in Uganda will continue to travel to Varanasi and work towards its growth," he said.

Earlier on Monday, he visited President Yoweri K. Museveni of Uganda at his farm in Rwakitura and offered his congratulations on the nation's election to lead the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

"I had the honour of visiting Ugandan President @KagutaMuseveni at his estate in Rwakitura. I sent my personal greetings from Prime Minister @narendramodi. I appreciated his advice on strengthening our long-standing and customary connections, "Mr. Jaishankar tweeted.

Together with trade and investment, he also covered infrastructure, energy, defence, health, digital, and agricultural cooperation. "cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, defence, health, and agriculture was discussed. congratulated Uganda on taking the NAM chairship and reaffirmed our close coordination with one another at international organisations like the United Nations, " Jaishankar tweeted.

Over the years 2022 to 2025, Uganda will preside over the Non-Aligned Movement on behalf of Africa.

During summit sessions, the NAM chair post changes every three years. Both the outgoing and incoming chairmen support the movement's chair. This building is said to embody the movement's past, present, and future.

Jaishankar will meet with his Ugandan counterpart at the delegation level during his trip there in an effort to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. In addition, the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a formal announcement on Sunday, he is anticipated to meet with other Ministers, call on the country's leadership, and have discussions with his Ugandan counterpart General Jeje Odongo.

Jaishankar will visit Mozambique from April 1315. According to the MEA announcement, this will be the first visit to Mozambique by an Indian minister of external affairs.

He will meet with Mozambique's top officials during the visit and co-chair the 5th Joint Commission Meeting session with the country's foreign minister, Veronica Macamo. Dr. Jaishankar is expected to meet many other Ministers and representatives of the Assembly of Mozambique.

S Jaishankar receives Bhutan King at Delhi Airport
Thousands of Israelis, including ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus 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 Netanyahus 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.

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.

SOURCE: REUTERS
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The windows at Brimstone Bakery are often steamed up early in the morning, as jar upon jar of fresh jams and jellies cool on racks in the small but mighty kitchen. This culinary haze only adds to the cafes cozy ambience, tucked away at 922 Chestnut St. in the bucolic Schoharie County village of Sharon Springs.

The sweet, spicy and savory preserves include wine jellies  Grenache juniper, pink peppercorn rose, and Riesling caraway  and fig spread, made with figs, sugar, balsamic and sherry vinegars and thyme. There are also jam flavors blueberry lemon, peach ginger and the popular strawberry-balsamic-black pepper, a recipe straight from owner Anthony Lebertos Italian roots.

We make everything by hand, and it shows, said Leberto, a pastry chef and food stylist who hails from Pennsylvania by way of San Francisco and New York City. Nothing is processed and we use the highest quality ingredients that we source from all over, especially locally whenever we can.

Lebertos pastries and creative cafe menu may seem fit for a metropolitan city, but the villages 500 residents, as well as out-of-towners, direct to customer online orders and several regional wholesale accounts, keep Brimstone Bakery bustling.

MORE INFO Brimstone Bakery 922 Chestnut St., Sharon Springs Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For information, call 518-284-6093, email info@brimstonebake.com or go to brimstonebake.com. See More Collapse

Named after a local creek, Brimstone is a dream come to fruition for Leberto and former business partner Ross Wassermann, a restaurateur and wine marketing executive. Though they began by producing proprietary goods for the Beekman 1802 brand in 2018, Brimstone was born online with the launch of a website in 2019, along with an original takeaway window for curbside pickup.

Wassermann stepped away from the cafe in 2021.

We bought the business from a woman who worked for Beekman making jams and jellies, and continued producing artisanal items for Beekman until they stopped making food products, and then introduced our own products, said Leberto, who lives in Sharon Springs with his husband, Lance DeShazo, director of Earth Shoes and parent company Marc Fisher Footwear. My hats off to Ross  he was instrumental in creating a strong foundation and helping to grow the business.

After initial success catering local events and shipping online orders of high-quality, handcrafted boxes of cookies, brownies, scones, biscotti and other confections (many gluten-free), Lebertos kitchen found a brick-and-mortar home in a village building that needed some TLC. Renovations began in 2020, and Brimstone Bakery opened on Chestnut Street over Labor Day weekend in 2021.

In addition to running a small business, Leberto serves as vice president of the Sharon Springs Chamber of Commerce, and is also on the board of Schoharie County Arts. The nonprofit promotes cultural and arts-related activities, advances individual artists and organizations, and contributes to the countys cultural and economic growth.

Leberto and DeShazo are also involved in raising money for the nonprofit Klinkhart Hall Arts Center, which is seeking to preserve the historic building at 191 Main St. and create a permanent home for the arts in Sharon Springs.

An artist in his own right, Leberto said that art is vital to spiritual, personal and community growth. He believes that giving back is an essential ingredient for personal success, which he continues to savor at Brimstone Bakery.

Since its inception, Brimstones menu has expanded from jams, jellies and baked goods to include sandwiches, hand pies, quiches, soups, salads and several beverages, from steaming cappuccinos and chipotle hot chocolate to homemade lemonade and Ceylon orange pekoe iced tea.

It was Lance who suggested that we open for lunch, which changed everything for us, said Leberto, who credits his tight-knit staff for the bakerys sustained growth. Everything here is really a representation of who I am, and I believe that food should be a journey when you taste it.

Case in point  Lebertos brownies. They look pretty standard on the surface, but as he said: You taste the creamy chocolate and salt and then you get a warm wash at the back of your throat from the chipotle, which is a bit of a surprise.

The snappy ginger cookies are flavored with balsamic and white pepper, the snickerdoodles are topped with chunks of Heath candy bars. The piece de resistance  the brioche pecan sticky buns  are an ooey-gooey buttery caramel delight filled with bits of pecans, cinnamon and thick brown sugar. Balanced by the dense brioche and not too sweet, the fan favorite is so sought after that its only available on Saturdays.

Much like his pastries and cakes (online customers rave about the cherry ginger upside-down cake and its glistening sticky syrup), Lebertos journey to opening a business in small town upstate New York is layered with his past experiences.

I was surrounded by food from an early age and had a keen interest in cooking, I think because it was a way to express myself, Leberto said. Back then, it never occurred to me to become a chef.

Leberto attended Syracuse Universitys S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and continued cooking for friends through school. After graduating, he headed off to San Francisco to try his hand at journalism, but couldnt ignore the call of the food world. Much to the dismay of his family, he quit his job and started working in restaurants to pursue his passion.

Already a fairly skilled cook, Leberto begged a small bakery owner to take him on so he could learn the art of baking after a disastrous birthday cake-making incident.

Much like we do, she opened her bakery with only a few hours every morning to make all of the fresh pastries and food that youll sell for the day, said Leberto, who gets to Brimstone before dawn. I remember she said it was like a dance, a ballet.

Leberto went on to become an assistant pastry chef for Wolfgang Puck before moving back East, where he transitioned into the world of food styling, working for Steve Hanson, founder of B.R. Guest Restaurant Group. This experience is evident from the photos Leberto posts on the Brimstone website and Facebook page.

More jobs followed, including as a private chef for a wealthy shipping magnate and a wedding cake designer, and at prestigious companies like Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and Food and Wine magazine.

Leberto said it was the culmination of all of these experiences that made Brimstone Bakery a reality.

I hope when people come here, they feel special and transformed. Im always so grateful for everyone who walks through that door.
POUGHKEEPSIE  A defamation lawsuit filed by Poughkeepsie City Court Judge Frank M. Mora against a local woman was dismissed by Dutchess County Supreme Court Judge Maria G. Rosa on April 4.

In December 2022, Judge Mora sued Stacey Koch, office manager for the Seeta Eye Centers in the Poughkeepsie suburb of Arlington, for filing a false, libelous, and professionally damaging complaint with the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, an independent agency that investigates ethical misconduct complaints against judges.

The decision detailed events from one year earlier, when Judge Mora visited the eye office with his son and got into a dispute with Koch because the judge refused to wear a mask as per the offices policy. The next day, Koch filed a complaint with the commission against the judge.

We are gratified by the courts decision, which affirmed that private citizens have the right to report judicial misconduct without fear of reprisal, Raphael Holoszyc-Pimentel, Kochs attorney, said in a statement. There is an absolute privilege that protects complaints made to the appropriate authorities, and that has been the law of New York for over 50 years. As the court correctly recognized, this privilege is critical to maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary.

Judge Moras attorney, Michael H. Sussman, said the woman accused the judge of behaving in an unprofessional way, of creating a scene and of saying that Mora should not be a judge. Mora claimed that Kochs statements caused him emotional distress, humiliation, shame and embarrassment, for which he sought $425,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, according to the decision.

We believe that her statements are malicious and inappropriate and false. And those are the elements of defamation, said Sussman, adding that he disagrees with Judge Rosas decision and that he expects to exhaust all the appeals in this matter.

In her decision, Supreme Court Judge Rosa deemed Moras lawsuit a SLAPP suit, which stands for strategic lawsuits against public participation. They are lawsuits filed to censor, intimidate and silence people or organizations who speak out on issues of public interest or concern by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense.

Proving defamation requires that false statements are made in public with malice. In her decision, Rosa noted that Kochs complaints about Judge Mora were of public participation, concerned Moras status as a public official and were only filed to the commission  and only made public in Judge Moras lawsuit.

The commission also intervened in the suit, noting the very real fear that others may be deterred from bringing legitimate complaints before the body for fear of being sued in retribution.

It is essential to the integrity of the courts that witnesses feel free to report alleged ethical violations to the Judicial Conduct Commission, without fear of reprisal, said Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian in a statement. This lawsuit was ill-considered and should never have been brought. Judge Rosas decision underscores the long-settled principle that complainants have absolute immunity against lawsuits for defamation when they address the Commission on official business.

Judge Rosa determined that Moras suit against Koch did not have merit, granting motions for dismissal filed by Koch and the commission. Under anti-SLAPP statutes, Koch is entitled to costs and attorneys fees, which will be determined at a hearing on April 27.

The eye center is not the only place where Judge Mora has allegedly challenged mask-wearing policies. According to Law360, Mora, who has refused to be vaccinated due to religious beliefs, was ordered to stay home from court, but returned to the courthouse repeatedly without wearing a mask, violating court orders.

In December, Judge Mora sued the New York State Unified Court System in federal court for denying his religious exemption to the COVID vaccine. New Yorks court system lifted its COVID-19 vaccine mandate in February, and Judge Mora has been allowed back into the courthouse. Within the court system, 95 percent of judges and staff have been vaccinated.

Judge Mora recently ruled in favor of Lakr Kaal Rock, LLC, which sought to evict two tenants, in a ruling that struck down Poughkeepsies good-cause eviction law.

Note: This story has been updated with a statement provided by Stacey Kochs attorney.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  A major leak of classified U.S. documents thats shaken Washington and exposed new details of its intelligence gathering may have started in a chatroom on a social media platform popular with gamers.

Held on the Discord platform, which hosts real-time voice, video and text chats, a discussion originally created to talk about a range of topics turned to the war in Ukraine. As part of debates about Ukraine, according to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that were allegedly classified, first typing them out with the poster's own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, beginning to post images of papers with folds in them.

The posts appear to have gone unnoticed outside of the chat until a few weeks ago, when they began to circulate more widely on social media and get picked up by major news outlets. The leaks have alarmed U.S. officials and sparked a Justice Department investigation.

The records have provided startling and surprisingly timely details of U.S. and NATO assistance to Ukraine. They also provided clues about efforts to assist Ukraine in its war with Russia, including an anticipated spring offensive.

The scale of the exposure has yet to be determined. Also unclear is whether any government worked to share the documents or manipulate them.

Asked Monday if the U.S. government was effectively waiting for more intelligence documents to show up online, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby replied: "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.

Chris Meagher, top spokesman for the Pentagon, urged caution in promoting or amplifying any of these documents," adding that it does appear that slides have been doctored.

But the breach underscores the difficulties the U.S. and other governments face in securing classified information. Congressional reviews and experts have long warned of weaknesses in U.S. counterintelligence, of the challenges of monitoring an estimated 3 million people with security clearances, and of agencies producing and over-classifying so much information that the U.S. cannot reliably control it.

I think that the intelligence agencies have adjusted and gotten better at preventing all sorts of mass electronic leaks," said Kellen Dwyer, a former Justice Department prosecutor who was part of the team that brought a federal case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. But clearly, they havent gotten good enough.

The Associated Press interviewed a person who said he was a member of the Discord chat group in which documents appeared for several months. The person, who said he was 18 years old, refused to give his name, citing concerns for his personal safety.

The AP could not independently confirm many details shared by the person, and the original chatroom has been deleted.

The AP reviewed images of documents that appeared in recent weeks in the discussion forums. They include a top-secret analysis of deepening intelligence service ties between Russias FSB and agencies in the United Arab Emirates, the oil-rich Persian Gulf nation that hosts a U.S. air base and cooperates on many security matters with Washington.

Citing signals intelligence, the March analysis says officers from the FSB were caught claiming that the UAE had agreed with Russia to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies.

A spokesman for the Emirati government said the allegations are categorically false. U.S. officials at several agencies declined to comment on the document.

The AP also saw an analysis of what might happen in the Russia-Ukraine war in certain wild card scenarios, including if Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were to die. The analysis is marked secret, a lower level of classification than top-secret.

Were Putin to fire his top military advisers and the war to escalate, the document speculates he might authorize the use of tactical nuclear weapons if elites question Putins decision-making and Russian forces are unable to overcome manning and equipment shortfalls.

The death of Zelenskyy, in a worst-case scenario, might prompt Europe to restrict weapons shipments, the document says. But a high-profile Ukrainian leader might also retain domestic and foreign support as well, it says.

The investigative journalism organization Bellingcat, which specializes in digging through social media and open-source records, interviewed the same person and two others in the Discord chatroom, called Thug Shaker Central.

Bellingcat reported Saturday that documents from Thug Shaker Central appear to have been shared in another chatroom, WowMao. From WowMao, the documents appear to have spread more widely  and eventually became the subject of a story in The New York Times on Thursday, which first reported that the Pentagon was investigating a breach.

The Discord user who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity says he was on a call with others  including the person who for months had been posting documents he or she said were classified  when the Times story broke.

We all just kind of lost it, the Discord user said. We couldnt believe what was happening.

The person said his primary motivation for speaking to the media was to clear the reputation of a third person, who uses the screenname Lucca. Posts from Lucca featuring many of the documents were widely shared on Twitter and other social media. Those documents were reported on by The New York Times, The Washington Post and other media outlets.

Lucca is just a kid, said the poster who spoke to the AP. He was just consistently posting it to mess with people.

The poster declined to identify the person who originally uploaded the documents to Thug Shaker Central or confirm whether that person worked for the U.S. government. He referred to the original uploader with a nickname, the O.G.

But the poster said the person who first posted the documents did not appear to be driven by ideology or to expose government secrets broadly, but rather to impress people in their group.

Were that person to be arrested, the poster said he had copies of way past hundreds of pages of files.

He wanted to protect fellow posters in the now-defunct chat but also believed the documents contained secrets that Americans should know.

On the off chance that the O.G. gets arrested, Im leaking them all, the poster said.

___ Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor and Eric Tucker in Washington, and Michelle R. Smith in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report
ALBANY  More states are moving to ban TikTok on government equipment, but New York was one of the first to do so  quietly adopting an internal policy in June 2020 that prohibited its use on mobile devices as officials sought to strengthen security measures and guard against cyber threats and other data intrusions.

New York state has blocked the use of TikTok on ITS-issued mobile devices for more than two years, said Scott Reif, a spokesman for the state Office of Information Technology Services. We seek to meet people where they are and remain vigilant in protecting critical state assets, and urge New Yorkers to use caution when using TikTok and all social media platforms to protect their privacy and security.

Reif said there are a small number of exceptions to the policy in which public relations platforms for NY.gov, I Love NY and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have used TikTok to communicate with New Yorkers.

Despite the policy directive, there also is a bill in the Legislature that would create a law prohibiting any state employee from downloading or using the TikTok application on government-issued devices, including mobile phones and laptops. That bill, which is still in the committee level in the Senate and Assembly, would also prohibit state government employees from visiting the TikTok website using state equipment.

More than 30 states have banned TikTok on their government-issued electronic devices  under directives from both Republican and Democratic governors. Those executive orders have been issued as law enforcement officials and lawmakers have raised concerns that ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, could be forced by the Chinese Communist Party to gather users' data. National security laws in China allow the government to compel companies to share their data with the ruling party.

In November, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray told a House Homeland Security Committee he had concerns about Chinas Communist Party rulers using technology to steal data and influence social media users worldwide, including in the United States. On March 29, the House Foreign Affairs Committee  with all Democrats voting no  advanced a bill that would ban TikTok on all mobile devices nationwide.

Some Democrats had said they would rather defer to an ongoing review of the companys security risks thats being conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment. Initially, there were bipartisan concerns raised about the apps security, but in recent months that debate has started to break along political lines and some Democrats have suggested the bans are xenophobic.

Still, Wray told the House Homeland Security Committee five months ago that his concerns about TikTok include the possibility that the Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users or control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operations if they so chose, or to control software on millions of devices, which gives it an opportunity to potentially technically compromise personal devices.

TikTok, which has faced bans in other nations, has more than 1 billion active users, including more than 150 million in the U.S., where federal lawmakers have proposed a nationwide ban unless the company is sold to an American buyer.

Late last month, the companys CEO, Shou Zi Chew, sought to ease federal lawmakers' concerns when he testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee about TikToks privacy and data security policies and its dealings with the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat Tiktok poses to our national and personal security, committee Chairwoman U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, said in her opening remarks at the hearing. Tiktok collects nearly every data point imaginable from peoples location to what they type and copy, who they talk to, biometric data and more, even if theyve never been on TikTok. Your trackers are embedded in sites across the web. Tiktok surveils us all, and the Chinese Communist Party is able to use this as a tool to manipulate America as a whole.

But concerns also have been raised about the Chinese government using technology not just to influence U.S. users but also to obtain commercial trade secrets and sensitive intellectual property.

Chew told the committee that there have been a few misconceptions about ByteDance and that it is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government.

Its a private company, he said. Sixty percent of the company is owned by global institutional investors, 20 percent is owned by the founder and 20 percent owned by employees around the world. ByteDances five board members  three of them are American.

He said the company is headquartered in Los Angeles and Singapore but has 7,000 U.S. employees. For the past two years, he added, the company has been building a firewall to protect users' data.

We have legacy U.S. data sitting in our service in Virginia and in Singapore. Were deleting those and we expect that to be complete this year, Chew told lawmakers. When that is done, all protected U.S. data will be under the protection of U.S. law and under the control of the U.S.-led security team. This eliminates the concern that some of you have shared with me that TikTok user data can be subject to Chinese law.

Still, Chew conceded that the founders of TikToks parent company are Chinese and that they use Chinese employees just like many other companies around the world.

But McMorris Rodgers pushed back on Chew, noting that many of ByteDances top officials are tied to the Chinese Communist Party, which she said has indicated it has control over whether ByteDance could sell TikTok.

TikTok has told us that you werent sharing data with the CCP, but leaked audio from within TikTok has proven otherwise, she said during the hearing. TikTok told us that you werent tracking the geolocation of American citizens. TikTok told us you werent spying on journalists.  TikTok is a weapon by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on you, manipulate what you see and exploit for future generations. A ban is only a short-term way to address TikTok and a data-privacy bill is the only way to stop TikTok from ever happening again in the United States.

The concerns being raised by federal officials has spilled over to states, where many government leaders have blocked the app on mobile devices to ensure it could not be used to steal technology secrets or for other espionage.

Officials with New Yorks Office of Information Technology Services said they had previously joined those calling on the federal government to take a comprehensive approach to address the significant security and privacy concerns related to TikTok.

New York state provides its employees with information and resources they need to protect themselves, and we are regularly raising awareness about the latest threats, including those which originate on social media, the office said. All state employees are required to undergo annual cybersecurity awareness training where they learn best practices to keep their accounts, citizen data and the state network secure. Social media use is covered in this training.

State officials said they also monitor their systems for potential cyber threats but intrusions have occurred. In December 2019, a massive cyber-attack disabled some state agency information systems and took nearly a month to resolve. The attack was believed to have come from outside the U.S. and temporarily blocked access to databases used by the State Police, Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Civil Service.
Chubarov says Russia placing nuclear weapons in Crimea would be step to nuclear war 11 April, 05:29 PM Chubarov believes that if Russia deploys nuclear weapons in Crimea, this will be the final stage of preparations for a nuclear war (Photo:REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak)

Refat Chubarov, leader of the Crimean Tatar national movement in Ukraine and worldwide, has told Radio NV that the possible deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Crimea would a final step to a nuclear war.

Speaking to the station on April 8, Chubarov pointed to the lively debate that arose after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said he would place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, where they would threaten Poland and Lithuania.

"However, if such weapons are placed in the occupied Crimea, I believe Russia will reveal all of its cards, Chubarov said.

Video of day

It would be a direct threat to NATO members in this (Black Sea) region such as Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. These countries would become Russia's targets. It would be (as I believe, although I'm not a military person) direct preparations for a nuclear war. Wed be heading towards a nuclear war.

Putin announced his nuclear threats on March 25, saying the move would be made in response to the U.K. saying it would supply Ukraine with ammunition with depleted uranium.

However, the dictator had said some months ago that Russia planned to place nuclear weapons in Belarus.

The dictator said that Russia has modernized ten Belarusian aircraft to be used with tactical nuclear weapons. The Russians have also transferred an Iskander missile system capable of launching nuclear warheads.

Meanwhile, the construction of a tactical nuclear weapon storage facility in Belarus is to be finished by July, the Kremlin announced.

Many countries have condemned Putin's nuclear threats. The European Union said it was ready to impose new sanctions against Russia, while the United States reported it hadnt seen any signs of nuclear weapons being transported to Belarus.

China on March 31 said it opposed the idea of transferring nuclear weapons to third countries.

Belarusian aircraft are now capable of launching nuclear strikes, Russia's Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu said on April 4.

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ALBANY  U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik has launched a Battleground Fund to help elect congressional Republicans in New York, a move that follows the announcement of a Democrat-controlled Super PAC that pledged to raise and spend $45 million.

Although traditionally thought of as a blue state, New York Republicans helped deliver the GOP the U.S. House majority in November, weakening the political power of President Joe Biden and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. The states relative red wave, particularly in primarily suburban districts, was dissimilar from Republican efforts elsewhere in the country.

Republicans went onto win 11 of 26 seats in New York, including flipping four seats that had been held by Democrats. Republicans control the House with a five-member majority.

We will work our hardest to defeat the Democrats across New York and the country, to protect and expand our House majority and elect President Trump in 2024, said Stefanik in a statement, in which she also announced her intention to run for re-election next year in the 21st Congressional District that includes the North Country.

Stefaniks fund, which is not a PAC, has not announced a dollar figure it is seeking to raise, but according to the campaign, it is telling potential donors that the money is primarily to go to field programs and get-out-the-vote efforts.

The House Majority PAC, the Democrat-run group, said in a February news release that its plan to spend $45 million in New York would be a record investment on the House ballot for one state. (It partly attributed the cost to the prices to air ads in New York.)

Because it is not a presidential or Senate battleground, New York lacks top-of-the-ticket investment to drive the Democratic message and turn out Democratic voters, the House Majority PAC said in its February news release.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is running for re-election in 2024 and Republicans are contemplating whether they can field a strong challenger in that race. Gillibrand told supporters in an email pitch for campaign contributions that she expects to face a tough reelection fight, which could be against former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, who ran a tight race against Gov. Kathy Hochul in November.

The goal is to define freshmen Republican members before they can define themselves, and that starts with battlefield polling and focus groups to determine Democrats most effective messaging and position House Democrats for victory next year, the House Majority PAC said.

Freshmen GOP U.S. Reps. Marc Molinaro and Mike Lawler, representing portions of the Hudson Valley, are expected to be among the targets of the Democratic opposition campaign, as well as several members on Long Island.

Elise is an incredible fundraiser and knows what it takes to win, Molinaro said in a statement about the new fund. We are proud to have her as the leader of our delegation.

The breakdown of the funding for the Battleground Fund is to be split between Stefaniks leadership committee, which generally doles out money to fellow Republicans in tight elections, and to the New York Republican Federal Campaign Committee, according to the campaign.

An additional factor that led New York to be an outlier nationally was that its Democrat-drawn congressional boundaries were thrown out by court rulings that deemed them unconstitutional and redrawn through a judicial proceeding. A special master had the final say in the redistricting process. The political scientist drew maps that were politically competitive between Democrats and Republicans, which changed the political makeup of the districts and led to a greater chance for Republicans to win narrow races.

GOP state leadership has taken credit for thwarting the Democrat-drawn maps, which, they say, if adopted, could have prevented Republicans from taking back control of the House.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James recently filed a brief to support Democratic efforts in court to have the existing political boundaries thrown out and redrawn. If successful in the lawsuit, which is pending in a mid-level state appellate court, Democrats may be able to run on more favorable lines in the upcoming election.
[April 11, 2023] Broadpeak Introduces Ultimate CDN for High-Quality, Energy-Efficient Video Streaming

The New Generation of Advanced CDN Offers the Best Streaming Performance per Watt CESSON-SEVIGNE, France  April 4, 2023  Broadpeak, a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced today the next generation of its Advanced CDN solution for video streaming. Using the latest version of Broadpeaks Advanced CDN, video service providers can offer a flawless, low-latency, and compelling streaming experience to subscribers with unparalleled performance, scalability, and sustainability.







As video delivery evolves, todays video service providers need solutions that reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and deliver an outstanding quality of experience, said Nivedita Nouvel, vice president of marketing at Broadpeak. Our newest CDN solution is completely future-proof, offering the best streaming performance, an exceptional quality of experience, and a reduced carbon footprint that empowers video service providers to protect the environment. Broadpeaks Advanced CDN delivers video streaming services at 725 Gbps from a single server, offering much better Gbps per dollar and Gbps per watt ratios than all other CDN solutions on the market. The future-proof CDN provides operators with massive energy savings, enabling them to use four-times fewer servers for video streaming compared to the previous generation. Built-in elasticity allows operators to manage horizontal and vertical scaling dynamically.



Advanced CDN can be deployed in any environment and supports on-prem, cloud, and hybrid configurations. Creating and operating a video streaming service is simple with Broadpeaks new solution. The Advanced CDN offers operators full control over what is happening inside the content delivery network through open APIs and an intuitive GUI. In addition, the Advanced CDN opens up new business models, creating a bridge between ISPs and content providers that leverages Open Caching APIs accessed through its Steering Center and broadpeak.io.





The innovative CDN solution is based on Broadpeaks latest version of the BkM100 Video Delivery Mediator and its recently launched BkS450 high-performance video streamer. The Steering Center component enables the CDN to be context-aware, allowing operators to control which CDN features are being used for each session with a very fine granularity based on the request characteristics.



Broadpeak will demonstrate its cutting-edge Advanced CDN at the 2023 NAB Show, April 16-19 in Las Vegas at booth W1913. More information about Broadpeak solutions can be found at https://broadpeak.tv.



# # # About Broadpeak  (https://broadpeak.tv) Broadpeak designs and manufactures video delivery components for content providers and network service providers deploying IPTV, cable, OTT, and mobile services. Its portfolio of solutions and technologies powers the delivery of movies, television programming, and other video content over managed networks and the internet for viewing on any type of device. The companys systems and services help operators increase market share and improve subscriber loyalty with superior quality of experience.



Broadpeak supports all of its customers worldwide, from simple installations to large delivery systems reaching capacities of several million of simultaneous streams. The company is headquartered in Cesson-Sevigne, France.



Broadpeak is listed on Euronext Growth Paris (code ISIN: FR001400AJZ7; ticker: ALBPK) All trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.



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[April 10, 2023] Compass Health's 2023 Building Communities of Hope Gala Raises $225,000 to Support Child, Youth and Family Behavioral Health Services

Compass Health is pleased to announce its sixth-annual Building Communities of Hope Gala raised $225,000 in support of the organization's child, youth and family behavioral health services - more than doubling the amount raised over the past two years. The event, held on March 25, at the Tulalip Resort Casino, also attracted its highest sponsorship participation ever, led by premier sponsor FRANCiS and speaker sponsors BNBuilders, Tulalip Tribes and CPM. More than 400 community members filled Tulalip's ballroom to hear Dr. Gregory Jantz deliver his keynote address, and to hear the experience of 14-year-old Max Larson, a former client of Compass Health's child, youth, and family programs. "As we celebrate the opportunity to come together in person for the first time in three years, we are so grateful to everyone who made thisyear's gala such a success - and we extend a special thanks to Max and Dr. Jantz for their illuminating and inspiring words," said Tom Sebastian, president and CEO of Compass Health. "This past year, our programs served more than 5,000 children and youth across Northwest Washington in a variety of ways, and it was exciting to see our community come together to support our indispensable programs and resources."



Jantz's presentation, The Power of Resilience, explored the seven steps necessary for building a strong emotional foundation, its impact on creating a renewed and restored future, and how learning to navigate the pandemic's hardships can help us to be better prepared for future challenges. Following Jantz, Max Larson shared an emotional and moving story of how he overcame barriers such as post-traumatic stress disorder and other behavioral health challenges with Compass Health programs such as Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe). The teenager impressed the room with his composure and presence behind the podium, sharing insights into his active and productive life today.

Proceeds from this year's Gala fund the programs that directly supported Max and his family in addition to the rest of Compass Health's children, youth, and family programs: Child and Family Outpatient Programs, Camp Outside the Box, Camp Mariposa, Child Advocacy Program (CAP), Children's Intensive Services/WISe , and the Therapeutic Foster Parenting Program. These programs would not be possible without community support. Focusing on providing a full spectrum of accessible care, these programs are designed to promote positive changes in behavior, help children and families learn appropriate coping skills, and improve communication by learning to resolve conflict and manage emotions in a healthy manner. "After two years of virtual events, it was incredible to see so many members of our community join us in support of these life-changing programs," said Tom Kozaczynski, chief advancement officer at Compass Health. "We are thankful for our strong and dedicated community of supporters who understand the value of our programs and advance our mission of advocating for and delivering whole person health." To learn more about Compass Health or how you can support Compass Health's child, youth, and family services, please visit www.compasshealth.org. About Compass Health Compass Health is Northwest Washington's behavioral healthcare leader. A community-based healthcare agency, Compass Health integrates behavioral health and medical care services to form a key section of the community safety net and serve clients and others in need of care and support. From comprehensive mental health treatment to crisis prevention and intervention, supportive housing, children's services, community education and much more, the non-profit organization serves people of all ages throughout Snohomish, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Whatcom counties. Learn more: www.compasshealth.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005400/en/

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[April 10, 2023] Akima to Acquire Pinnacle Solutions

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 innovtion, 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

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[April 10, 2023] Woven by Toyota to Accelerate Toyota's Vision for Mobility

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 Toyota's 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. Toyota's 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 Toyota's 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 Toyota's next generation of BEV in 2026. Arene builds on Toyota's history of hardware excellence to apply th 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 Toyota's 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 Toyota's 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 City's 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 - we're 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/

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[April 10, 2023] ICC and TradeFlow Capital Management unveil plans to launch the ICC SME TradeFlow Fund to improve access to trade finance for SMEs in the commodities sector

SINGAPORE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ICC and TradeFlow Capital Management unveil plans to launch the ICC SME TradeFlow Fund to improve access to trade finance for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the commodities sector, to be established in Europe. This launch is the culmination of over a year and a half of efforts by ICC and TradeFlow Capital Management to bring this unique offering to market which intends to help SMEs access trade finance. This will be a fund advised by the founders of TradeFlow Capital Management, Dr Tom James and John Collis, specifically targeted to enable businesses in the commodities sector around the world and working in conjunction with ICC's TradeNow programme. Building on 5 years of success with CEMP USD TradeFlow funds, John and Tom will bring their method to the ICC SME TradeFlow Fund to help unlock liquidity in SME commodity markets and increase financial inclusion across the commodity sector. Over the last 5 years, TradeFlow Capital Management funds have enabled more than $1.5b of trades for SME commodity firms and contributed to promoting SME businesses and commodity trades to every continent on the planet and, throughout, made ontinued, positive returns with low volatility to their investors.



Working with ICC gives TradeFlow Capital Management the opportunity to bring the benefits of its method to even more SMEs in the commodity sector around the world. About TradeFlow Capital Management (Tradeflow)

TradeFlow is the world's first Fintech-powered commodity trade enabler focused on SMEs. TradeFlow consists of a diverse team of experts with the focused mission of addressing the increasing trade finance gap faced by global SMEs operating as producers/traders/end-users in the bulk commodity trading space. By performing an enabling role in international trade and globalization, TradeFlow creates growth opportunities for businesses and economies. To date, TradeFlow has successfully invested in more than US$1.5 Bn of physical commodity trade through 1000+ transactions across 15+ countries and 27+ commodity types, with more than 800 SME counterpart entities KYC reviewed. As part of its unique business model, The TradeFlow Funds*, advised by TradeFlow, were conceived in 2016 and launched in 2018. TradeFlow is a Partner of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to mobilise capital and improve trade finance access for SMEs worldwide through the "'ICC Trade Now" and "ICC Digital Trade Standards Initiative" platforms. TradeFlow Capital Management Pte Ltd

UEN: 201920511H

www.tradeflow.capital

Please bookmark our media: TradeFlowTV | Twitter | LinkedIN About the International Chamber of Commerce The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the institutional representative of more than 45 million companies in over 100 countries. ICC's core mission is to make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere. Through a unique mix of advocacy, solutions and standard setting, we promote international trade, responsible business conduct and a global approach to regulation, in addition to providing market-leading dispute resolution services. Our members include many of the world's leading companies, SMEs, business associations and local chambers of commerce. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/icc-and-tradeflow-capital-management-unveil-plans-to-launch-the-icc-sme-tradeflow-fund-to-improve-access-to-trade-finance-for-smes-in-the-commodities-sector-301793086.html SOURCE TradeFlow Capital Management

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[April 10, 2023] University of Phoenix Interdepartmental Team Supports Students, Faculty and Staff During Natural Disasters

University of Phoenix is pleased to share that its interdepartmental Campus Online Closure and Interruption Committee (COCI) offered support to 67,433 students over the last year in the form of academic assistance or timely communications during severe weather events, power outages and natural disasters. The committee, established in 2017, operates as a cross-functional team with collaboration across departments. COCI also works closely with the university's Security Operations Center (SOC) and assesses the impact on students, faculty and staff when online class interruptions occur due to inclement weather or other incidents that may threaten safety or disrupt academic progression. "During a natural disaster, it is critical that our students and faculty know they are supported and have access to the resources they need," states provost and chief academic officer John Woods, Ph.D. "COCI allows our faculty and students to focus on navigating a natural disaster by offering support like emergency communications and extensions on academic deadlines when appropriate. Our faculty offer this support so students can focus on the immediate safety of their families and communities and know that they can still succeed in the course when the crisis has passed." University of Phoenix Chief Operating Officer, Raghu Krishnaiah, created and sponsors the committee and says the work they do is critical in terms of academic support and proactive safety measures. "As an online institution with students, staff, and faculty located across the country, we needed a way to ensure our communications, academic, and safety efforts were as effective and proactive as possible," Krishnaiah shares. "We're fortunate to have a dedicated team that spans departments and is committed to supporting the wellbeing of those affected by potentially dangerous or disruptive events." According to the < rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow" href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clerycenter.org%2Fthe-clery-act&esheet=53379348&newsitemid=20230410005428&lan=en-US&anchor=Clery+Act+of+1990&index=2&md5=c6d37e9fef1f1401bfe6372fbeb8b5a5" shape="rect">Clery Act of 1990, campus officials must evaluate if an event constitutes a serious or ongoing threat to a campus community to determine if a timely warning needs to be issued to staff and students. In the event of an immediate, significant danger to the health or safety of the campus community, campus officials may issue an emergency notification. Because students and staff at the University are not limited to a specific geographic location, SOC is continually monitoring events across the nation. Monitoring includes not only severe weather events, but any potential threats to safety for students, faculty and staff.



Last year alone, forty events were identified by SOC and COCI as potentially impacting University of Phoenix faculty and students. Severe winter storms and thunderstorms triggered COCI intervention in most cases, often due to power outages. Hurricane Ian, which caused widespread damage in Florida, South Carolina, and the Caribbean, called for COCI support for weeks. During that time, COCI estimated 9,631 University of Phoenix students, 497 faculty and 101 staff were impacted by the hurricane. "When an event like Hurricane Ian happens, SOC and COCI take an all-hands approach to ensure we get the message out to students and staff that their area may be impacted," states Senior Director of Corporate Security for University of Phoenix Steve Lindsey. "Communications include links to available resources like shelter locations and evacuation zones, as well as updates from government officials. When there is an extension offered for academic assignment deadlines, we let folks know. Everything we do is aimed at securely supporting the delivery of a quality education and supporting our faculty, staff and students during a crisis."

University of Phoenix student Landon Shoey was impacted by Hurricane Ian and recalls the support he received from his instructors during that time. "Hurricane Ian was a very difficult time with lots of uncertainty and damage," Shoey states. "I was worried I would have to drop a class or two to focus on getting things back to normal, but the faculty at University of Phoenix were wonderful in accommodating my needs. The instructors were very understanding and gave me extensions on assignments which allowed me to continue without falling behind. The faculty and support staff at University of Phoenix would even check in on me to make sure I had everything I needed to be successful." Learn more here about campus safety at the University of Phoenix. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005428/en/

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[April 10, 2023] Atrinet Unveils Revolutionary Cloud-Native NetACE TONAS Platform for Streamlined Telecom Operations and Network Automation

HOD HASHARON, Israel, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Atrinet, a leading provider of network automation and digital operations solutions, is proud to unveil its latest offering: the NetACE TONAS line of cloud-native, modular Operations Support System (OSS) products. This comprehensive solution is designed to address the rapidly evolving telecom market, which is experiencing a major shift towards 5G technologies for Communication Service Providers (CSPs). NetACE TONAS stands out due to its modular design, collaboration with customers and Atrinet teams, full automation, and seamless integration. The solution offers versatile, low-code modules for various fixed and mobile networks, including 5G and legacy systems. Aligned with TM Forum ODA, ETSI, and 3GPP standards, it ensures a robust foundation for future 5G network growth and services. NetACE TONAS revolutionizes telecom by significantly reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), accelerating time-to-market for new products and services, and enhancing operational efficiency. Introducing NetACE TONAS Cloud-native Operations Support System (OSS) NetACE TONAS is built on a containerized cloud-native architecture, open-source software, TM Forum Open APIs and streamlined continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), which makes it highly scalable, flexible, and lightweight, allowingit to be rapidly customized, integrated, and put into operation.



NetACE TONAS Inventory Data Integrity Assurance (DIA) comprised of Federated Network Auto-Discovery & Real-time Inventory Reconciliation modules, ensures the accuracy and completeness of network inventory data and supports the automated and manual resolutions of data inconsistencies. The DIA can be easily integrated with one or more 3rd party Network Resource Inventories, fully automating the network discovery, synchronization and discrepancy resolution tasks. NetACE TONAS Unified Service Activation & Fulfillment (USAF) offers Telecom Operators an unparalleled solution for streamlining service activation and fulfillment over the same cloud-native platform, resulting in faster delivery times and an improved customer experience. NetACE TONAS AI/ML-powered Network Insights & Assurances (NI&A) provides actionable insights into network performance and service quality, enabling Telecom Operators to identify and resolve issues quickly and proactively. NetACE TONAS Network Configuration Management (NCM) automates various network configuration processes, including network configuration, device upgrades, compliance monitoring, and change management. NetACE TONAS Adapters & Integrations Marketplace. Offers a vast array of implementation details for NetACE TONAS modules and out-of-the-box connectivity options to leading network equipment and technology providers. For more information on NetACE TONAS, visit: www.atrinetOSS.com Contacts

Yuri Denisov VP, Head of NetACE TONAS Products [email protected] SOURCE Atrinet

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Russia begins supplying Iran with fuel by rail, Reuters reports 11 April, 08:38 PM Russia supplies Iran with fuel (Photo:PASCAL ROSSIGNOL \ Reuters)

Looking for ways to compensate for lost revenue due to Western sanctions, Moscow has started sending shipments of fuel to Iran by rail, Reuters reported on April 11, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

The report notes that back in late 2022, Russias Deputy PM Alexander Novak announced a program of swap supplies of oil products to Iran, although the scheme became operational only in 2023. Two sources told Reuters that Russia delivered 30,000 tons of gasoline and diesel fuel to Iran in March. Another source confirmed the deliveries took place, without providing exact volumes.

Video of day

Iran is an oil producer and has its own refineries, but recently its consumption had exceeded domestic fuel production, especially in its northern provinces, the news agency writes.

According to the report, the rail route goes by way of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. One source said part of the shipments was immediately sent to Iraq, in a series of fuel trucks.

Irans access to global markets remains restricted by Western sanctions. Russia was already supplying Iran with small quantitates of fuel via the Caspian Sea, but G7 maritime trade sanctions forced Moscow to pivot to switching to rail for transportation.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin previously said Russia and Iran are engaging in unprecedented levels of military cooperation, focused on missile technology and air defense systems.

Earlier media reports suggested that in exchange for military equipment to be used against Ukraine, Moscow assists Tehran with cyber warfare capabilities, its missiles program, and provides with pieces of Western-made military equipment captured in battle in Ukraine.

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[April 10, 2023] SWAT Mobility Applauded by Frost & Sullivan for Leading Market Position and Solving Complex Transportation Challenges

SWAT Mobility is well positioned to drive the vehicle-routing technology space into its next growth phase, capturing market share and sustaining its leadership in the coming years. SAN ANTONIO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Frost & Sullivan assessed the vehicle-routing technology industry and, based on its findings, recognizes SWAT Mobility with the 2022 Southeast Asia Company of the Year Award. The company creates disruptive products through artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology and high-accuracy routing algorithms. SWAT Mobility developed and refined its processes and constantly perfects its approach, thus emerging as a pioneer and a robust service provider while driving advances in the niche vehicle-routing market space based on its highly accurate, patented routing algorithm and constant innovation. The company's technology provides on-demand transportation solutions, commuting solutions for large employers adopting flexible work, dynamic first- and last-mile transit and logistics, and digitizing fixed routes. SWAT Mobility offers the market's most comprehensive solution suite, spanning robust features and capabilities that pool users' demands in real time and calculate the most efficient routes to reduce transportation costs, improve city connectivity, and reduce traffic congestion woes. With its road-planning optimization, the company differentiates itself from most telematics software providers that only offer tracking features. SWAT Mobility's AI-powered products include the following: On-demand dynamic and real-time route optimization for a personalized experience based on current needs, with full visibility and control.

Efficient, high-capacity, demand-responsive Just in Time solution for multiple shift configurations and streamlined operations with daily fluctuating demand

Commute Pass for configurable service levels, periodic route optimization, greater employee convenienc, and subscription-based on customer demands

Digital Fixed Routes for improved operational efficiency, passenger experience, and easy and efficient digital transport management



SWAT Mobility's management and customer service teams closely monitor emerging market trends and evolving customer needs, responding with novel solutions. The company runs a successful business model while improving efficiency and transparency for its customers. The company leverages its global geographical footprint with technology deployments across many Asian countries, sustaining its leadership in the vehicle-routing technology space. SWAT Mobility is one of the technology providers behind Singapore's first commercial electric and autonomous bus trial and it provides an AI-powered system to automate route planning management and optimize vehicle load utilization for logistics operators in Southeast Asia and Japan.

"Leveraging artificial intelligence-driven technology and a high-accuracy routing algorithm, SWAT Mobility remains a trusted partner, earning a reputation for offering the overall best in the vehicle-routing industry," said Ming Chan, industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact:

Tarini Singh

P: +91-9953764546

E: [email protected] About SWAT Mobility

SWAT Mobility (SWAT) is the leading smart mobility solutions firm in South-East Asia and specialises in providing demand-responsive, ridesharing services in high-capacity vehicles. With a mission to inspire communities and contribute to a sustainable tomorrow, SWAT endeavours to drive impact on economic, green and social sustainability through increasing resource-use efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and creating safe and accessible transport systems for all. The company works closely with city governments and large corporations to optimise transportation services while improving commutes. It also supports logistics operators with load optimisation & route planning via applications and API. To date, SWAT has completed over 6 million dynamically-routed rides across eight markets. Its proprietary algorithm holds a record on the global Li & Lim benchmark in optimisation efficiency. In 2021, SWAT Mobility was listed on Forbes Asia 100 to Watch as a start-up on the rise in the Asia-Pacific region. See how SWAT Mobility is empowering the world to move more with less: www.swatmobility.com Contact: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/swat-mobility-applauded-by-frost--sullivan-for-leading-market-position-and-solving-complex-transportation-challenges-301792859.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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[April 11, 2023] JA Solar Reports Sustained High Growth in Brazil

BEIJING, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JA Solar, a globally leading manufacturer of photovoltaic (PV) products, has announced strong growth in Brazil, a key and emerging PV market. In 2021 and 2022, JA Solar's shipments to Brazil increased by 225% and 181% year-on-year, respectively. In 2022, Brazil saw a significant increase in newly- installed PV products. According to S&P Global, the installed PV capacity in the Brazilian market reached 12.8GW in 2022, a YOY increase of 72.9%. It is a testament to the brand's strength and popularity that JA Solar saw such remarkable growth in one of the fastest growing markets for PV products in the world. Expansion into the Brazilian market In 2015, JA Solar entered the Brazilian market and quickly built up a professional team there. In 2017, it established a Brazil subsidiary, based on which the company established a complete service structure integrating sales, technology, logistics and marketing to meet market demand in all aspects in Brazil. To improve distribution efficiency, JA Solar then set up an overseas warehouse in Brazil to provide customers with one-stop solutions, greatly enhancing the customer experience. In Brazil, the cumulative installation of distributed PV accounts for nearly 70% of the total PV installations. Since establishing its presence in the Brazilian market, JA Solar has earned a fine reputation among distributors and end customers for its efficient products and high-quality services. During the dramatic price fluctuations in the industry chain in 2022, JA Solar's local warehousing services have greatly eased customers' worries about price changes. Moreover, its efficient products and logistics services have received positive feedback and high recognition from customers. JA Solar has been well-known for its low customer complaint rate and high loyalty in the Brazilian market. Leading Brazilian distributors, including Aldo Solar, Fortlev Solar, WIN Distribuidora, Ecori Solar, PHB Solar and Amara have established long-term and stable partnerships with JA Solar, enabling the company to widely distribute its products in the Brazilian market and receive high praise from end-users.



Brazil , JA Solar's professional team promptly assisted the customer in handling many problems encountered during product shipment and transportation, and delivered the modules in time, ensuring the smooth progress of the project. The Reenergisa team specially sent a thank-you letter, which reads "JA Solar is one of the world's largest and most prestigious module manufacturers and Reenergisa is a large Brazilian energy company. The shared business philosophy has facilitated our cooperation. Congratulations to JA Solar for upholding such an excellent business philosophy and I hope we can maintain a good partnership." Efficient and reliable products and services serving the market

Brazilian market customers often praise JA Solar for being "efficient" and "reliable". Since its inception, JA Solar has placed quality as the cornerstone of its brand. Currently, JA Solar has established a refined quality management system that covers the entire industry chain. It strictly controls the whole process of R&D, procurement, production, testing, shipping and transportation to ensure its products are of the highest quality. In addition, "efficiency" is a commonly used term when customers evaluate JA Solar. In terms of products, regardless of the R&D and application of p-type Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) products, the application of gallium-doped silicon wafers in all production lines or the reserve and mass production of n-type technology, JA Solar has maintained its industry leadership in product efficiency, and received positive feedback from customers for its stable and continuous power generation performance in Brazilian projects. In terms of service, JA Solar's "efficiency" is also highly regarded by its customers. To promptly address customer feedback, JA Solar has set up a "24-hour response mechanism", under which JA Solar responds to the customers in the fastest possible manner by communicating with customers within 24 hours after the receipt of their feedback to learn about the circumstances and provide urgent solutions. In the Brazilian market, to help customers better understand JA Solar and its products, the Brazilian team has specifically assigned marketing personnel to conduct targeted local promotions based on customer needs, allowing customers to gain an in-depth understanding of market trends, company products and related services. Backed by its dual strengths of efficiency and reliability, JA Solar's high-efficiency modules have become the preferred choice for many innovative PV projects in Brazil. These include the distributed PV project at the training center of Mirassol Futebol Clube in Brazil, and the "shipboard factory" powered by a PV system on the Amazon River, which plays a model role for in the use of PV energy locally and globally, leading the way to new perspectives. In 2023, JA Solar got off to a good start in the Brazilian market. On 28 January, the Arinos PV project in Brazil announced the result of the centralized procurement of modules, with JA Solar being the exclusive supplier of all 412.65MW of DeepBlue 3.0 modules, thanks to its outstanding overall advantages. After the electricity price hikes and energy crisis in 2022, the global push for new energy in 2023 is expected to continue. The newly installed capacity around the globe is expected to reach 338GW (PV InfoLink), and the newly installed capacity in the Brazilian market is expected to grow further to 14GW. With a track record of continuous improvement in operating performance, JA Solar is poised for sustained rapid growth in the Brazilian market in the future. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ja-solar-reports-sustained-high-growth-in-brazil-301793989.html SOURCE JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd.

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[April 11, 2023] Trina Solar To Promote New Technologies, Launch New Tracker At South Korea's Green Energy Expo In Daegu

SEOUL, South Korea, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trina Solar will be exhibiting at this week's Green Energy Expo in Daegu (12-14 April) announcing the launch of the second generation of its highly successful TrinaTracker Vanguard 2P tracker. Following the successful announcement of TrinaTracker's selection by Samsung C&T on the 875MW Qatar Energy project, Trina Solar is exhibiting the next generation of Vanguard 2P Tracker at the Green Energy Expo in South Korea. "Trina Solar has been in business for more than 25 years and we are synonymous with solar modules, but in response to market demand  especially for truly integrated solar solutions  we decided a few years ago to expand our product offering, to take a unique leadership position in the industry and become the only solar module manufacturer that can provide an integrative module and tracker solution," says Andrew Gilhooly, Head of Utility, Commercial and Industrial Solutions for Trina Solar Asia Pacific. Besides solar modules and trackers, Trina Solar is proud to now expand its solution offering to actively promote in South Korea its vertically integrated "Elementa" battery energy storage solution. Offering an integrated solution  that includes the modules, trackers and energy storage  is important to customers here in South Korea, says Gilhooly. "South Korea is a very important market for Trina Solar, we find a real alignment with Trina as it's an advanced and sophisticated market that appreciates the latest technology coming as a one stop shop solution from the industry's most bankable brand," he adds. The first-generation tracker was powered by a single electric motor which operated multiple drivepoints through a mechanical drivetrain, but the second-generation tracker has multiple motors to reduce installation and maintenance time, improve uptime and ensure perfect tracking synchronisation at all times. Gilhooly says: "The Vanguard 2P second generation tracker achieves the perfect angle alignment through the mechanical action of three actuators powered by individual motors, significantly reducing the number of mechanical parts," making the tracker quicker and easier to install, and reducing maintenance costs over the product's lifecycle. The new generation Vanguard 2P tracker has undergone extensive wind tunnel tests and has the same industry leading low pile count  as low as seven  per tracker or one hundred per MegaWatt peak as the earlier generation module, contributing to typically one to two cents per Watt peaklower balance of system (BOS) costs, especially on sites with challenging geotechnical properties, like rocky sites requiring concrete, or cohesiveless soils requiring deeper embedment to three or even four metres like on our projects in New Zealand. The tracker is designed to withstand difficult weather conditions: high heat and humidity, extreme cold temperatures, flood inundation, heavy snow loads and high winds  and even cyclonic winds with our 1P Vanguard tracker. The shorter and wider form factor of TrinaTracker's 2P Vanguard tracker, in combination with its patented spherical bearings, enables sites with extremely uneven terrain, as commonly found in South East Asia and South Korea, to deploy trackers with minimal civils and grading costs. This tracker includes the TrinaTracker 'SuperTrack' algorithm that optimizes the panel tilt - to maximize light absorption and electricity generation  using topographical and machine learning from real time data on weather andinter row shading,. to achieve a further 3-8% energy gain. This can restore the overall advantage of tracking with bifacial modules back to +15 to 20% even in lower direct irradiance tropical regions in the equator and South East Asia, or even at higher latitudes including South Korea, where we find even considering the higher relative cost of land acquisition, the combination of intelligent tracking with bifacial modules can reduce LCOE by 4% and significantly boost project IRR for investors. The Vanguard 2P tracker and modules also come with TrinaTracker's SmartCloud SCADA system so operations and maintenance diagnostics can be performed remotely in real time. Besides the second-generation tracker, Trina Solar is showcasing the company's n-type solar technology at this week's Green Energy Expo in Daegu. The n-type technology delivers more power generation and offers an alternative for the next-generation of solar projects in South Korea as the country mobilizes to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets. At the Green Energy Expo, Trina Solar will display its Vertex N (NEG21C.20). This bifacial dual glass module, that uses n-type technology, has maximum efficiency of 22.4% and maximum power output of 695W. The other n-type module on display will be the Vertex S+ (NEG9R.28). This mono-facial dual-glass module; designed for residential, commercial and industrial applications; has power output up to 445W and efficiency up to 22.3%. All Trina Solar Vertex modules use larger-size solar cells, 210mm-long, that inherently generate more power than earlier generation, smaller-size cells. The company's solar modules incorporate other market-leading technologies, such as: multi-busbar (MBB) for greater light absorption; non-destructive cutting for better mechanical performance; and high-density packing to maximize the surface area. At the Green Energy Expo, Trina Solar will also be exhibiting its proven p-type technology modules. There will be the Vertex DEG21C.20, a bifacial dual-glass module that has power output up to 665W and efficiency up to 21.4%. The bifacial p-type module, designed for utility-scale projects, uses 210mm-long solar cells and has a low voltage and high string power design, delivering lower balance of system (BOS) and a lower-levelized cost of energy (LCOE). There will also be the Vertex (DEG20C.20), a bifacial dual-glass p-type module that has maximum efficiency of 21.4% and maximum power output of 605W. Gilhooly says: "We look forward to meeting our customers and industry partners at this week's Green Energy Expo (12-14 April) in Daegu and having the opportunity to meet new potential customers." Come visit Trina Solar at the show, stand E-300. South Korea Energy Market South Korea is the fifth largest market in Asia Pacific for solar energy. South Korea's solar energy capacity grew 15% last year to 20,975MW from 18,161MW, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).







Ranking Capacity year-end 2022 Year-on-year growth 1. China 393GW 28 % 2. Japan 79GW 6 % 3. India 63GW 27 % 4. Australia 27GW 17 % 5. South Korea 21GW 15 % 6. Vietnam 18GW 11 % 7. Chinese Taipei 10GW 26 % 8. Thailand 3GW 0 %

Source: IRENA Renewable Energy Capacity Report for year ending 2022. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/trina-solar-to-promote-new-technologies-launch-new-tracker-at-south-koreas-green-energy-expo-in-daegu-301794140.html SOURCE Trina Solar Energy Development Pte. Ltd.

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[April 11, 2023] Bipartisan Congressional Leaders Rally Colleagues to Secure Freedom with Global Tech Security Strategy

A group of distinguished bipartisan leaders in foreign policy and national security, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Todd Young (R-IN), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), as well as Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), serving as Honorary Co-Chairs of the Global Tech Security Commission, have issued a call to their fellow Members of Congress to join the effort to develop a Global Tech Security Strategy to defend freedom against technological authoritarianism. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005476/en/ Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Todd Young (R-IN), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), as well as Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) have issued a call to fellow Members of Congress to join the effort to develop a Global Tech Security Strategy to defend freedom against technological authoritarianism. (Graphic: Business Wire) In a "Dear Colleague" letter, the Honorary Co-Chairs of the Commission emphasized the critical importance of advancing a global tech security strategy in the face of mounting challenges from China to U.S. global leadership, security, and values. The Commission seeks to counter the rise of techno-authoritarianism by protecting shared democratic principles and liberties on which our nation and the free world are built. The Global Tech Security Commission was launched in response to the Congressional call for a thorough, bipartisan tech security playbook that would rally and unify like-minded countries, leverage the innovation and resources of the private sector, and build a global network to develop, protect and adopt trusted technologies. Led by Co-Chairs Keith Krach, former U.S. Under Secretary of State and former CEO of DocuSign, and Kersti Kaljulaid, former President of Estonia and former Chair of the Three Seas Initiative, the International Commission is uniquely positioned to counter techno-authoritarian threats in three key ways.



First, its focus is on developing in-depth strategies for each White House-designated national security tech sector and integrating them into an overarching global tech security strategy. Second, global in scale and led by the private sector, the Commission is composed of 15 country commissioners, 12 tech sector commissioners and more than 20 strategy commissioners, who each lead expert advisory councils. Third, while previous commissions primarily focused on problem analysis and defensive policies, the Global Tech Security Commission will integrate offensive and defensive strategies and begin building the Global Tech Trust Network aimed at establishing standards to accelerate the adoption of trusted technologies. "Both sides of the aisle recognize that the United States and the free world face ever-increasing technological threats from authoritarian regimes, such as Russia, China, Iran, and others," said Co-Chair Krach. "The bipartisan support for the Global Tech Security Commission conveys the urgency of its mission. The key to securing freedom is securing high tech with trusted technology. Failure is not an option."

As the Commission continues to draft the Global Tech Security Strategy, the Honorary Co-Chairs urge their fellow Members of Congress to engage with the Commission and support its efforts to defend freedom from technological authoritarianism. Its operations are supported by the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue and the Atlantic Council. About the Global Tech Security Commission

The Global Tech Security Commission, consisting of international commissioners and multi-sector leaders, is committed to safeguarding freedom through the adoption of trusted technology. Its charter is to integrate comprehensive offensive and defensive strategies for the national security tech sectors into an overarching global tech security strategy. This mission aims to rally and unify like-minded countries, leverage private sector innovation by building a global tech trust network, and establish standards based on shared democratic principles. For the Commission's latest developments, visit globaltechsecurity.com. Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] for media inquiries about the Global Tech Security Commission. About the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue

Built on the nonpartisan principle that technology must advance freedom, the Krach Institute has rapidly become the world's leading authority on Tech Diplomacy - the practice of integrating high-tech expertise, Silicon Valley strategies with foreign policy tools to accelerate the adoption of trusted technology.? With Purdue's distinguished reputation as America's foremost national security university, the Institute leverages the university's cutting-edge innovation and global prominence in STEM education to execute result-oriented strategies. For more information, visit www.techdiplomacy.org and follow on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. About the Atlantic Council

Driven by our mission of "shaping the global future together," the Atlantic Council is a nonpartisan organization that galvanizes U.S. leadership and engagement in the world, in partnership with allies and partners, to shape solutions to global challenges. The Atlantic Council's Global China Hub researches and devises allied solutions to challenges posed by China. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005476/en/

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[April 11, 2023] LOGIX Fiber Networks Celebrates 40 Years of Keeping Texas Businesses Connected

LOGIX Fiber Networks, a Texas-based telecom provider of fiber-based data, voice and data center services, celebrates its 40th year of delivering secure and reliable fiber-based connectivity services backed by outstanding, Texas-based support to customers. LOGIX has evolved over the past four decades as business connectivity needs have changed and moved into the modern fiber era, investing heavily in the expansion of its fiber network to office buildings and third-party data centers. Recently, the company reached more than 300,000 fiber miles, serving nearly 10,000 customers, and connecting to more than 3,000 on-net enterprise buildings. LOGIX also provides connectivity to more than 80 data centers to help customers take full advantage of the expanding digital universe. In addition, LOGIX is experiencing increased demand for its long-haul network coming from international firms that are reaching across the Mexico border and into Texas. "For the last 40 years, LOGIX has continuously evolved and grown to support business customers across Texas through our connectivity solutions," said Craig Collins, CEO of LOGIX Fiber Networks. "We take great pride in the durability and results the company has achieved over the past four decades, adapting our products and services to best empower Texas businesses to do what they do best and helping keep our stte's economy a national leader."



With an unwavering focus on serving its customers, LOGIX offers a broad range of flexible business voice and data options, best-in-class reliability, as well as wholesale solutions for carriers and major tower operators. Services include Business Voice, Business Internet, Business Ethernet, SD-WAN Secure, Business Wavelength, Business Voice Cloud, Business Voice Trunks, Data Centers, and Cloud Connect. LOGIX began operating in Texas in 1983, steadily building its metro infrastructure in the late 90s and lighting up its first fiber building in Houston in 2010. In 2016, Astra Capital Management acquired LOGIX and in 2017, LOGIX announced the transformational acquisition of Alpheus Communications, establishing the company as the largest independent fiber provider across Texas.

"While LOGIX continues to grow and anticipate changing customer needs, our mission and values remain the same: to help businesses communicate effortlessly and to be the preferred business fiber network in Texas," said Craig Collins, Chief Executive Officer for LOGIX Fiber Networks. "We are excited about the company's aggressive growth, which has been propelled by last year's $100 million capital commitment to fund key customer-driven growth initiatives, support an accelerated network evolution plan, and refinance a portion of our senior debt." LOGIX is recognizing this significant milestone with a limited time promotion that includes up to four months of free service for new customers or existing customers who purchase a new product. An employee event around August 6th will take place in recognition of the company's founding date. The company will celebrate with other activities throughout the year including the launch of new services, employee events and customer recognition programs. About LOGIX Fiber Networks LOGIX Fiber Networks operates its business fiber network across Texas. It provides highly secure fiber-based data, voice services, and data center access to nearly 10,000 enterprise and carrier customers and connects more than 80 colocation data centers. With a 40-year history and known for its outstanding Texas-based customer service, flexible and fast connectivity options, and best-in-class reliability due to its built-for-business fiber network, LOGIX offers a broad range of business voice and data options. Services include Business Voice, Business Internet, Business Ethernet, SD-WAN, Business Wavelength, Business Voice Cloud, Business Voice Trunks, Data Centers, and Cloud Connect. For more information call 281-336-9006 or visit LOGIX.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005351/en/

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[April 11, 2023] Rocket Software to Explore the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on IBM i at COMMON's POWERUp Conference

Rocket Software, a global technology leader that develops enterprise software for some of the world's largest companies, today announced it is sponsoring and leading multiple sessions at POWERUp, the leading and largest IBM i education and networking event. 1 Rocket Software experts will present on how artificial intelligence (AI) will change how businesses approach their IBM i strategy, as well as cover topics including modernization, cloud storage, and multi-factor authentication in subsequent sessions. The event will take place April 24-27, 2023, in Denver, Colorado and is hosted by COMMON - the world's largest association of IT professionals that focus on IBM and related technologies.2 AI is playing an increasingly pivotal role in IT organizations, and this is no less true of the IBM i space. With AI, IBM i leaders have the information, insight, and recommendations to understand how best to optimize and modernize their IBM i environments. But, in order to take full advantage of this technology, IT leaders need to set the foundation now. During a sponsored presentation on Monday, April 24 from 4-5 p.m. MDT, Rocket Software's Herman Rensink, Distinguished Engineer, and Jeroen van Dun, Senior Manager, Product Management, will dive deeper into this topic to identify the data that organizations need to collect today in order to provide the dataset for the next generation of AI/ML tomorrow. "With AI, IBM i teams are evolving IT practices that will set organizations up for accelerated innovation and success now and in the future," said Puneet Kohli, President, Application Modernization Business Unit, Rocket Software and member of COMMON's Board of Directors. "Conversations around AI and other technologies' impact on IBM i will be at the forefront during POWERUp, and we look forward to bringing Rocket Software's vision and passion to those discussions on site." Rocket Software experts will be hosting multiple sessions at the event, including: Monday, April 24 | How AI/ML Drives the Future of IBM i Modernization| 4-5 p.m. MDT Description: In this session, Herman Rensink and Jeroen van Dun will hold a future-facing discussion about AI, ML, and IBM i strategy as it relates to the optimization and modernization of IBM i environments.



Wednesday, April 26 | Are Traditional Licenses Impeding Your Journey to the Cloud | 8-9 a.m. MDT Description: In this session, Harald Braunlich, Senior Product Manager at Rocket Software, will discuss why technology with physical serial numbers lack the flexibility to move from server to server while maintaining licensing and the best practices to avoid license violations. Wednesday, April 26 | Back Up to the Cloud with IBM Cloud Storage Solutions for i | 1:30-2:30 p.m. MDT

Description: In this session, Hrithik Govardhan, Software Lead at Rocket Software, will explain how to get the best performance out of cloud storage solutions for IBM i and eliminate the need for tape drives, tape cartridges, and courier services for off-site storage. Thursday, April 27 | Automated Compliance, Integrity Monitoring, and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for IBM i | 8-9 a.m. MDT Description: In this session, Tim Hill, Distinguished Engineer at Rocket Software, will speak on the need for multi-factor authentication on Power systems (e.g., new compliance standards and Federal mandates). He'll also walk through real-time security and compliance checking enforcement for IBM i, AIX, and Linux on Power. To view the full list of sessions, including more of Rocket Software's sessions, click here. Visit the Rocket Software team at POWERUp 2023 at booth #500 to learn how organizations can disrupt without disruption. About Rocket Software Rocket Software partners with the largest enterprises, in all industries, to solve their most complex IT challenges, across infrastructure, data, and applications - with solutions that simplify, not disrupt their modernization journey. Trusted by over 10,000 customers, Rocket Software helps enterprises modernize in place with a hybrid cloud strategy, so they don't need to re-platform or build from the ground up. The company's 2,600 global employees work with customers to accelerate and optimize their modernization journey while meeting evolving market needs. Rocket Software is a privately held U.S. corporation headquartered in the Boston area with centers of excellence strategically located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Rocket Software is a portfolio company of Bain Capital Private Equity. Follow Rocket Software on LinkedIn and Twitter or visit www.RocketSoftware.com. ____________________

1 "POWERUp" is a trademark of COMMON A Users Group,

2 "IBM" and "IBM i" are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005293/en/

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[April 11, 2023] Nature's Generator Donates $27,500 In-Kind to the Share the Sun Project

The donations, including $22,500 in discounts and five Gold systems, will directly benefit the underserved communities of the U.S. Virgin Islands OXNARD, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nature's Generator, a leader in renewable solar and wind-powered home generators, announced today its in-kind donation of $27,500 to Share the Sun, a public-private coalition coordinated by the Rotary Club of St. Thomas East Eco with a mission to educate residents about renewable sustainable energy. The donations, including $22,500 in product discounts and five 1800-watt Systems, will directly benefit the underserved communities of the U.S. Virgin Islands. "It is heartening to see diverse organizations converge in their mission goals of fighting climate change and helping people by using nature-based solutions," said Lawrence Zhou, CEO of Nature's Generator. "Nature's Generator is proud to partner with such an esteemed coalition to bring reliable renewable energy to more households around the world." Rotary International, one of the largest service groups in the world, has an Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) with the mission to empower Rotarians worldwide to address the climate crisis and reduce carbon emissions by promoting projects with nature-based solutions for reducing greenhouse gasses. Part of their network is the St. Thomas Rotary East Eco Club of the U.S. Virgin slands, which co-manages the Share the Sun program along with Community Action Now (CAN).



Nature's Generator was founded on the principle that affordable solar equipment to harness the clean renewable energy of the sun should be available to people everywhere to fight climate change and provide families with reliable electricity. When Zhou learned a large order of 1800-Watt portable Gold Systems was headed to this Coalition, he wanted his company to do its part. Zhou identified with the ESRAG and Share the Sun's goals of promoting renewable energy and ensuring environmental sustainability, basically protecting the world's ecosystems so they can continue to supply life-sustaining benefits. He was gratified when the first of the Nature's Generator portable solar-powered systems were distributed by CAN and Rotary East Eco at the Romeo Malone Community Center in Savan, in St. Thomas. Since then, the Share the Sun program has now been expanded to the island of St. John.

Many residents who picked up solar generator systems said they happily participated in the Share the Sun campaign. They met a low-to mid-income qualification to receive the solar-systems at a significantly reduced cost. Many explained they were motivated by expensive power rates and the need for backup because of the local utility's unreliable power. Many also noted the clean renewable energy element. At the distribution, Gracia Lettsome of CAN, instructed customers on the solar system's use explaining "It's a simple plug and play. It's a 100-watt [solar] panel and an 1800-watt generator. They can set it up anywhere that has sun." Zhou confirmed, "Point the panels toward the sun, plug the panels into the generator and you're ready to play. It's that easy. We design all our Nature's Generator products with ease of operation in mind." About Nature's Generator Nature's Generator was founded in California in 2015 with an ambitious mission: combating climate change by providing affordable clean energy to all. For over 8 years now, they have been an industry leader in the engineering, development, design and manufacturing of solar and wind powered generators, wind turbines, solar panels, power transfer switch kits and accompanying accessories. Nature's Generator, Inc. partners with retailers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Sam's Club, Cabela's, Tractor Supply, HD Supply, Camping World, Amazon, Overstock and many others independent dealers and retailers in North America and around the world. To learn more about Nature's Generator, please visit: https://naturesgenerator.com/pages/about-us. Media Contact:

Kent Borden-Ha

(888) 317-4687 ext. 708

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natures-generator-donates-27-500-in-kind-to-the-share-the-sun-project-301793332.html SOURCE Nature's Generator Inc

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[April 11, 2023] 2023 GVTC IMPACT Award Winners

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The most destructive ice storm in GVTC Communications company history hit their service area this year, leaving many GVTC customers without power and internet. With over 1,500 trouble tickets after the storm, GVTC reached out for help to partners across the state. HCTC, Btel, and Colorado Valley Communications stepped up to ensure GVTC could resolve their customer's issues as quickly as possible. GVTC is proud to announce that HCTC, Btel, and Colorado Valley Communications have won the 2023 GVTC IMPACT Award. This prestigious award is given to the vendors/partners that best complement GVTC's values and strategic initiatives by building a strong relationship with GVTC through cost reductions, product innovation, quality improvement, service, teamwork, integrity, community involvement, or fiercely loyal customer principles. Charlie Greenberg, President and CEO of Btel said, "Btel takes its responsibility of being a good neighbor seriously, and when we received the call from GVTC, we knew what we needed to do. We are excited to receive this award and will continue to support GVTC." "As a fellow rural telecommunications company, we know how important the services we provide are, that is why we did not hesitate to help GVTC in their moment of need. HCTC is honored to be recognized with this distinction, which speaks to both companies' core values and commitment to excellence," said Craig Cook, CEO of HCTC. "Colorado Valley Communications shares the same passion as GVTC for investing in communities and keepin customers connected, which is why when we found out GVTC needed our help, we headed straight to the Hill Country. We are ecstatic to be recognized with this award and will always lend GVTC a hand when needed," said Kelly Allison, President and General Manager of Colorado Valley Communications.



Each company's immediate response, generosity, and dedication to helping GVTC restore service to its customers greatly impacted the community. All of the companies sent their vehicles, tools, and personnel which played a significant role in GVTC's ability to respond to this emergency. These companies worked tirelessly to assist in repairing all issues, and their commitment to GVTC customers' well-being was evident in their efforts to restore services. "The outstanding efforts of HCTC, Btel, and Colorado Valley Communications deserve recognition for their selflessness during this historic ice storm. These companies' dedication to helping those in need is an inspiration to us all, and they represent the very best of what a great partner should be. Their willingness to assist us in this critical situation is a testament to the strength of our partnership", said GVTC's President and CEO, Ritchie Sorrells.

HCTC, Btel, and Colorado Valley Communications went above and beyond for GVTC customers, and GVTC celebrates their commitment to their community members as an Impact Partner. About GVTC:

GVTC is an award-winning fiber optics communications provider delivering high-speed Internet, digital cable TV, phone, and interactive smart security to residential and business customers in far north San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country, and South-Central Texas. GVTC offers Internet connection speeds up to 1 Gbps. GVTC's wholesale carrier transport network delivers Ethernet data delivery between San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston, with access to remote Texas markets. The company's philanthropic arm, The GVTC Foundation, is celebrating more than a decade of charitable giving. More than $5.5 million in contributions have been given throughout GVTC's service area. Contact:

John Hill- Communications and Ecommerce Manager

Office: (830) 8858282

[email protected]

www.gvtc.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2023-gvtc-impact-award-winners-301794386.html SOURCE GVTC Communications

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[April 11, 2023] Menlo Security Illustrates Importance of Browser Security as 4 in 5 Ransomware Attacks Include Threats Beyond Data Encryption

Menlo Security, a leader in browser security, today shared results from the CyberEdge Group's 10th Annual Cyberthreat Defense Report (CDR). This year's report, sponsored in part by Menlo Security, highlights the growing importance of browser isolation technologies to combat ransomware and other malicious threats. This continues to be critically important as the research revealed that 78% of ransomware attacks include threats beyond data encryption. Threat actors know today's employees spend most of their time working in their web browser, making it both a critical business asset and an attractive attack vector if not properly protected. More than half (51%) of respondents use some form of browser or Internet isolation to protect their organizations, with another 40% planning to deploy this type of technology in the next 12 months. Furthermore, 33% of respondents noted that browser isolation is a key element of their cybersecurity strategy for protecting against sophisticated attacks such as ransomware, phishing and zero-day attacks. This growing focus on browser security is validated by CDR findings that four in five respondents said that when victimized by ransomware attacks, which are often delivered through the browser, they faced the consequences of multiple threats if they did not pay the ransom. These multi-level attacks included threats to publicly release exfiltrated data (40%), notify customers/media of a data breach (42%) or commit a DDoS attack against the organization (42%). "Evasive web threats, including Highly Evasive Adaptive Threats (HEAT), often come through the web browser and easily ypass multiple layers of detection in prominent security technology, resulting in malware, compromised credentials, and, many times, ransomware," said Mark Guntrip, senior director of cybersecurity strategy at Menlo Security. "The CDR shows that the risk of ransomware delivered via a HEAT attack is becoming even more serious, with multiple threats in one payload. Preventing it is critical and browser isolation technologies are a highly effective way to do so."



This year's CDR notes browser isolation as an up-and-coming technology that allows employees to perform activities such as accessing websites, opening emails and downloading documents in an isolated environment in the cloud. Because the browser session is isolated, any malware, ransomware or other threats are unable to reach corporate systems, negating the effectiveness of even sophisticated attacks. "It's exciting to see browser isolation technologies embraced by CDR respondents, in part because they're designed to improve security without affecting the end user's experience at all," said Steve Piper, founder and CEO of CyberEdge Group. "We think that we'll all be hearing more about the importance of this type of technology in the future."

About the CDR In November 2022, 1,200 IT security decision makers and practitioners completed a 27-question online survey. Each participant was employed by a commercial or government entity with a minimum of 500 employees. Participants came from six geographic regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. The CDR gauges perceptions about cyberthreats and ascertains future plans for improving security and reducing risk. It empowers IT security professionals to benchmark their company's security posture, operating budget, product investments, and best practices against peers in their industry and geographic region. About CyberEdge Group CyberEdge Group is an award-winning research and marketing consulting firm serving the diverse needs of information security vendors and service providers. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, with 60+ consultants based across North America, CyberEdge works with approximately one in every six IT security vendors. The company's annual Cyberthreat Defense Report provides information security decision makers and practitioners with practical, unbiased insight into how enterprises and government agencies defend their networks in today's complex cyberthreat landscape. For more information, visit www.cyber-edge.com. The CyberEdge Group name and logo are trademarks of CyberEdge Group, LLC in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. About Menlo Security Menlo Security protects organizations from cyberattacks by eliminating the threat of malware from the web, documents, and email. Menlo Security's patented Isolation-powered cloud security platform scales to provide comprehensive protection across enterprises of any size, without requiring endpoint software or impacting the end user-experience. Menlo Security is trusted by major global businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, eight of the ten largest global financial services institutions, and large governmental institutions. The company is backed by Vista Equity Partners, Neuberger Berman, General Catalyst, American Express Ventures, Ericsson Ventures, HSBC, and JP Morgan Chase. Menlo Security is headquartered in Mountain View, California. For more information, please visit www.menlosecurity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005437/en/

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[April 11, 2023] UES Expands Geotechnical Expertise with Acquisition of Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt

The Nation's Fastest-Growing Engineering and Consulting Firm Makes Strategic Acquisition of Little Rock, AR-based Firm



ORLANDO, Fla., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UES, a national leading engineering and consulting company, has acquired Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt, a geotechnical engineering and materials testing firm headquartered in Little Rock, AR. Founded in 1964, Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt includes an experienced professional and technical team based in the Little Rock headquarters, the firm's branch office in Springdale, AR, and the satellite office in El Dorado, AR. The firm focuses on solving foundation and earth structure problems, offering services such as geotechnical investigations, engineering analysis and design, subsurface exploration, and field and laboratory testing. With its experienced personnel and fleet of exploration equipment, Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt has provided services to numerous roadways, bridges, airports, low and high-rise structures, earthen dams and levees, landfills, and hazardous waste facilities. Noteworthy projects include: Interstate 30 improvements in Saline and Pulaski Counties, ARDOT Connecting Arkansas projects, The Clinton Presidential Library, ARDOT Bridge Replacement Program, Pulaski County Big Dam Bridge and Two Rivers Bridge, Little Rock National / Clinton National Airport expansion projects, ARDOT Interstate 630 Improvements, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Expansion Project, and Cypress Cold Storage-Springdale, among others. Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt joins the Midwest Region of UES, led by Ed Alizadeh, PE, JD, President of the Midwest Region. Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt's leadership team will continue to operate the day-to-day business. "We're proud and excited to expand our geotechnical epertise with the Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt team," said UES CEO Dave Witsken. "Their reputation as geotechnical problem solvers is well regarded, and, with their addition, we look forward to growing our services in the southern portion of the Midwest Region."



Mark Wyatt, President of Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt, said that "The opportunity to join the UES team accommodates the long-term goals for our firm to provide quality geotechnical testing and materials testing services throughout Arkansas and gives us the opportunity for expansion. We have previously teamed with the Geotechnology group on numerous projects, benefiting both firms. Becoming a part of the Midwest Region of UES will bring additional personnel and equipment and a broad increase in capabilities to our firm." With nearly six decades of experience and recognition as the premier engineering and consulting firm in the geotechnical engineering space, UES is well-positioned to serve the needs of commercial, residential, and civic customers across the country.

Beginning in 2019, UES' acquisitions have included prominent engineering firms including: Universal Engineering Sciences, GFA International, Inc., NOVA Geotechnical & Inspection Services, Contour Engineering, Wallace-Kuhl & Associates, Construction Testing & Engineering, SUMMIT Engineering, Laboratory & Testing, GEOServices, McGinley & Associates, Geotechnology, Alpha Testing, GSI Engineering, Speedie & Associates, Rock Engineering Testing & Laboratory, Dan Brown and Associates, Carmichael Engineering, Faulkner Engineering Services, and now Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt, which have made UES one of the largest, most resource-rich organizations of its kind nationwide. About Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt, Inc. is a geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing firm founded in 1964 in Fayetteville, AR. The firm relocated to Little Rock in 1964, where it remains headquartered, with a branch office in Springdale, AR, since 1995, and a satellite facility in El Dorado, AR, since 2016. The firm includes more than 40 team members, including engineers; geologists; soils, laboratory and materials technicians; drillers; and support personnel. The firm has certified laboratory facilities at each of the three locations. Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt, Inc. has provided geotechnical investigations and performed construction observation and materials testing for a large number of commercial, industrial, and municipal facilities throughout Arkansas and surrounding states over the past 59 years. About UES

UES is a privately held, rapidly growing engineering and consulting firm with nearly six decades of experience in geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, building code compliance, threshold inspections, and environmental consulting. With nearly 3,400 professionals across more than 70 branches in high-growth markets in the U.S., UES consults on projects of all sizes for public and private clients in industries ranging from transportation and healthcare to commercial, residential, and education. UES was named the Hot Firm of the Year by the Zweig Group for 2021 and 2022. For more information, please visit teamues.com or follow UES on Social Media . Media Contact:

Lindsay Graham

Director, Marketing & Communications

UES

407-310-7396

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ues-expands-geotechnical-expertise-with-acquisition-of-grubbs-hoskyn-barton--wyatt-301794578.html SOURCE UES

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If you're at or nearing retirement age, it's possible your boss wants you to retire, but you just haven't gotten the memo. Some employers take a direct approach when encouraging workers to start their golden years, while others use more understated tactics.

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With the exception of a few professions, mandatory retirement is illegal under the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1986. The decision to retire should always be in your hands, but unfortunately, it doesn't always go that way.

But before you become part of this stat, know the signs that your employer is trying to get you to retire earlier than you plan.

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They Stop Assigning Long-Term Projects

If the work you've been assigned to seems mundane or short term in nature lately, it might not be a coincidence.

"When you are no longer a part of your employer's vision, you are sidelined from crucial and long-term projects that actually add value for the organization," said Ketan Kapoor, co-founder and former CEO of Mettl, an HR technology company and leading talent measurement firm. "The idea is to rely less on your experience and onboard new people to take up a role with better efficiency and productivity."

Take Our Poll: What Do You Plan To Use Your Tax Refund For?

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You're Given Projects That Don't Require Strategizing

Consider it a red flag if your employer stops valuing your opinions.

"Your inputs in strategy and decision-making that shape the future of the organization might see a downward curve," Kapoor said. "Rather, you get (assigned) to more business as usual projects that have more to do with day-to-day operations and less with brainstorming and strategizing."

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They Stop Investing In You

"Continuous feedback and course corrections are vital for any professional to grow in their roles and contribute to the long-term vision of an organization," Kapoor said. "If your employer wants you to retire, they mostly cut down on the quantity and quality of the feedback they used to offer before."

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Not only that, your efforts might largely go unnoticed.

"You might also get cold responses on your achievements," Kapoor said. "Other than that, the amount and frequency of appreciation for your efforts can also take a back seat."

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Your Salary and Career Growth Is Halted

"Higher remuneration and position is one of the biggest factors that an employer provides an employee as an incentive to stay and continue growing," Kapoor said. "However, the amount of appraisals can decline when your employer wants you to retire."

If your raises keep getting smaller and you don't remember the last time you were promoted -- despite working hard for a company with a healthy bottom line -- something might be up. Do note, it's illegal to deprive you of a promotion simply because of your age, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

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They Try To Make Your Role Redundant

"Many a time, your employer can try to merge your role with a different department or even make it obsolete," Kapoor said.

Not exactly a subtle move. If there's talk of eliminating your position entirely, your boss is probably hoping you'll follow your job out the door. They likely can't force you to retire, but they're betting you'll opt to begin your golden years, instead of learning an entirely new job.

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Rude Comments About Your Age

If your employer makes jokes about your age or allows your colleagues to do so, this could be their way of encouraging you to retire, said Jeanne Miller Rodriguez, CEO and owner of Pennico Press Publishing.

Lighthearted teasing, offhand comments and isolated incidents not serious in nature aren't unlawful, according to the EEOC. However, comments made frequently or maliciously that create a hostile work environment are illegal, so it's important to know your rights.

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Your Supervisor Becomes More Hands-On

If your boss has been hovering, micromanaging and criticizing your work more than in the past, they might be trying to get you to retire, said Rodriguez, who previously served as deputy director for the California Department of Social Services.

It's not right, but if this behavior sounds familiar, you might not actually be doing anything wrong. Nitpicking could be your manager's indirect way of trying to make your workday unpleasant so you'll step down from your position.

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You're Treated Differently Than Younger Colleagues

A manager who creates different standards for proficiency, depending on employee age, could be sending a message, said Rodriguez, who is also the author of the books "Ready, Set, Work!" and "Ready, Set, Supervise!" Furthermore, if your younger co-workers receive better, more desirable assignments, this might be more than luck of the draw.

Look closely at the way your boss treats younger employees. If you're clearly held to a different standard, their intentions might not need much interpretation.

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Disciplinary Action Is Taken for No Reason

If your boss starts formal disciplinary action against you, despite not having a decline in performance, Rodriguez said this could be a push for you to retire.

Hopefully this won't happen to you, but if it does, familiarize yourself with the signs so you know when to fight back.

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Your Retirement Becomes a Topic of Conversation

If you choose to discuss your impending retirement, that's one thing, but it's a different story if your employer brings it up. Point-blank asking about your plans for retirement and making not-so-subtle comments about how much you might enjoy it could be a sign your boss is hoping you'll give your notice, Rodriguez said.

Most likely, this will frustrate you -- and rightfully so -- because the decision to retire is a major move that shouldn't be pushed on you.

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A Lot of Talk About Cost-Cutting Measures

It's a bit more indirect than other approaches, but the underlying message is the same. If your employer constantly complains about budget cutbacks and the cost of employee salaries and benefits, this could be their way of encouraging you to retire, Rodriguez said.

For example, in 2017, the Napa Valley Unified School District encouraged more than 60 employees -- mostly teachers -- to retire early, reported the Napa Valley Register. The move was an effort to save millions of dollars in salary and benefits.

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An Incentive Is Thrown Your Way

Some companies offer what Rodriguez refers to as a "golden boot" -- a positive incentive to retire, such as increased vacation credits or a monetary bonus. For workers with pensions and/or early retirement benefits, she said employers are often motivated by finances.

"The more older workers who retire early, the more vacant positions they leave, which can then be eliminated and thus help the bottom line," she said. "And even if employers choose not to eliminate the vacant positions left by recent retirees, they can fill those positions with lower-salaried employees with fewer or reduced benefits."

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Your Work Hours Are Reduced

When you're paid by the hour, you need to spend a certain amount of time at work each week to pay the bills. If your employer has been cutting your hours for no apparent reason, this could be a way to wear you down.

If your hourly rate is higher than younger employees, your boss might be trying to reduce payroll expenses. Take inventory of other colleagues receiving less time on the schedule and if they're all older -- or it's just you -- consider this move suspicious.

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You're Isolated From the Group

If you're regularly left out of meetings and team activities, this might not be an accident. Making you feel like an outsider could be a ploy to encourage you to retire because feeling like the odd person out isn't fun at any age.

Another form of seclusion might come in the form of moving your desk away from the group. Hindering your ability to communicate and contribute to the team could be your employer's way of making you feel like you no longer belong.

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You're Not Given the Proper Resources

No matter how talented you are, having the support of your employer is necessary to perform to the best of your ability. If your boss refuses to provide you with the necessary tools and assistance to do your job, they might be setting you up to fail.

Poor performance could give them a reason to fire -- or at least demote -- you. It might seem unfathomable, but it's not unheard of for employers to take this sly approach.

jacoblund / Getty Images/iStockphoto

What To Do if Your Employer Wants You To Retire

If any of these signs ring true to you, you likely feel like your employer is pushing you out the door -- even if you're not ready. Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your job if this is the case.

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Have a Frank Conversation With Your Boss or Manager

If actions taken by your boss or manager have made you feel uncomfortable or undervalued, set up a time to talk with them openly and honestly about why you feel this way. You might also include a member of the human resources department in the conversation if you don't feel comfortable having the discussion one-on-one.

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Go To HR

If your boss or manager's behavior has crossed a line and gone beyond something you feel you can chat openly with them about, consider bringing the issue straight to the HR department. Human resources professionals are meant to be advocates for employees, so they should be able to provide you with impartial advice for the next steps, or they can speak to your boss or manager on your behalf about what has really been going on.

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Take Legal Action

If you've spoken to human resources and your boss or manager and nothing has changed, it might be time to take legal action. You can file a formal charge of age discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission if you are 40 or older and have experienced any of the following:

You believe your age has played a factor in your pay, job assignments, promotions, training or benefits

You've been the victim of frequent or severe age-related harassment that has created a hostile or offensive work environment

An employment policy or practice enacted by your employer has negative consequences for you because of your age

To file a claim, you can fill out a form online through the EEOC Public Portal, by telephone, at a state or local Fair Employment Practice Agency or by mail.

Once your charge is filed, you can either go into mediation with your employer, or the EEOC might go straight into an investigation. If the EEOC finds that a law may have been violated, they will work to reach a voluntary settlement with your employer. If they cannot determine if a law has been violated, or if they do find that a law has been violated and your employer refuses to settle, you may proceed to sue your employer.

More From GOBankingRates

Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 15 Signs Your Employer Wants You To Retire
[April 11, 2023] Gertsburg Licata Opens Troy Office, Offers Business Law and Strategic Growth Solutions to Entrepreneurs in the Greater Detroit Area

Gertsburg Licata Co., LPA a leading Cleveland-based business law firm, announced today the opening of a new branch office in Troy, Michigan. The expansion allows Gertsburg Licata to offer their exceptional legal services to businesses based in Michigan, while also building upon the firm's commitment to providing top-notch legal counsel to businesses throughout the Midwest. "We are thrilled to expand our practice to Troy," said Louis J. Licata, Esq., managing partner and Troy office lead. "Our team of attorneys are passionate about helping businesses achieve their objectives and grow, and we look forward to bringing our expertise and personalized approach to clients in Michigan." Gertsburg Licata has established an excellent reputation since its launch in 2021, serving as trusted legal advisors to startups, small businesses and middle-market enterprises. The Troy branch will provide full-service business legal services in the areas of business transaction, litigation and arbitration, and regulatory matters. In addition to its legal services, the firm has launched CoverMySix, a proactive legal audit system designed to help businesses mitigate potential litigation exposure. The firm's sister companies include Gertsburg Licata Acquisitions, an M&A advisory, and Gertsburg Licata Talent, an executive search and placement firm.



"Our mission is to help entrepreneurs and business leaders find freedom and growth, and to become a trusted partner in their success," said Licata. "We understand that legal issues can be complex and stressful, which is why we prioritize clear communication, tailored solutions and personalized attention to each client we serve." The Troy office is now open and accepting clients. To learn more about Gertsburg Licata, or to schedule a time to speak with a Michigan attorney, please visit the Troy office practice page.

About Gertsburg Licata Gertsburg Licata Co., LPA (G&L) is a full-service business law and strategic advisory firm representing and serving entrepreneurs and executives of middle-market enterprises in business transactions, litigation and arbitration, and regulatory matters. Gertsburg Licata is home of CoverMySix, a unique, anti-litigation audit developed specifically for middle-market companies. G&L is the sister company of Gertsburg Licata Acquisitions and Gertsburg Licata Talent. To learn more about Gertsburg Licata, please visit www.gertsburglicata.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005835/en/

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[April 11, 2023] Virtualware inks a 1.16M Multi-Year Agreement in Central America to introduce its VIROO platform in local universities

BILBAO, Spain, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spanish technology company Virtualware, one of the European leaders in the virtual reality industry, has signed a multi-year contract with Corporacion Digital SA de CV under which the company will further introduce VIROO at the University of El Salvador.

The agreement is worth approximately 1.16 million. As a result of the contract, Virtualware guarantees University of El Salvador the use of VIROO subscription plans for the next three years including the installation and maintenance of six additional VIROO VR rooms at different university campuses. Corporacion Digital, a member of VIROOs Partner Program, has been dedicated to the development of innovation projects in the area of ICT and Audiovisual in Central America for more than two decades. From its HQ in El Salvador, the company has been working in the Private, Academic and Public sectors, looking for those unattended technology needs that impact on the new forms and trends of information processing. "We are thrilled to bring our VIROO platform to the University of El Salvador and help improve the way people teach and learn. With VIROO, Central American teachers will have the ability to create and deploy vrtual reality learning resources and activities autonomously, making the Virtual Reality-driven content creation process much simpler and valuable. This multi-year agreement with Corporacion Digital is a significant milestone for Virtualware as we continue to expand our reach and stablish VIROO as the standard for developing industrial and educational Virtual Reality applications worldwide," said Unai Extremo, CEO of Virtualware.



"We have found VIROO to be one of the most complete and adaptable solutions for the education and training needs that our region is beginning to demand. Through this agreement, we will improve the way many people teach and learn at the University of El Salvador, said Luis Segovia, Managing Director of Corporacion Digital. Virtualwares flagship product VIROO, the world's pioneering VR as a Service (VRaaS) platform, makes Virtual Reality accessible to companies and institutions of all sizes and sectors. It is an all-in-one digital solution that enables the development and deployment of multi-user Virtual Reality applications remotely.

VIROO is already used by more than 40 companies and institutions worldwide including GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Ontario Power Generation, Gestamp, ADIF, the Spanish Ministry of Defense, El Retono Technological University, and EAN University. The enterprise VR platform has been the backbone to develop strategic projects for defense ministries, critical infrastructure training projects, and innovative educational programs. VIROO aims to become the standard for developing industrial end educational Virtual Reality applications worldwide. Founded in 2004, Virtualware is one of the pioneering companies in the field of Virtual Reality, where its team of more than 50 people has already developed more than 500 projects in more than 33 countries. It is headquartered in Bilbao, Spain, and has a North American office in Hamilton (Canada). The corporation will go public on Euronext Paris on April 20 in a bell-ringing ceremony to be presided over by the company's two founders, Unai Extremo and Sergio Barrera. The listing will take place in the Access segment and follows a year and a half of preparation. Euronext is the pan-European stock exchange that groups together the stock exchanges of Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Oslo, Milan, and Dublin.

Pedrosa IR [email protected]

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[April 11, 2023] Inszone Insurance Services Expands into Denver with Acquisition of Hahn & Associates Inc.

Inszone Insurance Services, a rapidly expanding national provider of benefits, personal, and commercial lines insurance, proudly announced today their acquisition of Hahn & Associates Inc. Founded in 1999, Hahn & Associates has earned a distinguished reputation for delivering exceptional service and maintaining strong relationships with clients. Founder Phil Hahn focused on leveraging referrals and community connections to grow his business, ultimately employing five additional team members. Following his wife's stage 4 cancer diagnosis, Mr. Hahn assisted his staff in finding new opportunities while he prioritized his wife's care. After her passing, Mr. Hahn scaled down his business, operating it as a one-person enterprise. He partnered with numerous non-profits, construction companies, and warehouses, many of which experienced financial challenges in 2008. Prioritizing relationship-building, Hahn & Associates achieved impressive client retention, with many clients remaining loyal for 10-20 years before retiring and closing their businesses. Regarding the decision to merge with Inszone Insurance, Phi Hahn, the former owner of Hahn & Associates Inc., commented, "Inszone felt like the right fit, and their exceptional customer service made me confident in entrusting my clients to them."



Chris Walters, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "Phil's dedication to the Denver community and his unwavering commitment to customer service are truly inspiring. We look forward to upholding this legacy as we work together to provide exceptional resources and support to every client." Hahn & Associates Inc. is a strategic part of Inszone's ongoing expansion efforts across the United States, as it helps establish a more robust presence in Denver and its surrounding areas. Existing Hahn & Associates Inc. customers can expect to receive the same exceptional level of service they have come to know, now delivered under the Inszone Insurance brand.

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage firm which provides a broad array of property & casualty insurance, along with employee benefits solutions. With a strong, experienced management team, Inszone continues to grow organically, as well as through acquisitions. With 40 locations across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, and Illinois, the company is looking to further expand throughout the United States. For more information about Inszone, please visit www.inszoneinsurance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005450/en/

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[April 11, 2023] ACT Capital Advisors Assists Fresh Consulting in Acquisition of Oktara

SEATTLE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ACT Capital Advisors, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisory firm, is pleased to announce that it assisted Fresh Consulting ("Fresh"), an innovation services firm, in its recent acquisition of Oktara, a Latin American software firm. This acquisition is part of Fresh Consulting's strategic plan to bolster its software development capabilities. "Oktara's founders care about people, growth, and innovation. They've fostered a culture that is deeply aligned with Fresh. They also attract top talent with modern programming stack experience in Latin America. With our combined skills, we can accelerate the roadmaps of our mutual clients, and tackle even larger-scale programs as one team," said Jeff Dance, Fresh founder and CEO. ACT Capital Advisors' deal team included Managing Director John Norton, Senior Associate Ivan Trindev, and Associates Garrison Glisson and Zack Hsieh. About Fresh Consulting

Fresh Consulting is a leading innovation services company specializing in designing and building strategies, brands, products, robotics, systems, and apps. Founded in 2007 in Bellevue, Washington, Fresh has since expanded to become a global enterprise. Wth a commitment to excellence and a focus on delivering exceptional results, Fresh Consulting has become a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes and across all industries. For more information, please visit https://www.freshconsulting.com/ .



About Oktara

Oktara is a Latin American software company that delivers world-class technology solutions to organizations of all sizes. Based in Costa Rica, Oktara specializes in software development, quality assurance, and project management services. Since its founding in 2011, Oktara has built a reputation for delivering innovative and high-quality solutions to clients across a range of industries, including healthcare, finance, and education. With a focus on teamwork, excellence, and client satisfaction, Oktara is committed to helping businesses achieve their goals and stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing digital landscape. For more information, please visit https://oktara.com/. About ACT Capital Advisors

ACT Capital Advisors is a premier mergers & acquisitions firm representing middle-market companies across all industries. ACT has a 30-year history of deal-making, closing 250+ transactions, and unlocking over $1.5 billion in wealth for its clients. For more information, visit https://actcapitaladvisors.com .

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/act-capital-advisors-assists-fresh-consulting-in-acquisition-of-oktara-301794793.html SOURCE ACT Capital Advisors

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[April 11, 2023] Organizational Success Is Expanding to Include ESG Performance - HR Plays Critical Role in Implementation, Says McLean & Company

Organizations' success is no longer measured solely by financial performance but also by how they contribute to a sustainable and equitable future. TORONTO, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - In a continuously evolving regulatory landscape, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are becoming increasingly visible and multifaceted. ESG-related issues are impactful not only to the global population but also to an organization's employees, as ESG initiatives play a role in helping employees to feel connected to a greater purpose in their work. With human resources (HR) acting as a collaborative partner in an organization's ESG journey, McLean & Company, the trusted research and advisory partner of HR leaders around the world, has released its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Primer. The new industry resource has been designed to assist organizational and HR leaders in understanding ESG programs and proactively unlocking the benefits for their organizations. The external pressures to implement ESG programs continue to surge. Fiduciary duty to shareholders, the visibility of climate change, greater awareness of social issues, and the recent emphasis by regulators on board accountability have driven organizations to adopt ESG programs. Global regulators have moved toward mandated disclosure of ESG-related matters, with over 730 policy revisions supporting, encouraging, or requiring investors to examine long-term factors, including ESG. "The need for ESG programs continues to grow," says LynnAnn Brewer, director of HR research and advisory services at McLean & Company. "This means that organizational and HR leaders must have a thorough understanding of ESG, its importance to shareholders, and its impacts on both internal and external stakeholders. ESG programs and initiatives must be implemented deliberately and with purpose or risk appearing as performative or ineffective."



ESG is often used to understand and measure how an organization impacts society. For example: Environmental  Relates to an organization's positive and negative impacts on the natural world, including policies to reduce organizational effects on the environment. Examples of environmental areas of focus include climate change, carbon emissions, and pollution levels.

 Relates to an organization's positive and negative impacts on the natural world, including policies to reduce organizational effects on the environment. Examples of environmental areas of focus include climate change, carbon emissions, and pollution levels. Social  Evaluates the organization's relationships with and impacts on its employees, contractors, consumers, and the broader community through employee wellbeing initiatives, employee resource groups (ERGs), and community outreach.

 Evaluates the organization's relationships with and impacts on its employees, contractors, consumers, and the broader community through employee wellbeing initiatives, (ERGs), and community outreach. Governance  Encompasses the systems an organization creates to integrate the environmental and social components into its operations, how it interacts with and receives feedback from stakeholders, and how it demonstrates ethical decision making through organizational transparency. For example, board management practices, compensation, regulatory compliance, anti-fraud and corruption policies, data hygiene, and security all fall under governance. McLean & Company notes in the new primer that approaches to ESG governance differ across industries and locations and depend on the organization's materiality assessment and goals. ESG programs also impact all organizational stakeholders: the typical scope of stakeholders is expanded, relationships with existing stakeholders are altered, and relationships with external stakeholders must be acknowledged as reciprocal. The firm also reminds HR and organizational leaders that HR is strategically placed to support an ESG program and help advance its goals.

"The role HR plays in the success of ESG programs may look different depending on the organization, but it is always imperative," explains Brewer. "The responsibility of ensuring alignment with the organization's core values and socializing the narrative internally rests with HR. Building an intentional narrative creates an interwoven organizational story that establishes values and initiatives, connecting everyone to one purpose." For full access to the firm's insights for HR professionals, download McLean & Company's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Primer. For additional research and support, visit mcleanco.com/services or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter. About McLean & Company Through data-driven insights and proven best-practice methodologies, McLean & Company offers comprehensive resources and full-service assessments, action plans, and training to position organizations to meet today's needs and prepare for the future. McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group. 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]. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/organizational-success-is-expanding-to-include-esg-performance--hr-plays-critical-role-in-implementation-says-mclean--company-301794620.html SOURCE McLean & Company

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[April 11, 2023] CNM Ingenuity Makes Strategic Investment to Further Develop Unmudl as Skills-to-Jobs Online Marketplace

Ingenuity, along with a list of other high-quality investors, helped raise over $1 million for Unmudl's expansion ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. , April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), through its workforce training arm CNM Ingenuity, is proud to announce it has joined other investors to raise over $1 million in new funding for the Unmudl Skills-to-Jobs Marketplace. Other new investors include Deborah Quazzo, Potencia Ventures, Cengage Group, and two firms in Canada  South Fraser Law Group and Family Dental Health. They have joined previous investors Stand Together Ventures Lab (STVL3, LLC); WGU Labs; Christopher L. Curran, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Tyton Partners; James Caras, Founder of Catalyst Education and Sapling Learning; Holly Sparkman, CFO at Windsor America; Stephanie Boone, Founder and CEO of Wondercide; and Dr. Kirpal Singh, psychiatrist, and philanthropist. CNM is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a founding college of Unmudl, the Skills-to-Jobs Marketplace powered by America's community and technical colleges, where learners around the country can take coursework provided by a consortium of colleges and employers. Unmudl facilitates access to workforce training as well as job-focused upskill and reskill courses across a diverse range of professions and trades. Through Unmudl , learners can achieve their education and career goals by simultaneously enrolling in online and in-person classes from multiple community colleges. "CNM is thrilled to watch Unmudl meet a number of growth milestones and we're now excited to watch as the organization continues to develop new and creative ways to serve the diverse needs of orking learners," says Tracy Hartzler, CNM's President and Chair of the Unmudl Steering Council.



As a founding college of Unmudl, CNM is aware that community colleges need to be agile and innovative to meet the constantly changing workforce needs of a rapidly evolving economy. More specifically, the need for an "upskilling and reskilling" educational system is growing because traditional job progression and work-to-retirement pathways have changed or even disappeared. Before the pandemic, CNM leaned into CNM Ingenuity's accelerated Deep Dive Technology bootcamps to meet this changing need because those programs allow learners to complete training for high-tech and high-demand jobs in as little as 10 weeks. Post-pandemic, the college has continued to offer these bootcamps and has also grown its offerings to include new skills-based training in other high-demand areas, such as mechatronics, that are available through the Unmudl portal.

"As community college leaders, we are always trying to ask ourselves, 'How do we meet our community where it needs to be met and develop programming that will help them the most?' Unmudl is a clear example of how we can answer this question," President Hartzler says. Unmudl also serves as a key resource for employers because the platform has a searchable database of learners with certifications and trainings that can quickly be matched to employer needs. Many employers rely on Unmudl for coursework to help their employees reskill or upskill in order to meet changing industry needs, and more than 55 employers have hired employees out of courses on Unmudl to fill positions. Because industry needs are evolving rapidly, Unmudl serves as a solution that can build and deliver a pipeline of potential employees with programs designed to specifically meet an industry need, or even more targeted for an individual company's needs. Currently, Amazon has a need to improve its process for finding and hiring equipment maintenance technicians, a specialized mechatronics position requiring a rigorous hiring schedule to meet growth demands. Amanda Willard, Strategic Workforce Developer, teamed with Unmudl and CNM to develop a customized " Mechatronics for Equipment Maintenance " course. The new program was launched in April 2022 and directly aligns to skill and competency requirements for Amazon's Maintenance Tech II positions. Today over 250 working learners have enrolled via Unmudl and some completers have been hired. Kyle Lee, CEO of CNM Ingenuity , says a single community college cannot meet the demands of all businesses that need qualified employees or upskilling programs, but by pooling resources through Unmudl, there's now an effective solution. "Unmudl allows for a critical scaling of the marketplace," he says. "Learners and businesses are both trying to grow, and Unmudl is the tool kit we can use to make that partnership work." Going forward, President Hartzler says she's excited to see continued growth at Unmudl and knows CNM will continue to benefit from the partnership. "Unmudl is allowing CNM and other community colleges to test the customer experience for both learners and employers and completely redesign this experience," she says. "Through that testing, we can then come back to CNM and CNM Ingenuity and figure out ways to use Unmudl's model to better meet the needs of our local community of learners and business partners." View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cnm-ingenuity-makes-strategic-investment-to-further-develop-unmudl-as-skills-to-jobs-online-marketplace-301794801.html SOURCE Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)

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[April 11, 2023] American Financial Group, Inc. Announces Its Conference Call and Webcast to Discuss 2023 First Quarter Results

American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: AFG) expects to release its 2023 first quarter results after 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. The release will be available shortly thereafter on AFG's website at www.AFGinc.com. In conjunction with its release, AFG will hold a conference call to discuss 2023 first quarter results at 11:30 a.m. (ET) on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. There are two ways to access the call. By Telephone Participants should register for the call here now or any time up to and during the time of the call, and will immediatey receive the dial-in number and a unique PIN to access the call. Registration details are also available by visiting https://www.AFGinc.com/news-and-events/event-calendar.



While you may register at any time up to and during the time of the call, you are encouraged to join the call 10 minutes prior to the start of the event. Via the Internet

The conference call and accompanying webcast slides will also be broadcast live over the internet. To access the event, click on the following link: https://www.AFGinc.com/news-and-events/event-calendar. A replay of the webcast will be available via the same link on our website, approximately two hours after the completion of the call. About American Financial Group, Inc. American Financial Group is an insurance holding company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Through the operations of Great American Insurance Group, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses. Great American Insurance Group's roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005772/en/

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Our TKC post title fact of life is important because . . .

KANSAS CITY CORPORATE HACKS DON'T WANT PUBLIC VOTING ON THE SOUTH LOOP PROJECT DESPITE EXORBITANT COSTS!!!

The plan here is to bully politicos into more funding until federal dollars somehow magically appear.

Here's tonight's propaganda session that uses interns & rubes as pawns . . .



The program will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a South Loop Project presentation, followed by an open house to review initial park designs and provide feedback.T his phase of the project is focused on formulating ideas for park programming, advancing the park concept through preliminary design, and conducting an environmental analysis in line with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

South Loop Project public meeting set for Tuesday - Downtown Council of Kansas City South Loop Project: Join us on Tuesday, April 11 You are invited to join the South Loop Project team for a public meeting from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at The Gallery event space. The program will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a South Loop Project presentation, followed by an open house to review initial park designs and provide feedback.

Kansas Citians Share Hopes for South Loop Link The $200 million proposal to cover the disruptive South Loop freeway with a four-block park should have a goal of becoming the "community front yard for downtown," according to a new public survey released today. More than 1,650 people offered their opinion either personally or online about what's tentatively called the South Loop Link.

Developing . . .
Crime reporting, public safety notices and updates on ALLEGED misdeeds posted for our close readers.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas, Missouri authorities warn families of 'sextortion' targeting teenagers Law enforcement authorities in both Kansas and Missouri are warning parents of sextortion targeting teenagers, particularly young boys. Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson says social media bots and fake profiles coerce children into sending explicit images and then extort them for money."They are almost impossible to prosecute," Thompson said.

No foul play suspected in death of inmate at Wyandotte County Detention facility KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An inmate was found dead at the Wyandotte County Detention Facility on Sunday afternoon. Joseph Herrington was found unresponsive by a deputy conducting meal service, according to the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office. Herrington, 42, was declared deceased by deputies and emergency medical services personnel.

Woman sues KCPD, alleges home was damaged during search, officers took $20K KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A woman claims in a federal lawsuit that Kansas City, Missouri, police officers kicked in her front door, damaged her home during a search and took about $20,000. Monecia Smith alleges in the lawsuit she saw a man she did not know knocked on the front door of her house at 12:17 p.m.

Man convicted of kidnapping, killing Kansas City man A Kansas City man has been convicted in the murder and fatal stabbing of Gilberto Gutierrez. Ahmad Herring was convicted Monday of second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action. Court records show Gilberto Gutierrez, 52, was reported missing in May 2021.

MSHP trooper charged with sexual abuse and kidnapping - ABC17NEWS Editor's note: This story was corrected to say Durbin met the alleged victim on March 23. COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An MSHP trooper is facing multiple charges. Jeffery Gilmore Durbin, 30, of Madison, Missouri, is charged with first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and third-degree kidnapping, a misdemeanor.

Passenger charged in disturbance that forced flight to divert to KCI KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A passenger on board an Alaska Airlines flight last week is facing federal charges for a disturbance that forced the flight to divert to Kansas City International Airport. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the United States District Court District of Western Missouri charged Chloe DaSilva, 32, with one count of interfering with a flight attendant.

Jury finds Shawnee man guilty of shooting at Independence police KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A jury has found a Shawnee, Kansas, man guilty of shooting at Independence, Missouri, police during a pursuit in October. The Jackson County, Missouri, Prosecutor's Office said 25-year-old James L. Gant has been found guilty of unlawful use of a weapon - shooting at/from a motor vehicle, two counts of second-degree assault, and three counts of armed criminal action.

1 person dies at hospital after Saturday afternoon shooting in KCMO One person died after a shooting Saturday afternoon in east Kansas City, Missouri. KCPD officers were dispatched around 1:30 p.m. to the 3900 block of South Benton Avenue after a report of gunfire in the area. The call was upgraded to a shooting while officers were en route.

Man convicted of murdering Overland Park teen sentenced to life in prison A Johnson County judge has sentenced a convicted murderer to life in prison. Raymond Cherry, earlier this year, was found guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated assault and felon in possession of a firearm in the 2019 shooting death of Ben Workman-Greco.Workman-Greco was 17 when he was shot and killed in 2019.

Father arrested, charged for allegedly shooting adult son to death in Kansas City home A 54-year-old man is accused of shooting his 21-year-old son to death in their home in Kansas City's East Blue Valley neighborhood. Prosecutors charged Jose P. Pilar, of Kansas City, with second degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Raul Sanchez.

Reality check on 2020 law to improve Missouri Coroner standards KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Nearly three years after the bill signing, Missouri coroner standards remain unchanged. In the state of Missouri, just about anyone can be the county coroner. The only requirements are that you must be 21 years old, you had to have lived in Missouri for a year and the county you're serving in for six months - and you must be a United States citizen.

How crime, lack of childcare is hurting Missouri's business industry JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - While the Missouri Chamber of Commerce is celebrating a big milestone, they also want stakeholders to know crime and the lack of childcare is affecting Missouri's economy. According to the chamber, more than 30% of parents in Missouri have left a job or passed on an opportunity in the past year because of childcare.

3rd KCK police officer shot last week released from hospital KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The third Kansas City, Kansas, police officer who was hospitalized after his tactical unit engaged suspected fentanyl dealers in a shootout last week has been released from the hospital. KCKPD announced Monday that the officer, who has not been named, was discharged.

Mental Well-Being Top Of Mind For Dispatcher He joined peer support groups and invested in Crisis Intervention Training. McAlpin also surveyed his peers to learn what resources they knew, hoping to increase this awareness. He then set up a resource library filled with books and pamphlets - focused on anxiety, financial stress, real-life issues - so that call takers and dispatchers could access help with ease.

Developing . . .
Given that conservative talker Tucker Carlson is the only one who seems to care about the rights of these violent protesters . . . It's probably a good idea to beg for mercy.



Here's a recap worth checking . . .



"A KCK contractor said he was was ridiculously ashamed before he was sentences to four months incarceration for joining a mobs attack on the U.S. Capitol."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
FS Bancorp, Inc.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1st Security Bank of Washington has named Ben Crowl to succeed Dennis OLeary as Chief Lending Officer (CLO), effective July 1, 2023. Crowl currently serves as Senior Vice President, Director of Consumer Lending. He previously served the Bank as Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending Team Lead.



Dennis OLeary has served as the Banks CLO since 2013. Dennis has been instrumental in guiding the Banks growth from $285 million in assets at December 31, 2011, the year he joined the Bank, to $2.63 billion at December 31, 2022. I cant imagine where we would be today without Denniss talent and contributions, said 1st Security Bank CEO Joe Adams. In true Dennis style, the succession timing was his idea. Some time ago Dennis asked me if our Board would consider him stepping back into his original role as SVP Director of Commercial Real Estate and Construction Lending. Dennis mentioned a desire for more time with his family after ten years as CLO. The Board and I viewed this as a win-win for both the Bank and Dennis. In this new capacity, Dennis will not only be able to pursue his passion for commercial real estate and construction lending, but also be able to assist Ben in his new CLO role. It is rare a newly appointed executive like Ben has the support and guidance of an on-site mentor like Dennis. We are excited for Dennis, Ben and the Bank.

Ben joined the Bank in 2018 and has more than 15 years of diverse experience in the banking industry, including many years as a commercial lender, team lead, and relationship manager. After beginning his career as a college intern at a local community bank in La Jolla, California, Ben found a passion for business banking and serving businesses and consumers alike.

"I am thrilled that Ben has the opportunity to succeed me in the CLO role," said Dennis O'Leary, Chief Lending Officer. "Ben has proven his leadership abilities in multiple managerial roles at the Bank, each time showing his unwavering commitment to our employees, customers, communities and Core Values."

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Ben currently serves on the Banks Asset/Liability, Asset Quality and Marketing committees. Ben also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northern Arizona University with a specialty in marketing and advertising. He is an honors graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School, a graduate school for banking held at the University of Washington. Ben has an Executive Leadership Certificate in Organizational Leadership from the University of Washington's Michael G. Foster School of Business.

Inspired by the power of community involvement, Ben has served on several nonprofit boards throughout his career and finds deep satisfaction in being able to use the skills he has developed in banking to give back and help others.

Media Contact:



Camberly Gilmartin

AVP Marketing Manager

1st Security Bank

Camberly.Gilmartin@fsbwa.com




New tech is under debate . . . Just a bit of advice before anyone gets their hopes up.

TECHNOLOGY ALWAYS WINS.

Sorry, but that's story story of human existence so far.

What's scary and what a lot of people don't see . . . Abortion is helping to drop American birth rates and more importantly . . . When women with incomes above the poverty line have access to birth control and/or abortion . . . They typically use it . . . And for better & worse . . . That usually means fewer newborns.

Meanwhile . . . The legal debate over health tech merely delays the inevitable . . .

No matter how much some of us might object, we will never again live in a world without abortion.

The struggle now for people of faith/conscience is to encourage women to show mercy and consider the lives of the unborn.

Good luck with that . . . Given that political rage-pr0n pretty much rules the news cycle and any semblance of compassion is absent from most discussions.

Accordingly . . . Here's the dead-tree op/ed on culture war partisan politics . . .





The two men  the attorneys general of Missouri and Kansas, respectively  both signed friend of the court briefs backing the Texas case that suspended the Food and Drug Administrations decades-old approval of the drug, named mifepristone. And in Kobachs case, the brief made a rather startling argument: The pill should be banned in defense of the democratic process.





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Missouri and Kansas AGs want to block abortion pill - for democracy, says Kris Kobach | Opinion If in the near future the U.S. Supreme Court decides to ban the abortion pill, you'll have Andrew Bailey and Kris Kobach to blame. The two men - the attorneys general of Missouri and Kansas, respectively - both signed friend of the court briefs backing the Texas case that suspended the Food and Drug Administration's decades-old approval of the drug, named mifepristone.

Suspension of mifepristone approval wouldn't be the end of medication abortion Even if U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision to suspend the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone goes through, there still will be a nonsurgical option for people to manage abortions at home.In the United States, the so-called abortion pill is actually two medications, mifepristone, sold under the brand names Mifeprex or Korlym, or known as RU-486, and misoprostol, which is taken about 24 to 48 hours later.The federal judge's ruling in Texas last week applies only to mifepristone.

Developing . . .
We talked about this compassionate response to community complaints recently . . . Here's more detail on what we think is one of the best moves the new top cop has enacted so far . . .



During the previous administrations reorganization, detectives with the Missing Persons Unit were re-distributed to the Sex Crimes and Juvenile units with responsibilities to co-investigate missing persons.



That often led to overworked detectives who were less communicative with concerned family members than the public would like.



Its extremely important to those family members, to those reporting parties, to have their voices heard and to make sure theres someone whos following up and can answer questions, that kind of thing, Major Leslie Foreman with the KCPD Violent Crimes Unit said.



Responding to such criticism from the public, new Chief of Police Stacey Graves has reinstated the Missing Persons Unit, which will include a sergeant and seven detectives when it officially relaunches on Sunday.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

KCPD reinstates Missing Persons Unit at new direction of Chief Graves KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department has re-formed the Missing Persons Unit, which former Chief of Police Rick Smith had disbanded. During the previous administration's reorganization, detectives with the Missing Persons Unit were re-distributed to the Sex Crimes and Juvenile units with responsibilities to co-investigate missing persons.

Chief Stacey Graves announces plan to bring back KCPD's missing persons unit I'M JITTERY, MCGEE. BACK TO YOU. HERE AT HOME, THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BRINGING BACK ITS MISSING PERSONS UNIT. CHIEF STACEY GRAVES MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE LAST BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING. THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT WILL OPERATE AS PART OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES DIVISION.

Developing . . .
Follow-up to the most daring granny in Missouri . . . Allegedly . . .



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.





Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

78-year-old Missouri bank robbery suspect: 'I didn't mean to scare you' A 78-year-old woman with two past bank robbery convictions faces new charges after authorities allege she handed a teller a note that said "I didn't mean to scare you" during a recent Missouri heist.Bonnie Gooch is jailed on $25,000 bond after she was charged with one count of stealing or attempting to steal from a financial institution in the holdup Wednesday in Pleasant Hill, The Kansas City Star reports.

And, yes, her story has resonated across the pond . . .
"Australia is a very big market and we want it in Greece," Kikilias noted

The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) will reopen in Australia, it was announced on Tuesday by Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and Australian Ambassador to Greece Arthur Spyrou, ANA reports.

Kikilias called his collaboration with the Australian ambassador "an excellent partnership," and he noted that he is "very happy that during his tenure we managed, with joint efforts, to reopen GNTO's office - which was once in Sydney - now in Melbourne." The Greek minister said that Spirou's father was the director of GNTO's Sydney office in the 1970s.

"Australia is a very big market and we want it in Greece," Kikilias added. He also pointed out that tourism in 2023 is so far already surpassing 2019's record-breaking numbers.

This summer season will be huge for Australian tourism in Greece, Spyrou pointed out, mentioning that 340,000 Australians visited Greece in 2019 "and the trend is going up."

Kikilias and Spyrou walked in the streets of Plaka, and the Australian diplomat observed that even though Acropolis and Plaka are major parts of one's experience in Greece, he noted that rock climbing and sea diving "are just as authentic an experience."

"It is all these that have given greater scope to the tourism of Greece, beyond the souvlaki and the sea. That is what an Australian will focus on, and that is what we will highlight with this effort."

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: Chris Phutully
The geostrategic importance of the port of Alexandroupolis was underlined by the French ambassador to Greece, Patrick Maisonnave, in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) released on Tuesday, ANA reports.

From the French frigate FREMM Languedoc, of the French navy, which docked on Monday in the port of the capital of Evros, the French ambassador told ANA-MPA that the frigate's arrival at the port constitutes another aspect of Greek-French defense cooperation and is considered very important.

Expressing his satisfaction at visiting Alexandroupolis for the second time in the space of a few weeks, he described the city as a very important port. He noted that its proximity to the Bosporus Strait endows it with a particularly strategic role, especially now due to the war in Ukraine. A war that, as he said, "is very close to us" while noting that France's presence there shows its support and solidarity. Recognizing the difficulty and complexity of Greece's role, he estimated that through the presence of the French navy in Alexandroupolis, another opportunity is given to prove France's support for Greece, a country that the French, as he said, love very much.

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: Jebulon
The year-long investigation dubbed 'Project Moneypenny' involved law enforcement in the U.S. and Ontario. Most of the arrested are under 30.
Two children were taken to hospital Monday night after a fire broke out at a Scarborough townhouse and spreading to a neighbouring unit.
Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies InvoCare's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

A total of 6 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership

Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

If you want to know who really controls InvoCare Limited (ASX:IVC), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 40% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

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.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of InvoCare, beginning with the chart below.

Check out our latest analysis for InvoCare

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About InvoCare?

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.

InvoCare already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. 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. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see InvoCare's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in InvoCare. The company's largest shareholder is Blue Eternal Holdings Pte. Ltd., with ownership of 19%. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 11% and 6.3% of the stock.

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We also observed that the top 6 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent.

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 plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of InvoCare

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of InvoCare Limited in their own names. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around AU$2.8m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

With a 34% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over InvoCare. 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.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 25%, of the company's shares. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too.

Many find it useful to take an in depth look at how a company has performed in the past. You can access this detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

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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Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Mastercard's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

A total of 19 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership

Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business

If you want to know who really controls Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), 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 88% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Mastercard.

View our latest analysis for Mastercard

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Mastercard?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that Mastercard does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. 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 Mastercard's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Mastercard. The MasterCard Foundation, Endowment Arm is currently the company's largest shareholder with 11% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 8.2% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 6.8% by the third-largest shareholder.

Story continues

A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 19 shareholders have a combined ownership of 50% implying that no single shareholder has a majority.

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 Mastercard

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Mastercard Incorporated in their own names. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$368m worth of shares (at current prices). In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 12% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Mastercard. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Mastercard .

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.

Join A Paid User Research Session

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Eric Omondi has been on the frontline when it comes to fighting for Kenyans for the high cost of living. He has done a couple of peculiar stuff just to prove that hes willing & ready to fight for netizens.





For the latter reason, Eric has had to face the police severally. He has been arrested a couple of times; and even went to court, where he was charged & released shortly after.





Eric has now taken to social media to call out the police for torturing him psychologically.





 The Kenya Police has arrested me 4 times ILLEGALLYThey have tortured me psychologically everytime they do so. They have Infringed on my rights and they Enjoy it and sometimes even laugh while doing it. You can only push a man too far.





He continued to warn the police against arresting him again.

I dare the Kenya police to Arrest me one more time and the thing I will do will change the Course of this COUNTRY. You are dealing with a man who is ready to lay his life on the line. ARREST ME ONE MORE TIME!!! PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME ONE MORE TIME.

Do you think Eric Omondi deserves such treatment?

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.

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Former G4S Employee Among More Arrested Over Thabo Bester prison Escape

Former G4S employee among more arrested over Thabo Bester prison escape





Cape Town  A 39-year-old former G4S employee and a 65-year-old man from Port Edward are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Tuesday following their arrest in connection with Thabo Besters prison escape.

Facebook rapist Bester was arrested in Tanzania on Friday evening, along with his accomplice, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, and a Mozambican national.

The SAPS said the multi-disciplinary team investigating Bester's escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre arrested the trio at the weekend.

The former G4S employee was arrested at his residence in Bloemfontein on Saturday, while the 65-year-old man was arrested at his home in Port Edward on Friday, the SAPS said.

Both suspects have been charged with aiding and abetting a convicted prisoner to escape from lawful custody.



Meanwhile, the delegation led by the SAPS deputy national commissioner for policing, Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, had arrived in Arusha, Tanzania, said the SAPS.

The team was engaging with its Tanzanian counterparts to finalise legal processes required towards bringing Bester and his accomplices to justice in South Africa.

SAPS national commissioner General Fannie Masemola welcomed the latest arrests and said the possibility of more arrests could not be ruled out.

General Masemola has again reiterated the appeal to media and the public to exercise patience and allow the investigators the space to conduct the investigations with no undue pressure and expectation, the SAPS said.

ALSO READ:

How Bester and Nandipha Were Beaten Up by Tanzanian Cops For Resisting Arrest

Who Is Dr Nandipha Magudumana? Age, Net Worth, Father, Brother, Husband

Thabo Bester Arrest: These Are The Names He and Nandipha Magudumana Travelled Under

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.

---
Jinsi ya Kudownload NIDA Number | Download Your National ID (NIDA), Kitambulisho Cha Taifa

NIDA National ID Verification Portal | Namba Za NIDA, Kitambulisho Cha Taifa, National ID Welcome to National ID Verification Portal

National Identification Authority (NIDA) is a public institution with a mandate of registering and issuing Secured National ID Cards to Citizen, Legal Residents and Refugees who are 18 years and above.

NIDA also manages National ID Database. Data stored in NIDA database is then shared by NIDA stakeholders eg. Banks, Social Security funds for their customer Identifications processes.

This portal is for retrieving information from National ID Database.

The National Identification Authority (NIDA) is responsible for registration and issuance of National Identification Cards to Tanzanian citizens and Legal

residents. Legal residents are eligible for NIDA card if they are in possession of valid resident permit and valid passport that are not less than six months.

Legal Residents dependents of 18 years and above are also eligible to get the NIDA ID. NIDA ID is the first requirement for business registration in Tanzania

for Citizens. Legal residents can use their passports to register their business but they need NIDA ID for general identification.

Intended users are

i) NIDA Stakeholders

ii) National ID card owner.

Who uses this portal to set PIN CODE which shall be used to disclose his or her information when needed.

FOLLOW LINKS BELOW....

GET YOUR NIDA ID NUMBER~CLICK HERE!

GET YOUR NIDA ID NUMBER (NIN)-CLICK HERE!

NIDA NATIONAL ID VERIFICATION PORTAL CLICK HERE!





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.

---
Jinsi ya Kupata TIN Namba Online Process how to Get Tin Number Online in Tanzania

Jinsi ya Kupata TIN Namba Online Process how to Get Tin Number Online in Tanzania

OTS TRA Tin number online Application,www.tra.go.tz tin number online, jinsi ya kupata tin number, tra tin number search download, online tin registration portal, tra tin login , tin number certificate online download,Download Tin Number Online Tanzania TRA TIN namba Application,KUPATA Tin Namba Online Tanzania TRA TIN number Application,Jinsi ya Kupata TIN Namba Online Process how to Get Tin Number Online in Tanzania

What is the Tin number?

TAN, which stands for Taxpayer Identification Number, is a designation for tax-related numbers. The abbreviations from the full version can be made up of numbers or letters. Several African countries, including Tanzania, have adopted it since it was first introduced in the United States of America.

How many types of TIN Number are there in Tanzania?

In Tanzania there are two types of TIN which are business TIN numbers and non-business TIN numbers, this means if you want to do business and need a TIN number you will need to have a business TIN number

TIN is required for which type of payment

TIN number is used in payment of business, employment, investment and other non-tax related events like drivers license

Can you have more than one TIN Number for various TRA Tanzania Payments?

No, it is not possible to have more than one TIN number for one person, one person should have only one TIN number

If you dont have a NIDA number, can you get a TIN Number In Tanzania?

It is possible to get a TIN number even if you dont have a NIDA number, all you have to do is come to the TRA offices with your voting ID or go with a letter from the Local Government office

Jinsi ya kupata Tin number Online

How can I get my TIN number online in Tanzania?

To get TRA TIN Number online you must have NIDA Number

Once you have the NIDA number, log in to the TRA website which is www.tra.go.tz

select Online TIN Registration

Then Follow other Steps as Required, Its Easy

Frequently Aked Questions About TIN Number Registration

Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) TIN Registration Desk

[caption id="attachment_22353" align="aligncenter" width="741"]Jinsi ya Kupata TIN Namba Online Process how to Get Tin Number Online in Tanzania[Jinsi ya Kupata TIN Namba Online Process how to Get Tin Number Online in Tanzania[/caption]

Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) introduces a system of tax payer identification called as Tin Number and delegated it to BRELA office Jengo la Ushirika 6th floor along Lumumba,Ilala in Dar es Salaam.

OTS TRA

This is the mechanism designed by Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to simplify or shorten the wait time for persons who want Taxpayers Identification Numbers. TRA uses online technology service to enable people who have Internet Access to make All Tin Application online in easy stages. ots tra

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR TIN NUMBER

jinsi ya kupata tin number, www.tra.go.tz tin number online,tra tin login, tin number certificate online download

tra tin number search download, online tin registration portal , tra online registration,tin number check by name

ALSO READ: Download Your National ID (NIDA) Number Free Here | Get Your NIDA ID Number | National ID Verification Portal

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.

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Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

Upsurge in Edentulous People Creates Lucrative Opportunities for Growth Strategy. Acrylic Teeth Market to Register a CAGR of 8.5% through 2033. Increasing digitization with CAD/CAM technology and the rising prevalence of dental issues are the main factors propelling the growth of the acrylic teeth market, with the 3D printing segment emerging as the dominant market segment in 2022.

NEWARK, Del, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The revenue from the Acrylic Teeth Market is predicted to grow from US$ 440.39 million in 2023 to US$ 995.72 million by 2033. Between 2023 and 2033, a CAGR of 8.5% is predicted.



The rise in government initiatives, soaring demand for dental cosmetic procedures, and an increasingly edentulous population are all listed as contributing factors in the market expansion.

Get a Full PDF Sample Copy of the Latest Reports @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-16978

Market Trends for Acrylic Teeth

As acrylic is simple to work with and compatible with most materials, the market for acrylic teeth is expanding quickly. The growth in the number of edentulous people, more dental caries cases, more disposable income among people, and more cases of periodontal disease all favor the acrylic teeth market.

Patients prefer acrylic teeth over porcelain teeth because of their advantages. Since porcelain teeth are irreversible, they cannot be removed. Porcelain teeth can cause tooth sensitivity. Furthermore, one of the most important factors driving the market's growth is the ease with which acrylic can be modified.

As per capita, disposable income in emerging countries has increased, so has purchasing power. This enables consumers to spend more money on personal care and invest in more aesthetically pleasing and effective teeth. As a result of this factor, the acrylic teeth market is growing.

Concerns such as a lack of reimbursements and denture issues may have an impact on the acrylic tooth market, inhibiting its expansion.

Story continues

Regional Outlook



Throughout the anticipated period, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to dominate the acrylic teeth market. By 2033, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to hold a remarkable market share. This is brought on by an increase in dental conditions in the Asia Pacific region, which ultimately result in tooth loss. The improvement in payment practices and the increased public awareness of dental prostheses are to blame for the expansion of this market.

Between 2023 and 2033, North America and South America are anticipated to experience strong CAGR growth. The market in the Americas is predicted to grow as a result of the innovation.

The adult population in North America in need of a full maxillary or mandibular denture increased by 37.9% in 2019, according to the NCBI report.



The South American dentistry market is anticipated to grow as a result of growing dental spending. The US market in the South is expanding steadily due to the expanding patient base and the growing significance of acrylic teeth.

Are you looking for customized information related to the latest trends, drivers, and challenges? Speak to Our Analyst@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-16978

Key Takeaways

The partial denture segment accounted for the major market share and had the highest CAGR over the projection period.

The market share of the functionality segment was higher.

Throughout the projection period, the aesthetics segment is anticipated to post a stronger CAGR.

Market share in 2023 belonged to the 3D printing sector, which is anticipated to develop at an accelerated CAGR throughout the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape



The prominent players in the acrylic teeth market use organic tactics, like new launches and portfolio development, to increase their global footprint and satisfy the expanding demand. The market has seen the use of partnerships and collaborations as inorganic development tactics.

The market participants have been able to build their enterprises and improve their regional presence thanks to these growth tactics. In addition, partnerships, acquisitions, and other growth tactics broaden the company's product line and strengthen its consumer base.

Prominent Acrylic Teeth Manufacturers

Yamahachi Dental MFG Co

Toros Dental Ltd

LuxCreo Inc.

Dental Manufacturing SpA

SHOFU Dental ASIA-Pacific Pte Ltd

Dentsply Sirona Inc

New Stetic SA

Kulzer GmbH

Ivoclar Vivadent AG

Shanghai Pigeon Dental Mfg Co Ltd

Order a Complete Research Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/16978

Novel Innovations and Developments

A multilayer graduated zirconium oxide block with a high level of aesthetics and processing ease was introduced by Dentsply Sirona in September 2021 as a truly aesthetic, high-strength zirconia CAD/CAM block. This block also combines the strength of zirconium oxide with the familiarity of zirconium oxide.

A global leader in dental manufacturing, Foshion Dental (Shanghai Foshion Medical System Co. Ltd.), and LuxCreo, a pioneer in 3D printers, software, and materials, established an exclusive cooperation in Europe and Asia in November 2020.

LuxCreo offers fully integrated 3D printing dental solutions, including the LuxaDent 3D printer, LuxDent dental software, and a full line of resins designed specifically for use in dentistry.



Key Segments

Type:

Partial Denture

Complete Denture

Overdenture



Application:

Functionality

Aesthetic

Technology:

CD/CAM

3D Printing

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary | Acrylic Teeth Market

1.1. Global Market Outlook

1.2. Demand-side Trends

1.3. Supply-side Trends

1.4. 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

3.1.1. Drivers

3.1.2. Restraints

3.1.3. Opportunity

3.1.4. Trends

3.2. Scenario Forecast

3.2.1. Demand in Optimistic Scenario

3.2.2. Demand in Likely Scenario

3.2.3. Demand in Conservative Scenario

3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis

3.4. Investment Feasibility Matrix

3.5. PESTLE and Porters Analysis

3.6. Regulatory Landscape

3.6.1. By Key Regions

3.6.2. By Key Countries

3.7. Regional Parent Market Outlook

4. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast, 2023 to 2033

4.1. Historical Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis, 2018 to 2022

4.2. Current and Future Market Size Value (US$ Million) Projections, 2023 to 2033

4.2.1. Y-o-Y Growth Trend Analysis

4.2.2. Absolute $ Opportunity Analysis

Complete TOC with Report Preview @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/acrylic-teeth-market

Have a Look at Related Research Reports in the Healthcare Domain:

Cellulitis Management Market Size - The global cellulitis management market garnered a market value of US$ 1.12 Billion in 2022 and is expected to accumulate a market value of US$ 3.7 Billion by registering a CAGR of 11.5% in the forecast period 2023 to 2033.

Central Nervous System Lymphoma Treatment Market Share - The global central nervous system lymphoma treatment market is slated to reach a valuation of US$ 123.2 billion in 2023. According to Future Market Insights, the market is expected to grow at a 5.2% CAGR until 2033, valued at US$ 205.3 billion.

Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis Market Forecast - The chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis market is estimated to secure a valuation of US$ 1.2 Billion in 2023 and is estimated to rise to US$ 2.0 Billion by 2033. The market is anticipated at a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period.

Antibacterial Haemostatic Gels Market Outlook - The antibacterial hemostatic gels market is estimated to secure a valuation of 1.4US$ Billion in 2023 and is estimated to rise to US$ 2.6 billion by 2033. The market is anticipated at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period.

Ischemic Hepatitis Treatment Market Demand - The global ischemic hepatitis treatment market was valued at US$ 6 Billion in FY 2021 and is forecast to incline at a Y-o-Y valuation of 5.6% to reach a valuation of US$ 6.33 Billion in 2022.

About Future Market Insights, Inc.

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, U.S., and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

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The initial plan of the Russians to seize Ukraines capital Kyiv was designed for a short-term operation lasting three to five days, as was once done by the USSR in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Afghanistan.

Thats according to First Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, who spoke in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

"The initial plan to capture Kyiv was calculated for a short-term operation lasting three to five days. A similar plan was employed by the USSR in Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, and Afghanistan in 1979," Pavliuk said.

According to the first deputy minister, the occupiers planned to deploy special operations forces (SOF) and airborne troops on the approaches to Kyiv  at Hostomel and Vasylkiv airfields  as soon as possible. Next, the enemy sought to destroy the Ukrainian air defense system, control points of the Army and National Guard units, and critical infrastructure objects with missile and air strikes, and then, amid disorganization and collapse of the state management system, they planned to seize the government quarter and eliminate or arrest the Ukrainian leadership, installing their puppet proteges.

Read also: Zelensky visits village of Moshchun near Kyiv

"Considering the fact that we found in their destroyed equipment batches of parade uniform, they were preparing more for the parade on Khreshchatyk than for urban warfare. Later, of course, this plan was amended, since the enemy's intentions were completely undermined by our Defense Forces. Russian troops regrouped and were still trying to capture the capital: to completely besiege and block the city, sow panic among the local population with strikes, and force them to surrender," Pavliuk said.

He recalled that the enemy managed to land an SOF group at the Hostomel airfield while failing to do the same at Vasylkiv.

The deputy defense minister added said that after the landing of the enemy force, which was heading towards the capital from the direction of the Chornobyl zone, convoys of Russian equipment advanced from the same direction  until they approached the Irpin River and deployed pontoons to force the water obstacle. There, combat clashes began at important infrastructure facilities around Hostomel and Horenka.

At the same time, according to Pavliuk, Russian troops were on an offensive in the Sivershchyna direction (Chernihiv region), deploying up to five battalion tactical groups from the Central Military District. They were stopped nearly 70 km into the Ukrainian territory near the settlement of Sedniv.

From the northeast, up to four BTGrs wedged in at a depth of up to 125 km, advancing toward the capital from Novhorod-Siverskyi, also moving from Sumy, the official noted.

"In order to besiege Kyiv, the Russians also began to advance to the Zhytomyr highway. Fierce battles were raging in Bucha and Irpin. Makariv became a critical town on the enemys path toward Kyiv. The occupiers failed to gain full control of the town, choosing to bypass it," Pavliuk recalled.

He emphasized that the most critical moment of the Kyiv defense operation was the battle of Moshchun, where Ukraines forces repelled the invaders, never allowing them to cross the Irpin River and reach the capital by the shortest distance up to Shevchenko Square.

"As a result of the destruction of enemy armored convoys and a massive part of their infantry near Makariv, as they tried to advance to Irpin, the occupiers lost half of their troops. The victories near Makariv and Moshchun formed the basis for the enemy's defeat - and thats how their storming of Kyiv failed," said the deputy minister of defense.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Russias death toll in Ukraine has already climbed to 179,320. Some 500 invaders were killed in action in the past day alone, according to the General Staff.
The Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Italy, Dmytro Kuleba and Antonio Tajani, discussed new military assistance that Rome could provide to Kyiv during a telephone conversation.

The head of Ukrainian diplomacy announced this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"Today, I spoke with my Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani. We discussed new assistance that Italy can provide to secure Ukraine's victory over Russian aggression," Kuleba wrote.

Read also: AFU receives another batch of 122mm artillery shells from Ukroboronprom

As reported, a group of approximately 20 Ukrainian servicemen completed a training program on the SAMP/T missile defense system in Italy on March 20. The system is expected to be delivered to Ukraine this spring.
The next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group will be held at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on April 21.

That's according to U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ukrinform reports, citing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

According to the news outlet, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin plans to chair an in-person meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on April 21, 2023.

The defense ministers and representatives of commands from around the world are expected to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and various security problems facing U.S. allies and partners.

The group's previous meeting took place virtually on March 15, 2023.
A series of trials against local journalists who collaborated with pro-Kremlin publications Sputnik and Baltnews is kicking off in the capital of Latvia, Riga.

According to Delfi, 16 people are accused of violating EU sanctions, Ukrinform reports.

It is noted that prosecutors combined 14 cases into a separate proceeding. Six suspects will appear in court in April, May, and June.

The websites of Sputnik (blocked in Latvia in 2016, "mirror sites" blocked after Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine in 2023) and Baltnews (blocked in 2019) are linked to the Russian state agency Russia Today (also blocked). According to the conclusion of the National Council for Electronic Mass Media (NEPLP), their activities pose a threat to Latvias security. Publications posted by these outlets support and justify Russia's actions in the war against Ukraine and "systematically incite national hatred."

CEO Russia Today is propagandist Dmitry Kiselyov, who has been designated by the EU. In December 2020, as part of the probe initiated by the Latvian State Security Service (VDD), Sputnik and Baltnews staffers were subjected to searches seven times. Computers, mobile phones, and storage media with professional and personal archives were seized. Latvian employees of Sputnik and Baltnews were charged with violations of the sanctions regime (Article 84 Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Latvia). They are facing up to four years in prison if found guilty.

According to the indictment, the journalists "deliberately and for selfish reasons provided a commercial platform to a sanctioned person."

Among the defendants is the former editor-in-chief of the Baltnews portal, Andrey Yakovlev, Latvian journalists Alla Berezovskaya, Alena Kirillova, Vladimir Dorofeev, Aleksandr Malnach, Andrey Tatarchuk, and Liudmila Pribilska, pro-Kremlin activist Vladimir Linderman, and MEP aide Sergey Melkonov.

Court hearings for the first six suspects are scheduled for April 11 and 13, May 17 and 29, and June 4 and 14. Vladimir Dorofeev was the first to appear before the court.

Read also: Leaders of Baltic states express support for establishing special international tribunal for Russia

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on January 16, 2020, the VDD launched criminal proceedings regarding the alleged violation of international sanctions against several Latvians who had been creating content for Russia Today, Sputnik, and Baltnews. After the pre-trial inquiry was completed in September 2021, the case was forwarded to the prosecutor's office.

Also, early January 2023, the Latvian State Security Service (VDD) detained a Latvian national for cooperation with the EU-sanctioned Kremlin-run propaganda outlet. According to the media, it is about the editor of the Sputnik Litva portal, Marat Kasem.

Photo: DELFI
In the future, Ukraine may cover 10-20% of Europes biomethane market if it continues to develop this industry.

The relevant statement was made by Bioenergy Association of Ukraine Board Chairman Georgii Geletukha during a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Ukraine has perfect conditions to repeat Germanys path in terms of biomethane development [production  Ed.]. We have the largest agricultural land areas in Europe and, accordingly, a lot of raw materials, namely crop and livestock farming waste, which can be used for the production of biogas and biomethane. Ukraine has a very developed gas network, which can supply such methane. We are not far from Europe, so we can cover some of this premium biomethane market, for which Europe has set very ambitious goals. Accordingly, we could close 10-20% of this market with domestically produced biomethane, Geletukha told.

In his words, Ukrainian businesses are monitoring these processes and are starting to build biomethane plants. In 2023, five plants are expected to start working, and they will be able to produce 20 million cubic meters of biomethane per year. But, in order to produce biomethane profitably, it is necessary for its cost to be around EUR 800-900 per thousand cubic meters.

According to Geletukha, the price of biomethane in the European market includes the cost of natural gas and a bonus. The bonus may be rather significant and reach EUR 1,000 per thousand cubic meters. However, if Ukrainian businesses fail to enter the European market, they will have to sell biomethane for EUR 450 per thousand in Ukraine. This will be unprofitable, and the plants planning to launch biomethane production are likely to give up on this idea under such conditions.

Photo: depositphotos.com
Ukraine and Canada have agreed to expand the bilateral free trade agreement.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, the Prime Ministers of Canada and Ukraine, Justin Trudeau and Denys Shmyhal, took part in a signing ceremony in Toronto on Tuesday, April 11.

In addition, Canada and Ukraine concluded an Agreement on Youth Mobility that will facilitate travel and employment for young people from both countries.

Shmyhal is on a one-day visit to Canada on April 11. He has already held talks with Trudeau, Minister of National Defense Anita Anand, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Canada regarding youth exchanges was signed in the autumn of 2010 by the then Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, during his first visit to Ukraine. The document proposed introducing a simplified regime for mutual travel by young people from both countries for education and employment. The memorandum, however, never gained full legal force and its validity was officially terminated a few years later. Today, the validity of the agreement has been restored.

The free trade agreement between Canada and Ukraine entered into force on August 1, 2017 and allowed for the mutual cancellation or reduction of import duties on most goods. When the original agreement was concluded, it was agreed that in the future it would be expanded to the sphere of services and investments.
Energoatom agreed with Canadas Cameco on the purchase of nuclear fuel to be used at the Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

This was announced by the Office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

During Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal's visit to Canada, the Saskatoon-based Cameco and the Ukrainian state-owned Energoatom concluded a major supply agreement under which Cameco will deliver uranium to meet Ukraine's nuclear fuel needs until 2035, according to the statement.

Read also: Canada announces new military aid for Ukraine

The agreement builds on a partnership agreement signed earlier this year and is expected to help Ukraine generate electricity while providing jobs to the middle class in Canada, the report notes.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Denys Shmyhal is on a one-day visit to Canada on April 11. He has already held talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Defense Minister Anita Anand, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Also, the head of the Ukrainian government talked with the Ukrainian community leaders in Canada.
President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi of Egypt in February planned to produce 40,000 rockets to be Russia and instructed the officials to keep the production and shipment of the rockets secret "to avoid problems with the West," according to a leaked U.S. document.

That's according to The Washington Post, Ukrinform reports.

A portion of a top secret document, dated February 17, summarizes purported conversations between Sisi and senior Egyptian military officials and also references plans to supply Russia with artillery rounds and gunpowder. In the document, Sisi instructs the officials to keep the production and shipment of the rockets secret "to avoid problems with the West."

The Washington Post obtained the document from a trove of images of classified files posted in February and March on Discord, a chat app popular with gamers. The document has not been previously reported.

A U.S. government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to address sensitive information, said: "We are not aware of any execution of that plan," referring to the rocket export initiative. "We have not seen that happen," the official added.

According to the article, providing arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine would represent a potentially explosive gambit for Egypt, a nation that, despite deepening ties with Moscow, remains deeply invested in its partnership with the United States, which for decades has provided the country more than $1 billion a year in security aid.
Ukraine's goal of defeating the aggressor country and rebuilding a strong and democratic Ukraine as part of the European Union and NATO remains unchanged, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.

He said this at a joint meeting of Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Canada, according to Ukrinform.

"I thanked [Freeland] for defending Ukraine's interests. Our goal remains unchanged. It is the victory over the aggressor and the rebuilding of a strong, democratic Ukraine as part of the EU and NATO. Our country needs the solidarity of every Ukrainian around the world," Shmyhal said.

He added that Canada had given a lot to Ukrainians but Ukrainians had also given a lot to Canada.

"Now all Ukrainians are as united as possible. Everyone is working on their own front. We need to speak with one strong voice and call on the world to stand in solidarity with Ukraine. I am grateful to the leaders of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF), as well as to Ms. Freeland, for their systematic support. Thanks to everyone, Canada has been, is and will be a reliable strategic partner and friend of Ukraine," Shmyhal said.

Shmyhal is on a working visit to Canada this week. He also plans to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Ukraine hopes that Canada will expand supplies of heavy weapons, in particular, tanks and armored vehicles.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal spoke of this at a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The next important issue (which was discussed during the meeting between Shmyhal and the Canadian delegation - ed.) is military aid to Ukraine. Thats in order to defend ourselves - I emphasize this - and to liberate our currently occupied territories. We are grateful to the Canadian government for joining the Leopard Coalition and we hope to see the supply of heavy weapons, in particular, tanks, armored vehicles, as well as ammunition, expand. We also discussed this with the prime minister and members of government today," Shmyhal said.

Read also: Canada announces new military aid for Ukraine

The parties to the meeting also discussed participation of Canadian companies in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.

"This will be the largest project in Europe since World War 2. According to World Bank estimates, today we are talking about $411 billion worth of destruction and losses that Russia has inflicted on Ukraine... We are waiting for the decision of the Canadian government regarding the use of financial instruments to stimulate the operations of Canadian companies in Ukraine," Shmyhal said.

The prime minister of Ukraine thanked all Canadians for their loyal and steadfast assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainians. According to Shmyhal, Canadian weapons allow the country to protect its lands while Canada's financial aid allows the government to keep the economy afloat, save jobs, and provide assistance to those who lost their homes due to Russian terror.

"Canada's humanitarian assistance enables the demining of farmland, preservation of crops, support for vulnerable strata, and investigation of war crimes. Ukraine feels the strong support and principled position of Canada in order to stop the aggressor," he said.

According to Shmyhal, we all understand the risks for the free and democratic world when aggression, similar to the one currently being committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, remains unpunished.

"And we are grateful to Canada and all our allies for supporting our country. We appreciate action. And we believe that Canadian support and the support of our allies will continue up to Ukraines complete victory," Shmyhal said.

In addition, the head of government noted that Ukraine received direct support from the Ukrainian community in Canada and the Canadian people.

"We receive direct support from the Ukrainian community in Canada, as well as the Canadian people. This is extremely warmly received by the Ukrainians. This fills us up and makes it clear that we are not alone in this fight," Shmyhal said.

He reported that Ukraine had received more than $50 million from Canada in humanitarian and social donations, which were used for procuring medicines, foodstuffs, and other necessities.

As reported, Canada and Ukraine expanded their free trade agreement.

Photo: Twitter/Our Canada
The marketing automation provider is opening a hub in Costa Rica to provide local, on-site resources and improved Spanish-speaking support to customers

CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ActiveCampaign , the leader in marketing automation , email marketing and CRM , is putting down roots in San Jose, Costa Rica and will have 100 employees in the hub within 12 months. Latin America is one of the company's fastest growing regions, with local businesses growing through the power of ActiveCampaign's platform every day. With offices in Brazil and Colombia already, ActiveCampaign is making a larger investment in the region by expanding engineering and customer teams to improve the global customer experience and operations of the business.

ActiveCampaign Expands in LATAM, Invests in Improved Customer Experience

Costa Rica hosts a large number of successful technology companies such as Microsoft, Intel, Akamai and Smartsheet. As the latest technology leader to open a hub in the country, ActiveCampaign will be able to support more businesses in the region and across the globe, who need resources in both English and Spanish. The hub will be ready for occupancy starting May 15th.

ActiveCampaign is currently working with local partners such as the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) who has a similar mission to the marketing automation provider: help growing businesses in the country. ActiveCampaign leaders will be at CINDE's career fair from April 19-23 to hire up to 30 employees across its engineering, customer, and recruiting teams to start in May.

Experts Comment on ActiveCampaign's Growth in LATAM

"Being a customer-obsessed organization, we are thrilled to be investing in LATAM as well as our overall customer experience to better serve our customers in the region and globally," said Jason VandeBoom, founder and CEO of ActiveCampaign . "Being closer to our global customers means more frequent feedback and fruitful collaboration with the businesses we serve."

"We pride ourselves in offering the best, most personalized surfing and yoga experiences in Costa Rica, and thankfully, we've been able to scale these experiences through the help of ActiveCampaign," said Travis Bays, co-founder at Bodhi Surf + Yoga . "Because ActiveCampaign's automation platform saves us so much time throughout our sales and marketing process, we are able to focus on working with our customers and their experiential journey. We are excited about ActiveCampaign's investment in Costa Rica and their willingness to help businesses in the community grow. We love that they will be just around the corner so we can now collaborate in person on a regular basis!"

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About ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is the leader in marketing automation, email marketing and CRM for businesses of all sizes. Its powerful automation platform helps over 185,000 businesses in 170 countries grow by scaling and personalizing their customer experiences. ActiveCampaign accelerates business growth by providing access to 900+ pre-built automations that combine transactional email and email marketing , marketing automation , ecommerce marketing , and CRM to enable 1:1 experiences that connect across all channels and through the entire customer lifecycle. Over 70% of ActiveCampaign's customers use its 900+ integrations, including Microsoft, Shopify, Square, Facebook and Salesforce. ActiveCampaign is one of only 17 products with over 10,000 positive customer reviews on G2.com , scoring higher in customer satisfaction than any other solution in Marketing Automation, CRM and E-Commerce Personalization and is the Top Rated Email Marketing Software on TrustRadius. Start a free trial at ActiveCampaign.com .

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Aduro Clean Technologies Inc.

Aduro Clean Technologies Presents at CEM Scottsdale Capital Event

Aduro will participate in the 11th Annual Scottsdale Capital Event hosted by Capital Event Management (CEM) at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona from April 14  16th, 2023.

SARNIA, Ontario, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aduro Clean Technologies Inc. (Aduro or the Company) (CSE: ACT) (OTCQB: ACTHF) (FSE: 9D50), a Canadian developer of patented water-based technologies to chemically recycle plastics, and to transform heavy crude and renewable oils into new-era resources and higher-value fuels, announced today that it will participate in the 11th Annual Scottsdale Capital Event hosted by Capital Event Management (CEM) at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona from April 14  16th, 2023. During the event, Aduro will conduct one-on-one meetings with interested investors and other stakeholders.



Aduro has achieved significant progress in advancing its Hydrochemolytic Technology platform over the past few months. The Company has taken crucial steps in securing its development by closing a non-brokered private placement for $3.92 million in gross proceeds and initiating the commissioning phase of the pilot-scale continuous flow plastic reactor. Additionally, the Company has fostered a valuable partnership with Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs and has joined the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, demonstrating the Company's commitment to promoting a circular economy for plastics.

Our progress over the past few months has been incredibly encouraging. We're thrilled to be participating in the CEM Scottsdale Capital Event and to have the opportunity to showcase our achievements and discuss our future plans with investors. With the support of our partners and shareholders, we're well-positioned and driven to continue our growth in 2023 and beyond, said Ofer Vicus, CEO of Aduro. Our mission to revolutionize the plastic industry through sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions remains at the forefront of everything we do, and we're excited to share our progress and future plans with the investment community.

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Further, the Company announces that it has engaged Common Cents Media, Social Purpose Corporation of Gig Harbor, WA, to provide marketing services through social media channels and online media distribution for an initial term of six months to commence on April 10, 2023, and on a month to month basis thereafter, pursuant to an agreement dated April 10, 2023, in consideration of USD $15,000 for the initial six-month term and for mutually agreed upon deliverables on a monthly basis thereafter.

About Capital Event Management Ltd.

Capital Event Management Ltd, (CEM) is a leading provider of opportunities for small-cap investment advisors, portfolio managers, institutional investors, and high-net-worth individuals to connect with emerging companies looking to raise capital and gain open-market support. With over 10 years of experience in curating an exclusive investor database and a partner's fund at CEM Capital, the company has done the legwork to make it easy for clients to build relationships that can make a difference. The five-pillared approach at CEM includes a partner's fund, destination events, virtual meetings, executive consulting, and advisory services, all curated to provide valuable experiences that connect capital with opportunity.

About Aduro Clean Technologies

Aduro Clean Technologies is a developer of patented water-based technologies to chemically recycle waste plastics; convert heavy crude and bitumen into lighter, more valuable oil; and transform renewable oils into higher-value fuels or renewable chemicals. The Companys Hydrochemolytic technology activates unique properties of water in a chemistry platform that operates at relatively low temperatures and cost, a game-changing approach that converts low-value feedstocks into 21st-century resources.

For further information, please contact:

Ofer Vicus, CEO

ovicus@adurocleantech.com

Abe Dyck, Investor Relations

ir@adurocleantech.com

+1 604-362-7011

Investor Cubed Inc.

Neil Simon, CEO

nsimon@investor3.ca

+ 1 647 258 3310

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact that address activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects, or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include adverse market conditions and other factors beyond the control of the parties. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the content of this news release.

11th Annual Scottsdale Capital Event





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9754aba-8435-431e-9cdb-39bab6aef52e




(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s units that may soon become public are expected to be in high demand as the breakup unleashes value in the wake of regulatory woes, investors said.

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Chinas online commerce leader last month announced plans to split its $220 billion empire into six business units, a move seen potentially boosting Hong Kongs IPO market. The shares have since climbed at least 17%.

Interest in the units is expected to be high despite the slump in shares of famed Chinese tech firms like Didi Global Inc. and Kuaishou Technology, given the timing and the difference in their assets, investors said. Didi has lost more than 70% since its June 2021 New York debut, just before a crackdown by Beijing snared large firms seeking funds abroad. Kuaishou has dropped some 50% since its Hong Kong debut two years ago.

These are spin-offs from proven companies with long, successful track records in the public markets, said Ben Harburg, managing partner at Magic Stone Alternative Investment Ltd. in Beijing. They will be in high demand, just as previous spin-offs like JD Logistics, JD Health and Ant Group.

The break up of Alibaba can unlock value as the spin offs will have greater flexibility to focus on their businesses, according to Jason Hsu, chief investment officer at Rayliant Global Advisors Ltd. The group has very exceptional talents that compete internally and are constantly constrained by the groups overall strategic direction, he said.

Alibabas Cainiao logistics unit could be valued around $20 billion and is the most interesting among those expected to list given its fast growth profile, said Phillip Wool, a managing director at Rayliant Global. Clouds valuation could be in the order of $50 billion, but it offers more risk in terms of regulation and slowdown in cloud spending, he added.

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The breakup signals that regulatory concerns that had weighed on Alibaba shares will ease, said Wool. Alibabas choice in the timing of the restructuring sends a fairly strong signal that weve long passed the peak of the most recent regulatory cycle, he said.

Interest in the units shares is likely to come from long-only and hedge funds as well as arbitrage-type investors, according to Sandy Mehta, chief investment at Value Investment Principals Ltd. Investors scrutinizing and discriminating between the newly created companies should act as a catalyst for the group, he added.

Where investors see secular earnings growth potential, they will look to buy companies and stock dips especially during this transition and restructuring period, Mehta said.

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Steve Ussery spent the last 30 years as a successful Silicon Valley engineer but has recentl Read more69-year-old goes for his third degree
Swiss President Alain Berset told lawmakers Tuesday that letting banking giant Credit Suisse collapse would have triggered a catastrophe, as he defended the orchestrated takeover by UBS

Bern, Switzerland, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Apr, 2023 ):Swiss President Alain Berset told lawmakers Tuesday that letting banking giant Credit Suisse collapse would have triggered a catastrophe, as he defended the orchestrated takeover by UBS.

Berset addressed an extraordinary session of parliament that was called to debate the controversial March 19 deal that his government arranged in double-quick time behind closed doors.

Letting Credit Suisse go bankrupt once the stock markets reopened on March 20 "would potentially have created an international financial crisis with devastating effects for Switzerland, for companies, for private customers but also for the reputation of our country", the president said.

"The demise of Credit Suisse is not the demise of Switzerland. It is the loss of a bank; a large bank but only a bank. Nothing more, nothing less." The three-day session at the Federal Assembly in Bern was called after lawmakers found themselves before a fait accompli.

The merger dramatically changes the financial landscape in the wealthy Alpine country, which stakes much of its national prestige on sound banking.

The takeover triggered unease among the public and lawmakers alike, with the country's second-largest bank rapidly imploding after 167 years, during which it helped finance Switzerland's industrial growth.
Belfast, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Apr, 2023 ) :US President Joe Biden will arrive in Belfast Tuesday to launch high-profile commemorations of the 25th anniversary of the deal that brought peace to Northern Ireland.

Biden will be welcomed on the tarmac by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is looking to break deadlock in the UK province, where political dysfunction and security concerns threaten to overshadow the historic milestone.

Underlining the threat, masked youths pelted police vehicles with petrol bombs on Monday during an illegal dissident republican march in Londonderry.

Biden is to "mark the tremendous progress" made since the signing of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters ahead of his visit.

The visit will "underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Ireland's vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities", she added.

Sunak will use Biden's visit "to celebrate Northern Ireland's successes and encourage further long-term investment", according to his Downing Street office.

Biden, who has Irish ancestry, will then travel south on Wednesday to Ireland for a three-day visit, in part tracing his family history.

He will deliver an address to Ireland's parliament and "celebrate the deep, historic ties" the country shares with the United States, according to the White House.

The speech will be closely scrutinised for any signs of pressure on Sunak to end the current logjam, caused by the Conservative Party's loyalist allies.
Riyadh, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Apr, 2023 ) :The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, have launched the third edition of the national campaign for charitable work by making two generous donations totaling SAR 70 million.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques donated SAR 40 million, while HRH the Crown Prince donated SAR 30 million.

This initiative reflects the wise leadership's commitment to supporting charitable endeavors, promoting virtues of righteousness, generosity, and giving, and encouraging both male and female citizens and residents to uphold social responsibility and solidarity, especially during the blessed month of Ramadan, where Allah the Almighty multiplies the reward. The National Platform for Charity Work (Ehsan) is dedicated to creating digital products and services that benefit various philanthropic fields.

In a statement, Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, the President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the National Platform for Charitable Work (Ehsan), expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH the Crown Prince, for their generous donations that exemplify their strong interest in supporting charitable works in various fields.

Dr. Al-Ghamdi also expressed appreciation for Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz's significant support and attention to the Ehsan platform, which has profoundly impacted its ability to support those in need and maximize its societal impact since its launch.

He emphasized that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a global leader in humanitarian, relief, and charitable work.

Investing in advanced technologies to develop effective digital systems, such as the Ehsan platform, has been instrumental in offering simple, safe, reliable, and highly efficient donation methods. This approach aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives of advancing and developing the non-profit work sector and increasing its contributions to society's development.

Moreover, the SDAIA President highlighted the National Platform for Charitable Work's dedication to developing digital services and solutions that serve various charitable fields, enabling benefactors to donate quickly and efficiently while ensuring that donations reach those in need.
BERWYN, Pa., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Annovis Bio, Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) ("Annovis" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage drug platform company addressing neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that in the last week it has raised aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $8.7 million between its now-terminated atthe-market program and a private placement to individual members of its Board of Directors and management.

Annovis (PRNewsfoto/Annovis Bio)

As previously disclosed, on March 31, 2023, the Company entered into an At-The-Market (ATM) Equity Offering Sales Agreement (SM) with BofA Securities, Inc. ("BofA") and ThinkEquity LLC. On April 4, 2023, the Company sold 704,000 shares of its common stock pursuant to the ATM Sales Agreement at a price of $10.88 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $7.66 million. Following the sale, the Company terminated the ATM Sales Agreement effective April 9, 2023.

On April 7, 2023, the Company sold 84,453 shares of its common stock in a private placement to individual members of its Board of Directors and management at a price of $12.61 per share, for aggregate proceeds of $1.06 million.

On December 31, 2022, the Company had $28 million in cash. The nearly $9 million in additional capital will fund the company's two ongoing studies, phase 3 in early PD and phase 2/3 in moderate AD, through completion and otherwise fund operations into the first quarter of 2024.

About Annovis Bio, Inc.

Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Annovis Bio, Inc. (Annovis) is a clinical-stage, drug platform company addressing neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and other chronic neurodegenerative diseases. We believe that we are the only company developing a drug for AD and PD that is designed to inhibit more than one neurotoxic protein, and has a mechanism of action designed to restore axonal and synaptic activity. By improving brain function, our goal is to treat memory loss and dementia associated with AD as well as body and brain function associated with PD. Annovis conducted two Phase 1/2 studies: one in AD patients and one in both AD and PD patients. In the AD/PD study buntanetap showed improvements in cognition in AD as well as body and function in PD patients.

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For more information on Annovis Bio, please visit the Company's website www.annovisbio.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The Company advises caution in reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's plans related to clinical trials and projections regarding the use of and need for capital. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by forward-looking statements, including regarding patient enrollment, the effectiveness of Buntanetap, the timing, effectiveness, and anticipated results of the Company's clinical trials evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Buntanetap, and the timing of costs required to fund the Company's operations including such clinical trials. See also additional risk factors set forth in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section entitled "Risk Factors," in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this filing. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Media Contact:

Nic Johnson

Russo Partners, LLC

(303) 482-6405

nic.johnson@russopartnersllc.com

Investors Contacts:

Chris Calabrese

+1 (917) 680-5608

ccalabrese@lifesciadvisors.com

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

Kevin Gardner

+1 (617) 283-2856

kgardner@lifesciadvisors.com

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

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Marseille, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Apr, 2023 ) :Rescue workers on Monday recovered another three bodies from the rubble of a collapsed building in Marseille, lifting the death toll to six in the southern port city, with two more people still missing, investigators said.

More than 24 hours after an explosion at the apartment building, where residents reported a strong smell of gas.

Dozens of civil defence staff, using drones, heat sensors and sniffer dogs, kept working through the debris, where a fire still smouldered.

Housing Minister Olivier Klein said at the scene earlier Monday that four bodies had been found. But within hours the emergency services announced that rescue workers had found a fifth and then a sixth victim.

"Work continues to identify," the victims, investigators from the prosecutor's office said in an evening statement.

Marseille's deputy mayor Yannick Ohanessian said earlier that rescue workers hoped to find survivors.

But the fire under the rubble has made it hard for the dogs to detect survivors or bodies.

Firefighter Adrien Schaller described painstaking work.

"The heart of the blaze is deep underneath and hard to reach with the hoses. And we can't spray too much water to avoid creating a sort of mud," he said.

- 'Race against the clock' - Rescue workers were clearing away most of the rubble with an excavator, he said, stopping as soon as they spotted an air pocket to continue the work by hand.

"It's a race against the clock," he said.

Five people in an adjacent property sustained minor injuries in the blast and collapse, which occurred around 12:40 am on Sunday.

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." - 'Afraid' - Two neighbouring buildings were severely damaged, and one collapsed during the day without injuring any rescuers.

Almost 200 residents were evacuated from the area.

"A lot of families in the neighbourhood are afraid," said Arnaud Dupleix, the president of a parents' association at the nearby Tivoli elementary school.

City prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation.

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 spotlight 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 tragedy.

"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.
Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Apr, 2023 ) :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.
Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Apr, 2023 ) :The leak of highly sensitive US documents -- many of them related to the Ukraine conflict -- presents a "very serious" risk to US national security, the Pentagon said Monday.

The breach is being investigated by the Justice Department and appears to include secret information on the war in Ukraine as well as sensitive analyses of US allies, whom American officials are now seeking to reassure.

A steady drip of dozens of photographs of documents have been found on Twitter, Telegram, Discord and other sites in recent days, though some may have circulated online for weeks, if not months, before they began to receive media attention last week.

The documents circulating online pose "a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation," said Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, without confirming their authenticity.

"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," Meagher told journalists.

Many of the documents are no longer available on the sites where they first appeared, and the United States is reportedly continuing to work to have them removed.

Meagher said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was not initially briefed on the issue until the morning of April 6 -- the day a New York Times story on the documents was published.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby told journalists that President Joe Biden was briefed on the leak "late last week," but did not provide a specific date.

Many of the documents relate to Ukraine, such as one that provides information on the country's air defenses or another on international efforts to build up its military forces.
Australia has suspended its claim against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for at least three months as the two countries have reached an agreement on barley exports, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2023) Australia has suspended its claim against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for at least three months as the two countries have reached an agreement on barley exports, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday.

"The Australian government has reach an agreement with China that creates a pathway for the resolution of the dispute over Australian barley," Wong told a press conference. "Today I can confirm that China has agreed to undertake an expedited review of the duties imposed on Australian barley over a three months period, which may extend to a fourth, if required. In return, we have agreed to temporarily suspend the WTO dispute for the agreed review period.

"

In May 2020, China imposed an 80% tariff on Australian barley exports, thus practically closing its market. This happened as China's reaction to Australia's support of the United States' call to conduct an independent investigation on the origins of COVID-19, implying Beijing's responsibility for it.

On February 6, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao spoke with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell during the first bilateral meeting since 2019, which was widely interpreted as a sign of both sides wanting to mend ties. On March 15, China lifted the ban on Australian coal imposed at the end of 2020.
UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th April, 2023) Inspections of the grain deal center have been paused for today with plans to resume tomorrow, the UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday, calling on all parties to the deal to fulfill their responsibilities.

"The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has not been able to conduct inspections today as the parties needed more time to reach an agreement on operational priorities. Following intensive discussions within the JCC, supported by the United Nations and Turkiye, routine inspections are planned to resume tomorrow, Wednesday, 12 April," the statement said. "We urge all involved to meet their responsibilities to ensure that vessels continue to move smoothly and safely in the interest of global food security."

As of today, there are 50 vessels waiting to move to Ukrainian ports, it added.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, also known as the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports, signed between Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations in July 2022, provides for the export of Ukrainian grain, food and fertilizers over the Black Sea from three ports, including Odesa.

The package agreement also includes a memorandum of understanding between Russia and the UN to unblock Russian grain and fertilizer exports via the Black Sea, which, according to Moscow, has not been implemented amid Western sanctions.

The initiative which allows passage of grain, food, and fertilizers from Black Sea ports amid the Ukraine crisis was renewed in mid-March. While Ukraine and Turkey said the extension was for 120 days, Russia insisted that the deal would be effective for 60 days only. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that most of the ships carrying Ukrainian grain have not reached the world's poorest countries and have ended up in Europe.
(@FahadShabbir)

TOKYO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2023) The Japanese government has stepped up its rhetoric on China, describing its foreign policy and military development as "the greatest strategic challenge" to date, according to Japan's fresh Diplomatic Bluebook released on Tuesday.

In the 2022 edition of the foreign policy report, Japan said that China's actions were of "strong security concerns."

"In recent years, China has increased its influence in the international community, not only politically and economically, but also militarily. China's current stance on foreign policy and military trends are of great concern to Japan and the international community, and are the greatest strategic challenge," the document read.

The Japanese government intends to work closely with friendly countries to ensure transparency and constructive cooperation on global arms control and disarmament in response to China's rapid military buildup, according to the bluebook.

This year's annual report is consistent with the country's foreign defense policy outlined in the 2022 National Security Strategy released last December.

The Diplomatic Bluebook is an annual report of the Japanese Foreign Ministry that contains an overview of the international situation and outlook for Japan's diplomacy.
Nearly every fifth American said a family member was killed in gun violence, a new KFF poll revealed on Tuesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2023) Nearly every fifth American said a family member was killed in gun violence, a new KFF poll revealed on Tuesday.

"One in five (21%) say they have personally been threatened with a gun, a similar share (19%) say a family member was killed by a gun (including death by suicide)," the poll said.

Almost a similar share of people, or 17%, said they have personally witnessed someone being shot, the release added.

About 4% of Americans have personally shot a gun in self-defense, another 4% were injured in a shooting.

"In total, about half (54%) of all US adults say they or a family member have ever had one of these experiences," the report noted.

Racial minorities were impacted by gun violence more often than white Americans.

One third of black adults and 20% of Hispanic Americans have personally witnessed someone being shot. About 34% of people with African descent have a family member who was killed by a gun, which is twice more than among the white population.

More than 80% of participants said they have taken at least one precaution to protect themselves or their families from the possibility of gun violence. Almost two-thirds discussed gun safety with their children or other family members about gun safety, while 44% purchased a weapon other than a gun, such as a knife or pepper spray, the survey said.

The survey was conducted March 14-23, 2023, online and by telephone among a nationally representative sample of 1,271 US adults.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2023) Military cooperation between Russia and China is not directed against third parties and poses threat to no country, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Tuesday, urging Tokyo to stop escalating tensions in the region.

"Regarding Sino-Russian military cooperation, we have repeatedly expressed our stance. The cooperation in question is not directed against third parties, it is fully in line with international law and international practice, it poses no threat to any country," Wang told a briefing.

The spokesman also noted that no one has the right to make irresponsible statements regarding military cooperation between the two countries.

"We call on Japan to correct the erroneous practice of exacerbating regional tensions, to stop provoking and artificially creating bloc confrontation, to build a position on constructive and stable relations with China and implement it with real actions," Wang added.

Earlier in the day, Japan published its official annual foreign policy report. the document stated that Tokyo is concerned and committed, from a national security perspective, to continuing to closely monitor the strengthening military ties between Russia and China, in particular their joint air and sea patrols near Japan. The document referred to the Vostok-2022 strategic military drills in the Indo-Pacific region and joint patrols by naval vessels near Japan in September 2022, as well as joint overflights of the Russian armed forces and Chinese military bombers in November 2022.
Russian lawmakers advanced on Tuesday a bill to create a digital conscription notice system which could bar men from leaving Russia as Moscow's Ukraine campaign stretches into a second year

Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Apr, 2023 ) :Russian lawmakers advanced on Tuesday a bill to create a digital conscription notice system which could bar men from leaving Russia as Moscow's Ukraine campaign stretches into a second year.

Under the legislation, a draftee would be banned from travelling abroad and would have to report to an enlistment office once electronic call-up papers are received.

Currently draft notices have to be delivered in person in the country, and many Russian men have managed to dodge draft notices by refusing to pick up their enlistment orders and fleeing abroad.

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved the legislation on second and third readings.

The bill would next have to be backed by senators and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.

The proposed changes come months after Putin ordered in September a "partial" military call-up to boost regular troops fighting in Ukraine in what has become the first military mobilisation in Russia since World War II.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2023) Russia's lower house approved on Tuesday in the second reading draft law on creating a unified conscription register and introducing electronic conscription notices.

"The military registration register is formed by military commissariats in the manner prescribed by the Russian government in an automated mode based on information from the state information resource," the draft read.

The document also provides for that conscription notices can be repeated in electronic form.

"Citizens subject to conscription for military service are required to receive conscription notices. The notices to these citizens are sent in writing and repeated in electronic form," the document said.
NEW YORK, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The antimicrobial therapeutics market size is forecasted to increase by USD 51.4 billion from 2022 to 2027, at a CAGR of 5.63%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the recent drug approvals and robust pipeline, initiatives from government agencies in the pharmaceutical industry, and rising awareness about microbial diseases. Technavio offers an up-to-date analysis of the current global market scenario and the overall market environment. View a Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Antimicrobial Therapeutics Market 2023-2027

Technavio categorizes the global antimicrobial therapeutics market Vendor Analysis:

The global antimicrobial therapeutics market is fragmented, with the presence of numerous small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale manufacturers. Technavio has extensively analyzed 15 major vendors, including AbbVie Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., Bavarian Nordic AS, Biocidium Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., CSL Ltd., Emergent BioSolutions Inc., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Gilead Sciences Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc., Johnson and Johnson Services Inc., Merck and Co. Inc., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp., Novartis AG, Novavax Inc., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi SA, and Wockhardt Ltd.

Vendor Offerings -

AbbVie Inc. - The company offers azactam injection, which is used to treat symptoms of bacterial infections that occur in the blood and urinary tract.

Astellas Pharma Inc. - The company offers a fidaxomicin antimicrobial drug that is used to treat clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea germ.

Bavarian Nordic AS - The company offers an antimicrobial drug that is used to treat urinary tract infections caused by certain bacteria.

Charts & data tables about market and segment sizes for a historic period (2017-2021) and forecast period (2023-2027) have been covered in this report. Download the Sample Report

Key Benefits for Industry Players & Stakeholders 

The report offers information on the criticality of vendor inputs, including R&D, CAPEX, and technology.

It also provides detailed analyses of the market's competitive landscape and vendors' product offerings.

The report also provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.

Story continues

Expand operations in the future - To get requisite details, ask for a custom report.

Market Segmentation:

This report extensively covers market segmentation by application (antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic), end-user (pharmacies, hospitals and clinics, and research and academic institutes), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)).

The market share growth by the antiviral segment will be significant for the market growth during the forecast period. The segment is driven by the rising predominance of viral diseases such as flu, hepatitis, coronavirus, and HIV/AIDS. Therefore, during the forecast period, the global outbreak of viral diseases is anticipated to contribute to market expansion.

Get a holistic overview of the market from industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample

Market Dynamics:

Key Drivers:

Initiatives from government agencies in the pharmaceutical industry will notably drive the demand for antimicrobial therapeutics during the forecast period.

In many developed nations, such as the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Australia, and Japan, government insurance programs for medicines aid in the treatment of patients with microbial infections.

The eradication of infectious diseases caused by microorganisms requires substantial funding from both public and private sources. Due to their inclusion on the WHO's list of diseases that must be eradicated, antimicrobial diseases are receiving more funding.

For instance, the Infectious Disease Research Institute received a grant of 15 million dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a vaccine against leishmaniasis. Over the forecast period, such initiatives are anticipated to drive the market in focus.

In an effort to eradicate microbial diseases, a number of government and non-governmental organizations, such as the World Bank Group and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, are launching various awareness campaigns and providing funding.

Major Trends:

The growth in disease diagnostic modalities is a new trend in the global antimicrobial therapeutics market.

In recent years, diagnostics and biomarkers, which are measurable cellular, biochemical, or molecular alterations in biological samples that indicate any biological, pathogenic, or therapeutic response, have been introduced.

Many companies are focusing on the creation of proof-of-concept products that have the potential to significantly shorten the duration of diagnostic procedures while still ensuring high levels of patient compliance.

Simple point-of-care (POC) tests and several promising laboratory-based viral load technologies will soon be widely available.

Therefore, disease diagnostic modalities are anticipated to lead to market expansion during the forecast period.

Key Challenges:

The increased availability of generic drugs is a key challenge that may impede the global antimicrobial therapeutics market growth during the forecast period.

Vendors are focusing on manufacturing low-cost alternatives to approved medicines as a result of patent expiration and loss of exclusivity.

Generic medicines, vaccines, antibiotics, and biosimilars also come at a lower cost than brand-name medicines.

For instance, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, Gilead Sciences Inc. (Gilead) plans to offer authorized generics of Epclusa and Harvoni for USD 24,000, which is nearly 75% less than the cost of brand-name medications.

Lexiva is a preventative medication developed by ViiV Healthcare, a Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline joint venture. The generic Lexiva is currently available for purchase in the US through Mylan Inc. (Mylan).

To get detailed insights, buy the report

What are the key data covered in this Antimicrobial Therapeutics Market report?

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the antimicrobial therapeutics market between 2023 and 2027

Precise estimation of the size of the antimicrobial therapeutics market and its contribution to the parent market

Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

Growth of the antimicrobial therapeutics market across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)

A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors

Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of antimicrobial therapeutics market vendors

Related Reports:

The Alzheimer's disease therapeutics market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.91% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 4,391.9 million. This report extensively covers market segmentation by drug class (cholinesterase inhibitors, n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, and others), distribution channel (hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy, and e-commerce pharmacy), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World). The increasing awareness of Alzheimer's disease is notably driving market growth.

The gastrointestinal stromal tumors therapeutics market size is expected to increase by USD 1.08 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.97%. The report extensively covers market segmentation by route of administration (oral and parenteral) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). The growing geriatric population is one of the factors driving the gastrointestinal stromal tumors therapeutics (GIST) market growth.

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Antimicrobial Therapeutics Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.63% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 51.4 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 5.22 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 38% Key countries US, Germany, France, China, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled AbbVie Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., Bavarian Nordic AS, Biocidium Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., CSL Ltd., Emergent BioSolutions Inc., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Gilead Sciences Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc., Johnson and Johnson Services Inc., Merck and Co. Inc., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp., Novartis AG, Novavax Inc., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi SA, and Wockhardt Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for 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

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 antimicrobial therapeutics market 2017 - 2021

4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

4.3 End-user 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 Antiviral - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.4 Antibacterial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.5 Antifungal - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.6 Antiparasitic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.7 Market opportunity by Application

7 Market Segmentation by End-user

7.1 Market segments

7.2 Comparison by End-user

7.3 Pharmacies - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

7.4 Hospitals and clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

7.5 Research and academic institutes - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

7.6 Market opportunity by End-user

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

9 Geographic Landscape

9.1 Geographic segmentation

9.2 Geographic comparison

9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.7 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.10 France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.11 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.12 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 AbbVie Inc.

12.4 Astellas Pharma Inc.

12.5 Bavarian Nordic AS

12.6 Biocidium Biopharmaceuticals Inc.

12.7 Bristol Myers Squibb Co.

12.8 Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

12.9 CSL Ltd.

12.10 F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd.

12.11 Gilead Sciences Inc.

12.12 GlaxoSmithKline Plc

12.13 Johnson and Johnson Services Inc.

12.14 Merck and Co. Inc.

12.15 Novartis AG

12.16 Pfizer Inc.

12.17 Sanofi SA

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

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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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(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2023) South Korea Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said on Tuesday that Seoul "strongly protests" Tokyo's renewed territorial claim to disputed Dokdo Islands, also known as Takeshima Islands in Japan, in its latest Diplomatic Bluebook.

Tokyo's claim to the islands was included in the 2023 Diplomatic Bluebook  Japan's annual report on foreign policy and activities  which was released earlier on Tuesday.

Seoul "strongly protests Japan's repeated unjust claims of sovereignty over Dokdo, which is of our sovereign territory historically, geographically and under international law," Lim said, as quoted by South Korean news agency Yonhap.

The spokesperson added that Tokyo should "clearly recognize" that such repeated claims do not contribute to the development of ties between the countries.

The foreign ministry also called on Naoki Kumagai, the deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, to deliver a formal protest message, the report said.

The Liancourt Rocks  called Dokdo Islands by Seoul and Takeshima Islands by Tokyo  lie almost equidistant from Japan and South Korea, with the latter maintaining a small police force there. For decades, the islands have been a bone of contention, with both sides claiming they have long-standing historical ties to the archipelago, which is believed to be rich in natural resources.
Humanitarian charity Catholic Relief Services (CRS) said two of its staff were shot dead at the weekend in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, which has witnessed anti-government protests in recent days

Addis Ababa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Apr, 2023 ) :Humanitarian charity Catholic Relief Services (CRS) said two of its staff were shot dead at the weekend in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, which has witnessed anti-government protests in recent days.

The incident took place on Sunday, when demonstrations were held in several Amhara cities against government plans to dismantle regional forces.

"Chuol Tongyik, a security manager, and Amare Kindeya, a driver, were shot and killed in a CRS vehicle in the Amhara region as they were returning to Addis Ababa from an assignment," the US charity said in a statement dated Monday, adding that further details were unknown.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2023) The United States is creating components of biological weapons in the immediate vicinity of Russia's borders, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense troops of the Russian armed forces, said on Tuesday.

"According to the results of the analysis of documentation and the interview of eyewitnesses, we have no doubt that the United States, under the guise of ensuring global biosafety, conducted dual-use research, including the creation of biological weapons components in the immediate vicinity of the Russian borders," Kirillov said, adding that such work have been carried out at US biological facilities Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics (LPR and DPR) and Kherson regions.

Russia analyzed more than 2,000 documents of various plans confirming the implementation of military biological projects on the territory of Ukraine, the official added.

"I would like to note that none of the facts announced by Russian Defense Ministry were rejected by the United States, no one, including Western countries, had doubts about the authenticity of the published documents," Kirillov said.
US F-22 Raptor fighter jets have arrived in Poland, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Tuesday

WARSAW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2023) US F-22 Raptor fighter jets have arrived in Poland, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Tuesday.

"US F-22 Raptor fighter jets have landed in Poland.

One of the most advanced aircraft in the world will interact with Polish pilots, continuing to support the eastern flank of the alliance," Blaszczak said on Twitter, without specifying the exact number of aircraft.

Last week, the US air force command in Europe and Africa said that the F-22 Raptors assigned to the 94th Fighter Squadron would arrive at the Powidz air base in Poland as part of a rotation mission. These jets are replacing the F-15E aircraft that had been deployed at the air base since November.

Last year, F-22s were stationed in Poland for several months as part of NATO's presence on the eastern flank.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2023) The White House announced on Tuesday a strengthened whole-of-government approach to crack down on the trafficking of illicit fentanyl, according to a release.

"This approach builds on the President's National Drug Control Strategy and helps deliver on his State of the Union call to beat the opioid and overdose epidemic by cracking down on the production, sale, and trafficking of illicit fentanyl to help save lives, protect the public health, and improve the public safety of our communities," the release stated.

The drugs most responsible for killing Americans today are illicit synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its analogues, which are easier to produce and transport than plant-based drugs like heroin and cocaine or illicit synthetic stimulants like methamphetamine.

They are also significantly more lethal. Producers and traffickers regularly exploit lawful global commercial distribution networks.

The White House plans to lead a coordinated global effort with international partners to disrupt trading; strengthen coordination and information-sharing among domestic intelligence and law enforcement agencies; accelerate work with the private sector globally; further protect the US financial system from use and abuse by drug traffickers; and continue to call on Congress to close legal loopholes for illicit synthetic drugs.

Last month, the White House called on Congress to grant $46.1 billion in FY24 funding for National Drug Control Program agencies, representing a $2.3 billion increase over the FY23 enacted level.
Samuel L. Washington III, MD, MAS Dr. Washington moved from Texas to California to complete his undergraduate education at University of California, Davis with a Bachelors of Science in Genetics, and a minor in Latin. He completed his medical school training at University of California, San Francisco and was selected by the Department of Urology to complete his urology residency. He stayed on at UCSF to complete his urologic oncology fellowship and a Masters Degree in Clinical Research. In July 2020, Dr. Washington joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Urology and Epidemiology & Biostatistics.

He served as a urologic oncologist and faculty within the Department of Urology at University of California, San Francisco. His primary research focuses on racial disparities in patients with genitourinary malignancies, with specific interests in understanding racial/ethnic disparities in diagnosis, management, and treatment and examining and how these differences in treatment strategies based on race and socioeconomic factors impact survival outcomes for patients with GU cancers.
USM Co-Hosting Gulf Coast Symposium on Therapeutic Recreation April 13-14

Tue, 04/11/2023 - 02:36pm | By: David Tisdale

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Recreational Therapy Program will co-host the 2023 Gulf Coast Symposium on Therapeutic Recreation, along with the University of South Alabama, April 13-14 at the C.E. Roy Community Center, located at 300 East Fifth Street in downtown Hattiesburg.

The symposium returns to in-person this year after being suspended because of Covid-19 restrictions; it typically draws more than 150 participants, and this years event is expected to include a similar number of therapeutic recreation (TR) professionals from across the Southeast and beyond. It is also endorsed by the Mississippi Therapeutic Recreation Alliance, Alabama Recreation and Parks Association Therapeutic Recreation Committee, and the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) as an effort to bring together TR clinicians, educators, and students to learn, network and discuss current professional issues.

The goals of the symposium and workshops include:

Providing quality educational sessions to meet professional development requirements;

Contributing to the knowledge and skills of professionals;

Enhancing recreational practice by equipping professionals, students, and educators with innovative programs and treatment interventions;

Enhancing evidence-based practice; and to

Provide an atmosphere for networking for practitioners, students, and educators from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee., and surrounding areas.

For more information on the symposium, contact Dr. Rick Green, professor of recreational therapy in the USM College of Nursing and Health Professions School of Health Professions, at rick.green@usm.edu.
UW Choirs to Host Choral Music Educator April 14

Jessica Napoles

The University of Wyoming choirs will host a guest artist residency with Jessica Napoles, professor of choral music education at the University of North Texas (UNT), Friday, April 14, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.

Activities include a presentation for the choral conducting class and clinics with the Collegiate Chorale, the Singing Statesmen and Bel Canto. Additionally, a presentation for the UW chapter of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the public will take place at 4:10 p.m. in Room 2003 of the Performing Arts Center.

Napoles teaches undergraduate coursework in choral methods, conducts UNTs Concert Choir and mentors graduate students in research. Before her appointment at UNT, she taught at the University of Utah for 11 years. A native of Florida with a Cuban American background, she taught middle school chorus in the public schools of Miami and Orlando, Fla.

Napoles is an active conductor, clinician and adjudicator, frequently engaging in guest conducting opportunities locally, regionally and nationally. She has conducted All-State and honor choirs throughout the country as well as the Southern, North Central/Central and Western division honor choirs for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). In 2019, Napoles made her Carnegie Hall debut as choral conductor for the WorldStrides OnStage Honors Performance Series. She was asked to return in 2020 and again in 2021.

In addition to her conducting invitations, Napoles is a well-known researcher, with numerous publications in journals such as the Journal of Music Teacher Education and the International Journal of Music Education. She has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Research in Music Education, the premier research journal in music education, and the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, the ACDA research journal. Her research interests include music teacher education, testing practitioner practices empirically, expressive conducting and teacher talk.

She earned her Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Music Education and Ph.D. in music education, all from Florida State University.

For more information about the April 14 residency, email Brian Murray, UWs director of choral activities, at bmurray7@uwyo.edu.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Hanoi later this week to oversee the groundbreaking of a new American embassy in the Vietnamese capital, deepen a relationship that will allow supply chain diversification away from China and counter "bullying" in the region.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, touted Washington's developing relations with Vietnam.

The US and Vietnam are "almost completely aligned on the kind of Indo-Pacific that we want to see ... a region that's free and open, where all countries large and small play by the same rules, where large countries don't bully small ones ... and where disputes are resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law.

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"I know for a fact that leaders in both Hanoi and Washington see eye to eye on those matters and that, maybe more than anything, forms the bedrock of this new partnership that we've built," Kritenbrink added.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said both the US and Vietnam sought to ensure that the Indo-Pacific would be "a region that's free and open". Photo: Getty Images via AFP alt=Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said both the US and Vietnam sought to ensure that the Indo-Pacific would be "a region that's free and open". Photo: Getty Images via AFP>

The visit - immediately before Blinken heads to Karuizawa, Japan, to attend the G7 foreign ministers' three-day meeting, which starts on Sunday - is meant to follow up on a call that US President Joe Biden had with Vietnam's General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong last month.

Blinken's stop in Vietnam, China's southern neighbour, follows another spike in US-China tensions sparked by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's 10-day overseas trip that included meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

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The People's Liberation Army conducted two days of "combat readiness" exercises near Taiwan, called "Joint Sword", apparently in response to Tsai's trip.

Addressing concerns that Tsai's meeting could provoke Beijing to attack Taiwan and destabilise the region, Blinken and other Biden administration officials have said that Chinese officials have not been receptive to talks on this and other fronts where relations have frayed.

Asked whether Blinken's visit to Hanoi underscores the importance that Washington places on helping US companies reduce reliance on China for manufacturing and sourcing of products, Kritenbrink said that Vietnam should benefit from this process.

"Vietnam has many advantages as a trading partner," he added. "Many of us have learned over the last few years that it's not advantageous for any one country to be overly dependent on a particular partner or a particular supply chain."

Kritenbrink cited US-Vietnamese annual trade volumes that surpassed US$100 billion in 2022, making Vietnam America's eighth largest trading partner.

US trade with China - its largest trading partner - stood at US$690 billion last year, despite a tariff war poised to enter a fifth year in July.

While talks with China have hit a standstill, Washington's diplomacy with Beijing's neighbours has yielded some success.

The US and the Philippines, for example , announced a deal in February to give US troops access to an additional four Philippine military bases, seen as a bid to counter China's more forceful posture in the region.

That deal followed a visit in November to Manila by US Vice-President Kamala Harris, who told President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr that Washington has an "unwavering" commitment to the Philippines. Harris was the highest-ranking US official to visit Manila since Marcos took power in June.

Blinken's itinerary to countries in China's immediate vicinity prompted a question in a separate briefing about when he would reschedule a planned trip to Beijing.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and US Vice-President Kamala Harris at the presidential palace in Manila on November 21, 2022/ Photo: AP alt=Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and US Vice-President Kamala Harris at the presidential palace in Manila on November 21, 2022/ Photo: AP>

Blinken had been poised to make the trip in early February but postponed it after a Chinese surveillance balloon drifted across US airspace.

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel reiterated what administration officials have said since the balloon incident derailed progress both sides had begun making toward ending a downward spiral in relations.

Similarly, Patel would not confirm when the postponement should be considered a cancellation.

"We have and intend to continue to keep lines of communications open with the PRC," he said, referring to the People's Republic of China, "and we look forward to rescheduling the secretary's trip when conditions allow."

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.
Unpacked: UK-Vietnam Trade and the CPTPP

From Brexit to the CPTPP, the road has been long for the United Kingdom, but the final outcome should see the countrys trade ties with Vietnam become stronger than before. Below we discuss the evolution of two-way trade between Vietnam and the UK following Brexit and the implications of the UKs accession to the CPTPP on this bilateral trade relationship.

When the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in 2016 it sent economic shockwaves around the world. This was an unprecedented change to the global economic order. The exit of the UK, which accounted for 16 percent of the EU economy, dealt a significant blow to the EUs position as a powerful force in global trade.

For Vietnam, this represented a sizable shift in how its trade program was developing  the UK should have been a part of the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), but this would no longer be the case.

The EVFTA was scheduled to come into force in 2020  after the UK was expected to exit the EU single-market. As a result, Vietnam-UK trade, assuming no other arrangements were made, would fall back on WTO guidelines and tariff schedules.

Neither party, however, wanted to miss out on the benefits that the EVFTA had promised.

For example, Vietnam was set to benefit from savings of up to US$131 million in tariffs on exports to the UK. By the same metric, the UK would have benefited to the tune of US$63 million from exports to Vietnam.

The UK had, at the time, declared its intention to join the CPTPP to which Vietnam is a party, but with 10 countries in the agreement already, being confirmed as a member would take some time. Consequently, the UK and Vietnam moved ahead with a bilateral trade agreement to keep trade flowing.

The UK and Vietnam negotiate a bilateral agreement

The UK and Vietnam went to work forging their own FTA, using the EVFTA as its foundation. It would, however, require some changes.

Tariff-rate quotas (TRQ), for example, were lowered for products entering the UK with respect to the size of the UK market compared to that of the collective EU; modifications to the rules of origin were made given that goods from the UK would no longer be considered as from the EU; and, a handful of branded goods were added to the intellectual property clauses. For the most part, however, the EVFTA agreement was left intact but for the name.

As a result, negotiations for the United Kingdom-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) moved relatively quickly and were completed December 11, 2020, with the agreement signed December 29 of the same year.

This was another feather in the cap of the UKs post-Brexit trade negotiations bringing to an end almost four years of relative uncertainty.

See also: The UKs Trade Deal with Vietnam Builds on Hanois Accord with the EU

Vietnam and UK enjoy strengthening ties

The UKVFTA has significantly reduced tariffs and strengthened the trade relationship between Vietnam and the UK, resulting in substantial benefits for both countries.

British luxury carmaker McLaren, for example, opened its first showroom in Vietnam last year. AstraZeneca is also working with the Vietnamese government on disease prevention and control and pharmaceutical research.

In the other direction, Vietjet CEO, Thao Nguyen, pledged a 155-million-pound donation to Oxford College in the UK in 2021 and in return received her name on a dormitory. Although these funds have not, yet, been delivered, the desire to raise the profile of Vietnamese brands in the UK is evident.

It is worth noting that the two-way trade between Vietnam and the UK experienced a decrease in 2020, which can be attributed to the lower demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the trade bounced back in the following year, reaching the highest level ever recorded between the two countries.

Two-way trade Vietnam-UK

Vietnam exports to the UK (U$S) UK exports to Vietnam (US$) 2018 5,779,270,899 839,465,893 2019 5,760,277,924 776,468,950 2020 4,951,457,261 690,133,777 2021 5,765,718,023 764,142,428 2022 6,065,562,974 881,026,304

Source: UN Comtrade Database, Vietnam General Department of Customs

The UKs accession to the CPTPP

Earlier this year, the relationship between Vietnam and the UK took another step forward when the UKs accession to the CPTPP was confirmed.

This will see a number of advantages for both parties over and above the UKVFTA. These include:

Tariffs on engines and medicines exported to Vietnam will come down faster.

Tariffs on chocolate and port will be eliminated sooner.

Duties on beef exported to Vietnam will be eliminated at entry into force.

Duties on pork and chicken will be eliminated from years 3 and 5, respectively.

Vietnam will receive access to a separate duty-free TRQ on long-grain milled rice. The volume will increase incrementally over eight years, capped at a permanent quota of 17,500 tons.

Vietnam along with Chile, Malaysia, Brunei, and Peru will share a single, duty-free TRQ on sugar  the volume of which will increase incrementally over 10 years. This will be capped at a permanent quota of 25,000 tons.

UK businesspersons travelling to Vietnam for short-term business will be allowed to stay for up to six months as opposed to the three months currently permitted.

British citizens will have guaranteed access to Vietnam.

These changes will liberalize trade between these two countries further and allow for better and smoother supply chain integration for the UK among the member states.

Whats next for trade between Vietnam and the UK?

Although the immediate impact of the UKs accession to the CPTPP is not expected to be significant due to the existing UKVFTA, there will be several long-term benefits such as tariff reductions and increased market access for both Vietnam and the UK.

Vietnam is expected to benefit from increased exports of agricultural and seafood products while the UK should see a boost in its meat exports to Vietnam.

The two countries have been working on trade reform for the past seven years, and this latest development is expected to further strengthen their trade relationship and lead to continued growth in two-way trade.
Aqua Security

Aqua Securitys cloud native research team will present cutting-edge research on eBPF warfare and software supply chain vulnerabilities

BOSTON, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqua Security , the pioneer in cloud native security, today announced that Aqua Nautilus, the companys dedicated cloud native security research team, will present breakthrough research during two sessions at RSA 2023. The company will also be exhibiting at the show held in San Francisco on April 24-27, 2023.



The first session, eBPF Warfare - Detecting eBPF Malware with Tracee , will be presented by Idan Revivo, vice president of cyber security research and head of Aqua Nautilus, and Asaf Eitani, security researcher at Aqua, on Wednesday, April 26, at 2:25 p.m. PT. This session will discuss the different types of rootkits, their attack flow, how they operate and how to detect them using Aquas open source, eBPF-based tool Tracee. Eitani was recently awarded second place in The 2022 Volatility Plugin Contest for his work on three plugins that detect fileless attacks and kernel level rootkits; the rootkits will be discussed in the session.

Aqua Nautilus will also present its findings on vulnerabilities in the software supply chain ecosystem. The session, Exploiting Vulnerabilities and Flaws to Attack Supply Chain, will explore the many attack vectors including integrated development environments (IDEs), source code management (SCM), package managers and CI/CD. It will be presented by Yakir Kadkoda, vulnerability research team lead, and Ilay Goldman, vulnerability researcher, both on Aqua Nautilus, on Thursday, April 27, at 1:00 p.m. PT. Attendees will learn how to harness the power of eBPF technology to detect and prevent cloud native attacks on the software supply chain.

The cloud native threat landscape is evolving at a staggering pace, and Aqua Nautilus is on the forefront, discovering and analyzing new attacks to help educate security practitioners, said Revivo. Our sessions at RSA will examine some of our teams most significant research, and attendees will learn actionable advice on how to gain an advantage over attackers.

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To learn more about Aqua and Team Nautilus, visit booth #1627 in the South Expo Hall at RSA.

About Aqua Nautilus

Nautilus focuses on cybersecurity research of the cloud native stack. Its mission is to uncover new vulnerabilities, threats and attacks that target containers, Kubernetes, serverless, and public cloud infrastructure  enabling new methods and tools to address them. With a global network of honeypots, Aqua Nautilus catches more than 80,000 cloud native attacks every month, specifically those unique to containers and microservices that other platforms cannot see.

About Aqua Security

Aqua Security stops cloud native attacks across the application lifecycle and is the only company with a $1M Cloud Native Protection Warranty to guarantee it. As the pioneer in cloud native security, Aqua helps customers reduce risk while building the future of their businesses. The Aqua Platform is the industry's most integrated Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP), protecting the application lifecycle from dev to cloud and back. Founded in 2015, Aqua is headquartered in Boston, MA and Ramat Gan, IL with Fortune 1000 customers in over 40 countries. For more information, visit https://www.aquasec.com/ .

Media Contact:

Jennifer Tanner

Look Left Marketing

aqua@lookleftmarketing.com




Dozens of people in coup-hit Myanmar's central region were killed in airstrikes Tuesday, according to local media reports and a witness contacted by AFP.

The country has been in chaos and its economy in tatters since the military seized power in February 2021.

The death toll from the early Tuesday morning strike on the remote Kantbalu township in Sagaing region is unclear.

At least 50 fatalities and dozens wounded were reported by BBC Burmese, The Irrawaddy and Radio Free Asia.

Sagaing region -- near the second-largest city Mandalay -- has put up some of the fiercest resistance to the military's rule, with intense fighting raging there for months.

Graphic video clips circulating on social media -- that AFP has been unable to verify -- show bodies scattered among the ruins of homes.

"We are going to rescue you if we hear you screaming," one person could be heard saying in the video. "Please scream!"

A rescuer -- connected to an anti-coup People's Defense Force group -- told AFP that women and children were among the dead.

After recovering bodies and transporting victims for medical treatment, he estimated the death toll could be up to 100.

Before military aircraft strafed Pazi Gyi village, scores of locals had gathered to mark the opening of a local defense force office.

Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG), a shadow body dominated by former lawmakers from ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, condemned the strike as a "heinous act."

"We... share the great pain felt by the families affected by this tragedy," it said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, said agencies were trying to verify the reports.

AFP attempted to contact the junta spokesperson for comment.

The military, which accuses anti-coup fighters of being terrorists, has faced international condemnation for razing villages, mass killings and airstrikes on civilians.

More than 30 people sheltering in a monastery were killed in Shan state in March.

Last year, a military airstrike on a concert put on by the Kachin Independence Army in northern Kachin state killed around 50 people and wounded more than 70, the rebels said.

At a military parade last month, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing vowed to continue cracking down on opponents.

The military last month announced a six-month extension of a state of emergency and postponed elections it had promised to hold by August because it did not control enough of the country for a vote.

More than 3,200 civilians have been killed and more than 21,300 arrested since the coup, according to a local monitoring group.
A California woman has been sentenced to four years in prison for crimes related to a failed plot to kidnap VOA Persian host Masih Alinejad.

A federal court on Friday handed down the sentence to Niloufar Bahadorifar, a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent, for helping fund an attempt to kidnap Iran critic and journalist Alinejad, who lives in exile in the United States.

Bahadorifar pleaded guilty in December to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The judge said by sentencing Bahadorifar to such a lengthy term, the court wanted to send a strong message to deter others who might aid Tehran in targeting critics in the U.S.

Niloufar Bahadorifar willfully violated sanctions and knowingly provided financial support to Iranian intelligence assets, who in turn were engaged in a plot to kidnap an Iranian human rights activist living in the United States whom the Iranian Government has sought to silence for years, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of New York.

Alinejad urged Judge Ronnie Abrams to set an example by sending Bahadorifar to prison for as long as possible.

This crime left its mark. Every day when I go out in the street, I have to look over my shoulders, Alinejad told the judge.

Provided funds, access

Bahadorifar was first charged in 2021 along with four Iranian nationals. In December, Bahadorifar pleaded guilty, saying she had sent funds to a private investigator on behalf of a government official in Iran who was a longtime family friend.

The private investigator, who also was unaware his employers were Iranian agents, cooperated with the FBI and was not charged.

Since 2015, Bahadorifar had provided financial and other services, including access to the U.S. financial system and institutions, to individuals from Iran, prosecutors said. Beginning in 2019, she structured cash deposits totaling at least $476,000 in more than 120 individual deposits, topping $10,000 only twice, authorities said.

Bahadorifar wasnt charged with participating in the kidnapping plot itself and the U.S. government isnt alleging she knew about it or participated in it, according to the court judgment. But the government does allege she was far from an unwitting participant.

The other defendants, still in Iran, were charged with conspiracies related to kidnapping, sanctions violations, bank and wire fraud and money laundering. The Iranian officials have denied the charges.

'I'm not safe in America'

Since the kidnapping attempt, Alinejad has received U.S. government protection and moved frequently between safe houses. I miss my tree-lined street and my neighbors who treated me as one of their own, she said.

Im not safe in America, Alinejad said outside court Friday. I cannot believe that this all happened to me. Three men were trying to kill me on U.S. soil.

In July 2022, police arrested a man on weapons charges after he was caught on security cameras loitering outside Alinejads New York home.

When investigators searched his car, they found a loaded AK-47-style assault rifle in a suitcase in the back seat.

Iran is among the most censored countries in the world. Since protests began in September 2022, more than 90 journalists, including many women, have been detained for their coverage, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Dozens remain in custody.

The U.S. passed a bill named after Alinejad to impose sanctions on those who act on Tehrans behalf to surveil and harass its critics.

The bills co-sponsor, Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, said in a statement to VOA earlier this year that Alinejads case demonstrated the extremes the Iranian government is willing to pursue to silence outspoken individuals.

This act puts into place the appropriate consequences for all that attempt to limit the ability of Iranian citizens to exercise free speech, and demonstrates the United States commitment to supporting free speech for the people of Iran, said Cardin, who sponsored the bill with Pennsylvanias Senator Pat Toomey.

Alinejad in 2023 was named one of Time Magazines women of the year for her work promoting womens rights in Iran.

She has refused to let the threats deter her, telling VOA previously, Im simply doing my job  Simply being a journalist is a crime in the eyes of the Islamic Republic.

Some information in this report came from AP.
Sheela Singh cried the day she handed in her resignation.

For 16 years, she had been a social worker in Mumbai, India's frenetic financial capital, and she loved the work. But her family kept telling her she needed to stay at home to take care of her two children. She resisted the pressure for years, but when she found out her daughter was skipping school when she was at work, it felt like she didn't have a choice.

"Everyone used to tell me my kids were neglected  it made me feel really bad," Singh, 39, said.

When she resigned in 2020, Singh was earning more money than her husband, an auto-rickshaw driver whose earnings fluctuated day to day. But nobody suggested he quit.

"His friends used to taunt him that he was living off my salary," Singh said. "I thought that clearly there was no value in me working so what's the use?"

India is on the cusp of surpassing China to become the world's most populous country, and its economy is among the fastest growing in the world. But the percentage of Indian women in the workforce, already among the 20 lowest in the world, has been shrinking for years.

It's not only a problem for women like Singh, but a growing challenge for India's own economic ambitions if its estimated 670 million women are left behind as its population expands. The hope is that India's fast-growing working-age population will propel its growth for years to come. Yet experts worry this could just as easily become a demographic liability if India fails to ensure its rising population, especially its women, are employed.

Without Singh's income, her family can no longer afford to live in Mumbai, one of Asia's most expensive cities, and she's now preparing to move back to her village to save money. "But there are no jobs there," she sighed.

The women's employment rate peaked at 35% in 2004 and fell to about 25% in 2022, according to calculations based on official data, said Rosa Abraham, an economist at Azim Premji University. But official figures count as employed people who report as little as one hour of work outside the home in the previous week.

A national jobs crisis is one reason for the gap, experts say, but entrenched cultural beliefs that see women as the primary caregivers and stigmatize them working outside the home, as in Singh's case, is another.

The Center for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE), which uses a more restrictive definition of employment, found that only 10% of working-age Indian women in 2022 were either employed or looking for jobs. This means there are only 39 million women employed in the workforce compared with 361 million men.

Just a few decades ago, things seemed to be on a different track.

When Singh became a social worker in 2004, India was still riding high from historic reforms in the 1990s. New industries and new opportunities were born seemingly overnight, sparking millions to leave their villages and move to cities like Mumbai in search of better jobs.

It felt life changing. "I didn't have a college degree, so I never thought it would be possible for someone like me to get a job in an office," she said.

Even then, leaving home to work was an uphill fight for many women. Sunita Sutar, who was in school in 2004, said that women in her village of Shirsawadi in Maharashtra state were usually married at 18, beginning lives that revolved around their husbands' homes. Neighbors mocked her parents for investing in her education, saying it wouldn't matter after marriage.

Sutar bucked the trend. In 2013, she became the first person in her village of nearly 2,000 people to earn an engineering degree.

"I knew that if I studied, only then would I become something  otherwise, I'd be like the rest, married off and stuck in the village," Sutar said.

Today, she lives and works in Mumbai as an auditor for the Indian Defense Department, a government job coveted by many Indians for its security, prestige and benefits.

In one way, she was part of a trend: Indian women have gained better access to education since her youth and are now nearly at parity with men. But for most women, education hasn't led to jobs. Even as more women have begun graduating from school, joblessness has swelled.

"The working-age population continues to grow, but employment hasn't kept up, which means the proportion of people with jobs will only decline," said Mahesh Vyas, director at CMIE, adding there's been a severe slowdown in good quality jobs in the past decade. "This also keeps women out of the workforce as they or their families may see more benefit in taking care of the home or children, instead of toiling in low-paid work."

And even when jobs are available, social pressures can keep women away.

In her home village in Uttar Pradesh state, Lalmani Chauhan hardly ever saw women working outside the home. But when she came to Mumbai in 2006, she saw women swarm public spaces, she said, serving food in cafes, cutting hair or painting nails in salons, selling tickets for the local trains, or boarding the trains themselves, crammed into packed compartments as they rushed to work. It was motivating to see what was possible, she said.

"When I started working and leaving the house, my family used to say I must be working as a prostitute," said Chauhan, a social worker.

One reason she was able to hold onto her job was because it became a lifeline when an accident left her husband bedridden and unable to work, Chauhan said.

Economist Abraham said there is growing recognition among policymakers that the retreat of women from the workforce is a huge problem, but it has not been met with direct fixes like more childcare facilities or transportation safety.

When more women participate in the labor market, she added, they contribute to the economy and their family's income, but they also are empowered to make decisions. Children who grow up in a household where both parents work, especially girls, are more likely to be employed later.

The number of working-age Indian women who don't have jobs is staggering  almost twice the entire number of people in the United States. Experts say this gap could be a huge opportunity if India can find a way to plug it. A 2018 McKinsey report estimated that India could add $552 billion to its GDP by increasing its female workforce participation rate by 10%.

Even as she prepares to leave her one-bedroom home, tucked deep inside a narrow lane in a Mumbai slum, Singh is determined to return to the city in the near future. She hopes to find a way to work again, saying she will take whatever job she can find.

"I never had to ask anyone for a single rupee (before)," Singh said, adding she feels shame every time she's forced to ask her husband.

"I felt independent before. See, I lost a part of myself when I quit my job," she said. "I want that feeling back."
The Australian government is asking major banks and other institutions to take part in 'wargaming' exercises to test how they would respond to cyber-attacks. It follows recent mass data theft attacks on several large companies, which compromised the data of millions of Australians.

Australia is preparing for potential cyberattacks on critical services including hospitals, the banking system and the electricity grid.

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil Tuesday warned that recent high-profile hacks on the telecommunications and health insurance sectors, which have affected millions of people, "were just the tip of the iceberg".

The government is setting up a series of drills with large organizations to help them respond to security breaches.

Anna Bligh, chief executive of the Australian Banking Association, an industry body, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Tuesday that cyber security drills organized by the government will make the sector more resilient.

"How would the whole system cope if one of the very large companies were taken down by a cyber threat?" Bligh asked. "The sort of scale and sophistication of the threat is now moving into something that we havent seen before. So, it is a very timely move. This is now potentially a significant threat to the national security of the country."

A major Australian financial services company revealed Tuesday that criminals who stole sensitive customer information last month have demanded a ransom.

The cyberattack on Latitude Financial resulted in the theft of 14 million customer records, including financial statements, drivers license numbers and passport numbers.

The company said that in line with government policy it would not pay a ransom to prevent the data being leaked or sold online.

The Australian government is considering an updated Cyber Security law that would impose new obligations and standards to protect data across industry and government departments.

However, officials have warned that cyber criminals are becoming more professional, powerful and effective.
Bangladeshi police have arrested a 23-year-old man following a televised documentary in which he alleged he was tortured while in the custody of Bangladesh's elite counterterrorism force on a charge of illegal alcohol possession.

Rights activists say they fear the arrest Sunday of Nafiz Mohammad Alam, a former gang member who had had past brushes with the law, could be an act of retaliation from the authorities after he described how members of the Rapid Action Battalion, or RAB, allegedly tortured people in custody. The documentary was produced by the Germany-based Deutsche Welle broadcaster and Netra News  a Sweden-based investigative journalism platform focusing on Bangladesh.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, said, The arrest of whistle-blower Nafiz Mohammad Alam within hours of the release of an investigative report about RAB abuses, including his allegations of torture at RAB's hands, is profoundly disturbing and raises serious concerns about his safety.

Long accused of rights violations

Human rights groups have long accused the RAB of thousands of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Since 2010, the groups have published dozens of reports alleging the RAB and other security agencies in Bangladesh were involved in serious human rights violations, mostly against political activists and dissidents opposed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League-led government.

Although senior government officials in Bangladesh have denied accusations facing the RAB, the United States in late 2021 imposed human rights-related sanctions on the force along with six of its former and then-serving officers.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police have denied his arrest had anything to do with the documentary. They say he was taken into custody in connection with a pornography-related case dating to 2021. They also say he broke the law by possessing alcohol without the required documents.

When we arrested him on Sunday, we found that he illegally stocked alcohol at home and so we are going to file another suit against him, the police statement said.

This is the second time Alam has faced arrest for illegal alcohol possession.

In 2021, the RAB arrested him for illegally stocking and selling foreign liquor. He was identified as an illegal alcohol seller.

A license is required to stock or sell alcohol in Bangladesh.

On April 3, Deutsche Welle broadcast the documentary Inside the Death Squad, on alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture by RAB members.

The documentary featured personal accounts from Alam and others, including former RAB members.

Alam, whose identity was not hidden in the documentary, alleged that after he was arrested on the initial alcohol charge in 2021, he was tortured. In the documentary, he said he was beaten badly and given electric shocks. He also gave the description of what he called a torture cell.

Is the arrest reprisal?

Although the police maintain that Alam was arrested in connection with the pornography case, rights activists view the arrest as possible reprisal.

"Given the track records of Bangladeshs law enforcement agencies under the Sheikh Hasina regime, we were somewhat apprehensive that the government would retaliate against Nafiz Mohammad Alam for revealing the details of the secret torture cells and detention facilities that the RAB operates in the country, said Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, liaison officer of the Hong Kong-based Asian Legal Resource Center.

Alam, as a victim of torture under arbitrary detention, dared to reveal the ordeals he had gone through at the RAB torture cells. By torturing Nafiz in custody, the RAB officers committed a criminal offense under the countrys Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013, Ashrafuzzaman told VOA.

The government should have independently probed all the torture, extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearance-related crimes, including the torture of Alam, committed by the RAB and act against the erring officials. Instead, the regime has detained the victim for speaking out against the RABs custodial torture, Ashrafuzzaman added.

HRWs Robertson said that the Bangladeshi authorities have a solemn obligation to make sure that no harm comes to him while he is in custody, and that he is afforded access to his lawyers and his family members on a continuous basis.

RAB's stubborn refusal to take responsibility for the abuses committed by its members or consider serious reforms in the way it operates continue to leave a massive black mark on Bangladesh's human rights record, Robertson added.

He said, There needs to be concerted international pressure on PM Sheikh Hasina to hold RAB members accountable for the abuses they commit."
U.S. President Joe Biden travels to both sides of the Irish border this week, taking part in commemorations to mark the 25th anniversary of Northern Irelands Good Friday peace accord as well as making a pilgrimage to the towns of his Irish ancestors.

Bidens visit comes as the durability of the peace accord is being tested by political disagreements and occasional attacks carried out by dissidents. The latest violence came just Monday when masked youths pelted police vehicles with petrol bombs during a march in Londonderry.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to greet Biden when he arrives Tuesday night in Belfast. The next day Biden will hold a bilateral meeting with Sunak before giving an address at Belfasts Ulster University.

The Good Friday agreement  which the United States helped to broker on April 10, 1998  largely ended decades of sectarian violence that had plagued Northern Ireland since the late 1960s and that had also brought intermittent attacks to mainland Britain. While there is still some sporadic violence in Northern Ireland, the accord allowed a generation of children to grow up in relative peace.

Despite the successes of the accord, it has been under increasing strain since Britains exit from the European Union and disagreements over post-Brexit trade rules. The Northern Ireland Assembly has been in limbo for more than a year after the main unionist party pulled out of the government to protest the new trade rules.

Sporadic violence by groups opposed to peace has also increased. Last month, Britains intelligence agency raised the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to severe.

When asked if it was wise for Biden to travel to Northern Ireland at this time, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Monday, We dont ever talk about security requirements protecting the president, but the president is more than comfortable making this trip.

During Bidens visit to Northern Ireland, the White House said the president would mark the progress since the Good Friday peace accord and underscore the regions economic potential.

On Wednesday, Biden will then travel south to Ireland to spend three days in his ancestral homeland.

He will visit the town of Ballina, in county Mayo, where one of his great-great grandfathers lived before leaving for the United States in the mid-1800s. Bidens relatives remain in the area and Joe Blewitt, the presidents third cousin, told Agence France Presse that Bidens visit is a very proud day for our family and for Ireland.

The 43-year-old plumber, who first met Biden when he came to town as vice president in 2016, was among Bidens relatives invited to the White House for St. Patricks Day last month.

While in Ireland, Biden also plans to visit the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, where another of his great-great-grandfathers lived before emigrating during years of famine in the middle of the 19th century.

One in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry and Irish Americans are proudly represented in every facet of American life, Kirby told reporters Monday. He described Biden as very much looking forward to the trip.

In addition to honoring his ancestors in Ireland, Biden will meet with Irish President Michael Higgins, address a joint session of the Irish Parliament and attend a dinner at Dublin Castle.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Authorities in Cameroon have rebuilt a bridge that Boko Haram militants destroyed in 2015 in an effort to damage trade with Nigeria and Chad. The government also deployed additional troops to protect construction workers repairing other damage caused by the militants, who are still actively launching attacks in the border area.

Cameroon says it has for the first time in eight years fully opened the Mayo Limani bridge that links northern Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria.

According to Bichair Hachimi, the traditional ruler of Limani, civilians, especially merchants, were celebrating the full reopening this Monday of the 120-meter-long Mayo Limani Bridge that links Amchide in Cameroon and Limani in Nigeria. He said people are grateful because economic activity will receive a boost on both sides of the border after eight years of almost no activity.

Bichair spoke during a meeting in Yaounde Monday to evaluate the Cameroonian government-sponsored projects on the northern border with Chad and Nigeria that experience Boko Haram attacks.

Amchide is a commercial town on Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria. Limani is a business hub in Nigeria's Borno state.

The Nigerian government says Borno state is an epicenter of Boko Haram terrorism. Cameroon says militants commit atrocities on both sides of the Cameroon-Nigeria border.

Huge portions of the Mayo Limani bridge collapsed in August 2015 during battles between the Cameroonian military and Boko Haram militants. Cameroon said it lost several troops and that dozens of militants were killed in several weeks of fighting.

Several hundred vehicles could no longer cross the road each day, the Cameroonian government said.

Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria say at least 400 merchants and 600 civilians from the three neighboring states cross the Mayo Limani bridge each day.

Cameroon says it collected over $16 million annually as custom duties in the area before the bridge crumbled in 2015.

Cameroon spent an estimated $3 million to rebuild the span that same year, but Boko Haram militants chased construction workers away, forcing officials to stop pedestrians from crossing the bridge which is also a gateway to Nigeria for goods from Chad.

Cameroons government said it also closed the bridge because Boko Haram fighters were infiltrating merchants and civilians to use the bridge as an entry point to attack Cameroon.

Construction work on the bridge fully began in 2018 under the protection of troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, or MNJTF. The force has troops from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. The government announced on Friday that construction work is complete and that the MNJTF will continue to protect the bridge.

Last week, Cameroons public works minister, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, led a delegation of senior government and military officials to the bridge and other roads the central African states government is rebuilding on its northern border with Chad and Nigeria.

Djoumessi said that Cameroonian President Paul Biya wants all infrastructure destroyed in battles with Boko Haram to be rebuilt. He said by constructing roads and bridges, commercial exchanges among Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria will improve, economic growth will be boosted and the well-being of civilians who have been living in abject poverty because of Boko Haram terrorism will be improved.

The Cameroon military says although Boko Haram atrocities are greatly reduced, more troops will be deployed to protect civilians and workers on the northern border  where hardly a day goes by without reports of attacks on workers.

The conflict that began in northeast Nigeria in 2009 before spreading to neighboring countries, including Cameroon, Chad and Niger, has killed more than 36,000 people, mainly in Nigeria, and three million people have fled their homes, according to the United Nations.
A Chinese delegation met with officials in Honduras on Tuesday to write bilateral economic agreements to build on official diplomatic ties established last month, the foreign ministry said.

Honduras cut ties with Taiwan to switch its diplomatic allegiance to China.

China considers the self-ruled, democratic island a part of its territory to be retaken one day and does not allow countries to recognize both Beijing and Taipei.

A senior Chinese delegation met with a team led by the Honduran ministers of foreign affairs, economic development, and agriculture.

The aim is to "advance bilateral relations, especially on trade, agriculture, investment and exports for Honduran products and Chinese investors," a foreign ministry statement said.

There would be a focus on Honduran exports of shrimp, lobster, melon, coffee and sea cucumber, it added.

Honduran shrimp farmers fear the diplomatic switch would jeopardize a free-trade agreement with Taiwan, benefiting an industry that directly employs some 23,000 people.

Shrimp is the fifth-largest export for Honduras after coffee, bananas, sugar and palm oil.

Latin America has been a key diplomatic battleground since Taiwan and China separated in 1949 following a civil war.

Nicaragua shifted allegiance to Beijing in 2021, El Salvador in 2018, Panama in 2017 and Costa Rica in 2007.

Other than Guatemala and Belize, Taiwan retains diplomatic ties with Paraguay, Haiti, the Holy See, Eswatini and seven small Caribbean and Pacific nations.
Since the 1991 collapse of Somalias central government, many Somalis had fled the country, while thousands of others have been internally displaced. Many get help from aid organizations, and some make a living by utilizing skills for survival.

Despite being considered vulnerable, some internally displaced Somali women stood up to provide their families with daily food.

A large number of displaced women live in Bosaso, the capital of the Bari region, Puntland State of Somalia, and use skills to provide food for their families.

Many women wake up every morning to earn a living. Some of them reach the centers where recently-harvested crops, such as corn and sorghum, are sold.

Those women work for $3 to $5 a day, depending on how much work they do.

They separate the seeds of the crop from the chaff using a mortar, pestle and other locally made tools.

Zeynab Ali Ahmed is one of the displaced women in Bosaso. She is a mother who also works sorting husks from crops.

"They bring us the crops from the farms; we sort the crops from the chaff," she told VOA. "We separate the husks of corn or other seed by winnowing or threshing using locally made baskets."

Zeynab said they also work in the fields.

"We work the farms, removing unwanted plants from the [field] and leave the seeded crops," she said. "We take the chaff and sell them out to other pastoralists. We usually sell one bag of husk for 20 thousand Somali shillings ($0.90 cents USD)."

The women pass their skills to their children so that they can make money, too, and learn a skill.

Hawa Abdi Mohamud is one of the women who learned her job from her parents, whom she works alongside, making Somali traditional prayers mats and other artifacts.

"We inherited these skills from our parents and, thank God, and now we use them to earn a daily living."

The women believe that if their skills are developed or if they are given other professional training, many displaced people would be freed from relying on humanitarian aid agencies.

Fadumo Yasin Jama contributed to this report.
Leadership appointments come as Ascidian's lead program targeting ABCA4 retinopathies, including Stargardt disease, moves through IND-enabling studies

BOSTON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascidian Therapeutics , a biotechnology company focused on treating human diseases by rewriting RNA, announced today three new appointments to its growing development team as the company advances its lead program into the clinic.

Alia Rashid, MBChB, Vice President, Clinical Development, Ascidian Therapeutics

Alia Rashid, MBChB, joins as Vice President, Clinical Development; Sarah DiSalvatore, MPH, has been appointed Vice President, Clinical Operations; and Carmen Jacome, MBA, will serve as Vice President, Program Management. They join as Ascidian prepares for its first-in-human study in its lead program targeting ABCA4 retinopathies and progresses its diversified pipeline of programs in retinal, neurological, neuromuscular, and genetically defined diseases.

"This is an exciting and very important time for Ascidian as we advance our lead program using our proprietary platform for rewriting RNA into the clinic," said Jay A. Barth, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ascidian Therapeutics. "We're thrilled to welcome Alia, Sarah, and Carmen  who bring deep expertise in their respective areas of focus, with experience-based knowledge from preclinical studies and all phases of clinical development through marketing authorization. I look forward to the many contributions they'll bring to Ascidian for the benefit of patients as we advance this program and move our full pipeline forward to provide breakthrough therapies that address underlying causes of disease."

Ascidian's lead program targets ABCA4 retinopathies, including Stargardt disease. Diseases caused by ABCA4 loss of function represent an area of significant unmet need. More patients lose their vision from ABCA4 retinopathy than any other genetic cause, and these diseases are examples of genetic disorders that cannot be addressed by standard gene replacement given the large size of the gene, or by base editing, due to the high mutational variance of the affected gene. Stargardt disease is the most common form of inherited macular degeneration, affecting more than 30,000 individuals in the United States alone, and there are currently no approved treatments. By rewriting RNA, Ascidian's approach has the potential to treat patients with a single dose of a single exon-editing RNA therapeutic.

Story continues

Alia Rashid, MBChB, Vice President, Clinical Development

Dr. Rashid joins Ascidian to help lead the clinical elements of the IND submission and oversee clinical studies in ABCA4 retinopathy. She will also help set strategic direction and manage clinical development activities for the company's overall retinal pipeline.

As an ophthalmologist with extensive experience in inherited retinal diseases, Dr. Rashid brings expertise in ophthalmic pathology, ophthalmic imaging, and drug development spanning multiple modalities and indications, including AAV-mediated approaches for various retinal conditions. She was the clinical lead for the IND application and designed and oversaw clinical trials for the first functional, recombinant Complement Factor H (CFH) in dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) while at Gemini Therapeutics. As Senior Director and Clinical Development Lead for Ophthalmology at Editas Medicine, Dr. Rashid helped lead clinical development for its CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology for patients with Leber congenital amaurosis type 10 (LCA10)  a rare genetic disease that causes blindness. She also focused on phase II and phase IV clinical studies for patients with wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy at Genentech and led pilot studies in ophthalmology innovation and mHealth to improve clinical trials.

Dr. Rashid has been named to the "Top 10 Healthcare Trendsetters" and "Boston 40 Under 40 Healthcare Innovators" lists by Medtech. She completed fellowships in ophthalmic pathology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School and ophthalmic oncology and pathology at Emory University, and earned her medical degree from the University of Birmingham in the UK.

Sarah DiSalvatore, MPH, Vice President, Clinical Operations

As Vice President of Clinical Operations, Sarah DiSalvatore will be responsible for execution of Ascidian's first ever clinical trials. She brings more than 25 years of experience in end-to-end research and development and wide-ranging expertise across many challenging therapeutic categories and modalities, including both AAV and lentiviral vector (LVV) gene therapies. DiSalvatore's work has directly contributed to FDA marketing authorization of novel treatments and vaccines, including ELZONRIS, Portrazza, Cyramza, Lartruvo, Prevnar 13, and Prevnar 7.

Most recently, DiSalvatore served as Vice President of Clinical Operations at AGTC (Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation), managing overall clinical operations for the company's gene therapy trials in rare diseases and ophthalmology. Prior to that, she was Assistant Vice President of Clinical Operations at Rocket Pharma, where she led global gene therapy clinical trials in rare diseases. DiSalvatore also has experience leading teams at both large pharmaceutical companies, such as Roche, as well as biotech startups, including Stemline Therapeutics, where she initiated six clinical trials and contributed to filing three Investigational New Drugs (IND) within three years.

DiSalvatore currently serves on the Leadership Advisory Board for the DDX3X Foundation and on the Community Advocacy Committee for Simons Searchlight, an international research program whose mission is to improve the lives of people with rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. She earned her B.S. in biology from Salisbury University and her master's degree in public health in epidemiology from New York Medical College.

Carmen Jacome, MBA, Vice President, Program Management

Carmen Jacome joins Ascidian to lead the company's Program Management function, which will work cross-functionally to meet key deliverables, milestones, and timelines  from drug candidate selection, through clinical proof of concept and full development across Ascidian's diversified pipeline. She brings over 20 years of experience in project leadership including ten product launches across diverse platforms including: ophthalmology, bacterial infections, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, and consumer products. Most recently, while at Flexion Therapeutics, Jacome managed launch readiness and commercialization of Zilretta, the company's first approved product.

Jacome's experience encompasses both working with large pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer and Novartis, as well as small biotechnology startups, including Thrombogenics, Cempra, Flexion, and Astria Therapeutics. She earned her graduate certificate in program management from Stanford University and her MBA in international business from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

About Ascidian Therapeutics

Ascidian Therapeutics, an ATP company, is redefining the treatment of disease by rewriting RNA. By editing exons at the RNA level, Ascidian therapies enable precise post-transcriptional editing of genes, resulting in full-length, functional proteins at the right levels, in the right cells, at the right time. With active discovery and preclinical programs in ophthalmology, neurological, neuromuscular, and genetically defined diseases, Ascidian's approach has the potential to treat patients with a single dose of a single exon-editing RNA therapeutic and is opening new therapeutic possibilities for patients in need of breakthroughs. For more information, visit www.ascidian.com .

Carmen Jacome, MBA, Vice President, Program Management, Ascidian Therapeutics

Sarah DiSalvatore, MPH, Vice President, Clinical Operations, Ascidian Therapeutics

Cision

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SOURCE Ascidian Therapeutics
The Nur mountains loom over the Iskenderun railway station, an imposing reminder of the tectonic forces that devastated this corner of Turkey and Syria a little more than two months ago.

While regular rail service still rattles through the station, two of the tracks are occupied by sleeper cars. The wagons allude to adventure and escape but these night trains are going nowhere. The passengers are homeless, survivors of the February earthquake that left their houses or apartments damaged or destroyed.

Some 700 people are living on board the cramped wagons. Among them is Sevil Uygur, who is in her 70s.

We have no houses. They are gone. They were leveled to the ground, Uygur told VOA. So we took shelter here with the children and we live here. They bring us food. The people here are not left hungry. But sleeping here is very problematic and difficult.

Uygurs young granddaughter, Burin, is desperate to return to normality. I want to go to school but at the moment the situation does not allow. Of course, I want to go to school, Burin said.

Sevil Uygur says a lack of money has made a bad situation worse. If we could go to another place she could go to school. But we could not so we stayed here. Those who have money escaped and have gone to the other cities and their children go to school. But we cannot do it, so we sit here on the train, she said.

Twenty-seven rail cars were set aside for earthquake survivors when VOA visited the station March 28. Twenty-two of them contained beds, which officials say were quickly taken by the first arrivals. The remaining five cars have no beds and people sleep in upright chairs.

Some of the trains residents, like Safiye Kolagasi, have homes that are still standing but are too dangerous to live in.

Our house is a little damaged. If the authorities say that we can live in our house we would go today. We are waiting but we will stay here until they tell us it is safe to live there, Kolagasi told VOA.

The rail cars are warmer and drier than a tent. But they are cramped, crowded and noisy, with little privacy. With hundreds of thousands of homes destroyed or damaged by the earthquake, its not clear when the homeless survivors will be able to move on.

Memet Aksakal contributed to this report.
Thousands of African Union peacekeepers have been killed and hundreds more injured in Somalia since the forces began their work in that country in early 2007, the head of their mission told VOA Somali. The peacekeepers were deployed to help protect the government and installations from al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabab militants.

Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the special representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, disclosed the casualty figures during an interview last week with the "Investigative Dossier," a VOA Somali radio program.

"The troops were not well-prepared, and the administration was not even in Mogadishu. Many cases were not properly documented," Souef said via the WhatsApp messaging platform.

Originally known as the African Union Mission in Somalia, the operation's first deployment in Mogadishu came in March 2007 with troops from Uganda. In April 2022, the African Union Mission changed its name to the African Union Transition Mission, or ATMIS, with a view to withdrawing from Somalia by December 2024 after Somali forces assumed security responsibilities in the country. ATMIS currently has around 19,000 peacekeepers operating in Somalia.

"The mission has documented around 4,000 casualties. According to the force officers who served in the mission, the casualties, including those disabled, can be as high as over 5,000," Souef said.

Souef confirmed estimated fatalities of 3,500. He said troops from Burundi and Uganda suffered the most casualties.

This is the first time that an African Union official has commented publicly about the overall casualties of peacekeepers operating in Somalia.

Souef, the former foreign minister of Comoros, said he will prioritize the families of soldiers killed in Somalia for compensation, as some of them have not yet been recognized "because of a lack of funds."

He said the troops came to Somalia with good reason because the countries that contributed troops "feel that they are close to Somalia."

"This is not like a loan that we are giving to the Somalis," he said. "I can say that we are reimbursing the Somalis because you may remember that Somalia is among the countries who got independence early in the '60s, and they supported many African countries to get their independence. They supported many African countries in terms of training, in terms of education. So, I think Somalia deserves that, and we are willing to do so."

The Somali government also paid tribute to the sacrifices of African Union peacekeepers.

Hussein Sheikh-Ali, national security adviser to the president of Somalia, said the government recognizes the work of the AU forces.

"The Somali people are in their debt," he said. "In Somalia, the areas the Somali government operated, the territories where progress has been established, they liberated with us, they protected with us, and they have lost lots of people.

"Therefore, we are grateful to them, but we want to repay them with mission accomplished. This is why the Somali forces are fighting to eliminate al-Shabab," Sheikh-Ali said.

AU forces helped Somali troops remove al-Shabab militants from Mogadishu in July 2011 after more than two years of deadly street fighting. AU and Somali forces also removed al-Shabab from all the major towns in the country.

Al-Shabab has been trying for years to unseat the internationally supported government of Somalia.

The expulsion of the militants has come at a cost. Al-Shabab has carried out complex raids on front-line operating bases, killing hundreds of AU forces. The last major attack in May 2022 claimed the lives of more than 30 peacekeepers in the town of El-Baraf.

Previous estimates on AU casualties in Somalia came from Paul D. Williams, a professor of international affairs at George Washington University and author of several books on peacekeeping operations.

"AMISOM is, by far, the most deadly peace operation worldwide over the last 80 years," Williams told VOA. "There is no other peace operation that comes anywhere close to this many fatalities and casualties."

Williams said there has been lack of transparency on the part of AU and troop-contributing countries regarding the number of casualties.

"The African Union has never been transparent about fatality figures from its missions in Somalia," he said. "It has instead deferred to the wishes of the troop-contributing countries, which did not want to publicly announce all their dead peacekeepers. This policy decision did a severe disservice to the peacekeepers who paid the ultimate sacrifice and their next of kin."

Somali government forces supported by local fighters have been conducting military operations since August 2022, and pledged to defeat al-Shabab this year. Recently, the Somali government said non-ATMIS troops from Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti will participate in a second phase of military operations, which are expected to start once the holy month of Ramadan ends.

Souef described the first phase as a "good initiative," and reported that ATMIS troops from Burundi and Djibouti were there to provide support.

He said ATMIS supported the Somali forces with information, casualty and medical evacuations, and air support using helicopters belonging to Uganda.
The world continues to react to a trove of classified documents leaked from the Pentagon. The United States turns up the diplomatic pressure on Russia in the case of an imprisoned journalist. Plus a look at the state of health care in Ukraine and women soldiers.
An Iranian-born American woman has been sentenced to four years in prison for providing financial support to a plot to kidnap dissident Iranian American activist Masih Alinejad, the Justice Department said Monday.

Niloufar Bahadorifar, 48, of Irvine, California, pleaded guilty in December to multiple charges, including conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions by giving material support to Iran.

The Justice Department said Bahadorifar was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams to four years in prison 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," U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. soil," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said.

"We hold accountable an individual who violated U.S. sanctions by providing financial assistance that ultimately supported a failed kidnapping plot directed by the Iranian government."

Alinejad, a VOA Persian TV host who is known for her criticism of Iran's clerical regime, including its requirement that women wear veils, was also the target of a separate Tehran-backed assassination plot, according to U.S. authorities.

Iranian authorities have denied any involvement in the alleged plots targeting Alinejad.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would leave Defense 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 past 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 that the two countries enjoyed security and intelligence cooperation.

Netanyahu also addressed the issue of not yet being invited to the White House for an official visit in his latest stint as prime minister.

"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.
The United Nations said Tuesday the number of confirmed civilian deaths in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion neared 8,500, with more than 14,000 injured.

Ukraine said it is resuming electricity exports to other European countries, having stabilized its own power grid after months of Russian attacks during the winter.

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.

The United Nations said Tuesday the number of confirmed civilian deaths in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion neared 8,500, with the true figure likely much higher.

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement that in addition to those killed, it also confirmed more than 14,000 civilians had been injured.

"OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration," the agency said. "This concerns, for example, Mariupol (in the Donetsk region), Lysychansk, Popasna and Sievierodonetsk (in the Luhansk region), where there are allegations of numerous civilian casualties."

The U.N. said in the first nine days of April it confirmed 44 civilian deaths, with all but one coming as a result of "explosive weapons with wide area effects."

Ukraine faced months of Russian attacks during the winter targeting its energy infrastructure, in what Kyiv said was an attempt by Moscow to demoralize Ukrainians by knocking out power and water to their homes and businesses.

On Tuesday, however, Ukraine Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said the country now was not only meeting domestic needs but also ready to restart exports to European countries. He said the exports were a clear message that Moscow's attempt to weaken Kyiv by targeting its infrastructure did not work.

He credited the "titanic work" of Ukraines engineers and international partners for making the excess energy supply possible.

Prisoner exchange

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.

Some material in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
French President Emmanuel Macron Tuesday outlined his vision for European economic and industrial sovereignty during a visit to the Netherlands, following criticism over recent remarks about China and the United States.

Speaking at a Dutch research organization in The Hague, Macron said it was essential the European Union carve out an independent stance on five key areas, including trade, competitiveness and European industry. Embedded across all, he said, should be European values and goals in areas such as climate change.

We want to be open," said the president. "We want allies, we want good friends, we want partners. But we always want to be in a situation to choose them. Not to be 100 percent dependent on them.

Macron said Tuesday the COVID-19 pandemic and Russias war on Ukraine helped drive the need for an independent European strategy  not reliant, for example, on either Chinese or U.S. technology.

Defending sovereignty doesnt mean to shy away from allies," he said. "It means we must be able to choose our partners and shape our own destiny, rather than being, I would say, a mere witness of the dramatic evolution of this world.

Macron made his remarks during a state visit to the Netherlands  the first by a French president in more than two decades. The comments follow a controversial interview with French and U.S. media, when he reportedly warned against Europe becoming entangled in unrelated crises  apparently referring to Taiwan  and becoming too dependent on the United States for defense.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has vowed to reunite the territory with the mainland  by force if necessary  and is opposed to any nation maintaining separate ties with Taipei.

Polands prime minister responded by calling Europes alliance with the United States key to European security. U.S. Republican Senator Marco Rubio questioned whether Macron was really speaking for Europe.

Macrons economic overture to China has also stirred controversy. He brought a large delegation of French business leaders on his visit there last week and sipped tea with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Their meeting took place at a time when critics want China to toughen its stance toward Russias aggression in Ukraine.

This isnt the first time Macron has sketched out a broad EU vision that isn't necessarily shared by all member states. Protesters heckled him at the start of his speech  reminding him of ongoing demonstrations back in France against his pension reform plans.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sued Representative Jim Jordan on Tuesday, an extraordinary move as he seeks to halt a House Judiciary Committee inquiry that the prosecutor contends is a "transparent campaign to intimidate and attack" him over his indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Bragg, a Democrat, is asking a judge to invalidate subpoenas that Jordan, a Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, has or plans to issue as part of an investigation of Bragg's handling of the case, the first criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president.

Bragg's lawsuit seeks to end what it says is a "constitutionally destructive fishing expedition" that threatens the sovereignty and sanctity of a state-level prosecution.

"Congress lacks any valid legislative purpose to engage in a free-ranging campaign of harassment in retaliation for the District Attorney's investigation and prosecution of Mr. Trump under the laws of New York," the lawsuit says, citing the lack of authority in the Constitution for Congress "to oversee, let alone disrupt, ongoing state law criminal matters."

In response, Jordan tweeted Tuesday: "First, they indict a president for no crime. Then they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it."

The Judiciary Committee recently issued a subpoena seeking testimony from a former prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz, who previously oversaw the Trump investigation and sparred with Bragg over the direction of the probe before leaving the office last year. The committee has also sought documents and testimony from the district attorney's office, but Bragg has rejected those requests.

The committee is scheduled to hold a hearing in Manhattan on Monday on crime in New York City and what it alleges are Bragg's "pro-crime, anti-victim" policies. The district attorney's office, however, points to statistics showing that violent crime in Manhattan has dropped since Bragg took office in January 2022.

Bragg is represented in the lawsuit by Theodore Boutrous, a well-known First Amendment lawyer who has also represented Trump's estranged niece, Mary Trump, in legal clashes with her famous uncle.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee who previously served as a federal bankruptcy court judge.

In his lawsuit, Bragg said he's taking legal action "in response to an unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack by members of Congress on an ongoing New York State criminal prosecution and investigation of former President Donald J. Trump."

Trump was indicted on March 30 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to bury allegations that he had extramarital sexual encounters. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment last week in Manhattan.

Republicans have been railing against Bragg even before Trump's indictment, with Jordan issuing a series of letters and subpoenas to individuals involved with the case. Pomerantz refused to voluntarily cooperate with the committee's request last month at the instruction of Bragg's office, citing the ongoing investigation.

Jordan sees Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, who were top deputies tasked with running the investigation on a day-to-day basis, as catalysts for Bragg's decision to move ahead with the hush money case.

Bragg's lawsuit sets up what is a tenuous fight over the scope and limits of congressional oversight powers. House Republicans have argued that because the Manhattan case involves campaign finance and what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election, Congress has direct oversight.
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 Saturday as an image of a woman, her light-colored 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 the 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 color, so we combined the two," Boftain said.

The presenter's blonde hair and light-colored 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 to spread disinformation, threats 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.
Security forces in northwest Nigeria's Zamfara state are searching for women and children gunmen abducted over the weekend.

Residents say at least 80 people were taken, which Zamfara's police commissioner disputes.

Zamfara state police authorities say rescue operations by security forces and local vigilantes resumed Monday morning for nine people, not the 80 that were reportedly abducted over the weekend.

The victims, mostly young women and children were abducted from Wanzamai village as they wandered into the bush to fetch firewood used widely for cooking.

Authorities say the bandits were on the run from an expanding crackdown by security forces when the kidnappings happened.

Local media reports and villagers say more than 80 people were kidnapped and that the bandits are demanding $130,000 ransom.

Zamfara state police spokesman Mohammed Sheru refuted the claims calling them outrageous. He spoke to VOA by phone that, "The [police] command is working towards ensuring safe rescue of the abducted victims. That's the latest update. The police detectives in the kidnap section are working in collaboration with other agencies"

Nigeria has been battling armed gangs for years. Gangs have attacked hundreds of local communities across northwestern Nigeria, routinely taking people hostage until their ransom demands were met.

Zamfara state is one of the areas most affected by the attacks.

Abuja-based Beacon Security analyst Kabir Adamu believes the accounts by residents.

"When I first heard of the development, I reached out to contacts on [the] ground," he said. "I was able to hear from parents whose kids have been missing. First off, they did not take a headcount before they went into the bush, but on the basis of these parents who came forward to say 'my child is missing,' we arrived at a figure between 70 and 80."

Adamu says cases of kidnapping for ransom dropped by about 80 percent between December and February, according to data from Beacon Security Consulting.

In February's elections in Nigeria, insecurity was a major topic. Security analyst Chidi Omeje says in the weeks since the election that has not changed.

"It's a sad reminder that we're yet to get through from these series of mass abductions, and it's also another reminder that a lot of work needs to be done," Omeje lamented. "We have been numbed, that sense of outrage is no longer there; it's unfortunate."

As outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari hands over power to President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May, many will remind the new government of its failed promises to address Nigeria's insecurity.

Meanwhile, the fate of the kidnapping victims remains uncertain.
Company Logo

Aseptic Fill Finish Market

Aseptic Fill Finish Market

Dublin, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Aseptic Fill Finish Market by Type of Molecule, Type of Packaging Container Offered, Type of Drug Product, Scale of Operation, Company Size, Target Therapeutic Area and Geographical Regions: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2023-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report features an extensive study of the current market landscape and future opportunity for the aseptic fill finish service providers. The report answers many key questions related to this domain.

It is worth noting that aseptic fill finish operations require skilled personnel, specialized automated equipment, cleanroom setup and continuous supervision to maintain the sterility and safety of the final drug product.

However, given the high cost of specialized equipment and affiliated expertise required for such operations, it is difficult for a drug developer with limited finances and capacity constraints to meet the needs of their clientele.

As a result, various stakeholders are outsourcing their fill finish related needs to contract service providers, in order to ensure the development of quality drug products. In fact, a number of companies are involved in offering biologics fill finish services and small molecule fill finish services. Additionally, there is a need for expanding the capacity to meet the anticipated demand for such operations.

For this purpose, service providers have inked several agreements over the last few years. Driven by the consistent initiatives being undertaken by players in this domain, the aseptic fill finish services market is anticipated to grow at a steady pace, over the coming years.

Key Market Insights

Growing Demand for Aseptic Fill Finish Services

Aseptic fill finish is a critical step in the production of drugs, as it involves the aseptic filling and packaging of therapeutic products into containers. In fact, even a minute error during the aseptic filling process can lead to microbial contamination, posing a considerable risk to the patient's health. Therefore, aseptic fill finish operations need to be performed under controlled environmental conditions, in order to minimize the exposure of drug product to factors that could negatively impact its stability and efficacy. This, in turn, helps in extending the shelf life of a drug product. It is also worth mentioning that, in recent years, many players are carrying out fill finish operations using automated equipment, without any manual intervention. This practice is believed to enhance the production efficiency, minimize downtime, reduce waste production, as well as increase the overall productivity. ,

Story continues

Need for Outsourcing Aseptic Fill Finish Operations

The growing demand for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical drug products has created a need for higher capacity for production of therapies and their corresponding aseptic fill finish operations. However, extensive capital investment and complex infrastructure is necessary for carrying out in-house filling of biologics and small molecules.

In addition, mishandling of drug product during the fill finish process can lead to microbial contamination, which can subsequently result in the loss of drug product, production delays and most importantly, pose a risk to the patient's health. These aforementioned challenges have prompted pharmaceutical drug developers to outsource their fill finish operations to service providers, which have the required aseptic facilities and specialized equipment to ensure the quality of end products.

Key Drivers of the Aseptic Fill Finish Services Market

At present, the rising demand for outsourcing of aseptic fill finish services is driven by multiple factors, such as growing pipeline of drug products, stringent regulatory requirements, in-house capacity constraints, technological advancements and increased awareness related to the benefits of aseptic fill finish services.

Current Market Landscape of Aseptic Fill finish Service Providers

The current market landscape features the presence of over 235 aseptic fill finish service providers, spread across the globe. Overall, the market seems to be well-fragmented, featuring the presence of large, mid-sized and small companies, which have the required expertise to offer aseptic fill finish services across different types of packaging containers.

Additionally, various recent developments in this segment of the pharmaceutical industry indicate that service providers are actively upgrading their sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure to accommodate the current and anticipated demand for aseptic fill finish services.

Overall Size of the Aseptic Fill Finish Services Market

Driven by the growing pipeline of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical drug products, as well as the rising demand for contract services in this sector, the aseptic fill finish market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%, during the period 2023-2035.

Specifically, in terms of type of packaging container, the highest share of the market is anticipated to be captured by vials and prefilled syringes. In addition, at present, a major proportion of the market is represented by players based in North America and Europe.

Key Players in the Aseptic Fill Finish Services Market

Examples of key players engaged in offering aseptic fill finish services for biologics and small molecules include (which have been captured in this report) Aenova, AbbVie Contract Manufacturing, APL, Asymchem, BioPharma Solutions, BioReliance, Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellence, Catalent Biologics, Charles River Laboratories, CordenPharma, Delpharm, Fareva, Fresenius Kabi, Glaxo SmithKline, Hetero Drugs, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Lonza, Pierre Fabre, Patheon, Pfizer CentreOne, Plastikon Healthcare, PiSA Farmaceutica, Recipharm, Sharp Services, Wacker Biotech, Syngene, Takara Bio, WuXi Biologics, Siegfried and Wockhardt.

Scope of the Report

The study presents an in-depth analysis of the various firms / organizations that are engaged in this domain, across different segments.

The study also presents an in-depth analysis of various stakeholders engaged in this domain, highlighting their capabilities across different geographies. Following are some of the key focus areas and topics elaborated in this report:

A summary of the key insights derived from our research, which offers a high-level view on the likely evolution of the aseptic fill finish service providers market in the short to mid-term, and long term.

A general introduction to pharmaceuticals and contract manufacturing, which features a detailed discussion on the need for outsourcing within the pharmaceutical industry and key operations outsourced by biologic and small molecule drug developers, including fill finish. It also provides information on the key considerations for selecting a fill finish service provider, along with the advantages and risks posed by outsourcing fill finish operations.

A detailed assessment of the overall landscape of aseptic fill finish service providers, along with information on several relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size (in terms of number of employees), location of headquarters, type of molecule(s) (biologics and small molecules) and type of packaging container(s) offered (ready-to-use cartridges, ready-to-use syringes and ready-to-use vials).

A review of the overall landscape of companies offering aseptic fill finish services for biologics, along with analyses on a number of relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size, location of headquarters, location of fill finish facilities, type of packaging container(s) used (ampoules, cartridges, syringes and vials), type of biologic(s) manufactured (antibody drug conjugates, antibodies, biosimilars, cell therapies, gene therapies, oligonucleotides, peptides / proteins, vaccines, viral products, and others), scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial) and type of additional drug product-related service(s) offered (lyophilization, labeling, quality testing, storage and distribution services).

A detailed assessment of the overall market landscape of the companies offering aseptic fill finish services for small molecules, along with analyses on a number of relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size, location of headquarters, location of fill finish facilities, type of filling service(s) offered (aseptic filling, terminal streilization and blow-filling-seal), type of finishing service(s) offered (inspection and labelling and packaging), type of packaging container(s) offered (ampoules, cartridges, syringes and vials), scale of operation (preclinical, clinical and commercial), type of dosage form(s) filled (solid, liquids, lyophilized products / powders and semi-solids), type of process(es) (automated and manual / semi-automated).

Tabulated profiles of key players based in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Each profile provides an overview of the company, along with information on its service portfolio, fill finish facilities, financial information (if available), recent developments and an informed future outlook.

A detailed analysis of the various partnerships and collaborations established by stakeholders in this domain, since 2013. It includes a brief description of different agreement models (including service agreements, service alliances, product integration agreements, joint ventures and acquisitions) adopted by stakeholders in this domain. Further, it comprises of analysis based on year of partnership, type of partnership, scale of operation, type of molecule(s), type of service(s) offered, type of process(es) involved, and type of drug product(s) filled. It also highlights the most active players (in terms of number of partnerships) in the domain.

A case study focused on use of robotic systems in fill finish operations. It provides a list of equipment used by fill finish service providers (wherever specified), highlighting the purpose of robotics in various manufacturing operations. It also includes a list of companies offering robots for use in the manufacturing processes which are carried in the pharmaceutical sector.

A case study on use of ready-to-use packaging components in aseptic fill finish operations. The chapter also provides information related to the advantages and disadvantages of ready-to-use packaging components, along with a list of suppliers providing these components.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players are providing aseptic fill finish services?

Answer: Presently, more than 235 companies offer aseptic fill finish and other related services (such as aseptic filling, terminal sterilization and blow-fill-seal).

What are the latest trends in aseptic fill finish services market?

Answer: Aseptic fill finish market is evolving to meet the growing demands of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. Advanced technologies, such as robotics and single-use systems are being adopted to improve the accuracy, efficiency and safety of aseptic fill finish procedures.

In fact, single-use technology reduces the risk of cross-contamination and need for cleaning validation. Further, automated aseptic filling systems reduce the human interference and can meet various operational requirements, from loading of raw material to cleaning of the equipment. This, in turn, can improve the consistency and quality of the final product.

What is the growth rate of aseptic fill finish services market?

Answer: The global aseptic fill finish services market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7%, during the period 2023-2035.

Which region captures the largest share of the aseptic fill finish services market?

Answer: Currently, Europe contributes to more than 35% share of the overall market. Further, Asia-Pacific is likely to grow at a relatively faster pace, during the forecast period.

Which segment, in terms of type of molecule, currently accounts for the largest share of the aseptic fill finish services market?

Answer: The small molecules segment currently holds the largest share (68%) in the overall aseptic fill finish services market. This trend is unlikely to change during the forecast period.

Which types of packaging containers are most widely used in the aseptic fill finish services market?

Answer: Presently, the vials (67%) account for the largest share in the global aseptic fill finish services market.

What type of partnerships are taking place in the aseptic fill finish services market?

Answer: At present, service agreements represent the most preferred type of partnership model adopted by stakeholders in this domain. This is followed by acquisitions and service alliances.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/10vf7s

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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At least one person was killed in a sudden wildfire fueled by strong winds that broke out in northeast South Korea Tuesday.

Authorities say the fire started on a hill in the coastal city of Gangneung when a tree blew onto live electric wires near a forest.

The fire consumed about 170 hectares of land and destroyed about 70 homes and buildings over eight hours before firefighters were able to bring it under control with help from a late afternoon rainstorm.

South Koreas Yonhap news agency quotes authorities saying the body of a man in his 80s was found in a home gutted by the wildfire. At least 12 people were injured in the blaze, while more than 500 residents were forced to evacuate.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.
The Philippines and the United States launched their largest-ever joint military exercises Tuesday, as the longstanding allies seek to counter growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

Nearly 18,000 troops are taking part in the annual exercises dubbed Balikatan, or "shoulder to shoulder" in Filipino, which for the first time will include a live-fire drill in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

The drills follow Monday's conclusion of a three-day Chinese military exercise that simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

Balikatan will include military helicopters landing on a Philippine island off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon, nearly 300 kilometers from Taiwan, and the retaking of another island by amphibious forces.

It will be the first time the exercises have been held under President Ferdinand Marcos, who has sought to strengthen ties with the United States after his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte trashed the alliance.

"In order for us to protect our sovereign territory, we really have to drill and exercise how we are going to retake an island that's been taken away from us," Philippine exercises spokesman Colonel Michael Logico told reporters after the opening ceremony at a military camp in Manila.

In recent months, Manila and Washington have agreed to restart joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and struck a deal to expand the U.S. forces' footprint in the Philippines, which has infuriated China.

U.S. troops will be allowed to use an additional four Philippine military bases under the pact, including a naval base not far from Taiwan.

The Philippines' proximity to the island could potentially make it a key U.S. partner in the event of a Chinese invasion.

At a joint news conference Tuesday, both armies did not address questions about the Taiwan tensions and a possible role for the Philippines if China invaded Taiwan.

News of the expanded base access had prompted China to accuse the United States of "endangering regional peace and stability".

"Countries in this part of the world must uphold strategic independence and firmly resist the Cold-War mentality and bloc confrontation," China's ambassador to Manila, Huang Xilian, said last week.

Boosting military tactics

About 12,200 American, 5,400 Filipino and just over 100 Australian soldiers will participate in the two weeks of Balikatan exercises  about twice as many as last year.

About 50 leftwing protesters staged a rally outside the opening ceremony venue, calling on the Philippine government to scrap the exercises.

As part of the exercises, troops will stage an amphibious landing on the western island of Palawan, the closest Philippine landmass to the Spratly Islands, where Beijing and Manila have rival claims.

The Americans will also use their Patriot missiles, considered one of the best air-defense systems in the world, and the HIMARS precision rocket system, which has helped Ukrainian forces fighting the Russian invaders.

The two armies originally planned to fire live rounds at sea off the northern province of Ilocos Norte, about 355 kilometers from Taiwan's south coast, but had to move the exercise further down the South China Sea, Philippine Army Major-General Marvin Licudine said.

The original site was "not sufficiently prepared" for unloading the needed equipment, he added.

The new venue is less than 300 kilometers east of the Chinese-held Scarborough Shoal.

The exercises will enhance "tactics, techniques and procedures across a wide range of military operations," said Philippine military spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar.

Soon after the opening ceremony in Manila, the Philippine defense and foreign ministers will jointly meet their U.S. counterparts in Washington.
Getting a well-rounded education while maintaining one's religious identity can be challenging in some U.S. classrooms. But there are 140 accredited Islamic-based schools in the U.S. that aim to do just that. VOA's Rivan Dwiastono visited one such school in the state of Missouri. Camera: Ariadne Budianto, Virginia Gunawan
Just weeks after Myanmar's military junta dissolved the country's former ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), Aung Kyi Nyunt, chairman of the party's central executive committee, told VOA that supporters in exile remain in dialogue with both U.S. and Chinese officials about how to move forward.

Aung San Suu Kyis NLD and 39 other parties were disbanded March 29 over their failure to meet election registration deadlines in what the U.S., Britain, Australia and Japan have condemned as an illegal maneuver by the army to tighten its grip on power.

The NLD had repeatedly said it wouldn't run in the election, calling it illegitimate.

In an April 6 Zoom interview with VOA, Aung Kyi Nyunt, a former parliamentarian, remains optimistic, stating his popular movement "remains strong."

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

VOA: The junta has declared the NLD party automatically void as a political party because, according to them, the deadline for registration has passed, so what will the NLD do next?

Aung Kyi Nyunt, chairman of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, or CRPH, Myanmars parliament group in exile: We will continue to do our job. The junta is not accepted by the people at all and has no legal standing. The question is, do we need to consider the legitimacy of the juntas announcement? The parties have the support of the people, the junta does not. The military junta is like a sinking ship, while we remain on shore with the people.

We have a 12-step road map in accordance with the Federal Democracy Charter. This Charter was drawn collectively by the NLD and its alliances. As of now, we are on step 7 of our road map, which calls for the abrogation of the previous juntas constitution from 2008. We are trying to make changes step by step; however, the military junta is using arms to commit violent acts of suppression. They are real fascists, so the only option we have is to fight back with a resistance movement, and any other means available to put more pressure on the junta.

VOA: It seems like the junta doesnt care about the movements of its opposition. With its latest actions demanding political parties register with the military-appointed election commission and dissolving parties that disagree with the premise of registering with a commission they see as illegitimate, is there any possibility for dialogue with the military junta?



Aung Kyi Nyunt: Our side is clear. Going back under the 2008 constitution and continuing to extend the term of the military dictatorship is not acceptable for the people of Myanmar or the Spring Revolution forces. The military just needs to get out of politics, it must be completely separated from politics. The military must be under the rule of the civilian government. To answer your question, depending on certain pre-conditions, it may be possible to have some dialogue with them. However, we cannot start the conversation with the premise that the Tatmadaw will lead national politics forever.



VOA: The top leaders of the NLD party, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, have been put under arrest along with many other party members. When some party leaders like yourself fled to the border areas, there were criticisms that the party lacked leadership. Some critics also point out that the NLD has failed to make strategic decisions at this critical time. How do you respond?



Aung Kyi Nyunt: We have to think about the current nature of the revolution. Right now, this revolution is the people. The political tide is high now that the new generation no longer does things only when they have guidance. The top leaders of the NLD party have been arrested and detained arbitrarily. Currently, there is no way for the top leaders, including our main chairperson, Aung San Suu Kyi, to lead, but the party remains strong because of its vision for the future of the country.

Like me, exiled NLD legislators formed the CRPH to continue their work in the liberated areas. They have been working with ethnic organizations to increase coordination against the junta, as well as connecting with the international community to bring more recognition for the National Unity Government [Myanmars government-in-exile, formed by the CRPH, which comprises members of parliament and elected lawmakers ousted in the 2021 coup].

So the military junta is not just facing a single group, but various layers that we have, including armed ethnic groups, multi-faceted regional groups, etc. It is a situation where all generations are working together and fighting side by side toward the same goal. We see that everyone is performing from various angles and from various sectors. I think its a good strategy. In fact, such good tactical coordination has never existed before in Myanmar.



VOA: When the NLD was the ruling party under Aung San Suu Kyi, it had a good relationship with powerful neighboring countries like China. The dissolution of the NLD by the junta has been strongly condemned by Western countries like the United States and Britain. What has the response been from China regarding the NLD?



Aung Kyi Nyunt: The NLD has a good relationship with the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] and there has been constant communication. The NLD was invited to attend the online 100th anniversary of the CCP in 2021, even after the coup took place. Communications officers from both parties are in touch about the current issue of party dissolutions. We understand that China wont officially denounce the juntas dissolution of the NLD, but the CCP has made it clear to us that the NLD is a major political party that cannot be left out of Myanmar political affairs. They said that the dissolution of the NLD is something that should not take place. There should be dialogue instead.



VOA: You met with Derek Chollet, a senior adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State, last month. How important is the United States support for the anti-coup movement in Myanmar? Do you think the U.S. has been effective in their support?

Aung Kyi Nyunt: We are always grateful for the support, and I have great respect for countries like the U.S. But the reality is that we have only ourselves to look to. The revolution is by and for the people of Myanmar, so we can only save ourselves. Similarly, we welcome the support the CCP has shown toward our party. That being said, we have to be careful not to get involved in power games between these two countries.

VOA: From your viewpoint is it likely that China or the U.S. will intervene to facilitate dialogue between the junta and pro-democracy groups?



Aung Kyi Nyunt: It depends on the leadership of the military junta. If you look at the current situation, it looks like the people's side is already winning, but even though they are losing, the military wont give up easily. International strength and cooperation will be essential in bringing them to the table.
Russian lawmakers moved Tuesday to create an electronic military conscription system to try to thwart men from fleeing the country, as many did last year when they were called up to fight Moscows war in Ukraine.

The move was part of a push by Moscow to bolster its military forces in Ukraine during the second year of its war against its neighboring country, although government officials say they have no plans to force more men to fight in Ukraine through a new call-up.

Russia conscripted 300,000 men last year to fight in the war against Kyivs forces. But after learning of the draft, tens of thousands acted on short notice to flee their homeland before Russian authorities clamped down on the departures and street protests in multiple cities.

"We need to perfect and modernize the military call-up system," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news briefing, in which he also recalled "problems" experienced last year with the mobilization campaign.

No-shows banned from travel abroad

Until now, draft notices had to be delivered in person. But recruiters sometimes struggled to deliver the papers or even to know if they had the right address for a draftee. Some would-be draftees managed to dodge the conscription orders by refusing to pick up the notices.

Under the new system, a summons would be sent electronically to a potential draftee's personal account on the main government portal. The conscription notice would be considered delivered as soon as it has been sent, an effort to end the opportunity for men to flee.

Under the legislation, once the electronic summons is received, conscripts who fail to show up at the military enlistment office would be automatically banned from traveling abroad.

"The summons is considered received from the moment it is placed in the personal account of a person liable for military service," Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian parliament's defense committee, said in televised remarks.

Military service mandatory

The State Duma, Russias lower chamber, gave its backing to the necessary legislation in two separate votes. The bill next must be backed by senators and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.

Last years conscription order was the first military mobilization in Russia since World War II.

Military service for men between the ages of 18 and 27 is mandatory in Russia, with conscription carried out twice a year.

Some material in this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Russian forces pressed attacks on front-line cities in eastern Ukraine on Monday, while Ukrainian officials played down a report that Kyiv is amending some plans for a counteroffensive 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 airstrike on Monday that destroyed a multistory 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 counteroffensive 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.

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."

A Ukrainian counteroffensive 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 that 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 it prepares its own counteroffensive, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 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 Krasnohorivka 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 defense ministry said its forces destroyed a depot with 70,000 tons 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.
An international team of scientists is rushing to save West Africas Atlantic humpback dolphin, which environmental groups say has been pushed to the brink of extinction. In 1987, Senegal banned nylon monofilament fishing nets that threaten dolphins and other marine life, but critics say the government has failed to enforce the law. Annika Hammerschlag reports from Senegals Sine Saloum Delta.
A dense labyrinth of mangroves weaves through Senegals Sine Saloum Delta for hundreds of kilometers. Within the salty channels swims one of the rarest dolphin species in the world  the Atlantic humpback dolphin.

With just 1,500 remaining on the planet, the species is classified as critically endangered.

Scientists believe Sine Saloum is home to 300, making it the humpback dolphins there the largest single population.

But the dolphins, named for the peculiar hump that gives way to its dorsal fin, face numerous threats in the delta, including pollution, coastal development and, most problematically, entanglement in nylon monofilament fishing nets.

The nets are transparent underwater, making it easy for wildlife such as sharks, turtles, seabirds and fish to get trapped inside. Theyre also strong, making it nearly impossible for them to get out.

Monofilament nets are extremely problematic, said Lucy Keith-Diagne, executive director of the African Aquatic Conservation Fund. Dolphins and certainly manatees have a behavior that when they get caught in the net, they spin, and that entangles them even more.

The nets frequently get stuck to rocks on the seafloor, causing fishermen to abandon them. There, they continue to fish in silence for decades  a phenomenon known as ghost fishing.

Senegal banned the import, sale, purchase and use of monofilament nets in 1987. Updated versions of the law were passed in 1998 and 2015, but the nets can still be seen in nearly every fishing port and boat throughout the country.

Fishers are using a lot of monofilament nets. And we know it's illegal, but still they are using it, so it's not enforced, said Diana Seck, a research assistant with the African Aquatic Conservation Fund.

Government agents are charged with protecting Sine Saloums unique ecosystem, but critics say enforcement is nonexistent.

If we come across someone who uses types of gear that are prohibited in the marine-protected area, then we make them aware, said Samba Ndiaye, a head officer within the Gandoule Marine Protected Area of Sine Saloum.

A second violation should result in a fine, he said. But when VOA accompanied Ndiaye and another officer on a recent patrol, several boats openly carrying the illegal nets were ignored  not a single fine or warning was issued.

The other officer, Babacar Thior, said he wasnt even sure if the nets were banned.

For the last five or 10 years, weve heard some people say monofilament nets are prohibited. But the law has yet to be applied, he said. It kills everything and must be banned, but everyone uses it.

Senegals director of marine fisheries, Diene Faye, also acknowledged the nets are still used, but insisted the ban is enforced.

Even if theres an impact on resources, I cant say that its a considerable impact, because we continue to have fish, he said.

A 2019 assessment conducted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization found the depletion of coastal fish stocks posed a serious threat to food security in the region.

Senegalese fishermen have repeatedly raised the alarm over their diminishing catch.

Faye said his ministry was devising a plan to replace the countrys monofilament nets with cotton alternatives. Cotton nets can still entrap wildlife, but they are more easily visible and are biodegradable.

Faye could not provide a date for the rollout of the project.

Some citizens have begun taking it upon themselves to mitigate the damage. Nongovernmental organization Oceanium Dakar leads scuba diving outings to remove fishing nets that litter Senegals ocean floor.

The fishermen use the nets and dont even try to hide it. They dont hide it because no one is stopping them, said Rodwan El Ali, who heads the initiative.

El Ali grew up diving in Senegals waters and said hes witnessed a substantial increase in marine pollution and overfishing.

In Senegal, anyone can fish whatever they want, when they want, how they want. Here, no one will stop you, he said.

Illegal fishing practices such as spearfishing with a scuba tank and bottom trawling are strongly enforced elsewhere, he said. But in Senegal, theyre commonplace.

So long as authorities fail to enforce the net ban, conservationists say Senegals dolphins and other marine life will continue to pay the price.

Until we remove the nets, they will continue to destroy everything, for nothing, for no one, El Ali said. Its pure waste.
The Taliban said Tuesday their security forces had killed at least eight fighters from an armed opposition group in northern Afghanistan.

The fighting, about 120 kilometers north Kabul in Parwan province, marks the first significant clash between Taliban forces and NRF combatants in months.

Akmal Amir, a key commander of the National Resistance Front or NRF, was among those killed in the raid against an opposition hideout, said a statement from the Taliban-led Afghan defense ministry.

"The mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate will not allow any group or individual to threaten the security and well-being of our people, the statement vowed, using the official title of the Taliban government.

The NRF confirmed the death of Amir and his combatants. It said that a second senior commander was also among the dead, identifying him as Nasir Ahmad Andrabi.

The opposition statement said the fighting had lasted several hours, quoting its self-exiled chief, Ahmad Massoud, as paying tribute to the slain men.

"The martyrdom of these heroic fighters once again highlighted the need to create coordination and unity of action among all the forces opposing the Taliban," said Massoud, an ethnic Tajik leader.

Last September, Taliban security forces launched a "large-scale" operation against insurgents in Panjshir province and killed 40 NRF fighters, including several commanders. Taliban officials said the operation also captured scores of rebels. The fighting has since subsided in the area, barring a few isolated opposition attacks.

The NRF has been leading a low-level armed resistance to Taliban rule since the fundamentalist group seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021. Its fighters are mostly active in the remote mountains of Panjshir and parts of neighboring provinces, including Parwan.

Anti-Taliban opposition forces essentially comprise members of the now-defunct U.S.-trained Afghan security forces.

Massoud is the son of anti-Taliban mujahedeen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, whom al-Qaida suicide bombers, posing as journalists, assassinated two days before the terrorist network-plotted attacks hit the United States in September 2001.

Panjshir, under the slain Massoud, was at the center of resistance against the Taliban when they previously ruled the country from 1996 to 2001.

Critics are skeptical whether the current Afghan armed opposition could pose a serious threat to the Taliban, saying the de facto authorities, unlike their previous stint in power, are now better armed, possessing U.S. armored vehicles and other sophisticated military weapons left behind by the United States and NATO militaries.

More than $7 billion in U.S.-funded military equipment was in the inventory of the former Afghan government when it collapsed in the face of then-insurgent Taliban nationwide attacks amid the U.S.-led foreign troop exit from the country 19 months ago, the U.S. Department of Defense estimated in a report released last year.
Media outlets and analysts have condemned a decision by Twitter to label the BBC, VOA and NPR as government-funded media, saying the policys application has been inconsistent and risks reducing trust in the independent media outlets.

Twitter first added a state-affiliated media tag to National Public Radios main account on April 4 before changing that on Saturday to government funded media. It added the same wording to the main accounts for Voice of America and the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The state-affiliated label has more commonly been used to flag state-controlled propaganda outlets in countries like China and Russia.

When NPR first received the state-affiliated label, its chief executive John Lansing pushed back, saying, NPR stands for freedom of speech and holding the powerful accountable. It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way. A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy.

Press freedom advocates also flagged concerns.

The confusion between media serving the general interest and propaganda media is dangerous, and is yet further proof that social media platforms are not competent to identify what is and is not journalism, Vincent Berthier, head of the technology desk at Reporters Without Borders, said in a statement.

Less than 1% of NPRs annual operating budget comes from grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and federal entities, according to the outlets website.

NPR reported on an email exchange between Twitters owner Elon Musk and one of its reporters.

In that exchange, Musk acknowledged that he was unclear about NPRs relationship with the government when the platform added the state-affiliated label.

When the reporter told him that NPR receives only about 1% of its annual revenue from the federal government, Musk is cited as saying: Well, then we should fix the designation.

VOAs public relations department on Monday also pushed back against Twitters decision, saying the label gives the impression that VOA is not an independent outlet.

Twitter did not respond to VOAs request for comment.

VOA is funded by the U.S. government through the U.S. Agency for Global Media, but its editorial independence is protected by regulations and a firewall.

Bridget Serchak, VOAs director of public relations, said that the label government funded is potentially misleading and could be construed as also government-controlled  which VOA is most certainly not.

Our editorial firewall, enshrined in the law, prohibits any interference from government officials at any level in its news coverage and editorial decision-making process, Serchak said in an email. VOA will continue to emphasize this distinction in our discussions with Twitter, as this new label on our network causes unwarranted and unjustified concern about the accuracy and objectivity of our news coverage.

Britains BBC is primarily funded by an annual television license fee set by the government and paid for by residents.

The BBC has said it objects to the new label and is in contact with Twitter to have it changed.

The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the license fee, the outlet said in a report.

Other independent media outlets that also receive funding from governments so far do not appear to have had the label added to their Twitter accounts.

The application of the policy is very inconsistent, which is different than the policy being inconsistent, said Katie Harbath, chief executive at the tech policy firm Anchor Change and a former director of public policy at Facebook.

It seems like theyre handling it like theyve handled everything else since Musk joined, which is very spur of the moment, lacking any deep thought and principles behind it, Harbath added.

In its platform guidelines, Twitter defines government and state-affiliated media 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.

Propaganda outlets like Chinas Xinhua and Russias TASS are labeled as state-affiliated media.

Companies often spend years developing policies on how to best label different news outlets, according to Harbath, and part of the problem is that short labels often arent detailed enough to explain such a nuanced issue.

It gets really tricky the minute you start scratching the surface. How do you define state-sponsored media? Do you do it by their funding? How do you look at editorial control? she said. All of those different things  it starts to get really complicated.

Twitter was criticized in recent months about another media policy when it suspended the accounts of several reporters who covered the platforms removal of an account that tracks Musks private jet.

The journalists affected, including VOA chief national correspondent Steve Herman, were not able to post content to their account or access direct messages unless they agreed to delete posts about the @Elonjet account.
Assembly also announced three new CEO promotions in North America, MENA and APAC

NEW YORK and LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global omnichannel media agency Assembly today announced the appointment of Matt Adams as CEO of Europe, joining the agency on March 27. Adams will oversee all Assembly operations in continental Europe and the UK, with a focus on accelerating the agency's business development and driving sustainable growth and impact across the region.

Assembly is a global omnichannel media agency within the Stagwell network. (PRNewsfoto/Stagwell Inc.)

With over 20 years of senior leadership experience working across both the media owner and agency sides of the business, Adams is a transformative leader with an exceptional reputation for growth, business development, and client relations.

"We are delighted to welcome Matt to Assembly, where he'll lead our European business and bring our proposition, 'find the change that fuels growth,' to new heights. He is someone who knows how to unlock the potential of his teams, provide immense value to clients, and build strategic and innovative business solutions to drive success. I look forward to our European business continuing to change and grow under his leadership," said James Townsend, Global CEO of Assembly and Stagwell Brand x Performance Network.

Adams comes to Assembly from Brainlabs, where he was the Global Chief Operating Officer and is credited with scaling the company from a predominantly PPC agency to a full-service digital first media agency. Adams more than quadrupled its size while delivering strong organic revenue growth. He also helped acquire and integrate eight companies across the marketing funnel to bolster the agency's capabilities. Prior to Brainlabs, Adams was the UK and Ireland Chief Executive of Havas Media Group, working with some of the UK's most prestigious brands including O2, BBC, Hyundai, PayPal, Emirates, and giffgaff. While at Havas Media, Adams successfully executed a three-year turnaround strategy that culminated in the agency leading the UK New Business Leagues for 2019 and being one of the most awarded UK agencies for its work. Before these responsibilities, Adams led Dentsu's iProspect, the largest digital agency in the UK at the time.

Story continues

Adams' professional accolades include: Chairman of the Content Marketing Association; recognized as one of the top 10 media planners in the UK by Campaign in 2014; named one of Campaign's top 10 agency leaders in the UK in 2019, 2020 and 2021; member of the IPA Media Futures Group; and was co-chair of the UK's Campaign Media Week Awards in 2019.

Over the last two years, Assembly has successfully transformed its business from the inside out  resulting in more media AOR engagements and double-digit growth globally and over 1,600 employees across the world. In late 2021, Assembly merged with ForwardPMX to become the flagship omnichannel media agency within Stagwell's portfolio, and just last year, the agency refreshed its brand identity to signal its next era of growth.

In addition to Adams, Assembly is elevating three agency leaders in its fastest growing regions to CEO:

North America President Valerie Davis has been promoted to North America CEO

APAC Managing Director Richard Brosgill has been promoted to APAC CEO

MENA Managing Director Faisal Dean has been promoted to MENA CEO

Adams' appointment and Davis, Brosgill and Dean's elevations are on the heels of a series of global new business wins, product launches, and partner announcements over the last few months. The agency kicked off 2023 with the launch of Clean Media Lab, a new, technology-powered media decarbonization offering first available in Europe, joined Ad Net Zero in the US and UK, and continues on its journey to becoming a B Corp, all tangible evidence of the agency's ambition to continue developing sustainable and innovative media solutions. The agency also welcomed new clients Mandarin Oriental and T. Rowe Price into its roster and significantly increased its engagement with Lenovo globally.

"Assembly has more than its fair share of top talent, is globally scaled and regionally relevant," said Adams. "In today's environment, winning agencies are able to effectively generate value while delivering on smart and innovative marketing and media solutions that fuel growth, and Assembly has that in spades. I couldn't be joining at a better time."

Adams, Davis, Brosgill and Dean will report to James Townsend, Global CEO of Assembly and Stagwell Brand x Performance Network. These appointments are effective immediately.

ABOUT ASSEMBLY

Assembly is the modern global omnichannel media agency, bringing data, talent, and technology together to find the change that fuels growth for the best brands on the planet. Our approach connects big, bold brand stories with integrated, global media capabilities that deliver performance and drive large-scale business growth. Our work is powered by our proprietary, in-house technology solution, STAGE, and led by our global talent base of over 1,600 people around the world. We're purpose-driven at our core and pioneers in social and environmental impact in the agency world. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. For more information, visit assemblyglobal.com.

Press Contact:

Jess Santini, VP Global Marketing

Jess.santini@assemblyglobal.com

Cision

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Two aid workers with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) were killed in Ethiopia's Amhara region amid civil unrest, according to a statement Monday from the aid agency. The unrest was triggered by the government's decision to dissolve the regional security units of the country's 11 federal states and fold them into the federal forces.

Chuol Tongyik, 37, a security manager, and Amare Kindeya, 43, a driver, were shot and killed in the Amhara region as they were traveling back to the capital city of Addis Ababa, according to a statement from CRS. The exact details surrounding their deaths are not known.

Late Monday, CRS communications director Kim Pozniak said that the incident occurred in the town of Kobo. Residents in the town reported heavy artillery fire Sunday. According to The Associated Press, the town was the scene of fighting between the Ethiopian military and Amhara regional forces Sunday. Pozniak did not say whether the shootings were linked to the skirmishes there.

"The depth of our shock and sorrow is difficult to measure and we are angered over this senseless violence," said Zemede Zewdie, CRS country representative in Ethiopia. "CRS is a humanitarian agency dedicated to serving the most vulnerable people in Ethiopia."

Spokespeople for Ethiopia's federal government and for the Amhara regional government did not immediately respond to requests from Reuters for comment about the killings.

Protests and gunbattles affected several towns in addition to Kobo over the weekend, including Woldiya and Sekota, and continued Monday in some places.

Despite the violence, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed vowed to push ahead with the new policy. The government's decision to integrate the regional special forces is an attempt to build national unity and "a strong centralized army" in a country with a long history of inter-ethnic conflict.

"Appropriate law enforcement measures will be taken against those who deliberately play a destructive role," he said.

Ethiopia's constitution gives federal states the right to run a police force to maintain law and order. However, several states have also built up powerful regional security forces.

Clashes between these forces have become common amid disputes between states over land and resources. In his statement Sunday, Abiy said regional security forces posed a threat to Ethiopia's unity.

Some information from this report came from The Associated Press and 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 G-20 events and intensify political dialog 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 dialog 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 defense 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 defense 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.
The United Nations has warned that the Taliban's "unlawful" ban on its female staff in Afghanistan could push the world body to cease operations in the country.



The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, issued the warning Tuesday, days after the fundamentalist authorities barred Afghan women employees from working for the mission in the improvised nation reeling from years of war and prolonged drought.



The statement reiterated the U.N.'s "unequivocal" condemnation of the restriction, saying the global organization cannot comply with it as it is against international law and the U.N. charter.



"Through this ban, the Taliban de facto authorities seek to force the U.N. into having to make an appalling choice between staying and delivering in support of the Afghan people, and standing by the norms and principles we are duty-bound to uphold," the UNAMA stressed.



The mission's chief, Roza Otunbayeva, has initiated a review of UNAMA operations in the country that could continue until May 5, the statement said.



"U.N. national personnel  women and men  have been instructed not to report to U.N. offices, with only limited and calibrated exceptions made for critical tasks."



During the review period, the U.N. office in Kabul would conduct necessary consultations, make required operational adjustments, and accelerate contingency planning for all possible outcomes, the statement said.



"It should be clear that any negative consequences of this crisis for the Afghan people will be the responsibility of the de facto authorities," the UNAMA cautioned.



The Taliban have not publicly commented on the restriction since it went into effect a week ago (April 4).



The United Nations has nearly 4,000 staff members in Afghanistan, of which about 3,300 are Afghan nationals. Among them are about 400 Afghan women and 200 international female staffers.



The ban on U.N. female staff is the latest in a series of restrictions the Taliban have imposed on Afghan women since reclaiming control of the country in August 2021.



The curbs have severely impacted women and girls' participation in public and daily life. Afghan women have been banned from accessing higher education and many government jobs and public spaces. Girls are also not allowed to attend school beyond sixth grade.



On December 24, 2022, the Taliban banned Afghan women from working with domestic and international aid groups but did not include the United Nations at that time. Some international nongovernmental organizations suspended their work after the decree.



The de facto authorities have ignored calls to lift the curbs and dismissed criticism of their governance, saying it is in line with Afghan culture and Islamic law or Shariah.



The global community has refused to grant legitimacy to the men-only Taliban administration, primarily over human rights concerns and the treatment of women.

Meanwhile, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan will travel to the region for weeklong meetings with officials in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Istanbul.

The State Department said Tuesday that Thomas West will also hold consultations with Afghan political leaders, journalists, humanitarian professionals and human rights actives in these countries.

West is conducting outreach in the region to secure input as the international community seeks solutions to Afghanistans compounding challenges, made worse by the Talibans recent decisions to limit womens participation in humanitarian operations and ban them from their vital work for the U.N., the statement said.

The United States and the international community at large have linked the legitimacy issue to the removal of restrictions on women and respect for human rights of all Afghans.

John Kirby, the White House National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, reiterated to reporters last week that Washington does not recognize the Taliban as an official government in Afghanistan.



"If they want to be so recognized  at least by the United States  if they want to be seen as legitimate, then they need to own up to the promises they made about how they were going to govern that country and how they were going to treat their own people, including women and girls," Kirby told reporters last week.



Afghanistan is one of the world's largest humanitarian emergencies. The United Nations says 28.3 million people, two-thirds of the population, need humanitarian assistance.

Six million people are on the brink of famine. A $4.6 billion humanitarian appeal for this year is just over $200 million funded.
The recent leak of dozens of top-secret documents, including Defense Department assessments of the war in Ukraine, has sparked concern that the information they contain might help Russia in the war it began in 2022, and that it may make it more difficult for U.S intelligence agencies to operate in the future.

Among other things, the documents include detailed assessments of Ukrainian and Russian strengths and weaknesses on the battlefield, the timing of expected deliveries of new weapons systems, and the revelation that Ukraines air defenses are worryingly short on ammunition.

The information included in the leaked files suggests that U.S. intelligence services have extraordinary insight into the workings of the Russian military, giving them the ability to provide Ukrainian forces with advance knowledge of impending attacks and of where to concentrate their own strikes on Russian forces.

The documents also provide a window into the extent to which the U.S. effort to support Ukraine has involved the coordination of multiple U.S. government and foreign intelligence services, not all of which are naturally inclined to share their findings with one another.

Leak discovered

Beginning with a report in The New York Times late last week, journalists and researchers have uncovered dozens of classified documents mostly related to the war in Ukraine, posted to various social media sites, including Discord  a messaging platform popular with gamers  Twitter and Telegram.

The identity of the person or persons who posted the documents remains unknown, though the Pentagon has said that many of them appear to be photographs of official Department of Defense documents. In at least one case, the documents have been altered to suggest that U.S. estimates of Russian losses in Ukraine are lower, and estimates of Ukrainian losses are higher, than they actually are.

Researchers are still working to try to understand when and where the documents were first made public, but some appear to have been put online in an obscure chat group on Discord more than one month before news organizations noticed them.

Bellingcat, the Amsterdam-based open-source intelligence collective, has reported that some of the documents may have been online as early as January. In conversations with Discord users, Bellingcat said it has learned that there may be more documents available than have been discovered so far. Some of the original Discord forums in which the documents were shared have since been shut down.

Department of Justice investigating

Over the weekend, a Pentagon spokesperson said the Department of Defense had referred the leak to the Department of Justice for investigation. It is a criminal offense for a person with security clearance to make classified information public without permission.

One of the first things the Department of Justice will be required to do is determine the universe of people who had access to this information, said Gary Ross, a former special agent who worked in counterintelligence during a 27-year career spanning multiple U.S. defense and intelligence agencies.

Then, the investigation would attempt to determine who could have potentially disclosed that information to someone who was not authorized to receive it, Ross, now the director of intelligence studies at the Washington-based teaching site of Texas A&M Universitys Bush School of Government and Public Service, told VOA.

However, Ross said the pool of people with access to the information involved in the leak is potentially quite large, given the U.S. governmentwide effort to support Ukraine.

Victim of its own success

Longtime veterans of the intelligence community said the leak simultaneously highlights the success of the U.S. effort to gather intelligence on the war in Ukraine and endangers it.

Joseph Wippl, a 30-year veteran of the CIAs National Clandestine Service, told VOA he was surprised by the degree of cooperation between various government agencies that are engaged in intelligence collection and said that there is probably a lot of intelligence from foreign partners flowing into these assessments.

Unfortunately, the broad range of agencies and governments involved in the effort probably made the likelihood of a leak greater, said Wippl, who is now a professor at Boston Universitys Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies.

It's a major leak, but one that you kind of understand given the number of people who have access to that information, he said.

The leak might make that kind of information-sharing more difficult in the future, said Nicholas Dujmovic, a 26-year veteran of the CIA.

This is a breach of trust, he told VOA. The intelligence agencies that make up the [intelligence] community can't do their work without a basic presumption of trust on the part of all of its employees. This breach  it's just maddening.

Possible harms outlined

Dujmovic said the leaks have the potential to harm the U.S. intelligence communitys international operations on multiple levels.

He said cooperation among the intelligence-sharing group known as the Five Eyes  the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand  would probably not be deeply affected. However, he said relations with intelligence agencies less closely aligned with the U.S. might suffer, as they question whether sharing information is worth the risk of exposure.

Dujmovic, now an assistant professor and director of the intelligence studies program at The Catholic University of America, said he is most concerned about the impact the leaks might have on recruiting human sources of intelligence in the future.

If you're somebody thinking about becoming a spy for the CIA, for example  then you really have to think twice about this, because a leak like this could cost you your life, he said. This is something that could have a chilling effect on our ability to recruit these kinds of sources that we need, desperately, on the human side of things.

He added, Anybody who has been an intelligence professional is going to feel nauseated reading about this.

Limited utility to Russia

While the leaked information makes it clear that U.S. intelligence agencies have considerable insight into the plans and thinking of Russias military leadership, experts said they doubted the revelations will provide the Kremlin with very much new information about U.S. capabilities and the extent of Washingtons cooperation with Ukraine.

The Russians weren't born yesterday, said Wippl. They probably had a pretty good assessment of U.S capabilities, as well as assistance to the Ukrainians. They probably have their own sources in Ukraine, so it's not like it completely surprised them. But it certainly will encourage them to button down on their own security as much as they can.
A bipartisan group of more than 130 U.S. Congress members have signed a joint letter calling on the European Union to designate Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.

In the letter addressed to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the lawmakers said Iran is a leading state sponsor of terror and that for decades the IRGC has freely and openly carried out plots targeting citizens in countries across the EU.

We understand the legal complexities involved in designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization pursuant to EU law Common Position 931, and fully appreciate the need for this decision to be adjudicated by either a judicial or equivalent competent authority, the lawmakers said. But given the growing threat Iran poses to EU member states and their citizens, we urge you to treat this issue with the utmost urgency.

The letter also cites a study by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point stating Iran instigated at least 33 plots to surveil, abduct, or assassinate citizens in Europe during the past five years.

Borrell has said designating the IRGC as a terrorist group must first involve condemnation by a court in at least one EU member state.

The United States declared the IRGC a terrorist group in 2019.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.
A Virginia grand jury on Monday indicted the mother of a 6-year-old boy on felony child neglect and a firearms charge stemming from the childs shooting of an elementary school teacher three months ago in Newport News.

On January 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.

The student's mother, Deja Taylor, was charged with felony child neglect and misdemeanor recklessly leaving a loaded firearm so as to endanger a child, Newport News, Virginia, prosecutor Howard Gwynn said in a statement.

The indictments are the latest example of prosecutors charging parents of children who commit gun crimes or mass shootings. Last month, a Michigan appeals court ruled in favor of prosecutors seeking to take the parents of school shooter Ethan Crumbley to trial on involuntary manslaughter charges.

An Illinois father was arraigned in February on charges that he helped his underage son obtain a gun that the latter used to kill seven people at a Fourth of July parade near Chicago, despite signs the younger man was mentally disturbed.

In the Newport News school shooting case, Gwynn said the grand jury would continue to investigate and would consider whether additional charges were warranted.

"Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues," Gwynn said.

While shootings committed by a young child in a classroom are extremely rare, school shootings happen with alarming frequency in the U.S., including the deadly attack last month at a small private Christian school in Nashville, where a former student killed three 9-year-old children and three adults.

In Newport News, Zwerner last week filed a $40 million lawsuit against school administrators, alleging they ignored warnings from staff and pupils that the boy had a gun.

School officials have confirmed they had received warnings that the boy had a gun at school, but that a search of his belongings before the shooting had not turned up any weapon.
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 India's population, but also China's population."

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 the most populous country 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 in 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 are 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."
In a new court filing, the Democratic attorneys general for 23 U.S. states have reportedly warned that a federal judge's decision to suspend the FDA's approval of mifepristone "presents devastating risks to millions of people," including those in states where abortion remains legal.

The attorneys general, in their filing, called on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to keep mifepristone on the market.

Last week Friday, a U.S. judge suspended the FDA's approval of mifepristone, an abortion pill to terminate a pregnancy through ten weeks gestation.

But he put his decision on hold for one week to give the Biden administration time to appeal.

Also Read - Drugmakers Stand Up for Reproductive Rights: Pfizer and Biogen Among 300 Condemning Abortion Pill Approval Suspension.

Kacsmaryk's ruling will take effect at 12 a.m. CT on Saturday if the 5th Circuit does not halt it.

Citing the filing, CNBC reported that attorneys general and the District of Columbia condemned Kacsmaryk's ruling as "legally erroneous" and warned it would undermine the FDA's approval process.

The attorneys general argued that Kacsmaryk's order would "eviscerate the sovereign decisions" made by the states to protect access to abortion when last year, the Supreme Court's decision overturned Roe v. Wade, which said there was a federal constitutional right to abortion.

Kacsmaryk's decision does not affect the availability of misoprostol, which the World Health Organization recommends as a standalone abortion drug.

States such as California are stockpiling misoprostol if Kacsmaryk's decision goes into effect.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

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This article Attorney Generals of Over 20 States Sound Alarm Over Suspension Of Abortion Med Approval: "Devastating Risks" Ahead originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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Congrats! Photo: Richie Buxo/Shutterstock

In a move that may bring us closer to the reunification of Britain and America than we can yet know, young British icon Millie Bobby Brown appears to be engaged to Jake Bongiovi, the son of New Jersey royalty Jon Bon Jovi, approximately one and a half years since their Insta-based dating confirmation (no word on when the dating actually started). The speculation comes following dual Instagram posts from the couple on April 11, with Bongiovis captioned, forever, with a white heart. The Stranger Things stars was even more explicit, prominently showcasing what sure looks like an engagement ring and captioned, Ive loved you three summers now, honey, I want em all, with another white heart. For the non-Swiftie population, that caption is from Taylor Swifts wedding ballad Lover  though now is maybe not the best time to invoke Swift if youre claiming your relationship will last forever.

If youre like, Wait, isnt Millie Bobby Brown super-young? rest assured, time is not playing tricks on you. The fiancees still have quite the youthful glow; Brown is 19 and Bongiovi 20. Millie Bobby Brown has cosplayed as middle-age Gloria Steinem before and has been a working actress since age 9, so precociousness is well within her wheelhouse. Vulture has reached out to Brown for comment. So now, were left with just one question: Will her best friend Noah Schnapps ghost kitchen TenderFix be catering the wedding?
Untitled, 1970. Photo: Estate of Miyoko Ito, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery

The 16 paintings by Miyoko Ito on display at Matthew Marks Gallery glow densely with color, as if lit by some inner sun. The canvases of some of the best works here  most from the 1970s, painted when she was in her 50s  are nailed to the edges of the stretcher so that the raised heads are visible. This gives the paintings a studded halo, like sacred tapestries. They slow us down and accentuate our here-ness, offering an introspective realm to enter.

Ito died in 1983 at the age of 65. She said she worked sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, while raising two children in Chicago. I met her twice there in the 1970s. I remember her as being small, intense, very quiet, taking it all in at a distance, like there were ghosts in the room with her. She was one of the rulers of the Chicago roost, part of a group called the Chicago Imagists  artists who didnt work in the minimal or conceptual forms of New York and Los Angeles. Instead, they veered into figuration, cartooning, fantasy, and wild color. These artists included Jim Nutt, Gladys Nilsson, Roger Brown, Ed Paschke, Barbara Rossi, Karl Wirsum, Christina Ramberg, and Ray Yoshida. Yet even after the art world caught up to Imagism, Ito remained overlooked. She is only now starting to get her due; her art would stand out in any museum collection.

Back in the 1970s, she was not only one of the few non-white artists on the scene, but also older than her peers  an outsider among outsiders. Born to Japanese parents in 1918, her father worked as a houseboy in California. When he struggled to support his family there, Ito was taken by her mother to live with relatives near Nagoya, Japan. The family arrived September 1923, one day after the Yokohama earthquake that killed over 140,000 people. It was chaos. Her mother soon gave birth to a stillborn child.

Everything was terribly traumatic, Ito said. Going to school was very traumatic. I was very, very ill, extremely ill, to the point that I couldnt walk anymore. She had what she called a childhood nervous breakdown. Of her parents, she said, My parents were very irresponsible. Her father grew up all by himself and he didnt know how to treat a child, and I didnt know how to behave as a child. Yet of her time in Japan, she said, Those five years are the roots of what I am.

In 1928, Ito and her family settled in Berkeley, in a neighborhood she identified as predominantly black and a third Japanese and very few whites and the whites were Portuguese. She said, You cannot help but be race conscious when youre segregated.

One month before she graduated from UC Berkeley in 1942, Itos family was placed in a Japanese internment camp south of San Francisco. By then, shed met a boy her parents forbade her to see because, she said, his brother had married a pariah, an untouchable. No matter: In 1942, the couple married to avoid being separated in the camps. While Ito was allowed to attend Smith College the following year, her husband remained interned until 1945.

In 1944, she moved to Chicago, where she spent the rest of her life. Her art career there was up and down. After being rejected from a show in 1955, she said, To be called an old lady painter, passe at the age of 30 or 31, is very hard to take. Nevertheless, she was featured in numerous exhibitions, including the Whitney Biennial and the Carnegie International, and was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1977. She showed often in Chicago. But sales were few. That is what I noticed about women painters, she said. They would go on no matter what. Some men painters will become so discouraged after a big splash. Painting, she said, is the only healing thing in my life.

At Marks, we feel the hours, days, and years she invested in her art; the circumspection, diligence, and determination. Surfaces build up like grained fresco. Creamsicle salmon colors bask in sunshine. Paint strokes are orderly, never gestural, giving her work an underlying solidity and structure. Beads and bumps of paint accumulate, scrapes and abrasions appear, furrows form. How these paintings were made is as much a part of the work as what they look like. One of the most beguiling aspects of her art are the tiny spaces between her larger forms. They fill her paintings with shimmers of supernal otherness.

If those five years from her childhood in Japan lie at the root of Itos life, they also inform her art. There are forms that resemble shrines and the ancient tomb mounds surrounding Nagoya. There is a flatness and a descending order of images that recall a calligraphic scroll. Ito is painting what Rilke has called the inner space that has its being in you  quiet sanctuaries where the past lives on.
MAD magazine #14, June 2020. Photo: TM &  EC Publishing. Used with permission.

By the half-meaningful measure of longevity, Al Jaffee was peerless. MAD magazine, founded in 1952, published 550 issues plus a handful more after a reboot in 2019, and fresh work by Jaffee appeared in 509 of them. He got to MAD in 1955 and stepped away in 2020, not terribly long before his death this Monday, April 10, at 102. But the length of his run barely touches upon his skill, accessible wit, and ability to channel the collective ethos of the Usual Gang of Idiots while also producing work that was all Al.

Consider Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions, his recurring column with a baby-simple premise: A character asks a particularly S.Q., and another character responds with three snarky S.A.s. It was Groucho Marxism for beginners, an instruction manual for budding teen smart-asses entering the world of dopey adults. It no doubt was the bane of all but the most enlightened parents and teachers. A Jaffee-drawn guy might walk up to a crumpled automobile and ask, Have an accident? The replies would include No, Im starting a junk yard! and No, Im a modern sculptor, as well as a blank speech bubble where you could write in your own. Spend time with a selection of Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions as an adult, and youre likely to simultaneously say This is kind of dumb and laugh your head off. That was MAD in its prime: a magazine specializing in irreverence during an era that, at least in the mainstream, was mostly reverent.

Snappy Answers often addressed pet peeves, and that instinct pervades Jaffees work, especially another long-running series devoted to absurd inventions. Except that they werent patently (so to speak) absurd: Most slid right up to the edge of funny practicality, like a giant-size toilet-paper holder that housed ten replacement rolls, or a hot hand handbag that contained heating coils activated by a breakaway handle, intended to scorch purse-snatchers. (Why not?) Perhaps inevitably, a number of those inventions have crossed the line from plausible product to actual one, including plastic-cup lids with built-in straws and cartridge razors with a comical number of blades. Quite a few of the rest are infomercial-ready. (A sound-generating machine for bathrooms to obscure toilet noises during parties? But wait! Theres more!)

Another thing about MAD  one that I particularly admire as an editor myself  was that its makers knew that young people, especially, used to dive into magazines in a unique way. Adults typically read them and tossed them, but kids tended to hang onto them as physical objects they bought with their sparse allowances. They would (and I would) read and reread and re-reread them, slowly discovering tertiary and quaternary strata within as the covers grew loose and fell off. MAD was happy to provide details for them to discover as they bored in, from jokes hidden in the corners of its panels in six-point type to Sergio Aragoness Marginals, the tiny images sprinkled around the edges throughout each issue. They were Easter eggs before we had that term.

Jaffee did not have that kind of childhood. He grew up weirdly and under stress, in a life that did not follow a familiar Jewish Americanimmigrant path. He was born in Savannah, Georgia, and his mother moved to a harsh Lithuanian shtetl when he was 6. Then he returned to America (to live with his father), then went back to Lithuania (with his mother again), and finally, as the Nazis swept in, fled to New York as a teenager. It was an unstable and chaotic youth. You have to assume that someone who came from that world and then landed in the High School of Music & Art, amid eccentric artsy city kids of all kinds, would develop an off-kilter worldview, one that might be described as inside-out.

Which brings us to the Fold-In.

Bill Gaines, the founder of MAD and its publisher for its first 40 years, used to say that teenage boys read his magazine till they graduated to Playboy, then came back to MAD once theyd grown up. Jaffee, for his part, said he was (slightly) thinking of Playboys centerfold and the other big expensive gatefolds that mass-market magazines used to run. Its almost as if theres a little buzzer in my head that goes off, he told his biographer, Mary-Lou Weisman. The buzzer says, How about a foldout-foldout-foldout, one that goes on for twelve feet? And, when that was impractical: If I cant do foldouts, how about fold-ins? MAD could do a cheesy black-and-white fold-in. The double image  one basic and then a second revealed by creasing the page twice, causing its extreme left and right edges to mesh  was tricky to conceive and trickier to render, and nobody else but Jaffee ever quite got the knack. Like the Snappy Answers column, it incorporated a question-and-response. It does something highly unusual in a print magazine: It moves and changes, straining the limits of a pulp-paper product to produce a rudimentary animated gag. It is, Id argue, an early gesture in the direction of the joke GIF.

Jaffees final Fold-in. Photo: TM &  EC Publishing. Used with permission.

Each took him a couple of weeks. The first one appeared in 1964  the feature went from black-and-white to color (which he found more difficult to render) a few years later  and the last one ran in 2020. Jaffee told Weisman he sweated the first couple of hundred. It became such an institution that Jaffee filed one to MAD that was intended to run as his obituary  and then he more or less outlived the magazine, which no longer publishes original content. Instead, the editors ran it to mark his 99th birthday in 2020.

And what is the hidden message of that final Fold-In? Why is the What, Me Worry? kid so worried? the text asks up top, above a row of factories and other businesses whose signs indicate their imminent closure. Smokestacks emit white plumes behind the words ECONOMY COLLAPSING! UNEMPLOYED STARVING! But fold it together and the new message appears: a puffy white caricature of Jaffee himself, above the words NO MORE NEW JAFFEE FOLD-INS. He used his exit to make fun of any importance attached to his work; the institution for which he wrote; and you, the reader who cared about this stuff. A very snappy, and pretty un-stupid, final answer.
Photo-Illustration: Vulture

Catholicisms rites, dogma, and liturgical traditions range from intricate to impenetrable  and often, Catholic religious horror follows suit. This April, why not commemorate the crucifixion with the best of them by indulging in some Catholic horror? Follow up your Easter festivities with all sorts of terrifying religious thrills of the Our Father variety.

The Popes Exorcist, which stars Russell Crowe and is based on the real memoirs of Father Gabriele Amorth, is just the latest film in a long lineage of Catholic horror, displaying the supernatural threats of Satan and the secretive, domineering facade of the Church.

Some ground rules as we look back at the past 50 years of Catholic horror: This list wont include unspecified Christian religious horror movies like Carrie (1976)  its never stated which evangelical sect of Christianity Carrie Whites mom practices under  nor will it feature Satanic-panic flicks like Rosemarys Baby, since Satan isnt a strictly Catholic construction. Sorry about your baby, Rosemary, but it wasnt the Catholic Churchs doing.

Get ready for some stories of Catholic priests, Hail Marys, and Vatican-sanctioned sanctifying. Grab your holy water and down some sacrificial wine  were about to make the rest of April horrifyingly beatific.

The Exorcist (1973)

This list couldnt exist without The Exorcist, undeniably the quintessential Catholic horror film. In it, the demon Pazuzu possesses a little girl, Regan, after she plays with a Ouija board, causing her to mutilate herself with a crucifix and expel vulgarities at her family. The film reinforces the Catholic fear of the Other  Pazuzu is the king of demons in the ancient Middle Eastern Sumerian religion  and pits the patriarchal powers of God against the patriarchal powers of hell. Through it all, Regan has no agency, and her body becomes a battlefield for mens faith  a truly relevant horror in todays political climate.

William Friedkin, a notorious perfectionist, helmed this adaptation of William Blattys novel, and he had a clear vision of how its events should unfold. Mirroring the dogged determination of The Exorcists priests, Friedkin often pushed his actors past their limits, even resulting in injuries for Linda Blair, who played Regan. For more insight into his methodologies and the story behind the production, go watch the documentary Leap of Faith on Shudder.

Available on HBO Max

The Omen (1976)

U.S. diplomat Robert Thorn, played by the impeccable Gregory Peck, has made some questionable choices. While he and his wife are living in Rome, her pregnancy ends in a stillbirth at the same time another woman dies during childbirth. At the hospital chaplain Father Spilettos behest, Thorn swaps out the babies without informing his wife. This initial horror  of a husband lying to his wife about the identity and fate of their child  foreshadows the terrors to come.

Five years later, mysterious tragedies begin to unfold; a hellhound appears to keep guard of their son, Damien; and his nanny hangs herself at his birthday party after shouting, Its all for you, Damien! Thats just the beginning  Thorn revisits Father Spiletto and deduces his child is the Antichrist. How could God let this happen? Its a betrayal akin to Thorns original choice, setting the stage for an approaching apocalypse.

Available on Cinemax

Prince of Darkness (1987)

The great John Carpenter is celebrated for films like Halloween (1978) and The Thing (1982), but his oft-overlooked Prince of Darkness is one of the stranger entries in his filmography, and thats saying something. After a container of ancient liquid is discovered in a monastery, a Catholic priest, played by genre favorite Donald Pleasence, enlists the help of some quantum-physics students to pinpoint what exactly this eerie green substance is made of.

After deciphering a text accompanying the liquids canister, the group discovers its Satan in juice form. Soon students get possessed, students murder other students, and Jesus was actually an alien? Carpenter explores the idea that science and religion are merely two different ways of interpreting the same phenomenon  and though that phenomenon is both real and reducible to its concrete parts, it is still inescapable.

Available for rent

The Exorcist III (1990)

We dont talk about Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977). The first Exorcist sequel, which follows Regans adolescence following the first films possession, was such a disappointment that it took 13 years to get William Blattys novelized screenplay Legion (the final installment in his Faith Trilogy) adapted to the screen. When a final cut of the Legion adaptation did make it to the studio, higher-ups balked since it contained no actual exorcism, and the film underwent more shoots and extensive edits.

Considering all of the fiascos with production, the final product, serving as direct sequel to the original and ignoring Exorcist II entirely, not only features genre favorites like George C. Scott and Brad Dourif but contains one of the best jump scares ever put to screen. It also ponders a couple big questions: Even if a person is selfless and devout, are there forces after death that will punish them for their piety? Is God truly the only power, or does Satan have a say too?

Available on Hulu

The Day of the Beast (1995)

In Madrid, a priest named Angel starts sinning in any way he can, even employing the help of Satanist and metalhead Jose Maria to scale his efforts. Why is this priest racking up sins at high speed? To be invited to the private viewing party of the Antichrists birth, of course.

But Angels motives are pure: He intends to murder the child before it can destroy the world. A frantic, frenzied plot unfolds as Angel and Jose Maria kidnap a televangelist and attempt to summon Satan. Its a satirical take on the role of faith and devotion in present-day believers  would any modern Catholics sacrifice themselves for the salvation of all? And if so, would they expect a reward in return?

Available on Prime Video

The Rite (2011)

Whats better than Anthony Hopkins playing an eccentric mentor to a young protege attempting to delve into the darkest parts of humanity? Hopkins is Father Lucas, an experienced exorcist who has seen the work of the devil and still finds himself questioning God from time to time. A skeptical seminary student goes to him to learn the craft of exorcism and experiences his own dark night of the soul.

Dont let the PG-13 rating fool you  what this movie lacks in gore it makes up for in tension and all-around creepiness. It examines facing fears of the misunderstood, reclaiming the power of doubt, and transforming that doubt into spiritual curiosity. Plus, watching Anthony Hopkins yell in Latin is certainly a treat.

Available for rent

The Conjuring (2013)

Although Ed and Lorraine Warren  two real-life paranormal investigators from the 70s and 80s  werent Catholic priests themselves, they recognize a demon when they see it and know when an exorcism is the best course of action. In fact, they appeal to the Catholic Church in the original The Conjuring movie and are denied a priest since the family experiencing the possession isnt part of the congregation. Gatekept in the bowels of Catholic dogma, the strict rituals and rules for a successful exorcism will not be used to aid outsiders. The price of piety must be paid for protection  gotta love Catholic dogma.

To overcome the Churchs indifference to their plight, Ed Warren takes it upon himself to perform the dangerous exorcism despite his lack of priesthood. Aided by Lorraine, Ed proves expelling demons isnt just a priestly pastime  and it takes more than a religious habit to dispel evil.

Available on Tubi

The Borderlands/Final Prayer (2013)

The British film The Borderlands, released under the name Final Prayer in the U.S., isnt your typical Catholic horror. Instead of focusing on demons and exorcisms, the plot of this film begins with a miracle in a church located in the Devon countryside of South West England. The Vatican sends a group of investigators  whose number, notably, does not include a priest  to verify the claims and assess the supernatural events. Quite quickly, the environment within the church and surrounding town grows sinister, and the local priest dies by suicide.

Making deft use of the found-footage setup, The Borderlands uses science and technology to take viewers on a wild ride through skepticism tested by measurable evidence and the outcome of only subscribing to seeing is believing. After all, what if you find out your assumptions were wrong much too late?

Available on Tubi

Evil (2019-)

Evil is the modern successor to The X-Files, a frequently horror-tinged case-of-the-week series complete with a skeptical female doctor and the devout believer. But, Evil trades The X-Files sci-fi spooks for Catholic creeps. Psychiatrist Dr. Kristen Bouchard is tasked with differentiating demonic possession from mental illness alongside David Acosta, a former journalist turned Catholic priest-in-training.

Outside of the scary moments and demonic images contained in each possession-of-the-episode storyline, the overarching terror comes from Dr. Bouchards rival Dr. Leland Townsend. Leaning into the ever-present specter of Catholic guilt, Dr. Townsend revels in bringing that guilt full circle and enticing others to commit evil. And, hes particularly intrigued by the seemingly incorruptible Acosta  Dr. Townsend, like the devil, loves a challenge. At its core, Evil examines temptation and corruption  and what happens when good people are led astray.

Available on Paramount+

The Cleansing Hour (2019)

In this day and age of content creators and livestreams, isnt a fake priest streaming fake exorcisms to sell merch (including fake holy water) basically a given? Thats the premise of The Cleansing Hour, and Father Max and Drew, the two friends behind the sacrilegious scheme, have managed to amass a large following doing so. Their viewership loves the spectacle of the Church without subscribing to its rigid dogma.

But when the actor hired to play the possessed person for the next episode doesnt show, Drews fiancee reluctantly agrees to stand in. Unfortunately, a demon decides this is the night to convert The Cleansing Hour into reality and possesses her. As the night wears on and more and more of the crew dies, the demon forces Max and Drew to reveal secrets to the streaming audience  from the true nature of the show to Catholic-school atrocities to interpersonal infidelities. Its the creeping dread ingrained into any lapsed Catholic  or any denomination, for that matter  that their abandoned belief system will prove real and the guilt, shame, and truth of amassed wrongdoings will come out in a public forum. Today, that public forum is the internet.

Available on Shudder

Midnight Mass (2021)

The miniseries Midnight Mass marries Catholic doubt with piety when a young and charismatic priest comes to a small town on Crockett Island to revitalize the communitys waning Catholicism. As he mysteriously heals illness and helps a paralyzed girl walk again, the people of the island split into factions of evangelists and skeptics.

Created and directed by horror maestro Mike Flanagan (known for his Netflix horror series The Haunting of Hill House and The Midnight Club), Midnight Mass combines Flanagans penchant for atmospheric gothic with disturbing religious iconography and asks the question that should plague any devout believer: How do you know if youre following a false prophet?

Available on Netflix

The Seventh Day (2021)

A well-versed exorcist with a renegade streak, Father Peter Costello, played by Guy Pearce, accompanies an inexperienced newcomer for his first day as an exorcist. Pearces Father Costello uses unconventional  even for exorcists  methods to track down and expel disquiet spirits and nefarious demons. Father Costello bears resemblance to John Constantine of the Hellblazer comics; both fight supernatural evil with the occult and challenge the politics and processes of the Catholic Church.

With a story that takes place over a single day and a twist that may or may not go over well for certain viewers, The Seventh Days polarizing ending seems to reinforce the norms of the church as the only way forward  and demonizes anyone who strays from it.

Available on Netflix

The Popes Exorcist (2023)

Starring Russell Crowe as the titular exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, The Popes Exorcist begins with a bang  the exorcism of a young man. During this sequence, Father Amorths cunning and wit is on full display, proving this exorcist has modern sensibilities and unorthodox methods against ancient evils. But, it turns out, this first exorcism is purely theater put on by Father Amorth to quell the disturbed young mans troubled mind. The rest of the exorcisms are decidedly not merely theater.

In todays age, possessions tend to be explained away with mental illness or temporary psychosis. The Popes Exorcist acknowledges this but then counters:  What about the instances when its not a malady of the mind? Pair this with a secret conspiracy within the church uncovered by our exorcist and the stable foundation of Catholic dogma wavers as Satan steps onto the scene. A pious persons worst nightmare.

Available in theaters

This article has been updated to include Evil and The Popes Excorcist.
Nothing like an unlikely ally or secret foe to come in and shake up a mystery, huh? In tonights episode, we get both, and they bring some serious heat to the case. Our unlikely ally comes in the form of Detective Gene Holcomb (Eric Lange), a real better the devil you know job for Mason & Co. And we know Holcomb: a heavy-hitting dirty cop out to get his bag and improve his station and eke out his own healthy share of the American Dream. He tried to get there by doing a deal with a rich-kid devil, Brooks McCutcheon, who was never going to let a glorified thug with a badge into the platinum lounge of 1930s L.A.

And now hes got a subpoena to testify in court from Perry fucking Mason.

Brooks was into something big, Holcomb tells Mason later in his office. Bigger than you, Burger, or anybody this towns even thinking about. Now hes talking some sense, but Mason isnt having it. No beating around the bush. Holcombs here to negotiate his way off the witness list, and Mason doesnt want to pass up a clear opportunity to fuck this guy up for good. They both know that if Holcomb gets on the stand, his life goes down the toilet  job, pension, everything gone.

But heres the thing: Holcomb is more valuable to Mason as an ally than as an enemy to be flogged in the public square  just as hes more valuable to us as an unlikely audience avatar. Holcomb speaks for us when he says, I got a bunch of puzzle pieces, but I dont know how they all fit together  so now I gotta figure out how to make this shit work for me somehow.

Aint that just the way in the U.S.  were all compromised, because were all just trying to make the debris work for us somehow. Eric Lange is one of the greatest character actors currently permeating the stratosphere. Most of us have probably seen him on TV somewhere before Perry Mason  and remember him well. My inroad with Lange was his turn as demonic CIA operative Bill Stechner on Narcos. He brings that same simmering menace and sinister edge to Holcomb, but those piercing eyes speak volumes of vulnerability, fatigue, and, in this scene, desperation. And he shows enough of it to get Mason to listen.

So weve got an unlikely ally, but what about our mysterious informer? We last saw Mason confronted with a cryptic message from an ominous invader in his apartment. Now hes rigging his door with new locks and heading out the fire escape to court. The walls continue to close in on our crew, and weve got two love interests in the mix who seem to have shown up a little too conveniently the longer this case goes on.

Some of you have been pretty good at tracking this in the comments. Admittedly, Ive been too wrapped up in these budding romances at face value to even want to see either Anita St. Pierre or Ginny Aimes (or both) as femmes fatales, but here we are. In any case, Im less convinced by Anita. At the top of the episode, she drops Della off at court and invites her to live with her. There are plenty of women who make it work, she says. It seems on the level and potentially a little too risky a move to make if your intentions arent pure. I dont know. Well see.

Things are getting weirder in court, though. After questioning an expert on the gold coin that Brooks McCutcheon was carrying when he was murdered, Milligan rests, even though three more witnesses were on his list. Its just as well, as Masons distracted, literally looking behind his shoulder in court during the proceedings. He thinks Lydell McCutcheon is behind the toy-train setup in his apartment, but, as Della points out, he isnt exactly the type to fire warning shots. On their way out, Della catches Hamilton Burger in the hall and tries to get anything out of him. I just want to know youre all right, she tells her friend and comrade in the closet. You can trust me. Burgers response is nil  to the point of absolutely chilling. Somebodys got him spooked, which doesnt bode well for Della, as her similarly controversial personal life is under a secret, sinister microscope.

Back at the office, Mason has his little chat with Holcomb and tells him that, if they work together, he will need insurance: Just an abuse of your power. Nothing you cant handle. So Holcomb gets Mason the San Haven file on Noreen Lawson  a big puzzle piece offering us our only respite from the mounting pile of shit our crew faces. So what do they get from the San Haven file? For one, they confirm that her brother, Councilman Taylors car-accident story was bogus. Her file shows petechial hemorrhage of the blood vessels under her eyelids  choking is the most likely cause.

The San Haven files nice, but as Della points out, Its no smoking gun. (Bookmark that shit for later!) Nevertheless, its the best lead theyve had in the case thus far, and it gives us our first big courtroom scene with Della Street at the helm. Heeeyyyooooo!

At the top of Taylors testimony, its still Mason at the reins, setting up the councilmans public, albeit shrouded, connection to Brooks McCutcheon. Old Brooks was a major contributor to Taylors campaign, and wouldnt you know it, McCutcheon Stadium just so happens to be in his district. Mason even gets off one of those little naughty question objected to and immediately withdrawn numbers: How much of Brookss contribution to your campaign went to guaranteeing zoning permits? Nice.

But when the time comes to bring up Noreen, theyve already lost three female jurors. Della catches it, and she knows immediately that shes gotta tap in. It only takes a quick beat for Mason to realize its time to let our girl cook.

And cook she does. Rylance was made for this shit, man, commanding the center of the ring with the simmering confidence of a clairvoyant viper. Making it look like its easy in a way weve never seen, even in Masons most animated courtroom theatrics, Della lures Taylors false narrative out of him, then systematically tears it down with a wicked combination of facts and drama. If his sisters current condition resulted from a car accident, why is there no evidence of head injury  internal or visible? And Noreens medical records indicate brain damage was sustained from lack of oxygen. Then our girl brings out Brooks McCutcheons belt  the one he preferred to strangle women with sans consent  complete with sworn written testimony of this recurring act. The M mark on Brookss belt looks awfully similar to the mark on Noreens neck after her accident, as shown in a photo from the San Haven file.

For the finale, Della puts Brookss belt around her own neck and stands before the jury. She was strangled, Taylor finally admits. See what happens when you take a walk down Street Street, baby! We have our reasonable doubt  game, set, match, and all that.

Fresh off her victory, Della jumps in a phone booth to tell Anita shell be coming over soon with all of her stuff. Rafael is high off the day in court  so sure their way out is secured that hes willing to fuck with the guards and get beat up and thrown in solitary (or worse). Bro, please dont do that! Things may not be as wrapped up as you think they are. Your smoking gun is still out there waiting to be plucked from the ether.

Speaking of plucking things out of the ether, our shifty old PI pal, Pete Strickland, is in a bind with Milligan and the DAs office. Earlier in the episode, Strickland was established as another mole suspect trying to break into Masons apartment to no avail. I think I made it clear how important this information is to me, Milligan tells him. We cant be going into the rest of their defense blind.

Yeah, well, Mason aint no rube, says Strickland. He knows someones onto him. Milligan, obviously in no mood to hear another co-worker tell him how great Mason is, turns that shit on Strickland. Does he really want his old drinking buddy to think hes smarter than him?

Meanwhile, Mason shows up at the beach on his motorcycle for a meeting with Holcomb. They both leave their pistols at their respective vehicles and stroll up the coast, away from the beach area, and Holcomb dishes some of his dirt on Brooks. Apparently, he was paying fellas under the table to unload produce south of Santa Barbara  sull it around, make a couple bucks. He was in cahoots with Goldstein, who was butchered four days before Brooks was killed. And thats when the ships stopped going up there altogether.

So where are the ships going now? The answer is right in front of em  crates of rotting produce strewn along the shore covered in oil.

So its something with all the McCutcheon oil. Of course! That is bigger than anything Mason & Co. or anyone else has been thinking. This is what Lydells been covering up this whole time, not some bullshit about protecting the McCutcheon family name, Mason tells Della. But what is he covering up? We dont know yet, but Mason isnt ready to take Dellas suggestion and rest the defense. Sure, the prosecutions case has already been undermined, but Dellas right to sense that any further exposure could burn them. But Masons got a scent for the big baddie, and hes not about to back down from the fifth now.

A shot of a shadowed figure breaking into Masons office transitions us to the next day in court, where Milligan and Burger drop their big bomb on the defense. They know about the murder weapon, and they all take a field trip to Masons office, where hes forced to unload it from his safe and surrender it for ballistics testing.

Well fuck. Howd this happen?? Who broke into their office?

Now whats really ailing our crew is, more likely than not, a significant web of dubious people and events. Theres a whole machine working against them, and the information flows up from many sources and situations. The exact center of it, and the most direct contributor to their current woes, is still fuzzy. So back to the present  who do these guys think leaked the smoking-gun intel?

The obvious answer, for the time being, is Strickland, but the crew doesnt know that yet. Masons throwing out some names rather haphazardly between hard, manic drags of a cig. Do you talk to Anita about work? Hey, theres one. Cant blame him for asking.

Did you tell Clara when you found the gun? he asks Paul. No way thats a thing, but while were on the subject, lets check in with these two. Paul has been in a bad way ever since he had to deal with that rough interrogation of Ozzy Jackson. The episode opened on Ozzys Converse sneakers hanging from a wire and splattered with blood  another vivid, uncanny image to queue in the title card. (Nobodys doing title cards better than this show, man.) And we dont really know what exactly happened to Jackson nor the full extent of Pauls involvement.

We do know that our guy is still shook, and it aint exactly bringing out the best in him. On an anniversary night on the town with Clara, Paul catches Ozzy Jacksons Converse on another mans feet and tries to stop and question him. Hes curt with Clara for asking him whats going on, and hes shutting her out of his work in a way we havent seen yet. Hes also a total dick to his brother-in-law Mo, whom he brings on to run surveillance on a corner where the mysterious hophead in a fancy car might roll through. Mos notes leave something to be desired, and Paul gets nasty. You mind how you talk to my brother in his house, Clara reminds him. Later, hell stake out the corner himself, then lose sight of his mark while trying to chase down the guy in Jacksons Converse again. Our guys internal center is shaky, and the reverberations are spilling out on the street.

Anyway, the point is that Clara and Paul are in a rough patch, but it hardly makes her a viable leak suspect. Mason smokes and broods a little longer, until something comes loose. He checks the office logbook, and thats when he remembers. Ginny went to the office right when he was talking about having the gun in their possession. That same night at dinner, between helping Mason with his chopsticks, she was asking a lot of questions about Della and their work. It adds up just enough for Mason to go off the handle, fly over to Ginnys place, and demand a confession. Right now, her reaction plays like it could be either confusion or rising guilt. Either way, the heat is on now, and were no closer to discovering who our spy is. The cogs keep on turning, and the world keeps on spinning.

Inculpatory Evidence

 How about this late-night ladies sesh with Camilla Nygaard? Call me an idiot, but back in episode four, when Nygaard was trying to give Della girl-boss lessons over tea, I didnt really suss out a sexual element to this ladys motivations. But when Della shows up at her mansion just as her old lapdog lawyer Phipps is on his way out, I was getting some serious Lydia Tar vibes from Miss Camilla  coming on with Arent you special? sweet nothings and offering a toke from her pipe. (Sidenote: Theres no way Della has never smoked weed before. Just saying.) I was relieved when Della hightailed it out of there just as Nygaard was feeling up her couch with some serious hits blunt once energy.

 I am not a fan of theatrics in my courtroom, Mr. Mason, the judge says when Mason passes questioning duties to Della. Nor am I, Judge, he replies. Hilarious from the guy whose name is synonymous with theatrics in the courtroom. Thats like Carrot Top saying hes not a fan of prop comedy.

 Theres something goddamned iconic about Matthew Rhys in that leather jacket on the back of that motorcycle with those goggles on, you know? I cant think of any other actor who could make it look so odd, antisocial, and cool all at the same time.
Michael R. Jacksons Strange Loop follow-up is a fascinating fiasco. Photo: Marc J. Franklin

When Meagan, Maegan, and Megan, the three popular-girl main characters from the town of Allwhite, introduce themselves in song, theres another girl dancing behind them, trying to mimic their choreography and pull in a bit of their spotlight. Thats Keesha, a Blackground character played with a rictus smile by Latoya Edwards, who in the heightened soap-opera reality of Michael R. Jacksons musical White Girl in Danger dreams of escaping her stock story lines about racism, slavery, and police violence and getting to have fun playing in the white girls world of horrible boyfriends, eating disorders, and serial killers. Keesha mirrors them exactingly, trying as hard as she can to become, essentially, another imperiled white girl  and to abandon her Blackness in the process.

Over the course of White Girl in Danger, which contains as many twists as a soap during sweeps week, Keesha manages to usurp the power structure of Allwhite before facing a racist backlash and a more personal reckoning. Jacksons musical is a sprawling tribute to, and critique of, the tropes and stars of American serialized dramas, overflowing with pointed references  characters named Judith White, Zack-Paul Gosselaar, and Shannon Whiterty  as well as media-studies thesisesque arguments about their treatments of race. Like many soaps, its also a hot mess, though an ambitious and fascinating one. The musical is overlong, and its pacing is disjointed, lingering too long in some situations and then suddenly leaping into others, often hand-waving away logic and character motivation. Director Lileana Blain-Cruz has taken Jacksons already maximal script and gone even bigger: The sets painted in garish acid and pink hues, the blaring sound design obscures a majority of the lyrics, and the performances are dialed up the realm of that Saved by the Bell episode about caffeine pills. White Girl in Danger both wants to offer up a soap-opera thrill ride and dismantle the ride as its running. By the end of the show, it has twisted around and smashed into itself.

The first act of the musical proceeds as a fairly straightforward soap send-up with Keesha trying her best to integrate into Allwhites high school and win over Meagan, Maegan, and Megan (played to the hilt by Lauren Marcus, Alyse Alan Louis, and Molly Hager) as they avoid a mysterious serial killer on the loose. Jackson, who went furiously inward with A Strange Loop, pushes in the opposite direction here, aiming for broader comedy and heightened emotion. That musical had a number about Jacksons stand-in, Usher, embracing his Inner White Girl; here, Keesha becomes a white girl on the surface level, too, her hair turning blonde as she gets closer to the narrative center.

The setup leads to some of the shows best jokes. Each of the three M(a)e(a)gans has her own comedic game  ones a rich bitch, ones a cheerleader with an eating disorder, ones a klutz who keeps getting abused  and her own boyfriend, all played by Eric William Morris, offering variations on the theme of douche. Morriss scenes often repeat three times over for three swats at similar punch lines. The songs pull from the sound of 80s and 90s rock (maybe its the high-school setting, but I thought of Carrie the Musical) and are invariably up-tempo and belt heavy. That detail is partially intended to be a critique, expressed by one of the characters in the show, of the relentless peppiness of soap operas and of the way Black actresses in contemporary musicals ensembles are often recruited to do vocal runs. But if everything is heightened, then nothing is. Keesha keeps talking about how she wants to get a moment of truth, as the white girls do, a climactic bit of catharsis. Edwards, playing her, ably shifts from naivete to menace to physical comedy, but White Girl in Danger itself needs to slow down and give her some emotional truth to play, too.

In White Girl in Dangers second act, Keesha becomes the queen bee. Keesha rules Allwhite as an ObamaMeghan MarkleOlivia Pope figure (Montana Levi Blanco pointedly costumes her in a white pantsuit), parroting the language of diversity, equity, and inclusion while establishing a new regime thats just as unequal but with herself on top. The comedy turns lacerating but less contained as Jackson fires a shotgun at bougie Blackground social climbing. The emotional stakes, however, come out more clearly here. Jackson establishes a rift between Keesha, with her selfish assimilationist ambitions, and her mother, Nell (Tarra Conner Jones), who dutifully takes on a series of supporting roles as lunch lady, nurse, district attorney, and, in a clip that plays during intermission, an Oprah figure hosting a show called Mammy. Jackson mines a quarry of class and generational differences, brought out by Jones and Edwardss believably fraught mother-daughter dynamic. Nell doesnt understand Keeshas white-focused ambition (and, as one song sends up, her lust for white boys), while Keesha is embarrassed by the way Nell appeases the demands of the Allwhite writer who crafts their stories.

Theres more to explore there, but soon that writers demands get increasingly ludicrous. Characters are arrested, suddenly revealed to be lesbians, and set into a wild chase in the woods before Keesha and Nell, in a move that ends up recalling Keanu Reeves confronting the architect of his simulation in The Matrix Reloaded, eventually meet their maker. By that point, White Girl in Danger ends up resembling A Strange Loop. Its personal, quieter, and, for all its metaness, direct. The scene is almost compelling enough to make you go back and reevaluate the rest of the musical and wave away its flaws as intentional. But what you want more is for the author of White Girl in Danger to go back, pull together another draft, and work those ideas into the bones of the show itself.

Over at BAM, you can find a companion piece to White Girl in Danger in The Wife of Willesden, about the notion of inserting a Black woman into whats considered a white story line. In Zadie Smiths first play, the novelist brings The Canterbury Tales into a North London pub with a Jamaican-born British woman named Alvita (Clare Perkins) as the Wife of Bath, going on about her husbands in knockoff shoes and a tight red dress. Smith, clearly, is enthusiastic about Chaucers work and wants to get the audience excited about it too, though the play slips into the zone of something like an extra-credit project for a college class on English poets. Smith translates the Wifes language into rhyming North Weezian (your program comes with a guide to North West London vocab) as Alvita describes her experiences with five husbands and then tells a folktale, originally Arthurian, now set in 18th-century Jamaica. While the updates are clever, they dont tend to add much; Smiths focus is more on using the modern setting to get you interested in the original rather than allowing it to alter the texture of the story itself. Smith pointedly keeps a few phrases, like one in which the Wife says shed marry any man, tall, short, Black, or white, which comes off as Nudge nudge, look at Chaucer, more contemporary than youd expect. Still, Chaucer slash Smiths rendering of the Wife of Bath turned Willesden remains an indelible character, a woman who is both proudly bawdy and yet contradictorily committed to fidelity. As Alvita, Perkins holds court over the theater, playing someone grand, charming, rude, and captivating. Id like to have a pint with her in any century.

White Girl in Danger is at the Tony Kiser Theater through May 21. The Wife of Willesden is at the BAM Harvey Theater through April 16.
CHICAGO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth consecutive year, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts has been designated a Military Friendly School, earning Top 10, Gold Level status for 2023-2024. Escoffier was ranked second in the nation among other institutions in the non-traditional/online/vocational category.

AUGUSTE ESCOFFIER SCHOOL OF CULINARY ARTS EARNS MILITARY FRIENDLY DESIGNATION FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Military Friendly Schools demonstrate the highest levels of student support and satisfaction using best practices from the Departments of Defense and Veteran Affairs. They must also be in compliance with Department of Education laws and regulations regarding Veterans and the GI Bill.

Every year designations are awarded by VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in this year's survey.

"It's an honor for us to support our military students and we're humbled to earn Top 10 School Gold Level Military Friendly designation ," said Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts' vice president of student finance operations, Anthony Williams.

"We remain committed to helping military and veteran students meet their educational goals and offer support services for them during and after graduation," added Williams.

Escoffier is the only U.S.-accredited institution offering 100 percent online degrees with culinary classes and hands-on industry externships.* This can allow active-duty military students or veterans with full-time jobs to get their education from anywhere in the world with internet access.

"Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard," said National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly, Kayla Lopez.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution's survey scores with the assessment of the institution's ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

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The 2023-2024 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

For more information about Escoffier's student veteran programs, visit Escoffier at https://www.escoffier.edu/admissions-aid/active-military-veterans/.

About Military Friendly Schools:

The Military Friendly Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

*More about Escoffier

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is the largest culinary school brand in the U.S. (based on comparable student population data currently reported in IPEDS ). It is the only U.S. accredited institution, available through its Boulder campus, to offer 100 percent online culinary degrees which include culinary classes and real-world industry externships. Ranked in the top 10 culinary schools in the United States by USA Today and number one in the world by Chef's Pencil, the school's professional programs offer the proven combination of a classic and contemporary approach to modern industry skills training as well as sustainability-centered and business-focused curriculum. Escoffier offers Diploma programs for Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, Food Entrepreneurship and Plant-Based Culinary Arts as well as Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts and Associate of Occupational Studies Degrees (AOS) in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, Plant-Based Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Restaurant Operations Management, Holistic Nutrition and Wellness and Food Entrepreneurship. Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas is nationally accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE). Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is a Great Place to Work-Certified institution, a Newsweek Top Online Learning School and its Boulder (includes online programs) and Austin campuses are designated as Military Friendly Schools.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION,

Contact: Patti Thomas, pattithomas8888@gmail.com

Auguste Escoffier Schools of Culinary Arts

Cision

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SOURCE Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Fortune Business Insights

Automotive Bushing Market to Grow at 5.13% CAGR over 2023 to 2030; Dorman Products Inc. Launched New Solutions to Sustain Industry Competition

Pune, India., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global automotive bushing market size was valued at USD 155.14 billion in 2022. The market is set to expand from USD 159.18 billion in 2023 to USD 225.98 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.13% over the estimated period. The surge can be credited to the growing popularity of lightweight vehicles and increasing automotive production. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights in its research report, titled Automotive Bushing Market, 2023-2030.

Market Drivers & Restraints-



Market Share to Surge Driven by Soaring Demand for Lightweight Vehicles

One of the major factors boosting the automotive bushing market growth is the escalating demand for lightweight vehicles. This is attributed to that fact that automotive manufacturers are emphasizing on polyurethane and rubber materials for bushing as it helps in decreasing the overall weight of vehicles.

However, the industry expansion could be hampered by the lack of standardization of automotive bushing, which increases the manufacturing cost for OEMs.

Request a Free Sample of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/automotive-bushing-market-107361

Segments Analysis-

Suspension Segment to Emerge Prominent Driven by Growing Demand for Lightweight and Luxury Vehicles

On the basis of application, the market is fragmented into engine, suspension, interior, chassis, transmission, and exhaust. The suspension segment is slated to depict appreciable expansion over the forecast period. The surge can be credited to the escalating popularity of luxury vehicles.

Passenger Cars Segment to Gain Traction Owing to Globally Rising Vehicle Demand



By end-use, the market for automotive bushing is divided into commercial vehicles and passenger cars. The passenger cars segment is poised to exhibit a substantial surge over the estimated period. The rise is being driven by strict government regulations on lightweight passenger cars.

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On the basis of geography, the market is subdivided into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the rest of the world.

Competitive Landscape-

Major Market Players Enter into Collaborative Agreements to Expand Product Reach

Key industry participants are focused on the launch of a series of strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions, and the formation of alliances. These steps are being implemented for strengthening their business position. Some of the other initiatives comprise growing participation in trade conferences and the development of new products.

To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market, please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/automotive-bushing-market-107361

Regional Insights-



Asia Pacific to Record Appreciable Expansion Owing to Well-established Automotive Component Industry

The Asia Pacific automotive bushing market share is set to register substantial growth throughout the forecast period. The rise can be credited to rising investment in advanced automotive activities.

The Europe market is expected to gain notable traction over the projected period. This is due to escalating government investments in advanced activities in the region.

Report Coverage:

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the prominent trends propelling the global business landscape throughout the projected period. It further delves into the major aspects boosting the industry scenario over the estimated period. Some of the other components of the report include the vital initiatives undertaken by leading companies for strengthening their industry position.

Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/automotive-bushing-market-107361

A list of prominent Automotive Bushing manufacturers operating in the global market:



Continental AG (Germany)

ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany)

Jotex Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

Sumitomo Riko Company Limited (Japan)

DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (U.S.)

BOGE Rubber & Plastics (Belgium)

Vibracoustic SE (Germany)

Hyundai Polytech India Pvt. Ltd. (India)

Nolathane (Australia)

Hutchinson Paulstra (France)

Notable Industry Development:

July 2022  Dorman Products, Inc. launched more than 230 new engineering products. These included steering and suspension components. The move would help the company in strengthening its market position.

Quick Buy - Automotive Bushings Market Size Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/107361

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 Key Industry Developments Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Porters Five Forces Analysis PEST Analysis Technological Development Impact of Covid-19

Global Automotive Bushing Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Definitions Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Suspension Engine Chassis Interior Exhaust Transmission Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-use Passenger Car Commercial Vehicle Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia pacific Rest of the world

North America Automotive Bushing Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Suspension Engine Chassis Interior Exhaust Transmission Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-use Passenger Car Commercial Vehicle Market Analysis  By Country The U.S. By Application By End-use Canada By Application By End-use Mexico By Application By End-use

Europe Automotive Bushing Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Suspension Engine Chassis Interior Exhaust Transmission Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-use Passenger Car Commercial Vehicle Market Analysis  By Country The U.K By Application By End-use Germany By Application By End-use France By Application By End-use Rest of Europe By Application By End-use

Asia Pacific Automotive Bushing Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Suspension Engine Chassis Interior Exhaust Transmission Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-use Passenger Car Commercial Vehicle Market Analysis  By Country China By Application By End-use India By Application By End-use Japan By Application By End-use South Korea By Application By End-use Rest of Asia Pacific By Application By End-use

Rest of the World Automotive Bushing Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Suspension Engine Chassis Interior Exhaust Transmission Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End-use Passenger Car Commercial Vehicle

Competitive Analysis Key Industry Development Global Market Ranking Analysis (2022) Competition Dashboard Comparative Analysis  Major Players Company Profiles (Overview, Products & services, SWOT analysis, Recent developments, strategies, financials (based on availability)) Continental AG (Germany) ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany) Jotex Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) Sumitomo Riko Company Limited (Japan) DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (U.S.) BOGE Rubber & Plastics (Belgium) Vibracoustic SE (Germany) Hyundai Polytech India Pvt. Ltd. (India) Nolathane (Australia) Hutchinson Paulstra (France)



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The automotive digital key market has witnessed rapid growth due to several factors, such as the growing demand for advanced vehicle security systems, the increasing adoption of connected cars, and the rise of shared mobility services.

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Market.us, The Automotive Digital Key Market size is projected to surpass around USD 7.7 billion by 2032, and it is poised to reach a registered CAGR of 18.8% from 2023 to 2032. It was valued at USD 1.44 Billion in 2022.

An automotive digital key allows one to unlock and start their car using a smartphone or smartwatch, thanks to advances in technology. Digital keys offer several advantages over analog keys, such as security, convenience, and flexibility; they use Bluetooth, NFC, and other wireless technologies for communication with the car's onboard systems. Furthermore, these keys are easy to revoke or update if lost or stolen - significantly reducing the chance of someone else entering your vehicle.

Automotive Digital Key Market

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Key Takeaway:

By vehicle type, in 2022, the automotive digital key market was dominated by the passenger vehicles segment due to its increased demand.

By application, the multi-function segment dominated the market with a 55% share.

By connectivity, the near field communication (NFC) segment dominated the largest market share in connectivity analysis

By distribution channel, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) segment dominated the largest market share in distribution channel analysis

In 2022, APAC dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 37% .

APAC is anticipated to have the highest CAGR among all the regions, owing to the increasing demand for connected cars and advanced digital technologies.

Factors Affecting the Growth of the Automotive Digital Key Market

There are several factors that are affecting the growth of the automotive digital key market. These include:

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Increasing demand for advanced vehicle security systems: Due to the increasing number of car thefts and unauthorized access, there is a rising demand for advanced vehicle security systems. Also, automotive digital keys offer a more secure and convenient way to access a vehicle, as they cannot be duplicated as well as can be deactivated remotely if necessary.

Technological advancements: Technological advancements have made it possible to develop digital keys that are more secure and convenient to use. The use of Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology has made it possible for vehicles to communicate with smartphones along with other devices, making it easier to unlock and start a vehicle without a physical key.

The growing popularity of shared mobility services: The increase in shared mobility services such as car-sharing and ride-sharing has risen the demand for digital keys. Shared mobility providers are found several ways to provide convenient access to vehicles without the need for physical keys, and digital keys offer a solution.

Increased adoption of connected cars: The increasing adoption of connected cars is also contributing to the growth of the Automotive Digital Key sector. Connected cars can communicate with smartphones and other devices, which is helpful to unlock and start the vehicle without the need for a physical key.

Changing consumer preferences: Consumers are growingly looking for convenience and ease of use while operating their vehicles. Digital keys offer a more convenient and secure way to access a vehicle, and therefore, more consumers are adopting them.

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Market Growth

The automotive digital key market has experienced rapid growth due to several factors, such as increasing demand for advanced vehicle security systems, the rising adoption of connected cars, and the surge in shared mobility services. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has further fuelled this expansion since consumers seek contactless solutions to access their vehicles.

Asia Pacific is currently the leading market for automotive digital keys due to increasing demand for advanced vehicle security systems and the rising adoption of shared mobility services in countries like China, Japan, and India. North America however, is expected to experience the highest growth rate over the coming years owing to its high adoption rate of connected cars as well as the presence of major automotive players there.

Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific is the most lucrative market for global automotive digital keys, accounting for 37% of total revenue, and is projected to expand at 17.5% over the forecast period. Driven by rising demand for connected cars in developing nations such as India and China, this region has experienced tremendous growth in this space; China being its leading player. North America also plays a significant role with many prominent automobile manufacturers and technology firms investing heavily in cutting-edge digital solutions.

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Scope of the Report



Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 1.44 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 7.7 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 18.8% APAC Revenue Share 37% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers



Keyless entry and start in an automobile are made easier than ever with automotive digital key technology. Drivers can access their keys via mobile devices, smartwatches, or other electronic devices for easier entry into and starting their cars. As disposable income grows in developing countries, demand for automation and digitization of devices is rising. Consumers increasingly look for advanced features to increase safety and convenience. Furthermore, government initiatives are encouraging vehicle owners to utilize digital key markets to reduce carbon emissions and maximize fuel efficiency.

Market Restraints

Cybersecurity threats such as hacking and unauthorized access can leave digital keys vulnerable, posing a risk to both drivers and vehicles alike. Automotive digital key technology relies on wireless communication for its operation; any compromise could spell disaster for both. Signal interference and other environmental elements can disrupt wireless communication, leading to issues such as difficulty unlocking and starting the vehicle. This makes vehicles more expensive for consumers since creating and implementing such technologies requires more resources. Retrofitting an older vehicle with digital key technology can present additional difficulties for those looking to upgrade their ride. Automotive digital key systems must comply with stringent regulations, such as cybersecurity standards and data privacy laws, which could add complexity and expense when developing and implementing digital key technology.

Market Opportunities

Automotive digital key technology provides the ideal platform for collaboration. By joining forces, technology companies and automotive businesses can promote innovation while simultaneously improving the accessibility and functionality of this cutting-edge system. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for contactless technology such as automotive digital keys has surged. Digital key technology offers a safer and more convenient alternative to traditional keys, as consumers strive to reduce physical contact while still maintaining safety and convenience. Digital key technology provides personalized access to vehicles as well as the ability to start them without needing physical contact. These keys can also be utilized for remote vehicle control and monitoring, further increasing their utility. Utilizing digital keys in automobiles reduces the environmental impact of traditional keys by conserving resources while decreasing waste production.

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Report Segmentation of the Automotive Digital Key Market

Vehicle Type Insight

Passenger vehicles accounted for the largest market share at 74%, with a projected CAGR of 19.2% in 2022. It is followed by commercial vehicle revenue share at 26.0% in 2022. As more people have access to disposable income, demand for digital-equipped passenger cars has grown rapidly as people strive to enhance their quality of life and social standing through increased spending on luxury models with automated systems. This segment of the market is expanding rapidly.

Application Insight

The market is further divided into multi-function and single-function segments by application. Multi-function is projected to be the most lucrative segment within the global automotive digital key market with a share of 55% along with a projected CAGR of 16.8% by 2022; similarly, single function accounts for a 45% revenue share. Reliable network infrastructure is necessary for the successful implementation of digital key technology; additionally, growing demand for passenger vehicles that offer all features on one device in developing economies has further reinforced this segment's dominance within the sector.

Connectivity Insight

The automotive digital keys market can be divided into further segments based on connectivity: near field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, wi-fi, and remote cloud key access (or other). Near field communication (NFC), which accounts for 30.5% of total revenue in 2022, is predicted to be the most lucrative with an impressive CAGR exceeding 19.5% over the forecast period. NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology that allows data exchange between devices close together; encrypted NFC systems offer superior security features over other technologies and will continue driving growth within this space

Distribution Channel Insight

The market can be further segmented based on distribution channel into original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket. The global automotive key market is led by original equipment manufacturers (OEM), with a 57% revenue share and a projected CAGR of 17.7% over the forecast period. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are responsible for creating and marketing many automotive digital key solutions. Customers can purchase this technology either as an optional feature or as standard equipment in new cars through the OEM's dealer network. In 2022, the aftermarket is projected to have a market share of 43%. Many companies specialize in developing and selling digital key technology that can retrofit existing vehicles. Aftermarket suppliers can sell their products online, through auto retailers, or through partnerships formed with installation service providers.

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Market Segmentation

Based on Vehicle Type

Passenger Vehicles

Commercial Vehicles

Based on the Application

Multi-Function

Single-Function

Based on Connectivity

Near Field Communication (NFC)

Bluetooth

Wi-Fi

Remote Cloud Key Access

Other Connectivity

Based on Distribution Channel

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

Aftermarket

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

In the global automotive digital key market, there are many prominent players. To maintain their market shares, these firms often form partnerships or collaborate with other firms. Denso Corporation and NTT Docomo Inc. joined forces in 2015 to launch a smartphone-based solution that allows you to remotely lock/unlock your car and start it using just your smartphone; Continental AG followed suit in 2015 by launching an electronic key solution that enabled access to your car through your smartphone as well.

Some of the major players include:

Hyundai Mobis

Volkswagen AG

Denso Corporation

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

HELLA

Robert Bosch

GEA Group (Bock Gmbh) Company Profile

Tesla Inc.

Infineon Technologies

BMW AG

STMicroelectronics

Continental AG

Daimler AG

Ericsson

Valeo SA

Other Key Players

Recent Development of the Automotive Digital Key Market

Hyundai's digital key technology was launched in September 2021, enabling drivers to unlock and start their Hyundai cars using a smartphone. It uses near-field communication (NFC) technology for communication with the car and is available for select Hyundai models.

Volkswagen announced in February 2021 that they had joined forces with Samsung to create a digital key platform. This platform works with Samsung smartwatches and smartphones equipped with NFC technology.

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President Biden formalized his intent to seek another term with a video announcement, underlining his ambition to turn what he had once pitched as a transitional presidency into something more transformational.
Apples personal computer shipments declined by 40.5 per cent in the first quarter, the worst drop since the final three months of 2000, after sluggish demand and an industry-wide glut hit the Mac maker especially hard.

Shipments by all PC makers combined slumped 29 per cent to 56.9 million units  and fell below the levels of early 2019  as the demand surge driven by pandemic-era remote work evaporated, according to IDCs latest report. Among the market leaders, Lenovo and Dell registered drops of more than 30 per cent, while HP was down 24.2 per cent. No major brand was spared from the slowdown, with Asustek Computer rounding out the top 5 with a 30.3 per cent fall.

Post-pandemic blues: Apple has seen its Mac sales plunge. Credit: Bloomberg

The report is a particular blow to Apple, whose shipments had largely held up since the onset of the pandemic. The company had nevertheless been preparing investors for weaker results in some of its hardware, with a rocky economic backdrop threatening to dampen enthusiasm for Apples products.

PC market declines have been seen for multiple quarters, and a rebound in the second half of the year is still possible, said Anurag Rana, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst. Apple was especially hurt by higher exposure to the consumer market and tougher comparisons to a strong period the year prior, he added.
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.
John Olsen, the celebrated Australian painter whose distinctive and innovative style captured the unique scale and poetic beauty of the Australian landscape, has died. He was 95.

Olsen died on Tuesday evening surrounded by loved ones and family including daughter Louise and his son and gallerist, Tim Olsen.

Acclaimed Australian artist John Olsen has died. Credit: Jo Negrine

Apart from our First Nation artists, he changed the perspective and way that Australians looked at our magnificent landscape, Tim said on Tuesday. He was a landscape poet to the end and a titan of the Australian art world.

Born in Newcastle in 1928, Olsen studied art at Julian Ashton Art School, cleaning offices at night. He then enrolled at East Sydney Technical College, where he was taught by John Passmore, and quickly made a name for himself for his studio discipline and love of life. It took a lot of courage to be an artist in those days and he had no hesitation but to run with it and in art he found his calling, Tim said.
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Job Ready Graduates was intended to create an extra 39,000 university places without increasing Commonwealth funding, by encouraging students to enrol in courses for which fees had been lowered.
WILMINGTON, DE / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Transparency Market Research Inc. - According to a TMR study, the global baby car seat market was valued at US$ 4.0 Bn in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2023 to 2031 and reach US$ 6.3 Bn by the end of 2031.

Transparency Market Research inc., Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Press release picture

Baby car seats are specially designed for infants and kids to protect them from injuries caused during accidents. Parents are concerned about the comfort and safety of their infants and kids while travelling, and ensure that these aspects are taken care of. This is likely to drive the demand for comfortable and safe baby car seats. Furthermore, government bodies of several countries have laid down stringent rules regarding child safety, which are likely to create lucrative opportunities for market players.

Growth of the market can also be attributed to availability of a range of baby car seats, such as cruise convertible reclining car seats with impact protection, amber car seat with rocking bases, rear-facing car seats, and car booster seats, according to the consumer preferences.

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Market Snapshot:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue USD 4.0 Bn Estimated Value USD 6.3 Bn Growth Rate - CAGR 5.3 % Forecast Period 2023-2031 No. of Pages 180 Pages Market Segmentation Type, Category, Weight Group, Age, Height, Price, Distribution Channel Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America Companies covered Artsana Group, Britax Childcare Group Ltd, Clek Inc., Diono LLC, Dorel Industries, Goodbaby International Holdings Ltd, Indiana Mills and Manufacturing Inc., INFA group, Monahan LLC, Renolux France Industrie

Baby Car Seat Market: Growth Drivers

Incidences of road accidents have increased across the globe. This has raised concerns about the security of kids. Parents are being conscious of the safety and comfort of children while traveling.

Efforts to reduce the impact of accidents on kids and decrease the fatality rates have led to the development of advanced and sturdy designs to provide utmost protection to children. These aspects are projected to bolster market growth.

Child safety norms laid down by government bodies of various countries, such as the U.S. and the U.K., have led to a revolution in the manufacturing process. The safety norms include weight limits, expiry dates, crash testing, and others.

The production of baby car seats according to the mandates has led to increasing research & development activities to expand manufacturing capabilities. Hence, the market is likely to register substantial growth in the next few years.

Fast-paced urbanization has led to increase in the spending capacity of individuals. Additionally, the urban crowd usually travels during weekends along with family. This creates a need for safety of the child, which is expected to augment the global business.

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Key Findings of Baby Car Seat Market

In terms of type, the booster seats segment is projected to witness robust growth during the forecast period due to burgeoning demand. Consumer preference for booster seats has gained traction owing to features such as affordability, easy installation, and simple design. Additionally, these seats provide comfort and safety to the kids and can be adjusted according to consumer needs. Rise in sales of these products is driving the segment.

All-in-one car seats are popular among consumers. The seat is rear-facing and can be adjusted according to the age and size of the kid . These seats are expensive, but are long-lasting and durable. These have three or more reclining positions to keep the infant comfortable.

The infant seat comprises adjustable inserts and headrests. These factors have shifted consumer preference toward all-in-one car seats.

Based on distribution channel, the offline segment is anticipated to witness significant growth due to rise in offline sales of baby car seats. Parents are keen on purchasing accessories related to kids from the local market as they prefer buying things, which can be touched and felt, then just checking them virtually.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets have a range of products and brands, which make it easy for consumers to understand the product and their features and make purchase decisions that suit them best. Hence, the offline segment is projected to experience strong growth in the near future.

Baby Car Seat Market: Regional Dynamics

The market in North America is expected to witness robust growth in the next few years, due to presence of key players in the region. Technological advancements and regulatory mandates laid down by the governments have led to increased production capabilities and novel product launches.

The market in Europe is expected to experience strong growth due to the stringent rules regarding child safety. However, Asia Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa are anticipated to record sluggish growth due to lack of product awareness and absence of child safety regulations in these regions.

Baby Car Seat Market: Competitive Landscape

Key players operating in the market are focusing on R&D activities to design baby car seats with FR-free fabrics, Bluetooth-enabled chest clips, and linear impact protection features.

Rise in competition to develop durable and luxurious baby car seats has led to addition of new products to the product portfolio.

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Key players operating in the market are:

Clek, Inc.

Artsana Group

Diono LLC

Monahan LLC

INFA group

Britax Childcare Group Ltd.

Baby Car Seat Market: Segmentation

Type

Infant Seats

Combination Seats

Convertible Seats

Booster Seats

High Back Booster Seats

Backless Booster Seats

All-in-One Seats

Category

Backward Facing Seats

Forward Facing Seats

Weight Group

Group 0 (0-10 Kgs)

Group 0+ ( 0-13 Kgs)

Group 1 ( 9-18 Kgs)

Group 2 ( 15-25 Kgs)

Group 3 (22-36 Kgs)

Age

Group 0 (0 to 9 Months)

Group 0+ (0 to 15 Months)

Group 1 (9 to 48 Months)

Group 2 (36 to 84 Months)

Group 3 (72 to 180 Months)

Height

Under 50 cms

50 to 100 cms

100 to 125 cms

Price

Low (Below US$ 100)

Medium (US$ 100-400)

High (Above US$ 400)

Distribution Channel

Online

E-commerce Website

Company-owned Website

Offline

Hypermarkets & Supermarkets

Specialty Stores

Departmental Stores

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

South America

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Simple painkillers that you can buy over the counter, such as ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin, will usually work to resolve a TTH within 20 minutes. An ill-fitting bra can also be a cause of tension headaches. Credit: iStock Beware of taking painkillers too often, as if regularly taken on three or more days a week, they can result in medication-overuse headache, says MacGregor. In simple terms, overuse shuts down the bodys natural ability to control pain. Signs its a migraine attack About 10 million people in the UK live with migraine, according to the latest report from The Migraine Trust, and migraines are more common than epilepsy, diabetes and asthma combined. (A Federal Budget submission by Migraine Australia from 2021 cited that incidence in Australia could be as high as one in four adults.)

Migraines occur in attacks, sometimes several times a month, or they may occur just once or twice a year, and they can last anything from a few hours to a few days, says MacGregor. The key features are episodes of headache on one side or both sides of your head, accompanied by nausea (two-thirds of sufferers have this) and sensitivity to light and sound. The pain is so bad that sufferers often find it difficult to continue their usual daily activities and may have to stay in bed. Dehydration can be a leading cause of both headaches and migraine. Credit: iStock A predisposition to migraines can be passed down through families. Triggers include skipped meals, dehydration, sleep deprivation and a lack of exercise. What to do about it: A healthy brain needs regular food, water, sleep and exercise, so aim for consistency in these areas, adds MacGregor.

Doctors recommend taking aspirin: studies have shown that a single dose of 900 milligram aspirin is as effective as 50mg to 100mg of sumatriptan, a prescription medication for migraines. But, for many, a cold compress and a dark, quiet room work just as well. Those who suffer most might be prescribed a medication called triptan  not a painkiller per se, but specific to migraine management. In the early part of a migraine attack, blood vessels on the surface of the brain dilate and trigger a cascade of chemical changes, says MacGregor. Some migraine sufferers who experience auras describe seeing black spots, while others see colours. Credit: iStock These are processed by the brain and ultimately perceived as pain and all the other typical migraine symptoms of nausea, light sensitivity and so on. Triptans constrict these blood vessels and prevent the headache developing into a full-blown migraine attack. A new type of treatment known as CGRP mAbs is the first preventative medicine to be prescribed for migraine, given by injection. (CGRPs are available in Australia on prescription for sufferers of chronic migraines.)

When the pain is so bad, you cant sit still Sometimes referred to as suicide headaches because of the severity of the pain, cluster headaches are thankfully uncommon, affecting about two in 1000 people. They are more common in men than women. Spicy foods may trigger cluster headaches in certain people. Credit: iStock Attacks are characterised by severe pain on one side of the head, accompanied by agitation and restlessness. Such headaches typically occur at night, in clusters lasting six to eight weeks, often at the same time of year, with periods of remission in between, says MacGregor.

Attacks tend to come on quickly, last between 30 to 90 minutes, and can occur several times a day, too. Theyre so painful that sufferers cant keep still, sometimes even banging their heads because of the pain. The intensity is often centred around one eye, which can become red and watery, while the other side of the face is completely unaffected. Loading Attacks often wake the sufferer within an hour of falling asleep and can be triggered by alcohol and hot, spicy foods. The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but research has highlighted changes in a part of the brain known as the hypothalamus, the area that controls the body clock, which might explain why clusters often occur at the same time of year and the same time of day or night, adds Prof MacGregor. What to do about it: effective treatments include sumatriptan injections and nasal sprays, which work to constrict blood vessels. These stop pain signals being sent to the brain and block the release of certain natural substances that cause pain, nausea and other symptoms of migraine.

New research is also underway looking at the cluster-relieving effects of psilocybin, a psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms. Is it my hormones? According to the UK National Migraine Centre, more than half of women who get migraines notice a link with their periods. Some women are sensitive to the natural drop in oestrogen just before or in the first few days of their period, or during the hormone-free interval of combined hormonal contraception, says MacGregor. The best way to tell if your headaches are hormonal is to keep a diary over several months. If theyre linked, see your GP, as managing the period problem may itself help the headaches. What to do about it: Treatment to prevent attacks can range from standard migraine prevention to hormonal contraceptives, says MacGregor. And if you continue to have headaches during the hormone-free week of contraception, you may be able to take several packs for three to five months without a break.

Loading Hormone headaches may also increase in prevalence during perimenopause, due to the natural hormone fluctuations that occur at this stage of life. A prescription of HRT from your GP or specialist, who may advise a patch or gel with continuous progesterone, may help. Hormonal headaches may get more severe in the run-up to the menopause, due to the drop in oestrogen, but the good news is that the menopause tends to get rid of them altogether. The Telegraph, London If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline on 131 114, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
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.
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.
Examine, a free weekly newsletter covering science with a sceptical, evidence-based eye, is sent every Tuesday. Youre reading an excerpt  sign up to get the whole newsletter in your inbox.

I got my life back now, Johnny Sullivan says into the camera, as a banjo tinkles behind. Now I can enjoy every day.

Across the bottom of the screen runs a caption: OxyContin, 70mg/day.

A skeleton made of pill bottles stands with protesters in August 2019 outside a court in Boston where a judge was hearing arguments against opioid maker Purdue Pharma. Credit: AP

The year is 1998. Sullivan is Purdue Pharmas poster boy for what is fast-becoming the default treatment for strong pain: opioids.
China has agreed to fast-track a review of trade bans on Australian barley exports in a significant step towards the easing of restrictions on $20 billion worth of Australian products.

Ahead of Trade Minister Don Farrells first trip to China in the coming weeks, Australia has agreed to temporarily suspend its World Trade Organisation dispute while China spends the next couple of months reviewing the barley restrictions.

China has agreed to fast track a review of its high tarrifs on barley, as Australia pauses its WTO dispute over the embargo. Credit: Bloomberg

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said if China removes the up to 80 per cent tariffs from barley following the review, Australia expected a similar review and removal of restrictions on Australian wine would follow.

The reason we are going down this path is because the Australian Government wants to see these impediments, these tariffs lifted as soon as possible. Thats the intention, Wong said at a press conference in Adelaide on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian government has taken to social media to plead with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to donate protected mobility vehicles to help beat back invading Russian forces, describing the Australian-made four-wheel drives as its new military crush.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed in September that Ukraine was lobbying for Australia to send a fleet of Hawkei vehicles to test them in a war zone, but the government has declined to provide any despite repeated requests.

The vehicles are named after Acanthophis hawkei, a species of death adder named in honour of former prime minister Bob Hawke.

The patrol vehicles, which have never been used on a battlefield, were specially designed and manufactured for the Australian Defence Force at defence contractor Thales facility in Bendigo, Victoria.

In a Twitter message posted on Tuesday, Ukraines Ministry of Defence said: Our soldiers absolutely love Australian Bushmasters. But now they have a new crush: the Hawkei. These two would be a perfect match on the battlefield.
These city buildings are up themselves. They are the architectural embodiment of spin. Slick, and making lofty pronouncements  like we do on social media. Labor has perfected social media campaigning, the political strategists tell us. The Liberals struggle to nail it. Brutalism sprang from utopian socialist ideas around liberating the workers. But I reckon if the contemporary Labor Party were a building, it would be less a brutalist monument than a gleaming CBD tower in which we see ourselves reflected. And unlike the corporate and professional classes around 50 years ago, the people who work in the CBD now will include a large number of Labor voters because university graduates lean leftwards politically. Labor has scaled beyond its socialist foundations. Meanwhile, the Liberals have been scaling down  to the metaphorical basement. We can see the partys internal plumbing, and its ungracefully bursting. John Pesutto is at loggerheads with Peter Dutton over who is to blame for the Aston loss and much else, too.

Shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser has resigned from the opposition cabinet, less than a week after the Liberals confirmed they would oppose an Indigenous voice in the Constitution. Leeser has said he would campaign for a Yes vote. This came just days after former Coalition Indigenous affairs minister Ken Wyatt quit in protest over Duttons rejection of the Voice to parliament. I still believe in the Liberal Party values, but I dont believe in what the Liberals have become, Wyatt has said. Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer warned her party colleagues they must recover their ambition to be a viable alternative government, or else resign themselves to infighting and decay. The party, she says, is at a crossroads. In the aftermath of the Liberals loss in Aston, Peter Dutton deflected criticism of his leadership, saying one of his biggest strengths had been holding the party together after its battering in the federal election.

Even without that unity narrative crumbling in the past week, it doesnt change the reality that a sturdy exterior cannot redeem a party  or a building  if its overall purpose hasnt shifted with the times. To return to the Carlton car park; in the era it was built, the motor car represented freedom and opportunity. It still does; even deep in Greens territory, a car park has its uses. Loading Nonetheless, a resident irate with the councils decision on heritage listing argues  not unreasonably  that in an inner city well serviced with public transport, a car park is an invitation to persist with bad old polluting habits. Preserving such an anachronism, she says, is like protecting a cigarette factory. To be brutally frank, at this moment the Liberal Party is like a heritage car park. It retains some (superficial) nostalgic appeal, but is otherwise functionally inert, outdated and moderately bad for public health. Cold and dingy on the inside, a magnet for shady types and other folks resistant to sunlight. A natural setting for the striking of dodgy deals. A space in which women tend to feel on edge. A holding pen in a holding pattern. It doesnt have to be this way. During the Kennett government, the slogan on number plates read, Victoria on the Move  the message was about new roads, yes, but it also conveyed a sense of dynamism and daring. The Liberals state leadership in Victoria and NSW want the party to lurch towards progressivism. But the ghosts of the Morrison government are yet to be exorcised. The Morrison government  lest we forget  sought to sway Liberal and marginal seat voters with commuter car parks. The bid failed.
VANCOUVER, BC and KIBBUTZ YIFAT, ISRAEL / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Beyond Oil Ltd. (CSE:BOIL)(OTC PINK:BEOLF) ("Beyond Oil" or the "Company"), a food-tech innovation company extending the life of frying oil, reducing costs and waste, is pleased to announce that Arie Halpern has been appointed as Chairman of the Advisory Board.

Mr. Halpern is a serial entrepreneur and experienced CEO, with extensive experience in manufacturing, production, supply chain, logistics, finance, and a variety of other aspects of business. He has built many companies in a number of sectors, including animal health, biotechnology, logistics and fleet management, software and communication. Mr. Halpern transformed an Israeli fleet management technology developed by Roseman Engineering, branded in Israel as Pazomat, into a world leader in this technology. Under Mr. Halpern's leadership, the company was taken public in Canada and successfully sold for US$180 million in 2012.

"After careful examination of Beyond Oil's product and efficacy, I believe that this product is going to disrupt the food oil industry in a very positive and significant manner," said Arie Halpern. "I am excited to join the Beyond Oil team as Chairman of the Advisory Board as this innovative product can make a difference in the health of the population, as well as the environment, all while saving the food industry substantial amounts of money."

"We are pleased to have Arie Halpern join our team as the Chairman of our Advisory Board, as his knowledge and experience will enhance Beyond Oil's efforts in becoming an international leader in food tech," said Jonathan Or, CEO and Co-founder of Beyond Oil. "We look forward to leveraging his experience in advancing and commercializing Israeli technology, as well as his success in rapidly increasing production and manufacturing capacity. As one of the largest shareholders of Beyond Oil, Arie is also aligned to contribute to the acceleration of our global expansion."

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About Beyond Oil Ltd.

Beyond Oil develops and manufactures an innovative, proprietary, and patented product designed to extend the life of frying oil while preserving the oil's quality and nutritional value. The unique product integrates into the existing filtration systems of both commercial and industrial fryers, reducing oil costs, helping create healthier food, decreasing waste, and increasing sustainability. For more information visit: www.beyondoil.co.

Contacts

Jonathan Or

CEO and Co-founder

1-647-691-9801

info@beyondoil.co

Caroline Sawamoto

Investor Relations

1-647-691-9801

ir@beyondoil.co

Forward Looking Statement and Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of our management and reflect Beyond Oil's current expectations and views of future events. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information.

The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the business plans of Beyond Oil, including the use of its product in the food service industry and the effects of such product on the industry as a whole. All statements in respect of contemplated future growth of the Company and commercialization plans are also forward-looking statements.

Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Beyond Oil will operate in the future, including: general business and economic conditions; the demand for our products; anticipated costs and ability to achieve our goals, business plan and growth strategy; the availability of financing on reasonable terms as needed; our ability to attract and retain skilled staff; our ability to complete any contemplated transactions; and that there will be no regulation or law that will prevent us from operating our business. Although Beyond Oil believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: business, economic and capital market conditions; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies; the ability to expand our business internationally; the ability to manage our operating expenses which may adversely affect our financial condition; our ability to obtain additional financing as needed on terms and conditions acceptable to the Company; our ability to remain competitive as other better financed competitors develop and release competitive products; legal and regulatory uncertainties including new laws or regulations which could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; market conditions and the demand and pricing for our products; our relationships with our customers, distributors, suppliers and business partners; our ability to successfully define, design and release new products in a timely manner that meet our customers' needs; our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; our ability to maintain technological leadership; the impact of technology changes on our products and industry; our failure to develop new and innovative products; our ability to successfully maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights and defend third-party claims of infringement of their intellectual property rights; our ability to manage working capital; our dependence on key personnel; the risk that consumer interest in and sentiment towards Beyond Oil's products adversely changes; the impact of COVID-19 or other viruses and diseases on Beyond Oil's ability to operate; equipment failures; unanticipated increases in operating costs and fluctuations in commodity prices; security threats; the failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations; risks related to Beyond Oil's corporate strategy including that previous and future acquisitions do not meet expectations; and anticipated commercialization of the Company's products may not materialize as contemplated in this news release or at all. In addition, Beyond Oil's products have yet to be produced on a large scale and its products have yet to be shown to be effective and reliable when used by a broad range of consumers.

Forward-looking statements and information have been prepared by our management to provide information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. While our management believes that the forward-looking statements have been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments, Beyond Oil is an early-stage company with a short operating history and it may not actually achieve its plans, projections, or expectations. Readers should read this document with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking information included in this new release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company cautions that the foregoing lists of assumptions, risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Beyond Oil Ltd





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/748375/Beyond-Oil-Appoints-Arie-Halpern-as-Chairman-of-the-Advisory-Board




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.
Jerusalem: Thousands of Israelis led by at least seven ministers from Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet have marched 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 march to Eviatar, an unauthorised settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by the previous Israeli government in 2021, was led by hardline ultranationalist Jewish settlers.

The march to Eviatar, an unauthorized settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was cleared by the Israeli government in 2021, is led by hardline ultranationalist Jewish settlers. Credit: AP

The mass rally also threatened to further raise tensions that have been heightened by days of unrest across the region over the contested Jerusalem holy site of al-Aqsa Mosque. 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, dual Israeli and British citizens.

Mondays 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 it, which added to the already combustible atmosphere that has accompanied the overlap of major Jewish and Muslim holy days.
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.
As investors await the latest inflation data and earnings, there's plenty of activity to watch in Washington as the 2024 election comes into focus, U.S.-China relations are strained over Taiwan, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas faces scrutiny.

Here are three political stories to watch this week:

Biden's reelection plans

On Monday, President Biden said that he intends to seek reelection in 2024.

"I plan on running, but we're not prepared to announce it yet," Biden told NBC's Today Show host Al Roker during the White House Easter Egg Roll.

U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend the White House Easter Egg Roll, in Washington, U.S., April 10, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

It's unclear when Biden, who made the remarks with First Lady Jill Biden next to him, will make an official announcement and declare a presidential campaign.

Meanwhile, the Republican race for the 2024 nomination is well underway.

Former President Donald Trump is the early frontrunner. Trump is ahead by double digits against his nearest political rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has yet to officially announce a 2024 campaign. The rest of the field are still in single digits.

China conducts military drills near Taiwan

China concluded its military drills off the coast of Taiwan after a bipartisan delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) met with Taiwan business leaders and government officials.

This struggle for global power, the balance of power that we find ourselves in today, often reminds me of my fathers generation, often referred to as the greatest in the United States, McCaul said last week in Taiwan while meeting with Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te. Then we had Hitler, and today we have Putin and Chairman Xi."

A man walks with a flag as a ship passes by behind him on Pingtan island, the closest point to Taiwan, in China's southeast Fujian province on April 8, 2023. (Photo by GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

McCaul's comments perhaps foreshadow where the nation's dialogue in defense of Taiwan is headed. McCaul is viewed in Washington as being on the short list for Secretary of State under a Republican administration.

While McCaul was leading a delegation in Taiwan, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in California.

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China's military drills were seen as more tempered than previous military drills as the Communist regime is trying to portray itself as a potential peacemaker in Russia's invasion of Ukraine while threatening a small democratic island.

Democrats call for investigation into Clarence Thomas

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is facing more criticism from progressives, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), after ProPublica reported last week that Thomas received free vacations from his billionaire friend Harlan Crow.

Ocasio-Cortez has called for Thomas to be impeached, which is not likely to happen given the current power dynamics of Congress. Either way, it's more scrutiny for Thomas.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas gathers his papers as he leaves the podium after addressing the Federalist Society's National Lawyers Convention dinner in Oxon Hill, MD, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) led a letter signed by 22 Democrats to Chief Justice John Roberts calling for an investigation into Thomas and whether he properly disclosed the relationship.

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 said.

Kevin Cirilli is a Yahoo Finance contributor and a visiting media fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Billy 4 Kids Foundation announces Bill Lerner's wife, Ambassador Marcella De Martin, has reached out to children in Belize, Jamaica, and Honduras.

Marcella De Martin has worked to bring the organization's message of hope and support to children in Belize, Jamaica, and Honduras. Representatives of the charity recently visited each country in order to meet with local partners and understand the unique needs of each region. These missions have highlighted how each country is struggling to meet the needs of its children and have showcased the impact of the foundation's work.





Billy Lerner's wife Marcella de Martin

In Belize, the foundation visited a school and spoke to the students about the importance of education. Members of the community were met to discuss the importance of giving back and supporting children in need. In Jamaica, De Martin initiated a visit to a children's hospital where she was inspired by the resilience of the children and the courage of their families.





Photo of children receiving shoes from the Billy 4 Kids foundation.

Lastly, in Honduras De Martin was responsible for a visit to a home for children where the foundation has had an immense impact on the lives of children. From meeting with local partners, to speaking with the children, Billy 4 Kids made a huge effort to make a difference in the lives of these children.





Photo of a member of the Billy 4 Kids foundation meeting with the children.

Through their commitment to providing resources and support, the foundation is creating a brighter future for children in need. Although the foundation's work is focused on providing immediate relief, it also looks to create lasting change. The foundation is currently working with local partners to develop long-term solutions. By providing children with the tools and resources needed to succeed, the foundation is helping to create a brighter future for children in need. The Billy 4 Kids Foundation's mission is to bring joy and hope to children in underserved communities around the world. Through their commitment to providing resources and support to local partners, the foundation is taking a stand for children in need.

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The Billy 4 Kids Foundation's mission is to bring joy, hope and safe footwear to children in underserved communities around the world. Through their commitment to providing resources and support to local partners, the foundation is taking a stand for children in need. Marcella De Martin, Billy Lerner's wife, the organization's global outreach and development coordinator, has taken the foundation's mission to heart.

Click here for more about Billy 4 Kids.

Published in partnership with Billy 4 Kids Inc.

Contact: Alexson Roy

Email: info@billy4kids.org https://billy4kids.org/ 1-855-472-7569

SOURCE Billy4Kids Inc.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162014
A mother who took to social media to voice her concerns over how the Easter egg hunt at Niagara Falls Firemens Park was handled says she was shocked by the reply she received from the volunteer association responsible for the event.

Danielle Hallett posted a comment on Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates Facebook page in reply to a post he made about the popular event held last Friday.

She had attended egg hunt with four other adults and five children and described the event as chaotic and unsafe due to massive crowds and a disorganized entry and exit system.

Soon after she made the post, she received a reply attributed to Stamford Centre Volunteer Firemens Association, the service club that hosts the event.

The post, which has since been deleted, said in part: We are volunteer(s) not your babysitter. If you cant look after your child please dont come. The few that complained are the reason children are afraid today. You are a bunch of helicopter parent(s).

Hallett was shocked.

It is not OK to take personal attacks on anyone, nor their parenting, she said. My concerns were valid and appropriate given the chaos of the event.

The association on Monday apologized for the post.

We want to express our sincere regret for the recent statements made by one of our members that caused hurt, president Kevin Fehr said in an emailed statement sent to The Review.

The viewpoint expressed by this individual does not align with the values of SCVFA, and we want to make it clear that we do not condone any form of negativity or intolerance.

We understand how these words have impacted those who were hurt, upset or disturbed, and we want to assure everyone that we are taking this matter seriously.

The 25th annual Easter egg hunt had a record turnout, with more than 3,000 people attending.

Children hunted for eggs in an enclosed area and were then directed to an exit that quickly became congested, making it difficult for parents to find their children.

Several youngsters who were unable to find their parents right away were taken to a nearby tent before being reunited with their parents.

The look of panic on other mothers faces while looking for their little ones and the fact that my own children didnt feel safe was enough for me to comment (on Facebook), Hallett said.

Hallett said she knows a lot of effort went into planning and hosting such a large event, and appreciates the work done by volunteers, but says changes need to be made to ensure the safety of participants.

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GUANGZHOU, China, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- April 7th, 2023, Biosyngen Pte Ltd (hereinafter as "Biosyngen") was granted IND approval by China NMPA for the company's first-in-class T-cell redirection therapy, it is an autologous T cell therapy for EBV-positive lymphoma. The principle of autologous T cell therapy is to genetically modify patients' own T cells to express additional receptors for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigen recognition and T cell activation upon EBV+ tumor cell engagement, targeting cancer indications.

Related:https://www.cde.org.cn/main/xxgk/listpage/4b5255eb0a84820cef4ca3e8b6bbe20c

Currently, commercially available cell therapies, such as CD19 CAR-T, are designed for the treatment of B cell lymphoma or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Treatment options for EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases and lymphoma are limited and in urgent demand. The company's new pipeline targeting EBV-associated lymphoma is a hope for this population of patients. "Biosyngen has been committing itself to high quality R&D of cell therapy. This is the second IND approval obtained for the company's first-in-class products worldwide, demonstrating our commitment to remain focused on unmet clinical needs of cancer patients," said Dr. Michelle Chen, COO of Biosyngen. "At this point, in addition to this announcement, we have secured IND approvals for nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment by US FDA and China NMPA. Following closely will be news of Biosyngen's application to FDA for the treatment of EBV positive lymphoma. In addition, preparation for applications of orphan drug and Fast Track eligibility are also well under way." Biosyngen has continued in building up a pipeline of other cancer indications; within 2023, the company made plans for IND applications for other therapies such as lung cancer and liver cancer across key regions  Singapore, the US and China.

About EBV-positive Lymphoma

EBV, the first oncovirus identified, is a human herpesvirus and has infected ~95% of global population. It has been listed as Group 1 carcinogen ("Carcinogenic to humans") by World Health Organization (WHO) and proved to be associated with a range of diseases including nasopharyngeal cancer, EBV-positive gastric cancers, lymphoma and lymphoproliferative diseases. EBV is so markedly lymphotropic that, for those who suffer from impaired immune system, especially T cell function, EBV may even induce lymphoblastic malignancies. EBV reactivation was also observed in patients who received bone marrow transplantation and CD7 CAR-T cell therapy, who may even develop EBV positive lymphoma.

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The therapy developed by Biosyngen is an engineered T cell therapy, also known as a type of adoptive immune cell therapy indicated for nasopharyngeal cancer and EBV-positive lymphoma. Patients' T cells are isolated and genetically modified in a GMP-compliant facility to enhance their ability to recognize and attack specific antigens on cancer cells. The modified T cells are expanded ex vivo and infused back into the patient. The infused T cells would bind to specific antigen on the cancer cells to mediate tumor killing. The preliminary safety and efficacy of BRG01 Therapy have been demonstrated in data from exploratory clinical trials.

The scientific direction of Biosyngen is focused on targeting multiple solid tumors and hematological tumors. The company has independently developed a number of exclusive technical platforms specifically for cancer immunotherapy, including IDENTIFIER, SUPER-T and MSE-T. These platforms are designed for improved safety and efficacy, equipping the company with capabilities to overcome challenges in antigen identification, antibody TCR screening and identification of immune cell function

About Biosyngen

Biosyngen is a cell and gene therapy biotechnology company, focusing on R&D in immunotherapy and drug development; to achieve the best outcome for cancer patients.

The company's R&D team consists of multinationals from Singapore, China, Germany, Australia, France and the US, many of whom received their Phd. from renowned universities. Biosyngen's strategy of dual R&D centres and dual GMP facilities in Singapore and China, firmly anchors it as an Asian company towards a global ambition. The company's product pipeline potentially addresses an estimated value of 50 billion USD in the global oncology market.

Biosyngen possesses exclusive licenses and patented therapies targeting multiple solid tumors and hematological malignancies including nasopharyngeal cancer, gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancer and EBV-positive hematological malignancies. The company's first-in-class product BRG01 was granted IND approval by US FDA and CN NMPA for Phase I/II clinical trial. Biosyngen is also one of a few biopharmaceutical companies that possess a portfolio consisting of CAR-T, TCR-T, TIL and multi-specific antibodies.

Based in Singapore and Guangzhou, Biosyngen collaborate closely with the world's leading biomedical research and clinical institutes including A*STAR, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, Hannover Medical School, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center and a network of hospitals to advance R&D, develop products and conduct clinical trials in Singapore, Australia and China.

Through our R&D capability and translational medicine platform, Biosyngen have been able to engage the end-to-end cycle in drug development from lead identification, preclinical studies, cell production, quality control, regulatory filing, to clinical studies - integrating the entire chain of R&D, clinical trial, GMP manufacturing and commercialization.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/biosyngen-received-china-nmpa-ind-approval-for-its-t-cell-redirection-therapy-targeting-ebv-positive-lymphoma-301794226.html

SOURCE Biosyngen
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Nineteen Japanese men detained in Cambodia in January on suspicion of participating in phone and online scams were deported to their homeland on Tuesday, police said.

The group boarded a chartered flight organized by the Japanese government at Phnom Penh International Airport, Cambodian National Police spokesperson Gen. Chhay Kim Khouen said.

Tokyo police obtained arrest warrants for the 19 Japanese on suspicion of running phone scams from Cambodia targeting people in Japan, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported on Friday.

NHK said Cambodian authorities searched the mens hotel rooms and discovered a list of Japanese citizens believed to be targets in a fraud scheme.

The 19 were taken into custody in the southern city of Sihanoukville on Jan. 24 and sent to the capital, Phnom Penh, where they were held after being investigated by the Interior Ministry.

A Cambodian official at Phnom Penh International Airport who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media said the men were taking a chartered Malaysia Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur, where they would transfer to a waiting Japanese plane.

He said a group of Japanese policemen came from Japan to escort the 19 men home.

At Phnom Penhs airport, several vehicles a convoy with heavy protection from Cambodian and Japanese policemen drove rapidly directly to the waiting plane on the tarmac.

Police in Sihanoukville, which in the past few years has become notorious for crime such as online and phone scams, said in January that they opened the case after being informed on a crime-fighting hotline that about 20 Japanese men were being held there and extorted for money.

They found a group of 19 Japanese men staying in a hotel in Sihanoukville, but the men denied that they were being held against their will or extorted. They said they were visiting Cambodia and had been seeking work but were not involved in any crimes or wrongdoing.

Sihanoukville police, however, sent them to Phnom Penh for further investigation.

Cybercrime scams became a major issue in Cambodia last year, when there were numerous reports of people from various Asian countries and further afield being lured into taking jobs in Cambodia. However, they often found themselves trapped in virtual slavery and forced to participate in scams targeting people over the internet.

The scam networks, which often have links to transnational organized crime, are set up in countries with weak law enforcement and attract educated young workers with promises of high earnings. The workers are then subject to isolation and the threat of violence unless they succeed in cheating victims reached by phone into transferring payments into overseas bank accounts.

Such activities appear to have declined recently in Sihanoukville but persist in other places, including in Myanmar near the border with Thailand. In many cases, these operations are controlled by Chinese organized crime groups.

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  The Moscow-appointed leader of Crimea said Tuesday the region is on guard for what may be an impending Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Sergei Aksyonov told reporters that Russian forces in Crimea had built modern, in-depth defenses and had more than enough troops and equipment to repel a possible Ukrainian assault after 13 months of war following Russia's full-scale invasion.

We cannot underestimate the enemy, but we can definitely say that we are ready (for an attack) and that there will be no catastrophe, he said.

His comments came days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed Kyivs intention to take back the Black Sea peninsula that Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Aksyonov first announced the beginning of fortification works in Crimea in November, without giving details. In February, at a security meeting chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said that the works were set to finish by April.

Satellite photos from Maxar Technologies show a complex web of trenches and other fortifications dug near Medvedivka, a small town near a crossing between Crimea and mainland Ukraine, suggesting Russian concerns about a possible Ukrainian attack there.

Military analysts expect Kyiv to take advantage of improving weather to seize the battlefield initiative with new batches of Western weapons, including scores of tanks, and fresh troops trained in the West.

Ukrainian forces could seek to break through the land corridor between Russia and Crimea, heading from Zaporizhzhia toward Melitopol and the Azov Sea. That might split the Russian forces in two.

Kyivs forces face a formidable challenge to dislodge Russian forces, however. Their armor likely will encounter minefields, anti-tank ditches and other obstacles, while extensive trench systems provide cover for Moscows troops.

The Kremlin wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russias sovereignty over Crimea and also recognize Septembers annexation of the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine has vowed to drive the Russians out of all occupied territories and has ruled out any talks with Moscow until it fully reclaims control of its land.

The Ukraine-held parts of the four provinces have felt the brunt of Russian bombardments in recent months, and seven civilians were wounded by Russian shelling in Donetsk and Kherson on Monday and overnight, the presidential office reported Tuesday.

Russia on Tuesday also used Su-35 aircraft to launch strikes on two towns in the Zaporizhzhia region, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office said.

Andriy Yermak said in a Telegram post that local authorities were assessing the damage in the towns of Orikhiv and Huliaipole, each of which had a pre-war population of just under 14,000.

Russian artillery also hit a church in Kherson, blowing out its windows and damaging its roof and walls, the Ukrainian regional military administration reported on Telegram. It said there had been no casualties.

___ 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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Whitby council recently pledged to support the development of 18,000 new homes by 2031. Why?

The provincial government has committed to building 1.5 million new homes by 2031. To reach that goal, housing targets have been assigned to 29 municipalities. Elsewhere in Durham Region, Clarington and Pickering have each pledged to build 13,000 homes by 2031, Ajax has pledged to build 17,000 and Oshawa has pledged to build 23,000.

Theres no doubt that more housing is needed in Ontario. The question is, will the province step up and fund the services needed to support all these additional homes and all these additional people?

Services like hospitals.

Yes, were facing a housing crisis in Ontario. But were also facing a health-care crisis.

Here in Durham Region, the Lakeridge Health hospital system cant keep up with current demand. How will we fare with the 84,000 additional homes our local councils have pledged to see built? Durham is currently the fastest growing region in Canada. The population is set to double from about 680,000 people to 1.2 million by 2041.

By 2041, the Lakeridge Health hospital system will need 1,793 beds, which is more than double the current count. Lakeridge Health is already operating at 105 per cent of the funded capacity of 886 beds.

Patients are being treated in spaces not designed for the volume of patients, or for patient care.

Days after our local municipalities approved their housing pledges, Ontarios budget was released  and did not include a $3 million planning grant needed to support a new hospital in Durham. This was both incredibly concerning and disappointing.

More than a year has passed since Lakeridge Health announced an independent, expert panel had selected a site in Whitby as the preferred location. This is now the second provincial budget to be tabled without funding for this grant.

A provincial task force first recommended a new acute care hospital for Durham back in 2015. Eight years later, were waiting with more questions than answers. It will take at least 10 years to build this hospital  and every day we wait puts us further behind.

Whitby is willing to work with the province on housing needs and health care needs. We have the solutions, we just need the support.

Now that municipalities across the province have made their pledges and outlined the strategies they will use to support the development of 1.5 million new homes, maybe its time for the provincial government to make a pledge of its own.

A pledge that spells out how many new hospitals and health care services will be built by 2031 and the strategies to get us there. We cant have one without the other.

Elizabeth Roy is mayor of the Town of Whitby.

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The average Canadian has likely gone years without knowing that Russell Brown is a Supreme Court of Canada judge. That is, until a story broke last month that Justice Brown had been punched to the ground outside a hotel lounge in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Canadians certainly know who he is now. Based on a complaint filed by Jonathan Crump  the 31-year-old ex-Marine who sucker punched him  Justice Brown is in the crosshairs of a Canadian Judicial Council misconduct investigation arising from the incident.

The dynamics are all too familiar to many criminal defendants. For the average accused person  let alone a respected judge  humiliation and disgrace follow closely on the heels of the publication of a criminal charge or complaint. It is human nature to prejudge and assume the worst of an accused, regardless of whether an accusation has merit.

If no other good comes of the Brown case, perhaps it will at least serve to help us focus on this long-standing flaw in our perception of justice that too easily casts aside the presumption of innocence in the court of public opinion.

The Brown case erupted into headlines three weeks ago, when a cryptic news release announced the complaint. Within a week, the story came tumbling out. The complainant, Jonathan Crump, claimed he had been justified in pre-emptively slugging a man almost twice his age. Justice Brown had been intoxicated, he said, acting in a creepy way toward Crumps female companions and later followed the group out of the bar where they had all been socializing together.

Crump waited over an hour to phone 911 following the incident  and apparently only called after learning that the man being tended to by hotel staff was, in fact, a Supreme Court judge. During a cursory police investigation, officers briefly questioned Crump and his friends together and wasted little time in accepting Crumps account, notwithstanding the obvious possibility that it had been manufactured to lessen his culpability.

The Judicial Council will ultimately weigh Crumps accusations against Justice Browns side of the story. Justice Brown has denied all wrongdoing, yet in the meantime, has been indefinitely suspended from his Supreme Court duties.

Should Justice Brown eventually be cleared of the alleged misconduct, his reputation will nonetheless bear scars that will never fully heal. Justice Browns face has appeared on millions of television screens and newspaper pages across the globe. There can be little doubt that an untold number of people have already declared him guilty simply based on the accusation.

This rush to judgment; to believe the worst of our fellow citizens, is one of the most regrettable of human traits  as is our reluctance to change that opinion in the event it is proven wrong.

Every day, innocent individuals are acquitted after trial or have their charges dropped by the prosecutor. These defendants are left to pick up the pieces of their lives and reputations as best they can. What is worse, there will inevitably be those who stubbornly cling to the belief that they must have done something wrong. Once accused, never entirely exonerated.

We have a responsibility to learn from the Brown debacle. While judicial complaints must be rigorously investigated and critically examined, this should initially take place in private, especially in a case like this, where the devastating impact of a public accusation far outweighs the risks to the community in permitting Justice Brown to continue fulfilling his duties as a judge. The important ideals of transparency and accountability will be amply served if adjudicators withhold any announcements until after a final decision has been reached.

Accusations are just that  accusations. We cannot allow their premature disclosure to destroy lives and reputations and displace the presumption of innocence. If a Supreme Court of Canada judge cannot be treated fairly, what hope is there for the rest of us?

Daniel Brown is a criminal defence lawyer and president of the Criminal Lawyers Association. @danielbrownlaw

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OTTAWA - This years federal budget sets aside more than $800 million to expand loans and grants for the upcoming school year, but students are looking forward to permanent changes to financial assistance.

For the 2023-24 school year, the Liberals are planning to increase the maximum grants available to $4,200, up from $3,000.

A temporary measure that doubled grants to up to $6,000 was set to expire this summer.

The loan limit is also increasing to $300 per week of study from $210.

Loans and grants are administered through the Canada student financial assistance program, which provides funding in partnership with provinces and territories. Students from low and middle-income families are eligible, along with students with dependants and those with disabilities.

The government is also planning to increase the withdrawal limit on registered education savings plans for full-time students to $8,000 from $5,000, and to $4,000 from $2,500 for part-time students.

The temporary expansion of loans and grants is part of a set of affordability measures in the budget and builds on the Liberals move to permanently remove interest charges on federal student loans.

Looking ahead, the government promised in the budget to work with students in the year ahead to develop a long-term approach to student financial assistance.

Mackenzy Metcalfe, executive director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, said students need more support to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Were working with different members of Parliament and stakeholders to figure out what this review is going to look like, she said.

Metcalfe said students are facing financial pressures, including rapidly rising costs of food and rent, and high tuition.

A report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation earlier this year showed the average listed rent for all property types in Canada jumped by 10.7 per cent in 2022.

For the 2022-23 academic year, Statistics Canada says tuition costs rose in all provinces, ranging from an increase of 0.3 per cent in Ontario to 5.7 per cent in Alberta.

Its just really important to know that students pocketbooks are being pinched, just as (all) Canadians are right now, Metcalfe said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a post-budget town hall at Durham College in Whitby, Ont., with students

Paul Fritz, a student at Durham College who attended the town hall, applauded the federal government for removing interest charges on loans.

One of the hardest transitions to make is coming out of your chosen career path in education, and then trying to land a job, Fritz said in an interview.

So giving students any break that they can have when they come out of university or college is going to give them a huge leap.

However, Metcalfe said the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations was disappointed to see mental health funding was left out of the budget.

In a mandate letter following the last election, Trudeau tasked Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett with introducing a fund for student mental health.

The fund would go toward hiring counsellors, improving wait times for services and targeted supports for Black and racialized students.

In their 2021 election platform, the Liberals promised $500 million for this fund.

In all the conversations Ive had from students from coast to coast to coast, the two biggest priorities that have been identified time and time again were student financial aid and student mental health, Metcalfe said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2023.

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OTTAWA - Newly released documents show that a federal government department asked Facebook and Twitter to delete a newspaper article that it felt contained errors  but both social-media giants denied the request.

The request to remove social-media posts that linked to an unspecified Toronto Sun article came from a director of communications on Sept. 27, 2021, according to information prepared by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Documents say that staff at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, which reports to Parliament through the immigration minister but is otherwise an independent body, believed the article contained serious errors of fact risking (and) undermining public confidence in the independence of the board as well as the integrity of the refugee determination system. The board did not respond to questions from The Canadian Press.

The social-media companies ultimately said that they were denying the request because the article wasnt their original content.

The Toronto Sun did not respond to a request for comment.

Paul Knox, a professor emeritus at Toronto Metropolitan Universitys school of journalism, said governments dont have any business telling anybody what can be published where.

The government was totally out of their lane on this one and needs to apologize, he said.

You cant only have freedom of the press for people you approve of and people you consider to be right, said Knox, who also sits on the Canadian issues committee for the Canadian Journalists For Free Expression, an organization that defends the rights of journalists.

He said that while publications can be held accountable for being wrong, it doesnt entitle people to demand that something be removed from a platform.

And the last people on Earth that would be justified in doing that would be entities of a government, he said.

The Opposition Conservatives said Tuesday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government cannot be trusted to protect Canadians right to free expression.

No government should be able to demand that news be erased from history simply because they do not like the facts, Conservative MP Rachael Thomas said in a statement. It is extremely concerning that the Trudeau government has sought to censor the free press through secret requests to big tech companies.

Documents tabled in Parliament detail 214 examples of Ottawa asking for social-media content to be removed between January 2020 and February 2023. Companies took down posts about half the time for reasons such as impersonation or copyright violations.

The government documents came in response to a written question from Conservative MP Dean Allison.

In another case, the Canada Revenue Agency requested that private messages be removed from Facebook Messenger after employees shared taxpayer information on the platform.

The agency said an administrator deleted the chat on June 7, 2022, but it was unclear whether Facebook deleted the messages from its servers.

The CRA disciplined the employees involved, up to, and including, termination of employment, the documents say, and the affected taxpayers were notified and offered credit protection services. Employees were also retrained on unauthorized access and social media.

In a third case, Meta, which owns Facebook, granted a request by the government to delete an account that was impersonating former RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki and sending people fake messages.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn all complied with various requests about posts that infringed on copyright or company policies.

However, social media companies often kept up posts that the government and its departments believed were offensive.

Both Google and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, publish public reports on how often different levels of government request changes to remove posts.

Googles reporting shows that since since 2011, it has received 1,347 requests from Canadian government entities  whether municipal, provincial or federal  to remove posts.

The most recent data show that between January 2022 to June 2022, Google, which also owns YouTube, removed 73 posts  mostly because of defamation, privacy and security concerns, adult content and bullying and harassment.

Meta said it restricted access to content following 2,859 requests from all levels of Canadian government between January 2022 to June 2022 for a range of reasons.

In one example, the company said it restricted access to two posts that responded to Health Canada consumer policy reports on unsafe health practices.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

Meta funds a limited number of fellowships that support emerging journalists at The Canadian Press.

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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shrugged off reports of pro-Russian hackers attacking Canadian websites on Tuesday as he used a visit by his Ukrainian counterpart to unveil a package of new military, economic and cultural measures for the embattled country.

The new measures include a donation of assault rifles, machine-guns and ammunition for Ukraines military as it prepares for a spring of heavy fighting, as well as new and updated agreements around free trade and student exchanges.

Ottawa is also imposing sanctions on an additional 14 Russian individuals and 34 Russian entities, and nine organizations tied to Belaruss financial sector over their support for Moscows invasion.

Canada will continue to be steadfast in our support of Ukraine as you defend yourselves heroically against Putins brutal, barbaric invasion, Trudeau said during a news conference in Toronto with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Shmyhal, for his part, used the occasion to thank Canada for its support since Russian forces invaded in February 2022, which has included billions of dollars in previously announced economic and military aid.

That includes a $2.4-billion loan through the International Monetary Fund that was announced in last months federal budget, and which Trudeau said has been fully disbursed.

At the same time, Shmyhal called for the transfer of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine rebuild, while underscoring the need for additional military assistance as his countrys forces prepare to launch a spring counteroffensive to liberate eastern Ukraine.

They are preparing for our counteroffensive, the Ukrainian prime minister said. We need more ammunition, we need more weaponry, we need more military equipment.

Shmyhals visit coincided with several apparent attacks on Canadian websites Tuesday morning, with a group that claims to support Russia taking responsibility.

Among the affected websites were those of the Prime Ministers Office and the Senate, both of which were back up and running by the afternoon.

Asked about the attacks, Trudeau said it was not uncommon for Russian hackers to target countries that support Ukraine, particularly when those countries are hosting a high-level Ukrainian delegation.

But in case anyone was wondering, Trudeau added, Russia being able to bring down an official government of Canada web page for a few hours is in no way going to dissuade us from our unshakable support of Ukraine.

Brett Callow, a threat analyst with cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, said hackers appear to have launched a denial-of-service attack by flooding the affected websites  a tactic that has become increasingly common since Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Hacktivists like them because while theyre disruptive rather than destructive, theyre highly visible and often make headlines, Callow said.

Shmyhals visit also followed on the heels of leaks of top-secret U.S. intelligence documents, which included detailed assessments of the state of Ukrainian and Russian forces  and their losses.

The trove of documents also reportedly included an assessment of claims that Russian-backed hackers managed in February to access the systems controlling part of Canadas natural gas infrastructure.

The New York Times, which reported on those documents Monday, did not name a specific energy company. But it said hackers were instructed by a Russian intelligence officer to maintain access to the computer network and wait for further instruction.

The Times reported that the hackers were able to show they had the ability to increase valve pressure, disable alarms and trigger an emergency shutdown at an unidentified gas distribution station.

While neither leader directly addressed the leak, Trudeau told reporters: I can confirm that no physical harm was caused to these pieces of Canadian infrastructure.

The Canadian prime minister also defended the decision to contribute billions of dollars in military and economic aid to Ukraine, describing the war there as emblematic of the larger fight for the principles and values of peace and democracy.

Authoritarian dictators are looking at Vladimir Putin, curious to see if he will succeed, he said. Because everywhere in the world, there are neighbours with larger armies than the country beside them saying: Oh, wouldnt it be nice to redraw the map?

Shmyhal insisted that despite the toll the war has taken on Ukraine and the need for more weapons, his countrymen were committed to continuing the fight against Russia.

We are tired, he said. Its natural, because we fight (for) more than one year. ... But we are not exhausted. We are not fatigued.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2023.

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Leading Cannabis Vape Brand Bloom Teams Up With The 1937 Groupthe First Vertically Integrated, Minority-Owned Cannabis Operator in Illinois

LOS ANGELES, April 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bloom Brand (the "Company"), a national leader in cannabis vape carts and devices, is partnering with ILs leading social equity license holder The 1937 Group to produce Bloom Brands signature Classic strains and Live concentrates in the Prairie State. The 1937 Group is the first vertically integrated, BIPOC-owned cannabis operator in Illinois, and an ideal partner for the immigrant- and minority-helmed Bloom Brand.

Bloom has built a strong reputation for quality vape concentrates and innovative consumption technologies in California, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Massachusetts. Blooms proprietary Surf vaping system is one of the most efficient and cost-effective pieces of cannabis technology available. The Surf is the most popular all-in-one vape device in New Mexico and is within the top five in California.

The 1937 Group will work with Bloom to produce some of the companys most popular concentrate strains at its Broadview, Illinois cultivation facility. These high-potency strains are available in .5g and 1.0g formats, with strains that include Maui Wowie, Pineapple Express, King Louie and Grandaddy Purple (GDP), as well as seasonal live terpene offerings.

"We knew right away that Ambrose Jackson of The 1937 Group was deeply aligned with Blooms values," said Bloom founder Vitaly Mekk. "We admire his business acumen and 1937s grassroots ethos. This best-in-class partnership will create a consistent consumer experience. Our goal is to prove to Illinois consumers that we get the true soul of this industry."

Bloom Brand products will be available in 1937s adult-use dispensary, opening in February of 2023. To learn more about Bloom, visit thebloombrands.com. To learn more about The 1937 Group, visit the1937group.com.

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About Bloom Brands:

Bloom Brands produces curated strains for every level of cannabis consumer. Founded in 2014 in Los Angeles by a team of immigrants and BIPOC, Bloom has since grown to one of the most quality-focused multi-state producers of concentrates and consumption technology in the United States. Bloom implemented its proprietary molecular distillation method in 2015 and launched its first enclosed, single-use vape system the following year. With a presence in California, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Massachusetts and now Illinois, Bloom continues to set a high standard for consistent, connoisseur-pleasing strains and solventless vapable concentrates. For more information, please visit https://thebloombrands.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005424/en/

Contacts

Name: Allison Pankow

Company: Bloom Brands

Email: allison@thebloombrand.com
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1998
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.
READING, Pa.  The chairman and CEO of Boscov's Department Store LLC made a presentation to Berks County commissioners, asking for county funding for a proposed Helping Harvest annex at GoggleWorks.

Jim Boscov made his pitch during a Tuesday morning operations meeting of the commissioners.

Boscov explained that Jay Worral, president of Helping Harvest, came to him with an idea to address the need for better food distribution.

"Food insecurity is a bigger problem than it's been over the last couple of years," Boscov said. "There are donations available to him (Worral) for bulk food in quantities and in sizes bigger than he can distribute to existing pantries or to distribute to individuals."

"He came to me and said he needs a commercial kitchen  a commercial kitchen where he can break these things down into a size that can be distributed to individual food pantries, and in some cases, down to meal size that can be distributed directly to people," Boscov explained.

Boscov said he owns a property suited for this need; the last remaining building of the GoggleWorks complex, to the east of the existing GoggleWorks facilities.

Boscov said the building would need a complete rehabilitation for its reuse.

"We've got a blighted building, and while this is not part of the GoggleWorks, it would be on the same campus," Boscov explained. "The building we know has lots of asbestos. It's got lead paint. It's really an invitation to future crime and needs to be addressed, and I thought this was an ideal use."

As a secondary use for the project, Boscov said Worral would like to use the commercial kitchen for training, where chefs could provide education for people in the culinary arts.

"I know from the work that I do with the DoubleTree, we are in need of people, and Berks County is in need of people who can service the food service industry," Boscov added.

He said the project would also invite other nonprofits to use the second, third and fourth floors of the building.

The entire project will cost about $18 million, Boscov said.

"We've already secured about $5 million, and we're in the process of securing an additional $6.2 (million), which will leave us with about $7 million that we're going to need to find," Boscov said, "and certainly a large part of that is going to come from philanthropic individuals in the community."

Boscov said he was requesting $2.5 million from the county, even though he was aware that the commissioners have placed a moratorium on allocating any additional American Rescue Plan Act funds at this time.

Pamela Shupp Menet, the county's director of community and economic development, said projects such as this take a lot of involvement from the community.

"On the development side, it's going to take a number of different sources and that is not unusual for projects, especially in the city," Shupp Menet said. "By the time you put $18 million into a project, it's after-rehab value is not $18 million. And so, we need to continue to be conscious of that, and we need to continue to figure out the best ways possible to support that."

Commissioner Chair Christian Y. Leinbach is reaching out to the Berks County Redevelopment Authority in an attempt to identify potential sources of funding for the project.

"When you look at ARPA money in Berks County, the Reading School District  which seems to be a pretty logical partner in some of the aspects of what we've talked about  received about $112 million," Leinbach said. "That's worth looking at. Plus, the City of Reading received more money in total than any other single municipality."

Commissioner Lucine E. Sihelnik said the commissioners recognize the hierarchy of needs.

"Food is at the very basic level for all humans everywhere, no matter what, and we want to continue to support that basic need and food accessibility," Sihelnik said.

"This is not only providing that hub for Helping Harvest to continue what they're doing in in the most effective way, but then giving opportunity to reach out to the community and say, 'We can enhance your skills,'" Sihelnik said. "I like that."
READING, Pa. - Charges against a man accused of kidnapping a woman at gunpoint in Luzerne County and driving her to Berks have been dismissed, authorities say.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, kidnapping, robbery, theft and all related charges against 43-year-old Michael Grimm were dismissed when the alleged victim failed to appear at a court hearing.

At the time of the February 10, 2023 incident, investigators said Grimm and another woman agreed to drive a couple from Rochester, New York, to Reading for $300.

Grimm allegedly stopped the car in Plymouth, Luzerne County after the unidentified woman he was with faked a medical emergency.

Police at the time said the alleged victim's husband got out of the car to render aid and Grimm held the female victim at gunpoint and drove away.

Later that night, police said Pennsylvania State Troopers from the Hamburg barracks stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation on Route 61 near Zions Church Road in Perry Township, Berks County.

Grimm allegedly sped off and was later arrested in Buffalo, New York.

There's no word if Luzerne County prosecutors intend to refile charges.

Grimm is still facing fleeing and eluding and related charges in Berks County.
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.
MIAMI, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand Institute contributes to most of the new pharmaceutical brand name approvals granted every year, making the company well positioned to identify and influence naming trends in the industry. Yet even as the number of registered trademarks and approved brand names increases, so too does the challenge for drug manufacturers seeking names that are readily distinguishable from all the others.

Brand Institute, Inc. (PRNewsfoto/Brand Institute, Inc.)

Mark Ghobry, Brand Institute's President of Western Europe & Emerging Markets, who works out of the company's London office, recently discussed ways to innovate in an increasingly crowded pharmacopoeia. "Creating a brand name that doesn't look or sound like any one of hundreds of thousands of other brand names is easier said than done, but we employ orthographic strategies to achieve that for our clients," he said. Examples include anything from doubling consonants or vowels to phonetic letter swaps (e.g., replacing K with Q or S with Z). "They all tend to achieve the same or a similar phonetic resultbut in a more visually distinctive way."

And having worked as a pharmacist before joining Brand Institute, Mr. Ghobry understands how effective these naming strategies can be. "When a prescription is scribbled at speed, the downstroke of a 'y' or the cross-stroke of a 't' can help distinguish the visual impression of the drug name and prevent misinterpretation." That's why, Mark says, a "multi-stroke" approach, such as the deliberate use of upstroke, downstroke, and cross-stroke letters (e.g., b, y, t) in a brand name, can help lead to regulatory approval. "Our clients are surprised by the level of detail we apply, but in the end, pharmaceutical naming is both an art and a science."

About Brand Institute and our wholly owned regulatory subsidiary, Drug Safety Institute

Brand Institute is the global leader in pharmaceutical and healthcare-related name development, with a portfolio of over 4,000 marketed healthcare brand names, 1,300 USAN/INN nonproprietary names for 1,200 clients. The company partners on over 75% of pharmaceutical brand and nonproprietary name approvals globally every year with healthcare manufacturers. Drug Safety Institute is composed of former naming regulatory officials from global government health agencies, including Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), Health Canada (HC), American Medical Association (AMA), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

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SOURCE Brand Institute, Inc.
WEST READING, Pa. - The family of one of the victims killed in last month's explosion at the R.M. Palmer Company has filed the first wrongful death lawsuit related to the tragedy.

The law firm of Saltz, Mongeluzzi & Bendesky P.C. (SMB) filed the wrongful death and negligence lawsuit on behalf of the estate of Judith Judy Lopez-Moran. The 55-year-old Reading woman was among 7 people killed in the deadly March 24 explosion at the company's West Reading facility. Defendants in the lawsuit include UGI Corporation, gas suppliers to the West Reading site, and R.M. Palmer Company and its affiliates.

We are humbled to represent the family of Ms. Lopez-Moran and assured them that through this lawsuit we will do everything possible to determine exactly what happened, why it happened, and hold all those responsible fully accountable. We look forward to working collaboratively with all investigating agencies involved, and fully expect, at the appropriate time, the full cooperation of the defendants, said SMB attorneys.

According to a statement, SMB now represents more than one dozen victims of the disaster.

The firm said it has notified R.M. Palmer, UGI, and local, state and federal agencies that it now represents Ms. Lopez-Morans children and family members on her behalf, and is requesting documentation and preservation, for subsequent inspection by independent forensic experts, of all potentially relevant physical evidence at and around the site, along with all records, files regarding plant staffing, maintenance, engineering and operations.

Attorneys for SMB explained this is standard in such matters, and critical to the proper examination of potential evidence, including but not limited to records of related gas system operations, maintenance logs and equipment, etc.

The firm has represented victims and their loved ones in other mass casualty events, including the 2022 Pottstown residential gas explosion and a 2019 blast that leveled five row houses in South Philadelphia.
READING, Pa. - Authorities say the second suspect in a 2022 Reading homicide is off the streets and in police custody.

24-year-old Jabar Hill was arrested in South Carolina Tuesday.

According to police, Hill and Marc Lockman shot and killed Jefferson Etienne in the 400 block of South 16th Street in November of 2022.

Etienne, 38, later died at Reading Hospital. Lockman was also wounded in the shooting and was taken into custody after undergoing medical treatment.

District Attorney John Adams said Hill will be extradited to Berks County in the coming weeks.

He's charged with first and third degree murder, aggravated assault and related offenses.
SOLEBURY TWP., Pa. - Authorities in Bucks County say a body that had been found at the Delaware River over the weekend was identified as a missing man last seen in Allentown.

The man was identified as Adam Zimpfer, 40, of Hellertown, who was reported missing from Allentown on December 26, 2022, according to a news release from the Solebury Township Police Department.

On Sunday, around 10:15 a.m., the Solebury Township Police Department was advised by Bucks County Department of Emergency Communications of a caller reporting a possible body lodged on rocks in the Delaware River. Solebury Township Police responded to the area of Virginia Forest Park along Route 32 (River Road) and met with the caller along the towpath.

Officers were able to view what appeared to be a body on a rock landform on the river between the towpath and Hendrick Island, according to the news release.

Based on the location of the body assistance was requested from New Hope Eagle and Point Pleasant Fire Co.s Marine Units.

Investigators from Solebury Township Police Department and the Bucks County Coroners Office arrived on the rock landform at which time it was determined that a man was found dead wearing a hooded jacket, t-shirt, pants, and boots, authorities said.

The remains of the deceased were unidentifiable and further investigation was needed to determine the identity, according to the news release.

An autopsy was conducted at the Bucks County Coroner's Office Monday. There were no signs of foul play observed during the autopsy, with toxicology and manner/cause of death pending further results.

With the possible identifiable information located within the clothing of the deceased investigators conducted a records check and learned of a possible missing person report from Allentown, according to the news release.

Solebury Police contacted Allentown Police Criminal Investigations Division about the report.

DNA samples from the body were collected for testing to use as a comparison with possible biological family members of the missing person. Investigators from Solebury Township Police and Allentown Police worked together with Bensalem Township Police Criminal Investigation Division, who assisted with the use of their BODE Rapid Hit ID DNA testing instrument.

Authorities conducted testing of the DNA from the body and a biological family member of the reported missing person, with results showing the man was a relative/brother of the biological known reference relative listed in the missing person report.
EASTON, Pa. - Easton Mayor Sal Panto said Tuesday that he will seek up to seven volunteers from each of the city neighborhoods to serve on a Neighborhood Advisory Task Force to determine and develop a strategic plan for each of the citys four neighborhoods.

There will be four task forces, one for each of the neighborhoods in the city, according to a news release from the mayor's office.

The infusion of investment into our city has expanded our tax base and now allows us to address the needs and wants of our neighborhoods, which are the life blood of our city. Our Administration wants to listen to the residents of each neighborhood to determine how they want their neighborhood to develop. Each task force will develop a neighborhood strategic plan for their respective neighborhood.

The mayor acknowledged that several issues have already surfaced and are being addressed including affordable housing, park and playground upgrades and the development of a plan to attract locally owned small businesses and services to the neighborhoods, according to the news release.

A combined initial meeting of all task force members will be held on Wednesday, April 19 at 6 p.m. in City Hall.

Any resident that would like to serve on their Neighborhood Advisory Task Force should call the Mayors Executive Assistant Carlton Ketchen at 610-250-6612.

The mayor also announced three neighborhood pop-up festivals scheduled for April and May: one on Saturday, April 22 at Nevin Park on College Hill, one on April 29 at Centennial Park in the West Ward, and one on May 3 at the Easton Area Neighborhood Center on Southside.

The festivals will take place from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature Balloons the Clown, live music, and food. Mayor Panto will be cooking and serving free hot dogs. Soft drinks and water will also be provided free of charge.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - JPMorgan Chase, the biggest U.S. bank, may be coming to downtown Bethlehem.

The bank has already opened a branch at The Hive, a City Center Investment Corp. building at 107 N. Seventh St. in Allentown.

Now it is looking at the Farr Building at Broad and New streets in Bethlehem, according to a federal regulator.

JPMorgan seeks a "branch establishment" at the "NWC (northwest corner) of North New Street and West Broad Street," according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The OCC regulates national banks and reviews planned branch openings and closings.

The northwest corner of Broad and New was most recently a Fidelity Bank branch. The ground floor space is vacant.

A JPMorgan spokesman said the bank has no details to share about the branch at this time, but information may be available "in the coming months."

What is now JPMorgan Chase has many predecessors and was founded in New York City in 1877 and named Chase Bank in honor of Salmon Chase, President Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury. The bank traces its roots back even further, to 1799.

The modern JPMorgan Chase was founded in 2000 by the merger of Chase Manhattan Corp. with J.P. Morgan & Co.

Today's JPMorgan Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon has a lot in common with John Pierpont Morgan, the Gilded Age financier behind J.P. Morgan.

Morgan advised the federal government and helped steady the economy during financial panics. More recently, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called Dimon after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank.

JPMorgan is the biggest of America's "Big Four" banks, which also include Bank of America, Citibank and Wells Fargo.

Shares in JPMorgan are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol JPM. The closing price Monday was $127.89. The bank has a market capitalization (current share price times number of shares outstanding) of $374.9 billion.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - 17-year-old Makayla Mark and 15-year-old Avery Heffelfinger are relying not on their vision but auditory senses to find Easter eggs, as the sound of beeping surrounded them.

"It was beeping but now it's not because I turned it off," Makayla said holding a bright yellow plastic Easter egg.

50 beeping plastic eggs with batteries inside were placed throughout Allentown's Trout Creek Park, allowing about a dozen visually impaired kids to go on an Easter egg hunt. For Makayla it's been a lifelong learning curve, with Monday being a first.

"I never did an Easter egg hunt with auditory senses. I'd usually like look for them regularly," she said.

The Allentown Fire Department Bomb Squad, along with Lehigh Valley-based Sights for Hope, hosted the event. Sights for Hope is an organization that helps those with visual impairments become self-sufficient. The event stems from the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators, who started the events in 2009.

"A lot of times when we go out the door as a bomb squad, we're going out the door to something pretty tragic, or something pretty upsetting. For once we get to go out and do something that brings joy to a lot of kids," said Allentown bomb squad commander Chad Ege.

10-year-old Caroline Rach has been with Sights for Hope since 2021. She says the goal of this hunt is easy to see.

"I really like how they're including, how they're making it accessible for everyone," she said.
BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - It used to be getting your face on a Wheaties box was a big deal. Now, workers in our area are getting honored on a special Cheerios box.

Workers at the ShopRite in Bethlehem Township got to see themselves featured on a special edition Cheerios box.

They're being honored for helping fight hunger and food insecurity in their community.

Those special Cheerios boxes were unveiled Tuesday.

The Bethlehem Township store was one of 52 that collected checkout donations for ShopRite's "partners in caring" contest.

The program gets stores to engage with their communities and help fight hunger.

This year, the crew in Bethlehem Township collected more than $12,000 for area food banks.

The store's owner says he's proud of the team for pulling through.

"It's a very special event for us and our associates who lead the charge," said Joe Colalillo, store owner. "These folks who are on the box really lead the charge in our stores and we represent them and we celebrate them."

This year, in total, ShopRite workers raised over $1 million for food banks.

Since the program started in 1999, it has raised more than $62 million for a wide range of charities.

And if all this talk of cereal is getting you hungry, those special edition ShopRite employee Cheerios boxes are currently for sale.
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure vetoed a tax break for the River Pointe development on Tuesday.

Now, he needs to sway a county council vote in order to make his opposition to the LERTA for Lou Pektor's Upper Mount Bethel Township project stand up.

On April 6, council voted 6-3 to extend the LERTA -- Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance -- that provides a tax break on new construction that declines and then expires after 10 years. The goal of the program is to encourage development now by cutting costs to build a future tax base.

Pektor has said he plans to bring in manufacturing companies, such as food processors, to the 800-acre project along the Delaware River, while McClure has warned of "warehouse proliferation."

The executive offered last week to negotiate with Pektor on a LERTA that would only cover manufacturers, and Pektor agreed. Council proceeded to approve the tax break for the entire project.

Voting for the LERTA were Council President Kerry Myers, Vice President Ron Heckman, Thomas Giovanni, John Goffredo, John Brown and Lori Vargo Heffner. Opposed were Tara Zrinski, Kevin Lott and John Cusick.

Council can approve a LERTA with five votes and override a veto with six votes. McClure will have to get one "yes" vote to switch and hold the other three "nos" to prevail.

"We should not be using our citizens' tax money to build warehouses for for-profit companies," McClure's veto says. It also notes truck traffic and pollution, and it says warehouses have "scarred our landscape."

The Bangor Area School District and Upper Mount Bethel Township have also approved LERTAs for River Pointe Logistics Park.

Pektor and his daughter Lisa Pektor, the project manager, have said the LERTA will help bring in manufacturers, who spend more on their buildings and create better jobs. Lou Pektor said the tax break will help River Pointe compete with New Jersey. Without the LERTA, both Pektors have said River Pointe may have trouble bringing in manufacturing tenants, and the result could be more warehouses.

While the industry is not popular in the region, warehousing and trucking provide about 10% of local jobs, according to one study.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - PPL Corp.'s billing errors started in December and have stretched into April.

The utility's Pennsylvania customers have seen a Dr. Seuss-like mixture of problems: high bills, low bills, late bills and no bills.

Yet a letter dated just seven days ago does not acknowledge the duration of the problem.

The PPL letter dated April 4 notes, "We recently discovered an issue which caused a delay in billing for your electric usage."

That issue started in December 2022. The "recently discovered" issue is older than the year 2023, and happened more than a month before the Philadelphia Eagles lost the Super Bowl. The letter is from PPL Electric Utilities and is not signed by any individual.

In December, according to the Allentown-based utility, the company's billing system did not communicate with its meters. That problem affected 800,000 customers.

Estimated bills, some very high, were sent. Later, bills that omitted supplier charges were sent. PPL's charge for delivering electricity was included, but not the actual cost of energy. Some customers were not billed, and as the charges pile up, PPL has suggested they seek payment plans when the cost of months of electricity comes due.

"... we'd be happy to offer you an agreement to pay off your balance over time," the April 4 letter says, adding, "Thank you for being a valued PPL customer." PPL has a regulated monopoly on delivering electricity in the region.

Payment plans can be set up over the phone or online.

On Tuesday, a PPL spokesperson said, "We continue to make significant progress" in sending timely bills. The company has added staff to deal with customers, and the spokesperson said wait times have "decreased significantly."

No exact number of how many customers are still affected was provided. No estimated cost of the response to the billing errors was provided, and the company still estimates that it will resume billing "for nearly all remaining customers by the end of May."

Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission is investigating PPL's billing procedures.

"We apologize, it has taken much more time than we anticipated," the spokesperson said. The company is, at the highest levels, looking into what went wrong and how to avoid such problems.

Shares in the company are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PPL. The closing price Tuesday was $28.83. At that price, the company's market capitalization (current price times number of shares outstanding) is $21.3 billion.
HELLERTOWN, Pa. - The Northampton County District Attorney wants to help people get rid of guns they no longer want.

A second gun buyback event is being held this weekend. The event is being described as an alternative approach to reducing gun violence.

Have a gun you no longer want? It can be surrendered safely. A relative leaves behind a number of guns after their death? They can be bought back.

"We will take anything," said Northampton District Attorney Terence Houck. "We had very small revolvers, we had assault rifles. We had brand-new weapons. We had older weapons. We got them all."

During the one last fall, more than 300 guns were brought in, along with hundreds of pounds of ammunition.

People who surrender their guns and ammo can choose to remain anonymous. People who bring a gun will receive a gift card for groceries; the amount depends on its condition.

"Anyone that has any unwanted guns, any unwanted ammunition and wants to trade it in for a gift card," added Houck. "We will be giving gift cards between $50 and $200."

Officials say it's hard to quantify the impact of the first event or how many injuries or deaths could be prevented with the next. The important thing, they say, is doing something to ensure something bad doesn't happen.

"You can't quantify a shooting that doesn't occur, but I am convinced if you have an unwanted gun in your home, and you get rid of it, you reduce the chances of an accidental, reckless or intentional shooting," said Houck.

After surrendering a firearm, it becomes the property of police. All guns will go through a ballistic test to determine if they have been used in any unsolved crimes. Those that have will be kept as evidence, while all others will be destroyed.

This Saturday, the event will be held rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Firearms can be brought to one of two locations: Leithsville Fire Station at 1995 Leithsville Road in Hellertown or Northampton Fire Department at 4 Lerchenmiller Drive.

Police ask that people bring in the weapons ensure they are unloaded and transported in the trunks of vehicles.
Ceremony to mark the beginning of operational activities of the F-39 Gripen fighters

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil is analyzing the option of expanding an order for Swedish manufacturer Saab's Gripen fighter jets, though the number of additional aircraft which could be bought has yet to be determined, Defense Minister Jose Mucio told Reuters Tuesday.

"The Brazilian Air Force said it has need (for more Gripen fighters). We are looking at this and studying it," Mucio said during the Laad defense industry trade show in Rio de Janeiro.

"Just this week we spoke with the ambassador of Sweden about this and it is a conversation that is just beginning," he added.

In 2014, Brazil signed a deal to purchase 36 Gripen fighter jets for its Air Force with the goal of modernizing its fleet.

The agreement also allows Gripens to be produced in the country in the future.

The first aircraft have already been delivered to Brazil and the remainder are expected to be delivered by 2027.

A source with knowledge of the situation said the initial order could be expanded to 40 aircraft. The negotiations would involve forgoing some equipment and ammunition in exchange for "credit" toward the purchase of the four additional jets.

Demand is great enough that Brazil could place a second order for around 30 more jets, the source said.

"We are a large, continental country, but 36 or 40 (fighters) are enough for just one base, and we need more to cover the country," the source said.

"We know it's an expensive investment, but a relevant one," the source said. "However, this second batch would be delivered over 15 years."

(Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
POTTSVILLE, Pa. - One of two men charged in a Schuylkill County homicide has admitted to his role in the 2015 killing.

Adriell Chambers, 42, pleaded guilty Monday to third-degree murder and burglary, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Chambers, of Minersville, and Phong "Jay" Tran, of Philadelphia, were charged in 2021 in the shooting death of Dat "Mike" Hyunh. Hyunh was shot multiple times inside of a home in the 2200 block of West Norwegian Street in Pottsville on March 2, 2015.

Tran is not in custody and is considered a fugitive, according to online court records.
A Central Bucks middle school teacher says his district is retaliating against him for standing up for LGBTQ students.

Andrew Burgess filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Central Bucks School District and the superintendent.

Burgess, who was an eighth-grade teacher at Lenape Middle School from 2006-2022, says the district suspended him from his job, then made him move schools after he stood up for a transgender student who was being bullied, the lawsuit claims.

The student had reported the bullying to Lenape administrators, but nothing was done, so Burgess helped file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights against the district, the suit says.

Burgess says that complaint, which alleged Central Bucks failed to protect the student from bullying, was filed in March 2022, and Burgess was suspended from his job in May 2022.

The district's suspension letter referred to the incident involving the student as one of two reasons for the discipline. The second reason involved Burgess' efforts to stop the district from removing LGBTQ-themed materials, deemed inappropriate, from classroom libraries, the suit says.

Burgess was escorted out of the building in the middle of the day when he was suspended, and that summer, one week before the start of the new school year, he was involuntarily transferred to Unami Middle School, the paperwork continues.

The lawsuit claims the district violated the First Amendment and Title IX.

It further claims the district is a hostile environment for LGBTQ students, and that it has worsened over the last few years.

The Central Bucks School District has been a center of controversy over the past year because of some actions and policies.

Some of those actions included a ban on pride flags in the classroom, a policy to challenge library books with inappropriate content, and a neutrality policy which prohibits teachers from advocating for or displaying items that reflect partisan, political or social policy agendas.

The neutrality policy was passed 6-3 in January after dozens of students, teachers and community members spoke against it. Those opposed say the policy marginalizes LGBTQ students. The actual policy does not specifically mention anything about LGBTQ issues or gender-related topics. It prohibits teachers from displaying any flags, banners, posters, signs, stickers, pins, buttons, insignias, paraphernalia and photographs that lean toward partisan, political or social policy issues.

It came amid an already sharply divided community, in part because of the books policies passed last summer. The board adopted a policy banning books with age-inappropriate materials from school libraries, then two weeks later adopted the a similar policy keeping those materials out of classroom libraries. Many said in that case, it was important to "read between the lines" and see that the policies discriminate against LGBTQ students.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is helping represent Burgess, filed a complaint against the Central Bucks district in October, alleging widespread discrimination against LGBTQ and transgender students.
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. - A former attorney who stole more than $169,000 from her elderly father has been sentenced.

Diane L. Rohrman, 50, of Downingtown, Chester County, will serve 1.5 to three years in state prison, followed by two years of probation, according to a news release from the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.

She was also ordered to pay $169,478.76 in restitution and have no direct or indirect contact with her 83-year-old father.

Rohrman was convicted on Dec. 13, 2022, of theft, identity theft, access device fraud, and computer trespass. The verdict came following a 3-day trial, the DA's office said.

Before sentencing Rohrman, the judge heard victim impact statements from her father and two sisters, one who said that the besides the theft of money, the larger tragedy is our family was ripped apart.

Rohrmans father testified about the day he first discovered that his money was missing. I was completely stunned, he said, adding that he could never have imagined that his daughter would be the one to take advantage of him, the DA's office said.

After his wife passed away, he designated Rohrman, his daughter and licensed attorney, to become his power of attorney in August 2016, so she could handle his finances for his care and benefit, according to the DA's office. Instead, she stole money from him on an almost weekly basis, he said.

I havent slept right for the past three years, he testified. I think about it almost every night. How would you like your own daughter stealing from you every week. It doesnt make sense.

She manipulated me like I was a piece of dirt.

At Tuesdays sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Marc J. Furber explained how Rohrman used her role as power of attorney as a license to steal, utilizing almost every possible method to steal money from her father.

The investigation by Warminster Detective David Bonacquisti found that Rohrman wrote 134 checks to herself from her fathers accounts, totaling more than $92,000, the DA's office said.

She also wrote checks for thousands more that had nothing to do with her father or his care, the DA's office said. In addition to the checks, Rohrman withdrew $35,645 in cash from two accounts belonging to her father. She also used her fathers account to make more than $17,000 in payments to her fathers credit cards.

The credit card records showed that Diane Rohrman was in fact using those credit cards to make thousands of dollars in purchases that were not for her fathers care or benefit, the DA's office said.

Rohrman also took money from her fathers account using Zelle, made almost $7,400 in payments for her Verizon Wireless account, and used the victims funds to make more than $12,000 in payments to her own credit accounts, according to the DA's office.

In August 2019, the victim and his oldest daughter walked into the Warminster Township Police Department to report that his other daughter nearly wiped out his life savings. On Tuesday, the oldest daughter, who is now serving as his power of attorney, said her father has not been the same since.

Hes not the man he once was, she said. Its not just that he lost my mother. Its that he lost my mother and someone he cared about took advantage of him. He essentially lost his daughter.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  French President Emmanuel Macron laid out his vision of a bold, assertive European future on Tuesday, but not before simmering anger at his domestic pension reforms boiled over once more as he began his speech in the Netherlands.

Some members of the audience at a theater in The Hague shouted at Macron, accusing him of undemocratically forcing through his plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Macron's pension reforms have prompted massive protests and strikes in France. Critics were additionally infuriated when he used a special constitutional power last month to push the bill through parliament without a vote.

Some protesters in The Hague theater Tuesday brandished a banner calling Macron the president of violence and hypocrisy.

I can answer these questions if you give me some time," Macron responded, speaking in English. The protesters were quickly removed from the hall.

Its very important to have this type of discussion, an unflustered Macron said. The day you consider that when I disagree ... Im the one to decide ... you put democracy at risk, he added, citing the examples of rioters storming the U.S. Capitol in 2021 and Brazils top government buildings earlier this year.

Earlier in the day, before Macron laid a wreath at the national monument in Amsterdam, a small group of people protesting Macrons pension reforms briefly held up a banner in French that said: We will not be beaten into retirement. More protesters also demonstrated peacefully outside the theater in The Hague where he made his speech.

In his scripted speech, Macron outlined his vision for the future of European sovereignty, saying it should be based on the five pillars of competitiveness, industrial policy, protectionism, reciprocity and cooperation.

Russias war in Ukraine opened probably one of the most perilous times of our European union. Our union is said to grow stronger through crisis but never had we faced such a threat," Macron said.

Both the COVID-19 pandemic and the war "were big accelerators of this European sovereignty, he added.

We can set up a new economic doctrine which will allow us to reconcile creating jobs, financing our social model, dealing with climate change and being more sovereign and deciding for ourselves, he said. This is critical in this period when we have war and our economy is being weaponized.

The speech in The Hague came after Macron raised eyebrows with his comments on Taiwan after his recent visit to China.

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 an interview published Sunday in French newspaper Les Echos and by Politico Europe.

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 remarks 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.

The interview was given 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 U.S. last week.

China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war. The government in Beijing says the island is obliged to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary.

Macron 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. His speech in The Hague also called for Europe to become ever more self-sufficient to avoid becoming reliant on other powerful trading partners.

Macrons two-day trip to Amsterdam and The Hague is the first state visit by a French leader since Jacques Chirac 23 years ago and underscores the close links between the Netherlands and France and the two leaders.

After arriving in Amsterdam, Macron  with Dutch King Willem-Alexander  inspected a guard of honor on the square outside the capital's royal palace as a military band played and the French and Dutch flags fluttered in a brisk breeze.

In the evening, Macron and his wife, Brigitte, returned to Amsterdam for a banquet hosted by Willem-Alexander.

On Wednesday, Macron's itinerary includes visiting a science park in Amsterdam, talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and viewing a blockbuster exhibition of paintings by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum.

Corbet reported from Paris. Peter Dejong contributed from Amsterdam.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine began resuming electricity exports to European countries on Tuesday, its energy minister said, a dramatic turnaround from six months ago when fierce Russian bombardment of power stations plunged much of the country into darkness in a bid to demoralize the population.

The announcement by Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko that Ukraine was not only meeting domestic consumption demands but also ready to restart exports to its neighbors was a clear message that Moscow's attempt to weaken Ukraine by targeting its infrastructure did not work.

Ukraine's domestic energy demand is 100% supplied, he told The Associated Press in an interview, and it has reserves to export due to the titanic work of its engineers and international partners.

Russia ramped up infrastructure attacks in September, when waves of missiles and exploding drones destroyed about half of Ukraine's energy system. Power cuts were common across the country as temperatures dropped below freezing and tens of millions struggled to keep warm.

Moscow said the strikes were aimed at weakening Ukraine's ability to defend itself, while Western officials said the blackouts that caused civilians to suffer amounted to war crimes. Ukrainians said the timing was designed to destroy their morale as the war marked its first anniversary.

Ukraine had to stop exporting electricity in October to meet domestic needs.

Engineers worked around the clock, often risking their lives to come into work at power plants and keep the electricity flowing. Kyiv's allies also provided help. In December, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $53 million in bilateral aid to help the country acquire electricity grid equipment, on top of $55 million for energy sector support.

Much more work remains to be done, Halushchenko said. Ukraine needs funding to repair damaged generation and transmission lines, and revenue from electricity exports would be one way to do that.

The first country to receive Ukraine's energy exports will be Moldova, he said.

Besides the heroic work by engineers and Western aid, warmer temperatures are enabling the resumption of exports by making domestic demand lower. Nationwide consumption was already down at least 30% due to the war, Halushchenko said, with many industries having to operate with less power.

Renewables like solar and wind power also come into play as temperatures rise, taking some pressure off nuclear and coal-fired power plants.

But it's unclear if Ukraine can keep up exports amid the constant threat of Russian bombardment.

Unfortunately now a lot of things depend on the war, Halushchenko said. I would say we feel quite confident now until the next winter.

Exports to Poland, Slovakia and Romania are also on schedule to resume, he said.

Today we are starting with Moldova, and we are talking about Poland, we are talking about Slovakia and Romania, Halushchenko added, noting that how much will depend on their needs.

For Poland, we have only one line that allows us to export 200 megawatts, but I think this month we will finish another line which will increase this to an additional 400 MW, so these figures could change, he said.

Export revenue will depend on fluctuating electricity prices in Europe. In 2022, while Ukraine was still able to export energy, Ukrainian companies averaged 40 million to 70 million euros a month depending on prices, Halushchenko said.

Even if its 20 (million euros) its still good money. We need financial resources now to restore generation and transmission lines, he said.

Ukraine has the ability to export more than the 400 megawatt capacity limit imposed by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, or ENTSO-E. We are in negotiations to increase this cap because today we can export even more, we have the necessary reserves in the system, the minister said.

The current capacity limit is in line with what Ukraine was exporting in September 2022 before Ukraine diverted resources to meet domestic needs amid the Russian onslaught.

The 400-megawatt capacity is only a start as Ukraine pursues a long-term goal of becoming truly integrated into Europes network, which would increase its security of supply and help its neighbors exchange electricity, according to Georg Zachmann, energy policy expert at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels.

At a price of 100 euros per megawatt hour, the monthly income stream for Ukraine would at most reach 30 million euros.

As capacity increases, however, concerns will move from supply to commerce and politics due to Ukraines coal-fired plants paying almost nothing for carbon emissions, while EU competitors pay 100 euros per ton.

Halushchenko wants to increase the maximum technical capacity to 2 gigawatts. At the very least, he would like exports to meet the countrys import restriction of 850 megawatts, he said. ENTSO-E represents 39 electricity transmission system operators from 35 countries across Europe.

Ukraine began trading electricity with European countries in June, in a bid to move away from Russias sphere of influence. Power lines were synchronized in March 2022, shortly after the war began.

Engineers sped up the process to link Ukraine to the continental grid, allowing it to decouple its power system from Russia. Moldova was added later. Before that, Ukraine and Moldova were part of a power sharing system that included Russia and Belarus.

The resumption of exports is an obvious win for Ukraine, but it also benefits Europe, according to energy analyst Olena Pavlenko of the Kyiv-based think tank Dixie Group.

European consumers need this, it increases competition in the (European) market, lowers prices and feels more energy secure, she said.

For Ukraine this is a solution to not just take money in grants and credit but to earn money. This is a good start for the future operation and partnership with the EU, as a business partner, she added.

David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, contributed.

Follow AP coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies

OTTAWA, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today was to mark the first day of an inquest into the death of Terry Baker, a young woman who died while incarcerated at the Grand Valley Institution for women (GVI) in 2016. On April 5, it was confirmed that the matter will not be going ahead as scheduled and has been postponed to a future date.



This is the second postponement of the inquest into the death of Terry Baker. This latest delay has been caused by the refusal of a party to the process, Correctional Services of Canada (CSC), to produce documents that have been ordered for seizure by the Presiding Coroner further to his investigation into Ms. Bakers case.

In the ruling confirming the adjournment, dated April 5, 2023, the Presiding Coroner expresses his disappointment in the lack of response to his demand by CSC. The demand seeks disclosure of certain relevant documents, in particular documents surrounding two Boards of Investigation that CSC conducted before and after Terry Bakers death. The Presiding Coroner further states in his ruling that proceeding without the requested documents would result in a fundamental failure of justice and that the documents  could reasonably contain information which could change the jurys findings of fact such as manner of death or add or materially change potential recommendations.

The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) supports the decision to adjourn and echoes the Presiding Coroners disappointment. CAEFS filed written submissions in support of this adjournment when CSC declared its position that the inquest should proceed as scheduled despite its non-disclosure. We were frankly taken aback by the cavalier attitude taken by CSC on this matter of non-disclosure. It is exceedingly important that the organization tasked with caring for incarcerated people, CSC, do so with transparency and accountability. That CSC attempted to force this inquest onward while at the same time being offside of the Presiding Coroners lawful demand to seize relevant documents is truly shocking and leaves questioning their motivation.

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Once the requested documents are produced, CAEFS is hopeful that the inquest will proceed without further delay and that the public will learn the truth about what happened to Terry Baker. An inquest is mandatory under the Coroners Act when a person dies of non-natural causes while in custody. The purpose of an inquest is to determine the circumstances of a death, and to direct recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths from occurring in similar circumstances.

The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies works to address the persistent ways in which women and gender-diverse people impacted by criminalization are denied humanity and excluded from community. As part of this work, CAEFS monitors conditions of confinement in the federal prisons designated for women and had worked with Terry Baker while she was incarcerated at GVI. It is because of our direct interest that CAEFS was granted standing at the inquest. In addition to uncovering the specifics about the death of Terry Baker, we also anticipated that the inquest would examine the ways in which our society continues to incarcerate and often segregate people with mental health issues and fails to provide them with the treatment or supports that they need said Emilie Coyle, Executive Director of CAEFS.

For Comment

Emilie Coyle

Executive Director of CAEFS

ecoyle@caefs.ca

613-316-6785

Ted Marrocco and Yadesha Satheaswaran

Counsel for CAEFS

edwardm@stockwoods.ca

YadeshaS@stockwoods.ca

About CAEFS: Since its inception in 1978, the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) has worked to address the persistent ways in which women and gender-diverse people impacted by criminalization have been denied humanity and excluded from community. CAEFS advocacy utilizes a feminist rights-based approach and recognizes that, to create substantive equality, unique attention and approaches are needed to respond to incarcerated equity-deserving groups.




Market.Us

According to Market.us, The growth of the cancer biological therapy market can be attributed to the rising incidence of several cancers, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other types of cancer.

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cancer biological therapy market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth USD 110 billion in 2022 and is poised to reach USD 225 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2022 to 2032. In the fight against cancer, some biological therapies either stimulate or suppress the immune system. A treatment that treats disease with substances made by living things. The body may produce these substances naturally or in the laboratory. Specific cancer cells are targeted by other biological therapies, which can either stop them from growing or kill them. Additionally, they might lessen some of the side effects of some cancer treatments.

Cancer Biological Therapy Market Size

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Key Takeaway:

By product type , the monoclonal antibodies segment is anticipated to dominate the cancer biological therapy market and hold the largest market share during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032.

By route of administration , the injectable route accounted for dominating the market during the forecast period 2023 to 2032.

By End-User, in 2022, the hospitals & clinics segment dominated the global market.

By Distribution channel , in 2022, the specialized cancer treatment centers held a significant revenue share in the cancer biological therapy market.

In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 44.7%.

Asia-Pacific dominated the market with a revenue share of 22.3%.

Asia-Pacific will likely grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period from 2023-2032.

The global market for cancer biological therapy is anticipated to expand as a result of the rising incidence of the disease and the proliferation of specialized cancer treatment facilities. In the market for cancer biological therapy, several specialists are concentrating on the application of applying nanotechnology to the provision of provide development therapy to patients.

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Factors affecting the growth of the Global Cancer Biological Therapy Market

There are several factors that can affect the growth of the global cancer biological therapy market. Some of these factors include:

Rising prevalence of several cancers: The market expansion of cancer biological therapy can be attributed to the rising prevalence of several cancers, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other types of cancer.

Large patient pool: Due to the large patient pool, the market growth will likely be propelled owing to many admissions to specialized cancer treatment centers and hospitals.

Excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco: The excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco leads to an increased risk of getting cancer. Hence, it is expected to be the driving factor for market expansion.

New launches: The patents of several companies expire over time, which opens up a new opportunity for market players to launch new combination therapies with the existing ones.

The report also covers information on the upcoming trends and challenges that will influence the market growth. Enquire Now@ https://market.us/report/cancer-biological-therapy-market/#inquiry

Top Trends in the Global Cancer Biological Therapy Market

The worldwide burden of cancer is increasing, and treatments may be altered in accordance with national and regional priorities. Cancer biological therapy aims to get the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. The most common types of cancer are breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate. In treating various types of cancers, biological therapy is used to stop or slow down the growth of a tumor and stop it from spreading.

Regional Analysis

North America dominated a significant portion of the global market for cancer biological therapy. Rising R&D expenditures, increasing government initiatives, numerous cancer biological drug and vaccine manufacturers, affordable cancer treatment facilities, rising disposable income, and expanding health insurance coverage of severe diseases positively drive North America's market expansion. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific region is projected as the fastest-growing market with a significant CAGR because of the increasing number of cancer cases, the large patient population, advanced healthcare facilities, and other factors.

Do you want to know more about the research process and detailed methodology, Request Research Methodology of this report?

Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 110 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 225 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 7.6% North America Revenue Share 44.7% Asia Pacific Revenue Share 22.3% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

Cancer cases in individuals are among the most common causes of death and illness worldwide. In addition, the rising geriatric population susceptible to severe diseases will likely boost the market expansion. Changes in eating habits that include tobacco and alcohol use will likely surge cancer cases even more, which will positively drive the growth of the cancer biological therapy market. The growth of the cancer biological therapy market can be attributed to rising healthcare costs as well as government support for cancer therapies. Both patients and medical professionals are now actively participating in research for various treatments for these severe conditions. This is one of the most significant drivers in the market.

Market Restraints

The higher costs associated with the treatments are expected to hamper the market growth. Most disease treatments are expensive, making them difficult for individuals, especially those in rural areas. As a result, market growth may be slowed in the coming years. The limited number of skilled professionals also hinders market expansion.

Market Opportunities

The development of diverse treatment options, such as the application of nanotechnology, is expected to create a significant growth opportunity in the market. Cancer diagnosis and advanced treatment for cancer could greatly benefit from nanotechnology. In addition, the advancements in materials science and protein engineering are further anticipated to help physicians more precisely target cancer cells.

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Report Segmentation of the Global Cancer Biological Therapy Market

Product Insight

The monoclonal antibodies accounted for the largest revenue share in 2022. It is a protein that binds to specific targets in the body, such as antigens on the surface of cancer cells. It is produced in the laboratory. Monoclonal antibodies are molecules made in the laboratory and can replace antibodies and restore, modify, enhance, or imitate the immune system's attack on unwanted cells, such as cancer cells. Non-hospitalized patients with risk factors who receive monoclonal antibody therapy for severe disease progression have experienced fewer deaths and hospitalizations. Hence, the monoclonal antibody segment is likely to experience significant growth over the forecast period.

Route of Administration Insight

In 2022, the injectable route was the most preferred treatment option, dominating the global market. This significant revenue growth of the injectable is mainly influenced due to the intravenous type of injectable, which is well-known for its rapid action considering its 100% bioavailability. Hence it is highly recommended in emergency conditions.

End-User Insight

The hospitals & clinics segment is the most lucrative segment among the end-users and dominates the cancer biological therapy market with the highest revenue share. The cancer care unit in hospitals & clinics strives to create the ideal treatment environment by offering world-class patient care and a patient-friendly setting. The advanced oncology department in the hospital provides comprehensive and convenient patient-centered care, advanced diagnostic tools, and treatment options, such as biological therapy, all under one roof. The passion for cancer care extends beyond the walls of the cancer care unit in hospitals & clinics, including strict infection control guidelines for the patients. These are the key drivers contributing to the growth of this segment.

Distribution Channel Insight

Specialized cancer treatment centers dominate the cancer biological therapy market with the largest share of the total market. This growth can be mainly attributed to the growing number of cancer patients, and rising drugs use for cancer treatment. Primarily the growth of this segment is influenced by the increase in the conductance of research, such as laboratory-based, clinical-based, and population-based. The majority of cancer centers treat patients, while some only conduct research.

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Market Segmentation

By Product

Vaccines

Monoclonal Antibodies

Cancer Growth Blockers

By Route of Administration

Oral

Injectable

By End-User

Hospitals & Clinics

Cancer Research Centres

Laboratories

By Distribution Channel

Specialized Cancer Treatment Centers

Hospital Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

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



Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape of the market has also been examined in this report. Some of the major players include

Recent Development of the Global Cancer Biological Therapy Market

In February 2022, The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson got U.S. FDA approval for its CARVYKTI, also known as ciltacabtagene autoleucel. Adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received four or more prior treatments, including an immunomodulator, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, can be treated with this biologic medication.

In May 2022, Biocon Biologics and Viatris, formerly Mylan, introduced the cancer drug Bevacizumab in Canada. It was sold under the brand name Abevmy. Biologics and Viatris were the two companies that developed the Abevmy. As a result, the factors above contributed to the expansion of the cancer market segment.

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The Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau has now officially transitioned into the post-Romy Snyder era, and her successor is quite familiar with the Dells area and its robust tourism and hospitality industry.

Snyder announced her retirement from the WDVCB last July and retired following 28 years in her role.

Jill Diehl, who served on the bureaus board of directors for 25 years and was chair for 22 of those, officially accepted the role of President/CEO of the bureau on April 9, according to a bureau release. She also spent 22 years on the Board of Wisconsin Dells Festivals, including 12 as the chair.

Diehl has also served on marketing, finance, executive, and tourism economic development committees, and has statewide tourism experience with her time on the Wisconsin Governors Council on Tourism from 2000-2002 under former Gov. Scott McCallum.

The Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau has one of the most unique and successful destination marketing organization models, said Diehl in the release. I am looking forward to applying my decades of hospitality experience, paired with the talents of the WDVCB professional staff, to build on the successes of the Wisconsin Dells area and its claim as a, if not the, top regional travel destination.

Diehl, whose father is Tommy Bartlett Inc. owner and longtime Village of Lake Delton board trustee Tom Diehl, served as the executive vice president and general manager of her fathers business.

After receiving a bachelors degree in hospitality management from Michigan State University and masters in business administration from UW-Madison, Diehl became the general manager of the former Copa Cabana Resort Hotel and Suites in Wisconsin Dells for 18 years.

Under her leadership, the resort developed into a premier full-service facility with deluxe accommodations, meeting and convention facilities and indoor and outdoor waterparks before it was sold in 2011, the release said.

She maintained a leadership role with Tommy Bartlett, Inc. during her time with Copa Cabana. Following the 2011 sale of the former resort, Diehl moved into a full-time management role with her familys business.
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
Sonic Automotive, Inc. (NYSE:SAH  Get Rating) President Jeff Dyke sold 86,596 shares of Sonic Automotive stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.80, for a total value of $4,399,076.80. Following the sale, the president now owns 814,199 shares in the company, valued at $41,361,309.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Sonic Automotive Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SAH traded up $0.36 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $50.98. The companys stock had a trading volume of 349,837 shares, compared to its average volume of 372,612. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 1.20. The firms fifty day moving average price is $55.43 and its 200-day moving average price is $50.56. The firm has a market cap of $1.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.13 and a beta of 1.82. Sonic Automotive, Inc. has a 1-year low of $34.17 and a 1-year high of $62.26.

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Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 15th. The company reported $2.61 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.26 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $3.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.55 billion. Sonic Automotive had a net margin of 0.62% and a return on equity of 35.44%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.66 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Sonic Automotive, Inc. will post 7.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sonic Automotive Dividend Announcement

Institutional Trading of Sonic Automotive

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.28 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.20%. Sonic Automotives dividend payout ratio is presently 66.67%.

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Sonic Automotive during the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. UBS Group AG increased its position in shares of Sonic Automotive by 353.4% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,970 shares of the companys stock valued at $129,000 after purchasing an additional 2,315 shares during the period. Point72 Middle East FZE bought a new stake in shares of Sonic Automotive in the 4th quarter worth $165,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp bought a new stake in shares of Sonic Automotive in the 4th quarter worth $202,000. Finally, Pacific Global Investment Management Co. bought a new position in Sonic Automotive during the third quarter valued at about $204,000. 52.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SAH has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Benchmark lifted their price target on shares of Sonic Automotive from $62.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Sonic Automotive from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from $60.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. StockNews.com started coverage on Sonic Automotive in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Sonic Automotive from $33.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sonic Automotive currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $53.67.

About Sonic Automotive

(Get Rating)

Sonic Automotive, Inc operates as a automotive retailer. Its services include sales of both new and used cars and light trucks, sales of replacement parts and performance of vehicle maintenance, warranty, paint and repair services and arrangement of extended service contracts, financing, insurance, vehicle protection products and other aftermarket products for automotive customers.

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FUKOKU MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE Co reduced its holdings in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) by 2.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,407 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 120 shares during the quarter. FUKOKU MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE Cos holdings in Accenture were worth $1,176,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. United Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 2,969 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,001,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Weitz Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Accenture by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Weitz Investment Management Inc. now owns 89,400 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $30,148,000 after purchasing an additional 1,168 shares during the last quarter. Fund Management at Engine No. 1 LLC acquired a new position in Accenture during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,805,000. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in Accenture by 0.6% during 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 buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Accenture by 104.8% in the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 441,451 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $148,871,000 after buying an additional 225,943 shares in the last quarter. 73.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Accenture Stock Up 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE ACN traded up $4.02 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $285.70. The company had a trading volume of 383,360 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,365,807. Accenture plc has a 12 month low of $242.80 and a 12 month high of $333.95. The companys fifty day moving average price is $272.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $274.40. The stock has a market cap of $180.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.94, a PEG ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.25.

Accenture Dividend Announcement

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results 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 return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 11.00%. The business had revenue of $15.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.54 EPS. The firms revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 11.57 earnings per share for the current year.

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 given a $1.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.57%. Accentures payout ratio is 41.25%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have commented on ACN shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Accenture from $289.00 to $294.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Accenture from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Edward Jones upgraded Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Accenture from $310.00 to $327.00 in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Accenture from $311.00 to $314.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Accenture has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $314.00.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Melissa A. Burgum sold 1,027 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.99, for a total transaction of $288,576.73. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 11,467 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,222,112.33. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, CAO Melissa A. Burgum sold 1,027 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.99, for a total transaction of $288,576.73. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 11,467 shares in the company, valued at $3,222,112.33. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, COO Manish Sharma sold 3,448 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.32, for a total transaction of $966,543.36. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 6,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,752,840.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 36,475 shares of company stock valued at $10,225,149. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Accenture Profile

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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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Pernod Ricard SA (OTCMKTS:PDRDY  Get Rating) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three equities research 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 brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $206.75.

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Pernod Ricard from 265.00 ($288.04) to 264.00 ($286.96) and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Pernod Ricard from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on Pernod Ricard from 198.00 ($215.22) to 191.00 ($207.61) and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 4th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upgraded Pernod Ricard from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, December 15th.

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Pernod Ricard Price Performance

Shares of PDRDY stock opened at $47.12 on Thursday. Pernod Ricard has a 12-month low of $34.68 and a 12-month high of $47.39. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $47.12 and its 200-day moving average price is $47.12.

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard SA engages in the manufacture of wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. The firm offers products under the brands Absolut Vodka, Chivas Regal, Ballantines, Beefeater, Jameson, Kahlua, Malibu, Ricard, Havana Club, Martell, Cognac, The Glenlivet, G.H. Mumm, Perrier-Jouet, Royal Salute, Brancott Estate, Graffigna, Campo Viejo, Jacobs Creek, Kenwood, Pastis 51, 100 Pipers, ArArAt, Becherovka, Blenders Pride, Clan Campbell, Imperial, Seagrams Imperial Blue, Olmeca, Passport Scotch, Amaro Ramazzotti, Ruavieja, Royal Stag, Seagrams Gin, Something Special, Suze, Wisers, and Wyborowa.

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Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW  Get Rating) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a note issued to investors on Monday.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Truist Financial increased their price target on Arrow Electronics from $116.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Arrow Electronics from $87.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Arrow Electronics from $111.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Arrow Electronics from $115.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Raymond James lifted their target price on shares of Arrow Electronics from $125.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $125.33.

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Arrow Electronics Trading Up 2.0 %

NYSE ARW traded up $2.28 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $118.00. The companys stock had a trading volume of 296,790 shares, compared to its average volume of 481,560. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $120.89 and a 200-day simple moving average of $110.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.05. Arrow Electronics has a 52 week low of $89.38 and a 52 week high of $134.56. The stock has a market cap of $6.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.42, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.40.

Insider Buying and Selling

Arrow Electronics ( NYSE:ARW Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The technology company reported $5.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.68 by $0.01. Arrow Electronics had a net margin of 3.84% and a return on equity of 26.96%. The firm had revenue of $9.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.31 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $5.37 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Arrow Electronics will post 15.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, insider Kristin Diana Russell sold 10,306 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.70, for a total value of $1,213,016.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 14,535 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,710,769.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, Chairman Michael J. Long sold 884 shares of Arrow Electronics stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total value of $106,080.00. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 208,288 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,994,560. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Kristin Diana Russell sold 10,306 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.70, for a total value of $1,213,016.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 14,535 shares in the company, valued at $1,710,769.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 39,010 shares of company stock worth $4,612,191 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Arrow Electronics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Panagora Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Arrow Electronics by 12.3% during the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,478 shares of the technology companys stock worth $413,000 after acquiring an additional 380 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL bought a new position in Arrow Electronics in the 1st quarter worth about $273,000. Prudential PLC purchased a new position in Arrow Electronics during the 1st quarter valued at about $302,000. Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new stake in shares of Arrow Electronics during the first quarter valued at about $275,000. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Arrow Electronics in the first quarter worth about $52,000. Institutional investors own 95.49% of the companys stock.

Arrow Electronics Company Profile

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Arrow Electronics, Inc engages in the provision of products, services, and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. It operates under the Global Components Business and Global Enterprise Computing Solutions (Global ECS) segments. The Global Components segment focuses on marketing and distribution of electronic components enabled by a comprehensive range of value-added capabilities and services.

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Atalaya Mining Plc (TSE:AYM  Get Rating) shares shot up 8.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$5.78 and last traded at C$5.78. 100 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 97% from the average session volume of 3,115 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$5.31.

Atalaya Mining Stock Performance

The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$5.83 and a 200-day moving average of C$4.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 2.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.48. The firm has a market cap of C$808.51 million, a P/E ratio of 10.70 and a beta of 1.73.

Atalaya Mining Company Profile

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Atalaya Mining Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mineral exploration and development in Spain. The company's flagship property is its 100% owned Proyecto Riotinto mine, an open-pit copper mine located in the Andalusia region of Spain. It produces copper concentrates, including silver by-products.

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VANCOUVER, BC, April 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (TSX: CFX) announced the company's upcoming webcast Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. The Company will hold a joint analyst conference call with Canfor Corporation (TSX: CFP) the following day on May 4, 2023.

Canfor Pulp Products Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Canfor Pulp Products Inc.)

EVENT: Canfor Pulp Annual General Meeting 2023 Webcast



WHEN: Wednesday, May 3, 2023 11:00 AM PT



Q&As: Registered Shareholders and proxyholders (including Non-Registered Shareholders who have duly appointed themselves as proxyholder) who attend the Meeting virtually and have properly followed the instructions in their Information Circular to vote virtually at the Meeting will have an opportunity to ask questions at the Meeting during the question period.



WEBCAST: Common Shareholders of Canfor Pulp can join the virtual-only format conducted via live audio webcast online at https://virtual-meetings.tsxtrust.com/1478

INSTRUCTIONS Registered Shareholders: Click "I have a Control Number/Meeting Access Number" and then enter your control number and password "canpulp2023" (case sensitive). The control number located on the form of proxy accompanying this Information Circular If you use your control number to log in to the virtual meeting, any vote you cast at the virtual Meeting will revoke any proxy you previously submitted. If you do not wish revoke a previously submitted proxy, you should not vote during the virtual Meeting. Shareholder inquiries can be directed to 1-800-387-0825 or 416-682-3860 before the AGM.





Duly appointed proxyholders: Proxyholders who have been duly appointed and registered with TSX Trust as described in this Information Circular will receive a control number by email from TSX Trust after the proxy voting deadline has passed. Click "I have a Control Number/Meeting Access Number" and then enter your control number and password "canpulp2023" (case sensitive).





Guests: Click "I am a Guest" and complete the online form





TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Common Shareholders with questions regarding the virtual meeting platform or requiring assistance accessing the Meeting website should visit the provider's website at tsxtrust.com for additional information.



RECORDING PLAYBACK: The replay of the web conference call will be available at: canfor.com/investor-relations/webcasts

Q1 2023 ANALYST CONFERENCE CALL

Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (TSX: CFX) will hold a joint conference call with Canfor Corporation (TSX: CFP) on Thursday, May 4, 2023 to discuss their respective Q1 2023 financial and operating results.

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EVENT: Q1 2023 Analyst Conference Call



WHEN: Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 8:00 AM PT



CALL DETAILS: 1-888-390-0546 (Toll-free North America)





Please ask to participate in Canfor's first quarter call.





Listen live at canfor.com/investor-relations/webcasts, select Online Log In.





Presentation material referenced during the conference call will be available the morning of the call at canfor.com/investor-relations/presentations.





Following management's discussion of the quarterly results, the analyst and investment community will be invited to ask questions. Media are invited to attend on a listen-only basis.



RECORDING PLAYBACK: The replay of the conference call will be available until May 18, 2023. canfor.com/investor-relations/webcasts 1-888-390-0541 Passcode 514554 #

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "projects", "intends", "plans", "will", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "should", "may", "could", and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and actual events or results may differ materially. There are many factors that could cause such actual events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and Canfor assumes no obligation to update such information to reflect later events or developments, except as required by law.

About Canfor Pulp Products Inc.

Canfor Pulp Products Inc. ("Canfor Pulp" or "CPPI") is a leading global supplier of pulp and paper products with operations in the central interior of British Columbia ("BC"). Canfor Pulp owns and operates three mills in Prince George, BC with a total capacity of 780,000 tonnes of Premium Reinforcing Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft ("NBSK") Pulp and 140,000 tonnes of kraft paper. CPPI shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CFX. For more information visit canfor.com.

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View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/10/c6327.html
Bank of Hawaii boosted its position in shares of TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG  Get Rating) by 42.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,941 shares of the aerospace companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,479 shares during the period. Bank of Hawaiis holdings in TransDigm Group were worth $3,111,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its stake in TransDigm Group by 23.4% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 964 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $628,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its stake in TransDigm Group by 66.7% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 800 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $519,000 after acquiring an additional 320 shares in the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in TransDigm Group by 99.1% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,337 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,523,000 after acquiring an additional 1,163 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in TransDigm Group by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 159,263 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $103,790,000 after acquiring an additional 1,132 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in shares of TransDigm Group by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 29,629 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $19,373,000 after purchasing an additional 2,020 shares during the period. 96.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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TransDigm Group Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE:TDG traded up $2.49 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $736.40. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,484 shares, compared to its average volume of 326,422. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.21 billion, a PE ratio of 49.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.37. TransDigm Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $499.63 and a twelve month high of $772.01. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $732.79 and a 200 day moving average of $650.11.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

TransDigm Group ( NYSE:TDG Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 7th. The aerospace company reported $4.15 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.68 by $0.47. The company had revenue of $1.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.36 billion. TransDigm Group had a net margin of 16.53% and a negative return on equity of 30.59%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that TransDigm Group Incorporated will post 20.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

TDG has been the subject of several research reports. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of TransDigm Group from $720.00 to $767.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Cowen upped their price target on shares of TransDigm Group from $695.00 to $830.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of TransDigm Group in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of TransDigm Group from $750.00 to $800.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of TransDigm Group from $710.00 to $810.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $762.00.

Insider Activity at TransDigm Group

In other TransDigm Group news, Director W Nicholas Howley sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $685.24, for a total transaction of $4,454,060.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,765,551.52. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other TransDigm Group news, Director W Nicholas Howley sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $685.24, for a total transaction of $4,454,060.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 21,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,765,551.52. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Jorge Valladares sold 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $667.41, for a total transaction of $13,348,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 11,000 shares in the company, valued at $7,341,510. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 284,393 shares of company stock worth $209,059,496. 7.18% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About TransDigm Group

(Get Rating)

TransDigm Group, Inc engages in the production of engineered aerospace components, systems and subsystems. It operates through the following segments: Power and Control, Airframe, and Non-Aviation. The Power and Control segment includes operations that primarily develop, produce and market systems and components that provide power to or control power of the aircraft utilizing electronic, fluid, power and mechanical motion control technologies.

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Bank of Hawaii increased its stake in U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB  Get Rating) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 27,031 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 371 shares during the quarter. Bank of Hawaiis holdings in U.S. Bancorp were worth $1,179,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Retirement Financial Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Mach 1 Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. EWG Elevate Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC grew its stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp by 334.0% in the 3rd quarter. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC now owns 868 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 668 shares during the last quarter. Finally, General Partner Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of U.S. Bancorp in the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.83% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

USB has been the topic of several analyst reports. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on U.S. Bancorp from $57.00 to $53.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Credit Suisse Group upped their price objective on U.S. Bancorp from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Citigroup upped their price objective on U.S. Bancorp from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. UBS Group cut U.S. Bancorp from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, DA Davidson initiated coverage on U.S. Bancorp in a research report on Tuesday, December 20th. They issued a neutral rating and a $47.00 price objective on the stock. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $52.58.

U.S. Bancorp Stock Performance

U.S. Bancorp stock traded down $0.05 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $35.56. The company had a trading volume of 993,715 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,709,718. U.S. Bancorp has a 52 week low of $32.72 and a 52 week high of $53.88. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $42.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $43.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $1.20 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.11 by $0.09. U.S. Bancorp had a return on equity of 16.13% and a net margin of 21.26%. The company had revenue of $6.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.61 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.07 EPS. U.S. Bancorps revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that U.S. Bancorp will post 4.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

U.S. Bancorp Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be issued a $0.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.40%. U.S. Bancorps dividend payout ratio is currently 51.75%.

U.S. Bancorp Company Profile

(Get Rating)

U.S. Bancorp operates as a bank holding company, which offers financial services including lending and depository services, cash management, foreign exchange and trust and investment management. The firm also offers mortgage, refinance, auto, boat and RV loans, credit lines, credit card services, merchant, bank, checking and savings accounts, debit cards, online and mobile banking, ATM processing, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and leasing services.

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Essex LLC decreased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 5.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,269 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 827 shares during the period. Essex LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,101,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BMY. New Millennium Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Clear Investment Research LLC acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Miller Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 101.3% in the 4th quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 481 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 242 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.51% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BMY has been the topic of several analyst reports. Atlantic Securities raised their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $95.00 target price on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $79.69.

Insider Transactions at Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

In other news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the firms 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 sale, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,625,163.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . 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 value of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $17,916,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Shares of NYSE BMY traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $70.25. The company had a trading volume of 784,618 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,045,419. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The stock has a market cap of $147.76 billion, a PE ratio of 23.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $69.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $72.80. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $65.28 and a 1-year high of $81.43.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $11.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.20 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.60% and a net margin of 13.71%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.83 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 77.29%.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

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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.

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Shares of Admiral Group plc (OTCMKTS:AMIGY  Get Rating) have received a consensus rating of Hold from the nine research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $2,312.00.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup lowered shares of Admiral Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Admiral Group from GBX 1,700 ($21.05) to GBX 1,650 ($20.43) in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Admiral Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reduced their price target on Admiral Group from GBX 2,688 ($33.29) to GBX 2,543 ($31.49) in a research report on Monday, April 3rd.

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Admiral Group Stock Performance

Admiral Group stock opened at $27.71 on Tuesday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $25.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is $24.83. Admiral Group has a 12-month low of $20.70 and a 12-month high of $34.10.

About Admiral Group

Admiral Group Plc is a holding company, which engages in the business of sale and underwriting of private car insurance. It operates through the following segments: UK Insurance, International Car Insurance, Price Comparison, and Other. The UK Insurance segment consists of the underwriting of car insurance and other products that supplement the car insurance policy.

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Shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (LON:RR.L  Get Rating) have been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the eight research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 97.83 ($1.21).

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an underweight rating and issued a GBX 70 ($0.87) price target on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a hold rating and set a GBX 100 ($1.24) target price on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Barclays reissued an overweight rating and issued a GBX 110 ($1.36) target price on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a report on Monday, January 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an underweight rating and set a GBX 70 ($0.87) price target on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Stock Performance

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has a 12-month low of GBX 64.44 ($0.80) and a 12-month high of GBX 239.70 ($2.97). The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 105.13 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 89.06. The stock has a market capitalization of 12.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -517.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 1.70.

Insider Transactions at Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Company Profile

In related news, insider Angela Strank bought 9,847 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 126 ($1.56) per share, with a total value of 12,407.22 ($15,364.98). Corporate insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock.

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Rolls-Royce Holdings plc operates as an industrial technology company in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Civil Aerospace, Power Systems, Defence, and New Markets. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services.

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Bunzl plc (LON:BNZL  Get Rating) insider Frank van Zanten sold 42,636 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 3,071 ($38.03), for a total value of 1,309,351.56 ($1,621,488.00).

Frank van Zanten also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, April 11th, Frank van Zanten sold 21,307 shares of Bunzl stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 3,066 ($37.97), for a total value of 653,272.62 ($809,006.34).

On Wednesday, March 1st, Frank van Zanten sold 13,046 shares of Bunzl stock. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 2,986 ($36.98), for a total value of 389,553.56 ($482,419.27).

Bunzl Price Performance

BNZL stock traded down GBX 5.88 ($0.07) on Tuesday, reaching GBX 3,065.12 ($37.96). 584,414 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 635,327. The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 3,016.02 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 2,929.99. Bunzl plc has a twelve month low of GBX 2,542 ($31.48) and a twelve month high of GBX 3,249 ($40.24). The firm has a market cap of 10.35 billion, a PE ratio of 2,178.01, a P/E/G ratio of 5.40 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 118.76.

Bunzl Increases Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be issued a GBX 45.40 ($0.56) dividend. This is a positive change from Bunzls previous dividend of $17.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a yield of 1.51%. Bunzls dividend payout ratio is 4,468.09%.

BNZL has been the subject of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Bunzl to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from GBX 3,250 ($40.25) to GBX 3,375 ($41.80) in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Bunzl in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 3,060 ($37.89) price objective on shares of Bunzl in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a GBX 2,800 ($34.67) target price on shares of Bunzl in a report on Thursday, January 5th. Finally, Barclays reissued an underweight rating and issued a GBX 2,750 ($34.06) target price on shares of Bunzl in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 2,895 ($35.85).

Bunzl Company Profile

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Bunzl plc operates as a distribution and services company in the North America, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers food packaging, films, labels, cleaning and hygiene supplies, and personal protection equipment to grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

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Canadian National Railway (TSE:CNR  Get Rating) (NYSE:CNI) has been given a consensus rating of Hold by the nineteen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have assigned a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$163.25.

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$167.00 to C$168.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Canadian National Railway from C$156.00 to C$154.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Scotiabank set a C$170.00 price target on shares of Canadian National Railway in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$175.00 to C$190.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Finally, Atb Cap Markets restated a sector perform rating on shares of Canadian National Railway in a report on Tuesday, December 20th.

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Canadian National Railway Stock Down 0.5 %

CNR opened at C$159.08 on Tuesday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is C$158.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$160.61. The company has a market capitalization of C$106.19 billion, a PE ratio of 21.41, a PEG ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.70. Canadian National Railway has a 1-year low of C$137.26 and a 1-year 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 quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 24th. The company reported C$2.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$4.51 billion. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Canadian National Railway will post 7.8314552 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a $1.862 dividend. This is a positive change from Canadian National Railways previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. This represents a $7.45 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.68%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. Canadian National Railways payout ratio is 42.53%.

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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Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:CAG  Get Rating) by 2.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 61,156 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,499 shares during the quarter. Conagra Brands makes up approximately 1.0% of Castle Rock Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Conagra Brands were worth $2,253,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of CAG. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 1,492.0% during the 3rd quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 796 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 746 shares during the last quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Conagra Brands during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 117.5% during the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,031 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 557 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Conagra Brands by 410.5% during the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 970 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 780 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Conagra Brands during the 4th quarter valued at $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.08% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Conagra Brands

In related news, COO Thomas M. Mcgough sold 45,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 104,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,053,848.94. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.98% of the companys stock.

Conagra Brands Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of CAG stock traded up $0.38 on Tuesday, hitting $37.95. 877,458 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,530,575. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.56. The business has a 50-day moving average of $36.49 and a 200 day moving average of $36.62. Conagra Brands, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $31.01 and a fifty-two week high of $41.30.

Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 5th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $3.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.08 billion. Conagra Brands had a return on equity of 15.34% and a net margin of 6.59%. Conagra Brandss revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.58 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Conagra Brands, Inc. will post 2.72 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Conagra Brands from $44.00 to $40.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on Conagra Brands from $35.00 to $38.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on Conagra Brands from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Conagra Brands from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 6th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Conagra Brands from $40.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $40.73.

Conagra Brands Profile

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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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The Chiba Bank, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:CHBAY  Get Rating)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $37.38 and last traded at $37.38, with a volume of 0 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $37.38.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Daiwa Capital Markets downgraded Chiba Bank from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th.

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Chiba Bank Stock Performance

The firms 50 day moving average price is $37.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.49.

About Chiba Bank

The Chiba Bank, Ltd. engages in the business of banking services. The company offers general banking services including deposits, loans, domestic and foreign exchange transactions; and financial services such as leasing, securities brokerage, credit cards and others. It also develops software; and provides business management and staffing services.

Further Reading

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General Electric (LON:GEC  Get Rating)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 105 ($1.30) and last traded at GBX 105 ($1.30), with a volume of 589 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 105 ($1.30).

General Electric Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 92.45, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.68. The firm has a market cap of 1.14 billion, a PE ratio of 198.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 1.19. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 102.43 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 98.33.

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General Electric Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 6th will be given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a yield of 0.08%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 6th. General Electrics dividend payout ratio is currently 6,037.74%.

About General Electric

General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers.

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MONTREAL, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc. (CSR: CDPR) (OTCMKTS: GPPRF) (Frankfurt: N8HP) ("CDPR" or the "Company") announces it has filed on SEDAR an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for its brownfield Pipe Project ("the Project" or "the Santander Pipe"). The Project forms a strategic cornerstone for CDPR's 100% owned Santander Mine, located in central Peru. The PEA report is entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Cerro de Pasco Resources Preliminary Economic Assessment Santander Pipe Deposit, Huaral, Lima, Peru", dated April 11th, 2023 (effective date January 31st, 2023) and was prepared by DRA Global, an international mining consultancy, in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc.)

Highlights of the PEA are tabled below, with additional details of the NI 43-101 Technical Report filed on www.sedar.com under CDPRs profile and on the Company's website at www.pascoresources.com.

Table 1. PEA Highlights



Unit TOTAL Throughput Rate (tonne-per-day processed) tpd 2,500 Estimated Production Period years 5 Tonnes Processed Million tonnes 3.85 Head Grade Zn % 4.67 Metallurgical Recovery Zn % 89.0 Head Grade Cu % 0.11 Metallurgical Recovery Cu % 70 Zn Concentrate Production Thousand tonnes 313.6 Cu Concentrate Production Thousand tonnes 13.8 Revenues (less by product cost)(1) MUSD 388.6 Total OPEX MUSD 182.14 Initial + Sustaining CAPEX MUSD 67.96 EBITDA MUSD 167.6 Pre-Tax Free Cash Flow (FCF) MUSD 99.6 Operating Cost ($/t processed) $/t 47.35 Total Cash Cost C1(2) ($/lb Zn) $/lb 0.82 All-In Sustaining Cost(2) ("AISC")1 ($/lb Zn) $/lb 1.05 Pre -Tax - Net Present Value (6%) MUSD 71.3 Pre-Tax Internal Rate of Return % 46.6 After-Tax - Net Present Value (6%) MUSD 31.2 After-Tax Internal Rate of Return % 25.1 After-Tax Payback years 2.6

(1) Long-term metal price assumptions are: US$2,800/t of Zn, US$1,820/t of Pb, US$9,002/t of Cu, and US$22.0/oz of Ag (2) Total cash cost C1 and AISC are non-GAAP measures; these parameters were estimated by CDPR in accordance with its cost structure, the remaining parameters in the table come directly from the PEA Financial Model prepared by DRA.



Table 2. Project Economics Sensitivity to Zinc Price

Story continues



% of Zn Price 80 % 85 % 90 % 100%(1) 110 % 115 % 120 %

US$/t Zn 2,240 2,380 2,520 2,800 3,080 3,220 3,360 Pre-Tax NPV 6% (MUSD) 9.9 25.3 40.6 71.3 102.1 117.5 132.9 NPV 8% (MUSD) 6.5 20.8 35.1 63.7 92.4 106.7 121.1 IRR (%) 12.6 22.0 30.7 46.6 61.2 68.2 75.0 After-Tax NPV6% (MUSD) -10.4 0.1 10.5 31.2 51.7 61.6 71.7 NPV 8% (MUSD) -12.5 -2.7 7.0 26.3 45.4 54.7 64.0 IRR (%) -1.4 6.1 12.9 25.1 36.2 41.3 46.2

(1) Base Case (Pre-Tax NPV 6% and After-Tax 6%)



Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by:

Mr. Graeme Lyall (FAusIMM), an independent consulting geologist with over 30 years of professional experience in precious and base metals exploration, geological modelling and mineral resource estimation for the purposes of reporting in compliance with NI 43-101.

Mr. Martin Mount (FGS CGeol, FIMMM CEng), an independent consultant and geoscientist, is a professional geoscientist and engineer in the fields of geology, Mineral resource and Mineral Reserve estimation and classification, geotechnical engineering, geometallurgy, and mine planning. Mr. Mount is a Qualified Person for the purposes of reporting in compliance with NI 43-101.

Mr. David Frost (FAusIMM), DRA Americas VP Process Engineering, consulting metallurgical engineer with more than 27 years of technical and management experience in plant operations, process plant design, commissioning, due diligence review, laboratory supervision and consulting. Mr. Frost is a Qualified Person for the purposes of reporting in compliance with NI 43-101.

Mr. Javier Aymachoque Tincusi (MAusIMM CP (Min)), consulting mine engineer and project infrastructure specialist, is a professional engineer in the fields of mine engineering, mine operations, site wide mine and infrastructure design, environmental permitting, capital and operating cost estimation, and mineral economics. Mr. Aymachoque is a Qualified Person for the purposes of reporting in compliance with NI 43-101.

Mr. Pete Ferreira (FSAIMM), DRA South Africa Principal Mining Engineer, with nearly 40 years of international experience in the mining sector, including backfill design and installation, raise boring,

mine management, flat raise boring, and classified backfill. Mr. Ferreira is a Qualified Person for the purposes of reporting in compliance with NI 43-101.

Jorge Lozano, MMSAQP and Chief Operating Officer for CDPR, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Lozano is a Qualified Person for the purposes of reporting in compliance with NI 43-101.

Note on Assumptions

The PEA results are based on important assumptions made by the Qualified Persons who prepared the PEA. These assumptions, including those mentioned above, and the justifications for them, are described in the PEA.

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized.

About Cerro de Pasco Resources

Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc. is a resource management company, founded in 2012 with the original purpose of developing the El Metalurgista mining concession comprising mineral tailings and stockpiles extracted from the Cerro de Pasco open pit mine in central Peru. Our strategic strength lies in our extensive team experience and knowledge of the opportunities and challenges in and around Cerro De Pasco. The company is founded on clear objectives, to engender long-term economic sustainability and benefit for the local population, from an economic, social and health point of view. The Company's approach at El Metalurgista entails the reprocessing and environmental remediation of mining waste and the creation of numerous opportunities in a circular economy.

About DRA Americas Peru

DRA Americas Peru is a subsidiary of DRA Global Limited and is responsible the PEA report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Cerro de Pasco Resources Preliminary Economic Assessment Santander Pipe Deposit, Huaral, Lima, Peru", dated April 11th, 2023 (effective date January 31st, 2023). DRA Global Limited (ASX: DRA | JSE: DRA) is a diversified global engineering, project delivery and operations management group, headquartered in Perth, Australia. It has more than 4,500 professionals and a proven track record in undertaking independent assessments of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, project evaluations and audits, technical reports and independent evaluations on behalf of exploration and mining companies, and financial institutions worldwide.

Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimer

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified using forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "seeks", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "could", "might", "likely" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or other similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements, including estimates and assumptions underlying the PEA, projected production, cost estimates, capex estimates, projected recovery, projected gross revenue and taxes, future results, the significance of the results disclosed in this news release, the expectations of CDPR's management regarding the completion of the project as well as the business and the expansion and growth of CDPR's operations, are based on CDPR's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of CDPR to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information.

Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the ability of CDPR's activities to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; key assumptions, parameters or methods used to prepare the PEA becoming untrue or unachievable; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the results of exploration activities; title deficiencies; risks relating to mining activities; the global economic climate; metal prices; environmental risks; community and non-governmental actions as well as other assumptions and risks factors set out in CDPR's public documents, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 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. Although CDPR believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements and forward-looking information. Except where required by applicable law, CDPR disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc.

Cision

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GenTrust LLC reduced its holdings in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF (NYSEARCA:EWH  Get Rating) by 9.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 76,662 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 7,699 shares during the quarter. GenTrust LLC owned approximately 0.21% of iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF worth $1,611,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of EWH. Gould Asset Management LLC CA raised its position in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Gould Asset Management LLC CA now owns 27,821 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $507,000 after purchasing an additional 580 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 278.2% during the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,543 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 1,135 shares during the last quarter. American National Bank acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $49,000. Hightower 6M Holding LLC raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Hightower 6M Holding LLC now owns 88,834 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,620,000 after acquiring an additional 3,081 shares during the period. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 73,035 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,648,000 after acquiring an additional 3,349 shares during the period. 52.60% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of EWH traded up $0.10 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $21.00. 925,470 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,956,870. iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF has a 52 week low of $16.04 and a 52 week high of $22.65. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $20.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $20.17.

iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund, formerly Shares MSCI Hong Kong ETF, (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Hong Kong market, as measured by the MSCI Hong Kong Index (the Index).

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HighTower Trust Company N.A. raised its position in Hess Co. (NYSE:HES  Get Rating) by 5.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 69,062 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after buying an additional 3,272 shares during the period. Hess accounts for 0.9% of HighTower Trust Company N.A.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. HighTower Trust Company N.A.s holdings in Hess were worth $9,575,000 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 HES. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in shares of Hess by 51.5% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,493,096 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $816,673,000 after purchasing an additional 2,546,257 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in shares of Hess by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,842,807 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $854,786,000 after purchasing an additional 801,336 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Hess by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,928,530 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $3,310,590,000 after purchasing an additional 667,979 shares during the last quarter. PointState Capital LP purchased a new stake in shares of Hess during the 1st quarter worth approximately $65,437,000. Finally, Ceredex Value Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Hess during the 4th quarter worth approximately $64,478,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.06% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

HES has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Hess from $160.00 to $174.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Susquehanna raised their price target on shares of Hess from $179.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Wolfe Research raised shares of Hess from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $181.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, January 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Hess from $156.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Hess from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $165.93.

Hess Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HES traded up $1.82 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $144.15. 226,339 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,810,124. Hess Co. has a 52 week low of $90.34 and a 52 week high of $160.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.14 billion, a PE ratio of 19.80 and a beta of 1.57. The companys 50 day moving average price is $135.56 and its 200 day moving average price is $137.21.

Hess (NYSE:HES  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.69 by $0.09. Hess had a net margin of 19.21% and a return on equity of 27.97%. The company had revenue of $3.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.83 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.85 EPS. The firms revenue was up 35.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Hess Co. will post 6.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hess Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 13th were paid a $0.438 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 10th. This is an increase from Hesss previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $1.75 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.22%. Hesss payout ratio is currently 24.34%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Hess news, EVP Timothy B. Goodell sold 27,413 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.78, for a total value of $3,831,789.14. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 137,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,262,103.34. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO John B. Hess sold 109,649 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.81, for a total transaction of $15,878,271.69. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 898,752 shares of the companys stock, valued at $130,148,277.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Timothy B. Goodell sold 27,413 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.78, for a total transaction of $3,831,789.14. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 137,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,262,103.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 235,220 shares of company stock valued at $33,298,936 over the last three months. Insiders own 9.93% of the companys stock.

About Hess

(Get Rating)

Hess Corp is an exploration and production company, which engages in exploration, development, production, transportation, purchase & sale of crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas with production operations. It operates through the following segments: Exploration and Production and Midstream.

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HighTower Trust Company N.A. trimmed its position in shares of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (NYSE:CP  Get Rating) (TSE:CP) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 46,161 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 1,150 shares during the quarter. HighTower Trust Company N.A.s holdings in Canadian Pacific Railway were worth $3,438,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Canadian Pacific Railway by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 31,907,941 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,128,897,000 after purchasing an additional 993,916 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in Canadian Pacific Railway by 3.6% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 31,506,840 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,102,137,000 after purchasing an additional 1,102,126 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in Canadian Pacific Railway by 26.8% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 23,729,613 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,785,454,000 after acquiring an additional 5,020,078 shares in the last quarter. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. raised its position in shares of Canadian Pacific Railway by 417.5% during the 3rd quarter. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. now owns 15,237,044 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,016,616,000 after purchasing an additional 12,292,785 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Canadian Pacific Railway by 1,151.2% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 7,157,741 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $591,239,000 after acquiring an additional 6,585,655 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.31% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on CP shares. Barclays lifted their price objective on Canadian Pacific Railway from $86.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. CIBC decreased their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Railway from C$128.00 to C$125.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Canadian Pacific Railway in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Canadian Pacific Railway from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, National Bank Financial raised their price objective on Canadian Pacific Railway from C$105.00 to C$106.00 in a report on Friday, December 16th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $90.00.

Canadian Pacific Railway Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CP traded up $0.24 on Tuesday, reaching $76.03. 229,081 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,993,926. The company has a current ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Canadian Pacific Railway Limited has a 1-year low of $65.17 and a 1-year high of $82.96. The company has a 50-day moving average of $76.93 and a 200-day moving average of $75.93. The firm has a market cap of $70.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.02.

Canadian Pacific Railway (NYSE:CP  Get Rating) (TSE:CP) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The transportation company reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.83 billion. Canadian Pacific Railway had a net margin of 39.70% and a return on equity of 9.29%. Equities analysts forecast that Canadian Pacific Railway Limited will post 3.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Canadian Pacific Railway Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.1424 per share. This represents a $0.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. This is an increase from Canadian Pacific Railways previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. Canadian Pacific Railways payout ratio is presently 19.79%.

About Canadian Pacific Railway

(Get Rating)

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. operates as a holding company, which engages in the provision of rail services. It offers a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. The company was founded in 1881 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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HighTower Trust Company N.A. lessened its stake in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) by 11.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,265 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 566 shares during the period. HighTower Trust Company N.A.s holdings in Accenture were worth $1,122,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Accenture by 502.3% in the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 2,191,413 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $563,851,000 after acquiring an additional 1,827,551 shares during the period. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. lifted its holdings in Accenture by 41.6% in the third quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 5,457,405 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,404,190,000 after acquiring an additional 1,603,071 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Accenture in the third quarter valued at approximately $318,306,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Accenture by 1.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 58,473,666 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $15,045,274,000 after buying an additional 816,734 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP increased its position in shares of Accenture by 2,831.4% in the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 747,761 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $192,399,000 after buying an additional 722,252 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.97% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

ACN has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler cut Accenture from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and set a $268.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Monday, December 12th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Accenture from $290.00 to $279.00 in a research report on Monday, December 19th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Accenture from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Accenture in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Accenture from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Accenture has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $314.00.

Accenture Stock Up 1.2 %

NYSE ACN traded up $3.42 on Tuesday, reaching $285.10. 1,077,114 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,377,573. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $272.80 and its 200 day simple moving average is $274.40. The company has a market cap of $180.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.25. Accenture plc has a 12 month low of $242.80 and a 12 month high of $333.95.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $15.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.59 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 11.00%. Accentures revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.54 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Accenture Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be given a $1.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 12th. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.57%. Accentures dividend payout ratio is currently 41.25%.

Insider Transactions at Accenture

In other news, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $281.10, for a total value of $1,756,875.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 180,314 shares in the company, valued at approximately $50,686,265.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.53, for a total transaction of $155,974.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 42,991 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,060,265.23. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $281.10, for a total transaction of $1,756,875.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 180,314 shares of the companys stock, valued at $50,686,265.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 36,475 shares of company stock worth $10,225,149. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock.

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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HighTower Trust Company N.A. grew its holdings in Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT  Get Rating) by 8.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,211 shares of the information technology services providers stock after acquiring an additional 533 shares during the period. HighTower Trust Company N.A.s holdings in Gartner were worth $2,400,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. AdvisorNet Financial Inc increased its position in shares of Gartner by 105.6% in the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 74 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Gartner during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Gartner during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Vienna Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Gartner during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC acquired a new position in Gartner in the first quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 91.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Gartner Price Performance

Shares of IT traded up $0.33 on Tuesday, reaching $315.01. The stock had a trading volume of 69,889 shares, compared to its average volume of 452,604. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $328.59 and a 200 day moving average of $324.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.90 billion, a PE ratio of 31.50, a PEG ratio of 5.09 and a beta of 1.28. Gartner, Inc. has a twelve month low of $221.39 and a twelve month high of $358.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.77.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Gartner ( NYSE:IT Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 7th. The information technology services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.57 by $1.13. Gartner had a return on equity of 2,645.96% and a net margin of 14.75%. The business had revenue of $1.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.45 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.99 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Gartner, Inc. will post 9.49 EPS for the current year.

Several research firms have issued reports on IT. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Gartner from $358.00 to $366.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Gartner from $370.00 to $387.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Gartner in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Gartner from $356.00 to $357.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $359.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Valentin Sribar sold 348 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $322.61, for a total transaction of $112,268.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,932,293.29. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Gartner news, CFO Craig Safian sold 4,510 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $341.53, for a total value of $1,540,300.30. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 64,282 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,954,231.46. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Valentin Sribar sold 348 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $322.61, for a total transaction of $112,268.28. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,189 shares in the company, valued at $3,932,293.29. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 43,031 shares of company stock worth $15,047,172. Insiders own 3.70% of the companys stock.

About Gartner

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Gartner, Inc is a research and advisory company, which equips business leaders with insights, advice, and tools that help build organizations. It operates through the following segments: Research, Consulting, and Conferences. The Research segment provides executives with objective insights and advice through reports, briefings, proprietary tools, access to the firms research experts, peer networking services, and membership programs.

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HireRight Holdings Co. (NYSE:HRT  Get Rating) major shareholder Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 122,607 shares of HireRight stock in a transaction on Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.39, for a total value of $1,273,886.73. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 8,172,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $84,910,882.74. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Rjc Gis Holdings Llc also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Wednesday, April 5th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 20,200 shares of HireRight stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.45, for a total value of $211,090.00.

On Monday, April 3rd, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 144,946 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.47, for a total value of $1,517,584.62.

On Friday, March 31st, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 190,611 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.58, for a total value of $2,016,664.38.

On Wednesday, March 29th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 153,903 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.47, for a total value of $1,611,364.41.

On Monday, March 27th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 82,355 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.70, for a total value of $881,198.50.

On Friday, March 24th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 139,602 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.72, for a total value of $1,496,533.44.

On Wednesday, March 22nd, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 56,375 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.92, for a total value of $615,615.00.

On Monday, March 20th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 82,979 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.95, for a total value of $908,620.05.

On Friday, March 17th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 80,409 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.82, for a total value of $870,025.38.

On Wednesday, March 15th, Rjc Gis Holdings Llc sold 120,503 shares of HireRight stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.71, for a total value of $1,290,587.13.

HireRight Price Performance

NYSE:HRT traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $10.45. 412,757 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 276,223. HireRight Holdings Co. has a 12-month low of $6.88 and a 12-month high of $18.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.47 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -42.08 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $11.01 and a 200-day moving average price of $11.99.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

HireRight ( NYSE:HRT Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 9th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.17 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $175.36 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $171.03 million.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc purchased a new position in shares of HireRight during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC purchased a new position in shares of HireRight during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. State of Wyoming purchased a new position in shares of HireRight during the 4th quarter worth approximately $72,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in shares of HireRight by 27.4% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 6,987 shares of the companys stock worth $83,000 after acquiring an additional 1,503 shares during the period. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank purchased a new position in shares of HireRight during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $84,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.49% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on HRT shares. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and issued a $17.00 price objective on shares of HireRight in a report on Friday, March 10th. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded HireRight from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $12.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Thursday, January 19th. StockNews.com downgraded HireRight from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $12.00 price objective on shares of HireRight in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group decreased their price objective on HireRight from $17.00 to $15.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 10th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $13.10.

HireRight Company Profile

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HireRight Holdings Corporation provides technology-driven workforce risk management and compliance solutions worldwide. The company offers background screening, verification, identification, monitoring, and drug and health screening services for customers. It provides its services through software and data platform that integrates into its customers' human capital management systems enabling workflows for workforce hiring, onboarding, and monitoring.

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Ellis Investment Partners LLC trimmed its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV  Get Rating) by 19.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 23,347 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,683 shares during the period. Ellis Investment Partners LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $1,485,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Simplex Trading LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 157.4% during the 3rd quarter. Simplex Trading LLC now owns 682 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 417 shares during the last quarter. Coastal Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 30.8% during the 4th quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 662 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF stock traded down $0.26 on Tuesday, hitting $68.57. 358,858 shares of the company were exchanged. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF has a 1-year low of $64.68 and a 1-year high of $76.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.01 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $66.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $63.44.

iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of developed-market equities, ex-US and Canada, selected and weighted to create a low volatility portfolio subject to constraints including sector exposure.

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iShares New York Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:NYF  Get Rating) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $54.00 and last traded at $54.00, with a volume of 21781 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $53.80.

iShares New York Muni Bond ETF Price Performance

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $53.00 and a 200-day simple moving average of $52.31.

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Institutional Trading of iShares New York Muni Bond ETF

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NYF. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in iShares New York Muni Bond ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in iShares New York Muni Bond ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $422,000. Mariner LLC grew its stake in iShares New York Muni Bond ETF by 296.0% during the first quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 51,355 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,801,000 after acquiring an additional 38,388 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG raised its position in shares of iShares New York Muni Bond ETF by 4.0% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 228,937 shares of the companys stock worth $12,489,000 after buying an additional 8,747 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in shares of iShares New York Muni Bond ETF by 30.8% in the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 4,152 shares of the companys stock worth $226,000 after buying an additional 978 shares in the last quarter.

About iShares New York Muni Bond ETF

iShares New York AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF, formerly iShares S&P New York AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the S&P AMT-Free Municipal Series 2016 IndexTM (the Index).

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JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (LON:JSGI  Get Rating) declared a dividend on Monday, April 3rd, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, April 13th will be paid a dividend of GBX 3.60 ($0.04) per share on Friday, May 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. The official announcement can be seen at this link.

JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income Stock Performance

Shares of JSGI opened at GBX 313.52 ($3.88) on Tuesday. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income has a one year low of GBX 301 ($3.73) and a one year high of GBX 367 ($4.54). The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 322.52 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 325.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.55, a current ratio of 0.54 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market capitalization of 170.90 million, a PE ratio of -153.73 and a beta of 0.58.

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About JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income

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JPMorgan Japan Smaller Companies Trust plc is an open-ended equity mutual fund launched by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited and JPMorgan Asset Management (Japan) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Japan. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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KB Financial Group (NYSE:KB  Get Rating) was upgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Monday.

Separately, Bank of America reduced their target price on KB Financial Group from $55.38 to $46.15 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st.

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KB Financial Group Stock Performance

Shares of KB Financial Group stock traded down $0.18 during trading on Monday, hitting $35.48. 248,185 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 230,956. KB Financial Group has a 1-year low of $30.14 and a 1-year high of $49.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $38.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.32. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.83.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

KB Financial Group Company Profile

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in KB Financial Group by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 18,979 shares of the banks stock valued at $927,000 after purchasing an additional 378 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of KB Financial Group by 1.7% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,419,748 shares of the banks stock valued at $69,327,000 after acquiring an additional 23,138 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its position in KB Financial Group by 19.4% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 18,669 shares of the banks stock worth $911,000 after acquiring an additional 3,032 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in KB Financial Group by 57.9% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 8,795 shares of the banks stock worth $429,000 after acquiring an additional 3,225 shares during the period. Finally, Royal London Asset Management Ltd. raised its stake in KB Financial Group by 17.5% in the 1st quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 720,294 shares of the banks stock worth $35,226,000 after purchasing an additional 107,023 shares in the last quarter. 5.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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KB Financial Group, Inc engages in providing financial services through its subsidiaries. It operates through the following segments: Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, Other Banking Services, Credit Card, Life Insurance, Investment and Securities business. The Corporate Banking business segment provides services such as loans, overdrafts, deposits, credit facilities and other foreign currency activities.

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WILMINGTON, DE / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / The Chemours Company ("Chemours") (NYSE:CC), a global chemistry company with leading market positions in Titanium Technologies, Thermal & Specialized Solutions, and Advanced Performance Materials, announces the appointment of Amber Wellman, Ph.D., to Chief Sustainability Officer.

The Chemours Company, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Press release picture

"Amber's strong passion for sustainability and stewardship, backed by her technical background and leadership skills, make her the ideal person to lead the next chapter of the company's end-to-end sustainability efforts," said Jonathan Lock, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer. "Amber has been invaluable in driving progress toward our Corporate Responsibility Commitment goals as an essential part of our business strategy and I am thrilled to welcome her to her new role."

Amber Wellman brings 15 years of experience innovating within the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, including half a decade at Chemours' former parent company. Since joining Chemours upon its creation in 2015, she has held several positions across manufacturing technology and research, analytical labs, and the Advanced Performance Materials (APM) segment. As Sustainability Director for APM, Ms. Wellman has been instrumental in incorporating sustainability into all levels of business strategy development, decision-making, and operations.

Ms. Wellman succeeds Sheryl Telford, the company's first Chief Sustainability Officer, who retired at the end of March. Ms. Wellman will lead Chemours' continued effort to achieve its Corporate Responsibility Commitment goals, including at least a 99% reduction in fluorinated organic compound emissions, achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring at least 50% of the company's product portfolio contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

"Chemours' ambitious Corporate Responsibility Commitments, along with our focus on sustainable innovation and responsible manufacturing, are foundational to our vision to create a better world through the power of our chemistry," continued Mr. Lock. "We are grateful for our strong internal talent pool that allows us to continue the significant progress we've already made in these areas. A driving force behind that progress was Sheryl Telford, whom I would like to thank for her indelible impact on Chemours and its sustainability journey. The chemistries we provide our customers and the world are essential to enabling the new, green economy and we are steadfast in our drive to deliver our chemistry responsibly."

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An analytical chemist by training, Ms. Wellman will play a central role in forging strategic collaborations and partnerships with external experts, companies, industries and organizations to advance Chemours' sustainability efforts and advocate for sustainable, science-based policy and regulation.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Chemours Company on 3blmedia.com.

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Spokesperson: The Chemours Company

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/chemours-company

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: The Chemours Company





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https://www.accesswire.com/748672/Chemours-Appoints-Dr-Amber-Wellman-to-Chief-Sustainability-Officer




Narwhal Capital Management lifted its position in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) by 3.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,618 shares of the retailers stock after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the quarter. Narwhal Capital Managements holdings in Walmart were worth $1,080,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in WMT. AMI Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,269 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,231,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 36.8% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 4,820 shares of the retailers stock worth $718,000 after purchasing an additional 1,296 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 31.7% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,162 shares of the retailers stock worth $173,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 123.9% in the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 10,566 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,573,000 after purchasing an additional 5,847 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Walmart by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 857,839 shares of the retailers stock worth $127,749,000 after purchasing an additional 13,985 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 31.27% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on WMT shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of Walmart from $164.00 to $169.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Gordon Haskett upgraded shares of Walmart from a hold rating to an accumulate rating and upped their price target for the stock from $145.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $163.00 price target on shares of Walmart in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Barclays started coverage on shares of Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $159.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Walmart from $161.00 to $160.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $164.34.

Walmart Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE WMT traded down $0.37 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $150.14. 1,874,590 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,466,010. The companys 50-day moving average is $142.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $142.38. Walmart Inc. has a one year low of $117.27 and a one year high of $160.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.82. The company has a market capitalization of $404.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.53 and a beta of 0.48.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.20. Walmart had a return on equity of 20.45% and a net margin of 1.91%. The business had revenue of $164.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $158.67 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.53 EPS. Walmarts revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Walmart Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.52%. Walmarts payout ratio is 53.27%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 1,908,331 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.15, for a total transaction of $275,085,913.65. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 247,215,555 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,636,122,253.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 1,908,331 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.15, for a total transaction of $275,085,913.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 247,215,555 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,636,122,253.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director S Robson Walton sold 1,504,039 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.51, for a total transaction of $218,852,714.89. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 245,711,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at $35,753,482,693.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 21,053,710 shares of company stock valued at $2,982,527,217. 47.06% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Walmart Company Profile

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Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands.

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Narwhal Capital Management cut its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) by 2.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 36,380 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 780 shares during the quarter. Narwhal Capital Managements holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $3,994,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of ABT. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 339.1% during the 3rd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,581,157 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $443,273,000 after purchasing an additional 3,537,778 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised 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 acquiring an additional 2,235,314 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 154,563,421 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $14,955,557,000 after acquiring an additional 2,011,683 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 99.8% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,140,866 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $371,753,000 after acquiring an additional 1,568,700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $131,945,000. 72.93% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total value of $26,842.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,896 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,222,103.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total value of $26,842.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,896 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,222,103.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $103,922.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 52,203 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,256,842.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 1,971 shares of company stock valued at $199,140 over the last three months. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

ABT stock traded up $0.30 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $104.00. 1,460,979 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,185,383. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $102.99 and a 200 day simple moving average of $104.43. Abbott Laboratories has a one year low of $93.25 and a one year high of $124.35. The company has a market cap of $180.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.52, a P/E/G ratio of 4.71 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.13. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 26.09% and a net margin of 15.88%. The business had revenue of $10.09 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.69 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.32 earnings per share. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 earnings per share for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is 52.17%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ABT has been the topic of several research reports. Raymond James upped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $109.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Bank of America dropped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Mizuho upped their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. StockNews.com began coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $114.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $121.88.

Abbott Laboratories Profile

(Get Rating)

Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products. It operates through the following business segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment refers to the international sales of a line of branded generic pharmaceutical products.

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New York State Common Retirement Fund lowered its position in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 13.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,482,859 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 668,575 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned 0.25% of Charles Schwab worth $373,243,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of SCHW. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 20,822 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,847,000 after buying an additional 1,452 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,263 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $528,000 after buying an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 25.4% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,064 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,101,000 after buying an additional 2,648 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 267 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 16.6% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,239 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $104,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.49% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab

In other Charles Schwab news, Director Marianne Catherine Brown bought 5,000 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $53.47 per share, with a total value of $267,350.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at $533,844.48. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Marianne Catherine Brown acquired 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $53.47 per share, with a total value of $267,350.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $533,844.48. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 188,670 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.07, for a total transaction of $15,106,806.90. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 30,856,646 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,470,691,645.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have acquired 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,706,960 and have sold 728,106 shares valued at $58,067,403. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE SCHW opened at $51.85 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $86.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $92.89 billion, a PE ratio of 14.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.88. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $67.70 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $74.45.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.55 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.86 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 16.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.81 earnings per share for the current year.

Charles Schwab Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 10th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 9th. This is an increase from Charles Schwabs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.93%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is currently 28.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on SCHW. Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $81.50 to $67.50 in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $74.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, March 13th. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $99.00 to $68.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Charles Schwab currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $78.27.

Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Get Rating)

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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Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund (NYSE:JFR  Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Tuesday, April 4th, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of 0.075 per share on Monday, May 1st. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th.

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund Stock Performance

Shares of JFR opened at $8.34 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $8.35 and its 200 day moving average price is $8.25. Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund has a 12-month low of $7.69 and a 12-month high of $10.15.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund by 15.1% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 65,585 shares of the companys stock valued at $657,000 after purchasing an additional 8,598 shares during the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its stake in Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund by 9.5% in the 1st quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 14,450 shares of the companys stock worth $145,000 after purchasing an additional 1,250 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund by 0.3% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 379,475 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,799,000 after acquiring an additional 1,255 shares during the period. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund in the first quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, UBS Group AG boosted its position in Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 842,439 shares of the companys stock worth $8,433,000 after acquiring an additional 13,307 shares during the period.

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund Company Profile

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund is a closed-end investment fund. Its investment objective is to achieve a level of current income by investing in adjustable rate secured and unsecured senior loans and other debt instruments. The company was founded on March 25, 2004 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE:OEC  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Friday.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Orion Engineered Carbons from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. TheStreet raised Orion Engineered Carbons from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group initiated coverage on shares of Orion Engineered Carbons in a report on Monday, March 13th. They set an outperform rating and a $31.00 price target on the stock.

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Orion Engineered Carbons Trading Up 2.4 %

Shares of OEC stock opened at $25.50 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. Orion Engineered Carbons has a 12 month low of $12.87 and a 12 month high of $26.91. The businesss 50 day moving average is $24.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $19.68. The company has a market cap of $1.52 billion, a PE ratio of 14.66 and a beta of 1.65.

Orion Engineered Carbons Cuts Dividend

Orion Engineered Carbons ( NYSE:OEC Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 17th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.10. Orion Engineered Carbons had a net margin of 5.23% and a return on equity of 28.89%. The business had revenue of $462.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $441.89 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.16 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 17.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Orion Engineered Carbons will post 2.5 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 21st were issued a dividend of $0.0207 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 20th. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.32%. Orion Engineered Carbonss dividend payout ratio is presently 4.60%.

Insider Transactions at Orion Engineered Carbons

In other news, VP Carlos Quinones bought 3,800 shares of Orion Engineered Carbons stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $23.98 per share, with a total value of $91,124.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the vice president now owns 52,335 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,254,993.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, VP Carlos Quinones bought 3,800 shares of Orion Engineered Carbons stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $23.98 per share, for a total transaction of $91,124.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the vice president now owns 52,335 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,254,993.30. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Jeffrey Glajch acquired 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were bought at an average price of $23.82 per share, for a total transaction of $238,200.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer now owns 60,666 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,445,064.12. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 1.23% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Orion Engineered Carbons

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in OEC. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. increased its position in shares of Orion Engineered Carbons by 22.7% during the third quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 27,000 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $360,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares in the last quarter. Cowa LLC boosted its stake in shares of Orion Engineered Carbons by 10.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 27,279 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $364,000 after acquiring an additional 2,637 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer & Close LLC purchased a new position in shares of Orion Engineered Carbons in the third quarter valued at $931,000. First Hawaiian Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Orion Engineered Carbons by 28.7% in the third quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 38,316 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $512,000 after purchasing an additional 8,533 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Orion Engineered Carbons during the third quarter worth about $6,663,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.98% of the companys stock.

About Orion Engineered Carbons

(Get Rating)

Orion Engineered Carbons SA engages in the production and supply of carbon black. It operates through the following segments: Specialty Carbon Black and Rubber Carbon Black. The Specialty Carbon Black segment manufactures specialty carbon black at multiple sites for a broad range of specialized applications.

Further Reading

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Pason Systems Inc. (TSE:PSI  Get Rating) has earned an average rating of Hold from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$18.20.

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. Barclays dropped their price target on Pason Systems from C$15.00 to C$14.00 in a research report on Monday, March 6th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on Pason Systems from C$21.00 to C$19.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Pason Systems from C$19.50 to C$17.00 in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Pason Systems from C$25.00 to C$21.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Finally, National Bank Financial reiterated a sector perform overweight rating on shares of Pason Systems in a research report on Monday, January 30th.

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Pason Systems Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of PSI stock opened at C$12.16 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is C$13.50 and its 200-day moving average price is C$14.63. Pason Systems has a 12-month low of C$11.19 and a 12-month high of C$17.12. The company has a current ratio of 4.02, a quick ratio of 3.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45. The stock has a market capitalization of C$989.46 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 10.78 and a beta of 1.66.

Pason Systems Dividend Announcement

About Pason Systems

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were issued a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.95%. Pason Systemss payout ratio is 36.92%.

(Get Rating)

Pason Systems Inc, an energy services and technology company, provides data management systems for drilling rigs in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers Electronic Drilling Recorder, which monitors and records drilling operations around the rig; DataHub for storing data and information collected from the rig for on-demand retrieval; DataLink service provides direct connection interfaces for IT systems and analytics tools; Pason Live for monitoring rig operations in real-time using desktop computers or mobile devices; and daily and end-of-well KPI reports provide visual statistics on rig performance.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Progressive (NYSE:PGR  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Saturday morning.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on PGR. Piper Sandler raised shares of Progressive from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price target for the company from $133.00 to $138.00 in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Progressive from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Progressive from $127.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. Roth Mkm boosted their price objective on Progressive from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Progressive from $130.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, March 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Progressive currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $141.21.

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Progressive Price Performance

Progressive stock opened at $149.00 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $87.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 126.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.50. Progressive has a 12-month low of $106.35 and a 12-month high of $149.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.37 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The firms 50-day moving average is $141.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $132.32.

Progressive Dividend Announcement

Progressive ( NYSE:PGR Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 25th. The insurance provider reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $13.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.33 billion. Progressive had a return on equity of 15.70% and a net margin of 1.45%. Equities analysts predict that Progressive will post 6.52 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 5th. Progressives payout ratio is 33.90%.

Insider Activity at Progressive

In other news, insider Daniel P. Mascaro sold 2,806 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.64, for a total value of $397,441.84. Following the sale, the insider now owns 36,082 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,110,654.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Progressive news, insider Steven Broz sold 930 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.50, for a total value of $126,015.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 30,041 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,070,555.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Daniel P. Mascaro sold 2,806 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.64, for a total value of $397,441.84. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 36,082 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,110,654.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 22,987 shares of company stock valued at $3,250,378 in the last 90 days. 0.37% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Progressive by 46.8% during the 1st quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,634 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $520,000 after purchasing an additional 1,159 shares during the last quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont raised its stake in shares of Progressive by 23.8% during the first quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 2,852 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $408,000 after buying an additional 548 shares during the last quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Progressive in the first quarter valued at approximately $596,000. Parsec Financial Management Inc. bought a new position in Progressive in the first quarter valued at approximately $231,000. Finally, Renaissance Investment Group LLC grew its holdings in Progressive by 25.6% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Investment Group LLC now owns 4,966 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $710,000 after acquiring an additional 1,012 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 83.19% of the companys stock.

Progressive Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Progressive Corp. is an insurance holding company, which engages in the provision of personal and commercial auto insurance, residential property insurance, and other specialty property-casualty insurance and related services. It operates through the following segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property.

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Seed Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 5,930 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $803,000. Novo Nordisk A/S makes up about 0.9% of Seed Wealth Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 45.4% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,035,879 shares of the companys stock valued at $559,235,000 after purchasing an additional 1,571,747 shares in the last quarter. Eaton Vance Management grew its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 289.1% in the third quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 1,088,926 shares of the companys stock valued at $108,489,000 after purchasing an additional 809,078 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 36,122.5% in the third quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 669,754 shares of the companys stock valued at $66,727,000 after purchasing an additional 667,905 shares in the last quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co grew its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 9.4% in the third quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co now owns 5,218,104 shares of the companys stock valued at $519,878,000 after purchasing an additional 450,280 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 33.0% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,815,936 shares of the companys stock valued at $201,659,000 after acquiring an additional 450,122 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 6.09% of the companys stock.

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Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE NVO traded down $0.20 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $158.71. The stock had a trading volume of 494,941 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,386,655. The firm has a market cap of $359.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.48. Novo Nordisk A/S has a twelve month low of $95.02 and a twelve month high of $160.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.89. The companys 50 day moving average price is $145.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $129.49.

Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend

Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $6.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.74 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 31.44% and a return on equity of 73.39%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 4.51 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 27th were given a $1.1887 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 24th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.8%. This is an increase from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous semi-annual dividend of $0.58. Novo Nordisk A/Ss payout ratio is 48.70%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from 925.00 to 1,100.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Cowen increased their price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $130.00 to $145.00 in a research note on Monday, December 12th. Finally, Cowen increased their price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from $130.00 to $145.00 in a research note on Monday, December 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $697.78.

Novo Nordisk A/S Profile

(Get Rating)

Novo Nordisk A/S is a global healthcare company, which engages in the the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products. It operates through the Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Biopharm segments. The Diabetes and Obesity Care segment includes insulin, GLP-1 and related delivery systems, oral antidiabetic products (OAD), obesity, and other serious chronic diseases.

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Seneca House Advisors reduced its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Rating) by 48.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,807 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 6,293 shares during the period. Seneca House Advisors holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $747,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the 1st quarter valued at $131,000. United Bank raised its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 7.2% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 27,280 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $3,229,000 after buying an additional 1,826 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% during the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 813,253 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $96,257,000 after buying an additional 15,521 shares during the last quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.3% during the first quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC now owns 19,467 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,304,000 after buying an additional 436 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lumature Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 636.2% in the 1st quarter. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,216 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $262,000 after buying an additional 1,915 shares during the last quarter. 72.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:ABT traded up $0.45 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $104.15. The company had a trading volume of 1,211,045 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,183,440. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $102.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $104.43. The company has a market capitalization of $181.01 billion, a PE ratio of 26.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.71 and a beta of 0.67. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $93.25 and a 52 week high of $124.35.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $10.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.69 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 26.09% and a net margin of 15.88%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.32 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is 52.17%.

Insider Transactions at Abbott Laboratories

In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the companys 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 $68,375.30. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,091,998.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were 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 directly owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,091,998.90. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, 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 transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 52,203 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,256,842.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 1,971 shares of company stock valued at $199,140 in the last ninety days. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ABT has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. SVB Leerink boosted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $90.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. Barclays lifted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $122.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. UBS Group initiated coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. They issued a buy rating and a $117.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup increased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $114.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 12th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $121.88.

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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Shilanski & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 9,864 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $1,319,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 10.3% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 5,345 shares of the banks stock valued at $740,000 after acquiring an additional 501 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers during the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,736,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 0.8% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,032,068 shares of the banks stock worth $696,489,000 after acquiring an additional 39,554 shares during the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its position in Cullen/Frost Bankers by 9.0% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 31,607 shares of the banks stock valued at $4,501,000 after purchasing an additional 2,600 shares during the period. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in Cullen/Frost Bankers in the first quarter valued at $211,000. 81.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Cullen/Frost Bankers Stock Performance

Shares of CFR stock traded up $0.13 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $103.82. 16,754 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 586,316. The company has a market cap of $6.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 1.04. The companys 50 day moving average is $118.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $132.26. Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. has a 1 year low of $95.75 and a 1 year high of $160.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 0.61 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Announces Dividend

Cullen/Frost Bankers ( NYSE:CFR Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The bank reported $2.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.75 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $529.57 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $501.12 million. Cullen/Frost Bankers had a return on equity of 18.55% and a net margin of 30.80%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.54 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. will post 10.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 28th were given a $0.87 dividend. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. Cullen/Frost Bankerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.46%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Phillip D. Green bought 9,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $106.59 per share, with a total value of $1,012,605.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 114,729 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,228,964.11. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Phillip D. Green acquired 9,500 shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The shares were bought at an average price of $106.59 per share, for a total transaction of $1,012,605.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 114,729 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,228,964.11. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Candace K. Wolfshohl acquired 700 shares of Cullen/Frost Bankers stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 15th. The shares were bought at an average price of $108.28 per share, for a total transaction of $75,796.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president now owns 16,291 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,763,989.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have bought 16,700 shares of company stock valued at $1,789,751. 2.89% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CFR has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $168.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $155.00 to $123.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Bank of America raised Cullen/Frost Bankers from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $155.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 5th. Wedbush lowered their target price on Cullen/Frost Bankers from $150.00 to $140.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Raymond James cut Cullen/Frost Bankers from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $138.07.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Profile

(Get Rating)

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc is a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial and consumer banking services. It operates through the Banking and Frost Wealth Advisors segments. The Banking segment operates commercial and consumer banking services. The Frost Wealth Advisors segment includes fee-based services within private trust, retirement services, and financial management services.

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Whether youre looking to move to the Windy City or youre tired of that wind and ready to sell your place, read on for a comprehensive rundown of what you need to know to navigate the Chicago housing market.

Chicago housing market overview

The Chicago housing market hasnt been nearly as hot recently as other markets around the country  especially warm-weather climates like Arizona and Florida. Believe it or not, prices here throughout the pandemic have hovered in the $300,000 range, peaking in the spring of 2022 when they jumped above the $370,000 mark, according to Redfin data. Overall, though, Chicagos housing market feels more like a calm day on Lake Michigan: not too choppy.

However, its important to understand that there isnt a simple snapshot of the entire Chicago housing market, simply because the city is massive. The Second City  its actually the third-biggest in the country in terms of population  covers 234 square miles. Prices and conditions can vary widely from one neighborhood to another. For example, according to the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, median prices in Humboldt Park hover around $211,000. Head east to the mansion-lined streets of Lincoln Park, though, and the median price tag jumps to more than $1.2 million.

Chicago housing trends and stats

According to February data from Illinois Realtors, the median price of a home in the Chicago metro area is $290,000  exactly the same as it was a year earlier. Within the city limits, however, prices fell slightly from $320,000 to $312,500.

The number of home sales in the metro area has declined by 29.4 percent year-over-year. In the city proper, the drop is even steeper at 37.3 percent.

Homes spend an average of 87 days on the market before selling in Chicago, per Redfin. Thats a 23-day increase from a year ago.

Chicago homes typically sell for 2.6 percent less than their initial list price.

Just over 12 percent of sellers dropped their price in February.

In Illinois overall, closing costs are typically 2.1 percent of the purchase price, according to data from ClosingCorp. On a median-priced $290,000 home in the Chicago metro area, that comes out to $6,090.

Story continues

Should you buy or sell in the Chicago housing market?

High mortgage rates and continued economic uncertainty mean its a tough time to think about buying or selling a home, in Chicago or anywhere else. Here are some key considerations for both sides of the transaction.

If youre a home seller

If youre thinking about selling your home in Chicago, its important to consider the market in your specific area. Prices have remained relatively flat for a while, but as you try to assess how much your house is worth, keep in mind that a two-bedroom condo in the hot West Loop will look a lot different than a two-bedroom condo in Uptown  or a single-family home in the suburbs.

Additionally, consider your timeline carefully. Buying activity tends to pick up steam in the late spring and summer, while fewer buyers are going to be looking during one of those windy Chicago winters.

Finally, if youre thinking about selling your home in Chicago and moving to a new spot around the country, be sure to estimate what your cost of living will be in your next home.

If youre a homebuyer

You might see headlines about a cooling housing market and feel like its a good time to buy a house. While it is true that house-hunters are probably in better shape now than they were in 2022, high mortgage rates are going to have a massive impact on how much house you can afford. The best way to figure out how much youll be able to borrow is to get preapproved for a mortgage. If youve never owned a home before, you may also want to explore first-time buyer programs in Illinois, which can help cover your down payment and closing costs.

Another essential question for buyers is how much to offer on a property youre interested in. In February, homes typically sold for 97.4 percent of their initial list price, so dont be afraid to negotiate. Even after you go to contract, you may be able to get the seller to cover a portion of your closing costs. A February report from Redfin found that more than 43 percent of sellers in Chicago offered concessions at the beginning of 2023  a clear indication that buyers have some bargaining power here.

Chicago housing market predictions

Several big businesses have left the Chicago area in recent months, and you may be wondering if individuals will follow suit. While some people have certainly moved away, the citys housing market is not about to crash. In fact, a forecast from the University of Illinois-Chicago predicts that median prices will climb to more than $341,000 by June.

Regardless of housing predictions, though, it seems clear that the Chicago housing market will include significantly fewer sales in 2023. Prices may be lower than the national median, but inventory is still low as well. If youre considering whether Chicago will be a buyers or a sellers market, the likely answer is that neither side will have an overwhelming advantage.

Find a Chicago real estate agent

How much should you ask for your condo in River North? Should you buy in Logan Square or Lincoln Square? Is it better to be a buyer or seller in the summer or the fall? There are so many nuances to buying and selling real estate in Chicago, and youll be in a much better position to navigate the market with a real estate agent by your side. Look for a local pro with lots of experience with your specific neighborhood.

FAQs



Are home prices dropping in Chicago? Caret Down

Home prices within the Chicago city limits have dropped slightly in the past year, from a median price of $320,000 last February to $312,500 this February, according to data from Illinois Realtors. When looking at the entire metro area, though, prices have remained relatively flat.



Why is Chicago real estate so cheap? Caret Down

Chicagos median price data can be a bit deceiving. On the surface, the $290,000 price tag in the metro area is significantly lower than the national single-family home median of $363,000. However, Chicagos data encompasses a vast range of housing types and locations, from one-bedroom condos to multi-million-dollar luxury properties, and like many major urban cities, apartment life is common. In addition, homeownership isnt that cheap here once you buy: Illinois residents pay some of the highest property tax rates in the country.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Voya Financial (NYSE:VOYA  Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report released on Friday.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on VOYA. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Voya Financial from $78.00 to $84.00 in a report on Thursday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Voya Financial from $77.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Voya Financial from $78.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Voya Financial from $89.00 to $86.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Voya Financial from $79.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Voya Financial presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $82.92.

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Voya Financial Trading Up 1.0 %

NYSE VOYA opened at $71.72 on Friday. Voya Financial has a 12 month low of $56.20 and a 12 month high of $78.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $71.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $66.90. The stock has a market cap of $6.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.30, a P/E/G ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.15.

Voya Financial Increases Dividend

Voya Financial ( NYSE:VOYA Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 7th. The asset manager reported $2.18 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.53 by $0.65. The company had revenue of $880.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $259.86 million. Voya Financial had a net margin of 9.37% and a return on equity of 13.09%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.90 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Voya Financial will post 8.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 24th were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 23rd. This is an increase from Voya Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.04. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.12%. Voya Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.18%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Santhosh Keshavan sold 3,564 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.06, for a total value of $263,949.84. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,312 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,356,186.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Santhosh Keshavan sold 3,564 shares of Voya Financial stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.06, for a total transaction of $263,949.84. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,312 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,356,186.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Rodney O. Martin, Jr. sold 70,774 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.59, for a total transaction of $5,208,258.66. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 228,208 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,793,826.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 223,650 shares of company stock valued at $16,595,760 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.44% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Voya Financial

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in Voya Financial by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 7,488,929 shares of the asset managers stock worth $496,890,000 after buying an additional 519,701 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in Voya Financial by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 6,285,547 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $380,275,000 after purchasing an additional 345,161 shares during the period. Samlyn Capital LLC lifted its holdings in Voya Financial by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Samlyn Capital LLC now owns 4,915,556 shares of the asset managers stock worth $297,391,000 after purchasing an additional 286,571 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in Voya Financial by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,291,225 shares of the asset managers stock worth $199,119,000 after purchasing an additional 29,593 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Voya Financial by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,571,104 shares of the asset managers stock worth $153,058,000 after purchasing an additional 80,147 shares during the period.

Voya Financial Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Voya Financial, Inc is a retirement, investment, and insurance company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Retirement, Investment Management, and Employee Benefits. The Retirement segment offers tax-deferred, employer-sponsored retirement savings plans and administrative services.

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Terril Brothers Inc. raised its stake in SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD  Get Rating) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 2,904 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the quarter. Terril Brothers Inc.s holdings in SPDR Gold Shares were worth $493,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GLD. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 83.0% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 3,095,139 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $478,711,000 after purchasing an additional 1,403,492 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 256.0% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,142,717 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $206,432,000 after purchasing an additional 821,773 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares during the 1st quarter worth $100,880,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in SPDR Gold Shares by 134.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 934,636 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $168,842,000 after buying an additional 536,327 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI grew its stake in SPDR Gold Shares by 192.5% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 660,604 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $112,061,000 after buying an additional 434,764 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 37.94% of the companys stock.

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SPDR Gold Shares Stock Performance

NYSEARCA:GLD traded up $1.34 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $186.45. The stock had a trading volume of 3,474,456 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,448,909. SPDR Gold Shares has a 1-year low of $150.57 and a 1-year high of $188.86. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $176.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is $168.63.

About SPDR Gold Shares

SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares).

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TransAlta Renewables Inc. (TSE:RNW  Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Thursday, April 13th, TickerTech reports. Investors of record on Friday, April 28th will be paid a dividend of 0.0783 per share on Friday, April 28th. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th.

TransAlta Renewables Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of RNW stock traded up C$0.05 on Tuesday, reaching C$12.40. 27,887 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 632,275. The businesss 50 day moving average price is C$11.97 and its 200 day moving average price is C$12.81. The company has a market capitalization of C$3.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.11, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.76. TransAlta Renewables has a twelve month low of C$10.63 and a twelve month high of C$19.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.77.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

RNW has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. CIBC lowered their price target on TransAlta Renewables from C$13.50 to C$13.00 in a report on Friday, February 24th. TD Securities reduced their target price on TransAlta Renewables from C$12.50 to C$12.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 24th. National Bankshares dropped their price target on TransAlta Renewables from C$14.25 to C$12.75 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. Raymond James reduced their price objective on TransAlta Renewables from C$16.50 to C$15.50 in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Finally, CSFB lowered shares of TransAlta Renewables from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the stock from C$17.00 to C$14.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, TransAlta Renewables presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$15.03.

TransAlta Renewables Company Profile

TransAlta Renewables Inc develops, owns, and operates renewable power generation facilities. The company operates through Canadian Wind, Canadian Hydro, Canadian Gas, US Wind and Solar, US Gas, and Australian Gas segments. As of February 24, 2022, it owned and operated 26 wind facilities, 13 hydroelectric facilities, 8 natural gas generation facilities, 2 solar facilities, 1 natural gas pipeline, and 1 battery storage project comprising 2,968 megawatts of net generating capacity located in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, the States of Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, North Carolina, and the State of Western Australia.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EAD  Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Monday, April 3rd, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.0497 per share by the closed-end fund on Monday, May 1st. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th.

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 0.8% per year over the last three years.

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Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund Trading Up 1.3 %

NYSEAMERICAN:EAD opened at $6.41 on Tuesday. Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund has a 52 week low of $5.95 and a 52 week high of $7.80.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund

About Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EAD. UBS Group AG lifted its stake in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 0.6% during the second quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 358,239 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $2,325,000 after purchasing an additional 2,052 shares during the last quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,715,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 1.5% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 150,731 shares of the closed-end funds stock worth $935,000 after acquiring an additional 2,227 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bought a new stake in Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund in the second quarter worth $803,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds  Allspring Income Opportunities Fund by 7.3% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 70,300 shares of the closed-end funds stock valued at $456,000 after acquiring an additional 4,800 shares during the last quarter.

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Allspring Income Opportunities Fund is a closed-end management investment company. It seeks current income and capital appreciation through investment in below investment grade debt securities, loans, and preferred stocks. The company was founded on December 3, 2002 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

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Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR  Get Rating) gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $129.08, but opened at $133.53. Whirlpool shares last traded at $134.48, with a volume of 111,052 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on WHR. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Whirlpool from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Whirlpool from a neutral rating to a buy rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $170.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Credit Suisse Group raised their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $108.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $145.00 to $137.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 20th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $136.80.

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Whirlpool Stock Up 3.3 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.94, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $137.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $141.72. The company has a market capitalization of $7.27 billion, a PE ratio of -4.60 and a beta of 1.49.

Whirlpool Dividend Announcement

Whirlpool ( NYSE:WHR Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The company reported $3.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.29 by $0.60. Whirlpool had a negative net margin of 7.71% and a positive return on equity of 27.98%. The company had revenue of $4.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.92 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $6.14 earnings per share. Whirlpools quarterly revenue was down 15.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Whirlpool Co. will post 16.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were paid a $1.75 dividend. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.25%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 2nd. Whirlpools dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -24.96%.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Christopher S. Conley sold 1,535 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $147.20, for a total value of $225,952.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 2,384 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $350,924.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.85% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. TD Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Whirlpool in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Tobam acquired a new position in Whirlpool during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in Whirlpool during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in Whirlpool by 96.2% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 204 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cambridge Trust Co. grew its holdings in Whirlpool by 119.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 224 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.14% of the companys stock.

Whirlpool Company Profile

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Whirlpool Corp. engages in the manufacturing and marketing of home appliances. Its products include home laundry appliances, refrigerators and freezers, cooking appliances, home dishwashers, and room air-conditioning equipment, mixers, and portable household appliances. The firms brands include Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, and Indesit.

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Yong Rong HK Asset Management Ltd decreased its stake in shares of Qudian Inc. (NYSE:QD  Get Rating) by 39.6% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 4,596,259 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,008,741 shares during the period. Qudian comprises about 2.8% of Yong Rong HK Asset Management Ltds investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest position. Yong Rong HK Asset Management Ltds holdings in Qudian were worth $4,381,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in QD. Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in shares of Qudian by 56.0% during the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 58,915 shares of the companys stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 21,145 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Qudian by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 295,774 shares of the companys stock worth $266,000 after acquiring an additional 22,326 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Qudian by 56.1% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 261,090 shares of the companys stock worth $308,000 after acquiring an additional 93,824 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Qudian during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $316,000. Finally, Credit Suisse AG increased its holdings in shares of Qudian by 129.6% during the 3rd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 1,499,135 shares of the companys stock worth $1,349,000 after acquiring an additional 846,281 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 14.01% of the companys stock.

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Qudian Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of QD stock traded up $0.01 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $1.20. 365,586 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 890,043. The company has a quick ratio of 9.42, a current ratio of 18.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. Qudian Inc. has a twelve month low of $0.69 and a twelve month high of $2.18. The firms fifty day moving average price is $1.21 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.03.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Qudian ( NYSE:QD Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The company reported $0.30 earnings per share for the quarter. Qudian had a negative return on equity of 2.97% and a negative net margin of 59.94%. The business had revenue of $23.21 million during the quarter.

Separately, TheStreet raised Qudian from a d rating to a c- rating in a report on Friday, February 24th.

Qudian Profile

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Qudian, Inc is a technology platform which empowers the enhancement of online consumer finance experience in China. It operates a platform which uses data-enabled technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to transform the consumer finance experience. The company offers cash credit products that provide funds in digital form and merchandise credit products.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Qudian Inc. (NYSE:QD  Get Rating).

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(Bloomberg) -- Ken Griffins Citadel is cutting ties with Sterling Bay, the developer that it partnered with on its new Miami headquarters.

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Citadel will handle some of the work related to the $1 billion waterfront office tower in Miamis Brickell neighborhood itself, while searching for another partner on the project, Zia Ahmed, a spokesman for Citadel, said in a statement.

The building, which could end up one of the tallest in the city, with a marina and a helipad, was a key project for Chicago-based Sterling Bay.

As Citadels internal workplace team has grown, so have the firms capabilities to directly support the growth and development of its real estate portfolio, Ahmed said. Sterling Bay was instrumental in selecting and procuring critical real estate investments that have expanded Citadels Miami presence in Brickell and in Palm Beach.

Sterling Bay said it makes sense for Citadel to bring more of its development process in-house. The split was first reported by Crains Chicago Business.

Moving forward, Sterling Bay will turn its full-time attention, resources, and personnel to its growing pipeline of national projects, Sterling Bay spokesperson Julie Goudie said in a statement. We look forward to the opportunity to work with Citadel in the future.

Citadel announced its new Miami building last year, as part of Griffins decision to relocate the headquarters of his firm away from Chicago. The billionaire is getting the chance to make his mark on the waterfront with a spot for the tower at 1201 Brickell Bay Drive.

Griffins Citadel has also been mapping out plans for a massive tower in Manhattan. The firm has been working with developers Vornado Realty Trust and Rudin Management Co. for the new building on Park Avenue.

Story continues

For Citadel, the past few years have delivered record-breaking profits for parts of its businesses, fueling expansion. It has also boosted Griffins personal wealth, which is estimated at nearly $35 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
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]

(Source: Xinhua)
Qiao Anshan, a comrade who served in the army with heroic Chinese soldier Lei Feng, is the honorary director of the Lei Feng Memorial Hall, located in Fushun, a city in Northeast China's Liaoning Province. Year after year, three generations of Qiao's family have inherited the spirit of Lei, by learning from the model soldier, and by sharing his stories with people from all segments of society.

Keeping Lei Feng's Spirit 'Alive'

Lei, who was a soldier in the People's Liberation Army, has long been renowned for having devoted much of his spare time and money to helping others. Lei had been an icon of altruism long before he died in an accident in 1962 at the age of 22.

Near the end of 1959, Qiao got to know Lei when they both worked in Angang, a time-honored steel factory in Anshan, in Liaoning Province. In January 1960, they joined the army, at the same time, and were assigned to the same squad. Lei become the squad leader one year later. For two years and eight months, Qiao was a comrade of Lei, and he was deeply impressed by Lei's spirit of always lending a helping hand to people in need.

"Every time Lei took a train, he helped someone who was traveling on the train. When I was a comrade of his, I thought I ought to do some kind deeds as well, if I had an opportunity to travel by train," Qiao recalls. Once, Qiao was traveling by train to Yingkou, also in Liaoning, to deliver a letter. He wanted to help someone who was in need; however, he was quite nervous. Even until the train arrived in Yingkou, Qiao did not get a chance to help anyone. "Squad leader, why was I so nervous when I was planning to help others?" Qiao asked Lei, who was then head of his team. Lei answered, with a smile: "Doing kind deeds can be a habit. Just start by doing a small, kind deed. That's fine."

Qiao has always remembered Lei's words. During the past several decades, Qiao has led his family members as they have performed kind deeds; by doing so, they have used their actions to keep Lei's spirit "alive."

In 1996, a Chinese film, The Days Without My Comrade, was released. The film focused on Qiao's life, and viewers learned how Qiao had followed and inherited the spirit of his model comrade, Lei, by doing kind deeds to help others.

Since the film was released, Qiao has been invited  nearly 4,000 times  to talk about and promote the spirit of Lei. More than 160 schools have invited him to give lectures, as a special instructor. For more than two decades, Qiao has donated more than 100,000 yuan (US $14,286) to support students from impoverished families.

Family, a Special 'Lei Feng Squad'

Zhang Shuqin both supports and accompanies her husband, Qiao, when he acts like Lei and helps people in need. Zhang used to work at a rubber plant in Tieling, another city in Liaoning. "I was responsible for keeping various goods, in my workplace, when I was working at the plant. Now, I am retired, but I continue to collect and keep my husband's honorary certificates, and the letters he receives. I am like a 'secretary' who helps my husband do a better job while he learns from Lei Feng," Zhang explains.

During the past 20-plus years, Zhang has kept the hundreds of letters Qiao has received from people across the country. She also helps her husband write letters, compile materials about Lei, and document stories about his one-time comrade.

Qiao urges the younger generations of his family to pass on the spirit of Lei. He gave copies of Lei's diary to his sons when they got married. When both of his sons became laid-off workers, in 1997, Qiao encouraged them to find their own way to make a living. Qiao's sons listened to his advice. One opened a stall to sell tea, while the other opened a restaurant. Both have worked with honesty, and both have done their best to uphold the spirit of Lei.

Qiao Wei, Qiao Anshan's oldest son, once met a pregnant woman, who was about to give birth. While others dared not help, Qiao Wei did not hesitate; he immediately took her to a hospital. In 1997, when the company where Qiao Wei worked was closed, someone offered Qiao Wei a job simply because he was a son of Qiao Anshan, the comrade of Lei. But Qiao Wei turned down the offer. "I will make a living by myself, to repay the great spirit my family has learned from Lei Feng," he said at the time.

Wang Zhenli, Qiao Anshan's daughter-in-law (the wife of Qiao's youngest son), is a teacher. She has been named by her school, several times, as a pacesetter of learning from Lei. Now, Qiao Anshan's family has three generations of members. Qiao Anshan likes to compare his family to a special "Lei Feng squad."

Successors

In 2009, Qiao Tingjiao, Qiao Anshan's granddaughter, then a university student, joined the army. She also worked as a guide at Lei Feng's memorial hall in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province. During her five-year stint in the army, Qiao Tingjiao visited Beijing, Changsha, and other places, to give lectures about Lei, and to share his stories.

After she was discharged from the army, she got a job at Tsinghua University. Qiao Tingjiao and students from Tsinghua University had arranged for left-behind children, whose parents had left their hometowns to earn a living, to learn about Lei, and to participate in various social activities to inherit the spirit of Lei. In 2019, Leifeng Academy of China was established in Fushun. Qiao Tingjiao returned to her hometown, and she took on the responsibility for liaison work at the academy. Qiao Tingjiao has written a book, Following Lei Feng's Path to Move On, and she has been invited by many schools to give lectures about Lei.

During the past decade, Qiao Tingjiao has helped establish several teams of volunteers under the name of Lei Feng. She has donated more than 30,000 yuan (US $4,286), and more than 2,600 milliliters of blood, to help people in need. Qiao Tingjiao is known as "a third-generation successor of the spirit of Lei Feng." Says Qiao Tingjiao: "When my family members gather to have a meal during a holiday, we will place a bowl and a pair of chopsticks, for Lei Feng, on our table. During the Qingming Festival every year, we visit Lei's tomb to commemorate him."

Lei is "kept alive" in the hearts of each member of Qiao's family. In May last year, Qiao's family was named a National Five-Virtue Family.

Photos Supplied by Interviewees and VCG

(Source: The Department of Family and Children's Affairs of the All-China Women's Federation/Women of China English Monthly March 2023 issue)
Program provides free home repairs and energy-efficient retrofits to income-qualified customers

Charlotte is one of three participating N.C. municipalities in pilot

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Charlotte and Duke Energy Carolinas are launching an income-qualified energy efficiency home rehabilitation pilot program. The High Energy Use Pilot will help income-qualified customers with high energy use receive much-needed home repairs and energy efficiency retrofits that will improve housing safety and reduce their electricity usage and overall costs.

Duke Energy will invest approximately $4 million in the Charlotte region to support energy retrofits for approximately 500 high-electrical use, income-qualified customers. The city will provide up to $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support home repairs necessary before energy efficiency retrofits can occur.

Home repairs may include window, roof, chimney, plumbing, or water heater repairs or replacements, pressure relief valve installation, mechanical ventilation, and lead-based paint hazard control.

Energy retrofit measures may include the replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems as well as comprehensive air sealing, insulation, installation of LED bulbs and swapping out older refrigerators with ENERGY STAR models.

"The city is excited to partner with Duke Energy on this program. By providing much-needed home repairs and energy retrofits, we can lower energy costs and provide safer housing for our residents who need it most, and reduce emissions in our community, all at the same time," said City of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles.

"Duke Energy is proud to collaborate with the City of Charlotte on this public-private partnership to deliver the benefits of energy efficiency to a greater diversity of customers across the city," said Kendal Bowman, North Carolina state president, Duke Energy. "We appreciate the city's leadership and are hopeful that this pilot, if successful, may one day help expand offerings to help more customers save energy and money, and support a cleaner energy future for all communities we serve."

Story continues

According to the Department of Energy , the national average energy burden  the percentage of gross income spent on energy costs  for low-income households is 8.6%, which is three times higher than for non-low-income households (estimated at 3%). Energy burden is defined as the average annual housing energy costs divided by the average annual household income. Monthly housing energy costs are based on household monthly expenditures for electricity, gas and other fuels (including fuel oil, wood, etc.). This program seeks to address issues specific to the electrical portion of energy burden, and the outcomes can inform and influence future Duke Energy and city programs toward a more equitable, low-carbon future.

Duke Energy created the pilot in collaboration with stakeholders at the request of the North Carolina Utilities Commission to provide energy efficiency retrofits for income-qualified, high-electrical use customers at no cost to the customer. However, as many as 40% of households that could be eligible for this program would not be able to participate due to health and safety issues in the home, particularly housing repair issues such as damage to doors, windows or the roof that need to be addressed first. The funding provided by the city through this public private partnership will ensure that customers who otherwise would not be able to engage in this pilot will now be able to take advantage of these retrofits.

Charlotte is one of three North Carolina municipalities, including Forsyth and Guilford counties, selected for the pilot. The initial goal is to assist 1,000 participants over a two-year span from an estimated 22,000 income-qualified residents in all identified areas.

Duke Energy is accepting applications for the program now, and the first service appointments will start in mid-May, with an emphasis on homes that are in the city's Corridors of Opportunity. For more information or to apply, customers can visit duke-energy.com/highusehelp.

Duke Energy Carolinas

Duke Energy Carolinas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 19,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2.8 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 24,000-square-mile service area in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com . The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook .

CONTACT: Leslie Blaser, 980.264.2678

City of Charlotte Housing & Neighborhood Services

leslie.blaser@charlottenc.gov

Keith Richardson, 704.779.4184

Duke Energy

keith.richardson@duke-energy.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/city-of-charlotte-and-duke-energy-launch-high-energy-use-pilot-program-301794683.html

SOURCE Duke Energy
Deputies searching for 'ringleader' in vehicle thefts from Graves County tornado victims after she failed to appear for sentencing
(CNN)  Dominion Voting Systems can't bring up the January 6 insurrection during its upcoming defamation trial against Fox News, a Delaware judge ruled Tuesday, who also revealed at a hearing that he has been receiving death threats.

The voting technology company sued Fox News over the right-wing network's promotions of false claims that Dominion voting machines rigged the 2020 election. But almost all of the allegedly defamatory statements mentioned in Dominion's lawsuit occurred before the January 6, 2021, storming of the US Capitol.

Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis said at a hearing Tuesday that invoking January 6 would be too prejudicial with the jury, and that the case isn't about whether Fox News "influenced" the insurrection.

"That may be for another court at another time, but it's not for this court at this time," Davis said.

The judge is issuing rulings on nearly two dozen pretrial motions that will set the stage for the historic trial, which is set to kick off this week, with jury selection on Thursday. Dominion is seeking $1.6 billion in damages. Fox says it didn't defame anyone and that the case is a meritless assault on press freedoms.

But Davis ruled in Dominion's favor on other key questions, blocking Fox from making some First Amendment arguments and from bringing up evidence that it thought would help its defense.

The judge ruled that Fox can't bring up broadcasts where reporters accurately fact-checked Trump's lies about the 2020 election, to prove that other broadcasts that amplified those lies weren't defamatory.

Those other broadcasts "are not relevant" to the case, Davis said, because "you can't absolve yourself of defamation by putting someone else on at a different time" who told the truth about Dominion.

The judge also ruled that Fox can't use internal Dominion emails where its staffers said their products "suck" and were "riddled with bugs," to prove that there were real concerns about Dominion machines, and therefore Fox didn't defame Dominion. Those emails weren't public in 2020, so they couldn't have influenced the state of mind of Fox staffers when they promoted the Dominion claims on their shows.

But if Dominion wins and the case moves to damages, Fox can bring up these emails to show that Dominion might be losing business because of voting security concerns and not just because of alleged defamation.

Later in the hearing, Davis cleared the way for Dominion to bring up Fox's financial information at the trial, including details about salaries of top hosts and executives. Fox tried to block this from the trial, arguing that salaries aren't linked to ratings, and that this data could bias the jury against the network.

"Economics are relevant," Davis said.

Dominion defamation case against Fox News will go to trial next month, judge rules In his Friday ruling, Davis said that the evidence Dominion presented shows Fox News aired falsehoods about the company.

But Davis warned the network's lawyers not to undercut or circumvent his rulings during their opening statements to the jury, when the high-stakes defamation trial kicks off next week.

Davis issued the warning to both sides but zeroed in on Fox News.

If Fox invokes legal defenses that Davis previously ruled were inadmissible, then "I will stop you and I will tell the jury that what you just said is incorrect" and to "disregard what you just said," Davis said.

The judge urged lawyers from both sides to "be very careful about that."

Fox News attorney Dan Webb told the judge, "I'm not going to step over this line."

"It looks like you're trying," Davis replied.

In a major ruling last month, Davis rejected several legal defenses that Fox News hoped to use to either shut down the lawsuit, or to argue in front of the jury that it is not liable for the alleged defamation.

These unsuccessful legal defenses included claims that Fox hosts had broad First Amendment protections because they were reporting on ongoing legal proceedings  or that Fox personalities were neutrally covering "newsworthy" comments about Dominion and weren't taking sides on the matter.

The judge overseeing Dominion's case against Fox News also revealed Tuesday that he has received death threats.

"I've sent you things that I've received," Davis told lawyers from both sides, during a discussion about separate death threats targeting Dominion employees.

The discussion revolved around whether Dominion can bring up death threats and harassment that its employees have faced after the 2020 election. Davis ruled that Dominion can tell the jury about the existence of the threats, but can't get into the content of the threats, because Fox obviously doesn't directly control what uninvolved third parties say.

"I'm not downplaying it," Davis said to the Dominion lawyers. "You need to take every threat seriously. I take every threat seriously."

Dominion has argued that many of the threats were inspired by Fox, which the network denies. If Dominion wins, it wants Fox to pay for the beefed-up security measures that it implemented after 2020. A court spokesperson declined to comment about the threats against Davis.
According to a survey of Akamai's partners, customers in Vietnam, Indonesia, and India indicated greatest willingness to spend on cloud (60% and up of IT budget)

Customers from Thailand, Japan and Taiwan indicated least willingness to spend on cloud (below 20% of IT budget)

SINGAPORE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today revealed that 95% of channel partners agree that cloud computing is a key priority for their customers' 2023 strategy. However, not all businesses plan to or are able to invest heavily in the space. Willingness to spend varies greatly, with 27% planning to spend below 20% of their IT budget on cloud and 33% planning to spend above 40% of their budget.

Akamai Technologies, Inc. logo

Results are based on a survey of 386 respondents across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Japan, China, India, Singapore, and South Korea. The survey was conducted to glean insights into partners' perspectives on IT budget priorities, and their customers' 2023 cloud strategy.

"In our conversations with partners, we see that organizations are walking the fine line between investing in cloud as well as being frugal in light of the macroeconomic headwinds. We believe the solution lies in working with a developer-friendly cloud and compute ecosystem that can offer them both flexibility and cost-effectiveness, while avoiding bill shock," explained Tatsuya Suzuki, Regional VP, APJ Carrier and Channel, Akamai.

"Even as the industry landscape continues to evolve and increase in complexity, Akamai seeks to accelerate the ambitions of our partners as they help their customers harness the potential of the cloud. We will offer expanded product roadmaps in the new year, across the areas of cloud, security, and delivery to achieve the overarching goal of making life better for billions of people, billions of times a day," concluded Suzuki.

Understanding cloud priorities across the region

Upon analysis of country-specific data, Akamai's findings revealed significant differences in the willingness to spend on cloud despite an overarching agreement on the importance of cloud technology.

Story continues

Specifically, Vietnam (31%), Indonesia (27%), and India (23%) had the highest percentages in terms of respondents who said the proportion of IT budget spent on cloud would be 60% and up.

Conversely, Thailand (50%), Japan (49%) and Taiwan (40%) had the highest percentages for respondents who indicated that the proportion of IT budget spent on cloud would be below 20%.

Market Data Points

In ANZ, 96% of partners agreed that cloud is important to their customers' 2023 strategy, with most respondents (48%) estimating that 21-40% of IT budgets would be spent on cloud.

In Japan, 87% of partners agreed that cloud is important to their customers' 2023 strategy. However, most respondents (49%) estimated that below 20% of IT budgets would be spent on cloud.

In China, 98% of respondents agreed that cloud is important to their customers' 2023 strategy, with most respondents (33%) estimating that between 21-40% of IT budgets would be spent on cloud.

In India, 97% of respondents agreed that the cloud is important to their customers' 2023 strategy, with many respondents (48%) estimating that between 21-40% of IT budgets would be spent on cloud.

In South Korea, 96% of respondents agreed that cloud is important to their customers' 2023 strategy, with many respondents (50%) estimating that between 21-40% of IT budgets would be spent on cloud.

In Singapore, 95% of respondents agreed that cloud is important to their customers' 2023 strategy, with many respondents (52%) estimating that between 21-40% of IT budgets would be spent on cloud.

"While most organizations acknowledge the importance of cloud, many are apprehensive about investing their IT budgets in this technology, given concerns of costs and how this will affect other overarching IT priorities. These sentiments are clear from the latest insights we have gathered from our partners, and this is why Akamai is investing heavily in scaling our cloud computing capabilities," explained Suzuki.

"We believe that organizations need more options for their cloud needs, particularly those that are easy to use and developer friendly with transparent, attractive pricing, and we are able to provision for these needs with Akamai Connected Cloud," he continued.

In February, Akamai announced Akamai Connected Cloud, a massively distributed edge and cloud platform for computing, security, and content delivery. As part of the announcement, Akamai plans to launch four new enterprise-scale core cloud computing sites across APJ in Chennai, Osaka, Jakarta, and Auckland by the end of 2023. Additionally, Akamai has identified more than 50 cities globally in which it plans to begin rolling out distributed sites this year, bringing basic cloud computing capabilities into difficult-to-reach locations currently underserved by traditional cloud providers.

Partners speak out on priorities for 2023

Most partners, including Wangsu, a China-based company that provides content delivery network and Internet data center services, are seeking a user-friendly public cloud solution, coupled with a transparent pricing structure.

"With Akamai Connected Cloud, we really benefited from lower prices as a result of being able to reduce the cost of high outbound traffic. Equally important is that we have been able to save time while achieving our key objectives given the flexibility of the network pool and low traffic costs," shared Mingwei Zhang, Alliance Department Director, Wangsu, China.

Meanwhile, security continues to be an overarching priority for partners, with the rise of data breaches in the past months.

"In the coming months, we are likely to see an increase in the number and sophistication of cyber-attacks and larger scale data breaches, causing more disruption. There is also a risk of complacency from breach fatigue. Many organizations will focus on improving the security of their supply chain as part of ensuring positive business outcomes," explained Mark Trumble, APAC Head of Portfolio - Cyber Security, Fujitsu Australia, and New Zealand."

To account for these challenges, partners are increasingly looking to provide a range of products and services for customers that embed different layers of security and in-depth defense.

"Akamai is supporting our customers and partners with our security solutions, including Edge DNS, a global, highly scalable domain name system (DNS) service offering security, resilience from Distributed denial of service attack (DDoS) events, and high DNS responsiveness. As a result, we are able to observe trillions of DNS requests daily and have clear visibility on the latest developments in the threat landscape," explained Dean Houari, Director of Security Technology and Strategy, APJ, Akamai.

"We remain committed to protecting our customers and partners and staying ahead of attackers by blocking requests leading to domains serving malware and phishing sites that could steal data," concluded Houari.

Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cloud-is-key-to-2023-strategy-for-95-of-businesses-in-apj-but-vast-disparity-exists-in-investment-levels-akamai-partner-survey-301793229.html

SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.
The World Socialist Web Site is proud to announce the launch of its Ukrainian-language edition (wsws.org/uk).

The Ukrainian edition of the WSWS will provide an international socialist perspective for workers and student youth and lay the foundations for a Ukrainian section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). It will publish major articles of the WSWS and key programmatic and historical documents by the ICFI.

The first postings are 1) the WSWSs New Years statement, 2023: The global capitalist crisis and the growing offensive of the international working class; and 2) an essay by WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North on the struggle waged by Lenin in 1922-23 against Stalins chauvinist attitude toward national minorities in the newly formed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Since February 2022, the ICFI has opposed both the US-NATO proxy war against Russia and the Putin regimes reactionary intervention in Ukraine. Like the Russian edition of the WSWS, a central focus of the Ukrainian WSWS will be the fight for the international unity of the working class of the former Soviet Union and the building of a unified movement of workers in Ukraine and Russia to put an end to the disastrous war as part of a global revolutionary movement by the working class against imperialism and capitalism.

In the 1917 October Revolution and the subsequent Civil War, Ukrainian and Russian workers fought side by side against capitalism and for socialism. Between 1941 and 1945, both national groups made immense sacrifices in the common struggle against the Nazi invasion and in defense of the Soviet Union.

The workers of Ukraine have paid a particularly bitter price for the Stalinist repudiation of the internationalist program of the October Revolution, based on the bankrupt concept of the building of socialism in one country. The decades of Stalinist betrayals culminated in the destruction of the Soviet Union by the Soviet bureaucracy and the restoration of capitalism, which was an unmitigated socio-economic and political disaster for the working class. The unfolding war in Ukraine today can only be understood as the end product of this historic betrayal of the October Revolution by Stalinism.

Throughout this period, however, the Trotskyist movement has defended the traditions of Marxism and revolutionary internationalism against the betrayals of Stalinism and various petty-bourgeois opportunist and nationalist tendencieschief among them Pabloismwhich wrote off the working class as a revolutionary force and instead sought to subordinate it to the dominant Stalinist, social democratic and trade union bureaucracies.

Today, the International Committee of the Fourth International is the sole Trotskyist and, indeed, socialist and revolutionary party. We are confident that the program and perspectives of Trotskyism will find a powerful response among an advanced layer of Ukrainian workers, youth and intellectuals, who will join the fight to build the Fourth International as the world party of socialist revolution.
The Sri Lankan trade unions have responded to the Wickremesinghe governments Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) with another round of cynical claims that popular pressure and legal action will compel the government to abandon the new laws.

Trade Union Collective protest at Fort Railway Station in Colombo, 3 April, 2023. Ravi Kumudesh, in purple shirt, with Wasantha Samarasinhe to the right in yellow shirt. [Photo: Facebook]

The union campaign is a fraud aimed at politically derailing the rising working-class opposition to the legislation, by tying workers and the rural masses to parliamentary opposition parties.

The Anti-Terrorism Bill, which the government claims is needed to stop terrorism and protect national security, is aimed at suppressing the growing wave of working-class struggles against the brutal International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity measures being imposed by the government.

As the World Socialist Web Site explained last week, the far-reaching law would mean that any person or organisation criticising government policies, including its austerity measures, and/or anyone demanding that people oppose those policies could be charged with terrorism and punished with 20-year jail terms or execution. Internet publications can also be targeted.

On April 3, the United Trade Union Collective (UTUC) held a media conference, announcing that it was holding a protest the following day outside the Colombo Fort Railway Station. The protest, the collective declared, was to force the government to repeal the bill.

The UTUC is an alliance of more than 100 trade unions, which includes the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), the Professionals Trade Union Association (PTUA) and the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU). The NTUC is led by the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

Government Medical Officers Association secretary Haritha Aluthge declared that the April 4 protest would be the largest-ever demonstration in recent history and predicted 10,000 people would attend. The trade unions, however, did not inform their members and only 1,000 participated, many of them bureaucrats and their immediate associates.

Addressing the media, UTUC convenor Ravi Kumudesh said union agitation would continue until the legislation was withdrawn. CTU general secretary Joseph Stalin declared that the bill should be legally defeated through courts. In other words, the union bureaucracy simply repeated the empty statements issued about the Anti-Terror Bill by the parliamentary opposition and various human rights groups.

On April 7, Minister for Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe announced that presentation of the bill to the parliament would be postponed until the end of the month. The government, he said, would wait until the Supreme Court determined whether certain clauses in the bill contravened the constitution or not.

This is just a ruse. The government will simply make cosmetic changes to the clauses criticised by the Supreme Court and then ram the draconian law through parliament.

Yesterday, Wasantha Samarasinghe, leader of the JVP-controlled NTC, told another trade union meeting that pressure could be applied to the government. He ludicrously claimed that the unions April 4 protest had forced the government to take a step back.

The so-called union campaign, however, is entirely in line with the posturing of the bourgeois parliamentary opposition parties.

JVP propaganda secretary Vijitha Herath told the media on March 28 that the party would organise various activities, including a Supreme Court challenge, and trade union protests.

On April 1, Lakshman Kiriella, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentary group leader, said his party would also challenge the bill in the Supreme Court because it violates the constitution.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) echoed these positions. Addressing a meeting in Jaffna last weekend, TNA leader M. A. Sumanthiran called for a vigorous struggle to unite everyone behind a Supreme Court challenge to the bill.

None of these opposition parties calls for the complete abolition of the bill. Like Wickremesinghe, they support IMF austerity and anti-democratic measures to crush working-class resistance to the escalating social assault.

SJB leaders were former leading figures in Wickremesinghes United National Party and fully supported the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to prosecute Colombos 26-year war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and the associated anti-democratic social assault on workers across the island. Similarly, the JVP backed use of the PTA during the war, which ended in May 2009.

As the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) explained from the outset, the Wickremesinghe government and the former Rajapakse regime, declared war against the working class and the rural masses. This brutal assault is the response of the ruling class response to the economic collapse confronting Sri Lankan capitalism, a historic crisis deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the US/NATO war against Russia in Ukraine.

Like its counterparts around the world, the Wickremesinghe regime is adopting dictatorial methods to impose the burden of this crisis on working people. In France, President Emmanuel Macron is using anti-democratic measures against the mass strikes and protests against his governments pension cuts.

David North explained in the April 8 statement on the forthcoming International Online May Day Rally:

With ever greater frequency and intensity, the capitalist state is assuming direct leadership, on behalf of the ruling class, of the war against the working class. In countries as different in their economic development as Sri Lanka and France, the working class confronts as its central enemy the leader of the statein Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in France, President Emmanuel Macron. Despite their use of democratic phraseology whenever it is politically convenient, their decisions, relying on the police and military for their enforcement, assume a blatantly dictatorial character.

President Wickremesinghes Anti-Terrorism Bill is to further strengthen the state apparatus against workers and the rural masses, and is another step towards dictatorship. Those claiming that the bill can be defeated by pressuring the government and through court proceedings are trying to politically hoodwink workers by promoting futile appeals to the very state which is launching the attacks.

Against the illusion-mongering of the trade unions, bourgeois opposition parties and pseudo-left parties, such as the Frontline Socialist Party, the SEP states that the anti-terrorism bill can only be defeated in a unified independent political and industrial struggle of the working class and the rural masses against the government and the profit system.

Such a struggle will not be led by the trade unions, which are hostile to this perspective and tied by a thousand threads to the government, big business and the banks.

That is why the SEP calls on workers and rural toilers to build their own action committees at every workplace, factory, estate and neighbourhood, independent of all trade unions and bourgeois parties and take forward their struggle on the following demands:

Immediately withdraw the anti-terrorism bill!

Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Essential Public Services Act and other anti-democratic laws, such as the Public Security Act under which emergency regulations can be imposed!

Abolish the executive presidency!

Establish a new democratic constitution, guaranteeing all basic rights!

These demands can only be realised as part of the struggle for a workers and peasants government committed to a socialist program. To fight for this, the SEP is calling for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses, based on the independent, democratically elected action committee delegates. We urge workers and youth to join the SEP and fight for this program.
The J. Marvin Jones Federal Building and Mary Lou Robinson United States Courthouse in Amarillo, Texas. This is the courthouse where U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk recently imposed a ban on the abortion drug mifepristone [AP Photo/Justin Rex]

The ruling issued Friday by federal District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, overturning approval of the abortion pill mifepristone by the Food and Drug Administration, is the most flagrant attack on the democratic right to abortion since the Supreme Courts decision last summer to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The decision, if not reversed on an emergency appeal, will have a catastrophic effect on health care for poor and working class women. Five million have used the two-drug combination of mifepristone and misoprostol in the two decades since the procedure was approved. In recent years, these medications have surpassed surgery as the most common abortion procedure, with an estimated 500,000 women making use of mifepristone in 2022.

In embracing the Comstock Act, a barbaric 1873 law that criminalized any delivery of materials relating in any way to sex or abortion through the mail or by commercial carrier, Kacsmaryk opened the door to legal challenges to any form of abortion, not just the pill, as well as contraception.

The decision would have a profoundly disruptive effect on the entire pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, according to an open letter issued Monday, signed by 400 CEOs and other executives. They noted that substituting the judgment of untrained judges for the scientific expertise of the FDA would open a Pandoras box for legal challenges to vaccines and other lifesaving treatments.

Under the principles laid down by the judge, anti-vax groups would be able to seek injunctions against the distribution of the vaccines that have saved countless lives in the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as vaccines for childhood illnesses that have been falsely linked to autism.

Kacsmaryk is an anti-abortion fanatic appointed to the federal bench by Donald Trump after five years as the deputy general counsel for a Christian fundamentalist group. He simply translated his conservative Catholic religious views into law, in gross violation of the separation of church and state laid down in the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

He trampled over such legal principles as the requirement that plaintiffs should have standing to sue: an actual injury suffered, not simply an ideological objection to a particular decision or law. He dismissed the evident fact that 23 years after the FDAs decision to approve mifepristone as safe and effective, the statute of limitations (six years) had long expired.

The method by which the case was brought before Kacsmaryk demonstrates that the ruling is the product of a political conspiracy against democratic rights. Right-wing groups have adopted a judge-shopping technique in which cases are filed in small judicial divisions in Texas with only a single judge, ensuring that they get the judge they want, one who is certain to rule in their favor.

A host of reactionary decisions have been engineered in this way, attacking the rights of immigrants, banning free medical care for gay men and other targets of fundamentalist bigotry and overturning other administrative actions by the Biden administration.

The response of the White House has been to comply with these judicial outrages, rather than challenging them and exposing the process as illegitimate. Biden and the Democratic Party have no concern over the hundreds of thousands of working class women who will be denied the simplest and least risky procedure for accessing abortion, and who may soon be denied any access at all.

The privileged upper-middle-class layer that constitutes the social basis of the Democratic Party, along with Wall Street and the Pentagon, will be able to access abortion services, through private resources or travel to another country if necessary, regardless of the legal counterrevolution being pursued by the ultra-right in the United States.

It is notable that despite the obsession of this layer with identity politics, based on race, gender and sexual orientation, there has been little response on their part to the repeal of Roe v. Wade or to the latest judicial atrocity.

Bidens preoccupation has been to insist on the need for a strong Republican Party, as he has said many times since the attempted coup on January 6, 2021, showed the fundamentally authoritarian and anti-democratic course on which Trump and his supporters, and the Republican Party as a whole, have embarked.

The essence of this strong Republican Party is now made clear, as a Trump-appointed judge issues a rabid anti-democratic ruling, which the Justice Department will appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court, where six out of 18 judges were appointed by Trump, and then to the Supreme Court, with six Republicans out of nine justices, including three appointed by Trump.

The character of the Supreme Court majority has been demonstrated in the revelation last week that Justice Clarence Thomas, the most consistently reactionary of the nine, regularly went on lavish vacations in the company of Texas billionaire Harlan Crow, who paid for everything, and Thomas never reported these lucrative favors to the court or the public.

The Supreme Court justice dismissed criticism of what he called family trips involving personal hospitality by some of his dearest friends. On Monday, Rolling Stone magazine reported that Crow had a large collection of Nazi memorabilia, including several paintings by Hitler, a copy of Mein Kampf signed by the author himself, linen embossed with the swastika and medallions of the fascist party. Did one of his dearest friends display his Nazi hoard to Justice Thomas?

Neither the Biden administration nor the Democratic Party will lift a finger against this right-wing cabal. Their sole political concern is to keep the Republican Party on board with the US proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. Insofar as the Democrats claim to defend abortion rights, it is only to provide a left cover for an administration and a party that have abandoned any shred of social reform and are funneling hundreds of billionsat the expense of the working classinto the current war against Russia and preparations for a future war with China.

There is an even more fundamental reason for Bidens determination to maintain a strong Republican Party, even one that is engaged in a fascistic rampage against democratic rights. Biden seeks to boost the Republican Party in order to avoid a collapse of the capitalist two-party system which could create an opening for the emergence of the working class as an independent political force.

The potential for such a political eruption is evident, in the initial wave of strikes in 2021 and 2022, in industry, health care and education and the struggles of workers in rail, the docks and other critical sectors of the economy. When class questions are on the line, as in the struggle by 110,000 rail workers against brutal exploitation and cuts in real wages, Biden drops the mask of friend of labor and makes it clear that he is really the friend of the union apparatus, which he relies on to suppress the working class. When that apparatus needs reinforcement, Biden is there to supply it, signing the bill last December to ban a rail strike and impose a contract already rejected by the workers.

Young people and working people who seek to defend abortion rights must turn to this growing movement of the working class. Abortion rights, like all democratic rights, are a class question. The defense of the rights of working class women must be fought for by the working class as a whole, as an integral part of its class struggle against the corporations and the capitalist state.
China has responded to the provocative visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen last week to the United States and Central America with a series of military exercises over the past three days. As she was about to return to Taiwan, Tsai held a high-profile meeting and press conference with the US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other senior lawmakers in California.

An outdoor screen broadcasts evening news in Beijing on 10 April, 2023. It shows Chinese fighter jet pilot during recently concluded Joint Sword exercise around Taiwan. [AP Photo/Ng Han Guan]

The meeting with McCarthythe second in line of succession to the presidency, after Vice President Kamala Harriswas the highest-level encounter on US soil since Washington formally broke diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 and established diplomatic ties with Beijing. At the time, the US de facto adopted the One China policy recognising Beijing as the legitimate government of all China, including Taiwan.

Now the Biden administration is in effect tearing up the One China policy that has underpinned US-China relations for four decades, by encouraging high-level diplomatic exchanges, accelerating arms sales to Taiwan and conducting naval provocations in the narrow Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, has made clear it wants to peacefully reintegrate the island but will use force if necessary, in particular, in the event of a formal declaration of independence by Taipei.

When then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last August despite Beijings warnings, the Chinese military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), staged a week of major drills in the airspace and waters surrounding the island. While the latest exercises were not of the same order of magnitude, it was to deliver a message to the Taiwanese government.

This is a serious warning against the provocations of Taiwan independence separatists in collusion with foreign forces, and a necessary action to defend the nations sovereignty and territorial integrity, the PLAs Eastern Theatre Command said. President Tsai and her Taiwanese nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) advocate greater independence from Beijing.

The Eastern Theatre Command said it had mobilised various forces to create an all-round deterrence posture. These included long-range weapons from the army, destroyers, missile cruisers, fighter jets, bombers, electronic warfare aircraft and long-range missile units. It stated that the units had simulated precision strikes on key targets in Taiwan and surrounding waters.

The Command released a video animation showing missiles being launched from the ground, ships and aircraft that included strikes on targets inside Taiwan. Scores of military aircraft, along with Chinese warships, were mobilised each day to rehearse combat operations, many of which crossed Taiwans Air Defence Identification Zone and the Taiwan Straits median lineneither of which has any standing in international law.

One of Chinas two aircraft carriers, the Shandong, also carried out exercises in international waters to the east of Taiwan and south of Miyako, one of Japans southernmost islands. The Eastern Theatre Command released video of fighters taking off from the carrier, the first to be domestically constructed. The Japanese military responded by scrambling its own fighter aircraft.

Even though Chinas response was relatively muted, the US continued its provocations, both military and diplomatic. The US Navys Seventh Fleet announced on Monday that its guided-missile destroyer Milius had sailed close to the Chinese-controlled islets in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea under the pretext of freedom of navigation.



For decades, the US virtually ignored territorial rivalries in the South China Sea between China and neighbouring countries in South East Asia. However, beginning with President Obama, then Trump and Biden, the US military has ratcheted up its freedom of navigation provocations against China in these contested waters as part of its aggressive confrontation with Beijing.

The PLAs Southern Theatre Command condemned the operation as illegal, saying its naval vessels had shadowed the ship and kept on alert with naval and air forces all the way.

At the same time, yet another US delegation arrived in Taipei for high-level discussions with Tsai and other government officials. This visit involved members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who met with the Taiwanese president on Saturday.

Under Washingtons One China policy, the US deliberately downplayed any contact with Taiwan that was generally at a low level. Under Trump and now Biden, the diplomatic rule book has been torn up to allow for unrestricted visits at all levels, including of military officials.

In a particularly provocative statement, Michael McCaul, the committee chair, pledged support for US training for Taiwans military. As the US ended diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, it abrogated its military alliance with the island and withdrew all military forces. Now it is increasing the number of US personnel in Taiwan.

McCaul condemned Chinas acts of aggression against your nation, then added: I look forward to a great future together, our two nations, one of peace and prosperity. We stand with Taiwan.

The comments reek of hypocrisy. In its bid to maintain its world dominance, US imperialism has waged wars of aggression continuously for the past three decades in the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa and the Balkans. Now the US and its NATO allies are recklessly engaging in a proxy war with nuclear-armed Russia, which Washington regards as a prelude to war with China, the chief threat to its global position.

The Biden administrations modus operandi against China is similar to that against Russia: to goad Beijing into attacking Taiwan and drag it into a debilitating war to weaken and fragment China. Washingtons claims to be defending Taiwan are just as bogus as its declarations of support for Ukraine. Its overriding strategic aim is the dominance of the Eurasian landmass and its vast natural and human resources.

The only means of halting this inexorable slide towards world war between nuclear armed powers in through the building of a unified antiwar movement of the international working class on the basis of a socialist perspective to put an end to global capitalism and its outmoded division of the world into rival nation-states.
The federal parliamentary Liberal Party last week decided to join its coalition partners, the rural-based Nationals, in opposing outright the Labor governments referendum proposal to enshrine in the Constitution a still undefined body to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton questioned over Aston by-election defeat on ABC-TVs Insiders program on April 2, 2023. [Photo: ABC-TV Insiders]

This decision, spearheaded by right-wing Liberal leader Peter Dutton, intensifies rifts within Australias ruling capitalist class over the plan to entrench an entirely new institution in the countrys 1901 Constitution, and hence the capitalist state apparatus.

After a two-hour party room meeting in Canberra, Dutton vowed to campaign actively against the Voice plan and made that stance binding on all members of the Liberals shadow ministry in an effort to silence internal dissent.

There are open divisions within the Liberals. Several backbenchers and most state Liberal leaders have said they will call for a yes vote in the referendum, due to be held later this year. Former Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyattwho backed the development of the Voice proposal from 2017 onward under the previous Liberal-National Coalition governmentresigned from the Liberal Party in response to Duttons announcement.

Today, the Coalitions shadow attorney-general and indigenous Australians spokesman Julian Leeser quit the Liberal Party frontbench, allowing him to campaign for the Voice, in whose planning he has been involved from its inception.

Those splits reflect the fact that much is at stake for the ruling class in this conflict. Together with the Labor government, big business overwhelmingly supports the Voice, not least as a mechanism for further integrating a privileged indigenous layer of corporate and agency CEOs, business entrepreneurs and senior academics into the capitalist establishment.

On the other hand, sections of the ruling class have raised concerns that the Voice would have a constitutionally-entrenched power to intervene into every aspect of government, including military and foreign policy, and to mount challenges to the High Court on the grounds of not being adequately consulted.

The stand taken by the Liberals goes further. It rejects the Voice project altogether, rather than simply objecting to the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment, which is yet to be finalised by a six-week parliamentary committee inquiry.

Those elements around Dutton have no fundamental differences with the underlying political and business agenda of cultivating and using an increasingly wealthy indigenous elite for mutual advantage, as they have done for decades in the name of reconciliation, essentially with capitalism.

The Liberals are proposing purely symbolic recognition in the Constitution and perhaps a legislated form of an advisory body, based on local and regional voices, that would not be cemented in the Constitution.

Having suffered a series of major electoral defeats, from last Mays federal election to the recent Aston by-election, marked by the implosion of the Liberal Partys base in affluent and middle-class areas, Dutton and his supporters are veering further to the right, to seek to agitate and mobilise a new base.

Duttons National Right faction of the much-depleted Liberal federal party room, which is estimated to account for 27 of the 66 remaining MPs, is reviving efforts to develop a more Trump-style populist movement, raging against what Dutton calls a Canberra Voice.

Dutton stated: Our proposal is to have a local and regional voice to listen to local elders who live in the community and listen to what will make a practical outcome in terms of maternal health, a restoration of law and order, a reduction in domestic violence.

This is an obvious dog whistle to right-wing and racist forces that seek to blame indigenous people for their shocking social conditions and demand a repressive law and order response. It is reminiscent of the Howard Coalition governments brutal and disastrous 2007 Northern Territory intervention.

That military-led operation, while presented as an intervention to protect indigenous children, was part of a plan to close economically unviable communities, open up land for exploitation and private profit, and develop a cheap labour force by undermining welfare benefits. Aboriginal people, the most oppressed section of the working class, were used as a test case for punitive measures against welfare recipients nationally.

Dutton, who was a minister in that government, now seeks to cloak the Coalitions position in terms of defending equal rights against an alleged bid to afford indigenous people special rights under the Constitution. The only people who will have special constitutional rights are the thin and wealthy indigenous layer who will serve unelected on the Voice.

This fraudulent refrain is shared by various right-wing formations, such as Senator Pauline Hansons One Nation and Advance, which are heavily involved in no campaigns against the Voice plan.

Neither the Liberals nor these elements have any difference whatsoever with the Labor governments real agenda, which consists of imposing onto the working class as a whole, the full brunt of the cost of the escalating military commitment, via the AUKUS pact, of war against China. On that, there is a bipartisan front with the Coalition.

Nevertheless, the Liberals stance throws into question protracted efforts, spanning two decades, by Labor and Liberal-National Coalition leaders alike, to give the appearance of redressing the more than 200-year dispossession and oppression of the indigenous population by British and Australian imperialism by inserting amendments into the colonial-era Constitution to recognise the indigenous people.

Ever since it barely scraped into office last May, winning less than a third of the vote, Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses Labor government has made the Voice referendum central to its political pitch.

This certainly has nothing to do with addressing the past crimes of Australian capitalism or the appalling conditions of many indigenous people. These conditions will continue to deteriorate, along with those of the entire working class, as the cost of living rises, the housing and social crisis deepens, and the Albanese government pours billions into military spending and tax cuts for the rich.

In fact, Albanese has already declared that the Voice project is not about spending any extra money on programs for indigenous people, which are woefully inadequate. Rather, the Labor government is desperate to use the Voice referendum to put a supposedly progressive veneer on its reactionary, pro-business and militarist agenda.

With the Liberals in disarray, the ruling class is depending on Labor and its trade union partners more than ever to impose this program. These apparatuses, however, are also widely discredited among workers and youth after decades of pro-business betrayals.

The Voice is intended to portray a fake national unity, covering over the ever-widening social inequality and class divide, both for domestic purposes and for war mobilisation preparations. It is central to seeking to promote reactionary nationalism by cloaking ruthless Australian imperialism in a new national identity of supposed inclusiveness.

The corporate elite also regards the Voice as a more institutional and reliable vehicle for pursuing mining and other corporate projects, which have often become embroiled in prolonged legal disputes with indigenous land claimants.

Both the Labor government and the opposition Coalition, in different ways, are seeking to divide workers along racial lines under conditions of rising working-class struggles in Australia and globally. In Labors case, it is appealing to racial and other forms of identity politics to block a unified fight against the social disaster being created by the same private profit system that has devastated indigenous people.

As the WSWS has explained, decades of false and broken promises, such as reconciliation, royal commissions, advisory bodies and official apologies, have proven that ending the atrocious situation confronting most indigenous people requires a fight by the entire working class to overturn the capitalist order and replace it with a socialist society, based on genuine social equality and real democracy.
The main point of investing for the long term is to make money. But more than that, you probably want to see it rise more than the market average. Unfortunately for shareholders, while the The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) share price is up 40% in the last five years, that's less than the market return. But if you include dividends then the return is market-beating. Zooming in, the stock is actually down 1.8% in the last year.

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.

See our latest analysis for Coca-Cola

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During five years of share price growth, Coca-Cola achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 50% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 7% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has become relatively pessimistic about the company.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

This free interactive report on Coca-Cola's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

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, Coca-Cola's TSR for the last 5 years was 64%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Coca-Cola shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 1.2% over the last year. And that does include the dividend. Having said that, the five-year TSR of 10% a year, is even better. The pessimistic view would be that be that the stock has its best days behind it, but on the other hand the price might simply be moderating while the business itself continues to execute. 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. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Coca-Cola you should know about.

But note: Coca-Cola may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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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There is no let-up in the incendiary provocations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right government against the Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank and Israels neighbours in the region.

On Sunday and Monday, police in East Jerusalem allowed thousands of Jewish visitors to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam, far more than last year.

This deliberate provocation and breach of the international arrangements governing the Mosque, agreed with Jordan, followed the police storming of the compound on Tuesday and Wednesday last week when worshippers were beaten inside the Mosque. On Friday, police arrested 15 worshippers for waving Palestinian flags, which they described as terrorist flags and incitement amid the deployment of a massive 2,300 officers in and around Jerusalems Old City ahead of early afternoon prayers.

With al-Aqsa at the heart of escalating tensions in the region, there are fears that allowing non-Muslims to enter the compound during the last 10 days of Ramadan will provoke further attacks on worshippers, prompting more rocket fire from Lebanon and Gaza and potentially triggering a wider conflagration within the West Bank and Israel itself.

Israeli settlers gather in the outpost of Eviatar in the West Bank, Monday, April 10, 2023. Thousands led by hardline ultranationalist Jewish settlers marched to the unauthorized settlement outpost Eviatar in the northern West Bank that was cleared by the Israeli government in 2021, protected by a large contingent of Israeli soldiers and police. [AP Photo/Ariel Schalit]

On Monday, an Israeli army battalion of 1,000 troops escorted a mass march of several thousand far-right activists on the settlement outpost of Eviatar, near the West Bank town of Huwara near Nablus, recently subjected to a pogrom-like attack by settlers. Thirteen border police companies were deployed to assist the regional police forces, with another 14 companies on standby.

The march was led by seven government ministers, including Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich; National Security Minister and Jewish Power leader Itamar Ben Gvir and National Missions Minister and Religious Zionism member Orit Strock; along with around 20 legislators and religious and settlement leaders.

Israeli settlers were forced to evacuate the outpostillegal even under Israeli lawin July 2021 under a rotten deal that allowed them to retain about 50 caravan houses pending the designation of the land as state-owned, legalising the theft of Palestinian property. Netanyahu promised to legalise the outpost as part of his deal to secure a far-right coalition government.

Ben Gvir said of the march, This statement, that we are here, and we are marching toward the futureand that today, ministers in the Israeli government are saying thisis a clear statement. In February, Smotrich, who was given responsibility for Israel's civil administration in the West Banktantamount to annexationannounced his intention to declare the land as state-owned land and turn it into an official settlement.

The march to Eviatar took place amid increasing efforts by the Israeli authorities to tighten their hold on the West Bank, illegally occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab Israeli war. Last month, the Knesset gave approval for settlers to return to four settlements in the West Bank by amending a 2005 law ordering their evacuation. In February, Israel granted retroactive recognition to eight illegal West Bank outposts, not including Eviatar.

While settlers can establish outposts on private Palestinian land, Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank, designated under the Oslo Accords as under Israeli military control, are unable to obtain Israeli army-issued building permits to build or extend their homes, even on their own land. Should they do so, they risk being forced from their homes and land and their property being demolished.

The new government has moved to implement the plans, already in hand under the previous government, for the forced removal of thousands of Palestinians around Masafer Yatta and Khan al-Ahmar in Area C, while speeding up the enforcement of demolition orders.

According to United Nations figures, 218 Palestinians in Area C have been forcibly displaced as a result of demolitions since the beginning of 2023, more than one third of the 594 Palestinians displaced there in 2022, while a further 200 have seen their homes demolished in East Jerusalem so far this year. Al Jazeera cited Palestinian authorities stating that at least 70 homes in Area C have stop-work or demolition orders issued against them, with Israeli settlers, granted a $5.5 million a year budget from the government and set to double in next years budget, to monitor, report and restrict Palestinian building.

On Monday, the army raided the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp near the West Bank city of Jericho, killing a 15-year-old boy in a mass arrest operation. Israeli forces killed six Palestinians in an earlier raid on the town last month. On Tuesday, Israeli soldiers shot dead two Palestinian gunmen who opened fire at a military post near a settlement in the West Bank.

Israel has renewed at least 800 administrative detention orders in the first three months of this year, the highest number since 2003. Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 98 Palestinians in the same period.

Netanyahu has agreed to the establishment of a national guard that while aimed in the first instance against Israels own Palestinian citizens, will also be used against all those who oppose the government.

This deliberate campaign of terror and incitement has led to the deaths of 14 Israelis in Palestinian attacks between January and the end of this March. Last Friday, two young Israeli sisters and their mother were killed in a shooting attack near a settlement in the Jordan Valley. An Italian tourist was rammed to death and another six injured in a car accident in Tel Aviv that the police claimed, contrary to the evidence, was a terror attack.

Netanyahu has given the green light to the fascists, racists and religious zealots that make up his government to incite the Palestinians in the run up to the end of Ramadan and provoke an uprising to be used as the excuse for a military onslaught. His aim is to quell the mass opposition, ongoing since the beginning of the year and the largest and most significant in Israels 75-year history, to his governments plans to assume dictatorial powers, paused till May at the behest of the Biden administration. By manufacturing some kind of national unity based on militarism, he hopes to deflect the countrys profound social and political tensions outwards and end the protests.

It comes as his ratings in the polls have plummeted, with surveys indicating that his Likud party would win just 20 seats, down from 32 in the last Novembers election, to finish in third place should an election be held now. A poll taken on Sunday showed that only 27 percent of respondents rely on the government to handle the wave of terror.

Netanyahu has come under pressure from the Biden administration to try and curb some of the most provocative statements of his far-right, fascistic colleagues, with a leaked Pentagon memo indicating it spied on Israel and claiming that the Mossad, Israels domestic spy agency, had encouraged protests against the Netanyahu governments judicial overhaul. Washington fears the far-rights inflammatory actions are harming US imperialisms broader machinations in the Middle East where Tel Aviv acts as its attack dog.

Netanyahu has retracted his decision to sack his defence minister, Yoav Gallant. He had fired Gallant, a former military commander who plays a key role in coordinating the US and Israels covert war with Iran, for warning that Netanyahus judicial overhaul was harming the military. Saying I decided to put the differences we had behind us, he added, Gallant remains in his position and we will continue to work together for the security of the citizens of Israel.

While he blamed the previous government of Naftali Bennett, Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid and opposition protests for exacerbating the countrys instability, he appealed to the opposition to stop doing small politics and support the State of Israel in this time of trial.

This was hardly necessary. This thoroughly cynical and scandal-ridden politician knows only too well he has the support of the self-proclaimed leaders of the opposition movement, National Unity chairman and former defence minister Gantz and Yesh Atid leader and former prime minister Lapid. Both leaders supported the armed forces attacks on Syria, Lebanon and Gaza last week, declaring they stood four-square with Netanyahu in defence of Israels security against its enemies and absenting themselves from last Saturday evenings mass rallies that attracted 250,000 people.

The Israeli air force launched airstrikes on Syria, a key Iranian ally, over the weekend, targeting Iranian military operatives and a pro-Syrian regime Palestinian armed group in Syria, in response to tit for tat rockets fired from Syria. It comes two days after 34 rockets were launched into Israel from southern Lebanon, which despite causing little damage prompted Israel to attack infrastructure and targets linked to Hamas, the militant clerical group that controls Gaza, in southern Lebanon.

On Saturday, the US Navy said it had deployed the USS Florida, a guided missile submarine, to the Middle East, a day after the US 5th Fleet warned all ships to proceed with caution following escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.

These developments point to the growing danger that the US and NATOs war on Russia in Ukraine could spread into a broader war across the Middle East. They must be taken as a warning by workers not only in the Middle East but around the world. The only way forward to prevent such an escalation is the revolutionary mobilization of the working class internationally against capitalisms drive to war.
Numerous bills have been introduced by state lawmakers around the US in recent months with the intent to make it easier to discipline, suspend and expel school children, including through physical force. This is part of a wider campaign by America's ruling elite to militarize and police public schools.

Students in an Omaha classroom [Photo: Omaha Public Schools Facebook]

Politicians cynically claim the measures are meant to curtail to the growth of gun violence and behavioral problems in schools, are intended to give educators more control over their classrooms and are necessary to ensure safe school environments.

All of these are lies coming from the same lawmakers who have systematically gutted school funding, are actively censoring teachers and students, and have schools open during a deadly pandemic, which has cost the lives of thousands of educators and children and left millions to suffer with Long COVID.

The bills introduced so far have been concentrated in Republican-led states, but in many instances have the support of the Democratic Party.

Last month, Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear signed into law HB 538 with bipartisan support. The law will require local boards of education to expel for at least 12 months students who have physically assaulted or threatened other students, faculty or staff. The law also allows principals to permanently remove disruptive students from their classrooms and expands the ability to suspend students who are deemed chronically disruptive.

In Nevada, three Democrats and one Republican have introduced a bill that would rescind a 2019 requirement for schools to implement a restorative justice plan before removing students from classrooms. Tellingly, the bill's co-sponsor, Democrat Assemblywoman Angie Taylor, cited teacher/staff shortages, low retention, increased stress and workload as the underlying issues causing disruptive behavior, conditions which both capitalist parties have created through decades of budget cuts, layoffs and school closures.

In Florida, a bill under review in the state Senate would allow teachers to remove students from their classrooms for being disobedient and disrespectful. The bill also says a teacher may use reasonable force to protect himself or herself or others from injury. The subheading of this portion of the bill is cynically titled Right to control the classroom.

Since becoming governor of Florida in 2019, Republican Ron DeSantis has spearheaded the far-right attack against public education and the democratic rights of teachers and students. He oversaw the passage of multiple laws that expressly limit educators control over education and embolden the far right, under the guise of parental rights, to dictate school curriculum. Entire school libraries have been emptied or closed in fear of violating a 2022 censorship law that requires all books to be vetted, with teachers and librarians facing possible criminal prosecution and job loss for supplying reading material that the state deems inappropriate.

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a law that would allow teachers and school staff to use reasonable physical intervention to manage [student] behavior. In North Carolina, lawmakers are attempting to make it easier to use long-term suspension and expulsion against students for use of inappropriate or disrespectful language, noncompliance with staff directives, [and] dress code violations.

Other bills target students as young as kindergarten for suspension. The Arizona legislature is attempting to roll back a 2021 law that banned suspension and expulsions for students in kindergarten through fourth grade except in the most serious circumstances. The bill under review would allow for K-4 students to be suspended for up to two days for any reason.

A recently enacted bill in West Virginia will require students in kindergarten to 12th grade who are removed from their classes for disruptive behavior to be held from class the entire day in in-school suspension and to be automatically given an out-of-school suspension if they are removed from their classes three times in one month.

The urgent push to beef up law and order in the schools against disrespect and disobedience underscores that the true purpose of these laws is not to ensure safe school environments but to preemptively crack down against the growing radicalization of the working class and youth. The bills are being introduced amid an upsurge of student and educator struggles against the deteriorating conditions inside public schools, including the gun-violence epidemic, the ongoing danger of COVID-19, and the generally dilapidated and crumbling state of school infrastructure.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, tens of thousands of teachers, school workers and students across the United States have staged sickouts, strikes and walkouts against being forced into unsafe school buildings. Students have held dozens of walkouts in response to school shootings, including last year following the Uvalde massacre, and last week following the latest mass shooting at a Nashville private school.

The justifications for the new lawsgun violence and student behavioral issuesare contradicted by decades of research, which has demonstrated such exclusionary and zero-tolerance discipline to be ineffective. Moreover, such practices have many serious long-term consequences, including increased likelihood of dropping out and negative mental health outcomes for punished students.

A 2011 policy report by the National Education Policy Center details the overwhelming evidence against such practices, including research from the American Psychological Association which, after reviewing all the available literature, found no evidence that zero-tolerance disciplinary policies and their application to mundane and non-violent misbehavior improve school safety or student behavior. One study found that only 5 percent of school suspensions were related to guns, violence or drugs.

A study published in 2021 by the American Institute for Research found that in addition to multiple negative long-term effects on students who were suspended, these  are not offset by any improvements to their peers outcomes or their peers or teachers reports of their schools climate.

Meanwhile, state and federal lawmakers are actively gutting schools of desperately needed funding, resources and personnel. The same states seeking to increase discipline, including Arizona and Florida, have passed laws to vastly expand school voucher programs that will divert public funding to private and charter schools.

In particular, mental health support for students is woefully underfunded amid a staggering mental health crisis in the youth. The 2021 annual report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) on School Crime and Safety found that between 2019-2020, the majority of schools (54 percent) reported that their efforts to provide mental health services to students were limited in a major way by inadequate funding. Forty percent reported inadequate access to licensed mental health professionals as a major limitation.

At the same time, the American ruling class has exploited the school shooting epidemic to increase the repressive powers of the state inside public schools. A 2019 report by the ACLU titled Cops and No Counselors highlights the vast chasm between police in schools, whose presence continues to grow, and the dearth of mental health professionals. They found that 3 million students attended schools that had police but no nurses; 10 million attended schools with police but no social workers; and 14 million attended schools with police but no counselor, nurse, psychologist or social worker. Nationally, there were more sworn law enforcement officers than social workers in US schools.

The security industry has also ensured that a good crisis not go to waste. According to market research firm Omdia, the education security industry was estimated at $3.1 billion in 2021, with an expected 8 percent annual growth. Districts have purchased advanced surveillance technology, including software to continuously monitor students social media. However, the National Association of School Psychologists stated in 2018, There is no clear evidence that the use of metal detectors, security cameras, or guards in schools is effective in preventing school violence and have been shown to harm students and school environments.

The string of punitive laws against students and their right to an education has been bolstered by the treacherous complicity of the trade unions, allowing right-wing lawmakers to claim they are championing teachers. Both in Nevada and Nebraska, union bureaucrats have been vocal supporters of the proposed bills. The West Virginia Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, spearheaded a campaign in 2009 called Discipline Without Delay to make it easier for teachers to exclude disruptive students.

This is in line with the union apparatuses' function as a support system of the Democratic Party and the capitalist state. This includes the unions determined efforts to coerce teachers back into COVID-infected classrooms throughout the pandemic, their support for the US-NATO war drive against Russia, and their routine sabotage and isolation of educators strikes across the country, most recently in Los Angeles.

The conditions inside public schools reflect the broader social crisis and brutality that characterize everyday life under American capitalism: vast social inequality, mass poverty, 1.1 million dead from a preventable pandemic, and endless money for war and the police, while schools, hospitals and social programs are cut to the bone. It is the task of the international working class, supported by a movement of the youth, to abolish these conditions in a revolutionary struggle against the capitalist system itself.
April 11 marks four years since WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange was violently dragged from Ecuadors London embassy and arrested by the British police. Since that time, Assange has been imprisoned, without interruption, in the maximum-security Belmarsh Prison, described by some as Britains Guantanamo Bay.

Julian Assange being dragged out of the Ecuadorean embassy in London, April 2019 [Photo: Facebook]

Assanges ongoing detention, in a facility designed to hold terrorists and violent criminals, is not because he has been convicted of any crime. Its sole purpose is to facilitate a US extradition request that has been denounced by human rights groups as a dire attack on freedom of the press.

His only offense is to have published true information as a journalist, exposing US-led war crimes. That includes US Army documents showing thousands of civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan that had been covered up by the American government and gross violations of international law, from US-NATO massacres to torture.

For all of these horrific actions, the only person who has faced prison time is Assange, who exposed them.

The footage of Assanges arrest shocked people around the world. Not only was the journalist manhandled by the British police. His physical condition had also markedly deteriorated. In the last years of his stay, the Ecuadorian Embassy had been transformed from a place of refuge to a de facto prison, including spying and other intrigues, which have since been revealed to have included CIA discussions of a possible kidnap or murder of the WikiLeaks publisher.

The arrest was itself a crime.

Assanges status as an internationally recognised political refugee has been repeatedly upheld by the relevant United Nations bodies. He was arrested, moreover, at the instigation of the US government. Its pursuit was the very basis for his refugee status, meaning the right-wing Ecuadorian governments expulsion of Assange violated the fundamental principle of non-refoulement, which bars an asylum seeker from being returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.

Nevertheless, some may have harbored illusions that at least Assange would receive access to medical care, that he was unable to receive in the confines of the embassy, and that he would be afforded legal proceedings, which if they were based upon due process, precedent and evidentiary standards, he could not lose.

Any such illusions, however, have been shattered. Assanges four years of detention have been a litany of abuses.

Assange has now been incarceration in Belmarsh Prison for some 1,460 days. Given that he is 51 years old, turning 52 in July, that constitutes almost 12 percent of his adult life. If the period of his asylum is added, Assange has been in some form of detention for close to 11 years, or almost a third of his adult life.

His custody in Britain has been characterised by two interrelated processes, both furthering the US goal of destroying Assange. The first has been a complete indifference to the deterioration of Assanges health. The second, the commitment of the judiciary to do everything possible to further the legal campaign against the WikiLeaks publisher.

It was in November 2019 that eminent medical experts first publicly warned that Assanges health was declining to the point that he may die in prison and demanded his immediate release. Since then, the British courts have repeatedly rejected bail applications, despite the fact that Assange is not serving a sentence for any crime and is a frail and non-violent intellectual.

The entirely foreseeable consequence of those decisions has been his further deterioration, with Assange suffering a stroke behind bars, contracting COVID-19 and, according to his relatives and lawyers, becoming more unwell.

This has gone hand in hand with almost innumerable judicial attacks. The UK is proceeding with the US request for Assange, even though the relevant treaty between the two nations explicitly bars extradition for political offenses, and the charges against the WikiLeaks publisher, under the Espionage Act and for publishing documents that exposed the American government, are explicitly political.

The legal process has rolled on and advanced, despite the US case for extradition collapsing. In June 2021, Sigurdur Siggi Thordarson, a convicted criminal from Iceland, admitted that his testimony against Assange had been lies, proffered in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

Extraordinarily, those admitted lies remain in the current US indictment. The esteemed British judges have simply ignored the fact that the indictment, whose merits they are adjudicating, contains openly acknowledged falsehoods.

Then in September 2021, Yahoo News published a detailed investigative report. Based on the statements of more than 30 current and former US officials, it demonstrated, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Trump administration and the CIA had discussed and plotted the illegal kidnapping or assassination of Assange in London. In the process of this operation, they had also extensively surveilled his confidential discussions with lawyers and private consultations with doctors.

A criminal indictment against Assange was only drawn up to bolster these extra-legal and gangster-like plans.

If any of this occurred in Russia or China, the corporate press, together with Western politicians, would have no hesitation in denouncing it as an infamous frame-up and political persecution. But instead, Assanges detention continues, and the prospect of extradition grows ever closer.

Definite lessons must be learnt. There is no shortage of support for the WikiLeaks publisher, who is viewed by broad layers of workers and young people as a heroic and principled figure. But that support remains latent and has yet to take the form of a mass movement fighting for his freedom.

Undoubtedly, the lies, obfuscations and most often silence of the corporate media has played a role in this.

But a definite political perspective also shares responsibility. For the past four years, the official WikiLeaks-backed campaign has focussed on the backroom lobbying of capitalist politicians and other prominent individuals. Plaintive appeals have been issued to virtually every government and leader, from Trump, to Biden in the US, and Johnson and the Labourites in Britain. In Australia, illusions were promoted that the Labor government, elected last year, would mark a break with its conservative predecessor and defend Assange as a persecuted Australian citizen.

But those illusions have been, or should have been, dashed. All of the governments and official political parties maintain an open support for the persecution of Assange, or a tacit complicity. Even as it is exposed as a lawless victimisation, they proclaim their respect for the legal process that is aimed at throwing Assange into a CIA dungeon for the rest of his existence.

Over the past four years, the political content of the case has become ever clearer. The attempted US extradition is not only retribution for Assanges exposure of past illegal wars. It is also an attempt to intimidate the widespread opposition that exists to the new and even greater crimes that American and world imperialism are preparing.

A quarter of Assanges British incarceration has coincided with the war in Ukraine. That conflict, stoked, prepared and instigated by Washington, is now indisputably a proxy war between the US and NATO on one side and Russia on the other. Only this month, documents leaked online have shown that US troops are on the ground within Ukraine and are directing the fighting.

This is just one front in what is developing as a global war. With the full support of the Labor government that refuses to defend Assange, the Biden administration is activating longstanding plans for a direct conflict with China, which is viewed as the chief threat to American imperialist economic dominance.

As in the 20th century, the drive to war is incompatible with basic democratic rights, and is inevitably accompanied by frame-ups, victimisations and political persecution.

But the war is unfolding, under conditions of an immense growth of the class struggle internationally, with explosive upheavals spanning from Sri Lanka to France and virtually everywhere between. This emerging global movement, which has revolutionary implications, is the basis not only for the struggle against capitalist austerity, but also for the fight against war and in defence of democratic rights.

It is to the emerging mass struggles of workers and young people that defenders of Assange and of civil liberties must turn. Governments will only free Assange if they are compelled to do so from a mass movement from below. The WSWS and the SEP will continue to do everything possible to raise the Assange case in the struggles that are emerging and to encourage workers entering into struggle to inscribe the fight for his freedom on their banner.
Columbus A/S

Company announcement no. 4/2023







Columbus A/S acquires ICY Security ApS in Denmark, and thereby expands the business to meet customer demand for cyber security services.

Today, Columbus A/S has signed an agreement to acquire the Danish cyber security company, ICY Security ApS. ICY Security is among the largest consultancies and implementation companies in the Nordics within Identity & Access Management (IAM) with many years of experience within cyber security. IAM includes Identity, Governance & Administration (IGA), Access Management (AM), Privileged Access Management (PAM) and CIAM (Customer Identity & Access Management).

With the acquisition of ICY Security, Columbus expands its business to meet customers increasing demand for secure access to business-critical data. The focus on Identity & Access Management is a natural step for many of Columbus customers that are looking to raise the organisation's cyber security level.

In the past couple of years, Columbus has focused on organic growth and on streamlining the core business. Having achieved organic growth in the last seven quarters, we are now adding acquisitions to augment our continued organic growth. The acquisition of ICY Security is an important investment in extending Columbus offerings following the increased need for cyber security services from our customers. At the same time, Columbus secures a strong position in a fast-growing market, says CEO & President Sren Krogh Knudsen.

Columbus takes over 50 highly skilled employees in Ballerup, Aarhus and Aalborg. In addition, Columbus takes over the customer base comprising more than 70 customers, characterized by medium-sized and large enterprise companies.

Columbus offers a wide portfolio of digital solutions, including Cloud ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), Change Management, and Application Management Systems. ICY Securitys expertise in Cyber Security and Identity & Access Management complements Columbus broad portfolio of business-critical solutions to new and existing customers.

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ICY Security is a good match for Columbus, both when it comes to the potential synergies with Columbus offerings and in relation to the company values and culture.

The ambition is to expand to the rest of the Nordic countries where Columbus already has a strong presence with close to 1,000 employees. Globally, Columbus has around 1,500 employees.

In 2022, ICY Security had a revenue of DKK 66.5m and EBITDA of DKK 4.6m (unaudited).

The acquisition was signed and closed on 11 April 2023 with financial effect from 1 April 2023.

Transaction overview

The agreed acquisition price is DKK 125m (Enterprise Value). DKK 40m is paid at closing, and the remaining amount of DKK 85m is dependent on reaching the agreed earnings targets and is expected to be paid over the next three years.

The acquisition is financed by Columbus available funds.

Based on the above transaction, Columbus is adjusting the full year guidance for 2023 accordingly:

Revenue guidance: From DKK 1,500m  1,550m to DKK 1,550m  1,600m, corresponding to a growth of 12-15% and an organic growth of 8-12%, both in constant currencies.

EBITDA guidance: From DKK 115m  135m to DKK 119m  139m, corresponding to a margin of 7.4% - 9.0%.





For further information, please contact:



CEO & President, Sren Krogh Knudsen, +45 70 20 50 00

Attachment




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Dublin, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Company List - Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers in Taiwan" database has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Company List - Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers in Taiwan is an Excel company list of companies involved in Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers in Taiwan. There are approximately 8000 companies in this list.



Each Excel file contains the following:



Company name

Address fields (address, zip / postcode, country)

Website address (where available)

Revenue ($USm) (where available)

Name and job title of a management contact

Reasons to buy this list:



To understand the leading companies in a particular industry

To track your competitors and to understand their size

You have a product or service you wish to sell to companies in this sector

You are looking for comparable companies for mergers and acquisitions activity

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WASHINGTON, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Computational Biology Market is valued at USD 4.71 Billion in 2022 and is projected to attain a value of USD 17.46 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 17.80% during the forecast period, 20232030.



Market Overview

The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing demand for computational biology in drug discovery and development, personalized medicine, and precision medicine.

Computational biology is a branch of biology that uses computer science and mathematics to study biological systems. It is used to model and simulate biological processes, identify patterns in biological data, and develop new drugs and therapies.

The drug discovery and development segment is expected to be the largest market for computational biology during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is attributed to the increasing demand for new drugs and therapies for the treatment of chronic diseases. Computational biology is used in drug discovery and development to identify potential drug targets, screen compounds for efficacy and toxicity, and optimize drug candidates.

The personalized medicine segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is attributed to the increasing demand for personalized healthcare. Computational biology is used in personalized medicine to develop tailored treatments for individual patients. It is used to identify genetic variants that may be associated with a disease, and to predict the response of a patient to a particular drug.

The precision medicine segment is expected to grow at a moderate CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is attributed to the increasing demand for precision medicine. Precision medicine is a type of healthcare that takes into account the individual's genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle to develop tailored treatments. Computational biology is used in precision medicine to identify genetic variants that may be associated with a disease, and to predict the response of a patient to a particular drug.

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Market Dynamics

The computational biology market is driven by several factors, including advancements in technology, increasing demand for personalized medicine, and the need for more efficient drug discovery and development processes. However, the market also faces challenges such as data security concerns, lack of standardization, and shortage of skilled professionals.

Advancements in technology, particularly in omics technologies, have led to the generation of large amounts of complex data, which require sophisticated computational tools for analysis and interpretation. This has led to an increasing demand for computational biology tools and services.

The demand for personalized medicine is also driving the growth of the computational biology market. Personalized medicine involves tailoring medical treatment to individual patients based on their genetic makeup and other personal factors. Computational biology tools are essential in identifying biomarkers and developing targeted therapies for specific patient groups.

Efficient drug discovery and development processes are also crucial in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Computational biology tools are used in drug discovery and development to identify potential drug targets, optimize drug efficacy and safety, and reduce development costs and time.

However, the market also faces challenges such as data security concerns. As the amount of sensitive data generated by omics technologies increases, data security concerns become more significant. Companies and institutions must ensure that they have appropriate measures in place to protect sensitive data.

The lack of standardization is also a challenge in the computational biology market. The lack of standardization in data formats and analysis methods can lead to inconsistencies in research results and hinder collaboration between different research groups.

Finally, there is a shortage of skilled professionals in the computational biology field. The demand for skilled professionals is high, but the supply is limited. This shortage is expected to continue in the coming years, posing a challenge to the growth of the market.

Top Players in the Global Computational Biology Market

Dassault Systemes SE (France)

Chemical Computing Group ULC (Canada)

Genedata AG (Switzerland)

Instem PLC (UK)

Compugen Ltd (Israel)



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Top Report Findings

The computational biology market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.80 from 2023 to 2030.

The drug discovery and development segment are expected to be the largest market for computational biology during the forecast period.

The personalized medicine segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The growth of the computational biology market is being driven by the increasing demand for computational biology in drug discovery and development, personalized medicine, and precision medicine.

The key challenges that are hindering the growth of the computational biology market are lack of skilled professionals in computational biology, high cost of computational biology tools and software, complex regulatory landscape, and data privacy and security concerns.



The computational biology market is segmented on the basis of application, end-user, and region. Based on application, the market is segmented into drug discovery and development, personalized medicine, precision medicine, and others. The drug discovery and development segment is expected to be the largest market for computational biology during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing demand for new drugs and therapies for the treatment of chronic diseases. Computational biology is used in drug discovery and development to identify potential drug targets, screen compounds for efficacy and toxicity, and optimize drug candidates.

Based on end-user, the market is segmented into pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic and research institutes, and government organizations. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies segment is expected to be the largest market for computational biology during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing investment by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in R&D activities to develop new drugs and therapies. Computational biology is used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to identify potential drug targets, screen compounds for efficacy and toxicity, and optimize drug candidates.

Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. North America is expected to be the largest market for computational biology during the forecast period. This is attributed to the presence of a large number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the region. Additionally, the region is also home to a number of academic and research institutes that are involved in computational biology research.

Top Trends in Global Computational Biology Market

Cloud Computing and Big Data Analytics: The increasing amount of data generated by omics technologies requires sophisticated computational tools for analysis and interpretation. Cloud computing provides a scalable and cost-effective solution for managing large amounts of data and enables researchers to access computational resources from anywhere in the world. Big data analytics, on the other hand, involves using advanced algorithms and statistical techniques to extract insights from complex data sets.

Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are increasingly being integrated into computational biology to improve the accuracy and efficiency of data analysis and interpretation. AI and ML algorithms can help identify patterns in large data sets, predict outcomes, and optimize drug discovery and development processes.

Single-Cell Analysis Technologies: Single-cell analysis technologies are emerging as a key trend in the computational biology market. These technologies enable researchers to analyze individual cells and uncover insights into cellular heterogeneity, cellular function, and disease mechanisms. Single-cell analysis technologies are particularly useful in cancer research and personalized medicine.

Collaborative Research Initiatives: Collaborative research initiatives are becoming more prevalent in the computational biology market. These initiatives involve multiple organizations, such as academic institutions, research organizations, and pharmaceutical companies, working together to solve complex research problems. Collaborative research initiatives enable researchers to access expertise, share data, and pool resources, leading to faster and more efficient research outcomes.

Open-Source Software: Open-source software is becoming increasingly popular in the computational biology market. Open-source software allows researchers to access and modify software code, enabling them to customize software tools to their specific research needs. Open-source software also promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing within the research community.



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Regional Analysis

North America: North America is the largest market for computational biology, owing to the presence of a large number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research organizations, and academic institutions in the region. The United States dominates the North American market, with Canada also contributing significantly to the growth of the market in the region. The increasing demand for personalized medicine, the need for more efficient drug discovery and development processes, and the growing adoption of advanced technologies are driving the growth of the computational biology market in North America.

Europe: Europe is the second-largest market for computational biology, driven by the increasing investment in research and development activities, the presence of a large patient population, and the growing demand for personalized medicine. The United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy are the major contributors to the growth of the computational biology market in Europe.

Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the increasing investment in research and development activities, the presence of a large patient population, and the growing demand for personalized medicine. China, Japan, and India are the major contributors to the growth of the computational biology market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Latin America: The Latin American market for computational biology is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period, driven by the increasing investment in research and development activities, the growing adoption of advanced technologies, and the presence of a large patient population. Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina are the major contributors to the growth of the computational biology market in Latin America.

Middle East and Africa: The Middle East and Africa region is expected to show moderate growth during the forecast period, driven by the increasing investment in research and development activities, the growing adoption of advanced technologies, and the presence of a large patient population. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa are the major contributors to the growth of the computational biology market in the Middle East and Africa



Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 158 Pages and in-depth TOC on Computational Biology Market Forecast Report (2023-2030).

Global Computational Biology Market Segmentation

By Application

Cellular & Biological Simulation

Drug Discovery & Disease Modelling

Preclinical Drug Development

Clinical Trials

Human Body Simulation Software



By Services

n-house

Contract

By End-Use

Academics

Industry

Commercial



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 4.71 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 17.46 Billion CAGR 17.80% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players Chemical Computing Group Inc.; Compugen Ltd.; Simulation Plus Inc.; Genedata AG; Certara; Insilico Biotechnology AG; Accelrys; Rhenovia Pharma SAS; Entelos; Nimbus Discovery LLC; and Rhenovia Pharma SAS. 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/computational-biology-market-1302/request-sample

The key questions answered in the Computational Biology Market Report are:

What is the size and potential of the global computational biology market, and what are its growth prospects during the forecast period? What are the key drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the computational biology market, and how are they expected to impact market growth? What are the major applications of computational biology, and what is the current and projected market share of each application? What are the major end-users of computational biology, and what is the current and projected market share of each end-user? What are the major technologies used in computational biology, and what is the current and projected market share of each technology? What are the major products and services offered in the computational biology market, and what is the current and projected market share of each product and service? What are the major geographic regions in the computational biology market, and what is the current and projected market share of each region? Who are the major players in the computational biology market, and what are their market strategies, competitive landscape, and recent developments? What are the major trends in the computational biology market, and how are they expected to shape the market during the forecast period? What are the major challenges faced by the computational biology market, and what are the strategies adopted by companies to overcome these challenges?

The report also provides a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape of the computational biology market, and profiles of the key players involved in the market. The report also provides a comprehensive analysis of the market dynamics, including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.

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Market.Us

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global contactless payments market is estimated to be valued at USD 90.6 billion by 2032 from USD 22.4 billion in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 15.4% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032. Contactless payments refer to payment methods that enable customers to complete transactions without physically touching a payment terminal or exchanging cash.

Instead, customers can take advantage of digital payment instruments like mobile wallets or credit/debit cards with contactless capabilities for convenient purchases. Contactless payments can be enabled by various payment technologies, such as Near Field Communication (NFC) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). With contactless payments, customers only need to enter their PIN number for speedy processing. Contactless payments have become increasingly commonplace across BFSI, retail, IT & telecom, transportation, hospitality services, and government organizations alike.

Contactless Payments Market

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Key Takeaway:

By component, in 2022, the contactless payments market was dominated by the hardware segment due to its increased usage.

By application, the retail segment dominated the largest market share in application type analysis and accounted for the largest revenue share.

In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 30% .

APAC is expected to grow at a greater pace owing to the increasing prevalence of contactless payment methods due to mobile payments and e-wallets



Factors affecting the growth of the Contactless Payments industry

There are several factors that are affecting the growth of the contactless payments industry. These include:

Technological Advancements: Due to advances in Near Field Communication (NFC), radio-frequency identification (RFID), and biometric authentication, contactless payments have become safer and more feasible, allowing this industry to expand.

Changing Consumer Behaviour: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, customers are increasingly seeking more practical and contactless payment options. As a result, there has been an uptick in demand for contactless payment systems, which is aiding business expansion.

Government Policies and Regulations: Government policies and regulations can have a major impact on the growth of contactless payment systems by creating an advantageous regulatory climate and offering incentives.

Collaborations and Partnerships: Financial institutions, retailers, and payment providers have all played an integral role in the growth of this industry by increasing the variety and accessibility of contactless payment options available to consumers.

Increased Merchant Acceptance: As more shops adopt contactless payments, consumers will find the process simpler and more convenient, potentially encouraging growth in this sector.

Security Issues: Consumers' concerns about the security of their financial information can have a major influence on whether and how contactless payments are adopted and used. Fortunately, these concerns have been alleviated through advances in security technologies that have restored consumer faith in contactless payments.

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Market Growth

Customers are looking for quick and secure payment options on a growing basis, particularly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased demand for contactless payments. Also, Consumers can now make contactless payments more easily due to the growing use of smartphones and mobile payments, which have increased the use of these payment methods. Consumers now find it becoming more and more convenient to use contactless payments owing to the spread of NFC-enabled devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, and contactless payment cards. Governments across the globe are actively promoting contactless payments by establishing laws and programs that encourage companies to accept them, thus making it easier for customers to use these options. Contactless payments are now more secure because of EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) technology, which has increased consumer sentiment toward these payment options.

Regional Analysis

North America is forecast to be the most lucrative market in the global contactless payments market, with a share of 30% during the forecast period. With growing interest in digitization, IoT, and big data processing, contactless payment solution providers across North America are expected to see increased demand for advanced hardware and software solutions. The Asia-Pacific region has seen a rapid rise in contactless payment methods thanks to mobile payments and e-wallets; countries such as China, India, and Japan are key players in this space. Europe has been a pioneer in contactless payment adoption, with countries like the UK, Poland, and Germany boasting high penetration rates for contactless payment cards due to favorable regulatory policies such as raising the contactless payment limit and encouraging mobile payments and e-wallets.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 22.4 billion Market Size (2032) USD 90.6 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 15.4% North America Revenue Share 30% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

Contactless payments offer customers a faster and more convenient way to make purchases, especially small ones. Customers appreciate being able to tap their card or mobile device instead of having to carry cash or enter their PIN code manually. Contactless payments tend to be more secure than other payment methods, as they use advanced encryption technology to safeguard sensitive financial data. This gives customers peace of mind and helps reduce fraudulence and other security risks. Due to the rising popularity of smartphones for making payments, businesses are increasingly adopting contactless payment solutions in an effort to stay ahead of this trend. Furthermore, many credit card issuers have started issuing contactless cards in an effort to further accelerate the adoption of this technology.

Market Restraints

One of the primary barriers to contactless payments is that businesses must invest in infrastructure to support them. Payment terminals, software upgrades, and other hardware or software components can be expensive and time-consuming to implement. Although contactless payments have seen a meteoric rise in popularity recently, some consumers remain wary. They may feel insecure using contactless transactions, while others might prefer traditional payment methods. Regulations and standards regarding contactless payments are constantly changing, creating uncertainty for businesses and consumers alike. Furthermore, contactless payments require strong internet connectivity in order to function properly; in areas with slow connections, these methods may not be as reliable or efficient, potentially limiting their usefulness in certain regions.

Market Opportunities

Over the forecast period, digitalized payment options are expected to drive market growth. To enhance security and gain greater control when making offline purchases, the payment industry is transitioning toward EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) chip cards. Contactless payment cards offer greater security compared to cash payments, and many consumers are transitioning away from traditional methods towards contactless options like Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Payment industries are adopting contactless payment technologies in an effort to protect consumers from fraudulence and identity theft. Cards through EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa), loyalty offers on payment methods as well as cardholder verification methods plus reports based on spending are expected to fuel the growth of this market.

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Report Segmentation of the Contactless Payments Market

Component Insight

Component analysis indicates that the hardware sector, currently holding 50% market share, will be the most lucrative segment in the global contactless payments market by 2022. This can be further divided into POS, Cards, and Other segments for analysis. Technology companies and payment service providers offer comprehensive end-to-end solutions, from managing devices to contactless mobile payment options, payment terminal solutions, managing transactions, and data securely; to combatting security threats and fraud. With the rising adoption of contactless payment methods across industries such as banking & finance institutions, retail outlets, transportation businesses, hospitality establishments, and government organizations, there is expected to be significant growth across these sectors.

Application Insight

Retail is expected to be the most lucrative segment in the global contactless payments market by 2022, with a market share of 56%. Contactless payments have become increasingly commonplace in retail stores - both physical and online - due to their convenience and speed which allow customers to complete purchases quickly and effortlessly. Furthermore, hospitality establishments like restaurants, bars, and hotels have adopted contactless payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic when customers sought ways to pay without physically touching a payment terminal; this trend is forecast to grow during this timeframe.

Recent Development of the Contactless Payments Market

In June 2022 - Giesecke+Devrient, a leader in security technology, announced the acquisition of Valid USA's payment and identification solutions division With increased scale at their disposal, clients will be able to address ongoing supply chain issues that impact all industries globally.

In May 2022, Giesecke+Devrient unveiled a revolutionary banknote type: the "Green Banknote". This innovative paper currency uses eco-friendly materials and efficient production processes to produce durable notes with advanced security features for an eco-friendly cash cycle.

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Market Segmentation

Based on Component

Hardware POS Cards Others

Solution Payment Terminal Solution Device Management Solution Contactless Mobile Payment Solution Transaction & Data Management Security and Fraud Management

Services Consulting Integration & Deployment Support & Maintenance



Based on the Application

Retail

Transportation

Healthcare

Hospitality

Other Applications

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

Majority of the businesses are implementing various strategies to attract users and customers towards contactless payments, such as offering cash back, rewards, and discounts for paying through contactless payment gateways. Furthermore, companies like Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Starbucks are offering discounts and rewards for those who such types of payment methods. Network-providing companies are working closely with different payment technology vendors.

Some of the major players include:

Gemalto

Infineon

Ingenico

Wirecard

Verifone

Giesecke+Devrient

IDEMIA

On Track Innovations

Identiv

CPI Card Group

Bitel

Seomatic Systems

Valitor

PAX Global Technology

MYPINPAD

Mobeewave

Alcineo

Castles

SumUp

PayCore

Other Key Players

Related Reports:

Payment Processing Solutions Market size is expected to be worth around USD 198 Billion by 2032 from USD 65.6 Billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 12.00% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032.

Smart card market size was valued at USD 10.02 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2023 to 2032.



Digital transaction management was valued at USD 7,954 million in 2021. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 25.0% between 2023 and 2032.



Automated fare collection market was valued at USD 11,950 million in 2021. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% between 2022 and 2032.



Blockchain Technology Market size was valued at USD 72 billion in 2022 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 68% between 2023-2032.

Identity and Access Management Market was valued at USD 14.7 Billion in 2022. Between 2023 and 2032, this market is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 13.7%.

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Transparency Market Research

Global contraceptives market growth is driven by the increasing emphasis on population control and prevention of STIs & an increase in efforts by governments to raise awareness about the negative effects of population growth and unwanted pregnancies.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Recent Research Study by Transparency Market Research, the global contraceptives market is slated to register an impressive 15.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2028. By the end of the said forecast period, a valuation of USD 2.7 Bn has been projected for this market. With increasing awareness about reproductive health, countries are striving to introduce various birth control initiatives, thus encouraging sales.



Globally, population growth is rising rapidly. According to the latest projections put forward by the United Nations, the worlds population is likely to grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030. It will eventually reach 9.7 billion in 2050, and ultimately reach its peak of 10.4 billion in the 2080s. This is evidently expected to put immense pressure on existing resources. Hence, initiatives to reduce this growth are being undertaken, for which the use of contraception is rising.

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Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue USD 893.9 Mn in 2020 Estimated Value USD 2.7 Bn by 2028 Growth Rate 9.2% Forecast Period 20212028 No. of Pages 189 Pages Market Segmentation By Product, and Distribution Channel Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America Companies Covered Merck & Co., Inc., Cipla, Inc., Allergan plc, Bayer AG, HLL Lifecare Limited, Mankind Pharma, Pfizer, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Mithra Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Pharmaceutical Company, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc.

Moreover, the World Health Organization reports that over 1 million sexually transmitted infections are acquired every day worldwide. Each year, there are an estimated 374 million new infections, with 1 of 4 STIs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Hence, the use of contraceptive methods such as condoms, birth control pills, antibiotics, and antivirals is increasing.

Story continues

While significant progress is being made, there are still pockets of the world wherein awareness about reproductive health is limited. This may be attributed to elevated levels of poverty or cultural barriers. This is likely to stymie the expansion of the contraceptives market. However, with passing time, efforts are underway to eliminate this barrier, with sustained efforts at promoting awareness.

Key Takeaways from the Market Study

By product, contraceptive drugs account for maximum sales, with birth control pills experiencing major uptake

Both male and female contraceptive devices, such as condoms and Copper-T, are also surging in popularity

As of 2020, the global contraceptives market stood at a valuation of US$ 893.9 million

From 2021-2028, the value of the contraceptives market is expected to grow over 3x

By distribution channel, the availability of contraceptives is increasing in independent pharmacies, as countries aim to facilitate better access to birth control



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Global Contraceptives Market: Key Drivers

An increase in birth control awareness, as well as a rise in the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, is majorly fueling contraceptive product sales

Manufacturers are experimenting with key technological advancements in contraception to introduce new products. These include fertility awareness based apps, once-a-month birth control pills, long-lasting vaginal rings, and slimmer IUDs

With governments across the world introducing birth control awareness initiatives, vendors are likely to venture into emerging markets to sell their products



Contraceptives Market: Regional Landscape

The United States has set the benchmark for contraceptive product sales. The National Center for Health reports that the maximum usage is within the age group of 15-49 years. This is mostly to prevent unwanted pregnancies, which amount to 2.6 million annually

The United Kingdom is yet another promising area of development for contraceptive products. Data from the National Health suggests that from 2020-2021, 46% of the population consume long-acting reversible contraceptives, while 39% of them consume contraceptive pills

Asia Pacific is expected to provide immense scope for growth of the contraceptives market. This is attributed to increasing acceptance of awareness regarding sexual and reproductive health, amid concerns over exponentially rising population bases



Contraceptives Market: Prominent Market Players

The global contraceptives market is characterized by the presence of a significant amount of players. This renders the market significantly competitive. Key contraceptive products manufacturers profiled by TMR include:

Merck & Co., Inc.

Cipla Inc.

Allergan plc

Bayer AG

HLL Lifecare Limited

Mankind Pharma

Pfizer Inc.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Mithra Pharmaceuticals

Janssen Pharmaceutical Company

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc.



Prominent expansion strategies followed by the aforementioned players include new product launches, partnering with organizations to spread awareness about good contraception practices, seeking regulatory approvals, and extensive R&D.

In January 2021, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. introduced the availability of a generic version of NuvaRing  . The product is an etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring, a combination hormonal contraceptive. The dosage ranges from 0.015 mg per day to 0.120 mg per day

Bayer AG announced in August 2022 that the U.S Food and Drug Administration approved its Mirena  intrauterine system. Mirena is a levonorgestrel (LNG) releasing contraception formula. It is a T-shaped device containing 52 mg of synthetic levonorgestrel. Once placed inside the uterus, it continuously releases small amounts of LNG directly into the uterus

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced that it will convene a meeting between its Non-prescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee. The meeting will be held to decide to sanction the availability of Opill manufactured by HRA Pharma minus prescription. The drug is a progestin medication which produces an effect similar to progesterone.



Browse the Full Report with Facts and Figures of the Contraceptives Market at: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=344<ype=S

Contraceptives Market: Key Segments

Product

Contraceptive Drugs Oral Contraceptives Combined Contraceptives Mini-pills Contraceptive Injectable Topical Contraceptive Patch

Contraceptive Devices Male Contraceptive Devices Female Contraceptive Devices

Tissue Engineering

Distribution Channel

Hospitals Pharmacy Public Private

Independent Pharmacy

Online Platform

Clinics

Others



Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa



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Time to pack your boogie boards and sunglasses.

artran/Getty Images

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

youli zhao/Getty Images

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

Kubrak78/Getty Images

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?

Story continues

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

stockstudioX/Getty Images

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

tropicalpixsingapore/Getty Images

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

Sean Davey/Getty Images

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

sphraner/Getty Images

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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Ben Afflecks Air has arrived in theaters, and its already a slam-dunk with praise from critics and viewers alike.

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The film, which sees Affleck directing and starring alongside Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, and Viola Davis, tells the origin story of Air Jordan under Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Affleck) and visionary marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro (Damon). And we all know how the story ends: Nike signs Jordan, creates the worlds most famous sneaker, and initiates the sneaker craze that remains a dominant force in present-day fashion.

Even though Jordans have been sought-after since they were released in the Eighties, Air may have re-ignited some passion for the iconic sneaker line. Sneaker purveyor Stadium Goods says its projecting an increase in sales of Air Jordan 1s due to the films success  much like the sales spike it saw after The Last Dance docuseries aired in 2020. And, because sneakers are now traded like stocks, theres a possibility that prices for certain Jordans go up as more people watch Air.

If you just saw Air and feel the need for some fresh Js, read on. Below, weve rounded up some of the best places to buy Jordans online, including trusted resale websites where you can buy the most sought-after Jordan models of years past.

Where to Buy Jordans Online

If youre looking to buy Jordans online, you have two options: Try to secure new Jordans through sites like Nike.com, or go to the resale market via sites like StockX for a larger selection of new and previously-released (but slightly higher-priced) Jordans. Below weve rounded up some of the best sites in both categories.

Story continues

Best Selection: Farfetch

Best for New Releases: Nike

Best for Jordan 1s: Stadium Goods

Great Size Selection: Foot Locker

Best for Grail Jordans: StockX

Best Deals: Dicks Sporting Goods

1. Buy Jordans on Farfetch

jordan 1 retro red

By connecting customers with boutiques and smaller sellers, the e-commerce giant Farfetch offers a massive selection of new and resale items  including a huge swath of authentic Jordans. Youll find everything from affordable, less-known colorways to grail-worthy releases like the Dior Jordans or even Eminems Jordan 4s. Everything is guaranteed authentic, and you can return most items within 14 days.

Jordans

Price: Farfetch

Buy Now

2. Buy Jordans on Nike

green jordan 1

Nike is obviously one of the best places to grab just-released Jordans, although they often sell out of certain releases quickly. As of writing, there are a few dozen pairs of Jordans on Nike.com, including new releases and soon-to-be-released Jordans. To get these upcoming Jordans, sign up for notifications from Nike and pick up the sneakers as fast as possible once they drop.

Jordans

Price: Nike

Buy Now

3. Buy Jordans on Stadium Goods

black jordan 1s

Stadium Goods is another great place to buy Jordans online, whether youre looking for new releases or authentic resale examples. Right now they have a huge Jordan 1 collection, including the Retro OG Highs for just $385 and up (depending on your size), as well as the beloved UNC 1s.

Jordans

Price: Stadium Goods

Buy Now

4. Buy Jordans on Foot Locker

jordan 5 white

For a huge selection of brand-new Jordans, check out Foot Locker. The stalwart sneaker store still has one of the best selections of Jordans, ranging from new releases to classics.

Jordans

Price: Foot Locker

Buy Now

5. Buy Jordans on StockX

If you want a specific pair of Jordans but cant find them in stock anywhere, head to StockX. The resale platform has become a go-to for just about every sought-after sneaker, and all products are certified unused and authentic. Right now, for example, you can pick up the Travis Scott Reverse Mocha Jordan 1s above for just over $1,000.

Jordans

Price: StockX

Buy Now

6. Buy Jordans on Dicks Sporting Goods

jordan 11

Dicks Sporting Goods is another good source for new Jordans, currently showing a few hundred-odd models available online. In our experience, you can also score some deals at Dicks (although you might not find the most prestigious Jordans).

Jordans

Price: Dicks Sporting Goods

Buy Now

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Anya Taylor-Joy lived in Argentina as a child and learned English after moving to London at age six

Dia Dipasupil/WireImage

Anya Taylor-Joy has her costar Jack Black to thank  partly  for her bilingual abilities.

While discussing her role as Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie with Buzzfeed, Taylor-Joy, 26, said that she found herself watching Black's 2003 movie School of Rock at school "every Friday" as a child.

"Yeah, at the school I went to when I first moved to London they would play School of Rock every Friday," she told the outlet, as she mentioned feeling "super starstruck" doing press with her Mario Bros. costar Black, 53, who plays Bowser in the new animated film.

"At that time, I didn't really speak much English, if any, so that and Harry Potter and Jumanji are like how I learned English," she added.

Taylor-Joy's note about how learned the language came as she gushed about Black, 53, as the pair met for the first time during the Mario Bros. Movie press tour.

Related:The Super Mario Bros. Movie Breaks Record for Biggest Global Box Office Launch for an Animated Film

Albert L. Ortega/Getty

"The sound that came out of me was just this high pitch shriek that I was not expecting," the actress said of her reaction when she learned she would actually meet Black. The actress noted elsewhere in the interview that she utilizes the song "Tribute" by Black's band Tenacious D as a karaoke song.

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.

"We haven't met each other because we all recorded our parts individually, so I was super starstruck when I saw the schedule for today," she told Buzzfeed. "I very seldom get like that, but I was just running around earlier like, 'oh my God, Tenacious D, this is amazing.' "

Taylor-Joy lived in Argentina for the first six years of her life until her family moved to London. Back in 2016, she said she "refused to learn English for two years when we moved to London hoping to send my family back home."

Story continues

Related:The Cast of The Super Mario Bros Movie: All About the Voice Actors

"It was tough, but at the same time it has given me a sense of displacement that actually really suits the life that I'm living now," she said at the time. "I don't really feel like I belong anywhere, which makes me belong everywhere. Plus they are both beautiful places that I love being able to call my home."

Despite her background speaking Spanish, Taylor-Joy  who starred in The Northman, The Menu and Amsterdam in 2022  has only acted in English-language films. She expressed to Buzzfeed last Wednesday that she would like to work with "any Spanish-speaking directors" on potential future projects.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in theaters now.

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With warm beaches and sunny skies, the Caribbean Islands have long been ideal destinations for U.S. travelers.

While some islands are more expensive to visit than others  and travel costs increasing this summer past pre-pandemic levels  it's not too difficult to book a trip to the Caribbean and stay within your budget. U.S. News analyzed airfare to determine which Caribbean airports are the cheapest to fly to from Chicago, New York and Miami.

Jenita Lawal, travel specialist and owner of Lawal Travel Services, told USA TODAY to remain flexible if you want even more savings.

"I suggest that you ... follow the deal and build your trip around that, or ... go during the off-peak and shoulder seasons," she said.

Lawal finds that going to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Jamaica have the most flight options. You can also catch deals on low-cost carriers to get you there.

Here are the cheapest Caribbean airports to fly into from the U.S:.

'Tis the season for fun in the water: Here are the 10 best Caribbean resorts with water parks

Small island, big opportunities: This idyllic Caribbean hideaway isn't just for the rich and famous

San Juan Airport in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a quick flight from the U.S. but offers travelers history, culture and nature to explore.

Puerto Rico offers almost 300 beaches for people to fall in love with, including many that are pristine local favorites, sometimes accessible by ferry or hike. When you're not at the beach, you can enjoy the island's Old World architecture, warm hospitality, rainforests and delicious food. Round-trip flights from the U.S. to San Juan during July and November cost around $300 on average.

"Although it's not known for having all-inclusive resorts, you can find hotels for just about every budget," Lawal said. "Options like Airbnb are also available. Plus, it's easy to rent a car and navigate most of the main roads. Just know that traffic can be horrible going through San Juan at times."

A local's beach guide to Puerto Rico: Which beaches to visit, what to know in San Juan, Culebra and more

Story continues

Summer travel made easy: Delta Air Lines expands holiday flight schedule to Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean

Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

A popular destination for East Coasters, the Dominican Republic is the second-largest country in the Caribbean and home to many all-inclusive resorts. The usually sunny island offers a plethora of outside activities, like surfing, snorkeling and zip lining. With a roundtrip flight to Santo Domingo costing an average of $367, travelers can set out to take in all that the island has to offer.

Where is Punta Cana? Learn about the popular Caribbean tourist spot before spring break.

Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau, Bahamas

Made up of over 700 islands and cays, the Bahamas is a favorite for American travelers who want to explore its beaches, reefs and marine life. Families flock to the islands to enjoy resorts like Atlantis, where kids can play in the waterpark and adults can gamble in the casino.

Flights to the capital of the Bahamas will cost $409 on average, and possibly even cheaper if you're flying from nearby Miami.

New private beach: Royal Caribbean will open Bahamas beach club in 2025

Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Grand Cayman

Travelers love everything the Cayman Islands have to offer, from the iconic Seven Mile Beach to snorkeling with stingrays and world-class scuba diving. Flights from the U.S. to Grand Cayman cost $411 on average, but if you're flying from Miami, $312.

Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Kingston City hills in Jamaica

With countless all-inclusive resorts to choose from, Jamaica is beloved by travelers. Flight costs from the U.S. to Montego Bay are $421 on average.

In Lawal's experience, she can often find flights to Jamaica for $400, but they can also hit up to $800. However, those visiting the beautiful island country should still leave their resort walls to experience more of the island, like the famous Green Grotto cave system, the 19th-century shipping port, Black River and historical tours that teach about the island's colonial and slave history.

Taking a family vacation to Jamaica?: 10 reasons to leave your all-inclusive resort

Providenciales International Airport in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos Islands is one of the most photographed beaches in the world.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to 40 islands and cays, although only eight islands are inhabited. With its vibrant coral reefs and limestone caves, Turks and Caicos is beloved by divers. U.S. travelers can also use U.S. currency on the islands.

Fly into the iconic Grace Bay for an average flight cost of $425 year-round.

Cyril E. King International Airport in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands: No. 9 for Thanksgiving (though the island is technically part of the U.S.)

St. Thomas is one of the most popular cruise ship destinations but is still worth a visit on your own, especially because U.S. citizens don't need their passports to enter. There are endless things to do in St. Thomas, from exploring the Coral World Ocean Park to duty-free shopping and visiting the Pirates Treasure Museum.

A flight from the U.S. to St. Thomas will run you about $474 on average, with more affordable flights coming from New York and Miami.

Curacao International Airport in Curacao

The Dutch island of Curacao is a great option for American travelers for its gorgeous weather (it sits below the hurricane belt), many resort options and outdoor activities. Its historic inner city called Willemstad, known for its colonial pastel-colored architecture, is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A flight from the U.S. to Curacao goes for $501 on average.

Where to stay in Curacao: The cure for anxiety caused by booking Caribbean getaways during hurricane season

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 8 Caribbean islands with the cheapest flights
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.
Image via Getty/Jeff Kravitz/Dave Kotinsky

]Don Lemon appeared to diss Jon Stewart on a hot mic and then immediately backtracked his comment when he realized it was picked up.

In a clip first shared by TMZ, the CNN anchor provided commentary on an interview Stewart conducted with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks in Chicago last week. Stewart grilled Hicks over the defense budget and asked how the military has failed to provide for its service members despite the huge 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 said in a clip that has since gone viral and received acclaim. To me, thats fucking corruption.

When Lemon showcased the clip, he seemingly threw some shade at Stewart in a conversation with his co-hosts. The video of Stewarts interview stayed onscreen, but the audio cut out.

He gets a lot of leeway with the comedian thing, though, said Lemon. Immediately after there was a brief moment of silence, and Lemon backtracked. We were just discussing that Jon Stewart is so much more than a comedian. He is a thought leader.  When I was saying comedian and television host, hes so much more than that. I dont even know if you need to qualify Jon Stewart as that. But good interview there.

Stewart, who currently hosts the acclaimed Apple TV+ series The Problem with Jon Stewart, previously said on Desus & Mero in 2020 that he doesnt consider himself anything other than a comedian. There is a role for what we do, but it is not one of transformation, he said.

Earlier this month, Lemon was accused of sending threatening text messages to a colleague in retaliation for not getting picked for an on-location assignment in Iraq.

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Elvis Presleys 1962 Lockheed 1329 JetStar private jet hit the headlines earlier this year when it was snapped up at auction for $234,000, after languishing in the New Mexico desert for close to 40 years.

The mystery buyer turned out to be 44-year-old YouTuber and aviation buff, Jimmy Webb who, after serious consideration, has come up with a plan on what to do with the plane.

More from Robb Report

Within five seconds of seeing it, I knew it was never going to fly again, Webb tells Robb Report during an interview while sitting in the cabin, on the same red-velvet seats that the King and his entourage wouldve used on cross-country flights. The best plan weve come up with, is to mount it on an RV chassis so it can be driven and seen by Elvis fans.

The 1969 Jetstars wings and tail were cut off and then driven by truck from New Mexico to Florida for its next chapter.

Webbs YouTube channel Jimmys World has already covered in detail Webb turning up at the Roswell International Air Center, in Roswell, New Mexico in January and seeing the rather-dilapidated jet for the first time. It was a surreal moment for me. To step aboard and sit in the seat where Elvis sat. To turn on the black-and-white TV and see it light up. To switch on the microwave. I kept telling myself that Im the only guy on the planet to own Elvis Presleys private jet.

The immediate challenge was to get it back to Floridas Plant City close to Tampa, and Webbs rural storage facility. After unceremoniously sawing off the wings and tail section, it took two semi-tractor trailers and $30,000 to truck it the 1,800 miles back to Florida.

Of course, we had to make a stop in Memphis and swing by Graceland. It was for no other reason than to take Elvis jet back to his old home, says Webb. It also made a good viewing since Webb and his team were eventually asked by Graceland security to remove the jet from the premises.

Story continues

The red-velvet will be preserved as the jet will ferry tourists up and down the Las Vegas strip.

Now tucked away in the aviation enthusiasts workshops, the 61-year-old jet sits in pieces on the concrete floors waiting for Webb to finalize his plans.

People ask me why we couldnt make the plane fly again, says Webb, who has a degree in electro-mechanical engineering and has been fixing broken stuff all his life. But its not going to happen, not with all the money in the world. It would never meet current FAA regulations and, more important, the parts are just not available. It doesnt even have engines.

Webb did toy with the idea of restoring the jet to create a static exhibit for Elvis fans to visit, but quickly determined that the costbetween $5 and $7 millionwas not in his budget.

Jimmy Webb in the cockpit.

Then a light bulb went on. Why not mount the fuselage on an RV motorhome chassis, with a diesel pusher engine at the back, steer it from the cockpit, and make it road legal as a custom RV?

How great would it be to drive it to Las Vegas and make a business out of taking Elvis fans for drives along the Strip? he says. We could have the driver dress up as The King and have a flight attendant serve peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches.

While the jets four Garrett turbofan engines are long gone, Webb has tracked down the original housings, or nacelles, in an aviation museum in Tennessee. One of the jets previous owners loaned them to the museum as pieces of Elvis memorabilia, and now they just want them gone, he says. They will soon be remounted on the plane.

The fuselage (rear) will be converted into the custom RV, while the wings and tail (foreground) will be broken down and sold as Elvis souvenirs.

Webb estimates it will take a year to convert the famous red-and-silver jet into an RV, but isnt quite sure of the final costs. He plans to do the work himself, aided friends who already help him in his sideline business of finding old, abandoned planes and bringing them back to life. His current pride and joy is a mirror-polished, twin-engined 1956 Cessna 310 Silver Bullet that he brought back to flying condition and regularly takes out for a spin.

As for the parts of the Lockheed he wont be usingthe wings and tail sectionWebb plans to turn them into memorabilia and offer them to Elvis fans. He says a portion of the money will go to one of Elvis favorite causes, St Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis.

Yes, turning the jet into an RV isnt the perfect solution, he admits. But neither was parking it in the desert for 40 years. This way, Elvis fans will get to see it, and even take a ride. We want to make it the true King of the Road.

Somehow, we think Elvis would approve.

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Some of the doors, made of Sapele African mahogany, in the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple feature art glass and hardware designs of wetland grass and water representing nearby Utah Lake. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The first glimpse of the interior of the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple was released Monday by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as private tours began.

Invited guests will tour the new temple until Friday before opening to the public on Saturday. Public open house tours will run for nearly three months, from April 15 until July 8.

Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the churchs Temple Department, said this open house is longer than usual to allow as many people as possible to come and see.

We feel like theres a lot of pent-up demand of people who want to walk through these buildings, Elder Duncan said.

The Saratoga Springs temple, announced in April 2017, will be the first temple to be dedicated or rededicated in Utah in more than four years, Elder Duncan said, which is generating a lot of interest  not just in the state but in surrounding states like Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming.

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Between 30,000 and 40,000 volunteers from around the area of Saratoga Springs  including Lehi and Eagle Mountain  will participate as ushers, musicians and other volunteers to make it all possible. And a lot of them are youth.

Elder Chad R. Wilkinson, an Area Seventy, and his wife, Allison, were part of Mondays events. Elder Wilkinson said youths in the area have been very involved in visiting the outside of the temple already.

He was a stake president in the area before the temple was announced and worked for nine years encouraging his stake to be a people prepared for the temple.

Sisters Brynley Roberts, 16, and Taylor Roberts, 14, remember Elder Wilkinson fondly and said he always encouraged them to participate in anything temple related. They live within walking distance of the new temple and said they are excited to have such a special place within five minutes of their home.

Also present on the first day of the open house was Sister Kristin M. Yee, the second counselor in the general Relief Society presidency; and Elder Evan A. Schmutz, a General Authority Seventy.

Story continues

They both talked about the uniqueness of the Saratoga Springs temples appearance  full of blues to represent Utah Lake and purples to match the wildflowers and the majestic mountains  which are all part of making the temple as unique as the people who serve in it.

The beauty of the craftsmanship, Sister Yee said, is symbolic of Gods love for each of us.

Local artists and companies were hired to incorporate the temples surroundings into the interior.

Prevalent in the temple are depictions of local flora and fauna including the iris, daisy and chrysanthemum, which are common wildflowers in the area; and birds, reeds and mountains that can all be seen nearby at Utah Lake.

The uniqueness also flows into several original paintings on the walls of the temple, including Evening, Distant Mountain by Brad Aldridge, Timpanogos from Across the Lake by Bruce Brainard, Evening Flight by Adair Payne, Timpanogos Sunrise by Ken Stockton and Jordan River Sunrise also by Stockton.

As you walk through the temple, Sister Yee said, we hope youll feel in your hearts a special spirit that exists in his house. Id invite you today to experience the peace and reverence that exists in the temple.

Tickets for the open house are free and appointments can be scheduled on the churchs website.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Copa Holdings (CPA), which belongs to the Zacks Transportation - Airline industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

This holding company for Panama's national airline has an established record of topping earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The company boasts an average surprise for the past two quarters of 10.21%.

For the most recent quarter, Copa Holdings was expected to post earnings of $4.09 per share, but it reported $4.49 per share instead, representing a surprise of 9.78%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $2.63 per share, while it actually produced $2.91 per share, a surprise of 10.65%.

Price and EPS Surprise

For Copa Holdings, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Copa Holdings currently has an Earnings ESP of +19.42%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner.

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When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

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Actor Frank Vallelonga Jr.'s cause of death has been revealed more than four months after his body was found outside of a sheet metal manufacturing factory in the Bronx.

The Green Book star died accidentally from "acute intoxication due to combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine," a spokesperson for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York confirmed to EW.

On Nov. 28, authorities responding to a 911 call discovered Vallelonga Jr. unconscious and unresponsive outside of the building, per a news release obtained by EW. At the time, police noted that the 60-year-old appeared to have "no obvious signs of trauma."

Frank Vallelonga Jr.

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic Frank Vallelonga Jr.

Authorities subsequently arrested Steven Smith, 35, in connection to Vallelonga Jr.'s death and charged him with concealment of a human corpse. In the criminal complaint, Smith claimed that he was not involved in the actor's death and told authorities "that dude was dead already," per New York's News 10.

A warrant was issued for Smith's arrest after he did not appear in court in January, according to the New York Daily News. The current state of the case is unclear.

Vallelonga Jr. starred as family relative Rudy Vallelonga in the Oscar-winning Green Book, which told the story of the friendship between his father Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) and Black classical pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali). He also appeared in his brother Nick Vallelonga's films  the 1994 thriller A Brilliant Disguise and the 1995 crime drama In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King  as well as episodes of The Sopranos and The Neighborhood.

Related content:
This article originally appeared on Backpacker

Hiking trails are in a constant state of flux. Every year, crews construct new trails, well-loved paths fall victim to floods and windstorms, and wildfires, and routes that lack funding or dedicated volunteer crews become overgrown and fall deep into disrepair.

It's been this way for far longer than Backpacker has been touting these places, but since the first issue of this title went to print 50 years ago, the cycle seems to have accelerated. An increasing number of wildfires and droughts have put pressure on popular hiking areas, and the Covid-19 pandemic brought more people than ever into the outdoors to explore, piling on impacts from over-visitation.

But even while some trails languished and suffered, others celebrated grand openings or received much-needed financial or volunteer infusions that brought them back from the brink. We've picked the trails that we think have benefited or suffered the most over the past few decades--the good, the bad, and the ugly--to encourage you to explore somewhere new, give popular trails a break, or invest your time and money to rehabilitate the natural areas you love.

Whitefish Trails in Montana (Photo: Noah Clayton via Getty Images)

Good

Seboeis Riverside Trail: Maine

Opened in December 2022, the shiny new 7.2-mile (one-way) Seboeis Riverside Trail along the picturesque Seboeis River runs deep into the Maine Highlands region--which includes the area surrounding the state's tallest peak, Mt. Katahdin. Located east of Baxter State Park's North Entrance, the isn't just an escape in its own right, but it also serves as a backup destination for hikers that couldn't get a permit for Baxter or found Acadia packed to the gills.

But this isn't a state park or even a national forest: the trail received funding from Penobscot River Trails Inc., a family-funded charitable foundation supported by philanthropist Gilbert Butler's Butler Conservation Fund. The trail is free for hiking and camping and you'll wander through dense woods populated with pine, birch, ash and cedar, and spot Sugarloaf Mountain in the east (and Kahtadin on the drive in). Two miles from the end of the out-and-back trail, a simple but cozy post-and-beam lodge outfitted with four sleeping cots, a wood burning stove, and surrounded by a few campsites awaits, offering hikers and snowshoers a place to rest or spend the night on an easy two-day backpacking trip.

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Whitefish Trails: Montana

Located 20 miles from overcrowded and over-touristed Glacier National Park is Whitefish Trail, a system by locals, for locals. It's still expanding, but it already features 47 miles of multi-use trails. Fifteen easily accessible trailheads are located directly in and around the town of Whitefish and a number of connected loops, including ADA trails and a recently completed adaptive MTB trail, offer plentiful recreation opportunities. There's even access to a network of trails that connect to those at Whitefish Mountain Resort. While backcountry camping isn't currently allowed, the plan for the next few years is to link up to an under-construction network of trails in Flathead National Forest, which is fewer than 10 miles from the town of Whitefish.

What makes this extensive trail system so spectacular isn't just the scenic routes through pine woods, cedar-hemlock forest, and lakes, but the community-driven collaborations that built it in order to protect public land that was slated for development. Whitefish Legacy Partners, the Montana Department of Natural Resource And Conservation, the city of Whitefish, the Forest Service, private owners, and more all came together to protect and maintain the area and transform over 6,000 acres of local land into a permanent conservation area.

The Pacific Crest Trail: California, Oregon, Washington

Yes, it's popular: Since its designation as a National Scenic Trail in 1968, the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail has only seen its fame grow. Most of that boom has occurred in the last decade or so thanks in part to the trail's portrayal in the media. Thousands of thru-hikers complete the entirety of the well-marked trail, following white blazes through the desert and the Sierra in California, past abundant waterfalls in Oregon, and over the majestic Cascades in Washington, all in a matter of months. Thousands more hikers enjoy just a section at a time, whether on a leisurely evening stroll or a weekend backpacking trip.

But hear us out: For all the wear, tear, and crowding, that popularity has had an upside. In order to preserve the trail and the land it's on, including many stretches on private property, the Land and Water Conservation Fund provided nearly $46 million over the last two decades to acquire and protect more than 33,000 acres along the path, helping secure its place as a hiking holy grail for future generations. And while there are challenges ahead--year-round fire seasons are making it more and more difficult to hike the trail end to end--hard work by dedicated groups of trail lovers and the Pacific Crest Trail Association is helping to ensure that hikers will be able to appreciate this adventure for years to come.

Tinker Cliffs, Virginia (Photo: Ashton Dooley via Getty Images)

Under Threat

Mineral Creek Trail: Snoqualmie Region, Washington

Mineral Creek Trail has been nearly impassable for perhaps a decade thanks to frequent wildfires and extreme winter weather. The 5-mile route, which leads into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, is one of the quickest access points to the PCT near I-90, but even just a few months ago, navigating it felt like swimming through a sea of brush and overgrowth according to the Washington Trails Association. Due to its link to such a well-known thru-hike and easy accessibility to local communities, fixing it was a priority.

Fortunately, WTA's partnerships between land managers like the U.S. Forest Service and other nonprofits, including Back Country Horsemen of Washington, enabled the agency to hire two professional crews in addition to volunteers. They've cleared paths, re-established tread, and made the trail and others in the region fully accessible once again. But while the trail is in good shape for now, destructive wildfire seasons are increasingly common. Anna Roth of the WTA says trail maintenance in the state is a never-ending process. "One bad winter storm in a wildfire area, and you can lose an entire trail to burned trees falling across it," she says.

Virginia Triple Crown: Appalachian Trail, Virginia

The Appalachian Trail is one of the most well-traveled trails in the country, and not just because of the thousands of thru-hikers who follow the white blazes from Georgia to Maine every year: Thousands of weekend backpackers and dayhikers ply shorter sections of it every year. That's largely due to the trails accessibility, including in the popular region known colloquially as the Virginia Triple Crown, a loop trail that encompasses Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs.

But because of that ease of access and the popularity of the 34-mile loop, an increase in hiker visitation (plus additional climate-related threats) has resulted in an increase in litter, graffiti, fire rings in places they shouldn't be, human waste issues, trampled vegetation, and social trails that have caused more than a few hikers to lose their way. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and local partners like the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club have outfitted full-time and volunteer ridge runners to educate hikers, collect data, and report back on conditions. But with the increase in foot traffic--especially on weekends, especially since COVID--it's hard to keep up with the damage all the additional boots on trails cause.

umpqua river (Photo: Charles Wollertz via Getty Images)

Off The Rails

South Fork Merced River Trail: California

This 21-mile hike in the Sierra National Forest in California is a stunner. Between the picturesque Solitude River, mountain peaks, and pine-swathed hills, there's no question why it's a local favorite for those who want to skip the crowds at nearby Yosemite National Park and explore some proper wilderness. But in the past half decade, it's suffered some real decimation. First, years of little-to-no maintenance and pine beetles left whole sections of standing dead trees; then, wildfires swept through, consuming the dry wood and burning entire hillsides and carpets of chaparral, which grew back over the trail with a vengeance after fire, eating up developed trails for breakfast. Windstorms blew down much of the remaining standing dead trees and torrents of rain and epic snow storms brought eroded the denuded soil

"And then COVID hits," says Bill King, founder of Mariposa Trails, the organization handling trail maintenance and conservation in the area. "Its been the perfect storm to derail a lot of trails in the area." In fact, this trail, which he describes as beautiful, merciless, and in an impressive state of disrepair, is the reason he finally broke down and bought a Garmin InReach. Mariposa Trails has received a grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and is hacking away at repairs, but it's going to be a few years before it's navigable by any except the most experienced hikers.

North Umpqua Trail: Oregon

The North Umpqua Trail (colloquially known as NUT) is a 79-mile trail that winds alongside the North Umpqua River near Oregon's Mt. Thielsen Wilderness. Accessible via 12 separate trailheads, it's a multiuse trail open to hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Although it has always offered epic adventure opportunities to surrounding communities, the Archie Creek Fire in 2020 followed by the Jack Fire in 2021 resulted in the closure of 30 total miles of trail, most of which is either still closed or in rough shape.

The fires decimated 11 bridges on USFS land, more on BLM land, and thousands of trees, which led to increased landslides in the steep, wet canyon. Trail tread deteriorated, downed trees blocked trails, and slopes became wildly unstable, making large chunks of the path unrecognizable at best and impassable at worst. Land managers have replaced three bridges so far, but with expensive steel versions specifically designed to survive increasingly intense fire seasons. Currently, about 4 miles have officially reopened and are in good condition thanks to trail crews. The hope is that a push for local volunteers will help open more of the trail by this summer, though it will likely be several years before trail maintenance is complete and the forest service can hire a professional to construct a system that has a better chance of outlasting future fires. What's more, much of that future work hinges on the National Forest Foundation continuing to receive grants, funding, and donations--not a sure thing in the current economic climate.

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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.
Sen.Jon Tester, U.S. Senator for Montana, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Lt. Gen. Robert Miller, Air Force Surgeon General, Maj. Gen. Michael Lutton, Commander Twentieth Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, Col. Tory Woodard, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine commander, visit April 5, 2023, at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Top U.S. Air Force leadership, including Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, paid an uncommon visit to Great Falls last Wednesday, stopping to meet directly with servicemembers at Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Montana Air National Guards 120th Airlift Wing.

The delegation, which also included the commander of the 20th Air Force Global Strike Command, surgeon general of the Air Force, deputy director of the Air National Guard and the commander of the Montana National Guard, was hosted by Montana Sen. Jon Tester.

Tester currently serves as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, the body that's responsible for finalizing the budget for the Department of Defense (DoD), which in 2022 amounted to close to $857 billion.

Very seldom do Air Force Secretaries stop at air guard units. This was an opportunity that I felt we could not pass up, Tester said during a press briefing following the delegations visit. The fact that we got the Secretary of the Airforce into Montana is really, really good. He gets to understand that when were putting the budget together that things like Malmstrom Air Force Base and the Air National Guard unit here in Great Falls are important pieces. We got to really show off the opportunities that Montana has from a national security standpoint.

Tester and the Air Force commanders discussed a wide range of topics including assessing Air Forces readiness capabilities, updates on Malmstroms response to the Chinese spy balloon incident last February, and progress on the development of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system to replace the aging Minuteman III system.

Military preparedness

The U.S. military currently faces multiple strategic challenges across the globe. Among these are continued material support to oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the threat of Chinese military aggression against Taiwan, and continued exercises and training near North Korea, which has developed a stockpile of 30 to 40 nuclear warheads and is now testing a ballistic missile capable of reaching most of the United States.

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Its a very uncertain world right now, Tester observed following his meeting with Air Force leadership, but Im very, very confident that our military can meet the challenges in this world. Now does that mean we can just sit on our hands and take it easy? No, it doesnt. Thats why we had the budget we did last year, which was a lot of money.

Were going to continue to invest, because I think deterrence is the best possible way to move forward, he continued. What were trying to do is show our adversaries that you dont want to go there. That it would be bad for you. If we continue to do that then well be successful.

However, top House Republicans say the Pentagons budget will be on the table as they seek to negotiate spending cuts in exchange for raising the federal debt ceiling. The digital political magazine The Hill reports that House Republicans are pushing to cut the Pentagons budget by about $75 billion.

We will never have enough money to buy everything thats out there to be had, Tester said in response. So there has to be good oversight and we have to be smart. We have to make sure were getting the things the military needs to be successful. Thats not easy to do  but I think were fully capable of making sure that the taxpayer gets the biggest bang for the buck.

New ICBMs

In this image released by the Air Force, a missile maintenance team removes the upper section of an ICBM at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.(AP Photo/U.S. Air Force)

The ground-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad is the 400 Minuteman III ICBMs, of which 150 lie in hardened silos scattered across Montana, maintained and operated by the missileers of Malmstrom Air Force Base. However, the Minuteman III is based upon technology developed in the late 1960s.

The Air Force is now waiting on a new Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), the LGM-35A Sentinel weapon system, which is being developed by military contractor Northrop Grumman. The Sentinel weapon system is scheduled to be deployed by 2029 at a total cost of $95.8 billion  a huge sum by any measure.

We have to continue working to make sure GBSD is continually funded, Tester said of the ongoing development of the Sentinel. Im meeting with the Northrup Grumman folks in the first part of May. Well be talking to them about things like housing, manpower, what theyre going to bring, are they going to be hiring folks from around here? Of course, Im going to be encouraging them to hire Montanans. Its a big job, so theyre probably going to have to bring in some outside folks, but I want them to use as many Montanans as they can.

Tester added that development of the Sentinel is on schedule, and that funding levels for the program are currently where they need to be.

Chinese spy balloon

In this image released by the Department of Defense on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, a U.S. Air Force U-2 pilot looks down at a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it hovers over the United States on Feb. 3, 2023.

On the first day in February a high-altitude spy balloon, estimated to be 200-feet-tall with a jetliner-sized payload, was spotted by multiple people as it drifted slowly across a clear blue Montana sky. Three days later a U.S. fighter jet shot down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina.

It had equipment that was "clearly for intelligence surveillance," including "multiple antennas" that were "likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications," a senior State Department official is quoted as saying.

The brazen incursion into U.S. airspace led to broad condemnation of both the Biden Administration and the U.S. Air Force for not destroying the spy balloon sooner. Testers meetings with top Air Force commanders did include a briefing on what more has been learned about the balloon and its capabilities, but Tester did not go into great detail on what was discussed.

They dealt with just Malmstroms role in that Chinese spy balloon, Tester said of the Air Force briefing. I will tell you that overall, the sentiment is that they (the Chinese) didnt get much. What I want is a brief from the time it entered the United States until it was shot down off the coast of South Carolina.

The balloon invaded our airspace and thats something we should never accept, he added.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Air Force Secretary Kendall visits Great Falls military bases
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.
Every once in a very great while, I am simply amazed by acts attributed to the human spirit. It is so rare that I just must sit back in awe of what has been taking place before my very eyes. I must shake my head and be so very proud that I was able to witness such an occurrence in my lifetime. Yet, the news reporting pundits didnt seem to catch it or even make a big deal of one of lifes greatest lessons that was unfolding on the American landscape. It was, in its truest form, the ultimate lesson for all of those who consider themselves Christian. The deepest, sincerest, and some would say, unfathomable act of forgiveness.

The incident occurred on Oct. 2, 2006, when five little girls between the ages of 5 and 13 were killed in a schoolhouse in Nickels Mine, Pennsylvania. The news of the shooting instantly hit the wires and it dredged up all the other school shootings as the major networks began their all-day reporting of the story. More shootings in schools and more violence  when is it all going to end? Every mass media source was trying to find their own angle on how to report this tragedy. It was the story of those next few days of October as it was plastered over every TV, newspaper and magazine in the country. How could this happen again  especially to those so innocent?

Jerry Donnelly

As all major stories, this too would fade into the background as the war in Iraq, the election year scandals, and Madonna adopting an African baby came to the forefront of the news. As the Nickels Mine incident began to lose the attention of the media during that first week in October, the funerals of the children got a 15-second snippet of the news. The children, the Amish, and the truest act of Christianity, were nowhere to be found. It simply wasnt news worth reporting. Its sad that violent stories take precedence over non-violent ones.

The Amish reaction to the killings as I said earlier was unfathomable. How could anyone who has lost a child by any means  let alone in such a violent manner  react the way the Amish community did? When speaking of their childs murderer, their spokesman said, We must not think evil of this man. Not think evil! How could anyone not think evil of such a senseless act? The spokesman went on to say that the Amish were going to set up a charitable fund for the family of the shooter. Later, as the funeral took place, the Amish showed up in force not to protest, but of all things to console the family and forgive. Their spokesman again said, I dont think there is anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive, and only reach out to those who have suffered a loss in that way, but to reach out to the family of the man who has committed these acts.

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I ask how many of us could have reacted in the way the Amish did to this horrible situation. To forgive someone for the ultimate act trespassed against ones family. I think most families immediate reaction would be to seek vengeance. Violence breeds more violence. The examples are everywhere. The violence we see every night on the news, the blow em up movies, the extreme and constant haranguing of the radio talk shows  pointing out to all who will listen  are just a few examples of violence breeding violence.

But this one story of Amish forgiveness should have been pushed to the forefront of the news. Isnt this truly what we should be all about? What a great example to each one of us. The strength, the courage of conviction, the fortitude, of the Amish under tremendous duress should make us question our own faith. Could we have been so forthright with our own belief system when handling such a dagger to the heart? Probably not. These Amish are better people than I know that I would have been. They have my respect. They have obviously given me pause to reflect and reconsider that there is a good, better, and best way to handle oneself during difficult times. They have shown us at least a much better example of how to react in a time of horrific tragedies.

Forgiveness is highly touted by all world religions. We must ask ourselves the question: How can the members of this world's religious community even say they are practicing Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, etc., and still hate so deeply? It doesnt take a genius to figure out we say one thing  and do another. Who are we kidding? We even have a hard time forgiving on a personal level, let alone even considering a worldwide scale. I dont want to come off as preachy, but I simply want to point out what these Amish from Nickels Mine, Pennsylvania, have shown us a more Christian principle that should not be overlooked. Does it rank with the efforts of Jesus, Muhammed, Tao, Ghandi or any other religious leader? Probably not. But we should all step back and recognize such a great lesson in life when it happens. Im stepping back now.

This article was written by me in January 2007, it was my reaction to my perception of a deeply Christian belief concerning forgiveness. It runs counter to what we have today. Forgiveness? How could we ever even think about forgiveness at such a time of devasting tragedy?

If you ask anyone who really knows me and my religion, they would probably say I am bordering on being an agnostic. I just want you to know they would probably be correct in that assumption. I was raised in Catholic catechism teachings, and I do remember when Jesus was hanging on the cross, he turned to the thieves being crucified beside him and said, Forgive them for they know not what they do. We should not forget those words. Forgiveness is the starting point to redemption. The Amish example at Nickel Mine, Pennsylvania, should be an example to all of us. Yes, the guilty need to be punished and we need to come up with alternatives. We havent been very good at providing those alternatives. What we are doing doesnt seem to be working. We need to try harder. We just cant sit around and wait for a solution. See something, say something, and DO something is where we are now.

We can do better than that. WE need to do something. What would Jesus do (W.W.J.D) and his answer was H.W.L.F  He Would Love First. These are a couple of slogans that were popular during the 1990s. Historically, these two slogans might at least be talking points for us in our current do nothing atmosphere. We need to do something. As usual, this is just one mans opinion.

 Jerry Donnelly is a Petoskey native who was an educator downstate. His column, One Man's Opinion, appears monthly. Donnelly can be contacted via email at jerry.wheepapa.donnelly@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: One Man's Opinion: We can't just sit around waiting for solutions
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.
TipRanks

Earnings season is now in full swing, and expectations are that the Q1 readout will turn out to be the second year-over-year quarterly decline in a row for S&P 500 firms. As such, BMOs chief investment strategist Brian Belski points out that many investors are worried that an earnings recession will significantly hinder market performance in the months ahead and inevitably translate into an economic recession later this year. However, according to Belski, such conclusions are not necessarily
Jeremy Renner poses for photographers upon arrival at the UK Fan Screening of the film Hawkeye. Renner appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday night. | Vianney Le Caer, Invision via Associated Press

Jimmy Kimmels introduction for his special guest Monday night got a lot of enthusiasm from the audience.

Please welcome the indestructible Jeremy Renner! Kimmel shouted.

The 52-year-old Avengers star was beaming as he walked onto the stage of Jimmy Kimmel Live! with a cane and gave the host a hug. He smiled at the audience, who gave him a standing ovation, and even did a little dancing.

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The moment, which was shared on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Instagram account, comes a little over three months after Renner was run over by a 7-ton snowplow near his home in Reno, Nevada.

Was this a publicity stunt? Kimmel joked.

Absolutely, Renner said with a laugh.

Now if there was any question as to who the toughest Avenger was, thats settled now, right? Kimmel continued. Forget Downey, Hemsworth, forget these guys, its you, youre the guy.

Renners appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live comes just a couple of days before the release of his new Disney+ show Rennervations, which features the actor traveling around the world to repurpose decommissioned government vehicles for communities in need  a longtime passion of Renners, the Deseret News previously reported.

Renner plans to attend the premiere of Rennervations in person on April 11.

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Jeremy Renner opens up about snowplow accident

A new one-hour special on ABC, now available on Hulu, goes behind-the-scenes of the life-threatening accident that landed Renner in an ICU with more than 30 broken bones.

Renner opened up about the accident in an interview with Diane Sawyer, revealing that he was awake through every moment.

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As Renner and his nephew, 27-year-old Alex Fries, remember it, the accident occurred as they were towing a family vehicle, a Ford Raptor, out of the snow. After successfully getting the truck out of the snow, Fries undid the chain connecting the two vehicles. The 1988 PistenBully snowplow  which weighs a little over 14,000 pounds  began to slide on the ice, the Deseret News reported. Renner couldnt see his nephew so he stuck one foot out of the plow to look back and make sure his nephew was safe. He didnt set the parking brake, and quickly lost his footing and fell out of the snowplow onto the asphalt and ice.

Afraid his nephew would get smashed between the PistenBully and the Ford Raptor, Renner attempted to jump back into the snowplow to disengage it but instead slipped and got run over by the 7-ton vehicle.

I just happened to be the dummy standing on the dang track a little bit, seeing if my nephew was there, Renner recalled in the interview with Sawyer, per Deseret News. You shouldnt be outside the vehicle when youre operating it, you know what I mean? Its like driving a car with one foot out of the car. But it is what it was. And its my mistake, and I paid for it.

Renner spent two weeks at a hospital and underwent a reconstruction of sorts  including titanium rods in his leg, metal in his rib cage and rubber bands and screws in his jaw.

As Renner continues his recovery, he said he is focusing on transforming his suffering into strength  he doesnt want the memory to become a trauma that haunts him.

Do you look in the mirror and do you see the same face? Sawyer asked Renner at one point.

No, Renner responded. I see a lucky man.
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
The Cherrytree Music Company and Live Nation have confirmed that Sting will take his acclaimed My Songs World Tour across North America in September and October.

Shop the best of The Polices discography on vinyl and more.

Following performances in United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore earlier this year, Stings My Songs tour returns to North America on September 5 at Budweiser Stage in Toronto, ON with additional dates in Boston, Vancouver, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and more. Additional shows will soon be announced in Wantagh, Hollywood, Atlanta, Portland, Seattle, Reno, Dallas, Houston, and Austin.

Stings My Songs concert is an exuberant and dynamic show featuring his most beloved songs, written throughout the 17-time Grammy Award winners illustrious career both with The Police and as a solo artist. Fans can expect to be taken on a musical journey with timeless hits like Fields of Gold, Shape of my Heart, Roxanne, Englishman In New York, Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, Message In A Bottle, Demolition Man, and many more.

On tour, Sting will be accompanied by a full rock ensemble. Special Guest Joe Sumner will be appearing at all newly announced performances. Members of Stings Fan Club will have the opportunity to access a special pre-sale starting Wednesday, April 12. Additional pre-sales will run throughout the week. The general on sale for My Songs 2023 North American leg will start Friday, April 14 at 10am Local Time. The tour will also offer a variety of VIP packages and experiences.

Visit Stings official website for more information.

Sting: My Songs 2023 North America Leg 1 Tour Dates:

Sept. 05  Toronto, ON  Budweiser Stage

Sept. 07  Boston, MA  MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Sept. 20  Morrison, CO  Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Sept. 23  West Valley City, UT  USANA Amphitheatre

Sept. 29  Vancouver, BC  Rogers Arena

Oct. 02  Concord, CA  Concord Pavilion

Oct. 04  San Diego, CA  Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU

Oct. 07  Los Angeles, CA  Hollywood Bowl

Oct. 09  Phoenix, AZ  Arizona Financial Theatre

Oct. 12  Rogers, AR  Walmart AMP

For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music.

uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG.
Kindergartners at Sequiota Elementary School draw during class on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Children in Springfield who attend a formal preschool program are significantly more prepared to learn once they get to kindergarten than those who don't, according to a report released Tuesday.

The 2022 Readiness for Kindergarten report from the Mayor's Commission for Children showed 23.9% of students evaluated in the fall were not prepared  a lower rate than what was found in studies from 2014, 2016 and 2020  and the amount dropped more, to just 20.4%, if the child had attended a formal preschool program.

"More children are attending preschool and pre-K programs in Springfield," said Melissa Duncan Fallone, associate professor at Missouri State University, who prepared the report.

"Pre-K is important for preparing children for kindergarten but it is especially important for low-income students."

The report, typically released every four years, showed the level of readiness was also related to socioeconomic status.

Among students who qualify for free or reduced price school meals, a national measure of poverty, just 63% were prepared for kindergarten compared to 86% of the students who pay the regular price. But that gap closed significantly, according to the report, when comparing kids of different financial means who all attended pre-K.

The Mayor's Commission for Children has completed six kindergarten readiness studies since it was created in 2004, part of an effort to encourage and support the development of early childhood programs in Springfield and the area.

Sequiota Elementary School kindergarten teacher Rachel Hoing leads students during a writing exercise on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

"The data that we've heard is an important part of that and shows why that focus is so important," said Springfield City Council member Matt Simpson, who also serves as mayor pro tem.

"The numbers that we heard today represent lives in our community  lives with hopes and dreams and potential that we all need to make sure they have the ability to realize."

Report comes as child care, education a focus in Jefferson City

Simpson said the report shows the progress that has been made in Springfield and the work that remains to get as many children prepared to learn in kindergarten as possible.

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The commission started studying kindergarten readiness because national research has repeatedly shown that if a child is prepared to learn at that age, they are more likely to read at grade level and stay on track to graduate high school with peers.

Gerry Lee, associate executive director of the Missouri School Boards' Association, said state lawmakers who are looking at ways to expand early childhood education need to have a copy of this report. He is a member of the Mayor's Commission on Children and a former Springfield school board member.

"That is the hot topic right now in Jeff City and this data needs to make its way to our delegation to make sure that they see that," he said. "This is really important stuff, knowing the results of pre-K."

Sequiota Elementary School kindergarteners pair up with another student during a writing exercise in teacher Rachel Hoing's class on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

For each study, kindergarten teachers evaluate between 312 and 435 students. This year, 360 students from classes all over the Springfield district were evaluated:

A look at how many students were unprepared in each report:

2022  23.9%

2018  26%

2016  24.7%

2014  28.5%

2010  20.4%

2006  24.7%

Fallone pointed out that in the 2022 study, nearly 53% of students were prepared and 32% were well prepared. The report showed girls were more likely than boys to be "well prepared" for kindergarten.

Sequiota Elementary School kindergarten teacher Rachel Hoing leads students during a writing exercise on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

SPS preschool program growing but short-staffed

The percentage of kindergarten students who attend preschool has grown in recent years. It hovered at 68% in 2014 and 2016 but jumped to 86% in 2022.

Superintendent Grenita Lathan said the district has enough space to serve 900 students in preschool but can only serve 750 right now because of staffing shortages.

"We place students on a waiting list so as we add staff, we add more students," she said.

Lathan said the district built the Adah Fulbright Early Childhood Center to meet the growing demand for preschool. "It is our goal to increase seats across the district."

She said the district has experienced an uptick in behavior issues among the youngest learners in Wonder Years, the district's preschool program.

"It is a challenge for us," she said. "We plan to add some additional positions to actually support our Wonder Years program around behavior for the upcoming school year."

She said kindergarten teachers complete a one-on-one assessment of each child who enters kindergarten.

Sequiota Elementary School kindergarten teacher Rachel Hoing helps students during a writing exercise on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Elizabeth Andrews, a pediatrician and member of the Mayor's Commission for Children, said parents are becoming more aware of Wonder Years but she still encounters families who do not know the preschool program is available through the district.

She said the report showed there was a strong connection between going to preschool and being prepared to learn in kindergarten.

"It was really refreshing to see that being prepared was more dependent upon pre-K attendance than it was socio-economics," she said.

More: Springfield's top seniors from each high school honored, discuss future plans

Outlook for future studies

Brigitte Marrs, executive director of the Mayor's Commission for Children, said districts are now required to assess and report kindergarten readiness and report the results to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

For that reason, Marrs said the 2022 report may be the last. There is a possibility, however, that the commission will do one more, in 2026, since it will be 20 years after the first.

She said the $10,000 cost of the study was paid for by the Musgrave Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Report: Children who go to pre-K are better prepared for kindergarten
Mark Ruffalo is taking cues from notorious wedding crasher Tom Hanks.

The Marvel actor crashed a couple's spontaneous outdoor wedding in New York's Central Park last weekend. Klaire Hodgson and Lynz Tanner from Gwynedd, Wales, were in the process of setting up a video link for their family overseas to watch them tie the knot when Ruffalo "detoured over" to them, Hodgson told North Wales Live.

Hodgson admitted it took a minute to register the famous face. "I noticed he had a really nice camera and I was thinking, 'Oh, he must do photography.' But I thought, 'I can't know this guy. I'm in New York. I don't know anyone in New York.'"

Then, as the Avengers star began to walk away, Tanner asked, "Is that Mark Ruffalo?"

Mark Ruffalo

Jeff Spicer/Getty Images Mark Ruffalo

The actor ended up meeting the newlyweds. "He was absolutely lovely," Hodgson said. "Later he shook my hand about three times and said, 'Aw, I'm so happy for you.' He was so super nice. He was just a regular guy."

Hodgson said the couple are quite "nerdy"  Hodgson has a Batman tattoo, and their wedding suits featured Star Trek badges  so "for the Hulk to turn up was pretty cool."

"Of all the people, of all the genres of film or TV or anything, to have turned up to our nerdy wedding!" Hodgson marveled.

See the photo of the happy couple with Ruffalo here.

As for Hanks, he has become quite a popular surprise guest at weddings, having showed up at several cross Santa Monica, Pittsburgh, Alabama, and New York. The Elvis actor said the practice began when he was filming 2009's Angels & Demons in Rome at the Pantheon, on a day a couple booked the location for their wedding.

He felt awful that the film crew had taken over the landmark, Hanks confessed on Late Night With Seth Meyers last year.

"It was like, 'Uh, how do we fix this?' I knocked on the [limo] window. I said, 'Hey listen, we have a thing, but would you do me the honor of escorting you to your bridal altar?'" he recalled. "So we did it!" The moment inspired him to crash more weddings.

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After a year-and-a-half absence, the Western drama Joe Pickett is returning  and on a new streaming home.

Paramount+ has announced that it will exclusively release Season 2 of Joe Pickett, which used to be a Spectrum Original, starting Sunday, June 4, in the U.S. and Canada. (The series will be available to stream on Paramount+ in Australia starting Monday, June 5; premiere dates for other international markets will be announced at a later date.)

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Season 2 will premiere with the first two episodes (of 10), followed by weekly releases. Watch a trailer above.

An adaptation of the novels by New York Times bestselling author C.J. Box, Joe Pickett stars New Zealand-born Michael Dorman as the titular Wyoming game warden. Season 1 aired in December 2021 on Spectrum, not long after which a second season was ordered.

Michael Dorman and Julianna Guill (Paramount+) - Credit: Paramount+

Paramount+

In Season 2, Joe Pickett discovers a hunter murdered in the mountains, and realizes it is just one of a series of gruesome murders. To solve the case and catch the killer, Joe must navigate a radical anti-hunting activist, a ghoulish set of twins living off the grid, and his own tortured past.

Along the way, Joe and his wife Marybeth (Julianna Guill) discover that the murdered men werent as innocent as they seemed. But when they dig too deep, they are forced to go on the run and fight for their very lives.

Want scoop on Joe Pickett, or for any other show? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matts Inside Line.

Launch Gallery: 'Missing' Shows, Found! The Latest on <I>All Rise, Transplant, Last Kingdom, Wonder Years, Alex Rider</I> and 31 Others

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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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Zuma New York

Searching for a sleek spot with A-list clientele and an impeccable vibe? Look no further than Zuma New York, which promises to satisfy your Japanese food craving with contemporary cuisine and an upscale atmosphere.

While the celebrity hot spot has locations all over the world  from Capri to Mykonos, Abu Dhabi to Bangkok, Miami to Las Vegas  their New York restaurant is located in the heart of the Big Apple in Midtown Manhattan. Within its walls, however, you can forget that youre surrounded by the sprawling urban jungle  as the establishment provides an authentic and interactive atmosphere for guests to indulge in all elements of the Japanese culture, per a press release.

Zuma New York

The restaurants exotic, internationally inspired dishes come together with Zumas downtown decor in order to create an exceptional dining experience  one inspired by Izakaya, the informal style of Japanese dining.

Chow down on everything from spicy tofu, chicken wings and grilled corn to freshly seared wagyu sirloin, spicy beef tenderloin, sliced yellowtail with green chili relish and more. In addition to their specialties  not to mention the array of sushi and sashimi guests can order  Zuma New York also offers unique desserts, including their green tea banana cake. Feeling thirsty? Go for the brands cocktail program, which promises vibrant sips inspired by bold Japanese flavors mixed with premium liquors, as well as an extensive array of small-batch sakes. Time to get acquainted with the restaurants second-floor bar.

As for that exclusive celebrity vibe, head into one of Zuma New Yorks six private dining and event spaces (or hidden lounge!) to feel like a star  or impress your friends like one. No matter how big your party, the space will be able to accommodate you.

Each [event space] is fully equipped with all the latest technology and can host events from 2 up to 500 people, Zuma New Yorks website states. We have a range of menus to choose from and, of course, our sommelier and beverage teams are on hand to customize beverage pairings to suit your celebration or event.

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Zuma New York

A-list German chef Rainer Becker  the man behind Zuma  told Discover Germany that being able to immerse himself in Japanese cuisine while living in Asia was his greatest gift.

It was from there that Zuma was born, Becker said of his time spent in Japan. A mixture of my own learnings, of [my time in] Australia, of Japan  all of it.
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
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Covenant Health, a clinically integrated healthcare delivery system based in Knoxville, Tennessee, marked several milestones during first quarter of 2023. The health system is committed to providing the right care in the right place at the right time for patients and communities through these and other initiatives:

Covenant Health Logo

In January, Covenant Health announced a land donation for the construction of a new health science center, which will house healthcare education programs offered by two local postsecondary schools. The donation signifies Covenant Health's commitment to preparing future healthcare professionals to better serve our communities.

In February, two ribbon-cutting events were held to celebrate the openings of a renovated Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Hospital at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in downtown Knoxville and a newly constructed Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Hospital in west Knoxville. The hospitals, which are partnerships with Encompass Health, expand local rehabilitation resources and provide expert care to thousands of patients who have experienced stroke, brain or spinal cord injuries, or other disabling conditions.

In early March, Covenant Health held a ribbon-cutting for Covenant Health South, a new outpatient facility serving residents of South Knoxville with primary care, specialty care, women's services, physical therapy, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, imaging and diagnostics, and a new urgent care center.

On March 29, Covenant Health launched its Advanced Care at Home program, which will offer hospital-level care in the home of eligible high-acuity patients with conditions like asthma, heart failure or gastroenteritis.

Covenant Health also plans to open a new outpatient facility in Morristown, Tennessee, that will include a free-standing emergency department, diagnostic imaging, and physician offices. These expansions represent the health system's mission to improve the quality of life in our communities through better health.

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About Covenant Health

Covenant Health is a Tennessee-based healthcare enterprise committed to providing the right care at the right time and place. As a not-for-profit health system, we are dedicated to being the region's premier healthcare network through service, community, and innovation. We provide patient-centered care that inspires clinical and service excellence and strive to be the first and best choice for our patients, employees, physicians, employers, volunteers, and communities. Covenant Health is the area's largest employer and has more than 11,000 compassionate caregivers, expert clinicians, and dedicated employees and volunteers. Learn more at CovenantHealth.com.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/covenant-health-expands-healthcare-services-in-east-tennessee-301794777.html

SOURCE Covenant Health
Organizers of Thailands Suphannahong National Film Awards on Friday evening reversed an earlier rule change that had caused several filmmakers to call for a boycott.

Earlier this week it emerged that a recent rule change effectively disqualified independent or low-budget titles. The criteria stipulated that, to qualify for nomination, movies must be shown in cinemas (direct to streaming titles do not qualify), must have had a release in at least five regions or big cities, and attract audiences of at least 50,000 spectators.



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At least, one local media report said that the rules were introduced in 2019. But the change had little impact in the intervening years due to low levels of film production.



This week the rules caused controversy among fans and members of the indie film community. The hashtag #BanSuphannahong has been prominent on Twitter since Thursday.

Anatomy of Time which premiered at the Venice festival in September last year was among 11 films barred from the awards. Its theatrical release was too limited.

Are we not eligible just because we make movies with a low budget, and we cant afford to screen at giant cinemas in many provinces in Thailand? the films art director Sarawut Kaewnamyen said on social media.

The Suphannahong Awards are organized by the National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations. Thai PBS reported that the organizations own VP, Adisak Limparungpatanakij, resigned from the association in protest against the new rules.



Suphannahong Awards reverses earlier decision.

Variety has repeatedly contacted the Awards organizer for details and comment. The organizers did not reply.

Instead, on Friday evening they circulated a note, reversing the recent policy stance and saying that the 2023 Suphannahong Awards will be open to all films of more than 60 minutes in length, were completed between January and December 2022 and were shown in cinemas for at least seven days.



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Earlier, Nottapon Boonprakob, screenwriter and co-director of One for the Road, said that he had withdrawn his nomination from the awards. [My withdrawal is effective] until the federation has a consensus on changing the rules and showing that they value Thai movies and people in the industry, he said on Twitter.

/ One for the Road   #  Kai Nottapon Boonprakob (@nottaponboon) March 30, 2023

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan outlines EPA's new drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals on March 14, 2023 at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has introduced a first-of-its-kind drinking water standard for PFAS and GenX, in a step state and federal officials say will seriously limit future exposure to these toxic chemicals.

On a blustery, cold day at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, EPA Administrator Michael Regan unveiled drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals, including PFOA, PFOS and GenX. Under these new drinking water standards, public water systems will be required to monitor and reduce concentrations of these six PFAS compounds to limits set in the proposed rules.

I'm so proud to announce that EPA is proposing the first-ever national standard to protect communities from PFAS in drinking water, Regan said. This is something that communities like Wilmington have been demanding for years, and today, we are finally answering those calls.

More:A billion dollar disaster: New Hanover County faces daunting problem as GenX crisis spreads

PFAS, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of compounds created by chemical companies such as Chemours and DuPont for use in non-stick items and other products. The chemicals were considered miracles when they were first introduced because of their abilities to resist water, heat and other forces, but those same characteristics made them dangerous to the environment and humans because of their inability to breakdown.

EPAs proposed drinking water standards will set limits on PFOA and PFOS at four parts per trillion, according to a press release from EPA. It would also create a limit on a combination of four other PFAS including PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS and GenX.

Elizabeth Biser, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, speaks to a crowd about the state's ongoing efforts to address PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear region on March 14, 2023 in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Many of these PFAS chemicals have found their way into the homes of more than one million residents who rely on the Cape Fear River for their drinking water. For more than 30 years, Chemours, and DuPont before them, released these compounds into the Cape Fear region, contaminating the states largest river system and exposing 1-in-15 North Carolinians to substances linked to various types of cancer, liver damage and high cholesterol.

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That environmental disaster is what drew local, state and federal officials to Wilmington Tuesday to announce these new rules.

We came to Wilmington because this community, and all the communities in the eight-county region from here to Fayetteville, understand PFAS better than most, said Elizabeth Biser, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. You understand that better because you've had to. You've been on the frontlines of PFAS contamination since 2017.

More:What we've learned so far after a year of PFAS well testing around Wilmington

Regans announcement was met with mixed reaction. Environmental groups such as the Southern Environmental Law Center said EPAs announcement is an essential step forward in making sure the water flowing into our taps is not contaminated with PFOA, PFOS, GenX or other PFAS included in todays announcement, according to a statement from Geoff Gisler, program director at SELC.

Local environmental activists also supported the new drinking water standards, including Emily Donovan, who spoke at Tuesday's press conference.

"No one should ever wonder if the PFAS in their tap water will one day make them sick, said Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear. We all deserve access to health protective drinking water. It's a basic human right. Today, prayers were answered.

Emily Donovan is a community activist fighting against Chemours and DuPont in the GenX Crisis and is becoming a leading voice on the issue of PFAS nationally. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

The chemical industry, however, expressed serious concerns regarding EPAs science in creating these drinking water standards.

The EPAs misguided approach to these MCLs is important, as these low limits will likely result in billions of dollars in compliance costs, according to a statement from the American Chemistry Council. The proposals have important implications for broader drinking water policy priorities and resources, so its critical that EPA gets the science right.

More:Chemours claims to be 'good neighbor' in recent ad campaign, angers North Carolinians

In its statement, the American Chemistry Council said it looks forward to reviewing these new standards and commenting on them during an upcoming public comment period for these new regulations.

The regulations introduced today are simply proposals and will go through a public comment period, but Regan said he wants to get them finalized before the end of the year.

Folks, this is a tremendous step forward in the right direction, Regan said. We anticipate that when fully implemented, this rule will prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-related illnesses.

STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest news by signing up for the Daily Briefing email newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: EPA unveils new drinking water standards for PFAS, GenX in Wilmington
This is the airline's third European route.

AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

JetBlue will launch flights to Amsterdam later this summer from New York, marking the airlines third European route.

The new route, which will launch in late summer, will fly between New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, JetBlue shared with Travel + Leisure. The new flights will operate on a daily basis.

Eventually, the airline plans to also fly between Boston and Amsterdam, but a timeframe has not yet been announced.

"This route is long overdue for some competition, Robin Hayes, the chief executive officer at JetBlue, said in a statement provided to T+L. For too long the U.S. legacy carriers have locked customers in with very expensive fares and mediocre service. Just like were doing in London and Paris, we will bring fares down and improve the experience for customers flying between the U.S. and Amsterdam.

The new flights will be flown on the carriers Airbus A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft and will feature 24 Mint Suite seats and 114 core seats (JetBlues version of economy).

Our formula of combining a customer-centric experience and everyday low fares isnt something you find in Europe," Hayes added. "Were confident that customers, Amsterdam airport officials, and the Dutch government will be delighted by JetBlue when they see first-hand the positive impact we can make and we look forward to working together with Dutch officials to ensure long-term success in the market.

The new route announcement comes weeks before JetBlue is set to start flying to Paris from New York in June, the airlines first destination in continental Europe. JetBlue first launched flights to Europe in August 2021 with service to London, which it later expanded.



The Amsterdam flights will feature many of JetBlues signature amenities like unlimited free high speed Wi-Fi, live TV channels, and extra-large overhead bins. Travelers in core will also be able to enjoy the airlines partnership with fast-casual restaurant Dig and its unique build-your-own meal concept in the air.

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JetBlue said seats for the new Amsterdam route are expected to go on sale in the coming weeks.

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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.

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Zipair will be flying from San Francisco to Tokyo starting this summer.

Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images

A low-cost Japanese airline is expanding its presence in the United States by launching new flights to San Francisco this summer.

ZIPAIR will launch flights between Narita International Airport in Tokyo and San Francisco International Airport on June 2, according to the airline. The new route will mark the carriers fourth city in the U.S. following service to Honolulu, Los Angeles, and San Jose Mineta International Airport in California.

Through our relationship with SFO, we are confident this service will provide a valuable link for commercial and cultural exchange for our mutual customers, ZIPAIR President Shingo Nishida said in a statement.

The new flight will operate five times each week between the U.S. and Japan on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. One-way fares will start at $91.

ZIPAIR was first established in 2018 and is a subsidiary of Japan Airlines (which is known for having some of the most luxurious economy seats). The airline currently flies to six international destinations: Bangkok, Seoul, Honolulu, Singapore, Los Angeles, and San Jose.

The airline operates a fleet of Boeing 787 8 Dreamliner aircraft and offers complimentary Wi-Fi on board for all customers as well as allows up to 7 kilograms (15.4 pounds) of carry-on baggage for free. ZIPAIR does charge for other things, however, like meals, which can be ordered through a smartphone or tablet.

Next month, Japan will end all COVID-19-related border restrictions, lifting vaccine and testing rules on May 8. Currently, all travelers heading to the country are required to show either proof of three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or proof of a negative test conducted within 72 hours of departure, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Japan also eliminated mandatory mask wearing on March 13.

The country first reopened to individual travelers last year, but went through a series of rule changes, initially only welcoming travelers on supervised tours before eventually welcoming independent travelers back in the fall of 2022.



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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
MILAN  A new investment vehicle conceived with the goal to create a European luxury pole was revealed on Tuesday  and it is poised to revive the storied Vionnet brand.

Chimera Abu Dhabi and Haeres Capital have signed a joint venture setting up ChimHaeres Investment Holding, which is starting off with a bang. ChimHaeres has not only acquired the entire capital of Vionnet, but also a majority stake in storied car designer Zagato, founded in 1919, and a majority stake in Fogal, the Swiss hosiery brand founded in 1921 by Leon Fogal.

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In addition, Haeres is folding into the new vehicle its majority equity stake in storied hat manufacturer Borsalino, established in 1857 in Alessandria, Italy.

ChimHaeres will be led by chief executive officer Philippe Camperio, founder of Haeres Capital.

ChimHaeres embodies the shared vision of both Chimera and Haeres to build and manage a multibrands luxury and lifestyle platform, Camperio said. The partnership will invest in unique European assets applying a proactive management and ownership approach, through dedicated industry experts, to deliver the long-term strategies of each portfolio company.

Camperio will be supported by a team of industry veterans, including Antonella di Pietro, Alberto Nathansohn, Giacomo Santucci and Jerome Macario, as well as a seasoned team of experts in the operations, financial and legal fields.

The focus of the investments will initially be on Italy, France, Switzerland and the U.K., mostly high-end and aspirational brands, aiming to accelerate their growth with a focus on international expansion, digital transformation and sustainability.

Philippe Camperio. Courtesy image by Lionel Flusin

The global luxury market has shown remarkable growth and resilience in recent years despite the pandemic and various macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, said Mirian Khalaf, head of Chimera Abu Dhabi. We are confident that our partnership with Haeres will enable us to capitalize on the attractive long-term fundamentals of the industry and establish ourselves as a leading investor in the European lifestyle space. We look forward to working with Philippe and his team to position appealing legacy and next-gen brands with favorable growth profiles to serve a younger and increasingly more global audience.

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Giovanni Maria Rossi was named chairman of ChimHaeres, and he asserted that the investment holding is ideally positioned to become a key player in the luxury industry in Europe.

The French haute couture label founded in 1912 by Madeleine Vionnet went through some financial setbacks in recent years. In 2018, the brand and its operating company NVO Srl went through a voluntary liquidation.

Goga Ashkenazi, chairwoman and creative director of Vionnet, took control of Vionnet in 2012, when the Kazakhstan entrepreneur acquired the fashion house from co-owners Matteo Marzotto and former Marni CEO Gianni Castiglioni. The duo first invested in Vionnet in 2009 with the intent of giving new life to the French label.

Ashkenazi assumed the role of creative director in fall 2012, following the exit of sisters Barbara and Lucia Croce at the end of August that year, and staged several fashion shows in Milan. Before the Croce sisters, Vionnet was designed by Rodolfo Paglialunga, tapped by Marzotto and Castiglioni.

As reported, the Borsalino Foundation and the City of Alessandria earlier this month opened a new museum, which will value the heritage of the historic hatmaker.

Haeres Capital is a privately owned company founded in 2011, and has been fully controlling Borsalino since 2018, winning the auction set up by Borsalinos administrators that year. It has since expanded the brands markets and distribution, setting up new collaborations and adding other accessories such as leather goods, ties and scarves. In 2021, it linked with Ami Paris on a co-branded collection and tested a pop-up strategy.

Zagato was founded in Milan in 1919 by Ugo Zagato, whose experience in the aeronautics sector prior to his founding Zagato Atelier contributed to the designs of some of the worlds best Gran Turismo cars due to their sleek and aerodynamic configurations. Zagato has created collectible models for brands such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Porsche.

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Moose Sets Up Shop in Alaskan Hospital Lobby Like It Owns the Joint

Only in Alaska!

Visitors to Alaska's largest hospital in Anchorage on Thursday were pleasantly surprised when a young moose wandered into the hospital lobby and started snacking on some plants. The unexpected visitor provided a delightful break from the standard hospital routine and brought a smile to the faces of those present who posted video clips and Facebook updates on social media.

The TikTok account for @Apnews shared the following video.

View the original article to see embedded media.

@Aspiringtonarrowboot comments, "Shes just a baaaby!" @User724 asks, "Wheres your mama little moose?"

CBS News reports: 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 the news outlet.

"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 was eventually able to coax the moose back outside. A few people are heard in the video cheering when the moose exited through the automatic doors.

After finding a patch of grass, it settled down for a nap, according to Canfield.

That's great news that the moose was able to get back outside without being harmed and we are sure visitors to the hospital enjoyed seeing him! Now, we just hope this poor thing is able to find its mom!

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.

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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.

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.
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.
Contrive Datum Insights Pvt Ltd

According to a Contrive Datum Insights report on market research, Banks can transition to digital ecosystems using digital banking platform solutions that are readily deployable and modifiable. By enhancing customer service, interactive mobile banking websites and applications increase consumer loyalty.

Farmington, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Credit Risk Rating Software Market was worth USD 1.59 Billion in 2022. It is projected to be worth USD 4.54 billion by 2030, which means that from 2022 to 2030, it will have grown at a CAGR of 13.44%.

During the forecast period, software companies should be able to profit from the increasing number of businesses that employ credit risk management software.

The market is likely to expand as an increasing number of individuals desire scalable software with automatic risk assessment and fixable credit transactions. More people are becoming aware that credit risk management software assists institutions in monitoring, evaluating, and responding to warning signals that indicate unauthorized transactions.

Request Sample Copy of Report  The Credit Risk Rating Software market Size, Share & Trends Estimation Report By Offering Outlook (Software, Services, Professional Services, Managed Services), By Deployment Model Outlook (On-premise, Cloud), By End User Outlook (Banks, Insurance Companies, Credit Unions, Savings & Loan Associations, Others), By Enterprise Size Outlook (Large Enterprises, Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)), Region and Forecasts, 2023 - 2030 , published by Contrive Datum Insights.

Segmentation Overview:

By Application Outlook:

Based on application, the industry is subdivided into Small Business, Midsize Enterprise, Large Enterprise, and other categories. Data interchange and data ecosystems provide tools for evaluating acquired data in one location, extracting, and cross-referencing business-critical components. The evolution of data exchanges and data ecosystems is determined by the assumptions about the value of the data for each consumer group.

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By Type Outlook:

The market is segmented by type into On-Premise and Cloud-Based segments. AI and blockchain, two of the newest emerging technologies, are anticipated to enhance risk analytics software and create new business opportunities.

By Regional Outlook:

The global market for Credit Risk Rating Software has been segmented by region into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and India, amongst others. In the near future, the global region will comprise the majority of this market.

The global credit risk rating software market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the rest of the world, based on where the software is used. North America accounts for a significant portion of the market for software that assesses credit risk. This is due to the increased use of risk management solutions by banks and insurance companies to acquire new consumers, as well as the concentration of key solution providers in the region. Asia-Pacific and Europe are anticipated to experience the greatest growth in the credit risk rating software market in the coming years. This is due to the fact that these sectors utilize more sophisticated software platforms to manage operational, foreign exchange, credit, and market risks.

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https://www.contrivedatuminsights.com/buy/45328

Scope of Report:

Report Attributes Details Growth Rate CAGR of 13.44%from 2023 to 2030. Revenue Forecast by 2030 $ 4.54 billion By Offering Software

Services

Professional Services

Managed Services By Deployment Model On-premise

Cloud By Enterprise Size Large Enterprises

Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) By End User



Banks

Insurance Companies

Credit Unions

Savings & Loan Associations

Others By Companies IBM

Oracle

SAP

SAS

Experian

Misys

Fiserv

Pega

CELENT

Provenir Regions and Countries Covered North America: (US, Canada, Mexico, Rest of North America)

Europe(Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Nordic Countries, Benelux Union, Rest of Europe)

Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

The Middle East & Africa(Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East & Africa)

Latin America(Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)

Rest Of the World Base Year 2022 Historical Year 2017 to 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030

Market Dynamics:

Restraining Factors:

When utilizing credit rating software, financial institutions are less likely to write off poor debts

Credit rating software reduces loan transaction risks, such as the possibility that a borrower will not repay the loan. The ability of banks to select borrowers based on their credit score reduces the likelihood that faulty loans will be issued.

Maintaining a decent credit score is becoming a greater concern for more individuals

Credit rating software makes it easier for institutions and individuals to obtain loans based on credit scores. With the assistance of credit rating software, people are more aware of the advantages of having a high credit score, such as the ability to obtain loans for large amounts and the ability to improve their credit scores by repaying loans on time.

More individuals desire to borrow money

In recent years, a growing number of individuals have sought out personal loans, student loans, and other types of loans, and this trend is likely to continue.

Key Segments Covered:

Top Market Players:

IBM

Oracle

SAP

SAS

Experian

Misys

Fiserv

Pega

CELENT

Provenir

By Offering

Software

Services

Professional Services

Managed Services

By Deployment Model

On-premise

Cloud

By Enterprise Size

Large Enterprises

Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

By End User

Banks

Insurance Companies

Credit Unions

Savings & Loan Associations

Others

Regions and Countries Covered

North America: (US, Canada, Mexico, Rest of North America)

Europe: (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Nordic Countries, Benelux Union, Rest of Europe)

Asia-Pacific: (Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

The Middle East & Africa: (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East & Africa)

Latin America: (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)

Rest Of the World

Check out more related studies published by Contrive Datum Insights:

Facility Management Marke t - The global facility management market was valued at $42.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2022 to 2030, reaching a projected value of $59.3 billion by 2030.

Demand Side Platform Market - The Global Demand Side Platform Market Size Was Valued At USD 16.94 Billion In 2021. The Market Is Projected To Grow From USD 20.77 Billion In 2022 To USD 92.12 Billion By 2029, Exhibiting A CAGR Of 23.7% During The Forecast Period.

Global Liability Insurance Market - The global Liability Insurance Market size was valued at USD 252.34 Billion in 2022, and is projected to reach USD 432.81Billion by 2030, also is growing at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2022 to 2030.

Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per client needs or requirements.For any queries, you can contact us on anna@contrivedatuminsights.com or +1 215-297-4078. Our sales executives will be happy to understand your needs and provide you with the most suitable reports.

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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
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
With the stroke of her pen, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer repealed an unenforceable Michigan law Wednesday that makes it a felony to administer most abortions with no exception for rape or incest.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs legislation to repeal the 1931 abortion ban statute, which criminalized abortion in nearly all cases during a bill signing ceremony, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Birmingham, Mich. The abortion ban, which fueled one of the largest ballot drives in state history, had been unenforceable after voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution last November. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

For decades, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision guaranteed a national constitutional right to abortion. But when the court overturned that decision, a Michigan Court of Claims judge issued an order temporarily blocking Michigan's abortion ban to ensure continued legal access to the procedure in the state. Michigan voters ultimately took up the matter directly during last year's midterm when they embraced an amendment to the state's constitution to enshrine an explicit right to seek abortions.

While the constitutional amendment means the 1931 abortion ban is no longer in effect, Democratic lawmakers still wanted to repeal it.

"Today, we're going to take action to ensure that our statutes, our laws reflect our values and our constitution," Whitmer said in front of a wall of pink signs reading "bans off our bodies" at a bill signing ceremony packed with Democrats and abortion rights advocates.

"This is a long overdue step," she said.

House Bill 4006 repeals two Michigan laws: one that makes it a felony to administer an abortion to a pregnant woman unless "necessary to preserve the life of such woman" and another that makes it a misdemeanor to sell or advertise medication for an abortion. It passed with the support of every Democratic lawmaker and two Republicans in the state House: state Reps. Thomas Kuhn, of Troy, and Donni Steele, of Orion Township. Most Republicans voted against it, and Right to Life of Michigan derided Whitmer in a statement for celebrating the repeal of the state's abortion ban.

More: Michigan House repeals 1931 abortion ban following passage of Proposal 3

More: Michigan Supreme Court ends abortion lawsuit at Gov. Whitmer's request

Nicole Wells Stallworth, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, celebrated the bill signing. Just a year ago, she said she feared for the future of abortion access in the state in anticipation of a U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe.

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Nicole Wells Stallworth, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood is seen before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to repeal the 1931 abortion ban statute, which criminalized abortion in nearly all cases during a bill signing ceremony, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Birmingham, Mich. Michigan had an unconstitutional law from 1931 on the books banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest and allowing doctors and nurses who offer reproductive care to be prosecuted.

"And now, abortion providers will no longer have to fear that they will be criminalized for doing their jobs," she said.

Whitmer also signed House Bill 4032 removing abortion-related felonies from the state's criminal code which under the state's abortion ban dictates up to four years' imprisonment for those who administer an abortion and 15 years' imprisonment in the case of an abortion that results in death. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 2 signed by Whitmer repeals a 1931 law that makes it a misdemeanor to publish or sell pamphlets or books with "recipes or prescriptions for drops, pills, tinctures, or other compounds" for contraception and abortions.

"I am about to slay three zombies with one pen," Whitmer said before signing the three bills.

Whitmer made protecting abortion access a key pillar of her reelection campaign against Republican Tudor Dixon, a staunch opponent of abortion rights.

Before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe, Whitmer used her gubernatorial powers to ask the Michigan Supreme Court to declare the 1931 law criminalizing abortion violated the Michigan Constitution. The court formally dismissed Whitmer's lawsuit after voters approved the reproductive rights amendment championed by Whitmer. That proposal obtained over 50,000 more votes than Whitmer received in the 2022 election.

Clara Hendrickson fact-checks Michigan issues and politics as a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support her work at bit.ly/freepRFA. Contact her at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer repeals Michigan's 1931 abortion ban
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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What good is a right to fish if there are no fish to fish for?

Our Florida Legislature is looking to expand the rights of parents in its Parental Rights in Education Act, expanded the rights of gun owners in its constitutional carry bill (SB 543), and is considering expanding the rights of teachers (SB 244).

Most recently, it is also looking to expand the right of Floridians to hunt and fish by enshrining that right in the state constitution (SJR 1234).

Fishing the Indian River Lagoon on a sunny weekday morning at the Port St. John Boat Ramp, just south of the Fay Blvd. intersection.

But when it comes to clean water  upon which our health, local economies, property values and wildlife (including fish) depend  the Legislature is looking to restrict the rights of citizens, exercised through their local governments, from having any impact upon the quality of Florida waters and aquatic ecosystems.

SB 1240 and its companion bill in the House, HB 1197, would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting laws, regulations, rules, or policies relating to water quality or quantity, pollution control, pollutant discharge prevention or removal, and wetlands, and would preempt such laws and regulation to the state.

Apparently, the Legislature doesnt feel it went far enough when in 2020, the year 89% of Orange County citizens passed their Right to Clean Water/Rights of Nature charter amendment, it preempted the authority of local governments to pass laws granting such rights.

More: Titusville investigates fish kill at Osprey sewer plant

As demonstrated by all the rights-based laws it is pursuing, it obviously understands how effective a rights-based approach to protecting our waters would be. Now, however, it doesnt want local governments having any say at all regarding the conditions of our waters.

Sen. Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills), the sponsor of SB 1240, asserts that only the state has the expertise and know-how to responsibly manage our precious water supply.

Even a partial list of facts demonstrates the opposite is true.

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We will lose more wetlands, too, if bills such as HB 359, a gift to developers, become law. Its purpose is to prevent citizens from challenging changes to comprehensive plans to allow for more development, which, in turn, negatively impacts water quality. Gil Smart, executive director of VoteWater.org, has called this legislative session the session of sprawl.

More: Commissioner proposes cutting arts grants to fund lagoon, beach restoration

This is the real purpose of SB 1240 and HB 1197. Rep. Randy Maggard (R-Dade City), who sponsored the House bill, says, Cities and counties are using water as a weapon to slow down their growth.

Its the other way around. Over 40% of the Legislature have direct ties to the real estate industry, and they are weaponizing the legislative process to suppress the peoples support for clean waters and healthy ecosystems. Its no wonder SB 1240 is being called The Dirty Water Act.

Self-interest, special interests and short-sighted profits over the long term good of the public and the environment: Its the way of things in Tallahassee, and its why we need a constitutional amendment, one more fundamental than the right to hunt and fish.

After stating that fishing is both a way of life and a $15 billion industry in Florida, Blair Wickstrom, senior editor of Florida Sportsman Magazine,recently said that without fish there is no industry, there is no way of life. And without clean and healthy water there are no fish.

The amendment I am referring to is the one granting all Floridians a fundamental Right to Clean and Healthy Waters. With this right we could hold the state accountable when through action or inaction it allows the polluting and degradation of our waters and aquatic ecosystems.

Joseph Bonasia is chair of the Florida Rights of Nature Network.

Enshrined in the bill of rights section of our state constitution, it would be beyond the reach of the Legislature to overturn or compromise, and it would stop bills like SB 1240 and HB 1197 before they even start.

The Legislature could propose a Right to Clean and Healthy Waters constitutional amendment in the same manner it has proposed a right to hunt and fish, but it hasnt and it wont. We the people must do it ourselves.

Approximately 900,000 signed and verified petitions are needed to qualify this proposed amendment for the 2024 ballot. Go to FloridaRightToCleanWater.org to print out, sign and mail the petition. Get as many other Florida registered voters to do the same.

What good is a right to fish, if there are no fish to fish for?

Joseph Bonasia is chair of the Florida Rights of Nature Network. This opinion piece was originally published by The Invading Sea website (www.theinvadingsea.com), which posts news and commentary on climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: What good is a right to fish if there are no fish?
A federal judge denied Holmess motion for release on Monday as she appealed her conviction on four counts of fraud and conspiracy, as reported by The Guardian. As a result, the Theranos founder is scheduled to report to prison on April 27th.

Holmes has appealed her conviction to the federal ninth circuit court of appeals based on questions about the accuracy and reliability of evidentiary and procedural issues in the trial. However, US district court judge Edward Davila ruled Monday that the appeals didnt meet the burden of a substantial questioning of facts or law. According to the judge, the request didnt address the convictions underlying wire-fraud issues against investors. Therefore, it wouldnt warrant a reversal or new trial (the legal standard for remaining free pending appeal) even if the appeals court agreed with her assertions.

However, the judge ruled against prosecutors hoping to brand Holmes as a flight risk after learning that her partner bought her a one-way ticket for a flight to Mexico. Although the judge described the ticket purchase (and failure to cancel it post-conviction) as a bold move and perilously careless oversight, he gave her the benefit of the doubt, ruling she was not likely to flee or pose a danger to the public.

Last November, the Theranos founder was sentenced to over 11 years in prison for defrauding investors after a jury found her guilty last January. Founded in 2003, Theranos claimed to produce a long list of revealing health results using only a single drop of a patients blood. The company raised hundreds of millions of dollars from high-profile investors before internal whistleblowers sourced a 2015 Wall Street Journal story revealing that the startups underlying technology was bogus. The story has since become a cautionary tale, with podcasts, books and a recent Hulu miniseries cashing in on the one-time Silicon Valley golden childs downfall.
Mummy mask, 100 BC - 100 AD at the Robert and Francis Fullerton Art Museum , a treasure trove of not only ancient Egyptian art but more modern works.

The world of ancient Egypt never really interested me while growing up. I was more interested in American history since that was where I lived, and it was much cheaper to travel to Topeka, Kansas than to Cairo, Egypt.

Thatll be $40 for the Greyhound, a ticket person would state. Or five gazillion dollars to fly across the world to a land of the never-ending desert.

I lived in a desert, so I chose the bus to Topeka.

It was not until I viewed a documentary about Egypt that my attention turned to the ancient Egyptians as some of the most advanced folks who ever populated this Earth.

The year I watched the documentary is unimportant; plus, it ages me, but I will never forget the impact it had on me from then on.

Professor Steven Martin stood on a stage and sang a song about the ancient Pharaoh Tutankhamun  the boy king. Tutankhamun died at 18, and his tomb in the Valley of the Kings went undiscovered for over 3,000 years. The treasure-laden tomb was located in 1922 by Howard Carter, an esteemed and wily archaeologist.

One poignant moment in Professor Martins televised lecture was when he sang, Howd you get so funky  did you do the monkey?

That had a significant impact on me about ancient Egypt.

Theres an Egyptian exhibit at the Robert and Francis Fullerton Art Museum at Cal State. Do you want to go? I asked Laureen.

This Cal State was the California State University of San Bernardino  in case anyone was confused since there are 23 such campuses spread up and down the state of California.

What sort of exhibit?

I guess they have a bunch of stuff dating back a long time ago in Egypt, I replied. A lot about the Egyptian afterlife.

Youre not going to dance, are you?

I thought of Professor Martin and hoped he would not be disappointed. No.

The ancient Egyptians, from my research, put a lot of thought into what happened when they died.

The afterlife was a part of their present life since so much thought was put into when they would pass from this realm and into the next.

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According to something I read in some Australian archeology magazine: The ancient Egyptians believed that when they died, their spiritual body would continue to exist in an afterlife very similar to their living world. However, entry into this afterlife was not guaranteed. The dead had to negotiate a dangerous underworld journey and face the final judgment before they were granted access.

That sounded rather ominous to me.

Yeah, its just like your current life, but when you die, you gotta travel through all kinds of nasty things with big teeth trying to eat you or getting squirted with a green Jell-O-like substance.

The British Museum had an exhibit called Ancient Egypt: Secrets of the Afterlife.

John pondering the Parade of Kings at the Robert and Francis Fullerton Art Museum , a treasure trove of not only ancient Egyptian art but more modern works.

This is not much of a secret since it stated that the exhibit would cover everything from the process of mummification and ancient canopic jars used to store the different organs of the body, to mummy masks created only for the wealthiest, which helped a persons soul find their way back to their body in the afterlife.

In all transparency, Laureen and I have visited the British Museum, the Louvre, the Museo Egizio, and other places that house ancient Egyptian artifacts. It was all exciting, but my main point in visiting these museums was to have my photograph taken next to an embalmed Egyptian, so I could ask, Are you my mummy?

For the sci-fi nerds like my wife, that reference was from an episode of Doctor Who.

The Robert and Francis Fullerton Art Museum is in the northeast section of the University of California, San Bernardino. A short walk from the parking lot to the west, you won't have to pay for parking if you get there at the right time and correct day.

There is nothing special to the building, a sizeable windowed cement block structure, but what it lacks on the exterior is made up for in the interior.

This whole Art Museum is a treasure trove of not only the ancient Egyptian thingies we looked at but also rooms full of modern artwork, some from the current students who attend the university.

There were paintings of this and that; a couple of metal horns facing each other and giggling, a pair of sunglasses on a red background, a blank canvas with a red tie, a green light bulb attached to a board, a guy with no head, and so much more.

It was enthralling and quite the experience.

Whats that? I asked.

Art, Laureen replied.

And I thought Picasso was hard to understand.

The Egyptian exhibit came into view, and what an idea.

Glass case after glass case holding objects that were lost for eons, and here they were now for everyone to see.

Well, for everyone to see if that meant the Inland Empire.

Preparing a person for burial in ancient Egypt was not for the timid. After the person died, they would receive all kinds of attention, like having their innards taken out and stored in canopic jars, which would be placed near their sarcophagus. Usually, the whole mummification process took 70 days to complete and was reserved for the rich.

- Mummified hand with finger rings still visible at the Robert and Francis Fullerton Art Museum , a treasure trove of not only ancient Egyptian art but more modern works.

I did learn something cool. A video at the museum explained which parts of the innards were reserved for the canopic jars after death.

It was not a hit-and-miss slitting and sliding out of organs and tossing here and there. Nope, there was a method to this measure.

The video referred to it as SILL, Spleen, Intestines, Lung, Liver. These were the organs the ancient Egyptians carefully removed from the deceased and placed gently into the ceramic canopic jars.

Brains were tossed to the wayside since the early Egyptian doctors had no idea what the brain was utilized for.

It sounds like some of our politicians, but I digress.

The heart was left in the body since the Egyptians believed this was where wisdom and love emanated from.

My heart belongs to you, but please leave it within me since without it, I will be an unfeeling doddering and drooling old ghost in the afterlife.

That was supposedly carved into a cartouche on a pharaohs cartouche around 1,300 BC.

We wandered the rooms full of ancient treasures.

3,000 year old dice at the Robert and Francis Fullerton Art Museum , a treasure trove of not only ancient Egyptian art but more modern works.

There were cartouches, sarcophagus lids, jars full of ancient food items, and burial items from tiny buttons to sew on the outer clothing of the deceased to large, beautifully hammered metal chest plates.

Being in this room, with pieces found in ancient tombs, was a sobering experience for Laureen and me.

Some items had once adorned folks that had died eons ago, and now we were walking from glass case to glass case in wonder at the unbelievable craftsmanship in creating these pieces.

A pair of 3,000-year-old playing dice made of wood stared up at us. What appeared to be a pawn from a modern chess piece sat beside them. It was as if a Las Vegas dealer could use those dice today since the numbers were so distinct. I could imagine losing to Laureen at that moment, utilizing that piece in my demise.

One item I found fascinating was a severed hand of a mummy. I am sure the mummy would counter my fascination if it were around and could speak.

Thats my hand, and you have no business having it in a museum without the rest of me. All I want is my hand to make a handstand, and wouldnt that be grand?

Even the rings that bejeweled the severed hand are displayed on the writing.

Heart Amulet, Ma'at plaque and other Egyptian treasures at the Robert and Francis Fullerton Art Museum , a treasure trove of not only ancient Egyptian art but more modern works.

Laureen bypassed that exhibit.

But one she did not bypass was the one of ancient Egyptian jewelry. Two glass cases reveal marvelous examples of the delicately stringed neck, wrist jewelry, and rings.

Mothers Day is coming soon, she said.

There was a large cartouche, I hope I have that right, showing a parade of Kings walking into the afterlife. Each pharaoh looked pretty happy or pretended to be, walking behind each other into the uncertainty of life after death.

I pondered that for a moment or two.

The entire museum is worth a visit if a person is into ancient Egyptian artifacts. But who is not with hits like Indiana Jones, the Mummy, or Johns Hesitancy for Marching into the Afterlife?

This is a place to explore  and dont forget to dress the part; it will do the soul a lot of good.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Fullerton Art Museum San Bernardino State Ancient Egypt
A man who died while in Kentucky police custody last month had methamphetamine in his blood and a prior heart condition  both of which contributed to his death, Kentucky State Police said in a news release Tuesday.

The Kentucky State Medical Examiners Office ruled that Clarence Wilkersons official cause of death was acute methamphetamine intoxication, state police said in a news release.

Wilkerson died March 4 while in the custody of the Ashland Police Department. Bystander video  which sparked local criticism of how police handled the incident  showed Wilkerson suffering from health issues while being put into the back of a patrol car.

Wilkerson had methamphetamine, amphetamines and THC in his blood, KSP said Tuesday. He also had a prior heart condition which included congestive heart failure, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, the police press release continued. Law enforcement previously said he had been pursued and detained on outstanding 2017 misdemeanor charges.

Ashland Police Department officers are not equipped with body-worn cameras, KSP said in response to an open records request filed by the Herald-Leader asking for access to any bodycam video from the incident.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others who died in incidents with police, said in March that he had been retained by Wilkersons family.

A few days after his death, members of Wilkersons family told the Daily Independent in Ashland that Wilkerson had a heart condition that required a catheterization in his late 20s. Doctors told the family Wilkerson had no pulse when he arrived at the hospital.

In online posts, family and community members said they wouldnt let the incident go unnoticed and would fight for justice.

The Ashland Police officers who were on the scene of Wilkersons arrest were John McCormick, Chris Brislin and Tony Floyd, state police said.

Taylor Six contributed to this report. This story may be updated.
Nearly three months after announcing her move to Fort Myers, Leoma Lovegrove has finally signed the lease for her new downtown art gallery and studio.

The popular Matlacha artist says she cant wait to move into the approximately 2,800-square-foot storefront on Dean Street  more than three times the size of her old, 800-square-foot gallery.

Im looking forward to the new space, for sure, Lovegrove says. And its large enough that I can really expand my creativity. So Im excited.

Lovegrove signed the five-year lease Friday and it was notarized Saturday, she says. She blames the delay on Hurricane Ian and the backlog of work and permitting it created all over Southwest Florida.

I think had we not had the storm, it wouldve gone right away, she says. But theres legals and theres permits.

Most new construction doesn't happen immediately, says Dean Building owner Steve Israel. In addition to permitting delays, he says, the gallery lease needed to be further negotiated and lawyers had to read it carefully.

"The devil's always in the details," Israel says. "It takes time."

Previously: Matlacha artist Leoma Lovegrove announces plans to move gallery to downtown Fort Myers

Leoma Lovegrove: More than just The Glasses

Hurricane art: Artist Leoma Lovegrove makes paintings from Ian debris

Matlacha artist Leoma Lovegrove

Work has already started on the former office space at 1415 Dean Street, Unit 102, next to Ford's Garage, Israel says. The Dean Building storefront has been gutted. Next up, workers will "move some doors around" and create the gallery space inside, including new lightning, walls and other changes, he says.

If all goes well, Lovegrove's new gallery could open in three or four months, he says, depending on permitting, architectural designs and more.

Lovegrove says she's just relieved that she's finally signed the lease and started working on the project with Israel and developer Nils Richter.

I was really worried, because downtown is the place to go, Lovegrove says. I was worried that somebody would take it from me (laughs). Retail space is at a premium right now. You just cant find it.

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Lovegrove declined to say how much shes spending on the lease, which has an option to renew after five years.

A Matlacha icon moving to Fort Myers

Lovegrove's move is a big economic loss for Matlacha. Her gallery has been one of the islands biggest draws there for about 25 years. Then Hurricane Ian badly damaged her house, gallery and art studio in September  along with much of the rest of Pine Island.

It wasnt an easy decision to move to Fort Myers, Lovegrove said in January. She loves Matlacha, she said, and it will always be a part of her.

I dont feel like Im really abandoning Matlacha, because Im taking the history with me, said Lovegrove, who now lives with her husband in a North Fort Myers condo. Im going to have a little Matlacha section in my new gallery...

"I gotta take the history with me! Its a huge part of my husbands and my life.

Artist Leoma Lovegrove poses with a painting made from a piece of fencing from her Hurricane Ian-damaged Matlacha gallery.

That includes the decorated camper trailer she once towed to appearances all over Florida. Its been parked behind her gallery for seven years, she says, but now she plans to display it proudly inside her new Fort Myers gallery.

Lovegrove hopes that, by representing Matlacha in Fort Myers, she'll encourage more people to check out Pine Island, too.

Business-wise, it just makes sense to take Matlacha with me, Lovegrove says. I mean, I could be their own little chamber of commerce in there.

Lisa Sbuttoni, president & CEO of the Fort Myers River District Alliance, helped connect Lovegrove with property owners and developers for the project. And shes excited about all the people she expects the gallery to draw to downtown.

Its a huge deal, Sbuttoni said in January. Shes iconic with Southwest Florida.

I mean, shes really a huge name, not just here in Southwest Florida. Shes internationally known.

Israel says Lovegrove's gallery will be a great addition to the Dean Building and the rest of downtown Fort Myers.

"I think Leoma epitomizes Florida, fun and talented art," he says. "Not too expensive, not too cheap. Very unique.

"I think of her as the Peter Max of Fort Myers. ... They're both fun, very talented and upbeat."

Leoma Lovegrove's Matlacha art gallery and studio were heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian.

Lovegrove says her Matlacha gallery saw about 1,000 visitors a day during tourist season. But the gallery and studio would need extensive, expensive work to reopen. Both got about 4 feet of floodwater when Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida.

Right now, its down to sticks, Lovegrove said in January Theres no drywall, no toilet, no running water, no electric. All we have is a roof and an old, old floor.

If she rebuilt her Matlacha gallery and studio, shed want to raise the property by several feet. That would take about three years to get government approval and then build, she said.

More about Leoma Lovegrove's new gallery

Meanwhile, Lovegrove has temporarily reopened her old gallery on a limited basis to sell art shes made from the gallerys roof shingles and other hurricane debris.

The exhibit was originally scheduled to end March 31, but she says its now been extended until April 16. The weather wont let it stay open much longer than that, though.

It just gets too hot, Lovegrove says. We dont have air (conditioning), you know.  Theres no bathrooms. Theres no electrical. Its very primitive.

Leoma Lovegrove's decorated camper has been parked behind her Matlacha gallery for seven years. Now she plans to display it inside her new downtown Fort Myers gallery.

That's why the Fort Myers gallery is so important, she says. Plus itll tap into downtowns rapid growth, including new hotels, restaurants and the Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheater.

It was already alive, Lovegrove says about downtown, but its about to get much busier.

Lovegrove says she plans to paint in the studio at her new gallery, and people can watch her work through the window from Dean Street. That includes a planned large-scale project inspired by Claude Monets Water Lilies series with eight 5- by 6-foot panels.

Im going to do it in the front window, so people can watch it, she says. You know, (art legend Robert) Rauschenberg used to do that. Out in Captiva, he would paint and whatever he was working on, he would put it in the front window, finished or unfinished, so the public can see it.

And Im inspired to do the same. I would like the public to be a part of watching it grow.

Shes also excited about the possibilities in the bigger gallery. More space means more opportunities for creativity.

I have such high ceilings, she says. I cant wait to start hanging things from them.

Learn more about Leoma Lovegrove at leomalovegrove.com.

Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. Email him at crunnells@gannett.com or connect on Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), Twitter (@charlesrunnells) and Instagram (@crunnells1). You can also call at 239-335-0368

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Pine Island artist Leoma Lovegrove signs lease on Fort Myers gallery
tolgart / Getty Images/iStockphoto

If youve got a credit card with a balance so high you barely put a dent in it each month, you may be tempted to ask the bank to lower your credit limit. But Liz Weston, CFP and personal finance columnist for The Los Angeles Times, said doing so would be a mistake.

Im a Self-Made Millionaire: These Are the 6 Investments Everyone Should Make During an Economic Downturn

Find: 3 Signs Youre Serious About Raising Your Credit Score

Heres why: You instantly increase your credit utilization ratio.

Credit Utilization Ratio Defined

Simply put, your credit utilization ratio, or credit utilization rate, is how much of your available credit limit you use, expressed as a percentage. And according to myFICO, it significantly impacts your credit score. When your score gets calculated, the amount you owe on your accounts makes up 30% of the financial metric.

Lenders like to see credit utilization rates as low as possible, generally well under 30%. Higher utilization than that can indicate overborrowing, which makes you a financial risk for defaulting on the debt.

Credit Utilization Ratio Example

Lets say you have a credit card with a $10,000 limit and regularly use $1,000 of your available credit. In this example, your credit utilization ratio is 10%.

But if you ask your bank to reduce your credit line to $3,000, your utilization rate automatically jumps to 33%. Chances are, your credit score will suffer as a result.

If you want to instantly lower your credit utilization rate, open a new credit card account. Or, if youve asked your credit card issuer to reduce your credit line, ask them to reinstate the higher limit.

Take Our Poll: Would You Move for a Job That Paid You a $10,000 Signing Bonus?

Boost Your Credit Score Even Higher

If your credit score is under 670, follow these tips to improve it:

Pay your bills on time  every time. Your payment history has the greatest impact on your credit score.

Reduce your account balances. Your credit utilization ratio will gradually drop as you do.

Keep old accounts open. Credit scoring models and lenders like to see a high average age of credit.

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Remember: Building and maintaining a high credit score is a long game. But your dedication will ultimately pay off if you consistently manage your accounts responsibly.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Credit Score Expert Advice: Asking for Lower Credit Card Limits Could Hurt You
Laws are like sausages. Neither should be viewed in the making.

So says the brilliant Otto von Bismarck, chancellor Imperial Germany in the 19th century and one of the most consequential statesmen in all history.

The question is, however, does it always have to be so? Even in these raucous and fractious political times, are there examples of something so important and needed that everyone comes together to change things for the better?

In the 2023 legislative session one such issue united disparate Hoosiers who are concerned about the safety of our children while they are in the classroom.

A set of handcuffs sit on a bedside table inside a Muncie, Ind., hotel on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018.

Senate Bill 342 was passed and is awaiting a signature from Gov. Eric Holcomb. It addresses an issue so maddening that one can scarcely believe its real.

Do you know according to current Indiana law someone can work in a K-12 classroom even if they have a criminal conviction and are currently on probation? Or have a criminal conviction and are currently serving time in jail on weekends and during vacations?

Or teachers with failed background checks for criminal convictions by all Indiana law enforcement agencies? Or teachers with documented patterns of criminal drug and alcohol abuse over multiple years including DUIs and possession of illegal substances?

Indiana legislation: Statehouse roundup: Withholding bail, property tax relief, high school curriculums

By the way, this list is not comprehensive and there are other criminal offenses that do not preclude a criminal offender from working in a school.

Its not just Indiana where students could be at risk. According to this report, 349 K-12 teachers committed sex crimes in 2022 in the United States.

Fortunately, Republican Sen. Aaron Freeman sponsored legislation to close this abominable loophole. In partnership with the brilliant education researcher Dr. Addie Angelov, Sen. Freeman is strengthening the requirements for schools when hiring teachers.

But how was this particular sausage made? It was because determined and conscientious leaders refused accept the status quo.

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Current laws in Indiana are tying schools hands when teachers engaged in inappropriate or criminal behaviors, said Angelov. Senate Bill 342 addresses dangerous loopholes criminals are using to access Indiana students. Our schools deserve to have as much information as possible to keep classrooms safe.

Another significant contributor to the lax laws governing school hiring is the shortage of teachers not only in Indiana but across the country.

Additionally, SB 342 honors the work of Indiana's Department of Child Services by requiring teachers who become the subject of a substantiated DCS case for child abuse or child neglect must notify their schools.

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. We must remain vigilant for signs of mistreatment in the home, the classroom and anywhere our children learn, play and live.

Robert Vane

It is not often in contemporary politics for partisan bickering and public grandstanding to be eclipsed by the desire to cooperate on critical issues involving education.

Do we arm teachers? Do we ban Tik Tok? Do public charter schools deserve referenda dollars?

The list is endless, but the bi-partisan push for more common ground on education is not hopeless. The work of Freeman, Angelov and their co-sponsors proves our hope for common ground is not in vain and our classrooms will be safer as a result.

Robert Vane is the principal at public relations firm Veteran Strategies Inc. He was deputy chief of staff and communications director in the Mayor Greg Ballard administration and served in the United States Army.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bill protects Indiana students from adults with criminal pasts
Sen. Daniel McCay, R-Riverton, sponsor of SB31, State Flag Amendments, shows fifth grade students from Academy Park Elementary School the new Utah state flag at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 2, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Among the many changes made in the 2023 legislative session was the first extreme update of the Utah flag. The more modern representation of the Beehive State will become official March 9, 2024, and the original 1903 design will become the states historical flag.

A Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll of 801 Utahns found that more are for the new flag than against it. Specifically, 48% supported, 35% opposed and 17% said they didnt know.

Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, the bills primary sponsor, said he was ecstatic about these results.

For a flag thats five months old to go through the exhausting public process with so many public submissions and have 48% approval is outstanding, he said.

The new design was selected in November from 7,000 submissions by the Utah public in an attempt to develop a visual portrayal of the state that was more brandable, like the Texas or California flags.

Related

Flags are important, and people dont realize how important they are when their flag isnt one that they wear on a T-shirt or fly at their home, McCay said.

Popular indifference to the state flag was perhaps reflected in the fact that only 3% of respondents who display a flag at their home fly the Utah flag.

The senator expects popular support for the flag to increase, considering the quick adoption hes seen already  Colonial Flag told him it has more than 500 orders.

Im seeing it as I drive down the road, he said. There are already stores popping up with people selling things that have the new state emblem on it.

Legislators in Illinois, Minnesota and Pennsylvania are now working on new state flags and referencing Utahs effort, according to McCay.

Related

The polling results show that those who leaned left on the political spectrum were also more likely to support it than those who leaned right. However, Jason Perry, director of the University of Utahs Hinckley Institute of Politics, pointed out that lawmakers stances were not divided along party lines. Among the legislators on the Utah State Flag Task Force are three Republicans and two Democrats.

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The results also show that approval rates decrease as people get older, with 72% of respondents age 57 and older against the new flag and only 31% of those ages 18-24 with the same view.

Some Utahns have expressed concern about the new flags impact on tradition. South Jordan resident Jane Seamons believes replacing the original flag invalidates history.

I think we should honor our ancestors and the people that had to fight for what they had and their opinions, Seamons said. And I dont think destroying that by replacing it is the way to go.

One group of voters is seeking a referendum to restore the state flags original design. The referendum currently has 6,304 signatures, and the Utahns behind it are working toward the 134,298 necessary to put the question on the ballot this November.

Related

Spenser Heaps, Deseret News

On the other hand, Andrew Lewis, a respondent from Provo, appreciates the more updated look, saying it does a good job of representing Utah.

McCay believes people began to appreciate the new flag more when they realized how committed lawmakers were to preserving the history of the existing design, which will remain as the state seal and continue to fly beneath the new one.

The poll, conducted March 14-22, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points.
Gold, copper, lithium and myriad other minerals could lay deep underground in the deserts of southern New Mexico, but could be found by scientists taking to the sky.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced beginning in April it would search for evidence of 23 minerals via aircraft over the Deming and Lordsburg areas in New Mexicos southwest bootheel region.

The study was expected to last about eight months.

A plane used to study minerals underground in southern New Mexico is pictured.

More: Solar energy tax credits reach $12M cap in New Mexico as industry set for growth

Instruments aboard will measure the Earths magnetic fields and natural, low-level radiation from different rock types, allowing researchers to develop underground maps.

The USGS partnered with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources to use airborne geophysical technology within the USGSs Earth Mapping Resource Initiative (EARTH MRI) project.

Its a joint venture between the USGS and the Association of American State Geologists, along with state, federal and private organizations, read the announcement, intended to research geology and mineral resources in the region.

More: Renewable energy now required on New Mexico state land after Lujan Grisham signs bill

The survey, intended to cover 10,000 square miles in New Mexico, is part of a national-effort to generate three-dimensional maps of underground geology up to 1 kilometer beneath the surface.

That will help improve scientific understanding of groundwater distribution, mineral and energy resources and risks of natural disasters like earthquakes.

The plane will fly along a pre-determined path about 120 meters in the air, increasing to 150 meters in heavily populated areas and 200 meters in mountainous regions, and maintaining a 2.5-kilometer distance from the U.S.-Mexico border so as not to cross the boundary when turning.

More: Oilfield lawmakers claim success in killing bills aimed at energy pollution in New Mexico

New Mexico State Geologist Nelia Dunbar, also director of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, said the data will prove useful to the bureau as it studies the geological makeup of New Mexico.

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The airborne geophysical imaging that is being collected by the USGS will be of tremendous value to scientists at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, industry and the general public and we eagerly await the survey data, Dunbar said.

A map of southwest New Mexico around Deming and Lordsburg where the US Geological Survey intends to study for underground minerals via aircraft.

Virginia McLemore, principal senior economic geologist at the Bureau said the mapping will aid ongoing state-level research.

More: Solar energy proposals concentrated in southern New Mexico. Program starts this spring

Our surface mapping investigations will be strengthened by the insights into the subsurface geology provided by the airborne magnetic surveys and our geochemical analyses of rock samples will be complemented by the aero-radiometric surveys, which will provide a wealth of information about the surface geochemistry, McLemore said.

Funding for the program came via $3.4 million in federal funds allocated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a signature piece of legislation signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.

Investments from President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will make a significance difference in New Mexico and across the nation as we map valuable geology and critical mineral resources, said Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo.

This critical partnership with the State of New Mexico shows how these resources can enable us to work together to strengthen key domestic supply chains by helping secure a reliable and sustainable supply of critical minerals.

More: New Mexico wind power line has $20.5B in benefits, study says, despite wildlife concerns

Nationwide, the infrastructure bill invested $510.7 million in the program.

The maps will help the U.S. locate minerals critical to a multitude of products targeted by the federal government to decrease pollution, like modernized household appliances, electric vehicles, batters, wind turbines and solar panels.

They will also help develop infrastructure projects, groundwater planning and energy production, read the announcement.

More: Republican-backed oil and gas bill opposed by New Mexico Democrats in Congress

USGS Scientist Mark Bultman said a region including New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and northwestern Mexico was one of the worlds greatest resources for copper, molybdenum and other minerals used in industrial metals.

The USGS Earth MRI airborne magnetic/radiometric survey will contribute to the geologic understanding of both the mountain ranges and basins and make a major contribution to the understanding of the mineral endowment of the region, Bultman said.

Similar flyover research via helicopter was also announced last month in northern Nevada and southeastern Oregon, running from March to April.

More: Lujan Grisham signs burn ban bill into law to prevent future wildfires in New Mexico

In total, the USGS reported it identified more than 800 focus areas throughout the country for the 23 mineral systems it targeted through the program, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

These areas can be used to guide future efforts to collect new geologic, geophysical, geochemical, and topographic data that focus on critical minerals through Earth MRI, read a February USGS report.

All of these focus areas are serving as an initial broad screening tool for targeting areas for new geologic, geochemical, topographic, and geophysical mapping and data acquisition through Earth MRI.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Aircraft study searching for minerals in southern New Mexico deserts
Critics say passage of Senate Bill 83 would lead to censorship at Ohio State University and other Ohio colleges and universities.

Maria Vitoria de Rezende Grisi is a second-year Ph.D. candidate in the "Studies Portuguese-speaking World" Program at Ohio State University.

I arrived in the United States in 2021.

For many, this would be enough reason to not voice my concern about Senate Bill 83. However, I believe that, in the worlds largest democracy, I too have my space in a debate that affects not only my academic career but the education we want our current and future students to access.

American Historical Association: Unwieldy bill would destroy higher education in Ohio

Anyone interested in more than just the momentum of the debate should take a careful look at the text of the proposed bill.

I quote: The institution affirms that it will educate students by means of free, open, and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth.

That statement, at first sight, seems reasonable.

We all want our students, myself included as one too, to be able to access a variety of information and become independent researchers. However, if looked closely the biggest problem relies on the word truth."

I do not have to mention the ever-lasting discussions about the meaning of this word. No. Instead, lets take another look at Senate Bill 83s text:

'Controversial belief or policy' means any belief or policy that is the subject of political controversy, including issues such as climate change, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion.

 According to the text, and to mention only one example, even climate change is a controversial belief or policy."

Maria Vitoria de Rezende Grisi is a second-year Ph.D. candidate in the "Studies Portuguese-speaking World" Program at Ohio State University.

Jerry Cirino: Ignore 'hysteria.' Freedoms attack on Ohio campuses. My bill will protect them

If the issue of climate change will be seen as a belief, we are left to wonder what the truth will be.

When they allow scientific research to be credited as belief, they assume they are against the scientific methods and the results. Climate change is not an issue voiced by a minority of scientists trying to promote hysteria," quoting Senator Jerry C. Cirino.

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Its an issue that has been researched for many years and it goes beyond political views.

Limiting these topics to controversial belief or policy and calling many of them woke agendas, quoting Cirino, shows that Senate Bill 83 was built on conservative ideologies.

This bill highlights the section of society that is desperate because its losing its privileges.

Diversity, immigration, and equity are key factors they need to combat to stop this process. Professors and scholars like Pranav Jani, James Grossman, Anne Hyde, and Timothy Messer-Kruse, have come forward to show the dangers Senate Bill 83 poses and the precedents it will open in higher education.

Stating that climate change is a belief is just one fraction that reveals the dangers behind the lines of Senate Bill 83. By stating such things as beliefs, they promote an anti-academia discourse and anti-science ideologies that are unacceptable.

We, students, should be able to have access to accurate information and if something is believed to be wrong, we should be able to access the tools available to conduct our research.

Opinion: 'The humanities are our moral compass.' Is there value in English, history degrees?"

I watch in disbelief at the process of censorship that is taking place in Ohio. They refuse the word censorship because it is strong and would not apply to their ideas.

However, censorship takes many shapes and forms. By intimidating professors and students, they promote censorship that does not stand out as such.

When history, sociology, ecology, and other disciplines are twisted as beliefs, its clear that what is at stake is the imposition of a conservative narrative.

We as students, instructors, scholars, and professors, from any background and different points of view, must stand against Senate Bill 83, and make sure that the production of knowledge is not censored.

Maria Vitoria de Rezende Grisi is a second-year Ph.D. candidate in the "Studies Portuguese-speaking World" Program at Ohio State University.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State student: Dangerous bill deems truth as too controversial for colleges, universities
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.
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%."
Sequoia National Park visitor center.

With spring in full bloom, many California residents and visitors worldwide plan trips to nearby national parks.

However, a historic California snowpack year could delay travel plans as the weather warms up.

This seasons statewide snowpack is 227% of the average as of March 27. That is greater than any previous April reading since the sensor network was deployed in the mid-1980s, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

Here's what visitors should know before heading to the snow-covered Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite national parks.

Kings Canyon National Park

Highway 180 into Kings Canyon National Park reopened with public access into Grant Grove.

Here's what to expect when visiting the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park:

There is access to giant sequoias, General Grant Tree, and snow-play areas.

Parking remains limited due to snow.

Visitors should come prepared for winter conditions. Park officials recommend personal traction devices for your shoes and wearing warm layers.

Grant Grove is under Water Boil Order Notice, so visitors should bring enough water for their trip.

Tire chain restrictions are in effect; all vehicles must carry tire chains and know how to use them.

There are no restroom facilities at the Big Stump Picnic and Snowplay Area or Azalea Campground. Restrooms at the Visitor Center, Market, General Grant Tree, and Columbine Picnic Area are open.

Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park entrance remains closed. There is no access to giant sequoias, General Sherman Tree, or Wuksachi Lodge from Highway 198 into Sequoia National Park.

The foothills area of Sequoia National Park is estimated to reopen on Friday, between the entrance station and Hospital Rock, about 6 miles up the Generals Highway. This includes access to lower-elevation camping, trails, wilderness, and river.

There is currently no access to the giant sequoias or snow, according to park officials.

The Giant Forest, Wolverton Snowplay Area, Lodgepole, Wuksachi areas, Moro Rock, and Tunnel Log, via Highway 180 through the Kings Canyon entrance station, are estimated to reopen between May 26 and June 16. Access via Highway 198 through the Sequoia entrance station is estimated to reopen sometime in June.

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Yosemite National Park

The standard April 1 snow survey window revealed the snowiest Tuolumne Meadows winter on record, according to Yosemite National Park officials. Data from the park's survey sites date back to 1930.

On April 1, there was an average snow depth of 177.3 inches and 79.68 inches of snow water equivalent. The previous record was the winter of 1983, with an average snow depth of 168.84 inches and 66.98 inches of snow water equivalent.

Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove are open to pedestrians.

Hikers can walk on Mariposa Grove Road, plowed to the Mariposa Grove arrival area. However, the Mariposa Grove beyond the end of the plowed road is very snowy, and the road remains closed to all bicycles and vehicles, park officials warned.

The hike to Mariposa Grove is a four-mile round trip with 500 feet of elevation change. The road is very icy; traction devices for shoes are useful, park officials said.

Lower Pines and North Pines are expected to reopen this month, while Upper Pines is expected to reopen on Wednesday.

Additional closures outside of Yosemite Valley include:

Wawona - reopens on April 14

Hodgdon Meadow - reopens on April 14

Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows are closed.

Reopening dates and information is updated weekly on Thursday afternoons.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: California national parks set to reopen following record snow fall
Crime and Courts Reporter

Donald W. Meyers is a multimedia journalist at the Yakima Herald-Republic covering crime and courts. He is also the writer behind It Happened Here, a weekly history column. Before coming to Yakima, Meyers covered a wide variety of beats at The Salt Lake Tribune, Daily Herald, and daily and weekly newspapers across New Jersey. He is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving as a regional officer in the organization as well as on the national Freedom of Information Committee.
Phoenix, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Phoenix, Arizona -

D.I. Auto Care is offering mobile detailing services to vehicle owners in Phoenix and surrounding areas.

Detailing is the most economical way for car owners to enhance the appearance of their vehicles and preserve their long-term value. A professional car detailing crew, like the team over at Ahwatukees D.I. Auto Care, will thoroughly clean vehicles to make daily driving them a more pleasant experience. Detailing also includes performing essential repairs and restorations that can turn back the clock and remove the visible wear and tear that makes a car look weathered with age.

Car Detailing Near Me Phoenix

Detailing can improve the safety and functionality of a car, says the spokesperson for D.I. Auto Care in Phoenix. Cleaning and polishing the windshield, headlights, and taillights can improve visibility while driving. Additionally, detailing can remove grime and dirt buildup from the engine, preventing mechanical problems down the road. If you want to know more, call D.I. Auto Care today for the best auto detailing Phoenix has to offer.

The car detailing experts at D.I. Auto Care offers a host of services to vehicle owners in Phoenix. The companys wax and sealant protection services help preserve the cars paint from UV rays, contaminants, and pollutants. The exterior detailing process also includes removing the swirl marks and scratches in the cars paint layer and polishing the chrome to make it look pristine.

D.I. Auto Cares interior detailing services can help eliminate bad odors inside the vehicle due to food spillage, smoke, or other sources. With its meticulous cleaning services, owners can get rid of all the allergens built up in the fabrics and upholstery over time. Any grime or stains that are ruining the look of the cars carpets and mats will also be addressed.

The company uses a range of techniques and equipment for its interior and exterior auto detailing services in Phoenix. Vacuuming, steaming, conditioning, waxing, and more are all carried out using state-of-the-art products under the care of experienced technicians who care for the vehicle as if it was their own. Customers also get to choose between a range of the latest ceramic coating options including Drexler, Mothers, Nasiol ZR53, SiO2, PROJE, and more.

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Finally, D.I. Auto Care also offers Phoenix residents mobile detailing services. The spokesperson says, We often hear from customers that they are not able to make time in their busy schedule for bringing the car down to the shop. Though our clients recognize just how useful our services are, it can be a big ask for some of them. So, with our mobile detailing services, you no longer have to worry about driving to our location. Instead, we come to you! Whenever your vehicle is unused, you can call us and schedule a mobile detailing. Our fully equipped fleet has all the equipment and products to provide you with the best mobile detailing Phoenix has to offer, right at your doorstep.

Car owners in Ahwatukee have praised D.I. Auto Care repeatedly for the quality of its detailing services, the professionalism of its crew members, and its affordable service packages. The company has earned an impressive overall rating of 4.7 out of 5.0 on its Google Business Profile from over 20 reviews.

One satisfied customer says, Bought a used car with stains. Light interior so I even added more. I honestly thought it was useless to even try a detailing but Paul came out and made my car look brand new! So happy its in pristine condition now. I dont dread getting inside. Should have done this a long time ago.

Another client talks about the companys mobile detailing services by saying, Awesome work! He was prompt, he came to me, he was flexible on the time, and he was very efficient. I will be back with another car, and I would recommend him to anyone who wants to beat the heat with tint on the windows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxfKM8NKEVI

Readers searching online for Car Detailing Near Me Phoenix can contact D.I. Auto Care at (480) 233-1529 for inquiries.

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For more information about D.I. Auto Care, contact the company here:



D.I. Auto Care

Paul Bagorio

4802331529

paul@CarDetailingPhoenix.com

D.I. Auto Care

4747 E Elliot Rd

Phoenix, AZ 85044

Phone: (480) 233-1529

CONTACT: Paul Bagorio




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 on April 5 in Simi Valley, Calif. The historic meeting occurring on U.S. soil has been greeted by threats of retaliation by China.
China's consumer products expo sharing massive market

Xinhua) 08:08, April 11, 2023

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
This heightened sensory experience explained by neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis has been brought to life through international artists at an immersive gallery in Shanghai

LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The release of The Singleton 40-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky delivers the third and final chapter in a series of exceptional whiskies, an epicurean journey of flavour by The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery. A highly limited release, this is a deeply decadent whisky with notes of velvet dark chocolate and rich plums. Its layers of flavour are so indulgent that it has inspired the exploration of ' Sensorial Maximalism ' as a new theory in neuroaesthetics on how to achieve superlative taste experiences.

The Singleton 40-Year-Old, a decadent new expression from The Singleton inspires Sensorial Maximalism

The Singleton creates visionary, exceptional Scotch whiskies with unequalled flavour, pushing boundaries of taste to create malts with outstanding depth and harmony. A pioneer through her experimentation and craft, revered Master of Malt Maureen Robinson pushed the boundaries to create this whisky, bringing us on a journey into decadence through a 28- year secondary maturation, the longest by the distillery.

Maureen Robinson explains: "The Singleton 40-Year-Old is the finale in the Epicurean Odyssey series from The Singleton, one which I've thoroughly enjoyed crafting and have drawn on my own personal journey of flavour from my career as a whisky maker. At the end of this very extensive secondary maturation we sought out specially selected Ron Zacapa XO casks for a final indulgent finish to the whisky, which deliver an intensely rich, fruity and smooth finish to bring deep notes of dark chocolate. The result: a whisky that epitomises my desire to seek out new flavour through craft, and a whisky at its most maximal."

Taking as inspiration the incredible craftsmanship and indulgent character of The Singleton 40-Year-Old, three global multidisciplinary artists, curated by AlterProjects and in association with Yoko Choy, created unique works which investigated the elements of mastery by Maureen Robinson and whisky-makers at The Singleton. The talented artists, Zhou Yilun, Found Studio and Moodsonic brought maturation time, craft and the richness of the spirit to life through the interpretation of 'Flow', 'Collision' and 'Richness'.

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Neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis also influenced the development of these artworks. Inspired by the richness of this rare single malt and its journey of flavour, she explored 'Sensorial Maximalism' as a new neuroscientific theory, where our sensorial consciousness can be heightened through the curation of our external environment. This then prepares us for the most superlative tasting experience possible.

The works of the three artists were informed not only by Katherine Templar Lewis's research, and intended to contribute to this heightened sensory state, but were also inspired by the story of The Singleton 40-Year-Old. Malt Master Maureen Robinson set out to push secondary maturation in experimental casks to the extreme, and then layer on further deliberate enhancements to create The Singleton's most indulgent whiskies ever.

These artworks formed the basis of an immersive gallery experience in Shanghai, named The Rooms of Maximalism, where guests journeyed through rooms delivering precise stimulation for the five senses and beyond, to reach this heightened state of Sensorial Maximalism, before the very first tastings globally of The Singleton 40-Year-Old.

The experience included the unveiling of a large-scale physical piece created by Zhou Yilun, exploring the collision between liquid and casks. There were also areas of sensory deprivation, sonically induced ASMR through a soundscape designed by Moodsonic and moving digital art by Found Studio, deploying movement at varying speeds, specially designed to bring guests into a flow state, alongside a range of touchable textures all building on the guests' sensorial experience.

Zhou Yilun said: "Through a single, grandiose sculptural installation, I sought to capture the collision of liquid and wood present in The Singleton 40-year-old whisky. With my material, I aimed to mimic the texture and sensation of whisky flowing through the cask and onto the tongue. By layering paint and using brushstrokes of various hues, I sought to depict the interlacing and textural complexity of the whisky's multiple layers of flavour. It is my hope that the sculpture embodies the sensorial experience of the liquid for the viewer."

Moodsonic composer Tomas Nordmark commented: "The sound that we hear around us changes how we taste, touch, feel and smell, so it's the perfect way to create rich, immersive, maximalist experiences. We set out to create a unique composition that simultaneously celebrates and enhances the tasting experience of this exceptional whisky. Using the neuroscientific theories laid out by Katherine Templar Lewis, we designed sound that will intensify flavours like velvety chocolate for those tasting."

Katherine Templar Lewis said: "Neuroaesthetics tells us how outside influences can heighten our senses and prime them to create the ultimate tasting experience. Through deploying various tactics which affect the five senses and beyond, individuals can achieve this state of Sensorial Maximalism before they enjoy The Singleton 40-Year-Old. In addition to my research and collaboration with some incredible artists through The Singleton 40-Year-Old, I've also created a guide on how individuals can strive for this experience at home."

Katherine Templar Lewis has offered certain steps for individuals to add to their pre-tasting preparation should they be about to enjoy a dram of The Singleton 40-Year-Old or any other of The Singleton's range of whiskies at home. Follow the link to see the guide.

This irresistibly rich, rare single malt makes an indulgent addition to any whisky collection and is the perfect gift for a connoisseur of fine food and wine. The Singleton 40-Year-Old will be available globally from selected retailers, for more information visit www.diageorareandexceptional.com . The Recommended Retail Selling Price is 3,300 including UK Duty and Taxes and $3,755 excluding Duty and Taxes.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Further imagery can be found in the link here and to watch a short video on The Singleton 40-Year-Old and Sensorial Maximalism, visit the link here .

Discover more at @TheSingletonWhisky and @DiageoRareandExceptional Instagram channels

About The Singleton 40-Year-Old

The Singleton 40-Year-Old is the finale of the Epicurean Odyssey Series, born to embody this singular ambition in the pursuit of amazing taste through pioneering craft and experimentation. The series is a result of Maureen Robinson's unparalleled vision combined with exceptional craft on a journey to explore the realms of possibility for the world's best taste experiences.

Upon tasting The Singleton 40-Year-Old, whisky aficionado Charles Maclean described it as: "A gloriously multi-layered expression of The Singleton of Glen Ord: expert finishing has brought the aromas together in an unusually rich and luscious form, whilst retaining a delightful complexity of taste."

PRODUCT INFORMATION

ABV: 45.9%

RRSP (GBP): 3,300 (including UK Duty & Taxes)

RRSP (USD): $3,755 (excluding Duty & Taxes)

RELEASE VOLUME: 1,716 bottles, 70cl

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE EPICUREAN ODYSSEY RANGE: The Singleton 38-Year-Old, The Singleton 39-Year-Old

TASTING NOTES:

Appearance: Deep amber with copper lights.

Nose: The nose is mellow, with a little prickle at first; fruity top notes hint at dried apple and are soon backed by a more savoury aroma evoking sage, while richer hints of fruit, suggesting plums enrobed in dark chocolate, sit on a balancing base of sweetly spicy oak, with light aromas of hard toffee and oak shavings. A drop of water introduces a wisp of waxy smoke.

Body: Light to medium.

Palate: At natural strength, the texture is decadently smooth and lightly waxy while the taste starts sweet, vibrant and very fruity, becoming slightly salty and plum sour mid-palate. Complex layers of flavour suggest pears slathered indulgently in dark chocolate and caramelised tropical fruits, as with toffee-covered banana and pineapple. Beautifully balanced and super-smooth, with sustained rich, sweet fruitiness balanced by slow-building black pepper. Velvet smooth dark chocolate tannins herald an appetising drying note. A drop of water emphasises the fruit and softens the spice, bringing out a mouth-cooling aftertaste.

Finish: Quite long, deep-flavoured and lightly drying, with black pepper spice and another hint of waxy smoke.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across the spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Zhou Yilun 

Zhou Yilun (b. 1983), an Hangzhou-based artist, earned a BFA in Oil Painting from the China Academy of Art in 2006. His diverse portfolio encompasses painting, installation, sculpture, and mixed media, all of which centre on exploring the potential of ordinary materials and drawing inspiration from everyday objects. Zhou's style evokes both prehistoric and futuristic elements, seeking to strike a balance between the tangible quality of materials and the aesthetic tension of industrial production. The resulting distorted and dreamlike reality establishes a visceral and emotional connection between the viewer and the artwork. His work has been exhibited in various cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Zurich, showcasing his ability to engage audiences across cultural boundaries with his unique creative vision.

Moodsonic

Moodsonic works to advance the soundscape state of art. We explore how sound changes our brains, bodies and sensory experiences in the built environment with an approach that combines design, technology and science. Our soundscapes can be heard in a range of spaces, from exhibition venues to workplaces and healthcare around the world.

Moodsonic is collaborating with Swedish artist, composer and sound designer Tomas Nordmark. Nordmark's work has featured in public installations, exhibitions, film and theatre. His projects are investigations into both the humanities and the natural sciences.

www.moodsonic.com

www.tomasnordmark.com

IG - @tomasnordmark

Found Studio

Extraordinary visual content for the world's most discerning brands. We're artists and storytellers who fuse 3D motion design with film craft and technology to create content that's imaginative, innovative and impactful.

www.found-studio.com

Instagram/Twitter @found_studio

ABOUT KATHERINE TEMPLAR LEWIS

An Oxford educated neuroscientist, Katherine connects creative and science ecosystems and thinking. With an extensive background across genetics, neuroscience and cognitive psychology, she creates cross-discipline teams and dialogue to align and embed scientific insight into experiences, products, and creative processes. She is a pioneering 'reality hacker' accelerating cutting-edge research from the lab into the world through artistic and creative collaboration. At the intersection of lived experience and evidence-based design and affiliated to some of the top academic institutions and labs worldwide.

ABOUT THE CURATORS

AlterProjects are curators, strategists, cultural placemakers and producers with a passion for storytelling, design and innovation. Specialised in the ideation and execution of unique cultural programming across the world, AlterProjects connects Brands, districts, property developers and institutions with designers and artists. Founded by Anne-Laure Pingreoun, AlterProjects work with exceptionally creative talents to find new ways of developing disruptive and unconventional content and experiences.

www.alter-projects.com

@alterprojects_

Anne Pingreon of AlterProjects said: "We have created a sensorial storytelling installation that aims to create new core memories, where every visitor has a unique and personal experience, full of flavour and rich in emotions. As curators, we believe in creating emotions through art and culture, while celebrating the beautiful narrative at the root of inspiration behind this whisky."

In collaboration with Yoko Choy - CO-CURATOR for COLLISION ROOM

Yoko Choy, China Editor, Wallpaper* magazine; Co-founder, Collective Contemporist.

Born in Hong Kong, Yoko Choy is an experienced design journalist; her work to date has been published in numerous international titles and she is currently the China editor of Wallpaper* magazine (global edition). Yoko is also a highly regarded communications consultant, whose clients include fair organisers, brands and creative studios. Currently based in Hong Kong and Amsterdam, she views East-meets-West as more than just an alignment of two aesthetic visions; her mission, as a multilingual and multicultural creative commentator and communicator, is to translate the knowledge and insights from both worlds into a common creative language and to raise awareness of the importance of cross-cultural exchange in the creative industry and businesses. To this end, Yoko co-founded Collective Contemporist in 2018, a creative consultancy with offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Amsterdam, to stimulate and inspire conversations and collaborations between the two spheres.

@missyoko

The Singleton 40-Year-Old launch in Zhangyuan, Shanghai, Gary Gan with artworks by Found Studio

Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/decadent-new-40-year-old-expression-from-the-singleton-inspires-sensorial-maximalism-301794465.html

SOURCE The Singleton
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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
FITS anunta programul editiei cu numarul 30!

Astazi, la Sibiu, in cadrul unei conferinte de presa, Constantin Chiriac, Presedintele FITS, a anuntat publicarea programului editiei din acest an, dar si punerea in vanzare a biletelor, incepand de maine, 26 aprilie. Astfel, pe www.sibfest.ro, publicul poate deja sa consulte programul Festivalului pe zile [citeste mai departe]
Fortune Business Insights

Key companies covered in dehydrated potato market are McCain Foods (U.S.), Basic American Foods (U.S.), Lamb Weston (U.S.), Idahoan Foods (U.S.), Pacific Valley Foods (U.S.), Augason Farms (U.S.), Idaho Supreme Potatoes (U.S.), Birkamidon Rohstoffhandels GmbH (Germany), J.R. Short Milling (U.S.), Rixona B.V. (Netherlands) and more players profiled.

Pune, India, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global dehydrated potato market size was USD 5.43 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow from USD 5.71 billion in 2022 to USD 8.95 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.63% over the estimated period. The surge can be attributed to a range of factors such as an escalation in product popularity due to longer shelf life.

Fortune Business Insights provides this information in its research report, titled Dehydrated Potato Market, 2022-2029.

Get a Free Sample Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/dehydrated-potato-market-102186

List of Key Players Profiled in the Dehydrated Potato Market Report:

McCain Foods (U.S.)

Basic American Foods (U.S.)

Lamb Weston (U.S.)

Idahoan Foods (U.S.)

Pacific Valley Foods (U.S.)

Augason Farms (U.S.)

Idaho Supreme Potatoes (U.S.)

Birkamidon Rohstoffhandels GmbH (Germany)

J.R. Short Milling (U.S.)

Rixona B.V. (Netherlands)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2022-2029 Forecast CAGR 6.63% 2029 Value Projection USD 8.95 Billion Dehydrated Potato Market Size in 2022 USD 5.71 billion Historical Data 2018-2020 No. of Pages 156 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Form

By Nature

By Distribution Channel Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Dehydrated Potato Market Growth Drivers Increasing Demand for Ready-To-Eat Products to Drive the Market for Convenience Foods Rising Applications in the Processed Food Industry to Fuel Product Demand

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/dehydrated-potato-market-102186

Story continues

Segments:

Powder Segment Share to Surge Owing to Rising Demand in Food Services

Based on form, the market is subdivided into powder, dices, flakes, shreds, and others. The powder segment is estimated to record appreciable expansion throughout the forecast period. The rise can be credited to the soaring product usage in food preparations such as ready-to-eat meals, bakery products, and other dishes.

Conventional Potatoes Segment to Gain Traction Driven by Affordability

On the basis of nature, the market is segmented into conventional and organic. The conventional segment is poised to register considerable growth over the study period. The surge can be attributed to the extensive range of product applications in commercial food service applications.

Food Services Segment to Register Notable Growth Considering the Easy Availability in All Seasons

Based on distribution channel, the market for dehydrated potato is fragmented into retail channel and food services. The food services segment is slated to depict commendable growth over the analysis period. The escalation is being driven by the expansion of food delivery channels.

On the basis of geography, the market has been analyzed across Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Report Coverage:

The report delves into the major trends favoring the business landscape across various regions. It further gives an insight into the vital steps taken by leading companies for reinforcing their position in the market. Some of the other initiatives include mergers, acquisitions, and the development of new products.

COVID-19 Impact:

Industry Value Increased Due to Growing Sales of Processed Foods

The coronavirus pandemic registered an increase in the demand for frozen and processed foods. These included instant mashed potatoes, frozen fries, dehydrated potato products, and others. The pandemic further escalated the sales of processed foods via online and e-commerce grocery platforms.

Get a Quote Now:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/dehydrated-potato-market-102186

Drivers and Restraints:

Market Share to Rise Owing to Escalating Demand for Ready-to-Eat Products

One of the key aspects impelling the dehydrated potato market growth is the rising demand for ready-to-eat products. The industry expansion can be attributed to the escalating urbanization and increasing Gross Household Disposable Income (GHDI).

However, the industry expansion could be hindered by supply chain bottlenecks and the fluctuating prices of raw material.

Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific to Emerge as a Leading Region Owing to Increasing Product Usage

The Asia Pacific dehydrated potato market share is expected to register a notable expansion over the forecast period. The surge can be attributed to the presence of instant potato manufacturers and the escalating product usage as a thickener for stews and sauces.

The North America market is slated to expand at an appreciable CAGR over the estimated period. The rise is being credited to the increasing consumption of instant salads and soups in the market.

Competitive Landscape:

Major Manufacturers Ink Partnership Agreements to Propel Business Growth

Leading dehydrated potato companies are focused on the adoption of a series of strategic initiatives such as the formation of alliances, merger agreements, and others. These steps are being taken for the consolidation of industry presence. Some of the other initiatives include growing participation in trade conferences.

Ask for Customization:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/dehydrated-potato-market-102186

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 Market Overview of Related/Parent Market Industry SWOT Analysis Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Mergers & Acquisitions, and New Product Launches Supply Chain/Value Chain Analysis Market Analysis and Insights (in Relation with COVID-19) Impact of COVID-19 on the Market Supply Chain Challenges due to the Pandemic Potential Opportunities Due to COVID-19

Global Dehydrated Potato Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Form (Value) Flakes Powder Dices Shreds Others By Nature (Value) Organic Conventional By Distribution Channel (Value) Food Services Retail Channel By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

North America Dehydrated Potato Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Form (Value) Flakes Powder Dices Shreds Others By Nature (Value) Organic Conventional By Distribution Channel (Value) Food Services Retail Channel

Europe Dehydrated Potato Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Form (Value) Flakes Powder Dices Shreds Others By Nature (Value) Organic Conventional By Distribution Channel (Value) Food Services Retail Channel



TOC Continued...!

Speak to Our Expert:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/dehydrated-potato-market-102186

Key Industry Development:

September 2020  Aviko B.V. secured a plant from Unilever in Germany. The acquisition would help process potatoes into branded products such as gnocchi, dumplings, mashed potatoes, instant snacks, and other products.

Read Related Insights:

Dehydrated Vegetables Market to Hit USD 9.19 Billion by 2029 | At a CAGR of 7.07%

Potato Starch Market to Touch USD 672.68 Million by 2027; Rising Demand for Organic Processed Foods & Beverages Worldwide to Brighten Market Prospects, Says Fortune Business Insights

About Us:

Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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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. So we wouldn't blame long term Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG (ETR:PBB) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 41% over a half decade. And some of the more recent buyers are probably worried, too, with the stock falling 33% in the last year. More recently, the share price has dropped a further 19% in a month.

Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Deutsche Pfandbriefbank

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...' 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, Deutsche Pfandbriefbank's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 1.2% each year. Readers should note that the share price has fallen faster than the EPS, at a rate of 10% per year, over the period. This implies that the market is more cautious about the business these days. The low P/E ratio of 6.13 further reflects this reticence.

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?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). 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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Deutsche Pfandbriefbank's TSR for the last 5 years was -17%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 4.7% in the twelve months, Deutsche Pfandbriefbank shareholders did even worse, losing 25% (even including dividends). However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 3% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. 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. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Deutsche Pfandbriefbank (of which 1 is significant!) 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 German 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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The Hungarian air force will be the first in the world to have its H225s fitted with the cutting-edge HForce weapon system, Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said in a video on Facebook.



He called the new weapon system a significant 21st-century development compatible with a digital military force soon to be deployed by the Hungarian armed forces.
The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) and LMP parties on Saturday marked International Romani Day, hailing Roma culture and calling for respect for the community.

Roma culture has been making Hungarian and European cultures, languages and history more diverse for centuries, DK said in a statement, calling it a universal and inalienable component of Hungarian and European culture.



DK called for making room for the Roma community to express its dual identity with pride. We cannot build a welcoming society, we cannot tear down institutionalised anti-Roma sentiment without mutually respecting each other, which requires that we view the Roma people as assets and a part of our society and social heritage, the party said.



LMPs parliamentary group said all ethnic groups were equal parts of the Hungarian nation, emphasising that the identity of the Roma community made Hungary stronger and richer.



The government has a duty to do everything in its power to give the Roma people a chance to preserve their culture and to ensure equality for the community in all aspects of life, they said in a statement.



International Romani Day reminds us that we must accept each others differences and respect dignity in every single person, because everyone is equally valuable and important, LMP said.



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Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony on Saturday said his administration had displayed the Romani flag on the facade of City Hall in honour of International Romani Day.



International Romani Day raises awareness of both the Roma communitys rich culture and difficult social situation, Karacsony said on Facebook.



Budapest belongs to everyone, which means it is also home to all of our Roma compatriots, the mayor said, adding that unfortunately, many of them live in deep poverty.



Our job is to help them break out of it and make sure they do not suffer any discrimination at job interviews, when renting a flat or on the tram, Karacsony said. Prejudices are always based on ignorance, the mayor said, underlining the importance of being open to learning about the Roma communitys history, culture and values.



The Budapest city council devotes special attention to helping the citys Roma community, Karacsony said, noting that the Romano Kher Roma cultural centre will soon move to a new refurbished location.



He also highlighted a mentoring scheme launched by the city council aimed at helping young Roma people pursue a career in civil service and the Romaversitas Foundations leadership training programme.



Interior Ministry Official Presents Awards To Mark Intl Romani Day



Marking International Romani Day, Attila Fulop, the interior ministrys state secretary, presented the Balazs Janos Award to three people at a ceremony in the ministry.



Addressing the event, Fulop said that the career achieved by the awards recipients sends the message to us all that catching up with mainstream society is the result of hard work.



It is the result not of their personal individual fight, but of teamwork, he said, adding that this teamwork was also supported by the government through the network of community houses and vocational training schools set up for Roma children and youth across the country.



This years award recipients include Erno Bader, the national art director of the Maltese Symphony Programme of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, Janos Boda, production manager at the Roma Production Office, and Eva Balogh Molnar, teacher at the Arany Janos Primary School of Karcag.



The Balazs Janos Award is given since 2019 mostly to Roma people in recognition of their outstanding achievements in promoting Roma education and culture and advancing the social inclusion of disadvantaged people.
The political product offered by Hungarys left-wing opposition today is treason, the head of the Prime Ministers Office said in an interview to the online edition of the daily Magyar Hirlap published on Friday.

Concerning Hungarys negotiations with the European Commission, Gergely Gulyas said because Brussels has already applied double standards against the government in the past, there had been no reason to believe that this would suddenly change after last years election.



Gulyas noted that the government had already been pre-financing projects that were meant to be covered by European Union funds, and this lowered the risk of the country being harmed by Brusselss behaviour.



The operative programmes and Hungarys post-pandemic recovery plan have already been approved and the aim now is to gain access to the funds as soon as possible, Gulyas said. This is no longer a legal issue, as Brussels has no grounds to raise any more concerns, and weve even found solutions to their arbitrary demands, Gulyas said.



The final agreement is now strictly a political decision. Brusselss greatest flaw today is that the EC is no longer the guardian of the treaties, as stipulated in the Treaty of Lisbon, and community law is not the guiding principle in the commissions actions concerning Hungary, he said.



As regards the war in Ukraine, Gulyas said Hungary was currently alone in calling for peace, adding that he expected common sense to prevail sooner or later. This, he added, meant preventing the war from expanding, because then this could easily escalate into a world war.



Hungary does not dispute Ukraines right to self-defence and respects the troops fighting to defend their homeland, but there has to be a limit to the European support of self-defence, because we cant risk the threat of a world war, he said.



Meanwhile, Gulyas said that since the current government has been in power, Hungary has been in rational cooperation with Russia mainly on energy, which prioritised the procurement of energy sources that are vital for the economy to function.



Hungary has to put its own interests first, which in this case means securing options for energy imports, he said. And though the government has done a lot to diversify the countrys energy sources since 2010, Hungarys oil and gas supply today would not be secure without Russia, he added.



Asked about the left-wing oppositions foreign campaign donations, Gulyas said the use of foreign funds for election campaigns had already been illegal under Hungarian law. The political product offered by the left wing in Hungary today is treason, he said.



Theyre not free and theyre not independent because theyve been bought off and they dont represent Hungarian interests because their buyers are foreigners, he added.



Gulyas said the left had clout outside Hungary, where their supporters and donors live, and where they can report the country. But in Hungary, even those who do not support the government are disappointed in and dissatisfied with the opposition, he said.



The majority of honest left-wing voters do not think that election campaigns in Hungary should be run on American money, Gulyas added.



MTI Photo: Tibor Illyes
YORK  Kenna Staab, 40, an inmate at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women in York, has admitted to assaulting another inmate while incarcerated.

She earlier pleaded not guilty to two counts of second degree assault, which is a Class 2A felony that carries a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison upon conviction.

She was further accused of being a habitual criminal. On July 1, 2011, in Nance County, she was convicted of attempt of a Class 3 felony and was sentenced to a term of 18-36 months in prison. ON March 18, 2015, also in Nance County, she was convicted of second degree assault and was sentenced to a term of 4-6 years in prison.

As part of a plea agreement this past week, the habitual criminal allegation was dropped, as was one count of second degree assault. She pleaded no contest to one count of second degree assault.

Sentencing has been in York County District Court for July 10.
We focus to serve Indian Ghar ka Khana in the flight with some unique fusion culinary touch, elevating the in-flight dining experience of Air India passenger, candidly mentioned Chef Abhijeet, the executive Chef of Air India during a conversation at the Ambassadors Sky Chef in Delhi. The airline, under its new ownership of Tata Group, is slowly, but steadily finding its new identity, announcing new initiatives every now and then. Once called the Maharaja, the former national airline saw its worst phase during the government ownership.

Guess thats when the new regime under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to sell it to a private ownership, while maintaining the pride associated with the airline. After all, Air India still represents India on a global map, covering almost 40 destinations abroad. But a new ownership means new challenges and new communication. Tata Group was quick to understand the primordial issues with the airline and sent out a message to the world that soon we will see a new Air India.

Following the same, a massive deal of 840 aircrafts (470 firm + 370 options) was announced. But thats just a small part of the Air Indias revival. The brand is working on a 360-degrees transformation and most of it has to do with the in-flight dining experience. Air India is a full-service air carrier, and a major chunk of its flying experience comes from the food the airline serves.

It has been a pain (so to say) for the airline for the longest of the time and a recent tweet by a celebrity chef further opened the wounds of the Air India travellers. Nevertheless, the airline is adamant to revamp its outlook and following the same, the airline announced an all-new in-flight menu for domestic flights in October 2022. Then in April 2023, the new menu was expanded to its international flights as well.

Recently, a select bunch of journalists were invited to visit the Ambassadors Sky Chef facility in Aerocity, Delhi. The facility provides in-flight meal to thousands of Air India passengers travelling out of the Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport. The idea was to see the new menu of Air India, and witness the journey of the meal from the flight kitchen to the food tray.

Ambassadors Sky Chef

The Ambassadors Sky Chef is one of the oldest and biggest catering partners of Air India. Established in 1942, the company is credited to start the in-flight dining, at least in India. The Delhi facility was started in 1980s and now serve more than 35 airlines, among which are 25 international and 10 domestic airlines. Air India being one of the largest contributors to the airlines business, gets a dedicated food preparation and packaging area inside the facility.

The unit runs as a proper production facility and adheres to all international safety guidelines when it comes to preparation of the food. One of the senior executives of the company says they have only 0.05 percent production error. Having said that, Foreign Object on Board (FOB) remains the biggest problem for aviation in-flight dining. Though, he quips, most of the FOB doesnt originate from this facility.

The facility has served almost all the Presidents and Prime Ministers of this country, on a foreign trip, and has also served the Russian PM Vladimir Putin, on his India trip. We were shown around various wings of the facility, right from the area where raw ingredients are unloaded, checked for freshness & quality, and sorted into colour-coded baskets to the various kitchens where food is made.

The main kitchen is divided into sections: Hot Kitchen/Cold Kitchen/Bakery/ Confectionery etc. and different dishes are cooked in these sections according to the cuisine, (Western, Asian, Indian etc). Visiting a facility like this makes you realize the scale of operations that goes behind a single serving of food tray you get on your flight.

Air Indias New Menu

Coming to the Menu upgrade on the Air India flight, starting 01 October 2022, Air India unveiled new menus for all domestic flights. Then from 01 April 2023, Air India introduced refreshed inflight food & beverage menus across cabins on all international flights (ex-India).

Domestic Flight Menu

The meal choices now feature a mix of international and modern Indian dishes with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options on offer. The menu changes as per time of day (breakfast/lunch/refreshment/dinner). The menu cycles change every other day to avoid monotony for frequently returning guests.

You get options like Croissants, Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins, Cheese and Truffle Oil Scrambled Eggs with Chives, Cheese Mushroom Omelette, Mustard Cream-coated Chicken Sausage, Dry Jeera Aloo Wedges, etc. or dishes such as Aloo Parantha, Medu Vada and Podi Idly for breakfast.

For Lunch, options include Fish Curry, Chicken Chettinad, Potato Podimas, Chicken 65, Vegetable Pulao, Grilled Sliced Pesto Chicken Sandwich, Mumbai Batata Wada, Vegetable Fried Noodles, Chilli Chicken, etc are served.

International Flight Menu

The Air India guests will be offered a new menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, across all cabin classes, featuring a mix of fusion dishes such as Mushroom Scrambled Egg, Turmeric Chilli Omelette, Mixed Vegetable Paratha, Achari Paneer and Emmenthal Sandwich in Multigrain Bread, Grilled Prawns in a Fennel Cream Sauce, Murgh Rezala Kofta, Murgh Elaichi Korma, Classic Chilli Chicken, Chicken Chettinad Kathi Roll, Baked Fillet of Fish with a Herb Almond and Garlic Crust, among others.

Air India guests will also be offered a bouquet of dessert offerings such as Mango Passionfruit Delight, Quinoa Orange Kheer, Espresso Almond Crumble Mousse Cake, Khajur Tukda with Kesar Phirni, Single Origin Chocolate Slice, Chum-Chum Sandwich with Blueberry Sauce, and a seasonal fruit selection.

For passengers who follow the vegan lifestyle, they will be able to choose from a selection of plant-based meal options such as Subz Seekh Kebab, Thai Red Curry with Tofu and Vegetables, Broccoli and Millet Steak, and Lemon Sevaiyan Upma, Medu Wada and Masala Uttapam.

In-flight Dining Experience

Air Indias Head Chef Abhijit, says that the new menu has been designed not only to revamp the menu as part of ownership change, but also honours the produce that can be sourced due to seasonal change from winter to summer. When asked on the process of designing a menu for a brand like Air India, Chef Abhijit says he believes in promoting the Indian cuisine on a global map and the new menu is an ode to our regional cuisine.

Having said that, he believes offering Ghar Ka Khana inspired food adds a level of comfort to the journey of air passengers and the scope of experimentation should be limited. Since the taste also changes 36,000 ft above the sea level as the salt and sugar dips due to the pressure, its best to stick to the basics. He further said, after all, you can't change menu in the air and its a challenge to make everyone happy but the same food items.



In terms of the plating, Chef says he focused on putting as many colours on the plate as possible, to make the trays look attractive and eating-worthy. The menu cards now mention the nutritional values of each of the dishes, while the meal portions are now lighter. Also, less use of spices is preferred for a happy stomach of passengers.

Closing Remarks

My recent visit to the Ambassadors Sky Chef in Delhi to witness the revamped Air India in-flight menu was an eye-opener in many ways and no amount of words can describe the experience of visiting a mega kitchen as big as the Sky Chefs. Next time you are on-board a flight, eating a hot meal served to you at 36,000 ft, remember the hard work one has put to bring you food from production facility to the airplane, maintaining the hygiene and the quality.
New Delhi: Twitter has announced a significant development, stating that it has merged with everything app called 'X', owned by Elon Musk. In a court filing in the US, Twitter quietly disclosed that it no longer exists. "Twitter Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists. X Corp. is a privately held corporation, incorporated in Nevada, and with its principal place of business in San Francisco, California," the filing mentioned.





In October last year, when he was in the process of finalising the purchase of Twitter, he restated that X remains his long-term plan for the business. "Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app," Musk tweeted. ( Also Read: HDFC Cuts MCLR On Selected Tenures; EMIs To Go Down - Check Revised Loan Rates "Twitter probably accelerates X by 3 to 5 years, but I could be wrong," he added. Earlier, Musk had expressed interest in creating an application that could offer comprehensive features comparable to China's WeChat. ( Also Read: OnePlus 9 5G Gets Rs 12,000 Discount; Check Where And How To Avail It During a podcast, he said that the US needs a super app. "It's either convert Twitter to that or start something new. It does need to happen somehow," he said."If you're in China, you kind of live on WeChat. It does everything. It's sort of like Twitter, plus PayPal, plus a whole bunch of things all rolled into one, with a great interface. It's really an excellent app, and we don't have anything like that outside of China," Musk told the listeners during the podcast last year.In 1999, Musk co-founded an online bank called X.com, which was later merged to form PayPal.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday addressed a public meeting in the border district of Wayanad in Kerala where he arrived for the first time after his disqualification as an MP. In his speech, he launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for taking away his MP 'tag' and said it will not stop him from representing the people of Wayanad or intimidate him from raising questions.

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad after being convicted and sentenced in a criminal defamation case last month.

"Member of Parliament is a tag. It is a post. So, BJP can take away the tag, the post, the house and they can even jail me, but they cannot stop me from representing the people of Wayanad," Rahul said.

LIVE: Public Meeting | Kalpetta, Wayanad | Kerala https://t.co/BJ7i0rlF6Z  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 11, 2023

The former Congress chief added that he is surprised that even after so many years, BJP has not 'understood' its opponent.

"They do not understand that their opponent will not get intimidated. They think I will get scared by sending police to my house or that I will be disturbed if my house is taken away," he said.

Rahul and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also participated in a roadshow called 'Satyameva Jayate' in Kalpetta.

This is the power of truth!



The victory of democracy.



The ultimate power lies in the hands of the people.



Shri @RahulGandhi and Smt. @PriyankaGandhi receive a rousing welcome in Kalpetta, Wayanad. pic.twitter.com/o64KzffraC  Congress (@INCIndia) April 11, 2023

Rahul is a 'brave' and 'compassionate' man: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit out at the Centre and said that her brother Rahul was 'mercilessly attacked' by the whole BJP dispensation and that the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) himself found it appropriate to malign him just because he asks questions.

At the public meeting organised by UDF workers in Wayanad, she said it was the duty of a Parliamentarian to ask questions, demand accountability and raise issues.

"I find it is even stranger that the whole government, every minister, every MP, and even the Prime Minister himself finds it acceptable and appropriate to malign and mercilessly attack one man just because he asks the questions they cannot respond to," Priyanka said.

She described Rahul as a 'brave' and 'compassionate' man and said he was 'undaunted' by the power of those who try to silence him.

The Congress leader said the people of Wayanad know that he is a compassionate man who is ready to hear their issues and struggles and ready to lend them a helping hand.

"He has raised your issues... He tried to resolve your problems... He has worked hard for you... He has stood by your difficult times," she stated.

My relationship with the people of Wayanad is never going to change! pic.twitter.com/2NzgNKm4Cc  Congress (@INCIndia) April 11, 2023

She said his future as an MP was in the hands of the court but he would keep on asking questions.
Washington: India is home to the second largest Muslim population in the world and those blaming the country on minority issues have no clue about the ground realities, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.

Addressing a Washington DC audience during a fireside chat at the Peterson Institute for International Economics on Monday, Sitharaman said the Muslim population is only growing in numbers in India.

#WATCH | "Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responds to a question on 'violence against Muslims' in India and on negative Western perceptions' of India pic.twitter.com/KIT9dF9hZC April 11, 2023

"If there is a perception or if there's, in reality, their lives are difficult or made difficult with the support of the State, which is what is implied in most of these write-ups, I would ask, will the Muslim population be growing from what it was in 1947... The contrast can be sharper as opposed to Pakistan, which was formed at the same time, she said.

Sitharaman said violence prevails against Muhajirs, Shias, and other minority groups in Pakistan, whereas, in India, every strand of the Muslim community is doing its business.

"India was divided into two Pakistans. Pakistan declared itself an Islamic country but said minorities will be protected. Every minority has been dwindling in number, or decimated in Pakistan. Even some of the Muslim sects have also been decimated, she said.

She said law and order is a state subject in India and each province has its elected government that takes care of the law and order in those states. She said the notion that across the board in India, violence against Muslims is happening is a fallacy.

"It cannot be so. Each province and its police are different. They are run by the elected governments in those provinces. So, that itself tells you how these reports have no clue of the law and order systems in India, the finance minister said.

"To say it's all the blame of the government of India. I would like to say then, between 2014 and today, has the population dwindled, has the debts been disproportionately high in any one particular community," she said.

"I would rather invite these people who write these reports to come to India. I'll host them, let them come and travel alone to India and prove their point, Sitharaman said.

Around 62 percent of the world's Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region (from Turkey to Indonesia), with over one billion adherents. The largest Muslim population in a country is in Indonesia, a country home to 12.7 percent of the world's Muslims.
Devon Energy Corporation

OKLAHOMA CITY, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN) today announced it will report first-quarter 2023 results on Monday, May 8, after the close of U.S. financial markets. The earnings release and presentation for the first-quarter 2023 results will be available on the companys website at www.devonenergy.com.



On Tuesday, May 9, the company will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time), which will consist primarily of answers to questions from analysts and investors. A webcast link to the conference call will be provided on Devons website at www.devonenergy.com. A replay will be available on the website following the call.

ABOUT DEVON ENERGY

Devon Energy is a leading oil and gas producer in the U.S. with a premier multi-basin portfolio headlined by a world-class acreage position in the Delaware Basin. Devons disciplined cash-return business model is designed to achieve strong returns, generate free cash flow and return capital to shareholders, while focusing on safe and sustainable operations. For more information, please visit www.devonenergy.com.

Investor Contacts Media Contact Scott Coody, 405-552-4735 Lisa Adams, 405-228-1732 Chris Carr, 405-228-2496




New Delhi: A day after being arrested by Punjab Police, Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of fugitive Khalistan leader and `Waris Punjab De` chief Amritpal Singh was brought to Assam`s Dibrugarh Central Jail on Tuesday. Papalpreet was arrested from Amritsar`s Kathu Nangal area on Monday. Briefing the media on the capture of Amritpal`s close aide, Punjab`s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Headquarters, Sukhchain Singh Gill said Papalpreet was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA).

"Papalpreet Singh, the main associate of Amritpal Singh was arrested by Amritsar Rural Police from the Kathu Nangal area. The arrest was made under the National Security Act. Apart from being an associate of Amritpal, he was also wanted in six cases," Gill said, adding that action against him will be taken as per the law.

#WATCH | Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of 'Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh, brought to Assam's Dibrugarh Central Jail



He was detained from Amritsar's Kathu Nangal area yesterday. pic.twitter.com/yNmbdtGrIA  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2023

Papalpreet was seen with the fugitive Khalistan leader in several photographs that surfaced after the duo escaped the dragnet cast for them by the state police.In an unverified video on March 30, the `Waris Punjab De` chief said he was not "a fugitive" and would soon "appear in front of the world".

In a major breakthrough, #PunjabPolice has arrested Papalpreet Singh, main associate of #AmritpalSingh, has been detained under NSA. He was wanted in 6 criminal cases.



We appeal citizens to maintain peace & harmony in the state and not to pay any heed to fake news and rumours. pic.twitter.com/nM7zLvP0GA April 10, 2023

Further, in the video, the veracity of which could not be determined, Amritpal said those who think he ran away from his people or friends should "get that thing" out of their minds. 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 raised an alert and stepped up efforts to track the fugitive radical preacher. Amritpal has been 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 aides, Lovepreet Toofan.
New Delhi: Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday began his daylong fast at Shaheed Samark in Jaipur despite the Cong's stern warning that termed it as an anti-party activity. 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. Taking strong objection to the proposed dharna by Pilot, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Monday night said any such protest against its government amounts to anti-party activity and goes against the party's interest.

Here are 10 points on Sachin Pilot's daylong fast today:

1. 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.

2. Both Pilot 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. The fight is against graft under the Vasundhara Raje regime and not targeted at anyone else, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.

3. Pilot was taking up the issue to hold the previous Raje dispensation accountable looking at Rahul Gandhi's fight on the Adani issue of alleged corruption, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.

4. Pilot claimed that he would sit on a "maun vrat" and not speak against the government.

5. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera sought to downplay Pilot's remarks and said it is "wrong" to say that the Ashok Gehlot dispensation is not acting against graft.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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".
NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Tuesday said that the Yogi Adityanath-led government is committed to strengthening the law and order situation in the state and ensure that no criminal is able to evade the law. Speaking to reporters, Pathak said, We are following the decision of the court, now criminals will not be able to escape in Uttar Pradesh. The government is monitoring the whole matter, and our aim is to get the harshest punishment.

The UP Deputy Chief Minister made these remarks while referring to questions on gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed being moved to Prayagraj from Gujarat by the UP Police.

Atiq Ahmed To be Shifted From Gujarat To Prayagraj

The Uttar Pradesh Police earlier reached the Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat to bring mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed to Prayagraj in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh, who was a key witness in the 2005 killing of then Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Raju Pal, was shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj in February this year. Based on a complaint lodged by his wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered against Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, his wife Shaista Parveen, his two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.

They Want To Kill Me, Alleges Atiq

The gangster-politician has alleged that the UP Police wants to kill him and thats why he is being taken to Pryagraj from Gujarat jail. Earlier last month, Atiq Ahmed was brought to Prayagraj from Sabarmati Jail by road for a hearing in a kidnapping case.

Atiq Ahmed Guilty In Umesh Pal Kidnapping Case

An MP/MLA court had held him and two others guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case and sentenced them to life imprisonment. That was the 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party MP's first conviction even though more than 100 cases have been registered against him. In 2006, Atiq Ahmad and his aides abducted Umesh Pal and forced him to give a statement in court in their favour. Umesh Pal had registered a complaint in this regard.

Won't Field Atiq Ahmad's Wife in Prayagraj Mayoral Polls: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has said that her party will not field gangster Atiq Ahmad's wife Shaista Parveen or any other member of his family in the mayoral election in Prayagraj. Parveen had joined the BSP in the presence of its senior leaders on January 5, and was reportedly being considered as the party's mayoral candidate for Prayagraj. The urban local body elections will be held in the state on May 4 and 11.

"As far as Shaista Parveen is concerned, I would like to make it clear that as per the facts emerging from media reports regarding the Umesh Pal murder case, as soon as the name of Atiq's wife emerged and after she has gone underground, the situation has changed," Mayawati told reporters here. "In this scenario, our party will now not give the mayoral ticket to Atiq's wife nor to any member of his family," she added.

Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf and wife have been booked in connection with the murder on February 24 of Umesh Pal, a witness in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case. Two security personnel were also gunned down in the attack on Umesh Pal.

Mayawati's statement came days after police booked Atiq Ahmad, his wife and his son Ali in a forgery case linked to the murder of Umesh Pal. The FIR was registered on Saturday at the Dhoomanganj police station in Prayagraj.
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 the distance between Delhi and Chennai by 1,312 kilometres. This dream will come true by the start of 2024," Gadkari told reporters here.

 -    (NH-1)     -          @manojsinha_                  



-  25       19 pic.twitter.com/jBuP378Sv8  Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) April 10, 2023

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 on pilgrimage tourism, Gadkari announced plans for the 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 a 73 km stretch from Khanabal to Chandanwari will be done in July 2023.

"The DPR for the 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, the 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.

Also read - Nitin Gadkari Visits Asia's Longest, Highest Zojila Tunnel In Jammu & Kashmir

Further, the minister made the announcement of the construction of a tunnel at Pir Ki Gali on Mughal Road, connecting Poonch in the 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.

"Tunnelling on the 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 the remaining five tunnels are complete," he added.
NEW DELHI: India's young superstar Kartik Aaryan is one of the most celebrated actors in the nation today. With every film releasing, his fan following is growing massive every single day. The superstar whose film 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' set the bar high for the year 2022 is to date one of the most loved and cherished films. And his character Rooh Baba has a seperate fan following amongst kids and adults.

Recently, Kartik Aaryan was spotted relishing a warm moment with Vidya Balan and the internet went berserk after their interaction. Comments flooded the post requesting the OG Manjulika to unite with Rooh Baba for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Checkout the video and the comments:

A fan wrote, "Imagine them in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and How Bigger the franchise will become."

Another wrote, "Kartik Aryan is so lucky..he met The finest actress of industry Ms. Vidya Balan."

A fan writes "Wen Junior Moniolika meets Senior Monjolika."

A user writes "Haha bhool bhulaiya 3 me in dono ko hi cast kiya jaye."

Another writes "Manjulikas."

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kartik Aaryan has an interesting lineup of films like 'Satyaprem Ki Katha', 'Aashiqui 3', and Kabir Khan's untitled next among a few other unannounced ones.
CCS-2 Fast Chargers starting with 30 KW installed at 12 strategically located BPCL Fuel Stations on the 750 Km long Delhi - Jalandhar - Delhi National Highway. BPCL aims at converting its 7,000 conventional Retail Outlets into Energy Stations providing multiple fueling options. 12 BPCL retail outlets are strategically located along the highway (part of NH-44) as part of its initiative to address the range anxiety of electric vehicle owners. The 750 Km long segment of NH-44 is the fourth such Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Corridor in the country, with fast charging stations at roughly every 100 Kms on both sides of the highway.

Chennai-Trichy-Madurai, Chennai-Bangalore and Bangalore-Coorg were the first three Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Corridors set up by BPCL. The EV fast chargers at BPCL Fuel Stations will help customers recharge their EVs in just about 30 minutes to get a driving range of upto 125 kilometers after which there will be another BPCL EV charging station for EV owners going further ahead. The fast chargers can be self-operated without any manual assistance though support staff will be at hand when needed.

Located at BPCL retail outlets, these EV fast Charging stations offer long distance and inter-city travellers much needed safe, well-lit and secure pit stops together with amenities like clean and hygienic washrooms toilets, mATMs etc for their convenience while their vehicle is being recharged. BPCL has digitised the entire EV charger locator, charger operations and transaction process through the HelloBPCL app for an online hassle free and transparent user experience.

Also read - 2023 Tata Nexon Facelift Teased: Top 5 Changes Expected On Maruti Suzuki Brezza Rival

The company has chalked out the plan to offer electric vehicle charging stations at around 7000 energy stations over next 5 years. With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing a vibrant ecosystem and a road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting innumerable initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With Energising Lives' as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum's vision is to be the most admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & technology.
New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday reached the Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat to bring mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed to Prayagraj in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh, who was a key witness in the 2005 killing of then Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Raju Pal, was shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj in February this year. Based on a complaint lodged by his wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered against Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, his wife Shaista Parveen, his two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others.

Atiq Ahmed, however, said that it is not right and alleged that they want to kill him.

#WATCH | "It is not right. They want to kill me," says gangster Atiq Ahmed on being taken to UP's Prayagraj from Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail for production in a murder case. pic.twitter.com/YLJ5WavkX7  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2023

Sabarmati, Gujarat | UP Police reached Sabarmati Jail to bring criminal-turned-politician-mafia Atiq Ahmed from Sabarmati Jail to Prayagraj. Police is taking him to Prayagraj under a production warrant after the consent of the court in a murder case. pic.twitter.com/CJ0Zur8lso  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2023

Earlier last month, Atiq Ahmed was brought to Prayagraj from Sabarmati Jail by road for a hearing in a kidnapping case.

An MP/MLA court had held him and two others guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

That was the 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party MP's first conviction even though more than 100 cases have been registered against him.

In 2006, Atiq Ahmad and his aides abducted Umesh Pal and forced him to give a statement in court in their favour. Umesh Pal had registered a complaint in this regard.

In 2019, the Supreme Court directed that Ahmed be shifted to a high-security jail in Gujarat after he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of a real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal while in jail.

Atiq Ahmed has been named in more than 100 criminal cases. Among the most sensational murders in which Ahmed is allegedly involved was that of Raju Pal, the MLA from the BSP who was shot dead in Prayagraj in 2005.

Three arrested for harbouring man wanted in Umesh Pal murder case

Earlier last week, the Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested three men who allegedly gave shelter to a man wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case in Uttar Pradesh.

They are accused of aiding Asad, the son of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, and harbouring him in the national capital after Umesh Pal's daylight murder on February 24.

Uttar Pradesh Police has also booked Ahmed, his wife Shaista Parveen, and his other son Ali in a forgery case linked to the murder of Umesh Pal.

The FIR was registered last Saturday at Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj police station in which two more persons -- Mohammad Sabir and Rakesh alias Nakesh alias Lala -- have been named.
NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday strongly dismissed Chinas objection to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying such objections do not change the ground reality. "We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India," Ministry Of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement today.

"We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese Official. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India," the MEA spokesperson added.

Baghi made these remarks while responding to media queries regarding the Chinese Official Spokespersons comments on the recent visit of Home Minister of India to Arunachal Pradesh.

In response to media queries regarding Chinese Official Spokespersons comments on the recent visit of Home Minister of India to Arunachal Pradesh, MEA MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, "We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese Official Spox. Arunachal Pradesh pic.twitter.com/7auZDodjJ6  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2023

China Displeased Over Amit Shahs Arunachal Visit

Days after India rejected its attempts to rename some places in Arunachal Pradesh, China firmly opposed Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, claiming his visit to the area was a violation of Beijing's territorial sovereignty.

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," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin was quoted as saying by China Daily at a press briefing on Monday.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah had 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.
New Delhi: India recorded 5,676 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total active caseload to 37,093, said the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday. On Monday, India reported 5,880 Covid cases, with 35,199 active cases. The daily positivity rate was 2.88 percent, and the weekly positivity rate was 3.81 percent). So far, 92.30 crore tests have been performed, with 1,96,796 tests performed in the last 24 hours. So far, 220.66 crore vaccine doses have been administered as part of the nationwide vaccination drive, including 95.21 crore second doses and 22.87 crore precaution doses.

The active cases stand at 0.08 per cent and recovery rate currently is 98.73 per cent. There are 3,761 recoveries in the last 24 hours increasing the total recoveries to 4,42,00,079.

Bihar Covid-19 Cases

In the last 24 hours, Bihar recorded 38 new Covid-19 cases amid an ongoing resurgence. Of the new cases, 17 were reported from Patna, six from Bhagalpur and three each from Gaya and Munger. The health department had conducted tests of 32,302 samples on Monday. With the new figure, the number of total active cases in the state stood 174.

Uttar Pradesh Covid-19 Cases

Lucknow has reported 61 new Covid cases in a day, while Uttar Pradesh registered a total of 176 fresh infections in the same period, according to official data. With Monday`s fresh surge, the number of active cases in the state has shot up to 1,282. Gautam Buddha Nagar has 302 active cases, followed by 273 in Lucknow, 164 in Ghaziabad, 53 in Varanasi and 23 in Prayagraj.

Tamil Nadu Covid-19 Situation

The Tamil Nadu health department has stepped up measures to counter the Covid resurgence after the state`s active caseload breached the 2,000 mark. In the last 24 hours, the state reported 386 new cases, which increased the overall active caseload to 2,099. Also on Monday, a 63-year-old woman succumbed to the virus, leading to concerns over the current Covid situation.
New Delhi: Amid the recent spike in the number of Covid-19cases, medical experts have warned that the new XBB1.16 variant is able to evade the immune system of the people and the upcoming four weeks are very crucial. Senior pediatrician at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Dhiren Gupta said, "The XBB 1.16 variant is the primary cause of the rise in cases among children and adults. This variant is showing immune escape and is able to evade the immune system. It is infecting those who had the Covid infection during the previous waves and also teenagers and adults who have been vaccinated."

"It is likely to spread. Infections like adenovirus and influenza seem to be more bothersome than covid. The next four weeks are going to be important," he said. Dr Dhiren also said that XBB 1.16 variant is believed to be highly contagious and more virulent than the previous strains of the virus.

"There has been a significant rise in the number of Covid cases in India during the past few weeks, this has been attributed to a new variant known as XBB 1.16. The number of cases in children under 12 has also been increasing," he said.

The Consultant General Paediatrician at Madhukar Rainbow Children`s Hospital, Dr S K Nakra said that among the Covid positive cases, conjunctivitis has also been reported in some cases. "The symptoms of Covid 19 are high fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, body aches and gastrointestinal symptoms. Red sticky eyes (conjunctivitis) have also been reported by some physicians. However, this was seen in the earlier strains also in about 1-3 per cent of Covid patients. It is too early to say that this red eye is more common with XBB 1.16 variant," he said.

He said that most of the pediatric patients have mild symptoms and are similar to other viral infections (adenovirus) circulating at this time. "RT PCR testing is required to confirm Covid 19. Infants, obese children and children with co-morbidities like asthma, juvenile diabetes and those on immuno-suppression may get a severe form of Covid and need to be more careful."

He further warned those children who come under comorbidities. Prevention can only happen through Covid-appropriate-behavior- masking in public places, frequent handwashing and avoiding indoor crowded places," Dr Nakra added.

Two-Day Covid-19 Mock Drill Concludes

The two-day Covid-19 mock drill was conducted successfully at 35 States and union territories across 724 districts, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed on Tuesday. The Ministry stated in the release, "Amidst a gradual spike in COVID-19 cases in several states, the Union Health Ministry had written to States and UTs on March 28, 2023, to conduct mock drills on April 10 and 11 across all health facilities, including COVID dedicated healthcare facilities to evaluate their level of preparedness, in terms of equipment, procedure and manpower".

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on April 7, chaired a meeting with state health ministers and urged them to conduct mock drills of all health facilities and requested them to review preparedness with district administration and public health officials.

India reported a total of 5675 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which was a marginal decline from Monday`s case count of 5,880, stated a bulletin issued by the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday. India`s overall active caseload currently stands at 37,093, with a daily positivity rate of 2.88 per cent and a weekly positivity rate of 3.81 per cent, according to the release.
ReportLinker

during the forecast period. DevOps is a combination of software development (dev) and operations (ops) which is defined as a software engineering methodology that aims to integrate the work of development teams and operations teams by facilitating a culture of collaboration and shared responsibility.

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "DevOps Market by Type, Cloud Deployment Model, Organization Size, Verticals and Region - Global Forecast to 2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05398028/?utm_source=GNW





As per type, the service segment to hold the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The DevOps market by type is divided into solutions and services. The services segment is estimated to hold the highest CAGR of 21.9% during the forecasted period of the DevOps market. DevOps services are being adopted more frequently as a result of the rising popularity of agile-based application development approaches and the growing demand for optimal resource usage among businesses. Container, API, managed, and professional services are some of the key services covered in the DevOps market analysis. The adoption of DevOps services among the enterprises has increased due to the improved customer experience, faster time to market, and fast-growing catalogue of business services.



As per solutions, continuous integration and testing segment holds the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The solutions segment is further sub-segmented into manage, deliver, and operate.As per segment, the continuous integration and testing is expected to hold the highest CAGR during the forecast period.



This DevOps solution boosts the developments effectiveness and speed by utilizing unit and integration testing.Continuous integration and testing have a great return on investment.



In a DevOps context, the test function aids developers in striking an appropriate balance between speed and quality.Using automated solutions can save testing costs and free up QA specialists time to work more productively.



Additionally, by allowing integration testing early in the process, CT shortens test cycles. Continuous Integration (CI) is a development methodology where developers routinely, ideally many times per day, integrate code into a shared repository.



As per region, North America holds the largest market share during the forecast period

The DevOps market is segmented into five regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.In terms of global DevOps market share, North America holds the largest market share in 2023 and is expected to last throughout the forecast period.



The major DevOps players resides in US and Canada in this region.Due to a number of factors, including the existence of numerous businesses with advanced IT infrastructure and the accessibility of technical skills, North America is the market with the most established DevOps adoption.



Modernizations in cloud computing, containers, and microservices are some of the factors propelling the adoption of DevOps across all areas.DevOps is also widely used in the financial and government industries.



More businesses are adopting the cloud strategy as its advantages become clearer. The US and Canada are the top two nations in North America contributing to the DevOps market. Since organizations use cutting-edge application development technologies at different levels as part of their strategy to thrive in the competitive industry, the DevOps market in North America is predicted to grow slowly over the duration of the forecast period. Among all the nations, the US is anticipated to have the largest market for DevOps.



Breakdown of primaries

In-depth interviews were conducted with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), innovation and technology directors, system integrators, and executives from various key organizations operating in the DevOps market.

 By Company: Tier I: 32%, Tier II: 49%, and Tier III: 19%

 By Designation: C-Level Executives: 32%, Director Level: 22%, and Others: 45%

 By Region: Asia Pacific: 35%, Europe: 20%, North America: 40%, Rest of World: 5%

Some of the major DevOps market vendors are are Broadcom Inc.(US), Microsoft Corporation (US), IBM (US), Atlassian Corporation Plc. (Australia), Google LLC (US), AWS Inc. (US), Oracle Corporation (US), Cisco Systems Inc. (US), Micro Focus International Plc.(UK), GitLab Inc. (US), Dell Technologies (US), To The New Private Ltd. (Singapore), Perforce Software Inc. (US), Progress Software Corporation(US), Cigniti Technologies Ltd.(India), HashiCorp Inc. (US), JFrog Ltd. (US), Appfire Technologies Inc. (US), Tricentis, LLC (US), Digital.ai Software, Inc. (US), New Relic Inc.(US), Dynatrace LLC (US), Datadog Inc. (US), CircleCI (US), Clarive Software (Spain), OpenMake Software (US), Copado Inc. (US), Gearset Ltd.(England), CloudBees Inc.(US), SmartBear Software Inc. (US), Buddy Technology Inc. (US), Flosum Inc.(US), and Prodly Inc. (US).



Research coverage:

The market study covers the DevOps market across segments.It aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential of this market across different segments, such as type, cloud deployment model, organization size, vertical, and region.



It includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in the market, along with their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and key market strategies.



Reasons to buy this report:

The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall DevOps market and the subsegments.This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and to plan suitable go-to-market strategies.



The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

 Analysis of key drivers (Increasing demand for continuous and faster application delivery, Increasing the focus on lowering CAPEX and OPEX, Increasing growth of microservices architectures), restraints (Lack of standardized DevOps tools and solutions), opportunities (Increasing demand for streamlining collaboration between IT and operation teams, Advancement in AI and its use in application development, High rate of adoption among SMEs), and challenges (Complexities in approaching the DevOps approach, Lack of skilled professionals) influencing the growth of the DevOps market .

 Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product & service launches in the DevOps market.

 Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets  the report analyses the DevOps market across varied regions.

 Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the DevOps market.

 Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies and service offerings of leading players like Broadcom Inc.(US), Microsoft Corporation (US), IBM (US), Atlassian Corporation Plc. (Australia), Google LLC (US), AWS Inc. (US), Oracle Corporation (US),among others in the DevOps market.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05398028/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




New Delhi: 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 percent of beds are vacant," Bhardwaj told ANI.

Saurabh Bhardwaj further added that out of four deaths in Delhi yesterday due to Corona, 3 died due to different diseases combined with Corona, and believed that Corona cases will increase in Delhi in the coming days as its densely populated. People with cold, fever, or cough are advised not to go the public places, and wear a mask they go out. People who are sick, have low immunity, at least they should not leave the house and avoid going to crowded areas.

Mock drill conducted in hospitals

He also stated they conducted mock drills in hospitals on March 26. They also told the results of this to the Central Government and the Union Health Minister in Saturday`s meeting. They will do a mock drill again at the behest of the central government. He further stated that cases are increasing but the occupancy of the hospitals is only about one and a half to two percent, 98 percent of our beds are vacant and the government is ready for any situation.

Covid-19 cases in Delhi

Delhi on Sunday recorded 699 fresh COVID-19 cases and four deaths. The positivity rate stood at 21.15 percent, said the Health Bulletin on Sunday.

Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed a mock drill for Covid 19

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday reviewed a mock drill for Covid 19 preparedness at RML hospital in Delhi. A mock drill was organized 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.

(With ANI inputs)
Former Goa chief minister and Trinomool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member Luizinho Faleiro has submitted his resignation from the Upper House of Parliament, according to party sources on Tuesday. Faleiro had long been excluded from party activities in Goa, but the TMC leadership was urging him to leave the Rajya Sabha.

According to TMC insiders, Faleiro's refusal to contest in the 2022 Assembly election in Fatorda against Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party has angered the Mamata Banerjee-led party. When the TMC made its much-anticipated entry into the coastal state, it asked Rajya Sabha MP Arpita Ghosh to resign because her tenure didn't end until 2026 and instead appointed Faleiro to the Upper House in 2021.

TMC responded to the resignation by saying, "We hope Mr. Luizinho Faleiro has a long and healthy life. We truly hope that he would continue to relentlessly serve the Goan people and work for the state's growth and success. As soon as the election is announced, AITC will name a new candidate."

The Trinamool Congress made the decision to increase its presence in Goa and the north-eastern States after defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the West Bengal Assembly elections of 2021. However, the Trinamool Congress failed to win any seats in the Goa Assembly in February 2022 despite a loud campaign. The party was able to win 5.2% of the vote, but its poor showing in Goa and other north-eastern states resulted in the party losing its national party status.

The Trinamool Congress did not have any impact in the recently held elections in Tripura, but it did so in Meghalaya, where it gained five Assembly seats. The party has proposed Sushmita Dev for election to the Rajya Sabha in addition to Mr. Faleiro. Earlier, Ms. Dev belonged to the Congress party. According to Trinamool sources, the party is seeking legal counsel on the loss of its national party status.

Faleiro began his political career in the 1980s and has held various positions in both state and national politics. He has been a member of the Goa Legislative Assembly four times and has also served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2014.

In addition to his political career, Faleiro has also worked as a journalist and as a professor of economics. He has written several books on economics and social issues, and has also been involved in various social and cultural organizations in Goa. Faleiro is known for his strong support for the statehood of Goa, and has also been an advocate for the rights of the people of Goa in matters such as mining and environmental issues.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that government employees are eligible for annual increment, even if they superannuate a day after earning the benefit. A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and C.T. Ravikumar said: "The Division Bench of the High Court has rightly directed the appellants to grant one annual increment which the original writ petitioners earned on the last day of their service for rendering their services preceding one year from the date of retirement with good behaviour and efficiently." Agreeing with Karnataka High Court`s view in the matter, the apex court dismissed the appeal of the state government-owned Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) challenging the high court judgment.

The bench noted that entitlement to receive increment crystallises when the government servant completes requisite length of service with good conduct and becomes payable on the succeeding day. It added that in the present case, the word "accrue" should be understood liberally and would mean payable on the succeeding day. "Any contrary view would lead to arbitrariness and unreasonableness and denying a government servant legitimate one annual increment though he is entitled to for rendering the services over a year with good behaviour and efficiently and therefore, such a narrow interpretation should be avoided," it said.

The top court refused to accept the KPTCL`s submissions that the annual increment is in the form of incentive and to encourage an employee to perform well and therefore, once he is not in service, there is no question of grant of annual increment. The top court dealt with the Regulation 40(1) of the Karnataka Electricity Board Employees Service Regulations, 1997 and analysed the purpose of grant of annual increment. "In a given case, it may happen that the employee earns the increment three days before his date of superannuation and therefore, even according to the Regulation 40(1) increment is accrued on the next day in that case also, such an employee would not have one year service thereafter. It is to be noted that increment is earned on one year past service rendered in a time scale. Therefore, the aforesaid submission (made by KPTCL) is not to be accepted."

The bench said the moment a government servant has rendered service for a specified period with good conduct, in a time scale, he is entitled to the annual increment and it can be said that he has earned the annual increment for rendering the specified period of service with good conduct. "Therefore, as such, he is entitled to the benefit of the annual increment on the eventuality of having served for a specified period (one year) with good conduct efficiently. Merely because, the government servant has retired on the very next day, how can he be denied the annual increment which he has earned and/or is entitled to for rendering the service with good conduct and efficiently in the preceding one year," it said. Initially, a single judge bench of the high court ruled in favour of KPTCL, however the decision was set aside by the high court`s division bench.
Mumbai: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday announced that the state will celebrate May 28 - the upcoming birth anniversary of the state`s Hindutva icon Vinayak D. Savarkar - as the `Swatantryaveer Gaurav Day,` here. Vinayak D. Savarkar, later revered as `Swatantryaveer Savarkar` was born in Bhagur, Nashik, on May 28, 1883 and passed away on February 26, 1966 in Mumbai. Next month will mark his 140th birth anniversary.

"The birth anniversary of VD Savarkar on 28th May will be celebrated as "Swatantraveer Gaurav Din" by the Maharashtra govt. Govt to organise several events to spread & propagate Savarkar's thoughts, " said Eknath Shinde as quoted by ANI.

Maharashtra | The birth anniversary of VD Savarkar on 28th May will be celebrated as "Swatantraveer Gaurav Din" by the Maharashtra govt. Govt to organise several events to spread & propagate Savarkar's thoughts: CM Eknath Shinde pic.twitter.com/gxNhdMrSpl  ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2023

Shinde said that to commemorate the momentous occasion, many events and activities shall be organized to highlight Savarkar`s huge contribution to India`s freedom movement, propagate his ideology, and focus on his campaigns for social reforms and the abolition of untouchability, all over the state.



Proposing the `Swatantryaveer Guarav Day`, state Minister Uday Samant said that Savarkar played a major role in Maharashtra politics and tributes would be paid to his patriotism, courage, and progressive thinking for the younger generations.



The Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) has demanded that the ruling Shinde Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state should call upon the BJP at the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna on Swatantryaveer Savarkar.



The Congress, including senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi, has adopted a critical stance vis-A-vis Swatantryaveer Savarkar's role during the Independence struggle, while the Nationalist Congress Party has maintained a neutral position in view of the strong public sentiments.
New Delhi: 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 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. "That's 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."

Also Read: US Nashville School Shooting: Police Release Bone-Chilling Bodycam Footage Of Shooter Being Neutralized; Watch

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 Deanna 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 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 the neighbourhood where the suspect lived, about 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 neighbourhood, said she didn't recall ever meeting the suspect but said it's an unnerving feeling to have lived on the same street as someone who could do such a thing. "I'm almost speechless. You see it on the news but not at home," Cooper said. "It's 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.
Singapore: A supermarket chain in Singapore has apologised after an Indian Muslim couple was turned away from one of its booths offering free refreshments to those breaking fast during Ramzan. Farah Nadya and her husband Jahabar Shalih had gone to the FairPrice outlet at Our Tampines Hub on April 9 at around 7 PM for grocery shopping when an employee allegedly told them that the freebies were "not for India (sic)", The Straits Times reported.

Nadya, 35, is a Malaysian Indian and runs her own healthcare company, while her 36-year-old husband is an Indian who works in the technology sector. Shalih told The Straits Times that he was standing at the booth reading about free refreshments when a FairPrice employee approached him and said, "Not for India, not for India. Further, the employee told the couple not to take anything from the stand, and go away`."

Sharing her ordeal in a Facebook post, Nadya said that they did not intend to take the free items and had stopped by the stand "to applaud such an inclusive initiative". The couple said they shared the experience on social media to "be accountable" to their children, who are of mixed race.

"I have encountered such things before, but this time I had to explain to my son what had happened," Shalih told The Straits Times. "I don`t think it`s the fault of the staff. I just feel that such things (can) happen, this is purely a lack of awareness." Apologising for the incident, a FairPrice spokesman said, "We take this matter seriously", adding that the employee in question has been "counselled".

The initiative by FairPrice Group, launched at the end of March and running till April 21, sees 60 FairPrice outlets giving away free drinks, snacks and dates to those breaking fast during Ramzan.
Market.Us

The majority share of the market, amounting to 42%, is now being dominated by North America, propelled by improved internet usage and the extensive adoption of a range of online payment modes. Furthermore, the government has launched various initiatives to accelerate the regions digital transformation.

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Market.us, The Global Digital Transformation Market was valued at USD 535 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 3,375 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 20.8%. Globally, The market growth can be registered to the rising adoption of cutting-edge technology, such as big data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cloud, over others, which has affected the exponential growth of all sizes of businesses throughout the globe.

The COVID-19 pandemic has a major test for the whole world to sustain business consistency despite all the lockdown, social distancing, work-from-home, and other challenges. While several organizations were ready to face the challenges, others were not due to a lack of digital strategy and other significant tools or infrastructure essential for smooth functioning.

Digital Transformation Market

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Key Takeaway:

By solution, the analytics segment held a dominating revenue share of more than 36.3% in 2022

By service, the professional service category had the highest revenue share of almost 75.0% in 2022

By technology, an increasing number of IoT device connections is to expand the global market share in 2022

By deployment, companies around the world have chosen on-premises deployment as a digital solution.

By end-use, with a market share of about 30.0% , the BFSI sector led the market in 2022

North America held a revenue share of approximately 42% in 2022

Asia Pacific market is anticipated to record the fastest-growing CAGR.

Story continues

Digital transformation supports organizations in managing several risks linked and handling interruptions such as marketplace fluctuation, transformation corporate, and geopolitical circumstances that are unexpected and can rapidly unpredictable outcomes. In addition, moving from a standard to a new digitalized setup supports the summary of many new technically advanced services and products. The market is anticipated to be motivated by the growing use of smartphones, mobile devices, and apps through corporate departments and processes, boosting digitalization.

Factors Affecting the Growth of the Digital Transformation Market

Several factors can affect the growth of the digital transformation market. Some of these factors include:

Increase in digitalization in business : Businesses are implementing digital transformation plans that mostly concentrate on transforming digital connections with customers to advance on this front.

Advancements in technology : Market traders provide highly modified digital transformations solution to deal with their client's business concerns. This level of customization is made possible by the traders' data, resulting in modified digital transformation fulfilling client demands and requirements.

Rising adoption of industrial robots: The latest revolution in the market is the implementation of emerging developments, including SCARA robots, industrial robots, and AI-based robots. They have assisted the robotic industry in modernizing diverse processes, reducing errors, and improving efficiencies.

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Top Trends in Global Digital Transformation Market

Industrial robots are the main trend in the global digital transformation market. They are less error-prone, more efficient, and more modernized. Augmented safety at the workplace and increasing manufacturing competence have directed companies to invest more in robotic systems. Accordingly, industrial robotic technology will be the significant market trend in the global digital transformation market during the forecast period.

Market Growth

Advanced technologies have stimulated revolution and transformation in the business environment, heading toward an increase in income. Businesses are rapidly using big data and business aptitude to meet current data, gain intuitions that can be put to use, better recognize customer requirements, and upsurge productivity. Due to the increased usage of modern-day technology, consumers often use the digital customer experience as their primary principle at the time of rating firms. Businesses are hitting into practice digital transformation plans that mostly concentrate on transforming digital connections with customers to advance on this front.

Regional Analysis

In 2022, North America conquered the market by holding the majority share of 42% of the market due to the improved usage of the internet and the high implementation of diverse types of online payment modes. In addition, multiple initiatives are attempted by the government to boost the digital transformation journey in North America. North America has a leading dominance in software solutions and advanced programming, attributable to high manufacturing, retail, and automotive operations in Canada and U.S. Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow with the highest CAGR during the projected period due to rising foreign direct investment (FDI) for digital transformations and growing governments investment for the implementation of advanced technology.

Competitive Landscape

Major Players can be seen fetching in partnerships and mergers & acquisitions to further advancement in their product and gain an economic advantage in the market. The competitive landscape of the market has also been examined in this report. Some of the major players include Accenture PLC, Apple Inc., Adobe Systems Incorporated, CA Technologies, Dell EMC, Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corp., Salesforce Inc., SAP SE, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Cisco System Inc., and Other Key Players.

Recent Development of the Digital Transformation Market

June 2022 : Tanla, a CPaaS supplier, and Kore.ai, an enterprise informal AI software platform and solutions provider company, declared the partnership in five countries: India, Vietnam, Philippines, UAE, and Indonesia. This partnership is crucial for contributing best-in-class informal (AI-based Natural Language Processing (NLP) systems to numerous brands and enterprises.

April 2022: Amazon Inc. introduced an updated Amazon Aurora Serverless v2. It can support enterprises with several applications that must manage capability through their databases and Software as a Service (SaaS) vendors. In addition, it proposes pay-as-you-use services and has no extra costs.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 535 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 3375 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 20.8% North America Revenue Share 42% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers

Advanced technologies have stimulated revolution and transformation in the business environment, heading toward increased income. For instance, big data and analytics, IoT, mobility, cloud, and social media. Including digital technology within the corporate operation is known as "digital transformation." It objects to changing how resources and technology are engaged to provide the customer with better worth. Companies worldwide have hustled up their digital transformation, concluded IoT, cloud relocations, and other initiatives.

Market Restraints

Security concern for enterprise data is a key concern throughout the implementation of digital technologies. AI, cloud, blockchain technologies, and IoT are increasing at rapid growth, which needs the requirement for better privacy and protection to minimize cyber-attacks and data breaches.

Market Opportunities

Market traders provide highly modified digital transformations solution to deal with their client's business concerns. This level of customization is made possible by the traders' data, resulting in modified digital transformation fulfilling client demands and requirements. Custom expansion has quickly recognized itself as an acute strategy businesses use to engage people with their brands and products.

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Report Segmentation of the Digital Transformation Market

Product Type Insight

The analytics segment is anticipated to hold the major market share during the forecast period. Functions for analytics-based solutions are varied and cross several sectors. For instance, it can be used in production for an anticipatory maintenance program to propel the output and reduce interruption. Enterprises are being stimulated to digitize their developments by the expanding fall of data, including raw data, unstructured and structured, with massive volume.

Service Insight

The professional service sector has conquered the market and recorded a major revenue share of 75% in 2022. This sector delivers managed and consulting services to businesses in multiple industries. Businesses experiencing digitalization require professional services to challenge issues such as the selection of vendors or the transformation of culture. This market is anticipated to grow as professional service suppliers assist in deploying and utilizing the appropriate resources at a suitable time.

Technology Insight

Increasing acceptance of IoT devices and a rise in data volume generation are anticipated to propel the cloud-based digital transformation market growth. IoT devices generate a large amount of data, which needs further space for storage. The use of digital technology is converted into a full-fledged upgrading of tools, processes, and experiences in a virtual environment that is accessible from anywhere with the help of the addition of cloud computing, which gives it an extra dimension. Digital and cloud transformation are mutually connected nowadays. Businesses may achieve more, update operations, and save money with the help of cloud technologies.

Deployment Insight

The on-premises sector dominated the global market in 2022. Companies around the world have chosen on-premises deployment as a digital solution due to its customization and security facilities. The cloud segment is anticipated to grow with the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Increasing cloud infrastructure investments with rapid fluctuating of the business workloads from on-premises to the cloud will drive market growth.

End-Use Insight

The BFSI segment has conquered the market and recorded a major market share of over 30% in 2022. Due to changing attention of banks and further financial institutions towards offering boosted experience since products and services within the industries are becoming commoditized. The improved focus of banking institutions to provide technical and unified support to develop a consumer-centric approach drives the market.

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Market Segmentation

Based on Solution

Analytics

Cloud Computing

Mobility

Social Media

Other Solutions

Based on Service

Professional Services

Implementation & Integration

Based on Technology

Cloud Computing

Big Data & Analytics

Cybersecurity

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Internet of Things (IoT)

Other Technologies

Based on Deployment

Cloud

On-premise

Based on End-Use

BFSI

Government

Healthcare

IT & Telecom

Manufacturing

Retail

Other End-Uses

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:

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CRAFTSBURY COMMON, VT / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Sterling College announces the election of Dr. Scott L. Thomas as the next President of the College. Thomas is currently the John P. 'Jack' Ellbogen Dean of the College of Education for the University of Wyoming. He brings more than 25 years of teaching and leadership experience at private and public institutions. A first-generation college student, Thomas has devoted his career to advancing programs and policies to expand access to quality college opportunities, ensure student success, and build diverse organizations.





Dr. Scott L. Thomas

Allison Hooper, Chair of the College's Board of Trustees, made the announcement to the Sterling community on Tuesday. "The Trustees are grateful to Interim President Lori Collins-Hall for her leadership and deftness with which she has positioned the College for future success and a new president. Looking forward, we are not only humbled by Dr. Thomas' credentials but also moved by his enthusiasm for Sterling's ethos of community, the Work College model, and experiential learning. Furthermore, he stepped onto the Craftsbury campus in March and immediately connected with faculty, staff, and most importantly, students."

Wendy Koenig, Secretary of the Sterling Board of Trustees and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee, shared of the search, "The College selected Dr. Thomas from a robust national pool that reflected vast experience and expertise. Dr. Thomas was the clear choice, having a nuanced understanding of higher education and the eco-social crises at play, as well as the critical intersection of the two. His mission alignment, commitment to data-informed strategies, and strong belief in competency-based education make him the ideal choice for Sterling at this moment."

Thomas holds a BA in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Leadership, and Research Methods from the University of California, Santa Barbara. An avid surfer, Nordic skier, and outdoor adventurer, Thomas has led a life exploring and engaging with environments and cultures around the world. He understands firsthand the importance of place-based experiences, that scale matters, and has learned to hold deep respect for indigenous ways of knowing. Thomas says, "I have long admired the ways in which Sterling is steadfast to its mission; it has a special history that reflects its commitment to dynamic and engaging learning environments. I was stopped in my tracks upon seeing the job posting, was further inspired by my conversations with Sterling alumnx and current students and am deeply honored to be invited into Sterling's story."

Story continues

Thomas and his wife, Maia, will move to Vermont in June; his presidency will begin on July 1, 2023. Interim President Dr. Lori Collins-Hall will return to her role as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Sterling College.

Founded in 1958 in Craftsbury Common, Vermont, Sterling College advances ecological thinking and action through affordable experiential learning, preparing knowledgeable, skilled, and responsible leaders to face the ecological crises that threatens the future of the planet. Sterling is unique in that it emphasizes hands-on experiential learning, a strong sense of community, and values good work. Sterling operates as one of only nine colleges and universities recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Work College, where all residential students are required to work as part of their educational experience, such as on the Sterling farm. The College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education to offer degrees in Environmental Studies. Media requests can be directed to Christina Goodwin, Vice President for Advancement.

Contact Information:

Christina Goodwin Goodwin

Vice President for Advancement

cgoodwin@sterlingcollege.edu

SOURCE: Sterling College

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Service, quality, and value-focused Drury Hotels Company turns 50, ushers in the next phase of the family-owned and operated hotels' legacy with continued growth and summer-long celebrations and promotions

ST. LOUIS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Drury Hotels Company, LLC , the family-owned and operated hospitality group, celebrates fifty years of warm welcomes this month. In 1973, the Drury family opened the first Drury Inn in Sikeston, Missouri and the company has grown to 150 hotels in 26 states. Drury Hotels include Drury Inn & Suites, Drury Inns, Drury Plaza Hotels, and Pear Tree Inns.

Last December, Drury Hotels opened the 604-room Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando located within the Disney Springs Area, an Official Walt Disney World Hotel. In the past five years, Drury Hotels has opened 16 new hotels including downtown Nashville Tenn., Milwaukee Wis., Richmond Va., St. Paul Minn., and Dallas Texas. In addition, three new hotels are currently under construction in Tallahassee Fla., Savannah Ga., and Arlington Texas.

"Since our founding, we've been guided by the simple promise to provide our customers with clean rooms, friendly service, and a good night's sleep at an honest price," said Chuck Drury, President & CEO. "Fifty years later, that promise still stands with almost 6,000 team members dedicated to ensuring our guests Travel Happy."

Drury Hotels continually focuses on providing the best value for guests. In 2003, they were among the first in the hotel industry to offer free hot breakfast to their guests and followed up in 2010 by introducing free 5:30 Kickback, with dinnertime snacks and cold beverages. As its latest enhancement, Drury Hotels recently introduced The Kitchen + Bar for late-night dining options at 16 Drury Hotels, with plans to add eight more by the end of 2024.

In 2022, Drury Hotels earned a record-breaking 17th consecutive J.D. Power award for Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upper Mid-Scale Hotel Chains. Drury Hotels' J.D. Power distinction sets a record for the most consecutive wins in the travel and hospitality category.

Continued Growth

Last December, Drury Hotels opened the 604-room Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando located within the Disney Springs Area, an Official Walt Disney World Hotel. In the past five years, Drury Hotels has opened 16 new hotels including downtown Nashville Tenn., Milwaukee Wis., Richmond Va., St. Paul Minn., and Dallas Texas. In addition, three new hotels are currently under construction in Tallahassee Fla., Savannah Ga., and Arlington Texas.

Story continues

50th Anniversary Celebrations

Drury Hotel guests can Travel Happy with promotional opportunities including a group booking promotion and double points for enrolled Drury Rewards members. For details about these promotions and Drury Hotel's 50th Anniversary, please visit druryhotels.com/fifty .

Drury Hotel guests are invited to join the celebration by enjoying anniversary themed cocktails at 5:30 Kickback during their stay from mid-April to August. Golden Margaritas will be featured at Drury Plaza Hotels and Kelso Collins, the namesake taken from the Southeast Missouri town where the Drury family is from, will be featured at Drury Inn & Suites and Drury Inns.

For a complete listing of all Drury Hotels or for reservations, visit druryhotels.com or call 1-800-DRURYINN. For information about career opportunities at Drury Hotels, please apply online at jobs.druryhotels.com .

Drury Cares

As part of their ongoing commitment to the communities they serve, Drury Hotels team members joined together earlier this year as part of Drury Cares, a company-wide initiative that shares Drury team members' time and talents with local nonprofit organizations. Volunteer activities included a variety of causes and initiatives including serving at food banks and animal shelters, sending care packages, hosting a dance for a local children's home, serving breakfast to first responders, and more. Culminating these efforts, Drury Hotels presented a tractor trailer truckload of food and non-perishables to help impact more than 70,000 Missourians through the Southeast Missouri Foodbank .

About Drury Hotels Company

Drury Hotels Company is a Missouri-based, family-owned and operated hotel system with 150 hotels in 26 states. Founded in 1973, Drury Hotels has been recognized by the J.D. Power 2022 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study,SM earning the award for "Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upper Midscale Hotel Chains." In 2022, Drury received this award for a record 17th consecutive year.* Brands include Drury Inn & Suites, Drury Inn, Drury Plaza Hotel, Pear Tree Inn by Drury, as well as other hotels in the mid-priced hotel segment. Drury Hotels continues to provide exceptional value for business and leisure travelers with its many free amenities  Travel Happy. For more information, visit druryhotels.com and follow us on Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn .

*Drury Hotels received the highest numerical score among upper midscale hotels in the proprietary J.D. Power 2006-2022 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Studies.SM The J.D. Power 2022 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM is based on responses gathered between June 2021 and May 2022 from 34,407 guests in Canada and the United States who stayed at a hotel in North America.

Cision

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SOURCE Drury Hotels
Fortune Business Insights

Key Companies covered in electrical steel market are Benxi Steel Group Co., Ltd (China), CSC Steel Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), Tata Steel (India), Nucor Corporation (U.S.), NLMK (Russia), ArcelorMittal S.A. (Luxembourg), Shougang Group (China) , thyssenkrupp Steel (Germany), Baosteel Group Corporation (China), POSCO (South Korea), NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION (Japan), Voestalpine Group (Austria), Yieh Corporation (Taiwan), Aperam S.A. (Luxembourg), Arnold Magnetic Technologies (U.S.), and more players profiled.

Pune, India, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global electrical steel market size was gauged at USD 29.28 billion in 2022. The market is projected to grow from USD 30.70 billion in 2023 to USD 44.92 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.6% during the 2023-2030 period. Steel offers several favorable characteristics such as enhanced permeability, improved resistivity, and reduced hysteresis loss in several applications such as electric motors, solenoids, generators, and small relays.

Surging demand for electricity generation and rising initiatives to improve power generation centers will further propel market expansion. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights, in its report titled, Electrical Steel Market, 2023-2030.

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List of Key Players Mentioned in the Report:

Benxi Steel Group Co., Ltd (China)

CSC Steel Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia)

Tata Steel (India)

Nucor Corporation (U.S.)

NLMK (Russia)

ArcelorMittal S.A. (Luxembourg)

Shougang Group (China)

thyssenkrupp Steel (Germany)

Baosteel Group Corporation (China)

POSCO (South Korea)

NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION (Japan)

Voestalpine Group (Austria)

Yieh Corporation (Taiwan)

Aperam S.A. (Luxembourg)

Arnold Magnetic Technologies (U.S.)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 5.6% 2030 Value Projection USD 44.92 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 29.28 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 150 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Type

By Application Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Electrical Steel Market Growth Drivers Increased Product Demand from the Automotive Industry to Drive Market Augmentation ArcelorMittal Announces Plans to Invest USD 292 Million to Build a Production Unit at its Mardyck Site

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/electrical-steel-market-100827

Story continues

Competitive Landscape:

Efforts Undertaken by Leading Companies to Boost Production Capacity to Aid Market Elevation

Tactical decisions made by industry leaders to maintain their position in the global market include partnerships, collaborations, product launches, and mergers and acquisitions. In some cases, companies invest funds to enhance production capacity. For example, in November 2021, POSCO announced plans to increase the production of electrical steel sheets to fulfill rising consumer demand. The company decided to invest USD 848.6 million to produce 300,000 tons of steel plates per year.

Key Industry Development:

March 2022: ArcelorMittal announced its plans to invest USD 292 million to build a new production unit for electrical steel at the Mardyck site in north of France. The new industrial unit will have a production capacity of 200 kilo ton and will strengthen the French electro mobility sector.

Segments:

Non-grain Oriented Segment to Lead Backed by its Extensive Use in Manufacturing Motors

According to type, the market is divided into non-grain oriented and grain oriented. Among these, the non-grain-oriented segment held the largest market share in 2022. Non-grain-oriented steel is used to manufacture electrical equipment and offers high permeability or low hysteresis loss. It is used to make manufacturing rotors, motors, high performance power generators, and EV traction motors. The surging demand for non-grain-oriented steel will drive the growth of the segment in the coming years.

Transformer Segment to Hold Major Share Owing to High Demand from Energy Consumption Applications

As per application, the market is split into transformer, motors, inductors, and others. Among these, the transformers segment captured a significant share in the global market in 2022. The rising demand for transformers owing to high energy consumption will facilitate segment expansion in the forthcoming years.

Geographically, the market is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

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Report Coverage:

The report provides valuable insights into drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats affecting market dynamics over the forecast timeframe. The market is studied in detail by dividing it into regions and segments. Market share held, growth rate, and valuation of each segment and region are also given. Latest developments, such as partnerships, collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, and product launches, are covered as well.

Drivers and Restraints:

Increased Electrical Steel Demand from Automotive Industry to Drive Market Augmentation

Increasing adoption of hybrid vehicles and expansion of the automotive industry are the factors propelling market expansion. Electrical steel helps in reducing the weight of the vehicle while enhancing its aesthetics. Additionally, supportive government regulations in developing countries, such as India, China, Brazil, and the U.S., will further aid market proliferation. Governments are focused on reducing carbon emissions, which is generating demand for the product as higher number of people adopt hybrid vehicles.

On the other hand, changing prices of raw materials, such as iron ore, coal, and ferroalloys, and high manufacturing costs will hinder the electrical steel market growth in the coming years.

Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific to Dominate Stoked by Growing Manufacturing Sector in India, China, and South Korea

Asia Pacific accounted for the largest electrical steel market share in 2022 and was assessed at USD 14.05 billion. Expanding manufacturing sector in India, China, and South Korea is the leading factor contributing to market expansion. This steel is used in manufacturing machinery, industrial equipment, transformers, magnetic devices, and energy power grids and their rising demand will elevate market growth in this region.

The North America market is slated to expand significantly owing to technological advancements and availability of raw materials. The expansion of machinery and automotive industries has raised the demand for the product as it is used in motors, power generators, and transformers. The above-mentioned factors will facilitate market augmentation in the region.

The Latin America market is projected to grow substantially backed by growing product application in manufacturing and automotive sectors. Several end-use industries have manufacturing facilities in the region owing to easy availability of raw materials, land, and labor. This has led to the high demand for automated machinery, thereby boosting the product demand.

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COVID-19 Impacts:

Closure of Manufacturing Facilities Severely Affected Market Growth Amid the Pandemic

The spread of COVID-19 worldwide prompted governments of several economies to impose stringent nationwide lockdowns and social distancing norms. This move severely impacted manufacturing facilities as operations were partially or completely stopped. Automobile manufacturing reduced and infrastructure projects were disrupted which, in turn, decreased electricity supply worldwide. Furthermore, halt of mining activities and movement restrictions decreased the product demand in several applications such as high-efficiency power generation motors, transformers, motors, and inductors.

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 Key Emerging Trends  For Major Countries Key Developments: Capacity Expansions, Acquisitions, Partnerships, etc. Latest Technological Advancement Insights on Regulatory Scenario Porters Five Forces Analysis

Qualitative Insights on Impact of COVID-19 on Global Electrical Steel Industry Supply Chain Analysis & Challenges due to Covid-19 Steps taken by Government / Companies to Overcome this Impact Potential Challenges and Opportunities due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Global Electrical Steel Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary By Type (Value and Volume) Non-Grain Oriented Grain Oriented By Application (Value and Volume) Transformer Motors Inductors Others By Region (Value and Volume) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued...!

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Kisses from Italy, Inc. and Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC.

An Emerging Markets News Commentary



ORLANDO, Fla., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Previously, we introduced Kisses From Italy Inc. (OTCQB:KITL), a publicly listed U.S.-based company, restaurant chain operator, franchisor, and product distributor with locations in the United States, Canada and Europe, and its partnership with celebrity chef, Food Network Star, restaurateur and cookbook author Scott Conant. Now, it is time for the companys current advisor, Fransmart, to have the spotlight.

Fransmart is a global leader in franchise development, selling over 5,000 franchises worldwide and turning emerging restaurant concepts into national and global brands for 20 years. The company serves as Kisses From Italys current advisor and exclusive global developer and representative, aiding brand development and growth.

Fransmarts website provides informative videos giving insight into what it took to create the company, its focus and the process of acquiring brands. So, let's get into it:

Among the brands that Fransmart has launched franchises for is Five Guys Burgers & Fries, one of the companys greatest success stories. Fransmart founder, Dan Rowe, says that Five Guys was a Northern Virginia burger concept with just four locations when they met. Today, Five Guys is an iconic, international, powerhouse chain with over 1,500 stores. Other franchises that Fransmart have taken from small concepts to major chains include Qdoba Mexican Eats, The Halal Guys, The Italian Place, and many more. Fransmart has also begun to expand into non-restaurant franchise brands like high-performing service and retail concepts.

Rowe states in the video detailing Fransmarts focus, Remember, every big chain started with one location. And at Fransmart we believe that every one of our brands can be the next Five Guys. Fransmarts focus stays on the brand because it only succeeds when its brands and their franchises succeed. Fransmart specializes in seeing the potential of each brand and Rowe stresses the importance of getting involved early.

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Fransmart thoroughly evaluates brands as they have to meet a stringent set of requirements prior to launching development plans. According to the company, this includes competitive positioning within a growing segment, solid financial qualifiers like unit level economics and sales-to-investment ratios, strong operational systems and support, visionary management teams, and sound real estate models.

With all that said and with the help of Fransmart, we cannot wait to see what is in store for the Kisses From Italy brand and all future brands the team is planning on rolling out.

First up! Scott Conant. Stay tuned for the new brand reveal under the Kisses From Italy umbrella coming soon.

For more information about Fransmart, visit https://fransmart.com/ . Also, make sure to check out https://kissesfromitaly.com/ for news and updates.

About Kisses from Italy Inc.:

Kisses from Italy Inc. is a U.S.-based restaurant chain operator, franchisor, and product distributor with locations in North America and Europe. The Company offers a quick-service menu and a unique take on traditional Italian delicacies with an All-American flair. Kisses from Italy offerings include sandwiches, salads, Italian roasted coffee, coffee-related beverage, and an array of other products.

About The Emerging Markets Report:

The Emerging Markets Report is owned and operated by Emerging Markets Consulting (EMC), a syndicate of investor relations consultants representing decades of experience. Our network consists of stockbrokers, investment bankers, fund managers, and institutions that actively seek opportunities in the micro and small-cap equity markets.

For more informative reports such as this, please sign up at:

https://emergingmarketsconsulting.com/

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EMC has been previously paid 2,500,000 restricted shares and is under contract to receive an additional 3,000,000 restricted shares and $35,000 by Kisses from Italy, Inc. for various marketing services including this report. EMC does not independently verify any of the content linked-to from this editorial.

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Featuring new television ads, microsite and digital content, the "Building Tomorrows" campaign shows how engineers are builders of solutions that make a difference in our world

OTTAWA, ON, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Engineers Canada launched a new campaign today that calls on Canadians to think differently about the value of engineers. Conceived in collaboration with Canada's provincial and territorial regulating bodies and Engineers Canada, the "Building Tomorrows" campaign challenges Canadians to expand their perceptions of engineersnot just as builders of bridges and buildingsbut as builders of solutions that make our world a better place.

Engineers Canada Logo (CNW Group/Engineers Canada)

"This campaign is the product of many years of planning and hard work from our provincial and territorial partners," said Kathy Baig, MBA, FIC, ing., DHC, and President of Engineers Canada. "It helps expand understanding about the central role that engineers play in building solutions to address some of the most daunting challenges we face as a country, including climate change, healthcare, urban planning and safe infrastructure."

The campaign uses building blocksa familiar and well-understood toolas a means to call on people to think about engineers as builders that are making the world a better place for us all. Using a series of digitally rendered "builds", the television spot illustrates how engineers use creativity and innovation to develop solutions to everyday problems like energy efficiency and smart city planning, as well as drive extraordinary advances in medical treatments and resilient infrastructure. With this campaign, the profession will broaden people's understanding of the contributions engineers make every single day to the world around us. The campaign includes a :30 second television spot running for seven weeks, a new microsite, as well as a digital and social media campaign.

"This is an exciting opportunity for us to demonstrate who engineers are and the ways in which engineering disciplines are driving solutions to our shared challenges," added Gerard McDonald, MBA, P.Eng., ICD.D, and Chief Executive Officer of Engineers Canada. "It is also an important way to reflect the rich diversity of Canada's engineers and the work they do across the country."

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This national awareness campaign, produced in both English and French, will continue throughout 2023 and includes a microsite where people can learn of the many ways engineers are helping create a better world today and tomorrow.

The television ad can be seen here . To learn more about this exciting campaign, please visit the "Building Tomorrows" Campaign website at https://buildingtomorrows.ca/ .

About Engineers Canada

Engineers Canada upholds the honour, integrity, and interests of the engineering profession by supporting consistent high standards in the regulation of engineering, encouraging the growth of the profession in Canada, and inspiring public confidence. For over 80 years, we have worked on behalf of the provincial and territorial associations that regulate engineering practice and license the country's more than 300,000 members of the engineering profession. https://engineerscanada.ca

SOURCE Engineers Canada

Cision

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ERIE, Pa., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Erie Indemnity Company (NASDAQ: ERIE) will host a pre-recorded audio webcast with the financial community providing financial results for the first quarter Friday, April 28th, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Erie Indemnity will issue a press release reporting its results after the close of the market on Thursday, April 27th.

Erie Insurance. (PRNewsFoto/Erie Insurance) (PRNewsfoto/Erie Insurance)

The pre-recorded audio will be available on the company's Investor Relations website at www.erieinsurance.com/about/investors.aspx.

To access the pre-recorded audio via phone, please go to this link (registration link), and you will be provided details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.

To automatically receive Erie Indemnity financial news by email, please visit www.erieinsurance.com and subscribe to email alerts.

About Erie Insurance

According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 11th largest homeowners insurer, 13th largest automobile insurer and 13th largest commercial lines insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written. Founded in 1925, Erie Insurance is a Fortune 500 company and the 19th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. Rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, ERIE has more than 6 million policies in force and operates in 12 states and the District of Columbia. News releases and more information are available on ERIE's website at www.erieinsurance.com.

Cision

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SOURCE Erie Indemnity Company
One of the French automotive parts distribution specialists relies on Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise and Authentic Distribution Solution to meet the challenges of transforming its business model, supporting its growth and aligning with its CSR objectives

RUEIL-MALMAISON, France, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infor, the industry cloud company, today announced that Exadis, a specialist in the upstream logistics of multi-brand automotive aftermarket spare parts, has decided to migrate its enterprise resource planning (ERP) to the Infor Cloud.

Exadis, which was already relying on the Infor M3 on-premises ERP solution, has renewed its partnership with Infor as part of its migration to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud using Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise, Infor Factory Track production automation and the ADS solution from Infor's partner Authentic Group.

Founded in 2006, Exadis underwent a capital reconstruction in 2019 with the entry of Mobivia Group (44.25%) alongside Renault Group (44.25%) and Groupement des Concessionnaires Renault, GCR (11.5%) present since 2016. The company, which is headquartered in Saint-Priest (Lyon), is a specialist in the logistics of automotive spare parts. It has 85,000 product lines for which it coordinates distribution from its eight sites in France. At the heart of Exadis' IT transformation project are a series of business, operational, strategic, environmental, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) challenges that Infor's solution will address to support the company's growth, which has increased by 30% per year over the past two years to reach 92 million in 2022. The project started in February 2022, and the cloud solution is expected to go into production  in a complete rollout to all eight Exadis sites  by September 2024.

It was vital to invest in order to maintain Exadis' lead (one of the very few players to have a homogeneous information system (IS) and a single ERP) and to strengthen its position. "A first salvo of investments was made in 2022," explains Romain Hourne, Exadis IT director. "Based on the company's good results from 2021, our shareholders agreed to transformation efforts in logistics and IT infrastructures, for example, by increasing our storage capacity, adding mechanization modules, and renovating our networks. The IS has also evolved on the business level with developments around a first proprietary CRM and the integration of a BI solution (Qlik sense) immediately put in place with the arrival of our general management."

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The reason for choosing the Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise solution can be explained in part by the historical partnership between Exadis and Infor: "We were one of the first Infor M3 customers in France in the automotive sector and were very satisfied with this implementation," Hourne says. "But with time, the evolution of the users and the complexity of the distribution chain, it became impossible for us to continue specific developments to integrate the innovations which were increasingly multiplying. Our information system was becoming almost obsolete on issues specific to logistics that we can now address with the new solutions in the cloud: inventory management, customer and supplier vendor managed inventory (VMI), order consolidation, transport cost rationalization, elaborate reverse logistics, process automation, enhanced drop shipping, not to mention the incredible challenges of connectivity."

"Another fundamental element for Exadis, which has implemented a CSR-certified approach, with the organization ECOVADIS, is the solution's ability to effectively support our initiatives in this area. The new system allows us to rationalize our supply chain operations with strict control of consumption and associated energy costs. In addition, the dematerialization of invoices  a legal obligation  is already supported by the system, which we will resolutely rely on to further reduce paper printing and thus limit our carbon footprint to a minimum," Hourne says.

One of the other reasons for the renewed confidence in Infor lies in the historical partnership with its partner Authentic Group. Fabrice Caumette, executive delivery manager at Authentic Group, says: "We have established a close relationship of trust and efficiency with Exadis, through our collaboration on previous development and implementation initiatives for more than 10 years. This new project, with its broader scope, allows us to showcase the advanced capabilities of the Infor cloud solution, which we master perfectly. It also provides us with the opportunity to position ourselves as a high value-added company through the implementation of our preconfigured ADS solution, specifically dedicated to the complex business of distribution and which integrates the constantly evolving best practices that we monitor closely."

"The specific distribution business  with all its associated logistical complexity  is particularly well addressed by our Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise solution," explains Philippe Maillet, Infor sales director for France SMB & channel. "We are, therefore, particularly pleased to continue our partnership with Exadis and Authentic Group to reinforce the operational efficiency of a major French player in the automotive sector and to transform its IS."

"This project is far from being a simple technical migration project. It embeds our ambitions to be and/or remain the first and only one in strategic areas by putting operational excellence, collaboration, and scalability of a strong and responsible growth at the center of our ambitions," concludes Jean-Christophe Barthelet, CEO of Exadis.

Learn more about Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise: https://www.infor.com/products/cloudsuite-distribution-enterprise and Infor Factory Track: https://www.infor.com/products/factory-track

About Exadis

Created in 2006, Exadis is an integrated network of eight logistics platforms specialized in the distribution of independent automotive spare parts. Renault, the "Groupement de Concessionnaires Renault" and Mobivia are shareholders. The company has 170 employees. Exadis is a member of NEXUS France. Visit www.exadis.com.

About Authentic Group

Created in 2004, Authentic Group implements IT solutions and offers innovative services to support companies in their development. Authentic Group works with companies specialized in distribution in Europe, Canada and the United States and offers services and solutions around:

Infor M3, Infor OS, Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise: implementation, deployment, migration, support

Methodology: agility and reactivity for shorter and less expensive projects

Microvertical business line Automotive Parts Distribution (ADS)

Visit https://www.authentic-grp.com

About Infor

Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. We develop complete solutions for our focus industries. Infor's mission-critical enterprise applications and services are designed to deliver sustainable operational advantages with security and faster time to value. Over 60,000 organizations in more than 175 countries rely on Infor's 17,000 employees to help achieve their business goals. As a Koch company, our financial strength, ownership structure, and long-term view empower us to foster enduring, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. Visit www.infor.com.

Media contacts:

Vincent Fournier & Odile Pin

Such. +33 (0)6 80 34 24 00 - Tel. +33 (0)6 81 80 35 46

vf@pr.dragway-productions.com - odilepin@r2po.fr

Twitter: @InforFranceNews

Jessica Wilson

Exadis

jessica.wilson@exadis.com

Tel: + 33 (0)6 77 83 49 33.

https://www.exadis.com/

Copyright 2023 Infor. All rights reserved. The word and design marks set forth herein are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Infor and/or related affiliates and subsidiaries. All other trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective owners. www.infor.com



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SOURCE Infor
EY

EY has abandoned radical plans to separate its consulting and accountancy arms after months of internal disagreement and opposition from US bosses.

It comes after the Big Four accountancy, which operates as a global network of member firms, opted against putting the proposed break-up to a crucial vote among American partners last month.

EY partners were informed of the decision on Tuesday in a note from the firms global executive team.

According to the memo seen by The Telegraph, the US executive committee has now decided not to move forward with the plan, codenamed Project Everest.

Given the strategic importance of the US member firm to Project Everest, we are stopping work on the project, the firm said.

However, EY added that the organisation must have strategic flexibility to execute a new transaction for the future.

In the memo, EY acknowledged the challenges of dividing its consulting and accountancy businesses, including the time needed to make necessary investments preparing both divisions for separation.

It also highlighted the difficulties of splitting the units in a way that gives each the capabilities needed to compete in the market.

EYs global executive, its US executive committee and other member firms will begin taking further steps based on the projects findings over the past year.

These will be actions that will both benefit our businesses today and better prepare us for a new transaction, the firm added.

EY will also evaluate how future organisation separation will serve the interests of all of our businesses, offer enhanced client service, test any interdependencies between the businesses and ensure that we have the right capabilities in both organisations.

Separating its consulting and accountancy business would have allowed EY to publicly list its advisory arm or sell a partial stake in the firm, resulting in a hefty payout for partners.

EYs partners were expected to vote on Project Everest in April or May until they were sidelined by the firms leadership last month.

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It is understood that this was because of a rift between EYs US partners about how much of the tax division would be kept inside the auditing business.

Bosses subsequently tried to reassure employees, with global chief executive Carmine Di Sibio expressing a high degree of confidence that the deal would be done.

The latest announcement marks another climbdown by EYs senior leadership, which has strongly encouraged partners to support the move.

In the UK, the firm was required to persuade 75pc of partners to support the break-up. The voting rules differed by each country.

Project Everest came in response to mounting pressure from regulators globally over concerns around conflict of interest at the Big Four accountancy giants.

The break-up was first raised internally in 2021 when several consultancies were growing quickly on the back of increased demand for IT transformation projects, as more companies urged employees to work from home during the pandemic.

Company valuations have since tumbled, however, rendering many of the financial projections used by EY to plan Project Everest useless.

We always knew Project Everest would be a challenging journey; we have listened to the views of the partners globally as we have shaped this path forward, the memo added.

We take great pride in the courage all of you have shown in boldly leading the professions and thank you for your support. There are many opportunities in front of us as a global organization.

We are united in creating long term value for EY people, clients and society. This unifying goal creates a significant runway for us to move forward together.
The architectural papers of Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates (KRJDA) now join the Eero Saarinen archive at Yale. Complementing this achievement is the creation of a legacy website for Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates which will serve as a readily available portal to the firm's storied history of design which spanned from 1966 to 2019.

NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The family of Kevin Roche is donating the complete written and drawn body of work created by the architectural firm of Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates (KRJDA) to the Manuscripts and Archives division of the Yale University Library. Enjoined and encouraged by then Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, Robert Stern, Kevin Roche initiated the archive project in 2007.

John Dinkeloo and Kevin Roche at the Temple of Dendur at The Met, NYC, circa 1976.

Referencing the recent completion of the project, Stern stated "The Kevin Roche archive is one of the most important resources for the study and appreciation of post-war architecture. International in scope and brilliantly occupying the crossroads of corporate post-modernism, it documents the work of a major talent."

Kevin Roche's eldest son, Eamon Roche, who is the Managing Director of the firm, now known as Roche Modern, added "Speaking on behalf of my siblings we are delighted to have been able to fulfill our father's commitment to form this comprehensive archive of KRJDA's mid to late 20th Century architecture. We are so grateful for Bob Stern's instigation of the effort in the first place, to Yale for their partnership and of course for the fifteen years of documentation and cataloging put forward by the team at KRJDA."

KRJDA's Linda Scinto was the lead archivist responsible for editing, organizing, cataloging, packaging, and transferring the vast archive, which includes over 789 boxes of correspondence, 954 drawing tubes, 64,000 4x5 transparencies, and over 88,000 35mm slides. She began working in the office of KRJDA in 1997 as an interior designer and was Mr. Roche's executive assistant from 2011 to 2019. In 2007, Kevin Roche designated Linda Scinto to manage the processing of 2,014 containers of KRJDA archival material for transfer to Yale University. The collection of project documentation includes eight museums, thirty-eight institutional and corporate headquarters, seven research laboratories, performing arts centers, theaters, campus buildings for six universities, several residences, and the Central Park Zoo.

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"It was an honor to be chosen by Kevin Roche to be the lead archivist on such a monumental project," Scinto stated "and I am delighted that people will be able to study the collection today and in the future."An invaluable asset to scholars interested in KRJDA's work, Scinto is available as a resource with firsthand experience of the collection and the people involved in its creation.

In conjunction with the donation of the physical archive, the Roche family is launching an archival website www.krjda.com directly linked to these materials with a detailed history of the firm, its principals, and the archival process.

The third and final component of this legacy project is the family's creation, through the auspices of the Connecticut Architecture Foundation, of the Jane and Kevin Roche Scholarship Fund endowed to celebrate the lives and achievements of their parents.

Inquiries for Archivist Linda Scinto can be directed to: info@krjda.com

Direct access to Yale's archive can be found at: https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/12/resources/4020

For information or to donate to the Jane and Kevin Roche Scholarship Fund, contact the Connecticut Architecture Foundation at: https://cafct.org/jane-kevin-roche-scholarship-fund/

About Roche Modern

The history of Roche Modern reaches back to Eero Saarinen and Associates, which was established in 1950. After Saarinen's passing in 1961, Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo continued the firm's leadership. Together they worked to complete the remaining design of Saarinen's major projects including the Dulles International Airport, the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport as well as the CBS Headquarters in New York City. In 1966 the firm was renamed Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates and for decades continued the practice of architecture internationally and at the highest levels of the profession.

Roche's eldest son Eamon joined Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates in 2018 in the role of Managing Director, a year before the death of his father. In 2021 Eamon Roche relaunched the seventy-year-old firm as Roche Modern from its new location in New Haven, CT.

More information at: www.rochemodern.com .

For more information regarding this announcement, please contact:

Roche Modern

Eric Miller

Marketing Officer

310-592-8230

emiller@rochemodern.com

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SOURCE Roche Modern
Farmsent

Jakarta, Indonesia, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmsent, the blockchain platform revolutionizing the agricultural industry, has announced its official registration in Indonesia. With a license from the Indonesian government, Farmsent is now able to provide its groundbreaking technology to farmers across the country, with the potential to reach over 30 million farmers and over 10,000 farm produce.

The platform features include bidding for farm produce through NFTs, fair future contracts that give an edge in pricing to farmers, and a user-friendly B2B marketplace, providing transparency and trust to buyers and sellers in the agricultural supply chain.

Farmsent's blockchain platform enables wholesalers to easily track and verify the origin and quality of the produce, providing transparency and trust to both buyers and farmers in the agricultural supply chain. With Farmsent, farmers can access a range of tools and features to help manage their sales cycle without the need to engage with various parties.

"We are thrilled to have received our official registration in Indonesia," said Farmsent CEO, Yog Shrusti. "This marks a significant milestone for our company, and we are excited to bring our technology to farmers across the country. Our platform will help farmers to export their produce to the world, getting better prices thereby improving the quality of their produce, ultimately benefiting the entire agricultural industry and consumers"

Farmsent's platform provides a marketplace for farmers to connect with buyers and sell their produce directly, cutting out intermediaries and ensuring farmers receive a fair price for their crops. The platform enables buyers to easily access information on the origin and quality of the produce, ensuring trust and transparency in the supply chain.

With bidding through NFTs, buyers can easily place bids on the produce they need, providing a fair and transparent process for all parties involved. In addition, Farmsent's fair future contracts enable farmers to sell their crops at a fixed price, ensuring they receive a fair price for their produce regardless of market fluctuations.

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"Our platform is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible to farmers and businesses of all levels of technological expertise," said Yog. "We are committed to providing innovative solutions to the agricultural industry, and we believe our platform will have a significant impact on farmers in Indonesia."

Farmsent's platform will provide farmers with access to a wider range of buyers, enabling them to expand their customer base and increase their revenue.

With Farmsent's platform, businesses in the agricultural industry in Indonesia can benefit from the power of blockchain technology, ensuring transparency and trust in B2B trade. This is a significant development for the agricultural industry in Indonesia, and one that is sure to have a positive impact on farmers and businesses alike.

For more information about Farmsent and its blockchain platform, please visit the company's website at www.farmsent.io.

Media kit From Farmsent

Name of the representative: Yog Shrusti, Co-Founder/CEO

Social urls of the representative Linkedin, Twitter

AMA opportunities in social media: Linkedin, Telegram, Twitter: Available pls use calendly.com/yogshrusti/farmsent (Note: Get confirmation from Yog Shrusti before booking yog@farmsent.io)

Name of the representative: Saleh Sharif, Co-Founder/COO

Social urls of the representative Linkedin, Twitter

Social media

https://twitter.com/farmsent_io



https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmsent/



https://t.me/farmsent



https://medium.com/farmsent



https://www.instagram.com/farmsent_io/



About Farmsent

Worlds First Farmers Blockchain

Farmsent is a blockchain platform for farmers and producers where they can directly supply goods to consumers. Farmsent is a decentralized platform for farmers and wholesalers. Farmers have access to a decentralized marketplace where they can sell their products to wholesalers. Farmsent takes care of the supply chain, quality assurance, payment, and more  allowing farmers to focus on what they do best: farming. www.farmsent.io

CONTACT: Yog Shrusti yog(at)farmsent.io




MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd.

Chicago, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The fetal monitoring industry is expected to witness significant growth in the near future. This growth is likely to be fueled by advancements in technology, the growing need for improved maternal and fetal health, and the increasing focus on improving the quality of care for pregnant women. In addition, the rising prevalence of chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes has increased the demand for fetal monitoring systems. Moreover, the increasing awareness of the importance of fetal monitoring and the development of innovative monitoring systems are also expected to drive the global fetal monitoring market. Furthermore, the increasing number of premature births and the need to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with these births are expected to fuel the demand for fetal monitoring systems in the near future.

Fetal Monitoring market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $3.7 billion in 2022 and is poised to reach $5.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2022 to 2027 according to a latest report published by MarketsandMarkets. The favourable government policies and the insurance policies for fetal monitoring services are the major factors driving the fetal monitoring markets growth.

Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=35700261

Fetal Monitoring Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2022 $3.7 billion Estimated Value by 2027 $5.2 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 7.3% Market Size Available for 20202027 Forecast Period 20222027 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product, Portability, Method, Application, End User, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunity Development of non-invasive, portable, and advanced fetal monitors Key Market Drivers Rising number of preterm births and increasing adoption of infertility treatment

Based on products, the fetal monitoring market is segmented into ultrasound devices, electronic maternal/fetal monitors, fetal electrodes, fetal doppler devices, uterine contraction monitors, telemetry devices, accessories & consumables, and other products. Fetal monitors is the fastest-growing segment in this market. This segment's growth can primarily be attributed to the advancements in technologies and increase in regulatory approvals.

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Based on portability, the market is segmented into non-portable systems and portable systems. In 2021, non-portable systems accounted for the largest share of this market, owing to the most applications in hospitals to assess fetal and maternal health.

Based on the method, the market is segmented into invasive and non-invasive. In 2021, the non-invasive accounted for the largest share of this market. The rising approvals of various non-invasive monitoring devices drive the growth of this segment.

Based on application, the market is segmented into antepartum and intrapartum. In 2021, the antepartum application segment accounts for the largest share of the fetal monitoring market, as during pregnancy, antepartum is the longest time period during which fetal monitoring is done to diagnose any fetal abnormalities, which drive the growth of this segment.

The market is segmented into hospitals, obstetrics & gynecology clinics, and home care settings based on end users. In 2021, hospitals accounted for the largest share of this market. The growth of this segments can be attributed to several factors, such as advanced facilities in hospitals and the growing number of pregnancy procedures, thus supporting market growth.

The global fetal monitoring market is segmented into four regions-North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. In 2021, North America was the largest regional market for fetal monitoring. The reimbursements and initiatives for fetal care are the major factors supporting the growth of the fetal monitoring market in North America.

The Asia Pacific region offers high-growth opportunities for players in the fetal monitoring market. This regional segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Factors such as implementation of guidelines for maternal and neonatal care, and various initiatives for improving neonatal care are factors driving the market growth in the region.

Key Market Players:

The key players in this market are Cardinal Health, Inc. (US), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), GE Healthcare (US), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (US), Natus Medical Incorporated (US), Huntleigh Healthcare Limited (UK), The Cooper Companies Inc. (US), CONTEC Medical Systems Co., Ltd. (China), EDAN Instruments, Inc. (China), Neoventa Medical AB (Sweden), Bionet Co., Ltd. (South Korea), Progetti Srl (Italy), TRISMED Co., Ltd. (Republic of Korea), ShenZhen Luckcome Technology Inc. (China), MedGyn Products, Inc (US), Dixion (Germany), Promed Group Co., Ltd. (Hong Kong), Advanced Instrumentations (US), BRAEL-Medical Equipment (Poland), GPC Medical (India), BISTOS (Korea), Mediana Co. Ltd (Korea), Life Plus Medical (India), ChoiceMMed (China), Trivitron Healthcare (India), Dott Medical Co. Ltd. (China), Shenzhen Comen Medical Instruments Co., Ltd. (China), Shenzhen Vcomin Technology Limited (China), Nemo Healthcare (Netherlands), MindChild Medical, Inc. (US), Melody International Ltd. (Japan), Janitri Innovations Pvt. Ltd. (India), and Laerdal Global Health (Norway).

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Hypothetic Challenges of Fetal Monitoring Market in Near Future:

Increasing competition in the fetal monitoring market: The introduction of new technologies and products from many well-established companies is likely to increase competition in the fetal monitoring market. This could result in lower prices and fewer profits for existing players.

Increased cost of healthcare: Rising healthcare costs will likely lead to increased costs for fetal monitoring devices, which could make it difficult for patients to afford them.

Expansion into developing countries: Many developing countries are now introducing fetal monitoring devices in their healthcare systems. This could result in a new wave of competition in the market, with different companies offering their products at different prices.

Technological advancements: New technologies are constantly being developed that could either improve existing products or provide new ones. This could cause existing products to become obsolete and create a need for companies to continually innovate.

Regulatory hurdles: Fetal monitoring devices are subject to various regulations. Companies may need to invest in compliance with these regulations in order to remain competitive.

Top 3 Use Cases of Fetal Monitoring Market:

Antepartum Fetal Surveillance: Antepartum fetal surveillance is a key use case of fetal monitoring technology, as it helps to detect any potential risks to the fetus prior to labor and delivery. Antepartum fetal surveillance includes a variety of tests and procedures, such as non-stress tests, biophysical profiles, and Doppler ultrasonography, to assess the health of the fetus and mother.

Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring: Intrapartum fetal monitoring is another key use case for fetal monitoring technology, as it helps to identify any potential risks to the fetus during labor and delivery. This type of monitoring typically involves the use of cardiotocography (CTG) and/or electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) to assess the fetal heart rate and uterine contractions.

Postpartum Fetal Monitoring: Postpartum fetal monitoring is a key use case of fetal monitoring technology, as it helps to detect any potential risks to the fetus after labor and delivery. This type of monitoring typically involves the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound to assess the health of the fetus and mother.

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Recent Developments:

In May 2022, GE Healthcare (US) and Pulsenmore (Israel) signed an agreement to accelerate the adoption of Pulsenmore's home care ultrasound solutions and support their goal to pursue US FDA clearance and commercial expansion.

In April 2022, ArchiMed Group (France) acquired Natus Medical Incorporated (US) to expand the reach and breadth of Natus' market-leading products, reinforcing the focus on research & development and pursuing acquisitions of complementary businesses.

In March 2021, CONTEC Medical Systems Co., Ltd. (China) launched CMS1700B Color Doppler Ultrasonic Diagnostic System, which is mainly suitable for the diagnosis of problems in the abdomen, heart, peripheral vessels, breast, obstetrics and gynecology, small organs, urology, muscle, incretion, pediatrics, etc.

Related Reports:

Patient Monitoring Devices Market

Newborn Screening Market

Ultrasound Market

IoT Medical Devices Market

Medical Wearables 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




One Filipino American woman has thoughts shed like to share regarding a particular celebritys seemingly sudden interest in their heritage.

G (@beyoncepadthighz) posted a video on TikTok last week in which she criticizes Vanessa Hudgenss recent trip to the Philippines after being named the countrys Global Tourism Ambassador.

I have a hot take on the Vanessa Hudgens tourism ambassador situation and how people are popping off about it, she begins. Cause I can hear the Titas in the Philippines saying, Whats the problem? Whats wrong with her? Why is everybody coming for her with all this negativity? Shes embracing her culture now, let her do it. Im gagged.

The Tick, Tick Boom! actress, who got engaged to MLB player Cole Tucker in late 2022, was named the countrys Global Tourism Ambassador on March 30. The ambassadorship is bestowed by the government to recognize outstanding individuals who can help promote the Philippines as one of the best tourism destinations in the world.

Shes been rich and famous for a minute. How long has it been since High School Musical came out?

G briefly makes mention of Hudgens being photographed with the current president of the Philippines while wearing the countrys national dress, before calling attention to the fact that this is the High School Musical stars first trip there.

Im not even gonna get into the fact that she took a photo with Bongbong Marcoswearing a filipiniana, she says. Its just the fact that this is her first trip to the Philippines. Shes been rich and famous for a minute. How long has it been since High School Musical came out? People forgot that she was half Filipino.

G suggests that its possible Hudgens is showing more interest in being Filipino because its popular right now.

And it just so happens now that theres more people, celebrities of Filipino ancestry coming out with their pride in their Filipino culture, a.k.a. H.E.R., Saweetie, Darren Criss, she says. Then Miss Gabriella Montez decides that now is the time to go to the Philippines.

Story continues

Forever distanced herself=gets criticized. Trying=still gets criticized. No winning here lol

Around the same time G posted her video, Hudgens, who was in the Philippines to film a travel documentary, shared a clip on her Instagram Story in which she attempts to pronounce Palawan, an island in the Philippines.

The video, which seems to have been playful in nature, has disappointed some Filipino TikTok users. Others, however, have jumped to her defense.

Side eye, one person wrote. Its not even hard to say. Its literally how its spelled.

She learned how to say it once she got there?? Not before??? another asked.

As a half Filipino I can relate, someone replied. Ik some of my culture cant speak Tagalog at all, Im glad shes getting to experience the culture tho.

Forever distanced herself=gets criticized. Trying=still gets criticized. No winning here lol, a commenter wrote.

In a follow-up video, G clarifies her stance after some commenters accused her of gatekeeping the culture.

Listen, Im not here to gatekeep Filipino culture, she says. If Vanessa wants to claim it now, Filipino culture is just as much hers as it is mine. And as somebody who has mixed race friends and, you know, exes and ex partners who are mixed race, I understand to a certain degree how much alienation you can feel from all ethnicities that you represent.

How good of a tourism ambassador can you be if you dont know this country?

The Filipino American content creator, however, is doubling down on her belief that Hudgenss sudden claiming of her heritage is driven by self-interest.

What I will talk s*** about is the timing, she asserts. How convenient that she gets to go to the Philippines for the first time in her 30+ years of life and over a decade of experience in Hollywoodlike, this is the first time shes going. Thats what I said in my videoHow good of a tourism ambassador can you be if you dont know this country?

The Salinas, Calif.-born actress, whos also come under fire after claiming shell be the first Filipino to win an Oscar, has been actively posting her trip to the Philippines on social media. While noting that Hudgens doesnt require permission to embrace her heritage, G has reignited the ongoing discussion about gatekeeping within a culture and the effect it may have on the overall communitys well-being.

In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News  follow us here!

The post Filipino American shares hot take on Vanessa Hudgens being appointed Global Tourism Ambassador for the Philippines: Im gagged appeared first on In The Know.

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NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The filtered connectors market size is set to grow by USD 2,567.24 million between 2022 and 2027, progressing at a CAGR of 6.69% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. For more insights on CAGR and YOY growth rate, Download a Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Filtered Connectors Market 2023-2027

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. The growth in the telecommunication sector, the growing use of electronics in the military and rising military expenditure, and the miniaturization of electronic devices will offer immense growth opportunities. In a bid to help players strengthen their market foothold, this filtered connectors market forecast report provides a detailed analysis of the leading market vendors. The report also empowers industry honchos with information on the competitive landscape and insights into the different product offerings offered by various companies.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Based on segmentation by application, which is the leading segment in the market?

By application, the market growth in the commercial segment will be significant during the forecast period.



What are the major trends in the market?

The increased adoption of automotive electronics is identified as the key trend in the market.



At what rate is the market projected to grow?

The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.69% during the forecast period.



Who are the top players in the market?

AEI Group, Carlisle Companies Inc., Conesys, Connective Design Inc., Cristek Inc., Deltron AG, Filcon Electronic GmbH, Glenair Inc., HARTING Technology Group, ITT Inc., Littelfuse Inc., Molex LLC, Outman Industries Inc., Smiths Group, The Phoenix Co. Of Chicago Inc., Weald Electronics Ltd., Eaton Corp. Plc, TE Connectivity Ltd., Amphenol Communications Solutions, and CONEC Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH are the top players in the market.



What are the key market drivers and challenges?

The growth in the telecommunication sector is identified as the key driver in the market. However, the reliability and durability issues of filtered connectors will challenge the growth of the market.



How big is the APAC market?

APAC will account for 30% of the market growth during the forecast period.



Story continues

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Filtered Connectors Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

The filtered connectors market is segmented as below:

Application

The market will observe maximum growth in the commercial segment over the forecast period. Filtered connectors are used to remove undesired or unnecessary radio frequency (RF) noise from electric signals. They are widely used in broadband modems, televisions, electric cars, and a wide range of other electrical equipment. The increasing adoption of wearable devices and electric vehicles will fuel the growth of the segment.

Type

Rectangular connectors are lightweight and compact in size. Hence, they are commonly used for data and signal transmission in the aerospace industry, where lightweight and miniaturized components are important. These factors are driving the growth of the segment.

Geography

APAC will account for 30% of the market growth during the forecast period. The increasing adoption of personal electronic gadgets and the growing need for high-end filtered connectors for military applications are driving the growth of the regional market. The growing need for faster Internet speed for wireless communication will further drive the growth of the filtered connectors market in APAC during the forecast period.

To learn more about all segments impacting the future of market research, download a sample report

Filtered Connectors Market 2023-2027: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The filtered connectors market report covers the following areas:

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Filtered Connectors Market 2023-2027: Vendor Analysis and Scope

The global filtered connectors market is fragmented due to the presence of several global and regional players. The market is highly competitive, and new players are trying to establish their footprint. The constant demand for better features will increase the competition among the existing vendors. This will result in new product launches during the forecast period and further intensify the competition in the market. Some of the key vendors covered in the report include:

AEI Group - The company offers a Mil C-26482 series 1 and 2 filter connector, which is designed to meet demanding HIRF and lightning requirements.

Carlisle Companies Inc. - The company offers MC183F- 1- 025 filter connectors, which are used in military applications.

CONEC Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH - The company offers IP67 D SUB CONEC slim con filters, which are used in applications related to the medical, transport industry, and communication technology.

Conesys - The company offers MIL DTL 38999 filter connectors, which are designed for input-output applications related to military aerospace and other demanding situations.

Connective Design Inc.

Cristek Inc.

Deltron AG

Filcon Electronic GmbH

Glenair Inc.

HARTING Technology Group

ITT Inc.

Littelfuse Inc.

Molex LLC

Outman Industries Inc.

Smiths Group

Filtered Connectors Market 2023-2027: Driver

The market is driven by the growth in the telecommunication sector. The demand for highly advanced telecommunications networks is increasing worldwide. This is attracting investments in the telecommunications sector. With the increasing penetration of the internet and the adoption of smartphones, the number of data centers to meet the exponential growth in internet traffic is increasing worldwide. The growth in the number of data centers will increase the demand for filtered connectors globally, thereby driving the growth of the market.

Filtered Connectors Market 2023-2027: Challenge

Reliability and durability issues associated with the use of filtered connectors will challenge the growth of the market. Filtered connectors are susceptible to damage caused by field conditions such as voltage fluctuations, temperature excursions, or mechanical forces. They could face design issues such as broken latches, separation of mating joints without any external causes, and overheating of joints due to misalignments. Moreover, failures such as insulation breakdown due to extreme temperature variations, damage to non-metallic components due to extremely low temperatures, and an increase in corrosion due to high humidity can happen in filtered connectors. These issues may lead to huge catastrophic or monetary losses if not rectified in time. Such challenges will restrict the growth of the market.

Filtered Connectors Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027

Detailed information on factors that will assist filtered connectors market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the filtered connectors market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the filtered connectors market across APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of filtered connectors market vendors

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The hazardous location connectors market size is expected to increase by USD 2.33 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.18%. The market is segmented by end-user (oil and gas, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, wastewater treatment, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, the Middle East and Africa, and South America).

Filtered Connectors Market Scope Report Coverage Details Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.69% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 2,567.24 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.2 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 30% Key countries US, China, India, Japan, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled AEI Group, Carlisle Companies Inc., Conesys, Connective Design Inc., Cristek Inc., Deltron AG, Filcon Electronic GmbH, Glenair Inc., HARTING Technology Group, ITT Inc., Littelfuse Inc., Molex LLC, Outman Industries Inc., Smiths Group, The Phoenix Co. Of Chicago Inc., Weald Electronics Ltd., Eaton Corp. Plc, TE Connectivity Ltd., Amphenol Communications Solutions, and CONEC Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH 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 through Technavio's Information Technology Market Reports

Table of Contents:

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 filtered connectors market 2017 - 2021

4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021

4.3 Type 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 Commercial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.4 Military and aerospace - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.5 Industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.6 Medical - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

6.7 Market opportunity by Application

7 Market Segmentation by Type

7.1 Market segments

7.2 Comparison by Type

7.3 Rectangular connectors - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

7.4 Circular connectors - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

7.5 Market opportunity by Type

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 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.5 Europe - 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 India - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027

9.12 Japan - 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 AEI Group

12.4 Amphenol Communications Solutions

12.5 Carlisle Companies Inc.

12.6 CONEC Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH

12.7 Conesys

12.8 Connective Design Inc.

12.9 Cristek Inc.

12.10 Deltron AG

12.11 Glenair Inc.

12.12 HARTING Technology Group

12.13 ITT Inc.

12.14 Littelfuse Inc.

12.15 Molex LLC

12.16 TE Connectivity Ltd.

12.17 The Phoenix Co. Of Chicago 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 Filtered Connectors Market 2023-2027

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The clock is ticking: the last day to file your taxes is Tuesday.

If you haven't sent in your return yet, you're not alone.

The Internal Revenue Service reported that it received 90 million returns as of March 30. In total, the IRS said more than 168 million individual tax returns are expected to be filed this year "with the vast majority of those coming before the April 18 tax deadline."

If your return contains no errors or red flags, your refund should be delivered within 21 days if you file electronically and opt to have the money directly deposited in your bank account, the IRS said.

But if you're scrambling to finish your tax return by April 18, you should file an extension immediately before it's too late.

Tax Day 2023 live updates: Deadline to file tax returns is April 18. Here's what to know.

How to file an extension: If you can't make the April 18 tax deadline, file an extension now. Here's what to know.

Federal tax deadline 2023

Taxes are due by April 18 since April 15 falls on a Saturday and Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in Washington, D.C., is April 17.

Laid off last year?: What you need to know about filing your tax return after a layoff

Q1 estimates taxes due

If you earn income that isn't subject to withholding taxes, you're typically required to make estimated tax payments to the IRS. You can do this on a quarterly basis or through one annualized estimate. The annualized estimate or the first quarter estimate is due on April 18 unless you live in an area where the IRS extended the deadline.

What is OASDI tax on my paycheck?: Here's why you and your employer pay this federal tax

Are you ready to file your taxes?: Here's everything you need to know to file taxes in 2023.

Quarterly tax due dates

Here are the other quarterly payment due dates for 2023:

Second payment: June 15.

Third payment: Sept. 15.

Fourth payment: Jan. 16, 2024.

Taxes are due for most people by April 18.

Deadline for filing income tax returns that have received extensions

If you request an extension, you'll have until October 16 to file your return. Importantly, that doesn't buy you more time to pay your taxes. You'll still have to pay any amount due to avoid penalties, but you'll have more time to complete your tax forms.

Story continues

FAQs on tax extensions: How to file one and more

1099, W-4, W-2, W-9, 1040: What are these forms used for when filing your taxes?

Arkansas tax deadline

If you live or own a business in an area of Arkansas that was impacted by last month's deadly tornadoes and severe storms, you'll have until July 31 to file your taxes.

Alabama tax extension

If you live in parts of Alabama affected by recent storms and natural disasters, you'll have until October 16 to file your federal individual and business taxes.

When is the California tax deadline?

If you live in parts of California affected by recent severe winter storms, flooding and other natural disasters you'll have until October 16 to file your federal individual and business taxes. The IRS initially postponed the deadline to May 15.

Georgia tax filing deadline 2023

If you live in an area of Georgia that was impacted by recent natural disasters, you'll have until October 16 to file your federal individual and business taxes. The IRS initially postponed the deadline to May 15.

Mississippi tax extension

The IRS extended the date taxes are due for people who live in certain parts of Mississippi affected by recent storms to July 31.

NY tax deadline

If you live or have a business in parts of New York that were impacted by the severe winter storm late last year, you'll have until May 15 to file your federal individual and business taxes.

Tennessee tax deadline extended

The IRS extended the deadline to July for parts of Tennessee impacted by recent storms.

When are 1099 taxes due?

If you're a freelancer, independent contractor, or earn income from other sources outside of a traditional job, you should have received a 1099 tax form by Feb. 15. The same applies to people who won at least $600 in prize money last year.

Entities that sent out 1099 tax forms were required to send to a copy to the IRS by March 31.

Deadline for employers to mail W-2s to employees

Your employer is required to have sent you a W-2 by Jan. 31.

Tax refunds: Americans could see smaller tax refunds in 2023, IRS warns. Here's how to get every penny

IRS delays $600 1099-K reporting: Applies for people who earn money through Venmo, PayPal, CashApp and more

Ethan Miller checks the IRS website while working on his taxes at home in Silver Spring, Md., Friday, Jan., 21, 2022. Tax filing season starts Monday and people can expect the task to be more cumbersome than usual this year thanks to an overloaded and understaffed IRS workforce and new complications from pandemic-related programs.

Should we file taxes jointly or separately: A guide for couples who said 'I do' in 2022

This 2023 tax credit could help: Interested in purchasing an electric car?

More of your 2022 tax season questions answered

Elisabeth Buchwald is a personal finance and markets correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on Twitter @BuchElisabeth and sign up for our Daily Money newsletter here

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Final day to file taxes is April 18 but deadline was extended for some
The healthcare and benefits experts on the council provide strategic market and audience insights as Firefly expands to serve new partners

WATERTOWN, Mass., April 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Firefly Health announces the launch of its Advisory Council  a cross cutting group of professionals made up of health benefit experts, brokers and consultants, benefit buyers, independent advisors and key thought leaders in the healthcare industry. The council will provide Firefly Health with outside perspectives and guidance around the companys benefit, product and growth strategy. The groups guidance will support targeted growth in specific markets, proposal development, and aid with facilitating discussions with prospective shareholders  all in line with Fireflys mission to transform the healthcare industry and prioritize patient care and needs.

"Our powerhouse Advisory Council brings decades of expertise in tackling some of employers biggest pain points around employee care and cost. Their experience and expansive professional networks bring valuable perspective to the next phase of Firefly," said Firefly CEO, Fay Rotenberg. "I look forward to working with all of them to deliver exceptional, personalized care that delivers industry-leading health outcomes for more patients while rebuilding trust in our health system."

Firefly welcomed former Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Karyn Polito, to the Council earlier this year. Polito brings decades of government service and healthcare expertise to Firefly Health.

Members of the Advisory Council include:

Brian Marcotte , former President and CEO, National Business Group on Health; Firefly Health Advisory Council Chairman

Ron Fontenetta , former North America Health and Benefits Practice Leader of Strategic Growth, Willis Tower Watson

Matt Manders , former President of Government and Solutions, Cigna Corporation

Manny Menendez , former CRO, Consumer Medical

Marcus Osborne , CEO, RightMove Health; former Senior Vice President, Walmart Health

Eric Sossa , former Vice President of Global Benefits and Wellness, PepsiCo

Karyn Polito, former Lt. Governor of Massachusetts

Story continues

"I am thrilled to support a company addressing some of our countrys deepest pain points in healthcare," said Brian Marcotte, Firefly Health Advisory Council Chairman. "Employers need innovative partners who create more accessible, cost-efficient, holistic healthcare. Firefly is on the cutting edge of that need with affordable, virtual-first care that fosters a real patient-provider relationship for the long-term care journey."

The formation of the Firefly Advisory Council follows the launch of Firefly Healths virtual-first health plan. The plan, with its national coverage network, offers self-insured employers a solution to the overwhelming costs they face with traditional health plans, so they can finally align exceptional care for employees with cost management, regardless of employee location or care needs.

Firefly Healths virtual-first primary care model was founded to drive value in two key areas where in-person care consistently falls short: access and engagement. Firefly uses a combination of video visits and rapid-response in-app messaging to increase patient access to their care team. As a result, patients develop a deeper, more consistent relationship than the traditional model where they only see a clinician 1-2 times a year.

About Firefly Health

Firefly Health delivers a refreshingly personal and convenient healthcare experience. Firefly offers a health plan for self-funded employers that integrates care, coverage, and navigation, and a virtual advanced primary care service for care anytime, anywhere. By engaging members early and often, Firefly develops trust and rapport so members always know where to turn. And it works.

Firefly routinely earns high satisfaction ratings from members, with a 70+ Net Promoter Score (NPS). Member health outcomes for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, and depression are 50-80% higher than industry benchmarks. Its all proof that meaningful engagement builds trust. And trust leads to real results. Learn more at www.firefly.health.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005379/en/

Contacts

Media

Amanda Wells

Sloane & Company for Firefly Health

(212) 446-1863

awells@sloanepr.com
FirstBank

Award-winning bank, recognized for its focus on banking for good, also celebrates its 60th anniversary this year

LAKEWOOD, Colo., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FirstBank , one of the nations largest privately held banks with a focus on banking for good, received the highest customer satisfaction ranking for the Southwest Region in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study. This is the third year in a row the bank earned the studys top rating across six states.



60 years ago, we started FirstBank with a commitment to doing whats right for customers, communities and employees. Its wonderful to see our guiding philosophy and strategic decision-making continue to create happy customer experiences, said Jim Reuter, CEO of FirstBank. Were proud FirstBank continues to receive top marks in customer satisfaction across several areas and are honored to receive J.D. Powers highest rating in the Southwest for the third consecutive year.

The J.D. Power results were based on 101,440 retail bank customers, who were asked to rank their bank across seven factors: trust; people; account offerings; allowing customers to bank how and when they want (convenience); saving time and money; digital channels; and resolving problems or complaints (problem resolution).

According to the J.D. Power study, banks that provided relevant communication about how to avoid fees and fraud gained an advantage. FirstBank, in particular, increased its financial education and fraud prevention measures, through financial literacy courses, in-person events, newsletters, online video/blog content and its 24/7 fraud department. It also provides customers several tools and services to help avoid NSF/overdraft fees, including text and email notifications, ability to opt-out of overdraft services, linked accounts, and overdraft protection, to name a few.

Another notable takeaway from the study found access to in-person services matter. In fact, 72% of customers say they plan to use their banks branches at the same rate in the coming year. These findings differed from previous years, where customers had put more value on digital only products and services during the height of the pandemic.

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We meet customers where they want to be met, whether thats online, in a mobile app; over the phone with our 24-hour customer service department, or at one of our many branch locations. Customers have the security, tools, resources, and support they need, when they need it, said Reuter. We have the tech and innovation of a big national bank, but the accessibility and customer service of a small community bank. I think our customers appreciate that.

About FirstBank

FirstBank began providing banking services in 1963. Today, its known as an industry leader in digital banking. It has grown to be one of the largest privately held banks in the United States, maintaining nearly $28 billion in assets and 100 branch locations across California, Colorado, and Arizona. FirstBank offers a variety of consumer deposit accounts, home equity loans, mortgages, rental property loans, and a full range of commercial banking services, including business financing, commercial real estate loans, treasury management, and more. Since 2000, FirstBank has been recognized as a top corporate philanthropist, contributing more than $85 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations. The company is also unique in that a large portion of its stock is owned by management and employees, giving employees a financial stake in the banks success through its Employee Stock Ownership Program. For more information, visit www.efirstbank.com . Member FDIC.

Media Contact:

Chandra Brin

303.235.1402

Chandra.Brin@efirstbank.com




SNS Insider pvt ltd

Based on SNS Insider research, growing consumer awareness about the environmental impact of plastic packaging, leading to a shift towards eco-friendly alternatives like flexible paper

Pune, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per SNS Insider, the Flexible Paper Market attained a valuation of USD 60.90 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to hit USD 89.46 billion by 2030, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2030.

Flexible paper is a type of paper that is designed to be flexible and bendable, making it an ideal material for packaging applications. It is typically made from a blend of natural and synthetic fibers, which provide the necessary strength and flexibility required for various applications. Flexible paper is used for packaging a wide range of products such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, personal care, and others.

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Flexible Paper Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 62.90 Billion Market Size by 2030 USD 89.46 Billion CAGR From 2023-2030 4.5% Key Segments  By Packaging Type (Pouches, Rollstock, Shrink Sleeves, Wraps, Others)

 By Technology (Rotogravure, Flexography, Digital Printing, Others)

 By Embellishing Type (Hot Coil, Cold Coil, Others)

 By Application (Food, Spirits, Other Beverages, Healthcare, Beauty & Personal Care, Others)

 By Material Type (Coated Unbleached Kraft Paperboard, Solid Bleached Sulfate, Coated Recycled Paper, Waxed Paper) Company Profiles Mondi Group, Sealed Air Corporation, Sappi Global, Sabert, Amcor Limited, Sonoco Products Company, Huhtamaki OYJ, DS Smith, Wihuri, Coveris Holding SA, and other players.

Market Analysis

Governments around the world are implementing regulations aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable packaging solutions, which is driving the adoption of flexible paper. The food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries are major users of flexible paper, and the increasing demand from these sectors is driving the growth of the flexible paper market. The advancements in printing technology have enabled the production of high-quality printing on flexible paper, making it an attractive and effective option for branding and marketing purposes. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the environmental impact of packaging waste, which is leading to a demand for sustainable packaging solutions like flexible paper.

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Impact of Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine could potentially have an impact on the flexible paper market. It is important to note that the impact of the conflict will depend on several factors, such as the duration and intensity of the conflict, as well as the response of other countries and global trade organizations.

Key Regional Development

The flexible paper market is expected to see significant growth in the coming years, and North America is positioned to take the lead. Flexible paper is a versatile material that is widely used in packaging and printing applications due to its durability and eco-friendliness. It is made from renewable resources and can be recycled, making it a popular choice for companies looking to reduce their environmental impact. The growth of e-commerce and online shopping has led to an increased demand for flexible paper packaging solutions, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years.

Key Takeaway from Flexible Paper Market Study

The wraps segment is expected to dominate the market in the coming years, given the growing demand for on-the-go meals and snacks. Moreover, the increasing focus on sustainability in the industry is likely to boost the demand for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions, further driving the growth of the wraps segment.

The food segment is expected to hold the leading position in the market due to the increasing demand for sustainable packaging solutions in the food industry. Flexible paper, which includes materials such as paper, film, and foil, is used to package a wide range of food products, including snacks, baked goods, dairy products, and frozen foods.

Recent Developments Related to Flexible Paper Market

Heinzel Group, a leading European producer of market pulp and paper, has announced its plan to produce kraft paper for flexible packaging at UPM's Steyrermuhl mill. This strategic move is expected to enable the company to expand its product portfolio and cater to the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.

Ball & Doggett, one of Australia's largest distributors of paper, packaging, and plastics, has recently entered the flexible paper packaging arena. This strategic move is aimed at diversifying the company's product portfolio and catering to the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.

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Table Of Content:

1. Introduction

2. Research Methodology

3. Market Dynamics

4. Impact Analysis

5. Value Chain Analysis

6. Porters 5 Forces Model

7. PEST Analysis

8. Global Flexible Paper Market Segment, By Packaging Type

9. Global Flexible Paper Market Segment, By Technology

10. Global Flexible Paper Market Segment, By Embellishing Type

11. Global Flexible Paper Market Segment, By Application

12. Global Flexible Paper Market Segment, By Material Type:

13. Regional Analysis

14. Company Profiles

15. Competitive Landscape

16. 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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Market.Us

Advanced and innovative technologies used in the treatment of chronic diseases are driving market growth by offering highly suitable advanced drugs that are in high demand.

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Market.us, a leading authority in research, reports that The global flow cytometry market size is expected to be worth around USD 104.4 Billion by 2032 from USD 51.6 Billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2032. Flow cytometry is a laser-based technology that is used to analyze the physical characteristic of cells and particles suspended in the fluid by using a laser beam. The method helps to classify cell types to decide the better treatment procedures.

Flow cytometry also detects the residual levels of disease after the treatment. Such factors help with the increasing prevalence of chronic disorders. Also, increasing the adoption of flow cytometry techniques in academics and research and initiatives in the immune-oncology and immunology field is expected to expand the growth of the flow cytometry market. However, the growing adoption of recombinant DNA technology for the production of antibodies offers significant growth opportunities in the global flow cytometry market.

Flow Cytometry Market Size

Drivers and challenges have an impact on market dynamics and can impact businesses. Find some insights from a sample report@ https://market.us/report/flow-cytometry-market/request-sample/

Key Takeaway:

By Product Type in 2022, the instrument segment has generated a revenue share of 37% in 2022.

By Application, the Bead-based flow cytometry segment has dominated the market, and it is growing at a CAGR of 79.30% over the forecast period 2023 to 2032.

In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 40.7%.

Europe held a 32% revenue share in 2022.

Asia-Pacific will grow at the highest CAGR from 2023-2032.

Factors affecting the growth of the Flow Cytometry Market?

Increase in the geriatric population: Due to the increase in the number of cancer and chronic disease patients, there is also an increase in the demand for cytometry devices in the market which will help to drive the market growth.

Technological Advances: The advance and innovative technologies in the treatment of chronic diseases help the growth of the market by offering advanced drugs with excellent suitability and increased market growth.

Cost effect on the market growth: Due to expensive healthcare treatments and the production of drugs in middle and low-income regions, patients demand low-cost drugs for better medications. The increase in demand for low-cost drugs also helps to boost the growth of the Flow cytometry market.

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Top Trends in Global Flow Cytometry Market

In drug discovery and development, the flow cytometry devices method is used for the analysis and detection of physical features of cells, which is emerged as a crucial device for exploratory and safety purposes. The emergence of these devices is due to the quick detection of a large number of cells and the creation of statistically reliable information about the partitions. With the increase in diseases, there is also the growth of clinical trials or research conducted. Clinical trials are conducted to create valuable products for people to reduce the number of infectious diseases, such factors drive the growth of the flow cytometry market.

Market Growth

The increasing adaption of flow cytometry in stem cell research and increasing application of cytometry in clinical trials it is estimated to support the growth of the flow cytometry market across the globe. The increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS, the rising use of flow cytometry technology in research, and the expansion of private and public initiatives for the growth of the flow cytometry market. The increasing rapid advancement in technology, the development of chronic diseases, and the demand for delicate and precise methods support the treatment of diseases.

Regional Analysis

On the basis of geography, the market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East, and Africa. Due to the presence of healthcare infrastructure and facilities and advanced development North America dominate the flow cytometry market in the world. Also, there is an increase in government focus and investments in technological advancement in flow cytometry devices. Such factors are responsible for the growth of the flow cytometry market in this region. Also, highly estimated research activities by pharmaceutical industries and research institutes help with the increase in demand for the growth of the market in this region. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to show exponential growth during the projection period. The increase in the development of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies in India and China.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 51.6 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 104.4 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 7.5 % North America Revenue Share 40.7% Europe Revenue Share 32% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032

Market Drivers:

The increase in growth of the global flow cytometry market with the growing importance of immune-oncology and immunology research growing acceptance of flow cytometry methods in clinical trials and research activities are the major driving factors for the growth of the flow cytometry market. Also, the flow cytometry meerkat gets support from growing public awareness of academic research and government investments to expand technical improvements.

The pharmaceutical sector shows a significant growth in biotechnology. The latest microfluidic research flow cytometry tools are beneficial devices for examining and handling the micron-sized particles and input of single cells. The major market players focus on their advanced development of flow cytometry devices which will drive the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Market Restraints:

The increase in the number of chronic diseases such as HIV and cancer also increased the use of flow cytometry for diagnostic purposes. But due to a lack of technological advancement and awareness among the prospective end-user, the problems, including the high cost of flow cytometry devices, are estimated to restrict the growth of the flow cytometry market.

Pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries and clinical laboratories require several flow cytometry devices to conduct many research activities, but it requires high cost for the gaining and maintenance of flow cytometry tools. Also, maintenance rates and various indirect expenses raise the total cost of these cytometry devices.

The advanced feature and facilities in the new flow cytometry devices make them more expensive. Due to the high price of flow cytometry devices, there is a decrease in demand for the adoption of flow cytometry devices. Such factors restrict the growth of the flow cytometry market.

Market Opportunities

The adaption of flow cytometry for stem cell research is significantly increasing during the forecast period. The favorable regulatory environment in developing regions and the growing use of stem cells in the treatment of many diseases drive global stem cell research activities. It is supported by the increasing number of financial support and research activities from private and public organizations.

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Report Segmentation of the Flow Cytometry Market

Product Type Insight

Based on the product type, the market is segmented into instruments, software, services, and kits and reagents. The instrument segment is the most dominating segment in the flow cytometry market. Due to advanced technology and higher penetration. The advanced technology with enhanced accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and portability such factors help the growth of the market in the coming years. Due to cost-effectiveness, user-friendly, and allied advantages, the small-sized effective flow cytometers will get high acceptance in the future.

The software also witnesses for getting significant growth in this segment. The software segment is used to control generated data by the cytometers, provide the statistical analysis and analyze the information. The software is used for data analysis and acquisition during clinical diagnosis. A flow cytometer diagnoses the disease by examining the patient's samples. The BD software is specially designed for flow cytometry procedures. This software allows higher-quality experiments in significantly less time, especially for the scientist to monitor oncology, immunology, virology, and infectious diseases.

Technology Insight

Based on technology, the flow cytometry market is segmented into bead-based cytometry and cell-based cytometry. The bead-based flow cytometry is the most dominant technology during the forecast period due to procedural advancement by cell-based technology such as western blot and ElSA. Its ability to detect stability, speed, high reproducibility, and multiple analytes.

The demand for bead-based technology is increased for detecting several infectious diseases using advanced technology due to advancements in molecular engineering, coupled advantages, and cost efficiency, monoclonal antibody production. The bead-based technology is submerged with conjugated antigen molecules to measure antibodies in the fluid. It is used to measure antibody levels in biological fluids. The cell-based technology also shows lucrative growth during the forecast period.

End-User Insight

Based on end users, the market is segmented into Hospitals and Clinics, Academic and Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology Companies, and Other end users. During the forecast period, the hospitals and clinics segment is the most dominant in the flow cytometry market.

Due to the increase in the prevalence of cancer, HIV, and other infectious diseases in patients, there is an increase in demand for advanced treatment and hospital visits to patients. Also, the presence of good healthcare facilities and infrastructure in hospitals and well-trained doctors in the hospitals such factors help the growth of this segment.

The rise in government policies and advanced development in flow cytometry also helps to drive this segment's growth during the forecast period. The biotechnological and pharmaceutical sectors also show a significant change in the flow cytometry market due to an increase in development activities and advanced research by the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Also, expanding food industries in developing regions such as India and China also help the growth of the flow cytometry market.

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Market Segmentation

Based on Product Type

Instrument

Kit and Reagent

Software and Services

Based on Technology

Cell-based Cytometry

Bead-based Cytometry

By End-User

Hospitals and Clinics

Academic and Research Institutes

Pharmaceutical Companies

Biotechnology Companies

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:

Danaher Corp.

Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD)

Sysmex Corp.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Apogee Flow Systems Ltd.

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Stratedigm, Inc.

DiaSorin SPA

Other Key Player

Recent Development of the Flow Cytometry Market

June 2022: A brand new cell organizing technology was discovered by Becton, Dickson, and Company at the International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC) CYTO 2022. It is a new technology that enables the researcher to analyze a variety of cells at a quick speed is possible now to transform research and development of cell-based therapeutics in various fields, including oncology and virology, and other infectious diseases.

August 2021: Becton, Dickson, and the company discovered the brand-new benchtop cell analyzer known as BD FACSymphony A1 Cell Analyzer. It is expected that labs of all sizes will get benefit from the advanced flow cytometry offered by the fluorescence-activated cell analyst.

Related Reports

Cell Therapy Monitoring Kits Market is projected to reach USD 4,288.30 Mn by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.0%, from USD 2,632.64 Mn in 2022.

Biopharmaceutical CMO Market size is expected to be worth around USD 53.08 bn by 2032 from USD 16.2 bn in 2022, CAGR of 12.6%

Pharmaceutical Excipients Market size is expected to be worth around USD 11.8 bn by 2032 from USD 6.8 bn in 2022, CAGR of 5.8%

Biopharmaceuticals Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% over the next 10 years and will reach USD 566 Bn in 2032.

Stem Cell Therapy Market size is expected to be worth around USD 44.5 Bn by 2032 at a CAGR of 15.3% forecast period from 2022 to 2032.

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Market.US (Powered by Prudour Pvt Ltd) specializes in in-depth market research and analysis and has been proving its mettle as a consulting and customized market research company, apart from being a much sought-after syndicated market research report-providing firm. Market.US provides customization to suit any specific or unique requirement and tailor-makes reports as per request. We go beyond boundaries to take analytics, analysis, study, and outlook to newer heights and broader horizons.

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SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

SkyQuest's 4d Printing 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 4D Printing market is experiencing rapid growth and is expected to reach USD 1971.1 million by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.91% over the forecast period of 2022-2030. This growth is fueled by the increasing demand for intelligent and programmable materials, particularly in the healthcare industry. Additionally, the market benefits from growing investment in research and development and nanotechnology and materials science advancements.

SkyQuest's research indicates that the global smart and programmable material market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17.5%. The potential of 4D printing to create materials that can change shape, texture, and functionality over time contributes to this growth. Furthermore, the advancements in nanotechnology and materials science are driving the growth of the 4D printing market, with the global nanotechnology market expected to reach USD 24.56 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 15.5%.

Governments across the world are taking steps to promote advanced manufacturing technologies such as 4D printing. The US government, for example, has launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) to encourage the development of new technologies and processes for advanced manufacturing.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "4d Printing Market"

Pages - 242

Tables - 66

Figures - 67

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4D printing is an innovative technology that allows for the production of materials that can adapt their shape, texture, and function over time through programming. It has diverse applications across various sectors such as healthcare, aerospace, construction, and automotive, and is set to revolutionize the manufacturing industry by facilitating the creation of customized and highly advanced products.

Prominent Players in 4d Printing Market

Stratasys Ltd.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

Autodesk Inc.

Materialise NV

Organovo Holdings, Inc.

Dassault Systemes SE

3D Systems Corporation

EOS GmbH

EnvisionTEC GmbH

GKN Aerospace Services Limited

ExOne Co.

Arcam AB

Renishaw plc

SLM Solutions Group AG

Optomec Inc.

Carbon Inc.

Nanoscribe GmbH

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

Ultimaker B.V.

voxeljet AG

Healthcare Application Segment Drive Higher Sales due to the Ability to Create Customized and Personalized Medicine Products

The Healthcare Application segment has been identified as a significant contributor to the rapid development of the 4D Printing market in 2021, according to a recent analysis. This trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030, as the ability to create customized and personalized medicine products improve patient outcomes and offers better treatment options for various healthcare conditions.

A report by SkyQuest indicates that the global market for 4D-printed orthopedic implants is projected to grow at a CAGR of 29.4%, reaching USD 1.6 billion by 2027. This growth is attributed to the increasing prevalence of orthopedic disorders and injuries, a rising geriatric population, and technological advancements in 4D printing.

According to research analysis, North America is expected to become a dominant player in the 4D Printing market from 2022 to 2030. SkyQuest has projected a CAGR of 25.82% for the region during the forecast period, driven by the increasing adoption of 4D printing technology in various applications and the presence of several key players in the region.The US government has actively invested in 4D printing technology, with initiatives such as the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute (NAMII) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) supporting research and development in the field. These initiatives have helped to drive the growth of the 4D printing market in North America.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

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Self-assembling Type Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth due to the Ability to Create Complex Structures and Shapes That Have Potential Applications

In 2021, the Self-assembling Type segment emerged as the dominant method in the 4D Printing market and is expected to continue leading from 2022 to 2030. This trend is being driven by the ability to create complex structures and shapes that have potential applications in various industries, including healthcare, engineering, and disaster relief. Researchers from the University of Bristol conducted a study demonstrating the potential of self-assembling 4D printing in creating complex structures like microbots and self-folding origami. The study employed a technique known as "4D laser printing" to create these structures, which have potential applications in fields such as healthcare and engineering.

The Asia Pacific region has emerged as a significant force in the 4D Printing market and is expected to maintain its leading position by 2030. SkyQuest has projected a significant growth rate of 27.97% for the region during the forecast period, fueled by the increasing adoption of 4D printing technology in various industries and government initiatives supporting research and development in the region.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the 4d Printing 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 4d Printing Market

The publicly traded emerging growth company, Power Americas Resource Group Ltd. (PARG) has announced the acquisition of several assets related to 3D/4D printing technology for application in the home construction industry. PARG is delighted to have appointed new officers and directors with the primary objective of swiftly executing its new business model..

4D Biomaterials has announced the launch of 4D Design, which will be officially launched this month at the Formnext 2022 event, the world's biggest professional additive manufacturing conference. The company's proprietary 4Degra photocurable polycarbonate urethane polymer will be used to create improved biodegradable medical devices, and 4D Design, a range of expert services, will aid medical device innovators in their exploration of these devices.

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Key Questions Answered in 4d Printing 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 Heating Ventilation and Cooling HVAC System Market

Global Grinding Media Balls Market

Global Technical Insulation Market

Global Polycarbonate Sheet Market

Global Heavy Construction Equipment Market

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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.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
A new report filed in the ongoing autopsy of failed crypto exchange FTX reveals a litany of accusations against the company including executives who laughed about losing track of millions, a culture that cracked down on anyone who flagged potential problems, and a total disregard for normal accounting principles.

More from Fortune: 5 side hustles where you may earn over $20,000 per yearall while working from home Looking to make extra cash? This CD has a 5.15% APY right now Buying a house? Here's how much to save This is how much money you need to earn annually to comfortably buy a $600,000 home

A group of FTXs debtors, led by current CEO and chief restructuring officer John Ray III, filed a 39-page report with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware Sunday, detailing the demise of the exchange along with its trading arm, Alameda Research. They allege that FTX was completely controlled by a small cabal of executives, helmed by cofounder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), who failed to institute proper accounting, security, and management practices, putting the firms crypto assets and funds at risk from the outset.

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, they wrote.

SBF and his top execs, including cofounder Gary Wang and Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, 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 report says.

The allegations come after a swift fall from grace for cryptos former golden boy, SBF, and his once high-flying exchange. In early 2022, after cryptocurrency prices soared throughout the pandemic, FTX was valued at $32 billion and SBF himself was reportedly worth $16 billion. But less than a year later, in November, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a liquidity crisis eventually revealed a $7 billion hole in its balance sheet.

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The legal fallout from FTXs collapse was swift. SBF was arrested by Bahamian authorities in December and has since pleaded not guilty to 13 federal indictments against him for a variety of criminal charges including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The former CEOs trial is now scheduled to begin in October, but other top lieutenants including Gary Wang and Caroline Ellison, as well as former engineering chief Nishad Singh, all already pleaded guilty to fraud charges last year.

Now, FTXs debtors say theyve recovered over $1.4 billion in digital assets since the exchange went under and identified an additional $1.7 billion that can be recovered. In the process, theyve also uncovered numerous behind-the-scenes details about how SBF operated his crypto empire. And they say they are still gaining new information daily and will submit additional findings in due course.

Missing millions? Such is life

Revelations about the shoddy state of FTXs corporate controls before its collapse have flooded headlines over the past five months, but the latest court documents show just how out of hand the situation may have been.

There was a pervasive lack of records at the company, the debtors report alleges, noting execs didnt even have a list of all their employees. The lack of identifiable records for clients and employees led SBF and his team to lose track of millions in assets regularly.

FTX famously used the accounting software QuickBooks, which is meant for small businesses and consumers, to run what was then the worlds second-largest crypto exchange by volume. But the debtors report found that 56 entities within FTX didnt produce financial statements at all, while 35 FTX entities used QuickBooks and a hodgepodge of Google documents, Slack communications, shared drives, and Excel spreadsheets and other non-enterprise solutions to manage their assets and liabilities.

The debtors also claimed that FTXs expenses and invoices were submitted on a Slack channel and approved via 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, they wrote.

The situation at Alameda was even worse, according to the report, which labels the firm a speculative crypto hedge fund. When putting together Alamedas June 2022 Portfolio summary, SBF reportedly told his staff to just come up with some numbers when it came to labeling certain token values. And in internal communications with fellow execs, SBF called Alameda hilariously beyond any threshold of any auditor being able to even get partially through an audit.

We sometimes find $50m of assets lying around that we lost track of; such is life, he wrote.

The report also alleged, as has been widely reported, that millions of dollars of FTXs holdings made their way into the hands of former insiders who lived lavish lifestyles and bought expensive real estate.

Numerous loans were executed between former insiders and Alameda without contemporaneous documentation, and funds were disbursed pursuant to those purported loans with no clear record of their purpose, the report says.

Stifling dissent and not so secure

FTX was not only mismanaging its accounting and risk controls. According to the debtors report, top executives led by SBF also attempted to silence any attempts to enhance compliance.

The president of FTX.US, Brett Harrison, resigned after a disagreement with SBF and engineering chief Singh about the companys opaque management structure, key hires, and other issues. After raising these issues directly with them, his bonus was drastically reduced and senior internal counsel instructed him to apologize to Bankman-Fried for raising the concerns, which he refused to do, the report says.

Even legal counsel wasnt safe from backlash from SBF and his team of top execs. The debtors allege that a lawyer hired by FTXs trading arm was fired after expressing concerns about a lack of corporate controls, capable leadership, and risk management.

The debtors report also found that while FTX advertised itself as a safe place to store cryptocurrencies, it kept most of its assets in hot-wallets, which made them more susceptible to hacking, theft [and] misappropriation. And the firms tech was apparently hanging on by a thread, too. One former FTX employee said that if Nishad [Singh] got hit by a bus, the whole company would be done. Same issue with Gary [Wang].

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Dublin, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Automatic Coffee Machine Market - Forecasts from 2022 to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global automatic coffee machine market was valued at US$41.725 billion in 2020.

Companies Mentioned

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Melitta Professional Coffee Solutions GmbH & Co. KG

JURA Vertrieb (Schweiz) AG

De'Longhi Appliances S.r.l.

WMF GmbH

Morphy Richards

Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Behmor, Inc.

Gaggenau Hausgerate

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

Automatic coffee machines are used in homes, offices, cafes, restaurants, and other commercial places to make a wide variety of coffee beverages. Rising disposable incomes and living standards coupled with increasing urbanization have led to a rise in the consumption of coffee.



With a hectic work life, people are increasing their coffee consumption so as to boost their energy level, which is attributed to the high level of stimulant caffeine present in coffee. Thus, the rising working population is fuelling the market growth of automatic coffee machines globally.

Rising awareness about the health benefits of consuming coffee is another major driver of the automatic coffee machine market. Coffee consumption in the right amount significantly lowers the risk of liver cancer and Parkinson's disease. As such, people are consuming more and more coffee, both at home and in the workplace, thus boosting the demand for automatic coffee machines, which allow making various coffee beverages easily and quickly.



The rise in the number of quick-service restaurants and cafes around the world is also driving the demand for automatic coffee machines for the faster preparation of coffee drinks. Market players are continuously adding new products into their portfolio in order to keep up with the growing demand for innovative automatic coffee machines.

As such, manufacturers are focusing on integrating advanced technological features, including touchscreens and Wi-Fi, into these machines, making it convenient for end-users to use them. With the ongoing trend of rising coffee consumption, market players are adopting growth strategies such as acquisitions and partnerships in order to expand their market reach, thereby positively impacting the automatic coffee machine market growth.



However, the recent COVID-19 global pandemic outbreak has negatively impacted the market growth of automatic coffee machines in the short term. Reduced household incomes due to business shutdowns have severely impacted the demand for automatic coffee machines. Moreover, out-of-home consumption is declining significantly due to partial and full lockdowns across the globe in order to prevent the spread of the virus.



The global automatic coffee machine market has been segmented on the basis of type, sales channel, and geography. By type, the global automatic coffee machine market has been segmented into dry wipes and wet wipes. The Global Automatic Coffee Machine market has also been segmented by sales channels as online and offline.



Commercial to hold a substantial market share



By application, the commercial segment accounted for the major market share in 2019 and will remain in its position till the end of the forecast period. This dominance is attributed to the already well-established coffee speciality shops across various regions, such as Starbucks and Barista. These international speciality coffee shops are further expanding their reach in emerging markets.



APAC to witness a noteworthy CAGR during the forecast period



The global automatic coffee machine market has been divided into five regions: North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Europe is a major market for automatic coffee machines. In the European region, the market is poised to grow on account of the rising consumption of coffee coupled with the growing trends of speciality cafes in numerous countries. Furthermore, the growing coffee culture in countries such as Ireland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic should also bolster the market growth in the region in the coming years.



North America also holds a decent market share owing to the rising coffee consumption in the U.S. and Canada. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics, the country is the second-largest importer of coffee beans, with suppliers including Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam, and Guatemala. The presence of a large number of coffee specialty stores across the North American region is another major factor behind the growing demand for automatic coffee machines.



The market growth in the Asia Pacific is majorly being driven by the increasing middle-class population across many countries. The increasing influence of western culture on the lifestyle and tastes of people is also shaping the automatic coffee machine market in this region. Moreover, the expansion of global coffee shops and cafes in countries like India, Australia, and Thailand is further contributing to the growing demand for automatic coffee machines in the region.



Segmentation

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By Type

Semi-Automatic

Fully-Automatic

By Application

Residential

Commercial

By Sales Channel

Online

Offline

By Geography

North America

USA

Canada

Mexico

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Europe

UK

Germany

France

Spain

Italy

Middle East and Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Israel

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Indonesia

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5lhpis

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 global electric wheelchair market is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years due to increasing demand for mobility and accessibility solutions for people with disabilities and mobility impairments. Factors such as advancements in battery technology, customization options, and healthcare policies are also driving market growth. The market is predicted to expand further with the introduction of innovative and technologically advanced products.

New Delhi, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global electric wheelchair market was valued at US$ 6,999.15 Mn in 2022 and is projected to reach US$ 16,411.28 Mn by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 10.6% during the forecast period from 2023-2031.

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The growing demand for electric wheelchairs is driven by several factors, including an increasing number of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, aging populations, and advancements in technology. Other important trends highlighted in the report include the increasing use of electric wheelchairs in hospitals and other medical settings, as well as the growing popularity of active models that are designed for outdoor use. The analysts conclude by noting that the electric wheelchair market is expected to continue to grow in both developed and emerging markets over the coming years.

However, the cost of electric wheelchairs can be a significant barrier for many consumers. According to a report by the US Government Accountability Office, electric wheelchairs can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000, depending on the features and customization options. This high cost can have a significant impact on consumers' purchasing power, particularly for those with lower incomes or limited insurance coverage. To address this issue, some governments have implemented programs to provide financial assistance or insurance coverage for electric wheelchairs.

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For example, in the US, Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost of a medically necessary electric wheelchair, while some state Medicaid programs may cover the full cost. In the UK, individuals can apply for a mobility allowance to help cover the cost of an electric wheelchair.

Potential Consumer Base for Electric Wheelchair Market

Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that over 1 billion people have some form of disability, with over 100 million individuals requiring a wheelchair for mobility. This number is expected to increase in the coming years, driven by aging populations and rising rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes. According to a report by the US Census Bureau, an estimated 40 million Americans have a disability, accounting for 12.6% of the population. Of these, 13.7 million individuals have difficulty walking or climbing stairs, and may benefit from assistive devices such as electric wheelchairs. In Europe, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights estimates that around 80 million people have a disability, accounting for 15% of the population. Of these, around 7 million individuals require a wheelchair for mobility.

In addition to existing users, the growing demand for electric wheelchairs is also driven by the addition of new users. As healthcare systems become more accessible and awareness of mobility aids increases, more individuals are seeking out electric wheelchairs as a means of improving their mobility and independence.

Center Wheel Drive Wheelchair to Contribute More than 50% Revenue to Global Electric Wheelchair Market

Center wheel drive electric wheelchairs are gaining prominence and are projected to generate more than 50% of revenue in the global wheelchair market. The key factors contributing to their popularity include their maneuverability, versatility, and advanced features. With a small turning radius, these wheelchairs offer ease of navigation in tight spaces, making them ideal for users who require a wheelchair for extended periods of time.

The global center wheel drive electric wheelchair market was valued at approximately USD 3,320.0 Million in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 8,300.7 million by 2031. Major end-users of these wheelchairs include individuals with mobility impairments, such as those with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy, as well as the elderly population.

High consumption of center wheel drive electric wheelchairs is observed in countries like the US, Japan, China, and Germany, which have large populations of elderly people and people with disabilities. This drives the demand for mobility aids such as electric wheelchairs, making them a crucial product in the global wheelchair market.

By Component, Battery to Account for 32% Revenue Share of Global Electric Wheelchair Market

In this market, the battery pack component holds a significant share, accounting for over 32% of the market. This is primarily due to the essential role batteries play in the performance, range, and overall user experience of electric wheelchairs. The battery pack not only provides the necessary power for the wheelchair to function but also directly impacts the wheelchair's speed, runtime, and charging time. As a result, advancements in battery technology and the growing demand for more efficient and longer-lasting batteries contribute to the substantial share of battery packs in the electric wheelchair market.

When it comes to electric wheelchair prices, they can vary widely depending on the model, features, and accessories. On average, a basic electric wheelchair can cost around $1,500, while more advanced models with additional features and options can cost upwards of $5,000 or more. Weight capacity is another important factor to consider, with electric wheelchairs typically having a capacity of around 300 to 400 pounds, although some heavy-duty models can support up to 600 pounds or more.

The most common battery type used in electric wheelchairs is the deep-cycle lead-acid battery, which is affordable and reliable but has a shorter lifespan compared to other battery types. However, there is a growing trend towards lithium-ion batteries due to their longer lifespan, lighter weight, and faster charging times. The most common battery capacity for electric wheelchairs is around 50Ah to 75Ah, although some models can have higher capacity batteries for extended runtime.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/electric-wheelchair-market

North America and Europe to Collectively Contribute More than 70% Revenue to Global Electric Wheelchair Market

In a recent study, Astute Analytica found that North America and Europe collectively generate more than 70% revenue of the electric wheelchair industry. This is a significant finding, as it highlights the importance of these two markets for wheelchair manufacturers. The study also found that the Asia-Pacific region is expected to see the strongest growth in demand for electric wheelchairs over the next seven years.

The study attributes the high revenue generated by these regions to the high concentration of electric wheelchair manufacturers in these areas. North America is home to companies such as Quantum Rehab and Invacare, while Europe boasts companies such as Ottobock and Sunrise Medical. These manufacturers have years of experience and expertise in producing high-quality electric wheelchairs that meet the needs of consumers.

Sunrise Medical LLC, Invacare, Drive Medical Design & Manufacturing, and Numotion are Holding Over 60% Share of Global Electric Wheelchair Market

Astute Analytica's analysis states that the key players in the electric wheelchair are are Drive Medical Design & Manufacturing, Numotion, Invacare and Sunrise Medical LLC. These companies hold a combined market share of over 60%. The report notes that Sunrise Medical is the leading player in the industry. The company's products are available in over 35 countries and it has a strong global distribution network. Invacare is the second largest player in the. The company offers a wide range of products and services for people with disabilities.

There are a number of fairly new entrants into the electric wheelchair market that are offering innovative products and services. These companies will help drive the industry forward and help it grow at a faster pace than it would otherwise. Therefore, consolidation is likely to occur, with the larger companies acquiring some of the smaller ones.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

Carex Health Brands, Inc.

Drive Medical Ltd.

GF Health Products, Inc.

Invacare Corporation

Karma Medical Products Co., Ltd

Karman Healthcare

LEVO AG

Matsunaga Manufactory Co., Ltd.

Medline

MEYRA GmbH

Miki Kogyosho Co. Ltd.

Nissin Medical Industries Co., Ltd.

OttoBock Healthcare GmbH

Permobil AB

Pride Mobility Products Corp.

Quantum Rehab

Seating Matters

Sunrise Medical Limited

Other Prominent Players

Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/electric-wheelchair-market

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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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SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

SkyQuest's Fuel Cell 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 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkyQuest projects that the Fuel Cell market will attain a value of USD 16.81 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 26.0% over the forecast (2022-2030). Fuel cells have become more widely used as backup power sources for data centres in recent years due to their high efficiency, low emissions and capacity to supply reliable power. This trend is anticipated to fuel the market's revenue growth throughout the forecast period. Fuel cells are incredibly effective, with some varieties reaching up to 60% energy conversion efficiency. By minimizing the energy wasted during the production of electricity, this can assist data centres in lowering their energy expenses. Moreover, fuel cells are a dependable power source that can deliver uninterrupted electricity for a long time.

According to the SkyQuest's, a Dutch data centre company, were first data centre architecture in Europe when it switches its backup power generators at its Groningen location to run on green hydrogen in February 2022. According to NorthC, the 500KW H2-powered hydrogen fuel cell module intends to prevent 78,000 kilos of CO2 emissions each year while reducing diesel use by tens of thousands of gallons. Hydrogen created by renewable energy will power it. The new fuel cells, created by the Dutch company Nedstack, are supposed to solely emit water and have a 20-year hardware lifespan.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Fuel Cell Market"

Pages - 242 Tables - 65 Figures - 73

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A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that, through a chemical reaction with an oxidising agent, turns the chemical energy of a fuel into electricity. An electrolyte, which is a material that permits charged particles to travel between two electrodes, and two electrodesone positive and one negativemake up most fuel cells.



Prominent Players in Fuel Cell Market

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

ElringKlinger

SOLIDpower Italia

Ceres Power

Ballard Power Systems

AVL

Bosch

Pragma Industries

W. L. Gore & Associates

Nedstack Fuel Cell Technology

Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH

AISIN

Convion

ITM Power

Plug Power

Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC

Get a sample copy of this report:

https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/fuel-cell-market

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) segment is anticipated to expand rapidly throughout the forecast period in the fuel cell market due to lower emissions than traditional combustion technologies

The Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) segment is anticipated to expand rapidly throughout the forecast period, because to the stack's increased efficiency and higher-grade heat, SOFC has been acquiring a sizable part in the Ene-Farm programme. The rise in bloom units for prime power shipments to the US and Korea is related to the net increase in SOFC shipment capacity. Some vendors, including Ceres/Bosch, make up a significantly smaller portion of the overall supply chain.

North America will expand due to large investments made in the study and creation of cutting-edge FC systems as well as the broad adoption of current technology. Governments like the U.S. and Canada have made large investments in enhancing hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and have provided a range of tax advantages to promote technical adoption.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/fuel-cell-market

Proton Exchange Membrane Segment Held a Sizable Market Share Due to Its Efficiency

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell segment will hold a sizable market share. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are widely used in stationary, mobile, and transit applications, which has increased their market share significantly. This is explained by the fact that solid oxide fuel cells can function at high temperatures and don't need high-cost catalysts like ruthenium. Solid oxide fuel cells are used most frequently in stationary applications.

The biggest market share was held by the Asia Pacific region, and it is anticipated that it would continue to be the top user of fuel cell technology in the years to come. The Asia Pacific fuel cell sector has expanded at an incredible rate, and the market expansion in the region is attributable to the rising demand for more electricity, a reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and a rise in the acceptance of green energy technology. Furthermore, the need for fuel cells is anticipated to substantially increase as progress in this area continues to grow.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Fuel Cell 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/fuel-cell-market

Key Developments in Fuel Cell Market

In July 2022, Microsoft announced the successful testing of a hydrogen fuel cell system that may take the place of a conventional diesel backup generator in a sizable data centre. By 2030, the business hopes to totally phase out the usage of diesel fuel in its emergency power systems.

In January 2022, FuelCell Energy reported that the 7.4-megawatt SureSource fuel cell project in Yaphank, Long Island, New York, had finished site construction and started conditional commercial operation.

Key Questions Answered in Fuel Cell 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 Substation Market

Global Wind Turbine Foundation Market

Global Electrolyzer market

Global Microgrid Monitoring System Market

Global Charcoal Market

About Us:

SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

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ReportLinker

The global industrial air quality monitoring system market size is expected t- grow at a CAGR of 6.32% during 2022-2028. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS. Growing Construction Industries Ignite the Usage of Air Quality Monitor Systems.

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Industrial Air Quality Monitoring System Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446254/?utm_source=GNW



The air quality monitoring system facilitates the analysis of long-term trends of poor air quality and dust concentration in the construction site. It helps managers or site officials t- plan mitigative strategies based on the air quality condition. The construction industry refers t- the industrial branch of manufacturing and trade related t- repairing, building, renovating, managing, and maintaining infrastructures. According t- Oxford Economics, the global construction industry market is expected t- reach USD 8 trillion by 2030. The construction volume is expected t- be 85% worldwide, with three countries, China, the US, and India, leading the global market, accounting for approximately 57% of the global growth. China, the worlds largest construction market, is expected t- grow only marginally by 2030. The construction market in India is expected t- grow twice as fast as China by 2030, as the urban population in India is expected t- grow by 165 million.



Rise of Petrochemical Industries Aggravate the Demand for Air Quality Monitor Systems



Petrochemicals are quickly becoming the largest driver of global oil demand. The need for petrochemicals is attributed t- a rise in the demand for downstream products from various end-use industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, and construction, which is a significant factor driving the market. Petrochemical is an essential component for many industrial processes; therefore, it forms the backbone of the commercial and industrial economy. Certain products derived from petrochemicals include industrial oil, tires, detergents, and plastics. Basic plastic derivatives from the product act as a construction or building block in consumer goods manufacturing. However, carbon dioxide, sulfur and nitrogen oxides, ammonia, acid mist, and fluorine compounds gas emissions are produced from petrochemical production or during the refining processes in the industry. This could be the major drawback for the degradation of air quality by releasing several pollutants like Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) int- the surrounding atmosphere, which causes cancer and other harmful diseases. Therefore with air quality monitoring systems, industries can detect the presence of toxic levels in the air and monitor air quality t- take intelligent actions t- improve the quality of air for industrial workers. Hence the growing number of petrochemical industry sites is projected t- boost the industrial air quality monitoring system market.



INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS



Slow Application of Air Pollution Control Reforms Worldwide



The sluggish implementation of air pollution standard rules is one of the major issues related t- the market for air quality monitoring systems. Several growing countries (including China and India) have been accused of being reluctant t- enact severe environmental pollution monitoring standards over the last decade. The 2021 World Air Quality Report was released by the Swiss air quality technology company IQAir. It measured the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air in 6,475 cities in 117 countries with the help of using a network of thousands of monitoring stations. It found that in 2021, out of 15 highly polluted cities in Central and South Asia, 11 were in India. Industrial facilities must stand by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations regarding abatement mechanisms and emission pollution.



SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS



INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT TYPE



The indoor air quality monitor system dominated the product type segment in the global industrial air quality monitoring system market and was valued at USD 1.00 billion in 2022. According t- the Europe Environment Agency, in 2020, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany contributed around 41% of indoor air pollution in the industrial sectors in the region. The impact of air pollutants on industrial workers is more due t- the increased concentration level of pollutant contaminants. The indoor AQM system thus helps industrialists t- build a healthier working environment t- maintain the AQI under control. By comparing the real-time air quality data with ideal conditions, industries can facilitate adequate ventilation, control the production of pollutants in the facility, and keep temperature & humidity levels within a comfortable range. Therefore the rising pollution level helps t- increase the market growth for the industrial indoor air quality monitoring system in the forecast period.



Segmentation by Product Type



 Indoor Air Quality Monitor system

- Portable

- Fixed

 Outdoor Air Quality Monitor system

- Portable

- Fixed

- Dust & Particulate Matter Monitors

- AQM Station



INSIGHTS BY CHEMICAL AIR POLLUTANT



Carbon Dioxide (Co2) air monitor systems are mostly used in medium commercial, large commercial, and industrial spaces. The rising CO2 level in the industrial sector is the major factor driving this products industrial air quality monitoring system market growth. The Carbon Dioxide air monitor industry in the global industrial air quality monitoring system market was valued at USD 813.33 million in 2022 and dominated the chemical air pollutant segment. The segment held the highest market share of 45.31% in 2022.



Segmentation by Chemical Air Pollutant



 Carbon Dioxides

 Sulfur Oxides

 Nitrogen Oxides

 Volatile Organic Compounds

 Others



INSIGHTS BY END-USER



The petrochemical industry dominated the global industrial air quality monitoring system market in 2022, accounting for approximately 33.20% of the end-user segment. The demand for petrochemicals is assigned t- an increase in the demand for downstream commodities from various end-use industries such as automotive, construction, and pharmaceuticals, which is a major factor that propels the market. Petrochemical is an essential component for many industrial activities and hence forms the backbone of an industrial market. Some industrial goods derived from petrochemicals include industrial oil, plastics tires, and detergents.



Segmentation by End User



 Petrochemical Industry

 Power Generator Plants

 Pharmaceutical Industry

 Food & Beverage Industry

 Mining Industry

 Other Industries



GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

APAC dominated the global industrial air quality monitoring system market in 2022 and is expected t- witness a CAGR of 7.12% during the forecast period. The growth is buoyed by spiking demand from rising industrial plants such as the petrochemical power generator industry and others in the region. The major economies in APAC, including China, India, and Japan, are witnessing increasing industrial construction activities due t- an increasing number of companies in various sectors setting up their plants in distinct countries t- capture the target and potential growth.



Segmentation by Geography



 APAC

- China

- Japan

- India

- Australia

 Europe

- Germany

- UK

- France

- Italy

- Russia

 North America

- US

- Canada

 Latin America

- Brazil

- Mexico

- Argentina

 Middle East & Africa

- Saudi Arabia

- South Africa

- UAE



COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE



The industrial air quality monitoring system market is highly competitive, with the presence of a large number of public and private companies. These vendors typically compete on a key range of product design, reliability, quality, support services, and price. The rapid technological advancements adversely impact the market vendors as consumers anticipate the continuous innovations and upgrades of products. The present scenari- drives vendors t- refine and alter their unique value proposition t- achieve a strong market presence.



Key Company Profiles



 Therm- Fisher Scientific Inc

 Emerson Electric Co.

 HORIBA, Ltd.

 Siemens AG

 Teledyne Technologies



Other Prominent Vendors



 Aeroqual

 Aldes

 Bosch Sensortec

 CIAT

 Daikin

 Honeywell

 3M Company

 Systemair

 Johnson Controls

 VTS Group

 Samsung

 Panasonic

 PerkinElmer, Inc

 Swegon

 Hitachi

 Vent-Axia

 Lennox

 TSI Incorporated

 Trox

 Oizom

 Camfil



KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:



1. How big is the industrial air quality monitoring system market?

2. What is the growth rate of the global industrial air quality monitoring system market?

3. Wh- are the key players in the global industrial air quality monitoring system market?

4. What are the significant trends impacting the industrial air quality monitoring system market?

5. Which region holds the largest global industrial air quality monitoring system market share?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446254/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.

The global medical devices market is poised for significant growth driven by technological advancements, rising healthcare spending in emerging markets, and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. The industry is expected to continue to innovate, with increased focus on sustainability, personalized medicine, and value-based care. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of digital health technologies, which is likely to further drive growth.

New Delhi, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global medical devices market is projected to reach USD 801.4 billion by 2031, up from USD 458.3 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% over the forecast period 2023-2031.

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Hospitals and clinics are the largest consumers of medical devices as they require a wide range of equipment for patient care. Wherein, the most popular medical devices include diagnostic equipment such as MRI machines, CT scanners, ultrasound machines, and X-ray machines. Other essential devices include surgical instruments, infusion pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, and implantable devices.

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer has led to an increase in the demand for medical devices that are used for the management and treatment of these conditions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases account for 71% of deaths worldwide, and this is expected to increase in the coming years due to aging populations and changing lifestyles. The aging population is also a significant factor contributing to the increase in demand for medical devices market. Technological advancements in medical device manufacturing and increasing healthcare expenditure are other factors driving the demand for medical devices.

The increasing focus on patient-centered care and the use of telemedicine and remote monitoring technologies are also significant trends in the medical devices industry. Additionally, there is a trend towards miniaturization of medical devices, making them smaller and more portable.

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Top Trends Shaping the Global Medical Devices Market

The report highlights several key trends that are impacting the industry, including the following:

The shift from traditional product development to value-based care models is resulting in increased pressure on device manufacturers to Demonstrate clinical and economic outcomes.

Device connectivity is becoming increasingly important as the healthcare system seeks to improve patient care through real-time data tracking and interaction with other connected devices and systems.

The globalization of medical device manufacturing is continuing as companies in the global medical devices market seek to tap into new markets and reduce costs.

Regulatory pressures are increasing, particularly in Europe, as policymakers seek to ensure safety and efficacy of devices.

The adoption of 3D printing technology is accelerating as manufacturing processes Becomes more streamlined and cost-effective.

North America to Hold Lions Share, the US to Remain the Largest Contributor to Regional Medical Device Market

Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases account for 71% of all deaths worldwide, as reported by the World Health Organization. This has contributed to the growth of the medical devices industry. The industry is also one of the largest exporters in the United States, with exports totaling $48.5 billion in 2022, as reported by the US Department of Commerce. In the United States, the medical devices market is highly regulated by the FDA, with over 83,000 medical device establishments as of 2021. Medical devices account for approximately 6% of the total national health expenditures in the US, which were estimated to be $3.8 trillion in 2021, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Approximately 6 in 10 adults in the United States have at least one chronic disease, and 4 in 10 adults have two or more chronic conditions, according to a report by the National Center for Health Statistics. Employment in the medical devices industry is projected to grow 5% from 2019 to 2029, adding approximately 17,000 new jobs, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The European Union also regulates the medical devices industry, with the sector being the second-largest employer in the EU's healthcare industry, employing over 500,000 people, according to the European Commission.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/medical-devices-market

Key Insights of the Global Medical Devices Market

Key segments : Diagnostic and imaging devices, patient monitoring devices, surgical instruments, and therapeutic devices are the major segments of the medical devices market. The diagnostic and imaging devices segment accounted for over 19% of the total market share in 2020.

Regulations : The medical devices industry is subject to strict regulations and compliance requirements. Regulatory bodies such as FDA and EMA have established guidelines and standards to ensure the safety and efficacy of medical devices.

Emerging markets : Asia-Pacific and Latin America are emerging markets that are expanding in the medical devices industry. The growth is driven by increasing healthcare spending, rising disposable income, and growing awareness of healthcare services. Asia-Pacific was the fastest-growing region in the global medical devices market in 2022.

COVID-19 impact : The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the market. The demand for medical devices such as ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), and diagnostic tests has surged, while the demand for elective procedures has decreased. The pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of digital health technologies, such as telemedicine and remote monitoring devices.

Personalized medicine : The development of personalized medicine is driving the demand for advanced medical devices such as genetic testing and molecular diagnostics. Personalized medicine involves tailoring treatments to individual patients based on their genetic makeup and other factors.

Home healthcare : The trend towards home healthcare is increasing, driven by the aging population and the need for cost-effective care. This is leading to the development of medical devices that can be used in the home setting, such as glucose monitoring systems, blood pressure monitors, and nebulizers.

Shift towards value-based care: The shift towards value-based care is driving the adoption of medical devices that can help healthcare providers achieve better patient outcomes while reducing costs. Remote monitoring devices, for example, can help reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient outcomes while lowering healthcare costs.

AI enabled Devices to Change the Face of Medical Devices Market

The report notes that new technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital twins will enable new medical devices and health solutions to be developed, which will in turn disrupt the traditional medical device industry. Astute Analytica predicts that by 2025, AI-enabled medical devices will be available that can provide diagnosis and treatment recommendations, and that digital twins will be used to manage health conditions. These new technologies will enable a more personalized and precise approach to healthcare, which will in turn reduce costs and improve outcomes.

Diagnostics Devices to Generate More than 19% Revenue of Global Medical Devices Market

Advancements in technology is driving the growth of the diagnostics devices market. For example, the increasing use of molecular diagnostics, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technologies, is providing more accurate and efficient diagnosis of diseases. The growing popularity of digital health technologies, such as telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, is also contributing to market growth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, and account for approximately 90% of healthcare costs. In addition, the CDC has launched several initiatives aimed at improving the prevention and management of chronic diseases, which are likely to drive demand for diagnostics devices.

On the other hand, the diagnostics medical devices market is being driven by the growing use of point-of-care (POC) testing and molecular diagnostics, as well as the expanding applications for imaging diagnostics such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Molecular diagnostics is expected to be the fastest-growing diagnostic technology through 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. On the other hand, POC testing is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 7% through 2022, driven by continued adoption in primary care and expansion into new application areas such as infectious disease testing, cardiology and oncology.

Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, GE Healthcare, BD, and Philips are top 6 Players

Global medical devices market is a highly competitive. Wherein, the top five players in the market are Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, GE Healthcare, BD and Philips. These companies accounted for more than 26% of the global market in 2022. This growth will be driven by rising demand for new and innovative products, as well as an aging population and increasing health expenditure globally.

Innovation will be key to success in the medical devices market, with companies competing on the basis of product features, technology, and price. There is a strong trend towards miniaturization and digitalization of medical devices, as well as towards personalized and precision medicine. The future of the medical devices industry looks bright, with strong growth prospects and plenty of opportunity for innovation. However, companies will need to stay ahead of the competition and continue to invest in research and development in order to succeed in this dynamic market.

Some of the Top Market Players Are:

3M Co.

Abbott Laboratories

Allergan Inc.

Baxter International Inc.

Bayer

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

Boston Scientific Corp.

Cardinal Health Inc.

Covidien plc

Cryolife Inc.

Danaher

Depuy Synthes

Endologix, Inc.

Essilor International SA

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGAA

GE Healthcare

Getinge Ab

Johnson & Johnson

Koninklijke Philips NV

Medtronic Inc.

Novartis AG

Olympus Corp.

Roche Diagnostics

Siemens Healthcare

Smith & Nephew PLC

Smiths Medical

St. Jude Medical Inc.

Stryker Corp.

Terumo Corp.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Zimmer Holdings Inc.

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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ReportLinker

The global multiparameter patient monitoring market is expected t- grow at a CAGR of 8.06%. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS. Increasing Demand for Multiparameter Patient Monitoring in Homecare Settings.

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Multiparameter Patient Monitoring Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05862345/?utm_source=GNW

The global multiparameter patient monitoring market is expected t- grow at a CAGR of 8.06%.



MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Increasing Demand for Multiparameter Patient Monitoring in Homecare Settings



Home healthcare has always been recognized as a life-saving option for patients requiring long-term care t- treat chronic diseases. Moreover, the worldwide increase in the geriatric and chronic disease population has led t- a growing demand for home patient monitoring. The increase in patient monitoring using multiparameter monitoring devices in homecare settings is expected t- fuel the overall growth of the multiparameter patient monitoring market in the coming years. Home patient monitoring is convenient and cost-effective and helps patients monitor their health directly at home regularly.



Growing Demand for Portable/Compact Multiparameter Patient Monitors



Portable patient monitors are widely accepted in healthcare services. This is due t- the flexibility of patient assessment with the portable features of multiparameter patient monitors from hospital care t- ambulatory and mobility services. This emergence of technological advances in multiparameter patient monitoring equipment is used in various applications such as transportation and, ambulances, outpatient care. The portable multiparameter patient monitors enable patient mobility and comfort, increasing patient demand.



Growing Focus on Integration of Multiparameter Patient Monitors with Wireless and Remote Monitoring Platforms



RPM is useful for monitoring patients acute and chronic conditions and helps reduce the treatment cost. Over the past few years, breakthrough advancements have enabled RPM, virtual patient-physician interactions, and real-time data capture t- transmit reality by incorporating passive home and body sensors t- patients. Multiparameter patient monitoring devices integrated with RPM and wireless technologies enable us t- overcome these limitations and track changes in patients vital signs without interrupting and visiting healthcare settings. The remote access/wireless monitoring systems enable patient vital signs monitoring even when not admitted t- hospitals.



Advances in Remote Patient Monitoring Technology



The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend by highlighting the need and value of RPM. RPM has caught the attention of many medical professionals. More recently, IoT-enabled monitoring devices have added even more functionality t- RPM. Physicians using IoT-enabled RPM systems benefit more from their patients. By combining AI with the Internet of Things (IoT) and RPM, healthcare organizations and practitioners can better serve their patients and provide opportunities for improved healthcare outcomes.



Growing Demand for Real-time Patient Monitors in Critical Care



Continuous patient monitoring is one of the essential components in intensive care units, first t- notice critical changes in a patients health status and second t- guide daily intensive care therapy. Vital signs are important in monitoring patients health status in emergency and critical care units. Trends in patient monitoring using multiparameter monitors als- help physicians t- identify the best location for the patient on transfer from EDs. Such factors contribute t- the growth of the multiparameter patient monitoring market. Further, several developed countries are currently in the process of reforming their emergency and urgent care systems.



Increasing Target Patient Population with Various Diseases



The aging population needs regular assistance in terms of their health t- avoid fatal situations. Moreover, countries such as Japan, Italy, and Portugal have the highest percentage of elderly population. This increasing number of elderly populations demands advanced healthcare facilities and infrastructure t- assist health and avoid fatal emergencies. Globally, chronic diseases are commonly called non-communicable diseases (NCD) or used interchangeably. These diseases are gaining increasing attention as the burden of NCDs has surpassed that of epidemics in the Global South. Globally, heart diseases, cancer, and diabetes are leading causes of death and disabilities among chronic diseases.



Enhancements in Multiparameter Patient Monitoring



Vendors in the multiparameter patient monitoring market have introduced many advanced and innovative patient monitors globally as per end-users needs and requirements. Further, manufacturers collaborate with tech giants t- integrate their advanced technology solutions. These advanced features als- allow medical professionals t- deliver improved healthcare t- critical patients at home and hospital. Over the past decade, the market has witnessed many technological advancements across all aspects of patient monitoring systems. As a wide range of multiparameter patient monitors, with portable and remote monitoring features, are launched, grabbing the attention of many end-users.



SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS



INSIGHTS BY DEVICES



The global multiparameter patient monitoring market by devices is segmented int- portable/compact and fixed devices. The portable/compact held the largest global market share at 57% in 2022. The market is growing faster due t- the rising awareness regarding healthcare and increasing concern for the continuous monitoring of real-time health parameters of patients, pre-and post-surgery, which are expected t- drive the markets growth. The portable multiparameter patient monitors will dominate the market over the forecast period, owing t- growing home healthcare, ease of monitoring post-surgical recovery patients, rising ambulatory care facilities, and increasing adoption of remote patient monitoring.



Segmentation by Devices

 Portable/Compact Devices

 Fixed Devices



INSIGHTS BY ACUITY LEVEL



The high acuity level segment dominated the global multiparameter patient monitoring market and accounted for a significant share in 2022. The growth is mainly due t- the rising incidence of chronic disease cases, leading t- severe health conditions requiring continuous monitoring. High-acuity monitors are mainly used in ICUs, operating rooms, and emergency departments of various healthcare settings t- monitor vital signs during surgery. These devices are als- used t- monitor the real-time vital signs of patients under severe conditions. When this occurs, the demand for high-acuity monitors will likely increase as patient monitoring in high-acuity conditions is a major priority for healthcare providers.



Segmentation by Acuity Level

 High Acuity Level

 Mid Acuity Level

 Low Acuity Level



INSIGHTS BY PATIENT GROUP



The global multiparameter patient monitoring market by the patient group is segmented int- a geriatric, adult, and pediatric patient groups. In 2022, the geriatric patient group segment accounted for a 48.27% share of the global multiparameter patient monitoring market. In recent years the increased aging population, and global disease burden, especially chronic conditions, have escalated significantly. Age-related diseases require multiparameter patient monitoring systems due t- the patients immobile and critical nature. Also, the establishment of homecare settings has increased, wherein caregivers take care of patients directly at homes, assisted living centers, and geriatric care centers. Under such a scenario, multiparameter patient monitoring systems become extensively helpful t- caregivers.



Segmentation by Patient Group

 Geriatric Patient Group

 Adult Patient Group

 Pediatric Patient Group



INSIGHTS BY END-USER



The hospital end-user segment accounted for the largest global multiparameter patient monitoring market share of 65% in 2022. Healthcare professionals in hospitals use multiparameter patient monitoring devices as advanced monitoring devices for diagnosing patients vital signs. The market is growing healthy and will likely grow steadily during the forecast period. Majorly due t- the adoption of advanced homecare settings by patients with low and mid acuity t- avoid problems caused during the hospital stays. The availability of skilled healthcare professionals with knowledge and expertise in handling multiparameter patient monitoring devices, along with the availability of these devices in the intense care units and emergency departments, coupled with the increasing chronic disease prevalence, is driving the demand for multiparameter patient monitoring devices in hospitals across the globe.



Segmentation by End-User



 Hospitals

 ASCs

 Homecare Settings

 Others



GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

North America dominated the global multiparameter patient monitoring market and accounted for 39.48% of the market share in 2022. Factors like an increasingly old age population, a moderate increase in ICU admission, and the availability of advanced technology for remote patient monitoring & home care technology contribute t- the industrys growth. It was estimated that by 2022, 63 million smart homes would be there in North America for the effective monitoring of vital parameters of the end-user. This huge number of smart homes has increased the demand for remote multiparameter patient monitors, driving the North America market in the upcoming years.



Segmentation by Geography



 North America

- US

- Canada

 Europe

- Germany

- France

- UK

- Italy

- Spain

 APAC

- Japan

- China

- India

- South Korea

- Australia

 Latin America

- Brazil

- Mexico

- Argentina

 Middle East & Africa

- Turkey

- Saudi Arabia

- South Africa



COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE



The global multiparameter patient monitoring market is highly competitive and characterized by global, regional, and local players offering multiparameter patient monitoring devices. However, the key market players offering high-quality multiparameter patient monitoring devices account for considerable shares in the overall market. Most of the key players focus strategically on North America and Europe markets as they are the top tw- major revenue contributors. Leading multiparameter patient monitoring market players are als- focusing on expanding the product portfoli- of portable/compact multiparameter patient monitors as the demand for such devices is increasing among the end-users.



Key Company Profiles



 Baxter

 CONTEC MEDICAL SYSTEMS

 GE Healthcare

 Koninklijke Philips

 Masimo

 Medtronic

 NIHON KOHDEN

 OSI Systems

 Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics



Other Prominent Vendors



 Advanced Instrumentations

 American Diagnostic

 Dragerwerk AG & Co.

 EDAN Instruments

 EPSIMED

 FUKUDA DENSHI

 Halma

 ICU Medical

 Infinium Medical

 Lutech

 MEDIANA

 MEDION

 Mennen Medical

 Nonin

 OMRON

 Opt- Circuits (India)

 SCHILLER

 Skanray Technologies

 Viatom Technology

 VYAIRE MEDICAL



KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:



1. How big is the multiparameter patient monitoring market?

2. What is the growth rate of the multiparameter patient monitoring market?

3. Wh- are the key players in the global multiparameter patient monitoring market?

4. What are the growing trends in the multiparameter patient monitoring market?

5. Which region holds the most significant global multiparameter patient monitoring market share?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05862345/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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ReportLinker

The global personal care electrical appliances market size is expected t- grow at a CAGR of 12.91% during 2022 t- 2028. MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES. Rising Number of Working Women In Developing Countries.

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Personal Care Electrical Appliances Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446263/?utm_source=GNW



The demand for personal care electrical appliances has increased as the female workforce population has increased. In a professional lifestyle, an individuals appearance is important t- their role and designation. Thus, with the rise in the female population, the usage of personal care electrical appliances products is als- expected t- increase in further years. The rising female labor workforce has als- augmented the need for personal care products, especially electrical appliances, in the personal care electrical appliances market. Moreover, major beauty & personal care industry players have expanded their product portfoli- in the personal care electrical appliances apart from their fast-moving electrical goods. These vendors mainly focus on manufacturing women-based products compared t- males, as women are more concerned about their beauty and personality than men. Many existing vendors in these developing countries are expected t- increase their presence across other countries t- expand the market. For instance, Nova India is a leading fast-moving electrical goods company. The company offers a wide range of womens care electrical appliances, including bikini trimmers, hair styling kits, hair dryers & blow dryers, and hair straighteners.



Rising Demand Among Men For Personal Grooming



Some common personal grooming habits include applying make-up, bathing, hair removal, dressing, skin care, and teeth care. Personal grooming is highly based on an individuals feelings and perceptions and highly varies among males and females. Moreover, personal grooming plays a major role in self-grooming, mainly due t- the social arena and for uplifting an individuals confidence and self-esteem. There has been a rise in the use of personal care & cosmetic products such as disposable razors, aftershave balm, beard trimmers, beard oil, shampo- & conditioner for beards, nourishing balm, nose hair trimmers, hair clippers, all-in-one shower products, eye cream, hydrating body lotion, and others. Thus, many men are inclined towards their looks related t- body health, grooming, and increasing self-confidence. Many men are getting habitual t- these habits with the growing use of personal grooming products, which is contributing t- the personal care electrical appliances market. Furthermore, many key vendors have initiated raising awareness about wellness and beauty products, especially among men, t- build a strong customer base. Rising conversations about the products bring higher resonance among young men, especially millennials and gen Z, wh- align themselves with branded products.



INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS



Low Penetration Among Low- And Middle-Income Countries



The penetration of personal care electrical appliances products remains low in low-& middle-income countries as compared t- the developed nations. The low awareness about electrical appliances in developing markets, the high cost of personal care products, and the lack of awareness about personal care and hygiene are major growth inhibitors for the personal care electrical appliances market. Further, end-users in many countries such as APAC, the Middle East & Africa perceive personal care electrical products as luxurious. Thus, their penetration among households for personal usage of these products remains low in these regions. Moreover, due t- a lack of personal hygiene awareness, low-and middle-income populations are less aware of other personal care, cosmetics, beauty, and hygiene products. People are unaware of the benefits of using a facial steamer, hair straightener, or hair dryer. Thus, unawareness of these products leads t- a lack of adoption of personal care electrical appliances.



SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS



INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT



The global personal care electrical appliances market by product has been broadly classified int- hair, oral care, facial care, and others. The significantly increasing technological advancement in hair care appliances dominated the hair segment, with a nearly 60% market share in 2022. Growing urbanization and improving ruralization have increased the demand for personal care electrical appliances, especially hair tools. Moreover, this type of tool is highly preferred among young populations, especially millennials & gen Z; thus, the demand for these tools is high among young adults. Many key beauty players have expanded their product portfoli- in the personal care electrical appliances portfolio. For instance, VEGA is a well-known vendor for manufacturing personal care appliances, beauty care accessories, mens grooming, and others.



Segmentation by Product



 Hair

- Hair Styling

- Hair Removal

- Hair Care

 Oral Care

- Toothbrush

- Oral Irrigator

 Face Care

 Others



INSIGHT BY POWERED SUPPLY



The global personal care electrical appliances market by powered supply is classified int- electric-powered and battery-operated. The electric-powered segment held the larger personal care electrical appliances market share in 2022. Some of the personal care electrical appliances that are electrically powered mainly include mens grooming products, hair tools, face tools, and a few oral tools. The rise in technological innovations in personal care products and increasing demand for personal care electrical appliances, especially among men, are some of the markets major trends. A few top vendors have expanded their product portfoli- and initiated by introducing new forms of electric-powered personal care products in the industry. For instance, HTC, a well-known electronic manufacturing firm, has initiated its brand HTC Personal Care built by Yongkang Xinji Hairdressing Appliance Factory, t- manufacture and produce electric-powered personal care electrical products in the market. These products include HTC Men Electric Shaver, HTC Hair Dryer, HTC Hair Straightener, and HTC Lady Shaver.



Segmentation by Powered Supply



 Electric Powered

 Battery Operated



INSIGHT BY GENDER



The female segment held the most substantial global personal care electrical appliances market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the industry share. The female segment is expected t- grow faster than the male segment in the market as women prefer t- use hair tools, especially hair dryers, hair straighteners, and others, for their daily routine. Moreover, the rising working women population, especially in developed countries, is als- expected t- boost the demand for personal care electrical appliances.



Segmentation by Gender



 Male

 Female



INSIGHT BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL



The offline distribution channel dominated the global personal care electrical appliances market in 2022. Serval stores are usually located in the center parts of several localities and attract a huge customer base. Consumers in different countries intend t- g- for B2B stores. Therefore, major sales of personal care electrical appliances products happen via B2B supermarkets and hypermarkets. The offline channel als- witnesses high sales directly t- end-users by distributors. Distribution via retail stores is a substantial revenue-generating opportunity for several vendors in the personal care electrical appliances market. Retail stores, in general, are a powerful market-capturing platform for several vendors in the industry. It becomes equally important for vendors t- pitch and promote their products s- that they can earn brand loyalty from consumers.



Segmentation by Distribution Channel



 Offline

 Online



GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

North America dominated the global personal care electrical appliances market, accounting for a significant revenue share in 2022. High disposable income, strong awareness about self-care and hygiene, and the culture of smaller and nuclear households are the major elements that have led t- such huge demand in the region. Apart from that, deep penetration of some largest distribution channels such as supermarkets and hypermarkets and significant internet and online shopping access has made the market growth easy. The U.S. and Canada are the major countries driving the demand in the North American personal care electrical appliances market and are expected t- keep leading the forecast period.



Segmentation by Geography



 North America

- US

- Canada

 Europe

- Germany

- UK

- France

- Italy

- Spain

 APAC

- China

- Japan

- India

- Australia

- South Korea

 Latin America

- Brazil

- Mexico

- Rest of Latin America

 Middle East & Africa

- Saudi Arabia

- UAE

- South Africa



COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE



The global personal care electrical appliances market is highly fragmented, with several top vendors operating. However, the market is witnessing consolidation, albeit at a slow pace. The key personal care electrical appliances market players include Colgate-Palmolive Company, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Lion Corporation, Havells India, Helen of Troy, Spectrum Brands, Shiseid- Company, Groupe SEB, Panasonic Group, and Koninklijke Philips. Further, over the past couple of years, the industry has witnessed the entry of many external players with new product innovation, quality, price, service, and technology t- drive up their share in the market. Mergers and acquisitions are common within the industry as players look t- expand and become more comprehensive in their offerings. This trend is witnessed among vendors in a landscape where new business models and focus on developing the portfoli- of their establishments are expected t- drive growth. The focus is heavily shifting toward rising demand among men for personal grooming and technological innovation in hair care appliances.



Key Company Profiles



 Colgate-Palmolive Company

 Procter & Gamble (P&G)

 Lion Corporation

 Havells India

 Helen of Troy

 Spectrum Brands

 Shiseid- Company

 Groupe SEB

 Panasonic Group

 Koninklijke Philips



Other Prominent Vendors



 Nobby by TESCOM

 VEGA

 Wahl Clipper Corporation

 ANDIS COMPANY

 Flyco

 POVOS

 Yongkang Xinji Hairdressing (HTC Personal Care)

 CONAIR

 Dyson

 Bi- Ionic

 Elchim

 Farouk Systems

 John Paul Mitchell Systems

 Syska

 Bruush

 Nova India



KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:



1. How big is the personal care electrical appliances market?

2. What is the growth rate of the personal care electrical appliances market?

3. Which region dominates the global personal care electrical appliances market?

4. What are some of the latest trends that will shape the future of the personal care electrical appliances market?

5. Wh- are the key players in the global personal care electrical appliances market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446263/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Dublin, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Terrain Awareness and Warning System Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2017-2027Segmented By Aircraft Type, By System, By Application, and By Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) market is anticipated to register an impressive CAGR in the forecast period, 2023-2027.

Companies Mentioned:

Genesys Aerosystems

Mid-Continent Instrument Co., Inc.

Aspen Avionics, Inc.

Universal Avionics Systems Corporation

Rockwell Collins

Garmin Ltd.

Avidyne Corporation.

L- Technologies, Inc.

Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS), LLC

Honeywell International Inc.

Factors such as the change in preference of consumers to travel via air modes owing to rapid urbanization and globalization and the availability of air tickets at cheaper rates are primarily driving the global terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) market.

Other crucial drivers for the market are the flourishing aviation industry and supportive government policies, which are expected to accelerate the growth of the global terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) market over the forecast period.



Flourishing Aviation Industry Drives the Market Growth



The aviation industry is witnessing massive demand from all over the globe owing to the growing disposable income of consumers and the booming tourism industry. The airlines are becoming more accessible to people due to the reduction in air ticket prices and the entry of new market players into the market.

The aviation industry supports commerce and business activities, government, education, and tourism as it provides the opportunity to reach far places in less time. Emerging economies contribute significantly to the aviation industry market growth due to many ongoing economic and commercial activities.

Also, the launch of new air routes to improve global connectivity further supports the growth of the aviation industry. Market players are developing new aircraft with higher fuel efficiency and lightweight carbon composites to manufacture aircraft that are expected to create new growth avenues for the aviation industry worldwide.

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The growing aviation industry is expected to fuel the installation of terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS) as it improves the security of the aircraft while flying by providing information in advance. Aviation industry players are focusing on enhancing aircraft security and safety measures, which is expected to boost the growth of the global terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) market over the next five years.



High Demand from the Defense Sector Supports the Market Growth



The leading authorities of several economies have allocated huge funds for the technological up-gradation of the defense sector by investing in the purchase of new equipment and technologies and research and development activities. There is high demand for terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS) from the defense sector to upgrade its military transport sector.

The increased adoption of TEPRROM in fighter aircraft and the huge demand for advanced fighter aircraft across the globe is expected to bolster the market growth over the forecast period. Also, the rise in the demand for precise, accurate, predictive, and reliable ground proximity warning systems is expected to provide growth opportunities to the global terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) market in the forecast period.



Supportive Government Policies Favor the Market Growth



The government encourages the adoption of preventive measures by the aviation industry to increase the safety of passengers and aircraft crew. The terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) warns the pilot about the possible hurdles in the path, which is a major reason for their high installation in aircraft.

Such as the Federal Aviation Administration, which operates in the United States as well as surrounding international waters, has mandated that aircraft install a Terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) in aircraft is supporting the market demand. Government safety regulations and policies for the aviation industry are playing a major role in accelerating the market demand over the forecast period.



Report Scope:



In this report, global terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) Market, By Aircraft Type:

Turbine Engine Powered

Piston Engine Powered

Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) Market, By System:

Class A

Class B

Class C

Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) Market, By Application:

Commercial Aircraft

Military Aircraft

Others

Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) Market, By Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

Thailand

Indonesia

Australia

South Korea

Europe & CIS

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Spain

Italy

Netherlands

Russia

Poland

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Middle East & Africa

Saudi Arabia

Iran

Israel

UAE

Turkey

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ni2loy

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




Changing The Narrative of Racial Disparities in Healthcare with GNetX Sequence Multivitamins

CLEVELAND, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Greg Hall, a practicing physician for over twenty-five years in Cleveland, Ohio, has seen firsthand the racial disparities in healthcare. He is now changing the narrative of racial inequality in healthcare with GNetX Sequence Multivitamins. "I've spent most of my career discussing and complaining about health disparities; it was time to do something," says Dr. Hall, "and addressing nutritional deficiencies seemed like a great place to start."

Join Our Movement. Making healthcare accessible for African Americans.

Now, Dr. Hall is taking direct action to combat the problem by offering affordable healthcare solutions to African Americans. Introducing GNetX Sequence Multivitamins, a single-tablet daily healthcare supplement offering preventative measures with accurate doses of the necessary vitamins African Americans need. The first of its kind, GNetX Sequence Multivitamins considers the unique health needs of African Americans with environmental and hereditary factors in mind. Research shows that not all vitamins are created equal when considering race and ethnicity. For example, getting too much of a vitamin, such as Vitamin K, may not be safe for the African American community. In contrast, Vitamin D is ideal in higher amounts for African Americans.

Many preventative care solutions on the market can be overly priced, making it impossible to bring quality healthcare solutions to the masses. The affordable package of a 3-month supply of GNetX Sequence Vitamins for $39.99 helps those who find themselves purchasing multiple supplements in an attempt to address their unique needs. Welcome to the future of nutritional supplements!

About Dr. Greg Hall

Greg Hall, MD is a physician, author, speaker, inventor, professor, and public health professional, specializing in urban health and the clinical care of African Americans. Dr. Hall's extensive research in the care of African Americans led to the development of GNetX Sequence.

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To learn more about GNetX Sequence Multivitamins and Dr. Hall's perspective as a healthcare professional on the front lines of health inequality for African Americans, or for any related stories around Minority Health Month, please send us an email at marketing@sequencemultivitamins.com to set up an interview and gain helpful materials.

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SOURCE GNetX Sequence Multivitamins
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSXV:YGT)(Frankfurt:TX0)(OTCQX:YGTFF) ("Gold Terra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Phase 1 of Gold Terra's 2023 winter drilling program has been completed on the Con Mine Option Property (the "CMO Property") with the objective of expanding the September 2022 initial Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") (see September 7, 2022 press release). To date, 13 drill holes have been completed on Yellorex North, Yellorex at depth, and Kam Point for a total of 5,769 metres drilled between surface and to a depth of 600 metres. Assays are pending for 12 holes. The CMO Property is under option from subsidiaries of Newmont Corporation and is acquirable by the Company upon fulfillment of certain conditions set out in the CMO Property agreement, as reported in the Company's news release dated November 22, 2021.

In addition, preparations are underway for the deep drilling program which will test gold mineralization at depth below the Con Mine workings where geological modeling indicates high potential for finding additional ounces.

Chairman and CEO, Gerald Panneton, commented, "Phase 1 of the winter drilling program has been successful as all holes have hit the targeted Campbell Shear and show significant intersections of visible multi-meter veining and sulphide mineralization. With 10 holes drilled in the Yellorex North area, we are confident that the results will warrant further drilling in 2023. We are now preparing for a deep drill hole targeting gold mineralization at depth below the historic Con Mine workings. The Campbell Shear structure is our highest priority target as the Con Mine produced historically more than 5 million ounces of high-grade gold (16 g/t Au). We expect to have results for the remaining Phase 1 drill holes in the coming weeks."

Phase 1 Drilling Highlights

All 13 drill holes intersected the Campbell Shear mineralization and were located on Yellorex North (10 holes), Yellorex at depth (1 hole), and Kam Point (2 holes) target areas as shown in the Figure 1 below:

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Figure 1 - Yellorex North, Yellorex, and Kam Point target areas

Yellorex North drilling highlights:

Hole GTCM23-042 , the first hole of the program intersected 5.3 g/t Au over 6.43 metres (see March 3, 2023, press release). The drill hole was designed to verify and add depth extension to historical high-grade mineralization encountered in the Yellorex North zone of the Campbell Shear

Hole GTCM23-045 intersected 107 metres of the Campbell Shear with 8 metres of good smoky veining, pyrite mineralization, and sericite alteration.

Hole GTCM23-048 intersected 120 metres of the Campbell Shear; 15.1 metres of strong veining and strong sulphide mineralization.

Hole GTCM23-053 intersected 111 metres of the Campbell Shear with strong mineralized zones with good alteration over almost 9 metres.

Hole GTCM23-054 intersected 91.5 metres of the Campbell Shear with 4.5 meters of strong alteration, mineralization, moderate veining and 2 metres of moderate mineralized zones.

The Yellorex North long section showing 2023 drilling intersections, historic drilling, and hole GTCM23-42 is presented in Figure 2 further below.

Kam Point Drilling:

Hole GTCM23-050 intersected 145 metres of the Campbell Shear with up to five intersections of good mineralization.

Hole GTCM23-051 intersected 183 metres of the Campbell Shear.

Yellorex Deposit:

Hole GTCM23-052 was drilled to a depth of 710 metres and intersected 212 metres of the Campbell Shear with up to six intersections of good mineralization of variable width between 3 and 5 metres wide. Despite not having the assay results of the deepest hole on Yellorex, we have confirmed that the zone is open at depth and will require more drilling.

Figure 2 - Yellorex North long section showing 2023 drilling intersections, historic drilling, and hole GTCM23-42

The focus of the drilling program is to expand the September 2022 initial MRE (see September 7, 2022 press release) of 109,000 Indicated ounces of contained gold and 432,000 Inferred ounces of contained gold between surface and to a depth of 400 metres below surface along a 2 kilometre corridor of the Campbell Shear. Please see the October 21, 2022 technical report, titled "Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the CMO Property, Yellowknife City Gold Project, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada" with an effective date of September 2, 2022, by Qualified Person, Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., SGS Geological Services, which can be found on the Company's website at https://www.goldterracorp.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Deep Drilling Program

The deep drill hole program is designed to target high-grade gold zones below the northern end of the lowest mining levels of the historical Con Mine. Historical underground drill holes that were drilled below the lowest workings have intersected various high-grade gold zones in this area and very high-grade assays exist in many historical holes immediately above the target area. The objective is to expand these zones at depth.

The initial hole is aiming to intersect the Campbell Shear 300 metres below the lowest working, or approximately 2,080 metres below surface. The opportunity will exist to wedge off the initial hole and target other high-grade zones in the area. The target area is shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3 - Con Mine Deep Drilling Target

Qualified Persons

Joe Campbell, P. Geo., Senior Technical Advisorfor Gold Terra is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Gold Terra

The YCG project encompasses 800 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometers of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. Gold Terra is currently focusing its drilling on the prolific Campbell Shear, where 14 Moz of gold has been produced, and most recently on the Con Mine Option claims immediately south of the past producing Con Mine (1938-2003).

The YCG and CMO property lie on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that host the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company's exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com.

For more information, please contact:

Gerald Panneton, Chairman & CEO

gpanneton@goldterracorp.com

Mara Strazdins, Manager of Investor Relations

Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102

strazdins@goldterracorp.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.

Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Therefore, investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource could ever be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of "Measured Mineral Resources," "Indicated Mineral Resources," or "Inferred Mineral Resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The Mineral Resource estimates contained herein may be subject to legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of such mineral resources. Refer to the Technical Report, once filed, for more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of determination associated with the foregoing.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors

The Company prepares its disclosure in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Terms relating to Mineral Resources in this news release are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended ("CIM Standards"). The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") has adopted amendments effective February 25, 2019 (the "SEC Modernization Rules") to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC will now recognize estimates of "Measured Mineral Resources", "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources", which are defined in substantially similar terms to the corresponding CIM Standards. In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "Proven Mineral Reserves" and "Probable Mineral Reserves" to be substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Standards.

U.S. investors are cautioned that while the foregoing terms are "substantially similar" to corresponding definitions under the CIM Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any Mineral Resources that the Company may report as "Measured Mineral Resources", "Indicated Mineral Resources" and "Inferred Mineral Resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the Mineral Resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. In accordance with Canadian securities laws, estimates of "Inferred Mineral Resources" cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies, except in limited circumstances where permitted under NI 43-101.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by 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, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof.

All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently 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. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the current drilling on the Campbell Shear, potentially adding ounces to the Company's current YCG mineral resource, and the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would 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. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. 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. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Gold Terra Resource Corp





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/748431/Gold-Terra-Completes-13-Holes-in-Phase-1-Winter-Drill-Program-with-Objective-to-Expand-Current-Mineral-Resource-on-Con-Mine-Option-Property-NWT




SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GrubMarket today announced that it has appointed Mark Tisdel to its Board of Directors as an independent board member and Audit Committee Chairperson. Tisdel, an experienced finance executive, will be an essential advisor to GrubMarket as the company continues to cement its position as one of the world's fastest-growing and most profitable food tech companies.

Mark Tisdel

Tisdel is a highly qualified and accomplished industry leader with more than 30 years of experience in finance and accounting. He has spent the last 15 years as a CFO for public and private software technology companies in the U.S. and internationally, achieving strong growth and profitability. Tisdel has been CFO at top public SaaS and technology companies like Model N (NYSE: MODN) and Orion Health (formerly listed on the ASX and NZX). He currently serves as the CFO of Mineral, Inc. (formerly Mammoth HR and ThinkHR), a leading provider of SaaS HR and compliance solutions for SMBs, where he has been instrumental in driving the company to profitability and positive cash flow, while catapulting revenue growth.

Tisdel holds his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Clarkson University, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Tisdel commented, "GrubMarket is one of the world's most innovative and disruptive food companies. Over the years, I have followed GrubMarket's incredible trajectory as a fast-growing and highly profitable technology enabler and driver for digital transformation for the food industry. I truly believe the Company's significant progress to date underscores its incredible future potential. I am honored to bring my extensive experiences, as both a public and private software technology company CFO, to the Board as an independent board member and Audit Committee Chairperson at this critical juncture in the history of the business, and I sincerely look forward to supporting GrubMarket as it continues its strong and profitable growth."

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Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket adds, "We are thrilled to welcome Mark to GrubMarket's Board as Audit Committee Chairperson. Mark is a proven and dynamic leader, with deep experience running high-functioning finance and accounting teams at top SaaS and technology companies like Model N. In addition to accounting, financial reporting, and audit expertise, Mark also brings extensive experience in operational and international matters, which will be valuable to us both in our current phase of hypergrowth and beyond. With experience that spans over three decades, including roles as both a public and private software technology company CFO; Mark will be a great asset to our organization as we continue our path of long-term, profitable growth.

About GrubMarket

Founded in 2014, GrubMarket is a San Francisco-based food technology company operating in the space of food supply chain eCommerce for both business customers and end consumers, as well as providing related software-as-a-service solutions to digitally transform the American and global food supply chain. Currently, GrubMarket operates in all 50 U.S. States; Ontario and British Columbia (Canada); Argentina, Chile, and Colombia (South America); Egypt, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Spain, with plans to expand to the rest of the U.S., Canada, South America, and other parts of the world.

For Media Inquiries:

GrubMarket Media Team

media@grubmarket.com

(415) 986-0523

GrubMarket

1925 Jerrold Ave.

San Francisco, CA. 94124

GrubMarket Logo (PRNewsfoto/GrubMarket)

Cision

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SOURCE GrubMarket
Wawa, Inc.

To Mark Chainwide Celebration, Wawa Releases Day Brightener Videos Highlighting Special Associate-Customer Relationship and Makes Donation to Childrens Miracle Network

WAWA, Pa., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wawa, Inc., today announced that its annual Wawa Day tradition is back and brighter than ever! On April 13, in honor of Wawas 59th anniversary in retail, the company will celebrate the occasion by offering customers FREE hot coffee of any size, chainwide, all day! Throughout the day, Wawa expects to give away close to 2 million free cups of any-size coffee to customers at its nearly 1,000 stores.



In April 1964, Wawa entered the retail business by opening its first store in Folsom, PA. Now on the verge of opening its 1,000th store later this month, Wawa is celebrating 59 years in retail by thanking communities with free coffee and sharing stories of the special connections between associates and customers that have been happening for nearly six decades.

When Wawa opened its doors on April 16, 1964, our founder, Grahame Wood, imagined a place that would provide trusted quality products, convenience and care to local friends and neighbors. Now 59 years later, Wawa associates are proud to carry out this vision by being Day Brighteners in their communities each and every day, said Chris Gheysens, Wawa Chief Executive Officer. On April 13, we invite our customers to celebrate our rich history, growth and unwavering commitment to fulfilling lives, and we hope the stories we share put a smile on faces and inspire others to brighten days in their community.

In addition to offering free coffee, Wawa Day will celebrate the connection between Wawas customers, associates and communities in the following ways:

Day Brightener Videos & Childrens Miracle Network Donation

Following a chainwide call for submissions, Wawa will release 10 videos depicting inspiring stories of kindness and celebrating the special connection between the companys associates and customers. In honor of the hundreds of submissions received, Wawa will donate $50,000 to its community partner, Childrens Miracle Network . View the 10 Day Brightener videos here: www.wawa.com/daybrighteners



Customer Day Brighteners

All 990+ stores across Wawas chain will select a "Day Brightening customer that is near and dear to the store team and present them with a special Day Brightener sash, mug and a weeks worth of coffee.

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About Wawa, Inc.

Wawa, Inc., a privately held company, began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, PA in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and certified process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, Georges grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for freshly prepared foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services and surcharge-free ATMs. Wawa stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. The stores offer a large fresh foodservice selection, including Wawa brands such as custom prepared hoagies, freshly-brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks. Forbes.com Ranks Wawa as #24 of Americas Largest Private Companies in 2022 and #12 on Forbes 100 Halo List in 2022. For more information, visit us on www.wawa.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat at @wawa.

CONTACT: public.relations@wawa.com




Economics writer Noah Smith talked about why we should freak outyet about AI automating our jobs. OpenAI

As AI tools revolutionize business, workers are worried they're at risk of losing their jobs.

Yet Noah Smith, who writes the Noahpinion newsletter, contends there are nuances amid the expected impact.

"We've been deploying automation technology for centuries, and as of 2023, pretty much every human who wants a job has a job," Smith wrote.

With businesses now deploying AI tools to do everything from translating speech to building language learning models for big law, many workers are worried they might soon be out of a job.

Yet Noah Smith, the writer behind the popular Noahpinion economics newsletter, contended in a post on Monday that people shouldn't worry about losing their jobs to automation just yet.

"The "folk model" of automation is that it throws humans out of work  today you had a job performing some sort of valuable work, and tomorrow you're on the welfare rolls," Smith wrote.



"We've been deploying automation technology for centuries, and as of 2023, pretty much every human who wants a job has a job," Smith wrote, "but there's basically no way to get people to believe that this next wave of automation will be the one that finally sends humans into obsolescence."

What exactly does automation mean?

In his post, Smith examined several studies on job automation over the years from researchers at firms ranging from Citibank to PriceWaterHouseCoopers.

Smith points out that the term "automation" in these studies is never clearly defined. Instead, he offered several hypotheticals illustrating various levels of "replacement." Some scenarios he presented, such as "You're going to get new tools that let you automate the boring part of your job, move up to a more responsible job title" even present newfound benefits.

That means it's hard to draw sweeping conclusions about what automation means for any particular individual.

The other issue Smith pointed out is that these studies don't touch on how the labor market will change overall. "If one job is destroyed by automation and two more are created for higher wages, workers obviously won out," he suggested. Yet studies on the topic only seem to focus on automation, which can suggest that workers are the losers in the situation, even if that's not really the case, Smith wrote.

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Assessing "replacement" is often subjective

Smith also pointed to the subjectivity used in older studies for assessing a job's risk of replacement.

In one study, Frey and Osborne (2013), researchers noted that they "subjectively hand-labelled" jobs from a database developed by the US Department of Labor with a score of 1 if they were "automatable" and 0 if they were not.



The researchers also noted that they only focused on a small percentage of jobs in the database "whose computerisation label we are highly confident about" in order to further reduce the risk of "subjective bias affecting our analysis."

The good thing, Smith said, was that studies have improved their methodology since then.

A summary of a study by Goldman Sachs published earlier this month assessed AI's impact on automation by viewing jobs as a sum of tasks described in a government database as opposed to a holistic entity.

Smith noted that Goldman's researchers also recognized that "automation often ends up complementing a worker's effort instead of substituting for it" when only some tasks are automated.

Added to that, the study supported the point that automation doesn't always spell layoffs, noting that "technology can replace some tasks, but it can also make us more productive performing other tasks, and create new tasks  and new jobs."

Yet Forbes reported on the study with the headline "Goldman Sachs Predicts 300 Million Jobs Will Be Lost Or Degraded By Artificial Intelligence."

"A lot of people are so used to the "robots take our jobs" narrative that they report every result they see through that warped and distorted lens," Smith wrote.

Smith did not immediately respond to Insider's request for a comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. Having said that, unprofitable companies are risky because they could potentially burn through all their cash and become distressed.

So, the natural question for Keypath Education International (ASX:KED) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn.

View our latest analysis for Keypath Education International

How Long Is Keypath Education International's Cash Runway?

You can calculate a company's cash runway by dividing the amount of cash it has by the rate at which it is spending that cash. When Keypath Education International last reported its balance sheet in December 2022, it had zero debt and cash worth US$52m. In the last year, its cash burn was US$17m. So it had a cash runway of about 3.0 years from December 2022. That's decent, giving the company a couple years to develop its business. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

How Well Is Keypath Education International Growing?

Keypath Education International boosted investment sharply in the last year, with cash burn ramping by 60%. That does give us pause, and we can't take much solace in the operating revenue growth of 5.9% in the same time frame. Considering both these factors, we're not particularly excited by its growth profile. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

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Can Keypath Education International Raise More Cash Easily?

Keypath Education International seems to be in a fairly good position, in terms of cash burn, but we still think it's worthwhile considering how easily it could raise more money if it wanted to. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Keypath Education International's cash burn of US$17m is about 16% of its US$107m market capitalisation. Given that situation, it's fair to say the company wouldn't have much trouble raising more cash for growth, but shareholders would be somewhat diluted.

So, Should We Worry About Keypath Education International's Cash Burn?

On this analysis of Keypath Education International's cash burn, we think its cash runway was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Cash burning companies are always on the riskier side of things, but after considering all of the factors discussed in this short piece, we're not too worried about its rate of cash burn. Taking an in-depth view of risks, we've identified 3 warning signs for Keypath Education International that you should be aware of before investing.

Of course Keypath Education International may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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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Transparency Market Research

Global home healthcare market growth is driven by the rapid technological advancements in the healthcare industry, combined with an exponentially rising geriatric population. North America home healthcare services offering lucrative growth opportunities.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the recent study by Transparency Market Research, the global home healthcare market is anticipated to flourish at a staggering 10.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2028. By the end of the aforementioned forecast period, a valuation of USD 499.6 Bn is anticipated.



With rapid technological advancements in the healthcare industry, combined with an exponentially rising geriatric population, the demand for affordable and good quality healthcare is inclining.

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Market Snapshot:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue US$ 238.1 Bn in 2020 Estimated Value US$ 499.6 Bn by 2028 Growth Rate 10.5% Forecast Period 20212028 No. of Pages 162 Pages Market Segmentation By Device Type and Service Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America Companies Covered 3M Health Care, Bayer AG, Abbott Laboratories, Cardinal Health, Inc., GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Gentiva Health Services, Inc., Invacare Corporation, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Phillips Healthcare, Medtronic, Inc., Omron Healthcare, Inc.

Pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations are leveraging key advancements such as artificial intelligence, telehealth, and automation to provide health services to patients within the comfort of their homes. A prominent trend in this regard is the increasing popularity of retail healthcare. It is expected that the amount of business conducted via this channel will double by the end of 2023.

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Companies such as Walmart, Amazon, and CVS are already offering home healthcare services such as blood tests, vaccinations, and medical check-ups which are traditionally delivered within conventional healthcare settings. As global economic conditions lead to squeezed budgets, home healthcare services are only expected to take a turn for the better. Moreover, retail healthcare is easier to access than traditional healthcare.

Healthcare providers are also leveraging the popularity of wearable gadgets to introduce remote healthcare monitoring devices. This Internet of Medical Things has significantly widened in scope, encompassing simple devices such as heart rate tracking devices and smartwatches, to smart textiles capable of detecting blood pressure abnormalities. Moreover, they are also adept at predicting the risks of heart attacks. In addition, smart gloves capable of reducing tremors in Parkinsons disease patients are also a testimony to the fact that home healthcare is on the rise.

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Key Takeaways from the Market Report

The global home healthcare market was worth US$ 238.1 billion as of 2020

From 2021 to 2028, demand for home healthcare services is likely to grow 1.8x

Telehealth and telemedicine services to experience significant uptake in upcoming years

By device type, patients are likely to opt for diagnostic & monitoring home devices for key chronic ailments

The emerging economies of the Asia Pacific are expected to provide major growth opportunities for key service providers



Home Healthcare Market: Growth Drivers & Trends

Various funding initiatives are augmenting home healthcare popularity. A case in point is the Hospital at Home initiative. Developed by the Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Public Health, the program offers good quality healthcare at nearly 1/3 rd of the actual cost

Service providers are integrating artificial intelligence to provide proper home healthcare service, from virtual nurse assistants to digital companionship, as well as remote patient monitoring.

Integration of telemedicine is further augmenting demand for home healthcare services. For instance, MedShields Hospital-at-home service, delivered by Quro Medical, allows members to receive a personalized treatment plan at home instead of in a general hospital ward. Additionally, the companys SmartCare feature allows patients to schedule a call with a general practitioner for a virtual consultation



Home Healthcare Market: Regional Analysis

North America is expected to account for over 40% of all home healthcare service deployment, attributed to an increase in the number of geriatrics across the continent.

Asia-Pacific is likely to emerge as the fastest-growing market for home healthcare services. The region is expected to flourish at a CAGR of nearly 9% until 2028.

Home Healthcare Market: Prominent Players

The global home healthcare market is characterized by the presence of numerous regional as well as global entities. Some key home healthcare service providers profiled by TMR include:

3M Health Care

Bayer AG

Abbott Laboratories

Cardinal Health, Inc.

GE Healthcare

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

Gentiva Health Services, Inc.

Invacare Corporation

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Phillips Healthcare

Medtronic, Inc.

Omron Healthcare, Inc.

Prominent developments in the home healthcare domain by key players are as follows:

Starting in 2020, Bayer AG initiated the G4A Agents of Change program. The initiative is a partnership program that aims to foster a digital health ecosystem through which key start-ups can avail funding. On the home healthcare front, the company has funded two start-ups named Caria and Elly. The former uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help women in menopause track symptoms and connect them with evidence-based treatments. The latter is a smart companion for people with chronic conditions that aim to help them live healthier and happier lives.

In February 2023, CVS Health acquired the home healthcare services company Signify Health. Through this acquisition, CVS Health has become among the first pharmacy chains in the U.S. to enter the at-home healthcare space, and will be able to penetrate rural areas. Its main product offering is the at-home rapid-antigen testing for COVID-19

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Home Healthcare Market- Key Segments

By Device Type

Diagnostic & Monitoring Home Devices Blood Glucose Monitors Blood Pressure Monitors Heart Rate Monitors Temperature Monitors Sleep Apnea Monitors Coagulation Monitors Pregnancy Test Kits Pulse Oximeters Pedometers

Therapeutics Home Healthcare Devices Insulin Delivery Devices Nebulizers Ventilator & CPAP Devices IV Equipment Dialysis Equipment

Home Mobility Assist Devices Wheelchairs Cranes & Crutches Other Home Mobility Assist Devices

Medical Supplies



By Service

Rehabilitation Services

Telehealth and Telemedicine Services

Infusion Therapy Services

Respiratory Therapy Services

Unskilled Home Healthcare Services



By Region

North America

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America

Middle East & Africa



About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. The firm scrutinizes factors shaping the dynamics of demand in various markets. The insights and perspectives on the markets evaluate opportunities in various segments. The opportunities in the segments based on source, application, demographics, sales channel, and end-use are analysed, which will determine growth in the markets over the next decade.

Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision-makers, made possible by experienced teams of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants. The proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques we use always reflect the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in all of its business reports.

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Robert Galbraith/ Reuters

Housing is so unaffordable banks lost money for each mortgage they financed in 2022, a report found.

Some providers averaged a $301 loss per loan, a first recorded by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

It attributed that largely to the increased cost of financing a loan and decreased housing demand.

The housing environment is so unaffordable that certain banks lost money for each mortgage they financed last year  the first time that's happened, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

In 2022, independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks lost an average of $301 for every mortgage they financed, the association said in a recent report. That represents a 113% decrease from last year's average income of $2,339 a mortgage and is the first time that banks posted negative profits for financing home loans since the MBA began recording profits in 2008.

That's largely due to the decrease in housing activity, MBA's vice president of industry analysis, Marina Walsh, said in a statement. Prospective buyers are holding back from the market as mortgage rates hover near a 20-year high and limited housing supply keeps home prices elevated.

Banks and other mortgage companies each financed an average $2.6 billion in loans in 2022, roughly half the $5 billion figure for 2021.

Meanwhile, the cost of financing a loan has gone up, as the decline in workers isn't fast enough to make up for the decline in business. Banks and mortgage companies spent an average of $10,624 to finance each home loan in 2022, which represents a 23% cost increase from 2021.

"The rapid rise in mortgage rates over a relatively short period of time, combined with extremely low housing inventory and affordability challenges, meant that both purchase and refinance volume plummeted," Walsh said. "The stellar profits of the previous two years dissipated because of the confluence of declining volume, lower revenues, and higher costs per loan."

The US housing market may see a huge correction, some experts said last year, as the shrinking demand leads to a drop in home prices. Home prices could fall by 9% this year, one MBA board member previously said. Other experts have predicted a milder correction, with one National Association of Realtors economist predicting that prices had already bottomed out, and the housing market could see a rebound.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Company Noted for Perseverance in pushing the Boundaries of Innovation Through Cutting-edge Technology and Strategic Partnerships

HYCU Hits CRN Storage 100 List for 2023

Annual list from CRN editos represents the industry leaders of storage technology that can be used for on-premises or cloud deployments. This is HYCU's fourth consecutive year making the list.

Boston, Massachusetts, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HYCU, Inc., the worlds fastest-growing multi-cloud data protection as a service company, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named HYCU to its annual Storage 100 list in the Data Protection/Management/Resilience category. The Storage 100 recognizes industry-leading storage vendors that provide transformative, channel-friendly products and services. HYCU was also profiled today as one of The 40 Coolest Data Protection/Management/Resilience Vendors of the CRN Storage 100.

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.

HYCU works with more than 400 global partners across resell, distribution and service provider channels to eliminate data protection challenges for on-premises, multicloud and SaaS platforms. The Global PACE Partner Program, recently recognized by CRN as a 5-Star Partner Program for the third year running, helps HYCU deliver innovation and services to meet both partner and partners customer demands. The company recently introduced the worlds first low code development platform R-Cloud for data protection, backup and recovery. At a time where ransomware attacks continue to rise and more than half of successful attacks come through SaaS applications, R-Cloud will help partners ensure whatever SaaS application is in use will be protected.

The innovation and solutions we continue to deliver to our partners to keep their data and their customers data protected and easy to recover is what drives all of us at HYCU, said Simon Taylor, Founder and CEO, HYCU, Inc. At a time when companies continue to look to do more with less and drive inefficiencies from their IT investments, it is this latest recognition that reinforces what HYCU is doing is working. Thank you to the editors and team at CRN for this latest acknowledgement. 2023 continues to be rewarding in many ways for the tireless work and grit of so many of our team and our partners.

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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.

###

About HYCU

HYCU is the fastest-growing leader in the multi-cloud and SaaS data protection as a service industry. By bringing true SaaS-based data backup and recovery to on-premises, cloud-native, and SaaS environments, the company provides unparalleled data protection, migration, disaster recovery, and ransomware protection to thousands of companies worldwide. As an award-winning and recognized visionary in the industry, HYCU solutions eliminate complexity, risk, and the high cost of legacy-based solutions, providing data protection simplicity to make the world safer. With an industry-leading NPS score of 91, customers experience frictionless, cost-effective data protection, anywhere, everywhere. HYCU has raised $140M in VC funding to date and is based in Boston, Mass. Learn more at www.hycu.com.

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 40 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.

Attachment

CONTACT: Don Jennings HYCU, Inc. 617-791-1710 don.jennings@hycu.com




Virtual Investor Conferences

Company invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend real-time, interactive presentations on VirtualInvestorConferences.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. (CSE: HG) (OTCQB: HGCPF) (the Company or HydroGraph), a commercial manufacturer of high-quality graphene and other nanomaterials, is pleased to announce it will be presenting this week at the Technology Virtual Investor Conference on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 10:00 AM ET. CEO, Stuart Jara, will discuss the companys patented graphene production technology along with upcoming catalysts, which will be followed by a Q&A session with investors.



The conference is complimentary to investors. To register, please click here: https://bit.ly/3MBg4Y9

DATE: April 13th, 2023

TIME: 10:00 AM ET

LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2s3mtpb3

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com .

About HydroGraph

HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. was founded in 2017 to fund and commercialize green, cost-effective processes to manufacture graphene, hydrogen and other strategic materials in bulk. Publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange on December 2, 2021, the Company acquired the exclusive license from Kansas State University to produce both graphene and hydrogen through their patented detonation process. More information about the Company and its products can be found on the HydroGraph website. www.hydrograph.com/

For company updates, please follow HydroGraph on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

CONTACTS:

HydroGraph Investor Relations

Bob Wowk, CFO

bob.wowk@hydrograph.com

908.627.1315

HydroGraph Media Contact

Kristin Schaeffer

kristin@amfmediagroup.com

Virtual Investor Conferences

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

johnv@otcmarkets.com




Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

North America is expected to see tangible growth by acquiring 18% of the share among all the regions during the forecast period. The Europe region is the fastest growing region in dumbwaiter lifts securing 20% of the dumbwaiter lifts market share during the forecast period.

NEWARK, Del, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The worldwide market for dumbwaiter lifts is projected to amass a revenue of US$ 972.0 million by 2032, driven by a poor CAGR of 2.4% from 2022 to 2032. The dumbwaiter lifts market was valued at US$ 767.0 million in 2022. The growth forecasted for the period of 2022 to 2032 is primarily due to their usage in various malls and marts for the purpose of carrying goods from one place to another. Dumbwaiter lifts are extensively used to carry and transport goods between the floors of a building and feature a small doorway on each floor through which goods can be sent or received. As these lifts make the transportation of goods convenient and easy, it is expected that the market demand for them will witness steady growth in the upcoming years.



Historically, the dumbwaiter lifts market witnessed a CAGR of 2.1% from 2016 to 2021. As these lifts are cost-effective and time-saving, it is forecasted that the market will observe comparatively improved growth in the future than in the past few years. Factors like the introduction of innovative technologies through the integration of various systems into these lifts, a growing lift industry, and escalating demand for dumbwaiter lifts for both commercial and residential purposes are among the primary drivers propelling the dumbwaiter lift market. The advanced features of the dumbwaiter lift, such as fire resistance, extended lifespan, low power consumption, high durability, and minimal maintenance requirements, are also expected to contribute to market growth in the upcoming years.

Drivers and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report!

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The market is positively influenced by the rising adoption of dumbwaiter lifts in various hotels. The use of these lifts in hotels enables the staff to provide better service and offer hot and fresh food to the guests in a short span of time. Many modern residential buildings and hospitals also use dumbwaiter lifts for laundry purposes. Thus, an upsurge in demand from these sectors is expected to help the dumbwaiter market to maintain the status quo during the projection period. All of the aforementioned factors will help the dumbwaiter lift market to grow at a slow but steady rate. However, factors like the malfunctioning of the dumbwaiter lift under an overload of goods may impede the growth of the dumbwaiter lifts market.

Key Takeaways:

Rapid urbanization and changes in consumer lifestyles are driving the dumbwaiter lift market in the Asia Pacific region.

North Americas dumbwaiter lift market accounts for 18% share of the overall market.

Expansion of industries and infrastructure pushes the dumbwaiter lift market in Europe to hold about 20% of the market share.

The start-ups in this environment are keen on new product launches to establish their presence in the market.

Competitive Landscape

Otis Elevator Company, Schindler, ThyssenKrupp AG, LUTZ Elevators, Mitsubishi Electric Company, Kone Corporation, Stannah, and Elevation Innovation Inc., among others, are a few of the prominent players in the dumbwaiter lifts market profiled in the full version of the report.

In a competitive market, key players are concentrating on product upgrades, development, and new launches. These organizations make sure to provide the highest-quality products and engage in partnerships, collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, and other business expansion strategies. In a recent development, ML Lee Industrial released small freight elevators for commercial and residential use in October 2020. These dumbwaiters are able to lift loads weighing anywhere between 50 to 200 kg.

To Gain More Insights about this Research, Visit @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/dumbwaiter-lifts-market

Key Segments

By Type of Operation:

Manually operated

Mechanical

Power Operated

Hydraulic

Electric



By Car Door Design:

Roll Top

Bi-parting

Collapsible Gate



By Number of Halts:

Limited Halts (Up to 7)

Unlimited Halts

By Load Carrying Capacities:

Small (Up to 100 lb)

Medium (Up to 200 lb)

High (Over 200 lb)



By Installation Type:

Floor Type

Window Type

By End User:

Hotels

Hospitals

High Rising Residences

Malls

Cruises and Ships

Offices

Schools



By Region:

North America

Latin America

Asia Pacific

MEA

Europe



Interested to Procure the Data? Inquire here: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-5692

More Insights into Dumbwaiter Lifts Market

FMI presents an unbiased and detailed analysis of the worldwide dumbwaiter lifts market, including historical data from 2014 to 2020 and forecasted statistics spanning 2022 to 2032. The report encompasses an examination of market drivers, opportunities, challenges, and trends. To ascertain the potential, growth, and extent of the global market, it is segmented based on the type of operation, number of halts, installation type, and region.

According to FMI, based on region, the dumbwaiter lifts market in Europe will present the strongest growth. The target market in this region accounts for 20% of the overall market share. The rapid expansion of the industries, surging infrastructure development, and well-established hospitals contribute to the demand for dumbwaiter lifts in this market. The dumbwaiter lifts market in Asia Pacific and North America will also present tangible growth and thereby contribute to the global growth of the dumbwaiter lifts market.

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

4. Global Dumbwaiter Lifts Market Analysis 2017-2021 and Forecast, 2022-2032

5. Global Dumbwaiter Lifts Market Analysis 2017-2021 and Forecast 2022-2032, By Type of Operation

Market presence across multiple geographical footprints - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial - Buy the report!

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(Bloomberg) -- India seeks to be more involved in world supply chains and serve as an alternative to China through output-incentive plans and the growth of its domestic consumer market, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

So-called production-linked incentive schemes covering 13 manufacturing sectors including for semiconductors are bringing in global value chains into India, Sitharaman said at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. By doing that, we hope to have production of many of these large, bulk-manufactured goods which can go from India to meet both international and local demand, she said.

Its unrealistic to think that everything will get out of China, Sitharaman said, adding firms have become prudent & are diversifying due to the supply chain disruptions, giving an opportunity to Asias third largest economy.

India last month laid out an ambitious target of hitting $2 trillion annually in overall exports by 2030 as the South Asian country makes a renewed push to become a top choice for companies shifting supply chains away from China.

On Monday, Sitharaman gave the example of mobile-phone manufacturing  the Asian nation in 2014 produced very few devices and the industry had grown to become one of the worlds biggest exporters.

She is on a weeklong trip to the US to attend the World Bank and International Monetary Funds Spring Meetings.

India over the the past year has been pursuing bilateral trade deals with a range of countries, including Australia, the UK and the United Arab Emirates, shifting from the usual go-slow approach on such agreements. On Monday, Sitharaman said the nation of 1.4 billion people also is pushing ahead with a pact with the European Union and Canada.

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G-20, Debt

India holds the presidency of the Group of 20 intergovernmental forums of influential nations and is under pressure to show it can forge an agreement after major meetings this year ended with Russia and China objecting to language around the war in Ukraine.

This is a great opportunity for India to prove and to work towards bringing all countries together on substantive issues, Sitharaman said.

It is time that the members of the G-20 sit up and take these issues on board, she said, singling out the need to provide debt relief for more than 70 low-income nations facing a collective $326 billion burden.

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.

This issue will be taken forward, and I hope to have some positive movements, Sitharaman said. With Indonesia, India and Brazil each taking turns to chair the G-20 each year from 2022 to 2024, this will bring views of emerging markets to the front, she added.

Sitharaman said a global consensus on cryptocurrencies will also be among Indias priorities. We seek to develop a common framework for all countries to deal with this matter, she said

Sentiment

A close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sitharaman is also Indias first female finance minister. She has been credited with supporting social-welfare programs during the pandemic and narrowing the budget gap to 5.9% of gross domestic product in the fiscal year starting April from a record 9.2% in 2021.

She brushed off a question from Peterson Institute President Adam Posen about the impact of reports detailing growing violence against Muslim minorities would have on capital flows and investor sentiment.

Emerging markets like India do carry a burden of proof, the minister said. You have every business to ask us questions or every business to speak about every issue on which you need to play a constructive role. But yet the prescriptions are ours.

The South Asian nation has seen rising anti-Muslim sentiment since Modi and his party have pushed ahead with their Hindu nationalist agenda. Since his reelection in 2019, Modi revoked Article 370 of the constitution that granted special autonomous status to Indias only Muslim-majority state, Jammu and Kashmir, and approved a citizenship law that discriminates based on religion.

Read More: Why Hindu Nationalism Keeps Gaining Ground in India: QuickTake

That is not to say or not to even imply that I accept the perception that youre referring to, Sitharaman said during the discussion. India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world and that population is only growing in numbers.

--With assistance from Muneeza Naqvi.

(Update with more details throughout.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past the logo of Google during an event in New Delhi

By Aditya Kalra

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A group of Indian startups has asked a court to suspend Alphabet Inc Google's new in-app billing fee system until the country's antitrust body investigates the U.S. firm for alleged non-compliance with its directives, a legal filing showed.

The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) last month asked India's antitrust regulator to investigate Google for devising a new system startups say still charges them a high service fee, despite an antitrust directive in October to allow use of third-party billing services for in-app payments.

In its April 10 filing at the Delhi High Court, ADIF argues that the antitrust body is yet to hear its complaint promptly even as Google's April 26 implementation date of the so-called User Choice Billing system (UCB) is nearing.

The 744-page filing, seen by Reuters, asks the court to "keep the implementation of Googles UCB in abeyance" until CCI hears the complaint.

The court is likely to hear the plea later this week. The CCI did not respond, while Google declined comment.

The filing marks the latest tussle between Google and rival startups, which have repeatedly criticized the U.S. company for what they say are unfair business restrictions.

In October, the Competition Commission of India fined Google $112 million and said the company must stop forcing developers to use its proprietary in-app payment system, labelling it an abuse of Google's dominant market position.

Google has denied any wrongdoing and challenged the antitrust ruling. The new service fee system, it says, supports investments in Google Play app store and the Android mobile operating system, ensuring it distributes it for free, and covers developer tools and analytic services.

But Indian startups argue Google's UCB system still imposes a "service fee" of 11-26%, compared with the earlier in-app payment system that charged a fee of 15-30%. The new system is "cloaked as another version" of Google's earlier system, the ADIF filing stated.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
AUNDECK OMNI KANING FIRST NATION, ON, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) and Camping In Ontario (CIO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 27th, 2023 in Alliston, Ontario. The Memorandum of Understanding solidifies the partnership and joint commitment to the joint principles of education, land stewardship, and collaboration, all in alignment with our shared values.

Camping in Ontario Indigenous Tourism Ontario logo (CNW Group/Indigenous Tourism Ontario)

This momentous occasion marks a significant step towards a brighter future, one where we work collaboratively to protect and celebrate the natural beauty of the land. Our partnership represents a dedication to sustainability and inclusivity, as we strive to create opportunities that honor Indigenous cultures and showcase the wonders of camping in Ontario.

Together, we are committed to working toward a more sustainable future, where the preservation of the land and collaboration is intertwined.

"We want to continue to carve partnerships such as this in Ontario, supporting the connections to the First Nations communities. Encouraging this work in areas such as Campgrounds, not only strengthens the opportunities for diversity in the sector but also recognizes the importance of Indigenous prosperity. ITO welcomes the opportunity to work alongside Camping in Ontario, as a conduit for this work." shared Sherry Mayer, Vice-President of Operations, Indigenous Tourism Ontario

"Camping In Ontario is thrilled to formalize this partnership with Indigenous Tourism Ontario and to work together to strengthen our respective associations. This Memorandum of Understanding represents a commitment to collaboration and a recognition of the important role that Indigenous Tourism Ontario can play in enhancing the camping experience for visitors and the business practices of our members. We look forward to working together to fulfill our respective business goals while also promoting responsible and sustainable tourism" shared Ellie Abucay-Giammattolo, Chair of Camping In Ontario/OPCA

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ABOUT CIO

Camping In Ontario, also known as Ontario Private Campground Association (OPCA), is a member-based Association, composed of small businesses located throughout the Province of Ontario. Our Association was started in 1969 by a group of campground owners that wanted to improve their businesses. While the way we do things has changed over the years, our mandate remains the same:

"As a vital and active stakeholder in tourism, Camping In Ontario supports member campgrounds in the Province of Ontario by educating campground owners, marketing camping in Ontario to the general public and advocating to the government." For more information, visit https://www.campinginontario.ca/

ABOUT ITO

Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) is a provincial non-profit and membership association which focuses on creating aligning and forming partnerships between businesses, associations, organizations, government departments, and industry leaders from across Ontario and Canada to support the growth of Indigenous tourism in Ontario and Canada while addressing the demand for development and marketing of authentic Indigenous experiences. ITO has an established membership process that enables Indigenous tourism industry partners to engage with and show support for Indigenous tourism. For more information, visit www.IndigenousTourismOntario.ca .

SOURCE Indigenous Tourism Ontario

Cision

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Dublin, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Intelligent Vehicle Cockpit-Driving Integration Research Report, 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



1. What is the real cockpit-driving integration?



At present, automotive electronic and electrical architectures are evolving towards domain integration and central computing. Some functional domains (intelligent driving domain, cockpit domain, chassis domain, body domain, power domain, etc.) are being integrated, for example, body and chassis domain integration, and cockpit and intelligent driving domain integration.



Cockpit-driving integration refers to the integration of cockpit and intelligent driving domains into a high-performance computing unit that supports both intelligent driving and intelligent cockpit functions. It is an effective solution to reducing development cycle and vehicle cost.



Cockpit-driving integration falls into two types: multi-SoC integration, that is, cockpit and intelligent driving functions are deployed on different boards; single SoC integration, that is, the software and algorithms of cockpit and intelligent driving are all deployed on one board.



Based on a single SoC and with a hypervisor running on the chip, the real cockpit-driving integration divides different functional modules through the hypervisor to enable different security levels of secure cockpit and driving functions. Yet limited by architecture solutions, software and hardware technologies, supply chain and other factors, the cockpit-driving integration based on a single SoC is hard to come true in a short time.



2. How to facilitate cockpit-driving integration?



Given varying maturity and requirements of cockpit and intelligent driving technologies, cockpit-driving integration is iterating and being promoted in a gradual manner.



Zhao Jianhong, the vice president of product at EnjoyMove Technology, said that the company will prioritize cockpit-driving integrated solutions because of the demand from OEMs.

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At present, for parking solutions are relatively mature, and cockpit domain controllers offer sufficient computing power, integrating parking into cockpit domain controllers brings a cost advantage. Cockpit-parking integration signifies the first step of cockpit-driving integration, that is, cockpit-driving integration will be considered after the cockpit-parking integration technology matures.



Bosch Group also plans to achieve cockpit-driving integration around 2024 after the implementation of the Cockpit-Parking Integration 1.0 (based on Qualcomm 8155) and Cockpit-Parking Integration 2.0 (based on Qualcomm 8295).



In the future, both the driving-parking integration (launched in 2022 on large scale) around intelligent driving, and the cockpit-parking integration (expected to be mass-produced in 2023) centering on the cockpit will eventually head towards the cockpit-driving integration expected to be spawned around 2025.



3. How companies deploy cockpit-driving integration?



Since 2022, cockpit-driving integration has become the focus of the industry, attracting entrants like Z-ONE, Neta Auto, Tesla, Desay SV, ThunderSoft and Continental.



Z-ONE: the Galaxy Full-stack Solution 3.0 for smart cars was released in November 2022. It adopts central computing and zonal control, and is equipped with ZXD, a cockpit-driving integrated computing platform. It is scheduled to be mass-produced in 2025.



Features of ZXD:

The conventional domain framework is broke up for the layered design of 'cloud platform + central brain + zone + intelligent sensing and execution' so as to realize software and hardware decoupling, and cross-domain integration

Based on Chinese homemade chips, the AI compute up to 1,000 TOPS supports continuously simultaneous operation of multi-domain functions (e.g., autonomous driving and in-vehicle infotainment), independent calculation of cockpit and intelligent driving domains, and hard-core information encryption, as well as L4 and above autonomous driving, and high-resolution multi-screen display of intelligent cockpit

The pre-installed intelligent vehicle operating system ZOS can realize 'software and hardware synergy' with China's local chips, offer standard uniform interfaces for software and hardware decoupling, and provide a unified development platform for cross-domain integration

Neta Auto: the latest electronic and electrical architecture is a central computing architecture whose core is a supercomputing platform (including Haozhi Supercomputer 1.0 and Haozhi Supercomputer 2.0). With computing power up to 1,000 TOPS, it supports L4 autonomous driving integrated with intelligent driving and cockpit functions.



Haozhi Supercomputer 2.0 uses a 'central + zonal' architecture composed of two boards: a cockpit-driving integration domain unit and an intelligent control unit. It will be applied to Neta S+/Shanhai Platform.



Desay SV: in April 2022, Desay SV unveiled 'Aurora', an automotive intelligent computing platform. As a multi-SoC based cockpit-driving integrated solution, it realizes a leap from domain controllers to central computing platform, with the following features:

Hardware: supports mainstream heterogeneous SoCs with high computing power, such as NVIDIA Orin, Qualcomm SA8295, and Black Sesame Huashan A1000, and deliver total computing power of over 2,000 TOPS

Function: integrate core functional domains such as intelligent cockpit domain, intelligent driving domain and connectivity services, to achieve cross-domain integration

Structure: adopt a plug-in structure, and offer flexibly configured computing power to meet the requirements of models at varying prices.



Most of the cockpit-driving integrated solutions of OEMs and Tier1 suppliers in China are based on multiple SoCs from Qualcomm, Nvidia and SemiDrive. The single SoC based solutions are still under development.



It is worth noting that NVIDIA and Qualcomm have successively released high-compute cockpit-driving integrated chips since 2022, providing strong support for application of single SoC solutions.



Nvidia: Nvidia announced DRIVE Thor, a superchip of epic proportions, in September 2022. With computing power of 2,000 TOPS, it is compatible with Linux, QNX and Android-based IVI systems, and supports cockpit-driving integration. Nvidia plans to put DRIVE Thor into production in 2024.



Nvidia DRIVE Thor will be installed in ZEEKR's next-generation smart cars to be produced in early 2025. The latest news in March showed that Lenovo will also adopt Nvidia DRIVE Thor. According to Lenovo's plan, its cockpit-driving integrated controller will be launched during 2024-2025, with computing power of 1,000/2,000 TOPS.



OEMs can integrate all the functions of intelligent vehicles on a single SoC by virtue of DRIVE Thor.



Qualcomm: in January 2023, Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon Ride Flex, the automotive industry's first scalable family of SoCs to simultaneously support digital cockpits and ADAS. The expected start of production will begin in 2024.



The Snapdragon Ride Flex has three levels: Mid, High, and Premium. The AI compute of the single Premium SoC is above 600 TOPS. Combined with AI accelerators (probably NPUs or MAC arrays), it can support performance of up to 2,000 TOPS.



It is known that Volkswagen will adopt the Snapdragon Ride Flex to support single-chip multi-domain computing (covering driving assistance and intelligent cockpit). The Snapdragon Ride Flex will first land on the new-generation PPE-based Porsche Macan that will be launched in 2024.



Generally speaking, cockpit-driving integration is still in the exploration stage, facing quite a few problems and challenges in organizational structure, technology development and industrial chain coordination, for example: integration of high-compute chips; SOA-based software layered design, and cross-domain integration of operating systems and middleware; application of high-bandwidth, low-latency automotive Ethernet communication technology.





Key Topics Covered:



1. E/E Architecture and Cockpit-Driving Integration



2. Cockpit-Driving Integrated Products and Solutions of OEMs



3. Cockpit-Driving Integrated Products and Solutions of Major Tier1 Suppliers



4. Cockpit-Driving Integrated Products and Solutions of Chip and Software Enterprises



5. Trends of and Challenges for Cockpit-Driving Integration



Companies Mentioned





Tesla

Volkswagen

Geely

GAC Aion

Great Wall Motor

Hongqi

Xpeng

Li Auto

NIO

Jidu Auto

Neta

IM Motors

Bosch

Continental

Aptiv

ZF

Desay SV

Hangsheng Electronics

UnlimitedAI

Technomous

Baidu

Huawei

Z-One

ECARX

Lenovo

Qualcomm

NVIDIA

Horizon Robotics

SemiDrive

Neusoft Reach

Thundersoft

Enjoy Move Technology

ArcherMind

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uq8bx0

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




Indigenous nations and political organizations, environmental groups and businesses are among those

presenting arguments today in BC Supreme Court challenging BC's "free entry" system

VANCOUVER, BC / xmkym, Skwxwu7mesh & slilwta territories, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the BC Supreme Court will hear from a diverse array of groups intervening in the Gitxaaa Nation's legal challenge against BC's "free entry" mineral tenure regime. The litigation, launched in October 2021, takes aim at the provincial government's outdated practice of granting mineral claims without Indigenous consultation or consent, contrary to both the government's constitutional obligations and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Gitxaaa Nation heads back to BC Supreme Court this week for its groundbreaking legal challenge of the Mineral Tenure Act, which allows exploration on First Nations' territory without their consent. (CNW Group/BC Mining Law Reform Network)

Intervenors representing the First Nations Leadership Council, four Indigenous nations, six environmental and community groups, and two mineral exploration businesses will be in Court today to make their legal arguments opposing BC's current legal regime for granting mineral rights.

The case is the first to substantively interpret BC's legal obligations under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).

"The importance of this case, and widespread concern with BC's failure to respect Indigenous rights in its mineral claim regime, are demonstrated by all those joining us in the courtroom today. Their own experiences highlight why ensuring respect for Indigenous governance and law is in everyone's interest, including the mining industry and the public, in order to sustainably manage the lands and waters that sustain us all," said Gitxaaa Chief Councillor Linda Innes.

Under BC's current Mineral Tenure Act, "free miners" can easily acquire mineral rights online for a nominal fee through an automated system, with no requirement for Indigenous consultation or consent. Like Gitxaaa, intervenors say this system is in urgent need of an overhaul to align with UNDRIP and to address the wide-ranging negative impacts of the mineral tenure regime, which affect both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and the ecosystems they rely on.

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Gitxaaa's case is being heard alongside a similar legal challenge to mineral claims launched by the Ehattesaht First Nation. The two-week hearing runs from April 3-14, 2023.

Quotes from Intervenors

Naxginkw (Tara Marsden), Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs:

"The provincial government has failed to prioritize mineral tenure reform, despite decades of concerns brought forward by First Nations, including Gitanyow. We have been forced to the courts in support of Gitxaaa to seek to overturn a legislative colonial relic that threatens our precious salmon ecosystems and our right to decide how our lands are used."

Kukpi7 Justin Kane, Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation:

"Ts'kw'aylaxw is happy to be part of this case and to stand with Gitxaaa in challenging BC's outdated mineral claim system, which clearly needs to change. With a law like DRIPA in place, we shouldn't even be here  but despite the passing of BC's legislation, mining claims continue to be granted without our free, prior and informed consent. With DRIPA, the law has been written, and now we hope the courts start holding the Province accountable."

Chief Aileen Prince, Nak'azdli Whuten:

"The total lack of consultation of Nak'azdli and other First Nations before mineral rights are granted in BC is completely unacceptable, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is disappointing, to say the least, that BC is arguing that its commitment to align laws with the UN Declaration is not enforceable in court."

Nuskmata (Jacinda Mack), Mining Spokesperson, Nuxalk Nation:

"Nuxalk Nation stands with Gitxaaa in this important work to protect people, lands and waters from outdated and harmful mining practices that impact us all. We applaud the leadership that Gitxaaa is taking to address and correct BC's 'mining at all costs' system and blatant disregard for human rights. We stand with them as an intervenor, and as relatives on the front lines of our unceded Indigenous homelands."

Jamie Kneen, MiningWatch Canada and Co-Chair, BC Mining Law Reform Network:

"BC's Mineral Tenure Act is the root cause of a host of problems. It disregards Indigenous rights and allows claims to be staked in almost anyone's backyard, without their knowledge, much less consent. It exempts claims from land use planning requirements, ignores the voice of local governments, and makes the creation of protected areas much more difficult and more expensive. Gitxaaa's litigation presents an opportunity for the Province to respect the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and to address these major problems for the benefit of local communities and the environment."

Regional Chief Terry Teegee, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations:

"The Province of BC is trying to have it both ways, by making political commitments to reform the Mineral Tenure Act while fighting reform in the courtroom. In this era of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, this is unacceptable. The First Nations Leadership Council welcomes the opportunity to provide the court with its on-the-ground perspective on the proper interpretation of DRIPA, and by extension the current domestic significance of UNDRIP in British Columbia."

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs:

"In this day and age, the fact that someone can huddle over their keyboard in a dark basement and file mineral claims over tens of thousands of acres of Indigenous lands  without any consultation whatsoever, and without any notification  is a complete, egregious violation of the Declaration Act, and it's unacceptable. The passing of the Declaration Act represented a commitment to bring the Province's laws in line with the UN Declaration, including the right to free, prior and informed consent. I applaud the Gitxaaa people for their courage and visionary leadership in this case, which gives us hope for progressive change in the province of British Columbia. We expect the Province's submissions to the Court to be fully aligned with the UN Declaration."

BC Mining Law Reform Logo. reformbcmining.org (CNW Group/BC Mining Law Reform Network)

SOURCE BC Mining Law Reform Network

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/11/c0976.html
TELUS Communications Inc

As national rates of homelessness rise to record levels, TELUS increases its Health for Good commitment across Canada to $13M through 2026

MONTREAL, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, members of the media are invited to a special community event featuring local dignitaries, as well as representatives of both TELUS Health and Old Brewery Mission , to formally announce the expansion of the innovative TELUS Health for Good program in Montreal, a return to the city after the programs initial launch here in 2014. It's estimated about 6,000 individuals experience homelessness on any given night in Quebec, most of whom are in Montreal, and face barriers accessing medical and psychosocial support. The Old Brewery Mission Mobile Health Clinic, powered by TELUS Health, reaffirms TELUS commitment to ensuring that Montrealers in need have access to immediate, high-quality care. In addition, TELUS is increasing its commitment to its Health for Good program, with $13M dedicated through 2026.



Details of the event below:

WHAT Healthcare announcement in support of Montreals marginalized communities

Media interviews and photo opportunities

Onsite tour of Montreals new Old Brewery Mission Mobile Health Clinic, powered by TELUS Health WHEN Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 9:45 am 10:00 a.m. Opening Remarks and Speeches

10:30 a.m. Photo Opportunities with dignitaries and official representatives

10:35 a.m. Media Interview Opportunity + Tours of Mobile Clinic * WHERE Maison du developpement durable (Atrium Hydro-Quebec)

50, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest,

Montreal, QC, H2X 3V4 WHO Photo opportunities and interviews: Martin Belanger, Managing Director, TELUS Health

James Hughes, President and CEO, Old Brewery Mission

Emilie Fortier, Director of Emergency and Reaffiliation Services, Old Brewery Mission

* Media are encouraged to request and coordinate interviews and Mobile Clinic tours in advance.

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About TELUS Health for Good

Since 2014, TELUS Health for Good has been connecting underserved individuals to the medical and mental health care they need using the power of technology. Equipped with TELUS electronic medical records technology, and fuelled by compassion, our Mobile Health Clinics provide essential primary medical care to individuals living on the streets and have supported over 150,000 patient visits since the programs inception. The program also supports women experiencing marginalization with access to free TELUS Health MyCare counselling sessions and supports low-income older adults to live more independently and enjoy peace of mind with subsidized access to TELUS LivingWell Companion.

Media Contact

Camille Grenier

TELUS Media Relations

camille.grenier@telus.com




Global Market Insights Inc.

Intrauterine devices industry is anticipated to register 6% CAGR between 2023 and 2032 due rising awareness among women regarding various IUD applications and high number of unintended pregnancies.

Selbyville, Delaware, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Intrauterine devices market value is predicted to exceed USD 7.5 billion by 2032, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights Inc.

Government efforts toward preventing unintended abortion are a key driver behind market growth. In fact, in November 2022, the U.S. Agency for International Development unveiled over USD 15 million of additional support for Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) partnership. Furthermore, developments in intrauterine technology including smaller frameless copper and levonorgestrel-releasing devices are also expected to increase product usage amongst adolescents and nulliparous women.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5451





99% efficacy of copper IUD to foster product segment expansion

The intrauterine devices market size from the copper IUD segment is anticipated to record a valuation of over USD 3 billion by 2032. These IUDs are a hormone-free option for reversible birth control and suitable for people who are unable to use hormonal birth control. As per credible sources, copper IUDs have shown 99% efficacy in pregnancy prevention. These devices remain placed for up to 5-10 years and can be easily taken off whenever required. They are also safe to be used during breastfeeding, which augments their demand.

Novel innovations in IUD technology to fuel 25-29 age group segment progress

Intrauterine devices market share from the 25-29 age group segment is expected to record a revenue rate of over 6.5% by 2032, owing to growing awareness about unwanted pregnancy implications and IUD applications among women in this age bracket.

Recent innovations in technology, which yield fewer complications and help prevent pregnancy, have proliferated the use of IUDs among women of this age group. In fact, novel developments in intrauterine technology have birthed smaller frameless devices that may be ideal for younger women as they are small, well-tolerated, and effective.

Story continues

Browse key industry insights spread across 170 pages with 189 market data tables & 16 figures & charts from the report, Intrauterine Devices Market Size By Product (Copper IUD, Hormonal IUD), By Age Group (15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45+), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2023-2032 In detail along with the table of contents:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/intrauterine-devices-market

Rising awareness about contraceptive techniques to fuel Europe intrauterine devices industry

Europe intrauterine devices market is slated to exhibit over USD 1.3 billion by 2032, owing to increasing awareness about sexual health, unwanted pregnancies, and contraceptive techniques. Moreover, the presence of government aid to prevent unsafe abortions is also contributing to regional progression.

Several product manufacturers are also focusing on further expanding in the region, creating a conducive environment for market gains. In fact, back in August 2022, Bayer AG, a German multinational pharma and biotech company, received US FDA clearance for supplemental new drug application which extends the use of IUD Mirena 52 mg, making it compatible for use up to 8 years.

Secure a copy of the premium research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/securecheckout/paymenta/5451?gmpaycod=sugmp

Product innovations to define the competitive landscape for intrauterine devices industry

Some of the major intrauterine devices market players include Bayer AG, Allergan (AbbVie Inc.), Pregna International Ltd., Eurogine S.L., HLL Lifecare Limited, Durbin, CooperSurgical, Inc., OCON Medical Ltd., among others.

Browse Our Reports Store - GMIPulse @ https://www.gminsights.com/gmipulse

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.

CONTACT: Contact Us: Aashit Tiwari Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights Inc. Toll Free: +1-888-689-0688 USA: +1-302-846-7766 Europe: +44-742-759-8484 APAC: +65-3129-7718 Email: sales@gminsights.com Read More News @ https://ibmag.com




NEW YORK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, today announced a majority investment in Shearer Supply ("Shearer" or "the Company"), a leading independent distributor of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning ("HVAC") equipment for residential and commercial properties in the southern United States region. Shearer's management team, the Shearer family and PNC Riverarch Capital will remain shareholders in the Company alongside Investcorp. Additional financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Investcorp (PRNewsfoto/Investcorp)

Founded in 1983, Shearer is one of the nation's largest independent distributors of HVAC equipment, parts and supplies serving over 5,500 customers from 22 branches across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, Shearer's core product lines include American Standard Residential and Commercial HVAC, Ameristar Heating and Air Conditioning and Samsung HVAC.

"Shearer operates in a large, resilient and highly fragmented market driven by non-discretionary replacement demand and will continue to benefit from strong secular tailwinds including an aging housing stock, shortening replacement cycles and favorable regulation, in addition to its attractive Southern US geographic footprint. We are excited to partner with the Shearer family to drive organic growth and further expansion," said Dave Tayeh, Head of Private Equity  North America at Investcorp. "We have experienced robust activity across our North American Private Equity platform this year, underscoring the strength of our strategy in partnering with growing, founder-led businesses as they look to scale their businesses."

"Investcorp has an established history of working with companies like Shearer and have demonstrated a strong track record in HVAC and specialty distribution," said Michelle Shearer-Rodriguez, CEO at Shearer Supply. "We are looking forward to partnering with them on our next phase of growth and leveraging their strong industry insights."

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"Shearer provides a compelling value proposition for both contractors and original equipment manufacturers, acting as a one-stop-shop local partner with a breadth of products, expertise and value-added services," said Steve Miller, Managing Director, Private Equity  North America at Investcorp. "This is an impressive family-owned and run business that has differentiated itself in its ability to scale and grow in excess of the market throughout its history and we are thrilled to be partnering with the Company's highly motivated management team."

Investcorp has unique experience in the HVAC industry and specialty distribution, with investments including Arrowhead, ATD, Berlin Packaging and The Wrench Group.

This announcement follows the final closing of Investcorp North American Private Equity Fund I, L.P., which focuses on control buy-out investments in middle market service businesses in North America. Fund I closed at over $1.2 billion in capital commitments. Investcorp's North America Private Equity group has been investing in North American mid-market businesses for over 40 years and has completed approximately 70 transactions, deploying more than $22 billion in transaction value since inception.

About Investcorp

Investcorp is a global investment manager, specializing in alternative investments across private equity, real estate, credit, absolute return strategies, GP stakes, infrastructure, and insurance asset management. Since our inception in 1982, we have focused on generating attractive returns for our clients, while creating long-term value in our portfolio companies by adopting a disciplined investment process, employing talented professionals, and utilizing the resources of a global institution with an innovative approach.

We invest capital in our products and strategies, ensuring that interests are aligned with our investors and stakeholders. We pursue sustainable value creation through our investments and in the communities in which we operate and take pride in partnering with clients to deliver tailored solutions for their needs.

Today, Investcorp manages $50 billion in assets, including assets managed by third party managers. Investcorp has 14 offices in the US, Europe, GCC and Asia, including, India, China, Japan and Singapore and employs approximately 500 people from 50 nationalities globally.

Further information is available at http://www.investcorp.com. Follow us @Investcorp on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

About Shearer Supply

Founded in 1983 by the Shearer family, Shearer Supply is a leading replacement-focused HVAC distribution platform of scale providing residential and commercial equipment, parts and supplies to a highly fragmented base of 5,500+ local contractor customers in the Southern U.S. region. The Company serves customers from 22 branches across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and New Mexico. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, Shearer's core product lines include American Standard Residential and Commercial HVAC, Ameristar Heating and Air Conditioning and Samsung HVAC. The Company also offers parts, supplies and accessories sourced from over 300 vendors.

Media Contacts

Investcorp

Katherine Segura

1 929-528-5248

corpcomms@investcorp.com

Prosek Partners

pro-investcorp@prosek.com

Cision

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SOURCE Investcorp
Low-cost index funds make it easy to achieve average market returns. But in any diversified portfolio of stocks, you'll see some that fall short of the average. That's what has happened with the La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE:LZB) share price. It's up 34% over three years, but that is below the market return. At least the stock price is up over the last year, albeit only by 4.9%.

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.

View our latest analysis for La-Z-Boy

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One 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.

La-Z-Boy was able to grow its EPS at 35% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. This EPS growth is higher than the 10% average annual increase in the share price. So one could reasonably conclude that the market has cooled on the stock. We'd venture the lowish P/E ratio of 6.99 also reflects the negative sentiment around the stock.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

It is of course excellent to see how La-Z-Boy has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. If you are thinking of buying or selling La-Z-Boy stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

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. We note that for La-Z-Boy the TSR over the last 3 years was 41%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that La-Z-Boy shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 7.6% over one year. Of course, that includes the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 0.5% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with La-Z-Boy (at least 1 which is a bit unpleasant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Of course La-Z-Boy 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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While Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 21% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been pleasing. In the last three years the share price is up, 69%: better than the market.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

View our latest analysis for Pitney Bowes

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. 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.

Over the last three years, Pitney Bowes failed to grow earnings per share, which fell 2.3% (annualized).

Companies are not always focussed on EPS growth in the short term, and looking at how the share price has reacted, we don't think EPS is the most important metric for Pitney Bowes at the moment. Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics.

We doubt the dividend payments explain the share price rise, since we don't see any improvement in that regard. But it's far more plausible that the revenue growth of 4.3% per year is viewed as evidence that Pitney Bowes is growing. It could be that investors are content with the revenue growth on the basis that the company isn't really focussed on profits just yet. And that might explain the higher price.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Pitney Bowes will earn in the future (free profit forecasts).

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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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Pitney Bowes the TSR over the last 3 years was 92%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Pitney Bowes shareholders are down 19% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 7.6%. 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 9% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Pitney Bowes (including 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) .

Pitney Bowes is not the only stock that insiders are buying. 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 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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Long term investing works well, but it doesn't always work for each individual stock. It hits us in the gut when we see fellow investors suffer a loss. Spare a thought for those who held MYP Ltd. (SGX:F86) for five whole years - as the share price tanked 79%. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 37%. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 15% in the last 90 days.

Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns.

Check out our latest analysis for MYP

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

MYP became profitable within the last five years. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics may better explain the share price move.

Arguably, the revenue drop of 11% a year for half a decade suggests that the company can't grow in the long term. That could explain the weak share price.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. This free interactive report on MYP's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 0.5% in the twelve months, MYP shareholders did even worse, losing 37%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 12% 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 MYP better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with MYP (including 1 which is potentially serious) .

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Of course MYP 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 Singaporean exchanges.

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



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

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iSHANG Web3-as-a-Service (W3aaS) Platform is a decentralized infrastructure & gateway to enable brands and enterprises to enter into the 3 rd generation internet (Web3) market;

10+ development-free turnkey solutions for quick & cost-efficient deployment of Web3 campaigns;

Well-rounded, end-to-end support with practical consulting service, tailor-made Web3 campaign management module and campaign driven NFT & dApp marketplace.

HONG KONG, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iSHANG Technology Limited (iSHANG - www.ishang.com ), the Web3 business arm of the leading digital asset group, COINSTREET, today announced the launch of world's first "Web3-as-a-Service" (W3aaS) platform that provides the infrastructure and gateway for brands & enterprises to enter into the Web3 market through over 10 turnkey Web3 services & applications anchored on Decentralized Ledger Technology (DLT).

iSHANG launches world's first "Web3-as-a-Service" (W3aaS) platform with 10+ turnkey vertical enterprise solutions facilitating web3 adoption from brands and enterprises; supported by practical consulting service, tailor-made Web3 campaign management module and campaign driven NFT & dApp marketplace.

iSHANG Web3-as-a-Service (W3aaS) Platform is built on Ethereum and Polygon blockchain using IPFS (Inter Planetary Filing System) decentralized storage system. To ensure seamless integration with conventional Web2 system from enterprises, iSHANG also leverages on AWS's cloud infrastructure and high-available secure computing environment.

In addition, iSHANG also provides one-stop consulting services, empowering mainstream brands and enterprises to transform their businesses and to tap into the limitless potential of the Web3 market, and offering revolutionary ways for brand engagement, customer acquisition & retention. This provides an end-to-end solution for brands and enterprises to launch customized and innovative Web3 Vertical Applications in a timely & cost-efficient way.

Web3-as-a-Service Platform and Solutions

iSHANG's W3aaS platform includes three main components, 1) 10+ ready-made turnkey, but fully customizable decentralized blockchain applications, 2) tailor-made Web3 campaign management, and 3) campaign-driven NFT & dApp marketplace, such as -

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Web2-to-3 Membership & Lifestyle Program Collectible Phygital Value-Backed NFT, or "vNFT" Decentralized Affiliate & Social Marketing Program "Proof-of-X" Non-Transferable NFT Certificate O2O Commerce and Global Payment Tokenization of ESG & Charity Project Web3 Voting Campaign & Survey Branded Web3 Game & Metaverse Decentralized Coupon, Voucher & Ticketing Crowdfunding & Trade Financing Program

Web3 Consulting Service

Advisory / Consultation  Project idea conception, strategic planning and commercialization plan;

Technical Development & Operation  Smart contracts & dApp creation, mini-site creation, blockchain wallet & payment system;

Marketing & Launch Campaign  Community management, MarCom strategy, campaign management;

Post-Launch Trading & Support  Trading & auctioning, DAO management, exit strategies.

Samson Lee, Co-Founder of iSHANG commented, "Despite the hype, Web3 mass adoption has been slow and mostly focused on cryptocurrency, Game-Fi and NFT. Research has shown that both users and brands have a strong interest in adopting Web3; however, there are many gaps and hurdles in the deployment of technologies, as well as a lack of talent in the field and cost-efficient solutions. iSHANG aims to solve these issues and provide a bridge for mass adoption with a total solution of Web3-as-a-Service technology platform, together with turnkey enterprise solutions and practical consulting services."

Stephen Law, Vice Chairman of COINSTREET, the holding company of iSHANG, commented, "We were recently granted of first license of Security Token Offering Platform in Hong Kong (under another subsidiary of Signum Digital) and are now delighted to announce the launch of iSHANG Web3-as-a-Service Enterprise Solutions Platform. With the two platforms in operation, Coinstreet group aims to capture the vast Web3 transformation business opportunities from within the regulated financial service area, to overall non-regulated business trades and industries."

Alice So, Head of Entrepreneurship at Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, added, "Hong Kong Cyberport is dedicated to nurturing the growth of the Web3 ecosystem. We are pleased to see our incubatee, iSHANG, launching their Web3-as-a-Service Platform with the aim to facilitate mass adoption of Web3 by end consumers and corporations. We will continue to support the development of this emerging industry and attract international Web3 companies to set up operations in Hong Kong through Web3 Hub@Cyberport."

Web3 has been described as the next evolution of the World Wide Web. It is also a general term referring to all kinds of new Internet services that are built using decentralized blockchains. Recent research indicates that the global Web3 market size is expected to reach USD 81.5 Billion in 2030 with revenue CAGR of 43.7%. Web3 is predicated on the creation of a completely decentralized ecosystem, representing a potential power shift in allowing consumers to control their personal data. Individuals will be able to own-trade-profit from the digital assets through direct P2P transactions, with transactions tracked with total transparency and streamlined by settlement of stablecoins. Operational efficiency will be largely increased by lowering operation cost and increasing settlement speed through smart contracts. With iSHANG W3aaS Platform, all brands and enterprises can make a move to take advantage of this paradigm shift in timely and cost-efficient ways.

About iSHANG Technology Limited (iSHANG)

iSHANG operates a "Web3-as-a-Service" (W3aaS) platform that provides the infrastructure and a gateway for brands & enterprises to enter into the Web3 market. iSHANG W3aaS platform developed 10+ turnkey decentralized services & applications that are built on Ethereum and Polygon blockchain using IPFS (Inter Planetary Filing System) decentralized storage system. In addition, iSHANG also offers one-stop consulting services empowering mainstream brands and enterprises to transform their businesses and enable them to offer revolutionary ways for brand engagement, customer acquisition & retention. Ultimately, iSHANG provides an end-to-end solution for brands and enterprises to launch customized and innovative Web3 Enterprise Vertical Applications in a timely & cost-efficient way. For more information about iSHANG, please visit  www.ishang.com

About Coinstreet

Founded in 2017, Coinstreet is an award-winning professional advisory and consulting firm in the Digital Asset sector. Coinstreet also offers innovative fintech services, and business and operation solutions, covering four key business segments including : (1) TOKENIZATION BUSINESS  Digitized Securities & Security Tokens (STO); (2) ASSET MANAGEMENT  Custodian, DeFi, Investment Funds; (3) WEB3, METAVERSE & UTILITY TOKENS  NFT, Stablecoin, Loyalty Tokens; and (4) ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT  Education, Awards, PR, Events, Marketing, & Consultation. Coinstreet is the co-organizer of TADS Awards (www.TADSawards.org)  the world's first international award for Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities sector, and the co-organizer of the Digital Asset Series (DAS, www.digitalassetseries.org)  a series of free educational seminars for the general public that aims to facilitate mass adoption of digital assets. For more information on Coinstreet, please visit  www.coinstreet.partners

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SOURCE iSHANG
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan has awarded its largest defence equipment maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries contracts worth 378 billion yen ($2.84 billion) to develop and build a new missile force aimed at deterring China from using military force in East Asia.

The four contracts include land, sea and air-launched missiles as well as a hypersonic ballistic warhead that it wants to begin deploying from 2026, Japan's Ministry of Defense said in a press release.

In the wake of Russia's attack on Ukraine and amid growing concern that China could launch an attack on neighbouring Taiwan, Japan in December unveiled its biggest military build-up since World War Two that will double defence spending over five years.

The new missile force, which is expected to be capable of striking ships and land targets more than 1,000 km from Japan, is at the center of that plan.

To bolster its defences before it can deploy those home-built missiles, Japan in February also said it will bulk order Raytheon Technologies Corp Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States.

It has not yet said how many it will buy, but local media reports said it will be as many as 500.

($1 = 133.0800 yen)

(Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Jan Harvey)
ST. IGNATIUS, Mont., April 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--S&K Aerospace, LLC was named the 2023 Native/Tribal Business of the Year by the National 8(a) Association and HUBZone Contractors National Council. The award was announced at the Small Business Industry Awards Gala held February 15th in New Orleans, Louisiana.

S&K Aerospace is a subsidiary of S&K Technologies, Inc. and owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). The company is a graduate of the Small Business Administrations 8(a) Program which offers business assistance and services to firms that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Organizations like the National 8(a) Association and HUBZone Contractors National Council also provide business assistance to encourage growth and success in federal contracting.

S&K Technologies, Inc. was established in 1999, and through its many subsidiaries, supports federal and commercial customers in many industries, including aerospace, information technology, engineering, security, space technology, environmental services, construction, and more. The company is headquartered on the Flathead Reservation in Northwest Montana, with offices throughout the Contiguous United States and worldwide.

Formed in 2005, S&K Aerospace is an industry leader in aerospace, logistics, and supply chain management with global reach. Actively performing on multiple contracts, S&K Aerospace supports the military supply and component repair requirements of the U.S. military and over 100 foreign military allies.

"Were incredibly proud to have won this award, representing not only S&K Aerospace, but the entire S&K family of companies and the CSKT. We have built a strong and profitable business that contributes to the progress and well-being of our Tribal community, while providing incredible service to our customers," said Tony Amadeo, President of S&K Aerospace.

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Each year, S&K Technologies declares a dividend to the CSKT Shareholder which helps to fund critical services on the Reservation and surrounding communities. "The profound impact of this funding cant be understated," said Chad Cottet, S&K CEO. "By the end of 2023, S&K will have delivered a total of $71.55 million in dividend to the CSKT for their strategic use to benefit the Tribes."

When asked about S&K Aerospaces selection for the award, Michelle Burnett, Executive Director of the HUBZone Contractors National Council, stated that, "I am incredibly humbled to witness S&K's commitment to their tribal community and the positive impact it has had. It is inspiring to see a business that not only excels in their industry, but also invests in their community. By investing in their community, S&K is setting an example for other businesses and showing how corporate responsibility can benefit everyone. It was an honor to recognize them as the Tribal Small Business of Year."

For more information, visit: www.sktcorp.com or email: info@sktcorp.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005471/en/

Contacts

S&K Aerospace, LLC

406-745-5754
TAIPEI, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kavalan has clinched the global award "Bartender of the Year" at the prestigious Icons of Whisky's 2023 awards for Kavalan Whisky Bar's James Lin.

James Lin of Kavalan Whisky Bar, the winner of Bartender of the Year

Taiwan's premier distillery also won Distiller of the Year and Bar of the Year  Highly Commended in the "Rest of the World" category.

Kavalan also retained its crown for "Best Taiwanese Single Cask Single Malt" and "Best Taiwanese Single Malt" for the third year in a row this time for Kavalan Solist Port and Kavalan King Car Conductor.

About James Lin

Lin gained his apprenticeship under Mr. Hidetsugu Ueno (Bar High Five founder), Nick Wu (Bar Mood Taipei founder) and bar leader Tony Lin (Testing Room by Draft Land R&D and head bartender). At Lazy Point bar he was ranked fourth in the 2018 Bacardi Legacy.

James Lin, winner of the global award Bartender of the Year holds the trophy.

About Kavalan Whisky Bar

Inaugurated in 2019, Kavalan Whisky Bar is located in central Taipei and designed as a speakeasy to provide a multi-sensory experience that tells the Kavalan story. The bar serves a full range of Kavalan expressions, limited editions, as well as classic and specialty cocktails exclusively made with Kavalan whisky and gin.

About Kavalan Distillery

Kavalan Distillery in Yilan County has been pioneering the art of single malt whisky in Taiwan since 2005. Our whisky, aged in intense humidity and heat, sources the meltwaters of Snow Mountain and is enhanced by sea and mountain breezes. All this combines to create Kavalan's signature creaminess. Taking Yilan County's old name, our distillery is backed by about 40 years of beverage-making under parent company, King Car Group. We have collected more than 700 gold awards or higher from the industry's most competitive contests. Visit www.kavalanwhisky.com

Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Tsai

kaitlyn@kingcar.com.tw

Britney Chen

britneychen@kingcar.com.tw

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SOURCE Kavalan
Company to hold conference call and webcast to discuss first quarter financial results

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) will release its first quarter 2023 financial results on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 after the market closes. The company will hold a live conference call and webcast to discuss results at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

The direct dial-in number for the conference call is (844) 340-4761 for U.S. callers and +1 (412) 717-9616 for international callers.

A replay of the call will be available for one week beginning one hour after the live call and can be accessed at (877) 344-7529 for U.S. callers and +1 (412) 317-0088 for international callers. The passcode for the replay is 9624723.

The webcast will be available at: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=dbC8e6et.

A replay of the webcast will be available one hour after the original webcast on the Companys investor relations web site for three months.

About Kennedy Wilson

Kennedy Wilson (NYSE:KW) is a leading global real estate investment company. The company owns, operates, and invests in real estate through the balance sheet and through an investment management platform across the Western United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Kennedy Wilson primarily focuses on multifamily and office properties as well as industrial and debt investments in the investment management business. For more information on Kennedy Wilson, please visit: www.kennedywilson.com.

KW-IR

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005216/en/

Contacts

Investors

Daven Bhavsar, CFA

Vice President of Investor Relations

(310) 887-3431

dbhavsar@kennedywilson.com
- Dedicated plant for electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV) with yearly capacity of 150,000 units

- The plant to mass produce battery-electric PBVs in second half of 2025

- Plant to showcase flexible production by adopting smart innovations, such as efficient 'cell method' of manufacturing

- An innovative factory that pursues low carbon footprint, intelligence, and human-centered principles

- Hyundai Motor Group announces aim to become one of the world's top 3 EV manufacturers by 2030

- The Group also outlines plans to invest KRW 24 trillion in the domestic EV industry by 2030

SEOUL, South Korea, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ -- Kia held a groundbreaking ceremony today for its dedicated plant for the production of battery-electric purpose-built vehicles (PBV). The ceremony was held at Kia's Hwaseong plant, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, and was attended by over 200 people, including government officials, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Kia's Global President and CEO Ho Sung Song, and other employees from Hyundai Motor Group and the automotive parts industry.

Kia starts building facility for electric purpose-built vehicle (PBV) production (PRNewsfoto/Kia Corporation)

Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song, on behalf of Hyundai Motor Group, highlighted in a greeting, "Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Hyundai MOBIS together plan to invest KRW 24 trillion in the domestic electric vehicle industry by 2030, with the goal of making South Korea one of the top three players in the global EV market. Our focus is to enhance the competitiveness of the entire electric vehicle ecosystem, including research and development, production, and infrastructure, and to lead the way in driving change and innovation in the new global automotive industry."

Cutting-edge smart factory with annual production capacity of 150,000 units

Kia will invest around one trillion won (approximately USD 758 million) to secure 99,000 acres of land, with the company planning to start mass-production in the second half of 2025. It plans to produce 150,000 units in the first full year, with the potential to expand in line with future market conditions.

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The new PBV plant will be built as an eco-friendly plant that applies future innovative manufacturing technologies while minimizing carbon emissions. It will also seek efficiency and intelligence with Hyundai Motor and Kia's smart factory brand 'E-FOREST technologies'[1] such as digital manufacturing systems.

One of the innovative manufacturing processes to be implemented at the new PBV plant is known as the 'cellular (or cell) method,' which allows vehicle production based on diverse customer demands.

The cell method is a process layout strategy that groups together machines or workstations that are used to produce similar products or parts. The goal of the cell method is to create a more efficient and flexible manufacturing process by reducing the distance that materials and products need to travel during production. Under the cell method, machines are arranged in a way that optimizes the flow of materials and products between workstations, with the aim of minimizing downtime, reducing costs and increasing productivity.

The PBV plant's cutting-edge manufacturing system unifies the new cell method with the original mass-production conveyor system to allow flexible production with more customization of various product types.

In addition, the PBV plant will be built as a low-carbon factory by operating a dry booth, a nature-friendly construction method, during the painting process of vehicle manufacturing, and reducing carbon emissions by about 20 percent compared to existing factories by utilizing natural light and streamlining the manufacturing process.

Kia will also apply innovative technologies such as automation of facilities using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), automation of painting quality inspection under the vehicle, automation of installation of parts such as glass, vehicle name, and company logo, and real-time automatic measurement quality data analysis to autonomously correct and install the vehicle body in real time.

The new facility will be a 'human-friendly' plant by pushing automation in heavy-duty work and tasks that require looking up at the ceiling, while enhancing the feeling of 'openness' and also reducing noise levels.

First battery electric PBV production set for 2025

Kia plans to show SW (project name), the first model in the company's dedicated PBV lineup, in 2025. The model will be a mid-sized PBV and will be based on the "eS" platform, a dedicated skateboard platform for battery electric PBVs, enabling various types of vehicle bodies to be flexibly combined.

SW has been developed to respond to various business demands such as delivery, ride hailing, and business-to-business (B2B) transactions thanks to its excellent load structure and spacious indoor space that reaches the height of an adult.

After launching the mid-sized SW PBV, Kia plans to expand its product lineup to large-sized PBVs that can be used for logistics, fresh food delivery, multi-seat shuttles, and mobile offices and stores as well as small-sized PBVs and mid-sized robotaxis applied with autonomous driving technology.

For more information, visit the Kia Global Media Center at www.kianewscenter.com

[1] * E-FOREST is a smart factory ecosystem that pursues innovation in manufacturing systems by organically connecting everything to realize customer value. For more information, visit: https://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/story/CONT0000000000003696

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SOURCE Kia Corporation

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A Kuwaiti media outlet says it has created a virtual news presenter using artificial intelligence (AI).

"Fedha" made her debut on the Twitter account of Kuwait News, an affiliate of the Kuwait Times.

She appears as an image of a woman with light-coloured hair, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt.

Abdullah Boftain, deputy editor-in-chief for Kuwait News, told AFP news agency the move tested AI's potential to offer "new and innovative content".

"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," the AI-generated presenter said in Arabic.

Mr Boftain said Fedha may develop to have a Kuwaiti accent and read online news bulletins.

"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," he said.

The presenter's blonde hair and light-coloured eyes reflect the country's diverse population of Kuwaitis and expatriates, Mr Boftain said.

Kuwait is not the first country to unveil an AI-generated news presenter: in 2018, China's state news agency unveiled its own virtual newsreader sporting a sharp suit and a somewhat robotic voice.

A report last month by investment bank Goldman Sachs said AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs.

The report suggested the technology could take over a quarter of work tasks in the US and Europe, but that it may also mean new jobs and a productivity boom.
Data Bridge Market Research

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the levulinic acid market was valued at USD 27.58 in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 93.65 million by 2029, at a CAGR of 14.17% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2029

MELBOURNE, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data Bridge Market Research has recently published a Report, titled, " Levulinic Acid Market " The report offers an extensive analysis of key growth strategies, drivers, opportunities, key segments, Porter's Five Forces analysis, and competitive landscape. An excellent Levulinic Acid market report provides industry players with crucial support to expand their customer base within diverse market spaces. A team of experienced consultants, efficient market researchers, and dependable data providers work with dedication to structure such large-scale market documents. Here, traditional research methodologies are supplemented with innovative approaches to offer evidence-based insights. This business research report offer recommendations that not just match todays fast-evolving business trends, but also allow companies to capitalize on them. The market insights are taken into consideration in the Levulinic Acid market analysis report help simplify decision-making.

The research methodology or the sources of information in the Levulinic Acid report include public information via annual reports to shareholders, Government reports that are accessible for public review, company marketing information, advertising, company press releases, and state and local news sources. Moreover, subscription-based information, online research including third-party references, trade associations, directories and publications, one on one telephone interviews with both current customers and prospects, and a range of private industry sources are also referred to while building Levulinic Acid market survey reports. To provide accurate information to users, every effort is made!

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the levulinic acid market was valued at USD 27.58 in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 93.65 million by 2029, at a CAGR of 14.17% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2029. The market report curated by the Data Bridge Market Research team includes in-depth expert analysis, import/export analysis, pricing analysis, production consumption analysis, and climate chain scenario.

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Get a Sample PDF Copy of Levulinic Acid Market @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-levulinic-acid-market

Levulinic acid is an organic compound that is obtained from cellulose degradation. It is also called Keto acid and is produced from brewery waste, manure, and biomass waste. Levulinic acid is considered a petroleum-based product replacement. Also, levulinic acid is being produced by furfuryl alcohol acidic hydrolysis and by the oxidation of ketones. The development of bio-based levulinic acid is increasing with the increasing research and development activities in various chemical industries. Levulinic acid and their salts are water-soluble and commonly used in beauty and personal care products, as approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Levulinic acid is a white crystalline solid that is soluble in water and organic solvents. It's an organic compound that is derived from cellulose degradation. Levulinic Acid is also commonly known as a keto acid. It is superseding petroleum-based products in many different industries like biofuel. Generally, it is produced from manure, brewery waste, and biomass. The production process of this acid includes acidic hydrolysis of furfuryl alcohol, hydrolyzing acetyl succinate esters, and ozone-based oxidation of ketones.

Some of the major players operating in the Levulinic Acid market are:

G.F. Biochemicals Ltd. (Italy)

Langfang Triple Well Chemicals Co. Ltd (China)

Biofine International Inc. (U.S.)

Avantium (Netherlands)

Simagchem Corporation (China)

Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (China)

CSPC Pharmaceutical Group (China)

Great Chemicals Co. Ltd. (China)

Anhui Herman Impex Co Ltd (China)

DuPont (U.S.)

The Valspar Corporation (U.S.)

KCC Corporation (South Korea)

Sherwin-Williams (U.S.)

AkzoNobel (Netherlands)

Jotun A/S (Norway)

Recent Development

In 2021, Brenntag, a global market leader in chemical and ingredients distribution, formed a distribution contract with NXTLEVVEL Biochem to develop its emerging Household, Industrial, and Institution (HI&I) portfolio in offering sustainable biobased solvents in the North America region. The present contract comprises the latest product line including the below product names and comprises levulinates and levulinate ketals. The products are bio-based solvents bringing sustainability, enhanced safety, and high performance.

Get a Complete PDF Research Report to Understand More @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/checkout/buy/enterprise/global-levulinic-acid-market

Opportunities

Rise in Government Initiatives

Furthermore, the rise in initiatives taken by the government and support of public corporations for rodent control extends profitable opportunities to the market players in the forecast period of 2022 to 2029.

Additionally, increasing initiatives to reduce resource depletion and rising research activities extend profitable opportunities to the market players in the forecast period of 2022 to 2029.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on the product portfolios of the top players in the Levulinic Acid market

Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, R&D activities, and product launches in the market

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of the market strategies, and geographic and business segments of the leading players in the market

Market Development: Comprehensive information about emerging markets. This report analyzes the market for various segments across geographies

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Levulinic Acid Market

Market Drivers: Levulinic Acid Market

Growing pharmaceutical industry

Rising demand from pharmaceutical industry for the preparation of drugs because of growing number of disease and infections around the globe are also increasing and it is driving the levulinic acid market.

Increasing investment

The surging investment for the development of advanced and innovative products is also rising, accelerating the levulinic acid market.

Additionally, increasing usage of levulinic acid as a replacement of petroleum based products, increasing degradation of bio-based production methods, surging investment for the development of advanced and innovative products also positively affect the levulinic acid market.

Restraints/Challenges faced by the Levulinic Acid Market

Strict environmental regulations

Strict environmental regulations because of the harmful effects caused by levulinic acid are acting as a market restraint for the growth of the levulinic acid market in the forecast period.

Also, complex method of production and high production cost are projected to challenge the levulinic acid market in the forecast period of 2022-2029.

This levulinic acid market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import-export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, the impact of domestic and localized market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on the levulinic acid market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, Our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth.

To Gain More Insights about this Research, Visit https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-levulinic-acid-market

Investing in this study would grant you access to valuable information, including:

Comprehensive coverage of the Levulinic Acid Industry , both globally and broken down by region.

Regional-level breakdowns of the market, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Country-specific market size splits for the most important countries with major market shares.

Market share and revenue/sales data for the industry's leading players.

Analysis of market trends such as emerging technologies, products, and start-ups, as well as PESTEL Analysis, SWOT Analysis, Porter's Five Forces, and more.

Detailed market size data, including breakdowns by application/industry verticals.

Projections and forecasts for the market's future growth and development.

Key Industry Segmentation: Levulinic Acid Market

Technology

Biofine

Acid hydrolysis

End User

Agriculture

Food

Beverages

Pharmaceuticals

Cosmetics and Personal Care

Application

Food additives

Pharmaceuticals

Agricultural products

Personal care products

Plasticizers

Fuel additives

Regional Analysis/Insights: Levulinic Acid Market

The levulinic acid market is analyzed and market size insights and trends are provided by country, technology, end user and application as referenced above.

The countries covered in the levulinic acid market report are the U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.

North America dominates the levulinic acid market due to the large market share of the U.S. and Canada in the development of the pharmaceutical and personal care industry and the rising working population and changing lifestyle in the region.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to hold the largest growth rate during the forecast period of 2022 to 2029 due to the rising demand for pesticides in India and China.

Table of Contents:

Introduction Market Segmentation Executive Summary Premium Insights Global Levulinic Acid Market : Regulations Market Overview Global Levulinic Acid Market, By Technology Global Levulinic Acid Market, By Application Global Levulinic Acid Market, By End User Global Levulinic Acid Market, By Region Global Levulinic Acid Market: Company Landscape SWOT Analyses Company Profile Questionnaires Related Reports

To Check the Complete Table of contents, click here @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-levulinic-acid-market

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Junior Doctors Strike - Kirsty O'Connor/PA

As if timed for maximum effect, this weeks junior doctors strike begins just after a long bank holiday weekend, to coincide with a likely spike in demand. This would be disruptive at the best of times, but even more so at a time when we are still nowhere near clearing the Covid backlog.

The strikers will, no doubt, feel emboldened by the fact that most of the public are on their side. According to a YouGov poll from seven weeks ago, 56pc of the public support the strike action, and only 33pc are opposed, with young and middle-aged people being particularly supportive.

There has been a lot of back-and-forth about whether the 35pc increase the junior doctors demand is reasonable or excessive. As we might expect, supporters and opponents of the strikes choose different reference points.

If we take the pay rises that can be expected elsewhere in the public sector  or in the economy as a whole  as a point of comparison, 35pc certainly seems like a very big leap. However, junior doctors point out that their pay has fallen by a quarter in real terms since the last days of Gordon Browns government, and that they are merely asking for a reversal of that real terms pay cut by stealth.

Supporters pick the lowest points in the pay scale for junior doctors, and point out that a junior doctor can, under some circumstances, earn less than a barista. Opponents counter that this is misleading, since nobody in the NHS is actually paid that rate for long. The NHS offers a near-automatic career progression path which is like an upward escalator: the position of the escalator itself may be fixed, but everyone on it still moves upwards.

On the remuneration of medical professionals more generally, opponents of the strike point out that medical careers are still among the most lucrative in the country. Medical graduates begin to out-earn most other graduates fairly soon after leaving university, and they sustain that lead in the long term. Supporters, on the other hand, point out that by international standards, British medical professionals are not especially well-paid, which is why emigration, particularly to Australia, has become a serious issue.

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The problem with all these comparisons is that they are ultimately somewhat arbitrary. Why should the pay level we saw under Gordon Brown be the right level? Who says that the comparison with other graduates, or with doctors in this country or that country, is the right comparison?

We would not debate the pay of other professions in this way. We do not have political arguments about whether plumbers, electricians, painters, decorators, or fitness trainers are paid the right amount, or whether they deserve more. We do not have a Secretary of State negotiating with a British Plumbing Association or a British Electrical Association.

Members of these professions are simply paid whatever the market will bear. If there is unmet demand, either in general, or in specific parts of the country, or at specific times, or for specific services  they can ask for higher rates, and they will get them. Where demand is saturated, pay rates will stagnate, or even fall. This is the only sensible way to work out who should earn how much for doing what.

The fact that we do not have a comparable mechanism in the medical sector is not just a problem because there is currently a strike going on. Five years ago, when Britain was a lot less strike-prone than it is today, the Centre for Policy Studies published a report highlighting some of the dysfunctions of the current system of medical pay setting. In healthcare, we currently have a system of national pay scales, which resembles a form of socialist central planning, and which produces many of the same problems.

Imagine, for a moment, that we had no NHS. Imagine we had a (largely or fully) privatised, market-based healthcare system, but with generous subsidies for the poor and the long-term sick. The remuneration of medical professionals (pay levels, pay structure, pay progression, working conditions etc) would then simply be a matter between individual healthcare providers (such as hospitals), individual doctors, and health insurers.

Doctors could, of course, still form union-like associations, but it would be up to each healthcare provider to decide whether they want to recognise those as negotiation partners or not. The health secretary would not get involved in any such matters at all. We would, in other words, have a medical labour market. Markets, whatever their faults, tend to balance supply and demand swiftly.

We obviously do not have a market-based health system. But even within the system we currently have, it would be possible to move several steps into the direction of a medical labour market. This would mean phasing out national pay scales as far as possible and treating individual NHS organisations as independent employers in their own right.

We would then, in all likelihood, see much greater pay variation by geography, medical specialty and other factors. Pay would rise where there are persistent shortages and stagnate or fall for oversubscribed services.

Apart from balancing supply and demand, a medical labour market would take a lot of the poisonous politics out of medical employment. In the current system, these matters inevitably get politicised. At the moment, doctors are in a stronger position, for the simple reason that the government is unpopular, and that when push comes to shove, the public will side with doctors, not politicians.

If we do not want key decisions in healthcare to depend on such political whims of the moment, we need to replace the politics with a market mechanism.

Kristian Niemietz is head of political economy at the Institute of Economic Affairs
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 11, 2023) - Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) (OTCQX: LSANF) ("Los Andes" or the "Company") is pleased to announce further that it has now filed the pre-feasibility study at its 100% owned Vizcachitas Project ("Vizcachitas" or the "Project") which was the subject of its news release of February 23, 2023 (the "PFS"). The PFS, titled "Vizcachitas Project Pre-Feasibility Study Valparaiso Region, Chile NI 43-101 Technical Report" dated March 30, 2023 with an effective date of February 20, 2020 was prepared for Los Andes by Tetra Tech, and has been filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

Highlights of the PFS include:

Proven and Probable Reserves of 1.22 billion tonnes at 0.36% copper, 136 parts per million ('ppm') molybdenum, 1.1 grammes per tonne ('g/t') silver, which equates to a copper equivalent ('CuEq') grade of 0.40%. Proven Reserves of 302 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.41% copper, 135 ppm molybdenum, 1.2 g/t silver; Probable Reserves of 918Mt at 0.34% copper, 136 ppm molybdenum, 1.1 g/t silver.



A 16% increase in Measured and Indicated Resources from the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment dated June 13, 2019 to 14.8 billion pounds ('lbs') CuEq. Measured Resources of 2.605b lbs copper, 84 million lbs molybdenum and 11 million ounces ('Moz') silver; Indicated Resources of 10.416 billion lbs of copper, 442 million lbs of molybdenum, and 43Moz of silver; and increase of Inferred Resources by 130% to 15.4 billion lbs CuEq (13.747 billion lbs copper, 495 million lbs molybdenum, 55Moz oz silver).



Initial Life of Mine ('LOM') of 26 years producing 8.763 billion lbs copper, 273.3 million lbs molybdenum and 32.7Moz silver, based on a new plant design with a mill throughput of 136,000 tonnes per day.

Annual average copper production of 183,017 t (LOM average of 152,883t).

A US$2.776 billion after-tax net present value (NPV) using an 8% discount rate and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 24.2% at US$ 3.68/lb copper, US$12.90/lb molybdenum and US$21.79/oz silver, with an estimated initial capital cost of US$2.441 billion, a construction period of 3.25 years and a payback period of 2.5 years from initial production.

Story continues

Use of desalinated water, eliminating the need to draw on continental water; using dry stacked filtered tailings reduces water consumption by approximately 50% and eliminates the need for a tailing dam, minimizing seismic and environmental risks.

Use of high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) technology, reducing power consumption by approximately 25% from the previous design. Scope 1 CO2 emissions are projected to be 1.02 h CO2e/t CuEq, and Scope 2 emissions are projected to be 0.

The PFS assumed copper, molybdenum and silver prices of US$3.68/lb copper, US$12.90/lb molybdenum and US$21.79/troy ounce silver, resulting in the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves presented below. Copper contributes 88% to the projected net revenue from the Project, followed by molybdenum with 10% and the balance being silver credits in copper concentrate.

Mineral Reserves





Mineral Reserves

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/161967_4a6449ac440dfb6a_002full.jpg.

Notes:

1. Mineral Reserves were classified using CIM Definition Standards (2014), and CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (2019).

2. Mineral Reserves have an effective date of December 2, 2022.

3. Mineral Reserves are included within the Mineral Resources.

4. The Qualified Person for the estimate is Mr. Severino Modena, BSc, Mining Engineer, MAusIMM, Member of the Chilean Mining Commission, and Tetra Tech Sudamerica General Manager.

5. The Mineral Reserves have a metallurgical cut-off based on the process plant design of 0.18% Cu for direct mill feed.

6. Due to rounding, numbers may not add precisely to the totals.

7. The Mineral Reserves estimate uses a marginal phase analysis through a cut-off grade optimization software (COMET).

8. The Mineral Reserves are contained within operational phases defined using a COMET optimized mining schedule, which includes a stockpiling strategy. Key inputs for this process are:

Metal prices of US$3.5/lb copper and US$12/lb molybdenum. Mining Cost of US$1.59/t at a reference elevation of 1,990 masl, plus costs adjustments of US$0.014/t per bench above reference and US$0.032/t per bench below reference. Process cost of US$5.7/t milled (inclusive of general and administrative costs of US$0.30/t milled). Overall pit slopes angles varying from 44 to 52.

9. Process recoveries are based on lithology for both copper and molybdenum, except for one sector with a fixed copper recovery.

10. Cu grades are reported as percentages, Mo and Ag grades are reported as parts per million (ppm).

11. The strip ratio (waste:ore) is 2.33. There are 2,855 Mt of waste in the ultimate pit.

12. The Mineral Reserve statement considers the mill feed at the primary crusher as a reference point.

Mineral Resources





Mineral Resources

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/161967_4a6449ac440dfb6a_003full.jpg.

Notes:

Mineral Resources were classified using CIM Definition Standards (2014), and CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines (2019). The Mineral Resources effective date is February 7, 2023. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Copper equivalent grade has been calculated using the following formula: CuEq (%) = Cu (%) 0.000288 x Mo (ppm) + 0.00711 x Ag (g/t), using the metal prices: US$3.68/lb Cu, US$12.9/lb Mo and US$21.79/oz Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 91.1% for copper, 74.8% for molybdenum and 75% for silver based on the PFS metallurgical testwork. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The quantities and grades of reported Inferred Mineral Resources are uncertain in nature, and further exploration may not result in their upgrading to Indicated or Measured status. Mineral Resources were prepared by Maria Loreto Romo and Severino Modena both full-time employees of Tetra Tech Sudamerica, and Ricardo Munoz, a consultant part of the Tetra Tech Sudamerica team, all are Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Due to rounding, numbers may not add precisely to the totals. All Mineral Resources are assessed for reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE).

Antony Amberg CGeol FGS, the Company's Chief Geologist and a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Los Andes Copper Ltd.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is an exploration and development company with an 100% interest in the Vizcachitas Project in Chile. The Company is focused on progressing the Project, which is located along Chile's most prolific copper belt, into production. Vizcachitas is one of the largest copper deposits in the Americas not controlled by the majors and the Company believes it will be Chile's next major copper mine.

The Project is a copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit, located 150 kilometers north of Santiago, in an area of very good infrastructure. An independent technical report for the PFS, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, will be available under the Company's SEDAR profile within the next 45 days.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is listed on the TSX-V under the ticker: LA.

For more information please contact:

Santiago Montt, Interim CEO

santiago.montt@losandescopper.com

Tel: +56 2 2954-0450

Elizabeth Johnson, Investor Relations

Elizabeth.johnson@losandescopper.com

E-Mail: info@losandescopper.com or visit our website at: www.losandescopper.com.

Follow us on twitter @LosAndesCopper

Follow us on LinkedIn Los Andes Copper Ltd.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the information and statements contained herein that are not historical facts, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Securities Act (British Columbia), Securities Act (Ontario) and the Securities Act (Alberta) ("Forward-Looking Information"). Forward-Looking Information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend"; statements that an event or result is "due" on or "may", "will", "should", "could", or might" occur or be achieved; and, other similar expressions. More specifically, Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking Information. Such Forward-Looking Information includes, without limitation, the prospects, details related to and timing of the Vizcachitas Project. Such Forward-Looking Information is based upon the Company's assumptions regarding global and Chilean economic, political and market conditions and the price of metals and energy and the Company's production. Among the factors that have a direct bearing on the Company's future results of operations and financial conditions are changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, a change in government policies, competition, currency fluctuations and restrictions and technological changes, among other things. Should one or more of any of the aforementioned risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from any conclusions, forecasts or projections described in the Forward-Looking Information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise Forward-Looking Information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Cautionary Note for U.S. investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves

National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and resource information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements.

All references to "$" in this news release are to U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

Cautionary Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Alternative performance measures in this news release such as "cash flow" are furnished to provide additional information. These non-GAAP performance measures are included in this news release because these statistics are used as key performance measures that management uses to monitor and assess performance of the Project, and to plan and assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining operations. These performance measures do not have a standard meaning within International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/161967
Lupaka Gold Corp

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lupaka Gold Corp. ("Lupaka" or the Company") (TSX-V: LPK, FRA: LQP) is pleased to announce that from March 27 to April 3, 2023, the arbitration hearing stage of the Companys Arbitration Claim against the Republic of Peru convened in Washington, D.C. With the completion of the arbitration hearings, the Tribunal will now deliberate and grant the Parties an opportunity to answer specific questions the Tribunal may have. Thereafter, the Tribunal will weigh the parties claims and evidence. The Tribunal has not yet provided the Parties with any indication as to their timeline for any Arbitration Award decision.



Gordon Ellis (CEO) commented We are very pleased with the performance of our lawyers, our expert witnesses and former employees over the last week. They each gave a very solid performance and I believe that we were able to convincingly establish and support our Claim.

For ongoing updates and more detail with respect to the arbitration, please refer to the Companys website (www.lupakagold.com/projects/arbitration).

For background on the basis for the Claim, please refer to the Companys previous news releases, also available on the Companys website (www.lupakagold.com/news/#2020).

Lupaka is represented in the arbitration proceedings by the international law firm LALIVE (www.lalive.law) and Boies Schiller Flexner (www.bsfllp.com), and has the financial backing of Bench Walk Advisors (www.benchwalk.com).

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of this news release.

About Lupaka Gold

Lupaka is an active Canadian-based company focused on creating shareholder value through identification and development of mining assets.

About LALIVE

LALIVE is an international law firm with offices in Geneva, Zurich and London, that specializes in international dispute resolution. The firm has extensive experience in international investment arbitration in the mining sector, amongst others, and is currently representing investors and States as counsel worldwide.

Story continues

About Boies Schiller Flexner

Boies Schiller Flexner is a firm of internationally recognized trial lawyers, crises managers, and strategic advisers known for creative, aggressive, and efficient pursuit of successful outcomes for their clients.

About Bench Walk Advisors

Bench Walk Advisors is a global litigation financier with over USD 250 million of capital deployed across in excess of 100 commercial cases. Bench Walk and its principals have consistently been ranked as leading lawyers and litigation funders in various global directories.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Gordon Ellis, C.E.O.

gellis@lupakagold.com

Tel: (604) 985-3147

or visit the Companys profile at www.sedar.com or its website at www.lupakagold.com




Contract marks Lynks second contract with Telecel Group in Africa

FALLS CHURCH, Va., April 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lynk Global, Inc. (Lynk), the worlds leading satellite-direct-to-standard-phone telecoms company, today announced that it has signed its second commercial contract with Telecel Group in Africa to provide services to Vodafone Ghanas subscribers. This new contract will provide mobile coverage to 100% of Ghanas population of 31 million inhabitants using Lynks "cell-towers-in-space."

Charles Miller, CEO of Lynk, said, "This agreement extends Lynks leadership in the satellite-direct-to-standard-phone category in Africa and is an important milestone as interest in the category continues to heat up. Lynk remains the only patented, proven and commercially-licensed company for satellite-direct-to-standard-phone technology anywhere in the world," Miller continues.

Lynks "cell towers in space" will enable Telecel Group to offer ubiquitous geographic coverage to over 6 million Vodafone Ghana subscribers and will be utilized for extending rural coverage, including Maritime Economic Zone, as a backup to ensure service resilience, continuity of IoT devices, and as a terrestrial tower replacement for underperforming (economical or technical) towers.

"We are excited at the possibilities this partnership brings to the country. It provides the unique opportunity to connect everyone everywhere and accelerates the benefits that connectivity offers in health, education, and job creation, especially for our women and youth, stated Patricia Obo-Nai, CEO of Vodafone Ghana.

Following the takeover of its majority shares by Telecel Group, Vodafone Ghana has leveraged the partnership between Lynk and Telecel Group to provide innovative services and widespread mobile coverage across Ghana's rural areas.

About Vodafone Ghana

Vodafone Ghana is a leading provider of telecommunications services to consumers, corporates, and multinationals in Ghana. As the all-in-one communications solutions provider  offering mobile, fixed lines, internet, voice, and data services  Vodafone effectively serves a significant portion of the Ghanaian population. With a strong focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, the company continually strives to enhance the quality and reach of its services, solidifying its position in the competitive telecommunications landscape.

Story continues

About Telecel Group

Telecel Group is an Africa-focused Telecom company with a diverse approach in the telecom space driven by digitalization and innovation. It has successfully established itself as a key service provider for both mobile users and enterprises, focusing on selected areas of development to ensure significant future growth on the African continent. Telecel is also an anchor for supporting startups with its African Startup Initiative Program, "ASIP."

About Lynk

Lynk is the worlds only patented, proven, and commercially-licensed satellite-direct-to-standard-mobile-phone system. Lynk is currently testing satellite direct-to-standard-mobile-phone services in more than a dozen countries. Today, Lynk is the only company in the world to have successfully sent and received text messages to and from space via unmodified standard mobile devices. From the beginning, Lynk will enable two-way emergency messaging, emergency cell broadcast services, and regular SMS messaging on every phone across the globe. By partnering with Lynk via a simple roaming agreement, a mobile network operator opens the door to new revenue in untapped markets, gives subscribers peace of mind with ubiquitous connectivity, and provides a pathway to economic prosperity for billions of the worlds citizens. For more information, visit www.lynk.world or follow @lynktheworld.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005223/en/

Contacts

Tony DeTora

tdetora@lynk.world
The six-week program empowers, develops, and uplifts multicultural business owners culminating in a pitch competition on May 4th in Harlem

HARLEM, N.Y., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 30th, M&T Bank launched its Harlem Multicultural Small Business Lab, a six-week program designed to provide local entrepreneurs with guidance, education, and resources to help them start and grow businesses. The program is designed to empower, develop, and grow racially and ethnically diverse small businesses within the Harlem community. Over 100 applicants applied for the program, and 60 were selected to participate.

M&T Bank Harlem Small Business Innovation Lab

The program culminates on May 4th in a pitch competition among program finalists, with first place earning a $16,000 prize, second receiving $12,000, and third receiving $7,000, all funded by M&T.

Held in collaboration with Carver Federal Savings Bank, M&T's Harlem Multicultural Small Business Lab is helping participating entrepreneurs deepen their business expertise and gain insights into creating business plans, establishing credit, accessing capital, marketing, networking, and more. The Lab's mission is to offer an opportunity for multicultural businesses to increase their visibility, accelerate their business, achieve success, and increase M&T's engagement with multicultural business owners across its various markets.

"After the success of our other programs across the Northeast, we were thrilled to launch the Multicultural Small Business Lab in Harlem," said Blair Ridder, M&T Bank New York City Regional President. "This program is an important step in M&T's work to encourage and support racially and ethnically diverse micro businesses in pursuing their dreams. As a community bank, we want to uplift and make a difference in Harlem and in all the communities we serve."

Local Impact of Last Year's Program

Since its first Multicultural Small Business Lab in Buffalo in 2021, M&T has launched the program in additional communities including Harrisburg, PA., Bridgeport, CT., and now Harlem. This growing initiative has enabled the bank to meet the unique needs of entrepreneurs while providing insights that have informed and differentiated M&T's approach to serving multicultural businesses. The bank plans to bring the program to even more cities in 2023.

Story continues

Brandon Ross, Chief Executive Officer of Pawsome Pet Products, enrolled in M&T Bank's Multicultural Small Business Lab in Bridgeport last year, winning a $6,000 grant for his product, The Pawsome Pet Carrier. Continuing to grow in popularity, the pet carrier now has a patent pending.

"Thanks to M&T Bank's Multicultural Small Business Lab, I can successfully and confidently describe my business, understand my shortcomings, as well as what I need to learn to better position my company for success," Ross said. "This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn skills, access resources, and receive guidance to get their idea and business to the next level."

The Curriculum and Pitch Competition

During the six-week Multicultural Small Business Lab, small-business owners attend weekly two-hour sessions to learn fundamentals such as effective business planning, establishing credit, and gaining exposure to expert-level skills like presenting to investors, understanding business valuation, and building impactful brands.

The program will conclude with a pitch competition that will award a total of $35,000 of funding, split between three winners. Winning businesses are determined by several factors, including the market or community needs the business addresses, the effectiveness of its business plan, its ability to adapt, and its potential for growth and community impact.

"Investing in multicultural entrepreneurs is one of the most meaningful and powerful actions we can take to help our communities achieve financial empowerment and keep growing stronger," said David Femi, head of M&T Bank's Multicultural Banking & Diverse Market Strategy. "Our team at M&T Bank is looking forward to continuing to help business leaders access new skills, resources, and connections through initiatives like our Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab."

About M&T Bank

M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information about M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com .

About Carver Bancorp, Inc.

Carver Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Carver Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered stock savings bank. Headquartered in Harlem, NY, Carver was founded in 1948 to serve African-American communities whose residents, businesses, and institutions had limited access to mainstream financial services. The U.S. Treasury Department has designated Carver as a Community Development Financial Institution ("CDFI") because of its community-focused banking services and dedication to its local community's economic viability and revitalization. Carver is one of the largest African- and Caribbean-American managed banks in the United States. The Bank recently expanded its online presence to include consumer checking and savings accounts across nine states, from Massachusetts to Virginia, and Washington, D.C. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.carverbank.com. Be sure to connect with Carver on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

 2023 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. NMLS# 381076 Equal Housing Lender.

Media Contacts:

David Samberg

(201) 368-4515

dsamberg@mtb.com

M&T Bank Corporation

Cision

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SOURCE M&T Bank
Fortune Business Insights

Key Companies covered in main battle tank market are General Dynamics Corporation (U.S.),Hyundai Rotem (South Korea),BAE Systems plc (U.K.),Nexter Systems (France),BMC (Turkey),Israel Military Industries (Israel),Rheinmetall AG (U.S.),Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH and Co. KG (Germany),and more players profiled.

Pune, India, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global main battle tank market size was valued at USD 5.35 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 5.54 billion in 2023 to USD 6.90 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.2% during the forecast period. Main battle tanks are armored vehicles equipped with advanced fire control systems, guns, and armor protection.

They provide maneuverability and direct fire features are in high demand as countries work on enhancing their military strength amid geopolitical tensions, which will contribute to their increased demand. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights, in its report titled, Main Battle Tank Market, 2023-2030.

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List of Key Players Profiled in the Main Battle Tank Market Report:

General Dynamics Corporation (U.S.)

Hyundai Rotem (South Korea)

BAE Systems plc (U.K.)

Nexter Systems (France)

BMC (Turkey)

Israel Military Industries (Israel)

Rheinmetall AG (U.S.)

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH and Co. KG (Germany)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan)

Safran (U.S.)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 3.2%% 2030 Value Projection USD 6.90 Billion Market Size in 2023 USD 5.54 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 150 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Component Analysis

By Weight Analysis

By Solution Analysis Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

South America

Middle East and Africa Main Battle Tank Market Growth Drivers Increasing Procurement of MBTs by Developing Nations for Border Conflict Protection to Aid Market Growth Upgrading of Existing Fleet with Advanced Technological Base Equipment to Facilitate Market Expansion

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/main-battle-tank-market-107367

Story continues

Segments:

Turret System Segment to Lead Due to its Broad Functionality and Overall Cost

Based on component, the market is split into turret system, internal combustion engine, wheel & tracks, situational awareness, weaponry systems, and others. Among these, the turret system segment dominated the main battle tank market share in 2022 as turret is a combination of parts mounted on it and a rotating bearing so that it can rotate 360 degrees.

Heavy Weight Segment to Dominate Backed by its Rising Demand for Frontline Security

According to weight, the market is arrayed into light weight, medium weight, and heavy weight. The heavy weight segment captured a significant share in the global market in 2022 due to surging demand for frontline security. For example, as per SIPRI, in 2018, Finland ordered 100 Leopard-2A6 tanks from the Netherlands for USD 200 million.

Line Fit Segment to Hold Major Share Stoked by Rising Indigenous Manufacturing of MBTs in Emerging Economies

By solution, the market is bifurcated into line fit and retro fit. Among these, the line fit segment captured the largest market share in 2022, owing to increasing indigenous manufacturing of main battle tanks in Russia, India, Germany, and South Korea.

Geographically, the market is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Russia-Ukraine War Impact:



Increasing Deployment of Tanks in the Russia-Ukraine War to Elevate Market Proliferation

Main battle tanks have been highly deployed by Russia and Ukraine amid the ongoing war. While Russia employed its T-90 and T-72 tanks, Ukraine depended on its T-64, T-84, Oplot-M models. Both sides have suffered significant losses and claim that they have destroyed various enemy tanks. The increased military budget of both economies will generate significant demand for main battle tanks and aid market expansion in the coming years. Moreover, other countries are focused on increasing their military strength, which will contribute to product demand, thus driving market growth.

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Report Coverage:

The report sheds light on drivers and challenges affecting market trends over the forecast timeframe. Moreover, the market is studied exhaustively and statistical information for each segment and region is given. The impact of COVID-19 on the global economy is analyzed and solutions are provided. The competitive landscape section lists key players in the global market and mentions tactical decisions made by them to maximize profits.

Drivers and Restraints:

Upgrade of Existing Fleet with Next-generation Base Equipment to Drive Market

Developing nations are focused on upgrading their existing fleets, situational awareness systems, and weaponry systems to improve combat capabilities and lethality, which will drive the main battle tank market growth. For example, in February 2023, Turkey awarded SNT Heavy Industries with a contract to supply an automatic transmission mechanism for Altay tank engines. The company will provide a V-type, 12-cylinder, water-cooled, turbo diesel power unit to produce 1,500 horsepower and 4600 N-m of torque. This agreement worth USD 217.9 million will be completed by 2030. On the other hand, the surging demand for anti-tank missiles owing to their range, ease of usage, and weightless nature will hinder market expansion in the coming years.

Regional Insights:

North America to Lead Stoked by Presence of Leading Companies and Upgrading of Existing Fleet

North America dominated the global market in 2022 backed by the presence of leading players and upgrading of existing fleet with advanced technology-based systems and equipment. Widespread export of battle tanks worldwide will also attribute to market expansion in this region.

Europe is projected to grow significantly during the forecast period owing to the surging demand for tanks due to the ongoing Russia Ukraine war. Russia, France, and Hungary are also contributing to product demand and market proliferation in this region.

Asia Pacific is likely to register the highest growth rate across the world due to rising procurement of MBTs by India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan due to increasing border conflicts. For example, in September 2021, the Indian Defense Ministry sealed a contract to procure 118 Arjun Mk-1A and its combat capabilities.

Competitive Landscape:

Procurement Contracts Signed Between Governments and Leading Companies to Aid Market Augmentation

Geopolitical tensions are on an all-time high due to Russias invasion of Ukraine. This, in turn, has put all the economies on a guard and they are making efforts to prepare themselves and increase their military strength by buying new equipment. This will contribute to the market share and help industry leaders to gather larger revenues. For example, in June 2022, The State Department of Poland awarded General Dynamics Land Systems with a USD 6 billion contract to manufacture and supply M1A2SEPv3 Abrams to the Polish Army. As a part of the deal, Poland also plans to purchase 500 M240C 7.62mm machine guns, 276 M2 .50 caliber machine guns, and other equipment and parts needed to operate the weapon systems.

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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 Key Industry Developments  Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis

Quantitative Insights-Impact of Russia-Ukraine War on Global Main Battle Tank Market Impact of Russia-Ukraine War on the Global Main Battle Tank Market

Global Main Battle Tank Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Segmental Definitions Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Component Turret System Internal Combustion Engine Wheel & Tracks Situational Awareness Weaponry Systems Others



TOC Continued...!

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Key Industry Development:

May 2021: British Army awarded a contract to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) to replace their existing fleet of Challenger 2 with next generation Challenger 3 tanks. Under this agreement, the U.K. will get 148 tanks for USD 964.72 million.

Read Related Insights:

Armored Vehicle Market to Reach USD 27.83 Billion by 2028| Global Armored Vehicle Industry Share, Business Growth, and Forecast Report by Fortune Business Insights



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The addition of the European market will drive revenue growth in 2023

PRAGUE, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MC Global Holdings, LLC ("MCG"), the world's largest provider of hemp-derived cannabinoids based out of Texas and Colorado, announced today the expansion of its European business via its affiliate European holding company, MC Wellness International, Limited, an Ireland LLC ("MCWI). MCWI, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, MC Wellness SRO, has actively marketed its products worldwide.

(PRNewsfoto/MC Global Holdings)

The expansion into Europe will serve the increased demand for MCG's bulk hemp-derived Cannabinoids, further establishing the company as an international leader in the industry. Along with this growth, president of MCG, Bret Worley, also established MC Nutraceuticals Europe, SRO ("MCNE"), an operating entity based in the Czech Republic that will be a wholly owned subsidiary of MCWI.

"Cannabinoids are a burgeoning industry and we look forward to the opportunity to bring our education and expertise in the space to the European market," said Worley. "Launching MCNE will help us expand our European operations with commercial distribution and fulfillment agreements, as well as hiring local staff to support."

Already, beginning work in the European locales has resulted in significant growth in European revenue compared to 2022 levels for MCWI and MCNE. With finalized marketing and fulfillment plans, MCG expects continued growth in market share and increased revenue from the new regions.

Looking toward the future, MCWI will continue to seek out viable worldwide markets for expansion as it sets the pace in the hemp-derived Cannabinoids industry.

About MC Global Holdings

MC Global Holdings was established to revolutionize the hemp wellness industry by being the leader in professionalism, promotion and distribution of responsibly produced cannabinoids worldwide.

Websites:

www.MCGlobal.io

www.MCNutraceuticals.com

https://vivimu.com/?utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=prnewswire&utm_campaign=prnewswire&utm_id=prnewswire

Story continues

Investor inquiries: Jeff Worley - jworley@mcnutraceuticals.com

Sales inquiries: Tracy Mackintosh, Tracy@mcnutraceuticals.com

Cision

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SOURCE MC Global Holdings
InsightAce Analytic Pvt. LTd.

Companies covered in this study are SGS SA; Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings; Euro fins Scientific; Pace Analytical Services, Inc.; Intertek Group plc; WuXiAppTec; North American Science Associates

Jersey City, NJ, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Global Medical Device Outsourcing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Services (Quality Assurance, Contract Manufacturing), By Therapeutic Area (Cardiology, Diagnostic Imaging, Orthopedic, IVD, Ophthalmic, General And Plastic Surgery, Drug Delivery, Dental, Endoscopy, Diabetes Care), By Class (Class I, Class II, And Class III)- Market Outlook And Industry Analysis 2031"

The global medical device outsourcing market is estimated to reach over USD 312.61 billion by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.68% during the forecast period.

Significant medical contract manufacturers primarily design and produce medical equipment in addition to offering larger OEMs and medical device firms services like UV bonding, injection molding, and other manufacturing services. One of the main factors anticipated to push the development of the medical device manufacturing outsourcing market is the enormous rise in the geriatric population, growing global demand for life expectancy, and tremendously booming demand for technological advancements, particularly in the medical device industries. Throughout the projected period, the market is anticipated to be driven by expanding medical device demand, increased price competition, and the need to cut costs.





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The future of the market is also expected to be influenced by the increasing complexity of product engineering and the rising number of new players. A further important factor driving the market expansion is the growing elderly population and their increased vulnerability to disease. For instance, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that more than 54 million Americans aged 65 and over were living in the country in 2019. Likewise, according to Eurostat, 20.3% of EU citizens were 65 years of age or older in 2019, making Italy the European nation with the highest proportion of senior citizens.

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Recent Developments:

 In December 2021, Oscor Inc. was purchased by Integer Holdings, a US-based advanced medical device outsourcing business, for $220 million. By broadening the product selection in steerable sheaths and cardiac and neurostimulation leads and by introducing low-cost manufacturing capability to support expansion, this purchase of Oscor improves Integer's capabilities to service clients. Oscor is a US-based business that provides outsourcing services for medical devices.



List of Prominent Players in the Medical Device Outsourcing Market:

SGS SA

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

Euro fins Scientific

Pace Analytical Services, Inc.

Intertek Group plc

WuXiAppTec

North American Science Associates, LLC

TUV SUD

Sterigenics U.S.

LLC (GTCR, LLC)

Charles River Laboratories

Medical Device Testing Services

RJR Consulting, Inc.

Mandala International.

Freyr

Global Regulatory Partners

PAREXEL International Corporation (EQT Private Equity and Goldman Sachs Asset Management)

Emergo (UL LLC)

Bioteknica

Accell Clinical Research, LLC

Genpact.; Criterium, Inc.

Promedica International

Med pace

ICON plc.

IQVIA Inc.

Integer Holdings Corporation

Tecomet Inc. (Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC)

Jabil Inc.

FLEX LTD.

Celestica Inc.

Sanmina Corporation.

Plexus Corp.

Phillips Medisize (Molex, LLC)

Cantel Medical Corp. (STERIS plc)

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.





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Medical Device Outsourcing Market Report Scope:

Report Attribute Specifications Market size value in 2022 USD 117.78 Bn Revenue forecast in 2031 USD 312.61 Bn Growth rate CAGR CAGR of 11.68 % from 2023 to 2031 Quantitative units Representation of revenue in US$ Billion, and CAGR from 2023 to 2031 Historic Year 2019 to 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2031 Report coverage The forecast of revenue, the position of the company, the competitive market statistics, growth prospects, and trends Segments covered Service Outlook, Type, And Application Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa Country scope U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; China; India; Japan; Brazil; Mexico; The UK; France; Italy; Spain; China; Japan; India; South Korea; Southeast Asia; South Korea; Southeast Asia

Market Dynamics:

Drivers-

The growing need for medical testing and validation of medical devices as well as an increase in the use of analytical testing services like physical testing, sterility testing, and others, are key drivers propelling the growth of the medical device analytical testing outsourcing market. Increased demand for analytical testing services for medical devices has also contributed to expanding the market. Examples of these devices include cardiovascular, orthopedic, and dental implants.

Challenges:

The International Standard Organization's (ISO rigorous regulatory framework and supply chain management disruption caused by a pandemic restrain the growth of the global medical device outsourcing market. Conversely, the ageing population and increased usage of interventional medical devices (IMDs) present significant prospects for the worldwide medical device outsourcing business. The obstacles faced in the global market for outsourcing medical devices include the growth of service alternatives and issues with outsourcing compliance.

Regional Trends:

Asia Pacific medical device outsourcing market is expected to register a significant market share in terms of revenue and is projected to augment at an increased CAGR shortly. The market growth in this area is driven by the rising demand for medical devices due to the increasing incidence of chronic disorders. Another supporting aspect that is projected to propel this regional market is the presence of important companies and competitive pricing. The outsourcing medical device production market is expanding at the quickest rate in North America. The North American medical device manufacturing outsourcing market is predicted to rise due to the enormously increased demand for medical supplies and the rising investment in healthcare.





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Segmentation of Medical Device Outsourcing Market-

By Service-

Quality Assurance

Regulatory Affairs Services Clinical trials applications and product registrations Regulatory writing and publishing Legal representation Other

Product Design and Development Services Designing & Engineering Machining Molding Packaging

Product Testing & Sterilization Services

Product Implementation Services

Product Upgrade Services

Product Maintenance Services

Contract Manufacturing Accessories Manufacturing Assembly Manufacturing Component Manufacturing Device Manufacturing



By Class Type-

Class I

Class II

Class III

By Application

Cardiology

Diagnostic imaging

Orthopedic

IVD

Ophthalmic

General and plastic surgery

Drug delivery

Dental

Endoscopy

Diabetes care

Others

By Region-

North America-

The US

Canada

Mexico

Europe-

Germany

The 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 the Middle East and Africa





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WILMINGTON, DE / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global mesenchymal stem cells market size stood at USD 3.2 Bn in 2022, and the global industry is expected to reach a value of USD 10.1 Bn by 2031. The global market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2023 to 2031.

https://storage.googleapis.com/accesswire/media/748487/mesenchymal-stem-cells-market.jpg

Increase in studies and research examining the significance and uses of MSCs, or stromal cells with the capacity for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation is boosting their popularity. Human MSCs can be grown in culture, are widely accessible, and are comparatively simple to collect in large quantities. They are also extensively utilized due to their anti-inflammatory, self-renewing, and immune-privileged qualities.

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Market Snapshot:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue USD 3.2 Bn in 2022 Estimated Value USD 10.1 Bn by 2031 Growth Rate 12.7% Forecast Period 2023-2031 No. of Pages 237 Pages Market Segmentation By Products & Services, Type, Source of Isolation, and Indication Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America Companies Covered Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Cytiva (Danaher Corporation), FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific (FUJIFILM Corporation), Merck KGaA, Lonza Group Ltd., STEMCELL Technologies, Inc., Takara Bio, Inc., Sartorius AG, Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, and PromoCell GmbH

Key Findings of Market Report

The leading segment of mesenchymal stem cells is allogenic stem cells. Autologous MSCs are a safe alternative as the cells won't react negatively to the cells; however, there are a few restrictions. Obtaining the necessary quantity could be challenging or impossible, as many of the patients would be elderly or may have comorbid conditions. Even if MSCs are collected, they are likely to be of inferior quality. Use of MSCs in emergency situations is constrained due to the lengthy extraction and expansion procedure. On the other hand, allogenic stem cells are produced on a bigger scale, received from donors who have undergone screening, and can be tested and utilized as required in emergency situations.

Story continues

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Global Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market: Growth Drivers

Rise in MSC-related applications and studies, as well as significant increase in investment for research, is anticipated to be drive business opportunities in the global market. Research on MSCs is growing, due to their potential to treat COVID-19 sequelae such as ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome).

Global Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market: Regional Landscape

The U.S. contributes to more than 45% of the global market demand for MSCs, which is a major contribution from North America. Location of many important companiesand greater centralized funding, notably in COVID-19 treatment applications, are boosting demand. In April 2020, Canada's Stem Cell Network announced funding for three COVID-19-related studies from the Government of Canada. One of the projects, "Cellular Immuno-Therapy for COVID-19 induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: the CIRCA-19 Trial," received US$ 300,000 to carry out a clinical trial examining the application of MSCs as a treatment for the acute respiratory distress witnessed in COVID-19 patients.

Global Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market: Key Players

Cytori Therapeutics Inc.

Axol Biosciences Ltd.

PromoCell GmbH

Cell Applications Inc.

Lonza Group

Cyagen US Inc.

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Global Mesenchymal Stem Cells Market: Segmentation

Component

Product

Service

Type

Autologous

Allogeneic

Source of Isolation

Bone Marrow

Cord Blood

Peripheral Blood Fallopian Tube

Fetal Liver

Lung

Adipose

Indication

Bone And Cartilage Repair

Cardiovascular Disease

Inflammatory And Immunological Diseases

Liver Diseases

Cancer

GvHD

Other Indications

Regions

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

Latin America

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By Andre Romani

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Meta Platforms on Tuesday began rolling out its payments tool to small and medium-sized firms through its WhatsApp messaging platform in Brazil, part of Meta's strategy to use the Brazilian market as a key test space for business messaging.

The development of business messaging has become all the more urgent as Meta's core advertising business has stalled.

The service, provided in partnership with payment processors including MercadoLibre's Mercado Pago, Itau Unibanco's Rede and Cielo , will allow WhatsApp users to make purchases and pay directly through the app with credit and debit cards from Mastercard and Visa, Meta said in a statement.

The tool will initially be available for some merchants that use WhatsApp Business. Clients of WhatsApp's API, which mainly serves large businesses, will be able to receive payments in the future, it added.

While Brazil is the first country to have the service launched for small businesses using the free version of WhatsApp Business, in India, WhatsApp's largest market, users can make payments to businesses that use the application's paid API.

The announcement comes after Brazil's central bank approved the tool last month after nearly three years of regulatory scrutiny, as authorities feared the service could hit competition, efficiency and data privacy.

WhatsApp users in Brazil have been able to make payments between users through the app since 2021, and last year, Meta launched a commercial directory for WhatsApp in Brazil, allowing users find companies with business messaging accounts.

(Reporting by Andre Romani; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by Sarah Morland and Leslie Adler)
A worker holds GMO yellow corn imported from the U.S., in Tepexpan

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities announced Monday a working group will investigate the impact of genetically modified (GM) corn imports on the country's tortillas, a national staple typically made from cornflour, amid a trade dispute with the United States.

The United States has requested trade consultations with Mexico after its government moved to restrict imports of GM corn, arguing it can contaminate Mexico's ancient native varieties and have negative impacts on human health.

The U.S., which says Mexico's claims lack scientific backing, requested consultations under a chapter of the North American trade agreement on food security, which calls for a science-based approach to domestic regulations.

Mexico's health authority Cofepris, together with its scientific council Conacyt, announced the creation of the working group in a statement, saying it will have a role in assessing the risks associated with consumption of GM corn.

The country said in February it would ban GM corn for consumption by people - including use in tortillas - backpedaling from previous plans that also clouded the future of imports for livestock feed, the destination of the vast majority of its imported corn.

Mexico produces mainly white corn, used to make tortillas, but has a deficit of yellow corn, used for livestock consumption and industrial applications.

The country imports about 17 million tons of corn from the United States each year.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the country's annual exports to Mexico amounted to about $5 billion in 2022.

(Reporting by Adriana Barrera, Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Sarah Morland and Kenneth Maxwell)
European pharmaceutical company offers its investigational medicinal product to a wide range of specialist medical practitioners in the United Kingdom

Epidiolex's Success Highlights Potential for MGC Pharma's CannEpil

The recent success of Epidiolex, a CBD-based epilepsy treatment that generated $296 million in sales in 2019, highlights the potential for MGC Pharma's CannEpil in the UK market. This underlines the potential of CannEpil, an investigational medicinal product for patients suffering from refractory epilepsy, to make a significant impact in the UK market.

LONDON, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (LSE: MXC), (ASX: MXC), (OTC: MGCLF), a European based pharmaceutical company specializing in the development and supply of affordable, ethically produced plant-inspired medicines, announces that its proprietary product CannEpil is now available to patients in the UK by Named Patient Request.

MGC Pharmaceuticals logo

MGC Pharma's CannEpil is an investigational medicinal product (IMP) designed for patients suffering from refractory epilepsy, also known as drug-resistant epilepsy. The high-CBD, low-THC formulation is administered via an oral mucosal solution and is currently undergoing a clinical development program. The availability of CannEpil in the UK follows the company's announcement that it is providing the product for an observational trial supported by the I am Billy Foundation.

With this development, clinicians in the UK listed on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register can now prescribe CannEpil. This is a significant milestone for MGC Pharma and patients with unmet medical needs, as it expands the company's reach within the healthcare and life science sectors as an innovative plant-inspired pharmaceutical company.

CannEpil has already been prescribed to hundreds of patients across Australia and the Republic of Ireland over the past three years. In 2019, it became the first product to be available with coverage in the Republic of Ireland under the Long Term Illness and General Medical Services schemes.

Story continues

The data collected from patients using CannEpil will be used to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug, supporting future submissions for marketing authorization.

Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, with 33% of adults and 20-25% of children suffering from refractory epilepsy. CBD has been proven effective in reducing seizure frequency and severity, as supported by open-label studies, observational studies, randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and large-scale systematic reviews.

Roby Zomer, Managing Director and CEO of MGC Pharmaceuticals, commented: "The availability of CannEpil by Named Patient Request marks a momentous breakthrough for MGC Pharma. The product will now be available to a wide cohort of specialist medical practitioners in the UK, which is testament to the progress we are making."

"We are extremely proud of the progress we have achieved thus far, and we are pleased that CannEpil has been selected as a treatment within an observational patient trial in association with the I am Billy Foundation. We look forward to updating the market on the results of this trial in due course."

HTTP://MGCpharma.eu

Twitter: @MGC_Pharma

Facebook: @mgcpharmaceuticals

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Cision

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SOURCE MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
ReportLinker

The Middle East data center construction market is expected t- growi at a CAGR of 7.59% during 2022 t- 2028. KEY HIGHLIGHTS.  UAE and Saudi Arabia are the major contributors t- the capacity in the Middle East data center construction market, with around 30% and 27%, and the market in these countries is expected t- skyrocket in four t- five years due t- the shift of the oil economy t- the digital economy in the region.

New York, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Middle East Data Center Construction Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 20232028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446257/?utm_source=GNW

Other factors include the continuous increase in investments in cloud-based services and smart city developments in the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

 Digitalization across businesses will increase data center investments by colocation, cloud, Internet, and telecommunication providers. Some telecom companies such as Ericsson, stc, Turk Telecom, Cellcom, Zain, Nokia, Vodafone, Ooredoo, du, and Omantel are responsible for deploying and introducing 5G services in Middle Eastern countries.

 The presence of industrial parks, the availability of land, and the governments support motivate data center operators t- develop data centers in Middle Eastern countries. For instance, the Government of Bahrain announced the launching of its first data center park, which includes the development of its first data center by stc Bahrain through collaboration with the ministry of transport and Telecommunications.



MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Rise in the Procurement of Renewable Energy Sources



 The Middle East has an abundance of availability of solar energy, where most of the countries in the region are undertaking renewable energy strategies & visions t- develop renewable energy projects and meet the carbon-neutral goals set by respective governments in the region.

a) In the UAE, the Energy Strategy 2050 aims t- increase the share of renewable energy from 25% t- 50% in the total energy mix by 2050.

b) Saudi Arabia has launched The National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) under Vision 2030, where 13 projects will generate over 4.8 GW of renewable energy. In addition, Bahrain plans t- generate around 280 MW of electricity from renewable sources by 2025, increasing t- around 700 MW by 2030 t- attain national renewable energy targets.

 In December 2022, Saudi Arabia announced the development of 10 renewable energy projects with a power capacity of 7 GW, which is part of the Kingdoms 2030 Vision.

 In February 2022, Quantum Switch Tamasuk (QST) signed a deal with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Saudi Arabia t- develop data center facilities in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, both parties will collaborate t- secure and develop renewable energy sources t- power their facilities.



Increasing Cloud Investments



The increase in digitalization and the shift of workloads t- cloud platforms from on-premises facilities t- make their operations more efficient and scalable witnessed the increase in investments by cloud service providers in the Middle East over the last few years.

 Amazon Web Services aims t- develop the infrastructure region in Tel Aviv, Israel, which will likely be operational in 2023.

 In 2022, Google Cloud launched its first local cloud region in Israel. Amazon outpost cloud services were deployed for the first time in Oman in the Oman Data Park, and Microsoft Azure established its first global data center region in Qatar.



SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS



 Most facilities are being developed t- operate at a PUE of less than 1.5. In contrast, few facilities in countries like Turkey that adopt partial free cooling during peak winters aim t- operate at a PUE of less than 1.3.

 In the Middle East data center construction market, the investment in cooling infrastructure contributes t- the major share of more than 50% in the mechanical infrastructure due t- the high temperature in some countries during the peak summers.

 The region witnessed growth in the deployment of data centers in Tier III and Tier IV certification in the design phase/construction phase of the region. In contrast, most private and public entities (BFSI, education, government) have received Uptime Institutes Tier III/IV certification during the design phase or for the constructed facility.



Infrastructure

 Electrical Infrastructure

 Mechanical Infrastructure

 General Construction

Electrical Infrastructure

 UPS Systems

 Generators

 Transfer Switches & Switchgear

 PDUs

 Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

 Cooling Systems

 Racks

 Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

 CRAC and CRAH Units

 Chillers Units

 Cooling Towers, Condensers, and Dry Coolers

 Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

 Other Cooling Units

Cooling Techniques

 Air-Based Cooling

 Liquid-Based Cooling

General Construction

 Core & Shell Development

 Installation & Commissioning Services

 Engineering & Building Design

 Fire Detection & Suppression

 Physical Security

 DCIM/BMS Solutions

Tier Standard

 Tier I & Tier II

 Tier III

 Tier IV



GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

 UAE dominates the regional industry in terms of data center developments. In addition, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Oman are among the major contributors t- high data center development activities in the Middle East. Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait are emerging markets that witness significant growth as a result of digitalization and growth in connectivity.

 In the Middle East data center construction market, the presence of smart cities in the region als- drives investments. For instance, the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia is under development as a part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans Vision 2030, which will als- comprise the data center development under a joint venture firm ZeroPoint DC.



Geography



 UAE

 Saudi Arabia

 Israel

 Oman

 Qatar

 Kuwait

 Jordan

 Bahrain

 Other Middle Eastern Countries



KEY MARKET PARTICIPANT INITIATIVES



 The surge in data center activities across the country will be a major source of revenue for construction contractors. Some prominent local and global construction contractors in the Middle East data center construction market include AECOM, Laing ORourke, Dar Group, AlDar Properties, Mercury Engineering, Deerns, Anel Group, ENMAR Engineering, Arup, DC Pr- Engineering, Edarat, HHM Building Contracting, and Red Engineering. For instance, Laing ORourke is selected by Khazna Data Centres t- design and build a facility and office space in Dubai Design District.



Prominent Data Center Support Infrastructure



1. ABB

2. Airedale

3. Alfa Laval

4. Canovate

5. Caterpillar

6. Cummins

7. Delta Electronics

8. EAE Group

9. EATON

10. Envicool

11. HITEC Power Protection

12. Johnson Controls

13. Legrand

14. Rittal

15. Rolls-Royce

16. Schneider Electric

17. Siemens

18. STULZ

19. Vertiv



Prominent Data Center Construction Contractors



 AECOM

 AlDar Properties

 Anel Group

 Arup

 Ashi & Bushnag

 Atkins

 Dar Group

 DC Pr- Engineering

 Deerns

 Edarat

 EGEC

 ENMAR Engineering

 Harinsa Qatar (HQ)

 HATCO

 HHM Building Contracting

 Hill International

 ICS Nett

 INTLTEC

 ISG

 Laing ORourke

 Linesight

 M+W Group (Exyte)

 Mace

 Mercury Engineering

 McLaren Construction Group

 MIS

 NDA Group

 Prota Engineering

 Qatar Site & Power

 RED Engineering

 RW Armstrong

 Sudlows

 Telal Engineering & Contracting

 Turner & Townsend



Prominent Data Center Investors



 Adgar Investments and Development

 Amazon Web Services (AWS)

 Batelco

 Bynet Data Communications

 Equinix

 EdgeConneX

 Future Digital Data Systems (FDDS)

 Gulf Data Hub

 Google

 Khazna Data Centers

 Mor- Hub

 MedOne

 MEEZA

 Mobily

 Microsoft

 Oman Data Park

 Ooredoo

 stc

 Turkcell

 Turk Telekom

 Telehouse

 Tencent Cloud



New Entrants



 Compass Datacenters

 Digital Realty

 Infinity

 EDGNEX

 Global Technical Realty

 Quantum Switch

 ZeroPoint DC

 Serverfarm



KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED:



1. How big is the Middle East data center construction market?

2. What is the growth rate of the Middle East data center construction market?

3. What factors drive the Middle East data center construction market growth?

4. What is the estimated market size in terms of area in the Middle East data center construction market by 2028?

5. Wh- are the new entrants in the Middle East data center construction market?

6. How many MW of power capacity is expected t- reach the Middle East data center construction market by 2028?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446257/?utm_source=GNW



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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




RIO DE JANEIRO, April 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Milrem Robotics, Europes leading robotics and autonomous systems developer, an entity within EDGE, one of the worlds leading advanced technology and defence groups, will introduce its unmanned combat and firefighting ground vehicles (UGVs) for the first time in Latin America at the LAAD Defence and Security 2023 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005121/en/

THeMIS Combat UGVs provide high-precision direct fire support for manoeuvre units and act as a force multiplier. With the GUARDIAN 2.0 remote weapon station by Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E), advanced sensors and fire control system, it allows dismounted infantry units to assess and engage the enemy at maximum standoff distances. (Photo: Business Wire)

On display at the exhibition will be the THeMIS Combat and the Multiscope Rescue UGVs. THeMIS UGVs have already been delivered to 16 countries internationally, including eight NATO countries: Estonia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the UK and USA.

"Milrem Robotics THeMIS has already proven to be a reliable and capable robotic system in many countries and in very different climate zones, from tropical environments to the Arctic. We are proud to present future unmanned military solutions in Latin America, and ready to deliver our systems with full support for deployment in different roles," said Kuldar Vaarsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.

THeMIS Combat UGVs provide high precision direct fire support for manoeuvre units and act as a force multiplier. The THeMIS displayed at LAAD is equipped with the two-axis gyro-stabilised GUARDIAN 2.0 remote weapon station by Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E) that, together with advanced sensors and fire control system, allow dismounted infantry units to assess and engage the enemy at maximum standoff distances, increasing force protection and survivability day and night, and in adverse weather conditions.

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The Multiscope Rescue was designed to provide a durable and flexible platform with rescue-specific plug-and-play payloads for various rescue missions. It can withstand harsh conditions and enter areas that are difficult to reach with larger vehicles, or too dangerous for firefighters. It is equipped with InnoVfoams Hydra fire monitors and is ideal for use in industrial, warehouse, tunnel, and wildfire extinguishing.

Milrem Robotics products will be on display together with EDGE on stand S.42.

Milrem Robotics is the leading European robotics and autonomous systems developer and systems integrator, with offices in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and the US. The company is known for their THeMIS and Multiscope UGVs, the Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle and the MIFIK autonomy kit.

Milrem Robotics is the leader of the iMUGS consortium in charge of developing a European standardized unmanned ground system funded by the European Commissions European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005121/en/

Contacts

More information

Gert Hankewitz

gert.hankewitz@milrem.com
The nature of investing is that you win some, and you lose some. And unfortunately for Mister Spex SE (FRA:MRX) shareholders, the stock is a lot lower today than it was a year ago. The share price has slid 52% in that time. We wouldn't rush to judgement on Mister Spex because we don't have a long term history to look at. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 14% in the last 90 days. This could be related to the recent financial results - you can catch up on the most recent data by reading our company report.

Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns.

View our latest analysis for Mister Spex

Mister Spex isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth.

In the last year Mister Spex saw its revenue grow by 8.1%. That's not a very high growth rate considering it doesn't make profits. Without profits, and with revenue growth sluggish, you get a 52% loss for shareholders, over the year. We'd want to see evidence that future revenue growth will be stronger before getting too interested. Of course, the market can be too impatient at times. Why not take a closer look at this one so you're ready to pounce if growth does accelerate.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

If you are thinking of buying or selling Mister Spex stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

Mister Spex shareholders are down 52% for the year, even worse than the market loss of 4.7%. That's disappointing, but it's worth keeping in mind that the market-wide selling wouldn't have helped. With the stock down 14% over the last three months, the market doesn't seem to believe that the company has solved all its problems. Given the relatively short history of this stock, we'd remain pretty wary until we see some strong business performance. 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 example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Mister Spex that you should be aware of before investing here.

Story continues

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 German 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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By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court handed Moderna Inc a win on Tuesday, affirming a decision to cancel an Arbutus Biopharma Corp patent related to the companies' legal fight over Moderna's blockbuster COVID-19 vaccines.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office tribunal's ruling that the patent for Arbutus' lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology was invalid based on an earlier Arbutus patent that disclosed the same invention.

Moderna challenged the patent at the PTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board in 2018, and the board invalidated it in 2019.

A spokesperson for Genevant declined to comment on the Tuesday decision. A Moderna spokesperson said the company was pleased with the ruling.

The Federal Circuit's decision does not affect an ongoing lawsuit filed by Arbutus and Genevant Sciences  a joint venture between Arbutus and Roivant Sciences Ltd  against Moderna last year in Delaware for allegedly infringing other related LNP patents.

Warminster Township, Pennsylvania-based Arbutus said in the lawsuit that Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna began challenging its patents at the PTO after failing to acquire a license to its LNP technology.

The technology is used to deliver RNA to target cells without being attacked by the body's immune system.

Arbutus separately sued Pfizer and BioNTech for patent infringement last week over their COVID-19 shots, in a lawsuit that also does not include the canceled patent.

The Federal Circuit case is Arbutus Biopharma Corp v. ModernaTX Inc, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, No. 20-1183.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington)
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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RonBailey / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Digital payment platforms like Venmo, PayPal and CashApp have changed the way we use and keep physical cash on hand. Most people rarely keep cash on their person, much less at home. However, there are always unexpected events that can lead to a necessity for having a bit of cash on hand, particularly emergencies ranging from catastrophic weather (hurricanes, wildfire), to power outages. If you cant access your digital currency or your banking systems are down, having cash can allow you to get gas, food, and medicines with ease.

Find Out: Unplug These Appliances That Hike Up Your Electricity Bill

Advice: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero

However, just how much cash should you have on hand? We asked experts to weigh in and the answer is: It depends.

Keep Cash to a Minimum

From a security point of view, cash is the most insecure asset you can have. Keeping it to a minimum in the house in the case of fire or theft is a good rule of thumb, said Ryan McCarty, CFP from McCarty Money Matters.

Just how minimum is up for debate among financial experts. Danielle Miura, CFP, the founder and owner of Spark Financials, suggested, You should keep enough money on hand to get you a couple of gallons of gas, pay for a delivery tip, or to help in unfortunate events, or around $100-$200 at a time. Emergency funds should not be held at your home, they should be stored in a high-yield savings account of your choice.

McCarty framed it more in terms of a ratio: In terms of amount, dont let your cash exceed 10% of your overall emergency fund and/or $10,000. You cant deposit more than $10,000 in cash in a given year without raising red flags with the IRS.

Take Our Poll: Do You Think the US Should Raise the Medicare Tax on High Earners To Help Save the Program?

Enough for Emergency Expenses

Yasmin Purnell, a personal finance expert and founder of The Wallet Moth, a finance website, suggested you keep enough cash on hand in case of an emergency that would require you to access temporary accommodation, food and drink, gasoline, and medication. Purnell added, As a general rule of thumb, having access to $1,000 in cash at home would ensure you can at least pay for immediate expenses in the case of a national emergency.

Story continues

Ted Capwell, an investment manager and co-founder of Safe Trade Binary Options, a financial news website, suggests that instead of keeping cash for this kind of emergency, you could keep staples. For example, instead of keeping $500 for food, buy frozen food and store them in a refrigerator. Or buy an emergency kit instead of keeping money for hospital bills.

You dont need to stash hundreds of thousands of dollars because thats just over-preparing for a catastrophe that has a really low chance of taking place, Capwell said.

Less Than $1,000

Jesse Cramer, founder of The Best Interest and relationship manager at Cobblestone Capital Advisors, believes less than $1,000 is ideal.

It depends person to person, but an amount less than $1,000 is almost always preferred. There simply isnt enough good reason to keep large amounts of liquid cash lying around the house. Banks are infinitely safer.

To drive home this point, he shared that neighbors of his parents wound up badly burned in a house fire because they were trying to find their hidden stockpiles of cash.

This is an extreme example, but the point stands, Cramer said. In todays world of ubiquitous credit cards, Apple pay, Paypal, Venmo, etc., there arent enough good reasons to keep large amounts of cash in the house.

Keep Your Cash Safe

No matter how much cash you keep at home, youll want to keep it safe, said Matthew Dailly, managing director at Tiger Financial. To begin with, youll need to locate safe havens for itThe loss of a large amount of cash can happen in a matter of seconds if your home is damaged by a flood or fire. Fireproof safe storage is, therefore, a good idea. In addition, youll serve as a lure for would-be burglarsEven if you purchase a high-tech safe, a criminal may still attempt to break into your home.

For security purposes, this money should be kept in a bolted down safe with any other valuables in the home, McCarty said. Make sure the safe is fire and waterproof to avoid any damage. Make sure you deposit and replace the money on occasion so that the bills dont get too old.

Jay Zigmont, PhD, CFP, founder of Childfree Wealth, a life and financial planning firm based in Mississippi, offers another word of caution: Having money on hand, of course comes with the threat of theft or loss, but also, it may be a challenge for you to not spend it. Ive heard of people freezing the moneyliterallyto slow them down, giving their spouse or child the key to the safe or other things to slow themselves down. Figure out a balance that works for you.

Dont Panic

When things get bad, people have a tendency to panic, and taking out a lot of cash to protect against emergencies can actually work against you. Contrary to popular belief, you are already protected from a bank failure, Dailly said.

If a bank goes under, the standard FDIC insurance is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account. To avoid a total collapse of the entire financial system at once, you can simply divide your fortune among several banks.

Cash Loses Value

A good rule of thumb is to keep as little as you think is necessary; while it might seem weird, cash actually loses value over time. Unlike money in circulation, which loses value over time, money in a bank retains its worth and, on occasion, even climbs in value. A safe financial institution is the only way to ensure the safety of your money, Dailly said.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Cash To Have Stashed at Home at All Times
Momentum at N.C. Red Cross Facilities Continues

CARY, N.C., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers at the American Red Cross in Cary voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 391. This is the fourth organizing victory at a Red Cross facility in North Carolina in the last month. This cohort joins three units of Red Cross Durham workers who also recently voted to join Local 391.

International Brotherhood Of Teamsters. (PRNewsFoto/International Brotherhood of Teamsters)

"We are happy to welcome another group of Red Cross workers to the Teamsters family here in North Carolina," said Moses Darden, Lead Organizer at Local 391. "This latest organizing victory is part of a growing movement of Red Cross workers in the Carolinas who are rising up and demanding fair treatment and job protections. We look forward to helping these workers get the contract they deserve."

"My coworkers and I could not be more excited to join Local 391," said Amy Starks, Collections Specialist at Red Cross' Cary facility. "We know that the Teamsters will always advocate for and support Red Cross workers like us. We're ready to fight for the contract we deserve!"

These workers join more than 1,700 other Red Cross workers who are represented by the Teamsters.

Chartered in 1938, Teamsters Local 391 represents thousands of workers in North Carolina throughout a wide variety of industries. For more information go to teamsterslocal391.org/.

Contact:

Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877

mmcquaid@teamster.org

Cision

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SOURCE Teamsters Local 391
Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) submitted a final revised takeover offer to Newcrest Mining Limited (OTC: NCMGY), bidding a 46% premium to the closing price of Newcrest shares as on February 3, 2023.

The latest offer values Newcrest Mining at $19.5 billion, which would make it the largest-ever M&A deal in the gold-mining industry, WSJ reported.

Newcrest is Australias largest gold miner, which had rejected the previous offer from Newmont at a $17.5 billion valuation. The company initially proposed the acquisition in February 2023.

The premium reflects the increase in Newmonts share price from February 3, 2023 to April 6, 2023 (assuming a price of $52.05/share with AUD / USD of 0.667) and Newcrest share price as of February 3, 2023 (A$ 22.45/share with AUD / USD of 0.692).

Newmonts new bid is based on 0.400x Newmont shares per Newcrest share, resulting in the combined company being 31% owned by Newcrest and 69% owned by Newmont.

The Newcrest Board of Directors has agreed to grant Newmont confirmatory due diligence access to enable Newmont to put forward a binding proposal.

Per the new proposal, Newcrest would have the right to fund and pay to its shareholders a special dividend of up to USD$1.10 per Newcrest share.

Price Action : NEM shares are trading lower by 3.01% at $49.55 in premarket on the last check Tuesday.

Photo by Capri23auto from Pixabay

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This article Newmont Raises Bid For Newcrest Takeover, Offers 46% Premium to Feb 3 Price At $19.5B Valuation originally appeared on Benzinga.com

.

 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
NutriLeads

BeniCaros logo

BeniCaros is an award-winning immune support ingredient from NutriLeads BV

WAGENINGEN, the Netherlands, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NutriLeads BV announced today that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Quadra Ingredients, a leading food and supplement ingredient distributor, to represent BeniCaros in the U.S. and Canada.



BeniCaros is NutriLeads award-winning, clinically proven immune-strengthening ingredient for functional foods, beverages and supplements. BeniCaros is an upcycled, soluble carrot fiber with prebiotic properties that trains the immune system to be faster, smarter and stronger. Peer-reviewed research demonstrates that BeniCaros prepares immune cells for accelerated responses and selectively increases beneficial gut microorganisms and their metabolites that support immune health.

Quadras expertise in specialty ingredients, strong technical application support, and deep industry knowledge will help us grow our presence and sales in the U.S. and Canadian markets, explained Steve Meredith, Sales Manager North America at NutriLeads.

We are thrilled to represent NutriLeads and BeniCaros, said Christine Infilise, Vice-President, Quadra Ingredients. Our customers want natural ingredients that are earth friendly and backed by strong science. BeniCaros checks all these boxes and has an ideal formulation profile for customers that want to innovate in the immune health space.

About NutriLeads BV

NutriLeads is a private company developing natural, plant-derived ingredients that are scientifically and clinically proven to strengthen human health. The companys proprietary technology platform is based on naturally bioactive fibers known as RG-I (Rhamnogalacturonan-I) found in select crops. The companys first product BeniCaros has won several awards for research and innovation. For more information, visit NutriLeads and BeniCaros .

About Quadra

Quadra Ingredients is a trusted provider of products and services to various sectors of Food Ingredients, Pharmaceutical and Supplements, and Personal Care markets across Canada and the USA. Its specialized team offers strong market knowledge and expert technical application support. A national infrastructure, combined with deep logistics expertise, ensure coast-to-coast market coverage. Privately owned, Quadra is one of the largest distributors in Canada and is ranked 12th on the list of Top 100 Chemical Distributors in North America.

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Contacts:

David Walsh

Communications Consultant

NutriLeads BV

1-651-503-8248

david.walsh@nutrileads.com

Christine Infilise

Vice-President, Quadra Ingredients

1-450-510-5708

christine_infilise@quadra.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae4f6a33-1641-43a4-b532-af69cc9d9d36




Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

Key Marketers Develop Innovative Open Source Intelligence Tools to Track Real-time Data Efficiently and Accuracy. Strong government security measures, a robust regulatory environment, and increasing emphasis on national security are driving the United Kingdom's rapid growth and expanding its share in the global market during the forecast period

NEWARK, Del, April 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The open source intelligence market is securing a valuation of US$ 6.25 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 58.21 billion by 2033. The market is capturing a CAGR of 25% during the forecast period.



How are Organizations Surging the Open Source Intelligence Market?

Organizations are growing the market in several ways, including:

Developing OSINT Tools and Technologies: Both public and private organizations invest in developing open source intelligence techniques to improve data and analysis. For instance, organizations are developing web scraping tools that collect huge amounts of social and online media data. Similarly, key organizations are developing Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools to analyze data accurately.

Offering Open Source Intelligence Services: The growing demand for open source intelligence has led to the emergence of a new market to provide consultancy. The companies offer various services, including data collection, analysis, and training to public and private organizations. These service providers specialize in conducting online investigations for law enforcement agencies, while others offer market research services to businesses.

Training and Educating Open Source Intelligence Professionals: With the growing demand for open source intelligence expertise, organizations are investing in training and educating professionals in this field. These organizations offer training courses for their employees. While others sponsor academic research programs to develop new open source intelligence techniques .

Creating Partnerships and Collaborations: Organizations are also building partnerships and collaborations to share data and expertise in the open source intelligence field. For example, law enforcement agencies may collaborate with academic institutions to develop new OSINT techniques.

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Download a sample to obtain additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in the coming years@

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-16925

Key Takeaways:

The open source intelligence market is estimated to register a CAGR of 25% with a valuation of US$ 58.21 billion by 2033.

The United States is anticipated to dominate the global market by capturing a significant share by 2033.

Historically, the market was captured with a valuation of US$ 2.05 billion in 2018.



How are Key Players Adding Value in the Global Market?

The key players are playing a vital role in the market growth by adding value. These players include individuals, organizations, and companies specializing in collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information from publicly available sources.

Crucial players add value to the market by developing innovative tools and technologies that improve efficiency. These tools include data mining software, web crawlers, and social media analytics platforms that quickly research vast data.

Key players provide expert analysis and interpretation of the data that they collect. It may involve identifying patterns and trends in the data and uncovering hidden connections between different sources of information. They provide customized services to clients by monitoring analysis on a specific topic.

These players are advancing the market to another height through their several strategic and unique ideas. The marketing methodologies these players adopt are mergers, collaborations, partnerships, acquisitions, and product launches.

Recent Developments in the Market are:

In January 2021, SAIL LABS Technology announced that it has partnered with the French government. This partnership aims to provide speech and text analytics for French police agencies.

Recently, Palantir Technologies announced its new product launch. This enables customers to create custom data integration solutions for their unique use cases. The company announced its intention to go public through a direct New York Stock Exchange listing.

In 2017, DigitalGlobe was acquired by Maxar Technologies. This acquisition has enabled DigitalGlobe to expand its geospatial capabilities and offers new products. It includes high-resolution satellite imagery for mapping and analysis.



Know more about this market's geographical distribution along with a detailed analysis of the top regions@

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/open-source-intelligence-market

Open Source Intelligence Market by Category

By Security:

Data Analytics

Human Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence Security

Content Intelligence

Network Analytics



By Technology:

Social Media Analysis

Big Data Software

Text Analytics

Social Media Analytics

Video Analytics



By Application:

National Security

Private Sector

Military & Defence

Public Sector

By Region:

North America

Europe

Latin America

Asia Pacific

Middle East Africa



Expand operations in the future To get the requisite details, ask for a custom report@

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Table of Content

1. Executive Summary | Open Source Intelligence 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

3. Market Background

3.1. Market Dynamics

3.2. Scenario Forecast

3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis

3.4. Investment Feasibility Matrix

3.5. PESTLE and Porters Analysis

3.6. Regulatory Landscape

3.7. Regional Parent Market Outlook

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Explore FMIs Extensive Coverage in Technology Domain:

Induction Motors Market Size: The global induction motors market size is anticipated to reach US$ 40.5 billion in 2032. It is projected to witness a considerable CAGR of 7.4% from 2022 to 2032. It stood at a valuation of around US$ 19.9 billion in 2022.

LED Displays, Lighting and Fixtures Market Review: Global sales of LED displays, lighting and fixtures totaled US$ 82.4 billion in 2021. Overall LED displays, lighting and fixtures demand will rise at 8.9% CAGR from 2022 to 2032.

Extended Detection and Response Market Keytrends: The global extended detection and response market is estimated to be valued at US$ 909.53 million in 2023. The market is anticipated to progress at a CAGR of 20.5% to surpass US$ 5,870.69 million by 2033.

Multi-Cloud Management Market Forecast: Multi-cloud management market size is expected to grow from US$ 10.28 billion in 2023 to US$ 121.35 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 28% during the forecast period.

Firewall as a Service Market Outlook: The overall global firewall as a service market is estimated at around US$ 3.32 billion for 2023. As per the market analysis report, it is expected to register 25% from 2023 to 2033.

About Future Market Insights, Inc.

Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified business consulting & market research firm, a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and is headquartered in Delaware, USA. A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries

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Fortune Business Insights

Key companies covered in the paint protection film market are Eastman Chemical Company (U.S.) 3M (U.S.), XPEL, Inc. (U.S.), AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION (U.S.), Kangde Xin Optical Film Materials (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (China), Renolit SE (Germany), SWM, Inc. (U.S.), Guangdong Mr Film Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd (China), Sunvase (China),and more players profiled.

Pune,India, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global paint protection film market size was valued at USD 528.3 million in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 559.1 million in 2023 to USD 853.1 million by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period.

The transparent film made of polymer material protects the paint of screens, glasses, vehicles, and so on. The film protects vehicles from scratches and surfaces from cuts and gives them an aesthetic appearance for a long period. It also helps in keeping the vehicles free from moisture and harmful substances.

Fortune Business Insights provide this information in its report titled "Paint Protection Film Market, 2023-2030."

Get a Free Sample Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/paint-protection-film-market-102936

List of Key Players Mentioned in the Paint Protection Film Market Report:

Eastman Chemical Company (U.S.)

3M (U.S.)

XPEL, Inc. (U.S.)

AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION (U.S.)

Kangde Xin Optical Film Materials (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (China)

Renolit SE (Germany)

SWM, Inc. (U.S.)

Guangdong Mr Film Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd (China)

Sunvase (China)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 6.2% 2030 Value Projection USD 853.1 Billion Market Size in 2022 USD 528.3 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 186 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Thickness

By Type

By Application Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa paint protection film Market Growth Drivers High Installation Costs and Temporary Life Span are Anticipated to Limit the Market Growth Increasing Demand from Several End-use Industries is expected to Drive the Market

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/paint-protection-film-market-102936

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Segments

Thermoplastic Polyurethane Segment to Produce High Revenue Considering Exceptional Performance

On the basis of material, the market is divided into polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic polyurethane, and others. Thermoplastic polyurethane, due to its elastic, transparent, abrasion and chemical resistance, hydrophilic resistance, durability, and other mechanical properties make this product a first choice among manufacturers.

High Demand from Automotive Sectors to Hold the Highest Share in the Market

Based on end-use industry, the market is fragmented into electronics, automotive, and others. The increasing demand for luxury vehicles and passengers is expected to drive the market from the automotive sector. In 2022, the automotive industry held around 82% of the paint protection film market share. The low cost of the film is anticipated to boost the adoption of material from the electronics sector.

COVID-19 Impacts:

Dropped Demand and Production during the Pandemic Impacted the Market Negatively

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, every industry suffered losses globally. Almost every manufacturing industry faced tremendous loss and challenges concerning supply chains, workforce, and utilities. Electronics and automotive industries are important consumers of paint protection films. However, after the pandemic, different industries got on track at full capacity. This increasing demand is expected to boost the market during the forecast period.

Get a Quote Now:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/paint-protection-film-market-102936

Report Coverage:

The report offers:

Major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market.

Comprehensive insights into regional developments.

List of major industry players.

Key strategies adopted by the market players.

Recent industry developments include product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.

Drivers and Restraints:

Surging Demand from Various End-use Industries to Boost Market Growth

Paint protection film plays an important role in maintaining and protecting the vehicles from oxidation, stone chipping, scratches, and moisture, giving the vehicle a shining surface. Rapid growth in the transportation and automotive industry is expected to drive the paint protection film market growth.

Paint protection film exceeds the life of the vehicle's interior and exterior parts and is also completely safe. Increasing demand from other electronics and automotive industries is expected to push market growth during the forecast period.

Regional Insights:

Economic Expansion to Drive the Market in Asia Pacific Region

Asia Pacific dominated the global market in 2022, valued at USD 241.4 million. During the forecast period, the market in the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to boost development as it has become home to a major developing country, India. The region's growth is supported by the automobile sector, followed by the region of North America.

North America witnesses a constant demand for automobiles. With the increase in demand for vehicles and transportation gaining momentum, the need for the material is expected to gain traction and account for the rise in market growth.

Competitive Landscape:

Market Players Focus on New Product Launches to Strengthen Market Position

Leading market players are trying to expand their market reach by offering solutions tailored to their respective industries. These players strategically collaborate with and take over local competitors to establish a regional foothold. These companies focus on developing innovative products and efficient marketing techniques to gain a wider market share. The expanding volume of international trade is anticipated to bring about profitable chances for market players.

Ask for Customization:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/paint-protection-film-market-102936

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 Key Emerging Trends- For Major Regions Key Developments: Mergers, Acquisition, Partnership, etc. Latest Technological Advancement Insights on Regulatory Scenario Porters Five Forces Analysis

Qualitative Insights  Impact of COVID-19 on Global Paint Protection Film Market Supply Chain Challenges Steps taken by Government/Companies to overcome this impact Potential Opportunities Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Global Paint Protection Film Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 20192030 Key Findings / Summary By Material Thermoplastic Polyurethane Polyvinyl Chloride Others By End-Use Industry Automotive Electronics Others By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued...!

Speak to Our Expert:

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Key Industry Development:

June 2021: Avery Dennison helps participants to improve techniques and skills, and conducts training classes for automotive paint protection film to help minimize time and reduce installations.

Read Related Insights:

Paints and coatings additives market Estimated to Reach USD 12659.4 Million by 2027 | CAGR Excepted to Hit 5.9%

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The Pentagon is working to determine the size of a classified information leak that received widespread attention last week after it was discovered to have been posted to several social media platforms, a spokesperson said Monday.

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.

DOD officials said on Friday that the department was reviewing a batch of leaked documents purportedly related to Russias war in Ukraine, but additional documents on other national security topics have since surfaced.

Some of the leaked documents appear to cover U.S. and NATO support to Kyiv, while others relate to other countries, including Israel and South Korea  though there are concerns that some of the materials may have been altered.

The Pentagon also made a referral to the Justice Department, which has opened a criminal investigation into the leaks.

In addition, an interagency effort is underway to assess the potential impact the documents could have on national security.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was first briefed on the leak on April 6 and the next day began convening senior leaders on a daily basis to discuss the unauthorized disclosures, Meagher said.

The Pentagon also engaged with allies and partners, including some that were affected by the leak, and informed national security committees in Congress about the disclosure.

In working to determine how widespread the document leak is, the Pentagon has convened officials from its public affairs, legislative affairs, policy, general counsel, intelligence and security, and joint staff offices, according to Meagher.

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This team is really working to get our arms around everything that has to do with this distribution  thats reviewing and assessing the veracity of the photograph documents that are circulating on social media, its assessing the national security implications, it is making sure that were engaging with members of Congress, and its making sure that were engaging with allies and partners, Meagher said.

He would not say who was leading the team but that they report directly to Austin.

Asked whether U.S. officials had reached out to the social media platforms to have them remove the posted materials, he declined to comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BOCA RATON, Fla., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Tower International ("PTI") was proud to be recognized for the "Latin American Loan of the Year" by 2022 IFR Awards, for its $2 billion cross-border syndicated loan transaction. IFR (International Financing Review), is a leading source of fixed income, capital markets and investment banking news and analysis. The award was presented on March 27, 2023 in London.

IFR awards

The transaction covers 14 of PTI's jurisdictions across Latin America, the Caribbean and United States. Proceeds from the facilities were used to repay existing indebtedness, fund the acquisition of the Chilean portfolio of wireless tower assets from WOM S.A., and to fund future capital expenditure requirements, acquisitions and working capital. According to IFR, the transaction was the largest syndicated loan in Latin America for 2022.

In addition to Scotiabank acting as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner in the financing, and Sole Financial Advisor in the acquisition, the following banks acted as Senior Mandated Lead Arrangers or Mandated Lead Arrangers, while 13 other institutions acted as Lead Managers, Managers and Participants: BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, ING Capital LLC, Banco Santander, S.A., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Societe Generale, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., MUFG Bank, Ltd.

About Phoenix Tower International

PTI was founded in 2013 with a mission to be a premier site provider to wireless operators across the world in high-growth markets. PTI's investors include funds managed by Blackstone and various members of the management team and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information, please visit www.phoenixintnl.com

(PRNewsfoto/Phoenix Tower International)

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SOURCE Phoenix Tower International
Biocartis NV

PRESS RELEASE: REGULATED INFORMATION

11 April 2023, 07:01 CEST

Invitation to the Annual Shareholders Meeting



Mechelen, Belgium, 11 April 2023  Biocartis Group NV (the Company or Biocartis), an innovative molecular diagnostics company (Euronext Brussels: BCART), has the honor to invite its shareholders, holders of subscription rights, holders of convertible bonds, directors and statutory auditor to its annual shareholders' meeting (AGM) that will be held on Friday 12 May 2023 at 2:00 p.m. CEST at the offices of the Company at Generaal de Wittelaan 11B, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium.

In order to be admitted to the AGM, the holders of securities issued by the Company must comply with Article 7:134 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations and the articles of association of the Company, and fulfill the formalities described in the convening notice. The convening notice and other documents relating to the AGM can be consulted on the website of the Company.

--- END ---



More information:

Renate Degrave

Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Biocartis

e-mail rdegrave@biocartis.com

tel +32 15 631 729

mobile +32 471 53 60 64

About Biocartis

With its revolutionary and proprietary Idylla platform, Biocartis (Euronext Brussels: BCART) aspires to enable personalized medicine for patients around the world through universal access to molecular testing, by making molecular testing actionable, convenient, fast and suitable for any lab. The Idylla platform is a fully automated sample-to-result, real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) based system designed to offer in-house access to accurate molecular information in a minimum amount of time for faster, informed treatment decisions. Idylla's continuously expanding menu of molecular diagnostic tests address key unmet clinical needs, with a focus in oncology. This is the fastest growing segment of the molecular diagnostics market worldwide. Today, Biocartis offers tests supporting melanoma, colorectal, lung and liver cancer, as well as for COVID-19, Flu, RSV and sepsis. For more information, visit www.biocartis.com or follow Biocartis on Twitter @Biocartis_ , Facebook or LinkedIn.

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Biocartis and Idylla are registered trademarks in Europe, the United States and other countries. The Biocartis and Idylla trademark and logo are used trademarks owned by Biocartis. Please refer to the product labeling for applicable intended uses for each individual Biocartis product.

This press release is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in any jurisdiction where to do so would be unlawful. Any persons reading this press release should inform themselves of and observe any such restrictions. Biocartis takes no responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities in any jurisdiction. No securities of Biocartis may be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company's or, as appropriate, the Company directors' or managements' current expectations and projections concerning future events such as the Company's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which the Company operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities are not guarantees of future performance and should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. In addition, even if actual results or developments are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in future periods. No representations and warranties are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.




Jourdan Resources Inc.

Jourdan & Sayona continue to collaborate on expanding the Canadian lithium supply chain. Jourdans large land package neighbours NALs complex.

TORONTO, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JOURDAN RESOURCES INC. (TSXV: JOR; OTCQB: JORF; FRA: 2JR1) (Jourdan or the Company) is pleased to announce that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau toured North American Lithium Inc.s (NAL) lithium complex on Monday, April 3, 2023. Jourdan entered into an earn-in and joint venture agreement with NAL respecting a portion of its Vallee property, which is directly east of the NAL complex. Jourdan owns a total of 16,000 hectares of land east of the NAL complex. NAL is a majority-owned indirect subsidiary of Sayona Mining Ltd. (ASX: SYA; OTCQB: SYAXF) (Sayona). Mr. Trudeau met with Brett Lynch, Sayonas CEO, and the Sayona team, in recognition of the NAL complex starting production, giving NAL the distinction of becoming Canadas only lithium producer.



Mr. Lynch stated, We were honoured to have Prime Minister Trudeau come and visit the operating NAL complex. He understands the importance of lithium as a critical mineral, and he was anxious to come and see Canadas only lithium operating mine. We made note that we are partnered with Jourdan, a proud Canadian company with long roots in Quebec, with whom together we plan to undertake a drill program on adjacent claims to NALs properties set to start in May 2023.

Mr. Richard Quesnel, Jourdans Executive Chairman stated, We appreciate the Prime Ministers visit to the NAL complex. It signals to Canadians the significance of lithium as an energy storage component, especially in a province rich in renewable energy generated from hydroelectric resources. We are proud to have a joint venture with our neighbour North American Lithium, which owns the only operating lithium mine in Canada. Together, we look forward to contributing to the lithium market.

About Jourdan Resources Inc.

Jourdan Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior mining exploration company trading under the symbol JOR on the TSX Venture Exchange and 2JR1 on the Stuttgart Stock Exchange. The Company is focused on the acquisition, exploration, production, and development of mining properties. The Companys properties are in Quebec, Canada, primarily in the spodumene-bearing pegmatites of the La Corne Batholith, around North American Lithiums Quebec Lithium Mine.

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For more information:

Rene Bharti, Chief Executive Officer and President

Email: info@jourdaninc.com

Phone: (416) 861-5800

www.jourdaninc.com

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 with respect to the Companys plans with NAL to commence a drill program in May 2023 and the Companys ability to execute its business plan. 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 Jourdan to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: receipt of necessary approvals; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future mineral prices and market demand; accidents, labour disputes and shortages and other risks of the mining industry. Although Jourdan 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. Jourdan 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.




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Dublin, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Project Management for Non-Project Managers - PM in the Life Sciences - Pharmaceutical/ Biotechnology and Medical Devices" training has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

What do you do? Here is a common scenario. You are three years out of college in your first engineering job. You are sitting in a meeting about the introduction of a new packaging line in your pharmaceutical plant. You are half listening to the presentation while thinking about some of the other work you need to complete on different matters. The installation will take a year to execute and will require the coordination with several functions inside and outside of the company.

Suddenly the Director of Engineering turns to you and says "Allison, this would be a great first opportunity for you to manage a very interesting project. Let's meet tomorrow and discuss your initial plans for getting started."

This is an all too common occurrence in today's business environment.

Today more than ever before the job titles that we hold are not entirely reflective of the work that we do. Global teams and collaboration often place those in positions of team leadership that have the least foundation to manage all facets of complex projects. Project management requires specific knowledge of the key project facets that must be carefully managed. The interactions across divergent corporate functions, cultures, languages, and time zones all pose unique challenges to the new project manager. Layer on top of the basic project management requirements for any project the requirements of a pharmaceutical/biotechnology or medical device development project and the entire project management process becomes a daunting task for even those with experience.

Unfortunately, project management is not a subject given much attention in college and university these days. The answer? Get some training - some basic understandable project management training that will provide you with a solid foundation for managing that first project or simply sharpen existing project management skills.

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It is not just important to learn about project management - project management has its own body of knowledge - its own set of standards that all project managers follow called the Project Management Body of Knowledge. Any valuable training must also teach/present the content comprising this Body of Knowledge.

Driving a product to the market safely, quickly, and cheaply is the best way for a pharmaceutical company to be successful. Those companies however, encounter enormous challenges during the long product-development process. The unique regulatory requirements of pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical devices as well as the project development processes associated to each industry must also be addressed to meet the needs to facilitate approval.

Why Should You Attend

It is not possible to present a complete treatment of project management in the span of 12 hours. It is, however, possible to focus in on those most important aspects of project management that are critical to the success of any project as well as those that are critical to pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical device development projects. Without basic tools, it is not possible to effectively manage a project to the pre-determined end date without turmoil and chaos.

We have distilled the key aspects of project management into three four-hour virtual seminar segments that will logically move participants from the beginning of the project management process to the end - from initiating the project to closing the project.

This seminar will address those project management critical tasks within each project phase that must be performed flawlessly for effective project execution to occur and will provide the foundation and direction for future study of the subject.

The seminar is designed to build a working understanding of the subject and for a quick start-up for those unanticipated project management assignments.

In addition, the unique challenges and requirements for both the pharmaceutical/biotechnology and medical device industries will be addressed creating a link between those requirements and the basic tenants of project management.

Who Should Attend:

Any member of a cross-functional project team that has the potential opportunity to lead that project.

Engineers

Marketing Associates

Product Managers

Program Managers

Contract Managers

Project Managers

Research & Development Associates, Managers, and Directors

Design Engineers

Manufacturing Managers

This virtual seminar crosses all industries and functions it is however particularly suited for the health sciences where much project-based work is accomplished.

Medical device manufacturers

Pharmaceutical and Biotech organisations

Cosmetic and foods manufacturers

All other industries

Key Topics Covered:





DAY 01 & 02

Session Start Time: 12:30 PM EDT

# 1 - Introduction to Project Management - An Overview

What is a project?

What is project management?

The project manager's role

What is effective project management?

The five stages of a project

The triple constraint, collaboration and flexibility

Project management pitfalls

The Project Charter

The Project Scope Statement

Determine your project's audience members, i.e. project stakeholders, initiator, and champion(s)

How to work and interact with your audience

Project Planning- Stakeholder - Quality - Communications - Scope - Risk

#2 - Specifying the project work to be done and establish the project's timing and resource requirements

Develop the work breakdown structure

Naming key tasks

Making assumptions

Special project situations

Long-term project planning

Displaying the work breakdown structure

Categorizing project work

What to document

Purpose and function of the network diagram

Reading and interpreting a network diagram

Creating the network diagram

Develop the initial schedule

Determine activity durations

Gaming the schedule

Determine team member skills that are needed

Estimate the human resource requirement

Meeting resource commitments

Resolve resource overloads and conflicts

Handling multiple projects

Developing the budget

#3 - Risk, the project team, project management and control

Risk factors and risks

Identifying the risk factors

Risk types

Assessing and weighing risk

Determine consequences

Develop a risk mitigation strategy

Develop your risk management plan

Organizational structures for managing projects

Define the key players and their roles

Team member roles and responsibilities

Assigning project tasks

Authority versus responsibility

The RACI Chart

Developing team operational strategies and procedures

Managing team activities

Developing your team

Managing team and individual team member performance

Working cross-culturally

Collaboration and flexibility - how are they executed and managed successfully

Scope creep and how it is managed

Tracking and reporting progress

Work-effort tracking

Managing the budget

Communicating effectively - how to make it work

When things go wrong - scheduling alternatives

DAY 03

The unique challenges and requirements of pharmaceutical/biotechnology project management

R & D process integration with standard PM processes

The project management success factors for project managers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries

The unique challenges and requirements of pharmaceutical/biotechnology project management

Project challenges in medical device design

Design controls and integration with the project management process

Session End Time 4:30 PM EDT

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/hihpg7

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




Culinary students created delicious plant-based recipes starring tofu

AYER, Mass. and FULLERTON, Calif., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pulmuone, maker of Nasoya tofu and a pioneer in the plant-based foods revolution, recently teamed up with CIA Consulting, a division of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), to host a Student Innovation Challenge. Eight CIA student finalists created unique, flavorful plant-based dishes featuring tofu for an opportunity to win scholarship funding toward their tuition. Hosted at the CIA's New York campus, the challenge was designed to showcase the versatility of tofu and plant-based cooking, and resulted in a wide range of submitted dishes, from breakfast to dessert.

PULMUONE AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS IN TOFU INNOVATION CHALLENGE WITH CIA CONSULTING

The eight student chefs were selected from a group of over 60 applicants and for two months experimented with tofu and other plant-based ingredients, testing and perfecting their recipes. The panel of judges, including CIA Chef Instructor, Aaron Foglietta, and Nasoya representatives, evaluated the final dishes based on creativity, presentation, taste and accessibility of the recipe.

After careful deliberation, the judges announced Sewoo Yu, a 2nd year student from Seoul, South Korea, as the winner of the Tofu Student Innovation Challenge and recipient of a $5,000 scholarship for his dish of Tofu Mandoo Wrapped with Cabbage and Kale. Ye Ji Hong, a second-year student from Seoul, South Korea, won second place and was awarded a $3,000 scholarship for her Tomato Mapo Tofu Pasta, and a first-year student from Orlando, Florida, Jelly Ruiz, won third place for her Tofu Flan Stuffed Toast, receiving a $2,000 scholarship.

"We were so impressed to see the innovative dishes that these talented student chefs created. They did an excellent job making tofu the star of the plate and illustrating how accessible and delicious plant-based eating can be," says Ellen Kim, Director of Brand Strategy & Marketing Communications at Pulmuone. "The CIA is a cornerstone of culinary education so it's an honor to collaborate with them to not only spotlight the many ways to use tofu but also get a taste of how the next generation of young chefs and culinary professionals can elevate plant-based cuisine."

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The Tofu Innovation Challenge is Pulmuone's latest collaboration in its longstanding relationship with the CIA. In April 2022, the company sponsored the CIA's Global Plant-Forward Culinary Summit in Napa, Calif., which featured culinary demonstrations, informational sessions and tastings. Pulmuone is passionate about educating both new and seasoned chefs and is working closely with the foodservice sector to continue shining a light on delicious and versatile plant-based and plant-forward foods.

"This contest encouraged our students to expand and flex their culinary techniques, demonstrating how easy and versatile tofu is to work with in the kitchen," said CIA Chef Instructor, George Shannon. "Our finalists' dishes proved that plant-based eating can be synonymous with fine dining as well as at-home everyday cooking, and we're proud of the creativity our students showed."

The impressive recipes highlighted the many uses of tofu, using a wide range of tofu products.

All eight Tofu Innovation Challenge finalists' recipes are available here.

About PULMUONE FOODS USA

Pulmuone Foods USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pulmuone South Korea, is home to a family of brands that includes a wide variety of delicious products inspired by contemporary flavor palates that encourage a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Amid the growing global demand for plant-based protein food, Pulmuone Foods USA is leading the US tofu market with a nearly 70 percent market share with beloved brands like Nasoya and Wildwood. Pulmuone brands also include Emerald Valley Kitchen, Monterey Gourmet Foods and a line of Pulmuone-branded Asian-inspired products available at mass grocery stores and major club channels throughout the United States. For more information, visit pulmuonefoodsusa.com.

About The Culinary Institute of America

Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world's premier culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in food, beverage, and hospitality, the private, not-for-profit college offers bachelor's, and associate degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking & pastry arts, food business management, hospitality management, culinary science, and applied food studies. The CIA's School of Graduate and Professional Studies offers master's degrees in sustainable food systems, food business, and wine and beverage management, as well as executive education and certificate programs. Its conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry, and its worldwide network of more than 50,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food world. The CIA has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore. For more information, visit www.ciachef.edu.

Media contact:

Carly Wilhelm

cwilhelm@360pr.plus

732-237-4533

Pulmuone, Makers of Americas Leading Tofu Brands including Nasoya and Wildwood, Expands California Facility to Meet Increasing Demand (PRNewsfoto/Pulmuone)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pulmuone-awards-scholarships-in-tofu-innovation-challenge-with-cia-consulting-301794461.html

SOURCE Pulmuone
Transparency Market Research

Global RAS-acting Agents market growth is driven bycContinuous research & development, increase in prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), development of new combination therapies and precision medicine approaches & the increase in investment by pharmaceutical companies in research & development, particularly in the area of CVDs.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The RAS-acting agents market was valued at USD 9.7 Bn in 2022 and the industry is expected to reach USD 13.4 Bn by 2031. The global market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% between 2023 and 2031.



As chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes become more prevalent, and as advanced and effective therapeutics become more accessible, the demand for RAS-acting agents is expected to grow. Furthermore, the availability of government funding for research and development and the increasing focus on the development of RAS-acting agents should provide further support for market growth.

Download a Sample for Highlights on Market Drivers and Challenges Affecting the RAS-Acting Agents: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=85539

Market Snapshot:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue USD 9.7 Bn in 2022 Estimated Value USD 13.4 Bn by 2031 Growth Rate 4.2% Forecast Period 20232031 No. of Pages 209 Pages Market Segmentation By Drug Class, Indication and Distribution Channel Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America Companies Covered Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Merck & Co., Inc., Sanofi S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, and Johnson & Johnson

According to the European Medicines Agency's Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), restrictions have been endorsed regarding the combination of various classes of medicines that affect the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which regulates blood pressure and fluid balance with hormones. Several extensive studies conducted on patients with pre-existing heart and circulatory disorders or type 2 diabetes were analyzed by the Agency's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) in April 2014. CHMP recommended reaffirming the PRAC recommendations.

Story continues

A previous European Medicines Agency review examining medicines containing aliskiren was supported by this review of overall evidence pertaining to all RAS-acting agents. In September 2014, the European Commission issued a final decision on the CHMP opinion, which was valid throughout the EU. An analysis of 2,902,195 active patients was performed using the IMS Health Germany database version in March 2013. 5,296,679 patients (18.3%) received a RAS-acting drug, while 8,723 (0.3%) were prescribed two drugs acting on the RAS simultaneously.

Key Findings of Market Report

The increasing need for RAS-acting agents as well as the growing interest in combination therapies for the treatment of hypertension has led to an increased demand for new and improved agents.

Several major clinical guidelines have made ACE inhibitors a first-line treatment, whose popularity is expected to increase steadily in the market.

Hypertension and heart failure are becoming more prevalent, resulting in increased demand for RAS-acting agents.

Increasing research and development along with demand for new drugs are expected to drive the market for RAS-acting agents.

Hospital pharmacies are expected to be a major market driver for RAS-acting agents.



Global RAS-acting Agents: Growth Drivers

Growing demand for anti-aging agents, rising chronic disease prevalence, and increasing demand for new drug delivery systems are expected to drive the market for RAS-acting agents over the forecast period.

New uses can be found for existing drugs with the repurposing of existing agents and the expansion of RAS-acting agents' markets.

A growing focus on preventive healthcare, the introduction of novel drug delivery systems, and the development of new products will all drive the market's growth.

In addition to the growing awareness of consumers, changing lifestyles, as well as the increase in disposable income, it is likely that market growth will continue to increase.

Additionally, the growing number of patients and the growing elderly population in countries like the U.S., Japan, China, and India are expected to produce favorable market conditions.

Furthermore, the market for RAS-acting agents will grow under the influence of personalized medicine and technological advancements.

Get Customized Solution to Meet Your Research Requirements: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=85539

Global RAS-acting Agents Market: Regional Landscape

According to global market analysis, North America will lead the global market for RAS-acting Agents.

The prevalence of CVDs in the United States and Canada has boosted the market for RAS-acting agents.

As more pharmaceutical firms open in developing countries like India and China, demand for the development of RAS-acting agents is expected to rise.

The regulatory environment and healthcare system in North America make it possible to develop and commercialize new RAS-acting agents.

Researchers in Europe and companies developing new drugs are expected to contribute to the market's growth in the coming years.



Global RAS-acting Agents Market: Key Players

Market players are consolidating their positions by acquiring, merging, and forming alliances. The market has experienced several developments in recent months as it enters a competitive stage.

In November 2021, Boehringer Ingelheim released Twynsta Duo , a fixed-dose combination therapy for hypertension that combines telmisartan and amlodipine besylate.

In October 2021, AstraZeneca and Amgen reported the results of their phase 3 trial on tezepelumab, a RAS-targeting drug for severe asthma. A primary endpoint of the trial was the reduction of asthma exacerbations, and the trial met this endpoint. There are plans by the two companies to apply to the federal government for approval of the drug.

Buy this Premium Research Report | Immediate Delivery Available at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=85539<ype=S

Global RAS-acting Agents Market: Segmentation

Drug Class

ACE Inhibitors

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)

Renin Inhibitors

Aldosterone Antagonists

Others (diuretics)



Indication

Hypertension

Heart Failure

Chronic Kidney Disease

Diabetic Nephropathy

Coronary Artery Disease



Distribution Channel

Hospital Pharmacies

Retail Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies



Regions

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa



About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. The firm scrutinizes factors shaping the dynamics of demand in various markets. The insights and perspectives on the markets evaluate opportunities in various segments. The opportunities in the segments based on source, application, demographics, sales channel, and end-use are analysed, which will determine growth in the markets over the next decade.

Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision-makers, made possible by experienced teams of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants. The proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques we use always reflect the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in all of its business reports.

Contact:

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Transparency Market Research Inc.

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InsightAce Analytic Pvt. LTd.

Companies covered in this report are Honeywell; American Telecare; Roche; Philips Healthcare; Bosch; Biotronik; Intel; Welch Allyn; Health anywhere Inc.; Johnson & Johnson; Covidien Plc.

Jersey City, NJ, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Remote Patient Monitoring System Market is estimated to reach over USD 21.10 billion by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 17.70% during the forecast period.

Globally, the remote patient monitoring system market is expanding because of the increased prevalence of chronic diseases, the aging population, and the demand for home monitoring equipment. For instance, the American Cancer Society's annual report from 2022 predicted that there would be over 500,000 cancer-related deaths in the United States and that there would be an estimated 1.9 million new cases of cancer. There will be an increase in the use of monitoring equipment to track health among the afflicted population because of the high projected incidence of cancer and high mortality. As a result, the market under study will expand significantly due to the rise in chronic diseases like cancer.

Patients can wear these gadgets all day without feeling uncomfortable because they are small and portable. Also, the patient's condition is regularly monitored thanks to this equipment. The market's expansion is also aided by rising demand for home monitoring systems. Using remote monitors allows numerous high-risk patients to evade being readmitted to the hospital and create the most of their healthy days at home, according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2021. Remote monitoring customers claim a 76% decrease in readmission rates, an average patient satisfaction rating of 89%, and overall medical cost savings of around USD 370 million.







Free PDF Report Brochure @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/1700





Recent Developments:

 In September 2022, Watertown Regional Medical Center (WRMC) introduced a new remote care management service for patients with long-term diseases like heart failure and hypertension.

Story continues

List of Prominent Players in the Remote Patient Monitoring System Market:

Abbott Laboratories

Alten Calsoft Labs (A Subsidiary Of Alten Group)

American Telecare; Roche;

Bio-Beat Technologies

Biotronik;

Bosch;

Boston Scientific Corporation

Cerner Corporation

Covidien Plc.,

Dexcom, Inc.

GE Healthcare

Health Anywhere Inc.;

Honeywell;

Intel;

Irhythm Technologies

Johnson & Johnson;

Medtronic

Omron Healthcare Inc.

Philips Healthcare;

Preventice Solutions

Resideo Life Care Solutions

Siemens Healthineers Ag

Teledoc Health Inc.

Vitalconnect

Vivalnk Inc

Vivify Health, Inc.

Welch Allyn (A Subsidiary Of Hill Rom Services, Inc.)





Get Customized Report @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/1700





Remote Patient Monitoring System Market Report Scope:



Report Attribute Specifications Market size value in 2022 USD 4.93 Bn Revenue forecast in 2031 USD 21.10 Bn Growth rate CAGR CAGR of 17.70 % from 2023 to 2031 Quantitative units Representation of revenue in US$ Million, Volume (Tons), and CAGR from 2023 to 2031 Historic Year 2019 to 2022 Forecast Year 2023-2031 Report coverage The forecast of revenue, the position of the company, the competitive market statistics, growth prospects, and trends Segments covered Product, Application, And End-User Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa Country scope U.S.; Canada; U.K.; Germany; China; India; Japan; Brazil; Mexico; The UK; France; Italy; Spain; China; Japan; India; South Korea; Southeast Asia; South Korea; Southeast Asia

Market Dynamics:

Drivers-

Due to raised patient awareness and the deployment of daily health analysis technology, remote patient monitoring contributes to a decrease in hospital admissions. Current development in the RPM industry is the use of wearable technology to measure body temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, and blood pressure in point-of-care settings. In the management of numerous pathologies, including COVID-19, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders, maternity care, and post-surgery monitoring, there is an increasing need for remote patient monitoring.

Challenges:

The growth of this market is anticipated to be constrained by data accuracy concerns, barriers to patients using remote monitoring technologies, such as limited accessibility or awareness of cutting-edge technologies, and reluctance to use contemporary technologies due to data security & privacy concerns. The need to keep more people to run RPM systems also results in increased overhead costs, which is a significant barrier to market expansion.

Regional Trends:

Since China and India together account for around 35.5% of the world's population, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to experience the fastest growth during the projection period. These nations' fast-growing patient populations are anticipated to open up prospects for the use of remote patient monitoring tools and systems. The digital health market in India is expanding owing to technological improvements and improved infrastructure quickly.

The European Parliament estimates that 28.7% of Japan's population is 65 years of age or older, and that number will increase to 30 per cent by 2036. It is anticipated that this rise will pressure the nation's healthcare system and economy. These elements are anticipated to make APAC the geographical market with the fastest rate of growth over the forecast period.





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Segmentation of Remote Patient Monitoring System Market-

By Product-

Vital Sign Monitors

Blood Pressure Monitors

Pulse Oximeters

Heart Rate Monitor (ECG)

Temperature Monitor

Respiratory Rate Monitor

Brain Monitoring (EEG)

Special Monitors

Anesthesia Monitors

Blood Glucose Monitors

Cardiac Rhythm Monitor

Respiratory Monitor

Fetal Heart Monitors

Prothrombin Monitors

Multi Parameter Monitors (MPM)

Others

By Application-

Cancer

Cardiovascular Diseases

Diabetes

Sleep Disorder

Weight management and Fitness Monitoring

Bronchitis

Infections

Virus

Dehydration

Hypertension

By End-Use-



Hospital-based Patients

Ambulatory Patients

Home Healthcare

By Region-

North America-

The US

Canada

Mexico

Europe-

Germany

The UK

France

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific-

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America-

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa-

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of Middle East and Africa





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InsighAce Analytic is a specializing in market research and consulting services that helps in building business strategies. Our mission is to provide high quality insights with using data analytics techniques and visualization tools that drives the disruption and innovation in market research industry. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with in-depth analysis and key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner.

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TORONTO and MONTREAL, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) and the Quebec Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (AQDMD) call for a rapid response to the report of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (AMAD).

Dying With Dignity Canada logo (CNW Group/Dying With Dignity Canada)

DWDC and AQDMD request the tabling of a bill on advance requests

The Special Joint Committee on MAID tabled their final report on February 15, 2023, with 23 recommendations. The report was extensive, and it addressed several topics, including MAID for mental disorders as a sole underlying condition, advance requests for MAID, mature minors, as well as the state of palliative care in Canada, the protection of Canadians with disabilities.

Both DWDC and AQDMD - who work across Canada to protect end-of-life rights - call on the Federal Government to present without delay a bill relating to advance requests according to the recommendations of the Special Joint Committee.

In recommendations 21, 22 and 23 the report suggests amending the Criminal Code to allow advance requests for MAID following a diagnosis of a serious and incurable health problem, disease or disorder leading to incapacity.

Simultaneously in Quebec, Bill 11 was tabled by Minister Sonia Belanger and the National Assembly is studying the issue of advance requests in the event of cognitive neurodegenerative disease.

"It is imperative that the two levels of government move forward at the same time on the subject of advance requests for MAID, an issue supported by 87% of Canadians," urges Helen Long, CEO of Dying With Dignity Canada.

Previous public opinion research shows that 77% of Canadians would support advance requests from individuals who are competent at the time of the request but do not have a diagnosis of a grievous and irremediable condition (Ipsos 2022). Therefore, we also support a more expansive definition of advance requests that would allow for a written request for MAID without a diagnosis, for example, in the case of a debilitating stroke or brain injury.

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In Quebec, unlike in the rest of Canada, provision has already been made in Quebec Law 2 : Act respecting end-of-life care art. 50 to 62 for honouring a person's written wishes in the form of an advanced medical directive; these are binding on health care personnel and have the same weight as wishes expressed by a person capable of giving consent to care. While not strictly equivalent to an Advance Request for MAID, they provide clinicians with guidance as to how a patient, who has suddenly become grievously ill, would like their medical interventions to unfold without the need for a Power of Attorney for personal care present.

DWDC and AQDMD also urge the Federal Government to prioritize and stay focused on the preparations for MAID for mental disorders and end the discriminatory exclusion of those whose sole underlying condition is a mental disorder from being assessed for an assisted death

We recognize the Government's comments and the need to prepare for this change in the law. We trust those tasked with the preparation and readiness for this category of people who suffer intolerably from treatment-resistant mental illnesses will work expeditiously and in good faith to establish the clinical assessment protocols to allow these Canadians access to compassionate end-of-life care.

A task group of experts has completed their work preparing MAID practice standards, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, regulatory bodies, and clinicians across Canada. The development of an accredited Canadian MAID curriculum to support clinician education and training is also well underway.

"MAID for mental disorders as a sole underlying condition is a complex issue, and the preparatory work is nearly complete. This barrier to MAID has been extended to March 2024, let's not prolong it anymore," insists President of the AQDMD and neurosurgeon Georges L'Esperance.

About the Quebec Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (AQDMD)

Founded in 2007, the AQDMD is a citizens' association whose mission is to work to ensure that the laws allow each citizen to choose and obtain end-of-life care, including medical assistance in dying, in accordance with his personal conception of dignity.

For media inquiries contact: info@aqdmd.org or 514-341-4017

aqdmd.org

About Dying With Dignity Canada

Dying with Dignity Canada is the national human rights charity committed to improving the quality of dying, protecting end-of-life rights and helping people across the Canada to avoid unwanted suffering.

For media inquiries contact: media@dyingwithdignity.ca or 647-477-0831

dyingwithdignity.ca

AQDMD logo (CNW Group/Dying With Dignity Canada)

SOURCE Dying With Dignity Canada

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Renewable Innovations Inc.

Lindon, Utah, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Renewable Innovations, Inc. (RI) (OTC: REII), a leader in the zero-carbon, green solutions alternative fuel industry, announces today that it has signed an agreement for the creation of a joint venture with MENA Holdings, LLC to establish an assembly facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to build hydrogen fuel cell products for distribution in the Middle East and North Africa. MENA has expressed that there is significant interest in hydrogen in the Middle East with substantial funding available for this market.



Renewable Innovations products are expected to be a source of power generation from this green hydrogen production. The MENA Group has over 15 years of experience doing business in Saudi Arabia. The former governor for the State of Utah, Gary Herbert, a partner of the MENA Holdings, recently visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a guest of the current Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Princess Rema.

Under terms of the joint venture agreement, Governor Herbert will serve as an advisor to Renewable Innovations. Abdulrahman Alnasri, a partner of MENA Holdings, is a Saudi National who will play a strategic role in funding the joint venture. Full terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, but investment in the joint venture will be used to purchase products from, and potentially make an investment in, Renewable Innovations.

This is a unique opportunity to combine the talents of two local Utah companies to introduce our products into the Middle East and benefit from MENA Holdings long-term relationship with key players in the region. In addition to the Middle East connection, the company will receive the added benefit from former Governor Herberts experience as an advisor to Renewable Innovations, states Robert Mount, President and CEO of Renewable Innovations.

Our years of distribution experience and established contacts in the Middle East place us in a position to take advantage of the growing interest in hydrogen in these markets through this strategic joint venture with Renewable Innovations. Assembling hydrogen fuel cell products in Saudi Arabia will be a huge advantage in Saudi and regional markets, commented Abdulrahman Alnasri, partner of MENA Holding, LLC.

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About MENA Holdings

MENA Holdings, LLC is a Utah company with several divisions including one focused on renewable energy. Partners include Governor Gary Herbert, Scott Holmes, Abdulrahman Alnasri, and Jeff Holmes as Managing Partner. Partners of the MENA Holdings have done business in Saudi Arabia since 2008. Mr. Alnasri is a Saudi National who serves as a partner of MENA Holdings inside the Kingdom. Governor Herbert served as Utahs governor from 2009 to 2021 and chaired the National Governors Association during the 2015-2016 cycle.

About Renewable Innovations, Inc.

Renewable Innovations Inc. (OTC: REII) is a global hydrogen and fuel cell integration solutions provider. With headquarters and divisions across the US and regional offices in Europe and Auckland, New Zealand, Renewable Innovations is accelerating the growth and opportunities within the renewable economy. Their team of industry leaders brings extensive experience and invaluable connections across the Renewable, Hydrogen, and Alternative Energy sectors. Along with their partners, investors, and clients, they are making major technological advancements with products and solutions to lead the world into a new and exciting carbon-free future.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words like plans, expects, will, anticipates, believes, intends, projects, targets, estimates or other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events which may not be accurate or realized, and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Renewable Innovations control, including but not limited to regulatory approvals and market conditions. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is included in Renewable Innovations filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Renewable Innovations disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.

Brokers and Analysts

Chesapeake Group

410-825-3930

info@chesapeakegp.com




Crestline Hotels & Resorts

FAIRFAX, Va., April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Residence Inn by Marriott Manassas Battlefield Park, VA, is proudly welcoming guests to its updated and refreshed facilities. The renovation includes all 107 suites, public spaces, meeting rooms, and the buildings exterior. The hotel is managed by Crestline Hotels & Resorts and is owned by Apple Hospitality REIT.

Guests are welcomed into a newly redesigned lobby with stylish furnishings, new flooring, and artwork, as well as updated technology that includes a state-of-the-art printing station. All suites are refreshed with new furnishings, flooring, HDTVs, and bathroom upgrades. Throughout the hotel, including the 272 square-foot meeting room, guests will enjoy new flooring and wall coverings, as well as enhanced amenities such as a 65-inch monitor in the meeting room.

More About the Residence Inn Manassas Battlefield Park

The Residence Inn Manassas Battlefield Park is convenient to several attractions including Gainesville, Haymarket, historic Manassas, Jiffy Lube Live, and the Manassas Battlefield National Park. Business travelers will find the hotel near Tokyo Electron America, Inc., Lam Research, Micron, the Manassas Regional Airport, and government facilities including the Warrenton Training Center. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, flat-screen TVs, luxurious bedding, sofa beds, and daily complimentary breakfast, plus a heated indoor pool, 24/7 fitness center, free parking, and 272 sq. ft. of meeting facilities. The hotel is also close to top wedding venues in Manassas, including Sweeney Barn, Foxchase Manor, Red Rose Banquet and Event Center, The Winery at Bull Run, and Effingham Manor Winery.

The Residence Inn Manassas Battlefield Park is located at 7345 Williamson Boulevard, Manassas, Virginia. It is 16 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport and 30 miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. For more information visit: www.marriott.com or call 703-330-8808.

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About Crestline Hotels & Resorts

Crestline Hotels & Resorts, LLC is one of the nations largest independent hospitality management companies. Founded in 2000, the company presently manages 127 hotels, resorts, and conference centers with more than 18,000 rooms in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Crestline manages properties under such well-regarded brands as Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, as well as independent, private label hotels and conference centers throughout the United States. For more information, visit: www.crestlinehotels.com.

Important Notice:

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome to be materially different. In addition, words such as anticipate, believe, and intend indicate a forward-looking statement; however, not all forward-looking statements include these words.

Media Contact:

Gayle MacIntyre

Global Ink Communications

gbmacintyre1@gmail.com

404.643.8222




As potential candidates fine-tune their platforms in anticipation of 2024 presidential campaigns, Robert F. Kennedy Jr jumped on board the CBDC hate train last week to join Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Kennedy, whos filed papers to run as a Democrat in the upcoming presidential election, rang warning bells on Twitter, appearing to lump the launch of FedNow with that of a central bank digital currency, also known as a CBDC, which he said would grease the slippery slope to financial slavery and political tyranny.

His comments parallel those of several Republican lawmakers that have skewered CBDCs as an affront to financial privacy rights or potentially prone to restricting everyday purchases, bringing a bipartisan tinge to an issue thats been largely publicized by conservative voices.

A CBDC tied to [a] digital ID and social credit score will allow the government to freeze your assets or limit your spending, Kennedy, who last year publicly apologized for comments made about Anne Frank within the context of an anti-vaccine mandate speech, wrote on Twitter. While cash transactions are anonymous, a CBDC will allow the government to surveil all our private financial affairs.

The Fed just announced it will introduce its FedNow Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in July. CBDCs grease the slippery slope to financial slavery and political tyranny. While cash transactions are anonymous, a #CBDC will allow the government to surveil all our private  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) April 5, 2023

The Federal Reserve issued clarity on its upcoming launch of FedNow days later, setting the record straight in an updated section of its FAQs page. The Fed claimed it is not launching a CBDC when its FedNow payments service is expected to come online in July. It said the system for instant settlement between financial institutions isnt a replacement for cash either.

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FedNow is a payments service the Federal Reserve is making available for banks and credit unions to transfer funds, the post states. The FedNow Service is neither a form of currency nor a step toward eliminating any form of payment, including cash.

A central bank digital currency is similar to a stablecointhey are both digital assets that are pegged to a sovereign currency like the U.S. dollar. However, instead of being issued by private companies on decentralized networks like stablecoins are, CBDCs are issued and managed by their respective governments or central banks.

The Fed has repeatedly said that the U.S. central bank will not release a retail CBDC without written approval from Congress. And the Fed reprised that message in its blog post on Friday, adding the executive branch would also have to be on board.

Though the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco posted a job opening seeking CBDC designers and developers in February, the Fed also reaffirmed it has made no decision on issuing a central bank digital currency.

Kennedys concerns align with those of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who railed against the notion of a CBDC in the Sunshine State last month. He speculated the technology could be used to curtail firearm purchases or limit gasoline sales as he introduced a ban on CBDCsfrom any countryto the states legislature.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Introduces State Legislation Banning CBDCs

The technology has been condemned as antithetical to cryptos founding principles by comparatively liberal voices as well, such as NSA consultant turned whistleblower Edward Snowden, who dubbed CBDCs a cryptofascist currency back in 2021.

Other Republican lawmakers raised notable concerns about CBDCs prior to DeSantis, including Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who took issue with amendments to the states Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).

UCC is a set of state-level business laws that provide default rules for structuring certain transactions, such as the sale of goods or lending arrangements. Noem claimed an amendment would exclude cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin from being defined as money while granting CBDCs the same status as the greenback.

I have returned HB 1193 with my VETO. The bill adopts a definition of money to specifically exclude cryptocurrencies. But these revisions do include Central Bank Digital Currencies as money. These developments concern me for several reasons, which are found in this letter: pic.twitter.com/3eqzdI80if  Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) March 10, 2023

Along similar lines, Kennedys Twitter post claimed that FedNow was the first step to banning and seizing Bitcoin, while DeSantis anti-CBDC legislation prohibited the technology from being considered money with Florida's Uniform Commercial Code.

But, as a set of laws that govern commercial transactions that may happen across state lines, changes to the UCC dont have as clear of a tie-in to CBDC as politicians may appear to think, Carla Reyes, an Assistant Professor at the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law told Decrypt.

In my view, a lot of the connection between CBDCs and the UCC in the political discourse is mistaken or reflects a misunderstanding of the role of the UCC as private law, she said. All the claims about, the change to the definition bans Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, that's not a thing.

Edward Snowden Slams Central Bank Digital Currencies: The Risk Is Very Easy to Illustrate

Reyes said that the UCC does not have the ability to ban anything as private law and that the amendments are there to make a distinction between cryptocurrencies and sovereign-backed money without making a value judgment of one over the other.

It is not the role of the UCC to pick winners or losers in technology or in mediums of exchange, she said. It just provides rules so that people who enter into voluntary transactions using whatever they want [...] know what rules to expect to apply to their transactions.

Touching on DeSantiss proposed legislation, banning CBDCs from Floridas UCC wouldnt actually prevent people from using the technology but rather make CBDCs subject to common law rules, which courts in Florida have applied to digital currencies in the past already, Reyes said.

I'm not really sure what the goal of including a ban in the UCC would be because it would not do what they think it does, she said. As far as I understand what they're trying to do, which is make it so no one could use it, that's not what would happen.
AI to help drive tech revolution

08:12, April 11, 2023 By FAN FEIFEI ( China Daily

Artificial intelligence is expected to usher in speedy growth in China and become a key driving force for a new round of technological and industrial revolution, as major Chinese tech heavyweights have accelerated efforts to develop their own AI-powered large models amid a worldwide frenzy around the ChatGPT chatbot, experts said.

AI and ChatGPT-related technologies will likely free human beings from tedious tasks and enable them to focus on creative thinking, with immense application potential in fields like culture, retail, finance, healthcare and education, they added.

They called for Chinese AI companies to pool more resources into improving computing power, algorithms and quality of data, and ramp up investment in basic scientific research, including mathematics, statistics and computer science to gain a competitive edge in the AI chatbot race.

AI is gaining momentum and finding a wide range of applications across various industries, with the penetration rate expected to reach 20 percent in 2026, said Tian Qi, chief scientist in AI at Huawei Cloud.

Tian, who is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)  the world's largest technical professional organization  made the remarks at a forum on AI large model technology held by the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Saturday.

He said AI is speeding up integration with traditional scientific calculations in the fields of meteorology, oceanography, agriculture, machinery, aviation, aerospace and geology, emphasizing the process of training AI models has higher requirements for capital input and computing power.

Tian said Huawei has been investing in its Pangu AI large models over the past few years, and has built AI models for industrial applications covering pharmaceuticals, electric power, meteorology, mining and finance.

He Xiaodong, vice-president of Chinese e-commerce giant JD, said at the forum that JD will launch its new-generation large model dubbed ChatJD, a ChatGPT-like product for industrial use, sometime this year.

A host of Chinese tech companies including Alibaba Group, Baidu Inc and NetEase have jumped onto the AI chatbot bandwagon, as ChatGPT has taken the world by storm.

Alibaba said on Friday that it has invited enterprise users to test a self-developed large model called Tongyi Qianwen. Last month, Baidu unveiled its large language model and Chinese-language ChatGPT alternative, Ernie Bot, which could be implemented in a variety of functions including searches, autonomous driving and smart devices.

"China has gained an upper hand in bolstering the industrial application of AI compared with its foreign counterparts, given that the country boasts relatively complete industrial categories, an ultra-large consumer market and a strong development foundation," said Pan Helin, co-director of the Digital Economy and Financial Innovation Research Center at Zhejiang University's International Business School.

Noting Chinese tech heavyweights and AI unicorns have invested heavily in building AI large models, Pan is bullish on the prospects of the AI-generated content sector and the application of ChatGPT-style conversational chatbots in China.

Global market research firm International Data Corp said China's spending on AI will likely hit $14.75 billion in 2023, accounting for about one-tenth of the global AI market. The scale of China's AI market is expected to reach $26.44 billion in 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of over 20 percent between 2021 and 2026.

China has made significant progress in developing AI technology. A Stanford University report showed that China filed more than half of the world's AI patent applications in 2021 and continued to lead the world in the number of AI journals, conference papers and related publications.

However, a new set of problems will likely emerge, including ethics, privacy leakage and data security, accompanied by the commercial use of AI large models, experts said.

The Payment &Clearing Association of China on Monday called on participants in the payment industry to use ChatGPT with caution, considering the risks of cross-border data leakage.

The risks of using ChatGPT and other tools to process work content should be comprehensively assessed, and such tools should be used in accordance with laws and regulations, the association said in a statement, underlining participants in the payment industry should not upload key and sensitive information when using ChatGPT.

Lu Yanxia, research director at IDC China, said Chinese tech companies possess the advantages of offering users AI-powered conversational results based on Chinese language, adding that generative AI has triggered a new AI wave and brought about new business opportunities for domestic AI servers, cloud computing and chip companies.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
(Bloomberg) -- The price of Russian oil is nearing a threshold that could create complications for the countrys biggest buyers.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Group of Seven nations last year imposed a cap of $60 a barrel on crude shipped from Russia to limit the Kremlins profits amid the war in Ukraine. Buyers who pay above that level lose access to industry-standard insurance under the sanctions.

The price of Russias flagship Urals crude at the point of export is getting closer to the $60 limit, data from Argus Media Ltd. show. The delivered price of the grade to Indias west coast  including shipping costs  was actually more than $73 a barrel as of April 6.

Its getting increasingly difficult to assess the actual price of Russian crude, due to the emergence of a shadow fleet of vessels and trading companies with unclear affiliations. However, oil prices soared following last weeks shock announcement by OPEC+ to cut output, and global demand is expected to increase later this year, adding further upward pressure.

For much of the past year, Russian oil exports have surged, with much of it going to India and China. But increasingly tighter sanctions are starting to bite, and Russia has pledged to cut output through the end of the year. The countrys seaborne exports just saw their biggest weekly drop since December, tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Read More: Russias Diving Oil Exports Suggest Output Cut Beginning to Bite

A gap of about $18 a barrel exists between the point of shipping and delivery of Urals cargoes in Arguss data. The Russian grade shipped from the Baltic port Primorsk and Novorossiysk on the Black Sea costs about $55 a barrel.

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The delivered price of Russian oil to India averaged $72.14 a barrel in February, the most recent month for available data, according to the South Asian nations ministry of commerce and industry. Thats marginally lower than in January.

While Russian crude is getting pricier, there are signs that its still cheap enough to undercut other suppliers. The cost of Iraqi crude to India dropped to an average of $76.19 a barrel in February, compared with $78.92 in January, according to Indias ministry.

--With assistance from Jack Wittels and Rakesh Sharma.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Scorpio Tankers Inc.

MONACO, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE: STNG) (Scorpio Tankers or the Company) announced today that it has exercised the purchase options on six ships and that it has repurchased its common shares in the open market.



The Exercise of Purchase Options

The Company has given notice to exercise its purchase options on one 2019 built LR2 product tanker (STI Lobelia) and five 2019 built MR product tankers (STI Magic, STI Mystery, STI Marvel, STI Mythic, and STI Magister). The leases bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 3.50% per annum. The purchases, which are expected to occur in June 2023, will result in a debt reduction of $147.3 million for the Company.

Repurchase of Common Shares

Recently, the Company purchased 396,706 of its common shares in the open market at an average price of $54.41 per share as part of the Companys securities repurchase program.

About Scorpio Tankers Inc.

Scorpio Tankers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide. Scorpio Tankers Inc. currently owns, finance leases or bareboat charters-in 113 product tankers (39 LR2 tankers, 60 MR tankers and 14 Handymax tankers) with an average age of 7.2 years. Additional information about the Company is available at the Companys website www.scorpiotankers.com , which is not a part of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forwardlooking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forwardlooking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forwardlooking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan, target, project, likely, may, will, would, could and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements.

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The forwardlooking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Companys records and other data available from third parties. Although management believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Companys control, there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. The Company undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forwardlooking statements include unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, the length and severity of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including its effect on demand for petroleum products and the transportation thereof, expansion and growth of the Companys operations, risks relating to the integration of assets or operations of entities that it has or may in the future acquire and the possibility that the anticipated synergies and other benefits of such acquisitions may not be realized within expected timeframes or at all, the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with the Company, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in the Companys operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Companys vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of offhires, and other factors. Please see the Companys filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of certain of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Contact Information

Scorpio Tankers Inc.

James Doyle  Head of Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Tel: +1 646-432-1678

Email: investor.relations@scorpiotankers.com








DUBAI, UAE and HYDERABAD, India, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seed Group , a company of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, has announced a strategic partnership with India-based No-Code Low-Code platform Quixy with an aim to simplify enterprise solution-building in the UAE and the Middle East.

From left to right: Gautam Nimmagadda, CEO of Quixy; Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of Seed Group and the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum; Govind Viswesh Chinta, Director of Quixy

The Hyderabad headquartered start-up uses an innovative no-code, low-code approach to help businesses build solutions and applications up to 10 times faster without writing any code. The organisation has over time assisted many businesses to become more agile in the current changing environment, enhance workflow efficiency with faster time to market and lower development costs, magnify innovation, and embrace IT and business user partnership.

As a strategic partner, Seed Group will work with Quixy to reach the right audience, access top decision-makers in the government as well as the private sector, and contribute to strengthening the technological innovation landscape in Dubai.

Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of Seed Group and the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, said, "This is an important association in many ways. Not only will this strategic partnership allow Quixy to bring its innovative no-code, low-code platform to businesses in the region, but it will also help empower the corporate landscape by making offering online services easy and seamless. The services of Quixy are designed to streamline processes and workflows, making organisations more efficient and effective. We are looking forward to the potential of this collaboration and the benefits it will bring to our customers."

Speaking about Quixy's vision for the market and the strategic partnership to enable it, Mr. Gautam Nimmagadda, Founder & CEO, Quixy, said, "Over the last two decades, the Middle East has been leapfrogging the rest of the world by becoming the new hotbed for innovation and modern technology, with Dubai at the core of this revolution. Quixy's market research shows that the forward-thinking leadership in the region will drive a truly digital business ecosystem, and we at Quixy aim to play a key role in helping businesses become fully and truly digital. We believe Dubai is an ideal location to lead our next phase of growth. With the robust business experience of Seed Group, coupled with their strong history of effectively introducing technology companies to the market, we are certain that they can accelerate Quixy's establishment and growth in the region."

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Quixy is an industry-agnostic platform, thus enabling any industry to use its technology to digitise any function. Quixy works with over 15 industries that have exploited the novel technology to digitise their functions in the nimblest and most cost-efficient way. The company has been noted for its work with private and government companies, assisting them in simplifying their business processes. The platform deploys a simple drag and drop design that helps create the software with a visual interface.

Seed Group is a notable force in the technology, healthcare, hospitality, and telecommunications landscapes in the Middle East. Over the past 16 years, it has formed successful strategic alliances with leading global companies representing diverse regions to accelerate sustainable market entry and presence within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

About Quixy

Quixy is a leading no-code, low-code platform that business users in any industry or department use to automate business processes and workflows and build simple to complex enterprise-grade applications up to 10X faster than the traditional approach. Quixy currently serves customers across 15+ industry verticals, including governments and public-sector undertakings. Customers have utilised the platform to build a wide range of applications, including a container-freight-station (CFS) management system, asset and material management, manufacturing plant planning and scheduling, gate operations, procurement and logistics management, an end-to-end ERP system, and naval base admin processes. Quixy differentiates itself from the competition by being an ADVANCED no-code low-code platform that covers all the critical aspects such as the front end, database, workflow, business logic, reporting, deployment, and maintenance of software building vs. a RESTRICTIVE platform. For more information, visit www.quixy.com .

About Seed Group

Over the past 20 years, Seed Group has formed strategic alliances with leading global companies representing diverse regions and industries. These companies have propelled their business interests and goals in the Middle East and North Africa region through the support and strong base of regional connections of the Seed Group. The Group's goal is to create mutually beneficial partnerships with multinational organisations and to accelerate their sustainable market entry and presence within the MENA region. Seed Group has been a key point in the success of all its partners in the region helping them reach their target customers and accelerate their businesses. The Private Office was established by Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum to directly invest in or assist potential business opportunities in the region, which meet the Private Office's criteria. For more information, visit www.seedgroup.com .

Quixy Media Contact

Vivek Goel

+91 99633 22283

vivek@quixy.com

Seed Group Media Contact

Nomarie Jean Lacsamana

+971 4 373 5068

jean@seedgroup.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2050586/Seed_Group_Quixy.jpg

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SOURCE Seed Group; Quixy
Even the best stock pickers will make plenty of bad investments. And unfortunately for TAG Immobilien AG (ETR:TEG) shareholders, the stock is a lot lower today than it was a year ago. To wit the share price is down 68% in that time. To make matters worse, the returns over three years have also been really disappointing (the share price is 65% lower than three years ago).

While the last year has been tough for TAG Immobilien shareholders, this past week has shown signs of promise. So let's look at the longer term fundamentals and see if they've been the driver of the negative returns.

View our latest analysis for TAG Immobilien

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Unfortunately TAG Immobilien reported an EPS drop of 82% for the last year. The share price fall of 68% isn't as bad as the reduction in earnings per share. So the market may not be too worried about the EPS figure, at the moment -- or it may have expected earnings to drop faster.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on TAG Immobilien's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About The Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We'd be remiss not to mention the difference between TAG Immobilien's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price return. 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. Dividends have been really beneficial for TAG Immobilien shareholders, and that cash payout explains why its total shareholder loss of 64%, over the last 1 year, isn't as bad as the share price return.

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A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 4.7% in the twelve months, TAG Immobilien shareholders did even worse, losing 64%. 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. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 8% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. 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. Take risks, for example - TAG Immobilien has 5 warning signs (and 1 which can't be ignored) we think you should know about.

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 German 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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In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers So we wouldn't blame long term MEDICLIN Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:MED) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 47% over a half decade.

Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

See our latest analysis for MEDICLIN

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

MEDICLIN became profitable within the last five years. Most would consider that to be a good thing, so it's counter-intuitive to see the share price declining. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time.

In contrast to the share price, revenue has actually increased by 2.3% a year in the five year period. A more detailed examination of the revenue and earnings may or may not explain why the share price languishes; there could be an opportunity.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

It is of course excellent to see how MEDICLIN has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. If you are thinking of buying or selling MEDICLIN stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 4.7% in the twelve months, MEDICLIN shareholders did even worse, losing 13%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 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. 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 1 warning sign for MEDICLIN that you should be aware of.

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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 German 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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Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc.

SAN DIEGO, CA, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire  Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: SIGY) (Sigyn Therapeutics or the Company), a development-stage company focused on the creation of blood purification technologies that address unmet needs in global health, today announces the appointment of Annette Marleau, Ph.D. as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) effective immediately.

Dr. Marleau is a recognized thought leader in the development of therapeutic blood purification technologies to address cancer. Prior to joining Sigyn Therapeutics, Dr. Marleau was Chief Technology Officer at Immunicom, Inc., where she led R&D endeavors to establish blood purification candidates to treat cancer. She also served as Director of Research at Aethlon Medical, Inc., where she oversaw preclinical programs that facilitated the first-in-human clinical investigation of the Aethlon Hemopurifier as an adjunct therapy to enhance the benefit of pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immuno-oncology drug approved by FDA to treat cancer.

Dr. Marleau has been awarded more than $6 million in NIH grants and contracts to serve as Principal Investigator of pre-clinical and clinical programs to advance blood purification technologies. Additionally, she has co-authored two FDA-cleared Investigational Device Exemptions, co-authored a regulatory submission that resulted in an FDA Breakthrough Device award, and is an inventor on pending and issued patents underlying blood purification therapies targeting cancer, inflammatory disorders, and life-threatening infectious diseases.

Dr. Marleau completed a fellowship in immunology at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. She is a graduate of Western University (PhD), Ontario Veterinary College at University of Guelph (Master of Science), and University of Waterloo (Bachelor of Science) in Canada.

About Sigyn Therapeutics

Sigyn Therapeutics is a development-stage company focused on the creation of therapeutic solutions that address unmet needs in global health. Sigyn Therapy, the Companys lead product candidate, is a broad-spectrum blood purification technology designed to treat pathogen-associated inflammatory disorders that are not addressed with approved drug therapies.

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Candidate treatment indications for Sigyn Therapy include endotoxemia and concurrent inflammation in end-stage renal disease patients, sepsis (leading cause of hospital deaths), community acquired pneumonia (a leading cause of death among infectious diseases), and emerging pandemic threats.

The Companys development pipeline includes a cancer treatment system comprised of ChemoPrep to enhance the delivery of FDA approved chemotherapeutic agents and ChemoPure to reduce chemotherapy toxicity. To learn more about Sigyn Therapeutics, visit: www.SigynTherapeutics.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This information in this press release contains forward-looking statements of Sigyn Therapeutics, Inc. (Sigyn) that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this summary are 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 that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements containing words such as "may," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will," "projections," "estimate," "potentially" or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Sigyn's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Factors that may contribute to such differences may include, without limitation, the Company's ability to clinically advance Sigyn Therapy in human studies required for market clearance, the Company's ability to manufacture Sigyn Therapy, the Company's ability to raise capital resources, and other potential risks. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is illustrative but is not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements contained in this report speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not intend, nor does it undertake any duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.

Contacts:

Jim Joyce

Chairman, CEO

Phone/Text: 619.368.2000

Email: jj@SigynTherapeutics.com




Chris Storey Promoted to President and CFO

Aaron Hencke Promoted to Executive Vice President and COO

DALLAS, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Creek Midstream, LLC ("Silver Creek"), a private midstream company that operates crude oil gathering, transportation and storage assets in Wyoming, today announced the promotion of two senior leaders.

Chris Storey, President and CFO

Chris Storey, who previously served as Senior Vice President and CFO for Silver Creek, has been promoted to President and CFO, where he will assist in the overall management of the Silver Creek organization. Aaron Hencke, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations, has been appointed Executive Vice President and COO, where he will continue to lead the daily operations of the company's assets in Wyoming. Both promotions became effective January 1, 2023.

"Having worked alongside Chris and Aaron for over nine years, I know firsthand that their insight, expertise and values have played a key role in the development of Silver Creek, and these promotions reflect the strength and depth of our best-in-class team," said J. Patrick Barley, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Silver Creek. "I thank them for their relentless dedication to our company and our customers, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside them in these expanded roles as we grow our footprint across the Powder River, Big Horn and Wind River Basins."

About Silver Creek Midstream

Irving, TX based Silver Creek is a private midstream company focused on providing crude oil gathering, transportation and storage services in Wyoming. The Company was founded in 2017 and has both acquired and developed assets that serve the Powder River, Big Horn and Wind River Basins. Silver Creek is backed by equity commitments from Tailwater Capital, The Energy & Minerals Group ("EMG") and Silver Creek Management.

For more information, please visit www.scmidstream.com.

About Energy & Minerals Group

EMG is the management company for a series of specialized private equity funds. The firm was founded by John Raymond (majority owner and CEO) and John Calvert in 2006. EMG focuses on investing across various facets of the global natural resource industry including the upstream and midstream segments of the energy complex. EMG currently has approximately $14 billion of assets under management and approximately $12 billion in commitments have been allocated across the energy sector since inception.

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For more information, please visit http://www.emgtx.com/ .

About Tailwater Capital

Dallas-based Tailwater Capital is an energy and growth infrastructure private equity firm with a well-established track record of working constructively with proven management teams to deliver value-added solutions. Tailwater has raised more than $4.4 billion in committed capital since inception and the team has executed more than 100 transactions representing over $23 billion in value. For more information, please visit https://www.tailwatercapital.com/ .

Forward-Looking Statements

Includes non-Tailwater controlled capital pursuant to the Tailwater led management buyout processes for which Tailwater provides management related services.

Contacts

Jill McMillan

Managing Director, Communications & Public Affairs

Phone: 214-489-7047

Email: jmcmillan@tailwatercapital.com

John Schaufele

Managing Director, Investor Relations & Fundraising

Phone: 214-489-7043

Email: jschaufele@tailwatercapital.com

Aaron Hencke, Executive Vice President and COO

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/silver-creek-announces-senior-leadership-promotions-301793834.html

SOURCE Silver Creek Midstream
MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED

Solar Lights Market is segmented into Light Source, Offering, Grid Type and Application for the analysis of the market. Growing emphasis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on using renewable and clean energy systems is expected to drive the Solar Lights Market over the forecast period.

Pune, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A global Energy and Power market research and business-consulting firm, Maximize Market research, has published a market intelligence report on the  Solar Lights Market . The report is a combination of primary data and secondary data and domain expert has analyzed the Solar Lights Market from a local as well as a global point of view. Over the forecast period, Maximize Market research expects, the market to grow from USD 8.8 Bn in 2022 to USD 18.16 Bn in 2029 at a CAGR of 10.9 percent.



Solar Lights Market Report Scope and Research Methodology

Market Size in 2022 USD 8.8 Bn. Market Size in 2029 USD 18.16 Bn. CAGR 10.9 percent (2023-2029) Forecast Period 2023-2029 Base Year 2022 Number of Pages 276 No. of Tables 118 No. of Charts and Figures 114 Segment Covered Light Source, Offering, Grid Type and Application 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/183919

The report provides detailed data regarding production, retail pricing, supply-chain details and manufacturing cost of major key players in the Solar Lights Market. The report provides analysis through segments such as light source, offering, grid type and application along with their multiple sub-segments. The report provides an analysis of the Solar Lights Market through product penetration, investment in research and development, new market trends and competitive landscape. The bottom-up approach is used to estimate the size of the market by value and volume. Data has been collected through primary and secondary research methods. Primary data has been gathered from interviews with market leaders and opinions from senior research analysts. Whereas, data from public records and annual reports of an organization has been collected in secondary. Collected data later analysed by tools such as SWOT analysis, PORTERs five force model and PESTLE analysis, which provides socio-political aspects of the market in major geographic regions such as North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Europe and South America.

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Solar Lights Market Overview

Solar power is a free source of energy . Solar lights are portable light devices , which use LED lamps and photo-voltaic solar panels with rechargeable batteries. In a simple manner, solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into light through electric current stored in solar batteries.

Solar Lights Market Dynamics

The end-user segments of the Solar Lights Market include industrial, residential, commercial , highways and roadways. The growing need to reduce carbon emissions and to minimize dependency for power consumption on traditional energy sources have been driving the Solar Lights Market. The Solar Light System has multiple benefits such as low maintenance cost, easy installation and avoiding the threats of electric shocks since it is a wireless system. The rapid developments in highways, railways and ports are the targeted areas for the deployment of Solar Lights Systems. Also, the low electricity penetration area in the rural parts of developing countries is expected to drive the Solar Lights Market.

Get a Sample Copy of the Report : https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183919

Solar Lights Market Regional Insights

Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest share of the market during the forecast period (2023-2029). The growing demand for power in developing economies such as China and India can only be fulfilled by solar energy. The regions Solar Lights Market is expected to grow majorly due to favorable government schemes for sustainable energy development.

Middle East and Africa is expected to hold the second-largest growing region in Solar Lights Market during the forecast period. The partnership between China and some Middle East countries for the deployment of Solar Lights Systems in the region is expected to drive the Middle East and Africa Solar Lights Market.

Solar Lights Market Segmentation

By Light Source:

LED

Others

By Offering:

Hardware

Software & Services

By Grid Type:

Off-grid

Hybrid

By Application:

Industrial

Highways and Roadways

Residential

Commercial

Others



Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/183919

Solar Lights Market Key Competitors include:

Signify Holding

Eaton Corporation

Sunna Design SA

Greenshine New Energy

Solar Street Lights USA

Engcotec GmbH

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Fonroche Lighting America, Inc.

Jinhua Sunmaster Lighting Co. Ltd

SEPCO

SunMaster Solar Lighting

Halonix Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Nokero

SolarOne Solutions, Inc.

Clear Blue Technologies Inc.

SOKOYO Solar Lighting Co., Ltd.

Tapetum India Solar



Key questions answered in the Solar Lights Market are:

What are Solar Lights?

What was the Solar Lights Market size in 2021?

What is the expected Solar Lights Market size during the forecast period?

What are the global trends in the Solar Lights Market?

What are the major restraints for the Solar Lights Market?

Which segment dominated the Solar Lights Market growth?

What is the demand pattern for the Solar Lights Market?

What growth strategies are the players considering to increase their presence in Solar Lights Market?

What are the upcoming industry applications and trends for the Solar Lights Market?

Who are the leading companies and what are their portfolios in Solar Lights Market?

Which region dominates the largest market share in Solar Lights Market?



Get the Sample PDF of Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/183919

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, Organization Size, Application and Industry Vertical

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by Light Source, Offering, Grid Type and Application

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 and Power research firm, has also published the following reports:

Solar Battery Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 509.53 Mn by 2029 at a CAGR of 16 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the Oil, coal, and other fossil fuels are in short supply, which would increase the demand for technology-based renewable energy.

Outdoor Solar LED Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 37.87 Bn by 2029 at a CAGR of 24.60 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing demand for reliable, economical, and eco-friendly external lighting solutions in the residential and commercial sectors.

Off-Grid Solar Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 4.44 Bn by 2029 at a CAGR of 11.50 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by rising actions or factors of the off-grid solar market because of the power consumption of non-sustainable resources, operating off-grid solar market. Biomass has been considered the third most frequent sustainable electricity source enhanced by solar energy.

Solar Power Equipment Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 255.8 Bn by 2029 at a CAGR of 11.36 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the rising power rates, the use of solar energy has expanded dramatically among residential users for activities such as water heating.

Smart Solar Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 49.39 Bn by 2029 at a CAGR of 15.9 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by Smart solar technologies becoming more popular as a result of governments throughout the world looking for economical solutions and motivating people to convert to environmentally friendly ones by offering subsidies.

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




BOULDER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 11, 2023 / Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNOA), a global healthcare leader developing and producing patented Microcyn technology based stabilized hypochlorous acid (HOCl) products for a wide range of applications, including wound, eye, oral and nasal care and dermatological conditions, today announced the launch of PodiacynTM Advanced Everyday Foot Care direct to consumers for over-the-counter use in the United States.

Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Press release picture

Podiacyn Advanced Everyday Foot Care is intended for the management of foot odors, infections, and irritations, as well as daily foot health and hygiene. Formulated to enhance the body's natural healing process, Podiacyn is clinically-proven to kill bacteria and fungi that cause irritation, infection, pain, itch, redness and odor. Podiacyn's all-natural formulation contains no dyes, fragrances, preservatives or other ingredients that can cause irritation.

Podiacyn has an easy-to-use spray application that dries cleanly with no residue. It is a necessary addition to any first aid kit, gym bag, or backpack, and can be used to kill the bacteria and fungi that can cause athlete's foot after using communal showers in gyms, dorms or campgrounds. Its ease of use will also benefit people with limited mobility who might need an extra boost keeping feet clean between washings.

"We see a great opportunity to bring the benefits of our safe and effective Microcyn technology to podiatric health. The global footcare market is projected to reach $5.4 billion by 2028, up from $3.7 billion in 2021, and we believe our all-natural product, clinically proven to provide relief from foot odor, infections and irritation, will have a piece of this market," said Amy Trombly, CEO of Sonoma Pharmaceuticals.

Podiacyn is available to consumers through our website and wholesale to third-party distributors. For more information or to order Podiacyn Advanced Everyday Foot Care, visit our website at https://otc.sonomapharma.com/. For wholesale orders, contact our customer service department at 720-452-9690 or customerservice@sonomapharma.com.

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About Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Sonoma Pharmaceuticals is a global healthcare leader for developing and producing stabilized hypochlorous acid (HOCl) products for a wide range of applications, including wound care, animal health care, eye care, nasal care, oral care, and dermatological conditions. The company's products reduce infections, itch, pain, scarring and harmful inflammatory responses in a safe and effective manner. In-vitro and clinical studies of HOCl show it to have impressive antipruritic, antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Sonoma's stabilized HOCl immediately relieves itch and pain, kills pathogens and breaks down biofilm, does not sting or irritate skin and oxygenates the cells in the area treated assisting the body in its natural healing process. The company's products are sold either directly or via partners in 55 countries worldwide and the company actively seeks new distribution partners. The company's principal office is in Boulder, Colorado with manufacturing operations in Guadalajara, Mexico. European marketing and sales are headquartered in Roermond, Netherlands. More information can be found at www.sonomapharma.com. For partnership opportunities, please contact busdev@sonomapharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information herein, matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the commercial and technology progress and future financial performance of Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "company"). These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as "will be," "develop," "project" and "believe," among others. Forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties inherent in the company's business that could cause actual results to vary, including such risks that regulatory clinical and guideline developments may change, scientific data may not be sufficient to meet regulatory standards or receipt of required regulatory clearances or approvals, clinical results may not be replicated in actual patient settings, protection offered by the company's patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, the available market for the company's products will not be as large as expected, the company's products will not be able to penetrate one or more targeted markets, revenues will not be sufficient to meet the company's cash needs, fund further development, as well as uncertainties relative to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic development, varying product formulations and a multitude of diverse regulatory and marketing requirements in different countries and municipalities, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Microcyn and PodiacynTM are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Media and Investor Contact:

Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

ir@sonomapharma.com

SOURCE: Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/748452/Sonoma-Pharmaceuticals-Introduces-Podiacyn-an-All-Natural-Over-the-Counter-Podiatry-Product-for-Daily-Foot-Care




(Bloomberg) -- South Korea fined Alphabet Inc.s Google 42.1 billion won ($32 million) for using its clout in the mobile app market to squeeze out a local rival, the latest sign of intensifying scrutiny on the US tech firm as it seeks to expand overseas.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Google tried to block Korean platform rival One Store Co.s growth, Koreas Fair Trade Commission said in an e-mailed statement Tuesday. Google allegedly asked some of Korean game companies including NCSoft Corp. and Netmarble Corp., as well as smaller firms and Chinese companies, to exclusively release their new games in Googles Play Store, in return for Google promoting their games and providing further support abroad.

Google featuring a game on its top pages was seen as crucial for Korean game companies success in expanding overseas, where many of their games visibility is low, the FTC said.

Google  which controls roughly three-quarters of Koreas mobile app market  has denied offering benefits to developers who put their apps only on Google Play.

There has been no violation of the law, a Google spokesperson said in a written statement, adding that its an open platform that gives developers control over how they distribute their apps. Google makes substantial investments in the success of developers, and we respectfully disagree with the KFTCs conclusions.

The regulator said Google began making the conditional offers in June 2016, when One Store began operations in Korea, and continued through April 2018. The activity hindered One Stores ability to attract new games and resulted in a drop in sales, while lifting Googles revenue by about 1.8 trillion won, the FTC said.

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Googles actions differ from normal marketing activities, Yu Seong Wook, director general for the commissions Anti-Monopoly Bureau, said at a briefing. Googles intention was to exclude One Store from the market, which it saw as a strong competitor.

Faced with mounting accusations of anti-competitive practices around the world, Google has argued that unlike Apple Inc., it doesnt prevent other app stores from competing on its platform. The company points users to apps from its Play Store because thats where it can provide the best security and oversight, it says.

Google has faced various antitrust charges outside the US, including fines and suits in India and in the UK in past months.

The Korean watchdog disclosed internal memos, documents and e-mails from Google employees, alleging that the US firm saw the entry of One Store as a threat to its Korean sales and proceeded with a strategy to shut out its rival, even while it was aware its practices were anti-competitive.

The FTC ordered Google LLC, Google Korea and Google Asia Pacific to launch an internal monitoring system and report to the regulator for follow-ups.

Both Googles Play Store and One Store generate more than 90% of sales in Korea from selling games, the FTC said. Google held about 80% to 95% market share in the mobile Android app market in Korea between 2014 and 2019, it said.

One Store is a local platform created by Koreas three telecom companies  SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and LG Uplus Corp.  and the internet firm Naver Corp. One Store is preparing an initial public offering and is seeking a valuation of $833 million, according to Hyun-Joon Hwang, analyst at DB Financial Investment.

--With assistance from Vlad Savov.

(Adds Googles comment, background from the fourth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office is freezing 7.1 billion Korean won (US$5.36 million) worth of assets belonging to Terraform Labs chief executive officer (CEO) Kwon Do-hyung, more popularly known as Do Kwon, a spokesperson for the prosecutors office told Forkast Tuesday in a text message.

See related article: Montenegro to hold Terra-Luna fugitive Do Kwon for 30 days, says Yonhap News

Fast facts

A Seoul court is reviewing Kwons domestic and overseas-based assets for restitution, the Seoul prosecutors office spokesperson said.

The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office previously confirmed with Forkast Friday that Kwon had zero identifiable assets to be confiscated in South Korea. The spokesperson declined to comment on how much Kwons assets in South Korea accounted for in the 7.1 billion won.

When approved by court, South Korea is expected to prevent Kwon from moving or selling the identified assets. The amount will be confiscated after a final guilty verdict from the court.

The assets include Kwons deposits in overseas accounts including one based in Switzerland, where Seoul prosecutors are requesting judicial cooperation, according to a report from South Korean news agency News1 that the prosecutors office confirmed with Forkast.

Legal procedures to obtain Kwons laptops, hard disks and other Terraform-related equipment are also underway, according to the News1 report verified by the Prosecutors Office.

South Korea and the U.S. have sent the Montenegro authorities requests to extradite Kwon on charges including fraud and securities law violations. Kwon and Terraform Labs have repeatedly said the charges are baseless and politically motivated.

Kwon is currently detained in Montenegro for allegedly traveling with forged travel documents, along with Terraforms chief financial officer Han Chang-joon. They were arrested in a local airport on March 23.

See related article: Local prosecutors say Terra-Lunas Do Kwon has no identifiable assets in South Korea
Michael Brochstein / SOPA Images / Shutterstock.com

While the U.S. Supreme Court weighs the legal merits of the Biden administrations federal student loan forgiveness plan, borrowers might wonder what alternative plans are in place in case that one is struck down. The short answer is none  at least in terms of formal alternatives ready to hit the ground running.

Student Loans: Court Allows $6 Billion in Forgiveness Funds To Proceed for 200,000 Borrowers

More: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero

The White House has been so sure that President Joe Bidens forgiveness plan will survive that it is not considering a formal backup plan, Business Insider reported earlier this year. Thats the case even though the original plan has been stifled by legal challenges almost since the day it was announced last August.

Currently, the Supreme Court is weighing lawsuits that call the plan unconstitutional and allege that the HEROES Act  enacted in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks  does not provide authority to grant relief from student loans. Six Republican-led states claim the enactment of Bidens program would harm them financially.

But administration officials  who have tied the COVID-19 pandemic to the HEROES Act to justify canceled student debt  are confident enough in the legal merits of the loan-forgiveness plan that they dont have an alternative in place should SCOTUS rule against them.

We feel confident in our authority under the HEROES Act to take the action that we have taken, Bharat Ramamurti, deputy director of the National Economic Council, said in a press conference several weeks ago. Obviously, the Supreme Court will weigh in on that soon. But we are not deliberating or considering any other kind of alternative approach. Were fully committed to the approach that the Secretary of Education used in this case, and were confident in our legal authority.

As previously reported by GOBankingRates, the Biden administration does have options at its disposal in the event that the forgiveness plan is struck down. But none of these represent a formal backup plan.

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For example, the administration could extend the student loan pause yet again, which would mark the eighth time it has been extended since it first went into effect in March 2020. The most recent extension is set to expire 60 days after either June 30 or whenever the Supreme Court decides on the loan forgiveness plan.

The White House also could turn its focus to other forgiveness options, such as income-driven repayment plans (IDRs). In January, the administration proposed new regulations to reduce federal student loan payments  especially for lower income and middle-income borrowers.

Biden might also decide to reissue the loan forgiveness plan under a different legal authority. Borrower advocates and some student loan legal scholars have encouraged the administration to restart the program under a provision of the Higher Education Act (HEA), which also governs the federal student loan system.

The HEA gives broad authority to the U.S. Secretary of Education to compromise, waive, or release any right, title, claim, lien, or demand associated with federal student loans. One advantage of this option is that its legal authority doesnt rely on a national emergency such as a pandemic.

Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts?

As Business Insider noted, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pushed for taking the HEA a couple of years ago. But the White House seems to be betting heavy on the HEROES Act.

Were confident the (Education) Department has the authority to ensure the financial impacts of the pandemic do not set borrowers up for failure when payments resume, Jordan Matsudaira, deputy under secretary and chief economist at the Education Department, told reporters recently. And when we hopefully prevail, the Biden-Harris team will do everything it takes to make sure every borrower who qualifies for debt relief is able to get it.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: If Student Loan Cancellation Fails, Biden White House Has No Alternative in Place  What Others Are Proposing
Student loan forgiveness sounds like a great deal for tens of millions of borrowers, except for the temporary credit score hit some might get from it.

Student loans have contributed positively to borrowers' payment histories since the pandemic, thanks to the federal payments pause.

Payment history typically is the most important credit category, accounting for 35% of a credit score, says consumer credit reporting company Experian. Amount owed is second at about 30%, followed by credit history (15%) and types of credit and new accounts or credit inquiries at 10% each.

When an account in good standing falls out of the mix, some people may see a temporary dip in their credit score.

Something like this happened to me when I paid off my car loan, said Ted Rossman, senior Bankrate.com industry analyst. My credit score dropped 20 points, which seems odd. Youre supposed to pay off debt, but it has more to do with active accounts and the mix of credit. The big picture is dont stress about it.

Where things stand: Everything to know about student loan forgiveness as Supreme Court focuses on Biden's debt plan

Just avoid it: Is it possible to avoid student debt? These career, education tracks offer a different path

How much could student loan forgiveness affect my credit score?

First, more people will see a rise in their credit scores than a decline and the vast majority of consumers will not see the score move more than 20 points, said Ethan Dornhelm, vice president of Scores and Predictive Analytics at data analytics company FICO, which produces FICO scores.

A FICO Score is a three-digit number based on information in your credit reports. It helps lenders determine how likely you are to repay a loan, which affects how much you can borrow, how many months you have to repay and at what interest rate.

If those who see a dip in their FICO Score continue to make on-time payments and manage their debt, they should eventually see a rebound in their score.

Story continues

Theres a pretty good chance in a month or two, the bumps will smooth out a bit, Rossman said.

Raise the bar: Do you have a good credit score? Credit expert shares tips on how to improve your score.

Lower your cost: Applying for a mortgage? How to improve your credit score and save when buying a house

Student debt relief advocates gather outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.

Will student debt get cancelled?

The Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this year on whether the Biden administration has the authority to cancel up to $10,000 (up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients) of student debt per borrower, but it can take months for the Court to issue a ruling.

While the administration is hopeful the Court will allow the debt relief program, it said either way, the pause on student loan repayments will end.

The pause will end 60 days after the Supreme Court makes a decision on the case, it said. If no decision has been made by June 30, 2023, payments will resume 60 days after that.

Get it started, already: When will student loan payments resume? A new lawsuit aims to lift the payment pause

Local help: California helps college students cut their debt by paying them to help their communities

What can I do to minimize a drop in my credit score?

What is most important is that consumers make payments on time to the extent possible and be careful not to take on debt that they dont need or cant afford, Dornhelm said. Those behaviors, whether on a student loan, personal loan, or a credit card are likely to help a consumers FICO Score in the long run.

Specific steps people can take to ensure the least harmful impact on your credit score, Dornhelm said, include:

set up reminders and automatic payments to ensure you dont get pinged for missing a payment,

read all communications from your student loan provider, which may offer additional financial solutions and options,

consider refinancing or consolidating loans to lock in a more manageable monthly payment,

contact your student loan servicer ahead of time to discuss options. Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for additional forbearance or deferment. Unlike the deferment provided by the CARES Act during the pandemic, though, these won't be automatic and may require you to provide some information about your current financial situation.

Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Student loan forgiveness could lower your credit score. Here's why.
SWAT Mobility is well positioned to drive the vehicle-routing technology space into its next growth phase, capturing market share and sustaining its leadership in the coming years.

SAN ANTONIO, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Frost & Sullivan assessed the vehicle-routing technology industry and, based on its findings, recognizes SWAT Mobility with the 2022 Southeast Asia Company of the Year Award. The company creates disruptive products through artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technology and high-accuracy routing algorithms. SWAT Mobility developed and refined its processes and constantly perfects its approach, thus emerging as a pioneer and a robust service provider while driving advances in the niche vehicle-routing market space based on its highly accurate, patented routing algorithm and constant innovation. The company's technology provides on-demand transportation solutions, commuting solutions for large employers adopting flexible work, dynamic first- and last-mile transit and logistics, and digitizing fixed routes.

2022 Southeast Asia Vehicle-Routing Technology Company of the Year Award

SWAT Mobility offers the market's most comprehensive solution suite, spanning robust features and capabilities that pool users' demands in real time and calculate the most efficient routes to reduce transportation costs, improve city connectivity, and reduce traffic congestion woes. With its road-planning optimization, the company differentiates itself from most telematics software providers that only offer tracking features. SWAT Mobility's AI-powered products include the following:

On-demand dynamic and real-time route optimization for a personalized experience based on current needs, with full visibility and control.

Efficient, high-capacity, demand-responsive Just in Time solution for multiple shift configurations and streamlined operations with daily fluctuating demand

Commute Pass for configurable service levels, periodic route optimization, greater employee convenience, and subscription-based on customer demands

Digital Fixed Routes for improved operational efficiency, passenger experience, and easy and efficient digital transport management

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According to Pavel Zhebrouski, best practices research analyst at Frost & Sullivan, "The company understand its customers need scalable ways to optimise operations, e.g., improve routing and adapting to changing transport demands. Hence, its software allows them to optimise assets according to current needs and reduce transport costs."

SWAT Mobility's management and customer service teams closely monitor emerging market trends and evolving customer needs, responding with novel solutions. The company runs a successful business model while improving efficiency and transparency for its customers. The company leverages its global geographical footprint with technology deployments across many Asian countries, sustaining its leadership in the vehicle-routing technology space. SWAT Mobility is one of the technology providers behind Singapore's first commercial electric and autonomous bus trial and it provides an AI-powered system to automate route planning management and optimize vehicle load utilization for logistics operators in Southeast Asia and Japan.

"Leveraging artificial intelligence-driven technology and a high-accuracy routing algorithm, SWAT Mobility remains a trusted partner, earning a reputation for offering the overall best in the vehicle-routing industry," said Ming Chan, industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Tarini Singh

P: +91-9953764546

E: tarini.singh@frost.com

About SWAT Mobility

SWAT Mobility (SWAT) is the leading smart mobility solutions firm in South-East Asia and specialises in providing demand-responsive, ridesharing services in high-capacity vehicles. With a mission to inspire communities and contribute to a sustainable tomorrow, SWAT endeavours to drive impact on economic, green and social sustainability through increasing resource-use efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and creating safe and accessible transport systems for all. The company works closely with city governments and large corporations to optimise transportation services while improving commutes. It also supports logistics operators with load optimisation & route planning via applications and API. To date, SWAT has completed over 6 million dynamically-routed rides across eight markets. Its proprietary algorithm holds a record on the global Li & Lim benchmark in optimisation efficiency. In 2021, SWAT Mobility was listed on Forbes Asia 100 to Watch as a start-up on the rise in the Asia-Pacific region.

See how SWAT Mobility is empowering the world to move more with less: www.swatmobility.com

Contact: press@swatmobility.com

Cision

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
magnusbilling-7764.jpg - Evelina Carborn

The chief executive of Swedens biggest pension company has been fired after it lost 1.5bn in the recent US banking crisis.

Magnus Billing is leaving Alecta with immediate effect, the company said.

His abrupt exit comes after the pension provider last month revealed it had lost 19.6bn Swedish crowns (1.5bn) on investments in Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), First Republic Bank and Signature Bank, three lenders at the heart of last months US banking crisis.

The dramatic collapse of SVB and Signature Bank in March sparked panic across financial markets, with fears contagion could spread around the globe. First Republic was forced to turn to support from some of Wall Streets biggest lenders after its share price collapsed during the crisis.

Just days before SVB went under, Alecta told local media it had sold off its holdings in two of Swedens largest banks in order to increase its investments in niche US banks.

Mr Billing, who has run Alecta since 2016, later admitted the foray into the US was a big failure but tried to downplay the losses, saying they were equivalent to just 2pc of the funds capital.

However, the losses provoked outcry. The Swedish National Pensioners Organisation said the money was peoples wages and insisted the poor performance should be taken seriously.

Alecta, which was founded in 1917, manages the pensions of 2.6m people in Sweden and 35,000 companies. It is the fifth biggest occupational pension provider in Europe, with assets of 1.12 trillion Swedish crowns (85.6bn).

The pension giant said its board had decided to let Mr Billing go after discussions about how to repair its reputation, admitting: The losses have severely damaged the trust in Alectas asset management.

Chairman Ingrid Blonde said: We would like to thank CEO Magnus Billing for the solid work he has put in during his time at Alecta for the good of the company and the customers.

At the same time, Alecta now needs to look ahead and forcefully implement the necessary changes.

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Deputy chief executive Katarina Thorslund has taken over on an interim basis and Alecta has begun the recruitment process to find a new leader.

The company last week put its equities chief, Liselott Ledin, on leave and said it would scale back large investments in businesses outside of its home market in a bid to placate savers.

Ms Blonde branded Ms Ledins investment decisions unusually inept.

The botched bets have already attracted scrutiny from Swedens financial watchdog, while both the Government and central bank have said they are monitoring the situation closely.
(Bloomberg) -- Swiss parliaments lower house on Tuesday evening began debating whether to approve 109 billion francs ($120 billion) in government guarantees for UBS Group AGs takeover of Credit Suisse Group AG. The upper house gave its green light earlier in the day.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum again lined up to blame the government, regulators and the banks management for failures around the takeover last month. Two hours into the debate in the lower house, it wasnt clear if a vote on the guarantees would be held Tuesday night.

Damien Cottier, an MP with the Liberal-Radicals, called the day the deal was struck a day of shame for Switzerland before going on to call it the least-bad and least risky option.

Cottiers tone reflects that of many frustrated lawmakers who are critical  and in an election year want to be seen as being so  of the banks and the government while at the same time are wary of trying to block the deal. Though parliament doesnt have the power to derail the takeover, the extraordinary session has forced the government to once again defend the unpopular emergency takeover by UBS Group AG announced on March 19.

In that vein, Swiss President Alain Berset opened the lower-house debate after 7pm local time by saying Credit Suisses negative spiral spurred his government into action. Temporary nationalisation, a forced bankruptcy and orderly wind-down of the bank were all considered but rejected in favor of the UBS takeover, he said.

The government, Swiss National Bank and Swiss banking regulator Finma acted in a decisive manner to restore confidence, Berset said.

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Read more: Heres what you need to know about this parliamentary session

Earlier in the day, more than a dozen lawmakers in the upper house voiced their grievances. Their concerns varied from being circumvented in the emergency legislation, to regulatory lapses that allowed Credit Suisses failings to go un-addressed, to demanding accountability for the banks management.

The legal possibilities against the bankers responsible and the possibilities to claw back bonuses need to be exhausted to the fullest extent, said the president of the Free Democrats Thierry Burkart.

Some legislators called for greater powers for the financial regulator, Finma, amid a broader review of too-big-to-fail rules for the sector, while others asked for a parliamentary inquiry commission. Quick legislative changes are unlikely though, as became apparent during the debate.

The deal  described by Berset earlier as the best option to re-establish confidence in markets  created a banking giant whose assets are more than twice the size of the Swiss economy.

Job Cuts

Politicians and business leaders have voiced worries that the combined lender will have excessive market power, leading to a loss of competition. Despite the risks involved in integrating Credit Suisse, UBS stands to become a banking powerhouse post merger, analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. wrote in a note Tuesday.

UBS, already one of the worlds largest wealth managers, is now taking over a key rival for a fraction of the value of its assets and receiving as much as 9 billion Swiss francs in government loss guarantees.

Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter made clear that if these guarantees turned out to be not enough, it would be up to parliament to decide on an extension. The government and UBS agreed on the lender taking on the first 5 billion francs in potential losses, before the administration steps in for the next 9 billion.

Before the takeover, Credit Suisse had already planned to cut as many as 9,000 jobs worldwide over the coming years. The overlaps between the two banks businesses will likely lead to that number rising, though executives including UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher have said that its too early to say how big the cuts will be.

Finma Failed

Finma didnt move in time, said Heidi Zgraggen, upper-house member of the Center Alliance.

Finmas job is to protect shareholder rights and ensure functioning of the financial center, she said. At this, Finma failed.

A parliamentary inquiry commission is necessary to answer whether the financial regulator, the Swiss National Bank and the finance ministry reacted properly, she said. Such a body would have subpoena powers to summon witnesses.

Given the merger has been met with little public enthusiasm, parliament is also trying to curtail government powers in the future: They are attempting to block the use of emergency measures to push through deals like this.

--With assistance from Paula Doenecke, Jeff Black and Allegra Catelli.

(Adds MPs comments in third paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Virtual Investor Conferences

Company invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend real-time, interactive presentations on VirtualInvestorConferences.com

LYSAKER, Norway, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TECO 2030 (OTCQX: TECFF OSE: TECO), based in Norway, focused on fuel cell technology for maritime and heavy-duty applications, today announced that Tore Enger, Group CEO, will present live at the Technology Investor Forum, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on April 13th, 2023.



DATE: April 13th, 2023

TIME: 11:30 - 12:00 PM ET

LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2s3mtpb3

Available for 1x1 meetings:

April 13th: 12pm-3pm ET

April 14th: 9am-1pm ET

April 21st: 8am  11am ET

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com .

Some key financial highlights:

Primary listed on Euronext Growth at Oslo Stock Exchange since October 2020. Secondary listings in Germany and on OTCQX in New York.

Raised approx. MEUR 28,- in equity, approx. MEUR 8,- in convertible bond and been granted approx. MEUR 17.5,- from Innovation Norway, Horizon Europe, ENOVA among others.

Outstanding quotes represent approx. EUR 500 million.

Approx. 20% of shareholders represent German Retail Investors, TECO Group holds approx. 30%, SunHydrogen (strategic investor) holds approx. 8% and family offices hold approx. 12%.

Expected EBITDA positive in 2024.



Some key operational highlights:

First fuel cell stack has been produced and launched, AVL test lab office, Vancouver, December 2022. More units are under construction.

Building Europes first Gigafactory for production of 400kW Fuel Cell Modules, production goals of 400MW in 2025 increasing to 1GW in 2028. Start of manual production mid-Q2 2023.

Production equipment contracted with thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering GmbH. Commissioning expected H1 2024.

Core team at Gigafactory already onboard built on previous experience from REC Solars activities in the same building from 2008-2012.

Unique Fuel Cell IP and industrial development processes deployed together with AVL List GmbH.

A Standard fuel cell module which can be utilized for heavy duty applications such as ships, ferrys, construction sites, mining, data centers among others.

Pilot container in operation during Q4 2023 for Implenia Norway, a subsidiary of Implenia AG.

HyEkoTank project co-funded by Horizon Europe and Shell with MEUR 10,-. Fuel Cell retrofit installation on product tanker in 2024.

Currently completing a feasibility study together with AVL for potentially industrializing a heavy-duty truck FC module which utilizes TECO 2030 100kW stacks.

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About TECO 2030

TECO 2030 is building up Europe's first Giga production facility of hydrogen PEM fuel cell stacks and modules in Narvik, Norway. The production capacity will be built up through 2023 and early 2024, targeting an output capacity of 120 MW of fuel cells in 2024, 400 MW in 2025 and 1.6 GW in 2030.

TECO 2030 is a Norwegian based clean tech company developing zero-emission technology for the maritime and heavy industry. We are developing PEM hydrogen fuel cell stacks and PEM hydrogen fuel cell modules, that enable ships and other heavy-duty applications to become emissions-free. The company is listed on Euronext Growth on Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker TECO and in New York, OTCQX under the ticker TECFF. TECO2030 is a spinoff from TECO Maritime Group, a group that has provided technology and services to the global shipping industry since 1994. For more information, please visit www.teco2030.no.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

CONTACTS:

TECO 2030

Tore Enger

Group CEO

+47 920 83 800

Tore.enger@teco2030.no

Virtual Investor Conferences

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

johnv@otcmarkets.com




Tesla Factory

Tesla is in advanced talks to snap up part of a vast warehouse site in Milton Keynes as Elon Musk seeks to accelerate sales of its electric cars in Britain.

The electric vehicle (EV) maker is preparing to sign a lease for a newly built logistics space in the city, property website React News reported.

The location could provide room for a spare parts storage facility for the carmaker, as Mr Musk aims to increase Teslas global sales by 50pc this year.

The car maker could occupy up to 338,000 ft of warehouse space at Merton Drive, React News said.

There are three buildings at the site of 221,000 sq ft, 71,000 sq ft and 46,000 sq ft respectively. The Telegraph understands the final lease could be for one of the smaller buildings on offer and other parties are examining the additional plots.

Teslas Model Y and Model 3 were the two best-selling electric cars in the UK last year, shifting 35,551 and 19,701 vehicles respectively, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The electric carmaker already occupies 34 public showrooms and service centres in Britain. It has previously been linked to plans to build a vast gigafactory in the UK, although the effort has never materialised.

In 2019, Mr Musk rejected the UK for major expansion of its electric vehicle manufacturing operations, instead choosing a plant near Berlin because Brexit had made it too risky.

The following year, Property Week reported the Department for Transport had tried to find a 4 million sq ft site to house a UK Tesla plant as its progress in Germany stalled.

Teslas gigafactories  robot-powered assembly facilities where it assembles its cars and EV batteries  typically occupy several million sq ft of space.

The electric car company is working with German logistics company DB Schenker, which specialises in the transportation of the batteries used to power electric vehicles, on the new UK site, React News added.

The Milton Keynes units have been developed by CBRE-owned Trammell Crow, which acquired a warehouse on the site previously owned by Philip Greens Arcadia Group. The property was demolished, with three modern buildings replacing it.

The buildings include capacity on the roof for solar panel arrays and are connected to power reserves to provide electric vehicle charging.

Trammell Crow declined to comment.
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
Tesla

Tesla drivers have sued the company over claims that its employees were able to use their cars cameras to see inside houses and share videos of naked customers.

A class action lawsuit filed in California alleges that Elon Musks firm broke privacy laws by allowing staff to freely share images captured from its electric vehicles (EVs).

It comes after reports that Tesla employees had unfettered access to users video feeds, allowing them to witness accidents, pets, naked owners and the inside of Mr Musks house.

Reuters quoted multiple former employees saying the images were often shared between staff via internal messages and often spread like wildfire.

Teslas EVs are equipped with multiple cameras to assist their driving assistance and self-driving features such as Autopilot, but staff reportedly had few restrictions on accessing images from peoples cars.

Tesla - Mike Blake/Reuters

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the affected drivers by Henry Yeh, who owns a Model Y vehicle, seeks financial compensation and legal costs. It was filed on Friday, shortly after news of the image sharing emerged.

It claims that the collection of images, which can only be stopped by finding a mechanic to deactivate the camera, breaks California privacy laws.

Plaintiff and class members have reasonable expectations of privacy in their homes and in their vehicles, generally, it states.

The expectation of privacy in their homes is intrinsic. Their expectation of privacy in their vehicles stemmed from Teslas clearly-stated policy that it would not misuse videos or images it captures of customers in their vehicles.

Teslas intrusions by viewing and sharing videos and images of customers and their activities, even in their own homes, are highly offensive to a reasonable person.

Tesla states that images collected by its EVs remain anonymous but former staff said they contained location data, making it potentially possible to identify individuals caught on camera.

Among the images reportedly shared by Tesla employees included the inside of Mr Musks house, including footage of the Lotus Esprit submersible vehicle used by James Bond in 1977s The Spy Who Loved Me. Mr Musk bought the vehicle at an auction.

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News of the lawsuit came as it emerged the former boss of Twitter, who was fired by Mr Musk, is suing the social media company for failing to pay his legal bills.

Parag Agrawal, who ran Twitter from November 2021 to October 2022, was sacked and escorted out of Twitters San Francisco headquarters the same day Mr Musk completed his $44bn (35.4bn) takeover.

Along with other executives, his employment was ended with cause after Mr Musk accused them of misleading him and investors about the number of fake user accounts on the social media platform.

But along with former general counsel Vijaya Gadde and former finance chief Ned Segal, Mr Agrawal is now suing the company for failing to cover about $1m in personal legal expenses as it battles investigations by American authorities.

Mr Agrawals lawsuit claims Twitter refused to honour its obligations despite the executives incurring significant legal costs related to investigations by the US Department for Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to filings with a Delaware court.

Twitter has also ceased to be an independent company after merging with a shell firm named X-Corp, according to a separate lawsuit filed against the social media site and its former chief executive Jack Dorsey.

Its unclear what the change means for Twitter, which now no longer exists, according to documents submitted in a California court last year.

Mr Musk has previously suggested that buying Twitter would be an accelerant for creating X, which he called an everything app. Musk tweeted about the move on Tuesday with the single character X.

Twitter and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment on the respective lawsuits.
If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Sarawak Plantation Berhad's (KLSE:SWKPLNT) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for Sarawak Plantation Berhad, this is the formula:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.16 = RM132m  (RM951m - RM118m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022).

Therefore, Sarawak Plantation Berhad has an ROCE of 16%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 11% generated by the Food industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Sarawak Plantation Berhad

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Sarawak Plantation Berhad compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

So How Is Sarawak Plantation Berhad's ROCE Trending?

Sarawak Plantation Berhad's ROCE growth is quite impressive. More specifically, while the company has kept capital employed relatively flat over the last five years, the ROCE has climbed 311% in that same time. So it's likely that the business is now reaping the full benefits of its past investments, since the capital employed hasn't changed considerably. On that front, things are looking good so it's worth exploring what management has said about growth plans going forward.

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The Bottom Line On Sarawak Plantation Berhad's ROCE

To sum it up, Sarawak Plantation Berhad is collecting higher returns from the same amount of capital, and that's impressive. And investors seem to expect more of this going forward, since the stock has rewarded shareholders with a 61% return over the last five years. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist.

Since virtually every company faces some risks, it's worth knowing what they are, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Sarawak Plantation Berhad (of which 1 is concerning!) that you should know about.

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity.

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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Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Petra Energy Berhad (KLSE:PENERGY) so let's look a bit deeper.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Petra Energy Berhad:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.022 = RM9.4m  (RM627m - RM205m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022).

So, Petra Energy Berhad has an ROCE of 2.2%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Energy Services industry average of 8.7%.

Check out our latest analysis for Petra Energy Berhad

roce

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you're interested in investigating Petra Energy Berhad's past further, check out this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What Does the ROCE Trend For Petra Energy Berhad Tell Us?

Shareholders will be relieved that Petra Energy Berhad has broken into profitability. The company was generating losses five years ago, but has managed to turn it around and as we saw earlier is now earning 2.2%, which is always encouraging. On top of that, what's interesting is that the amount of capital being employed has remained steady, so the business hasn't needed to put any additional money to work to generate these higher returns. With no noticeable increase in capital employed, it's worth knowing what the company plans on doing going forward in regards to reinvesting and growing the business. So if you're looking for high growth, you'll want to see a business's capital employed also increasing.

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On a related note, the company's ratio of current liabilities to total assets has decreased to 33%, which basically reduces it's funding from the likes of short-term creditors or suppliers. This tells us that Petra Energy Berhad has grown its returns without a reliance on increasing their current liabilities, which we're very happy with.

What We Can Learn From Petra Energy Berhad's ROCE

To sum it up, Petra Energy Berhad is collecting higher returns from the same amount of capital, and that's impressive. And investors seem to expect more of this going forward, since the stock has rewarded shareholders with a 62% return over the last five years. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist.

On a separate note, we've found 2 warning signs for Petra Energy Berhad you'll probably want to know about.

While Petra Energy Berhad may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list 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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Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. And the truth is, you can make significant gains if you buy good quality businesses at the right price. For example, the The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW) share price is up 74% in the last 5 years, clearly besting the market return of around 46% (ignoring dividends).

Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Sherwin-Williams

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One 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, Sherwin-Williams managed to grow its earnings per share at 4.3% a year. This EPS growth is lower than the 12% average annual increase in the share price. This suggests that market participants hold the company in higher regard, these days. And that's hardly shocking given the track record of growth.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Sherwin-Williams' earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Sherwin-Williams' TSR for the last 5 years was 81%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Sherwin-Williams shareholders are down 13% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 7.6%. 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. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 13%, each year, over five years. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. 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 2 warning signs for Sherwin-Williams (1 shouldn't be ignored) that you should be aware of.

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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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SINGAPORE, April 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia-Pacific countries have been a magnet for tourists over the years. They are incredibly diverse and culturally rich, with many incredible sights to explore. Before the pandemic, the Asia-Pacific tourism sector was thriving, attracting visitors from around the world year after year.

According to Statista (2023), the volume of inbound travellers is expected to grow throughout 2023 and 2024, rising by 94% compared to the previous year. Regarding tourism growth throughout APAC, Trip.com data analyses the booking trends to popular destination spots, including Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, and has consistently had high search figures for this region.

Recently, Trip.com Group has strengthened its partnerships with stakeholders to position Japan as a top destination, with Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Bo, meeting the commissioner of Japan in March 2023. Japan has consistently been ranked among the top five destinations globally in terms of bookings and search volumes since entry restrictions were eased in Q4 2022. According to Trip.com data, global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March and 30 June increased by 237% YoY. Global flight bookings also increased by 317% (2022-2023) for travellers during the same period. The most popular European flight routes were from London to Tokyo and Paris to Tokyo.

The best time to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka is between March-April for cherry blossom season in Japan, to witness the world-famous flowers bloom in top tourist spots. Japan's unique blend of fascinating culture, incredible landscapes and delicious food makes for a sought-after destination for travellers. According to Trip.com data, the top three cities visited in Japan were Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka, known for famous landmarks such as Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium Dotonbori and Tennoji Park, is part of a long list of must-visit landmarks. The ancient city of Kyoto was the traditional home of the Japanese royal family, drawing tourists with its rich history and stunning architecture.

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The South Korean government has recently promised to boost exports and attract tourists (Reuters 2023). It has set the goal of attracting 10 million foreign visitors this year. The number of foreign tourists reached a record 17.5 million in 2019, generating revenue estimated at $20.7 billion, according to the Korea Tourism Organisation.

Trip.com data reveals that global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June, increased year-on-year (2022-2023) by more than half (51%). Flight bookings from Europe (UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) increased by 456% year-on-year (2022-2023) for arrivals during the same period. The most popular flight routes were from London to Seoul, followed by Paris to Seoul.

The capital, Seoul, is the most popular visited city, according to Trip.com data, boasting jaw-dropping skyscrapers and grand palaces, and offering a mix of ancient landmarks and attractions of historical and cultural significance. The Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the finest examples of classic Korean architecture, destroyed and rebuilt several times since 1395.

Jeju Island is the second most popular destination, also favoured among locals. One of Netflix's biggest K-dramas, 'Our Blues' brought international recognition to the volcanic island, with its windswept coastline and mountainous horizons. Seogwipo on the south side of Jeju Island is for tourists wanting a more relaxing trip, with its volcanic coastline famous for its sea views and scuba diving.

Following China's decision to reopen borders in December 2022, Hong Kong was one of the cities which led the surge as one of the top five tourist destinations for outbound visitors from mainland China. Trip.com data shows that the most popular attractions within Hong Kong for its customers include Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping 360 - a cable car experience across the rolling green hills - and The Jurassic Dinosaur Adventure Park.

Trip.com data shows global hotel bookings for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June increased year-on-year by 13% from 2022 to 2023). Flight bookings from Europe (UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) increased by a huge margin of 1,362% year-on-year from 2022 to 2023, for arrivals between 15 March to 30 June. The most popular flight route was from the UK - Hong Kong, followed by Germany - Hong Kong, and the top five destinations for tourists were mainland China, Singapore, the UK, America and Canada.

Over time, the Asia-Pacific region has transformed into a major travel hub for all types of tourists. The past decade has also experienced a dramatic increase in domestic and international tourist arrivals, and the region has gained a reputation as an in-trend destination for its attractions and natural landscapes.

About Trip.com

Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 20 languages across 27 countries and regions in 31 local currencies and sites. Trip.com has an extensive hotel and flight network consisting of more than 1.2 million hotels and flights from over 480 airlines covering 2,600 airports in 200 countries and regions around the globe. Trip.com's world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service as well as additional centres in Edinburgh, Tokyo and Seoul, help to 'create the best travel experience' for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit trip.com

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SOURCE Trip.com
Liz Truss - Eugene Hoshiko/AP

On Wednesday, Liz Truss will use the Margaret Thatcher memorial lecture in Washington to call the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) a global cartel of complacency whose high tax policies are holding back growth. I fear she is right.

In particular, Ms Truss will warn against the OECDs plan for a minimum 15pc corporation tax rate for multinational companies, which is due to come into effect at the start of 2024. This plan is both wrong in principle and will be very hard to operate in practice.

To recap, 138 countries have now signed up to a global agreement which is designed to modernise the international tax system. The main target is profit shifting, where companies book profits in jurisdictions where tax rates are lower.

This agreement has two elements, or Pillars. Under Pillar 1, the largest and most profitable multinationals will be required to pay more tax where sales are actually made, rather than where companies happen to be based for tax purposes.

Under Pillar 2, countries have signed up to a global minimum corporation tax rate, which will initially be set at 15pc. On paper, they will still be free to set their own individual tax rates, thus maintaining the illusion of sovereignty. This agreement will also not apply to purely domestic companies.

However, if signatories do not charge at least 15pc on the profits of a multinational firm, the country where this company is based will be able to levy an additional tax to bring the effective rate up to 15pc. If this works  which is a big if  countries will have no incentive to offer a lower rate than the global minimum in order to attract international businesses.

Supporters of this plan argue that it is a necessary response to the challenges of globalisation and digitalisation. It is meant to ensure that multinationals pay their fair share of taxes and to prevent harmful tax competition from leading to a race to the bottom.

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This is rousing, popular stuff. But it is also guff.

For a start, it is just plain wrong to treat companies as independent sources of revenue that can be tapped at will. In fact, they are only legal entities and cannot bear the economic burden of taxation themselves. That burden always lands on real people, including customers in the form of higher prices and employees as lower wages.

Of course, some of the bill (most studies suggest less than half) will be picked up by shareholders, who might be relatively well off. But not every shareholder is a tech billionaire.

The narrative that higher tax bills for companies means that less money needs to be raised from people is therefore fatally flawed.

I would go further. Companies make their money by providing goods and services that people want to buy. In the process, they also invest and create jobs. These are their contributions to society, not the tax they are expected  or assumed  to pay.

The concepts of fair shares and harmful tax competition are also slippery.

A fair share here usually just seems to mean more than they are paying now. This often involves misleading comparisons, such as between tax bills and turnover, or between global profits and tax payable only in the UK.

The idea that tax competition is a bad thing is strange, too. Competition on tax, as in any other aspect of economic life, encourages innovation and efficiency. It also acts as an important check on a governments ability to tax and spend.

On top of this, the OECDs own research has confirmed that corporate taxes are the most harmful to economic growth, mainly because they drag on investment. Indeed, the share of OECD tax revenues raised from corporate taxes has actually been increasing, despite  or more likely because of  a downward trend in OECD corporate tax rates.

Both Pillars are also based on shaky foundations. As it stands, the current plan will not even achieve what its supporters hope for.

One flaw in the global minimum tax rate is immediately obvious. Currently, only a handful of countries (notably Hungary, Chile and Ireland) have statutory rates below 15pc.

But once the principle has been established, there will inevitably be pressure to increase the minimum rate over time. The Biden administration originally proposed a figure of 21pc. And since the 15pc will apply to the effective rate of tax, rather than the headline rate, it may still tie the UKs hands on policies such as freeports and investment allowances.

Pillar 1 will be at least as complicated, mainly because it will require agreement on how to apportion profits between countries according to sales and a host of other factors.

Even fair tax campaigners have raised concerns that this element will not actually touch the profits of tech giants whose profit margins fall below the threshold for inclusion. But tax systems should not be designed to target particular companies for no good reason.

Muddying the picture even further, the UK has lobbied for big global banks to be exempt from the new scheme. This makes sense, because they typically have to hold large amounts of capital in overseas markets in which they operate, and are already subject to plenty of local regulation and tax. But other important businesses in the financial sector may also lose out, such as insurance and reinsurance.

Finally, it is not even clear that the OECD plan will raise a significant amount of additional revenue, rather than just shuffle it around. Indeed, firms headquartered in the UK but selling overseas may end up paying less money to the Treasury than they do now.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has estimated that the Pillar 2 reforms will only raise an extra 2.3 billion a year by 2027-28, and even this is highly uncertain. It will also depend in part on US firms paying more tax in the UK, which will be strongly opposed in the US itself.

In short, the OECDs tax plans are an enormous amount of effort for not a lot of benefit  and some potentially huge costs. Liz Truss is correct to call this out.

Julian Jessop is an independent economist. He tweets at @julianhjessop.
Chipmaking giant TSMC is in contact talks with the U.S. government about the criteria for subsidies under the CHIPS Act amid concerns that compliance could expose the companys strategic plans.

Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said Monday that TSMC is talking to the U.S. government about the requirements for subsidies. She said, "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."

The CHIPS Act, which was enacted by Congress and the Biden administration on a bipartisan basis last year, provides $52 billion in funds for increased manufacturing of semiconductors in the U.S., in addition to funding other research.

UNITED STATES LOOKS TO ENSURE CHINA DOESNT BENEFIT FROM $52B CHIPS ACT

Taiwan-headquartered TSMC is the world's largest contract chipmaker and a leading manufacturer of advanced semiconductors.

The law requires companies that receive subsidies to share certain business information with the Commerce Department as part of a due-diligence process and participate in "upside sharing" with the U.S. government if profits substantially exceed forecasts, among other stipulations.

TSMC told Reuters in a statement, "We can confirm that we are communicating with the U.S. government about the CHIPS Act guidance." TSMC is the worlds largest contract chipmaker and a leading manufacturer of advanced semiconductors. The company is investing $40 billion in a semiconductor plant in Arizona , which is expected to receive CHIPS subsidies, although those details havent yet been disclosed.

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BIDEN ADMIN TELLS COMPANIES SEEKING CHIPS FUNDING TO AVOID STOCK BUYBACKS, PROVIDE CHILD CARE PLANS

The CHIPS Act will provide $52 billion in subsidies to expand U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.

Similar concerns about CHIPS criteria were recently raised by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol as Samsung and Hynix are considering expanding U.S. production by using the program but have worried about the terms for the subsidies.

All funding awarded under the CHIPS Act will be disclosed by the government through a public database.

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The Commerce Department guidance on CHIPS Act funding indicates that the agency intends to protect the confidential information that businesses seeking CHIPS funding provide to the agency and its sub-agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

US, TAIWAN HOLD TRADE TALKS IN MOVE BLASTED BY CHINA

The CHIPS Program Office and the agency wrote, "We are instituting robust protocols, technology solutions, and organizational practices to keep all data safe, secure, confidential, and limited in distribution. Application data will be housed in a secure environment, upholding NISTs FIPS 199 high impact requirements for cybersecurity and data protection."

The "upside sharing" for CHIPS recipients getting more than $150 million in direct funding involves sharing a portion of cash flows or returns that "significantly exceed the applicants projections above an agreed-upon threshold specified in the award."

Upside sharing arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis and can be waived by the Commerce Department in exceptional circumstances. Further, the agency has said that upside sharing "will never exceed 75% of a recipients direct funding award" and "In no case will upside sharing be intended to undermine the commercial viability of a project."

Reuters contributed to this report.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A major U.S. transport union on Tuesday opposed a request by Alphabet Inc's self-driving unit Waymo and autonomous driving technology company Aurora Innovation Inc for an exemption from rules on warning devices for large semi-trucks, citing safety issues.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said last month it received a joint application from Waymo and Aurora seeking a five-year exemption from rules that require drivers to place reflective triangles or a flare around a stopped truck to alert other drivers and help prevent a crash.

Aurora and Waymo instead want to use warning beacons mounted on the truck cab to avoid needing human drivers.

The Transport Workers Union of America said the petition is "inappropriate, represents an overreach and a misuse of the waiver and exemption process, and would significantly diminish the safety of our roads. It should be rejected in the strongest possible terms."

It urged the safety board to ensure "rigorous oversight and standards" before widespread deployment of such new technologies.

Waymo and Aurora say that without an exemption driverless trucks would need a human on board, which would "undermine the efficiency potential of autonomous CMVs."

Waymo responded that the "exemption we put forward would permit compliant autonomous trucking operations while maintaining a high standard of safety." Aurora declined to comment.

Both told FMCSA it is possible to achieve the safety purpose of the warning device by using forward- and rearward-facing amber flashing lights mounted on the cab.

In the joint filing, Aurora said it maintains 28 Class 8 self-driving trucks that run on public roads, primarily in Texas, while Waymo listed 48 Class 8 trucks. Both fleets have human operators who, when necessary, can drive the vehicles.

Legislation to speed the deployment of self-driving vehicles and ease hurdles has been stalled for more than five years in Congress. A bill to advance self-driving cars approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2017 applied to vehicles under 10,000 pounds, but not large commercial trucks.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, editing by Deepa Babington and Richard Chang)
The IP address of a former employee turned competitor has been linked to a sustained and vicious internet defamation and disparagement campaign against top cybersecurity company Redbot Security.

DENVER, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Redbot Security, an industry-leading penetration testing company, announced on Tuesday that it has identified a potential perpetrator and is actively working, using legal processes, to uncover the identities of other malicious attackers behind a concerted internet smear campaign, designed to falsely disparage and defame the company.

threat actors have been running a multi-pronged defamation campaign

The threat actors have been running a multi-pronged defamation campaign against the company by posing as dissatisfied clients, writing fake negative reviews, launching targeted spear phishing schemes against the company and their clients, attempting system hacks into sensitive data, and continuously taunting and threatening employees on numerous platforms. Redbot Security's website, https://redbotsecurity.com, has also been bombarded with thousands of toxic backlinks in an attempt to reduce the website's visibility and rankings by associating it with extremely disturbing and illegal content, including Child Sexual Abuse Materials ("CSAM").

Through the efforts of Internet Defamation & Content Removal Attorney Ali Arko of KJK law firm, Redbot Security has obtained data linking at least some of the attacks to the IP address of a former Redbot Security employee who currently operates a competing business. In response to these egregious attacks, Redbot Security filed a "John Doe" lawsuit in the District Court of Denver County against the anonymous individuals responsible. Redbot Security has amended the complaint to name the former employee and his company as defendants. The claims for relief include defamation, commercial disparagement, tortious interference with a business relationship, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy, invasion of privacy, and breach of contract.

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"We are a customer-first company, and we have earned our stellar reputation through the quality of our services," stated Redbot Security CEO Brian Stearns. "We will continue to investigate these issues with the help of Ali Arko and Mark Rasch from the KJK law, who have done a great job unmasking a malicious threat actor. Our team remains committed to upholding the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct in all aspects of our business."

Redbot Security's investigation into the tortious acts remains ongoing, and the company continues to cooperate with law enforcement agencies while pursuing a civil order to remove any remaining damaging content.

Redbot CSO Andrew Binder weighed in, stating, "Unfortunately, social media platforms and review sites don't assess the truth or falsity of statements even though trolling is a form of bullying," said Binder. "Attempting to remove bogus info from the internet has been a real nightmare and it requires time and resources that could be spent on other issues. Fortunately, diligence beats anonymity."

About Redbot Security

Redbot Security, a boutique penetration testing house, headquartered in Downtown Denver, Colorado - provides custom scoping and manual penetration testing services. Redbot Security takes pride in delivering the industry's best customer experience. The U.S Based Team of highly skilled, and experienced Senior Level Engineers specialize in wireless, internal, and external IT networks, mobile and web application Penetration Testing Services, ICS/SCADA (industrial controls) OT network testing, Cloud Security, Social Engineering and Red Team Security Exercises (RTSE).

Redbot Security

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SOURCE Redbot Security
(Bloomberg) -- Two US lawmakers said they discussed the possibility of bringing Elon Musks Starlink satellite system into Taiwan with President Tsai Ing-wen, to help Taipeis deterence against China.

Most Read from Bloomberg

US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Arkansas Representative French Hill, among a congressional delegation visiting Taipei, said it was one of the constructive takeaways in their talks with Tsai on Saturday.

Taiwans presidential office said it had no comment on Starlink. It issued a statement saying McCaul and his delegation met with Taiwanese leaders from various industries including semiconductors and aerospace technology.

The Republicans didnt say if they had discussed the idea with Musk or Starlink, the fleet operated and launched by the billionaires Space Exploration Technologies Corp., which has more than 3,000 satellites in orbit.

Musks Empire Becomes a Burning Problem for Washington

Last year, Musk angered Taipei by proposing his own solution for the tensions between China and Taiwan  handing some control to Beijing. Taiwan is governed independently, but China considers the island part of its territory. He also said then that Beijing has sought assurances that he wont offer Starlinks internet service in China.

Communist China is very good at what we call intelligence surveillance reconnaissance, McCaul told reporters Saturday. They have great eyes on  they can see everything in the Pacific. In some cases, better than we can in this area. Taiwan has none of that.

China announced it will conduct military drills around Taiwan for three days from Saturday, following Tsais return from visits to the US.

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Taiwan would benefit from Starlinks satellites because of vulnerabilities in its undersea cables, Hill said, adding the island would have to make a national security exception for the company to operate.

China Hits Back at Tsai Trip With Military Drills, Sanctions

--With assistance from Cindy Wang.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
SALT LAKE CITY, April 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE:USNA) today announced that first quarter results will be released after the close of market on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Shortly following the issuance of the Companys earnings release, the Company will post its Management Commentary document on the Companys Investor Relations website (http://ir.usana.com) under the News/Events section. USANA will hold a conference call to discuss this announcement with analysts and institutional investors the following morning, Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

The call will be broadcast over the Internet and can be accessed at http://ir.usana.com.

About USANA

USANA develops and manufactures high-quality nutritional supplements, healthy foods and personal care products that are sold directly to Associates and Preferred Customers throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Thailand, France, Belgium, Colombia, Indonesia, Italy, Romania, Spain, and Germany. More information on USANA can be found at www.usana.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005863/en/

Contacts

Investor contact:

Andrew Masuda

Investor Relations

(801) 954-7201

investor.relations@usanainc.com
Fortune Business Insights

Utility Vegetation Management Market is Projected to Reach Valuation of USD 39.27 Billion by 2029 with a CAGR of 7.1% During the Forecast Period 2022-2029: Fortune Business Insights

Pune, India, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The utility vegetation management market size size was valued at USD 22.87 billion in 2021 and USD 24.28 billion in 2022. The market is expected to reach USD 39.27 billion by 2029 with a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period. Utility vegetation management refers to the analysis of vegetation growth and safe removal. Increasing number of investments in distributed energy resources has boosted the mileage of power lines, which is propelling the demand for vegetation management in utilities. Fortune Business Insights shares this information in its report titled Utility Vegetation Management Market, 2022-2029.

Industry Developments:

November 2022: AiDash announced a strategic investment of USD 10 million from SE Ventures, backed by Schneider Electric. AiDash is a provider of satellite and AI-powered operations, maintenance, and sustainability solutions. The fund will be used to augment its satellite- and AI-powered vertical SaaS products.

Request a Free Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/utility-vegetation-management-market-107247

Report Highlights:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2022-2029 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 7.1% 2029 Value Projection USD 39.27 billion Base Year 2020 Market Size in 2022 USD 24.28 billion Historical Data for 2017-2019 No. of Pages 180 Segments covered By Service, Technology, and Region Growth Drivers Increasing Number of Severe Weather Disasters to Drive Market Development Insecticides & herbicides to be the Prime Part as they are Utilized Most to Remove Weed Growth

Drivers and Restraints:

Increasing Number of Severe Weather Disasters to Drive Market Development

Increasing number of severe weather disasters and conditions are projected to drive the utility vegetation management market growth. Extreme weather conditions increase the probability of trees outside the right-of-way falling into and tripping electric power lines which calls for urgent remediation measures. Moreover, global warming has led to the rise in temperatures, reducing pruning cycles, and increasing the recurrence of vegetation treatment around utilities. Increase in mileage power lines for enhancing the power is set to propel the market growth.

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However, high cost of vegetation management is expected to impede the market expansion.

COVID-19 Impact:

Halt on Ongoing Transmission and Distribution Projects Led to Negative Market Growth

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the deployment of new grid infrastructure. It also affected the ongoing transmission and distribution projects. Moreover, new project investments were reduced due to lower electricity requirements in industries. There has been a rise in the development of green technology which propelled the market growth.

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Segments:

Treatment Segment to Have Maximum Share with Increasing Adoption of Regulation Technologies

Based on service, the market is divided into treatment, pre-planning & monitoring, and reactive repair. The treatment segment is estimated to have the maximum share in the segment due to increasing adoption of vegetation removal and growth regulation technologies. The pre-planning & monitoring segment is set to have the highest CAGR due to technologies such as aerial monitoring such as drones, satellites, and LiDAR.

Insecticides & herbicides to be the Prime Part as they are Utilized Most to Remove Weed Growth

According to technology, the market is divided into insecticides & herbicides, plant growth regulators, LiDAR, and others. The insecticides & herbicides segment is set to hold the largest part as insecticides & herbicides are utilized most to remove weed growth near transmission lines and to control insects near the vegetation, which might damage power lines. Plant growth regulators are used to control the growth of weeds in the area of electrical utility infrastructure.

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Report Coverage:

The report provides a detailed analysis of the top segments and the latest trends in the market. It comprehensively discusses the driving and restraining factors and the impact of COVID-19 on the market. Additionally, it examines the regional developments and the strategies undertaken by the market's key players.

Regional Insights:

North America to Lead the Market Share due to its High Spending Power

North America has the dominant utility vegetation management market share due to the regions high spending in vegetation management services and solutions. According to Leidos Commercial Energy, electric utilities in the U.S. spend almost USD 7 billion annually on utility vegetation management services and solutions.

Europe is projected to show an important growth with Germany dominating the region due to technological advancements.

Increasing developments and rapid rate of urbanization are surging the demand for electricity, which is expanding the transmission lines in the region. Infrastructural development is set to propel the market growth.

Competitive Landscape:



Investments in New Technologies by Key Players to Drive Market Course

The market is fragmented into numerous players who are actively investing in new software development for monitoring purposes. They are investing in various technologies such as LiDAR and satellite imagery, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (ML/AI), cloud computing, analytics and automation, real-time applications, and automated change detection. In August 2021, Earth Observation company LiveEOs satellite-based vegetation monitoring solution for the medium-voltage network was rolled out with the German grid operator E.DIS.

List of Key Players Profiled in the Report:

Corteva (U.S.)

NM Group (U.S.)

BASF SE (U.S.)

Boultbee Vegetation Management (U.S.)

Helena Professional Products (U.S.)

Iapetus Infrastructure Services (U.S.)

Leidos (U.S)

TRC Companies, Inc (U.S.)

Capgemini (France)

IBM (India)

Cyient (U.S.)

GETAC (Taiwan)

ArborSystems, Inc. (U.S.)

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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 Key Emerging Trends  For Major Countries Latest Technological Advancement Regulatory Landscape Porters Five Forces Analysis Impact of COVID-19 on the Utility Vegetation Management Market

Global Utility Vegetation Management Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights, and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Service Treatment Pre-planning and Monitoring Reactive Repair Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Technology Insecticides & Herbicides Plant Growth Regulators LiDar Others Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa

North America Utility Vegetation Management Market Analysis (USD Billion), Insights, and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Service Treatment Pre-planning and Monitoring Reactive Repair Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Technology Insecticides & Herbicides Plant Growth Regulators LiDar Others



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Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is visiting Japan for the first time in more than a decade, and his thoughts are on his largeand growinginvestments in the East Asian nation.

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In August 2020, Buffett's global conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway revealed it had acquired just over 5% of each of the country's top five trading houses: Itochu, Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo Corp., and Marubeni.

By November 2022, Berkshire Hathaway had increased that again, by around 1% in each of the businesses, according to Reuters. A regulatory filing showed the house now owns 6.59% in Mitsubishi Corp, 6.62% in Mitsui & Co. Ltd., 6.21% in Itochu Corp., 6.75% in Marubeni Corp., and 6.57% in Sumitomo Corp.

It seems that Buffett is looking to increase those stakes again, telling Nikkei Asia in Tokyo he is "really proud" of the investments, which are valued at around $11 billion.

The nonagenarian added that he'll be meeting with the companies this week "to really just have a discussion around their businesses and emphasize our support."

He added: "At the moment, we only own the five trading companies. There are always a few I'm thinking about." Other investments in Japanese companies aren't out of the question, he hinted, saying investments in the region are "always a matter of consideration."

The share price of all five of Buffett's current concerns has spiked since he expressed his support in the assets.

Fellow conglomerates

Buffett, who is worth $110 billion according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, has also put pressure on the companies to come to him first for any additional support: "We don't think it's impossible that we will partner with them at some point in the future in a specific deal.

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"We would love if any of the five would come to us ever and say, We're thinking of doing something very big, or we're about to buy something and we would like a partner, or whatever."

The Japanese trading houses, which are themselves investment companies like Berkshire, have diverse portfolios that range from health care to minerals to foodapparently one of the reasons they caught the eye of the Coca-Cola investor.

"We feel that these five companies are a cross-section of not only Japan but of the world," Buffett explained to Nikkei in Tokyo. "They are really so much similar to Berkshire. They own a lot of different things."

Across the globe companies like thesecalled sogo shoshaare often viewed as too complicated to invest in. Itoshu, for example, invests and trades in food, apparel, and retail; Marubeni in food, pulp, and power; Mitsui in energy, metals, and health care.

Berkshire has a similarly wide-spanning portfolio: Its top stocks include Apple, Bank of America, Chevron, Coca-Cola, and American Express.

In favor of stock buybacks

The Kraft Heinz investor is a vocal advocate of share buybacks. In Berkshire Hathaway's annual letter he said critics of such schemes are "economically illiterate," insisting the activity resulted in better returns for all shareholders.

When you are told that all repurchases are harmful to shareholders or to the country, or particularly beneficial to CEOs, you are listening to either an economic illiterate or a silver-tongued demagogue (characters that are not mutually exclusive)," the Oracle of Omaha explained.

The math isnt complicated: When the share count goes down, your interest in our many businesses goes up. Every small bit helps if repurchases are made at value-accretive prices, he added. Gains from value-accretive repurchases, it should be emphasized, benefit all ownersin every respect.

Speaking on his five Japanese interests, Buffett said this week: "If they are repurchasing their shares, we generally regard that as a plus. We like the idea of the number of shares going down."

Conveniently for the billionaire, sogo shosha have proved they're open to the practice. In 2019 the Mitsubishi Estate announced plans to buy back up to 100 billion yen ($913 million) of its shares in its first-ever stock repurchase, while the former real estate subsidiary of MitsuiMitsui Fudosanannounced a similar scheme the year before.

Overseas interest

Buffett has long been a supporter of international investment but revealed in the Nikkei interview geopolitical tensions can get in the way.

He said that such tensions were a factor in Berkshire Hathaway's distancing itself from from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. after having bought more than $4 billion in shares in the world's biggest chipmaker between July and September 2022.

By the end of 2022, it had slashed its holdings by 85%down to $617 million.

Buffett described the business as well-managed, adding that geopolitical tensions were a "consideration" in the divestment but said ultimately his fund had better places to spend their money.

With increasing ties to Japan, it's clear Buffett won't be put off his habit of spending overseas. His 2019 annual letter for Berkshire Hathaway made his point clear: It is beyond arrogance for American businesses or individuals to boast that they have done it alone. Americans will be both more prosperous and safer if all nations thrive. At Berkshire, we hope to invest significant sums across borders.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has boosted its bets on 5 Japanese titans - plus it wants to raise its stakes more and join forces on big deals

Warren Buffett. Bill Pugliano/Getty

Warren Buffett has boosted his Japan bets and wants to buy more shares and partner on big deals.

Berkshire Hathaway owns about 7.4% of Japan's five largest trading houses, Buffett told Nikkei.

Berkshire originally spent about $6 billion to establish 5% stakes in each of the companies.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has boosted its bets on five Japanese companies, and wants to grow its stakes further and partner on big deals, Nikkei reported in a pair of stories on Tuesday.

The famed investor's conglomerate now owns about 7.4% of Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo, Buffett told the newspaper while visiting Tokyo to meet with the bosses of all five companies. He confirmed the news to CNBC. The combined value of the five positions is likely around $14 billion, a Markets Insider analysis shows.

"We're very proud of that," Buffett told Nikkei about the investments. The 92-year-old billionaire suggested his company may join forces with one or more of Japan's five largest trading houses in the months and years ahead.

"We don't think it's impossible that we will partner with them at some point in the future in a specific deal," Buffett said. "We would love if any of the five would come to us ever and say, 'We're thinking of doing something very big or we're about to buy something and we would like a partner or whatever.'"

Berkshire originally spent about $6 billion to amass 5% stakes in each of the five Japanese companies, and first disclosed the positions in August 2020. Berkshire ramped up its wagers on the "sogo shosha" to between 6.2% and 6.8% by November last year, meaning it had a total of about $11 billion riding on them at the time.

The five stocks rose between 2.1% (Mitsubishi) and 4.6% (Marubeni) on Tuesday, as investors welcomed Buffett's vote of confidence. They have gained an average of 121% since Buffett revealed his investments in them.

Buffett also spoke to Nikkei about Berkshire's unusual wager on Taiwan Semiconductor. The investor's company amassed a $4 billion stake in Taiwan Semiconductor in the third quarter of last year, then promptly slashed the holding by 86% during the next three months.

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Geopolitical tensions between the US and China over Taiwan were "a consideration" in the share sales, and Berkshire found better places to deploy its capital, Buffett said.

Close followers of the investor won't be surprised to learn his company has bolstered its Japan bets. Berkshire recently disclosed plans to issue yen-denominated bonds, which help to hedge against the yen falling against the greenback and devaluing its Japanese equities in dollar terms.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Contrive Datum Insights Pvt Ltd

According to a market research study published by Contrive Datum Insights, A radio access network (RAN) is an essential component of a wireless communications system that connects individual devices to other network components via radio link. Over a fiber or wireless backhaul connection, the radio access network (RAN) connects user apparatus, such as a mobile phone, computer, or any remote-controlled device. This link connects to the network's core, which manages subscriber data, location, and more.

Farmington, April 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Wireless RAN Market Was Valued At $18.41 billion In 2022 And Is Expected To Expand $31.6 billion By 2030 at a CAGR Of 8.6% From 2022 To 2030.Key factors driving the growth of this market include the Increase in mobile data traffic and growing need for improved network coverage, changing Competitive Scenario, penetration of smartphones and technological advancements in the telecom industry.

wireless RAN provides connection with the core network by enabling devices such as computers, mobile phones and others. It is valuable for operators in terms of dropping maintenance cost and beneficial for installing large networks of small base stations. Increasing adoption of IoT and growing requirement for better digital ecosystem will accelerate the growth of the 5G multimode fiber transceivers industry, demand for high-speed connections, greater reliability and access to real time information also contribute towards the Wireless RAN market growth.

Request sample copy of report Wireless RAN Market Size, Share & Trends Estimation Reports By Type Outlook (Broadcast Radio, Cellular Radio, Generic Radio Access Network (GRAN), GSM Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN), By Application Outlook (Healthcare, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Defence, Industries), By Region and Forecasts, 2022 - 2030. published by Contrive Datum Insights.

Segmentation Overview:

Type Outlook:

Based on type, the wireless RAN market is divided into Broadcast Radio, Cellular Radio, Generic Radio Access Network (GRAN), and GSM Edge Radio Access Network segments. (GERAN).

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Application Outlook:

The Wireless RAN market is segmented by end-user industry into healthcare, automotive, consumer electronics defence, industries . During the period from 2021 to 2026, the industrial sector is anticipated to experience the highest market development, with a CAGR of 14.1%.

Regional Analysis:

The Asia Pacific region is projected to grow significantly in the global wireless RAN market with a share of 36.5% in 2020 during the forecast period 2021 to 2026.

According to the report, High investments in R&D activities and the rising growth of the consumer electronics industry have been driving the growth of the Wireless RAN market in this region. The growth of the wireless RAN market in the region is propelled by the high investment in R&D activities and the expansion of the consumer electronics industry. In addition, factors such as rising Smartphone user penetration and increasing digitization have contributed to the explosive growth of the wireless RAN market. High expenditure on the development of 5G base station infrastructure, primarily by Chinese mobile companies, has also influenced the growth of the wireless RAN market.

It is essential to take into account the specific local factors when analysing the Wireless RAN Market in each region, as market conditions and trends can vary significantly from region to region and even from country to country.

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Scope of Report:

Report Attributes Details Growth Rate CAGR of 8.6% from 2023 to 2030. Revenue Forecast by 2030 $237.48 billion By Type Broadcast Radio

Cellular Radio

Generic Radio Access Network (GRAN)

GSM Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN) By Application Healthcare

Automotive

Consumer Electronics

Defence

Industries By Companies AT&T Mobility

Ericsson

Huawei

Nokia

ZTE

Samsung

Airspan

Altiostar

Casa Systems

Intel

Parallel Wireless

Radisys

Ericsson

Cisco Systems Regions and Countries Covered North America: (US, Canada, Mexico, Rest of North America)

Europe(Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Nordic Countries, Benelux Union, Rest of Europe)

Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

The Middle East & Africa(Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East & Africa)

Latin America(Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)

Rest Of the World Base Year 2022 Historical Year 2017 to 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030

Market Dynamics:

Restraining Factors:

There are a number of challenges that could slow the expansion of the global Wireless RAN Market. Among the most important constraints are:

Forbidding Chinese Players: China-made telecommunications equipment has been prohibited in the United States, according to the American government, after it was discovered that it spied for and provided information to the Chinese communist government. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prohibited American telecommunications companies from utilizing Chinese apparatus, such as next-generation wireless networks. In 2019, for instance, the United States has prohibited the use of equipment from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE, particularly wireless 5G equipment, due to security concerns.

Security Concerns: Wireless architectures are susceptible to novel attacks, such as unauthorized access to sensitive data, due to their open broadcast nature. From the perspective of an open system interconnect network protocol architecture, multiple layers of nefarious attacks are possible. CRAN is derived from a cognitive radio network and is centered on a wireless network. Consequently, it is exposed to numerous security hazards.

Opportunity Analysis:

A number of promising new avenues for development and expansion exist in the international Wireless RAN Market. Consider a few of the most promising prospects:

Modifying Competitive Situation: The absence of government action against Huawei and ZTE will result in a more diverse market in Europe than in North America as a whole. Despite the absence of government action, a number of carriers in this region, including Orange, Deutsch Telekom, and BT, have withdrawn Huawei Wireless RAN contract awards. There is a growing preference for local competitors in this region, especially in France, where Ciena (along with small cell suppliers such as Baicells) has experienced significant revenue growth over the past few years.

Global expansion of the number of Internet consumers: Increasing internet connectivity across the globe creates new revenue-generating opportunities for telecommunications service providers. The operators must meet the ever-increasing client demands for low latency, high bandwidth, and extended uptime. In order to remain competitive in the market, telecom companies are investing extensively in this new opportunity. The development of the CRAN market is being driven by increased infrastructure spending by telecommunications providers.

Key Segments Covered:

Top Market Players:

AT&T Mobility

Ericsson

Huawei

Nokia

ZTE

Samsung

ASOCS

Airspan

Altiostar

Casa Systems

Intel

Parallel Wireless

Radisys

Ericsson

Cisco Systems

By Type

Broadcast Radio

Cellular Radio

Generic Radio Access Network (GRAN)

GSM Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN)

By Application

Healthcare

Automotive

Consumer Electronics

Defence

Industries

Regions and Countries Covered

North America: (US, Canada, Mexico, Rest of North America)

Europe: (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Nordic Countries, Benelux Union, Rest of Europe)

Asia-Pacific: (Japan, China, India, Australia, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

The Middle East & Africa: (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East & Africa)

Latin America: (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of Latin America)

Rest Of the World

Check out more related studies published by Contrive Datum Insights:

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Market - - The global Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software market was valued at USD 45.82 Billion in 2022, and is projected to reach USD 90.63 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.1% during the forecast period.

RF Interconnect Market - The Global RF Interconnect Market Size Was Valued at USD 27.31 Billion in 2021 And Is Expected to Expand at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2022 to 2030.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Market - The Global Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Market is projected to grow from USD 19.41 billion in 2022 to USD 30.16 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of over 7.6% during the forecast period.

Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per client needs or requirements.For any queries, you can contact us on anna@contrivedatuminsights.com or +1 215-297-4078. Our sales executives will be happy to understand your needs and provide you with the most suitable reports.

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By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Bank is ready to do its part in rebuilding Ukraine after the devastation of Russia's invasion, but international financial institutions cannot shoulder the sums involved alone and Western European countries will have to chip in, World Bank President David Malpass said on Tuesday.

Malpass, speaking at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, noted that the World Bank had played a big role in rebuilding Europe's steel industry after World War Two and could play a similar role in Ukraine.

"But the size is daunting," he said, citing a recent estimate that it would cost $411 billion to rebuild Ukraine's economy, or 2.6 times its expected 2022 gross domestic product. The number, calculated by the World Bank, United Nations, European Commission and Ukraine, was up sharply from an estimate of $349 billion released last September.

The World Bank's total commitments in 2022 totaled $75 billion, a 50% increase from the average.

The European Union had large funding sums that could be brought to bear, Malpass said.

"The bank is prepared to play its role in the reconstruction, but I do need to set the expectations for the world that the amount to rebuild the electricity sector, the road sector, a railroad sector are way bigger relative to the size of the balance sheets of the international financial institutions," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will call for continued support for the war-torn country in a virtual speech on Wednesday to top finance officials, joined by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, who are attending the meetings in person.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday repeated Washington's commitment to support Ukraine for as long as needed. She said support from the United States and the European Union would take Ukraine through the end of the year, but if the war continued, Washington would have to work with partners to provide the support needed.

She noted that a multi-donor platform has been set up to coordinate a longer-term plan for reconstruction. Washington has also allocated some money for immediate short-term reconstruction needs, including rebuilding its electricity grid.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Leslie Adler)
OUTREMONT, QC, April 11, 2023 /CNW/ - After having exhibited unique photographs of Hasidic Jewish communities at the United Nations headquarters in New York and elsewhere around the world, Polish artist Agnieszka Traczewska will present a new exhibition in Montreal on the same theme.

A little girl hugged tenderly by her father with the Temple Mount Har Hazeitim in the background in Jerusalem, Israel. Photo credit : Agnieszka Traczewska (CNW Group/Arrondissement d'Outremont)

On view at the Galerie d'Outremont from April 18 to May 28, A World Rekindled will reveal the daily life of the Hasidim through images, thanks to the privileged access to these communities obtained by the photographer. This exhibition is being presented jointly by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Montreal and the Borough of Outremont.

"Hosting this exceptional exhibition in Outremont demonstrates our desire to build bridges between the different communities," said Borough Mayor Laurent Desbois. "It is a great opportunity to learn more about the lives of members of the Hasidic Jewish community, with whom we cross paths regularly. In addition, A World Rekindled and its related activities show that our gallery can host world-class events."

Dariusz Wisniewski, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Montreal, noted: "Polish photographer Agnieszka Traczewska is an exceptional artist who has been documenting the life of Hasidic communities around the world for years. I am delighted that her photos will be exhibited at Galerie Outremont so that everyone can be inspired to better understand and develop greater harmony among neighbours." He added: "Our collaboration was made possible by the financial support of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

About the artist

Documentary filmmaker and accomplished photographer Agnieszka Traczewska will be present at the vernissage for A Rekindled World on April 18. The exhibition features a selection of photographs from the author's book A Rekindled World. The book illustrates the living environments of Hasidim with photographs taken in both Jerusalem and New York City, revealing a world usually hidden from outsiders. Ms. Traczewska celebrates the revival of Hasidism after the Holocaust, and the exhibition will open on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

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Cross-cultural activities will be organized during the exhibition, including guided tours* on weekends, school visits during the week, conferences, roundtable discussions, informal meetings, and more. A World Rekindled is aligned with the actions recommended in the Plan de developpement culturel d'Outremont 2021-2026. Galerie d'Outremont is located at 41 Saint-Just Avenue between Bernard and St-Viateur avenues.

*in French or English.

More information:

Exhibition website (in French)

https://montreal.ca/evenements/un-monde-ravive-agnieszka-traczewska-46437

Artist's website:

http://www.agnieszkatraczewska.com/

Galerie d'Outremont website:

https://montreal.ca/en/places/galerie-doutremont

Plan de developpement culturel d'Outremont 2021-2026 (In French)

https://montreal.ca/articles/le-plan-de-developpement-culturel-doutremont-2021-2026-16839

IMPORTANT  A preview has been reserved for media representatives on Tuesday, April 18, in the early afternoon. Please confirm your attendance by e-mail or phone, as well as any other information or interview requests:

Arrondissement d'Outremont logo (CNW Group/Arrondissement d'Outremont)

SOURCE Arrondissement d'Outremont

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/11/c2456.html
A rarity in aviation history, one of the planes in the hangar of the Capital Wing Commemorative Air Force at Culpeper Regional Airport was recently confirmed as a combat veteran of World War II.

After six months of research by one of the worlds leading military aviation historians, the Capital Wing on Friday announced its 1943 Stinson L-5 Sentinel is one of only two such aircraft flown during WWII that is still flying today.

The Stinson in the Capital Wing collection saw action in 1944 with the U.S. Marines at the Battle of Saipan in the Pacific theater.

The unarmed L-5, with its short-field takeoff and landing capability, was used for reconnaissance, front-line aeromedical evacuation, delivering supplies, laying communications wire, spotting enemy targets, personnel transport, rescue and even as a light bomber, according to the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

The invasion of Saipan was horrific. When it ended, at least 23,000 Japanese troops were dead, and more than 1,780 had been captured. Nearly 15,000 civilians languished in U.S. custody.

Finally, 22,000 Japanese, Okinawans, Koreans, and Chamorro civilians  as well as those of mixed ancestry  had fallen victim to murder, suicide, or the crossfire of battle. The Americans suffered 26,000 casualties, 5,000 of which were deaths, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command.

But the Capital Wings 1943 Stinson L-5 Sentinel made it home. The plane was assigned to the USS White Plains aircraft carrier.

Capital Wing spokesperson Pete Ballard said theyre proud to feature and fly the historic aircraft, and theyre excited for it to be on display at the upcoming open house this month at the Culpeper airport.

The mystery behind its fighting origins comes from the Army designation for the flyer as an L-5, he said. The Marine designation was OY-1.

Of course, both versions are identical, Ballard said. The Capital Wing has been flying the aircraft as an L-5, but in fact it is an OY-1.

Virtually all the WWII warbirds flying in airshows or providing rides never left the U.S. and never saw combat, although they are painted in combat squadron colors, he said.

There are only a handful of WWII warbirds flying today that were overseas and performed combat operations, and the Capital Wing in Culpeper has one of them, Ballard said.

Rides will be available for purchase in the historic plane starting in June at capitalwingwarbirdrides.org.

In the meantime, folks can visit the warbird at the Capital Wing open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, at Culpeper Regional Airport. For a $25 fee, attendees can sit in the pilot seat of the observation aircraft.

During the open house, rides will be available in the Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder and Boeing PT-17 Stearman open cockpit biplane. A noontime demonstration flight will be made by a French Alouette II, the worlds first gas turbine powered helicopter.
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New data details the nations worsening tide of sexually transmitted infections, but health officials are hoping an old drug will help the fight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released data about some of the most common infectious diseases in the U.S. The numbers show how chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infections have been accelerating across the country. Meanwhile, the CDC is considering recommending the antibiotic doxycycline to be used after sex to prevent those infections. The pills are already used to treat some infections. Researchers have found that taking them soon after unprotected sex can sometimes prevent infections from happening at all.
Child unharmed after becoming stuck under dumpster

The Fremont Fire Department rescued a small child on Sunday evening, April 9, who had become stuck under a trash dumpster at Milliken Park Elementary School.

Fremont Fire Department Capt. Zachary Klein said two fire engines and an ambulance responded to the school in the 2900 block of Dale Street at about 7:36 p.m., Sunday, April 9, after callers said a child was trapped under the dumpster, which had wheels and was moveable.

Klein said the child had climbed under the dumpster to apparently retrieve sporting equipment, which had been placed under the dumpster and then was unable to get out.

Firefighters utilized specialized inflatable air bags with the ability to raise several tons of weight to elevate the dumpster about 6 to 8 inches, before placing wooden support blocks underneath for safety.

They are designed to lift a certain amount of weight, Klein explained. Then they use support blocks for safety.

The child was then able to crawl out safely, he added.

There were no injuries and nobody was transported (to a medical facility), Klein said.

Fremont police officials were also on the scene to assist with the incident, which Klein said took about 30 minutes.
The 42-year-old suspect involved in standoff with nearly two dozen law enforcement personnel on Saturday is alleged to have told acquaintances via text message during the ordeal that he wanted to just shoot it out now" with officers, Dodge County Sheriffs Office officials revealed on Monday, April 10.

Dodge County Sheriff Dustin Weitzel provided more details on Monday about the incident that began at home at about 1:26 p.m. Saturday, April 8, in the 1100 block of Fifth Street, at the intersection with Bell Street. Law enforcement attempted to serve a warrant to Travis J. Quinn, 42, of Fremont, at his home, causing the incident to unfold.

The suspect in the incident was taken into custody at about 7 p.m. after a joint Dodge County Sheriffs Office and Fremont Police Department SWAT team used an armored vehicle to approach Quinns home before rushing the main door to the house and rescuing his two young children.

Quinn was found unconscious inside the home, and was carried outside wrapped inside a large white sheet before being placed in a Fremont Fire Department ambulance and transported to Methodist Fremont Health hospital for treatment.

On Sunday, April 9, Quinn was released from the hospital, arrested and then booked into the Saunders County Jail. Quinn was charged with suspicion of two counts of alleged child abuse  family offense/non-violent and one count of suspicion of obstruction of a peace officer by threats and intimidation. He was also charged with the original warrant allegations of two counts of suspicion of assault in the third degree by intimidation; one count of suspicion of stalking; and one count of suspicion of making terroristic threats.

Upon arrival, the deputies observed the suspect, Travis Quinn, 42, of Fremont, outside his residence, and when he saw the deputies, Quinn ran into his residence, Weitzel stated in a press release. Quinn has a known criminal history, including weapons violations, and was currently wanted on outstanding arrest warrants for domestic violence, felony terroristic threats and stalking.

Weitzel said deputies attempted to contact Quinn, but Quinn did not respond to the deputies or come out of the residence.

Quinn was known to be the only adult in the home with his two children, with unknown weapons at that time. For the protection of the public and law enforcement, the Fremont/Dodge County Emergency Response Unit (ERU) was activated at 2:04 p.m., Weitzel stated in the press release. ERU members responded to the scene. Lengthy attempts to contact, deescalate and negotiate with Quinn were unsuccessful.

According to Weitzel, Quinn communicated with Fremont police negotiator Sgt. John Gieselman and alternately told authorities he would comply before he would, become angry again at their attempts to take him into custody.

Quinn called and sent text messages to several individuals while in the residence, asking if officers wanted to just shoot it out now, Weitzel added.

The standoff drew scores of spectators and onlookers, and because no streets were blocked off, motor vehicle traffic was allowed on both Bell Street and Fifth Street despite a police sniper team aiming a high-powered rifle at Quinns home across Bell Street.

At one point, a local grandfather named Jerry Smith confronted the police sniper and his observer, yelling at them that their actions were possibly endangering his grandchildren and alleged their presence could draw fire from the suspect to the area.

Smith also walked across Bell Street and approached the next door neighbor of Quinn, who was working in his yard as the standoff continued. Smith warned the man that police had a sniper rifle pointed at the home next to his and to be careful.

Once the incident ended, Weitzel said he had made the decision to not close Bell Street or other nearby streets because it was determined Quinn had no weapons and was not a danger to bystanders.

We appreciate the patience from the surrounding neighborhood during this incident, Weitzel, stated in the press release. This outcome is exactly what we are hoping for, protecting the public, the children and law enforcement. Quinn will receive the help that he greatly needs, and no one was injured in the process."

Assisting the Dodge County Sheriff's Office were personnel from the Fremont Police Department, the Fremont Fire Department, the Nebraska State Patrol and dispatchers at the Fremont/Dodge County 911 Center.
At 7:31 p.m., Saturday, April 7, 2023, Fremont police officers were dispatched to a business in the 800 block of East 23rd for a shoplifting complaint.

The individual had left the scene prior to officers arrival. An investigation was conducted resulting in the arrest of Andrew S. Price, 30, of Fremont, for shoplifting, possession of controlled substance and outstanding warrants.
Tuesday

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Letters to the Churches of Revelation, 10 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Ready for Kindergarten, 10-11 a.m., Metropolitan Community College, Room 207, 835 N. Broad St., Fremont. The program is designed for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. Stories, art, manipulatives and sensory stations will help build the skills needed for kindergarten.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Steps of Freedom meeting, 1 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Mens and Womens Bible Study, 6 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Fremont City Council meeting, 7 p.m., Fremont Municipal Building, second floor, 400 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The meeting is open to the public.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Wednesday

Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership Blair WIC and Immunization Clinic, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 17th and Colfax streets, Blair. For an appointment or for more information regarding the WIC or Immunization programs, call 402-385-6300.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Mens Bible Study, 1 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

City of Fremont Open House, 2-7 p.m., Christensen Field Main Arena, Fremont. Community members are encouraged to come learn about different departments, meet team members, learn about what we do, and what opportunities are available to work within the city. Departments will have activities and information to share including how Fremonts water/sewer and wastewater systems operate, energy conservation and LED vs incandescent light bulbs, upcoming library programming, and stormwater permitting and pollution control.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. There will be a coin auction at 4 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Community Breastfeeding Support Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Three Rivers Health Department conference room, 2400 N. Lincoln Ave., Fremont. This support group is for mothers and their babies. Siblings are welcome.

Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Thursday

Mens Bible Study, 8 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. The kitchen will be open from 5:30-7 p.m. The menu will include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, tacos and soup. Everyone is welcome.

Keene Memorial Library Lego Club, 4-5 p.m., Gallery 92 West, 92 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Lego bricks will be supplied.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Civil Air Patrol, 7 p.m., 1201 W. 23rd St., in yellow hangar at Fremont Airport.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave.

Tally Ho Toastmasters, 7-8 p.m., Midland Universitys Anderson Building, Ninth and Clarkson streets, Fremont. Everyone is welcome to learn skills in communication, self-confidence and leadership. For more information, call 402-936-3479.

Narcotics Anonymous Back to Basics meeting, 7:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 N. Davis St., Oakland.

Alcoholics Anonymous big book study, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.
About a week after Colorado Springs' April 4 municipal election, city clerk's officials are still accepting a small number of ballots before certifying and announcing final results by Friday.

The 'post-election period'

During this "post-election" period, City Clerk Sarah Johnson's office is accepting, but not yet processing, ballots from military and overseas residents through 5 p.m. Wednesday. The clerk is also allowing voters who did not sign their ballot envelopes, and those who have signature discrepancies, to cure those discrepancies by 5 p.m. Wednesday so their ballots are counted, Johnson told the City Council on Monday.

As of Monday morning, Johnson said her office had received about 66 cured ballots and seven military or overseas ballots that have not yet been processed. Those ballots remain unopened and are placed in a locked ballot box until they are ready to be processed, she said.

Other such ballots arriving throughout the week will also remain unopened and placed in the locked ballot box until they are counted Wednesday evening.

Additional ballot processing and certification of election results

Election officials will process those additional ballots after 5 p.m. Wednesday and will post updated results to the city website, coloradosprings.gov, later that evening, Johnson said.

The final election results must be certified by Friday, according to a message posted on the election results webpage. Clerk's spokeswoman Jennifer Schreuder said in an email on Monday officials tentatively plan to certify election results Thursday afternoon and could post final results the same day.

Once results are certified, Johnson's office will officially declare a mayoral runoff election, scheduled for May 16.

The May 16 mayoral runoff election

Unofficial results show the two top mayoral vote-getters in the regular election are Yemi Mobolade and Wayne Williams. They are likely to face each other in the second election that will determine who Colorado Springs' next mayor will be.

More Information There are additional opportunities to hear from the likely Colorado Springs mayoral runoff candidates at debates scheduled ahead of the May 16 election.  The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs is hosting a Colorado Springs mayoral runoff debate on Friday, April 21, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Doubletree by Hilton, 1775 Cheyenne Mountain Blvd. Rotary Club members and guests must register for the event. Registration is $30 and can be paid at the door or online at tinyurl.com/COSMayorsDebate. Registration ends Monday, April 17, at 5 p.m. The event will also be livestreamed on the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs' YouTube channel: tinyurl.com/COSMayorsDebateStreaming A recording of the debate will also be available on YouTube after the event: tinyurl.com/COSMayorsDebateRecording  Pikes Peak United Ways Public Policy Council is hosting a mayoral runoff debate on Monday, April 24, from 6-7 p.m. The event will take place at the Ent Center for the Arts Shockley-Zalabak Theater, 5225 N. Nevada Ave. The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited and registration is required. Register online at tickets.entcenterforthearts.org/4344. For more information, visit ppunitedway.org  The Road @ Chapel Hills, Salem Media Group, and Church Voter Guides are hosting a mayoral runoff debate Thursday, April 27, from 6:30-8 p.m. The event will take place at The Road, 2025 Parliament Drive. The debate is open to the public. Those who wish to attend in person can reserve their seat by pre-registering online at theroad.org/debate. The event will also be livestreamed on TheRoad.org. Listeners can also catch a radio broadcast of the event on Salems KZNT AM 1460 / FM 101.1 The Answer. The radio broadcast will run from 5:30-9 p.m., and includes a 1-hour long pre-debate show and a 1-hour long post-debate recap, according to a news release.  El Pomar's Forum for Civic Advancement is partnering with The Gazette, KOAA News 5 and the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC to host a mayoral runoff debate on Sunday, April 30, from 4:15-6 p.m. The event will take place at the Penrose House Conference Center, 1661 Mesa Ave. In-person seating is limited to 200 people. Those interested in attending should RSVP online by April 20. The Gazette and KOAA will livestream the event. For more information, to register, to submit a question or to watch the livestream, visit thestatedebate.com.

Unofficial results posted at 6:30 p.m. on April 5 show Mobolade, an entrepreneur and political newcomer, had 29.8% of the vote. Williams, a Colorado Springs city councilman, garnered about 19.2% of votes, unofficial returns show.

If those results hold through the final tally, the candidates will go head-to-head in the runoff election because neither earned more than 50% of the vote.

Johnson's office is preparing to send out new ballots for the runoff election to the approximately 311,900 active registered voters within city limits between April 21 and May 1, she told the council on Monday.

Because there is a short window of time between the two elections, "we will definitely be sending (ballots) out as close to the front end of that as we possibly can," Johnson said.

Voters will only decide between the final two mayoral candidates in the May 16 runoff election, she said. People who voted in the April 4 general election, as well as those who did not, will have a chance to vote in the runoff.

Voters can mail their ballots to the City Clerk's Office or return their ballots in one of the city's 26 secure 24/7 ballot drop-off boxes by 7 p.m. on May 16, Johnson said. Postmarks will not count.

A possible recount ahead

As of Monday, no candidate in the April 4 race for mayor, at-large City Council or District 3 City Council seats had formally requested a recount, she told the council. They have until Friday to do so.

Per Colorado law, a mandatory recount is triggered if the margin between the two top finishers is 0.5% or less of the leading candidate's vote total. A candidate may request a discretionary recount for election results that don't fall into that threshold, which the candidate would pay for.

On Friday, mayoral candidate Sallie Clark sent a letter to Johnson saying she may request a discretionary recount of the April 4 municipal election and asked for more information on the estimated cost of a recount.

Unofficial results show Clark, who was a close third in the mayoral race, garnered about 17.8% of the vote, trailing Williams by 1,546 votes.

Clark had not received additional information from Johnson's office about the estimated cost of a potential recount as of about 3 p.m. Monday, according to an email exchange between the candidate and the clerk.
Several of Gannon Stauch's stab wounds, specifically those on his hands and arms, were consistent with defensive wounds, suggesting that the boy was trying to protect himself from his attacker, an expert testified Monday.

Gannon suffered 18 stab wounds, four blunt force trauma injuries to the head and one gunshot wound to the head, said Susan Ignacio, an associate medical examiner from Florida who performed Gannon's autopsy in March 2020.

Click or tap here to watch live coverage from the trial.

Follow @ZachNDupont on Twitter for more updates from the courtroom.

The stab wounds werent the primary cause of death. Either the blunt force trauma injuries or the gunshot wound were, Ignacio testified.

Letecia Stauch is accused of killing Gannon, her 11-year-old stepson, in January 2020 in El Paso County, then disposing of the boy's body in Florida. Monday marked the second week of testimony in Letecia Stauch's murder trial.

Ignacio, who ruled Gannon's death a homicide, also testified that Gannon had hydrocodone, an opioid-based prescription pain reliever, in his system at the time of his death. Ignacio said it was unusual" for an 11-year-old child to have that drug in their system.

Al Stauch, Gannon's father, briefly retook the witness stand on Monday to testify that he had a prescription for hydrocodone because of a woodworking injury he suffered.

Christina Perry, an El Paso County detective, testified that no one reported hearing gunshots being fired at or near the Stauch home when Gannon was reported missing on Jan. 27, 2020.

Perry said she did not find that information to be shocking, and prosecutor Dave Young implied there could be any number of reasons for why no gunshots were heard on that date.

Perry reviewed several surveillance footage clips from the Stauchs' neighbors on the day Gannon was reported missing. In the first two clips, Letecia Stauch and Gannon can be seen leaving the home together and returning a short while later.

The third surveillance clip comes an hour after Letecia Stauch and Gannon return home, Perry testified, where Letecia Stauchs stepdaughter, Laina Stauch, can be seen returning from school. In the clip Laina Stauch can be seen walking toward the home, leaving the home almost immediately after and can be seen walking and biking around the outside of the Stauch home for almost 20 minutes. Earlier in the trial the prosecution alleged that when Laina Stauch returned home from school on Jan. 27, 2020, Letecia Stauch did not allow her to come inside the home and forced her to wait outside.

Perrys testified that Letecia Stauchs daughter, Harley Hunt, refused to speak with her or any other law enforcement officers when they searched the Stauch residence on Jan. 28, 2020.

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It seemed odd, Perry recalled of Hunts refusal to talk about Gannons disappearance.

Investigators recovered a pair of sneakers from the Stauch home that appeared to have a light amount of blood on the bottom.

Peter Vigil, an El Paso County detective, testified that he smelled bleach when he entered Gannon's bedroom, and that he found what appeared to be a blood stain on Gannon's mattress.

FBI agent Andrew Cohen, the FBIs lead agent on the Stauch case, testified that investigators placed a wiretap on Letecia Stauchs phone in the weeks after Gannon was reported missing.

Jurors heard four wiretap recordings, all of which were phone calls between Letecia Stauch and someone from the website fakepolygraph.com.

The first two calls placed by Letecia Stauch were asking why she had yet to receive the results of the fake polygraph exam in her email. And in the third call, the representative told Letecia Stauch that her fake polygraph had been blocked by management due to the questions pertaining to potential illegal activities.

Some of the questions Letecia Stauch tried to have answered via the fake polygraph, according to the arrest affidavit, included "did you participate in any way in causing your stepsons death," and "did you participate in any way in causing harm to your stepson?"

Monday's final witness was former KKTV reporter Spencer Wilson, who interviewed Letecia Stauch on Jan. 31, 2020.

Wilson testified that he came into contact with Letecia Stauch while in the Lorson Ranch neighborhood when she approached Wilson to "chastise" him for KKTV's reporting of Gannon's disappearance.

Wilson went on to interview Letecia Stauch and testified that he felt Letecia Stauch was "absolutely" more concerned with her own image than the well-being of Gannon.

I talked to neighbors who were more worried about Gannon," Wilson said.

Letecia Stauch's trial will resume Tuesday morning.
Officials believe the man whose body was found near railroad tracks southeast of Colorado Springs Sunday was murdered, according to the Fountain Police Department.

The victim has been identified as 31-year-old Christian Cook by the El Paso County coroner, who listed his manner of death as homicide. A cause of death has not been reported.

Cooks body was found around 8:30 a.m. Sunday by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway employee, who reported an unconscious person near the railroad tracks in the area of Alegre Circle and Colorado 85/87.

First responders with the Fountain Fire Department responded to the call, pronounced the person dead at the scene and called Fountain police.

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A verified GoFundMe has been started by Cook's parents to assist in burial and funeral costs.

"We could never have thought we would be looking at burial plots and caskets for our 31-year-old Son. Simply put, we were not prepared. We need your help," The GoFundMe reads, "We are asking for help that would give us the ability to have a funeral with services. There are options that include cremation however we deeply crave the closure we hope we can begin with seeing him in an open casket and having that chance to say goodbye."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Fountain Police Department tip line at 719-382-6918. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 719-634-7867 or www.crimestop.net.
Two people who were removed from a school board meeting in El Paso County for holding up signs calling for several board members to resign are suing School District 49, alleging that the district violated their constitutional right to free speech.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court, accuses D-49 of treating community members inconsistently based on their viewpoints. In their complaint, plaintiffs Deb Schmidt and Kelly Kohls allege that other community members at previous meetings faced no such punishment for similar actions.

The complaint also names board President John Graham as a defendant, along with security personnel Robert Konz and David Glenn, who assisted in upholding D-49s unconstitutional policies, practices, and customs, the lawsuit alleges.

The case was brought to simply vindicate First Amendment rights of anyone who decides to criticize public officials, Schmidt said.

At the school board's Feb. 22 special meeting, Schmidt and Kohls each held up signs at chest level reading, Rick Lori John RESIGN, referring to board members Rick Van Wieren, Lori Thompson and Graham. Graham told the two that their actions were out of order and violated rules of decorum, telling them they would be asked to leave if they did not put them down.

Graham halted the meeting in order for security to intervene when the two continued to hold their signs despite warnings not to do so. Konz and Glenn then escorted Schmidt and Kohls out of the building.

Schmidt is a district taxpayer and grandparent to two children at D-49 schools. Kohls is an Ohio resident.

The lawsuit references a Nov. 10 special meeting in which the board voted 3-2 to censure board member Ivy Liu for her alleged behavior. A handful of community members held signs reading Ivy Liu resign at several points during the meeting.

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Graham told Schmidt and Konz during the February meeting that hed twice told those holding signs in November to put them down, just as he was requesting of them. The lawsuit further alleges that a review of the audio record of the special meeting  indicates that, at no time during the course of the meeting did Graham or anybody else on behalf of D-49 request them to cease doing so.

In a recording of the November school board meeting the district posted online, Graham is shown asking members of the public to put down their distracting signs.

If they had not put them down, they would have been asked to leave.  The difference was they put down the signs, Graham said. People don't have a right to come into the meeting, disrupt it, do whatever they want.

The plaintiffs say they have suffered injury and damages in having their core political speech stifled and censored during the special meeting and were deprived of their constitutional rights to freedom of speech as protected by the First Amendment, the right to petition the government for redress of grievances pursuant to the First Amendment, and the denial of equal protection of the law in violation of the rights afforded by the 14th Amendment.

Schmidt and Kohls are seeking awards for damages and the costs associated with bringing the case, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also seeks a court order preventing D-49 from prohibiting the plaintiffs from using their signs as long as they do not interfere with others ability to watch and listen to the meeting.

I dont want money, Schmidt said. I want them to change the dang policy that isn't right.

Schmidt said she wants the district to change its method of prioritizing certain groups during public comment to be more equitable. Current policy prioritizes students, staff and parents or guardians of current students, followed by active members of district committees, then district residents and taxpayers, and finally all other citizens. Priority is also given to speakers who have not addressed the board within the prior month.

The boards legal counsel declined to comment on the lawsuit.
A fire burning southwest of Aguilar in Las Animas County is causing mandatory evacuations Monday evening.

Residents in Mauricio Canyon, Trujillo Creek and surrounding areas are being asked to evacuate, according to a Facebook post from the Las Animas County Sheriff's Department. Deputies are contacting residents about the evacuation within a three-mile radius of the fire.

Resources for evacuated residents are at the community center in Aguilar. The evacuation order is expected to last overnight, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Fire containment or acreage are not known, but one structure has reportedly been lost in the fire as of Monday evening.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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.
The White House is ramping up its efforts to paint President Joe Biden as "tough" on fentanyl, even as Republican lawmakers have proposed significant escalations in America's war on drugs.

Biden's team is casting Republicans as the "defund" law enforcement party as a means of countering claims from the GOP that Biden is responsible for the fentanyl crisis.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF AMERICA'S FENTANYL SEIZURE EPICENTER

Republicans have frequently pointed to the skyrocketing number of fentanyl-linked deaths as evidence that Biden's immigration policies are failing the country, yet the White House announced five new actions Tuesday morning aimed at clamping down on the drug's supply chains.

Those steps include the following:

Leading a coordinated global effort with international partners to disrupt the illicit synthetic drug trade

Strengthening coordination and information-sharing among U.S. intelligence and domestic law enforcement agencies

Accelerating work with the private sector globally

Further protect the U.S. financial system from use and abuse by drug traffickers

Continue to call on Congress to close legal loopholes for illicit synthetic drugs

Senior Democratic officials note that Biden's plan for dealing with fentanyl closely resembles his strategy for countering rising gun violence, including the opposition the plan is facing from Republicans.

"President Biden wants to leverage a whole-of-government approach to tackling a nonpartisan issue," one official said. "Unfortunately, Republicans are more interested in scoring political points than pursuing any viable solutions. It's one thing to talk tough, but reaching across the aisle to fix a problem that's in every community across the country is something else entirely."

In a statement, White House spokesman Andrew Bates took that message one step further and directly accused Republicans of aiding cartels by refusing to cooperate with the administration and actively calling for the defunding of federal law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the FBI.

"MAGA Republican extremism in Congress is a growing threat to the fight against violent crime and fentanyl trafficking," Bates wrote. "President Biden is working hard to prevent the flow of firearms into the hands of drug cartels, as part of a comprehensive strategy to block the flow of fentanyl into the United States. But hardcore MAGA members of Congress are doing everything they can to thwart these efforts."

"They're attempting to gut funding for federal law enforcement agencies and lay off thousands of border security agents in order to cut taxes for the wealthy. MAGA Republicans in Congress are trying to defund and abolish the ATF, the federal law enforcement agency responsible for helping stop the flow of firearms into the hands of gun traffickers," he continued. "MAGA Republicans are also obstructing President Biden's assault weapons ban, even though assault weapons purchased in the United States are arming drug cartels and enabling them to outgun law enforcement. Congressional Republicans are choosing tax giveaways for the rich over law enforcement officers, and the gun industry's profits over Americans' lives."

Additionally, a number of GOP lawmakers and all three 2024 Republican presidential primary candidates have widened their proposals for dealing with the deadly drug to include calls for military action against Mexican cartels trafficking fentanyl into the U.S. via the southern border.

"I can't understand why we're fighting a war in Ukraine, and we're not bombing the Mexican cartels who are poisoning Americans every single day," Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said during a February interview with Donald Trump Jr.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), one of the loudest Republican hawks in Congress, told Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at a March hearing that the U.S. should "take the gloves off. They're at war with us, we need to be at war with them."

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley suggested in early April that "absolutely" the government should label cartels terror groups, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy pledged to mobilize U.S. military forces against cartels, and former President Donald Trump has asked his advisers to draw up "battle plans" for attacking the cartels on Mexican soil should he reclaim the White House, as reported by Rolling Stone.

Senior Biden administration officials liken calls for military actions to the "gimmicks" Republicans pulled in the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections, including the busing of immigrants apprehended at the border to cities on the East Coast.

One senior administration official said going to war against the cartels is "not only impractical but also dangerous" and would land the country in another unwinnable, ground war just two years after ending the decadeslong engagement in Afghanistan.

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That person countered that if the GOP is serious about tackling the fentanyl crisis, lawmakers will approve Biden's funding request for the Department of Homeland Security "rather than treat it as a political bargaining chip in hopes of gaining ridiculous total oversight" of the agency.

Original Location: Biden seeks to take 'tough' on fentanyl mantle from Republicans

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By Brendan O'Brien and Jarrett Renshaw

CHICAGO (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden picked Chicago to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, tapping a large liberal city in the heart of the Midwest to hold what could be his nominating party, officials said on Tuesday.

Chicago beat out New York, another progressive city, as well as Atlanta, a city in the presidential battleground state of Georgia that helped Biden win the White House and gain control of the Senate. Houston was eliminated earlier in the process.

"Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention," Biden said in a statement distributed by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Tuesday. "Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down."

Chicago's supporters made the case that it was diverse, liberal city that celebrated labor and civil rights. They also argued that it was located in the critical Midwestern part of the country that Democrats need to win if they want to retain the White House, including the competitive states of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire Democratic donor, also made clear that his state's largest city had the financial resources and experience to run a smooth, large-scale event. The city has hosted several Democratic conventions, including the tumultuous and violent 1968 gathering during the Vietnam War.

The decision took Democrats in the South by surprise after they marshaled tens of millions of dollars in support for the bid and felt that there was some momentum behind it, especially after Biden endorsed putting South Carolina and Georgia before Iowa in the party's nominating calendar.

"There'll be some initial heartbreak, which I'm experiencing right now," said Dominick Perkins, a top Democratic strategist in Georgia. "But people are still going to continue to do the work we've always done and we'll continue to get the wins. This state is trending blue."

The convention, where delegates will formally select a final Democratic nominee to run in the November 2024 presidential election, will run from Aug. 19-22 next year, the DNC said.

While he has not officially declared his candidacy, Biden has said he intends to run for re-election and is yet to face a serious threat for the nomination despite concerns about the 80-year-old president's age.

(Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Jasper Ward; Writing by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Jonathan Oatis)
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee will join their Republican counterparts as they host a field hearing on crime and violence in New York City next week in an effort to diminish the event as a political stunt.

Republicans announced the hearing last week as a way to undercut the work of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, hoping to erode his credibility as he prosecutes former President Donald Trump on a number of criminal charges. Democrats on the committee have previously skipped GOP-led field hearings as a way of protest, but several members now plan to attend and hold a counter-response, sources told Punchbowl News.

HOUSE JUDICIARY TO HOLD CRIME HEARING IN NEW YORK CITY

The hearing will be held on April 17 in the district represented by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who is the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.

Democrats are planning to hold a separate news conference ahead of the hearing that will feature top city officials, according to the outlet. During that conference, Democrats will target GOP lawmakers on their refusal to act on gun violence, arguing that much of the city's crime can be tied to firearms.

The Democratic lawmakers will then join Republicans during the field hearing, which will feature testimony from "victims of violent crime in Manhattan." It's not clear who will be asked to testify.

The field hearing is the latest retaliation from House Republicans against Bragg's indictment of Trump after the latter was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records earlier this month. Republicans have decried the charges as being politically motivated, vowing to investigate Bragg and his office.

Republicans on the Judiciary Committee subpoenaed former New York County District Attorney Mark Pomerantz to appear before the panel and testify about his previous involvement in the Trump investigation. Pomerantz initially led the inquiry before resigning last year over Bragg's initial reluctance to move forward with the case.

Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) accused Pomerantz of resigning as an act of protest to pressure Bragg to reopen the case. The subpoena came two weeks after Jordan initially requested that Pomerantz and former Manhattan Special Assistant District Attorney Carey Dunne testify before the Judiciary Committee, which the former attorney declined.

Jordan has also repeatedly pressed Bragg to testify and provide the committee with documents related to his investigation, all of which the district attorney has rejected as overreach.

In his indictment, Bragg accused Trump of orchestrating a "catch and kill" scheme during the 2016 presidential cycle to identify negative stories about him and pay large sums of money to bury them from public view. After making such payments, Trump is accused of hiding such conduct by making "dozens of false entries in business records to conceal criminal activity, including attempts to violate state and federal election laws."

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In one instance, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen wired $130,000 to an attorney to be transferred to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged sexual affair. Cohen later pleaded guilty to the illegal campaign contribution charge in 2018.

At the time of Cohen's trial, federal prosecutors did not press charges against Trump due to guidance from the Justice Department that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. However, prosecutors revived discussions about charges shortly before Trump left office in 2021. The federal government did not ultimately charge Trump.

Original Location: Democrats plan to join GOP hearing on crime and violence in New York

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By Luc Cohen and Kanishka Singh

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday sued Republican U.S. Representative Jim Jordan to stop what Bragg called a "campaign of intimidation" against the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump in New York.

The lawsuit aims to block a subpoena of Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor who once led the Manhattan district attorney's multi-year investigation of Trump, by the Republican-led House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, which Jordan chairs.

Bragg, a Democrat, called the subpoena an unconstitutional "incursion" into a state criminal case as payback for charging Trump in the first indictment of a former U.S. president.

"Rather than allowing the criminal process to proceed in the ordinary course, Chairman Jordan and the committee are participating in a campaign of intimidation, retaliation and obstruction," Bragg's lawyers wrote in the complaint, filed in federal court in Manhattan.

Later on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil set a hearing in the case for April 19. She gave Jordan until April 17 to respond to Bragg's complaint.

Last week, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to buy porn star Stormy Daniels' silence before the 2016 election about her alleged affair with him, which he denies.

Many Republicans have portrayed Bragg's prosecution as a politically-motivated stunt to interfere in the 2024 presidential election, where Trump is seeking another White House term.

They have also questioned the district attorney's use of federal funds for its investigation of Trump.

"First, they indict a president for no crime," Jordan tweeted on Tuesday. "Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it."

Bragg's office has told the committee it used $5,000 in federal funds to investigate Trump and his namesake family company from 2019 to 2021.

The office said that money came from $1 billion of asset forfeiture it secured for the government in the last 15 years.

Bragg, the first Black district attorney in Manhattan, has also accused Trump of threatening New York officials with "violent and racist vitriol."

He cited a since-deleted picture that Trump posted on social media showing him holding a baseball bat next to a photo of Bragg's head, and another post in which Trump called Bragg an "animal."

The complaint said those statements had a "powerful effect," adding that Bragg has received death threats from Trump supporters and a package containing suspicious white powder.

Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

'SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY'

Pomerantz left the District Attorney's office shortly after Bragg took over in early 2022 and decided against pursuing an indictment of Trump over his business practices.

Earlier this year, Pomerantz published a book criticizing that decision.

He also said prosecutors had examined whether to charge Trump over hush money payments, but were concerned their novel legal theory might not hold up in court.

Though Bragg has said Pomerantz's case was not ready, Jordan has said Pomerantz's public statements showed that politics motivated Bragg's eventual prosecution of Trump.

In a court filing, lawyers for Bragg said there would be no harm to House Republicans from blocking the subpoena because Congress has no jurisdiction over state prosecutions.

He also said that if the Republicans do not like his case against Trump they can express their displeasure to voters.

Not letting the case proceed toward a possible jury trial would "undermine the interests of justice and irreparably injure New York's sovereign authority," Bragg's office wrote.

The Judiciary Committee said on Monday it planned a "field hearing" next week in New York about "an increase in violent crime" they claim has been caused by Bragg's policies.

Bragg said murders, shootings, burglaries and robberies in Manhattan are lower this year than in 2022.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York and Kanishka Singh in Washington; additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York editing by Leslie Adler and Bill Berkrot)
By Brad Brooks

(Reuters) -An Oklahoma school board on Tuesday unanimously rejected the Catholic Church's application to create the first taxpayer-funded religious charter school in the U.S., taking a first step toward a long legal battle testing the concept of separation of church and state.

Roman Catholic organizers propose creating the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School to offer an online education for kindergarten through high school initially for 500 students and eventually 1,500.

Oklahoma's Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, which considers applications for charter schools that operate virtually in the state, denied the application in a 5-0 vote.

Board chairman Robert Franklin said in a phone interview before the meeting that it was not unusual to deny a school's application on a first vote but later approve it. Republican state officials appointed all five board members.

During Tuesday's meeting, Franklin and other board members emphasized that they were not voting on the constitutionality of such a school, but whether the application met the board's standards.

Charter schools are publicly funded, independently run schools established under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority.

The church has 30 days to adjust its application to answer board concerns that included the proposed special education program and conflicts in school governance. Once a new application is submitted, the board will take another vote.

Any legal fight could test the scope of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment "establishment clause," which restricts government officials from endorsing any particular religion, or promoting religion over nonreligion.

Church officials have said they hope the case will reach the U.S. Supreme Court, where a 6-3 conservative majority has taken an expansive view of religious rights, including in two rulings since 2020 concerning schools in Maine and Montana.

The school would cost Oklahoma taxpayers up to $25.7 million over its first five years of operation, its organizers said. The idea came from the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The law school at the University of Notre Dame, a Catholic institution in Indiana, helped with the application.

Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, said St. Isidore is intended primarily to meet the needs of rural families who desire a Catholic education but do not live close to any physical schools.

Farley, whose organization represents the church on public policy issues, said the recent Supreme Court decisions made him optimistic that the justices would eventually allow a publicly funded Catholic charter school.

Board chairman Franklin said parents, teachers and many groups representing public education had contacted him to say they are vexed and opposed to the archdiocese's application.

The proposal's critics worry about the consequences of allowing taxpayer-funded religious schools.

"Americans need to wake up to the reality that religious extremists are coming for our public schools," said Rachel Laser, president of the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

It remains an open question how the school would balance federal and state nondiscrimination rules such as those barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. The school's stated aim in its application is to hire educators who live by the doctrine of the Catholic Church, which according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops considers homosexuality a sin.

Farley said he could not answer questions about such hypothetical cases as hiring a gay teacher or admitting a gay student, but expressed confidence that the school could "square with state regulations, federal regulations and operate within the protections that precedent has given us."

"This idea of separation of church and state is not constitutional, it's not anywhere in the Constitution's text," Farley said.

Laser disagreed and said her organization would fight the Catholic Church in any court over St. Isidore and any other publicly funded religious school.

"There is an attack being waged on public schools in Oklahoma, and that attack is to convert public schools into religious schools," Laser said.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Additional reporting by John Kruzel in Washington; Editing by Donna Bryson, Jonathan Oatis and Howard Goller)
An Oklahoma school board will decide Tuesday whether to approve the first publicly funded religious charter school in the United States, a move proponents say aligns with Supreme Court rulings empowering religious rights.

The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board will vote on the Catholic Church's application to form St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which is described as an online school for kindergarten through high school with plans to sustain 1,500 students.

SOTOMAYOR CHIDES SUPREME COURT CONSERVATIVES FOR UPENDING SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

Brett Farley, an executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma who backs the application, said St. Isidore's main goal is to meet the needs of rural families who are seeking a Catholic education but do not live near physical schools.

"In most rural areas, with some rare exceptions, the local public school is the only game in town," Farley told the Washington Examiner. "Some of those schools are great, some of them are not. And especially, when we look at areas like special needs, kids are really being underserved across the state."

Farley contends three Supreme Court decisions over the last decade have paved the way for new publicly funded religious schools.

In a ruling deciding a case from Maine, the court supported two Christian families who challenged the state's tuition-assistance program that had excluded private religious schools. The state previously excluded schools from eligibility if they presented materials "through the lens" of a particular religion, though the justices found the state must pay for students enrolled in religious schools if it paid for students in private secular schools.

And in 2020, the Supreme Court backed Montana tax credits that help pay for students to attend religious schools. The justices also ruled in 2017 that religious groups cannot be denied public funds, even if a state's constitution explicitly forbids such funding.

Meanwhile, the application has been criticized by secular opponents who warned of the consequences of allowing publicly funded religious schools, such as the Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Rachel Laser, the president of the advocacy group, said that "Americans need to wake up to the reality that religious extremists are coming for our public schools."

St. Isidore would cost Oklahoma taxpayers up to $25.7 million over the first five years of operation, according to its organizers. In response to criticism over its use of public funds, Farley said, "The more options you give to parents, the better off all of us are, including public schools."

Farley added that's "true for any market," saying the same principle applies if other faith-based groups filed for an application in the state.

Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) lauded the Maine decision last year, and the state's then-Attorney General John O'Connor wrote in December that the rulings would effectively permit religious charter schools.

But in February, current Attorney General Gentner Drummond withdrew O'Connor's opinion and said it "misuses the concept of religious liberty by employing it as a means to justify state-funded religion."

If the application is accepted, it will "almost certainly be challenged by public school groups that don't believe taxpayer dollars should go to fund sectarian education," Drummond told NPR this week.

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The board is a state entity that decides on applications for publicly funded but independently run charter schools operating virtually in the Sooner State. Composed of five members in total, the application needs three votes from the board in order to gain approval.

A livestream of the vote will be made available just before the board convenes at 2 p.m. CST Tuesday.

Original Location: Supreme Court rulings give Oklahoma chance to form first religious charter school

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The breakneck pace at which the Polis administration wants to re-engineer Colorados commercial buildings  mandating a dizzying array of vague, cost-prohibitive and ultimately unworkable green-energy regulations  is breaking the law. Thats the upshot of a protest lodged by stakeholder groups representing some of the states landlords.

Gov. Jared Polis Greenhouse Gas Reduction Roadmap, adopted by the legislature as House Bill 21-1286, raises the bar for more than 8,000 buildings in the state with more than 50,000 square feet of floor space. The new law mandates reductions in buildings energy use of 7% by 2026 and 20% by 2030 compared with 2021 levels. The price tag for meeting the new standards could reach $3.1 billion by 2030.

New rules implementing the roadmaps broad rubrics  the rules flesh out the specifics that will micromanage building energy efficiency  are now under review by the executive branchs Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. And as The Gazette reported last week, critics contend the whole endeavor is being rushed so fast its putting the cart before the horse.

The Colorado Apartment Association and the Apartment Association of Metro Denver said in a letter to the commission that the schedule for the rules drafting and implementation is being pushed ahead with unprecedented speed and in violation of state administrative procedure laws. One of the lawyers representing the associations told The Gazette the Polis administration is giving the regulation a classic bums rush through the regulatory doorway.

The commission imposed a compressed schedule that pushes the process forward over the span of just two months, the attorney said, noting hes never seen rules rammed through so quickly.

The legislation passed the legislature and was signed into law in spring 2021 yet the commission and its mother agency, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, didnt come up with a final draft of the regulation for review by the public and affected building owners until just last month. The draft regulation is now moving forward toward a hearing scheduled for May 1619, leaving stakeholders little time to review and respond.

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As The Gazettes report also pointed out, the draft regulation is riddled with holes that eventually are supposed to be filled with to be determined criteria dictating what energy reductions are required for more than 86 different types of buildings and uses listed in the regulation. The associations letter to the commission decries the abundance of unknowns.

Proposing a rule in which the compliance obligations are 'TBD' makes a mockery of due process, the letter states. Its like signing a document titled contract with nothing but a blank sheet of paper underneath.

The associations also charge the state has failed to evaluate the adverse impacts the rule will have on citizens and businesses in Colorado; has vastly understated the costs; has overstated savings benefits, and has not based its evaluation on facts and conditions unique to Colorado.

So, heres a question for Polis and his energy-efficiency enforcers: Whats the rush?

If a key sector of Colorados economy must radically renovate its infrastructure at budget-busting expense that will be borne by the whole economy  shouldnt it know how it is supposed to do it? And shouldnt it have a chance to read the fine print?
In America over 500 bills have been proposed this year alone, all against transgender people. I stand with transgender people and against these bills. Colorado is one of the few safe states left, but recent rules have been proposed that seek to change this and harm transgender people.

Recently many people have spoken out against transgender people and pushed the topic of transgender people into the public eye.

Many of these people came forward after a new rule of staff conduct in Colorado Springs School District 11 that would put limits on students names and pronouns or after all the anti-trans bills and legislation of 2023. Those people do not speak for all of us.

I am a transgender boy (female to male) and a high school student at Palmer High School in D-11. I have been personally affected by anti-trans rules and world views, such as my name being changed in the school system and no one telling me it happened or even why and being seen as a walking political debate or somehow less than human by my peers.

The forefront of the arguments surrounding transgender people in Colorado Springs is pronouns  both as jokes such as try being more inclusive instead of saying the gendered hey guys try saying they guys and such more serious rules such as the proposed D-11 rule that would ban teachers from asking students their preferred name and pronouns, or school administrators encouraging misgendering and dead-naming (calling a trans person by their birth name).

The pronoun moral debates that keep happening assume that teachers stand and point at a student demanding they announce their pronouns to the class, this has never ever in my life or the lives of anyone I have talked to has anything along those lines happened.

If the teacher chooses to ask pronouns which they are not required to do, it is an ungraded assignment, usually a general information sheet is passed out with questions such as do you play sports , what is your name and what pronouns do you prefer. I have also seen this be done as an email but never are kids announcing their pronouns to the class.

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Cisgender people (people that identify as the gender they were assigned at birth) use pronouns everyday when speaking, texting,or writing.

Pronouns are not just He Her and They, I Us You and even Mine are all pronouns. Pronouns are not a transgender thing, they are a fundamental part of the English language.

Transgender people are not a harm to you or your kids and transgender people are not contagious. Trangender people just want to live their lives happily and without fear of their gender being outlawed or being killed for existing. I can guarantee you transgender kids want to grow up without watching our ability to be adults get legislated out of existence. I can also guarantee that transgender kids want and need teachers to continue to respect their identities by asking what pronouns the transgender kids in their classes prefer.

Everyone deserves respect, safety, and love and you cant outlaw the queerness out of the queer people around you.Nobodys identity should be criminalized.

Im 15. I should have to do this. I shouldnt have to talk to the school boards to exist. I shouldnt have to protest.

Michelangelo Krewson is a 15-year-old freshman at William J. Palmer High School.
Gov. Jared Polis' signature housing bill got its first airing in a Senate committee last week, when opponents warned they would tie the measure up in the courts for years to come.

But the bill, as introduced, is unlikely to look the same, as more than a dozen amendment "concepts" are planned in the coming weeks. The measure requires high-density housing primarily along the Front Range and in rural resort communities.

Sen. Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, sponsor of Senate Bill 213, told the Senate Local Government and Housing Committee it is intended to resolve the state's affordable housing crisis. The goals, he added, include increasing housing supply, improving affordability, cutting red tape, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately lowering costs.

Litigation on the horizon

During the committee hearing on April 6, several local government officials, including Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, warned that, should the bill pass in its current form, cities would tie up the measure in "years of contentious litigation" that could grind the Polis administration plans for affordable housing to a halt.

Kevin Bommer, executive director of the Colorado Municipal League, who has been among the most vocal opponents of SB 213, sounded an almost conciliatory tone in the hearing, pleading with lawmakers to help create a "win-win" situation.

"There is a path forward that can achieve more housing very soon without the conflict confusion and concentration of power," he told the committee.

The Colorado Municipal League could support a bill that doesn't interfere with local control or create mandates on local governments, Bommer said.

The group supports the statewide housing needs assessment, so long as it comes with no strings attached and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) remains as a helping hand, not a regulatory one, he said.

Also on the group's wish list is "meaningful reform" to the state's construction defects laws, which have been a major impediment to building condos, often the first housing for young families or the last for seniors hoping to downsize.

"More Housing Now," which is what Polis calls the plan, "is a misnomer," Bommer said.

He said that Polis, along with government and development experts, already acknowledged the issue is really ensuring more housing later, maybe in five or 10 years  or even longer than that.

"It's not the Colorado way. If we are going to do something, let's do it together now and build on the successes and planning already occurring," he said, asking the lawmakers to be "partners, rather than adversaries."

Local governments weigh in

The hearing drew the largest audience so far in the 2023 session  with nearly 450 signed up to testify.

They included representatives from more than three dozen communities, ranging from resort communities that in the past have backed Democrats on a variety of issues to some of the Front Range's largest cities. Almost all of those representatives either oppose SB 213 or seek substantial amendments.

Others came to defend the measure.

DOLA'a Andy Hill, who manages the community development office, told the committee local governments are finding their land use regulations are an impediment and don't work as effectively as they would like in attracting affordable housing.

"They come to us for help with that," Hill said.

Demand for DOLA grants on affordable housing have grown, he said, adding that shows that local governments want permanent solutions for a range of residential housing types, including affordable housing.

"This bill takes a regulatory step in tandem with existing incentives," Hill said.

Adams County Commissioner Eva Henry, a Democrat, was one of only two county officials at the April 6 hearing who said she supports the measure in its current form, although, as introduced, it doesn't actually affect county governments.

She said the bill respects the role of municipalities in land use decisions and gives them the option of flexible minimum standards.

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"Our cities and towns will be able to fine-tune their standards to meet local needs and will also be able to keep the codes they have if they meet the minimum requirements," Henry said.

She blamed the lack of affordable housing on "sporadic land use decisions" made by "inexperienced" local politicians.

As a local elected official and mother, she added, "I understand the fear of losing control of what I had control of for a long time."

"I know that in order to mature and grow, we have to let go of things that no longer work. Our sporadic land use regulations in the state no longer is working and we need to move forward," she said. "The decisions this committee is making is making a choice between moving forward in a solution that will help in the crisis or protecting an age old belief that has shown that it is broken."

The Adams County commission, however, is seeking amendments, not supporting, SB 213.

State standards versus local control

Under SB 213, municipalities have the option of either adopting "flexible minimum standards" or facing a mandate to use a state-developed model, which would include zoning changes.

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs, which for years has had a collaborative relationship with local governments, will be put in the position of enforcing those mandates for municipalities that don't go along with the flexible option.

The department's role in implementing SB 213, which was referenced 110 times in the 105-page bill, also includes conducting a statewide, regional and local housing needs assessment. That assessment wouldn't show results until 2026, as the bill requires only a methodology to be developed by the department by the end of 2024.

The flexible standards include accessory dwelling units or ADUs  also known as in-law apartments or granny flats  and so-called "middle housing," such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and townhomes.

Under those standards, the municipality can't require parking but the developer can add it. Resort communities have additional flexibility to work regionally on housing strategies that would allow them to find the best places for more dense housing.

For renters, municipalities can regulate short-term rentals for the housing listed above  with "affordability strategies."

The standards are different for non-urban municipalities of more than 5,000 residents  with only ADUs required under the bill to deal with affordable housing issues.

Another facet of the plan focuses on transit-oriented communities, which also primarily target urban communities along the Front Range, including those with fixed rail, as well as rural resorts.

It could also include more dense housing near bus rapid transit or walkable commercial districts.

The bill outlines a series of either flexible minimum standards or state-mandated standards that apply to transit-oriented communities, with a goal of reducing housing and transportation costs.

A final facet deals with cutting red tape, which the aim of allowing faster deployment of manufactured homes that can be built in just a few days but often have to wait a year or more to be placed on site. It would remove limitations for minimum unit sizes in urban communities, so long as those units comply with fire and building code standards.

Amendment 'concepts' on the horizon

The hearing on SB 213 took more than 12 hours, but it was set up only for witness testimony, not committee action.

Those who testified did so on the bill's current form  not how it would look in the next few weeks once amendments have been offered and adopted.

In an email to stakeholders the day before the hearing, Moreno outlined a number of amendment "concepts" the sponsors are considering. It's not an exhaustive list, Moreno said, but an attempt to be transparent about what's to come.

The committee testimony would also likely raise concerns that could form additional amendments, he said.

The amendment concepts address affordability, something the bill doesn't currently tackle; revisions to the bill's rural resort provisions; more flexibility in housing options; bolstering implementation; and, strengthening stakeholder input.

Many local government officials pointed out that land use decisions made at the local level is a very popular and direct way for constituents to weigh in on the housing issues, and that SB 213, as introduced, would strip away that local input.

The amendment concepts include creating an "affordability menu" in the law, adding affordability requirements to the statewide model codes, revising minimum standards for size and setbacks for accessory dwelling units, reducing middle housing size from a maximum of sixplexes to fourplexes, establishing a waiver process for small urban communities that would allow them to opt out of the housing needs plan, and creating a "compromise option" to enable limited minimum parking standards in middle housing.

A hearing date for action on the bill, including amendments, has not yet been announced.
Lakewood City Council member Rebekah Stewart announced on Tuesday that she's running for the Democratic nomination in the open House District 30 seat.

Stewart, the first board-certified music therapist elected to office in Colorado, said she wants to bring her experience advocating for the disability and health care communities to the legislature.

"Every day, I've tried to wake up and be the best representative of my community's needs and values that I possibly can be," she told Colorado Politics. "I'm feeling a lot of excitement to take this next step and run for the state House to continue that work of lifting up the voices and the values and needs of my community, but at the state Capitol."

The Jefferson County-based district is currently represented by House Speaker Pro Tem Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, who is term-limited.

Two other Democrats have already filed to run for the seat, including Kyra deGruy Kennedy, the incumbent's wife, and Rhiannon Wenning.

The heavily Democratic district covers eastern portions of Lakewood and Edgewater. Kennedy won reelection to a fourth term in November by a wide margin, defeating Republican nominee Russ Carter by just over 30 percentage points.

In 2021, Stewart became the first candidate to unseat an incumbent member of Lakewood's city council in 16 years, winning the nonpartisan election by nearly 20 percentage points.

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She said her background has been an asset finding solutions on "really tricky issues" on city council, including removing barriers to affordable housing in the suburban city.

"In my work, it didn't matter who my clients voted for or what their political views were," Stewart said. "It was my job to show up and work with them and do what I could to help them achieve what they wanted in life and to have the opportunity to have the best life and to thrive. That's a huge reason why I see the need for more folks from people-focused professions to be part of the discourse in political spaces."

Stewart pointed to a choir she founded and directed whose members had suffered strokes on the left side of their brain, resulting in aphasia, a condition that makes it difficult to speak.

"Often what we see is that folks lose the ability to speak fluently but retain the ability to sing words fluently, because music is processed through a slightly different pathway in the brain," she said. "So one skill can be lost while the other is retained. What we would do is work on being able to use that skill that they still had to build new pathways in the brian to build around the roadblock in the brain in order to more effectively communicate again."

Added Stewart: "The choir that I directed was really a celebration of those strengths that folks had. I think that's a testament to the power of music to really help people in a concrete way."

Stewart said the choir, which had the opportunity to perform in the Colorado House chamber, embodies the approach she hopes to bring to the statehouse.

"Music therapy is a creative solution to rehab," she said. "What we need are creative solutions and people who are wiling to think outside of the box to solve problems."
A state House committee Monday nearly unanimously approved a Senate bill that would restrict local and state governments from forcing employees to sign non-disclosure agreements when they leave their jobs.

The measure, Senate Bill 23-053, needs only pass a vote of the entire House before heading back to the Senate for approval of some minor changes, and then to the governors desk.

The House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee voted, 10-1, to pass the bill following a short hearing in which the lone opponent  the Colorado Municipal League  expressed concern that government employees are being treated differently than private ones, particularly since NDAs, as they are more commonly know, are common practice in the private sector.

Local governments are entitled to protect the confidentiality of sensitive information and to protect the privacy of employees, said Jaclyn Terwey, a legislative and policy advocate at the Colorado Municipal League. Appropriate confidentiality can serve the public interest ... by keeping private interests from profiting off the publics business.

The lone dissent came from Rep. Ken DeGraaf, R-Colorado Springs, who said he hopes to see additional changes before offering his endorsement.

The bill languished in the Senate for weeks after a committee in that chamber unanimously passed it, in part because Gov. Jared Polis office wanted to see some changes. The extent of those changes was unclear but it was enough to slow a vote by the full Senate. The governors office previously told The Denver Gazette it has had no NDAs with its employees during Polis tenure.

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Bill co-sponsor Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, said the bill is about government transparency.

Why would the government require its employees in separation agreements require an NDA when the information is to be public? he asked. Because its really just a chilling effect.

The bills creator, Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, had unsuccessfully tried to pass similar legislation two years ago, found no co-sponsors and never made it out of a single committee.

This time, however, Kirkmeyer received bi-partisan support on the measure.

The agreements are often pressed on the employees during settlement negotiations, and, according to attorneys who represent them, they ensure the public can never know whats at the root of the reason for a taxpayer-funded payout that can easily top $100,000.

A Denver Gazette investigation last November revealed how the state had paid more than $4 million to employees who signed more than 80 NDAs in just the last three years.

Kirkmeyer credited the investigation for helping prompt the support she found this go-around.
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.
A weather pattern bringing a wave of potentially record-breaking warmth through the Colorado Springs area this week could signal a drier-than-normal spring, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo.

Temperatures are expected to reach around 83 degrees on Tuesday and near 82 on Wednesday, soaring above the maximum temperature normal of 60 degrees for both April 11 and 12. The midweek temps could be record-breaking if they do indeed meet expectations, beating a high of 80 degrees for April 11 set in 1982 and a high of 77 for April 12 set in 2010.

The mini heat wave, brought on by a ridge of high pressure over the Rockies, is expected to drop down to temperatures in the 60s and potential light rain by Friday. Meteorologist Mark Wankowski said it's too early to tell how much rain may fall in Colorado Springs.

"It definitely looks like there will be rain and snow at higher elevations," Wankowski said. "How much is still in question.

Upper level ridging building across the Rockies will bring unseasonably warm temperatures this week, with record high temperatures possible on Tuesday and Wednesday. #cowx pic.twitter.com/ZBQDtRHS0l  NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) April 10, 2023

So far this month, 11% of April's normal total of 1.45 inches of precipitation has fallen, and Friday's showers  models are predicting a quick system with light precipitation  are not likely to bring much relief to worsening drought conditions in southern Colorado, Wankowski said.

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According to weather service data, this month has seen 3.0 inches of snow, just over half of April's normal 5.5 inches total.

The relatively dry month comes on the heels of one of the driest Marches in history for the Colorado Springs area.

Last month, there were 0.08 inches of precipitation, falling well below the normal 0.79. What is typically the snowiest month of the year also left Colorado Springs with few flurries. Data shows the total snowfall for March stood at 0.3 inches, whereas the normal is 5.7 inches. This was second to a record low in March 1966, which saw 0.1 inches of snow.

This week, humidity levels could hover between 7-9% in El Paso County. Anything below 15% is considered "critical" for fire weather, though dry air during the spring is very normal, Wankowski said.

Additionally, worsening drought levels have created dry grasses and other fuels, making conditions in El Paso County and the southeast plains ripe for fire danger. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, none of the county was experiencing 'severe drought' conditions at the end of March.

That number has since jumped to almost 48%.

"Right now, the outlook is drier than normal through the spring, and that will likely keep the drought conditions in check or getting worse across southeast Colorado," Wankowski said. "We still need to see how the summer monsoon season develops."
A Buffalo Center man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of two counts of felony burglary and one count of first-degree harassment.

According to court records, 41-year-old Dustin James Olson was sentenced to two consecutive five-year terms along with a two-year term in Winnebago County District Court on April 7.

The affidavits state that on Aug. 5, 2021, and Dec. 15, 2021, Olson entered a residence in Rake without permission. In the August incident, Olson allegedly climbed through a ground-floor window and eventually grabbed the victim from behind in a bear hug to stop her from escaping. The alleged victim eventually climbed out a window and called her father, who then called police.

The affidavit for the December incident states that Olson entered the same residence while the victim was sleeping with two minor children and grabbed her foot. She went downstairs in an attempt to get Olson to leave, which he refused to do. She attempted to sleep on the couch before going upstairs to bed again. Olson then went upstairs and grabbed her foot again before going downstairs again.

The report states that Olson went upstairs a third time and grabbed her foot again before leaving the residence. The victim noticed that her laptop was no longer there and she was receiving alerts that someone was trying to log in to the device.

The harassment charge stemmed from threatening messages the same alleged victim received from Olson on Oct. 17, 2021. Olson was convicted of third degree burglary in 2018 after allegedly breaking into the same residence.

North Iowa History: Police photos Judge Boynton Check forger in court Kitts & Hardy Kitts trial DeWayne Frampton M.A. Pelham portrait IHP Warren Tilton Fred Buchner, portrait IHP Calvin Anderson portrait Lt. Cletus Stangl, IHP H. Jack Lien MCPD portrait Ronald Thielen, MCPD Jim Fountas, MCPD Sgt. Pete Hall, IHP Sgt. Delmar Smith, MCPD Kenneth Kruggel, MCPD Harold Thomas, MCPD Friederich Langen, IHP MCPD badge #45 for Carey Wendell Stream, IHP Chief Stanley McClintock Al Schloemer portrait Dennis Wasicek portrait Sgt. Wendell Stream Denny Gerdom IHP Carl Condon IHP Sally Hamblin dispatcher Auto theft school Ron Carpenter, portrait C.S. Tyler Roger Brown, IHP Iowa-Minnesota troopers at border Iowa-Minnesota troopers at border Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office Ed Christensen at Sheriff's Office Sheriff Jerry Allen Police Station cornerstone Captain Walt Reindl, MCPD Larry Davis, portrait MCPD Michael Montgomery, portrait MCPD New police station New police station Sheriff Jerry Allen, portrait Garvin Ward, portrait Prince Philip, Wes Greenan Judge Butler portrait Auxiliary policemen WWII Chief Patton Chief Risacher Chief Wolf Jewell, Duane 1971 John Wallace Kleinow, Eugene Leo Alstott Lt. Cletus Stangl, IHP Patton, EJ 1934 Police and fire chief 1949 Police and Fire depts. police car Police dept PB 40 police patrol car Policecars copy Policecars Police roster 1919 Police roster 1920 polslots1.jpg polslots2.jpg Ray Oulman Ray Oulmanold Risacher Roll call briefing at old station Schiffman and squad car Scott, Greg and Dennis Rye SL195 Remington shells.jpg 2 boys at Sheriff's Office SL1017 Old police station when built.jpg Police station 1930s Dr. Houlahan fingerprinted Boy Scouts at station Blizzard and Highway Patrol Police with new boats Buchanan.jpg Sheriff's convention Jack Burnette, Highway Patrolman John Wallace Ed Christianson portrait Pierce with kids John Wallace giving auto instructions Safety meeting G-Man BC Coulter Jack Gordon murderer Abel's wrecked safe Risacher and Wolfe in 1939 Sheriff Tim Phalen Dreher murder suspect Colwell murder Rock Falls bank robbery Allie Allen Murder house Blanchards Jewelry robbery Highway patrolman checking brakes Incendiary pencil demonstration Incendiary pencil Policemen taking tests Soondergaard and Quintard arrested Soondergaard and Quintard arrested Soondergaard and Quintard arrested Soondergaard and Quintard arrested Robbery at Newberry's Klipto safe cracked Ventura bank attempted robbery Robbery at First Methodist Church Police map Glen Wilson Stork at police station Thornton robbery footprint Blackout control center at police station For he's a good fellow Sheriff with two boys Murderer Kaster at Sheriff's Office Murderer Kaster at Sheriff's Office Man caught with furs out of season Frank Brothers arraigned for manslaughter Man with a gun Liquor Vandalized schoolhouse Capture of escaped convicts Brake inspection in front of P.D. Highway Patrolmen with illegal ration books Peace officer conference training Patrol by Junior Chamber of Commerce Attempted jailbreak Highway patrol and Breenan Wolfe and Phalen horse race Wolfe and Phalen horse race Grand Jury Police training on arrest Officials check plans in front of P.D. Officers find ammunition in car Police with guns 1945 Sheriff make big haul of liquor Officer Bruns next to car Highway patrol with booze Mrs. Bauer leaves inquest F.B.I. training session Richard Pierce Portrait Highway patrolmen at accident scene Clear Lake bike accident Electrocution scene Highway patrol with loot Policemen's wives club Wrecked coupe Mott murder scene Police chart Near drowning Highway Patrolmen with Eldora escapees Highway Patrolmen with Eldora escapees Policemans wives club Holmes accident Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern Murder at Blue Ribbon Tavern Reese IHP Police map Sidewalk DeWilde auto robbery SL33730.jpg Police with Easter Seal Society Police convention Thomas Runyan Thompson, Gerald 1965 Tommy Carroll Untitled-2.jpg Untitled-3 Untitled-4 Verhelst murder case.jpg Wallbaum Walskog1 Walskog2.jpg Zenor police cars
OMAHA, Neb.  Federal regulators say that railroads need to re-examine how they assemble their trains after a string of derailments in recent years that were at least partly caused by the way empty and loaded cars were mixed together with locomotives.

Heavy cars at the back of a train can push and pull against empty cars in the middle of a train as it goes over hills and around corners. Those forces have become more of a problem as the industry increasingly relies on longer trains with a wide variety of freight aboard.

Another factor complicating the issue is the industry's practice of placing locomotives throughout trains. The locomotives can amplify the forces if they're not used correctly.

The Federal Railroad Administration's advisory cites six derailments since 2021 where those forces were a factor. They include a Norfolk Southern derailment near Springfield, Ohio, last month and a 2021 Union Pacific derailment that forced the evacuation of Sibley, Iowa, for three days. Regulators say these kind of derailments are happening with increasing frequency.

But regulators didn't mention the fiery February derailment near East Palestine, Ohio, that prompted much of the recent concern nationwide about railroad safety as an example of this problem. The National Transportation Safety Board has said that an overheated bearing that caused an axle to fail on one of the railcars likely caused that derailment.

But it is still early in the East Palestine investigation, so it's not clear if the makeup of the train was also a factor.

"Railroads must prioritize proper train makeup to maintain safety, prevent accidents, and optimize train performance," the railroad administration said in the advisory issued Friday. "Further, all operating employees must be properly trained in these technologies and the handling of complex trains to ensure safe operation and minimize human error."

All of the derailments the FRA mentioned involved trains with at least 125 cars. In every case, an empty car was the first to come off the tracks. The order doesn't specifically single out long trains, but the kind of forces regulators are concerned about are amplified in longer trains, especially if large blocks of empty cars are placed in the middle or front of a train. In three of the six derailments, hazardous chemicals were released, highlighting the potential dangers of these accidents.

The major freight railroads have all overhauled their operations in recent years to rely more on longer trains so they don't need as many crews or locomotives. Now trains routinely stretch longer than two or even three miles (three to five kilometers) long.

As a train moves across uneven territory, its front half might be getting pulled up a hill while the back half is coming down and pushing forward against the rest of the cars. Those dynamics make it difficult for the engineer to manage.

"Think about going thru undulating territory sort of like a Slinky. You're either trying to keep it stretched out or you're trying to keep it all bunched together to control the forces from going in and out because that's what causes derailments. And it causes train separations," said Mark Wallace, who is second-highest ranking officer with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union. "The way to prevent this stuff from happening is to control the train lengths."

A spokeswoman for the Association of American Railroads trade group said the major freight railroads already use sophisticated computer software to help them build trains and properly distribute the weight. Not only is it important to consider where to put the loaded cars, but railroads also have to factor in that some goods are heavier than others and that the weight of the liquid inside a tank car will shift as the train moves. AAR spokeswoman Jessica Kahanek said the railroads will consider regulators' recommendations.

"The industry is committed to productive conversations about how we continue to advance our shared goal of ensuring the safety of the trains that serve customers and communities across the nation," Kahanek said.

A spokeswoman for Union Pacific, which handled three of the trains highlighted in the advisory, said the railroad is using high-tech tools to monitor train forces and makes adjustments as needed. Kristen South said UP has seen derailments decline along its network last year and this year, even as maximum train length reached 9,329 feet.

"We constantly evaluate our processes and continue to work with government agencies and industry partners to further improve safety," South said.

Norfolk Southern officials declined to comment on the advisory. That railroad was responsible for two of the derailments in the advisory, as well as the one in East Palestine.

Since the East Palestine derailment, regulators and members of Congress have urged the railroads to take additional steps to prevent derailments. Two different federal agencies have also announced investigations of Norfolk Southern's safety record, and that railroad's CEO has had to testify twice at congressional hearings.

Photos: A look at the aftermath of the Ohio train derailment
On April 28-29, the Pittsylvania Caswell Livestock Association will host the 75th annual Pittsylvania Caswell Junior Livestock Show at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex.

The show will begin on Friday morning with the Meat Goat Show, followed by the Lamb Show after lunch. Saturdays show will feature the Hog show in the morning and the Beef Cattle Show directly afterward.

A full schedule will be advertised closer to the event. During the Friday and Saturday show, there will be 75th anniversary T-shirts for sale for $15. Proceeds will benefit the Pittsylvania Caswell Livestock Association Scholarship Fund.

Friday night will give exhibitors, former exhibitors and community members a chance to walk through the barns and memory lane before attending an old-fashioned barbecue dinner reminiscent of the one once held at the show. During the dinner, folks can visit with friends from the past and celebrate the history of the show as we share some tales of fun times and take a look at how the show has changed over the decades.

Other important individuals from the past will be honored at the dinner also.

Tickets for the dinner will be sold in advance and more information can be found on the groups Facebook page or by contacting the Virginia Cooperative Extension-Pittsylvania County Office.

In preparation for this anniversary, the group is trying to get in touch with individuals who participated in the show growing up-whether it was 10 years ago or 50 years ago. To share information, pick up a form at the Virginia Cooperative Extensions Pittsylvania County office.
A 19-year-old suspect is facing charges in a Saturday afternoon shooting that injured a woman in the Java community, authorities report.

At about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the Pittsylvania County 911 center received a call from a woman in the 100 block of Glenn Brown Road, according to Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor.

The caller stated that she was inside her residence and saw a male subject walking across yard towards the residence, Taylor wrote in a Tuesday morning news release. Opening the door of her residence to make inquiries of the male subject, the victim stated the male immediately began firing a handgun in the victims direction.

The woman  still inside her home  was hit by a bullet.

First responders arrived and rendered aid to the victim who was quickly transported to the nearest trauma center, Taylor said in the release. The victim is improving from the wound sustained in the attack.

At about 7 p.m. Saturday, police arrested Tyhiem Hanks, 19, in the area of Yeatts Store Road in the Java community without incident.

Hanks was charged with felony assault, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed weapon without a concealed carry permit.

Hanks remains in jail under no bond, Taylor said.

The suspect has a preliminary hearing scheduled in Pittsylvania County General District Court at 10 a.m. May 30.

Officials continue to investigate the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigator Justin Turner at justin.turner@pittgov.org.

Those involved in the investigation were the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office, the Pittsylvania County Commonwealths Attorney, Pittsylvania Countys 911 dDispatchers, the Halifax County Sheriffs Office, the Virginia State Police, and a state police aviation unit.

We would also like to thank the many alerts from the public during the investigation, Taylor said.
Guilford County Sheriff's officials announced the arrest Monday of a 21-year-old man charged with attempted first-degree murder in the shooting Friday of another man in Browns Summit.

Deputies responded just after 6:30 p.m. Friday to the 7400 block of Doggett Road, where they found a 25-year-old man who had been shot. The man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, according to a news release from the sheriff's office, which is not releasing the man's name.

In addition to attempted first-degree murder, detectives charged Malik Lamont Scales with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, a felony, and assault in the presence of a minor, a misdemeanor.

Scales was arrested without incident and received a $700,000 secured bond.

Sheriff's officials have not released details about what may have led to the shooting.

Authorities ask anyone with information to call Detective D. Duncan at 336-641-5968 or Guilford County Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000.
" " These Georgetown University medical students used donated cadavers in their anatomy class in 2011. Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images

In 1956, Alma Merrick Helms announced that she was bound for Stanford University. But she would not be attending classes. Upon learning that there was a "special shortage of women's bodies" for medical students, this semiretired actress had filled out forms to donate her corpse to the medical college upon her death.

As historians of medicine, we had long been familiar with the tragic tales of 18th- and 19th-century grave robbing. Medical students had to snatch unearthed bodies if they wanted corpses to dissect.

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But there was little to no discussion of the thousands of Americans in the 20th century who wanted an alternative to traditional burial  those men and women who gave their bodies to medical education and research.

So we decided to research this especially physical form of philanthropy: people who literally give themselves away. We are now writing a book on this topic.
A Senate finance committee on Tuesday rescinded $8 million in funding that would have sent 120 state inmates to a private prison facility in Arizona.

The proposal had been added onto the state budget in the House last month as a relieve valve; roughly 280 state inmates are held up in county jails awaiting transfer to state prison facilities.

The Senate Finance and Claims Committee reversed course Tuesday morning based largely on some lawmakers belief that community corrections options taken up the Legislature would pry open some bed space in the prison system in the coming months.

Some of the changes with preliminary approval this session include funding for three new community placement options, fast tracking the pre-release process for those with good behavior, allowing inmates to be released earlier when approaching parole and giving the Department of Corrections additional authority to contract for more beds with community pre-release services.

We know that were freeing up a significant amount of beds, easily 100-plus, Sen. Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, said of the combination of community corrections changes. So I dont feel like, or think, that we need these beds in Arizona.

McGillvray added the state corrections department could still seek the Arizona contract with CoreCivic, the private prison operator, in the interim if the community placement plans dont deliver more space.

McGillvray said he had spoken with the corrections department and the governors office about the amendment before Tuesdays vote and those offices would need to seek additional funding from the 2025 Legislature if the Arizona arrangement were to come together between now and the next session.

The amendment to remove the Arizona deal, carried by Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula, passed on a 14-5 vote.

The committee also added $6 million into the budget to increase state contract rates for those community corrections services to raise their own wages and, at least in theory, bolster the route for inmates to leave the prison and leave more open beds behind them.

This is just one more cog in the wheel to get this to happen, McGillvray said.

The Arizona proposal had nearly unanimous support from Republicans in House last month. One Republican, Rep. Jennifer Carlson, R-Churchill, broke ranks on the House floor to effectively vote against the Arizona deal, saying later she could not vote for something she fundamentally disagreed with.

Democrats had also largely opposed the proposal, arguing in House committees and on the floor that putting so much distance between inmates and those who would visit them would go against the Legislature's recidivism goals.

Still, the House Appropriations Committee, where the Arizona proposal had been added to the budget, passed another amendment creating a special committee to oversee the prisoner transfers to Arizona and examine prison capacity across Montana.

Montana already contracts with CoreCivic to operate the Crossroads Correctional Center near Shelby. According to financial information CoreCivic provided to lawmakers earlier this session, the corporation is losing $4.7 million per year on the agreement.

The Senate Finance and Claims Committee left intact a $5.6 million increase to CoreCivic's contract to likewise raise wages at the private prison near Shelby.

The state budget is far from finalized. Changes made in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee must still be approved by the entire Senate and returned to the House before it reaches the governor's desk to be signed into law.

New staff requests partially restored

The Montana Department of Justice saw three more major case investigators added to its upcoming budget as part of a series of additions and reductions from the Senate committee Tuesday.

The executive branch had requested 38 new Department of Justice employees, but lawmakers agreed to fund 17. McGillvray, in proposing the additional three, told the committee he was spurred by the growing number of officer-involved shootings described by DOJ officials last week.

Another amendment to create three new employees at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, also under the state justice department, failed to pass the committee.

The Office of the State Public Defender saw three more attorneys added to its agency budget for the upcoming biennium. The agency had found it needed 63 additional attorneys to handle its workload, but only asked for 20 new staff. Instead, the public safety budget subcommittee slashed that request to five new employees.

Following a plea from the public defenders office's state director last week, the Senate Finance and Claims Committee passed an amendment to restore three more of the requested positions.
With record amounts of cash expected to pour into Montanas 2024 U.S. Senate race, Democratic Sen. Jon Testers reelection campaign says he has already raised $5 million in the first quarter of 2023.

Hes the only candidate so far to announce that he's running for whats expected to be one of the most competitive Senate seats in the country next year. Tester, who announced his candidacy in February, is the last statewide elected Democrat in a state that has veered increasingly Republican in recent election cycles.

The seat is considered by political observers to the second or third most vulnerable for the GOP to pick off as it seeks to retake the Senate. Democrats currently control 51 out of 100 Senate seats, and Tester's past Senate runs were all decided by slim margins.

"Im humbled by the enormous support our campaign has received from across the state and from hardworking Montanans, like our teachers, veterans and farmers, Tester said in a written statement. More than 95% of those contributions were under $100, according to his campaign.

The $5 million quarterly fundraising total provided by Testers campaign more than doubles what the Democrat brought in during the same period in his last election cycle, in 2017. The campaign at the time reported just under $2 million in total contributions.

Tester ended up topping $20 million in spending during an election in which a record total of $73 million was spent. That record sum for a Montana election was broken two years later in 2020, when $145 million was spent on the election for the states other Senate seat.

The incumbent in that contest, Republican Sen. Steve Daines, had reported raising just $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2019.

As of Tuesday, Testers campaign had yet to file its quarterly fundraising report with the Federal Election Commission. Those reports are due at the end of this week. The campaigns most recent report, filed at the end of 2022, showed it had $2.9 million in the bank.

The Republican primary field of candidates to run against Tester is already garnering intense speculation. Neither of Montanas two House members, Reps. Matt Rosendale and Ryan Zinke, have publicly ruled out the possibility of a run. Rosendale was Tester's last general election opponent in 2018, losing by a 3.5% margin.

And national outlets last month reported that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is attempting to recruit Montana businessman Tim Sheehy to challenge Tester.
Teck Resources Limited, the Canadian mining company whose runoff water pollutes American waters in Montana and Idaho, is spinning off its sprawling complex of open-pit coal mines as a separate company.

The separation, announced in late February, comes as pressure to address selenium contamination in the transboundary Kootenai River and Lake Koocanusa has reached both U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. At a summit in Canada last month, the two leaders pledged to address the contamination, which stems from water that flows through waste rock at Teck's mines near Sparwood and Elkford, northeast of Fernie in British Columbia.

The water then runs into the Elk River, which flows into the Kootenai at Lake Koocanusa. The lake is a reservoir spanning the U.S.-Canada border and held back by Libby Dam. From the Libby Dam in Montana, the Kootenai River flows through Libby and Troy, and then into Idaho.

Now, the mines will be owned instead by a new company, Elk Valley Resources Limited. Meanwhile, Teck Resources will become Teck Metals Corp. and focus on mining metals such as copper. Elk Valley Resources will have to pay 90% of its free cash flow to Teck for more than a decade.

The mines produce high-grade metallurgical coal. Unlike thermal coal used for heating and power generation, the coal mined along the Elk River is used to make steel. Nippon Steel, a Japanese steelmaker, and POSCO, a South Korean steelmaker, are both major buyers of Teck's coal and had a joint venture with the company. With the spinoff of the mines, the steelmakers will now have a stake in Elk Valley Resources. Nippon was set to pay Teck $1 billion in cash for interest in Elk Valley Resources, according to Teck's Feb. 21 announcement.

Mining watchdogs in Canada and scientists in Montana who have tracked Teck's mines for years called the spinoff an effort by Teck to shield itself from liability for the pollution it causes while still reaping profits from some of the largest, most productive metallurgical coal mines in the world. (A proposed expansion to the mining area of the Fording River mine would make it the largest of its kind in Canada.) A Teck spokesperson told Canadian news outlet The Narwhal that the move "will have absolutely no effect on meeting environmental obligations in the Elk Valley," and that Elk Valley Resources will continue to follow a water-quality plan enacted for the mines in 2014.

In trace amounts, selenium is essential to animal health. But in greater concentrations it accumulates in fish and bird ovaries, which leads to fewer eggs hatching, animals hatching with birth defects, and young that die before they can reproduce. Selenium levels above tribal, state and federal regulations  and high enough to harm wildlife  have been documented throughout so-called "Lake K" and the Kootenai River (Kootenay in Canada) downstream of where the Elk River flows into it.

In December 2020, Montana developed a site-specific selenium standard of 0.8 parts per billion (ppb) for Lake Koocanusa, citing state, tribal and university studies that found that current levels of selenium are harming fish there. That is lower than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's general 1.5 ppb limit for selenium in bodies of water.

Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Libby, introduced House Bill 473 in February to strike down that new selenium standard. The measure has passed the House and is now in Senate committee review.

State standards normally mirror the EPA's, but a state can create a more stringent standard if science shows a need for a stricter limit. The EPA must verify and approve of the supporting science before it approves a state's more stringent site-specific standard, at which point the lower standard becomes the EPA's limit for the site as well. That happened with the site-specific selenium standard of 0.8 ppb that Montana's Department of Environmental Quality developed for Lake Koocanusa.

The more stringent limit was also approved by the state's Board of Environmental Review, or BER. But that was when the quasi-judicial oversight board contained appointees from then-Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat. Now, with a board comprised mostly of appointees from Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, the BER has embraced Teck's calls to repeal the 0.8 ppb limit, arguing that the BER's own actions in approving the limit were illegal. According to the Montana Free Press, the BER voted 5-2 late last year to send a letter to the EPA telling the agency that the standard should be voided. The letter was drafted by Teck.

Teck maintains that it is addressing selenium contamination that comes from the mines, and notes that it's spent more than $1 billion on water treatment in recent years. And more treatment facilities are slated to come online. But documents obtained by The Narwhal show that selenium levels of more than 250 times Canada's standard for aquatic life safety persist in waters around the mines.

Teck touts the capacity and efficacy of its water-treatment facilities, but the company has repeatedly refused to declare what percentage of overall runoff it actually treats. The British Columbia provincial government's website for Elk Valley water quality shows that only a tiny fraction of overall contaminants  about 510%  are removed before the toxic water flows into waterways and then downstream.

Wyatt Petryshen, a mining policy and impacts researcher with Canadian conservation group Wildsight, told The Narwhal, "They must be missing a ton of water if youre still having loads that large. That really paints a picture that the water treatments not really doing that much."
Sen. Charles Grassley, the senior Republican Senator from Iowa, has been Mr. Agriculture in the U.S. Senate for many years. A farm owner, and former farm operator in his younger days, Grassley is one of the few senators who frequently have an open session with the media and certainly the only one who regularly addresses agricultural issues.

In recent years he has been on opposite sides of both political parties, whatever administration is in the White House, the USDA, and periodically his constituents. The six-term senator seems to have the Teflon coating attributed to President Reagan, and however he votes on the Senate floor seems to be justifiable in Iowa.

As U.S. corn and soybean exports are diminishing due to prices being higher than global competitors, Senator Grassley has been a thorn in the side of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai because of her avoidance of negotiating trade deals with other nations. And with the Mexican refusal to purchase genetically modified U.S. corn, Grassley has been on Ambassador Tai for being slow in resolving an issue that will have significant impact on corn exports, particularly those here in Illinois.

At a recent hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee, at which Ambassador Tai was testifying, Senator Grassley drilled down on the Mexican issue publicly, until he referenced private conversation with her, saying, She knows when I want her answer.

As Congress settles into Farm Bill re-writing mode, Senator Grassley is front and center, maybe in more ways than one. And those will come to light very soon. Despite bipartisan criticism of the cost of the Farm Bill, both Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee jointly have asked the Senate Budget Committee for more funding. In their letter to their counterparts on the Senate Budget Committee, Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, and ranking Republican member John Boozman of Arkansas said drawing on financial reserves to strengthen farm and food safety nets became clear in Farm Bill hearings.

There is significant irony in that letter from the Agriculture Committee to the Budget Committee. And it all centers around Senator Grassley. Grassley is the senior member of the Agriculture Committee, and in past hearings, has railed against the estimated $1.4 trillion, 10-year cost of the new Farm Bill. Grassley is also the ranking Republican member of the Senate Budget Committee, and as such, the letter was addressed to him, as well as Budget Committee Chairman Sen. Sheldon WhiteHouse, a Rhode Island Democrat.

As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Grassleys name also appears on the committees stationery. The senior senator from Iowa seems to be in a no-win situation because of multiple conflicts. His agriculture committees GOP leader has asked for more money that Grassley will oppose on the budget committee. And his Iowa constituents will be closely watching. Iowa is just about 90% agriculture and 90% conservative Republicans. His agriculture constituents want more money for the Farm Bill, but those same Republican constituents will oppose that.

Grassleys next visit with Iowa farm reporters might be short. Senator Grassley, could we ask you about.? NO!

Photos: Harvest Day at Clinton Elementary School
DECATUR  People traveling through downtown Decatur on Monday were greeted by enthusiastic Girl Scouts waving and holding signs to encourage passersby to buy cookies for the military as part of Operation Cookie Share.

Lawrence Lee stopped his work truck and hopped out to buy cookies for himself and spare boxes to send to the military.

I want to support them, he said.

The effort continues all week, and those wanting to help can stop by any Hickory Point Bank location, call 217-233-0476, or go online at OperationCookieShare.org.

Monday was a school holiday for most kids, said Tamara Dickey, one of the leaders of Troop 3274, but a lot of parents had to work and couldn't bring their girls to the event. There were several there, however, and Troop 3274, with 50 girls on its roster, usually has 40 of them involved in their activities, she said.

People could buy boxes for themselves and extra boxes for the military, or just give a cash donation, he said. Girl Scouts nationwide pool the donations and ship cookies to troops who are deployed, so they get a little taste of home.

Kohl's Cares pitched in for the project, sending volunteer Patricia Harding out to help wave people down, keep an eye on the youngsters and collect the money.

They give us money from Kohl's Cares Foundation and they send volunteers, said Harding, who volunteers for other organizations, too. We like to support our community.

One customer was Zach Hooker, a correctional officer for the Macon County Sheriff's Department, who stopped by to buy several boxes, most of them for the military.

We're selling cookies and taking donations for the military, because it's nice, said Daphne Aaron. If you donate four boxes you get a sticker.

PHOTOS: Girl Scouts in Central Illinois through the years 1991 Puppets Ton of Food drive Juliette Low Tea Scouts taking orders Uniforms Can do spirit Donations to Dove's Domestic Violence Shelter Jamboree Packing Troop Box Leaders Candle making Girl Scout Camp Camp at Big Creek Park
DECATUR  One of two brothers accused in a series of armed Decatur carjackings has had all charges against him dropped.

Calvin G. Shepherd IV, 19, was set free from the Macon County Jail on April 6 after the office of the states attorney moved to dismiss four counts of aggravated vehicle hijacking. All the charges were dismissed without prejudice, which is legal-speak for meaning they could be refiled at some future date.

The case was formally dropped on Monday  the day it was set to go to trial in Macon County Circuit Court  and States Attorney Scott Rueter said his office had been left with little choice.

We ran into a real problem in that one of the victims who was central to the case is now on military deployment to Japan for the next two years, he said.

Rueter said the evidence against Shepherd IV was not as compelling as the case against his brother, Calvin G. Shepherd III, 21, who was always seen by prosecutors as the main actor in four carjackings that frightened Decatur during February and March of 2022.

Decatur police reports said one driver was punched in the face and several were left in fear of their lives after being threatened with guns while their vehicles were stolen.

Police had given chase to one stolen Dodge Charger on the night of March 20 but it sped away and escaped. The Shepherd brothers live in Springfield and, after several more unsuccessful police pursuits, they were finally arrested there on March 24. Police reports said they had abandoned a wrecked car stolen from Decatur and had been chased down and caught after fleeing on foot. Their car had been wrecked after being used to ram several pursuing squad cars.

Calvin G. Shepherd III was sentenced to 14 years in prison when he appeared Dec. 21 in Macon County Circuit Court after taking a plea deal negotiated by defense attorney Chris Amero, who also represented his brother.

Shepherd III had admitted a newly added charge of armed robbery and Presiding Judge Thomas Griffith then dismissed four counts of aggravated vehicle hijacking with a firearm.

Passing sentence, the judge had also agreed to recommend Shepherd III for substance abuse treatment while incarcerated.

2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods